#i can eat one (1) kind of pumpkin and i cannot get hold of it round here

[psychic-waffles]

top 5 soups 🍲

A vitally important question! my options are somewhat limited at the moment so we're gonna have to be a bit vague on the definition of soup

1. Chicken noodle soup

2. Ramen of pretty much any form I'm capable of eating rn (there's soup involved, it counts)

3. The potato soup my dad makes (I can't remember what else is in it)

4. Carrot ginger coconut soup

5. The golden coffin water soup from dmbj that one day I will get dunked in and all my health issues will be cured

[tearsofcaravel]

Connection: Part 1

Sammy x (F) Reader

A smidge of Danny x (F) Reader

Word Count: 4.7k

Warnings: 18+, (F) oral, (F)&(M) masturbation, unprotected sex, squirting, choking

Summary: Enemies to lovers, Sam used to be your best friend, now your sworn enemy

Part 2

“You cannot be serious Daniel,” you huffed out.

Today had been such a great day. It was fall, your favorite season. The crisp yellow and red leaves covered the ground. The cool air wrapped around your body like a blanket. The sweet smell of spiced pumpkin swirled through your apartment. You were perfectly content and nothing could ruin your mood. That was until you came home.

“Daniel..You only call me that when you’re actually angry with me,” Danny laughed at you.

That’s because you were actually angry with Danny, you were furious. Danny’s best friend had been dumped, or rather kicked out. He shared an apartment with his girlfriend who’s name no one had bothered to remember. It was no surprise that no one liked her, he always had a terrible choice in women. He never stuck with them more than a few months, so there was no sense in getting close to any of them even if you wanted to, which you didn’t.

You had no idea how your sweet Danny could be friends with someone like Sam. Samuel Kiszka. Just thinking about him made you sick to your stomach. You hated being around him socially, you only put up with him for Danny. But you would not allow him to be a guest in your home, absolutely not. You would not stand for this. 

Of course Danny would open your home up for Sam. You and Danny had gotten a place together about a year ago. You and Danny were long time friends, anywhere that Danny was Sam was sure to follow. A few years ago you actually considered Sam a close friend of yours, a best friend even. He was sweet and charming. You weren’t blind, he was attractive to say the least. You might have even had something of a crush on him, possibly more than a crush. Somewhere along the lines though, you and Sam grew apart, and by grew apart you meant more like mortal enemies. 

It was around the time that you and Danny decided to move in together. Everything changed after that. At first he just started to be distant in small ways. He didn’t want to hang out as much. He stopped hugging you or holding a conversation with you. Then it became like he did everything in his power to be as far away from you as possible. You had no idea what you had done, anytime that you attempted to get some kind of explanation out of him he did all that he could to get out of the conversation. After a while you gave up on trying to figure out what went wrong. The feelings he had for you became mutual. Ever since then he was your enemy and that was that. It was like you had no history, like you hadn’t been best friends a year ago. 

“Come on Y/n, it won’t even be for that long,” Danny gave you his best doe eyes.

 

“You didn’t even ask me,” you rolled your eyes. You knew Danny would win this. Despite your hate for Sam, you had a weakness for Danny, and he was well aware of this. 

“Because I knew what you would say, you won’t even notice that he’s here.”

“I won’t notice he’s even here? You must be joking. We can hardly stand in the same room together. I give us one night before we kill each other,” you laughed out at him even though you were more than serious.

“Well, he’ll be here any minute so I guess I’ll go hide the knives,” Danny said half jokingly while making his way around the house to check for anything that could be used as a weapon. 

Just as you were hoping that Sam would find literally anywhere else to stay, the door to your apartment swung open. You could feel your blood begin to boil. You watched as he waltzed right in like he owned the place. He shot you a shit eating grin, but didn’t even grant you a simple “hello”. He plopped right down onto your couch.

 “Make yourself at home why don’t you?” you said not even looking in his direction. You were thinking maybe since you were doing him a favor he would treat you with some decency, possibly even thank you for allowing him to stay. Of course you were wrong. He knew you didn’t want him here.

He ignored your presence and started talking with Danny. You weren’t going to let him ruin your night, so you made your way to your room. “Goodnight Danny!” You made sure to only direct your attention to him. “Goodnight Y/n,” Danny called back to you, giving you a light smile.

“What, no goodnight for me, actually not even a hello, maybe a welcome? You wound me Y/n.” Sam dramatically called out. 

“Why welcome you when you’re not really welcome here?” You ignored him and went to bed for the night, sleeping peacefully knowing that Sam was a bit bothered by how well you ignored him. 

You woke up the next morning to the smell of breakfast being cooked. Danny was the chef of the house. You couldn’t make a meal to save your life, so thank goodness for him. You walked into the kitchen wearing an oversize t-shirt and your underwear. This was how you dressed when you were at home. If you were home you were going to be in your comfiest clothes, after all you were just lounging around, no need to be all dressed up. 

“Good Morning Petal,” Danny said as he made you a plate of pancakes. You couldn’t help but to giggle at him. He had gifted you with that nickname after meeting you. You were standing under a tree that had rained flower petals down into your hair, it was cheesy really, but it always made you blush coming from him.

You never understood how someone could be so cheery first thing in the morning. You were the complete opposite, an absolute grouch. You were enjoying your peaceful morning with Danny when the demon emerged from the hallway. Sam didn’t bother looking at you or even greeting you. He fixed his plate of breakfast and sat down by Danny at the bar. The room fell silent, poor Danny tried to make small talk, it was a failed attempt. You could’ve cut through the tension with a knife.

Not a sound was made until you stood up to take your plate to the sink and you heard coughing. You turned around to see what all of the commotion was about. Sam was red faced and trying to get a hold of himself. “Forget how to eat Kiszka?” You did make sure he was alright, not that you would’ve jumped to give him the heimlich. He didn’t give you some snarky comment like he normally would, instead he was looking you up and down. His eyes were glued to you.

You chose to ignore it, thinking that he was just jostled up from choking. Danny didn’t take notice of Sam's weird behavior, he was too busy laughing at him. You cleaned up the kitchen and went to your room to shower and start your day. You went to leave for work, Sam was still sitting at the bar, “Leave any hot water for the rest of us?” 

 

“I left hot water for those of us who actually live here and pay the bills here,” you shot back before walking out of the door. 

You owned a flower shop just fifteen minutes from your house, which was ironic given your nickname from Danny. He hadn’t even known that you owned the flower shop at the time. You actually met Danny, and eventually Sam, because they owned a record store across the street. It was storming one afternoon and you’d only just moved to town and you didn’t know a single person. You had waited for the rain to slack up and walked outside to check on things and bumped into Danny underneath a pink Crape Myrtle tree and he instantly became your first friend. 

Your lunches used to be spent with the three of you, now of course it was just you and Danny. Now anytime you came over to see him you and Sam kept your distance. You assumed that today would be no different, you made your way across the street for your regularly scheduled lunch break with Danny. Oddly enough, instead of Sam’s usual choice of ignoring you he was snarkier than ever. 

“Don’t you have any other friends to spend your lunch with? I mean we see enough of you at home as it is,” Sam called from the back of the store.

“Home? When did you start paying bills?” you retorted. Of course he was going to pick a fight with you. You knew it was going to be even worse with Sam staying at your house.

Sam walked up to the front and had lunch with you and Danny for the first time in at least a year. He continued to do everything in his power to make your blood boil. This was odd behavior to say the least. Danny gave you a weird look with his eyes. You just shrugged, you were dumbfounded. 

When you got home that evening you went straight to your room for the night. Sam wasn’t nice to you or anything, he was snarkier than ever. But for the last year he had done all that he could to make sure that the two of you wouldn’t even breathe the same oxygen and he just sat with you at lunch. Like it was nothing. 

You had almost dozed off when Danny came bursting through your bedroom door. “What are you doing sleeping? It’s our movie night!” 

You had almost forgotten, you and Danny had movie night once a week to unwind and catch up. “That’s right and it’s my turn to pick!”

“Oh shit, maybe I shouldn’t have reminded you, you’ll have us watching something scary or Harry Potter.” 

“Just go start the popcorn and I’ll look for something to watch. We are going to be alone right?” you were praying that you would finally get some alone time with Danny, or just some time without Sam looking around.

“Of course Petal, it’s our movie night just for us I promise,” Danny reassured you.

You finally settled on a movie, Scream, your favorite. You snuggled up into Danny’s arms. You were surprised that he didn’t complain about your choice. After the movie was over you caught up on your week and had some snacks. Danny wanted to watch another movie and you definitely wanted more alone time with him since Sam had been in the way lately. You stayed up almost all night when you both dozed off the couch with the next Scream movie still playing. You and Danny were cozied up, arms around each other, as usual. When you were rudely awakened by the front door slamming and the unmistakable sound of Sam’s huffing and puffing.

“Well isn’t this just adorable,” Sam gestured to you and Danny’s sleeping position, “I must have missed my invite to movie night.”

This had clearly gotten under Danny’s skin, which was very rare. He was always the one to referee you and Sam. He always kept a cool head. “You would have gotten an invite if you were wanted here, but you didn't, did you? Maybe if you were nice to Y/n once in a while, but you just can’t seem to do that.” 

You were shocked that Danny had said that. He was always a ray of sunshine, even when he was angry with someone he never actually spoke up. Sam was just as shocked as you. He was left speechless. You had never seen Sam left without words, he always had a snarky comment ready to fire back. You were happy that he had finally spoken up to Sam, but still dumbfounded with Danny’s response. Sam retreated to his room and stayed there for the rest of the night. 

A few weeks had gone by and things had cooled down. Sam and Danny were perfectly fine as suspected. Danny hadn’t brought anything up and you definitely weren’t about to. Sam hadn’t said a single word to you since that night, which was fine by you. He had gone back to keeping his distance and keeping his snarkiness to himself.

It was their five year anniversary of owning the record store together. Of course they had to throw a party. They always found an excuse to have a party of some sort. You spent the next week helping Danny plan it. It would be at your home of course. 

The night of the party was filled with mostly people you knew. All of them through Danny and Sam. Their brothers Jake and Josh were usually the life of the party and you loved their company. You had gotten pretty close with them when you and Sam were at your closest. Everyone was dancing and mingling and of course drinking. 

You spent most of the night with Danny, the guest of honor. You hadn’t thought of Sam hardly at all over the last few weeks. Even though he was still staying with you and Danny, he kept his distance. But tonight after a few drinks you thought if you went to congratulate him maybe the waters would finally settle around the two of you. You didn’t have much interest in being friends again, but you knew it mattered to Danny. 

You knew he didn’t deserve a moment of your time or breath. You scanned the crowd to find that Sam’s eyes were already on you. You walked over to him, “Hi Sam, I just wanted to say congratulations, I am proud of the both of you.” 

He looked confused that you had even interacted with him, almost stunned, “U-uh thanks Y/n.”

It was silly, but for a moment you swore that you saw the Sam that you used to know and care for. His eyes were softer and kinder, rather than filled with hate and rage. You walked away and spent the rest of the night with Danny and his brothers. After the majority of the crowd cleared out you started to clean up a bit while Danny and Sam said their goodbyes. All that was left was you, Sam, Danny, Jake, and Josh. You all sat around talking and drinking the night away. Once you settled into your safe place, Danny’s arms, you almost dozed off. But you turned when you heard Sam scoff directly at you and abruptly head to his room. He didn’t even speak to his brothers. “What the hell was that about?” Jake drunkenly laughed. 

Danny just shrugged and gave a strange look to everyone. A little bit later you got up to go to the bathroom, passing by Sam’s room on your way. The door was cracked open and you thought heard a voice from inside. You went to make your way to the bathroom, but then you heard your name. Your name followed by moans. You slowly peeped inside to see if your ears were playing tricks on you. They were not. You slid in undetected to see Sam, who supposedly hated you with every bit of his being, with his hand wrapped around his cock. He almost looked beautiful. He looked vulnerable. He looked like the Sam you knew. He was laid down flat on his back, his eyes squeezed shut, and whispering your name to himself while he pleasured himself. You wouldn’t have believed this if you hadn’t seen it for yourself. This brought your mind into a whirlwind of a spin.

You knew it was wrong to watch this intimate moment, but you couldn’t peel your eyes away. You didn’t want to if you were honest with yourself. You slid back out before he could see you. Jake and Josh left and you and Danny eventually fell asleep snuggled together on the couch. You never mentioned what you saw that night. 

Over the next week however, your mind was spinning. You knew that night you had seen just a glimpse of the Sam you used to know, but you definitely did not think that he ever had feelings for you of any kind. It was all that you could think about. That definitely came out of nowhere. 

The next movie night rolled around, Danny had called and said that he would be home a little later. So you sat and waited for him, getting some things done around the house. You realized it was the first time in a few months that you had the house all to yourself. This was the perfect opportunity for some much needed release. You had a lot of energy surging through your mind and body in light of recent events.

You headed for your bedroom eagerly. You removed your clothing and got your little pink vibrator out of your bedside drawer. You laid down onto your back on your bed. You began to rub over your body. You realized it had been a bit since you had had some true time with yourself. You slid your middle finger through your slit to find that you were already soaked. You pumped one finger in and out as you ran your vibrator over your clit. You let the thoughts roll through your mind when your mind started to play tricks on you. At first your mind suddenly went to thoughts of Danny. You would never admit that the thought of him had helped you get off more than once. The way that his curls would look wrapped in your fingers and the way that his muscles would flex around you.

Then your mind shifted to Sam. The images of Danny and Sam having their way with you together. You began to clench around your own fingers deep inside of you. Little whimpers escaping your mouth. Then, the only thing that was running through your mind was Sam. You fought it as long and hard as you could. The way he looked and sounded that night that you walked in on him, it was intoxicating. His bare chest with a thin layer of sweat. His long  brown hair cascading to his shoulders. How sweet he sounded calling out your name while he took himself to the edge. 

It was like you lost all control and began calling out for him just like he had for you. It was pulling you closer and closer to your end. You began screaming his name, your legs shaking uncontrollably as you came. You felt a white hot release and your vision went black. With a heaving chest you opened up your eyes when your breath hitched in your throat. You looked up and in your doorway was an astonished and wet Sam. His eyes wide when they met yours. He had a devilish grin a mile wide plastered onto his face. Your face was red hot by now. You were both silent for a few moments while you were still trying to come down from your high. 

What you saw next stunned you even more. You fully expected him to send a snide comment straight your way. Instead, he took his hand to his face, whipping off your release and brought his fingers to his mouth and releasing them with a ‘pop’. “You taste just as sweet as you look.”

“Sam w-what are you doing?” was all that you could sputter out.

“Well I heard you calling for me and I thought something might be seriously wrong since I’m the last person you would call for. And to my surprise I find you spread out all pretty calling for me while you cum,” he said as if this was just a normal and calm conversation between the two of you.

You were not calm, you were astonished and bewildered. 

“Whatever you were imagining about me though, I bet the real thing is much better,” Sam said as he slid his shirt off and placed himself onto the bed directly beside you. 

You suddenly felt a wave of embarrassment and nerves. You tried to cover yourself with your sheets. Did you even want this? Don’t you hate him? Doesn’t he hate you? You were about to ask a million questions when his warm hand cupped your cheek and his lips met yours. All of the nerves you had felt just a moment ago melted away in an instant. The kiss was slow and sweet at first, then it became dominating. Your teeth were clashing together and your tongues swirled around each other’s mouth. You were exploring each other for the first time. Your hands sliding and grabbing all over one another. You didn’t know what exactly to expect, was this a hate fuck? It was pretty gentle to be a hate fuck.

These thoughts became reality. His hand that once cupped your face so gently made its way to your throat with a tight grip. “Maybe next time I’ll be more gentle with you, but this time I think we both have some aggression we need to release. I’ve wanted this for too long for it to be gentle,” Sam said while he kissed his way to your breasts. 

‘Next time’, you thought to yourself. 

You were already naked, so he made his way around your body easily. You were over sensitive from your first orgasm, which had led to this situation that you were in now. Every kiss and lick that he gifted you with caused lightning to shoot through your body. You had a purple trail from your neck to your stomach. He licked the inside of your thighs and bit down in the most delicious way. He looked at you for approval, you nodded eagerly.

He made his way to your center. He licked one slow agonizing strip before diving into you like a starving man. Your eyes rolled to the back of your head and you let out the most pornographic moan you had ever heard. He licked and sucked like his life depended on it. He looked up at you and you could feel him grinning as he worked his tongue around your sensitive clit. He was clearly pleased with the effect that he was having on you. He looked gorgeous settled in between your thighs. He knew that he had you on the edge. “Sam, please, I need more.”

“I think that you can do better than that,” he teased.

You knew exactly what he wanted. “Sammy please, give me more, I want to feel you.” He had such a weakness for you calling him ‘Sammy’. Which was all that it took. He slammed two fingers into you. He pumped them quickly in and out of you, curling them up in the most delicious way. He was hitting your most delicious spots. 

You would’ve been almost embarrassed by the wet and lewd noises that he was pulling from you, but you were both far too deep into the pleasure now. Sam looked up at you with dark and lust filled eyes, “I’ve wanted this for so long, you’re being such a good girl for me.”

If you had been in your right state of mind this would’ve shocked you to your core, but you were barely holding on as it was. “Sammy, I-I’m gonna cum, please let me cum.”

“Cum for me baby, be such a good girl for me and cum all over me.”

This was all that it took for you to come undone around him. You tangled your fingers into his long brown hair. You were tugging it so hard that you were sure that you were hurting him. He didn’t seem to mind as he sucked your clit and worked your through your orgasm. You felt another white hot sensation and were sure that you saw stars. When you came to this time, you saw a delightful picture painted out in front of you. Sam was soaking wet from your release and drinking up every little drop. You could’ve cum again at the sight and sound of this. 

He sat up and you helped him remove his constricting pants. When you had seen him some nights ago you didn’t get a chance to see him in all of his glory. Now you could see every perfect inch. The sunlight from your windows was hitting him perfectly. When you pulled down his boxers his cock sprang up slapping his stomach. You had no idea he would be this big. Your eyes almost popped from your skull. It had drops of precum and was throbbing. 

You were basically drooling at the thought of tasting him. You went to take him into your mouth, but he swatted you away. You gave him a confused look. “I want you to baby, but next time. I’m afraid if you did right now I would cum immediately and I need to be inside of you.”

There it was again, ‘next time’, you didn’t have time to analyze this before he was crawling on top of you. He dove his tongue into your mouth and you were overwhelmed with the taste of you and him. He lined his cock up with your entrance. He slowly slid in, giving you time to adjust to the delightful sting of the stretch. He buried himself to the hilt. He only gave you a moment before slamming into you. He set a brutal and forceful pace. He was slamming in and out of you, hitting your g-spot perfectly. The room was filled with the sounds of your skin slapping together and your screams and moans. You loved how vocal he was being with you. You loved the effect that you were having on him. Thank goodness you didn’t have neighbors.

You were both covered in sweat and sex. He pounded into you making you call out wildly for him. He swiped his tongue over your lips and bit down, you were sure that he had drawn blood, but you welcomed the sting of the pain.

He slid his hand down in between your bodies to draw circles over your clit. “B-Baby I need you to cum one more time for me.”

“I don’t think I can Sammy,” you tried not to sound as fucked out as you really were.

“Yes you can baby, I want us to cum together. Please cum for me, I know you can.”

With just a few more circles over your clit you came undone around his cock. You had tears rolling down your face and were screaming his name like never before. You tightened around him while he continued to slam into you. “Oh my god Sammy, I-I’m cumming, don’t stop.”

You felt him fill you up with his release as he moaned your name. He sounded even more beautiful than he did those few nights ago. He was right, it was so much better than anything that you could have imagined. You both laid there for a moment while he went soft inside of you. You looked into his eyes and saw your Sammy. The one that you had been longing for even when you didn’t know it.

He gave you a soft and caring smile. You were just about to try and get some answers when you heard the creak of your floorboards. You looked up to see Danny in your doorway. His cock visibly hard. Just like you had found Sam a bit ago.

“To be two people who hate each other, you seem to have had a lot of fun without me,” Danny said with a lustful smirk.

[supajira-blog]

10 stories of the thorn-haired roundhead!!!🦔

1.1 History or origin of the hedgehog.

Hedgehogs, or hedgehogs in Thai, are animals that have fur that resembles a porcupine. But it is as small as a guinea pig. They can be found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. When scientists first saw them, they took special interest in them. And there are many more species.

1.2 The food of the little one What can and cannot be eaten.

Edibles🥬

Boiled chicken, pork or beef, boiled eggs,

asparagus, bell peppers, cilantro, broccoli,

green leafy vegetables, spinach, carrots,

pumpkin, celery, squash, cucumber, sweet potato,

zucchini, radishes.

Things that cannot be eaten🍍

All types of fish, ants, processed foods,

lemons, yardlong beans, onions, peanuts,

oranges, avocados, pineapple, grapefruit,

chocolate, rice, products from cow's milk.

Snacks for all kinds of people, cheese.

1.3 How to tell if your hedgehog is pregnant and how to deal with it when your hedgehog gives birth.

Eat more food When pregnant, the mother needs more food.

Gaining weight, eating a lot + baby's weight in the womb

more threatening Hormone changes Mother Hedgehog will be more careful.

Erect nipples + enlarged belly

The smell of poop and urine is unusually strong.

When a hedgehog gives birth.

The first 24 hours are considered very important. You should startle your hedgehog as little as possible by providing him with a warm cloth. Let's cover it completely.

Do not disturb the mother and child at all. Do not touch them so as not to offend them. Only mother and child must be separated.

Don't listen loudly. Otherwise, it will make the mother so stressed that she won't raise her own child.

Observe from a distance and add water and food. That's enough.

Never hold hands empty-handed.

Hedgehog babies are weaned in 45-50 days and can be separated from mother and baby.

1.4 Do hedgehogs need to be neutered?

Male, healthy, normal No need to sterilize

Females, if they are not sterilized, are at risk for uterine problems. Because I masturbate often Uterine problems are caused by a lack of mating.

Neutering should begin from 6 months of age onwards.

What are the effects of having a vasectomy?

Unable to reproduce again

Demand decreased by 90 %

Sterilization in hedgehogs Cannot be raised together

Sexual behavior will not go away. It still exists instinctively. is masturbation

Hedgehogs are wild animals that breed quickly. They should be protected before they become no longer able to be raised and become homeless.

1.5 Shedding fur in hedgehogs.

Hedgehogs will shed quite a lot of thorns when they are growing.

The hedgehog's thorns also grow as the hedgehog ages.

The fur must be shed to grow larger spines.

May have emotional ups and downs like a teenager.

4 periods of shedding, first time at 1 month, 1 and a half months, 2 months

, 3-6 months

It will shed an abnormal amount, don't be alarmed. Or it may fall off all over until pink flesh is visible. It will grow back in 1 month after shedding.

If the fur doesn't shed, it means scabies.

1.6 House model for the little hedgehog's residence.

The air should be ventilated and open to allow the odor to escape and not be uncomfortable.

Temperature should be kept at a careless 27-30 degrees. It should not be so cold that it might make you sick easily. The most popular disease of little hedgehogs is allergies.

The space should be enough. Can run and play If the area is small, it should have a running machine. Diameter not less than 32 centimeters.

The dwarfed hedgehog will come out to play at night. Because the tree in your family is a wild animal.

Hedgehogs should not be kept in cat or dog cages with bars. Because hedgehogs like to climb as well as dig. May fall and hit the ground An accident that is often encountered is the leg getting stuck in the cage, causing the leg to be broken and the bone to pop out. Medical expenses start at 2000 baht. The fee for the child is cheap but the treatment fee is very expensive. You should take good care of it. Do not allow climbing or digging.

1.7 Appropriate and inappropriate bedding.

Washable pads What are the advantages of washable pads? Can be washed more than 10 times, no dust, making our hedgehogs last longer. and should be changed once a week for cleanliness

Non-washable pee pads Can be used one time at a time It absorbs pee well, but the downside of using a pee pad is Hedgehogs are diggers. So I can't get a pee pad to pee.

Corn cobs have little dust, are economical, and cause no odor. Similar to cat sand Should be used with females only. Because when the male pees, the penis comes out. May cause corn cobs to stick. Then it can cause infection.

Scratchy, not recommended for use. Similar to cat litter There is a lot of dust and it is not appropriate. Can't keep the smell Hedgehogs poop and pee a lot. Therefore it is not recommended to use it. Some hedgehogs are allergic to the dust in their droppings.

1.8 Items that should be kept at home.

NANO CARE has anti-bacterial properties. Stimulate the wound to heal It cannot protect against ticks or mites, or if you have a small wound you can inject it.

NANO PIUS GEL increases wound healing, fresh wounds, pitted wounds, pressure sores, reduces wound inflammation.

NANO KLEANS is an odor eliminating spray. Reduces the accumulation of germs, does not bite the skin, and can be inhaled.

