#my little felon <3

[bumblewarden]

I've been vocal that Crime Wave is my favorite quest/line in all of Dragon Age, so naturally, i have some thoughts about the Dark Wolf situation of my canon worldstate. Expect to see canon and headcanon mixed without distinction

In Awakening, you can meet someone else claiming to be the Dark Wolf. The problem there is that that Wolf is a fake. The Hero of Ferelden, Novhen Tabris, is the actual Dark Wolf

>What we see in Awakening

After Origins and Novhen's assignment to Amaranthine, the Denerim undergound has noticed his DW activity come to an end. They assume he was captured and/or killed. In the wake of this, a wave of imitators have cropped up, and it's not going to end any time soon. There are going to be a lot of copycats showing up over the next few years, possibly permutating decades or centuries into the future and becoming a figure of legend

The human pretender in Awakening is a Champion which is one of—if not the—most attention-drawing specialization in the game in stark contrast to Novhen being a Shadow, the most stealth-based specialization. This is just extra insult to the injury of the [This is the guy stealing my cred?]

Also, the phony's messenger refers to him as "Ser Wolf of Rivain" for his not-quite-a-codename. This definitely piques Novhen's interest because he, the actual Dark Wolf, has dark enough skin that a stranger spotting him is likely to assume he's of Rivaini descent

This concerns him since [Does that mean someone had seen him and remembered enough of his appearance to call him Rivaini, or did they just get lucky picking their alias?] If someone caught even a little bit of his identity, that increases the risk of people finding out the rest of his identity and then bringing harm to his family and the alienage

>What is known of the original Dark Wolf

It is however not totally inaccurate to the character of the Dark Wolf for the impostor to offer services to the Grey Wardens. Novhen's crimes as the Dark Wolf in canon obviously have a strong pro-Warden stance, particularly the crime that earns him the moniker: stealing Loghain's crown. This correlation is doubly true if the Dark Wolf also takes credit for the Trial of Crows missions

Slim says he doesn't like blood, and Novhen plays along in that he somehow doesn't kill a single soul while working on a tip from him. Even in The Private Collection, he found a way around it. For obvious reasons, Ignacio has no such reservations with his missions

I also like the headcanon where Wardens sometimes get the pale silver eyes that make them look like those infected with Blight sickness except they retain their pupils. It probably affects around a tenth of Grey Wardens, and Warden lore would have it that the affected Wardens are better at sensing darkspawn

And what if there's a [famous in the future but disregarded in contemporary Thedas] witness (oops) who is one of the few people to ever see the Dark Wolf in action, and reports him having elven stature and those blightsick eyes. It would certainly explain the pro-Warden fervor

Consider the state of the Order in 9:30 in Ferelden. There are so few Grey Wardens in the country that you can count them on one hand, and you will likely go your whole life without ever seeing one up close. Meanwhile, Blight sickness has spread far from the south, and the alienage is quarantined because of it

It's much more reasonable to assume the Dark Wolf is sick with the Blight than to assume he's a Grey Warden, and in future Thedas, the most popular theory is that the original Dark Wolf had died quietly to the Blight sickness (or less quietly to the darkspawn when they hit Denerim) instead of being captured. Because if the real Dark Wolf were at any point captured, why are there no records of it? Why would the powers that be not make a spectacle of his execution? It only makes sense that he was never caught

>Other wolves

Another "fake" Dark Wolf that pops up around this time is the Dark Wolf of Amaranthine. This DW is the spymaster of the Fereldan Wardens. That is to say, it's Novhen, the original Wolf. While historians will eventually get it right that this DW is Novhen, it will never become the prevailing theory that he is also the orginal

Further in the vein of future perspectives, in media produce by future Thedas, it becomes a popular trend to make the original Dark Wolf not just an elf but an Agent of Fen'Harel. They're both troublemaking wolves, aren't they? This is primarily for edgy points, but there's also the matter of the Agents are going to be much less unknown pre- and post-Trespasser

Now let's tie Tathas into this. Tathas being the elven figure Novhen makes up when telling the children a story during the City Elf Origin

Those children would have held on tight to that story. Elven heroes are a scarcity even after their old neighbor is declared savior of the realm.

They would keep the story in circulation long enough that she becomes a local myth.

Future historians may be able to trace the earliest whispers of the legend of Tathas to the Dragon Age, and as she and the Dark Wolf are both famous thieves from Denerim in the first half of the Dragon Age who simply disappeared one day, it becomes a popular theory that they were in fact the same person.

Anybody in this thread play Dynasty Warriors? Anyway, it'd be fun if there were a Warriors-style game in future Thedas and if there were at least one map both Novhen and Tathas appeared on.

>AU: Companion Novhen

And to wrap up a few notes on how this applies to Companion Novhen:

He only becomes Dark Wolf if the HoF does not. He wouldn't want to step on their toes. Otherwise, the phony from canon takes his usual place

He also has to be alive and have not left the Warden's camp by the end of Origins

A Dark Wolf Novhen will join the battle at Vigil's Keep if you chose to return there for the climax instead of staying in the city

If you do remain in the city and his approval was Neutral or higher in the basegame, while he does not as directly join you in the battle, he will be present in the Chantry with you after. If you talk to him, he'll imply he was also rescuing the civilians from darkspawn. He still considers you an ally and will not leave you to fight alone when he is able to help

He still will not be following you to find the Mother in either case though

[rhcenyra]

OUTER BANKS ⇢ 3x05 | HEISTS

[casekt]

So I can remind myself, I want to draw tomorrow, with pastels or charcoal or something

[cckaisen]

୨ৎ˙⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 𝓑𝓡𝓞𝓣𝓗𝓔𝓡 𝓕𝓤𝓒𝓚𝓔𝓡, sukuna ryomen !

boyfriend’s older brother!sukuna. while little bro yuji spits up his liquor in the bathroom, sukuna takes care of his girl, finally fucking her like she deserves.

ಇ. summary. sukuna brother au, fem reader, infidelity, yuji throws up so emeto. warning, manipulation, pussy slapping, biting, some predator/prey elements, size kink, dumbification, squirting, reader is intoxicated but aware, rough kuna but he switches up:3, regret/moral conflict, angst towards the end cuz ‘m a certified yapper. wc, 4.6k.

ಇ. note. been a whore for sukuna lately but i fully blame gege for drawing him so majestic. if evil then why gorgeous, hm??? we’re onto u gege. we know u love a felon. confess already.

the door to the itadori household bursts open and in floods a typhoon of drunken chaos and laughter.

drowning in giggles, yuji has his arm thrown over your aching shoulders, humming along to some kind of song. without you, he wouldn't be upright—a jumbling, intoxicated mess.

you're mostly sober, fighting to get him to the bathroom since he was heaving in the taxi.

"whyyy do ya build me upp~" he slurs, a bumbling flurried version of himself, smothering your cheek in wet kisses that have you wriggling away. "butterrrcuppp baby, jus' t'let me downnn...!"

"yuji!" you shriek, the weight of him growing more unbearable as you try to keep him up. his breath is drenched with the heavy scent of liquor. "baby, y'gotta focus or we're not gonna make it to the—"

"—and mess m'rounddd!"

"yuji—'nuff!" you groan loudly as he drapes himself over. at this rate, you might just collapse into a heap on the floor, overcome by his weight as well as the lesser, still relevant amount of alcohol you consumed at the club.

suddenly, the patter of footsteps have you perking up. sukuna—yuji's big brother—rounds the corner, gaunt features sharp with agitation. he must've woken up when the two of you came barreling in.

"sukuna—hi," you can't help the relief that bursts through your chest, evident in the way you exhale.

sukuna notes the way your knees tremble, his brother blabbering embarrassingly on top of you. he puts aside the urge to laugh, figuring he'd spare you just this once.

"here. i got 'im." without any trouble, sukuna drags his little brother under his arm, putting your strength to shame. with the weight lifted, you finally have chance to relax, rolling your arm and letting out a loud sigh of relief.

"thank you. ow—pain."

you stumble, and the broader of the two brothers chuckles, crimson gaze soaking up your body in that dress while you're distracted. "you carried him all the way home?"

"mhm. practically sprawled out on my lap in the taxi. the driver and i had to team up to get him outta there," you whine as you kick off your heels. those stupid things had you wincing terribly most of the night. yuji said they were sexy. as much as you love him, you’re more than sure you will not be wearing them again anytime soon.

"you should've called me." sukuna's features scrunch in disgust as yuji keeps singing in his hold.

"i-i-i neeeeed youu~"

"fuckin' a, did he drink the whole bar?"

"pretty much," you reply, shrugging off your coat and following behind the pair of brothers. yuji looks so funny, almost small despite his lean stature, looking deceivingly short compared to sukuna. "he made a bet with todo and lost."

the sober man grunts as he knocks open the bathroom door, holding up yuji in his other arm. his muscles flex underneath his shirt, stretching the dark cotton, where your eyes briefly linger.

you avert your attention to yuji instead, amusement melting into concern for your boyfriend.

not sharing the same sentiment, sukuna drops him down by the toilet, putting up the lid with a smack and purposely shoving yuji's head into the bowl a little harder than necessary. "theree ya go, dumbass," sukuna grunts, slapping his back as he finally pukes up. "just barely made it."

and you're sure glad he did, thanking the gods your dress had been spared amidst the drama. with the way he'd been acting, you were never sure that you would be safe from the bile climbing his throat, cringing fearfully at times.

you feel much better now that sukuna has taken over. he's older, well-versed in trivial matters like this. yuji's already told you all about his university days, the drunken nights, the fighting—

you curse your thoughts for sprawling so suddenly, shooing off your rodent-like curiosity.

their relationship struggled at times. especially so back then, but things are different now. and as much as sukuna pretends not to care for his little brother, he clearly does, at least a little. after all, the pink tresses of your boyfriends hair are ruffled in his thick hand before he lets go fully.

then sukuna walks on in a rugged stride, leaving yuji to it. on the way out, he knocks your shoulder with his. you can't tell if the action was playful, but you’re sure it wasn't hostile, at least. a little smile creeps onto your lips as your gaze follows him into the kitchen.

sukuna is weird.

he's weird because he's not like yuji in most ways; it's not necessarily a bad thing, but he's much, much harder to see through. with your boyfriend, most things are crystal clear. you can tell what he wants, what he needs, how he needs it. he'll tell you all about it—unselfishly, of course.

however, sukuna, you find, never reads so easily. and it's weird. you can't tell if you prefer it that way, or if you'd rather know what he's thinking.

especially since you're certain you just caught his eyes slithering along your curves.

anyway.

wanting to give yuji some privacy, you pull the door shut, the sound of his gags growing muffled. you half-jog-half-limp to the kitchen, preparing a glass of cold water to ease his throat once it's all over.

unbothered, sukuna leans his back against the counter, scrolling on his phone like this is just another night to him. it's weird.

you start wondering, drawing up the conclusion that this might be first time you and him have ever been alone, in a way. yuji is there, but not really, if you know what i mean. not mentally, anyway.

before you can finish that thought, you deliver the glass to yuji, crouching down to his level and rubbing his back with careful affection. "got you some water, baby. right here, by your hand." you take it gently, guiding it towards the glass.

he's not throwing up so much now, just laying there, waiting for the next wave of nausea to crash over him. his fingers respond to the glass, wrapping around it. "thanks, hic—y're so good t'me..."

you smile warmly, pressing a kiss to his warm cheek. you couldn't care less that he reeks of all kinds of concoctions and puke all rolled up together, wanting to be there for him regardless as you know he would for you.

you whisper a few more reassuring words to him before taking your leave, giving him some time to recover by himself. the bathroom door clicks shut. forgetting all about the third party, you let your back press against it, head jilting as a sigh slips out.

"he worn ya down that much?" sukuna snorts at the display, looking up from his phone.

despite your initial surprise, you laugh too. "he doesn't usually. it's just... been a busy night, i guess. i think he'll pass out in there."

sukuna briefly dips his head into the fridge, getting out a chartreuse-tinted bottle of something. "one would hope. you want one?"

"you're being weirdly nice." you blurt suspiciously, smirking. oh god. maybe the alcohol was starting to work you over, too, because you definitely weren't supposed to say that. sometimes it's better not to ask, someone told you once.

sukuna pulls a face that makes you wish you could crawl out of your skin on command, even though there's technically logic behind your last words.

"am i usually mean?"

"n-no, i just mean—" fuck, stop talking. with growing embarrassment, you shake your head, "nothing. sorry. that was assumptive."

the way you initially scrambled to answer appealed to some wicked humor in him as he laughed. "yeah, it was. so yes or no?"

"yes," you sigh, shoulders slumping in admission, knowing you probably needed it. especially after whatever that was. your head is pounding—god, someone should put me down.

sukuna opens up your bottle with his teeth as you hop up on the counter, watching each other. all had gone quiet behind you. sukuna handed you the drink with the lid still between his teeth, venom swirling in his eyes when he saw the way yours lingered on the gesture.

slowly, you took the bottle, pressing the rim up to your lips before taking a sip. it bubbles in your mouth, sparkling on your tongue before you swallow it down. the burn is a little unpleasant, but you manage.

"any good?" sukuna asks.

"'s okay," you shrug, reading the bottle, pretending like any of it made sense. "a little bitter."

"you like 'em sweet?" the taller man frowns, sorting through the cupboards for something that you're too immersed to ask about.

"kinda. but too much makes me sick," you explain, scrunching your nose at the thought. "i like a balance."

"oh, really?" sukuna snorts as if you've just said the funniest thing in the world.

in one confused motion, you lower your brows. and jilt your head, wondering what's with the sudden jest. "yeah, uh... is that funny?"

sukuna raises his brows, shaking his head, some glasses clinking. "no, not funny. nothin's funny."

he really knows how to make a person feel small, you'd give him that much.

you avert your gaze, heart crawling up into your cheeks. "okay, well..."

