#they lay undetected for years

[wanderingmaskdragons]

machination dragon

⚙

[formalmess]

and nothing can go wrong (oh no it all went wrong)

[artbribery]

Danny calling John Constantine a “discount, hyped-up voldemort wannabe” and complaining that “at least voldemort didn’t make that much paperwork for the ministry”

A list of why the insult is legit, maybe written by a spite fueled Danny, the soul tax collector, helped by Clockwork who wrote the file he’s getting his info from probably:

British

Magic

Manipulate, Mansplain, Manwhore

Bad habits

Soul splitting (!!!)

Involved in some weird shit

His house could kill you

Tax evasion

Mother dies and father resents him for reasons (in some version, or an orphan at some early point, either way)

Magical, special lineage connected to cunning

Dark arts knowledge

Met a lot of Ghosts but most don’t like him 

Dies?

But not really

Many contacts and connections everywhere

Killed people

People die around him (Different things)

Problems with the Government (mood but also >:( )

Grave robbing (implied? it has to have happened, i can’t believe otherwise)

...

You know what, a lot of crime in general, what the heck?

Asshole (should’ve been higher on the list honestly)

Gets a blood transfusion from an enemy and becomes stronger

Protected from mind control (Lucky)

Probably called you-know-who by someone at least once

Smart (???)

Changed his name and joined a band (So to speak)

[son1c]

and what if i said prism was based on a shadow android all along

[swan2swan]

[kpop---scenarios]

Day Six: Seungmin

Pairing: Seungmin x Reader

Warning: Smuuuuut, and smut [18+ ONLY MINORS DO NOT READ]

Word Count: 1.1k

Day One: Felix | Day Two: Jeongin | Day Three: Changbin | Day Four: Jisung | Day Five: Lee Know

“Are you sure about this?” You laugh as Seungmin drags you into one of the karaoke places. You'd seen plenty of them in dramas but had never actually been to one yourself. Especially not with such an amazing vocalist like him.

“Yes! It'll be so fun.” He grins, paying the man and quickly ushering you into the room, looking down the hall both ways to make sure the two of you hadn't been followed into the room. That was one thing about being friends with an idol, it was extremely hard to do fun, public things with them. They rarely are able to go out undetected. Luckily for you and Seungmin, your shady years of friendship helped you both become extra stealthy. That and you knew Seungmin didn't want to be in a relationship scandal, even if it was with you. You wouldn't mind, considering you'd been in love with him for the last 3 years.

“Let's get some drinks.” You suggest picking up the phone to order quite a few bottles of soju for the two of you. If you were going to sing in front of him, you needed all the liquid courage you could find.

As the hours went on, the songs that started as fun ones with a pop beat turned into love songs, which turned into rap songs, that turned into overly sexual songs. Which is how the two of you ended up, 6 bottles of soju deep and Seungmin singing while also dancing to Hit Me Up by Timethai.

You stared at him with your mouth wide open as he humped the floor, while singing, while also maintaining eye contact. You rub your legs together to soothe the ache in your pussy while you watch him, unaware that you were actually doing it. He cocks an eyebrow at you as he finishes the song, still on his knees. He makes his way towards you, opening your legs and moving himself between them.

“Was it not good?” He asks, licking his lips.

“It.. it was very..good.” You gulp. You'd never seen him flirt so heavily, or put himself out there so sexually before and you were loving it. “You looked so fucking hot.” You say. He grins at you, making you realize what you had actually just said to him.

“Oh my god.” You gasp, slapping your hand across your mouth. “I didn't.. that was..”

Seungmin stares at you. You wonder if it's so he can figure out how to gently let you down but no words come from his mouth. Instead he moves up, crashing his lips onto yours. You don't even think, you just move your mouth with his, opening and letting him slide his tongue into your mouth. He stands up, not breaking the kiss as he pulls you over to land on his lap as he sits down. The kiss is sloppy but passionate. His hands roam your body before they end up at the hem of your shirt. He pulls it up and over your head, only breaking the kiss to discard it across the room. He reaches behind you, using one hand to unhook your bra. You sit up on his lap, genuinely surprised he was able to do that.

“very impressive.” You giggle as he cups your tits. He leans forward, taking a nipple into his mouth, sucking on it as you throw your head back, dry humping him. You can feel his cock grow in his pants with every little movement you make. He hums in pleasure as his lips remain wrapped around your nipple until he can't take it anymore. He helps you off of him and lays you down on the couch on your back. He discards his shirt, taking off his pants and boxers before moving to your jeans, unbuttoning them before yanking them off your body.

He takes a moment, staring at your naked body, appreciating every curve, every mark and everything you think is a flaw. He finds it all beautiful.

You spread your legs for him, he kneels down on the couch, licking his fingers before he gently pushes them inside you. Fuck you were tight. Seungmin groans at the feeling of you wrapped around his fingers. He finger fucks you while using his other hand to play with your clit, making you squirm beneath him. He loved seeing you like this, he had been waiting so long for the day he was able to have you like this.

“Please.” You breathe.

“Please what?” He asks.

“Fuck me.” You pant. “Please fuck me.”

He doesn't respond, instead pulls his fingers from inside you, using your wetness to wet his hard cock before he lined himself up with your entrance. He slowly pushed himself into you, stretching you out around his cock.

“Oh fuck.” You groan, your eyes rolling back. Seungmin slowly grinds himself into you, over and over, each time hitting your clit with such an intense thrust it makes you whimper beneath him. You take your hands, grabbing his head to pull him down, latching your lips onto his as he continues moving the same way, slowly and intensely to make sure you feel it all. You moan into his mouth to keep yourself from screaming out, now that the music in your room has stopped. You lift your legs, wrapping them around him, allowing him to push his cock even deeper into your already soaked cunt. You break the kiss, breathing heavily as he nestles his head between your neck and shoulder, biting you gently as he picks up his pace.

You run your hands through his hair, pulling as he starts thrusting into you harder, even quicker.

“Fuck.” He grunts. “I never imagined you'd feel this good.”

He continues to rub your clit with his movements, now that he's moving quicker, your orgasm is building even quicker. You wrap your arms around him, digging your nails into his back as you cling onto him, loud moans escaping from your mouth without a care. You were about to cum - you couldn't hold it in any longer.

“I'm gonna.. fucking.. oh god.” You cry out as your orgasm explodes through your body. You wrap around him tighter as you ride through your high, your cunt pulsating around his cock.

“Holy shit.” He moans, cumming right after you, burying himself deep inside of you as he emptied himself into you.

Seungmin pulls his cock from you, the two of you quickly getting dressed. You both knew you needed to leave, like now before they come searching for more money. The two of you had been in there longer than you paid for. Once dressed, Seungmin takes your hand into his, pulling you out of the room and into the street. He looks at you with a wide smile as he leans down to kiss you. He breaks the kiss, still smiling. “We did things sort of backwards.” He chuckles. “Can I take you on a date tomorrow?”

[backtothefanfiction]

Nicknames

Summary; explaining where you and Felix get your nicknames for each other from.

Warnings: fluff, tragic backstory, neglect, sibling bullying

A/N: the whole point of the Summer at Saltburn shorts is that you can read them in any order and they make sense but this is probably one with the most context as to why reader lives/spends their school holidays at Saltburn.

Summers at Saltburn Masterlist

You can’t remember a single summer you haven’t spent at Saltburn. Even as a kid, before your father ran off to South America (when he came under investigation for embezzling company funds), you had always spent some time at your Godfather’s house; because his kids were the same age as you. You were the youngest of four, a “happy” accident 6 years after your older brother had been born. He was supposed to be the baby of the family, not you and the age difference between you and them (they all had only a year or two between them) made them cruel.

Felix had started to call you Daisy in response to hearing your older brothers and sister refer to you as Oopsy at one of his parents parties.

“Why do you call her Daisy, my darling?” Elspeth had asked her son when she realised he’d started to refer to you exclusively as the small yet resilient dainty flower.

“Because her family call her oopsy, as in oopsy Daisy.” He says through a mouthful of food.

“Oh how horrible. Is that true darling?” She says turning towards you. Elspeth had always treated you as if you were one of her own and the thought of people being so cruel to you made her blood simmer under her collected exterior.

You paused before saying “yes,” unable to look her in the eyes.

“Well,” she said, patting your hand that lay resting on the table between the two of you, “I much prefer Daisy, because you are. You are beautiful and strong and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

——————/////—————

You had taken to calling Felix “Fix” only a few summers back, when he finished secondary school and brought his first school friend home for the summer. It wasn’t until another 3 summers later and Felix brought Oliver home for the summer that he finally asked you why.

You had decided to hide yourself in the field in hope of actually trying to get through one of the books you’d brought with you to read this summer. You actually hated the field. It had a very specific rule, if you were going to lie out in the field, you have to do it naked. It wasn’t the rule itself that made you hate it, but the fact you always seemed to get bit by something hiding in the long grass.

You’d managed to sneak away and remain undetected for all of 30 minutes (which was a new kind of record because searching the whole house for someone could take up to an hour at times) before Felix came stalking across the field towards you.

“Clothes.” You called out from behind your book.

He was silent as he stripped off his polo shirt and shorts before stomping through the long grass towards you. He remained silent as you continued to read but his fidgety fingers and legs told you there was something he wanted to talk about.

“Just say it.” You say, your eyes pausing at the end of a paragraph to make sure you wouldn’t lose your spot, hoping his question would have a quick answer and you could go back to the novel in your hand.

“Why do you call me Fix?” He says.

It’s not a question you were expecting and find yourself dropping your book into your lap to turn and look at him. “I thought it was obvious.” You say, peering over the tops of your sunglasses at him.

“Well apparently it’s not.” He replies.

“It’s because you like to fix people.” You say, lifting your book back up to your eyes, figuring it was answer enough, but alas, Felix protested.

“I don’t like to fix people.” He scoffs and as you look over the top of your book at him, you can see the small scowl forming on his face around his furrowed brow.

“Oh yeah?” You say before you both get distracted by the sound of another pair of feet making their way across the field towards you. You look to see Oliver making his way towards you both and it’s like the god’s have just handed this to you on a plate. “Ahhh look,” you say, seizing the opportunity, “here comes exhibit C.” You say to Felix, before shouting a reminder of “Clothes!” At Oliver.

Felix doesn’t say any more about it that afternoon, but when he corners you that evening before dinner, he has to ask. “Okay, so if Ollie is exhibit C, I’m assuming Michael was exhibit B…” he pauses as he waits for you to give him a small nod of confirmation before he asks, “Who’s exhibit A?”

“Me.” You say, as if it’s obvious. One look at his face tells you that you’ve stunned him into silence. Your face is calm and confident as you make your way into the dining room, leaving him alone in the hallway to ponder his thoughts.

[hotchs-big-hands]

What did you call me?

Part 1|Part 2|Part 3|4.9k words

Aaron Hotchner x plus size fem!reader

NSFW Minors dni please

Warning(s): some angst, yearning, details about graphic crime scenes, strip clubs/sex clubs.

When Dom/sub couples begin to show up murdered mid-coital, the BAU team is brought in to solve the case. But as more couples are found and the unsub remains undetected, it becomes an undercover mission. The posing Dom/sub couple in question? Your intimidating, attractive boss and you.

