#so many posts about her setting things on fire or just being so dumb

[jenny-from-the-bau]

I hate how so much of the fandom acts like Emily is an idiot baby disaster. Like that's a grown ass woman, not a toddler

[delicatestones]

Various Parahuman Teen Couples Go To The Mall

Brian and Taylor: Going to the mall is a normal thing neither of them enjoy, which is precisely why they convince themselves that they should do it. Brian musters up hope that he will be able to carry Taylor's bags and wait for her on benches outside of clothes stores, which will affirm his value as a man. Taylor, who only wants to buy a single hoodie, anxiously refuses to let Brian carry her bag because she doesn't want to be a burden, which banishes Brian to the Masculine Insecurity Pocket Dimension in his own mind. They attempt to rally by going to the food court, where they try to have an awkward 'normal' conversation over greasy pizza slices.

Fortunately, a supervillain they have history with attacks the mall mid-pizza, and they rush off to change in the mall bathrooms and return to thoroughly beat the interloper's ass. Brian apologizes for the mall date going wrong (secretly relieved, also deeply compelled by watching Taylor break a guy's arm with a baton) while Taylor says it's no big deal (even more relieved, mesmerized by Brian's visible sweat on the back of his neck). They may or may not awkwardly touch hands at the fire exit before they flee the scene of the crime.

Krouse and Noelle (Pre-Simurgh): On a quest for limited edition Ransack merch at the Gamestop, which turns out to be all sold out or on reserve. Krouse tries to social engineer it out of the clerk anyway, but Noelle gets so visibly uncomfortable he desists. In the depths of excruciating failure he says something shitty about the guy's haircut after they leave the store and Noelle tells him he's being a dick, which he apologizes excessively for in a way that just makes it more awkward.

In a now desperate effort to turn things around, Krouse tries to lighten the mood by latching onto listing Alternative Mall Activities including one of those photo booth set ups. He makes fun of how cliche they are and how it would be completely lame if they went into one, which transitions into cajoling Noelle to join him in this extremely cringe activity for the bit. She says her hair looks dumb and she doesn't want to, so he gallantly offers her his over-sized hoodie so she can hide her face the entire time, a gesture he does not realize extends the shelf life of their relationship for a solid two weeks. His visible joy when she agrees to the idea adds another week to the tail end of that. They hold hands on the way to the parking lot.

His copy of their photos becomes an instantly precious memento he sticks on the wall above his bed; Noelle puts hers in her picture shoebox in her closet. He spends all night on E-bay overbidding for the merch.

Krouse and Noelle (Post-Simurgh): Twelve Injured One Dead In 'Food Court Nightmare'.

Dean and Victoria: It takes Victoria half an hour to get ready for a mall trip. Dean shows up too early to pick her up and engages Carol Dallon in small talk for twenty minutes, a time span in which Carol manages to list every single one of Victoria's deepest insecurities in the form of barely veiled criticism while Dean smiles like he's being held at gunpoint.

At the mall they get stopped outside the Gap by a gaggle of Glory Girl preteen fans. Dean holds Victoria's bags (many) while she goes through the New Wave Fan Experience Checklist. Victoria says something afterwards to him on the way to the next store that hints at the Dallon Torment Nexus. Dean continues smiling and offers the mildest possible effort at sympathy, which Victoria reacts to with virulent irritation, so he gives up and buys her a mall outlet jewelry store diamond tennis bracelet instead. Thus mollified, she proceeds to allow him to obtain Jamba Juice for the both of them. It's another normal (bad) day in Brockton Bay.

Aisha and Alec: There strictly to cause problems for the sake of causing problems. Alec 'distracts' the staff at Hot Topic by faking a fall into a rack of studded belts and loudly insisting he will sue them for emotional and psychic damages while Aisha shoplifts bracelets. They buy hot pretzels and perch on the edge of the mall fountain marked 'NO LOITERING' to conspicuously loiter while occasionally kicking each other in the ankle. When a security guard tries to get them to move they collaborate on roasting his bloodline back to medieval times, triggering rent-a-cop wrath and a threat to call the Real Cops.

Now officially Wronged By The System, they decamp to breaking into the mall's back corridors (going through an unlocked access door) to vandalize the security office while throwing gummy worms at each other's mouths and missing 70% of the time. In high spirits, they make their cunning exit (leaving through the same door) and sneak into a horror movie at the mall theater halfway through its run time. They heckle the on-screen slasher victims for being idiots until an usher shows up with the original security guard, and then book it for the outside world while laughing like small and charming hyenas.

They agree they should totally rob the mall for real later, preferably while Brian and Taylor are on their make-up mall date, because they are good and kind teammates who only want the best for them.

(This post inspired by the learned discourses of Wormblr character understanders, particularly users lakesbian and simurghed. Any mischaracterizations and errors are my own. These hypotheticals are a non-representative sample of Ways They Could Be At The Mall.)

[alkhale]

i know it might have been mentioned before, but if it hasn't been touched on already, could we pretty pretty pls see what a marine au for memos would look like? who would Hoku work for? would she ironically make for a good marine?

The following AU takes place in a timeline where Hoku did eventually join the Marines. After spending time on Dawn Island with Luffy, when Hoku sets off on her own journey, reuniting with Ace, meeting Hack, etc, only after fixing up Mayman/meeting Kid, does she seek out Tsuru and decide to take her up on her offer to become "an upstanding marine" and to avoid Luffy

(The scene with Shanks below takes place sometime 3D2Y post-time skip)

Hoku decides to play at being a marine because she (1) finds them constantly in the line of fire and at risk of work hazards (2) believes there's something specific she can do from the inside of the institute she'd like to explore, mainly helping other Pokians and maaaaaybe making things a bit easier for a certain king of pirates (because she knows she can always quit!) (3) it will help her avoid being a pirate with luffy and being involved further in the main story

Despite this plan, she still seems to run into one too many pirates

"What's your relationship with Straw Hat Luffy?" "Who's that?" "Our men saw him trying to kidnap you onto his ship! Was it for ransom?" "He just wanted me to try Sanji's new dish."

"But you're a marine, we're supposed to be capturing pirates?"

"I didn't see that in the handbook."

"But you never read the handbook!"

Hoku underwent rigorous training with Tsuru, mainly under the tough old lady's jurisdiction—this helps her particularly avoid discipline from several other marines. There have often been requests for her to join other commands, some from marines who want to teach her a lesson, others from marines who genuinely have fun working with her

When Tsuru isn't training her, she's being worked to near death by Garp

She has one of the highest disciplinary records in academy history

Some cadets don't understand how she can get away with getting into so much trouble, sometimes a marine grunt will see her being forced to clean out an entire base's cafeteria while someone supervises and they're like?? again??? how is she not in impel down?? tried for mutiny??

Some people eventually get the memo—it's favoritism/abuse of power/strangely good luck in some occasions

Some marines don't like it one bit, they have it out for Hoku, she doesn't really care

Garp never, ever stops talking anyone's ear off about how his beautiful, adorable granddaughter is going to be one of the best marine's the world has ever seen

Tsuru has unofficially officially made herself Hoku's grandmother in a way. She and Garp often have petty fights over Hoku stories. They fight a lot over who's squad Hoku has to be on

Over the years, she's actually made enough contributions and done quite the number of great feats, enough to land her at captain level, (rear admiral candidate at Tsuru and Garp's behest) but Hoku sometimes keeps her petty officer title, keeping the perks that come with captain status and the likes

She doesn't mind abusing her power and shrugging off her responsibilities

Whenever she's assigned missions where she has a whole squad to take care of, the marines assigned to her are usually wary, uncertain and thinking they're unlucky

Until they actually work with Hoku and are like??? we're doing work today? did we just bust this human trafficking ring? did we just liberate an entire island stuck in a pirate tyranny? and other times they come, asking her what their job is for today and she's just like? go home there's nothing to do

If they really bother her, she'll send them off to different islands and countries that need help. "Go distribute these supplies to here." "They asked for someone to help rebuild their village." "Put those dumb ships to use and go delivery this to them."

Hoku has made her way around several different bases, under several different chains of commands, (she is now infamous) usually on a sort of temp job kind of borrowed basis, but officially she's under Tsuru's wing

Smoker has gone through several different stages of mental strife and grief with Hoku, originally being distrustful when the criminal who blew up a base in Tretar became a marine, then becoming somewhat determined to help mold her into a damn good marine, then to becoming strangely fixed (obsessed) with either being in charge of ensuring she receives punishment/is not mistreated for her origins within the lower ranks, and they are even sometimes seen gambling together on occasion. They have a funny relationship these two, Hoku's too lazy to try to understand it.

Her outfit as a marine is a lot like her original, however she wears a black top instead of white and with black pants. Her jacket is white instead with her usual accessories, and the only thing that helps people actually identify her as a marine is the standard issue marine cap she wears

Hoku has also secretly become a huge collector of wanted posters. It originally started small, just taking the wanted posters of people she cared about, but now it's spiraled into a full-on sizable collection where she has different versions of wanted posters, original prints, first roll-outs and etc. She trades with Bradnew and other marines and hangs them all up on her wall or keeps them safe in a minted book

Hoku often abuses any and all of her rights as a marine. She's really, really good at being a bad marine.

"Hey, did you hear the news?"

The petty officer looked up from where they'd been tasked to dust and clean the entire meeting room to perfection. Several other cadets and chore boys had been called from the barracks, each ordered to ensure that the following few rooms that would be in use for the meeting would be ready at a moment's notice.

For what meeting? He had no idea.

"No," he said, because he didn't know. There was so much gossip going around base these days he could hardly keep up. "What was it?"

First there'd been the rumor that one of the Four Emperors of the sea was on the move about the Grand Line, cutting and going as he pleased. Any movement from an Emperor was grounds for mass panic. Then there'd been talk that newly appointed Fleet Admiral Akainu had almost burned another ranking marine alive. Less serious and more on the interesting side, word was floating around that the Vice Admiral Smoker was seeing someone, which was juicy gossip in its own right because Vice Admiral Smoker?

"Apparently he's always following her around," someone said.

"He requests transfers and is always grumbling about them, I think he's worried they're going to end up with someone else—"

"Even Captain Tashigi seems to be aware and they're always—"

For today, however, it seemed something different was brewing amongst headquarters. Other officers were making a ruckus while the upper brass seemed particularly miffed—which usually only happened if it involved someone outside their scope of power influence doing something they didn't like—

"One of the Seven Warlords is visiting HQ!"

The petty officer blinked, opening his mouth before closing it and then finally deciding on his next words, "Well, that's big news, but it's not unheard of news man. They're required to come for summons."

The petty officer shrugged. "Especially people like Bartholomew Kuma or First-Son of the Sea Jimbei. They're always on time."

"No, no, you don't understand," the marine looked around as though someone would hear before motioning for the petty officer to come closer. He rolled his eyes, leaning over the table. "It isn't just any of the Warlords... It's Hawk-Eye Mihawk!"

The petty officer dropped his broom, turning to his fellow marine. The other man looked smug now. "Dracule Mihawk is coming to HQ?"

"That's what I'm saying!"

"You should've said so sooner!" the petty officer scooped up his broom, renewing his cleaning with vigor. "He's not just a regular Warlord—that guy never responds to his summons! Never!"

"See what I mean! This is big news! Why now? What do you think convinced him to come?"

"It must be something big," he said, shaking his head as the two of them not-so-discreetly made their way to the wide windows overlooking the base's dock. They'd get a full view of the elusive swordsman this way. "Do you think they're mobilizing for something?"

"I don't know, man. Think they'll let us sit in on the—"

A loud clamor came from the ground level beneath them. The two marines quickly looked at each other and then pressed their faces up against the glass. Their fellow officers below them were rushing around on the docks, forming into greeting lines and looking sick with nervousness. One man seemed to be praying.

It was understandable behavior, to be honest. Dracule Mihawk was known for being an unknown man and more often then not he'd felled one too many marine ships simply because they'd been in his way.

"I see his ship!" the marine beside him said. They pressed harder to the glass, squinting for the full view. "Always gives me the creeps. Who sails around in a coffin?"

He thought about telling his fellow officer that there was quite the number of weirder ships out there, but the sudden silence below them made the two of them pause. They glanced to each other and then back down.

The dock had gone eerily silent. Marines shook at the knees while hardened captains and a single vice admiral waited to greet the Warlord of the Sea.

One figure, however, suddenly came into view along the dock, sticking out like a sore thumb compared to the rest.

Her bright white hair fluttered absently with the wind, tugged this way and that as she paced up and down the dock, looking out across the ocean. She skirted the edge of the pier, however, just shy of the water with her hands stuffed into her jacket pockets.

"Who the hell is that?" the marine beside him said. "And why isn't she falling into line? What's her rank?"

"That's..." the petty officer caught a full view of the woman's face now, freezing at the infamous half-heart curving around her eye. "Cap—Serga—Lieute—" he paused, uncertain of her current ranking now. "Officer Hoku!"

"Hoku?" the marine looked confused, "who the hell is that?"

"Officer Hoku!" the petty officer repeated, looking at the man in shock. "You haven't heard of her? Vice Admiral Tsuru's right hand woman, the officer who blew up over ten marine bases—"

"She blew up our own bases?"

"It's a long story—the woman who apparently violated the nefarious Trafalgar Law—"

"Violated?"

"I heard what she did to him was so disgusting, even the officers near her threw up themselves! The one who fought Fleet Admiral Akainu's authority multiple times, got caught gambling in Crocodile's casino, vandalized a whole part of Marineford—"

"And she's not in Impel Down?" the man said, aghast. "Are you sure she's on our side?"

"Oh, sure. She's been credited with busting the largest human trafficking rings in history! She's also brought in multiple heinous pirates, and on multiple occasions they say she's been able to deescalate several run-ins with huge bounty pirates like the Straw—"

"I guess it makes sense why they're sending her to meet someone like a shichibukai," the marine said thoughtfully. The petty officer paused, a bit offended he didn't get to finish Hoku's infamous and notorious list. "Need a crazy officer to handle a crazy pirate, right?"

A commotion finally broke out below them. The vice admiral waiting to oversee the whole affair was shouting at Hoku now, lecturing her about her lack of respect. The white haired marine simply took a seat on a wooden crate, picking at her ear and absently flicking off toward the vice admiral's feet.

The marine gaped while the petty officer stiffled a laugh with a cough.

"Look, it's him!"

Hoku seemed to have thought the same thing, turning sharply from the vice admiral and jumping to her feet. A single, haunting figure of a man stepped out from the edge of his coffin. His coat flared out dangerously about his heels, wind catching against the fluffed plume atop his head. Cadets started to shake at the knees at the sight of the man—

"Mihawk!"

The cadets around them went completely pale, jaws growing slack as Hoku flew across the dock, taking off with a flying leap and sailing through the air, arms and legs oustretched.

Dracule Mihawk did not move. He remained, still as a statue as the marine promptly wrapped her arms and legs around his head. The vice admiral's jaw dropped to the floor, one hand reaching for his saber uselessly.

Mihawk remained still, allowing Hoku to situate herself as she rubbed her cheek over the top of his hat, laughing with a sound so sweet with joy, it made the petty officer flush. She turned around, keeping herself wrapped completely over his head.

The rest of the marines continued to stare, waiting for Mihawk to throw her into the water or cut her in half.

"I didn't know you were coming to visit!" Hoku said happily, eyes shining with affection. "What's it for? You get called in by the brass or somethin'?"