NANO SCRUB safe shower gel Reduce the accumulation of germs Can eliminate the body odor of the hedgehog. Does not cause irritation

Furr Detox Shampoo nourishes the fur to make it shiny. Adds moisture because it contains moisturizer.

BABI MILD, green color, Oioganik formula, gentle, non-irritating.

Bristle bath brush.

1.9 Basic equipment that you should have at home.

The house is hidden, has a roof or has only one way out, completely enclosed.

Steel running machine, size more than 32 centimeters

A place to drink water in a bottle or in a ceramic cup.

Washable pee pads 50*70 and up, minimum 2, to be changed once a week.

Ceramic light bulb socket, 75 w lamp creates warmth during the winter. to keep warm

A collar made from Future board Or a plastic crate size 100 liters per 1 animal should not be raised together in any case or an acrylic cage. Minimum height 30 centimeters

small floor blanket or the shepherd's shirt Take it quickly and let it lie on the bed to prevent digging into the house as well.

Hedgehog food is a specific food. Do not feed cat food or dog food such as Faye-Mascota-Mazuri. No more than 3 worms per day.

1.10 Readiness that you should have before adopting a younger sibling into your home.

You should consider the money in your pocket. Because hedgehogs are exotic animals, they are known to be exotic animals. Medical expenses are not less than 2000 baht. Food cost for 1 bag of 600 grams is at 300-500 baht. Insect worms minimum price 50 - 200 baht. Housing costs, pens, crabs. The deputy must change at least Once a week at a price of 300 baht. Attention because little hedgehogs are solitary animals. Be careful at all times. Play with your younger sibling often. And you will fall in love with his spiky fur. Little hedgehog doesn't shed its fur. And can also play like a dog, can kiss, and kiss. Each hedgehog has a different temperament. You should study their behavior before deciding to raise them.

[shinranweek]

🌸 ShinRan Week 2021 Prompts 🌸

Thank you so much for all your wonderful suggestions! After taking them into account, we are happy to present you the prompts for ShinRan Week 2021!

Day 1: Childhood & First Meetings Day 2: Seasons & Long Distance Day 3: Fairytales & Black Knight and Princess Day 4: Time Travel & Missing Scenes Day 5: Antagonists & Power Duo Day 6: Domestic & Wedding Day 7: Outsider POV & Creator’s Choice

Prompt descriptions are under the cut!

❧ DAY 1

Childhood Growing up can be a pain. Growing up can be sweet. Growing up together is irreplaceable. From nighttime adventures to study sessions, let’s get a glimpse of Shinichi and Ran’s pre-canon life!

First Meetings First meetings often create lasting impressions, from our couple’s Sakura class encounter to their brush with the Akai family. What happened when young Shinichi first met Eri? When Ran met Agasa? What if they hadn’t known each other all their lives? What would that meeting look like?

❧ DAY 2

Seasons Winter skating, spring cherry blossoms. Fireflies and festivals in the summer, changing colors in the fall. Ran and Shinichi, year-round. (—And if you don’t want that “season”,  you can always give it another meaning.)

Long Distance Out of sight, never out of mind. For two yearning souls, distance is nothing and everything at once. The joy and ache of minute-long phone calls? The suffering of waiting? The fear that absence will make the heart grow colder? The much-awaited reunion? Ran did say, “I don't mind waiting for people. Because the longer you wait, when you do meet... You'll be happier.”

❧ DAY 3

Fairytales Are they the doomed lovers of Tanabata reincarnated and given another chance? Does Ran pull a Janet and hold on to Shinichi through hell and high water? Is Shinichi a sulky sultan and Ran his Scheherazade? Does Shinichi turn into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight? A brand-new story featuring a prince and a princess? Let fairytales of all kinds inspire your ShinRan imagination!

Black Knight and Princess We saw them as the Black Knight and Princess in the school play, and we want more. What was going through Ran’s head when Shinichi broke from the script? What would a Black Knight alternate universe look like? One more thing: We all want to see what would have happened if they hadn’t been interrupted.

❧ DAY 4

Time Travel Time is but a concept, especially in Shinichi and Ran’s universe. Shinichi and Ran blasting to the past or traveling ten years into the future? One or both having the power to rewind ten seconds back and evade danger? Want to do a piece inspired by feudal Japan or Prohibition America? This is the prompt for you.

Missing Scenes Can’t stop thinking about That One Scene in the manga/anime that was not within aired material? Like Shinigami Shinichi bandaging Ran’s wounds in the Murderer, Kudou Shinichi Arc? Or the conversation between Shinichi and Sonoko before he ended up in the Black Knight costume in Desperate Revival Arc? Or Shinichi’s internal monologue while he puts a blanket over Ran and eats her chocolate in the Truth Behind Valentine’s Case? Go ahead and bring these missing scenes to life!

❧ DAY 5

Antagonists Shinichi and Ran are Holmes and Moriarty. An FBI agent and a Black Org operative. Academic rivals. Opposing business owners. A “good” angel and a fallen one. Petty people who simply cannot get along. Whatever the case, sparks fly.

Power Duo Strong individually, stronger together. What is the result when you pair a brainy soccer-ball-kicking detective with a sweet-but-deadly karate queen? Answer: A badass power couple saving (or wrecking?) the day — and each other — together. (Battle Couple, Partners in Crime, Bodyguard and Celebrity, Girlboss and Malewife… yeah, we know you want these.)

❧ DAY 6

Domestic All we ever wanted is to see these two living their everyday lives in peace and bliss— baking sweets, cleaning the house, sharing a bed, grocery shopping, adopting a pet, planning a date, all of those. Oh, and engaged or married life. That, too.

Wedding It all boils down to this. Will Shinichi cry once he sees Ran walking down the aisle? What songs are played in the reception? Are they attending a friend’s wedding? Do they catch the bouquet and garter? What happens on the Big Day? On the Big Night?

❧ DAY 7

Outsider POV You are Sonoko. Yukiko. Kogoro. Eisuke. Heiji. Kazuha. Satou-keiji. Someone. Anyone. A complete stranger. People ask you about Shinichi and Ran. What do you tell them?

Creator’s Choice Have a ShinRan creation in mind but can’t quite fit in any of the prompts? Now is your chance to share it!

In the end, these are all just examples to keep your gears churning. You are definitely free to think outside the box, content creator! ;)

[twistedtranslations]

Cater Diamond - Full of Lies

You can unlock this story by getting Cater’s SSR Scary dress

Big thanks to Rym and Apollo for proofreading!

Translation under the cut

Chapter 1

Main street

/Notification

Cater: Oh? A message on MagiCam? Who would've thought it was that girl! How nostalgic~ The picture those ghosts took at Ramshackle dorm made our college's Halloween event trend -> Jumping onto the bandwagon and posting a lot -> Huge success for Cay's follower-catching strat! So far it's been going well but… Mixed within the comments and DMs of my new followers are a lot of old aquaintances. Even some classmates from middle and elementary school are here.

Cater: "Hey! It's been a while! Oh, would you like to come to our college? Cay welcomes every single one of you! You can always come over to hang at NRC's Halloween event!"

Cater: And now some emoji full of feelings!  (^○^)♪ (ゝω・)☆　d(’ｖ｀*)b

Cater: Everyone is really so casual and easygoing~ Well, it's easier on me, so I'm not complaining.

???: HEY!

Cater: Where did that loud and rowdy voice come from? I've got a bad feeling about this…

Front Gate

Sebek: Humans, don't crowd around the young master! Get out! Leave!

Boy A: Hey, what are you doing, sweptback bro! Don't interfere with our Draconia Challenge.

Boy B: We're putting our lives on the line to show our bravery by uploading a picture of us touching The Malleus!

Boy A: Huh, since when did Malleus disappear?! It's that sweptback bro's fault.

Boy B: Don't be so angry. After all the effort of having a sweptback, let's show the world a huge smile on that face!

Sebek: For humans of your social standing to use the name of the Lord of the esteemed Valley of Thorns in vain…Besides, my hair is swept back like this so I have an unobstructed view to find those like you who behave rudely towards my young master! You shall receive punishment for insulting the Draconia… no, for insulting the young master. My thunder shall shock you all to bits! HAAAAA...

Cater: Okay, stop! I'm part of the Halloween Committee. It's forbidden to fight. Why don't you try talking to this lad if something's up?

Sebek: Don't interrupt me, you frolicking human! I will shock you to bits as well!

Cater: Won't you create a scandal for the Draconia family if you were to harm an ordinary human with magic?

Sebek: W-Well… You're right. Besides, didn't you just say you were part of the Halloween committee? Both the young master and master Lilia are both performing the same duties… They ordered me to listen to the orders of the other committee members. Ok, I shall talk this out.

Cater: Even though you are crossing your arms and puffing your chest out, you are being apologetic right? Anyway, these are our college's precious guests. They have no intention to harm Malleus.

Sebek: These magic-less weaklings were making a spectacle bothering Young Master with a toy. I cannot forgive that!

Cater: Malleus is like super famous, and he's an admirable being, right? So just for this festival, it should be fine to interact with our guests as a little fanservice right?

Sebek: Stop messing around. The young master is a dreadful being who makes everyone kneel and bow down to him. AND THAT'S WHY I WILL NEVER LEAVE HIS SIDE AND PROTECT HIM ALL MY LIFE!

Cater: You're just obsessed!

Boy A: Hey, interfering our Draconia Challenge aside, what are you two squabbling about?

Sebek: Hm? You humans are still here? I told you to leave.

Boy B: Huh? You've got some nerve, talking rudely to us like that!

Cater: Come on guys. Why don't we take some pictures together since it's finally Halloween! We, Heartslabyul are those who rise from the soil in the darkness, the underlings of the night~

Boy A: Wow! Now that you mention it, you do look real good for the camera!

Cater: Cheer up everyone and gather! Let's decide on a pose~~~ Happy Halloween~

¨*shutter noise*

Cater: (Ugh… This is exhausting)

Chapter 2

Classroom

Kalim/Cater/Lilia: *Sigh*… I'm tired….

Cater: This year's Halloween was exhausting. Mainly due to our guests being rowdy..

Kalim: It was fun entertaining the guests, but I was really troubled because Jamil got in a foul mood.

Lilia: Even we, three most gentle boys, have been worn down. The other students must be at the limits of their patience.

Everyone: *Sigh*…

Cater: Now that you say it, by chance all the members of the light music club are also part of the Halloween Committee. Let's have our usual relaxing tea time while also discussing some countermeasures.

Kalim/Lilia: Agreed~

Cater: I got this! Trey's home-made pumpkin pie! It's moderately sweet, so it's my favorite!

Kalim: I have kunafa. It's a cheesecake from the Scalding Sands. It's delicious when it's hot!

Lilia: Oho, these are all sweets befitting of Halloween. As the last one, I have prepared this. Licorice!

Cater: You're always bringing the same thing! You know me and Kalim don't like that.

Kalim: The smell makes my nose shrivel up~

Cater: But you know, since it's black, it does feel like Halloween. Oh, right, let's take a picture together. It's super charming to be in costume and have themed food.

*shutter noise*

Cater: #TheBestHalloween #SelfmadeCostume #HomemadeTreat #LightMusicClub #NRCHalloween

Kalim: The best? Didn't you say you were exhausted earlier, Cater?

Cater: I never said it wasn't exciting and for things like SNS, isn't it better to exaggerate a bit?

Lilia: As expected of you. We live in a period where everyone is connected all around the world. It is most wonderful to spread happiness instead of complaints.

Cater: Oh. The picture I just uploaded got an amazing response! 

*notification*

Cater: Another message from that girl. Was she the kind to keep track of people's activities?

*ringing noise*

Cater: This time it's a call. (How persistent…)

Kalim: Cater, is it from one of your friends? You can pick up if you want.

Cater: Hm~… More like an acquaintance from the past? But it's alright? We're at a very important meeting, after all.

Lilia: We are only eating sweets, taking pictures and uploading them to MagiCam though…

Cater: It's the age of social media where everyone can keep in contact at their own pace, you don't have to go through the pains of having to response in real time to a phone call.

Kalim: Do you have that many people who want to get in touch with you? You're so well connected Cater~

Cater: Well, if you look the amount of aquaintances I have, that might be true? My dad's a banker. The bank he works at has branches all over the world. Therefore, whenever he transferred to a different branch, our entire family would move with him. We moved once every two years, so I kind of feel like a pro at quickly packing things?

Lilia: Commonly said, you are a family who moved a lot for the sake of the breadwinner.

Kalim: So the reason why you have so many friends is because you have travelled around the world since young.

Cater: Yeah, the girl just now said we are friends as well. Having to change schools frequently, I got to meet more people compared to someone staying at one place. From the best to the worst… a lot of people. However, they all had something in common.

Kalim/Lilia: …?

Cater: If I left there, they remained there. That's why I'd rather have a casual and happy time with everyone than to deepen a friendship. It’s like a circus troupe, you know, having fun hanging with people all over the world and then leaving. That's why MagiCam is the best! People from my school from three years ago contacted me out of the blue. My social circle is expanding as well. Cay is getting popular!

Kalim: Even if they're far away, you don't have to hold back you know? I got it! I'll lend you my magic carpet, so you can visit your friends whenever you want.

Cater:… I expected no less of you, Kalim. I'll take you up on that offer next time.

Lilia: I feel like I understand you.

Cater: Hm?

Lilia: The relations between humans are eternal. They are things that cannot be severed. In a new place with no trace of your existence, new relations will continue to be forged. That in itself is nature. However, I think the more precious a relation is, the more lonely it becomes. Why does it feel that way? I have lived a long life but the reason is still unknown to me. But just as Cater said, there may be a perfectly logical explanation for not getting too attached to one person in particular.

Cater: Lilia, what got into you suddenly? What I wanted to say was-

*ringing noise*

Lilia: Hello, this is Lilia speaking? What business do you have?

Cater: He just casually picked up the phone during our conversation.

Lilia: Oh, Sebek. What is it? You are so loud. Right now, I am in a meeting with Cater and Kalim. WHAT?! MALLEUS?!

Kalim/Cater: ?!

Chapter 3

Hall of Mirrors

Silver: Stop pushing. It's forbidden to enter the Hall of Mirrors.

Man A: Huh, really! I came all the way to the Isle of Sages to see Malleus Draconia.

Man B: We are doing the Draconia challenge now! Why can't we enter~

Girl C: He’s inside right! An actual Draconia, the Actual Malleus!

Everyone: MALLEUS! MALLEUS! MALLEUS!

*Lightning and thunder*

Silver: It's a rare event that Master Malleus is participating in. He also agreed to interact with the guests... For it to come to this... Everyone, it’s better if you leave. You have angered master Malleus.

Man A: I paid a lot of travel expenses, did you know that? This is the price of fame.

Everyone: MALLEUS! MALLEUS! MALLEUS!

Exterior Hallway

Cater: Did the visitors who wanted that  MagiCam glory end up angering even Malleus himself?

Sebek: Yes. At first he was gentle and calmed me down when I got angry… but a fool grabbed Malleus by the horns and made fun of him by saying "Look! It's a bicycle from the olden days!"

Lilia/Cater: Gh!

Cater: I don't know if they're brave or just reckless. Were the dark clouds and thunder rampaging in the sky above the Hall of Mirrors due to Malleus' anger? You don't think he overblotted, right…?!

Lilia: Do not worry. Using that amount of magic power shall not make him overblot. He is simply irritated. Back when he was young, mountains would be destroyed by his lightning whenever he threw a tantrum.

Cater: Hahaha… that's on a totally different level. I guess it was a good idea to have Kalim fetch the professors.

Sebek: Upperclassman Vil noticed something was up and isolated the young master. He also casted a defensive spell so the tourists wouldn't be harmed. And it seemed that Upperclassman Jade is persuading the angry young master with some unique methods... Even so, those humans who can't seem to understand the gravity of the situation keep stirring up the young master, they're uncontrollable.

Lilia: This means we must use our last resort. We must put in effort to suppress the onlookers and avoid the worst situation.

Cater: Wait a second, Lilia. I thought of something. It's not like people there dislike Malleus or anything. Despite that, it doesn't mean that they like Malleus as well... They're just interested in trends. Just like my old acquaintances.

Lilia: ?

Cater: First, I'll take a picture of Lilia, who's wearing the same clothes as Malleus!

*shutter noise*

Cater: Next we use something catered to influencers. We'll elongate Lilia's picture with a photo editing app!

*swiping on phone*

Cater: Now we just add some text to finish it up. And then upload a cropped version to MagiCam!!

*Phone SFX*

Cater: #AWildMalleusAppeared #DraconiaChallenge #UnexpectedlyAtSportsGround #NRCHalloween

*Phone SFX*

Hall of Mirrors

Man A: H-Hey. Look at the Draconia challenge tag.

Man B: It seems he's at the Sports Ground now. As expected of Malleus. He's much faster than we are!

Girl C: Okay. Everyone, let's move!

Everyone: YEAH!

Silver: What happened? Master Malleus should still be in the Hall of Mirrors.

Cater: Fu. With this, I hope the storm has passed…?

Vil: Good grief. Accidents are an unavoidable part of stage plays. Letting yourself get influenced by the guests is so amateurish. My work here is done. I will return to the dorm to straighten up my appearance.

Jade: My, that was a close call. Malleus is extremely powerful. I persuaded him to the best of my abilites, trying to get him to understand. But there was no one to turn to if it had failed. Well then, I will also return to my station. I wish everyone a wonderful Halloween.

Malleus: I caused many disturbances between different racial groups during a mere school event. I should restrain myself more…

Sebek: The young master has done nothing wrong! It was the fault of those inferior humans!

Silver: The young master told us to avoid hostility between fae and humans. Why are you getting more hostile?

Sebek: WHAT DID YOU SAY SILVER!

Lilia: Malleus. Did you forget our promise from long ago? Call for us when the tranquility in your mind is disturbed.  Even if we are not related by blood, we are still a family. Got it?

Malleus: Lilia… My apologies. To everyone.

Everyone: …

Cater: ….Family…huh.

Flashback

Lilia: But just as Cater said, there may be a perfectly logical explanation for not getting too attached to one person in particular.

Flashback ends

Cater: (That was full of lies. For a guy who grew up and lived in the same place, he never had to deal with rebuilding relations over and over…He would never understand my worthless and meaningless feelings.)

*ringing*

Cater: Hello, Trey. What's up? Huh? Are we doing our rehearsal for our night show at the stamp rally now? And Deuce, who is also part of the Halloween Committee, was at his wit's end due to the lack of manpower. So Ace is helping him out? Darn, Ace is definitely going to extort me for a favor later!

Cater: Argh! And is Riddle on the verge of a rampage? I'll be back soon, Trey. Please calm him down! I am currently at the site of the biggest crisis yet of this Halloween Week! No, for real! I'm not lying. That's why you don't have to be so cold to me, 'kay? URGH, TREY, YOU'RE SO CRUEL!

Cater: Now that Diasomnia's turmoil has settled, let's change the mood and continue on with work. In any case, we’ll still separate after the fourth year… It would be different if I repeated a year though. Anyway, I should just enjoy the moment to my heart's content! I'll surprise everyone with this charming skeleton costume! I'll show them what I'm capable of!

Cater: Happy Halloween!

[mageofseven]

Could you please possibly do something where the MC is a little food/cooking obsessed? As in like, it's how they show affection and how they comfort people. Sad? Have pumpkin pie. Angry? Ice cream. Any other emotion? Cupcake. lolol I'm sorry if this is too similar to other stuff but I feel like you'd be able to do this really well Xx

Bonus points if they're very insistent and smothering

Thank you!

Lucifer:

Dear devil, this brother gets a lot of treats from them.

This man is stressed 24/7 and the human knows it.

MC used to go overboard with gifting him sweets so the oldest had to put a stop to it.

They try to hold back because he has explicitly asked them to, but sometimes they simply can't hold back.

When Lucifer gets food from them now, it's usually because his Love became very worried about it him

And the man takes that as a sign that he needs to take a break from whatever he's doing.

On the plus side, they usually give him treats that are good with coffee or tea, which he commonly drinks to keep himself awake and working.

Mammon:

Gets a lot of chocolate from the human when he's feeling down.

He mentioned that he liked chocolate around them like once and now he has a surplus.

Punished by Lucifer? Chocolate cupcake. Back in debt? Brownies. Brothers ganging up on him? A whole chocdevil cake.

Complains about the chocolate overload, but secretly loves it

Because it shows that 1.) They actually listened and remembered him mentioning that he likes chocolate and 2.) That they actually worry for him.

Pretends to reject the sweets at times just to hear his Human beg for him to take it and then acts as if he's doing them a favor by eating it.

Leviathan:

Makes snacks that are easy for the otaku to eat while gaming

Like homemade potato chips and stuffed pretzel bites.

If he's had a particularly hard day or has lost the same fight for the millionth time, he'll suddenly find a plate being shoved onto his lap and his Henry staring at him in worry.

His brain breaks a little each time they do this, but he eventually mumbles out a 'thanks' and takes a bite, watching how the human seems to settle somewhat at the action.

Goes back to playing his game, but makes a point to try keep calm this time around so MC doesn't get worried again.

Satan:

Makes him a lot of cat shaped treats, often some kind of pastry, but also cupcakes with cat designs.

Some days he just sighs a bit too much and his Kitten just wants to make him smile 😔

Gets extra creative for him one day.

"Kitten...how do you expect me to eat this?"

Boy is blushing at how cute the treats are

But his Kitten's face is even cuter so he cannot say no.

MC smiles happily as their boyfriend eats the treats.

Asmodeus:

This man loves strawberries and cherries so the Human tries to incorporate them with the food she makes him.

Cherry pies, strawberry cream puffs, or even something as simple as chocolate covered strawberries.

This man doesn't have a bad day often though so he usually pretends to so his Dolly will make him some.

He's not actually tricking them or anything though. The man gets all overdramatic, making the human laugh, and then the follow suit and make the treats for him.

It's a cute dynamic they have 🥰

Beelzebub:

The Avatar of Gluttony gets a variety of food from his Muffin, regardless of whether he's sad or not.

Often gets a few hamburgers or turkey burgers from the human though.

Regardless of how hungry he is, the big guy always makes sure to thank his Muffin with a kiss before chowing down

And hugs them close afterwards, thanking them again for thinking of him and worrying for him when he's down.

Belphegor:

Belphie's down for whatever they make him

...as long as they feed him.

The seventh brother is just a brat, extra so when he's having a hard day.

He'll sleepily lay his head on their lap as they spoon feed him something simple, like jello or pudding.

Combine this with stroking the man's hair and his Human can really turn around his whole day.

[coffeeandcalligraphy]

A chatty writing update | novels, short fiction, etc!

Hi folks!

It’s been a while since I last wrote an update on this blog! I thought it’d be fun to go back to basics, and just talk about writing. This post chats about: new plans for Feeding Habits, my newest novel, my short story goals & growing collection, along with process reflections.

(image description: a photo of green leaves with the text “writing update” in a white font written on top. /end image description)

Post starts under the cut!

General taglist (please ask to be added or removed)

@if-one-of-us-falls, @qatarcookie, @chloeswords, @alicewestwater, @laughtracksonata, @shylawrites, @ev–writes, @jaydewritesfiction, @jennawritesstories @eowynandfaramir, @august-iswriting, @aetherwrites, @avakrahn, @maisulli

What have I been up to?

For starters, I finished my second year of my Writing undergrad last week and got two of my final grades back today (A+ baby)! For anyone who has taken online university, y’all already KNOW, but this year was so difficult. Would not recommend! Really proud of myself to have gotten through this absolute rollercoaster of a school term and am excited to get into some writing. That leads us to:

What have I been up to (writing edition)?

2021 started off so fast. By the time January hit, I was so consumed in my new semester that I did not have time to write Feeding Habits (my novel). In the first few days of the term, I managed to write between class, until I could no longer keep up! Essentially, I did not write any of that novel until exam season (last week), where I did manage to get in about 3k words in ~4 days.

Feeding Habits

I’m currently drafting what I believe will be the last chapter of this book (chapter 10: Swan Song). This chapter is so bizarre for a few reasons. It begins the book’s third part and also marks the shift back into Lonan’s head from Harrison’s. I originally thought this part would be much, much longer, with at least another five chapters to go, but quickly realized the book’s content was nearly completed. In my 4 day 3k palooza, I hit 50k in the book (the word count goal), and couldn’t see myself extending past 60k. Since then, I’ve made the loose decision to write this final chapter as a ~novella. Here are a few reasons why:

1. This chapter is structurally very strange.

I unashamedly shift from present to past to present to past past, and so much more every 12 words. I mapped out the timeline on a sheet of paper, and there were over 20 shifts in scenes (the chapter is only about 4400 words at the moment). The fictive past is incredibly important to this chapter, more important than the present, and I thought it would make more sense to not break randomly for a chapter so I could upkeep the consistent inconsistency of the chapter.

