#like come on i used to fit kids clothes THAT'S the standard my mind still thinks about

[omarfor-orchestra]

.

[yours-trulyy]

gonna post all of my omori headcanons right here before i forget lol. spoilers obviously just be warned. n yes i ship kimbrey be afraid (/hj) this isss a work in progress which is why basils section is barely done

👤 :: before incident

👥 :: after incident

🫂 :: post ending (good/bad ending is stated)

ahem so

☆ SUNNY

{ he / him (cisgender male) ,, bisexual (not aware) }

— nicknames :: sunny-d, sun-sun, sunshine (he hates all of these nicknames (besides sunshine since MARI used to call him that)

— allergic to peanuts and has asthma

— obviously has some sort of ptsd + selective mutism

— 👤 :: loves coloring books (KEL found him coloring in an old preschool coloring book but SUNNY said he thinks coloring books are for kids.)

— 👤 :: loves bracelets ,, mainly because AUBREY would make him a bunch that he has an entire box of all sorts of bracelets.

— 👤 :: loves capri-suns. hands down.

— 👤 :: hates movie theater seats because he claims their sticky and wet and just smell weird. he loves movies though.

— 👤 :: hates the smell of rubbing alcohol and nail polish. he only likes very specific perfume scents but he doesnt like too much either (he’s very picky when it comes to perfume because of his sister)

— 👤 :: literally only got into Disney because AUBREY was into it. (his favorite disney movie is the princess and the frog change my mind)

— 👥 :: SUNNY took MARI’s polo and V-Neck sweater and it fit him perfectly. he had to improvise on the bottom though so he also took MARI’s old shorts. SUNNY’s mom took her tie without him knowing though so he thinks it’s lost.

— 👥 :: still wears a few bracelets that AUBREY gave him years back. (she forgot about them so it was a shocker that he still kept them all these years)

— 👥 :: he’s in denial about AUBREY dating KIM, but he genuinely doesn’t have a crush on her anymore because of how much she’s changed.

☆ AUBREY

{ she / they (demigirl) ,, lesbian (aware + in a relationship) }

— nicknames :: aubs ,, aubergine

— not allergic to anything but despises sea food

— badd anger issues

— 👤 :: made bracelets for everyone. she had a hyperfixation on bracelets for some reason.

— 👤 :: totally oblivious to SUNNY’s crush on them even though everyone kept telling her.

— 👤 :: definitely thought that she was weird for liking girls and never told anyone.

— 👤 :: made matching bracelets for her and MARI (MARI got pink and they got purple)

— 👤 :: mari was the one who gave them the bracelet kit in the first place (she still has it)

— 👥 :: still wears their matching bracelet with MARI even though she’s gone

— 👥 :: has a secret cosplaying obsession but only kim knows about it. they went to a convention out of town and absolutely adored it

— 👥 :: loves music, definitely a TV Girl fan. (i can see her loving the heavy metal and like emo/scene genre)

— 👥 :: paints her nails with KIM (they match, AUBREY does pink and KIM does blue.)

— 👥 :: had gotten MARI’s old clothes as hand-me-downs since MARI’s mom noticed how she would always wear the same outfit everyday.

— 👥 :: has a total of 13 sketchbooks and counting, loves drawing.

☆ KEL

{ he / him (trans ftm) ,, bisexual (aware) }

— has no nicknames (deadname : Kelsie)

— lactose intolerance but somehow still unaware despite thousands of times throwing up from a single drop of milk

— has ADHD

— probably is on the spectrum of autism

— 👤 :: definitely had a sonic/mario phase as a kid,, he was obsessed with pokemon (specifically charzard) when he was like 8 and still has a small interest in it now

— 👤 :: would slap AUBREY in the face with any sticky hand he could get his hands on

—👤 :: being trans is one of the reasons why his parents neglect him besides the fact that he’ll “never meet their standards.”

— 👤 :: hates how much HERO smothers him with gifts.

— 👤 :: His parents deadname him and he actively states he’s uncomfortable with it but his parents genuinely do not care at all.

— 👥 :: HERO would genuinely still be the only one supporting KEL. Examples: showing up to his basketball games, buying him a new basketball, getting him new shoes, just overall doing what his parents never wanted to do.

— 👥 :: KEL was actually really excited.. not really more than excited when the friend group got back together. He had felt completely alone since AUBREY, SUNNY, HERO, and MARI were gone all from their own circumstances so all he had was BASIL.

☆ HERO

{ he / him (cismale) ,, hetero + aromantic (active ally) }

— has no nicknames (besides the name HERO itself) except MARI’s few nicknames (Examples: “Good Lookin’, My Hero in Shining Armor, etc)

— allergic to pollen ,, he has to take a lot of medication just to come over to see KEL

— probably has OCD but doesn’t have the time to get professionally diagnosed due to how busy he is with college.

— a very active supporter of the LGBTQ+ community because of his brother.

— 👤 :: hates how his parents never cared about his brother at all, they didn’t put an effort for him.

— 👤 :: has a small collection of pins for some reason. he’s the type to collect little things because he finds them fun.

— 👤 :: loves going out on picnics. when the group all went out on a picnic together for the first time HERO discovered his own personal liking to them.

— 👤 :: planned out his entire life with MARI one day. They said they would go to college and share a dorm, then work together and make enough money to travel the world together and start a family of their own.

— 👤 :: MARI was genuinely everything to him and he loved spending time with her.

— 👤 :: secretly an astrology and dungeons and dragons geek but never really told anyone

— 👥 :: HERO was actually the one who put in the most money to get KEL his transition surgery.

— 👥 :: buys KEL anything he wants. like literally anything. before he was saving his money to have a family but now he just wants to make his brother happy.

— 👥 :: every christmas HERO would get KEL a lot. like literally shower him in things he would probably never use in exchange for getting at least one A or even a B in one of his classes.

— 👥 :: KEL’s personal tutor. HERO was able to explain concepts that were actually understandable.

— 👥 :: sometimes when HERO needs a break from school (which is rare) he’ll come over for a day or two and just check in with KEL. they usually play games or go to the park like usual.

— 👥 :: doesn’t really care for social media that much besides for family. he made a Facebook account that hasn’t been posted in for a few years.

— 👥 :: definitely goes (or tries to) to every one of KEL’s basketball games and he’s always the loudest one there. KEL would always be embarrassed when HERO would cheer KEL on.

☆ BASIL

{ any prns (he/him pref, genderfluid) ,, demiromantic + pan }

— nicknames :: flower boy (literally only used once, he doesn’t have any nicknames besides that)

— allergic to soy and lactose intolerant

— obviously has ptsd + social anxiety

— 👤 :: doess have his ears pierced and he has a few sets of earrings thanks to MARI and HERO during christmas.

— 👤 :: he used to be obsessed with bugs when he was younger but that transformed to an obsession with plants.

— 👤 :: he has a really reallyy bad habit of biting his nails.

— 👤 :: hes thought about growing fruits (specifically watermelon) but never really invested in the idea

— 👤 :: has a secret tumblr blog (i can imagine him roleplaying)

— 👤 :: definitely on top of all of his classes, he gets all A’s and when he doesn’t he feels bad

☆ MARI

{ she/her (cisfem) ,, hetero (active ally) }

— no nicknames surprisingly (but does tease others with their nicknames)

— not allergic to anything

— has really bad OCD

— 👤 :: always told the gang that once she gets a car she would drive the gang everywhere. (she specifically told AUBREY that as soon as she got her car they could go for a girls day and she could finally get her ears pierced and they would get matching earrings.)

— 👤 :: AUBREY and her were secret gossip buddies like they always would fill each other in with whats going on.

— 👤 :: had a small obsession with nail polish (and by small i mean she had an entire box of just nail polish, this is why SUNNY doesn’t like the smell of it or immense perfume)

[ladyfromaspookyforest]

ST Season 2 Wardrobe Analysis

Mike and Will

If you haven't read my posts on season 1, here's what you need to know:

Pink and blue are colors consistently worn by the Wheelers. They symbolize the idea of the perfect nuclear family or the "norm." Also sometimes shown in a darkened palette as red and blue. The usual choice of neutral for the Wheelers is light grey.

The Byers wear earth tones. Their neutrals are usually cream, tan, ivory, etc.

Mike's color is blue.

Will's color is yellow.

And that's what you missed on...*cough* nvm.

EPISODE 1

Season 2 kicks off with Mike trying to call El on his walkie. He's wearing a pretty standard Mike fit: light grey shirt with blue and red stripes. He's also got some ugly maroon corduroy pants on that I couldn't get a nonblurry or completely dark screenshot of (sorry). Color theory, as other people have declared, states that El's color is red. So far, this has not been reflected in El's own wardrobe, as she has not developed her own sense of style or understanding of self yet. However, it is used in Mike's clothes to reflect that his mind is on her, such as here, where he is clearly missing her and trying to reach out.

Will is wearing cream, brown, blue, and green. All colors common in the Byers household. But no yellow. I mentioned in my last post that Will doesn't wear yellow AT ALL this season until the Snow Ball. This is a really great visual indicator that he is not himself.

The following day, Will's shirt is red and green (it's kind of hard to tell from the screenshots :/ sorry). So he's kind of matching...

Mike. Who is also wearing red and green detailing. Plus Will is in blue pants and a brown jacket and Mike is in brown pants and a blue jacket. The major difference here is that the dominant color in Mike's shirt is blue while Will's shirt doesn't really have one. (Again, absence of identity) These two fit together aesthetically quite a bit this season.

Will's pajamas are blue (the stripes are red and white), so when his house turns upside down that night, he matches. The choice to make him blend in rather than contrast again gives the feeling that this is where he belongs. If he were fully himself, we might expect to see him in yellow or orange or something warm and bright and we would clearly be able to see that he is in a realm that is not his own. Because he sticks out. Instead, he blends. This is a hint that part of him is still attached to this domain.

EPISODE 2

I’m not going to discuss why they are the Ghostbusters. But I want to talk about the differences in their costumes. We know these were homemade. We saw Joyce sewing a patch onto Will’s costume in the first episode, so it’s unsurprising that they don’t quite match. Lucas and Dustin match the most. Their jumpsuits are the same color, though it looks like they are different based on pocket placement and collar shape.

Mike’s jumpsuit is a little bit of a warmer color and has pockets on the thighs. Will’s is the most different. In addition to being a different color, it doesn’t have a pocket on the left arm, the wrists don’t cinch, the waist doesn’t cinch, AND he’s the only one not wearing a black T-shirt underneath. For some reason, Will is wearing grey. Plus, his jumpsuit is the most ill-fitted. I think there are two things being achieved here.

Will's insecurities and feelings of displacement post-UD are being represented by making his costume stick out the most. He feels different. He feels like he doesn't belong. He looks different and like he doesn't belong.

It brings us back to the pilot in which Joyce tells Hopper kids at school make fun of his clothes. Everything I said above could have been achieved with the different colored jumpsuit and t-shirt alone, but the jumpsuit also just looks worse. It doesn't fit right. And this reminds us that Will comes from a different economic bracket than his friends.

In addition, Dustin and Lucas matching almost perfectly while Mike sticks out a little (rather than Will sticking out a lot) shows us that Dustin and Lucas, for the remainder of season 2, are the core of the party. Will and Mike are each going through something on their own. Yes, we will see those two come together (at the end of this very episode, in fact), but for now, Mike feels like he's the only one still mourning El and Will feels like he's losing his mind after Owens declared his flashes nothing but PTSD. They each separately feel alone.

EPISODE 3

This is 0% analysis, but I love Mike's lil sweater look here. It's so cute. Anyway, he's once again got yellow detailing in his sweater while Will is wearing none. Plenty of blue, but if you remember me saying at the beginning that earth tones are Byers colors...well, there's an awful lot of brown in Mike's outfit today. Will, on the other hand, is wearing a lot of blue. They seem to be reflecting one another a good bit in their outfit choices today. These are their first looks post "crazy together," so it makes sense that they would appear united, regardless of Will's absence of yellow/inability to be fully himself.

Additionally, when Will and Bob are talking in the car, their jackets are similar.

You can't really tell from this photo, but Bob's tie contains red and green detailing, just like Will's shirt. This is the scene in which Bob actually manages to connect with Will (unfortunately), which is shown by the fact that they are dressed the most closely they ever have/ever will.

EPISODES 4-8

Mike's outfit consists of: grey shirt with blue and yellow stripes, blue hoodie, and green pants. What a color scheme. His concern for Will has only skyrocketed since the field incident and is essentially the only thing on his mind throughout this episode. Both of Mike's outfits from episode 1 contained red (no yellow) and both outfits since Halloween have contained yellow (no red). His focus has shifted from El to Will.

Will's in his pjs (the same blue pants he wore in the first episode). But here's an interesting detail: remember when I said light grey was a Wheeler neutral and Byers neutrals are warm? The grey does two things here. Again. Will's wardrobe is multitasking a lot.

It puts him visually closer to Mike.

The change from a warm neutral to a cool neutral also brings him closer to the Mind Flayer. Who likes it cold.

Will has actually been wearing a lot of grey this season, but very subtly. His pj shirt in episode one, this one here, his undershirt on Halloween, his undershirt the following day.

The first two outfits, both from the first episode, are the only ones that haven't included grey so far.

Will proceeds to spend the majority of the season in a hospital gown. I talked in this post about Will's hospital gown from the season 1 finale and Max's from the season 4 finale. Their designs were clearly chosen for a purpose. Will's was colorful and bright. It was more fun with little triangles on it. It reflected the happy tone of his reunions with his family and friends. In contrast, this one is colder (again, he likes it cold) and lacking playfulness. It's much more similar to Max's gown, and while Max's situation appears more dire, Will is under the influence of the Mind Flayer. Both characters are at risk of losing themselves to Vecna or the Mind Flayer or whoever is at fault. There are tons of parallels between Max and Will, but this hospital gown is just another visual cue to tack on, suggesting that maybe Max is about to endure a struggle for control too.

EPISODE 9

These outfits are so heinous, I don't even want to talk about them. Sigh. Unfortunately, I made a HUGE deal earlier about this yellow shirt, so...yes, Will is wearing a yellow shirt! He's back!

I tried really hard to zoom in on Mike's stripes and I honestly don't know what color they are. Maybe red? Maybe orange? Maybe brown? Regardless, he's wearing grey and blue, the usuals. But his tie is red. El has returned. Both Mike's red tie and Will's blue tie could be a way of demonstrating where each boy's affections are being directed. However, Mike wearing a brown jacket is a little baffling and disgusting, but continues to tie him into the Byers color scheme.

Additionally, Will's vest is dark green (I know it's hard to tell) and I think Mike's pants are green too? Not 100% sure of that one, though. Here are the same photos with obscene amounts of brightening. You decide.

But I think the ties are really the major detail here. It's a signal of the path Mike is about to run down with El the following season. He clearly has not learned to live with both Will and El in his life at once. The fact that he has worn either yellow or red but never both all season is hugely telling.

Mike's outfit is stylistically similar to Will's. They both wear button-downs, ties, and sweaters (neither Dustin nor Lucas wears a tie. Or a sweater). But his coloring matches El. The tie matches her belt almost perfectly. The grey of her dress matches the grey of his sweater. They'd match so much it's disgusting if it weren't for that godforsaken brown jacket. I'm not going to say that ugly-ass jacket means Will's getting between El and Mike because I don't think he is (at least not at this stage of the relationship), but I do think it shows that Mike isn't really sure where he stands right now.

Other Season 2 Wardrobe Analyses: El & Hopper Nancy, Jonathan, & Steve Lucas, Max, & Dustin

[she-karev]

The Wingman (Jackson Avery x Alex Karev's Sister Friendship Imagine)

Age Rating: 12+

Chapters: Two of Three

Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy

AN: I was aggravated that Jackson’s character development was declining in recent years so I decided to give him a sibling like relationship with Amber to put his good character traits forward. I plan on modeling their friendship after Mark and Callie only without the sex lol. I thought it would be fitting since he was Mark’s protégé.

Summary: Amber hears Andrew say something shocking to her causing her to fret. Meanwhile Jackson worries that Amber might like him but she and Alex set him straight.

Words: 3637

I walk inside the lobby wearing a Ramone’s graphic t shirt with jeans and combat boots carrying my clothes for tonight inside a black hanger bag. After I managed to obtain 14 numbers for Jackson two nights ago, he asked me if I was free for tonight and I said yes. I didn’t think being a wingman would be this much fun again but somehow it is when it’s at a city where the women are looser and have less standards. The Greenwich Village has a lot of bars filled with men and women who all have certain idiosyncrasies that aren’t fit for my med school friends I try to help.

Andrew is still out of town and I’m bored without him to keep me company. Plus, I actually kind of like hanging out with Jackson. It turns out we both like Michael Jackson, we both watch sports and have a secret love for Harry Potter. He likes the movies but hasn’t read the books and I read the books but haven’t seen the movies. I was willing to overlook that one flaw. We talked all night at the bar from debating the best 90’s song to the worst or scariest horror movie of all time. It was like talking to one of my brothers when I was a kid or one of the guys in my neighborhood.

I stop when I notice most of the hospital personnel are looking at me and whispering not so subtly. It’s been over a week since my past was revealed. I thought they would move past it by now. I guess it’s hard to shake off a crazy mom and crazy brother and the possibility of working with a future crazy person. I spot Jackson sitting in a chair at the lobby desk in his scrubs and I approach him knowing he has answers.

“Hey.”

“Hey.” He greets back, “What’s up?”

“Oh nothing.” I look around and glare at the gossiping hens, “Except I’m wondering how long their gonna stare and whisper at the girl with the crazy mom and crazy brother who almost killed her?”

Jackson looks up at me, “Oh no they moved on from that. Now their very interested in you dating the guy who almost sent your brother to jail after he beat him up.” I groan at that, “Trust me you’ll get used to it you just have to learn to move fast and keep your head down.”

I whisper, “Everybody knows? Does the chief know?”

Jackson chuckles lightly, “Oh honey even the cleaning lady knows.” I shake my head at the misfortune, “Everyone is debating if it’s revenge for you or revenge for DeLuca. I didn’t want to ask last night because we were having a good time but which is it?”

“Does it have to be revenge?” I ask frustrated and Jackson raises an eyebrow, “I know it looks that way but it’s not. I didn’t know what Alex did to him, we met at a bar it was all a coincidence.”

“Okay but why DeLuca?” Jackson asks me and I glare at him, “Come on tell me I want to know why you didn’t move on and choose someone who doesn’t have a bloody past with your brother.”

I decide to tell him since we started to bond last night, “He’s a good guy. He’s competent as a doctor it’s sexy and he’s very hot. And you know what else? He listens, Avery. It’s a very hard quality to find in a man believe me.”

Jackson spaces out for a moment but shakes his head, “I’m sorry did you say something? My mind just wondered off there for a second.” He grins and I chuckle at his joke, “I guess it comes from being a simple man.”

I slap his arm despite being amused, “Smartass.”

“Yeah also there’s a pool.” I look at him confused and he explains, “There’s a bet on how long it’ll be before you two crash and burn. Some of the nurses bet on 2 weeks but I like you and DeLuca so I put myself down for a month.”

“How generous of you.” I grin spitefully at him but a funny idea comes to me, “You know what put me down for two months.”

Jackson looks at me surprised by my turn, “Really?”

“A hundred bucks.” I say with confidence.

Jackson chuckles, “Wow you really have that much faith in this relationship?” I shrug, “All right but don’t come crying when you lose all your-”

“We’re at three months.” I confess with a proud grin and he freezes and looks up at me in shock, “Well five if you count us meeting at the bar and sleeping together the night I came to town for my interview.”

“You played me.” He whines, “You made a bet you already won.”

“Mama doesn’t play fair; mama plays to win.” I hold my hand out for the money, “I will accept cash, you look like you carry wads of hundreds all the time.”

“How about I give it to you in the form of drinks.” Jackson offers, “I’m probably gonna pay for dinner too like last time.”

“Most likely.” I nod, “Okay fine I like to eat and drink.”

“Are we still on for tonight?”

“Yeah, I got my outfit for tonight I think you’re really gonna like it, I get out by 8.” I turn to leave and I remember what I wanted to ask him, “Oh hey before I forget quick trivia.”

Jackson looks at me seriously, “Go.”

“House of a 1000 Corpses, Saw 4, or The Human Centipede?”

Jackson grimaces at the movies, “Are we talking scariest or worst horror movies of all time?”

