#so as predicted we got this boost

[lulu2992]

Planes fly smoother in Hope County now.

Not better, though 😅

[girlbob-boypants]

Anyway the reason why you shouldn't pre order Veilguard isn't because of some moral protest about the layoffs. It's because deceptive marketing and releasing unfinished products are the current standard in the AAA space and a few pieces of mediocre fashion do NOT warrant spending 60+ usd now for a game that might not even run later.

[mrsfancyferrari]

Real Love

Summary: You and Carlos were just supposed to be a PR couple for less than a year but someone decided to catch feelings.

Song: Love Story - Indila

Author’s note: I can't write short stories to save my life. I hope you enjoy this long journey which may take a full day to read. Please like, reblog and share this! <3

Word count: 8.6k

It all started as a simple PR arrangement between you, a well-known influencer, and Carlos Sainz, the Formula 1 driver. We were both told it would only last less than a year - just long enough to boost our public profiles and create some buzz. Little did we know, someone had other plans.

At first, it was easy enough. We attended events together, posted cute couple photos on social media, and played the part of the perfect pair. The chemistry between us felt natural, which made the whole charade convincing.

Your routine was simple enough.

You and Carlos would meet up at his house and he would drive you both to the paddock while sharing a small conversation about what happened in your jobs in the last weeks.

The roar of the engines and the excited chatter of the fans would fill the air around you.

As you reach the Ferrari garage, Carlos turns to you. "I've got some meetings with Charles to attend to, but you're free to explore or chat with the other drivers' partners if you'd like. I'll catch up with you in a bit, okay?"

You nod, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. "Sounds good. I'll be around if you need me." With a smile, you part ways, ready to take in the bustling atmosphere of the Ferrari garage.

Because of your ‘relationship’, you were able to make friends with your current bestie, Lily Muni.

You and your close friend Lily would often engage in candid discussions about your romantic entanglements, particularly your faux relationship with Carlos. Despite being the sole confidante privy to the fact that your connection with Carlos was entirely fabricated, Lily wholeheartedly embraced the role of your number one supporter and "shipper."

She would enthusiastically encourage you, even though she was fully aware that your purported love affair was merely a façade maintained for the benefit of others.

"So what's going on with you these days?" Lily asked curiously since you hadn't seen her in a few weeks. You knew that she wanted to know more about your relationship but it was still the same.

"Lily, I don't know what you're waiting for," You replied, taking a sip of your coffee. "We're going to be like this until the contract ends."

Lily looked at you with a knowing look, smiling at your denial, "Not until one of you decides to confess, I bet it's gonna be Carlos. I see where his eyes go when you're not looking."

You can feel your cheeks heat up at Lily's teasing words, and you quickly avert your gaze, trying to hide your embarrassment.

Blushing, you try to hide your embarrassment by taking another sip of your coffee, hoping to distract yourself.

Deep down, you couldn't deny the flutter of hope that Lily's words sparked within you, secretly wishing that her prediction would come true and Carlos would finally reveal his true feelings.

"Come on, Lily, you know it's all just for show," you say with a nervous laugh, hoping to dismiss any romantic notions. Deep down, however, you can't help but wonder if there might be some truth to her playful observations.

Lily chuckles mischievously, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, I know, I know. But you can't blame me for hoping, can you? Sometimes, even the most make-believe romances have a way of turning real."

You nodded before thinking of her words, realizing that there were indeed moments when Carlos's gaze lingered a little longer, or when his touches felt a little more intentional. Maybe, just maybe, Lily's playful observations held more truth than you were willing to admit.

As you sat there with your coffee, a newfound sense of curiosity and anticipation began to take root within you, wondering if this faux relationship could possibly evolve into something genuine and heartfelt.

You would be lying if you said that you didn't have a crush on Carlos. His charm and the way he made you feel special were undeniable. It wasn't just the little moments or his playful gestures, it was the way your heart skipped a beat whenever he was near.

Every time he looked into your eyes, it felt like there was something more behind his gaze. And now, with Lily's playful observations, the possibility of those feelings being reciprocated started to flicker in your mind, making your heart race with anticipation.

But you knew that breaking the rules of the PR contract because of your feelings was not an option. You couldn't risk jeopardizing the professional relationship and the project you had been working on together.

Besides, you reminded yourself, sometimes it's better to keep a crush as a secret, unrequited admiration rather than risking the potential fallout that could come from crossing that line.

So, you decided to bury those feelings deep down, focusing on the task at hand and maintaining a professional demeanor, even if your heart still fluttered every time Carlos entered the room.

It was a bittersweet realization, but one that you knew was necessary for the sake of your career and the project's success.

After catching up with Lily, you had to head back to the Ferrari garage to see Carlos one more time before he goes to the first sprint of the race, your heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

You took a deep breath, preparing yourself to put on your best poker face, to hide the feelings that threatened to spill over.

This would be the last time you allowed yourself to indulge in this fantasy, the last time you let your heart flutter at the sight of him. From now on, it would be all business, all focus, and no room for what-ifs and maybes.

As you entered, you found Carlos focused on preparing for the race, his eyes fixed on the car before him. You couldn't help but admire his dedication and skill, a reminder of why you were drawn to him in the first place.

Taking a deep breath, you approached him, ready to wish him luck and carry on with your professional duties.

But as you stood there, your eyes locked with his, you couldn't help but wonder if there was something more beneath the surface, something that Lily's playful observations had hinted at.

As he smiled at you and gestured for you to come over, a glimmer of hope ignited within you. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for something more between you two, despite the professional boundaries. But you quickly pushed those thoughts aside, reminding yourself of the risks involved and the importance of staying focused on the task at hand.

With a smile, you returned his gesture and walked over, ready to offer your well wishes for the race.

As soon as you got close enough, his hand sneaked across your waist, sending a shiver down your spine. Your heart raced as he pulled you closer, his lips meeting yours in a passionate kiss.

The world seemed to stand still for a moment as the warmth of his touch and the sweetness of his kiss enveloped you. It was a moment of pure bliss, a confirmation that there was indeed something more between you two.

But as quickly as it happened, reality came crashing back.

You pulled away, your heart pounding with a mixture of desire and uncertainty.

That was normal for you two. It doesn't mean anything.

"Good luck with your race," you muttered, your voice barely above a whisper.

As you glanced from his lips to his eyes and saw that he did the same thing, a spark of connection flickered between you, leaving you wondering if there was more to this moment than either of you were willing to admit.

“Mi amor, I will definitely win with you being my good luck charm,” He said, smirking at the affect his words still had on you.

Reluctantly, you watched as Carlos tore his gaze away from you and focused on the final preparations of his car. With a heavy heart, you knew that this fleeting moment of connection would have to be set aside for now.

He had a race to win, and you had your own professional duties to attend to. As he climbed into the driver's seat and drove off to the starting line, you could only hope that the universe would bring you together again, when the time was right. . . .

Carlos ended up being first in practice 1, which was very surprising for everyone. His skill and determination were evident as he flawlessly maneuvered the twists and turns of the track, leaving his competitors in the dust.

The cheers and applause from the crowd filled the air, but amidst the excitement, you couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and admiration for Carlos. . . .

╔═ * . · : · . ✧ ✦ ✧ . · : · . * ═╗

╚═ * . · : · . ✧ ✦ ✧ . · : · . * ═╝

As you sat on Carlos's bed, waiting for him to finish dressing up. You couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and anticipation. Carlos and you had to go to an event together so you were now sitting on his bed, all dolled up.

The dress you were given to wear to the event was a stunning crimson masterpiece. Its vibrant hue perfectly represented the fiery spirit of Ferrari, mirroring Carlos's passion and determination on the racetrack.

The fabric gracefully hugged your curves, accentuating your figure in all the right places. The bodice was beautifully adorned with intricate lace detailing, adding a touch of elegance to the ensemble. The dress flowed effortlessly down to the floor, creating a mesmerizing silhouette as you walked.

As you looked at yourself in the mirror, you couldn't help but feel a sense of empowerment and confidence.

You glanced at the clock, realizing that time was running out. You hoped that Carlos would hurry and join you soon.

As you read the Twitter comments questioning the authenticity of your relationship with Carlos, a wave of insecurity washed over you.

Despite knowing the truth of your connection, the doubts planted by strangers made you question your ability to convince fans of your 'love' for each other.

It was disheartening to realize that no matter how real your feelings were, they could still be perceived as fake by those who only saw glimpses of your lives through social media.

"Carlos?" you knocked on the bathroom door, wanting to know what he was still doing as they needed to go.

As you waited for a response, you couldn't help but wonder if he was feeling the same pressure and scrutiny from fans as you were, and if it was affecting his confidence as well.

"Yes cariño, you can come in," you heard his voice and you decided to open the door.

As you entered the bathroom, the sight of Carlos's bare back took your breath away. His muscles rippled under his smooth skin, and the towel that hung loosely around his waist only added to the allure.

His toned muscles glistened with droplets of water, and you couldn't help but appreciate the physical strength and athleticism that made him a champion on the racetrack.

You tried to maintain composure, but it was impossible to tear your eyes away from him. You were suddenly aware of the growing heat in the room, a reflection of the intense chemistry that existed between the two of you.

He turned to face you, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Like what you see?" he teased, causing your heart to race even faster.

You quickly averted your gaze, feeling a blush creep up your cheeks. "Sorry," you stammered, turning around to give him privacy. "I didn't realize you weren't dressed yet."

"It's okay cariño, since you're here, do you mind rubbing my back? It's hard to reach sometimes," He asked, gesturing to the bottle close to you on the shelf but still not turning around and applying some lotion onto his face.

"Sure Carlos," you replied.

You took a small amount of lotion in your hands and began to gently rub it onto Carlos's bare back, your fingers gliding smoothly over his muscles.

As you worked your way from his shoulders down to his lower back, you couldn't help but admire the strength and resilience they represented.

The physical contact eased the tension that had been building up in his back, making him stop what he was doing and sigh in relief.

"Am I that good?" you teased.

Chuckling, Carlos' eyes were still closed in bliss. "Well, cariño, you have magic hands. I've never felt so relaxed. Maybe I should consider hiring you as my personal masseur," he muttered.

Giggling softly, you replied, "Well, it seems like I have a hidden talent then. I can give you a massage after your races if you'd like."

"Yes please cariño," He pleaded.

You were taken aback by the intensity of his plea, and the way his voice resonated in your ears sent a shiver down your spine. Your cheeks flushed even deeper as you realized the effect you had on him, and a mix of excitement and nervousness washed over you.

"Y/N? Why did you stop?" Carlos asked, finally turning around to face you, his eyes locked with yours.

The electricity in the room seemed to intensify as you found yourself lost in his gaze, unable to find the words to explain the sudden halt in your actions.

"Carlos, we have an important event to go to. We can't waste time here," you reminded him and yourself. You just remembered the event that left your mind as soon as you stepped inside the bathroom.

Carlos pouted at your words, his disappointment evident. He knew that the event was important, but he couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret at leaving behind the intimate moment the two of you were sharing.

"We can't just spend a few minutes?" Carlos asked, trying his luck.

"Carlos, this event is about Ferrari," You started, going over to wash your hands. "You have to be there and be there early."

Carlos pouted at your words, remembering the event too. "I guess you're right," he said with a hint of disappointment. "But don't worry, I'll hold you to that promise of a massage later."

"You'll get them soon enough," You replied smiling, walking out of the bathroom, leaving Carlos to change into his suit. . . .

You two had made it to the event half an hour before it was going to start, and as you got out of Carlos' car, you were bombarded with the paparazzi.

Flashbulbs went off incessantly as reporters shouted questions and cameramen jostled for the best angle.

Carlos, being used to this, instinctively shielded you from the chaos, wrapping his arm around your waist and guiding you towards the entrance, where security personnel were waiting to escort you inside.

As soon as you two had gotten into the building, you were able to breathe, soaking in the momentary calmness before the storm of socializing began.

You glanced at Carlos, his hand still lingering on your waist, and you exchanged a knowing smile, silently reassuring each other that you were in this together.

Taking a deep breath, you prepared to gracefully navigate the room, greeting and mingling with the various groups of people in attendance.

Taking a moment to compose yourselves, you scanned the room and spotted familiar faces from various racing teams and sponsors.

Making your way over to each group, you exchanged warm greetings and engaged in small talk, ensuring that you maintained the necessary professional connections in the racing world for Carlos.

"Carlos! Y/N!" a voice called you from in the crowd, and you both turned around to see Benedetto Vigna, the CEO of Ferrari, making his way towards you with a warm smile.

It was a relief to see a familiar face amidst the sea of strangers, and you greeted him with enthusiasm, ready to discuss the future of the partnership between Carlos and Ferrari.

"It's so wonderful to see you both here tonight," he exclaimed, extending his hand in greeting.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Carlos replied, giving him a quick hug with a smile.

You looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Wasn't he the one who wanted to stay at home longer for a massage?

As you and Carlos were about to join Benedetto Vigna for a group picture with Charles and his girlfriend Alexandra, you couldn't help but notice Carlos shooting you a mischievous grin.

"Looks like someone changed their mind about staying at home for massages," you whispered playfully, causing Carlos to chuckle as the camera flashed, capturing the moment of camaraderie between the four of you.

You couldn't help but blush as Carlos leaned in closer, his grip on your waist tightening. "I'm still getting that massage, aren't I?" he whispered playfully into your ear, causing a shiver to run down your spine.

You chuckled softly at Carlos's words, feeling a surge of warmth as his grip tightened around your waist. "Of course," you whispered back, leaning into his embrace.

After the group photo, the two of you were approached by the paparazzi, who insisted on taking pictures of just the two of you.

You obliged, striking a pose with Carlos, your smiles radiating with genuine joy and affection. As the camera clicked, freezing the moment in time, you couldn't help but feel grateful for the incredible journey you and Carlos had embarked on together.

Suddenly, you remembered the comments on your relationship being fake crossed your mind. In an impulsive move, you turned to Carlos and whispered, "KIss me."

With that, you leaned in and planted a passionate kiss on his lips, not caring about the prying eyes of the paparazzi.

Carlos, caught off guard by your sudden boldness, responded by deepening the kiss, his lips pressing fervently against yours.

The paparazzi went wild, capturing the genuine love and connection between the two of you, proving once and for all that your relationship was far from fake.

When you were able to separate from each other, you grinned at the paparazzi, reveling in the moment of rebellion and spontaneity. Ignoring the bewildered looks from the crowd, you confidently took Carlos's hand and led him off the stage, eager to escape the prying eyes and enjoy the rest of the night in each other's company.

The paparazzi's cameras continued to flash behind you, capturing the image of two people deeply in love, unafraid to defy expectations and embrace their own happiness.

And that's what you were hoping for.

You two spent the rest of the event, stuck to each other like glue, while effortlessly navigating conversations with important people.

As you mingled and exchanged pleasantries, it became evident to everyone around that your connection was genuine, sincere, and unbreakable. People couldn't help but be drawn to the magnetic energy between you, as you effortlessly charmed and captivated those in your presence.

Carlos made sure to take extra care of you on the drive home, keeping a watchful eye as he navigated the streets.

He gently helped you out of the car when you arrived at your doorstep, ensuring you were safely inside before bidding you goodnight and heading back to his own place.

As you lay in bed, still buzzing with the excitement of the night, you couldn't help but feel incredibly lucky to have someone like Carlos by your side, always looking out for you and making sure you were taken care of.

If only it was all real and genuine. . . .

You woke up with a pounding headache and a foggy memory of the previous night's events. As you tried to piece together what had happened, you received a call from Carlos.

"Hello?" you muttered into the phone sleepily.

"Oh Y/N, were you asleep? I didn't mean to wake up," Carlos' voice came through your phone and you immediately woke up fully.

When you turned on your TV, the camera panned over to Carlos on the phone, and you were surprised to see him there already.

"Carlos! Why are you there already? You should have called me earlier or something?" you groaned at both your headache and the fact that you would have to go to the paddock by yourself instead of with Carlos.

"Cariño, I already told everyone that you were sick but that you were recovering quickly and everyone wished you well." Carlos stated, making you freeze in the middle of trying to get out of bed.

"You what?"

"You don't have to come Cariño, unless you really want to," Carlos really assured you and you could see his worried face on TV.

"Thank you, you saved me big time," you replied, sliding back into your bed with a relieving sigh.

"You're welcome Cariño,"

During the call, you and Carlos briefly chatted before the race was about to begin.

"Put it on video call for a second," Carlos asked quickly and you did it without hesitation, hoping he wouldn't mind your bed hair.

Carlos gave you an air kiss, and you returned one back, a substitute for the good luck kiss you would always give him before switching off the phone.

You couldn't help but smile at the gesture, knowing that Carlos was trying to be considerate in your absence.

"Okay goodbye Cariño, I'll win the race for you."

"Good luck Carlos."

With your spirits lifted, you sat down to watch the race. You watched attentively as Carlos gave it his all, pushing himself to the limits. To your surprise, he managed to secure second place.

As soon as he was able to, he called you. His voice was filled with a mix of joy and frustration.

"Congratulations, Carlos! Second place is still amazing!" you exclaimed with genuine excitement.

However, Carlos's disappointment was evident as he sighed heavily and said, "I know, but I really wanted that first place. I'll keep pushing harder for the next race."

"You did incredible, Carlos! I'm so proud of you," you reassured him. "Second place is a huge achievement, and it shows how much progress you've made. Don't be too hard on yourself. There will always be another race to aim for that first place."

Carlos let out a small chuckle, his voice filled with a mix of gratitude and determination. "Thank you, Cariño. Your support means everything to me. I won't rest until I reach that top spot."

"Well you can rest at my place with your personal massager waiting for you."

"I can't wait Cariño, I'll see you in the evening," He said happily. A smile could be heard from in his voice and you grinned at that.

