#to be clear i do not participate but even just hearing it sets me off

[bumblerhizal]

forced to witness a//ce di//scou//rse on tiktok today, worst app 0/5 stars

[dovveri]

upskill from student to parent

synopsis: one of your students has the most obvious crush on you, but you have the most obvious crush on his mother.

warnings: swearing? maybe idek AHAHA

w/c: 6.9k

a/n: kind of an homage to my fav person on this app @miinatozakiii ‘s first published work the kindergarten teacher sana 🙂‍↕️ happy late one year anniversary babe 🥰

⋆✐ೀ⋆

“alright kids, don't forget i'm seeing most of your parents tonight so if you want to make a good impression, you better start doing your homework because i know most of you don't!"

there are collective groans across the classroom as they pack up their things and leave, thanking you as they head out the door to their next period.

you giggle, recalling the days you were a student in their position, you rarely did your math homework as well.

"ms. l/n?"

you look up from your desk with a smile.

"i- um- i just wanted to s-say- thank you for this lesson. i was really- um- struggling with derivatives when you introduced them last time but you made it really clear this class."

you beam, appreciating the feedback, "that's great to hear hideki! if you have any more trouble in the future please be sure to let me know, i'll be happy to set up bonus small group classes or even individual sessions if you guys need the help."

"t-thanks ms. l/n. that's really nice of you."

"it's my job hideki." you smile, "did you need any help with anything else?"

he shakes his head shyly, hand at the back of his neck, "that was all! thanks again miss!"

"no worries, i'll see you tonight?"

he agrees happily, darting out the door with his cheeks flushed.

it wasn't the first time a student had had a crush on you. it was normally harmless. some of them had tried to confess to you over the years, usually waiting until after they graduated because they thought it’d be okay if you no longer had a student-teacher relationship. some of them would confess while you were still their teacher regardless, those were a little tougher because you had to continue teaching them and watch them pout and lose motivation to do their schoolwork and act awkward around you, no longer wanting to participate in class or ask questions if they didn’t understand something. you’d try to let them down gently, and if you noticed they were struggling with coursework, you’d pull them aside or ask another one of the teachers to check in on them.

most of the time though, they were just simple little crushes that would pass with time or after they moved out of your class. you didn't entertain them but it was cute seeing your students in their awkward teen years discovering feelings for the first time.

you stretch, yawning, but yelp when someone's finger jabs into your exposed armpit.

there's a burst of laughter and you frown, staring at the intruder.

"really nayeon?"

the english teacher rolls her eyes with a cheeky grin, "saw hideki on the way out. did he give you that confession note?"

"what confession note?"

nayeon hops a little, a hand covering her mouth, "oh shit."

you narrow your eyes. "tell me."

she grins, not really apologetic for having accidentally spilt her student’s secret, "saw him decorating a card and everything in english class today. his grammar was a little off so i just helped him correct it a little. oh ms. l/n. how i wish to be able to call you by your first name. how i wish to be able to hold you and-" she puts on an exaggerated romeo-like voice and pose, back of her hand coming up to her forehead.

you stand up, slapping her lightly with a blush, "why did you encourage him?!"

she shrugs with a laugh, "i'm an english teacher. gotta make sure the kids are using the language right even if it's for illicit love notes."

you huff, packing up your desk and getting ready to go to lunch, "can't he find a nice girl his age to be in love with? i'm sure he has so many options since he's the star player of the school basketball team and everything."

"something about you attracts the kiddies y/n."

you scrunch your nose, "ew. that sounds gross. i don't even like younger men."

"women?"

"no preference. just someone in the same life stage y'know?"

"wait should i be offended? how come no student has ever confessed to me? aren't english teachers supposed to be like a gay girl's awakening?"

you laugh, ignoring the woman's question, dragging her out of your classroom and to lunch together before you both have to attend to your kids again.

⋆✐ೀ⋆

you enjoyed your job, but parent-teacher interviews were probably your least favourite part of it. if you wanted to deal with parents all day you'd have become a primary school teacher.

there were all kinds of them, some who didn't show up, some who didn't care, some who cared too much, some who were clueless, and some who thought they could do your job better than you.

you rub your temples, grateful for the little 5 minute break you're afforded in between quick 10 minute interviews that would normally go on for longer than that. you blink around the room, the other mathematics teachers gathered in the same classroom, nayeon was down the hall with the other english teachers. you were the youngest of them all, there was a pretty big shortage of secondary mathematics teachers across the country, so it meant maths teachers were putting off retirement for longer so they can continue to support kids, but it still left a lot of gaps that could be filled to give your students the best education they deserved.

you've dazed off enough that you barely register hideki almost bounding in, still in his basketball uniform from after-school practice.

he grins, sliding into the seat opposite yours, "hi ms. l/n!"

you return the smile, "hey hideki." even though you knew about his obvious crush on you, he was still one of your favourite students, maybe it was because he had the crush on you that he was more eager to follow instructions and to prove himself and ask questions whenever he was confused that made him one of the easiest to teach.

and then a woman in a sleek beige coat next to hideki catches your attention. your gaze flicks over to hers. and it can't seem to break away.

she's the most beautiful human being you've ever laid your eyes on. her hair is dyed an autumn brown, wavy locks tucked behind ears, expensive gold jewelry adorning her neck, ears, hands. her eyes match the colour of her hair, a deep fawn brown you could stare into for hours. she's got the most perfect nose you've ever seen, you almost itched to measure it, find the angle of it, the way it led to her pretty lips, full and parted, inviting, pulling you in. and then you realise they're curling up slightly, and you snap your eyes back up to hers to see a mirthful glint in them.

you cough, blushing brightly, "h-hello mrs. hayashi."

"just sana is fine. minatozaki sana. i never married hideki’s father." her voice is silky smooth, there's a certain drawl to it too, it makes you want to listen to her voice on repeat, teasing out every inflection in tone.

you can feel your blush reaching the tips of your ears, "o-oh sorry! i didn't know i apologise!"

sana laughs, it's bright and airy, you don't think you've heard anything purer. "nothing to be sorry about. we broke up a long time ago. when hideki was still very young."

you nod, deciding you can't continue staring at her or you may just faint, so you look down at your files, shuffling them around with no purpose, just to give your hands something to do.

"so how's hideki doing in class?" you can hear the smirk in her voice, her attentive eyes watching as you fumble around.

"he's um- very good- he always makes sure to ask questions whenever he's stuck on anything, and he's probably one of my only students who keeps up with his homework."

"well that's good isn't it deki? what were you so nervous for?" sana teases her son as he blushes, mumbling something under his breath.

you speak up again, "nothing to be nervous about. hideki is one of my best students, he keeps up very well despite his extra curriculars."

sana snorts, "i wish we could say the same about his other subjects. it seems maths is the only thing he tries in."

"mom!"

"what? you heard what your english teacher said. you need to spend some more time editing your own work than you do shooting hoops."

you laugh, "i'm sure his english is alright. nayeon can be a pretty harsh teacher."

sana looks at you again with an eyebrow raised, you quickly look away. "just wait until you read some of his work ms. l/n. you'll be surprised."

hideki blushes again, deciding he won't be giving you that love confession note he has in his bag after all.

"is there anything else i can do for him then? any particular areas he may be struggling in or any recommendations of what we can implement at home to make sure his maths marks stay consistent?"

"homework really. maths is a very practical subject so the more practice he gets the better grasp he'll have. especially with strange or out-of-the-box questions exams may throw at him; it helps a lot if he's practiced with as many question varieties as possible, most people are going to get those 1 or 2 markers, but the bigger questions that really need you to apply the concepts you learn are where you'll start to see distinctions between the students that just study and the students that really have the aptitude and patience for mathematics."

"never was me." sana jokes.

you smile, still avoiding her gaze, your cheeks pink, "i'm sure you would have been a prize student ms. minatozaki."

"just sana." she has a teasing smile on her face.

"r-right. sana."

it's quiet for a few seconds, hideki looks between his mother and you, squinting a little in confusion.

sana coughs, beginning to stand and holding out a hand, "well it was nice meeting you ms. l/n. i can finally understand why hideki goes on and on about his gorgeous maths teacher."

"mom!"

you blush again, taking her hand, almost melting at how soft it felt against yours, forcing yourself to meet her eyes again to be polite. you have to bring your other hand to hold your wrist when you shake it, to support your jelly-like arm in her presence. "it was nice meeting you too sana."

she tightens her grip, smirking a little, "i hope this won't be the last i'll be seeing you. have a good night."

and with that she's off, hideki whining and complaining next to her about how she's embarassed him. it was a little funny considering their height difference, hideki was a basketball player so he had to be tall for his sport, and sana was just a few centimetres shorter than you, though her aura commanded attention, her posture was perfect, you're caught staring at the slight sway in her hips as she walks away, but you quickly reprimand yourself, blushing even brighter at having realised you were just checking out your student's parent.

god she had your mind a mess, and you had a feeling it wouldn't be the last time for this to happen.

⋆✐ೀ⋆

you were so out of your comfort zone. you barely knew anything about basketball. but nayeon just had to drag you to be co-supervisors for your school's basketball team since you didn’t have the funds for a real P.E. teacher. even worse, the parent volunteer just happened to be minatozaki sana, the parent you hadn’t been able to stop thinking about since your first meeting with her weeks ago.

nayeon noticed your odd behaviour immediately of course. so being the annoyingly loveable best friend she was, she made herself scarce, herding the kids away with every opportunity and trying to get you and sana alone as much as possible.

that’s how you were now stuck with the woman of your dreams, sharing a hotel room in the place you were staying for the duration of the games.

“are you sure you don’t want me to get another room? the individual room was originally supposed to be meant for you- i can’t believe nayeon let herself get sick and stole it from you.”

sana giggles, plopping down her weekend bag. “it’s alright ms. l/n. i don’t mind sharing rooms with a pretty woman like you.”

you blushed brightly. that was the other problem with sana. she was a flirt. every chance she got she’d make some sort of teasing remark on the way here, or brush a little too close than what was acceptable for friends, and you were barely even friends.

“j-just y/n is fine. i feel weird if someone my age is calling me by my last name like that.”

“how do you know i’m your age?” she smirks.

“o-oh! i just- i mean- i- i’m in my early 30s and you look quite young and but hideki is already 16 so i just assumed um-“

she laughs again, “thank you for the compliment. you’re right. i had hideki when i was 19. his dad promised to take care of him, provide for us, y’know… all the works. he couldn’t take it and left not even a year into hideki’s life. i ended up having to drop out of university and learn to balance work and a baby. my parents weren't any good either, said it was my fault for getting knocked up so early in my life and that i should've been prepared for the consequences."

you perch on the end of your bed, listening attentively while she unpacks her things, "i'm sorry you had to go through that."

she shrugs, "made me who i am today. and plus i have hideki now. and he'll always have me. what about you? any kids? partner?"

you blush as she turns back to you, copying your stance and sitting on her bed facing you. "no. i’ve always been around kids so there’s not exactly a ton of romantic prospects.” you joke.

sana laughs, “what about nayeon?”

you cringe immediately, “ew gross no. we’re just friends. there aren’t that many young teachers that aren’t already married and who aren’t spread all over the country so nayeon and i easily clicked because we’re similar in age and single. not that it’s difficult to get along with the older teachers there’s just some things that we’ll be able to do that they might not necessarily want to anymore… like drink or whatever.”

“are you looking for anyone then?” there’s a smirk on sana’s face that you know can only mean she’s up to no good.

“u-um- well- i mean- uh- like if it comes it comes i’m not actively looking for it. i’m happy with the kids even if i die old and alone because there’s always going to be more kids to teach so i’m never really going to be alone unless i quit or get fired.”

“i really admire teachers y’know. you can take care of a classroom of kids and offer them knowledge when someone like my ex boyfriend couldn’t even handle one child.”

while you were talking, you didn’t even notice that sana had moved onto your bed, sitting next to you, shoulders touching, eyes peering into yours.

you chuckle awkwardly, “w-well i’m actually not that great with younger kids.”

sana frowns, “don’t do that. bringing yourself down to defend a shitty man are both things i don’t want to hear. from what i’ve seen, you love your job and you really care about your kids. you should be proud of that. teachers don’t get enough of the appreciation they should.”

“t-thank you sana.”

“of course.”

it’s quiet after that, and more than awkward. you have no idea where to look, suddenly conscious of her body pressed against yours, fiddling with your hands, feeling sweat build up.

sana just watches you with a glint in her eye, observing all of your actions.

she breaks the tension that seemingly came out of nowhere first, “how do you feel about me?”

your eyes widen, not expecting such a straightforward question, “s-sorry?”

“you’re nervous. do i make you nervous y/n?”

your blush was pretty much permanently fixed on your face now.

“u-um-“

“it’s okay if i do. i just hope it's for the right reasons." she pouts. it's criminal. "you'd tell me if there was something else right?"

"r-right! yes of course yes-"

"good. so you're nervous because you find me attractive?" her pout morphs into a smirk within nanoseconds.

"um- i-"

"you said you'd tell me if it was something else remember?" and then she's straight back into a pout. it was giving you whiplash, the change in expressions, dizzying you.

"um- i- yes- you are- yes you are very pretty and-"

"so you want to kiss me?"

"um-!"

sana finally lets you go, laughing brightly and moving away to give you some space before you burst or melted.

"just joking y/n. i'm sorry you're just too easy to tease and your reactions are adorable!"

you can breathe again, the oxygen finally reaching your brain now that sana wasn't so close to you, and your lips turn downward, imitating her pout from earlier, "sana!"

she continues laughing, going back to unpacking her things while you collect yourself and think just how you were going to survive the two days away sharing a room with the potential love of your life who also happened to be a massive tease.

⋆✐ೀ⋆

thankfully, the rest of the night was pretty uneventful. you checked in on all the boys, made sure they had all had dinner and weren't planning anything irresponsible like a party behind your backs or anything. you also checked in on nayeon who in your professional opinion, looked absolutely fine, having ordered room service and was in one of the hotel robes with her feet kicked up enjoying a face mask and a bottle of wine all to herself.

sana also didn't try anything else when you retired to your own hotel room after doing the rounds on the boys' rooms again to make sure they were all in bed and getting the rest they needed before their game tomorrow. you're not sure if you were grateful or disappointed she didn't, but you quickly pushed her out of your mind, needing to rest as well before having to wake up early to take all the kids to the stadium.

you're knocking loudly on the last room you were meant to check on, annoyed the boys were taking so long, you were all meant to meet in the lobby 10 minutes ago for your bus to the stadium.

when you sigh, prepared to rap your knuckles against the door again, it falls away, revealing a distressed hideki and his roommate for the trip.

"ms. l/n! i'm so sorry we're late eric had some trouble um-" he looks behind him, "we're pretty much ready now! just got to grab some last minute stuff and-" he leaves the door open, continuing his ramble while you cross your arms, tapping your foot impatiently, watching the boys run around the room collecting last minute things and throwing them into gym bags.

by the time they're almost done, sana's snuck up behind you, peeking over your shoulder.

"deki! what are you doing? are you the one holding everyone up? what kind of example are you setting for your team if the team captain's late?"

you jump at her voice, not having noticed her standing right behind you. you turn, admiring her side profile, she's got her hair up today, but still looks as expensive as the first time you saw her.

hideki blushes at his mom yelling at him, picking up his pace a little and jabbing eric, telling him to hurry up.

sana notices you staring at her and turns with a smile, "hi y/n. missed you this morning."

you fluster immediately, snapping your eyes away, "u-um sorry! i uh- got up early and didn't want to wake you and decided to get breakfast early on my own before making sure all the kids were awake."

she pouts, "you should've woken me. we could've had breakfast together."

"s-sorry i'll remember for next time."

"next time? you planning on waking up next to me again y/n?"

you can hear the teasing tone in her voice without needing to look at her, "i meant tomorrow! tomorrow morning."

sana giggles next to your ear, relenting when hideki and eric finally finish up, slightly out of breath when they come up to you, hideki apologising to you profusely, almost bowing down in the hotel hallway while holding all his heavy gym bags before you stop him, embarrassed enough by his mother watching the interaction closely with a curious glint in her eyes.

by the time you get downstairs nayeon already has most of the kids on the bus, reprimanding the two late boys again before letting them go and telling them to get on the bus as well. she had claimed her sickness was miraculously cured overnight, and that all she needed was a good night's sleep in a hotel room by herself.

she had teased both you and sana, asking sana innocently if she'd want to change rooms again now that she wasn't sick, but sana had said it'd be too much work and she didn't mind sharing a room with you anyway. nayeon elbowed you making an exaggerated show of her eyebrows wriggling around when sana wasn't looking, winking and looking all too satisfied with herself. you ignored her, strutting ahead and onto the bus, crossing your arms and pouting.

sana comes up next, giggling at you and plopping down on the seat next to yours. thankfully, the bus ride to the stadium wouldn't take long this time, the ride here was almost 5 hours long, and sana had taken a liking to sleeping on your shoulder almost the entire way there. you were stiff and couldn't wait to fall into bed when nayeon pulled her sick move and ruined your plans of being able to relax, not possible in the presence of the other woman.

the kids are rowdy and energetic, hyping each other up on the bus. you have to tell them to quieten down a few times but you let them get away with most of what they do, smiling at the sight of them so eager for their game.

when you arrive, nayeon's the first to stand, using her loud voice and commanding attention, her voice that should've been at least a little hoarse from her apparent sickness yesterday.

"alright! remember you're representing your school district now! and you're sharing this space with other people so i don't want to hear you guys as loud as you were on this bus okay? i won't hesitate to bench anyone who fools around too much and that means you won't get to play and you'd have come all this way for nothing understand?"

nayeon really was strict as a teacher, but you knew she loved her job as much as you did.

the kids nod, determined to be good, adrenaline running from the excitement of almost getting to the court.

you step off the bus first, talking to the bus driver and letting them know when they can come back and pick you guys up to go back to the hotel. then the kids are hopping off the bus one by one, and you're making sure they don't run off or do anything stupid while waiting for everyone to assemble.

by the time the team is actually on the court and warming up, you're almost as excited as them, the atmosphere of the stadium hyping you up, sitting on the sidelines with towels and water bottles ready for their breaks. you had tried to study up a little on what exactly went on in basketball, the rules and the basics, the kids may not have a coach but you still wanted to be as supportive as you could even though your job only required you to supervise them safely between the venues and the hotel.

