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violetrainbow412-blog · 1 year

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White lies [S. R]

Spencer Reid x fem!reader

word count: 4.6k

summary: you meet Spencer thanks to a nice coincidence and you become recurring chess partners, but he leaves out a small detail

taglist: @navs-bhat @reidwritings @tricia-shifting14

Spencer had come back to that park after a long time and, honestly, it was as quiet as he remembered it. He liked to sit there to read, watch the birds, listen to the trees hitting each other; just enjoy a moment of life. Matthew, a teenager he used to play chess with, sometimes kept him company, but he knew from his mother that he had sprained his ankle and could barely get out of his room, so those evenings it was just him and a couple of old men in a remote section of his favorite hangout.

The book he had in hand could have finished in less than ten minutes if he had wanted to, but it was one he had a particular interest in and so he was taking notes in a notebook by his side, lengthening his reading time. And besides, he had proposed to take things a little more calmly since the recovery of his leg, now that he could walk by himself, and that seemed to him a quite useful exercise.

The man was dimly aware that someone was sitting at the table next to his, but curiosity was not enough to force him to look away from the pages. It wasn't until after a while that he heard the characteristic sound of the chess pieces moving in the box that formed the board that he paid attention and noticed that the one who was settling there was a woman.

He tried not to look at you too much so as not to make you uncomfortable, but the quick scan he gave you only led him to the conclusion that you might be a college student and that you were very pretty. You were carefully arranging the pieces and once you finished, you looked around the whole park as if you were looking for something or someone, and then you took a pack of chocolates from your backpack and put it to the side of the board, somewhat disappointed that you hadn't found who you expected.

"Are you waiting for Matthew?" Spencer dared to ask. You were startled and had to ask him to repeat the question, a little afraid that a stranger had made such a pointed remark "I've seen him a couple of times eating those sweets and since he likes chess, I thought you were expecting him"

"Oh, you know him" you exclaimed, a little calmer. You were surprised by how observant the man had been, for a couple of random pieces of information had led him to the correct conclusion "I was his babysitter for a while and I ran into his mother the other day and she said he comes here in the evenings so I thought I'd come to see him”

“Too bad, he has a sprained ankle,” he informed you, with a sad grin. “Maybe he'll be back in a week or two. I'm Spencer, by the way."

"Y/N" you introduced yourself, shaking the hand the man was offering you "So you guys are friends?"

"Sometimes I play with him"

"Huh yeah?"

"Yeah. He is very good"

“I taught him,” you said, quite proud of yourself, “I hated when he asked to watch TV, and I brought all kinds of board games over to his house, until finally chess captivated him. In those years he participated in school contests so I was excited to play with him "

“Did you win some?”

“I was undefeated” you exclaimed, even more proud of yourself and smiling wistfully “But after a few years I gave it up. Matthew continued, so I thought it would be nice to dust myself off a bit,” you smiled.

You took a moment to look at the man, who might be only a few years older than you, and like him you were somewhat captivated. His long, wavy, golden hair gleamed in the sun and he seemed to wear clothes that were, if not expensive, then at least quite elegant. You looked at the stack of books and the notes scattered on the table with great interest, because frankly the only men who met all those characteristics used to be your grandfather's age and, although their talks were interesting, you couldn't get to think of them with anything more than tenderness. This person was different, almost like a sage out of a book.

You didn't know where you found the words to invite him to play with you and you didn't know why he agreed. He seemed busy when you arrived, which made you think that he might even be a teacher, but he stopped his activities to pay attention to you and that made you feel special.

"You like them? You can take some if you want. They were for Matty, but I'll buy him some more,” you said kindly, referring to the candies between you, to which Spencer nodded with a smile. You used to play with strangers all the time in that park, so you didn't think it was weird, but never one as handsome as the guy in front of you. You probably wouldn't even have dared to talk to him if he hadn't talked to you “White or black?”

“Black,” Spencer replied. You thought that maybe he was just being chivalrous to you by letting you move first, but you were also overconfident in your abilities and thought that he might feel bad if you turned out to be better.

"I'm not very good, I have to admit" you blatantly lied.

"Relax, I'm not either" he also lied. But neither of you could notice it.

The way Spencer saw the situation, he had two options: the first, demonstrate his extraordinary intelligence by beating you with a couple of moves, or the second, which was to turn off his brain for a while to give yourself a chance and lengthen the game a bit. He knew that, if he took the first option, you would most likely just smile and flatter him like everyone else did, or you might even ask him how he had done that. But Spencer was sick of being treated like a genius, despite being one, and having that label branded in his mind every place he went. He loved to learn, teach and know as much as he could on all subjects and he wasn't one bit ashamed of the abilities his mother gave him at birth, but his short experience with women led him to deduce that he had a better chance of continuing to talk to you throughout the afternoon if he would just play a little silly and pretend not to know what he was doing. And he definitely wanted to be with you that day.

It had been a while, and at some point, you moved a bishop.

Check in 4 moves if Spencer moved the rook.

He moved a pawn, you took the pawn.

Bishop takes the pawn and check in 10 moves.

He moved the knight. You moved your queen

Rook takes queen then checkmate in 5 moves.

But Spencer ignored any of the logical options his brain was giving him. He was moving pieces wrong on purpose and moving another pair well just so he could enjoy your face of concentration and victorious smiles when you made a smart move that he could have foreseen from the start of the game. He analyzed your game, you attacked hard at first, you were impulsive, but at some point you changed your modus operandi to a more calculating and strategic one, your eyebrows gave you away when you were going to make an important play.

"Check" you muttered at some point. Spencer knew how to beat you, but, I repeat, he moved badly on purpose "And that's mate"

"Oh really?" he said, pretending to be puzzled.

"Yes, you left the way clear for my bishop" you explained, with a kind tone but also somewhat condescending. It didn't seem like you wanted to make fun of him, but rather you were looking for a way to make him see his mistake, without knowing that your companion knew exactly what he had done wrong.

"Oh, it's true"

"Either way it's fine, you played excellent" you exclaimed to comfort him, while you offered him a piece of candy and smiled broadly. Spencer looked at his phone, expecting to see a message from JJ saying there was a case to attend to, but he found nothing.

"A rematch?" he said, trying his luck, to which you answered yes quite happily.

Spencer won that game and it was inevitable for both of you to wish for another game just for the tiebreaker, with you crowning yourself the winner of the evening. Between movements you took the opportunity to look at him and you would lie when you said that your cheeks didn’t feel hot from being in the presence of such a peculiar specimen. Most of the men around you behaved like cavemen, so being with someone that civilized was most pleasant.

“I have to go home, it's getting dark already,” you said, quite sad, after that third game. The candy had already run out and Spencer's book had been forgotten to the side, but you still didn't want to walk away with just the memory of those hazel eyes “But if you're ever around again, we could play… if you want."

"I'd love to" he replied, sounding quite sincere.

Would it be too daring to ask for his number? What if it had just been a nice time that arose from a coincidence? You didn't want to spoil it, or scare him away, or anything like that.

You only said goodbye saying that you hoped to see him again and he said the same thing before the two of you went off on your own, fearing you would never see each other again.

After a few days you went back to the park hoping to meet him, but you were disappointed to see the empty spot. The process was repeated a couple of times and although you were carrying books to spend the afternoon, the chess board could never be missing from your bag, keeping the hope of finding him again. Time wasn't wasted after all, as you took the opportunity to continue your schoolwork outdoors, but it saddened you to think that you probably wouldn't see Spencer again, going so far as to regret not finding a way to contact him. But whoever perseveres, reaches, and you verified it when one afternoon you finally found him sitting at the same table as the first time.

“Spencer! What a joy to see you here” you greeted him casually, as if you hadn't been going to the park repeatedly just hoping to find him.

The man apologized to you saying that his work had kept him so busy that he hadn't even had time to stop by and when you asked what he did for a living you were met with an ambiguous answer that he held a position in a government office. Not a complete lie, but not the truth either.

That's how you kept finding him around to play with him, until at some point you barely paid attention to the board to give priority to the chat. Every time you saw each other you thought, without the slightest idea of the truth, that Spencer had been practicing to improve, because sometimes out of five games you only won two. But other days you might have a perfect streak that, while it made you feel happy, allowed you to comfort your friend a little.

You had started carrying different snacks to at some point find out which one was his favorite, which turned out to be the trail mix and, truth be told, it was something you expected, as if it fit perfectly with his personality. That's how you started carrying a pack of those whenever you could, alternating it with other kinds of more substantial snacks that Spencer loved.

So it was that, during the nearly two months that Matthew was unable to go to the park, you and Spencer kept each other company. You learned that he was an avid reader that, according to your first impression of him, he had taught a few classes, that he lived alone, loved classical music, was a big fan of science fiction and science in general, in short, he was a bit of a nerd. He was always telling you interesting facts that you couldn't even have imagined and you always listened very carefully.

One day you were concentrating on your next move when his voice interrupted you. It was a very beautiful afternoon and you had decided to put on light clothes that fluttered in the wind.

“I forgot to tell you. I brought you a book” was what he had said and from his brown leather briefcase he extracted a book with a faded cover that he handed over to you with great care.

“Sylvia Plath?” you exclaimed with total emotion. You had talked about the interest you had in starting to read it in one of the last meetings, because considering Spencer a connoisseur of literature, he would probably know which book to start with "Where did you get it?"

"It was from my mother, but she won't mind if you read it"

You carefully caressed the back with your fingertips with the biggest smile on your face, feeling flushed at the obvious show of attention you were receiving.

"Thank you so much"

"It's no big deal"

"I'll give it back to you soon"

"Take the time you need" he exclaimed sweetly. He was wearing a gray knit vest and a black dot-patterned formal shirt, along with a brown tie. His hair framed his face and looked so soft it made you want to reach out and just stroke it. You had been so stunned watching him, wondering if he was a real man or not, until he reminded you that it was your turn.

You moved your queen. Check in 7 moves.

"Spencer, can I confess something to you?"

He moved his bishop. He is saved from check.

"Huh, yeah"

“These last few weeks I have had a lot of fun. I really like being with you”

He looked at you for a second, as if he was waiting for a but that never came. There was no but you just liked being with him. Reid didn't usually find many people who would enjoy his company without a work commitment involved and that you had said something like that made him feel a warmth in his heart that he couldn't describe.

"I just wanted to tell you that, no... I hope I wasn't weird"

"I like being with you, too," he exclaimed immediately, hoping you didn't get the wrong idea. "It's probably the most normal and quiet thing that happens during my week."

“You've never told me what you do at work, is it paperwork and stuff? Bureaucratic processes?

“Something like that” he lied “Most of the time it's stressful and very tiring. That's why I like coming here, with you, because it helps me relax. I used to play with a very dear friend, but I took a break because… I didn't feel like going back to it. But I have to admit that you are a wonderful player."

"I hope so. Because I'm about to beat you” you smiled, moving another piece and putting the game in check again. Spencer always knew that he had to move to win, but again he made enough mistakes to get beaten by you. Once this happened, he took his king and handed it to you with a small smile, allowing your hands to touch.

It was already getting a bit dark and that was the signal for both of you to come home.

"You won 3 out of 4," he informed you, more cheerful than he was supposed to be. "Rematch tomorrow?"

“Of course”

One of you always asked that and in the same way the other always answered yes. Come to think of it, it was pretty funny that when you lost the next afternoon you won and vice versa, allowing the promise of a rematch to always hold.

"Do you live far from here?"

You knew, of course, that there was another question implicit in it. He not only wanted to know how far away your apartment was, but he wanted to know if he could walk you there. You'd never thought of the two of you hanging out outside of your afternoon game sessions, so you told him it was about a fifteen-minute walk away, and he naturally offered to walk you there.

"You're not a serial killer or anything like that, are you?" you joked, although a part of you said it to watch his reaction and detect (if possible) any sign of a lie.

“I'm not, but it's quite right that you doubt me,” he replied, as he packed his things into his briefcase, smiling slightly as if he hadn't been offended but rather admired by a good question “From any man, really, because the largest number of serial killers is concentrated in the United States and 95% of murderers worldwide are… well, men. Possibly this is due to the levels of testosterone and the social implications of masculinity that exist, this isn’t counting the traumas that they may have developed during their lives. Speaking specifically of men with psychopathy, most of them are able to manipulate their chosen victims to gain their trust before harming them. Many murderers have been described as charming, an example of this is Ted Bundy, who even when he was arrested many women attended the trials with banners and self-declared his fans. A few years ago there was even a killer here in Virginia who would date young women and then kill them, because it was easier for him not to resist, but luckily he only took the lives of 3 women before he was caught”

Spencer wasn't even aware of the changes in expressions on your face until he looked at you, completely serious and doe-eyed.

"Should I be worried about the fact that you listed reasons why I shouldn't let you accompany me?"

“Oh no, no” he had probably scared you and it made him feel so sorry and silly “I just… like to read about it, I promise. In addition, I have a degree in psychology, sometimes we analyzed the profile of the murderers to understand their psyche. But if you don't want me to come with you, that's fine."

"I'll take the risk"

"I didn't mean to scare you, I'm sorry"

"You didn’t do it. It just wasn't such a convincing defense” you carefully reached out to grab his arm and encourage him to walk beside you, flashing him a sweet smile.

Spencer, still feeling guilty for having rambled on about psychopaths, walked by your side for a while, and until you started talking his mood improved. A lot of times your talks didn't have to do with anything scientific and focused more on pop culture stuff that Spencer was completely unaware of. But you never teased him, but little by little you started to explain to him the plot of different movies or celebrity gossip of the moment, which was very funny for him. Your vibrant personality had him completely fascinated.

"I'll see you tomorrow, right?" you said once you got to your building. They were nice condos that Spencer had seen before.

"If something unforeseen does not arise, yes"

"Thanks for joining me. And for not being a murderer too” you laughed, still in a joking mood, while he looked at the ground a little embarrassed.

"Your lack of confidence hurts me"

"Admit that it's your fault, Doctor Reid" taking advantage of the artificial height difference that standing a few steps higher than him gave you, you leaned over to hug him goodbye and he sighed deeply as he felt the softness of your body against his "I hope you're well. Rest"

"Bye," he breathed out softly, entranced by the sight of your kind eyes looking directly at him.

He went home wishing with all his might that the job in the unit would allow him to meet you, but unfortunately it didn't, and since the two of you still hadn't thought of exchanging numbers he didn't find a way to apologize to you. He went to the park for several days in a row, but he couldn't find you anywhere and he was afraid that you wouldn't want to see him again. Had he done something wrong? Had you really believed that he could be a criminal? He probably explained to you what FBI unit he worked for and all that weird stuff he was telling you would have started to make sense.

He had already given up hope just the day you were practically running to the park, your chessboard bouncing through your bag and your breathing heavy as a sign of your poor physical condition.

