#nevermind all that can wait he's going to be a GRANDFATHER

[spacedace]

@proshipper-on-ship​ thank you for the Dick & Dan idea you added to my other post, please enjoy some of the fall out your comment resulted in haha

“So,” Bruce tried, looking hesitantly pleased at the surprisingly light atmosphere around the table. “Anything new and exciting going on with anyone?”

There was a smattering of answers from around the table. Jason didn’t offer anything - which wasn’t surprising, that he was even there and largely not starting a fight was more than enough as far as Dick was concerned - but with some ribbing from Steph, Tim eventually admitted to finally asking that boy he’d been interested in out. Dick joined in on teasing his little brother - and even Jay gave, for him, some gentle ribbing over finally getting the balls to do something, eh Timberland? - while very carefully avoiding mentioning his own sorta-kinda thing with Dan in Bludhaven. He’d deal with his siblings making him miserable and embarrassed over it all when he actually scored a date with him thanks very much.

Things were going good.

And then Damian cleared his throat, looking imperious and uninterested at the same time as he waited for everyone to turn to look at him.

“I have an announcement on an alteration to my personal life.” He declared, chin up and looking like he was already over this whole family-bonding-time thing, which was fair. Damian had gotten better over the years, but he was still not exactly the cute and cuddly little brother. Dick still had the scar from the last time he tried to hug Dami without warning a year ago and got stabbed for the effort. Still, he was sharing, willingly even! That’s progress!

At the head of the table Bruce tilted his head, looking as cautiously hopeful as Dick felt over the youngest Wayne actually offering to share something personal. “Have you decided on what college you want to go to then?”

“No.” Dami dismissed easily, without more than a glance in Bruce’s direction. “Night and I have decided to take some time to travel before continuing any further schooling.”

Huh, honestly, Dick was kinda surprised. With how much of a perfectionist Dami was, he’d thought he’d throw himself into college with the same ferocious, competitive drive he did everything else. But then again, if Elle Nightingale was going to be taking a gap year or two, it wasn’t as if it was that much of a surprise that Dami would go and join her.

The two gremlins had been practically inseparable since they were twelve and discovered a shared love of stabbing people and adopting every animal they see. If Dami’s best friend was going to go gallivanting across the world like she always dreamed of doing, Dick couldn’t actually be that  surprised that Dami would be going with her.

Dick took a sip of his drink as Dami opened his mouth to continue with what was probably going to be to most people the world’s most harrowing game of “how many incredibly dangerous animals can we see before we end up dead on our gap year” that the two demons were undoubtedly planning.

He regretted taking that sip almost immediately as Damian said, “Night and I took our marital vows yesterday. She sends her regrets that she was unable to join us for family dinner tonight.”

Predictably, the room broke out into utter chaos.

Dick choked on his drink, spraying across the table and splattering Babs with a shower of wine. She didn’t even seem to notice, dropping her own glass as she snapped her head over to stare at Damian, the sound of breaking glass and a deep red stain pooling across the table following as she did. At the end of the table, Jay made a noise like a dying goose as the samosa he’d just popped in his mouth threatened to kill him. Cass, perhaps the most outwardly calm at the proclamation, only stared with wide eyes at her younger brother as she hit Jason on the back in an attempt to make sure he didn’t die.

Dick could practically hear the old shrieking AOL dial up noise that was Tim’s brain attempting to process what his little brother had just said, while sitting next to him Steph gave a small shriek of you what? Duke’s head was on a swivel, eyes darting from Damian, to another family member, to Damian and back again as if unsure who to even look at in the moment.

Bruce just…stared, frozen in place, face caught in the most open look of shock Dick thinks the man has ever shown in his life.

---

Damian sniffed and cast a caustic look towards - of all people - Jason, “Unlike some people, I share my good news with the family in a timely manner.”

Jay sputtered, “You know what, fuck you! Fine, you want me to share the news?” Jay snapped his head towards the rest of them. “Jazz is pregnant, baby is due next month on the sixth. Baby shower’s next weekend at Robinson Park, show up or don’t, I really don’t give a fuck.”

Or maybe he was just going to try to kill them with a heart attack.

“What the fuck?!”

“Language!”

“Who the fuck is Jazz?!”

“Language!”

“Night’s elder sister and guardian, Drake, keep up. You should know this, you’re dating her brother.”

“I’m what?”

“And Grayson is having flirtations with her other brother.”

“Dan is Elle’s older brother? Wait - how do you know about that?”

“Todd and I are in the Nightingale family group chat. We have endured far too much waxing poet about your posterior over the past months.”

“Why do they all have variations of the same name? Who gives all their children the same name?”

“He likes my ass?”

“Oh my god, bigger picture Dick, focus.”

“Seriously, do they all have the same name outside of the older sister? I feel like we need to acknowledge they all have the same name.”

“Can we go back to the fact that Damian got married? To Elle? Yesterday? How did you even do that without anyone knowing?

“Dr. Nightingale is a notary.”

“...Dr. Nightingale as in the woman Bruce is investigating Dr. Nightingale?”

“Okay but the name thing? Please tell me you’re not naming the baby some variation of the name Daniel.”

“If the gremlins get their way it will be. Do you know how many lists we’ve made that they keep sabotaging?”

“So you have Dan’s number? Could you give it to me?”

“Jesus Christ, Dick I’m begging you.”

“Why did you guys even get married?”

“For the diplomatic immunity.”

“You don’t have diplomatic immunity.”

“I do now.”

“What does that mean?”

[ggomos-maribat]

Soul-Stitching: The Heir and the Guardian

Masterlist

Chapter 1: the assassin and his servant | AO3

CW: Suicide, blood, injury, referenced childhood trauma, mild violence

It is no surprise that the League of Assassins has its own fair share of enemies at its tail. Yet recently, there has been an onslaught of attacks, prompting its members to switch between the network of bases—its young heir is no exception. The third base to house Damian sits between two frosted peaks towering over a Tibetan village, first founded by the demon's daughter herself. Though the instigator of the attacks is unknown, it seems that the abilities of the opposing group is nearly on par with the trained assassins. Damian has scoffed at this piece of information; no one stands at the same level as the League.  

Unfortunately, Damian has been kept away from the frontlines under Talia's strict instructions despite his insistence to fight. Knowing his status, Damian begrudgingly complied to escape and hide. Even if the food is cold and the night wind sometimes sneaks in to bite his bones, he sits still to wait for news announcing that it's safe to return to the main base.   

He sits up on his creaky bed. The ends of the sheets are fraying, and the floors are ice cold, with the gray and brown meshing into a drabby color. The only semblance of a decoration is his twin katanas leaning off the side of his bed frame. It's a far cry from the home he knows, though his routine is mostly unchanged: training from dawn to dusk. But he can tell this day is different. From the commotion happening outside the room and the lingering tension in the air, Damian deduces that another attack is on the way.  

Finally, his thoughts are confirmed when he hears the door open. "Master Damian?"  

He has his back turned to her, his servant, but he can already picture out her presence. An unsteady stance dwarfed in a thick coat, calloused hands wrapped in fingerless gloves, cheeks that have lost a tad bit of their rosiness nowadays, and hair pushed back into twin braids. A child just like him, but raised an assassin nonetheless. "Lady Talia wishes for you to be relocated again. We will use the back tunnel and rendezvous with our guides halfway down the mountains. They will escort us to out—"  

"Where are we relocating to?"  

". . . I don't know, Master."  

She swiftly moves to the side to pack his things. Damian picks up his weapons, biting back the habitual click of his tongue. He's sick of the cycle, feeling like a coward running away endlessly. "And why can't we hold them off?"  

"We do not have enough people. Between guarding the Demon Head and the Pits, and covering all bases . . . The enemies have become too much to handle." Marie ties together the strings of the backpack, before strapping a rolled-up sleeping bag on top.  

"If our assassins are competent enough, we would not be struggling ," Damian hisses.  

The servant doesn't reply, but he catches the twitch of her upper lip. Like him, Marie has been forbidden from fighting the enemies, but she has been helping with the supplies and cleaning, apart from assisting him in training. She should know how weak the League has become.  

"We will leave in five minutes," she says, offering his coat to him.  

"What if I don't want to leave?" 

"I am sorry, Master, but Lady Talia said—"  

"Nevermind what Mother said. I can do it. I can fight."  

Marie's expression changes just a little, and her hand reaches up to clutch her sleeve. He knows that even though she serves under him, she mostly answers to his mother. And defying Talia had greater consequences. It is not the first time Damian has wanted to go against higher orders; Marie has often eased him into not breaking the rules. 

"I think it is better for you to reserve your energy for training, Master. Let the rest of us worry about the enemies." 

"Tt. Grandfather should do something about this."  

When Marie finally persuades him, they venture out to the winding halls. She navigates expertly, avoiding the rings of the gunshots and clashing of swords. Damian knows that they are near the exit when he feels the chilling gust of wind. The rocky snow-topped terrain welcomes them outside—there is only white and gray for miles that everything looks like a lifeless desert. Damian blinks against the sunlight, puffs of fogged breath floating along his vision. In the snowy landscape, Marie looks even paler, as if her skin has become translucent.  

The swords on Damian's back feel heavier too. He has found that fighting in the cold is more troublesome—his joints are hardened, and the blood rushes out of his limbs. The stiffness of his muscles limit his movement and the thin air makes it difficult to breathe. Their escape party is too vulnerable, and if they were to encounter a hostile group, he will have to make the kill quick.  

He glances at Marie every now and then. Her skills are average, and she looks smaller when bundled up. He doesn't miss the way she favors one foot when she trudges in the snow. Though she has been mentored by Talia, she is not like his mother, nor like the other women he is familiar with, like Nyssa or Lady Shiva. She's practically dead weight for Damian. An easy target.  

He doesn't remember when she first started serving under him. He only recalls huffing in annoyance seeing the tiny girl hanging around on the sidelines as he trained, occasionally joining him for a spar. He only knows her as the one who brings his food, supplies him with his secondary weapons, escapes into other bases with him, and acts as his mother's slave. She looks more attuned to the civilians in the towns Damian sees during his missions, not someone who has blood in her hands. Rarely does she show emotion, not even some annoyance or defeat when he easily beats her during practice, not even flinching when the other servants delivered sharp slaps on her arms, not even a hint of awe like when Damian first gazed upon the second League base in Nepal. Her expressions are usually blank or incomplete, as if she suppresses her reactions.  

She marches close to him, head darting around to check for danger. Damian stops and asks, "How long until we meet the guides?"  

"We have one day of travel, Master."  

"One day? Could they have not sent a plane?"  

"It's too risky…"  

Damian clenches his jaw. A day of hiking through frozen hell. He pulls his hood over his head and quickens his pace.  

"Wait, Master, we should slow down." Marie calls after.  

He doesn't care. The faster they walk, the faster they can meet up with their allies and get out of there.  

"Master, wait—" A thump sounds out. Damian looks behind him to see Marie scrambling to get up. 

"Tt. You could have stayed behind if you can't even walk."  

Marie mumbles her apologies while catching up to him. "We should keep ourselves from tiring out quickly. There is still a long way to go."  

"What if the enemies catch up to us?" 

"They will not." She purses her lips. "They should not know you're escaping. They should not know you're here in the first place."  

"They always know." Damian continues along the nonexistent path. "I'm certain there are moles here."  

As they keep walking, Marie sometimes wobbles with the humongous bag but she doesn't trip again.  Damian doesn't keep count how many steps they have taken or how long they walk, but soon he starts to stagger and shiver, and the sun fades away slowly. Marie directs them to a small cave carved out on the side of a cliff. It is small and still cold, but it will do for the night. Damian gives in to his aching legs, putting his swords in front of him, while Marie sets up the camp. She kindles a humble fire and takes out the supplies to make a meal.  

"A seating mat, Master?" Marie lays out a folded cloth off to the side. Damian crawls to it wordlessly, leaning against the bumpy wall and draping an arm over his eyes. 

She hugs her knees and watches the boiling water. "There might be a storm tonight. I can cover up the entrance, but I do not know how well it will hold up."  

He doesn't reply.  

"Any food you prefer, Master?" 

"What difference does it make? It's all tasteless meal kits."  

"But—" 

"I don't care. Whatever you can make."  

"If we wake up early, we can reach our destination in time," Marie continues, "It is colder in the morning but I have heat packs in the bag."  

“...” 

Damian peeks as she cooks a simple stew. The aroma spreads around the cave, mingling with the shadows created by the fire. The warmth chases away the chill just a little. His servant seems to note his unwillingness to make small talk, so they eat their meals in complete silence, basking in the crackling flames instead. Marie unrolls the sleeping bag and positions herself near the opening of the cave with a knife in hand.  

"Please get some sleep, Master Damian. I will keep watch," says Marie.  

Damian rolls to face the ceiling. Camp-outs are often bleak, and he practically has to sleep with one eye open. But owing to the soreness of his body, he drifts into deep slumber. He has no clue how long he sleeps but when he wakes up, the fire has gone small and the numbed pain in his back has become more persistent. Damian sits up to see Marie staring off blankly into the foggy snowstorm. She's trembling badly and her chapped lips have turned into a light shade of blue. They make brief eye contact before she jumps up to push out the little snow starting to pile up at the opening.  

Damian averts his gaze, buries deeper into the sleeping bag, and thinks to himself how foolish it is for her to stay awake and away from the fire.  

He lies awake instead of going back to sleep as the  cold has won over his drowsiness. An eternity of gazing up at the darkness, his eyelids begin to feel heavy— 

Damian's hand darts up to grab the wrist hovering over him. “What are you doing?” 

Marie recoils back in surprise. "Hea—heat pack, Master. You looked cold."  

"Tt. Forget it. I will get one myself if I'm cold."  

Marie nods weakly, lowly muttering her apologies again, and returns to her post.  