"It was a whim." Mihawk neither cut her nor tossed her into the ocean. Instead, the man simply began to walk with perfect ease, toting Hoku along as though she were an added weight to his hat. "I will be departing shortly."

"Already! You've got a stay for at least a bit! Actually, aren't you hear for a meeting?"

"I heard of no such thing."

"Oh, cool then! Why don't we grab something to eat?"

"You mean to spar?"

"I-I never said that! Eat! I said eat!"

"Come, then. We shall take up arms—"

"Wait, wait, wait!"

The petty officer quickly began to add another feat to Hoku's growing list. The marine beside him continued to gape.

- - - - - - - - -

"Hmm," Hoku's brows furrowed in thought, fingers moving in a rhythmic, soothing motion. "This isn't a bad idea, right?"

"It's a bit cramped."

"Right, right, sorry about that. Just give it a few more minutes. Those guys out there are runnin' around like chickens without a head."

"Aye."

Hoku's fingers flexed. Her cheeks flushed a bit as she cleared her throat. As subtly as she could, she pressed herself tighter to the figure squeezed into the armory closet beside her. He made no move in protest, simply shuffling a bit to accommodate her and Hoku felt her cheeks flush.

"Do you need more room?" he asked.

"No, no," Hoku cleared her throat. "Sorry. Mind if I get a bit closer."

"That's okay," he said kindly. "I don't mind."

Hoku sneakily reached her arms more around his waist. He turned again in her arms and she felt her heart hammer wildly now, cheeks flushed as she slowly, carefully pressed her cheek against him.

Hoku shut her eyes in bliss. Soft. Like a cloud. And so warm. So, so warm. Ka. I don't mind staying like this for another hour—

"Shambles."

Hoku let out a squawk of surprise, her and her companion ripped clean from the closet and appearing hovering in the air for a moment. A thin film of blue surrounded the two of them, Hoku's arms and legs wrapped shamefully and scandalously around the other as her eyes went wide and then they both crashed onto cobblestone floors.

Hoku groaned, a second flick of someone's fingers leaving her on her ass before a pair of long legs. She rubbed her tailbone, looking up with a disgruntled frown as dark, brooding eyes gazed directly back at her.

"Traffy," Hoku greeted casually. "I didn't know you were here."

Law gave Hoku one long, withering look before he glanced over to the mound of soft white fur collapsed on the floor still, his fluffy cheeks flushed a soft pink.

"Were you taking advantage of Bepo?"

Hoku coughed. She refused to meet Law's eyes, fiddling instead with the top of his boot.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Captain Hoku!" Hoku blinked, looking around the side of Law's legs as a crowd of marines skidded to a halt before them. "Shall we arrest these fiends?"

"Nah," Hoku sighed, standing up as she dusted herself off. Law tipped his head to the side, regarding her coolly. "No need."

"B-But they're pirates!"

"I didn't see anything." Hoku turned on her heel, giving Bepo a wink. The polar bear's cheeks flushed a brighter pink and she grinned, saunteering off. "Let's head back to the ship—"

Tattooed fingers enclosed smoothly around her wrist. Hoku blinked, once, twice, before she glanced down to the larger hand engulfing hers. She followed it up to a calm, unreadable expression, dark, half-lidded eyes slowly meeting her own.

Something devious flickered, like a dark little shadow across Law's face.

Hoku paled.

"On an island surrounded by marines," Law said slowly, his voice low, curling around her ears. "I suppose we ought to take a hostage for safe passage, right?"

Hoku grinned nervously.

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

"Cap—Officer Hoku! Officer Hoku!"

Hoku sighed, forcing her eyes to remain shut. Sunlight warmed the exposed skin of her belly, whispering temptingly to urge her into a well-needed nap in a rare moment of peace. The island they'd been called to investigate had seemed to resolved itself, no more terrorizing, plundering pirates and simply happy, cheerful townsfolk.

She didn't know what good luck had helped them out, but she wasn't about to complain over a free chance to kick back on the island before HQ called them back. They weren't expected for another week—this was the perfect chance to slack offcget some rest.

Hurried footsteps still rushed her way. Hoku kept her arms behind her head, lounging over one of her drawn hammocks. Usually ignoring them for awhile did the trick—

"Officer Hoku!" the marine finally panted, wheezing as she skidded to a halt beside Hoku. "Cap—Hoku! It's an emergency!"

Hoku kept silent, turning onto her side.

"The—at the docks," the girl panted. Her eyes were round with fear, knees shaking. "Docks!"

Hoku continued to sway peacefully in the sun.

"A ship, docked!" she inhaled a great breath of air.

"It's one of the Four Emperor's of the Sea—Red Haired Shanks!"

Hoku slipped out of her hammock, slamming face first into the wood below her. The marine jumped, hands flying to her mouth as Hoku quickly shot to her feet, nose red from her fall and eyes wide in disbelief.

"Who?"

"Red Haired Shanks!" the marine cried. Hoku's jaw went slack, eyes round. "O-Our men are currently in a perimeter around him! Apparently he's been spending time on this island for the past few days and—"

"They're doing what?" Hoku squawked. "Our orders are to never engage with Emperors unless ordered—oh for—ka!"

The marine opened her mouth to deliver the most pressing part of the news, but Hoku was already running past her, racing faster than she could ever hope to catch up to.

"And he's..." the marine started weakly. "Asking for you..."

Hoku skidded to a halt before massive blockade of blue and white bodies. She scowled, quickly forcing her way through, barking out quick and concise orders as her men whirled around, eyes widening at her appearance, jumping in and shouting left and right about emperor, what do we do? and Captain Hoku, stay back! This man is—

Hoku let out a screech as she tripped into the clearing, finally pushing past the wall of bodies.

A single arm reached out, a hand wrapping gently around her arm to hold her steady.

Hoku froze, her eyes shooting up.

"Dove," Shanks said, voice thick with fondness. "It's been awhile."

Hoku's traitorous heart fluttered at the sight of that slow, cheerful grin. She pointedly coughed, dusting herself off as Shanks' eyes flickered with amusement, stepping back, fingers lingering slightly on her arm so she could straighten herself.

"Pirate," Hoku said casually, the hint of a tease in her tone. Shanks raised a playful brow in turn. "As... what rank am I right now?"she turned to her men behind her.

"Just an officer, ma'am!"

"As commanding officer," Hoku crossed her arms over her chest. Shanks hand fell back to his side, fingers curling slightly. "I'm obligated to ask what one of the Four Emperors of the Sea is doing in this humble town."

"Well," Shanks glanced over his shoulder, back toward the dock where the Red Force was waiting. He could sense the playful jeers of his crew over the lip of the bow. "Miss Marine... It isn't a crime to be stocking up on some supplies and catching a short break now, is it?"

Hoku pretened to think his words over. Shanks' eyes glimmered with mirth.

The marine surrounded them continued to gape, frozen in disbelief.

"It's interesting timing," Hoku said. Shanks hummed for her to continue. "We were originally here on a distress call, but just as we were about to dock, we found out the issue had already been taken care of..."

"What luck," Shanks said with a grin. "I suppose that leaves you with some time to perhaps... relax yourself, aye?"

Hoku's mouth parted to retort and then she paused. Hoku blinked, looking up at Shanks in stunned surprise as she tried to make the little click of what she'd just heard in her head. But when he says it like that... no, wait. There's no way he'd know—huh?

Shanks watched the gears turn, eyes crinkling at the corners. "I know how hard you marines are always working—"

"Hoku!" Shanks eyes flickered to where a man broke the ranks of the gathered crowd, shoulders squared with whatever confidence he'd mustered. Shanks regarded him easily, expression relaxed as he approached Hoku. "We should retreat! We need to leave immediately and report the situation back to HQ!"

Hoku turned back to the marine. "It's alright. It's... a bit of a long story, but you guys know how it goes these days. He's—"

"Not like one of the other pirates!" the marine continued, gaze fearfully flickering to an amused looking Shanks and back. "With the others we understood, but this is an Emperor of the Sea! Cap—Officer Hoku, we should go!"

"I know, I know," Hoku appeased. "But don't—"

A different marine broke the ranks now, reaching out a grabbing Hoku's elbow. The first marine looked shocked while Hoku remained nonchalant, expression cool.

Shanks' gaze slowly flickered to where his fingers pressed indents into her skin.

The marine scowled viciously. "I ain't gettin' fired because of—

Shanks simply glanced over the top of Hoku's head.

Hoku's knees buckled for a moment, trembling under the sheer force until she quickly rightened herself, looking up at the pirate before her in disbelief.

Left and right the marine officers behind her dropped to the floor like flies, foam spilling out of some of their mouths as they crashed onto the ground. The man who'd grabbed Hoku in particular had been the first to collapse, hacking and clawing at his head before he fell face forward, pale and ashen. Hoku watched all of them, jaw going slack until not a single man was left standing, wiped out in a manner of seconds.

Warily, she turned her gaze back to playfully dark eyes, already watching her in turn.

"...even I have to say," Hoku began slowly, "that was a bit much, don't you think?"

"I never said I was a patient man," Shanks said almost sweetly, but his tone was sly and his eyes crinkled at the corners, shameless. "Now, Dove..."

Shanks offered her his arm, lips curling at the corner into something mischievous. His eyes watched her, half-lidded and almost lazy.

They burned, never leaving her face.

Hoku felt her pulse racing beneath her skin, forcing herself to appear relaxed.

"Shall we catch up a bit?" Shanks said, a slight husk to his tone.

"...I could threaten to make quite the arrest you know," Hoku said, only because she needed time to calm down.

Shanks tipped his head to the side, seeming to humor the thought. He hummed then, shutting his eyes as though going a step further and imagining the scenario. He turned his arm toward her, offering his wrist.

"I suppose I could come willingly," he said lightly, his words curling all about her, "If it were a beautiful woman like you... but I'm afraid I've only got one hand to offer..."

Shanks grinned impishly. "You'd have to cuff me to yourself."

Hoku snorted, crossing her arms over her chest. Shanks laughed, a full, cheerful sound. "You sure that's a good idea?"

"Well, I suppose it could be quite a bit to handle."

"More than you can handle?" Hoku grinned.

Shanks' eyes glittered then, like a ripple, and Hoku felt a thin shiver run down her spine, like the playful drag of a fingertip ghosting along her back.

"I don't know," Shanks murmured into her ear, leaning down. "I'd have to find out for myself."

Weakly, Hoku hooked her arm through his, making the decision for him.

Shanks laughed, a bellowing, heartfelt sound. He pulled her along into his side, his cloak flaring out behind them, almost wrapping around Hoku as they made their way down to the port.

"Aw, dove, don't pout. I promise I won't bite."

"You might lose a tooth or two if you try that."

"Dahaha! I thought you'd be sweeter since it's been so long! Is this any kind of reunion?"

"I was never sweet to you."

"Mmm, what does a man have to do to get a woman out of his league to give him a smile half as sweet as the ones she gives to that brooding—"

"Ten million beli," Hoku said on instinct. She paused then, suddenly growing pale as she half turned to Shanks, stepping a step back but unable to get very far with her arm still hooked through his—Shanks let her go a little ways away.

(But not very far.)

"Actually, wait, I take that—"

"Why, dove," Shanks laughed, grinning almost boyishly. "I suppose that could be easily arranged—"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Hoku grumbled, trying to force the embarrassed red crawling up her neck to disappear. Shanks watched the dark flush along the nape of her neck with half-lidded eyes. "I know that amount ain't much these days to an Emperor of the seas—"

"It isn't that," Shanks said lightly, his words curling playfully. Hoku blinked, looking back up at him curiously.

Deep red stood out brightly against the expanse of white. Strands of Shanks' hair tickled against the side of her head as Hoku froze. Shanks leaned down, curling around her, smoothly tucking her against his side—the action forced Hoku to bend a bit, back arching ever so slightly as Shanks' lips brushed against her ear.

Hoku caught a glimpse of dark eyes beneath crimson strands. They curved, playful as always at the corners, but still a shudder threatened to run through her—the light press of Shanks' fingers on the side of her hip—when did he move his hand—

"You're worth much more than that, dove."

Hoku swallowed. She meant to say, "Oh, yeah?" but the sound that came out instead was a soft, slightly shaky, "Mmnh?"

Shanks hummed in affirmation, his eyes absently sliding behind her. "But I suppose it's easy to forget that when you've been surrounded by men who don't quite..." his gaze swept over the passed out, foaming marines at their feet, "Know how to value a woman properly, aye?"

Shanks paused briefly, brows raising slightly in surprise as he glanced down to the slender, scarred fingers now examining Gryphon, slid clean from its sheath. His sword rested with care in Hoku's hands as she inspected the current status of the blade.

Her eyes were half-lidded in faux disinterest, expression cool as she absently met his brightening gaze.

"And a heinous, shameless pirate would know better?"

"Hmm," Shanks grinned, walking the two of them back deeper into port. He remembered there being quite the delicious chef charring food in an open fire pit by the port.

"I suppose we'll have to find out."

-the shanks was too self-indulgent, anytime i think of writing a little bit of this man, he manages to steal another paragraph from me

[elidiscoe]

One thing about Life is Strange is that while many like myself love the game, if it weren’t for it’s shitty writing and shitty focus, it could’ve have been considered an ALL TIME classic (to the straights). And I may be a bitch for saying all this but I wish the games were more clear about what kind of direction they were going for with the supernatural elements. Instead of them being just there..

Starting with this feral ass lesbian, Rachel Amber.

Now when the first game came out, people were already suspecting the possibility of Rachel having time powers. Like Max, she could’ve won people over by traveling in the past to “Get the right answer.” And her death was just her being at the wrong place at a wrong time. But then Before The Storm happen, and literally by the end of episode one, we see a wild Rachel at her natural habitat burning trees down with the power of a screaming banshee. So obviously new theories came up that Rachel was really some sort of pyromancer set out to master all four elements and bring balance to the world. (Yes know I’m not funny, I’m sorry.. ) Except what the fuck was happening at that park was never brought up, like at all. It was only “Rachel Amber committed arson,” and not “HOW Rachel Amber commuted arson.” Not even her own girlfriend brought it up, just a “What the hell were you thinking!?!”

Her having powers wouldn’t have fit into the overall story at all, I understand this. BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I’M BITCHING MY ASS OFF ABOUT. Why the hell was that even a thing to begin with. What was up with William telling Chloe “Sweetie, your girlfriends a maniac, and you might get hurt by her in the process” only for that to just be good ole fatherly advice when David was RIGHT THERE! And the fact that one of the songs in the soundtrack’s title was “Witches”????

I could make several posts on how I think the story on how the story could’ve gone to fit both Max’s powers and the fire scene fit better. But all I’m gonna say is I would’ve loved to see firebending!Rachel in action. Just saying.

How it ties to her as a person, trauma, and how Sera with that smirk comes to play( which would mean retconning Sera and the whole ass game in it’s entirety.)

In other words I’m dumb :\

[brightnote]

More on Maria Hill and Marvel (a long winded rant) Secret Invasion Episodes 1 & 2 spoilers!

I was so excited for Secret Invasion I was telling everyone how good it looked, it genuinely looked interesting and darker for some of us older marvel fans (you know the 30s crowd who grew up with these movies) it would be more mature have backstories etc it’s such a missed opportunity that I can’t believe no one in the room was like ‘let’s not just immediately kill off more women—like maybe it give it a season?’ I think Marvel is genuinely surprised at the fan outcry since they think of Maria as a nothing character because they hid her successes or bad ass moments that you really have to look for.  Once you see them though it’s crazy they didn’t do more with her. 