You expected him to be there even with your repeated absences and when you finally arrived you noticed that around your usual table was a small group of people. You didn't know what it could be so you decided to go look too and you were surprised to discover Matty, whom it was the first time you'd seen in months, playing with nothing more and nothing less than your game partner.

You knew Matty enjoyed playing fast chess, so a clock was sitting next to both of them, and Spencer seemed to be playing better than he ever had in his life. His eyes lasted a second to scan the positions of the pieces and another to move his own, without needing to make any effort to plan the right move.

Everyone around was impressed by the skill of the teenager and the man who, according to your deductions, had not played more than 15f minutes. After a couple more minutes Spencer smiled broadly and declared that the younger one was checkmated, drawing Matthew's complaint and collective applause for the feat.

"The boy is good, but not as good as him" an old man informed you, who apparently knew the development of these games very well.

Spencer enjoyed the cheers rather modestly for a moment, but when he caught sight of you watching him from the crowd he went completely pale.

"Hello," he hurried to greet you, getting up from his seat to approach you and causing the fan group to break up "You came."

"Yeah, I've been kind of busy with college," you sincerely apologized, letting him envelop you in a hug that took you by surprise.

"I'm glad to see you"

"But what was all that about, by the way?"

"What was what?"

"Y/N!" said Matty, rushing over to greet you. "Do you guys know each other?"

"Yeah, I would say that" you clearly noticed the young man's intention to ask the story of that, but as soon as he opened his mouth you said something else: "But will you allow me to talk to him for a second? It's adult talk," you joked, trying to tease your little friend, and then walked a few steps away, taking Spencer with you. "Do you want to explain to me how you became a chess master during my three-day absence?"

"I don't... I don't know what you're talking about"

"I saw that! You beat him so fast and Matt is very good. Have you been letting me win all this time?” you asked with a frown. You didn't sound annoyed with him, but rather surprised, and when he pursed his lips and looked at you with those sad little eyes, you knew you were right “You were lying to me! Why did you do that?”

"I didn’t want to make you feel bad"

“I'm an adult, I can handle failure” you argued. A lie, but he didn't have to know that.

“It's just that you… you looked so happy winning and I was happy to spend time with you and I figured if I played like that you'd start to get bored or think I'm a show-off. You didn't want to make a bad impression."

He had been cheating on you, yes, but now that he had explained his reasons, you thought they were really cute. Although you didn't like being treated with that kind of condescension, it would honestly have been foolish to bother you about something like that. They were just friendly games of chess, not a world championship.

"So all this time you were this clever?" you asked and he nodded sheepishly “And you still managed to lose?”

“It's easy once you get the hang of it. If you know all the possible outcomes then you also know where you shouldn't move your pieces."

"I must have looked so stupid all this time"

"No, it's not like that" he hastened to say, while one of his hands went up to your elbow and gently held it "I didn't behave like that because I think you're stupid. I think you're very smart, actually."

"So you were just pretending so we could see each other in the evenings?"

No one had ever done that for you and now you weren't even offended by it anymore, you were, how shall I put it? Touched, perhaps.

"I thought if we didn't play chess there would be no other excuse for it"

A giggle escaped your lips and although at first he thought you were mocking, the truth was the opposite.

“You don't need to do that for us to be together, I could come to the park and just talk to you. I already told you, I like being with you” you clarified.

You two were silent for a moment and although you were calm Spencer was fiddling with his hands, apparently uncomfortable.

"There's also something else I didn't tell you" you widened your eyes slightly, waiting for him to continue "Actually, I do work for the government, but I work for the FBI in the behavioral analysis unit, that's why sometimes I disappear for so many days or…"

"That's why you know so much murder data" you hastened to say. Suddenly everything clicked together, like pieces in a puzzle "You're not a murderer, you catch murderers!”

“I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't want to scare you."

"Oh, and it was more convenient to let me think you're a psycho," you said sarcastically and only received another amused and sorry look "Any other secrets you want to share with me, Agent Reid?"

“At the moment I only have that. But the afternoon is young, more things can come up with the passing of the hours”

You both laughed at the joke and Matthew's voice calling you snapped you out of your conversation. The teen demanded an explanation as to why his playmate and former babysitter seemed so trusting of each other, which Spencer probably hadn't explained to him yet.

"I just want to ask you one thing"

"And what is?"

“Play a real game with me. No cheating, no tricks"

"Rematch?" he said, as was already your tradition, and you smiled widely.

You walked back to the table taking his arm and after summarizing a few months of history to Matthew the two of you finally got to play. Spencer beat you in less than 5 minutes, but the satisfaction you felt finding out that he was so smart, as well as handsome, was completely worth your loss.

You only managed to beat him after half a year, because from that moment on Spencer was so distracted by your face that it was hard for him to concentrate on the plays. And when you became his girlfriend, all you had to do was steal a few kisses from him to ensure your victory, which, honestly, didn't bother him in the least.

#spencer reid #spencer reid fanfic #spencer reid x reader #criminal minds #criminal minds fanfic #dr spencer reid #matthew gray gubler #aaron hotchner #derek morgan #jason gideon #JJ #penelope garcía #david rossi #emily prentiss #spencer reid x you #spencer reid fluff

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pricegouge · 2 months

Text

here's a little victorian ghoap x reader thing i might continue but no time soon. stable hand ghost, minor noble soap, maid reader.

cw for dub con, though nothing happens here and non con mentioned in passing

It's Mr. MacTavish who lures you in, pretty blue eyes and the cologne you've only ever smelled on him - too expensive to be worn by any of the other men you know. He's charming as always, schooled smiles and lingering gazes. It's easy to let yourself be herded along to the horse barn when you've harbored a flame for him for so long.

Less easy is the sight of Simon lingering in the stall.

"Bring her here, pup."

You dig your little heels into the dirt when Mr. MacTavish grabs you by the arm, steering you close. Simon is a recent hire, but you'd never guess by his notoriety. Well earned, as far as you can tell. The other maids have given you fair warning about him, the stable hand who doesn't know the first thing about proper horse care. They said he was the devil, or maybe just on the lam. You hadn't thought too much about it, because you'd never imagined you'd be in this position in the first place.

More fool you, it had never occured to you that the devil would use another to seduce you for him.

"Mr. MacTavish, I think I ought to get back to my chores," you hedge, voice so meek you barely recognize it.

"Not the song ye were just singing, little lass," he lilts. You hate yourself for the way it still manages to make your knees weak.

"I -. I -. I only just remembered I have some hemming to do."

"Well it's a good thing I know the man of the house then, eh?" His father, he means - old and incapacitated. John himself oversees the staffing, and if he excuses your tardiness to your head housekeeper then all will be forgiven. But there will be no need, because you were lying, and you both knew it. Mrs. McGovern would never notice your absence because you had the evening off - something you're sure Mr. MacTavish knows as well.

He's got you in the stall now, despite the way your boots drag a wake through the straw. Simon sits on an overturned bucket with his legs sprawled, looking for all the world like it's him who issues your cheque, who hosts your lodgings. Mr. MacTavish does nothing to correct this behavior, you note, content to bring you to stand between the stable hand's knees as directed.

Simon's an ugly man - eerily pale despite his supposed profession, and painted all over with the kinds of scars horses simply did not possess the ability to install: long and jagged, improperly healed. If he was a stable hand with his last house, the livestock were hardened criminals and the village doctor had been too scared to come around for a visit. But there was no denying his figure was impressive. Tall and broad, you'd heard the driver once say that it wasn't a stretch to believe Simon had gotten the job by simply 'standing in the stall and looking like a natural.' Like a horse, he'd meant, and within the week he'd been sacked for sodomy. The driver had been adamant he'd been attacked by Simon, but when pressed, the stable hand had simply said he'd just 'stood there and looked natural while the driver had done the rest.' You hadn't gotten the joke, and when one of the butlers had explained it was a reference to the size of Simon's manhood, you'd thought yourself likely to faint. Mr. MacTavish had found this so funny that Simon had not been let go for fornication - neither then, nor any of the subsequent run-ins he'd had with the other maids.

And now here you were, latest in a long line. You want to scold yourself for believing the others had simply been lacking wit, or personal strength. You'd been nothing but cautious of the man, but still he'd managed to get you alone.

Well, mostly alone. In your naivety, Mr. MacTavish still stands as a beacon of hope - a way out of this mess unscathed. You ought to know better by the way he stares down at Simon, blue eyes searching for direction and approval both.

"Pretty one," Simon muses. He looks at you as if he never has, though you've felt his eyes on you since his first day on the property. "Took her long enough to come around. How'd you get her, then?"

"Easy enough. Just told her I knew a spot we could sit and talk in peace wi'out her pesky ol' ma'am breathin' doon her neck."

Shame knots your stomach to hear it described as such, though he speaks true enough. Mr. MacTavish had barely needed to show any interest in you at all before you'd been mentally canceling your plans to visit the fountain in town and read under the shade of the big oak tree. If only you could go back now, perhaps remind yourself what it meant to be a god fearing woman.

Simon will fix that for you.

"That so, pet?" he asks you now, mangled lips curling around a cruel smile. "Can't even spare me a glance, but you come running when Johnny gives you a crumb of attention?" You realize your face betrays your shame when his smile turns knowing. To Mr. MacTavish he says, "Think you've got a pet of your own, pup."

The younger man hums, leaning over your shoulder. He doesn't look at you when he compares you to a bitch in heat.

Laughing, Simon draws you ever closer with two massive palms wrapped round the backs of your thighs. "Two pups then, 'ave I? What a lucky man."

"Please, s-sirs. I'd like to leave now."

The way Mr. MacTavish shushes you is almost apologetic, but Simon does not look at all sympathetic when he glares up at you.

"Your employer has asked you here, pet. Are you really going to decline him?"

And the thing is that you won't because you can't. To deny Mr. MacTavish is to put your income in jeopardy. So you'll stay, despite knowing full well that come tomorrow, Mrs. McGovern will know exactly where you've been, and you'll just be another disgraced girl in the long line of maids Mr. MacTavish and his ilk has ruined. You'll have no hope of ever finding another position after this, so you'll stay, and you'll do as you're told - because if you're stuck in this household anyway, you may as well ingratiate yourself to the head of it.

You feel as if you've been soaked in tar when you tell Simon no, that you wouldn't deny Mr. MacTavish anything.

"Good girl," Simon purs. "Call him John."

When you peek over your shoulder, Mr. MacTavish offers no indication on what he thinks of that, too busy stroking the line of your shoulder. His thick finger is heavy, feels as if it pushes each individual stitch into your skin.

"John, may I please be excu -?"

"Ye may no'."

You gaze between the two of them, heart hammering like a rabbit's when Simon's hands climb higher up the backs of your thighs. You think you can feel Mr. - John's hips rock into you, but the impact is padded by Simon's grip.

"Good girl," Simon repeats himself. "You'll call him John, and me Mr. Riley, got it?"

When you don't answer at first, John's hand trails up to squeeze your neck threateningly.

"Y-yes, Mr. Riley."

Prequel

#💷🔪

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theprisonerandthebeast · 3 months

Note

Do you write poly marauders? if so could you write one where they all live in a cute little apartment together, but the boys have gone away for week (or however long) and reader (preferably fem) kind of loses herself. like she starts eating less or at irregular times, kinda lets apartment get messy, wears same clothes everyday and is over all sad. the boys come home and find what's happening and comfort/help her. Mega fluff?!

hope this is enough inspo!

love your writing!!!

thank you :))

I LOVE THIS! I’ve been wanting to write poly!marauders forever and now I have an excuse. A kiss for you, anon.

(I might edit to add more details to the ending later!!)

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“It’s just a week. We will be back soon, okay, Angel?” James coos to you, kissing you softly.

The boys are all heading out, bags in hand, saying their goodbyes.

“It’s actually 6 days, Jamie, not a week.” Sirius says, pointedly.

“Excuse me…” James says sarcastically to Sirius, then, turning to you, “6 days, then, Princess. Think you can make it without us that long?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine.” You say, giggling at James’ almost-overly-sensitive tone. He’s always babied you the most.

Remus says, exasperatedly, “I wouldn’t even be going to this Quidditch game if it wasn’t to make sure these idiots don’t fall off the stands, gorgeous girl, you know that, right?”

You giggle even harder at that, “Yes, I know. Now, go and have fun.”

You usher them out the door and into the hallway of your apartment. Luxurious, ceiling-high windows, a kitchen all of you could judge James’ latest experimental dish in, and a living room couch (made of clouds) facing the most expensive TV screen Sirius could afford.

What was originally Sirius’ apartment became Sirius and James’ apartment. Soon after, Remus moved in. Lastly, they asked you to move in once your relationship became more serious.

You walk around the suddenly too-quiet apartment. The cool floor feels more evident on your feet than before and a chill runs down your spine. You climb onto the couch, pull a blanket to your chin, and turn on a show for background noise. You fall asleep almost immediately.

The next morning, you wake up expecting the boys’ arms around you. Sirius snoring loudly, James spread out, pushing Remus off the bed- this was your normal morning routine. Waking up on the couch was never an option before. If you fell asleep on the couch, one of the boys, usually Sirius, would carry you to bed.

With nobody around to do that this morning (and no snoring to be heard from anywhere) you start to feel an empty, lonely feeling. Usually you or James or Remus would make breakfast but you didn’t feel like eating. You make yourself a cup of coffee and relax for the rest of the day. For dinner, you order a pizza and eat the whole thing. It was the only thing you had ate that day and told yourself tomorrow would be better.

That night, you fall asleep fitfully.

The days after are no better, in actuality, they were worse. One night you couldn’t sleep at all and at 3am you give up. You go to the living room, stare out the window at the city below and watch the cars light up the street. Even at 3am, cars are still going. You think too much about who’s in those cars and what they’re doing. Why are they driving at 3am? Some of them could be driving to the hospital right now. Some of them are just now getting off work. Some of them are teenagers who want to get away from their parents to smoke weed at the abandoned house on 7th Street.

You think about how out of all the people in the world, Remus, Sirius, and James chose you.

Suddenly, a thought hits you- there on the couch at damn near 4 in the morning. “They left me, they went on a trip to see someone else… They never chose me after all…”

You believe its true. You believe it so bad you go to sleep, crying, right there on the couch.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hours (or was it days?) later you wake up to keys jingling outside the door. Panic hits you at first. You look around the living room and kitchen. Pizza boxes, McDonald's cheeseburger wrappers, and an old, door-dashed Starbucks drink, definitely growing mold by now, lay around you. And that’s not even counting the bedroom.

They walk in, bags in hand. Smiling at first, then immediately frowning when they see the state of the apartment; the state of you. Shame hits you like a brick. You think about the scene in Home Alone when the robber gets a iron smashed into his face. You think that might feel better.

James is the first to drop everything and coddle you, as usual. He rushes to you, thrusting himself in your arms. You immediately feel better.

“Are you okay? You look so sad, puppy.” He strokes your hair and you smile as the familiar James scent reaches you.