You didn't know why you decided to invite Carlos over but now the deed was already done.

As you headed into the kitchen, you couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. You knew how much Carlos loved your homemade tortillas and croquetas, and you wanted to make this evening extra special for him.

The sound of sizzling oil and the aroma of frying potatoes filled the air as you prepared the ingredients, imagining the look of delight on Carlos's face when he tasted the delicious meal you had prepared for him.

You quickly made your way to the bedroom to pick out an outfit that would make you look presentable for Carlos's arrival. After some consideration, you settled on a stylish yet comfortable ensemble—a fitted black blouse paired with high-waisted jeans and a pair of sleek black ankle boots.

To add a touch of elegance, you adorned your neck with a delicate silver necklace and slipped on a matching bracelet.

With your hair neatly styled and a hint of makeup to enhance your natural beauty, you felt confident and ready to welcome Carlos into your home.

Later in the day, there was a knock on your door. When you opened it, there was Carlos, holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Wow, Cariño, you look absolutely stunning," Carlos said, his eyes widening in admiration.

You blushed, not realizing the effect you had on him. "Thank you, Carlos. That's really sweet of you to say," you replied, genuinely touched by his compliment.

"Wow, these flowers are beautiful, Carlos! Thank you so much," you said, genuinely touched by the gesture.

Carlos smiled warmly, his eyes filled with admiration. "You deserve nothing less," he replied softly.

As you led him inside, you were completely unaware of the way Carlos' gaze lingered on you, captivated by your every move. Little did you know, his fascination with you had only grown stronger over time, and he couldn't help but hope that one day you would see him in the same light.

As you entered the dining room, Carlos's eyes widened with excitement as he saw the table set with all his favorite dishes. The aroma of homemade tortillas and croquetas filled the room, making his mouth water.

The warm glow of the candles and the delicious aroma that filled the air made his heart skip a beat. "Oh wow, you've really outdone yourself," he exclaimed, his face lighting up even more. "I can't believe you remembered all my favorites. This is incredible."

"I had to do something for my favourite driver," you teased, having Carlos pull away the chair for you so you could sit down.

"I must admit, being your favorite driver has its perks," Carlos replied with a playful wink, as he took his seat across from you. "But tonight, I'm here as more than just your driver. I'm here to enjoy this wonderful meal with an even more wonderful company."

Raising his glass, Carlos proposed a toast to celebrate their special evening together. "To us," he said, his voice filled with genuine affection. "May this be the first of many unforgettable nights spent in each other's company."

As you savored each bite of the delicious meal, the conversation flowed effortlessly between you and Carlos. Laughter filled the air as you shared stories, dreams, and aspirations.

The setting and shared moments created a deep connection, and you couldn't help but feel grateful for this enchanting evening together. The hours flew by, and before you knew it, the empty plates and wine glasses were a testament to the delightful feast.

As the night progressed, you offered to give Carlos a well-deserved back massage. He gladly accepted and lay down on your couch, allowing you to work your magic. You applied gentle pressure and kneaded the tension from his muscles, feeling the knots melt away under his touch.

As you continued the massage, Carlos's body relaxed, and his mind became more at ease. The two of you watched the race replay on the television, analyzing every turn, every move, and every decision Carlos made.

It was a bittersweet moment as you both discussed the missed opportunities and what could have been done differently, but it also kind of brought you two closer together.

In that moment, Carlos realized that having someone who not only supported him but also understood his passion was truly invaluable.

"I think I should have attacked more at this turn," Carlos explained to you as he watched intensely at the way he drove on TV.

Suddenly he felt a sudden weight on his back and he peeked behind him to see you.

He couldn't help but smile at the sight of you peacefully slumbering on his back. The warmth of your body against his, coupled with the rhythmic rise and fall of your breath, brought about a sense of tranquility he hadn't felt in a long time.

Carlos gently shifted his position, careful not to disturb your sleep, and decided to stay in that moment a little while longer, relishing in the comfort and contentment of having you by his side.

As he continued watching the race replay, he couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and contentment, knowing that he had found not only a passionate supporter but also a person with whom he could share quiet, intimate moments like this.

You woke up in your bed for the second time in a row without knowing how you even got there in the first place. Confused, you blinked your eyes open and looked around, trying to piece together how you had ended up in your bed again.

The memories of the enchanting evening with Carlos and the comforting massage flooded back, but the details of how you had transitioned from the couch to your bed remained elusive.

It was as if the night had taken on a dreamlike quality, blurring the lines between reality and imagination. . . .

It was the Spanish Grand Prix, and you had the privilege of attending with Carlos for the first time since you've been together.

As you watched from your seat in Carlos' car how the bustling crowd of racing enthusiasts were, you couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. The vibrant red sundress you wore perfectly matched Carlos' spirited personality and love of speed.

You made your way to the entrance, the sun kissed your skin, and the adrenaline in the air heightened the anticipation of witnessing the roaring engines and exhilarating race. It was a moment you would never forget, a celebration of your shared passion and the beginning of many more thrilling adventures together.

As you two emerged from the car, his hand immediately touched your hips, guiding you through the paddock to the Ferrari garage.

As you walked through the crowded paddock, you couldn't help but notice the sea of red surrounding you. It seemed like everyone was wearing the team colors to show their support for Carlos and his racing team.

The vibrant red sundress you chose seemed to blend in perfectly with the atmosphere, making you feel like a part of the action. Carlos looked at you with a smile, appreciating the effort you had put into matching with him.

Occasionally, he would stop to sign autographs for his adoring fans. The anticipation surrounding Carlos was immense, as this was his home track and everyone expected a lot from him.

Before heading off to his meeting, you turned to him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Your words were filled with warmth and admiration. You assured him. "I'm proud of you, no matter what happens."

"Thank you Cariño." he said smirking at you.

As you watched Carlos prepare for his race, you realized that this time, you would stay by his side instead of wandering off or meeting up with Lily, as you had often done in the past. This time, you understood that he needed more support before this race even started.

Carlos' home track held a special significance for his performance. Not only did it come with a sense of familiarity and comfort, but it also brought with it the unwavering support of the local fans who had been cheering him on since the beginning.

The energy and encouragement from the crowd fueled his determination to push harder and achieve success in front of his home audience.

You watched as he checked his car with the team, catching him glancing up at you multiple times to see if you were still there. It was clear that your presence meant a lot to him, and you were determined to be his unwavering source of support throughout the race.

As the time approached for the race to start, Carlos took you into a private room. As Carlos pulled you into the private room, a sense of urgency filled the air.

With hungry, heated kisses, his lips passionately explored yours, igniting a fiery desire within you. His strong hands tightly gripped your hips, pulling you closer, as if he couldn't get enough of you.

His actions sent shivers down your spine and intensified your longing for him. In that moment, you realized just how much his presence and touch ignited a deep desire within you, making you crave more of his passionate embrace.

You felt a surge of desire and passion, fueled by Carlos' intense affection. The way he held you, kissed you, and expressed his need for you created an irresistible magnetism between the two of you, intensifying your own desire and emotions.

Then, with a final look, he disappeared, leaving you with a mixture of excitement and anticipation.

Minutes later, the roar of the engines filled the air, signaling the start of the race. Your heart raced as you awaited the outcome.

Carlos immediately shot off the starting line, his car a blur of speed and determination. He skillfully maneuvered through the pack, steadily gaining ground on the leaders. As the race progressed, it became clear that Carlos was in a fierce battle for first place with Max and Lando, exchanging positions and pushing each other to their limits.

The crowd erupted with excitement, their cheers fueling Carlos' determination to seize the coveted top spot. Lap after lap, he showcased his exceptional racing skills, executing daring overtakes and defending his position with unwavering focus.

The tension in the air was palpable as the race entered its final stages, and it became a nail-biting fight to the finish line.

And then, it happened. The crowd erupted in cheers as Carlos crossed the finish line, victorious. His car sped past, his smile radiating joy and triumph.

As soon as he stepped out of the car, his eyes immediately sought you out.

You melted into his embrace, savoring the taste of victory and the warmth of his touch. The crowd roared around you, but in that moment, it was as if you were the only two people in the world. Your hands were cupping his cheeks, feeling the roughness of his stubble against your palms, while his hands rested firmly on your hips, anchoring you to the present.

The electrifying chemistry between the two of you was undeniable, and as you looked into each other's eyes, you knew that this victory was not just his, but yours as well.

In that instant, the world seemed to stand still. All your worries and doubts were forgotten. All that existed was the connection between you two.

In that moment, a surge of overwhelming love and pride washed over you. Thoughts of all the sacrifices and challenges you both had overcome flooded your mind, and you couldn't help but feel an immense sense of gratitude for being a part of Carlos' journey to victory.

"I'm so proud of you!" You said loud enough for him to hear over the chants of his name across the platform.

"Thank you Cariño, thank you for supporting me throughout," Carlos said, unable to think straight with the amount of adrenaline coursing through his body.

As the cheers of the crowd continued to echo in your ears, you leaned in and pressed your lips against Carlos' once more, savoring the taste of victory and the sweetness of his kiss. It was a moment of pure bliss, a celebration of their shared triumph.

Reluctantly, you pulled away, knowing that Carlos had to go to the podium to receive his well-deserved trophy.

With a final lingering glance, you whispered, "Go get that trophy, my champion." And with that, he ran off, leaving you with a heart filled with love and pride. . . .

It was the afterparty for Carlos' home win and everyone decided to go to a large club to celebrate.

As the night unfolded, you emerged from the car in a stunning red cocktail dress that hugged your curves in all the right places. The dress featured a plunging neckline and intricate lace detailing, exuding an air of elegance and sophistication.

The silky fabric cascaded down to your knees, swaying gracefully with every step you took. Your outfit was completed with a pair of sleek stiletto heels and a statement clutch, adding a touch of glamour to your ensemble.

As you entered the club, heads turned and whispers of admiration filled the air. The dimmed lights of the venue illuminated the sequins and beads embellishing your dress, creating a mesmerizing sparkle that mirrored the excitement in the room.

As the night progressed, you found yourself drawn into a conversation with the partners of the Formula One drivers.

"We're so proud of Carlos, we can't believe he did it," Lily said proudly, giving you a tight hug.

"Thank you, I can't believe it too," You replied, smiling happily at the memory of Carlos winning a few hours ago.

"It seemed like you were like his main support," Lily teased and your cheeks heated at her words.

"That's- that's not true." You denied it, "I just gave him an encouraging word here and there. It was mostly him that did all the work."

"That's not what Carlos said in his interview," Alexandra said, nudging your shoulder with hers.

Wanting to be a responsible person, you volunteered to be the sober one among you and Carlos. You wanted to allow Carlos to fully enjoy himself without worries, knowing that you would drive him home at the end of the night.

However, the girls in the group had a different idea. They suggested taking shots to celebrate, and despite your reservations, you decided to join the festivities.

As the night went on, the DJ played infectious music, prompting everyone to get up and dance. You found yourself caught up in the rhythm, joining in with the vibrant atmosphere.

Suddenly the music was lowered and you followed everyone's gaze, and to your surprise, there was Carlos walking into the club, holding his trophy high in the air. The crowd erupted into applause, creating a sea of cheering fans.

He made his way through the crowd, making space for himself to pass through. The crowd cleared out, creating a path for him to be in the center, where everyone could see him.

As he stepped onto the stage, the entire club erupted into applause. The cheering echoed through the air, a testament to his dedication and hard work.

You watched from a distance as Carlos delivered his speech, thanking his fans and everyone who had supported him that day. His words were filled with gratitude and humility, and it was evident that he meant every word.

From where you were standing, you couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in Carlos. He had achieved something extraordinary, and you had the opportunity to witness his moment of triumph firsthand.

Suddenly, your attention was drawn to a man in the crowd. He seemed particularly interested in you, despite it being widely known that you were already in a relationship with Carlos.

"Hello señorita, are you alone here?" The man asked. Some of his words were slurred.

"Umm, I'm not actually, I came with my friends," You said, trying to look for anyone familiar that was close by to help you.

"Well I don't see them so it's only me and you," he muttered amused by you. Everyone was watching Carlos' speech which meant that no one was going to help you.

"I'm in a relationship," you tried to remind him but that got him more angry.

"Lies! Everyone knows that you and him are in a PR relationship." He yelled, smashing his fist on the table he was leaning on.

You jumped at his actions, wishing someone would look and help you but it was never the case. This left you feeling confused and frustrated, unsure of how to handle the situation.

Just as you were contemplating how to respond, you felt a presence by your side.

Just as you were contemplating how to respond, you felt a presence by your side. It was Carlos. He looked concerned for you but angry at the man flirting with you.

Carlos stood protectively beside you, sending a clear message that you were not alone and that he would not tolerate anyone disrespecting you.

He stepped forward, his voice firm as he said, "I think it's time for you to leave."

The man's confident facade faltered, realizing he had crossed a line. He stammered an apology, his words barely audible, before quickly scattering off into the crowd. Carlos, still standing by your side, maintained his protective stance, his eyes never leaving the man's retreating figure.

You felt a wave of relief wash over you, grateful for Carlos' unwavering support in that moment.

Carlos then stood in front of you, holding your hands in his, "Are you okay? Did he do anything to you?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

You shook your head, thankful that the situation didn't escalate further. "No, I'm okay. He was just being aggressive and disrespectful," you replied, feeling a mix of emotions.

Carlos squeezed your hands reassuringly, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and relief. "I'm glad you're safe. Let's stay together for the rest of the evening, okay? I won't let anything happen to you," he said, his protective nature shining through.

As Carlos guided you through the crowded room, his hands firmly on your waist, you couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and security. It was as if he was determined to keep you close, not wanting to lose sight of you again.

You leaned into his touch, grateful for his presence and the way he made you feel safe in a world that had seemed so uncertain just moments ago.

Eventually, you found the rest of the group and shared with them what had happened. Concerned for your well-being, they all agreed to stick together for the rest of the night, ensuring that everyone felt safe and protected.

As the evening went on, you felt a sense of unity and support among your friends, and the initial fear and uncertainty began to fade away.

Together, you formed a tight-knit circle, laughing, dancing, and enjoying each other's company, grateful for the strength and solidarity you found in one another.

All the boys decided to let the girls let loose and have a few drinks, taking on the role of guardians for the night.

They made sure the girls were safe, monitoring their alcohol intake and ensuring they were comfortable and protected.

It was a gesture of care and respect, fostering an environment where everyone could have a good time without any worries.

"Babe," you whined, clinging onto your boyfriend so you wouldn't fall to the ground.

Carlos chuckled, his eyes filled with both surprise and amusement at your playful whining. He tightened his grip around you, refusing to let you slip off.

"Oh, so you're trying to escape, huh?" he teased, pulling you closer and planting a gentle kiss on your forehead. "Nice try, but I've got you. I won't let you fall, my love."

"Escape? Who said anything about escaping?" you replied with a mischievous grin, playfully swaying your body to the rhythm of the music.

Carlos raised an eyebrow, a playful challenge gleaming in his eyes. "Well, then show me your best dance moves, and maybe, just maybe, I'll let you off the hook," he teased.

As the romantic melody filled the air, you and Carlos locked eyes, the playful banter fading into a tender moment. With a smile, you surrendered to the music, allowing it to guide your movement.

As the music pulsed through your bodies, you let your inhibitions melt away and decided to be more flirtatious with Carlos. With a mischievous glint in your eyes, you began to sway your hips and grind your waist against him, teasing him with your seductive moves.

Carlos couldn't help but be captivated by your playful and alluring gestures, his eyes locked on yours, as the chemistry between you intensified on the dance floor.

The flirtatious energy in the air was palpable, as you whispered teasing promises in his ear, leaving him craving more of your touch.

"Mi amor, you better stop before you start something I won't stop," Carlos muttered into your ear, a playful warning laced with desire.

You laughed softly, feeling a surge of excitement at his words. "Oh, really? And what if I want to start something you won't stop?" you whispered back, your voice laced with a hint of seduction.

Carlos' eyes darkened with desire, his grip on you tightening ever so slightly. "Then, mi amor, be prepared for a night you won't forget," he replied, his voice low and filled with anticipation

He leaned in and his lips crashed against yours, his kiss lingering for a few moments. You felt your heart flutter and your stomach knot as you melted into him, your body responding to him as if on autopilot.

You felt a wave of warmth wash over you as you gave in to the moment.

The night unfolded in a blur of passion and desire. Your memory of the events that followed became hazy, fragmented, and ultimately, nonexistent.

All you knew was that you had surrendered to the intoxicating connection between you and Carlos, allowing it to sweep you away into a realm where time stood still and only the sensations of pleasure remained. . . .

"Guys, we're going home," Carlos told the others while supporting you, his protective arm wrapped around your waist. As you stumbled slightly, still lost in the haze of passion, you couldn't help but feel grateful for his presence, knowing that he would take care of you every step of the way.

The night air was cool against your flushed skin as you stumbled towards Carlos' car. The events of the night replayed in your mind, a mix of excitement and contentment filling your thoughts.

As you settled into the passenger seat, you glanced at Carlos, a knowing smile passing between you.

As you fell asleep during the drive, Carlos carefully carried you into his house. His touch was gentle and protective. He laid you down on his bed, tucking you in with care before standing back to admire your peaceful form.

The events of the night had left you both physically and emotionally spent, and in that moment, Carlos couldn't help but feel a surge of tenderness towards you.

You woke up in a daze, your surroundings unfamiliar. Blinking away from the remnants of sleep, you realized you were in Carlos' bedroom. The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the room.

Your heart skipped a beat as you remembered the events of the previous night and the intense connection you shared with Carlos.

As you tried to move, you were slowly pulled into an embrace from behind you, making you jump slightly. Turning around, you saw Carlos half asleep in the bed, shirtless.

