#thank u luce for showing me

[kithtaehyung]

let’s gooo!!

[shae-mermaid]

You Are A Queen, Part 5

Part 1! | Part 2!! | Part 3!!! | Part 4!!!! | Part 6 (FINALE)!!!!!!

A/N: Now we're finally getting into the "song" part of this fic! I wasn't sure if I was going to make it a full-on proper songfic at first, with lyric variations and everything, buuuut…. I just couldn't help myself. ^u^' Also, I realize you guys might not like my choice in songs, but like I've said in almost every part so far, this fic is very personal to me, sooo…. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Sorry. (That's a part of what Y/n is trying to finally learn here!!) But, without further ado, let's start the chapter already!!

PART 5!!!!!

  It’s been a week since that memorable night, and you haven’t been able to stop replaying that last part in your head ever since! While normally, you would avoid situations like this, just out of sheer anxiety that you’ll mess it up or you misinterpreted their intent somehow, this time seemed to be different.

  You and Lucifer became close friends! Helped each other with little crafting projects, giving suggestions and such. But you also just hung out. Even in silence, doing your own separate things, you two were just happy to be in the other’s presence. You soothed each other. Even during really bad depression episodes, you both always knew that the other was welcome to be there and sooth them as you endured those waves of emotions.

  Lucifer would even transform for you sometimes, since you told him your most calming coping mechanism was to hang out and cuddle with a cat. He would transform into this HUGE, fluffy, snow-white Maine Coon with flame points on his tail, paws, and of course his cheeks, and happily let you pet and cuddle him while he purred away in pure bliss.

  The others at the hotel were starting to get a bit suspicious about you and the King of Hell acting so pals-y, though. Either thinking of it as annoying, or in Charlie’s case, SO exciting! She was SOO worried about you after the fiasco that happened at the pool opening party. But she seemed to notice that you were seeming much better, especially when her father was around. 

  Admittedly, it warmed her heart to see the both of you seemingly so happy, especially her father. It had been a rough past 7 years in the Morningstar family, so she was so relieved to see how much progress he’s made in general, but especially in the ‘making friends’ department. Charlie could’ve sworn that, because of you, her father wasn’t just surviving.

  He was thriving. 

  And she couldn’t thank you enough.

  After another night of just hanging out and crafting together while you have a movie on in the background, Lucifer looks over at the alarm clock Charlie got you, noticing it was getting pretty late, and gets up to sit closer to you for a second, just to get your attention. He knew that once you were concentrating on something, it was hard for you to just pause it, and pay attention to what/whoever was around you, so he gingerly touched your hand until you looked up at him with a short hum. 

  “Sorry, but it’s getting kind of late, so I just wanted to let you know I’m heading out,” he said in a slightly hushed tone, while giving you one of his soft, charming smiles. 

  “Oh, okay…,” you say, sounding a bit disappointed. You try to give him a warm, charming smile back, for once. He’s always the charmer, but it was your turn. “Goodnight, Luce.”

  You could see him turn a little more red in the cheeks than normal, even for him. He never stops looking at you with that sweet smile, though. He was getting more and more comfortable with showing his vulnerable side around you.

  He gently takes one of your hands, softly rubbing your knuckles as he gives the back of your hand another kiss, for the first time since last week.

  You’re not sure you’ll ever get used to that, though. It always seemed to leave you an excitable, barely-contained bundle of nerves when he acted gentlemanly like that. 

  Never stopping eye contact with you, he raised his head back up from the kiss, and returned back to that enchanting smile. “Goodnight, sweet Siren. I’ll see you again soon.”

  And with one nod and little wave back to him, you see him turn around and walk out the door.

  He’s using the door? You thought to yourself. Weird, but anyway… JESUS CHRIST ON A STICK!! You continue thinking to yourself, as you start shaking your hands in excitement, not being able to make that little-kid-styled grin off your face just yet.

  You finally calm down after a few minutes, though, trying to think rationally about the situation.

  He couldn't actually be interested in ME , right? Yeah, he must’ve just been trying to be kind to me. You two are friends, and he is a King, after all. I’m sure it’s just a habit for him at this point.

  …But were you really just ‘friends’? You both seem to go the extra mile for each other, not just when comforting one another out of depression/anxiety episodes. You both would give each other little things you made, with your ever-growing collection of Hotel-patron ducks counting as ample evidence of that. You loved them all, but your absolute favorite was the Little Angel duck with an even tinier fat-nuggets-duck on its back. You needed to show that to Angel sometime. 

  You would give Lucifer little things you would make, too. You happen to know how to crochet, so you made him a tiny little crochet duck, which he couldn’t get over how cute it was. You were a little sad knowing no one’s ever done something like that for him. He deserved the world. To you, anyway.

  Even if he wasn’t interested in more, you were just happy to have him as a close friend. 

  You thought all of this, while walking around your room for a couple minutes, getting your pajamas so you could take a shower and get ready for bed. By the time you got in your bathroom and hopped in the shower, you instantly relax as the warm water hits your skin. Water always helped you calm down, but especially now that you were essentially a fish demon of sorts. 

  As you’re washing yourself (and you assume that you’re alone), you start doing what, so far, you’ve only been comfortable doing when around Keekee or Fat Nuggets the few times Charlie and Angel have had you pet-sit for them. You start singing whatever song from your childhood has been stuck in your head at that moment.

  It’s not that you didn’t like to sing. Quite the contrary, actually. You loved the way it made you feel; How satisfying it was to hit a high note almost perfectly, letting you have another outlet for your emotions. You just have really bad anxiety about doing it in front of people you’re not extremely comfortable around. 

  And it didn’t help that in your youth, your mother would essentially pressure you and guilt-trip you into performing for her various church jobs. But they weren’t just jobs to her. She was a firm believer in ‘Using your talents to worship Him!’ you could hear her words clear as day in your head. You loved your mother, she was your best friend since birth, but that part of her made it so you felt a little bit of a strain. Especially since you didn’t share her personal beliefs, so churches made you uncomfortable. So in response, you would perform for her, but you subtly rebelled by not ever pushing your efforts to 100%, like she wanted you to. 

  No, that was reserved for when you were alone. Or with a pet. Whichever. So, she was forced to only hear your voice at its absolute best when she would overhear you in the shower, singing along to your music. 

  And in hell, you seemed to continue this old habit, even though you didn’t have the music you’d listen to when you were alive. But that’s okay, you can make due with the vast array of memorized songs from childhood movies you loved. 

  Most of the time influenced by the way you feel in the moment, all you had stuck in your head was a song you had always thought was beautiful, and connected to on a personal level. Well, technically the first half of a song, but whatever. It was “Heaven’s Light,” from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” a movie you had always adored, and you were in such a giddy mood that you started adding your own spin to it.

  Lucifer, after already walking all the way back to the door of his suite, just realized he had forgotten his jacket in your room. Dammit brain, keep it together!! He thought to himself. He can get so scatter-brained sometimes, especially when he’s putting all of his attention into something… or onto someone.

  He had to admit, you really do draw and keep him in, seemingly without even realizing you’re doing so. And not just because of your looks, either. You were smart, funny, and so empathetic and understanding. Though, the looks were a bonus for him, for sure. He secretly didn’t mind comforting you in his feline form, because it meant that he got to cuddle with you, without any nerves and pressures to take it further getting in the way.

  Well, not that he didn’t want to take it further. FAR from it, actually…he just wasn’t sure if you felt quite the same way, and he’d never want to do anything like that against your will. He was better than that. You were a lady, after all. And he was going to treat you as such.

  So, out of respect for your privacy, he didn’t portal straight into your room. But he did portal himself to your front door, though. After attempting to knock, he had noticed that the door didn’t latch when he closed it, so it cracked open just a little from the force of his knocking. He could hear the sound of water running, so he knew you were in the shower. He hesitantly speaks up at a volume he thought you could hear, and slowly opened the door more to run in and get his jacket.

  “Hey, Y/n! It’s just me again! I forgot my jacket, so I’m just gonna grab…,”

  But he knew the next second that you didn’t hear him, because you started singing something. Something he had never heard before, but it had a familiar feel to it for him. Like something from an old play.

  Is she singing? Or is that a pre-recorded song playing? He thought to himself. It was hard to tell, from how flawless the vocals were. He knew your parents were musicians, but you never told him that you had such a talent for song as well. You had the most beautiful voice he had ever heard. She blows Lillith out of the water, he thought. He shook his head and started really paying attention to the song.

“So many times out there, I’d watch a happy pair,

Of lovers walking in the night…

They had a kind of glow around them.

It almost looked like Heaven’s light…”

  Lucifer tensed up at the mention of his former home, but the sound of your enchanting voice drew him back in. 

“I knew I’d never know, that warm and loving glow,

Though I might wish with all my might…

No face as hideous as my face

Was ever meant for Heaven’s light…”

  Those last few high notes gave him goosebumps all over his body. He was SO proud to have thought of the nickname “Siren” for you.

  But the previous two lines made him feel compelled to look over at the bathroom door, as if he was looking at you, with a worried expression. He was hoping you were starting to see your beauty, your worth, with his help. He was trying to give you a glimpse of yourself through his eyes.

“But, suddenly an angel, had smiled at me,

And kissed my hand without a trace of fright.”

  His eyes are as wide as saucers right now, with his whole face turning the same shade of red as his cheeks. Is this about…me?!

“I dare to dream that he

Might even care for me,

And as I slumber through the night…”

  Lucifer’s heart is practically jumping out of his throat right now, feeling so many emotions his head was spinning. But mostly, of course, he was overjoyed. His feelings were reciprocated!!!

“My cold, dark corner seems so bright…

I swear it must be Heaven’s light!”

  He could hear you finishing up, though, and in a split-second of panic, opened up a portal and practically LEAPED over the threshold, his foot almost getting caught right when he closed it. 

  He went over to his four-poster bed, holding onto one of the posters for support, as he tried to catch his breath and still his out-of-control heartbeat.

  He needs time to think, because now that he knows you feel the same for him as he does for you, he definitely wanted to ask if you would do him the honor of being his girlfriend.

  But…we haven’t even been on a date yet! He thought. He was confident in his feelings for you, but…what about you? He knew you liked him, but enough to be his girlfriend?! He understood that there was a lot of pressure in being associated with Hell’s royal family. A lot of eyes would be on you, if the public would see you two out together so often…

  He had a lot of thinking to do tonight…

A/N: WOO! I'm so excited to have FINALLY written this part!! I originally was wanting to request a lucifer x reader oneshot bc of this part specifically, but I backed out at the last minute, wanting this to as close to how I imagined it as possible. So, here we are. ^u^' But, I hope that at least you're enjoying reading this as much as I'm enjoying writing it! I gonna have ONE more part to this, and then, i think I'll be done... unless someone gives me inspiration in the comments to write a bonus part. But we'll see~

~ Shae <3

[missr3n3]

My brain needs to shut up, I'm now associating Peter with the songs: Let Her Go - The Passenger || Circles - Hollywood Undead || Better Than This - Set it Off. They fit so well with his journey ughhhhh

Sooo, let's just say hypothetically, someone were to do a crossover with CDTA + RR, would you allow it?

And finally, hit me with an obscure fact about the cast from CDTA and Rotten Roots!!