"what about you?" he interjects, sparking up another tiny bit of annoyance in you again. not that you knew what you were gonna say anyways. it most likely would've been embarrassing anyway, making you shrink even more, wanting yuji to come out already—

"what about me?" you wonder, your voice meeker than before. curious and cautious, tip-toeing around his words. is there something you're hiding?

"are you the sticking-around or screwing-around type?"

"oh, right," you laugh, making sense of his question. it's big one, though. kind of sprung on you. still, you manage to respond, just telling him what you know while glowing with intoxication, "well, we've only been going out a couple months."

you're more focused on the way he's watching you than you are on actually answering. his eyes are sharp and torrid in comparison to his little brother's, and the way he gazes down rather than looks at you has something in you stirring, writihing hotly beneath your skin.

it's exciting. why is it exciting? there's a giddiness that gyres in the pit of your gut like a ballerina, pirouettes and grands jetés, heat cooking and simmering through your veins. it's terrible. it's weird.

"well, you can't blame me for being protective." sukuna shrugs. "he seems to really like you."

while what he's saying rings true, there's a chord slightly off-key, something askew that you can't place. is he closer than before?

you ignore it, trying on a smile. "well, feeling's mutual."

you take another sip from the bottle, the cool rim settling on your lips, sparks igniting on your tongue, the same routine replaying. you don't even think before adding gleefully, "and he's like, a jazillion times more sane than my last boyfriend, so i'm happy."

"are you?" sukuna asks, serious.

it was like flipping a switch. he was laughing, now he's earnest, and you were just entirely confused, his meaning lost on you, like you're the last in line in a game of chinese whispers. he caught you off guard with that one. and he knows it, too, carmine eyes feasting on your discomfort.

your smile falters slightly before you nod. "yeah."

"okay." he just says.

now you were really starting to get pissed off with him. whatever he's doing, it's stupid. he might as well have you cornered, except you've done nothing wrong, and yet he's prancing around you with a tone of prolific doubt. as if he knows something about you that you yourself don't.

"what?" you demand, equally serious now, smile wiped clean off. the air turns thick.

sukuna shrugs his shoulders again and you swear you have to fight off a sneer. "nothing."

is he casting doubt on your love for yuji? is that what this is? is he trying to tell you you're not good enough for him? that even though you trudged half a mile in those huge stupid heels just because he said they looked hot on you—carrying his dead weight, might i add, as he was screeching a song you'd never heard in your ear—that all of that was just for laughs, and there were no real feelings behind those actions? is that seriously what he's getting at?

sukuna wants to laugh so bad. your face is all screwed up, cheeks puffed out and burning a deep red. oh, how it fuels him. your stubbornness, that endearing naivety that clings to you like all your modest perfumes, the one that lingers in yuji's room, occasionally in his clothes, infecting every dark corner of his mind—and now you know how it feels to be tortured by him.

"you want some water?" the man asks casually. your mind is on fire, your thoughts more blaring than you would probably think. it's written all over you.

his question makes your shoulders drop, feeling stupid all over again. what are you getting so worked up for? you're secure in your feelings for yuji. as his brother, sukuna has every right to feel concern for him. there really is no need for you to be acting like this.

he's playing you like a damn flute.

"yes, please." you answer a lot more softly, pulling your hair around to one side. you'd been bratty without cause, assumptive, again. you really need to stop mischaracterizing him. after all, he's no monster. "i think all the drinks are finally getting to my head a little."

he starts filling up a glass, grinning at you over his shoulder, mischief playing in his slanted-eyes. "oh, don't tell me you were expecting anything bottled. tap's the best y're gonna get from us. hope you can handle it."

a smile works onto your lips as you finally start to loosen up again, legs swinging gently off the side of the counter. playing along, you wince. "oh yeah, well, i usually only drink expensive, you know, mineral-rich—"

"yeah."

he's suddenly between your legs, his mouth devouring your own, swallowing the terrified noise that begs to escape. for a moment, you're frozen in shock, eyes widening as you palms meet his chest in a forceful attempt at creating space.

sukuna juts back, forced away from you. his eyes crack open but are still like slits, dark, crawling with lust you hadn't previously noticed—no, acknowledged, because the choice has always been there.

he relishes in the terror that brims in your eyes at his visceral kiss. it feels natural, but not in the tender, motherly sense. like predator devouring prey. the natural order of life.

his hands are hot, gripping onto your thighs, digging into the tights he could easily rip to shreds, giving him full access to your warm cunt, to ruin you.

and yet he doesn't.

he waits for your eyes to droop, for you to lunge at him, accepting this twisted spiral of events, indulging his darkness. teeth clicking, tongues meeting messily in a sloppy kiss, drool gathering between you both as you crash together all at once, a train wreck of carnality. sukuna's hands are all over you, groping, slashing at the crotch of your tights. you gasp into his mouth as cold air meets the sobbing wetness of your cunt, followed by a slap to it.

"f-fuck! hey, who said you could—hmff!" you yelp as his hand clamps over your mouth suddenly, his scarlet eyes narrowing.

"brat, watch ya fuckin' mouth." sukuna warns as you grapple with him. his tattoos look especially menacing then, chiseling his features. "he's drunk. not deaf."

you nod, trying to tell him you understand. he releases your lips in an instant only to seize them again in his so forcefully.

yuji would never—could never take you like this, and you fucking know it. you know it with every gnaw, every squash of your tits that leaves you whining like a bitch in heat, every bite against your neck where you can feel the outline of his brother's teeth and a short gush of crimson.

rationality is lost on you as you mindlessly rut against him, your hands running up and down his back until you start tugging on his pants, eager to rid him of them.

meanwhile, sukuna's making a meal out of you—you make up half of his size, giving him complete control to do as ever he pleases.

every whine is met with a grunt. his cock must have been freed at some point as you feel his greedy hands lift you against him, your chests meeting, the sharp cold of the counter leaving your ass and feeling his palms spread you apart instead.

nothing could prepare you for the suddenness of which he fills you—you scream, half openly, half having shoved your face into his shoulder—aware his brother, your lover, is passed out over the toilet in the other room.

"shh, shh—fuckin' shit!" sukuna groans, features curling in erotic bliss.

he gluts you in ways yuji never has, the ways he'll never dare—with such cruel, carnal demand, to the brim, unkind, violent, and so, so fucking good.

as he breaches your womb, you claw his back raw through his shirt. a sob rips through you. sukuna does his best to keep you quiet. "shh... fuck. yer so fuckin' tight, girl. relax."

"t-tryin'... 'm so full..." you whine, eyes misting over with tears. it feels too good, you think...

"i know—" sukuna chokes, barely lifting you up on his cock, feeling your walls spasm around him. "fuck, what ya cryin' for?"

he feels too good.

"d-don't move yet, i'll cum," you gasp, and he hasn't even tried—sukuna's expression blanches.

"already?" he bursts out laughing in his brutish way, the side that yuji lacked entirely as the nicest person you've ever known; fuck. the humiliation makes your cunt squeeze again.

he lifts you up, your knees draped over his thick arms, foreheads meeting. your breaths intertwine, hot and treacherous, caressing each other's faces.

"ya know, i've fuckin' heard you, all those times."

"wh-what?" you stammer cluelessly, only half there, clinging to sukuna as he dangles you on his cock, your eyes crossing when he starts to bounce you on him.

"said i fuckin' heard you, you 'n yuji—'n shit, ya never got this loud, huh?" he smirks wickedly, feeling your body collapse hopelessly against him. he fucks you up and down on him, swallowing up your pathetic moans and whines like they were the last noise he'd ever hear. "been wanting to take ya like this, stretch yer dumb little cunt on me, fuckk—ya got no fuckin' idea, princess."

rocking up and down, you wail, head bobbing. sukuna can just see your little maw dangling open—it takes everything in him not to jam his fucking fingers in your throat until you drool and splutter around him.

"y—you wanted—this?" you struggle, feeling too good to make sense of anything, to think straight, to do anything other than take every rough kiss to your cervix, feeling your insides bruise and swell with lucid excitements.

"lemme guess, the brat cums too soon—never quite gets ya there, hm?" sukuna guesses correctly, making you whine and nod and babble.

"h-how did y—ah, fuck—!" he snapped his hips, picking up the speed as you wept on him. you'd never been fucked like this in your life, and your world was getting flipped on its head. when did your dress come down? you weren't sure—but now your tits were bouncing and sukuna wasn't gonna pass up the opportunity to tear into them.

"cuz, 's just obvious," sukuna rasps, teeth clamping down on your raised nipple, "can tell this sloppy pussy ain't gettin' treated right. not when she's—shit—creamin' all over me jus' from stickin' it in."

"'k—kuna, don't—ahh! fuck!"

"that's it girl, shit, c'mon," sukuna keeps picking you back up only to drop all your weight on his fat cock, his balls slapping against your ass, the slick you're gushing causing them to stick together.

your head is empty, devoid of anything except the chaos, the suddenness of it all, the shock, he's fucking you. your boyfriend's older brother is fucking you, and you've never felt so goddamn good.

there's this sudden wave. a wetness. an explosive feeling that crashes over you in one swift, predatory pounce. like when a deer gets suddenly ripped apart. your head straight up drops on sukuna's shoulder, and you're sobbing loudly, babbling words that can't be defined.

then all of a sudden, sukuna outright cackles; the sound bleeds into your ringing ears, head picking up off of his shoulder.

"no fuckin' way!" he roars with laughter. you wanna shush him, but you can't move—your nerve ends are all bursting to life, like fruitful grapes popping between two fingers. it's happening again, whatever that feeling is, whelming you; this time you his fingers rub back and forth harshly across your clit, but wait—

"dumb lil pussy's squirtin' already, hahh, shit—fuckin' christ, girl—" he's enamored, watching you cum in adorable little spurts, soaking his clothes, your tights, and the kitchen floor, covering everything in your stupid juices.

"you wanted this, goddamn—look at you."

your eyes are rolled back as he kisses you again, fingers tearing into your scalp, the lewd sound of your lips smacking together filling the air.

never in your fucking life. you'd never came like that, so violently, so carelessly, not without really, really trying. all sukuna had to do was pump you up and down on his cock, say a few words and you were spraying like a tap. how fucking pathetic.

and then he does it again. drags another one out of you, laughing.

you barely catch his next words.

"'m gonna fuckin' cum in ya."

"n—no—" you stumble out, barely coming to at the words, but their enough to fill you with at least some urgency. your ass is bruised at the back from being repeatedly slammed against the counter, the wind knocked out of you entirely. "d-don't, wait, you can't—"

"why the fuck not, hah?" sukuna rumbles. "don't tell me it's cuz'a—"

"—yuji," you sob.

it hits you. it hits you then, hard, at the worst time. a gut-punch, one that makes you heave. in less than half a second, a guilt strong enough to set your skin alight cultivates and wrecks each single sense. his cologne invades your nostrils, an imaginary sensation, forced to breathe its natural, tender nature as opposed to sukuna's harsh and crude and brooding one, the one you're drowning in. the one sticking to your skin.

your hand—finally letting go of sukuna's shoulder, where you were keeping yourself stable—slaps over your mouth, tears springing into your eyes.

"f—fuck, fuck, fuck!" sukuna chants, eyes scrunching as he gets lost in the pleasure. he's pounding you, knocking your eyes back still, not slowing his pace for anything. your leg flails once, but how can you fight when he's holding you up like this?

"'s—'kuna," you choke out brokenly, slapping his chest with whatever strength you can muster. your lip quivers, heart aching in your chest as you plead tearfully, "don't."

he'd never been considerate. he'd never 'made love'. not even now. he fucked. he lied, he slipped off condoms, he 'forgot' to pull out, all so many times before. it was clockwork to him. he could've easily done it again. lied. been selfish. blurred the lines. cheated consent.

put a baby in his little brother's whore girlfriend.

and yet sukuna weirdly found himself pulling out of you last second, one hand holding you up while the other jerked his cock until thick ropes of cum splattered up your dress with a strained grunt. his orgasm spoils at it hits, a rough ecstasy that's tattered along the edges and ultimately, ultimately unsatisfying. it barely scratches the surface. the heat of it hasn't even started leaving his body before he wants more, regrets not filling you up, every cell inside him clawing for it, starved and fucking addicted.

sukuna almost, almost crushes you against the island, dropping you on the counter again where your drenched cunt feels like it's been electrocuted when met with the cold so suddenly. you gasp, arching into him, searching for any kind of warmth.

but he rips away from you, turning his back. his touch is gone as soon as it came. any desire flatlines, ringing loudly, blaring in your sensitive ears. alarm bells.

what is this?

both your chests are heaving. there's no afterglow. it's messy, dirty, frantic. cheap. depraved.

and it seems like you aren't the only one.

"s-sukuna, i—"

CLICK.

lips snapping shut, you sit right up, head whipping around in the most deafeningly guilty sense ever. heart in your throat, your expression echoes one of pure horror, one you expect will reflect your boyfriend's when he realizes what's going on here.

yuji stumbles out of the bathroom, his mop of pink hair tousled and eyelids low. he hangs by the doorframe for several seconds, his head dropped, not even looking up. it takes only a few steps. they're slow, clumsy, lead him to the bedroom door. he doesn't notice. he doesn't notice.

his older brother and his girlfriend are feet away, covered in squirt and sperm and other dirty secrets. shame. guilt. some more than others.

and he just blunders into the bedroom, a loud 'thump', telling you that he made it to bed.

all you do is stare. your jaw stays slack.

you hear a zipper and, frazzled, quickly flit your head at sukuna. he's fixing his clothes, not paying you any mind.

you stare at his back, despairing.