Carlos' dark hair was disheveled and sticking up in all directions, a clear sign that he had just woken up. His usually neat and tidy appearance was now replaced by the unkempt look of someone who had been sleeping soundly.

Despite his sleepy state, Carlos' facial features were still prominent. His strong jawline and high cheekbones gave him a rugged, masculine appearance, while his deep-set eyes and furrowed brow suggested a pensive, thoughtful nature.

As Carlos stretched his arms above his head, the muscles in his upper body rippled beneath his skin. The defined contours of his chest and arms were a testament to his dedication to physical fitness, even as he fought against the lingering drowsiness of his slumber.

His tousled hair and sleepy expression only added to his allure, and you couldn't help but smile at the sight of him, feeling a flutter of warmth in your chest.

His eyes fluttered open, and a sleepy smile formed on his lips as he pulled you closer, whispering, "Good morning, beautiful."

"Did we do it?" You questioned shyly, unable to remember anything after they left the club.

"No, we didn't, you fell asleep before we could do anything," Carlos muttered, fighting against the sleep. "We wouldn't do anything either way, you were drunk."

As you remembered what you were doing in the club, you felt embarrassed and ashamed. The intense connection you shared with Carlos had clouded your judgment, and you realized that you were dangerously close to breaking the rules of the PR contract.

If you didn't stop, you knew that the consequences could be severe, jeopardizing not only your professional reputation but also your relationship with Carlos.

"Carlos, this was only supposed to be temporary, you know?"

"What is?"

"Our relationship."

Carlos then woke up more, resting up against his elbow so he could look at you better. His eyes slowly opened, and a soft frown spread across his face as he gazed at you. He reached out a hand, gently caressing your cheek, his touch warm and comforting.

“You’re talking about the PR contract?”

“Yes, this is what they were worried about, us getting too attached,” you tried to stress your concern but Carlos didn’t look bothered at all.

Carlos fully turned to you, a conflicted look on his face. "I know, I know. But I...I don't think I can just pretend anymore. Not with you."

Your heart raced as he inched closer, his warm brown eyes searching yours. "Carlos, we can't. It'll ruin everything if anyone finds out."

"I don't care," he whispered, cupping your face in his hands. "I'm tired of hiding how I feel about you."

And in that moment, any doubt you had melted away. You pulled him into a passionate kiss, all thoughts of the contract and the façade disappearing. This was real - the feelings you two had developed were undeniable.

His lips met yours with a fervent intensity, the heat between you palpable. All the unspoken emotions you had been harboring came rushing to the surface, igniting a fire within.

The world around you faded away as you lost yourself in his embrace, every touch sending electric shocks through your body.

In that passionate moment, there was no more room for hesitation or uncertainty. This connection you shared was undeniable, transcending any obligations or false pretenses.

It was real, raw, and overwhelming in the most intoxicating way. There was no turning back now - you had given yourself over completely to this man and the feelings you shared.

Whatever happened next, you knew you was in this with Carlos for the long haul. . . .

[fumikoshi]

Hey ! Can I request for Teacher Gojo x Student reader , where she falls in love with him in her first year, and Gojo clearly notices that but didn’t say anything because it was a really a big ego boost for him when she would follow him around like a puppy. So she confessed to him on her graduation day , third year but got rejected because she was his student. She was of course heartbroken but tried to move on by dating some random sorcerer. This bugged Gojo quite a bit and confronted her, things got escalated quickly from there. As for the ending I will leave it to you, however you want.

𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐭

✧ Chapter two

✧— SUMMARY; You confessed your feelings for your teacher Gojo, but he rejected you. He only saw you as a student. That's what he told himself until he saw you hanging out with another guy.

✧ — CONTENT; teacher x student

Fumi: I will publish the 2nd part soon, and I would love it if you could tell me what you think about this chapter in the comments. I love to see your comments <3

''Sensei... I-I know it is wrong b-but... I-I can't help my feelings... I-I love you... please accept my feelings''

You were standing in front of him with a box of heart-shaped chocolates, your head bowed cutely, cheeks flushed. You waited until the class was completely empty to confess to him, you were too embarrassed to confess to him in front of the other students.

You wondered if he would accept your feelings.

Meanwhile, he had a big grin on his face, of course, he knew all along that you had feelings for him, and it brought him great satisfaction.

You made it very obvious: the way you started to stutter when he was around, the way your cheeks flushed, the way you started to play with your hair, the way you followed him like an abandoned puppy...

You were so cute.

However, he couldn't accept your feelings. You were his student, and far too young for him.

"Awwwww~! Y/N-chaaan, I'm flattered that you feel this way. And who wouldn't fall in love with me? I'm rich, handsome, charismatic, and strong~''

Gently, he cupped your cheeks and pressed them together, as if you were a child "You're so cuuteee, and I care deeply for you as your sensei."

Finally he let go of your soft cheeks and put his hand on your head. And he spoke calmly.

''But, unfortunately, I cannot accept your feelings, Y/N-Chan. Aside from being too young for me, you are my student. And I'm afraid this is not appropriate.

Your cheeks flushed with embarrassment, your eyes filling with tears. "Sensei... I'm sorry... I thought...

You couldn't finish, the rejection was too much for your young heart to bear. The tears slipped free, rolling down your cheeks as you trembled, and your grip on the chocolate box tightened.

 You felt humiliated, your heart heavy with disappointment. Gojo watched you, feeling a pang of guilt

He can predict what's going to happen. You probably will be sobbing in your bed when you get home. Even now you were trying so hard not to sob.

But he couldn't accept it, you were too young and inexperienced in love. He thought that what he was feeling couldn't even be love, just a crush. After all you are just a young girl and it is not easy to name your feelings.

Slowly, you lifted your head and looked at Gojo with tear-filled eyes

Just one last time

To beg him to accept your love.

"S-Sensei, I love you! Really... I-if it's for your career, w-we can keep it a secret... Please..."

Instead of giving you the response you desperately sought, Gojo just smiled and ruffled your head, treating you like a beloved pet.

"No is no, Y/N-Chan~!"

He tilted his head to the side and said;

''And it has nothing to do with career. If I wanted to, I could do it, no one could interfere with me. Because I'm the strongest and they need me.''

Your heart sank deeper. he doesn't want you...

He leaned down slowly and whispered in your ear as he took the box of chocolates from your small hands.

"And thank you for these sweet chocolates, Y/N-chan~ You know your sensei's weakness for sweets, don't you? How cute~"

Gojo opened the box and took out a piece of heart-shaped chocolate, examining it before popping it into his mouth. He smiled widely at you, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

"Wow, these chocolates are delicious, Y/N-Chan! I guess the rumor that things made with love are delicious is true."

He smirked, giggling as he closed the box. His gaze met yours, and he noticed how dejected you looked, holding your skirt, your head bowed, and lips trembling.

He smirked, giggling as he closed the box. He took in your forlorn form, he noticed how dejected you looked, your head bowed, trembling lips, and you clutched your skirt tightly.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow in class, Y/N-chan."

With a final wink, he left the room, leaving you alone in your heartbreak. 

 As the door closed behind him, you let out a sob and fled the classroom, your heart aching, and your spirit crushed.

The walk home felt excruciatingly long, the tears streaming down your face as you recall the rejection. You should have known that your sensei could not return your affection.

Back in your room, you climbed into bed and cried until you fell into a restless sleep.

Months passed, and Gojo carried on as if nothing had transpired between the two of you. His gaze never wavered, his treatment of you remaining the same as on the first day.

A part of you embraced this familiarity, appreciating that he didn't let your confession affect his relationship with you. Yet, another part of your heart ached, longing for the transformation of his eyes from mere teacher-student affection to something deeper, more profound.

Your world was shaken when a new student, Ryōta, entered your midst. Gojo introduced him with great enthusiasm, and as your eyes met, Ryōta offered you a warm smile. In that brief moment, you appreciated his handsomeness when his lips curled into a smile.

Meanwhile, Gojo noticed the way you looked at Ryōta.

He didn't know why, but suddenly a feeling of uneasiness came over him.

This feeling was not for him

He didn't like this feeling

It didn't take long for you to form a bond with Ryōta. He was kind, gentlemanly, generous, and unknowingly helped you mend the heartache Gojo had caused.

You began to like him, and naturally, your time with Gojo diminished. You'd be by Ryōta's side during recess instead of seeking Gojo's company.

One such day, the bell rang for recess, and you and Ryōta stood up, preparing to leave the classroom. However, Gojo called out to you, his tone was as cheerful and playful as ever, and he had his signature grin on his face. He was sitting cross-legged on the chair watching you.

"Y/N-Chan, aren't you going to ask your perfectly knowledgeable sensei new things about curses~?"

You flashed Gojo a smile, dismissing his inquiry. "Sorry sensei, I'm going to spend some time with Ryōta-kun. Maybe I'll ask you later!" Your gaze shifted to Ryōta, your tone brimming with excitement. "Let's go, Ryota-kun!''

You left Gojo behind, oblivious to the turmoil his rejection had caused in him. You'd rejected him in a way, your preference for Ryōta evident. Gojo realized that he no longer held a special place in your eyes, just another teacher. Your eagerness to be around him had waned, and you no longer followed him like a devoted puppy.

This feeling of being ignored gnawed at him, strange and unsettling. He didn't like how comfortable you seemed with Ryōta or how you laughed with him. The thought of holding hands, perhaps more, filled him with jealousy and a sense of loss.

Ah, what a headache.

[fatuismooches]

More Dottore and Fragile Reader voice lines, except it's your turn this time. A part two to this. Previous voice lines are here.

About Prime Dottore:

"Zandik. My one and only… words cannot express my tenderness and love toward him. I refuse to forget any moment I've spent with him. Not once has he given up on me, despite the times I’ve given up on myself. And he has always taken care of me, not once faltering in over four hundred years. I- I don’t know what to do sometimes when faced with that information. I wish I could be… less of a burden on him…”

About Omega:

"Omega, huh... he is the only segment where I always spend time with completely alone. See, he's not prone to sharing, just like Prime. I don't mind much, honestly, it's nice to get away from all of the noise and be with him. He always coaxes me to be more selfish too... is it a good or bad thing he's influencing me?"

About Alpha:

"Yes, the grumpy cutie I met all those years ago, the start of it all. He says that my presence is a hindrance and it only disrupts his work, but we both know that's false. Often, I like to sit by him as he writes his notes, pointing out all the errors caused by the atrocity of his handwriting... Sometimes, I feel bad using him as a reminder of the past."

About Beta:

"It always baffles me that Beta was once how Dottore acted. I mean, have you seen the difference between 'Mega and Beta? Anyway... he's always such a fun segment to hang around! Even when his assistants cower behind me in fear! Oh, and whenever he goes 'he-he-ho-ho', it always makes me giggle. Please don't tell him I did that impression of him though."

About Delta:

"Oh, Delta's... pretty mean. A really big meanie, if I do say so myself. He never laughs, never smiles, never entertains my shenanigans, always sees right through me... so rude. Huh? Don't worry about me, I'm allowed to talk about him like this. I still love him, after all."

About Zeta:

"Zeta's always so elusive! It was such a pain to track him down at first, he was always avoiding me. I thought he hated me... but once I got a hold of him, he is always so attentive to me! However, it greatly saddens me that he thinks he "failed" me... and yet he doesn't know how much it hurts me more that I've caused him to be like this."

About Zandy:

"Have you met my son? He's the sweetest little thing, isn't he? I remember how shy he was in the beginning, but he quickly grew to be such a dear. Always so excited and eager for attention. I can't help but wonder if Dottore's life could have been different if more people were kinder to him as a child."

About Pierro:

"I will always be indebted to him and Her Highness for taking me in. He is pretty scary to be around, but I feel sort of bad for him. I can't imagine how much responsibility he has... I once promised him I'd work for the Fatui once I'm better, but he didn't react much. Hmph, I'll show him how much I can boost Dottore's efficiency!"

About Capitano:

"The only thing I really know about him is that he's incredibly strong and well respected, at least from other people. The single time I met him, I also learned he was quite well liked by animals too, but it's hard to get any more information when he's so quiet..."

About Columbina:

"Bina is the best friend I've always wanted. I'm glad she's always there for me whenever things go bad. Although I can never predict what she's going to do or say, which is pretty strange, considering who I'm with, that makes her company all the more fun. Still, the amount of embarrassing situations she's tricked me into with Dottore... makes my head hurt."

About Arlecchino:

"I wish we could be closer, but I don't think it'll ever happen. I can't really blame her though, the relationship between her and Dottore is... not the greatest, for reasons I understand. I wonder what she thinks of me, the person who still stands by his side despite his sins?"

About Pulcinella:

"Oh... the little grandpa? I've always wondered how he's the fifth rank, but there's probably more to it than I know. Regardless, I didn't expect him to be so kind to me. I only see him once in a while, but every time he seems to know how I'm doing. And then, he proceeds to give me the best advice, exactly what I needed to hear at that moment, even when it has to do with Dottore. It's kind of scary..."

About Scaramouche:

"Ah yes... the Balladeer. He always wants to start up something with me whenever we cross paths, which is why my patience runs very thin around him. I hope the next time he goes into the Abyss, he gets stuck there."

About Wanderer:

"Who?"

About Sandrone:

"Her research sounds so cool! I've seen some of the things she can create, and it's completely fascinating. I too once had a love for machines back when I was a student. It's just a shame she never comes out of her lab... there are never any chances for me to talk with her. Well, I can always talk with Alpha and Beta about their research at least."

About La Signora:

"I've barely ever seen or spoken to her, but she has my respect. I heard what happened to her husband. If I ever lost Dottore, I'm not sure if I'd be able to go on... or at least be as half as strong as she is."

About Pantalone:

"Oh, Lone's one of my good friends! He always has such unique ideas for me to get back at Dottore, and listening to him talk about his theories quite reminds me of listening to Dottore. He's helped me a lot, dealing with this man. Still... as he does with everyone, I'm kept at arm's length. It doesn't bother me, but I wish I could help him in some way. But I know that'll never be possible."

About Childe:

"Despite being a Harbinger, he's a lot nicer than you'd think. Well, especially compared to the others in the Fatui. He's great at conversation, his family is the sweetest... and he always promises to spar with me once I'm no longer sick. Truly great company. Too bad Dottore's attitude toward him is... less than favorable."

About Furina:

"At first I hated her just like all the other Gods, but after learning the truth, I can't help but greatly respect her. To take on such a burden without having a single shoulder to lean on and succeed in the end... I think I've been through a lot of pain, but at least I've had Dottore and the others to ease it even just a bit. But she had no one, and I admire her will."

About Nahida:

"I try not to waste my time on things that upset me. It's not good for my health."

Sprint Start:

"No, no, I am not running at all. Look, if I get hurt and Dottore finds out it was your fault, you'll be the ones strapped to the table, not me. Hey... I wouldn't mind being in that position, actually."

Chat - Worry:

"I hope that one day he can make peace with himself."

Chat - Old Times:

"Sometimes I wish I was just a simple student again, having no worries other than my grades and pulling all-nighters with Dottore. Actually, that doesn't really sound relaxing, does it?"

Chat - Idling:

"If you're just going to stand here doing nothing, then I'm going to take a seat over there."

When it Snows:

"Would you be willing to distract Dottie so I can chuck a snowball at him? No? How boring."

When the Sun is Out:

"It's a perfect day to have a picnic and listen to him rant again."

In the Desert:

"... Omega, Beta, Delta, I don't care which one of you does it, get over here and make your hands completely ice cold before I faint."

Something to Share - Talent:

"If you ever need help writing something, you can ask me. I wrote some pretty good essays back in the day, you know. Dottore once said I should even write a book! I thought he was bullying me, but he was actually serious, for some reason. Maybe I should get Zandy to draw some pictures?"

Something to Share - Secret:

"Dottore actually has quite a sweet tooth. Well, this probably isn't much of a secret anymore because I accidentally spilled it to the agents, but it would do you good to keep this in mind."

Interesting Things - Foxttore:

"This little guy here? He'll do you no harm unless I say so, so don't worry. He was one of Dottie's failed experiments roaming the lab until he gifted the creature to me! These pufflings too, surprisingly they help me a lot more than you'd think. They're pretty strong, carrying all my things."

Favorite Pastimes - Meals:

"It's time to eat already? No need to worry about me, I'll just wait for a segment. See, it's best for both of us if I have company while I eat. My hands... aren't the most reliable."

Troubles:

"I am very happy that they have a good place to conduct all the research they want, but I wish they paid some more attention to me sometimes. Voicing this complaint over and over again, however, is too exhausting."

Amusement:

"Dottore's fan club never ceases to amuse me. I know every Harbinger has one but... it's completely hilarious. To go so far as creating a handbook about the two of us... well, I appreciate the dedication and the laughs, especially when I update Dottore on their activities. He may not care, but I support them!"

[ladykailitha]

Icarus Part 17

Hey, guys! Just a reminder after I post Caged Bird on Saturday I am going on a two week posting hiatus. I need the break and my backlog could use the boost. I will start posting again on Sept 1st.

I'm not sure if I'll keep the four days like I have been doing or go back to the three days a week. I guess we'll see.

In this we have Eddie messing around with his friends and we get to see The Fallen's new costumes.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16

~

Steve and Spence pulled on the red polos with white medical crosses on the sleeves and MEDIC emblazoned on the back that would mark them as medical personnel. Simon was pulling on the dark blue polo that would signify him as a roadie for the band The Fallen. Shane and Robin stood off to the side wearing regular clothes but with lanyards that said they were PAs to the band.

Steve knocked the trailer’s door and Hopper opened it to let them out. Steve poked his head out and saw that no one was around. He nodded to Hopper and the rest of the band filed out.