Remus and Sirius are hugging you moments after.

You cry but laugh. You feel silly for ever thinking they were visiting another person.

“What’s going on? You missed us?” Sirius says, pouting.

“Yes, I missed you!” you cry-laugh and throw a pillow from the couch at him.

Remus giggles when you miss.

You explain the situation to them and how you got a little insecure in their departure.

Sirius carries you to bed and Remus holds you while James makes you a proper dinner.

After, Remus runs you a bath, just how you like it. Sirius brushes and braids your hair.

While you were taking a bath, it seemed like the trash disappeared magically. You figured Remus had cleaned it.

Nobody mentions the mess, the boys are all just glad you're feeling better.

You fall asleep with all the boys cradled around you in your big bed. You only start to fall into a deep sleep when you hear Sirius snoring softly.

#sirius black #wolfstar #marauders era #marauders #remus lupin #dead gay wizards #harry potter #moony wormtail padfoot and prongs #poly!marauders x reader #poly!marauders x you #poly!marauders fluff #poly!marauders #poly!marauders imagine #sirius black x reader #james potter x reader #remus lupin x reader #original post

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504py · 10 months

Note

Its me again (i hope you don't mind i am in you ask again 😅)

So uh do you have headcanon for yandere russia and canada with their s/o?

Thx 🌻

holy SHIT i got carried away 😭😭😭 this was supposed to be a short post, but i got too deep into their characterization. and don't worry!! i appreciate your asks! anyways, here we go guys... please heed the warnings!

Yandere Russia and Yandere Canada Relationship Headcanons

Gender neutral, domestic violence, implied NSFW, self-harm, manipulation, forced feminization, dubious consent, stalking, long post ahead!

┊͙✧˖*°࿐

Russia

How the relationship started

Your relationship with Ivan first started with you doing some mundane thing, but he was there at the right place and the right time, and something about you intrigued him. Be it at a restaurant eating a strange food combination, seeing you early in the morning with your hair wet and rushing to get somewhere, or even getting a glimpse of your mismatched socks when you walked past him and didn't even pay him any mind. That was enough to seal your fate as his property. His mind can't seem to stop running with thoughts of you, how are you, why are you, and he needs to scratch that itch.

Ivan sends out a private investigator to stalk you basically, and provide him with your daily schedule. Once Ivan has your schedule, he dismisses the investigator, and takes matters into his own hands by stalking you himself, and trying to insert himself into your daily life.

Then, it was just a matter of getting to know you, courting you with expensive gifts and dates, then fully dooming yourself when you accepted him as your boyfriend.

Expectations

Ivan is very blunt with what he wants. Not very long into your relationship, around a month or so, he asks you to move in with him. Any sort of opposition or protest will be stonewalled by this; "We will be married and living together someday anyways. Why fight it? Don't you love me?"

So, whether you like it or not, you move in with him in his giant, lonely house.

There are no maids and none of the Baltic states to be seen, and this is because Ivan expects you to fulfill the role of a housewife, regardless of your gender. So he'd like for you to do chores yourself and to clean up around the house while he's gone. He doesn't expect perfection from your cleaning, in fact, he finds it a little charming when some areas aren't clean or spotless. His house was huge and you were only so small.

On the topic of fulfilling the role of his housewife, he expects you to do other things that make you fit the role even more, such as giving him affection, cooking for him, and keeping up a good front when guests are around. He wants the two of you to evoke the image of a traditional married couple so badly, and if you fail to meet those requirements...

Punishments

Ivan can be cruel. He doesn't tolerate rebellion very well, and his punishments are always physical.

He is a very touchy man, and if you fail to reciprocate his touch, or actively shy away from it, he'll only get more aggressive. His hugs will feel more suffocating, his grip on your jaw while he kisses you will feel bruising, and you swear, it feels like he's trying to crush your hand while he holds it, despite the sweet smile on his face..

If you continue to refuse him, he'll be much less subtle with his harm. One day, when you try to shove him away from you, his grip on your arm tightens to the point it feels like he might just snap it, and he pulls you close to whisper a threat into your ear; "Will you continue to be like this?"

If you say no and apologize, which would be your best option, he'll let out a strained breath and try to relax his clenched jaw, before letting up his grip on your arm and muttering an apology under his breath himself.

If you say yes... His jaw will tense up, and the look he gives you is bone-chilling. "Alright." He says, and doesn't give you much time to think before he drags you to the front door, and throws you out into the harsh cold, with only the clothes on your back.

You can cry and scream apologies and bang on the door all you want, but he's already walked away and drinking a bit of vodka to soothe his own nerves.

He'll keep you outside till you are on the brink of getting mild hypothermia. He waits there, thinking of how long it'd take for the cold to get to someone of your size and shape. He knows everything about snow, and he knows everything about you.

Right before you start to ebb in and out of consciousness, he opens the door, and drags you back inside, wiping the snow off of you and taking your weak, shivering body in his arms.

You cling to him, wanting to live in his house, his coat, and in his arms forever after experiencing the unforgiving hellscape that is the Russian winter.

Ivan mutters sweet nothings, the alcohol in his breath and the powdery smell of his clothing enveloping all your senses. He says that he wouldn't have to do this if you would've just obeyed him, that this is all your fault, and that he didn't want to do this and that he just loves you too much.

If you had any sense of self-preservation, you'll listen to him from now on, and if not... He wouldn't be above breaking a few bones. But you won't disobey him again, right? It's for your own good.

"I'm sorry, моя любовь.."

Rewards

Ivan is a very affectionate man, but he isn't the best at showing it vocally. He shows it in the lavish gifts and dates he goes on with you— Yes, he takes you out on dates. Only for special events or when he's feeling particularly affectionate, but he does it too because he feels he also has a role to fulfill as a doting, providing husband. He'd feel too bad if he just kept you locked up your whole life as his wife (and, also, he wants to test you.. He wants to see if you'll act up in public, and to see if he can trust you). Ivan feels it adds to the aesthetic of a married couple, too.

Besides that, he is INCREDIBLY physically affectionate. He has no sense of personal space at all, which may or may not be a bad thing to you, but regardless, what you think doesn't really matter, and he'll continue to invade it anyways.

He always calls you over to sit on his lap, he sleeps way too close to you, and he's always looming over your shoulder no matter where and what you're doing. As long as he's home, it's GUARANTEED he will be touching you in some way, shape or form.

Because of such things, Ivan is.. prone to getting intimate with you.

Unlike everything else, he actually sort of values your consent when it comes to the bedroom. Yes, he will make advances and be very touchy-feely, and maybe intimidate you a bit, but at the end of the day, if you keep refusing it, he'll let up, but his mood will noticeably be more tense.

Ivan is especially prone to this because clothing is one of his favorite things to gift you, he enjoys dressing you up in things he finds cute. And I mean literally. Whatever he buys for you, be it dresses, coats, or underwear, Ivan will want to be there to undress you and then dress you up in the things he bought himself. You're like his own cute little doll.

Regardless of your gender, Ivan will buy you feminine clothing and accessories. He may even be inclined to forcing you to grow out your hair.

He likes sniffing you. He rests his nose atop your scalp while hugging you, just to breathe in your scent. It calms him like nothing else in the world, and he feels alive again.

And during not-so-often times like these, he'll speak and voice his affections.

"I love you.. We are going to have a great life together."

࿐°*˖✧┊͙✧˖*°࿐

Canada

How the relationship started

Matthew would be completely enamored by you just.. noticing him on a regular basis. Nodding your head at him whenever you two walked by each other in the hallway, mumbling a hello whenever you two sat next to each other, and the mere act of your eyes meeting his. Fully looking at him, and not just straight through him. It always left him red and unable to calm his heart for the rest of the day, so it was only natural he'd fall head over heels for you.

His crush on you kept festering day by day, with him being too shy to continue the little interactions you have, and having such little experience with socializing that he wouldn't even know how to continue furthering this "relationship."

Matthew is rather delusional. He spends his days fantasizing about talking to you, hanging out with you, being with you romantically, and, more often than he'd like to admit, rather impure things... all while you're seated next to him, or while you're across from him, a heady stare through his foggy glasses.

Eventually, Matthew starts to believe that you two were already in a romantic relationship, despite being acquaintances at best, and he starts to get really insecure. What if you forget about him someday? What if you stop noticing him, and you just disappear from his life? He believes that other people you notice, any other person you notice, will jeopardize that oh so special relationship you and Matthew clearly have.

So, Matthew bites the bullet, and asks you out for lunch one day. You smiled and blushed at him so brightly as you accepted, and at that moment, he knew he'd dedicate everything he had in his life to worshipping you.

Expectations

Matthew still puts in an effort to appear like a normal boyfriend, unlike Ivan, so your relationship with him would progress much more naturally.

That doesn't mean he hasn't been doing anything weird, though.

Matthew's already been envisioning what it'd be like to have a family and grow old with you the first moment he heard your voice. All you said was, "Good morning." So what more now that you two are in a real, established, romantic relationship?

He fantasizes constantly about clinging to you like a lifeline and crying about how much he loves you, and to hear you feel the same way he does. He wants to pin you beneath him, letting him do all the work, and showing you just how much he loves you, while whispering praises and prayers to you with a crazed, devoted look in his violet eyes.

You two have only been together for three weeks.

...If it wasn't apparent, all he wants is for you to always, always be by his side.

He doesn't care much for appearances or services like Ivan does. If anything, Matthew wants to be the one to do nice things for you, though he would like it too if you did nice stuff for him once in a while. Though, just kissing him on the cheek is enough to keep him overjoyed for like a week straight.

He spends a lot of time doting on you and trying to prolong the time you guys have together for as much as he can. Honestly, for the most part, Matthew would play the role of a normal boyfriend rather well, and your relationship wouldn't be really turbulent, except for, well...

Punishments

Matthew hates it when you have to go. Usually, he very reluctantly drives you back home after a bit of a fight, but he's just so pitiful you could never find it in yourself to be mad at him. I think he'd be the type to cry whenever you two had any sort of disagreement.

When he's lucky, he can get you to stay the night, which absolutely sends him on cloud nine, but it's not often enough for his liking...

Things would boil over, though, when you had to leave earlier than usual because you had to go to do something, like hang out with a friend, visit your mother, anything of the sort, and Matthew gets really upset.

He starts this whole thing of begging you to stay, that "Aren't I more important than them? Please don't leave." and he's tearing up, his shaky fingers holding onto your sleeve.

"Matthew, please, just for tonight."

"I-I don't want you to go, though."

Then he's crying. Harder than he usually does, and he's looking at you like a kicked puppy.

How could you still go after seeing him like that?

Matthew then learns that he can win you over with his tears. If he just cries for you, you'll stay, won't you?

He'd never lay his hands on you, but he'd constantly guilt-trip you and manipulate you for things to go in his favor.

Violence is something he'd see as a last resort, but it's still something he'd use against everyone else and himself, but never you. He hates to hurt others, but if they get in the way of him and you, he'll do it. I feel like people forget that, while nowhere as strong as Alfred is, Matthew is still a pretty strong guy. He wouldn't ever kill anyone, but he'd severely hurt them, and he'd be hiding his face the whole time.

And yes, he'd hurt himself for you. Those crocodile tears are bound to stop working on you someday, and when that time comes, he'll harm himself and say that he'll just keep hurting himself if you aren't with him.

Then you'll just have to run back to him, tend to his wounds, and reassure him that you still love him and that you'll stay.

...But if you keep trying to run, he'll have to just lock you up so you won't look at anyone else ever again.

Rewards

Matthew is affectionate in every sense, though he tends to show it through the way he wants to do anything and everything with you.

He's always holding onto your hands, massaging little circles into it, getting your favorite snacks when he does his groceries, drying your hair after showers, arranging dates and cooking and cleaning for you as much as he can. He's naturally very doting.

He does his best for you, he really does.

Besides acts of service, Matthew just likes to spend time with you. Lazing around with you on the couch, playing with your hair, and gazing right into your eyes like you were heaven-sent. He always has the most lovestruck expression on his face whenever he's with you.

"...You're the only one for me, you know that?" He mumbles, almost as if he doesn't know he's even talking.

And he says this next line with such devotion dripping from his voice that it makes your blood run a little cold.

"...I love you so much. Never leave me.."

┊͙✧˖*°࿐

(....guys was that decent. anyways! all art used is mine so if you're reading this, go give the original posts some love on my blog!)

#aph canada #hws canada #aph russia #hws russia #yandere russia #yandere canada #yandere hetalia #yandere hetalia x reader #yandere x reader #russia x reader #canada x reader #yandere russia x reader #yandere canada x reader #hetalia headcanons #🛁#asks #matthew williams #ivan braginsky

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glitch-karma · 1 year

Note

Can I request another part of your "forgetful reader" headcanons you did but with Jouno, Fyodor, and Ranpo? Nikolai too if that's not too many characters, but dont worry about him if it is. Same prompt but with these characters

I was actually just thinking about my forgetful reader hc's the other day, Idk if other writers do this but I always go back and read my older stuff lmao

So here's part two, I had a bit of trouble figuring out what Nikolai would give his partner as a gift, so that isn't specified, I did add Chuuya and Sigma though

Cw: Degradation/name calling in Jouno's, Slightly spicy in Fyodor's, Kinda OOC Fyodor

Jouno

Low-key high-key an asshole

Don't get me wrong I'm in love with him,

But his love language is degradation (hot)

Jouno constantly is making fun of and being rude about how forgetful you are

If it seriously bothers you, he'll try his best to lay off as much as possible

Only because it's you though

He does get very irritated though

He got you a lovely set of earrings that resembled his a bit

They were honestly very nice and semi-expensive

You had always kept them in a tiny jewelry box on your nightstand

But after a rough day of trying to catch terrorists, you'd clumsily taken them off and fallen asleep

When you were getting ready for work the next morning, you realized they'd gone missing

In a panic, you tore apart your apparent in search of them

After a while, you heard a voice that made you wanna puke

"What's up with you huh? Why's my little troublemaker so frantic?"

Oh my lord no

"What are you talking about.?"

"Oh please, your heartbeat is a dead giveaway. Along with the shakiness in your voice. Can't hide from me y'know."

You shakily sighed as you admitted you'd lost the earrings

"Pft- are you kidding?"

He laughed slightly walking towards you

"How pathetic of you, losing a gift from your precious boyfriend?" He sighs in 'frustration'

"They were expensive too, do you even have a concept of money?" He laughs,

At this point, small drops of tears filled your eyes slowly as he kept poking fun at you

"Honestly how air-headed can you get? Tsk, should I be questioning this relationship?"

After a few seconds of silence, Jouno tensed as he heard your quiet whimpers.

He'd gone too far.

For a second, he didn't really know what to do

He sighed, bending down next to you and wrapping his arm around you.

