#the book even makes a point to raise your hopes a little even tho you Know you shouldnt trust it and then...

[likopinina]

took a break from reading Sacred and Terrible Air to quickly read On the Beach by Nevil Shute cause I've heard a gossip that Death Stranding might be inspired by it.

Well, I don't know. They both take place at the end of a worldwide extinction and both include a lot of repetition, that's about as far as similarities go. Not even sure if I should include those repetitions because they hit different. In Death Stranding they are infamously annoying and a common theory is that all the characters are so isolated they'll blather on if given chance, even if it's repeating something they've already said. Not sure if this was Kojima's intent. On the Beach uses repetitions in a sort of poetic way almost. To me they strengthen the everpresent denial.

Reading it in-between Sacred and Terrible Air felt like jumping from a frying pan into open fire. On the Beach is so fucking bleak. The only way I could see DS being inspired by it is… like,, if Kojima read it and thought "Damn this is horrible, I need to write something like this, but hopeful immediately or I'll go insane". The two stories are an inverse of each other in some way, maybe.

Anyway, it's a good book but I wouldn't read it again. 1957 sure was a year, I guess. I feel like reading a mid tier crime story with a jaded alcoholic detective rn

[ro-is-struggling]

Can I pretty please request 6 with sirius black and perhaps slytherin! Reader?

Hi beautiful💜 Thank you so much for participating in the celebration and I'm sorry it took me so long to post your request!

This is so long for no reason I’m sorry!! I got soooo carried away I didn’t realize I wrote a fucking novel until it was to late lol But I really enjoyed wrtiring this one even tho it took forever and it was a pain in the ass to edit lol, I had a lot of fun so I hope you like it too

Dating 101 || Sirius Black x Slytherin!Reader

Summary: You and Sirius are not the best of friends, but you end up going to him in desperate need of help to get the attention of the guy you've liked for years but don't seem to be able to talk to. He agrees to help you and for the next few weeks you spend time together, getting to know each other better as he teaches you everything he knows about the dating world. The more time you spend together, the more you realize that Sirius is not the arrogant jerk you thought he was, which leads to confused feelings and doubts about who is the one who truly owns your heart.

Warnings: slow burn, rivals to lovers, attempt at humor, reader being awkward, fluff, a little angst kinda

English is not my first language 

Word count: 16.700

This fic is part of my 600 followers celeration

You couldn't believe what you were about to do, your brain screaming at you to stop. You felt sick at the thought of turning to Sirius for help, but you truly had no other choice. You had avoided this as much as you could, but your situation couldn't go on like this, not if you wanted to get your crush to look at you at some point. You weren't a big fan of Sirius —you found that he could be annoying and arrogant at times—, but you couldn't deny that he knew all about the dating world. He was confident and was able to get the attention of anyone he wanted just by giving them a smile. You couldn't understand how he did it —how could anyone be so charming?—, but you couldn't argue with the hard evidence. Sirius was a master at the art of dating and you needed his help. 

You felt a bit silly going to him for help with something like this. You weren't necessarily friends, more like frenemies. You usually argued and competed for points for your respective houses-Sirius for Gryffindor, you for Slytherin-you were both very good students and found your fights stimulating, but you also knew how to work together when necessary. You didn't hate each other, it was just that your personalities clashed easily and you both had a predilection for annoying the other to the point of madness. 

"I need your help with something, Black." You announced when you found him at the Gryffindor table in the Great Dining Hall. He was with his friends, laughing as they plotted who knows what, but you didn't care. You needed to talk to him and you needed to do it now. "Can we talk... in private?" You added as you noticed James, Peter and Remus' curious glances at you.

Sirius looked at you with a raised eyebrow, noticing a hint of discomfort in your action. You were fidgeting, your fingers lightly tapping the edges of the book you held in your hands as you moved your feet constantly, shifting your body weight from one to the other every couple of seconds. Something was bothering you and for some reason you had gone to him of all people. Sirius didn't need to ask you any more questions to follow you into the hallway, too intrigued by what you had to say.

“What’s up, Y/LN?” He asked you when he saw the doubt in your expression, opening and closing your mouth a couple of times without making a sound. He had to admit that your behavior kept poking his curiosity to the point that he was willing to say yes to anything you asked as long as you told him something.

"I need your help," you mumbled as you searched for the right words to explain your situation. Your brain was screaming at you to shut your mouth, sure that Sirius would do nothing but make fun of you, but you had no other options left so that was a risk you would have to take.

"You said that already," he pointed out. "What do you need my help for?"

"I need you to help me get a guy's attention. I know you're really good at this stuff and I thought maybe you could help me out." You spoke quickly, the words running over each other and making the sentence almost unintelligible. It took Sirius a few seconds to understand what you had said, but when he did a cocky smile formed on his face.

“Really?” You regretted asking for his help as soon as you heard the amused tone in his voice. He was definitely enjoying this, it wasn't every day that you were so vulnerable in front of him. He would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy listening to you compliment his abilities in the love department. For the first time you were admitting that he was better than you at something without putting up a fight.

"Forget it." You turned to walk away convinced that you had made a mistake in trusting someone like Sirius with your problem. You barely made it two steps before you felt his hand close around your arm to stop you.

"Nonono wait! I wanna help." He was quick to say before you got too far away. "What's your problem?" You remained silent for a moment, watching his face to make sure he wasn't messing with you. You weren't in the mood to put up with his teasing and this topic was too sensitive for you. If he wasn't willing to genuinely give you his help then you would have to leave.

However, you found nothing in his expression that made you suspect that he had bad intentions, so you told him your situation. You told him how much you liked this Oliver guy and how incredibly stupid you became whenever he was around. You had a crush on him for the past two years and even though you were from the same house and shared almost every class, you had never been able to exchange more than two words with him. And it was always embarrassing. All he had to do was look in your direction and you completely lost your cognitive abilities, becoming a nervous mess who couldn't utter more than two words without stuttering. 

After all this time you had almost gotten used to making a fool of yourself in front of Oliver, it was a constant part of your day to day life so you had stopped worrying about it the way you used to. You held out hope that you could get better with time, gather the confidence and courage to face your feelings and have a normal conversation with him at least once. However, all your hopes were shattered after the embarrassing moment you experienced this morning.

The Potions class had dragged on a bit so by the time you were finally able to leave the classroom everyone was running late for their next classes. Everybody rushed through the halls and in the confusion of people Oliver bumped into you, causing your books to fall to the floor. Like the gentleman he was, he bent down with you to pick them up and your fingers brushed as he handed them back to you, causing the skin on your hand to tingle. He smiled at you and apologized for hitting you, but your brain, overwhelmed by the contact and proximity, wouldn't allow you to do anything but mumble incoherently. When you noticed the confusion on his face you knew it was time to run, so you grabbed your books and ran down the hallway, bumping into a couple of students on the way.

“Wow! You suck!” Sirius laughed at your misery. He had a hard time imagining you as someone so shy and awkward given that with him you were Miss I-Know-It-All. Sirius always saw you as a confident and self-assured girl, ready to take the world by storm if it got in the way of your goals.

"I know!" you admitted with a tone of frustration, hiding your face in your hands. You didn't see the point in lying to Sirius, your pride was already crushed from the moment you decided to go to him. "That's why I need your help!"

"Okay, I'll help you, but what's in it for me?" The way he was looking at you, with a raised eyebrow and an amused smile on his face, made you suspicious of his intentions. What was he getting at? " What's in it for me if I help you, something that, let me remind you, I have absolutely no need to do?"

"My eternal gratitude?"

"Oh, it has to be something better than that! You're asking for a lot here, do you have any idea of how much work it's gonna take me to fix your awkwardness?" You knew he was joking for the most part and you were aware that there was a lot of truth behind his words —you were pretty much a lost case—, but it still hurt a little to hear him say that. You weren't used to taking his words without putting up a fight, but you knew that wouldn't get you anywhere. It was time to swallow your pride and listen to Sirius no matter how ridiculous and annoying it sounded.

"Then what do you want?" You asked him, letting out a frustrated sigh, crossing your arms in front of your chest in a defiant stance. You had no time for his games and you were pretty much willing to do anything for his help. "Name your price."

Sirius took a moment to think, but there was something in his expression that suggested to you that he already knew exactly what he wanted from you. 

"Fine I'll do it, but only if you help me with my Herbology assignment." He stated after a few seconds of silence. You looked at him in surprise, doubting for a moment if you had heard correctly. For some reason you were expecting something more terrible, like him using you to make a prank against your own house or having you as a servant for a week, you know, something that felt more like a punishment than anything else.

"Really? That's it?" It was a reflex caused by surprise that you couldn't help but blurt out. You were more than happy with his terms, helping him in Herbology was something you could do with ease.

"No, now that I think about it I also want you to declare to everyone that I'm better than you in everything, but we can work on that." 

And there was the Sirius you knew. You shook your head in disapproval, but couldn't contain the giggle that escaped your lips. He was an idiot, but a funny idiot. 

"Fine! We have a deal?" You asked, holding out your hand for him to shake. He looked at you for a moment before taking your hand, closing his fingers over it in a firm grip.

"We have a deal."

Sirius refused to tell you what he had planned for his first lesson  —his words, not yours. No matter how hard you pressed him for a clue, he kept his mouth shut. He told you it was best that you didn't know more than the day and time he wanted to meet with you to discuss your situation, so you had to spend the week between the stress of homework and exams and the nerves Sirius aroused in you with all the secrecy. 

But finally, after so much suffering and uncertainty, Saturday came. You usually took advantage of the weekend to do your homework or spend time with your friends, but not this time. From the moment you woke up you spent the day counting down the hours until you could meet Sirius. You weren't even surprised that he took his role comically seriously, walking around you while talking as if he was a teacher and you were his only student. He even made exaggerated gestures, mixing several of your teachers into one personality. He only needed a board to write nonsense on and the character would be complete. You didn't mind that he found a way to joke in the middle of it all, you figured that was better than literally anything else he could come up with.

"Today's lesson is about confidence." Sirius announced firmly, looking down at you as if you were an innocent little girl and he was an experienced adult who had all the answers to your questions. And in a way he was, so you closed your mouth and listened to what he had to say. "If you want to ask this guy out then first you have to be able to be able to talk to him. And for that you have to be confident in yourself and your abilities. That's really the most important part of all. Confidence can get you far in life."

You knew very well that what he said was true, but it was much easier said than done. You were a confident girl in general, sure of your ideas and unafraid to communicate them. In any other area of life you had no problem making yourself heard, but when it came to love your brain stopped working. It was the one thing your brain couldn't master, the one thing that didn't seem to make sense and therefore was impossible to study. The world and everything you knew about it stopped making sense when Oliver got close to you. Your brain would fry when he smiled, overwhelmed by the perfection of his face, and suddenly forget how to function properly, making your strong and special personality get lost in a bunch of incoherent babbling.

“That’s easier said than done,” you complained, letting out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but everytime Oliver looks at me I get all stupid and suddenly I forget how to speak.”

“You’re insecure because you lack experience in the matter, that’s completely normal.” You frowned at the confidence in Sirius' voice, but after contemplating his words for a few seconds you realized he was right. How he had been able to figure it out so quickly, you didn't know.

“That… actually makes sense. What do you think I should do?”

“Easy! You need to practice.” He said as if it were obvious, dropping down next to you.

“Practice?”

“Yep, right here, right now. Show me what you’ve got.”

“S-show you what I’ve got?” you repeated in a whisper, unsure how to proceed. You didn't have any lines if that's what he meant. You didn't usually walk around school thinking about which boy's attention you wanted to attract that day, so you didn't have a list of stupid, cheesy icebreaker phrases like you knew he had.

"Just pretend that I'm him. You have me sitting next to you, what's your line?" Sirius' eyes were glued to yours, looking at you expectantly. It made you nervous, so naturally, you made nothing but a fool of yourself when you opened your mouth.

"Hey there... you..." you hesitantly mumble, cringing at yourself. You wanted to slap yourself for being so pathetic. What was wrong with you? You were so much better than this, why was it impossible for you to sound like a normal person when it came to a guy? "I'm sorry, this isn't working. I'm not usually the one that initiates the conversations. Also when I look at you I just see you, so this is dumb." 

You hid your face in your hands to avoid meeting Sirius' mocking gaze. You knew he was probably getting a kick out of your suffering and stupidity, although you were thankful he didn't make it so obvious. You wanted to run out of there, hide under your sheets and never be noticed again by any other human being. There was no hope for you, you were convinced of it. You were too pathetic and you would die alone because of it.

"Fine, let's try a different approach." Sirius sounded too optimistic for someone who had seen you make a fool of yourself like that. "You see that guy over there," he said, forcing you to take your hands away from your face so you could see the boy he was pointing at. When you nodded, he continued. "I want you to get over there and flirt with him."

You let out a long laugh that died as soon as you noticed the seriousness on Sirius' face. "Wait, seriously?" He nodded with a smile and you felt your stomach start to twist with nerves. 

"Look, talking to Oliver scares you, right? The only way to get over it is to face it right here, right now. So I want you to go there and talk to that guy."

"And say what?" You panicked, your voice a couple of notes higher than normal. You didn't even know the guy Sirius wanted you to flirt with, which guaranteed not only that things would go horribly wrong but also that you would be humiliated in front of a complete stranger. Great! That was exactly what you needed at that moment. “I don’t know if you noticed, but I can barely talk to you. what am I supposed to say to this guy?”

“I don’t know, use a dumb line like…” Sirius took a few seconds to think, though you wished he had never opened his mouth again. "Hey, I could tell from across the room we might be into each other, now that I'm here I know it, your move." The exaggeratedly feminine voice he made as he recited the worst line you'd ever heard in your life did nothing to ease your urge to hit him. There was no way you were going to say that to a complete stranger. No, you refused.

"I'm sorry, have you met me? I couldn't get through three words of that."

"Fine! Walk over there and say hey there."

"Hey there?" You tried to protest, but he cut you off, pushing you to get up.

"C'mon, up, up!" you resisted his pushes, but Sirius was much stronger than you and eventually won you over. 

You took several deep breaths before you decided to take the first step towards that mysterious boy who was so calmly reading a book sitting on a bench in the hallway overlooking the courtyard. You walked as slowly as possible without looking weird, turning every two seconds to look at Sirius hoping he would take pity on you and let you go back to your place. However, he just smiled at you, giving you the thumbs up in a gesture of encouragement and making you hate him just a little bit.

You sat on the unoccupied end of the bench, making yourself as small as possible to try to go unnoticed. It didn't make much sense since you were supposed to talk to him, but first you needed a moment to calm your nerves. 

C'mon, you can do this!' the voice of bravery in your mind tried to encourage you. 'It's just a guy! The sooner you talk to him, the sooner you can get this over with.'

You tried to summon your inner Sirius and, letting out a sigh, you turned to look at the boy who was still concentrating on the book in his hands. "Hey there!" Your voice sounded smaller and more pathetic than you meant it to, but it managed to get the boy's attention.

"Hi," he said, slightly confused. A few seconds of awkward silence ensued as your brain struggled to function, thinking of the best way to continue the conversation. 

"What are you reading there?" Without saying anything, the boy closed the book in his hands to show you the cover, giving you time to read the title. It was an old book from the library on the history of the magical world. "Ah, I see. Homework or pleasure?" You didn't know why you were so interested in the book he was reading, it didn't even matter for what you were supposed to be doing, but at least it was a topic of conversation. It was either that or a deep uncomfortable silence until one of you got tired and left.

"I'm doing some research for an essay," he explained as if it were obvious. What teenager would spend a weekend reading a history book for pleasure?

“Oh, about what? Cause I’m really good at History and I-”

“I’m sorry but I’m kinda busy,” he interrupted you before you could continue with your ramblings that were going nowhere. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Oh no, sorry!" you were quick to apologize, feeling the blood from all over your body pooling in your cheeks. Embarrassed, you turned your gaze away from the boy looking for anything else to focus on so you wouldn't have to face your humiliation. Your eyes met Sirius, who gave you a smile. On his lips you read words of encouragement, so you took another deep breath and returned your attention to the boy sitting next to you. "Actually... I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go out with me sometime?"

An awkward silence formed and lasted a few seconds. The boy's eyes locked on you, but you couldn't hold his gaze as you waited for an answer. Your eyes searched Sirius once again for comfort and that's when you heard the laughter.

"That was good! Did Sirius put you up to this?" the boy laughed, humiliating you a little more with each chuckle. Of course he thought it was a joke!

"You got me!" you blurted out with a fake laugh, throwing your hands up in the air in defeat. "He dared me to come over and talk to you. I'm sorry to have bothered you."

The boy said something else, but you didn't hear him since you were already running back to Sirius. You felt humiliated and dejected. Not only had you made a fool of yourself, but it had all been for nothing. That experience hadn't taught you anything you didn't already know —that you were awkward and weird and that you would die alone because of your lack of flirting skills.

"See, that wasn't so bad!" Sirius encouraged you as you sat back down next to him. "You got him to laugh!"

"That was humiliating and I hate you."

"Well too bad because now I want you to talk to fifteen guys."

"What? No, forget it!" Sirius was crazy if he thought you were willing to do that again. You'd been humiliated enough for one day, you wanted to go to sleep now.

"Oh my sweet, innocent little bug." Sirius said in an almost condescending tone, putting his arm around your shoulders and pulling you close to him. You scrunched up your nose at the strange nickname he had chosen for you, trying to decide if you hated it or thought it was funny. "Confidence takes work. You can't just talk to one guy and expect everything to magically change. You need to work for it, take a few hits, learn that a negative response it's not the end of the world and it doesn't define who you are or your value as a person."

"It's easy for you to say! All you have to do is smile and every girl in school throw themselves at you."

"That's because I already put in the work, silly." He bumped your nose with his finger and you rolled your eyes, pushing him to break free from his embrace. Suddenly you weren't in the mood for his bullshit. "So now I want you to do the same. Go get them!"

Letting out a grunt, you got up and set off down the corridors of Hogwarts in search of boys who were isolated enough to give you some privacy while you made a fool of yourself —the last thing you wanted was to be the laughing stock of the whole school. And as you walked along you couldn't help but think that maybe asking Sirius for help hadn't been as great an idea as you had initially thought.

“How exactly do you kill two mandrakes in a row?” Was your answer when Sirius told you the reason why he needed your help in Herbology. As part of the practical exam for the OWLs, Sirius had to tend a mandrake plant until it was fully ripe and then present it to the professor. It was not an easy task —mandrakes, like humans, were complicated beings—, but not impossible either. Sirius was a very skilled wizard and you believed that someone like him would have no problem with such a task. But apparently you were wrong, because according to what he had told you it was the second time the plant withered and died before it developed squeaky roots similar to a very ugly human baby.