“All right,” Robin said, checking her clipboard, “sound check is at four and we are after Corroded Coffin does their sound check. Eddie says he can distract the rest of his band long enough for you to get changed into daily wear.”

The band all nodded and they all went their separate ways. Steve and Spence went to the medic tent, Robin and Shane went to do what PAs do and that’s run around making sure everything was going well, and Simon went to join the the rest of the crew setting up.

Eddie was leaning against one of the pillars backstage watching them work. Jeff came up to him and threw an arm around his shoulders.

“They’re pretty flawless at this, aren’t they?” he said, after looking around to make sure no one was in earshot. “If I didn’t know what I know, I would have never thought they were anything other than their roles.”

Eddie nodded. It was seamless; as themselves they were peppy and cheerful. The guys he’d seen at party after party at Steve’s apartment. But he still remembered how they were on stage and they were so completely different.

“That security guy they got is certainly worth whatever they are paying him, that’s for sure,” he agreed.

“Gareth is vibrating out of his skin to see their sound check,” Jeff said with a nod. “Not even to see their new costumes, just their sound check, that’s how over the moon he is about this.”

Eddie hummed in agreement. “He’s in for a treat, that’s for sure.”

“Have you seen their new costumes?” Jeff asked, eyes still on the hive of activity in front of them.

“Nope!” Eddie said popping the P. “All I know is that they were designed by the daughter of their head of security. Apparently Ellie Hopper is an up and coming fashion designer and who better to clothe an up and coming metal band than her?”

Jeff rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I guess all of us are going to be in for a surprise tonight.” He patted his friend on the shoulder. “Do try to keep it in your pants, yeah?”

Eddie pushed him off of him with a “Fuck off!”

“Dustin still pissed he missed meeting her when they were in California?” Jeff asked, giggling.

Eddie grinned and bounced on the balls of his feet, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Yup!” he said cheerfully. “It was hilarious. All of Steve’s friends were talking about how awesome she was and how beautiful she was all the while Dustin is like in the middle of battlefield, but as predicted Suzie’s parents didn’t want them sharing the same room. So he was fighting with her parents and she was fighting with him for fighting with her parents.”

He pursed his lips to try and hide his smile but it was fruitless and he broke out into a wide grin. “He didn’t even last the month with them.”

“And then by the time he’d made it to Cali,” Jeff said, “she was back in New York preparing for New York Fashion week and was completely devastated he missed her.”

Chrissy came bounding up to them. “Hey, guys. They have everything ready for your sound check and Gare and Bri are waiting for you.”

Eddie and Jeff plugged in their guitars and Eddie hit the first note. He adjusted the peg and then hit it again, this time he nodded. He went through the solo on their latest single to warm up. Then each of the other members did the same.

“Sounding pretty good!” Chrissy called from the front row.

She started shouting suggestions and then they all played together and she shouted more suggestions. Soon their sound check was over with and they filed off the stage to let The Fallen’s roadies to set up their instruments.

The Fallen came out in what Eddie called their casual costumes. Regular hoodies and jeans in their ‘color’ and their masks.

Azrael counted off time on his drumsticks and they got down to business. Gareth was on the sidelines practically drooling. Eddie thought he would be panting after Abbadon, his favorite, but after seeing Azrael’s drum kit, it was all over.

The black metal fittings, the void black on the tops and front of the drums and glittering black on the sides. His setup. The way he looked like a god even in the back, sitting on the throne, black drumsticks in hand.

Gareth starting pawing on Eddie’s arm. “Eddie, Eddie, Eddie...” he whined. “I want one.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow at his friend. “The drummer or the kit?”

Gareth turned to him scandalized. He put his hand on his chest, eyes wide, gasping in shock. “How dare you imply that I am anything but a staunch professional?!”

“So definitely the drummer then.”

Eddie cackled as he ran from Gareth who chased him all the way to their tour bus. Eddie ducked inside and locked the door behind him. He didn’t mind missing this sound check, after all they had a whole on the road and roughly eighty shows to get through.

Both bands were out promoting new albums and being two of the biggest metal bands at the moment, made both labels push for as many dates as they could conceivably do without killing either band.

It was going to be long and exhausting, but holy fuck it’d one hell of a ride. Eddie smiled as he held door shut as Gareth tugged and tugged on the door handle.

~

Steve rolled his shoulders and began warming up his voice. The crowd was bigger than they were used to but he knew that at least a good portion of those fans were there to see him and his boys.

They got strapped into the winged harnesses, specially fitted to work with their new costumes.

Steve gave Spence a thumbs up and the other man returned it. They began lowering Azrael onto the stage. His raven wings glinting blue in the spotlight. His new costume had the sleeves of his hooded long coat removed, leaving him with more range of motion. He wore a long-sleeved black mesh shirt that ended at his black leather gloves. He wore black cargo pants tucked into combat boots. The boots and his belt had silver skulls that glinted and winked at the audience.

He landed deftly a couple of feet behind the drum kit. He tugged on the release cord and sent the wings back to the rafters. He sat down and pulled out a couple of his sticks and launched into his drum solo. The crowd started screaming as the announced his name.

Next was Shane. He rolled his shoulders, trying to get comfortable in the harness. Even though the dragonfly wings were lighter than the others, they were more awkward in their construction. He gave Steve the thumbs up and he was lowered to the stage with his bass guitar. He began playing as soon as he came into view.

The crowd roared its approval.

Astraeus landed on the stage soft as a butterfly’s wing. He pulled on the release cord and allowed his wings to go back to where they came.

The sleeves of his hooded jacket were pushed up to his elbows to show his painted arms. They were the same midnight blue of the rest of his costume. His tight leather pants were tucked into his knee-high boots. His chest was bare and painted blue with glitter swirling around into galaxies. When he moved the mask shifted between the moon phases.

Then it was Simon’s turn. Steve watched as Simon slipped into the persona of Asmodeus like an ill-fitting glove. It was always harder for Simon than the rest of them to get into his alter ego. But he chose it and he had to live with the consequences of being a sex god.

He was wearing a short, red, leather jacket with the hood attached. His broad chest on display with leather harness drawing attention to all the right curves. His red jeans were torn up from his knees to his hips and shoved into mid-calf high boots with chains on them, the jacket, and around his neck.

His large red bat wings spread out behind him as he was lowered on the stage. About two feet from the ground, he pulled the release cord and stomped to onto the stage to roaring applause.

Asmodeus wailed on his guitar making it screech and sing as his wings ascended back to the rafters. His fingers danced over the fret board and threw his hand back with reckless abandon.

Steve loved this part. He loved the roar of the crowd, the music his band was playing all for him. Robin would say that it was because his parents didn’t love him much and that he never had real friends before her, before his band. Children and boys he had a crush on for years didn’t count.

But he didn’t care. He loved being loved. More than anything.

He wore a white lace bodice under his long hooded coat, and like Astraeus his sleeves were pushed up, but his forearms were bare. The shorts he wore were obscenely tight on his ass and left little to the imagination. His white high heeled boots came just above his knee, leaving miles of his thighs on display.

Today his coat lining wasn’t red or blue or even black, like it usually was when he started off a tour. No. Not today. Today it was the Corroded Coffin logo. And when his coat billowed out as he descended the crowd went absolutely insane.

Half way down, the air tanks on his back set off and blew off the feathers on his wings leaving behind the bones. He landed on the stage behind the microphone. It was like Steve Tyler’s microphone as it was decorated in ribbons, but unlike his, Abbadon’s mic never changed. It always had four ribbons. Red, blue, black, and white, woven together up the stand to billow out around the top.

He welcomed the crowd and launched into the first single off their new album. “Hell’s Where All My Friends Are Going!” It spoke about growing up bisexual in a highly conservative household where he was told that queer folk were going to hell.

It was actually one of the first piece of writing Shane and Spence ever turned into a song, but the label was afraid of alienating their audience straight of out of the gate, so it was never recorded. But when they brought Bob in, him and Robin managed to convince the label that not only would Abbadon and Astraeus coming would be good for business, it would be great for the band, too. One less thing to hide.

Remarkably the label agreed.

And now he was going to debut it here to the whole world and he felt like he was flying free for the first time in his life.

Heaven could fuck off, he was diving into Hell!

~

Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21

Oops! I don't know how it got posted without the chapter but here it is!

Tag List: CLOSED

1- @mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog

2- @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @val-from-lawrence

3- @goodolefashionedloverboi @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog @irregular-child @blondie1006

4- @yikes-a-bee @bookworm0690 @anne-bennett-cosplayer @awkwardgravity1 @littlewildflowerkitten

5- @genderless-spoon @y4r3luv @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt

6- @disrespectedgoatman @eyehartart @dawners @thespaceantwhowrites @tinyplanet95

7- @iamthehybrid @croatoan-like-its-hot @papergrenade @cryptid-system @counting-dollars-counting-stars

8- @ravenfrog @w1ll0wtr33 @child-of-cthulhu @kultiras @dreamercec

9- @machete-inventory-manager @useless-nb-bisexual @stripey82 @dotdot-wierdlife @kal-ology

10- @sadisticaltarts @urkadop @chameleonhair @clockworkballerina @garden-of-gay

[primussavethesemechs]

I want the human/cybertronian life difference to be talked about more in canon

Cuz I mean. it’s RIGHT THERE.

Just a smidgen of true acknowledgment I BEG YOU HASBRO‼️

i mean come on all it takes is someone mentioning how long the wars been going for one of the humans to go “4 MILLION YEARS???? WHAT THE FUCK HOW OLD ARE YOU???”

And optimus or ratchet to be like “…5/7 million?” And all of the humans to have a break down CUZ WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOUVE BEEN ALIVE SINCE BEFORE THE HUMAN SPECIES EXISTED??? WE WERE MONKEYS WHEN YOU WERE BORN???

And the (woefully uniformed) cybertronians to be like “??? What do YOU mean your species was still evolving when I onlined, how long do you guys live?? A thousand?? A few hundred??”

And the gobsmacked humans to be like “??? NO WE HARDLY LIVE OVER A HUNDRED ITS CONSIDERED AN ACCOMPLISHMENT?? AVERAGE OLD AGE DEATH IS LIKE MID 80s!! TECHNICALLY THE AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IS 72 OR SOMETHING???”

Cue the autobots being like “😨 72??? THATS A CHILD WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT⁉️”

the more attached/emotional bots looking at their charges and realizing that not only are they sparklings compared to them but they’ll die as sparklings too in just a few decades, causing them to straight up have a mini meltdown.

Yeah they’re in a war and they’ve lost plenty of friends, but never to anything as predictable and inescapable as old age.

It’s the seeing-it-coming part that gets to them, the slow dread of knowing that even if they do everything right and keep them out of danger and they stay healthy there’s nothing they can do to stop them from withering away in a couple of decades.

Most versions of bumblebee looking at their charge/friend and realizing his assumptions about the fact that since they’re both still young that they’ll have plenty of time to just. Live together and have fun- are wrong?? Immediately tears. Even if cybertronians can’t cry tears he’s doing whatever the equivalent is and running away to cry in his room. And then running back to snatch them and take them with him cuz HE CANT WASTE A SECOND IF THEIR LIFESPANS ARE REALLY THAT SHORT HES GONNA JUST HAVE TO SPEND 24/7 WITH THEM

This whole concept ESPECIALLY applies to TFP since all of them got their own little human buddy and there’s only like 5 autobots to begin with (of the main season 1 crew) they’ve lost so many of their own so recently, their numbers are already dwindling down to nothing, they’re losing the war and the kids are what’s given them a major morale boost. To continue fighting they need hope, and the kids have kind of become their hope for the future- to know they’ll die off in under a century despite how young they still are is a shot to the spark.

Look me in the eye and tell me bee wouldnt panic hearing that Raf only has 70-80 years to live. LOOK ME IN THE EYE AND TELL ME HE WOULDNT HAVE SOME KIND OF FIT OVER BEING TOLD THAT HIS LITTLE BUDDY (from a cybertronian perspective) HAS A LIFESPAN EQUIVALENT TO A LATE STAGE TERMINAL ILLNESS DIAGNOSIS. Bee would start treating Raf like a kid with stage 4 cancer 😭

I just KNOW bulkhead would have the worst reaction other than bee, maybe even worse cuz he looks at miko and realizes she’s used up basically a fifth of her entire lifespan already and she’s Still So Little and straight up starts weeping. That’s his DAUGHTER you can’t take her from him so soon it’s not FAIR! He might have to go destroy a canyon wall or something to let some of the anger and grief out

Arcee is Not taking it well either.

She JUST got attached to this one, just got used to a new partner and your telling her that no matter what she does he’s never going to last as long as tailgate of cliff jumper did?? Even if both he and she do everything they’re supposed to do to protect him and extended his life?? Depression time baby

Optimus and ratchet don’t react as much outwardly to the news as the others but inside they’re both 💔💥

These kids have brought optimus a level of contentment he hasn’t felt in vorns, and he sees how bright their spirits shine- Only to now know those precious spirits will burn out in less than a century- it gnaws at him inside, yet another strike from the cruelty of fate

Ratchet is devastated but refuses to acknowledge it, these kids- yes even miko- have become his pseudo grandkids and he’s not ready, nor will he ever be ready, to outlive them. Jacks reminds him too much of a younger optimus, still learning and still hopeful. Miko is… well she has a fire to her that ratchet can appreciate (when she’s not actively annoying him) she’s determined enough to make anything happen which he does begrudgingly respect even if he wishes she wouldn’t just throw herself into any and every situation just for fun.

And Raf…

Raf is his apprentice, the only one of the kids to understand him and listen intently to his stories of cybertron. To show appreciation for his work and his ideas, to Listen and Learn and Improve his inventions. He harbors the most fondness for Raf since he sees so much potential in him, and has taken him under his wing in teaching him cybertronian language and biology.

He feels almost like he’s training a student to take his place- only for the ground to be ripped out from under him to know that Raf will never have the chance to succeed him, will never even outlive him.

A parent should never have to bury their child, and ratchet already feels that he has.

-

TLDR the autobots find out humans have fruit fly lifespans next to them and become one big soggy mess of tears, optimus and ratchet included although they try to have a stiff upper lip about it (and fail to varying extents)

I swear this was supposed to be about any and all continuities but TFP took over completely😭 idk it just fits the best since they focus so much on how attached the bots get to the kids

Edit: btw this was inspired from the fact I found out that the cybertronian equivalent to a year (yes I know technically they have solar cycles which are roughly a human year but what they consider a year vs their lifespan/time perception is different) is a vorn. A vorn is 80 HUMAN YEARS. I saw that and went “oh wow a vorn is like a whole human lifespan!😃” and then I went “OH A VORN IS A WHOLE HUMAN LIFESPAN 😀“

[thrillered]

"You Know I Mountain Dew It For Ya" | Spencer Agnew x Reader | Part 13

Part 13: Brunch

-

-

-

-

-

-

Life felt good. The reaction on the podcast was incredibly positive, nothing but kind comments and intense support for your music career. It had been almost two weeks since you released Birds of a Feather, which once again went viral on tiktok, boosting your streams again. But it didn’t stop there, almost all of your music, even your earliest album had reached a minimum of 400k streams. 

Multiple news outlets reached out to you, asking for comments on your fast-tracked success. Pop crave even going so far as to predict you would make the top 100 list before the month's end. On top of your career at Smosh you were now making a solid income from your music. 

You were on cloud nine, but not alone. Spencer sat atop that cloud with you, a supportive arm to lean on. You and Spencer were doing great. You spent a lot of nights together, cuddled up on the couch or dancing in the kitchen, enjoying being in love. If people thought you and Spencer were connected at the hip before… it was worse than ever. It seemed that the only time you weren’t together was in the bathroom. You both stayed professional, no PDA at work but the energy was there. 

As much as Courtney loved you and Spencer they missed you. She arranged a day and now you were having some much needed girl time, enjoying brunch with Amanda, Angela, and Courtney. “This is so nice, I feel like I only see you guys at work.” Angela began, grabbing your hand, “Especially you, mrs. Agnew” 

You pulled your hand out of hers, rolling your eyes and trying to hide the smile blooming across your face. 

“No seriously, we need to know what’s going on.” Amanda insisted. 

You haven't really talked to anyone about what's going on with Spencer. You were enjoying it being just between the two of you, more or less. It felt like young love, it felt innocent and playful. 

“I don’t know what to say.” You shrugged, hiding your blush. 

“Your beet red face says otherwise,” Courtney remarked, taking a sip of her bellini. 

“Come on you gotta give us something, we all see the way you two are.” Angela pleaded, Amanda and Courtney nodding along. “You were always basically attached at the hip but god Spencer looks at you like you hung the moon and the stars.” 

“I guess we’re a thing.” you conceded. 

The three girls shared a look, communicating with each other with just their eyes. 

“What?” You asked, noticing their darting eyes and subtle eyebrow twitches. 

“You guess?” Amanda asked, “What do you mean, you guess?”

“I mean, like, yeah we're seeing each other.” 

“Honey… You ‘see’ a guy you go on a few dates with then ghost. Have you and Spencer even talked about things yet?” Amanda continued. 

“No…” You realized. You and Spencer hadn’t really sat down and had a discussion about what this thing between you was. Thinking about it you realized you haven’t even been on a real date with him. You and Spencer had been in a routine as friends for so long that it seemed the most natural to just build right on top of that foundation. “Uh.. we haven't even gone on a date..” You admitted. 

“Oh brother… Get it together Spence.” Angela grumbled.

You changed the subject as quickly as you could. Not very interested in talking about your labeless situation with Spencer anymore. The rest of brunch was great, you put your thoughts of Spencer to the back of your head, focusing on the various conversations the girls were engaging in. 

