#part I-forgot-which-part-this-was-and-can’t-be-bothered-to-check

[calissarowan]

Teredor: The court is now in session. Stella, if you would like to present your case-

Stella: First, your honour, I’d like to take a solid half an hour just to really go over our very subjective views on “good”, “evil”, and “what constitutes a biscuit” because really, how much longer can Jaffa Cakes go on pretending to be something they’re not-

Teredor: Ms Allbright. When you type my name into a keyboard, it autocorrects to “Tired”. My own keyboard has me dead to rights, and I think that tells you everything you need to know about whether or not I want to hear you talk about Jaffa Cakes. If you have nothing helpful to say, I will hear from the prosecution. Neptune?

Neptune: Well, I was planning to write up a case, but then I realised Nereus wasn’t involved at all, so…here’s a slideshow of pictures of Nereus’s face.

Teredor: …Where…where did you get a slide projector?

Neptune: Shush, we’re looking at Nereus.

Tressa: …You know, Tritannus, backup plan, hear me out: I kill him, and we can both go to prison together. I bet I’d be great at prison. And I happen to have this knife on me…

Aisha: Tressa, no.

Tressa: Fine, fine, we’ll do it your way and hope we don’t all die from Nereus overdose. That can happen, you know. One guy listened to Dad talk about him for three straight hours, and he died.

Tressa: I mean, a beam fell on him cause of construction negligence, but still.

[desturns]

──── they loved you. m.s

warnings. pnv. creampie. use of pet names. slight angsty. daddy issues if you squint rlly hard yall. w.c: 1399

୨ৎ

“fuck, matt, i’m g-gonna cum–shit!”

you weren't.

but you couldn't wait to be done riding him. it wasn't that you didn't like to take control or simply weren't into what was happening or didn't even want to fuck matt–quite the opposite, really. you loved fucking matt and you relished in the way he was able to make you feel, filling you up completely so that every time he buried himself in you, his mushroom tip would kiss your cervix just the way you liked.

but you were tired, and quite frankly, bored. you didn't even want to have sex tonight in the first place and only caved when he gave you those damn puppy dog eyes. your boyfriend knew how to play you like a fiddle and damn you if he never got what he wanted.

that's how it usually went. matt getting whatever he wanted and discarding you afterwards like you were just some human fleshlight he could use. you didn't see it that way, of course, because you were madly in love with him. you'd do anything to please him, even if it meant faking an orgasm so that he wouldn't find his pleasure elsewhere.

not that you'd think matt would cheat. but… who was to say he wouldn't, you know?

“y-you are? i can’t feel y—fuck, baby–”

you cut off matt's confusion by clenching your walls around his dick in a fluttering motion, grinding against him lazily and hiding your face in the crook of his neck so he didn't see the way you weren't really lost in pleasure. you felt horrible for lying, but you knew he wouldn't come if you didn't first and as long as he was pleased and satisfied, it was worth it.

to matt, nothing was out of the ordinary and that's why after snapping his hips up a few times, holding your hips like his life depended on it, he finally came. you smiled against his flesh because you knew the hard part was over and the two of you could just be now.

but as you started placing small, true affectionate kisses against his neck, matt groaned and patted your hip. like he couldn't be bothered. “baby, please—back to your seat, yeah?”

you stopped your actions and pulled back slightly, looking at his face to check if he was serious. and judging by the way he was more interested in looking outside his window, you knew that he was.

you nodded your head and forced a small smile to your face, already lifting yourself up to pull him out of you. “of course, my love, ‘m sorry.”

you winced at the feeling of his cock leaving you, his cum already leaking out of your hole which you trapped in as you quickly pulled back up your panties and shorts. he'd kill you if you got his car dirty, even if it was his fault.

when you slumped back in the passenger seat, shifting your legs a bit uncomfortably after all the work you just put in, you looked back over at him. he was already tucking his dick back inside his jeans, his expression no longer full of admiration like he first had when you climbed on top of him.

taking a deep breath in and finding a smile, you started speaking. “oh my god, matt, i totally forgot to tell you. my parents agreed that you could help us on mo—”

“so, i’m droppin’ you at home now, right?” you were a bit taken back by his interruption, already putting his seatbelt back on as he started the car.

you wanted to tell him that your parents, well, more like your mother, agreed to have him help you when move-in day came. you knew it was only a week away when you'd finally move into your dorm, but that was why you begged and begged your parents to let him tag along. you needed matt there, needed to see him that day before you couldn't for who knows how long.

sometimes it felt like you couldn't live without him.

even when he was acting like he had better things to do than sit and talk to his girlfriend after fucking her.

the smile on your face faltered for just a moment before you nodded, turning in your seat and doing your seatbelt. “yeah… yeah, you can take me home, babe.”

the rest of the car ride was mostly silent. it seemed like every time you started to talk about something, matt would either find a new way to cut you off or he'd act completely uninterested. not that you blamed him. you weren't talking about anything special, anyway. you could see his phone blow up a million times from its place on the dashboard and of course, you were naturally curious.

“want me to answer those for you, baby?”

matt's eyes briefly went to you before looking back at the road, a look of confusion with a hint of irritation taking place. “what? my phone?”

you shrugged your shoulders, your eyes still on his phone that seemed to be getting a new message a second. “yeah, i mean, it's been blowing up and you haven't even looked at it once and you're driving and all, so i figured–”

“you're not touching my phone, babe.” and with the tone of his voice, you knew not to say anything more about the topic. it wasn't the major red flag that made you sour; you hated whenever he used that tone, the authoritative and firm way he made himself sound. it reminded you of your father, and god did you hate that.

matt looked back at you and moved his right hand from the wheel to your thigh, squeezing it gently to get your attention before giving you a lopsided smile. “finish telling me that thing with your parents. what they'd say?”

and just like that, your slightly soured mood brightened up and you were back to explaining to him what you tried to tell him earlier. and he listened intently, making sure to give you all of his attention, squeezing your thigh occasionally as a silent reassurance of his ‘affection’.

what could matt say? you were easy when it came to just a little bit of affection from him.

you closed the door behind you once you got in your house. matt had already sped off–well, practically the minute you stepped outside of the car, he was gone. but he agreed to help you move in your dorm and that was all you could think about.

as you walked to your room, you noticed the door to your fathers study was open and the light was on. curiosity got the best of you and you ended up treading your way over, leaning up against the doorway once you made it. you saw him sitting in his chair at his desk, his nose buried in some papers as his hand moved swiftly with his pen.

“hey, dad,” you hesitantly greeted him, trying to gain his attention before adding a small smile to your face.

all you were met with was a hum. not even a spared glance or anything. it hurt you a little, but you persisted anyway.

“hey, so, i talked with matt. he said he’d be there for when we move me into my dorm. he actually suggested that we–”

“hey, honey,” your dad cut you off, finally looking up at you with a neutral expression. you stopped talking and waited for him to continue. “close the door on your way out, yeah?”

your smile fell, but the ache between your legs and need to sleep made it so you didn't have the strength to stay and pester him. maybe get some form of conversation out of him that didn't involve lectures, but you knew even that was unlikely.

you nodded your head briefly, your hand already on the doorknob. “sure thing, dad. need anything else?”

“nope. thanks, y/n. night.” not even an ‘i love you’.

but that was how guys were, right? they didn't need to express their love constantly to get the point across that they loved you. it made you want to giggle at how you recalled just a few minutes ago, matt didn't bother to tell you he loved you before driving away.

but you knew they loved you. in their own ways. right?

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

desspeaks! okay daddy issues core. as a person with daddy issues, this was lowk fun to write and i can't wait to write more angsty stuff like this in the future. stay awesome everyone <3

[mikkomacko]

I loved the little Nico reader and Johnny blurb! You should def do something small like that with them and holtzy next🥺 I’m in my missing Alex hours

Nico’s looking over your shoulder, a hand on your hip as he reads over the grocery list with you. You’ve both gotten pretty good at keeping the kitchen stocked and the grocery list stacked since adding Alex to the household. But between him and Nico, food seems to fly out of the fridge and cupboards faster than you can keep track of.

Which is why the list and the shopping has become a group affair.

“That’s everything,” you say, waiting a second while Nico finishes double checking for you. He squeezes your hip, humming his agreement and you tuck your phone away.

The checkout line slowly inches forward, the woman with the half filled basket in front of you sighing heavily. You meet her eyes, smiling politely and puffing out your own sigh of agreement. Maybe you should start making Nico and Alex take a day during the week to come shopping with you. The weekend crowd just isn’t cutting it anymore.

Alex is standing by the end of your overflowing cart, brown eyes downtrodden and lips pursed in that way they get when he’s scared. Not terrified scared, but anxious scared. You note the way he’s holding the edge of the cart, thoughtfully fingering the corner of the oatmilk coffee creamer stacked on top.

Oatmilk creamer, the kind Nico and you like. Not the kind Alex likes.

“Aw we forgot your vanilla one, Alex!” You say, and his gaze snaps up to yours. Relief floods his eyes, a sheepish smile on his face.

“Can I go run and get it?”

Nico nods his head back towards the dairy. “Go for it, the line’s not moving anyway.” Alex’s smiles wider, murmuring “excuse me��s” in a quiet and accented voice until he’s ducked out of the checkout lane and disappeared around the edge of it.

In the total wrong direction.

“Nico,” you whine, turning to him with pleading eyes. He pops his gum, frowning curiously at you. “Go make sure he doesn’t get lost please?”

“He’s a big kid, he’ll be fine.”

“He went the wrong way.”

Nico stands up taller, looks over the shelves and snorts quietly. “Let him get his energy out running up and down the aisles.”

You narrow your eyes at him. “Nico Hischier if you don’t go right now and help him I swear to god-“

“Fine, ok,” he grunts, holding his hands up “but if you keep babying him, we’ll never get him out of our house.”

That’s not something you particularly care about though so you smile, patting him on the chest in thanks and sending him off with a short kiss. Nico makes his way down the checkout line, not bothering to say anything because everyone’s already scooting out of his way. You’ve always found it funny, how people seem to shy away from him.

Resting your elbows on the basket, you lean your weight into it and try to not be so impatient as the long lines ticks forward. The woman in front of you smiles again, briefly glancing to the area Alex was standing earlier.

“How old is he?” She questions.

“He just turned 18.”

She looks shocked, eyes slightly widening and lips parting as she looks you up and down. “Wow, you look way too young to have a son that age! I thought he was way younger.”

Oh, you gawk. No one has ever actually thought Alex was your kid. Sure you look older for your age and Nico has the personality of an old man but there’s not even close to being a normal amount of years between you and Alex for you to be his actual mother.

“He’s not-“you laugh, a bit caught off guard still “I’m not his mom. He’s just family.”

The lady’s cheeks tinge pink and you’d imagine yours are too judging by the heat burning at your face. She laughs too, holding her hand up in apology. “Oh he looks so much like your husband! I’m sorry I thought-anyway I was like I can’t believe how great this mom looks for her age.”

That makes you laugh, the awkwardness from before settling. Alex does look like Nico a bit, same color eyes, their dark and straight hair, even his nose a bit. And you’ve noticed him picking up Nico’s mannerism too, small things like the way he stands with his arms crossed or raises an eyebrow when he’s talking and is excited.

“Oof yeah I’m way too young to have a kid that old.” You agree, choosing to just breeze over her calling Nico your husband. Technically he’s not, but he’s as good as.

“Trust me there’s lots of time for that,” she assures, beginning to load her groceries onto the belt. “Seems like you’d be good at it too, if you decide to.”

Luckily, Nico and Alex slip their way back up to you just in time to save you because an uncomfortable and uncertain lump has lodged its way into your throat. Too early for the kid talk, like way too early.

Alex dumps his creamer into the basket, then a tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream and finally a bag of some candy you’ve never seen before.

“Nico said I could.” He tells you with a pleased grin. “It’s Swedish.”

You had no idea there was even Swedish candy here but you laugh, shrugging off his explanation. “You can get whatever you want Alex, it’s ok.”

“As long as some of it is real food,” Nico cuts in, and you can feel the woman from before watching you three. “Not just chipotle and frozen pizza like the Hughes boys.”

Alex nods, a thoughtful look in his eyes and you can practically see him taking mental notes of every little piece of advice Nico’s given him. He blinks as if just realizing something.

“I don’t like frozen foods.”

Nico grins, smacks Alex on the shoulder like a proud father. “No harm then.” He grins, smacking his gum and then beginning to load the groceries onto the belt.

“I got it.” Alex jumps in, shooing Nico back to your side so he can empty the basket for you. Over his shoulder you meet the woman’s gaze again, the two of you sharing a knowing and amused smile before she’s walking away, a basket of bagged food going with her.

Nico rests his hand on your lower back, and you move in closer. “She thought he was our son,” you whisper into his ear, nodding towards the lady when Nico looks confused.

“Maybe your son,” Nico chuckles quietly, “we have more of a dog-owner relationship, ya know?” Even so, he’s smiling all shy and cute as he lies through his teeth.

You press a chaste kiss to his cheek. “Mhm, whatever you say boss.”

[tojisnexfwife]

Sweet lies part two

Pairing •Toji x gn!reader

Warnings• Angst!, Cheating, suggestive (they like lowkey make out), manipulation, UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP!, Cursing. Lmk if i forgot any!

Word count • 1079 words

A/n • I had this pre written ever since i put out the first part but was so hesitant on posting it LMAO! Enjoy! Masterlist is pinned!

You knew life after the honeymoon phase was rough but nothing could’ve prepared you for the drastic switch in you and Toji’s relationship. About two months the after you guys got married is when you realized the mistake you made. Your days went from him coming home from work and showering you with affection to him coming in with an inaudible hello. You were confused on what you could be doing wrong. He was coming home to a clean house with food on the table, a bath prepared and you all dolled up for him, just how he liked it. This went on for months and throughout those months he’s just been coming home later and later. The man who was once coming home every day at five now walking through the front door as late as ten at night. It didn’t bother you until your 26th birthday.

You woke up excited to celebrate your first birthday as a married woman. For your birthday last year Toji went all out so you couldn’t help but let your expectations be high! Toji wasn’t there when you woke up, which was normal because he usually leaves extremely early in the morning. You spent your day pampering yourself to the max, expecting to maybe go out later. Soon enough five o clock rolls around. You sit pretty and patient on the couch, telling yourself he’s just running a little late. You wait… and you wait.. sending text after text to your husband every hour.