***

The next time Damian wakes, it's from noises nearby. The morning light has spilled into the cave, and the fire has reduced into ash and some smoke. The second thing he notices is the lack of Marie's presence—Damian scrambles up and runs towards the cave opening to see his servant locked in a fight with a stranger just on the edge of the cliff. An enemy assassin perhaps. He has her pinned to the ground, but her fingers are tightly wound around his neck. Marie lets out a choked scream when the man jams the hilt of his weapon on her injured foot.  

Damian immediately pulls out his katana and swipes at the enemy's neck. He tugs Marie by the collar and kicks the man's large body off the drop. After looking around for other assassins he looks down on his servant, who's already making a makeshift splint from her knife holder despite her ragged breathing and the cut running across her hairline. 

"Where's the bag?" Damian asks, wiping off the hint of blood from his blade.  

Marie's eyes widen up at him, and they slowly follow down the height of the cliff.  

"Really? You can barely hold off an enemy and you've lost our supplies?" Damian's hand clenches around his sword.  

"I am sorry, Master, I was packing up and—and I was about to wake you." Her voice wavers. "I—I still have some food in my belt—" 

" Save it," he cuts her off. "We have to get down from here as fast as we can."  

Even if that assassin is a lone wanderer, they can't risk another similar encounter. If that happens, Damian isn't certain if he can keep himself alive, much less the both of them, especially if they're overwhelmed by numbers. He curses at his stiff hands; he could've been much faster if it were any other circumstance.  

"I—I am sorry, Master," Marie gasps out.  

"I said save it." Damian begins to hike again, and she follows while limping after crawling into the cave and packing up his sleeping bag.  

He's surprised that she survived and held off the assassin, but she did so sloppily that her injury was aggravated. Because of that, they will be slowed down indefinitely, unless he chooses to venture on ahead. That is the truth in the League of Assassins: that kind of weakness isn't tolerated, even if she has some ability to defend herself. Those incapable are quickly rooted out, and those who are prodigies train to become more vicious.  

Damian momentarily halts when he observes that the path has narrowed down. They can still cross and climb down, but after one wrong move, they will be falling into a merciless death. He tests the rock, moving one step at a time and clinging onto the shallow crevices of the wall.  

He turns to Marie. “Climbing gear?”  

She bows her head in guilt. “Inside the bag . . . Master.”  

“That is your own fault,” he spits out. “If you cannot cross this, I'm not helping you.”  

He feels her trying to follow closely, but her balance is dangerously off. Damian watches as she struggles to walk through. Her breaths are unsteady as she keeps her gaze on her feet. On top of that, she's shivering more than the previous day.  

When Marie makes a misstep and gasps sharply when she slips, Damian jumps in to grab her sleeve to keep her from falling. She swallows and thanks him, to which he sternly directs to hold onto him as they cross. It takes them a longer while than he hoped for, but they finally come towards a more spacious and safer landing. Still, the bottom of the mountain is still too far to see.  

“I thought Mother sent you to escort and protect me,” he tuts, looking down at her as she collapses on her knees to catch her breath. “Yet you are slowing us down and putting both our lives in danger.”  

“You . . . you are right, Master. Forgive me.” She coughs a little, rubbing the area near her wound. “But I was trying to protect you—”  

“You were as good as dead if I had not stepped in. Who were you trying to protect?”  

“I apologize for my inadequacy.” She has lowered herself into a deep bow, head touching the snow. “Please punish me or kill me as you wish. We are nearing the meeting point anyway; I will be of no use soon.”  

“Tt. You don't even deserve to perish by my hand.” Damian looks down at her in distaste. The heir of the League should not be accompanied by such a servant in the first place. It's already a miracle that she has survived for this long, and he doesn't want to get rid of the little help she can offer. Perhaps as a convenient shield if they encounter enemies again.  

“Stand up,” he orders. “You are delaying us again.”  

She carefully does so, but when she shows her face again, Damian is nearly taken aback, seeing her again up close. Her forehead is smeared with dried blood and the side of her face is slightly swollen. But what surprises him is her usual dead eyes are now glistening with tears.  

“You are right, Master. I should not delay us any longer.” Marie sniffles, moving over to the edge.  

“Wh—what—”  

“I am sorry for not meeting your expectations. There is no excuse for my actions.” She takes out her knife.  

“Wait—” 

“Our allies are nearby; it will not take long.”  

Red. All that fills his vision is red: bold, flowing red against the canvas that is the frost. The intricately-carved hilt sticks out of her abdomen, spreading the ghastly color into her clothes. The blood isn't anything new for Damian to see, but he has never seen it like this.  

The white sky and red.  

Her white fingers and red.  

The white shine of the blade and red.  

Heavy drops spill onto the snow, then crushed underneath her boot as she sways backwards.  

“Please take care . . . Master Damian.”  

Before he can tell his body to move, she has disappeared by the hand of gravity, falling until the fog covers up. Damian wonders where the scream he hears comes from until he realizes his throat is hoarse.  

***

Damian jolts awake, cold sweat slithering down the nape of his neck. It takes him a second to realize that he is in his bedroom in the Wayne manor, and the sun is yet to rise. He shivers even though he feels warm, as if the memory of the cold has followed him back to reality. Frustrated, he tugs hard at his hair as he tries to even out his breaths.  

He just dreamed of that again.  

Next Chapter →

[changingplumbob]

York Household: Chapter 9, Part 7

Deanna expresses her feelings while Joey tries to be supportive. Kelly does not try to be supportive.

The Yorks are Italian so if you see them using words that don't look like English it's Italian, or what google assures me is Italian. Caro/Cara: Dear Buongiorno: Good morning Piccolo: Little one Tesoro: Treasure Nonno: Grandfather Nonna: Grandmother Si: Yes Grazie: Thank you Per Favore: Please Buon Compleanno: Happy Birthday

Deanna moves inside forlornly, hardly looking where she’s going. She feels sadness and anger swirling inside her.

Joey: Come here sis

Deanna: Joey?

Joey: Pa thought I should stay. He’s gone to buy cheese

Deanna goes and throws her arms around her big brother, hugging him close. Thank the watcher for her family. The tears in her eyes flow freely now and she couldn't say how long she stood there sobbing into Joey's jacket. Eventually she manages to slow down the sobs to speak.

Deanna: I just got dumped *sadly* I didn’t see it coming

Joey: Come and sit, we can talk

Deanna: No. I need to block that… I need to block my ex. She’s left, she doesn’t get the luxury of seeing my life anymore

Joey: I mean… straight to block? I thought you loved her

Deanna: I do! I mean I did *sighs* it’s complicated Joey

Joey: Thank the watcher I don’t get romantic feelings

Deanna: I’m sorry, if that's you trying to be helpful I'd rather face it alone

Joey: I just wonder, if you loved her, why aren’t you fighting for her

Deanna: She thinks I loved what she was more than who she was

Joey: What does that mean

Deanna: Nevermind. She was wrong

After Kelly has stayed on the second floor patio long enough to see Paris fade into the distance he goes to join his siblings in waiting for dinner.

Kelly: Woah you look terrible

Deanna: Shut up goblin, I’m not in the mood

Kelly: I thought saying you’ve looked better was a compliment for all those other times you didn’t look like this

Deanna: It isn’t and you know that

Kelly: Hey Joey, are you coming to my birthday party tomorrow

Joey: Am I invited

Kelly: You’re my brother, of course you’re invited. I’m evil but family get a special pass

Deanna: You literally insult me daily

Kelly: Do I? Or do I prepare you for the harshness of the world

Deanna: Look, I just got dumped, I’m not in the mood for your mind games

Kelly: Good riddance. She was clearly a peasant

Deanna: Look, you may be too young to understand-

Kelly: I’m 13 tomorrow

Deanna: Whatever. Point is if you love someone it’s hard to lose them

Kelly: But… she… was… a PEASANT. Sooner you accept that the happier you’ll be

Joey: That kind of made sense

Deanna: *scoffs* Don’t encourage him Joey

The oven needed a quick scrub but Aaron manages to cook some excellent level Mac and Cheese.

Kelly: YES! De you should get dumped more so we get greasy food

Deanna: *sighs* Pass me a plate then troll

Joey: Home is where the good pasta is. Grazie pa

Aaron: You’re welcome

Deanna: Grazie pa *sadly moves food about*

Aaron: You’re welcome *long silence* Kelly?

Kelly: Si pa?

Aaron: Do you have something to say

Kelly: Si... Wombats poop squares

Aaron: Do they now

Kelly: Si

*phone noise*

Aaron: Joey, it’s still no phones at the table

Joey: But I’m running some tests on my mini game. It’s like blicblock, but forget everything you know about blicblock

Aaron: Do you think the main game will be ready for release soon

Joey: I hope so but I’m trying to grind at work so I’ve only got pockets of time. Plus Alfred and Rilian like to show me their toys. I want it polished before I release it, start strong

Before everyone is finished eating Calista gets home from her shift.

Calista: I do love mac and cheese

Deanna: Mama… Paris left

Calista: I’m so sorry cara (Aaron has already text her a heads up of the situation so she’s not caught off guard)

Deanna: And she accused me of not loving her. Can you believe that?

Calista: So she said “it’s not me it’s you”

Deanna: Not exactly. She kept going on about wanting to find herself and needing to go out into the world. I offered to keep in touch but… she didn’t want that. She didn’t want me

Kelly: She was a peasant *leaves table without being excused* I vote for the watcher to delete her

Deanna: *sadly* What am I meant to do now

Joey: Whatever you feel like. Have a day of mourning if you want. Eat ice cream and drink nectar and watch films until you cry. Then tomorrow, after a good night’s sleep, you dust yourself off and carry on. You understand robotics De, don’t let this mess up your study because I think you could be a pioneer one day

Deanna: You really think that?

Joey: Of course I do. And you have to listen to me, because I’m a genius

Deanna tucks into the last of her food with the most energy she’s had all meal while Calista mouths grazie to Joey.

When the table is free Kelly grabs out his trusty diary. There’s the normal entry start, who’s on his hitlist today and why. Then comes a more thoughtful paragraph wondering about teen life. Will it be what he expects? Will he be what he expects? Will people treat him differently? Can he still keep the evil mantle with more personality? At least Mantis is immortal and can never leave.

Deanna is lounging in her cottage with the comedy channel on but she's paying it no attention. She's scrolling through photos on her phone when a familiar sim bursts through her door.

Devin: De! Joey told me what happened! Come here

The two kiss on the cheek and hug. Even though Devin has already heard the story she lets Deanna tell it again to get it off her chest.

Devin: Oh my! Clearly we need to make some changes

Deanna: What do you mean

Devin: *gently* Cara you are not going to heal with photos of the two of you in your face

Deanna: But *sniffles* she’s in most of my friend photos

Devin: Come to your room, I’ll work my style magic on your walls

Devin: There. Now she’s not in your room. The friend photos with her are not where you’ll be trying to sleep

Deanna: Thanks Devin

Devin: Of course. Now sleep, tomorrow after classes we’re going shopping

Deanna: But I hate shopping

Devin: I know but I used my status as favourite to convince the watcher she needs to change your skintone to fit the rest of us, may as well get a style over. Nothing says I’m newly single like changing your hair

Previous ... Next

[egg-emperor]

New lore was dropped by Iizuka at a fan Q+A apparently. Interestingly, it's been revealed that Eggman is below the age of 50, that he never personally knew Gerald and Maria, his father was one of Gerald's two sons and that he is younger than Maria.

I find all of this fascinating.

You scared me LMFAO my heart stopped and blood ran cold for a sec but before I could go through all the stages of grief I was like hold on lemme see that source and found that isn't the case phew. If it was final that he was so young in his 40s I'd be devastated lol. Not just because I wouldn't want to believe it but also all the evidence suggests otherwise.

They considered putting him at 60 in the Sonic CD concept art, he's referred to as old and middle-aged, uses the Washi pronoun in JP, is associated with the Respect for the Aged Day in Japan where senior citizens are apparently 65+. Most recently we have the Egg Memo where Eggman specifies that he "never really knew" Maria, so he had to exist for at least some time when she was alive to feel the need to specify that.

Also, while a bit more speculative, it'd make sense if part of the reason he was so upset about how Gerald's plan to destroy the planet would've resulted in his death too is because he existed at the time even if he was very young, and Gerald would've known he had a grandson despite not meeting him and didn't consider or care for it to stop him. And that hit hard with him being his grandfather and idol he admired so much. I feel it'd kinda water down the impact and weight of it if it was like "He didn't consider that he could've potentially killed his grandson, even though I didn't exist yet." :P

But yeah it wouldn't make sense for him to be so young in his 40s, there's way too much emphasis on him being old and that would be way too young for it. Plus with the memo being solid canon on top of all the hints, it still doesn't make sense if you disregard the rest of the logic. So I was like no this can't be!!!

Then I saw the source to see that Iizuka apparently didn't actually say Eggman "yes, Eggman is 100% under 50" and I'm so relieved lol.

I just wanna break it down so I have something to link to people if this ever comes up in the future:

It was specifically the OP saying Eggman was literally "under 50", as if it was said to be 100% certain and confirmed final fact

But when they quote Iizuka directly, it turns out he apparently said: "His age hasn't been disclosed but he's probably under 50."

I knew they weren't gonna suddenly reveal his solid age now after all his time of it being unknown in all his bios, only heavily hinted at and implied with the examples listed above. If they're finally gonna go all out and finalize a specific age, it's definitely not gonna be at a Q&A.

Iizuka still saying it "is not disclosed" and the use of "probably" doesn't count as confirmation at all. He's just basing an estimate on the logic that if he didn't know Maria and Gerald then he might not have existed at the same time as them at all but all the evidence seems to show otherwise. Either way, it still "is not disclosed." So it's all just probable estimates.

So yeah at first my heart was like *glass shatter sfx* 💔 then I read the actual thread and I was like oh wait nevermind lol ❤️‍🩹 Here's the link to it btw

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

Anyway now that we've got that out of the way, let's talk about the other stuff.

