#the light of the bulb and even if she doesn't believe in it. she can see it. and she can grow under its warmth. yk?

[grasslandgirl]

OHHHHH KARNA LOVE CONFESSION LETTER IS SOSOSOOOOO GOOD. YEAH I CAN FUCK WITH THAT SO MUCH. KARNA ON HER DEATH BED MAKING SAVING THROWS GETTING CARRIED OUT OF THE MYCELLIUM AND THE CAVES FIRST BY DELI AND THEN WHEN HE STARTED STUMBLING, OVERTAKEN BY THE POISON, CARRIED BY COLIN; OUT INTO THE WSRM LIGHT OF THE BULB SHE DIDNT BELIEVE IN. KARNA WHO BARELY MANAGES TO GET STABILIZED BETWEEN THE WOUNDS AND THE POISON AND HER OWN ROT BUT SHES BREATHING. BARELY. LAYING ON THE GROUND BLEEDING AND PALE FROM THE POISON AND THE ROT AS THEY ALL TRY TO CATCH THEIR BREATH AND AMANGEAUX CASTS A LITTLE SOMETHING BUT IT DOESNT HELP MUCH BC KARNA IS SO POORLY OFF AND THEY FINALLY MANAGE TO GET HER BACK TO THE ENCAMPMENTS AND FIND A BULBIAN CLERIC OF SOME KIND (that deli threatens, voice shaking, hand empty without his long-abandoned spear, eyes red and bloodshot and colin hovering like a ghost at his shoulder, into silence and compliance despite karna's unnatural poisoning and the rot overtaking her body- clear evidence of the hungry one) THAT MANAGES TO HELP STABILIZE KARNA A LITTLE MORE BUT SHES STILL OUT. STILL UNCONSCIOUS. AND THEY ALL SIT AT HER BEDSIDE, LISTEN TO HER FAINT RATTLING BREATHS. AMANGEAUX NEVER LETS GO OF HER HAND AND DELI CAN'T BRING HIMSELF TO LOOK AWAY AND ALL THREE OF THEM REMEMBERING THE MISSING MEMBER OF THEIR GROUP WHOM THEY COULDN'T GET BACK OUT OF THE CAVES AND. AND EVENTUALLY COLIN TELLS DELI TO GO BACK TO HIS CAMP AND REFRESH HIMSELF AND CHANGE OUT OF THE DUSTY SPORES-COVERED ARMOR, STILL BLOODY FROM BATTLE, AND THATS WHEN DELI FINDS THE LETTER KARNA LEFT FOR HIM. AND. AND. AAUGHGGUGGG. DELI WHO WAS BETRAYED BY AND THEN IMMEDIATELY LOST ARIANA AND THEN ALMOST LOST KARNA AND COLIN WHO'S THERE BESIDE HIM BUT SO COLD AND SO LOST AND DELI IS. AUGHGRUG. THERES SOMETHING HERE AND MAYBE ITS JUST FOR ME BUT ITS HERE.

[heartfullofleeches]

First Time

 Popular “Final Girl” Yan + Shy “Creep” Fem Reader

Summary: Your best friend guides you through your first time with a boy.

Word Count: 2.2k 

CW: Death/Murder, Violence, Just Girls being Girls(And being in love)

[First person to guess every horror movie reference I put into this fic you get a cookie. There are exactly five.] 

-

“Beautiful… Isn't she?”

Silence permeates as a camera's watchful eye tunes itself to the dimness of the surrounding area. Posters line every corner of the bedroom - those littering the wall nearest to the phone screen simplest to decipher. A sickle raised high over a field of crops. A gloved hand hovering over a woman in bed - each finger strapped with a razor sharp blade. The teeth of a saw tool dangling over a dismembered hand. Not the typical decor one might expect from the local college heartthrob, but those in her inner circle were well acquainted with her preferred tastes in media. 

Pixie lights strung beneath the hood of the canopy draped over her bed served as the only source of light beyond the bulb adorning her dresser mirror. The twinkling orbs cast radiant shine upon the mattress below - bathing the body nestled in a sea of pillows in their ethereal glow. Knees bend to your chest, your brows furrow in frustration at  getting nail polish everywhere except where it should be. The hem of the nightgown she let you borrow clinging to your side, rolling further up your hip as you reach for another paper towel to start over. 

Your hand falls short of the roll as the weighty presence of eyes watching your every move becomes too asphyxiating to ignore - swiping the orange haired, blue eyes doll of the nightstand in its stead, using it as a shield. 

“Gracie…” The volume of your whine crackles in the phone's speakers. “I'm not ready. Can't you just show him pictures? I swear you have more of me than yourself.”

Daina sticks out her tongue, waggling the ball of her piercing in your direction. “I wouldn't be so sure about that, but even if that’s true can you blame me? You're adorable, babe- Back me up here, Noah.”

“She’s….wow…. It's hard to believe she's the same girl from highschool.”

Her nose crinkles, irritation present in her scowl. “Are you trying to say my girl wasn't cute back then? Cuz if you are you can sit your ass back on that couch and have your hands keep you company tonight.”

“No, no, I was just-”

Daina cuts him off with a wave of her hand, acrylics clacking loudly against the phone screen. “Just get your ass over here before I change my mind. There's a lot of boy's who'd kill to be in your place so I don't know what's taking you so long.”

“That's the other thing. Can you text me your address?”

“Ugh, I already told you it like a thousand times already.”

“Yeah, but I forgot. This would be a whole lot easier if you just sent it to me.”

“Can't. My phone's acting up right now. Couldn't even message my dad before he had to board his flight. I'll tell you one more time and final. Grab a pen and write it down if you seriously can't remember something as simple as an address.” 

You effectively give up on painting your nails by the time Daina is down with her end of business. She always made it look so easy when she did hers. Then again, when was the last time you had done anything without her. You've been attached to each other's hip since you could crawl. Daina-Grace White - your best friend til the very end. She always took care of the hard parts for you, but tonight she was letting you take the lead. You're nervous. What if tonight doesn't go as planned? What if you make a mistake?

“Trouble in paradise?” 

Your leg jerks back on reflex as a pale hand brushes your right ankle. Upon seeing the worry plastered on her face, you nudge your foot against her hand - resting your head on Daina’s shoulder as she pulls your leg over her lap.

“I'm scared, D….” Anxiety and fear bubble in your chest, smothering your voice in their icy grasp. 

“Scared? Why?” Daina lifts her hand, motioning for you to hand her the nail polish. You pass it over - arms hugging the doll tighter as you rock back and forth to soothe your nerves. 

“How can I not be? What if something…everything goes wrong? What if I mess up somehow?... What if we get-”

 “Two things. One, stop moving so much while I'm trying to paint your nails for you.”

“o-oh….Sorry.”

Daina sucks air through her teeth. “Okay- Three things. Number two - stop apologizing for everything. Everything's gonna be just fine…. Wait, that last bit was supposed to be the third thing. Just remember you got this, okay? I'm here with you one hundred percent of the way. Remember our promise?”

Daina sticks out her pinky finger - smile soft as the cool greens of her eyes. You hook your finger around her, returning her grin. 

“Yeah.”

Faces inches apart, the floral scent of her lip gloss wafting into your nose - A knock at the front door halts the natural pull your bodies have toward one another. Daina’s shoulders slump, the time it takes her to yank herself out of bed and away from you extending the patience your guest has as the knocking at the door grows louder. 

“That's probably him.” She huffs - retrieving the scrunchie looped around her wrist as she stomps towards the bedroom door. Passing the doorway, a devilish grin replaces her annoyance as she hauntingly whispers. “I'll be right back, ooooo-” 

Daina snorts, smacking the door frame as she turns on her heels. “Be right by the time I get here.” 

Nodding, you place the doll back where you got it as you stand. Footsteps trail towards the closet door as Daina takes her leave. With her favorite distraction out of sight, the woman turns to her phone to numb her brain to the impending headache sure to come the split second she unlocks the front door. A single message stands out between other friends’ queries over what her plans for the night are. 

“Just landed. Take care of the house while I'm out. By the way, your aunt wanted me to pass you a message. Did you happen to see your cousin's baseball bat when you were there the other day? She can't seem to get a hold of you and he starts practice in the morning. He probably just left it with a friend. Be safe. 

                                             Dad.”

Daina makes a mental note to reply to her father before she falls asleep. She's already done enough to give him a heart attack raiding his record cabinet earlier this evening. What he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. If all went according to plan he wouldn't find out about anything that happened on this fateful night. A night to commemorate the loyalty between two souls, intertwined by the bond they share.

Nearing the front door, Daina holds her phone between her lips as she weaves her waist length hair into a braid. A smarter girl would've asked you to do it for her - the feeling of your hands carding through her locks next to ecstasy. She peeks through the peephole, the fear of her next door neighbors returning early running through her like a poison. Daina never thought she'd be so happy to see the man on the other side of the door. 

“Well look who finally decided to show up.” Daina's bubbly demeanor resurgences as she opens the door. “I was starting to worry you got lost. 

Noah sheepish rubs at his neck. “I’m not too familiar with the bus schedules on this side of town. Anyway, I brought you guys some-” 

“Yeah, yeah- That's great. Get your butt in this house, Mister.” Daina drags Noah through the doorway by the scruff of his coat, nearly forgetting to close the door behind her as she leads him back down the hallway towards her bedroom. She practically skips her way there, yanking the boy along as he pauses to take in the layout of her living room. Music swirls around them long before they reach the door - the carpet fresh with wheel tracks. 

“Huh. Never thought you'd be into classical music, Daina. Then again, I never really took you for a horror fan.”