It’s frustrating to see an actor who has been in the MCU for over a decade say she’s “sad to never get to develop her character further” with a show advertised as boots on the ground we all know that it seems like it would be her time to shine? Also they finally put her on a freaking poster, I was so excited--and so many of us were! Even though we knew she wouldn’t get the screen time she deserved. 

This whole show is pretending everything is strategic a chess game etc. But to be honest isn’t Gravik killing Maria a bad strategic move? First of all Maria would be the perfect person to abduct/brain drain and impersonate as a skrull? She has access to a lot of people and information and could be sabotaging Fury from the inside. Why would Gravik WANT to give Fury an ‘avenge her’ motive? This would also be a much more interesting story arc to see tension between them.. sigh. Is this chess or checkers? 

Regarding the procedural arc v.s the emotional arc Nick ‘Left her Body in Russia’ Fury, appeared way more upset about being fired than he was over losing Maria. He told Maria’s mom “the trap was set for him” but in reality that trap was quite literally set for Maria.  Is Marvel so wrapped up in the ego of men that a woman can’t even have her own death?  If Nick died in front of Maria she would have ripped out her own internal organs to save his life and air lifted his body out of there via marvel magic?? Could Maria and Nick just both have been fired and that would solve Nick’s no inside guy problem?

Additionally, why would Nick and Maria who are supposed to be smart do such dumb things, like go out to a bar in public when they know people are looking for Nick? Why wouldn’t they just go to the safe house? Why why why why why why why why why would these mere mortals who have fought aliens and all kinds of monsters and stuff before go anywhere without protecting their vital organs? Especially to a place where bombs could be going off. If they got the bomb what would stop Gravik from setting them off when they got them? HOW AND WHY ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THAT 5′0 TALL G’IAH CAN OUT FIGHT 5′9 MARIA HILL? (estimating on those heights but lol that fight scene made no sense) But couldn’t this be a good opportunity for a switcheroo scene?  Is it a switcheroo? look at this lightened up scene someone posted on IG is this marvel bad editing or something else?

Why would Talos, Nick, and Maria trust the intel fro G’iah at all? People who are supposedly this good at their jobs I mean c’mon there is no trust but verify? They can get infrared glasses but nothing else to protect them? ok. sure.

The only women who make it out of the MCU are the women who are there to support men domestically and not the ones out in the field. The problem is a circle because almost all women in the MCU are used to prop up men in some way. The MCU women are often deprived of character development until fans scream long enough for it (and when they get it Marvel barely invests in it) because they are deprived of backstory and history they are easy to kill off for shock value (and for the story arc of their male colleagues). These men are able to have the personal and professional lives they do because of the women who support them in all areas of their lives, the women “back home” in patriarchal female roles can’t be killed off because they also have no development and less screen time usually than the women who are working with the men. All the women find themselves trapped in a serving story arc to prop up men no matter where they fall and their lives and deaths are just to supplement the male characters. Even a male nazi got more in an MCU show than a 20+ year veteran dedicated to her work. If Maria is a minor character then why would her death raise the stakes of the show, if she integral then why would they fridge her at all? It doesn’t really raise anything---instead it just adds to a trope that MCU fans are so very tired of that the women who work are expendable arc builders for the men--the real people in the series. I think the outcry and backlash from Maria’s death is more than Marvel was expecting but people are so tired of this very old, outdated trope. At least they put her on a poster this time? I think so much of the MCU is written by men of a certain generation that doesn’t really resonate with a lot of people anymore and it’s probably a major reason why it hasn’t been doing so well lately. 

I know Maria is dead for real in this universe/series but interesting that Cobie’s line changed from her 100 interviews from “she’s dead and that’s all I know for now” & “i don’t know anything about the marvels”  to “[her death] looked real to me but I don’t know!” ICONIC that Cobie says she was recording voice work for Maria Hill for Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur season 2 days after that her death scene. 

Ok but I will say if in Episode 6 there’s some post credit scene that Maria is coming back I will proudly eat all of my words and go see every Marvel thing forever even the stuff I don’t care about—I will buy the travesty that was Ant-Man 3! Ok? But I know they are not gonna do that because why would they? Women over 35 on screen returning to Marvel?? NEVER.  Sorry this was too long. 

[writergirl3]

⭐️FIC TEASER⭐️ 'Your Choice' ; Aaron T/Z x Fem!Reader

So, I got this ask a couple months back and feel bad that I never got back into writing the fic I'd started.

But, in seeing as the manga previews have revived us remaining 4 Townies, I thought I'd post the least shitty scrap of writing I have for this.

This is NOT a poly fic, to be clear. In a nutshell, you're Jesse's little sister (sorry nb/masc readers), and the Aarons each fall for you. The story will have two alternate endings, so you can choose who you end up with. Sound good?

If enough people like this, I'll revise it so it's g/n, but this is what I got so far. Let's get into it!

GIF by lagorditadeturningred

June 2002

“I’m just gonna say it- this is dumb.”

Robaire being wrong is a rarity not witnessed by many, and this fact still rings true as he and Tae stare up at their identically-named bandmates.

While the two Aarons were usually the poster boys of solid friendship, things between the pair had begun to go sour in recent months. Little banter-fuelled competitions had grown more serious. Irritable grumbles from Z towards his energetic friend had turned personal. And T’s fun-filled pranks had bordered on full-blown altercations.

What fuels this fire, you ask? 

Well, in truth, it’s you.

Ever since your initial encounter with your brother’s bandmates back in ‘99, the Aarons have never been able to shake off their own feelings towards you. 

Pretty much ever since they set eyes on you, you had captured their hearts. They had both been taken by your own distinctive beauty at first. But since learning more about you as a person, their affection towards you has become an all-encompassing sort. 

Like stars mapping out the night sky, moments with you clustered into constellations in each of the Aarons’ minds day and night. And, it was these memories that made them fall for you.

Like when you and T pranked Jesse, jumping out to scare him when he was throwing clay on his wheel (it went EVERYWHERE). 

Or when you ran into Z late one August evening and he taught you the ‘proper’ way to shoot hoops. 

Then, there was the time when you all blasted Michael Jackson’s The Way You Make Me Feel at 2am and danced like crazy. 

Little things like this had been eating the Aarons up over the past three years, and they were both down bad. The thing is, they know that they share this commonality.

The problem that now presents itself is the rivalry that ensued between the once-friends. What had begun as a shared crush is now a full-on contention to win your heart. Only Tae and Robaire know, and while they try and keep the peace, it’s becoming harder to keep the group dynamic strong. 

It’s this feud that’s brought all of the 4 Town members, excluding Jesse, to this particular situation. T had suggested that the Aarons settle their dispute once and for all by seeing who could dangle from a basketball hoop for the longest. Whoever lost their grip first had to give you up, and the winner got to take you out.

Robaire looks up at the young men, trying to ignore the faint stench of sweat permeating the air. He stands on Z’s hoop to weigh it down, while Tae does the same for T’s.

“Shut up, R-Ro…” Z tries, and fails, to hide the struggle in his voice, his grip on the metal ring faltering.

“I think this is so cute! It’s like that scene in The Notebook-”

“-Don’t encourage them, Tae!”

“Alright, sorry, sorry…”

T and Z glare at each other, unaffected by their bandmates' conversation back on the ground. T smirks, knowing his words can get into Z’s head, easy. “I hope you got plans tonight, when I take Y/N out. Wouldn’t want you to spend it crying to Titanic.”

Z eyes the younger brunette with eyes that could rival a full-blown wildfire. “You takin’ her some place where pigs fly and unicorns shit rainbows?”

“I love unicorns!”

The three guys all deadpan Tae, who chuckles uncertainly and begins looking inanely up at the sky in the hopes of sighting some rare bird.

“How do you know Y/N even likes either of you dummies?” Robaire sighs, rubbing his temples. 

“She told me!”

“Shut up, T, no she didn’t!”

T huffs, readjusted his grip on the hoop, “Okay, maybe not. But at least I talk to her! All you do is stare at her like a dog or some shit!”

Widening his eyes in a dopey, lovestruck caricature, T impersonates Z mercilessly. If the latter didn’t have a face like thunder, Tae Young would have collapsed in a fit of uncontrollable giggles then and there.

“And how are you gonna impress her? With toilet humour and pranks?” Z spits, wishing he hadn’t made any reference to the bathroom. He’s been supporting his own weight for almost fifteen minutes now, and with the thought now in his head, he needs to pee.

In fact, he almost did just that when he, and the other boys, were startled by a familiar voice.

Well, yours, to be precise.

“What are you both doing?”

“Y/N!” the Aarons call in unison, your sudden appearance surprising them both. With a thud, they both fall to the ground in a heap.

“It’s a tie!” Tae shouts excitedly.

“A tie?” you question, quickening your approach to the scene.

Robaire and the Aarons look at Tae desperately, and he thinks on his feet. “I, uh- a Thai Silver Pheasant! Up there!”

Pointing upwards, Tae diverts your attention just long enough for the other boys to collect themselves. You frown, puzzled by what Tae is talking about. “Really?”

“Yeah! Did you miss it? Oh well, there’s always next time!” Tae rambles nervously before hastily pacing over to the house.

“Okay then…” you chuckle to yourself, before the sound of a wince takes your attention and you remember your brother’s bandmates. “You two okay?”

“I, er, I’m-”

“-Yeah, we’re good! All good!” T interrupts Z. You extend a hand out to T and he takes it with a blush and a jittery ‘thank you’.

Turning your attention to Z, your eyes widen at the small trail of blood trickling down one of his short-clad legs. “Z! You're bleeding!”

Rushing over to him, you sling your backpack onto the ground and rummage for a tissue or something to dab at the cut with with. He eyes you in a daze, slightly overwhelmed by your concern for him. When you retrieve a pack of tissues from the front pocket of your bag, you begin dabbing the graze carefully.

“T-thanks, Y/N…” Z utters sheepishly, embarrassed by your attention. You offer him a warm smile that makes his grazed knee, and the other one, weak.

T lets out a little huff of jealous annoyance, wanting your attention and care. When Jesse asks for help with unloading the suitcases from his van, though, T jumps at the chance to impress you with his strength and runs off.

You chuckle at the curly-haired boy before helping Robaire get Z to his feet. With one arm around his waist and the other holding his arm around your shoulder, Z can’t help but blush furiously as he hobbles towards the house with your help.

“T! Take them one at a time, you’ve already fallen once this morning!”

Jesse’s paternal instructions fall on deaf ears as T zooms past, gripping three suitcases somewhat-capably. He hides any struggle on his part well with the cheeky grin he flashes you on as he passes.

⭐️

So, what did y'all think? Should I keep plugging away at this and turn it into a full story?

[honeyedheartss]

making a separate post for this so I don't hijack a gifmakers post but

@burntstay u literally have no idea! the entire past 2 years have been insane so excuse my rambling post

1. I went to see Dan last Nov and Dec. I went in November when he came to Seattle and got SO excited to finally meet him after so many years that I stumbled all over the MnG and couldn't respond to his very gentle kind compliments. So I flew to Oakland to see him again 😭 It hurt my bank account but not only did I meet him at that show during the MnG but he talked to me during the show too (interactive comedy show and I said I'd fuck the cinnamon toast crunch mascot bc he's a twink. he booed me but then brought it up several more time 💀)

November and December, respectively. (yeah he did accidentally get that fucking silver marker on my arm 💀)

2. Also in November, I had the opportunity to catch Kurtis Conners set he was doing in Seattle :] I went to the early show in the balcony bc it was what i could afford and Loved it sooo much but couldn't see bc I didn't have glasses at the time and at the end when I was calling my friend to talk about it, someone offered me 3rd row tickets because they had to cancel for a family emergency. I took them, could see the set, and it was just as funny the 2nd time!

the next day I'd taken my friend to Pikes Place (popular indoor/outdoor multi-vendor permanent market in Seattle) and ran into him and Jenna in the comics store!

^ me being so insanely happy but embarrassed bc I was partially non verbal and was trying so hard to communicate with him. (he was so incredibly kind and patient and then I helped him find the script he was looking for 😌 <- I do not work at that store)

now rapid fire! I also got to finally see Cirque! my old boss at the club had an extra ticket and brought me along!! (I have tried to sew Cirque THREE times and circumstances have always gotten in the way. mostly me moving abruptly like a week before the date they were in town)

In April, I got to see Hippocampus (one of my FAVE indie bands idc idc) and the guitarist Nathan gave me a pick! I also got to see Conan Gray again (saw him in 2019 without knowing who he was and got obsessed) and Cavetowns show with Tessa Violet. and Tessa RECOGNIZED ME which would have been insane anyways but I look SO different from the past times I've seen her!! I also saw some smaller bands and they were some of the most lovely kind caring people ever!

and then in June I saw 5SOS for the first time. I've been listening to them since I was a little tumblrina in 2014 and I cried so hard during their show. pure unadulterated nostalgia and joy. it was a really good show too (and that month my BFF who I usually go out to Philly to see once a year was able to come to ME because of a work conference 🥹 and my partner came up for our yearly 1 month together!)

also that month I met a comedian I ADORE!!! I found him by accident on Dry Bar Comedy in maybe 2015? and have watched his stuff on YouTube and followed him on Twitter since and I randomly ran into him in a vintage store in Tacoma??? And of course the first thing my dumb ass said instead of "oh wow it's Shayne Smith!! I'm a huge fan" no... I said "YO it's the guy I showed u that one time when I was drunk!!!" to my sister 😭😭 He luckily is a really dope guy, thought it was very funny, and danced around with me

In October I went to a music festival out east and saw a BUNCH of my favorite bands and King Princess said I looked hot, so highlight of my compliments fr (and saw mitski!) Lorde was coming but her set got massively delayed due to faulty tech and I had to make the last train so I didn't get stranded and did not get to see her.

Also I got matching tattoos with my other bff who I flew to seattle to stay with me for a week 🥹 hi @catholicdaredevil

which circles us back to the November/December stuff I talked about first cuz I got excited

The rest of the winter was just struggling through till I saw the sun again but I DID get to meet a long term internet friend at the convention in Seattle (s/o to @pjsforestkid for so lovingly dealing with my low energy the whole day)

April I saw Noel Miller live!!! June my partner came up and we traipsed around

and then September and October I got to sew 4 hozier shows, was barricade for 3 of them (and have professional photos for all 3 times I was barricade which is INSANE!!!!!), hozier called me out on stage for my shirt, I got posted on his ig, and I met almost the entirety of a friend group I've had since 2019 AND DanandPhilGames returned from the hiatus

it's been an insane almost 2 years I finally feel like my life is sorting itself out and I'm so overjoyed

this is such a long fucking post but your tags just reminded me of all the joy and love I have been experiencing and the love that continues!!! I am so happy :)

[mariaofdoranelle]

Royal Rebels — Chapter 1: The Drunken Decision

Masterlist

I told myself I’d keep posting on a weekly basis, but tomorrow is a holiday where I live, so it’s kind of the weekend again, right? Anyway, I hope you enjoy this!

Warnings: mentions of death and brief mentions of torture.