It was always obvious that Eggman never knew Gerald personally. He never speaks of direct anecdotes or personal experiences. Hell, he doesn't even know about the ARK before SA2. So of course the same goes for Maria, that was clear before it was confirmed in the Egg Memo.

As for Maria being older than Eggman, I never decided on whether I thought so or not because there wasn't ever anything to actually suggest it. But sure, that can make sense. She can be older than him without it meaning that he didn't exist at any point while she was still alive.

But I'm still definitely under the impression that he did exist for at least some time when she was alive, even if he was very young. He had to be. He specifically emphasizes that he "never really knew" Maria in the Egg Memo. Why would he need to if he never even existed when she was alive? It would've been obvious.

So I feel it implies he didn't *really* know her because while he was alive at the same time even if just a little, he didn't meet her in person and only learned of her through how others talked of her.

Then him mentioning that she was "gone" immediately after is just him then jumping to the part after her death, where he started learning about her more because she became the big subject after her tragic death and then of course he became jealous.

This also adds up with Iizuka saying Eggman didn't learn all this information about Maria until after her death

Here's what I'm thinking. He existed the same time as her even if he was very young but he didn't meet her obviously because she was on the ARK all her life wondering what it was like on Earth and Eggman didn't even know about the ARK until SA2. Then she became the hot topic after her tragic death so Eggman got so somewhat "know" her through their word but still didn't "really" know her because they didn't literally meet. Makes sense!

And lastly, if it's true that he said Eggman's father is Gerald's son then I'm so happy about that, since it's always been my headcanon that he was the paternal grandfather! :D

So yeah this was really just Iizuka saying what me and others have been saying already as far as him not knowing Gerald and Maria personally. Then also him making an unconfirmed non solid estimate of his age with the "probably" but the games and Sonic Channel suggests he has to be 50 AT LEAST. Seems to be over it actually, since he had to be alive some time before the ARK raid/the same time as Maria, even if just for a little while.

[matcha-kisses]

IV

wordcount: 2.1k+

≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾

"Bai, your grandfather is looking for you. I can take you to him." Leang offered , interrupting Zuko and Bai from their conversation.

Bai looked up and noticed how the sky was turning orange and pink. Zuko and Bai spent most of the afternoon in the royal courtyard. Bai told Zuko how she thought the courtyard looked so pretty the night of Azula's party. So, he decided  to give her a closer look. Yes, he may have been trying to impress her, but what was he suppose to do? Their afternoon with filled with such fun activities like playing games, asking questions about each other, and feeding the turtle ducks. That was actually Bai's favorite part; they're so cute! So, it made her disappointed knowing her day with Zuko had come to an end. She knows she spent all day with Zuko, but it still didn't feel enough. She wishes she could've spent a little bit more time. But there's always tomorrow, right?

"Oh, okay." Bai pouted.

Zuko couldn't help but to have the same pout Bai did. He wishes she didn't have to leave. He loved having her around.

Bai rose to her feet and walked to Leang. But before she made it, she felt a certain young prince grab her sleeve.

"Bai!"

"Yes, prince Zuko?"

"Um... I will see you tomorrow. And... I had fun today."

Bai felt her heart swell and her tummy do a round of flips. It made her happy knowing that the feeling was mutual.

"As did I, prince Zuko." Bai said, bowing.

Bai felt Leang's hand softly grabbing her own. She knew it was time for her to leave. Besides, Papa was waiting for her. Bai waved one more goodbye to the prince before she was completely out of Zuko's sight.

As Leang and Bai walked to the front of the palace, Bai couldn't help but to smile. She had a wonderful time with Zuko. She thought about how sweet and understanding he was to her. Even if she would say something boring, he'd act like it was the most interesting thing he's ever listened to; He was totally focused in on everything she was saying.

≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾

"So, you've never traveled outside of the kingdom before?" Zuko asked.

The truth was Bai's family couldn't because Ming didn't feel safe leaving her home unless it was absolutely necessary. Both Yao and Ming feared that people would gaze upon Ming and know she is of Water Tribe decent. The Fire Nation heard the rumors of a waterbender escaping prison easily, and the couple didn't want to draw any unwanted attention. It would be awful for Ming and Yao if they knew the truth.

But of course, Bai makes up a random excuse. She couldn't tell Zuko this. Although, she believes she could. She knows he'd keep a secret; he says he's very good. But she didn't want to even go down that path.

"Nope! My Papa is very dedicated to work, and it's hard to travel with my Gramma."

"Oh... I'm sorry about that."

"It's okay," Bai cheered. "I like it here!"

"Well, maybe... nevermind."

"What?"

"No, it's stupid." Zuko said. How could he even mention it to Bai!

"No! Tell me."

"Well," Zuko started nervously. "Maybe one day we could go to Ember Island. It's a really fun place! My family used to go all the time!"

Bai couldn't believe what she was hearing. Zuko wanted to go somewhere special with her?"

"Really? You mean that?"

"Of course I do." Zuko said, smiling brightly.

≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾

"There's my happy girl!" Yao bellowed.

Bai snapped out of her thoughts and saw her Papa. She hopes he doesn't ask as to why she was smiling.

"Papa!" Bai cheered- running to her Papa and giving him a tight hug.

"I've missed you today button!"

"And I've missed you too! I can't wait to tell you about my day!"

"Well, it is a walk from here to the palace. I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to tell me." Yao said, grabbing Bai's hand and starting their journey home.

"And I won't miss a single detail!"

≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾

Zuko's POV:

"Oh, Zuzu!"

I rolled my eyes at Azula's voice. Of course, after having the perfect day, Azula has to come in and ruin it somehow.

Let's just get this over with. Fast.

"What do you want, Azula?" I griped.

"Wow, you haven't seen me all day, and this is how you talk to me? I thought you were better than that Zuzu."

"Stop calling me that!"

Azula smiled sinisterly. She loved that she was getting to me.

"Well, I was just seeing how was your day with Bai. I overheard some servants and found out you spent all day with her!" Azula sneered.

"Yeah? And what's the big deal." I wasn't going to listen to Azula talked down on Bai. She hasn't did any wrong.

"Well, the big deal is that you obviously have eyes for her! I've never seen you get like this before- not even around Mai."

I wanted to scream in Azula's face, and tell her how wrong she is. But I couldn't bring myself. I think I do like Bai... a lot. She's just all around perfect, and I didn't want someone like her to slip from my grip that easily.

"Aha! I knew it! You do have eyes for her! Which, it's understandable. She is a pretty like-able girl. Ty Lee and Mai like her. Well, not Mai, but I don't have to explain why-"

"Is this going somewhere? And why do you care?" I snapped. I wanted to get away from my sister as fast as I could.

"I'm just saying be careful."

"What are you talking about?" Why would I need to be careful I'm sure Bai isn't the type to hurt other people.

"Father wouldn't be happy if he finds out you like some servant girl. It wouldn't be a good look for the Fire Nation. Oh, I know! Maybe she could be the royal concubine! Father may have an easier time seeing you with a nasty girl than a poor one."

I felt my blood boiling and felt my hands heating up. But I won't snap. I won't give Azula that satisfaction.

"She isn't just some servant girl, and she's not some future concubine. Her name is Bai, and she happens to be one of the best people I've ever met! You're just jealous because you wish you were at least half the girl she is!" I screamed.

"I understand that, Zuzu! All I'm saying is father may not. I'm just looking out for you- no reason to get snippy, brother."

Azula whipped her head and walked in the opposite direction. I let out a sigh of relief. Finally, she was gone.

But I thought of what she was saying. It kept ringing in my mind- over and over again. As much as I hate to admit it, my father would probably have something to say about Bai. It's not that I care of her status because I don't! She's more than just a "servant." She's intelligent, kindhearted, funny, and not to mention beautiful. Which, I guess she was beautiful enough to be a concubine, but I don't want her to do that! I don't want her getting caught up in tag life! Don't even think like that Zuko. The point is that it shouldn't have to matter what Bai does.

But I know that all my father would think about the image of the Fire Nation.

I shook my those wretched thoughts from my head. I won't worry about that- not now at least. I'm just going to back in the joy I feel right now.

≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾

"Ming? Sweetheart?"

"Gramma?"

Bai and Yao has just made it home from work. Usually, Ming would stand at the door, and wait for Yao to come. So, it was a little strange not to see her.

"I wonder where she could be at, Papa."

Yao suddenly noticed a note on the table. He figured it was for Ming. It was probably a note saying she went out to the market or either she took a nighttime walk.

"Bai? Why don't you get a bath and change from those clothes? I'll look around the house to see where Gramma is." Yao offered.

"But, she's here, right?"

"Yes, I'm sure of it my sweet. And she might've just taken a walk. But she's here. She couldn't have gone that far."

Bai nodded her head in agreement and then ran to the bathroom, leaving Yao alone. He walked over to the table where the note sat. He noticed the note was too long for Ming to say she went out for a walk. His hands began to grow cold and sweaty.

It's fine. I'm sure everything is fine.

But everything wasn't fine. Nothing could've prepared Yao for what he saw on that note.

≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾

Bai slipped on her nightgown and took a deep breath of satisfaction. She always love the feeling of getting out of the bath and putting on her soft nightgown.

She walked back to the kitchen- expecting to see Gramma. Surely, she should be back by now, she thought to herself. But when she entered the kitchen, she didn't see Gramma. She only saw saw her Papa- who looked completely heartbroken.

"Papa?" Bai asked nervously.

Yao looked up at his granddaughter. He tried swallowing the lump he felt in his throat and hold back the tears that were begging to slip from his eyes. He wanted to stay strong for Bai. He didn't want her to see that he was breaking. But he couldn't do it; He wasn't strong enough.

Bai started to panic. She's never ever seen her papa get upset like this before. He was the family's rock... but he seems to be breaking.

"What's wrong, papa?"

While Bai was in the shower, Yao tried thinking of ways to break the news without crushing her. However, he couldn't come up with any. He knew that would hurt her no matter what he said. This isn't easy news to tell anyone- especially a child.

"Well... it looks like... it's just going to be us for a while." Yao croaked.

What is he talking about? There's 3 of us! Me, Gramma, and Papa! There can't be just two of us.

"I don't understand. Where's Gramma?"

Yao couldn't say anything. He could only hand Bai the note Ming had left. The note that crushed his soul:

Dear Yao,

I'm so sorry, but I can't do this anymore. It's nothing to do with you or Bai. You are my world and I love you both very much. But I can't live in a here anymore.

I've always felt a longing to be reunited with my people, but I loved you too much. I put our family first and tried thinking what was best for Bai. However, these last few years of war has truly wore me down. I hear the stories you tell me of how Fire Nation soldiers come in and wipe out towns that are full of innocent people. And the worst part is that they have no good reason.

I've been very good and suppressing my feelings and have tried my best at doing so. But I couldn't stand any longer when I found out Bai was getting involved. That's not a path I want to see her go down, but I wasn't going to stop her.

But I couldn't just sit by any longer. So, I have returned back to the South Pole where I hope I can find the internal peace I'm searching for. Please understand I love you and Bai so much. And please tell her to never stop waterbending; it's how I feel connected with her, and how I hope she would feel connected with me.

Your loving wife,

Ming

Bai couldn't say anything. She didn't even feel nothing. The only thing she felt was the tears welling up in her small eyes. She wrapped her small arms around Yao's neck. He pulled his sweet close and held her in his large arms. Bai started sobbing into his neck and couldn't stop the tears from rolling.

"I know. I know." Yao softly spoke.

They didn't say anything for a long time; Yao and Bai just sat in silence, feeling a great amount of lost and sorrow.

And the worst part was, it could never be fixed.

≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾

A/N: I know this chapter was shorter than normal. It’ll go back to being longer, but given how this one was written, it had to be cut a bit shorter.

I really hope you guys are enjoying this story so far! If you’d like to read more of it, it is also available on my Wattpad: matcha_kisses

I am also planning on making an ao3 account, and putting this there as well!

[jw-horror-stories]

Oh, boy, let me think of some good stories. I was fortunate enough that my family never tried to pressure baptism on me (My grandfather did, but only once). I never got baptized because of this.

I also lucked out in that I don't have any creepy old man stories, or anything else of that nature.

I DO have trauma from they way they use the world 'homosexual'.

Once, when my sister was like, 5? She made a board game all by herself, using paper. It was called 'Run Away from the Demons and Go to Jesus.' There were some awesome stick figure demons. Jeezy Boy, however, did not make it into the picture.

My parents had a good sense of humor about it, though.

I vividly remember reading a Watchtower article discussing a man who had a 'homosexual lifestyle' before coming into 'the truth'. He prayed to God and it went away tho!!! Prommy!!!!

(I feel so bad for him and I hope he realizes he doesn't have to do that.)

If I get anymore crazy stories, I'll let you know (I'm a minor and am stilled being brought every Sunday).

As soon as I sent that last ask I remembered a story! I had to listen to a talk given by a brother who clearly did NOT research evolution outside of the JW publications. He said (all in his talk about EVOLUTION): - There is NO evidence for evolution. None. Not even a bit. Not a single piece. Nada. - The sun will never run out of (quote) "fuel". (I don't remember how this tied in at all. Chances are it didn't.) - If bees died there would NO POLLINATORS. AT ALL. No more bees; no more anything!!!! (He literally said that without bees no flowers would ever be pollinated. Man has not seen a butterfly. Tragic.) - AI stands for AUTOMATED INFORMATION. (He did mean actual AI, he used this talking point as a 'gotchya' because humans cannot come close to creating a brain. Therefore: God.) - Evolution is being taught EXACTLY THE SAME as it was 60 years ago. (Tell me you've never looked into it without telling me you've never look into it.) The only difference is when HE was a kid it was a THEORY but now it's taught as a FACT. (No???) - Things NEVER crash in space because GOD is guiding them! (???? Man said this DURING a meteor shower btw) - Ants are NOT STRONG. (What. What are you talking about.) In the same line as the previous note he DID say elephants are strong. This is evidence of god's POWER. (I nearly had to leave the room. Elephants are evidence of god's power but ANTS are not???) This was all in one 45 minute talk. He bounced from point to point so much that it was too hard to follow and he just said straight-up untrue things half the time. If it wasn't so infuriating, it would have been funny.