When you all finished your meals and drinks it was around 1 pm. You said your goodbyes, parting from the girls with hugs and promises to consult one another about outfits to bring to vidcon. 

On the way to Spencer’s you couldn’t get the looks Courtney, Amanda, and Angela were giving each other out of your head. Were you okay with not being official with Spencer? It was hard to say. You loved the playfulness and almost secrecy of your relationship– if you could call it that. Maybe you and Spencer got very comfortable. Sure you went out together but Spencer never actually asked you to be his girlfriend, let alone asked you on a date. 

You weren’t sure why but this bothered you. Spencer made you incredibly happy so it shouldn’t matter what you labeled it, but it did. Walking up to his door you took a deep breath, trying to shake Amanda’s words. 

You knocked on his door, picking at a hangnail as you waited. Before long Spencer answered, a large smile on his face. “Wow, you look great.” He noted, taking in the pale yellow sundress you were wearing. 

“Thanks Spence.” You giggled, passing him into his apartment. 

He closed the door behind him, leaning his back against it as he looked you up and down, admiring your beauty as you set down your purse. Feeling his eyes on you, you turned around, “Can I help you?” You asked.

“Help me, love me, save me… whatever you’ll give me babe.” He flirted, sauntering up to you. “If this is how you look getting brunch we gotta go to an opera or something.” 

What Spencer was saying was sweet. But you couldn’t help but be reminded that you haven’t gone on a date. You wanted to get dressed up, feel anxious about choosing just the right outfit. 

“Woah, you okay?” Spencer questioned, noticing the sudden shift in your mood. 

“Yeah, I’m fine, sorry. I think brunch just isn’t sitting well.” You replied, trying to change the subject. Spencer seemed to accept that answer, pulling you into a short hug before giving you a quick peck. 

—

“Okay you’ve been acting weird ever since you got back from brunch.” Spencer noted, confused. “What happened?” 

You sighed deeply. This was a conversation you had to have, but didn’t really want to. “The girls said something and, I don't know, kinda got in my head.” 

Spencer gestured for you to continue. “They asked about you… and about us.” you began, approaching the topic lightly. “And they helped me realize that we aren’t really anything? If that makes sense, like, ugh okay.” You felt like a teenager, realizing how juvenile this issue was. “You haven’t asked me to be your girlfriend… let alone ask me on a real date.” 

“That’s what this is about?” Spencer asked, furrowing his brow. 

“Yeah I guess…just forget it, it was stupid anyway.” You backtracked. 

“Hey, no.” Spencer interjected, grabbing your hands in his, “This isn’t stupid, it upset you, and you’re right. I didn’t do this the right way.” He suddenly stood, pulling you up with him. “Y/N… may I take you out on a date?” He asked, a cheesy grin on his face. 

You couldn’t help but giggle, “I would love that Spence.” 

“Tomorrow night? I’ll pick you up at 7? Wear something nice.” Spencer asked, confidently. 

“I’ll be ready.” You responded, a wide smile on your face. You couldn’t help but think that Spencer was so attractive for this. You brought up an issue and he immediately fixed it, and looked good doing it. 

You pulled him into a passionate kiss. Hoping to show all the gratitude you had for him through it. Your arms circled his neck, your hand resting against the back of his head. Spencer immediately reciprocated, walking you backwards until you hit the back of the couch, before he hooked his hands under your thighs, setting you on the top of the couch. 

He stood between your legs, pulling you infinitely closer. The kiss was heated, it was hungry, it was full of a passion you only felt for Spencer. You pulled away from the kiss for a moment, catching your breath before taking a second to stare into Spencer's eyes. You placed your hand on the side of his face, rubbing your thumb across his cheek. “You’re the best Spencer, God I love you.” You praised, your eyes sparkling with gratitude. 

“You deserve the best,” Spencer responded, raking his eyes down your body, rubbing his hands up and down your thighs, the soft fabric of your dress beneath his fingers. “I mean look at you! Look at these arms, these are the arms that hold me. And these beautiful eyes I get lost in. And these lips..” He stopped, leaning in for a long and languid kiss. “I get the honor of kissing. Not to mention your incredible mind. And now an international musical sensation? I need to be the best to keep you.” 

You were a bright shade of red, blushing at the praises he was giving you. Smiling at him through your lashes you pulled him back to you, connecting your lips once more. Again, the kiss was heated, full of love and passion. You would sit here forever if you could. His hands wandered your body, feeling you like you would disappear at any moment. 

You hooked your legs around his waist, hoping to be so close to him, you might simply combine. Spencer hooked his hands under your thighs once more, preparing to pick you up and bring you to his bed when you were interrupted by a loud alarm. 

Pulling away from Spencer you grabbed your phone, turning off the blaring noise. “I have to go Spence.” You said begrudgingly. “I have to tend to my wonderful cat and you have a date to plan.” 

Spencer agreed, not without protest though. Finally you made your way to his door, slipping your shoes on and grabbing your bag. “I’ll see you tomorrow, I love you.” You said, kissing him softly. 

“I love you too.” Spencer mirrored, closing his door with a sigh when you walked out. 

[literaticat]

 If your book earns out (eventually)that's good for the author and publisher, right? Why is there a big stress on preorders, first week sales and what a book does right out of the gate? Shouldn't publishers wait a year before they make a final determination to a books success? Especially with things like TikTok that can help bolster sales out of nowhere. It seems like there's so much pressure on authors for success straight away. Do publishers just want their investment back ASAP?

I don't know how you got your question to be in bold? ANYway, since there are like 30 questions in here I'm just going to take them bird by bird.

If your book earns out (eventually) that's good for the author and publisher, right? Yes, of course.

Why is there a big stress on preorders, first week sales and what a book does right out of the gate? Well, for several reasons:

-- A book with a ton of pre-orders feels "exciting" -- if you owned a bookstore, and you had ordered two copies of GREATBOOK initially to come in -- but then 30 people pre-ordered it from you -- you'd probably strongly consider ordering EXTRA copies, right? That seems like an indication that people really are interested in this book, you should have a pile of them, not just two! You should put it on display!

-- A book with a ton of pre-orders and first-week sales has a much better chance to hit a bestseller list (specifically, the NYT bestseller list). Why? Let's say your author started asking people to pre-order six months ago and those orders have been stacking up in dribs and drabs. But that book doesn't go on sale until January 15th. ALL SIX MONTHS of pre-orders are going to get rung up on release day. The NYT is based on books sold during one week's time compared to all other books sold during that one week. Obviously, a book with a ton of pre-orders will get a big boost that week!

-- Books that hit the list get more visibility, they get people hooting about them on social media, they get to be called "NYT Bestselling" which seems fancy, ALL of that can very much help sales going forward. Is it the be-all-end-all? No, of course not. But there's no doubt that it's NICE!

-- The majority of publisher-led publicity and marketing efforts are focused on before or soon after release date -- getting gatekeepers like booksellers, librarians, etc whatever interested in ordering the book into their stores and libraries, getting reviews, pitching the book to media outlets, etc -- so IF those efforts are going to help a book, you're more likely to get that boost when the book is new. After several months have gone by, a thousand newer books have come out, focus has shifted to those books.

Shouldn't publishers wait a year before they make a final determination to a books success?

I mean - I think they do? These things are not mutually exclusive. Of course they'd like to have a lot of success right out of the gate. Obviously, they'd be delighted to have a lot of success later, as well. Plenty of books grow in sales as time goes on, etc -- I don't think anyone is deeming a book a failure if the book doesn't hit it out of the park immediately. I can't speak for adult books, but on the kid's side, we don't really know what kind of longevity a book might have for probably at least a year, because there needs to be time for books to make their way onto state lists, into curriculum, and stuff like that -- for teachers to read it to classrooms, for kids to get hooked and tell friends, etc etc. Once a book is out in paperback and really getting imbedded into schools, we might see BONKERS sales that could never have been predicted from a sluggish start in bookstores a year or two earlier. Publishers are well aware of this -- books are not going out of print in the first year after release.

Especially with things like TikTok that can help bolster sales out of nowhere. It seems like there's so much pressure on authors for success straight away.

Yep, there are plenty of examples of books that have surprising late-in-life success bc of TikTok (or whatever) -- HOWEVER, the difference is, the publisher and author have little to no control over a book suddenly going viral "outta nowhere"! IT'S AMAZING AND GREAT when that happens, we can all wish for it and hope for it -- but it feels kind of out of our hands -- whereas things like pre-orders, getting blurbs, yadda yadda, are at least things that the publisher and author have a MODICUM of control over. They can't MAKE people pre-order, but they can TRY at least!

Do publishers just want their investment back ASAP?

That would be great, sure. But profit margins are slim, and many books never earn out. Publishers know that they are probably going to just break even on a lot of books, and lose money on some, and have big hits with a few. I don't think anyone is expecting every book to have massive pre-orders or huge initial sales or whatever else.

Further: Most of this "pressure" is coming from the authors themselves. Like, the call is coming from inside the house. I've NEVER heard a publisher insist that an author do some enormous pre-order campaign or hit social media relentlessly for months -- actually it's more likely that a publisher in the year of our lord 2024 will say that they don't really think a massive pre-order campaign is worth the effort. I've NEVER heard a publisher say that anything in particular rides on first week sales, or insist that a book must hit a bestseller list. Of course they are hoping for it, it would be great! But it would be foolish for them to say that it WILL or MUST happen, and if it doesn't, it doesn't diminish the author or their efforts in any way. Obviously when award-time comes, publishers AND authors are likely crossing their fingers that a book will get a big shiny medal, and they might be a little disappointed if their book doesn't get one (especially if armchair experts online were predicting that it might) -- but I've NEVER heard a publisher put pressure on an author about that kind of thing, either, if anything, the opposite.

Publishers are, in fact, much more likely to be trying to temper outsize author expectations, rather than stoking them. There might be a few outliers -- huge-name authors where everyone really does expect instant NYT success and glory, so if it doesn't happen for some reason, there's some disappointment all around - but truly? That level of expectation is quite rare, and if you happen to be in that echelon, you probably aren't asking questions like this on Tumblr, you're busy swanning around the Isle of Capri or something. And actually you probably don't feel PRESSURE to hit the list in that case anyway -- you just expect you will as that is normal for you. Bless.

Regular authors? Which is 99% of the authors reading this post? You can go ahead and calm down. We love you regardless of your pre-orders or initial sales. If you feel "enormous pressure" for "instant success" -- really take a look at where that pressure is coming from. Because it's probably not from agents or publishers, who know from long experience that almost no success is "instant" by any stretch of the imagination.

[slamminslamminmcgill]

Thoughts on Lalo and facials, sir 🎤

of course babe mwah

DEFINITELY a favorite of his. it’s either that or he’ll cum inside whichever hole he happens to be occupying at that moment

for him it’s the vulgarity and degradation. seeing your pretty face desecrated with him (especially if you’re wearing makeup and it all becomes a runny mess) is a massive ego boost. he loves seeing just how badly he can fucking ruin you

he’ll even grab some of your hair and use it to wipe the last few drops off his cock

once he’s done and you’re sufficiently plastered, he grabs you by the chin and scratches it like you’re a dog, “aw, ¡te pobrecito! (you poor thing!) so messy! you got lalo all over your face! lemme clean you up, baby boy…”

he’ll slurp it off your face and spit it back into your mouth. if you don’t think lalo salamanca loves the taste of his own cum block me right fuckin now did we watch the same show he’s NASTY!!!!!

he will abso-fucking-lutely do them in semi-public areas and not let you wipe it off. like you blow him in his car in the los pollos hermanos parking lot and he blasts all over your face. you know damn well he’s dragging you in there and making you talk to gus bc he’s insane

“hey, fring! where do you keep the napkins around here? my friend’s a bit of a messy eater, haha. have you guys met?”

meanwhile you’re mortified and just keeping your head down and letting the next generation of salamanca kids drip onto the floor

(perrito lore) while y’all are in prison together he’ll do this in the showers too and make you do a walk of shame with him. hey, c’mon, he’s proud of you!!! 🥺 he likes showing off his prize doggy to the other inmates. just flexing what a catch he has and they don’t, y’know? and only when you get back to your cell does he let you wash it off in the sink :3

he doesn’t like being too predictable tho. ofc he has to mix it up sometimes.

he’s blowing your back out, you’re on orgasm number… 4? maybe? whatever. you weren’t taking inventory. then suddenly he goes still. then his hand comes down onto your ass with a loud-

SMACK

-and a sharp sting ringing after it.

“on the floor. now.”

he doesn’t have to elaborate. you know what that means (or so you think). you assume the position, kneeling down, facing him, eyes closed, tongue out, waiting to feel him shoot onto your face.

and he at the very last second, he aims his cock down. you hear him cum with a deep, cathartic, satisfying groan, but you feel nothing. you crack an eye open, confused. did he somehow shoot a blank?

lalo smiles at your confusion, then points to the puddle of cum he just shot on the hardwood floor.

“lick it up.”

[justacynicalromantic]

In USSR knowing foreign languages was a privilege of very selected few. Borders were closed and 99,9% of the population never ever visited any other country in their whole lives. Most did not ever travel beyond borders of their home region.

I was born in 1991 in Luhansk, the year Ukraine became Independent.

When it was time for me to enter my 1st grade, my mother selected for me a school that specialized in foreign languages - it was her belief and hope that soon many foreign languages would soon spread in our country, as business would enter and economy would flow, so knowing languages, especially English, would be a good boost for my career. Like any mother, she wanted a bright future for her daughter.

I - an ordinary child from a rather not-well-off family - traveled to Paris on a trip organized by my French teacher in my high school.

In university, I got into a program of language studying in China for a year - as part of many collaboration programs our university had with many other universities throughout the world.

All that was possible in our rather small administrative centre town with a population of some 500k people.

All these things were unfathomable for my mother and everyone else who grew up in the USSR.

I graduated Uni in 2013.

My mom could not have ever predicted that one year after my graduation, a whole war would start and we would lose our home.

And that the most common way my foreign language skills would serve me in life - would be writing posts on the Internet, telling the world about it.

[moutainrusing]

dark fic

911 words, @wolfstarmicrofic

Study sessions usually went predictably for Remus. Some thick kid would ask him a question, he’d pretend to care, they’d leave happy. The only reason he did them was to boost his credit; by being a werewolf, he automatically had none.

He was in the middle of a session with Sybill (she was struggling with her Charms NEWT, and he had no idea why someone so oblivious would even continue with NEWTs), when Sirius sauntered in, claiming he was bored.

Smirking at Sybill, Sirius threw himself into Remus’s lap, and began laving his tongue over Remus’s throat, eyes fixed on her as electrifying storms brewed inside them.

He kept his gaze on her lips as he grinded against Remus, and his heart swelled hearing Remus laugh when her mouth fell open, tongue lolling out as if she were in a trance.

“You bitch,” Remus whispered in his ear.

But then Sybill began speaking. Her voice was quiet and eerie, yet solid and firm. “James Potter is going to die.”

Sirius froze. Remus pushed him off and turned on Sybill. “The fuck?”

“James Potter is going to die,” she continued, deaf to their confusion. “He will be betrayed by one of his dearest friends. Dog. Wolf. Rat. One will betray him. James Potter is going to die. He will be sent to his grave by the one to rat his secret out.”

Sirius finally got his voice back. “IS PETER THE TRAITOR?!”

But her trance-like state had vanished. She blinked at them, eyes huge behind her glasses. “Huh?”

Sirius leaned across the table to grab her tie. “IS PETER THE TRAITOR?!”

She stuttered. “I don’t know. What are you—”

“Sirius,” Remus pulled him back. “I don’t think she can remember her prophecy. But yes, the traitor’s Peter. The rat’s the one who rats James out.”

“Oh.” Sirius turned around and slammed his mouth onto Remus’s. He opened their lips to murmur, “We need to kill him.”

Remus nodded, and sucked the words deeply into his lungs as he kissed Sirius even harder.

They were going to kill him.

- - -

The glint of the knife Sirius was sharpening matched the glint in his eyes and the glint of his grin. Remus kissed him, knife in between them, blade honed on Peter.

- - -

They crept out of their bed in the dead of night. Remus opened the curtains of Peter’s canopy, while Sirius towered above the sleeping boy, drool falling from his gaping mouth as his snores permeated the air.

Peter may look innocent. But he was a killer. Sirius didn’t look innocent at all. He was also a killer.

But he didn’t mind being a killer, because he was doing it with Remus. They were killers together, beautifully barbaric and barbarically beautiful.

Together, they raised their wands, and cast the spell to force Peter into his Animagus form. Rat. He squeaked at them, curling into himself as his small, beady eyes widened at the knife in Sirius’s other hand.

Peter tried to transform back, but Remus and Sirius held the spell, wands fixed on him. With his free hand, Remus grabbed Peter—

- - -

“What are you doing?!” James cried, flinging his curtains open.

Sirius kept his wand trained on Peter, now squirming in Remus’s hand. “Saving your life.”

“How is this saving my life?!” James rushed to try and pry Remus’s fist around Peter open.

“Because, James.” Remus simply stretched his arm out of James’s reach. Sirius smiled. He always knew his Moony’s height was an asset.

“We love you,” Sirius finished. “Now, let us kill him for you.” He raised his knife to Peter’s head, poking out of Remus’s fist and twitching horrifically.

“What the fuck?” James stared in horror. “Put the knife down.”

Sirius hummed. “I don’t think I will. I only want you to live. You’re my brother, and I’ll do anything for you.” He grinned violently. “Especially killing.”

“Mm, yeah,” Remus smiled. “We love killing almost as much as you, James.”

James was speechless. He lunged for the knife in Sirius’s hand. Sirius had to drop it in order to punch him away.

They both looked over James’s body, sprawled across the floor. Remus nodded appreciatively. “Mean left hook.”

Sirius looked at him adoringly. “Thanks, Moons.”