2. The chapter is very abstract

This stems from the structural changes, but there are paragraphs in this chapter of the fictive present that are loosely based in reality. They’re more poems than they are factual paragraphs, and keeping them all contained in one place (so a mega chapter/ novella) would reduce the most confusion!

3. There’s not much left to cover

Like I said above, Feeding Habits is on its last leg, lol! I know exactly where the book needs to end up, which is very, very soon from where I’m currently at on the timeline. Swan Song should cover what 2-4 chapters would cover in terms of arcs.

Feeding Habits and I have a really weird relationship, tbh! When I realized a few weeks ago that it’d been over a year since I started the book, I realized I just needed to finish it. Not that I want to rush (because I’ve taken longer than a year to write a book in the past), but that in order to move onto another project, I’d like to put this one behind first. This book has been the hardest thing I’ve ever written, and has reminded me there’s always a time to let go. This sort of scrounges up a conversation about letting this entire series go, which is certainly something I’ve been contemplating doing soon(ish). If this spinoff series gets a third book, that may or may not be the last Fostered book for a very long time (or ever)! There are many complex reasons to move on, but the main one is that I have other projects I’d like to focus on. This is not a definitive decision, but something I’ve certainly been thinking about!

Here are a few excerpts I wrote recently:

(TW: death, gore)

Dying feels like being a trout dangled out of water. Clinging to a hook. Mouth open. Scales iridescent in a final death cry. It’s like blood spurting up the knuckles, drowning out the flesh. It’s that moment on the long fall down when the clouds cup the body. Easy drifting. The sound a skull makes when it cracks is really just the afterthought.

(TW: death, gore)

Kill shot. Death blow. Coup de grace. Right in the heart. He feels it. The blood swelling, slicking his palms. He can do it. Reach into the cavity. Feel for the ribs. Part each bone. Then cup the humming heart. Stay there. Right. It’s never been easier.

Look at this PURE moment of Lonan holding a baby I CANNOT:

The grocery store was a fifteen-minute walk away. With Olivia clinging to his shoulder, Lonan was acutely aware that she could feel his heartbeat. Open valve. Close. Repeat. Hers pulsed right above his, a miniature drumming. The sky had bruised purple, misted with clouds. The evening air nipped his cheeks, so he made sure Olivia was securely fastened between him and his jacket. With wide eyes, she absorbed the drowsy suburbia, all its family cars pulling into driveways, all its couples heading back home after a sunset walk. When Lonan passed a young boy walking two golden retrievers, Olivia giggled, and didn’t stop, even after he’d spent fifty dollars on groceries and nearly the rest on a red Corolla marked with a MUST GO NOW sign outside a convenience store.

Let’s move on!

Mandy and Cora

I said I wouldn’t talk too much about this project, but I just love it so much?? I wanted to share my SUPER early thoughts on drafting a novel, especially one that is SO different from what I’ve been writing recently. I talked about this before in THIS post, but the summary about this project is that it’s a YA contemporary novel! Can’t believe I’m writing YA again, it’s been so long, but I also think it’s going so well. Everything I’ve learned as a literary fiction writer has been a fantastic primer for transferring back to the genre. Admittedly, I have not written much, but I’m having a lot of fun diving back into a lighter project. This is the summary:

Cora and Mandy are identical twins who’ve always done everything together. But when Mandy decides to go to university out of province after graduation and Cora doesn’t, Cora takes this as an opportunity to “test run” life apart from her sister for the first time by spending the summer at her aunt’s house across the country.

I have come up with a few ~things since I last talked about this project, mostly how I’d like to structure it. As of now, I’d like the book to be structured super loosely. I’m really pulling on a lot of inspo from “We Are Okay” by Nina LaCour (which is SO good), particularly how “nothing happens-y” that book is. This project (which I still need a title for!!) will be structured in short chapters that cover something Cora does on her own for the first time (without Mandy). For example, a few ideas are “Flight”, “Lunch”, and “Groceries”. “Flight” is the first “chapter” (they’re really kind of vignettes) where Cora flies to her aunt’s house. I still can’t determine if this book will take place in Canada. On one hand, I feel like there will be a wider audience if it takes place in the US (is that just an assumption??? maybe?? someone let me know!), but also: don’t really care too much about an audience at the moment! It could also take place in Canada (So Ontario and British Columbia). But if it does take place in the US, I think it may take place in NYC and San Francisco. The problem is: I really don’t like researching lol, and while I’ve been to NYC many times, I will definitely write it wrong! Does this really matter on a first draft?? absolutely not lol, but of course I am already overthinking!

But back to structure: I am looking forward to seeing what this looser structure will do. This is a story that is solely around one half of a set of twins learning to be her own person (and ultimately that she doesn’t have to completely forget her sister in order to do that), and as a twin who KNOWS this feeling, I think this structure of her doing things for the first time is SUPER relatable.

I was worried it might sound silly/worrying to others who are not twins that Cora hadn’t done things like “lunch” or “groceries” on her own, but I feel this so much as an identical twin myself! Not that she hasn’t done anything at all by herself, but as a twin, when you do something without your twin for the first few times, at least in my experience, you notice. If any twins are reading this--weigh in!

This story is the most personal thing I’ve ever written. It definitely is an OwnVoices book! Usually, I avoid details that are remotely similar to me because they make me uncomfortable haha, but with this book, it’s all me, lol! The characters are all Guyanese, which is SO fun because I’ve been planning what they eat (my fellow Caribbean peeps know: the FOOD!), which is so fun (yes they have pumpkin and shrimp, yes they have roti, yes they have pera, yes they have mithai). Every time I’ve gone to dabble at this book, or even think about it, I get incredibly emotional for this reason? I don’t exactly know why. I think this is a story I just so want to tell, with the culture I love SO much that I definitely struggled to love as a child. This is reclamation bitchessss!

Not going to lie tho: the prospect of writing ~a book~ is kind of freaky! I’m going to make the minimum word count for this book pretty short (50k) and see where it goes from there. I think I will focus on this project this summer! Originally I was going to write a literary novel this summer, but I think this one’s calling my name!

Here’s a pretty rough excerpt:

Try. I remind myself that’s what I’m doing after the flight attendant fills me a disposable cup of Coca Cola and all I can think of is Mandy and I shoving Mentos into a bottle of the stuff when we were twelve. Just me, wedged in the middle seat between an exchange student heading out for summer break and a middle-aged woman sipping a cocktail, thinking of Mandy and I bursting whole oranges in a blender when we were bored one Winter break as the plane dips through a wave of turbulence. Mandy and I dying our hair neon green with highlighters (didn’t work—our hair is too dark) as the plane lands on the tarmac. Mandy and I arguing so loud last month, we both lost our voices as I lug my carry-on out of the overhead compartment and shuffle off the plane and through the airport, searching for Aunt Vel.

Short Fiction

I’ve written so much short fiction this year! I have a goal to write a short story a month (they can range in length, as long as 1 is “complete”), so my short story brain has seriously been soaking it all up lately. Let’s chat my month to month breakdown so far:

January:

I wrote four stories in January! The first is a flash fiction piece called “Shark Swimming” that follows a young woman who attends a shark swimming class after breaking up with her girlfriend. I wrote this story for a “test” workshop for my fiction class, and it was based off the prompt “think about something you’re afraid to do and make the character do that thing”. I’m not particularly afraid of sharks, but had been wanting to use the title “Shark Swimming” for AGES (literally since 2018).

This story is one of my favourites. It’s only about 900 words, but I think there’s something profound in how mundanely specific it is. The entire story doesn’t even see the narrator swim with sharks once; it actually takes place fully in the sanctuary’s lobby. But I really love this narrator. This is the first story I’ve written in second person in a while, though I felt really connected to the unnamed narrator. She struggles with accepting that she truly is a “boring” person, and there’s something about the final image that really gets me!

I’ve been submitting this around, though it’s been rejected a handful of times. Hoping I can secure it at a magazine one day because I really love it!

The second story is “Joanne, I’ll Pray for You” which is actually a rewrite of one of my very first short stories (the first story I did not write for a class haha), “NYC in Your Apartment”. I LOVE this rewrite a lot, and also learned the original is not a very good short story! Revising this story taught me just how much I’ve learned in the 2 years I’ve been writing short fiction. Seeing the 2019 version versus the 2021 version side by side is fascinating because I essentially “gutted’ the 2019 version of its beginning and end until all that was left was the middle of the story (aka the actual story). AKA: this is the only story I’ve ever written with a hopeful ending and I cut out all the happy bits lol I am SO sorry (that arc is more for a novel or novella). That’s how this went from a 5k word story to an 1800 word story (my Submittable thanks me for this lol). A lot of details and scenes I included were more pertinent to a 3 act structure/novel, which of course short stories don’t often have because of their brevity. I love rambling about writing theory, and seeing that actually pay off is so fascinating!

(TW: trauma)

Like the original, this story follows Joanne, a woman in her early twenties, who spontaneously breaks up with her boyfriend. She claims the poltergeist haunting her drove her to this decision. The original draft focused a lot more on the traumatic events Joanne survives, but this draft really loosens them up. It focuses less so on the events themselves, and more on how Joanne’s life is affected. I found the details of these events were less important, and even sort of contradicted Joanne’s insistence she is being haunted. Instead, the poltergeist really takes more precedence in the new draft as a force Joanne doesn’t understand. That ambiguity, I think, is what the story truly needed.

I also centralized Joanne’s relationship with her boyfriend, Julian, here. Now don’t get me wrong, I really didn’t add anything to this draft. It was a matter of trimming the fat around it to leave the lean “meat” in the centre. But by removing that fat, I was able to emphasize what was most important here, and that was her relationship. Julian always played a really big role in the original draft, but I feel like his role as both a friend and partner to Joanne is much more emphasized since this draft literally is only two scenes now. Because there is less, there is more room for Joanne to reflect, which I’m happy about!

A final change I made was the setting and therefore the title. The original, which was “NYC in Your Apartment,” I couldn’t keep because I shifted the setting to Toronto (this is how I originally saw it, but in 2019 I just?? couldn’t?? write?? canlit??), and “Toronto in Your Apartment” sounded sort of gross LOL. The new title comes from a line in the story which I think is more relevant to the themes!

The next short story I wrote in January was “How to Spell Alpaca.” This one is super fun because I wrote it SO fast (in about 15 minutes or so). THIS is the writing update if you’re interested in learning more. I talked extensively about this one in that update, but some developments are that I dove into an edit a few weeks ago to really understand the core of the story. I’m still not quite there (this is just an intuitive feeling; I know not everything has “clicked), but I am really intrigued by the two mothers in the story, the narrator, and her newfound acquaintance, Violet. Both really struggle to understand their place as mothers (the narrator even declares she isn’t a mother anymore). The narrator, who is in her 50s, sees herself in Violet, who is much younger (~20s), and so she views Violet’s relationship with her daughter in a cautionary, yet mournful way, like she can see it will end up like her own relationship with her daughter, despite wanting the opposite. This is a really subtle story. I feel like if you blink, you’ll miss the message. But I think it’s compelling for that reason. It’s really a portrait of parenting and how to grapple with mistakes you may make that inevitably affect your children. Wow just unlocked the theme writing this lol.

The final story I wrote in January is “The Party,” which may be in my top 3 faves I’ve ever written. This story follows Aida, a recent divorcee in her ~40s. The day her divorce turns official, she moves into a new house and receives a party invitation addressed to the previous homeowner, yet RSVP’s anyway. At this party, she’s hoping to find some sense of noticeability, having struggled with being nondescript her whole life. Things seem quite normal at the party, until it gets bizarre.

I LOVE this story, y’all. Like “How to Spell Alpaca” it really delves into motherhood. Aida, our narrator, is incredibly hurt after her divorce. She now lives farther from her children she struggled to feel connected to in the first place, and doesn’t really know how to reignite her life. This party is a means to do that. This is the first story I’ve written that contains a “twist” which is strange because I really prefer stories that give us as much info as possible upfront, but yes, this one sort of twists.

February

I wrote one story in February, and that was “Protect the Young.” This title is SO changing when I think of a new one because it’s thematically incorrect, haha, but this story follows a woman in her late 40s whose daughter, Lindy, announces she is married the same day all their backyard chickens turn up dead. The discovery of dead chickens prompts our narrator to recall her ex-husband’s murder and the role her daughter may have played in his death.

I love this story so much! I think this would make a great closing for my short story collection. It just has that vibe! I wrote this for my second fiction workshop. I thought I had to hand in the story a week earlier than I had to, so I panicked and wrote this in one sitting! Little did I know, I did not need to do that lol but I’m very happy because this story is so fun. We get to learn more about Arnold (her ex), his relationship with Lindy, and how that translates to Lindy’s relationship with her new husband, Malcolm. I LOVE true crime (I listen to about 3-4 hours of case coverage daily), and this is my first “true crime” story. Because of that, I’m very sus of a few details that probably wouldn’t slide in actual investigatory work, so I’ll also be working on that in a revision. My professor also gave me a great suggestion that may alter the story’s structure a bit, though I look forward to toggling with it in the future.

March

In March, I was really on a Criminal Minds kick lol. I’ve been watching this show since I was seven (oops), and dove into a rewatch since it hit Disney+! This story, “Where to Run When the Lamb Roars,” is very clearly Rachel watching 5 episodes of CM a day. Oops! We follow 14-year-old Astrid as she and her older half brother kidnap a young girl to sacrifice for their yearly ritual.

I knew a few things going into this story, but the main thing was that I did NOT want to show any details of a potential murder (if one even occurs). I really wanted to keep all of those elements off the page because this story is not about those events, but about Astrid’s relationship with her brother. They are a murderous duo, with Astrid actually being the dominant partner. I wanted to explore that. I knew her brother, Fox, was more of a submissive partner in their team, even when he used to do this same thing with his father when he was much younger (chilling!), and so it was a task to explore how this young girl’s desire for violence works. The end actually comes right before the story starts, one could say, but I like it for this reason. It really made me contemplate the story by the time I finished it, and helped me examine what it really was about versus what it appeared to be about.

April

(TW: sexual content, non explicit)

I was so busy this month! Who knows if I’ll write a story last minute, but I did write one story this month called “Five Times Fast.” I wrote this during a “writing sprint” that was being hosted at a flash fiction workshop I recently took with one of my favourite writers ever, K-Ming Chang. I learned so much from this class, and am so happy I came out of it with a draft! This story is just over 300 words, so the shortest flash I’ve ever written, but I’m really happy with it. It was based off the prompt “describe the last time you or your character was naked.” In this case, the narrator has a “friends with benefits” relationship with Ricky who works at a laundromat. This story highlights a moment in this relationship (and also Ricky’s goofy personality lol). I really like it! Hopefully I’ll submit it to some magazines soon.

My short story collection

Very briefly I wanted to touch on my short story collection which I’ve titled “She is Also Dead.” I’ve been meaning to make a blog post on this, so look out for that in the coming months, but this collection is already at around 35k words (about 14 stories so far). The collection also surprisingly has a solid amount of flash fiction which is kind of fun! There’s definitely a range here, which is what I personally love in short story collections.

I feel very professional now that I have a ~collection chart. This is her:

(image description: A chart with the title “She is Also Dead.” It is broken into four columns: Story, Status, Word Count, and Published. Entry 1 - Story: Slaughter the Animal. Status: Revisions, Word Count, 3982, Published: N/A. Entry 2 - Story: Joanne, I’ll Pray for You, Status: Polished, Word Count: 1809, Published: N/A. Entry 3 - Story: Primary Organs, Status: Published, Word Count: 2342, Published: The Malahat Review. Entry 4 - Story: Faberge, Status, Polished, Word Count: 619, Published: N/A. Entry 5 - Story: The Wolf-Antelope Will Not Come for Us, Status, Polished, Word Count: 1556, Published: filling Station (forthcoming). Entry 6 - Story: How to Spell Alpaca, Status: revisions, Word Count: 1327, Published: N/A. Entry 7 - Story: Blink Twice for Final Judgement, Status: Polished, Word Count: 6572, Published: N/A. Entry 8 - Story: The Species is Dead, Status: Published, Word Count: 1208, Published: Minola Review. Entry 9 - Story: Shark Swimming, Status: Polished, Word Count: 907, Published: N/A. Entry 10 - Story: The Party, Status, Polished, Word Count 2339, Published: N/A. Entry 11 - Story: Fig, Status: Polished, Word Counter: 947, Published: N/A. Entry 12 - Story: Protect the Young, Status: Revisions, Word Count: 4128, Published: N/A. Entry 13 - Story: Where to Run When the Lamb Roars, Status: Revisions, Word Count: 2174, Published: N/A. Entry 14 - Story: Phantom Limbs, Status: Revisions, Word Count: 4844, Published: N/A.) /end image description.

This order is DEFINITELY not permanent (at this point whenever I write a story, I just fit it randomly into this chart lol), and some of the info is outdated (for example, Slaughter the Animal is now polished!!! thank god!!!). But just an idea of what I’m thinking of including.

This is the summary so far:

In SHE IS ALSO DEAD, characters are pushed to act on their gravest impulses. A small town turns murderous when their local invasive species, the Janices, begin dying. A child struggles to understand her mother’s suicide. A college dropout who insists she’s being haunted by a poltergeist unexpectedly breaks up with her boyfriend. A mother acknowledges her daughter’s murderous tendencies after her backyard chickens mysteriously die. A young girl caters the funeral of a girl rumored to be killed by a wolf-antelope. A newly-divorced mother RSVP’s to a bizarre party she was not invited to, and a murderous brother and sister upkeep their yearly tradition of abducting a young girl. These stories follow characters who navigate death, violent desires, womanhood, and loss, both self-imposed and otherwise.

This is also so subject to change as I may pull and add stories to the collection!

I think I’m going to leave this update here for now! I’ve written TONS of poetry too, but I honestly ~hate my poetry right now lol, so! Hope you enjoyed this chill rambly update. Hope writing has going well for you all! All the best!

--Rachel

[jjk-biased]

youtuber! jungkook x youtuber! reader

crack! social media au

genre: fluff, crack, some angst

chapter summary: after somehow placing 2nd overall on OGN's e-sports festival, jin fulfills his bet by taking you and your friends to lotte world for a hopefully stress-free and peaceful day.

words: 1.8k (cannot be read as standalone)

warnings: aside from cussing, none!

24. unsaid feelings

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The fireworks painted the dark sky with bright hues of red and blue. And while it could be the most beautiful view they've ever seen, Jungkook would beg to differ.

You were his prettiest view. The way your eyes would twinkle at each spark. How bright your smile would become as the glitters danced in the sky. The way your delicate hand encased in his would tighten at each exciting moment.

You were breathtaking.

Jungkook had long since ceased watching the show. He instead chose to observe your reactions to it with a dumb smile on his face. It was adorable. You were adorable.

Finally feeling his gaze on you, you found yourself turning red. Your eyes met his, then you two leaned closer.

and closer

and closer.

Until your lips were a few centimeters apart.

As the last and greatest firework exploded, you two ki—

“WAKE THE HELL UP YOU DORKS!!!”

for fucks’ sake.

Laughter rang throughout the living room as Jungkook fell from the couch. They all slept at Namjoon’s house once again after the e-sports festival had ended and it extended until today. Like how the first sleepover turned out, everyone fell asleep in the living room.

“Noisy much, Jin?” You grumble, also waking up from Jin’s morning call.

“If we wanna enjoy Lotte World and get there early, y’all shoulda been up and about.”

“IT’S ONLY 7 AM WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!”

Hoseok, who somehow already had an immense amount of energy, cackled at you and Jungkook’s state. The others wordlessly began to wash their faces, some opted to help Jin with breakfast.

After a long time of preparing, the rambunctious group of friends finally went on their trip to Lotte World.

Unbeknownst to you and Jungkook, however, the little shits had planned something that you’re not sure whether to be thankful of or angry at.

Jungkook had finally admitted to everyone else, while you were fast asleep on the floor in between Namjoon and Hoseok, that he had been harboring a genuine liking towards you. He had gone to sleep not long after, and that was when Taehyung began to brew plans to give him a little push.

It’s been awhile since you’ve gone to any amusement park, so you had a child-like wonder painted on your face when everyone went in. It was absolutely adorable to say the least and even if Jungkook was unable to say it out loud, his dopey grin was enough.

You all thought it was a good idea to start the peaceful day with death disguised as rollercoasters. You’re sure you know who wanted everyone to die so early in the day, the terrified looks of all but one little shit told you more than you need to know.

“Do we really have to do what he says?” You grumble as Jungkook basks in his success.

“Might as well do it now when the line isn’t as long…” Yoongi trailed off, slowly losing the confidence he had stored in when he heard the shrieks of the people.

Luck might not be with you today when everyone scrambled to sit at the safest parts of the cart— which is everywhere but the first row. Moreover, the only person left to sit with you was none other than the idiot responsible for your demise that day.

“Hurry up pumpkin, you’re so slow!”

Whatever retort you wanted to throw was shoved in your throat when the staff secured your death seat.

“Aw is little pumpkin scared?”

“For the last time, jungleboy, I am nOT LI— FUCK THIS RIDE AAAAAH”

To say the least, your luck took a vacation and left you to suffer with Jungkook and the others.

Everyone decided to eat lunch after that traumatizing event. Namjoon and Jin were scouting for a place to eat, Hoseok and Yoongi decided to look for food choices, and that left you with the three youngest idiots of your idiot group to explore the rigged booths.

There was a shooting game where you just had to knock over the pyramid of cans to get the fluffiest alpaca ever. And while you’ve ingrained it in your mind that these games are scams, the child in you couldn’t resist wanting to win one because 1) alpaca soft 2) alpaca big.

Jungkook wasn’t an idiot— dear lord, someone tell him — or at least he could tell the meaning of your longing stare towards the cute alpaca plush.

With a sigh, he stopped you from doing one of the most dramatic “goodbyes” ever to an alpaca plush and tried for the game.

“Step right up, mister! Win anything in this booth for your girlfriend for the small price of ₩5,000!”

“Oh, w-we aren’t— he isn’t,” you pathetically denied. It seemed you were the only one who got embarrassed though because Jungkook didn’t deny anything.

He did it with so much ease that even the staff was left speechless at his show. Maybe it was the alpaca he gave you talking, but damn did butterflies erupt in your tummy. He looked so cool shooting the cans with so much focus. To think he spent money and did so just for you, you were sure your heart melted (and it wasn’t because of the heat!!)

You thought the funny feeling would die down after.

Boy were you wrong.

Time after time after time again, he never failed to make you feel giddy inside.

When the two of you were paired up for this horror house, he never made you feel embarrassed. He instead offered his arm to you, even going as far as wrapping said arm around you so you could find refuge in him when a particular bit scares you more. Poor boy was too flustered from the entire ordeal to even notice some of the scarers.

Then there was this time where he cheered out of glee when you won from one of the booths. (you two used Jin’s money though lmao) He had complimented you endlessly on how “great you were, pumpkin!”

Though he’d often tease you about your shorter stature, he lets you use him as a shade from the harsh sunlight. It was a small but nice gesture.

Everyone else retreated to the restrooms after thinking it was a good idea to drink a lot before going to the teacups ride. The look on their faces was a memory you’ll never forget.

You two sat on one of those benches nearby and began to talk about random things— ramens and gaming included. Jungkook received a text from Jimin saying that the lines were too long and they could roam around while waiting.

“How about we go to those souvenir shops? I wanna buy something now before it gets too crowded,” You suggested, pointing to the array of stores.

“I don’t mind that, let’s go!” He cheered, taking hold of your hand (you don’t know if he’s aware of that or not but it made you red).

The next hour was spent trying on dorky thingamajigs and whatnot. After trying on a pair of funny specs, you decided it was time to go back to checking out rides.

The sun had begun to set and pink hues scattered through the sky. It allowed for a more calm and serene mood to set in as you two walked, your arms linked, and roamed around the parks (as well as trying to ignore the bustling noise of happy kids and crying babies lmfao)

Ramen, that was the name of the alpaca Jungkook won for you, was safely tucked in his arms. You, on the other hand, were busy munching on the popcorn that Jungkook bought (it was supposed to be for himself but you had your ways)

You probably didn’t hear whatever was going around, too busy eating his popcorn to care, but Jungkook heard every murmur people threw your way. Admittedly, he wished that you two were actually a couple like the little kid said

He wasn’t sure how it began. You two started on a rather weird meeting— with you mocking his so-called fifth grader level skills in Overwatch to him replying rather pettily to win the argument. Somewhere down the line, you two actually had common friends and were forced to meet. That was the moment he was taken aback by you.

Well honestly, he was always taken aback.

You were witty; always had comebacks ready to deploy for every remark he had. You were skilled; not only a master at time management for balancing college life with your career, but also great at gaming. You were kind-hearted; though your verbal jabs were piercing, he knew you meant no harm.