"I don't know! That's why I'm asking for your help." He shrugged, opening the greenhouse door and stepping aside to let you pass. You found his response suspicious, it was hard to believe that someone like Sirius couldn't take care of a simple mandrake, but you didn't say anything about it. Instead, you let him lead you over to where his pot rested. "What am I doing wrong?"

“Well, have you been watering it enough?” was your first question when you noticed that the soil in the pot looked a little dry. You motioned for him to hand you the watering can and you took it upon yourself to hydrate the poor plant. "You need to check on it regularly. Mandrakes are very similar to us, they need love and attention to grow strong and healthy."

"I'm not going to treat this thing like it's my baby or something." Sirius complained, leaning back on the table as he watched you analyzing the state of the plant. He had to admit that the light reflected off the greenhouse in a unique way, giving you a different aura. You were glowing in a special way that Saturday morning and he couldn't help but wonder what was causing it.

"You'll have to do it if you want to pass the exam." Your voice snapped him out of his thoughts, bringing him back to reality. "But don't worry, I'll help you. We'll co-parent this thing." You both shared a laugh at how ridiculous that sounded, but Sirius would be lying if he said that the idea of spending more time with you disgusted him. He didn't quite know what was happening to him, but lately he didn't find you as annoying and insufferable as usual. Maybe it was because you weren't looking to argue with him every five minutes, or the fact that he had gotten to know a different side of you, but he found himself enjoying the time you spent together. It was fun to joke with you without starting a war.

You spent the next hour talking about mandrakes and you gave Sirius a couple of tips on how to keep it alive. You ended up setting up a schedule for him, marking the times when he had to visit to water it and when to move it to get the exact amount of sunlight it needed to grow strong. If he followed your advice, the mandrake would reach its squeaky baby stage in a couple of weeks. You promised to help him dig it up and repot it as it grew, but assured him that the daily care would fall to him so you could make sure he was learning something —after all, you didn't want to help him pass his OWL Herbology exam by cheating.

You parted ways when lunchtime arrived, each of you going to the table of your respective houses to eat with your friends. However, Sirius approached you again a couple of hours later while you were waiting with the other students to go on the Hogsmeade trip.

"Ready for your next lesson?" he said as he put his arm around your shoulders. It took you by surprise since in all the time you had shared in the morning he hadn't mentioned anything about having your next lesson.

"Already?" you asked, remembering that it had only been a week since your disastrous first lesson. Well, it hadn't been so bad after all. Sure, you had spent the afternoon humiliating yourself, talking nonsense to the first guy who crossed your path, but in the end you had managed to get a positive response from one. The small victory had made you feel good, but you still needed some more time to recover. 

"Well, you were really helpful this morning so I wanted to do something in return."

"Is it going to take long? Cause I wanted to go out with the girls."

"Just give me an hour, then you're free to go." You looked at him with hesitation in your eyes, the ghost of their last encounter haunting you. If his next lesson was going to be as terrible as the first you weren't sure you were ready, you needed time to prepare your mind for the humiliation. "C'mon, you're going to like this one." Sirius insisted with a smile and you ended up giving in to his charms. 

This time you kept your questions to yourself about what you'd do to yourself, knowing that Sirius wasn't going to give you a clue. You walked around Hogsmeade by his side, making casual small talk and laughing at his jokes as if you were lifelong best friends. However when you arrived at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop you couldn't help but ask him what were you doing there.

"The second lesson is going to be about the date itself and how to create the proper atmosphere." Sirius explained as he led you to one of the overly decorated tables. "If you want the date to end with you guys making out, you have to think ahead." You wrinkled your nose at his choice of words, but didn't mention anything about it.

"What do you in your infinite wisdom advise me to do?" you joked as you settled back in your seat. You stayed silent for a moment as you were served your tea, before returning to your conversation.

"Close proximity is very important if you want to create an intimate moment." Sirius declared as he took a sip of his tea. "No one is making out if they're three feet apart, so no matter where you have the date, you have to make sure you're close to each other." You listened to him speak attentively, trying hard to retain the information he was giving you as if you were studying for an exam.

“Being close, got it.” You repeated nodding your head, making a mental list of his advice that you hoped you wouldn't forget by the time you returned to school.

"If you come here for your date, you have to make sure you don't sit across from each other. Instead, move your chair a little closer to his, like this." Sirius slid his chair until it was almost next to yours so you were nestled against one side of the round table full of corny decorations. You could feel the warmth his body radiated caressing your skin. It made you nervous, though you didn't quite know why. You supposed it was because you weren't used to being so close to a guy —especially him— in a place that looked so romantic.

"See, this is better for flirting, accidental touching and making out." His voice had turned into a soft whisper, leaning toward you so he could speak in your ear. His breath collided against your neck with each word that left his lips, giving you goosebumps. The blood rushed to your cheeks from embarrassment, making your face feel on fire. 

When you dared to look up, your eyes met Sirius's deep gray eyes admiring your face. It was the first time you were so close to him, you could clearly note every detail of his face, every glint in his cold gray orbs. Suddenly you understood all the girls at Hogwarts who sighed lovingly every time they saw him passing through the school halls. He had a singular beauty that came completely naturally to him, effortlessly. It was hard to look away from his perfect features and captivating eyes, even though you felt small and self-conscious under his intense gaze.

Sirius' eyes trailed down your face, lingering over your lips for a fraction of a second. It was almost imperceptible, but you noticed it, just as you noticed the arrogant little smile that formed at the corner of his lips. The air caught in your throat as you felt the room grow smaller, trapping you with him, forcing you to be close to him. And when his fingers brushed the exposed skin of your knee you couldn't help but let out a shriek of surprise, jumping in your seat to get away from him.

Sirius laughed as you struggled to compose yourself, breathing deeply to calm the wild pounding of your heart, repeating in your mind that the tingling you felt in your knee was just the product of your imagination and meant nothing. "It's not funny, you jerk!" you complained, tapping him on the shoulder to shut him up.

"You say that 'cause you didn't see your face." He laughed and you rolled your eyes. He was an idiot.

"If you don't stop laughing I'll leave and I won't help you with your little Herbology project." You threatened him and that seemed to get his attention.

“Okay, okay!” Sirius exclaimed, raising his hands in the air in surrender. He moved away from you again and that allowed you to breathe easier as you regained your personal space. "So, moving on... How do you set the tone at the date? Lighting matters, okay? The darker it is, the better. It creates a more intimate atmosphere."

"Close proximity, lighting, okay." You repeated, adding more details to your mental list. "What else?"

"Body language! Is he leaning in? Is he sitting close?" Sirius moved closer to you again, exemplifying his words with his actions. Your heart rate spiked once again as you felt the warmth of his body envelop you once more. His hand brushed yours on the table, forcing your gaze back to them. You felt the strange urge to entwine your fingers with his, wondering what it would feel like to hold his hand, but you held back, trying to focus on his words to distract yourself.

"And then it's all about interaction." He continued, as if he didn't know the effect his closeness had on you. "Is he trying to impress you? Does he say complimentary things to you? If yes, chances are he's going to make his move."

"Wow, I had no idea guys like you even thought about this kind of stuff." you said in a sarcastic tone, hoping it would help ease the tension you felt in the air. 

"Well, that's because you're mean and you always think the worst of people." he joked and you laughed. He was kind of right. "But it's okay, I forgive you." Sirius put his arm around your shoulders again, pulling you against his body as you laughed and shook your head.

The tension in the air was beginning to dissipate, allowing you to have a good time together without feeling awkward and weird. You shared a couple more laughs before your date was interrupted by the voice of your best friend, who had seen you and Sirius from the store window as she walked through Hogsmeade and couldn't believe her eyes. As far as she knew you hated each other, so why were you hugging while drinking tea at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, a place frequented by couples?

You jumped on your feet at the mention of your name, struggling to think of an excuse that would justify you and Sirius being there. Despite the fact that she was your best friend, you hadn't told her about your little plan to get Oliver's attention. Not only was it humiliating to need help in order to get a date, but it was even more humiliating to have to go to the guy you argued with the most in all of Hogwarts for advice. It wasn't a decision you were proud of and you thought it was better if no one knew about it.

In the end it was Sirius who saved you, telling your friend that you were there with him to honor your part of a bet you had lost. It wasn't the first time you two had bet when arguing about something and most of the time it was the humiliation of the other that was at stake, so your friend bought the lie without asking many questions.

Before leaving Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop to follow your friend, you made sure to thank Sirius for saving you. He smiled at you, downplaying it, though you could swear there was a glint of sadness in his eyes as he looked back at you. You wanted to ask him if everything was alright, finding the sudden change in his mood strange, but before you could open your mouth you were interrupted by your friend's voice hurrying you to leave. 

In the end you could only give Sirius an apologetic smile before following your friend and disappearing out the door. But for the rest of the day you continued to think about the events of that afternoon, wondering why you felt so strange when Sirius was around and why you almost wished you could have stayed with him in the tea store for a while longer.

By the time the third lesson came around you were already having doubts about everything. Did it make any sense? Was anything Sirius was telling you really going to do you any good? Did you even want to go out with Oliver?

Wait, what?

Of course you wanted to go out with him! He had been your crush for years and you had done nothing but fantasize about talking to him, admiring him from a distance hoping that he would reciprocate your feelings. He was the only guy you had ever cared about all this time, so of course you wanted to go out with him. You didn't understand where that stupid question had come from.

And then, as if the universe was giving you an answer, you felt the weight of Sirius' arm on your shoulders. As you looked up you met his charming smile, the one that once seemed arrogant and made you roll your eyes in annoyance, but now awakened a strange but comforting warmth inside you. Could it be that he was the reason behind your confusion?

"Ready for your next lesson, dove?" He spoke with his characteristic cheerful and nonchalant tone of voice. He was so casual that you almost missed the new nickname he had decided to use with you on that beautiful Friday afternoon.

"I'm 'dove' now?" you asked, looking at him with a confused frown. It was a little strange, but you'd be lying if you said the nickname didn't awaken something in you, something you couldn't describe or put into words, but it made you feel good.

"Yes, because you're sweet and innocent like a dove." Sirius explained as if it were obvious, shrugging it off. It was clear that it wasn't a big deal to him, just a nickname he found amusing, but you on the other hand were a completely different story. You grew nervous all of a sudden and felt the heat of embarrassment on your cheeks. Never before had a boy used affectionate nicknames like that with you so you didn't really know how to react. So you didn't say anything, you just looked away and cleared your throat, pretending your heart wasn't beating at a dangerously fast pace.

"Don't you think it's a little late for a lesson?" you spoke after a few seconds of silence, watching the sun begin to set on the horizon. 

"I tend to work better at night." He winked at you and you nudged him in the ribs, though you couldn't contain a slight chuckle that escaped your lips.

"Fine, what are you going to teach me today?"

For the next few minutes you and Sirius talked about the importance of your date outfit, not so much to impress Oliver, but to make you feel comfortable and confident and thus increase your chances of success on the date. He talked about how everybody has that one piece of clothing that is special and makes them feel like the best version of themselves. For him it was his leather jacket, it was the first piece of clothing he had chosen and bought for himself to piss off his parents who only wanted to see him wear old-fashioned and uncomfortable tunics. It represented his rebellious spirit, his freedom, and so he wore it all the time. It was a reminder of who he was, of everything he had to fight against in order to express his true self, and that's why it made him feel comfortable and confident every time he wore it.

You didn't have anything remotely like that. You felt quite comfortable and liberated when you were alone in your room curled up in your bed wearing your pajamas while reading a book, but you doubted you could wear something like that on a date. You had never been very interested in fashion and accessories, you found that world too overwhelming. You didn't even think you had a favorite style, just a pile of clothes in your closet that you wore hoping they would match. 

"We have to change that!" was the answer Sirius gave you when you explained your situation. "Meet me in the third floor corridor after dinner, the one with the statue of the one-eyed witch."

"What?" you asked him with confusion. You hated his cryptic answers, why was it so hard for him to be direct and tell you what was on his mind? "What for?"

“Just trust me on this.” 

You had to admit that Sirius wasn't inspiring much trust in you at the moment. Why on earth did he want to meet you so late and why couldn't you do whatever it was he had in mind right now? Why was it so important that it was at night? And what was the deal with the third floor hallway? What was he up to?

None of your questions got an answer because before you could ask them he got up and left, leaving you alone and confused. 

You spent the next few hours debating whether it was wise to listen to Sirius or not. Wandering around the castle after dinner was forbidden and while you had broken that rule a couple of times, you never felt right when you did. It gave you too much anxiety and you didn't enjoy sneaking through the corridors looking over your shoulder every second. You weren't exactly a fan of that kind of adrenaline. 

That said, you couldn't deny that the idea of wandering around Hogwarts at night with Sirius sounded tempting. He was the king of breaking the rules, so you were sure he had his fair share of tricks to avoid getting caught. Usually you hated the impunity with which he carried himself, walking the halls of the school as if he owned it, unbothered about the consequences of his actions. But now that you knew him a little better you couldn't help but feel a little excited at the idea of being his partner in crime. 

Maybe there was some sense in his madness. Maybe he really was funny and you had spent all this time hating him for it because he annoyed you as a person. Since you had started this experiment with him you had done nothing but learn to see the world through his eyes. Every minute you spent together helped you to understand a little better his thoughts and the reasons why he did what he did. You had learned to like him, so why not give him a chance now? Maybe you would finally understand the reason behind his rebelliousness.

So, when you finished dinner you found a way to sneak up to the third floor undetected. You got there first, which gave your brain time to rethink the decision it had made as you paced back and forth nervously. However, when Sirius appeared a couple of minutes later apologizing for the delay all your doubts and fears disappeared.

"I had to make a quick stop to get some things." He explained, pointing to the crumpled piece of fabric he had hanging from one arm and the scrap of parchment he was holding in his hand.

"Are you finally going to tell me what the hell are we doing here?" You asked, crossing your arms. "If this is a prank I swear to Merlin-"

“I would never, dove.” Sirius interrupted you, awakening that strange warmth inside you once again by using the affectionate nickname. "I'm a man of my word and I intend to honor our agreement. But first I need to ask you something."

You furrowed your brow in confusion, but nodded your head without a second thought. "Sure, what is it?"

"You have to promise me that all this is going to stay between us. You can't tell anyone about what we're about to do." The secrecy seemed strange to you but it also peaked your curiosity. Why was it so important to him that no one knew what you were going to do? What did he have planned? 

There was only one way to find out.

"I promise," you assured him, waiting for him to explain what was going on.

"Great!" Sirius smiled and then pulled out his wand. He approached the statue of the one-eyed witch and touched it with the tip of his wand, uttering the word 'Dissendium'. Then an entrance to a dark tunnel opened up, a secret passageway inside the castle that you had no idea where it led to. If you weren't confused before, you definitely were now. What on earth was Sirius up to and why did it involve a secret tunnel?

"H-How did you do that?" You asked, dumbfounded. You needed to know how Sirius knew not only that there was a secret passage in the castle, but also how to open it. "How did you know?"

"I didn't spend all these years wandering around the castle for nothing." Was the answer he gave you, winking at you before entering the secret passage. "C'mon, let's go!"

Cautiously, you followed Sirius into the tunnel, pulling out your wand to light the way as the statue returned to its original position and the light at the entrance disappeared. You kept close to him as you walked, scanning your surroundings as you tried to guess where the passageway would lead you. It seemed to have no end. No matter how far you walked, you seemed no closer to getting to the other side. The lack of lighting didn't help much, it just added a creepy vibe that gave you goosebumps. Was Sirius planning to kill you?

"Where are you taking me?" you asked him after a few minutes of silence. You felt like you had been walking forever and still hadn't reached your destination.

"You'll see."

"Are you going to kill me and leave my body abandoned here?" you joked and he let out a laugh.

"Why would I want to kill you?"

You shrugged. "To avoid confronting the fact that I'm better than you at everything."

"At everything?" He repeated, looking at you with a raised eyebrow. "Are you sure about that? Because last time I checked I'm not the one desperate for dating advice."

“Shut up!” You said, hitting him on the shoulder.

“Besides, you still have to admit to everyone that I’m better than you, remember?” He reminded you of his words the day you came to him for help. At the time you didn't think he was serious, but now you weren't so sure.

"You wish." You muttered under your breath, rolling your eyes. Being friends was one thing, but indulging him by admitting that he was better than you was something you weren't willing to do.

“What was that?”

“Nothing!”

“That's what I thought.”

You continued walking as you laughed and joked with each other, chatting to distract yourselves from the long time you seemed to need to get to the end of that damned tunnel. As it turned out, the secret passageway connected Hogwarts to the cellar of Honeydukes. Sirius led you through the now deserted store carefully, but not before wrapping you both in the crumpled piece of cloth he had slung over his arm. He put it over your shoulders first and when you questioned him about it he pointed towards your body which had now disappeared. 

Suddenly the success of his pranks and the gift he seemed to have for wandering around the castle without being caught made sense. He had an invisibility cloak! He was a fraud! Anyone could accomplish the extraordinary things he did if they had such a wonderful and convenient object as an invisibility cloak.

You were about to let out a sarcastic comment about it, but the air caught in your throat when you felt Sirius wrap his arms around your body, pulling you close to him. His warmth enveloped you as he stretched the cloth to cover your body as well, making sure you were both protected by the magical fabric to make sure you weren't discovered. 

Walking through the streets of Hogsmeade under the limited space provided by the cloak was uncomfortable, especially when you felt Sirius' warm breath against your ear. You had to constantly remind yourself to breathe, but not too fast because then he would notice the effect his closeness had on you. You hoped he didn't already know, although the way he wrapped his arm around your waist made you think otherwise. Damn, he was good! Just a brush of his fingers on your skin and you were already sighing like half the girls at school.

"What are we doing here?" You asked as you noticed that you had stopped at a clothing store.

"Isn't it obvious?" Sirius spoke without looking at you, pulling out his wand and muttering a simple incantation to unlock the door. "We're going to find your perfect outfit."

"Couldn't we have done that when the store was open, you know, in the daylight?" you pointed out, hurrying into the store before anyone on the street could see you. You were pretty sure what you were doing was illegal. Not only had you two snuck out of the school using a secret passageway, but you had also broken into a store and were about to rummage through the inventory of clothing without permission from its owners. 

