#tot: reflection of the soul

[ariel-gremlinzkeep]

DNI: 🚫🐢t©️est🚫

🄾🅈🄰🄹🄸 🅁🄾🄽🄸🄽'🅂 🄲🅁🄾🅂🅂 🄳🄸🄼🄴🄽🅂🄸🄾🄽🄰🄻 🄰🄽🅃🄸🄲🅂

• Master Index Post •

🄸🄽🄳🄸🄴 🄵🄰🄽 🄰🅁🅃

• Master Index Post •

I miscounted there are 22

Bat Parade!

☆The Future Left Behind: Don @shittygaypornmagazine

☆The Eldest Brother: 12 & Rise Leo @debb987

☆Sewer Punks: Mikey @kettle-bird

☆Redline: Raph @coffinpal | @0ddbugs | @tmntredline

☆Battle Scars: Leo @kaysdenofchaos

☆Casino: Leo @malka-gol3

☆Separated Leo: One (Leo) @separatedleoau

☆Cupcake's Separated AU: Mikey & Donnie @cupcakeslushie

☆Dystopia: Donnie & Shadowtello @alexthenerdbird

☆ToaF: Oyaji Ronin @ariel-gremlinzkeep

☆Tentative Devotee: Trainee (Leo) @s0fti3w1tch

☆2 Arms Left: Leo & Big Leo @intotheelliwoods

☆2 Souls: Aoi @virgilisspidey

☆TM(Neglected)Turtles: Leo @nerves-nebula

☆Wishing on Reflecting Puddles : Leo @loonbark

☆Totpocolypse: Leo @pastadorable

☆Blood Bath: Leo @trubblegumm

☆Chompy: Chompy @probably-not-a-rutabaga

☆Mystic Tots: Leo @thr-333

☆Mertles: Leo @quewp1

☆Celestial: Leo @ashwii

☆Extended Family: Mikey, Warren, & Shelldon @extended-family-au | @alexthenerdbird | @ariel-gremlinzkeep | @cookiekate-art | @wh0rkestra | @emmyawards201 | @quirkycorgianimations | @kaysdenofchaos

Thanks to @gemini-forest for supplying so many children with weaponry & to @tmntaucompetition for throwing us all in a mixer together.

[loopscereal]

Pero no lo hicisteee final 100 hrs have been entered

fred by himself cause i did his shoes with everythign and the little meat texture. Why would i do that if its not mesnt to be visible? May god know cause i dont. uhh the background. yeah ok. uh Fred doesn't have to reflect Freddy in clothes or hairstyle anymore! Boys uniform! Higher, tighter pony tail! also their little jacket. Make up around their eyes, and they have gained acess to COLOR. Hes no longer restricted to shades of purple, too bad hes emo and will only branch out to red TOT. anyway yay for them. uhh uhhh also he has a new sparkle. he has a little yellowy orange sparkle in his chest, right on their tie. they didnt have that before :) new sparkle

im glad were all miserable about how fred is on the floor but also agree that freddy looks best when hes at his worse! keep up that look, youre a natural !! bbbbuhhhh

SUELTENME SUELTENME SUELTENME SUELTENME SUELTANME ok normal, hi pia :3 glad you noticed. im so diseased about when they swap colors in canon.... wughgh misery...

not so fast! theyre both so fucking bad at this game! the game being existing. Fred feeds the body and like. the most basic of maintenance but they too mistreat it in their own special way <3. ANyways how does this scene change? uh. god. i feel like it adds a lot ofc content but i dont. know. thinking about camp makes my head scream... as i imagine it mutates and changed even after having drawn these. living organism....

in my head their body "prioritizes" freddy a lot, like. IF fred is in control while freddy is sleeping, and freddy wakes up, it sorta auto-kicks fred out if they arent prepared and get caught off guard, BUT freddy isnt exctly. too present. hes not the most anchored person to his own self so if fred, can simply push him out pretty easy so long as they arent abnormally weakened, and if they were to fight for it fred will typically win. As for body auto responses, i think it does eventually kick the current pilot out, or mess things up and force them both in or both out, ("how does that work" sh sh sh dont even worry about it... <3 please.) buuuut i think it takes a long time for the body to get to that point, to the point where it does those auto responseds. Freddys gotten it pretty used to well, itself. it doesn't send out the signals that it should, or at best, not as strongly.