"wh—you're just gonna...?" you stammer incredulously, trying to do the same but there's no fixing the gaping hole in your tights that reaches down to your mid thighs.

away from his gaze, him cum settles against the fabric of your torn up dress, pooling slowly in its place.

his cock, hardly soft, twitches again, urging his need. he ends up frozen for a moment, simply staring, before he numbly moves forward.

he leaves, leaving you sat on the counter as he storms out into the night, slamming the front door behind him.

you're alone there, stunned, cum up your dress that is almost but not quite your boyfriend's, the floor below you soaked, and a heartbeat in every part of your body.

trembling, you push yourself off of the counter.

vaguely aware of the layout of the house, you scramble to find some wipes and clean up the mess on the floor. after that, it takes at least 10 minutes to get the semen out of your dress, but even then, you feel filthy.

you sniffle over the sink, scrubbing soapy suds into your tainted skin. wanting to throw up.

what the fuck had you done?

you'd cheated. that's it. you cheated on the sweetest angel, your angel, yuji. the one entirely too gentle and trusting for this world. you betrayed him. a sob rips through you, shattering your core.

stupid, stupid, stupid.

as you sneak back into bed, fingers still shaking as they turn the handle to yuji's room, you don't even have the energy to change your clothes. you simply crawl into bed, too crushed to face him, not garnering the strength, knowing what you'd done. a tear slips down your cheek.

because you can't even regret it.

and before you know it, yuji's draping himself over you, his arms, pulling you against the haven of his chest, sighing against your neck.

"you made it..." he mumbles.

oh, how you want to sob when he says such a thing. "yeah," you nod, trying to suppress the break in your voice, "yeah, i'm here."

yuji grunts happily, snuggling you closer. "mmh, good."

you don't think you will ever forgive yourself.

"i love you." yuji says, blind to the truth.

but you swear it's not one-sided. "i love you," you admit, beginning to cry softly in his arms, wondering if it will be the last time you ever get the liberty of doing so again.

[dcmeme]

Daily Occurrences Gotham Citizens go through part 1

(WITNESSING VIOLENCE AMONGST HEROES)

Citizen 2: …Is the little Robin chocking Red Robin with his own cape up there?

Citizen 1: *not looking up from his phone* Just wait for Nightwing to break them up.

____

(HERO INSURANCE COVERAGE)

Citizen 3: What the hell do you mean my insurance doesn’t cover damages by the red hood- I got the full “hero collateral damage” package… What the f*ck do you mean Anti-heroes don’t count- THE WORD HERO IS RIGHT THERE!!!

____

(DATING CRIMINALS)

Citizen 2: Could you come pick me up?

Citizen 4: Is everything ok?

Citizen 2: Date got arrested.

Citizen 4: It happens to the best of us. Be there soon.

____

(DISCOVERING A NEW WAYNE)

Citizen 3: Who the f*ck is Jason Todd and why is he fighting Bruce Wayne on Twitter.

Citizen 1: Witness protection program guy, adopted son of his, tends to drop off the radar a lot.

Citizen 2: His feed is fire tho.

Citizen 1: Oh absolutely. Dude hit thousands of follows in a week after getting posted on that weird ‘hot guys reading’ Instagram.

Citizen 4: Didn’t he also go viral over a Colleen Hoover argument?

____

(ALMOST GETTING MUGGED)

Thief: Give me your purse or I’ll-

Citizen 3: *keeps walking*

Thief: Hey! I’m talking to you-

Citizen 3: I work for Ace Chemicals.

Thief:… do you need money? A warm meal?

Citizen 3: A sleep-aid would be nice.

Thief: Fair enough.

____

(LOSING JOBS)

Citizen 1: I’m off to the bank!

Citizen 4: Be sure to grab your bullet proof vest on the way out!

Citizen 3: I’m going to work.

Citizen 3: *answers phone, rolls eyes* Nevermind. Blew up again.

____

(SEES OLD FRIENDS- MEETS NEW FELONS)

Citizen 2: So, jerry, I heard you’re a business man now. Where at?

Jerry: I mean I wouldn’t say I’m a business man, I do wear a nice suit and walk around a type of office tho!

Citizen 2:… oh, Jerry-

Jerry: Black Mask has the BEST health insurance policy.

Citizen 3: At least he’s not working for the clown. Then again, I hear his dental insurance is fantastic.

Citizen 2: *head in hands* Jerry..

____

[carefulfears]

top ten mulder moments <3

DREAM ASSIGNMENT, UNHINGING MY JAW, ETC. buckle up babes!

1/ oubliette

all of oubliette really but there’s this one moment where he’s in the police station and he’s watching the video of lucy when she was 13 after escaping her kidnapper and she’s writhing around on the floor screaming and she can barely speak full sentences and she’s afraid of the light. and in the present day, she’s an addict living in a halfway house with convictions for drug possession and prostitution.

and he’s watching this tape and scully comes in and he says “it’s amazing she’s gotten anywhere in life” and scully says “by most yardsticks, she hasn’t.”

she has, though. she’s alive and she’s trying and she’s clean and passing her drug tests and she has a job. and that’s how he sees her, and that’s how he treats her throughout the episode. he tells her that she’s “the strong one” and he asks for her help and her opinion, he tells her that he just wants to know what she’s going through. he defends her to law enforcement and believes her when everyone else thinks she’s an accomplice. he weeps over her body when she dies, grieves the loss of her life.

it would be easy for him, as someone whose sister was kidnapped at the same age lucy was, to see her as a nightmare. she’s struggling and she’s traumatized and she’s an addict and a felon. but he doesn’t, he views her as hopeful, and you can tell that he respects her. he views her as having gotten somewhere in life, just because she’s still alive. and that more than anything really means a lot to me.

2/ paper hearts

in paper hearts when they find the 15th victim’s body and they think it’s samantha. and he’s standing there over it, shaking, looking down at what might be his baby sister’s corpse. what might be the end of the road.

and it might all be over, in this moment. he might not be able to search anymore, to hope anymore, to do the only thing he’s ever done every day for 24 years anymore.

and you just feel the crushing weight of it all, and then scully comes in with the lab results and says that it isn’t her. and he just buckles for a moment and takes a breath.

before standing up and saying, “it’s somebody though.”

it’s such a testament to his character to me, that he can’t sit in that relief for even a minute. it might not be his baby sister, but it’s somebody, and he grieves for them.

(not “somebody’s sister/daughter,” but somebody)

3/ one breath

the shot of him crying on the floor of his ransacked apartment.

he was offered a choice between staying there, waiting to see the bad guys, finding the only thing he’s ever wanted, the answers…and going to sit by scully’s hospital bed, when it might be the end.

and he left that apartment and held her hand.

as moving as that scene is, it’s the aftermath that always gets me. it’s the consequences. it’s the price that you pay for choosing to stay soft, the way that mr. x looks at him in this same episode and tells him that he’ll never win, he doesn’t have the heart.

so he walks away from the battle and comes back to the wreckage, and all he can do is sit down on the floor and weep.

(also if i think even a little about him giving scully the superstars of the super bowl tape, i’ll literally make myself ill crying)

4/ sein und zeit

when, after spending the entire episode obsessively insisting to everyone who will listen that the missing little girl is “not dead,” he says that they should just go home.

that they are not going to find those people’s daughter alive, that he is too close to this case to make a sound judgement, and that he wants to take some time away from work.

seven years after scully chased him into the street and yelled for him to “stop running after” samantha, and a day after she followed him into a hallway to tell him to not go looking for something he doesn’t want to find, the person whose “relentlessness” has kept him searching for nearly 30 years, just wants to go home.

he’s depended for so many years on the delusion, on the hope, on the belief that every child to go missing from their home is “not dead.” and now he stares at the ground in front of two people who love him, and admits to being wrong. to needing a break.

it’s one of the saddest moments of the series to me, but there is such an acceptance in admitting defeat, and it’s a subtle precursor to his decision in the following episode that he’s ready to know the truth about what happened to samantha. the delusion isn’t helping anyone. not him, not samantha, not this missing little girl. and it’s devastating and freeing at the same time.

5/ je souhaite

his genie wish. i have the softest spot in my heart for je souhaite mulder okay!! this is the mulder that called the jersey devil “beautiful” and ran through the woods to try to save it. the mulder that couldn’t bear to add to the soul eater monster’s suffering, even when it would’ve saved his own life.

i love that the first thing he does is ask the genie what she would wish for, just because he wants to know. and you can see how much 500 years of being a slave to people’s selfish desires has weighed on her, in the way she tells him that she would just want her days to be her own. to sit and have a cup of coffee.

i love that he tries to win at the genie wish, to save the world. tries to construct the perfect wording and all-encompassing fool-proof plan. throws around words like ending “tyranny.” and in the end, just deletes it all, and wishes for the genie to be free. that ending shot of her, finally her own person for the first time in 500 years, sitting having a cup of coffee, is one of my favorite moments of the series.

i love the lesson in this episode too, for someone who spends his whole life trying to make up for the fact that he lived when his sister didn’t, that he doesn’t have to figure out how to save the entire world. he can call his best friend and sit on his couch and watch caddyshack. but he asks the genie what she would wish for, because he genuinely cares, and he chooses to use his wish to give it to her, because he can do that.

6/ pilot

these tags: “this man is overflowing with reverent tenderness.”

the Moment™️ in his motel room…this is when you can see it. this is when both scully and the audience understand something. this is when it’s all over.

they’ve both been kind of concealing so much, behind sarcasm or professionalism. they really like each other. they want to trust each other. but she was sent to spy on him, to debunk him, and neither of them have any reason to believe it’ll be more than that.

when the power goes out and scully feels the marks on her back, she is just so scared. she is so young, and this is her first job, and she’s becoming exposed to things that she had never considered. when she walks into mulder’s motel room in only her robe, and then drops it, she’s afraid, and also acutely aware of her own vulnerability.

the way the camera hangs on his face (he’s the focus, not her exposure, what is he seeing?), in the candlelight, as she exposes her body to him and he just checks to make sure she’s okay.

what he’s seeing is her vulnerability, and he responds by both sheltering and matching it; he wraps her up and gives her the bed, sits below her on the floor. he tells her about sam. he tells her about what “matters” to him. and it isn’t something that he tells people, but anxiously walking mostly-naked into the room of your new assignment isn’t something that she does either, and he understands that.

it’s 2 episodes later in squeeze when scully makes her decision, she’s “on the side of the victim,” on the side of the vulnerable. but it’s a motel room in bellefleur where she learns what that side is, where that work is being done.

(related, conduit: the way that he shuts scully's concerns about him down, then validates them quietly, when they're alone. tells her what his life actually is. that it's "walking into that room," every day, feeling like maybe one day he'll open his eyes and his sister would be there. you really get the sense that he's never told anyone that before, but that it's something he turns over in his mind, something he's always aware of. he's saying: you're right, this is what i do, but i don't know how to do anything different. how am i meant to do anything different? it has always been this way. and it's the only thing that you need to hear him say to really get it. it's the only thing that scully needed to hear him say. this is the most vulnerable revelation that he ever makes, a month into their partnership. she never forgets it.)

7/ anasazi

just a little moment that i think about a lot is the way that after mulder sees his dad in colony and tries to hug him, and gets cut off with a handshake, the next time that he sees bill, in anasazi, he reaches out to shake his hand.

he notices everything, he internalizes everything, he only wants to give what he understands as wanted from him.

he knows that his dad does not want to hug him, and he still reaches to him first, offers that connection that bill is comfortable with.

(it always makes me think of the first time he met jackson. the way that the first thing he did after “my name is mulder, i’m your father. i know it must seem strange to you.” was hug him… “became a father while i was still a son,” or whatever the national said.)

8/ emily

you guys. you guys 🥺. this whole episode just really gets me so bad. the way emily is “shy” and doesn’t speak or really look at anyone, and the only time we see her smile is when mulder makes her laugh, as soon as she met him. him yelling at the doctor (i love that the show, through mulder, actually says the term “medical rapists.” like yes let’s call it what it fucking is!) and saying he wants everything that could help her. when emily's sick, and mulder instantly picks her up to hold her.

but the moment to me, the one that stays with me, is the very end. it's the funeral. it's when all is said and done. and scully asks...who could do this? who could bring a life into this world whose only purpose is to die? and mulder answers, "i don't know. but that you found her, and had a chance to love her...maybe she was meant for that too."

he looks at a person who was created to be used for other's gain, literally manufactured intentionally to suffer and then die, and he believes...maybe that's not all that she was meant for. maybe she was still meant to be known, to be found, to be loved. and they did love her.

(the way he shows up late to the funeral, but scully knows he's coming to get her, tells her mom she's going to ride back with him. the way he turns away from the casket, never able to look loss in the eye, but turns back so scully isn't in it alone. the way he brings flowers, like he brought flowers to the hospital when scully was diagnosed, like he stopped to bring flowers to missy's grave.)

9/ beyond the sea + lazarus

my father is dead (long live my father!)

y’all ever think about how sparingly and intentionally mulder says “dana”? y’all ever think about how she’d only ever been “scully,” to him, until “how are you, dana?” the day of her father’s funeral? the way she looked up at him, as he gently touched her cheek.

the first thing that scully does after her father dies, is tell mulder that she believes in a psychic. (“i thought that you would be pleased that i opened myself to extreme possibilities”).

the first thing that mulder does is sit down, lower himself beneath her, (he has done this since the motel room in bellefleur, the day they met), and look up to her to ask: “does this have to do with your father? you said that he didn't approve of you becoming an FBI agent. now, if being on the job now makes you feel guilty or uncomfortable or uneasy, i think you should back away. because if it’s clouding your judgment, you’re putting yourself in danger.”