You were too good for this world.

So when he had scared you, rather unintentionally, with a horror game, he regretted it so much. But to be honest, he was also thankful for that day. God knows he probably wouldn’t have had the chance to “restart” how he treated you if he hadn’t fucked up.

You probably didn’t notice how his teasing now focused more on the thought of you with him. While he isn’t the best at conveying romantic feelings, he was absolutely fluent in memes.

Thank god for memes.

But at some point, he does have to tell you what’s going on. He can’t stay in this weird space with you— somewhere between friends who fight and friends who flirt. With a shaky sigh, he decided today was the day.

As if the universe were with him, you then finally noticed his silence. It was heart-warming to see concern in your pretty face when you took note of the unusual quietness.

“Are you okay, kook?”

Like a goldfish out of water, he opened his mouth then closed it again.

Fuck, it was harder than he thought.

Thousands of thoughts went through his head. Will you take him seriously? Will you stop being friends? Will you hate him for the feelings he harbored?

Every negative thought disappeared at the sound of your amused laugh.

He reminds himself why he liked you so much and gathers little courage to speak out his mind.

This is it.

Oh my god, this is it.

“Y/N, I have something to tell you…” He trailed off, now facing her properly. (poor Ramen was being squeezed to death)

You became nervous. Did he notice my staring? Holy shit is he gonna tell me I’m weird?

“I think I li—”

“Y/N!”

Internally groaning at yet another interruption, Jungkook turned to whoever decided to call you out. It was a guy, definitely older than you. He turned to you, silently questioning if you knew the intruder, and was surprised to see none of your cheery aura.

You were livid.

“Daniel Y/L/N.”

a/n: tumblr decided to be a bitch and didn't save every edit i made so this took awhile. also, #danielisoverparty and oops, y'all thought Daniel was an ex lmao ig i made him sound too ex-y 🤡

taglist: @armymaknae @rjsmochii @chogiyeol-utopia @deolly @liitlefaiiery @patpus @br0ther-s @borednia @tyraparker @ancailinaerach @tae165 @cherrycolababie @nininek12 @atulipandarose @hannahdinse8 @hereforaus @amoreguk @thewariestofheads @parkmaeri @thia-aep @diorhobii @seungcheoluwu @mipetronella @callmesenpaix @jungshookmeup @yoongisabby @parkchaeyoung1997 @alpaca1612 @bangtan-serendipity @karissassirak @fullsunkook @salty-for-suga @cholychi @smolbeaniejimin @netflix-batman-sleep @snickerdoodleeee @faeriegukkie @kpop4mysoul @crazylittlemay @theneighborhoodfangirl

permanent taglist: @luvinseokjinnie @97faerie

[stragglewort]

Uncommon OC Questions! For Ardolf: 1, 2, 14, 18, 33, 38, 45, 50 For Martin: 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 21, 36, 49 And 25, 41 and 43 for both! ＼(＾▽＾)／

Whoa, that’s a lot. You always know exactly how to pander to me. I’ll do my best! These are probably going to be some pretty long answers, though. 

________________________________________________________________

First up, Ardolf:

1.) A little-known talent of your OC?

Hm, for Ardolf? It would probably be his ability to work with children. Like, if he had been in a modern setting, he probably would’ve gone into family medicine or pediatrician work. Though he’s not a terribly charismatic person, he is pretty soft and fatherly and has high-key adopted nearly every child we’ve come across in the D&D campaign I use him as a character in. 

Otherwise? Whistling. He’s really good at whistling.

2.) What trait does your OC like best about themself? (Eyes, guitar skills, random bird facts, etc)

He’s extremely proud of his practical doctoring skills. Though he’s learned healing magic and divination now that he’s gotten older and wiser, he grew up in the Greymouth Clan – a house of human doctors and surgeons that almost specifically worked with hands-on medicine. Give him some bandages, some leaves, and a bit of elbow grease and he can patch you just as well as any spell! (Though maybe it’ll take a bit longer. He really just wants to be as helpful as possible, even after he can’t cast anything).

14.) Happy birthday! What kind of present would your OC want?

Anything from the heart! It could be a song, a poem, a letter, or even a neat looking rock. He hasn’t celebrated his own birthday for years and just the gesture of someone remembering would probably make him tear up. Had he been a bit younger, freshly baked sweet or herb bread would’ve been his jam! That’s only changed in the recent years because, you know, lycanthropy makes eating that sort of thing real difficult.

18.) Something that makes your OC laugh without fail? Carved pumpkins, gourds, and really anything that has a face when it probably shouldn’t.

Like, a goofy face? A scary one? A half-baked monstrosity that could barely count as a Jack-O-Lantern? Doesn’t matter, it’ll get him every time.

33.) A song that reminds you of your OC?

There’s too many to choose! Probably Kind Folk – instrumental by Kenny Wheeler and Brian Dickinson, Secunda by Jeremy Soule (from the Skyrim soundtrack), or The Bygone Days from Porco Rosso. Kind of just dependent on the scene!

38.) Random thunderstorm! How does your OC react?

He’d probably around and watch it go by. The thunder gets a little uncomfortably loud, considering his hearing is all lycanthropic, but something about rain and a nice mist reminds him of home at the times when he’s farthest away.

45.) What kind of self-esteem does your OC have?

A very poor one!

Though he does try to keep his chin-up, as he’ll say, the first word that would pop in his head to describe himself would be something like ‘monster’ or ‘creature’. Though his lycanthropy is something he wasn’t born with, and he’s spent a good portion of his life fighting against it, he’s begrudgingly settled on the idea that it’s a part of him he cannot control. And that tends to be a bit of a bummer sometimes! Though he tries to, he has a very difficult time separating the wants of the curse with his own – and though he’ll say he and the beast are two different beings (and ultimately, he’s right) he worries, deep down, if that might not truly be the case.

50. What is your OC’s happy place?

On the top of a mountain somewhere – close to his family – close to his friends – watching the clouds of morning mist roll across the peaks. Mostly anywhere safe, warm, and together with people he cares about.  

________________________________________________________________

On to Martin!

3.) Is your OC good at keeping secrets?

Hahaha, no. 

He certainly tries! But if he gets off on a nervous tangent (which is about 60%-85% of his dialogue) he has a tendency to overshare. Quiiite a bit.

4.) Your OC’s worst habit?

He cannot keep quiet. Half of the time he’s speaking, he’s usually not even sure what he’s saying! But boy will he say it. And he’ll say it in staggering, stuttering bulk. See above.

10.) Would your OC prefer to live in the city, the suburbs, or the country?

He has no idea. The suburbs?

A close-knit community, nice, quiet, everyone-knows-everyone and that means everyone knows who he is and maybe they’ll use that to catch him off guard. 

The city? 

So many people that he’d be faceless, could be safe! But also very, very unsafe. Notoriously unsafe. Wait, doesn’t he live in a city? If something happened would authorities even have time to help him? What if there’s so many people that they gang up on him? Hold on.

The country?

That’s isolated, safe, lovely – but what if it’s so isolated that if something bad happened no one would hear him calling! What if his neighbors were strange and odd, then what would happen? He’d be stuck with them! And the land prices!

If he’d have the choice, he’d probably live in a Minecraft house. On peaceful.

15.) Something that grosses your OC out?

Ironically, considering he’s a vampire spawn, blood! He’s super, extremely squeamish and cannot stand the stuff.

20. An obscure/ridiculous fear your OC has?

Honestly if you talked it up right, you could convince this poor man to fear anything. I cannot pinpoint just one. (Though high-key, reality television. He knows it’s usually fake, but what if it wasn’t? What if someday he’s just trying to watch TV or go grocery shopping and all of a sudden a camera crew shows up Truman Show style? Horrifying.)

21.) Does your OC have any type of disability, whether it be mental, physical, etc?

Mhm. Overarchingly he suffers pretty majorly from Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder (something that I plan to cover/work with pretty majorly in the stories) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (something he had been working with since before the whole vampirism thing). After the vampiric attack/turning, he also has some unnamed disorders he’s working with (I, as the author, have applied them as symptoms of his pseudo-vampirism, and didn’t want to apply real-world diagnosis to avoid some really poor misguided diagnostic attempts!) such as a whole lotta’ paranoia and general poor-coping with being a half-undead. He also has some pretty major ticks (specifically an eye twitch he, for the life of him, cannot get to stop).

36.) Your OC’s favorite fashion era? (20’s, 70’s, etc)

I’d say 90s grunge. But that’s kind of a stretch, and probably more of an excuse to not futz with his hair and wear clothes three times his size. 

49.) Your OC’s most prized possession?

:･ﾟ☆✧ The friendship he creates with the other Ghoul Parade protagonists :･ﾟ☆✧

In his apartment (which, mind you, is extremely cluttered and it the apartment equivalent of that Pepe Silvia picture) he has a small battery powered waterfall set up on what used to be his kitchen counter. It has a frog at the top that spits water into small pots that then pour into each other, and if he presses a button it’ll turn on some very soft LED lights. That. That is one of his most prized possessions.

29.) Someone does something awful in front of your OC. How do they handle it?

That depends on what sort of awful we’re talking about. He instinctively wants to help – to really help – and will go as far as putting himself into a hypothetical (or literal, who knows!) line of fire if someone’s really in danger. Though smaller things, in more everyday situations, he usually finds himself freezing up.

________________________________________________________________

And now, for both!

41. Does your OC like/make puns?

Yes. Absolutely. Without a doubt.  

43. Your OC wakes up with a coin super glued to their forehead. How do they react?

Ardolf would probably spend the whole morning trying to pry it off, before either succeeding or just giving up and asking one of his friends to help. To which they’d probably have no better luck. He wouldn’t be angry with whoever did it! More just kind of flustered until ultimately laughing it off. 

And Martin probably wouldn’t notice for some time (he doesn’t really keep any mirrors in his house. He can very-well see himself in them, but something about the connection they have to vampire lore makes him uneasy) and wouldn’t notice until someone pointed out. He’d then drop everything and take hours trying to figure out how someone got into his house to put a coin on his head. Why they did it. What kind of coin it was. If it was really, actually a coin. All to probably learn that he somehow did it himself in some freak minor mishap. Yes, that’s absolutely what he would do. 

[hawkbucks]

1.

Tony yelps at the flash of lightning that briefly illuminates the living room a shocking white. Thunder rumbles deep overhead, much, much louder than what he would like. His breath stutters; darkness surrounds him, thanks to the storm currently ravaging its way across the state outside, and the candle burning on the coffee table does little to quell his fear.

“Are you alright, Anthony?” Jarvis’s ever-gentle voice questions, running a gloved hand through the mess of curls Tony calls his hair.

“I’m scared,” he admits, burrowing himself deeper into Jarvis’s side. Another flash of lightning, another round of raindrops crashing themselves against the windows, another clap of thunder, and he feels his eyes start to burn. He’s about to cry, he knows it, and he hates it. Crying means he’s too weak. Crying means he’s too emotional. Crying means that he’s gonna get another one of Dad’s lectures about how “Stark men are made of iron.”

He can’t help the tear that slips down his cheek. He can’t help the sob that rips itself from his lips. He can’t help the shudders that wrack his body.

But thankfully—thankfully—it’s Jarvis that’s with him. Thankfully, Jarvis doesn’t say anything as he wipes the tears from Tony’s cheeks. All he does is hum.

2.

“What is with you lately, Tones?” Rhodey asks, standing in front of Tony as Tony sits on the edge of his bed. He places his hands on his hips, back ramrod straight and his expression screaming that he will not be taking any of Tony’s bullshit answers today. Not when Tony’s been somehow eating even less than he usually does and acting like he’s 2 weeks away from keeling over and dying.

Tony picks at a stray thread on his jeans, refusing to look him in the eye.

He wrinkles his nose. “I’m worried about you, man,” he says, voice going soft. “C’mon. Whatever it is, you can tell me.” God, he hopes Tony tells him. 3 years of living together in the same damn dorm, and Tony still refuses to talk about his problems even when Rhodey openly asks.

“I’ll wait here as long as it takes,” Rhodey threatens, head tilting to the side. “5 minutes or 5 hours, I don’t care.” He stares at Tony, pursing his lips together.

They’re about 7 minutes in when Tony finally speaks. “You know how I’m supposed to be going home for Christmas break?”

Rhodey nods slowly.

“I had an argument with my dad the other day,” Tony starts, voice hoarse, “and it—it didn’t go so well. I yelled. He yelled. We said things we’d regret. Or at least I said things I’d regret. Not sure about him.”

If Rhodey ever meets Howard Stark, he’s probably going to deck him in the face.    

“And he—he was so angry when he hang up and—and I don’t—” Tony blinks rapidly before scrubbing at his eyes with the sleeve of his hoodie, still refusing to look up at Rhodey— “I don’t wanna go home, I don’t—I’m scared.”

Oh yeah, Rhodey’s definitely going to punch Howard. For right now though, he’ll settle with kneeling in front of Tony and pulling him into a tight hug. “You could come home with me,” Rhodey murmurs, sighing when Tony’s hand clutch onto the back of his shirt. “My mom loves you. You know that. She’ll make you as much pumpkin pie as you want.”

Tony nuzzles into Rhodey’s shoulder. “As many as I want?”

“She’ll make you 5 of those damn pies if that’s what you want.”

Tony manages a giggle.

3.

If Tony dies in this goddamn cave, he’s gonna fucking haunt all the stockholders of SI. He prods at the car battery, face screwing up in distaste as he’s once again reminded that that’s the thing keeping a bunch of pieces of shrapnel from slowly piercing his heart.

“Thirsty, Stark?” Yinsen slides a mug full of water over the table.

The water’s more than likely stale and a bit warm, but he’s not in the position to be picky, is he? He takes the mug and downs the water in 2 gulps, ignoring the metallic taste to it. He rubs at the base of his neck. “How long have I been here?”

“A week,” Yinsen replies. Tony groans. “Which, if may I remind you, is a week of not giving them what they want.” Anyone else and it would seem like a scolding, but coming from Yinsen, whose lips are turned up in a grin, it just makes him feel proud.

“The food here is shitty. They don’t deserve what they want,” he snorts. “And they stuck a car battery in my chest, which isn’t what I want.”

“And what do you want?” Yinsen props his head up with a fist, staring at Tony with such an intense sense of knowing in his eyes that it’s kind of uncomfortable.

Tony averts his eyes, feeling like he’s under a microscope and ready to be picked apart with tweezers. He takes the empty water mug and starts juggling it. “Maybe a chicken sandwich, for one. Preferably on a brioche bun with extra mayo,” he jokes.

Yinsen huffs, which is probably as close to a laugh as Tony’ll get. He’ll take it. “Just a chicken sandwich?”

“And fries.” Oh, shit. He might be salivating a little.

Yinsen raises an eyebrow.

“I’m a simple man, Yinsen. What can I say?”

“Simple indeed.”

“Okay. That’s mean. You didn’t have to agree.”

Yinsen shrugs. “It seemed like the kind of statement that needed agreeing.”

Tony makes a talking gesture with his hand, mocking Yinsen (although they both know it’s in good humor. As good of humor you can get when you’re held hostage with someone else in a cave, anyway). “What, do you want to talk about our feelings?” He places the mug back on the table, leaving it dangerously close to the edge.

Yinsen gestures in between them. “You may lay them out if you wish.”

Tony’s eyebrows furrow. Suddenly he’s 17 again, living in the dorms with Rhodey and hiccuping his sorrows into Rhodey’s chest as Rhodey strokes his back and tells him that it’ll be fine. He clenches his fist as words fight their way up his throat and he tries to hold them back and back and back—”I’m scared,” he blurts out, biting his lip right after. Nice going, Stark, you idiot.

Yinsen nods like he understands. Like. Pft, no, he does understand, Tony knows that. The guy has a family that he wants to get back to, but for now he’s stuck in a cave with some snobby billionaire who doesn’t even remember him because he was so smashed. “Scared?”

“Well, yeah. Going from staying at the Four Seasons to having a bed that I’m pretty sure cannot legally be called a bed would be jarring for anyone.”

Yinsen taps his fingers on the table.

“God, you don’t let up, do you?”

Yinsen shakes his head.

“Shit, fine, okay. I’d like to say I’m not ever truly out of my element, but damn if this experience hasn’t been… trying.” He still has access to drafting paper and pencils, at least, along with some of his other machinations. Still, they’re more or less putting a gun to his head and forcing him to realize that what he’s been building with the intent to protect has been used to destroy. Jesus, he might actually have to get a therapist like Rhodey and Pepper have been bothering him to.

“It’s been trying for all of us.”

Tony exhales. “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. And it’s, like… I’m afraid that I’m gonna die here, you know? Not because I want to live��which, holy shit, I can’t believe I just said that out loud—but because if I die here, then I die knowing that I couldn’t do anything about this.”

“This?” Yinsen leans slightly forward.

“This.” Tony gestures at the ceiling above them. “The weapons. The blood. Those things.” And he thinks about the others. Rhodey. Pepper. Obadiah. DUM-E. Shit.

“You’re doing something about it right now by refusing to make them their weapons,” Yinsen says. “Defiance, Stark. Isn’t it great?”

“Defiance,” Tony repeats, “is pretty damn great.”

[seonfhwa]

hello friends! tis your favorite (or not) mingi stan, here with her first follow forever! 

recently, i hit the big milestone of 1,000 followers, something i never thought would happen! really, i want to thank all of you for following me, for supporting my content, for being a part of this mess of a blog. 

to those who came on over after i remade, and to those who only started following me yesterday, i love you all from the bottom of my heart.

click for some more fun things for my moots! (it gets long, i’m so sorry)!

i was thinking of doing something special, but i don’t know to what extent i could really do for all of you guys ;; if there’s anything you want (a lil blurb, a moodboard, a smol gifset) just let me know! this part’s only for mutuals, though, so keep that in mind. i don’t know how quick i can get all of the stuff done, but i would definitely do anything for you guys!!

for my mutuals, i’ve written each of you a little message. some may be shorter than others, but know that my love is overflowing and unending even if i may not be good with words!! also this isn’t really in any specific order!

@smol-joong 🌟 miss anett... i have a whole lot to say (if i say all of it we’ll be here forever), but honestly the main thing is... you’re my number one. you’re the sweetest, the most lovely, the most heartwarming. you’re someone i can count on no matter what, whether i need a pick me up or just attention. i love you, i truly truly do, and you always know how to make me happy. thank you for being my friend, for letting me love you, and for always being there for me!

@cherryjoong 🌟 maggie!! you’re honestly the sweetest bean, the most relatable human i’ve ever met. you were one of my first mutuals who really ever spoke to me, and i will forever hold you in a special place in my heart. you’re another person who’s always there for me, who really deserves the whole wide world. thank you for having such a big, caring heart.

@honeyboysan 🌟 jules, darling jules. frankly, you’re one of my first friends on this hellsite. you know how my first thing to you was me going “i poked around on your blog for a while before finally following you”? im just a big babey and you’re one of the most lovely people in the world. i’m really glad we’re friends, that i was able to meet someone like you. you make my heart happy, and you deserve all of the happiness in the world. it’s really, really good to see you happy.

@heoneyology 🌟 miss rainah!!! everyone always says you’re the mom type, and i’d have to agree. you’re sweet, you’re loving, you’re charming, and you’re one of the funniest people i know. your love for your biases (especially jooheon, zico, hongjoong, and ravn) makes my heart swell, and whenever i see you on my dash, i just get so happy. not to mention, when you’re happy, i’m happy! thank you for always being there to pick me up when i need it, and for being a ray of sunshine in my dull life.

@multidino 🌟 kimora!!! my multifandom queen!!! honestly, first of all i want to thank you for supporting me in all of my adventures and being one of the first people to help me kickstart my vav blog. second of all-- thank you, for being you. for being a great friend, for being a kind soul, for being one of the best people on this website. you’re doing your best, and that’s what matters!!! i love you so so so so much!!!

@ateezartblog 🌟 hello my sweet pumpkin. how are you today? have you eaten? did you sleep well? are you taking care of yourself? i hope you know how much i care about you!! i know you’re usually the one to come and check up on all of us, but sometimes you need it just as much as we do. please, angel love, remember to take care of yourself, even when you feel like you shouldn’t. you are just as deserving as everyone else, and one day, i hope you can see that. until then, i’ll make sure to remind you all of the time!! i love you lots!!

@wooyuong 🌟 precious angel baby inna!! hello my sweetest beanie baby. frankly, i don’t know how someone like you wanted to be friends with someone like me, but every time we talk i’m like !! that’s her im super blessed bc !! we friends!! you’re super talented, you’re super cute, and pls pls pls always remember that!!! you deserve all good things in the world and i’m so super glad that we talk ;;;

@wangtaeil 🌟 iconic miss bee!! life’s too short to only have one bias, and your words haunt help me to this day!!! i’m really glad i met you, because you’ve kinda sorta been a really big source of inspiration and help for me, especially recently. from feeling shitty about gifs, not wanting to be around, to even needing help with some stuff, i know i can always trust you and confide in you. you’re a talented woman, and you really have so much going for you. and you want to be friends with a lil nugget like me??? i am undeserving but thankful.

@choisansbitch 🌟 upaamaaa!!! now every time i eat a tuna sandwich, i think of you (i eat tuna a lot, so take that... i’m ALWAYS thinking about you). i know when we first started talking, i was nervous because i ??? really didnt feel like i even deserved to talk to you, cause you’re like... super amazing. but i’m so glad we’re friends!! you make some of the best gifs, and even if you don’t think so, i love them so so much!! and you’re honestly one of the sweetest, most relatable people in the world. please never lose your charm, i love you so much.

@missminji 🌟 hARLSS!!!! im still shocked that your super secret detective skills figured me out, but hey!! in the end they helped because now i actually talk to my “redacted” (we all know who redacted is) and i love her sm ;;; we havent been talking too much recently (i think life’s been kicking us rip) but no matter what, i love you, and i love getting to talk to you whenever i can. thank you for being my friend, i don’t deserve someone as lovely as you.

@utopiagf 🌟 you crazy, but ily. that’s it that’s the post-- ehrbgjehb im kidding, there’s so much more. you’re literally one of the most fun, bright, cheery person, and i love seeing you around. i know you just remade (and i was confused bc i was like?? nik??? where she go??) but literally i love love love seeing & talking to you, even if these days i’m still... super intimidated by you. but you’re such a sweetheart, and thank you for blessing me with your presence in my life. uwu

@visualsan 🌟 honestly i need to talk to you more ehjbrhjge every time i talk to anett and we mention you (all good things, of course uwu) i’m like?? why do i not talk to bea more?? literally you seem like such the coolest person, and i love love love seeing you, your gifs, everything uwu so yeah!! pls let’s talk more ilysm!

@prettyseonghwa 🌟 yas, i think you have one of the biggest hearts around here. you are so caring, so loving, and you really need to know that. i love you, really, so so much. thank you for always being there for us, for always giving the best advice and love that we all need. just know!! that you deserve a break too. you deserve all of the love you give-- and more. 

@dreamboyunho 🌟 cami, miss cami, my numba 1!!! you’ve always been someone i adore and cherish with all of my heart, but even recently we connected in a different, probably more personal way. it may not have been the best of circumstances but i’m really glad we did! i treasure you so much, and i’m glad i found someone i can truly confide in. we’re like!! two peas of a pod!! i’m really super duper glad i met you and that i can call you my friend.

@jonghostation 🌟 miss adelle uwu you’re so sweet and precious and we need more jongho stans like you (and more jongho stans in general) in this world!! i love talking to you, though recently i’ve been dead and not really socializing but i really do enjoy seeing you around and getting to talk to you!! you’re such a sweet soul and i love you. recently i saw you said you lowkey wish i was your mom?? c’mere baby you’re my child now uwu thank you for being the sweetest angel. aND I COULD NEVER FORGET YOUR ICONIC URL!!! ATINY LESSGEDDIT!!! DROP THE BEAT YOOOOO!!

@celestial-yunho 🌟 nini, you are literally... so talented. i dont know how i managed to score such a talented, loving, and sweet friend. your art!! is so good and im always really excited to see more of what you do. you’re my lil moon witch, and i love you so so much. thank you for giving me the time of day to get to know you, to be able to say that’s her!! thats nini!! thats my friend uwu you’re so precious and i hope you know that!!

@nctyping 🌟 im gonna be honest idek why i first followed you-- not in a like “ugh why did a follow her,,” i literally just cannot remember why i did. either way, it was one of the best decisions i’ve ever made. you’re one of the sweetest people in the whole world and i love reading what you write. like?? teach me your ways ;;; ily abbey!!

@toothgaptual 🌟 sun sun sunshine sunnie!!! okay, we don’t talk a ton, but i love love love when we do get to interact. you always manage to put a smile on my face, and i looove seeing you on my dash. please never ever think you’re bothersome or annoying, and talk your heart out! ilysm you cutie patootie!