"'m sorry." He mumbled lightly

You sniffled a bit, you looked up to see the concerned frown on his face, along with the softness that was rare for you to see in him

After a moment you sighed, leaning into his shoulder

"I'll get you a million more pairs if it means I don't have to hear you cry again. Truly."

He really was a good man, he just had some issues showing it.

But in the meantime, he'll let you teach him how to open up

I literally love him so much even if he's a dick head

Fyodor

He kinda just doesn't care-

I don't see him as the type to really mind stuff like that in a partner

But I don't really see him doing anything to help per se

He'll give you light reassurance if you're upset, but I don't see him doing too much more though

Surprisingly, he didn't buy you a country

He got you a necklace that was very clearly expensive, it had a key attached to it that was also made of some metal that did not look cheap, along with the small Diamonds and sapphires lacing the key (Real btw you tested it)

It was extravagantly expensive, and he made sure you knew that was less than you deserved (He couldn't find countries on the market)

Wow what a nice gift

Now where the hell did it go?

You, of course, retraced every step

Your apartment? Cleaned vigorously to search and find it

The cafe by your house? You paid every worker to search for it

The Doa office? A wreck

You were ass up on the floor looking under one of the couches when you heard a whistle behind you

When you tuned you saw the man you were scared to see

"Why might you be in such a comprehensive pose my paradox?"

You shakily sighed as you hit your head on the floor

Fyodor then quickly determined why you were on the floor by the necklace missing from your neck

He chuckled a bit as he walked towards you

He leaned down and picked you up, silencing you as he carried you to a basement you were unaware of

Before you could question, he pulled out the necklace, inserted the key into a large door, opening it to reveal a giant glorious room filled with all your favorite things, comfortable chairs, and a giant kitchen

As he set you down you started freaking out

"It's not quite done yet, I wasn't intending for you to lose it so fast. I'll get some help in here as well."

"You- This was all a plan for me?"

You yelled, running around and looking at everything

He chuckled as he grabbed you, leaning down and kissing your neck

"Жизнь моя,(1) you deserve this and more.."

He then threw you on the couch, hitting a button that shut all the doors and windows

"And tonight, I'll prove it to you."

Let's just say, you had trouble walking for awhile

(1) Жизнь моя, pronounced "Zhizn’ moya", means “my life” in Russian and is usually a term of endearment

Sigma

Oh my lord he is so understanding it's crazy

Although Sigma is the furthest thing from forgetful, his brain and schedule will always have room for stuff you need to remember

Got a doctor's appointment you forgot? He remembers and brings you to it

Forgot where you put something important? He knows where it is

Forgot to eat? He'll make you a meal himself

Forgot to meet up with a client? He'll meet them for you

Honestly, he gives you royalty treatment

He loves just giving you gifts in general, so he custom-made you an obsidian necklace that had a poker chip on it, The obsidian in his words was to represent how strong you are, and the poker chip was to remind you of him

It was one of the most thoughtful gifts ever

And you'd lost it

You debated just asking him at first,

But no. Too embarrassing

You'd worn it every day and now POOF

GONE?!

You didn't wanna worry your already busy partner with this

So you tore apart your half of the room before neatly searching through Sigma's half of the room

3 hours later and nothing.

For a second you debated throwing yourself off the sky casino

But then the click of your bedroom door was heard

"Oh my-"

You slowly looked up to see Sigma's confused face as he looked at your side of the room

For a while, he was silent in thought

"Are you.. redecorating-"

You groaned as you fell the rest of the way down on the floor

"I lost your necklace.. I didn't wanna ask you for help."

Sigma chuckles a bit as you look up at him

"That was actually my mistake"

Before you could ask, he walked over to his dresser and opened a small box, pulling it back out

"You'd accidentally left it in the bathroom"

Wow

The one place you didn't check

Definitely cuddles after though

Nikolai

He would not give zero shit's

He just loves you

He might make fun of you a bit, but he honestly just thinks you're adorable when you lose stuff

He asks Fyodor to buy you new things when you lose them rather than look for them-

He has such admiration and genuine interest in you that he gets you gifts tailored exactly to your interests

If you lose a gift from him, he honestly won't be mad

"Awe my Kindred Spirit,"

He grabs his cloak and reaches in, pulling out something even better

"Here does this make it better!?"

"Nikolai!"

He dances around the room with you to celebrate you being happy again

Ranpo

Oh he teases you, shame on you if you think he wouldn't

He gently teases you though, stopping if he gets even a slight hint it upsets you

Ranpo does have amazing patience though, there has never been a moment your forgetfulness has annoyed or bothered him once

He regularly gives you snacks as gifts, but he gave you a silly little necklace with a duck charm (Yes this is a Wan ref)

It was silly and cheap, but it was sweet

When you lost it you were crushed

You looked for it but could not find it

In the morning you went to the agency to try to search for it, but on your way there you actually met with Ranpo at a sweet store

"Hey there detective darlin'!"

He yelled as he ran out of the store

For internally freaked out a bit as he started excitedly telling you about the sale in the store

You chuckled nervously, making him immediately deduce what happened

"Ohhhhh, I see. You lost the Necklace!"

You kinda expected him to figure it out

He then chuckled as he walked over to a small quarter vending machine and pointed at the prizes

"Ya see! We can just keep playing till we get a new one!"

You two then had a small date of finding quarters and playing the Machine till you had a bag full of prizes, and a new duck necklace of course

Chuuya

Although Chuuya is a very understanding person, I can't deny this wouldn't slightly annoy him

He would never make fun of you for it, or make you feel bad though

He will always express that he's not mad at you and does his best to hide his slight frustration

He does understand though, I mean the man didn't remember the first 8 years of his life for years so

He is a little protective of you though. if anyone gave you shit for forgetting something he would a million percent throw hands

He leaves notes all over the house and your hands about important things, he will also text you to remind you about meals throughout the day

"Have you drank water"

"Ah, fuck-"

"Exactly"

Chuuya loves spending money on you

It's his favorite activity

You already have 20 custom-tailored outfits cause of his love for fashion,

But that doesn't mean he can't get you more tailored accessories

One of them was an anklet that had his and your initials in it, along with diamonds and your favorite stone

It was cute, although it was easily hidden by clothes, you wore it very often

You had on the perfect outfit to show it off that day, but when you opened up the cabinet you kept it in, it was gone.

Oh fuck

Panic ensues

The sheets were torn off your bed, and your closet full of clothes from him was searched from top to bottom

The bathroom was also searched along with Chuuya's half of the room

You sighed as you fixed the house, knowing Chuuya hates messes

You then reluctantly called him

"Hey, still at work but what's up doll?"

The softness in his voice made you tear up a bit in guilt

"Chuuya.. I-"

You took a pause to breathe

"I lost the Anklet you gave me."

You heard him gratefully sigh and shuffle in his chair a bit

"That pause made me think you were in trouble"

He joked a bit

"I can buy 20 more of those if I wanted to Sweetheart."

You sniffled a bit

"But that was important!"

He paused a bit

"Are you crying?"

You then paused

"No.."

"Baby."

You could hear him then walk through the halls of the Port Mafia building

"Give me just one sec, "

You heard him then knock on a door and open it

"Hey boss, I need to head home early. Let me know Tomorrow if there's anything else you need me for"

"Alright, I'm on my way home. We'll search together, okay?"

You sniffled a little as you smiled

"You're the best."

"Anything for you Angel."

#bungo stray dogs #bsd x reader #bungou stray dogs x reader #chuuya x reader #sigma x reader #fyodor x reader #nikolai x reader #jouno x reader #ranpo x reader #glitchs✧works

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swamp-adder · 5 months

Text

I keep wondering about the financial situation between Holmes and Watson after the Hiatus. At Holmes' request, Watson quits his job and moves back in with Holmes to continue helping him with cases. Did Watson receive any kind of payment for his help -- a cut of the money Holmes received from his clients perhaps? A lot of fanfiction seems to assume they were equal partners and Watson got half; but honestly any scenario I can imagine seems awkward to me in one way or another:

- Watson being treated as an equal partner and getting half the money seems awkward when according to what's depicted in the stories Holmes was doing the vast majority of the actual work and Watson was mostly there because Holmes liked having someone to talk to.

- Watson receiving some money, but not a full half, makes Watson explicitly subordinate to Holmes in an employer/employee relationship, which just seems like an awkward dynamic to introduce into any friendship.

- Watson not getting paid at all would be awkward because Watson just quit his job for the sake of helping Holmes out, and has also been forbidden by Holmes from publishing any more stories for the time being. Meanwhile Holmes at this point in his career we're told is absolutely rolling in dough, creating a serious income disparity between them which could hardly help but be awkward.

Watson's financial resources that we know of at this point would consist of his wound pension and whatever royalties he's still getting from his earlier stories, plus the money he got from "Verner" for his medical practice. We're told in DYIN that Holmes' "payments [for the flat] were princely. I have no doubt that the house might have been purchased at the price which Holmes paid for his rooms during the years that I was with him." That makes it sound like Holmes was more than paying the full rent for the apartment by himself, so at the least Watson was probably living there for free. (This quote is from DYIN, which seems to be set pre-Hiatus, so this arrangement might have begun even by then.) Which also seems potentially awkward -- like something that could make Watson feel like a freeloader or whatever.

Honestly it's very understandable why Watson never explicitly talks about money, because the whole thing is just awkward any way you slice it!!

In the earlier days the whole thing seems less awkward to me because a) Holmes had less money himself and b) Watson is just choosing not to get a job and to run around with his friend instead, rather than having given up his career specifically at Holmes' request.

One thing that makes the "Watson lives for free at Holmes' place, eats out at Holmes' expense etc but doesn't get paid in cash" scenario seem more likely to me is the fact that Holmes felt the need to give Watson a bunch of money sneakily through buying his practice -- it makes me think he felt like he couldn't pay him in a more straightforward, above-board way -- that Watson would be offended by it or whatever.

On the other hand I was also reading some stuff on the wiki about the concept of the "lady's companion", where a usually single upper-class woman would invite a single female friend to live with her and pay her an "allowance" in exchange for social companionship. The companion was technically an employee but was treated more like a member of the family. Now, there are reasons why this arrangement was specific to women: a) there were very few ways for an upper-class woman to actually earn a living that wouldn't compromise her upper-class status; and b) upper-class women were expected to stay at home most of the time, so a woman living alone (especially in the country) could easily become lonely. But it does show that there was at least some kind of concept in this historical era of "living with a wealthy friend and being financially supported by them as if you were family" without it being Weird. So yeah IDK.

#i am not a historian disclaimer #sherlock holmes #acd holmes

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writingforatwistedworld · 1 year

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Hi! You once wrote about Malleus going to the player's world, and up until now I finally got in time to ask for this, so could I ask for a similar premise as that but with Azul, Rook & Vil, please?

I have already done Vil in an indifferent post. You can find it here. I really wanted to make a new version of Azul though.

Self-aware au

I do not take any responsibility for you reading this no matter which age group you are from!

WARNINGS: Yandere themes, stalking, implied violence, death, murder, manipulation, unhealthy relationship

Azul Ashengrotto/Rook Hunt-Entering your world

Azul felt like an octopus out of water

When he had heard Jade yelling out a warning it was already too late and he was already falling down the stairs, a student he made a deal with not too long ago standing not too far, his hands lowering themselves from the pushing him

And now he was laying on the floor in a place he didn't recognize

Moonlight filtered through the window of the room and a sleeping figure almost completely covered by a blanket was illuminated by its light and the light from the phone they were laying next to, indicating that they fell asleep whilst using it

Did he teleport to a different place? Azul still felt the burning sensation of the hard stone of the stairs hitting his body so he might have done that out of desperation...

And desperate he was when you turned over in your sleep and he could see your face

And thus, the screaming began

Imagine his surprise, no his shock after seeing the person he had admired, sought after for so long laying in front of him in their pajamas

Although, it would be better to say you did lay in your pajamas because now you were jumping up in fear for your life

But after fearing that a madman had broken into your house life with Azul was pretty nice

Azul is a pretty good cook from running Mostro Lounge so him making dinner is like going to an expensive restaurant

There is that thing about him wanting to pay you rent though…

You see, Azul is not someone who wants to leech (haha, get it?) off of someone

So he takes on "side jobs"

Nothing dangerous, of course, but I think we can all agree that Azul in ANY job position is a safety hazard

Not because he is bad at what he does but because of his, how do I describe it, manipulative (?) ways

Sooner than later, it seems more like Azul is running the place he works at instead of his boss

But when you ever were to ask him what the heck he did to change the power dynamics so much in his favour, he plays innocent so I guess one point to him (although we all know better)

Back to your more private life, he may not seem like it but Azul can be one heck of a possessive guy

He won't jump the mailman, Azul knows that there is a point where his feelings get a bit too much (huh, so he is self aware?) but if you dare to bring a friend of your over? Uh... you still have friends?

I thought a certain person living with you scared all of them away

So let's say someone is still in a friendly relationship with you, nothing romantic, just friends

Let us call that person Example 1 (say hi to Example 1, Example 1 say hi to the reader)

Azul won't mind them coming over, he won't mind cooking for them, he won't mind playing nice with Example 1 but he will mind if they decide to come more than once

That glare he will send them will make them wonder if they get to see the light of the next dawn one more time

And perhaps the merman has another side job he hasn't told you about. And maybe that job allows him to do things that make the police gag

Shout out to the crime scene cleaners. Why is there even stuff from, you know what, on the ceiling? Maybe red paint will make the stains less noticeable. Oh god renovating this place will cost a fortune

Rook Hunt: the man, the legend, the not-so-sane hunter who could (and probably would if laws weren't a thing) shoot you simply for fun

Said man, legend, absolute menace to society, is not someone who is easily scared. Heck, he can probably hear dust falling to the ground for to his trained hearing which makes sneaking up on him absolutely impossible

What he cannot hear though is the almighty power of an author who decides to put him into a different world simply for the lols

So when the floor suddenly disappears and reappears two meters lower the poor man can't help himself but to stumble rather unelegant (unlike his usual self) into the wall, searching for something to hold on to just to smash his side against it

Wall-1:0-Rook

That does not change the situation though and the more or less mad hat-wearer gets a broom flung at his head

Rook is not someone who will sit around and do nothing though

After a lot of explaining (and you standing over him with a pan in hand for self-defense) you decide that his confused and lost self is a lot less charming than his usual one and you just allow him to stay

He will bring home edible plants and freshly shot meat (and if you live a meat-free lifestyle he will simply bring a bigger amount of edible flora)

WILL (and there is no escape from it) flirt with you in French (and now all my French readers, we all feel outraged by his bad translations)

But this is Rook so, of course, you think that this is just his usual chatter

He will also help you around the house. Your home has never been cleaner (I am convinced Vil controls Pomefiore for dust with white gloves)

He is great at ironing. Those long sleeves must have been great practice material

This reminds me, there had been an incident where he had been carrying your laundry from the cleaner and you bumped into him, leading him to crash into the exact same spot against the wall once more

Since that day Rook and that wall have a burning hatred for each other (more like Rook against the wall) and due to other events it's now 5:0 for the wall

But of course, we can't just focus on the lalala dreamland stuff

Once the dog of your neighbor decided to rip some of your stuff you owned and kept on your property to pieces

Your neighbor being an annoyance decided that “No, I won't pay. You should have looked out that MY dog wouldn't do that.”