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Hey everyone, welcome to my first fanfic! I used to write and post stuff back in 2018ish but it was a different fandom. I've not written and posted anything tho since then so I'm a bit nervous! But idk I just got back into cm recently and I saw Hotch and my brain was like oh yeah 👁️👁️ (I used to be a Spencer girlie) and I've mostly written stuff for myself but I decided imma start doing stuff on here too! I hope you enjoy and lemme know if you wanna be tagged in future writings 🥰 side note, I'm a fat gal so I will probably centre most of my stuff around plus size readers cuz there's not enough of it for plus size Hotch girlies 😔 but technically anyone can read and enjoy it! This was getting extremely long so I'm splitting it into three parts so here's the first one! Anyway, enjoy 💅

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The feeling of something blunt lightly bounced against your forehead, making you blink a few times and rub the area with your hand.

"Hey... Who did that?" You grumbled, eyes darting from one face of your coworkers to the next. Three of them all pointed towards the culprit and as your eyes drifted back to him you were met with a cheeky grin on the charming, dark-skinned man's face.

"You were spaced out, sugar." Derek Morgan said. "Got a lot on your mind?"

"Got a lot of him on her mind, more like." A voice cut in smugly, flustering you in an instant, your heart beginning to race. Your eyes flicked to Prentiss, the pristine raven haired woman was smirking at you, her eyes glinting. You squeaked and shifted in your office chair nervously.

"No, Em! Just... couldn't sleep last night."

The weak explanation didn't help, it only widened the smirk on Prentiss' face as she leaned forward.

"Oh? Do tell us more."

"There's nothing to say!" You abruptly turned to the casefile that lay open on your slightly messy desk and tried to ignore the movement at the corner of your eye; Emily was shuffling her chair over to you, no doubt still with that annoying smirk on her face.

"Oh it sure sounds like there is though."

Before you had the chance to defend yourself an all too familiar voice demanded everyone's attention and subsequently caused a shiver to trickle down your spine. Your hands gripped onto your chair.

"My team; in the conference room now. We have a case." Your unit chief spoke. All heads turned to the direction of a slightly elevated walkway where a sharply dressed man stood for a mere moment, locking eyes with yours, before he began walking briskly towards the mentioned conference room.

Fuck. Hotch was wearing your favourite suit and tie today and a few stray wisps of his short, dark hair stubbornly lay over his forehead, no matter how often he must have tried to push them up off his face. Everyday was harder than the previous working with that man. The moment you'd attended your interview months ago, sitting in front of the brooding man, you knew you were fucked. Yes, you had been eager to join the famed BAU unit and were grateful for the opportunity that arose but you'd be lying if another reason you eagerly answered all the questions prompted to you in that interview wasn't because you were instantly attracted to Aaron Hotchner. However, that was almost a year ago now and you were struggling with your growing attraction to the man the more you were around him. Your coworkers and friends certainly were no help, given they'd soon caught onto your crush.

A hand waved in front of your face and you blinked.

"Time to go, lovergirl." Prentiss teased and you sighed, quickly joining the others as they made their way to the case briefing. You needed to focus.

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Landing in Chicago a few hours later, the team were thrust into a gnarly investigation involving couples being murdered in their hotel rooms mid-coital. The crime scene photos were hard to look at, to say the least. Setting up a base of operations in the police department didn't take too long and currently you were in the midst of interviewing family members of the deceased along with Hotch at his insistence. It wasn't often that you took part in these interviews, even less often did Hotch ever team you up with him. Quite frankly, it made you feel a little nervous, but there was no way you'd question his decision. And certainly, you did not miss the subtle smug look Emily gave you as you trailed after the man you thought about way too much.

Sitting beside him in the SUV, just the two of you alone made your head feel a little bit floaty as you tried your best to remain as stoic as possible, reminding yourself of the details of the case so far and of the little bits of information from the families you'd spoken to. Even with the effort there was no preventing the permeating scent of his cologne and a hint of his own natural musk from scrambling your brain. He smelled good, too good, and the way his hands gripped the steering wheel from the quick glances you dared peek developed a heat to coil within the depths of your lower abdomen.

"Are you alright?" His voice brought you out of your thoughts. You felt flushed.

"H-huh?" You felt dumbstruck, all because of him. He exhaled through his nose sharply, clearly dissatisfied with your response.

"You're distracted."

Oh. Of course he could pick up on it. You shifted in your seat, subtly rubbing your plump thighs together.

"I'm okay, I guess I've not had enough to drink today though. I'll get some water when we head back to the station." Not a lie, technically. You'd forgotten your bottle of water you normally had ready to fill up to take on cases. Hotch hummed, the sound deep and making you clench between your thighs.

"I did notice you didn't have your water like you usually do. I should have said something." He said. Wait, he noticed? You didn't think he picked up on things about you, he didn't often appear to pay attention to you besides on a strictly professional level. But as you turned your head to him in surprise his brows were furrowed in frustration, as though annoyed with himself for not saying anything.

"Oh no, it's fine. I've been a bit of a scatterbrain as of late." You admitted sheepishly, a little smile on your lips. Hotch glanced at you, eyes flicking down to your lips, then back to your eyes, making your breath hitch.

"Anything I can do to help?"

You bit your lip, your mind flooded with a whole array of thoughts that you knew you shouldn't be having about your boss. He didn't know he was the reason you were so distracted, desperate to feel his lips on yours, on your body and his hands on your skin, his fingers inside you. Fuck. You needed to get it together, for goodness' sake. You quickly glanced back towards the road.

"Ah, no. I'm okay, sir. I'll sort myself out." You murmured, missing the way his knuckles whitened under the pressure of his grip on the wheel.

"Don't hesitate to come to me if you need anything."

You tried not to think of what you wanted him to do to you, instead humming in response.

"Thank you, sir."

You needed to get out of this damn car as soon as possible.

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Immediately upon returning to the station you rushed off to find a vending machine so you could grab a bottle of water. As soon as you had your hands on the cold, plastic bottle you were gulping down the cool liquid, not realising just how flushed you felt.

"Whoa, slow down there, (L/n)!" You heard JJ's voice from behind you and you turned, pulling the bottle from your mouth wide-eyed. The blonde woman looked slightly alarmed. "Are you okay?"

You nodded.

"Yeah, yeah. I just forgot to bring water so I kinda got a bit dehydrated I think." You explain quickly. JJ frowned a little.

"You'd better be careful next time. And don't drink too quickly, you could accidentally choke."

You smiled sheepishly under her scolding and screwed the lid back on.

"Sorry, I'll drink slower."

JJ led you back to the office where you found the familiar sight of Spencer pouring over a map of the area. Pieces of string had been wrapped around pins indicating the last locations victims were seen and the scenes of their murders, no clear pattern in sight as there sometimes was. On one of the tables lay several empty paper coffee cups, a few rings of spilled coffee staining the surface top. He was speaking quietly to another member of the team, David Rossi, and Hotch; of whom stood beside the young Doctor with his arms folded across his chest, inevitably tightening the suit over his physique. You forced yourself to focus on the map.

Not long after your arrival you heard two sets of footsteps trudge into the room.

"No employees or frequent customers that are of note. We have nothing." Derek huffed as he made his way over to one of the chairs and slumped down into it. Emily joined you and JJ, her face appeared neutral but you could tell there was a hint of annoyance behind it. You heaved a deep sigh and felt eyes on you which made you instinctively seek out who it was, only to be startled when your eyes met deep brown ones, almost black in the artificial lighting. Hotch didn't look away, instead holding your gaze until you quickly turned away, feeling embarrassed.

"There has to be something that connects them all." Rossi said. Your eyes drifted across the map, narrowing a little. There had to be a mutual place that all these couples had been to in the final week leading up to their deaths. Somewhere that couples who enjoy sexual relations more than the average couple would go. You pulled your phone out of your pocket and quickly scrolled through your contacts until you found the one you were looking for. As you pressed dial you put the call on loudspeaker it merely rang once before there was an answer.

"Hello, you've reached the hotline for the simply fantabulous Penelope Garcia; how may I assist you?" A bubbly voice filtered through. All eyes were on the phone as you placed it on the table in front of you.

"Hiya, babe, I have a request for you. We're trying to find a link between the couples but so far nothing has cropped up. But I have a theory," you spoke, feeling a little awkward at what you were about to say. "Uhm, do you think you could try search for any strip clubs or even straight up sex clubs in the area? Easily accessible or possibly a more hidden club?"

You could feel his eyes on you again but you tried hard to stare at the phone. Garcia gasped from the other end of the line, but the sound of nails on a keyboard reassured you she was already on the case. Beside you, you felt Emily poke you and you lightly shoved her with your wide hip.

"Oh wow, I did not think I would be looking at this sort of thing today. But lucky you, I have a whole list of places! I-" there was clicking, followed by another gasp. "Oh my! That is certainly a homepage! You have no idea about the things I'm seeing right now, well, I mean I'll be sending these to you anyway but gosh! I'm going to do a thorough clean of my history once this case-"

"-Garcia, focus." Hotch said firmly and you heard a quick apology from the other end of the line. He moved to lean over the table, propping himself up with his hands as he took charge of the phone call. "We need security footage from these locations. Whatever you can give us, we'll take it."

More clacking of nails, you tried not to stare at your boss as he leered over your phone, forcing yourself to look away from his straining suit, the dangling tie, his large hands. Horrifically, you instead met eyes with the oldest of the group, Rossi, who had clearly caught you ogling Hotch from the glint in his experienced eyes and the twitch at the corner of his mouth. Shit. You could only hope no one else had witnessed your blatancy. Thankfully, Garcia's voice came through again.

"I'm sending over whatever footage I can find as well as the addresses to the establishments now."

You reached across the table, hyper aware of how close you were to Hotch as you took hold of your phone. He studied you carefully when you hurried backwards, swallowing thickly. You cleared your throat.

"Thanks, babe, you're a star." You said.

"Well of course, I'm your star." Garcia responded cheerily and the line went dead. Hotch straightened up and pulled his suit back into place, turning to address everyone.

"We need to review the footage and find out which location all the victims visited at some point within the last few weeks, then we can make a plan of action." He was stern as he spoke, hands in his pockets and his shoulders squared. There was a mutual noise of agreement from everyone and you all split into smaller groups around the monitors in the room. Hotch disappeared off to find the chief of police and you couldn't help but let your eyes follow him as he rushed out of the room, eyes transfixed on the tight fabric of his dress pants.

"Girl, you aren't even hiding it." You heard Derek say and you huffed, walking over to Spencer and sitting down next to him. He offered you an awkward smile and shuffled his chair to the side so you could get closer to the computer he was working on.

"Shut up, Derek." You muttered and he chuckled.

"I'm just saying, you should probably talk to him."

Your eyes widened in horror.

"Excuse me?"

Spencer cleared his throat.

"I agree, It's a bit obvious that he's interested in you too." He said softly and you huffed, shuffling your chair closer to the table and leaning towards the computer screen.

"Stop saying ridiculous things like that, both of you. We have work to do anyway."

Derek stepped back with his hands raised in surrender before retreating back to the computer he was situated at whilst Spencer simply watched you carefully, frowning a little.

