#social butterfly anxious beetle

[arkos404]

more fanart for the amazing fic social butterfly, anxious beetle by the amazing @strawberrry-honey, it features college au pw and soft & flustered prismo & scarab and some amazing writing so obviously i super recommend it, heres the fic summary in case my praising wasnt enough to convince yall to read it

Business student Scarab joins the university's creative writing club in order to get a scholarship for senior year, with the singular goal of letting it interfere with his studies as little as possible. Unfortunately for him, the groups coordinator, Prismo, is really distracting.

[bug-decal-kissing]

Hey friends!

El caballero y el Mago, by DULname, was updated today, with 2/? Chapters released! It has a rating of General Audiences and No Archive Warnings Apply, with no additional tags :]!

You can read it here:

Ohohoho Prismo has no idea who the red knight really is >:]<. He was looking forward to having fun with his cool new buddy Scarab :[. It's so funny to watch him be like 'man I hope Scarab is okay right now this guy looks dangerous' one day he will be able to put two and two together. And it will be ANGSTY >:}.

Lavender Dreams, by PrettyQueerDear, was updated today, with 2/? Chapters released! It has a rating of Mature and Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, with additional tags "Alternate Universe - Small Town, Dreams and Nightmares, References to Depression, Implied/Referenced Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms, Fluff and Hurt/Comfort"

You can read it here:

It's all coming together now AUGH I'm so excited for the next chapter!! I am trying not to spoil too much, but THE PIECES ARE CLICKING INTO PLACE ! And the way the chapter ended on a CLIFFHANGER AAAAAAGH/pos. Prismo you GOOF; I am really hoping he doesn't get in trouble for breaking the rules like this >:]. Future Chapters will be coming out slower (about two or three weeks from now)!

A new work, Magic... Baby! by Anonymous was published today, with 1/1 Chapters released! It has a rating of General Audiences and No Archive Warnings Apply, with additional tags "My First Work in This Fandom, Crack, Drabble, How Do I Tag, yes the egg is made with magic, idk I thought it would be kinda funny, Out of Character, probably, Look this was a short idea and I’ve been dying to get anything written, egg, This Is STUPID"

You can read it here:

Awwww they're gonna be dads now :]/j. I love Prismo looking at the egg and almost immediately going '🫵yours?' like hELLO this fic is rated GENERAL AUDIENCES, keep it that way you bubblegum pink sticker/j. Let them keep the egg that's their baby now <3/j.

Not That Bad by Megastrum was updated today, with 3/? Chapters released! It has a rating of Teen And Up Audiences and No Archive Warnings Apply, with additional tags "Fluff, Angst, Prohibited wish - Freeform, Slow Burn, Touch-Starved, My First Fanfic, Scarab Has Trust Issues"

You can read it here:

MY BOOOOOOYS NOOOOOO </3. Prismo you DINGBAT (affectionate). It's so silly how he's going 'this party is so much fun right scarab :-)' and scarab is two more sentences away from leaving the wall and fistfighting someone. But they COMMUNICATED <3 YES KINGS <33333

social butterfly, anxious beetle by sparklinggrapesoda was updated today, with 8/? Chapters released! It has a rating of Teen And Up Audiences and No Archive Warnings Apply, with additional tags "Fluff, Falling In Love, Alternate Universe - College/University, Alternate Universe - Human, Bonding, Awkwardness, Rating May Change, t4t, Jake's still dead, Implied/Referenced Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, prismo's a lil depressed, Recreational Drug Usesmut in later chapters, Non-Consensual Touching, its not bad, its also not Prismo, First Kiss, Literal Sleeping Together, Friends to Lovers, Getting Together"

You can read it here:

AAAAAAAAAAAA/pos. MY BOYS MY BOYS !!!!! IT FINALLY HAPPENED AAAAAAAA !! I knew how this chapter was going to end but I was still NERVOUS for the both of them. But it was SO GOOD :,]. My day has become infinitely better my crops have been watered my skin is clear everything is right in the world once more/j.

NSFW works are below the cut :].

Silly Bug by TJade was updated today, with 4/? Chapters released! It has a rating of Explicit and No Archive Warnings Apply, with additional tags "Genderbending, Domestic Fluff, Teasing, Humor, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Suggestive Themes, Awkwardness, Awkward Sexual Situations, Awkward Conversations, Communication, Healthy Relationships, Voyeurism"

You can read it here:

Smut is coming next chapter, who's ready/pos !!! Priscilla getting so flustered so quickly made me heehee a little; babbygrill you literally asked for this, calm down/j. And they got to have a nice and soft moment with each other :,] my one weakness: women being in love/hj. I love them so much, you guys have no idea <3

[etandthekeet]

This college au has given me life. I just had to draw their party outfits. Especially with the way scarab’s was described.

This is from the fic Social butterfly, anxious beetle. It’s so sweet so far

[sosoribro]

SOCIAL BUTTERFLY ASKS!!!

ASK ABOUT LORE!

ASK THE SILLY GUYS!

ITS BLUEPULSE!!!!

BUT WAIT. let me explain... unless you're already familiar with this.

so if you've been around since before the multifandom merge of my blog, aka the merging of the sosoribroverse, you'll probably be familiar with my take on bluepulse, a ship that dates back all the way to 2013 with DC's animated Young Justice, specifically the 2nd season. the ship itself is of Jaime Reyes, AKA Blue Beetle, and Bart Allen, AKA Impulse.

my take on this also became a fic, which i am now unable to continue because the gods of writers block have cursed me indefinitely. :) but there IS lore and kind-of a story which you can ask about here!!

i've dubbed this au of mine Social Butterfly. in this au, jaime is a socially anxious boy who can do the "fight bad guys and help civilians" part of superhero-ing just fine, but dealing with the press is a whole other story. meanwhile, bart is completely okay in situations like that. also, he's gay for jaime. and jaime is gay for him. and they're both asexual teenagers. (why, that's like me)

(no nsfw. duh.)