(he is always listening, he is always more aware than people think. he perceives her attempts to “please” him as dangerous, or uncomfortable for her. encourages her to step back.)

when she starts to cry and walks across the room, she’s dana again. she’s not her father’s “starbuck,” she’s not mulder’s “scully.”

“dana…open yourself up to extreme possibilities, only when they’re the truth.”

in lazarus, it’s only 2 episodes later (2 episodes after “i’m afraid to believe”) when jack willis dies. (“along the way, there are other fathers.”)

mulder spent that whole fucking episode doing his lil tricks and tips and pulling out his lil experts trying to convince her that jack had been body-swapped, including the story about watches stopping at time of death. when jack dies, and all that’s left is the watch she had given him, stopped at the same time as his heart, she looks up to mulder for answers so softly.

and his response: “it means…it means whatever you want it to mean. goodnight.”

he spends his life begging for belief, but never at the cost of her integrity, her peace. he cannot be “pleased” by a forgoing of self, a forgoing of what she’s ready for.

(looking at this now, it also reminds me of irresistible, and the way that he told her that it’s understandable to be upset, to be affected. “i’ve seen agents with 20 years fall apart on cases like this.” it’s not because she’s young, it’s not because she’s inexperienced, it’s not because she’s traumatized. it’s because she’s human. and it’s good, it’s right.)

10/ redux ii

my favorite moment of this episode is when scully sees mulder through the window of her hospital room for the first time, and he plasters that smile on his face, comes in to sit on the bed and hold her hand and kiss her cheek. and she keeps trying to ask him about the conspiracy, about what happened at the pentagon, about who the inside man at the FBI is, and he just keeps quietly telling her that he's not there to talk about that. and she keeps pushing questions until he leans in to her and smiles and says... "hey, scully, how 'bout those yankees?"

hey, scully, it's not about that. for as many years as he's gone doing nothing but obsessing over conspiracies to anyone who will listen, he isn't there to talk about conspiracies. he's there to hold her hand, to keep that smile on his face so maybe she won't worry, to break down by her bedside as soon as she's asleep. he just wants to spend time with her. in reduxes, they aren't ahab and starbuck. they aren't charging forward or dutifully shepherding on. they're buckling in hallways. they're clinging to a hand through tears.

there is just no room: for their roles, for their pretenses, in the end. in this moment, he isn't the "mad captain" who cares about nothing more than the quest. he's the man who walked away from the fight so that he could sit next to her, who gave up all of his answers so that she could see her sister one last time. he's the man who "refused to believe" that she was dying, but still celebrated her birthday that year for the first time ever, just so that she would have it. and in that hospital room, at the end, through teary eyes and shaky smiles, it just isn't about anything bigger. she doesn't have to die as dutiful to the cause, for him to be there with her.

(the final shot of this episode is one of my favorites too. when scully is cured, she is going to live, her family is in her room celebrating with her, and mulder is crying alone in the hall.

these tags: "all his open love and loneliness and numbness and fear of loss. he's such a gentle man. he kills but he is gentle in his heart. he takes so many beatings and he listens quietly and has no shame. it's hard for him to play the games men play. this ending. he just found out scully is going to live. and everyone else is in there with her. and he has to sit outside. and it all hits him in one go. his sister. his parents. scully. his wasted years. his stupidity and arrogance. how many times has this happened to one of us. you grit your teeth and get through unimaginable difficulty. and then when it's all over you can't celebrate. it hits you on your own in a terrible way."

i always think of that. i always think of superstars of the superbowl. i always think of how ill-equipped and in-adequate we are, when it comes down to it, to deal with grief and trauma and loss. how "we bury our dead alive." and in the end it's "the best news" he ever could've heard, and that steady smile is reduced to sobs.)

honorable mention from paper hearts: i fear that i simply have to talk about him shooting roche in the head...did everybody see him shoot roche in the head? i thought him shooting roche in the head was lovely. you can watch it tear him apart, leading up to the moment. roche sitting in front of him, taunting him. how sure are you? you'll never know without me. but ultimately, he looks over at caitlyn, and he can't risk it. he had told caitlyn, "my name is fox, i'm gonna take you home." and then he did, even when ensuring she was found safe and well, meant sacrificing everything he'd been looking for.

the transition from that moment on the bus (roche's blood on the windows, caitlyn's screams, mulder's gun) to the walls of the basement office...the way the camera slowly pans over the UFO articles. the "i want to believe." the mysteries. all of that wishful thinking (as roche had said earlier: "it's like you think your world will be okay as long as you can believe in like...flying saucers") contrasted to the flesh and blood of the evil he's trying to escape. and, in the end, all there is left is one heart in front of him. one last victim that he'll never know the truth about, because he wasn't willing to risk the price paid for answers.

(and then scully says...but we will find her. how? "i don't know. but i do know you.")

honorable mention from oubliette: my top 2 episodes do be my top 2 episodes but there are few moments in this series that just make my heart sink to my stomach more than the image of mulder crying over lucy's body...that triptych line: "mulder who still grimaced at cadavers and cried over the bodies of dead women where most men she knew couldn't muster the wherewithal to appear disturbed."

lightning round appreciation for my favorite little tiny moments we don't talk about enough: casually giving his hotel key to the unhoused man in the jersey devil; holding kevin and telling him he knows he just wants his sister back in conduit; helping roland pick out a shirt to wear ("i think this one would look stylin' today, what do you think?") in roland; going back in for the kids even though he's afraid/had failed before, in fire; marty saying she "just knew" he would be at her sentencing, even though she couldn't see him, in mind's eye; taking scully to the liberty bell, after she complained about wanting a life outside of work, in shadows; when cassandra told him that reading news stories about him saved her life, because no one would ever believe her, until she found out about him, in patient x; telling skinner to get marita off the stand, "no. let her go," even though her testimony was the only thing that could save him, in the truth; telling off the sheriff in conduit who said it was "only a matter of time" before "something bad" happened to ruby because she "was no prom queen"; telling scully that he doesn't care if she comes with him or not, but he's not giving up on ruby "until they find a body."

[shunin-gumis]

As Master Joe Wishes - Track 08

Seasonal Team Event - L4mps

Thank you Aca for handling this chapter!

Location: Manor - Bedroom

Joe: Don’t come any closer!

Anonymous Member A: That said, what should we do?

Anonymous Member B: What’s up with this teddy bear anyways? Seems to be a high-spec robot from what I can see. 

Anonymous Member A: There might be some worth to this thing. Let’s take it back with us.

Daniel:  Funny you guys think you can leave here in one piece.

Anonymous Member B: Huh…?! When did you appear…!

Joe: D-Daniel…!

Daniel: Thought that if anyone was going to break in, it would be from the 2nd floor’s corridor. Seems like my guess was dead-on.  So blocking this path would cause problems for you lot, yeah?

Daniel: So, if you don’t want your heads to get blown off, put your hands up. 

Anonymous Member C: Even if you’ve predicted that much, it’s quite rash to come here alone.

Daniel: So you do have back up, huh.

Anonymous Member A: Now, grab that teddy bear and let’s leave!

Anonymous Member B: He’s just an amateur. Try shooting us if you can! 

Daniel: Sorry, but I got no hesitation to shoot this gun. 

Daniel: (For now, I should aim for the guy who’s holding Joe’s foot. I’ll leave the rest of ‘em to Sammy-san and the others.) 

Anonymous Member B: Ugh… Huh? I didn’t get hit…

Daniel: Wha…

Daniel: Why does this gun shoot out tulips and cherry blossom petals?!

Anonymous Member C: Let’s leave, go go!

Netaro: I found you, Daa! So you see~ That little gun was made for parties! Did it surprise you?

Daniel: Y-Y-You Idiot!

Daniel: Ugh, my back…! Even though I started feeling better…

??: Gah!

Netaro: Mhmmm, I hear the shriek of men from downstairs! How exciting!

Location: Manor - Large Parlor

Nagi: I’m really sorry for the inconvenience….

Anonymous Member A: Don’t you think it’s a bit rude towards the manufacturer to drop an iron  on our heads?!

Anonymous Member B: Making the door knob scalding hot is a cruel and unusual punishment! I almost burned my palms! You’d better pay for my hospital bills!

Anonymous Member C: If something like this ever happened to me, I’d become traumatized enough to quit my job!!

Nagi: I never thought that the trap combo from that movie would work so beautifully here… that said, this probably would cause trouble for the movie’s production company. This was all my fault. Good kids shouldn’t try this at home. 

Daniel: Why the hell is Nagi apologizing to the hand-cuffed thieves over here?

Hiramei: Well, the booby traps he set up worked, and we successfully captured the Anonymous members that tried to get away.

Hiramei: If they had taken Joe away, this probably would have become an international issue. That Hachinoya-san is truly a life-saver for the JPN police as well as my career. 

Joe: You don’t have to apologize to these felons, Nagi!

Nagi: No, I say this is already a fine form of unjustified self-defense. Samejima-san, please apprehend me. I’ll be turning myself in.

Samejima: Eh~?

Yodaka: However, with this, the other Anonymous members will know that the “prized treasure” would equal to a teddy bear.

Samejima: That’s true. Hiramei~ Don’t neglect your duties to survey the surroundings~

Samejima: We got 3 hours left, there might be a chance that back up may come to get their revenge. 

Samejima: They don’t seem to be the kind to negotiate.

Samejima: Besides, there is no mistaking that these mobs are just underlings used to cause trouble. Their tricks are quite daft.

Hiramei: Yes, sir! I’ll also report it to the units outside!

Location: Manor - Bedroom

Ryui: …..

Toi: …..

Netaro: …..

Toi: I’m glad that Master didn’t get abducted…

Ryui: Yeah, all thanks to Hachinoya this time. 

Toi: … Ani-sama, why did you leave Master behind?

Ryui: Well, I worry about you more than anyone else in the world.

Toi: Then does that mean…

Toi: You’d prioritize me above anything else?

Ryui: Yeah. Obviously.

Toi: Then, would you listen to me if I asked you to not protect Joe-sama?

Ryui: … Yeah.

Ryui: (That’s obvious… This has always been the case.)

Toi: I see…

Toi: I’ll get something to drink.

Ryui: Hah…

Netaro: Oh~

Ryui: What do you want?

Netaro: I had a thought if I were to cook up a replica AI of you, that thought process of yours would be horribly simple and easy ♪

Ryui: The hell you mean by that?

Netaro: I just have to set it up so it’ll do anything that Toi says. It’s pretty easy-peasy and lacking in excitement.

Ryui: You tryin’ to call me stupid… Asshole.

Ryui: (Ah… Can’t help but hate myself for leaving Joe behind. I’m sure I made the right decision when the lights went out and those bastards showed up, but still–)

Netaro: Is Toi your owner, Ryui?

Ryui: …..

Joe: No one owns each other. The same goes for me, as well as Ryui.

Ryui: ! You…

Samejima: Hey there~, sorry for interrupting.

Netaro: Joe and Sammy, what’s wrong?

Samejima: Actually, thanks to a request from the higher-ups, I’ll have to head to the airport now. I can escort Joe by myself for the rest of the evening.

Netaro: Hmmm… Wasn’t it a problem that you would look suspicious carrying a cute teddy bear around?

Samejima: Hm? It’s all right, an old man can even carry a teddy bear around. 

Netaro: Hmm?

Ryui: … Hey, earlier when I left you behind and went off, that was my ba-

Samejima: Oh dear, I must go now. I’ll contact you guys after, when the handover goes through.

Ryui: Ah…

Ryui: …..

Location: Manor

Hiramei: Well then, thanks for your hard work!!

Hiramei: *sigh* I’ll have to send those 3 in custody to the station, and then that’s it…

Hiramei: Huh…? Where did those 3 and the guards go?

Location: Manor - Large Parlor

Nagi: The party just a while ago seems like a lie now that it’s gotten all quiet. 

Toi: Yeah. It became a bit lonely here, somehow.

Yodaka: Let’s go meet them once things have calmed down.

Netaro: *snoring*

Daniel: I think I’ll go back and rest up, too~

Ryui: …..

Ryui: (If I were able to meet her again…)

Ryui: (Fuck, if I’m gonna be this agitated, I should have apologized even if I had to force it out of myself…What the hell I should do.)

Ryui: (Hm? There’s a sound coming from the wardrobe.)

Ryui: Who–?! The fuck?!

Nagi: Eh, there’s someone tied up in there. 

Daniel: ! Wait, is that?

Ryui: Samejima?!

Yodaka: Let me take this gag off for you. 

Samejima: Puha! A.. ake!

Nagi: For tonight’s dinner, we’ll be having cake?

Samejima: No, that me from earlier is a fake!

Daniel, Ryui, Toi, Nagi, Yodaka: Huh?!

[cazort]

Hey guys, so there seems to be a consensus that Biden totally bombed the debate and this is a really horrible thing because it makes it more likely that Trump could actually win.

I kinda hate Biden and the Democrats right now, but it is critically important to remember that there is a massive difference between what would happen under a Democratic administration than a Republican one.

Under Biden I have seen the political discourse become more civil (and more boring) again, and I love that. I don't get as many hate comments on my YouTube channel. No one is committing arson against or phoning in bomb threats to local Jewish organizations the way happened during the Trump years. And think of abortion rights; under Trump we got 3 right-wing supreme court appointees, and suddenly they overturned Roe v. Wade and now abortion is illegal in a lot of states. And then there's the fact that Trump refused to leave office when he lost the election, still hasn't admitted he lost, and on top of this he is now a convicted felon. We've never had a convicted felon as a president. It's a whole other level of bad.