It was dangerous for you to even dare think of such things. There were so many reasons why you couldn't let your mind go there. If not for the ethical reason due to his and your job statuses, then maybe because he was much older than you with a son. But also you'd seen photos of his ex-wife and ex-girlfriend and you certainly didn't look like his type. Not slender, not sleek like they were. You didn't think he was a shallow man but you'd also dealt with disappointment after disappointment with how others had treated you based on your appearance. You had to keep yourself safe, so your attraction for your boss would remain nothing more than a secret from him. You sighed softly as the young man beside you clicked on the first video footage from one of the private sex clubs. There was no more time to waste.

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The following few hours were downright miserable, viewing video, after video of footage from various clubs until you felt as though your eyes and your brain would melt out of your head. Finally, however, Emily made a noise of alarm, mouth full of cheap coffee, and alerted everyone to her computer. Swallowing the burning, bitter liquid, she retracted the footage a little and replayed it.

"Look, It's the Smiths! The first couple to be murdered. They came in to this very exclusive private sex club at the end of last month." She said hurriedly. In the slightly fuzzy camera quality indeed the couple waltzed into the lobby of the facility and approached the reception desk.

"Fast forward the feed." You heard Hotch say, causing goosebumps to bristle across your skin. You knew he had returned at some point but didn't expect him to stand right beside you. Someone made a call to Garcia and she confirmed with her database that it was indeed the couple. Further analysis of the footage from days afterwards showed that every single of the other couples had also been to this sex club too shortly before they were murdered. And yet they had no indication still of who was the murderer.

The day was drawing in at this point but as a final task before anyone would return to the hotel, Hotch sent out Morgan and Prentiss to the club to ask some questions, something that you couldn't help but chuckle at. The raven haired woman narrowed her eyes slightly at you.

"Laugh all you want but I'd be careful if I were you." She warned but you simply smirked.

"Don't have too much fun now, you two." You said cheerily, Morgan raised a brow at you and then the two were off begrudgingly. You felt JJ sidle up beside you.

"You know she will get you back." She murmured and you shrugged.

"She doesn't scare me."

"She scares me a little." Spencer said aloud, causing the two of you to turn your heads in his direction. He flushed, ducking his head slightly. "I- uh, well you know how she is."

"I wouldn't think you were intimidated by her, Spence, I mean you're the one who won the prank war with Morgan." JJ said, chuckling. A small smile tugged at his mouth.

"I wouldn't cross Emily, though."

You hummed and pushed up out of your chair.

"Well anyway, either of you want a hot drink?" You offered. JJ smiled.

"Oh no, thank you." As Spencer opened his mouth to respond she lifted a finger up at him. "Ah- you definitely don't need anymore coffee at this time of day."

A quiet giggle passed your lips and you turned to head to the kitchenette of the station.

"I'm not getting involved."

Walking out of the office you crossed the police department, avoiding any officers who still remained within the building, and came to a pause in the entryway of the kitchen, dipping away from the doorway out of sight. The two oldest members of the team were in a deep conversation, Hotch with his back to the door and Rossi facing the direction you were in. They spoke quietly, you knew you shouldn't listen in and yet you couldn't help it.

"Stop being absurd. What makes you think I'd even consider doing that?" Hotch hissed, his voice barely audible from where you were.

"Come on, Aaron, you can't keep this going forever. You know that." Rossi countered. There were more words said but were too quiet for you to decipher. That was until Hotch spoke a little louder again, sounding more frustrated.

"I am not currently wishing to be involved with anyone like that, Dave. I just can't."

In an instant you felt your heart in your throat, your eyes stinging.

Oh.

You felt stupid. Of course he wasn't interested in dating anyone. Even despite closely guarding your feelings for Hotch to be nothing further than a personal crush that he would never find out about it still hurt knowing you never had a chance to begin with.

Walking a few steps away from the kitchen, you made a point of entering the kitchen area, feigning surprise as your eyes landed on the two men in the room. Clearly, your entrance startled them, particularly him, who looked a little guilty before the slight expression glossed over with stern stoicism. Hotch glanced away, turning to Rossi.

"I'll see you at the hotel." He muttered and then he was brushing past you, his hand grazing your arm slightly and his scent consuming your senses. And then he was gone, all that remained was the slight coolness of his absence. You swallowed thickly but tried to mask your emotions from the seasoned agent still remaining.

"Coffee? There's some left still, maybe enough for one last cup." Rossi said softly. You smiled slightly as you approached him but shook your head.

"Ah no, thank you. I'm going to have tea. It's way too late for coffee, don't you think?"

The man hummed, watching you carefully. You suspected he had seen you earlier, that you'd heard the conversation but you didn't feel like talking about it.

"I hope you know that if you ever need someone to lend an ear that I'm always willing to listen."

Your hands faltered slightly during sorting out putting a tea bag in a clean mug. Your eyes flicked to the side at Rossi briefly.

"I know that."

"I know you heard what you think you heard but-"

"-Let's not- We aren't talking about this." You cut him off shakily, stopping yourself before you poured the hot water into the mug. "There's nothing to say about it."

You turned away from the kitchen counter to lean against it, rubbing your tired eyes with your palms. Rossi sighed quietly.

"You didn't catch the whole conversation." He tried after a moment. You scoffed.

"It wasn't for me to hear. I only did so by accident. I'm not going to read into it because the only people who were meant to hear what was discussed was you and-" Your throat felt tighter still, an unseen coil constricting you, just as the man you longed for constricted your heart and soul. You didn't say his name, couldn't. Mercifully, the man before you understood.

"I know."

You nodded. The mug of tea wasn't appealing anymore; the quiet promise of solitude in a hotel room called to you more than all else.

"I.... I think I need to call it a night. I don't feel well."

Rossi placed a hand on your upper arm and squeezed lightly.

"I'll inform the others and grab your stuff then I'll drive you to the hotel we're staying in," he fished out the keys to one of the SUVs and handed them to you, the metal clinking together. "Go, wait in the car for me." He said. The corners of your mouth tilted upwards in appreciation and you hurried out, eager to have even a moment to yourself.

The moment you pushed the doors of the building open and stepped outside you exhaled, grimacing slightly at the still, warm air of the night. You'd hoped it would have cooled down more, now that the sun had long since settled behind the horizon, but you felt stifled, the heat doing nothing to soothe the tightness in your throat and chest. Breathing shakily, you unlocked the car and climbed into the passenger seat, laying your head back against the head rest.

There was no reason for you to feel so upset about this. It wasn't as though you intended on ever approaching your boss about your ever growing feelings for him, you wouldn't dare do that. And yet you felt almost physically sick from heartbreak and the worst part was he didn't even know the pain you were in. Hell, you didn't even know where he was right now after he rushed out of the kitchen.

You knew the moment Rossi obviously had retrieved your belongings judging the way your phone had begun to vibrate from text notifications, no doubt from your coworkers. You'd answer them when you made it to the hotel, you decided. A few minutes later you spotted the older man exit the station and approach the car you were in, your bag and coat in hand. The sight made you smile even the tiniest bit, something that he noticed. You felt the car jolt a little as he opened the trunk so he could put your belongings down and jolt again when he slammed it lightly. A second later he was climbing in on the driver's side where you held out the car keys to him.

"Thanks." He took the keys and inserted them into the ignition, the engine roaring to life and you slipped your seatbelt on. Rossi glanced at you. "Let's get you to the hotel. Best thing about this is if there aren't enough rooms for one each you can have first pick on if you want the single or not." He said as you pulled out the station parking lot. You scoffed.

"Oh you know I'm absolutely taking the single this time." You retorted. In any other scenario you would have risked sharing a room, risk being paired with him. Now the thought made you want to cry. Your little smile faded and you turned your head to the window, resting on the cool glass. Sensing you were finished talking, Rossi didn't say anything else for the remainder of the drive.

🌑🌒🌓🌔🌕🌖🌗🌘🌑

A little groan escaped your lips when you collapsed backwards on the single bed in your hotel room, exhaustion overrunning your very being from the long day. For a moment you simply lay there silently, staring at the dulled white ceiling whilst your mind raced. You knew this wasn't ideal, you couldn't let yourself be distracted from the case.

Huffing, you remembered that you needed to respond to messages to let the others know you would be alright by the morning. After pulling your phone out of your pocket, the screen lit up and your eyes flicked across the notifications on the lock screen. Lots of messages from your worried coworkers. You unlocked the phone and set about answering them one-by-one. JJ and Emily offered to stop by your hotel room to check in on you, not knowing you'd been feeling unwell up until this point, but you reassured them you would be okay.

Just as you finished your nightly routine and pulled the covers back, there was a knock on your door. Your brows furrowed slightly. Who would be knocking at this time? Sighing, you approached the door and leaned close to the peephole, expecting to see one of the ladies or maybe even Rossi.

Standing tensely with his shoulders squared was Aaron Hotchner. A quiet gasp escaped you and you jolted backwards from the door. What the fuck was he doing here?! With shaky hands, you pulled the door open and slightly covered yourself with it, hyper aware of your clothing situation. Hotch perked up and stared down at you.

"Rossi informed me that you weren't feeling well and had to retire early." He murmured gently, his face stern. You swallowed and silently invited him into your room by stepping back, pulling the door with you. He cautiously walked into your hotel room and you closed the door behind him, wrapping your arms around yourself in a feeble attempt to cover your body up. Why, oh why did you have to wear shorts that barely covered your ass and an old tee that wasn't as baggy anymore from being washed one too many times?

You cleared your throat and avoided looking in Hotch's direction.

"He's right. But I'm sure I'll feel better by tomorrow though."

You offered a little smile, eyes flicking to his face and realised he was staring. Except he wasn't staring at your face, no, his eyes were focused lower down at your chest. Christ. You quickly looked away again before he realised you'd caught him out and he hummed, the sound making you clench.

"What's wrong?"

Oh no. You couldn't answer that. Your eyes met his and you opened your mouth, hesitating with no response to give.

"I.... Just felt sick, that's all. I'll be okay though."

You never were good at hiding how you were really feeling, the deepening frown on the man's face before you merely evident of this.

"Are you certain? You can tell me anything, you know that." He said softly as he stepped closer to you. You nodded and tried smiling again at him.

"I know, sir. I promise I'm alright though." You tightened your arms around yourself until your flesh dipped under the pressure of your fingertips. Hotch's eyes trailed over you from head to toe, clearly unsatisfied with your reluctance to tell him the truth, but didn't push the matter further. You inhaled as he stepped closer still, his scent once more overwhelming you. His fingers flexed at his side as though he was conflicted and you wished he would reach out and touch you. Eventually, he sighed quietly and retreated a step.

"Alright. But I will be keeping an eye on you now."

Not good. You nodded though, then yawned and your cheeks flushed with warmth. Despite the tension, a small smile tugged at Hotch's mouth.

"You should get some rest." He said. You chuckled.

"Yeah, you as well though. I know what you're like."

He raised a brow at you.

"Really now?"

Your eyes widened and you stuttered.

"W-well I'm just saying, you do leave the office last, you're up earlier than everyone else too-" you cut yourself off, not wanting to dig your hole any deeper. You dared a quick glance his way and he was still slightly smirking.

"Get some rest, your boss is going to be up early again tomorrow to call everyone in."

A little chuckle escaped you and you followed Hotch to the door, grabbing the door as he opened it and hiding behind it again as you watched him make his way out into the corridor. He turned back to you and gazed down at you again.