Hubby💍❤️

5:30pm

Y/n: Hey babe coming home soon?

6:15

Y/n: Toj idk what you have planned but i’m super excited! see you soon❤️

7:23

Y/n: Hey is everything okay??

8:54

Y/n: Hello?

9:46

Y/n: Toji it’s almost 10 where are you?

10:27

Y/n: Toji?

You send your last text with tears falling from your eyes. You hate to think he forgot your birthday. It can’t be. He just got caught up in something. It has to be. You check the time one last time. 11:03. You then tell yourself you need to go to bed. As you stand up from the couch the door opens and the man you’ve been waiting for finally shows. You do nothing but stare at him, tears mixed with mascara running down your puffy cheeks. “The hell happened to you?” he says, taking off his shoes, tie, and blazer. He begins to unbutton his shirt, purple marks adorning his chest. That was in that moment when something in you just… snapped.

“Toji, what is today?” you slowly walk towards him. He shrugs, scratching the back of his head. “Look doll, i’m beat. Can we talk tomorrow?” he begins to walk towards the stairs that lead to your shared bedroom “No. Absolutely the fuck not.” oh crap. did you just say that? he stops in his tracks and turns to you. “Excuse me?” Shitshitshitshitshit what do you say? why did u say that? “Toji i asked you a question. What. Is. Today.” you keep up the tough girl act, too deep to back out now. “Y/n.” he walks closer to you but you back away “Toji today is my fucking birthday. Today is my birthday and i’ve been home all day thinking my ‘husband’ was going to at least come home on time but you were out fucking some bitch!” You begin to yell, crying harder than you were before. “The fuck are you talking about?” You weren’t stupid, you knew he was cheating but who were you to say anything. You were nothing without him. You didn’t want to ruin things. You can’t lose him. “Toji, i know you’re seeing someone else but i at least thought you would have some type of respect or decency to not do this to me on my fucking birthday.”You’re falling apart in front of him.

The silence is strong. He walks towards you and wraps his arms around you, holding you close. “Things just haven’t been right with me, i don’t know why i do the things i do. You know how much you mean to me baby, i never want to hurt you.” i never want to hurt you. Those words replay in your mind. He brings his hands to hold your face, wiping your tears with his thumbs. “You know I love you and only you, right?” you wanted to yell at him. You wanted to kick and scream but something in you made you believe every word he was saying. Instead of doing any of those things you just nodded. Shame rose in you but it all started to fade away when his lips connect with yours. You know this isn’t right, this isn’t healthy but that doesn’t stop you from wrapping your arms around his neck and letting his hands wander. “I’m so sorry baby.” his lips travel to your neck. You try to hold back sounds but he knows just what to do to get it out if you. “Gonna let me show my girl how sorry i am?” you just started at him. not wanting to say yes but you didn’t want to disappoint him by saying no either.

You have to draw a line somewhere. “I think i just wanna go to sleep…” Removing your hands from him and stepping back. His looks confused but he doesn’t press further. Is it bad that part of you wishes he did? You wished he would’ve showed some kind of kind want, not just wanting to fuck out of pity. You know why he didn’t tho, he already got his fix of pussy for the night and it didn’t come from you. What a shame.

That night you couldn’t sleep, you were up all night silently crying. Is this really what your life was? You had lost yourself in this relationship. Your 26th birthday was a wake up call. The next few days were rough, he was just coming home later and later. Not to mention he wasn’t even trying to hide his affairs, He started to be careless. Not bothering to cover the scratches or hickeys that covered his body, leaving his phone open when you could see messages from the multiple girls and having panties and various other items in his car that didn’t belong to you. It’s like he was trying to hurt you, but isn’t that what he said he never wanted to do?

[borathae]

↳ Index [Snippet #46 - Affection]

"When Jungkook wants some affection."

Genre: married life!AU, domestic Fluff, a hint of suggestive themes

Warnings: they're in love, snuggles & cuddles in bed, kisses, they also talk about alien dick at one point lmaaoaao, and how Kook would use it on her hahha listen they're both nerds <3, Kookie wants to be praised and kissed!!!, they are the one true couple <3

Wordcount: 2.1k

a/n: they're so important to me :( i love them so fucking much istfg :(

You and Jungkook have a to-do list on your fridge. On there, you write all the things needing to be done this day, which aren’t part of the usual schedule. During the colder months, the list could include things like “make the greenhouse storm proof” while in the warmer months, things like “mow the lawn” finds its way onto the list. You even have the list separated in two sections. One for you and one for Jungkook. Because you hate doing some tasks, while Jungkook loves them and instead he hates other tasks you love. So some tasks will always find their way onto Jungkook’s side while others will be cozy on your side. The list works wonderfully and saved yourselves from many sleepless nights when the sudden realization set in that “oh shoot, you had to do something today but forgot”. It is also a perfect tool to prevent useless bickering about “who does it”, because once it’s on the determined side, it is clear to both who will be responsible for it. 

The day is almost over and you are on your way to the shower when you decide to check the list just one last time. Just in case. Your brain has been awfully scattered throughout the day because of a bad night's sleep, so just to be sure, you want to make sure that the list has actually been worked through. 

You and Jungkook have a pen each to write your lists. Jungkook’s side is written in black ink and his handwriting, while your side is written in blue ink and your handwriting. He had swipe the driveway, clean the bike gear closet on his side today. Both tasks are crossed off. You had water the upstairs plants and wash the upstairs curtains, kiss husband and tell him you are proud of him on your list. Both tasks are crossed off. Your eyes do a double take. 

“Kiss husband and tell him you are proud of him?” you read out loud. You didn’t write that. Your eyes flit down to yet another task you didn’t fulfill, “Pin husband by the wrists and tell him he is yours? I’m sorry? I didn’t write any of this.” 

Wait a minute. This is written in black ink. And it is Jungkook’s handwriting.

“Oh my god, Kook”, you gasp, having to laugh, “you genius doofus.” 

This is such a Jungkook thing to do. It is silly, clever and exactly the kind of flirting that gets your heart racing. You married such a goofy sweetheart.

You abandon the list so you can take the quickest shower in wife history. You have tasks to fulfill, husbands to kiss. You slip into a cute two piece pyjama set once clean and hurry to his room. 

The door is closed and so you knock. 

“Come in”, he answers after the third knock.

You slide into the room, closing the door behind you. In typical Jungkook fashion, he has the big lights off and only his colourful LEDs on. The room is hued into a mixture of red and pink. 

Your husband is sitting by his computer with his knees pulled to his chest. He is dressed in loose boxers and a white oversized shirt. His short hair is silky and on top of his nose, a pair of black framed glasses is perched. He started wearing prescription glasses. Well, in yet another typical Jungkook fashion, he only wears them occasionally because he either forgets or can’t be bothered. Whenever he does wear them however, he looks so handsome in them that it gets hard to function. 

“Hey sweetie”, he greets you, studying you from head to toe, “this is such a cute set. It fits you so well.” 

“Thank you. It’s satin. Touch it”, you hurry to him.

Jungkook touches your upper waist, sliding his hand down to your hip softly. His eyes follow his touch.

“Wow, so soft and silky.”

“Right? It’s so comfy. And? Check this out”, you say and grab the pants at the crotch part to drag it into his vision. You have to do a little bend for it. 

“What are you doing?” Jungkook asks, having to chuckle at your silly antics.

“No middle seam”, you say, fixing your pants again, “which means no pussy and ass crack discomfort.”

“Ah that’s what you tried to show me. It looks so comfy. Yay to no crack discomfort.” 

“I know. I’m so happy”, you say and turn to look at his screen. 

He has a character creation window open. It seems like a sci-fi shooter game. 

“Am I disturbing you?” 

“No, it’s okay. I’m creating a character for the next round. I wanna be an alien this time.”

“I see. That seems cool”, you say and suddenly you feel so guilty for coming here. This is Jungkook’s recharge time, you shouldn’t ruin this for him. Maybe you can fulfill your tasks later. Once he’s in bed with you.

“What brings you here, sweetie? Fashion show or something else?” Jungkook asks, caressing your lower back as he talks.

“Yeah, no. Fashion show”, you turn to him, giving him a little sway of your shoulders, “I wanted to show you my new set.”

“I love it. You are beautiful in it”, he praises and smiles.

“Thankies”, you murmur shyly and wiggle your shoulders, “do you want any snacks? I’m making tea so I can drink some as I read in bed.” 

“No, thank you. I have my beer and my crisps”, he says and gives your buttock a little squeeze, “you’re my favorite snack anyways.”

You nudge his cheek, “sweet talker.”

He chuckles, shifting his eyes to the screen again. Yes, you will definitely do your tasks later in bed. They will hit so much better this way.

“Okay, I’m in bed then”, you say, leaving his room again.

“Yeah okay. Have fun reading.”

“I will, heh. Have fun being an alien.” 

Jungkook laughs, “I will.”

You already finished the chapters when Jungkook comes to bed. You are on your phone, watching a video, when he enters the bedroom. You pause the video and lock your phone, following your husband with your eyes.

He is walking to his bedside table so he can put his glasses there for the night. He massages the bridge of his nose afterwards, taking on a path to the bathroom.

“It was your turn to put Bam to sleep, right?” he asks.

“It was, yeah. He’s been sleeping for two hours.”

“That’s good. Our son”, he says, disappearing in the bathroom afterwards. Moments later, you can hear him pee.

You shake your head in disbelief, chuckling to yourself. He couldn’t even close the door for that. 

The toilet flushes and moments later, you hear him brush his teeth. He even manages to make himself gag once as he scrapes his tongue, following it up with a “made myself gag” to which you answer him with a chuckled “poor man”.   

Afterwards he finally appears, grinning at you.

“Wah baby, I just pissed so hard”, he says.

“I know. I heard. Couldn’t you have closed the door?”

“I could have. I was lazy”, he says and plops down on bed.

“You’re so weird sometimes.”

“You love me for it.”

“Mhm, yeah I guess I do. I hope you sat down.”

“Wah baby, who do you think I am? A heathen? Of course I sat down.”

You chuckle, “good boy.”

He snuggles into his pillow until he is cozied up on his side and with his big eyes gazing at you. “I was an alien”, he says, reaching out to intertwine his fingers with yours. He caresses your knuckles mindlessly.

“You were?”

“Mhm. It was fun. Hey babe, would you still love me if I was an alien?” 

You laugh, lifting your brow at him in question. He flutters his lashes at you, expecting your answer.

“Obviously”, you say, “I’d call you my little alien and we could go on dates in your UFO.”

“Yeah that sounds romantic. Also, alien dick. Hello? Would you prefer tentacles, an egg laying one or a double trouble deluxe one?” 

“I love that we instantly went from cute UFO dates to alien dick” you say with a chuckle on your lips.

“That’s important miss ma’am, I need to know your preferences.”

“Fine okay”, you give in, “tentacles? Fill me in.”

“Okay so. I would have no dick, you know, like Ken. But then I could grow tentacles and these tentacles produce their own lube so I can fuck you with them. And there’s lots of them so I can fill out whatever you want me to.”

“Alright”, you snort in amusement, “egg laying? What’s that about?”

“I don’t know, I saw it somewhere.”

“You mean porn?”

“Yeah.”

You laugh, “so it’s like a normal dick that lays eggs inside me?”

“Yeah basically, but it’s purple and is thicker at the tip and it also produces its own lube so I can be really wet and nasty with it. And, oh my god, I want it to glow as well so I can see it inside you. Yeah.”

“I feel like that’s your favourite.”

“Maybe, I want a glowing dick”, he says and pouts, making you laugh.

“Yeah it sounds fun. But I gotta carry your eggs inside afterwards?”

“I mean…yeah. You do that normally too, they’re just smaller.”

“You’re gross.”

He grins. You give him a roll of your eyes affectionately, nudging his cheek.

“And the last one? Is the double deluxe one your dick but just twice?” you ask him.

“Yeah, basically. Yup, my dick but twice”, he decides, nodding his head way too proudly. 

“Then I’ll take this one. I like your dick. Having it twice sounds like fun.”

Jungkook scrunches his nose in a cute bunny smile. He looks way too giddy for the nature of the conversation. 

“Do you really like it?” he asks.

“More than anything.”

“Is it perfect?” 

“The most perfect ever.”

Jungkook giggles, kicking his feet. 

“Thanks, yeah”, he clears his throat to make his voice appear deeper, “thanks babe.”

You laugh because you know he is being goofy again. Your little goofball. You roll onto your tummy and push him to his back. He lets you, looking at your face with sparkly eyes. 

You take his wrists and pin them above his head. The sparkles in his eyes grow, his breathing speeds up just a little.

“You’re a goofball”, you speak softly, gazing at his pretty face.

Jungkook wiggles, grinning goofily. 

“But you’re my goofball. All mine”, you say, giving him a knowing smile, “and I’m proud of you.”

Jungkook squeaks out a little snicker, smiling so brightly his eyes turn into crescent moons. You make it grow with one smooch to his lips and another one to the left side of his neck. He leans into the kisses, wiggling his toes because he is so, so happy to finally receive your affection.

Afterwards you lift your head, raising your right hand to draw invisible checkmarks in the air.

“Check and check”, you say, placing your hand back on his wrist.

Jungkook wiggles his feet. His pulse is racing under your palms. He is so giddy. 

“I was already scared that you didn’t even see it”, he confesses.

“I did. I was so confused at first because I didn’t remember writing it, but then I saw it was in your handwriting and I knew.”

“Heh”, he snickers, scrunching his nose, “it was clever, wasn’t it?” 

“Mhm so clever”, you praise and kiss his lips, “I married a genius.” 

“You really did”, he says and uses his strength to wiggle out of your hold just so he can wrap you in his arms and hug you against him, “my honeyyy.”

You squeak a giggle, accepting your sweet fate gladly. So now you and he are rolling around the sheets as Jungkook cuddles you aggressively. Limbs tangle, sheets get messy and distances erased. It is truly such a delight. He also regularly smooches whatever part of your face he can reach, mumbling giddy words against your skin.

“Wah baby, you saying that you’re proud of me really made me so happy. It felt so good to hear.” 

“I am, you know? I actually meant it, I’m really proud of you.” 

“Thank you, my love”, he nuzzles his face into your neck, giving you little kisses whenever he can, “I’m proud of you too, my love. Wah baby I wanna melt with you, you’re so cute.” 