Remember that Rook enjoys hunting?

Now, your neighbor doesn't know that so when they find their “little darling” dead in front of their house they can't reconnect it to you

Two nights later they wake up in a forest of some kind, that new roommate of yours staring down at them from a tree with an amused gaze, telling them he will let them have a headstart by one minute

Long story short, they weren't seen again

The young hunter may be a bit… much but he knows when to be discreet when he needs to be

And would you look at that? You also start to get frightened, leaving your home less and less

I mean, there have been disappearances around your neighborhood but look at the bright side, now you won't feel like someone is watching you from somewhere every time leave the house

He has a notebook that is just about you. From daily occurrences and what you did to your worries to your likes, hobbies and much more

Since Rook is Rook he will snuggle against you when you sleep and I don't mean this in a manner of you two sharing beds. Oh no, he has his own little space to sleep

This creep will slip into your bed just to carefully cuddle with you for an hour once you are asleep, then it's back to his own bed

Rook's list of victims grows double as fast as the list of great experiences he has with you

But not like that matters. All of them could disappear for all he cares. All he needs is you. Just you. Nothing else. Such a simple request, right?

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mochinomnoms · 8 months

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Who do you think would be the kind of dad to take their daughter on daddy daughter dates?

My dad used to do this for me and I loved it sm, imo I think everyone should experience that kind of love from their father <3

Ideally, I think all of them, cause that's just how a father should be. Who makes it a bigger deal, though? I think it's the following:

Deuce: He has such fond memories of going out with just him and his mom that I think he'd want to recreate that. He's taking his daughter out to a cute café near the house to spend some time with her and learn about her week at school. Afterwards he'll take her to play at the park and push her on the swings, blissfully listening to her happy squeals and laughter.

Riddle: His mother caused some permanent damage to his ability to make health relationships, this is just a matter of fact. Perhaps now that he's an adult, the relationship between them as improved, but Riddle is terrified of being like his mother. So, while still firm, Riddle indulges his daughter with several daddy-daughter dates, specifically once a week on Sunday from noon to 2pm. They go out to a lovely café that serves the Clover Bakery pastries and have lunch, tea, and strawberry tarts as he listens to her talk about school, friends, and her favorite books. It's his favorite event alongside your dinner dates.

Leona: Okay, so hear me out, if he were to ever have a kid, he'd spoil the shit of them to make sure that they'd never grow up they way he did. So daddy daughter dates are totally a regular thing. He orders all their favorite foods and drinks as he reserves the game room in the royal library, where he teaches her to play chess. His daughter growing up with confidence and assurance in herself is important, so he doesn't go easy on her. But he does offer very helpful tricks and advice til the day he's proud to admit she's locked him into a checkmate.

Floyd: It's less “dates” and more of “let's fuck up as much shit as we can before your other parent gets us in trouble.” Floyd thinks it's important that his daughter toughens up, so he rough houses with her when they go out, much to her delight. They've gotten kicked out of a few establishments under the sea. Azul begrudgingly lets them in his and his mother's restaurants, where they delight in tormenting him as they eat their takoyaki. They like to have fun.

Jamil: He wants to make sure that his kids know that he loves them and cherishes them no matter what, status or no status. It's hard, feeling like your parents are more concerned about the care and emotions of your charge instead of you. So he regularly takes his daughter on little dates where she can buy little treats for just herself, vent about her duties as a servant (though she gets along surprisingly well with Kalim's oldest), and offer her cuddles in the porch swing. The last one they went on, she got a pair of snake keychains, one for her and one for him. Jamil has it on his key ring when he's working.

Vil: He's thriving, actually. Daddy-daughter dates? No. Daddy-daughter outings! He has fond memories of going out with his father, even as a busy child actor. So, he takes his own daughter to the spa and shopping, instilling expensive taste much to your disapproval. Vil thinks he's simply setting her up with successful self care habits, which you can't deny. He won't mention that she allows him to use silly kid makeup on him in the privacy of their home after their shopping sprees, though. He scrubs his face clean, but always allows you to take pictures, as long as they don't get out to the press. He has an image to uphold.

Rook: The embodiment of a simp and a girl dad, Rook is so in love with his mini-him. Cause let's be real, no matter how much she might look like you, she is a Hunt through and through. Rook reserves one of his family's more remote cabins where he can take her out hunting. He's teaching her the basics of animal tracking, wildness survival, and even shooting. They do briefly turn into family trips instead of daddy-date trips after Rook has to go to the emergency room after accidentally getting shot in his shoulder. He's very proud that his daughter has figured out the basics, but she's crying, and you're frantic. Just in case of an emergency, you tag along with first aid supplies for a little while until your daughter is more confident with her bow.

Malleus: He is SO in love with being a father. He gives no shit about what's on his calendar, if it's daddy-daughter date night, then it's daddy-daughter date night! He will take her scrolling around the gardens as he holds her in his arms and tells her about all the grotesques and gargoyles on the castle. He was so lonely as a child, so he's determined to make sure his own children never feel the same. Between him and her, they have their own Gargoyle Club that meets weekly to visit other castles and admire their architecture. He's yet to convince Leona to let them visit Pride Rock Palace to look at their versions of gargoyles.

#mochi asks #twst #twisted wonderland #deuce spade #riddle rosehearts #leona kingscholar #floyd leech #jamil viper #vil shoenheit #rook hunt #malleus draconia #the others would totes do this #but i think these guys in particular its personally important to do so

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gay-dorito-dust · 1 year

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This is so cute, please request part 2 of their newborn son, Peter B Parker visiting his best friend shyreader at the hospital, he gives her son a couple onesies like spider man theme or one that’s says “mommy boy”. I can’t stop thinking about Peter being the godfather of her son ♥️💙 https://www.tumblr.com/gay-dorito-dust/721470690012839936/i-thought-this-is-cute-but-please-request-like

A/n: Godfather Peter B Parker is in the house! I love this idea! I also added Peter being asked in being the godfather just cuz. Miguel might be ooc.

Peter came to the hospital as soon as Miguel caught wind that you were going into to labour, so it wouldn’t be of any surprise that along the way Peter had to calm down Miguel before entering the hospital because his claws were coming out and retreating constantly, his breathing was way off and just overall allowing his mind wander to less then pleasant thoughts in regards to your future together, and the dangers it’ll put you both in.

Peter somewhat understood the position Miguel was in as it was the same one he was in when MJ went into labour with Mayday. He didn’t believe he’d be a good father, hell he didn’t even know where to start in learning how to be a good parent for his unborn kid, but he was lucky to have someone like MJ to help him unpack and deconstruct every notion he had when it came to parenthood.

So he only wanted to pay that kindness forward by helping Miguel unpack and deconstruct everything because the moment he steps foot into that room, he’ll be needing to bring everything to the table because you’ll be needing him now more then ever, during quite literally the most important moment of your lives.

‘What if I forget about her?’ Miguel asked in a panic, his claws out in full display as his scarlet eyes shone with a multitude of emotions behind his specially designed glasses that helped him against combat his light sensitivity.

‘You won’t.’ Peter told him. ‘She’ll always be with you during every step of the way. Even if you may not realise it but Gabriella has always been with you…it’s impossible to forget your first child but that shouldn’t mean that your child with y/n should take her place within your heart nor play second fiddle to her.’ Peter hated seeing his friend look so lost and at war with himself because it went against everything he knew about Miguel. However Peter knew that his friend needed him and even if he tried to bite his head off for it, Peter knew he’d always be there for a friend in need.

‘What if I’m not ready to go through all this again? What if I’m not ready to loose them both, to loose everything again because I couldn’t protect them?’ Miguel asked, looking over at Peter for guidance. ‘Then what’ll I do?’ Peter squared up his jaw and furrowed his brows as he reached a hand out to grab ahold of Miguel’s shoulder, feeling him flinch beneath his touch.

‘Then you cherish them until you can’t.’ Peter told him. ‘You cherish them, you love them, you nurture them, you do everything in your power, not only as y/n’s partner but as a soon to be father and you do what we Spider-Men do best; protect those that we love until the bitter end.’

Needless to say after that, Miguel understood why Peter was so revered, not just as Spider-Man but as Peter Parker also. Yeah he may crack jokes to his expenses and take to things not as seriously as he probably should, but at the end of the day Peter always proved himself as to why he was such a guiding source for those who’ve gotten lost along the way; For he himself was lost once too and just wanted to be the person he wished he had to guide him during those moments of crisis, loss and grief.

Skipping ahead to when Gabriel is born and bursting with excitement, Peter bought a shit ton of baby onesies and even bought a matching crocheted Spider-Man hat that was closely matching the colours on Miguel’s suit for when he was older. Most of all he was excited that Mayday wasn’t going to be the only Spiderling anymore, his mind having gone rampant with all the play date ideas your son and his daughter would go on. He just so happy but upon arrival, the question you and Miguel ask of him made him all the more happier.

‘Peter, will you be Gabriel’s godfather?’ You asked, watching as his grin stretched from ear to ear.

‘Me? A godfather? What does Miguel think about this?’ He asked.

‘I was the one who pitched the idea,’ Miguel told him, still holding little Gabriel in his arms as he slept. ‘Y/n was merely the seal of approval.’ You shoot Miguel a look before looking back to your best friend, who was seemingly having a hard time comprehending that it was Miguel who wanted him as the Godfather of his son from how the gobsmacked looked upon his face.

‘So…will you be Gabriel’s godfather?’ You asked and with happy tears in his eyes, Peter took both of your hands, squeezing them tightly as he whispered his answer: ‘yes.’

‘I almost forgot, I brought Gabriel a little something.’ Peter said as he pulled away to reach for the bag he had brought and began to pull out onesie, after onesie, after onesie that you couldn’t help but think that Peter was more prepared and well equipped for Gabriel then you and Miguel. ‘You bought Gabriel baby onesies?’ You inquired playfully as you lifted one that read ‘mommy’s boy’ before putting it down to pick up at another that had the blue and red colour scheme of a Spidey suit, followed with the spider insignia on the front and back.

‘Not only that but also,’ Peter dug further into the bag and pulled out the crocheted Spider-Man hat, ‘ a Spider-Man hat?’ You asked, taking a closer look at it. Peter shrugs as he leans back into his chair. ‘This is only for when he gets bigger, as if we put this on him now it might as well cover up his entire body.’

Before Miguel could say anything, you gently nudged him in the side and smiled at your friend, ‘thank you Peter, I’ll be sure to put all of them into use, especially this one.’ You gestured to the onesie that said ‘mommy’s boy.’

Sooner or later Peter’s phone wasn’t only just dedicated to his daughter Mayday but it was also dedicated to Gabriel O’hara; his godson.

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toonztown · 6 months

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Mafia husband! x (GN) reader Part 2

It has been about 3 days since you've moved into the mansion, your 'fiancé' is constantly busy with work so to your delight you hardly see him. You still couldn't believe it just a few days ago you were a normal high schooler, average grades but now your staying in a house you couldn't afford in your lifetime to be married off to a member of the mafia.

You sat up in bed, you spend most of your days in your room, sleeping the day a away, hoping that this is all just a bad dream; only to find yourself disappointed every time you wake up.

just before you were about to go back to sleep, there was a soft knock at the door. "excuse me mr capone has requested you come down for breakfast at once." the voice on the other side said. you made an audible groan and you make your way out of bed, the last thing you wanted was food much less breakfast with Mr. capone. You knew denying would be a- foolish decision, he could kill you in a heart beat. You open the closet and are stunned by the amount of expensive clothing, not a single one of them looked worn, could it be? he bought them for you? You felt your heart warm ever so slightly at the thought, you shook your head. You pick out something that you liked and changed into it, not bothering to fix your hair, maybe if he finds you unappealing to the eyes he'll let you go? its a small chance but it gave you hope. now here you were, seated at a large table full of various foods you've never tried before and across from you was the man who brought you to this hell, Mr capone. Maybe this is a good time to question him when the time was right? you picked up your glass of wine, you didn't take a sip just stare at it then back at him. You gather the courage to finally ask him "so why me." you asked, your cold gaze fixed on him. your question seemed to catch him off guard for a moment, he tilted his head in confusion with a sly grin. "i have no idea what you mean dearest." he replied, downing a glass of wine, his voice had a hint of playfulness, he was totally taunting you.

now he was playing dumb? who does he think he is. You clench your fist into a ball before slamming it down on the table "dont act dumb! why did you chose me! why did you bring me here instead of just killing me! why do you want to marry me?!" through all your questioning and ranting he just stared at you silently, tapping his fingers on the table. He was going annoyed, maybe going on a rampage was not a good idea. once your anger died down you were filled with deep regret- ohh why did you do something so stupid, you sat back down. You grabbed the bottle of wine and drank it, if your going to die, might as well die intoxicated. Mr capone got up from his seat across the table and made his way over to you.

your cheek was met with a harsh slap that would have your face stinging for a while, he grabbed you by the hair and yanked your head back forcing your eyes to meet. Oh he was pissed.

"let us get one thing straight you little bitch. Firstly i didn't 'chose you' your father just didn't have the ability to have more attractive offspring, second if i wanted to kill you i would have."

his grip on your hair tightened. He then slammed your head onto the table, you could feel blood drip down your nose from the impact, you struggle to get away but this only made him do it again but harder.

" Finally, marriage is the ultimate way to have claim over you. this isn't some dumb little fairy tale where i 'fall in love with the innocent damsel.' your my slave, im the master. If you EVER, have that attitude with me again, i will send you home to your old man in a fucking body bag you worthless whore."

His words and the buzzing pain in your head made it hard to do anything but nod, he threw you to the floor and gave you a beating that you would never forget. you dont remember what happened next or how you got to bed. When you woke up, you found that your wounds were treated and a bouquet of expensive looking flowers on your bed accompanied by a note. you did not have to open it to know who it was from, i guess this was Mr capone's twisted way of apologizing after injuring you to the point of you having to passing out.

inside the note was the basic im sorry, please forgive me, i do it cause i love you and how he promises to never lay a hand on your ever again, you scoff at the thought, that was a obvious lie, did he think you were that stupid?

you crumpled the note and toss it across the room not caring where it landed, your head still hurt from how hard he grabbed your hair. If he was willing to beat you that badly for just questioning him, you fear what he will do if you try to escape. you lay back down in bed, silently cursing your dad and his stupid gambling addiction, if it wasn't for him you would be in school right now, even the worst of your bullies were better than being stuck with him. you turned and faced the wall, holding your now bruise ridden body. Pulling the covers over your eyes you drift off to sleep, dreaming of being back home with your parents, even your dad. ignoring the fact that you were to be wed, in just 5 days.