@wonderhwalls 🌟 sweetest little flower, i know we’re more recently mutuals/friends, but i’m really glad i met you. talking to you always makes me feel better, whether its about what we’re doing, gifs, breaks, etc. you’re a voice of reason amidst the mess of this world, and i love being able to talk to you when i need a good pick me up. ily mika!!!

@atiteez 🌟 sonia, i literally think you were the first atiny mutual i ever had. i will always, aLWAYS hold you in a special place in my heart. you’re such a precious soul, and you’re lovely inside and out. i still dunno why you call me a moodboard queen-- i’m not thaaat good at that kinda stuff-- but i love you so much nonetheless. thank you for being my friend and helping me step into atinyblr (even though now we’re dying off).

@wlwrensung 🌟 miSS YUKKIIIII i hope you’re having fun on your trip!!! you’re one of my favorite people in the whole world, and i love love love talking to you. i mean?? someone like you??? wants to be friends with someone like me?? idk what you’re on that you wanna, but pls you’re the best ;;;; thank you for looking on someone like me and deciding “that’s it that’s her i wanna be friends with her” i dont deserve you but im all heart eyes bc i get to be friends with you!!

@shikyus 🌟 im an idiot with a brain the size of a pea and the memory of a goldfish. i love you-- i really do!! you’re one of the only people i clicked with immediately, and that’s kinda rare for me. you’re a sweetheart, you’re one of the most lovely people i’ve met, but you’re so chill and cool!! how do you do it?? honestly i’m really glad i met you, because like??? how often can someone say that they met someone and immediately clicked with them? i mean ok it happens often but !!! im still shocked!!! thank you for being my friend, for being super sweet, and kind, and caring-- a-and hopefully forgiving ;;;; im sorry im a dummy ;;;;;; im a big lovable dummy tho!!!!

and last but not least, miss kiki. i know she’s isnt on tumblr for now, but if she ever sees this... i have so much to say. thank you for being one of my best friends, for being one of the sweetest people in the world. i love you, i love everything about you, and i miss you. thank you for being my friend uwu

some other super awesome mutuals that i don’t have a ton to say about (either because we’re new mutuals or i havent talked to you too much yet) that i love with all my heart nonetheless: @meinyunho @fan-chngchng @ultvisual @seonghwalove @han-seungwoo @kthscenery @yooyonqha @woovoung @sanbotaged -- come talk to me more often!! i love to be bothered uwu

super special shoutout to my 3 starlight buddies who came over here and followed me despite originally knowing nothing about ateez and still supporting, loving, and talking to me: @hakjeon @babieken and @hansanghyuked. my longest standing mutuals, and even annie’s more than just a tumblr mutual-- she’s one of my closest friends. i love you guys ;;

now, i can’t leave a special message for every single one of my followers. hell, tumblr won’t even let me tag every single one of you (stupid tag limit), but know that i still love all of you. if i could (aka if i had time and energy), i’d go down the line and personally message each and every once of you to tell you all the important things.

you are all wonderful, you are all lovely, and i’m truly blessed to have all of you following me. remember to smile, to keep your chin up, because when the world gets going tough, i’m always there to support you! i love you all lots lots lots, whether we do or don’t talk. stay sweet, angels!

[katebacks]

A Night With a Vampire - Part 1 (m)

— pairing | Kim Taehyung /Reader

— word c | 6,305

— genre | Vampire! Taehyung, Slightly angst. Smut. 

— summary | The end of the relationship leaves you lost and totally sad. Your friend is having a party and you promised you would. You just did not know that your life would change from there.

— warnings/tags | Bad words, Oral (female receiving). Explict sex.

‘Part 1′ | Part 2 

9:30 p.m. - Friday.

“Get up, (Y/N)!" It was the thousandth time Jimin was knocking at my door. Holy shit, I cannot even sleep in this house anymore! My wristwatch marked nine-thirty at night. Today is Friday and I'm lying under my covers. I have no reason to leave here. My 4-year-old date ended a few days ago and I'm not in the mood to do anything at all. It was amazing to see the guy I loved saying that I wasn’t good enough for him anymore and that he was not interested in me anymore. Shit. I think a shotgun shot in my face would hurt less than that. “(Y/N)! Don’t make me break this door!” Jimin was my best friend and roommate. We were doing fashion college together. College which was a four hour drive, since in the city where we live it doesn’t have support for a college building or for a decent shopping mall.

Jiminie was always with me in all my fights with Lil and it was he who lent me a shoulder to cry on. How stupid of me … I've lost four years of my life with a guy, to get here and get a foothold in the ass, days before I graduated from college.

"(Y/N), I'll count to three, if you don’t open this fucking door …"

"I'm coming, Jiminie!" I yelled as I kicked the covers and got out of bed. That sucks. "What is it?" I asked, opening the door. I was surprised to see how he was dressed. "What ... Why are you dressed as Lord Voldemort?"

"Millena's fancy party is today, have you forgotten?"

"No, I didn’t, and I'm not going!" I spoke back to my bed and lay down again. Millena was our friend. She was also our classmate. Her parties are the most popular in the city because even in a city small as Forty City, there are not many people who can hold a party at the level of the festivals of big cities like New York and Las Vegas. She and Jimin had an overwhelming passion about two years, they dated, but they preferred to stay as friends. And that's why Jimin lives with me, he thought if he lived with her, they would probably fuck 24 hours a day.

"Is it because of Lil?" He asked sitting down on the edge of the bed. I nodded. "It's been a week, (Y / N) ..." A week? I'm worse than I thought. "You need to snap out of it. It’s over. End.”

"I already know that, Jimin." I said without any animation in my voice and I tucked my head under the pillow.

"Come on, princess?!" He pulled back the pillow and made me look at him. “You need to have fun. And Millena will be very upset if you don’t go to her last party in town, don’t forget that in five days we're going to Los Angeles. "

"What if he's there?"

"You're ignore him, you're 23. You're a beautiful woman, you can get any guy you want at this party."

"I will not have sex with a guy, a week after the end of my relationship.”

"You’re silly, I know Lil took about three girls just yesterday!" He said coolly. That actually hurt like a slap in the face.  “We're planning on going to this party for weeks, (Y/N) ...”

What now? What do I do? What if I go to this party and Lil is getting another girl? How will I react? But what if I do not go and Millena gets mad at me? After all, I promised her I would come to this party and I already bought the costume. Should I go or stay here lamenting the end of my relationtship?

Jimin pouted... I hate when he does that! I always do everything he asks me when he pouts.

“Give me a few minutes. I'll get dressed.” I said with a half smile, watching his face light up and a huge smile appear. Before I could continue what I was talking about, Jiminie jumped on top of me, hugging me tight. Lord, when did he get so heavy? Are the muscles or hamburgers we always eat after we leave college?

"I'll wait for you in the living room. Don’t take too long or I'll take you there, naked!" He said and left jumping out of bed and before closing the door, he sent me a kiss.

That's it! Come on, (Y / N)... You can do it. I got up and walked dragged into the bathroom of my room. When I enter, I get scared when I look in the mirror. Holy shit, I'm horrible! My hair is a bushel, my eye pencil is blurred. I look like a beggar with nightwear rumpled.

Here we go…

I turned on the shower and pulled out my clothes, tossing them into a corner of the bathroom. I stepped under the warm water and closed my eyes as the water poured down my body. This should be the final cleaning. The water and the soap were wiping away all the fingerprints Lil had left on me when he touched me. All the touches were being removed by this water. I'm not the girl to whine about the spilled milk. I'm an attitude girl and that's what I have to remember today.

I opened my eyes, determined to use this party to forget the four years I spent dedicating myself to someone who would end with me near one of the most important days of my life. Something tells me that tonight is going to be the best of all.

After the shower, I wrapped my hair in the towel and went out to get my fantasy inside the closet. After I put her to bed, I grabbed a black lingerie in the drawer of the dresser, already wearing it. Black has always been my favorite color. And when I combine it with red I am even happier to have chosen it as my favorite color. I feel so exaggeratedly well with these two colors!

I took the towel from my hair and turned on the dryer to see if I could get a handle on that mane. Particularly, I liked my hair, I only hated it when it was too rebellious.

Some time later, I finished drying it and put on my costume. Vampire!

I never understood why I'm so crazy about vampires. No, I'm not talking about Twilight, I'm talking about Dracula. I'm literally crazy about movies where there are those fucking sexy leeches. Jimin thinks I'm crazy to think a vampire is sexy, he always says, ‘If these things existed for real you would not even want to get close to them, you would want to run away before he bit you’ But, I think if vampires existed for real, I would not be afraid of them. And I just want to be bitten by one. But it's all science fiction, that is, I will never know the feeling of being bitten by a vampire.

I looked in the mirror, finishing the makeup, basic thing. A blush, not too exaggerated black shade, mascara and an eyeliner to mark the eyes. I'm ready.

...

10:15 p.m. - Millena’s house.

"You arrived!" Millena ran up to me with open arms and jumped onto my neck before throwing herself over Jiminie. She was wearing a short white dress, clinging to her legs, she was a nurse. I'm not much surprised by this choice of fantasy, Millena always said that if she were not Fashion Designer, she would be a doctor. "I thought you wouldn’t come! In fact, you are magnificent with these fantasies."

"And we almost didn’t even come. (Y / N) didn’t want to get out of bed."

"But since Jimin is annoying, he knocked on my door, threatening to break it, and I was forced to open it." I turned irritated to him who raised his arms in surrender. "Where are the drinks?"

"This way."

We headed into Millena's two-story house. It was probably the biggest house in town. Her parents owned a branch of fashion stores that was spread throughout the world. They were in India now, signing another contract for another new branch there. I don’t even talk about my parents. They wanted me to be a lawyer, but fashion interests me more than defending those I know to be guilty. But when I chose what I wanted to do, they were understandable. Thank God! They even helped me with tuition.

As we walked to a place near the stairs where there was a table full of drinks and snacks, after all, an empty bag cannot stand upright, even more if that bag got drunk without having eaten anything, I observed the decoration of the house. Style "Murder House", there were pumpkins everywhere, black hearts balloons, decorative ribbons fluorescent and neon. Two globes of light hanging next to the $ 4,500 chandelier that Millena's mother bought at a store in Spain. The music it played was a kind of pop / electronic, the beat was strong and we could feel the ground shaking beneath our feet. The good part about living in a small town is that no neighbor can call the cops complaining about the loud sound, because the whole city is in here.

"Here!" She said handing me a glass with a red liquid inside. At the same time I took it, turned it over and swallowed all, feeling my throat burn. Fucking hell, now I get drunk.

"Slow down (Y / N)". Jimin said with a laugh. Only he knows how I get when I drink too much.

I was ready to go to the dance floor and forget that Lil once existed, when something made me look at the back of the room and I came across a man. He had one of his arms propped against the wall, a little above his head while talking to a girl. I found myself mesmerized. His black hair was a little below the nape of the neck and completely flat. I could not see his face completely, I just noticed the tone of his skin and wondered if it was as silky as it looked. He was wearing a black overcoat, his pants seemed to be the same color while wearing bad boy style boots.

"Who is he?" I asked Millena who was next to me, drinking something.

"He's my brother's friend. I don’t remember his name." she spoke and shortly after took a sip of the drink in her glass and reached for me.

"He's in college?" I asked trying to know if I had seen him around here. But of course her answer was no, because even if I had seen him before, I would remember. "Does he live here?"

"No. He's just spending some time here. My brother said he has a beach house in Los Angeles."

"Interesting." That was the only thing I said. Then I took a sip of Millena's drink and handed it to her. There was something about him that caught my eye, something I'd never seen in another guy, but it was hard to know what it  when all the lights flickered, making me a little dizzy.

Then he turned. He turned to me. Even I can not see straight, his eyes showed pure intensity, intensity that made me have goose bumps and almost losing my balance. He stared at me seriously, and he ran his tongue over his lip piercing. I took a deep breath, feeling my cheeks burn. I should have looked like an inexperienced virgin, gasping for breath at the sight of a handsome man. I tried to open my mouth to say something to Millena, but the intensity with which he looked at me was making me unable to say anything.

"(Y / N)!"

I hear someone shouting my name, and pulling me out of the trance. I know this voice and I'm not happy to hear it now. I turn around and see Lil coming toward me, walking between people. He's dressed as a king. I should have imagined that he would dress like that, after all, he is full of himself! Lil walked dangerously close and so I took two steps back, moving away from him who had a a smile on his face. Idiot.

"Hi, I was praying you'd come." He spoke. I raised my eyebrow. "I need to talk to you."

"Talk about what?" I asked dry. If he's really thinking I'm going to be gentle to him, he's very much mistaken.

"Don’t be like that, (Y / N)." His hand came to my face, but before he could reach the destination, I slapped it down beside him. He sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "I just want to apologize, (Y / N)." Apologies? I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Does he want to apologize to me? Only Apologize? "I was an dick with you.I want to apologize and know if I still have a chance to get you back."

“You can forget the possibility of some day come back to me. Because it will never happen!” I was never submissive to any man, but with him I had been. And it will not happen again, not anymore. For me it's enough to do everything he wants. “In four years, everything I did was for you! I stopped going out with my friends for you, I let to go to parties because of you, just to you get there and say that I'm not good enough and that you don’t care about me anymore. Do you think a simple apology will erase the pain I felt when I heard you say those words?” I kept talking while he stood still, listening to everything he said. And that's what I wanted. In four years, he never stopped once if he wanted to listen to me, but that changed. “You can take your pink pony out of the rain, you idiot, because you will not touch me anymore.”

I walked past him, bumping into his shoulder and headed toward the exit. I knew I should not have come, my nerves are blossoming and I do not know how I managed to not jump on his neck and strangle him in the middle of the party. But I need to be superior and control the urge to kill him for everything he has put me through.

I looked from side to side as I walked, looking for Jimin or Millena to say that i would leave, knowing that I would be exposed to Millena's fury when i said that i was leaving because of Lil and knowing Jimin would want to tear his head off.

I stopped walking when I hit something concrete. I turned forward almost losing my balance again upon seeing that person. He was already without the overcoat, his shirt was dirty of something I could not identify what it was. His mouth also looked dirty from the same thing.

"Hi." And for the first time in my entire life, I felt my legs soften only when I heard the voice of a guy. I wanted to say something, I wanted to, but I could not. I was so hypnotized by those eyes that I could not think of anything to talk about. “I’m Taehyung.”

“(Y / N)!” I said and I was static as I felt him take my hand and bring it to his lips, giving a light kiss to it back.

“I liked your fantasy. You’re a Vampire?” He asked and I nodded.  “Why did you choose this to dress?” He's curious.

“I like vampires.”

“Me too. We make a perfect match.” He said smiling and winking at me. It just me or is he hitting on me? “So (Y / N), do you want to dance? You don’t look very good ... you look bored.”

How did he guess? I looked back, checking if Lil was no longer there and thankfully he was not. I glanced back at Taehyung who continued with his mysterious smile. How resist a guy like that? Just looking at him makes me shiver. I nodded and saw that his smile widened. There was a break and a new song started. It was exactly my song, my favorite. Taehyung grabbed my arm and pulled me into the middle of the room where the dance floor was. He guided me among the people that were there and we stopped in the middle of all, getting too close, because there was not much space there, since it was practically full.

"What are you wearing?" I asked, raising my voice so he could hear me.

" I’m a Vampire." He spoke close to my ear making me sigh as I shivered. Taehyung drew back a little and his hands came to rest on my waist as we danced to the sound of Pursuit of happiness. We threw our bodies from side to side as we faced each other. In a matter of seconds I forgot my discussion with Lil. In fact, I did not feel so bad that he broke up with me the way it ended. People need to take a tumble from time to time to learn how to get up.

And I'm almost thanking him for breaking up with me, maybe if he hadn't done it, I probably wouldn't be dancing with the hottest guy I've ever seen in my life.

…

This was one of the best nights of my life.

First, I finished my 4-year relationship, but now I do not feel a bit sad about it. Second, I was dancing with the most beautiful and sexy guy of the party. And third, I am almost totally drunk. I was jumping and dancing to the sound of the best songs on the planet. Millena knows how to make a party playlist. My feet were already aching inside the high heel, but who cares? Jimin was gone with Millena, probably they were having sex in her room. Some people occasionally bumped into me, but I didn’t care, I was ‘too happy’ to care.

Taehyung was behind me, holding on to my waist as we swayed from side to side without thinking that the next day we would have our whole body aching for being moving so fast. My body was warming up and I needed more drink, or something to cool me down, and feeling the warmth of Taehyung's hands around my waist did not help cool me, but made me want to feel all the warmth of his body. How did he get me like this? I've never felt so involved with a guy like that for the first time. Maybe it was the intense look or the mysterious smile, or the fact that he was dressed as a vampire, and I had a vampire fetish. I was getting confused and with an almost overwhelming desire to kiss him, but my subconscious would not let me do it. It did not give me the courage to do it. As much as I was bitching with Lil because he ended up with me like that and went out fucking girls, two days after we finished, I could not do the same. At least I think.

“I'll get another drink.” He whispered in my ear and I nodded.

What I needed now was drink and lots of dancing. With Taehyung, of course. My hair should already be messed up by throwing my head from side to side and dancing madly. And again I say who cares? The lights blinked and the beat grew louder and louder every time, I'm in paradise. How i missed going to a party like that. When Lil and I were dating, he never let me go out for parties, and yet I was with him. I was so stupid.

Still dancing, I turn back, seeing Taehyung coming to me, carrying two glasses in his hands. I was taking drink from a stranger. But I don’t think he's going to do something bad with me because if he wanted to, he could have done it. The people here are so drunk that in addition to laughing at anything, they will all be worried about their vomiting soon. I took the glass from his hand as he pulled me around the waist and danced with me to the sound of Touchin On My.

His face was close to mine, his drinking breath was not disgusting like most other guys, it was a fresh breath. He put one of his legs between mine as we slowly descended to the floor without taking our eyes off each other. I drank all the contents of my glass and threw it on the floor, unable to hold on any longer, and pulled the back of his neck, sealing our lips. I heard a faint noise of something falling to the ground and then his other hand was gripping my hair, putting even more pressure on the kiss. The hand on my waist, down to my thigh, lifting my leg and wrapping it around his waist. I should stop, but his kiss tastes so good. It must be the drink, or the simple fact of him knowing how to leave a girl excited with just a kiss.

Now the hand in my hair came down to my back, pulling me even harder against his body, making me feel his erection between my legs. I grabbed his soft hair and pulled it lightly listening to him let out a low moan between the kiss as the beat of the song became even sexier. The hand on my back came down to my ass as we rolled our hips to the apex of the song. I could feel his hard cock, locked inside his pants, rubbing against me, which at this point was almost begging for him.  We started down once more to the ground in the last chorus of the song. Rubbing against each other, feeling each other. Damn! I'm totally hypnotized by this guy.

When the song was over, we parted the gasping kiss, staring at each other. He released my leg, leaving it on the floor. His hands continued on my waist and my hands stills in his hair. A shiver ran up my body as I felt him caress my back. Fuck! I want more!

"You got me crazy for good!" He said, showing his boxy smile. His hand stroked my cheek and soon after we kissed softly. That was so good. “There's a guy staring both of us since we started to dance. Do you know him?” He asked after leaning his forehead against mine. I frowned, trying to understand, then he looked suggestively behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and noticed that Lil was leaning against the wall across the room, his eyes on me and Taehyung. He didn’t have a very good expression on his face. Taehyung’s hand squeezed my waist and I turned to him, who was looking at me curiously. I snorted.

“He's my ex-boyfriend. An idiot! Just ... Ignore!”

“Why did you break up?”

“We dated for four years and he broke up with me a few days ago. He said I was not good enough for him and that he was not interested in me anymore.” I spoke with debauchery, loud enough for him to hear. He made a thoughtful face.

"He's gay!" He spoke simply. I frowned. What? “He can only be gay to dismiss a girl like you! What I would not do with you if you were my girlfriend, (Y / N) ...” He whispered wickedly in his voice, close to my ear, making my body shiver for the thousandth time in a few hours. He gently pulled the back of my neck and kissed me again. But, I will not satisfy me just kiss him.

The music continued to roll. Taehyung kissed my cheek, then the lobe of my ear. The kisses came down to my neck and an electric current passed through my body making me run my arms around his shoulders, stroking his hair as he nibbled lightly at the sensitive skin of my throat. I gasped as I felt his hot tongue make a circular path there. If he leaves me like this now, I can not imagine what will happen if we go to bed and at that moment, I wanted this. Fuck my subconscious, fuck the reason. I want Taehyung, in my bed!

“I know we just met, but... I have to go to a more private place with you!” He whispered in my ear making me close my eyes at the shudder. I nodded, feeling my body heat up even more. He smiled, with his enigmatic smile. “It would be easier if we went up to some room in this house, but still, I want silence. The only sound I want to hear are your moans.” I nearly choked hearing those words, feeling the heat between my legs rise. Fuck, why so sexy?

"We can go to my apartment." I spoke with difficulty not to stutter.

“Okay.” He smiled again. He stroked my arm until his fingers were locked in mine. He led the way, making room for me to pass, using his free hand to get people drunk and messy out of the way, he held me close to him, almost stuck on his back, as if he were a shield. I couldn’t help but smile at that. It was weird. He had this enchanted prince's aura mixed with bad wolf. And i was loving it. We left the house and still saw many young people getting drunk and dancing to the music.

The street in front of the mansion was full of cars. I don’t understand why they drove to there. If they had three steps they would have arrived. As we walked, Taehyung put his arm around my waist, pulling me close, warming me because the wind was very cold. Winter was coming, so I do not doubt I'll have to buy warm clothes. After all, the winter became more and more rigorous every year.

I left my thoughts when I felt that Taehyung's arm was no longer around me. I looked to the side but he was not there, as I turned back with a frown, he was behind me, his back to me. Looking over his shoulder, he was holding Lil by the neck, using only one hand.

“Tae…” I started to speak, but Lil's stifled voice interrupted me.

"Stay away from her." Lil said, choking. I was totally without reaction, without words, I didn’t know what to do in front of such a scene. Taehyung's body was rigid. I could not see his face, but his shoulders were tense, and his free hand was clenched into fist, which showed that he was very angry.

“First, I'm older than you. Second, I'm much stronger than you. And third, if you don’t leave that girl alone, I'll kill you just as quickly as I can say  'get the fuck out of here' “ And the he threw him to the ground. Lil crawled back. He glanced at me before he stood up and turned his back on his way toward the party.

Taehyung turned to me, and blinked a few times, standing still, waiting perhaps for me to say something or do something. I did not even know what to do in that situation. I didn’t know if I appreciated what he had done or wondered what had just happened. I was more confused than usual. So I sighed and held out my hand to him. He bit his lip and gave me a corner smile, holding my hand and coming up to me. Soon we were headed towards my apartment again.

The building where I lived with Jimin was one of the only buildings in the city, hence the tallest. And I lived on the top floor. It had no elevator and it had 11 floors, so Taehyung and I would have to climb 11 rolls of stairs to get to my apartment. The good part is that we would be too hot, so we will take our clothes faster. bad part, we will get tired very fast.

We did not talk much during the climb, just looked at each other sometimes, flirting with the looks. When we reached the top floor, we walked to the last door in the hallway. I took the key from the boot and opened the door, entering and leaving it open so he could come in as well. I sat on the arm of the couch and ripped off the boots of my feet, feeling great relief. Looking back at the door, I see him standing outside, looking at me.

“ Are you not coming in?” I asked, and he looked at the open door. Then his gaze turned to me.

"Do you really want me to come in?"

"Of course." I Smile. "Come on! You can come in!" I said and another smile came from his lips. As he entered, he shut the door behind him, looking at me with a dark desire in his eyes. A desire that made me pant just to remember his kiss. He locked the door, threw the key on a small table beside it, and began to walk toward me. He approached me until he made me fall on the couch with him over me. Both arms rested beside my body. He passed the tip of his nose through the neckline of my costume, then in my neck, placing a kiss there and then his lips were glued to mine, making me grab the back of his neck and pull him to me.

“Where is your bedroom?” He whispered as he lowered the kisses to my neck.

"Last door down the hall." I whispered holding a groan.

His arms passed beneath me, lifting me up. Soon after he stood with me on his lap, making me entwine my legs around his waist. As he walked with me into his arms, I began to open the buttons of his blouse as i kissed his neck. Now it was my turn to tease him. I heard the door slam when he kicked it. Soon he was on top of me on the bed, kissing me fiercely while his hand did not stop pacing my body. I finished unbuttoning the buttons and pulled his shirt, tossing it somewhere in the room. I parted the kiss to admire what he had under his shirt. I let out a weak moan at the sight of his chest and his muscular arms. If he was already like this up here, I can not imagine how he should be down there.

