#i drew this weeks like . this pose is a lot

[inktho]

chilchuck doodles + the sketch comps for this week & last week's chilchuck drawings

[redbootsindoriath]

Fëanorian Week 2023, Day 5: Curufin (or Celebrimbor, rather)

I have a similar problem with Curufin as I do with Caranthir: he’s just kind of there a lot of the time and kind of the only description of him is that he’s a mini version of Fëanor (and I was already going to be drawing Fëanor).  The one very notable thing he did was be father to Celebrimbor, who did plenty of notable things, including having a striking and vivid death (as opposed to Curufin who just got killed without detail or ceremony during the same battle as the other two C’s).  Therefore Celebrimbor gets to steal his dad’s day of Fëanorian Week.  Sorry, Curufin stans.

[flyingspicerack]

☠️➕⚾️🟰💛

A gift for @oh-gh0st of Shinushi

[cloudblaze]

I haven’t been able to draw much recently and I feel out of practice, so today I doodled some of my older designs to get back into it~

[came0dust]

esteemed tag readers, this is what i was alluding to last post. making a full-on original character again after however many years and personally i think ive made some major artistic strides these past few months, including while i was drawing him, that helped these feel fulfilling to work on (though also the fact that i was struggling with sleep at the time probably was a factor). havent really settled on a name yet, but his concept is "cursed werewolf except the curse is something else". i decided the "something else" was fire and his goal is, by some means or another, to rid himself of it

oh by the way the one looking up probably isn't him ultimately but it was the drawing that kicked off the session where i drew most of these so i thought it should also be here

[drlavenderpepper]

you can always tell when it's the start of a semester cause i'll just randomly dump some art that i've drawn because i was bored as hell

so anyway

and bonus:

[boxbug]

A Canary’s Final Flight

My piece for @trafficzine 4th edition! Get it for free here! 200 pages of excellent art and fics, incredible work from all participants and from the mods especially!! huge shoutout to the mods for real

Process notes under the cut! (I struggled a lot so it's a bit of a novel)

So the entire process was a Ride. I knew when I picked this prompt that I was going to have a hard time, because Jimmy’s final death had been illustrated a billion times over by extremely talented artists. But I had a Vision of the snapshot of the second before the impact, when everything is still but you know what’s about happen. It was very much inspired by the clip of Fog by Jabberwocky, bu the thing is, they have the advantage of all the build up of the fall, and that’s when the trouble started.

This was my first version, and obviously it wasn't working. And I was trying so hard, with so many iterations! Small wings, big wings, no wings, different poses, less backgrounds elements. I'd done compositions were everything seemed peaceful but something is Wrong, but it wasn't working this time.

So instead I focused on what rendering I'd like to do - I tried a painterly approach, for that visceral feeling, but it wasn't working either (but hey, I did keep the red sky, so, progress)

At this point I'd been doing back and forths for weeks and I was just as lost as at the start. Now that's my tip for people who make art of any kind, in situations like that, stop thinking about how you can make the best piece possible, and think about you can have fun with it (because when you aren't it's visible). And for that was, 1 - going back to using ink and pen nibs and doing way too detailed inking, and 2- looking at Dave McKean's covers for Sandman (which, funnily enough, was also a reference for my previous trafficzine piece)

And from there I was actually going somewhere! Between the jagged rocks, the red sky, and the increased verticality with the borders, I had hit the vibes I wanted.

I did some experimentation with the border, and even though I really liked the bad boys I drew they were taking too much away from the lonely desolation, so I actually used Red (Unecessary Redstone)'s idea of all of Jimmy's worldy's possessions scattered on the ground post impact, with the idea to make it looks like the central image is his grave being dug.

(and yes for a short amount of time the were supposed to be clock markings on the sun, but there was already enough going with the wings so I scrapped that) (also fun fact the reason why the wings aren't fully material but more ghostly is because my toddler cousin was watching me draw the very first draft and asked why he didn't just use his wings and i went :( so the wings are a metaphor now)

So from there I found a bunch of picture and took some myself, cut and assembled everything together, added shadows in all the appropriate places, and repainted some elements so that everything would look better intergrated (some of the wheats are basically 100% handpainted, the cardboard as well). This took a suprisingly long amount of time, but I was done!

Well I wasn't expecting to have that much to say, but I hope if you're still reading, it was at least interesting!

[sanctus-ingenium]

WIPs of some of my drawings where i made a full little painting for the sketch to nail colours or values first. i thought it would be fun to do a Behind The Scenes and also show u how some drawings changed, what i kept and what i discarded and at what point i just started adding unplanned details

all these were done using a mixture of sai and procreate

more comments on The Process under the cut

eye of the otherworld is inspired by a real photo i took two weeks ago!

i soooo wanted to draw water that looked like this, weeds and all, so the original colours of that sketch were picked direct from the photo. but i wasn’t satisfied with it so i changed it using a gradient map (you can see it’s crunchy on the borders between colours). for the final, i re-painted everything again using the sketch colours as a guide so that i would not end up with the crunchy edges a gradient map will give u, and so that i could add in extra contrast over the top. the black swirl pattern in the final was an ad lib lol but i’m really happy with how it gives the impression of water or liquid even if it’s not realistic... i will try again to recreate something like this photo tho because i am obsessed. the birds were originally swans but the necks were driving me crazy i needed a bird with a shorter neck and grebes are associated with this location in canon so it was perfect. they have very funny feet. the last detail i added to this was the white flashes in their primary flight feathers (which do not occur in nature btw)

hanged man was an interesting one because it’s based on a sketch i made in 2020 when i first wrote this fun impalement scene

here is félix being impaled for the first time in 2020 by a rusted harpoon that essentially rips his human disguise off to reveal the black carapace underneath

for the coloured sketch in the photoset i re-lined this exact sketch in sai to update it to match my current lineart style, but as you can see i realised the pose itself needed work and not just a re-line so i completely redid it in procreate to exaggerate the pose and gestures. i went into this one already knowing exactly what bg colours i wanted so that was no issue but the hardest part was weirdly figuring out what he was going to be standing on. in canon he is standing on top of a very high wall and leaning back over a fatal drop. the black pencil lines in the clouds and the bird were ad libbed but i liked the idea of throwing the bird in as some extra symbol of freedom the likes of which you will not experience if you have been shot with a harpoon. the green was not working at all so the swap out to more purpley pink tones was last minute. i unified the different colours by using a colour-shifting brush (you’ll see that his gaiters are different colours - i didn’t hand pick those, the colour jitter did)

for Big Pascal... originally it was going to be a confrontation between the guy on the ground and pascal but i wasn’t feeling the standing pose and it ended up being... if not restful then at least maybe a little more benevolent than the shadow of colossus shit it was before. the white cracks in the sky were originally going to be black but it just didn’t work. a lot of people tag this one as some form of cowboy aesthetic which is funny to me. there’s no cowboys here

i do like the lens flare effect in the b&w thumbnail tbh and i think i kind of lost the low camera angle effect in the final

i drew a bonus comic of the two characters interacting during this scene (mostly the lil guy just trying to ignore what’s happening in the sky)

[deadaliensalad]

I cant stop thinking about trolls, specifically Floyd. Finally decided to just go wild and draw fanart. Im going insane over this little guy

HE IS THE SIZE OF MY FINGER

Pretty short theory/rant under cut

I also really love the idea that he’s been hanging out with the rock trolls since the brothers separated. It could even kinda make sense. His looks kinda remind me of something you could see a rock troll looking like, just mess up his hair a bit. Ofc he has wayy too bright colors to be a rock troll, but he was born as a pop troll. (I can just imagine how much he would stand out oml.) Not to mention, Prince D said in the second movie that trolls can enjoy more than just one type of music. He was also apparently kidnapped 2 months prior to the movie, and the second movie was just a week before the third, meaning Floyd had been missing for 1 month and 3 weeks by the time of the second movie. Someone would probably try to look for him, but after a while of no signs they could’ve just assumed him dead and given up. By the time of the movie the rock trolls wouldn’t even think to ask anyone of the other tribes about him, because he’d been missing for a while and because the whole rock-apocalypse was going on. Only reason i can see it not working is if the rock trolls were against any type of music the entire time and either would’ve just kicked him out or forced him to only play rock (which i don’t believe Floyd would be able to do). Really going into theory mode here: Floyd showing up could be what made Queen Barb find out about the other tribes and first get the idea of the world tour, but only starting to plan it after Floyd disappears and they fail to find him.

I would also love if this was true and every time Floyd plays rock music he gets aggressive and scares the sht out of his brothers lol.

I literally came up with the oc as i drew this, i just wanted some random guy for the pose and suddenly i had a character. He’s just someone that basically clung himself to Floyd immediately when he got to the village. Bro’s kind of a bully but he’s also a loser. (Just wanna say I’m not the type of person that ships ocs with canon, and i’m not doing it here) They end up having a sort of rivalry, as Floyd gets better at Rock and manages to mix it with his pop, he gets a bit popular. Meanwhile Brick has never really tried to gain an audience, but when Floyd gets followers and Brick was already challenging him, he ultimately gets some attention too. They sort of team up and become a duo, but they ensure that they’re still rivals. Inevitable though, they become friends, hang out a lot, sing and dance, like normal trolls. Brick teaches Floyd some specific things about rock and Floyd tells him about his tribe and brothers. Brick would be the devastated when Floyd got kidnapped and would be the last to stop searching. (Never stopped hoping he was alive though). Of course though, he is a rock troll and theres no way he would show how much he cares about Floyd.

Im currently working on colored designs of Brick and Rock!Floyd

[seiishindraws]

Hello hello, I'm a big fan of your art. Um, I was wondering, if it's okay to ask, where do you look to for poses to use in your art? I struggle sometimes to come up with or find poses I like, and was wondering if there's any resources you use for that kind of thing? (Hopefully that all makes sense)

i feel like i differ from a lot of artists i know irl bc they all use pinterest to look for pose reference, i personally kinda just fiddle around until a pose looks nice and only seek out reference if im having trouble nailing down the pose im trying to draw

since getting back into art school, i do like 6 hours of life drawing every week and its done a lot to help me formulate poses in my head! cannot overstate how vital life drawing is if you wanna get better at depicting the human figure in various poses, you start to become so intimately familiar with how our bodies and bend and squash and fold in different positions

i feel like the only little tip i have here is, if you're drawing a pose and something about it feels off, consider "contrapposto", which is a term used to describe the balance of weight in a figure. usually one leg will be bearing a bit more weight than the other, and the hips and torso will never be completely parallel to each other. this image kinda showcases what im talking about.

one side of the body will stretch while other squashes, and having a stretch and squash between the torso and hips usually makes for a more interesting pose, and creating an interesting rhythm between the head angle and the torso and hips can help make a pose more appealing. this is not a hard rule of course, just things that automatically run through my mind out of habit now.

here are some midna sketches i made the other day while procrastinating on assignments lol. i drew these poses without referece, they arent like super elaborate or anything but i feel like theyre pretty charming at least

THIS ISNT A VERY GOOD EXPLANATION OF THIS CONCEPT IM SORRY but basically: draw from life, study the human figure an excessive amount and you will start to grasp things pretty well !!

[jawspinner96]

Arthur morgan x fem reader smut

This is very lazily written, I was struck with inspiration and wrote this in one night, so no nitpicking!!! Pls ignore any typos or sentences that sound a little off. This is also my first time posing smut so !!!

*******

You had an easy job, it wasn't fun but the money was pretty good. All you had to do was offer "Deluxe baths" to strangers. It wasn't the career you drempt of as a child, but a couple months ago you were desperate for work and the hotel owner was nice enough to give you this job, not only is it good pay but you also got a free room out of it.

You've encountered your fair share of creeps during your time here, but the hotel owner proved to be good backup.