Hoo boi, lots to unpack here, so let me just get everything done in one ultimate post.

The first part about the homosexuality, all I can say is that more likely than not the article you mentioned was most likely fictitious, or at least greatly embellished (probably involved a slightly girly man, or a slightly boyish woman, all that GNC shit they don't like).

And now, that 45 minute indoctrination session talk you heard.

There is NO evidence for evolution - yeah we were always at war with Eurasia. Okay, not quite that level of Orwell, but it's still bad. And also laughably stupid.

The sun will never run out of (quote) "fuel". - all part of a large over-arching narrative of "god has god powers so sun is forever and so is humans"

If bees died there would NO POLLINATORS - nevermind the butterflies for a moment, if such a cataclysmic mass extinction of bees did happen, flowers that do not need pollination would overtake the gene pool, and oh look, evolution. Those that survive the new conditions would take over. Funny that.

AI stands for AUTOMATED INFORMATION - I keep reading AI as "Accuracy International". Hey, if he can put in irrelevant nonsense then so can I. Only difference is I'm not pulling any bullshit here. Look them up, pretty cool, but autistic infodumping will have to wait.

Evolution is being taught EXACTLY THE SAME as it was 60 years ago - You can tell roughly how old this speaker was. Hey gramps, your information is pretty outdated, have you finally switched over to Windows 98 yet?

Things NEVER crash in space because GOD is guiding them! - Oh okay, so his knowledge of magnetic fields would imply that he's yet to discover the automobile. Or that it costs more than $5 a day for a good living wage. Does he even know about the Printing Press?

Ants are NOT STRONG - ok boomer

ngl it was actually kinda fun to respond to those talking points, just because of how utterly absurd it all is. I find that laughing at it rather than trying to understand the reasoning is ultimately better for one's mental health.

-Mod Degurechaff, needs more shit to respond to

[davekat-sucks]

actually, if that very polite and not at all deranged karen anon thinks bro's fights with dave were abuse, do they also think dirk/brobot's battles with jake were abusive too or nah because dirkjake are soulmates4evur? and that one was even worse because jake said brobot touched him inappropiately and made him uncomfortable, so add sexual harassment to the list too. oh wait, jake is a man and toxic yaoiz, so nevermind his feelings don't matter, just like jade somehow raising herself since she was a toddler and having to do taxidermy with her dead grandfather's corpse doesn't either. like nuDave said, his friends were just whiny bitches, it's all about that strider self-insert manpain.

i bet baby dirk, who ALSO raised himself and did acrobatic pirouettes off of a building, orchestrated that too since birth with cal. evil son of a bitch. no apple juice in his baby bottle for a month.

and now that i think about it, how come john crocker/poppop didn't transition if june was always meant to be?... nevermind, that is also probably baby jane's fault too for killing him too early at the tender age of 86. add murderer, fascist AND transphobic to HER list of crimes.

omg i cant take it anymore! i dont want my very realistic, gritty, tonally mature and emotionally fulfilling comic be ruined by those beasts! someone stop these bigoted abusive emotionally manipulative babies please! I WARNED YOU ABOUT THOSE BABIES BRO! I TOLD YOU DAWG!

They probably don't think Dirk's brobot on Jake is abusive. Jane may have gone worse with the sexual harassment under the influence of the Juju and the tiaratop when mind controlled by HIC (before actually going on rape in Epilogues), Dirk was able to do it in a more indirect way with his robot and Auto Responder-HAL. Considering what we don't know much about how Alpha Bro Dave raised Dirk, it can be assumed Bro Dave might have been more neglectful of Dirk's feelings before he chose to go fight ICP and dying. Leaving Dirk left alone for himself from then on. The Bro Dave could be like the one we know, thinking of irony and whatnot. So add that personality in an adult form and you got a dude who can't be honest with himself and thinks bad shit is good and any genuine good stuff is bad. Yes, Bro Dave would try to do a good thing in fighting ICP so that HIC won't fully takeover, but it doesn't erase the fact he CHOSE to leave Dirk alone. It's not like Grandpa English, Grandma Harley, or Poppop John Egbert, where they died in accidents. He and Alpha Mom Rose Lalonde, CHOSE to leave their kids behind before the game started. Jane was just lucky to have Dad Crocker around. Poppop's death likely mirrors to Nanna's in that a meteor hit him when Jane and the other kids were sent from it, with Dad Crocker raising her as his daughter. Guess the fandom will think Jane is transphobic for accidentally killing him. But considering it was JOHN himself who sent the kids on the meteor in the first place to make it happen, does that mean he is killing himself in a sort of sense? That's not a good implication at all. Dirk and Dave are awful people, yet nobody calls them out on it.

[hyocherie]

shinichirou created a groupchat.

special chapter for "the scariest future" edited version

(suggestive, cursing, I don't know where this is going)

shinichirou made a group chat

shinichirou added three people

shinichirou set nicknames for three members

shinichirou named the group chat "GAY BD 🤸♀️💃🥺"TAKEOMI: WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT GDM NAME

SHINICHIROU: HELLO GAY PPL THAT I RECRUITED 🤩❤

WAKASA: i am going to kill who tf made this gc.

SHINICHIROU: HI WAKA-CHAN 🥰

WAKASA: hi shin-chan...

BENKEI: thats fruity...

WAKASA: it's not, fuck off caius-wannabe

TAKEOMI: yk caius???? didn't know u enjoy bl...explicit bl...

SHINICHIROU: guys, what's bl?

BENKEI: who is cauis and why do i look like him 😔

WAKASA: SHIN-CHAN HOW TF DO U NOT KNOW BL?? YOU'RE GAY.

SHINICHIROU: correction — im bi :)

TAKEOMI: stop with that full stop its terrifying...AND SHIN I THOUGHT U KNEW ????

BENKEI: OMG THE USE OF THE "SPACE" TAKEOMI R U ON STANTWT ?????

TAKEOMI: OMG HOW DO U KNOW ???? WHATS UR @ LETS BE MOOTS

SHINICHIROU: guys what's stantwt

WAKASA: SHIN-CHAN CHECK UR FUCKING DMS

SHINICHIROU: NO NEED TO CURSE WAKA-CHAN 🥺 but k wait

BENKEI: I SENT MY @ ON DM, FB

TAKEOMI: GOT IT GOT IT THE NAMJOON PFP IS MINE. but umaushi what did u send to shin

WAKASA: its imaushi not umaushi

TAKEOMI: do i give a fuck? No, ok. but what did u send shin ?

WAKASA: um why do u care...?

TAKEOMI: bc he's my friend??? and I'm curious????

SHINICHIROU: wakasa why is everything dark and why is there a lightsaber in the middle of the pic

BENKEI: IMAUSHI YOU DID NOT

WAKASA: did what

TAKEOMI: SANO SHINICHIRO WHAT TF DID HE SEND YOU????

SHINICHIROU: ill send it thru dm, idk what this is...

TAKEOMI: k

....

BENKEI: why did it suddenly become silent...

TAKEOMI: UMAUSHI WAKASHA

WAKASA: it's imaushi wakasa, can't u read???

TAKEOMI: OUT OF ALL THE PICS U COULDVE SEND, WHY THAT????

WAKASA: bc that's bl???? tf

TAKEOMI: THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN

WAKASA: then i don't get what you mean

TAKEOMI: yk-nevermind. shin...

SHINICHIROU: hm?

TAKEOMI: forget what he sent, k?

SHINICHIROU: um...sure?

WAKASA: but um...shin-chan...👉👈

BENKEI: why the emojis

TAKEOMI: suspicious.

SHINICHIROU: yes, waka-chan?

WAKASA: can i um...

BENKEI: wgat

TAKEOMI: what 🤨

WAKASA: are you shin-chan 🙄

TAKEOMI: we're answering for him for his safety 😃

BENKEI: what omi said 😅

SHINICHIROU is typing...

TAKEOMI: don't.you.dare.shinichirou.

SHINICHIROU stopped typing.

TAKEOMI: better. so what, imaushi?

WAKASA: i was askin' if i and shin-chan could hang out

BENKEI: in bed

TAKEOMI: GASP 😱

TAKEOMI: I SAY NO 💢💢

WAKASA: WTF NO, I MEAN OUTSIDE

BENKEI: semi-public sex

TAKEOMI: I DON'T ALLOW IT. I WILL KEEP SHIN SAFE OR ELSE HE'LL DIE AT THE HANDS OF HIS MOTHER AND GRANDFATHER

SHINICHIROU: sure, waka-chan 😊

BENKEI: IN BED!?!?

TAKEOMI: I DECLINE

WAKASA: SHUT TF UP NOT IN BED

SHINICHIROU: aww i was expecting in bed 😔

WAKASA: if you want ig... ///

TAKEOMI: nah i'm out

TAKEOMI is offlineBENKEI: have fun!

BENKEI is offlineWAKASA: ...

WAKASA: so...

SHINICHIROU: can you open the door? i've been waiting here for a while now...

WAKASA: YOU WHAT

day two:

GAY BD 🤸♀️💃🥺

2:34 AM

TAKEOMI is online

TAKEOMI: i still hate the gdm name

BENKEI is online

BENKEI: it hates you too

TAKEOMI: i hate you

BENKEI: i feel the same for you, akashi

WAKASA is online

WAKASA: enemies to lovers 🤭

TAKEOMI: imaushi it's past your bedtime, go to sleep

WAKASA: i'm not a child

BENKEI: technically you are, you are one year younger than all of us

WAKASA: we're the same age, arashi, you just look 10,000 years older than me

TAKEOMI: ok imaushi i like you now don't sleep

BENKEI: you're going to gang up on me i know it

TAKEOMI: oh we will 😈

WAKASA: hehehe

BENKEI: no pls

BENKEI: @shinichirou

SHINICHIROU is online

SHINICHIROU: i have been summoned

WAKASA: hi loml

SHINICHIROU: hi bb

TAKEOMI: BB?!

BENKEI: BABY?!

benkei in his mind: good thing they're not gonna gang up on me anymore hehe

SHINICHIROU: what's wrong with calling him baby?

TAKEOMI: E-HEM, A LOT?!?!?!

BENKEI: are you two a thing?

TAKEOMI: WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT????

BENKEI: told ya it was sex

TAKEOMI: ARASHI KEIZO SHUT UP

BENKEI: sorry baby

TAKEOMI: it's alright

WAKASA: AND YOU TWO CALL EACH OTHER BABY?!

WAKASA: AND THEN ITS SEX WHEN I AND SHIN-CHAN CALL EACH OTHER BABY?!

SHINICHIROU: oh congrats benkei and omi!

BENKEI: thanks shin!

TAKEOMI: ITS BECAUSE YOU HAD SEX LAST NIGHT?!

WAKASA: WE DID NOT

SHINICHIROU: waka-chan why are you denying it thou :(

TAKEOMI: DENY WHAT

BENKEI: omg you really did it 😱😱

TAKEOMI: who was top

WAKASA: i was

SHINICHIROU: waka-chan stop lying , yk it was me

TAKEOMI: 😱😱😱😱😱

TAKEOMI: SHIN IS A TOP?! HOW SHOCKING 😱😱

BENKEI: omi you're so dramatic it's funny 😭😭

TAKEOMI: i'm just me bestie 💅

WAKASA: HUH YOU WERE TOP?!

SHINICHIROU: waka-chan we just finished

SHINICHIROU: i still don't understand why we're texting if you're sitting on my lap

TAKEOMI: YOU ARE WHAT

BENKEI: how about let's all go to sleep, it's 3 in the morning

BENKEI: correction, almost three in the morning

TAKEOMI: YOU JUST FINISHED?! OUR LAST TEXT WAS 7 PM

WAKASA: OUR LAST TEXT WAS SEVEN?!

WAKASA: shin-chan stop giving me hickeys you've given me too much

TAKEOMI:...

BENKEI:...

WAKASA: oh

WAKASA: did i just text that?

WAKASA: sorry i was gonna say it out loud to him but i texted it

WAKASA is offline

SHINICHIROU is offline

TAKEOMI: um ok

BENKEI: rip waka's ass

the next day...actually just 5 hours later

(i'm too lazy to format)

GAY BD 🤸♀️💃🥺

7:09 am

TAKEOMI is online

TAKEOMI: good morning

SHINICHIROU is online

SHINICHIROU: very unusual of you to say good morning on your own hehe

SHINICHIROU: but good morning!

TAKEOMI: go back offline you ruined my mood

SHINICHIROU: aw :(

WAKASA is online

TAKEOMI: oh here comes your boyfriend

WAKASA: i only went online because shin-chan went online

BENKEI is online

BENKEI: good morning!

BENKEI: and why are you awake so early in the morning

BENKEI: i just woke up because my notifs were already blasting like crazy

TAKEOMI: we only just had less than 10 texts here, how did your phone explode with notifs

BENKEI: you were spamming me

TAKEOMI: oh yeah

WAKASA: only intellects wake up this early in the morning

WAKASA: and i admit

WAKASA: i am not an intellect

TAKEOMI: you were never human

WAKASA: if my legs weren't sore, i probably sprinted through your window already and killed you

SHINICHIROU: baby don't be like that

WAKASA: sorry

BENKEI: wait your legs are what

WAKASA: sore

WAKASA: like very sore

TAKEOMI: i thought you were top 🤨

WAKASA: i take that back, i have been destined to be shin-chan's submissive —

BENKEI: omega

WAKASA: ...

WAKASA: can't deny that

SHINICHIROU:i took an omegaverse test though

BENKEI: i wonder what it said

TAKEOMI: what did it say

SHINICHIROU: i'm an alpha based on my traits 🤩

WAKASA: ... oh

WAKASA: shin-chan i can be your breeding bitch

TAKEOMI: can somebody mute imaushi

TAKEOMI: i beg you, please

WAKASA: no one can stop me

BENKEI: wait, why are waka and shin texting if they're beside each other

SHINICHIROU: oh no i'm making breakfast

WAKASA: my apartment smells like pancakes, very yummy

BENKEI: please send some :(

SHINICHIROU: on it!