I wrapped my legs around his waist and rolled over onto the bed, getting a surprised look. I sat on his lap and leaned over him, kissing his lips, cheek, neck, chest and then making the same way back. His hands descended from my waist to my thighs and soon after they rose, pulling my dress up. I sat down again and stood erect. I pulled the zipper off the dress that was on the side of it, down and began to take it very slowly. Then I threw it on the floor with his shirt. His hands rested on my breasts, massaging them gently over the bra.

"I don’t think you need it." He whispered and then pulled the sides of my bra, ripping it in two. I didn’t have time to complain, because his hands pulled me down and soon he had his mouth on my left breast while using his hand to massage the right one. I rested one hand on the headboard, closing my eyes and moaning as I felt his tongue making circular motions in my bosom. With my free hand, I touched his cock over the pants, listening to him moan and make more pressure with his mouth. "You will make me lose control." He whispered, taking the kisses to my neck.

“So do!” I whispered totally sedated by pleasure. His gaze darkened and his mysterious smile returned to his lips. He rolled over onto the bed and stood over me, his lips kissing my chest making me groan wildly. I squeezed the pillows between my hands as I heard my panties rip.

“I'll make you mine.” I heard his voice growing whispering and I felt his breathing down, making me arch as I felt his lips touch me. I sighed and gasped before groaning loudly and arching my body one more time. His hands caressed my chest and squeezed my breasts as his tongue caressed my clit. I placed my hands over his, holding them and putting them side by side on my body, squeezing them tightly according to the intensity of what I was feeling. “You’re so sweet, baby.” He murmured before he came down and up with his tongue over the length of my pussy. I could no longer control my groans as I felt the first orgasm coming. How the fuck is he doing this?

I squeezed his hands as he felt my legs soften and my pussy contracted. Fucking hell! I grabbed his hair and pulled it up, making him look at me with a wicked grin. He came up to me, kissing me, making me feel my own taste.

"Let me reciprocate ..." I whispered between his lips. He shook his head in denial.

"Not now, I need to get into you, or I'll go crazy." He said opening the zipper of his pants and throwing it away, along with his underwear. I gasped at the sight of his hard cock, and felt my cunt getting even wetter. He lay on me and thrust his hips against mine, coming into me, stretching my walls, making me scream with the force he entered into me. I gasped and held the headboard, trying to get accustomed to his cock inside me. He put his face on my neck and moved slowly.

"Did I hurt you?" He whispered. Too breathless to respond, I just shook my head in denial. I felt his smile against my skin. His movements grew faster and stronger, making it difficult to stifle the loud groans. He clung to me as I held to his shoulders. Both moaning loudly, uncontrollably. He increased speed and I moved against him.

Soon, he rolled over on the bed, putting me on top of him.

“Ride me.” He commanded, his voice hoarse, making my body tremble and my pussy throb. I began to move my hips, roll over and rub myself in it. His hands came off my waist and went to rest on the pillow under his head. He closed his eyes and bit his lip, narrowing his eyes. “You’re so fucking tight-fuck.” He moaned, pressing the pillow between his fingers. I let out a moan and smiled as I saw him like that, beneath me, at my mercy as I rode on his cock. I rested my hands on his chest and increased the speed of my hips. Taehyung let out a loud moan, before pulling hard on both sides of the pillow and as if it were a piece of paper, he parted it in half, causing me to stop the movements and widen my eyes, seeing feathers spreading through the air .

Half a second later, I was under him. One of his hands held mine over my head and the other was between us, massaging my clit as he pushed his hard and big cock into me. I closed my eyes, too ecstatic to care about what had just happened.

"Why so hot? Fuck, I can fuck you forever… Open your eyes and look at me." He groaned, his voice harsh, making me open my eyes and meet his dark eyes, full of malice and desire over me. "Beg me to make you come." He ordered, increasing his thrusts. "Say my name, baby. Tell me how much you want to come."

"Please, Taehyung. Make me cum. I need it so bad."

A dark smile fell from his lips and he laid his body on me. He began to use even more force in his thrusts. He brought both his hands up to my wrists on top of my head, pinning me completely to the bed. The noise of his hips against mine was filling the room, with to our groans of pure pleasure. Taehyung began to kiss and nibble on my neck, and I could feel my orgasm coming. When my cunt squeezed around his dick, and I felt that hot pain coming out of my core, I threw my head back, groaning loudly as he fucked me hard.

It was then when I felt a strange pain coming from my neck, as if he had bitten me, but a real bite, the one that plucked blood. I groaned in pain, but I was too numb with orgasm to say anything more. Then he lifted his head, pushing his cock quickly inside me. My views were stained, and I began to feel sleepy. I wanted to say something, but the last thing I saw before my eyes closed, was the blood dripping out of Taehyung's mouth, along to his fangs.

Fuck, they exist. Taehyung is a vampire.

all rights reserved © katebacks | 2018 — no reposting and/or modifying of any form on any medium is allowed. no translations allowed.

[wishthefish916]

What Is Anti?

Holy fucking shit, I’ve literally had this saved as a draft on this site for MONTHS and just haven’t posted it out of spite, but if ever there was a call to action this is is. I published this theory a while ago, but I wasn’t completely happy with how I’d written it at the time so I took it down a few minutes later. I’d originally planned on never revisiting this again, but while developing a different theory which will probably be coming out soon, I was forced to revisit this work, so here we are. The science of Antisepticeye. What he is, where he came from and how to stop him. It’s a long one lads, so buckle the fuckle up.

If we’re ever gonna stop Anti, which is kinda the point of all this theorizing anyways, we have to know what exactly he is. To figure that out, we need to look into what effect he has on the world around him. Looking back at the ever expanding collection of Anti moments ((thank the heavens for his wiki and a whole lotta spare time)), the only thing that tied them all together is that the person in the webcam felt a sense of danger, be it from a jump scare or high suspense or even from hearing Anti’s name, the brain of the person who was recording sensed danger, which triggered a hormonal fight-or-flight response in their body in the moment Anti presents himself to us, and it’s usually preceded with a long gap in symptoms surfacing. What else do we know of that lies dormant for a long period of time before something triggers it to wake up which usually leads to chaos for whatever system it’s in? Jack A virus!

So what kind of virus is he? Well, in bigger videos like Say Goodbye and Kill JSE the person on the screen communicated that they felt physical effects of his presence, like nausea, aches, delirium and twitching and in some cases bleeding from the eyes. This tells me that if Anti is a virus he’s a biological one.

However I cannot ignore the biggest telltale sign of Anti showing up which is the game or webcam ((and sometimes the person)) glitching, audio disturbances, and corrupted html text((Zalgo)), which would tell me that he is a computer virus.

So lads, correct me if I’m wrong in saying that if Anti is indeed a virus, he wouldn’t be exclusively biological or the technological, but rather a biomechanical virus((I totally didn’t make up the term shush)).

Being made up of both biological and technological components mean infection could have happened just about anywhere. For the sake of clarity I’ll be breaking it up into biological and technological components as I’m fairly certain the two are symbiotically dependent on each other, considering the physical effects coincide almost completely with the technological ones.

If infection was controlled by the biological aspects, that would mean he was infected by contact with the virus. Either he touched it, breathed it in, ate or drank it, kissed it, or bled on it. For all the other egos who’ve been infected, this makes perfect sense. JJ cutting his finger right before the glitching shows up, Henrik almost never wearing his surgical mask when handling his infected patients, Chase heavily drinking in the moments leading up to Dark Silence, but Jack is a different story. The first time we saw Anti was in FNAF Sister Location, and that video had none of the above in it. That tells me he was infected well before he first showed himself, which makes sense logically. People don’t show flu symptoms as soon as they come into contact with the flu virus. It has to fester for a little bit before showing any symptoms, so why should Anti be any different?

So where did Jack get infected? If he did physically come into contact with the virus, it would have been in a live action video. From a storytelling perspective, it wouldn’t make sense to not showcase an important plot point clearly, and live action is the best medium to do such. That brought me to the 2015 pumpkin carving video, but nothing too suspicious happened. There was no bleeding, he didn’t eat anything, while he did kiss the pumpkin no bodily fluids were exchanged, and breathing it in or touching it seems implausible, because it would mean the virus already existed in his house, which means he would have been infected long before that video.

The only other live action videos he’s done, and correct me if I’m wrong, were the 700,000 subscriber ghost pepper challenge, the ALS Ice bucket challenge, and his regular vlogs. Sean is incredible at blurring the line between normal video and ego video, but these videos all had an underlying sincerity to them, where he was trying to communicate to us his appreciation or with the ALS video trying to get us to donate to charity, and I find it highly improbable for him to try and undermine the meaning behind them with an ego clue.

That leads me to believe that it were the technological aspects of the virus that infected him, and that’s where things get kinda tricky. Now, computer viruses are actually relatively easy to come into contact with, the problem definitely isn’t there. Maybe Jack was sent it in an email, maybe he went to a sketchy website, maybe he downloaded a game that had a little something extra up it’s sleeve. No biggie, it happens. The logic leap is when the computer virus starts affecting his real life person, even when he’s not using the computer, a la Say Goodbye.

I believe immersion is the answer. Immersion in game play is something a large portion of game developers strive for, making the player feel like they were actually inside their game. This is one of the hardest and most important things a story driven game developer can do, and also one of Jack’s key defining features in games he tends to really enjoy.

I think, in the story that Sean has created for us with the egos, when Jack is doing a lets play and he gets really immersed in the game, he actually does exist inside that game. That feeling of total immersion, those moments when his brain is unable to separate the game from reality, they happen because of him actually being inside the game on his computer. If Jack were to download a game that had Anti’s virus on it, and then became immersed in the game play experience long enough to come into contact with said virus, it’s entirely possible that the virus stayed with him when he left the game/no longer was immersed.

Well, if we’re going to find out how to cure the thing, we’ve first got to find the location of patient zero, i.e. the video that started it all. If we know where it came from, we’ll know how it works and that’ll make it immensely easier to stop it. Are there any games out there that Jack played that 1) truly immersed him as a player into it’s world, 2) share a strong resemblance to what we already see in Anti, and 3) was uploaded some time before the release of Sister Location. There are two bigguns that spring to mind.

Undertale is probably the most well known and well liked series on Jack’s entire channel. While he was playing he became heavily invested in each of the characters, even the baddies, and so did we. We grew to care for them all as if they were our closest friends. When they were hurt, we screamed in protest. When they were comforted, we felt all warm and fuzzy. When we reached the true ending, we all cried. I would most certainly consider that immersion, wouldn’t you?

Not only did Undertale immerse the player and viewer, it messed with your actual computer files. If you do a genocide route even once, uninstalling and reinstalling the game won’t wipe it’s memory of the route. You have to dig through your computer to find and delete the file that tells steam what route you chose if you want to play the game brand new again. Not to mention the game frequently closing itself unprompted, which has a well known history for corrupting recording footage. Potential for corruption? Check.

New paragraph for new point because oh my god, there’s a lot. Several people have already pointed out the similarities between Flowey and Anti, but just in case you haven’t seen it yet or wanted a nice recap, here we go.The voice acting Jack chose for Flowey sounds just like a higher pitched Anti voice. This was the first time he ever layered audio files to achieve a more sinister voice effect. The thumbnails following his fight with Flowey all hold trademark characteristics of Anti video thumbnails. Our first ever interaction with him ends with him attempting to murder Jack. Their laughs are one in the same. At certain points in the game, you can find Flowey following you, keeping an eye on things, if you will. His boss fight, oh my g o d. He kills the dude in charge, everything cuts to black, and next thing we know there’s a glitchy face laughing at us through a screen, telling us about how he’s the one in charge and how this is his world and how everything he’s done was all our faults, after which his eyes turn red and green and he starts puppeteering controlling six different souls, using their different skills to his own personal advantage so he can fulfill some unspoken objective. Gee, sound familiar? 

However, despite all of this, Undertale was not patient zero. Why I still listed all the game’s similarities despite this, I promise was not to waste your time, I’m getting to that. There was a game that came just before this one, the first of it’s kind, the actual patient zero. That game, is The Visitor.

Many of you may not remember this game, but The Visitor (and The Visitor Returns) was a little flash game that was posted way back on March 1st, 2015, and you played as an alien creature that came to Earth on a meteorite who’s only objective was to kill any creature it came into contact with to gain it’s powers. It was a video that kind of took the channel by storm, landing it’s place as the fifth most watched video on Jack’s channel even though nobody really knew how. This was patient zero. 

As for the checklist? It was posted March 1st, 2015, a full year and seven months before Sister Location. Jack is certainly immersed in the gameplay, so much so he forgets about the menu screen and accidentally restarts the game in an attempt to do more stuff. Does it show a similarity to what we already see in Anti? More than you’d see at first glance. Yes, his mouse is kind of glitching through the entire video. Yes, his webcam goes dark for a single frame towards the five minute mark. Yes, there’s multiple severe neck wounds throughout the game. But that’s not what sold me on this. It’s the premise of the game itself. 

I was struggling for months trying to figure out which game was patient zero. I jumped between Undertale, Fran Bow, Vee is Calling, and even the other Five Nights At Freddy’s videos more times than I could count, because all of them seemed like plausible answers. Fran Bow was the first series ever to adopt Anti’s traditional thumbnails, with lens flares and glowing eyes and blood everywhere(seriously, I took a good ten minutes and scrolled through every single video on his channel and Fran Bow was where it all started), not to mention a dark shadow creature who feeds on suffering being the main antagonist. Vee is Calling had an actual virus as a main character who actually glitches out and actually takes control of the main character’s in game computer. One of the glitches in SIster Location #1 showed a frame from the first ever FNAF game, and many of the sounds were pulled from the series at different points. I’ve already written paragraphs about Undertale. All of these things show a direct tie to Anti. 

Then remember what The Visitor is all about. It’s an alien who kills things around him to gain it’s powers. It takes aspects from each creature it comes into contact with and uses them for his own personal gain. That seems to be exactly what Anti has done ever since we’ve known him as a physical entity on the channel rather than an idea with a name. 

I mean, look back at May 2k18. Every single skit, either ego themed or not, was pulled directly from whatever the game he played was about. Hell, just look at the egos! I’ve talked about this before, but in every single ego video, there is always a theme of character decay, where the person they were at the start of the video erodes away leaving nothing but a shell of who they were by the end, and this is especially apparent in their debut. JBM, the courageous hero giving into cowardice. Marvin the Magician, throwing away his career. Henrik the wise doctor, killing his patients and forgetting a comedic amount about human nature. Chase the bubbly dad, pulling a gun on himself. JJ the mute actor, cutting his finger and immediately getting possessed. I’d tied them back to Anti before, but I never really knew why. In hindsight, this was clearly Anti’s attempt at stealing their strengths. Each and every one of them had some advantage that Anti wanted, and their slow decay was evidence of Anti trying to take control so he could have it. That’s why each new video showed him getting stronger, going from making them kind of afraid to full on suicide and possession. He was stronger because he’d taken more attributes and was able to use them more effectively with each passing video. For each game that Sean got immersed in that fit his agenda, Anti adopted different aspects for himself. There is no one video where Anti came from because he came from every video.

Okay. Alien biomechanical virus. How do we treat it? Well, that is heavily reliant on it’s sources. Anti adopted both some benefits and some defects from every game he pulled from. He gained both strengths and weaknesses, so if you want to “beat” him, the answer would lie in those games. The Visitor had no happy ending. Fran Bow won by giving up on reality and living with tree people, a demon, and an oversized axolotl. Undertale got a good ending by befriending everyone including the bad guys and hopefully not dying too much in the process. FNAF was finished by getting fired or burning everything to the ground and praying you’re not sent to purgatory. Vee is Calling was saved by focusing on your love life more than your computer files. Maybe it’s one of those answers. Maybe it’s all of them. Maybe it’s none of them. It seems not even Sean knows the answer to that question, but now we have a great place to start looking.

I wasn’t able to attend PAX, which means I didn’t know about the Anti “hint” until just now. When I heard it I wanted to scream, I think I actually might have, because I’ve been sitting on this work for literal months and just not gotten around to posting it. “We still haven’t figured out what Anti is yet.”

So, @therealjacksepticeye, are my answers to your satisfaction? 

[awfully-sadistic]

Week 1: Oct 2nd

The Adventures of Dottie and Dodger A series of linear prompt one-shots.

I kind of broke my own rule and couldn’t resist adding in a little something-something special. You’ll know it when you see it. I just hope it’s not too strange. But what the fuck, I can mold this story any way I want.

It was very early morning in the second day of October and Dot was on her way to the office building she and Dodger had purchased just yesterday. Driving down the road, Dot could see that various Halloween objects have been put out decorating yards and roofs with over-sized grim reapers, inflatable and real pumpkins, and strings of lights celebrating Halloween colors, but that wasn’t a surprise. It was as early as mid-September when she began to see signs of Halloween and it excited her.

Halloween was her favorite holiday and the entire month was already promising to bring along the spirit as soon as it could. With the appearance of the Poltergeist yesterday (and the paperwork that followed, but we don’t talk about that), Dot thought that Halloween had definitely come early. She wasn’t complaining. She wished it was Halloween all year-round, but with the spooky month comes attached their busiest time of the year.

It was expected that Human and Supernatural alike call upon the Agency in a tizzy about hauntings, possessions, and other spook factors that wouldn’t normally make an appearance any other time of the year. Obviously, Halloween lowered some sort of barrier that allows the things that go bump in the night liberated freedom this time of year.

She remembered last year; she didn’t think she’d survive much longer running their business out of her home. There were people coming and going and she didn't like the unexpected visitors who would appear in the dead of night for an emergency. She would not admit this, but it was also kind of freaky hearing about all these spooky stories and then having to go to sleep in the same house. There were times when Dodger had been called and invited to stay the night simply because Dot had heard something she wished she hadn’t and her overactive imagination had convinced her that everything was out to get her.

In those times, Dodger was nice enough not to question her intentions as if he had already known what had been bothering her. Then he’d attempt to bore her with interesting tidbits he might have learned that week. It normally had the opposite affect; they’d both stay up all night talking.

Dot finally pulled up to the office space. The building on the outside looked as abandoned as it had on the inside. But Dot figured with a little TLC, the place would brighten right up. A little bit of rose bushes lining the sidewalk to the front doors could work wonders and baby’s breath with some carnations and other filler flowers as accents would make the place seem cheery and fragrant. Someone to take care of the grass would flush this place with some much-needed color instead of the concrete jungle in its place. Trees were scattered about but they looked like they were dying; granted it was in the middle of fall, perhaps they’d look a little different come spring.

It was all one story, (thank god because who liked to climb stairs?), with the parking lot in front right off the road with enough space for the employee range given in the office. There was about twenty-four rooms and Dot knew because she had made a quick run back and forth from her home to make good on the promise about filling the rooms with her old outfits. She had her very own personal dressing room and it felt real fancy if anyone asked.

She just didn’t know what to do with the rest of the rooms. Rooms with more than enough space than an employment of two.

Well, three now with Armand, Jr.

Armand, Jr. or from this point forward known as Armand was the ghost that lived in the Grandfather Clock Dot had named Armand. So, in reality, the clock would be Armand, Sr. There was honestly no reason to tack on a Jr. to Armand, Jr’s name but for the sake of this on-going inside joke now, it was there now and Dot didn’t want to change it. Perhaps it hinted at her personality that she was resistant to change, no matter how little. Dot wouldn’t give it another thought now especially since she was pushing her way through the glass double-doors that would sweep her into the receptionist and waiting area.

Her eyes widened as she took in the receptionist area. It was like a whole new place. Yesterday, there had been cobwebs and dust settled on surfaces and white sheets over various furniture pieces that had been left behind. It had given the place a gloomy look.

Now, there was no sign that there had ever been a speck of dust. The area was brightly lit and felt welcoming. The walls were painted, she now realized. A light, baby blue. She could see there was also an assortment of hanging pictures and magazines laid out on the coffee table nearby and stocked with one of those wooden holders you’d mostly see at an official looking doctor’s office or a dentistry. She was taken back by the presence of a water cooler; she hadn’t seen that yesterday. Perhaps even more surprising was a working 32” flat screen television on the wall opposite the assembly of chairs and it was switched on, mute, showing various flashing pictures about Ashbourne; News. Local stuff. Captions on.

Looking at her feet, she could see that the carpet had been vacuumed recently and perhaps possibly cleaned but she couldn’t tell. But it surely seemed like it because it wasn’t this color yesterday.

Holy fuck, this place was actually functional.

She bumped against the receptionist area, the cutout window reminded her something of a shell and she hung in, trying to take a peek in the back. From what she could see, the police station area with its cubicles was arranged, straightened out, and she thought she could hear voices further back.

“Helloooooo?” she called out.

The voices stopped. Dot strained to hear if Dodger or Armand had been talking to each other but when she felt a light tap on her back, she nearly shrieked. Pulling herself out of the cutout, she whirled around and saw that both Dodger and Armand had come in from the outside with grocery bags in their hands.

Dodger had been the one to tap her. Dot placed a hand over her racing heart, taking in a deep breath to steel her nerves. “Goddamn it, Dodge. What did I say about doing that?”

“Announce ya’self.” Dodger repeated using the same inflection Dot had always used on him.

“Cheeky bastard.” Dot scolded but she had a grin on her face. “Don’t just do that. It’s a good way to get smacked one day.” her gaze trailed down to the bags they held, a question already forming in her eyes even as she finished speaking.

“We thought we’d stock the break room.” Dodger met her halfway, nodding his head beyond the door separating the waiting area from the rest of the office building. Dot followed his gaze before coming upon a sudden reminder. One that sent little shivers up her spine. It had suddenly clicked that she had without realizing, subconsciously noticed, she was the only car in the parking lot.

“I thought I heard voices back there.”

“You probably did,” Dodger said, looking at Armand. “there’s a television set in the breakroom, too. At his insistence.”

“I tried to get one put in the bathroom but I remembered, I do not have to use one.” Armand smiled.

“I reminded you of that.”

Armand’s smile never wavered even as he amended, “Dodger reminded me of that.”

Dot still didn’t feel comforted for some reason but it might have been her overthinking everything. But the banter between Dodger and Armand did a good job of distracting her enough to push that uncomfortable feeling away.

“I didn’t know you could eat, Armand.” Dot said, giving him a rub on the head. In his corporeal form, Armand was physical to the touch which allowed him to hold on to the groceries and appreciate Dot’s gesture. He was also taller than her and she had to stretch her arm up to even do that much. Armand ducked his head and the look on his face was similar to the look he had when he was praised.

“I can eat. I can taste flavors. But it doesn’t do anything for me. I cannot gain any nutrients or get the same satisfaction of feeling full. I think it does help me with energy, but I don’t know for sure.”

“I suspect it helps him keep his corporeal form for longer.”

Dot looked surprised at Dodger’s input, “He can’t hold onto this form for very long?”

“He can go about a full day but needs to rest the next so he’s told me. So, every other day. To see if eating restores any energy to allow him to hold onto this form for longer, I would have to test this theory by feeding him and then checking against how long he can previously hold out, if there’s any change at all. It’s going to take weeks to gain a definitive answer.”

“How exciting.” Dot said dryly before adding, “You do know, he’s not a science experiment. Right?”

Armand, silent through the exchange, finally spoke up, “It’s alright, Dottie. I told him he could try. If it helps you guys, I would love to be in this form for much longer. It just feels right.”

Dot could feel that Armand meant that with every ghost fiber of his pure being. She could feel her heart melting at his resolve and knew he earnestly meant to do anything he could for them. It had been radiating off of him in waves. Armand almost seemed desperate to be of use to them.

For what reason, she still had to find out but she wasn’t about to make him bend over backwards in the meantime. It was even harder to tell if he was mistaking this corporeal form as to partake in being alive again. His comment about trying to use the bathroom was funny but the undertones seemed depressing. He was doing live things or entertaining the thought, but what for? Because Dot and Dodger were alive and he was trying to fit in? Was he staying in this form because it helped them or him?

And was it wrong to encourage him to stay in this form longer in case it feeds into the fantasy? Dot wasn’t one to turn away from anything fantasy related because reality sucked. She daydreamed all the time. She didn’t want to tell Armand to face reality. He shouldn’t have to especially if she didn’t want to.

And why was his personality as eager to seek out praise as often as he did? Was this part of his unresolved business? Ghosts were tricky because there could be many reasons they stayed behind. Armand showed no indication that he was disgruntled or regretful in anyway. If anything, he seemed happy-go-lucky and incredibly naïve. Trusting. Perhaps, too trusting.

She searched Armand’s expression; he stared back at her with a smile that looked hopeful. She knew she couldn’t help him if it turned out he missed being alive if only because she didn’t know how to bring back the dead and the day when that realization hit him was going to break her heart. She hoped that wasn’t the case. With every fiber of her being, she hoped so dearly.

She took the groceries from Armand’s delicate looking arms, signaling the men to follow her as she pushed through the doors to head for the breakroom.