"Just hollar if you need my help ma'am,"

And he was always there to save you if need be. However, it wasn't often people accepted so a lot of your job was spent lazing about or cleaning.

This day was like any other, business was slow and you were sat in the lobby of the hotel, reading. The door swung open and the bell rung out which caught your attention. You looked up from your book and fixed your eyes on a tall, rugged man, around six foot-ish. His features were hidden behind a weathered had and short untidy beard.

"Ma'am." The man nodded your way and walked up to the front desk.

"Sir." You nodded back and Continued reading, peaking over the pages to look at the man's figure from behind. His unbuttoned shirt paired with a leather vest accentuated his waist and drew your eyes to his large arms. You felt your face grow warmer the longer you stared.

"Let me get a bath, and a room for the night." His voice was deep and husky, yet it flowed smoothly and sounded like music to your ears.

"Alright sir, I've got someone heating the bath up for you right now. That'll be a dollar fifty"

You watched the man make his way upstairs towards the bathroom before closing your book and heading to your own room to prepare. You applied lipstick, cleaned up your eyeliner and sorted your hair.

"Want some company mister ?" You knocked lightly on the door and waited for his response. You weren't expecting him to accept your proposal so you were shocked to hear him accept. You became rather nervous and unsure as to why you were suddenly so scared. You had done this many times before but something about this man was intimidating.

Slowly, you opened the door and made your way in. A faint smell of lavender filled the humid room and hot steam, highlighted by the rays of sun peeking through the foggy window, danced freely throughout the air.

He had his arms resting on each side of the tub, and his eyes closed, which made you feel slightly more at ease. You sat on a stool next to the bath, by his head and began to talk.

"You look like you've had a long day," you purposely kept your voice hushed and soft.

"You have no idea." He smiled contently as you wet your hands and began to scrub his scalp tenderly.

"Well... nothin a hot bath can't fix." His hair was rough in your palms and you could feel the weeks of dirt clinging to each strand. Despite this, the man didn't smell at all, Infact a rather pleasant, musky aroma emitted from his body.

You began to let your hands wander, settling on his shoulders. You palmed his skin attempting to soothe the spots you thought might be most sore. He leaned his head back, letting out a long, pleased sigh. You could feel him becoming less tense from your touch and smiled a little to yourself, proud of your work.

"Damn, that feels good," He muttered under his breath as you began to massage his arms. You marvled at the feeling of his large biceps under your fingers. "I don't remember the last time I was this relaxed."

"If you don't mind me asking, what is it that you do out there?"

He opened and eye and looked right at you. For a moment you were nervous, did you ask something offensive? However, you were far too flustered by his heavy eye contact to care.

"That's something I prefer to keep to myself ma'am." You apologised and Continued to wash the stranger.

Sweat trickled down your forehead as you reached further into the water to scrub his abdomen, then his legs. You looked up from the water for a second, you almost had a heart attack as your eyes met with his. He watched intently, as you massaged his calves and rinsed the bubbles from his leg. Both of your faces were flushed from the heat, and the tension that filled the air.

"I reckon that's clean enough ma'am," He lightly grabbed your hand and held it in between his own, "Thank you very much."

His eyes stared right through your own and you felt your cheeks burning up, though you couldnt really read his expression.

"You're very welcome Mr...."

"Morgan, Arthur morgan."

You beamed a smile "Well, you're very welcome Mr Morgan."

Swiftly, you exited the room with your heart thumping in your chest and butterflies swirling in your stomach.

As you headed back to your room you couldn't shake the image of his face from your mind. His tired, squinting eyes, soft lips. His brows were bushy and unkempt along with his beard, however the scruffy and tired appearance only added to his charm. You weren't sure you'd ever seen someone so handsome before. His nose was crooked but fit so harmoniously on his face along with all his other features.

You recalled what his skin felt like against yours as you sat on your window sil and day dreamed of his muscular frame and chestnut hair.

*******

"Can I interest you in some tea?" Another part of your job was to ensure the happiness of paying customers and to provide the best service you could.

This meant going round and offering tea to those who were staying the night, sometimes you provided them with dinner if you were feeling generous enough to cook a big batch of food that day.

"Sure, come in." Instantly, you recognised the voice coming from the other side of the door. You heart picked up it's pace as you fumbled with the door knob, all while keeping an eye on your tray of tea.

You entered the room to see Arthur sat on the bed, the setting sun resting perfectly on his face. His hat from before was no where to be seen allowing you to see all his features. Messy strands of hair lay perfectly on his face, framing his eyes and Chisled jaw. You couldn't help but admire the sight, a slight blush forming on your cheeks.

"Here ya'are Mr Morgan," You placed a cup of tea on the side table and put the now empty tray under your arm.

"Call me Arthur." He smiled at you as he took a sip of the hot beverage, "I was hopin I'd see you again ma'am."

"Is that right?" A smirk creeped upon your face and you felt those Butterflies from before beginning to awake in your stomach. You playfully responded, "Well i'm glad you enjoyed My services so much Mr Mo- Arthur."

A laugh escaped his nose and he looked down to take another sip of tea.

"Well, I'll be on my way now. Hollar at me if you need anythin'." Nervously, You turned on your heel and made your way to the door before Arthur spoke up again.

"Wait," you stopped in your tracks and turned to face Arthur who was now making his way towards you. The speed of your heart rate picked you thought it'd jump out of your chest and ran away if it could.

Arthur stopped, just meer centimetres away. He towered over you causing a confusing mixture of emotions, your head was spinning.

His eyes scanned your face, your quivering lips and eyes, which darted frantically around the room, avoiding any sort of eye contact. You swallowed as his eyes wandered to your lips. His mouth parted slightly and his breath grew heavier before he began to speak again.

"Am i scaring you, miss?" His voice seemed sweet, filled with concern though you couldn't help but notice sinister undertone in the way he spoke.

You plucked up the courage to look him in his eye before responding, "No.."

You were unsure of your own answer amd he could tell. He smiled slightly at that, hesitantly rasing a hand to your chin, "Would you mind if I.."

His lips parted further as they searched for your own, your eyes fluttering shut as you both made contact. His free hand snaked around your waist as you reached up around his neck, causing you to drop the tea tray on the floor.

He pulled away for a second, gazing into your eyes as his hand held the side of your cheek. Your heart pounded, and you longed to kiss him again. How was this stranger making you feel this way?

You brought him back in for another kiss, this time you were hungry for it and he was too. You moved together rhythmically and passionately. Your bodies backed up aggressively against the bedroom door, slamming it shut.

A gasp left your mouth, as he removed your hands from his neck and pinned them both at either side of your head against the door. The sudden movement made you knees grow weeker and you felt yourself buckling underneath him.

He was strong, you couldn't escape his grip if you tried, not that you wanted to. He raised both your arms above your head and held your wrists in place with one hand.

His free hand began to explore your body, cupping a breast through your blouse. You could feel the smirk on his lips as a slight moan left your mouth.

His hand travelled further down, to your skirt, and he began to lift up the fabric to reach your thigh from underneath.

You could already feel yourself becoming increasingly wetter, and the sensation of his rough palms groping your skin made you only more aroused. His fingers moved further up to your panties and he began to tease your clit through your soaked underwear, forcing a pathetic whine from your lips.

"Damn girl," He laughed a husky laugh mockingly "I've bearly touched you."

Your cunt ached as you squeezed your legs together while he continued to play with your clit, using his thumb to rub painfully slow circles around it.

"F-fuck..." You found yourself unable to say anything in response only growing weaker to his touch.

His fingers hooked against your underwear and slowly he began to pull them down your legs, while he brought your mouth to his for another kiss, his tongue intertwining with yours.

His hand palmed your pussy while the other continued to hold you in place. You squirmed as he slid two fingers into your cunt and began to slowly pump them in and out of you.

Lewd noises filled the room as he fucked you relentlessly with his fingers. Eventually, he let go of your wrists, causing you to collapse against his chest while he continued to play with your cunt. He rested his free hand On the small of your back, keeping you close to him.

You moans grew louder as you found yourself closer to climax. He stopped moving abruptly, which made you cry out a little. He chuckled slightly as you began to grind against his fingers, desperately needing to cum.

"Easy girl..." You buried your head in his chest as he once again began to move his fingers in that same rhythm that had brought you so close to orgasm before.

You eyes rolled back and you squeezed your hands into fists against his body, unsure of what to do with yourself as he continued to pump in and out of you mercilessly.

Eventually the coil in your stomach snapped and you found yourself spasming around his fingers. Your legs shook as you came into the palm of his hand, your vision went white and all comprehansive thoughts in your head had vanished. You moaned his name, loudly, sqeezing your eyes shut as he guided you through your orgasm. He removed his hand from under you skirt and let go of you, causing you you to collapse on the ground.

"Damn, your pathetic," He laughed at your feeble position and you had never felt so vulnerable, humiliated or turned on. "Don't worry girl, we ain't finished."

You panted on the floor as he stood over you. You couldn't believe what had just happened. Arthur had seemed so sweet before, but now it seemed he was getting off on your neediness.

You looked up and watched as he began to unzip his pants and pull out his cock. The size made you a little nervous but you could already feel yourself getting wetter by the second. You rose on your knees and looked up at Arthur. With both hands you grabbed the base of his dick and parted your lips. Your tongue swirled around the tip and you could already taste the precum dripping from him.

"Atta girl," arthur praised your eagerness as you began to move your hands rhythmically up and down his shaft, your tongue focusing on the most sensitive areas.

A satisfied groan left Arthur's mouth as you took him deeper into your mouth. You could feel the veins that ran along his length as your tongue glided along his skin.

You looked up at his face, watching it contort in pleasure. You watched as his mouth hung open, heavy breaths and cuss words escaping from his lips. His brows furrowed when he grew impatient and his hands found their way to the back of your head, gripping strands of hair and shoving his cock deeper down your throat, making you gag.

Quickly, and uncaring of how you felt, Arthur continued to use your throat as a his personal fuck toy. His dick twitched as you choked on his size and struggled to cope with his harsh thrusts.

"Fuck.." Arthur let a low growl as thrusted himself deeply in your mouth one last time. Thick spurts of semen dripped down your throat and from the corners of your mouth. He removed his cock from your mouth, a string of saliva connecting your lips to the tip. With one hand he wiped the cum from your lips and with the other he pulled back you head, forcing you to look at him. "How'd that taste girl?"

You found yourself unable to respond, you weren't to sure what you were even supposed to say. Arthur zipped up his trousers and crouched to your level, taking your chin in-between his index and thumb. You marvled at his reddend cheeks and the sweat that glistend on his forehead, unable to think clearly.

Your lips remained parted as you stared at him. Your cunt ached for him, begging to be filled.

"You look so desperate," he teased. You swallowed your shame and averted your gaze from his.

You could feel yourself becoming wetter just from his words and began leaning in closer, a desperate attempt to beg for more all while your lips were sealed.

"Guess that's too bad," He let go of you abruptly and stood up leading you to awkwardly do the same.

"W-wait.." all you could muster up was a weak stutter. You were honestly offended but weren't sure if you could be. You didnt know this man and he didnt know you. Something that should be intimate wasn't intimate at all. Sure, you'd given him a bath but that was paid for and professional. This? This was no where near the same thing. "I-is that it?"

Arthur laughed. "What? You ain't had enough yet?"

The disappointment was more that noticable on your face. Arthur didn't say anything else, just laughed. He leaned close and reached behind you, opening the door to the hallway.

"Sorry girl, don't wanna overstay your welcome."

And as quickly as you entered, you had been shooed out. Without your tea tray. Your mind was running and you couldn't think, all you could do was make your way back to your room in a daze.

Your hair was a mess and your skin was reddened; still glistening with sweat. you lay on your bed, frustrated. Why didn't you go back and demand him to get the fuck out? Or at least ask for your tray back? Why did you even let him use your body like that in the first place?