Okay, bye now (can you tell that I like sending you random thoughts and questions?)

absolutely! im rly not to picky about how ppl interact with cdta honestly lol. though it would be interesting if the timeline factored into the story, since peter would b in his late 40s and sarah in her early 50s by 2009!

i'll start with rotten roots for obscure facts, n then put cdta's cast under a read more bc it's a lot bigger lol

sarah - she's absolutely atrocious at dancing, since all she ever learned to do was line dances to only the honkiest of tonk country songs 😔

peter - the one thing he actually remembered correctly about sarah's preferences is that she did like it when he wore white. she specifically complimented him on the white suit he wore to the company mixer n that still affects his outfit choices even after the Easter Incident

officer wong - she's the only non-rich member of the peace cult/christmas rejects, and got into the organization due to her connection with law enforcement being beneficial

norman - he hasn't actually told any of the other cult members that he killed his wife/peter's mom for cheating on him, since that's not ~technically~ illegal, and thus not a valid reason for their. thing.

isabelle - she's one of those people who, despite coming from an affluent background, deeply longs to be a part of the counter culture, in her case manifesting as an infatuation with hippie aesthetics. thus her extremely long hair and floral dresses

steve - i think out of everyone in the peace cult (that showed up in the christmas special anyway), he's the most purely sadistic. everyone else can as least somewhat mental gymnastics their way into justifying their cruelty, but steve just thinks hurting ppl is a fun game.

ok cdta facts lightening round:

isaac - though he's no stranger to piercings, he doesn't have any tattoos bc he doesn't think he has the pain tolerance for it

joshua - he named the rabbit plush madeline gave him Lynnie after his mom marilyn, though you couldn't get him to admit this out loud even through torture lol

jessie - she has an orange cat named sunny

madeline - she has a tumblr account and is mutuals with delilah, though neither of them are aware of this since delilah doesn't make her status as a cael devil known online

leah - she originally made the youtube channel that would become red dragon project to make death note youtube poops

sam - he's green-red colorblind

delilah - though she has a tumblr, she's much more active on reddit (because she's constantly getting into petty arguments in the comments lol)

luce - he does have a mouth even though it's only visible sometimes, and when he does open it he has 6 rows of teeth :)

cairyx - his human form alias is caleb stone

elijah - a lot of alcohol was involved the night he got his tribal tattoo

cassandra - she gets name dropped as "editor cassie" in some of elijjah's videos, which has led to her having a little bit of a fanbase of her own

anyway hope u didn't mind another essay response lol. n thank you for the music recommendations!

[gryptids]

*breaks down your door* OCS ASKS!!!!

Cule: 20 and D for Saoirse, 34 for Cara, 43 for Vic, 7 and G for Jude

TGG: 23 for Luce, 38 and F for Maria, 28 and B for Alaric, 22 for Leander

annnnnd 40 and E for &Lav!!

HE HE HE >:3C Thank u so much for askin!! Answers will all be below the cut :]

CULE:

(Saoirse) 20: If they were asked to explain the difference between romantic and platonic or familial love, how would they do so? Re: platonic and romantic love, it's not too different for them! I don't think they see much of a distinction -- for them, relationships are very cyclical, so it's more about the point in the cycle the relationship is in (growing & then fading closeness/intimacy) than other distinctions. For example, she considers Victor a friend, but has a deep, intimate dynamic with him that involves sex. It's more about what the other party wants to classify the relationship as; if they had it her way, she wouldn't label them at all.

(Saoirse) D: Have they always had the same physical appearance, or have you had to edit how they look? Nope! Saoirse went through a big change when I was first settling on character designs. They've always been goth, but she originally had a different hairstyle (natural hair w/ braids on the sides to emulate a fauxhawk) AND was plus size! I knew I wanted to have plus size characters in the cast, because the splinters can 'choose' what form they pick, and I wanted to demonstrate that fatness was something people can and would chose to be if social and medical stigma around size didn't exist. But then I read a book called “Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia” by Sabrina Strings, where she argues that "slim, desirable white women [are explicitly and figuratively juxtaposed] against corpulent, seemingly monstrous black women." Well... I had made a thin white woman and a fat Black femme (who was also somewhat monstrous as a part of the story) as juxtaposed parties. That book as well as some gift art I received from YOU made me reconsider which characters I wanted to be fat -- and I eventually settled on Carolyn and Victor. I gave Saoirse another one of my favorite body types instead -- broad shoulders, narrow waist!

(Cara) 34: How hard is it for them to shake a sense of guilt?  Ooh, this is a juicy question. Cara tends to move to the beat of her own drum; the rules that society holds aren't necessarily the ones she believes in or follows in her day-to-day life. Where she feels the most guilt is when she feels like she's failed by her own metrics; when she can't live up to the ideals she holds for herself. She pretends it doesn't affect her when she fails to live up to her own expectations, but it will eat away at her until she directs her frustration at the nearest target.

(Victor) 43: If someone asked them to explain their sexuality, how would they do so?  "I'm bi. Why, you interested?" (In fact, the entire quartet is bisexual! As a bisexual myself, it's very important for me to increase bi visibility through my characters. Plus, that way I can smash them together in whichever configurations I please <3)

(Jude) 7: What triggers nostalgia for them, most often? Do they enjoy that feeling? Answered here!

(Jude) G: What trait of theirs bothers you the most? There's plenty to get bothered over when it comes to Jude, but the trait that bothers me the most is his obtuseness; he REFUSES to be vulnerable with others, and instead thinks he can guess what someone will like better than they can judge for themself. Instead of just letting someone fall in love with him, he tries to put on a show and tailor himself to their expectations. That and his (related) milquetoast opinions bug the hell out of me. Where's the vulnerability?? Where's the locked-and-loaded rant about your least favorite pastry????? He won't risk being 'wrong' for someone, which inevitably means that he's never right for someone either.

TGG:

(Lucia) 23: How does envy manifest itself in them (they take what they want, they become resentful, etc)?  She gets VERY competitive when envious (which happens a lot in the story; she has incredible magical talent, which has been outlawed in her home nation, and comes from a very low social rung). She WILL prove that she's the best, that she deserves what she wants, tooth and nail -- even if she's leaving with broken bones and bloody lips. It'll all be worth it to prove everyone wrong.

(Maria) 38: What memory do they revisit the most often? Maria holds a lot of fond memories around the ocean; it was a source of independence and bonding for her and her sister, and represents a wild kind of freedom that she was never allowed to embody growing up. She'll often return to a memory of her floating naked in the ocean underneath a full moon, completely at ease, and completely alone. No expectations, no needs she must address... just her and her skills, and the uncaring eye of nature.

(Maria) F: What do you feel when you think of your OC (pride, excitement, frustration, etc)? LOVE!! I love Maria so much. I've poured so much of myself and my experiences into her. She perseveres alongside depression and chronic pain, and her creative and passionate spirit never dims even in the worst circumstances. Her curiosity, kindness, and fierce defense of the ones she loves is what it's all about, babey!!

(Alaric) 28: Would they prefer a lie over an unpleasant truth?  Never. Lies ruined his life at a very young age, and turned him into the bitter fuck he is today. He makes it his mission to force people to face unpleasant truths whenever possible. Otherwise, when the truth eventually reaches you (and it will reach you), everyone will be caught in the crossfire.

(Alaric) B: What inspired you to create them? This is a great question! The seed narrative that would become TGG originally included just Maria and Leander -- but I decided I wanted a messy, bisexual love triangle (as well as a twist on the 'evil advisor' trope), and Alaric was born. Though that love triangle element wasn't retained into the current story, I still think it's a very fun dynamic. Two people who butt heads bond over the man they think they can't have, and have sex with each other as a substitute instead? That's the exact kind of mess I love. If the romantic rivals simply had sex with each other to blow off that frustration, everyone would be happier.

(Leander) 22: How does jealousy manifest itself in them (they become possessive, they become aloof, etc)?  ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION! Leander gets (even more) withdrawn when jealous, mostly because it's a very overwhelming feeling. It's very rare that he's confronted with something he wants but can't have, and even rarer that someone is willing to challenge him. It's... refreshing, in a way. So while he does get withdrawn, it's not in a submissive way, but in a 'the volcano is quiet but there's still molten rock underneath' way. That challenge is exactly what he needs to actually kick his ass into gear sometimes. Be assured; he might be quiet and stony-faced, but the gears are turning.

&LAV: (gonna answer for the main three -- Lav, Ro, and Zan -- since u didn't specify a char!)

40: How sensitive are they to their own flaws?

Lav: They try not to think about it (which works sometimes, and not others). They try their best to live an upstanding life, but upstanding lives are just so boring. The constant battle is between impulse and societal pressure, and they've yet to balance them in a satisfying way. Slipping up is a 'flaw' -- but they discover that flaws can actually be kind of delicious when held in the right light.

Ro: Kind of, but it doesn't get to her. I mean, her job is literally to get showered with praise in exchange for performance, so a healthy sense of self-confidence is key. She's had her ups and downs -- and she would say her biggest flaw is her isolation -- but has gotten to a place where she can handle herself with grace and confidence. Sometimes a little too much confidence.

Zan: Very sensitive. He was recently punished -- both socially and physically -- by his superiors for slipping up. Now he's back and trying to prove himself, and he's very aware of how much is on the line. He's prepared to claw his way back to the top (and then some), but he'd be lying if he said he never dwelt on what landed him in his current predicament.

E: Are they someone you would get along with? Would they get along with you?

Lav: They are very pretty, but we don't have much in common. I'm a very energetic person, and they tend to be more withdrawn; they're very refined, and I am... not that. I think we would have great conversations about their work (they carve gems! That's so cool!) but it would be a congenial exchange and nothing more.

Ro: A tentative yes! She's a homebody, so I think she'd appreciate that my idea of a fun hang-out is snacks and a movie at home. However, she's busy as fuck, so we wouldn't get to see each other often. Kind of annoying, but it's always a good time when we do see each other!

Zan: He IS an effervescent conversationalist, but our worlds are so different that I have no idea what we'd talk about. I'm not into cigars, or poker, or couture brands, or other rich fancy status stuff; likewise, he's not super interested in outdoorsy hikes or art, though he does have a good aesthetic eye. We might chat a bit at a bar, but it would be very low intimacy.

[usersasaki]

BIG SIB BIG SIB DID U SEE THE 3.1 STREAM AND TRAILER?? NCHEHWHS CYNO IS SO HOT?? HEHSH HE FINALLY HAS A VOICE AFTER LIKE TWO YEaRS I SCREAMED LIKE EARLY IN THE MORNING HGNDBHDX :coughs: anyways! i also wanted to gib u a lil update: from here on out "lucid" (luce/luci for short) will be my second alias with my first! << mostly cuz i dream a lot and went "why not" ehe- then alternate shipnames would be albeluce and lunari! ~Lycoris

i thought i'd just answer all 3 asks in 1 go,, sorry for not responding for so long lil sis :( uni's been tiring me out leaving me with lil to no interactive energy

starting out! yes i did watch the 3.1 trailer and when i tell u i lost it. when cyno showed up. AND HIS VOICE ??_)#9" his eng va did an amazing job and his jp voice had me screaming into my pillow 😭😭😭 ALSO I LOVE UR NEW ALIAS??? IT'S SO CUTE WAAA i'll call u luci along with cor ^^ also ur shipnames >>>

and thank u for checking on me 🥹 i've been alright but travelling to and from uni exhausts me beyond measure and i fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow,, but it's also very fun! i made friends who literally are so sweet and the classes are much better than hs classes :D how have u been luci?

AND LASTLY! YES I DID WATCH AND I ACTUALLY WATCHED IT WHILE I WAS ON CAMPUS SO I COULDN'T REACT AS I WANTED TO BUT GOD I LOVE HIM, HIM JUST HIM??? at this point i consider myself married to him and we exchange bad jokes with each other <33

[primoredial-jade]

who are your fav tumblr authors + your fav piece(s) from them???? u said before that u read a lot of fics, so i am curious to what u read and where inspo comes from. thanks in adv!

hi anon, thanks for stopping by and giving me the pleasure of answering this question! i apologize for having it on the back-burner for so long, but that is solely due to the fact that i spent hours searching for fics that i’ve bookmarked on tumblr over the past few years, and i honestly might still be missing a few authors!

first and foremost before i get into this very long list, i want to preface this by saying that before i am a writer- first and foremost, i am a reader. i’ve been a reader of fanfiction since i was ten years old, and i have consumed many content before picking up the pen myself- and i’m sure every single one of your favorite authors can share the same sentiment.

before i began to share my work publicly on tumblr, i never really reposted/left comments on any author’s work. and, i take full responsibility for being a contributing factor that may have caused a writer to have burnout and leave the site. now that i have experienced both sides- the reader and the writer, i’ve come to understand how much just a little comment will mean to someone, motivating them more and more! this content is already free- show them how much you appreciate it! support your favorite authors, it really means a lot to them 🤍

without further ado!~ under the cut will be my favorite authors + fics from them that i highly, highly recommend checking out. thanks for reading!

EDIT: this list will be seldom updated, as i continue to consume such amazing pieces of work! 🤍

disclaimer: these are all reader inserts!