The Biden administration has been normal and functional. Yeah, they've done some bad things, like acting too little too late on the Palestine issue. But just about everything bad they have done, including their handling of the Israel-Palestine issue, is something ANY administration, Republican or Democrat, would do as bad or worse.

I have seen some people saying "both parties are the same" and it's just so completely, totally wrong. Yeah, the Democrats have a lot of problems and have fallen short of a lot of things I want. But there are worlds of difference.

Register to vote. And then vote Democrat. And talk to everyone you know.

I don't care if it's taboo to talk politics. Break the taboo. I just posted to my Facebook about it today. I'm arguing with people. I don't care if people dont' like me. I'm not going to remain silent. The stakes are high. This stuff matters, it matters hugely.

And it matters even more than ever before because of how Biden royally screwed up his debate performance last night. Like we need to get worked up about this, and right now. Seeing how badly he bungled that made me realize how desperately we need to act now.

[beenovel]

So towards the end of February PLL was trending and out of curiosity I browsed the tags bc I used to love the show. I saw screenshots from a YouTube video called "An appropriately unhinged recap of Pretty Little Liars" by Mike's Mic. I thought "I have nothing better to do, may as well watch it". This put a couple things in motion.

1: I started hyperfixating on it. Not the show, just the video.

2: I have now watched the YouTube series five. fucking. times. The series is six hours long. This means that I have spent THIRTY HOURS watching these videos in the last three-ish months

3: I now regularly quote the videos not only in my own head, but also out loud. Some popular quotes: "my back hurts, my bra's too tight" "felon, felon, felon, jail, prison" and the specific way he says "what. The fuck" in one part of the video

4: I have started legitimately thinking about creating my own Plot Wall like the one in Mike's video for another show (probably Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated, one of my other hyperfixations. If not that, then maybe the Barbie movie when it comes out). For those of you who haven't seen the video, it looks like this:

Have I lost my mind??? Maybe. Am I having fun?????? Abso-fucking-lutely

[iamknicole]

Chapter Four

Warnings: Cursing, 18+, excuse any typos

Author's Note: I'm glad yall are enjoying it so far. Thank you for the asks you're sending in. Don't forget to interact and share the poets as well, that helps me a lot with all of this! Tell me what yall think of the addition of the texts. Also any gifs I use belongs to @annoyedkayah2395 ! I forgot to say that before but they're all made by her! My favorite gif maker! Enjoy!

Masterlist

Chapter 3

For the morning and most of the afternoon Jon and Trinity kept the couple apart trying to get unfurnished out of both of them. The only way they were going to be able to help the way they agreed to was to do so. The mystery behind Nadine's attitude towards Zilla plagued them and from the outside looking in, the married couple knew not trying to figure it out would be detrimental to the young couple's relationship. While Jon and Zilla played the game in his man cave, Trinity and Moriah were sitting on the floor in her vanity room going through her wigs. 

"Have you talked to your mom since Zilla said what he said?" 

Moriah shook her head as she brushed through a hot pink wig. "Nope, I'm sure she's not happy. She was already mad that I hadn't called her in three months but I just couldn't."

"Couldn't what?" Trinity asked picking up a wig to brush. 

She shrugged haphazardly. "I couldn't deal with her. On top of the stress of starting my job, Zilla's training and maintaining our relationship, I couldn't deal with the smart shit she says and the jabs she throws. The only reason I even called her was because Zilla said something."

"How does it make you feel when she says something about your relationship or Zilla?"

"It pisses me off, it always has. I hate it."

Trinity nodded. 

"Did it stop during the eight years he was gone?"

She scoffed, "No, it just wasn't as frequent. I was mad at him but that didn't mean that she could say the shit she was saying, you know? When I was a freshman in college was when it started to taper off a little."

"Cause you were away at college?"

"Nope. Cause I started dating this guy," Moriah explained softly, "But once she found out that he was a pre-med and that he came from money, it picked back up. About how he was such a better choice and could do this and that for me."

Trinity raised her brows and shook her head. "Did that hurt your relationship with him?"

"Eventually. We were together two years too long."

"What happened?"

"We went to Georgia for Christmas break because I missed my dad, I talked my mom into going and that was a bad idea." She chuckled. "The whole time she was telling my dad how great Thomas was and all that other crap. And I remember seeing my dad looking at him with this hard face, when I looked at Thomas I realized why."

"What happened?"

"It was because he had this big ass grin on his face like he was enjoying being talked to at the expense of someone else. At some point, him and my dad were able to talk and it made my dad like him even less. Christmas morning he kept alluding to asking me to marry him, my dad flat out said no."

"He clearly wasn't a good person but I'm sorry that was your mom's fault. She made him feel like that was okay."

"You're right but he was also really arrogant, he just hid it well majority of our relationship."

"So what happened? Did he propose anyway?" Trinity asked switching out wigs.

"After my dad said no, my mom stepped in to say her peace and my dad asked me what I wanted to do. Told them that I wasn't ready to get married, I was barely 20."

"You weren't ready or you didn't wanna marry that specific person?" She asked with a brow raised making Moriah laugh. 

"Both," she said quickly, "And my parents knew that, my mother was pissed. Then he made this big scene saying how I was stupid for even thinking about Zilla, he called him something else, and for thinking that I would have a good life with a felon. My mother of course agreed, telling me not to ruin my life."

"The nerve. He showed his true colors then."

"Yeah so my dad kicked him out right then, after he left my dad and mom argued. About what, I'm not really sure. I went to my room to call Ma and tell her Merry Christmas."

"That's sweet that you and her talked while he was gone." Trinity cooed passing a satin wig bag to her. "It sounds like your parents were on two different levels. Were they always like that?"

Moriah carefully placed the wig into the bag then at back on her hands. "Yes and no. From what I remember when they were married, they were happy but my dad bit his tongue a lot for her except when it came to me."

"Yeah? How long were they married?"

"Uuuh they got married like three years before I was born and got divorced a little bit after my eleventh birthday so fourteen years. A long time."

"Damn, why did they divorce?"

She shrugged. "All I know is my dad left his job at the time for his dream job and we were gonna have to move to Georgia and then I went from crying cause I was gonna have to leave Texas and Zilla to crying cause my dad was gonna have to leave me."

"Were they acting any different beforehand?"

"My mom was. She was so mean especially to my dad. That was when she started to vocalize to Ma that she didn't like Zilla or us being friends. Before it was just in the house, she'd tell my dad and me and occasionally say it while she knew he was in the house."

Trinity frowned, "She was taking her divorce out on yall?"

"I don't think so, I don't know really honestly."

"So let's talk about something that you do know," Trinity suggested with a small smile, "You gotta set boundaries with your mom, Rye."

She sighed sadly. "I try but she doesn't care. She tells me to stop being dramatic or stop being a baby."

"If she can't respect your boundaries then you need to have consequences. She's your mom but she doesn't get to disrespect you or your relationship." Trinity explained, maintaining eye contact. "You love him, don't you?"

"Of course."

"You wanna stay together?"

Moriah nodded. 

"Then you need to do what you need to do. If you don't, you're gonna let her ruin your relationship."

"Yeah … I know. I gotta figure something out."

Down in Jon's mancave, the men were playing Tekken 7 having conversation here and there outside of the trash talking. Between the married couple, Trinity had a much better way with words and getting information slyly while her husband lacks that certain skill.

"You been talkin to your woman?" Jon asked keeping his eyes on the screen, pressing buttons. 

Zilla glanced at him a few times out the corner of his eyes, making sure not to let his character to beat. "Huh?"

"Have you been talkin to Rye?"

"Uuh I live with her, I talk to her every day."

Jon sucked his teeth. "I mean about yo feelings, Uce. You letting her know if you good or if you're not good?"

Humming, Zilla focused back on the game. That was the same question his mom asked him damn near every day. He wouldn't say it out loud but he was tired of that question. 

"She know I'm good."

"That mean no," Jon laughed, "That's ya woman, man. You don't have to hide shit from her. Especially when she already know when you not good."

He shook his head. "Nah, she don't. I'm good."

"Sayin that don't make it true," Jon reminded him putting his focus back into the game for a moment to make sure he didn't lose the round, "Tell me this. After you zone out and you get ya bearings back, is she watching you or staring?"

"I mean yeah but her ass always starin a hole in my face."

"Okay, does she have the usual look in her eyes or is it different?"

"Ion know," he shrugged, "Different."

"Okay so she know, I'm telling you. Yall known each other long enough that she know when you not okay and you know when she not okay. What's the point of having her if you can't talk to her?"

"I can talk to her, I just don't want to. Therapy was enough talkin, ion wanna talk about it no more." He responded honestly. 

Jon paused the game to turn to his cousin. "I know you don't want to but it's good to talk about it. That shit gon start coming out in other ways that won't be good for you or your relationship."

Zilla sat back on the sofa, inhaling and exhaling deeply. "Ion wanna make her sad with my sad shit. Especially when she gotta deal with her weird ass mama."

"Do you care if she tells you her sad shit?"

"No," he answered quickly. 

"So why you think she care of you tell her your sad shit?"

He shrugged. "Don't know. Shit hard."

"I know but it's worth it. Start small then grow, you'll feel better. I'm telling you."

"I hear you."

"Yall got a six hour drive back, use some of that time to start."

The phone call with his ex-wife still fresh on his mind Hassan decided to reach out to someone he knew would understand his feelings and thoughts. He would always love Nadine but her actions would always have a wedge between them. He sat in his den with the football game on mute and the phone call on speaker.

"Did our children call you to be a referee?"

Hassan laughed loudly, "Nope, that is a job meant solely for you. Neither of them ever like my referee style. How are you, Leata?"

"I'm pretty good. How about you?"

"I uuuh," he thought rubbing through his beard, "I'm alright. Didi called me yesterday."

Leata laughed, "I'm sure that was fun. What is it about my son this time?"

"It was them both apparently," he chuckled, "Rye hasn't called her in three months and as a thank you Zilla told her about them getting busy on the sofa."

Unable to help herself, Leata laughed loudly into the phone. 

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I know he shouldn't have but I'll be dammed if she didn't bring it in herself."

He laughed, "My thoughts exactly. But apparently that conversation gave her the urge to check on our babygirl. Although it's obvious that he's taken very good care of her."

She snorted. "That's obvious. She's going to visit them?"

"Ha! You know she's not going right now. She's wanting me to go."

"Awwee and you're gonna do it for your dear Didi," Leata joked. 

"Negative," he answered jokingly, "I told her I would but I was already planning on going down there. I was calling to see when you were gonna visit."

"I'm not sure, I didn't wanna crowd them. Plus I was kind of hoping they'd come back for Thanksgiving or Christmas."

He hummed thinking, "Well Thanksgiving is next month so maybe they will. I can't wait that long or Didi will be up my ass. I'll probably go in the next couple weeks."

"She won't," she laughed, "She's too busy up Rye and Zilla's ass but okay. If they don't come for Thanksgiving, I'll probably go down there. If you wanna come down."

"That's no problem. Make sure you invite our favorite person."

Leata whistled. "Favorite is generous but of course. Moriah would never hear the end of it."

"Right. We'll talk soon. Call if you or our kids needs anything."

"Same to you, Hassan. Make sure you check on your Didi."

While Hassan and Leata spoke, Nadine was making a phone call of her own. She had spent most of the day before into the night doing searching until she found what she was looking for. The conversation with Zilla burned her up on the inside, he had beat her at her own game momentarily. 

A deep baritone voice flowed through the line. "Hello."

"Well, well, Dr. Gardner. How are you?" 

"I'm not doctor yet but I'm well. Who is this?" 

"Nadine Parker. It's been a little while, Thomas. How's medical school?"

"Oh yes ma'am. It's been pretty good. How have you been? How's Moriah?"

Nadine smiled hearing his question. "I'm good. Moriah is fine, she moved out to Florida. She's working at Lakeland General now in the emergency department."

"Is she really?" He asked excitedly. "I'm in pediatrics there."

Nadine feigned surprise. "You do? Such a small world."

"I'll have to go down and see her. Is she single?"

Nadine groaned softly, "Unfortunately, she's not but I'm sure seeing you would make her come to her senses."

"Who is she's dating? Is he competition?"

She scoffed and laughed. "God, no. The jail bird could never compete with a doctor, son."

"Future doctor," he chuckled, "But noted. Do you when she works next?"

"Tomorrow, 7am to 7pm."

"Great, I'll be there tomorrow. Is she really with that felon?" He asked with a hint of laughter. 

"Unfortunately she is. He's the one who moved her to Florida to wrestle of all things," she spat. "But it works out because you're there and you can show her the mistake she's made."

Thomas snorted, "Wrestling? I definitely have nothing to worry about, they drop like flies anyway. Thank you for calling me."

"Oh no, thank you, Thomas. You're saving my baby. Save my number and keep me updated."

"Yes ma'am. Have a good day."

"You too, son."

Happy with herself, Nadine did a little dance as she typed out a message to her daughter. The sun was going to start shining for her soon, all she had to do was be patient. Though she would have to suffer for a little bit longer, it would all be worth it to be rid of the man in her daughter's life. 

Moriah's phone went off as they were leaving Jon and Trinity's neighborhood. The rest of their time visiting was spent with all four of them together, talking and playing. Their lives aren't bad in Orlando at all but it felt good to be with family for a few days as that's what they were used to. 

"What's wrong?" Zilla asked seeing the frown on her face.

She shook her head. "Nothing, my mom texted me but it's weird."

"Weird how, Fat?"

"Ima read it to you," she responded still confused, "I love you guys. You both are gonna have an amazing day tomorrow. Call me after work, sweetheart."

It was Zilla's turn to frown. "That don't sound like Ms. Nadine. She either high, in distress or plottin."

"Exactly and knowing my mama, she's plotting." Moriah sat quietly thinking then groaned. "You don't think she's gonna pop up, do you? I'm not prepared for that."