Shame washed over you, you were unable to sleep that night. You couldn't help but wonder if he had gone all the way with you, you wouldn't be as pissed off as you were. A small part of you wanted to see him again.

[pixelatedraindrops]

RAINCODE COMIC COLLAB~☔️

BEHOLD THE FRUITS OF MY LABOR!!

3 full weeks of work and its finally completed!

So @kazinsblog and I did another raincode art collab together but this one was a HUGE project! This one's a full 18 page comic!

Idk if you all remember the comic idea that Kazin was planning to do that involved Yuma overworking himself until he gets sick and then gets tended to by everyone else. But when I saw it, I decided to ask her if she was willing to possibly collaborate on it, remaking it where she sketched it and I colored it.

Kazin's Beta images: 1 2 3 4

So here's the results of all that work. We've been at this since December 17th so this has been an almost full month collaboration. And of course mine's a bit more altered to my own style as well as adding my own touches and making it a little more whumpy/extreme... X'D I also freehand drew shinigami in my version as well.

Both our versions look pretty different! The only thing that are the same are the poses. So feel free to check out Kazin's traditional version as well!

Since its an 18 page comic, I decided to put it under a keep reading so it won't clutter everyone's timelines. Also, I will be narrating the pages because I love narrating sick filler type stories. So brace yourself for a VERY LOOONG post!! Def need time to read this one! (and no purple tinted filters here this time!)

Also note: If the writing is blue, it means the character is thinking, just like in the game! :)

And I apologize on the inconsistency of Yuma's bangs... I thought it was one way before so half of the comic he looks like he has square bangs... oof XD I fix it around page 10

ANYWAY, hope you enjoy this soft buffet, Raincode Community! 🌡️💕

(Page 1)

Our story begins on an ordinary day in Kanai Ward. Rainy gloomy and depressing as ever. Our little victim... wait... XD I mean protagonist Yuma decides to go out to investigate more about Kanai Ward to try to track down it's supposed ultimate secret. Yakou sets him off wishes him well and tells him to be careful. However, as he's out, he finds out a lot of people in the city need help. Because of his good nature and unable to turn down someone in need, he decides to help whoever he can. (the ultimate side-questing lol) Before he knows it, he's soaking wet and he had helped 10 people in total. Time passed and it was almost evening so he returns to the submarine. Yuma was completely unphased by this. (and he didn't dry himself off for 4 hours due to being occupied with tasks)

(Page 2)

Yuma returns to the Agency's submarine to greet his chief holding his meatbun order. (that also got wet) But Yakou notices that the trainee is sopping wet to the core and shivering. He immediately loudly demands that he sit down so he can tend to him. Yuma does as he's told and sits on the checkered sofa. Yakou rushes to the shower room to grab some small towels to help him dry off. But because Yakou is so panicked, he ends up being very rough in drying Yuma, pulling his hair and causing the small boy pain. After he dries him off, he tells Yuma he isn't allowed to leave anymore for the rest of the day and demands him to rest. Yuma tries to retaliate using puppy eyes, but it doesn't work. Yakou is immune.

(Page 3)

The next day Yuma asks Yakou if he can go out to work after he finishes his morning chores around the place looking very eager. Yakou still looks a little concerned by how tired Yuma looks, so he tells him to not go out alone. He assigns him a partner to go with the rest of the week.

On the first day he's paired with Halara. The two of them are asked to investigate the art gallery of Ginma. (maybe after the nail man case) But over time, Yuma starts developing a lingering cough that persists for quite some time. Halara asks Yuma is he's okay, to which Yuma lies saying that it's due to the dust of the room. But of course being sharp, Halara isn't buying it. But they decide to not persist him further.

On the second day, he's paired with Desuhiko. They're asked to go help out at the Aetheria Academy with another case (not murder related this time) However on the way to the school and in Ginma, Yuma starts slowing down, he's shaking and is a little wobbly. Desuhiko notices this and asks if he wants to go to the cafe for a drink. Yuma nods and as they go to the cafe and order some coffee, Yuma takes off his hat and coat and Desuhiko finally realizes how pale he looks. He's even slower at replying to him as he speaks, as if he's in a daze. Desuhiko decides to take Yuma back to the agency after this.

(Page 4)

On Day three, he's paired with Fubuki. But he doesn't even make it to the case as when he goes to the sun and moon hotel to meet with her, Fubuki notices and points out that Yuma's face looks red. The boy clearly had a fever building. Yuma argues with her but Fubuki persists. The two of them try to go to the case but Yuma nearly collapses. So Fubuki returns him to the agency.

On the fourth day where he's supposed to be paired with Vivia he spends a majority of the day passed out. Vivia decides to watch over him using his forte to not disturb him. During the night while he's asleep, his breathing gets more labored and he's completely restless. Vivia looks at him deeply worried for his dear friend's well being.

The next morning Yuma somehow finds the strength to get himself up. Maybe that one day of rest was enough. But Yakou insists that he stays put today. Angrily yelling at him to be still and take today off as well.

Meanwhile, a certain two seem to notice each other...

(Page 5)

Vivia's spirit notices Shinigami and decides to give her a warning. Make sure Yuma listens to Yakou and doesn't leave. Giving her the iciest glare, Shinigami fearfully agrees.

But this effort would be for naught, despite how he feels, Yuma's relentless determination forces himself up, putting on his rain attire and heads up the steps of the sub to the outside when Yakou isn't looking. Shinigami does what she can to stop him, but he doesn't listen...and Shinigami being a ghost, there was nothing she could do to physically hold him back. All she could do was follow, and prepare for the inevitable.

By some miracle he makes it to the church, up the stairs to speak to the nun. Who tells him to play therapy again for the townsfolk. He nods and heads to his first client. But when he returns to kamasaki to speak to him, he can barely make out what he's saying as he lets out a few more coughs.

Once he leaves the client, before long, Yuma could hear something in his body snap.

(Note: I direct most of the story, but Vivia conversing with Shinigami in spirit mode was actually Kazin's idea! So credit to her for that, So silly and fun! ^^)

(Page 6)

Yuma's body had finally reached it's limit. All the fatigue, chills and body aches had hit him all at once at full force like armed weaponry. His head began throbbing, he was shaking violently and uncontrollably, he felt nauseated by the rain's smell, and his body heat and the lingering dizziness was unbearable. He found a safe corner in the alleyway of Kamasaki to collapse. Telling Shinigami she was right and he should have listened to her, while the burning fever and cold rain wrecked his delicate frame even further. His voice was hardly audible, but Shinigami still heard and practically tells him to go back. But Yuma had no strength left...

Then like clockwork as they finish speaking, he could hear his name called. At first it sounded kind and questionable. But that rapidly changed, the voice now angrily yelling out his full name. As he looked up this voice belonged to...Yakou. He looks down at the boy in pure disappointment and anger.

Turns out a certain someone was tailing him. And alerted Yakou what happened just in time.

(Note: I make the red darker the more extreme the temperature and lighter the less extreme. I got to experiment with all sorts of new ways to color fevers hehe~ >w<)

(Page 7)

Yuma shockingly looks up at Yakou. Oh no, he was so BUSTED! Shinigami even says as much. Yakou practically scoops Yuma in his arms carrying him back to the agency. As he was lifted Yuma's world begun spinning. He could barely hear the chief nagging him in a panicked tone. It was all distorted and it was making his head hurt more. Yakou placed a hand to his cheek and was shocked by how hot it felt. All Yuma could do was apologize and hope his world stops spinning and that Yakou eventually stops yelling... (also I put numbers for the order to read the speech bubbles in)

Upon returning to the agency, Yakou dries Yuma off, asks Desuhiko to give him a warm set of clothes to borrow and put him to his own bed. Grabbing a basin of very cold water, washcloths and a digital thermometer. He placed one of the wet cold cloths under his bangs and upon reading the boy's temperature, it was high. Almost high enough to visit the ER. Yakou was even more mad, but speaks in a non yelling tone. Giving Yuma another stern warning to not leave the bed. To which Yuma weakly agrees to.

But Yakou's back to yelling again, feeling paranoid Yuma would be missing by the time he gets back from getting the supplies. So he drills that message right into the boy's already throbbing head once more. Everyone else in the office awkwardly listen in as the sick trainee gets scolded.

(Note: Just an FYI, Yuma's speech bubbles being wavy is a sign his voice is raspy and the text being a bit hard to read means his voice is hardly audible)

(Page 8)

Yakou leaves Yuma alone and walks into the office in his raincoat telling the other detectives that he'll be leaving soon and to watch over Yuma in his absence and NOT let him leave. He is so full of anger and anxiety that he yells at all of them too.

Everyone agrees and as Yakou leaves, they all discuss among themselves Yuma's state the days they were partners with him. He was in bad shape. And he only got worse as the days went by. They all knew.

(Page 9)

Meanwhile back in Yakou's quarters, Yuma was getting lectured yet again. This time by his death god partner, Shinigami. The poor trainee only wanted peace and quiet to make the pain in his head go away, using what little energy he has remaining speaking in his head he tried telling her to stop.

But the aggravated spirit persisted, saying that as his mentor she had the right to scold him just as much as Yakou. She continued her rant, until an abrupt sound from her master shut her up.

The few coughs that came from Yuma eventually erupted into a full blown coughing fit. The coughs sounding more wet, rough and serious. After coughing 10 to 15 times in a row Yuma was exhausted. Shinigami looked down at him panting with concern and pity in her eyes. She decided to stop the lecture for his sake.

After the fit, Yuma was left raggedly breathing. As Shinigami gave him her permission to rest and take it easy, he didn't answer. He couldn't. That fit completely mangled his throat. He was not able to speak vocally or in thought process anymore due to his head being in too much pain. As was the rest of his body, aching and burning. So he didn't answer her. All he could do was hope sleep would eventually take hold of him to make all this awful heat and pain stop even if for a just moment.

(Note: That's the penalty Yuma... x'D Sorry I gotta make him suffer lol. Also this is the only page that’s actually read left to right. I messed that up, sorry!!)

(Page 10)

After some time passed it was time for the Master Detectives to all take part in taking care of Yuma. The whole agency had a day off to do this. So upon his return, Yakou instructs everyone to look after Yuma in 2 hour shifts through the day. Even if it was just to watch him sleep. He couldn't be left alone.

Halara was first. Their task was to help Yuma take the medicine that was bought. There were three types of medicine for him to take. Antibiotics (white pills) for the general illness symptoms, painkillers (red and white pills) for the headache/fever, and finally...cough syrup. (aka his least favorite... XD) Halara made sure to be very gentle with Yuma propping him upward as his whole body was burning and he was very shaky. He even had trouble drinking the water, so Halara had to get a mug instead so they could help him drink it by holding the handle, and using the other hand to support his back. Despite the struggle, Halara worked diligently to complete their task as a caretaker in full. (as for who paid them to do this...idk I'll leave that to your imagination XD)

(The cough syrup idea was inspired by this fic :3)

Desuhiko had the second shift and the whole time he was waiting for his turn, he was writing a song for Yuma. Having the delusion that his angelic voice would lul the sick boy to sleep, he played his guitar and began singing. Yuma's headache did improve enough to speak in his head now, but that wouldn't last, as the loud noises from the guitar made his head pound even further with every strum. Shinigami begs for the noise to cease fire on her poor eardrums, but Yuma doesn't have it in him to stop Desuhiko. The gesture was kind so he decided to try to listen to the whole song, despite the noise. He does eventually tell him to stop though (using hand gestures) when another song comes afterward. So then the two spend their time conversing for a bit, (though desuhiko does more of the talking as yuma just nods or makes small noises/hand gestures due to his throat still hurting too much to talk) Desuhiko even telling him he could keep the sweater and shorts he had lent to him. To which Yuma softly smiles at him as a thank you before he eventually falls asleep again.