SHINICHIROU: or do you wanna have breakfast together? i think i made too much batter

WAKASA: NO

TAKEOMI: huh

BENKEI: why :(

WAKASA: i want shin-chan for me and for me only

WAKASA: this is our first morning together 🤪

TAKEOMI: nah i'm already on my way (vc)

BENKEI: i'm out of the house

WAKASA: OH COME ON

SHINICHIROU: the more the merrier uwu

SHINICHIROU: waka-chan, we can have our mornings together in the next few days, ok?

WAKASA:... sure

SHINICHIROU: i can feel you sulking from here, i'll give you a kiss

WAKASA: come here now, i need it

SHINICHIROU: ok, ok

GAY BD 🤸♀️💃🥺

8:45 pm

TAKEOMI is online

SHINICHIROU IS ONLINE

SHINICHIROU: i sense something bad

WAKASA is online

BENKEI is online

BENKEI: takeomi no

TAKEOMI changed the nicknames of all members

gay: i wonder what mine is...

gay: akashi takeomi i'm not gay

caius: yes you are

caius: oh

caius: i still don't know who caius is 😔

the only sane one: shin type

alpha: hello

alpha: i'm telling your mom

alpha: oh wait

alpha: you don't have one

the only sane one: now that's just plain rude

caius: shin slay

gay: OUT OF ALL THE NAMES YOU COULD'VE GIVEN ME

the only sane one changed gay's name

omega: thank you

omega: i take that back

the only sane one: hey benkei

caius: yes :3

the only sane one: the big one's caius

caius: NAUR WHY DO I SEE THE RESEMBLANCE 😭😭😭

the only sane one: koichi looks like shin omg

omega: NO SHIN-CHAN'S MINE

alpha: what were they about to do

the only sane one: obviously....

omega: they had sex the first time they met

the only sane one: damn i hate this manga. traumatizing

omega: for once i agree with you

alpha changed the only sane's one name

koichi: now what did you do

koichi: YOU DID NOT

koichi: SANO SHINICHIROU CHANGE IT

koichi: or i will

alpha banned koichi from changing the nicknames

caius: oh that was a thing?

koichi: HOW DARE YOU

omega: omg shin-chan i love you

omega: can you also like

omega: change the rest back to normal

alpha: i love you too my love

alpha: but no i like these names

omega: oh come on

caius: it's funny how we all have partners

omega: yeah, now everybody knows i'm shin-chan's bride

caius: the titan's bride and the alpha's bride

caius: hilarious 🤣

koichi: I TOLD YOUR MOM

koichi: and...

koichi: she just laughed at me

alpha: told ya

omega: anyways, shin-chan, round 2?

alpha: bet

alpha is offline

omega is offline

caius: rip waka's ass part 2

koichi: part 100 i can say

caius: true

caius: ...

caius: fine last chat

[namethat-i-oughttohavetoldyou]

Enlightening Churn of Events

@suppenzeit​, woo-woo-welcome to the Cats fandom. Here is a Skimblestrap drabble for you! It was a challenge to write for Cats 2019 bc I’d never thought I would ever write for it at all, but it was an interesting challenge, and I am quite happy with the end result. Enjoy! ♥ All my love to those who read/like/reblog!

“You know, I would have appreciated if-”

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

“Ahem. What I meant to s-”

WOOOO-WOO!

“What I am trying to express is-”

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Munkustrap sighed and gave up.

Skimbleshanks pulled his head back from where he had stuck it out of the narrow window, whiskers endearingly windswept. “What was that, dear?”

“Nothing, don’t worry.” It truly hadn’t been that important; Munkustrap was just feeling like nagging a little. A terrible habit, but that is what one got when spending too much time in Cassandra’s general vicinity.

With the cla-clap sound of steel-lined shoes hitting wooden floor, Skimbleshanks jumped off the covered radiator turned window sill and joined him on the side table, which was tastefully decorated with a cotton table cover.

“It should stop raining soon, then we can go back to the balcony,” Skimble said confidently, trying to smooth down his wild fur with his paws.

Munkustrap took pity on him and helped, knowing just too well how crabby he became when his standards of neatness weren’t met.

“Shouldn’t we wait a little longer still? The floor might be slippery.”

“Hm, perhaps. But what do we have claws for? I’ll make sure to rescue you, should you slip.”

“That’s a comfort,” Munkustrap snorted, half sarcastically, half lovingly.

“I know something else that will comfort you,” Skimble said without missing a beat, twirling his whiskers in a slender paw.

“Oh?”

“Why of course, you see, there is-”

WOOOOOOOO-WOOOO!

“Ah, that is, we have a-”

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

“...”

“You were saying?”

“Nevermind. Just follow me and I’ll show you.”

Munkustrap followed dutifully, out of the door and down the corridor. Every human they came across called a greeting of some sort, and the guard even saluted.

Skimbleshanks’ long tail was lifted high and proud all the way, while Munkustrap could only gape and marvel, doing his best to not stumble over his own paws in the meantime. Skimble’s good reputation had to be preserved, after all, and a cat with his head in the clouds following him along like a kitten behind a feather toy was certainly not the right method.

He couldn’t muse any further, because at that moment a child shot out of a compartment and stepped on his tail.

Munkustrap bit on his tongue to suppress his scream and his instinct to lash out along with it, hissing through his teeth instead.

Stomping over, Skimbleshanks gave a stern yowl when the little boy didn’t seem to get the message.

“Look mommy, a kitty!” the child crowed with delight, bouncing and grounding his heel into the tip of Munkustrap’s tail.

Munkustrap’s eyes crossed. He would rather avoid being the cause of a scratched ankle, but this was really cutting it a little close.

“That’s the cat of the railway train,” a man who was probably the boy’s grandfather explained, and it sounded like quite the title from his mouth. “I think it would be best if you stepped off his friend’s tail, li’l one.”

“Oh,” the boy said, and did so.

Munkustrap fled behind Skimble, burying his face in his flank so the humans wouldn’t see his continued hissing.

“Sorry,” the boy added and turned back to his grandfather, already forgetting why he had left the compartment in the first place. “Is the cat a policeman, grandpa Erich?”

“Are you alright?” Skimble asked worriedly, eyeing Munkustrap’s mistreated tail.

“I’ll survive,” Munkustrap grumbled. “How do you stand it? I couldn’t exist in harmony with so many humans in one place for days on end.”

“A good place to start is always keeping your tail up,” Skimbleshanks replied mildly, his purr bubbling up like an afterthought, quiet and almost impatient-sounding, very unlike it’s owner, but still very fitting.

“That makes sense, I suppose,” Munkustrap said weakly, experimentally moving his tail. It was still in one piece, but the tip was definitely bruised. Oh well. He’d certainly had worse.

“Come now, I know a good cure against all ailments.”

Further down the corridor they went, tails held conveniently high and proud, reciprocating greetings with regal nods and small chirps.

After they had kept that up for a decent amount of time, they reached a door that didn’t look very different from all the other doors they had passed, but Munkustrap could tell from Skimbleshanks’ twitching tail that this door was special. As soon as it was opened to them, he found out why.

The smell of tea in the room was so strong that he had to paw at his nose a few times to clear it. So this was the origin of the mysterious note in Skimbleshanks’ unique scent; he must spend a lot of time in this room.

A bagman sat on the narrow bench next to the tiny stove and read a book that was missing its cover. Munkustrap was sure that it was at least as old as the bagman himself, if not older. He knew how to differentiate old books from those that were just neglected; living close to a junkyard provided one with insider knowledge like that.

“Skimbleshanks,” the bagman greeted them cheerily, “and… your girlfriend?”

“Mreaow,” Munkustrap commented.

“Boyfriend. My bad.”

“Mrrw.”

“Would you like a cuppa? I just put on some water.”

Skimbleshanks meowed and jumped up on the bench, gesticulating for Munkustrap to follow.

Munkustrap shrugged and followed, even though there was no more room on the bench, and he landed awkwardly halfway on Skimble’s back.

“Now now, no need to hurry.”

“Mrrap!”

“Of course, of course. Does your friend want some lemon in his tea?”

Munkustrap shook his head. Skimbleshanks fell off the bench.

“Alright.” The bagman turned to get them cups and saucers, then he did a double take. Did the cat just shake his head at his question?

“Lemon?” he asked again, one eyebrow lifting curiously.

Munkustrap, about to shake his head again, caught himself in the last second and yawned, lifting a paw to wash his face.

“No lemon,” the bagman said thoughtfully, scratched the back of his head and turned back to the cupboard.

“They should build in a second bench, don’t you think?” Skimbleshanks asked Munkustrap from where he was examining a vacated mouse hole.

“I think we’re just too long to sit on it together,” Munkustrap answered, nonchalantly washing his ears.

“Maybe so. We’ll take a pillow next time.”

A smile bloomed on Munkustrap’s face before Skimble had even ended his sentence. “Next time?”

“Certainly. Remind me later to shove a can into this hidey hole, would you, dear?”

“Of course.” The smile stayed.

“Here you are, gentlemen.” The bagman set the cups on the floor; there was no room for a table inside the room.

The two tomcats didn’t mind, the stove was radiating enough warmth to make the wooden floor a comfortable place to be.

They sipped their tea while the bagman returned to his book.

“You ought to bring Tugger the next time, so he can bring some milk from his bar,” Munkustrap giggled, nudging Skimble with a back paw.

Skimbleshanks snorted with laughter. “He’d get ill before we’d leave the station, poor thing. Terribly motion sick as he is. Remember when he practised chaînés with me and-”

“Oh, I remember.”

They both laughed into their teacups.

“Besides, bringing milk is not a good idea at all. I am of the belief that one of the guards is cursed.”

“Oh? Do tell.”

Skimbleshanks lifted his face from his cup so he wouldn’t dip his whiskers into the hot beverage while he talked. Munkustrap used the opportunity to put a hand on his chin and gently lift it to brush a few droplets of tea from his fur.

As expected, it made Skimble fumble with his words a little, only coming back to himself at Munkustrap’s cheek-splitting grin.

“Ahem. Don’t you know it’s rude to fluster old toms such as myself when they’re in the middle of a story?”

“You are scarcely old.”

“And I am also not in the middle of story, that’s how flustered I am. Hush now.”

Munkustrap smiled.

“Rude. Anyhow, I don’t know how he does it, but as soon as he is in the vicinity, all milk curdles on the spot. I can’t even count the amount of times I was looking forward to drinking some tea with milk, just to discover very unappetizing clumps in my cup.”

Munkustrap grimaced. “Oh my.”

“I don’t think it would help poor Tugger’s delicate stomach either if his milk turned sour the second he entered this room.”

Another shared fit of laughter followed, the bagman raising an eyebrow behind his threadbare book at the noises.

“At least it doesn’t happen to the lemon,” Skimbleshanks sighed after a while, wiping tears from his eyes. “Poor unfortunate fruits. The only comfort that we have left on here, other than scotch, of course.”

“That’s one reason why I can’t stand buttermilk,” Munkustrap said, flanks still heaving with laughter, “it tastes too much like someone murdered a lemon in cold blood. Or rather in cold milk, if you so will. Really, the humans have come up with great things, but I do ask myself sometimes – Skimble?”

Skimble looked as if he had seen a ghost. “Cold milk,” he said tonelessly.

Munkustrap cocked his head.

Skimble’s eyes widened, and he buried his head in his paws. “Cold milk and fresh lemon.”

“And tea,” Munkustrap added helpfully, completely clueless as to what was bothering his partner so.

“And tea,” Skimble groaned, shaking his head. “You just discovered the root of our curse, dear. Thank you.”

“Oh. Er. You’re welcome, my heart.”

Skimbleshanks shook his head again. “Humans, I tell you. My grandmother is surely rotating in her tomb that it’s making the ground shake.”

When he looked up, Munkustrap looked incredibly confused. Outside, the sunlight made its way through the clouds, bathing them in its warm light and making Munkustrap’s silver fur gleam.

“Let us go back to the balcony,” Skimbleshanks said, a grin on his face and a spring in his step, eyes promising an explanation as soon as they were away from watchful eyes.

He lifted his long brown tail to bid the bagman goodbye and lead Munkustrap back down the corridor, side by side, tails intertwined, already deep in an explanation as to how an oblivious guard kept accidentally making buttermilk in the Midnight Mail’s teacups.

Poor cats. Buttermilk is nasty. I made the little boy’s grandpa with one line of screen time a German immigrant, because why not. Also I am aware that I have been very vague and/or weird about if they are actual cats here or not, because Skimble wears his tap-shoes, so just assume that they look like actual cats until I say that they don’t XD This story is too short for this kind of world building. I hope you enjoyed, and thank you for reading! ♥♥♥

[i-used-to-wear-the-fedora]

OFMD Arranged Marriage AU, Oh Captain, My Captain

"Izzy? Holy shit. How the fuck did you get here?" Edward got up to face his first mate. Izzy was the same as ever, still wearing his clothes from the day he surrended to the British. As most times when Edward saw him, a deep scowl was etched into Izzy's face as he glared at Edward.

"Not all of us were so eager to give up." He sneered. "The fuck happened to you?"

"Oh, you mean the beard? They-"

"Not that you fucking twat. What you were doing back there." Izzy poked an accusatory finger into Ed's chest. "I was watching you. You let that rich boy fop kiss you. Are you insane? And what are you even wearing?"

"First of all, I kissed him. His name is Stede."

"What?"

"Stede. Technically I'm engaged to him." Izzy stared at him incredulously before shaking his head.

"You know what, nevermind. None of that's important." Izzy grabbed Ed by the shoulders to make him duck down or of view from a man strolling through the gardens. "We came here to get you out of this place."