Word count: 4,3k

˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜

Doranelle was grieving today, but that didn’t stop Queen Maeve from being absorbed on the latest royal gossip Lady Remelle had heard of. Honestly, Rowan had no idea how was he managing to be there as he tried to even his breathing and get a hold on the dangerous thoughts he was having. But the more he tried to restrain himself, the more his pulse quickened and his head hurt from gritting his teeth so much.

His cousin Sellene kept glancing at him with a weird look on her face from across the table, and that was when Rowan knew he couldn’t be there anymore if he didn’t want to do something he’d regret. He abruptly stood in the middle of dinner and excused himself but, as expected, he wasn’t being let off the hook that easily. How dare he leave dinner early when his friend had been executed the day before. Or at least that was his thought as he heard Lady Remelle follow him outside of the castle and quickened his footsteps.

“Ro! Why are you leaving so early?” She asked in a lowered voice while stroked his arm. His bitten nails were close to slicing his skin when he took a deep breath for the millionth time that night.

“Remelle. Leave me alone.”

“Are you still upset over Vaughan?” It had been less than 24 hours ago, but there was no need to remind her of that. Lacking a response, she tilted her head as her eyebrows drew together. He didn’t want to make eye contact and see whatever emotion she was trying to convey him. “He committed treason, Ro. You know Maeve had to do—”

“He was trying to help his people!” And there goes his self-restraint.

“By stealing from the castle to support a bunch of half-breeds! You know how this people are, if you make it too easy for them, they’ll just stop working.” Was she for real?

“The people are starving.”

“Because they don’t work hard enough. Do you have any idea how many seamstresses I’ve had the past decade? They’re a bunch of lazy half-breeds who refuse to do even mild labor.”

“I can’t see any other reason why someone wouldn’t want to work for you.” He didn’t even expect her to get his sarcasm.

“Exactly! You see, I know he was a kind Fae. But you can’t let them have it too easy.”

“So she killed someone who vowed his life to her because he was helping her people too much?” Rowan hoped Remelle, just this once, could take in the rage in his voice. But he wouldn’t do anything with the rush of adrenaline filling his veins. Not here, not now. He’d love to tell himself Remelle was just dumb, but he knew she wasn’t. She was a wealthy Fae who only cared about herself. Queen Maeve loved to surround herself with those.

“When you put it this way, it makes even more sense. He vowed his life to be loyal to her. If he’s not loyal, he loses his life. I don’t get why you’re upset.”

By the time she stopped talking, his breath was probably too loud to a Fae ear. He started cracking his knuckles as is thoughts were completely murderous. Remelle being set on fire. Remelle being attacked by Vaughan’s osprey form. Remelle being publicly killed instead of Vaughan. Not liking where his thoughts were headed, Rowan shifted into his hawk form and flew away.

Even though the goal was to calm himself down, flying has never been the same ever since Rowan visited Terrasen last year. It was a purely logical thing, the rivers and valleys sprawling toward those great northern mountains—it was paradise for a hawk. So much better than flying at Doranelle.

˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜

Orynth’s castle for itself was a sight to see, with its enchanting towers made of opal stones, but for Rowan the real show-stopper was the place’s geography. He was looking for Fenrys, but wasn’t even minding his missing friend, delighted with just the wind and the smell of the trees. Rowan wondered what would be like to fly at the Oakwald Forest or in the Staghorn Mountains.

At a small table outside, he could see the Princess and a golden dog, both sitting alone with a chessboard. She was just watching him fly with crossed arms, but her eyes held a challenge impossible to ignore, so Rowan decided to look for Fenrys one last moment before joining her. Currently trying to prove someone, maybe herself, that Rowan was sent to murder her, a Aelin Ashryver Galathynius was the most irritating living thing he had ever met. In fact, Rowan wished he was really sent to kill her, just so he could be done with it and go home. They haven’t talked alone ever since the door incident and, for some reason, he was curious of her. Rowan could be very detached, but Aelin was capable of getting under his skin in a matter of seconds. For now, his only goal was to prove her wrong by not killing her... As hard as that was.

Sat at the table, he watched Aelin set the chessboard with a bored look on his face. That female could be as gorgeous as she was annoying, but he wouldn’t give her the pleasure of acknowledging that.

“Fenrys left you for today. He went to Ren Allsbrook’s room last night, and today Ren asked his servant to send every meal to his room, enough for two.” Honestly, Rowan was surprised it took Fenrys three days to do this.

“How in hell do you know this?

“Servant gossip. Philippa knows everything. Which color do you want?”

“The black pieces.” Let the princess start the game. Rowan didn’t need that to win. “Does she know about my door?”

“I’m afraid the whole castle knows, Whitethorn. I’m sorry about it.”

“You’re not.”

“I really am. But only because it was made from a rare type of tree. I’ll be the Little Folk’s queen too, I don’t want to upset them.” Rowan hid his hands on his lap, under the table. He wouldn’t give Aelin the satisfaction of seeing how clenched they were, how easily she got under his skin. Of course the Princess wasn’t sorry for barging into his room and accusing him of plotting her assassination. But he wouldn’t let her rile him up just because that was exactly what she wanted.

“Is the mutt yours?” He needed to change the subject and act civil. Immediately.

“Fleetfoot is a part of the family and she’ll be treated as such.”

“Are you serious right now?” Aelin just raised one eyebrow, making him sigh. “Is that... Her Royal Highness Fleetfoot Galathynius?” he said in a carefully controlled tone.

The mutt barked and flicked her tail before Aelin could answer. In the meanwhile, Rowan’s knight captured Aelin’s pawn. The sight of Rowan’s winning board relieved his anger a little.

“I’m surprised you haven’t burned the chessboard by now, Princess.”

“Oh, please. I won’t waste my finest board with a lowly prince desperate to win Queen Maeve’s favor,” she hissed with flared nostrils

And there it was. Rowan could feel his whole body tense and the increase on his pulse speed, but he wouldn’t give in. Even if every cell in his body was currently telling him to punch her in the face. He noticed the lack of guards where they were, it would be the perfect place and time to murder her if that was his goal. If Aelin was trying to play some sort of sick mind game with him now, he wouldn’t let her know she was winning.

“I think you’ll be shocked when you find out the world doesn’t revolve around you, Your Highness. One thing Terrasen beats Doranelle is the council, especially its ability to protect the people from spoiled monarchs and their temper tantrums.” Just for a dramatic effect, Rowan’s pawn captured one of Aelin’s.”

“What a refined way to insult me, Prince. I thought I was just an attention-seeker little brat.” She gave him a tight-lipped smile, her knuckles as white as the knight she had a death grip on.

“I think you’re much more layered than you’re giving yourself credit for.”

“And I think you’re much less brave than the legends give yourself credit for. Tell me, Whitethorn, would you be sitting there now if you didn’t know that I’ll send the whole Bane to bring me your head if you lay a single finger on me?” No. She’d be heading for the healer by now if he could have his way, and she knew that.

Through gritted teeth, Rowan snarled, “Can’t kill me yourself, Princess?”

However, she lifted those maddening blue eyes at him and raised her eyebrows. “I just killed your queen.”

“Is this a threat?” Rowan didn’t care about Maeve, but it added up to his annoyance. Also, it was the expected response from him.

Aelin gave him a triumphant smirk. ”You were so sidetracked by the lack of guards and little pawns I gave you to kill, you failed to see what was right in front of you. You need to do better if you want to play this game with me, Whitethorn.

˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜

Rowan roamed over the city without thinking about destination or time, just feeling the wind caress his feathers until he spotted Fenrys on a street and navigated towards him. After shifting back to his Fae form, they stared at each other until Rowan broke the silence.

“Where are you going?”

Fenrys just shrugged. His reddened eyes helped to portray a haunted look Rowan rarely saw on his friend.

“Come on, we’re getting hammered,” Rowan mumbled.

When they got to the tavern and the first few rounds of beer came, it was easier for them to keep a conversation going. Fenrys leaned back and asked with a tight smile, “Do you remember when Maeve sent Vaughan on a journey to the Southern Continent, about 30 years ago, and he just kept flying until the situation solved itself?”

Rowan mused, “Yes, that costed him a lot, though.” He had no idea why Vaughan swore the oath if he was always trying to rebel against Maeve. Suddenly, his throat thickened. His limbs became heavier. He understood Vaughan more than he was willing to admit. Rowan had commanded Maeve’s armies himself for long enough to know how brutal and unfair the campaigns could be. The things she could do out of spite. Another deep breath. It was hard to get a grip on his emotions today, so he just pretended to pay attention to Fenrys’s blabbering until he calmed down. Rowan was just a non-essential prince doing the only thing he was fit to do. Stop working would only cause him more problems and make no change. Or that was the thing he was used to tell himself, at least.

When Rowan focused back on his friend, Fenrys was already eying him thoughtfully, “How are you?”

“Fine,” he said between clenched teeth.

Fenrys raised his eyebrows, “Really?”

One of the perks of being friends with Fenrys was that he could be so annoying it allowed Rowan to focus his irritation somewhere else. “Your point is? You’re fucking miserable.”

“I’m grieving. But I’m cheerful. Glass half full and shit.”

“Okay, then.”

Fenrys ordered more beer before turning back to him. “When was the last time you felt happy, Ro?”

Eleven months and two days ago, but Rowan just shrugged. “You?”

“When we went to Essar’s vineyard and I played with the baby chickens,” Fenrys gave him a faint smile, “They’re probably dead by now, anyway.”

That had been a few years ago, but Rowan didn’t feel like pointing it out, “And they probably became ugly adult chickens before dying.”

They both slumped on the chairs before Fenrys swallowed down the rest of his beer and continued, “They’ll always be cute baby chickens to me, though. And very much alive.”

A fleeting idea crossed Rowan’s mind, “You know who should die instead of them?”

That piked his friend’s interest, “Who?”

“Maeve,” Rowan only mouthed to make sure the other Fae at the tavern couldn’t hear him, but it was enough to make Fenrys still on his chair with wide eyes. And then blink a little. Finally, he relaxed on his chair and grinned like the devil.

“For Hellas’s sake, Whitethorn. I never thought you had it in you.”

Rowan raised an eyebrow, “Scared, boyo?”

“Hell, no. Let’s do this.”

After a lot less planning than they should have made, they settled on using Rowan’s rank to borrow a few weapons from the army base closest to the castle. The plan went smoothly until they bumped into Essar’s sister, another Commander, on their way out of the base. Both way too armed for a weekend night.

“Hey, Rowan. Fenrys. What are you two doing here in the middle of the night?”

Rowan snarled, “We’re on a mission.”

However, Fenrys cheerfully explained the situation “We’re going to kill Maeve,” right before he crossed his arms and almost fell on his ass while trying to lean on the wall. Rowan stared blankly at his awfully relaxed friend, his disbelief stopping him from noticing the huge grin the female wore.

“Good,” she snickered after a few moments. Until she paled completely. “Fuck, are you going to do it now?”

Fenrys lifted his chin and grinned broadly. “Yes, ma’am!”

She turned to Rowan. “You know this is a suicide mission, right?”

His voice was completely flat as he retorted, “We’re going to be fine,” and dragged Fenrys out of the army base.

As they walked their way to the castle, Fenrys’s steps seemed to be more steady as the realisation of what they were about to do seemed to sober him up a little. Too little for what they were going to do, but Rowan himself was drunk enough to pretend not to notice this.

Fenrys’s laughter was booming on the streets as he managed to say, “We’re really doing this, aren’t we?”

Honestly, Rowan hadn’t felt this determined in a long time. “We’re warriors. Serious ones. We defend our kingdom. We’re doing our jobs.”

Fenrys eyed him thoughtfully as me mused, “You’re serious.”

“I am.”

For a moment, Rowan actually thought his friend was being serious until Fenrys beamed at him.

“You should drink more. You’re no fun sober.”

A deep sigh. “This isn’t supposed to be fun. We’re on a quest to free Doranelle.”

“What are we supposed to do after Maeve’s dead? Are we taking over the country?”

Rowan hadn’t thought much about it. For him, it was already implied Sellene was taking the throne, as she was next in the line of succession. But he still wanted to hear his friend’s thoughts. “Do you want to be a king, Fenrys?”

“Fuck, no. I would swear the blood-oath to you, though.”

“Nah. I don’t want to be king.” His sentence was as true as it could get. As much as he had all the royal education along with his cousins, Rowan knew he was only good for one thing. Plan, attack, kill. Over and over for centuries until he settled into a routine. His friends and family would say he’s detached, but there was one thing he did they couldn’t complain. Plan, attack, kill. He was definitely not king material.

“So we’re back to square one. What are we doing after she dies?”

“We give the throne to Sellene.” He didn’t know how she would deal with this, though. She has always been the most pressured in the family because of her position. “We can handle this later. Call it Step 2.”

“Cool. We just have to get through Step 1 before I throw up.”

Was he for real? “You drink too much to be such a lightweight.”

“I’m not a fucking—“

“Shut up, we’re here,” Rowan interrupted with a hushed voice. Maeve kept her castle surrounded with so much Fae disguised in their animal forms it looked like a fucking farm in the middle of the woods. They were being heavily watched now.

Rowan clutched his poorly embroidered Spidersilk handkerchief and for a moment he didn’t repress any thoughts about who gave it to him. There was no turning back now, either he or Maeve were going to die, and she was the only person he knew would love both outcomes. When he pictured her receiving the news of whatever happened tonight, the mirth on her turquoise and gold eyes was the only thing that flashed into his mind before he let it go and entered Doranelle’s castle.

At first, they managed to walk through all the common areas without being suspicious. But when they approached Maeve’s personal wing, one of her watchdogs creeped out of the shadows.

Onyx eyes were narrowed at him when Lorcan Salvaterre snarled, “Whitethorn. What are you doing here? Spill.”

Rowan tilted his head and crossed his arms. “Are you still licking Maeve’s boots, Lorcan? How long will it take before she deems you enough to be a blood-sworn?”

“Fuck. Off. Now tell me what you’re doing here. Now.”

“We,” Fenrys swayed a little on his feet and pointed at himself and Rowan before continuing, “Have a mission. And we need to talk to Maeve. About it. Our mission.”

Lorcan seemed terribly amused at Fenrys. “Is that so? Can you tell me more about it?”

Fenrys inched closer to the enemy and sent him a conspiring smile as he added, “But it’s secret. Can you keep a secret?”

“Sure,” Lorcan said behind a fake smile. Rowan knew it was fake because Lorcan Salvaterre never genuinely smiled, but his terrible acting skills seemed to be enough for Fenrys.

“We’re here—“

He didn’t finish the sentence because Rowan put an air shield around Fenrys to stop anyone else from listening to his idiot friend. What the fuck was he thinking? Fenrys kept gesturing at Rowan any nonsense he could muster as Lorcan crossed his arms and looked expectantly at them with squished eyebrows. When Rowan closed his eyes and pinched his nose to take a deep breath and calm himself down, Fenrys took it as a cue to teleport him to a shieldless part of the hall and cheer, “We’re here to kill Maeve!”

And that’s when everything went black.

Rowan was sat when he woke up, and his whole body was covered in iron shackles and chains. Fenrys looked pretty much the same. Queen Maeve was sat on her throne with one of her creepy owls, and he could sense, more than see, the guards and blood-sworn lurking by.

Maeve looked at them and sighed. Heavily. “I think we all know that was the dumbest assassination attempt I’ve ever seen,” she pinched her nose, “And I’m the world’s oldest Fae.”

He didn’t feel like mentioning it now, but this was one of those rare moments Rowan actually agreed with his queen. As if sensing his thoughts, Maeve leaned back and continued.