Fubuki has the third shift, and her task was to feed Yuma the warm vegetable soup that was bought earlier and that Halara had just finished making, along with Fubuki's help. She volunteers to feed him as she remembers a time she was ill as a child in the clockford mansion and one of her servants tended to her, feeding her soup just the same. Unfortunately, because this was a memory of her early childhood, she repeats similar phrases as the servant did when she was feeding Yuma, who was clearly not a small child. Yuma's fever had dropped enough to where he could find a bit of strength to try and sit up on his own now, and his once mangled throat’s condition had improved for him to speak a little bit. As he listened to Fubuki's rambling he tries to play along with her despite the whole thing being a bit embarrassing for someone his age. At least the soup was nice and warm. It felt good going down his very sore throat.

(Funny Fact: The order that Yuma is both partnered and tended to by each detective, is the same order as the chapters in game he's partnered with them LOL)

(Page 11)

It was evening, and now it was Vivia's turn to take the fourth and final shift. At first he was just going to sit and watch Yuma while he read his book quietly, but Yakou suggested that he read one of his books out loud to Yuma to help him relax better like a bedtime story. Vivia was unsure at first, as he's never read to anyone before. But he decided to give it a try. He asks Yuma what his preference in literature is before he starts, and Yuma tells him he enjoys detective novels the most. So he pulls out the novel that was in his reading list and begins to read it out loud to him. Turns out he was quite a natural at narrating, and his slow voice was very soothing. Yuma felt so relaxed that he felt like he would fall asleep any minute, but he tries to stay awake to listen to the story a bit more. Shinigami however, conks out immediately. (fyi: yes this is the novel Vivia talks about in his final gumshoe gab. I tried to make up stuff based on it.. X'D)

Once the clock strikes 9pm and night falls, the Master Detectives all wish Yuma well and leave to return to the hotel to retire for the night. It was just Yakou and Yuma now. Yakou, who had just come back from another errand, walks over to Yuma who was now fast asleep. He looked a little better so Yakou removed the towel from his forehead and places his hand onto it. It still felt warm but no longer as hot as it did hours ago. Meaning he was out of the danger zone, much to Yakou's relief. He places the towel back in the water basin wringing it out and re-applying it to his forehead. Then he lets out a yawn. He was pretty tired. He decides that instead of sleeping in the office on one of the sofas, he'd stay by Yuma's side. His removes his jacket, goes and turns off the overhead lights, sits down and places his head down on his desk. Then after telling the sleeping trainee goodnight he turns off the small light by his desk.

OKAY FUN FACT: The comic WAS going to end here going on to the final page... Buuut~ We were STARVING for some good ol' Yakou Fathero :3 So... Enjoy these bonus 6 pages of Yakou having a shift of his own to look after Yuma in the middle of the night. And its the longest shift.

This ones for you Yakou Fathero fans! Eat your fill!

(I know we sure did :3)

Also I apologize if the lighting here is inaccurate ;w; I tried my best I'm no pro LOL

(Page 12)

A little past midnight, Yuma was stirring in his sleep. Making all sorts of groaning sounds as if he was in pain. He was likely having a nightmare. This is confirmed by his eyes suddenly opening and him violently flinging himself up screaming, and the cold cloth flying off his forehead.

This sound wakes Yakou up immediately as he puts his glasses back on asking Yuma if he's okay. He flicks the light by his desk on to check on him. Yuma's found shaking with tears in his eyes stating quietly that it was just a dream. Yakou sympathizes with Yuma as fever dreams were usually not fun, but a fever NIGHTMARE was always bad. The chief offers the shaking trainee some water to try to help him settle down.

(FYI: Shinigami is going to be absent from this part of the story because I think her banter and antics would ruin the fluff, so she'll just be lurking above in the shelf like a cat the whole time.)

(Page 13)

Yuma accepts the water practically snatching it from Yakou's hands and quickly gulping it down. Yakou tells him to pace himself not wanting him to choke. Once he exhales from the water drink, Yuma sheepishly apologizes for waking Yakou up with his scream, feeling like a burden. Yakou reassures him it's okay and decides to ask him the question of why he pushed himself this far while he was still awake. Hard enough to make himself sick. Why did he do it?

Yuma was surprised by this but decides to try to tell him. He hands the water glass back and began talking. Under his raspy voice and somewhat heavy breathing, he says that he wanted to be useful as he felt like a burden to everyone since he lost his memory. He also says that he likes helping others and that it feels familiar to him. Determined to try to unlock a core memory of his past he kept doing this, even to the point of pushing his limits.

Then he suddenly stopped speaking...

(Page 14)

...aaand cue the coughing fit. Yuma's throat got scratchy and irritated after his long explanation, causing him to cough about 5/8 times in a row. Not as bad as his previous fit but it was more than enough to startle and worry Yakou.

Yakou quickly hands Yuma the water glass he had just taken from him hoping it would soothe his throat. He tells him that helping others is a good thing but he shouldn't push himself to the point that his health gets affected. Yuma quietly nods and as he sips the water still shaking, Yakou feels bad and decides to apologize to him for being harsh before. Stating that he only lost his temper because he was scared and worried for him. He also places his hand to Yuma's cheek in both comfort and to check his temperature. It felt slightly warmer than a few hours ago.

Yuma quietly apologizes to Yakou for worrying him, still holding the water glass. Yakou forgives him. Then he takes the glass from him and then the towel that fell off Yuma's forehead. He grabs a fresh one and soaks it in the basin wringing it out and places it back on the trainee’s forehead unintentionally a bit roughly. Yuma groans and shivers a little from the cold of it.

Yakou then lies Yuma back down, tucking him back in trying to make him comfortable. But his actions were a bit too comforting. He was not meaning to in any way and he wasn't sure what came over him, but he was treating Yuma like a little kid. Yuma notices and feels a little embarrassed by it, but decides to only say it in his head.

Yakou decides to do one more thing before he lets him go back to sleep.

(Note: Hey far as anyone's concerned Yuma, you are practically his BABY when you are having a sick day, so deal with it hehehe :3c)

(Page 15)

Temperature taking page time :D (my favorite, teehee! I know some cultures and in anime they take the temperature under the arm, but there's just something so endearing and adorable about a sickie with a thermometer in their mouth <3 OKAY MY RAMBLING ASIDE...)

Yakou is now a bit concerned that Yuma's fever spiked again after that little harsh coughing fit so he decides to take his temperature one more time before letting Yuma go to sleep again. Yuma obliges and goes along with it opening his mouth as the device is inserted.

After 15 seconds the device beeps and Yakou takes it out. Yuma shyly pulls the duvet up to his face and hides as he meekly asks if its any better feeling a little nervous. Yakou responds that it is better than it was the first time, where it was a dangerous degree.

However, he still wasn't out of the woods yet. The fever was still there and although it went down, it was still in the red. Yakou states that he's still feverish to which Yuma just apologizes. Poor thing just wants this to be over, he really doesn't want to trouble anyone anymore.

(sorry yuma I can't let you off that easily hehe 😈)

(also yes I put an instruction manual for how the thermometer works, I am so obsessed that I even give the thermometer lore LMAO. Sorry if I'm inaccurate in any of those readings. I used google... ^^;)

(Page 16)

Yakou places the thermometer back on the desk and tells Yuma to go to sleep. Saying the fever will likely break by morning. To which Yuma states that he's in Yakou's bed and that he should return to the checkered sofa so his boss could sleep, attempting to try getting up. But Yakou puts a hand on his shoulder stopping him and denies this and says his desk is fine and that Yuma needed the bed more than him.

He also says that if Yuma had another bad dream that he would be there for him. Yuma smiles at Yakou quietly thanking him as he's tucked back into the duvet. Yakou pats it gently telling the trainee to close his eyes.

It isn't long before Yuma is back to being fast asleep. (and shinigami too)

Yakou monologues to himself for a bit groaning at how much trouble this small detective has been for him since he showed up. But then he switches his tune and places a hand to Yuma's head petting it softly. He says he's happy he's working hard for the sake of his memories but right now he needs to work on getting better. Saying it would help everyone in the agency if he wanted to help people.

He wishes him well continuing to pet his head for a bit longer to soothe him before going back to sleep himself turning the light off again.

(Page 17)

2 hours later, Yuma was stirring and whining in his sleep once again. Yakou groggily wakes up wiping his tired eyes upon hearing the soft noises the small trainee was uttering. And he was crying again. Can only be one thing: Another nightmare.

Instead of turning the light on to wake him up, Yakou moves his chair close to him sitting at his side. Not saying a single word. (cept in his head lol) He reaches his hand for Yuma's as it twitches and he takes hold of it gently.

Yakou eventually leans on the bed as he does so and falls asleep sitting up again. Yuma's groaning and and heavy breathing begin to settle down a little as he felt Yakou's presence close by.

Then he smiles as he closes his hand in his sleep holding Yakou's hand back, leaning a bit close to it. He felt safe again... <3

(Note: This poor thing has way too much trauma... ;w; I headcanon that he's prone to night terrors on occasion, but when he gets a fever, its even WORSE. Fevers do be messing with your head... x3)

(Page 18 Final)

The next morning when Yakou wakes up, he checks on Yuma. He still felt slightly warm but he looked much better. Seemed the worst was over and it would likely last just one more day.

When he's fully awake and at his desk, Desuhiko shows up asking Yakou if Yuma's okay and offered to wake him up. Yakou denies it saying Yuma needed one more day of rest, the fever may have been only slight now, but in the rain it would rise again easily.

Desuhiko agrees and declares that he's going to work hard today. Likely to make up for Yuma's absence. Yakou teases him and the two have a bit of a banter.

Yuma meanwhile is asleep peacefully. Still having a slight red tint to his cheeks, but he's able to sleep a lot easier now. His fever was slowly but surely breaking. (now in the yellow) Shinigami sleeps beside him, making sure she protects him from any nightmares in yakou's absence. (after all only SHE can give her master nightmares)

He wakes up fully recovered the following morning thanking everyone for taking such good care of him, and he makes sure to not push himself anymore. And continues searching for the city's ultimate secret while pacing himself to help others from now on.

THE END ❤️

(I practically made this into a sickfic in its own right... XD)

Thanks for reading!! Hope you enjoyed!! This is just a little artist credit page I made for Kazin and I c: Also art semi-face reveal?? xD Kinda?? Idk lol (we just two gals that like our sick comfort haha x3)

Anyway thank you again Kazin for doing this with me!! It was hard work but it was a blast and the final result came out amazing. Its surely a project I will cherish forever~ 💜🩷✨🌡️

A wholesome story to start 2024 on a good note.

[babybluebex]

could you write an imagine with joe at the dior fashion week and he brings his partner in the spotlight for the first time and the paparazzi and the people watching get so excited and loud because his partner ( the reader ) has never been seen with him and they have been together since way before stranger things because joe keeps his love life private x

yess omg so cute, and he looks so good today it's criminal (fem!reader)

Never had you heard your name called so many times in the span of a single minute. In front of you was a wall of photographers, all trying to get your best side, even if you yourself weren’t sure of what side that was. You could already see the headlines: Joseph Quinn Debuts Longtime Girlfriend At Paris Fashion Week. 

You had never really been interested in going to Joe’s fancy events or anything— in truth, he never used to be invited to fancy events. The biggest thing he had ever done was the BBC Les Miserables miniseries, and you had only just started dating back then.

Then, suddenly, the role of Eddie fell into his lap, Stranger Things happened, and your sweet Joe became a cultural icon. The past few months had been the Summer of Eddie, and you were endlessly proud of your man for all that he had accomplished. You hadn’t gone to any events yet, mainly because you were scrambling to keep hold on your anonymity for as long as possible, but, eventually, you knew you had to give in.

Joe had spoken about you in interviews briefly, nothing too invasive. The world knew your name, and people had managed to dig up an older picture of you attending the Catherine The Great premiere (one of the only events you had ever gone with Joe to), so they knew what you looked like; you had been shocked to hear that people wanted to know more about you.