"have you come to a lot of these games?" you ask sana mindlessly, watching as the boys start doing practice shots and drills.

"yeah. i try to go to as many of deki's things as i can."

"that's very sweet. it's really good for the kids, when the parents show up to things they work hard for."

sana hums. "i try."

"he's lucky to have you."

"i think he may appreciate you a little more though." she teases, bumping shoulders with you.

you laugh, "he'll get over it. they all do."

"this has happened before?"

you shrug, "i swear i don't do anything out of the ordinary. maybe i'm just nicer than nayeon."

"so your type obviously isn't kids. what is it?" sana teases.

you blush, "i don't know. i don't really have one i think."

"oh come on. everyone says that. tell me the truth. i won't judge i promise."

you roll your eyes, smiling, "well... i think at this point in my life i just want someone who wants to settle down. i'm not that young anymore and i've already achieved what i wanted in my career so all i really want now is someone to share the rest of my life with."

"boring! c'mon gimme the juicy stuff. like personality, physical attributes." she pokes you with a grin on her face as well.

"fine fine. i guess when it comes to women i tend to like slightly older women, extroverted, good with kids obviously, i don't reaaaally care for all the physical stuff but probably someone around my height i guess."

"stand up for me."

you do as she asks, confused, then she stands up as well, stepping in almost eye-to-eye. you flush immediately. she brings her hand to measure the top of her head, knocking it against your forehead.

then she smirks, "so i'm pretty much your type then?"

you stutter, falling backwards and back into your seat, mumbling incoherently. sana giggles, sitting back down as well.

"if it's any consolation, my type in women tends to be slightly taller, good with kids, a little awkward, gets flustered easily, but loves her job."

you blink at her, still processing her words when the buzzer sounds signaling the start of the game.

sana winks, then turns her attention to the game, cheering on your school's team as they get in starting position. nayeon jogs over to join you both on the sideline bench, cheering as well. you put your muddled thoughts aside to focus on being there for the kids, but sana's confession? was it even a confession? never left the back of your mind.

⋆✐ೀ⋆

your school won. the boys are ecstatic, clapping each other on the back, streamers are thrown, the crowd is wild, loving the game they witnessed.

eventually, the stadium clears out while the boys cooldown. the janitors come and kick everyone off the floor soon enough, the kids still whooping and parading around their championship trophy, taking pictures with smiles all around.

you smile fondly as well, watching them leave the stadium, so proud of themselves. but then there's a cough behind you, and you turn, surprised to see hideki still there, not leading his team off on their victory lap.

"you okay hideki?"

the boy blushes, rubbing the back of his neck shyly, still in his team uniform, sweat running down his body.

"i um- i was actually wondering if we could talk?"

you frown, immediately concerned, "yeah of course. what's up?"

his eyes flit around, making sure the stadium is pretty much empty except for the janitors cleaning up after the game. and then he looks back at you, you're struck then how much he looks like sana, he has her nose, her eyes, you never noticed before but after spending more time with sana, you can start to see parts of her in her son.

he clears his throat again, obviously nervous, wringing his hands out, "u-um- so i promised myself that if we won this game, i'd finally be truthful to both myself and you. so um- ms. l/n... i think i'm in love with you!" he bows deeply with his confession.

you stand there, slightly in shock despite knowing about his feelings for a long time now. and then you feel terrible, having to reject him on what was supposed to be one of the highlights of his high school experience.

you tap his shoulder lightly, non-verbally asking him to straighten up, he flinches at the touch, eyes fierce when they meet yours.

"hideki... i'm sorry. i don't feel the same way about you. you're my student, i care about all of you equally, but never as more than a student."

his face breaks your heart, you see sana in him, it's almost like you made sana cry.

"is it my age? what if i graduated? would you be interested in me after i graduated?" he's desperate, reaching for any possibility where you could return his feelings.

you shake your head, offering a gentle smile, "i'm sorry hideki. i know you'll find the right person for you one day though. that person just isn't going to be me."

his head droops down, hair coming to cover his eyes as he stares down at his shoes, trying to hide his tears. "i understand. thank you for taking the time to listen to me ms. l/n. i'll get out of your hair now." and then he's jogging off behind you towards the exit.

you sigh, turning around, surprised to see sana there, frowning when she sees hideki in tears approaching her.

she looks between him and you in confusion, but hideki reaches her first. she cups his face, asking him what happened, but he refuses to speak, and sana brings him down into her hugging him and patting his back.

she glances at you then, still frowning. your heart sinks, not sure what sorts of conclusions she could be drawing, but knowing right now, it looked like you had said or done something that made her son cry.

she leads him away, you ache to tell her what really happened, but you know you should keep your distance for the sake of your student right now, you just pray sana doesn't think of you any differently.

⋆✐ೀ⋆

the rest of the day goes by in a blur. the boys go out for celebratory dinner. they notice their captain is a lot more down than usual, and they try cheering him up, playing games at dinner, laughing and teasing each other, but nothing seems to be working.

you couldn't help but feel a little guilty, and sana hadn't spoken to you since the game. you're not sure if it's on purpose or if she's just busy keeping the kids entertained and checking on hideki every once in a while, but not wanting to smother him with all his friends around. he doesn't seem to mind though, in fact he only responds to sana, even when his friends try and include him he stays quiet, picking at his food aimlessly.

when you get back to the hotel, you give a speech about how they shouldn't sleep too late even though you could understand their excitement still remaining from winning the championships, they still had to get up early tomorrow so you could take the bus back home. nayeon would normally give the speech since she was a little more threatening than you, but she was also currently wasted, having gone a little too hard on the celebrations with the boys. she was currently leaning on you, almost dozing off as you rattled off instructions and rules before sending them all off to their rooms.

sana's gone with them before you can speak to her, so you sigh, wrapping an arm around nayeon's waist and helping your friend back to her own room, setting her in bed and pulling the covers up, turning off the lights and leaving a cup of water next to her bedside for when she wakes up later.

you feel nervous going back to your own room, unsure of what sana thinks of you now.

you open the door, almost grateful to hear the shower on, indicating the other woman was cleaning herself up.

you anxiously start packing your things up, cleaning around the room a little and grabbing clothes for your shower.

the shower turns off and your heart rate increases tenfold. you still have some time before she comes out though, so you continue to busy yourself, cleaning anything and everything.

"y/n?"

you turn quickly at her voice, almost fainting at the sight of her wrapped only in a towel. you yelp, turning back around just as quickly, "s-sorry!"

sana giggles, padding up to her bed, "it's okay. i left my clothes out here."

you can hear the rustle of her towel being dropped and her starting to dress yourself. your face is burning up, trying desperately to clear your mind of thoughts of a very naked sana standing right behind you, probably watching you make a fool out of yourself.

"i'm dressed." she teases, plopping down onto her bed.

you turn with a sigh, but tense up when you realise her definition of dressed was a very thin camisole and shorts that really shouldn't be considered shorts.

sana smirks at your gaze, crossing her legs and watching the way your eyes follow the movement, drinking in the skin.

"so what happened with you and deki?"

your eyes snap back up to hers at the reminder, the guilt of it all coming back.

"i'm sorry- i didn't- i hope you know i didn't mean to-"

sana giggles, grabbing the towel to start drying her hair, "relax y/n. i figured as much. he wouldn't tell me what happened but i assume it had something to do with his feelings for you?"

you gulp, nodding, not trusting your voice.

"like you said at the game, he'll get over it."

"you're not mad at me?"

she frowns, "why would i be mad at you?"

"well i- i thought you were avoiding me at dinner and- i mean i did just reject your son-"

sana lets out a loud laugh, "i think i'd be more mad if you didn't reject him. and i wasn't avoiding you. were you looking for my attention y/n?" she teases, wringing out her hair.

"oh. i'm glad then. that you weren't avoiding me. i was worried." you mumble, ignoring her question, knowing she was just trying to get a reaction out of you.

she stands up, brushing her hair behind her shoulders, walking up to you slowly. "why were you worried?"

you focus on a spot on the hotel carpet, avoiding her gaze, "i didn't want you to think i was- i don't know- i just didn't want you to think of me differently i guess."

"why do you care what i think of you?"

you blush, "well- i mean- i- you're- you're a parent of my student."

sana hums, still moving closer at a painfully slow pace, "is that all i am to you?"

"uh- well- no... you're um- you're sana."

she giggles, now toe-to-toe with you. "i am."

you almost let out a gasp when her cool fingers touch your chin, tilting your head up slightly to look her in the eyes. her eyes search yours, then they move over your face, tracing your features. you lick your lips unconsciously, the tension between the two of you unable to be explained by a simple parent-teacher relationship, or even a friendship anymore.

"it's funny." her voice is lower now, spoken right onto your lips, there was no need for volume, you were only inches apart. "i almost wonder if my ex would've fallen for you too."

you're dizzy from being so close to her, mind playing catch up. "t-too?"

"yeah. hideki fell for you. i wonder if you could just have my whole family wrapped around your finger."

you gulp, not really following, just letting her do whatever she wanted to you.

she leans in even closer, eyes dropping to your lips.

"what about me?"

"w-what about you?"

"you rejected deki. how about me?"

you inhale shakily, "are you confessing?"

she smiles then, "was it not obvious?"

"no." you breathe out.

"why not?"

"you're too- you're unbelievable."

"what does that mean?"

"i literally can't believe you're real. that someone as perfect as you could exist."

sana giggles lowly at that, "there it is. do you know how long i've been waiting for you to just say how you feel about me?"

"w-what?"

"all that teasing, all the flirting, i paid nayeon to fake sick y'know?"

"you what?!"

she throws her head back, laughing fully now. your eyes follow the lines of her throat.

"deki talked about you all the time at home. i was curious to meet the maths teacher he was so obsessed with. and then i did. and you were just so adorable. i could tell you really loved what you were doing, and you really cared for all the kids. but i didn't want to ask you out in front of my son who has the biggest most obvious crush on you. so i resigned myself to thinking i probably wouldn't be able to see you again. and then you happened to be on this trip. so i tried everything i could to get closer to you, get to know you better, and you didn't disappoint. i can safely say i'm just as obsessed with you as hideki is, dare i say even more."

"y-you are?"

"mhm. and i knew you liked me too. you're almost as obvious as deki is." she giggles, "i was just waiting for you to do something about it. but you're too nice aren't you? didn't want anything that could be between us to affect your job and your relationship with the kids."

you hadn't even noticed sana had paid so much attention to you. she had picked you apart completely, you felt so exposed in front of her now, but it wasn't unwelcome, you were just embarrassed at the way you've acted around her, thinking how many times you've replied dumbly or said something stupid while she knew you had a crush on her. you cringe at the memories.

sana laughs again, poking at the scrunch in your nose, "so can you say it officially now?"

"say what?"

"don't play dumb with me. you know."

you whine, blushing still, but close your eyes, taking a breath again, "i like you sana. i think you're the most beautiful person i've ever seen and your personality and actions are just as consistent with your looks."

sana giggles again, and then all of a sudden, her lips are pressed against yours.

it's soft, sweet, she's curling a hand around your waist and the other around your neck. you weren't the greatest with words, that's why nayeon was the english teacher, but you try make up for it with your actions, pulling her into you deeper and wrapping your arms around her, smiling into the kiss.

sana returns the smile, reattaching your lips, kissing you easily, your lips slotting together with no rush, taking as much time as you wanted to explore each other.

that night, when you come out of your shower, you find sana curled up in your bed, patting the empty space next to her for you to squeeze into, making sure she had enough space so that she wouldn't fall off the edge. you find that she's a big cuddler, not that it should've surprised you, she was always a very physically affectionate person, and you were still getting used to being on the receiving end of all of it, but you adored it.

the next morning, you'll keep to your promise and wake sana up with a gentle kiss on her lips, brushing her hair out of her face and studying her sleeping features carefully, committing everything to memory, still in slight disbelief that such a woman felt the same way you did.

you talk over breakfast, finding yourself much more at ease now that you knew she knew how you felt about her. she still takes every opportunity to tease you though, loving the way you blushed and stuttered around her.

what's hard is deciding what to do after you get home. you still wanted to keep your distance from hideki so that he could get over you, and sana agreed, saying it would be best if the both of you kept your relationship a secret for now. she was almost excited, talking about how it would be exciting and fun to sneak around like kids again, having to hide your relationship.

she's right of course, but being with her specifically probably makes it ten times harder than it normally would. she'd come to your school with bunches of flowers and lunch, acting innocent and surprised when you have to hide her and find an empty classroom for you to spend the lunch date she springs on you. she'll never stop loving to tease you.

you finally tell hideki about 2 months into your relationship. he seems to take it okay, but when you're curled up in sana's bed later, she tells you he complained to her about how she 'stole his woman', and you both end up in a giggling fit, laughing at the turn of events. regardless, you're still grateful, grateful you were able to meet her, and somehow bewitch her into falling for you. you were the luckiest person alive, and only sana would disagree, saying that was only true for herself.

[ohbo-ohno]

52% of you voted for this and I respect democracy 🫡

8.4k of ghost brainwashing soap into being his puppy without him knowing. it’s a little messy and all over the place <3

cw: explicit sex, heavy puppy play, rough and kinda mean ghost, veryyyy light dub-con (johnny is sorta coerced but he’s a willing participant), slight feminization (afab language used to refer to amab biology), super brief cbt

Ghost sees Soap in that little throat mic and just knows - that man is meant to be on all fours.

It's little things at first - he sees the way Soap is always looking for praise, the way he lights up a little at just a hint of it. A hand clasped on the shoulder, a "Good work, Sergeant" and he's beaming for the next hour.

Likewise, the lack of praise affects him the same way. He does particularly well and Ghost deprives him of what he thinks he's earned? He gets all clingy and pouty. He sticks to Ghost's shadow, leans into his space a little, tries constantly to impress him for the rest of the day. The way Johnny’s eyes flick over to Ghost every time he does something he thinks is worth praise is as cute as it is annoying.

The thing with Soap is that he wants to listen past a military point. Like yes he’s been in the military for nearly a decade by the time he meets Ghost so of course it’s sort of beaten into him that he listens to his superiors, but Soap has an innate desire to obey that Ghost just cannot ignore. And his little crush means he's looking to obey Ghost, specifically.

It's easy to make himself the center of Soap's world.

He passes him in the kitchen one morning, squeezes his front a little close to Soap’s back and says “Make me a tea, Johnny” as the smaller man pours his own coffee. He’s careful not to phrase it as a question, to walk away before Johnny can respond. A few minutes later, a steaming cup is set on the table in front of him. Johnny slips into a chair beside him and Ghost raises an eyebrow beneath the balaclava. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Johnny shoots him a look that’s almost nervous, quickly covers it with his usual bravado. “What, you mind a little company over your tea?”

“Yes. Shoo.” He turns away and lifts his mask just enough to drink. A clear dismal. He hears Johnny scoff, pout a little bit, but he disappears a moment later, shoulders a bit slumped as he shuffles over to Gaz’s table.

The next morning, there’s a cup of tea waiting next to Johnny as he pours his own coffee. Ghost smirks beneath the mask, gives an approving nod when he sees the hopeful look in Johnny’s eyes, and sits down for breakfast.

He starts to touch Soap more, when he’s been a good boy.

A “Good work out there, Sergeant” is said with a hand around the nape of the neck instead of on the shoulder. He squeezes Johnny’s thigh when he drops his morning tea off at his table, quick and perfunctory and not allowing any room for questioning. He’ll see Johnny working particularly hard in the gym and place a heavy hand on his head, running his fingers all the way through his mohawk and smoothing it down before moving on. A hand on the waist to move Johnny out of his way, a hand on the knee when he bounces his foot, the line of Simon’s body pressed against Johnny’s in meetings, all done to get his pup used to being touched by him in a way no one else has been in decades.

He makes sure they spend time alone. Johnny works out late at night, so Simon starts to too. Makes sure they’re the only ones in the gym, and usually goads Johnny into sparring so he can spend an hour or two forcing him to the ground over and over again. Follows him into the shower and uses the stall right next to Johnny, rolls his eyes at Johnny’s light complaining and smirks at his blush, the way he tries to discreetly wash his cock even though he’s been taking group showers for years now.

There’s a day he calls Johnny over to his table at dinner. A quick, “MacTavish, here,” gets Johnny’s head jerking up along with several other people in the room, has him nearly stumbling over his feet to reach Simon’s side.

“Yeah, L.t.?”

“Sit.” Johnny obeys, dropping into the seat next to Simon as soon as the command is past his lips. “Here,” he holds out an apple. “Grabbed one without thinkin’. I don’t like ‘em, but you do. Eat it.”

Johnny glances from the fruit to Simon a couple times, so he rolls his eyes and holds it a little further. “Come on, Johnny, haven’t got all day.”

Johnny finally grabs the apple with a growing smile and says, “I knew you had a heart, Simon. Thanks.” He’s smart enough to stay next to Ghost for the rest of dinner, munching away on the apple and occasionally prattling on about something or other, none of it requiring much response from Ghost.

Simon does the same thing the next evening, and the next, and on the fourth day Johnny trots over as soon as Simon looks his way. Ghost grins beneath the mask and ruffles his hair when he sits, keeps a heavy hand on the back of Johnny’s neck for a bit as a reward.

At night he jacks off to his fantasies of the future. He stares at the dog cage in the corner of his room, spits into the palm of his hand, and strokes his cock from root to tip.

He pictures Johnny on his knees, yipping and barking and begging Simon to let him suck his cock. He pictures Johnny with a collar around his neck, a leash attached and wrapped around Simon’s hand - he jerks it harshly, watches as Johnny falls face first to the ground and fucks his ass where it’s up in the air so nicely. He pictures locking Johnny’s hands into a pair of paw mitts, tells him he can go ahead and come if he wants, moans aloud at the mental image of Johnny rutting into his paws and crying because he can’t get himself off. Securing a muzzle around his face when he’s too loud, threatening him with a bark collar and watching the way Johnny’s eyes roll back in his head. Crate training his new puppy, long nights spent ignoring the whining and growling in the corner of his room, jacking off and hearing the whines pitch up an octave higher from desperation. Pouring kibble into a bowl, jacking off over it, and watching Johnny eat it up eagerly and lick the bowl for any extra taste of his master’s cum.