Daina giggles, using her excitement to fuel her enthusiasm towards the same old saying many have told her before. “There's a lot you don't know about me, Noah. It's my dad's stuff if that makes more sense. Not usually my cup of tea, but tonight is a night for experimentation after all. She should still be in the bathroom. Care to dance while we wait?” 

Daina wasn't giving him a choice, throwing her arms over his broad shoulders as she threw herself against his chest. She sways back and forth, letting the transcendental rhythm of music puppeteer her ever move.

“Is it wrong to admit that I'm jealous?” Her voice crackles in Noah’s ear, hands coursing down the length of his spine as she eyes the closet door. “I'd give anything to take your place, but I'm afraid things wouldn't be the same between us if I did…. I can't lose her, Noah. Everything we've been through together. Everything she's bound to achieve. She doesn't need me, but she still humors me by allowing me to stay. There's nothing I could never do to repeat her kindness.”

“Hey, Daina…. Are you sure she's in the bathroom?”

“Yeah? Why do you ask?”

“The lights are off…. And the door is wide open.”

The cry of a closet door swiveling on its hinges falls victim to the swell of the music, consumed by it and the soft hums emitting from Daina's throat. The shadows of the closest bleed away to a face, hidden by the obscurity of a painted mask as it creeps from the abyss - gloved hands clasped tightly around the handle of a metal bat. Daina pulls her hands from Noah's neck at the safety of her own fingers and to not ruin this perfect moment with her presence any longer. His eyes flicker towards the mirror - terror the final emotion they withhold. 

“Hrrah!” 

The music freezes abruptly as the loud, wet crunch of metal connecting with malleable flesh and hardened bone rings through the bedroom. Voice sealed as his fate, Noah falls to the ground without uttering a word - red blooming from the split in his skull forming a halo around his neck. The bat is brought down on his head again - shoulders squared at the downward swing, blood splattering on his assailant’s nightgown as his body seizes before falling motionless once more. Disbelief pours from the bat welder's mouth in the form of gasping laughter and shortness of breath. You rip the mask away from your face, greedily sucking air through your lips and nostrils.

“I did it…. I actually did it. Daina! I killed him! I did it!”

“Fuck yeah you did, baby!” Daina leaps over Noah’s still body, swooping you into her arms as she attacks her face in a fury of kisses and praises. “You were so cool sneaking out of the closet like that! I almost pissed myself thinking you were someone else - that was amazing!”

Your laughter crescendos with every smooch pelted against your temple and cheek. Daina's hand clasps over your mouth as she struggles to keep her own laughter to a reasonable volume. 

“Shh, Shh, Shh- Pipe down a bit, babe. I don't want us getting caught just yet. Not until we’re old and gray.” 

“I thought you said your neighbors were gone this week too - and nobody lived in the house on the other side.” 

“I did, but at this rate we'll wake the entire neighborhood!” 

Beaming from ear to ear, the adrenaline pumping through your veins takes a backseat as you bashfully gaze at your girlfriend. “Did you really mean it? You'd let me kill you too if you could?”

Daina rubs her nose against yours, staring back into your eyes as if you were the most gorgeous piece of art she'd ever laid focus upon. “Only problem with it is I'd never get to hold you in my arms again.” 

“Daina….That's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. ” A stray tear runs down your cheek which she swiftly kisses away. “I…. I love you. I can't wait to do this with you again. Can we keep the next one alive longer - I want to get a better at that expression on their face as I bash the head in.”

“Anything for you, babe. I love you too - so damn much. So much it hurts. I can't wait for our life together…. But I don't think we're done here just yet.”

Blood smears the tarped floor as hands pull their mangled body towards the bedroom door, cries for help dampening this beautiful scene between you and the girl who would stick by your side through the very worst. Daina nods in the direction of her bed, a string of lights twinkling in the dark. 

“Go grab those lights, Babe. We aren't finished just yet.” 

[sea-owl]

I'm still wondering why they decided to show us Colin in a ménage à trois, but a Bridgerton man losing his mind over the object of his affection after one kiss?

Colin: I am a man of the world.

Penelope kisses him

Colin: No thoughts. Head empty. Just Penelope.

So I think it boils down to a few things and a big part of it is Colin's persona vs his real self.

Penelope was not wrong with what she wrote about him in Whistledown. The charm, the flirting, the aloofness, and even to a degree the threesoms were part of this act he was putting on, one I think he may have even fooled himself into believing. We know Colin wants to be seen as a man so he's going off the only two role models he's really had since his adolescent years, Anthony and Benedict.

We all know Anthony and Benedict are two of the biggest hoes in the ton. We also know that Bridgertons are extremely competitive so the line of thought being how can I one up them? And I'm sure he had his fun while doing it too, but again it's part of the act.

Penelope always seems to bring out the real Colin. People were pulling teeth, trying to get Colin to say how many places he's been to meanwhile unprompted, Colin tells Penelope that he's been to 17 cities during his apology to her. He himself admits he's the most himself and the most comfortable when around her. In Colin's head Penelope and his real self are entwined.

That kiss they shared was Colin's wake up call, his light bulb moment. He's now being forced to see what others have seen before, forced to confront his real self, and now he's spiraling.

There is also the fact that his threesoms were just physical fun, what he has with Penelope is emotional and he doesn't know how to deal with that. As shown how one kiss sends him in a frenzy and her hand running through his hair just melts him.

[nymphbroadcast]

Scarabia x MC! Like Charlie Morningstar

⊹Synopsis ⊹ೃ 🏜⋆The Scarabia boys with an MC! or Yuu like Charlie Morningstar.

⊹Relationship ⊹ೃ 🏜⋆Fall in love / free of interpretation.

⊹Fem! MC/Yuu/Reader ⊹ೃ 🏜⋆

⊹Clarifications: This scenario is based on my own analysis of Charlie in the series, adding some information to give more meaning to the story.

⊹Charlie's Analysis ⊹ೃ 🏜⋆

• Charlie is a kind and generous person, despite her obvious royal status she does not take advantage of it and also finds it "mean" if she used her status to intimidate other people, she tends to be completely disinterested unless she is in a desperate or dangerous situation with their loved ones. Charlie is a sensitive, very artistic and dreamy person who enjoys musicals, plays, shows and entertaining movies. She is a firm believer in second chances and always strives to understand the tastes and hobbies of others even if they are not entirely to her taste. When she hurts someone else's feelings she tends to exaggerate the situation and blame herself excessively even if it's not a big deal and she tries to make up for her mistake. She is quite skilled when it comes to her supernatural abilities and immense power but curiously she doesn't usually brag about it. and notably prefers to be "simple" and act like a less powerful person. Returning to her emotional sensitivity, Charlie is usually a pacifist but will not hesitate to use her immense power to defend her loved ones even if that includes sacrificing herself or hurting her enemy (only hurting because she is incapable of killing) and intimidating anyone if it is necessary only because of her love for "her people" even if she knows that they would not do it for her, it is easy for her to connect with people thanks to her pure heart.

Kalim Al-Asim

☀️ (Charlie and Emily Interaction 2.0) Kalim is very similar to you, you may be a little less childish but you are both innocent rays of sunshine who like to make others happy.

☀️ Kalim usually drags you with him everywhere to show you things he thinks you will like and you are delighted to see his thousands of animals and all his family's treasures and all the legends that follow them.

☀️ YOU TWO ARE THE LIFE OF THE PARTY, since you are splendid in singing and entertainment activities and Kalim in the organization and planning of banquets and parties... THE DUO IS PERFECT!!! You complement his skills and even help Jamil get at least 5 minutes of rest!

☀️ We all know that Kalim can be a little messy, but on the contrary you have an ENTIRE ITINERARY ORGANIZED IN YOUR HEAD so you usually remind him of certain things he must do and appease many of his extravagant desires with kindness and before Jamil explodes. (Jamil thanks you)

☀️ Kalim realizes some time later that you use your sorcery skills for similar things to what he does! For example, you light light bulbs for Halloween decorations or create fireworks at larger celebrations, it is something that fascinates him because often you hardly use them for anything and he thinks they are very cool!

☀️ At first your little panic attacks surprise him, because he thought you were much more relaxed... Seeing your VERY few moments of pure anger, the poor thing is terrified to see you so angry and your powers almost destroying everything around... fortunately It hasn't happened more than twice and you've never hurt anyone.

☀️ Kalim sees that you are a cheerful and very kind and generous soul like him, you both definitely have certain ideas of "justice" and "redemption" in common.

☀️ The first time he participates in your trust exercises he can tell that you and Jamil were the people he would trust the most, you were too honest to tell him that and Jamil... Well it's Jamil.

☀️ Kalim is a little curious when you introduce him to your two butlers, they look like goats in his eyes but you correct him and tell him that this is just a more friendly and functional way of looking, when you decide to show. Kalim the true form of the goats... THEY ARE TWO HUGE INFERNAL DRAGONS??!!! He is excited and offers to fly with you on his magic carpet, now imagine how terrified all of Scarabia is to see two dragons flying with their dorm leader through the sky... (RIP Jamil viper)

☀️ So you and Kalim are nicknamed "The Sun and the Rainbow of Night Raven College" and you both take care of and cheer up others together!

Jamil Viper

🐍 Upon meeting you and seeing how naive you seemed he clearly takes advantage of this, using his unique magic on you seeing that you're never particularly as alert as you should be since you arrived at Twisted Wonderland.

🐍 He is surprised by those two goats that follow you and Grimm wherever you go and how they are so protective of you, you explain to him that they are your twin butlers and that your dad gave them to you to guarantee your safety and he doesn't know what to think... why a couple of little goats???

🐍 However, the times he interacts with you while you are not under his control, Jamil can see that in addition to being naive, you are too helpful and kind, offering to help him with his tasks and duties in Scarabia and with Kalim.