AND WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID ASK AWAY!!!

[monster-bait]

Monster Match: Landry, NB Monster x F Human, SFW

For @ghostlystitches, my 3rd place contest winner from waaaaaay back in August! Thanks so much for your patience, I can’t wait for Landry and the choir to make their return in Cambric Creek!

.

.

There was a universal truth to working in the service industry, one that not many people outside it understood: everyone who’d been doing the job for more than a few months possessed a customer service voice. Whether it was poised and polished, bubbly and enthusiastic, or steadfast and calm, The Voice had little bearing on the person to whom it belonged; gave little insight into one’s personality once they were off the clock and safe at home, far away from the food service or retail or call center way of life.

You were no different: friendly and professional, you handled customers with ease, chatted easily as people checked out, and always had a ready smile. The fact that you hated crowds and grew anxious at the thought of evenings out was not something the customers at your job would be able to guess, but you still sighed a small breath of relief upon clocking out each day, eager to be home with your cats and fuzzy socks.

There would be no respite that day.

As you walked across the shopping plaza’s parking lot, your stomach clenched with nerves, and a familiar tightness wrapped around your chest. Your heart was beating just a little bit faster than it had been an hour earlier, and a slight ripple of nausea replaced the giddy relief you normally felt as you went home each day. It was Thursday, the most anxiety-inducing day on the calendar, when you would leave work and go straight to the Nocturnal Worship Center, a non-denominational church for a subset of the community’s residents.

Your work friend Greska had gotten it into her head that it would be so fun! to join the Cambric Creek community choir several months earlier, changing her availability at the store almost immediately afterward, meaning she no longer worked on Thursdays with you. She hadn’t been on time to a single rehearsal since. You’d been unsurprised when she’d texted that afternoon, letting you know she’d not be able to make it to rehearsal that night; knew she’d already lost interest in the choir and would likely be announcing her intent to quit any day now.

I really hate Thursdays...

Being a human in Cambric Creek was hard enough. You loved your multi-species neighbors, had made good friends and enjoyed the varied clientele at work, but you still tiptoed, worried that you’d inadvertently say or do something to offend someone, finding it easier to exist at the periphery of friends groups at work and school. The community choir was a distillation of everything that made you nervous: a large, noisy crowd of big personalities, wannabe divas and social butterflies, and your heart would be in your throat each week as you made the drive.

The parking lot would already be filled with cars by the time you arrived, werewolves and lizardfolk and tieflings hustling in, neighbors and friends calling out greetings and socializing in the aisles beneath the big, domed ceiling of the non-denominational worship center, moonlight winking down through the glass overhead. Instead of comfy clothes and cozy socks, you would be in your work clothes for hours more, in particular your Thursday work outfit—one you always spent a bit more time and care picking out, attempting to be as cute as possible when you arrived at the choir’s home, a task which seemed impossible after a long shift.

“Mi mi mi mi mi mi miiiiiiiii….”

Landry’s rich voice reverberated off the wall to your back as you carefully stepped up the risers, taking your place beside them. As usual, you were unable to repress your smile as they belted out the arpeggio.

“Did you ever notice how self-absorbed this exercise is? There’s no you, no us. It’s all about meeeee!” They belted the last syllable once more, and you ducked your head as you laughed, lest they see the heat that stole up your neck. You enjoyed singing, it was true, but you enjoyed the company of the Thursday night rehearsals more. “As if there weren’t enough inflated egos packed in here!”

As if to prove their point, a turban-wearing harpy in the row ahead let out a window-rattling operatic warble, her voice piercing in the upper notes. You huffed silent laughter as Landry lifted a webbed hand as if to say see?!

You would be lying to yourself if you pretended even for a moment that your crush on your green-skinned section-mate wasn’t the reason you were determined to stick with the choir, despite the absence of your friend. Always chipper, always smiling, choir rehearsal with Landry had simultaneously become the brightest and most worrisome spot on your weekly calendar, as you fretted over saying the wrong thing or being too awkward, talking too much or not enough, seeming too eager...but the week’s worth of anxious over-thinking would wash away once you saw the small, pointed teeth revealed by their bright smile, and the hour-long rehearsal would seem only minutes long, leaving you free to bask in the afterglow of your crush throughout the weekend, before you began worrying all over again the following week.

“If you keep that up, Chaz is going to call you out again for not harmonizing. Do we really need a repeat of the great a Capella nightmare of two weeks ago?”

They huffed dismissively as Chaz, the eccentric vampire in charge, began to tap a pencil on the music stand before him to call the chattering group to attention. Your audition may have been good enough for the 1980’s fashion-loving choir director, although you were fairly certain your status as a human made up for what you lacked in musical talent, and that Chaz deliberately spaced his less-than confident choristers, strategically placing them adjacent to those who had talent to spare…like you and Landry.

“Please! What’s he gonna do? We’re the backbone of this whole row, he’d be lost without us!”

Your laughter was hidden behind your folder of music as the vampire ahead banged the music stand against the stage, finally earning the choir’s attention, and fire once more heated your neck.

I love Thursdays…

.

.