You should be terrified, for all you knew you could be expelled from Hogwarts if you were discovered —not to mention the lecture your parents would give you at home. However, there was something about Sirius that filled you with a sense of security. For some reason in your mind nothing bad could happen to you if he was by your side.

"Yeah but we would have to wait for the next trip to Hogsmeade." He responded, justifying his actions with the excuse that the normal —and legal— way would take too long. "Besides, it's more fun this way." Sirius smiled at you and you shook your head, but you couldn't help but think he was kind of right.

"So we're going to rob these people?"

"No! We can pay for what we take, don't worry." He assured you, though it sounded too casual for your liking. You were breaking into a store and he was acting like he was going through the clothes in his closet. It made you wonder how many times he had done something similar in the past.

"Now get over here and start choosing clothes!"

Once you stopped thinking about the weirdness of the situation you started to have a little fun. Sirius helped you sort through the clothes, passing you items he wanted you to try on. Some were serious and some were just to joke around with you. You had to admit that even though you normally hated shopping, the activity became infinitely more fun if Sirius was with you. 

You lost count of the time you spent inside that store, making a mess of the clothes that had been neatly folded and arranged on hangers and shelves prior to your arrival. You tried on every style and aesthetic the store had to offer, modeling each outfit for the watchful eye of Sirius, who always found something nice to say about everything you wore.

"You suck at this!" you complained with a chuckle after he complimented the color palette of a ridiculously extravagant outfit you had put on for the sole purpose of making him laugh. "You're not helping me decide at all! Give me your real opinions."

"I am! I swear!" Sirius defended himself, raising his hands in the air. "It's just that everything looks good on you, dove."

You let out an incredulous laugh, rolling your eyes to hide the true effect his words had on you. You knew he didn't mean it, but you couldn't control the rapid beating of your heart every time he blurted out a line like that.

"I'm sure you tell that to all the girls in school."

"Never! You're the only one, dove."

Shaking your head, you disappeared into the dressing room once more. You didn't want to give him the chance to continue his meaningless flirting. You didn't quite understand why he was doing it. You knew he didn't love you —not in that way at least—, so why was it so easy for him to throw those kinds of comments around like it was nothing? Was he trying to boost your confidence? Or maybe it was because he was so used to jokingly flirting with everyone that he couldn't help but do it with you too. You honestly didn't know, it was hard to read him on that aspect.

Part of you wished he would stop because even though you knew he was just joking, you found it impossible not to feel things when he would tell you how pretty you were or call you affectionate nicknames. He was getting your hopes up for nothing, making you believe that someone like him could like someone like you. It was tiring to have to constantly remind your heart not to believe anything that came out of Sirius' mouth.

You tried to keep your doubts from ruining the nice moment you were sharing, shaking the thoughts out of your head and working on putting on your next outfit. Only, when you emerged from the dressing room to show Sirius, you found that he too was wearing an outfit he had taken from the pile of messy clothes. But it wasn't just any outfit, it was one that you had discarded after wearing it for a few minutes and ruling that it looked odd on you. And the worst part was that Sirius seemed to look better in it than you.

"What are you wearing?" you asked him, chuckling as he modeled for you.

"Am I a pretty girl?" Sirius said, looking at you through his eyelashes. He did a couple of exaggerated poses while pretending to be a high fashion model, eliciting from you one of the loudest and most genuine laughs you've ever had. But you had to admit that he did look good considering the clothes weren't the right size or cut for him.

"Yes, very pretty." You complimented him as you caught your breath, rummaging through the pile of clothes for another outfit for him. "Here, try this one."

Everything spiraled out of control then. You momentarily forgot that you were trespassing in a store late at night as you played dress up with Sirius like two little kids. It had been a long time since you had felt so free and relaxed and a part of you couldn't believe that Sirius was the one who had awakened that chill side of you. Usually he would do the opposite —annoy you and stress you out to the point of insanity—, but since you had started this little experiment together he kept surprising you. 

Now that you knew each other a little better, he made you laugh and for some reason he inspired reassurance and trust. All your fears that he would make fun of you or take advantage of the situation to humiliate you were behind you. He wasn't that kind of guy, no matter how immature and silly he usually seemed. Honestly, you loved this new relationship you had, where you still maintained a certain level of healthy rivalry combined with lots of laughter and inside jokes. Even if things with Oliver didn't turn out the way you wanted them to, you were still happy because at least he had left you with a new friendship.

What you weren't happy about, however, was fixing up the store after the mess you had made. Even with magic it took quite a while to put everything back in its place, but somehow Sirius found a way to make that tedious activity fun too.

But your jokes were interrupted when you came across something that caught your eye. As you were rearranging the clothes on one of the shelves you found a dress. It was black and had long sleeves made of the most beautiful lace you had ever seen, with detailed patterns that added a special delicacy to the piece. It was truly beautiful and you didn't know how you hadn't seen it before.

"You should try it on." Sirius' voice alerted you, snapping you out of your thoughts.

"No, it's okay. We should just go, it's getting late." You put the dress back in its place, stepping away from that rack to rearrange the last remaining pile of disarranged clothes. That dress was beautiful, almost too beautiful for someone like you. You didn't think you could pull it off, so you preferred not to go near it. You didn't want to destroy your self-esteem if it turned out that the dress looked bad on you.

By the time you got back to school it was so late that everyone in the castle was asleep. It wasn't difficult for you to navigate the halls of Hogwarts undetected since Sirius had one of the best inventions in the history of magic: a map that told him the exact location of all the students and teachers within the school grounds. He didn't want to give you many details about it other than that it was a project he had done with the help of his friends and you didn't press him for more. Now you understood why he had made you promise not to tell anyone about tonight. Apparently he had more than one magical artifact that was best kept secret.

"Thank you for this," you said when you reached the entrance to your common room. Sirius had insisted on accompanying you to make sure you arrived safely before heading to the Gryffindor tower. "I had a great time."

"Me too," he admitted with a smile. He had really enjoyed spending time with you. He found that he really liked the relaxed and fun version of you that he had met tonight and wanted to see more of you. "I hope that after this you will realize how beautiful you look when you are more relaxed. Laughter suits you, you should do it more often."

You remained silent for a few seconds, not knowing what to say. That familiar feeling of warmth ran through you at his words, your whole body buzzing with joy. A smile formed on your face, a genuine sign of how much you appreciated his kindness.

"Goodnight, Sirius." You gave him a kiss on the cheek before turning and disappearing behind the doors of the Slytherin common room.

Sirius stood in place for a few seconds, staring at the spot where you had just been seconds before as he felt a tingling on the skin of his cheek where you had kissed him. Your scent still lingered in the air entering his system through his nostrils and clouding his thoughts with images of your smile.

"Goodnight, dove." he murmured to the air, bringing his hand to his cheek.

He knew then that he was screwed.

You noticed something was wrong with Sirius the moment you saw him walk through the greenhouse doors. You were meeting to change the mandrake pot as you had promised him you would. It was a relatively simple process if you took the proper precautions and a job best done in silence —you wouldn't be able to hear each other anyway because of the earmuffs protecting you—, but even for that he was too quiet. He lacked his characteristic sparkle, that mischievous twinkle you always noticed in his eyes. His smile had been replaced by a frown and he was distracted. He seemed to be worried or upset about something that he couldn't stop thinking about. 

You tried to ignore him, unsure of what to do. You wanted to ask him what was wrong, but you didn't want to pressure him to talk if he wasn't ready or just didn't want to. Maybe he was trying to forget whatever was bothering him and your questions would only remind him of it. But eventually curiosity got the better of you and you decided it didn't hurt to ask.

"Okay, what's going on with you?" you finally spoke up, putting aside your gloves and the earmuffs you had worn to protect yourself from the mandrake's screams once the job was done. "You seem... off today."

"Yeah, sorry about that. I... I just have a lot in my mind." Sirius said, letting out a frustrated sigh. He leaned back against the counter, shoulders slumped in a pose that showcased his mood perfectly. He was staring at the floor, as if lost in thought, and you were suddenly curious as to what was so important to have him in such a state. You'd never seen Sirius so quiet or so serious before in the years you'd known each other.

"Do you want to talk about it?" you offered, giving him the option to use you as a shoulder to cry on, a friendly ear to vent to.

"It's my family, as always." He let out a bitter laugh, lifting his head so he could look you in the eye as he spoke. You could see the pain reflected in his expression and felt the urge to hug him. You knew about his family and how troubled they were. He had never fit in with them and had ended up being kicked out of his home by his own mother. It was a sad story and you had always felt sorry for him.

“I had a fight with my brother last night and I can’t seem to let it go… They're filling his head with those horrible ideas and there's nothing I can do about it. He doesn’t want to listen to me.” 

You knew exactly what he was referring to, you had seen the people Regulus was hanging out with and sadly you shared the same concerns as his brother. Many of your peers in Slytherin were being caught up in dangerous hate speech and you completely understood Sirius' frustration about it. It hadn't yet touched you as closely as it did him - none of your friends shared those kinds of ideas - but you could imagine how painful it was for him to see his brother involved in something so horrible.

"Oh Sirius, I'm sorry." You didn't quite know what to say, there were no words that could ease his sadness or concern. You could only support him at that moment, hoping that your understanding would be enough to make him feel a little better. 

Without even realizing it, your hand slid across the table to rest on Sirius'. It was a desperate attempt on your part to show him that you were there for him, something you did without thinking. Sirius's eyes lingered on your joined hands for a few seconds, staring at them as if he found it hard to believe what he was seeing. It made you feel a little self-conscious and you considered moving your hand, but before you could do so he moved his so that he could intertwine his fingers with yours. This time it was you who looked down at your hands as you felt him give you a light squeeze. It was such an innocent act, something so common, but it still awakened that special tingling inside you. It was the first time you were holding hands and it felt... good, comforting. 

When you looked up you were met with his sweet smile. Sirius didn't need to utter words for you to understand that he was thanking you for your support, it was written all over his face. You had to fight the urge to hug him, thinking it might be too close and personal. You had a strange relationship - you weren't enemies but you weren't technically friends either - so it was hard sometimes to realize when something was too much. 

Then an idea formed in your mind. Images of your special place flashed before your eyes like a movie and you decided it was an appropriate time to show Sirius that he wasn't the only one who had extensive knowledge of the Hogwarts grounds.

"C'mon, I want to show you something." You told him, pulling his hand entwined with yours to guide him out of the greenhouse.

You didn't have to go far to get to your special secret spot, just walk down the hill until you reached the edge of the lake. There was a large tree that provided plenty of shade and between its huge roots was a comfortable hole that you liked to sit in. It was the most beautiful and peaceful place you knew in the whole school. You liked to go there when you felt overwhelmed or stressed, sitting under the shade of the tree and just think for a long time, the world always seemed better after that. You were convinced that there wasn't a single problem that couldn't be solved with a meditation session in your special place.

"Welcome to my special place!" you announced with a smile when you arrived at your destination. "Come, sit here with me." You settled into your usual spot at the foot of the big tree and patted the free space next to you inviting Sirius to join you. He stared at you for a moment, but finally sat down next to you. 

"How did you find this place?" Sirius was amazed at the beauty of the scenery around him. He obviously knew this place existed, but he had never paid attention to how beautiful and peaceful it was. There were no other students laughing and running around, just him, you and nature. 

"You're not the only one with extensive knowledge about the castle, Black." 

"So, what happens here?" He forced himself to look away from the landscape to return his gaze to you only to find that you were staring off into the horizon. The sunlight reflecting off the water of the lake illuminated the whole place in a different, more magical way, especially your profile. It gave you an ethereal aura that took his breath away for a moment. 

"We sit here and we think." You replied without taking your eyes off the birds flying through the trees on the other side of the lake. "I always come here when I'm sad or stressed out. There's something about this place that makes all my problems go away."

You sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the scenery, letting the tranquility of nature bring you inner peace. Sirius tried to push the negative thoughts from his mind, concentrating on the birds singing and the sound of the water, hoping that would be enough to make the frustration and anger that was overtaking him disappear. It wasn't working out so well, but he didn't have the heart to tell you that your special magical place wasn't as powerful as you thought it was.

Well, that was until he turned his head so he could look at you. You were completely lost in thought, gazing forward with no idea of the way Sirius was looking at you. You seemed so happy, so relaxed, that he couldn't help but feel a warm feeling spreading inside him. He found comfort in you, in the special sparkle in your eyes, in the way you cared for him despite your shared history. For Sirius, the healing magic was not in where you were, but in you.

"Things are going to get better." You broke the silence, turning to look at him. His eyes were glued to yours and you discovered that the dark patch of sadness that covered his signature cheerful glow had dimmed a bit.

"How do you know?" Sirius' voice was low, almost a whisper that you were able to hear above the noises of nature thanks to the short distance separating you. 

"I have to believe that they will. We all have to." Sirius wasn't so sure about it, he didn't have your blind optimism, but for a moment as he lost himself in the depths of your eyes he found hope. Everything seemed simple as long as you kept your eyes on him. He could face anything if you were by his side to guide his path, to hold his hand and remind him that everything would be alright. He found peace in you, something that both calmed and scared him. He was much more screwed up than he originally thought.

The more time you spent staring into each other's eyes in silence, the more the tension in the air increased. Sirius was suddenly aware of how close he was to you. He could feel the warmth of your body against his side, the touch of your leg against his and the smell of your perfume that assaulted his nose every time he took a breath. He only had to extend his hand a few inches to touch you, or lean in just a little to brush his lips against yours. Those beautiful lips of yours that tempted him since the first time he had laid his eyes on you. The same ones he had fantasized about kissing many times in the past, even when all that came out of them were insults and ironic laughter dedicated to him.

Sirius leaned towards you without even realizing what he was doing, lost in thought, mesmerized by the sight of your lips. He felt your breath against his face, mingling with his, and the touch of your nose against his. And then your lips met in a kiss that took you both by surprise. He captured your upper lip between his, reaching out his hand to grab the back of your head and pull you closer to him. You surrendered to the expert movement of his lips without putting up a fight, letting him guide you as you melted into the kiss.

Multicolored fireworks exploded behind your eyes, the butterflies in your stomach going crazy as you struggled to keep up with Sirius. It wasn't your first kiss, but it was the first time you felt wave after wave of electricity coursing through your body from one. You felt like you were flying, completely lost in the intensity of the moment. It was a special kind of high you never wanted to come down from. Sirius' lips just felt right on yours, caressing you with such passion and delicacy at the same time. It left you breathless and desperate for more. So much more. 

But the kiss was cut short as quickly as it began when Sirius suddenly pulled away from you, leaving you confused and a little stupid.

"I-I'm... I'm sorry, I-" he struggled to come up with an excuse as he realized what he had done, feeling awkward and somewhat embarrassed that he had let himself get carried away by his impulses.

"Nono, it's okay, I..." you tried to intervene as well, fighting the fog that clouded your mind to try to form a coherent sentence.

"You know what? That was practice!" Sirius blurted out without thinking, making you frown.

"Practice for what?"

"J-just f-for the next step of the plan... in case you hadn't made out with anyone in a while." Sirius didn't sound confident in what he was saying and if you were in different circumstances you might have realized that was a lame excuse he'd made up on the spot. But your mind was still a bit affected by the kiss and you couldn't think straight, so you didn't notice.

"Is that what it felt like? That I hadn't made out with anyone in a while or whatever?" You tried to sound casual so as not to let him know how much you cared about his answer. To you that had been the best kiss of your life and it hurt a little to think that it had meant nothing to him. It made sense though, Sirius had a lot of practice and a lot of girls to compare you to. He'd probably had millions of better kisses.

"Well, I'm more of a tongue guy myself." Sirius joked, trying to ease the tension in the air.

"You don't say. I think I felt it poking at my throat." You played along and you both burst out laughing. The sweet melody of Sirius' laughter traveled through the air to your ears, entering your system and filling your insides with joy. All you wanted was to hear him laugh, to make him happy so that he would forget his problems at least for a moment. Everything stopped mattering to you as you watched the characteristic happy glow return to his eyes, concentrating all your efforts on keeping him distracted for as long as possible.

"Are you giving me kissing advice, dove?" he looked at you with a raised eyebrow, as if he couldn't believe the words that had come out of your mouth. No one had ever criticized his kissing technique.

“Yeah, I guess I am.”

“Dove, c’mon.” Sirius said, making a funny face, and you nudged him playfully.

"You need it!" You assured him with a chuckle.

“That’s how people kiss.”

“Yeah in porn maybe.” You said rolling your eyes, exaggerating things to sound more dramatic. "You know what? I'm going to be the one giving you a lesson for once. This is how girls like to be kissed." Sirius looked at you cautiously, but let you guide him into the position you wanted, intrigued by whatever it was you had in mind. You moved too, and soon you found yourselves sitting across from each other. "Close your eyes." you instructed him and he obeyed without question. "Now lean in, slowly. Let the tension build." 

Your eyes were focused on admiring the beauty of his face as Sirius moved closer and closer to you. He was the definition of masculine beauty with the sharp angles on his cheeks and those enticing lips that called out to you. His long hair framed his face perfectly, looking so silky and soft that you couldn't contain the urge to touch it. You brushed aside a couple of rebel locks that fell over his face, delicately tucking them behind his ear before letting your hand slide down to his cheek. You felt him lean a little into your touch and had to bite your lip to avoid kissing him at that moment.

The distance that separated you was shortening with every second. You could feel his breath mingling with yours, all you had to do was lean forward and you would once again be enveloped in the warmth of his body, feeling the soft caresses of his mouth on yours. You took one last look at his lips and prepared to make contact with him. Only it wasn't your lips on his, but your tongue licking his left cheek.

"Oh no you didn't!" Sirius exclaimed with a mixture of surprise and horror, bringing his hand to his face to wipe your saliva off his cheek. You let out a laugh and he couldn't help but laugh along with you. "You are a phenomenal kisser!" He joked and you gave a small nod, accepting his compliment.

“Thank you. That’s how we like it!”

“I’m taking your word for it. You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”

“Never! Trust me, girls love to be kissed like that.” Sirius shook his head, as if he still couldn't believe what you had done, but he laughed with you. You had taken him by surprise and he had to admit that a part of him was a little disappointed at not feeling your lips on his again, but he couldn't deny that he was having fun.

"Are you feeling a little better?" You asked him when the laughter died down.

"Yeah, a little." He answered honestly. You had really managed to do in a couple of minutes something that even his best friends hadn't been able to do in hours: make him forget. You had an ability to get through to him that no one else had and it was nice to see you using it for good for once —instead of using it to get on his nerves like you used to. 