Johnny and Ghost’s rooms share a wall. Sometimes, late at night, Johnny gets loud. Simon can hear him moaning and whining through the wall, nothing much more than indistinct noises but they’re noises that get him hard as steel. He hears the slutty moans for hours sometimes, thinks to himself that he’ll have to end up using the muzzle far sooner than he’d thought with such a noisy pup.

His need for Johnny grows daily, with every subtle show of submission he can squeeze from his Sergeant.

There’s a mission where Johnny gets a little uppity. Gaz and Price are on the East side of a compound they’re meant to be infiltrating, while Ghost and Soap have been assigned to the West. Ghost’s plan is to wait for the civilians (suspected terrorists, but their involvement is unconfirmed, so they aren’t KOS) to leave before sneaking in and taking the intel, but Soap had made some stupid bet with Garrick about which team could finish faster and wanted to kill the suspects right then, take the info, and get out.

It’s a low pressure mission - the odds of them dying are never zero, but they’re usually lowest on a simple recon mission like this. The safety gives Johnny a little more confidence (if that’s even possible) and has him pushing against Simon’s orders. He’s hyped up, bouncing on his toes and grumbling about Ghost’s commands when he thinks Ghost is far enough away not to hear.

The last straw is when he draws his knife, moving to storm into the computer lab and slaughter the few potential terrorists there explicitly against orders. Ghost nearly growls, grabs Johnny by his neck and slams him into the wall.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” He rumbles, pointer finger slipping beneath the throat mic - the fucking collar - and pulling Johnny up by it.

“Let’s just get this done, L.t.,” Johnny growls in return, his little teeth bared as he glares up at Simon. “I want to get the fuck out of here.”

Ghost nearly smirks at his little attempt at dominance. “You follow orders, MacTavish. I tell you to do something, you do it.”

Johnny rolls his eyes, grumbles a little. “I know, I know, I should listen to my Lieutenant, yeah?”

“No,” Ghost’s hand forces Johnny back to the wall when he tries to stand straight, fingers flexing on either side of his throat. “You listen to me.”

His hand creeps up from Johnny’s neck to his jaw, fingers pressing into the hinges on either side until Johnny’s mouth drops open. A second later, his tongue rolls out to rest on his bottom lip. He gives a little whine, eyebrows furrowed, and Ghost just says, “Hush.”

He takes a minute to appreciate the sight, letting his weight rest on Johnny, his cock thickening against his boy’s stomach. He tracks a little droplet of spit as it travels down Johnny’s tongue.

“Now,” he starts, giving Johnny’s head a tiny shake when he sees the glaze starting to lay over his eyes. “Are you gonna be good and listen? Or are you gonna make me put you in your place?”

Johnny tries to close his mouth to speak but Ghost just shakes his head, tsks, and Johnny mimics the movement a moment later. “You’ll be good?” He confirms, and Johnny nods. Ghost smiles beneath the mask. “Attaboy,” he praises with a quick pat to Johnny’s cheek, stepping back and letting the pup compose himself.

“They should be gone by now. You ready to go in, Sergeant?”

It takes him a moment to stand, a little pink flush high on his cheekbones, but Johnny gets his feet under him and nods. “Yes, sir.”

Ghost has to bite his lip to stop his moan. He feels his restraint slip, stays a step behind Johnny to compose himself.

They go on like that for months, Ghost slowly creeping past the few boundaries Johnny has set up and pulling the man deeper and deeper into his orbit. He starts to see Johnny looking up every time someone enters a room, suppresses a smirk when he visibly brightens at Simon’s presence.

He gets him used to being touched, to a controlling hand on his neck, his shoulder, his wrist, his thigh,a tug on his earlobe when he’s being a brat, the rare flick to the tip of his nose or between his eyes. He takes note of the way Johnny stiffens when Ghost is near, the way he relaxes completely when he finally feels his touch.

He keeps Johnny a little unsure of his feelings, sometimes even letting him feel his erection when they spar - or letting him see it when they shower - but never taking anything in a sexual direction or even implying he’d like to.

Post mission, Simon has a concussion. Johnny’s been assigned to keeping him awake, and the brat takes the job seriously, prattling on endlessly about subjects that Ghost couldn’t care less about. The pounding in his head makes him murderous.

At one point he can’t take it anymore, he slaps a hand over Johnny’s mouth where the man sits next to him (Johnny leaned against the armrest, Simon sitting in the center of the couch and spreading his thighs enough to touch Johnny’s and make him shrink away just a bit). He glares at the younger man, bites out “Just shut up. Stop fuckin’ barking, MacTavish.”

Johnny’s eyes narrow, and a moment later his tongue licks across Ghost’s palm. He only curls his lip in response, tucks two fingers into Johnny’s mouth as payback. He pushes just far enough to trigger his gag reflex, then pulls back a few centimeters. When Johnny tries to start talking around the digits, Simon stuffs a third between his teeth. There’s a moment when Simon thinks Johnny will fight back, will grab his wrist and shove it away from him. But he doesn’t. He sits there like a good boy, goes all relaxed after a moment and forces Simon’s hand to follow his head when he leans back a bit.

They sit like that for a few hours. Eventually Johnny’s teeth start chewing lightly at Simon’s fingers. He doesn’t mind, the motion helps him stay awake.

They pull apart in the early hours of the day, when soldiers around base start waking up. Simon pulls his fingers out with a rumbled, “Good boy,” and neither of them say another word about it.

It doesn’t become a regular occurrence, per se, but Simon takes the opportunities available to him to start on Johnny’s throat training.

They’re the only two in the canteen after a stressful debrief, and Simon catches Johnny staring at his fingers. He asks, “You want them?” and gets a little shocked look from Johnny. He scoffs lightly, lifts his hand and poises two fingers right in front of Johnny’s lips. “Go ahead.” They sit like that until Simon finishes his meal, and walk to their rooms together.

Another time Johnny is overhyped from a good workout. A long day of training rookies ending with loss after loss on the sparring mat with Ghost leaves his body near vibrating with energy. Simon corners him after his shower when he sees Johnny start scratching at his arms. Pushes against his shoulder, gets him pinned against the wall, the only things between the two of them the matching towels wrapped around their waists. Ghost doesn’t explain, just shoves a few fingers in Johnny’s mouth and gives him a stern look when he reaches for his wrist. Johnny gives in a moment later, and they spend nearly half an hour just like that. Johnny’s calmer when they seperate, that volatile energy just beneath his skin soothed for a bit.

His breaking point comes after a rough mission. Price had taken a knife to the thigh, Kyle’s arm was strained enough that he needed a sling, Ghost had nasty bruises across his ribs, but Soap had managed to escape the mission completely unscathed - a fact that left him restless and angry.

He paces endlessly when they get back to base, back and forth and back and forth and back and forth in the abandoned common area of the 141’s wing. Ghost tracks him from his spot in Price’s recliner, notes the tension in Soap’s shoulders and the twitches in his fingers.

When Soap starts scratching at his hair, hand running over his scalp endlessly and leaving light red lines in his wake, Simon sighs and decides he needs to step in.

“C’mere, Johnny.”

His Sergent jerks up at Ghost’s voice, almost like he had forgotten he wasn’t alone. He’s moving just a heartbeat later though, steps right up between Ghost’s thighs and trains his eyes on the chair over his shoulder. Simon leans forward, bites back a groan at the ache in his ribs, and uses a finger to push Johnny’s chin up.

“Eyes on me, pup.” He examines his boy closely, takes a few long moments to try and read his thoughts through his eyes. “Need me to help you relax?”

Johnny’s brows furrow for a moment before he speaks. “I-” he tries, but stops and jerks his head to the side a bit. “I- yes. Yes, sir. I don’t know… I can’t fuckin’... I-”

“I know,” Simon reassures, running a thumb over Johnny’s bottom lip. “I know. I can help you. Go ahead and kneel for me, Johnny.”

And he does. Perfect boy that he is, he drops right to the floor between Simon’s knees without hesitation. He can’t help but smile at the sight of a stressed Johnny right where he’s meant to be, relaxing back into the leather with a grunt.

“Now. You want somethin’ in your mouth? Somethin’ to suck on for a bit?”

Johnny nods, relief palabale in his expression, and reaches a hand towards Simon’s wrist. “Uh uh,” he scolds, moving both hands from his thighs to the arms of the chair. “I want to keep my fingers tonight. Might have a smoke in a bit, read the paper. Can’t do that with you slobberin’ on ‘em.”

Johnny gets that confused look on his face again. “What else then?” He asks, a hint of frustration bleeding through.

Simon doesn’t give him the stern hand he’s subconsciously looking for, just tilts his head a little and telegraphs his expectance with his eyes.

“Nothin’?” Johnny spits, lip curling a little in his own anger.

“You can figure it out, pup. Don’t think too hard.”

Johnny huffs, falling back to sit on his ankles and scan Ghost’s form. His eyes stop right below his belt, before jerking up to his eyes again and tilting his head a bit. “Well?” Simon asks.

“Your…” Johnny swallows, then continues. “Your cock, sir?”

Simon just tilts his head a little more. “What about it?”

Johnny huffs. “Can I suck your cock, sir?”

He smirks beneath the mask. “Try again. Ask nicely.”

A little whine spills from Johnny’s lips, his hands moving to rest on Simon’s thighs. “Fuck. Please, can I suck your cock, sir?”

Simon lets his head fall back to the seat. “Sure. If you really need to, puppy.”

He’s hardly gotten the permission out when Johnny starts pulling his belt off, his cock in his mouth a moment later. Johnny groans when he sinks down, taking his full shaft in one go.

Simon jerks a little with a curse. “Fuck, Johnny. Where the hell did you learn to do that?”

Johnny winks up at him, a little upturn at the corner of his lips. Brat.

“Fuckin’ slag,” Simon sneers, one hand locking in Johnny’s hair and holding him down so his nose is buried in Ghost’s happy trail, ignores his muffled gagging. “Shoulda known you’d be so experienced. Sucked every cock on base, soldier?”

Johnny whines a little at that, tries to shake his head but Simon’s grip prevents it.

“Quiet,” he growls, pushing Johnny deeper for just a moment before letting up. “You wanted somethin’ to suck on, so suck.”

And he does. They sit like that for a while - Simon smoking a cigarette while receiving the slowest, most torturous blowjob he’s ever had. Johnny’s sucking lessens as he realizes Ghost won’t let him move his head, and as the minutes pass he moves on to truly cockwarming him. Just a soft wet heat around Simon’s dick. His eyes glaze over a bit, go half-lidded as Ghost’s fingers shift to stroke his hair.

And then Johnny fucking bites him.

Simon’s got him thrown off his dick as soon as his teeth press down, his own teeth bared in a snarl. He opens his mouth, ready to put Johnny firmly back in his place, when he sees the confusion on his pup’s face.

He’s fallen back on his ass, and his eyes are still only half open. He looks up at Ghost like he hasn’t got a single clue what’s going on, like he’d do anything Ghost says in that moment because he can’t quite think for himself. And he sticks the tip of his tongue beneath his little fangs, starts gnawing a bit.

Ghost sighs as he falls back into his chair, hand coming up to pinch his nose. “Johnny,” he rumbles. “You dumb fuckin’ mutt. I said somethin’ to suck not somethin’ to chew.”

Johnny doesn’t respond - Simon isn’t sure he could respond, even with clarity slowly coming back to his eyes - but he does move back between Simon’s legs, hands tucked onto his own knees as he rests his cheek on Simon’s thigh. He sighs, reaching forward to rub Johnny’s ear as he considers what to do next.

“Pup,” he hums, giving the ear between his fingers a harsh tug to try and get his attention. “That was very bad. What do you say when you’ve been bad?”

The glaze over his eyes disappears more and more, but genuine confusion still seeps into his expression.”What?”

Ghost sighs, like he’s going through some horrible inconvenience. “C’mon, puppy. Use your little brain for just a second. What do you do when you’ve been bad?”

Johnny leans back a bit, hands coming up to push at Ghost’s shins. “Lieutenant, what-”

Simon cuts him by yanking his head back by the roots of his hair, leaning over until his face hovers right above Johnny’s despite the pain in his ribs. “It’s a simple fucking question, Johnny. What do you say when you’ve been bad?”

There’s a spark of panic underneath the confusion, but Ghost only leans closer. “I- I don’t-”

Simon blows a sharp breath through his nose, uses his free hand to give Johnny a harsh little smack on his cheek. “C’mon. You can go dumb on my cock again in a minute, but answer me first.”

“I-I’m sorry,” he finally gets out, looking up with a wounded expression on his face like he’s been done all kinds of wrong.

“Good. What are you sorry for?’

“For…” Johnny’s eyebrows furrow, and Simon gives him the time he needs to piece things together. “For biting you.” A sharp look from Ghost, a lifted hand, and he’s quickly correcting himself. “I’m sorry for biting your cock. Sir.”

Simon finally leans back in his seat, moves Johnny’s head forward with him. “There you go. Shouldn’t’ve been so hard to figure out, but we can work on that. Now - why don’t you apologize properly.”

Offense colors Johnny’s expression, lips opening to protest, but Simon just tugs him right up to his spit-slick erection. “C’mon,” he instructs. “Kiss it better, pup.”

Johnny winces a bit, but dutifully opens his mouth wider and leans to take Simon’s cock between his lips.

“Nuh-uh,” Ghost scolds, pulling Johnny to the side of his member instead. “I don’t trust those teeth of yours right now. Kiss it right.”

He winces more, but purses his lips and presses them to Simon’s skin while casting a weary glance up to the bigger man.

Ghost shakes his head again, grip tightening a bit in Johnny’s hair. “Nope. Kiss it like a proper puppy, go on.”

It takes a second for Johnny to understand, then to come to terms with what Ghost is asking. He squirms a little on his knees, tries to pull away from Simon’s grip for a second, but eventually he sticks his tongue out and licks the side of his cock.

“There you go,” Simon praises, loosening his grip and petting Johnny’s head in reward. “Good boy. Go ahead and show me how sorry you are, maybe I’ll let you have a few of my fingers if I think you’ve earned them.”

He makes Johnny apologize for ten minutes, watches the clock on the wall when he can stand to tear his eyes away from Johnny’s display. It doesn’t take him long to get into it, licks and kisses becoming more and more enthusiastic, even slipping down to lick at Ghost’s balls. It’s quite the apology.

“Alright,” he eventually groans, guiding Johnny’s lips to the head of his cock. “Go ahead and suck me off. Let’s see if you can earn a reward.”

He gets Simon off in record time. That same glaze covers his eyes again but the lethargy doesn’t return - instead, Johnny bobs his head rapidly, taking Simon all the way to the hilt nearly every time and massaging the underside of his cock with his tongue. He doesn’t bite again, but the intentional little scrapes of his teeth have Ghost fighting not to buck his hips. He’s clearly enjoying himself too, because his little moans and groans send vibrations down Simon’s cock that leave him curling his hands into fists against the armrests.

Ghost guides his head for his last few thrusts, holds Johnny down on his cock and comes right down his throat. He moans a little louder than is probably wise considering they’re in a public space, but watching Johnny’s eyes flutter shut at the sound is worth the slight risk.

Simon lets him pull off in his own time. Johnny takes a few seconds, swallows on his way back up, but he sits back on his heels a few moments after Simon’s finished.

There’s a heavy moment where the only sound is both of them panting. Ghost holds his fingertips in front of Johnny’s lips as an invitation, flicks his eyes down when they aren’t soaked immediately.

Johnny’s restless on his knees, shifting back and forth a little nervously and staring at the center of Simon’s chest.

“What is it?” Ghost finally asks, when the silence stretches long enough for it become clear that Johnny won’t be speaking first.

His eyes dart up to make eye contact, then down to his chest again. “Sir… I want… can I get off too? Please?”

Ghost nearly moans louder than he had when coming.

“Good boy for asking, Johnny,” he praises, petting the pup a few times and cooing at the way Johnny leans into his hand. “You need permission to come from now on, yeah? Here,” he moves his still-booted foot between Johnny’s spread knees, lifts his heel to push into his crotch a bit, smiles at the sharp jerk and whine it elicits. “Grind on this puppy. Take as long as you need.”

Johnny’s pupils are fully blown when he looks up at Ghost, the saddest little crease in his forehead and pout on his lips. Simon’s glad he’s got the mask, so Johnny can’t see the way he beams. “C’mon,” two taps of his steel-toes on the ground. “Thought you wanted to get off? I’m not stayin’ here all night, pup.”

That gets Johnny jolting forward, one hand curling up behind Simon’s knee to anchor himself and the other resting on the chair between his thighs. He thrusts tentatively a few times, eyes squeezed shut and forehead pressed deep into Simon’s knee. Doesn’t even think of wrapping a hand around his own cock.

Ghost lets him hide for a bit, but once Johnny’s hips start really working, once he starts letting out little moans and his hands start twitching, he grips Johnny’s chin and rests it on his knee, so he’s looking up at Ghost and his scrunched up face is easy to see.

“Hmm,” Simon hums, running a hand over Johnny’s head and scratching a bit behind his ears. “There you go. Good boy, Johnny, humpin’ my boot. So good for me.”

He gets off quicker than Simon expects, only a few more thrusts and Johnny’s hips jerk to a stop, a moan falling from parted lips.

They both stay like that for a bit. Ghost, relaxed back in Price’s chair with a hand on Johnny’s head, and Soap, knelt between his Lieutenant’s knees and leaning most of his weight on his calf. Eventually Simon pulls them both up, guides a drowsy Johnny to his room, sends him off to bed with an affectionate squeeze to his neck and a final, “Good boy.”

Johnny avoids him for a few days. He still makes Ghost’s tea in the morning, but instead of lighting up when Ghost enters a room he’s quick to leave it, standing across the room from him during briefings. His sudden aversion and nerves pisses Simon off a bit, but he tells himself to just be patient, to let Johnny work through his thoughts on his own time. Or at least for another day or two.