Okay why is Freddy all glitchy when out side and not sparkly? beeecause well. cromatic aberation occurs when a lense fails to align and focus wavelengths of color all on the same point. What the hell does that have to do with freddy? (what the hell happens int hat goddamn highschool?) uh! hes totally unfocused. in his entire self. and in his worldview, his view of strangers, of his friends, family. exc. Hes got like at least three different "lenses" he can view himself in, and at least two "good or bad" lenses he can see any given person through. IF anything is certain about him, its his instability. In idenity, in stances, in views, in beleifs, in emotions, in everything. An so, he gets the aberation efffect, cause he is !!! pulling!! apart! no focus, no stability , no alignment, no trust, no brother, no one to rely on, no money, no goals, no self esteem, no style, no shoes, no affirmation, no bitchessssssss also i have freddy at like 18 opacity (and the cromatic aberation layers are also at 1* so lets charitibly say hes at 50 total) and Fred is at like 80/85/90 on any given drawing of these, because freddy literally has less soul. uh. magic stystem or whatever freddy was emoty enough in the cup that holds his soul that he could fit a shadow, who turned into a whole ass person instead of some litttle creature...... fucked up. empty ass. anywho. enough of that miserable prick. freds got glow and sparkles cause hes got a lot of soul, hes got a lot in him, and would shine under any circumstance. stand out in some way bc hes just. like that. he is absolutly bursting at the seams with STUFF that is just not being let out. Hes curious. they wanna learn andexplre and live so fucking badly, the want to live and exist on their own terms and its so much passion and drive and will to live all bottled in this little being unable to be expresseddddd. one of these is more positive than the otherrrrr im sure theres sone negative side i missed on fred and a positive side to freddy that i missed but uh. its. 12am as i am writing and scheduling this so.....

if i had a dollar for every time i thought abt fnafhs id have 1 dollar bc i have not fucking stopped.

[nani-nonny]

I thought I’d update my pinned so here goes:

Hello! I’m LoneAnon aka Nonny aka LoneAnonon on AO3! My current fixation is Rottmnt, more specifically Future Leonardo (peepaw brainrot) hehe, so a lot of my works as of recent are Future Leo related! Check them out when you can!

Important: my response to ai with my works

Current Work(s):

•WDS or Whispers of Distant Souls aka another F!Leo returns to the past with Casey fic but F!Leo is haunted by his dead brothers. WDS TEASER

•I’m Blue… da ba dee da… aka Reunion, DMD, LCD, and WDS F!Leos collide in one dimension due to a multiverse oopsey (aka aka a silly “what-if” story where my peepaws meet :).)

•(Accidentally) Played American Football With My Newborn aka a silly F!Leo story where he takes a small baby turtle to the past to stop the krang. Never did he think being a single parent would be harder than defeating the krang. (No turtle tots were harmed in the making of the title.) father-daughter fluff snippet

Completed Works:

•DMD AU or Dead Man’s Deal AU a series with an 8-chapter main story and ongoing side stories centered around F!Leo, who returns to the present carrying his heavy guilt that lands him in the Battled Nexus as the Barbarian. DMD Fanart

•Reunion aka a oneshot where F!Leo returns to the past in order to pick up Casey Jones (takes place after the movie).

•LCD or Leonardo Come Down aka a prologue+9-chapter fic where F!Leo returns to the past with Casey (separately) and is hellbent on getting his revenge. Casey is given the task by Michelangelo to stop the Krang and save Leonardo while F!Leo faces the consequences of his actions. LCD fanart aka my pfp

•Setting Sun aka a 5 part short, interactive story where the readers’ decisions can end the story, or discover the details of Mikey’s situation. (Unedited, no beta, silly little dumpster fire aka something bad that you might not want to look away despite how bad it is) AO3 link

•Distorted Mirror aka a 4 chapter rottmnt Leo-centric fic focusing on his role as the leader in silly time travel oopsies. (The oopsies being the future timeline with the krang apocalypse hehe)

•BYMH or Between You and Me and Him aka an ongoing series where you can ask any of my peepaws anything, or tell them you hate love them. [Peepaw multiverse interview] (please state your request as for bymh) or visit their blog @/im-leo-your-leo-were-all-leo

More to see:

Upcoming Works:

•Lost Ronin aka F!Raph returns to the past under “circumstances” and it’s up to the present turtles to solve these “circumstances”.