@wyvernne — for reasons wretched and divine (diluc - NSFW)

ok, i know i talk about frw&d literally all the time, but i am never going to shut up about it. it is seriously just a masterpiece, and miss wyvernne has put so much love into every word she put down. this piece of work seriously made me look at diluc in such a different light, and my love for him only grew so much more. it is a criminally underrated fic within the community, and while it is quite the read at 70k words, every second is worth it. i genuinely cried, laughed, and felt like a horndog within the span of the three hours i committed into reading it. and the MC in every single one of her works have such great personalities and life put into them! miss wyvernne has much more shorter diluc fics, but this one is one i would recommend time and time again.

@glazelilyy  — you, yourself (diluc) + drunken words are sober thoughts (diluc, kaeya) + over and over again (kaeya) + dry your tears (diluc, kaeya, childe, scaramouche) 

i don’t think i’ve ever reread anyone’s works as much as i have reread luce’s- and for some reason, everytime i do, it’s a whole different experience. you, yourself, dry your tears, and drunken words genuinely makes me cry every single time i read them, regardless of the fact that i’ve basically have them all recited from memory at this point. miss luce is just incredible, and a trum gem within the community.

@witch-hazels-musings  — in my hands (diluc, thoma, kaeya) + confined confessions (childe + diluc + zhongli) + impurity (diluc, zhongli, childe, kaeya - NSFW) + versatility of a workspace (diluc, kaeya - NSFW) + i can’t swim (diluc, kaeya) + can you help? (diluc, childe)

miss hazel has contributed so much to the genshin x reader community, and to my diluc brainrot!! there are so many breathtaking works within her anthology that deserve so much more praise and credit. the way she uses her words to depict the actions and love the mc and character have toward each other is just immaculate, there is no other way to describe it. there is a reason as to why she is looked up to so much as a writer, and it isn’t a coincidence that a lot of genshin writers sing praises about her and her work.

@tartagliaxx  —  the five wishes you fulfilled for me before i died (various) + color me surprised (childe) + it’s a bright future ahead of us (childe, diluc, xiao, zhongli)

miss lei.... five wishes genuinely wounded me. i have never cried so much in one sitting while reading a fic before. it is one of the best fics i have ever read, period, and i feel as if it didn’t get much attention from the community. the absolute angst and bittersweetness of five wishes is unparalleled, and every word miss lei put down left you hanging and wiping your eyes for more. she has such great understanding of the characters and the relationships she makes within just a few pages feels so real. highly, highly recommend.

@favoniuscodex  — say i love you + masquerade + we’ll see each other again + firsts + sleepy whispers (diluc) + limerence (childe) + rumors, rumors, rumors (diluc, kaeya, zhongli) + nursing itto back to health (itto)

um, *devours axia’s work* thank you for contributing to the diluc brainrot. no, like i am serious, axia was one of the first genshin x reader authors i first read from on ao3 with one particular fic that holds a dear place within my heart, before i moved to tumblr and found her on here as well. something about how she writes resonates so much with me, almost like i can feel the cadence within the writing as i read the relationships and love formed between the characters. she also has so much knowledge and understanding of the characters she writes for, not once have i felt someone be out of character.

@xiaowhore  — yours truly (various) + aftermath of a breakup (childe, zhongli, xiao) + genshin men in a fantasy otome game + put a ring on it (ayato)

@kazewhara  — sick and tired (diluc, childe) + jealousy, jealousy (childe, gorou)

@lupically  — #3B797A + #FFF8EA (xiao)

@xiaosmoon  —  accidental kisses (diluc, childe, kaeya) + your roomates in college (xiao, albedo, childe)

@windblooms  —  i don’t want to hold back anymore (various)

@primofate  —  somewhere you can’t follow (itto, diluc, thoma) + let’s stop seeing each other (diluc, kaeya, albedo)

@wangshengs  — in bloom (diluc - NSFW) + kaeya character analysis

@astairekin —  three names (childe)

@monocaelia  —  royalty (various) + lingering touches (various) + philophobia (childe)

@amatxs  —  antagonizer (childe) + tending to their injuries + campus encounters (thoma, itto, childe) 

@dulcesiabits  —  memento mori (various) + the value of a lotus (zhongli)

@genshin-impacted  —  lost & found (diluc)

@dandelion-dreams  —  excerpt that won’t be finished (childe)

@izukxnnie — a pyre for the trusting

@souglias — 9:22pm (ayato) + the drive of two (childe)

@sohyuki — our faith is a bullet (thoma) + saturn (various) + hands of my heart (various) + beyond this town lies a life much sadder (crepus)

miss mint is such, such a good writer. she has all the tools to make a smile stretch across your face to the point it hurts, or to make tears run down your face. it is so unbelievable how well she can write all types of genres with such fluidity and beautiful characterization with natural relationship building! i literally cannot believe what i’m reading is free so many times when reading her works!!! miss king also has such a natural affinity for writing angst and heartbreak, it is unrealllllll, my heart always feels so heavy even if it’s just a small little excerpt. for sure one of my favorite writers, hands down!

below are non-genshin impact works!

@hoe-imaginess  —  kalopsia (madara/tobirama) + arranged marriage (tobirama)

hoe-imaginess is literally the sole reason the naruto flame hasn’t died out in my heart after so many years. i have read almost all of their work over the course of a few years, both on this blog and their previous, and let me tell you, their writing is just so incredible and hilarious, delving deep into character interactions and personalities, everyone just feels so in tune regardless if it is a generally more crackfic. their longer fics are just masterpieces, and with the naruto community dying out within the past 5+ years, it’s a shame they don’t get more recognition. truly, still one of my favorite blogs after years and years.

@titan-fodder  —  service to the crown (reiner - NSFW) + deflowered (zeke - NSFW) 

not once did i bat an eye in reiner’s direction prior to reading this fic a few years ago. seriously, not even once!!!!!!!!......... and then i read miss mel’s work of art that is service to the crown and OMG. she changed the game for me, i am not even joking. sttc is seriously one of the best attack on titan fics i have ever read, and i loveeee a good childhood friends to lovers trope, but this is dialled to the tens. the relationship feels like it progressed so realistically, and i really felt as if i was growing up as the mc with reiner. made me see him in a whole different light, and he became one of my favorite aot characters after. i am so thankful for having rediscovered mel’s work again after missing it for a few months!

@ecrivant  —  under the yoke (porco) + tendresse (reiner)

@artemelle  —  last dance (artem/marius) + confessions (various tot)

andddd that is all! in a way, this is my own archive of works that have left a mark on my heart and heavily influenced my own writing today. i want to thank all of the authors for your hard work - readers like me really appreciate what you do for us. hope you all have a wonderful day! 

[theladyofdeath]

In the Bleak midwinter {17}

A Throne of Glass Period AU: 1920s.

Summary: 2 years after Arobynn Hammel is killed by Rowan Whitethorn, Maeve has returned from Eyllwe with a vengeance. Meanwhile, Rowan is getting married, Lorcan is a father, and Lysandra is finally ready to give her heart away. There’s been peace in The Cadre’s Orynth for 2 years, but peace never lasts.

A/N: Coming in close to the end!

All characters belong to SJM. I am no more than a fan with a plot.

**Warning: mature content - language, alcohol use, drug use, sex, murders and shit.

Links & masterlists:

Fanfic Masterlist

Ask me

The Cadre - 1920s AU {TOG}

In the Bleak Midwinter {The Cadre, Part 2}

Aelin didn’t know how long she and Lucy had been in that room, but she knew that she was cold, achy, and terrified. It took a while for Lucy to notice. She was a curious one, and pretty independent, so she could make herself comfortable in most places, especially once they had food. But, now, Aelin was running out of comforting conversation topics to have with a toddler as anxiety and fear thrummed through her veins. 

The food they were given hours ago had made her sick, although she tried to keep everything down, for Lucy’s sake. Meanwhile, every horrible outcome of what was taking place outside of the four concrete walls she sat inside had her heart beating faster. 

“Ae Ae,” Lucy began, and Aelin looked over at her, trying her best not to cry.

“Yes, Luce?” she replied, quietly. 

“Dada,” Lucy whispered, her lip wobbling, but before she could cry, the door was unlocked, and pushed open.

Aelin quickly snatched Lucy up as she stood and held the toddler tightly in her arms. 

Cairn stood there, looking as deadpan and serious as ever. “Come with me.”

“Where to?” Aelin asked, not moving a step.

Cairn showed no emotion. “Come with me, or I’ll lock you in here, again. It’s your choice.” 

Aelin hated that she didn’t hesitate. Instead, with Lucy in her arms, she followed Cairn out of the little room and through the winding hallways. 

The rest of the building wasn’t any better than the little room they had been trapped in. The stone walls continued, and Aelin didn’t feel comforted at all as they followed Cairn through the narrow hallways. Lucy was whining, which didn’t comfort Aelin either. Aelin should have been the one to comfort her but her own nerves were spiraling out of control.

Their walk seemed to last forever, but eventually, they came to a door. Lucy clung to the neckline of Aelin’s dress, and Lucy was grateful for it, it was the only thing that was keeping Aelin connected to reality.

Even though that reality was horrifying. 

Cairn pushed open the door and gestured for Aelin to enter. She was smart enough not to fight back or be stubborn, even though she so desperately wanted to both be stubborn and fight back. 

Maeve knew it, too, judging by the horrific smile on her red-painted lips as they entered. Aelin, Lucy in her arms, stopped just inside of the door with her chin raised high. 

“Mrs. Whitethorn,” Maeve crooned, as Cairn shut the door behind them. “How are you enjoying your stay?” 

“Food is shit,” Aelin said, plainly. Lucy’s whines had turned into a silent cry, her face buried into Aelin’s shoulder. “Is my husband on his way?”

Maeve’s eyes narrowed. “To the old train station, yes. In fact, he’ll be leaving that ungodly mansion of yours shortly.”

“Whatever you’re asking him for, he won’t give it to you,” Aelin said, shaking her head, but even as the words left her mouth, she knew she was wrong. For his wife, and his niece, Rowan would give Maeve whatever she wanted. 

As her dark eyes lit up, Aelin knew that she knew it, too. 

“I plan to test that theory,” she said, at last, her nails clicking on the hard desktop she sat behind. “Cairn.” 

Lucy was being removed from Aelin’s arms before she could even have a second thought. The second she was in Cairn’s arms, she was wailing. 

“No!” Aelin cried, taking a step forward to fight for her niece back, but a gun was cocked, and Aelin froze. 

Maeve didn’t hesitate as she pointed her pistol at Aelin’s head. “One more step, and you die, which would just be awful for all of us, wouldn’t it?” 

Aelin put a protective hand over her stomach, then looked at Lucy, who was being held by Cairn at Maeve’s right hand side. Aelin couldn’t help the tears that lined her eyes as she listened to Lucy cry. 

“Edward!”

The door opened and a man Aelin had never seen before entered the room and took Aelin’s arms behind her back. 

“Fuck you!” Aelin yelled, spitting at Maeve.