I chuckle, “We have a new category grossest movie of all time, which one?”

“Oh that’s easy The Human Centipede.”

I narrow my eyes, “I thought you never saw it?”

“I read the Wikipedia plot.” Jackson tells me clearly disturbed, “I wasn’t able to eat for a week.”

I chuckle, “Well hey it’s a great way to lose weight.”

“I think your losing your touch She-Karev.” Jackson informs me with a grin, “Give me a challenge next time.”

“I’ll think on which movies made me queasier but I got to warn you I have an iron stomach.” I look at the clock, “Oh shoot I gotta go, I’ll text you when I get out same place?”

“I’ve been dreaming of hearing The Backstreet Boys on stereo.” I grin at Jackson’s comment and leave him to get ready for work.

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

Jackson grins at Amber walking away enjoying her company the longer they spent together. He didn’t think the other night would end good if anything he was expecting awkward drinking and an awkward car ride after. Instead he got a great wingman who talked him up to over a dozen girls. Plus the conversations they had during were actually great, she was easy for him to talk to without missing a beat.

It started when they debated over the best 90’s song of all time. It got pretty heated as she was passionate about Thunderstruck by AC/DC and him with Black or White by Michael Jackson. However, Jackson was more impressed than annoyed that her favorite 90’s band was AC/DC instead of the standard NSYNC and Whitney Houston most of the other clubbers choose. After that they talked about topics, they shared in common like horror movies and baseball. It was all smooth sailing from there and they set up another date for tonight after she impressed him with her ability to get girls for him.

“Don’t even think about it.” He closes his eyes at the familiar womanly voice and turns to find his mother, Catherine approach him with a disapproving look.

“Good morning mother.” He greets her plainly, “Is there a reason your scolding me so early in the day?”

“Do not play innocent with me boy, I saw the way you looked at her.”

“Looked at who?”

“You know who that pretty sister of Alex Karev’s.” Jackson chuckles at her accusation, “Don’t laugh at me I heard that she left with you the other night and I find it suspicious you two choose to be alone while her boyfriend is in another country.”

“Ma that’s not what it was.” He explains, “Look she was lonely with DeLuca away I needed someone with me so I can get back on the horse and she offered. I wasn’t sleeping with her she was helping me find other women to sleep with.” Catherine narrows her eyes at him suspiciously, “She was my wingman, we talked all night and she’s not like that. She’s pretty cool actually.”

“Jackson, I don’t know that much about her but I’m here to tell you to be careful how you might unintentionally lead her on. It wouldn’t be the first time you got involved with an intern and it backfired spectacularly.”

“Uncalled for mother.” Jackson tells her sternly, “That was different, I was different and Karev is different. She’s Alex’s baby sister for God sakes, sleeping with her would be wrong on epic proportions and I wouldn’t do that not to her and not to Alex.”

“I know you wouldn’t, baby. The question is does she?” Jackson looks at her in thought as she leaves him.

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

I walk down the hall carrying my outfit over my shoulders when I get a call. I pull my phone out of my pocket and grin at Andrew’s name popping up and answer it.

“Hey.” Andrew’s voice fills my ear.

“Hey. How’s it going in the land of pasta?”

“Good. The hip replacement took he should be out in two days and I’ll be back by the end of the week.”

“That’s great.” I tell him as I pass by nurses staring at me, “In other good news you left the country at the perfect time. Our relationship is on the cover of Gossip MD weekly so it’s awesome here in my end.”

Andrew chuckles lightly, “Well I would’ve taken you with me but I don’t think my whole extended family interrogating you would have been better.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.” I tell him bitterly, “Screw it the cats out of the bag, what do you say we go out for dinner when you get back? Or maybe breakfast this whole time zone is confusing.”

“Amber Stevie Karev, are you asking me out on a date?” Andrew teases.

“I never should’ve told you my middle name.” I say regretfully but I grin, “And yeah I am, don’t worry there will still be some hot, secret sex in it for you at the end.”

“Well, when you put it like that how can I say no?” Andrew says breathy, “All right you pick the place and we can go there after you pick me up from the airport.”

I smile, “Great.” I remember something, “Wait do I pick a dinner place or a breakfast place?”

“Hmm, you can find a place that makes both.” Andrew suggests and I hear someone female in the background that I register to be Carina, “I gotta go babe. I love you.”

Andrew hangs up just as his last words hit me like a truck. I stand there frozen because those three words and eight letters DeLuca just said to me have made my Exe stop responding. The black bag I’m holding feels like it’s not there and I’m sure my face looks like when you pause a tv. It feels like my systems have shut down in response to a guy I really like saying ‘I love you’ about three months into our relationship.

“Karev.” I hear someone calling me but I’m still frozen, “Karev!”

I snap out of it when the voice gets closer and I turn to find Dr. Bailey behind me raising an eyebrow at me, “C-Chief hi um I was just-”

“About to get ready for pre rounds?” Bailey commands.

“Yes.” I remember that I’m at work so I move my limbs that feel like they’re made of cement, “I’ll do that sorry chief.” I walk away from her keeping my panic under wraps until lunch when I can get answers from another guy.

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

Jackson sits across from Alex in the cafeteria getting answers from him about Amber so he knows his mother is worrying over nothing. Normally he wouldn’t listen to Catherine but her last words really hit him. He knows he would never make a move on Amber for obvious reasons but that doesn’t necessarily mean she wouldn’t do the same. He feels bad degrading her like this after he defended her but he has to know he’s not screwing things up again and while it makes him uncomfortable Alex is the best source to all things Amber.

“She doesn’t like you.” Alex says bluntly with a mouth full of sandwich, “And you’re an idiot if you think your mommy is right about my little sister being a cheat and floozy.”

“I didn’t call her a floozy.” Jackson states, “I was just concerned about how she would interpret that night other than just two friends hanging out.”

Alex chuckles, “Why because you’re an Avery and a plastic surgeon and a stud to all the interns?”

Jackson looks at him annoyed, “This isn’t about my ego.” Alex snorts at that, “It’s not! Look I like her as a friend and you raised her do you think she would see me the same very platonic sense or should I make myself clear?”

“You and your rich boy problems.” Alex grumbles and faces him, “Look you think there’s a problem because you’ve never had a female friend before.”

Jackson narrows his eyes at him, “Yes I have what are you talking about?”

“I mean you’ve never had a female friend you weren’t sexually attracted to or slept with.” Jackson wants to defend himself but Alex stops him, “You flirted with Altman, you kissed Yang, you married Kepner, dated Edwards, dated Lexie and now you think my sister wants to sleep with you. Can you see the problem here?”

Jackson looks at him stumped after that harsh truth, “So you’re saying I have nothing to worry about?”

“Unlike you my sister has been pure friends with the opposite sex.” Alex explains, “She grew up with two brothers, played sandlot with the neighborhood boys and slept with girls as far as I know. She’s not like other women she’s more like…a guy.”

“A guy?” Jackson asks.

“She doesn’t play games.” Alex explains, “She says what she thinks and she makes it clear that she wants someone. If she wanted you, which she does not, she would have told you last night trust me. You’re freaking out over nothing.”

Jackson feels a little more calm, “Yeah your right, your right.”

“I know I am.” Alex takes a bite of his sandwich before adding, “But if you make one move on my baby sister, I will punch you.”

“I didn’t see you sporting this attitude with DeLuca.”

“Well, I already made what I would do to him if he hurt her clear. And that was before they even met.” Alex reminds him just as Amber enters the cafeteria and approaches them.

“Get up I need to talk to him.” Amber tells them and Jackson interprets it toward him and stands, “No not you, you’re the one I want to talk to. Alex leave.”

Alex looks at her offended, “I was here first.”

“I am not in the mood to argue and if I were you, I’d move fast.” Amber says intimidatingly causing Alex to get up and Amber takes his spot across an anxious Jackson who’s uneasy being alone with her. Before leaving Alex makes an ‘I’m watching you’ gesture at Jackson out of view from Amber who looks at Jackson with an equally anxious face, “Okay I have a question for you as a guy.”

“Um sure go ahead.” Jackson says despite the ball of nerves in his stomach.

“Okay.” Amber clears her throat, “What’s the shortest time in realizing you love someone?”

Jackson chokes on his soda that he was sipping before looking at Amber frightened thinking she is talking about them, “What?”

Amber sighs, “Look something happened and-”

“Okay I’m gonna stop you before you say something that will implicate me in another human resources complaint.” Jackson groans in despair, “Damn it I hate it when my mother is right.”

“What?” Amber asks as confusion fills her instead of anxiety.

“Amber, I like you, you’re a great girl.” Jackson begins, “I liked hanging out with you as a friend. I think of you as a friend and maybe I did something last night to give you the wrong impression and I am sorry.” Amber looks at him blankly as he continues, “You’re an intern, your Karev’s little sister not to mention your dating DeLuca. Now I hate to hurt you but I have to if it means you understand that this, us, can never-” Amber interrupts him with a kick to the shin under the table causing him to groan in pain and take a moment as Amber looks at him offended, “On the other hand my mother has her moments of being wrong.”

“What is wrong with you?” Amber asks him bluntly.

Jackson rubs his shin, “So you weren’t…”

“No, you idiot!” Amber yells under her breath so they don’t draw attention, “I came to you because I needed a guy’s insight into the guy mind. I didn’t want to ask my brother because it concerns my boyfriend and it would be weird so I decided to ask you. You have more insight into this than my friends, you’ve dated before, you were married and you’ve led a very long life.” Jackson looks up offended by her calling him old, “We talked last night and I helped you get women’s numbers so you can sleep with them. What about that made you think I wanted to have that pleasure instead?”

Jackson’s pain passes and tries to come up with an answer but is stumped, “Um…because I’m an idiot.”

Amber nods, “Yes I already knew that but why do you have this assumption that I am a floozy and a cheat?”

Jackson sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, “Look I’ve never had a female friend before, at least not one I didn’t sleep with. I thought…or my mother thought you would misinterpret what happened and make a move and I am sorry.” Amber’s anger lessens at his genuine apology, “I’m sorry I jumped the gun, it’s all me not you I swear. Are you mad?”

“Yes I am!” Jackson flinches at her voice and looks at a few people looking at them, “As much as I want to hit you I need your help and your gonna sit there and listen to why I am freaking out and your gonna help me.”

“Freaked out about what?” Jackson asks and holds his hand up to solemnly swear, “I promise I will not make any more assumptions so just tell me what you were gonna tell me come on.”

Amber clicks her tongue, “He said it. DeLuca just said it.”

“What did DeLuca say?” Amber widens her eyes to indicate it and he realizes to his shock, “Oh god he said it? So fast?”

“Over the phone.” Amber bites her nails anxiously, “3 words, 8 letters that put me on a 11 on the stress scale. Oh god I am freaking out right now.”

Jackson sees her stress, “Yeah I can tell and I can see why you didn’t want to talk to your brother.”

“What is he thinking?” Amber asks incredulously, “We haven’t been dating that long and he goes and springs it over the phone. What is wrong with him? Was it an accident or a slip of the tongue?”

“I mean it could’ve been.” Jackson shrugs, “I said I love you once to a girl I was on a third date with but that was in med school and I had crammed for a final and didn’t get any sleep. He’s in a different time zone, his uncle is getting a surgery maybe he was tired.”

Amber exhales in relief, “Yeah, yeah, you’re right I mean it would be insane if he said it this soon and believe me I know insane. He didn’t mean it, it’s just a slip of the tongue that’s all.”

Jackson nods but feels the need to point out another possibility, “Unless he really did-”

“No, no, no.” Amber stops him, “Don’t say it, don’t even think it.”

“I mean come on it could be that.”

“It can’t be that.” Amber tells him stubbornly, “It would be disastrous if that was the case.”

“Because it would be too soon or because your scared to let your guard down.” Jackson suggests.

“You know what, you don’t know what you’re talking about.” Amber tells him annoyed.

“Really?” Jackson chuckles, “I thought my many years of living were a gift for you.”

“Well, it’s not and DeLuca is not in love with me and I am not scared to let my guard down.” Amber scoffs, “You know you don’t know me as well as you think you do Avery, I mean you thought I wanted to sleep with you.”

“That’s not…” Jackson clears his throat, “Yeah that is true and I apologize for that again.”

“You should and I am not interested in you, let me make that perfectly clear. I wanted to be nice after you saved my job but I will not stoop so low as to show you my gratitude in bed. Despite what you and Jennings think I have some class.” Amber stands up and walks away from Jackson who groans at the mess he caused.

Next Chapter Here

[freaky-flawless]

So I Got Cleo's G3 Doll

Here's my thoughts under the cut. Just wanna put a disclaimer that I am someone who doesn't consider themself a fan of Gen 3, but is keeping an open mind. So just keep that in mind as you read, I am biased and do compare her to the G1 dolls, but I try to give credit where credit is due.

Like I said previously, I love the doll itself. Her face up is pretty (mine does have a slight imperfection, but its subtle enough that I'm not bothered by it), her hair is pretty, her skin tone and the shimmer they added to it are beautiful. I love her new body as well, though I do wish her torso and neck were a little longer. Specifically I love her big ears and hands. I do like G1 Cleo's hand pose a little bit more, but overall her new hands are great, and because they're bigger they're easier to remove. And finally, this will probably be an unpopular opinion, but I could do without the chest articulation in place of something else, like a doll stand.

I can't say much on the quality of her hair as it's not something I'm all that knowledgeable about. All I can say is that it feels more...plasticy? Compared to her G1 doll's hair. I'm having a hard time getting it to stay flat. I also think it's kinda odd that they seemingly made it a point to give all the dolls long brushable hair, but didn't provide brushes. Don't get me wrong, I have an abundance of Monster High brushes and don't need any more, but kids brand new to the series don't. And as someone with nieces, I can say for sure that they love brushing doll hair. I feel like doll stands and hair brushes are pretty standard things for dolls to come with nowadays, especially at that price range.

I'm very amused at how much she looks like Nefera, in the sense that the two of them look even more related than G1 Cleo and Nefera. It does look to me as though they took more inspiration from Nefera's G1 design more than Cleo's, which is interesting. I also discovered that Nefera's shoes, though they don't fit, match G3 Cleo's outfit pretty well, aside from the black in them.

Speaking of G3 Cleo's outfit...that's where my biggest disappointment lies.

I haven't exactly been subtle about my dislike for her boots. They don't go with the style of her dress, and overall I think giving a character who grew up in a hot desert climate boots is a super weird choice. On top of that I don't find them to be flattering on her new leg molds. Her calves are much thicker now, and adding thick boots to them really accentuates it and makes her look slightly awkward and disproportionate. However the actual quality of them is pretty good. There's a decent amount of detail, and I appreciate that the slit in the back of them doesn't go all the way up so they can't lose their shape, which is actually an issue I have with a couple G1 dolls. I would say the same for her accessories, they're well detailed and the paint job on them is really nice.

Her dress is where things take a nosedive. I think before I was so distracted by how much I disliked her boots that I didn't pay that much attention to her dress. But now that I have her and have felt the material I'm really disappointed by it. I don't know what material was used to make it, but I can assure it's plastic and pretty cheap feeling. Compared to G1 Cleo's clothes it feels like a cheap costume. I will say this material is probably more play proof, but I do have G1 Cleo's basic outfit, which is over ten years old by now, and her jumpsuit still looks brand new, and the material is so soft. It feels like real clothes. And compared to other modern doll lines the quality of her dress is kinda embarrassing. They couldn't have used a nicer material?? And aside from that, she has this new beautiful body mold, I would have really hoped that they'd have given her an outfit to accentuate it a bit more, like Draculaura's does.

Interestingly, I think her outfit in the show and on the box art would look better on her doll, and her doll's outfit would look better on her 3D model.

tldr; the doll is gorgeous, she should have come with a brush and a doll stand, her accessories are well detailed, and the quality of her dress is cheap.



[silverloreley]

What's your honest opinion on Lonnie and her family in Descendants?

A difficult question, my favourite kind!

Short answer: I like Lonnie and I hate the wasted potential, she could have been so much more, but that's a problem with the whole cast, sadly.

Now, to go in-depth, I often have two ways to look at the characters, the ones called the Watsonian and Doylist explanations. Brace yourself, this is long.

Doylist first, Lonnie is badly written, Mulan and Shang are nonexistent and likely their attitudes were not taken into account when the character Lonnie was created, save for the fact the authors could shove a sort-of Asiatic aesthetic in the movie without really making an effort because the whole movie feels too much American and too little Eurasian (as it should probably be if you think the only American story in the Disney lore is Princess and the Frog). They didn't think of the backstory, the ramifications, and so forth of a girl being the daughter of a general and a cross-dressing heroine whose entire story was tied to her identity, her family, and their values. Lonnie is there because the VKs needed someone who wouldn't be scared or wary of them (save for Ben) but had the practical mind of taking them at face value. Which is important, plot-wise, but doesn't make sense with who her parents are supposed to be. (But, really, Descendants is a mess when it comes to how adults should be, Belle is their greatest failure, she's unrecognizable, ugh!)

Watsonian now! Lonnie is the byproduct of the assimilation culture that is widespread in Auradon. She was sent to a school where all the children of notable people in a rather big kingdom, a federation akin to an empire, are put together to be taught the same values, the same behavior, and end up developing the same tastes and ideas. It's an environment where she had to conform or stand out and, depending on how early she got there, she may have been conditioned to conform since she was a child because that's what all her friends did, or because she didn't want to feel the fish out of water.

Even her name is wrong, Lonnie is not Chinese at all (again, this is a problem with the whole cast, I have in my drafts a list of potentially more correct names for VKs and AKs alike, one day I'll complete it, I swear) and her brother's name suffers with the same issue (Li is their surname, so Lil' Shang sounds like a mockery, like Herkie or Ally or..., well, you got the drill) so I think her name was adapted, by her or someone else, to fit the Auradon standard.

That's who we meet at first, a girl trying to fit in with looks and acts but who, ultimately, knows she wants to be her own person. Hence the hair scene, "cool hair" she asks for, to fit into the standard of beauty on the surface, but the act of asking for magic and the ripped skirt tell us she doesn't fit and she isn't sure she wants to, unless it's at her own conditions.

But she is still a victim of the system, the way she ran to check her hair when Mal undid Jane's, the way she kept hanging out with the royal kids, it all speaks of wanting to fit in that status quo. She shook it up with new hair and clothes in stronger tones (only to fall back to pastels for coronation day), but that's it, she had some way to go.

Yet! She was the one who put a camera in the cafeteria to show the secrets of the elite of the school, the one who saw and wanted to show there is something rotten in the system she lives in, she made "School of Secrets" to prove a point, and she learned something from that before the VKs arrived, which leads to how she acts around them.

She's the AK (again, aside from Ben) who gave the VKs a genuine chance, who approached them first, who listened to them and tried to understand, which led them to understand. The "even Villains love their kids, right?" scene is powerful because it shows the wedge between the two worlds in a mundane yet fundamental way. I think it's more powerful than Ben's "I can teach you love" and his superficial questions on life on the Isle (I love Ben but he's quite removed from ordinary life, he can't see the little issues that make the huge ones). Lonnie sees, by accident but not so much, a deeper truth about the VKs like she saw the issues within Auradon Prep students before anyone else and that's amazing of her. Ben has the right heart and the power to act, Lonnie has the right eyes and practical sense. If they let Lonnie speak with Ben on-screen, they could have helped so much more, Lonnie could have had a bigger role. But she was taught to be superficial, not by her parents, who I think didn't have that much time for her being generals and diplomats, but by Auradon itself. She tries to delve in the issues, but ultimately falls into the trap of wanting to keep herself on the upper side (consciously or not, that's up for debate).

The second movie shows her growth from her fake-girly tendencies. She's sporty, but she doesn't want to be a cheerleader, she's good at swordfighting and wants to do that, even if the status quo is sexist and doesn't accept her in the role of an active player. She took a page from her mother's book and hid her identity until she could prove her point, pity Auradon is even less understanding than Ancient China when it comes to pulling down the barriers between genders.

I think second movie Lonnie managed to find a balance in herself, the sporty side non-Auradon-approved and the sanctified feminine side, but done in her own way. Her Cotillon dress has pants! What other AK girl wears pants? Even the VK girls have gowns skirts for the official celebrations, but not Lonnie. She found her balance, she can be who she wanted to be.