"Thank you, dove." You could tell by the tone of his voice that Sirius was genuinely grateful to you. Apparently your nonsense had managed to help him a little and that made you happy. It was nice to be able to give him back some of the positive energy he brought to your days since you had started your arrangement.

"Don't mention it." You shrugged, downplaying it. "Just know that I'm always here for you if you ever need to talk. And this place is yours too now if you ever need it." You rested your hand on his again and Sirius felt that tingling under his skin again as his insides filled with that warm feeling at your words of support.

Oh, he was completely screwed.

You couldn't get that kiss out of your mind. Ever since that day at the lake Sirius was all you could think about. You caught yourself looking at him when you thought he didn't see you, remembering that kiss, what you had felt as he held you, the warmth of his body enveloping you and the softness of his lips on yours. You wanted to feel it again, to experience again the sensation of pure ecstasy that took over you the moment your lips collided. His kiss had made you feel alive in a special way. You had never felt anything like it before, an electricity so intense that it coursed through your whole body, awakening every cell inside you with the simplest of touches. It was pure magic, something out of the most perfect romance novel, no one could blame you for wanting to feel it again.

But then you remembered how you had gotten into that situation in the first place. You had come to him for help in getting another boy's attention and that's what Sirius had done all along. All those cute little moments that awakened butterflies in your stomach every time you remembered them weren't real. You were fooling yourself, seeing things that weren't there. He wasn't spending time with you because he loved you, he wasn't interested in you —at least not in that way—, he was just holding up his end of the bargain. Sure, you had improved your relationship considerably since all this had started, but you had to keep in mind that if it wasn't for your proposal you would still be fighting every chance you got.

Sirius wasn't in love with you and you weren't in love with him. You were just confused because you weren't used to getting that kind of attention from a guy —especially not from a guy like Sirius. Your heart belonged to Oliver, it had for the past three years and that wasn't going to change because of a silly kiss that hadn't meant anything anyway. You had to focus on what was important, what you had worked so hard to get: the date with Oliver. Once you finally managed to get it your mind would be able to focus on that and then you'd realize that your feelings for Sirius were just temporary.

So that's exactly what you did. You mustered all your courage, remembering every lesson you'd learned over the past few weeks, and looked for the perfect opportunity to talk to Oliver. The moment presented itself in Potions class. By sheer luck you ended up being paired up to work on a project together and you took advantage of the opportunity to start a conversation with him.

For the first time in three years you were able to form coherent sentences in front of him, alternating between comments about the project you were working on and casual small talk. The nerves and fear that usually overcame you when he was around were gone, allowing your personality to surface. You spent the entire class chatting and laughing as if you were lifelong friends. As it turned out, Oliver was a really nice guy and really easy to talk to when you didn't overthink every single thing you were going to say to him. You thought Sirius would be proud of you if he could see you acting so relaxed and free. 

That's when you realized that he could probably see you since Gryffindor and Slytherin shared a Potions class, so you looked up to find him among the groups of students. Your eyes found him at the back of the room, sitting next to James as they worked on their potion. Your eyes met for a moment and you gave him a victorious smile, a silent way of letting him know that things between you and Oliver were going well. You thought that after all the time he had spent preparing you for this moment he would be happy to know that his efforts had paid off. You expected him to smile back or even give you a thumbs up in support, but he simply looked away and turned his attention back to the brew he was preparing with his friend. 

You frowned, puzzled by his attitude. Was he angry with you? Had you done something to upset him? He couldn't possibly be mad at you because you were talking to Oliver, could he? That was ridiculous! He was probably in a bad mood about something else that had nothing to do with you. It was most likely about his brother, maybe they were fighting again and that's why he was acting strange. You had to stop obsessing about Sirius and focus on what really mattered.

You tried to ignore your concerns about Sirius at least until the class was over, returning your attention to Oliver and the story he was telling you. You worked and laughed for the rest of the lesson, turning in a perfect potion at the end of the hour. And as you gathered your things and prepared to leave the room you realized you had to make your move. It was now or never. So you summoned all your courage and asked Oliver if he'd like to go out with you sometime.

For some reason you fully expected him to refuse. That voice inside your head that loved to overthink everything you did and imagine the most catastrophic and improbable scenarios kept telling you that it was too fast. You had only shared one successful conversation and you were already asking him out on a date. It had been a mistake and you had to take it back immediately! 

But that voice in your mind was muted when Oliver accepted your offer with a smile.

You stood in your place for a moment, watching Oliver leave the room with the rest of your classmates as your brain tried to process what had just happened. You had spent so much time imagining that moment that now it didn't feel real. A part of you thought it was an overly realistic dream that you were going to wake up from at any moment, though the illusion was shattered when your eyes met Sirius' as he left the room. It was only for a second, but it was enough to leave a bitter taste in your mouth. 

Why did his presence affect you so much?

"Ann, you're not going to believe this!" You exclaimed in excitement when you found your friend in the crowd of students walking through the halls to their respective classes. You pushed her to the side to get a little more privacy, waiting for a group of second year students to pass by to give her the big news. "I got the date!" you said, emphasizing the word 'the' so she understood what you meant. 

"With Sirius? I thought you guys were already dating." Your best friend's response took you by surprise. Why would she think you and Sirius were dating?

"What? No! Sirius and I are not dating. Why would you think that?"

"Oh." She murmured, genuinely surprised. "It's just you guys are spending so much time together lately and look so happy all the time that I just assumed you were dating and were keeping it a secret." She shrugged. "Plus there's that one time I found you two at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop."

“That didn’t mean anything. He was just helping me get a date with Oliver.”

“Oliver? You still like that guy?”

“What’s wrong with him? I thought you liked him.”

“I do! He’s a nice guy, but…” Ann trailed off, like she couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence. You looked at her with a raised eyebrow, crossing your arms over your chest waiting for her to say whatever was on her mind.

"But what?" You pressed her, noticing she wasn't going to speak.

"I just think Sirius it's better for you, that's all." You scrunched up your nose at her words. How could Sirius be better for you when just a couple of weeks ago you weren't able to hold a conversation without fighting like little kids? It was ridiculous, and honestly you were starting to get tired of the universe continuing to insert him in the middle of everything. Oliver was the guy you wanted, not Sirius, was that so hard to understand?

“That’s ridiculous! Plus, Sirius doesn’t even like me like that. We are just now starting to get along, I’m not even sure if he even considers me his friend.”

“You’re joking, right?” Ann looked at you as if she couldn't believe the words coming out of your mouth, something that only added to your confusion. "Have you seen the way he looks at you? That guy is head over heels for you." You let out a laugh that echoed throughout the hallway, but died down when you saw the serious expression on your friend's face. She couldn't be serious, could she? There was no way Sirius had feelings for you.

"That's a good one!" You patted her shoulder, congratulating her as if she had told the funniest joke you'd ever heard.

"I'm being serious, dummy! I've seen you two together and there's no way he doesn't have feelings for you."

"Then you're seeing things!" you exclaimed before turning around and starting to walk to your next class. You no longer wanted to hear what your friend had to say. You had gotten the date you had been dreaming of all this time, why couldn't she just be happy for you? Why did she have to make everything so complicated?

"And do you know what else I think?" She insisted, walking up behind you and raising her voice a little to make sure you heard her. "I think you have feelings for him too but you're too stubborn to admit it."

You decided to ignore her, but her words echoed in your mind for the rest of the day. Could she be right? Could you be in love with Sirius? It sounded ridiculous, something completely impossible. But then you remembered that kiss you had shared by the lake shore. You remembered the tension in the air, the softness of his lips on yours, the way he had held you close to him and the waves of electricity coursing through your body. You weren't sure if you were in love with him, but you couldn't deny that there was a spark between you that was much stronger and intriguing than your relationship with Oliver. Maybe you were too stubborn or too scared to call it for what it was, but it was evident that it was there and apparently everyone could tell. Everyone but the two of you.

You felt like your head was going to explode from so much overthinking and questioning what you were feeling. It was driving you crazy and you weren't even able to come to a conclusion. Every time you were close to finding the answers you were looking for a new voice would pop up in your mind and ruin all your progress with its comments. You were so wrapped up in denial that it was impossible for you to understand how you truly felt.

So you decided to stop worrying about it. If you had learned anything in the last few weeks, it was that everything was so much easier when you turned your brain off for a while, relaxed and let things flow. You had time to figure out your feelings and think about what to do about them. Right now all you had to do was celebrate because your plan had worked. You had gotten that date with Oliver and that was all that mattered.

In the spirit of your new decision you didn't worry about what hidden message could be behind the strange note you got from Sirius asking you to meet him at your special place. You two hadn't spoken in the last few days. The last contact you'd had with him was in Potions class when he practically ignored you. The cryptic message he had left for you inside one of your books made you curious, wondering the reasons behind his interest in meeting you at your special place. However, you tried not to think too much about it, limiting yourself to showing up at the right place and time to hear from his own mouth whatever it was he wanted instead of driving you crazy imagining the worst.

"Hey!" you greeted Sirius awkwardly, feeling a strange tension in the air that took you back to the events of the last time you had been there. He was sitting in the exact same spot as that time, waiting for you to occupy the empty space next to him. "I got your message. Why did you want to meet here?"

"Oh I just wanted to talk to you. We haven't done that in a while." He gave you a smile, but you noticed it wasn't reflected in his eyes. You wondered if maybe that was because the situation with his brother had gotten worse. Maybe that was the reason he wanted to talk to you, after all, you had promised him that you would be there for him when he needed you. 

You took a seat in the empty slot next to him, hoping that the conversation would focus on his family once again. However, the next words out of his mouth took you by surprise. 

"I saw you talking to Oliver the other day." You froze, your brain short-circuiting as you tried to think of how to respond. 

"Y-yeah, I was... I was talking to him." You responded awkwardly. Why was it so weird for you to talk about Oliver with Sirius now? You didn't seem to have a problem with it just a couple of days ago. What had changed? "It went pretty well. I got a date." You smiled, but your smile didn't show in your eyes either.

"That's great, dove! I'm really happy for you." He almost sounded sincere, but you had heard the real joy in his voice too many times in the last few weeks to recognize when he was faking it. His voice was low and quiet, as if he struggled to utter those words. Your friend's voice echoed in your mind and for a moment you wondered if she might be right.

"I have something for you." Sirius' voice snapped you out of your thoughts. He turned for a moment and it was then that you noticed the package resting on one of the large tree roots. "Let's say it's a graduation gift." He added, handing you the package.

You carefully unwrapped the gift, discovering a black piece of fabric inside. But it wasn't just any piece of fabric, when you held it in your hands you realized it was a dress. It was that dress you liked so much but hadn't had the courage to try on when Sirius took you shopping. You froze in place, your eyes traveling from the delicate piece of clothing in your hands to Sirius' face, who was looking at you expectantly.

"I saw the way you were looking at it at the store so I went back and I bought it for you. I don't know why you didn't try it on at the time, but I'm sure it'll look great on you."

You were speechless, your brain unable to put into words how much that small gesture meant to you. He had noticed. He had seen the sparkle in your eyes as you admired that dress in the store. He looked at you when you didn't notice and paid attention to every detail. That thought alone made your heart race. He cared about you, it wasn't a product of your imagination or your heart getting confused. Sirius truly cared for you.

"Sirius, I... You didn't have to..." you struggled to say, trying to find the words to describe what you felt. You didn't know why such a simple gift moved you so much. You supposed it was the principle of the thing, the thought behind it. That dress was a perfect summary of your relationship, a delicate and intricate piece of fabric that you refused to try on out of fear. And just like that dress, you too were afraid to try things out with Sirius. Both were unfamiliar territory for you so you preferred to avoid them rather than face them. 

But Sirius seemed to have a different idea.

"Of course I did! I just knew you would look beautiful in it and I need it for you to have it." Sirius sounded so convinced that for a moment you felt confident, forgetting your fears about the dress. He looked at you with such adoration that there was no way you could feel any different. He gave you all the confidence you needed. Everything was so much easier when Sirius was by your side holding your hand and saying exactly what you needed to hear. He was good for you.

“Maybe you can wear it to your date.”He couldn't hold your gaze when he said that, averting his eyes to the lake that reflected the beautiful orange colors of the sunset in its waters. The idea of wearing that dress in front of anyone but him felt wrong. That outfit was your little secret, your special gift - just like that place was.

It was then that you understood what you had to do. It was time to put denial and fear aside and face reality. You had feelings for Sirius and that wasn't going to change because you forced yourself to be with someone else. It wasn't fair to Oliver or Sirius, and it definitely wasn't fair to you. Even if things didn't turn out the way you hoped, you deserved to explore your feelings for him without fear.

"I don't know. To be honest, I don't know if I want to go out with Oliver anymore."

Sirius returned his gaze to your face, a frown drawn into his expression. "What do you mean? Wasn't that all that you wanted?"

"I used to, yes. But lately I've been thinking about this other guy... he's a real charmer, I can't seem to get him out of my head. It's a tough situation because I used to hate him, but I had the opportunity to get to know him better and I think I'm falling for him." Sirius looked at you with his eyes full of doubt for a moment, refusing to listen to what his heart thought you were saying. But then you smiled at him and he understood your hint.

"I think I know who you're talking about. Is he by any chance the most handsome guy in Gryffindor?" The characteristic cheerful twinkle returned to his eyes as well as a mischievous grin that got a chuckle out of you.

"Maybe." You played dumb. "He's also a huge dork, but I kind of love him for it." This time it was Sirius that let out a chuckle, throwing his head back as his body shook with laughter.

"Well, then you're in luck because this handsome dork is also in love with you."

You shared a meaningful look that was stronger than anything you could say to each other at that moment. And then, just like that other day at the lake, Sirius leaned toward you and pressed his lips to yours. It was a much longer kiss than the first one you shared, one that you both could enjoy in the moment given that it wasn't the product of an impulsive decision. You both wanted it, you longed for it from the moment you parted after your first kiss. 

Sirius' hands framed your face, pulling you closer to him. He needed to feel you against his body, to feel your warmth enveloping him. He had missed the feel of your lips on his, caressing his mouth so delicately. He had spent every second since that kiss cursing himself, fearing that he might never feel you so close to him again. His world had crumbled when he saw you talking to Oliver in Potions class, thinking he had pushed the girl he liked into the arms of another guy. He hated to think that anyone but him could have the chance to caress your lips. They were made just for him to kiss, no one else could touch them.

But now that he had you back in his arms all his concerns disappeared, fading away thanks to the intoxicating mixture of your perfume and the sensation of your lips on his, moving so gracefully together that he couldn't help but think that you were meant to be together.

"Since we're being honest, I have a confession to make." Sirius spoke as you broke apart, struggling to catch his breath. "I never needed help with Herbology, I just needed an excuse to spend more time with you."

"What?" you exclaimed in surprise. You didn't see that one coming. "Then whose plant was that?"

"It was Peter's. He sucks at Herbology." Sirius admitted and you let out a chuckle as you shook your head, unable to believe what you were hearing. 

But your laughter died down as a realization hit you. "Wait a minute. You liked me before all this?" Sirius just nodded, as if such a revelation wasn't important.. "So why were you being such a jerk to me?"

"It was fun, it's very easy to get on your nerves." He shrugged. "Plus, you look adorable when you're angry."

[blueberry-pride]

Love language hcs for savanaclaw please and thank you lol

Speak From The Heart

warnings: none!

Berry: YOU GUYS ARE GORGEOUS MWA, we managed to reach 800 followers and I just thanked you guys for 700 not too long ago TvT please enjoy this extra long one as this wraps up all the requests from this year <3 srsly thank you all for making 2022 awesome for me and this blog <3

Leona Kingscholar

How he shows it: Physical Touch and Quality Time

I'd say pretty early on in the relationship, things are still a bit rocky as one would guess with a guy like Leona. He's not one to talk or do all of the pretty things you'd find in most ordinary relationships. I'd like to describe Leona as a brick wall, sturdy and rough around the edges so his personality would not change simply because he's in a relationship with you.

you'd slowly start to learn that the small gestures of hand holding underneath the desk during lectures, patting your head when you've aced a test, or just sitting beside you while you're doing homework is his way of telling you you're important to this beastman. But the sweetest and most endearing show of affection is nuzzling close to your head or neck.

He's the type to drag you along when he's napping cuz he really does find your presence comforting. He enjoys the silent moments you two would share, it allows him to really sink in that there's someone rooting for him on the sidelines.

He's the type to be pretty hands-off, makes sure to not smother you, letting you do your own thing while he observes just in case something or someone would come in your way. I also see him as the kind of bf that would help you improve be it in academics or even in sports. Sort of like a tutor/coach cuz he really does want you to be the best version of yourself.

Slowly as this relationship goes on, I see Leona as the type to warm up to the idea of other ways of showing you that what you two have is special. Like dates off-campus, or an expensive ornate accessory or two. <3

What he needs: Words of Affirmation and Physical Touch

Being raised in a place where you're constantly compared does a lot of damage, and we can visibly see that with Leona. I'd imagine him spacing out, often recalling all of the complaints, comparisons, etc. and he's just quiet...so be the one to help break that train of thought of his.

He's a thinker, and with that comes the good and bad so having you, his S/O telling him small comments that he's enough, and that you're proud of him would catch him off-guard (in a good way) Though I do want to add that it's not your responsibility to fix him, it's still up to this lion to accept your compliments or not. With the way I see things tho, he'd be in denial but it does warm his heart.

Like I said earlier, he thinks a lot and sometimes genuine words aren't enough to get through his thick head. So hold his hand, or comb through his hair. pet his ears even! It soothes him. Taking naps throughout the day would often lead to muscle/body aches so a simple shoulder massage gets Leona's heart fluttering even just for a little bit.

We all know his unique magic is dangerous, to the point it almost killed Ruggie. I believe that he takes precautions with his hands (guess that's why he wears gloves) so a gesture that would really seal; Guide both of his hands toward your face so you're in between them and just...enjoy the feeling.

I believe another gesture would be sweet to him. Kiss his scar. He probably hates it and the guy doesn't even remember how he got it in the first place! He'd be a bit dumbfounded that you'd pick that area of his face but he'd like it (tho he won't admit it) Embrace his scars <3 (be it literal and/or figurative)

Ruggie Bucchi

How he shows it: Act of Service and Gift Giving

Ruggie's known for doing things all for the right price be it in the shape of favor or monetary. But for you, I see him doing small tasks for you in hopes that it would get your attention. I'm talking about carrying your books to class, and picking up your fave drink/snack while getting Leona's order.