"Get me out? Izzy, I don't know if you remembered, but I surrendered. Signed an Act of Grace and everything."

"You're Blackbeard. You don't fucking care about that shit. Now stop fucking around so we can get out before anyone notices us." He tried to pull Edward along but the man shoved Izzy away. His former first mate stared up at Edward surprised.

"I'm not leaving."

"Not leaving? You have to be joking."

"No. Iz, man you don't get it." Edward took Izzy's hands much to the smaller man's confusion. "This place is amazing. There's food all the time and fancy clothes that actually fit...and then there's Stede. The dude's a fucking maniac but he's something else. I think I like him."

"Like? Captain, you can't be serious. Like that blonde little ponce? You buggering him or something?"

"It's more than that! He's special." Izzy blinked before he shook his head.

"You've lost it. All this posh bullshit going to your head-you've only known him for what? Three days?" The first mate took his arms back. "We're going back to the ship and you're going to get all that nonsense out of your head."

"Izzy, I'm sorry man but it's over. I'm not going to leave." Edward turned around and was surprised to see two of his crewmates waiting. "Ivan? Fang? What's going on?"

"Brought em along in case we needed the help. Clearly we need them more than I thought." Izzy watched as the confusion further knit itself into Edward's features. "This is for your own good captain."

~~

Stede had returned to the party, hiding himself away in a corner away from all the other guests as he waited for Ed to return. Craning his neck occasionally to try and check the crowd but he didn't see the brown eyes he'd come to know amongst the aristocrats and other guests his father deemed important enough to invite. It had been a few seconds. Then minutes. Then an hour.

The whole time Stede stared at the giant grandfather clock on the opposite side of the room as he waited for his fiance. Ed was still nowhere to be seen as Stede tapped his foot anxiously.

"Stede." The blonde man practically jumped at his father's voice. "Where the fuck is he?" Stede stumbled for words, trying to avoid his father's glare. "We can't very well start without both of you present."

"I ugh, I'm sure he'll back soon. Said he just had to step out for air. That's all." Stede was aware of laughter from a nearby group. Turning to see Nigel talking to a few others, having clearly been eavesdropping on them.

"Or maybe he just wanted to get away from you. Imagine, even a pirate not wanting you."

Stede bit his tongue. Nigel was wrong and Ed would be back any minute now...

[sassyandclassy94]

Bones & All Review

I hated Bones & All and I do not recommend it at all. Yeah the book itself was weird and disturbing but at least it kept me intrigued. The movie did not and Timothèe is the only reason I sat through it and finished it.

One thing I liked about the book was Lee and Kayla’s relationship. The movie: totally ruined. There was also a whole lot more swearing than there was in the book🙄 Strike 1.

Her parents??? It was her mom who walked out on her (and who could blame her? Maren is a little monster) when Maren turned 16 (yes, 16, NOT 18 like this dumb movie said it was). And her dad was the one in the loonie bin. And he wasn’t so drugged out of his mind that he couldn’t talk. Stupid. Strike 2.

Lee only targeted scum of the earth while Maren only targeted boys she developed feelings for. But nope, good ol Luca puka had to go and mess with that too! Oh and the kissing🤦🏻‍♀️ Lee and Maren only kissed ONCE in the whole book and it was in the end. Whereas in the movie, they’re always eating each other’s faces?! Strike 3. Also, where was the college girl that Lee took care of after treating Maren like dirt?! Was that too hetero for you, Hollywood? Too bad because that was a major turning point in the book. And what about Sully being her grandfather?! Oh wait! They did away with her dad’s storyline so they had to can that🙄 Stupid. And what was with that pedo moment?! Oh wait!! Nevermind… pedophila is Hollywood’s little darling. My bad!

The movie sucked and I give it a 1/10 - the measly 1 is only there for Timothèe’s acting. It was pure garbage and I don’t recommend it to anyone. Read the book instead. I am so glad I pirated it instead of wasted money on it. Wouldn’t want to support that bearded little perv anyway.

[skyboivinauthor]

18 November 2021

This society is a rat race sink hole.

This creature dragged my credit down throughout our 18years together. By staying in the house, refusing to leave it, and not paying anything to the mortgage all of these months. Nevermind it being frozen during covid and being allowed to pay what we could as we could that entire time. He never did send any payment. And if I tried, he would have made sure it didn't get through.

My credit score gets worse. My name is still on a mortgage to a house. I can not reside in safely.

Well, the lawyer keeps pressing for me to get an apartment from the " safe house " I've been in these4 months.

Well, guess what- landlords don't want to deal with someone that is going through a divorce where there is a domestic abuse situation! They dont give a fuck about the fact dcf ordered you pretty much to leave your home and take the kid with you. They don't care the rcap solutions paid for1.5 months in a hotel. Promised grandfathering in via their program ending for hotel stays while they approved you.

They hear domestic abuse and run

They all sit there and say they should have better programs out there. There should be help out there for mothers in this situation...

But all anyone wants to do is shove going to the shelter down our throats.

Here is the housing authority contact. Go on section 8. Oh, but you have to wait 5 years to get placed. Solve in the shelter with your adhd kid. You'll be safe there. Even though you've heard horror stories from actual other women that went through similar - married to an ex cop as well. Don't pay any mind to what they told you about getting attacked and having to escape in the wee hours of the night because they had been found there by their sources of other cop friends watching them. Just like is happening now to you...

Bull shit trash this society is.

There is nothing out there to actually help mothers in my situation be able to REBUILD ON THEIR OWN. this society needs to get their heads out of their asses and figure it the fuck out.

Domestic abuse victims are also mental, and verbally abused. Not just physically. Help all of them. Not just the ones with the physically seen bruises. There are scars deep below the surface too.

[piratesfromspace]

A spirit of his own (Ransom Drysdale/Reader)

Ransom Drysdale (Knives Out) x Female Reader

Word count: 1.3k

Rated: Mature

CW: mention of a dead relative, spirit possession, kissing & touching, hunter/prey vibes, short non-con at the very end

Note: I wrote this one shot in response of a Halloween challenge organized by a friend. My prompt was: Haunted House / Spirit / Ransom Drysdale (Knives Out) / “The pain only lasts for a while”

MASTERLIST

“Ransom? Is that you?” you wait a second for an answer that doesn’t come. “Ransom??!” you almost yell out, uneasiness now settling in your bones like a cold shower.

You swear you heard the wooden floor creaks in the next room, like someone was stepping on it. But you’re supposed to be the only one in the house with your fiancé - and said fiancé is not answering your scared calls.

This house is definitely too scary for you. You knew the minute you set foot into the old manor, that you would instantly regret your choice to accompany Ransom while he went to his passed grandfather's house to retrieve some papers he needed for whatever administrative tasks his family has asked him to complete.

Well, you can’t stay any longer in this empty hall, and you climb up the third floor until you find Ransom, looking through stacks of papers in what was the office of his grandfather.

“Ransom!” you hug him tight, relieved to be in his presence. “Wow, what happened, love?” “It’s just… Nevermind, you’re gonna say I’m stupid.” “Come on, it wouldn’t be the first time” he smiles at you while you swat his chest and roll your eyes. “Tell me, dear, please.” he adds, taking your hand in his. “I-I heard footsteps coming from the living room, and I was scared, because this freaking house has such a weird vibe… I’m pretty sure it’s haunted or something.” you whisper that last part, a little bit afraid of his reaction.

“I know you can be superstitious, but you’ve nothing to fear.” He brings you closer to him and dives into the crook of your neck. “My own evil aura should chase the ghosts away…” he jokes, mumbling against your skin, before starting to kiss you there. “Ransom! What are you doing??” You try to sound annoyed, but you can’t hide your smile. “I just told you strange stuff is happening here, stop it!”

But he doesn’t stop, kissing and nipping playfully at your neck, his hands slowly slipping under your sweatshirt, holding your waist, keeping you flush to him. You hate how quick your body responds to his ministrations, the sweet warmth of desire spreading through your whole belly, the new feeling mixing with the adrenaline of the earlier scare.

Like they have a mind of their own, your hands instinctively reach out and grab at his head, weaving through the soft blond strands. Ransom’s mouth on your neck, the smell of his familiar Cologne, the cosiness of his worn out white sweater that you can feel against the bare skin exposed by your own scrunched up sweatshirt: this is all making you feel better, and you go pliant under his touch, a content sigh even escaping your lips. He lets go of your waist, to slide a hand lower down your front, snaking into your pants until he settles against your clothed sex, the heat of his palm both comforting and exciting.

That is until the lights in the room suddenly flicker. You tense immediately, a breath hitching in your throat.

“Ransom, did you see that? The lights!”

It does it again, the room briefly filling with dark shadows before the light turns on again. “What the hell! It’s haunted, I told you! I’m done, we’re leaving, now!” You scramble against his chest, trying to unstuck him from you, his apparent calmness only heightening your terror. “How are you so calm? Ransom?” You're panicking but instead of matching your mood, Ransom begins to laugh against your neck before finally giving in and letting you out of his embrace. “Why are you laughing??” you’re confused by his unexplainable reaction, until you can see that one of his hands is reaching behind you, touching the switch on the wall controlling the light.

“Because it’s too easy to scare you!” he exults with a triumphant smile, seemingly happy with himself. “That’s not funny! You’re… you’re…” you point a menacing finger at him, searching for words but finding none, fear impairing your usual quick thinking. “I’m leaving.” you finally let out, before stepping out of the room. “Oh no you’re not.” you can hear him behind you, the serious warning pretty clear behind his playful tone. “I’ve started something I intend on finishing.” he goes on, following you into the long corridor. “Well, if you want to fuck something so much, and since it doesn’t seem to scare you, why don’t you find one of your ghosts and fuck them instead?” you retort, angry but quite satisfied to have found your wit back.

He stops in the hallway for a second, frozen in place, visibly surprised by your mean reply. He's quick to find his composure back though, and as you let out a "fuck", he starts running toward you. It seems you have successfully annoyed him. Yelling at each other is more often than not your kind of foreplay.

"Run princess, run, because when I'll catch you, I'll fuck this insolence out of you." He shouts while you giggle excitedly and run down to the first floor. You take a sharp turn and sprint through the corridor until you find another flight of stairs leading to the main lobby of the manor. There is a split second when you think you’ll fall, the old chandeliers barely lighting up the way, and you have to grip the railing with all your strength to keep up straight. His heavy steps echo against the bare walls of the half empty house, and it’s like the whole building is creaking in protest, while his silhouette is casting weird shadows, the gloomy atmosphere making you feel like you're in one of those horror movies you like to watch.

Drysdale is quick but you're quicker, and you nearly escape him, his fingers crazing the collar of your sweatshirt while you scurry into the kitchen, hoping to find the service door leading outside open. Your victory is short lived though, because you take one wrong step and you bounce hard against the heavy metallic table before strong arms catch you. You're thrown against the nearest wall, your back hitting the wooden panels with enough strength to force the air out of your lungs.

Ransom's body is caging you, cutting short all hopes of escape. He is already burying his head back into the crook of your neck, teeth digging into the delicate skin.

"Ouch! It hurts, stop it!" you plead. Even if it’s all part of his game, it’s starting to really hurt.

You try to pry his head away but he doesn't budge, instead seizing both your wrists and pinning them with ease above your head.

“The pain only lasts for a while” he answers coldly, something a bit off in his voice.

"I'm not in the mood anymore!" You squick, a bit upset.

You squirm in his grasp, and fail miserably at making him let go. Your boyfriend is usually better at getting a hint and knowing when to listen to you.

"It's not funny, Ransom! Stop!"

You begin to fight him for real now, without holding back. It’s useless, you soon found out, as he keeps biting you without saying a word, muscles taunt and feet solidly planted on the ground. Tears of fear and anger are pricking your eyes. All you can feel is the cold coarse wood against your back and the iron grip of Ransom on your wrists, all you can hear the eerie silence of the dimly lit room and your own erratic breathing.

Something is terribly wrong, and you don’t recognize your boyfriend anymore. As a last resort, you try to head butt him, needing to do something - anything - that would wake him up from his weird trance. Finally your desperate attempt seems to coax a reaction out of him. Ransom lets go of your hands and slowly raises his head, facing you. That’s when you realize with horror that his eyes are white, all white, and his empty gaze combined with his toothy grin is the most terrifying thing you’ve ever seen in your life. His lips start moving in a jerky way and with a guttural voice, he utters a few words, a distorted copy of the ones Ransom said just a few minutes ago:

“Run princess, run.”

[the-hero-of-jk-its-len]

A Flower by Any other name. - Chapter Four: The End Begins.

A.N: So, it's been a while, uhhh, listen, I'm going through a legal process rn so, writing at all kind of, well it got hard, but now that I'm the waiting part of that well, I got enough time to finish this chapter, I'm trying my best to make them at least 5-6 pages long, and hopefully longer. but uh, yeah. anyways. enjoy.

Reminder: Aster uses he/him pronouns!! You can exchange his name if you want and i won’t mind, and also this isn’t beta’d at all because I have no friends in the LOZ fandom.

Disclaimer: I don’t own The legend of zelda (gods I wish), the linked universe au or any of the franchises and works I may reference in this fic, this is a work for fans by fans and all credits go to the respective owners.

Summary: Aster has feels, Link has a duty and The beasts awake.

Word Count: 2231 (oh hey new record)

Warnings: Angst, mentions of death,

So, here’s what people won’t tell you when reading about characters in new worlds, it’s basically going cold turkey from all of those little vices you used to have back home, and it’s even harder to remember you are not at home in the mornings.

Which is why every single day I wake up looking for the glasses I don’t need, feeling around on my bedside table for a phone that isn’t there and waiting for the steady noise of a nonexistent computer turning on, I have the sheikah tablet of course, but I can’t very well read the latest instalment of my favorite fanfiction in it, nevermind the fact it’s been well over a decade since I came here, and if time flows back home like it does here then it has definitely been wrapped up for ages now.

So yeah, being Isekai’d is not all that fun.