Pity all of this has to be extracted from context and clues and we don't see Lonnie struggling with her realizations, taking examples from the fashion of the VKs where girls can and do wear pants and strong colours. She's a side-character, a helper, she lends a hand when needed, she bravely faces whatever comes her way, but we don't see her. Her struggle with the male world is fixed by Jay finding a loophole, she is recognized as a good fighter by who matters in the economy of the story - us watchers and Jay - but not by the story itself. Wasted potential.

And then she's completely absent from the third movie. There's nothing I can say here, but I suppose her missing left space for the Jay/Gil pairing, so whatever. It would have been great to see her in "Night falls", or even facing Audrey, or, hear this, facing Mal who betrayed her own Isle people to conform to the Auradon expectations, the same expectations Lonnie used to be victim of!

Yet, we never got that. We got her in the books, briefly, but she's unimportant there, just a guide for Ben during a border controversy but that story was more about Ben learning compromise and diplomacy than anything so whatever.

Anyway, that's what I think.

[husbandohunter]

You know ur small predicament post?? you should make a reverse version where s/o is smaller!

A Smaller Predicament [Genshin Impact x Smol!Reader]

Characters: Scaramouche, Diluc, Kaeya, Childe, Xiao, Zhongli, Albedo

Synopsis: Not only did you shrink, you went pocket sized as well!

(A sequel to "A Small Predicament")

(A/n): Sorry for the long wait anon, and I kind of added a twist to the scenario for more diversity hahaha hope you don't mind >_<. And why is Childe the poster boy for this series lmao.

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

Childe

When Childe walks in, he doesn't see you....until he looked down. He almost crunched you beneath his feet if it weren't for your constant flailing of arms and screeching voice. He blanks out for a hot minute as you clung onto his toes, doesn't dare to move an inch because he's so petrified (even though there's nothing to be afraid of??). But honestly if Childe moved right now, he might accidentally flail you to the side and that's the last thing he wants.

"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU??" He screamed so loud it nearly blew you out of proportion. Seems like he's going to have alot of adjusting to do. Childe is a tall man (canonically the tallest) and he knows how impulsive he can get which is why he bought a handmade dollhouse from one of the Liyue merchants for you to stay in.

Though there's something about your tiny size that makes his heart flutter. With your face so small with a pair of eyes far too big, *clutches chest* "My oujo-chan is so cute" -Childe probably. He won't stop saying them over again and you were growing tired of his gushing reactions. He can't help it. He wants to spoil you rotten. You fit right onto the flat of his palms, the way you just snuggle up againts his finger and he just- swoons, might tear up (bruh).

Toys may be for kids but for Childe it was now his favourite pass time. While you navigate around the wooden dollhouse, he pitches in by moving around the furniture to make it easier for you. Offers to carry you through the rooms like a personal elevator. And please, please let him tuck you to bed. He has to pinch his fingers to grab the blanket. It's so adorable to him.

Loves it when you snuggle up against his collar. He thinks it would be the best area for you to be nearby him since the risk of you getting hit by anything (or him) by accident is very slim chance. Sometimes he pulls up his collar so that you're more comfortable and cradled within. He would have to avert his eyes down rather than turning his head if he wanted to look at you otherwise you'd be hit by his chin and that would hurt.

The poking sensation with you by his neck can bother him since he's veeeery tickilish there. Plus, Childe can get easily sweaty so have fun with that.

You have a feeling that he wasn't so pleased when you transformed back. You might be right. Actually, you are right. He secretly has an extra potion hidden somewhere...just in case.

Diluc

Mortified, his soul just left his body. To think things couldn't get any worse ever since he turned into a child to the point no one took him seriously, now you're literally the size of an apple. Oh god what if his bird suddenly swoops in and gobbles you right up? Or the wrath of the wind comes by, swirling you away towards a tornado. Needless to say, Diluc grew paranoid over your well-being ever since.

Due to your extremely small size, he will ensure that you are supervised by him (except at night where he has places to go). In otherwords, you're slipped into the inner pocket of his coat. It's super warm, you can fall asleep (and feel his heartbeat awww). Diluc doesn't like keeping you in places where people can see you, it would be too easy for outer things to access your tiny form (or maybe he secretly likes the feeling of you in his pocket.)

And he's such a gentleman about it. You noticed how careful he moves among his footsteps because he's worried that you might get dizzy. Diluc guards the pocket at close parameter, keeping an eye on things so he won't bump into them. As if he was treading on thin ice (you even suggested it was best to leave you home but he's too overprotective for his own good).

You're like his little assistant. Diluc does so much paperwork through out the day and although the act was small, he finds it endearing how you would help bring the papers back to it's rightful pile or pushing the ink bowl towards him. Or during his shifts at Angel's Share, crawling around the glass utensils and trying to find a specific wine beverage on his shelf. Of course that only happens when the shop is closed, how is he going to explain to his patrons that you shrank and now live in his pocket?

He dislikes the thought of you wandering too far. It's so easy for you to get lost especially when the mansion is so large.

At night you now sleep atop the fluff of the pillow. Diluc is a calm sleeper so he won't have to worry about hitting into you. However he radiates warmth so you just subconicously roll towards to his face. He usually wakes up with you sprawled over his nose. He can hardly breath (careful, he might just sneeze too).

This all happened because of the experiements you participated with Albedo. Diluc ensures that doesn't happen again. It will take some tencaious effort to convince him otherwise.

Scaramouche

Fuck this guy. He treats you like his new pet, a new toy (though you technically are one). He has this arrogant, smug and sadistic look as if he was a predator looking at his prey and grabs you by the collar before dangling you up in the air.

"Hmph, looks like the tables have turned," he says while toying with your state. You tell him he's just angry because he's short himself and mad that everyone else in the Fatui organization is taller than him. Scaramouche demon face activated. He's about to devour you. (Maybe you should keep your mouth shut this time. Honestly your relationship with him is pretty weird).

His hat is so fun to play with. You'd swing around like Tarzan using the strings that were hanging from it. His head was your playground now which annoys him to an enourmous extent because it makes him look ridiculous. Scaramouche will have a hard time catching you since you move around so much. Climb around him, especially the back of his neck. He'll start wheezing when you tickle him there.

The type to put you in a box but also the type to keep you on his shoulders. Being relied on makes him feel taller (lmfao). Scaramouche seemse to have developed a habit to poke your cheeks whenever he needed your attention and you bit him back once when he pushed too hard that you nearly fell off. Despite your size, your teeth still hurt. He threatens to put you back into the box if you don't behave and the outcome ends with a full out brawl as he tries to grab you again while you run around, pulling the strands of his hair to climb on top of his hat. (This is literally Tom and Jerry wtf.)

After transforming back, he outwardly admits his disappointmen. Scaramouche says it suits you better (when he actually meant that he highly prefers you small). You marked his words, keeping an extra vial for your own entertainment in the near future.

Xiao

Xiao was face-palming against his forehead real hard about this. For the love of Rex Lapis, what kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time? First it was the child incident, now you're the size of his finger? Good grief, looks like he will have to keep an eye on you from now on but at the same time he's scared to get too close, you are nothing but a tiny mortal in which he would have to double his effort to look after.

He lets you sit at the crown of his head rather than anywhere else. You insisted since it was easier to see everything at a nice distance (plus he's short so you won't have to worry about him bumping into door frames). You noticed that Xiao also has a little strand sticking out from the center (ahoge) and you sometimes grab onto it for stability. Turns out he's quite sensitive there and winces when you pull too hard.

For the remaining week as the antedote was being prepared, Xiao became extremely aggressive over your well-being, he looks as if he's ready to massacre everything in his way...which he did. Clears out the monsters off the path before going on daily strolls with you, you wouldn't have to lift a finger from now on. No one except for him is allowed to hold you unless they're a trustworthy person. You could feel his sharp eyes glued on you like a hawk when walking into the grasp of Zhongli's hand.

You once accidentally tripped into his almond tofu when he wasn't looking and he almost ate you. Turns out being small made his job as your gaurdian ten times harder (especially when you're the clumsy type). If you were to fall off the table, he would have to catch you right? Xiao often bumps into furnitures in the process...ouch!

He's very soft. It's all over his forehead, his mouth, his eyes. When he looks at you, his tense eatures melted away and there's an invisible fondness over them as he cradles you in his palm. The way you snuggle in them is lke the most precious thing in the world.

When you turn back, there's a wave of relief. He was really stressed out you know?

Zhongli

His first thought is to get you as far as he can from the Funeral Parlour before Hu Tao finds you. Who knows what that child might have in mind. Zhongli takes one of his empty tea pots and urges you to go inside, or carries a tea cup with you in it, he likes placing you on objects while carrying you around.

Zhongli realizes that you can no longer use the household items like before so he has to remake them to your standards- especially when he realized he doesn't have the mora to buy you a dollhouse. He improvises. Takes a handkerchief to make your blanket, his cups for your bathtub, Zhongli had to cut the foot into byte-sized too. But in terms of clothes, well he had to make them as well. Living thousands of years would mean he would have lot of experience. Sewing was one of them luckily. But that would mean he has to take your measurements as well. In the end, most of the things he made were dresses since they were alot easier.

You like to sneak in between his shirt and his vest tucked behind the coat he wears. Unfortunately Zhongli doesn't seem to have visible pockets (most likely the reason why he doesn't carry mora either), though if you don't hold on tight you might just slip down his vest and right to his stomach. It makes him chuckle when that happens even if the amount of effort to get you out took more than he thought since his attire is quite complicated to put on. If you really want to climb on him, he'll find a seperate pouch (but realizes it won't be a good idea when there's alot of pick-pocketers in Liyue streets).

All of a sudden he reads you bedtime stories. It's some sort of inner instinct that tells him he's taking care of a child now (he's right though). You realized that his voice was equivalent to a thunder's roar due to size difference. He would have to whisper now.

It will always be part of his precious memories when you turned pocket-sized. Zhongli still keeps the clothing he made somewhere in his closets too.

Kaeya

Amused by this eventful situation. Absolutely thrilled! He's not evil like Scaramouche but this new version of his s/o is both adorable and fun at the same time. You're so easy to tickle, just one poke using his finger against your hips makes you yelp. Sometimes he twirls your hair or taps your forehead gently despite your protest, he's so handsy like always in an affectionate yet annoying way.

Kaeya picks you up and places you among the fluffy comfort of his feathery scarf. You sneezed, the last time he cleaned it was before he went on a mission with the knights. Though you have to admit, it's the best feeling in the world. It's so soft you might sink deeper into the fabric. He likes to put you in places where he can talk to you easily, sometimes on the table while he downs on his wine. Normally you have to take the bottle away before it gets too much, now you have to push it away which he finds very entertaining at your futile attempts.

"Don't you have anything better to do?" you tell him. Since you turned byte-sized, he can't seem to stop playing around. Takes his two fingers and pretends they're legs walking across the surface. You would turn around and he halts, Kaeya sends you his signature grin. When he promises that he wouldn't do anything funny, you would let him hold you. Since hugs are out of the equation, Kaeya gives you his finger instead to wrap your arms around. He can't get enough seeing you like this, things he couldn't do when you were normal-sized. he enjoys your reactions way too much.

His favourite pass time is helping you brush your hair because the hairbursh is too big for you to handle. Kaeya ensure he's handling things delicately but he would love to help style it for you as well. Pretty please? At this point one request turns to another because he's having way too much fun. But it couldn't be helped since you would need his assistance in almost everything so there's really no escaping.

You were so happy when things were normal again but Kaeya would bring this up again during your conversations (how next time he would like to put you in his drinks while you're wearing a swim suit).

Albedo

Legit blurted out if he could put you on a hamster wheel.

What about trying out the little maze he just made?

Or participating in a race against slimes of different elements?

No? Okay, then he'll just turn you back.

Albedo isn't going deal with this as along as he can help it (especially when he remembers what Klee did to him when he turned small.)

[ashintheairlikesnow]

Hello i would kill for some awkward Connor attempting to comfort Chris during training please and thank you

Follow-up to this piece from yesterday

CW: Pet whump, implied whump of a minor, bruising, some dehumanizing language, BBU, facility whump, creepy comfort, The Moral Standards of Monsters, some implied conditioning due to ableism (blink-and-you’ll-miss-it)

“Hey, Manning.”

Connor looks up from his lunch - he’s at his desk in his training room, a sandwich, bag of chips, and bottle of his iced coffee set out in front of him while he finishes up paperwork from the last trainee’s fitness reports - and sighs. Fucking Luke goddamn Petrus. “Yeah?”

For a second, his stomach flips. Linda swore up and down that the complaint would be anonymous, and Connor isn’t the only person in the hallway who has brought up the screaming being… irritating… but still.

Luke is Director Renford’s favorite in a big way, her loyal henchman, and he can make a handler’s life a living hell if he wants to.

Luke leans against the open doorway, giving him a bright smile. Above the expression, though, Luke’s blue eyes stay cold as ice. Like the Director, Connor thinks sometimes. Two fucking peas in a pod, and Connor’s always a little bit on the outside.

Lately, though, he’s been feeling kind of grateful he’s on the outskirts. The Director’s approval is something everyone works for, but having her focus on you too long and too thoroughly sounds as terrifying as her anger.

“I just got called up to a meeting with Renford.”

Renford. Like they’re buddies. Like he’s equals with her. Connor keeps his mouth shut, but he wonders how the Director would react if she knew he calls her Renford when she’s not right in front of him. “Good for you. I don’t see why that should affect my lunch break.”

“The meeting could last a few hours. I know you’ve got the afternoon off from trainee work. Would you mind keeping an eye on one of mine? He’s just out of a week in solitary, so he’s needy as fuck.”

Connor perks up a little at that. Needy trainee and unscheduled afternoon sounds like just the pick-me-up he needs today. “He need any training work?”

“Nah. Do whatever you want with him.” Luke gives Connor a wink. “He’s got some top notch fucking flexibility. Just saying. You can twist him into pretzels. Tell him he’s being good and he’ll do it all himself. Kid’s eager as fuck now that we’re past the halfway point.”

Kid?

Connor swears internally but keeps his expression carefully the same. “What do you mean, kid, Luke? Wait a sec-”

“I’ll bring him in, hold on!” Luke’s already gone from the doorway.

Connor has a sinking feeling of realization that Luke didn’t just randomly decide to leave a trainee with him. He must’ve figured out who put the fucking complaint in. And he knows that Connor hates the screaming, if he knows that.

Which means…

Luke reappears, and sure enough, the little redheaded trainee who is the cause of all the wailing and sobbing is right beside him.

No weights hanging from his hands this time, but there are deep red marks around his wrists and bruises at his upper arms just below his sleeves that suggest he’s done plenty of training work this morning, whatever Luke says.

Jesus, this kid is eerily beautiful. Pale skin, flushed in the aftermath of tears, with a smattering of freckles all over like constellations of stars. His hair’s that rare shining strawberry blond, with eyebrows pale enough to make him seem faintly inhuman. Connor wonders exactly which piece of shit with a thing for teenagers put the order in.

He wants to make sure he doesn’t vote for the guy.

Not that Connor Manning votes.

But maybe he’ll start, and then start purposefully voting for someone else. That's probably way more effort than he'll ever put in to anything that isn't work or Socks, but it feels kind of nice to think about it.

The trainee keeps his eyes carefully down on the floor. Connor notes he’s not even wearing the shock collar any longer - just your average band of black leather, buckled at the side, no padlock. Not only not being shocked, or not needing it, but already far enough along not to try and remove his own collar.

“Luke. I’ve told you how I feel about the underagers-”

“Yeah, and I’ve told you that you can judge me when you're an angel, numbnuts. You’re not better than me. You just have different victims.”

“Oh, the Director would have a shit-fit hearing you call the trainees victims.”

“Yeah, well, maybe I’m the only one who really grasps exactly what it is we do here, Manning. I just also happen to enjoy it. Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life, right?"

“Go fuck yourself, Petrus. I enjoy my job just fine.” Why is he defensive about this? Connor doesn’t quite understand the surge of irritation within him. Why does he give a fuck what Luke goddamn Petrus has to say about anything, anyway?

“Yeah, for now you do. We’ll see how it goes. I’ve been at this gig for a long time, I see the ones who flame out, and you’re one of them. Anyway, I’ve got to go meet with Renford, I’ll be back by three. If you get tired of him, just put him on the mat and I’ll pick him up when I’m done.”

“Yeah, okay.” Connor frowns, pushing himself to his feet. “I do like my job, Petrus.”

“For now. Bet I’ll be the only person here totally unsurprised when you quit one day.”

“I’m not going to quit.”

“I’ll bet you a thousand damn dollars you do, and I’ll raise the bet to fifteen hundred that it’s over your fucking conscience making a reappearance.”

“Don’t have one."

Luke just sighs, and gives Connor a patronizing little smirk before he turns and leaves. The trainee looks over his shoulder to watch Luke go, pleading with his eyes but not saying a word. The door shuts, and Connor and the trainee are alone.

Connor clears his throat, picking up the sandwich but finding he doesn’t really want it any longer. “What’s your number, trainee?”

The boy’s eyes snap back to him, briefly, before they drop to the floor. Connor notes with vague professional detachment that they’re red-rimmed. He’s been crying again, but then, when isn’t this fucking trainee crying?

When he’s screaming instead, Connor’s thoughts answer him.

God, he wishes these trainees didn’t get to him so much. He can’t talk to anyone about it, either, word will get out Connor Manning has regrets. Questioning the company is a good way to find yourself on the wrong end of a shock collar.

“223499, sir,” The boy says. His voice is low and soft, and each number and word is deliberately placed, as if he’s carefully pacing himself as he speaks. “Designation… Romantic-”

“Yeah, I knew that already. That’s all Luke does.” Connor leans his chin on his hand, looking the kid over. There’s solid muscle in that kid, he thinks, legacy of whatever life he lived before. It’s wasting away under the carefully calibrated malnourishment they’re all subjected to, but the memory of strength is in there, still. An easy, unconscious grace that didn’t have to be taught. “You’ve already done training work today?”

Those green eyes flash up at him again, nervous. Frightened. The boy shifts from foot to foot, then goes still. His fingers twitch before he pauses that, too. Connor watches it all with a kind of slightly repulsed interest. “Yes, sir. But… Handler Petrus said that… that if you want, you can-... can test me-”

“I don’t want,” Connor says heavily, cutting him off with a gesture. The boy’s mouth snaps shut instantly. “Not in the mood.”

There’s an expression of genuine confusion - when is a handler not in the mood? - that flits across the boy’s face. It’s a look of such comedic bafflement that Connor ends up laughing, shaking his head. He doesn’t even put his sexy, dark laugh on, but just snort-laughs naturally, before he walks over to the kid, watching him pull into himself, shoulders hunched.

“Relax, kid. I’m not going to hurt you.”

The kid’s nose wrinkles. It’s adorable. “But… all you do… is hurt us.”

Luke’s fucking technique, Connor thinks. Luke’s trainees don’t forget anything he’s taught them, to be sure, but they never quite learn how to act like they’re in love with it, either. Connor can turn out a trainee who genuinely thinks he’s in love. Luke turns out trainees who hate everything they can’t stop themselves from doing.

Some perspectives are into that, he supposes. Connor thinks he’d rather have the act.

“Yeah, well, I’m not going to do that today. Come on,” Connor says, and his voice gentles a little. “I’ve got plenty to keep myself busy with. Why don’t you lay down on the mat and get some sleep while I work?” He puts a hand on the boy’s shoulder, feeling him trembling slightly through the thin cloth of his white trainee t-shirt. The boy moves when he’s nudged, carefully stepping across the room, tense as a wire about to snap.

“Are you-... are you going to, to, to, to, um-” The boy flinches back from an expected punishment when he stammers. "Silence is, is better than stammering, try again, silence is better than-... try again." The kid mutters to himself, takes a deep breath, tries again. "Are you... going to... give me a pill?"

Connor pulls his hand back, frowning. Now it’s his turn to look confused.

What the fuck is even going on with this kid?

“Nah. I don't even keep them in my training room. No worries, kid.” He pitches his voice low, soothing, reassuring. “The only thing I intend to do is finish up some papers, go take a smoke break outside, and then come back and get set up for my next rounds at seven before I head out. This is a real break. Okay? I’m not even interested in whatever it is Handler Petrus is doing with you. I just want to do my job.”

The kid looks at him. He’s almost always seen him drugged out of his gourd, barely able to focus on anything not right in front of his face. Right now, though, there’s a sense that the boy is considering his words, actually able to think about them. “Yes, sir. I can-... I, I can lay down?” 

 “Yeah, go for it.” Connor waves his hand again, moving back to his desk.