•Estranged aka an AU where the Hamatos reunite with their long-lost sisters, Jennika and Venus. (Based on the two turtles meant to be introduced in rottmnt future seasons—we were robbed tsk tsk.) Teaser: Two Birds Jennika and Venus appearance

•(possible?) The M-Word aka a 5?-chapter post-Rise-movie angst fic that deals with Raphael’s trauma regarding what he endured in the midst of the invasion.

•(possible?) Inimitable/Spiderweb aka Big Mama imprisons F!Leo to force him to train her upcoming Battle Nexus Champions in exchange for his freedom.

•(possible?) Reunion F!Leo returns to the past once again to provide ultimate peepaw advice and give the kids the reassurance they need.

•I’m In The Wrong AU aka a joke idea where F!Leo goes through the portal to find the key and stop the krang, but he finds himself in a New York unlike the one he knows. Rottmnt x ‘12tmnt crossover

•Mystic Mirror on the wall, who the fuck are those turtles?/A Genius’s Curiosity/Mirror Realm Activities (name still undecided) aka a separated au where Donnie is raised by Draxum, Mikey raised by Big Mama, Raph raised by the Krang and Leo raised by the streets. The turtles are reunited by Donnie aka Subject 03’s newest creation, a mirror that goes beyond its purpose and creates a realm inside its reflection that the turtles use as their escape from reality.

•Attached aka an rottmnt au set during the apocalypse where Leo is too late in providing backup for the ambush attack on Casey. Upon finding her body, he finds an infant protected in her embrace. An infant with the unforgettable gleam in its eye signifying the Krang.

[Tcest DNI]

[Story tags and asks tag below]

[hellfirefucker]

Ever since that Eddie was little all the could see is Blue. No matter what color something might be, for him it was either a shade of Blue or Black and White. He hated his monotone color life, despised it even.

People who had found their soulmate/s would always see in a wide range of colors beyond their own. He desperately wanted that but could never get it no matter how hard he had tried. From preschool, to elementary, to middle school, and now high school, all Eddie could see is Blue. He hated the color of the sky, hated the color of the sea, it was all Blue, Blue, Blue!

Some of his friends had already started to see in different colors and would ramble on about how beautiful their new life was. Eddie would turn a blind eye and pretend to listen to them during conversations like that because the own ache in his heart was to great to bear.

Maybe Eddie Munson was fated to never have a soulmate.

It would be the only cruel thing the universe had done to him but it definitely was the worst. It meant that he was always fated to be alone, nobody to be ever complete that empty half in his soul.

He didn’t know what to do with himself knowing this information. Could he really live out the rest of his days knowing nobody would ever want him? Eddie couldn’t answer.

One day, Eddie Munson was walking through the halls of Hawkins High. His walk was confident and his laughter loud as he spoke to fellow Hellfire Club members as if nothing was wrong. That’s the best he could do really. Just put on a front so nobody would have to worry about him, they had their own lives to fret constantly about. As he walked, there was something that caught his attention from the corner of his eye.

Flash!

Was that a burst of color?

Eddie suddenly stopped in his steps to figure out what that was. He thought that maybe it was a ray of sunlight or some sort of reflection on metal. But as quickly as it came, the small flash had gone. Lost tot the crowd of students that filled the halls.

“Hey, Eddie, are you alright?”

He snapped out his thoughts and nodded, “Yeah, man, just peachy!”

The group continued to walk once more, headed to their classes but Munson couldn’t shake what he had saw out of his head. It was so unlike anything he had ever seen before. It was bright and looked full of joy…? Was that the right word to describe something like that?

With a small sigh, Eddie would enter a class that he was failing horribly at just for him to not pay attention and focus on preserving that memory in his head.

From then on, Eddie kept seeing small flashes here and there. Small slivers of something different from his Blue world. It would be seen above the heads of some of the students, it could be seen turning a corner, it could be seen in a passing car.

It was invading his mind. Every night he tossed and turned because he oh so desperately needed to figure out what it was. He looked for answers in books, newspapers, anything he could get his hands on but all his research came inconclusive. It was as if the universe had set another roadblock in his path for him to either give up or push forth.

And push forth he did.

But suddenly he saw the flash mess and less. He would peek his head and glance this way and that to try and see the flash but it was becoming a rarer and rarer occurrence.

Then one day, the flash never came back.

Part 1?!?!?!? (If you want a part 2 pls tell me!! I would love to hear from you guys!)