“The front row favorites were talking about going to the Sidecar after rehearsal. You’re coming, right?”

You froze, missing the note you were meant to be writing in your music, your entire body seizing in panic. It wasn’t until a webbed hand reached over, turning the page before you that you snapped from your stupor, your voice joining the first note half a beat behind. You knew a large portion of the choir gathered together after rehearsal each week, but you’d never joined them. Perhaps if Greska would have been there, perhaps if you were a part of any of the existing cliques which comprised the choir, if you didn’t feel so awkward…besides, it wasn’t as if you’d ever been invited by any of your fellow choristers.

“You’re not really going to leave me alone with these vultures, are you? You know I’m liable to say something about the out-of-tune second row if you’re not there to mind me.”

The Sidecar was a speakeasy-style pub, dimly lit and trendy with an expansive cocktail list and entirely intimidating. You’d never been there and couldn’t imagine yourself confidently strolling through the doors alone.

“You can follow me if you’ve never been there before. C’mon, you know I can’t be trusted alone.”

They wouldn’t be alone, you thought immediately: Landry was fun and funny and friendly towards everyone, and surely wouldn’t have a problem slipping in with the larger group.

“Please? Pleeeeease? I really don’t want to go if you’re not coming, but I’m parched. I’ll shrivel up like a blue-raspberry fruit roll-up if I don’t get something to drink right after rehearsal.”

A smart-assed retort about the nearly-full water bottle beside their chair danced on the tip of your tongue, but as you raised your head to deliver it, their wide, golden eyes held you spellbound, imploring you to give in. You felt suspended in time, like a prehistoric bug in amber as you admired the angle of their jaw, the slight sheen on their blue-green skin, the tightly sealed gills at the side of their neck. When your eyes wandered back to theirs, the golden orbs shimmered with hopeful expectation.

“Sure. We don’t want you getting into too much trouble. Look what happened the night of the harvest jamboree concert.”

Chaz was tapping the music stand as the piano started up, the elderly beetle woman who provided the accompaniment hunching over the keyboard with her multiple arms, and you were unable to bury your face in your music as you flushed. You scarcely recognized the confident voice that had come from your mouth; you were surprised with the way you’d responded, but pleased all the same, and you realized there was an unexpected benefit of possessing The Voice.

.

.

“I never met my father, but you can’t miss what you don’t have, you know?”

You nodded sympathetically, crunching into another of the fried zucchini sticks from the basket between you. They would have been better with a touch more salt, but your companion had a low tolerance for sodium, and you were happy to go without.

The Melted Meeple hummed with energy and people, as it always did on Saturday nights, but the tabletop gamers kept to their own parties, leaving plenty of open booths and tables toward the back half of the establishment, and you enjoyed the happy energy within. You’d blurted the question over their heritage, unable to tamp back your curiosity for another week, and to your relief, Landry had laughed.

“Well, my mom is a human. My parents met while she was studying abroad, and she came home with a hell of a souvenir! Although I must say, I’m way better than a t-shirt.”

Your face flamed, regretting asking so personal a question, but Landry waved away your flustered expression. “None of that. I was the only amphibious kid in the family, so that meant I won every swimming contest. I’d go to the river with my cousins and we’d mop the floor with the other kids. Now I live in a nice neighborhood where there are some folks who look like me, I have my own pool, and I sing in an awesome choir. No regrets!”

There was a ridged fin that moved down the center of their head like a punkish hairstyle, mirrored by the delicate fanned membranes of their ears...you already knew from casual bumps and touches that their skin was silky smooth, if not a touch rubbery, and you wondered what their long, webbed fingers would feel like moving over your skin, or entwined with yours…

“You’re right,” you agreed, watching them drain the last of their drink. “You’re much better than a shirt.”

That first night at the Sidecar had been as awkward as you’d feared, but Landry had stayed by your side and had lamented how fussy and complicated the bar menu was as they walked you back to your car once the choir members started to disperse. When the plans buzzed around rehearsal the following week, they hadn’t needed to beg again, and your dislike of crowds was slightly mollified as you walked into the speakeasy together, your taller companion’s hand resting lightly on your back.

“Let’s go somewhere else this week,” they’d whispered as Chaz addressed the tenors of the second row, the third week after that first post-rehearsal meetup. “That place is too dark and crowded. I thought that gnoll was going to climb into my back pocket last week.”

Somewhere else had been the Melted Meeple, then the Black Sheep Beanery the week after, and a dim sum restaurant that served bubble tea the week after that. A full month had gone by, and then another, you realized, two months of Thursdays, and somehow your stomach had stopped clenching in anxiety by Tuesday each week. The Melted Meeple had been your favorite of the spots you’d visited together, and you’d been the one to suggest it that night. Landry’s golden eyes had glimmered as they nodded happily, straightening to attention when Chaz lifted his head, signaling the group to attention once more.

Your weekly post-rehearsal outings had become the most looked-forward-to event on your weekly calendar, and when you’d once been overcome with anxiousness, a giddy elation seemed to carry you into rehearsal each week, and you were amazed by how quickly the time had seemed to fly.

“You know, there’s going to be a dinner after the Snowdrop Festival concert, we’re not going to be able to wriggle out of that.”

“That’s fine,” you allowed, laughing at their screwed-up expression. “You know, if you keep carrying on about the second row, that gryphon is going to assume you’re jealous.”

“Oh, you take that back! The audacity!”