Ruggie would be the type to save up some extra models on the side just so he can do a little splurging on you from time to time. He'd take note of your interests cuz he is genuinely curious and so he would try to buy stuff related to them <3 Oh! another thing I see him doing is helping you buy stuff at good deals, making sure your model and his are well spent which is always a plus cuz you get to see his serious expression as he bargains. a cute sight really~

He'd probably ask Leona for some extra tips on homework just so he can impress you while you guys are doing homework together. Cash in a few favors to give you a heads-up on upcoming "surprise" tests from Professor Trein. But another way I could see this is he'll lean towards you for help instead of Leona. sometimes teasing or messing with you while doing so just to see you puff your cheeks from his antics.

His grandma raised him right and I'm pretty sure she'd be the type to tell Ruggie "the quickest way to a person's heart is through their stomach" so you can imagine probably in the early hours in Savanaclaw, Ruggie fumbling in the kitchen as he tries to cook tomorrow's lunch. He'd insist on you taking it, "It helps save your money~" he'd say. He doesn't have much time with all the small jobs he's doing around campus so getting to spend time with you in these short moments eases him from all that stress.

When you're upset about something, he's the type to have a box of tissues on hand while he sits there as you let him cry it out. He'd even let you pet his ears if it calms you down during these rough times. To me, Ruggie won't give out advice unless you asked him for one but he knows you're capable enough to solve it while he's there to lend an ear...with snacks <3

What he needs: Gift Giving and Quality Time

Ruggie would really appreciate it if you give something in return. He genuinely doesn't mind if you spend a thousand madol (he'd probably tear up if you tell him the price) or give him something handmade. He's the type to appreciate the thought behind them especially if it's coming from his s/o.

He'd put your gifts on a shelf or his bedside table just so he could see them before he goes to bed and as soon as he woke up. If you love to cook and give him his meal, he'd stood there dumbfounded. He'd eat every part of it even if you add a little too much of something. He does appreciate the gesture and would ask you if you could cook him some more.

Speaking of food, I see you guys cooking together, be it teaching you how to make certain meals or just craving something in your or his dorm's kitchen. He'd shoo away any prying eyes or wandering beastmen just so it's just the two of you. casually flicking flour in your direction or stealing a utensil and only giving it back if you kiss him ~

Even when he's busy doing work or odd tasks from Leona, he'd appreciate you being there just to chat or even help out. What you can also do is ask him to personally show you how to do certain tasks to get all close and personal with him. He might know what you're up to but he ain't complaining~

Ruggie's always on the move, working his tail off and making sure he's stable enough once he graduates from NRC so have some quiet time with him. he might be twitching to get going but a couple of strokes in his ear would ease the tension on his shoulders. Let this hyena relax once in a while TvT and oftentimes this happens, you'd find a cute hyena beastman sleeping soundly on your lap.

Jack Howl

How he shows it: Words of Affirmation and Acts of Service

He may be a bit stand-offish and distant at the start of the relationship but he does mean well. You'd notice pretty early on that he's a bit awkward when he's around you but there are certain ways that he treats you differently from his friends. Take sports for example.

He'd be the type to personally help you if it's something PE or sports related. Make sure you're in top form and all that <3 A cute moment I see with this is that he'll get so wrapped up in helping you work out that it would take a while before he notices the proximity between you two. You'd know once you hear him slow down his speech and that he'd avert his gaze from yours.

Jack would be the type to be there at your side as you two walk to class in case anyone would want to mess with you. He'd nonchalantly carry your entire backpack and even more which is his earnest and cute way to show off his strength to you. Another way he shows affection is by also helping you in academics. You two would be shushed by Professor Trein pretty often when you guys study in the library. I see Jack as someone who'd hype someone up if they get a question right after so many tries.

At times when you're upset, he'd hold you close as he tries his best to say the right words but would be quiet throughout most of it. It does depend if what made you upset would determine his next course of action. sometimes it would upset you when Jack just gives you straight-up advice when what you want was comfort. You'd just have to talk to him about what you want from him and he'd understand. But if what troubles you is a 'who'… honestly good luck to that guy.

He's not much of a talker but what gets him passionate is at times when you need some words of encouragement when you're feeling insecure about something. Jack is the kind to be straight to the point and won't sugarcoat but would acknowledge your strong feats for whatever you're dealing with at the time.

What he needs: Quality Time and Gift Giving

The kind of guy that would appreciate actions rather than words from their s/o. Jack would describe himself as a lone wolf (no pun intended) so seeing you genuinely want to hang out with him, makes him feel something inside <3 Get him talking about his interests like gardening where you'll get his eyes light up which is always a highlight of your day~

A way to spend time with him is through his morning jogs. it's a way to get some alone time between the two of you and you guys to be active together. Sure the sacrifice would be to wake up early than expected but seeing his face light up whenever you join him for a run is worth it! It also allows you two to talk while around campus. We all know Jack is a pretty private individual so having a genuine conversation with you as you two work out early in the day, not only strengthens your bond as a couple but also increases his appreciation for you <3

Surprise him with small genuine gifts! it could be seed packets that you guys could plant together, new sporting gloves, or even a beverage after his club activities. He wouldn't know what to say at first cuz he's trying to reboot himself internally from your sweet gesture. Sometimes he's confused about how you affect him with whatever gesture you do but he lets you do it anyway because it leads you to have this glint in your eye.

Give him a challenge. Be a little competitive with him cuz it not only excites him but fuels him to do activities with you. challenge him on who can finish all their homework for the day or race him to the cafeteria and the loser has to buy lunch. He enjoys the playfulness, which keeps him on his toes and helps to study for him fun cuz he gets to do it with you.

Like in most cases with Savanaclaw, Jack is oftentimes pretty stubborn and would like to be left alone. Besides all of the bonding moments and receiving gifts, what he'd appreciate is if his s/o would cut it straight with him or in other words, call him out. He can take your words so long as it doesn't cross any boundaries of his but otherwise, he'll understand where you're coming from. He's gonna make mistakes but so long as you, his s/o, are gonna talk it out with him, his will heart skip a beat every time. All the more reason to be with you more.

[justwearthegoddamncardigan]

Hello:)

so I was looking thru ur pinned post and saw that u wrote for Harry Potter and was wondering if you would do a fic for George Weasley? ( fem reader pls) but basically, I was just kind of thinking of an introverted Gryffindor who loves books and George meets them and they both (very obvious to others) have a crush on each other? Maybe George just asks them for book recs even tho he had no interest in reading before just so he can find a way to talk to the reader? I know you have a lot of fics in the making so take ur time please<3

A HP REQUEST?? This is amazing I'm so excited to be branching out from maze runner again, and I absolutely love this request it's super cute ❤❤. Ty for being so kind and sweet as well :)

Umm :D So I wrote the above ^^^ response as soon as the request came in and now... IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS IM SO SORRY ANON!! Hope you're still out there to read 😭

It's a love story

George Weasley x fem!reader

I am not British *thumbs up in australian* so prepare either for out-of-place non-british dialogue or cringe attempts to fit into the universe. idk which one it's gonna be so I guess we'll find out

3.1k words

Warnings: language (swearing)

You turn the corner and register a flash of red hair before colliding hard with a body.

"Shit!"

You groan as you sit up, staring around to see your books have been knocked out of your arms and onto the floor.

"Fuck, sorry, listen I've gotta-"

"Weasley!"

You turn in surprise as Filch marches down the corridor, fist raised with an expression of rage on his face.

"Shit," you whisper.

"Yeah," says the person who knocked you over, who you've now found is none other than George Weasley. Of course, the guy you've kinda sorta maybe liked for years is only talking to you after literally bowling you over.

"Here." He points his wand and charms all your books into little palm-sized rectangles, before gathering them up and stuffing them in his pockets. "We've gotta go."

"Where?" you stare around the empty corridor, unable to find a decent hiding spot.

"Follow me." George leads you over to a dusty-looking tapestry and ducks behind it.

"What the-"

"Come on!" he reaches out and grabs your hand, tugging you in.

You stumble through the gap between the tapestry and the wall, practically falling into George's chest.

"Sorry," you mutter, and you're glad it's dark because you can feel your face blushing like crazy.

"I know you're 'round 'ere, Weasley," you hear Filch snarl from outside.

You hear him muttering to himself as his footsteps eventually recede, and you let out a breath. "He's gone."

You turn to push through the tapestry to get out, only to be met with a thin slab of solid stone. "What-"

George winces. "Yeah, once you get in here it closes for about half an hour."

"Half an hour?" you repeat incredulously.

You can barely see his nod in the dark. "I mean, one of them closes for two hours once you get in, so half isn't too bad."

There's beat of silence, before, "Lumos."

The tip of George's wand lights up, illuminating the small space. "Oh, it's you," he says, seemingly on instinct the moment the light appears.

"Pardon?"

He seems to catch himself, shaking his head. "Nevermind, just- Here, sit down."

You sit down on the floor with your legs crossed, heart skipping a beat as your knee brushes against his in the cramped space.

"We're in the same Transfiguration class, aren't we?" asks George.

"I- yeah." You're pleasantly surprised by that. You tend to be pretty quiet in class, mostly keeping to yourself.

"You're always the first person to get a new transfiguration successfully. Bird to glass on the first try, right?"

"I- yeah," you say, warming at the recognition of the hard work you've always put into Transfiguration.

He nods. "Took me the whole lesson to get that one right. Hey, I never caught your name in class?"

"It's L/n," you say. "Y/n L/n."

"Good to meet ya, Y/n," he grins. "I'm George."

"I know," you can't help but say, smiling slightly.

"Oh, your books." George empties his pockets of your miniaturised books. "Engorgio." He waves his wand over them, changing them back to their normal size.

"Thanks," you say, pulling them towards you and stacking them up.

"You read a lot?"

You smile to yourself, picturing the dozens of books you go through in a term. "Just a bit."

"Sure," says George, eyeing the four novels sitting in front of you now.

Before long, you reach out and push against the tapestry, finding it to be cloth again instead of stone.

"Time to go?" George stands and pushes through, and you follow him into the corridor.

"Finally," you say, stretching before grabbing your books.

"Sorry about earlier," says George with a sheepish smile. "And for trapping you for half an hour."

You shake your head. "It's okay."

He grins at you. "Alright then, see you 'round Y/n."

You stand still, rooted to the ground as he leaves, waving behind him, and something in you clicks. Oh shit.

⭒----⭒

Any thoughts about George a put aside for the night when you settle down with your book.

The common room late at night is your happy place. Most people are sleeping in the dorms, save for a couple 6th years finishing their assignments.

You tune out their little whisperings as you sit beside the crackling fire, and you can just pretend you're alone in the common room, getting lost in your book.

Before long, you're actually alone, with the remaining people all retreating to their dorms - except for one that you haven't noticed.

George is sitting across the room, barely paying attention to the essay he's meant to be editing. Every so often, he glances up at you without you noticing.

After years of sharing the same Transfig class, something about you has piqued George's interest, though he's always tried to mark it down as pure curiosity.

He can't believe it's taken literally knocking you to the ground to get your attention, and he doesn't understand how he hadn't properly met you before earlier that day. But now, he can't seem to resist the strange pull you have on him.

Get yourself together, you've only met once, idiot. George frowns as he silently berates himself, but he can't help but watch as you repeatedly flick away a strand of hair that keeps falling into your eyes.

Fuck it. Go talk to her.

George stands abruptly, nearly knocking over a goblet in the process.

You, the oblivious centre of all his thoughts for the past few hours, are still just sitting beside the fire, reading your book.

"Hey."

You jerk slightly in surprise, grabbing your book as it starts sliding out of your lap.

"Um, hi. What's up?" you manage to say coolly.

George blanks. He hadn't exactly come in with a plan. He glances down at the assignment he'd been working on; good enough. "Did you finish that work Flitwick gave us?"

"I haven't yet," you say slowly, slightly confused as to why he's here. "I've just gotta write a conclusion and edit the rest."

"I haven't got a clue how to write the damn conclusion," says George, flopping down beside you and complaining about the rigid essay structure.

You realise as he's talking that it's strangely intimate. Earlier, you'd been sitting on the floor with your back leaning on a couch and your knees up, braced against the coffee table.

Now, you're both wedged between said couch and table, and despite the generous space between the two of you, you feel oddly close to him.

"Can I read yours?" he asks, pointing to where your assignment has been sitting since you gave up and decided to just read your book.

"Sure," you say, sliding it to him.

He leans against the couch as he skims your work, fingers tapping absent-mindedly.

"God you write like a professor, Y/n," comments George. "...the fuck are all these words- incandescence?"

"I... read a little," you say with a little smile, cheeks warming at the way your name sounds in his mouth.

He glances up at you. "This is brilliant. So you've just got the conclusion to do?"

You nod, taking back the assignment as he pushes it to you.

You end up staying up way longer than you'd intended, talking to George as the conversation topic quickly strays away from any Charms essays.

By the time you go to your dorms, you haven't even finished your conclusion.

⭒----⭒

"Mate, you're not nearly as subtle as you think you are," says Fred, elbowing his brother.

George elbows him right back. "What're you on about?"

"The staring," says Fred, grin teasing. "It's getting embarrassing. If whatever little crush you've now got starts affecting my reputation, we're gonna have to have a chat about this twin thing."

George rolls his eyes. "Git."

"So..." Fred drags out the word. "Who is it then?"

He jerks his chin towards the group of girls on the other side of the Gryffindor breakfast table, where George had been conspicuously staring at you all morning.

"The one on the left - Y/L/N, she's in our Transfig class."

"Oh!" says Fred, eyes lighting up in understanding. "Oh she's great, I did a project with her once. Quiet type, bookish. Fun, though. Pretty, too," he adds, raising an eyebrow at George.

"Shut it," retorts George. "What should I do then?"

"I don't fuckin' know Georgie, just go talk to her. Ask for book recommendations or something."

"That's... actually a decent idea."

" 'course it is," says Fred. "Anything to get you guys together as fast as possible so I don't have to deal with your lovesick horsecrap."

⭒----⭒

A Quidditch game has just finished (Gryffindor victory, of course), and you're avoiding the inevitable party in the common room. You can enjoy parties on a good day, but you're just not feeling it right now.

So you're in the library, wandering around as you wait for dinner.

"Y/n!" You turn to see George doing a weird half-run toward you, not wanting to be yelled at for running in the library.

"Oh, George. Hey."

"I figured you'd be in here," he says.

"You figured...?"

"Well," he raises an eyebrow at you. "Since you read a little."

You huff out a soft laugh, shaking your head. "So why were you looking for me?"

You try to listen as he speaks, but you're immediately distracted by just about everything about him.

His cheeks are flushed red, probably cause he just transitioned from the cold outside to the heated library, and his hair is windswept and slightly wet from melted snowflakes.

He's gotten rid of his Quidditch gear, but it's strange to see him in just the casual clothes students usually wear in the dorms and common room again.

And he's still speaking. Pay attention, Y/n.

"Anyways, I just wanted to find you, cause you know, hobbies... and literature, are really... important. And the Christmas holidays are coming up. So I just wanted to ask if you had any recommendations."

You frown slightly as you remember it's only the start of November, and he barrels on, almost seeming nervous.

"For books, I mean. To read, over the holidays. I don't, uh- come in here very often, so I don't know what's good. You seemed like a good person to ask." He scrubs a hand over the back of his neck as he speaks, giving you a hopeful smile.

"I am," you say with a smirk. You straighten up confidently, banishing any nervousness because books; books you can do.

"Great," says George. "What've you got for me, Y/L/N?"

"Well what kind of books do you like?"

His grin falters. "Um-"

"Fiction, non-fiction, stories, biographies?"

"...stories?"

"Sure." You navigate to another aisle, moving into the more fiction-y section. "Action, ooh- historical, adventure, romance?" You lift an eyebrow at the last one.

"I-" He clears his throat, and you smile slightly to yourself. "Action is good, I think," he says uncertainly.

You scan the shelf currently at your eye level, before picking out a book. "I love this one," you tell him. "Pretty fast paced, which might be good for you. Also, dragons."

"Dragons," he repeats. "Great."

"How many books are you looking for?" you ask.

"Just one, I think. I wanna... get into reading, before the holidays start."

"Sure," you say, holding the book out to him.

It's like sun breaking through, when he smiles in return. "Do you think we could meet up?" he begins. "To talk about the book once I've read it?"

"Yeah, I'd like that," you smile. "And you have to tell me what you like, so I can recommend you the next one."

"Excellent."

⭒----⭒

Ever since giving George that first book you've started seeing him almost every day.

The two of you can be found huddled together in the little nooks around the library, or behind the greenhouses, or down by the lake, talking about books and school and everything in between.

But soon the holidays arrive, and you're saying goodbye to him and the rest of your friends.

Your parents are being forced to travel a lot over Christmas for work, so the first month of the holiday flies by in a whirlwind of tea in the morning with the few remaining students in Hogwarts, long peaceful walks on the grounds, and lots and lots of reading.

You've devoured a row of books in the library by the time Christmas has passed, and you've planned to go through another row, when George materialises in the common room one day, two weeks after Christmas.

"George?" you exclaim, spotting him in the common room.

He turns as he hears your voice, and his face splits into a wide grin. Without hesitation, he runs up to you and pulls you into a hug, lifting you just slightly above the floor.

Your heart swells as his laughter rings in the air, and suddenly everything is complete.

"I missed you so much," you tell him, almost surprised at your own admission. Truth is, Hogwarts is beautiful during Christmas, but it's a little lonely with everyone else having gone home.

George's responding smile is worth the wait though, and he tosses an arm around your shoulder as he leads you out of the common room.

"C'mon, it's a Hogsmeade day. No time to waste!"

⭒----⭒

The two of you settle down at a table in the Three Broomsticks, grabbing Butterbeers as you go.

"Alright then, Weasley. Did you get through the holiday book I got you?"

He smiles. "I did. And you know what I was thinking when I read it?"

"What?"

"Y/n would hate Chaolie, and she'd love Alosia."

You blink in surprise. "I- yeah, those are my exact thoughts on the book."

George smirks. "See? I know you."

"I mean yeah, I loved every chapter Alosia was in; she's my favourite. Typical, I know, everyone likes the side characters, but god, Allo would've been so much better as a main character than fucking Chaolie. G.T.L. is brilliant- we know that, she fits insane arcs and storylines into a single book, but please,-"

George listens, a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth, as you continue rambling animatedly about the book, your hands gesturing enthusiastically as you speak.