Remus’s gaze softened. “You’re lovely.”

Sirius smirked. “I know. Now let’s kill him.”

But as he crouched to pick up his knife, the direction his wand was pointing shifted.

- - -

Peter sunk his teeth into Remus’s hand, and Remus yelped, letting go of both Peter and his wand.

Peter transformed back to his human form, grabbed Remus’s wand, and Obliviated him. Remus collapsed next to James.

Sirius growled in outrage, moving to plunge his knife into Peter’s throat with such momentum that it was easy to dodge. It sank through the wall, and in that time, Peter aimed Remus’s wand at him, and cast, “Obliviate.”

His three friends lay unconscious next to each other.

He’d get revenge for this.

He’d be nice to James. Give him a way out of this cruel world.

He’d punish Sirius. Get him locked up. Dementors would be a nice touch.

He’d scar Remus. More than how the wolf did. Remus would be abandoned and alone for the rest of his life.

- - -

Next morning, James woke up and rubbed his aching skull. “Did we drink too much last night?”

“Yeah,” Peter replied quietly.

Sirius frowned. “Why is my—”

Remus slapped a hand over Sirius’s mouth. “Why’s there a knife in the wall?”

[tenebraevesper]

Sonic Cyber Revolution, Entry 56: Vandalize My Heart

''Said you'd keep me safe, now you're tearin' me down! Am I laid to waste now that you're not around? Come and leave your mark! Vandalize my heart! Fight the pain away, my head is in ruins! Need you in my veins, don't know how you do it! Come and leave your mark (Come and leave your mark)! Vandalize my heart!''

– Vandalize by Sonic Frontiers

xXxXxXx

Sonic took a step back, avoiding a swing from Shadow, and then dodged another punch, trying to find a good opening. However, Shadow kept the offensive with a barrage of punches, forcing Sonic to back away, only for Sonic to catch both of his fists, with the two ending up grappling each other. Both smirked at the temporary stalemate.

''Not bad,'' Shadow said.

''Thanks,'' Sonic replied. ''Take this!''

Sonic managed to break out of Shadow's grip, going for a sweeping kick to knock him off his feet, but Shadow leapt back, then charged right back at Sonic. Sonic managed to dodge a kick from Shadow, using his super speed to turn this battle into another race all across Heizeru Park, with Shadow easily matching his speed.

''I can do this all day long!'' Sonic exclaimed, dodging a punch from Shadow that came from the side.

''So can I,'' Shadow replied, attempting to punch Sonic again, but his rival was faster, avoiding the punch.

Still, Shadow managed to use the boost from his air shoes to kick Sonic again, but Sonic recovered faster than he anticipated, leaping at Shadow and knocking him over, both hedgehogs landing on the soft grass. Shadow was pinned down by Sonic, feeling astonished and somewhat amused that Sonic had managed to beat him this time. They were always evenly matched, and while Shadow did have a slight edge due to his own experience, Sonic had no issues countering every move he made and have some fun while he was at it.

''I guess this means I win.'' Sonic smirked, with Shadow raising an eyebrow.

''Considering how evenly matched we both are, I doubt that one's victory can be determined by just one short fight,'' he responded, with Sonic noting that he sounded slightly bitter, clearly unhappy about the fact that he lost the first round. Sonic had to admit that the little pout Shadow made was kind of cute, but before more of those thoughts could flood his mind, he stepped away, letting Shadow stand up. Both took a fighting stance for the second round, with Sonic charging towards Shadow, using his speed in hopes to gain an early advantage.

Shadow managed to sidestep, having predicted that Sonic would take a risk, and went for a punch. Sonic managed to block it, but he only had a moment to register Shadow's calculated smirk, with Shadow suddenly vanishing. Sonic immediately turned around, expecting him to appear from behind, only to get tackled down on the ground when Shadow appeared from the side. Sonic found himself pinned down on the ground, the fresh scent of earth and grass filling his nostrils,… along with the scent of lavender. Emerald green eyes locked in with crimson red eyes, and Sonic felt for a moment as if the reality around them had disappeared. To him, Shadow's eyes were like a passionate flame, burning fiercely, and Sonic wanted to gaze at them just a little longer, not minding the fact that he had been lying on the ground. Then, a sudden wave of disappointment washed over him when Shadow got up, and the strange moment he experienced earlier bursting like a bubble.

''Sonic, are you-?'' Shadow started, but then stopped when Sonic got up. The azure hedgehog's gaze was distant, and he had to wonder whether Sonic's mind had wandered away from their battle, but then Sonic gave him his trademark smirk, acting as if nothing happened.

''Well, you won this time. Let's call the next fight a tiebreaker,'' Sonic said. Shadow nodded, taking a battle stance. A curious thought had passed through Sonic's mind when both hedgehogs charged at each other. The desire to pin Shadow down and keep him on the ground was now stronger than ever, but it was also intertwined with another thought. Sonic didn't really care whether he would win this battle or not. In fact, he thought back to all of their previous battles, many of which were filled with lot of tension and raw emotion, as well as a sense of closeness. Regardless of how they interacted or whether they had an argument, they would always come to an understanding.

Sonic had to admit that he enjoyed this kind of chaos. It felt incredibly exhilarating, and even if Shadow presented himself as a level-headed person, Sonic was excited to provoke him and get a reaction out of him. Every time Shadow showed a different emotion instead of his usual scowl or annoyance, Sonic felt his heart leap, being excited about his achievement. The fact that Shadow had been genuinely smiling more and more often in his presence was a bonus that made him look forward to hang out more with him.

Shadow stepped back, only for Sonic to sweep him off his feet with a swift kick. He realized that he was about to lose, but before Sonic could pin him down, he kicked him back, managing to get up just in time to continue the battle. He took note of the fact that Sonic had actually put much more effort into this fight, managing to force Shadow into a defensive position and keeping up the pressure. Shadow had to admit that he was quite impressed with that, attempting to find a way to break through and overpower Sonic, but his rival appeared to have an answer for every move he made.

While Shadow was quite competitive, especially when Sonic was involved, he didn't mind losing to him from time to time. He had acknowledged Sonic as his equal and enjoyed their rivalry, as well as his company. In fact, he was well aware that Sonic was taking advantage of their rivalry and sparring matches in hopes of hanging out with Shadow, and Shadow himself had been genuinely looking forwards to those matches. Sonic kept challenging him in ways he couldn't imagine, surprising him over and over with his decisions and actions. Shadow would be bewildered in one moment, irritated in the other – only to gain a burning desire to keep up with Sonic, if not outrightly defeat him in whatever competitive match they got themselves into.

Shadow charged again at Sonic, with the two ending up grappling once again and trying to push each other away. Shadow's crimson eyes met Sonic's emerald ones, the colour reminding Shadow of meadows and forests, of the wind and of freedom. Shadow knew that Sonic was someone who would be tied down by anyone or anything, and that was something he deeply admired about Sonic. No matter what happened, Sonic would never be swayed from following his own ideals or change who he is. He was quite stubborn in that regard, and Shadow felt that Sonic becoming someone he isn't would be a betrayal to his own self.

Suddenly, Shadow felt the wind getting knocked out of him when Sonic kicked him in the chest, snapping his rival out of his thoughts. Shadow stumbled back, taking note of the brief look of concern on Sonic's expression, which was then replaced by a smirk when he realized that Shadow would be fine. Shadow narrowed his eyes, but he smirked in response, ready to fight back. He used the boost from his air shoes to land a sweeping kick on Sonic, but Sonic managed to duck in time, tackling Shadow and finally pinning him on the ground.

''Heh, it looks like I win this battle,'' Sonic said, straddling Shadow's waist and keeping a tight grip on Shadow's wrists to prevent him from moving. Shadow struggled to break free, but it was obvious to both hedgehogs that he had lost the battle. He sighed, giving Sonic a firm look.

''Tch, do you want a reward for that?'' Shadow asked in a deadpan tone, with Sonic chuckling lightly, leaning closer and lowering his head so their noses almost touched.

''I think the fact that I had defeated you is reward enough… I wouldn't mind you buying me lunch next time, though,'' Sonic replied, still relishing in his victory. Shadow rolled his eyes, pouting again, confirming in Sonic's mind that he indeed looked quite cute like this.

''Hmph, what gives you the impression that you wouldn't be the one lying on the ground, Faker?'' Shadow asked, a smirk spreading on his lips.

''Heh, depends. Is that a promise that you'll give it your all next time to defeat me?'' Sonic asked in a teasing tone, his eye-lids lowered.

''Yeah,'' Shadow breathed, his response firm and assuring. ''Promise.''

Then, something in Sonic's brain short-circuited and he leaned over, crashing his lips against Shadow's. Shadow's crimson eyes widened in shock as he tasted his rival, the kiss itself being rather sloppy due to how sudden it was and the fact that both participant were completely inexperienced. Still, it was warm and soft, spreading a strange sensation through his body, akin to a spark of electricity, and he could feel his own fingers dig into the grass below as a sense of dizziness washed over him. It was as if time had stopped only for this moment, leaving his body paralyzed, his mind blank and on the verge of giving into whatever this sensation was.

Finally, Sonic's mind caught up with his body and he realized what he was doing. He quickly pulled back, scrambling on his feet and stepping back, creating some distance between himself and Shadow. The dark hedgehog sat up, staring at his azure rival silently, still in shock from what had just happened and completely speechless. Sonic's fawn muzzle was a bright red and he looked genuinely freaked out, breathing heavily, stuttering and stumbling as he backed away.

''I-I… I… Shads…''

Being completely unable to form a coherent sentence, Sonic suddenly turned on his heel and ran off, leaving Shadow alone as he still tried to process what had just happened between them. Did… Did Sonic just… The dark hedgehog placed his fingers over his lips, tracing over them as he still felt the warmth of the kiss, his tan muzzle being as red as his stripes. He then stood up, the strange sensation he felt earlier being replaced by a new one – irritation. Shadow's eyes narrowed as he lowered his hand, clenching it into a fist, his quills bristling.

''That idiot!''

xXx

Sonic kept running as fast as he could, reaching his house in mere minutes and speeding into his room, closing the door behind him with a loud bang. He then leaned with his back against the door, placing his hand against his chest, his heart pounding like crazy as he took deep breaths to calm himself down. He was completely freaked out, still in disbelief over what had just happened – over what he had done. He felt as if he had just committed a grave sin.

''Wh-Why have I done that? This is bad, this is really bad,'' he muttered to himself, his ears pinned as he placed his hands over his head, his fawn muzzle still bright red as he remembered the kiss. He could feel his heart start racing again, causing him to shake his head. ''No, no! I can't think about that! I can't think about Sha-'' He stopped and took a deep breath, sliding down on the floor. ''I know that Shadow hates me. He might even be planning his revenge on me.''

''Sonic?''

Sonic was startled when he heard someone calling for him, only for the door to open and a confused Lucas stepping inside. He blinked, looking quite confused. ''Hey, what happened? I never saw you being in so much distress.''

''D-Distress?'' Sonic quickly got back on his feet, trying to act cool and giving Lucas a wide grin. ''I don't know what you're talking about, Lucas. I'm completely fine, I just-''

Lucas folded his arms across his chest and furrowed a brow, giving Sonic a look that clearly said that he didn't believe him. The hedgehog knew that he couldn't hide anything, feeling a chill flowing down his spine when he heard Lucas ask in a firm tone, ''Sonic, what happened?''

Sonic's ears drooped as he lowered his gaze, understanding that he was cornered. This was a situation where he couldn't just fight back or hide how he truly felt. As a matter of fact, this was a situation where, for once, he had no idea what he was supposed to even do. He was fine with fighting people who caused trouble, but when it came to dealing with his own emotions, he was a lost cause.

Right, that's something I had been hoping I'd never have to deal with, Sonic thought, raising his head. On the other hand, maybe Lucas could give me some advice on how to handle this disaster, since we're partners and he usually knows what to do in any kind of situation. I mean, short of leaving Neos City and never crossing paths with Shadow again, I don't know what else I should do.

Sonic sighed, feeling as if something was constricting his chest and glanced at Lucas, a nervous look etched on his expression. ''The truth is… Well, Shadow and I had one of our sparring matches and I- I kind of…''

Sonic mumbled something under his breath, something that Lucas didn't hear. He gave Sonic a puzzled look, leaning closer. ''Sorry, but I didn't hear. What did you do?''

''I kissed Shadow, okay?!'' Sonic suddenly shouted, only to be startled when he realized what he had done, feeling regret. He didn't intend to shout, but at the moment, his emotions were running high and he felt quite tense.

''Wh-What?'' Sonic looked at Lucas, who just gave him a blank look, his mouth slightly open, and clearly trying to process what the hedgehog had just told him. Then, he snapped out of his stunned state. ''Well, I guess that explains why you're so freaked out.''

''I really have no clue what came over me. One moment we were fighting, and then I pinned him down and…'' Sonic shook his head, trying not to remind himself of this moment, despite his senses pushing the memory into the forefront of his mind. ''There is no way I can talk to Shadow ever again, not after this. I'm sure that he hates me now. I bet he's even plotting murder.''

''Hey, calm down,'' Lucas said, trying to keep a presence of mind, only to raise an eyebrow in confusion. ''Wait, why would you think that Shadow hates you? Was it that bad?''

''Uh, well… I did enjoy it,'' Sonic said, pausing for a moment and having to admit that he had been quite overwhelmed by the sensation, not wanting it to stop, but he quickly snapped out of it. ''But, that's the problem!'' He suddenly started pacing across the room. ''Shadow had told me that we're teammates and rivals, and he agreed to be my friend. I'm sure that he doesn't have any actual feelings for me beyond that and that he hates me because of that kiss. How are we even supposed to go back from this? I don't want to lose him as a friend or a rival, especially not after spending so much time getting close to him.'' Sonic gritted his teeth, ruffling his quills in frustration. ''I worked so hard, and now everything was for nothing!''

Lucas sat down on the floor, crossing his legs as he watched the hedgehog pace around and rant, deciding to let him vent a bit until he calmed down. Eventually, Sonic sighed tiredly and sat down across Lucas, feeling exhausted and emotionally drained. ''What should I do?''

''I think that first of all, you should ask yourself the question whether you really like Shadow that way, as well as why you had kissed him so suddenly,'' Lucas said, trying to provide a calming presence for the frayed hedgehog. Frankly, he was completely clueless about how romantic relationships should work, as he never was in a romantic relationship himself nor did he have a crush on anyone, but he figured that this was the best starting point.

''Well, I don't really know if I can describe those feelings as romantic…'' Sonic admitted. Frankly, he never saw himself as someone who would ever develop a crush on anyone, cherishing his own freedom more than anything else, as well as not wanting to be ever tied down by any kind of relationship. However, when he was around Shadow, he never felt like he was being held back and he genuinely loved spending time with him, be it fighting or just talking. Somehow, he never got bored whenever he was with Shadow, but whether he could really say that he had romantic feelings for him – he had no idea. ''As for the kiss, I wasn't thinking straight…''

''You clearly weren't,'' Lucas muttered in a deadpan tone, with Sonic giving him an unamused look.

''What I actually wanted to say was that I was just following my own senses in that moment, as I usually would. I wish I hadn't done that,'' Sonic grumbled the latter part, leaning his head against his knees. ''You and Shadow always told me that I never think things through, and now I have to deal with the fact that I might lose Shadow because of a stupid mistake.''

''Who says that that's the case?'' Lucas asked.

''Huh?'' Sonic looked up, giving him a confused look.

''I mean, have you even heard Shadow's response?'' Lucas asked.

''No, I didn't. I ran away before he could say anything,'' Sonic replied, narrowing his eyes.

''In other words, you have absolutely no idea how Shadow really feels, which means that nothing is set in stone,'' Lucas said, leaving Sonic confused. Lucas gave him a firm look. ''If there is one thing that I know about maintaining relationships, it is that communication is important. Like it or not, you will have to confront Shadow and tell him the truth.''

''I was afraid that you'd tell me something like that,'' Sonic grumbled.

''Well, that's the only solution to this problem. If you still feel uncomfortable about it, why don't you approach it like another challenge. You're pretty good at that,'' Lucas added.

''You really like to use my own words against me, don't you?'' Sonic responded, folding his arms across his chest and pouting, while Lucas just grinned in response.

xXx

Touka was sitting on the floor of the attic bedroom, cleaning her hoverboard, when the hatch opened and Shadow climbed into the room, walking straight over too the bed and lying down on it. Touka lifted her head, giving Shadow a curious look.

''Huh, did something happen?'' Touka asked. Shadow just turned his back to her in response, with Touka sighing in exasperation. She got up, sitting on the edge of the bed. ''Hey, Shadow, I know that something happened and you're in a bad mood because of that. I will pester you until you tell me what it is, so you better open up before I start. This is a warning.''

''If I wanted to talk about it, I would've done so,'' Shadow grumbled, his eyes narrowing as he scowled.

''Did you and Soic have a bad argument?'' Touka asked. Shadow frowned, his eyes darting towards her, then avoiding her gaze.

''No. That coward ran away,'' Shadow growled.

''I see… That doesn't sound like Sonic, though,'' Touka said, tilting her head to the side. ''Something must've happened between you two for you to act like this.''

''Nothing happened…'' Shadow grumbled, only to immediately regret his words when he saw Touka smirking at him.

''So, something did happen. You know as much as I do that you can't hide much from me, since I'm the only person capable of reading you like an open book,'' Touka said. Shadow rolled on his back, staring at her for a moment before placing an arm over his eyes.

''I hate that ability of yours,'' he muttered.

''If you don't want to see it in action, then you should be honest with me,'' Touka said, giving Shadow a curious, yet firm look. ''What happened?''