You weren’t sure who this girl was, as you dropped your head back, unrestrained laughter pouring out of you. You weren’t sure who she was, but you liked her, you decided. Liked the possibility that perhaps your feelings weren’t completely one-sided after all. You’d wondered, a few weeks earlier, when Landry had talked around the gnoll sitting in front of you, evading her questions about that evening until the choir was called to attention, wrapping a cool, webbed hand around your wrist the moment the rehearsal ended, hurrying you down the aisle and out the door, before whooping into the night air that you’d escaped and were free to do what you wanted.

“We’re going to the dinner, and that’s that.” You watched as they rolled their eyes, sighing dramatically.

“Fine...what about Saturday?”

“Is there a rehearsal on Saturday?” You felt a prickle of panic that you’d forgotten to schedule something, for you definitely had to work Saturday afternoon, and had nothing else on your schedule…

“No, no...dinner, on Saturday? Are you free?”

The sound of other patrons playing their tabletop games suddenly seemed very far away, and wind rushed in your ears. Were you free Saturday night?

“I think I am,” you answered guardedly. “W-why? Is there something special about Saturday?”

“Yes. It’s not a rehearsal night.”

You bit your lip as Landry smiled broadly, giving you a glimpse of those small, pointed teeth. You wondered what their kiss would feel like; if their skin was always cool to the touch, and if they liked cats. “I work in the afternoon, but I’m not busy at all that night.”

They slipped on the knit hat you’d made them as you left the noise of the Meeple behind, their head fin popping adorably through the opening, and your heart felt close to bursting when long, cool, webbed fingers threaded with your own as you moved through the chilly night.

“Perfect, then. It’s a date.”

You’d reached your car by then, but you made no move to open the door. “A date.”

“A date.” Their lips were cool and soft against your cheek, and the heat that flooded your skin was enough to make the cold night air seem balmy. “A date,” they repeated once more, a bit softer, squeezing your hand before releasing you to open the car door.

You had learned to love Thursdays, but you were certain, as you pulled into the night, your skin buzzing where they’d kissed you, that Saturdays were about to become your new favorite day.

.

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Next up is Alder the Ghillie Dhu’s revisit & then my first and second place contest winners! For exclusive Cambric Creek stories every month, smash subscribe on my Patreon!

[marmaligne]

Hello! May I get a Kimetsu no Yaiba Matchup 👉👈 My name is Millie and I think im an xnfj and a virgo yahyah! I have no preference for gender :O. A few facts about me is that I have severe idiopathic hypersomnia, which is a sleep disorder (similar to narcolepsy) where I am always sleepy and have sleep attacks unless I take the corresponding medication 😴. I'm also an entomologist, I keep caterpillars, snails, and soon frogs and i want to start beekeeping soon. Im pretty shyer with pda and when i first meet people since i have social anxiety, but i am more chill in solitary areas or if ive known someone for long! I love music and am a classical musician that plays violin!!!! Lastly, i am really appreciative of culture and traditional clothing and can speak Spanish, Japanese, and Norweigen (Im even looking at getting a Bunad!) Thank you so much for your time! (if a matchup spot is available great! if one's not no worries! ty anyways!)

✨ Sorry for the long wait, but thank you for the ask, also eyyy fellow bug lover, I used to keep green rose chafer beetles and snails myself ✨

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I Match You With: 🦋 SHINOBU KOCHŌ 🦋

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* Shinobu [胡蝶 しのぶ] is a very “relaxed” person, and though she may seem apathetic and sarcastic at times [even though she might not mean to be] she cares a great deal for you! She has no interest in your personality type or otherwise, as long as your actual personality is kind and welcoming!

* She is an Aquarius whereas you are a Virgo! According to astrology, you are the least likely people to be seen together! AQ’s and VI’s don’t often get along with each other, or rather they aren’t supposed to since your signs are quite opposite of each other. Air vs. Earth; two sides of the same coin. Relations between the two aren’t really explored, but since it’s Shinobu, she’ll probably work things out anyways!

* Be warned: she tries her hardest to take after her sister! She likes to act and be dignified and graceful and compassionate even if she wants to scream and cry sometimes. She appreciates that your passion for your little bug pals also extends to her, and any effort you put into making her day just a little bit better does wonders.

* She takes interest in your entomology studies! As a master of poisons as she is, especially those that derive from insects, she has a vast knowledge and like of many venomous and non-venomous species! Her knowledge even extends to other branches of zoology, that deal with arachnids, myriapods, and crustaceans! She’d be happy to share her wisdom with you!

* Heck, her haori and kyahan are both tailored to a butterfly design and pattern, passed on through her family and by her sister. You can obviously tell what her favourite animal is, don’t ever tease her about it though!

* Understands that you can sometimes become tired unexpectedly, and fall asleep at random intervals. Don’t worry! She’ll always make sure you take the correct medications and dosages, she’ll even go on experimenting in hopes of finding a medication with more prolonged effects!

* Always makes sure to carry a pillow around wherever she goes with you. She keeps a supply of meds and other supplies in a woven bamboo basket similar to Tanjiro’s, though nobody normal dares to ask what’s inside, fearing it be a demon or a human body, maybe a weapons storage.

* Intimidation +1000. Guy tries to hit on you? Dead. Girl tries to hit on you? Dead. Any other person tries to hit on you? Also dead. Not actually, but they’ll wish they were. Shinobu’s cold stare and silent demeanour is far more terrifying than even Sanemi’s anger, and has made a grown man cry far more than once.