So, in order to satiate the world until you were comfortable becoming a true public figure, Joe had been sprinkling in information about you during interviews: “Oh, my girlfriend hates mushrooms, she won’t touch them”, or “I wish my girlfriend was here, she would love Brazil”, or even “My girlfriend said she liked Eddie’s hair, so I may have to grow it out for her”. But nothing was enough, and people wanted more; hence, your presence on a rainy Paris afternoon.

“You alright?” you heard a quiet whisper from beside you, and you turned to look at your Joey. God, he was handsome, all done up in a full-black Dior suit, the neck open to show just the slightest bit of chest hair. You had protested the haircut he had been given last night, whining about “Aw, your curls! They were getting so long!”, but the trimmed hair suited him. 

You nodded, pursing your lips as you gave the cameras a thin smile. You honestly could have been a little better— your dress didn’t fit quite right, the strap loose on your shoulder and threatening to fall every time you moved your arm, but you wouldn’t dare complain. You were in Paris, at a Dior fashion show, with the love of your life. It was an absolute dream, despite the impending wardrobe malfunction. 

Joe’s eyes were big as he watched you pose for a moment, his arm tight around your waist, and he drew you in closer and buried a kiss in your neatly-done hair. “You look a little…” he started against your head as the flashbulbs popped in front of you. “Uncomfortable.” 

You sighed, keeping the smile on your face. “It’s a lot to get used to,” you told him simply. 

“It is, isn’t it?” Joe chuckled lightly. “But you look gorgeous, and you’re doing so well.” 

“Thanks,” you replied. “I’m just nervous.” 

“Yeah,” Joe agreed. “It doesn’t get much easier. But you’re a natural.”

You took a step closer to Joe, intent on setting a kiss to his cheek, but your dress had other ideas. The strap slipped off your shoulder for just a moment, not even far enough to really be an issue, but Joe was quick to see it happen. In an instant, he stepped forward, shielding your body from the cameras with his own, and his hand swiped out to push your strap back up. “Alright?” he asked, his eyebrows furrowing as he guarded you.

“Yeah,” you replied, adjusting the strap back to its usual place. “I’m good.”

Joe waited until you stopped fiddling with the strap before stepping back into his place, and a relieved smile washed over you. “Just making sure you’re okay,” he told you, and you leaned in and finally kissed his face. The clicking of the cameras got louder as you nestled your lips against his scruffy jawline, and you whispered, “There’s the money shot.”

“Huh?” Joe smiled, his hand flattening against your back.

“That’s the pic every news outlet is gonna use when they talk about me,” you returned, and Joe nodded as he understood. 

“How about this?” he asked, and he drew you in closer to press a kiss to your mouth. It surprised you a little, a squeak leaving your mouth as your boyfriend kissed you, but you tugged him closer and kissed him back for just a moment before you broke. “Now they’ve got a few options.” 

“You’re so goofy,” you told Joe, and he gave you his big smile, that award-winning smile of his. “But I love you.” 

[feelbokkie]

🧜‍♀️How he would react to you being a mermaid/siren🧜‍♀️

☀️Feelbokkie M.list☀️

**Requested**

Can I please request a fluff of when skz find out their s/o is a siren or mermaid? I love your writing style and I really think you could make something cute with the idea. Thanks for all that you do!

genre: fluff, crack, mermaid/siren au

pov: 2nd person

description: You're either a siren (non-traditional) OR a mermaid and this is how your boyfriend reacts.

pairing: bf!skz x mermaid!reader (Mermaid line: Hyunjin, Jisung, Felix, and Jeongin) & bf!skz x siren!reader (Siren line: Chan, Minho, Changbin, and Seungmin)

warnings: swearing

word count: 1,035

©feelbokkie (2023) — all rights reserved. reposting/modification of any kind is not tolerated.

방 찬 (Bang Chan)

Siren

Fell for your siren song

Will also get you to sing and sample it for a song

"Isn't this cheating?" "But you sound so good when you sing, how can I not want to use it in a song?" "Pretty sure that's just the magic of the siren song, babe."

He loves when you get mad (sirens are more aggressive in nature)

You have a lot of self doubt about your relationship

You doubt that he actually loves you and is only in a relationship with you because of the effects of the siren song

You learn later in your relationship that your siren song has no effect on him, he's just naturally drawn to you

You tested it by letting the spell wear off and he didn't treat you any differently

"Why are you attracted to me?" "You're really beautiful and you have an amazing personality." "Hmm..." "Did you want me to be more specific? I can go into detail." "No, no, I believe you."

이 민 호 (Lee Min-Ho)

Siren

Didn't care

"Min, I have to tell you something." "What's wrong?" "I'm... I'm a siren." "That's all?" "What do you mean 'that's all?'" "Do you want me to faint from shock or something?"

Loves your more aggressive side

Will purposely tease you often so he can see it

Is literally playing with fire

"Minho, I swear to God if you don't stop!" "Bet you regret singing for me now" "Come here,"

Will sing karaoke with you for fun

Your song no longer works on him so you can have fun going all out

It's a full production with dancing and lights

Laughs at the people who walk by and get sucked in by your song

서 창 빈 (Seo Chang-Bin)

Siren

Is excited for some reason

I think watching horror films have finally got to him

Watches you in awe

But also tries to help you out

"I got you soap for your baths." "Bin?" "Yes my love?" "This is Dawn dish soap." "It works on ducks covered in oil." "Number one, I'm not a duck."

Will take you with him to the gym, even though you're freakishly strong

You use your powers for evil

He's not yet immune to your spell so you have fun picking songs you know he doesn't like when you have to redo the spell (which he consents to bc he's a freak)

"I'm going to sing Who's Your Mama." "Please don't, Y/N." "You can't resist my singing, Bin." "Can you sing literally anything else?" "Fine, Groove Back it is." "Anything but one of JYP PD-nim's songs." "Not fun."

황 현 진 (Hwang Hyun-Jin)

Mermaid

He's drawn to beautiful things, and the beauty of a mermaid is mesmerizing

Like, he is so obsessed, it's slightly concerning

But you're concern is gone when you realize how much he messes with you

Will throw water at you when you annoy him so you can transform and not be able to follow him

"Are you going to lead me to my death eventually?" "Keep throwing water at me and we'll see." "That's a threat or a bet?" "Hyun, I am begging you to stop." "Ah, a threat."

Paints you a lot

One time he made you pose on a rock like Ariel and painted it

한 지 성 (Han Ji-Sung)

Mermaid

Had no problem with it

Honestly, it caused him a bit of anxiety at first

"I drew a bath for you, but I wasn't sure if I should add salt in it or not. The giant fish tank will be here next week so I hope the tub is fine for now." "I don't even know where to start..."

"Would you be offended if I ordered us sushi?" "Why would I be offended?" "Because fish are like your friends or pets or something." "Jisung, is your only frame of reference for mermaids The Little Mermaid?" "...Maybe."

Made the mistake of letting him watch mermaid related movies

Is convinced that you two can never tell anyone that you're a mermaid

"Ji, nobody cares. They're not going to mount my body like a bear or put me in a tube to perform experiments." "Can never be too careful."

Makes you wear a tracker whenever you go to the ocean

You only wear it to ease his anxiety

You use it to draw little doodles or write messages on the map

이 용 복 (Lee Felix Yong-Bok)

Mermaid

Is in love with it

Asks: "Do you want to play mermaids?" ironically

"So do I have to lock you in a room with no water during a full moon?" "H2O is not real, Lix."

Tries to race you in the water

Loses, obviously

Bought one of those rubber mermaid suits so the race would be fair

Still loses

"I wish I could see what you see underwater." "You do realize that scuba diving exists, right?" "Holy shit, you're a genius!"

Goes through scuba school so he can go on cute underwater dates with you

김 승 민 (Kim Seung-Min)

Siren

Didn't mind, surprisingly

You weren't sure if that was because he fell for your song or because he genuinely didn't care

Loves singing with you, like it's his favorite thing in the whole world

Will try to sit and watch you sing

He does it in secret, you were worried that the didn't love you for you, but because of your song

You realized that he was listening to you when he absentmindedly starts humming the song you were singing a few hours before

"What did I tell you about listening to me sing?" "But you sound amazing!" "That's not the point, Min." "What is love if not the feeling of being under a spell." "What?"

He isn't under your spell, he's just a simp

양 정 인 (Yang Jeong-In)

Mermaid

Thought you were joking at first when you told him

It never came up when you first started dating

You didn't tell him until you two went on a date to the aquarium

He decided to surprise you

Did not understand you were so... sad

The boys told him that girls love aquariums

You came clean then and there

"Mermaids aren't real." "Guess I have to show you." "What"

Dragged him so some restricted section where you could enter the tanks and jumped in

Resurfaced, tail and all

"That shouldn't be possible." "The world is mysterious."

Makes a lot of jokes about dating a fish

—

Buy me a coffee?

[tikitsune]

Platonic!SWF 2 x VA!Reader

Part 1

Next |

Word count: 1k

Warnings: I don't know how the real world works apparently

Notes: I finally gave into my temptations and made one despite the fact that I have zero experience writing for real people. Lemme know how it goes.

I'll be honest, it's mostly gonna be JR, Bebe and Tsubakill, with half Mannequeen/1Million and not so much of LadyBounce, Wolf'Lo and Deep n' Dap.

Ling looked up from her phone. "Hey, Kristen. You said we wanted another person right?"

Kristen looked at her in confusion. It was about a week before they had to send in their member count and while she satisfied the team requirements with five, it couldn't hurt to have an extra person for safety.

"Uhm.Yeah. Why? Do you have someone?"

Ling went back to staring at her phone and scrolling through something. "Yeah. Just a sec. Any minute now."

Whatever it was that Ling was waiting for drew the rest of the people in the studio in. Audrey and Emma briefly stopped their playful banter about a tik tok dance to look at their oldest member. Latrice took out an earbud from where she was working on a choreograph. Kristen walked over to where Ling was and peered at her screen. She was staring at the Jam Republic 'Meet Our Artists' page. Over and over again, each time, reloading the page.

She eventually scrolled to the name she was looking for. [Name]. Upon further clicking of the profile the name to pop up was '[Name] Zhang'. Below that was a description of her accomplishments in dance.

"Yes!" Ling nearly shouted, pumping her fist. "Guys, meet my sister, the potential 6th member of the Street Woman Fighter 2's Jam Republic team."

She turned her phone to face her other team members. They all came to crowd around her to look at her phone. "Wah! She looks so young!" Audrey, the youngest in the group, looked quite interested in a potential younger member.

"She is. She's 19 and just transferred to a Cal State from Community college in Cali." Ling looked at her sister's picture. "She's working towards a major in theatrics and the best part is... She's a voice actor."

Emma looked a bit perplexed. "If she's a voice actor, how is she in Jam Republic?"

Ling only smirked. "She is a choreographer and a voice actor."

Kristen smiled at the older girl. "Well, can we see a video of her dancing? I don't want to exactly say now but I want to see her skill level first."

Latrice butt in. "Wait—. Does she go by any pseudonym or something like that?"

That brought everyone's attention back to Ling. "Uh. Yeah. I think she goes by Sino in the show biz. Like she uses [Nsme] Zhang as her dance name and everything else uses Sino."

Latrice looked excited. "You mean the Sino who choreographed some of the Descendants 3 dances at 15? The one who helped with the live action Mulan fight scenes?"

Everyone was taken aback by Latrice's excitement as well as the supposed new information. "Let me ask."

Ling opened her phone contacts and clicked on a contact named 'the talented 🎤'.

"Yup. According to her, that's it." Ling looked up from her phone.

Audrey looked at Ling. "You must be so proud of her to do that at such a young age."

Ling smiled at their current youngest member. "I am."