And that was just things i have had to get used to going without, another matter entirely is the fact every morning a whole team of maids wait for me to wake up and then work themselves to the bone trying to make me look good, mind you these are all people who were assigned to me as a kid so I don’t actually worry too much about it but still, sometimes it’s just…

“So what do you think, your highness, should we add gold thread to the new coat, or just order a silver one instead?”

A bit much.

After clothes there is breakfast, which I take with the king, the only meal we actually spend together, afterwards I take my lessons, have luncheon and then just disappear into the garden.

So many years have passed since my mother passed away, and yet, her rose garden is as lively as when she took care of them. For my part I’ve mostly settled on the other side of the greenhouse, a place forbidden for any servants to enter.

Unlike me who has spent most of their life around these plants, building up a slow immunity, the servants have never been exposed to poisonous plants and flowers like these, and I would much rather keep it that way, no need to give the king one more reason to shut down more of my pastimes.

There is of course still a lot more to do but, at least, looking at the steadily growing berries of the nightshades gives me a bit of hope, even if I know that these will all be destroyed in the future, my flowers, my mother’s roses, all withering away, their watering canals full of malice.

It isn’t a pretty picture.

It’s one I’ve been thinking of more and more often though, the truth is up until now despite measuring things I had just lived freely, naively even, the calamity afar thought, now? Not so much, the talk with Hylia only a month back reminded me of it, reminded me of the fact I had to make it so an entire kingdom was evacuated in under a day, of the fact my closest friend would have to wither away on a battlefield, The death of the champions I had not even met, that of a soldier who would answer to a call from the castle in the next year and would die leaving a house in Hateno vacant for a council of people to demolish.

Every so often I couldn’t even look at Link, much less his father or the little sister I had seen hiding behind her grandfather’s legs every time we visited Deya village, the fact was that the place would be in ruins next time Link went through it, without memories, and without knowledge of what would be lost to him.

The only thing left behind, a diary of a thief, telling him the location of the tunic another hero wore in ages past rescuing his own family.

“..ster, Aster!” Well, that was a nice voice to come back to reality for.

Link was in front of me, closer than had been in a month, holding back my arm from where I was definitely going to over-prune the plant closest to it, several branches of it already laying on my feet.

“You are back.” I said, putting down the scissors and taking off my gloves.

“You say it as if we didn’t see each other daily.” he tried to say jokingly, that face of his relaxing into a sad smile.

“Certainly didn’t feel like it.”

“Aster I-”

“Look -” I interrupted him, “I understand, It couldn’t have been easy to look at me after that, I can’t blame you for needing time,” Hylia knows I often have the same problem. “But I have a feeling things are going to keep changing and I-”

I looked at him then, really looked at him, with all his scars and beauty marks, to the hero I had so devoted myself to in a past life, the last true link (and wasn’t that ironic) to whatever I could remember of who I used to be.

“I can’t lose you, so please, please, next time something like this happens, yell at me, rage if you want to, but don’t just disappear for a month”

To his credit, Link did seem a bit regretful even as I got closer to him, my height short in comparison to him, much to the discredit of the actual height zelda had in the game, still enough to hold his face and make his eyes look to me instead of the floor. “But I don't blame you for doing so, please know that it was my mistake that forced you to such a sight.”

“Now, how about we get out of here, the smell can’t be good for your lungs, and I am rather hungry” I said taking a step towards him, eyes wet and emotions wild, holding the face of a surprised knight, close enough should anyone see us a scandal would arise, but comfortable enough neither of us wold back away “besides, we are late, and our beloved cook won’t stand for it.” The smile in my face didn’t offer a hint of lies, Giovan would undoubtedly try to get food to us if we didn’t get there soon, and Link knew it too, smiling at the memory of the old man running all the way to the training grounds the one time we had been two hours late for a meal.

We left the poisonous garden together, and as we walked there was this feeling of loneliness between us, not everything was resolved, but knowing what would happen, it was probably better that way, as it was, the fact I was so close to Link worried me sometimes, the original Zelda and Link had nowhere near as much a friendship as we did, Link bound by duty to protect the ungrateful princess, and even when it’s hinted at the fact Zelda might have had feelings for the knight, the closest friends from the flashbacks were more than likely Mipha and Daruk.

But I knew for a fact Link only ever saw Mipha on rare occasions, even as a childhood friend whe barely ever spoke of, between training and aiding me on other experiments I doubt he had enough time to keep up with something like that, and it worries me, what if this meant that because of the lack of closeness Mipha never made him the zora tunic he would desperately need to defeat ruta in the future?

Was two years enough time? The efforts to uncover the divine beasts would bear fruit soon, and by this time next year I have no doubt the champions will be chosen.

By the time we had reached the kitchens where a grumpy chef gave us our food, relieved but angry at us for our lateness, I had made a decision, if the reason Link and the others had grown so close was the lack of companionship in the form of Zelda then there was only one choice.

I had to start making more space between us, an emotional barrier, and unfortunately for my heart and mind, I knew exactly how to do that.

So when the meal was over and Link went off to do something or another I stayed behind, a visit to the king was in order, and I for one couldn’t dread anything more than that.

.

.

.

.

.

.

It went well, surprisingly, though weirded out by the sudden request he had indulged me after seeing the benefits, starting tomorrow I would be seen by priests and priestesses, trying to channel the holy power inside me to the best of my ability.

But this would also mean something else, the new lessons and teachings would leave little room for leisure, room I would use to care for my plants and little more, there would be no time for Link anymore, actually going through with it hurt, watching Link’s face fall as I explained we would not see each other regularly anymore though, was heartbreaking, but ultimately goodnights were said.

And If I cried myself to sleep that night well, that’s my business isn’t it?

But let me tell you this, and I never thought I’d say it, but meditating can be exhausting, over the last week of lessons I’ve been put to meditate most of the time, trying to find that magic which guided the princesses of the past to their destiny, but by goddesses it was just not working out.

Day after day, week after week, nearly three months passed when the slightest bit of progress had happened, a small shine from the joint hands on my lap, and while the priests and priestesses celebrated, a knock came, a winded out soldier saying the king called for me.

The Divine beasts had properly reappeared.

And in a small room where only my father, his advisors and I had been previously welcomed, there was the golden hair of link, who looked as tired as I felt, sporting a new scar on his cheek still red from healing, I hadn’t seen him in weeks now, sent away with the rest of the knights in some hunt the king ordered, by the looks of it, it hadn’t gone too well.

By the end of the meeting, letters were being drafted, one to each of the free people of Hyrule, so that the riders of the beasts could be chosen.

But I knew who it would be already, and went to bed that night with the knowledge heavy on me.

Not one week later the four candidates had arrived to the castle, and for the first time since the funeral of my mother, I was face to face with her best friend Chief Urbosa of the Gerudo, and Princess Mipha of the Zora, who in ten years hadn’t changed a single bit.

Alongside them was Daruk of the Goron, a great strong man with a fatherly voice, and Revali, the Rito’s greatest warrior

And though I welcomed them with a gentle smile, my leather-clad hands shaking their own, as I saw them talk and interact not only with each other I see only the teal and fiery versions of them, spirits trapped into the vehicles they had been brought to ride, in a year and a half’s time, all the people in front of me will be dead, and in Link’s case, asleep.

But I can’t save them, I know this much, though sad, and one of the things I knew would forever haunt me, saving them was just not something I could do, how could I? Even with my all powerful player knowledge I knew no future where things went well for these champions, certainly nothing short of a miracle.

But there was work to be done, and moping around people who I couldn’t afford to be attached to wasn’t going to make it go away.

So I left them alone, walked away, the feeling of cerulean eyes watching me as I did, knowing if I turned around to meet them I wouldn’t be able to go.

So I did as I had for the last three months and a half, I didn’t look back, and ignored the stare of the one person I actually loved in this whole world, knowing every minute like this would just bring more strain to a frail relationship.

It was necessary, this, this was for his own good, for Hyrule’s own good, in any case, he wouldn’t remember this in a hundred and two year’s time, too occupied by trying to figure out how to get a good photo of the dragons to bother with trying to remember the silent prince who yearned for his company.

So when the months passed on, and I saw behind glass windows my childhood friend turned hero be healed not by me but Mipha after training I was happy, prouder than I had ever been, I swear I was, so then, why is it I can feel water dripping from my face, why was it that it was this what finally brought me to tears.

Why did I have to fight for a future I was never meant to be part of, to give up the one person I’ve ever loved to the hands of a fate so cruel I choked up even thinking about it.

Why?

[meteorrogers]

chocolate covered strawberries | r. d.

summary: a precious person like you was what had been missing in Ransom’s life. 

pairing: ransom drysdale x reader

warnings: fluff only, language, implied smut maybe?, oh and beware of fucking soft!Ransom

word count: 3,479 (less or more)

a/n: well, i certainly didn’t expect it to be this long. anyway, this is a soft and ooc!Ransom fic, no spoilers because i follow practically nothing from the movie (at least i think). excuse my errors, please, and enjoy!!😊let me know what you think!!

Ransom is furious, driving home from another family gathering that couldn’t end any differently than with yelling, insults, and throwing things at each other. He has no idea why he‘s still going to these things, he always swears to himself that the next time will be the last time. Maybe somewhere deep inside of him, there’s still a sparkle of hope that one day he will have a normal conversation with his mom and dad.

He needs something to calm him down and while a drink and some bimbo he’d meet in a bar sound amazing, it is still early for that. On his way home, there is this bakery he‘s always liked to stop by because they have the best fresh-from-the-oven chocolate-filled croissants to ever exist. They are maybe even better than alcohol. Just maybe.

He leaves the coat in his car and heads towards the entrance. The bell above the door rings as he enters, taking his sunglasses off. The shop is quiet except for the soft chatter of the patrons that are occupying some of the seats. He doesn‘t even need to look at the display case with all the baked goods, he already knows what he’s having, so he heads directly to the counter to order.

After the cashier takes his order and disappears in the kitchen, Ransom slowly moves to the waiting counter where a young woman is chatting with the older man (Timmy, he thinks is his name) that owns the place together with his wife. The woman has a big genuine smile on her face and occasionally a beautiful laugh leaves her mouth when Timmy says something supposedly funny. Ransom has never seen her before. Maybe it’s not so early to charm his way into a woman’s bed after all. He gets closer and as Timmy hands her her order on a pink paper tray – two Halloween themed cupcakes, with white frosting, yellow and orange sprinkles and a little marzipan ghost sticking out – Ransom only hears their goodbyes.

You are still smiling, cheerful from the conversation you had with Timmy as you turn around, ready to leave, and enjoy the sweet treat on the way home. But you don‘t even have the time to react when you suddenly collide with a solid figure. You stumble a little, but strong hands on your shoulders steady you, which you don‘t even realize since your mind‘s only focus is on the mess you have caused. And just like that, your smile disappears.

“Oh my god,“ you gasp and your eyes widen as they scan the not-so-white-anymore cable-knit sweater covered in frosting and sprinkles. “Oh my god,” you repeat, a little louder this time. Panicking, you quickly dispose of the tray with crumbled cupcakes, taking an unnecessarily high number of napkins from the holder on the counter and trying your best to clean the beautiful cozy-looking piece of clothing.

You have yet to see the person’s face, either too embarrassed to look them in the eye or too concentrated on getting the crumbs out of the wool. Probably both.

“I am sorry.” You say, throwing the dirty napkins on the counter. “I’m so sorry, I should’ve been looking where I was going. I was still so absorbed in the conversation that I didn’t notice you,” Oh, god, here comes the downpour of babbles… „And I didn’t even hear you come behind me or maybe I wasn’t paying attention, that’s prob–“

Your gibbering is interrupted by the stranger’s hand circling your wrist, also stopping your frantic movements.

“Would you calm down? It’s just a sweater. I can buy a new one.”

You finally look up, your eyes meeting ocean-blue ones with hints of green around the pupils. His voice sounded empty, emotionless and you aren‘t sure if he is upset or just doesn‘t care.

“Oh,” slipping your hand out of his hold, you break the eye contact, the situation too embarrassing for you. You look at the mess on the countertop, the paper tray still laying there, dirty napkins scattered across the surface and some of them even found their way to the ground.

Shaking your head, you grab all the garbage, bend down to pick up the ones on the floor and throw it into the trash can situated in the corner.

You turn back to the man, tucking your hair behind your ear.

“Um… Can I at least pay the cleaning bill?”

“It’s fine, really.”

He still hasn’t cracked a smile.

“Well, let me buy you something sweet then. What’s your guilty pleasure?” you smile again and look over his shoulder, studying the selection of desserts.

“I said it’s alright,“ he bites. “Besides, I already ordered.”

You don‘t expect him to snap at you like that so it kind of shocks you. Better let sleeping dogs lie…

“Okay,” you nod. “I’m sorry again,” you stuff your hands in your coat pockets and head out.

Ransom stands there, looking at your leaving form and he sighs. Shit.

When you bumped into him, he was really pissed that you ruined his clothes at first, but then you started apologizing, cleaning him and rambling . That infuriated him even more. Why the hell did you even care? It wasn’t even your sweater!

You were annoyingly sweet, which Ransom isn‘t used to at all. Sure, women are nice to him, giving him that fake sugary smile just to get into his pants. He never complains, of course, it makes getting laid much easier when they’re trying to get his attention, not the other way around. But it was just an act. The smile you gave Timmy was genuine and so was the concern about his sweater. How was he supposed to react?

His thoughts are interrupted by the young employee who took his order, signalizing his croissant is ready. He takes it and turns to leave, his face still painted with… confusion?

“Fuck.” He curses silently. You can‘t be far. If he hurries, he can still catch up to you and… apologize? He doesn’t know what he’s going to do, except for one thing.

He faces the cashier again. “Hey, could you give me two of those Halloween cupcakes? With the ghosts. And wrap it up. Quickly,“ his voice is intimidating, arrogant and the boy doesn‘t have the balls to argue so he just does as he is told. Ransom snatches the covered tray from the boy’s hands and sprints out.