“I always knew Fenrys would eventually do something that stupid in his life, but I never expected this coming from my best Commander, Rowan. Being thousands of years old is terribly boring. I thought defeating you could be a little more exciting.” After hundreds of years of working for Maeve, this was the closest he got to a compliment, and it was actually disturbing to him. If Maeve thought highly of him, it was probably because he had been doing something wrong. His stomach started quivering as he began to feel unclean. He didn’t show any sign of his unease, so she took their silence as a cue to continue.

“You should consider yourselves lucky for Vaughan’s death. The only reason you’re getting out alive is because I can’t kill two nobles and a prince on the same weekend.” He kept still, refusing to give Maeve the satisfaction of seeing him recoil. Looking at his right, Fenrys looked murderous, his jaw so clenched it could break stone. Maeve analysed him and smiled broadly. “I’m not killing you, but you’re officially exiled. Permanently. I don’t need to tell your bank accounts, every property you own and what’s inside it belongs to Doranelle now, right?” She smiled. “Good.” Well, Rowan didn’t give a shit about his property or bank accounts, but he found it hard to believe any king or queen would like to have their armies trained by someone who was exiled for committing treason.

For someone as private as Maeve was, she couldn’t keep her mouth shut tonight. Thankfully, she eventually gestured requesting one of her blood-sworn and came to a halt. “I think you’ve heard enough talk about treason on the last 24 hours, and Cairn has been terribly bored lately, you know? I should finish our meeting and go.” Was it supposed to scare him? He just wanted to get it over with and go.

Maeve started giving instructions directly to her blood-sworn, but loud enough for them to hear. “You’ll keep them entertained, consider it the closure of their spree. Whips and daggers only, but I want both healed enough to walk. Dump them at the border by dawn.” He bastard started grinning wickedly at them as Maeve walked out and sing-sang, “Have fun!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a week later, and both Rowan and Fenrys were healed enough to wander on the lands between Doranelle and Wendlyn.

Rowan crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows at his friend. “Are you sure the Ashryvers will welcome us in Varese?”

Even though they were friends with Prince Galan, Wendlyn and Doranelle politically kept a good relationship. It wouldn’t be a good move to take the two of them now.

“Don’t worry, Birdie! Live a little!” That was Fenrys’s umpteenth try to cheer him up since the exile. At least he got it right. Rowan wasn’t pissed about the exile in itself, but he was very worried about where they were going to live.

“If you call me Birdie one more time, you will be the one who won’t live a little.”

Fenrys barked a laugh. “We’ll be fine, Galan will love the surprise.”

His eyebrows immediately creased. Had he misheard his friend? “What do you mean?”

Fenrys rubbed the back of his neck as he stared ahead for a while. “They love us! We’re like part of the family.”

Rowan stopped dead on his tracks. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Are you telling me you didn’t even tell them we were visiting?”

An impatient huff, then he replied, “Why spoil the surprise? We’ve never needed it before.”

Rowan’s eyebrows shot to the sky. “Fenrys. That was before we tried to kill their political ally.”

Fenrys’s shoulders seemed to loosen up a little as he gave a heavy sigh and groaned, “What’s your plan, then? If they don’t take us, we’re fucked.”

Very true. Maeve wasn’t a very friendly queen, he had befriended very few people on his journeys abroad. Lord Suria, maybe? They had bonded a little over war tactics and weaponry on his brief trip to Terrasen. Being Maeve’s enemy now, maybe he could get a nice enough military position without causing a turmoil in the royal family, if he was lucky. He could keep it in mind as a last resort.

“We’re close to Mistward. Emrys and Malakai would welcome us. We go there, spend the night, send a letter to Galan and wait until we have a response.”

Fenrys rested both hands on his hips and tilted his head at him. “You’re not half as bad as a strategist, Prince. This month’s shenanigan could’ve fooled me”

Rowan’s lips twitched a little and they resumed their journey. They were closer to Mistward than he calculated, arriving there by the middle of the afternoon. It had been years since he last visited Emrys and Malakai, but the fortress’s sentries hadn’t stopped him. In fact, to be welcomed there after becoming an official traitor to his country was… Interesting. Even though Mistward wasn’t Maeve’s territory, it was still full of people who intended, at least initially, to live in Doranelle. He made a mental note to investigate the fortress’s relationship with Maeve later.

Rowan didn’t even care to enter through the front door, Fenrys was hot on his heels when he entered the kitchen first, already knowing Emrys would be there. Everything was just as he remembered, except that Emrys was alone. The preparations for dinner would probably start soon. When they crossed the threshold, the old male was already on his way to greet them.

“Prince Rowan! Fenrys! What are you doing here? It’s good to see you, even if it takes an exile for you to visit me.” Emrys’s comment didn’t sound snarky, but it still was something uncomfortable to hear. It had been at least a decade before he last visited Mistward, with no excuse whatsoever for that.

It was a few minutes of conversation and exchanging news mainly between Emrys and Fenrys, but Rowan managed to make a comment every now and them. However, Rowan completely zoned out of the chat when he scented a familiar smell. A hallucination was the only explanation possible, but it got stronger each time until he couldn’t ignore it anymore. Jasmine.

Emrys’s face perked up. Rowan’s turned slack. Fenrys started to eye him curiously. “Oh! There’s someone I want you to meet.”

The closer she got, the more of her scent he could pick up. Like lemon verbena.

“She’s staying here for a few months. I’m close to her mother, so she’s like a niece to me.”

Rowan started to smell the embers as her gaze on him seemed to ignite the room.

“This is Celaena.”

At his side, Fenrys barked a laugh at Rowan’s expense. The traitor.

TAG LIST

@morganofthewildfire

@elentiyawhitethorn

[sacred-stanning]

Chapter 13 Part 8: This is the problem with GBA bosses

So we've cleared out the map except for Selena, and since she's a boss, she doesn't move. Now it's time to just do dumb, ridiculous nonsense to get more experience.

I'm going to baby Marisa a bit more.

Tethys catches up with the group and dances her way to level 2. She got HP, which will keep her alive, and luck, which can prevent enemy crits. Awesome sauce!

I check out Gerik's odds, but I don't like the crit chance, and I think he was getting doubled with his other weapon, one of the heavy "blade" weapons. So he doesn't actually attack.

I could've gotten him something else to use, but I decided to just focus on Marisa instead.

Lute heals her way to level 2 and gets her 2 most important stats, magic and speed.

And I set everyone up to be near each other and get support points.

For anyone who is not familiar with the GBA support system, characters gain support points for every turn they end next to each other. The really important thing to know is that building supports takes forever for the most part, so artificially dragging out a map like this is pretty much required if you want to get characters to support ranks like A.

With this set up, Marisa can run in, attack, then Tana can rescue her out. Then Cormag takes Marisa from Tana and drops her. Then L'Arachel--who also needs experience, remember--can heal Marisa.

Oh yeah, and Marisa and Gerik are finally near each other, so they say hi too.

The final piece is to have Tethys able to dance people so that she can also gain some experience and become a little more durable.

At some point during this process, Marisa gets a kind of disappointing level up.

I ended up leaving Tethys next to L'Arachel so that L'Arachel could heal Marisa twice per turn, thereby doubling her (pathetic) exp gain!

The set up here also lets these pairs gain support points:

Tana and Cormag

Gerik and Tethys

Gerik and Marisa

Ephraim and L'Arachel

Lute and Vanessa

Franz and Seth

There might be others I've overlooked, but those are the ones I knew about off hand when I made this formation.

Look at her go! I'm glad this grindy silliness is good for someone!

Marisa finally pokes Selena to death and gets a level up with no strength or speed again.

She is at level 10 though, so she can promote and maybe still contribute somehow!

After we defeat Selena, Myrrh comments on how even though she got her dragon stone back, she's so sad.

Ironically, it may have been Myrrh who contributed to Selena's death here. If Myrrh hadn't talked to her and slowed her down from leaving, she might have taken the dragon stone and returned to the Grado capital before Ephraim arrived...

Like I alluded to in the title of this post, being able to do grindy nonsense like this against bosses is kind of a weakness of how they work in the GBA games.

Since the bosses don't move, and since the player gets to move their entire army on player phase, and since they can use characters to rescue other characters, the player just has all the tools they need to send people in to chip away and then back out over and over again.

What's really bizarre in this map, and the one before it, is that the bosses aren't even on special tiles that make them harder to kill. In many maps, the boss is on a throne or whatever, and that means they have more avoid, and more defense and res (I think) and they heal automatically every turn.

Imagine if Selena moved on this map? Maybe it would be bad if she moved right away since she could thunderstorm any unit of yours and you'd have no way to stop her, but if she at least moved once you got units into the inner area, that would be a bit more interesting.

Ultimately though, Fire Emblem Engage figured it out, (finally, 20 years later) by making bosses move, but giving them multiple health bars. It means one unit can't kill a boss, no matter how strong that unit is, but if you move multiple units in and don't finish the boss off, now they have the opportunity to move around and target one of your weaker units.

Next time: An assault on the capital

[idislikefrenchclass]

hiiii! List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who liked or reblogged something from you! Get to know your mutuals, followers and all the wonderful people on here! happy new year and all the best :)

hello! i dont know how to ask other people i have basically no idea how tumblr works besides from posting haha but heres my list :)

-my dog and my family. my dog is the greatest being i have ever met and my family is very nice and i love them all. sometimes i HATE going on walks with my dog but this is how i get my time alone to think so i actually do like it!!

-my friends! i dont have many but the ones i have i love too. they make school survivable 4 me, but especially my best friend. whenever i wish the world were ending i can call her up and well do the dumbest shit (well literally climb trees or lie around doing nothing. i mean really dumb shit. yesterday we set styrofoam on fire) and i feel like a human being again

-music. whatever i do normally theres music playing in the background. well not now since im writing something i need to think about so not always. most of the time i listen to shit alt rock but i also have a couple cds and cassettes which are.. also shit alt rock *shhshs radiohead, csh, and weezer*. i have a björk cassette from the 90s DUHHHH

-drinking tea or coffee and reading, i love tea. i have a couple of nice cups too but my favourite has to be my dads southpark cup. i usually read books that my friends recommend to me or that i find online or at the book store and think "hm this book looks cool ill buy it" (currently "the secret history" its great). theres this book shop that has a cafe in it kinda near where i live, i like going there. usually by bike but when its cold i go by tram because i love being on the tram. its like a little treat i give myself when i find am unused tram ticket on the ground or just buy one but let me tell you thats pain in the ass since theyre so fucking expensive it hurts my brain

-making/seeing art. i like drawing, painting, making collages, writing, taking photos, making music, putting makeup on my face, making cool outfits. all sorts of art. it doesnt have to be good, i just have to like it. my writing in english is kinda meh but in german its fun to write since my writing is actually good and i can put lots of weird words in it that i dont know in english and the grammar just feels so much more natural. it soothes my brain to have written something i like. going to museums is aaah too. especially the modern art ones, historical ones are just boring tbh.

-i know it said 5 things but im extra so hihi. being outside!!! when im inside for too long i just feel like im a rotting piece of meat. which is gross because i dont like meat. and milk. and eggs. AND TOMATOES THEYRE SO GROSS. did i ever say im vegeterian? like almost vegan even. anyways, i love being outside just watching the clouds or listening to the silence. i love quiet but i also love noise.

thats all i think. hope this is not too long or fuck it i dont care

[couldntbedamned]

Til the Veins Start to Shiver

Bruce Banner/Reader

Summary:  You decide to tease Bruce with some provocative photos while he's working.  Bruce decides to tease you right back, and then some.

Warnings/AO3 Tags:  Teasing, swearing, derogatory language, dirty talk, Bruce Banner has a filthy mouth, dom/sub undertones, orgasm delay/denial, oral sex, multiple orgasms, forced orgasms, overstimulation, size kink, aftercare

Author’s Note: Written for the fabulous and talented @boop-le-snoot. Inspired by this post here on Tumblr.

Til the Veins Start to Shiver

- - - - 

Bruce was about to lose it. He’d told you not to send him such provocative pictures while he was trying to work.

But you didn’t like to listen. You wanted him to lose it, wanted him to wake up and realize that as delicate looking as you could appear, you weren't breakable.

He wrapped up his work as quickly as he could without drawing attention to himself and then stalked towards his floor. His sound-proofed, Hulk-proofed floor.

You were waiting for him, of course.  Smiling as if butter wouldn’t melt in your mouth.  Smiling as if you’d won.

“Was it fun, baby, teasing me like that?”

You giggled. “Yes.”

“I hope it was. Because I like to tease, too. And I’m much, much better at it.” He pulled off his glasses and set them down on the dresser, began to unbutton his shirt.

“Get on the bed.”

“But what about my clothes?” Soft, pretty, lacy things.

“Do you really think I’ll let something like clothes get in my way? I thought you were smarter than that, baby.”

“It’s been a couple of hours, baby. How do you like teasing now?” Bruce asked. His face was wet from your pussy that he’d been eating off and on, forcing you up, up, and up but never letting you crash over. His fingers, also wet, drew messy little shapes all over your thighs and stomach.

“What’s the matter baby? Are you cock-dumb already? I haven’t even split you open on my cock yet.”

“P-please.”

You’d lost count of how many times he denied you, only knew that you needed to come more than you needed your next breath.

“But you like teasing,” Bruce chided, mock hurt all over his face.

“I guess there’s nothing else left then,” he finally said. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

You grab his arm before he can pull away, a feat of speed you had no idea how you managed. “Ple-ease, B-bruce. Fuck m-me.”

“Oh, you want me to fill that needy little cunt of yours?  Want me to split you open and fuck you like a dumb little doll I can toss and throw around?”

You nodded, desperate. “Y-yeah. Use me.”

“Sweet, dumb little baby, thinking you can tease me like that, that you’ll win. But you know better now, don’t you? Sir is so much smarter than you.”

Bruce pulled you onto him, held you over his monstrously thick cockhead, tinged with green and so much bigger than he’d previously fucked you with.

“You wanted this,” he cooed in your ear before he forced the head inside of your soaking cunt.

It was a stretch. Holy fuck, even with the hours of finger-fucking and oral sex it was a stretch and so, so much. But he didn’t stop, used his strength to pull you down onto him and your thighs trembled and your cunt pulsed and you didn’t know how you were going to survive it.

“I’m almost halfway in,” he told you, raising you up just a bit before forcing you down until you could feel him hitting your cervix… maybe even feel him in your throat. The hair around the root of his cock and balls would have probably tickled if you could have felt anything other than every single pulsing veined inch of him inside you.

“Pretty baby, full of my cock just like a dumb little girl like you should be.” He didn’t thrust but with every slight movement, fire raced through you. It was too much it was too much it was too much!

“And what do you say to Sir, when he’s filled your pretty little cunt with his big cock?”

You whimpered, tears falling.

He jerked his hips up and your cervix shifted and you cried out.

“Well?”

“T-th-ank y-you S-ir.”

“If you can still form words, I’m not doing my job.”

He started to properly fuck you, pulling you up and down, pausing a few times to add some lube in an act of mercy you didn’t think you’d get. The lube helped to a point, but a cock half-way between Bruce and the Hulk was not meant to be taken by mortal cunts like yours.

The battering of your cervix started to… not quite change from pain, but kind of meld with a deep sort of buzzing that signaled an orgasm you didn’t think you could walk away from.