“Thank you, sir.” The kid’s gratitude is pathetic. Connor has to give Luke that, he does know how to make a trainee say thank you for just about anything. Connor’s method takes more work to get to that than Luke’s.

But Connor doesn’t have to drug his trainees to do it. And he doesn’t work with kids.

Shit. Maybe I am going to wind up with a conscience. Handlers get fired over that.

Or worse.

After a pause, watching him go, the kid kneels down, then lays down on his stomach, making as much contact with the heated mat as he can. There’s a soft exhale, something almost like contentment. Connor watches those tensed, probably painful muscles slowly relax. His bare feet start to rub against each other, back and forth, back and forth.

There’s a blanket nearby, and the boy hesitantly grabs at it, pulls it over himself. Breathes out, eyes fluttering shut as warmth surrounds him utterly for what’s probably the first time in a while. Or at least warmth that doesn’t come with certain conditions.

Connor’s eyes trace the line of the boy’s jaw - there’s a bruise there, too, like a thumb pressed too hard into delicate skin. Coppery eyelashes lay flat, long enough to just brush his cheek. His hair falls over his forehead and eyes.

It’s like looking at a fucking painting.

“Jesus, you’re pretty as hell, aren’t you?”

The boy’s eyebrows furrow, briefly, but he doesn’t open his eyes or pull back from the mat. He curls up tighter under the blanket, disappearing up to his chin.

Connor turns back to his work, filling out a questionnaire. He’s still working at it when he hears, just barely, the boy’s soft reply to his question.

“I, I, I wish I wasn’t.”

-

@burtlederp @finder-of-rings @endless-whump @astrobly @newandfiguringitout @doveotions @pretty-face-breaker @gonna-feel-that-tomorrow @boxboysandotherwhump @oops-its-whump @cubeswhump @whump-tr0pes @downriver914 @whumptywhumpdump @whumpiary @orchidscript @nonsensical-whump @outofangband @eatyourdamnpears

[mammons-tax-returns]

comforting you about your body insecurities pt. 1

beelzebub, mammon, lucifer

:) ! first post back!! (rest of the brothers coming later)

🧋MALE MC🧋

Lucifer is a very attentive demon, despite being busy with his nose shoved in a stack of papers around the clock

He really does find you wonderful, both just to relax with and to admire.

And he’s known that you piqued his interest ever since you appeared before him in the stuco room. And this is LUCIFER. He normally doesn’t give any human a second glance. Unless ur some powerful and dangerously talented sorcerer with white hair 🤧but that aside

Tonight, he gets a break from Diavolo’s workload because there is yet another ball being held at the castle.

He sprays a faint but expensive cologne on his skin, quietly hoping that you would like and comment on it so he could respond with some flirty line. That would be nice, he thinks.

Then, he’s taking long strides leading out of his bedroom, and heading over to yours beside the kitchen, where he hears his siblings bickering over the best fruit.

He knocks on the door first, waiting for a response that never comes. He only hears your favorite song from within.

He calls your name, only becoming more confused the longer the silence grows

When he pushes open the door, he’s nearly relieved to see you standing in front of the body mirror, fixing the the collar of your outfit. You turn to look at him offer a smile. “Hey, Luci. You’re punctual, as usual.”

He hums under his breath in response. A silent “i know”. He pads over to you, placing a hand on your hip affectionately. “You look good enough to eat, handsome. Asmodeus may have his moments but he certainly knows how to dress anyone with anything.”

You look at your own eyes in the reflection, not able to respond entirely. Lucifer means well, you’re sure of it. He doesn’t know that the past hour of preparation for the ball was spent scowling at the parts of you that you could never quite enjoy entirely.

Lucifer looks questioningly at your expression from the mirror. “y/n? Is something the matter?”

At that, you snap back to reality and look back at him. “Huh? Oh... Right— Sorry, I just,” you trail off, at a loss for words. Was this the right time to mention your thoughts, before a ball? “It’s nothing, just lost in my thoughts, I suppose.”

Lucifer’s eyebrows knit in the way that they tend to do when he worries. “Mind sharing? I’d love to sit and listen.” His hands slide around your waist until he’s hugging you, and you catch a whiff of his cologne which makes you melt. Once again you wonder if this relationship was something you deserved.

“Luci...”

“Don’t give me that, lovely. I said I’d like to listen, no?” As you turn your head away, he takes the opportunity to rest his head on the crook of your neck.

You sigh, smiling hopelessly. You hate to admit it, but his response makes you feel jittery on the inside. “It’s silly really, I just wasn’t feeling myself just now. The clothes are amazing! But...” You know exactly what you’ll say next, but the words feel venomous in your mouth. “I’m wondering if Asmodeus understands how wasteful it is to put them on me, you know?”

Lucifer is at a loss, and his heart aches at your words. “Oh dear... Well that’s no good. I can’t have my gorgeous lover worrying himself over something that’s so far from the truth.”

You are already aware that Lucifer will always support you no matter what, and the thought is both heart warming and bothersome. “Yeah, yeah, Lucifer... I’ve heard it all alr-“

“Then what do you not understand?” Lucifer cuts you off promptly and confidently. “Do you really believe that I’d sugarcoat this? Anything?”

You swallow thickly. “N-... No. You wouldn’t...”

“Good. That’s a good response.” He places a sweet kiss on your cheek, ruby eyes flitting up to your own gaze in the mirror. “I’m almost afraid of other demons trying to steal you away in such a dashing outfit, to be honest. Enjoy yourself, but if any of my brothers try anything, I swear...”

You laugh a little, running a free hand through his hair and noting how he almost sinks into your touch. Almost like a cat. “Thank you, Lucifer. For everything.”

Lucifer kisses your hand softly. “You are perfection, darling.”

You look forward to slow dancing alongside the eldest brother now, losing yourself in the music. Lucifer was right, there was really nothing to worry yourself over.

Mammon, unfortunately, had to cancel date night plans for the weekend for a modeling gig.

You were disappointed, but not mad at him. He told you in advance, offered to make up for it, and usually tries his best to uphold his promises.

He offers to bring you with him, guilty at the thought of your alone in your room.

You don’t know whether to accept it or not. Would you fit in on a set full of gorgeous, picture-perfect demons?

Mammon has his hand on the back of his neck, nervous that you’re too angry at him to want to say yes.

To his delight, you smile and agree to go with him. Maybe, this way, he can avoid others flirting with him when they know that his boyfriend would be in the room.

At first, it makes you feel a little bit happier seeing Mammon light up with joy after seeing him pout like a puppy moments ago.

The day has come that you step onto the modeling floor. The photographers and staff know you well due to Mammon’s insistent bragging about you and your relationship. Clutching your D.D.D. anxiously, you make your way over to Mammon, who is already posing for a camera under bright studio lights.

You keep to the shadows as you watch him intently. Mammon is well known for his idiocy, but he is one handsome devil.

The evil snickering of two demons sound behind you, to which you ignore. You were too nervous to actually move, anyways.

Whatever... It doesn’t concern me... Right?

The giggles don’t stop, and you can’t help but listen in on their whispers. It sounds as if they purposely spoke louder than normal just to bother you.

“Look at how his eyes are shining... Obsessed with Mammon, much?” Oh boy. It really seems like they’re talking about...

“Let’s talk about those clothes, though... Are you kidding me... Does the human world really have that low of standards— or is this the bottom of the barrel.” At that, the two burst into a fit of cackles.

Luckily, a photographer hisses at them, irritated with the noise breaking his concentration. They quiet down, but continue to berate you in ways you had never even considered.

You’re sweating bullets now, itching to use your hand to wipe the oncoming tears of embarrassment. You blink them away, and don’t notice that your boyfriend is now finished with his shoot.

You tense upon seeing him speaking to the camera tech. Your heart nearly jumps out of your throat. The last thing you needed was him seeing you cry right now. He’d be worried sick.

Not even bothering to excuse yourself, you slip into the bathroom and can only focus on the laughter of the other demons behind you. The sound causes you to shake slightly as you shut the door behind you.

There is more than one stall, so you briefly worry that someone would come in and find you bawling your eyes out in the middle of a semi-professional setting. You sigh heavily and turn the sink on to wash your face.

The more you stood in front of the sink rubbing your face, the more vividly you remember the rude comments made about you. Could they have been true?

With a troubled look, you sneak a glance at yourself in the mirror.

You didn’t think that your clothes were particularly “bad”... They said so much, and it’s all coming back like a vicious and cruel tsunami.

No matter what you do, you can’t seem to stop crying.

“Oh y/n!!~ Where are ya’ at?” Mammon crashes through the door, hands on his hip with a toothy and closed-eye grin.

Thinking quickly, you reach over to grab a hand towel and press your face into it. “H-Hey, Mammon, you looked good out there...”

Mammon must have picked up on your wavering tone, because he pauses.

You’re frozen on the spot when he places a hand on your shoulder, although you can’t see him through the towel.

“Uhh... What’s up with you? Don’t tell me that you’re...” It’s too late to react when he pushes the towel aside to find your teary eyes.

“Wh-What?!” His heart drops immediately. “What’s wrong babe?! Are you like... I dunno hurt or something?!”

You exhale shakily, still trying to calm yourself. “Those models out there are just... A little too honest about me, I s-suppose... But it’s really fine. I just... I don’t know... I guess I just needed a minute to... Freak out a little?”

“Honest? What the hell do you—“ A sudden feeling of recognition pulled at his features. Truth be told, he knew those demons personally, having worked with them before. Then the guilt of knowing exactly what happened began to eat away at him. “Oh...”

You shifted, wishing that he would drop the subject. This was getting much too embarrassing to bear, and the way his eyes drooped with sadness made your stomach churn. “Mammon. I-I’m serious, I’m okay—“

Mammon’s arms surround you like a sturdy, calming veil.

“I know you’re not, y/n!” Mammon had no desire to listen to you pretend to act unbothered. “I don’t know what they’ve told you, but I can guarantee that I have been given comments just as bad as those- and I’m The Mammon.”

You grip onto his shirt, avoiding making eye contact with him. “But... That’s the thing Mammon. I’m not nearly as confident or perfect as you.”

Mammon holds you tighter, voice softening drastically. “Don’t you think that’s exactly what I think of you when you comfort me on my bad days?”

A pool of warmth starts to seep from the depths of your chest. And your furrowed brows start to relax. “Really..? You mean it?”

“y/n, you are precious to me, and all of my crazy ass brothers. And there is no way in hell that I’ll allow some scum of the world get in the way of realizing how flawless you are.”

Beel wants nothing more than to spend every second of the day with you. And Belphie.

But unfortunately, most of his time is spent in the gym, if not the kitchen.

So he asks you if you would like to start working out with him at the gym, or even if you were just interested in hanging around and nothing more. He just wanted your presence.

The idea itself made your heart swell. But after a bit of thinking, you weren’t so sure. You’ve never been to a gym in Devildom before, but you were sure it wasn’t very different from human gyms.

It would be filled with confident and toned bodies that would put you down without even trying.

And as much as you wanted to be there with Beel, you weren’t ready for the prospect of the nasty looks you’d receive sitting beside the sixth-born who is a perfectly sculpted athlete.

After all, he seemed a bit too good for you, as it seemed in your head.

Beel wonders why you turned him down. Had he done something to upset you?

He’d have to get down to the bottom of it, lest he regret ignoring your behavior.

To do this, he takes a day off from the gym, thinking that the answer to this situation would be to spend time together. Smiling to himself, he clutches a bag of sweets to his chest.

y/n has got to love this, he thinks excitedly.

Knocking once, he can barely keep himself from barging in and tearing into his baked goodies. “y/n, I’m here. Wanna share these cookies with me? There’s also pound cake and cupcakes... The mini ones with enchanted apples on them.”

His smile falls a little when there’s a long note of silence. “y/n?” He questions.

“Oh! Uh... Sorry, Beel... Maybe another day. I’m studying for that final right now.” Beel knows you sound sincere, but something about this response seems off.

His heart sinks a little, feeling a little embarrassed after being rejected. He hadn’t expected this.

“Ah... Are you sure?”

“...”

There’s a silence from the other side of the door, and the sixth born starts to genuinely worry.

Truth be told, you had been weeping alone looking through images of famous demon athletes that advertised the same gym that Beel attended regularly. It was a dangerous thing to do, but how could you look away?

You take a glance at yourself in the mirror. your eyes were barely puffy. A bit red too. But overall, nothing seemed very different. Maybe— Just maybe, he wouldn’t even notice.

“Hello? You in there?”

You stiffen at the sound of his voice.

“Coming!” Hopping to your feet, you rush to the door and open it.

“Oh man, I was starting to get antsy smelling this bag... Let’s hurry and dig in.” His eyes are trained on the food in his hands, and his mouth is watering.

“Oh, Beel... You have some drool again!” You lightly scold him and wipe the corner of his mouth with a napkin from the table right beside the door.

At that, he finally gets a good look at you.

“Oh, thank y—... ou...” He trails off instantaneously. “Your eyes...”

You sigh and bow your head sheepishly. “Agh... I should’ve known you’d catch me. It’s not anything serious, I just was... I was watching a sad movie is all.”

His eyebrows knit together. “So were you studying or watching a movie?”

He caught me.

He pushes forward, closing the door behind him and taking your hands in his. He leaves the bag abandoned on the floor.

“y/n... What’s been up with you lately? You’re seriously not yourself.”

Your face flushes, and you sigh. Your throat suddenly feels tight. “Uh... That’s...”

He’s noticed this entire time. I’m an idiot.

“Listen, Beel...” You squeeze his hand. “I’ll tell you because I know that if I don’t, you’ll be worried sick.”

He nods hurriedly, heart rate increasing.

“I guess I just...” The words struggle to make their way out. “I don’t understand how-how someone like you; handsome, kind, and strong could end up with...” You pause, starting to tear up. “With someone like me.”

Beel takes a moment to process your situation.

And when he does, his head starts to spin, and his heart feels heavy like a boulder.

“y/n... What are you even thinking?” Is all he manages to whisper. He pulls you into a tight, comforting hug and sniffles.

“Beel—“

“You mean literally more to me than anything or anyone else.” He says firmly. “I don’t know what part of you you’re so hung up on, I couldn’t even imagine there being any reason to be.”

“You don’t have to—“

“I do.” He cuts you off firmly. If he didn’t, you may try to deny his definite truth. “y/n, I know i’m all about food and training... I’m sorry I don’t know how to make you realize how wonderful you are.

But I’d like to learn that with you. Is that okay?”

Your tears finally fall, soaking through his tank top.

“Of course... I’d love that.”

[jadedxrealityw]

-Love Is Love- Loki/Lady Loki Laufeyson x female reader

☼-♥-☼

Kody: was going to write some angst, but you guys deserve something sweet. 

Movie/Show: N/A

Summary: ‘normal day’ and ‘god of mischief’ don’t go together, ever. Especially when said god is a clingy, quick to whine baby. 

Possible Triggers/Warnings: domestic Loki, the fluff, Loki being a giant man baby, a sneak peak at his unused powers he he he he, homophobes in the wild

☼-♥-☼

your eyes open slowly as your brain process’s the fact you are now awake and no longer in the fluffy state of mind that is dreamland. A warm and heavy feeling brings you to look down at your chest where the pale arm of your lover laid. 

Loki

a smile graces your lips as memories of the night before gently takes over your thought process. Looking to your right, you see your phone charging on the nightstand. Reaching up you grab it and press your thumb to the fingerprint censor, making the phone unlock instantly. 

no phone calls and a couple messages from Wanda, confirming you and Loki would be at her house warming party with Loki. You type out a quick response saying you would drag Loki there if need be and closed the messages app. Looking up a bit, you spot the time. 9:45 am. 

you should probably make breakfast

placing the phone back down on the nightstand you grab Loki’s arm and attempt to remove it from your waist. You only lift it inches from your bare skin until Loki pulls you into his chest, his arm now around your back. God dammit. Now being face to face you could see his playful grin.

“How long have you been awake?“ you ask, seeing how he didn’t look tired in the slightest “A few hours“ he replies in a low whisper as to not disturb the peaceful silence as much. “So you’ve just been staring at me then?“ you say, a playful grin of your own forming on your face. 

“Why wouldn’t i?“ Loki uses his free arm to run his hand along the side of your face, admiring your tired form. You place your hand on top of his and bring it to your mouth, giving his palm a light kiss before going to sit up. Loki forces you back down causing you to sigh.

“Loki, i have plans today” You remind him, just like you did the night before when he tried to keep you up all night. “and so do i“ he replied confidently. Your face turns into a deadpan expression as you stare blankly at him “Really? and that is?“

“To keep you here, in bed with me of course” Loki smiles like he is a child who had just won a prize. That prize being well..you. You shake your head, forcing down laughter as to not indulge in his playful behavior at the moment so you could start your day. 

“You know i would love to stay in bed with you, but i have to go shopping. I won’t be long“ You lean forward and press a quick kiss to his forehead, earning a frown in return. Loki lets you get up this time and you step onto the cold wooden floor.

just as you stretch your arms, you hear the sound of rustling sheets, which cause you to turn your head to where Loki was, standing up in only a pair of dark boxers. “What’re you doing?” you ask, going over to the the closet where you kept the clean towels. 

Loki follows slowly behind you “I coming with you” he says, reaching in front of you to grab one of the towels. You roll your eyes, grabbing a towel of your own “I’m taking a shower first” you send him a small grin as you walk past him and towards the bathroom door that was connected to your bedroom. 

“Or” Loki cut in, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind you, pulling you into his chest. His head leans down, his chin hovering just above your shoulder “We can take one together“ he suggests. You had no objection to that idea in the slightest.

☼-♥-☼

after the shower you and Loki got dressed, with a lot of breaks in between from because of the flirty comments he would make. Once you both turn around to look at each other, you both laugh quietly. Loki wore his famous all black suit while you wore a short black turtleneck with matching pants with a grey cardigan.

“A suit? It’s just a walk to the grocery store and the mall?“ you chuckle, smoothing out your cardigan. You just needed your bag and shoes now. Loki rolls his eyes, fixing the collar of his dress shirt “I have to look presentable wherever i go. I have a reputation to uphold“

scoffing, you grab the door handle and turn it, pushing the door open “Right, i hope you attract all that attention you need then” you say teasingly, walking out into the living room. Where did you put your shoes? You could hear Loki’s rapid footsteps behind you. 

“That’s not what i mean, love“ he apologizes, his hand reaching for yours. He was always so quick to think he had done something wrong, then again you were teasing him. “I’m kidding“ you assure him, making him exhale deeply “You’ll be the death of me“ he lets out. 

you laugh to yourself once more before finally spotting your shoes by the sofa “Lets go while they’re still serving breakfast at that one cafe down the street” you say, rushing over to your shoes so you could put them on. “So punctual” Loki mumbles to himself.

☼-♥-☼

you both walked down the street, a cup of coffee in your hand and nothing in Loki’s. “I still don’t understand how you drink that stuff” Loki looks in disgust at your cup. Rolling your eyes, you take another sip of your warm beverage “No one asked you too get a cup of your own”

“I thought it taste somewhat decent“ Loki retorts, making you shake your head “I’m sorry to disappoint you then“ you apologize, nudging his shoulder with yours playfully. Loki lightly shakes his head, nudging you back “It isn’t possible for you to disappoint me“

his words make you smile as he wraps his arm around your shoulder, pulling you closer to him. He leans down to plant a chaste kiss to your temple sweetly. “Were nearing the mall you big softie” you taunt, dropping your paper cup in a recycling bin you pass by.

“Ah yes, a midgardian shopping center. Sounds rather...boring“ Loki sighs deeply. He didn’t find anything about humans not boring, so that wasn’t a big surprise. “I said you didn’t have to come with me. I can shop by myself just fine“

“Oh i know you can, i just don’t trust Midgard. Mostly it’s male species“ Loki shudders as if he had said a terrible word. You stifle laughter as you both walk through the entrance of the mall, the smell from the food court wafting into the open area. 

“Ah the male species. Now i have to find an outfit for Wanda’s party. So women's boutique it is“ You grab Loki’s hand and begin to drag him through the mall. 

☼-♥-☼

once you walk into the boutique you walk into the short dress’s section to find a nice casual dress that wasn’t to flashy, but made you look nice. “Something short i see?” Loki spoke from behind you, causing you to roll your eyes as you move through the rack. 