🐍 At the time of the Overblot and being sent to the farthest corner of Scarabia, you asked the Octavinelle boys and Kalim to "ride" your two little butlers. Their surprise was pleasant when both goats turned into... COLOSSAL INFERNAL DRAGONS... Floyd he's having fun and Azul is terrified... (I know it doesn't have much to do with Jamil but I had to add Razzle and Dazzle's transformation)

🐍 Also during his Overblot Jamil was able to see for the first time what your anger was like (unleashed by feeling betrayed and Jamil's horrible audacity in controlling Kalim, who fully trusted him) and your powerful chaotic witchcraft, fortunately you have a law of "Not hurting anyone" and you only dedicated yourself to tiring and stunning him until Octavinelle and Kalim's boys hit a final blow.

🐍 After that, Jamil thought that you would be willing to give him some kind of punishment with that powerful "magic" of yours, however his eyes widened when he saw how you extended your hand towards him and talked to him about a second chance.

🐍 From then on he has tried to be as formal as possible, both for your status and for your sensitive personality (He doesn't want to feel a couple of fireworks breaking his eardrums again).

🐍 Every time he discovers more facets of you, your cheerful, almost invasive personality sometimes reminds him of Kalim and he only torments himself thinking that he will have to take care of you too.

🐍 Luckily for him, you are much more responsible and calm than Kalim and you are often the one who gently convinces Kalim to stop his extravagant ideas and he thanks you (not out loud).

🐍 On the other hand, Jamil sometimes doesn't know what to think about you since you listen to him when he starts rambling about his childhood and his desire to be even better than Kalim... And you're also sane enough to remind him that it's not Kalim's fault that Jamil is forced to take care of him 24/7 and that in reality Kalim is just a spoiled child who is too innocent and a bit ignorant to realize that maybe he forgets to give Jamil some space and quiet.

🐍 YOU EVEN PROMISE THAT WHEN YOU ARE THE RULER OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD YOU WILL HELP HIM STOP BEING A SERVANT OF THE ASIM FAMILY. (I see Charlie capable of this, sorry)

🐍 He definitely takes on the role of your protector out of will, seeing that you are perhaps too pure to be there and be labeled with the "Villains".

🐍 You catch him off guard when you say with the purest of smiles and the most honest words that it doesn't bother you when people call you "Villain" because all of them, including him, are your people... they are your family...

🐍 In the end he appreciates your company and your firm beliefs, he strives to make you understand that sometimes you cannot give a second chance to certain people but you always show him the opposite, you become his refuge and a cloth for tears because you are so pure that he He knows that you will never take advantage of his weaknesses.

Nymph's Note:

Charlie is my favorite character from Hazbin Hotel, since this is my first writing I hope you will forgive my mistakes because English is not my native language, I hope you liked it... And I have been thinking about doing one of these for Malleus! As the SIMP No. 1 of Malleus, I feel like an MC! like Charlie would be the perfect Yuu to be the darling of the cute dragon boy!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed!

Remember to tune in, end of this broadcast!

Scarabia Dorm x MC! Like Charlie Morningstar Done! ⊹ೃ 🏜⋆

Next...???

[thefallenangelsgang]

Fuck it, I'm throwing my hat on the ring about the Emil announcing Nate from Fallout 4 is the bystander Soldier in the Fallout 1 opener.

First and foremost, it was a stupid thing to say. As he backtracks to later, the conceit of Fallout's protags is they are supposed to be anyone (and that issue is precisely why some people hate the extensive prewar character background given to you in Fallout 4). For the lead writer to pull a JK Rowling (why would you do that? None of those went over well) is such a major marketing misstep that it wouldn't surprise me if Emil gets reprimanded for it before we even get into the implication of what he said.

Emil your voice is as good as God when it comes to the canon. You can't just say shit like that and expect it to go well. Especially considering the implications.

Speaking of the implications, I'm not mad about Nate being a war criminal. It's a coloring I actually would welcome if the games discussed concepts like Capitalism, Racism, and War in any meaningful way anymore. And if Emil also didn't say this.

Fallout's canon is rooted in reality. That is part of its whole thing. It's fun to do goofy shit like becoming the Silver Shroud and having a make believe superhero fight with the Mechanist or write a woman obsessed with Nuka Cola so much she traverses two games to basically kidnap the CEO's cryogenically preserved head so she can talk to him for all eternity, but the setting is very much rooted in reality.

You aren't dealing with fictional countries, you aren't dealing with fictional races, you aren't dealing with fictional hypotheticals. That is The Elder Scrolls job. You are dealing with actual countries, actual racism, actual history, and actual fucking politics. You have to be mindful of what you are doing and saying. You can't just do things because it's an interesting plot device without first thinking about the implications.

Fallout's world is a heightened version of our own, a path we seem to stumble towards with ever passing year unless we do something about it. It fucking sucks. I'm sure writing it feels like prophesizing the future and eats your soul a bit. It would mine. But that doesn't mean Fallout can just take a sharp left in terms of story and reality and get away with it.

To have Nate be the bystander Soldier and then meet him when he has a very good thing going for him (an expensive house during an inflation crisis, a robot butler, he gets into a vault for free for fucks sake) very much speaks to life rewarding him for his crimes. There is no hatred in his words when he looks at the flag of the country that made him kill innocents. His speech is speaks of remorse for leaving his family and the cycle of war, it does not speak of the horrors. Of watching you comrades bleed out in the Anchorage snow. Of the scream of shells overhead. Of the fear in civilians eyes as your buddy puts a bullet between them.

You all have to see how it looks like the man is fine with what he had to do during the war, right?

Not interacting with these concepts enough paints a picture of apathy and acceptance. In this day and age where being keeping the government honest and responsible for their actions is so important, that isn't going to slide without it being EXTREMELY purposeful, which it is not. It's tone deaf and lazy.

I respect a lot of what Emil has done in the past, but I am not above keeping him culpable when he has something so delicate in his hands. I hope this situation is what he needed to get his head on straight, or is the light bulb moment where he realizes he needs to pass the torch onwards. There is no shame in subject matter becoming too much as time goes on. There is shame in letting a previously critical series become the very thing it was criticizing.

He is going to keep getting dragged until he realizes that or he manages to convince the fans to be complicit in the degradation of setting. In doing so he is going to lose Bethesda most of its biggest fans who well and truly love the series and what it stands for.

But that's just my take, and I'm just a kid who studies polisci and history and can't shield myself from the inherent horror of nuclear war no matter how much I try.

War really never changes

[bengiyo]

Love Sea Ep 2 Stray Thoughts

Last week, Tongrak, a successful romance author, was sent by his friends to an island to relax and work on his next novel. Unfortunately, Tongrak was a complete asshole about this, and took that out on his host, Mahasamut, who seems fully equipped to deal with a spoiled rich kid from Bangkok. Tongrak apparently needs to have sex to work through the scene he needs to write, and is also clearly interested in Mut. We left at Mut accidentally scaring Rak and trying to take care of him.

Lol, I love them opening up with voiceover reaffirming that Rak wants to fuck Mut. This is not one sided.

As charged as that was, sex on a beach is grimy!

Chapter 2: Echoes Across the Endless Blue

Oh right, Mook has to change a light bulb.

Rak is being so dramatic about a scratch.

"This isn't a bad," and, "Open your mouth," and, "Not your turn," are sending me.

Head on the beach in episode 2? Finally, adult gay representation in BL.

I'm with Mut! I would be annoyed as hell if my partner wanted to stop and immediately begin writing as things were getting good.

Man, this apartment gets used semi regularly now for the shows.

Wow, MAME is giving ass now.

Well, I'll give them points for mentioning the condoms, but docking several for using teeth.

Don't act like you ain't have a great time, Rak. I saw those expressions.

Rak is so consistently rude! He's even rude about the social politics of sex! Mut even offered to help with cleanup.

I wonder how long Vie has been crushing on Mook, because she's clearly enjoying having someone like Mook around.

They made this boy play the exposition gossip two shows in a row.

I do love the way Mut is rolling with Rak's aggressive behavior. If the rich guest is sprung and throwing money you already said he didn't need to throw at you, then by all means.

Well well well. Rak showed some consideration there about how public he's being with Mut. I like knowing that Mut is out and still carries so much respect in his community. But also, you gotta know how much you can get away with and where you can do it.

My man got locals jumping into conversations to gas him up. Respect. It's hard when tourism is a big part of your economy, because the finance class does not share.

A queer man kicked out of the home by his dad who has worked hard to build his place in his community? No choice but to stan.

Oh boy, when the writer is the executive producer and the director, they can include a romance author as a lead character to speak to their detractors.

Yes, please eat before more flies show up.

MAME characters are so interesting in that they'll go out of their way to set two people up, and then be damned sure they explain their baggage to each other.

Why would this man jump into the ocean on his own like that?

Whoa, what about this location triggered all this trauma? Seems like he has a friend who got abandoned with a pregnancy, and that connected to his mom's issues with his dad?

Are we gonna end every episode on the boat after a flash of trauma?

A romance novelist who doesn't believe in love. I am invested.

Those reveals came fast at the end, but at least we're seeing where the transactional presumptions around sexual loyalty may have come from with Rak. I like that Mut takes the money in stride, and was plain about how hard the hustle is for local businesses on this island. I'm also so relieved that we have adult, out characters discussing how public they can afford to be with their flirting. There's too much Thai BL in the bubble right now and failing at it. I'm really enjoying this.

[mastermindmiko]

Parties

Pairing: Sirius Black + reader

Word count: 1296 (I think I'm really loving these short and fluffy one shots)

Summary: You and Sirius fool around (not sexually) at a pureblood party

Warnings: light and funny hits and smacks, and nothing else I believe but lmk if you notice anything I didn't

Hey! If you think this didn't completely suck, feel free to check out my masterlist.