He shrugged, "Ion know but if she does she can have the bedroom and we'll take the sofa."

Moriah pushed his shoulder, laughing. "Whatever you're about to say or thinking, just don't."

He laughed. "I wasn't gon say shit but I'm glad you and me on the same page. She better stay in the room if she don't wanna see Zilla and Fat gettin busy."

"Isayah Fatu! If she's in town, you're not getting any."

"Bullshit," he laughed, "If that makes you feel good to say but I know the truth, Fat."

"And what is the truth?"

Zilla looked at her from the road, a wide smile on her face. "Don't act like you don't know. Them nights that you stayed at home instead of with me, what happened most of the time?"

"Don't know what you're talking about, Fatu," she answered trying to keep her laugh in. 

"You don't remember texting and calling me to come over after she went to sleep?"

"Nope, I didn't do that."

He laughed, "Oh you didn't? So you ain't call me poutin when I would tell you no? And I guess it wasn't you that sent me them videos either?"

She shook her head starting to laugh. "Nope, nope and nope. Wasn't me."

"You sure? I still got the videos," he grabbed for his phone and she snatched it laughing. 

"Don't do that. I did not have sex with you in her house."

"You ain't sex with me in her house? Oh right cause I fucked you in her house. Got it." 

Moriah covered her face laughing. "Fuckin hate you. You didn't have to say that. Filthy ass mouth."

"And you love it too. Don't you?" He asked in a lower tone. 

She stared at the side of face. "I'm not doing this with you."

He put a hand on her bare thigh as he drove, squeezing. "Tell me you love it, Fat. Come on."

Looking between his hand and his face, Moriah scrunched her face playfully. "Fine, yes, I love it."

He hummed, "You love what?"

"Zay, no."

"Ima leave you alone when you tell me what I wanna hear."

She huffed softly, squirming in her seat. "I love your filthy ass mouth," she mumbled.

Smacking her thigh, he moved his hand back to the steering wheel, a smirk on his face. "That's my girl."

"You are a demon. Just 100% pure demon."

"Yeah and you like that shit too," he laughed. 

The couple rode quietly for the next couple hours with Moriah going in and out of sleep. As he drove, Zilla thought about the conversation he had with Jon and tried to work out how to start the conversation. 

"You have like a date or anything yet?"

"For my debut?" He paused got her answer. "Not yet. I got a meeting with Shawn tomorrow I think it is too talk about all that."

"Let me know so I can make sure I'm off and so I can make sure your family is there cause you'll forget."

He chuckled a bit. "Appreciate you."

"Are you excited?"

"Yeah but it's kinda fucking me up though."

Moriah listened quietly, giving her all of her attention. 

"I'm excited but kinda sad too. My pops ain't ever missed nothin so I still expect him to be there," he explained keeping his eyes on the road, "And when I don't see him in the crowd or wherever I am, that shit gets me."

"Baby," she pouted as she reached over to rub the back of his neck, "He's not there physically but he's always there. You remember those pictures from your first match? The photographer was complaining and worried cause he thought you were gonna hate the pictures."

"Was he? Why? The pictures was dope." He asked glancing quickly at her. 

"Yeah, because no matter what angle or where he moved that bright light was in every single picture." She laughed a little. "And when he was talking to me and your mom about it, your mom looked at the pictures, looked at him and was like it's just his dad, don't worry. So nonchalantly and she laughed with me saying how he was determined to be in your pictures."

Hearing that made him feel somewhat better, he remembered looking at the pictures thinking that same thing about the light but kept it to himself. Knowing that they thought the same thing let him know that he wasn't just trying to make that true. 

"Damn," he smiled, "That's crazy. Sound like em though."

"It does. I know that you're still gonna scan the crowd for him, just know that he'll be there and he'll let you know. Hopefully it won't be a bright ass light all the time," she joked, "But either way, he's gonna show up for his baby boy."

He grabbed her hand, bringing it to his lips to kiss it then locked their fingers. "Thank you, Fat. I needed to hear that."

"Don't thank me for that, it's what I'm here for. I'm good for more than just cooking for you and getting busy, you know."

He laughed heartily, "Noted, baby. Ima remember that."

After dropping Moriah at the hospital the next morning, Zilla went to the Performance Center instead of going home for a couple hours. Hardly anyone was there that time of morning which meant less people for him to talk to and more time to get a workout in. While he was walking on the treadmill, he felt a hand on his back and stopped the machine immediately. He snatched his headphones off then turned around with a dial on his face. 

"My bad, man. I ain't mean no harm. Just wanted to come speak, that's all." The man explained. "Trick. Good to meet you."

Zilla nodded wiping his face with his towel. "Shit, you good. Nice to meet you too. Zilla."

Trick smiled a little, "You already know I know who you are. Ain't no need in acting like that, man."

He shrugged modestly. "I appreciate that but I'm just me, just Zilla."

"Whether you Zilla or just Zilla, we know you are and you better know that shit too. Especially around here."

Zilla squinted at his words. "What that mean?"

"Some of these people around here vicious is all I'm sayin."

"Mmm, I hear you."

"Listen I know we just met and you have no reason to believe me but I'm bein sincere," Trick told him sincerely, "Me and Melo dealt with it, shit a lotta good people went through it. Just tryna look out for you. From one man to another."

Zilla nodded, he was unsure about Trick and his words. They sounded sincere enough but in this world he could never be too sure. 

"I gotta get to a meeting so ima move around." 

Not waiting for a response, Zilla went to the locker room to change before his meeting and thirty minutes later he was sitting across from Shawn Michaels. 

"I won't keep you long, I know you have stuff to do around here but we need to talk debut for a second. I like to involve talent in their storyline and for them to be comfortable with what they're doing," he explained clasping his hands, "When you're comfortable the work is times better. Understand?"

"Yes sir, I got you."

"Alright so that being said we were thinking the last week of November. Gives us all enough time to work things out. Does that sound good to you or do you need more time?"

"Nah, that's good. I can do that."

"We think you'd work great as heel unless you think face is something you wanna try," Shawn paused, "Booker thinks highly of you as heel though."

Zilla shook his head, "Heel. I like being heel. It's fun for me bein like that."

Shawn nodded, writing a few things down. "Alright, heel it is. I'm gonna get with Hunter and Paul to come up with a little something for you but we also want you to come up with something too to bring to us. All of our resources are open to you, talk to your cousins I'm sure they'll help you out. I can put you in touch with some other guys that wouldn't mind helping you either."

He nodded thinking it over. "Alright, I'll let you know if I need em."

"You have a week before you meet with myself, Paul and Hunter. So don't wait too long."

"What's wrong, baby? They said it was an emergency. Are you hurt?" 

As soon as the charge nurse told Moriah it was an important phone call from Zilla, her heart was in her throat. The few feet to the phone felt like miles because her mind had automatically went to the worst. 

"Nothin wrong, I'm not hurt, Fat. Breathe, baby." He assured calmly. 

"Toni said you said it was an emergency. What is it?" She asked still stressing. 

He chuckled, "Its a emergency but not a bad one. I promise."

"Zay," she sighed trying to calm herself and her nerves "Don't scare me like that."

"My bad, baby. She just wasn't tryna give you the phone and I needed to talk to my baby. It's important."

She exhaled on a chuckle. "Start talking and hurry up, fool."

"Zilla got his debut date, baby!"

Moriah squealed alerting few of the doctors and nurses around her including Toni. She whispered an apology. 

"When? When? I'm gonna take off for it right now."

"Tuesday after Thanksgiving! They gon keep me heel too."

Moriah teared up a little but quickly wiped her tears away. "I'll be there in the front row with my sign. I'm happy for you, Zay."

"That make me feel good. Thank you, Fat."

"You're welcome. I'm taking you out to celebrate my first day off. Somewhere special." She said softly. 

He chuckled. "Word? I'm lookin forward to it."

"Good but I gotta go. I'll see you when you get here and do not block the door again."

"You need curbside service though," he laughed, "Don't work too hard. Zilla love you."

"Moriah loves you more, Zilla."

After she hung up, Toni came to stand to her left with a knowing smile on her face. Toni had been extremely welcoming to her and friendly since her first day. She was older than Moriah but it didn't bother them. 

"From the squealing and the smile on your face, am I to assume that there was nothing wrong?" She asked in a hushed tone. 

Moriah giggled. "Maybe."

"Uhuh so what did Mr. Man want? Did he interrupt my ED to say he was thinking about you?" She joked. 

"Noo," Moriah sung out, "He got some good news and wants to share it with his baby."

"What was it?"

Moriah smirked playfully. "I would tell you but don't wanna interrupt your ED even more." 

"You're on my list, DeBreaux."

Moriah laughed going towards the room, she heard her name being called. 

After her shift, Moriah gathered her things then went to the nurses station to talk to Toni. She was wasting time since Zilla was running a few minutes behind. She didn't mind as she knew he spent a little more time at the PC to talk to Booker.

"What are you getting into tonight?" 

"Nothing at all since I gotta be back here in the morning. Pick dinner up, eat, and fall asleep to whatever movie we pick out." Moriah laughed. 

Toni rolled her eyes playfully. "You are such a old woman. Why don't you and Mr. Man go out?"

She shook her head. "Cause I know he's tired from training plus he's grumpy when he's tired."

"He grumpy or you're grumpy?"

"Who's side are you on?" She asked jokingly. "We are gonna go out when I'm off though. Gonna take my man on a date."

"Ooooh a date, huh? Should I get the pregnancy tests ready?"

"Absolutely not ma'am. No babies, not right now. But what you can do is go ahead and approve my day off."

"It's not even November yet, Moriah," she laughed, "Hell, we ain't even hit October yet."

Moriah pouted at her. "It'll be October in a few days but pleeeease. I wanna make sure I'm off and I'm there. Oooh I got an idea."

Toni folded her arms, laughing at her younger coworker. "What's your plan?"

"You should take off too and come with me."

"To a wrestling show? No ma'am plus I'm not gonna be in town." Toni laughed at her pout. "Dr. Miller coming in hot."

Before Moriah could say anything, Dr. Miller was standing right next to her prompting her to take a step over. She smiled politely. 

"You heading out, Moriah?"

She looked at her bag and purse,  making Toni laugh softly, then back at the doctor. "Yup, I am."

He laughed a little. "I didn't notice your bag and stuff, I'm about to head out too. Been a long day."

Moriah nodded slowly and looked to Toni for help, who just shook her head laughing.

"Right so I was thinking um," he trailed off trying to find his words and nerves again. 

While Toni and Moriah waited for him to spit it out, Zilla walked into the ED. He had been calling his girlfriend with no answer so came in to check on her. His face scrunched when he laid eyes on her and saw the doctor standing close to her. Waiting for a few nurses and patients to pass in front of him, he approached his girlfriend from behind and slid his hand around her neck to her throat, gently leaning her head back. He kissed her lips a few times before letting her go, allowing his hand to rest on her waist. 

"You okay?" She asked looking at him. 

He nodded, sizing Dr. Miller up. "I'm straight. You ain't answer so I came to make sure you was aight."

Toni covered her laugh watching the scene unfold in front of her. Moriah checked her phone seeing the missed calls. 

"Oh I'm sorry, babe. I was talking to Toni and then Dr. Miller came up. Which let me not be rude … babe, this is the charge nurse, Toni and this is Dr. Miller," she said sweetly, "Yall this is my boyfriend, Zilla."

Toni stuck her hand out to Zilla still laughing, "Finally I get to meet Mr. Man who interrupted my ED."

"My bad, Toni," he laughed, "Ima do it again though."

Toni laughed. "For your sake it better not be a real emergency cause I'm not giving her the phone again. Dr. Miller, don't be rude. Speak."

Dr. Miller looked between all three, actively tryna avoid the scowl on Zilla's face. "Not ride, just didn't wanna interrupt. Nice to meet you. Zilla is it?"

Zilla tilted his head a little. "That's what I said, uce."

Moriah glared at Toni, who kept laughing. "Okay so yall have a good night. Let's go, babe."

"Wait, wait," Toni called out reaching across the station to grab Moriah's arm as she tried to go, "Don't you remember that Dr. Miller was about to tell you what he was thinking. Go head, Dr. Miller. Tell Moriah."

He scratched the back of his neck, "Oh I uh I was just gonna see if Moriah wanted to get a drink with me to relax after work. As uh as … as co-workers."

Moriah mouthed to Toni that she was gonna hurt her as Toni continued to laugh while Zilla held Dr. Miller's stare, silently daring him to look away. 

"She good, uce. I got all the relaxation she need. Come on, Fat."

Moriah waved to them before leaving. When they got to their car, Zilla helped her in before going to the driver side. She watched him as he drove, a slight frown on her face that made him laugh. 

"You always watchin me, man? What you want?"

She pushed his arm, "You know what. Why you do that?"

"Do what? Come check on you?" He laughed. "I was being a good boyfriend."

"By scaring that poor man. He was so nervous, Zay."

"Good, he should be. He was too close to you. Talkin bout gettin a drink, fuck outta here." He fussed as he sped through traffic. "Thought you was gon go for that? Naaah, not my Fat."

A smile slowly made its way onto her face, she poked at his face. He swatted her hand away. 

"Chill with that."

She kept going. "Is my Zilla jealous? Is that what I hear?"

"Ain't nobody jealous."

"Mmmm … you felt some type of way. You've never seen anybody flirt with me? Not since you been out." She teased.

He looked over at her for a moment not saying anything. 

"Its okay, I kinda liked seeing you like that. Plus Dr. Miller is a lot. I've been turning him down for the last month."

"Let me know if he bother you again."

Moriah giggled. "Yes sir."