"Good night, (L/n)." He murmured. Your eyes met and you gripped onto the door.

"Good night, sir."

He shifted, as though debating something in his head, then he turned and stalked down the corridor. You didn't close your door until he disappeared from sight. When you returned to your bed you collapsed down onto it whilst your mind raced. That night your dreams were filled with forbidden touches and kisses from the man you loved.

🌑🌒🌓🌔🌕🌖🌗🌘🌑

And that's part one for now pls lemme know what you think and if anyone wants to be tagged in future works! Thank you for reading 💖💖

[hogwartslegacyreactions2]

Hi there! First, I wanna say I absolutely love your works; they are all great, and I enjoy reading every one of their reactions!

Can I request to see HLC (including professors) react to MC sniffing them (out for many reasons, but mainly they want to remember their smell)? Just genuinely curious about what they would usually smell like :) Thank you! And wish to see more works of yours!

A/N: laughing so hard the whole time writing this 🤣

HLC REACT TO MC SNIFFING THEM

SEBASTIAN SALLOW: Old books and smoke. He smells like a stack of forgotten tomes that were set on fire. He raises an eyebrow and laughs. "You're not going to lick me next, are you?"

OMINIS GAUNT: Clean linens and a touch of mint. "...did you just sniff me?" One would think he'd be used to MC's weird behavior by now. Alas, he is not.

ANNE SALLOW: Wild flowers. She smells like she's been laying out in a meadow in spring. She smells her own robes. "What? Do I smell bad?"

IMELDA REYES: Broom polish and various wood scents. She gives MC a strong side-eye glare. "What are you doing?"

NATSAI ONAI: Incense and fresh cut grass. She gives MC an unsure look but smiles anyway. "You're acting strange. Even by your standards."

GARRETH WEASLEY: He smells like an apothecary shop threw up on him, that also exploded. "What? Do I still smell like burnt rat hair? I thought I got that out."

LEANDER PREWETT: Cheap cologne that screams "try hard", but at the same time isn't overly offensive. He side steps away from MC. "Please, stop that."

AMIT THAKKAR: Parchment and spilled ink. He startles when MC sniffs him and he jumps away like a startled cat. "What was that about?"

EVERETT CLOPTON: Depends on the day. There is no consistency with him. Some days he smells like a pack of dung bombs, others he smells like a summer breeze. He sweats nervously, hoping that MC doesn't smell dung bombs.