It takes three days for Johnny to break. It’s that third night that he knocks on Ghost’s door, the halls already empty and silent.

He looks disheveled, hair completely askew and his worn t-shirt and pajama pants both sitting awkwardly on his frame. He’s got this stressed look in his eyes, pin-sized pupils, and a harshness to his breathing. Simon doesn’t have to do more than raise an eyebrow - no mask this late at night - for him to start begging.

“You fuckin’… you said I had to ask.”

Ghost plays at confusion. Cocks his head to the side a bit. “Ask for what, Johnny?”

Johnny snarls, hands fisted where they rest on the doorway. “To fucking… fo fucking come. You said I had to ask, and now I can’t- I can’t fuckin’ get off, L.t.”

He looks so desperate, the poor thing - cheeks ruddy, eyes a little teary and red, the harsh line of cock clear as day in those flannel pants. He looks a bit like he’s coming apart at the seams, so Ghost has mercy and finally steps aside to let him in, locking the door behind them.

“You need permission.” Ghost leans back on the wall, crossing his arms across his chest and one ankle over the other.

“Yeah,” Johnny scoffs with a little half-laugh. “My bloody cock seems to think so.”

“No. You need permission, because your pleasure is mine. Because you are mine.”

“My pleasure is- what?” Johnny’s forehead creases and his lips curl. “What the fuck are you on about? I don’t fuckin’-“

“Then how come you can’t get off?”

“Because- it’s- och, awa’ an bile yer heid, I can get off just fine on my own any other day, don’t need permission- “ he sneers at the word “- from any bastard. ‘Specially not you.”

Cute. Puppy’s throwing a little tantrum.

Ghost just raises an eyebrow, glances down at the tent in Johnny’s pants. “Go ahead then.”

Soap’s head tears back a bit. “What - get off? Here?”

“Do you need it in Spanish?”

Johnny just scowls, glances away from Simon and pushes his pants down just enough that the waistband hooks under his balls - it’s a testament to his own desperation that he hardly even thinks about Ghost’s order. His cock bounces straight up to his stomach, a dark red that’s nearly purple.

“That looks like it hurts, Johnny.”

“Cause it fuckin’ does,” Johnny snarls, wrapping a harsh hand around his noticeably slick cock. His strokes are tentative at first, but quickly become fast and almost careless.

Ghost watches with a careful eye. Johnny’s got no finesse when locked in his own need like this, doesn’t bother to tighten his fist at all or even twist his wrist on the downstroke. Just holds his fingers together and fucks the little hole.

Notably, he doesn’t finish. Keeps glancing up every time he seems to get close, and it’s like the sight of Ghost brings him back from the edge, stuck unintentionally edging himself again and again. It makes him feral, makes him whiney and a little teary, and Ghost wants to swallow him whole.

After a few minutes Johnny rips his hand away from his cock with what seems like a Herculean effort, smacking his palm against his thigh. “See? I can’t fuckin’…”

“Come,” Ghost finishes. “It’s because you don’t have permission. That stupid little puppy brain of yours knows that, even if you want to pretend you don’t.”

“Then-“ a little animal noise of desperation, and Johnny gives himself a fast and hard stroke before throwing his hand off again. “Then gimme permission.”

Ghost tilts his head back, shows off the long line of his throat. “Why should I? You haven’t been very polite tonight, puppy. Most I’d give you is my leg to hump, but with your attitude I’m not sure you even deserve that.”

Johnny stumbles forward a bit, falls to his knees a step away from Ghost. “No, no, L.t., please, I’ll take anythin’. Need to come so fuckin’ bad.”

Ghost just shakes his head with a sigh. “That’s not my problem. I’m still not seeing anything in this for me.”

A high keen slides from Johnny’s throat, one that lights his face up red and makes him avert his eyes until he works his courage back up. “I’ll… I’ll suck your cock?”

The scowl on Ghost’s face isn’t manufactured. “That’s something you ask for, Johnny. Suckin’ my cock is a prívelege for bitches like you. You askin’ for that?”

Johnny scooches forward on his knees, balls hanging low and heavy beneath his thick cock. “Ok, ok, fine - please, please let me suck your cock, sir.”

Ghost tuts and shakes his head slowly, but sets his feet at shoulder width and stands from the wall. “No, Johnny. You get to beg like a dog. Y’know why?”

Little tears bead at the corner of his eyes, but Johnny only shakes his head a little in response. Ghost bends down, locks a hand around his boy’s throat and keeps his face directly above him. “Tell me why, Johnny.”

“L.t….”

“Don’t whine. Tell me why you’re gonna beg like a dog for me.”

Johnny stares up at Simon like he’s destroying his whole world and rebuilding it at the same time, like there’s nothing that exists outside of them in this moment.

“Cause… cause I’m a dog?”

“That’s right,” Ghost purrs, stroking his hand up and down the column of his boy’s throat. “You’re my dog. So go on. Beg like a good boy and I might let you have a taste of my cock.”

Johnny’s eyes squeeze tight for a moment when Simon stands back up. He takes a minute, then opens them and flicks his gaze from Ghost’s cock to his face.

He lifts his hands, folds his fingers in half and tucks his thumbs to his palms, and holds them out in front of his chest, hanging limp like a pair of paws. His knees spread a little, lowering him further to the ground, and a moment later he opens his mouth, little pink tongue unfurling to rest on his lip.

“There ya go,” Simon rumbles, reaching to massage his cock through his sweats. “Go on. You’re doin’ so good, boy.”

Johnny whines at that, catches on to what Ghost wants when he tugs his pants down and pulls out his heavy cock. A heartbeat later he starts whining endlessly, little high pitched noises straight from his chest, wiggling around on his knees and leaning forward like he’ll sneak a taste.

“You want this?” Ghost asks, grabbing Soap by the hair and pulling his face to his dick. “Huh?” He doesn’t let him lick it, but thrusts his hips so he’s covering the mutt’s face in his precum. Johnny keeps up his begging, eyes desperately tracking the head as it rubs around his face.

“Alright,” Ghost snickers, pulling Johnny back and lining the tip of his cock with his lips. “Paws between your legs, puppy. No touching.” His first brutal thrust past Johnny’s lips muffles his whine.

He takes control of the blowjob this time, less Johnny sucking his cock and more Johnny getting his face fucked. Ghost doesn’t take into account his pup’s comfort, just pushes and pulls his head in the ways that feel best. He lets it drag on longer this time, enjoys the cockdrunk look in Johnny’s eyes.

The gagging sounds are salacious in his otherwise silent room. Johnny might be an experienced cocksucker, but Ghost knows how to push past his boundaries in any context. He doesn’t give him a chance to breathe, let’s Johnny find the ebbs and flows of his pace on his own. If Ghost cranes his head to the side he can see a little puddle of drool on the ground beneath them.

He doesn’t come down Johnny’s throat this time. He pulls out and jerks his cock quickly, watches the spurts of cum cover Johnny’s flushed cheeks and long eyelashes. He squeezes every last drop from his cock, gives his boy a proper facial.

It doesn’t take long for Johnny to start squirming around. He doesn’t speak - smart boy - but he whines and moans, looks up at Ghost with those pathetic puppy dog eyes and ruts into the air.

“Alright,” Ghost sighs once he’s come down a bit from his high. “Go ahead puppy, you can hump. No touching yourself though, be a good boy for me.”

Ghost is nearly knocked into the wall behind him with the force of Johnny mounting his calf. He gets both arms wrapped tight around Simon’s thigh, his face buried into his wet cock and his hips working furiously to get himself off. Ghost can feel Johnny’s dick through the fabric of his pants, feels his own cock twitch a little at his pup’s desperation.

Johnny finishes even faster this time than he had last time - only to be expected after three days of edging himself. His pupils are blown wide, jaw hanging loose and drool slipping from the corner of his lips.

Ghost gives him a second to recover, then steps away. Poor Johnny falls forward, nearly smacking his head into the wall before Simon catches him by the neck.

“Clean up your mess, puppy. You slobbered all over the floor.”

It’s a testament to how far gone Johnny truly is that he doesn’t hesitate, ducks down on his hands and knees as soon as Simon commands and starts licking the filthy floor.

Ghost hums, runs a hand down Johnny’s back and to his ass. He crouches down behind the boy, pulls his pajamas the rest of the way off so they’re loose at his knees.

His hole is a little slick, like maybe he wormed a finger or two in there when he tried to steal an orgasm. Not very well stretched, though, the little rosebud looks virgin-tight.

Ghost rumbles audibly as he spreads Johnny’s cheeks, blowing a little breath over his hole and relishing the sudden yip, the little buck of his hips.

“Nice and clean back here, Johnny. You’ve got a right puppycunt.” He emphasizes his words with a harsh slap to the little hole, using the flat of two of his fingers.

Johnny moans, a mix of pleasure and what’s probably humiliation. He starts to lift his head up, but Ghost shoves him back down by the back of his neck. “You’re not finished with your job, dog. Keep licking. What I do with your pretty little hole shouldn’t distract you from your orders.”

Another whine, another smack. Ghost appreciates the slight redness on his crack starting to appear, gives the vulnerable area a few more harsher taps to emphasize it. The puppy moans and groans away, but he doesn’t lift his head again so Simon lets him be.

He spreads his cheeks again, leans in and licks from Johnny’s taint to his hole. He digs in there, tongue prodding into the tight little bud and spitting so he can slick his own way

Johnny’s squirmy beneath him, but Ghost’s tight grip on his ass keeps him still enough, so he lets him be. He stays head-down-ass-up, and that’s all that really matters.

Ghost eats his boy out as sloppily as he can. He doesn’t plan on going far enough to grab lube, so what Johnny gets from his mouth is all he’ll get to ease the stretch.

He slips a finger in eventually, a stretch that has Johnny moaning like a bitch in heat. He can’t help but smile, bites the meat of Johnny’s ass to keep from laughing. A second finger slips in easily, and Ghost takes his time properly stretching him for a bit. Wouldn’t want to hurt the new puppy so soon.

Johnny isn’t content with the pace for long. As soon as he’s adjusted to the stretch of Ghost’s thick fingers, he’s wiggling around again. This time he pushes himself up on his hands, tries to glance over his shoulder.

“Pl-please, please, sir, need you, need your cock so bad-“

A snarl tears from Ghost’s throat. He leans forward enough to slam Johnny back to the floor, ignoring the shout of true pain from the man. He quickly moves back and grabs Johnny’s half-hard dick, tugs the useless thing straight up to his stomach with one hand and uses the other to land a series of blows against his balls.

Johnny starts wailing, face still on the floor but the rest of him clambering to get away. “Si-Simon-!”

“Shut the fuck up, boy. You don’t get to fuckin’ talk. Dogs don’t fucking talk.” He punctuates nearly every word with a slap, relishes the way he starts to sob and go limp from the onslaught.

“Bad boy, Johnny,” he finally says, stops the mini-punishment with a final open-palmed smack. He keeps Johnny’s balls in a tight grip, tugs them down another minute. “Very bad boy. You don’t speak without command, understood?”

He can see Johnny nodding against the floor, can see the whites of his eyes and the stiff line of his shoulders. But he doesn’t make a sound.

“Not good enough. Tell me you understand - properly.”

Johnny whimpers a little, shuffles his knees back and forth and looks over his shoulder at Ghost with the most confused look in his eyes.

Ghost decides to take mercy on him. With a sigh, he explains, “Bark, MacTavish. Bark for me.”

And he does. Perfect, sweet boy that he is, he opens his mouth and starts barking for his master. Little puppy sounds from a puppy boy, music to Simon’s ears.

“There it is. Alright, you’re forgiven, puppy. Keep workin’ on your mess while I stretch your pretty pussy for my cock.”

There’s another moan at that, but Ghost sees the way his cock twitches up against his stomach. With a smirk he goes back to work, skipping a third finger in and drawing a moan from Johnny.

He doesn’t waste much more time stretching Johnny, spreads his fingers wide a few times before pulling out and shuffling closer - his knees between Johnny’s spread thighs so the smaller man can’t close his legs.

He strokes a hand over Johnny’s hips, gets a good firm hold at his waist and gives him a little shake. “Be good now, Johnny. Keep your cunt loose for me.”

He slides into Johnny’s heat in one long stroke, head rolling back on his neck and a groan coming from deep within his chest. Johnny tightens up almost immediately, moaning beneath him, but Simon keeps a steady pressure and sinks balls-deep in only a few seconds.

He doesn’t give Johnny any time to adjust to the stretch, tightens his grip on the pup’s hips and fucks him at his own pace. He isn’t nice about it, punching himself deep into Johnny’s guts and carving a space in his cunt that’s Simon shaped.

Johnny yelps a little, wiggles in his spot, but Simon’s got a good hold and he isn’t going anywhere. Keeps fucking him how he wants, and a few thrusts in Johnny goes limp beneath him.

“Like that, boy?” Simon growls, hunching over and placing his lips right at Johnny’s ear. “Like me fucking you deep in your puppycunt? Huh?”

Johnny doesn’t even need any prompting to start barking again. Ghost knew he’d be the perfect puppy once he had someone to show him how he’s truly meant to act. Just a needy little bitch, begging for cock and someone to keep him in his place.

Ghost tucks a hand into Johnny’s hair, holds his face to the floor and puts his back into fucking him.

“That’s a good fuckin’ dog, my good boy, Johnny. Feel so tight around me - perfect little hole for me, huh? Little limp doggy for me to fuck? God, you feel so good around me. Fuckin’ perfect cunt, made just for me. Bark for me some more, Johnny, go on - yes, yes, just like that, c’mon, good boy, such a good boy for me, fuck-”

Ghost’s hips jerk to a stop deep inside Johnny, his cum planted as far into the boy as he could get it. He rests his forehead against Johnny’s shoulder while he catches his breath, the sound of Johnny’s whimpers and moans fading in and out.

He gathers himself a few heartbeats later, straightens up and pulls out. He watches the way his come slides out of Johnny’s fucked open hole, pushes his thumb in the stop the drip for just a moment.

He gives a perfunctory little pat to Johnny’s ass, commands “Stay” before standing and ambling over to his dresser. He tucks a few things into the pockets of his sweats, twirls a little tail plug around in his hand.

“Good boy,” Ghost praises when he turns back and sees Johnny hasn’t moved a muscle. His cock hangs heavy between his thighs, but instead of moving to jerk himself he just lays there, looking a little dazed and confused. “Listen so well once you’ve been fucked dumb, huh, Johnny?”

There’s a little whine in response, and Ghost just chuckles as he kneels behind Johnny again. It takes no effort to slip the tail plug into his hole, keeping all of Ghost locked right inside Johnny - right where he’s meant to be. The pup hardly even notices past a little shift on his knees.

Ghost sits him up slowly, grabs him by the shoulder and pulls until he’s resting back on his heels and looking up at Ghost. The tail hangs low between his legs, right beneath where his dripping cock bobs in the air.

Johnny opens his mouth, starts to speak before Ghost hushes him to keep him out of trouble. “You been so good tonight, Johnny. Gotta be good a little longer for me, yeah?”

Johnny nods a little, brows scrunching together. His hand creeps toward his dick seemingly unconsciously, and Simon bats it away like it’s nothing more than a bothersome fly.

“No touching. Now - do you want to stay the night with me, or go back to your room? Bark once for my room and twice for yours, puppy.”

It takes a minute, a little tap to Johnny’s cheek to bring some coherence back to his eyes, but he lets out a little woof eventually.

Ghost doesn’t bother to hide his smile, strokes over Johnny’s head in soft little pets. “That‘s my good boy. C’mon, let’s get you ready for bed.”

He’s careful not to let Johnny move out of his puppy headspace. Keeps him on his knees with a hand on the shoulder, guides him with soft little taps to the side as he crawls over to the crate in the corner.

Johnny pauses at the sight of it, breath hitching as he looks up at Ghost. He’s got this look on his face - a mix of confusion, fear, and arousal - that makes Ghost think he might be able to come another time. Again, he opens his mouth to say something but Simon stops him before he can.

“You’re doing well, Johnny. Don’t fuck it up now, yeah? Now, puppies sleep in their crates before they’re trained - you sleep in my room, you sleep in the crate.”

Johnny keens, leaning away from Ghost’s hand on his neck a little and ducking his head low. Ghost just tuts, kneeling down in front of him. Johnny’s already made his decision - the correct one - and he’s not letting him go back on it.

“You’ll be fine, Johnny.” He soothes. “I’ll be right there in bed, not even six feet away. Crate’s got all you need - a nice mattress, a blanket, even some puppy pads if you can’t make it through ‘til morning. You can be good for me for one night, yeah pup?”

He doesn’t get much more than a slow blink and a hesitant nod, but it’s enough for him.

“Good. Now let’s get you in the right gear, so you don’t do anything silly like try and jerk that useless little cock of yours. Gimme your paw.”

Johnny whines at the derogatory language, but doesn’t fight when Ghost manhandles his hand into a black pup mitt, one that covers his skin from fingertip to wrist and doesn’t allow him to uncurl any of his fingers. He repeats the process with Johnny’s other hand, can’t help but smirk a little as he gets used to the weight and feel of them.

He gets a feel for them with his nose, brushing against the entirety of the glove like a real puppy might sniff a hand. Ghost lets him gnaw a little at the rounded tops, quickly locking a cock ring around Johnny’s rock-hard dick.

That gets his attention, gets Johnny jerking up and whining.

“Settle,” Ghost rumbles, letting a bit of sternness into his tone. “Your orgasms are mine, and I don’t want you coming again tonight. I’ll reconsider in the morning, but I’m not dealing with your humpin’ and moanin’ while I’m trying to sleep. Don’t pout.”

Johnny pouts, but Ghost is a generous owner, he lets it slide. This time. His poor pup’s done well with everything Simon has had him do so far, and he’s got a long night ahead of him.

He swings the crate door open and gestures to the dark interior. “Go on, boy. Go ahead and get comfy.”

Johnny goes with just a little pressure at his nape, but he can’t seem to resist whimpering and whining the whole time as he crawls forward. Simon locks the door, hooks a combination lock on the bars to make sure his puppy won’t get out before Ghost lets him.