As you look through the mostly red shades of dress’s you spot Loki go over to the black ones and look through them “Plan on getting one?” you ask, turning your head to face him. You can see Loki’s lips turn upwards into a smile “If they fit my standards”

well, he is a god after all. 

“Alright tell me if you find something nice then“ you say before moving to the more flowy dress section, still short. You just didn’t feel like wearing a tight dress. You stopped on a nice looking dress that looked like exactly what you were looking for and it was the last in your size. 

seemed like fate did it not?

you grab the hanger off the rack and drape it over your arm. Turning around, you begin to talk “I’m going to go try this on- Loki?” he wasn’t where you had left him. Shrugging, you made your way to the changing rooms. It was a big store and he was around somewhere...hopefully.

there were four stalls in the changing room and three were open. The one that was already occupied was filled with the sounds of a woman grumbling about how a zipper wouldn’t go up. She must of had a bad day or something. You take your dress and yourself into an empty stall and shut and lock the door.

you began strip yourself of the clothing you had on and place it neatly on the bench so it wouldn’t get dirty. Once your finished you take the dress and slip it over your head, pulling it down until it sat comfortably on your bust. You unlock the door and step out to look at yourself in the long mirror on the wall. 

looking at your reflection, you smile. You looked perfect in every way. It fit nicely and hugged your torso just right. “You look ravishing, my love” a woman’s voice spoke, causing you to turn around. A tall woman with slightly below shoulder length hair stood wearing a dark green velvet dress. 

looking at her up and down, you smile “I assume you found a dress then, Loki” you say, walking over to her. Loki smiles and flattens out her dress with the back of her hands “It’s simplistic, but yes i have. What do you think?” she asks, reaching forward to move a strand of hair from your face. 

“I think you look beautiful, but we should probably take these off so i can pay for them” you suggest. Loki grins as she gives you a quick kiss “Hm alright. I guess i did find something to wear to Wanda’s little get together“ she gloats, eyeing herself in the mirror up in down. 

you were dating a narcissist. A sexy narcissist

“Alright hot stuff go change“ you tease as you gently push Loki back into the changing room she was in. Shaking your head, you go back into your changing stall as well. 

☼-♥-☼

you step out and see Loki standing in his suit and no longer a woman. You didn’t really question why and smiled, walking up to him “Ready to leave? i’m already tired of walking today” as if on cue, you let out a yawn. Plus you were going out to eat tonight and wanted to rest up before then. 

Loki grabs the the short black dress with sheer sleeves from your hand. “Uh-” you say, but were caught off “I’ll pay, you go take a seat outside the store” Loki says, not really asking more like telling you. Your feet were hurting though, so you wouldn’t complain. 

“Alright“ you exhale, patting hi shoulder before walking towards the exit of the store. When you walk outside there is a bench in the middle next to a couple of those giant screen poster things. Whatever they’re called. You go over and take a seat, feeling instant relief from your feet. 

you only waited there about a minute before Loki came out holding a paper shopping bag in one of his hands. He spots you instantly and walks over “You look dreadful” he comments, jokingly and you narrow your eyes “Your so sweet” you say and push yourself off the bench. 

Loki goes in to kiss your cheek when you use your hand to push his face away. He pulls back with a confused expression “I look dreadful, don’t i?” you say, repeating his words from a few seconds ago. Loki’s expression drops “You know i don’t mean it, darling”

“I know, but no kisses till i feel like it“ you smile a sickeningly sweet smile at him. Loki rolls his eyes, but smiles nonetheless. He couldn’t be made at you even if he tried and he wouldn’t try, ever. 

☼-���-☼

while walking down the sidewalk you heard a couple shouts and cheers as you turn the corner. There seemed to be some sort of protest going on in front of some rainbow cafe. If you remember correctly, a lesbian couple ran it. You had met them a few times before actually.

“Is a war starting or do Midgardians do this for fun?” Loki questioned, looking at the group of people huddled outside the small cafe. “I uh- i honestly don’t know how to answer that. It’s just a bunch of homophobes who can’t keep there opinions to themselves” you scoff, crossing your arms.

Loki’s face twinged in disgust at your words. You had taught him about the gross people that are homophobes, transphobes, xenophobes, etc. He absolutely despised those kind of people considering he was both genderfluid and bisexual himself and you were (insert sexuality here).

“Should i kill them?“ he asked genuinely, making you snort. It was a nice thought, but not rational. “No, but now i feel like i should take you home because your hand is about to break mine” you reply, holding up your intertwined hands. 

Loki quickly lets go, mumbling an apology. He sighs, nodding begrudgingly. You were slightly taken aback by his willingness and look forward when you hear a familiar swoosh sound. God dammit. You face Loki once more as she flips back her black hair. Twice in one day? alrighty then. 

Loki removes the coat of her suit and places it in the shopping bag before rolling her sleeves up to her elbow “Ready to go home darling?” she asked and you simply nod, wondering what her motives are. She wraps an arm around your shoulder as you begin to walk down the sidewalk. 

getting closer, you could hear slurs being thrown left and right. Jeez these people need a hobby you thought. Loki led you right through the crowd and toward the entrance of the cafe. What the fuck is she doing? Just as Loki grabs the handle of the door, one of the previously mentioned protesters speak up.

“You both are going to hell!“ a rather built man yells. Loki’s brow raises as a grin paints her face perfectly. She opens the cafe door and gently pushes you inside, keeping the door open with her foot. Loki turns around as you watch from the glass windows.

“I’m assuming that’s what you call Niflheim, a place of total damnation or along those lines. Considering my sister is the goddess of death i think i’ll do just fine thank you. Now stay away or i’ll give you a one way trip.” Loki spoke with such elegance you almost couldn’t tell she was threatening the man. 

it soon clicked to the man and other ignorant folk that they just told the goddess of mischief to go to hell. Big yikes. “Your a freak!“ the man spat out in a last attempt to get under Loki’s skin, but she just smiles maniacally “Such naughty words darling. I’m bored now, off you go” 

Loki waves her hand as if she’d dismissing a class of students. While waving, her dagger flicks into her hand, effectively scaring off all little amount of sucky people. She forms a prideful smile before walking into the shop. You look at her and cant help but laugh. 

“What? I didn’t kill them did i?“ Loki smiles, flicking her hand, her dagger disappearing. “Saying you'll send them to your sister is the same thing love“ you point out. Loki shrugs and looks around the shop “They serve more then coffee here right?“

☼-♥-☼

after that you and Loki decided to stay in for the rest of the day and go out tomorrow. For dinner you both ate loads of junk food you got from a convenience store on the way back. You were showing Loki sour patch kids, mostly to watch her face scrunch up. 

“That’s awful“ she comments, chewing slowly on the candy while you laughed your ass off on the bed. Loki narrows her green eyes and nudges your shoulder “Don’t make fun of me. This is all different flavors for me“ she exclaims, only making you laugh harder. 

“I- i’m sorry!“ you say in between laughs, trying not to fall back onto the hard wood floor. Loki shook her head and grabbed your waist. She pulls you close so your sitting on her lap “i actually liked shopping with you today“ she admits, causing you to tilt your head a bit. 

“Really, even with the homophobic stuff?” you questioned. Loki reaches up and moves a piece of your hair with her thumb, smiling sweetly “Just reminded me that you love me in whatever form i take“ she says. A way with words she was. “I do indeed love you“ you reply. 

Loki leans into to plant her lips on yours, the taste of the sweet and sour candy on her lips making the kiss much more interesting. Loki smiles as her hands gently cup your face. After a few seconds she pulls away and gazes into your eyes. “What?” you say, chuckling. 

“I love you too darling. I forgot to say it a earlier“ she admits, wrapping her arms around your waist. She falls back, laying your head on her chest as you both tangle yourselves within the sheets of your bed. With all the walking, yu both fall asleep almost instantly, holding each other close. 

love is love

☼-♥-☼

Kody: I made this fic mostly to bring awareness to the fact that some of the Marvel/MCU don’t acknowledge the fact that Loki id genderfluid and bisexual or just completely ignore it entirely. If you really love Loki as you claim, you’ll except them in any way. Anyways, peace. 

Edit: I know he’s Pansexual in Norse mythology, i’m just going by what’s confirmed in the MCU 

☼-♥-☼

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[kashimos-hajime]

sawdust and plastic | g.t.

summary: you learn two things from your first real fight with goro. 1) he apologizes through cooking. 2) he hates it when they argue.

WARNINGS: spoilers for the gimme danger main job, swearing, slight angst, theye just communicating pairing: goro takemura x fem!street-kid!v word count: 2.2k

a/n: written with a fem!street-kid v who used to be a corpo kid. also dont yell at me but i rearranged v's apartment so the couch goes on all 3 sides bc comfortable :^) crossposted on ao3! enjoy :) 

part of the tales of a two-bit thief series

Sitting down on the couch, you kick up your feet for the first time in what you feel like has been ages. From Jackson Plains to reconnaissance on the Arasaka warehouse, you haven’t eaten shit besides the yakitori Takemura had ordered at that booth which already felt like ages ago. It’d been good—better than the trash you’ve eaten as a kid so you don’t really get picky—but you can’t help but recall the disgust on Takemura’s face when he had taken a single bite.

“Sawdust and plastic.”

You snort, running hands over your face and tilting your head back. Stupid fucking Japanese man with an endearing sense of dry-humour and… zero tolerance for your cheeky smiles. 

Then he had to go ahead and bring up Jack.

His words, cold, callous, echo in your skull like a goddamn radio and you squeeze your eyes tight, raking your hands down your face and melting into the couch. No matter how much you wanna stop it, you can’t help hearing it over and over and over.

Grabbing the remote, you’re about to switch on a channel in hopes you catch something that cna take your mind off everything when there’s a knock on your door.

For a moment, you truly debate telling them to fuck off but then, there is a pause.

“V.”

Eyes widening, your body goes rigid at the sound of his voice.

“V, let me in before I look anymore foolish.”

In the back of your head, you tempt the idea of just leaving him out there, pretending like you’ve fallen asleep, but then you get up anyway against your better judgement. You drag your feet over the floor, picking up old takeout boxes you haven’t had time to clean up and tossing clothes into a hamper to make your apartment look more like an organized mess than the dumpster fire you know Takemura will scold you for.

When you reach the door, you let him in without a word and you note the bags he holds on, hoisting them over to your living room counter.

“What’s this?” you question wearily. “Goro, I’m not hungry.”

“I realized I must apologize for my harsh words.” Beginning to pull out the groceries, you walk over and peer inside the bag, frowning. All the stuff inside is cheap synth shit, nothing you haven’t eaten before, but you’re still confused as to what’s going on since you don’t exactly have a kitchen in your place, but then out of one of the thicker bags, Takemura pulls out a big box.

“For saying them?”

“Yes." He sets the box down before continuing with groceries. “Earlier, I told you if I had time and resources, I would cook onigiri.”

“With cod, or grilled salmon. Or umeboshi plums, because they were Saburo’s favourite,” you finish and he sends you a look that could’ve been a smile if his lips had curved more and his eyes meant it. “I remember.” Helping him with the big box, you cut it open and find a rice cooker within. Eyeing the contraption with an arched eyebrow, you can’t help but ask: “Where’d you find this stuff?”

“It was difficult. I had to lower my standards.” 

“Lowering standards,” you echo dryly, unable to help your empty smile. “Yeah. We do that a lot in grand ole NC.” He doesn’t seem amused by you even trying to help as you sit down on the couch, twist to watch him work. “Are you sure you don’t want me to help?”

“I am cooking to apologize. It would not be honourable for you to help me,” he replies shortly and you nod to yourself, turning back around to watch the news. Nothing about a break-in with the floats, nothing at all indicating… anything.

For some reason, it makes you uneasy. The last time you snuck into an Arasaka building, everything went to shit and it made its mark. The lack of visible ripples makes you feel like nothing’s happened at all. Like it’s all been a fever dream, and you and Takemura didn’t sit on that roof for hours, watching the cat, just… talking.

Jesus, you need to get laid.

“Still don’t know why you bother cooking,” you say. Takemura noticeably stiffens and even though you don’t see it, you can almost feel the way he manipulates the air he stands in. He has that power—pure corpo power—and you clench your jaw. “Why waste time on someone so lazy as me?”

“V—"

“Nah, my bad. Arrogant. Hell, you probably see all the takeout around here and think I’m taking some easy route to food.” The bitterness is enough to puncture holes in steel as you stare blankly at the screen. “After all, I dirty my hands for money,” you quote. Your chest tightens as you hear his voice echo in yours, the way he had said it so coldly. Stomach turning, you shake your head. “Not in the name of some fucking principles.”

There’s a silence on his end and you close your eyes, swallowing through the bruising in your throat, a telltale sign you’re holding back tears. Just the mention of Jackie makes you want to spiral and you take a deep breath, trying not to react.

For the first time, you think Johnny might be right.

“Damn right, I am,” a voice says and you open your eyes, gaze fluttering to the side to see Johnny lounging against your couch. You turn around to see Takemura’s moved to the bathroom, probably to clean rice… however the fuck you make onigiri. You don’t know. You’re too tired to care about food, or feelings, or anything. “Never can trust a corpo. They all want one thing.”

“I don’t need to remind you that I was a corpo kid, do I?”

“Not anymore. It’s about principles.” Johnny’s tone is wry and you scowl at him. “What? If there’s one thing you might be able to relate to is that you both have ‘em. His might be wrong as shit, but…”

“Yeah, whatever.” 

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re gonna forgive him. This guy’s got you wrong, V. You don’t waste time on people like that.”

“I don’t have time to stay angry with him,” you argue. “The fact is, I’m dying and he’s gonna be the only one who can save me.” Johnny sits up straight, leaning on his knees and you sigh, shaking your head. Resting your arm along the back of the couch, you fit your hand to your face, pinching the bridge of your nose. “Fuck.”

“Stop. Don’t do it, V. It’s not worth it,” Johnny warns, standing up and you wrench your gaze up as you shift your feet on the floor and lean forward, burying your face in your hands. “I can feel everything you are feeling, and if I have to deal with your indecisive debates on whether or not it’s worth it to become attached to this corp piece of shit, I’ll kill myself.”

“You’re already dead, Johnny.”

“Let me live a little.” He stands and edges around you as if he were real and you rest your chin in your palms, watching as his holographic imagine crosses you before glitching back into view again across the table. He sits down. “The truth is, you’re gonna have a hell of a problem.”

“I know.”

“So, stop.” Johnny says it like it’s so easy and you chew on your cheek as the faucet turns off and you turn around to see Takemura begin to leave your bathroom. His pale eyes catch yours and you turn around only to see your brain tumour’s gone and left you alone. It’s eerily quiet in your head and you stand, clearing your throat.

Takemura slips the clean rice into the rice cooker before closing it and you cross your arms below your breasts, squeezing yourself tightly. You feel bare in your clothes despite wearing your scuffed jacket. He regards you warily, and then he sighs, gesturing to the couch—a silent ask.

 You nod, stepping back and letting him take where you were sitting earlier. You retreat across from him, where Johnny was sitting and he glances around your apartment. You wonder if he’s judging even more of you, but then he looks into his hands, swallowing visibly. 

“V—"

“You’re not the only one with principles. Just because I kill for money don't mean I'd do anything for it,” you begin coldly, leaning back and studying him. “And nothing about my life has been easy. When I said you did what you had to do to keep food on the table, that wasn’t me judging you. That was me getting it, alright, Goro?” His eyes meet yours and you arch an eyebrow, scoffing. “Not my problem if you don’t believe me. Yeah, I oppose corps, because they ruined my life, and so many other people’s lives no one can count 'em, but that doesn't mean you're any better than me. You don’t get to make assumptions about me. You never get to make assumptions about Jackie.That is all I have to say.”

He nods, accepting your harsh tone and you bite your tongue, trying not to burn down the bridge anymore than you need to as you prop a foot up against the table. Takemura doesn't say anything for a hot moment and you think you've wasted your time. Your knee jiggles. He doesn't even look at you.

Then: “I must again say that we are both still grieving. We ache to lash out. That is why I said what I said, and why, I presume, you say what you say.” He steeples his fingers and regards you with those eyes, gorgeous in their own right. “I understand what I said was callous. You have been nothing but understanding to my own loss.”

“No shit.”

“And I understand Mr. Welles was your friend.”

“He was like my brother,” you correct icily. “He’s been there for me since the beginning, I—I can’t forgive you saying something like that about him so easily, Goro.”

He dips his head. “I understand. It is why I cook for you. It is how I best express myself." The corner of his mouth tugs up faintly in a mirthless facsimile of a smile before he exhales sharply through his nose, looking at you again. "I confess I have not had time recently to cook, but I will do my best.” Johnny’s link comes to life at the mention and your own stomach squirms silently. “We are in this together, V. I do not wish for you to be angry at me.”

“Don’t do it, V. Don’t take it.”

“Fuck off, Johnny. I’m starving.” Aloud, you say: “I’ll be angry for a while. Just… let me sleep on it and we'll see from there.” He nods and you let your arms fall to your sides as you sit up. “It’s been a long few days, so I just… I just want to not think about anything for a while, you know?”

“I understand.”

He says that a lot, you notice. 

“Thank you for apologizing, at least,” you continue grudgingly. “Thanks.” You stand and gesture vaguely around the place. “Make yourself at home. I’m… I’m going to shower and scrub this grime off.” Dried blood, sweat, dirt, et cetera. He nods and stands as well, returning to the tiny cooking station he’s made for himself. You head to your closet, managing to pick out a clean shirt that’s a bit big and a jacket you ripped off a 6th Street goon a few weeks back. You just picked it up from the cleaners.

Heading for the bathroom, you set your crap on the toilet cover before poking your head out. Spotting Takemura sitting in front of the table, carefully sharpening a knife, you wait until he’s noticed you staring and he prompts you silently to ask.

“How’d you even know where I live, anyway?” 

He turns his gaze back on the blade.

“Ms. Olszewski marked it in my map, should the need arise.”

“This was a need?” you ask, curiously sardonic. Takemura doesn’t smile back and again, you get that impression he either doesn’t know how or he doesn’t do it often enough to remember. For some reason, that makes you sad. "Could've left it well enough alone. You know that."

“Oh, come on, V,” Johnny murmurs in your ear. “Don’t wax poetics on this guy.”

You ignore him.

“I do not enjoy the thought of a rift between you and I,” admits Takemura. He sets down the knife and sighs, eyes flitting to you briefly. Your hand wraps around the doorframe and you press your lips into a faint frown. "I... I have grown used to you."

You nod despite the words punching into your chest. “I don’t like it when we fight either.” At least, that you don’t have to fight twice to figure out. Your expression eases and your shoulders drop. “I’ll just hop in. Help yourself to whatever you can find. Really.” He accepts your offer with another nod and you close the door. It locks and you press your back against the metal, tipping your head back.

“For the love of—“

“Shut it, Johnny. Just… just give me a second.”

And on one of the rare occassions that he listens to you, Silverhand says nothing about how your heart doesn’t feel like wrought iron anymore.

[bbangsoonie]

creker academy

member: eric genre: fluff (ft some angst), fantasy au word count: 6,182 synopsis: after finally triggering your hidden powers, fate lands you at creker academy, a special boarding school meant for shapeshifters. there, you learn how to control your abilities and that opposites do indeed attract.

The day you found out that you were adopted was the day your life fell apart. The secret was hidden from you until your uncle coldly drew the line at your parents’ funeral. He told you that he had no intention of taking responsibility for his brother’s actions and that you were no longer a part of the family.

That was how you ended up living alone in a tiny half-basement studio. You barely managed to afford the deposit and rent with the consolation money you received from the funeral.

Every day, Hyunjoon would come knocking at your door and every day, you would turn him away. It had only been a month since you became independent and the scar of losing your parents was still fresh. You were also too ashamed to face your friends. You didn’t want their pity and so you hid away in isolation.

On the night of your birthday, the pain became too unbearable. Although you aged another year, you were still only a teenager. Granted, you were in your last year of high school but you were still a minor. Having to fend for yourself in this harsh world was too much for you to handle.

As you cried yourself to sleep, you could feel a cold coming. The heat from your headache spread to the rest of your body and you felt yourself burning up.

After you bought some medicine from the pharmacy, you slipped into a deep slumber. Your dreams were wildly vivid. You dreamt of an enchanted forest that enticed you to take refuge in its comfort. There, animals of all species ran free and in harmony. It promised you acceptance and a home.

“It’s time you learn of your identity,” a soft voice spoke.