Everyone could hear the pride in Ling's voice. Her eyes lit up again before she opened YouTube on her phone and showed them a short of what seemed to be [Name] dancing a choreography to 'Boyfriend' by Dove Cameron. It was quite the sexy song and somehow it fit [Name] very well. Her moves were very flowy but held a lot of energy. Her sultry expressions worked well, making her seem older than she actually was. [Name] finished in a floor pose before she got up, giggling a bit and the video cut.

Everyone collectively awed at the adorableness that was displayed at the end of the video. “Yeah. I’ll add her if she wants. Do we need to get her a plane ticket as well?”

“No need. She’s at the University of Seoul as a student exchange student for the semester. Going there for theatrics, dance and, surprisingly, foods." Ling looked at her phone again.

It rang and she picked up. The screen showed [Name], seemingly in bed. "Hey, Ling Ling. What's up?"

[Name]'s voice was soft, but rough. She was supported by a red covered pillow, her hair was thrown in a messy bun that rested on her head and her phone seemed to be propped against the head end of the bed frame. Her sleepy, half-lidded eyes were framed by round black glasses. "Hi [Name]. I'm with the girls here."

Ling panned the camera, each member waving at the screen.

"Hi."

"Hello."

"Hey."

"Hiii!"

"Hello to Kristen, Latrice, Emma and Audrey, I believe." [Name] looked up, trying to remember each member's name by face. When she got confirmation that she was right, she smiled a soft smile. It took a lot for everyone to not 'aww' at her cuteness.

"So, is there a reason you are calling me…" She seemed to look slightly to the upper left corner of her phone. "... at 06:15 in the morning? Like I can understand a text but a call?"

The girls exchanged glances and a chuckle. "Uh yeah. That would be my fault." Kristen said.

[Name] raised her eyebrow, "Mmm. And why is that?"

"Well I was wondering if you would like to be a part of our group for Street Woman Fighter 2. While 5 people is enough, it would make me feel better if we had another, you know?" Kristen looked a bit shy as she spoke.

[Name] pushed the bridge of her glasses up her nose as her face contorted into a contemplating look. "On what days? I have three classes on Saturday and that's it."

Due to [Name] being an exchange student, she didn’t need to take the necessary classes that most Korean students must take and it just so happened that her classes/lectures were all on the same day. Theatrics first thing in the morning at 08:00 and would span out for 2 hours. Food started at 13:00 and again ended two hours later. Dance would not begin until 18:00 and go till 20:00. (I must preface this by saying that I have never been in an exchange program before so not all of this is accurate. And yes, I use military time, if I have to do math for the ‘normie’ people, then you can do math for me.)

“Mhm… We don’t know yet actually. We can just catch you up on things when you’re not here.” Ling propped her phone on the studio mirror and sat back.

[Name] rubbed her eyes behind her glasses before pushing up the frame. “Yeah, sure.” She yawned.”My apartment building was rented out for people so i can only assume that would be for the competition. So tell them not to worry about the room placement for me.”

She scrubbed her hand over her face, brought her book in front of her before looking at the camera. “All right, If that’s all, I’mma get back to reading.”

“Nah. All good here, sis, thanks. Love you.” Ling picked up the phone as everyone waved behind her.

She ended the call, smiling at her two worlds meeting.

[frozenjokes]

🫵👊👏CONVEX KISS👊👊👊🫵

google docs on my phone (revised version) and ipad (unrevised. raw.) did not sync correctly and I refuse to reupload this so for a better read go to ao3. not much changed, but I tweaked a lot of word choice and improved the pacing/clarity/all the things.

CuteGuy’s debut was today, and it had gone great. It hadn’t been staged, Grian had made sure of that, but it was frighteningly close to the story Scar had weaved for them before when he had introduced the idea; HotGuy alone, outmatched, when suddenly, CuteGuy swooped in, turning the tides for both of them.

Hero debuts weren’t normally anything special, not in this town. Introductions that caught peoples’ attention were few and far between, often drowned out by other news, but CuteGuy wasn’t new on this block. Indeed, he drew a lot more attention by 1) Fighting with heroes instead of against them, 2) Defending HotGuy and fighting alongside him, and 3) Being a massive dick.

And people loved it.

Clips of CuteGuy were circulating everywhere; cussing out reporters, battering peoples’ faces with his wings if they got too close, telling kids they should really consider better idols than HotGuy, and plenty of other completely out of pocket interactions, though, nothing drew the public eye quite like the dynamic between CuteGuy and HotGuy together. HotGuy, well known for his confidence and charisma, was reduced to complete mush next to CuteGuy, desperately playing damage control and apologizing for every word that dropped from CuteGuy’s mouth. It was abundantly clear that CuteGuy was basking in the control as well, the shit eating smirk never leaving his lips as HotGuy was forced to trail behind him, sputtering through every word.

And Grian loved it too. He loved it. If it wasn’t clear from the videos alone; his head held high, wings poised confidently, the expressiveness of the performance, it was definitely clear when Grian came home, all but collapsed onto the couch, and talked enthusiastically until he just couldn’t stay awake any longer.

And words couldn’t describe how that made Cub feel. That Grian was happy. That he was smiling, even in his sleep, even after a tough couple weeks, even partnered with HotGuy, a man he did not particularly like. Grian was happy. He was going to be okay.

And yet, it was 2:00 AM, and he was still awake. Still scrolling through his phone, through clips, through every tweet and message that so much as mentioned CuteGuy’s name. He was so stressed. Cub had already started to break out; a little on his face and a little on his back, but he had no doubt it was only going to get worse, that he would never be able to stop worrying and thinking about every possible thing that might go wrong. So much. So much could go irreconcilably wrong.

Cub didn't want to put that on Grian, not right now when he was so elated (and also very asleep). But he wasn’t tired, and he wasn’t sleeping anytime soon, especially not like this, so wound up. He needed someone to tell him, confidently tell him this was going to be okay. To make him believe for tonight at least, he had nothing to fear. Luckily, he knew a guy, and also luckily, that guy worked nights often.

‘Are you working?’ Cub sent the message, a little more hopeful then probably warranted.

Scar responded instantly, with a striking amount of typos for a message so short, ‘m Up. Workinh. W’ and then after a short pause, ‘Wht up?’

‘Eventful night or?’

‘Ya.’ There was another pause, the typing bubble open for an awfully long time before a picture came through; a selfie of HotGuy, his visor cracked, nose bloody, and grin bright, posing for the camera. Someone was behind him, also posing, but Cub couldn’t see any of their face. Christ.

‘We can talk later’

‘Nonononow fine’

There was a long pause between this message and the incoming next, but the typing bubble stayed, so Cub waited, unable to help his own amusement.

‘dick and balls’

‘dick and balls’

‘I eat dick and balls’

‘OMNOMNOMNOMNOMN’

Cub laughed, but didn’t get to respond before another message came through, completely indecipherable in what was presumably a great panic.

‘TIOL PGOME A’

Cub had to assume he didn’t get to finish the message. Given the length of time that had passed with no new texts, Cub got the feeling it might be a minute before any clarification was given. Not needed, really, but the mental image of Scar panicking after his phone was briefly stolen was enough to keep Cub smiling.

‘I didn’t realize you were so forward. You’re not getting impatient with me, are you?’

‘NK’

‘p’

‘I’m just not sure I’m ready for that yet.’

‘PENIS!!!!!!!’

‘You make a compelling argument.’

No more messages came through from Scar’s end, so Cub had to assume he put his phone down and focused on whatever it was that was going down on his end. That was perfectly fine. Still, Cub found himself content to watch the endless loop of the bubble at the bottom left, infinitely ‘typing’ for better or for worse. Probably for better. Cub didn’t know how much time passed before another message came through, but the animation made him jump.

‘So sorry. Checking my phone during a fight was a bad idea. Kicked her ass tho.’

Cub lingered on the screen, allowing himself a moment to enjoy this, enjoy a world in which something like this could happen. Something completely crazy. Mostly wonderful. ‘Are you sure about that? You looked a little worse for wear.’

‘You don’t know what I look like.’

‘You sent a picture’

‘Oh’ Then a brief pause, presumably as Scar went to check the picture, ‘We may have both gotten our asses kicked. She’s worse off tho’

‘She looked fine in the picture.’

‘She was less fine after getting the wind knocked out of her and then getting shot. Tidied that battle up real quick. People don’t love fighting with arrows in their feet. Kills the vibe a bit. But I didn’t feel like dragging anything out’

‘Wanted to talk to you’

Cub took another moment to himself, to pause, to feel warm. ‘Could we meet? Somewhere close to me, preferably. Can’t sleep. Need a distraction.’

‘Are you okay?’

‘Anxious’

‘I’ll let you know when I get there then. We can walk’

‘That sounds nice.’

Scar didn’t respond, probably already on his way, and Cub lingered in a moment of gratitude before getting back up and throwing on something a little warmer. He didn’t know how long Scar would be, but he wanted a little air regardless, so he left the apartment to stand outside while he waited. Dressing warm had been a good decision; the night air had quite the bite, but Cub didn’t much feel it under his clothes. It was nice. He felt a bit more like he could breathe.

It was only fifteen minutes before Scar pulled up in an Uber, chatting with the driver even after he was entirely out of the car, and Cub was pretty sure the Uber would have to drive away to get Scar to stop talking. But Scar did turn around eventually, entirely shell shocked to see Cub waiting there- it was kind of incredible how expressive he was for nearly 3:00 in the morning.

“Cub! Hello! You didn’t have to wait outside, I would have shot you a text!” Flecks of dried blood dotted Scar’s face and uniform, along with a nasty looking cut at his side, but he didn’t look bothered by the injuries.

“I wanted to wait. It’s stuffy up there.”

“It’s cold out here!”

“I’m not cold.”

“I am!” Scar announced, almost like he was proud, then waved one last time to the Uber driver before they left, “I wasn’t when I was working, but it must have gotten colder, or at least it feels like it after being in a warm car. I might freeze before I make it home.”

“Might bleed out before then.”

“Huh?” Endearingly, Scar checked his nose first, as if that’s what Cub would have been worried about. His hands were also pretty gross, probably from wiping away the blood from his nose before. “Oh!” He followed Cub’s gaze to the cut on his side, “You know, a cut like this is pretty rare! Not much gets through this suit. But it’s fine, I’m hardly bleeding. Trust me, I know my limits.”

“Well I won’t be giving you my coat if that’s what you were after. You’re gross right now.”

“Ah! Foiled again!” Scar snapped his fingers, and Cub rolled his eyes through his own smile.

“You weren’t getting it anyway, I like being warm. That walk you promised me might help you out though.”

“I-Well of course!” Scar waited for a moment for Cub to join his side, then began his aimless wander in what Cub was pretty sure was a completely random direction, “What’s on your mind then? You doing okay?”

“Ah, I’m a bit better now. I wanted to talk about Grian, but now I think I just want a distraction. The rest will pass.”

“Okay! I can do that! Grian had a big day, didn’t he,” Scar laughed, sounding a little out of breath. “He gave me a run for my money, I’ll tell you that. My people were not happy with him, but they were a little less mad at me when they saw the public reaction, so everything is fine on that end for now. Is he good? Glad to be home after all that?”

“Oh, he’s thrilled. Had a great time the whole way through and fell asleep in the middle of telling me all about it. At 7:00. I have no doubt he’ll sleep through the night anyway. Speaking of sleeping, do you just not get tired?”

“I’m exhausted. Took a nap though and was feeling pretty good, so I decided to go out anyway. And… have been relentlessly made fun of from 11:00 to 2:00. Everyone’s getting a kick out of CuteGuy it seems, but I’m happy to see it.”

“This does not surprise me. There’s quite a bit circulating about you two, I’ve seen more than one clip of you chasing after him.”

“What- Hey! I thought you didn’t watch that stuff!”