The woman snorted and set her gun down on her desk. Then, she nodded her head, and Aelin was hit in the back of the head, the rest of the world going dark around her. 

~~~~~

“They’re late,” Lorcan grumbled, his hands opening and closing at his sides. 

Rowan pulled the pocketwatch out of his breast pocket. Lorcan was right. It was two minutes past. 

“They’ll be here,” he snapped. 

Gavriel stood just behind them, watching the other side of the old abandoned platform, waiting, calmly. Fenrys was there, too, his jaw locked. They had left Aedion at home, watching and waiting in case anything happened there. Lysandra was with him, along with a hysterical Natalia. 

Just as Rowan’s patience was running short, he saw them coming. A sleek, black car was driving up, followed by one that was nearly identical. Rowan had no doubt to whom the cars belonged to.

No one moved, no one said a word as those cars pulled up to the other side of the broken tracks. 

They waited for a moment, and Rowan was about nearly to combust as the door to the first car opened and Cairn came out. He ascended the platform, and met their gazes as he approached.

Alone.

Before Rowan could open his mouth and spit out a retort, Cairn said, “Maeve sends apologies. She couldn’t make it, she was otherwise occupied.” 

“Where are they.” It wasn’t a question, but a demand. Rowan’s voice was low, calm. He didn’t want to even start thinking about where Maeve’s attention was.

“Depends which one you’re asking about,” Cairn replied, simply. 

Rowan froze, and it was Lorcan that growled, “Stop dancing around the subject, tell us the fucking conditions so we can get on with it.” 

Cairn stared at them, perfectly happy with Lorcan’s outburst. It’s why he let the silence ensue before saying, “Mr. Whitethorn comes with me.”

Gavriel’s shoulders tensed as Fenrys snorted. Lorcan had begun to say no, but Rowan interrupted them all, saying, “And Lucy and Aelin come back?” 

“I have Lucy in the car,” Cairn replied, simply, and when he didn’t go on, Rowan asked, “And my wife?” 

Cairn just smiled, slowly. 

“Well?” Rowan asked, after Cairn said nothing. 

“Lucy comes back to you now,” he said, quietly. “Aelin will be sent back to the estate when Rowan is safely delivered to Maeve.” 

“No,” Lorcan breathed, even though Rowan knew it hurt him to say it. “We find another way.”

“Lucy needs to be safe now,” Rowan said, quietly. “And Aelin needs to be safe now. I’ll be fine, and I’ll figure something out, but they need to be home, where I know they’re okay.” 

Lorcan stilled, but Rowan said, “Bring Lucy to Lorcan and I’ll come willingly.” 

“That undoes everything that we’ve fought for so far,” Fenrys muttered.

Rowan closed his eyes, knowing full well he was thinking of Connall. But Rowan wouldn’t have another death on his hands. Not his niece. Not his wife. He was done watching those he loved die, those that his family loved die.

He was over it.

Done.

Cairn waved a hand and the door to the second car was opened. A man in a suit came out, carrying Lucy, who was looking around with big, round eyes. The moment she spotted Lorcan, she began to cry, scream for him, but the second Lorcan took a step toward her, a gun was pointed at him.

So he stilled, and waited, even though it killed him to do so. The second Lucy was in his arms, though, he was clinging onto his daughter for dear life. 

“Dada.” She wept his name, and if Rowan had any sort of hesitation, Lucy’s little voice pushed him over the edge. Without looking back at his men, he took a step toward Cairn, then another, and another.

Before anyone could say anything otherwise, Rowan was shoved into a car and being driven away from the abandoned train tracks. 

Toward his aunt. 

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

@mariamuses  @garnet-29  @writer-reader-traveller  @rowaelin-cressworth  @space-buns-arsinoe  @negativenesta  @empress-ofbloodshed  @the-regal-warrior  @starseternalnighttriumphant  @westofmoon  @sammyjojaaaa  @theoverlyenthusiasticwriter  @carbconnoisseur @acer6437  @lorcansalvatearupmyheart  @cool-ish-nerd  @mynewdreamwasyou  @mourning-razorlust  @thespiritualrider  @rowaelinforeverworld  @didsomeonesayviolin  @gloriouspaintercreatorbandit  @yeah-just-ignore-me-thanks  @queen-of-glass  @the-dark-swan  @http-itsrebecca  @holdingon-21@babycardan @tswaney17  @mollycateoc  @chemicha  @bat-wing-rhys @exersize-me-i-dare-u @thespiritualrider  @luna-the-little @morebooks-pls  @shyvioletcat  @hermajestyanna  @a97girl  @stardustsroses  @queenofthemoon22 @alifletcher2012  @awkward-avocado-s  @faerie-queen-fireheart  @cwheart  @lovemollywho @emilyrose111294  @nerdperson524  @sleeping-and-books @cursebreaker29 @flora-and-fae @feyrethedarklady @the-dark-swan @rowaelinforeverworld @sjmsstuff @januarystears @mis-lil-red  @acourtofmoonlight   @rowaelinforeverworld  @courtofmaasdestruction @jjellybean  @thewayshedreamed  @wind-drinker  @aelin-rowan-whitehorn  @starseternalnighttriumphant  @hurema @http-itsrebecca  @lorcansalvatearupmyheart  @cityofchelsea16 @januarystears  @iliketoasterstrudels  @lightitup-bryce  @yikesitsmaddie @feyrethedarklady @i-love-all-books  @keshavomit  @sleeping-and-books @scarznstars  @http-itsrebecca @cat5313 @moondancer-204  @booklover242 @belamoonbeam @they-call-me-cuatro   @b00kworm  @mu-si-ca-l   @thegayerpotato  @abraxos-is-toothless  @keshavomit  @musicdreamer003   @superspiritfestival  @sailorsassley  @mymultiversee @alxanxah @viviaannvu123  @mysweetvillain @theghostlyharrypooperfan @highqueenofelfhame​  @shyvioletcat @maastrash @the-third-me​ @rinad307

[evilblot]

Hello friend! I need your opinion on a very serious matter: best Phantom Blot outfit? (or at least a top list in case you can't chose, which I deem likely)

Me, staring at the list I made a week ago still unsure it’s good enough:

Jokes and internal crisis aside, I had to basically plunge into my archives looking for any piece of clothing that tickled my interest and lemme tell you: it wasn’t an easy job, esp when it’s your pussy doing the thinking ashsajfjagjg. Anyway.

Full list under the cut, since it’s long af for I got no self control uwu

Leaving aside his iconic look because it feels like cheating and the times he's been shown half naked because,.,, well.., ya know skahkfah, here's my very own ᴍʏ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ꜱɴᴀᴄᴄ ᴄᴏᴍᴘɪʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ - clothing edition and I don't accept any criticism, only cash <3

Number 10. O‘ Macchianera’s costume, an early 1800s historical South Italian outfit from “Topolin Murat e i Misteri di Pompei”. Simple, clean and def flattering. What’s not to love?

Number 9. His super villain outfit from the “Ultraheroes saga”. I know I said I’d not include his usual costume but I do enjoy the little extras on this one. The cape is just *chef’s kiss* despite being a bit unpractical.

Number 8. Black Tunic’s actual clothes in “Topo Maltese - Una ballata del topo salato”. Not the cloak thing ofc, what’s underneath that since he really looks surprisingly good in pastel blues, not to mention I get to see some ankle there aksnfafga.

Number 7. That nice nautical attire he got in “Macchia Nera e la vacanza a scacchi”. Love it, esp the checkered pants.

Number 6. Whatever steampunk Victorian combo he's wearing in the “Il giro dei mondi in 80 giorni (siderali)”. Not to mention he looks grittier than the usual with that 5 o’clock shadow beard he got and I’m *lip-biting emoji*.

Number 5. The u hM,.., the hh h.,. tH A t! Hawaiian pink shirt from “Topolino e il vortice di luce”. It’s not about the shirt itself but rather because Pastrovicchio, sir, this is both a crime against fashion and my already flawed self-control, help girl afhfafkaj.

Number 4.  The smart casual look from “Macchia Nera e il buon vicinato”.  Also, I'd like to publicly thank Mr. Cavazzano for each and every time he has shown PB with his sleeves rolled up because it makes me go AWOOGA without fail sksksk.

Number 2. Those grey and purple gessati from “Pippo Reporter”. Classy stylish bad bitch makes me yearning to do unspeakable things to him on and behind his nice office desk <3.

Number 3. The tucked-in white rugby shirt with black joggers from “Topolino e il Doppio Segreto di Macchia Nera”. Basically every time he wears any piece of white clothing it just sends me, also this story has a special place in my cold shriveled heart uwu.

Number 1. The iconic black submarine jumper from “Darkenblot”. Such flattering minimalism. Flawless. Amazing Thottilicious. Not a casualty it's the outfit I always draw him with for it awakens something in me I can't yet describe but god it makes me go GONGAGA every damn time asmdahsjkfgag.

Also, have an extra list because I’m weak to men in armor and I'm even weaker when it's Macchia 🙈😩💦

Number 5. The Gran-Khan-Gnar costume from “Star Top”. I like the uhh,,. cloak’s color, that uh.. sort of sci-fi anatomical cuirass and the furry neck warmer..? I don’t know guys, it doesn’t really spark with joy but I didn’t want to ignore it either so it’s here I guess 🤷‍♀️

Number 4. The Meteor Master suit of armor from “Donald Quest”. It’s tacky and over the top, but gold suits him and the spike game going on is too strong to ignore. Also it got that fantasy Viking vibes that I simply cannot resist to <3c.

Number 3. The black Roman centurion lorica from “Topolinix”. HE’S SHOWING SOME SKIN AND I’M LOOKING DIRECTLY AT IT 👀👀👀

Number 2. The exoskeleton he wears in the “Darkenblot saga”. If you thought he just got buff like that, then sorry but you have to face the truth and suffer with me :’).

Number 1. His living shadow form in the “Wizards of Mickey” saga. Technically it isn't really an armor, but have you seen the absolute edge? These abs? Pure monsterfucker bait and I'm here for it uwu.

BTW as y’all may have noticed, I didn’t translate the titles because today I woke up and chose violence against americentrism, but I still put the INDUCKS link so y’all can check the stories out for I am not a complete bastard ✌

Anyways, I hope my little self-indulgent gush about my man’s fashion choices (or lack of lmao) has quenched your curiosity and again tènkius so much for your ask! 🖤🖤

[nelllraiser]

adventures in guilt | dave & nell

TIMING: shortly after nell summoned a shark-jellyfish demon. PARTIES: @seizethecarpe and @nelllraiser. SUMMARY: dave returns the jacket nell forgot on the boat, and the two try to navigate a life with guilt. CONTENT: sibling death mentions.

Dave carefully folded down the coat over his arm, smoothing out the material idly. That wasn’t the full reason, the texture of the scales under his fingers was captivating, more interesting than anything else nearby. But this was the college campus, Dave wasn’t sure he would want to touch anything else, the risk of beer stickiness on everything was too damn high. It was drizzling, cool gusts biting the needles off of nearby trees and blowing them around the park bench. As unbothered as he was by the cold, Dave hated icy winds. The sooner the ‘caster showed up, the better. He waved at her when he spotted her, standing up from the bench. This’d be interesting. 

Generally Nell didn’t come to campus this early. Her visits to the university mostly consisted of visits to her friends, and the occasional sleuthing for a bounty, but classes hadn’t even begun yet for the day. Thankfully she hadn’t overslept, because the witch hadn’t slumbered in the first place. With Bea gone to New York, the house was just herself and Luce, and far too much like it had been when their third sister had been struck down, existing only as a ghost. It made for restless nights that came more often than they already had, though Nell had managed to fill a good amount of them with work. As Dave came into sight, Nell felt the familiar sensation of guilt flooding her stomach, a feeling that hadn’t left her since the accidental deaths she’d caused— but one she’d learned how to manage in a way that allowed her to function rather than wallow. Unfortunately the sight of the selkie brought all the regrets of that day back the instant she set eyes on him, though she squared her shoulders in sheer refusal of letting them overwhelm her. Finally getting within speaking distance, she gave the man a nod before speaking. “Hey.” Shit, what else was she supposed to say? There had to be something else, right? “Thanks for keeping my jacket.”

“Wasn’t about to do anything else with it,” Dave said, handing it over, scrutinising her with a trademark scowl, that did little to show what he was really thinking. Somehow, she looked older now than the last time they’d met, and he knew how that kind of guilt could eat at someone’s youth in the worst possible ways. But he also knew that the younger you were, the more important it was to be able to hide that kind of shit, and he had no doubt that plenty of her younger friends didn’t see it at all. “You holding up alright?”

Under any other circumstance Nell might have jokingly asked about whether or not the jacket was his color, or if he’d sneaked one single try on. Nevermind the fact that she was fairly certain he wouldn’t even be able to get his arm into the sleeves of the tiny jacket. Instead, she just accepted the jacket wordlessly before layering it over the sweater she was already wearing. Yet another thing she hadn’t inherited along with her lack of fire abilities was the heightened body temperature that went along with it, and Nell was almost endlessly cold in the winters of Maine. His question caught her wholly off-guard, rather convinced that he still thought her some idiotic, and guitless spellcaster who didn’t know what she was doing, and didn’t care to think beyond that. Surprise flickered ever so briefly over her features before it was quickly replaced with a frown, and suspiciously drawn eyebrows. “I’m not the one who got eaten by a demon shark.” She wasn’t about to admit the truth to a man who’d witnessed one of her greatest mistakes when she barely admitted it to herself.