He draws a blanket over the top and two sides of the crate, leaves the front open so Johnny will be able to see Ghost in his bed. He hunches over the crate one last time, dips his fingers through the bars to scratch at Johnny’s head.

“You’ve been a very good boy, Johnny. We’ll get you something nice in the morning, yeah? Just gotta stay here, quiet, for the night. Can you do that for me?”

Johnny gives a little nod, but a quick yank at his hair quickly has him correcting himself and barking once instead.

“There’s my good boy. Alright, sleep well.”

He gives one last little scritch to his boy’s scalp, then turns and gets into his own bed. The sound of Johnny shifting around and trying to get comfortable, his little whimpers when (presumably) his cock brushes against something - it’s the perfect lullaby for Simon to fall asleep to.

[damagedintellect]

Kunikida x Reader [Truth or Dare]

💌 Truth or Dare with the ADA: Kunikida's book of kissing techniques 💌  

Summary: A slow day in the office leads to a game of Truth or Dare. You thought it would be harmless fun but Dazai's seen the way you look at Kunikida and he just wanted to help.

Notes: My brain went "wouldn't it be funny if" so I had to write it

💌 Word count: 1,405 💌

It was an incredibly slow day in the office when Ranpo announced that he was bored. Nothing new. Although from across the room you could hear Dazai suggest playing a game since most people were lazing around anyway, well except for Kunikida. You didn’t mind playing a game but you didn’t exactly want to get in trouble. That’s when Atsushi chimed in “What about truth or dare? That’s fairly low effort! And then those who don’t really want to play can pick truth.”

Everyone else agreed since most people were participating only to amuse Ranpo, who huffed that choosing truth was lame and a cop out. It didn’t stop Kenji from choosing it though, causing the detective to groan. You had been quietly working away getting ahead for tomorrow as the game progressed. If no one wanted to choose you then you would happily sit and watch. Kunikida set another stack of papers down on his desk, catching everyone’s attention for a moment. He’s probably annoyed that most people were goofing off instead of doing their work. You wondered if he would play if someone chose him? 

“Dazai, truth or dare?” Atsushi grinned. He just thought of a good use of the game.

Dazai brought his hand under his chin proudly exclaiming. “Dare, obviously! Do your worst!”

Clapping his hands, Atsushi revealed the greatest strategy for the game “Perfect, I dare you to buy me chazuke!”

Chaos was unleashed as everyone was cackling. So many wasted turns of stupid dares like making Ranpo speak in the third person or having Junichiro turn all his clothes inside out. This one was actually brilliant. Dazai didn’t know what to say, he definitely wasn’t expecting that but he should have figured it would be something like that. 

Dazai smirked. “Fine. (Y/N), Truth or dare?”

You perked up from your seat not expecting to be called on. “Truth.” 

You heard Ranpo shout “Lame!” as Dazai thought for a moment.

“Oh I know who do you have a crush on?” He stared back proud of himself for putting you on the spot like that. You quickly glanced at Kunikida in your peripheral vision. His back was turned to you. Clearing your throat you needed to give at least some answer so instead you say. “You know what actually I meant dare!”

Dazai’s grin widened as if he was prepared for you to back out. “I dare you to kiss Kunikida!”

“What! You can’t be serious?” That bastard painted you into a corner. 

“Or you could answer question, either way you have to pick one!” Dazai smirked knowingly. He’d already known your feelings were for Kunikida. By the way he was wiggling his eyebrows at you it felt like he was trying to express that he was helping you move your crush along.

Kunikida stopped what he was doing pushing up his glasses. “If it’s consent you're worried about I’ll allow it. He never said it had to be on the lips after all, I'd hate for you to admit something you don’t want to.” He turned to glare at the brunette “Dazai stop making everyone uncomfortable. I don’t care if you guys keep playing but-ffmpfhff”

When Kunikida wasn’t paying attention you had walked up beside his chair and kissed him on the lips. You stormed out of the office before you could see his reaction. Your cheeks were burning as you paced outside the door.

Ranpo cheered as chaos once again consumed the office. He didn’t think you’d have the guts to do it. Of course he’s known from the start about your crush but he knew better to not get involved. Now this was entertaining. Kunikida stopped mid sentence. His heart was pounding in his chest from a simple touch of the lips. It didn’t even last that long to his dismay but it made his train of thought crash all together. He's admired your drive and work ethic but that was all. He would never fantasize about his coworkers out of respect but that chaste kiss sparked something.

Dazai was laughing as he leaned over his desk “Earth to Kunikida? How did it feel to be (Y/N)’s first kiss?” He was talking out of his ass but with the frazzled look on Kunikida’s face the blonde seemed to have believed him. Kunikida stood up smacking Dazai with his book as he went after you. The blonde felt bad for taking something that usually is very important to people. He was going to make it up to you.

You wondered if you should go back in or just go home. Looking at the time it wouldn’t make much of a difference. As you took a step towards the staircase you heard Kunikida call your name “(Y/N) wait. I wanted to apologize, I really had no idea.”

Ah so he figured it out. This is where you get rejected now isn't it? You’ve never gotten to see his list of ideals but you can’t imagine with 58 of them being what he looks for in a partner, well you doubt you could possibly match every one of them. Although you do wonder how many of the 58 you do meet. You let Kunikida catch up to you before you spoke. You didn’t want to be shouting about your feelings from across the hallway. 

“It’s okay really if anything it was Dazai’s fault so,” You didn’t meet his gaze opting to look at your feet. Honestly you were surprised that he even followed you out but Kunikida would be the type to let you down easy face to face. In that case you might as well ask. “So about the kiss, did you at least like it?”

He pushed up his glasses. “Your lips were tense and a little off center. It was also too quick for me to really feel anything but for your first kiss I’d say it was adequate. You don’t want to be too firm with your approach.”

You blinked at him. At least he didn’t hate it? Although it wasn’t your first kiss, but if he was making excuses for your bizarre behavior just now then you’ll take it. “I guess I just need a little more practice.”

He cleared his throat. He doesn't know why he feels the need to divulge this information to you. Maybe it's the guilt of robbing you of a proper first kiss. “I might not be the most experienced but I’ve studied the twenty four most common types of kisses and several techniques that one should master to be considered a good kisser.” He looked shyly to the side. If Dazai read that section of his journal he would never hear the end of it. “Of course it’s been a few years since I’ve touched those pages but I could help you if you wanted. Consider it penance for taking your first kiss.”

You know “Kunikida becoming your kissing instructor” wasn’t exactly on your bingo card for this year but if it means you get to spend alone time with him, you would have played truth or dare months ago. Guess you’d have to thank Dazai for this opportunity, maybe even Ranpo. 

You tried not to look too excited. “I’ll do my best.”

He looked relieved. Kunikida took off his glasses“Great, now relax your lips.” He took a breath to settle his nerves. Whether it was guilt, shame or embarrassment he’ll never know but there was a burning desire to kiss you again to make amends.

“Wait right now?”

He put his glasses in his pocket as he cupped your face. Seeing your cute expression would only cause him to hesitate. “We’ll start tomorrow but I wanted to show you what it’s supposed to feel like.” 

His eyes peered down at your lips as he leaned in delicately placing them on your own. You could feel the warmth rush to your cheeks as you melted into his touch. It was longer than your peck from earlier but it was still just a simple touch of the lips. The thought of Kunikida initiating the kiss made you lightheaded. As he pulled away you were breathless. It was a miracle that you could even stand right now.

“Well?” Kunikida cleaned his glasses before putting them back on. 

You smiled softly hoping that he couldn’t hear your racing heart beat “Looks like I have a lot to learn.”

[poorlittleyaoyao]

Well its iirc said that the reason JGY is managing the whole crowd as JGS' right hand is because Zixuan's off on business, so maybe JGS purposefully did not send for his honorable hot head of a son in love with Yanli who may have derailed the meeting in a way not beneficial to JGS. Or MXTX just didn't want him there.

Ooh, this is interesting, and it gives me an excuse to go on about how JGY is presented when we see him serving his father at events.

At the Nightless City victory banquet, JGY's role seems to signify a decent amount of status. He's working the event, but JGS is there making announcements and greeting guests right alongside him and he has his own seat with the rest of the gentry, in a prime location right between his half-brother and his eldest sworn brother.

Fast-forward to the Phoenix Mountain Hunt the following month, and things have changed. JGY is master of ceremonies, explaining the rules of the competition during the hunt and commending everyone's performances at the banquet. He makes announcements at his father's behest and stands up on the dais near the throne, which seems like it's a privileged role, except that this time, he doesn't get to sit down.

He alone greets guests as they enter, he alone circulates in an attempt to deescalate the various conflicts his cousin instigates, he alone is responsible for finding more monsters to hunt when people throw a hissy fit about WWX catching too many. His half-brother, meanwhile, participates in the contests, goes on an awkward not-a-date with his crush, and spends the entire banquet (with all its drama) seated in silence. JGY's seeming authority prevents him from participating in the festivities the way that his supposed peers do. Yeah, he's by the throne, but he's standing--not unlike the servants.

Now, to be clear, he does have a place set for him! When he stomps over to try and make Jin Zixun stop bullying the Twin Jades into doing shots, he rises from the place across the hall from Jin Zixuan that's unoccupied in the second image.

So JGY's certainly afforded more status than a servant, but he's not being treated like a family member, either. No other Jin family members or disciples rush up with a bowed head alongside one of the maids to offer JGS a new cup of wine after JGS flips a table in anger at WWX's disruption.

And it's certainly not Zixun (who instigated the disruption and embarrassingly lost the ensuing power struggle) or Zixuan (who is still trying to marry the disruption's elder sister even after she publicly turned him down) who are getting wine thrown on them for their trouble!

All this is to say, I'm surprised to hear that the novel explains JGY's role as something done out of necessity due to Zixuan's absence, because my takeaway from CQL is that these responsibilities are a deliberate attempt to set JGY apart from Zixuan as different and lesser. Zixuan's right there and he does nothing, either in fulfillment of an assigned duty or of his own volition. I can't imagine him overseeing an all-sect meeting, even on something that didn't tangentially involve his personal life.

[neonfretra]

does anyone want to discuss hrpf outside of shipping + written fic context . because i think about where what i do sits in relation to it all

for brevity i will be referring to the real person as the player and the fictionalized interpretation of the player as the character

to get things outta the way, i dont think theres very much you can say about real life people before you start crossin into real person fiction (rpf) territory LOL

transformative art is rpf. speculation is rpf. narratives is rpf. the second you start steppin away from a direct relay of the facts as is, we gettin in ficticious waters IMO. its really a neutral thing to me and my ethics begin and end at "dont show people who dont wanna see"

and its real funny to think about how i do art just because it feels like i set up way less barriers compared to people who DO write fic . i see all this talk about making sure you make your stuff login exclusive, about not sharin it to the people involved, disclaimers about how its in fact NOT a reflection of reality that your favorite athlete is mpregnant and YOU are are mfather.

and i just hit post and call it a day LOL

TO BE CLEAR there is definitely layers to it in the sense that i see similar amounts of caution with say ship art or certain degrees of raunch.

shipping in the rpf scene is funny to me in the sense of the tendency to treat shipping as THE exclusive rpf thing. like no i dont think my tomas tatar fanart is 1:1 on the reality front either. for example, nj devils hairline is not that far back and thags the only inaccuracy.

heres the kicker: mmy foot.

most of my doodles tend to evoke a degree of characterization or narrative. yeag maybe its a little less 30k slowburn and a little more fabian zetterlund shot putting a man but. that is fictional, that is a character

im not saying that rpf defines players more than the reality of them does but i do believe it does enforce certain views

in the spaces i hang around ive noticed the narrativization around certain characters being part fueled by the information that is filtered by reporters and part interpretations bounced back and forth by fandom . and when you have eyes on a story, its easy to pick out information solely as it agrees with you

maybe the most prominent narrative ive seen for the sharks has been macklin celebrini having a jock dad -> therefore he got daddy issues, joe thornton houses him -> therefore mentor and father figure joe thornton? where even though i havent seen any direct relay of information from any players (though ivent been looking LOL) a lot of the discussion around it revolves around this common understanding that it just is (the funnier part is arguably that will smith hockey has been doing more for this narrative for patrick marleau BUT NEITHER HERE NOR THERE.)

and its really interesting to note HOW fandom warps or weaves the story by going off common tropes or dynamics to make sense of the public facing parts we do see, which is what i think is magnified through the lens of fanworks but not (necessarily) CREATED by fanworks

which is where i feel my work is part of the. ecosystem??? life cycle??? and then we all return to the dirt and the worms eat us???

how much or how little we define the gap between player and character changes from person to person. i simply do not have that goin on here. devin cooley eats joey daccords hair take it or leave it. annnnd main tag that

other times i feel we wear the divide thin are when there is headcanon that uses facts about the player (ie a lot of ship talk) or when the character becomes the kneejerk understanding of the player (ie liveblogs. very fun way to get a read of a communitys feelings on something because of how immediate the reactions on it are)

the point of this post isnt to shame or interrogate people about participating in rpf, im not looking for those sort of feelings, im fascinated by fandom culture as a twig off the old branch and i would love to hear other perspectives on the same topic (and different communities! i dont have much involvement in fic. which is. a massive hole in my perspective on this probably)

is it possible to cross the line from rpf to plain old original content LOL (the answer is intent i know but. walk with me here its fun to think about)

naturally theres a degree of "original character" to every depiction . you gotta make up some amount of it. theres no clear separation OF rpf and original content because everything is about borrowing. you make characters with inspiration from other things. its near enough universal for someone who deals with characters to have at some point lifted a character directly out of their original context and made them their own.

its not just their face or name or some other physical attribute that makes it rpf id also argue because i have seen people using attributes of real people as "claims" for origubal characters (like a "faceclaim" to say "this is how i imagine my character to look")

on top of that there is fluctuating interest on actually depicting the player, with approaches that i have heard of ranging from "character that shares the quantitative aspects of the player and thats IT" to "character that was made heavily referencing to things the player has said/done"

its interesting when certain players in rpf have a consistent character! which trends to be in teams with a more active rpf oriented fanbase (vs interest mainly in the real life hockey played), comparing the fandom of kraken to the golden knights on tumblr for instance. its also interesting to note that more popular teams just have more rpf centric leans. because there are more people to write rpf. i mean also we are on a fandom centric site and rpf bridges that gap from narrative/character fueled media and sportsball more LOL

(if you like sports from a purely sports oriented angle do you enjoy watching it? genuine question. because at what point is it "i could just be doing this myself" because ive hit that point with other things before LMAO)

i do call the difference being more "fandom" oriented but IDK if thats correctly using the word or just less syllables. and on top of that i cant exactly tell you if its popularity or stand out personality that holds more sway. though then again i guess those two traits arent separate from each other necessarily. or even that those are the only two factors to broad appeal (probably popularity with another player is up there. but im not trying to find a formula for most attractive to make rpf of)

to return to the kraken because that is the most rpf oriented team i follow, i do notice when players portrayed consistently. i can definitely tell you like. one or two character traits about players i do not follow the media of solely from liveblogs and art. complexity of the character varies by a lot, though i do think its interesting to consider the hows and whys.

a trait or interest being highlighted by media (i tend to see this in offical media coverage that gets spread by jokes) -> the character heavily revolves around this feature in jokes or casual reference, with heavy personal interpretation

media pushing a narrative by following a more cohesive timeline or story structure (i usually see this in fanworks. easier to identify the influence of IMO) -> fairly consistent character backstory or , at least in the broad strokes of it

just general agreements about tropes that are appealing with little basis on the player -> this is usually the more relationship focused character interpretation

there isnt usually just one factor (and this isnt an exhaustive list of factors) to one characters history. unless its a super new player on the radar.

its definitely a character that belongs to the fandom! as in the unique character to the unique community! its actually really funny how they evolve. you could probably fingerprint someones influences if you tried hard enough. with how new the kraken is (and the fact the fandom leans more towards being united as one body than any other team ive seen so far) it does get pretty easy to get it down to the post but. do your own treasure search. I wont deprive you!

(also its EMBARASSING... what if the people i mention SEE... im SHY...)

harder with an older fandom like the sharks there are so many dead and defunct sources or jokes so widely spread that it gets hard to locate the origin . because dead and defunct sources. though i think its growing a new ring around the fandom tree because of the newer players! so its a thought. to think about how different events influence the size and activity of a fanbase and to ask how different fans from different. eras? of a fanbase interact (or dont).

again i notice this in the sharks fandoms by comparing fans from the playoff contending sharks era (last playoff season was 18-19? start is a little murky but ill toss out that 2012 was the year tomas hertl was drafted because tomas hertl was an era of the sharks LOL a whole 12 years! i know people younger than his professional career and those people are catching up to me in height. humbling!) and fans from when the sharks were very much not playoff contending (quite an amount of the current active fans LOL). not sure if theres much to say without looking stupid. different jokes, notable players, friend groups, feelings towards other teams. all still feel very strongly about general manager mike grier scattering players like dandellion seeds to the wind.

(AGAIN. HOPING NO SHARKS FANS NOTICE THIS. IM SHY)

how many sharks fans havent seen logan couture on ice

again i am saying all this as someone who ACTIVELY participates in this BTW!!! does anyone notice that players i dont know definitely have a flatter "whatever is the funniest thing to say" angle . or that characters of players i know a few things about have like one punchline . or even that certain characters are consistent and not just bound by direct interpretations of one moment (which i do a lot of when im liveblogging) (dont get your hopes up for anything new here, the character usually is "pathetic and a little bit of a bastard")

i keep writing these disclaimers like. if someone disagreed this strongly they would not be reading this far. hi! is anyone still here. is someone still reading.

i have created life and i dont know to kill it.

i talk about one of my depictions of a player as a separate character (that is to say, a SEPARATE character from the character intended to represent the player) and i have NO idea if this is like. an OC? a defamation case in waiting? my spawn? do i have to pay childcare. does anyone know who or what im talking about or has the character been festering in my mind like an infection.

is it just me???

my advice to you: if you dont want somethin to come back dont give it a name.

consider dissecting your personal and the more widespread fandoms take on players and characters! its fun for me but i also just like taking things apart ^_^ i fear i may not be as analytical as this post demands i do a lot of restating information and thats it

[elsaellaelys]

Heyyy what’s up?