POPPY SWEETING: Ever smelled a horse with feathers? That's her. She watches MC curiously. "What are you sniffing around like a niffler for?"

~~~

ELEAZAR FIG: A well kept library. Old leather and parchment. He sniffs MC back. "I'd say we're both due for a wash after all the running around we've been doing."

MATILDA WEASLEY: Orchids, her favorite floral scent. She gives MC an unsure glance. "You could just ask what perfume I use."

CHIYO KOGAWA: Leather and sweat. Even with quidditch canceled, she's always out and about the grounds. "Don't sniff. That's rather rude."

AESOP SHARP: The wizard equivalent of Old Spice and a hint of fire whiskey. He just rolls his eyes. He doesn't get paid enough for this.

ABRAHAM RONEN: Sugar and cinnamon. Always smells like he just came back from Honeydukes. "Oh my, do I smell bad?" He's genuinely concerned and smells his own robes.

MIRABEL GARLICK: A garden. Flowers, soil, pottery; the whole shabang. "I was repotting mandrakes with the third years today. Sorry if I smell a bit ripe." She laughs.

MUDIWA ONAI: Incense and palm oil. She offers MC some incense. "Would you like to burn some for your dorm? You smell like you could use it."

BAI HOWIN: She works in beast pens all day. Enough said. MC doesn't even need to get close to smell her on some days.

DINAH HECAT: Amazingly. Nothing. Her time as an unspeakable has taught her to be undetectable, even by smell. Old habits die hard.

CUTHBERT BINNS: He doesn't so much give off a scent, as he does a cold chill if MC gets too close.

SATYAVATI SHAH: VERY faint smell of cherry blossom. She's very guarded of her personal space, so MC will have a hard time catching it.

PHINEAS NIGELLUS BLACK: Expensive cologne and hair tonic. He steps away from MC. Ew. Students.

[i-can-not-art]

FOR YEARS MY MACHINATIONS LAY UNDETECTED, HAVING MASTERFULLY TRICKED YOU ALL INTO SUSPECTING NOTHING OF THE SORT

@rogdona @doyoureallyneedme @joofie404

+some stupid bonus doodles:

[moris-auri]

15. loosely holding onto each other’s hands, laying in one’s lap

thank you for this Nat!!! 💕💕

pairing: aemond targaryen x reader (mentions of aemond x helaena)

words: 600+

Sequestered behind the doors of Helaena's bedchamber, she knows without a shadow of a doubt that if someone had suggested this- whatever it was, she'd say that it was the last thing she'd expected.

To have Aemond on one side of her, her husband of hardly a moon's turn, and Helaena on the other feels like a fever dream, though it is one of Helaena's doing this time. 

In all the years she's been at her side, she has never been once able to remember a time where Helaena has been so insistent as she had been towards this arrangement between the three of them. The arrangement that has somehow gone undetected for weeks. 

Both her husband and her goodsister trace and trail eager fingers over every uncovered inch of her flesh, the alternating touches- one calloused and rough and one as soft as a butterfly's wing dragging a slew of pleased sounds from her throat.

It is as intoxicating a feeling as any, one that she never wants to end, and if she were to die tomorrow, she'd do it without a fight, with the mark of them all but seared into the core of her like a brand, she thinks, one arm lifted, her fingertips digging to the back of Aemond's neck. 

Her eyes open when she feels Helaena reach for her, seeking the warmth of her as she wraps her fingers around her wrist, tugging her hand down to twine their fingers together loosely. She grins as Helaena squeezes her hands gently, never one to let an opportunity or a chance like this slip away. Her grin stays on her face as she settles against Aemond, shifting her body to where she is laying half sprawled against him with her back flush against his chest. 

She hears Aemond hum behind her, the low rumbling sound sending vibrations down her spine as he pulls her firmer against him with an arm twined around her waist, the warmth from his body almost suffocatingly hot.

A shiver runs through her a second later at the feel of him brushing her hair over her shoulder, gooseflesh rising when he pressed his lips to her skin, dragging what felt like a path of fire up the side of her neck.

She bites her lip to stifle a whine when he stills, his mouth pausing mere inches from her ear. "Is she not the loveliest thing?" He breathes into her ear as he rests his chin on her shoulder, both of their gazes fixating on Helaena.  

"Like the moon," she says as she nods, unable to tear her gaze away. 

Like the sun. Like the stars. 

Helaena is beautiful in the Targaryen way, that much is true, glowing and ethereal. A vision enshrouded in a loose gown of a purple so pale it was almost white, her silver hair flowing loosely down her back. She cannot not help but stare, gaze drawn to the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms like a moth to a flame. 

"Helaena…" Aemond shifted behind her, crooning his sister's name. He lifted his head from her shoulder, his arm falling away from her waist to extend a hand out to his sister. He did not let go of her fully though, the hand not outstretched finding purchase on her hip.    

Helaena glances up at the sound of her name, blinking once then twice before she smiles, a blinding, radiant thing that lights her face up at the sight of them together.

"You are mine," she says as she presses closer to them, squeezing their fingers, the affection for them burning brightly in her violet eyes. "Mine, the both of you."

[madtotry]

and if i could let it ride i'd take my time and free my mind one. — two. — three. — coming soon.

hiccup haddock x reader

a/n. gn reader. theres one mention that implies reader believes in gods. we're pretending night furys aren't quite as fast as they are in canon/or you can imagine elsa is just somehow even faster if you want. unlike the past chapters, this one ends abruptly because part 4 will be set immediately after this ★ 1.7k

the air tastes like freedom, and with the way elsa pierces through the wind with more enthusiasm than you've seen since last winter, you know she feels that same magic.

depending on where you go, the air is always crisp and biting, but it isn't always new. there's a time of year where something beautiful lays to rest her weary head until next year, leaving way for something magical to rise in her wake. it's the feeling of knowing the snow is fresh and the world is stopping just for a special moment, to say, "look at this, look at me, look at everything i can do." and you thank the gods every year, that you have lived to see another one of these seasons.

your arms whip up to feel the cold air run through your skin as elsa whips through just above the surface of the ocean, playfully dropping a wing to spray water up at you.

you laugh brightly, tilting your head up to gaze at the clouds racing by, and it takes everything in you to not fall and lay down on elsa's back — the idea in theory representing a perfect pastime, but in reality the one thing that could ruin your mood right now would absolutely be taking an unforeseen dip into the freezing sea lest you slip.

your eyes shut for a moment as you just sit like this, balling your hands into fits before thrusting them in the air excitedly and leaning down on your chest to rest your head atop elsa's.

she chirps at you in greeting, and flies a little further up from the sea to spare you from being splashed.

"i feel so alive," you whisper to her, a tradition at this point; ever since the first time the two of you flew through a day just like this, and you'd declared you'd never felt so alive to her. the sentiment still reigns true every year, and elsa always agrees.

on days like these, you're reminded just how fast she can fly and for just how long she never seems to tire — especially if she's close to the sea.

you don't know for sure how long you've been out here, but you near the island you've met hiccup halfway on in the past up ahead, and feel the same sensation you do when anticipating a new season as you approach it.

"what do you think?" you mutter to your dragon, and she's already dipping to graze the cold water of the ocean to fly just above the surface, circling the island.

the season is absolutely — at the very least partially — to blame for your boldness in going as far as to seek out someone you are usually terrified of looking your way. the world feels safer at times like these, and you almost feel as though you can be yourself, as though you could act like a normal friend.

elsa makes it halfway around the island before you spot hiccup and toothless flying past it, and you find yourself overcome with the urge to yell out jovially to get their attention.

however you bite your tongue, already seeing elsa's own bold plan of sneaking up on them unfolding, and you find you like her idea much more — it feels more like you.

"shhh," you playfully whisper to your already deadly silent dragon, as she glides just far enough behind and below them that she's gone completely undetected.

you have to hold a hand to your mouth to contain a giggle as she slowly rises; still completely unseen.

they finally notice you at the exact same time, both with an identical whip of their heads to your direction.

your hand falls back to hold onto elsa and the other raises to wave, leaving your wide grin on show as hiccup's brief distress at a possible threat becomes his own bright smile.

"you!" he exclaims, like he wants to say a proper greeting but the pleasant surprise caught him off-guard.

"me!" you reply so easily, talking freely having never felt so natural.

"i didn't think you'd be here," he says.

you shrug happily, "i'm always here," referring more to being in the sky this time of year than just the small island.

beneath you, elsa and toothless seem to have been staring at each other this whole time, not in any aggression, but you see toothless's eyes and recognise the glint of competition in them from elsa's own.

hiccup picks up on this a moment later after quietly asking his dragon, "what's going on, bud?" and spares a glance to see you almost smirking with both hands securing themselves on elsa.

in the blink of an eye, the unspoken race begins, and elsa is surging forward and swiftly surpassing toothless, dipping almost imperceptibly closer to the surface of the ocean, knowing she's even faster the closer she gets.

your hearing is enveloped by the strong wind racing past, but a quick cheer from hiccup breaks through the noise as toothless flies past you, now ahead of elsa by a significant distance.

this doesn't discourage her though, and if anything it draws your dragon to grow even more determined, flapping her wings with a vibrating strength followed by bringing them close to her body. you lean down as flat against her as you can, holding on tight as her now tearing through the air like an arrow makes you feel like you could be flung off at a single wrong move.

(you'd laugh at the memory if the wind in your face wouldn't whip your breath away, knowing full well you have been hurled off her back after not being fully prepare for just this.)

she reaches toothless, and flies just a bit further past him when she unfurls her wings to do the heavy lifting once more.

your eye catches hiccup's own mirthful ones and you can tell it's only a matter of time before he pulls a trick out of his sleeve to get ahead again.

you have to crane your head slightly to get a good look at them as elsa gains a lead, and frown when you notice them slowing down ever so slightly as hiccup's hand runs down the back of toothless's neck.

"they're up to something," you whisper to elsa as you try to keep a watchful eye on your competition, but it gets caught in the breeze when the night fury that was just trailing behind, now has caught up to you. he growls proudly, not-so-subtly showing off his new "v" shaped flaps that run from his neck to his tail.

hiccup seems proud too, especially when the two suddenly dip out of your view. you whip your head up and down, left and right, trying to spot where they disappeared to — gasping when toothless appears on your other side swiftly, and hiccup winks.

your mind stutters for a moment, not even realising the two have flown ahead of you again, and instead suddenly acutely aware of the freezing tip of your nose being drowned out by the growing warmth across your cheeks.

elsa, however, grumbles at your disracted demeanour, and speeds up as much as she possibly can, before making a warning 'yelping' sound to you, telling you to prepare for what she's about to do.

her sudden plunge breaks you out of your stupor, and as soon as her downward motion ceases, you sit up straight — this being something you've rarely seen in action and have grown confident in, but all the well familiar with the consequences if you don't raise yourself as far up from the sea as possible.

you know elsa has hit the water from the way her body grows colder, like ice, and you quickly feel the rest of her body submerge with your feet all the way up to where your knees dangle by her sides.

the water rushing past you nearly reaching your hips is heavier than the air above, and you know for yourself it would feel like trying to fly through honey, but for elsa, the water surrounding her only serves to fuel her.

even as the freezing water engulfs the lower half of your body, you reach a hand out to graze the surface. flicking the water with your cold fingertips, you imagine it absorbing into your skin with an ethereal glow, wondering how it feels for elsa to have something so simple yet so powerful coursing through her — funnily enough — like a fire.

toothless is still ahead of elsa, but she's now hot on his tail with her built up speed, and you're regaining focus from the coldness sinking away from your body, holding on tight in preparation for the light show elsa will embodying and soon zoom by her competition.

you find, as elsa rises, that your mind had been just as enveloped as hers in the water — for the moment your feet hang back out in the open air and the water is already dried off your hand, you can suddenly feel hiccup's gaze on the two of you, a heat you'd have quickly and self consciously noticed in any other situation.

you can't find it in yourself to look away from him now, and you can't stop examining his every facial expression — the wonder in his eyes, his surprised smile, and the way you swear it grows when he notices you're looking at him again — as elsa reaches the same height as toothless again; bringing the two of you face-to-face

you can tell the way his eyes are lit up he's curious about every intricate details of what elsa is capable of, his mind reeling at the sight of something he's never even imagined before. it's like he's been shown the stars for the first time, like the constellations are forming before his eyes, and you don't miss the way his eyes flickering from your dragon to you with warm cheeks impacts your heartbeat.

it only lasts a moment though, because the second elsa is side-by-side with toothless once more, you're holding on tight and she's soaring past in a blur.

the world around you feels secondary to the floating feeling of moving this fast, and your eyes shut protectively in face of the air pinching at your skin — but the smile on your face is unstoppable, as elsa's speed leads the two of you to a well deserved win.

[ttrpgbrackets]

Propaganda under the cut

Whale Ate My Parents:

When you kill a whale, roll +WHALES KILLED. On a 12+, you find your parents, shaken but alive, inside the whale; replace this move with another.

On a 10+, you find one parent, shaken but alive, inside the whale; replace this move with another. On a 7-9, heal all harm. On a 6-, weep into the sea and take 1 to your next roll.

What makes it cool?

Patchwork World is full of these hyper specific moves, but none of them ask the player to do something as specific as "Roll +WHALES KILLED".

Reveal Machinations:

You reveal that you played a minor but recurring role in another humanoid’s life—or at least convince them that’s the case. Attempt a Deception check against the target’s Will DC. On a success, the revelation makes them frightened 2, and on a critical success they are frightened 3. In addition, you gain information about the subject as though you had attempted to Recall Knowledge about them using an appropriate skill and received the same result on your roll. You can’t use this ability against the same humanoid again until 1 day has passed and you’ve also successfully disguised yourself as a different person.