“What would help us is you being yourself, Armand. I don’t expect anything from you except to do what you want to do. If you want to help us, that’s great! And if you want to help Dodger with his weird experiment, you can do that, too.”

Dodger made a discontented noise at the back of his throat as they settled the groceries on the counter in the breakroom. Dot made a note to check the television; to her relief, it was still turned on. To her ‘not relief’, the volume was turned down so low, you could only be in the breakroom to hear it. She hoped to god sound traveled in this building.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been part of an experiment. Do you think it’s fun?” Armand asked, looking between Dodger and Dot. Dot was pulling apples out of the bag before she turned to look at Dodger because she didn’t know how to answer this one.

“It’s fun for me.” Dodger replied, pulling out a hand of bananas.

Armand pulled out a toilet brush scrubber, “How do you eat this one?”

Dot took the scrubber gently from Armand’s long, graceful fingers. “You don’t eat this, honey. And Dodger is going to try to make this experiment as fun for you as he can or I’m going to make him eat this.”

“Noted, love.” Dodger murmured, preoccupied with his groceries to worry about what was in Dot’s hand. Armand had a look of realization on him.

“Oh, it’s Dodger food.”

“Exactly.” Dot laughed.

Putting away the groceries was longer than usual if only because Armand kept asking how to eat everything. And not everything Dodger had bought was for consumption. But Dot had the patience to teach him what was and was not safe to eat. Basically, anything in the fridge but if Armand was unsure, he was to get Dot’s approval first. Dot also had to hand it to Dodger; he did a good job of stocking the breakroom with lots of snacks and he didn’t forget her creamer and fixings for her coffee.

“After five years paired with you, I better remember.” He said, taking a sweep around the breakroom. “I’ll have to write a thank-you note to the Agency for giving us their old equipment.”

“Ah, I was wondering where we got half this shit.” Dot commented. “Can’t believe Chief Aldric would part with any of it to help us.”

“He specifically told them to give us the stuff they had in the storage room. If they attempted to give us anything new, they could start working for us. At least, that was what Agent Hartwin told me while sounding very apologetic.”

Dot’s face grew a discontented look about it, “Mm. He’s always been a little cowardly. But that’s the same storage where everything gets thrown in once it outlives its usefulness? That sounds more likely. Yeah, thank them for me too.”

“I kept telling them I could repair almost anything. Everything they’ve given us I was able to repair with no real cost. I had most of the spare parts I needed at home.”

“Well, like you’re fond of saying, their loss.” Dot said, wondering what the inside of Dodger’s house looked like. “It certainly looks like everything works like new. I wouldn’t have thought we got hand-me-downs whatsoever.”

Armand looked lost, “Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Free stuff usually is,” Dodger pointed out. “but they meant to give us their broken and out of date equipment. Perhaps as a way to haze us. Or thumb their nose at us.”

“I don’t think anyone’s used that saying since the 1800’s,” Dot cracked.

“Actually, my dear, the first usage was recorded around the 1920’s. It made a reappearance around the 1930’s but since then I’ll admit it’s a little out of date.”

Dot and Armand stared at Dodger who didn’t say anything after that, content that his lesson had gotten across. Learning something new was never expected or planned as far as Dot was concerned. However, Dodger’s matter-of-fact way of speaking and on a rare note, when he went on spouting facts about word usage or anything else he seemed to be an overnight expert on, she would let him babble on about the little factoids because she would learn something new whether she asked for it or not.

For the most part, he could come across as a know-it-all for those who didn’t know him.

Dot did know him and understood he wasn’t just showing off. He was genuinely sharing something with her and she often replied like a proud mother. “Thanks, Dodge. That’s really interesting.”

“That sounds silly,” Armand said next. He placed his thumb on his nose, “What is the point of this?”

“It’s a gesture that’s meant to disrespect,” Dodger replied. He took a moment to extend Armand’s fingers so he was doing the gesture correctly. “wiggle your fingers. That’s how it’s supposed to look.”

Dot placed a hand over her mouth to conceal the giggle wanting to escape. Armand looked confused, seemingly still not understanding how it’s supposed to be an insult. But he seemed to realize that he was currently gesturing towards them and gasped at the sudden revelation. “Oh no! I didn’t mean any disrespect!” His hand flew off his nose and straightened to his side. “I’m so sorry!”

Dot laughed this time, “You didn’t do anything wrong, Armand. It’s just a silly little gesture and if you want to do it, go ahead. But always at Dodge and never at me.” She gently teased. Armand seemed shocked at the insinuation that he could ever thumb his nose at Dot. The very idea of insulting her whatsoever seemed to pale him more than his ghosted form.

“I’d never!”

The sentiment was sweet and filled Dot with a warm feeling that surely showed in her smile.

“I’ve had the business cards renewed, “Dodger brought up, calling their attention. In a separate bag that Dot hadn’t noticed, Dodger pulled out a cardboard container the size of a medium jewelry box. The top came off like lid and Dodger pulled out a single card. It was a matte black cardstock with their new address and phone number pasted under the name of their office in sprawling gold script. It looked incredibly fancy, Dot was afraid to touch it.

“Sanctum Sanctorum?” Dot asked, looking up at Dodger. “Isn’t that that one place where you-know-who lives in New York or… something? It was all over the news years and years ago, we can’t get away with something like this.”

Armand quirked his head, “Is something wrong with the name? When Dodger explained it’s something you really liked, we thought it was the best idea to go with.”

Dot could feel herself grow soft at the thought they put in for her especially since Dodger remembered a passing comment from more than a year ago. But she shook her head, “You probably don’t know this, Armand, but it’s a really big world out there. Aside from the Agency, there are organizations out there that do bigger work than what we do with a lot more pull and power.” Then she turned to Dodger, “We’re going to get sued.”

“It’s alright. It’s a Latin phrase and the last time I checked, there was no copyright on it. There are plenty of places that use the same phrase. By its very definition, all it means is a sacred place.”

“You really have an answer for everything.” Dot remarked but she couldn’t believe they were actually getting away with calling their new office building a Sanctum Sanctorum. As long as they didn’t put “the” in front of it, maybe it’ll be okay. That way it didn’t seem official and they didn’t step on anybody’s very important toes…

“Well, we better start calling it the Sanctum for short before we get a call from… disgruntled but really impressive superheroes.”

“Superheroes?”

Dot and Dodger glanced over at Armand. In a lot of ways, he really was like a baby. He remembered some things from the time he was alive but other things, you had to explain to him. It was a good thing both Dot and Dodger exhibited patience well beyond their years. Dot cleared her throat taking the lead on this one. After all, she’s been following the history and accounts ever since their appearance.

“Years and years ago, like way before Dodge and I were born and before our parents were born and perhaps even their parents, so we’re talking about grandparents and maybe even great-grandparents, there was a really scary war. Like, we’re talking throw everyone back in medieval times, end of the world as we know it, war. Back then, relations between Humans and Supernatural beings were non-existent as proof of the Supernatural was more or less unverified. Things like Ghosts, Vampires, Weres, Witches, or anything else like that was deemed legend and at most, urban legends. Other times it was fuel for scary stories on camping trips and scaring little children into behaving.

But it was near impossible to prove the existence of anything Supernatural and for the most part, Humans didn’t have anywhere near the impressive range of abilities they have today so everything was really boring and mundane. Even so, Humans were pretty advanced. I mean, the stuff they had back then doesn’t hold a candle to what we have now, but they were pretty advanced in technology and space exploration and in those times, it was pretty impressive especially when we look back in the past and see how far we’ve come. Back then, they could only get to Luna. Now, we have a colony on Luna. See the comparison?”

“Luna?”

“The moon, love.” Dot laughed. “So, circling back to the Supernatural, Humans had sightings, superstitions, and sometimes proof like video and pictures but that eventually ended up as hoaxes most times. They didn’t have the equipment we have today that can verify Supernatural presence without a doubt or equipment that detect latent power in Humans. Furthermore, people liked feeding into the fear that there might be something wandering on this planet other than themselves. Yet, ironically, Humans were, and some could say still are, really arrogant in terms of their chain of command in life. Even if there had been something out there, they would always deem themselves higher than anything else that came along. They’ve just been in charge for so long, it was unthinkable that anything greater could challenge that. And in a lot of ways, Humans were right. They have the capacity to think a lot bigger than they are and when they band together, they can pull off some of the most incredible spectacles. But Humans are also very prideful creatures which prevent them from reaching their full potential.

Or so it’s been hypothesized. After all, they did fight with each other over territory and stupid shit like that impeding their own progress.

In a lot of ways, the Supernaturals should have expected it. But one day, there they were. Tired of hiding, tired of their cultures and beliefs being ridiculed and turned into insulting myths, they just emerged. As I remember every account in the history books have put it, it was like an invasion. However, no one could tell who was put on the planet first. Humans thought they had the right to the world because they’ve been the ones to dominate it. Supernaturals felt they’ve also been there just as long but were forced into hiding because of the discrimination and hatred Humans fueled into their stories turned them into hideous things. Monsters, honestly. They would have been hated.

But everyone hated each other. There were clashes, skirmishes, wars. Cities were decimated because despite the Humans claiming to have dominated the world, they were still Humans. They bled easily, bruised easily, weren’t as psychically or physically gifted like Supernaturals were known; enhanced strength, telekinesis, flight, shapeshifting—as you can imagine, it really tipped the scales in the Supernatural’s favor.

But one day, there was a point where Humans were able to somehow turn it around. If you ask anyone their opinion, there are many guesses as to what happened. Some say that at a certain point, to save themselves, Humans just evolved. In high stress situations or faced with extinction, it awoken something in Humans that allowed them to push back. Others say a miracle took place bestowed upon whatever God they worshipped that saw the Humans suffering and decided to help. And if that were the case, whatever God touched them never fucking appeared again. Kind of ridiculous if you ask me—”

“Dot,” Dodger cut in, steering Dot back into the story. He turned to Armand and explained, “Religion is a touchy subject. Every case she’s had at the Agency concerning the religiously imbalanced turned everything upside down and inside out. She’s never had a good experience dealing with them.”

“Don’t forget they are often the most judgmental and preachy assholes to ever deal with. Sorry.” She cleared her throat, finding her stride again. “Anyway, whatever had happened imbued the Humans with the strength to fight evenly with the Supernaturals. The powers that Supernaturals exhibited were suddenly shared with Humans. If a Vampire had super strength, so did Herbert the Human. If this Werewolf can run very fast, so can Susan the Human. It was both a good thing and a bad thing; that meant Humans wouldn’t be extinct but it also meant it fueled their idea that they were the true inheritors of the World. I mean, what else could convince them if not that moment that they evolved or were God-touched on the butt or whatever.

The fights and wars escalated and this happened all over the World. Human and Supernatural homes and cities and lands were absolutely fucking wrecked. Civilians that didn’t have supernatural abilities, and that accounted for Supernaturals and Humans alike, were housed in safe zones; it was about the only truce Supernaturals and Humans honored. People or Beings who couldn’t fight back to defend themselves should be given protection was the one thing they agreed upon, it was a fucking miracle. Now that I think about it, it might have to have been who was in power back then, honestly.”

“That sounds so terrible,” Armand said. He looked like he was about to cry. Dot was starting to regret telling the story. “everyone really hated each other.”

“Well, I mean, it sort of gets better.” Dot pointed out, “I’m not done yet. I promise the superheroes are coming in.”

Armand’s eyes brightened, “Oh yes! Superheroes! What are they?”

Dot laughed, “Now hold on. Before they came along, we need to get to the part about the aliens.”

Armand looked confused for a second before he finally asked, “What is the aliens?”

Dot and Dodger exchanged glances. Dot seemed worried and Dodger just looked perplexed. The things Armand did and did not know were astounding sometimes. It never failed to throw them for a loop when he asked.

“You don’t know what aliens are?” Dodger asked. Before Armand could reply, he explained, “Extraterrestrial life. Or, a person who is not a national of the country they are living in.”

“Or a movie franchise,” Dot input.

“What is extraterr—”

“Something that did not originate of this earth.” Dodger quickly explained. “Aliens come from outer space. Outer space is the big thing above our heads past the sky with many stars and planets.”

Dot laughed, smacking Dodger on the arm playfully. “I’m sure he knew what outer space was.”

“I, for one, am not quite sure, love.”

Armand replied, “I know! I know now.”

Dot gestured, pulling attention back to her so she could continue with the history of their planet that apparently Armand might need another run through with. She hoped she hadn’t lost him somewhere along all that explaining.

“The aliens. Okay, with the Humans and Supernaturals fighting each other, it seemed like nothing could have been able to stop this on-going war that would surely have pulled us into it years down the road. But we were either very lucky or unlucky because Aliens appeared out of nowhere and blasted all of our collective asses.

The sorry thing about that was the Aliens waltzed into a war that they weren’t even concerned with. They were running away from their own stupid shit. Apparently, history reports from an Alien POW had revealed they were on the run from a fleet from another freaking dimension. It shocked everyone to the core hearing about different dimensions and seeing Aliens that the war against Humans and Supernaturals seemed so… petty, now.

In the meantime, Aliens killed without discrimination. Remember the safe zones that both sides had agreed were untouchable? Aliens struck there first. Humans and Supernaturals alike were being targeted and even dragged into a war that wasn’t theirs. An even larger war on a scale that no one could fathom. We eventually figured out why we were being hit so hard. Aliens had the technology to brainwash their prisoners to use themselves as canon fodder so they’d lessen their own causalities and since the World was ripe with many shields, Humans and Supernaturals found out really fast it didn’t matter what they were. As far as the Aliens were concerned, they were the same.

I remember reading that it was the point where Humans and Supernaturals banded together to fight a common enemy to save themselves. By then, about one-third of the population had been wiped out.”

“To put it into perspective,” Dodger interrupted, “That’s two billion people. Total, our population including the Supernatural was about seven billion. Our history’s worst genocide before the Alien invasion is about six million. Doesn’t even come close to the damage of almost wiping us off collectively as a species and without a certain intervention, we would have been wiped out without a doubt.”

Armand’s brows were furrowed as he tried to imagine what two billion people looked like. The numbers were huge, he understood that much at least. “What is this certain intervention?”

Dot continued with a smile that stretched widely. This was a subject she knew all about as it fascinated her. “This is where the superheroes come in. In this other dimension, people with incredible gifted abilities who use them for good and justice were fighting the Alien race on the other side. Our planet didn’t know at the time and assumed the Aliens were just fighting other bad, stupid aliens. But that wasn’t the case. This Alien race who were crystalline and spindly were called the Dovirs. They had been trying to take over another earth-like planet coincidentally… named Earth-616 but bit off more than they could chew and were chased off. That didn’t mean they were retreating. They were desperate as it had been explained to us. In the midst of this chase, they ripped a tear into another dimension to cheat and bolster their numbers—which they accomplished coming here—to one day go back and try taking over once more.

If my memory serves correctly, and it always does, we’re Earth-6969. Which, by the way, we came away as the winner for coolest planet name. The representatives from Earth-616 landed here and explained it for us. It’s all over history books and by now is common knowledge.

In a lot of ways, Earth-616 is like our planet; same geographical lands and climate. We even have the same cities give or take a couple of small towns that differ between us. Oh yeah, and they weren’t in the throes of war waged in the name of discrimination but for the most part, yeah. We were pretty similar. Granted, they were more advanced in terms of technology but with the appearance of the Dovirs and our access to their technology, we’ve bolstered our own. Earth-616 even shares some of its technological advances with us which was pretty cool of them.

But comparing the two worlds, the Human races are the same, the Supernatural races are the same, we were just lacking our own Superheroes. And Armand, that means they are a band of people that come together despite their differences to make the place they live a better environment for everyone.”

Armand smiled, finally understanding. “So, they’re really important.”

“I’d say that they were. I know there are people who don’t share the same sentiment. It’s stupid and surprises me that this is coming from both sides.” Dot took a deep breath before she went down that road. It was clear to anybody listening that this was a passionate subject for her.

“I’d say we’re getting close to the ideal of living together in harmony, slowly. That’s why organizations like the Agency and what we do popped up. The Dovirs made us realize that we were entirely unequipped to handle an outside invasion. At the same time, we can’t keep fighting each other.

Taking a page out of 616’s example, their Superheroes and Supernaturals and Humans live together in a way that we’re trying to pull together nowadays. I’m not saying their side is perfect; if you pay attention to them, you’d see they just as well have their own issues with discrimination and blatant racism. Their government can be corrupt just as any political power, but we’re all trying to fight that and have been for a long time.

If it’s going to end in our lifetime remains to be seen, but I’d like to think we’re closer than five, ten years ago. It took a long ass time for our present to happen. I mean, the effects of that war are still very present today; tensions between the Humans and Supernaturals are still tense in some situations but for the most part, we’re getting there.

Plus, there’s still that nasty tear between our dimensions that now connect us to Earth-616. Isn’t it cool we’re neighbors?”

Armand was silent for a very long time, his expression reflecting a thoughtful gaze. Dot wondered if she had lost him along the way somewhere. She winced, glancing over at Dodger, “I might have gotten a little preachy at the end, there.”

Dodger shook his head, “Nonsense, I think you’ve pulled together a very beautiful summarization of our history. There wasn’t anything in what you said I disagreed with.”

Smiling, Dot gave Dodger’s hand an affectionate pat before Armand finally spoke which took them both by surprise as he asked, “How do we visit Earth-616? Do we have a very long ladder we climb to get there?”

Dot remained in a stupor for another second before laughing almost in disbelief, “Oh, no, honey. Haha, that’s where the Sanctum Sanctorum comes into play.” She further explained as soon as she saw the confusion in Armand’s features, “There’s a Sorcerer who lives down in New York that bridges the connection between our two worlds otherwise it’d be dangerous keeping that tear unsupervised. It’s complicated. Something about not having our own guardian. From what I know, he spends his time between the two worlds; we’re sort of like his vacation house.”

Then it clicked. Armand’s mouth formed a perfect ‘o’ as his eyes rounded in unison. “That’s why we’re going to get sued!”

“We’re not going to get sued.” Dodger argued.

Dot turned her head to face Dodger, almost jumping when she came face to face with a terrifying red expression. It took her a moment to realize he had pulled something out of a grocery bag and put it on his face.

“Take off that mask,” she scolded before adding, “that is a mask, right?”

“Ah! My Halloween costume!” Armand exclaimed, taking the mask from Dodger’s hands. “Dodger explained in the store why there were so many skeletons and witches on display. Hellowoon.”

“…Why would you think that was my face?” Dodger asked but went unheard as Armand continued.

“You’re supposed to dress as something scary, so I thought this was scary.” The ghost lifted his pale hand up to cover his impressive face with the unimpressive red mask. It had a long nose and angry eyebrows, its mouth furled down in the snarliest of snarls. Dot eyed it wearily.

“That’s great, honey. But you don’t have to be scary if you don’t want to, you can be anything you want. Also, did you say Hellowoon?”

“That’s not what it’s called?” he asked, pulling the mask to one side. He peered out with an amethyst hued eye expectant of Dot to correct him. But she didn’t have the heart.

“Well, it’s official. Happy Hellowoon, everyone!”

“I’m serious, did you really think that was my face?”

“Dodge, I swear to god. Any god.”

There was ring from the front which caught Dot, Dodger, and Armand’s attention. Their heads turned towards where the receptionist desk area sat before they looked at each other again.

“Do we have a literal doorbell?” Dot asked.

“Mm, I think there was a little “ring for service” bell somewhere on the desk. Armand was ringing it incessantly earlier.” Dodger replied.

“I had to make sure it would ring the next time, too.” Armand whispered.

“I’m not sure what that means.”

“What do we do?” Dot asked Dodger lowering her voice to a conspiring whisper. “It can’t be a client, right? You just printed the cards out today.”

“You might have, but I asked around and found out where you relocated. In any case, I let myself in. I hope that’s okay.” The new voice spoke with an authority that told anyone listening that he had every right to be there. It didn’t fail snapping their attention to the doorframe where a tall man stood as if he belonged there clad in a red cape that seemed to have a mind of its own. It moved where there was no wind and occasionally, the man would brush back the flap of the collar out of his face. The breakroom never had a more important guest. In all of her life, Dot never expected to come face to face with anyone as extraordinary or significant as Doctor Stephen Strange.

Dodger leaned in, whispering, “On second thought, we might be getting sued after all.”

“That wasn’t quite the idea I had in mind.” Stephen smiled. It looked like he was confronting a group of guilty children. Well, two guilty children. The third was quite obviously unusual. A flicker of recognition sparked in Stephen Strange’s gray gaze before it landed on Dot. “I was hoping you could take on a case for me.”

Dot swallowed dryly and she gripped the sides of her shirt, then ran her palm down the side of her leggings. She was nervous and it wasn’t coming from Stephen. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Stephen Strange, THE Stephen Strange, visiting the planet just to enlist her services? From what she could remember, she didn’t know how often he visited 6969, but it couldn’t have been that often, right? He had his own responsibilities on his own planet, didn’t he?

“O-Of course,” she put cautiously. She couldn’t help the stutter in her voice mainly because she had never expected in her lifetime to ever run into a Superhero from 616. An encounter was supposed to be rare. Even if their planets were connected by the rupture the Dovirs were responsible for, that didn’t mean the two planets could interfere with one another unless absolutely dire. Unless, that had changed? “What could we do for you, Doctor Strange?”

There was a brief moment when it looked like Stephen Strange looked in approval at being recognized. He all but purred the next statement, “Good, so we know of each other.”

“Y-You know me?”

“Dot Dreadful and Dodger Ainsworth Mac Alister of the private eye institution, Supernatural Investigations. Previously employed by the government sanctioned organization known as The Agency, real creative name, hm? You guys obviously have the superior one.”

Dot laughed nervously.

“You two were employed by The Agency for ten years, partnered for five because you, Ms. Dot, weren’t compatible with anyone who didn’t overload your empath abilities and Mr. Dodger stayed at entry level because he just liked doing the paperwork.”

Dot and Armand looked at Dodger who shrugged. Doctor Strange continued.

“You two quit a year ago and partnered to create your own business citing irreconcilable differences for your departure with the Agency to mask the fact you two were really unhappy there but it was an open secret considering how much Dot was known to push the cases deemed too “unimportant” by The Agency to favor the ones with more publicity to shed the project in a better light. In reality, you understood the corruption taking place once the previous Chief was replaced with Aldric, the mayor-elected official with a discrimination against Supernaturals. Another reason included being tired of being tied up by bureaucracy and wanted to make a genuine difference. Starting yesterday, you relocated to this site after operating out of your home for the last year. I hope I didn’t miss anything.”

“We hired a ghost as a receptionist.” Dodger pointed out. Stephen’s gaze trailed from Dot, then to Dodger, and last to Armand. “His name is Armand.”

“Yes, of course. That’s how he fits in.”

“And this is my Hellowoon costume,” Armand added, lifting the thing to his face. “It’s spooky, isn’t it?”

Stephen pointed, almost doing a double-take. He seemed genuinely taken aback by the outburst but covered it up as soon as the emotion flickered across his face. “Did he just say Hellowoon?”

By this time, Dot stepped up to Stephen, floored by how he knew so much. And it seemed everyone she was meeting lately simply towered over her. She extended an arm out towards the main office space.

“Why don’t you tell us the details of this case, Doctor?”

Stephen glanced down at Dot, giving her a charming smile that Dot could sworn was her imagination. Only in her dreams could someone this amazing exist, right? She had many fantasies about meeting any of the Supers in 616 but to actually be meeting one right now? …Maybe reality didn’t suck for once.

She led the Doctor to a random desk hoping it was to his taste. Maybe she should have paid more attention to the furniture. Once seated, she took out a legal pad and grabbed a pen. She had no idea where the invoices were but it was a good thing Dodger had her back. He grabbed an invoice while Dot recorded the details for any pertinent information.

Doctor Strange had the presence even while sitting to intimidate her. He seemed so regal and she could feel the pen feel warm in her hand. It took a while to realize the warmness was coming from her own hand. She just seemed so flustered! She hoped she looked composed on the outside at least.

“This peculiar case is located in the small town of Whitecrest. I’m sure you know it.”

Dot nodded, getting down to business. She ducked her head and wrote down Whitecrest as she spoke, “I know it. It looks like a little village from a medieval fantasy. Has a tavern and inn, even a functioning blacksmith. Everyone likes to ride horses to get around. It shouldn’t be too far from Ashbourne.”

Armand, seated across from Dodger who was copying the information for the Invoice asked, “Is Whitecrest that different?”

Stephen smiled, approval glinting in his eye. “After the Great War, as your planet calls it, a lot of towns had trouble rebuilding. Or more correctly, the people of states and towns all over had trouble deciding how they wanted to rebuild. Some had the finances to support their ambitious renovations while other towns like Whitecrest ended up looking like a piece of the past.”