As soon as the whisper tickled your ears, the entire forest was up in flames. Strangely, you weren’t struck with fear. Rather, you felt empowered.

“Y/n, you need to learn how to control yourself,” the voice warned.

It was only then that you started to panic. The flames were engulfing everything in sight and all the animals were running for their lives.

“Y/n, you have to wake up. Now,” the voice commanded.

With that, your eyes shot open. To your horror, the scene in your dreams reflected the view in front of you. Your house was on fire and you were slowly getting cornered by the heat. Frightened, you look to the door only to see it consumed by the blaze.

“Trust your instincts, Y/n,” the voice in your head cooed. “Let your body take control.”

Bewildered, you had no idea what that meant. All you knew was that you had to get out of there. You squeezed your eyes shut, hoping to think of a solution. When you reopened them, the room seemed to be a lot bigger than normal. At that moment, you saw the window cracked open. It was your only hope.

Your body felt different when you stood up.

“Why am I so short all of a sudden?” you wondered.

You looked down and almost screamed when you saw paws instead of your feet. Except a meow came out of your throat instead.

You didn’t have time to freak out about it. Feeling something hot graze your tail, you jumped up and landed on the window sill. Your innate desire for survival kicked in and you squeezed through the opening to escape.

Once you felt fresh air in your lungs again, you ran. And ran. And ran. You didn’t know why or where you were going, but something in you told you to run. Your legs kept sprinting until they reached the forest that appeared in your dream. They came to a slow stop when you realized where you were.

“What is this place?” you pondered.

“This is the border between our world and the human world,” a woman in white suddenly emerged from the trees. “You are now about to cross into our territory.”

It was the same voice from your dream. Trying to grasp the situation, you opened your mouth to ask a million questions. But again, a meow replaced your voice.

“It’ll be easier for you to transition back once you're on our grounds,” she assured. She bent down and gestured for you to jump into her arms.

Not seeing any other option, you hesitantly took her offer. With you safely in her embrace, she passed through a translucent wall that revealed what looked like a huge campus. Your jaw dropped as you observed your surroundings. There were students walking around the magical place. You saw a girl tending the garden and gasped when her hands hovered above the flowers to revive them.

The woman brought you to an office you presumed to be hers and placed you in front of a mirror. Your shriek came out as a cute yelp and she chuckled.

“I-I’m a cat!” you thought.

“There’s an outfit you can change into once you return to your human form,” she pointed at the black dress neatly prepared on the table.

The second she finished her sentence, you felt a bare sensation. Looking down, you screeched at your naked body. Embarrassed and horrified, you quickly clothed yourself with the dress.

“W-What’s going on?” you asked, relieved to finally hear your own voice again.

“I’m sure you felt different from others your whole life?” she asked. It sounded more like a statement rather than a question.

She wasn’t wrong. All your life, you never felt like you fitted in anywhere. Maybe your body knew you were adopted before your mind did and ostracized itself. Or maybe you truly were different. You had weird talents that other kids thought were freaky, making you hide them and become introverted. For instance, you were suspiciously good at starting fires from scratch at summer camp and didn’t feel any pain when your shirt accidentally caught on fire.

“I know this must be shocking to you but you’re special, Y/n. We’ve been waiting for you. Waiting for you to trigger your powers to bring you here,” she smiled.

“My what?” you gaped.

“Your powers. What you just did back at your old house and right now. You’re a shapeshifter, Y/n. A shapeshifter with the element of fire,” she explained.

“I’m a what now?” you scoffed in disbelief.

“Creker Academy is a school and home for students just like you. It’s a place meant to train you how to control your powers. Without our guidance, you’ll lead down a path of self-destruction.”

Baffled by her words, you stared in silence. There was no way any of this was true. Surely this had to be a dream.

“This isn’t a prank or a dream, Y/n. You’ve finally found where you belong,” she clarified.

Belong. You had never felt like you really belonged anywhere. But now, someone was telling you that you belonged with them. That they wanted you there. That they had been waiting for you.

“I understand you must feel overwhelmed. But there are procedures to follow so I’m afraid you will have to begin your tour first. A fellow student will be arriving soon to show you around.”

As if on cue, a boy around your age knocked on the door and came in after receiving the woman’s permission to enter.

“Hello, Headmaster,” he bowed.

“Eric, this is Y/n. Y/n, this is Eric. He will be helping you adjust here,” she introduced.

Eric was bright eyed and eager to meet a new friend. You, on the other hand, were quite reserved and uncomfortable in your new environment.

He was excitedly pointing out the purpose of each room you passed by and rambled on about the social norms of the boarding school. You learned that on top of academics, there were classes on virtues and physical training. And of course, classes that taught you how to properly use and contain your powers.

The use of magic was strictly prohibited inside any and all buildings. Students could practice their skills outside but were forbidden from any acts that could potentially put someone or something at risk. That was the one rule that was rigidly enforced and obeyed.

“So what animal and element are you?” he curiously pried. “I’m a dog with the element of water.”

“I’m… apparently a cat,” you felt ridiculous saying it aloud. “And control fire.”

“Ah, you’re a member of the fire element,” he nodded. “What that means is that your element rivals with mine. Some people see fire elements as hotheaded, impulsive, and extreme. Water elements are sometimes emotional, sensitive, and antisocial. But those are all just stereotypes, of course. Not everyone fits into the standard. I, for one, am very outgoing. And your animal obviously plays a role in your personality. I guess the dog in me overpowers the water.”

You had moved on from the indoor portion of the tour to the outside part. He was showing you the garden you had passed by earlier. It was full of flowers that wouldn’t be in bloom this season in the normal world.

“I’m a strong believer in that there are good traits about each element. For example, fire elements are passionate, inspirational, and expressive. They’re arguably the most fun people you’ll ever meet. Water elements are empathetic, imaginative, and loving. But again, all this is relative and doesn’t accurately describe each person,” he reminded. “The only reason there’s still a stupid feud is because some people love sticking to the status quo and labeling others.”

“What are the other elements? Air and earth?”

“Yup! Air elements are independent, talkative, fickle, and nonconformists. Most likely social butterflies. Earth elements are disciplined, loyal, organized, and judgemental. Oftentimes the leader.”

Eric greeted a male student who was passing by with two other boys. He exchanged smiles with the three of them who offered you a kind nod of acknowledgement.

“That was Sangyeon. He’s a bear. On his left is Jacob, a rabbit. The one on the right is Younghoon, who’s also a dog like me. They’re all earth elements,” he disclosed. “Sangyeon is the class representative of our grade. Definitely fits the leader stereotype.”

You couldn’t get over how thrilled he was to be your tour guide. He was filling you in on even the little details of the social life at the academy. He told you about how transfer students were rare and that it was his first time seeing a new student.

His vibrancy contrasted your somber aura. If he noticed, he didn’t comment on it. He was having too much fun getting to know you.

“Oh! That’s Hyunjae and Juyeon,” Eric suddenly pointed at a pair of boys on a morning run. He waved at the two who waved back before speeding up.

“The one with brown hair is Hyunjae, a wolf and fire element. His real name is Jaehyun but he changed it to Hyunjae once he got to Creker Academy. Juyeon’s the one with black hair and is a cat like you. Except he’s a water element like me,” he grinned. “They’re my best friends. Oh, and this guy named Sunwoo who’s a raccoon with the element of fire. As you can see, water and fire elements can get along fine and well. So don’t listen to anyone who says otherwise.”

By the time he was done showing you around, a bell rang and students began to convene inside. Eric explained that the bell was signaling the beginning of classes and brought you to his homeroom.

“Breakfast is buffet style and self served. It’s up to you to wake up and come down to eat. The cafeteria remains open for an hour until that bell rings and we have to get to class,” he said you entered.

Looking around for an empty seat, his face lit up when he spotted one. He sat at his desk and tapped on the one behind him to let you know that it was yours to take.

You still hadn’t processed all that’s happened since dawn. Everything felt like a haze. Nevertheless, you found yourself paying attention when the teacher walked in. He scanned the room to find a new face and smiled when he made eye contact with you.

“Alright, guys. I’m happy to announce that we have a new student that will be joining us starting today,” he beckoned for you to come up to the front of the classroom.

You wanted to shrivel up and crawl into a hole. Feeling your classmates gazes on you, you gulped and began to sweat. You were never a fan of attention. You quickly introduced yourself before rushing back to your seat, eliciting giggles from a few students. Your cheeks heated up and you felt that burning tingle again.

The awkwardness made you transform back into a cat, making your classmates gasp. Their intensified stares made the tips of your fur ignite, alarming the teacher who tried to calm you down.

“Well I guess she’s a fire cat,” a girl snickered.

Eric shot her a glare before leaning in to ask if you wanted him to put the fire out with his water. Not knowing what else to do, you nodded and the next thing you knew, you were drenched.

So much for your first day.

You ran out of the room before you could change back into a human. You fled but didn’t know where to go. You grew anxious, desperately hoping you wouldn’t end up flashing anyone.

“Hey!” someone called out. You turned around to see a male approaching you. Panicking, you dove into a bush.

“You’re the newbie, right?” he asked, taking something out of his bag. He dug out a large t-shirt and a pair of shorts and placed them in front of you. “I usually carry around a spare outfit in case of emergencies. I hope you don’t mind the fit.”

You were still in your animal form so you peaked your head out to look at him.

“My name’s Chanhee. Air element penguin,” he squatted down to meet your eyes. “Everyone’s first day is rough. You’re not the only one who’s had incidents like this so try not to feel so bad about it.”

He stood to go back to class, leaving you to change in privacy once you returned to your normal body. Your hair was still wet as you dragged yourself back to the headmaster’s office.

The headmaster looked at you with pity when you walked in looking worn out. You didn’t have to tell her for her to know what happened.

“How about I show you to your dorm?” she warmly suggested. Anything was better than returning to the classroom.

Due to your late enrollment, you were assigned a single room as opposed to the traditional double rooms. You were glad you didn’t have to go through the process of meeting and getting used to a roommate. It was a small but cozy space and the closet was filled with clothes.

You realized all of your belongings were probably burned down in your old home. Now you really didn’t have anything to go back to.

Before the headmaster left to allow you to settle in, she insisted that you join your classmates for lunch later. You wanted to say that you just wanted to stay in your room but her stern look had you close your mouth.

So you begrudgingly made your way to the cafeteria and gawked at the amount of students packed inside. Feeling them stare at you, you tried to ignore their whispers as you grabbed a tray of food. To your relief, you saw Eric motioning you over and went to go sit down next to him.

His group of friends was fairly large. You saw the boys he had named earlier that day and were surprised to see Chanhee again.

“Hi! I’m Changmin,” one enthusiastically waved. “I’m an air squirrel.”

“Haknyeon, air pig,” another raised his hand.

“My animal is a hamster and my element is water. You can call me Kevin,” the last one smiled.

After shyly exchanging greetings with everyone, you poked at the rice on your plate. The food was undeniably better than the food served at your old school. However, thinking about your old school made your stomach drop as you thought of the friends you left behind. You were sure Hyunjoon was worried sick about you.

“Do you hate water? And have you always hated water? I would assume you don’t like it very much as a cat and fire element,” Changmin looked at you with sparkling eyes that displayed his curiosity.

“Yeah I actually never learned how to swim. I guess that explains why. I never had a reason when my friends asked me about it,” you mused. In hindsight, your unreasonable hatred and fear of water made sense.

“Interesting, interesting,” he nodded.

Like that, the next couple of months flew by. You were put on an intensive program to catch up with your peers and received one-on-one tutoring to help you learn how to shapeshift at will. You could now easily turn into a cat but still had trouble returning to your human form.

To your dismay, you were denied communication with the outside world. The headmaster was very much against risking having the academy and everyone’s identities exposed. Which meant that you weren’t allowed to contact anyone from your previous life.

One good thing was that you were no longer the hot topic of the school. People’s interest in you died down when you didn’t reciprocate theirs.

You grew close to Eric and his group of friends. They were an interesting bunch. Each of them were uniquely chaotic.

Eric was the exact opposite of you. Literally. As a water element dog, his personality contrasted your fiery cat. Everything from your food tastes to fashion style were different. Yet, you felt the most comfortable with him. He brought light into your life and made adjusting to your new school easier.

You were also always at odds with Juyeon. Although you were both cats, he was everything you weren’t. He was sweet but you just didn’t match on so many things. This meant for a very awkward but pleasant friendship.

You got along best with Chanhee. His air side complemented your fire and he quickly became your closest friend. He was both sassy and caring and you appreciated his endless concern and support for you.

Changmin was a wild card. He and Sunwoo wrecked havoc everywhere they went as Younghoon and Haknyeon incited them while Kevin and Jacob were trying their best to prevent them from destroying the campus. Sangyeon and Hyunjae, who were usually busy with student council matters, were the only ones who could calm everyone down but sometimes chose to enjoy the mayhem.

“Did you guys hear the rumors?” Sunwoo bursted through the classroom door panting. “The headmaster is considering an overnight field trip for the seniors!”

Jaws dropped and gasps spread throughout the students. The room was immediately in a buzz as everyone was shocked and excited at the possibility of leaving the sealed territory. It had been 5 years since students were allowed a trip in the outside world.

The homeroom teacher came in and hushed everyone to quiet down. He couldn’t hide the smile that forced its way onto his face after seeing how happy his students looked.

“Is it true we might get a senior trip?” Haknyeon impatiently asked.

“I cannot comment on that. An official announcement will be made later today,” the teacher said.

“That’s not a no!” Younghoon squealed.

True to his words, the headmaster’s voice was heard over the PA system before the dismissal bell. She congratulated the seniors on their hard work and announced that they would be given the opportunity to sign up to spend 3 days and 2 nights on a cruise.

The entire floor of students erupted into cheers and you heard footsteps run across as they barged into classrooms to find their friends and rejoice together. Changmin came into your classroom dragging Kevin and Juyeon behind him.

“Guys, I can’t believe it! It’s been forever since I last saw humans,” Changmin gushed.

“The whole point of us going on a private boat is to ensure that we don’t have any run-ins with humans,” Kevin reminded.

“Yeah but I’m sure we’d pass by them on our way there,” Changmin rolled his eyes.

Sangyeon, Hyunjae, and Jacob strolled in, greeting your group of friends with a nod of acknowledgment. They waited as the rest of you gathered your stuff to leave together.

“Everyone’s going, right? Y/n, you too?” Eric asked.

“Umm,” you hesitated as you looked at their expectant eyes. “I honestly don’t know if it’d be a good idea… I’m still not in complete control over my powers.”

“Aw but Y/n! You can’t miss out on this once in a lifetime trip with all of us!” Sunwoo whined.

“Yeah, it’ll be your last time leaving campus before graduating! Plus, it’ll be your first and last major bonding experience with our class,” Younghoon pouted.

“I know how hard fire can be to control. If you want, I can stay with you and try to help you detect signs of distress before it manifests itself,” Hyunjae offered.

“And I‘ll be next to you to put out any accidents!” Eric beamed.

“You know I always have extra clothes in my bag,” Chanhee added.

You couldn’t say no to the 11 pairs of pleading eyes. They all so desperately wanted you to go with them that it warmed your heart. It hadn’t even been long since you first met them but they always treated you like you were with them from the start.

So you added your name to the list of students and that was how you ended up dragging your suitcase to the giant cruise ship. Haknyeon was bouncing in excitement next to you as the throng of high schoolers slowly made their way inside.

Room assignments were the same as back at the academy, which meant that you were in a single by yourself again. Changmin expressed his envy as Chanhee happily pulled him into their shared room.

Once you were unpacked, you headed to the deck and admired the seascape. The ship was already sailing into the vast ocean and the endless horizon felt so freeing. Leaning on the handrails, you closed your eyes and took a deep breath. The salty smell brought back memories of visiting the beach with your parents.

You felt someone join you but didn’t open your eyes. You could tell by their footsteps that it was Eric.

“Enjoying the change in environment?” he asked.

“Makes me a bit nostalgic,” you said as you opened your eyes.

The wind was strong and the waves were violently crashing into the sides of the boat. With the sun glistening in the water’s reflection, you squinted a bit to appreciate the scenery in front of you.

“Isn’t the view so pretty?” you sighed in content. You didn’t notice that he wasn’t looking at the sea. Instead, he was staring at you.

“Yeah. Extremely pretty,” he found himself saying with a soft smile.

To Eric’s slight annoyance, Sunwoo came and tactlessly interrupted the moment to tell you two to meet everyone else at the pool. He was raving about the jacuzzi next to it and eagerly tugged at Eric’s sleeve to hurry him up.

Younghoon was already shoving Hyunjae’s head underwater when you arrived. Jacob waved at you from the chaise lounge and you sat down next to him. Giggling, you watched Sangyeon climb on top of both of them as Juyeon egged him on. Changmin and Chanhee were relaxing in the jacuzzi while Kevin and Haknyeon were piling food on their plates at the snack bar.

Eric was thrown into the pool thanks to Sunwoo’s push and he emerged to the surface screaming and laughing. Using his powers to add more pressure, he splashed Sunwoo with water, who ran off shrieking.

“Do you not like the water as well?” you turned around to face Jacob.

“I don’t necessarily dislike it but I don’t really like it either,” he shrugged. “I don’t mind jumping in if the guys tell me to join.”

“Do you hate the water or are you afraid of it?” Haknyeon asked as he and Kevin took a seat next to you.

“I guess both?” you answered.

“You know, contrary to popular belief, I’m actually not that fond of large bodies of water either,” Kevin said as he offered Jacob a bite of his pizza. “Pretty weird for a water element, huh?”

“Hey, hey, we don’t stick to stereotypes. We are all individuals with personalities and preferences unique to our own character,” Jacob chided.

“Oh how I love confirmation biases,” Haknyeon joked.

You had to admit it was pretty interesting to see how each person matched and defied their element and animal characteristics. It was like taking a personality test and fervently agreeing with the parts that were true and blatantly ignoring the parts that weren’t.

The rest of the day was spent fooling around and playing games. There was never a dull moment with the boys. They were always in high spirits and full of energy.

Even at dinner, your table was the loudest one. Juyeon had been sneakily stealing a few bites of fish off of Haknyeon’s plate, who took great offense when he finally noticed. Meanwhile, Eric was bargaining with Younghoon for his chicken. At the mention of chicken, Hyunjae joined in on the negotiation of the last piece of meat.

So far, you haven't had a risky moment with either your element or animal. You were in complete control and didn’t need guidance—although Chanhee remained by your side just in case. When you made it back to your room to call it a night, you were relieved and proud that the trip was going smoothly without any hiccups.

Perhaps you spoke too early.

In one of the rooms down the hall, a girls’ night had turned awry. One of the girls, a water element, began crying and started a waterflow that got out of hand. The more she panicked and tried to stop it, the higher the water rose. It quickly seeped into the hallway and into other rooms.

With her friends screaming at her to make it stop, it only escalated with a loud whoosh as the door broke open from the pressure. Now in full panic mode, the girls shrieked and realized that the place was flooding from the inside out.

They trudged through the rising water to flee, banging on doors on their way out. Doors swung open as students woke up from the commotion.

By the time Juyeon finally managed to wake Eric up from his deep sleep, the water was nearly up to the bed. The roommates freaked out, wondering what the heck was going on. Juyeon quickly grabbed his bag and hurried Eric to leave.

On their way out, however, they saw that your door was still closed.

“Shit, Y/n can’t swim,” Eric gasped.

“The water’s not that deep yet. Let’s get her out while it’s still walkable,” Juyeon said as he threw his bag down and started walking towards your room.

Meanwhile, you were still sound asleep. You were startled awake by the pounding. When you registered the situation, the fear made you shift into a cat before you could get up and unlock the door. You anxiously glanced at the closed door as the water began to climb up your body.

Outside, Eric felt a pit form in his stomach. Getting worried, he decided to break your door open. With the help of Juyeon, he barely slammed the heavy wood down by mustering up all the strength he had.

“Y/n!” he yelled when he finally saw you.

You were struggling to keep your head above the water and it was getting harder by the second to not breathe in the liquid. He rushed to pick you up and kept you afloat even when he stumbled. The waves were now reaching his chest.

Juyeon transformed into his cat form to swim as Eric trekked through the hall. You were clinging onto him and Eric was holding onto you tightly as well. You could feel him pant and his heart beat fast. Tucked under his arm, you looked up to see beads of sweat falling from his forehead.

Your own heart skipped a beat at the sight. You could tell how much he cared for you. He made you feel wanted. Needed. Important.