#domestic violent relationships #toxic love #mafia x reader #sold to the mafia #x reader #tw bruises #tw beating #manipulation #fanfic #gore #toxic relationship #spicy language

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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 6 months

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Re: the previous anon asking about ramshackle, my personal hc is that it used to be the staff's dorm (I could be completely wrong, I haven't read the early books in a while). Then, when Crowley took over from the previous headmaster, he didn't hire any new staff and instead let the non-teaching current staff retire/quit/otherwise leave their positions and then employed ghosts (since they don't really need a place to "live" (ba dum tss)), and left Ramshackle to fall into disrepair. Whether or not these ghosts were the old staff or were just looking for jobs is up in the air (and also opens a whole can of worms about ghost economics, but I'm not willing to get into that here) For some reason he still hires living teachers and Sam, but I'm not sure if we ever get any details on where they live during the school year.

[Referencing this post!]

I went back into the prologue to check! The dialogue seems to suggest that Ramshackle used to house students. The Ramshackle Ghosts mention that people used to live there, then Crowley tells us "the ghosts scared away all the students." (Note that Crowley does not say “the ghosts scared away all the students AND staff.”) Thinking about it, staff lived at Ramshackle, well... it might be a little strange to have students visit them at their living quarters instead of in the classroom or their offices if they need academic assistance. Most likely Ramshackle served a similar function as the other dorms: student housing.

As for where staff stay… There was one line dropped by Crowley in the second Halloween event which implies the (current) staff may live off campus. I talked about it in this post!

We’re not sure exactly how long Crowley has been headmaster for or when Ramshackle exactly fell into ruin 🤔 I wonder if the main story (or extra materials/content) will cover that… We don’t even know if there was even a previous headmaster or if Crowley was just always the headmaster. From how he speaks (ie being salty at the 99 lose streak to RSA and honoring Lilia’s invite to NRC despite being hundreds of years later), it feels like Crowley has been in charge for a long ass time. It could be that he’s honoring his predecessor’s legacy or wishes, but he seems to personally be making the shots or reacting in a way that’s quite emotionally invested for someone who is newly taking up the mantle.

Mmmm, I wonder if it’s really as simple as Crowley letting the current staff go…? I’d imagine most can’t afford to quit their job or retire on the spot (unless he incentivized them to leave with a generous severance package). I do think employing ghosts in the place of living people to do odd jobs may be more cost effective though, seeing as ghosts have far fewer living expenses than the living. (No need for housing, food, most material possessions, etc.). Crowley could thus justify paying them less/j Although… This is also most likely an efficient way for the devs to reuse assets and not have to design unique characters or more mobs to fulfill the roles of odd job NPCs.

There is lore which states that ghosts are attracted to areas that are concentrated with magical energy, which may explain why NRC has so many ghosts lurking around. I wonder if Crowley just happened to notice all the ghosts lurking on campus (rather than actively seeking them out) and wanted to give them something fulfilling to do with their time, hence the jobs. (Do ghosts even have a need for employment or money when they don’t really have physical demands??? What would they even buy with their earnings, if they’re being compensated at all?) Some ghosts, like the ones that work in the cafeteria, seem to be brought in from the outside to serve more specific roles (ie as Master Chef/Culinary Crucibles instructors and cafeteria staff). The Ramshackle Ghosts though… I’m not sure about their origins?

So the Ramshackle Ghosts have taken up residence in the dormitory, but we don’t have much in the way of their history. It could be that they were random ghosts that migrated to NRC due to its magical draw?? Other unrelated ghosts seem to have been drawn to Ramshackle in the past (such as Eliza and her ghostly entourage in Ghost Marriage). Some have theorized the Ramshackle Ghosts are dead students, but the closest thing we get to proof of that is a line from book 2. One of the Ramshackle Ghosts says that he was a star magift/spelldrive player when he was alive—but this does not inherently imply he was a student, since the sport is very popular and widely played by mages, student or not.

There’s still so many mysteries wrapped up in Ramshackle… 🔍

#twisted wonderland #twst #disney twisted wonderland #notes from the writing raven #disney twst #Ramshackle Ghosts #Lilia Vanrouge #Dire Crowley #twst theory #twst theories #twisted wonderland theories #twisted wonderland theory #Eliza #Ghost Bride

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gretavanfleetposts · 1 year

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Fire in the Water: Chapter One

Summary: You had thought dating a vampire would be the most complicated thing you'd ever done. But as it turns out, becoming one is even more complicated. The boys are determined to make your transformation as smooth as possible while each fighting to maintain the relationships they once had and those they now lust for. Author's Note: As always, I'd like to thank the lovely @gretasmokerising for inspiring me and encouraging me and @earthlysorrows for editing and helping me piece everything together/brainstorm Content Warnings: swearing, talk of blood, mentions of death and killing, mentions of sex but no actual sex yet (18+ minors do not interact) Word Count: 9k

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How you had gone about meeting a vampire, you weren’t entirely certain. And how you had gone from simply meeting that vampire to dating him was even more beyond you. But one thing was for certain: you had fallen in love with him, irrevocably.

Maybe you should have been more wary about giving yourself over to him so freely but there was just something about Josh that had pulled you in and kept you there. You had later learned that was his gift as a vampire: he could manipulate moods. It was sort of an unconscious thing, not exactly something he could control. You felt certain it was just him though. That was just Josh. He could light up any room he walked into; of course people felt drawn to him.

He just so happened to drink blood to survive. A minor detail, really.

“You’re not nervous, are you?” he asked from the driver’s side of his sedan. His arm stretched over the center console, letting his fingers wind through yours.

“I’m not sure I could be nervous around you even if I had the good sense to be.”

Josh smiled that typical toothy grin, complete with rosy cheeks and bobbing curls, the one that had ignited your feelings for him in the first place.

“Remind me to coax some good sense into you one of these days,” he joked.

You had heard tales of Josh’s brothers over the months the two of you had been together but this would be your first introduction. Josh seemed equal parts excited and hesitant despite it being obvious they were a large part of his life, having spent centuries by his side. You had to meet them at some point. But you felt far less nervous, at least less so in the department that his worries occupied. You had your own attachment to death, primarily in the way of loss, and while Josh had spent centuries by his family's side, you hadn't been so lucky. Now, it was family that you craved, almost as much as you craved Josh.

“Do you think they’ll like me?” you asked as Josh sped down the winding road shrouded by dense trees and thick forest. That was where he called his home, somewhere in the mountains outside of Seattle where the rain was constant and the clouds did their best to cover the Kiszka family secret.

“I think they’ll love you.” He let his eyes drift from the road over to yours to give you a reassuring smile that he might have needed more than you did.

Like you said, you were no stranger to death. Although, usually when the people around you died, they stayed dead.

You almost couldn't believe your eyes when he finally pulled into the long, narrow driveway and parked just outside of the garage to the home. It was a structure made almost entirely out of glass, the large and likely expensive antique decor visible from the outside. It was no wonder they lived so deep into the woods: less people around to observe their not-so-normal lives through the thin glass walls.

Josh opened the passenger side door for you before you had time to register the sound of his own door clicking open and shut.

“God, your house is magnificent. You really shouldn’t have brought me; I may just move in.” You took his arm as you stood from the car, noting the movement by the front door. A pair of vampires stood just inside looking eager to meet you as they helped one another adjust their hair and collars.

“That can be arranged,” Josh whispered, his lips grazing the shell of your ear.

He led you toward the house, the door opening just steps before you reached it. Inside, you saw the pair you’d watched through the glass, a man and a woman who, to be completely honest, might have been two of the most beautiful people you'd ever laid eyes on.

"Y/n, meet my only non-related brother Daniel and his partner Adele."

"Oh, it's so good to meet you!” Adele greeted you boldly, throwing her arms around you for a quick, tight squeeze. “Always women coming and going but none ever staying."

She was gorgeous, to say the very least. And the man standing next to her paired well with her too, matching her in stature and beauty. They were both tall and lean with dark eyes and dark hair, hers cascading in long waves down her back, his coiled tightly up by his shoulders. And even though you knew how easily they could kill you, they each had twinkling eyes that when cast upon you made you feel like the only person in the room.

"God, you're beautiful," you blurted out. The words never even traveled to your brain until they exited your mouth and you heard them spoken aloud, met with a sea of laughter from the vampires surrounding you. "I'm so sorry," you stammered, "I don't usually say things like that out loud."

"It's fine," Adele said with a wink that had no small effect on you. "That'd be the gift."

"Irresistible," her partner clarified, squeezing her into his side and nipping at her earlobe.

You noticed it right away, just how forward they were. It was hard to ignore. But what was even less subtle wasn't the way his hands clung to her waist, but the way that he looked at her. It was like she was the only thing he saw.

"Just means I'm good at luring humans to their death," she added herself with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

"Not that we all don't do just fine," Josh quipped.

“You can call me Danny,” Adele's partner said, looking as though he were going to reach across the space between you to shake your hand. But instead, you found yourself swiftly pulled into another tight hug, feet lifting from the ground easily as he engulfed you.

Before you knew what was happening, he was placing you back down onto the ground, his nose lingering near your hair only for a fraction of a second.

“Fuck, you smell good,” he huffed, pulling back with a smile that only grew as he watched you practically dodge out of his grip and back into the safety of Josh's arms.

“Uh thanks,” you mumbled awkwardly.

They were shockingly without restraint although perhaps it was naive to have expected anything else. And despite the forces in your body screaming at you to recognize the danger you were in, his smile somehow warmed your suddenly cool barrier.

You cleared your throat. "Are you irresistible too?"

This time, he let out a hearty laugh, a sound that was easily one of the more beautiful that had graced your ears in the span of your life.

"No, that’s just my natural good looks,” Danny smiled down at you. “I can see the future."

"Really?" you asked, suddenly intrigued rather than startled.

“It’s subjective,” Josh chimed in. “He can only see the path you’re on while you’re on it.”

“We should stay on this path. I think you’ll enjoy it.” Danny gave you a wink before pulling Adele into his side who let a quiet, “Indeed,” fall from her lips.

It was hard to gauge exactly what they had meant by it, though their looks certainly were suggestion enough at what they might’ve been hinting at. Regardless, Josh seemed to think nothing of it. Their…antics must have been a common occurrence.

"Where's Jake?" he asked, already guiding you down the long entryway that ran into the heart of the house.

"He's…occupied," Danny answered.

"Jake lives in the guest house,” Josh explained, turning back to you. “It's easier for him.”

"What do you mean 'easier'?" Walking and talking at the same time, you took the house in, surprisingly brightly lit and not at all what you had been expecting for a bunch of vampires. Of course, they could walk around in the daylight, the only proof of their immortality being the glittering of their skin beneath the sun. But still, it seemed almost too full of life with the glass and the leafy greenery that surrounded you.

"He can feel people's emotions. Manipulate them too, like I can, but much more powerfully. My gifts aren’t really intentional but he can make people feel whatever he wants. The only downside is that when it comes to feeling everything around him, it can be quite strong, especially when you live with four other vampires who feel things much more intensely than humans.” Josh pushed forward as he spoke, making his way down the hallway that opened into a large kitchen filled to the brim with greenery that survived in the seemingly greenhouse-like room. “The distance helps him quiet his mind a little. Plus, he has women over every night and the volume tends to get…loud. It’s like a brothel in here sometimes."

It was in the kitchen that you met the second brother, having come bounding down an open staircase off one corner of the kitchen looking even more dreamy than the last pair of people you had met.

"Thought I smelled the human." His voice was smooth and even and he wore his hair longer than Josh or even Danny, looking something like a modern-day Jesus who had mastered the art of disheveled.

He was breathtaking, just like the others. Maybe even more-so, somehow.

"My dear, this is Sam."

Josh gestured to his brother standing before you, prompting you to reach your hand out to greet him, hopefully a much more civilized greeting than you’d gotten from Danny and Adele.

"It’s nice to meet you," you said with a weary smile, waiting for something outlandish and over the top. But Sam only glanced down at your hand, making no move to take it. Really looking uninterested entirely. It seemed almost worse than the greetings you’d gotten from the others.

"Better keep a close eye on her, Josh,” he said instead, addressing his brother. “She smells quite good."

Without another word, Sam passed you and left out a door behind you, leaving you with nothing to do but stare at his much kinder brother awaiting an explanation. Although, that explanation didn’t come from the direction you were expecting it.

"You can ignore him,” the disembodied voice said. “He's not always in the best of moods. Likes to make it everyone else's problem."

You turned toward where Sam had left to see the twin Josh had told you about, although he and Josh hardly shared much in the way of resemblance when you took in hair and dress. He seemed like Josh’s complete opposite and a little more akin to the vampires you had pictured back when you were still under the assumption they were nothing but fairytales. And though you felt an immediate pang of guilt stab your gut when the thought filled your head, you couldn’t help it. He was ethereal.

"I'm Jake, the cool one." He outstretched his hand and spoke in a somewhat gravelly voice, like it had been exerted somehow though you weren’t sure that could happen to vampires.

You said nothing as you took his hand, unable to form even a single coherent thought or sentence, quite shamefully. And to your horror, it seemed to bring a smile to his face as you stood there stupidly silent.

"Sorry, didn't mean to make you nervous,” he chuckled. “I can fix that if you'd like."

There was a hint of that same suggestion you’d seen in Danny’s eyes although Jake seemed far better with subtlety. But Josh quickly pushed his twin away, severing the contact of your skin against his far too abruptly for your liking.

"No using your gifts on her unless she asks," he reprimanded his brother.

"Well, sometimes it's involuntary," Jake quipped back, his eyes never leaving yours.

You seemed to remember yourself in the sudden silence and cleared your throat.

"I can regulate my own emotions but thank you." You answered his non-question with a polite smile, hopefully a convincing diffusion of the tension you had accidentally created.

"Oh, humans can rarely regulate their own emotions," Jake teased with a smug laugh.

"Oh, are vampires good at it?" you asked, tone laced with sarcasm knowing fully that vampires were notoriously bad at just that, according to Josh anyway.

It prompted a burst of laughter from the twin, finally dropping the look on his face that read like he maybe wanted to eat you. Or fuck you. It was hard to distinguish on a vampire.

Josh’s shoulders seemed to relax then, like he’d been waiting for some sign of Jake’s approval of you and that had been it. It eased you as well, knowing at least someone in the house approved of you.

"I was explaining to her why you live in the guest house."

"You wouldn't believe how annoying Sam and his emotions are,” Jake rolled his eyes. “Although I must say, your emotions are quite strong for a human."

"Is that bad?" you asked curiously.

You weren’t certain it came as a surprise. You knew your emotions were on the more volatile side, especially since the death of your parents less than a year prior. But Josh hadn’t quite seen that side of you yet; he was a natural stifle, keeping you calm without even meaning to.