You smile, closing your eyes to really enjoy his affection.

“You’re cute too”, you mumble into him, pulling him closer.

[altf4d3lete]

Episode One this is single-handedly bringing back my obsession even though it never left

- its 2022. Why is everyone freaked out bc a girl wears all black. Like people do that on a daily basis nowadays

- PUGSLEY POOR GUY :(

- “I want names” didn’t you JUST see them walking away from the locker

- Stop shoving him in a locker tied up is actually so mean wtf

- I see people use this piranha scene as justification that she’d be okay with murder, but really it’s justification that she wouldn’t be okay with people hurting her friends and those she cares about AT ALL. She’s trying to KILL these guys just for bullying their brother. Imagine what she’d do to Tyler for hurting Eugene and Enid.

- The intro is SO fucking cool

- Emma was so far down on the list of actors and now my girl is #3 behind Jenna and buscemi. She’s a main character now B)

- If I were Wednesday I’d be pissed too. I CANT with the parents. Like I love you but RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER 😭

- It’s five minutes in and I have so many notes

- Have to say again with the “terrible, they’d know I didn’t get the job done” that Wednesday is MORBID, not okay with murder unless she deems the person deserves it

- Ergh there is clearly so much discrimination against outcasts

- Weems and morticia r lowkey giving homoerotic rivalry…

- I FORGOT HOW FUNNY WEDNESDAY IS

- I genuinely can’t even like… I CANT WHY DID WEEMS PAIR HER WITH ENID 😭

- Guys Enid is SO cute holy fuck. She is UNPHASED bro, she’s just so excited to have a roommate she’s so cute I’m sobbing. She just wanted to accept Wednesday.

- YALL WHEN THEYRE WALKING DOWN THE STEPS WEDNESDAY LITERALLY GRAVITATES TOWARDS ENID. LITERALLY RUNS INTO HER

- Wednesday just lies about killing two kids to Enid and Enid just moved on like nothing happened.

- Also HELLO? THEIR BANTER? Enid takes NO shit 😭

- Hmm part of me wonders if those wolves howling were making fun of Enid.

- They’re literally leaning into each other wha

- “You better watch your back” and Wednesday is behind her that’s so funny

- How do you go from “cute but clueless” to “obsessed” enjax was lowkey forced whereas wenclair had chemistry from the beginning

- AW PUGSLEY HES SO CUTE

- Wednesday being a housewife will NEVER make sense

- I know people hate the relationship between Wednesday and morticia but it’s very realistic. You can easily tell they still love each other despite the harsh words.

- YEESH THE HYDE TORE HIM APART (I think this works with my theory that the more Tyler is aware of the Hyde, the more controlled his attacks get. Which also means that he knew what he was doing when he killed Kinbott, leaving her alive to taste her fear. And he knew what he was doing in the forest when he tried to kill Wednesday and nearly attacked his father)

- WENCLAIR FIGHT THEYRE SO FUNNY TOGETHER THEY ARGUE LIKE AN OLD COUPLE

- when did Wednesday check out enid’s blog. How and why.

- THE LITTLE SCOFF BEFORE “you mean emojis?”

- Enid huffing is crazy girly is ANGRY

- The way they just stare each other down is crazy wenclair is SO full of banter I forgot how hilarious they are

- ENID SIDE EYES WEDNESDAY SO MUCH

- Bianca lowkey eating everyone up…

- Bianca is so aggressive in her fighting style, whereas Wednesday is precise. It’s really cool

- THE GASPING IN THE BACKGROUND AFTER “let’s see if you bleed in black and white.”

- Xavier scoffs so much in this show and every time he does it lowkey makes me hate him more

- “No good deed goes unpunished” okay elphaba

- Girly was smiling when she was about to die.

- DUDE WHY WAS XAVIER LEANING OVER HER? WHO DOES THAT? JUST SIT DOWN NEXT TO HER.

- “Call it instinct” shut up actually

- Bro she had NO clue who Xavier was 😭

- It bothers me that ppl think she cared Xavier was in the coffin. She just wanted to see the godmother come back to life fr

- THING HAHA MY FAV

- I would be flabbergasted if my therapist read the equivalent of my journal before our sessions. She never should have been sent that.

- Ergh Tyler…

- The deep voice lowkey sounds really forced, idk what it is about Tyler’s voice but it bugs me. I think it’s the way his lines always kinda have the same delivery.

- Twenty bucks when he probably makes that in like half a day of work 😭

- The pilgrims look like such dorks bro who are they tryna scare 💀

- Why are they asking her if she’s “been with a normie” that’s so weird

- “THIS LITTLE THING TOOK DOWN THREE BOYS???” HELP

- Her playing with the necklace means everything to me

- Damn the hiker was the third victim

- The sheet music doesn’t match what she was playing but that doesn’t rly matter

- Love that enid went from disgusted to things bff

- Their roof scene is so meaningful to me. They work so well together. Enid doesn’t need anyone but Wednesday and Wednesday doesn’t need anyone but Enid. Enid teaches her how to relate to others and feel empathy and Wednesday teaches Enid to unapologetically be herself.

- Nero :(

- Them bonding is so cute 😭 this is rekindling my obsession

- Notice the immediate disrespect from Tyler but Enid gets close with thing so quickly

- Damn Enid is suspicious. Bro has some killer instincts

- “Hint taken” and Xavier proceeds to KEEP talking to her

- So Wednesday gives Tyler a time and place and you’re telling me it’s just a coincidence that those three pilgrims show up at that exact time at place? Literally there WAITING? No way. Tyler had to have told them, sorry about it.

- I lowkey feel bad for Weems. She’s a little controversial but she was just trying to do her best for nevermore

- Nah man that was an absolute ploy. There’s no way they just happened to know where to be. Tyler was trying to keep her from leaving. He already knew who she was by then and that they needed her.

- Rowan was so conflicted he didn’t deserve to die. He was just trying to protect people

- The way she scrambled over to him even after he tried to kill her :(

- YALL I LOVE THIS SHOW WTF 😭

[guilty-pleasures21]

Yooooooooouuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!! You SUCK!

OH MY GOD I FORGOT TO TAG PEOPLE!!! Maybe I really do suck?!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

6. Sigh. You're trash, you know that?

Part 1 - the sparring

Part 2 - the sick day

Part 3 - the socks

Part 4 - the period

Part 5 - the date

Warnings: none.

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

     She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to get in a few more snoozes before her alarm went off. Maybe she just needed a few more minutes of sleep and she’d be good to go. She steadied her breathing, trying to slow her heart rate down enough for her body to slip back into unconsciousness. Then her phone vibrated on the headboard behind her. X scrunched her features in irritation and reached for it, contemplating her choices. She could just try to get ready and force herself on the train to work in spite of her aching body then just lounge around at her desk for the rest of the day. Or she could get showered, walk all the way to the doctor’s clinic for a medical certificate and a bagful of unnecessary medications, then make the trudge back home and call in sick. She sat up and the effort it took to accomplish the simple movement solidified her decision. She sighed as she typed out the message to her boss and dragged herself to the toilet to get ready for her doctor’s visit: she’d be calling in sick today. 

     He clicked on the shortcut he’d created in the corner of his screen, pulling up her location immediately, then frowned when he saw where she was. She was still at home even though it was already lunchtime on a weekday. Had she just forgotten her watch at home? It wasn’t like her though: she’d always carry it around so they’d be able to reach each other no matter which universe they were in. And she had gone out for a bit - to somewhere close by - but she’d returned home within the hour. Miguel tapped his fingers on his desk, trying to figure out the appropriate level of worry he could express for the situation. Finally, he decided to just call her. 

     “¿Querida? ¿Qué pasa, mi amor? (Darling? What's wrong, my love?)” Miguel asked, trying not to sound too panicked: he didn’t want her to think of him as controlling or anything like that, constantly needing to be updated about her location and plans or he’d freak out and manipulate her into thinking she was a bad person or something. But his girlfriend didn’t seem to be bothered by it at all. 

     “Miguel?” she replied slowly, barely hiding the amusement in her voice. “Um, I … I think I’m going to have to break up with you for, like, a week or something …”

     He didn’t hear anything she said after that, the words ‘I’m going to have to break up with you’ playing in his mind on a loop. His heart froze and his breath caught in his throat, unable to move past the lump that had formed there. 

     “What?” he asked, sucking in shallow breaths as he tried to salvage the situation. “No! You can’t … We are not breaking up, querida, we … ¡¿Qué p*tas, arañita?! (What the f*ck?!) What the f*ck is wrong with you?!” 

     She laughed at his response, but the sound was weak, like she was struggling to gather the energy to do it. “I just … I just look terrible right now, Miguel! You can’t see me like this!” 

     She sniffled and he suddenly noticed the slight raspiness in her voice: like she was on the verge of developing a sore throat. He sighed, the knot in his chest loosening at the realisation that she’d just been joking. “Where are you?” 

     “I’m not telling you that!” she replied, adamant on not having him see her when she was sick. But she was sick and he wanted to take care of her: wanted to be useful to her and give her the chance to rest so she could get better quicker. He huffed in irritation as he hung up and double-checked her location: she was still at home. 

     “Hello? Miguel?” X frowned when he didn’t respond, then she grabbed her watch off her coffee table. She furrowed her brows when she saw that the call had been disconnected: had something happened? Maybe someone had interrupted him or he’d been pulled into an impromptu mission or something? Or … Her eyes widened suddenly when she realised what he’d probably done: tracked her watch so he could find her exact location and show up in front of her. She shot out of her seat, scrambling to make herself more presentable before her gorgeous hunk of a boyfriend showed up. But he appeared in her living room before she could even take a step, his thick brows pulled low over his eyes, his full lips twisted into a hard frown. He glared at her, unamused by her silly prank, but his irritation crumbled as soon as he saw how truly exhausted she was.  

     “Querida,” he sighed, wrapping her up in his arms. He rested his cheek on her head and mumbled into her hair. “What happened? Do you have a fever?” 

     He leaned back to check her forehead, but she shook her head up at him. 

     “I'd be wearing my fever patch otherwise,” she replied, referring to the cold sticker she'd paste on her forehead whenever her temperature started rising. She was extremely sensitive to fevers, with her body and gums throbbing with pain almost immediately, so she always took extensive precautions to keep her temperature down. Miguel guided her back to the sofa, helping her get settled under her blanket again. “I just have a bit of a sore throat and a runny nose. And my body's so tired.”

     Miguel let out another weary sigh. “Why didn't you tell me you were sick? I would have come back and taken care of you!”

     “‘Cause I'm not that sick, mi Miguelito!” she assured him quickly. “You would have just worried. And then I'd get stressed out.”

     Miguel frowned at her assumption that he'd only cause her to get more sick. “I can take care of you, querida.”

     His voice was gentle despite the upset expression on his features and X smiled as she curled her fingers around his forearm. 

     “You do,” she confirmed, the cute little grin on her face relieving the rest of the tension from his body. She let her fingers fall back to her side and snuggled up under her blanket. “Just make sure you come home before dinner.”

     Miguel stroked her hair, already mapping out all the best chicken soup restaurants in her vicinity, then he bent over to press a kiss to the top of her head. 

     “Miguel!” X chided him. “I'm sick!” 

     Miguel climbed up over her, lifting her up and readjusting her position so she was lying in his arms. 

     “I'll be sick too,” he mumbled into her hair. “Then we can stay home together.”

     X laughed and buried herself in his arms, soaking up his comforting warmth. “You're such an idiot, Miguel.”

     Miguel huffed and grumbled against the back of her neck, but he refused to leave her side for the rest of the day and night. 

     “¡¿Querido?!” X yelled a few days later, racing into his control room with one earphone in her ear and the other in her hand. Miguel twisted his head back to shoot her a puzzled look, then he returned his attention to his screens as he waited for her to join him. 

     “Unified field theory!” she exclaimed, hopping up onto the platform next to him. Miguel continued scrolling through his file, expecting her to elaborate. She didn’t. He turned to her in question and found her gazing up at him with wide eyes, her lips parted in surprise as if she’d just discovered the answer to … well, everything. 

     “What about it?” Miguel asked, still amused by his girlfriend’s incomprehensible thought processes. Well, incomprehensible to most people. He still remembered how she’d stumbled through an explanation a while after they’d first met about how she had difficulties communicating her thoughts to people.

     ‘I have … a pretty high CPU?’ she’d described it to him after running through one of the most brilliant theories on the epigenetic effects of interdimensional travel he’d ever heard. ‘And I don’t always think in words … Sometimes, I think in, like, pictures and … concepts? I guess? I don’t know how to describe it. So … I guess sometimes people just find it difficult to understand me.’

     He’d shuffled his seat a little closer to hers, enough to bump her shoulder and get her to look up at him again. ‘I understand you perfectly, arañita.’

     She’d grinned up at him then, treating him to that enamoured smile that had made his heart flutter even before they’d started dating, and he’d slid back to his side of the desk. ‘So if people aren’t understanding you, maybe they should be the ones trying harder.’

     He’d counted to three before allowing himself to slide his gaze over to her, and his lips had stretched wide at the sight he’d seen: her fidgeting with her fingers as she’d smiled delightedly at her desk, trying her best to contain her excitement. 

     “Is that how you figured out how to make these watches?” X asked, finally giving him an insight into her train of thought. Miguel furrowed his brows, impressed, then turned to face her fully. 

     “Uh, sort of,” he agreed. “So-”

     “No, wait,” X stopped him quickly. She clutched her head dramatically as her brain began whizzing through possible explanations and hypotheses as to how everything might have tied together. “I'm really sorry, babe, but I'm not ready for a full-scale explanation right now. But basically, it's to do with approaching everything on a molecular level, right? Like, particles? So everything is just reduced to its … particulate level? And then you apply the ‘theoretically universal’ rules governing their … actions?”

     He stared at her, utterly bewildered as to how she’d managed to figure it out and simplify it so easily. He’d known that she was smart but, Dios, how the hell had she managed to figure it out on her own like this?! “Um, yes, actually, but … where did you hear about this?”

     X shrugged, her demeanour much too nonchalant for the topic of the conversation. “One of my podcasts.”

     But the explanation only served to make him even more confused. She only ever listened to mystery podcasts - medical anomalies, unsolved crimes, so-called paranormal phenomena - because it gave her brain something to chew on, she’d explained to him once. ‘I can’t control how much my brain thinks, but I can control what it thinks about.’ And thinking about controlled ‘puzzles’ was much less taxing than focusing on everyday, uncontrollable anxieties. 