Shadow sat up, his legs crossed as he faced Touka, still having that annoyed look on his expression. While his sister took note of him appearing to be rather calm and collected, she knew that he was quite upset about something and didn't want to show it. Still, if he didn't want her to pry it out of him, he would have to tell her the truth. It would be indeed be easier for him to just tell her everything. He inhaled sharply, wondering how to explain the situation.

''Sonic and I…'' Despite knowing that Touka would learn about it sooner or later, Shadow still felt hesitant about telling her the truth. As a matter of fact, the very memory of that moment made him feel quite irritated. ''We had another sparring match,… and we ended up kissing.''

''Eh?'' Touka gave him a blank look, processing just what she had heard. Shadow shot her a glare, a bright shade of red spreading across his tan muzzle.

''You heard me,'' he grumbled. Touka blinked in surprise, only for a smirk to form on her lips.

''You and Sonic really did…'' To Shadow's dismay, Touka looked genuinely excited, her eyes sparking. ''What was it like? Don't tell me that you're in a sour mood because Sonic is a bad kisser.''

''It's not about the kiss!'' Shadow snarled, shooting Touka a glare, baring his fangs. ''I'm furious that the Faker just ran off without clarifying what the hell that kiss was about!'' He lowered his gaze, still angry, gritting his teeth. ''If Sonic really thinks that it's fun to toy with my feelings, especially after I told him that I trusted him…'' He felt a suffocating sensation in his chest, pressing his hand against the white fur. ''I don't care about him teasing me or us having an argument, since I'm used to that kind of dynamic.'' He then looked up at Touka, growling, ''However, messing with my feelings like this is unforgivable!'' He lowered his head, his eyes narrowing. ''I had opened my heart to him, so this feels like a stab in the back.'' He then smirked maliciously. ''Well, two can play that game. That Faker has no idea what's coming.''

''W-Wait a second… I think you two might've had a misunderstanding,'' Touka suddenly said, drawing Shadow's attention. ''Shadow, you know Sonic. Would he really do something like that to you?''

Shadow fell silent, well aware that she was right. ''No, he wouldn't. He's not that kind of person.'' He then frowned, folding his arms across his chest. ''I still want to make him pay for leaving without an explanation.''

Touka sighed, not wanting to admit loudly that this was actually quite an amusing situation, especially considering Shadow's bitter mood. She knew that he needed her support now, rather than have her tease him. ''So, does that mean that you actually have a crush on Sonic?'' Shadow was startled by that question, avoiding her gaze, but the blush on his muzzle gave him away. Touka grinned smugly. ''I'll take that as a 'Yes'. Honestly, I was wondering when you would finally realize that.''

''What?'' Shadow gave her a look of disbelief. ''How did you-?''

''I had a feeling that you and Sonic had something going on, especially after those late night conversations back at ARMS,'' Touka explained, with Shadow being stunned.

''You eavesdropped on us?!''

''It wasn't that hard, since Sonic wasn't exactly quiet and I was sleeping in the same room. Admittedly, I only caught snippets of those conversations, but it was enough for me to understand what's going on. Honestly, it was kinda cute to hear you tell him that you miss him; in your own way, of course,'' Touka said happily, ignoring the fact that Shadow was glaring daggers at her.

''Do you want to say more? Because I might just ignore the fact that you're my sister and make you regret ever saying anything,'' Shadow growled.

''Hey, I'm just teasing you a little. It shouldn't be different from our usual bickering… unless you really feel strongly about this whole thing,'' Touka said, a mischievous smile forming on her lips.

''I shouldn't have told you anything,'' Shadow responded, about to get up, only to for Touka to stop him.

''So, what do you plan on doing now?'' she asked, catching Shadow off guard.

''What should I even do?'' he asked, the annoyance in his tone being mixed with slight confusion. It was obvious to Touka that even Shadow himself had no idea what his next move should be.

''Well, the obvious thing to do would be to talk to Sonic about what had happened. Let him explain himself and then decide what you'll do based on that,'' Touka suggested. Shadow fell silent, aware that Touka was right. Touka then gave him an encouraging smile. ''If you and Sonic ever get together, I can assure you that you have my blessing.''

''What?'' Shadow gave Touka a stunned look. ''Why would I need that?''

''As your older sister, it is my job to look out for you, and that includes making sure that whoever you end up with won't be someone who'd take advantage of you or hurt you. I have to say, I'm really proud of your choice. Sonic is a really good catch,'' Touka told him, taking note of just how flustered Shadow was. ''Besides, how would you act if you heard that there is someone interested in me?''

''Hmph, I'd probably lock them up somewhere and throw away the key,'' Shadow replied in a calm tone. Touka sweatdropped.

''You would feed them, right?'' she asked, well aware that Shadow had the 'no one is good enough for my sister' mindset.

''I'd probably visit them once a week to give them food and hose them down,'' Shadow said idly.

''I figured,'' Touka muttered, the wry smile being replaced with a confident look. ''In any case, you should go talk to Sonic and sort this out. That will put your mind to ease.''

''What if it doesn't?'' Shadow asked.

''I'm sure it will. However, considering how bad you two can be at communicating your feelings, I'm certain that one of you will say something stupid. If it's Sonic, try not to take it to your heart,'' Touka replied, with Shadow giving her an annoyed look.

''I know that. You don't have to lecture me about that,'' he said.

''Great!'' Touka smiled joyfully, clasping her hands and pressing them against her cheek. ''I'll try to restrain myself from teasing you too much about your boyfriend.''

''Shut up! Sonic's not my boyfriend!'' Shadow snapped back, clearly flustered.

''Yet.''

Shadow felt a chill flowing down his spine when he saw the fiendish look on Touka's expression, mixed with a mischievous smirk. He knew that, no matter what he said or did, Touka would be mercilessly obnoxious about this whole situation for the next few days, if not for the next few weeks. Peace, as he knew it, has ended.

xXx

Sonic's eyes widened as he saw a call on his AR Visor, his heart almost leaping out of his chest when he saw that the caller was Shadow. His anxiety spiked once again and for a moment, he refused to answer the call, but one assuring look from Lucas made him press forward.

''H-Hi, Shadow,'' Sonic said, staring nervously at the dark hedgehog, whose expression remained a perpetual scowl.

''I want us to meet up at Heizeru Park. We still have a score to settle,'' Shadow told him. ''I'm sure that you can reach it in a few minutes.''

''Uh, yeah, sure…'' Sonic muttered, a bit stunned by Shadow's demand. In fact, he though that Shadow had called him to yell at him for what happened. However, he soon realized that he would soon find out how Shadow really felt once they met up.

''Good. I'll see you soon,'' Shadow replied, ending the call. Sonic turned to Lucas.

''Do you think he's angry?'' he asked. Lucas shrugged.

''He didn't really sound any different from how he usually is,'' he replied. Sonic sighed.

''Well, wish me luck. If I don't come back alive, you can have the the chilli dog I stashed in the fridge,'' Sonic told Lucas in a grim tone.

''I don't think that will be necessary,'' Lucas replied, with Sonic leaving. Lucas then chuckled, having to admit that he was both amused and worried about his partner, but this was something Sonic had to deal with on his own. As he exited Sonic's room, he suddenly got a call, not too surprised when he saw who had called him.

''Hey, Touka, how did the conversation with Shadow go?'' he asked.

''Oh, so Sonic told you what had happened?'' Touka replied.

''Well, he thinks that Shadow hates him and was quite freaked out over the whole situation,'' Lucas explained.

''I see. Shadow actually thought that Sonic was just messing with him. I guess he shouldn't have ran off,'' Touka said.

''In the end, it was just a misunderstanding, wasn't it?'' Lucas said, feeling a sense of relief.

''Yeah, but I have a feeling that Shadow might want to get some revenge on Sonic. Still, I wouldn't worry to much,'' Touka said in a nonchalant tone. Lucas gave her an exasperated look.

''I hope you're right.''

xXx

Sonic felt his heart racing when he arrived at the meeting spot, seeing Shadow already waiting for him. He paused for a moment, feeling a wave of anxiety overwhelming him for a brief moment, but he then took a deep breath to calm his nerves. As long as he acted cool and collected – and didn't say anything stupid – things would be fine, right? He also tried to get a read on Shadow's mood, but his expression was his ever-present scowl.

''So, you were talking about having a score to settle?'' Sonic started, feeling nervous. Shadow just nodded in response.

''I want a rematch of the last round, considering how you introduced a change to the terms of the battle,'' Shadow told him, leaving Sonic completely confused.

''What?'' he muttered, not understanding what was going on. Wasn't Shadow going to get revenge on him for what had happened? Did he already move past that?

''Prepare yourself, Hedgehog,'' Shadow said, taking a battle stance. Sonic blinked, still confused, but then he smiled eagerly as he realized that this would be just another of their sparring matches.

Suddenly, Shadow charged at him, giving Sonic barely any time to dodge the attack. Sonic attempted to sweep him away with a kick, only to mirror Shadow's kick. Shadow backed away, using he boost from his air shoes to go for another kick, with Sonic using his arms to block it, being pushed away by the impact. His eyes narrowed as he saw a smirk on Shadow's lips, wondering what the dark hedgehog was planning. Suddenly, Shadow vanished in a flash of light, with Sonic turning his head to the side, only to be hit by a kick from behind, knocking him over. Shadow then suddenly grabbed him by his leg, swinging him around and throwing him, only for Sonic to perform a back-flip and land safely on his feet. However, he was met with a punch to the chest, with Shadow pinning him with his elbow against a tree. Sonic's eyes widened, and he felt his mouth go dry as a scent of lavender filled the air.

''I believe that I have won this match,'' Shadow said when Sonic didn't fight back, a smug smirk forming on his expression. Sonic rolled his eyes.

''Pfft, do you want a reward for that?'' he asked in a sarcastic tone. His eyes then widened when he saw Shadow's expression, but before he could even understand what was going on, Shadow crashed his lips against his, pressing them into a kiss. Sonic was shocked, his body paralyzed as he tried to process what had just happened. However, as the pressure on his chest lessened, he relaxed, leaning into the kiss and placing his hands on Shadow's waist, enjoying the warmth that came with it. Dizziness overwhelmed him as both pulled away, gasping for air.

''What the hell was that, dude?'' Sonic suddenly asked, the confusion crashing down on him once again. Shadow narrowed his eyes.

''I could ask you the same, Faker. Why did you run away?'' he asked, his tone stern. Sonic's ears drooped, giving Shadow a troubled look. Shadow stepped away and sat down, motioning Sonic to do the same, with the blue hedgehog sitting down across him. Sonic took a deep breath.

''I… I just panicked. I had no idea why I even kissed you and I thought you'd be angry at me, if not even hate for that,'' Sonic admitted. ''I was already thinking about leaving Neos City.''

Shadow sighed, shaking his his head exasperation, which for some reason made Sonic feel even worse.

''You are correct, I was furious at you, but not for the reasons you think,'' Shadow told him, with Sonic feeling a wave of guilt washing over him. ''I thought that you were toying with my feelings instead of taking things seriously.''

''No, I would never do that!'' Sonic protested, giving Shadow a firm look.

''I know,'' Shadow replied in a calm tone, with Sonic feeling relief, only for the tension to return when Shadow shot him a glare. ''Don't ever do that again!''

''I won't, I promise,'' Sonic said, getting a nod of acknowledgement as a response. Silence fell over them for a moment, with Sonic deciding to start another conversation, a small grin forming on his expression. ''So, you actually have a crush on me? That was kinda unexpected.''

''I could say the same for you,'' Shadow said, feeling his body relax. ''You still suck at kissing, though.''

''Seriously? We have this big reveal about crushing on each other and all you're focusing on is criticizing me?'' Sonic asked, feeling quite annoyed. He had to admit that the smug grin that formed on Shadow's lips was cute though, if not even enticing.

''I'm merely saying that you need more practice,'' Shadow said in a matter-of-fact tone, only to get startled when Sonic suddenly sat in his lap, placing his hands on his waist and leaning in closer, his tail wagging in excitement, with the two being on the same eye-level.

''Why don't we then start with that?'' he asked, only to be met with a gloved hand over his mouth.

''Tch, you really have no shame, Hedgehog,'' Shadow said, his tone laced with amusement. ''What makes you even think that I would let you kiss me just because you want to?''

Sonic's ears drooped as he pouted, realizing that that Shadow was basically challenging him again. The pout quickly changed to a grin as he felt a rush of excitement, noting that making things easy for both of them would be boring. Still, he had to try to negotiate at least a little bit.

''Aww, com'n, Shads! Couldn't you make an exception for today?'' he asked, giving Shadow his best puppy-dog eyes. It was clear to him that Shadow was on the verge of giving in and he only needed a little push. ''I'm sure you also want the same.''

''Damn it, Faker,'' Shadow hissed, pulling him closer, and Sonic knew that he had won.

Both leaned into another kiss, this one being warm and affectionate, if a little chaste. However, it only served to ignite a new sense of hunger between the two once they broke off. Sonic actually felt quite adventurous, wondering how far he could go with this, but the contemplative look on Shadow's expression made him realize that there were still things they needed to talk about. However, he felt confident that they could come to an agreement, especially since both were in a good mood.

''I sincerely doubt that we can just go back to normal, because I'm not going to ignore what had transpired today,'' Shadow started.

''Right…'' Sonic nodded, falling silent for a moment. He felt a pit forming in his stomach, aware that their relationship would certainly not be the same as before.

''So, what do you want?'' Shadow asked, with Sonic locking eyes with him. Shadow's gaze was rather soft, the crimson spark in his eyes reminding him of a gentle flame and stirring something inside him.

''I don't want to lose you,'' Sonic blurted out the first thing that came to his mind, without even thinking. To his surprise, this response caused Shadow to laugh softly, and Sonic had to admit that this was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. He decided to double down on his response, giving Shadow a determined look. ''I mean it! Be it as a rival, friend, teammate, or even boyfriend- I don't care! I don't want to ruin our relationship!''

''I know.'' Shadow could feel his own heart beating strongly in his chest, even though his expression showed still the same serene, but soft expression. ''I was more curious about whether you'd actually put the boyfriend label on our relationship, because I know that you're not the romantic type. You do seem to be quite eager about it, though, but the question is whether you'd be willing to make such commitment. This kind of relationship comes with strings attached.''

''I guess it depends on what those commitments are. Besides, I don't back away from a challenge,'' Sonic said confidently, pumping his fist. Shadow couldn't help but smile at this response. There was simply something infectious about the way Sonic carried himself whenever he showed his confident side, and it would affect Shadow as well, no matter how much he tried to distance himself. Sonic then made a troubled expression. ''But, I can't really see us in a romantic setting with a candlelit dinner or any of that type of stuff.''

''I agree. The more likely scenario would be you being pressed into the dirt after I have defeated you. Lying at my heel is the only suitable position for you,'' Shadow replied. Sonic snorted.

''Heh, reverse the roles and we'll have a deal,'' he said. ''I guess there is a reason why we fell for each other. You know that I don't want to be tied down and that I prioritize my personal freedom, and you respect that. That's the commitment you were talking about, right?'' Shadow nodded, with Sonic continuing, ''That's my only condition for this relationship. But, that shouldn't be an issue for you, considering how you can easily catch up to me whenever you want.''

''Not just catch up to you, but surpass you,'' Shadow said confidently.

''Pffft, sure, buddy. That's just your ego talking,'' Sonic teased him, giving him a curious look. ''So, what's your condition?''

Sonic was surprised when Shadow suddenly pushed him down into the grass with a swift motion, straddling his waist and grabbing his wrists, pressing them down as he gave Sonic a look of hunger that sent shivers down the azure hedgehog's spine. Shadow lowered his head, relishing in the moment of control he had gained, his voice a mere whisper, but loud and firm enough for Sonic to understand the weight behind it.

''You are mine,'' Shadow said, his voice laced with an emotion that Sonic couldn't quite recognize, but it did send a wave of heat across his body. ''I don't trust anyone easily, especially not on this level, and if I'm already going to establish such a close bond with you, then I refuse to share what we have with anyone else.'' Shadow then lifted his head, tilting it slightly as he gave Sonic a hard look. ''If you cannot accept that, you're free to walk away. It won't change the relationship we had before this.''

''In other words, you want devotion.'' Sonic smirked, giving Shadow a self-assured look. ''Yeah, I can work with that.''

Before Sonic could even blink, Shadow cupped his muzzle and pressed his lips against his own, locking them into a passionate kiss. Sonic's eyes widened in surprise, startled by this sudden move, but he quickly relaxed, gently placing his hands on Shadow's chest and reciprocated the kiss. He could feel Shadow ruffling through his quills and he softly combed with his fingers through the white fur on the dark hedgehog's chest, his ears twitching as he heard a moan of pleasure coming from his rival. He couldn't help but smile, realizing that he would be free to explore just how affectionate he could get with Shadow and how much he could push his rival's boundaries, and Shadow had realized that he would be able to do the same with Sonic.

But, they had time. It felt like nothing else mattered in the moment, just that they were together.

Links:

#Previous Chapter

#Current Chapter

#Next Chapter

#Sonic Cyber Revolution (Masterlist)

[jq37]

The Report Card – Fantasy High Junior Year Ep 18

Oisin’s Family Reunion 

Welcome back to Fantasy High where it’s election night and there’s a storm a-brewin. Last we left off, pretty much every student at Aguefort (plus Ragh, Jawbone, and a hidden Eugenia Shadow) was at Seacaster Manor which Riz realized was tactically unwise right as Seacaster Manor was suddenly ripped from its foundations into the sky. 

Luckily, Seacaster Manor is still a working pirate ship with a ton of functioning canons, plus a ton of shields and other protective mojo put up by Aelwyn. Unfortunately, there’s a lot to worry about here:

Kristen is a shoe-in to win the election BUT that’s only if they can get everyone to vote and get the votes to school in time. This is complicated by the fact that–

Everyone will freak out if they realize what’s happening and if they freak out, they won’t vote. 