"It's interesting," Jake answered rather cryptically. Maybe he didn’t know what it meant.

“It’s fine,” Josh assured you instead, rubbing his hands over your biceps. “Nothing to worry about.”

"Must be a very full house of vampires," you said instead in an effort to turn the focus from you and whatever might have been wrong with you.

"Well, Josh isn't the only one with a preference for humans," Jake corrected with a wink.

"Aren't you worried they'll tell people what you are?"

A smirk grew wide in his face, utterly mischievous and suggestive.

"I can be very persuasive."

"There's a serious lack of morality around here," Josh commented quietly, unaware of the embarrassment threatening color in your cheeks at Jake’s pointed remark.

"You must be hungry!" Danny all but yelled as he and Adele burst into the kitchen with brimming excitement, and then more sternly, "Jake, is she hungry?"

"No, not exactly," he answered with a smug look on his face and eyes that stood unwavering on your face.

"Shame, we're always looking for a reason to dirty the kitchen."

Somehow when he said it, it lost all innocuous meaning and took on something far more suggestive. You were beginning to notice a theme and that theme didn't go unnoticed by Josh either, waving his brothers away with a disgusted look on his face.

"Okay, okay, I'm showing her around before you all freak her out even more," he said as he led you to the staircase Sam had descended from with one final disapproving look for the people gathered in the kitchen.

No one looked exactly displeased with themselves, Danny and Adele turning proudly to one another while Jake opted to give you a wiggle of his fingers as you retreated.

“I’m not sure I was really prepared for…that,” you admitted as the two of you moved further into the house.

“It wasn’t too bad, was it?” Josh asked, leading you by hand to his bedroom down a long, wood panel-lined hall.

“May take some getting used to but no, not too bad.”

It would take a lot of getting used to, actually. They were all so very…forward.

“I would tell you they’re harmless but…it wouldn’t exactly be the truth.”

He opened the door to his bedroom, one wall made entirely of glass and overlooking the treeline while the others were obscured with music and art from all over the world. All over time, too, by the looks of it. In the middle sat a bed that appeared slightly out of place, a bit more modern than the rest of the furniture he had decorated with. It was like he had bought it just for you.

“What is it with Sam?” you asked quietly, fingering through a box of records sitting on a small plant stand that looked like he had yet to sort through.

Truthfully it wasn't his more forward family members that stuck out in your mind as you perused his belongings. It was Sam. He was so different from everyone else in the house, almost like he cast a long shadow over everyone. He was certainly the most mysterious, wearing only his misery on his sleeve. It made you wonder if he had always been that way.

Over your shoulder, you watched as Josh’s entire demeanor changed. He seemed to go stiffer, his lips forming into a tight line before he spoke.

“A story for another time, when he isn’t listening so closely.”

“Are they all listening?” you asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Most definitely,” his smile returned.

You must have made a face because Josh was suddenly pinning you to the mattress on the other side of the room from where you had been standing, his fangs baring themselves slightly and an excited look in his eyes.

“You want to give them a show?” he asked as a mischievous look similar to the one his twin wore seeped into his features.

"You haven't even finished the tour!" you squealed, his lips wasting no time attacking your skin.

"Well, getting to know the bedroom is a very important part of the tour!"

You squealed again against the tickle of his facial hair on your skin, giving in almost instantly to the assault and to his hands.

—

When you woke and took in the early morning light as it just barely broke across the dawn, Josh was the first thing your eyes landed on, serene and silent. Hardly even breathing though he often did so just to seem more human to you.

You slept hot and didn't mind the icy feeling of his skin pressed against yours in the night. In fact, most nights it was the only thing that soothed you to sleep anymore. When he was gone, your body certainly noticed as you laid awake in the dark, antique home your parents had left behind, the air conditioner cranked as low as it could handle to somehow lull you into a mock sense of calm that only Josh brought you.

But the nights he was there, he laid dutifully by your side despite the fact that he didn't need sleep. You'd asked him once how he passed the time but all he had said was something about a few hours not being a very long time when you lived for eternity. It didn't make you feel like the night was any less long. It always felt too long that you had to leave him for slumber. Sometimes you'd fight to stay awake just to spend more time with him. But sleep always won.

He watched you silently as you stretched the stiffness from your limbs and rubbed the remnants of dreams from your eyes, arm shooting over to the nightstand at his bedside to fumble around for your phone in search of the time.

You hadn't slept that long, a measly six hours. But even still, it felt too long to leave him.

“You shouldn’t have let me sleep so long. I could have kept you company.” It was a common argument he had grown used to hearing you mumble in your early morning haze. And he always answered it with a smile and a reason.

“Not to worry, my dear, I know humans need their sleep after sex.”

“I hope we weren’t too loud,” you groaned as his fingers swiped hair out of your eyes, leaving burning trails of memories from the night before.

He was cold to the touch and yet somehow his touch seemed always to scald you. You'd have his fingerprints burned into your skin before long.

Josh let out a laugh with his tongue pressed behind his teeth and his nose scrunched, far too cute at that early hour to be anything close to human.

He was between your legs before you could scold him for laughing at you, his body hovering just above yours like a prize that was yours for the taking if you could lift off the bed and catch him quickly enough.

"You could have been quiet as a mouse and they would have heard anyway," he whispered with his face mere inches from yours, "so no use stifling those beautiful sounds you make."

And just like that, you wanted him again. It was that easy. Maybe that was part of his gift too but more realistically, it was just him.

But your body had other plans, sabotaging your sudden hunger for him with its own. He heard your stomach rumbling before you even felt it and dipped to press a quick kiss to the tip of your nose, already looking far too pleased with himself.

“You sound hungry.” A soft bite to your jaw to punctuate his words send you further into your growing agony.

“Not as hungry as you must be. You haven’t left my side in days. Have you actually eaten anything?”

He pulled back with a toothy grin. “Don’t worry about me. Let’s get you some breakfast, although I think Danny and Adele have already beaten me to it.”

This time it was a kiss pressed to your lips that threatened to keep you in bed, if it weren't for his hands pulling you up out of bed while his lips lingered on yours despite your groan in protest. With only a satisfied giggle, he pushed you out the door in the pajamas he had forced you into the night before and down the steps toward what sounded like a bustling kitchen.

The smell of food cooking finally hit you like a wall at the bottom of the steps. It was there that you took in the sights laid before you: a mess of a kitchen, Adele parked at the large stove top with spatula in hand and large flour-y handprints on the back of her tight jeans, Danny mixing something in a bowl behind her with flour on his cheeks and hands, and a hungover-looking Jake sitting at the kitchen island donning opaque sunglasses and swishing a glass of what looked like dark liquor in his hand.

“Oh good, you’re awake!" Adele exclaimed in a voice that prompted every head to turn toward you. "Food's almost ready!"

Their years without experience in the culinary arts were evident in the portions they had chosen to make, the island littered with various breakfast dishes that no one in their right mind could consume all in one morning.

"I tried to cook but they insisted,” Jake explained plainly, sounding only mildly annoyed as he sipped and observed cooly from behind his sunglasses.

“He’s just upset because we got here before him and kicked him out of the kitchen.” Danny smiled as he finished mixing more batter and passed the bowl to Adele to begin spreading on the hot pan before her.

“He cooks for his humans all the time," Adele explained. "It was our turn.”

God, they were so chipper in the morning, a product of never needing sleep, although Jake somehow looked like he needed some. Maybe he could feel your own fatigue.

"You really don't have to cook for me," you answered, moving to lean against the island as Josh wrapped his arms around your waist to remain close.

Adele flashed another dazzling smile your direction. "Oh nonsense, of course we do."

"Especially after feeling how much energy you expended last night," Jake added without even a glance your direction to see the embarrassment spread like wildfire across your face as he sipped his bourbon like a morning coffee. No doubt he could feel it without needing to look. But you could have sworn that his words were fueled by what sounded like a tinge of jealousy.

"At least somebody in this house got some last night," Josh defended you with a jab at his brother, hugging you tighter to his chest to show that he was in no way embarrassed by your activities the previous night.

"We were trying to be polite-" Danny began to explain while Jake spoke over top of him, "Didn’t want to scare our little human just yet."

Adele's eyes flickered briefly over to the door just off the kitchen that opened out onto the large patio overlooking the backyard. Her smile waned only a sliver before her eyes dropped back to the pan in her hand and as you glanced back to the door, you saw what she must have heard before you: Sam with an annoyed look on his face after presumably being out all night.

The room went oddly quiet when he entered until Danny broke the silence.

"Sam, would you like to help us?"

"I'd rather suffocate," he said simply, his eyes immediately finding yours in the suddenly crowded room.

He was wearing a fitted purple shirt that complimented his complexion well and pants that looked a little more wrinkly than your mother would have ever let you out of the house in. And at his neckline was the only evidence of what he'd been out doing: a small trickle of blood dripping lazily down like it had all the time in the world and no place to be.

"You've got a little-" Jake pointed with his index finger to his collar.

"Fuck,” Sam huffed in exasperation, straining his neck to get a look without stretching the material too far, “I just bought this."

“Such a messy eater,” Jake teased with a smile. “We’re gonna have to buy you a bib.”

He was met with an almost instantaneous glare, a face that could have put the fear of God in anyone it was directed at. But you lacked good sense, and all.

"I can get it clean," you chimed in quietly, almost absentmindedly, a small squeak of a noise that seemed to silence everyone around you more thoroughly than Sam’s looming presence. "I'm not really a stranger to blood stains,” you clarified as eyes turned to you. “Um…do you have a laundry room?"

Sam eyed you carefully, letting his gaze flicker quickly to Josh’s and prompting your own to follow, as if asking for permission despite having already offered. But Josh seemed beyond amused by it all.

"Yeah, he'll show you," he smiled, an indirect order to his brother who had landed his eyes back on your face and for some reason looked furious at the mere suggestion you had made. Nevertheless, he jerked his head in a different direction, signaling you to follow him.

"Don't be too long! Food will be ready soon!" Adele called as Josh released you from his grip to follow Sam down an unexplored hallway to a small laundry room just at the end behind a large set of heavy wooden doors.

It was a rather human-like setup although you weren’t sure what exactly you had been expecting. It made sense that even vampires weren’t immune to the mundane chores that plagued humans. Still, you couldn’t picture the vampire that stood before you, pulling his shirt off to reveal a toned chest that somehow made him look even more god-like, doing his own laundry.

Maybe he made Josh do it.

"You could try controlling your thoughts." His disapproval cut through the silence like a knife.

“I’m so sor-” you began to apologize, fumbling over your words as you averted your gaze in favor of the shirt he had just removed when it dawned on you. "You read minds?" you asked curiously, braving his eyes again.

"Yeah, and yours is quite loud," he said flatly, meeting your gaze almost as if he were daring you to look away.

You did.

"Sorry. I'll try and…think quietly." You cleared your throat and tried not to think anything too embarrassing as you turned your focus to the task at hand. You grabbed a box of baking soda from a shelf above you and let warm water soak into the blood at the small sink in the corner of the room.

"Were you out…" ‘hunting’ you thought, though you didn’t finish that thought out loud.

"Yes."

If you hadn’t seen the resemblance, his succinctness in comparison to Josh’s talkativeness might have been enough to convince you there was no relation between the two boys. He was far less warm, too. That might have been another indication. How they belonged to the same bloodline was beyond you.

“Josh says you and Jake are the only ones not on the bunny diet,” you continued, now trying to distract him from your derailing thoughts which, if his face was any indication, he was displeased by. Not that you had yet seen him looking anything other than displeased. That he wore well.

“It makes you weaker. I figure I’m already going to hell, might as well sin as much as I want.”

He leaned against the dryer, folding his arms across his chest as his eyes dipped to your hands to watch them work.

“Do you kill them?” You weren’t even sure where the question had come from or why your brain had decided it was appropriate small talk with the vampire across from you. Maybe it was morbid curiosity, but more likely some sort of gauge to see how likely he was to snap and kill you right there.

“Do I seem like I have an aversion to killing?”

God, he was intimidating. He was what you had expected when faced with the idea of meeting an entire house of Josh’s vampire kin. Your body screamed at you to be afraid of him. But somehow, by that same lack of sense that probably worried Josh, you were instead only painfully aware of the fact that you were not growing on him by any sense of the phrase.

“I don’t really know…” you answered quietly, and your matter-of-fact tone incited him to roll his eyes.

“Yes, I kill people,” he answered for you, annoyed yet again. “That’s what we were designed for so try not to let it surprise you.”

You nodded and dropped your eyes back down to his shirt again, fully accepting the awkward tension as it washed over you and pursing your lips like it was obvious he killed people. How stupid of you to ask, really.

“Helps if you let it soak in warm water but if you’re in a pinch, scrubbing works too,” you explained, both of you suddenly pretending like he was watching or cared.

He said nothing as you massaged the baking soda into the material gently, the way you had done with countless pairs of cotton underwear in the middle of the night. You imagined what it would be like to wash blood out of your own clothing under these same circumstances, someone else’s blood. Your meal, in fact. It made you wonder if that was in your future, if Josh would turn you.

Josh was strict about the blood he drank, specifically about it not coming from humans. He had explained that animal blood wasn’t nearly as satiating for his kind but that it felt right to him. He had only drank human blood once and quickly found it wasn’t for him. It felt funny to hear a vampire say it but truthfully, you couldn’t picture him hurting someone either, so in some odd sense, it fit. His brothers clearly didn’t have such reservations. You wondered if you’d be the same way, given the opportunity.

"What about Adele and Danny? Do they hunt the way you do?"

It seemed innocuous enough but your question was the final straw for Sam who had been growing more agitated by the moment.

"Are you almost finished? I don't have all day," he spat.

But you couldn’t ignore the irony.

"What an interesting thing for a vampire to say."

You didn’t even laugh at your own joke and that was probably for the best because if looks could kill, Sam was sending you a glare that would have swiftly ended your life.

"Humans are a liability,” he fumed, looking like he was using all of his strength to avoid doing something he would regret, no matter how little he would regret it. “Josh never should have brought you here.”

He stormed out without another word and without his shirt too, leaving you where you stood, sudsy hands and sigh caught in your throat. You felt like an idiot for your failed attempt at making conversation with him. But even more so, you worried that maybe you didn’t mesh well with Josh’s family. You wanted them to like you, desperately so. You had no family of your own anymore and it felt like this was your chance to have it again. To have something again. Every failed attempt with him would feel like another nail in the coffin on your fate that you didn’t want to be as lonely as it threatened.

You finished what you were doing quickly, it was dangerous for you to be alone after all, and returned to the kitchen where a now angry Jake argued passionately with Adele about human recipes and baking times. Danny contributed nothing to help solve the argument other than giggling along and adding in a, “She’s always right, Jake,” at the more inopportune moments, for no other reason than to get a rise out of him apparently.