“Way past,” Dot input with a smile, looking at Stephen. It was amazing how much of their history he bothered to learn. “Towns like Whitecrest have a lot of problems. It has nothing to do with the people most times. Ah, Doctor, what would you like for us to do while we’re there?”

“I’ll be honest,” Stephen suddenly said in a serious tone. His face took on a pensive expression and he seemed hesitant on admitting something. Up close, Dot could see that there was a gathering of wrinkles at the corner of his eyes and with the addition of the white at his temples made him seem a little older than he appeared just a few minutes ago. Whatever he wanted to say weighed heavily on his mind for a while before he finally continued, “I don’t usually put off my tasks like this but I don’t trust going to The Agency to carry out what I’m about to ask you. I can’t do it myself as I’m needed back home, in fact, as soon as I’m done here, I’ll be heading back to my New York.”

“You’ve traveled a long way to see us,” Dot encouraged. “Whatever you have to ask, I promise we’ll do our best to carry it out.”

Stephen looked up giving Dot a little jolt as their gaze connected. He still looked grave and serious. “I don’t like passing the tasks I can do myself onto anyone else, especially if I don’t know them. But I’m taking a chance on your business.” He paused and his next statement lightened up his features, “What can I say, I have a soft spot for it.”

Dot tried her best to quell the blush that was threatening to rise to her cheeks. She cleared her throat and took her legal pad to fan herself, “Ah, haha.”

“The reason we don’t trust The Agency are possibly the same as yours,” Dodger put quite bravely. Dot was often surprised by the way he spoke as if he knew everything. By the way Stephen nodded convinced Dot that Dodger probably did know everything. Dodger continued, “Then all we have to do is prove that we’re not The Agency. We can complete this job. I’m sure of it.”

Coming from any other man, it may have sounded like boasting and Stephen said as much. “But there’s something in your tone that could reassure me that’s the case,” he admitted with a slight chuckle. “It reminds me of someone else I know. A little egocentric, likes his name on tacky buildings that he owns.”

“That’s not just a little.” Dodger said.

Stephen’s grin widened a little, “And much like that egotistical man, I like you.” Stephen took a glance at his watch and realizing he was pressed for time, decided to wrap it up. “When you get to Whitecrest, there’s a person I want you to see. The name I was given was Fitzsimmons. Word is that he hangs around the tavern or the inn.”

“We talk to him?” Dot asked, writing down the name.

“I’d like if you could. I wasn’t given much information myself but to get to me, it must have been significant. I’ll find out what that is as soon as I get back and you can report to me what that was.”

“Is this case was giving to you and is so significant, would it be dangerous?” Dodger asked. Dot was thinking it but she wasn’t sure she could pose the question without insulting Stephen. She cautiously looked up, thankful for Dodger who always said what was on his mind.

“It could very well be dangerous. But I had been digging around and came upon the conclusion that I could pass the task on if I didn’t have time for it. That is what I’m doing as much as I would like to solve this myself. I was told The Agency had the equipment handled to deal with almost anything but I don’t exactly approve of the publicity my name brings in this world.”

“We have the same equipment The Agency has,” Dot interjected quite confident herself. “so you don’t have to worry there. And we have no problem keeping your name out of anything, anywhere. Even out of our mouths. No one say Doctor Strange’s name.” Dot put a hand over her mouth then mumbled, “Starting now.”

“Can we call him Doctor Cape?” Armand asked.

“That’s insulting,” Dodger said.

“We have to call him something, right?”

Stephen surprised them by laughing. “That’s alright. I meant in newspapers or in any media where the public can get to it. I’m sorry to ask as I’m sure the exposure could help your company—”

“No no no! Don’t worry about that!” Dot exclaimed, wide-eyed. She had almost reached across the table to take his hands but restrained herself and her emotional self by sitting back in her chair and gripping her pen with both hands, longways. “That isn’t why we’re here. We really want to make a difference, doesn’t matter if our names are attached or not. If the people of Whitecrest can benefit from being helped by us or even Doctor Stephen Strange, it’s the outcome that’s important.”

“Besides, if we’re good at our job, our name will get out there somehow.” Dodger added.

Dot was nodding in agreement. Stephen chuckled again, quite entertained by this little group. If it wasn’t the strange ghost that didn’t know how to say Halloween, it was the blunt Dodger and the compassionate leader of the group, Dot, that made up Stephen’s mind.

“Alright then, I’ll entrust this task to you.” he deemed. Dot was filling out the last-minute details such as the date and time as Stephen stood up. For the first time, he took a good look around. “It’s just the three of you, right?”

“Yeah,” Dot said, looking up and following Stephen’s gaze. “it’s big, huh?”

Stephen sent her a wink that sent Dot’s tummy flipping. “I think it’s about the right size. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to take my leave. Do you mind if I meet you here the day after tomorrow, around the same time?”

“Oh, definitely!” Dot smiled. “So, the fourth at around seven-thirty.”

“It’s a date.”

Dot blinked, feeling herself flush this time. Before she had a chance to reflect on it, Doctor Strange opened with a strange gesture with a swing of his hand and an orange portal flickered to life in the middle of their office. From the other side, she could barely make out something that looked like an office and dark wood.

“From one Sanctum to another,” Stephen mused. “Good luck.” He finished before stepping into the portal. It disappeared as soon as his cape had cleared.

Dot, Dodger, and Armand were left gaping.

“Whoooooa! I can’t believe it!” Dot shrieked, throwing her hands up. Legal pad going with them.

“Fascinating. I wonder how he did that,” Dodger sounded just as thoughtful as Stephen had, moving around the spot where the portal had been.

Armand was the only one who wasn’t saying anything. Instead, he was looking at his mask. Dot, noticing, frowned and asked, “What’s wrong, love?”

“I wonder if it’s too late to change my costume.”

[telvvyn]

On Felvos!

Worldbuilding questions taken from this post.

1. How well can your oc read and/or write? How detailed is their quest log/journal, if they keep one at all?

Felvos can read very well in dunmer and daedric. However, his handwriting is terrible and he often has a hireling write/dictate for him for letters and important documents. He keeps a journal for all of his studies and they're filled with imprints and sketches with chicken-scratch notes. They are nigh impossible to read.

2. How educated is your oc? Did their parents teach them, did they have a tutor or were they apprenticed to a master, or did they attend a university? What university? What are they educated in? How long did their education take?

Felvos was educated by spellwrights in his family's Tel, and apprenticed under his mother, the wizard of Tel Vvyn in his early life. After basics and life skills, most of his studies focused on magic, herbology, alchemy and the supernatural. He began his education at age 5 and completed his apprenticeship at age 23, continuing studies among other mages until his eventual separation from Tel Vvyn.

3. Does your oc have any kind of crafting skills that either aren’t in-game or don’t have as much importance in-game as they would in real life? (For example, can your oc sew or weave, etc? Are they skilled in any kind of art? Can they make jewelry or work glass? Are they musicians? etc)

He’s skilled with glass, light metal work & sewing.

4. What pantheon does your oc worship? 

Many housemer worship the tribunal. Felvos is curious of their power and the influence they have on dunmer society, but largely indifferent about the worship of them. Felvos is very individualist right down to his own beliefs. He holds the writings of great and powerful mages and his ancestors in higher regards than any. Which in one way, does make him particularly interested in Sotha Sil.

5. How religious is your oc? Do they come into conflict with others over their beliefs? If their patron deity told them to do something extremely undesirable or against their moral compass, would they do it? Would your oc sell someone’s soul for a corn chip?

Felvos is only religious enough to take ancestral worship seriously, otherwise, he has a very agnostic/apathetic view. He’s careful about his words and chooses his battles when it comes to speaking in the company of those devout or critical of the tribunal- a lesson learned from his family that secularism is better than conflict- and best to not give any religious organization reason to nose around Telvanni business. The only one in charge of Felvos is himself and he firmly believes so. But he is not arrogant enough to make enemies of the tribunal temple. Power fascinates him and he’d much rather act ignorant and entertain his curiosities than cause a disturbance.

To answer the second question, Felvos would remain skeptical unless Sotha sil someone of great power graced him with their presence to tell him to do something undesirable. Then and only then, he’d do it.

6. Does your oc have a family of origin? How many members of their FoO are still living? Do they have a good relationship? How much contact does your oc have with their FoO? 

His aunt, uncle, cousin first removed and daughter from his immediate FoO still live. At one time, their relationship may have been closer, but currently it is strained and separated by Mage Lord Balvus Droreloth’s takeover of Tel Vvyn, which occurred with the death of Felvos’s mother, father, and wife at the time. Felvos married out of necessity, and though their relationship was amicable, they had no strong feelings for one another. His daughter was by far the most precious to him. Felvos wanted to leave with her, but protocol forbade it. He left her in the care of his aunt and uncle reluctantly. They have seldom spoken since that day.

7.What social class was your oc born into? Did they change classes at all? How?

Noble in the Great House Telvanni. Felvos is technically still noble by blood, but he has been absent from his role in Tel Vvyn for almost twenty years and lives an unassuming lifestyle.

8. How politically active is your oc? Are they obviously influential, or is their influence more subtle?

He’s less politically active than he probably should be. But Felvos has very little patience for politics and too many people in general. He stays out of matters that don’t directly pertain to him or get in the way of his work. 

10. How trustworthy is your oc? Would they ever change opposing factions?

Felvos is trustworthy to people he likes. If he doesn’t like you, you have reason to be wary. He remains loyal to House Telvanni for his family’s sake but like the true individualist he is, he does not always play by certain rules. 

11. What is your oc’s main source of income, if they have one besides plundering tombs and adventuring? If they’re mercenaries, are they part of a company? Does your oc own their own business, and if so, what is it?

He runs an apothecary for the odd out of his home in Ald Velothi.  It is quietly rumored that he offers medicinal & wellness services to those with supernatural diseases, shady pasts and otherwise outcasts of society that cannot obtain elsewhere. His knowledge in the medicinal geology of Vvardenfell is often sought after, particularly when illnesses sweep through villages and has often interacted with Ashlanders who were willing.

12. Is your oc good with finances? Bartering? How long can they keep the money they make? 

Felvos is conservative with his money when he needs to be, and invests his coin into paying people who work for him fairly. He makes quite a bit of money, but his work also involves some risky business.

13. Does your oc have any particular rivalry or mutual dislike with any NPC?

I mean... he judges anyone from the mages guild pretty harshly. He’s especially offended by any Telvanni helping the mages guild. How dare they give away ancient knowledge for free! To THOSE people!

14. How well-liked is your oc? What is their reputation, if they’re well-known? Are they simply liked/disliked, or are they respected but feared, or personally liked but not taken seriously, etc? 

His reputation varies between groups. House Telvanni recognizes him as the son of a wizard, and the council has held their breath on what Felvos’s next action might be. Most are aware that there is an obvious grievance between him and Balvus Droreloth. Some would even like to see Tel Vvyn change seats and are disappointed that Felvos instead chose to leave.

Several assassination attempts have been made on Felvos since his departure, all of which have been traced back to Droreloth. It is obvious which sect of House Telvanni despises him and thinks him weak. But every failure is a testament to Felvos’s cunning and the dangerous company he keeps.

Those outside of his house have mixed perceptions. Some see another hermit mer with odd interests. Some are wise to the company he keeps and respects his boundaries. They know the folly in crossing someone with Morag Tong blades following his every shadow. 

15. Does your oc have a horse/other mount? A pet? How did they get this animal? If they were given the animal, do they have the money to maintain it? 

Felvos inherited his mother’s flame atronach senche. It is conjured with the help of an heirloom relic- a firestone staff passed down in the family, and can be summoned near an active foyada of the Red Mountain. 

He also raises a flock of Bantam guar on his property.

16. How careful/careless are they with their animal? What do they do with their pets while adventuring, especially on dangerous quests?

Bantam Guar are absolutely useless for adventuring. But Felvos will open his window and enjoy their soft chirping while he reads. With the atronach, he has to be mindful that while it won’t burn him, it may burn others. And also... to stay off the grass.

17. Does your oc take their time as they travel, or are they purposeful? How do they survive in the wilds, especially if they aren’t hunter-types? How dependent is your oc on civilized society?

He takes his time traveling, often taking the scenic route. His favorite way to travel in Vvardenfell is the giant silt striders. He is slightly dependent on civilized society and will get moody if he’s been too far away from a bathtub for too long. But knows how to navigate well and is very good at laying low to avoid dangerous encounters.

18. What does your oc like to eat? How much food do they eat? Can your oc cook, and can they do it well?

Some of his favorites are kwama egg, spiced mudcrab, artisan bread and pumpkin recipes. He has a sweet tooth as well. Felvos is particularly good at making broths and soups, though he’s not much of a baker. He’s guilty of nervous eating, though he eats pretty normally for a mer of his stature. That is until a certain nord visits and feeds him almost too well.

20. What does your oc wear in the city/settlements? In the house? When travelling, but not adventuring or expecting combat? Do they vary their clothes depending on what hold/city they’re in?  Does your oc have a good or bad sense of fashion? How many clothes does your oc have?

Silks, linens, and protective carapace plates about his middle and flanks in city and settlements, with neat scarves wrapped around his neck and shoulders. A cozy tunic and baggy trousers for around the house. He prefers open toed shoes when he can get away with it. He thinks he has a good sense of dunmer fashion, but he is very simple and elegant with his look. When he’s traveled to a colder climate, he trades silks for imported furs- about the only useful aspect of the Ebonhart Pact to him.

23. Can your oc swim, and how well? Have they ever swam in the ocean, or only lakes/rivers? 

He can swim pretty well in a lake or a calm river. He enjoys wading and collecting shells along the beach, but won't swim in the ocean.

24. How easy/difficult is it to rob your oc? Pickpocket? Bribe?

Bribe? Easy if it involves something very worthwhile and powerful to him. Rob? Difficult. His oathmen are both lycanthropes with really good noses and one is an assassin. 

25. If your oc is part of one of the more morally questionable or outright evil factions, how do they justify it to themselves? Do they still consider themselves as morally good? How well known is their affiliation to these groups? Do they have separate personas? Do their family/friends know? If they have separate personas, how do they keep their less than righteous activities secret?

Felvos is not aligned with an evil faction per say, but he does walk a morally questionable ground by caring and keeping the company of people who do. He justifies it partially by befriending ‘powerful’ people, it in turn, makes him a harder target for his enemies. He’s also genuinely curious about diseases of the supernatural, going beyond what any of his people would think to do to research these conditions. It is a fair and meaningful trade to him- for those he helps to help him in a pinch. 

Felvos does not out the people he helps in mixed company, nor does he go into details of his work with just anyone. The less people know of him, the better. Perhaps he’s taken a page of inspiration from the father of mysteries.

26. How helpful is your oc, and why? Are they helpful or kind even during difficult situations? Are they pragmatic, or do they have a hero syndrome?

Felvos is only helpful if:

1.] Being helpful is a return on investment for him.

2.] Being helpful brings him closer to his goals.

[nancywheelxr]

(our friends set us up on a blind date as a prank because we don’t like each other but neither of us wants to let them win so ) | Part 6:

( part 1 ) ( part 2 ) ( part 3 ) ( part 4 ) ( part 5 )

Winn slaps the piece of paper on the table next to Alex’s tablet with a cry of triumph, grinning wide enough to make his cheeks ache. She doesn’t startle, slowly turning towards him, one eyebrow raised. He slides it back a little, his grin turning sheepish but no less happy, “sorry I took such a hard instance, but I’m very excited,” he spreads his arms, the computers behind him, “I’m back!”

Alex looks down at the paper, his psych evaluation signed and stamped by the DEO’s appointed psychologist, proving he's ready for duty. Things used to be easier, before the whole transparency policy thing; now they can’t afford to wave off technicalities, not even for analysts. But that’s fine, it’s all in the past now. Alex looks gravely at the paper, checking out both front and back, then fixes him with a critical stare. It goes on for a full minute, enough to make him nervous, but a smile breaks out on her face, and she pulls him into a hug, “welcome back!”

“Too strong, can’t breathe,” he wheezes dramatically, as she releases him, lightly punching his arm in retaliation. The familiarity of being back is an exciting breath of fresh air, a lungful of home a month into his return. Now, finally, things are settling into what they should be. “Thanks, Director. Alex. Director Alex?”

She snorts, “you know Alex is fine. But,” she picks her tablet back up, his paperwork handed to another agent to take to HR. “Tomorrow, you’re back tomorrow.”

“But Alex,” he whines, following her around the command center, “I’ve got all the paperwork, and I’m so bored. Come on, there’s got to be something for me to do.”

“HR needs to sign off first,” she stops, turning back to him, “go home. You’re still on vacation, go do something fun– you know, I would love to go on vacation.”

“No, you would not, Alex Danvers. You’d go stir crazy, like me. Please?”

“Go home.”

“Or,” he blocks her path again, “I could go work into upgrades for your weapons! I have so many ideas– I was right, by the way, magnets are the future! There are so many things I want to do with that– it wouldn’t be so bad, right? I wouldn’t even be near the real work stuff.”

There’s a pause, and Alex bites her lip, considering his suggestion. And Winn, he can see she’s swayed by his argument, she wants to agree with him, but Brainy, of course, chooses that moment to join the conversation “I couldn’t help overhearing,” he says, not at all apologetic, “but do I need to remind you cannot use technology not yet invented? Rushing the timeline could have disastrous consequences.”

Damn it. “Look,” Alex says, taking Brainy by the shoulders and pushing him towards Winn, “you have a shiny new boyfriend, go have fun. Go celebrate, or something.”

“But, Director, I’m–”

“Going to take the rest of the day off, yes.” She gestures the computer beside them, the DEO logo floating idly on the screen, and the team of agents sitting on their desks, waiting on standby. “Contrary to popular belief, we do have an entire team of very capable analysts that can hold down the fort without either of you for one day. Besides, everything’s calm since New Year’s Eve, it’ll be fine.” She makes a face, “and to be honest, both of you never take a day off and it’s beginning to look bad on us. Don’t you go on dates? It’s like you’re always here.”

Well. What can they say to that? Brainy is looking a little shocked from the sudden turn of events and that does make Winn feel a little better. Serves him right for being a stick in the mud and ruining his plans. So he swings an arm around Brainy, pulling him closer, and grins, “what? Of course we go on dates.”

“All the dates,” Brainy adds, helpfully, and Winn grits his teeth through a smile.

“Yeah, what he said. And on that note,” he makes a show of glancing at his watch. “We are going on one right now, right, darling?”

“We are?” Winn gives him a meaningful look. “I mean, yes! We shall take advantage of this unexpected yet unquestionably welcome free time.”

Alex snickers, “okay, you guys go do that and give me some peace and quiet for a change, okay?”

“You know you love us!” He calls back, already steering Brainy with him towards the exit.

He hears Alex sigh, “unfortunately,” and laughs.

*

One good thing about going grocery shopping in the middle of the afternoon is the lack of people around. It’s kind of like walking around inside of a Walmart at 2 am, but with less of a liminal vibe. And also, it’s a Wednesday, so vegetables are cheaper.

The government really doesn’t pay them enough.

But greens are for later, now he pauses on the cereal section of the aisle, looking for his favorite brand. After this, he should probably buy at least enough stuff for some homemade meals this week, eating that much take out can’t be good for his health. Or his bank account.

“Is this what you’d call a date?” Brainy asks, sounding genuinely curious. He’s taken over pushing their cart a few aisles ago, after claiming Winn was more likely to bump into the piled cans in the middle of the store. Which is a lie, for the record, it was one not-even-that-close call. “Picking out unhealthy food?”

“No, it’s what we’d call running errands,” Winn answers distractedly, throwing carelessly a cereal box in the cart. Now, to the mac-and-cheese. “In fact, I told you didn’t have to come with me.”

“And I told you I had to, in case Alex called looking for either of us,” he picks up the cereal, frowning as he reads the back of the box like a nerd, “did you know this is extremely bad for your health?”

Winn rolls his eyes, “you don’t even have a phone. And yes, I did know that, but you can’t give me crap about my food, you eat pizza and that’s nowhere near healthy either.”

“I don’t eat it every day,” Brainy shrugs, putting it back down with a disgusted face beside the orange juice. Then, he pauses, rooting for something in his pocket, “I do have a phone, here.”

He hands Winn his phone as if Winn would need proof it was, indeed, the real thing, and not a cardboard cutout. “What? But you said you didn’t have one before! When did you have time to buy this?”

Brainy smirks, a mischievous glint in his eyes that Winn hadn’t seen before. It lights up his face, makes him look younger, almost carefree. “Yes, I was-- I believe the term is messing with you.”

“What?” Winn gapes, watching frozen as he pushes the cart past him and towards the wrong side of the store. “Since when do you have a sense of humor?”

It’s a stupid, baseless insult, made just to rile him up, and they both know it. “You have been gone for a while, Winslow.”

“Hey, low blow, dude.” And the thing is if it had from anyone else, it would have been. But while Winn had been gone, so had Brainy, from his own point of view, and he still is. So the joke slides off easily, brushed off with a laugh, “and you gotta stop calling me that, man. You’re my fake-boyfriend, it’s super weird.”

“I guess so,” Brainy lets Winn lead them back to the boxed mac-and-cheese, looking thoughtful, “although old habits are hard to break, I’m bound to slip up.”

“That’s fine, we can play it off,” he begins waving him off when an idea hits him, stopping him dead on his tracks, “dude. Pet names, we need to come up with pet names.”

Apparently, someone has already explained to him the concept of pet names, because Brainy shuts him down emphatically. “No, absolutely not. That would be entirely unnecessary.”

“No, we gotta! It’s tradition,” Winn grins, leaning against the cart to bat his eyelashes overly flirty, “babe?”

“No,” Brainy gives him an unimpressed look.

“Sweetums?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Cupcake?”

“You will not call me after a type of cake.”

“Pumpkin?”

“Or fruits.”

“Honey?”

“I will kill you.”

“Darling? Come on, I’ve used this one before, it’s not so bad!”

Brainy sighs tiredly, looking up as if asking the skies for patience. “Fine, that is the lesser evil. You may use it on occasion.”

“You know I’m never using your name again now, right?” Winn grins, leaning back and waiting a few seconds before, “darling.”

“I do,” he gives the cart a light push, nudging Winn to start walking again. Brainy’s making a show of sounding annoyed, but he knows better. The barely concealed small smile on his face betrays him– he’s finding this funny too. “You are insufferable. Weren’t you going to buy that box of lies?”

“Are you talking about the mac-and-cheese?” Winn laughs, moving after the cart hits his legs again.

“Yes, but if you think that is any real macaroni or cheese on that,” he scoffs, “you are a bigger fool than I thought.”

“Dude, you are so going to try the mac-and-cheese,” he dumps four boxes on the cart, raising an eyebrow in challenge, “and you’re gonna like it.”

“I most certainly will not,” Brainy tells him matter-of-factly, swapping the boxes with the orange juice. He looks up to find Winn watching him, and shrugs, going defensive, “what? The frozen chicken was going to make the cardboard soggy.”

“Didn’t say anything,” Winn raises his hands in front of his chest, grinning, “come on, I need vegetables too.”

“Finally, something that will not kill you in ten to twenty years.”

*

Winn dumps his grocery bag on the kitchen table, making space for Brainy to do the same with his armful of bags. “I want to say show off, but I won’t. Instead, I’ll say thanks for helping me bring all this up.”

“That is still saying show off,” Brainy points out, amused.

“Yes, but I was sneaky about it,” he answers easily, “you should take notes.”

“You are welcome,” Brainy tells him, still begrudgingly amused. He glances at the clock, “but I should go.”

“Really? Don’t wanna stay and try the true all-American mac-and-cheese?”

“Wasn’t it originally from France?”

“Yeah, but this one is the American version– one hundred percent processed and comes in a box.”

He snorts, “thank you, but no. It’s getting late, I need to return to the DEO. I told the cab driver I would only be a minute, he’s waiting.”

“Right, sure, but wait– here’s my number,” he scribbles quickly on the back of a takeout flier, handing it over, “text me later so I’ll have yours. We should have each other’s numbers, that’s dating 101,” he pauses, just now realizing it, “actually, that’s being friends 101.”

Brainy nods, folding the paper carefully and putting in his pocket. “I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow.” He hesitates at the door, turning with a smile, “welcome back, Winslow.”

And then he’s gone, closing the door behind him. Winn shakes his head, going back to putting away his groceries. Today sure didn’t go as he had initially expected, but hey, he did finally fill out all the paperwork to go back to work. He even went over everything on his admittedly sloppy shopping list, that’s more adulting than he’d thought he would manage today. And, if he had to, under penalty of death and only after swearing to tell the truth, and only the truth, then Winn would have to admit, it was kind of fun.

But whatever, tomorrow’s a brand new day and– his phone buzzes with a new text.

Don’t save it under some ridiculous contact name, the unknown number threatens.

i would never, Winn texts back, grinning, and saves it under darling, adding a heart for good measure. Note to self: send a screenshot of this later.