Can I make a request for JJ Maybank where Kiara is in love with him and he’s in a relationship with the reader? Kie tries to get JJ away from the reader and all and to make her realize that he is hers the reader sucks him off in the Chateau’s living room with the door open so that everyone else, including Kiara, hears. And then some more smut?

Thxxx😘❤️

Just a reminder of whom he belongs to

pairing: JJ Maybank x fem!reader

1.085 words

WARNINGS: 18+, sex content.

a/n: Oh my God! I'm so happy my first request is such a good one, I loved it! Hope you enjoy.

--★--

It started in the Pogueland.

JJ asked Y/N to come fishing with him, she hesitated, caught up in helping Sarah braid some coconut tree leaves, then Kiara gladly accept something that wasn't offered to her. JJ went to fish, leaving his girlfriend with a kiss on the cheek, they came back some time later happy with a Manta Ray, Kiara hugged JJ for too long and Y/N found it weird, wasn't Kiara the type of affective neglectful person?

She noticed the girl's long looks to her blonde boy, her boy, always finding a reason to walk alone in the beach with him, flipping Y/N out of any conversation, creating internal jokes that she didn't wanted to explain. Of course when they all were  around the fire JJ would instinctively sitted next to his girl, putting a arm around her, smelling the sea in her hair, Y/N couldn't hold herself from kissing him deeply every time she caught Kie staring, fidgeting his shark tooth necklace, hands running down his abs, holding tight the waist of his shorts, just to make sure she knew who he belonged to.

That wasn't enough to keep her away though, especially when they were back to OBX.

This night the pogues decided to have a little bit of peace in the hot tub, the seven of them trying to fit together, Y/N staying in her boyfriend's lap. He got up to grab more beers, complaining about being the one to do it, Kiara squeezed Y/N into Cleo's side, JJ came back, setted the beers in the ice bucket, looked around the tub and took the free place beside Kiara without saying a thing. The water was hot in her legs, but JJ was the one keeping her shoulders warm with his arms, her jaw clenched lightly. Talk floated in the time, Y/N didn't felt like participating though, cause her boyfriend was in the funniest flirty conversation with their friend, the ultimate limit was when Kiara leaned on his shoulder, hands rounding his arms, holding a little too tight, and Y/N had enough. Brutally getting off the hot tub she stood behind JJ pocking his shoulder, he untangled himself from Kiara to turn around.

"Are you busy?" she questioned and with clear exasperation in her ton completed. "It seems like you are."

JJ furrowed his eyebrows confused. "No, I'm not. What you're talking about?"

"Can you come inside with me?"

The silence was screaming between the friends as he got up and followed her, they were probably going to say something like "He's fucked." or "Dead ass." if Kiara wasn't the reason and if she wasn't right there watching Y/N walk JJ like a little dog.

The couple were inside the Chateau, but their talk could be plainly heard trought the open door.

"What the fuck was that?" Y/N asked shoving his shoulder.

"That what?"

"You! And Kiara! Fucking cuddling in the fucking tub!"

"We weren't cuddling!"

"I'm fucking full of this shit! Kiara is being all over you since the Pogueland and you're pretending nothing is wrong! She tasted John B., Pope and now she's wanting a piece of you. No, better saying, she wants you all for her!"

JJ didn't got time to defend himself cause Y/N was angrily shouting at him cornering he towards the couch. "But she can't..." he tried to say, but she cutted him. "Yes! She can't! Cause you're all mine. Do you want me to show that to you? Because it looks like you need a reminder."

Y/N pushed JJ to the couch, taking his swim shorts down his legs grabing his cock so fast he didn't even realized until she pumping it, bringing it up too quickly cause he was already half turn on by her anger. His eyes fluttered shut when he felt her spit slip down his length, the feel of her tongue running on him making his dick rock hard.

"Fuck Y/N." he whispered.

"I know, moan for me, I want everybody to hear how good I make you feel." Her voice wasn't angry anymore, it was sweet and sexy but dominative, he could just groan in answer.

"Do you like this? Do you want me to put you in my mouth?"

"Yes! Shit! Oh fuck!" he cursed over and over, his tip was now hitting the back of her throat.

"Uhmm... You're so tasty." she pleased as she pulled back. He moan again, loving the amazing blowjob and dirty talk he knew just Y/N could give him.

"You wanna fuck my mouth, baby?" His eyes begged, in ecstasy with the offer, hands going to her hair to hold her mouth in the place, his hips bucking into her, he felt the warmth grow in his balls.

He gave up the sensation as it was starting to feel too much, Y/N notice it, softly stroking his dick, the other hand cupping his balls. "Does it feels too much, baby? Do you wanna cum already?"

"Yes!"

"Then beg for it. I might let you cum inside my mouth, and you know I'll swallow."

He almost cummed at the thought of his seed down his pretty girlfriend's throat. "Please Y/N, please, let me cum. I'll be good, I promise."

She smirked with his cock between her lips, JJ loved this view, he sure wanted she to know that he wasn't giving her up for anything in the world.

"Fuck, babe, I'm cumming." he warned, she opened her mouth, tongue hold out, just the way she knew he liked, cumshots landing on it. She sucked his dick one more time before swallowing his cum, trying to milk every drop, he whined out of overstimulation.

"Thought you were going to be good for me, good boys don't whine, J." She said, going up and down with her mouth around him, he cried in pleasure, her hand was bumping him, her tongue swiping and he couldn't hold, falling apart inside her mouth again.

She pulled back, JJ tried to reach her for a kiss but she didn't accepted.

"Lay down, I wanna sit in your face. You're gonna get so pussy drunk that you're going to forget everything but my name."

Outside, Sarah putted her hands over her ears. "Oh my God, can someone please play some music?!" Kiara just wanted to drow in the tub.

"Totally." Pope agreed reaching for his phone looking around for a speaker. "Oh fuck, I think the speaker is inside."

--★--

Bonus (because I had to write it):

Imagine the next morning, JJ comes out of the room, hair all messy, looking so satisfied. For the first time he goes for a glass of water instead of his usual beer. "Thirsty?" John B. mockingly asks. JJ just shrugs going to lay on the couch besides Y/N, putting her into his lap. "Not anymore, John B." Y/N answered. "Not anymore."

[shares-a-vest]

Eddie and Steve's apartment morphs into what can only be described as a baby-proofed cluttered mess when Joanie enters their lives. And it only gets worse once she starts crawling.

Wayne discovers this when he arrives for a short stay over after being called up by the boys, proudly announcing their daughter began getting around on her own.

He chuckles as he looks around the cramped and crowded apartment. He suspects its more a case of keeping necessities within convenient arms reach than anything else. Plus, giving the kid the run of the place.

The dining table is a sight, covered in textbooks and paperwork from Steve's studies. And judging by the highchair set up close to the only cleared dining chair, she must be keeping him company too.

Steve gives a hurried, “Hi” and rushes to said table, collecting up his work to organise into one pile.

The living room is another story.

Each piece of furniture is pushed to the edges of the small room, like it's bursting at the seams and ready to explode out the windows. Everything is out of reach too, including the relatively harmless television remote.

Relatively harmless when you consider Eddie once dunked Wayne's remote into a short-lived fish tank years back...

His old coffee table is pushed up against the wall, making space for a playpen. In the centre of the room is a playmat, where his granddaughter is rolling around as that demonic black cat, Ozzy, examines her from after before vaulting over the couch and disappearing completely.

God knows where that other grey nightmare has got to.

“We live on the floor now,” Eddie enthuses, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

Steve grumbles and nods with grave seriousness as he appears next to him. Despite the good thirty years between them, on a bad day, Steve suffers from the same level of back pain.

“Come on,” Eddie beams, “I gotta show you all the stuff Joanie can do.”

His nephew puffs out his chest, proud.

Wayne smiles. He gets it, he really does. Even though he didn’t become Eddie’s legal guardian until the kid was ten, he’d spent enough time looking after him during the earlier milestones to take pride in them too.

“Eddie, our daughter isn’t a dog!” Steve chastises, pinching his nose.

“What?” Eddie feigns innocence, “I just want to show off all her tricks to her Pa!”

“If anything, that made her sound even more like a participant in a dog show!” Steve reiterates, glaring before lowering down at a snail's pace to join Joanie on the floor.

“Don’t worry,” Eddie mumbles, leaning in with his typical lack of personal space, “He’s just grumpy because he has a bunch of studying to do this weekend.”

“I can hear you, Eddie!” Steve calls from his spot on the floor, “And I’ll have time for us to watch a game,” he looks at his surroundings and grimaces, “… Maybe we’ll go to a sports bar.”

Eddie practically lunges into the living area and bumps into Steve on his way to joining his family, almost toppling the boy sideways.

Wayne follows along slowly, his bad knee already paining him at the thought of sitting on the floor and also (mainly) the dread of somehow finding his way back up.

“You know you’re gonna have to help me up off this rug,” he gripes, sitting on the couch with a loud sigh, "If I had’a known I was gonna end up with a rambunctious granddaughter scuttlin’ around, I would’a billed that top-secret Doc for a knee replacement.”

His back pains a little as he goes, lowering to the floor as he braces himself with his arm on the couch.

“I can ask Nancy to look into that,” Steve offers as he spots him, “… If you want, of course!”

Wayne waves the boy away as he settles with his back against the couch.

Eddie soon slaps at his shoulder as Joanie rolls onto her stomach and pushes up with her hands.

They all sit up a little straighter eager and expectant.

Joanie takes off, crawling with vigour as she makes little grunting noises to spur herself on. She bypasses Steve, who whimpers with disappointment like a sad puppy. And she quickly zooms past Eddie too.

Wayne’s heart swells his granddaughter pauses to look up at him with a wide, toothy smile. But she goes on her way, making a beeline for a purple sparkly dragon plushie upended next to Steve's coveted recliner.

Of course that's what Eddie's offspring would prioritise getting her little hands on.

Joanie plops herself down, holding the toy up in victory as she makes spittle-filled whooshing noises and waves it about.

She remains with her back to the trio left for dust on the other side the living room, off in her own floor-based world.

More of this au HERE

[acrystalwitch]

(***NO N*zis or TERFs allowed to interact with this post or my blog*** This is a post for Norse pagans or polytheists looking to work with Odin. This is all based on my own experiences working with the all father and nothing here is to be taken as a hard fact. If your practice differs from my own that is totally fine. There will be a lot of UPG and SPG)

An incomplete summary of Odin in Norse mythology.

Odin, god of war and wisdom is a key figure in the Norse myths and is involved in a lot of the stories. He is the head of the Norse gods and is called the All father, because it’s by him that all of humans were created. He is married to Frigg and together they had Baldur and Hodr. Odin also has other sons, Thor, Vali, and Vidar.

He has two ravens Huginn and Muninn, and two wolves Geri and Freki.

He only has one eye, he sacrificed his other eye by throwing it into Mimir’s well in exchange for knowledge that could better help him prevent Ragnarok.

Another famous story of his is when he hung upside down from the tree of life for nine days and nine nights to get knowledge of other worlds and to be able to know everything about the runes.

The type of magic he practices (Seiðr) was a feminine type of magic that wasn’t always looked highly on when men would participate in it. Yet our Allfather was very practiced in it.

My experience working with him: One thing to know about working with Odin going in, he will be very honest and blunt. My other deities have a habit of being softer on my feelings than I’ve heard other devotees say they’ve been with them, I’m assuming because I’m very sensitive. But Odin..? He does not care. He will stop giving advice if I tell him I don’t want to hear it. But, if I ask for advice…oh boy, am I gonna get his full opinion. He is very much a father in the way he goes about things, he cares but he wants his followers to push themselves as much as they can, learning as much as you can and always growing, never staying sedentary for too long.

I have a notebook dedicated to him that I’ve been using to work on learning the runes and that seems to be the best offering to give him in my practice right now. He never misses a chance to remind me I need to get back to learning the runes too.

I always wondered why it mattered so much to him that I learn them. Eventually he told me that it was because they really would be useful in spells, and wards and making bind runes out of them is something I’m learning to do now.

He is not the easiest deity to work with, he may even push your buttons on purpose to get you to think harder on things. I’ve noticed he’s even been rude before just to see if I’d stand up for myself and set boundaries and then he’ll explain himself after. Lots of tests trials and teachings. But man, is it worth it for the immense amount of knowledge and mentorship that he can bring. All in all, I’m glad he came to me later in my practice as I might’ve been scared off from deity work if he was the first. But, I love him to pieces and hope to work with him for a long time.

Offerings and associations of Odin

(Odin does not eat food so I’ve seen many people say not to give him food offerings, I disagree! Give him things that he can feed to Geri and Freki. He is known to still fill his plate and just give them bits over meals. So don’t hesitate to gift him any food offerings you would to any other Norse god)

-colors: gray, dark blue, black

- tree Imagery, Yggdrasil in particular

- raven Imagery, black feathers

- wolf Imagery

- clear quartz

- onyx

- blue goldstone

- amethyst

- carnelian

- the hermit tarot card

- the hanged man tarot card

- the four of cups tarot card

- the king of swords tarot card

- mead, wine, alcohol

- poetry (he writes poems!)

- mugwort scent/incense

- Ansuz rune ᚨ

- learn about the runes

- learn his myths

- learn useful and practical knowledge

- read books

- ask him for advice

There are many more ways to learn about him and get close to him. A great one is reading the Hávamál. If you meditate or do tarot or rune casting those are also great ways to contact him and get closer to him.

Signs he might be reaching out; seeing ravens more than usual or in non native areas, very windy days, rain, seeing his name often, feeling drawn to his mythology, seeing his tarot cards pop up often, you already work with one of his sons (I think he sent Thor to me first to soften my idea of the Norse gods and be a warm intro into their pantheon.)

He is a great god to work with, lots of work though. Odin is not for the weak minded, but he’s been so worth getting to know.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

WIBTA if I asked my sister to stop bringing her girlfriend to our family video calls?

My family has had a group video call every week since my sister and I moved out of our parents' house. We're all busy with our own lives, but we are a tight knit group and having a chance to chat face to face every week is something we all care about a lot.

These calls typically include me (25F), my sister (21F), and our mom and dad. The calls are casual, and one or more of us is often doing chores or working on a craft project while we talk.

About a year ago, my sister (I'll call her C) started dating E (25F). They've had an on-and-off relationship as E struggles with an addiction and unsupportive parents (both C and E are trans), but they have remained friends throughout. Not sure if it's really relevant, but they are also both poly and dating other people. None of this is an issue for me or my parents, and we have a very supportive relationship (I'm also queer and NB-ish).

The problem is that since they started dating, E is almost always in the room with C while we have our family video calls.

At first, C would hide that E was there at all. We would be talking for 30 minutes and suddenly E was walking through the frame. My mom in particular was uncomfortable with this as we sometimes talk about private subjects and we like to dress like we would if we were all hanging out at home (like in pajamas or underwear). Mom asked C if she could at least announce to us if E was in the room, and C did it for a while but eventually stopped.

The interruptions escalated from there. Now, C will have full-on conversations with E while we are on the video call, as if we aren't there. I think this is rude and disrespectful of the time the rest of us set aside for talking to each other. I honestly wouldn't mind if E joined our family calls, if she actually participated in the group conversation (to be clear, I don't blame E for not participating). I think my parents are just happy to get time with C at all.

There have also been instances in the past where one of us thought C was alone and asked her about her relationship with E, which is always embarrassing and uncomfortable for everyone.

E is now at every family video call, always off camera. Today, we had been talking for an hour about my mom's cancer recovery, just the four of us, when E said something to C that I couldn't hear. C immediately started talking and laughing with E, unmuted (so I couldn't even talk to or hear my parents). This is happening more and more often.

Again, I know my sister isn't being intentionally rude. I also respect that she needs social time with her friends and partners, especially as a trans person. I also wonder if E enjoys listening to our family calls since she isn't close to her parents at all. But I miss when we could all share an hour of dedicated family time, and I think my parents have started censoring what they say because they know my sister's friends are in the room.

So WIBTA if I asked my sister to come to our weekly family video calls alone?

I'm also open to advice in the comments since I've never brought up something like this before. Usually if C and I have an issue we say something right away, but I have let this go on for almost a year hoping that she would realize how it's impacting us.

What are these acronyms?

[jakesgalxy]

09.It actually went well ?

Yn walked back and fourth anxiously in her makeup room. "Fuck my life I think am gonna die what if niki thinks am a weirdo ? Omg this is so embarrassing " She said to herself. After few mins her manager entered the room "Yn we need to go on set now niki is already there " he said. "Manager nim is it too late to go home now ?" Yn said with hope in eyes. Her manager just sighed. "Yn its gonna be okay. Just think this as your another shoot. I know you have anxiety but you're gonna be just fine trust me " He said with a small smile. Yn calmed down a little and said " But niki-" "NOTHING will happen. Be professional and think niki as just another person you're working with and you'll be fine". Yn wasn't convinced but still smiled a little " Thankyou ". " yeah yeah let's go now".

They reached the set when niki and his manager were standing. The moment yn saw niki she froze for a min. The manager say it and whispered "get it together yn". Yn came back to her senses and nodded. They both went forward and niki finally saw her. "Oh fuck she has gotten even prettier over these months". His manager nudged him and cleared his throat. Both the managers hugged each other leaving both the idols awkwardly. " Hello niki I am yn's manager and this is yn she will be mentoring with you in this show" said manager lee. Niki bowed and yn bowed back. " Hi, its nice to meet you" niki said with an awkward smile. "Same here" yn said trying to keep her cool. The managers shoot each knowing eyes and smiled nodding their head. Niki's manager cleared his throat and said "Its starting please pay attention they will call you on stage any second". The host of the show introduced the main judges and then the participants group by group. Then after finishing the last group he said " Its the time all of you had been waiting for. To mentor these participants we have two special guests who are the it dancers of 4th gen and are winning everyone's heart. Please welcome New jeans' Yn and enhypen's niki". Everyone cheered as both of them made their way to the stage. "Hello everyone this is niki from enhypen" Niki said bowing. "Hi everyone this is yn from new jeans" yn said bowing. The host clapped and said " For today you guys don't have to do anything, there's your seats you can sit there and judge the participants and let them know where they could improve or express how you felt about there performance". Both the idols thanked him and went to their assigned seats. Throughout the show they both focused on the performances sharing their views and giving advices to the participants.