“No. But I know a thing or two about being eaten by guilt,” Dave replied slowly, like the words were being dragged out of him. That he knew he could offer her the comfort that people who hadn’t been there couldn’t. He still wasn’t convinced she deserved it. He wasn’t convinced power like that, the kind that was at once a tempest and could summon a tempest, ought to be allowed to live. But that sorta shit wasn’t his call to make, not unless she was deliberately slaughtering people. Hell, in a town like this, there was probably some sort of person who specialised in ‘casters. 

Nell watched the man with a guarded gaze, as if trying to see below his exterior to see what secrets or well-hidden intentions were hidden underneath the apparent concern he was now exhibiting. Though even calling it concern might be a bit of a stretch. His words seemed reluctant— almost as unwillingly spoken as her reply was. “And you think that’s what’s happening to me?” Nevermind that it was the truth. Beyond her inability to properly express herself was the question of why he was bothering with her in the first place. WIth the way he’d reacted on the boat paired with his attempts to pin her against the railing- she’d thought he’d want to get in and out of this situation as quickly as possible.

 “Don’t know. It’s why I’m asking. Doesn’t mean you gotta answer.” Dave replied with an off handed shrug tracing his fingers over the grain of the bench. The arm of the bench had been smashed off once or twice before, the wood was a different age to the age of the sea, but even still there was an unnerving stain deep inside the grain of the wood, that couldn’t quite be washed out no matter how hard the college tried. Dave knew a thing or two about that sort of stain, too. “Well,” he said after a moment, “If that’s all,” He eyed her, just the hint of softness buried in all his wrinkles. “I know how busy you young folk are. Wouldn’t want to keep you.”

“But...why do you care to ask?” Nell replied with another question, still not entirely willing to answer his question. There was still a wariness to her gaze, as if she were waiting for him to turn around and start yelling like he had on the boat. Why did he care whether the guilt was eating her alive or not? She couldn’t help shake the feeling that Dave was simply waiting to turn the tables once again, that he’d change his mind and cast her out just as easily as the coven and her parents had. He was right about her being busy, though. Between the demon cult, her bounty hunting, and potential new jobs she’d been kept running. Still...there was something making her want to linger despite her anxious certainty that nothing good would come of it. Perhaps it was the smallest hint of softness beneath his words, and the fact that she found so little of it these days. “What about you? You said you know about being eaten by guilt.”

“I can take the question back if it bothers you so,” Dave replied with a nonplussed lookin on his face, because the answer to her question was complicated as hell. “Sure do. Life as long and messy as mine, I got plenty to feel guilty for. Not summonin’ demon sharks, I’ll give you that, but enough messes with a body count, that’s for sure.” Dave rubbed the bridge of his nose. Grey clouds overhead were beginning to promise rain. He wasn’t about to share the nature and brunt of his messes, whether they were the sinking boat variety, victims of a monster Dave had failed to stop, or drowning someone who… it was probably not right to have drowned. “Just saying, storing that emotional stuff like a Molotov’s just gonna have it blow in your face. I’d know.” 

“It doesn't bother me,” Nell commented defensively, even though the opposite was true. She just didn’t want to admit such a thing. Not to herself and certainly not to the man who’d already see too much of things she wanted to hide or forget. “Does my question bother you?” She posed the rebuttal as a means of trying to get the burden of explanation off herself, shifting it in Dave’s direction instead. The mention of a body count wasn’t something she’d expected from the selkie, and it was plain to see her curiosity had been piqued. Fortunately, she knew better than to ask for details at a time like this, but that didn’t stop her from asking another question. “Well then...what do you do with it?” Her tone was uncomfortable, arms folded defensively over her chest. She wasn’t fond of appearing weak in front of people she barely knew, or asking for help at all, but desperation was starting to get the better of her. Besides- maybe he would just think she was asking for someone else’s sake. 

“No,” Dave replied honestly, eyebrows raised at her defensive demeanor, quietly letting her know that he could see just how reticent she was to talk about it. But he didn’t push again, getting ready to leave her to her coat and her guilt when she pried another question out of herself. Dave’s look was probably more understanding than she���d like, but he still sighed. 

“Agh, hell,” Dave ran his hand through his hair, turning so he was side on to her when he leant against a nearby fence, his brows dipped deep in thought. For all his gentle cajoling, he wasn’t quite ready to open up to a stranger either. “Different things for different guilts. Some folks act like they never did anything wrong, bottle it up and continue on like nothing ever happened. Some folks spend a lifetime chasing a type of redemption that doesn’t exist, so they can do enough good to outbalance the bad, like it’s some cosmic scale they just gotta weigh up right. Hard to say which way leaves you more fucked up. Guess I deal with it with something in the middle. ‘M not a good person, but I can ensure I don’t make the same fuck ups as before. Focus on what keeps me going. If I face judgement after, I’ll have earned it.” He looked at her sidelong, trying to parse her reaction. “That answer your question?” As vague an answer as it was. There was no talking about the nights with angry outbursts, darker shades that he saw the world in, how quickly his mind twisted to the thought of solving issues by killing. He barely knew this girl, after all. 

Nell still didn’t understand why he’d taken the time to answer her questions to begin with, constantly surprised when he continued to linger with her as they spoke. She was silent as she mulled over Dave’s words, trying to fit them into cracks that lived in her as a result of her own guilt. She knew redemption wasn’t an option, one good thing didn’t magically replace one bad. And ignoring her guilt had never been an option for her, not when she was much better at wallowing in it. “So what you’re saying is it doesn’t get any better,” Nell snorted somewhat derisively, but it was meant as a comment at her own expense rather than Dave’s. She was thankful for his words, even if they hadn’t necessarily filled her with hope. Her foot scuffed at the ground, still uncomfortable despite letting the clam shell of her emotional state open in the slightest. “I mean- thanks for answering. I guess it makes sense that you just gotta learn from it and then deal with it.” After all that had been her experience so far, hadn’t it? Something about not being a good person struck a nerve in her, and she couldn’t help but think of how close Adam’s guilt had gotten him to making a lifelong mistake. “I think trying to be better is at least...the mark of a decent person.” That was the closest she managed to get when it came to offering Dave an opinion on his judgement day.

"Wouldn’t say it doesn’t get easier with time,” Dave replied, tilting his head until his neck cracked, easing some of the tension this conversation was giving him. “More manageable, less raw. Easier to put these things in perspective. You’re still young, you’ve got time to figure out how you want to deal.” Even if it didn’t, Dave was always aware that when he talked to young adults about shit, they had so little framework for how much they still had time to change and grow that he didn’t want to say shit to stifle that. The surest way to keep someone the same was to tell them they had no chance of changing. He looked at her sidelong, the tiniest corner of a smile on his face. “I like to think so,” he replied, in a distant, hypothetical way. It wasn’t something he was interested in applying to himself. 

He was right, technically. Nell was still young. But it felt like she’d been aged some fifteen years in that last twelve months alone. Being raised in White Crest meant she was more than familiar with its oddities and quirks, but she hadn’t remembered the little town being quite so emotionally destructive. Or maybe she’d just been too wrapped up in the swaddle of youth to experience it herself before she’d left, only to return after seeing how gruesome the rest of the world could be. For some naive reason she hadn’t expected it to follow her back home, but here she was with the literal scars along her arms and neck to prove otherwise. Her lips pursed as Dave refused to take part in her little charade of ‘asking for a friend’, feeling set off kilter when he addressed her and the guilt she held directly. “I never said I was talking about me,” she replied stubbornly as her face took on a somewhat petulant expression despite it being obvious that she’d been doing just that.

The beginning of his smile also caught Nell off-guard, and parts of why she’d found it so hard to believe that he could turn his anger from the boat around so quickly fell into place. She’d wanted him to be the persecutor, to tell her that she’d fucked up and confirm her as deserving of the guilt that lived in her chest like an iron set of chains. To give her the punishment she felt she deserved like her mother had done. The realization had her looking away from him, not wanting to give away any more emotion than she already had. “So you...what? Don’t have time to figure it out anymore?” For once her words weren’t meant as an old person joke at the expense of who she was asking. “Or have you just been letting it ‘get easier’ and put into perspective? And that’s the thing you’ve figured out?”

“Hmmm,” Came Dave’s noncommittal response, just looking at her sidelong. When she pouted like that, it was damn hard to remember that the girl was an adult who had gotten folk killed, not just a lost kid finding her way through the world. Which was what made her more dangerous.

“No. Just got bigger fish to fry.” It was a pact he’d made with himself a long damn time ago, as unhealthy as anything else on his list. He’d face his penance, whether that came at the end of a hunter’s knife or an Aipaloovik’s embrace. Dave knew damn well there were consequences to the choices he’d made over the past couple years, but that didn’t slow him down. He’d face it all, but only once the fury was dead, and he had his family’s pelts once more. He could carry the other, less important deaths he’d caused by choice or negligence or malice until that day. He was, in fact, doing just what he’d told Nell not to, letting a guilt define every part of him. “When it came down to it, I learned to carry what I needed to so that I could do what I had to. That’s all.”

“Yeah...yeah I get what you mean,” Nell mused as she thought back to the other times guilt had threatened to consume her. She’d gotten Bea killed. Watched her sister die because she’d been reckless and selfish, and hadn’t taken care of her problems properly. But even as that sickening knowledge had clawed away at her gut, she’d learned how to stomach it well enough to focus on bringing Bea back. Done what she needed to do...just like Dave had. Or at least it sounded that way. At this point she wasn’t sure what else there was to say, already feeling as if she’d said perhaps a little too much. “Anyway...thanks for the jacket.” Nell shrugged her shoulders to help it sit better on her shoulders as she stood and waited to see if Dave had anything else to say on the subject of guilt and otherwise.

“Sure,” Dave replied, noting the quick shut down of conversation with a wry smile. He straightened, shaking his head to work out any cricks as he began to turn to leave. “I know when I’ve been dismissed.” He began to walk away, before turning back to give her a stern look. “Don’t summon any more demon sharks, kid. I won’t be so nice next time.” Dave said, tapping the top of his head like he was tipping his cap to her. This time when he turned, he did not look back. Hell, he even whistled a tune he hadn’t been able to hear for 30 years.

[kitconnor]

luce i keep meaning to tell you but i literally love all your edits and just AHHH the effort u put into them shows and ur creativity and design skills are great goodbye muah

oh my god why did i forget this ugh wHY-

thank you bestie, might i add your textposts are top tier and ACTUALLY make me laugh unlike those other fake people 🙄 /j

[ceilingfan5]

omg can u continue the fake proposal taakitz bodyguard one bc id LOVE to know how far that shit goes like. lucretia? pissed. taako? is going to marry this dude or so help him he does NOT need press abt a ''""breakup''"". kravitz? thinks this is funny as fuck. the pining? thicker than pea fucking soup.

i had to go digging for it omg 

part one here

Lucretia calls them in the car and Taako puts her on speakerphone so that Kravitz can suffer too. He rests his head against the glass and makes faces as she talks.

“Taako, I can’t believe this. I simply cannot believe this. What on Earth possessed you to do this? You’re going to have to break it off--it’s going to have to be public-- Taako, are you listening? This is worse than that ball disease you invented.”

“That was pretty good, wasn’t it.”

Lucretia sighs. 

“Hey,” Taako says, a little nasally as he presses his nose against the window. Kravitz makes a face from the driver’s seat, but doesn’t join in. “At least I’m not a Scientologist. Do you want me to be a Scientologist? Because I have connections.”