Special - At the GM’s discretion, this feat can be used against non-humanoids if they have regular contact with humanoids or you are able to disguise yourself as a member of the target’s ancestry or type of creature.

What makes it cool?

A capstone feat for your lying, scheming character allows you to reveal that your machinations lay undetected for years and it's been Agatha all along. Terrify your opponents by revealing that everything that has transpired has done so according to your design. Dress up as someone else and do it again tomorrow. Dress up as a slime and persuade the slime that you've been manipulating it for its whole slime life. After having this feat, any game that won't enable my deceptive PC to live her Lysanderoth fantasy is a let down.

[reasonsforhope]

"Five people have gone into remission thanks to advancements in medicine — and a sixth patient may also now be free of HIV.

One of the biggest breakthroughs in HIV/AIDS prevention in recent years is the widespread use of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). 

This drug therapy, approved by the Federal Drug Administration in 2012, has been a key player in preventing HIV transmission through sex or injection drug use. Antiretroviral drugs, such as PrEP, also slow the replication of the virus and prevent it from progressing to AIDS.

Although PrEP has become a more accessible treatment for the virus, scientists have been hurriedly working towards cures for HIV for decades — and we’re finally seeing some results.

In February of this year, scientists in Germany confirmed a fifth-ever patient had been cured of HIV after receiving stem cell transplants that include genetic mutations that carry a resistance to HIV. 

But it looks like a sixth patient may soon be able to join this very exclusive club. 

The man, referred to as the “Geneva patient,” underwent a stem cell transplant after cancer treatment, though these cells did not include the HIV-resistant genetic mutation. 

Still, he went off antiretroviral therapy for HIV in November 2021, and his viral load remains undetectable. 

Instead, doctors are researching whether a drug called ruxolitinib may be partially responsible for his recovery. 

Ruxolitinib decreases inflammation associated with HIV by blocking two proteins, JAK1 and JAK2. This helps kill off “reservoir cells” that lay dormant in the body and have a potential to cause rebounds in patients with HIV.

Experts say the AIDS crisis can end by 2030 across the globe — as long as leaders prioritize this goal. 

A new report from UNAIDS shows a clear, optimistic path to ending the AIDS crisis. (This looks like a 90% reduction in cases by 2030.)

The organization’s report includes data and case studies that show that ending AIDS is a political and financial choice — and that governments that have prioritized a path towards progress are seeing extraordinary results.

By following the data, science, and evidence; tackling inequality; and ensuring sufficient and sustainable funding across communities, the global community could wipe out the AIDS pandemic by the end of the decade.

The report demonstrates that progress has been strongest in the countries and regions that have the most financial investments, like eastern and southern Africa, where new HIV infections have been reduced by 57% since 2010. 

Investments in treatments, education, and access to care have also led to a 58% reduction in new HIV infections among children from 2010 to 2022 — the lowest number since the 1980’s.

Plus, the number of people on antiretroviral treatment around the globe has risen from 7.7 million in 2010 to 29.8 million in 2022.

The moral of the story? This goal can be achieved, if world leaders put their minds — and wallets — to it. 

A region in Australia might be the first place in the world to reach the United Nations targets for ending HIV transmission. 

Researchers believe that the central district of Sydney, Australia is close to becoming the first locality in the world to reach the UN’s target for ending transmission of HIV. 

Specifically, new infections among gay men have fallen by 88% between 2010 and 2022. In fact, there were only 11 new HIV cases recorded in central Sydney last year, and almost all HIV-positive Australians are on antiretroviral drugs. 

... "These numbers show us that virtual elimination of HIV transmissions is possible. Now, we need to look closely at what has worked in Sydney, and adapt it for other cities and regions across Australia.”

Namibia is ahead of schedule in UN targets to end HIV/AIDS. 

Although the virus is still the leading cause of death in Namibia, the country is well on track to hit 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets before its 2030 deadline. 

In Namibia, 92% of people know their HIV status, 99% of people living with HIV are on treatment, and 94% of people living with HIV who are on treatment are virally suppressed.

In addition to these exciting statistics, new infections have plummeted. The estimated rate of new HIV infections in Namibia is five times lower than it was in 2002, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

These encouraging numbers are thanks to the investment and strategic response of PEPFAR, but also to the willingness of local governmental agencies and organizations to adhere to the UN’s Fast-Track approach.

Breakthroughs are being made in HIV vaccine therapies.

Long before we were all asking each other “Pfizer or Moderna?” about our COVID-19 vaccines, scientists have been researching the potential of mRNA vaccines in treating some of the world’s deadliest diseases — like HIV.

And with the success of our mainstream mRNA vaccines, an HIV inoculation remains a goal for researchers across the globe.

Last year, the National Institutes of Health launched a clinical trial of three mRNA vaccines for HIV, and similar studies are being conducted in Rwanda and South Africa, as well. 

CAR T-cell clinical trials are underway to potentially cure HIV.

This spring, UC Davis Health researchers have dosed the second participant in their clinical trial, which poses the use of CAR T-cell therapy as a potential cure for HIV.

The study involves taking a participant’s own white blood cells (called T-cells), and modifying them so they can identify and target HIV cells, ultimately controlling the virus without medication. 

The first participant in the study was dosed with anti-HIV T-cells last August, and the trial is the first of its kind to utilize this technology to potentially treat HIV. 

Of course, the trials have a long way to go, and the lab is still preparing to dose a third participant for the study, but CAR T-cell treatments have been successful for lupus and forms of cancer in the past...

“So far, there have been no adverse events observed that were related to the treatment, and the two participants are doing fine.”

Guidance on how to reduce stigma and discrimination due to HIV/AIDS is reaching people around the globe.

While the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS has significantly decreased — especially towards the LGBTQ+ community — with advancements in treatment and prevention, discrimination is certainly not gone. 

While most people now understand HIV/AIDS better than they did decades ago, those most impacted by the virus (like gay men and low-income women and children) still face ongoing barriers to care and economic security. 

It is vital to maintain awareness and education interventions. 

After all, experts suggest that eliminating discrimination and stigma are key factors in reducing disease.  And not eliminating stigma impedes HIV services, argues UNAIDS, “limiting access to and acceptance of prevention services, engagement in care, and adherence to antiretroviral therapy.” 

Luckily, UNAIDS provides guidance on how to reduce stigma and discrimination in the community, workplace, education, health care, justice, and emergency settings. 

The goal is to, of course, decrease stigma in order to decrease disease, but also to provide folks with the culturally significant support they need to live safe, integrated lives — with or without disease. 

For instance, a 2022 study conducted in Northern Uganda showed that local cultural knowledge passed through Elders was a successful intervention in reducing HIV-related stigma among young people.

“Research in school settings has shown that the use of local cultural stories, songs, myths, riddles, and proverbs increases resilient coping responses among students and strengthens positive and socially accepted morals and values,” the study’s discussion reads. 

So, while an uptick in acceptance gives us hope, it also gives us a directive: Keep telling the accurate, full, and human stories behind HIV/AIDS, and we’ll all be better for it. "

-via GoodGoodGood, August 3, 2023

[xxspringmelodyxx]

Masked Affections~

What happens when you are the villain in this case, rather than the hero?

Possibly various JJK men x F!Reader (Part I)

P.S, sorry if this sucks. It’s 2 am right now, but I couldn’t sleep. Anyways I hope you still enjoy my lovelies! <3

Warnings: Violent themes, a bit of character change in terms of the Itadori family, but you’ll see why.

Draping the mask over my face to conceal my features, I cautiously navigated the bustling streets under the radiant sun. Amidst the throng of people, from young children to the elderly, I sought refuge in the shadows, endeavoring to blend into the background seamlessly. With practiced stealth, my hand slipped into my pocket, retrieving my phone with a swift motion. Hastily unlocking the device, I scrutinized the image of my next target, committing his facial details to memory. During my scavenge, a voice crackled to life in my earpiece, “He should be to your left, about 30 feet away.”

Following the instructions, I diverted my gaze from the picture, scanning the vicinity for my target. Sure enough, there he stood, clad entirely in black, engaged in conversation on his phone. It appeared as though he awaited transportation, unsuspecting of the impending encounter.

As you observe your target, a sense of anticipation fills the air. With each passing moment, the weight of your mission hangs heavy on your shoulders. Despite the hustle and bustle of the crowded streets, you remain focused, your senses sharp and your determination unwavering.

With the guidance of the voice in your earpiece, you track your target's movements with precision, ensuring that every step you take brings you closer to your objective. As you inch closer, your heart pounds in your chest, the adrenaline coursing through your veins heightening your senses.

With a quick glance around to ensure that you remain undetected, you take a deep breath and steel yourself for what comes next. Whether it's a quick and clean extraction or a more elaborate plan, you know that success hinges on your ability to remain calm and collected in the face of danger.

As you prepared to make your move, a surge of confidence welled up within you. Years of training and countless missions had honed your skills, and you felt prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead. Yet, you knew that acting impulsively now would jeopardize everything you had worked for. You needed to bide your time, find the perfect opportunity to strike when the odds were in your favor.

Glancing once more at the target's phone, inspiration struck like a bolt of lightning. An idea formed in your mind, a plan taking shape with each passing second. This wasn't just about taking him out; it was about doing so with precision and finesse, ensuring that no one would suspect your involvement. With determination fueling your actions, you set the plan into motion, ready to outmaneuver your adversary and emerge victorious.

"You need to act now, sis. Otherwise, he'll slip through our fingers, and we'll lose our chance to put an end to this. Do you really want to come back to father and face his wrath because of our failure to execute this mission?" Kai's voice conveyed a sense of urgency and apprehension as he emphasized the consequences of inaction.

"No, Kai. If I make a move now, it'll attract too much attention," I replied, my voice low but determined. "We need to be strategic about this." I spoke, listening into his conversation on his phone.

"Listen, I need you to tap into his phone and find out everything you can," I instructed urgently, my tone serious. "We need to know who he's talking to, what his next move is, everything. Maybe we can find a way to get him alone."

"Got it," Kai replied confidently. "I'll do my best to get the information as quickly as possible."

As he went to work, I waited in the shadows, my heart pounding with anticipation. Every second felt like an eternity as I held my breath, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. The weight of the mission hung heavily on my shoulders, and I couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

"Okay, he’s talking with another man on the line," Kai's voice crackled in my earpiece. "Says something about a car about a mile away is coming to pick him up. I really think you should get this done and over with before that car comes.”

"Kai, just stick to your expertise, and I'll stick to mine. Trust me, I've got this," I murmured, my voice barely audible amidst the bustling street.

"Do you think you can hijack the car's GPS? I need you to reroute it," I urged, a hint of urgency seeping into my tone.

"Don't worry, sis. I've got this covered. It's a piece of cake. Where should I send the car?" Kai reassured, his confidence unwavering as he delved into the task.

"Direct it to Avengard Avenue. I'll be waiting there," I instructed, my focus sharpening with each passing second.

"Got it. Sending the car to Avengard Avenue now," Kai confirmed, his fingers flying across the keyboard with precision.

"Thanks, Kai. I'll be in touch if anything comes up," I said, a sense of determination driving me forward as I prepared to execute the plan.

As I deactivated my earpiece, I swiftly slipped away from the bustling crowd, blending into the shadows as I navigated towards the designated location. Fortunately, my familiarity with the area allowed me to arrive within minutes, weaving through dimly lit streets and desolate alleyways.

——

The atmosphere was starkly different from the vibrant hustle and bustle of the previous location. Here, silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the occasional sound of distant traffic. The eerie emptiness sent shivers down my spine as I scanned the surroundings, anticipation building with each passing moment.

I paced the deserted streets, my senses on high alert, every passing second feeling like an eternity as I awaited the arrival of the car.

"Hey there, sweetheart. What brings a lovely lady like you to this desolate corner?" An older man's raspy voice sliced through the eerie silence. I glanced in his direction, noting his disheveled appearance—tattered clothes, unkempt beard, and a myriad of scars present on his weathered face. With a dismissive roll of my eyes, I continued on my path, paying him no heed, my focus unwavering.

”Hey, come on~ I won’t bite…Well not yet at least.” He said, following me. I stopped in my tracks, turning towards him with a deadly glare.

”Listen, I don’t have time for whatever this is. So I’m gonna let you go with a warning. Now back off.” I said, going back to scanning the area for any sign of the approaching car. Suddenly, I felt a strong grip enclose around my arm, pulling me forcefully towards him.

“You fucking brat! I should teach you a lesson about how to talk to adults! Maybe then you will show me some respect!” The man spoke through his teeth.

Reacting swiftly, I lashed out with a swift strike to his jaw, the impact resounding with a sickening crack. He recoiled in agony, clutching his injured jaw as blood seeped from the wound.

”You bitch! I’ll make you pay for that!” He yelled, running after you.