After the show was over both we sitting together in the makeup room talking about certain things as they are no longer awkward with each other. "Wait how long have you been dancing tho ?" Niki said while sipping his americano. " Since I was 3 " yn said casually. "NO WAY ME TOO" Niki said putting his hand to do hi five. "WAIT FOR REAL ?" Yn said returning the hi five even though she obviously knew this information. "She's so cute trying to act like this is the first time she's hearing it" niki thought to himself smiling a little. Niki thought that maybe he should tell her that he knows yn is an engene. "Yn I wanted to tell you some-" "Lets go now" manager lee said cutting him off

and coming into the room. "We're leaving now ?" Yn said being a little sad. "Yes yn unfortunately because the show is over and you have a photoshoot right now" Manager said. "But niki was going to tell me something-" "I'll tell you later" niki said quickly. "Alright then" yn said. "bye bye niki see you next week" yn waved. Niki waved back "byeee yn !" with a smile.

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AERA'S NOTE :- HI ANGELSS !!!! A written chapter finally !! Hope you like it and comments and reblongs are very appreciated <3

Taglist :- @naijmi @eupherbia @kgneptun @kittyeij @imyourjoy0 @mrowwww @im-yn-suckers @ibsysbsfsunsbs @lillians-world-is-f1 @sunshinessky @hoondiors

[reflective-leaf]

The Climate Movement Needs Your Creativity, Not Your Guilt

(This is an annotated transcript of the TEDx talk I gave in April 2023. It’s 10 minutes long. I’d suggest watching it first and then coming here for supporting materials.)

Does climate action feel impossible?

When I was a kid, I was interested in everything. I’d need about 10 careers to do it all. So I got out my green and blue markers and made a calendar to keep track of which job I’d have on which day of the week. On Monday, I’d be a scientist, on Tuesday, a painter. Friday — some kind of explorer, because I loved nature documentaries. I related to how animals seemed fascinated by whatever was right in front of them.

Every documentary ended with a reminder that these animals needed our help, and all the ways they were threatened by human activity. I couldn’t believe no one had managed to do something about this. But I figured I would know how when I grew up.

So, though I kept changing my mind about what I would be, the one constant was that it would have something to do with climate and conservation.

Years later, I was working as an engineer and plugging away at my art and writing. I didn’t tell anyone about my master plan to connect it all to climate, but I hadn’t forgotten it. I kept looking for ways to make my engineering work overlap with climate science or renewables.

Still, I avoided climate news. I didn’t need to hear over and over that climate change REALLY WAS real to motivate me to take action. I didn’t need to see a picture of an animal choking on plastic; I already had the master plan. Meanwhile, I kept circling climate action from a distance without taking the plunge.

But that changed in 2020. The United Nations issued a report giving us a deadline of 2030 to make steep emissions cuts.

Taking action couldn’t stay theoretical and future tense any longer. So I dove into the research to catch up on what I had missed. And I started — tentatively — talking to people about climate change and my intentions.

And I got wave after wave of bad news. It wasn’t just the tight deadlines, scale of changes needed, and years of deadlock.

It was also the confusing responses I was getting in my conversations about climate change. I’d bring up something I found fascinating, people’s faces would drop. The’d say “Yeah… I should be doing more.” And the conversation stopped there.

We’d all finally grown up! and I was ready to jump into the master plan, but I hadn’t factored in when I was 10 that no one would want to jump with me.

And it was 2020, and the air in California was full of wildfire smoke — a constant reminder of what was at stake.

Defeatism had hijacked the climate conversation and it was everywhere.

Eventually, the gloom shifted just enough for me to start wondering. Maybe we were all so bummed because we couldn’t see through the haze. We’ve all been peppered with directives — reduce, reuse, recycle. Drive less. Fly less. Turn off lights. Don’t buy plastic.

And we try, pushing against a system that wasn’t set up for any of that. But we don’t have a clear picture of how this helps.

We may have a vague idea of our individual reductions adding up to collective reductions — but then, every single one of us would have to cut our individual emissions by over half, and then to zero. We can’t imagine the effort it would take to scale up our reductions by that much. And convincing every single human to do the same? Impossible.

This picture doesn’t add up because it requires us all to be perfect. And worse, it makes us feel like we are failing, every single day.

But let me paint you a different picture. If change could only happen with 100% participation and perfection, change would never happen. But I think we can all agree that sometimes change does happen, even positive change. So — how?

For one thing, you can move society in a positive direction without being perfect. Think of it like electric current. We are the electrons.

When we imagine current flowing through a wire, we might imagine an orderly stream of electrons all moving in the same direction.

But actually, even before the current starts, the electrons are moving — randomly, at high speeds, in all directions.

And when we apply a voltage to create current, it still looks like they’re moving at random, except there’s a change you can only see when you look at the wire as a whole.

Each electron shifts its velocity a tiny bit, all in the same direction. You don’t need perfect electrons to create current.

Society is a bit more complicated than electric current. Still, it doesn’t matter that we aren’t each moving in a perfectly sustainable direction as long as our changes line up. And more importantly, pick up speed.

So what’s the voltage that directs us? I called it “the system,” and what I mean is the way all the organizations that touch our lives are set up — what they prioritize and where they get their materials.

We are constantly pushing against the system while trying to influence “our” consumption. What if we tried influencing the system instead?

So how do systems change? I found the answer in one of my math textbooks. Transformation builds under the surface as ideas brew, minds change, and small clusters of supporters gather — all while progress appears to be slow or non-existent, until suddenly, the support reaches a critical mass, and the system transforms rapidly in an emergent process.

Nearly every social movement that succeeded followed this pattern of slow, then all at once. To get to that point, a certain percentage of people need to participate (estimated variously as 3.5%, to 25%), but importantly, it’s not 100%.

So don’t think of the climate movement as something you’re guilted into. You can choose to be one of the 25% who become early adopters of change.

And you don’t have to worry about the people you can’t convince. They will change when the system changes because that comes first.

Changing the system requires creativity. The first act of creativity is to imagine the possible paths to transformation.

The second act of creativity is to imagine where you can fit into that picture. Old ideas need to be replaced by new ones — about everything from technology to our day-to-day lives. The new ideas spread through you.

To make that happen, ask yourself these three questions.

One. What is a movement you want to throw your weight behind? Pick a trend or organization that’s already building, and that you can help accelerate. You can be another piece of its critical mass.

Two. What’s a practical obstacle that’s been keeping you from participating? Anything from not knowing what a word means, to having trouble deciding where to volunteer.

If you have this obstacle, others do too. So brainstorming a solution will help more than just you. That obstacle doesn’t stand a chance against your formidable skills at creative problem solving!

Question Three. What social circles that you’re already a part of, can you share your solutions and experiences with? Sharing in the circles where you can be heard is how your solutions amplify and ripple outward.

We’re facing unprecedented challenges, so our imaginations need to be nimble — zipping like a hummingbird — from the big picture, to our immediate surroundings. From where we’re starting from — to where we want to get to.

We can’t be nimble like this if we’re stuck in guilt and perfectionism, and gazing endlessly within our own homes and wallets at all the things we’re doing wrong.

No movement in history has been made up of perfect people, so stop worrying about the ways you’re not perfect. Perfect people are not required.

Instead, think of all the ways your creativity could accelerate us in the right direction.

If you haven’t already, check out the recording of my TEDx talk! And you can hit ‘like’ on the video if you want to help get the YouTube algorithm to distribute it.

[tiny-minecraft-rabbit]

how to show your heart on your sleeve

After the events of how to growl and bare your teeth by Odaigahara, Pearl begins to learn, with the unintentional help of Scar and Grian, that she is not unloveable.

Part of @mcytrecursive made for @destinys-dragon

Words: 1131

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Pearl curled around her hand, glaring at it like that would make the burn any less painful. She hardly felt it was fair that she was burned. How was she supposed to remember that she couldn’t just grab the kettle off the fire without a rag, it’s not like she’s used one in over two years; probably longer since she’s heated it over an open fire instead of a furnace. 

She had just wanted to get the tea ready for the three of them before Scar and Grian came back from the nearby town. She had stayed to cook and hunt, happy to once again traverse the forest.

She even found a few of her wolves again. It was clear that the pack had thinned, and she mourned the loss of some of her girls, but she had found Tilly again. The silver wolf was thinner than she remember, and the eyes had aged from their light green to a swampy yellow, but it was her Tilly alright. 

Grian had been wary of the newest addition to their travel party, but Scar had fallen in love in an instant, cooing over the wolf like she was a little puppy and not the terrifying hunter she was. Pearl had to agree though, Tilly was about as adorable as a puppy. Sweet like one too, when she wasn’t mid-hunt. 

Her head poked up as she heard rustling in the woods and the now familiar tones of Grian and Scar. They were once again arguing and she couldn’t help smile as she picked out a few words. Not even two weeks after their grand escape, just a two towns over, and Scar was already starting a scam. They weren’t even out of the Lonely Kingdoms yet, for goodness sakes! She’d have to hear what this was about. 

“Ah! There she is,” Scar exclaimed as they came out the bush into their little clearing of a campsite. “Pearlo, you just have to settle this debate we’re having.”

“It’s not a debate, Scar. You want us to do something stupid, and I’m telling you not to,” Grian replied with a heavy sigh. 

Scar tutted, setting down his bag by the fallen log they had dragged over before setting himself down on top of it. “See, Pearlo, I want to– What happened to your hand?” he asked mid sentence, brows furrowing.

“Oh this?” Pearl asked and waved her hand out, much to fast for either soulmate to see, before tucking it back under her crossed arm. She grimaced as the burn brushed against the fabric of her shirt, “It’s nothing. Just a bit of a burn. Scott will– Or… no. Huh, I guess it’ll just heal on it’s own eventually then. Unrelated question, how long do burns heal without potions?”

Grian sighed then, setting his own bag and beginning to dig through it. “Okay, crazy lady, let’s see it.” 

“See what? I’m fine ,” She insisted, drawing out the ‘i’. She stood, Tilly sitting up to watch her, and used her uninjured hand to grab the potholder off to the side. She grabbed the kettle off the fire properly this time, “See! I boiled water. For tea! You guys like tea, right?” 

Grian didn’t even look up from his bag, just continuing to pull out medical supplies. Scar gave her a soft look, walking over and setting a gentle hand on her arm. He moved her arm to set the kettle back down. “Let’s have tea after. We don’t need to be soulbound to know that you’re hurting.” 

She blinked up at him in quiet surprise, something warm exploding in her chest. There was no shame or anger in Scar’s gaze, just his usual kind smile. She left a growing lump in her throat as she glanced over to Grian. She expected annoyance from him, he was annoyed with everything the two of them did if he wasn’t actively participating in it himself, buy instead he was contently organizing their meager supplies. He was going to waste bandages and medicine on her . 

“I.. I don’t know what to say,” She muttered softly, “You– You guys don’t need to help me, y’know. I’m not going anywhere. Can’t get rid of me, really. Probably.” 

She would follow these two fellas wherever they wanted to go, for as long as they tolerated her. She half thought they would have gotten tired of her by now, but they hadn’t shooed her off like a dog that begged for too many scraps just yet. Instead, they acted like they actually wanted her around. Like she wasn’t a nuisance they kept around for the sake of convenience. Though, she couldn’t figure out what would ever be convenient about keeping around a broken soulbound and her feral wolf would be. 

“You’re our friend Pearl, we’re fixing you up cause we want to,” Scar answered, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Oh,” She said, dumbfounded. She doesn’t think she’s had someone just want to do something for her, just cause, since– since even before she ran from Scott. 

Ah, and there were the waterworks. 

Scar’s eyes widened in surprise and he immediately squished her face between his hands, “OH no. No. No. Why tears? Why crying? Grian, why is our Pearlypop crying?” 

She could hear Grian groan loudly from the other side of the campsite, “I don’t know, Scar! What did you say to her?” 

“I just said we wanted to fix her up and she started crying!” Scar exclaimed, letting go of Pearl’s face so he could push her towards his soulmate. “G, fix it! Fix her!” 

Pearl couldn’t help it, beginning to giggle through the tears. Something in her was tearing apart: a wadded up ball of stress she hadn’t realized was sitting in her chest was being torn apart bit by bit with every sob and laugh she had while listening to the two squabble.

This. This is what she wanted when she left. She had thought she had wanted carefreeness of the woods. She thought she wanted the biting winters over palace walls. 

Scar sat her down on the log and Grian began the careful administration of salve onto her burns and bandages around her hand. He made cutting remarks about how weak she was for a weird little witch as he did so. Tilly slipped beside her, nosing at Grian’s arm and he let her, only stiffening up a bit. Scar held her free hand and cooed over her, wiping her tears and promising her first dips of all the fresh fruits and vegetables they had brought back with them. 

She wanted this. She wanted company and friendship and, most of all, she wanted people who cared for her. She wanted love, and she finally had it.

[leviathansshadycorner]

Hi! I just wanted to say that I love the Cato series!! It’s so good and I’m so exited for the next part! <33

Rope Him In ( Cato x District 10! Reader x slight! Marvel) Pt. 5

Summary: (Y/n) begins training.

A/n: Thank you for the support!!!! I love y'all!! Sorry for the wait lol life has been hard. Sorry for any typos or OOC moments. Again thank you so much for the support it means the world to me especially right now.

Pt.4 Pt.3 Pt.2 Pt.1

____________________________________

Chapter 5: Training pt. 1

“Do you think they’ll have us fight against each other?” Buckley’s voice interrupted your intense glaring to the careers waking up ahead to the training center. 

“Probably not, they’re already making us do that anyway.” You reminded him, scratching the back of your neck since the fabric of the training uniform had a tag that had not been cut off. 

All of the tributes were lined up in pairs. Peacekeepers decorated the walls of the building as they carefully observed the tributes making their way into the arena. The doors leading to the arena were that familiar steel material, and white futuristic lights lit the path towards the center. You could hear the careers boasting about how they couldn’t wait to get their hands on certain weapons, and how much they missed training. It was an odd thing to hear and the non-career districts were visibly confused with their behavior. 

Everyone was lined up in a semicircle, gathering around a lady with two pigtails. She introduced herself as the overseer of the training arena and began to explain the rules. She mentioned how tributes should not only focus on combat but survival skills as well. 

Buckley seemed notably irritated. You had no idea why. Was it something you had said? Deciding to dismiss it, you focused your attention up ahead. Unfortunately for you, all the tributes had to participate in mandatory stations. 

“What should we do?” Buckley asked, his eyes scanning the other tributes as they all dispersed around the training center. Some of the tribute pairs stayed together, following each other around and choosing to train as partners. The rest went on to train individually. It was clear that they either didn’t trust who they came in with, or cared less about them. The careers all huddled around lethal weapons. Quickly it was established that Cato was the leader of the pack. Even Marvel didn’t bother to fight over the role of the leader. 

It was like they had their own private island. All the other tributes steered clear of whichever section of the room they would move to. You and Buckley were still the only ones who hadn’t moved. It was obvious he was hoping to stick together but you couldn’t risk that. You were already a target in the eyes of the career. Not because of your strength, but because you had hurt their leader’s ego during the parade. You’d practically be leading Buckley to his death if he stayed close to you for too long. Then again, you weren’t going to let fear get in your way. 

“Why don’t we stick with each other? That way we can scope out who we have to watch out for.” He nodded, opening his mouth to say something but you cut him off, “Let's start with survival training.” 

There were a variety of stations on the leftmost side of the arena. It was dedicated to building shelters, starting fires, and memorizing edible food. The middle part of the training center was dedicated to more physical training. It was where capitol trainers engaged in hand-to-hand with tributes, reflex tests were, and where obstacles to climb and jump over were placed. The right side was where the careers had set residence. It held a display of weapons and training dummies. It was almost too overwhelming for you. The lights disoriented you and the sounds of clinking metal and forceful grunts overstimulated you a bit too much. The arena was cold. The uniform you had been forced to wear didn’t do as good of a job of keeping you warm. Then again, these were designed to fight against sweat, not the cold. As you attempted to tuck your hands in your arms for warmth, you decided to walk around. You needed to scope out the stations that would serve you use to practice. A couple caught your eye, the fire-making station, rope and knot stations, and the station showing how to properly cook prey. 

Needing to get out of the hecticness of it all, you and Buckley quickly beelined it towards the fire making station. The girl from 12 had previously been there, although she already seemed skilled at it. The two of you sat directly across from each other. The bundle of sticks in the middle had regenerated themselves. The heated ashy remains were now back to firm little twigs. 

“Do you remember what Dolly and Ramsey told us?” You didn’t even need to ask. Of course Buckley remembered.

“Yeah, they told us not to show our strengths.” He replied. “I’m pretty sure that’s what all mentors tell their tributes though.” 

“Well not all of them.” You added, eyes wandering to the spartan soldiers across the room. They weren’t holding back. Each hit they dealt whether it be a punch or a spear to a dummy was filled with pride. It was in fact their way of showing everyone else that they were the future victors. 

“What’s their deal anyways?” Buckley’s hands were rubbing the stick down on a rock to try to ignite it. 

“What do you mean?” You asked, trying to start your own fire now. 

“The careers. They look like they’re ready to kill you and the games haven’t even started.” His eyebrows furrowed out of confusion. 

You didn’t understand him. Surly he had met one of the career’s gazes at some point during your stay so far. “That’s how they look at everybody.” 

“No, it's different with you. It's like- They give you more attention then they do to other people.” He had managed to make the stick smoke. 

“Jealous that they don’t wanna kill you as much as they wanna kill me?” You briefly stopped to look at him with a sarcastic smile. His lips turned into a frown, and you realized he was concerned for you. 

“I think they’re mad I stole their spotlight.” You offered. 

“But that was like a second of time?” Buckley’s tone was in disbelief. “Plus the real star was the girl from 12. No offense.” He quickly put a hand on your shoulder. 

“None taken.” You patted his hand and redirected it back to his task.

“Is that really all? They must have really fragile egos.” He stopped what he was doing, curious as to why they were so petty.