"On a scale of one to ten, how likely is it that one of the dads is going to get drunk and go off the hook?"

"Is there a number above ten that I can use?"

"No."

"Then ten, like you even have to ask." I reply with a grin at the absurd question. Every time there's a party one of the dads get drunk and off the hook, last time it was Avery Sr. His wife had to pull him off the table. I ask, "The question isn't if, it's who."

"Avery." Sirius replies looking at the man, smiling, no doubt picturing his red face wife trying to pull him down the table where he's swinging his tie on. I scoff, "Two times in a row? No way. I think Mrs. Avery has him drinking apple juice tonight."

"Well then who do you think it is?" Sirius asks, and I hum. I look around the room, looking for the older men. Mulciber has been drinking a lot tonight, but he's talking to Malfoy which means business so no way it's him. Then I hit the jackpot. I grin and say, "Your father."

"My father? No way, he's never gone crazy ever." Sirius scoffs and leans back in his chair. I lean closer to his side and start to explain as I fix my eyes to Mr. Black. I explain, "He's gone flushed, and he's not talking anymore which means that he knows that he's going to slur on his words, and he's already taken off his jacket."

"I think you're an idiot and that it's going to be Nott." Sirius says, and I punch him in the arm for calling me and idiot, then shake my head. I tut, "I don't think so-" I say in a sing-songy voice, then continue, "He holds his alcohol well."

"No, he doesn't. A few years ago, he was made a mess." Sirius says, but I still don't agree. I grab my drink from the table, and take a tiny sip before saying, "That was because he had signed the divorce papers from his first wife that morning, other wise he never would have drank so much."

"I still think he's a better guess than my father." Sirius says, rolling his eyes. He hates talking about his father, and he is absolutely right, he's a horrible man. I fold my arms and then suggest, "Alright, what do you want to bet on- and not money, merlin knows we both have enough of that already."

Sirius hums in thought, as he thinks of ideas. One of the perks of being in a pureblood family is the insane amount of money carried from one generation to another, one of the faults, the tedious parties, Sirius makes them better though. He clicks his fingers and I can almost see a light bulb go off in his head. He starts, "A kiss-"

"I already give you those-"

"And a date where I control everything." Sirius grins, and I groan, and cover my face with my hands. I groan, "But you're going to pick a shit place, like madam puddifoot's or something other absurd café."

"If you're scared that you'll lose, I can change it." Sirius taunts, and I look back at Mr. Black and he's already loosening his tie. I grin then hold out my hand to him. I say, "You're on."

Sirius takes my hand, shakes it one time with a firm grip, then hauls me close to him to give me a kiss on the cheek. I yelp, and then put my hand on his thigh to stabilize me enough to go back to sitting properly in my seat. I smack his thigh. Merlin knows what my mother would've done if she saw that.

"And if I win, I want full control over your hair for a month." I say, and watch that smirk of his fade away instantly. He grabs his hair, desperately and shakes his head. He says, "No way, that's same value as one date."

"If you're scared that you'll lose, I can change it." I say in a deeper voice, imitating him and saying his exact words. He gives me a glare, but folds his arms and pouts in his seat. I chuckle at his reaction.

The music is quiet, it's only the voices of chatter that really fill up the room. I look all around the room and notice that Regulus is with one of his friends chatting about something, I recognize the friend as Evan Rosier. Sirius taps my shoulder to interrupt my train of thought.

"Wanna get out of here?" He asks, and he already knows my answer because I soon as I say yes, he's already got my hand in his hand. He stands up, and we look around each of us making sure that none of our family members can see us.

Sirius leads me out of the room and into a corridor. This is Nott Sr.'s house, we knew only bits of it. We get out of the room, and Sirius presses me against on of the walls. He kisses me feverishly and I return it with a smile. His hands caress my waist and they go up and down and up and down, driving me insane.

"so this is why you wanted to get out." I tease, and he goes back to kissing me in seconds. I can't say I'm really complaining though. He breaths out in between kisses, "Can't blame me for wanting to spend time with you."

We part for some much needed air and Sirius looks around. He sees the closest door and he goes towards it, pulling me with him. He says, "Now, what could this be? A bedroom maybe?"

He opens the door and we're meet with the clatter of pots and pains and tiny house elves moving around everywhere, trying to get dinner ready. Sirius sighs in disappointment, and he turns to leave, but I break free of his grip when I see..."Scones!"

I trail towards them and grab a few off of one of the plates that the house elves were carrying. I shoved one in my mouth, and it tasted good. Sirius grabbed one from my hands and started eating it himself. I frowned at him and his reply was poking a tongue out at me.

I finish my scone and maybe two more, then I go to sit on one of the chairs. Sirius pouts when he notices there's no chairs. He grabs me, and lifts me up. I start screaming, "Sirius Orion Black, you better put me down right now. You babbling, bumbling, baboon-"

"You're the only good thing my parents have ever done for me, and quite possibly the best thing that has ever happened to me." Sirius says in one breath to shut me up. He always does this, randomly he just spills out bursts of emotion. He feels them at random times, but Sirius has never been good at expressing emotions, so I appreciate them when they come.

He sits down and puts me on his lap. I smile at his words and lean in to press a soft kiss to his lips. Sirius parts abruptly, "Did you just call me a baboon?"

"Oh no, we need some remedies, quickly!" One of the house elves, enter quickly into the room, and the rest of them bustle quickly trying to find a remedy for whomever just got severely drunk out there. Another house elf shouts, "Who was it this time?"

"Mr. Black."

"Yes!" I shout in triumph and get off of Sirius' lap to preform a victory dance. I clap and dance around, and I point at him and grin, "Get ready to have your hair green!"

"No!"

an: maybe I am starting this marauders era for me, I'm really enjoying it too. I think I should keep writing about them for a while + Reggie of course

[hwanchaesong]

Die For You

Na Jaemin X Reader

genre: fluff, suggestive at the end, sprinkle of angst, f2l au! (reader is having a hard time because of school)

word count: 1.6k

a/n: now this one is for you~ i hope you'll like it 💚 to anyone who wants to make a request, please check the rules. thank you much~

Jaemin doesn't believe in love at first sight, but he does believe in seeing someone for the first time and knowing that one day, you'll fall in love with that person.

It so happens that it's you, that one girl that always sits at the same table in his favorite coffee shop, at the same time with the same order.

You look.. peculiar? Can he even say that? He doesn't think so, he might get wacked on the head by you. But still, he really did think that you're adorable, and it became a habit for him to watch you as you minded your own business.

The idea of talking to you did not even enter his mind, not until you took the initiative because you had enough. You felt like being watched every time, and when you inspected the place, that handsome man was the culprit.

So you approached him, slamming your book and coffee on his table and sitting on the empty seat in front of him.

"Spill it." you said, and boy was he shocked because he did not expect you to be this bold.

"My coffee?" he asked, not entirely sure of what you mean but you can't blame him. The poor man has been relying on caffeine for days just to stay awake.

"No, I mean," you cleared your throat, caught off guard at his dumb reply, "why do you keep on staring at me?"

Then a light bulb switched inside his brain, beaming at you and stretching his arm towards you for a handshake, "Hi! I'm Jaemin and I think you're adorable."

That was the time when a beautiful thing called friendship bloomed. (and it turns out that between the two of you, he was the peculiar one. not you.)

Jaemin looked at his phone again, checking if you had replied to his messages. He does this every twenty minutes and his friends are getting sick of it.

"Just call her." Haechan said, scowling when he saw Jaemin check his phone once again.

"I can't do that. What if she's busy?" Jaemin countered back.

He doesn't want to intrude too much in your life, knowing his boundaries even if the two of you are very close with each other.

He was just worried. He hasn't seen you since last week and you never messaged him back.

"If you don't want to bother her, then wait patiently." Renjun, his other friend advises. A good one, but Jaemin wasn't exactly the most patient man alive.

"But I missed her!" he protested once more, earning him a collective groan among the men in the room.

"Listen," this time it was Jeno who spoke, "all these fiasco of yours are getting boring to watch."

"What?" now, Jaemin was confused, even more so when his other friends nodded in agreement. What on earth is he talking about?

"At first it was fun to watch, now it's just painful and if I'm going to be completely honest," Jeno leaned forward, like he was about to tell the dirtiest secret in the universe, "every time I see you like this, I wanna bang my head to the nearest wall."

"Then do it." Haechan laughed when Jeno threw a glare in his direction. "Jokes aside, I agree with Jeno."

Jaemin raised an eyebrow at them, "Are you guys drunk or something? What are you talking about?"

Ever the clueless Jaemin, everything needs to be spilled out for him that it made Renjun groan and push him out of the door.

"Just go to her man, you can't come back here until you've settled this!"

What good friends he has. First, they tell him things without elaborating and now they are kicking him out of their shared apartment? Well damn. Looks like he got no choice but to go to you.

After a few minutes of walking, he was already at the doorstep of your house, knocking incessantly and calling for your name.

He felt relieved when he heard your voice for the first time in weeks, "Coming!"

Upon opening the door, he was surprised at your appearance. You look so unwell, with the dark bags under your eyes, your tired demeanor and oh? Did you lose weight? What really caught Jaemin's attention was the dried tear stains on your cheeks.

His hands unconsciously made their way to your face and cupped it, "You were crying?"

Your eyes widened, slapping his hands away and shielding your face from his prying eyes, "I'm sorry Jaemin, I'm not really in the mood for this."

You were about to close the door but man was he agile, gripping your hand and hastily entering your home without your permission. (granted that it wasn't really required because you did tell him to come to your apartment whenever he wants to. you even gave him a spare key for free access.)

"Jaemin! What are you-"

He plopped you down on your sofa, "Stay there young lady, don't move a muscle and I'll cook some ramen for us."