“With my luck you’d invent your own cult religion and call it Taakoism-”

“I’m definitely going to do that now. Thank you for calling.”

“Taako, I’m serious.”

“You always are, pumpkin.”

“Kravitz, please intervene.”

Kravitz sighs, having finally been dragged into the conversation.

“This has nothing to do with me, it wasn’t my idea. Can’t we tell the press it was a joke?”

“You say that, but you’re the one who said yes!”

“If you think about it, public proposals are pushy and performative, so if we’re being honest I was coerced.”

“If you tell the press that, you’re fired.”

“Oh no,” Kravitz deadpans. Taako snickers. 

“Look, Luce, we’ll figure it out, alright? It’ll be fine.”

It does not turn out to be fine. They show up at the mansion to discover that the paparazzi have camped out and they swarm the car within seconds. 

“Ten points each,” Taako mutters, sliding down in his seat. 

“If only,” Kravitz sighs. He keeps inching the car towards the garage. “Taako, what’s our plan? How are we going to break up?”

“We’re not going to break up. You’re my fiance now. Congrats.” 

“Taako-”

“The last thing I need is a breakup right now! Give me a few days and we can call it off later, okay? Just chill!”

Kravitz is not good at chilling. He paces the mansion like a guard dog, eyeing paps and daring them to step to. Taako can’t help but laugh. 

“I guess I’m trapped here for a few days, if I don’t want to face the zombie hoards.” 

“Oh no, how terrible,” Taako says, spraying poptart crumbs everywhere. The roomba sings a jolly tune and trundles over to correct the mishap. Taako pets it with his foot affectionately. “You’ll die, trapped here with me, in a gorgeous mansion with a guy who cooks really good.”

“My mothers probably think I’ve gone crazy...”

“Let ‘em.” Taako unwraps another poptart. “Sometimes it’s fun to go crazy. This shit is so stifling, it gets really boring. Gotta like, you know, feed the fish sometimes.” 

Kravitz shakes his head, laughing quietly. Taako’s cheeks burn. He’s gorgeous. Who the fuck let a bodyguard be this gorgeous??

“Are you a model?” he blurts out. 

“No, I just look like one.” Kravitz winks at him, and Taako’s poptarts do a funny dancy in his belly. 

They end up spending a lot of time together. Kravitz tries to read a book, and Taako tries to entertain himself to no avail, which means it becomes Kravitz’s problem to entertain him. Hanging upside down off the designer couch, Taako makes annoying noises, trying to get Kravitz to look at him. Kravitz doesn’t oblige, so he goes in for questioning instead. 

“Have you always been a bodyguard?”

“Came out on day one wearing tiny sunglasses.”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“I have a fiance.”

“Really?” Taako tilts his head up and all the blood rushes to his face. 

“It’s you, Taako.”

“Oh.” Taako kicks his feet lazily. “Do you like me?”

Kravitz gently sets his kindle down. 

“You’re interesting enough. You’re certainly more interesting than my other clients.”

“You have other clients?? Cheater!!! Adulterer!” Taako points aggressively at him and tumbles off the couch into a heap. Kravitz laughs, oh, that musical laugh. It makes Taako’s insides jumble. 

“Are you alright?”

“Just bruised my ego.”

“Maybe it’ll deflate.”

“Awful, awful man.” Taako’s quiet for a long moment, long enough for Kravitz to start reading again, and this time, his voice is soft. “Do you really want to call it off?”

“Taako,” Kravitz says, looking over his reading glasses. Stupid sexy motherfucker. “Even if you weren’t my employer, which is its own problem, we barely know one another. You did it for the goof. It’s okay to admit that.”

“But...do you want to get to know me? Would that be so bad?”

Kravitz regards him for a moment. 

“I suppose I’m not busy with anyone else,” he says, after a long, deadly moment. “Maybe we can let it go on until you get bored of me.”

“Easy,” Taako says from the floor, still ass-over-teakettle. He can feel his heartbeat in his ears when he looks at Kravitz, and it plays a funny rhythm he doesn’t recognize. “Things will be back to normal in no time.”

[sparkles-and-trash]

My fav 3 versions/interpretations of South Park characters thing!

I’m so sorry this took much longer than anticipated, I was gonna do it Friday but then I had a panic attack for the first time in forever because my CFS have been real bad lately and I was in such bad shape my BFF had to come and smack me back to life, and Sunday was suddenly full on breakdown day, a bad BPD episode and yeah, it was rough, but today I’m doing better and I realize nobody really cares about my personal issues lol but I just have a need to excuse myself here and I realize that’s kinda dumb but here we are ANYWAYS I hope these are okay, and that these are in no way the RIGHT interpretations, just my personal favorites! 

Kyle:

suggested by the wonderful  @otherluces <3

#1 

I’m not gonna lie, I love nerdy, preppy Kyle. Sweater-vests, collard shirts, doesn’t realize how attractive he is Kyle, oblivious to people having crushes on him Kyle, set on Harvard to become a lawyer and fight for justice and argue for a living, yanno? 

#2 

I also really like the more dorky and nerdy Kyle, where he has really niché interests that he gets totally invested in and talks about 24/7, loves reading and studying, but not just to get good results, but because he genuinly enjoys it.

#3

The last version I can think of with him, is the tall, lanky and kinda hard to read Kyle. He keeps a lot of his feelings to himself, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have them. He plays basketball, he’s good at it too, and while he does well in school and everyone expects him to go into law, he has some totally different dream he keeps to himself for now. He kinda perks up a bit when in smaller crowds, esp with his cloest friends, but he still carries a lot of secrets that some time needs to come out.

Tweek:

suggested by my new fren  @soft-craig-and-tweek ^^

I like Tweek in so many ways these were hard to pick, but I’mma try to narrow it down a bit and not go totally off haha

#1

I actually quite enjoy the jagged, tired Tweek, the one who with help from friends and family manage to get off the meth his parents feed him secretly, but who still struggle with withdrawal, dark bags under his eyes, kinda pale and with sharp features, but he’s still a sweet and kind boy, a boy who wants to make the right choices and change the world to a better place, but who still has a darkness he carries, and the fact that he never gives up that fight is what makes him so special 

#2

and okay I have to be honest, I do love myself some sunshine boy Tweek. This Tweek still has issues, he is maybe even more anxious than the last one, but he’s also just as vibrant and energetic as he is anxious! He is an artist, he paints with bright colors, he composes beautiful, hopeful melodies, he feels everything so much,  and he is a contagious and exciting person to be around. Cannot dress for the life of him. So much mis-match and odd outfits, but it kinda works? 

#3

The last one I’m gonna mention for this wonderful boy, is the more alternative Tweek. He writes obscure poetry, he watches too many conspiracy theory videos on youtube, he draws the monsters in his mind, and he writes the scariest, most hauntingly beautiful stories on the internet, and people online love him. He has no idea how to deal with being popular in that sense, because irl he is the type to not belong to a certain friend group, but he does go along well with most people on a surface level. Dark circles, shaky hands, crooked and cute smiles, baggy t-shirts and ripped jeans. When he first opens up to someone, he really, really does, and he will always support and be there for you. If you deserve it, that is. 

Nichole: 

also suggested by  @soft-craig-and-tweek <3 

#1

I love nerdy Nichole who isn’t afraid to show it! Maybe she’s a streamer or youtube gamer even, I can def see her writing fanfiction, and being hella good at it too! Makes quite a name for herself online, and hangs out with the boys a lot irl, has game nights with the boys from Board Girls (even Cartman sometimes), is funny in a sarcastic way, but never mean. 

#2

Popular girl Nichole is also a favorite for me, but not in the “classical” sense. I imagine her to be a sporty, maybe on both the basket and volleyball team, captain for the basket one, she’s a born leader, she’s kind and fair, but can also be strict, and people always trust her to be honest and true.  

#3

Artsy Nichole!! I imagine her in bright yellow dresses and with her hair flowing and free, with flowers in her hair, freckles on her face, a big, genuine smile, a loud laughter that is so contagious, she loves spending time with Jimmy because they have a very similar humor, and she’s a theater kid, she sings like an angel and can act, oh boy can she act, she can make anyone laugh or cry in just a blink of an eye, she’s just a human sun-ray and I love her a lot 

Butters: 

suggested by @kinguidamundo, thank you so much!! 

#1

I love edgy Butters soooo much??? Like, he’s still a kind and bright boy, but he can also stand up for himself a lot more, he likes fashion a lot, he gets tattoos and piercings, he explores tons of ways to express himself, he’s a yes-dude, he goes out on dates a lot, but isn’t ready for a “real” relationship yet, but he enjoys meeting people and testing out himself around different types of people! Also he is a bi icon change my mind jk u can’t 

#2

I have a weak spot for the kind of soft and timid looking Butters too, who wears pastel colors and have big, innocent eyes, he is genuine and kind, but he carries something darker inside, something he isn’t sure how to deal with, something that scares him, but in reality it’s just normal feelings, anger, resentment and fear, but he’s lived his life ignoring them so much they catch him off guard at times. He learns to live with them slowly, and he does so with lots of help and patience from friends and loved ones. 

#3

Okay, last one, totally self-indulging here, but yeah, happy sunflower boy is also a big favorite. He is more confident than the previous version, but in a gullible way if that makes any sense? He believes the best in people, and if he is proven wrong, he’s willing to try to help them become better people, if they want to or not! This is honestly the version I love most with Stan, Butters being the ray of sunshine in Stan’s life and Stan being the realism to keep Butters grounded and them both supporting each other so much? Fuck yeah that’s the good stuff. 

Clyde:

suggested by @horrorpumpkin, ty sm friend! <3 

#1

Himbo Clyde!!! Jock dude who genuinely loves sports, he’s a team player, and while he might not be super intellectual, he is very socially smart, he is kind and empathic, he is funny and likable, he always tries his best to make everyone feel included, and while he loves chicks a lot, and is a sexual dude, he does it with nothing but respect and admiration for the ladies! 

#2

Bisexual disaster Clydeeee <3 obv being bi isn’t a personality trait, but he is very open about it, he wants to be confident and good at flirting, but goddamn is he a MESS! He’s also a huge supporter of every single relationship his friends is in, he loves love, in all shapes and forms, he is emotional and kind and awkward in an endearing way. 

#3

Can’t leave out crybaby Clyde, can we now? He’s a bit of an awkward bean as well, but he owns it a bit more. He is kinda like a puppy, a cute, excitable and emotional puppy who loves his friends, video games and lazy movie nights, kinda chubby, he loves baking and does it a lot with Tweek, he is also a huge nerd for Harry Potter and totally geek out over it with Kyle and Nichole sdhlksgdhl

Kenny: 

suggested by anon! 

#1

First up I guess I should put my high school AU Kenny. I know it’s controversial, but I imagine this Kenny to be more on the quiet side, but not really in a shy way. He’s just a bit of an observer who doesn’t speak unless he really sees fit, and while he still has his crude humor and is kinda rumored to be sleeping around a lot, he actually struggle with intimacy issues. He never imagined them to include sexual stuff, but turns out they do, and balancing being sexually open and curious and having these issues ain’t easy on the boy, let me tell you that. 

#2

This one is kinda heavily inspired by Luces, but I love him as kind and loyal, but also a bit more chatty and charming, but not for his own gain. He wants others to feel good about themselves, in social settings, his friends, during sexy times, he is selfless and good, but he is also living for the moment, he is a likable and wonderful guy, but he does still only REALLY open up emotionally to people he really trusts. Not traditionally attractive, but interesting looking in a way. Lots of freckles, bit of buck teeth with a big gap between his front teeth, messy kinda curly hair, long straight nose. Always wears baggy hoodies and worn out jeans, shrugs and gives that lopsided smile when people ask him about anything personal.

#3

Mysterious Kennyyyy. You think you know him, everyone does, but in reality, very few have seen the real him. He likes people, and he likes to help them, he’s always down to listen to people’s problems and help them, he wants to inspire kids like himself to never give up and think there’s only one path for them, because he knows there is not. Volunteers at the animal shelter with Stan, works part time at Tweek Bro’s and is good buddies with Tweek. Had a early sexual debut, slept around a bit and got his heart broken unexpectedly when he was a Freshman, so there are some walls there now, but he ain’t usually one to turn down someone who’s up for it and whom with he has good chemistry either. 

[hyperionshipping]

Oh AMAZING start

Red robe,,

AW YEAH BOYS LET'S GO

WAS THAT TRIXIES DRAWING OF LUCE??? AAAAA