* She understands if you dislike public affection. To be honest, with her apart of the Demon Slaying Corps, she’s not sure she’d be up to even holding hands with you in public either. Don’t get her wrong, it’s not because she doesn’t love you, and definitely not because she doesn’t want to! She’s just so internally terrified of any demon or ill-meaning human thinking you a perfect target to make her break down.

* She has her fair share of enemies, demon or otherwise, she is highly unwilling to let you out onto the battlefield, or anywhere really, but understands that you require personal space and privacy, and knows that you being with her means that you also understand the potential consequences that being together can bring.

* She’ll still hold your hand in the privacy of her’s or your own homes though, don’t think she won’t.

* She’s also a big fan of culture and language, especially the more traditional aspects of it! Growing up as she had in 1900’s Japan had it’s perks after all! She’s lived through an era of development, and she’s seen the more western takes on things, even if she doesn’t participate in the cultural curve itself.

* She’s respectful and highly admiring of other cultures besides her own, and has heard stories through the grapevine of myths and legends and histories all over the world. She thinks it’s magnificent you can speak so many languages! And her own? My my, what an intelligent one you are! You have far more knowledge than even some of the smartest people she knows! And she’s surrounded by plenty!

* Come sit with her in her library, read and translate the texts of other areas with her, share in the wonders of the world, right in the comfort of home!

* Highly interested in your ability to play music, especially since it’s more towards the classical elements! She herself plays the traditional Japanese Hocchiku [法竹] or vertical bamboo flute once in a rainy day! She’ll play with you when she has the time, she promises!

* She’ll sometimes play or even sing for you whenever you get anxious. She’ll make sure to sooth any and all social or general anxieties you have, regardless of whether or not you think they’re insignificant or silly! Don’t worry, she’s got your back! [Literally though she’s right behind you-]

* If you ever tell her openly about your love of traditional clothing and accessories. 👀 She’s gotchu. Your closet is now full of everything from hakama to kimonos, depending on your preferences! Don’t hesitate to try anything on, she bought it for you after all. She expects you to put on a fashion show for her however, she can understand if her appreciation makes you a bit embarrassed!

* All in all, 15/10, very good partner, loves very much. And if at some point you just want to be friends? She doesn’t mind staying besties as long as you can still hang out!

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✨ Hope you enjoyed ✨

[spiralingsights]

11 and 28? I would give an f/o but idk who these would fit

[ ohoho fake dating + enemies to lovers i can’t resist ]

[ “Please just pretend to be my date.” (11) and “Please tell me this is a joke.” (28) ]

[ Characters: William Afton, Keegs Arrowood ]

[ warnings: pining and repressed feelings lol ]

“Please just pretend to be my date.”

Keegs stared at his boss, processing what the man just said to him. Did he seriously just ask for Keegs, arguably his worst enemy, to be his date? For a fucking office party that Fazbear Entertainment was holding for restaurant owners? Why couldn’t he just ask Henry???

“Please tell me this is a joke,” the mechanic finally replied, his answer gaining a groan from William. Apparently, it was not.

“We both know I don’t joke with you,” William responded, confirming Keegs’s fears. What kind of stupid, fruity hell had he descended into? What did he do to deserve this? Well, he probably knew.

Keegs let out a long sigh, about to tell him to fuck off before William spoke again. “If it makes you feel any better, you’re my last hope. Henry said no, Scrap would have killed me if I asked, not even your idiot friend Wrath wanted to go.”

Of course he didn’t want to go, Wrath was in love with Splice and would have considered it cheating even if he still hadn’t told the animatronic his feelings.

“I hate you...” Keegs muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Why don’t you just go alone? No one will judge you for it, if you even care about that. And the rumour that you’re dating your employee would be worse!”

That seemed to make William think for a moment, opening his mouth for a rebuttal but closing it soon after. His gaze even drifted away- he clearly hadn’t thought about those consequences. After a moment, he shook his head.

“Being alone is more embarrassing.” Keegs let out a loud groan at this, running his hands over his hand and clasping them behind his neck as he turned away from that british fuck.

What made it worse is that he actually kinda wanted to go. Not because he wanted to go with William, but because he hadn’t had an excuse to dress up the entire time he’d been active. A big office party like this? It would be perfect. And it would give him the chance to scope out the other restaurant owners, and test their animatronic knowledge.

He finally turned to face William again, surprised to find the brunette still standing there. He had to admit, it was amusing to see him so desperate. He let out a huff a breath, giving in to the desire to wear a suit.

“Fine,” he said, not missing how his boss immediately lit up (while also somehow seeming disappointed- probably because he officially had to take his most hated employee to a function with him). “One condition.”

Of course he had a fucking condition. William just nodded, not wanting to push his luck. “Do not send anybody my way so they can talk to your “partner”. Tell them I’m socially anxious if you have to, but I will straight up tell them the horrors of this place.”

William’s face scrunched up in discomfort, but relaxed when he realized this was the best he was gonna get. “Deal.”

And so, it was set in stone.

---

Keegs straightened his jacket for what seemed like the hundredth time as he looked in the mirror in his bedroom. He’d have to leave soon; he didn’t want William to know where he lived, so they’d agreed that they’d meet at the Afton house instead.

The suit he wore fit perfectly, and was the same pink shade as his hair. Well, the jacket and slack were. His shoes were black, his shirt a light shade of lavender (to match William’s inevitably purple suit), and the little bowtie he wore was a rainbow eyesore.

With a quick glance at the clock, he ran a hand over his hair, said goodbye to Vanny, and headed out.

William’s house actually wasn’t too far from the apartment Keegs shared with Vanny, but he only came over at midnight and 2am, so it wasn’t like he could be tracked back there, so he never worried. This was the first time he’d ever driven there though, usually just walking.