“Baby girl, finally being so good for me, letting me use her just like she needs. Just let go, baby. You’re too pretty to think, just empty that head and I’ll empty into you.”

His fingers started playing with your clit while he used you like a fleshlight and when your orgasm tore through you with a violence you had never felt before, you felt yourself soak his cock and then collapsed bonelessly against him.

He continued to work in and out of you, his cock leaving no micrometer of your cunt unclaimed.

When he finally came, it was with a loud groan-bordering on-roar. The spill of his release was hot in your womb. There was so much and it squelched out with every thrust as he continued to milk his orgasm with your cunt.

“Look at my pretty baby,” he said adoringly as he lifted you off his softening monster of a cock and laid you back on the bed where you laid useless and splayed-legged.

Bruce kissed you, stroked his hands all over you lovingly as if checking to see that you were still there with him.

He didn’t move to clean you up, but you were too tired, too… cock dumb to care. Instead, he slipped something up your hips, around your ass. Then something slid inside you and settled in place. Something else pressed against your clit.

“I hope you enjoyed that orgasm, baby. Because I’m not done teasing you, yet.”

Vibrations started, sent fireworks across your clit, and you realized he’d locked a vibrator in place with the belt he’d pulled onto you. The shaft inside of you began to vibrate, too.

“There’s my pretty, cock-dumb baby. You look so pretty when you come for me, especially when you’re needy and crying.”

He settled back to take in the sight of you. He stroked his soft cock, idly.

"It’s always so fun to see how you plan to keep me from working too hard, baby. I have to admit, this is more satisfying than the equations I was working on. I might just have to keep this up all night."

With a sobbing moan, you came, and feeling no retreat from the vibrators, sobbed some more.

“My pretty baby has some smart ideas sometimes,” Bruce said fondly. “Not as smart as mine, but I love her anyways.”

- - - - -

Much later, as you fought sleep while lying next to Bruce, wearing your coziest pjs and wrapped in your favorite fluffy blanket, after Bruce had reverently and gently cleaned you and held you in the hot tub filled with soaking salts and oils and had hand-fed you your favorite snacks and held water for you to sip all while telling you how brilliant and wonderful and precious you were, how much he loved you and your intelligence, you had to agree to disagree to a point.

Bruce Banner may have earned seven Ph.D.’s, but you had gotten want you wanted, after all.

[vegalocity]

A Place for Stories

I don't do Carrds or anything so i'm gonna level with you guys, this is a very simple post for me to pin up as general fandom information.

My name is Vega, I'm interested in a lot of things, I'm an artist/writer and I make dumb crossovers and sad AUs

I have several current projects and several complete ones

there's a lot of them so this is going under a cut, but here's my art tag and here's my writing tag and here's my AO3

AUs/stories i'm working on/have completed are for these fandoms

Boku no Hero Academia

Gravity Falls

Lego Monkie Kid

The Owl House

Miraculous Ladybug

Undertale

the status of any of these stories doesn't matter, if you're curious about literally any of them, or if you saw that i reblogged a prompt meme recently and want to see something in any of these AUs/stories

BNHA

The Magi Underground

On God I am still working on this. But it's what it says on the tin. Magical Girls and magical warriors still very much exist in the work of heroes and Quirks, they just have to be much more secret

Ships: Bakugou Katsuki/Hanasaki Momoko (Bakupeach) Miscellaneous other crossover ships

-in progress but it's slow bc there are SO many magical girl series i'm putting in here-

Undertale/Mister Peabody and Sherman

Twice Burned and Thrice Shy

Chara and Asriel were both revived, but Chara and Frisk have very... differing views on exactly who is responsible for some... certain timelines... And unfortunately for Chara, Frisk got to tell their story first. Chara ends up running into an unlikely dynamic duo, and finds before too long, that they aren't bereft of having people in their corner. Another human child, and the possible dog-monster that acts as his father are very invested in helping them out.

Ships: None

-In Progress but slow because this fic is too damn complex for speedy updates-

Miraculous Ladybug

Miraculous Rewrite

This is a project that had been hatched between myself and @gererrin, we rewrote the entirety of Miraculous Ladybug in the span of 4 seasons, serializing the narrative while also letting many episodes exist in standalone format, focused more on worldbuilding and character arcs, and also a healthy dose of queer characters, polyamory, and an actual sliding threat scale

Ships: So many

-Complete, spinoffs in progress-

LMK

Oblivion

if you know me for anything from LMK it's probably this fic series/AU Basis.

A second Porty Clone had been summoned and slipped away during a battle set in the indeterminate future, and comes into possession of a very dangerous magical artifact; a record with the ability to brainwash demons, and he's got his sights set on a certain fire demon he knows his creator is sweet on

(this is a psychological horror so mind the warnings, also there's a bad ending that's bore quite a lot of fruit)

Ships: Spicynoodles, but like, don't root for a happy ending for it

-on Hiatus-

Tyrant Prince

This is a splinter of the Oblivion AU, more specifically the Bad End version where Porty Clone was able to make Xiaotian believe that this whole thing is Good Actually.

You know what they say about absolute power

AKA the Traffic Light Trio deserve a villain au or two that aren't swap aus or possession aus

Ships: Spicynoodles, Freenoodles, Ironbull, Silktea (they're all like super fucked up though) and Cyberhunt (the only not fucked up one)

-in progress, being fleshed out by an rp with @unseelie-robynx so you can ask her for details too-

White Bone Amnesia AU

Xiaotian is the actual son of Sun Wukong, MK on the other hand doesn't remember much of anything of his own past from before he worked at Pigsy's Noodles, he's not the only one with memory issues.

Ships: Spicynoodles, MksDadsShipping

-Currently being reworked-

The Little Detective

This isn't TECHNICALLY an AU, but it's the main story for my OC, a six year old child detective named Wong Minyi, looking for her missing Father and getting into schenanigans in the world of Magic and monsters and solving some mysteries while she's there. (Syntax her father is Syntax this is not a secret) (also here's Minyi's general character tag if you just want more information on her)

Ships: None (though maybe some in the Minyi general tag bc she's a fun minor character to have in ship stories sometimes)

-in progress but its slow-

Animorphs AU

The Lady Bone Demon is replaced as the major antagonist with the Yeerk empire. a mishmash of Animorphs and Monkey Kid plotlines full of new allies new enemies, and the horrors of War and such

Ships: Tripsun/Tangsun/this ship has too many names, Pigsy/Tang/Syntax, Xiaojiao/Aximili, Spicynoodles, Ironbull

-In progress-

Theatre AU

Well it can't all be sad in here, this is my token patented Civillian AU, The Flower Fruit Theatre is one of the most popular shoestring budget theaters in the city, entertaining the masses with reasonably priced musicals with casts of college students and some old greats only slightly past their prime, they also find themselves in a one-sided rivalry with the most expensive hoity toity 'musicals are for fools' theatres in the city, the Bull King's Chambermen.

Ships: Spicynoodles, Peachtea

-not actively on hiatus but not currently being worked on-

Princess Bride AU

Its what it says on the tin, Red Son is Buttercup, Xiaotian is Wesley, the casting falls from there

Ships: Spicynoodles

-completed, getting additional scenes written up for the AO3 release-

Atlantis: The Lost Empire AU

On god i am working on this; summary to come later.

Ships: To be determined

-in progress-

Owl House

Prisoner Princess Luz

Belos has decided to adopt the human that's been causing him problems.

Her opinion on the matter is wholly irrelevant.

This is a dark one my guys.

Ships: Raeda, Lumity, Scarlow

-in progress, currently being reworked-

Gravity Falls

Equivalent Exchange

i kinda hate that i'm putting this here because it's so old, but for the sake of completion it's going here.

Gravity falls Madoka Magical crossover AU. Mabel Pines has been scoped out by the Kyubey, typical Madoka Magica dark things ensure

Ships: None

-completed-

[yslkook]

good years (1)

mind of mine masterlist

summary: you arrive at hobi’s birthday party, along with some of your other friends. pairing: “badboy” jk x “shy/reserved” oc warnings: alcohol, cursing, excessive use of pet names...bc its me

Being late to events, especially events in honor of your friends, was your least favorite thing. Punctuality was one of your top three favorite things about yourself, and yet here you were- nearly sprinting through the streets in heels because you were an idiot and had gotten the name of the bar wrong.

Instead of the Silver Spoon, you’d ended up at the Silver Tongue. That’s what happens when you don’t check your text messages for confirmation and operate on autopilot. So now, you were about an hour and a half late (as if the absence of the birthday boy and his merry band of friends at the Silver Spoon didn’t tell you enough).

Oh well. 

By the time you arrive about twelve blocks away to the Silver Spoon, you quickly make sure that not a hair is out of place before walking into the bar to try to blend in, as if you’d been there the whole time.

“Hobi!” You chirp, finding your friend in the middle of all of the chaos, “Happy birthday, Hobi-”

Hobi turns to greet you, a big (drunk) smile plastered across his face. “You’re late! Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

“Well, I-uh, this is gonna sound dumb, but-”

You’re interrupted by a few of the guys walking into the bar, causing a ruckus and nearly screeching Hobi’s name. At least you’re not the only one who’s late. And you quickly see Sora in your line of sight, entering in behind the guys.

Sora, your best friend of several years since college. She’s been with you since the beginning, taking you under her wing when you were both young and in college. She had brought you out of your shell a bit, inviting you to parties and inviting you to have dinner with her in the dining hall. The slow convenience of college had blossomed into something real, something that could stand the test of time- also known as the test of post-graduate life.

Her friendship was an adventure to say the least.

“Hey,” You beam at her with drinks for both of you in your hands, “Fancy seeing you here-”

“Hey,” She grins, pulling you in for a hug, “Work was so shitty, like, I had to stay late today. Of all days! I can’t wait to have a fuckin’ drink.”

“Yeah, here’s something funny-” But your words are cut off yet again, by the arrival of more friends. It looks like Sora had invited some of her own friends, friends that you weren’t quite sure liked you very much.

But you don’t dwell on that, instead sipping on your drink and settling on people watching. Settings like this unnerve you- being in a place where you’re not quite friendly with everyone in attendance makes you feel self-conscious. It’s easier to just stay in the background, blend into the walls, so as to not upset yourself-

“Hey, you,” Comes a familiar voice to your right. It’s Yoongi, one of your fellow people watcher enthusiasts. He stands next to you, shoulder brushing against yours.

“Hey, you,” You repeat, flashing him a smile and a playful shove to his shoulder, “How have you been? It’s been a while, Yoongi.”

“You’re the one who’s been hiding,” Yoongi teases, “All cooped up at home.”

“So have you! In your studio,” You protest, poking his shoulder.

“I guess I can’t argue there.”

“No, you really can’t,” You say, “So tell me then, what’s new? What’s coming out of the studio these days?”

You enjoy hearing him speak, the way his passion for his craft pouring through his words. He invites you (again) to stop by the studio if you ever want to. You promise to stop by soon, with his favorite snacks. You usually try to stop by his studio at least once a month to catch up with him. He’s also one of your oldest friends, along with Hobi.

“Hey,” Comes another voice to your left this time. It’s a voice you definitely recognize, a voice that makes you tense up immediately.

Jeon Jungkook has always had a way of making you stammer over your words, ever since Yoongi and Hobi had introduced you to him years ago. He’s tall, nearly always dressed in all black, tattoos and piercings coloring his frame, and something sweet and sinful swirls in his dark eyes.

You don’t know if it’s a look that is reserved for you or if he looks at everyone like this, but honestly, your brain short circuits every time he glances your way.

“H-hi,” You mumble, taking a sip of your drink to ease your jumpy nerves. Jungkook only grins at you, his bunny smile a stark contrast to the rest of his aura.

“Been a while, huh?” Jungkook says, voice smooth and sweet like molasses. 

“Y-yeah, been busy,” You mutter. You watch in mild panic as Yoongi walks away, being called away by Namjoon and Taehyung.

“Missed you, baby,” Jungkook winks at you. Somehow, he always gravitates to you at these types of events. Not that you’ll particularly complain- his attention makes you feel warm, even if it’s all for jokes and fun.

As Sora repeatedly has told you.

According to her, he’s the worst- a player, a fuckboy (when he was apparently too old to be one, her words not yours) and this is how he treats any pretty girl. So you don’t take it too seriously, only indulging him a bit and keeping him out of your periphery.

But you won’t deny that his recent use of the pet name might make you swoon a little bit.

“Oh, stop,” You wave him off with heat rising in your cheeks. And he knows it, too, from the self-assured smirk he throws you.

“How’s work been? They got you crunching numbers and all that?” Jungkook asks, ordering himself a beer and a drink for you.

“That’s literally my job, but right now, we just got access to a new database so I’m excited to see what kinds of visualizations and insights we can bring forward. We’re moving forward to proactive analysis, but you know, we’re still a ways away from that, we still react to problems so reactively. Like we’re just putting out fires all the time, it’s kinda tiring but I’m excited-” You cut yourself off at your rambling, sheepishly laughing, “Oh, you should’ve stopped me. I know it’s boring.”

“It’s not boring, not if it’s important to you,” Jungkook shrugs, “Besides, I like hearing you talk.”

“Really? You really wanna hear about the latest and greatest happening in the data world?”

“I wanna hear about anything you have to say, baby,” Jungkook says easily. You squeeze your drink in your hand tightly to ground yourself.

This is why he intimidates you- his affections have only increased in the last few months. It’s like he’s playing a game with you, trying to see how long it takes for you to crack. You don’t know how sincere he is when he turns the charm on- is this how he talks to everyone, or is it just you? 

You like to think it’s just you (because you at least dare to call him a friend of yours), but he could get anyone he sets his eyes on. Rather than spiralling down that train of thought, you bask in his flirtations, his gentle affections hidden under his very many layers of black.

Before you can reply to ask him about the tattoo parlor and about his newly purchased motorcycle, Sora interrupts you both. You’re oblivious to the deadly glare that Jungkook shoots her, and the glare that she shoots right back at him.

She whisks you away, an arm tight around your shoulders. You turn your head and look back at Jungkook apologetically.

This is how it always is, especially for the last few months. As soon as Sora sees Jungkook and you speaking, she’ll immediately do anything to intervene. It’s fucking annoying and Jungkook is beginning to dislike Sora more and more each time he has the misfortune of coming in contact with her. He doesn’t really care about whatever personal vendetta your best friend has for him.

He’s always thought Sora was a conniving woman, full of manipulation and tricks up her sleeve. Ever since Yoongi and Hobi had introduced you to their friend group (and you had brought Sora along as well). His instincts are hardly ever wrong, but he hates to see you spiral with her.

But he’s powerless to stop you from walking away from him. Yet again.

tags: @kookdbean​

[snelbz]

I'll Be Seeing You {2}

Nesta x Cassian, 1940′s AU

Collaboration with @tacmc​

Summary: After Cassian gets injured in the war, he’s taken to a war camp to be cared for until he gains enough strength to return to his battalion. While he’s there, he falls for a nurse that couldn’t care less about his title and doesn’t put up with his bullshit. Once he’s healed and the years pass by, he finds that there’s only one thing he wants to remember from the war, and she’s only a letter away.

Trigger Warnings: war

A/N: Enjoy a surprise chapter a couple days early, we’re just too excited for y’all to read this story.

Chapters will be posted every Monday.

Word Count: 2336

IBSY Masterlist

Shelby’s Masterlist

Tara’s Masterlist 

Nesta was making her rounds as the sun set outside of their desolate war camp.