"Aight now, you enjoyin it a little too much, Fat." He chuckled. 

She shrugged playfully. "After dinner are we calling your mom or did you already call?"

"I wasn't gon call her without you. She'd be mad if I did that anyway, whenever I talk to her she stay askin if I checked on you and if you got what you need."

"Yup cause I'm her favorite, not you."

"If it wasn't for me, yall wouldn't even know each other," he exclaimed playfully. 

"Oooh the jealously bug just bit you up today, huh?"

"Since you got jokes, you gon be at work tomorrow with bites."

She stopped laughing. "Wait, that's my funny. Don't do that."

"Ooooh it ain't funny no more, Fat?" He laughed. 

"Noooo. Last time you did that, I had bites everywhere when I met your grandma. And my mama thought you was beating me up."

"Shit, I was just not in the way she was thinking. But that was your fault cause you thought you was funny. I'm funnier though, Fat."

She folded her arms, pouting. "What if I say sorry?"

"Too late for that, babygirl. Just prepare yourself."

Thomas got off the elevator a quarter pass seven, making a beeline for the emergency department. One of the patients he was helping with needed assistance so he wasn't able to leave in time. Making it to the nurses station, he went to Toni.

"What do you need, Thomas?" She asked not looking up from her paperwork. 

He looked around as he spoke. "Nurse DeBreaux, is she here?"

"No, she's not," she answered now looking at him, "Why are you looking for her? There are plenty of nurses in Pediatrics where you are assigned."

"I needed to ask her a question about a patient that was in the ED," he lied quickly, "It's not an emergency. When does she work again?"

"I can call her for you, Thomas."

"No, just tell me when she works. I'll come back."

Toni hummed. "Tomorrow at 7am."

"Thank you, Toni. I owe you."

"Uhuh, don't get yourself into any trouble now."

He flashed her a quick smile before leaving. Toni sat with the interaction for a moment, replaying it in her head. Something felt weird to her but she brushed it off.

[businesscasualart]

I’m curious if you have any thoughts or headcanons about Onslaught and alcohol. I imagine being a semi-functioning evil team is stressful and if Psimon is chucking everyone’s vapes then cigs and 420 isn’t an option, then alcohol is the second best thing right? Besides drinking together is team building and leads to this wonderful thing called “actually talking about your trauma instead of bottling it up for once”.

AAAA sorry about taking so long to get around to this.

I need to stop checking my inbox until I’m FULLY ready to yap and ramble. I need that lil blue dot reminding me I have asks so bad.

That IS a good question and I’m so flattered that y’all bother with my content. <3 I think they’d be at least somewhat different about alcohol.

(Sorry for any typos in advance, I wrote this mostly at various doctor’s appointments. ALSO. Last thing to apologize for. I’ve never vaped or smoked when I wrote the last part, but I also have never consumed alcohol and that fact may be more evident in this one)

Cw: Alcohol and some references to alcoholism, uh…references to angst but maybe more comfort than angst, kinda all over the place <\3

Okay so, in the beginning, Onslaught was Mostly teens. Psimon was BARELY even old enough to drink in America at the ripe young age of 21, flat. And I thinnkkkkkk Psimon is American? Even if he’s not, it seems the rest of Onslaught is, so I think  Psimon would probably step up and be all “No, no,” confiscate all the bottles and cans and it’d make the teens so mad and indignant. Literal felons are being BABYSAT. Even when they travel where the drinking age is lower. 

But when the teenagers turn old enough to drink, they have a whole little birthday celebration with what they can get, and of course, offer the first taste of alcohol. Their choice for what it is, as long as the team could afford it. Of course, they laugh and tease if they recoil from the taste. 

Most of the team is pretty fond of drinking, usually together. It’s nice bonding.

Devastation is the only exception to the “Psimon Says no alcohol until you’re 21” rule from the beginning. The team can argue “She is LITERALLY one (1) year old” all they want. She is LITERALLY built different, Psimon is fine with her drinking. 

Idk if she particularly has a preference for any kind. She’s probably one of those who subscribe to the belief of “It ain’t right if it doesn’t burn a bit going down”. Wine is probably somewhat…nostalgic. For some reason. Takes her back to someplace she can’t name, someplace she’s never been, but I think that’d be one of the only reasons she might prefer wine. Her taste may be all over. May be whatever’s strong and good. I’m no alcohol savant, what do I know? 

She likes to drink to celebrate and to bond, sometimes to ebb at stress. It takes a LOT to get her drunk, but that’s not gonna stop her from getting drunk when she has the time and money burn on it. She gets drunk and gets even more jovial and warm and open, though she’s usually relatively open. Also, haphazard. She becomes a big fan of violating people’s personal space. Hugs, patting backs, throwing her arm around them, leaning on people shorter than her, etc.

It can annoy a lot of people if she does it too much, Psimon strangely doesn’t seem to mind too much tho…aheem…

Besides that, Psimon’s generally against the team drinking to the point of drunkenness, but there’s little to actually do about it; he struggles to track all of their limits, and when he’s focusing on one, that leaves all the others alone. He tries to avoid getting drunk himself instead. Someone has to stay sober, and his psionic powers don’t mix well with too much alcohol. And he’s the leader. It makes the most sense that it’d be him to keep his wits about him.

The Terror Twins are hearty drinkers; they also can drink a lot and get very warm and jovial when drinking, like Devastation. Any outing to a bar feels celebratory with them. They decided they don’t like to get fully drunk though, not too regularly. First Tuppence decided this, then Tommy when she pointed it out to him. They don’t want to open up more quickly than they intend. Psimon can relate to that, so he defends them when they drop out. That doesn’t stop them from having fun with everyone else though, or helping when things get bad. They’re usually decent at opening up on their own time anyway. 

Shimmer and Mammoth like to follow Psimon’s lead and keep excess drinking to a minimum. A couple of shots, a glass or maybe two, it really depends on what it is, but that’s it. Mammoth can take more than his sister, just by merit of him being so much larger, but he doesn’t like the taste of alcohol at all while his sister does. However, the second either of them get any kind of buzz ebbing at their senses is the second they quit. 

If they’re found sitting down and downing drinks, something is wrong. They’d only let go so much if they’re trying to drown their problems. Then, they can use some company. Someone lending an ear to their sorrows doesn’t sound half bad. 

If another team member is in a similar situation and needs someone to simply sit next to them and just be, or listen, Baran and Selinda are quick to be there for them.

Junior drinks for fun, he’ll seize any opportunity to drink. That man is getting “Krunk” as the kids say. He doesn’t know his limits and if he did, there’s no telling if he’d actually adhere to them. He WILL blackout if no one keeps an eye on him. He will be puking in the trashcan. The rest of the team has to steer him away from opportunities to drink lest he develop alcoholism at the tender age of 5-minutes-into-being-able-to-legally-drink. 

His mood becomes turbulent and fragile. He’ll typically be happy, loud, reckless, aggressive; but at the mention of the wrong thing or at the sight of something that takes him way back, he can breakdown rather easily. It’s actually pretty common for his drunken stints, when they get out of hand, to end in tears. Junior has to be one of the least repressed members of Onslaught, due in no small part to moments like these; where he lets his emotions run rampant and they go down a bad path. 

He’d expect ridicule, but Onslaught is actually very sympathetic to his struggles and complaints, whatever they may be. He can air his dirty laundry as much as he wants with little to no judgement, something he’s not used to. Once he starts, it’s hard to stop, but the team will listen until the end and it’s something he’s really grateful for. Despite being a troublemaker and general criminal, he tries to pay the team’s kindness towards him forward as much as he can.

If Psimon does end up drinking to lose his troubles, he usually does it alone, when everyone else is asleep. Or at least when he thinks everyone else is asleep. Sometimes someone will wander about looking for a late night snack or a glass of water, or even search for him himself. He dislikes being caught like that, dislikes not being so impervious and put-together for the team. 

Without fail, they’ll sit with him awhile. They’ll ask, they’ll listen, they’ll joke or comfort or sit in silence. Psimon will wither in place or try to get them to leave him be, but they’re a stubborn lot. They’re far from the most “upstanding” of company, but they treat him with the same care, empathy, and concern he tries to treats them with; and Psimon finds afterwards that, despite not enjoying being caught in a state of weakness or forced to open up, he wouldn’t have rather it have gone any other way.

[fellow-travelers-fic-recs]

Fellow Travelers Fic Recs- Dribbles & Drabbles: 1K Words Or Less For those of you with a short attention span, short on time or perhaps new to the fandom and just want to get a little taste... Here's a handful of fics with less than 1,000 words. Happy reading!

Be sure to show the authors some love and appreciation with kudos and comments on the fics you enjoyed!

✨ Likes are lovely, but please reblog to share this wonderful content with your mutuals! 😁

*If you have a tumblr (or other socials) you'd like linked, let me know and I'll add it. Also, if anyone doesn't want their socials linked here, please let me know and I'll gladly remove it.

🥛 Six-word stories from every decade by @carnivalrow // nightfall_in_winter [NR, 12] A heart for sale. Used once...* Hawk Part 1- stories from the 60s. Part 2 -stories from the 70s.

🥛 you know, you’ve been rather sweet lately by tangerineflamingo* [NR, 255] They stay like this, wrapped in each other’s embrace, their bodies entwined in the warm glow of sunlight. Part 1 of fellow travelers drabbles 🥛there is no sin in what you & I just did by @beyondxmeasure // Cyantific [M, 250] The burden of guilt weighs heavily on Tim for what he's about to do, but for now, he sets aside any conflicting feelings where God and Hawkins Fuller are concerned, along with the cross around his neck.

🥛 Blessed by @lookturtles // look_turtles [G, 300] Tim is sick and Hawk takes care of him.

🥛 Golden Fire by @itslexduh // ItsLexDuh [T, 478] A little drabble about Tim seeing Hawk with his wedding ring for the first time in 1957.

🥛 so you'll remember me by voidedcat* [G, 548] Hawk finds the cufflinks Tim'd kept after all these years. But now it's too damn late.

🥛 Yours Truly by Cozy_coffee* [G, 630] Love is…the three times Hawk said “I love you” to Tim.

🥛 if i have to switch the lights off, i wanna switch them off with you by @startagainbuttercup // startagainbuttercup [T, 661] "I don't remember our last kiss," Hawk blurted.

Tim's face instantly changed as he parted his lips in surprise.

"The whole time you were there, with the doctors, I thought you were dying, and I couldn't remember when was the last time we kissed." Hawk's voice trembled a little. He looked at his lap. "There were so many, but I just couldn't remember the last one."

Or, a little scene after, "Did you forget that I'm a convicted felon?"

Part 3 of Fellow Travelers 1x06 extra scenes

🥛 You didn't have to love me like you did, but you did, and I thank you. by @in-our-special-place // Cupping_Cakes [M, 708] “He wasn't my friend. He was the man I loved.”

🥛 Cherry blossom by @carnivalrow // nightfall_in_winter [M, 740] There is a moment when they both travel west and Tim falls asleep in the car. An excerpt is provided. This fic examines Hawk's thoughts in that precise moment.

🥛 Liability by @solitudinariann // Dysterscribbles [T, 804] Angstier version of the scene where Hawk asks Tim to write a letter for Mary and calls his friends a 'liability' which makes Tim think Hawk must think of him as a liability too. Angst and something more ensues.

🥛 The Twelth of Never by ghostandwitness* [M, 973 WIP] What if Hawk didn’t prevent Tim from passing the security clearance? A retelling of Hawk and Tim’s story where their affair is continued through Tim’s employment at State, for those of us who want a different ending (but of course, not without a hard time getting there-After all it's Hawk and Tim).

[asterkiss]

3 for the confessions prompt

BASEMENT DWELLERS

Mabel Pines should have been enjoying a college beach party that evening filled with rowdy students, music, and perhaps a little underage drinking.

Instead, she found herself currently handcuffed to a pipe in a felon’s basement. But hey, as least she wasn’t alone, renowned asshole Bill Cipher was also locked down here with us!

Her parents would surely notice she was missing come morning and raise the alarm. But until then… she was stuck here. She had been trying to wiggle her hand out of the handcuff for the past twenty minutes, but all it had succeeded in doing was making her wrist red and achey.

‘This is your fault.’

She paused at that. Mabel raised her head, eyes falling on her classmate chained to the radiator on the other side of the room. She was surprised he was talking, he'd been sulking ever since she awoke ten minutes ago and hadn't said much. 'What?'

Bill stared up at the cieling, arms crossed over his waist as he casually sat on the floor beside his own pipe chained to his hand. ‘Ya heard me.’

Mabel raised an eyebrow. ‘How the heck is this my fault? You’re the one who was getting all chummy with a criminal!’  

‘Exactly. I had a plan and it was going just fine,’ Bill said sharply, sounding annoyed. ‘Then you had to stick your nose in and ruin everything.’

Mabel puffed out her cheeks in agitiation as she glared his way. First, he refused to look for a way out, then he refused to talk to her, and now he was being an ass!

‘Well gee, sorry for trying to care about you! I’ll just follow my brothers advice and stop talking to you then!!' She swung her head back down with a huff and returned her attention to the handcuff. In doing so, she missed the way Bill looked in her direction, expression tightening with an unreadable expression and hands clenching as the cavalier attitude slipped.

The metal edges of the cuff bit into the skin of her hand as she attempted to force it. She needed something to keep her mind focused on, otherwise she was going to start panicking.

She hadn't meant to care about Bill Cipher.

In the beginning, they'd been forced to pair up for a group project in school. The guy was definitely an ass and had clashed with her and Dipper several times over the years.

But here she was, four months later, caring about the guys wellbeing so much that she made the impulsive and unwise decision to follow an ex-con to his house in what she thought was a very undetected and sneaky manner.