sososo kissable rn.

HELL YEAH LUCIFER HAS A GOOD VOICE 💜💜💜

>eheh. The downside of tagging spoilers is I think some of these show up in tags. Like hiii don't mind the selfshipper ignore me talking about my canon which is objectively way cooler

Kissing Lucifer's stomach rn. Mwah! Mwah! Mwah!!

HIS DUMB LITTLE PANTS. Stealing those!!!!

🎶we're trapped in a musical!

Did all of the money go to the rights on this episode?

SNK- HEHEHEH

GOD IS MAKING THE MUSICAL HAPPEN???

Happy stimming rn, love this!!!

THANK U CHLOE!!! GO OFF!!!!!!!!!!

IM saying everything disrespectfully. FUCK you God. You ruined Lucifer who was a perfectly good man. And you will never heal the wounds you have made at this rate

JWJSJDJDNR. Linda can I go on a lame human walk with you?

I WANT TO SING FACE TO FACE WITH LUCIFER,,,,,,,

** ** **** ** ** ****** **** ******* *** thanks lyrics!

[hopeswriting]

FANDOM: Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

EVENT: Flufftober 2020

PROMPT: “Oh No, They’re Hot”

AUTHOR: @hopeswriting​

RATING: G

PAIRING: Adult!Colonnello/Adult!Skull

SUMMARY:

Colonnello officially meets Skull for the first time, and he finds him way more hot than a could-be, easy, bully target.

TAG WARNING: Swearing, Sexual Innuendos, Implied/Referenced Bullying

WORDS: 1603

*

How hard could it be to be a punctual human being?

Surely not that hard, seeing as Colonnello was one all his life.

You’d think he would have mastered the art of waiting by then, but if this Skull guy doesn’t show up in the next five minutes, he’ll just leave without looking back.

Or maybe he’ll stay until he shows up, so he can give him a piece of his mind, depending on how long he can make his drink last.

Colonnello rolls his eyes, bumps his head against the wall.

This whole “meeting the Arcobaleno one-on-one as your now teammates” is ridiculous. What is he, a new student at school trying to win the favor of the popular kids?

Colonnello was always among the popular kids, thank you very much. He can’t believe Lal would support this idea, but no matter now.

He just needs to meet the Cloud to be done with it all for good.

Colonnello hears it long before he can see it.

A black and purple motorbike rounds the street corner in a very sharp turn, an equally black and purple driver riding it.

He speeds past the cars in no time, driving around them but keeping so close it’s a wonder they don’t make contact, the sound of the engine revving and the tires against the concrete drowning everything else.

He speeds right past Colonnello, then makes an abrupt u-turn, his motorcycle tipping sideways so low Colonnello doesn’t comprehend how he doesn’t fall, switches lanes, and smoothly parks right in front of him on the sidewalk.

Is this guy… trying to show off to him?

Because it’s working alright.

Colonnello laughs breathlessly, goosebumps up his arms. A chill runs down his spine, adrenaline running through him from just watching.

Oh, he absolutely needs to earn himself a ride.

Skull casually walks up to him, not seeming to care about all the eyes on him. “Hi, I’m Skull. Sorry, I’m not too late, am I?”

Colonnello glances at his watch. Thirty five seconds before five minutes.

This fucker.

“Hi, I’m Colonnello. You are late. I thought we both agreed on the meeting time?”

“I know, I know, I’m sorry. I got stuck in traffic.”

Colonnello subtly narrows his eyes. He just can see Skull grinning despite his helmet, and he sure as hell heard it.

This little shit.

“So. You met all the others already?”

“Yeah.”

“Right.” Skull puts his hands in his pockets, fidgets uncomfortably. “Well, I’m sure you heard all kind of things about me from them, but, you know, I wouldn’t exactly call them Skull specialists.” He shrugs, raises his hand to his head. It bumps against his helmet. “Oh right, my helmet. Hold a second.”

Colonnello’s drink goes down the wrong pipe. He doubles over in a coughing fit, his drink slipping from his hand entirely.

“Woah man, what the hell?”

What the hell?

This guy is hot.

“Are you alright?”

Colonnello pushes his helping hand away, still coughing a little.

Skull’s purple eyes watch him with amusement, highlighted by his purple smokey eye, with heavy mascara on his eyelashes that somehow only draws the gaze more to his eyes.

He nips at the piercing on his bottom lip, linked with the one on his earlobe by a silver chain. Plump lips smeared with purple lipstick spread in a smug smile, emphasizing the teardrop tattoo under his left eye.

His purple hair points in every direction in a stylish mess of a haircut, a fringe falling above his left eye.

And really, it’s a lot of purple, but holy shit the guy is gorgeous.

How did that not come up even once during Lal’s briefings?

“I’m fine, I just swallowed wrong.”

“Yeah, I noticed.”

Colonnello straightens himself up, shakes his hand from the drink that spilled on him. He licks off the last of it, and oh, he knows that look in Skull’s eyes.

Good. Now they’re even.

“Sorry about that by the way,” Skull says. “These kind of accidents just keep happening around me, and I really just can’t figure out why.”

“Yeah,” Colonnello says, trying to play it off as casually as he can, “can’t imagine why either. I really don’t see anything that could provoke these kind of reactions.”

“Sure.”

“Listen, I’m a really smooth guy, alright?”

“I guess I’ll just have to take your words for it.”

“Fuck off.”

Skull snickers, something purposefully meant to rile him up further. Colonnello doesn’t take the bait, and bites the inside of his cheek to not laugh too.

Shit. Are they flirting? Colonnello can’t have that.

He has a reputation, and standards, and this guy... could very easily meet them, actually.

But he wears leather jumpsuits, chose purple as his defining color, and going on with the design on his helmet, octopuses of all things could get involved at some point.

And unfortunately Colonnello knows for certain it’s not just the symbol of the Carcassa famiglia.

“Oh shit, Immortal Skull?”

They both turn to the pair of teenagers, wide-eyed at the sight of Skull. Skull’s face lights up. He waves his hand excitedly, and poses for them to take a picture.

Colonnello raises his eyebrow.

Right. Stuntman shows, death defying stunts, famous guy.

He snorts. “Isn’t that cute? You have fans.”

Skull’s smile dims, and disappears entirely once the teenagers are on their way. “As a matter of fact, I do. It kind of comes together with being famous.”

“Yeah,” Colonnello scoffs, “famous for riding bikes.”

Skull doesn’t wince, not quite, but Colonnello catches his face twitching. He puts his free hand in his pocket, hunches his shoulders.

His voice is carefully neutral. “Yeah, for riding bikes. With hundreds upon hundreds of hours of training behind the handle, but no big deal right? Listen, can you...” he sighs deeply, meets his eye again “... just not? We literally just met? Or at least don’t come for the literal greatest passion of my life right off the bat, maybe? I don’t know man, just cut me some slack.”

“Sorry.”

Skull blinks. Colonnello blinks.

Well, that came out embarrassingly easily. And it did sound an awful lot sincere, if Skull’s more open face and posture is anything to go by.

Fucking hell, what is he doing? Playing nice? Is he actually trying to get on Skull’s good side?

“Thank you, I really appreciate it.” Colonnello watches the last of Skull’s hesitance disappears in his eyes, a smile slowly pulling at his lips until he grins at him again. “So, should we wrap this up? Or maybe we could keep meeting each other for a bit?”

Colonnello peers above his shoulder, at the sleek black and unfortunately purple motorbike.

Now, how much does he really want this ride?

“Sure,” he says, walking past him. He puts a leg over the bike, and sits comfortably on the back seat.

Maybe if he’s really good, Skull will let him drive it.

“Excuse you,” Skull splutters, “do you think I just let anyone ride my baby?”

“Excuse you,” Colonnello shots back, “take another good look at me and maybe you’ll realize I’m not anyone.”

“Right, you’re doing me a favor, is that it?” Skull crosses his arms on his chest, in what Colonnello supposes should have been an intimidating move. “I mean, you’re really hot alright, but I meet plenty of hot people on a daily basis. Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Take another really good look at me, and maybe you’ll realize I’m a category of my own among hot people.”

Skull laughs, very clearly despite himself, the hard-to-get act nowhere to be seen. He chews on his lip a bit, but Colonnello knows he already won the argument.

“You just doesn’t have any will, do you?”

“Oh, hush.” Skull rolls his eyes, shoves him playfully. “Maybe I’m just weak for pretty people.”

Colonnello mournfully watches him puts his ugly helmet back on, and rethink his life choices. Really, this goddamned Curse just might have affected his tastes too.

“You know, I did hear things. And I must say I don’t understand.”

Skull throws his hands up in the air. “I know right? You’d think I would have gotten laid with, I don’t know, at least three of them by now. Well, minus Luce of course.” Colonnello gets whiplash. What even—? “No offense to you. I know you have a thing going on with Lal.”

“No, let’s stay focused. That’s where your priorities lie?”

Skull shrugs, takes his place in the driver seat. “I mean, in exchange of all this shit I didn’t sign up for? I think it would have been the barest fucking minimum.”

Colonnello bursts out laughing, because really, what else is there to do?

Not that he doesn’t strongly share the sentiment. He met the others too, and does vividly remember what they look like.

Skull revs the engine, and hell yeah, here they go.

Colonnello wraps his arms loosely around his waist, leans a bit too comfortably maybe against his back, rests his chin on his shoulder.

“Tell you what.”

Skull catches his eye in the rear view mirror. “I’m listening.”

“If you impress me really hard right now—”

“What, with my driving skills you mean? Is that supposed to be a challenge?”

“—and make me spend a really nice time with you,” Colonnello continues, ignoring him, “I just might do an exception for you to the “not on the first night” rule.”

Skull chuckles low in his throat, crinkles at the corners of his eyes. He lowers his visor.

“This better be a promise, because I’ll hold you to that.”

*

The anime watchers only might not know that, because the anime did him so dirty, but Skull is straight up handsome.

I, for one, at the very least, find him very pretty, really handsome, and yes, straight up gorgeous. And it’s a hill I will die on, and I won’t hear any criticism on that.

Also I enjoyed myself writing this so much. Could you tell? Because this is my khr otp as of now, and I wish they’d be hundreds more fics about them for me to read.

Rarepair hell is, well, hell lmao.

Thank you for reading! Any and all review are appreciated ^^.

[augusberkeley]

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[queenmylovely]

Wedding Party III

Summary: Ben hardy x fem!reader. The night before the wedding is for the bachelorette party and the bachelorette party only, right? 

Word Count: 2.9k

Warnings: cussing, building tension, flirty texting, spoiler alert: heavy make-out section (very light smut, no underwear is removed, pretty much just descriptive grinding lol) 

A/N: Part 3 to part 3 of the celebration! Thank you so much again to everyone who follows me, including the people that have since I hit 500, cause it’s been quite a minute. This one’s a little shorter, but it gets the job done I think. Make sure to catch reader’s Freudian slip lol. Yell at me if you must. Any feedback is super appreciated but especially replies, messages, and asks are super helpful for my writing ‘cause I get to hear what you think!

Part I, Part II, Part IV, Mini i, Mini ii, Masterlist

(dorky cutie, gif by @catspawzz-yeahyeahyeahthedrummer​) 

💖💖💖

How you were up at 3:00am the night before your best friend’s rehearsal dinner and subsequent bachelorette party was beyond you. Well, it wasn’t really beyond you because you knew why. It was that damn Ben. You and he had been texting since that first game night and some nights it lasted until one of you fell asleep in the very early morning, phone in hand.

It stayed… mostly friendly, but every so often it ventured towards flirtation, which you thoroughly appreciated. But then the morning would come and one of you would inevitably make the switch back to just friendly. All in person interactions followed the same type of pattern. A couple more game nights as each other’s partners, dinner parties sitting across from each other and sharing looks and laughs, and brunches with free flowing mimosas and bloody mary’s that turned you both into tipsy, touchy flirts were enough to make both of you desperately want a quick fuck in a wedding reception bathroom (or anyplace and anytime sooner), and maybe more too.

In any sort of wedding related event, the two of you were paired up, and usually by the happy couple themselves. It was some sort of sweet torture that the two of you were walking together. You both greatly enjoyed spending so much time together, talking, flirting, whatever, but the damn rules were always on the edge of your minds.

Not that either of you knew the other was aware of the rules as well. Ben had the tiniest inkling that you might be, but he didn’t want to risk bringing it up in case you didn’t because he would’ve been a little embarrassed. You were completely clueless and were more focused on not breaking the rules than figuring out if Ben had any idea about it, because boy was it getting hard not to break them.

Anyway, it was 3:00am and you were struggling to keep your eyes open, but Ben’s texts always came right when they were about to close.

Ben: So what r u guys doing for Luce’s party?

Y/N: umm i think that’s a secret

Ben: A secret? I already told u what we’re doing 😤