"And the cover: gorgeous. You know stories like this can have the silliest cover art if they're not done well, and the choice to go almost muggle-style with a non-moving cover is perfect."

You brush a stray piece of hair away from your face, oblivious to the way George tracks the movement, desperately wanting to reach out and tuck it behind your ear for you.

The bell on the door chimes and you look over George's shoulder to see a bunch of familiar redheads walking in.

"Ah, Y/n," says Fred, floating towards your table. "Lovely to finally see you again after having to hear so much about you over Christmas."

You giggle as George thumps his brother with his book, face turning almost as red as his hair. "Stupid- git."

"This is the Y/n?" says Ron, another one of George's brothers.

His sister joins in too. "Ah, so you're the reason we had to come back early."

"Early?" you repeat, confused.

"Enough," snaps George. "Piss off, all of you," he says, fruitlessly shoving his siblings away from your table.

He groans. "Come on Y/n, we're leaving." He tugs on your hand, and you snort as his family's antics as you down the last sip of Butterbeer and hop off your seat.

"Until we meet again, Y/n." Fred salutes you as you exit, and you laugh as you wave to the rest of the Weasleys.

"Sorry about them," says George, slightly pink in the cheeks.

"Don't worry," you laugh. "It's fine. But what did Ginny mean when- hey!"

You're cut off as George yanks off his scarf and starts wrapping it around your neck and face. "...It's cold out," he explains weakly as you give him a look.

You pin him down with your gaze, and he sighs. "Fine."

He grabs your hand and leads you away from the Three Broomsticks, brushing snow off a park bench before sitting down.

Every memory he's had with you, every moment he's spent falling for you, flashes through his head.

The shy smile you had in your first few days of meeting, which he could only describe as cute, the mischievous glint in your eye when you'd almost recommended him a romance book, your laugh that he's memorised the sound of... damn it, he better not fuck this up.

You sit down beside him, giving him a concerned look.

"Okay, here it is," he says abruptly. "I like you."

You blink, caught off guard.

"You're so- you're bright," he says. "There's this light in you, and it's so fucking bright, and people don't see it. I don't get that. But whatever, they don't matter. I just mean, I've been pretty much blinded by you since we met... well, since I knocked you over running from Filch. I- god, fuck this metaphor. The point is, every time I'm not with you, I'm just wishing that I was. Cause I like you, and I wish- I'd hoped, that maybe you like me back?"

You're still silent, your brain trying to catch up with what your ears are hearing.

But George takes the silence differently. "It- it's okay if you don't. You know, I don't want to pressure you, at all. It's completely-"

"George." You take his hand. "I like you too, so damn much. I was just... I've never done this before. I didn't know if I should ask you out, or confess, or anything."

George lets out an incredulous breath. "Oh. Well then."

He rests his forehead against yours. "Y/n, will you do me the great honour of becoming my girlfriend."

You're smiling so much it almost hurts. "I'd love to," you whisper.

⭒----⭒

It's only on your first date, that you realise; "You know, we've practically be dating this whole time."

"What do you mean?" asks George, digging into his icecream.

"Meeting up, just the two of us. We've been doing it for ages, except we thought it was just book meetings."

The spoon stills halfway to George's mouth. "...fuck."

You snort, "We're both idiots, aren't we."

"Could've saved me so much grief if I'd known we were already dating. It was well shit, overthinking everything over the holidays."

"You mean when you missed me so much you convinced your whole family to come back to school early?"

"Sod off," he replies, nudging your foot and grinning. "You thought it was cute, anyway."

"I did."

There's a beat, before; "Kissing," you say, pointing your spoon at him. "We weren't totally dating, cause we didn't kiss."

"Right," agrees George, nodding. "Speaking of..."

You let out a laugh, setting your icecream down on the table, and then you let him pull you in.

Silly details cause I can't help myself: Alosia is a music project by dodie, Chaolie is based on Chaol from tog (sorry), and GTL is the fictional author from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Thank you for tolerating my self-indulgent easter eggs.

Thank you for reading, everyone! Hope you enjoyed my first fic in the HP universe <3

[shinybearnerd]

“You need some rest”

So, this is a little fluff Kratos x reader for all my fellows that are in love with the “god of few words” (god knows I loved Freya for that, lol).

   This story is set after GOW Ragnarok, so it may contain spoilers.

Also, here Brok and Sindri made a body for Mimir. So he's able to walk. Idk, it felt right.

Anyway, hope you like it!

Pair: Kratos x reader

Words: 1,28k

Genre: Fluff, a bit of angst

Story: After Ragnarok, you, your husband Kratos, Mimir, Freya and the Huldra brothers decide to help rebuild the realms. Kratos is the All-Father now [if you are interested in this, I recommend it to you @whittywhitty. They write beautiful headcanons about it!], so most of the work is up to him. So this means that his fantastic partner has to step up and remind him to get some sleep.

-Engish is not my first language. So I'm sorry if there are any mistakes-

With closed eyes, you turn to the other side of the bed. Your hand spread towards the other end, gently seeking your husband's presence. Only to find out the shits are still intact.

You sigh, trying to wake up so could stand up without falling miserably to the ground. Once you got up, you head to his study.

If he wasn't there in your bed, he surely was that gods damn study. You came to understand it.

You walk slowly, your tiredness still on your shoulders. You were able to get a half hour of sleep after helping Sindri and Brok out, but obviously, it wasn't enough.

You begin to climb the stair, a hand on the handrail. Once you arrived on the floor, you see a light reflex on it. It came from the study, just like you suspected.

After getting closer to it, you leaned against the door, trying your best not to make any sounds.

There it is, your husband. In all his godly glory.

He was sitting behind his desk, full of scrolls, books and notes from his and Atreus' journals of their diplomatic trips.

On his nose, a pair of glasses, which were definitely too small for his physique.

Even tho he was a god, he was starting to see objects in front of him a little blurry. When you pointed it out to him, all that Kratos did was grump about him not needing anything.

He was a god! He did not need glasses!

He kept replying like that every time you, Atreus or Mimir brought up the subject until he noticed that he wasn't able to read his notes or the poems, which he likes to read next to you in front of the fireplace. So he decided to wear them, with the condition of putting them only when they are home and alone.

He is incredibly hot with them on.

The ladies of the realms (at least the one that came into your home did) think that.

You think that.

Everybody thinks that, except Brok that doesn’t miss a bit and throws some jokes at him.

The lenses are oval, bound by a delicate, but at the same time resistant, sheet of iron. They are thin but still have a magnifying effect on his beautiful deep amber eyes. 

By gods, if you love those eyes! Those were the first things you noticed about him. His gaze was so deep and calm but also full of sadness and anger. A cocktail of emotions that made him even more interesting in your eyes. But, every time you say something like that, people next to you (mostly your family and friends) make fun of you by saying that of all Kratos, it was impossible to notice his little eyes first.

Some seconds passed before your god noticed your presence. He raised his head in your direction. His expression softened.

That was the moment when you noticed he was exhausted.

In those months he made the impossible: travel from one realm to another without a break; read and fulfil some prayers; help rebuilt some temples and structures...

One night was on the verge of collapsing!

You two were at a gala, on Svartalfheim and you noticed that something was off about Kratos. You were able to convince him to end the night there and get some sleep.

The life of a diplomat wasn't easy. It was expected. You most of all knew that and you were worried for your husband. He had problems with his self-esteem. Always thinking that he was about to make the worst decision. Or that he wasn't helping enough. Even tho he was perfect

     <<Have I ever told you how sexy you look with those glasses on?>>

He let out a chuckle.

Another thing that you loved about him was his chuckle. Every time it made you melt.

    <<You mentioned it a couple of times>>

    <<Ehm...>>

You hear someone clearing his throat next to you. You enter the room only to see Mimir in the corner on a chair. 

How was it possible that you didn't notice him?

   Your cheeks turn pink, a thing that amused the greek god.

    <<Mimir! Are you trying to ambush me?>>

    <<I'm sorry. I was trying only trying to persuade your husband to rest>>

    <<Oh! Then we are here for the same quest, brother>>

Kratos looked up from the papers again, a quill pen in hand. He was observing his best friend and his lover looking at him incessantly. It was not a good sign. 

    <<What?>> he asked.

Mimir, smelling trouble, gets up and walks toward you, saying that he would leave you two alone.

    <<Night, brother!>>

Kratos grunts and keeps writing on the scroll under his fingers.

    <<Night, Mimir. Thank you>>

    <<I don't know what I was expecting... Good night.>>

Once you hear the door of Mimir's room closing, you approach Kratos, observing with worry every little movement.

    <<Should not you be sleeping? It's the middle of the night>> he asks you.

    <<It's been so long that I can't fall asleep without you snoring in my ears>>

    <<I snore?>>

You smile, getting behind him and hugging him.

    <<Yes, my love. Like a bear!>>

You can feel him relaxing under your touch. Almost melting under it. Feeling also a hand caressing yours.

You two remain like this for a while. Hugging each other, calm and rocked by each other's heartbeat.

    <<Do I really snore?>>

You laugh this time, kissing his cheek.

    <<Yes, but I think it's the best part of the day>>

Kratos frowns, asking you what you meant by that. You blush again, trying to persuade him to talk about something else. He is curious, tho. So he keeps asking.

    <<Ehm, well... You tend to snore when you are relaxed or when you are exhausted. In both cases, it means that you put your guard down... So it's like... Well, it's like you are telling me that you trust me>>

He smiles, breaks the hug and puts you in his lap, caressing your thighs.

    <<I trust you.>>

    <<I know! I know. It's just... I like it. That's all>>

He smiles again, caressing your cheek. You kiss him while taking off his glasses and you put them on the desk. With a deeper tone, he warns you by calling your name.

    <<You need to sleep too. If you keep up with this routine you could really hurt yourself, my love.>>

    <<I know that this is meaningful for you. And even if I was with you that day, I can't imagine how you felt when you saw that shrine... I'm very proud of you! I really am. I love the dedication you put into everything you do, how you try to maintain peace... But if you want to keep doing it, you need to sleep! I'm worried about you, Kratos. Everybody is. Last week you were about to collapse, and the one before that, you were about to have a nervous breakdown.

You see him passing a hand on his eyes, maybe trying to relieve his tiredness. You take his face in your hands so that your eyes can meet and start cares his cheeks with your thumb.

<<I'm not telling you to quit. I'm telling you to rest, my love. You are a god, true, but your body needs some rest. You can't keep stressing it like that!>>

The god remains silent. He grumps something and then nods.

    <<All right>>

You smile at him and kiss him again, starting to stand up.

    <<Come. Tomorrow morning I'll help you out. And no, I don't accept no as an answer.>>

Kratos grumps again with annoyance but smiles, letting the love of his life guide him to their bedroom.

[sunfortune]

been thinking about your thoughts on book lovers since ur blog became emily henry discourse night. i’m someone that likes emily henry books but i think the issue is the stories she’s telling are like litfic or women’s fiction stories but then she has to like fit them into a romance novel. so like book lovers is this really tender story about the like trauma of grief and having to raise your younger sibling and like shaping your life and career around that to the point of unhappiness, even years after that shaping became unnecessary, shoved into this little teehee premise of like wouldn’t it be so silly if the heartless big city other woman from the hallmark movie got a small town romance teehee. and i’m not opposed to a romantic subplot OR a flat out romance novel but in book lovers the romance unfolds in these weird almost gimmicky ways around the heart of the story which is the sisters. so then it becomes like hey why are you here. about the romance. in the romance novel. anyway sorry about this i just couldn’t get it out of my head or figure out how to articulate my thoughts about it until now. all love<3

i agree! in both of the books i’ve read of hers (book lovers and happy place) i think she has very compelling main characters. (in happy place i felt genuinely moved by the main characters pov and her problems with her parents. and in book lovers i really had high hopes for the way her character was described before the execution killed it) BUT then the romance doesn’t have the same draw. and isn’t incorporated into the book in a way for the connection OR the tension to land. (happy place was a bit better than book lovers tho) if it was chic lit or the romance was a subplot it would be different. but the issue with emily henry is her books ARE romance novels at the end of the day. so when the romance falls flat…the parts that are admittedly done well can’t really make up for that. -for me at least!

also i think another thing is her main characters are very interesting but No other character truly is. including the love interest. which is what truly hurts any sort of connection. like i have read and watched sooooo much mediocre NONSENSE (i’m self aware) that i have a drive to want better for bc the interpersonal relationships in them just /slap that Hard/. but in emily henry’s books that concept is nonexistent. every relationship you see play out on screen, including the friendships (looking at happy place) do not pack a punch. at all. they never have me on the edge of my seat hoping for a resolution or happily ever after or whatever

which is why these books don’t even make me mad when they’re not good. bc i don’t Care about any relationship to be like i wish this was better </3 they deserved more </33. i’m just perplexed by why these books keep getting lauded as the pinnacle of contemporary romance. when they are Nothing of the sort

[miya-twins]

OsaYachi Brainrot

this may one day be a fic. but probably not so here

so for the sake of this working we assume yachi went to university in osaka, still doing like, marketing & design

and one evening she's just walking home tired from class and decides to buy takeout rather than cooking by herself. it's spontaneous so she just walks into the next building that says "onigiri" on it without thinking about it much

instantly starts panicking when she sees it's basically empty tho like is this even a restaurant? is there real food to be bought here? is this a yakuza front? is she about to get murdered for daring to step in here?

except obviously it's not, and she gets greeted by a cheery "hi what can I get fer ya?". but she startles and squeaks, and then when she hears "oh, aren't ya the girl who" she just panics, hits a chair trying to go backwards and falls over, then scrambles and runs right out of the restaurant.

now osamu is pretty clueless as to what exactly just happened, just that a girl walked into his restaurant, he recognized her maybe as the girl who was karasuno's manager and that he almost hit with his serve like three years ago, and then she screamed and ran back out. and also dropped the wallet she was holding.

and because he's a reasonable person, he doesn't pick up the wallet and waits to see if she comes back, no, he takes it and books it after her

it's not even really night yet and they're in a big city, so they definitely get a lot of stares, and when osamu catches up to her and grabs her arm to stop her from running again he has to very loudly go "you forgot your wallet at my store! you should take it with you before you go!" because multiple passersby have their phones raised to call the cops on him. like sure he's just barely still a teenager at this point and only a year older than yachi, but he's WAY taller and yachi looks younger than she is and also she's probably crying just from the shock

poor girl is so embarrassed by the scene, takes her wallet back and bows like five times in apology for troubling him like this and only then looks up enough to see that oh. she does know who this is

well. as she puts it "oh, you're miya - uh" looks to his hair. not dyed anymore. looks to his chest. no numbered jersey (why would he be wearing that now?). "um. one of them." then immediately apologizes because that's so rude, she really should be able to tell them apart

osamu just laughs it off, gives her his name and introduces himself as the one who used to dye his hair grey and didn't play setter

also admits that he has no idea what she's called either, so they're even

yachi introduces herself and feels a bit more at ease, enough to agree to go back to the restaurant and buy some onigiri which was the original plan anyway

osamu offers to give them to her for free as an apology for spooking her, but she insists on paying, so osamu just hands her some extra ones that are left over that he probably won't sell anyway

yachi leaves with her onigiri, now way too much for her to eat, and shares them with her roommate

both of them are blown away by how good the onigiri are and the roommate is like. idc how much you embarrassed yourself we are gonna go back there. regularly. this is not up for debate.

and like. yeah. those onigiri are worth it. and osamu didn't seem upset or like he was making fun of her either. though she's still 100% sure she completely blew her first real impression on him.

meanwhile osamu's just hoping she likes his onigiri, thinking she's cute and funny

next time yachi goes to get food by herself she actually sits down to eat, and osamu chats with her a little. just casual stuff, what yachi is doing in osaka, kageyama is on the adlers now so he'll play atsumu next week since he's on the jackals, also he wants to know what hinata is doing rn, what do you mean he's playing beach volleyball and learning portuguese to go to brazil?

pretty soon it becomes easy for yachi to come and it's her go to place for comfort food, and she sometimes brings her new uni friends as well

it slowly spreads as a secret tip among the uni students but it's still empty a lot of the time

yachi starts wondering if maybe she isn't the only one not quite sure if this is actually a restaurant and people don't come in since it doesn't really clearly say anything outside

it's on her mind so when she gets an assignment to design a business logo and some ads she does it for onigiri miya

shyly presents them to osamu later and he's like "wow this looks so good you're incredible"

and yachi is blushing cuz he's really close to her looking at it and why is her heart racing like that? she offers him he can use it if he likes, which he refuses because he can't really pay her, but she says she's already made it and got a good grade so. it's not like she did this for money or will get paid if he doesn't use it.

so she helps him get the logo printed for the storefront, and he makes flyers out of her ads, and she draws on a chalkboard he sets up outside.

it ends up helping a bunch more people discovering onigiri miya and boosting business, she also makes him a website later, for another assignment.

and they get really comfortable, just hanging out. yachi doesn't even startle anymore when atsumu randomly barges into onigiri miya cuz she gets used to him. surprisingly she finds the twins bickering soothing. it reminds her of kageyama and hinata. osamu gets drawn into yachi's friend group, so he's not just working or hanging out with atsumu's friends on the jackals all the time anymore. yachi becomes onigiri miyas second taste tester after atsumu has confirmed it's edible.

and somehow, osamu is still surprised when atsumu eventually asks "so when are ya gonna ask her out, huh?"

as if he's not talking about how cute yachi is all the damn time, or how hard she works or how talented she is or how his restaurant seemed quiet and wrong those two weeks she went back to miyagi to visit her family.

it has been suggested to yachi by her friends and roommate as well that osamu might be into her but uh. she has immediately catastrophized all the ways her doing anything about this possibility could end in her social ruin so she has tried not to entertain it. her mother always lecturing her to be careful around men and their ulterior motives and general uselessness probably doesn't help either. and she's gotten a bit more confident in herself but she definitely believes osamu can do better than her.

osamu also definitely believes she can do better than him, look at all those smart, well-off people she's going to college with.

at first atsumu just rolls his eyes at his brother but as he keeps insisting to not do anything about their obvious crushes on each other, eventually atsumu just goes "if yer not gonna ask her out, I will."

and if there's one thing osamu knows about his twin, it's that he'll make good on his threats, no matter how ill-advised they may be. he knows atsumu would do it, and if yachi for some reason said yes, he'd even be a decent boyfriend to her because they're good friends at this point.