He made his way to the kitchen, the clanking of the pans as an indication that he started cooking. You sighed and rested your head on the soft pillows of your sofa, soon, you were drifting to dreamland.

It was a relatively short nap, the smell of something heavenly woke you up. Lo and behold, a complete meal was set in your living room table.

"I thought we were having ramen?"

"At first," Jaemin answered, moving around and setting up the television so the both of you could watch your favorite movie, "but then I saw you sleeping so I decided to make more food. I'm sorry that I woke you up though." he explained, sitting beside you and giving you a sheepish smile.

"I don't mind getting woken up by a feast, honestly." you joked, eyes setting on the television as you two started to eat.

This was fun, you thought, not until you felt that same unnerving stare from years ago.

"What is this time?" you whined, now distracted and setting your food down.

"Why do you always complain? Let me admire you in peace."

You stilled, heart beating a little too fast for your liking. "You still didn't give up on that agenda of yours."

"How could I when you're literally the prettiest person I've known."

No. No. No. No. No.

You can't take this, not this time, you are having such a hard time and you don't think you'll be able to handle this.

Your thoughts were interrupted when you felt a warm hug engulfing you, Jaemin's scent filling your nose, "I missed you so much, Y/N."

You couldn't help but return the affection, melting in his embrace, "I missed you too, Jaemin. I'm sorry for pushing you away."

Jaemin hummed, momentarily moving away to fix some astray strands of hair, "It's okay, it's you. I will always understand you." he assured you, and for what felt like forever, tears of happiness began to form.

Was it really happiness? You think that some mixed emotions are also in there yet Jaemin was patient, wiping your tears away as you continued bawling. Your snot probably got in his shirt but he couldn't care. You were his priority, and he hates it when you cry like this.

He listened to you well, how you were so stressed about your academics and the never ending school works worsen your panic attacks.

He listened and listened, soft eyes watching you with empathy and sadness.

"You should've told me all of this instead of keeping it in." he mumbled against the crown of your hair, letting you calm down.

"Don't worry, you're not alone now. I'm here." his hands went up and down your back, effectively soothing your nerves.

"Thank you, really Jaemin. Thank you for sticking with me all this time even if I'm such a mess." you sniffled, giggling afterwards when he suddenly tickled you.

"Oh my god!" you squealed, falling onto your back and when you opened your eyes, you see Jaemin on top of you, gazing down at you with orbs full of nothing but adoration.

"I think you're perfect, even if you're a mess." he admitted, "Every day in my life, I see you and I think of how lucky I am because I have you."

"Jaemin." you mumbled his name, voice barely above a whisper as to not ruin the moment.

The noises from the television became static and all of a sudden, all you can focus on was your 'best friend'

"I don't really know how to explain it. I love you?" Jaemin questioned, like he was talking to his self, "That may be it but believe me when I say that I will take a bullet for you."

Jaemin slowly leaned down, his face mere inches away from your own, "You're that precious for me."

"Jaemin." you gripped his shirt tightly, "I love you too." you confessed, and that was all it took for him to seal your lips together in a silent pact that he belongs to you, and you belong to him.

Never in your wildest dreams did you expect that you'll be kissing your friend in your living room, more so when it's a passionate one.

"I'll show you," Jaemin mumbled on your neck, his mouth pressing wet kisses all over your neck.

"I'll show you how much you mean to me."

You never doubt his words, if it's Na Jaemin, then you're sure as hell that he'll do everything that he says.

After all, he's the man who's willing to die for you.

[ailendolin]

I've been thinking about the next Christmas Special and what some parts of the synopsis might mean:

"The Ghosts soon realise, however, that they may have more in common with Betty than they first thought."

Since Betty thinks Button House isn't safe (maybe because she's witnessed ghost activity?), I think it's possible the ghosts might start to believe they aren't safe. Either they realise just how much of her daily life Alison has to lie about or hide from her living family and friends because of them. Or something physically dangerous happens (like Robin accidentally making a light bulb burst and almost hurting the baby) which makes them agree with Betty that Button House isn't safe with them around.

"The whole experience inspires the Ghosts to reflect, and a big decision awaits them all."

If they ghosts believe they're a danger to Alison and her family in some way, I wouldn’t be surprised if they started thinking Alison would be better off without them. That doesn't necessarily have to mean they're going to will themselves to move on somehow (we know it doesn't work like that) but they could still find ways to disappear from Alison's life. The grounds of Button House are vast enough for that. I could see them making the decision to leave the house, thinking that's what's best for the Coopers, and the episode ending wirh Alison going after them and telling them they're her family too and that she wants them in her life.

Alternative speculation #1 (aka wishful thinking on my part)

As someone who absolutely adores the Plague Ghosts, I could also see the ghosts realising there's nothing more important than family because of Betty. They see the lengths Betty is willing to go to to make sure Mike, Alison and the baby are safe, the love that's behind everything she does. Perhaps that will make them realise there are people in their afterlives they haven't treated as kindly as they should have - namely Humphrey and the Plague Ghosts - and they'll vow to do better in the future. With Humphrey, that's easy. They'll make a point of including him. But what if they decide to ask the Plague Ghosts to move upstairs? To officially become a part of the family? That would be a huge decision and also something they've never done before (Larry, I think, mentioned there'd be an unexpected tonal shift).

Alternative Interpretation #2

The reflection and big decision could also be about Alison telling Betty about the ghosts. This ties in to what I mentioned at the beginning - that the ghosts realise how much Alison has to hide from other people, even her own family. Upon reflecting on what that will mean for the rest of her life, they could come to the decision that Alison should tell Betty the truth. This would also be something we haven't seen in the show before. Off the top of my hat I can only remember two moments when Alison told other people about her gift: 1) when she wanted to appear crazy in front of Mike's friends to get Mike out of the cult meeting, and 2) when Kylie was there and she realised they share the same gift. As far as we know, Alison has never told anyone in her family about the ghosts so her telling Betty would be a huge deal.

Obviously, this is all speculation. It's possible none of this will happen; it's also possible some things will but for different reasons, under different circumstances or in different ways. There is so very little the synoposis actually tells us - no mention of Baby Cooper, for example. Is Alison still pregnant? Will she give birth at home? If the baby is already born, will it play a key role in Betty's arc about Button House not being safe? Why is Mike's father not mentioned, or his sisters?

I love that we know so little and have so much room for speculation. For me, that's almost as fun as getting to see what actually happens.

[magicspace114]

Bird in the wrong nest

Writing this story from this post. Basically a continuation but in third person now and they have a name.

Part 1 | Part 2

Syd skipped a lot of classes. Teachers didn't even bother to look for them anymore. It wasn't like they could do anything in those classes anyway. They couldn't turn into an animal or cast spells. Even things they didn't think they'd need magic for like potion brewing failed when they tried. That was just the witch equivalent of home economics!

Anything they were ever interested in was in a book in the library anyway and they didn't have to worry about bullies there. They usually stayed there until Ida got out of her classes. She knew to meet Syd there.

"Did you go to any classes today?" Ida asked as her familiar jumped from her shoulders to perch on theirs.

"I went to potion brewing," Syd said, nearly shrugging before remembering Balthazar.

"Make anyone's pot flair up?" She grinned.

"Hey, we still don't know if that's me, ok? There's no proof. These could be coincidences."

"You know, my father had a saying about those."

"Oh what? Three's a pattern?"

"No. He doesn't believe in coincidences. He said 'coincidences are excuses'" She rolled her eyes, clearly not sharing the sentiment. "You ever thought we should figure out what you are?"

"Sounds like a lot of existential soul searching that I don't want to do," Syd rolled their eyes.

"Look, if we know what you are, we can help with your magic flares. No magic flares will get the principle off your back."

"That bitch hasn't come near me since I broke every light bulb in the north side of the school."

"Syd, I'm trying to help you here."

"Well don't." Syd said a lot more forcefully. Their eyes glared into Ida's soul. They saw the tinge of fear that snuck into Ida's features before it could be carefully hidden. Syd sighed, "I just want to at least pretend that I'm normal for a bit longer, ok? I hate all of this." They sat down on a chair in the library.

Ida sat down beside Syd, leaning her whole head on their shoulder. Balthazar bat her face with his paw, making Syd laugh at the competition for their shoulder.

"How about we go back to my dorm and order pizza. You can help me study for this duel that's coming up." Ida blinked innocently at Syd, grinning widely.

Syd caved. "Fine. But I'm not participating in your stupid full moon rituals again."

~

"I hate you." Syd stared down at the bowl they were carrying. The night left a chill that clawed its way through their jacket and into their bones. They just sat there pouting as Ida piled more ingredients into the bowl.

Syd recognised a few from potion class but they had no idea what they did or even what this spell was. Ida never really explained it all that much.

"Oh don't be like that, you know I need to do these rituals every full moon."

"No, I don't. Can't you just skip one? Literally no one else in the school does these." Syd huffed.

"Because they all have their own deities. Celeste is very particular about her followers. I must do these every full moon and never have a lover."

"Why does she get a say in your personal life? Like, as long as you worship her, it shouldn't matter how you conduct yourself outside of worship."

"She's the one with the power here, Syd."

"Can't you just get a new deity?"

"If I was a regular witch, probably."

"What do you mean a regular witch?"

"Later. The moon's at its peak now." Ida took the bowl off Syd, lighting the contents up and sitting down in the grass, cross legged. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes and centring herself like Syd had seen her do on a few full moons now.

Syd sat down beside her, keeping an eye on her. While the blood from the nose was only the one time, Syd was still very cautious about this practise. They stared for a while, their friend unmoving in the moonlight.