There’s a lot to be freaked out about, the first of which is that those ping pong balls Oisin left were a sort of homing beacon that’s drawing the attention of the NIghtmare King. When Kristen looks outside, she can see the storm has taken on the visage of the Nightmare King and it’s like they’re in his hand, being wound up to be thrown for a fastball. Total party foul. 

Seacaster Manor is a boat, but not an airship and it doesn’t have flight capabilities because Oisin got Adaine’s Mephits to break the Cloud Rider Engine during that first house party months ago. This is a problem both because they need to Not Crash but also ideally they need to be able to steer to get the ballots to the school.

Complicating things even further, they have another nasty present from Oisin to contend with–a whole horde of dragons, including big grandma blue herself!

So, yeah! Tons to contend with in this episode. Some good news though: In the center of town, they can see a shock of red lightning go up into the sky and then fizzle. The Rat Grinders are performing their little Porter promotion ceremony but it’s not working because they don’t have Ankarna’s name. Equally good news, Fig’s steed now had a name courtesy of Murph: Gerard Neigh!

The Bad Kids leap into action, both doing damage control on the party and controlling heaps of damage directed at the dragons gunning for them. Fig (who is actually in Wanda form right now so idk how this is working exactly lol) convinces everyone that this is just a sick music video that’s being filmed at the party while Gorgug and Sprek (aviation Goblin) get the Cloud Rider Engine running. Adaine is predictably SO excited to get to help with the canons (along with helping Fig) and Fabian gets people to vote. He also gets his surprise tattoo from Eugenia. Riz is using his insane action economy (boosted by Haste) to run those cannons like he’s in the navy. And Kristen (with help from K2) is keeping everyone up as they are buffeted by winds, physical attacks, and dragon breath weapons. 

Though this is a wild episode, not much happens plot wise so here are some standout moments:

Gorgug is still living in crit city and putting anyone who doubted his multiclass to shame.

Fig has Adaine strap GoPros on vultures to film this fake music video which she will probably turn into a real music video at some point. Maximum Legend Behavior. 

Adaine, in one of her coolest moments ever, blasts a dragon with a cannon then runs to the deck and one shots a blue dragon by punching its lights out. Defeating enemies by hitting them with her fists and shooting them with guns. The Adaine school of wizardry. 

At one point Kipperlilly, Jace, and Oisin Invisibly jump onto the deck from grandma’s back (which Adaine and Gorgug can see because of various magical effects, though they pretend like they can’t). Gorgug has to make two Wis Saves and he rolls 22 on both. Seemingly nothing happens and they use a Rune of Recall to teleport away. The Bad Kids figure that they were trying to mind read Gorgug to get Ankarna’s actual name. 22 is pretty high but we don’t know if it actually worked or not. 

Riz gets to add yet ANOTHER ancient dragon to his kill list as he cannonballs Oisin’s grandma out of the sky. Yikes my man. You’re probably out of the will now. 

At a certain point of the fight, Baxter the griffon shows up to meet then WITHOUT Sandra Lynn riding him which is *concerning* but we don’t get more info than that in this ep. Best case scenario, Sandra Lynn just sent him solo to help because she was busy with things on the ground but still wanted to send air support. Worst case scenario–we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. 

The last big thing that happens in this ep is the moment that broke Brennan and, I’m gonna be honest, as silly as it is it feels like business as usual from Ally to me (though I do understand why it would break a man--several years into the careful crafting of his world--who has been filming for 9 straight hours in a warehouse in Los Angeles). Kristen tries to make a Divine Intervention roll and fails. Then K2 tries to make a Divine Intervention roll–which she does by looking into the clouds and saying, “Blimey” in Ally’s atrocious British accent and THAT one succeeds. This is compounded by the fact that Brennan said that if this works, K2 will be vaporized and Ally randomly adding in that K2 is pregnant with Fabian’s child (which Lou both vehemently vetoes and also plays along with to mess with Brennan)

Brennan fully leaves the dome (Zac takes over for a few minutes) and then storms back in and declares that as weird Wizard clones, simulacrum are just made of stem cells and always test positive for pregnancy because of that. Then, he tells everyone to just wipe the past ten minutes from their mind so he can have some semblance of order for the end of the episode. 

The successful Divine Intervention brings Cass back to herself for a moment and Seacaster Manor flies into the maw of cloud Cass. They appear back in Elmville but everything is now an eerie red and lightning strikes fill the sky. Looks like another end of the year apocalypse!  If Riz doesn’t get into college after this the school board is gonna have to fight *me*.

Detention 

Eugenia Shadow for Giving Fabian a Secret Tattoo of a Ghost With Hairy Legs Showing Hole

Obviously I wanna give it to Oisin for siccing his grandma on his entire school and taunting my girl Adaine but she didn’t give him the time of day so neither will I. Instead, I’m giving it to Eugenia for the insane moving tattoo that Fabian will have to corral back into his otherwise lovely clock tattoo every day. Bonkers behavior. 

Honor Roll

Gorgug for Flying a House Full of Students With No Training and No Casualties 

And he wasn’t sure he could do it. Way to step up Gorgug!!!

Rat Grinder Notes

We still don’t have specifics on what actually happened to Lucy and how the Rat Grinders got involved with this mess in the first place. We have some guesses but nothing concrete and some options definitely make them more sympathetic than others. 

Tossing a house with ALL YOUR CLASSMATES INSIDE OF IT is such an unhinged move. I don’t know how nuanced Brennan meant for the Rat Grinders to be but man it’s hard to want anything for them besides a swift ass kicking followed by jail when they’re pulling shit like this AND we’re not getting anything mitigating to make us feel bad for them (ie: Aelwyn’s shitty home life or Ragh being manipulated by Dayne). Fascinated to know if they’re in a state where they can be “snapped out” of it or if they’re basically lucid but with heightened emotions (in the same vein of, “The shitty things you do and say when drunk are still your fault/responsibility). 

My updated list on how much I wanna see these kids get embarrassed in this fight are Oisin and Kipperlilly at the top followed by Ivy. Mary Ann I truly have no opinion on. Ruben I am warmer on than the rest but that’s admittedly because Fig has put time into investigating him and it’s entirely possible the rest of the RG’s would seem more sympathetic if the BK’s dug more into them. And then Buddy dead last because he’s pretty clearly a pawn here. Like he has other stuff to work through but the current apocalypse is not his fault and he doesn’t deserve to be lumped in with the rest of them. In fairness, Porter (+Jace) deserves to get smacked down more than any of them as the adult mastermind behind this but that’s not the list I was making. 

Random Thoughts

This is a side thing but I love that Aelwyn spent a ton of high level spell slots warding up Seacaster Manor. (She also made Fabian a cursed coin that would summon the gold tornado from Freshman Year if broken but he never used it.) She’s helping!  

Lmao at Murph being called in as the expert on honoring the cock and just being resigned to cock(ed dice) inspection. 

It was casually mentioned that Bucky might believe in Cass a bit which I'm mentioning in case it comes up later.

I love Brennan letting Gorgug use his Great Weapons Fighting feature while using the boat as a weapon. That’s such a shenanigan and Zac wasn’t even asking for it. 

I bet the Rat Grinders targeted Gorgug for the name/mind reading thing because they thought he was the dumbest one in the group. Newsflash! He’s been smart this whole time! Greatest Wizard of our Age! 

Being all, “Other kids at this school have it easier than me and it’s not fair,” and then having your trust fund baby friend send his ancient dragon grandma to attack everyone at your school so you can win an election is such loser behavior.   

Sending dragons to attack the kids who killed a dragon their first year of school and have just gotten cooler and more powerful since then seems like a profoundly shortsighted decision. Why not put their loved ones in danger like in Family in Flames if you want them out of the way? Like, they’re gonna be SO MUCH more mad at you when they inevitably come for you but it might actually slow them down whereas this did not at all. 

I imagine this is going to be a Promocalypse-esque situation where despite this being a school of adventurers, the Bad Kids aren’t gonna get much help from the rest of the student body but I hope they can at least get some cleric heals or pearls of power something before they have to go into this next fight because yeesh. 

I hope Adaine remembers that Oisin has a thing to steal control of summons because she’s been getting into summons heavily this season. 

I’m really curious to know how this fight will play out. Like if it will have a heavy RP element or not. Because if the Bad Kids had bonded with the RG’s in any way (besides the weird obsession w/ Mary Ann and whatever the hell is going on with “Wanda” and Ruben lol) I could see there being a lot of persuasion roles to try and get them to stop what they were doing. But as the story stands, this is coming off of the back of the Rat Grinders sending DRAGONS to THROW THE HOUSE THEY WERE IN. If I were them I would NOT be like, “Let’s talk it out.” I’m like, “OK cool, they can’t be reasoned with,” and casting my most devastating spell at the highest level. Of course, I much prefer combat eps when they have RP but I don’t know that the story so far has been conducive to that. We’ll see! 

[its-no-biggie]

thinking about. yoohankim body swap......

mild novel spoilers ahead but no big story moments or anything just. brief mentions of skills they get later and such

okay so weve got 2 options here, right (well technically theres 6 ways to arrange 3 objects but. if we assume each of them swaps into someone else. theres 2). first one. kdj -> yjh, yjh -> hsy, hsy -> kdj. right off the bat - extremely funny. kdj in yjhs body having the time of his life (i am the protagonist!!), but also adjusts fairly quickly bc like. hes done this before. hsy in kdjs body is a menace. immediately rummaging through his pockets. everyone is unsettled by unreadable normalguy kdj making hsys evil little gremlin expressions. and yjh in hsys body is like. immediately getting bullied because his menacing aura does not work at all in hsys 5 foot frame. kdj-as-yjh is picking him up by the scruff of the neck and all he can do is glare murderously

second arrangement. kdj -> hsy, hsy -> yjh, yjh -> kdj. i think i like this one less but lets see. yjh as kdj is pretty good, i think yjh would be disgruntled no matter who he swaps bodies with but since the 2 of them are on such even footing in the narrative, i think actually spending time in kdjs weak pathetic body would make him lose some respect for him lmfao. like "what have you been doing all this time that your body is in such poor shape. pathetic." hsy as yjh is extremely salty about how op he is. muttering about cliches under her breath. definitely uses her new power to relentlessly bully kdj (omg wait that means hsys body is getting harassed by yjhs body in both scenarios..... what can i say. shes the perfect size to be bothered. the only reason she isnt bothered more in canon is because of her sharp teeth - i stand by this). kdj as hsy is. unremarkable i think. loudly complains about how much shorter he is now just to piss her off. finds an unholy amount of candy in her pockets and publicly shames her about it until she points yjhs sword at him and he shuts up real quick.

honestly i think both of these scenarios have great potential for physical comedy though. they all have such different mannerisms and such different appearances that reshuffling them is always gonna be striking. i need to draw it.....

okay lets talk logistics. do they keep all their skills or do the skills stay with the body? they probably keep them, although it might be more interesting to have like. physical skills like swordfighting and whatnot stay with the body. so if they get stuck like that for a while and end up fighting in each others bodies they kinda have to adapt to the bodies skills and fighting style. could be fun! hmmm that kinda leaves whoevers in kdjs body in the lurch though, since all his skills are mental..... and then kdj has a massive advantage, because surely the bookmark skill gets a boost if hes literally in the body of the person hes copying. so perhaps they keep all their skills - hsys avatar skill in yjhs protagonist body would be pretty op. and yjh has so many skills that he could make anything work - he might end up ripping kdjs body to shreds though lmfao. also im not sure if we get much of kdj using hsy as a bookmark in the novel? i actually dont remember an instance of it, although i can see him wanting to steal predictive plagiarism so it may have happened and i just forgot. but anyway kdj as hsy using bookmark + avatar, and then hsy as yjh also using avatar is an INSANE combo. two man army. and then theres kdjs body there like *struggling to hold up a sword* "i am yoo joonghyuk......" *passes out* LMAO sorry kdj i know youre not that pathetic its just so funny to imagine the protagonists sheer power literally destroying your fragile salaryman body from the inside out.

omg also. if the swap lasts more than a few minutes theyre DEFINITELY getting their weapons and coats back from their bodies. black coat hsy...... wait omg. okay i know kdjs coat is like a high grade magic item that changes size with him. not sure if yjhs is the same but allow me for a moment - yjh-as-hsy trying to look menacing (already failing) but his coat is way too big. its dragging on the floor. the sleeves cover his hands. 😭😭😭😭 its so ridiculous...... other notable combos - white coat hsy (head in hands). hsy-as-yjh gets yjhs coat stolen from her which means the protagonist physique is on full display - she makes a comment about how WoS should have made more use of this kind of fanservice and now she and kdj are arguing. black coat kdj..... i am yoo joonghyuk......

okay i think thats all i got for now. i hope its in character because i really havent read orv in a while..... anyway i think this has a lot of potential so i wanna try drawing it - maybe ill have more thoughts on specific character interactions once i can like,, put personalities to faces lmao

[ezralva]

Unpopular opinions but from what I've seen around since ppl predicting his death, most of Choso's fans still got so hung up on that 2 panels of Yuki's last words in the past that they perhaps skipped the fact that neither Choso, Yuuji, nor everyone afterward nor the narrative until this very chapter ever touched on the subject whether Choso is a human or a curse even matters, it's just figurative speech back then to justify that Choso deserved to live beside Yuuji, as long as the latter allowed, which Yuuji did.

Most of the arguments I saw was that if Choso died then Yuki's sacrifice was for nothing. Imo that's more of a 'You' problem, depending on how one wants to interpret it. This 'black and white' separation is clearly just more important for the fans but actually not so much in the narrative for the arcs afterward.

Let's be more objective with what happened after chapter 208 and it's the fact that we never saw Choso or anyone ever hinted a scene afterward whether that statement (of his identity) is important anymore beyond that arc as Choso never referred to himself as either or shown that he was in any dilemma anymore due to it. Or that his still being a half-curse standing between the sorcerers ever became a problem or caused a rift amongst them. Readers should start admitting that literally no one in JJK after chapter 208 ever brought that topic again of what Choso is or cares about it. Choso was given the chance (and also a confident boost) to be with Yuuji and Yuuji allowed it so he took that. For others, the only thing that matters to them is that he's siding with Yuji and thus with them. The next thing we knew, the narrator referred to him as one of the sorcerers. We saw him smiling and standing naturally among the entourage who cheered for Gojo's last battle, the guy he tried to kill before. Other characters refer to him as just 'Choso'. Choso only cares that he is Yuuji's big brother that needs to protect him, not what he is now that he sided with the sorcerers. Yuuji himself is also a half-curse now so that's the more reason for Choso not to care abt what he is, not when his last little brother is finally the same as him.

Even in this chapter when Choso said 'I need to apologize to Tsukumo too', there's still no flashback to that 1 scene because it was preceded by Yuuji reminding him that it's not an enough reason for him to disappear after Yuuji became strong and is immediately followed by, 'Yuuji, I'm sorry for leaving you again'.

To me this is more referring to Yuki's words at the bar when she said "but if you die, he'll be alone again" and the fact that Yuki died so Choso could have more time with Yuuji but now he indeed had to leave Yuuji again, rather than about whether he had lived on as a human or not. I personally believed he already did, though, if that really matters, but to Choso now what he is isn't more important than the fact that he, as Yuuji's big brother, is now leaving him alone.

Feel free to argue w/ me abt this but the fact remains that after saying sorry for leaving to Yuuji, it is immediately followed by panel of Eso and Kechizu reappearance calling after their big brother to join them on their side again, now it's in the their original form again, the cursed object.

For me personally, Yuki's death was not in vain as Choso had time to pass down his legacy to Yuuji before joining Eso and Kechizu's side again, but if people wanna see that Yuki's death only amounted to ripping Kenjaku's shirt open now that Choso still died, then be my guess. (Besides, Yuki isn't the first side character in JJK that gets this treatment of not having much importance, after her role is finished. Even though she was being mentioned a couple times for her research and even here in this chapter, but not even one flashback to her might be a sign that Gege doesn't hold her high in their list of priority, but hey it's JJK so it's not news.) It is important to also note (and I think this one is where most readers perhaps skipped) that back then, Choso didn't have much to say or choice for the sacrifice cz Yuki's CT was already transferring Choso to a safety place, before he himself could choose, say, or do anything.

Yet this time he chose to threw his life on the line for Yuuji. It wasn't even the 1st time he did this. We saw this back from his fight with Naoya (before chapter 208) and he wasn't acting any different until now, after passing chapter 208 👆

When the others got hurt one by one during the fight, Choso might've healed himself but we didn't see him come back to distract Sukuna from chasing after the others or took the blow for them, but we saw him immediately come back to Yuuji's side when Yuuji cudn't handle his wound and then of course we saw him protecting Yuuji with all his last efforts. He's just persistently living up to his big brother character, not whether he's a human. He would do the same if it's Eso or Kechizu in Yuuji's place.

So here's the highlight, even after this far, Choso isn't self-sacrificial for all humans like how other sorcerers showed. He's only self-sacrificial for Yuuji and the other little brothers that are now merged in him, because for him, he's a big brother above all else.

TLDR Choso's arc was set from the beginning that he lives only for his little brothers and that is the meaning of his life. It is one of his first lines when he appeared. What Choso ever wanted wasn't to be human or curse, but to be worthy of living with his little brothers and then of being Yuuji's big brother after what he did in Shibuya and to Yuuji. Doesn't matter whether he's a human or curse because he will always be both and that is not a bad thing. In fact the very presence of him and Yuuji as half-curses till this arc is special because he represents that grey area between human and curse, that not one is the more right than the other which is also one of the very theme of jjk.