It had been a long day, one filled with losses. After the ambush two days prior, their tent had become full. Now, there were far too many empty beds.

It never became easier.

With every soul that she attempted to heal that passed from this world to the next, she felt like a failure, even though it was impossible to save every soldier that had been injured in the heart of battle.

There were victories, though.

Those who were left in the tent were improving.

The ambush had brought in nearly fifty injured soldiers, and just over twenty of them remained.

Including Corporal Cassian Nazari, who she was walking up to now, a glass of water in hand.

He blinked a few times against the light of the guttering candle on the table, but after a moment his eyes settled on her. Settled, but still glazed with pain.

“Nurse Nesta,” he said, voice rasping from sleep, attempting to resituate himself in the uncomfortable bed, with one good arm. “Is it time for my sponge bath already?”

She sighed through her nose and closed her eyes, resisting the urge to rub her temples.

Most men in the infirmary were polite, respectful, grateful to be taken care of, especially knowing what befell their fellow soldiers who hadn’t been quite as lucky as they were. The first day she’d attended to the corporal, she’d assumed his inappropriate comment about foreplay had been some sort of unintended joke, something he hadn’t been able to control as he awoke.

But as Cassian slowly healed, Nesta learned those little comments were quite regular for him. And when he learned that they made her blush, or even snap at him occasionally, it only made him say them more frequently.

“I’ll give you a bucket and a sponge and you may help yourself,” she quipped. “Does that interest you?”

He laughed, quietly, but winced as it seemed the simple shaking of his shoulders brought a bout of pain. “You’re in a good mood today.”

“Why do you think that?” she asked.

“You joke with me,” Cassian said, shrugging a shoulder. “You joke when you’re in a good mood.”

“I don’t joke,” she replied. “I only give back what is given to me, even though I do it in a far more appropriate way.”

“There are worse things than being inappropriate,” Cassian promised her.

Nesta simply shook her head. “Here.”

He took the pill from her palm and took it, swallowing it with the glass of water she gave him. For a moment, his eyes closed and he sighed, deeply.

“How are you feeling today?” She asked, sitting down in the chair next to the table. He opened his eyes and she reached out to feel his head. He had been feverish the night before, and she was worried about infection setting in.

He was just as clammy as he’d been, if not more so. There was a slight sheen of sweat on his brow, but before she said anything, she wanted to hear it from him. Even if she was fairly sure it would be a lie laced with male bravado.

“Fine,” he replied, though he attempted to sit up with one arm again and winced. “Like I could get back on the battlefields right now.”

Rolling her eyes, she stood. “Too bad that won’t be happening yet.”

She strode for the medicine cabinet in the center of the tent, aiming for an antibiotic strong enough to stave off the infection. His own inability to keep still had led she and Madja to band his fractured arm to his side, but this kept the bullet wounds on his back from airing out. It was about choosing the lesser of two evils with this man it seemed.

Last night, they’d elected to set his arm. Tonight, it seemed he’d go back in the sling and she’d see what needed tending to on his back.

“Are you allergic to penicillin, Corporal?” Nesta asked, coming back to his cot.

“Not that I’m aware of, but I have a feeling that we’re about to find out for certain,” he noted, chuckling, then breaking into a cough fit.

“Alright,” she sighed, and pulled him fully into sitting position. “It seems you still have a fever. I’m going to give you this penicillin. Then, I’m going to take off your bandages and clean your wounds.”

“And then?” he asked.

Nesta blinked, hesitating as she a needle with the drug. “Pardon?”

“After you clean my wounds, what will you do?” Cassian asked, that sly smile remaining. “Because I have a few ideas-.”

“Corporal,” Nesta interrupted. “I am here to heal you, and nothing more.”

Cassian lifted a brow. “First of all, it’s Major, actually. It’s been years since I was a corporal. Secondly, I thought we could play a card game. What was it you were thinking?” Nesta’s cheeks heated and she ignored his pointed question. “My apologies, but Private Hale said—.”

“He knows nothing, which is why he’s only a private.”

She cleared her throat and held out her hand, letting him take the two pills in her palm. He did so, without any commentary, which Nesta took as a blessed relief.

She retrieved the sling his arm had previously been in, as well as fresh bandages, an ewer of fresh water and a bottle of antiseptic.

And a bit to put between his teeth in case the pin became too unbearable.

With a few tugs on the knots tying them together, Nesta unwrapped his arm from his body, not taking a full look at his back yet.

Almost immediately, Cassian tried to stretch out his arm, which earned him a chastising look from Nesta. “It’s tight,” he defended.

“If you move it too much before it’s had time to set and heal, tight will be the least of your worries, Major,” she replied, carefully tying the two ends of the fabric sling around his neck. “Not to mention your shoulder is still too weak as well. Do you want to dislocate it again?”

He grumbled something that sounded similar to No, ma’am, and sat still while Nesta settled his arm into place.

Once she tended to his arm, she prepared herself to examine his back again.

“This isn’t going to feel good,” she warned, taking in the angry, red skin puckering the edges of the wounds. They’d been able to retrieve the bullets while he was unconscious, but they weren’t in the most ideal and clean conditions for a healing to take place. Gently pressing her fingers around the mildest looking one earned a hiss and sudden jerk from Cassian. As well as puss, far more puss than Nesta was expecting. “I’m going to have to clean these out.”

“Can’t you give me more of that stuff that put me under and do what you need to do?”

His words weren’t unkind, but the tone… Nesta knew he was in pain.

She could, of course, but the powdered pain killer was much stronger than what she’d already administered. Not to mention is much, much shorter supply. It was reserved for surgeries, mostly, or life-threatening injuries.

An injury like the major had been brought in with at the time.

Not for a standard, but nasty, infection, unfortunately.

War was unfair, Nesta decided then. She’d known it for quite a while, watching good men die for their lands, but it was evident in that moment as she looked at the man’s ravaged back before her.

“Unfortunately, no,” she said, at last. “But I promise to work quickly.”

He gave her a curt nod and braced himself.

The alcohol burned, she knew that, she knew that it had to feel like fire was being lit to the surface of the skin, but as she poured the alcohol over the wound and began to clean it, the only sense of pain that Cassian showed was his rigid posture.

“Bear with me,” Nesta muttered, beginning to rebandage the wound.

“Got any whiskey?” he asked.

Despite herself, Nesta snorted. “No, I don’t. Is that your drink of choice, major?”

She was trying to distract him, trying to make the time go by just a little bit quicker as she worked.

“Usually,” he said, and huffed. “Every now and then I like to order a simple lager.”

“Lager,” she repeated. “What a luxury.”

“It has been a while,” he agreed.

She worked in silence for a few minutes, having to go so far as to scrape out the bits of skin that were too far gone and only likely to slow down the healing process. But when his breathing became ragged as she started on the worst of the wounds, the one right near his spine, she asked, “What’s the first meal you’re going to have when you get home? What have you been dreaming of since you enlisted?”

Mindless chatter, she reminded herself, was just as effective as a painkiller.

He was quiet for a moment, only hissing as she pressed the alcohol-soaked rag to his back. She had accepted he wasn’t going to answer when he softly asked, “Don’t you mean if?”

She was suddenly very thankful that she was working on his back and was unable to see his face. Playing dumb, she kept him talking. “I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

“Don’t you mean if I get home?” He asked. His voice was hollow, lacking the warmth it usually did when he spoke. It was unlike what she’d started to grow accustomed to. “This is a war we’re in the middle of, ma’am.”

She cleared her throat, continuing to work. “I think you ought to change your manner of speech, major, or you’ll be more likely to conscribe yourself to believe the worst.” Pressing a clean bandage to his skin to staunch the bleeding, she asked, “Now about that meal, sir?”

Surprising her, he laughed, quietly. “I guess I haven’t thought about it too much. My mother used to make a mean pork roast. With carrots and potatoes. That would hit the spot right about now.”

Nesta couldn’t help but lick her lips at the thought of a nice, hot, homemade dinner. “How about dinner rolls?”

Cassian hummed. “My mom used to make the fluffiest dinner rolls. She used to make me roll the dough. I hated it, until it was time to eat them.”

She smiled to herself. “My sister Elain loves to bake. She makes this pear crumble…” Shaking her head, she sighed. “It’s the best. Especially when she whips cream to put on top.”

“I don’t remember the last time I had a warm dessert,” he admitted, wincing as she applied antibacterial cream to the wounds. Turning to glance at her, he amended, “Actually, I don’t remember the last time I had a hot meal.”

The words hurt Nesta’s heart. The food they had in the med camps weren’t great, but she was sure they were better than rations the soldiers were issued.

“Tell me more about your sister,” he breathed, clearly needing the distraction while she worked.

Nesta sighed. “Which one?”

“How many do you have?” he asked.

“Two,” Nesta said. “Couldn’t be more opposite of one another. Feyre, the youngest, would rather spend her time painting, or outdoors in the woods behind our house, while Elain prefers to spend her time baking, or in her garden.”

Cassian nodded, thoughtfully. “And you?”

“What of me?” she asked, beginning to rebandage his wounds.

“What do you prefer to do with your time?” he pushed.

Nesta’s hands slowed. She wished she had more time to fill as of late. “I enjoy reading, I suppose.”

“You suppose?” he asked, then chuckled.

“What’s so funny about that?” Nesta asked, eyes narrowed at the back of his head.

“You either do or you don’t,” he said, shrugging, and wincing from the simple motion. “But, you suppose.”

Nesta scoffed. “Fine. I enjoy reading.”

“What manner of books?”

She hesitated for a moment. “Romance.”

He snorted. “Of course. Let me guess, a knight in shining armor, coming to rescue a damsel in distress?”

Nesta’s cheeks heated as his guess was nearly spot on of the plot of one of the tattered, well-loved books she kept in the small bag she brought with her from home. “And what’s so wrong with a knight saving a lady who needs help?”

“Nothing,” he replied, trying to shift his hurt arm. She adjusted the sling to hold him tighter. “I just think it’s a silly ideal to hold. Not everyone is going to have someone come save them.”

She was suddenly very aware of the fact that they were in a med camp in the middle of war.

“I guess you’re right,” she mused. “But I don’t see why that should stop anyone from dreaming.”

Cassian huffed and said nothing more.

When Nesta was finished, she asked, “How does that feel?”

“As good as it can,” he answered, in grumpy sincerity. “Although, I still wouldn’t mind that sponge bath.”

“Has anyone ever told you how ridiculously impossible you are?” she asked, the words flying out of her mouth before she could think better of it.

Cassian’s smile only grew. “If only you knew.”

Nesta’s chin rose as she tried to make sense of his remark, but she asked, “Can I get you anything else for the time being?” Cassian opened his mouth, but Nesta interrupted with, “Nothing that has to do with sponges.”

He laughed, quietly. “A cure for boredom?”

Just as Nesta was getting ready to reply, a cry came from just outside the tent, and her body was tensing, preparing itself. Madja’s eyes connected with hers, and Nesta’s feet were immediately in motion.

Another body coming in, caught in warfare.

It seemed he would have to entertain himself, as Nesta was once again vividly reminded that no one may ever come to save her.

But that didn’t mean she couldn’t save someone else.

[shinebrightlikeanarwhal]

Brain going brrr for Shen Jiu food today sosisosl

So hear me out, modern au. Shen Jiu doesn’t remember anything of their past live(s) and is a relatively famous internet chef. Like he has a PO Box and everything for his fans to send gifts or letters for him to personally read and tell them either what to do or that he’s proud, he never shows his face though, a deathly fear of being found, but by who? His young son, Ming Fan, is all but excited to be Shen Jiu’s direct bloodline in this life. Shen Qingqiu was always his father figure in the first life, but the second he got hurt or something and started caring for that nasty LBH.

Sometimes, Shen Jiu feels unsafe when out on the street and going about his day to day life. He doesn’t know why but certain faces of public figures terrify him. A little lady on the street selling hand made jewelry and staring at him like she’s seen a ghost makes him physically sick. God, he despises the face of this rather famous actor, Luo Bing-something?? He hates this confusing feeling that seemed to come of nowhere. That doesn’t stop them from trying to approach once they see him.

Women in fancy clothes and strong perfume dote on him and he practically melts in their arms. Confused on how they know his name but more than happy to chat about life. They seem happy for him, ecstatic even! Men in suits ranging from serious CEO to flashy idols would stop their cars and holler at him for his time of day. He despises men like that and gives them no acknowledgement while he continues on his way. If he’s lucky they have a tight schedule, if not they follow him to the grocery store and corner him in the frozen section while he picks out treats for his son. Two men have tried that and were met with a smack by popsicles. Social media was set a blaz when videos of this Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge cornered the same man on different days and tried harassing him. Of course their stans refused to believe it was their fault. It MUST be the pretty man minding his business throughout the proof on the grocery camera. The companies dared to contact him afterwards and SJ happily sent back his lawyers information and video proof of their ‘important persons’ harassment and stalking.

One was bold enough to publicly announce that they were looking for him at a political event. Broadcasted nationwide. Shen Jiu felt nothing but disdain for that Yue man. Who says “I’m looking for a man I haven’t seen since I was young and dumb.” During a political conference?? Just because you know it’s being broadcasted!? His fans during a livestream asked what he thought about it and he angrily said that Yue man was a fool! An absolute clown for thinking that wishing some guy that doesn’t even know him will come looking for him just because he said his name!

He never had a bad experience with women until one scowled at him and he instinctively scowled back. He had his son with him that day and was trying to not be hounded. But this woman continued to follow him and berate his clothing, his hair. He could handle scrutiny of himself but the moment she said anything about Ming Fan, be it his appearance or his mother, he drew the line. Wiping around to face this despicable woman and spitting the iciest response he could without scaring Ming Fan. He remembered seeing her on a magazine before. Some model or washed up actress. God help her when he posts the body cam footage his partner made him wear after the second Grocery store incident. She scoffed at him and just continued to point and jeer at him. Wondering if the others were only following him for his pretty face. Others?? The men that harassed him and the girls that scurried with their tail between their legs?? Shen Jiu is starting to think it’s time to move. He desperately wants to mind his business and live his life but they seem adamant on harassing him.

So he does! He announces it on a video after the fact so that they can’t find him even if they try to. Perks of dating a rich ceo, anonymity is quite easy with money!

Shen Jiu happily married his now hubby and they have many more kids with Ming Fan adoring them all. He refuses to be nice to this one lady at his school that tries to be friendly with him and will run crying to SJ, who remembers her as the jewelry stand girl, and he immediately has his son in a different class. Life going well for the man who was claimed to be evil in past lives, meanwhile the others are crumbling day by day now that he’s missing and they can’t seem to find him, no matter what. (NYY may have stalked him to the remote village but she wouldn’t tell the others. She can’t risk making Shizun hate her more). The ones that harassed her were publicly pitted by their companies and forced to apologize to him specifically. When word got out that Shen Jiu vanished it did NOT look good for them.. LBH had the wrath of his mother and LQG had a mother and grandmother to fear. QQQ was fired and black listed from the media. She would have just apologized if she had insulted the man himself, but following and insulting the child too? The media scorned her already shitty gossip personality. Any time she tried to get on tv they would turn on his and snicker about her cancellation. YQY lived lavishly, but lonely. He had a political marriage and no children. He refused to touch his wife. No matter what she would say all he could do is smile and apologize. Work wise things were going well. Since they didn’t have a punching bag to push everything on and the other politicians seemed to work smoothly despite disagreements, he had no real need to focus on work 24/7. But he did. He was always in his office scouring the internet for Xiao Jiu.