Balthazar was very still also. Though not participating, he sat upright next to the bowl, tail swishing from side to side. He usually watched over his witch too but something in his stiff posture made Syd nervous.

Did it usually take this long?

This ritual never lasted more than a few minutes, practically a prayer with extra steps. The minutes ticked on and the moon started moving off. Balthazar made no moves yet so perhaps this was just a longer prayer than usual.

Thirty minutes went by.

By now, Syd and Balthazar were looking between each other, both fidgeting in their own way but staying sat beside the witch. The Moon was no longer at its peak. There was no movement from Ida, no blood or convulsions.

Somehow, the remnants in the bowl was still on fire despite no extra fuel being added. Balthazar's front paw pat the ground near it, ready to tip it over at the first sign of trouble. Syd had been fiddling with the dirt around them, practically waiting to throw it into the bowl.

One hour later.

"We have to stop this now, right? This is way too long." Syd broke the silence between them. Balthazar just meowed quietly, looking at Ida but still not calling it quits on the ritual. Would she really get in so much trouble by hanging up on her goddess?

The first movement from Ida in over an hour and a half came in the form of silent tears sliding down her face. A small whine scraped up her throat as her eyes squeezed where they were shut.

"Ida?" Syd dropped the dirt in their hands, taking Ida's shoulders but not shaking her. "Can you hear me?"

No reply.

Syd looked at Balthazar and he stood up, pacing side to side. He only knocked the pot over after the pair of them were deafened by a high pitched scream that came from Ida's mouth. It pierced the silent forest surrounding them, startling a few nearby animals and a couple birds flew out of the trees into the night air.

The moon hid behind clouds and Ida continued screaming even after Syd and Balthazar put out the flame. The only thing that changed after the flames died down was that Ida started fighting with the air around her, hands clawing at nothing. Her eyes never opened.

"Ida! Ida! It's ok! You're fine. It's Syd, it's Syd! Easy, you're ok." Syd took her clawing arms, pulling her into their chest.

Ida still struggled, fingers outstretched like claws, fighting with everything to get out of Syd's hold. Her nails dragged down Syd's clothed arms, digging into any exposed skin she could feel as she continued to fight blindly.

Balthazar meowed loudly to get the witch's attention too but Syd just continued to hold on, waiting for Ida's fight to drain. They caught a sharp nail to the face, scratches drawing pinpricks of blood on their cheek but they continued to speak, voice quieting.

"You're safe, you're safe, I'm here. Both me and Balt are here. You're ok. Please just open your eyes, please." Syd wasn't even paying attention to what they said, just pleading with anything to get Ida to wake up.

Ida didn't do that. Her fight did eventually drain and she just sobbed. She broke down into incomprehensible babbling, some mixture of apologies and pleas. Eventually she tired of that too, going limp in Syd's arms and falling silent.

Syd continued to hug, their body trembling after such a violent reaction from their friend. The screaming left their ears ringing in the resulting silence and they felt weak for a brief moment of stillness. It wasn't until Balthazar meowed again that they snapped out of their shock, still hugging their friend to look at him.

"What just happened?" They whispered.

Balthazar's silence spoke volumes as he stared back with wide eyes, ears pointed back as his tail swished more.

Syd looked down at Ida, the witch was completely out of it and even trying to shake her awake proved ineffective. "W-we... we should take her back to her dorm, right? She should maybe sleep this off. Maybe she'll be better in the morning?" They looked at Balthazar who simply nodded, blinking slowly and nudging Syd's hand with the side of his face.

He turned back to the bowl that was completely forgotten about. Syd put the bowl in Ida's lap before hauling her up into a bridal carry and turning back to the path they took into the forest. With the moon hiding behind clouds, it was dark and a long way back with such a weight.

Balthazar padded out in front of Syd, shaking his coat out as he walked. Small bubbles of light seemed to shake off the ends of his fur as he did, lighting the way for Syd to walk back to the school. Syd groaned as already their arms ached in protest but it was their only way back and the night was growing chilly with the wind picking up.

Balthazar led the way though the forest, the light from his coat picked out eyes in the foliage. Syd watched them carefully, deeming them to be just some animals like deer or rabbits. They could never be too careful of the fauna in this woods, especially so close to a school for magic and monster.

Breaking out of the treeline, Balthazar bolted for the dorm building, jumping as best he could at the handle but the door was heavy. Despite his efforts, Syd was the one who had to push down on the handle with their elbow and push against the weight.

They adjusted their grip, jostling Ida a little but the witch showed no signs of waking up. Even being put down on the stairway so Syd could rest their arms briefly, Ida did not stir.

Balthazar meowed from the landing above Syd. They sighed, "I know, I'm coming. Just give me a second." Syd picked Ida up again and trudged up the stairs, growing more and more out of breath the longer they had to keep going.

Eventually, Balthazar jumped up on the handle to Ida's dorm and the door swung open. Syd dropped Ida down on her bed a little too rough for Balthazar's liking, the cat giving a scolding meow with his ears pointed back.

"I didn't see you carrying her up two flights of stairs," Syd breathed out. They eventually settled beside the bed, pushing some hair out of Ida's face as they pulled her shoes off her feet and held her wrist, feeling for her pulse. Balthazar jumped up onto the bed beside her. "She's going to be ok, right Balt?"

Balthazar blinked slowly, rubbing his chin over Syd's hand before settling down next to Ida on her pillow. He meowed loudly when Syd stood up, walking towards the door.

"I'm not going anywhere, Balt. Just closing the door so no draft gets in." Syd called back, closing the wide open door and heading into Ida's bathroom, filling a glass at the sink and coming back to place it on her bedside table.

Syd sat back down on a chair next to the bed, wiping a couple tears that had started to dry on Ida's face. They left one hand on one of Ida's wrist, keeping focus on Ida's settling pulse. The pulse was slow now but not threateningly slow. If it stayed at this pace, she'd be fine. Syd would monitor her through the night.

[rosenlily-aka-choconut]

The many stages of Lee Rang falling in love ❤️❤️

Wanting to be unaffected but ending up flustered (and mildly curious)

Wanting to be indifferent but ending up her rescuer (and a little more interested, though he doesn't want to be)

Wanting to repay a favour (but doesn't mind when it gets a little beyond that)

He even ends up telling her who his ideal woman is (Yeah, it's just a casual conversation on an outing that's not a date)

He even brings her flowers to another not-a-date (because it's not a date)

Tells her he likes it when she's destructive (Yeah, he's just admiring her skill, that's all)

Holds her hand. Then gets a little closer than that (because he's running away from his nosy brother, and nothing else)

Actually, he gets a little more than a little close to to her, but it's only because the situation demands it (in case your naughty minds wander elsewhere, jumping into conclusions about why he dragged her into this dark alley)

Then he has dinner with her (No, it's not a date. He just likes Naengmyeon) And he's a lot more curious now (Only about her destructive power, what else did you think?)

He does not drop her home, but makes sure she reaches okay (Only because he feels he has to protect her because she saved his life. What else did you think?)

And no, he's not gazing wistfully at her. He's just thinking... maybe he's worried it might rain and he doesn't have an umbrella?

Or... maybe it's not only about rains and umbrellas. In there, somewhere, is another tiny little thought. When will he get to see her next?

On their next not-a-date, he plays the piano for her (Only because he gets to brag)

And no, he's not enjoying it (it's just an obligation, come on!)

Or… maybe not. He likes her singing and the piano is a good excuse to listen to her?

And now comes the serious part, a matter of life and death again. He's concerned about her when she barges in like that, flustered when she saves him again.

And boom! It's not just that anymore. (Read that as a bulb lighting up in his head, and lighting up his heart)

Remember, he threatened to kill her if she entered? He cares. A lot. In fact, it's more than that.

But... feelings and obligation - they're both tangled in his head.

When she makes the first move, he's stumped (Finally realizing the extent of his feelings for her)

He wants her, but not like this. How can she ask for a kiss in exchange for saving his life?

But when he sees the moment slipping away, he takes the chance.

He can't just let her walk away.

But... then comes his insecurity (poor guy can't actually believe someone can love him unconditionally)

But when she gives him good

And almost indirectly proposes

He gives in, at last, opening himself up to these feelings he's been struggling to fight

[hopedefined]

Name: Anna Marie "Rogue" Lebeau

Nickname(s): does 'anna' technically count as a nickname discuss

Relationship Status: polyamorous, married to two primary partners

Gender: cis woman

Romantic Orientation: bisexual & biromantic

Preferred Pet Names: lover, darlin', sugar, baby

Opinion on True Love: spent too long pushin' it away an' now I'll fight for every moment we've got left

Opinion on Love at First Sight: look, she likes to think she was always too practical to believe in it outside of storybooks. however. it must be love is one of the first things remy ever said to her and if someone has ever made her believe, it's him

How ‘Romantic’ Are They?: I don't think it's any secret that she's a romantic at heart. full romantic, oil-painted covers and hallmark movies and all. I love you at the drop of a hat, pet names, just because kind of romantic. anna marie spent a long time pushing that down as something she would only ever experience through fiction, and reaching a point where she's able to express it is something she'll never take for granted.

Ideal Physical Traits: strong, longer hair, great ass

Ideal Personality Traits: quick-witted, affectionate, loyal, funny, adventurous

Unattractive Physical Traits: lack of hygiene, I guess? not a huge fan of scales. uhhh.

Unattractive Personality Traits: selfish, immoral, boring, wishy-washy

Ideal Date: if we're talking a go out and kinda date? dancing, racing, horseback riding--a shared experience that can get a little bit of adrenaline up. she's also a sucker for simple, sweet things like picnics and lazy movie nights.

Do They Have a Type?: canonically--

Average Relationship Length: the major ones were complicated and on-and-off-again enough that it really depends on how you count. even if she'd had the chance, though, she's never been the type for one night stands or quick flings with strangers. don't get me wrong, she's a flirt. but she doesn't do intimacy halfway.