     “¿Qué diablos? (What the hell?)” Miguel replied, unsure as to how one of her regular podcasts might have led her into the complex world of quantum physics. “What the hell kind of podcast are you listening to that describes unified field theory?!” 

     X’s expression turned sheepish as she anticipated his reaction to her response. “It’s my ‘Supernatural’ one. Something about something called ‘the Philadelphia experiment’ in my world? I haven’t finished it, but she mentioned unified field theory in the beginning and I thought of you, so I decided to search it up.” 

     His chest warmed at her casual mention of having thought about him, but his jaw dropped at her revelation of having just ‘searched it up’. One did not simply ‘search up’ quantum mechanics. Miguel opened and closed his mouth, trying to come up with a response, but he couldn’t even figure out where to start! His gaze fell on the earpiece pinched between X’s forefinger and thumb, and his eyes narrowed in suspicion suddenly. “Wait … When did you search it up?” 

     “Um, five minutes ago?” X revealed, looking up as she tried to recall it. “I was just listening to it when I was in the lab.” 

     ¡Ay, Dios! Her story just kept getting crazier and crazier! X grinned excitedly, oblivious to her boyfriend’s astonishment at her ‘pretty high CPU’, and hopped forward to grab his forearm. 

     “Wait, so, you figured it out? Like, in your world? Are you the only one who figured it out?! Oh my god, you're so smart, Miguel.” She let out a besotted sigh as she turned her admiring gaze up to him. “My boyfriend's even smarter than Einstein.”

     His lips quirked at the dreamy look she gave him as she said it. “Querida … are you … sapiosexual?”

     X frowned and dropped her hands back to her sides. “Isn’t it obvious? I thought you would have known by now!" 

     Miguel chuckled and shook his head at her reaction. ¡Mierda! He couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed it before! The way she’d always treat him to that sweet smile whenever he engaged with her theories, her heart picking up speed and her eyes growing hazy with lust as he communicated to her that he understood her. He laughed again, still in disbelief that he’d found someone who understood him too: someone not only attractive and intelligent, but patient and gentle, always calmly explaining to him whenever he made a mistake. 

     “What?” X asked, clinging onto his shoulder this time. She was getting so giddy with love for her smart and gorgeous boyfriend. Everytime he smiled or laughed, her heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest! Miguel didn’t respond and instead slid his arm around her waist, adjusting her position so she was pressed up against his side. He bent over to press a kiss to her cheek and X giggled as her entire body tensed with joy. She looked up at Miguel again and he shifted her around to hug her, cuddling her against him admiringly. 

     “Te amo, mi arañita loca (I love you, my crazy little spider),” Miguel murmured into her hair. X squeezed his waist, pressing her cheek into his chest. 

     “Te amo también, mi araña gracioso. (I love you too, my silly spider.)”

Tags: @heubstr @zayai @amberbalcom14 @leahnicole1219

[bichietozier-s]

🕷️Catch You On The Web!!🕸️

An Itafushi spiderman socmed au ❤️

In which Yuuji Itadori, newly a sophomore in college who still has not a clue what he wants to do with his life, gets bitten by a radioactive spider and gains new abilities, stats and powers. He's coasting on his raw athletic ability, a full-ride scholarship handed to him despite his less-than-perfect grades, when he realizes he's got way more ahead of him than he'd ever imagined. Including, but not limited to, a newfound crush that also throws him for a loop.

you are reading: Prologue | Part 1 | Part 1.5 | Part 2

notes: Same notes apply from the last update! If you haven't read part 1, please jump over there first before continuing here! 🫶🏻

This part is really written-text heavy so be prepared for some reading 🥰

That night, Yuuji went to bed happy as a clam. He’d checked with Nobara to see if she thought he should see the on-campus doctor, and she didn’t seem too worried about things, so why should he? Then his best friend texted him and it… kind of made his worries wash away. 

After the talk with Junpei about how his classes were going for him so far, and a far-away, future plan to see the next Human Earthworm movie together, he honestly forgot about the spider bite as he drifted off to sleep with his phone still sitting comfortably in his hand.

And yet, when he woke up, the nerves acted right back up, because his whole arm felt like it had been run over. He assumed that the soreness had to do with the bite, because what else would it be? But then again, what even really were the side effects of a bad spider bite??? 

Before he even left his room for his classes that day, he decided that he’d be seeing the campus doctor later on. She lived on the campus herself, and was on-call for when the students needed her. From what Yuuji had heard, she was friendly with one of the more well-known and higher-up professors at the school, and he fought for her to receive a higher salary since she was so passionate about helping the students complete their educations in good health.

As far as he was concerned, she was a cool lady, and he hadn’t even met her yet.

He was determined to get through his day as normal as he could manage, though. Nothing else felt off, which was why this whole ordeal was so confusing to him. His arm was abnormally sore, sure, but he didn’t feel nauseous or foggy at all like you’d think you would from something like a venomous bite.

Yuuji trudged through his classes that day, and once he finally walked out the doors of the last class at around 3 pm, he ran back to his room for a snack break, and then directly to the field for his practice that day. As soon as he got there, he was greeted by the upperclassman that he’d grown to love… in an odd sort of way. 

“Yuuji! My brother! Hope you’re ready to get roughed up today, we’re doing some tackling exercises,” Aoi Todo, who was a college senior, spoke clearly and from his chest at all times. He approached Yuuji, clapping him roughly on the back and pulling him against his side. Yuuji smiled up at the taller man. He really did admire him, even though he was a little odd at times. Upon meeting, Todo had asked Yuuji what his type was in women, and apparently he liked the answer, because he nearly started bawling his eyes out. Ever since then, he’s called Yuuji his brother.

It wasn’t like it bothered Yuuji at all, he actually found it kind of funny. It was just odd.

“Hey, Todo!” Yuuji replied loudly. “Yeah, I’m ready! I have a sore arm, but, eh…” Yuuji lifted his sleeve to show Todo his arm where he’d been bitten the day prior. To be completely honest, he hadn’t ever really looked at the bite since he received it, he only knew that his arm hurt. “I think it’s ‘cause of this, but, I’m gonna go see the campus doctor after today’s practice. Figured, can’t miss out on a day of gains, right?” He beamed up at the man beside him, who looked at him with an odd expression of disgust and worry.

“Bro, are you sure? That’s a big mark…” He leaned in close to take a better look at it. “What is that, anyway?”

Yuuji peered over the side of his arm to look at the mark himself. Yeesh… It did look kinda gross. “Ah, it’s a spider bite. At least I’m pretty sure it is.” Yuuji let his sleeve fall back down and shrugged. “I dunno, I think I’ll be okay. I’m not feeling bad at all, my arm is just sore. You even said it yourself, “who ever said a little soreness killed you?”, right?” He threw his hands up in finger-gun formation as he walked toward the bleachers to set his things down.

“Ah, that,” Todo said quietly to himself. “I did say that, and it definitely still rings true! Alright, if you’re feeling it, then let’s do this! HELL YEAH!” Todo headed back toward the rest of the group that was already there, while Yuuji ran to catch up with him, pumping a fist into the air.

Yuuji let out a large sigh of nerves as he walked into the doctor’s office. Maybe Nobara was right after all, and he would be fine. She was stressing him out more than anything, though. I mean, the boy was dumb and she was being confusing!

“Ah, hi there,” said a woman from behind the desk in a calm voice. She had long, brown hair, and very tired looking eyes. But Yuuji felt comfortable around her already.

“Uh, hi,” he spoke quietly. “I uh, wanted to come in and see if you had the time to look at a bug bite for me?” He asked, unsure of whether or not this was a stupid idea. It sounded stupid coming out of his mouth. 

As she opened her mouth to speak, Yuuji quickly spit out some more words, as if to offer a better explanation than just ‘bug bite’.

“Well, actually, it’s a spider bite. I feel like that might make it seem a little more urgent, or at least important, and not dumb. Oh, also, my name is Yuuji Itadori.” He put out his hand as an offer for her to shake it. Her eyebrows raised at his speed in not only talking, but also how quickly his hand was thrust at her.

“Yeah, I can definitely take a look at it,” she smiled warmly at the younger man, and shook his hand gently. “Here, Yuuji, you can follow me this way.” She opened a little gate-esque door between the counters for him to follow her into the back exam room. “My name’s Dr. Ieiri, but you can call me Shoko.” Yuuji walked through the little gate and the pair let it fall shut behind them.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Shoko,” Yuuji said, smiling. She nodded her head at him as they walked into the exam room together, replying in agreement with a simple, “you, too”.

“Alright, so where is this bite?” Shoko asked as she put on a new pair of gloves.

Yuuji dropped his things on the little table off to the side and lifted his sleeve once more, exposing his upper arm. “Here.”

“Oh.” Shoko muttered in quiet surprise. “Well, that certainly is a spider bite. Man…” She leaned in close, grabbing Yuuji’s arm and pulling at the skin around the bite. “Does this hurt at all?” She asked as she poked and prodded at the bite itself and the surrounding skin.

“No, if anything, the tiiiiniest bit, but really not much at all,” he spoke as he watched her examine his arm. “The only issue I’m having with it is that it made my whole arm sore. I woke up feeling like just that arm was run over by an 18-wheeler,” he said, bringing his attention now to one of the posters on the far wall. 

“Huh,” she mumbled out, seemingly in thought. She stood up straight now, placing her hands on her hips. “How long ago did you get the bite?” 

Yuuji looked up at the ceiling in thought as he dropped his sleeve down again. “Only yesterday. There was no sign to me that I needed to come here ‘till my arm felt like it was in one of those hydraulic press videos, so I’m sorry for not coming sooner. But I don’t feel sick at all, so I just wanted to be safe.”

Shoko ‘tsk’d’ at the boy’s words as he spoke. “Well, it looks a lot worse than it seems it is.” She turned to take her gloves off, dropping them into the trash can behind her. “I’m not going to run any tests, just because the soreness is a normal side effect from any kind of bite, although the way you’re describing it seems a little severe…” Her hand found her chin in thought for a moment, and Yuuji stood leaning against the exam table behind him, waiting patiently for her to continue.

“But, you said it yourself, you should be fine. I’m not going to give you anything for it, either, unless you feel like you need some ibuprofen.”

“I think I’ll be alright,” Yuuji said, offering a smile to the woman. “Thanks for taking a look at it, I was starting to really stress over it.”

Shoko pursed her lips in thought once more. “Of course, it’s what I’m here for. But, promise me that the next time something like this happens, you’ll come right away. I would hate for it to have been a lethal bite, and you die in your sleep thinking that it would be fine.” She spoke in a very flat and serious tone, about the same she’d been using the whole time they were together, but the way she said that freaked Yuuji out a little. This lady was cool, but she seemed… off. Who just says something like that?

Yuuji raised his eyebrows as he replied, “Oh, uh, yeah. Of course.”

The smile returned back to Shoko’s face as she clasped her hands in front of her. “Great. Thanks for stopping in, Yuuji. If it worsens at all, the bite itself, or any symptoms, please don’t hesitate to return. You can also call this office at any time, remember.”

Yuuji had picked his things up and began heading out of the exam room and toward the front office once more. “Right, sounds good to me.” As he reached for the front door, he turned back one last time and waved to the doctor. “Thanks again, Ms. Shoko! Have a good evening,” and he pushed his way out the door.

Her voice quietly bid him a farewell from behind as the door fell closed and he headed back to his dorm.

author's note:

YIPPEE part one complete!! i hope everyone's liking it so far! I have the next few parts already written but ill probably still post one a day or so unless i get really write-happy out of nowhere lmao 🙂‍↕️

jump to:

Prologue | Previous | Next

taglist:

@meme-ty7

[reve-de-sang]

Maybe not exactly a prompt but I am DESPERATE to see anything of what's coming with Little Favors 💜💜 I adore it so much right now, and I meant to ask for a peek as a WIP Wednesday sort of thing but totally forgot when it was actually Wednesday lol 🫣

thanks so much!

👀 WIP excerpt from the upcoming chapter of Little Favors

Which is why Lestat found himself on the phone in the middle of the night.

It was 8 a.m. in France, and Gabrielle had always been an early riser. 

“I can’t talk long,” she answered, and Lestat barked a laugh.

“I know.”

“How are you?”

“Exceptional. Louis and I got married.”

“You and Louis are married,” she repeated. She was terminally offline, not even to check up on him: of course she didn’t know.

“He needed a husband to meet the terms of a trust.”

“Oh, Lestat.”

“Married.”

Gabrielle sighed. “Yes, as you said. When is the divorce?”

He didn’t bother denying their expiration date. “Oh, I don’t know…” he evaded, fiddling with the hem of the five million threadcount sheets he’d thoroughly defiled. “First I’m going to have a baby.”

Gabrielle wasn’t one to swear, but the string of invectives that followed was eye-watering. 

She hung up.

Lestat waited, watching the ceiling softly glow from the city lights beyond the open curtains. 

Gabrielle called.

“Are you pregnant already?” she demanded when he answered.

“I don’t know. Possibly.”

“Lestat. Don’t do this. I know sense flies out the window when he’s in your field of vision, much less when you’re having sex with him—”

“Oh, we’re not having sex.”

There was a beat of baffled silence, and then her shuddering, relieved, full-throated laugh was almost offensive. “My god, you scared the hell out of me, you idiot. Then what do you mean—”

“Artificial insemination. There’s this horrible little syringe—”

Gabrielle hung up again. He wasn’t sure he was going to get a callback.

He let his hand drop to the sheets and sighed happily. Louis. He’d never let himself soberly consider the possibility, but now, living together, holing up together in a corporation’s condo’s guest bathroom to play fertility clinic? Maybe there was actually a future here. Maybe there would be sex. Maybe—

Gabrielle called again.

“Is this because you are famous now? You’re trying to sabotage it and upend your life?”

“What?” Lestat laughed incredulously. 

“Lestat, you love to push and push and push to see what will happen. And it always works out somehow, even when it blows up in your face, like with that cunt Raglan. You’re a survivor.” 

Lestat fluffed the pillow behind his head. “It’s really not as bad as all that—”

“Lestat, having a baby with him ties you two together forever.”

“I know,” Lestat said smugly.

“And it ties you to that child forever.”

Who?

Oh.

“Well, of course,” Lestat covered. “I know this.”