Y/N: that’s on you bud

Ben: Rude

Ben: Whatever it is try not to get too drunk so I don't have to deal with u complaining of a hangover at the wedding

Y/N: says the guy who shows up to most of the brunches hungover or half drunk from the night before. besides, it’ll be hard to get drunk when i don’t have my personal drink maker there

Ben: Ah ur dependent on me now? No one else does it quite like me?

Y/N: that’s right, hardy. no one else keeps me filled up the way you do, it’s why i keep you around

Y/N: *my cup

Ben: It’s not the stimulating conversation or my charming good looks?

Y/N: those help, but no it’s your usefulness as a personal bartender

Ben: If I’m ur personal bartender, where are my tips?

Y/N: i’ll settle up after the wedding

Ben: Looking forward to it

_____

About 16 hours and a rehearsal and rehearsal dinner later, the wedding party was splitting into two groups for the respective bachelor and bachelorette parties.

You saw the boys gathered by one of the tables where the rehearsal dinner had been. Lucy and Rami were talking so everyone was taking a minute before it was time to leave. From where you were you could see Joe and Sami talking in hushed tones and counting what looked like a few hundred dollars in bills ranging from ones to twenties.

Catching Ben’s eye as he was scowling at you, you couldn’t help but laugh. Since he had told you that they were going on a chartered boat that had been set up for poker, you knew exactly what the money was for. Ben walked quickly over to you, crossing his arms and giving you a look once he got there.

When he didn’t say anything you asked, “Can I help you?”

“You haven’t told anyone have you?” Ben asked, still frowning. The little crease between his eyebrows and the slight pout of his lips made it hard to remember to answer his question.

“Of— of course not, I’m not gonna risk ruining the surprise for Rami,” you said, placing your hand on his still crossed forearm before smirking and saying, “Unlike you.”

Ben’s frown deepened for a second and you worried if you had been too mean, but then he just started laughing. You joined in and both of you took a step closer without realizing.

“Shut up,” Ben said, still chuckling.

You looked up at him with a challenge in your eyes and replied, “Make me.”

Ben suppressed a groan and looked down at you, biting his lip. There were a few seconds of heated silence and you felt yourself moving closer to Ben as he was doing the same.

“Y/N, we’re ready to head out, are you?” Emma called from where she and the rest of the bridesmaids were.

Ben cleared his throat and you turned around to tell her yeah. Then you turned back to Ben, putting your hand on his arm again, “See you tomorrow, then.”

“Have fun, be safe,” he told you.

“You too, don’t go falling off the boat,” you said with a smile that he returned.

Then he leaned down and kissed your cheek quickly, saying bye as he stepped back and you waved before turning around and following the group out the door.

_____

The bachelorette party was set up at your apartment because it was bigger than Emma’s and so that it could maintain the surprise for Lucy. It had required a bit of thinking for you and Emma to figure out what to do because Lucy didn’t want to go to a stripclub or anything of the like. Plus, since she was having the party the night before her wedding, she didn’t want a wicked hangover. She also wanted her mom, aunt, and young cousin to come, so it had to be something that they could participate in too.

Everyone went inside, seeing the multiple tables set up in the living room, wondering aloud what the plan was. It was only a couple minutes before there was a knock on the door. Just outside, there were two women wearing aprons that you let in with a smile.

Emma stood up to introduce them, “Everyone, this is Katy and Jay, they’ll be teaching us how to make cocktails tonight!”

Everyone exclaimed happily, and you were glad to see Lucy smiling brightly in excitement. You went to the kitchen and wheeled out a bar cart that had all of the equipment, alcohol, and mixers that would be needed. There were enough tables for everyone to be in pairs, and you were paired with Lucy so that Emma could be with her cousin, May.

One from each pair grabbed one of each of the items that Katy and Jay said to grab. The group included one pregnant bridesmaid, one who just didn’t drink, and the fourteen year old May, so your instructors had planned drinks that would still be good without alcohol.

The class ended up being a lot of fun; they taught different types of martinis, spritzes, mojitos, and G&T’s, so that by the time they were all made and everyone that was drinking tried them all, it was enough to be more than a little tipsy.

Jay and Katy took their leave after many thanks and promises of more cocktail parties in the future. Then you announced the next part of the evening.

“It-- it is now time for a fashion ex-- extara--vangza!” you exclaimed, stumbling over the long word and causing everyone to crack up with you.

Then Emma came out of your room, pulling, along with the help of her mom and aunt, two giant racks of clothes that you and she had spent the past few weeks collecting at different thrift and second-hand stores. You had gotten old wedding dresses, prom dresses, funky patterned shirts, bohemian skirts, oversized blazers with giant shoulder pads, sparkly bralettes, and everything in between.

Seeing the clothes, Lucy jumped up and ran over, immediately looking through them and soon there was a little crowd around the racks.

Emma tried to shout over everyone, “We have seven minutes to create an entire outfit and then we will have our fashion show! Don’t worry, this is only the first of many!”

The whole affair was full of laughs, shouts of excitement, and a couple quick arguments over who got what. Then the runway had to be prepared, which meant turning on the color changing LED lights you had and turning on a playlist of Beyoncé, ABBA, Rihanna, Adele, Lizzo, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, and Queen, though only the upbeat songs.

Everyone did their best struts down the runway and then posed strikingly at the end, channeling their inner model. The crowd said their oohs and ahhs and clapped for each one. You and Emma took turns modelling and being a photographer each round so that all of the outfits were captured during their walk.

After about five rounds, the fashion show devolved into a dance party where everyone was laughing and singing along with the songs.

Around midnight, you lost Lucy’s mom, her aunt, and May to tiredness. And once the first group had left, it wasn’t long before others started leaving as well. By 12:30am, the only ones left were Lucy and Emma, to help clean up. But you both tried to make Lucy sit and relax since she was the bride and shouldn’t have to clean up after her own party. She refused and helped anyway, hanging up the clothes that had gotten left on the couches and floor. Though a lot of them ended up in a large tote bag she found in your room that she planned to take home with her.

Once all the trash was thrown away, the dishwasher was running, and the last stray glittery shirt was hung up, you ushered Emma and Lucy out the door with hugs, kisses, and reminders to get a good night’s sleep.

You flopped on your couch, tired out but also somehow wired with energy and you debated over watching one episode of TV or just going to sleep. You were reaching to grab the remote to turn off the music when there was a knock at the door.

Rolling your eyes and smiling on the way, you unlocked it and threw it open, the question, “What, did you realize you left one of the pairs of cute trousers behind?” halfway out of your mouth before you realized that it wasn’t Lucy and Emma.

“Ben,” you said in surprise. Probably the last person you were expecting at this moment was Ben, but there he was, in dark jeans and a plain white t-shirt that fit him too well to leave anything to your imagination, his hair a little messy like he had been running his hands through it and his cheeks flushed pink due to what you could only assume was alcohol.

You opened the door wider and let him in, after you remembered to stop just staring at him and trying to imagine what he’d look like with those clothes off.

Ben smiled at you sweetly and said hi. Then he looked you up and down and a brief look of confusion crossed his face.

You looked down at yourself and realized that you were still wearing one of the sequin bralettes, a black mesh t-shirt underneath that, a high waisted neon purple skater skirt, and a houndstooth yellow and pink blazer with shoulder pads. Chuckling at yourself, you explained, “Oh, we had a fashion show.”

As the two of you walked into your living room, Ben nodded in understanding.

“Sit. How was the boat? Who won big in poker?” you asked as you sat on your feet, kneeling. You asked a little more enthusiastically than usual, but you were still kinda tipsy.

“Boat was good. Ummm I think maybe Rami won, yeah, he has a good poker face, he’s a good actor. Has an Oscar, you know,” Ben rambled, and you nodded with a smile as you thought that he must be kinda tipsy himself. Then he turned so he was facing you more and closed his eyes, shaking his head, “But we didn’t even play poker for long.”

“No?” you asked, leaning closer to him.

“No,” he said, opening his eyes slowly and smiling, “We did karaoke instead.”

“That sounds fun,” you whispered, looking down to his hand that was very close to yours. If you had been sober, you would’ve just looked, but you weren’t, so you grabbed it in yours and started playing with his fingers.

“Mmmm,” Ben hummed and you wondered whether it was in agreement to your statement or because he enjoyed what you were doing.

“What did you sing?” you asked curiously.

Ben flipped your hands so that he was the one doing the playing as he responded, “Me and Joe did a duet of ‘Greased Lightnin’’ from Grease. He was Danny and I was Kenickie.”

“Kenickie was always my favorite,” you commented, looking up from your hands to his eyes.

Ben looked up to your eyes as well, leaning in and asking, “Really?”

You moved closer too, and as you nodded, you felt his breath on your lips yet again.

This time, there were no interruptions and you closed the last few inches together, your lips finally meeting. The first kiss was soft, but the next one was a little more urgent, and the next even more so. Before you knew it, you were parting your mouth for Ben’s tongue and he was teasing along your lower lip, daring you to follow into his mouth.

You moaned as Ben’s hands came to your waist and he helped you straddle his lap. Your hands went to his chest and down to his stomach, feeling the taught muscles that you had seen through his shirt. Ben pushed your blazer off your shoulders and then one of his hands moved to tangle in your hair and the other slid lower and underneath your skirt to your ass

Breaking the kiss, you instead moved to placing kisses along his jaw then down his neck, scraping your teeth lightly on his pulse point and making Ben shudder. He moved his hands back to your waist and pushed down, at the same time grinding his hips up into you from below. You gasped and moaned, feeling his hardness pressing against you through only your underwear.

Kissing back up to his mouth, you bit his lower lip, getting a groan and another grind of his hips in return. Your hands slid up his torso and then to his hair, tugging it lightly and Ben continued to help you move with him as he moaned. Each pass of his hard cock on your clothed pussy made you a little more desperate for more and you whined whenever he grazed your clit.

When you tilted your head back in pleasure, Ben took the opportunity to move to your neck, kissing down the column of your throat before starting a search for your sweet spot. He found it quickly, and started sucking, but as good as it felt, you had to stop him.

“Ben, no marks, the wedding.”

Just that simple sentence knocked the sense back into both of you and you each leaned back, your hands all moving to your own sides.

“We can’t do this,” you said in unison, and then looked at each other in confusion.

“Wait--” you started.

“What--” Ben said at the same time.

“Why can’t we?” you asked him, a few thoughts falling into place as you remembered that initial conversation when Lucy had singled out Ben.

“Well, I’m just not supposed to-- I mean, I probably shouldn’t say…” he trailed off awkwardly and you got off his lap quickly, pacing in front of the couch as you came to a conclusion.

“Did Lucy tell you not to sleep with me?” you asked, turning to Ben quickly.

“No, well yes, well kind of. I guess it’s fine. Rami told me not to sleep with anyone from the wedding party, he didn’t single out you. But I assumed that Lucy felt the same way,” Ben said sheepishly, a blush covering his cheeks.

“Don’t be embarrassed, Lucy told me not to sleep with anyone either. Except she did single you out. She excused that it was because we’re walking together, but it’s probably because we’re both sluts. Nice to know I’ve got an ally out here,” you said wryly but when you looked over at Ben he just looked very confused. You quickly added, “That wasn’t meant as an insult.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m just surprised that they would go to such lengths. And I’m a little mad,” he commented.

You nodded and flopped back down on the couch next to him, “Yeah, me too, but I can see their point.”

Both of you sighed and then laughed.

“And we probably shouldn’t do anything tonight?” you asked, wanting his agreement, because you were close to just saying fuck it and doing something anyway.

“Yeah, we probably shouldn’t tonight,” he said, facing you and you could see that there was still a healthy amount of desire in his eyes. “But I make no promises for the reception.”

💖💖💖

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