“I don’t. Usually. Tonight I do, though. Today I do. Maybe from now I until forever I do, so long as Grian’s involved.”

“Oh no, today was awful for me. I didn’t do a single cool thing- and everyone ALWAYS posts the flubs. I haven’t looked- tell me now I’m not allowed to look. Tell me I can’t look.”

“You should not look.”

“Augh!” Scar yelled, much louder than was warranted at 3:00 AM, but he didn’t seem to care, throwing up his arms in distress, “I need to be filmed doing something cool immediately or I’ll never recover.”

“Hey, it’s not so bad. People loved you. They were laughing at you, but they loved you all the same.”

“I don’t want to be loved when I’m down!”

“It’s a little funny.”

“Do not say those words to me! I won’t take it! I can’t take it! I’m fragile, Cub, very fragile!”

Cub rolled his eyes with a snort, “You’re fine.”

“You know, you wouldn’t guess it, Cub, but I’m a pretty sensitive guy. Doesn’t take much to get me down, it really doesn’t, so you’d better be gentle with me, or I’ll be thinking about it all night.”

“I absolutely would guess it, actually,” Cub said, laughing at the affronted expression that colored Scar’s face, “Maybe I want to see you when you’re down. Parade you around all day like Grian did, whiny like you are.”

“I- Excuse you!” Scar stammered, entirely flustered in all the good ways, “You do not- You do not get to be so mean to me!”

“I like it when you struggle. It’s human.”

“I’d much prefer you’d like me at my best!”

“Believe it or not, I,” Cub paused, letting the sound linger, “like you all of the time.”

Scar turned a delightful pink, as he always did when paid any sort of compliment, which was very sweet, and a little bit unbelievable, if Cub was being honest. Scar had absolutely no reason to be this smitten with him, and that wasn’t a self-jab, it was just true. Scar barely knew him, even now; Cub hadn’t even see him much in the past couple weeks, busy as he was with Grian, working, and whatever else it was that he got up to in his free time. This might’ve been the first time they’d seen each other one on one all week, though, Cub wasn’t counting. He wondered absently if Scar was.

When Scar finally managed to stop stuttering, he spoke, again, far too loud for 3:00 in the morning, “I just don’t think that’s true.”

Cub snorted, a little incredulous, “You don’t?

“I don’t!” Scar said, more confidently, “I do all sorts of things you don’t like, I know it.”

“Yeah, because I tell you when you’re doing something stupid or dumb or annoying.”

“Exactly!” Scar said, brightening, like this proved his point.

“You can be stupid, dumb, and annoying sometimes and also be liked in all your forms, Scar. Good or bad or getting your ass kicked, my love isn’t that conditional. I can not like something you’re doing, and still like you.”

“No, I don’t think so. See, you’re getting annoyed at me right now!”

Cub knit his eyebrows, indeed, getting annoyed, “Scar, that’s not how love works. Think about Grian, right? He does things that piss me off, that worry me, that make me want to pull out my hair, all the time, and I still like all of him. You like him too, thorns and all, I know you do. You don’t just stop when you’re being challenged.”

Scar considered him thoughtfully, looking at his hands still stained by dry blood. His own expression was strained, like this was an incredibly difficult thing for him to understand, which, on second thought, was a little concerning.

“Okay,” he said, though Cub got the impression he still didn’t quite understand.

Cub hummed, thinking. “Let’s take your hands, yeah? They don’t look great right now, do they. Do you like having bloody hands?”

“Uh,” Scar looked up, then back at his hands, “No. Not really. Gets itchy after a while.”

“Itchy. That’s good. I wouldn’t like itchy hands either. But you still like your hands, don’t you? They’re not unappealing as parts of your body just because they itch from time to time.”

“Guess not.”

“But if they itched all the time, or they were always covered in dried blood that flaked off everywhere and got in your food and your bed, that would probably be a little gross. You’d probably like them a lot less if they were always causing you problems. But they’re not always covered in blood. They don’t always itch. So it’s not that big of a deal, right? You can get frustrated with people and still like all of them. You’ve been frustrated with me before, I know it. That doesn’t change how you feel about me. People aren’t so volatile.”

Scar nodded, a little more firmly. “Okay,” he said, sounding a little more like he meant it. Cub was satisfied.

“I’m curious,” he started, hoping to move on to something lighter, “What’s your civilian life like? I feel like you have such a large presence as HotGuy, it’s hard for me to imagine what you do when you’re not being a superhero.”

“Oh!” Scar almost startled, but laughed, easing his own tension, “Well, it’s not very exciting, I’ll tell you that much. I am HotGuy most of the time, I mean.. work is work, and that’s a big chunk of my life. And beyond just working, there’s talking to strangers and hanging out in break rooms and all the other fun stuff I can’t do as a civilian. But I do like to go out, drink, meet people. I love to dance when I’m drunk. To get lost in the loud music and just move.”

“Wow, I can’t relate to that at all.”

Scar barked a laugh, and Cub smiled, chuckling a bit himself. “Well what do you like to do then mister? Besides work. Well, I guess you probably don’t like to work.”

“Not particularly. I flip flop wildly from hobby to hobby, and I’m between them right now, though I’ve started falling down a rabbit hole about fireworks, and honestly, it’s kind of grabbing me. We’ll see where that takes me in the future. In recent years though, there’s been a whole bunch of things. I like making games; card games, board games, stuff like that, I enjoy puzzling that kind of thing out. Space. I love space. I actually got possessed last year, that was kind of crazy. I like things that have some sort of creative-“

“Wait. Wait a minute. Possessed? What do you mean possessed. Explain.”

“Oh, I got sculk sickness. Grian got it too, but not as bad as me.”

“Oh- oh no! That’s terrible! That’s- sculk sickness is not the same as getting possessed, Cub.”

“You’d think that, wouldn’t you, but we got along.”

“What- What does that mean.”

“Well, Grian got it like people normally do. He was very ill, itchy, had the stuff growing all over his wings, poor thing, he really hates stuff between his feathers. But that’s how it spreads, right? Itching, getting the spores everywhere. That’s how I got it. We were kinda both in the hospital- away from the city, that’s where they quarantine people. Could you imagine how bad a big outbreak here would be? Anyway, we were both hospitalized, and everything was fine, but the staff weren’t really used to people who just.. walked out.”

“You left the hospital? Cub!”

“Well I just felt like I should. Sculk patients are mostly bedridden anyway, and early on, it was only growing near my hairline, at my back, shoulders; not places that were super obvious. No one noticed when I left the first time. Or the second time. Everyone knew my face after the third time, but that didn’t stop me from leaving a fourth time. Or a fifth.”

“Why. What- what could you have possibly been doing.”

“Spreading the skulk, bay-be.”

“What?”

“Again. Possessed. I wasn’t hostile or anything- mostly just a nuisance, I mean, there was a whole crew dedicated to cleaning up after me for a long time. They had to put a little tracker in me and everything because I just wouldn’t stop leaving and wandering around the countryside. It was pretty crazy. I’m still being monitored, which is pretty funny, but probably for the best.”

“And you got out five times? How did the staff keep letting you leave?”

“Oh, way more than five time. At least eighteen times I got out at least. They didn’t let me do anything, but they just couldn’t contain me. They put me in a jail cell one time and I just turned the bars to sculk. The poor guy at the reception desk, he didn’t even have a mask or anything, he was just terrified. He didn’t get sick though, again, I wasn’t out to hurt anyone. Probably the only reason I got out so much was because they kinda needed a special team to deal with me. Can’t just touch someone with sculk sickness, it’s too contagious.”

“A whole team of people had to take you back to the hospital eighteen times?”

“Oh, not quite like that. Two people at most, though it was usually only one woman. I liked her. She had spunk.”

“How did they get you back?”

“They just asked. I was pretty compliant. I leave, spread the sculk, and on the way back, I spread more sculk. I was perfectly happy with that. I even went along with most of the treatment procedures, though, I didn’t want to sculk to die. Obviously. We were buddies.” Cub paused, smiling when Scar gaped at him, “I don’t expect you to understand. No one really does, and that’s okay with me. Again, there’s a reason I’m being monitored. Well, that’s one of the reasons.” Cub lifted his hair so Scar could see the hairline, still dotted with dark blue-green sculk, shimmering gently in the low light. “Never got rid of it. You’re not in any danger though, don’t worry. It wouldn’t produce spores unless I wanted it to.”

Scar stared, in such shock, Cub couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah. They don’t think I could do that. Despite telling them, I can’t actually produce the spores on command, so they think I’m safe. I mean, they wouldn’t have let me out of the hospital if there was a chance I was still contagious. The sculk by my hair is dormant, it doesn’t produce spores or spread, but I just know if I really actually wanted to, I could bring it back.” Cub smirked, “You believe me.”

“I do! It’s scary!”

“Well you’ve got nothing to worry about. I have to visit my doctors once a month for some tests, as well as some experimental work, which they pay me for by the way, it’s great, and I get the okay every time. My doctors are quite exasperated with me though. In a good way. Like I’m a complete enigma and also crazy but they love that. Like if the cool bug they found on the street could talk, and also they could study it, and also it likes being studied. They do think I have brain damage though. They have yet to prove this. Grian also thinks I have brain damage.”

“I can not believe you were just going to leave this at ‘you got possessed.’ This is crazy.”

“I thought you’d ask.”

“Oh!” Scar looked a little conflicted on how to feel, which was cute, but he got over it quickly, “So how did you get better?”

“Grian told me I was going to die.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, not too glamorous. Honestly, everyone and their mother was shocked that even worked, but he just sat me down and told me it was not looking good. Having sculk growing inside of you is not healthy, and it was very much starting to do that. But again, we’re buddies, so I let them treat me properly.”

“We as in.. you and Grian..?”

“The sculk.”

“Right.”“I think once I wanted it to stop, it would have. I don’t think it would have killed me. Maybe that’s delusional. I don’t really care that much. It doesn’t matter to me how any of this makes you feel, by the way. If you’re put off, it’s your problem.”

“I’m not! It’s a great story actually- I feel like that might just be the craziest thing I’ve ever learned about anyone- good! Frightening actually. Does Grian get scared?”

“He was for a couple months. Very worried. Made me take the meds for the sculk while he was watching for at least two months before he relaxed a little. At this point he’s just accepted this as part of me. Doesn’t like it though. Sculk doesn’t like him either.”

“It- The sculk talks to you??”

“No, I’m fucking with you. The sculk doesn’t have feelings. It just wants to spread.”

“Oh. Okay.” And then, almost immediately after, “Can I feel it?”

Cub choked a laugh, mostly from surprise, “Okay?”

“You can say no, I was just curious. I mean, if it’s not safe to touch I don’t want to touch it.”

“It’s- That’s fine, you just surprised me. It’s safe, it’s safe. Here,” Cub pushed his hair back once more for Scar to see, who wasted no time before pressing his fingers, a little hard, mind you, against his hairline.

“It’s soft!”

“A little bit, yeah. Could you be a little gentler?”

“Sorry!” Scar withdrew his hand, sheepish, “Skin’s not sensitive enough to feel right without a bit more pressure.” Scar didn’t linger very long, curiosity still gleaming in his eyes, “So that’s been there for a year? Longer? And you’ve been taking medicine for it this entire time?”

“Well I don’t anymore. Believe it or not, it’s not very good for you to be taking glorified weed killers for months on end, so I’m not anymore. Weaning me off was stressful for pretty much everyone but me, but I’m still fine, so.”

“Oh, weird! I’ve never heard about something like this before!”

“I’m not the only case, but it’s rare enough that they still didn’t have any idea what to do with me. The oddest part for me is I remember everything, I wasn’t like, out of it at all. I knew exactly what I was doing the whole time. Spreading sculk. Just felt right.”

“Can I kiss you?”