He paused upon reaching the doorway. Did he really want to do this? And, more importantly, why was he excited to do it? He knew it was more than just a chance to dress up or interrogate some assholes. He didn’t like the metaphorical butterflies in his... well, he doesn’t really have a stomach. His intake?

....

He didn’t like the flutter in his chest when knocked on the door, and heard a familiar voice call out, “coming!” from inside. He especially didn’t like the extra flutter in his chest when the door opened and revealed William, dressed in a purple suit like he thought he’d be, but still surprising him nonetheless.

Apparently, Afton had the same idea Keegs did and was wearing a light pink dress shirt under his dark purple suit jacket, a shade that went perfect with the shade of Keegs’s own jacket.

Neither of them said anything about it, but Keegs couldn’t help but notice the pleased, and surprised, smile on his boss’s face.

“Let’s go,” he quickly said, turning on his heel and heading right back to his car.

---

William looked hilarious with his long limbs folded into Keegs’s volkswagen beetle, the car clearly not built for men as tall as him. It was a sight Keegs would treasure for the rest of his robotic life.

“Comfortable?” Keegs teased, snickering at the glare William shot at him. Thank god they were back to bullying each other, he wasn’t going to acknowledge whatever the fuck happened earlier without dying first.

“Laugh it up Arrowood, I doubt you’ll feel the same way when you’re out of your element,” William replied, narrowing his eyes at Keegs.

Unfortunately, and he’d never admit this, the bastard was right. Social functions weren’t Keegs’s thing. He’d never been good at feigning interest, and that was pretty important at shit like this.

But he just rolled his eyes. At least they’d be out of the car soon.

---

It wasn’t better out of the car.

The building the party was being held in was... crowded. Uncomfortable. Keegs ended up having to stick far closer to William that he’d planned, and whatever fucked up reaction his false human heart was having never let him forget it.

The only up side was that William seemed just as uncomfortable as he was. Not with the people around them, he spoke to them just fine and even seemed to forget about his fake date. That is, until Keegs bumped into him.

Of course he noticed that Afton’s face turned red whenever they touched, but he had no idea why. At first he thought he was angry, but William didn’t look like that when he got angry. Unfortunately, Keegs hadn’t reached the “human bodily reactions” part of his research yet, so it merely served to confuse him.

Finally, after three or four hours, he grabbed William’s arm to get his attention, ignoring the red on the man’s face. “I need a break. I’ll be out back. I probably won’t run.” 

There was a short pause, before William took Keegs’s car keys and pocketed them. “You won’t escape me that easily,” the man joked, only because there were people watching. He even threw in a wink for effect.

Keegs just rolled his eyes, and escaped to through the backdoor. He was quick to pull his jacket off, relishing the cool breeze. Once realizing he wouldn’t be going back in for a while, he also untied his tie and unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt.

Once satisfied, he sat down on the bottom step of the little stairs, holding his palm against his forehead to cool it down to help with his headache. It wasn’t long before he heard the backdoor open and close.

There was a pause, before the man (undoubtedly William, based on the footsteps) made his way down the stairs and sat down next to Keegs. The android looked over at him, not at all surprised to find he’d also taken off his own jacket, and loosened his tie.

“Getting too much for even you? I’m glad I left when I did,” Keegs said, returning to his goal of soothing his brain. He heard William chuckle. It was a soft sound, clearly from his chest. But it was also... not rude? It was actually kind of sweet.

And then he sighed, and the sound brought that flutter back. “I would seem so, yes. I forgot how draining it is to talk to idiots.” He meant people who weren’t handy with animatronics, something Keegs had learned from observation (eavesdropping).

Keegs just nodded. He understood. Animatronics were his whole life, it was hard to talk about anything but them.

“Thank you for coming with me,” William spoke up after a while, making Keegs look up at him again. “I know we don’t always get along, but I’ve... enjoyed it. Getting along, I mean.”

The mechanic just stared at him, surprised. He opened his mouth to presumably reply, but William leaned forward quickly and caught him in a gentle, cautious kiss.

Keegs shocked himself by returning it.

William’s lips were soft, and easy to lean into. Keegs suddenly understood how this man had ended up with a wife. He felt a hand in his hair, and leaned into it without breaking the kiss, unwilling to break the moment.

He’d noticed the tinge of alcohol on Afton’s lips the second they’d connected with his own, but he didn’t care all that much. 

Finally, William broke it by leaning back, looking down at Keegs with slightly pink lips. “Between us?” he asked, his voice low and quiet, a small smile on his face. ‘Between us’ was a fun little thing they’d started the first time Keegs found the man covered in blood.

But this one was different. This one meant a lot more, and couldn’t be used at evidence against the man Keegs was supposed to eventually kill.

“Between us,” Keegs replied just as softly, and this time... he meant it.

[naaaaams]

7 n 20!

7) Describe them in three words. Now let them describe themself in three words.

Lev is easy: ultimately he’s anxious, but kind and loyal. He’s a jittering mess, of course, but he makes an effort to be nice to everyone. Once you’ve earned his trust, he’ll stick with you through anything.

However, he’d describe himself in less kind terms. You might be able to convince him to call himself studious, but other than that, Lev would peg himself as mostly dour and quiet (though he means the latter negatively). He doesn’t have a high opinion of himself, and will shrug off any compliments with a ton of denial, and probably loads of nervous laughter and blushing.