He looks around and luckily sees you not so far away from the shop so he decides to add a jog to his steps as he follows your direction.

“Hey!” he yells to catch your attention, which he successfully does. You turn around, brows furrowed, stopping when you notice the man from the bakery.

He runs up to you and when he reaches the place where you’re standing, you open your mouth again.

“Oh, did you change your mind?” Your hand makes a move to reach into your bag. “Just say how much and I’ll –”

“No.” He interrupts and confusion becomes evident on your face again. “As I said, it’s fine.” You expect him to continue, to tell you why he stopped you in the middle of a street. But he just stands there, looking at you as if he expects you to say something.

See, when Ransom spontaneously came up with this great plan, he didn’t think it all the way through. He seriously didn’t know what he was going to do, so now, he is just awkwardly shifting on his feet as he contemplates what to say.

“Here.” He shoves the mini tray into your hands. You look at it and then back at him, still confused. „It’s the cupcakes you bought before my sweater decided to have a taste.“

Really? That’s the smoothest thing you could think of? Jesus, what is wrong with you?

But you laugh. And god, is that a beautiful sound. Wait, what?

“Thank you, that’s really sweet of you.” you smile and before Ransom can argue, you stick your free hand out. “I’m (Y/n).”

He closes his fingers over yours. “Hugh… I mean, Ransom.”

The smile doesn‘t leave your face. “Well, which is it?”

“Ransom, you can call me Ransom.”

“Nice to meet you, Ransom.”

You have known since the beginning that Ransom has some skeletons in the closet. Hence the rudeness when you first met and struggle of wording out an apology for his manners. He managed to apologize in his own way and that was okay with you. You know people who don’t even try, but Ransom? He did his best and for that, you gave him your number when he asked.

It didn’t take him long to call you and ask you out. You agreed.

When he asked you on a date, his plan was to take you out for a dinner in a luxurious restaurant, order some expensive wine to get you a little bit tipsy, and spend the night at your place. The next morning he would silently sneak out of your house, block your number and never see you again.

But you are here, sitting across from him, with that big smile on your face, wearing a lovely cream knee-length dress that shows just the right amount of skin which makes him horny and at the same time, he just wants to focus on not how hot, but how beautiful you look.

“So, tell me more about yourself,” you say after the waiter takes away the empty plates.

There is no way he will talk about how filthy rich he is, how his grandfather owns one of the most successful publishing companies and lives in a huge mansion in the rich part of town. No, he’ll save this information for the gold diggers.

“Well, you might know my granddad, Harlan Thrombey?” Okay, nevermind. “He owns Blood Like Wine?” In his defense, this is all he’s ever talked about with girls. He just needs practice. 

You nod. “Oh my God, yeah, of course, I know him! I mean, not know know him, but I’ve read some of his books! Just don’t ask me about them, I’m not exactly a number one fan.” you scrunch your nose and his mind tells him how adorable that is. Shut up, brain.

“Okay, I won’t.” he laughs genuinely. He always fakes laugh when he is on a date if you can even call the ones he’s been on that. “Besides, you can’t be a number one fan even if you wanted to, because that place is mine.”

“I wouldn’t assume anything else. Are you close with your granddad?”

He averts his eyes for a second and clears his throat.

Instead of answering, he throws the question back at you, his voice defensive, maybe a little too harsh. “Are you close with your granddad?”

The corners of your mouth slightly falter and you look down for a second before facing him again, “I was. He died when I was 15.”

“Oh.” Ransom’s face softens.

“But I loved him. Every Halloween, I’d force him to tell me scary stories all day and all night.” you smile at the memories. “You know, I’m sure he and your granddad would get along. He did come up with some pretty amazing tales.”

And suddenly, he is intrigued. “What was your favorite?”

You tell him about the cursed toy factory, how every Halloween all toys come to life and they stuff all the employees with plush so they become these living toys, too, and from all the anger, they do the same to the future workers the following year.

He laughs at that, agreeing that your grandfathers would indeed be good friends.

“I’m not that close with my granddad,” he says after a few moments of silence. What surprises him is your hand carefully coming to take his which was laying on the table. His eyes focus on your thumb that is stroking his knuckles as he continues. “I’m not close with anyone from my family, actually.” Why is he telling you that? Fucking stop.

He clears his throat and withdraws his hand, scratching the back of his neck.

“You ready to go?” he asks and you just nod.

He isn‘t in the mood for sex anymore, so he drops you at your place and speeds home. God, what are you doing to him? There is something about you that makes him want to open up to you, spill all of his secrets, desires and dreams.

It felt kind of good to tell you about his family, but to be honest, he is scared. He doesn‘t want another person that’s just going to treat him like a worthless piece of shit in his life. I mean, he is, but it would just make him even more shitty.

He’s decided. He is not going to see you ever again.

Then his phone beeps.

(y/n): I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable but I had a great time! I’d definitely be up for doing it again! You can tell me more about your family:)

He scoffs. Why the hell would you want to hear about his family when he told you he’s not close to them?

Then the phone beeps again.

(y/n): Or not! I mean, we can talk about whatever you want! But if you need someone to talk to, I’m here. That’s what I meant.

A smile involuntarily makes its way on Ransom‘s face. Maybe he will see you again.

Since you started spending a lot of time at Ransom’s house, he convinced you to bring some of your stuff. Some clothes, your favorite mug with a whale, saying mornings blow, books and a strawberry-scented shampoo which Ransom became to love.

Almost every morning you share a shower. Sometimes it escalates into a morning shower sex, but most of the time you try and fail to tame him, even though you remind him and yourself of all the times you’ve been late for school, which he doesn’t really care about, to be honest.

You head to the bathroom first, because it takes time for him to get out of bed. After a while, he joins you under the stream of water, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind as he kisses you where your neck meets your shoulder and licks the drops of water from your skin.

You sigh in contentment, putting your arms over his and enjoying the relaxing moment.

Seconds pass and you turn around, taking the bottle of your shampoo while doing so, squirting some into your palm, and the scent of strawberry fills your nostrils. As usual, you bring your hands into his hair, massaging the liquid into his skull and he closes his eyes in bliss, humming.

“You enjoying yourself?” you smirk.

He opens his eyes again and smiles, those butterflies in your stomach coming to life.

“You know I do.” He leans in to kiss you, your arms circling his neck. His hands slide to your butt, kneading the flesh before they grip the back of your thighs but when you are about to jump, he shrieks.

“Shit!” he backs up and his back hits the opposite wall.

You panic, not knowing what’s happened. “What?! Baby, what happened?” You come to him and his fingers are already rubbing at his eyes.

“My eyes! My eyes!” He screams. “I can’t see shit!”

You suppress a laugh, reaching up to remove the hair from his face and wipe away the suds. Then you reach for the detachable showerhead, turn down the temperature, and put it in his hand.

“Here, baby, you have to rinse them.”

He does just that, moans still leaving his mouth at the stinging.

After he finally manages to get all the chemicals out of his eyes, you can‘t hold it anymore. You burst out laughing, unable to stop and he just stares at you with a scowl, putting the showerhead back into its place.

When he turns to leave, you grab his wrists.

“Oh, baby, come on.” you wipe the mixture of water and tears from your eyes. “Don’t leave me here all alone.”

He frowns, his bottom lip sticking out just a little bit. “Might as well. I’m not gonna let you make fun of me.”

The grin is still on your face but you stand on your tiptoes and kiss his pout away. Ransom immediately reciprocates the kiss, pushing you against the wall.

“It hurt,” he says in between the touches of your lips.

“I know, baby,” you say. You pull away and smirk. “Is there a way I can make you feel better?” your suggestive tone hits his ears before you’re sliding down the wall to your knees.

Thank God he didn’t leave the shower.

It’s Friday night and you are watching TV this time in your apartment. Ransom still hasn’t come home from the mansion where he’s spent most of the day, as well as his family. He’s been working with Harlan for quite a while now which boosts up his confidence (not arrogance, there’s a difference) a little and it makes him feel better about himself, proud even, that he‘s finally useful. However, Walt has been giving him shit for it ever since Harlan gave Ransom a chance to be the Acquisitions Editor (of course, he has been pestering him long before that, but now it’s even worse).

Ransom can defend himself, you’re not worried about that, but his family brings out the worst in him, they push him into this dark place that is hard to find a way out of and sometimes you’re afraid that it will destroy him. That’s why you’ve promised yourself that you’re always going to be here for him, no matter what.

And as you expected, you hear your door being unlocked and then slammed shut with a force. He doesn’t even jokingly call out his honey, I’m home! which he never forgets to do. Uh-oh. Doesn’t look good. But again, you didn’t expect anything else.

He comes to the living room, strands of his hair sticking in every direction and falling over his forehead.

“Jesus, why’s it so hot in here?” he takes off his maroon sweater, revealing his plain white t-shirt underneath.

“It’s winter and cold. You expect me to have snow in here, too?”

He just shakes his head, coming to the back of the couch as you crane your head to give him an upside-down kiss. Then he heads to the kitchen, searching the cabinets for something to eat, meanwhile, you turn off the television.

“There should be three croissants in the breadbox!” you say loudly enough for him to hear.

“You want one, too?”

You answer with a no and wait for him.

When he comes back to the living room, he sits next to you and leans his back on the armrest. You’re already looking at him, watching his every move, and trying to see a sign of any emotion he might be feeling. He gives you a knowing look and you shift so you are fully facing him, putting your hand gently on his bent knee and lightly stroking it in a comforting way.

“Three, huh?” he asks with his mouth full.

“Just in case it went really bad.” you give a nervous smile, waiting for him to either confirm or rebut.

Seeing the crumbs fall from his mouth, you reach for the plate that is on the coffee table and give it to him.

“Well... nothing I’m not used to.” he takes another bite of the chocolate pastry. Once he swallows, he takes your hand and kisses your palm. “I love you.”

You smile and lean towards him, supporting yourself by putting both hands on his thighs as you kiss him on the lips that now taste like cocoa.

“I love you, too,” you murmur against his mouth.

After Ransom finishes the pastry, instead of going for more food, he lies down, putting his head in your lap. It‘s kind of a ritual now, every time he comes home (his or yours, wherever you are) after visiting his family, he satisfies his sweet tooth (sometimes it’s 1 croissant, sometimes it’s 5), then he sprawls his body on the couch and rests his head on your thighs, nuzzling his face into your stomach while you thread your fingers through his hair and read a book or watch the TV.

“You want to talk about it?” you ask softly.

You stroke his ear with your thumb. He stays quiet and then sighs.

“Later.”

You bend down as much as your position allows you to, placing a few kisses on his temple and across his cheek before you let him drift off to sleep.

You are Ransom’s safe place, just like he’s yours and always will be.

the end

a/n2: so, ehm... *crickets chirping* okay! i have a thing for fucked up guys who i believe can change if you show them a little bit of love, sue me! no but seriously, Ransom is an asshole and he would probably shove the rest of the cupcakes into my face but a girl can dream, right?

anyways, i do have some ideas for part 2 even if it looks like this doesn’t necessarily need a second part..? it could probably be read as a stand-alone but i’ll see if i even decide to post it lol.

thank you so much for reading, any kind of feedback will be appreciated!🥺❤️i love you, guys!!

oh and my other work can be found under #writer luci !!

[filthsthings]

It's you all along {A.B}

Au: soulmate

Summary: After the death of his son, the love between andy and his wife’s marriage began to vanish… Until he felt the harmony between him and the granddaughter of his old neighbor.

Warning(s): n/a

Type: series, chapter 3/?… Chap2

A/n: hi... Ik this chap is very very short, like a drabble. But I felt like I needed to put the important stuff in one chapter, BUT I PROMISE THE REST WILL GET BETTER, almost like a slowburn. I'm really sorry for making you wait over this garbage ehehehshe, also,I'm sorry if I said I'll update yesterday. I thought I queued it, apparently not. REQUESTS ARE OPEN

You remember the times when you used to peek at your mother and father dancing to songs from their youth. their eyes glowing with love, feet swaying, hands tangled with each other's body, and a glowing gold string that connects both their right index fingers. you wondered why was yours red and your mama used to tell you that it connects with the one you will love and will spend your life with.

she said that once you bonded with them, it will start to convert to the color gold, little by little. of course, you were excited but the very thought of having to be tied to someone makes you feel suffocated already. so you didn't really pay attention to it. until you saw your string connecting to a black Porsche in front of your grandfather's newly built house.

he was handsome, almost as if whichever God sent him on this planet. his blue orbs almost pulled you when he looked at you, lips that are molten like a heart of an angel, oh god- that stubble almost made you fall right then and there. andy barber... even his name sounds amazing. the string went to almost faint brown from bright red.

so you followed your guts and went to his home. only to find out that he was wedded. oh god. how did you not notice the string on his left finger and the fucking ring? wedding ring.

hence, why have you ended up in this situation?

andy looked at you in the eye with his hands still on yours...

"so... how was your first week here? the block can be a little quiet" andy asked while setting some chicken wings on the serving plate.

"my paps told me it indeed was quiet. he liked that part. This brings me to the question, is there no kids here? or teenagers, you know?" you replied.

the man's aura changed before answering "not that I know of. I don't really go out that much, with all the things I have to do in the firm, no."

"firm? lawyer?"

Andy nodded "yeah almost 10 years now. you?"

"oh I'm a college professor. Chem"

"wow, a smarty huh"

"call it lucky fortune" they both laughed. "Here all done... Can you help me with the juice first? That one's really heavy."

"sure, where is it?"

"I'll just get it from the back" you went inside the kitchen to bring the gallon of juice inside.

When andy saw you struggling with the heavy component, he rushed to help you. He grabbed the bucket from side to side. He didn't expect your hands to be there.

Electricity strikes through your veins.

andy looked at you in the eye with his hands still on yours. "Wow, did you felt that?"

"Huh? Felt what?"

"Nevermind," dismay hinted at andy's voice. "Show me where I'll put this"

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