“Yes, Lestat: forever.”

“Well, we’re just using my body for the baby,” he said. “Louis wants to raise it.”

There were a few beats of silence, presumably as Gabrielle was parsing that. “…And where will you be?” He could feel her stare through the phone. It was unsettling.

“Elsewhere, apparently.”

“‘Apparently.’ You just started trying to carry his child and you’ve discussed none of this, have you.”

“Some of it!”

“The part where he gets a temporary husband and a permanent baby, and you get him forever, except, Lestat—‘forever’ only means you’ll always see him sporadically forever—at this child’s graduation and wedding and maybe some birthday parties. As you say: you will be elsewhere, on the outside. Will you really be satisfied with that?”

Lestat felt the 2 a.m. horror creeping in from the corners of the ceiling. 

“No.”

Even Gabrielle’s breaths sounded shrewd. “Then maybe you are not pregnant. No?”

“I wouldn’t do that to him. And I will keep trying—I promised. It’s terribly important, unless you have a couple million to throw at the situation.”

She sighed. “Not to save you from a lesson you apparently need to learn yourself. Please don’t let this be the thing that breaks you, my darling. I couldn’t bear it.”

“This has really been the warmest and most reassuring bedtime story ever—or perhaps the only one, ever—and it really has made me quite sleepy, so I’ll be hanging up now. —Do you see how that works? Telling someone before you hang up, that you’re going to hang up?”

“I love you, Lestat.”

“I love you, Mother,” he said, even though she hated being called that; he needed it because she was, and he wanted that anchor, even if he couldn’t fathom being that for someone else. “I’m amazed you answered your phone, actually.”

“You miraculously called when I was in the same room as my phone. The stars aligned.”

“You see? Kismet.”

“Yes—this call was me warning you not to have the baby.”

Lestat hung up without saying goodbye.

He stared at the now-sinister ceiling and realized his heart was racing in panic.

Lestat couldn’t drink, and the only pills in his possession were prenatal vitamins. Fuck.

Never, never call Gabrielle when the sun was not up.

He went back to his phone and vacillated between “hot professor” and “GREMLIN POWER.” David would be a voice of reason. Probably tangled in the arms of some college twink at the moment, but he always had time for Lestat. Armand would answer the phone unruffled, even if he’d been in his deepest sleep cycle. He would, however, probably give Lestat the driest of sarcasm for the two a.m. relationship crisis he’d foretold.

Lestat didn’t want a voice of reason.

Fine. He selected his “GREMLIN POWER” contact.

“So you’re not okay with it,” Armand answered.

Lestat pulled the phone away from his ear in alarm and stared at it. Slowly brought it back to his ear. “I know I give you crap about your desire for mindreading abilities, but let me be the first to congratulate you on your achievement.”

“Do you really need to hear at 2 a.m. that you are not difficult to anticipate.”

[to be continued]

[misspelledwordswizard]

Chapter 9 - Sometimes you don't understand what happiness is until you break into someone's house and break their ceramic pots.

Previous chapter / Next chapter

I reluctantly got up from the bed, walking towards the door, I turned the handle, opening it to reveal Hyrule, who was waiting for na answer and seemed surprised to see me. He smiled shyly, but I could feel his discomfort, there was something on his mind bothering him, and maybe it had something to do with me.

— Hey, sorry, did I wake you up? – He asked softly, I just shook my head and waited for him to speak. – Hm, I spoke to Cotera earlier and she mentioned that you and Four had visited her before, and... – He seemed afraid to say the next part, as if he had doubts about whether he should bring up the subject at all.

— Is everything okay, Link? – Since there were only the two of us there, and now I officially knew his real names, I preferred to call him that, but apparently it surprised him a little.

— Oh, yeah, I was just wondering if... if you had ever met a great fairy before, you seemed pretty calm there. – That wasn’t what he was going to ask, it was obvious that I hadn’t, if I was a terrible liar, then Hyrule was terrible at making excuses. And that only makes me more curious to know what he was really going to ask.

— No, that was the first time I saw a great fairy. – I thought it would be better not to pressure him, maybe he just didn’t trust me, but I could change that over time.

— Oh, right... Hm, sorry to bother you, have a good rest! – He said quickly and left, he seemed nervous. What could have made him like this?

I sighed, closing the door and going back to bed. Relief ran through my body as I lay down, right, now I’m going to sleep. But I can’t stop imagining what it could have been, is it related to Cotera? Did she say something about me? But what could it be that would cause such a reaction in him? My mind wandered through the various possibilities, especially considering that it had been almost a whole day since he visited her, so had he been keeping this all this time? Will I ever know what he wanted to ask?

Great, now I really won’t be able to sleep.

◇

I hummed some random pop song from Earth as I checked all the belongings I had acquired since I lost all the others. Everything seemed fine for what was to come, but I would have loved to have some toiletries, who knows how long I would be camping in the middle of the woods. I could use the money I had left over yesterday, which I forgot to return to Time. Technically, the money belonged to the group, since they kept everything together to make things easier, so I can consider it part of the payment of the debt they owe me!

With that idea in mind, I carefully packed everything away again, leaving the first clothes I had bought to change into, I couldn’t leave the inn wearing these old rags. I just got dressed quickly, without worrying about equipping belts or grabbing my sword, and left the room. I walked down the stairs without rushing, it was night now and things were calm, I was well rested, but it would be better not to stay up too late this time, since we would be leaving early tomorrow. I saw some of the boys chatting around, it seemed that Wild was trying to use the inn’s kitchen to prepare a meal, I just greeted them quickly as I walked out the door. The night breeze seemed to wake me up even more, it was a little cold, but it was good. I walked around the village watching the villagers interact, maybe I would miss all this peace, but I can’t deny that I also feel excited to get involved in na adventure.

I went into the general store looking for any useful things that I had forgotten before, I managed to find some body soap of acceptable quality and a towel, that should do the trick, but I wouldn’t complain if there were hair products here. I looked around for anything else, then came across a section of knick-knacks. Oh, I love buying useless things that just accumulate at home!

I walked over looking for something that caught my eye. There was everything there, from cheap jewelry to useful tools. My eyes were caught by a silver bracelet, it was a bit flashy with several different pendants, probably of dubious quality. But I don’t think it would hurt to buy a little something for myself, right? Okay, I’m just buying things for myself, but the others don’t count because they’re necessities! This one would be a treat for me, I’m going through a lot, I deserve it!

After paying for everything I decided it would be a good idea to have a bathing suit too, if I had to bathe in a river or lake, I would want to be protected from possibly being seen. For the third time, I went back to the clothing store, the attendant seemed very happy to see me, she must know I came to buy, and she was ready to extort the poor tourist that I am.

Luckily for me, there were basic bathing suits, I chose the cheapest one, paid and left as quickly as possible, so as not to regret my decisions. Now I didn’t even have money to give back to Time. I returned to the inn with some bags in my hands, since I hadn’t brought my magic bag to put everything in.

The boys saw me and called me, it seems that the Cook was making our dinner, everyone was gathered now. From what I understood, they convinced the owner of the inn to let Wild cook there as long as he made food for them too.

— Hey, what’s up? Were you spending money again? – Warriors commented as he looked at the bags and the bracelet I had already put on my wrist.

— Oh, don’t worry, it was a gift! – I said with conviction.

— Gift, from whom? – The captain seemed in disbelief.

— Yours, I bought it with your rupees.

He opened his mouth to complain but soon closed it in pure indignation while I held back my laughter, so he just walked away sulking, refusing to talk to me. I laughed softly as I went to the other side, near Wind.

He waved happily at me as he turned his attention back to what he was talking about with Four. Even though I was now on their side, I couldn’t pay attention to what they were saying, because I started to observe each Link individually. Sky was playing his lyre, in a soft and comforting melody, creating a soundtrack for the environment.

Wild was cooking, I couldn’t see it from where I was, but the smell of the food was divine. Twilight and Time were talking about something while Wars listened. When he noticed me looking at him, he turned away, sulking, but I could see a suppressed smile on the corner of his lips and almost laughed along with me. Hyrule was, from what I understood, trying to help with the cooking, but the Champion kept kicking him out of the kitchen. Then there was Legend. He was isolated in na armchair, sulking, with a frown on his face – and a horrible posture, almost lying down – while he looked at everyone in a bad mood. Whatever happened, no one seemed willing to try to understand, which must mean he’s not letting anyone get close.

I guess this is my time to shine then, or to be completely humiliated and offended, it’s worth a try. I got up from my seat next to Wind and walked towards the veteran, who turned his face away when he noticed me, but unlike Wars, he didn’t do it as a joke. I sighed, this is going to be difficult, so I sat on the arm of the armchair, not putting all my weight on it, after all it wasn’t na ideal place to sit.

— So... – I started, not knowing exactly what to say, but I was interrupted.

— Leave me alone.

He spoke rudely, without even looking at me. Maybe I have to change my emotional strategy. I started staring at him with a face as ugly and sullen as his — which was hard since I really wanted to laugh – until he noticed and looked back at me, confused. I held back the laugh that wanted to escape my lips even more.

— You’re not the only one who knows how to make a face!

— What? I’m not... Can you stop looking at me like that? what an ugly face!

I laughed, I couldn’t hold it in. This only pushed him further. He must think I’m laughing at him, oops. I took a deep breath to calm myself down and stop laughing, then I turned my attention back to him, who stopped looking at me and went back to staring into space with pure hatred. Okay, I get it. He doesn’t want to talk about feelings or anything that’s bothering him, but maybe I can make him laugh. I know how it feels, at first we get even angrier when someone tries to help us release our anger, but if you keep insisting, it might work. Or maybe I can help you release all that anger in a more functional way.

— Come with me! – I said, not giving him a chance to complain, getting up and pulling him by the arm out of the inn.

Of course he complained the whole way, he kept talking and asking where I was taking him, but at the same time he didn’t stop walking, he just followed me, maybe out of curiosity. I continued guiding him through the city until the path that led to the great fairy’s fountain, but that wasn’t our final goal yet. The moon shone in the sky, illuminating our path through the trees as we crossed the bridge. I took him to the same place they made my sword, it would be a good place for a mess.

— Okay, I need you to stay here and wait for me. Promise you’ll wait for me! – I ordered, letting go of his arm and standing face to face.

— What? Why the fuck would I-

— Promise! – I interrupted him, raising my little finger at him. He just looked at me confused as if I was crazy. I sighed and rolled my eyes, he didn’t know what that was.

I grabbed his hand, leaving his pinky finger raised and forced him to intertwine it with mine, he tried to pull it away embarrassed but I kept it in place, giving it a light shake to seal the “deal”.

— This is a pinky promise, you can’t break it, understand? If you break it, you’ll have to swallow a thousand needles! – I said seriously, he just snorted and agreed, letting go of my hand. – Great, now wait for me here, this might take a while.

I left him behind without giving any explanations, going back the way we had just gone. It turns out that I hadn’t planned this very well, which only made my job harder, but it’s okay, I’m sure this will help him, there’s nothing a Link likes more than that. Maybe sleeping.

When I got out of his field of vision I started running back to the inn, I would need my magic bag that fits everything if I wanted to do this. I quickly reached the door, opened it and ran upstairs, Four called me asking something but I couldn’t hear, I’m too busy. I got to my room almost knocking the door down, I grabbed my belt with my bag and everything I had inside and went back out. On the stairs I ended up tripping and falling because I ran too much, but before anyone saw, or I felt any pain, I got up and started running again.

I wanted to be as fast as possible, I know he won’t wait for me for long. Time to act like a Link, breaking into houses and stores. Maybe this is a bad way to look at it, but that’s basically what I did. I went into the shops and started picking up all the ceramics I could find. I don’t know if that would get me in trouble, but I hope not. After picking up the pots from all the shops, I started looking for more in empty houses. If they call me a crazy terrorist later, I’ll blame all the Links for being bad influences.

Finally, after looting all the ceramic pots in the village, I ran back down the path to where I left Legend. I stopped running when I started to get close, tidying up my appearance and regulating my breathing so as not to look like a crazy person. He was waiting, sitting under a tree, thoughtful. As soon as he saw me, he got up and started walking towards me, still in a bad mood.

— Why did it take so long?

— I went as fast as I could! But look, it was worth it. – I said as I took a jar out of my bag and handed it to him. He stared at me blankly, looking even angrier.

— I waited all this time for you to give me a jar?– Legend complained and I just rolled my eyes.

— It’s for you to break it. Take out your anger in a more fun way, throw it with all your strength, watch it shatter. It usually helps.

His lips parted in surprise as he understood my idea, he then looked back at the clay jar, for a second I thought I saw a smile on his lips, until he turned abruptly and threw the jar hard against a tree, making it shatter on the ground. I flinched a little in surprise, but soon recovered and laughed, while taking all the jars I had with me and leaving them on the ground.

He picked up another one, throwing it even harder at the tree. I decided to join in, that sounded like fun, I grabbed a smaller one and slammed it down with all my strength. It shattered with a muffled noise on the grass, but still satisfying. In a few seconds, the two of us started creating pure chaos, spreading broken pottery all over the place while the air was filled with a hellish symphony of loud sounds of things breaking.

Even I managed to relieve the stress I didn’t know I was holding, I could see the drastic change in the veteran’s mood, who in a short time changed from na irritated expression to laughter – somewhat evil – of joy as he created chaos by breaking things. I had managed to get a good amount of pottery, but the fun didn’t last more than a few minutes as they broke one after the other. Of course, I left most of it for him, it was good to see him so carefree. When I was thrown the last pottery pot, I ended up slipping on the grass and falling on my back, making the pottery just roll away without breaking. Legend burst into hysterical laughter when he saw me fall, and after getting over the surprise of the fall, I couldn’t help but laugh along with him. He grabbed the pot I tried to throw and broke it with a strong kick. Kicking the shards away to clear the path, he threw himself down, lying on the grass next to me, still laughing while relaxed. After we calmed down and stopped laughing, he turned his head to look at me, only to see me already looking at him.

I blushed, it was a little embarrassing, even though I was just assuring him that my mission had been a success. Then, when I thought he was going to say something sarcastic or make fun of me for falling, he did something that surprised me even more. He smiled. He smiled at me, the sweetest and most honest smile I had ever seen in my life. It was beautiful, he looked beautiful like that, I wish I could have that vision every day.