Preferred Non-Sexual Intimacy: casual touch (wouldn't you glut yourself on it, after everything?). domesticity--the amount this woman treasures being able to wake up and brush her teeth and feed the cats and have to go to home depot for light bulbs with her partners is insane. conversation. getting better at communication has been a journey for anna, but it means so much to her when she trusts in it.

Commitment Level: high. if she cares about you, it's deep and constant even if she is sometimes too willing to believe that that love and trust was misplaced.

Opinion of Public Affection: in almost all circumstances if anna marie had her way she and her partners would be the living embodiment of the IS THIS ALLOWED vine. luckily she does in fact care about not setting a bad example for students and can be convinced to give a shit about the innocent eyes of other onlookers. mostly.

Past Relationships?: almost entirely might-have-beens. cody, wade, robert...magneto is arguably the most serious relationship she had pre-settling down™️

tagged by: @thwipsthrown tagging: @backwaterscum @asoulofstars @ficklefables @amischiefofmuses

[tumbledang3l]

I feel like there is this near future where we live in a small cottage in the countryside, so far away from everybody, because you like nature, but I know that the secret behind this is that you never really admitted to liking me publicly. So we had to do it in private where nobody could see us.

I'm making dinner in a gown. What a strange get-up, but the truth is that even though you like me, you never learned or cared to learn how to love a man. So sometimes I have to pretend, act, and take on the role. I know my lines off by heart, I'll make the director proud.

I can play pretend, it's fine. It's not much compared to that one time when I was so angry and so sad, instead of cutting through my arm like I usually do, I mutilated my organ to leave a bloody hole, so now you could penetrate me with your strength and your manhood.

I think you like it, you've always liked blood. There were times when we had argued, and my arms were bloody, and you'd make love to me, you loved putting your hands on my freshly red or dryly brown wrists, it wasn't too violent, it was moderate even.

I don't see these as flaws in our life, or even a bad future whatsoever. I see it all as a future that God gave me after so much sadness, so many pearly tears running down my cheeks.

I guess I have to be grateful, and even though you don't fully admit to loving me, you do. You kiss me good morning, and you screw me goodnight. You're content with what I give you, though it's not much, and I make you laugh sometimes.

There are rumors through the grapevine that you were seen in the city with a black haired woman sporting a weird metal jewel in her nose. She must be a mess to sleep with, with that thing obstructing her nasal canals, snoring like a sow. I believe what I heard, it's not too far-fetched. But at least you stayed with me.

Oh, you could've run away with her, stayed in the city where you can love her in front of the whole world, where you can introduce her to your parents and marry her in one of these new age modern churches, while a new God from the twenty first century unifies you both. You could've had a great life, better than here, at least. You could be reading the news and going to work in whatever factory pays the bills enough. Could've gotten her pregnant. While I couldn't carry your child, she could. You could have gotten everything else, and you still stayed. I'm honored.

One day it's the apocalypse, the end of times, the sun refuses to shine and the moon went dark during the night, like a flickering light bulb. The clouds disappeared, the sky has a new color that nobody had ever seen before, no one believed it was even possible for the human eye to even see a new color ever.

Now it's nothing, it's chaos. It's the end of the movie, and you loved me so much during the musical number, you loved me as much as you could, and you did such a good job, that the time has come for me to eat you. The ultimate favor, my eventual reward.

It was a discussion that we had. Because I had suffered so much, it was the least you could do, your final gift, your last offering. You had told me that for my last day on earth, I had the opportunity, the privilege, to feast on revenge, to eat my anger up, to degust what had me suffer so much in life: humans.

You lay on the bed, completely naked. We tried doing it while you were alive, I took the knife that we used a couple hours earlier for lunch when I was cooking the curry drenched veal.

I am wearing a dress, honoring your own last wish. You always wished for a girl that would love you, and I was the only person loving you enough. You had to settle for less, settle for me.

I cut a part of your arm, between the elbow and shoulder, all along, and lengthwise. I eat it, and without any surprise, it doesn't taste very good. Maybe cause of your bad blood, maybe because today was hot and the meat was not kept fresh. Who knows?

But one thing we know is that you suffer too much, and though you seemed like you got a kick out of it, as it's a weird fetish of yours to get hurt, and you were so obviously erect at first, now the pain is too much for you to handle.

So we look at each other, I dive into your brown eyes like in the public swimming pool of my childhood, and we meet each other as children. Both so innocent yet so confused by the tribulations of life. I kiss your lips and you tell me that you love me, I know it's the signal and I slice your throat. Now eating you won't hurt your poor nervous system anymore, we both had our last wish realized. I take off the dress, it's time I be myself, and I hop on top of you, no need for the knife anymore, I'll devour you with my bare mouth like the last carnivore on earth.

I feast on my baby, the dear man that had loved me till the end. The only one at that. The meat starts tasting good now that I think about this. Thank you for loving me, even just a little, you know it was more than enough for such a love deprived kid like me.

It's the end of the movie, the credits roll and only bones are left. I'll die later too, perhaps we meet again down there.

- Tumbled Angel. #004

[gumikpxp]

Clumsy

3. Are you crazy?

pairing: cold!artist!xu minghao x baker!reader

synopsis: strawberries are worth fighting the weather wether you agree or not!

warning: cursing?

Y/n sighed as she rummaged through all her preserves, typical of course she was missing the only one see needed. She rushed to her fridge searching every crevice for the small red fruits that are somehow extinct from her kitchen. She groaned before calling out to her co worker in order to ask for some assistance, maybe he can run to the store.. if any are even open that is.

That's when she physically face palms and closes her fridge. Of course the stores wouldn't be open right now she prepping for tomorrow everything is practically closed. Which also means she sent Wonwoo home since it had gotten late. She tapped her foot trying to think of a plan, any thing that could be of use.

Suddenly a light bulb went off in her head and she practically cheered for herself. Her life saver and her best friend could fix this problem, gosh she loves having a bestie with a green thumb.

She hurried out of her kitchen grabbing her coat smile wide until she saw the weather outside her bakery. Suddenly that smile dropped, as the rain poured down. It's korea... she should really learn to bring an umbrella with her everywhere. She did a full body shake readying her body for the shock it's about to feel as she bolted out the door and the rain padded against her.

it's freezing!!

Minghao hummed slightly listening to Joshua talk about his current crush, or should he say obsession, he really doesn't understand how he got the nickname gentleman. They were seated in the Library sketching, yes they took art together. Minghao chose a window seat since he knew it would be raining tonight he wanted to get a live drawing of the weather.

But he didn't want to get sick.

"Hao are you even listening?" Joshua sighed, as if he was the exhausted one, when he practically talked Minghaos ear off the past hour and a half.

"Yes yes, you believe this one is truly the one what was her name again? June?" Minghao asked glancing up at his friend but his eyes quickly went back to his pad of paper.

"June? what no, Drea where did you get June from?" Joshua scoffed and the latter shrugged.

"there wasn't a June?" he asked and Joshua shook his head to which Minghao just shrugged.

Joshua rolled his eyes and picked up his pencil again to continue his sketch unlike Hao, he was sketching the people in the library studying and sleep deprived.

Minghao looked outside the window again as the rain picked up and furrowed his eyebrows watching as someone fought against the pattern of the rain obviously in a rush, and without an umbrella.

"imbecile."

"okay hao that's just rude."

"not you dumbass... actually.."

"yah!!"

the knocking must've been a lot harder than expected but y/n couldn't tell, her hands were numb from the cold.

"jeez woman chill!" Jun answered as he swung the door open.

"i'm practically an icicle let me in i'm begging you!" She practically cried as Junhui rushed to pull the girl in his hand making contact with hers but quickly pulling away.

"holy crap your cold as ice!!"

"Strawberries! I need Strawberries!!" she said dramatically as she held herself and shivered and Junhui put his hands up in the air nodding.

"Alright alright i'll get you some strawberries, relax, you could've just texted me i would've taken them to the shop you know," he spoke as he disappeared into the hall leaving the girl by the door dumbfounded.

"here's some strawberries, i washed and wrapped them up for you, here's a dry jacket... water proof so give me that one and i'll wash and dry it for you. and what will be you life saver.. an umbrella." Jun said practically preparing her for war.

"are you sure you don't want to just stay the night?" he asked her for what must've been the 10th time since she arrived and she only shook her head.

"i can't Jun i need to prepare for the morning tomorrow you know they're my busiest times," she sighed. "i practically have to pop things in the oven by 3 just to have them ready by 5 for the early workers." she mumbled already looking exhausted.

"didn't you hire some help." he asked her obviously worried as his best friend hardly gets rest but she nodded.

"yes i did and he helps lots trust! but he isn't the most comfortable in the kitchen besides stirring and stuff." she smiled at him.

"well i should be leaving now got to get back to the shop."

Joshua and Minghao stood in front of the library about ready to part ways when joshua sighed.

"really dude this whole thing is just making my way home ten times harder couldn't you have wanted to paint like gentle rain? down pour." he looked around shaking his head.

"i didn't know how bad it would be i checked my phone not the news." minghao shrugged and joshua decided not to fight it and just leave so he started his way home.

Minghao was about to do the same when he heard a distressed noise and quickly turned his head seeing the same girl from earlier sat on the floor umbrella bent behind her and a brown paper bag clutched to her chest tightly as if to shield it.

He was about to leave before she looked up and he recognized the girl as the bakery owner. He sighed making his way over to the girl who must've slipped on a puddle.

suddenly the rain stopped.. well not really but above her head it did.

"do you not understand the process of walking or something?" A voice spoke making her look up and her eyes widen.

"Oh.. hi!" she smiled wide.