M’ihrima is also simple: she lives by being charming, confident, and materialistic. Perhaps this all runs in her family but being a daughter in a tribe of famous alchemists means she was destined to be a well-spoken and yet ruthless merchant herself. Add in a few material desires, and you have the Seeker in a nutshell.

She would describe herself as such too, but maybe in more flowery terms. M’ihrima would tell people she’s clever on account of the alchemy knowledge and success with money. She would also say she’s social. The miqo’te absolutely thrives around other people, and it doesn’t hurt to make connections when out having a good time. On a lighter note, M’ihrima would also say she’s dramatic— playfully, of course. If you told her she was dramatic seriously, she’d probably dislike you lol

20) What do they like that nobody else does?

Lev loves bugs. Beetles, moths, butterflies, spiders, bees? He loves them all, they are his children. He’s that guy who’ll be walking in nature and literally drop everything to ogle at a plant, if only because “LOOK, IT HAS A THING ON IT, THESE ARE RARE!” Meanwhile, everyone else is telling him not to pick up the creepy crawly because holy shit it has a stinger, please don’t touch that. Though I think less people take issue with the fascination with bugs and more for the fact his pet tarantula just lives on him. All the time. In his clothes. Doesn’t matter where Lev is— the tarantula is there.

M’ihrima is pretty “mainstream,” if only because a lot of her life is keeping up appearances. She has few guilty pleasures so I guess the weirdest thing for her is she naps constantly. It’s not so much weird, as unexpected. Perhaps it’s why she tends to be more active at night. Daytime appointments means she can’t get her usual nap in and that’s just unacceptable. An average day for M’ihrima is usually waking up in the morning, preparing breakfast/tea, and then spending a few hours either experimenting or getting brews started. Throw in a nap and the afternoon is spent actually bringing everything together— fulfilling orders, dinner, outings if she had plans (and having a glass of wine alone if not). In all honesty, her siestas were the reason she took on Chacharu as an assistant, since that meant someone else could man the shop lol

[offwithalicesheadx]

1000 Question Survey pt. 4

Money 301.) Do you have a job?: Yeah

302.) What do you do?: I'm an administrative assistant in property management for a company called Savills

303.) Does your boss like you?: Pretty sure, yeah

304.) How much do you get paid?: £15k per annum

305.) Do you have your own bank account?: Yeah

306.) Do you have a credit card?: No, a debit card

307.) A checkbook?: No

308.) Are you a big spender?: Not really, I can be but only on things like food haha

309.) Do you go to the mall a lot?:  I walk round on my lunches some days

310.) In an average week, how much money do you spend?: I'd say like £200 average including getting to work and stuff

311.) Do you know how much a peso would be worth in the United States today?: No idea

312.) How about a Franc?: Also no idea

313.) Do you really care?: Not massively

314.) Do you like your job if you have one?: It's okay, it gets pretty boring and sometimes stressful but it's good enough money for me to be able to do the things I want to do

315.) If you don’t have one, do you wish you had one?:  -

316.) Do you wish you had more money?: I'm doing alright with what I've got, the only thing is not being able to afford to go to Disney World, but I could save for a long while

317.) Why?: Because if I really need money for something I've learnt to be patient and save up for it

318.) Would you rather be filthy rich with no friends or dirt poor with tons of friends and a dog?: It depends, I'm not rich but I don't really have any friends aside from my boyfriend, and I'm cool with not having friends based on the fact it's because I got rid of the bad people from my life, however if I had genuine friends I'd rather that and be dirt poor, plus the dog sounds dope but I'd hate if I was too poor to be able to look after it

319.) Do you have a cool wallet?: I don't know what defines cool but I like it

320.) What is the largest amount of money you ever had in your possession at one time?:  I'm not sure, maybe when I changed over a load of money to Turkish Lira before I went on holiday, I can't remember how much that was though

321.) What are you wearing?: Black tights, a stripey grey, black and red dress, flat black slip on shoes, my watch and my Pandora bracelet

322.) What are you listening to?: Nothing, just whoever is talking on the phone at work when somebody rings up

323.) Who are you talking to?: Jesse over WhatsApp, whoever rings at work and whoever might walk in or out as I'm on the reception desk

324.) What are you doing other than filling out this survey?: Pretty much what I just said above

325.) How is your hair?: I plaited it last night when it was wet so it's sort of wavy but it hadn't dried properly so it doesn't really look how I wanted to, sort of frizzy

326.) Do you have anything on your feet?: Tights and slip on shoes

327.) Are you cold or warm?: It's more cold than warm but I'm not like shivering

328.) Do you have any jewelry on?: My Pandora bracelet

329.) Do you have any makeup on?: Yeah

330.) Name 4 things laying around your desk:

Tissues

Bubblegum scented hand sanitizer

Chocolate

My work notebook

331.) Pick up a book laying near you and type a random sentence from a random page: "I was away on an excursion for the last couple of days"

332.) Open a cabinet near you and describe what’s in it:  A make-up bag, a lanyard, lip balm, Vaseline, a mirror, bandages, a defender alarm, a phone case, a shoe polisher, Fifty Shades of Grey, a nail file

334.) Should you be doing something else now?: I probably shouldn't be on this but there's nothing I really should be doing

335.) Why aren’t you doing it?:  -

336.) Is your room a mess now?: No

337.) Is your mom nagging at you to clean it?: I don't live with my mom

338.) What are any people around you doing?: There's two guys trying to fix the lift at work

339.) Who are you thinking about right now?: Jesse

340.) Are you doing anything illegal?: No

Looks 341.) How much time do you spend on your appearance in the morning?:  Before work it's usually about half an hour