SY and SQH weren’t mentioned because they literally wouldn’t do anything different from usual. They wouldn’t even meet their past life husbands (LBH would think SY is a fan and just give his usual charm and leave. He’s already found SJ, this man is just a fake clearly). SQH wouldn’t have the chance to get MBJ, the neet writer would see him once and fumble his words. Probably earning a scoff as MBJ walked off to go meet his peer/partner. The two millennials would probably bond online over a story and get close. Maybe a failed relationship but remained friends.

TLDR; Everyone reincarnated and their lives fall apart if they don’t change their attitude towards SJ. SJ doesn’t remember them and just wants to raise his baby MF in peace. Jobs are lost and public relations are plummeting because these fools couldn’t find healthier ways to reconnect with SJ.

[awakeshedreams]

sugar and spice ( 2 )

pairing : resident bad boy!jjk x model student!reader

setting : highschool!au x stepbrother!au

summary :

a messy highschool!au x stepbrother!au where model student reader who has quite a few dirty little secrets sees her world take an unexpected turn when her mother comes home one day with an engagement announcement, to the father of none other than the school’s resident bad boy…. Jeon Jungkook.

genre : smut, for laughs, kinda pornish, slow burn with collosaly overwhelming sexual tension

rating: soft m ( for now ) due to adult content

warnings : unconventional relationship of sexual nature, tropes and clichès, teenagers partaking in porn-esque activities, made up things with made up people happening in a made up world, don’t like don’t read XD

wordcount : 3k

a/n: honestly overwhelming response for the first part. thank you so much 💜💜💜😳

here's the second.

somehow, this took up a new genre for itself while editing and became sort of a bit enemies to friends to partners in sin.

that is to say, I have a template for this but this could go any ( dirty ) way.

let me know if you like this and are curious to know how things play out.

also, spot the cameo. it's so dumb but still. I couldn't think of anything else.

enjoy.

1 2

Paranoia was an old friend of yours.

Very real, very scary and not very nice to you, your peace of mind or your tested soul.

In your head, you already played out a million different ways the image you’d spent years building could come falling apart.

All because of him. Jeon Jungkook.

Though much to your surprise and fortune- he didn’t tell anyone.

You spent the entire weekend fretting over nothing.

It was almost like none of it ever happened.

Like your parents weren't about to tie the knot soon. Like you weren’t about to become step siblings.

Like he didn't walk in on his said step sister to be masturbating in front of a camera.

In the aftermath of that inexplicably humiliating incident, you had to make up some dumb excuse to satiate your viewers for ending the stream so abruptly.

It was your cat they heard speaking, you told them.

Cats don’t speak of course, certainly not in a deep baritone. But they were effectively distracted by the string of full nudes you posted soon after that.

Those few accusatory comments saying that you did have a boyfriend after all were buried by those coming from very horny people who were over the moon about the little apology gift.

That was out of the way, but you had a more pressing matter at hand.

That night, Jungkook had walked out after saying what he had to say without another word, leaving you feeling stunned and oddly cold.

It was like all the heat in your body just ceased to exist the moment he closed the door behind him and left you there all on your own. You didn’t even get to finish but that was beside the point.

The point was, you thought that meant like with many other things, and as people should since this was a free world, he didn’t give a shit what you did with your free time or your body.

But as the days progressed, you couldn’t help but wonder if you were gravely mistaken.

Because contrary to that, he seemed to be up to something.

These days, he came around very often. Completely unprovoked and on his own accord.

It didn’t help that your mom loved having him around and feeding him.

Sometimes he was there for lunch after school. Other times he was there to fucking read the books in the study.

It was all ridiculous and quite honestly it was starting to get on your fraying nerves.

He didn’t even live there! You grumbled in pure frustration internally every time your mom asked you to add an extra plate for him on the dining table. This was your place!

Intentional or not he seemed to just love spending his time at your house for some reason.

But that just wouldn’t do.

The thing was you didn't know how to tell him you’d like to have the peace of mind he’d robbed you of by being all up in your living space every other day back.

He couldn’t just keep coming around.

Things were awkward enough without you having to see him often so already in between fleeting glimpses at school and lingering glances over the occasional dinner.

He might have been able to play it cool because it didn’t matter to him but this was a big deal for you.

He knew your secret and what else were you to do but be on edge and fidgety around him even though it seemed like he wouldn’t say a word of it?

But in the end, you couldn’t voice out your concerns. Not to him and certainly not to your mom.

So you were stuck here.

In between a massive rock and a very hard place.

Forced to endure even though you really felt like you’d been pushed past your limit.

Because he was there all the time.

For the most random reasons doing the most random things at the most random places at the most random time.

One time he had been casually listening to music while smoking by the pool and stroking the strings of his damned, matte black guitar.

You had been so stressed from all the work at school with the elections for new committee members amongst the juniors coming up so you thought to go for a swim to relax your self.

You honestly thought no one was around.

It was a Wednesday at noon so your mother was at lunch with some friends from high school. Plus, in the back of your mind, you’d reasoned that Jungkook usually only ever came over when she was around.

So you put on your best little bikini, grabbed a floatie and a soft drink and you went out.

Only to pause when you saw him sitting on one of the white lounging chairs, just looking at you with his earphones on, fingers having stilled mid strumming with a soft veil of smoke over his face.

You didn’t need to think twice to turn back.

There had been something about how his heavy lidded gaze took you in through the smoke as he did that thing where he cocked his head to the side that made you step back and quickly go back in.

You felt yourself get impossibly hotter when you realized you were probably giving him an eyeful of your poorly covered ass in motion.

You knew he was looking. You could feel his stare. Heavy. Intent. Dark. Swirling.

Like when he'd walked in on you.

You were hot and bothered the entire day.

In the end you couldn’t get anything productive done with a straight mind. And it was all his fault.

.

It took you about two weeks to crack.

That particular evening you were decided on telling your mom about this dilemma you were in.  

Coincidentally, your mom had gone and invited him and his dad over for dinner.

Great. Just great.

You had no choice but to deeply consider the possibility of having to spill the beans another time.

Because choosing now to tell your mom meant you would probably need to tell his dad as well since they were attached at the hip every time he came over.

But no, you wouldn’t expose him in front of his father too. You weren’t cruel. Also you didn’t need the school's menace resenting you for making his strict, uptight dad turn on him.

If he didn’t have a reason to expose you before, he certainly would have one if things spiraled out that way.

So you bit your bitter tongue.

This time around, dinner was a more relaxed affair.

The weather was nice so your mom decided on a barbeque at your back yard.

This meant you wore a flowy sun dress like your mom did and he wore a loose navy shirt with the sleeves rolled up and some black casual beach shorts.

His tattoos were on full display.

You stared.

You were only distracted by them and how the patterns dance on his skin when his muscles flex as he flips whatever he is cooking on the fire because she’s never seen them in full before, you strongly reasoned.

Even with his sleeves rolled up when he was uniform, you'd only seen what he had on his forearm briefly other than the ones on the back of his hand.

That night didn’t count. It was too dim to see well. Also, that night technically didn’t exist.

Your eyes were particularly drawn to the little something peeking out the collar of his shirt.

You were too busy trying to figure out whether the curling ink around his collar bone was the flick of flames or the end of a dragon’s tail to notice that he’d lifted the hem of his shirt to wipe at the dots of sweet at his brows.

When you do, you suddenly found yourself being given an eyeful of impossibly ripped, ridged pure muscle.

You almost dropped your glass like you did your jaw.

What the holy fuck?

At that exact moment, he lifted his gaze and caught you staring.

He was probably expecting you to look away. Any decent human would expect that if they caught someone staring at them so openly. Gawking, to be completely honest.

But you didn’t. You quickly recover, pulling yourself together, and you met his gaze squarely.

You clutched the drink in your hand tight. Your pride wouldn’t let you look away.

In your own way, it was your little pay back, weak as it was.

He held your gaze with an unreadable look on his face for a moment with that signature slight tilt to his head and an added lift to his brow, before he looked away. Wordlessly, he let his shirt fall to push his hair back with his hand and went back to grilling.

You let herself breath then and tried not to think about how his biceps flexed at the motion, how his hair slicked back made him look even more dangerous and how the little smirk you caught on his lips was making you feel things she shouldn’t be.

.

Your mom suggested you all hang out at the pool once you were done eating.

You hadn’t been there since that day with him and quite frankly, you would rather not be.

Not with him.

You knew your mom had a swimsuit underneath her dress. She made you wear one as well.

She probably told them to come prepared for a swim too.

Just thinking about it made you short circuit.

You tore your gaze away from where he was standing with his father at the poolside, staring blankly at the surface as the older man talked to him about something.

You'd just come back from clearing the table with your mom.

When you guys got close enough, the men look your way. Jungkook’s eyes immediately landed on you. Meanwhile you just stare at your mom, trying to ignore his inexplicably fixed attention on you.

‘It’s shame we can’t swim.’

Your mother said, reaching for her boyfriend’s hand. She gave Jungkook a soft, apologetic smile.

‘Maybe once the weather is not so chilly.’ She sighed regretfully. ‘If I had known you were sensitive to the cold I would have suggested something else.’

‘It’s fine.’ Your eyes flicker to him. The smile he puts on is small and polite. ‘I’m not a very good swimmer anyway I’m afraid.’

‘Nonsense.’ She dismissed in good nature. ‘I heard you were quite the athlete in middle school. It’s all your father ever talks about sometimes. Right, honey?'

His father just grumbled.

You couldn’t hide your surprise at this revelation. You didn’t know this before.

Jungkook was quiet for a moment. Then he smiles a little with a shrug.

‘That was in the past.’

Your eyes just glided to him when he said that.

The tug at his lip looked wry and sad.

You’d never seen him like this before.

Solemn. Sombre. Not serious or intimidating or indifferent.

It felt like you were viewing him in a new light.

.

You settled on drinks by the pool. It was what your mom does to lighten things up.

It seemed like the gloom from earlier wasn’t all part just a part of your imagination.

Her mother suddenly chirped in between the light conversation.

'Why don't you guys get together and have a little group study?'

You suppressed the urge to groan and roll your eyes to the back of your head. You knew what she was trying to do and you wanted no part in it.

You had the words no way sitting at the tip of you tongue.

You had the words no way sitting at the tip of you tongue.

He beat you to it.

'That sounds nice,' he dared to say, even politely addressing your mom with Mrs. alongside her surname in the end uttered just the way she liked. 'I'd like that.’

You gawked at him in disbelief. Complete and utterly speechless.

Was he insane ??

'Doesn't it? Great!' Your mom is over the moon. 'Dear, take him to the study. You guys can do your teenager things and get along over books there.'

.

Your mom was loving and caring and she only ever wanted the best for you. You knew this.

Maybe she wanted them to get to know each other. Or maybe she just wanted to have some alone time with her man.

Either way, she practically shoved you two into the house with so much enthusiasm you wondered if she really loved you because suddenly you found yourself stuck inside your house with the last person you wanted to be with and you did not feel safe or rested.

The walk up the spirally stairs to the study had got to be one of the most intense, dragging moments of your whole life.

He remained a few steps behind you all through out the journey, following your lead in his own leisured pace.

A few steps too damn far behind in your opinion.

From that angle, you had a strong inkling that he could see your underwear from beneath your dress.

You knew this because you were familiar with what it felt like when he was staring.

What you couldn’t quite explain is why you didn't do a thing about it.

.

If awkward silence could manifest into a solid form for being so intense, there would have been a third occupant in the room the moment you two walked into the study.

It would’ve been so massive, all the high shelves and wooden tables lined up would have been demolished.

Jungkook remained the quiet person he was, looking around and skimming through the books on the shelves.

You were standing a safe distance away from him, absently doing the same. The books were interesting and all but you were admittedly more taken by the ink on his skin.

Up close you could clearly see the artistic patterns and symbols etched onto him.

While staring at the tats on his knuckles you couldn't help but also notice that the titles he picked up were rather complex.

Certainly not the kind of thing even high intellects reached for. Evidently, those tomes had been collecting dust in there for ages.

You were decidedly curious. Itching to ask. Hell, dying to know.

You dived before you could overthink it and find reasons not to satiate your rabid curiosity.

'You like Reader?' he paused and looked at you from the corner of his eyes. At his questioning look she gesture to the book he was holding. 'That's the third book of theirs you picked up.'

'Yeah.' he said casually, nodding a little while flipping through it. 'Their books are nice.'

A crippling lapse of silence ensues.

You tore your gaze away from his profile to stare at the titles in front of you with a burn at your cheeks, fiddling with the polished spines.

How fucking awkward. All of this.

He probably felt the same.

What were you even doing?

You thought about telling him to ignore your mom’s attempt at trying to make the two of you get along. He obviously wasn’t looking for company or a friend. Quite frankly, neither were you. Certainly not from him. You were just trying to be not rude. Something you aren’t really surprised he probably failed to understand in all honesty.

But then he spoke, dragging you out of your reverie.

'What about you?'

Your head shot up and you found that he was standing a lot closer than before, having moved to reach for yet another complicated book to idly browse through at the top shelf.

This close, you could can smell him. Soft mint and clean soap and moonlight, not smoke. He disregarded the pages in his hands to give you a side way glance.

‘What do you like?’

There was a perpetual spark swimming in the dark depth of his eyes. It was striking. Pretty even.

When he lightly raised a brow at you, your thoughts jumbled all over before it fell back into place and you realized you were staring very openly.

But this time was different from the last time. When he had been miles away, flashing you his ripped abs.

In your reverie, you hadn’t notices that he had leaned a little to meet your eyes, and that he was real close. Like real close, looking at you intently with his head cocked to the side questioningly, like he was wondering what was going on inside your head. You could feel his breath fanning your face.

Shit.

'Uh,’ you scrambled for an answer, quickly tearing your gaze away from him to appraise the bookshelf. Your face felt like it was on fire. Considering how he hadn’t moved, he could probably see just how blazed in the face you were. Out of pure instinct, you grabbed a random book and shoved it into him to make some space in between your bodies.

Maybe with a little too much force. There was a dull thump and it made you wince.

'This.’

You hated how squeaky and breathless you sounded. Like you’d just ran a marathon. Might as well have, with how hard and fast your heart was pounding.

Jungkook took it from you, and you allowed yourself to look at him as he looked the cover over, completely fine, like you hadn’t just smacked him in the chest with a book.

The corner of his lips lifted a little as he flipped it over, cocking his head the other way before he chanced you a glance, making you blink rapidly and stand on edge.

'You sure?' he asked, sounding pretty amused. You were confused for a moment until he held  it up for you to see, flashing you a full on toothy grin like you’d never seen on him before. 'You like books about horse gentilia?'

The jump in your chest was something you quickly dismissed as being one of sinking dread rather than anything else.

All the color that had been congesting your face washed away.

If there was a time you truly wished the ground would swallow your entire existence whole, it would be right then and there.

 

word is telling me I made up the word genitilia but I’m pretty sure it’s real because it just rolls off the tongue ( smooth ) like butter like a criminal under the cover.

the hole is one of the recurring characters so please be nice to it.

alot of things happening here if you squint and look closely.

any-whomst've, hope you all liked it. let me know if you did and I don't know come say hi? 😳 have a nice day 💜