I rolled my eyes as I watched him run towards me. Poor fool. With a calculated inhale, I lowered my mask, revealing a smirk of disdain for the man before me. Just as he closed in, I opened my mouth and unleashed a piercing scream that reverberated through the air, its forceful shockwave propelling him backwards with a violent force. The sheer power of my voice seemed to distort the very fabric of reality, sending ripples through the surrounding environment and causing debris to scatter like leaves in a storm. The sound of my own voice drowned out his screams of agony as he collided with the wall, his body trembling under the onslaught of sound waves. I observed his futile struggle, a silent witness to the havoc I had wrought. As the crumbling building echoed the turmoil within, I silenced my voice and concealed my identity once more, leaving the scene with a sense of grim resolve. Approaching the man with an unwavering gaze, I watched as fear consumed him, driving him further into the confines of his own demise.

”P-Please! I won’t bother you anymore! Just please have mercy on me! Please!” He cried out. His plea for mercy fell on deaf ears, drowned out by the chaos he had invited upon himself. Despite his cries, I remained unmoved, my smirk a cold reflection of his desperation.

“Oh how I love it when they beg~” I said, grabbing my knife and quickly slitting his throat without him noticing.

The suddenness of his demise left him stunned, his eyes widening in disbelief as the sharp blade swiftly ended his life. His final moments were marked by a realization of the inevitability of his fate, tears mingling with the blood that stained his face. As his head rolled to the ground, a single tear mirrored his silent plea for mercy, a fleeting acknowledgment of the end.

“Waste of time.” You mumbled, quickly kicking his head.

As the car approached, its looming presence interrupted the eerie silence of the desolate area. You quickly retreated into the shadows, your senses alert as you observed the unfolding scene. The driver emerged from the vehicle, his gruff voice slicing through the quietude as he impatiently dialed a number, his urgency palpable in the air.

His voice was tinged with impatience and frustration as he barked into his phone, "Hey, I am here. Where are you? We need to make this quick." My gaze narrowed at the tall figure, dressed entirely in black, his slicked-back hair reeking of an overpowering scent that seemed to permeate the air. "What do you mean you don’t see me? There’s no one else here!" he yelled into the phone, his agitation evident in every word.

Seizing the moment, I stealthily approached the car, swiftly closing the distance between us. With practiced precision, I pressed the cold steel of my knife against the man's throat, sensing his body stiffen with alarm..

”Shhh…I promise this will be quick. Don’t make it harder than it needs to be," I whispered softly, my voice barely audible over the ambient noise.

“What the hell-“

Before he could finish his statement, I slit his throat, hearing his voice go out.

I then retrieved his phone, quickly slipping it into my pocket. Opening the driver's door, I slipped into the seat, starting the car with a sense of urgency. With a screech of tires, I sped away from the scene, leaving faint marks on the ground where the car had been parked. Reconnecting my earpiece, I called out to my brother.

”I'm in the car now. All that's left is to deal with the man," I stated firmly.

"Just make it quick. Father is growing impatient," my brother urged.

"Tell him it will be over as soon as I handle this," I replied with exasperation.

"I can’t say that. You know how he gets," he countered, his frustration mirroring mine.

I sighed heavily, feeling the weight of the situation.

"I know, I know. Just give me 10 minutes. That's all I ask," I pleaded, before swiftly shutting off my earpiece.

—

I pulled up to the man, the car door swinging open as he sank into the plush leather seat with an exasperated sigh. His impatience was palpable, and his words dripped with veiled threats.

"Took you long enough. You’re lucky I even pay you after that. Next time, if you are late again, I’ll have you replaced just like that," he growled, snapping his fingers with an air of menace.

"Oh, don’t worry…I’ll make sure it never happens again," I responded coolly, watching a flicker of confusion dance across his features. His eyebrows furrowed, betraying his suspicion as he detected the subtle shift in my tone and demeanor.

But beneath the surface, a storm brewed within me. This man, so accustomed to wielding power and instilling fear, had no idea of the intricate web I had woven around him. He was a pawn in a game much larger than he could fathom, and soon, he would come to realize the gravity of his mistakes.

“What happened to your voice?" The man's puzzled tone sliced through the tension-filled air.

With a calculated calmness, I offered my explanation. "Oh, I switched with the other driver. Seems he had to make a hasty exit, leaving me to take over and ensure you didn't miss your ride," I explained, though I could sense his skepticism lingering beneath his furrowed brows. Despite his doubt, a smirk danced across my features as I steered the car towards an abandoned area, knowing the revelation would soon unfold.

"Uh…where are you taking me?" His voice trembled with uncertainty as he cautiously reached for his concealed weapon.

I glanced at him through the rearview mirror, my expression concealed behind the mask. "Just a little detour," I replied, my tone laced with a hint of amusement.

As the car came to a halt, the man's eyes widened, scanning the rundown buildings that loomed before us. His fingers tightened around the grip of his gun, his knuckles turning white with tension.

With a calculated calmness, I turned off the ignition and shifted my gaze back to him. "Relax," I said, my voice low but steady. "We're just going to have a little chat."

With a clenched jaw, I peered into the rearview mirror, my gaze reflecting the rage burning within me. The man’s cavalier attitude toward the consequences of his actions only fueled my determination. Memories of the anguish my family endured at his hands surged to the forefront of my mind, stoking the flames of vengeance that consumed me.

As you contemplate your father's influence and control over your life and the life of your brother, a chilling reminder begins to dawn on you. His actions, his demands—they all stem from a place of deep-seated resentment and thirst for revenge.

You remember the bitterness in his voice whenever he spoke of past grievances, real or imagined. Itashi Kokomi, your father, the man Mr. Takeda fired without a second thought, was just one among many casualties in his quest for retribution.

“Mr. Takeda,” I began, my voice icy and controlled. “Do you remember a man that went by the name of Itashi Kokomi?”

The man in the passenger seat looks at the back of your head with concern, sensing the gravity of your inquiry. "The name rings a bell. Why?" he responds cautiously.

My grip tightened on the steering wheel as I delved deeper into the interrogation, each word laden with the weight of years of suffering. “Do you remember the day you fired him?” I prodded, my voice tinged with barely contained fury.

His response was callous, devoid of remorse or compassion. “Of course! I did what I needed to. He was a waste of my time. Always messing my plans up and losing my business money,” he grumbled bitterly, his resentment evident.

I fought to maintain my composure, my mind racing with thoughts of retribution.

But your next question stops him short. "Did you know that he has kids?" you ask, your voice steady despite the turmoil raging within you.

The man’s indifference cut through me like a knife, his words dripping with disdain. "Well, he mentioned them. But I never thought much of it. If he was worried about his kids, his family, he should’ve worked harder. He should’ve made himself worthy," the man says.

As you pose the question, a somber note creeps into your voice, weighted by the gravity of the revelation.

"Mr. Takeda, did you also know that he had a wife, the mother of his children… who also happened to be sick?" you inquire, your words laden with a mixture of sorrow and accusation.

The man's expression shifts, his features contorting with a flicker of recognition. "I... I had no idea," he stammers, caught off guard by the unexpected turn in the conversation.

But you press on, your determination unyielding. "She was battling a serious illness, one that required costly treatments and round-the-clock care," you continue, your voice trembling slightly with suppressed emotion.

"And yet, despite the immense burden she carried, he was forced to endure the added weight of unemployment and destitution, all because of a decision made by you," you add, your gaze locking onto his with unwavering intensity.

For a moment, silence hangs heavy in the air, punctuated only by the distant hum of passing traffic. In that brief pause, the weight of your words lingers, casting a pall over the shared space of the car.

"Days went by and turned into weeks," you continue, your voice heavy with sorrow as the weight of those lost moments presses down on you like a suffocating blanket. "Those weeks turned into months. Day by day, she got worse and worse until eventually..."

Your words catch in your throat, the raw anguish of that painful memory threatening to choke you. The image of her fading away before your eyes, her once vibrant spirit slowly extinguished by the relentless march of time, sears itself into your mind like a brand.

"...until eventually, she passed away," you finally manage to utter, each syllable a dagger twisting in your heart as you relive the agony of that moment all over again. "And all because we couldn’t afford it anymore," you seethe, your gaze boring into Mr. Takeda with unbridled contempt.

"Itashi didn’t take it too well, either," you continue, your voice tinged with sorrow as you recount the tragic transformation that befell your once kind-hearted father. "After her passing, he changed into someone I didn’t know. He was no longer the kind and sweet man I once looked up to…no. He changed and turned into someone vile and full of hatred."

The memories flood back with painful clarity, each recollection a jagged shard of broken glass cutting into your soul. You remember the way your fathers laughter had once filled the room, his eyes alight with warmth and compassion. But now, all you can see is the cold, steely glint in his gaze, the bitterness and resentment etched into every line of his face.

"He blamed you for everything," you continue, your voice trembling with the weight of your emotions. "He couldn't bear the thought of her suffering, of losing her because we couldn't afford her treatment anymore. And even after all that, he began to turn his anger on us, on me and my brother, as if we were somehow responsible for his own misfortunes."

The silence that follows your revelation is deafening, each passing moment filled with the weight of unspoken truths and shattered illusions. You can feel the tension thickening the air, wrapping around you like a suffocating blanket, as the implications of your words hang between you and your companions like a heavy fog.

“Do you know what he would do to us?” I whispered, my voice slowly breaking.

“Us?” Mr. Takeda interjected, his tone laced with concern as he began to connect the dots.

“He took me and my brother…and he tortured us for days on end. He was so angry…with you…yet he took it out on us…” I said, my voice softening up as memories of my brother and I replayed in my head. The pain of those days still felt fresh, like an open wound that refused to heal..

The man remained silent for a bit, seemingly processing everything that was unfolding. With a grunt, he began to speak, his words tinged with defiance.

“Seems that it is your father's fault, kid… Now, I don’t know who you think you are… but you're making a big mistake… messing with me. I could have you killed if I wanted.” His hand darted for his gun, and in one swift motion, he brandished it, aiming directly at my head and cocking the gun with a chilling click..

I glared at him through the rear view mirror. As the tension in the air thickened, I held my ground, still meeting his gaze with steely determination.

“Go ahead, pull the trigger,” I challenged, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins. “But know this, Mr. Takeda, my father's wrath will find you, whether I'm here or not. You can't escape the consequences of your actions forever.”

Mr. Takeda's grip tightened on the gun, his eyes narrowing in uncertainty. Minutes passed like hours as we stared each other down, the weight of our words hanging heavy in the air.

“I’m gonna give you the count of three to get the hell out of this car.”

I smiled, chuckling to myself, undoing my seatbelt.

”One….two…” He started, placing his hand on the trigger.

”Three.” I interrupted. With practiced precision, I ducked just as Mr. Takeda's shot rang out, the bullet whizzing past my ear and shattering the car window behind me. Seizing the moment, I lunged forward, grabbing hold of his outstretched arm and twisting it behind his back with all my strength.

Mr. Takeda howled in pain as I pinned him against the seat, his gun clattering to the floor. Ignoring his struggles, I focused on immobilizing him, using my body weight to keep him pinned down. With his free hand, he attempted to reach for his fallen weapon, but I was too quick for him.

In one swift motion, I snaked my arm around his neck, applying pressure to his windpipe and cutting off his air supply. His movements grew frantic as he gasped for breath, his face turning red with exertion.

"Let's not make this any more difficult than it has to be," I whispered, my voice cold and menacing. "Cooperate, and you might just live to see another day."

But Mr. Takeda was beyond reason, his desperation fueling his defiance. With a sudden burst of strength, he attempted to throw me off, but I held firm, refusing to yield an inch.

It was clear that he would not go down without a fight, and neither would I.

"If you wanna kill me, just do it already," he challenged, his voice tinged with defiance.

I paused, locking eyes with him for a moment before a sly grin spread across my lips. "Oh, I'm not going to kill you… well, not yet at least," I remarked cryptically, relishing in the uncertainty that flickered across his features.

Before he could muster a response, I swiftly delivered a powerful blow, rendering him unconscious in an instant. With practiced efficiency, I secured him in place, ensuring he posed no further threat.

As I settled back into the driver's seat, a nagging thought tugged at the corners of my mind. "Father still wants to have a word with you," I mused aloud, more to myself than to the unconscious man beside me. I started the car up once more and began to drive.

With the task at hand completed, I reported calmly through the earpiece, "It’s done. I’m bringing him back now," my voice betraying none of the adrenaline coursing through my veins.”

"Good. I'll notify father right away. Be careful now. You’re still messing with a powerful man, and it won’t be long until his minions figure out something is wrong. I’ll be sure to turn off any cameras you come in contact with to ensure no one finds out it was you," Kai warned through the earpiece.

I hummed in acknowledgment, expressing my gratitude before swiftly turning off the device. With caution as my ally, I navigated the streets, keenly aware of the potential dangers lurking in the shadows. Slowly but surely, I made my way back to our hideout, my senses attuned to any signs of pursuit or suspicion..

—-

“Did you get any leads yet on who caused these deaths?" Satoru asked, his gaze fixed on the lifeless bodies before him. The gruesome sight of their decapitated heads left an unsettling feeling in the air.

"Not yet. We tried investigating, but this part of town is completely rundown. There are no functioning cameras or witnesses," Kento replied, his eyes scanning the scene for any clues.

"You think it's another curse?" Satoru inquired, his mind racing with possibilities.

"It's unclear. There's a high chance it could be, but there's also the possibility of a cursed user being involved," Nanami explained, weighing the probabilities carefully.

Satoru's phone buzzed with an alert from Yuuji and Nobara, drawing his immediate attention. Curious, he quickly checked the message, his expression shifting as he read it. Satoru chuckled at the lighthearted message from them, relieved that it wasn't a dire situation. He replied with an enthusiastic confirmation, urging them to pick a place they all liked. With a smile, he tucked his phone away, glad for the brief respite from the usual chaos of cursed spirits and investigations.

"Well...keep me updated. I gotta go" Satoru declared, rising to his feet with a sense of urgency.