— Thank you. – His voice was soft, it didn’t even sound like him, but it was comforting. – It seems that you are good at dealing with this kind of thing after all.

— I had to be good at something, right? – He laughed at my words, shaking his head gently.

For a moment, we were silent, I turned my gaze to the starry sky above us, it was beautiful, I had never seen anything like it in my last life, so it always impressed me no matter how many times I saw it. I sighed tiredly, it had been a long day, but this felt right, it was rewarding, and I certainly wasn’t going to clean all of this up.

— The moon is beautiful today, isn’t it? – I started to ramble.

— Yes, it is beautiful. – The veteran replied, not really seeming to be paying attention. That made me turn my gaze to him, only to find that he had never stopped looking at me.

I think he was so tired that he couldn’t think straight, but it was nice to still see that smile on his lips. I was about to comment on how he looked as exhausted as I did when he started talking.

— I didn’t want you here. I didn’t want you in this group. You’re a stranger to me. – That hurt, I thought we were getting along well, but I preferred to keep quiet. – But man, I’m glad this didn’t depend on me. – Now I looked at him confused. – It’s still hard for me, having someone with us who shouldn’t be part of all this, but I think someone from the outside can be good. We may be different, but we’re still very similar, having someone who is completely outside can be the balance we needed.

I couldn’t answer him, it seemed like that was his way of saying “welcome to the group” and maybe he even liked my presence a little, but only a little. I could only smile like na idiot.

— Whatever you’re thinking, you better get it out of your head. – I came back to reality with that and noticed that his sullen face returned, but it was gentle, it was just a joke. – And don’t think about doing this to anyone else, okay? That was nice, don’t give it away by showing it to others.

Okay, now that was weird. He had a slight blush as he said that, and that’s when I understood. He’s jealous and possessive of his things, and now breaking ceramic pots to relieve his anger was a thing of his. He was saying “This is something I do now, and no one else can do it”. How rude Legend, you have to learn to share. I couldn’t help but laugh a little but ended up getting a light bag on the arm in disapproval.

— Okay, I’ll keep this a secret. Don’t worry, when I need to help another Link relieve his anger, I’ll think of something more original. – He seemed to want to protest my answer, but he just frowned and turned his head to the side, avoiding my gaze. – Now, after all this chaos, I think it’s time to eat. – I concluded as I stood up, followed by the man.

The two of us returned to the inn together, leaving the mess behind. Upon entering, we were greeted by the wonderful smell of food, everyone was gathered in a room with a long table. We joined them, receiving curious looks, but everyone just ignored it while they ate and talked. It reminds me of the times when my whole family would gather at grandma’s house for a big lunch, I miss my grandma so much. In that life, it was just me and my parents, I never met my grandparents, I don’t have any uncles or cousins. Wild served the food to everyone, and it was delicious. He had more time and ingredients to prepare it, so he ended up making more complex things and several options. I tried a little bit of everything and it was great. After everyone ate and talked for a while longer, we went up to our respective rooms. Warriors and Twilight were in charge of the dishes. I offered to help, but they refused and pushed me out of the kitchen. I lay down on my soft bed. It would be the last time I would sleep in a bed for a while.

I was exhausted, but I managed to stay awake for a while longer to finish the book I had borrowed. If I didn’t finish it now, I might never know the ending. It took me almost two hours, but I finally finished it. I put it aside while I snuggled under the covers. In a few seconds, I was completely asleep.

[greypetrel]

WIP Wednesday

Tagged by @shivunin and @gods-fave-chewtoy / @layalu, thank you so much to both! <3

There's not much art this week: I'm trying to doodle something when I can for the Kiss Art February challenge, which is particularly dear to me, and I'm imposing not to overdo myself and to be quick about it. So, this week it's a writing wip! Going on with the DadWolf chapter and we have peak misery.

And also: Varric being the biggest Breakfast at Tiffany fan. In modern Thedas it's clearly set in Kirkwall. Cat may be the possessed Kitty in this version.

edit: I'm air-headed and I forgot to tag. @salsedinepicta @ndostairlyrium @heniareth @idolsgf @rowanisawriter @inquisimer @dreadfutures if you have something!

“My supervisor would kill me if he knew I let you read my notes, that’s why I didn’t ask.” She shrugged.

“And since when you do what others tell you?” Bethany asked, frowning.

It was a legit question, and it stung so much because it was. On the other hand, Aisling frowned up at the other.

“Since I grew up. I’m part of an important project, and it requires me to abide to some strict rules. It shouldn’t be such a new concept for you, since you returned in the Circle.” Aisling snapped right back.

The silence felt deafening, even if the other people sitting at the tables around them kept chatting. Something harshened in Bethany’s expression, a small contraction of her jaw and a furrow on her brow that made her look even more like Leandra. Or like Carver, which was even worse, and sent a pang of guilt to strike at Aisling’s conscience.

“I’m sor-”

“Spare me.” Bethany interrupted her. “You’re doing something important and gracing us with your presence, we get it, we’re all so grateful you’re gifting us with this genius water cleaning system, wow, we’re so lucky.”

“Beth, I didn’t mean to-”

“You’ve been here two months and you’ve barely talked with anyone. You haven’t asked anyone for assistance nor help. You have barely spoken with me down here. Or at home, before Raina and Garrett left. Be miserable all you want, Aisling, I defended you against people who blamed you for not fighting for their rights when you were 5, and I’ll continue to do it, that’s bullshit. Don’t blame it on us and the place if you’re struggling, when you keep yourself ten feet apart and have only pity to offer.”

“I don’t-”

“It’s a nice project. I would have some suggestions, but I’m sure they can’t hold a candle to your superior knowledge. Good luck with Cullen.”

The project got tossed on the table, between them, and it hit Aisling’s glass. The glass wobbled dangerously, threatening the papers and books she got spread on the surface. As the elf leant forward to close both hands on the glass, and limit the damage to just some droplets that spilled on the title, Bethany rose and walked away, not even bothering to take the coffee mug she brought when she sat.

“Bethany, please-”

Aisling rose, tried to call her back, but all she got was a middle finger.

She turned, and everyone was staring at her, the chatter had stopped. A girl snickered behind her hand, and Aisling felt hot tears burning behind her eyes, her lower lip twitched ominously.

She sat back to work, used a hand to hold her head up and cover her face at the same time, and pretended to keep reading, even if tears she couldn’t stop were blurring her visions.

The tears didn’t stop, quiet but ever-present. So much so that the guard at the exit just let her pass without checking her documents, a pang of compassion in his eyes. He promised he would have let her sign the exit the next day, not to worry, he knew who she was.

When she got home and Varric peeked in the foyer, face tired but still a smile to welcome her home, she burst. Her backpack fell loudly on the floor, and she fell too, curling into a ball and crying in her knees.

The hug she got was a much, much needed one.

She asked him if he still loved her even if she was a horrible person, he asked her who she was and what had she done to his daughter, his daughter was into a doctorate and clearly she couldn’t be her, since they didn’t accept stupid people into doctorates. He loved his Pikachu very, very much, tho, whenever she was coming back home.

She kept hugging her dad all evening, curled beside him on the couch, as Breakfast at Tiffany played on tv,  and Varric calmly kept on telling her anecdotes on the movies, where it had been filmed in Kirkwall, anecdotes, holding her close and caressing her hair.

He got everyone to watch that movie at least once a year on his birthday, never stopped talking about it, quoting always the same anecdotes and trivia. Everyone was fed up with Breakfast at Tiffany and Truman Capote, Aisling could recite every line by heart since she was twelve.

That evening, tho, Breakfast at Tiffany and always the same anecdotes never felt better.

[razzle-zazzle]

Whumptober Day 14: Left for Dead

"'Cause I want you to know what it feels like to be haunted" -tiLLie, kooL aiD mAn

2367 Words; Divergent AU

TW for attempted emotional manipulation (pythor)

AO3 ver

The ocean was just as blue looking from sandy shores as it was looking from the lighthouse.

Well, no, not exactly the same—it was much closer, now, the sense of distance he was so used to gone. But the white-capped blue looked almost the same as ever, so he turned his attention to the rest of the beach behind him. To the trees further on, and the jungle further beyond that.

Cole—the bulkier of the two humans who had found him—and Morro—the human with the green streak in his hair—had disappeared into the trees a while ago to check on something. This left him with Pythor—the Serpentine, a species that he had never seen before—who had taken to lying on a particularly warm boulder higher up on the shore, eyes closed.

It was… it was all so new.

(“Do you want to leave?” Morro had asked, after Cole and Pythor had—with his instruction—helped get his leg and arm working again.

He had. He wanted to leave so badly.)

His name… Father had named him Zane, but when he had proclaimed that to the group, they had all exchanged looks he couldn’t decipher. Cole in particular had looked at him so strangely, and kept tripping over his name, like something was knotted up in his mouth. That was new, too.

But the group’s boat had ferried them westwards to this island—not the mainland Father had once lived on, which was to the east of the lighthouse—and Cole and Morro had disappeared behind the treeline fairly quick, leaving Zane and Pythor behind.

He ambled over to Pythor, careful of the shifting sand beneath his feet. His joints creaked, not particularly happy with the boat trip and the sea air, but they didn’t give out. He poked Pythor’s head, and waited for a response.

Nothing. He poked the white-splattered scales again, and Pythor grumbled. Violet eyes opened barely a crack, squinting blearily up at him. “Oh, what do you want now?” Pythor demanded, rolling his tail over slightly. “I can’t entertain you all day, you know—these tired old bones need their rest.”

Zane considered his words, mulling them over. Pythor’s eyes slipped closed, a low hiss escaping his mouth like a sigh, and Zane spoke.

“Does my name bother you?” Well, Pythor had seemed more surprised than bothered, but he surely knew Cole better than Zane did, and would be able to remedy any confusion.

Pythor’s eyes opened again. “What?”

“Does my name bother you?” Zane repeated, like he would for when Father didn’t quite hear him, or forgot the question. Then, after a moment, he started to elaborate, “When I introduced myself, you all looked at me funny—”

“Yes, yes, I heard you the first time.” Pythor held up a hand. He hmmed, his head lifting up to regard Zane more closely. “As for your question… not particularly.” He answered, lazily waving his hand. “I find it more ironic, maybe even amusing.” His head fell back to the rock, his eyes starting to close—

“Does my name bother Morro?” Zane asked, no less confused than before. “And why do you find my name ‘ironic’?”

Pythor stared at him reproachfully. “My, you ask a lot of questions.”

“It is part of my purpose, so that I can help aid Father’s memory.” Zane stated. “Does my name—”

“I wouldn’t know.” Pythor shrugged, cutting Zane off. “You’d have to ask the boy yourself.” He sat up a bit, readjusting to bring his tail around in front of him so that he could rest his neck upon the coil. “As for why your name is ironic—well, it really only makes it clear that you’re a copy.”

“I do not understand.”

Pythor chuckled lowly. “I imagine you wouldn’t.” He yawned, then spoke again. “Tell me, did this Father of yours ever mention any other… children, of his? Other creations, other sons?” He sounded lightly amused, though Zane wasn’t sure why.

Zane took a moment to think over his answer. “He would often tell me of his time on the mainland,” he started, “but he never mentioned any other sons. Why?” Well, no, Father had once mentioned having a son, but always brushed it off or insisted that Zane was his son, his only son.

Pythor grinned. It was slightly unsettling. “You really don’t know?” He reared up, neck twisting to bring his head closer to Zane’s. “You’re not the original Zane.” He crowed, looking Zane up and down, “You’re clearly just the copy cobbled together from scraps.” At once, his pleased demeanor vanished, replaced with something more sympathetic. “I imagine your Father must have been lonely, in that lighthouse. No wonder he rebuilt the son he loved so much.”

Now it was Zane’s turn to be perplexed. Thrown, even. “What…?”

Pythor reached over, patting Zane’s shoulder. “I’ve met him, you know. The first Zane. Fought him, even.” His eyes slipped closed in remembrance, “Ohhh, it was certainly a time. You know, I didn’t even know he was a nindroid until… hmm… I suppose it must have been sometime after being swallowed by the Great Devourer.”

“Nindroid?” Zane asked, feeling incredibly lost. Then, discarding the term as unimportant—“What do you mean, anoth—an original Zane? I’m Zane.”

Pythor hmmed, tapping his claws against Zane’s shoulder. “A copy.” He declared. “Made of scrap and abandoned when the original came along—”

Zane punched out, knocking himself over. Sand caught in the cracks and seams of his back as he got back up, and Pythor stared at him.

Zane decided he didn’t like the serpent. He opened his mouth—to say what, he didn’t even know—

“What the fuck are you doing, you old bag of scales?” And there was Cole and Morro, slightly muddy from their trek, coming out of the treeline. “You said you would watch the boat!”

Pythor pointed out to shore. “Well, it’s not like it’s gone… any… where…” He trailed off as he realized what Cole and Morro had already noticed: the boat was gone, the tide higher than it had been when they arrived. “Hm.” Pythor looked at Cole, then shrugged. “Well, it’s not my fault you didn’t haul it in far enough—”

“Pythor is a liar.” Zane stated, uncaring of the current conversation. “He’s been saying that I’m—that there’s—he says there’s another Zane!”

At once, Cole froze, eyes wide. Morro shuffled off to the side, and Pythor laid his head back down on the rock. “I—” Cole started, jaw working, then, “I’m sorry.”

That… no. No no no, why was Cole acting like Pythor was right—

“You… knew?” Zane asked. The world seemed to tilt, but that didn’t make sense—his body hadn’t moved at all, and was still standing perpendicular to the ground.

“Why, of course!” Pythor interjected, “He and Zane are—or were, I suppose—the best of friends! Brothers, even.”

“Pythor.” Cole growled, “shut up.” He turned back to Zane. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know how to say it—”

“To say what? That I’m just the replacement?” Zane demanded. Then, against his better judgment, he asked, “What is the other me like? Is he…” So many different questions flashed through his processors, and he settled on, “Is he better than me?”

“Absolutely not,” Morro cut in, from somewhere behind Zane. “Look, as someone who’s older than Pythor, and thus wiser—”

“You are not older than me!” Pythor argued, only to snap his mouth shut when Cole gave him a look.

“—take it from me.” Morro continued, “You’re not him.” He looked Zane up and down. “Pythor’s full of it.” He added, and Zane opened his mouth to ask what Pythor was supposedly full of—

“You are like him.” Cole said, the look in his eyes similar to Father’s eyes when he reminisced about the mainland. “But you’re also different.”