"what are you doing out here it's pouring." he asked her as she stood up from the floor and tried to wipe her pants down with one hand, a very poor attempt since it was water not dirt.

"well i needed strawberries, what are you doing out here." she told him but he proceeded to look at her like she was crazy.

"im going home, i was in the library, your umbrellas broken.. by the way." he answered and she picked up the umbrella with a frown.

"it's not mine actually it's my friends, that's gonna be a problem," she mumbled the last part.

Minghao debated for a moment before sighing and wiping the bottom of his face with his hand before dropping it back to his side.

"are you going to the bakery?" he asked her and she nodded.

"well, my apartment is the same way i'll walk you." he told her and she beamed.

"really thank you so much!! i owe you big time you have no idea!" practically hopped as they started their walk.

"that's not needed... really not more i owe you's." he told her and she nodded.

"why would you leave for strawberries right now anyways, you'll probably be sick tomorrow you know."

"doubtful i have a strong immune system, anyways they're strawberries only the best fruit ever, who wouldn't go on a mission impossible for them." she joked slightly trying to lighten up his mood and get any form of expression from him, well beside annoyance.

"right we'll see about that."

[tenacious-minds]

In Clays and Creams and Yellow Music is now on ao3

Robin is gay, is the thing. She always has been.

She remembers being very small and watching the way girls skirts twirled around their knees, the way their hair would brush they collarbones and get stuck on their mouths, lips sticky with gloss and— his hair has grown out, is the thing. Since everything. Since it's all been over. He hasn't gotten it cut. 

Used to be every three months like clockwork, the minute it would start brushing his shoulders. And she'd asked him once, why he bothered when it looked so nice longer. He'd tensed up, facing away from her, hands still poised above the register. And then his shoulders had dropped, all at once, forced like, and he’d shrugged. Told her he didn't like the feeling of it brushing his shoulders. He hadn't looked her in the for the rest of their shift. 

She doesn't think she believed him then, either, but she hadn't known what to say to him about it (years later, in the quiet dark of their apartment, he will tell her about his first hair cut and his father and the way his hair brushing against his shoulder's made him want to cry and how confusing that was because it was from happiness and from fear and sadness and some weird twisted second-hand form of disgust (and she knows if she ever sees Harrington senior again she will absolutely break her fucking hand for the sheer pleasure of popping him one right in his great big nose.)) 

So, yeah. His hair is getting long, and the longest bits reach past his shoulders, now, and the front pieces are falling just past his chin, with this one extra short bit— lifted by his great big swirling cow’s-lick— tickling his cheek-bone. And he’s stopped swooping it up with too much hairspray, lets it fall soft and wispy around his face instead— and the door opens, bell jiggling, and he smiles at the pretty girl on the other side of the counter. All big and flirty-like, that one that shows off his one crooked incisor and it makes her stomach twist uncomfortably and she feels sick with it. But Steve is talking with his hands now, fingers flying as he explains the plot of whatever movie he’s recommend, and she can see the way the girl tracks them, nose wrinkling, and that makes Robin's stomach twist for a whole other reason, sinking like a rock in her fucking abdomen, tugging at her diaphragm until she can't breathe with it either. Because really, Steve’s picked up a lot of that from her and Eddie, the way he flourishes his hands. But Eddie knows better than to really do it much in public, and he’s created the kind of personae that it wouldn’t matter even if he did but Steve doesn’t have that, and he doesn’t even really know. 

But Steve is ringing her up now, and they’re both smiling and the girl is thanking him and—it’s fine, really, it's all fine.

Except that now Robin's looking at his hands too, all cluttered with rings, which he's slowly been collecting for the past month now—two months? All delicate weaved silver and floral motifs, one with a small inset amethyst and one with weaving ivy (from Robin) and another, the only chunky one (one of Eddie’s)— an old signet style ring with a heavy lined moth, weighing down his pinky-finger in tarnished silver. And his nails— they’re painted. A soft pink clear coat you can barely see, except for when it catches the light just right and the florescent bulb shines in arcs across them. He'd had Robin repaint them Saturday night, after the girls had left, from a bright yellow ( his favourite colour) to this ‘so he could still wear it into work’. (When pressed he had simply stated that he'd promised El, and then, in a much quieter hushed kind of voice, that he thought it would be good for Will to have some positive roll models.) They're well cared for, Robin knows, and by turns soft and rough—slightly callused from years of sports and swinging his dumb bat at dumb terrifying monsters, but he has this whole drawer full of fancy creams and she knows that he trims his cuticles, files his nails until they are a perfectly shaped oval—

“-obin" Steve is looking at her now, head tilted to the side with that soft exasperated Robin-smile he saves just for her. "Robs?" he says again, and he laughs softly when she just blinks at him, it makes something in her stomach clench painfully. She feels sick. Is she sick? She wonders if this is all some sort of fever induced hallucination and— Steve is looking worried now, stepping closer with that little furrow between his brows, one hand lifted like he's thinking about pressing it to her forehead to check her temperature and— is he wearing lip gloss what the fuck? But— no. Steve is not allowed to look worried.

He's worried so often— about her and the kids and Eddie and even Nance and Jonathan, and there's absolutely no need for him to be looking like that right now, not about whatever is happening inside Robin's head because its nothing. So she laughs and pokes at his forehead, and he swats at her hands, still kind of frowning at her, and she knows he's still worried.

“I'm okay, Stevie, really” she says, and then he goes a little pink, the way he always does when she calls him that, fond and pleased, and he squeezes her hand tightly between his.

"You looked a little warm, are you sure?" and she doesn't stop him from pressing the back of his hand to her cheek, forehead, neck until he's satisfied. He smells like the lavender he puts on his temples before bed and like something else sweet and musky and floral. Fuck.

"See?" She says, and squeezes his other hand where they're still clasped by their sides. “All good."

He hums, still looking her over. "Alight, but let me know if that changes okay? We’re closing early to day to help out at the middle school, so I can always drive you home and then come back to finish closing up on my own.” And then he's back to work again, squinting at the computer screen and typing with his painfully slow two-fingered jabs. 

And Robin's gay, is thing. She always has been. She likes women, or at least, she doesn't like men.

But Steve is—

Well. Fuck.

Part 2 

[talentforlying]

@asteritm: i was always going to come home again. — GARDEN OF EARTHLY BODIES STARTERS

the left side of his platitudinal smile feels strange, crumpling around the creased edges of scar tissue instead of gliding up smooth and effortless like it always had before. he traces it there with his thumb, pretending to scratch an itch, just to feel the crack in the mask for what it is.

' i know. left you a light on, didn't i? '

and stared into its baleful yellow bulb some nights until all of the spots seared into his photoreceptors only disappeared if he slept; even then, not entirely. funny, that — like all the things she'd left behind had managed to absorb enough of her wildfire ways to scorch him on her behalf. ( all the things but him. ) god knows he'd been grateful for the burn; for some way to feel her, still. to pretend like he was still capable of hoping, stupidly, when the reality was that, after the first appreciable eternity spent cursing at a voicemail, he only ever kept clicking on the blasted lights out of habit.

i'm glad you left when you did. that would be cruelly honest enough to say without getting specifically cutting, wouldn't it? fuck knows she already feels GUILTY about it, the way she looks at him sometimes; and the hell of it is that she shouldn't. they both knew each other's natures long before her truer one started bubbling to the surface. someone was always going to leave. someone was always getting left.

i'm glad you weren't caught up in the crossfire, or at my side to share the blame.

i'm glad i didn't have to choose between you and chas, you and my niece, you and my sister, 'cos i don't know what the fuck i would've done.

i'm glad you went and did what you had to, even though it fucking hurt, hurts, is hurting.

i'm gladder than i am mad, and fuck if that don't feel like weakness.

( i'd be even fucking gladder if i believed you right now. )

' . . . 'ey, budge up. c'mere. ' they're hip-to-hip on her couch, her head on his shoulder and his head on hers, but it doesn't feel nearly close enough for comfort, suddenly; not with her admission driving a cold, anticipatory spike of pre-fight adrenaline through the center of his rabbit-thumping heart. he pries his hands loose from their rigid, spindly tangle in his lap to wind both arms around her and pull her in tight, turning to press a kiss into her hair. pretending not to flinch when he locks eyes with his reflection in the kitchen beyond: a hollow-eyed scarecrow staring blankly back from the glossy surface of the microwave, a face that looks so much less like his father's now that it's hard to reconcile it as his.

( the whole microwave's gone when he blinks, because this bloody house . . . because maybe this bloody house is alright, after all. )

' don't think about it. ' he means it to be light and airy, careless and thrown away — instead, it's a heavy murmur, a confidential whisper in her ear. secret magic words, to a spell only the two of them can cast. ' it's over, yeah? you're back. we're good. we can leave it. '

leave it. focus on the tremoring glide of a calloused thumb stroking up and down her arm: the simplest, easiest touch he's had in months, because the warmth of her is slowly bringing feeling back to fingertips that have been numb ever since the infecting sense-memory of nergal's tiny claws, laid flat over his sister's un-beating heart, had bled into his reality like the mind-numbing poison it was meant to be.

don't think about it. focus on the errant cloud of curls tickling his nose. don't look down, because the shirt that she's wearing looks and feels a lot like the one he'd balled up absently in his hands to make a pillow, late at night in the tunnels of the underground: certain that it meant protection, without a single fucking clue as to why. knowing, rationally, that it wouldn't make a difference; knowing that whoever wore it, once, isn't any less gone for all his wishing they WEREN'T.

you were gone.

don't think about it. it brushes up against the back of his mind, feather-soft — settling in, not slipping out. like her body curled into his. like a whisper in the walls. just hold her close.

and he does. because she's here, now. because he can.