Satoru's sudden departure left Nanami somewhat perplexed, his gaze following his colleague as he strode away with an air of nonchalance. "You mean you're just going to leave?" Nanami queried, a hint of incredulity coloring his tone.

Satoru glanced back with a grin, his eyes alight with mischief. "Of course! Yuuji and Nobara are practically begging for sushi, and I can't say no to them. Plus, I just promised them I'd drag Megumi along too," he explained, his words trailing off as he continued on his way.

Left alone amidst the somber scene, Nanami sighed softly, his thoughts momentarily drifting to the camaraderie shared among their team. Despite the gravity of their work, there were moments of levity and connection that reminded them of the importance of friendship and solidarity in the face of darkness. With a shake of his head, Nanami refocused his attention on the task at hand, silently vowing to continue their investigation with diligence and determination.

”You’ve gotta be kidding me.” Nanami thought as he watched the white haired man walk away.

——

As Satoru strode away, his earlier grin fading, a furrow formed on his brow, betraying the weight of his thoughts. The gravity of the situation settled upon him like a heavy cloak, prompting a flurry of calculations and considerations in his mind. Whoever or whatever was behind this knew their craft well, leaving behind a trail of enigma and intrigue that seemed to defy easy resolution.

Gears turned in his head as he mulled over the intricacies of the case, each possibility and permutation scrutinized with a keen eye for detail. It was clear that unraveling this mystery would require more than just brute force; it would demand a blend of intuition, strategy, and perhaps a touch of luck.

With a determined nod, Satoru pressed on, his resolve unyielding despite the daunting task ahead. Though the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty, he remained steadfast in his pursuit of justice and truth.

—-

The man’s cries echoed through the dimly lit room, mingling with the twisted laughter of your father, whose eyes gleamed with madness as he reveled in the torment he inflicted. “You ruined my life! You ruined my kids’ life! You took everything from me!” the man shrieked, his anguish punctuating the air like a jagged dagger.

Standing beside Kai, you remained outwardly composed, though beneath the facade, turmoil churned within you. You exchanged a glance with Kai, sensing his fear, and offered him a reassuring squeeze of the hand. “It’s going to be okay. Soon, we will all be one happy family again…”

The words slipped from your lips like a rehearsed script, honed through years of manipulation and coercion. Deep down, you knew they were lies, yet they served their purpose in placating Kai's mounting apprehension.

Your own doubts were buried beneath layers of conditioning, the remnants of a childhood spent under your father's malevolent influence. With each passing day, his tendrils of control tightened around your mind, weaving a web of deceit and manipulation.

As you exchanged that fleeting glance with Kai, you saw the reflection of your own fears mirrored in his eyes. The facade of composure you both wore masked a maelstrom of emotions—fear, doubt, and a gnawing sense of dread that threatened to consume you whole.

But outwardly, you maintained the illusion of unity and obedience, for that was the only currency accepted in your father's twisted world.

Your father's voice cut through the eerie silence, his words dripping with malice as he outlined your next mission—an assignment that would test the limits of your loyalty and resolve. "Children, I have one final task for you, one that will cement our supremacy once and for all."

As he spoke, the name "Itadori" hung heavy in the air, a bitter reminder of past betrayals and unhealed wounds. The Itadori family, once trusted allies turned bitter enemies, had incurred your father's wrath through an act of treachery that had shattered any semblance of trust between them.

With a steely resolve, your father outlined the specifics of the mission, his words resonating with a sense of grim determination. "You are to target the last remaining member of the Itadori family—Yuuji Itadori. He is our greatest adversary, the thorn in our side that must be removed at all costs. I’ve done some research on the kid and it turns out, he is working to be a jujutsu sorcerer…just like his grandfather…” Your father continued, bitterness seeping out. The rift between your family and the Itadoris traced back to a dark chapter in the past, one marked by betrayal and stolen affections. It all began with Yuuji's grandfather, a strong jujutsu sorcerer. A man whose charming facade masked a treacherous heart.

Decades ago, he ensnared your father's mother in a web of deceit and desire, luring her away from her rightful place beside your father's father, or in other words, your grandfather. The illicit affair shattered the fragile bonds of trust between the two families, igniting a feud that would span generations.

The repercussions were devastating. Your father's family was torn asunder by the scandal, their once-united front fractured by the betrayal of a loved one. As the years passed, bitterness festered in the hearts of your family, fueling a desire for vengeance that lingered like a poison in the family's bloodline.

“So it’s most likely he is being protected by some of the best sorcerers out there as of right now…so, as I said before, this will be a tough mission. But I know you kids will do good just for your father, correct?” He asked, making your brother tense up.

”I-I don’t know father. Shouldn’t we just leave all that drama in the past and let the boy live? He had nothing to do with-“

”Silence!” The father yelled at your brother, using his cursed energy on him. Kai bent down in pain as your father messed with his mind.

”Father please, that is enough! We will do what you wish, just please stop hurting him!” You begged, getting on your knees.

He looked down at you and scoffed, putting his torturing methods on your brother to an end.

”Good. Now that that is out of the way, I believe you two have something to do? Now get to it. Remember what happens if you two fail. And trust me, I will not be as merciful as I have been in the past.” He said, walking back to Mr. Takeda and continuing his torture methods on him instead.

You ran up to your brother and helped him, trying to soothe his mind.

Now, tasked with avenging the sins of the past, you stood at the precipice of a new chapter in the age-old conflict. The weight of history bore down upon your shoulders as you prepared to confront the last remaining scion of the Itadori line, knowing that the ghosts of the past loomed large over the path ahead. You would do whatever it takes to stop this all. To make everything normal once again. And if that meant getting rid of Yuuji Itadori, then so be it.

”Yuuji Itadori, enjoy the next upcoming days…for one of them may just be your last…”

________________

taglist??

[queenshelby]

Our Little Secret (Part Nine)

Pairing: Dark! Cillian Murphy x Virgin! Reader

Warning: Infidelity, Brief Mention of Stillbirth

Notes: This will not be a love story. It will be dark, twisted and kinky. Cillian is portrayed as totally off cannon.

Minutes later...

Danielle still lay sprawled across the king-size bed, draped in satin sheet covers, the gentle rhythmic snores confirming she hadn't stirred even since Cillian had left the room. She must have been exhausted, leaving Cillian free to explore his urges undetected. Even now, hours later, her breath rose and fell steadily, unaware of the turmoil raging below her slumbering form.

Cillian joined her in bed again, still carrying your scent on his skin. He moved closer to where his wife lay, barely perceptible in the dim moonlight streaming through the window. 

His mind was turmoil, filled with a mix of regret and guilt. His heart raced. Innocent tears trickled down his cheek, echoing his inner conflict. One part yearned for family and stability while the other half craved both, desire and lust for the unexpected and forbidden. 

Danielle murmured in her sleep, turning onto her side, throwing her arm around Cillian's chest instinctively.

He cautiously placed an arm around her waist, trying to find comfort in her embrace despite his wandering thoughts. However, deep down, he was troubled. His mind kept drifting back to the passionate encounter he shared earlier with you. Cillian couldn't help but compare your encounters—one full of desire and hunger, the other shrouded in guilt and secrecy. How did he end up in this situation? Why was he drawn to you?

Was it because you represented everything Danielle lacked, including, passion and freedom? Or perhaps it was simply the fact that you shared an intense chemistry and mutual understanding that went beyond mere carnal desires.

Cillian tossed and turned, struggling to find solace in the arms of his seemingly content wife. Danielle remained oblivious to the internal battle raging within her husband, her peaceful demeanor serving as a stark contrast to the chaos brewing beneath the surface.

Meanwhile, Cillian wrestled with his conscience, torn between loyalty to his wife and the burning desire for the woman who consumed his thoughts. He wondered why fate had brought them together under such tragic circumstances. What made him choose to succumb to temptation, knowing fully well that their encounters could lead to dire consequences?

The answer eluded him, haunting him with its absence. The intensity of his passionate rendezvous only served to fuel his growing obsession, further complicating matters between him and Danielle.

Cillian knew that, realistically, his marriage was over. It had been over for a long time, ever since they lost their first baby.  The pain of that loss pushed Danielle to seek comfort elsewhere after Cillian sought solace in his work. Unaware of the depth of Cillian’s feelings and during his absences when filming, she started frequenting bars and clubs in search of distractions. It was there that she crossed paths with a man named James, a charming entrepreneur who showered her with attention and helped her forget her sorrows temporarily. 

She soon fell pregnant again, but the child was not Cillian's and didn't take long for rumors to circulate among those close to them that Max wasn't actually his biological child. When confronted about this, neither confirmed nor denied the allegations. Instead, Cillian decided to treat and love Max as if he was his own and somehow, the couple managed to convince everyone in their circle, presenting themselves as a doting couple raising their new bundle of joy while, for many years, trying to fall pregnant again. 

Their relationship became a carefully orchestrated facade designed to hide the truth from friends and family and this, especially, made sense for both of their acting careers. 

They maintained this image publically, but privately they often argued about the state of their union. While Danielle felt secure in the structure provided by her marriage, she also grew tired of having a spouse more interested in his career than in her. Their sexual routine began to lose steam, replaced instead by resentment and frustration. They rarely talked openly about these issues, suppressing them inside, building a pressure cooker waiting to explode.

Whilst, for the past eight years or more, Danielle had been faithful to her husband, Cillian never really forgave her and now you were in the picture as well and he craved your company.

Desire and infatuation had clouded his judgment, leading him into dangerous territory. With each meeting, he sank deeper into the quagmire of betrayal and adultery, his morals crumbling beneath the weight of his passion, and it was this passion which kept him awake until the early hours of the morning.

Unable to sleep, he found himself sitting on the edge of the bed, staring blankly ahead.

He couldn't ignore the profound impact you had on him. His life was spiralling out of control - he lied to everyone and every moment spent with you tormented him with guilt and shame. It was as if he had become addicted to something he once considered repulsive, losing all self-control in the process. Yet, he was unable to stop wanting you – needing you.

In moments of clarity, he vowed to put an end to this madness.

But as he rolled restlessly onto his side, he recalled your touch, the taste of your lips, the soft whimper you uttered when he entered you. All these thoughts invaded his consciousness like an unwelcome army taking residence in his brain. Each memory inflamed his body, making his groin throb with arousal. Every fiber of his being demanded release, yet he knew that succumbing to it would bring nothing but misery.

He also knew that, eventually, this had to end. There was no alternative and, with that in mind, he made a choice. He had to choose his family over you, regardless of how broken it was.

As hard as it might be, he owed it to Danielle and Max to try and salvage whatever remained of their fractured bond as, even though he wasn't Max's biological father, he loved him dearly. Thus, it was the right thing to do. It had to be done and it could not wait any longer. 

***

Hours later, dawn broke softly through the windows, casting warm golden light across the room. He could hear birds singing cheerfully outside. Cillian dragged himself out of bed, reluctantly pulling on some clothes. Glancing at his reflection in the mirror, he noticed that dark circles rimmed his eyes, testament to his restless night.

He splashed cold water on his face, trying to wake himself up completely. As he dressed, his gaze shifted involuntarily toward the bedroom door, mentally calculating whether he should tell Danielle about his indiscretions or not. But then, reality struck him like a hammer blow to the head. This wouldn't merely damage his reputation, it would destroy his entire world! He shook his head furiously, banishing the thought before it took root. Besides, the risk was too great. Danielle was unpredictable and capable of causing serious harm to someone she perceived as a threat. She already threatened to take Max away on several occasions and, even to you, she could be a threat.

As he walked out of the bedroom, he passed by Danielle's sleeping figure, her face serenely relaxed amidst pillows. There was so much left undiscovered, hidden behind the closed doors of marriages. He tried to shake away these thoughts, knowing they led nowhere.

And then outside, in the living-room, there was his brother, holding a cup of coffee in his hand, looking pensive.

"What?" asked Cillian, attempting to maintain eye contact.

Frank lowered his eyes slightly and offered him the coffee. "You look like you need it man!" he said. 

Cillian accepted gratefully, feeling exhausted both physically and emotionally. The scalding liquid coursed through his veins giving him a brief surge of energy. He sipped it slowly, savoring the rich flavor. He looked questioningly at his brother.

"Nothing," said Frank finally, "It's just… I know things have been difficult lately. And we haven't really spoken about it."

"Spoken about what?" Cillian asked before draining the remaining dregs of coffee from his mug. 

"You and Danielle. You have been fighting a lot, haven't you?" Frank asked quietly while sipping his own coffee. "Yes, we argue constantly," admitted Cillian with a bitter laugh. "We never agree on anything anymore."

"Isn't it exhausting?" asked Frank, sympathetically.

"Absolutely," agreed Cillian, "but we just go along, maintaining appearances." He paused briefly, thinking back to his recent trysts with you. Would anyone guess? Probably not...but he couldn't help wondering whether his behavior was suspicious especially as you ran past them both, still wearing the same nightgown which you have worn last night, your hair disheveled.

"Is Y/N alright?" Cillian asked as you failed to acknowledge him and, much to his brother's surprise, Frank mentioned that you were feeling sick.

"Sick? She seemed alright last night, and she sure did not drink too much," Cillian said, concerned.

Frank nodded in agreement. "True, but sometimes people don't realize they're ill until it hits them full force. Maybe she got some bad food yesterday evening," he told his brother who couldn't help but worry about you. 

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