“You mean worse.” Zane accused.

Cole shook his head. “No,” he said, voice hard, “You’re… you, and that’s not a bad thing.” He sighed. “None of us knew.” He said. “When we found Professor Julien at the lighthouse, he never mentioned—” He cut himself off, looking at Zane with something an awful lot like sympathy. “I’m sorry.”

“You… were there?” Cole had been in the group that had taken Father away, that had left Zane behind—

“Yeah, yeah, so Rusty here was made because Snowball’s dad was lonely, whatever.” Morro slung his arm over Zane’s shoulders. “You’re not gonna be stuck in Snowball’s shadow, okay?” He nodded, “I’ll make sure of it.”

Zane shrugged Morro’s arm off of his shoulders. “I don’t want—I just—don’t call me rusty.” It was true, he was rusted at parts, thanks to the sea air, but—it felt like an insult. He bet the other Zane wasn’t rusty.

Wait. “The other Zane…” Zane started, “Is he mechanical?” Or was he flesh and blood, like Father, and Zane was simply made in his image?

“He was just as mechanical as you even before he blew himself up.” Pythor answered. Cole glared at him, and he raised his hands in surrender. “All right, shutting up now.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Cole groused. “He’s him, and you’re you. Neither of you is better than the other.” He turned to where the boat had been, and changed the subject. “Well, we’re stuck here until we build a raft. Do we start right away, or do we wanna continue,” He gestured towards Zane, “figuring this out?”

Zane would have crossed his arms if his joints allowed it. Truthfully, he didn’t exactly want to go out to sea again so soon—but he wanted to think about this new revelation even less. He was angry—but at what, he wasn’t sure.

“Well, if I can’t call you Rusty,” Morro started, “How about Copper?”

“Too close to cop.” Pythor shot it down. “Why not Echo? Since he’s a copy, and all.”

“Absolutely not.” Cole cut in, then turned to Zane. “What do you want to be called?”

Zane had no idea. “My name is Zane.” He stated. “I’ve never had another.” He frowned. “But I don’t want to just be… his copy.” His name was Zane, but that name bothered Cole—and was starting to feel weird, to Zane.

“It won’t be replacing your name.” Cole said softly. “It’ll just be a nickname. Like Breezy.” He gestured at Morro, who huffed.

“Or Dirtclod,” Morro added, gesturing to Cole.

“I… I think I would like a nickname.” Zane agreed. He didn’t want to give up his name, the one that Father had given him—

(“Zane is my son,” He’d say, though now Zane wondered if Father had only been talking about the other Zane—)

—But he didn’t want to be called by it until he met the other Zane, and convinced him to take another name. If this other Zane was so great, he could surely bear to part with his name. Of course, that plan necessitated meeting him, which… Zane wasn’t sure he wanted to do.

“I don’t know what, though.” Zane added. How was he supposed to pick a nickname?

“Gold, maybe.” Morro suggested. “Because you’re not gonna be second best to that goody-two-shoes.”

“Why not Pyrite?” Pythor suggested. “It sounds similar to pyro, setting you apart from him and his ice powers.”

“His… what?” Ice powers? Like the way Morro had bent the wind to his control to power their boat’s sail?

“We are not naming him for fool’s gold—” Cole interjected—

“Lux, since he grew up in a lighthouse.” Morro suggested.

“I—” Zane started, as they continued listing potential names.

“Junior, he’s the younger Za—” Pythor suggested, as Cole grabbed him by the neck. “Ack—!”

“Cole, you’re the mineral nerd, is there another word for gold?” Morro asked.

Cole, still holding Pythor’s neck, rattled off several words, ignoring the way Pythor was hissing at him. “Uhh, aurum, I think, oro, kin—”

“STOP!” Zane yelled, bringing everything to a screeching halt. “Please, just—let me think.”

They stopped. Cole let go of Pythor’s neck, and Morro scuffed his shoes on the sand.

“I think… I want to be called Echo.” He said. “Not because I am a copy, but because… I was built to protect those who cannot protect themselves. I was built to remember the things that Father could not.” He had been alone in that lighthouse but for Tai-D for so long, slowly rusting apart as he waited for something to change. “Nobody should be alone.” He decided. “So I will be the echo that reminds them they are not.”

“Okay.” Cole agreed. “Echo it is, then.”

Echo nodded. Echo. Echo. He liked the way that sounded. He was still Zane, of course, but now he was also Echo.

Pythor grinned, quite pleased with himself. “Let it be known that I suggested that name—” He started—

“Let it be known that you lost our boat.” Morro interjected. “Of course, it’s what we get for entrusting it with someone too young to handle the responsibility—”

Echo watched as Pythor and Morro launched into a full argument, Pythor lunging at Morro and the two of them starting to tumble around in the sand. It wasn’t quite the same as how they had bickered on the boat ride here—in fact, it was much louder.

Cole watched them fight for a moment, then sighed heavily. He turned to Echo. “Let’s get started on that raft.” He suggested. “While they get sand up their asses.” He added drily. “Does that sound good, Echo?”

Echo nodded. He had never built a raft before! “Yes, let us. You will have to show me how.”

A gust of wind-blasted sand hit the spot where Echo was moments before, and Cole, holding Echo in the air as though he weighed very little, walked back several paces. “Oh.” Echo commented, as Cole set him down out of the blast zone. “Thank you.”

“Of course.” Cole mumbled, already moving towards the trees. Echo trailed after him, eager to see how building a raft worked.

He was out of the lighthouse, and ready to see the world Father had described to him. There was so much he still didn’t know—and someone he wished he’d never learned about, and did not want to think about right now—

But he would make it work. He was no longer alone, after all.

[rileyglas]

The List ~Pt. 7 - Condemnation~ (Sneak Peek)

Out here kicking my feet like Alastor - Got part 7 queued for Friday then MAYBE part 8 next week (if ya'll like it enough) 💜 Need to catch up? Masterlist

The last few days (weeks?) have been a blur. It was a weird switch going from sleeping terribly because you longed to be near him - to sleeping constantly so you didn’t have to feel your body long from him. Anyone who came to your door was just told you weren’t feeling good. “Just caught a stomach bug, don’t come in! I would hate for you to catch it.”

Today you decided it’s time to finally leave your room. Charlie needs help and there are things around the hotel that need to be done before her meeting with Heaven. You aren’t one to let others down just because of your own emotional baggage.

You throw some makeup on to try to brighten your face. Usually, you wouldn’t be bothered but all the crying significantly darkened your eyes. I’d rather not let them see me like this. The less questions the better. Plastering a smile on your face, you head down to the lobby to get the list of ‘to-dos’ from Charlie. Surprisingly she isn’t there when you arrive, so you take a seat next to Angel on the floor. You lean your head against his leg as a silent ‘hello’.

“Hey toots, how ya feeling?” he says without looking up from his phone. “Better, thanks.” You say cheerfully.

“Good! Guess you and Smiles must have shared cooties ‘cause he ain’t been seen or heard from since Lucifer’s visit.” A pang hits your chest, but you try to brush it off. He’s probably just pissed off.

Charlie rushes down the stairs and scoops you into a lung crushing hug, “So so so soooooooo glad you’re feeling better! I didn’t realize how much you did around here! Could you do me a huge favor and go pick up a few things from the city and take them to my dad? He said he can meet you at this address. I have to go pack - Thank you!” Just as quickly as she came down the stairs, she hurries back, leaving you with a short list and an address.

For the first time in weeks, you leave the hotel without Alastor or his shadow close by. It’s not that you’re afraid of going out alone, but you realize you enjoyed his company more than you thought. You glance up at the radio tower as you walk away from the hotel and can make out a dark figure with glowing red eyes staring down from the window. Well at least that’s confirmation he’s still around.

You pick up the few things from a local shop and walk across the city to the address Charlie gave you. This doesn’t look right. The building you walk up to is more of an abandoned warehouse for a drug deal rather than a cozy meetup with the King of Hell. Cautiously you walk through the door which looked like it had been kicked in already. Just as expected, it’s an empty building with piles of trash scattered about. Graffiti and posters plaster the inner walls. You triple check the address on the small paper and it matches.

Sooo now what?

After waiting and pacing for a few minutes, you hear someone call out to you. You turn to see Lucifer standing outside a portal in the middle of the building.

“You didn’t actually think I stayed within the city, did you?” he chuckles as he motions for you to enter into the portal with him. Once inside you look around to see a large open room filled with…ducks? And this guy was trying to give me a hard time?

“Is – is this your office, sir?”

He boots a few ducks out of his path. “Yes, this is where I work on – important – matters. Also, no need for formalities, Lucifer is fine. Those bags for me?”

You almost forgot why you were even standing in the King’s office. All the piles of rubber ducks grabbed your attention and now you wanted to look through them out of pure curiosity. Handing over the bags, you keep scanning around the room. Lucifer notices your curious glances, “Would you – like to see my most recent project?” he asks nervously. You feel your face light up at the offer and he can’t help but mirror your excitement.

He starts to show you all the ducks he’s created, their names, what they can do. His eyes glimmer excitedly every time you display even the slightest interest in one. What feels like a mere fifteen minutes ends up becoming a couple hours. As he shows you the last of his collection, a solemn look crosses his face.

“Thank you for this. I don’t get a lot of visitors and haven’t really been able to share my work since Charlie…grew up. Plus, it’s nice to see you smile, especially after our first encounter.”

Your breath catches at the memory of that night. Not so much the crying in the arms of the devil part - rather the grief you felt shortly after. “Oh – thank you for taking the time to show me. Truthfully, I haven’t had much reason to smile lately so it’s a lovely change.”

His smile drops. There's a long pause as he fights with himself to find the right words, “Did he…Alastor I mean…hurt you that night? You can tell me. I know Charlie is close with him, so you probably don’t feel comfortable -”

“He didn’t hurt me. At least not in the physical sense.” Frowning, you curse at yourself for being too honest. You can’t help but feel at ease in his presence. He was Lucifer, King of Hell and easily the most powerful in all the seven rings. What ulterior motives could he possibly have or need? He has no reason to be anything other than genuine in his worry for you. He made it all too easy to tell him anything.

[kinkley-love]

so idk where this is going to go because i’m just trying to process the ending of the episode for myself when i should be sleeping

i can understand bobby dying from a narrative perspective. i’m looking forward to seeing how it affects the characters (but i swear if gerrard comes back AGAIN after how many complaints and mistreatment i will SCREAM)

but it also takes away a big part of why i like 911.

because 911 was the show where people go through it but they end up okay on the end.

because i could get through episodes and know people were going to be okay.

and when that’s taken away, it’s just another show that doesn’t pay to get invested in because why bother getting attached to the characters. (not saying i’m not invested or won’t be but like is it worth my energy and my emotions if it’s just gonna abruptly end things)

and like from a narrative perspective sure this shakes things up. but things already were shaken up. eddie’s gone. buck’s hanging on by a thread. chim’s dealing with new trauma both for himself and his family while preparing for another kid. hen is probably still recovering from denny almost dying and losing mara and all that came with that.

and you know what else would’ve shaken things up? bobby getting injured and not being able to be a firefighter anymore. let his recovery mean something. let him making a family and a loving home mean something. let the 118 figure out how to exist without him, not like they did in the first half of the season but when they know he’s not coming back to them. let him figure out who he is when he can’t be a firefighter anymore. which is what, from an extremely early age, he put his whole life towards.

i don’t know i’m just really over media using deaths like this as a finish to character arcs like life is a checklist and once you’ve checked the boxes you might as well be killed off.

i get that it’s a story and i guess trying to be realistic (9-1-1 and realistic? in the same sentence?) but see the neat things about stories is how they’re an escape from the disaster the real world is and this makes it not an escape anymore.

and like, if you were gonna kill bobby, honestly, do it last season. when he was suicidal and making amends and making sure to tell everyone how much they meant to him.

don’t do it now, when chimneys going to feel guilty about it forever. when hens last birthday with him will forever be the one he forgot (don’t even get me started). when athenas now just the “SO leaves her” character. when buck was, while helping, not there with his team and not able to do enough. and sure, these are all now storylines that can be explored. but you know, in early 911, there wasn’t constant higher and higher and higher stakes and honestly it was better. there was hijinks and family drama and learning about one another. which still needs to be done with how they’ve had so many of the characters regressing honestly.

give me more ridiculous calls. give me detective buck and bobby lore and chim&hen friendship and general FUN.

the story doesn’t need constant escalation. it needs more fun. i feel like we’re not allowed to just have any “good” episodes (in content, not in quality) anymore and that exhausts me *way* more than the fact it’s in its eighth season and until now didn’t have a major character death.

anyway. idk. this was all typed out on the fly and i’m not gonna be proofreading and who knows if i’ll change my mind in a week or two but just. after everything all these characters have been through this season alone, i really don’t think they needed to kill bobby to make it seem “real”

also tim if you’re worried about viewers not being excited / intrigued about your next huge catastrophe bc they feel confident no major character will die maybe you need to come up with something better. maybe focus more on rescues again. don’t always need to make it personal.

also also if one of these shows was gonna kill a captain why couldn’t it have been lone star owen was horrible

[jewwyfeesh]

Please Teach Me! Ritsu-senpai

Writer: 日日日 (Akira)

Character(s): Suou Tsukasa, Isara Mao, Sakuma Ritsu

Translated by: jewwyfeesh

Disclaimer: I translated this story from the CN version of the game, which means that it has been double translated (JP > CN > EN).

Tsukasa: In addition, I overheard some Classmates saying that their grades really did improve when they asked their seniors to tutor them~ or something… like that…

Season: Summer Location: 2-B Classroom

Tsukasa: Senpai! Kindly teach me how to complete my homework!

Ritsu: Eh… I don’t wanna.

Tsukasa: I would never count on you to teach me anything, Ritsu-senpai!

Eh? That’s weird, is Narukami-senpai not around? Isn’t this 2B’s classroom?

Ritsu: Ah~ Nacchan~? …I think they ran off with Secchan for some modeling job.

The both of them are heading home right after work, so they won’t be coming to Knights’ practice later today.

Tsukasa: E-eh? I guess there’s nothing that can be done since it’s for work, but at the very least I should have been notified!

When you all treat me this way, it makes me feel like I’ll forever be regarded as some mere follower or as if I’m looked down upon by the rest of you!