so with his hand forced, osamu invites her to come over after closing time, and presents her with a more fancy meal not on the menu and eats with her. it's very date-like and out of the ordinary so yachi does eventually work up the courage to ask if there's an occasion for this. internally panicking thinking she forgot something important the whole time.

osamu blushes and almost chokes but he does manage to blurt out "would you like to be my girlfriend?"

it takes like a couple seconds to compute in yachi's brain so osamu is already backpedalling like "it's chill if not" but suddenly yachi gets incredibly red and stammers out nonsense syllables and just hides her face in her hands cuz she's completely overwhelmed.

osamu gives her a bit of time, then reaches out to take one of her hands and gently pry it away so he can look at her and see if she's alright

yachi just looks at their hands and thinks about how nice and warm osamu's hand feels and how he puts her at ease with his presence. and she nods and squeaks out an "I'd like to" and osamu smiles so brightly she feels like she needs sunscreen to protect herself from it.

then osamu presses a soft kiss to her hand and she almost faints

it takes them like three weeks from this point before their lips touch, and even longer to get any more intimate

atsumu meticulously documents this timeline to embarrass them at their wedding with it. osamu tells him "shut up you don't even know we'll make it to marriage yet" but like. they're gonna get married.

only when they've been together a couple of years and are both financially stable on their own and confirmed their life plans are compatible with each other, but. they do get married. it's one of the best days of their life. (and atsumu is there as best man to go "I told ya so" with the most obnoxious grin possible)

also they have the cutest kids and osamu is the best dad to them but idk maybe that should be another post this one is too long already

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

ARI MLL IM SO SORRY THAT THIS IS SENT OUT SO LATE HSJSJS. I FEEL SO BAD FOR NOT REPLYING EARLIER 😭 it was assessment week and istg everyday was just filled with assignments/exams/pracs etc. i just wanna go back to high school already!! i’m not mentally prepared for this ☹️☹️

UR SO REAL ABT THE JJK DILFS THO. like they’ve raised my standards up for men so high haksjsj. i so badly want, no, NEED a college bf! geto in my life to make my very own uni life a lil more bearable. HES SO BF CODED OMG 😻 okok but hear me out. geto playing guitar?? i repeat. GETO PLAYING GUITAR??? more specifically ELECTRIC GUITAR PHEWWW. i’m sorry it’s been plaguing my mind for the past few days but i so believe that geto can play guitar w ease. hsjsjsj guitarist! geto has me melting icl 😭✋ with his piercings nd tattoos nd the reading glasses he wears at home hshshshs. its not a want, it’s a need 😔

AHHH UR SO RIGHT ABT STEM GIRLIES AND LIBERAL ARTS GIRLIES HOLDING HANDS HSJJSJ. us stem girlies have sm respect for you guys 🙇‍♀️ from what i’ve heard, lit is a pretty tough major (i took lit as an atar subject back in hs and i FAILED LMAOO). plus lit girlies are so knowledgeable it js blows my mind away. like give me ur brain please 🙏

i’ve tried getting out of my reading slump (WE’RE GETTING THERE WOOHOO!!) like i’ve recently started little woman by louis may alcott (a classic ik idk why i’m even referencing it shshs) and so far it’s pretty good! sometimes the dialogue throws me off a little since it was written so long ago and my mind just goes blank as soon as i read anything that’s not modern day english (i’m talking anything published before the 2000s 😭). i watched the movie a while ago so i’m kinda excited to see if there’s any major differences between the books and the movies. apparently there are a few but i didnt listen in further bc i didn’t wanna spoil myself hahah. welp ig i’ll k when i commit to actually finishing the book.

i haven’t heard abt the travelling cat chronicles yet but i’ll sure be adding it to my tbr 🫡 I LOVE LOVE LOVE CATS SMMM!! ive always just preferred cats more than dogs idkk. speaking abt cats, i have two ragdoll cats hsjsjs. funnily enough, someone pointed out that they somewhat remind them of gojo 😹😹 whelp i fear that i might as well grow up to be an old cat lady hsjsj. not that i’m complaining tho 🤭 really out of the blue question but dy have any pets? 👀 i’m just curious hahah.

also thank u so so so much for the advice ari! i’ll definitely be checking out the summaries + quotes for any future books i wanna read. and nooo ur not incompetent at all, don’t worry!! and thank u sm for being so supportive bby i have sm love for you 💗 AND YEAH I AGREE, READING IS SM FUN WHEN YOU’RE NOT BEING FORCED INTO IT.

and aww the tags were absolutely no problem at all! ur geto drabble was written SO WELL. like ari bby you are so talented and i cannot emphasise that enough. you have a way with words and it’s so admirable!! ++ you nailed geto’s characterisation so well, i was genuinely in awe while reading it. ahhh i still think abt it even to this day!! cult leader geto plagues my mind once a week istg. SAME W HIM AND HIS DYNAMIC W SATORU. like hello?? every time i hear abt satosugu i wanna BAWL MY EYES OUT. they’re soulmates (both platonically and somewhat romantically?? idk if you can have both hahah). but omigosh they’re so tragic shskajsjs. brb i’m not crying, i’m chopping up onions!! !! !! 😃

OMG THAT RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN GOJO AND RHE KITTY CAT OMFDDHDH. someone tell me they’re twins and i’ll believe every. single. word. thank u sm for the treat ari, i hope ur day/night is going well!! i’m so sorry that this is long overdue but i genuinely LOVE talking to you bby <333 remember to take care of urself too! ilysm 💞🥹

p.s hes so fine i swearrrr 😍 i saw this on twitter and it’s been my roman empire ever since

UKIIIII MY BELOVED PLS FORGIVE ME FOR THE WAIT 😔😔😔 i’m finally here !!!!!!

first of alllll i hope your studies n work have gone well!!!!!! 🥺🥺 you know i’m always cheering you on hehe. i just have a month left n then i’m free but i’m not sure how it is for you :’3 i hope you’ll get to rest properly soon!!!!

ANDDDDDDDD GUITARIST!SUGU. GOOD GOD 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 your hcs of him made me LOSE it i hope you know that…… he’s literally so bf…… PLSSS PIERCINGS AND TATTOOS AND READING GLASSES ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 OUGHHH UKI I NEED HIM SO BAD….. he would strum his pretty guitar for you on nights you couldn’t sleep 🥺🥺 i just know he would!!!!! he’s such a loverboy…..

LIBERAL ARTS GIRLIES 🤝 STEM GIRLIES FR….. from my perspective stem subjects are a LOT more difficult i rlly can’t overstate how impressed i am by how much you guys study …… 😭😭 i’ve heard . horror stories abt it LMAO…..

AND THE BOOKSSSSS i’m so proud of you for trying to get out of your reading slump uki!!!!!! i actually haven’t read little women yet hehe, pls tell me if it ends up being good!!!!! i’ve heard great things abt it….. AND AND ANDDD i get you!!!! i think it’s important to pick books that are written in ways that you like!!! it’s easy to think that older books are like . harder to read and relate to but that’s usually more bc of the author than the time period!!! i prefer mine to be from around the 1800s-1900s and they aren’t difficult to understand at all!! some classics are super hard to get into bc of how just. Heavy they are writing wise (side eyeing shakespeare n dostoevsky rn) but others aren’t!!! one classic i absolutely adore is the stranger by albert camus, idk if you’re interested in existentialism but!!! the writing is very pretty :3

anyway anyway…. FELLOW CAT PERSONNNN i knew i could trust you!!!! and you have ragdolls!!! 🥺🥺 my current housemate has four of them LMAO and they all look like gojo ngl …. act like him too……. this little guy just follows me around n sleeps in my lap and yaps <33333

BUT YES i think you’d really love the travelling cat chronicles!!!! i read it so quickly bc it’s just. so lovely!!!! and pretty!!!!! and cute n sweet :(((( i love it lots!!!!! but it made me sob so much… so pls make sure you have tissues close by if you read it……

ANDDDD again 🥺🥺🥺 thank you sooooo much for being so sweet …. you rlly are too kind!!!!! i’m so happy you like my geto, i loveloveloveee yours too <33333 AND . YES. i cry over stsg all the time too…. sniffle……. they’re soulmates both platonically and romantically imo :’3 they just . belong together no matter what!!!!!! wish they weren’t so doomed by the narrative tho…..

THANK YOU SO MUCHHH FOR CHATTING W ME SWEETIE <33333 i hope you’re doing soso well!!!!! and i rlly am sorry abt how long you’ve had to wait for this response 😭😭 my brain has Not been braining correctly recently. but i adore you sb 🥺

[queerregulusablack]

Sometimes all I think about is the house elves storming the final battle IN THE NAME OF BRAVE REGULUS and I cry.

Kreacher going against Walburga and choosing Regulus’ as his master and fighting for the light?!?

Like I know there’s stupid ass discourse over Regulus’ stance even after he willingly died (a very painful death!!) just for the CHANCE of Voldemort’s demise, but in reality like it’s canon (still fuck jkr tho) that in the end Regulus side was against Voldy and all that he stands for?!?

I needed to share, I must bring someone along with me when I spiral over my baby girl Reg 🫶🏼

In the same way that a lot of people in this fandom struggle to perceive real life people as three dimensional, they fail to do so with characters; and Regulus, my sweet son, my good time boy, is a really good example of that.

In the books we get Kreacher telling Harry that Regulus was 'proud to serve', that he was happy about joining up with the Death Eaters; and even if we ignore for a moment that people are fully capable of putting up an emotional front for the sake of their survival, maybe he was! Maybe our Reggie was a purist, maybe he did call muggleborns mudbloods, maybe he laughed when Mulciber was a bully.

But it's made clear from what we hear from Sirius that he was raised in an environment that encouraged that school of thought. It's made clear from the state of Slytherin House even ten years after the end of the war that he never escaped being immersed in that school of thought, because the only person he canonically knew that spoke out against it was Sirius, who apparently hated him, and is implied to have harbored a degree of jealousy over Regulus being seen as a 'better son' - because however much Sirius might have hated his parents that's not something you complain about being reminded of unless you were hurt by it. Not twenty five years after the fact - and who ran away when he was sixteen; when Regulus was fourteen, or fifteen at the very oldest.

And even then. Even having grown up with only the one point of view pushed on him again and again. Even then, when Voldemort almost gets Kreacher killed, when it is revealed he's tampering with dark magic even Slughorn, head of Slytherin fucking House is wary of, Regulus' plan is to risk his life to get rid of it with the ultimate goal of Voldemort being defeated and killed.

Like SORRY but I do think sacrificing your life in the hopes of defeating the worst evil the wizarding world is facing at the time earns you a little grace and sympathy. I think making that choice at eighteen years old is probably enough to earn you some more nuanced consideration than 'oh his elf said he was happy to be a death eater and his very obviously scorned and speaking after twenty five years of not seeing him brother said he was soft so therefore he must have been evil and the fact he sacrificed his life as practically a child doesn't mean anything'.

Sorry! I'm sorry you're so boring. I'm sorry you don't think people can change and grow from their past actions. I'm sorry your sad little life revolves around being a fucking buzzkill and having no taste in narrative progression or nuanced character work. Sorry you're so attached to the barebones canon of a Literal Transphobe that you feel the need to be a bitch on the internet about other people having fun. Sorry. Not my problem though leave me and my boy Reggie alone.

Anyway. I love my boy Regulus. I love his codependent relationship with his weird house elf. I love that in the end the house elves of Hogwarts rose up in Regulus' name, not Albus fucking Dumbledore's, bc I'd bet anything those elves still remember the reserved little boy who used to come into the kitchens and watch them work and spoke to them all so politely.

Anyone who wants to talk shit about my boy square up for a fist fight.

Advanced warning that I cheat and I will bite you.

[seven-stars-in-his-palm]

Ngl I was kinda asking what your thoughts were on the au in a sleep deprived frenzy but I do have my own thoughts so here they are. sorry for confusion lol

I like the idea I wrote into the fic that Mabel knit a sweater with a design that can be felt for Ford. like knitting buttons into it and using raised stitches, stuff like that. I haven't yet had him wear it but I swear I'll figure out when to make him put it on.

Just... I was thinking of adding a scene in the near future where Dipper or Mabel or even both maybe begin to feel sad that Ford can't see them and doesn't know what they look like, but Ford hugging them and letting them know that he loves them regardless of his blindness, that he cares about them as who they are and not what they look like. potentially maybe just playfully describing them by what he can feel, like Mabel's sweater or Dipper's hat. just... bonding stuff.

And then... angsty stuff like Ford being taunted by Bill with the triangle using his blindness against him in cruel ways. once Weirdmageddon happens, I keep thinking about Bill torturing him by making his attacks complete surprises and leaving Ford without his assistive devices in the fearmid so he's scared and lost. just aaaaaaarggghh....

but anyway, three thoughts for you I guess lol. hope you like and I'm still wondering about what you think about the au haha.

oh my god I misunderstood you I misunderstood you I missed understood you I am going to exil tumblr and never return I’m so ashamed if someone did that to me I won’t be able to live this down there are so many things I won’t be able to live down ohhhhhhhhhh myyyyyyyyyyggggooooooooOODDDDDD—

THOUGHTS?!?!? ourgh ourgh orugh I love reading bullet points….hmmmmmmm here’s a few of mine, I think.

- ford’s relationship with braille. he must know it, right? unless you came up with another way to do that but I think he’d like to read in braille regardless. I imagine that he’d hoard books like that because he came across it so little in the multiverse that when he’d find it it was a treasure to behold. bro hoards knowledge

- the photooooo ik you’ve definitely talked about this but he’d keep it. despite how long it’s been he can still remember what it looks like. can feel the rough edges. the thing that’s bad about it is that he doesn’t know if the image is still there or fucked up or faded or Whatever, because of course he wouldn’t be able to tell. he keeps faith that it is clear, though, and when stan or someone else tells him that the photo is indeed in its pristine condition, he really appreciates it. like a lot. gives him stability to the fact that at least Something didn’t change.

- his clothes. it doesn’t matter what colors someone gives him as long as they feel the same, but yes he’d definitely appreciate a sweater he could feel. before that option was offered up to him, tho, he was chill without knowing. mabel could knit any color or pattern sweater and he wouldn’t give a shit because at least it’s a sweater. like she could put ‘world’s worst uncle’ and HE’D STILL WEAR IT PROUDLY. no shits given he actually doesn’t want anyone telling him what they look like he’d rather live in bliss thanks <3

- ford identifying people by things he’s felt….oh that. that. can’t even say anything

- ford wouldn’t have ever seen what old stan looks like. he has a deathly similar voice tho, so he can’t help but imagine stan as a younger version of himself. this helps to both assist and worsen certain situations.

- ik atla wasn’t around during his time but I’d think he’d try and learn to see Toph-Style, keyword being TRY. he of course isn’t successful, but does learn the valuable lesson of touching things to find their shapes, like rocks. he’s gotta learn how to just brave it and Touch

- and during weirdmageddon, one thing I could see bill doing is sort of returning ford’s sight sometimes? just like, little frames here or there? taunting him? making him see terrible things, what bill is doing to him and the town, and Other Things? just. returning the ability only to use it in the worst fucking possible. how the last thing ford will technically see in his life is bill, in the physical plane, hurting his family. just taking away precious things you didn’t even know you ahem y’know?

so. There’s that! not much. idk if this conflicts with any canon u got or smth of it’s what off the top of my head :) Ty for the rambling!!!!

[parcequecestnotreprojeeeet]

Hi, it’s me, Fanfic Anon #2. I saw the comment from Anon about Brigitte learning English when he got elected, and it gave me this little idea. Thank you, Anon for the inspo and I hope everyone enjoys!

“Brigitte?” He asked, confused as he walked into their private apartment. He knows they’re still unpacking everything after their recent move into the Élysée, but he’s pretty sure he’d remember if they owned an English textbook. And even if they did he’s very confused as to why his wife is now pouring over it, with what appears to be a very intensive note taking apparatus around her.

“You’re home!” She looked up with a wide, excited smile, slipping her glasses off her nose quickly, and laying them on the book, forgotten.

“Why are you studying an English textbook?”

“Because I need to learn English,” she answered, as if it was the simplest, most obvious thing in the world.

“Okay, and why do you need to learn English?” He tried again, still not seeing a point. She speaks two languages fluently, hell has taught hundreds of children those two different languages, and he knows she has a passible amount of English from their time visiting England or the States over the years, so why she thought she needed to add English to that list was a mystery to him.

“Because, everyone else speaks English. All the other leaders, their spouses, I’m sure. I can’t be the only one with a translator constantly following her. I’m already going to stick out like a sore thumb, the last thing I can afford to do is embarrass you -“

“What makes you think you would ever be an embarrassment? Or that you’d stick out like a sore thumb?” He asked concerned, rushing to squat at her side, and pull her hands into his, rubbing his thumbs against the back of her hands soothingly. “Who put those nasty thoughts inside that brilliant, beautiful head of yours?”

“I -“ she started only to hesitate, dropping her head embarrassed.

“Listen to me, Brigitte. If you want to learn English because you want to learn English, I’m happy to support you. I’ll go buy the best books, we can practice conversations together, I’ll start writing poetry to you in English -“

“Don’t you dare. I love how you write in French.”

“Okay, well maybe not that then,” he smiled appeasingly at her interjection before he continued. “But, if you want to learn English because you think I want you to learn English, or Teresa May, or Angela Merkel, or any other world leader wants you to learn English, then I’m going to pick up that book and throw it in the fireplace right now and burn it.

“You, Brigitte, are the most amazing human being I have ever met, in any job, in any country, in any language. In French, in Latin, or in English, there will not be a single person in any country who will not love you.”

“You’re kind, but you’re biased,” she demurred.

“No, I’m telling the full and honest truth! The fact that I’m your husband is completely irrelevant to this conversation.”

“Irrelevant, huh?” She challenged, raising her eyebrow.

“To my completely unbiased determination that you are the most spectacular woman in the world? Absolutely. I’ve thought that for about 25 years now, chérie. Long before were a couple.

“But, right now, all I really want to do, is have dinner with my remarkable wife. If that’s okay with her?” He asked, laughing as he felt her throw herself into his arms when she stood.

Hello fanfic anon #2! ❤️

Oh these two little cuties! Brigitte wanting to learn English to, in part, not embarrass Emmanuel. The poor thing!