Cub coughed, and then kept coughing, and Scar raised his hands in alarm, “I- sorry! I meant to have this be more romantic, but then I forgot how to touch people, and it was too awkward then, but I didn’t want to wait, y’know?”

“You keep surprising me, Scar,” Cub laughed, a soft wheeze, and Scar smiled, something so unfairly sweet.

“Is this really a surprise?”

“No, not really.”

“So?”

“C’mere then,” Cub couldn’t help but look away, suddenly overwhelmed, though while Scar did close the distance, he didn’t lean in anymore. When Cub glanced back, he was looking, and even through his cracked visor, Cub could see his lidded eyes, gently thoughtful.

“You don’t look very much like you did want this,” Scar mumbled, not unhappily.

“You. Make me feel shy.” Cub replied through gritted teeth, thoroughly embarrassed, but Scar only chuckled, a quiet, joyful thing.

“You make me feel like I’m on fire.”

“That can’t be pleasant.” Cub paused, glancing back, “This feels awkward. Put your arms somewhere, across my shoulders maybe. Scar did as he was told, mercifully quiet.

“It’s not always. I just had to know you.”

“I still don’t get that. Me of all people, I don’t understand.”

“Do you believe in love at first sight?”

Cub snorted, “No.”

“I didn’t think so. But I’ve weaseled my way this far, haven’t I?”

“You make no sense to me.”

“Still want to kiss me?”

“I do.”

“You sure? I mean it, I can’t quite tell when you won’t look at me.”

“It’s just really intense to look at you right now. Maybe I could if you closed your eyes.”

Scar did so, no questions asked. And that made things a little easier, Scar smiling, his arms draped loosely around Cub’s neck. It was nice. A sudden wave of confidence spurred him on, pulling just a bit to get Scar on his level and promptly bouncing right off his visor.

Scar jolted and Cub did as well, frightened by the sudden stop. “Your-“ Cub stuttered, “I didn’t realize it was so bulky-“

“I didn’t either!” Scar laughed, and the joy was infectious, “I’ve never tried to kiss someone with this on actually, but that’s fine, we just have to switch our approach.”

“You’ve never kissed anyone?”

“HotGuy hasn’t. Civilian Scar gets around.”

“Does he now?” But Cub didn’t give Scar the chance to answer, “Doesn't matter. You’d better kiss me before we talk all night.”

“Little did you know, this was all a ploy to get in your coat.”

“Shush.”

“Okay!” Scar leaned in, admittedly, far more gracefully than Cub did, and while it was still a bit odd to feel the visor against his eyes, Cub was playing far more attention to Scar’s lips on his; gentle, soft. There was a kindness there that Cub couldn’t quite place, but he wanted to be kind too, to show he was listening, and moved deeper, hoping Scar would feel it. Scar pressed forward in return, his arms moving to hold instead of merely touch, almost desperate. Cub had never been held like this before, like he mattered, like he was the only anchor Scar had left to keep his feet on solid ground. Goodness, Cub felt anything but grounded.

Scar had a way of pushing his insecurities to the wayside. Cub had been nervous, very nervous to kiss him; it had been quite a while, and Cub would never have considered himself good at this type of thing regardless, but Scar was the perfect lead, outgoing, but also patient, and Cub felt almost impossibly cared for under his embrace.

Just as Cub’s mind began to wander to Scar’s mouth, and what it might be like to explore, Scar broke their kiss with a smile, his grin only growing as he breathed, ragged and goofy. Cub found himself chasing Scar’s lips, though settled to let their foreheads rest against each other, only a little uncomfortable on the crease of Scar’s mask.

“Was that alright?” Cub heard himself say, words only Scar would ever be able to hear.

Scar took a deep breath, he sigh long and content, “That was everything.”

“How do you feel about tongue?” Cub didn’t intend to ask so bluntly, but Scar laughed, a breathy thing, and Cub loved how he could feel every bounce of his chest, every movement of his shoulders.

“I’m afraid that might get me a bit too worked up, friend.”

Cub smirked, unable to help himself, “Is it so easy?”

“With you, I’m afraid the answer will be yes. And that sounds cheesy as hell, but I promise there’s an actual reason, it’s just a little odd and I’m not sure we’re ready enough to unpack that one.”

“An actual reason? What a treat that would be, if you’re telling the truth, anyway. If your ‘actual’ reason is just ‘The first time I saw you, I knew,’ that’s not an actual reason.”

“It’s not that, I promise.”

“Well what, then, you’ve gotten me curious now. Can’t be any odder than the sculk, I can handle it.”

“That is not the same thing at all. There is no way I can say this without it sounding so extremely sad and unsexy.”

“All of these things you’re saying make me want to know so much more. And I think you’re going to tell me, you’d just rather stall.”

“I- Okay. Listen, so there’s a lot of people here, right? Not human people. And not human people tend to be pretty sharp, have you noticed? Grian’s got it all, you must have noticed. Sharp nails, sharp teeth, even his wings can get sharp when he’s hitting you in the face with them, which is an experience I’ve had multiple times in the past couple weeks.”

“So you saw that I was human and that’s why you’ve been so smitten.”

“I- a little bit!”

“That makes so much more sense, why didn’t you just tell me before when I asked?”

“It’s a little deeper than that! It’s like- you don’t have any edges. You can’t hurt me- I’m never afraid when you touch me- I mean- if you touched me- and that’s very attractive.”

“..Alright.”

“See, I told you it would make things weird, it feels weird, but it’s not, not really!”

“I don’t think that’s weird, Scar, I’m just wondering how many people have hurt you when you’ve been intimate with them.”

“It’s not that. It’s mostly not that. The only people that hurt you when you don’t okay it first are assholes. I just like to feel safe, and you look so safe all of the time, and I’m hurting an awful lot as it stands already, so things like flat teeth and dull, chewed up nails really do it for me.”

Cub couldn’t help but smile at that last bit- dull teeth, what a thing to love, but his eyes wandered back to the injury on Scar’s side, the one he had probably been touching on accident.. gross. But no wonder he was hurting.

“Is that cut bothering you? Come home with me, Scar, let me fix you up. Maybe I can’t do as good of a job as your doctors, but I can try to give you a bit of relief. A washcloth, at least, to wipe your hands and face.”

“Ah- no no, that’s not what I meant. I have.. I just mean that I’m pretty messed up, I’m kind of just always like this. In pain. Internally. Most everything else doesn’t really bother me. Do I love having a big ol’ slash through my side? No. But I just.. don’t like the threat of pain, you know? And that’s always a threat, every moment of every day. I can’t imagine anything I’d rather do than just relax, you know? Not worry about a single thing.”

“Noted. My offer still stands, though-“

“Noted!?”

Cub rolled his eyes, continuing as if he hadn’t been interrupted, “You told me you were exhausted when we met up, so why don’t you come and stay the night instead of trekking all the way back home. You’d have to be quiet, but I think we can manage. We’ve got a nice couch as well if you’d rather sleep alone. It’s treated me well for plenty of naps.”

“You- are you offering your bed?”

“I’m offering. But I’m a big guy, so you wouldn’t have much space if you prefer it.”

“If I could never sleep alone for the rest of my life, I would make that happen. And without my legs, I’m not very big, so I think we’ve got our solution, don’t we? I should warn you though, I am a serial cuddler.”

“Hm. That might not work. We’ll find out if I punch you in the face or not in my sleep. I’ve been known to be violent.”

“There’s a 95% chance that wouldn’t even wake me up.”

“Guess we’re a match made in heaven then, huh?”

Scar lit up, the change in expression unfairly hopeful, “Really? You think so? You think so?”

“I was joking, but I don’t know if I can say no to that.” Cub stared at Scar for a little bit longer, the other doing his best to look extra pathetic. This fixed him. “Moment of weakness. I can say no. No.”

“You know, I am quite happy with Almost Not No.”

“I’m happy for you. So is that a yes?”

“I would love to.”

***

“Cuuuub,” Grian called, knocking on his bedroom door. It was closed, which typically meant he was still in there, but he wasn’t answering, which was very unfortunate, because Grian had an urgent question, “Cub! Cub! I can’t find the toaster waffles and I know you wouldn’t have eaten them because I claimed them, so I’m going to need either a confession, or help.”

Grian huffed when he got no answer, pausing in his knocking, “It’s 1:00, I know you’re not asleep. And if you’re listening to music this loud, you’re going to lose your hearing by the time you’re forty. You forgot to send me your work schedule for this week also, I need that too.” He waited once more, but still there was no answer. Well. “I’m coming in, Cub!”

And then, muffled behind the door as Grian grabbed the handle, hardly even audible, “please don’t.”

…

That wasn’t Cub.

Grian threw open the door, shrieked, then slammed it closed, marching to and from the kitchenette, then back in, where HotGuy was cowering entirely under the blankets.

“Are you naked?”

“No! No! Cub just had to go to work, he just let me sleep, that’s all- We were up late, doing nothing, by the way, not that that’s any of your business.”

“Where’s your mask? Are you wearing it? Did you sleep with it on?”

“I- Yes, I did, and it was not super comfortable I won’t lie, probably-“ Grian didn’t give Scar the chance to finish, tearing the blankets off and assaulting him with his squirt bottle, resulting in many satisfying screeches. “Why- Why do you have that?!”

“For rats! Get out!”

“Like-“ Scar covered his face with his hands, “Rat rats or human rats- Do you guys get rats?”

“Both!”

“Okay, okay!” Scar finally started moving, but not very quickly, which probably had something to do with the lack of legs, “Give me- one second, will you stop it?” Scar reached a hand to swat at the squirt bottle, but Grian stepped back out of reach. He did give Scar a brief reprieve while getting situated with his legs, but the second that was over Grian began again.

“Did you bring anything? Don’t forget it.”

“This is so- unkind. You are not nice, you are not nice at all, you are mean. Why are you so mean to me? Cub likes me, he told me he likes me, so why can’t you just trust he has fine taste! I’ll buy you you’re fucking waffles it you just stop- I’ll buy enough waffles to fill your stupid freezer-“

“Okay. Bribe accepted.” Grian stopped with the water, pleased, “Go on then. I’ll text you the brand, and you can drop your peace offering right at the building’s front door. Valid for today only.”

“You’re joking.”

Grian raised the bottle, and Scar got right back to it, still hurrying, which Grian appreciated. “Peace offerings will be expected from now on, otherwise, I’d better not catch you.”

“This is unfair. Cub invited me over, not the other way around. I’m so telling on you, he’s going to be so mad! You’re going to be in so much trouble.”

“I doubt that. I think he’ll laugh.”

“He WILL NOT laugh!”

“Call him then.”

“He’s at work!”

“He’ll answer.”

“Fine!” Scar snapped, snatching his phone off the side table and swiping to Cub’s contact, grumbling the entire way. He brought the phone to his ear, glaring, and Grian smirked, spinning the bottle in his fingers.

“Cub!” Scar announced as the line connected, loud and scandalized, “Grian has just barged into your room, and since he’s seen me, he’s been spraying me with a squirt bottle even while I’m trying to leave!”

Silence. Then, over the line, he heard Cub snort. Grian’s grin only widened.

“Cub!” Scar wailed, pathetically desperate, “He’s coerced me into buying him waffles!”

“Oh, that’s good,” Cub said, and Grian cackled, doubling over, “I ate the last ones this morning and I did not want to get more. I’ll pay you back.”

“You’re not paying him back,” Grian cut in, and Scar was stuck looking helplessly from Cub to Grian, utterly, pathetically betrayed.

“Oh, and tell Grian if he got my sheets wet he’s got to change them. Thanks, Scar, I gotta run now. Have a nice day.” Cub hung up promptly, and Scar was left to gape at his phone. Grian sidled over, giving him a rough couple pats on the back.

“It’s alright, bud. It’s tough being number two.” Grian swiveled around, satisfied, “Now get on out of here.” He left Cub’s room, knocking the door enough to leave it halfway closed.