Ritsu: Huh? Did they not tell you about it?

For you to say that… I think there’s been a misunderstanding~ Because when it comes to reporting, contacting and discussing, Secchan’ll see these through till the very end – even to the point of being a pain in everyone’s necks.

Suu~chan, is there a possibility you forgot to check your SNS?

Tsukasa: Erm… I… don’t think so…?

Aahh… there really is a message in there. “Sorry. Today’s practice is cancelled!”

Uuuu… I had turned off my Smartphone during class earlier on, and didn’t notice it as a result! I can’t believe I’ve made such an oversight!

Ritsu: Though, Secchan’s also in the wrong for telling everyone the day of.

He seems to have been forced to take up modelling again recently… Maybe that’s why he’s a lot busier now?

Back to the topic at hand – you said you wanted some help with your homework, right? What happened?

I’ve also said this multiple times – ‘don’t bring trouble here’.

Suu~chan’s always like this… just like the previous ‘Duel’ and the like~…

Without fail, you’d bring something very unnecessary, something troublesome, and or work over~ to be frank with you, it’s bothering me a lot.

Tsukasa: T-that’s because you seniors haven’t been putting in much effort, that’s why I’ve been running after all of you! If you really want me to say it, Ritsu-senpai, then I think you ought to reflect on yourself!

Mao: Hey~ I don’t know what happened, but stop fighting, you two. Aren't both of you unitmates? Y’all should be getting along.

Tsukasa: Uwah!? Y-you’re Trickstar’s… M-Maa~kun? Senpai?

Mao: It seems like you don’t even remember my name clearly… we are kinda like competitors, so please pay more attention to us…

I’m Trickstar’s Isara Mao, I’ll be in your care~ ♪

Tsukasa: I-I can’t be taking care of you! You all are our enemies! Enemies, I’m telling you!!

Ritsu: Hey… Suu~chan, you’re not allowed to talk to my Maa~kun with that kind of tone.

Tsukasa: W-why did you pull a 180 and scold me? Whose side are you actually on, Ritsu-senpai?!

Ritsu: Huhuhu~ It doesn’t matter when, where, why or how, I’ll forever take Maa~kun’s side… ♪

Mao: Let’s not talk about that for the time being.

Yo Suou, you mentioned something about homework earlier on, right… Which parts are you unsure of? If you don’t mind, I could try to help you out?

Tsukasa: E-eh?? Even though I did come here to request help with my homework…

But I’m not in such a dire state that I’d need to go begging our arch-rivals for assistance!

Mao Hm~ We’re currently not in the midst of a performance, so how about we set that aside for now? After all, we’re senior and junior from the same school~

I’d be more than happy to help you out with your homework.

After all, wasn’t there a story about helping your enemy out by giving them some salt[1]?

Tsukasa: Mhm, I know that story. It’s Bushidō, the way of the warrior [2], and shares some similarities with our Knights’ code of chivalry.

But… mhhghfmmg~…?

Mao: Ahaha, if you’re still that unwilling to have me tutor you, then how about letting Ritchan teach you? He’s pretty smart too.

Tsukasa: Ah? Really?

What a surprise… I’d thought that all of his braincells have already died due to his excessive sleeping habits!

Mao: The reverse is true, actually~ He sleeps the whole day away, which often resulted in him playing truant – but to everyone’s surprise, he was only forced to repeat a grade. So, it’s just proof that his grades are up to standard.

Not only is he an outstanding idol, his grades are good too. Isn’t that right, Ritchan~ ♪

Ritsu: Huhu. Being praised by Maa~kun makes me happy ♪

But please spare me from having to teach anyone anything. Because I think it’s too much trouble, and hence I don’t like it.

Mao: Don’t be like that~ You should take care of your adorable juniors every once in a while.

We ‘Trickstar’ are all from the same year, so I’m kinda envious of people who have juniors to dote on.

Ritsu: Be as it may… it’s because your biggest hobby is taking care of other people, Maa~kun…

But I really can’t find any motivation in myself~ I don’t wanna waste unnecessary effort on Suu~chan…

Mao: ……If you’re going to say that, Ritchan, I’ll end up hating you.

Ritsu: Uuuu… Maa~kun’s about to get angry… Why, though? I didn’t do anything wrong…

It’s all your fault, Suu~chan. Tch…

Okaaay, I got it. Even though I think it’s too troublesome, I’ll tutor you. I’d be really sad if Maa~kun really hated me, after all…

Which parts are you unsure about, Suu~chan? Aren’t you better at studying?

Tsukasa: You are correct. If we’re talking about the first year… I am confident that my grades are on the higher side of the spectrum. However, I am unwilling to stop there, and wish to aim for greater heights.

Because the Suou clan has always used ‘Full Speed Ahead’ as our Motto.

In addition, I overheard some Classmates saying that their grades really did improve when they asked their seniors to tutor them~ or something… like that…

That… Um… How do I say this… Hearing everyone talk about their experiences made me a little envious.

That’s why I, too, decided to be a little shameless and ask my seniors to tutor me.

…So, am I still troubling you, Ritsu-senpai?

Ritsu: Uuu~… Don’t do that~ Don’t look at me with those puppy dog eyes… it’s one of my greatest weaknesses… Ugh… Vampires have so many weak spots, it’s really irritating…

I guess I have no choice. I can’t keep on shoving all of my tasks over to other people, and step up every once in a while.

Though lemme warn you — I’m not as gentle as Secchan, so you’d better do some mental preparation.

Tsukasa: Okay. I can’t wait. I’m sure that my hard work will pay off, and that there’ll be a glorious victory awaiting me at the end of this arduous road!

Please don’t hold back. Teach me sternly, Ritsu-senpai ♪

Translator's notes: [1] The original CN term is "��人送盐，帮助对手一把", which most likely came from the JP term 「敵に塩を送る」.

"敌人送盐，帮助对手一把" literally translated means "Sending salt to the enemy, giving your opponent a hand" -- it comes from a an anecdote during the Japanes war period, where salt, an important raw material, was in short supply. The TLDR of it was one of the enemies (A), upon seeing that their opponent (B) had their supply of salt cut off and was suffering, decided to send some salt over on the grounds that they (A) would rather defeat their opponent (B) in a righteous manner on the battlefield, rather than forcing them in between a rock and a hard place.

There's a CN article about it here.

[2] Bushidō (武士道, "the way of the warrior") is also known as the Samurai code of chivalry; it is a "moral code concerning concerning samurai attitudes, behavior and lifestyle, formalized in the Edo period (1603–1868)" (wiki), and "promoted the importance of loyalty, honor and martial arts. The Bushido philosophy refers to not fearing death and dying for valor." (MAIKOYA)

[spookyshipperfics]

Fascinating

Find it: a03 / Fandom: The X-Files / Rating: M

Tagging: @today-in-fic

Part of the Do You Like Scary Movies? series

What is it About? An awkward hiking scenario results in Mulder and Scully sharing a tent. The problem... Skinner is also there.

*This could probably pass for T, but I went with M just to be safe.

Read it: “What do you mean you forgot the tents?” Mulder’s voice competed against the distant rumble of thunder. His eyes bounced accusingly between Scully and Skinner.

“I thought you packed them, Agent Scully?”

“I thought I did, Sir.” Scully was all innocence and raised eyebrows. “When you said the tents were ‘ready to go’ in your garage, I assumed you meant in the backpacks.”

“You know what they say about assuming,” Mulder muttered.

Scully whipped her head in his direction, her gaze hot daggers. Mulder knew her patience was thin. That if Skinner wasn’t here, he could very well be a victim of homicide at her capable hands.

“At least one of us is prepared,” Mulder added, smirking despite Scully’s wrath. There was something cute about her annoyance. Rosey cheeks and exaggerated eye rolls were a secret treat.

“Shut up, Mulder.”

“Maybe it’s the witch. Tearing us apart. Creating chaos.”

“Don’t tell me you’re trying to blame this on some outlandish folk myth,” she shot back. “If that’s the case, I’d have to declare your theory—”

“Fascinating,” he intruded. The bickering was always fun, even with Skinner there to bear witness. He almost felt guilty as a raindrop hit her forehead. The weather had soured as quickly as the mood. Still, Scully wasn’t supposed to be here. Neither was Skinner.

It had started as a slide show presentation on the Burkittsville disappearances. It wasn’t an X-File, not really. Dating back to the 1880s, the mystery had no federal call to action. The missing persons reports were never verified. The idea that a witch was behind it all seemed even more unlikely. Mulder wasn’t surprised when Scully shot him down. It wouldn’t stop him from investigating on his own time, and he’d told her so. What Mulder hadn’t expected was for Scully and Skinner to follow him. The excuse: Skinner was an avid hiker when he wasn’t pushing pencils. The truth: they were worried he’d go rogue again. After all, it hadn’t been that long since he’d jumped ship, quite literally, off of the Queen Anne.

Now, Mulder was shoved into a tent with Scully and Skinner, the avid hiker who apparently couldn’t be bothered with double-checking he’d packed pertinent survival gear. It had been too far to hike back. The impending rain demanded they make camp quickly, none of them considering what the next steps would look like. With the tent erect and raindrops pelting, the next steps were… rough.

Awkwardness invaded the space, which was not quite big enough for two people, never mind three. They took turns stripping off heavy jackets and boots while avoiding eye contact. No one was getting into pajamas. That much was clear.

After pulling off his sweatshirt, Mulder’s nighttime attire would consist of jeans and a cotton T-shirt. Skinner—well, he didn’t actually care what Skinner would be sleeping in because Scully had been hiding skin-hugging leggings and a baggy sweatshirt beneath her coat. The reveal stole Mulder’s attention, and he forced himself to avert his eyes as she took to hands and knees to spread thermal-insulated blankets across the tent floor.

Mulder cursed and thanked the universe when they decided he would occupy the middle spot. It makes the most sense, Skinner had rationalized, and Scully had agreed while worrying her bottom lip.

God, that lip.

Mulder couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like between his own teeth. The image haunted him to the tent floor where he realized sleeping between his beautiful partner and his boss would be just as this-can’t-be-happening horrible as he hypothesized. But it was happening. Just like a restless, dead asleep Skinner was scooting closer to him and, in turn, sending him nearer to Scully. It was cruel, really. Of all the times he’d fantasized about getting Scully into bed, it never accounted for Skinner snoring behind him. If it weren’t for the steady thump of rain or his sheer exhaustion, irritation would have kept him awake like caffeine.

The next time his eyes fluttered open, the pinky beginnings of sunrise had invaded the tent just like he had invaded Scully’s space. Wrapped around her like a cat, his hand had slipped under her shirt, fingers resting just beneath the swell of her breast. He startled at the realization, his heart reeving to life like a chainsaw. Scully shifted and stiffened. The universe’s second sinister joke. Mulder had his hand up Scully’s shirt, and now she knew.

He pulled away extraordinarily slow like he wanted to extract the pin from a grenade without triggering an explosion. His palm barely moved two inches when she stopped him. The grenade might not have exploded, but he nearly did. To his total disbelief, Scully’s little hand tugged his upward until it returned to where it started.

Hesitant fingers extended to caress soft skin with this new permission. He explored the warm space beneath the weight of her breast as his thumb stretched higher until he couldn’t take it anymore and cupped her fully. Scully whimpered. His jeans got tighter. Skinner still snored from behind him, the sound far enough away that he must have rolled over.

Mulder could care less. Scully’s breast was in his unworthy hand. He squeezed. He fondled. He teased her nipple until it hardened beneath his touch. Scully wiggled backward. Her back rammed into his chest, her backside against his eager groin. Her sweet-smelling hair muffled his groan.

There were thousands of words on the tip of his tongue. Questions. Assurances. Dirty sentiments. All of them were lost in the moment. Instead, he chose greed. His hand slid from her breast to the band of her leggings. He needed to feel her. To know if she was as wet and warm as he suspected. His fingertips dipped beneath the elastic of her pants just as Skinner’s heavy arm slammed across his waist.

Mulder almost screamed from the suddenness. He’d just gone from rounding third base to Skinner intercepting the ball. If Mulder listened closely enough, he could practically hear Skinner shouting, “You’re out, loser.” Mulder cuddled Scully. Skinner cuddled Mulder. If anyone had walked in, the three of them would surely be filing for unemployment. Maybe they’d even have to settle for jobs slinging peanuts at his metaphorical baseball field.

“Mmmm,” Skinner mumbled. “Shit. Sorry.”

Mulder grumbled a bitter “Don’t worry about it,” but nobody was there to hear it. Scully fled the tent with mutterings of “getting breakfast” while Skinner scooted away like he’d been electrocuted.

When Skinner requested privacy to change, Mulder exited the tent. Scully had a few protein bars in her hand and tossed him one with a shy smile. The forest smelled like rain. A dampness hung around them, dark and gray. There was something else there, though.

Hope.

The sun’s rays warmed the higher they got. Bright light penetrated the tree line. Birds chirped, hinting at good things to come. He felt the same about Scully, standing there with mussed hair and peach-colored cheeks. Energy had shifted. Their weather pattern had changed. The forecast, he hoped, was bright and sunny.

“Hi,” he offered.

“Hi.” Scully dropped her gaze before resettling on his eyes and then his lips.

“This morning… I…” Bright and sunny, he reminded himself. “I’m not going to pretend it didn’t happen. That there isn’t something there.” He almost slapped a hand over his mouth.

Scully’s cheeks blazed pink, and his stomach flip-flopped. Suddenly, the need to apologize rose like bile in his throat. They were partners. Co-workers. “Scully… listen,” he stumbled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“It’s okay, Mulder,” she interjected, chin proud and shoulders back. Her stare was still glued to his lips. “I liked it.”

Mulder nearly fell to his knees, but then he noticed Skinner had appeared. The assistant director strode up with a brow-furrowing expression on his face. “Liked what?”

Mulder couldn’t help the glower that consumed his face. In one poorly timed second, Skinner returned to public enemy number one. “Scully… uh… was just saying how much she liked my theory on the Burkittsville witch.”

“Really?” Skinner’s eyebrows arched in disbelief.

“Really,” Mulder echoed. “What were you just calling it, Scully? You used a very particular adjective.”

Her eyes narrowed, but she was always quick to play the part. His partner. His friend. The woman who had stolen his heart the moment he’d met her. “Fascinating,” she grumbled.

And just like that, Mulder was grinning again.

Come show some love on a03 here.