342.) Do you wear makeup regularly?: Yeah

343.) If so, what?: Primer, foundation, eyebrow powder, concealer, face powder, mascara - and sometimes I'll wear bronzer, highlighter, eyeshadow, eyeliner and lipgloss or lipstick

344.) Are your looks important to you?: In some ways

345.) Do you want to change the way you look?: Yeah, I want to get a full fringe but I feel like I'd get annoyed with it and I want a slimmer face too

346.) What would you change?: ^

347.) How do you usually wear your hair?: Most days for work it's either in a plait or I'll have plaited it before hand and then took it out so it's wavy and some days it's in a ponytail, if I'm going out on the weekend I might curl it and sometimes I straighten it

348.) Do you dye your hair?: Yeah

349.) Do you straighten your hair?: Sometimes

350.) What color is your hair naturally?: Mousey brown

351.) What is your eye color?: Some days they look green and others they look brown or a mix of the two

352.) Do you wear colored contacts?: No

353.) Do you look like your parents?: Yeah, I think more like my dad than my mom

354.) Is that good or bad?: I guess it's good, haha, I don't really have much opinion on it

355.) Do you turn strange colors sometimes?: I wouldn't say strange, I just go red a lot

356.) Why?: I go red if I'm hot or cold or embarrassed or stressed, it's my reaction to a lot of things haha

357.) Do you have any piercings?: No

358.) Any tattoos?: Two, one on my arm that says 'wildflower' and one of my ankle of Tinkerbell

359.) Ever gotten a makeover?: No

360.) Do you experiment a lot with new looks?:  Sometimes I'll try a new make-up look or wear something a little different but not really

Travel 361.) Have you ever been out of the country?: Yeah

362.) Out of your state?: I don't live in a state, but I've been out of my county, is that like our equivalent?

363.) Out of your city?: Yeah

364.) Do you go on a vacation every year?: Usually, even if it's only in the same country I'll try to get a break somewhere

365.) If so, to where and for how long?: I've been to Turkey, Spain, France, last year I went camping a couple of times just in this country and I'm going away in this country this year

366.) Have you ever ridden in a plane?: Yeah

367.) In a boat?: Yeah

368.) Do you visit relatives that live far away from you at all?: Not really anymore, I have been over to Devon and to Hereford as I have relatives there but I usually just see them when they come down here now, and my dad lives in Hinckley but that's not too far so I try visit him every month or so

369.) ON average, every week how many miles do you travel?: If I go from Jesse's to work that's about 5 and a half miles so there and back about 11, if I go from mine to work it's about 9 miles so 18 there and back, I usually go from mine to work twice in the week and Jesse's three times so that's 69 (ha), then on Saturday we will usually go from mine to town and back so that's another 18 making it 87, and Sunday we will go from mine to Jesse's which is about 10 miles, so almost 100 miles altogether

370.) Do you drive?: No

Cars 371.) Favorite car?: Old Beetles

372.) Color for that car?: Navy blue

373.) Do you have your license?: I have a provisional license but not a proper one

374.) Permit?: No

375.) Do you like fast cars?:  Not bothered

Sleep 376.) How long do you sleep each night on average?: About 6-7 hours

377.) Is this enough?: I never feel like I've had enough sleep haha

378.) Do you dream every night?: Not every night, or at least I don't remember them all

379.) Describe a weird dream you had: The last dream I remember most that was pretty weird was it was just me looking at this really tall, thin, extremely pale woman. She had white long hair but she either didn't have a face or I don't remember her face, she had a long white dress on but the dress started to become soaked with blood, but didn't seem to be coming from any kind of wound she had, and it was spreading across her whole dress and dripping from it, that's all that happened and then I woke up jumping and feeling scared and confused

380.) Do you sleep in awkward positions?: Sometimes

381.) Do you sleep in school?: No

382.) If so, do you wake up with different patterns all over your face from whatever you were laying on?: -

383.) What position do you usually wake up in?: I'm usually either on my side or on my front

389.) Does your alarm clock wake you up?: Yeah

390.) What kind of alarm clock do you have?:  I just use the one on my phone

Going Out 391.) How often do you go to parties?: Not very often

392.) Are you a crazy party hopper?: No

393.) Do you like wild parties with lots of people?: I usually just end up feeling a bit overwhelmed or get anxious

394.) Are you a social butterfly?: I don't think so

395.) Do you go clubbing?:  Yeah

396.) Ever been drunk?: Yeah

397.) Ever get kicked out of a party?: No

398.) For what?: -

399.) Do you throw a lot of parties?: No

400.) Do you go to the mall a lot?: I'll walk round on my lunch some days or might go on the weekend if there's something I need to get

401.) Do you go with a lot of friends?: No

402.) Do you like going to arcades?: Yeah they can be pretty fun

403.) Is DDR a cool game?: Don't know what that is

404.) What about those racing games?: They're okay

405.) How many parties have you been to in the last 3 months?: I don't know what properly counts as a party because I've been clubbing and I've been to a couple of family gatherings around Christmas and New Year but they're not like proper parties

406.) How many formal dances have you been to in the last year or so?: None

407.) Do you dress up when you go out?: Sometimes

408.) Do you go to see a lot of movies on the weekend?: Jesse and I will usually go like every other weekend, depending if something decent is on

409.) Who has the best parties?: I'm not sure, the ones at sixth form were pretty fun at the time, but I usually just go clubbing now, I enjoy Snobs and Popworld