Emmanuel’s words tho, I just melt 🫠😍

Thank you so much, fanfic anon #2! ❤️❤️❤️

[elithilanor]

Silm fluff~

We know how at this point it can be considered canon that maedhros raised all his brothers (and probably was designated babysitter for most of the cousins as well) but i like to go a bit further and think that he didn't only help watch them but actively taught and supported each one of them....

We know that he isn't really known for having a single great talent like Curvo or Maglor, so i like to imagine he just went and learned a bit of everything in order to indulge his baby brothers.

Listening to all of Maglors first attempts at songwriting and harmonizing with him, even tho he sometimes doesn't quite hit the notes perfectly and maglor will chew him out for it.

Showing how to make the best arrows and fishing hooks to Tyelco and probably also treating all the little scrapes the kid got while running around in the woods all day. Up to the point where the only thing he can still keep up is fishing bc when did this boy get so fast?!

At first still helping Carantir with equations until the poor boy has to explain every single step to maedhros. Mae gave in after that and just started to sneak out trade contracts for Moryo to look through as long as the kid wants. He's also there and let's Moryo throw a tantrum every time his baby bro gets overwhelmed by his emotions again or was called weird for not playing with other kids.

Curufin gets a lot of support from their dad already but we know how immersed Feanor can get in his projects and how much of a perfectionist he is. So Mae makes sure they regularly eat and hydrate. He keeps every single trinket Curvo ever made (for him) and tries to help when he is in a creative low by asking for the the most incredulous things, starting with a set of jewelry that looks so hideous Curvo straight out refuses to work on it and ending with little inventions to make everyday life easier (thats how the handheld mixer was invented).

We don't really have a lot of info about the twins, but as far as i remember they were the only of their kind until Elrued and Elruin, so i head canon them to be some kind of novelty that ppl sometimes stared at and noone really understood. When they get overwhelmed they take a page out of Carantirs book and come to their oldest brother, who showers them with love and reassurances until they stop being insecure about relying on each other so much. There is a time while they grow up where they try to distance a bit bc they think that they should become more independent but Mae kind of hunts them down with a giant plate of soufflé pancakes and they just.... Come out and tell him about their problems again (from then on there is always something sweet for the deep talks). Mae gets really invested in researching osanwe for a time bc of them and helps them create a mindspace of their own as well.

(the knowledge about his first twins helps a lot with raising elros and elrond later, even though it takes some time until he can share his experiences or even look at his second set of twins without his throat getting too tight to talk)

I hope that helped a little bit and that your day gets better~

For the life of me I'm not sure why this didn't show up until I logged in on my desktop, but I'm so glad I did because I never would have seen this otherwise.

Genuinely thank you so much for these <3 <3 Words cannot express how happy and warm these made me feel (and I'm terrible at commentary anyway, so I hope you'll forgive me). Also, soufflé pancakes!!

These are absolutely wonderful hcs and I, too, see Maedhros as the very caring and over-protective older brother/mother hen/often father figure to his siblings. I like to imagine that while Nerdanel is a wonderful mother, Feänor is...complicated (much like him and everything else) so Mae kind of ends up stepping in sometimes.

Thank you <3

[garfieldsladybird]

hi garfield!!! i was wondering if i could get 📚 library; i’ve maxed out my book limit • so ill tell you who would be your lover, best friend, and enemy/rival!! — send in a description about yourself; personality, appearance too if you'd like, gender preference & fandom.

personality: i’m a very sarcastic person, i’m kinda mean but only if we’re friends or you’re rude to me. to strangers i’m pretty nice and stuff. i’m a very funny person even w/o meaning to and i’m very loyal. i have a lot of negative traits tho including anger issues, bottling up my feelings, and being quite judgmental even if i don’t voice my judgements.

looks: i’m 5’6-5’7, i currently have bleach blonde hair but i’m dying it orangey-brown soon, it’s very shaggy and dead :,). i’m kinda tan but not super. i have freckles and moles on my face and arms. i have hazel eyes and a heart shaped face :)

i’m agender and use they/he prns, my gender preference is male and if you could i’d like stranger things and hp (but if just one then stranger things please<3)

i hope all that’s enough!!! have a good day/night :)

okay sorry if I get any of the details of Stranger Things wrong because I’m not super into it yet ;) you never said if you wanted The fruity four or the party..  I gave you the party, it just felt right :))

mike wheeler; he’s kind of a dick so if you were a dick back to him maybe he would like that. by dick I mean sarcastic. but yeah.  but ngl he seems like he has a lot of problems, like you said you have anger issues and I feel like he has anger issues too so i feel like you would go at each other… now I feel like you and Dustin would have a lot of fun <3 just being sarcastic the whole time ;) I feel like you both would raise dart together <3 (was that his name?) same with Will, he seems like a more comforting friend so I feel like he would help with the feelings and just talking about it instead of getting mad about it. I feel like Lucas would be mean back too but would also be playing with you yk yeha

you’re nice to strangers; when eleven came to Hawkins, you most likely welcomed her in ‘cause like she was in pouring rain in a big shirt so you now have your first girl best friend and then moving onwards when Max comes to hawkins, and her and eleven became friends, it was eleven’s mission to make you two become friends!! once she introduced you two, she put her hands on both of your shoulders like in a side hug and said, “friends!” nodding her head with her beautiful big smile while you 'nd max just said, “yeah, sure.” shrugging into the side hug, then all three of you went to the mall <3

I really don’t know about the fruity for though :) i’m kind of set on the party with you.. if you want the fruity four tell me what you doing your free time? ;) i just don’t know. like I don’t know who would you love in the party so yeha. maybe you have a little crush on Steve 😭

I don’t feel like you would have a rival… except for venca but like a person that hates you.? no one could hate you. maybe what’s up bitches name in season four release she was bullying El… idfk I don’t need to know her name.. maybe she would hate you bc you fucked her up yeah!! ;DDDD

okay now hp :)) yeahhh you didn’t choose marauders or golden era 😭 i’m sorry I should’ve stated this in the post, im choosing which one I think you would be the best in <33

I feel like you would be best friends with Lily!! oh yeahhh, but then you would grow very close with Marlene once you met her, similar personalities I feel like ;) I feel like Alice & Mary are great with like feelings and so it lily, I feel like Lily would know how to deal with your anger issues or when you get mad or something. if you were to say something maybe judgmental I feel like Lily would scold you on that and also school you school you on that, like if you’re unknowing of something maybe.. I feel like she would also help you grow from your negative traits like if you were to pointed out to her or she was just seeing that you were acting different. somehow.

Remus lupin. just yes! you give me sirius vibes ngl. I feel like you and Sirius would be best friends too, and slowly build into something more. BUT. you and Remus were also close too and yeha, you were building closer with him your friendship with Sirius was becoming something else. and then you got with Remus right.. Sirius is still very flirty to both of you and he was the biggest shipper EVER!!! and then since you and Remus were already together you guys like talked and since Sirius was into both of you you then talk to him and I don’t know if you like into poly relationships but I feel like you three together would be good!! <33 

enemy um except for Voldemort I do not know…

also thank you && goodnight <33

[managermochi]

To Hate Adam Connors || Book Review

To start off, I wanna say how good this book was. I relate to Lucy Meyer so much, for having daddy issues, for being scared to open up her heart to anyone or any guy she meets. However, I couldn’t help but question all of the characters moves.

I am going to rate this book a solid 8.5 out of 10 but on Goodreads, a solid 5/5. I have so many words to say about this book. I first wanna start, with how Lucy started her visions and beliefs towards love (Spoiler Alert!!).

“Here, I’ll say it again: I genuinely believe in love. I know all about its magic. Good and bad. I know the world seems bigger when you’re drunk on love. I know it mends broken hearts, makes you deliriously happy, excited, hopeful…terrified, sick…a whole list of things that make this complicated world we are living in a better place.”

Those words hits me in the spot. The way Lucy said what she believes is so relatable, I mean who wouldn’t? The girl got dumped over and over again and she thinks it’s a family curse, but I knew as she said those words, I know she is wrapping her heart with some thick covers so she won’t fall or be broken again by some stupid guy. Who wants to cry and be broken because of some stupid guy anyway?

But let’s talk about how she constantly, climbed over the walls, and continue to have this love-hate relationship with the male lead-yes, Adam fucking Connors (Ain’t gonna lie, I imagined Adam Connors as a Magic Mike Dancer) and his little son Aiden, ugh… such a cutie!

Also, didn’t realize that she and Olive are friends, but do remind me to read To Love Jason Thorn. Anyways, what really makes this book great is that I quoted a lot of Taylor Swift songs, (yes—your gurl is a Swiftie!)

And one song that describes Lucy is You’re On Your Own Kid. Ever since she was little, she was abandoned by her mom because her mom didn’t received love and it’s just cruel—and that is a generational trauma there. Started from her grandmother, passed down to her mom and to her. Which came to the point she thinks she’s cursed which she isn’t, she just believed that because she’s scared of repeating the same mistakes her mother and grandmother did. And honestly, no surprise that she has daddy and mommy issues.

Lucy wasn’t a beastly type of girl, she was so broken, not from her ex but from her own blood, her own family who practically ignored her for her whole life, and thankfully! She met Olive, and if weren’t for Olive, she’ll continue to be alone. (We do need a best friend like Olive, but eh I have my whole Greentroville peeps!)

Adam Connors on the other hand—he has every rights to be mad to his ex wife and his parents. It’s so cruel that his parents “mistakes” were passed to him and was expected to be erased by him because he is a nepotism child. Plus, I am so mad when he got into showbiz, like people, have you seen the harsh words of the internet? It’s a good thing that this is only fictional characters. Still, I feel so sorry for him to carry this burden around his shoulders, raising his son all alone, and his ex wife, demanding popularity and fame and using his son as a way to have a role. (Big red flag!!!)

Though, kudos to him—he still finds a way to spend time with his son, and not only that he spent his time, healing Lucy’s heart with all of his teasing's and stuff. Can we also talk about how he calls her sweetheart, baby, honey. ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE IS MAD! He didn’t hesitate to hug her and calm her down even tho they started off with a wrong foot. But I know to myself, Lucy is falling for him and she’s just scared to admit, I was like—gurl, accept it, he is the first gut, probably the last guy who will accept you and say “Fuck your curse, I will marry you and love you till the day I die” (Please, I want an Adam Connors in my life.

But let’s all be honest, even tho they ended up together (SPOILERS!!!!!) there will be a point where Lucy’s gonna doubt and have second guesses. Because, Lucy Meyer was a victim of love, different kinds of love, yes Adam may healed her heart but the trauma and fear won’t easily go away.

Hence the line

"Because if I fall in love with him, I won't survive the fall."

INTERNAL SCREAMING ANC CRYING

WHY DO I RELATE SO MUCH? Cause every fucking guy I met, has these motives and leaves me hanging on a very thin line of thread. So, yes I relate to Lucy Meyer so fucking much.

And how could I forget Adam’s assurance? He admitted to himself, the second he saw Lucy fight for herself, he fell in love. He fell first but she fell harder (brb I’m gonna cry)

This guy, he’s nearly perfect, the assurance, the words, his feelings—it’s all for Lucy, and Lucy herself (and Aiden too)

So, in the end? I gave it a solid 8.5/10, would recommend this to my friends who is in dire need of YA Romance books. And to be honest, this is a great starter for readers who are in medium level (Children or Teens, whoever you are and you know that you are a minor, don’t read this. Go read fantasy books first before jumping to this book)

The spicy level tho, I would say it 5 cause, it’s all sexy talking and kissing. The smut scenes weren’t really that spicy. (Sorry for those who find this book spicy. Istg, it isn’t lol)

Song for the book? Afterglow by Taylor Swift. No explanation needed.

and I guess my first review of 2023 ends here, I’ll try to post more reviews after I finish my art projects and activities.

[jonnnysuh]

The one where he can’t tell if you’re flirting with his friend

Requested by anon: Hii your posts have been making my day since I found your blog, it's kinda the only thing making me laugh truthfully 🥺 I'd like to request a svt reaction in which their crush/s.o makes a lot of flirty jokes w/their friends and eventually to them as well? It's up to you if the reader is their crush or s/o, you can switch depending on the member if you want <3 please don't feel forced tho, it's ok if you don't want to write this.

A/N: Hello friends! I’m back for the winter break. I also might make this one into a series bc I couldn’t think of 13 unique scenarios in one go (((but I feel like I could potentially add to it in the future))) To the anon, I changed the prompt a bit but I hope u still enjoy it ��� (in any scenario you are either their crush or their s/o)

—S COUPS could’ve sat any where on the couch, but he decided to insert himself between you and Dino. You and Dino shared the same sense of humour and were always able to bounce off one another; expanding your inside jokes far beyond what should’ve been imaginable. You threw your head back against the sofa, clutching your stomach with wholesome laughter leaving your mouth. Seungcheol’s arms were crossed, but his facial expression open as he so desperately wanted to be part of the joke. You pull on his sleeve as you try to contain your laughter, taking a deep gasp of air before accidentally meeting Dino’s eyes and falling into a fit of laughter once again. “What’s so funnyyy?” Seungcheol pouts until you manage to tell him about the joke.

—JEONGHAN was caught off guard by how deep in conversation you were with Vernon. The younger member was never one to speak much, but when it came to you helping you with your assignment, it seemed like words effortlessly came out of his mouth. You point to something on the screen, and suddenly feel a presence behind you. “Ohhh I know how to do that.” Jeonghan says with his chin nestled into your hair, going into depth while explaining further. You smirk, knowing he doesn’t understand a thing but he’s using all of his might to impress you.

—JOSHUA was wondering why you decided to lay on Seungkwan’s shoulder instead of his. You’ve made it your mission to finish your book today,  and in doing so you’ve instinctively rested your head against the thing nearest to you. Seungkwan is unbothered and even kind of flattered that you’ve chosen him to be your pillow today. Fully immersed into this chapter, you don’t even realize what wrong you’ve done to the boy on the other side of you. Joshua clears his throat, causing you to peer up from your book. Even though his focus lies on his phone, you can tell Joshua’s bothered by the little furrow of his eyebrow. You quietly lean towards his direction, snuggling closer into him as you get back to your book.

—HOSHI can’t believe you’re wearing Mingyu’s jacket. Hoshi strolls by you nonchalantly as you gaze at the water from the pier. “Are you cold?” He asks, even though he already knows the answer. “I was, but I’m kinda warmed up now because Mingyu gave me his jacket.” He nods, raising his eyebrows slightly. “What about your hands? Are they cold?” “A little.” you respond as you rub them together in front of your mouth and blow on them for good measure. Hoshi gently secures your left hand with his right one. “What about now?”

[gffa]

Btw I only got sucked into the prequels fandom a couple months ago, and I was super fortunate to have found your blog rather early on... It meant I quickly realized I had some misconceptions and internalized weirdness from just western / Christian society and growing up on Legend's New Jedi Order stuff. (It's not that I ever disliked the Jedi, but I definitely didn't understand the difference between love and attachment and was otherwise mostly apathetic about them as a Culture... If they weren't Mara Jade, Jaina Solo, Corran Horn, or Luke Skywalker, I didn't particularly care about them at all).

Anyway my point is that I'm super thankful your blog came up soon because I am now very firmly in the Pro Jedi camp and am glad I only got a minimal amount of sw fandom toxicity about the Jedi before having my eyes gently opened to reality.

Best part is tho, I had a friend ask me a week ago for some star wars information. Her brother apparently was assigned to write about the differences between the Jedi, Grey Jedi, and Sith in a class about differing religions and ideologies (which... In and of itself is actually a rather fascinating concept for a school paper). Anyway I had fun linking a whole bunch of your meta posts and going "Respect the Jedi, they're absolutely wonderful! Grey Jedi aren't actually a thing - it's just video game mechanics and misconceptions! Sith are evil and if you write them as anything but I will hard-core raise eyebrows at you and want to throw hands!!" And such... Probably went more than a little overboard but she was appreciative.

My point in all this word vomit (dang my adhd is really prevalent rn isn't it) is that I wanted to offer some encouragement because I've learned the pro Jedi camp is a lot smaller than it should be and maybe sometimes feels like it's the same 20 people on tumblr? Your collective efforts as the Jedi Defense Squad are successful and I know that, personally, my life will forever be changed for the better. Bless y'all and keep fighting the good fight!

You didn’t even know it was my birthday yesterday and yet you sent me once of the nicest things I could get despite that! I admit that the pro-Jedi corner of fandom feels very small sometimes, especially because Tumblr is generally the only place where we’ve gotten together (COME HELP ME LOVE THE JEDI ON TWITTER, YOU GUYS, I NEED PEOPLE TO HAVE SILLY LOVE BOMB FESTS WITH), that sometimes it can feel very overwhelming the second I step one inch off my dash, but also I wouldn’t trade this corner for anything. I hope that I can not just explain why I love the Jedi and why I see them as being perfectly in balance with the core themes of Star Wars, but that I can help make being a pro-Jedi fan a fun experience.  I hope I can make meta about them interesting, jokes about them fun to play with, the pain of their slaughter and the genocide of their culture dig into our feelings the way the best of Star Wars does. If I can help kindle love for the Jedi in you (and I am certain I did not do so alone, there are so many really incredible people, every time I get to reblog Jedi content from more than a dozen people now I get this shimmer of joy in my soul, I didn’t always have that! I get to reblog art and fic and essays! people have such good thoughts and incredible ways with words! they’re coming up with adorable skits and AU scenarios! so many in this fandom work so hard to give us these delightful things and I am so overjoyed to get to reblog them), then I have passed on what was given to me and that makes it worth it. I am further delighted to help provide framework for writing papers about the Jedi, because one of the things that surprised me when I first started really digging into those Lucas interviews and behind the scenes/making of books is: Yeah, Star Wars is often silly, but it has themes and George Lucas stuck to them.  He thought about his mythology and what messages he wanted to convey, and whatever things he tweaked along the way, the core themes have always remained consistent. Star Wars is often imperfect, no creator is ever going to be perfect, but Lucas knew he wanted to tell a story about letting go and about good vs evil and choosing the light made the world work better and that we should care about each other and our communities, not just break the rules and do whatever we felt like, that you’re supposed to love people but you have to accept that life is impermanent, because you’ll suffer if you try to hold on too tightly. And everything of his Star Wars stuck to those themes and I really, really like those themes. My life has been made better by getting to know the story of Star Wars and getting to meet so many kind, thoughtful fans and getting messages like this, and so please know that this is incredibly uplifting and encouraging.  To be able to spark joy in someone else about these silly space psychic wizards, to be able to share that, it makes the whole Being A Fan Of A Thing a great experience.