You two were polar opposites but still complemented each other so well. He was the optimism you lacked and you were his rock. You kept him grounded and he made you laugh.

When you finally escaped to the deck, Juyeon stepped away to change back into a human and put on clothes. Your friends crowded around you, Younghoon drying you off with a towel and Chanhee placing a clean outfit next to you.

“Alright, everyone, settle down,” the headmaster called out, turning heads. “I’m glad you’re all safely out but it’ll take some time to drain the water. Please calmly stay in groups until we sort everything out.”

Thanks to your months of training, you were now able to sense when your transformation was about to occur. You grabbed the clothes with your mouth and ran off before you could flash anyone. You sheepishly returned wearing one of Chanhee’s pajama shirts and with water still dripping from your hair.

“Y/n!” Sunwoo dramatically whined, jumping you for a hug. Displeased, Eric peeled him off of you and handed you another towel.

“Thanks, Eric,” you smiled. “For… everything.”

“No problem,” he grinned as he ruffled your head.

“Thank God these two got you out safe and sound,” Sangyeon sighed in relief. You apologized for worrying everyone, to which Hyunjae insisted that you had no reason to feel sorry.

Luckily, the next day was not as eventful. A dinner party was prepared for the last night on the cruise and you got to dress up and have fun. You enjoyed a relaxing time in the ballroom with music playing from the speakers and the boys embarrassing themselves on the dance floor.

You giggled as you watched Changmin ask his crush for a dance after Chanhee quite literally pushed his friend to approach her. It was sweet to see both of them all shy in each other’s arms.

Juyeon nudged Eric and nodded in your direction to ask if he was going to ask you to dance as well. When Eric pretended not to know what he was talking about, Sunwoo joined in to tease him.

“Come on, bro. We all know you like her. Just hurry up and make a move already,” Sunwoo snickered.

“Ooh are we talking about Y/n?” Hyunjae came after eavesdropping.

“I hate you guys,” Eric rolled his eyes as he tried to hide his blush.

Learning from Chanhee, Sunwoo shoved his best friend towards you and fled after he bumped into you. Shooting him a glare, Eric silently swore at him with his eyes. He cringed before turning around to face you.

He felt his breath being stolen away when his eyes met yours. You were absolutely stunning. The glimmer of the chandelier shining on your enhanced your features and he found himself lost in your orbs.

From a few tables away, Kevin and Jacob had joined the other three guys to fanboy over the interaction. Juyeon whispered “he’s totally whipped” to Sunwoo who failed to hold back his laughter. Eric, however, didn’t even notice. He was too busy gaping at you.

“Uhh is there something on my face?” you asked, bringing your palm to your cheek. You were slightly self conscious at his intense staring.

“Beauty,” he blurted. Trying to play it cool, he acted confident and ignored the burst of laughter from his friends. You felt your face heat up at his comment and awkwardly coughed as you looked away.

“Y-You look great too,” you stuttered.

On his way to pour himself some more punch, Chanhee loudly told you to just dance with Eric. He passed by and continued to walk towards the drinks without a care as to how flustered he left you two. Your friends were practically doubling over in laughter at this point.

So Eric boldly held your hand and gently guided you to the dance floor. Feeling your body heat up, he applied his cooling powers on you to prevent you from igniting flames.

“I guess we could say there’s a spark between us,” he joked.

The rest of the night flew by in a blur. You hadn’t felt so carefree in so long. For the first time in a while, you weren’t hung up on the past or worried about the future. You simply appreciated the moment as you were living it.

You never expected things to turn out the way it did. With the death of your parents, you lost a lot of things. But your new friends made you feel complete again. They healed you in ways you couldn’t have imagined.

The revelation of your true identity also brought you peace. You no longer felt like the odd one out. Your own powers didn’t scare you and you felt safe learning about them at the boarding school.

However, you began to doubt all of that the second you docked back on land. You were chatting with Eric about his favorite ramen brand when an all-too-familiar voice made you freeze.

“Y/n..?” he carefully called out. He slowly came up to see if it really was you and gasped when he saw that it was.

Eric didn’t know why he suddenly felt uneasy. Maybe it was because an unknown male had made a reappearance in your life or maybe it was because he recognized the way he was looking at you. It was the same way he looked at you as well.

Chanhee, now protective and defensive, slightly pushed you to the back to ask who he was.

“It’s okay, Chanhee. He’s my friend,” you assured, stepping forward.

Juyeon scowled, not liking that you were interacting with people from the human world. It was borderline going against the rules.

“Hey, Hyunjoon. Long time no see,” you timidly greeted.

“Are you kidding me? You disappeared after a fire burned down your house and that’s all you have to say to me?” Hyunjoon fumed.

You winced at the pain evident in his voice. It had hurt you to ignore your best friend and there hadn’t been a day where you didn’t miss him. Guilt-ridden, you were unable to meet his eyes. He took you by surprise by pulling you in for a hug.

“We thought of the worst, Y/n,” he murmured. “I forgive you for going M.I.A. on me. It’s okay. Everything’s fine as long as you’re here.”

You choked back tears but couldn’t stop one from falling down your cheek. You heard the headmaster gathering the students to get on the bus back home and knew that you didn’t have much time before you had to leave him again. Sangyeon patted you on the shoulder and ran ahead to ask the headmaster for leniency.

“I-I have to go soon,” you stammered as you broke away from his embrace.

“Go where? You’re not coming back home?” Hyunjoon asked.

“I… have a new home now,” you gulped. “I can’t tell you where and I can’t promise that I’ll be able to see you again. But I’ve missed you. I still do.”

“Are you safe?” he whispered after staying silent for a bit. “Are you happy?”

You took a glimpse of your group of friends that was unconvincingly pretending to not listen to the conversation. It almost made you chuckle despite the situation.

“Yeah,” you trailed off. “I’m doing well, Hyunjoon. And I hope the same for you. I’m sorry.”

“Then that’s all that matters,” he forced a smile as he hugged you one last time. “Bye, Y/n.”

“Bye, Hyunjoon.”

It pained you to see him watch you walk away. Your heart broke with each step you took. On the ride back to the forest, you stared out the window. Eric, sitting next to you, softly squeezed your hand to offer you some comfort.

“I made the right choice, right?” you asked, leaning on his shoulder.

“Do you regret it?” he cautiously asked.

You thought about it. You definitely missed Hyunjoon and all of your other old friends. You also definitely felt bad that you left them behind without a word and still couldn’t provide an explanation. But at the same time, you’ve grown to love your new school and new friends. You no longer had to be on edge without even knowing the reason why. Creker Academy made you feel confident. The boys made you feel accepted. Eric made you feel loved.

“No,” you answered with certainty. “Not at all.”

a/n: for the eric to my sunwoo, @sohnhorizon​

[yee-fxcking-haw]

Could I please request a fluffy scenario where keigo warms the reader up with cuddles, like the reader got caught in the rain on their walk back home and it’s winter so when they get home they’re freezing and keigo warms them up by cuddling them🥺please

•Hold Me Close•

Summary: Just what the request says, and then it turned into a song fic lmao.

Pairing: Keigo Takami(Hawks) x Reader

Warnings: This is nothing but cheese. Mentions of panic, Hawks is super protective.

A/N: This request made me absolutely m e l t and then I turned into a hallmark headass halfway through and made it as cheesey as possible. Thank you for the request! I hope you like it!!💜

Word Count: 2,466

Inspired by this song: La Vie En Rose

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

You trudge down the sidewalk, snowflakes biting at your cheeks. There's nothing soft or romantic about the snow that's falling, it's all harsh and icey. The wind beats against your body, causing you to lean forward in order to keep forward momentum.

Not in an angry way, in a protective way, he would lose his shit if he saw you now. You're soaked by the snow, sniffling red nose and a quivering jaw. You make your way home with your head down and your body trembling, but by the time you're there you can't feel your fingers, even with them tucked into the heat of your armpits.

You open the door as silently as you can, knowing Keigo must be sleeping. You got off work so very late though, he might not have been able to rest. He worries too much, he's probably called a dozen times, he's more than likely up pacing like he does when he over thinks.

Though, when you enter your apartment, it's dead silent. No nervous wreck to be seen, the furniture is all in order, and the bedroom door is wide open with all the lights on.

He's not even here.

You shuffle into the kitchen and notice there's a kettle of water boiling on the stove top. This strikes you as incredibly strange, Keigo is always too mindful to leave things going like that, much too aware of the danger.

Then you see your feather, placed on the small table against the wall. Keigo gave it to you very early on. At first you hated the idea of being tracked, but he insisted it wasn't for spying. It was there to keep you safe, he was there to keep you safe.

With trembling hands, you pick up the soft scarlett gift and press it into your chest.

Come home. You think, with an ache in your soul. You know he can't pick up words, but he can pick up feelings. You feel the feather shiver in your fingers before pressing against your chest, almost like it wants to shred the fabric of your shirt and bury itself in your skin.

You stand there for a moment, clinging to the hint of Keigo you have.

Then you hear a heavy thump behind you.

Thank God.

The familiar sound of Keigo landing on the balcony falls on your ears and fills your chest with relief. You turn around just as he comes tumbling through the sliding door.

He's a jumble of crimsons and golds, all mixing and flashing off each other as he barrels towards you, slamming the door behind him as he does.

"Kei, I'm sorry, my phone died and I-"

"Why didn't you wait?" He asks with a harsh tone, shucking off his gloves so he can press his warm palms to your cheeks.

"God, kid, you're an icicle." His pupils are simple black lines dividing seas of amber.

"You're clothes are fucking soaked." His hands rip your sweater off as feathers shoot out of his wings and fly to the bedroom.

"Kei, please calm down, I'm ok-"

"You will be, I just gotta get you warm. Why didn't you borrow somebody's phone? Why didn't you just stay put? You could have-"

"Keigo!" Now it's your turn to grab his face, his hands halt their mission of removing your damp clothes as he freezes before you.

He searches your face wildly, lips twitching as they hold back the hundreds of "could have's" he wants to yell at you for.

"Birdie, I'm fine, look at me, I'm ok." You smooth your thumbs over his rosey cheeks, wiping off melted snow flakes as you do.

"I'm a little cold, yeah, but I am ok." You stress the last three words, making them slow and clear.

His pupils relax the slightest bit, making him look a tad less wild, just a tad.

He gets like this over small things, paper cuts and cherry sized bruises. He hates it when you're even slightly unwell. You can't get him off of you when you're sick, which is all sweet and endearing. Until he panics.

He's so dedicated to keeping you safe and well, that when there's even a hint that you might be anything less than that, he goes into a full fit. You've had to talk him down on several occasions, shake him, slap him even, just to get him to focus and know that you are ok.

His feathers return with a woosh, depositing a pair of his sweats and large sweater into his hands.

"You're ok." He mumbles as he grabs the bottom of your shirt and hoists it off of you.

He doesn't say it to you, he says it to himself.

You let him remove your freezing clothes, and you let him replace them with the warmth of the new ones. Heat seeps through your limbs and your shivering stills.

He continues to mumble to himself that you're ok, that you're safe. As soon as you're fully changed, clothed to his standards, he grabs you urgently and pulls you against his chest. Your arms settle around his torso as he folds his wings around the two of you.

You see nothing but scarlet as he creates a strange sort of tent around the both of you, holding you against him like they're a second pair of arms. You know why, it's so warm inside them, so safe.

He kisses the top of your head, letting out the massive breath he's been holding.

"Next time, you wait for me, inside somewhere." He says, voice rumbling against you through his chest.

"Kei, I'm fine, I can wa-"

"Dove…" It's a warning, firm and authoritative.

"You'll wait for me." He says, finality in his tone.

"I'll wait for you." You resign, knowing it's a losing battle.

Before any other words are shared, he hoists you by the waist, picking you up so you'll wrap your legs around his hips. He keeps you caged by his wings, but you can see his face now. His features are all pinched together, lines of worry etched into every handsome plane.

He settles on the couch with you straddling his lap, his hands slide down your arms to gather your frozen fingers. He sandwiches them between his own, bringing the tangle of appendages to his mouth so he can blow hot air onto them.

He peers at you above your knuckles, and your chest squeezes. Now, slightly settled and very close, you see how bloodshot they are.

"You worry too much, Birdie." You sigh, scooting closer to him.

He closes his eyes and breathes in before kissing your hands earnestly.

"I'm allowed to." He mutters.

You share a moment of comforting silence, both ok, both with each other.

When his eyes open again his pupils are nearly normal, nearly sane looking again.

You pull your hands away from his, only to cradle his beautiful face in your palms. He melts into the touch, chest deflating as he eases into the feeling of having you close again.

"I was about to rip the damn city apart. I tried work first, then the coffee shop you like, then you weren't there and I-"

"Kei, I'm ok." You repeat, interrupting him when you feel his hands grab your legs a little too hard, seeing his chest rise and fall a little too rapidly.

"I will wait for you next time, I'll borrow a phone, I'll stay inside. I promise." You smooth your hands into his wild mane, playing with the glittery tresses as you soothe him with your words.

He sinks back down, body less alert, senses working less urgently.

"Please, Angel, please…" His voice is so quiet, so scared.

You don't answer, you just nod and let him pull you forward. Collapsing onto his chest, thankful for his heat, for his protection. You stay like that for a long while, just holding. You coo words of reassurance to him, feeling his body unwind, pretending to ignore the tears he presses into your neck as he clings to you with selfish hands.

"Can we stay in tomorrow?" He asks quietly, lips still pressed to the top of your head.

He shifts his wings to the sides, letting the real world back in slightly.

"Of course." You nod against his chest before pulling back to look down at him again.

"I'm sorry." You breathe, genuinely regretting the worry you've caused him.

"Dove, don't be, you can't help when I slip into mission mode." He sighs, looking at you with almost guilty eyes.

Mission mode had become his politically correct term for panicking. Keigo doesn't panic, he can't panic. He just gets tunnel vision, he gets protective, he goes into mission mode.

You nod and hum, sliding your hands up his chest, noticing how damp his clothes are.

"Can I make us some tea while you change?" You play with his collar while you talk, thumbing at the remaining snowflakes.

"That sounds nice." He agrees, sending feathers off to get himself some clothing.

You should have known he wouldn't go change. He won't leave you for a little while, he'll tag along behind you, holding your sleeve, playing with your hair, just staying close.

And he does, after you slide off his lap to help him redress as he helped you. He ruffles his wings once he's dressed in his black t-shirt with matching joggers. Water flies off the feathers in every direction, successfully dampening several pieces of furniture.

"You're supposed to do that outside." You say with a chuckle in your voice. It's charming, getting after him like he's just shaken an umbrella over the rug.

He huffs as he follows you into the kitchen, bringing one wing around so he can pick at the feathers.

"I'm not goin' back out there." He smooths his hands over his plumage, seemingly content with the order of them.

He does the same with the other wing, settling in the edge of the table. He brings his legs up and sits crisscrossed on the tabletop, immediately causing a warm familiar glow to spread through your body.

If Keigo can help it, he'll forsake a chair and find a place to sit up high. He hates it when you tell him he's perching, so you don't. You just admire him in silence, heart going gooey over his avian tendencies.

"I know, 'perching.'" He rolls his eyes, catching your staring as you place tea bags in two separate mugs.

Green tea for you, chamomile for him.

"I wasn't gonna say it." You smile fondly as you pour the hot water over the bags.

He rolls his shoulders back, wings twitching and flicking as they settle behind him. He sends a single feather off so it can flick on the little stereo on the counter. It fills the kitchen romantic sounding waltz music, like something two lovers would dance to in the twenties.

"Didn't have to." He hops off the table, strolling up behind you before snaking his hands around your waist.

"Honey?" You ask, placing the kettle back down.

"Yes, dear?" He says in a mocking, sing-songy tone.

You roll your eyes and nudge his rib with your elbow. "I meant in your tea, dumbass."

He chuckles and pulls you back into him so he can bury his nose in the crook of your neck. He presses some sweet, gentle kisses into your skin.

"I got all the honey I need right here." He sways the two of you gently, humming as the music changes to a familiar song. You roll your eyes internally at his dumb one liner, swooning reluctantly when he kisses the sensitive spot under your ear.

"You like this song, don't you?" He continues his humming and swaying as you recognize the tune.

La Vie En Rose, it's cheesy, but you do indeed love it. The version is pretty too, just acoustic guitar and a soft sounding woman caressing the lyrics with her voice.

"When you kiss me, heaven sighs..." He sings softly, spinning you in his arms. His hands find their home on your waist as yours loop around his neck. You smile up at him as he beams down at you, still singing with his calming voice.

"...When you press me to your heart…" A hand slides around to press against your lower back, bringing your torso's together tightly.

"...I'm in a world apart, a world where roses bloom…" His voice really is pretty, it shocked you when you first heard him sing, but only briefly. After all, it only makes sense that a bird would sing.

You spend the next few lines mesmerized, letting him serenade you as you start to sway and turn around the softly lit kitchen, mostly illuminated by the caramel glow coming from the street lights outside.

"Give your heart and soul to me, and life will always be…" Your swaying slows as you both still slightly, each of you enraptured in the other, you're captured by his golden gaze, unable to move or think or breathe.

He leans in then, slowly, almost with the caution of a first kiss. He presses his lips against yours so carefully, so thoughtfully. It's slow and sweet and soft, it feels so safe. Here in his arms, being kissed so tenderly, so intentionally.

When you break apart, you don't move apart. You stay there, foreheads pressed together, the gentle swaying returns to your bodies. You both just stand there and cherish the beauty of it, the marvelous feeling of being so thoroughly known and loved.

"Thank you, Birdie." You whisper, looking up at him through your lashes.

"What for, angel?" One of his hands comes up to hold your face.

"For loving me like this, for keeping me safe." You answer, leaning into his touch before kissing his palm.

He damn near shivers as he watches you adore him, as he feels you need him.

"You'll never know how precious you are…" He sighs out, bringing you in to hold you against his chest, still swaying ever so gently.

"I'll keep you safe. Until I can't breathe and then beyond the grave. I'll keep you safe."

It doesn't have to be possible, it doesn't have to be feasible, it just needs to be said. It needs to be felt, between the two of you, dancing in your kitchen like two people that have loved each other for a lifetime.

Next time you'll wait for him, you'll stay inside, you'll borrow a phone...

[theleftovertaco]

The Boys in Lingerie

OK FIRST EVEN VAGUELY SMUTTISH POST 

Basic warnings in order please don’t interact if you don’t want to see this. Use basic judgement. You know if you’re too young to read something

Once again, I try to keep it house, gender, and year neutral so anyone can fill in the blanks where they wish, guys, gals, and nonbinary pals alike

We have standard lineup- Fred, George, Draco, Neville, Harry, Ron, Oliver, Cedric, and now Charlie and Blaise have been added!

ON TO THE FEMBOYS IN LINGERIE

Fred

You and Fred had messed around before with kinks and lingerie

He always liked how it looked on you, how the lace hugged you perfectly

Freddie is a very forthright person, if he wants to try something he will tell you in advance, and so he talks to you about him wearing some

You agree immediately and the two of you find a magazine to order some because there is no shop that sells that in Hogsmeade, unfortunately

He finds a pair of pink panties and chooses those because of course he does and when the box arrives (he has to avoid George’s questions about what's in the box) 

He puts them on and then sends you a notes asking you to come to his room while no one else is there

And when you find him

“Baby boy, you look amazing.” He smirks and spins in a circle before leaping on the bed, you following close after

George

George wandered into a strange shop in muggle London when you and him were exploring during Christmas break

He found a sex shop where they sold a lot of lingerie and before he got yelled at by the shop owner to “get out, you tosser!”

He couldn’t get the lingerie out of his head 

He didn’t think about you wearing it, well maybe a little. No he actually thought more about the cloth on his own body

So about a couple weeks after seeing those and getting back to school he plucked up the courage to ask you (he was a Gryffindor, dammit, he shouldn’t be scared)

“How would you feel if I... wanted to wear panties?” “Sure, love, sounds good if that’s what you want.” “Wait, that’s it?” “Yea.” “Ok good, cause I kinda already ordered them.” 

He darts into the restroom to put them on and then comes out to show you and holy fuck

He’s in this pale blue pair of flower lace bikini panties and walks out looking just a little timid and you fucking jump him 

Draco 

Draco saw a pair of Pansy’s underwear during a game of strip poker and while most of the other guys were ogling her, he was thinking about how the silk would feel on him

He buys a pair, but then they just sit at the bottom of his trunk for about a month and a half

Then he wears them once or twice around the common room under his trousers before he even thinks of telling you

He writes you a note during History of Magic (its not like Binns will notice anyways): “Can you come to my dorm after classes today? I want to show you something.”