(Apparently it wasn't either).

One cholorform attack later and here she was.

'Quit it.'

Broken out of her thoughts, Mabel glanced aside to find Bill watching her with a frown. 'What?'

'You're bleeding. Quit messing with it.'

She was? Mabel look back down to find she had indeed cut the skin on her hand. But before she could do anything further, Bill spoke again.

‘Why would you come here?’

She frowned, gaze still fixated on her wrist as she brushed a thumb over the cut, staining her skin red. ‘…I wanted to know if he was bad or not.'

'Well, I think ya got your answer.'

She bristled. Mabel had enough people calling her naïve and she was tired of it. ‘Oh yeah? Well, what about you?’ she retorted, sending him a sharp look. ‘How did you end up down here? I thought you said you had plan and everything.’ She didn't know what had happened between her being knocked out and awaking, only that Bill was down here with her by the time she did rouse from her forced slumber.

Bill’s nostrils flared, eyes drilling into her like ice. ‘I’m down here because of you, you ungrateful brat. Sorry for being a little careless in my rush to make sure you were still alive!’

‘Huh?’

‘Hell, sorry for caring about your annoying ass and trying to keep you away from the freak upstairs who killed my parents. Clearly, you didn’t want me to do that since you offered yourself on a platter.’

‘Wait, your parents? Wha-?'

‘And more than anything, I’m sorry I made the big mistake of falling for you, okay? But it happened and I can’t do anything about it so here we are.’

As Bill finished his rant and slumped back againt the wall, Mabel gaped at him with mouth wide open and eyes bulging comically.

Her poor heart had gone into overdrive. She wasn’t sure which piece of information to chew on first, instead finding herself choking on it all at once and unable to form a coherent response.

Bill had come here to save her? From the guy who killed his parents!? Because he LIKED her!?!?

Oh God, if she wasn’t already on the floor she surely would have fainted.

'Now, do me a favour and stay here.' Bill raised his hand that was chained up.

She closed her mouth, eyes returning to their ordinary size. 'Wait, what do you-HOLY FUCK!!'

The snapping noise as he broke his wrist was sickening. Mabel's mouth flew agape for a differnet reason this time as the blond freed himself, standing to his full height.

'What the hell? Bill!'

He smiled wryly and urgh, why was her heart fllipping in a situation like this? 'Relax, it ain't my dominant hand.'

Mabel grimaced. 'If you could do that, why did you wait until now?'

'Had to wait for the dizziness to go away.'

'Dizziness? What do you... oh jeez, you're bleeding!' As he turned away she saw the dried blood on the back of his head and realised his way of being knocked out hadn't been as nice as hers.

'See ya in a bit, Shooting Star. I'll be back when coast is clear.'

'What? No! Bill!' She yanked forward but could go no further than a few feet. 'You don't just get to drop that bombshell and leave me!!'

'I'll tell you about my parents later. Maybe.'

'I meant you saying you liked me!!'

The young man paused at the foot of the stairs, going still. Then, after a moment:

'I didn't say that.'

'You- Yes, you did!!' Ooh, she wasn't going to let him get out of this!! 'You said you'd fallen for me!'

She was sure she heard him swear under his breath.

Bill turned around with a dazzling smile, shooting her finger guns. (Hey, that was her signature move!) 'Well, I'm off. Gotta go kill a guy. It's legal if it's in self-defensive!' Wink.

Did he seriously just wink at that statement?

'Bill!'

He was leaving.

'BILL!'

Okay, maybe she could gnaw herself free.

[foolondahill17]

Happy 3 year anniversary to silver linings.

Longest fic I've ever written and the 'verse is still building itself in my brain.

Summary:

Or, a year in the life of Dean Winchester

Dean’s bi: sexual and polar. He’s got a string of hospitalizations under his belt. He’s a felon. He’s got a secret. And he just might have a crush on the wry, socially awkward, and devastatingly handsome artist who lives in the apartment below his. But Dean doesn’t have friends, and he certainly doesn’t have relationships. He has what his therapist Pam calls “impulsive, reckless sexual interactions.” His attempts at meaningful connection have resulted in ruined friendships, broken hearts, restraining orders, and lifechanging ramifications. Dean’s too focused on holding down a job and relearning how to live by himself after years of being babied by his little brother to worry about romance, right? Right.

[drarryglobesficrecs]

My favourite drarry fics<3 (short version, under 50k)

long versions 1 , 2

To Hurt and Heal by cassisluna(21k)

They say that everybody who gets out of Azkaban comes out a little mad. After the war, Draco Malfoy spends three months in Azkaban. He just wants to go insane in peace, but Harry Potter finds that he, inexplicably, still can't leave Draco alone.

you've got the antidote for me by Kandakicksass(20k)

When Harry Potter unintentionally severs their soulbond before it can fully form, Draco Malfoy resigns himself to a slow death and decides not to burden Harry with a soulmate he's made it very clear he doesn't want. He's never been selfless before, but for Harry, he can try.

In Evidence of Magical Theory by bixgirl1(43k)

When a hex meant for Draco accidentally catches Harry as well, they're forced to learn to understand each other in ways they previously might have thought impossible. In which Harry and Draco can't fight, so they fall in love instead.

Your Tears Sting, Friend by alpha_exodus(10k)

Draco’s always wanted Potter. It’s only on death’s doorstep that he’s allowed to have him.

MCD

Remember Me, As I Will You by alpha_exodus(13k)

Two weeks, Harry'd said, two weeks and he'd be done with the assignment. But the longer Draco waits, the harder it is to believe that Harry is going to return alive.

MCD

Lumos by birdsofshore(41k)

Harry never expected to spend eighth year listening to Draco Malfoy wanking.

The Standard You Walk Past by bafflinghaze(46k)

On returning to Hogwarts for their Eighth Year, Headmistress McGonagall decided to room Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter together. She may have hoped for a leading example of house unity; the other students fully expected insults and fights. But nothing happened. That was, until Harry sleepwalked into Draco’s bed.

Nice Things by aideomai(22k)

The first thing that happened was Theodore Nott came back from France.

Vortex by xanthippe74(20k)

“Don’t worry, my dearest one,” Draco’s mother told him when he confided his worries to her. When he was old enough to feel the pangs of adolescent longing, but still too young to sense the storm gathering around them. “Magic will overcome any distance or obstacles to bring two soulmates together when the time is right. Circumstances will arise that steer them in the right direction; strange coincidences will make their paths cross again and again. Then the most wondrous moment arrives, when you both realize that your soulmate, your perfect match, stands before you, and from that day forward your hearts will be one.” Ten years after that conversation, the idea of perfectly-matched soulmates feels more like a curse than a blessing to Draco. Who would want a soulmate who was a schoolyard bully, a Death Eater, and a convicted felon? Certainly not Harry Potter. And Draco is determined to take this secret to the grave.

Open For Repairs by FeelsForBreakfast(34k)

After the war, Draco works at a tv repair shop and Harry breaks things. feat. sad boys in jumpers and more ABBA than is probably necessary

The Stars Above Us by 606, create_serenity (Sivany) (19k)

It started as an innocent day out taking Teddy to visit the local observatory. Somehow it became so much more.

In Pursuit of Lost Marbles by Theartfulldodger(22k)

Every night after work, Healer Malfoy follows the same routine, beginning with a familiar flight of stairs that leads to the Janus Thickey Ward at St. Mungo's. With an air of professionalism, he introduces himself to Harry, his husband of seven years, when a memory curse makes Harry look at him like a stranger. He tries not to flinch when Harry calls him sir, but he smiles when bits of the old Harry emerge. Eventually, Draco leads Harry to the Pensieve where he shows him pieces of the life they've built together, what Harry will come home to, one day, when this is all over. Then, Draco waits. He waits, and he hopes.

In The Hand by aideomai(28k)

Two months after Harry went missing, when Hermione was frantic with fear and panic and sleep deprivation, Draco Malfoy cornered them outside the Great Hall before breakfast.

Just a Matter of Time by gracerene(23k)

Draco's in a bit of a rut. He's nearing forty, divorced, and he still can't figure out how to make his Time Turner reconstruction work. He's bored, he can admit it, so he's not nearly as concerned as he should be when his pet project malfunctions and sends him twenty years into the past. That is, until he ends up relying on a nineteen-year-old Harry Potter for help and starts developing some very inconvenient—and possibly reciprocated—feelings.

Dear Diary by AWickedMemory (TeddyLaCroix)(20k)

// This can’t possibly go worse than the last time I kept a diary. // After the war, Harry picks up a journal to write in… and it writes back. Luckily, it’s not a Horcrux on the other end this time.

Chilly Feet by shushu_yaoi_lj(13k)

It all starts with a pair of chilly feet under Harry Potter’s bum.

The Art of Perfection by create_serenity (Sivany)(19k)

Harry cursed the day he’d ever made the stupid bet with Ron because that bet was what had led to him being naked in front of a Muggle art class. Of course Draco Malfoy had to be taking the class, because that’s just how Harry’s life worked.

The Frisky Furnishings of Malfoy Manor by Writcraft(19k)

The course of true love never did run smooth. Or: Hermione has a crafty plan, Harry and Draco are fake boyfriends and wizarding traditions have a lot to answer for. Featuring awkward dates, mince pies, a saucy sofa and a line of sequined house-elf haute couture nobody asked for but got anyway.

amid this warm and steady sweetness by warmfoothills (orphan_account) (21k)

Harry is not living in a period drama, no matter what his friends or his new house or Malfoy’s sudden affinity for horse-riding might suggest, and if one more person uses the word courting, he’s going to start hexing people.

freely, as men strive for right by bixgirl1(17k)

How can Harry love a man like Draco Malfoy?If only Draco would let him count the ways. (Sometimes, a happily-ever-after takes a bit longer than you expect.)

How to Apologise to Harry Potter in 10 Days by QueenofThyme(18k)

Draco Malfoy decides to apologise to Harry Potter, but finds himself falling into old familiar patterns instead. All he needs to do is say two little words. Why is it so hard?

It Takes a Village by Saras_Girl(24k)

Eighth year isn’t exactly going to plan. Harry is definitely not running away, Draco is definitely not impressed, and it’s almost definitely not going to stop raining.

The Owl Who Came for Christmas by dracogotgame(17k)

Draco has a debt to pay off, no matter what Potter thinks. And he has a Very Good Idea to go along with it. Things don't go as planned.

Crimson Neon by xanthippe74(20k)

Winter, 1999. Harry thought going to New York would help him get his head on straight, but all he has to show for it are sore feet and a fridge full of takeaway containers. And now he’s homesick on top of everything else. It doesn’t help that his mysterious neighbour in 2C keeps cooking dishes that remind Harry of home and all the people he lost or left behind.

Before Florence by dysonrules(9k)

Harry is visiting Florence, Italy, when he runs into an unexpected person. They decide to explore the city together and by the end of the night, everything that Harry thought he knew had changed.

A Hiss To Build a Dream On by xanthippe74(10k)

Harry fancies a certain Slytherin. Draco has a snake that’s refusing to eat. When Draco asks him to use his Parseltongue skills to help, Harry sees the opportunity he’s been waiting for. There’s just one small problem: Harry can’t bring himself to tell Draco that he isn’t a Parselmouth anymore.

Drop Everything Now by parkkate(21k)

After accidentally bonding himself to Malfoy, Harry finds himself in an utterly precarious situation...

You Paint in Colours That Don’t Exist by fluorescencx(4k)

Draco wasn’t happy. All the world was grey.

[thankyouforthev3n0m]

No, no, don't touch me there"

Is what I told my uncle, but he didn't seem to care

It's my secret little spot and I don't wanna share

"No, no, don't touch me there"

So tell that creepy guy who always hangs around your school

That all they need to do is this one simple rule

It's "No, no, don't touch me there"

Is what I told my pastor when he's playing with my hair

It tickles, and I'm little, and it really isn't fair

Here's the facts

My square is not for pats

I can count to 32, and I'm friends with all my cats

I'm a smart guy in a dumb situation

And nobody's gettin' off at my no, no station

Hi, my name is Juicy

I like hangin' with my friends and sippin' apple goosey

Eatin' lots of burbers and hangin' with my groupies

If you talkin' shit, I'ma pull up with the uzi!

Sorry

I got, I got a little carried away

No, no, don't touch me there"

Is what I told the cabbie when I couldn't pay the fare

And also while you're at it, can you quit the creepy stare?

"No, no, don't touch me there"

So tell that creepy guy who always hangs around your school

That all they need to do is this one simple rule

It's "No, no, don't touch me there"

It's a pretty simple concept if you haven't been aware

I want to be alone, I don't want a love affair

Now listen

I go to federal prison

I'm a whole new Juicy, no, no edition

No competition

No, no permission

Keep your hands off, Juicy is not your main mission

Corners

Count 'em, four

You picked the wrong shape for your fingers to explore

Mr. Nice Guy?

Well, not anymore

We can be friends but

I'm not your damn whore!

Ha-ha

Sorry, guys

I really need to get that under control

"No, no, don't touch me there"

Is what I told my uncle, but he didn't seem to care

It's my secret little spot and I don't wanna share

"No, no, don't touch me there"

So tell that creepy guy who always hangs around your school

That all they need to do is this one simple rule

It's "No, no, don't touch me there"

Keep your gross old hands off my no, no square

Um

Hi, my name is Juicyfruitsnacks

I'm a convicted felon for the three

Counts of desecration of grave sites

Two counts of public nudity

One time for pissing in the park

I am a public menace and I need to be stopped

Please if anyone can hear this put me down

I'm a danger to you and everyone you love

"No, no, don't touch me there"

Is what I told my uncle, but he didn't seem to care

It's my secret little spot and I don't wanna share

:3

….