It was comforting, actually, the bickering. Reminded you of the early mornings with your parents watching them play fight while making waffles for breakfast.

"Don’t let him get to you,"Josh whispered against the shell of your ear when you returned, having heard the entire conversation. They probably all had, actually, but you were trying to save yourself that embarrassment by pretending they hadn’t. Something else that would take some getting used to: the super hearing they all possessed.

"Food is ready!" Adele exclaimed.

She was good at cutting the tension but you certainly hadn’t missed the look she had given Sam when he entered. There was a story there, you could tell. Maybe it was part of the reason Sam seemed so angry.

She handed you a plate stacked high with the pancakes she had been flipping at the stove, Danny pouring a healthy amount of syrup on top as the plate exchanged hands. They seemed unbelievably proud of their work and watched you expectantly as you picked a fork up off the island and took a bite.

It wasn’t exactly a gourmet dish but it was edible, enough to smile and feign enjoyment for the eagerly-awaiting vampires surrounding you. And it seemed to appease.

"Ha! I knew we were better cooks than you!" Adele pointed with her spatula accusingly toward Jake who pushed it out of his face with a wave of his hand.

"Yeah, yeah, why don't you go celebrate."

"Ooh, celebration,” Danny said, suddenly intrigued. “I like the sound of that."

In an instant, his hands were on Adele’s hips, pulling her into a searing kiss that took them out of the kitchen quite quickly, aprons and various other clothing items littering the floor and marking their path down the hallway toward their room. It left you practically speechless.

"Vampires," Jake shook his head and gave you a wink as he began clearing dishes off the kitchen counter.

They didn’t even seem phased by it, leading you to believe that was a common occurrence around here. And rather than addressing it, Josh simply took the plate from your hands and grabbed one of yours now empty to lead you into the dining room just off the kitchen.

“Ruined my perfectly clean kitchen,” you heard Jake mumble as you retreated and chose a seat at the large oak table sitting squarely in the dining room made entirely of glass to give a breathtaking view of the surrounding forest.

"What?" Josh asked with a laugh as he took the seat opposite yours.

"Danny and Adele. They must really love each other." You gave a baffled shake of your head as you committed to choking down Adele’s cooking.

"Well, they are soul ties."

Soul ties: it wasn't something you'd heard Josh talk about before, a missing piece of vampire lore in your catalog.

"What does that mean?"

"Soul ties are like soulmates for vampires," he explained. "Vampires mate for life so when we form a tie with someone, we’re bound to them for eternity. There's some ceremony to it, binding the tie by drinking one another's blood. It's a very sacred thing. The act of drinking for a vampire, it's incredibly profound. But the act of drinking from the person you're tied to, it's the deepest form of intimacy."

You pushed the food around your plate with your fork. "Can vampires only form soul ties with other vampires?"

Josh gave you a knowing smile.

"No, Adele was human when Danny tied with her. It's much stronger when you're a vampire though. For a human, you can resist it longer, the forces pulling you together. As a vampire, it's much harder."

"What do you mean? What forces?"

"Sometimes a tie forms between two people who aren't together. You won't necessarily be instantly drawn to one another but over time, the ability to resist the other person becomes harder and harder. And as a vampire, you’ll grow weaker and weaker until the binding ceremony is performed. You grow to need each other.” He said it with reverence, like he felt its weight. “That's what happened with Adele."

"Her and Danny weren't always together?" You had a hard time imagining the two people you'd just witnessed with their hands all over one another like no one was watching dating other people. And sure, they seemed to be flirty with everyone, yourself included, but there was just no way they hadn't always felt that passion for one another.

"Actually…they weren't." Josh hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Adele was with Sam when her tie with Danny formed."

Suddenly her look and his demeanor made sense. "Her and Sam dated?"

Josh nodded and kept his voice quiet as he continued. "We didn't meet her for a long time after they started dating, probably because he was waiting to form the tie himself. But then, she walked through the door, Danny laid eyes on her, and it became clear why Sam hadn't felt it yet. She tried to resist it for a bit but once Danny turned her, it was too strong to deny."

It dawned on you what Sam's gift was, although it seemed more like a curse when you thought about it now. It was no wonder he seemed like a walking black cloud around the house. He had to listen to their thoughts about how much they loved each other all day, constantly seeing them and hearing them together. It was enough to make anyone miserable.

And you suddenly felt angry for him.

"Why do they flaunt it like that in front of him? Don't they care that he lives here too?"

Josh gave a sympathetic look and shook his head. "It's not really like that. When you're with your tie, and especially after you've done the ritual, nothing else really matters."

You felt the swift sharp sting of worry that he hadn't mentioned soul ties before. And if he hadn't mentioned it before, he likely hadn't felt it before.

"And…have you…" You didn't even want to say it, to speak it into existence and receive confirmation of what you were now terrified of: that Josh wasn't yours to keep. But when you met Josh's eyes as you trailed off into silence, you saw only a gentle smile on his lips.

"No, I haven't felt it yet. But soul ties are situational. You have to be on the right path to form them. And once those paths are right, they can't be unmerged."

"Why would it change?"

"It's just like humans finding their soulmates. You have to be in the right place at the right time, at a point in your life where you're ready to accept that person. It's the same thing, only throw in a bit of the supernatural and it'll do most of the deciding for you."

He gave you a genuine smile, clearly trying to ease your nerves before you had a complete spiral. And truthfully, it didn't put your mind at ease all that much. You liked what you had and at the very least, something had to change to put you on the right path to solidify what you already knew you wanted.

"So…I'm not your soul tie now, but I could be?" you asked, less a question and more clarification to be filed away for your own purposes.

"Yes, it could happen. But it’s not something I want you to worry about. It'll happen when it's meant to happen." He leaned across the table to give you a gentle kiss and another reassuring smile that seemed to do the trick. For now, at least. “Eat. I want to show you something.”

You turned your eyes back down to the plate before you. Maybe, at the very least, Sam could find some satisfaction in the distasteful thoughts you were having about Adele's cooking abilities.

—

When you managed to finish your breakfast, Josh escorted you out into the backyard that was more of an oasis opening into the dense forest surrounding their home than a typical yard. There was the guest house which looked like a small English cottage sitting several yards away from the house and decorated in ivy, tucked neatly into the treeline like it had always been there. And then there was a large greenhouse made entirely of glass, matching the main house that way, surrounded by plants and filled with even more. That was the structure Josh was leading you toward, holding open the door clouded by years of dirt and plants and exposure to the elements.

Inside sat almost every plant native to the northwest coast, all in various states of their life cycles which begged the question of who was taking care of them, who had written the tiny signs that named them all and picked each of the unique planters, some in deep jewel tones blanketing the ceramic, others looking hand-glazed in speckled pots with carved designs. Even the stained glass signs that hung from thick metal wire looked handmade, decorating the inside of the otherwise plain glass of the structure. And stringed lights ran like a blanket across the domed ceiling, looking dusty as though they had remained unlit for quite some time.

“This place is beautiful, Josh,” you marveled at your surroundings, enchanting even in the daytime with the early morning sun glinting off the glass. It set your boyfriend’s skin asparkle, little beams of light dancing across his skin and darting around to ricochet off the walls.

Even in such a mesmerizing place, he stole the show.

“It was Sam's but he doesn't take much interest anymore. The rest of us take turns watering everything now. Sometimes Jake comes out here and reads books to the plants.”

You could picture them all chipping in to keep the greenery alive, each contributing something unique to help the little leaves grow and thrive. Even the plants had a family. It almost made you yearn for their life, digging their roots into soil and sitting, unwavering, watching the world pass them by as Josh and his brothers sat stagnant with them. Living at an entirely different pace than the rest of the world. You’d dig your roots in, too, if you could.

“I can’t stand the thought of you going back to that big house by yourself,” Josh interrupted your rather self-pitying thoughts, diverting your attention to where your roots had once been placed. And so forcefully torn up out of the ground.

“Josh, you’ve been over almost every night for the past two months.” You avoided the obvious to keep from getting more emotional than you wanted to be at that moment.

Your parents had left their house to you, along with everything they had, but Josh knew you had felt stagnant in a different way since their death. You’d quit your job to move back to the place you grew up and take care of their affairs. And mourn. But somewhere along the way, grief had turned to anger, sharp and hot and near constant. It wasn’t until you had met Josh that your demeanor had been thawed…

“I know how much you hate going back in there. I should have brought you over sooner but I wanted to be sure all of this wouldn’t freak you out.”

“There are some things about your brothers that freak me out a little,” you nodded, making your way back to where Josh stood, “but there’s nothing about you that freaks me out.”

He gave you a soft smile as your arms wound around his waist. “You’ll have plenty of time to get used to it when you move in.”

“Oh is that so?” you smiled back at him. “And when did you decide I was moving in?”

“The day I met you, really, but that seemed a bit forward.”

Your smile fell as you realized he wasn’t just being cute for the sake of being cute.

“Wait, you’re being serious,” you breathed.

“Of course I’m being serious,” he grinned, pulling you in at the waist like he was suddenly worried you might run.

“You’re asking me to move in with you?”

He chuckled almost nervously and must have second guessed himself at your reaction because his shoulders squeezed upward in a shrug and he gave you a cautious nod before adding, almost silently, “If you’ll have me.”

It wasn’t that you had meant to worry him with your surprise. But you were surprised. It had been so long since…well, since things had gone well for you. You could feel your mind and body slipping into flight mode, the urge to run before the other shoe dropped sudden and severe. But you did want to move in with him. More than anything, you just wanted to be with him, always. He was your happy place and you certainly didn’t deserve him, but better than running was clinging. And you’d cling to him.

Without any words, you crashed your lips against his, solidifying your answer and earning a sigh of relief from Josh as his lips melded into yours. You could feel the smile that grew there, too, sealing itself into the kiss as his body was suddenly pressing you back into a heavy table in the middle of the greenhouse.

God, you were starting to feel like Danny and Adele, never getting enough of each other.

Josh broke from the kiss briefly, letting his lips fall to your jaw so he could speak better. “We’ll get your stuff tomorrow.”

“Uh-huh.” You weren’t paying attention any longer. The only object of your focus was now his lips. And his body. And his hands.

His lips worked lower as he easily lifted you up onto the table, parting your knees to make space for himself in between. You could imagine a life like this, easily. It made sense to you, as much as it scared you to once again have something so valuable. At least this would hopefully be harder to lose.

Your hands worked up into his hair to pull his lips back to yours, the taught curls wrapping around your fingers and engulfing them like even his hair meant to keep you there. And the hum suddenly buzzing through his lips, it vibrated through you. Fuck, you felt insatiable when it came to him.

His pace quickened as the kiss became more fervent, hungrier. He was always so in control but moments like these where your body was calling to him and moans were building in your chest, you swore you felt that control falter a bit. Secretly, you wanted to see him snap, but you knew the consequences of that were likely a bit more grave than just him being rougher for a night. But still, you wanted it. You couldn’t help but try, even, to push him just a tad further, when your hands lowered to the bulge growing in his khakis and your thighs hugged his hips harder. It was all for him, you were all for him-

“Am I interrupting?”

Jake’s voice startled you both, although you moreso, almost jumping out of your skin. You pulled back to quickly adjust your clothing, trying to save a bit of your dignity in the process. Josh, on the other hand, pulled away rather reluctantly, his fist clenching almost too hard around your thigh before he adjusted his pants and turned toward his brother with a singular word spoken more like a hiss.

“Obviously.”

“You’re parked behind me,” Jake said flatly, gesturing behind him to the garage and only glancing at you for a mere fraction of a second.

“You know where my keys are,” Josh answered, keeping his body in front of yours as you fixed your hair and tried to calm the sudden pounding of your heart in your chest.

“The last time I drove your car, it ended with you ripping the steering wheel out and throwing it at me.”

“You got blood all over the interior.”

“I said I’d have it detailed,” Jake defended himself in a tone that suggested he still didn’t see the problem with what he had done. “Anyway, she already said yes, so you have plenty of time for this,” he gestured vaguely in your direction with only his pointer finger, “later.”

You got a rare glimpse of watching Josh teeter on angry, well past visibly annoyed. To be honest, it turned you on and you prayed Jake couldn’t feel it.

Josh sighed, defeated, and turned back to you.

“I’ll be right back,” he promised with a smile unblemished by his previous anger. Never directed at you.

He was gone in an instant, leaving nothing but wind pushing your hair away from your face and leaving you still sitting on the table, now across from his twin who gave you a smirk the moment Josh was out of earshot.

“Oh don’t be embarrassed,” he relented, confirming your fears, “I’ve felt everything there is to feel.”

“It’s not nice to spy on people,” you retorted, crossing your arms over your chest to somehow try and hide yourself from him, fully clothed as you were.

He crossed to you, letting his hand absentmindedly adjust the hem of your shirt and almost causing you to jump at the contact as you watched him, still somewhat surprised by the audacity vampires seemed to have.

“It’s not really spying when you’re doing it in a building made of windows,” he said with a purse of his lips as he let his eyes trail over you, taking you in.

Your eyes darted over to his fingers, still resting at the collar of your shirt, and back to his face.

“Do you always give him a hard time like that?”

“Whenever possible,” he grinned wide. “You know, it was sweet of you, pretending like you liked Adele’s and Danny’s cooking this morning.”

You shrugged, oddly feeling at ease the longer he remained close. Maybe he was using his gifts on you.

“Oh, it really wasn’t that bad,” you lied.

He shook his head and tutted his tongue.

“I watched them make it, I know it was.”

“Well, it’s the thought that counts, right?”

He brought his eyes up to yours and for the first time, you took him in up close, his resemblance to Josh, all of the scars that differentiated him, the warmth in his eyes that mimicked his brother’s but somehow promised a little more danger.

“I don’t know; maybe we should ask Sam. That’s his specialty, not mine.” He smiled softly, moving his hand from your shirt to your hair to tuck strands that had been previously disheveled behind your ear.

It took all your strength to focus on the conversation.

“Thanks for not ratting me out to Danny and Adele,” you answered quietly, hoping to quiet your louder emotions.

His smile grew across his face and he leaned in slightly closer to speak barely above a whisper.

“Your little human secrets will always be safe with me.”

You ignored the beat your heart skipped as he said it in favor of chuckling lightly and giving him an exasperated smile yourself.

“A bit condescending, don’t you think?”

He dropped his hand, letting it ghost over your thigh as it fell back to his side.

“Maybe,” he nodded, dipping his eyes to your knees and letting them rake back up your body, “but I felt your heart flutter so, not exactly incentive for me to stop, now is it?”

And then he was back in the doorway of the greenhouse watching Josh cross the almost overgrown lawn.

“Thank you, Joshy,” he called without another look back your way. “Oh and you might want to pick a different place to do it. I don’t want to have to explain to these poor plants what they’ll have seen. It’ll be bad for their development.”

Josh only rolled his eyes and shook his head, returning to your arms where he belonged.

“Where were we?” he smiled.

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