“Well, Cato does. The rest of them are like sheep. They follow him around like that anyways.” You both turned to look at the careers. They were deeply focused. Eventually, they moved onto sparring with the trainers. 

“What are we going to do?” He wondered. He seemed lost. 

“Hope that Thresh takes him out at the start.” It was a morbid thing for you to say, but Cato was a major threat. Especially to you. 

The conversation died out to mundane talk. You both found yourselves homesick even though it hasn’t even been a week.  You wondered how Amaranto was doing. If your father was alright and not ill. If Clarabell was keeping their spirits up or at least trying to. You thought of the smell. Though it may seem unpleasant to the likes of the capitol, it was soothing for you. After years of living there, you’d gotten used to the earthy scent. The capitol smell was overwhelming at times. If it wasn’t sterile and metallic, it was floral and sickeningly sweet. 

As the day went on you and Buckley were getting the hang of things. It seemed like everyone was saving their skills for the arena. The survival section quickly filled up, causing you and a couple of others to switch to the weapons section. Every half hour the tributes would have to regroup and do a series of physical tests assigned by the trainers. The tributes would always go first, wanting to get back to training as soon as possible. It was clear they loved showing off. Even going beyond the one-time requirement and doing the task twice. 

The careers made it their job to criticize every tribute. They stood not at the sidelines- but directly in front of the stations, making it impossible for the tributes to have an ounce of confidence. Sometimes they’d look away, bored at the current subject. They’d give looks of disdain to the ones that showed their capabilities.  Worse of all they’d laugh at the tributes who showed weakness and weren’t capable of making it all the way through. 

It was hard to perform decently when you had eyes glued onto you. Buckley had gone by easily. He struggled a bit with hand to hand combat, but he practically breezed by. He didn’t overdo it however, lucky for him the career pack didn’t look too interested in him. At first they glared at him, probably expecting him to show off, their glares quickly faded and they soon showed no interest at all. When it was your turn you swear you could’ve heard some snarky comment come out of one of their mouths. 

You chose to pay no mind to it. Your palms were uncomfortably sweaty. Your vision was becoming blurred. The constant “Whenever you’re ready.” Weren’t helping. Taking a deep breath in, you went forth. You had to climb your way across some bars, easy in theory. You weren’t the tallest person here, not the shortest either, but the fall seemed detrimental. In fact there had been a previous accident. A boy with dark hair had fallen off the bars and injured his leg. You were concerned for him. Did the Capitol have the technology to cure a broken leg before the games?

The group training ended much to everyone’s pleasure. Buckley was examining the knives. You wondered if he’d give it a go. He was pretty skilled when it came to throwing them. You watched from afar. You yourself were at a station dealing with a fishing line. You’re not sure why it was there hence why you chose it. Buckley was swift with his movements. His fingers let go of the throwing knife and he watched as it glided to its target. The knife barely made it to the center of the dummy’s head, if anything it was lodged in the eye area rather than the forehead, but it was still impressive. 

“Amateur.” Clove insulted. It was loud enough for you to hear, but Buckley was too far to hear it himself. You watched as she resumed her training, Cato being the one to calm her down. She seemed insulted that Buckley was good at her favorite skill. 

Quickly you made your way to your fellow tribute. He seemed impressed by his own skills. “Did ya see that? Right in the eye.” He spoke, his voice proud. 

“Buckley, you’re amazing.” You reassured him. Now that you were next to him you could see how far away the dummy really was. If you were to try there was no guarantee that you’d make it. His strength and past experience with throwing really paid off. 

“Why aren’t you celebrating with me?” He asked playfully once your demeanor shifted from impressed to on survival mode. 

“Clove’s got an eye on you.” You warned him. 

“I can tell.” He processed what you had said. Looking at her direction he was met with her deadly side eye. 

“She seems unstable.” You spoke truthfully. 

“They all do. They are.” He added. “You know, I feel like someone needs to give them a reality check.” 

“What do you mean by that?” His words worried you. 

“I mean we need to show them they’re not the shit.” He said picking up another knife. 

“Buckley!” You grabbed his shoulder and leaned in to whisper and yell at him. “Our mentors specifically told us not to show off.” 

“(Y/n), don’t act like you haven't shown off.” His words hit you like a hurricane. He was right. “Worst they can do is kill us.” He joked as you stepped aside to let him prove himself. 

Your focus shifted from the careers to Buckley as he lifted the throwing knife to give it another shot. In a sense, Buckley was right. The careers really were on their high horse thinking of themselves as unstoppable. It was getting annoying, and you were starting to get fed up as well. Cato already had his eye on you. So clove’s would be next to nothing. 

The thump of wood being penetrated by a knife echoed in your ears as the world froze. The confidence you had a second ago was gone. Time seemed to go by slowly. As if on cue a huff of a laugh came from Marvel. His cheeks round as a smile formed. Buckley had hit a bullseye. 

“Nice job 10.” Marvel shouted from across the room. Sarcasm was in his voice, but you couldn’t tell if he meant it. 

“Done?” You asked Buckley, hoping he’d be finished causing a scene. Clove’s dark eyes filled with rage. It baffled you how seriously she took the whole situation. 

“Oh no, it's your turn now.” He said. Immediately you backed away. 

“I think you’re actually going insane. Do you need me to ask for some medication?” You were snapping back. 

“No. Come on. Try it.” He said, placing his hands on your back as he nudged you towards the table with knives. 

“I’m not good at this. Buckley, If I mess up, they’re going to think I’m weak.” You confided in him. 

“But if you do good they’ll think you're strong.” He countered. “Plus, wouldn’t you rather have them see you weak? Maybe then the meathead will leave you alone.” 

“Your logic makes no sense.” You were about to back out completely when you caught sight of the career pack waiting on your next move. Glimmer gave you a condescending smile. Clove was still focused on Buckley. Both Cato and Marvel were talking, all of them watching you, taunting you. 

“Fine.” You gave in. There was no way you’d give them the satisfaction of rejecting a challenge. You felt like a bull around a red cape around them. They made your blood boil just by existing. The careers had the best lives out of all the other tributes in the game, yet they always liked making people miserable. At times they felt like the enemy. Even though they got here under similar circumstances. 

Buckley smiled as you grabbed a small knife. It was the size of your palm, yet comfortable to hold. You weren’t sure what to do with it. It sat in your hand like a glob of honey as you anxiously looked around. 

“What am I supposed to do?” You asked him. 

He was quick to help you. “Stand upright,” He put a hand on your back to force a good posture. He then tapped your feet with his to give you the correct footing. “You’re gonna want to follow through. Don’t overthink it too much. The tall man stood next to you as he demonstrated what to do with your arms. You mimicked his movement the first time around, soon practicing it three more times. “Remember (Y/n), don’t overthink it.” 

You nodded as you prepared your throw. Taking a short breath you threw your arm backward and then forcefully forward, missing the dummy completely, but hitting the one behind it near its thigh. The knife didn’t stay in however, it fell after being stuck for about three seconds. 

Your eyes were teary. The warmth in your face grew and you suddenly wanted to be thrown into the games. You stood in place, afraid to move. How dare you embarrass yourself?

“That’s a start,” Buckley said kindly. You turned to look at the careers but Buckley spared you the pain and grabbed your shoulders to look at him. “Don’t worry about them.” 

“I. Told. You. I. Wasn’t. Good.” You spoke in pauses. You felt a mix of shame and anger. Shame for not being able to prove yourself, and anger towards Buckley for making you embarrass yourself. 

“(Y/n), I’m sorry. But hey its ok! Here lets try again.” Buckley held your arm. You wanted to leave, but you had about three more hours of training. You said nothing and instead looked off into the distance. You were really wasting time by not doing anything, but you were overwhelmed at this point. 

“Look I just thought since you work with knives back in 10 you’d be-” His apology was cutoff by a sudden thump of wood. Cato had stealthily moved next to the two of you. The career had thrown two knives at the training dummy. Effortlessly.  He turned to face the both of you. 

“Giving up already? What happened to the girl who rode a Capitol horse?” He taunted. He was arrogantly fiddling with a throwing knife. 

Buckley knew better than to start anything, but he wasn’t going to let you take it. “She just got started.” He came to your defense. 

Truthfully, you didn’t want to interact with Cato. You had learned to stay away from him. Everyone saw how he handled the situation with the tribute he thought to have stolen his knife. He was a ticking time bomb. Anything could set him off. You didn’t turn around. Instead you kept staring into the distance. This only seemed to aggravate him. Cato had walked in front of you, knife in his hand as he grabbed yours. He looked at you with intensity as he placed the knife in your palm. 

“Don’t wimp out now 10.” 

Buckley was preparing himself to end the interaction between you two, but he stopped in his tracks when a knife flew past him. It was a reckless throw, but it managed to actually go through the dummy. This time on it’s side. 

“Why don’t you turn around and try that again?” Cato questioned as he leaned against a metal table. 

It seemed like the spotlight was once again on you. People around were now tuning into the scene. Cato’s arms transformed as he uncrossed them, his muscles relaxing. You however were far from relaxed.

“What the fuck could you possibly want from me? Why are you here? Do you have nothing better to do?” You interrogated as you stepped closer to him. It was clear he had finally struck the last nerve. Buckley looked confused but pale as his concern for his fellow tribute grew. You weren’t yelling at him, but nobody dared to get within an inch from Cato. 

His eyes were void of emotion. “I’m just trying to help out the competition. If I’m going to win this, I want to win because I’m the strongest. Not because everyone else was weak and at a disadvantage.” He spoke back methodically. He didn’t move at all. The two of you seemed to be frozen in time- glaring at each other. 

It wasn’t long before he left. Leaving you fuming alongside Buckley.

____________________________________

Tags: @randomgurl2326

[agerefandomrambles]

Title: changing

Word count: 971

Little! Quinni

Cg! Cash

Warnings: spoilers for season 2 hbh, autistic meltdown

Plot: Quinni regresses at the zoo and doesn't want to let Darren or Harper help.

"I don't want to be a burden but I'm never given any time or warning to prepare" Quinni says through unskilled tears.

Cash's eyes widen with sympathy and understanding. He doesn't say anything yet though, choosing instead to let her speak.

By the expression on her face and the words, it's clear she's been feeling like this for a long time and she needs to let it out.

"And then I find this thing. This one thing that I can control, that I can share with you all and participate in, that I'd be useful for, and I'm told that I'm doing that wrong too!" Quinni is crying by this point, her tears mixing with the green of her makeup.

"It's just not fair!" Quinni sobs, the higher pitch of her voice making it clear that she's slipping. Cash just stands still, trying to figure out what to do.

Darren runs off after Quinni, thrusting the cake into his hands. Cash just stands there in shock, still processing what just happened.

Darren returns after a few minutes, head hanging low. "She's not talking to me. Someone else try." They mumble, eyes watery.

"I'll go" Harper replys quickly, running off in the direction Quinni went. She returns almost immediately though. "They don't want me either. I don't know what to do." Harper says, eyes wide.

"I think... I think I want to try" Cash finally speaks up. He can quickly feel 3 sets of eyes turn his way but he pointedly looks at the floor. He doesn't give them a chance to talk him out of it and instead starts walking over to Quinni.

He finds her quickly. She's in a corner between two fences. She's sitting on the floor with her knees pulled up and her head hidden in her knees. As Cash approaches, he can hear her crying softly.

He gets low onto her level, squatting just in front of her. He doesn't say anything for a moment, not wanting to make her panic or freak out any more then she already is.

Once he's sure that she knows he's there, he speaks up. "Hey Quinni, it's Cash. Can I sit down next to you?" He says softly, careful to keep his voice low.

She doesn't respond but he does get the tiniest head nod.

He sits down next to her, lowering himself down against the fence. Again, he just sits in silence for a moment, giving her a moment to adjust. "I'm going to ask a couple of question. You don't have to speak, but do you think you can tap my hand once for yes and twice for no?" He asks, still hyperaware of the volume of his voice. Again, he doesn't get a response, instead getting a gentle shake of her head.

He stays silent for a moment, trying to think of a way to communicate with her in a way she's comfortable with. "What about the floor? Can you tap the floor once for yes and twice for no?" Quinni doesn't respond for a moment, then she gently knocks her knuckles against the floor once.

Cash smiles a little, happy at the progress. Again, he gives her a moment to rest before asking another question. "Is it OK that I'm here?" He asks. Quinni doesn't even pause, knocking the floor once as soon as the question leaves his mouth.

He stops for a moment, then asks, "are you feeling small?" This time, there's a long pause, then a single quiet knock. When she knocks on the floor, she lifts her head slightly. She peeks over her knees at Cash before quickly ducking her head back down.

"Awe that's all good kiddo. I'm guessing you don't want Darren or Harper to watch you huh?" He asks, already pulling out his back up regression kit out of his backpack. As he's pulling it out, he hears two knocks on the floor.

"How about this? Why don't we go back to yours, just us two, and I'll watch you?" He asks. She pulls her head up and looks at Cash wearily. He doesn't say anything, just hands her the regression kit. She pulls out a paci and a small marble fidget before mumbling, "not a caregiver".

Cash just chuckles at that. He packs up the regression kit and puts it back in his bag before responding. "Yeah I am little one. I just haven't been one very long that's all. Do you wanna come with me or do you have someone else I can call?" He asks gently, happy that she's talking now.

"Come with you" she mumbles, popping the paci into her mouth. Cash nods and stands up with her. Quinni grabs his hand once she's up.

Cash leads her out and into his car. He buckles her up and hands her an apple puree before getting in. He sends a quick text to the rest of the group to let them know that Quinni's ok and with him. He then starts the car and drives them to her place. He keeps the windows down and the radio off.

As they drive, Quinni get progressively happier. She points out different animals as they drive through the suburbs and by the time that Cash pulls into her driveway, she's giggling and tapping her hands to her chest lightly.

"Ok Froggy, let's go inside" Cash says. Quinnk just giggles at him, but frowns when the seatbelt won't come undone. Cash quickly swoops in and undoes the seatbelt.

Quinni grabs her bag and skips into her house. She excitedly pulls Cash into her room and pulls out her box of regression gear.

Cash plays with her for a solid 2 hours before she finally crashes into a nap. He tucks her into bed and settles down on the floor, texting Darren.

[razorblade180]

Group Gift

Countless of Aether’s friends gather in the Teapot as the man himself stands in front of the house. Nobody had to wonder why as it was painfully clear to notice three columns of steam that came from three separate hot spring locations across the realm.

Aether:Can anyone guess what I’ve done?

Everyone:….

Klee and Yoi:You made a hot spring!

Aether:Thanks you two. You get first dibs.

Everyone:Aether you’re so cool!

Aether:I don’t need an ego boost! I just wanted participation! Anyways, everyone has be doing a good and I personally wanted to do this for awhile. Finally found the time!

Keqing:*silent judgement*

Aether:Don’t do that.

Keqing:I’m just wondering how this got into your head.

Miko:Yes, do tell.

Aether:I found a blueprint and thought, “this could be nice.” That’s all.

Rosaria:Doubt.

Aether:You doubt everything. Now then, let me explain why I have three. One at the bottom near the beach is for the boys. Middle elevation near the main house is for our ladies, and the one up on the hill is special circumstances.

Kaeya:*inhales*

Aether:Let me explain. Shush! It is indeed a coed bath, but primarily for when people are incredibly filthy. Let’s say Razor and Lisa get done exploring and Razor fell in mud or was reckless. He’s gonna need Lisa’s help to make sure he’s cleared properly.

Razor:I clean myself fine.

Lisa:Did you wash behind your ears today?

Razor:Sigh…. *looks down*

Albedo:I see. So in situations where perhaps a certain someone accidentally sets off my lab experiment with an explosion and we get covered in ash…

Klee:I didn’t mean to!

Aether:Exactly! A perfect use of that! You get dibs as well.

Itto:Okay, but feel a little unfair that us guys gotta hike to the bottom and back up? How’d that happen!?

Kaeya:You didn’t really think he’d make a system where our elevations would be above our distinguished ladies, did you?

Itto:Umm, what’s wrong with that? I’m sure they’d like the beach.

Kaeya:….You’re a good and earnest man, Itto.

Tighnari:I assume you have a reason for the third one to be the highest?

Aether:*claps hands together* Klee, Qiqi, Yaoyao, and Diona. I need you to cover your ears tightly and humm your favorite songs until I say stop.

Kids:Understood! *covers ears* hmmm hmm hmmm~

Aether:Listen up you heathen.

Everyone:(So it did cross his mind…)

Aether:I do not care what kind of romantic label you want to put on your individual relationship with whoever you’re with. If you want to “relax” together, use the coed. I already have to clean it more often than the other two. And to answer Tighnari, it’s because it’s very easy to tell when it’s in use and spot ahead of time who’s making their way there. For example, let’s say after a particular messy day you want to go up there but notice a certain Sister and Knight….

Rosaria and Kaeya: Wha-

Aether:At this point you should have in your mind the potential reasons for their journey. Granted, I’ve put dividers in that spring, but use your common sense, like waiting for an appropriate time. Are we clear?

Everyone:Crystal.

Aether:Now I need to hear that again from who this really applies to. Yae…

Yae:And what exactly are you implying? *crosses arms*

Aether:…

Gorou:Say it.

Yae:…I will follow the rules.

Aether:Venti?

Venti:I wouldn’t dream ruining your hospitality.

Kazuha:Same goes for me.

Lisa:I’ll play nice~

Aether:Not very convincing with that specific tone but I’ll hold you to it. *looks at kids and gives a thumbs up* Alright everyone, I’ve stolen enough of your time. Now if you excuse me…I’m tired and making this took a while.

Aether casually leaves towards the coed bath to use it. Before anyone could have further discussion about this wonderful new addition, Amber also casually started walking up the trail. She looked at them, waved with a smile, then continued on about her business and catching up with Aether.

Grown up:(SHE ISN’T EVEN TRYING TO HIDE IT!)

Aether:*red* Ma’am, what are you doing. I’m actually filthy.

Amber:I know. I’ll help with your back.

Aether:…I can’t tell if that’s your excuse or for intent so bravo I guess. But…people are staring.

Amber:*holds hand*☺️

Aether:*flustered* (Maybe I should’ve announced this to everyone separately.)