So you go thinking its gonna be some gift his mum sent again but you enter the dorm and see him in a pair of silk black panties 

“Honey, you look fantastic!”

You may or may not have torn them off of him 

He may or may not have had to buy another 10 pairs

Neville

Neville sees a girl in a thong in one of his dormmates old magazines and he just gets a little spooked

Because his immediate thought isn’t about you in them

It’s about him in them

So he panics

Slowly but surely, as your relationship progresses he gets a little more bold, in general, since you make his confidence skyrocket when you’re around him

So he wears them around during the day and when he pulls you into a empty classroom you’re a little scared about what he’s gonna do because of the timid look on his face

But he pulls down his trousers to show the pastel yellow thong he’s wearing and he slips on his old cat ears

You let out an audible groan

“Kitten, you look beautiful.”

He blushes and looks down in embarrassment just a little

“Nuh-Uh, don’t you dare look embarrassed kitten, come here.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Harry

You and Harry had a very honest relationship

He is a rather frank person and is not afraid to tell you want he wants in a relationship, but of course, you know that right out of the gate

Plus after the heels debacle, he knew never to try and hide what he wanted to wear from you

So when he discovers your collection of lingerie, he straight up asks you if he can try them on

“You sure?” “Yes please.” “Yeah ok go ahead, sunshine.”

He grins and snatches his favorite pair, a red set of satin underwear that barely cover anything

“You ready love?” “Of course sunshine, come on out!”

He steps out and you are speechless to say the least

He looks amazing and you pretty much drag him over to sit on your lap while you kiss him

So now he wears panties all the damn time because why not

If he likes it and he’s confident wearing them, you’re all for it

Ron

Ron is still a bit wary about wearing lingerie

He’s been wearing more stereotypically feminine clothes, but wearing panties is a whole other game to him

But you suggested it, and he was willing to try

It takes him a bit to warm up to the idea of lingerie

Ron has you walk him through it, what would be comfortable, what wouldn’t be, and he settles on a pair of black satin ones “They’ll be comfortable, promise!” “If you’re sure...”

You do a trial run where he just kind of lounges around the common room wearing them underneath his normal clothes

By the end of the day he’s hooked on it and you are too

He likes the softness of them

Ron has always felt like he had to be strong, and measure up to his brothers masculinity, but when he’s in the lingerie, he feels like he doesn’t have to conform to that

Anyways yes he likes the panties

Oliver

Oliver saw a pair on you once under your sweatpants when you were cuddling

“Oh, what are these?” “My panties???” “They’re pretty... do they make them for guys?”

Bro was straightforward

So you buy him a pair “I trust your judgement love, buy whatever you want!”

So he ends up with a pair of red silk ones that feel amazing 

He wears them whenever possible

About a week after he starts wearing them, Angelina somehow finds out and the Gryffindor quidditch team dares him to ride on the broom in only his panties

So he tries it... before immediately slipping off and falling on his ass

“Stupid fabric.”

He manages to stay on the second time, and well, now you have a few candid shots of your boyfriend riding a broom in lingerie

Not that you’re complaining

Cedric

I need to stop calling Cedric Pretty boy, but does that mean i will? no

Pretty boy loves you in lingerie

The fabrics are always so pretty

And he has never been shy about this, so he just asks you if he can try on a pair of yours

“Yeah, of course pretty boy go ahead.” he kisses you on the cheek and runs off to find a pair

He puts on a pale yellow satin pair of briefs 

And walks back into your dorm

“Fuck, pretty boy!” “You like it?” “Baby, I adore it!”

Cedric begins wearing them around campus

He likes how his thighs look in them, and soon he starts wearing them under his skirts

If he bends over, you can see it pretty easily, he knows exactly what he’s doing

He tries to rile you up

Fucking tease

Charlie

Charlie is a very muscular person 

It isn’t that he doesn’t like traditionally feminine stuff, he just never thought he had the build for it

It takes a while for him to change his mind, since contrary to popular belief, he is actually pretty insecure

“Don’t you think I’d look strange in them, stocky kid in girls underwear?” “Well, it’s  not just for girls, and no you would not! I happen to think that you would look beautiful!”

He likes that word. Beautiful

People have always described him as handsome, cute, but never beautiful

So he agrees

Maybe it’s something about wizarding Romania that’s more accepting but when the lady at the shop you go to sees that the panties are more fit for Charlie, she winks at the two of you and says to “have fun with those”

So he puts them on and holy shit 

He understands it now

He feels beautiful

Blaise

Blaise likes being pretty lets be real

He doesn’t really give a flying fuck what people think of him

So he jumps on panties real quick

Finds the prettiest pair of emerald panties he can find and he loves them almost immediately

He likes putting on a short skirt and makeup on to top off his whole vibe because why not

Another thing about Blaise is that he is a fucking flirt 

With everyone, not just you

And while you trust that he would never cheat on you or betray you, if he gets a little too flirty with anyone else, all you have to do is creep your hand up to the satin undergarment and give it a little tug to remind him who he belongs to

You, bitch, it’s you

Ok that’s it for now idk what I’m doing next so if you want me to write something please send me an ask. Also I rarely write suggestive/smut fics if you know ways that I can make this better please for the love of god let me know.

This feels like a good time to say that this is the final set of characters. I have 10 right now, and if I keep accepting more people I’ll just end up doing 20 characters every time. I love doing these but I don’t have the time or energy to do every single character, it just would not be good for my mental health. That being said, if you want a specific headcanon of a specific character, please SEND ME AN ASK so I know that you want that directly. I would be more than happy to write it for you.

[girlactionfigure]

There's something I need to get off my chest.

I'm an Ultra-Orthodox, Chassidic, Hareidi Jew. I live in Jerusalem, in an area that is exclusively Ultra-Orthodox Hareidi for street after street, suburb after suburb, for miles and miles. In all of these neighborhoods where the roads are blocked off and no cars drive on Shabbos, each black-hat-wearing family has many many children and literally no TV’s. I personally only ever wear black and white clothes, my wife only dresses in Chassidic levels of tznius (modesty), and my boys and girls all attend mainstream Hareidi Chassidic schools where the main language is Yiddish. My kids don’t and never will have smartphones, nor have they ever been on the internet at all. Period. They don’t know what social media is and they’ve never seen a movie — not even Disney animation. 

Having lived exclusively immersed in this culture for the last 21 years, I think I'm sufficiently qualified and well-researched enough to state that the consistent depiction of Hareidim and Torah Judaism by mainstream media, from Netflix to the daily news, is somewhere between delusion, slander and the literal equivalent of racism. If you consider yourself less closed-minded than how you imagine we Hareidim to be, then permit me to share a few personal details about my family, and other families in our neighborhood, to see how well your mental narrative matches up to reality:

- Besides learning Torah each day, most of the men in our neighborhood work full or part-time.

- Many women in our area work. Some even manage their own business or company. These are not special or “liberated” women — it’s so normal here it’s not even a discussion point.

- My wife is a full-time mother by choice, who despite attending an Ivy League College,  finds it a profound and meaningful thing to dedicate her life to. If she didn’t, she’d go get a job. Mind you, she also attends Torah classes each week, works out with both a female fitness coach (who’s gay) and a frum Pilates instructor, writes and edits articles for a couple global websites and magazines, and personally mentors a number of women. None of this is seen as unusual. 

- Kids in our community go to Torah schools where they learn (surprise!) Torah. They are fluent in three languages from a young age and the boys even read and understand a fourth (Aramaic). All the kids learn grammar, math and science. Weekly after-school activities have included music (violin, drums, piano), Tae Kwon Do, swimming, art, woodworking and robotics. The girls' school teaches tools of emotional intelligence. The principal of the boys' school doesn't hesitate to refer to kids to OT if needed. I practice meditation with my children multiple times each week. None of our kids think the world is literally 6,000 years old. They devour books about science and think it’s cool. They know dinosaurs existed and don’t find that existentially threatening. They have a telescope with which they love to watch the stars. 

- The women in my family (like the men) only dress modestly according to Hareidi standards. The girls don't find this burdensome or oppressive. Period. They aren't taught that beauty is bad. They're certainly not taught to hate their bodies, God forbid. Each morning when they get dressed, they are as happily into their own fashion and looking pretty as any secular girl is. They just have a different sense of fashion than secular culture dictates. (Unfortunately for me,  it's no cheaper.)

- The local Hareidi rabbis we receive guidance from are deep, warm, sensitive, supportive and emotionally intelligent. If they weren’t, we wouldn’t go to them.

- My boys assume they will grow up to learn Torah, as much as they want to, and then when they’re ready, get a good job or learn a profession to support whatever lifestyle they choose. My girls assume they’ll be wives and mothers (which they can’t wait for) but they're also warmly encouraged to train in whatever other profession they desire. (My 9-year-old daughter, chatting with her friend in the living room, just commented, "I want to be a mother and a teacher and an artist." Her friend replied, "I'm going to be a ballet teacher.") All options are on the table, and their future seems bright.

- We love living in modern Israel, feel proud and blessed to be here, and frequently count and celebrate its blessings. Everyone in my area votes. Sometimes not even for Hareidi parties. I pay taxes. (And they’re expensive!)

- As a Hareidi person, I’m glad we have Hareidi representation in the government — though I don’t always love or approve of how the Hareidi politicians act, or what they choose to represent. For the record, I'm equally dubious about secular politicians, as well. 

- While I don't spend much time in Tel Aviv, I do have a few close Hareidi entrepreneur friends who have founded high-tech start-ups there, and are — Boruch Hashem! — doing very well.   

- We don’t hate all non-religious people. Our kids don’t throw stones at passing cars on Shabbos. I doubt they even know anyone who would do that or think that it’s ok. We frequently talk about the Torah value of caring for and being compassionate towards everyone. As a family, we proactively try to find ways to judge others favorably (even those people who throw stones at passing cars on Shabbos.)

- We invite all manner of religious and secular Jews to join our Shabbos meals each week and the kids are open, happy, and confident to welcome everyone. (No, we're not Chabad.) One of the many reasons for having such guests at our table is to teach the kids this lesson.

- While we would technically be classified as right-wing and we don’t at all buy the modern “Palestinian” narrative, we certainly don’t hate all Arabs, nor do we have any desire to expel them all from the land. We warmly welcome anyone seeking to dwell here with us in peace and we are pained and saddened to see the suffering and loss of lives of all innocent Arab families and children — as would any decent human being.

- Of the few local families I know whose kids no longer identify as religious, none at all chose to disown their kids. The very thought, in such lovingly family-dedicated communities, is hard to imagine. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, I'm just saying it's not as common as it's made out. Rather, these families have tirelessly, profoundly, compassionately committed to maintaining any connection with their children, and to emphasize that, no matter what, family is the most important thing. Because it is.

- We aren't just living our life blindly, dogmatically following empty religious rules; rather, we are frequently engaged with, exploring and discussing Torah's richness, depth and meaning. Our kids honestly love learning Torah, praying and doing mitzvos. They’re visibly excited about Shabbos and festivals. This lifestyle is in no way oppressive or burdensome for them. If you suggested to them it was, they’d laugh and think you were crazy.  

- We Hareidim are normal people: we laugh, we cry, we buy too much Ikea furniture, and we struggle with all of life's daily ups and downs, just like the rest of you. Some of our communities are more healthy and balanced, some are less so; some of our people are warmer, nicer and more open, some are more closed, dogmatic and judgmental; some of our leaders are noble and upstanding, and some are quite frankly idiots…JUST LIKE ANY SECULAR NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE WORLD TOO. But having grown up living a secular lifestyle myself, and today being Hareidi-by-choice, I can testify that in these communities there is generally a greater and more tangible sense of well-being, warmth, tranquility, connection and meaning. We love and feel blessed to be living this life and wouldn’t want any other.

If this description of Hareidi life is hard to swallow, be careful not to push back with the often-used defenses like: "Well, you're just an exception to the rule...", "You're just American Hareidim", "You're baalei teshuvah", "Well, I know a bunch of Haredim that aren't like that at all"....because the truth is, while there might be many Hareidim who aren't like what I described above, it's still an accurate description of literally hundreds of thousands of Hareidim in Israel and the US — a decent portion of all Hareidim in the world. Which is my very point — how come you never see this significant Hareidi demographic represented in the media, television series, or the news? How come we mostly see the darkest and most problematic cliches instead? 

And finally, if all the facts I've listed above about our communities are hard for you to accept as true, then perhaps the image you have in your head about Hareidim is less based on facts and reality and more based on stereotypes, fear, hate, and discrimination — like any other form of prejudice in the world. 

Care to prove me wrong? Well, you're welcome to come argue it out with me and my family at our Shabbos table on Friday night. It would be a joy and honor to have you. 

Doniel Katz

[dreamescapeswriting]

Compliment Battle ~ Lee Felix [Request]

↬↬↬Word Count: 1.8k

↬↬↬Genre: Fluffy!!!

↬↬↬Pairing: Lee Felix X Latina!Reader

↬↬↬A/n: Hope this is okay for you love! Had a lot of fun writing for the guys as I feel like I haven’t written fluff for them in a while! I promise to write more once my requests are down!

The press was good at over exaggerating things whenever they could, it was what they did all of the time you knew and everyone else knew it too but knowing it was different when you were reading something about yourself. Another day another dumb article from one of the online magazines that everyone seemed to adore so much, always sharing it with one another despite the contents either being completely made up or turned on their head so they were no longer facts. You laid awake while Felix was asleep beside you, he'd gotten in late with Chan last night so you weren't about to wake him up and show him yet another article about your relationship. The only reason you were up so early was because of the sun peeking through the blinds in the window which Jeongin had neglected to shut - again - the night before. Through every muscle in your body, you slowly and quietly got out of the bottom bunk of the bed and walked towards the door - being careful not to trip on any of Jisung's clothes as you went, he told you the reason they were on the floor was that it kept things organised for him, you would have accepted the excuse as well if the boy didn't wear the same four shirts over and over again. You'd been staying over at the dorms while you came to visit Felix for a couple of weeks, trying not to get in the way while they trained and got things ready for STAY.

"You okay?" A voice called out as you silently shut the door behind you, your hand landed on your chest to calm your heart that was now pounding against your chest thanks to Chan who was sitting in the kitchen. He'd heard someone waking up and he knew it wasn't going to be any of the boys - not yet anyway, he placed is earbuds down onto the table and stared at you waiting for an answer.

"Yeah, I was going to take a shower. You slept yet?" Stupid question. He'd probably been sitting in the kitchen working from his laptop all night - you knew all of the boys like the back of your hand since you met them when Felix did. Chan eyed you up, he could already tell there was something on your mind by the way you were avoiding his eyes and holding yourself up. Your arms were folded across your chest to block out any body language to give yourself away but in doing so it gave it away that something was wrong.

"I'll make a drink, sit down and tell me about it." You sighed you hated how well he knew people, how quickly he could decipher when something was wrong with someone but at the same time you did love him for it. It was like having a caring older brother there to watch out for you, even if you were older than him Chan would still feel like the older brother type. He flicked the kettle on while he watched you from the corner of his eye, you were sitting at the table while nervously playing with the sleeves of Felix's hoodie you'd worn to bed.

"What is it?" He questioned, he'd made you a drink then set it down in front of you while he waited for you to speak about whatever it was that was bothering you. You knew that Chan and the boys had had their fair share of press coverage both negative and positive but you didn't know how to bring it up with Chan without him running to Felix. It wasn't something you wanted to bother anyone with but it was starting to bother you to the point where you dreaded going online. The constant sprew of articles being written about you was insane, you would have thought they'd have better things to do than write about you and your relationship but apparently not.

"Have you seen the articles?" You could already tell by the dejected look on his face that he'd seen them already and you groaned laying your head down onto the cold wooden table. It was cold enough to relieve some of the tension headache you had but it wasn't enough to completely pass it away.

"It's every time I come to visit, they seem to pick up more and somehow get worse." You whispered looking up at him through your arms to see him giving you a sad smile. You had been visiting the boys a lot more than you used to since dating Felix and since your relationship was outed to everyone. Once it was out you and Felix saw no reason to hide that you were together anymore and continued life as normal together.

"They have to talk about something and unfortunately it's not always good." Your mind flashed back to all of the articles talking about you, how you didn't fit the 'Korean Beauty Standards' and that you were different to who they wanted Felix to date - as if it was down to them anyway. Felix could date whoever he wanted and you were lucky enough that he chose you  - though he'd convinced you that he was the lucky one to be able to date you.

"I'm going to go and shower, thanks for the coffee," You whispered taking the mug with you as you headed for the main bathroom of the dorms, it had the largest shower which would make you feel better after the morning you'd been having.

"Hi," Felix's voice was warm as he came up behind you in the kitchen wrapping his arms around your waist as you stood at the sink washing up the breakfast plates and pans you'd used to cook for everyone.

"Hi," You whispered back to him as you felt him leave a small kiss on the back of your neck, he turned you around and you groaned as your hands were still wet from the soapy dishwater.

"Changbin already moped this morning don't make him do it again," You squealed through your sentence as he picked you up and placed you onto the countertop ignoring the protest he got from Hyunjin and Jisung who were still trying to eat their breakfast but finding it hard at the sudden display of affection.

"I'm showing my girl how much I love her-"

"Yeah, well, you have a bedroom for that." Jisung groaned shoving a bit of toast into his mouth watching as Felix took you towards the dorm room he shared with Jisung and Jeongin.

"I missed you this morning." He whispered as he laid you down the bed beneath him his arms either side of your head as he looked down at you, you sent him the warmest smile you could manage with the articles playing in the back of your head. Whenever you looked at him you could somehow feel the words all creeping into your head and clouding your vision of you and him together,

"Sorry, I wanted to do something nice since it's my last week." You knew you were lying. He knew you were lying. He could read you like a book. He collapsed down onto the bed beside you and patted his chest wanting you to cuddle into him while you spoke about what was troubling you. There was no getting out of it, once Felix knew something was bothering you he wouldn't stop until he knew what it was and could fix it for you. He was the little ball of sunshine that tried to make your day better all of the time.

You sat crossed legged in front of him though wondering how you were supposed to bring something like this up to him, he was used to articles being written about him and the boys but you weren't. You weren't used to waking up to the internet exploding about your body - the week before they'd done nothing but analyse the way your body was shaped, the way your hips would move when you walked and the way you wore your clothes. It was different to what they were used to, sure, but you assumed they'd get over it sooner or later. This week however it was about your personality, it was no secret that you were extroverted but with friends like Felix and the guys you had to be. You were all loud and rambunctious together as you all fed off of one another's energy, competing to see who was the loudest out of all of you.

"It's the articles isn't it?" He sat up and came face to face with you, you looked at him eyes dancing over his face to see his freckles you loved so much and his dark brown eyes. His blonde hair was getting long again and fell into his face, you pushed it out of the way and he sighed knowing the answer to his question already without you even saying a word to him.

"I just-"

"Come here," He pulled you to lay down next to him and you sighed, laying here in his arms seemed to melt everything away around you. Suddenly you weren't in the Stray Kids dorm you were just alone with Felix in your own little world being able to just be yourselves without having to worry about anyone else.

Felix knew that there was nothing that he could do to prevent the articles from writing about you or to stop what they were writing about but he was going to do his best to make you feel better about them whenever he could. That was the price for dating an idol when they were in the limelight so were you and if you were going to be seen together it was going to happen a lot more.

"I love it when you're loud by the way," He mumbled into your ear an hour later. You'd both fallen asleep curled up in each other's arms only to wake up with Jeongin come in from losing a video game against Chan.

"Someone can give us all a run for our money, I thought we were loud but with you, we could cheer on a whole basketball team and maybe a football team." You gently poked his side as he playfully teased you trying to cheer you up and he chuckled kissing your cheek as he drew you closer to him, your head was resting against his chest just listening to his heartbeat as you cuddled together.

"Don't even get me started on the way you move your hips - ugh so gorgeous." You groaned at him for being so gross this early in the morning, you took a pillow out from behind you and began smushing it against his face as you got up to get away from his constant compliments, he continued yelling them as you ran towards the door.

"Come back in here and let me compliment you!" He yelled as you shot out of the room into the living room where the boys all let you hide behind them so Felix couldn't get to you.

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