[daisyvramien]

Just short something about music gatekeepers:

Gatekeeping in music, or any art form for that matter, is like trying to build a fortress around something that should be open and inclusive. It's essentially saying, "I'm the gatekeeper of good taste, and if you're not on my level of understanding, you're not welcome." Well, guess what ? That's a load of bullshit.

Music is subjective, just like art. What resonates with one person might not strike a chord with another, and that's perfectly fine. But when you start acting like you've cracked some secret code that others haven't, you're just stroking your own ego.

Folks will claim they "get" a certain band or artist better than anyone else. They'll sit there, puffing out their chests, spewing out pretentious nonsense about how they've deciphered the true meaning behind every lyric or riff, while the rest of us mere mortals are left scratching our heads. Newsflash: music isn't always a puzzle to be solved; it's a form of expression meant to be enjoyed by all. By positioning yourself as the ultimate authority on a particular artist or genre, you're essentially saying that your taste is "superior" to everyone else's, that YOU are superior because YOU get it, and by extension: "Others don't". It's like a twisted game of musical one-upmanship, where the goal isn't to appreciate the music but to prove that you're somehow more cultured or sophisticated than the next person.

Gatekeeping in music isn't just about claiming superiority. It's also about trying to invalidate others' connections to the art form. We don't care if you were there since the band's creation, if you discovered them last week, or if their song came on the radio while you were cruising in your dad's old car 10 years ago. Your connection to the music is valid, no matter when or how you found it.

There's not some kind of purity test you have to pass in order to appreciate music properly.

I saw some recently on here get genuinely mad when an artist gains popularity through trends. Newsflash: trends aren't a crime, they're a reflection of what people are into at any given moment. If a song blows up because it's catchy or relatable, why should that be a source of anger? It's not like the artist sold their soul to the mainstream; they're just reaching a wider audience, which should be celebrated, not condemned. Some may discover them for the first time and go back through all their discography and discover pure gems!!

At the end of the day, music is about connection. It's about finding something that resonates with you on a personal level, whether you're the artist themselves or just a fan in the crowd. Music is for everyone, and if you find yourself getting genuinely mad because someone interprets a song or artist differently than you do, it's time to take a step back and reevaluate your priorities. For example, I adore "Ivy" by Taylor Swift. It has a specific meaning for me, cause I can relate with my own story. Someone may and WILL have another interpretation and that's tots okay!! Music is supposed to bring us together, not separate us with "which one is a real fan" game. In this essay I will-

[1-random-ideas555g]

Have you seen all of Steven universe.

i seen steven universe it was one of the first 3 fandoms I got into when I first got into fandoms, i enjoy the show and love the story and songs and went from loving rose/pink hating rose/pink, understanding rose/pink, to idk what the fuck she was doing in the time of the show, movie and future ark. however, before you ask im not actively in the fandom right now i will watch clips of the show here and there but i gotten into a different fandom that im still actively in besides trolls. I'm in the rise fandom and will forever be.

#saverottmnt, #save rise of the tmnt, #save rottmnt, #disaster twins, #cass apocalypse series, #lfls, #two souls, #ghost in the shell, #brains and the brawn, #rottmnt turtle tots, #paper scales au, #a world of samurais and ninjas #rottmnt au, #rotten reflections, and #same as it never will be

and yes, all of this # are rottmnt tags i have memorize i have many more if im willing to search for the ones i forgot the names of be lucky i never started putting names of characters i have the names of some of April classmates memorized

[ardn631anitatukiwaho]

Notes from folklorist and professor of sociological anthropology, Sabina Magliocco

Provides an insight into how the ideas around liminal spaces relate tot he experiences of the pandemic and the broader concept of confronting morality

"It feels betwixt and between. It feels like many of us are cut off from our everyday normal life, cut off from the kinds of interactions that we used to have"

"One of the tropes that we see is the trope of abandonment, the trope of something being desolate...something that once was filled with life and is now empty"

"It is in a sense, a nod to our own mortality. At one point we will not be here anymore. The body that houses us, that holds our soul, our consciousness, will be simply an abandoned, empty husk."

Magliocco mentions that the pandemic has transformed society and that the experience feels "liminal.

This connection indicates that the pandemic has created a collective experience that is characterized by feelings of transition and uncertainty, much like what one would associate with liminal spaces. The disruption of normal life and the severed connections to our pre-pandemic routines align with the idea of being "betwixt and between," as characteristic of liminal spaces.

Magliocco suggests that the interest in liminal space might go beyond the pandemic and serve as a means to confront our mortality. The trope of abandonment and desolation associated with liminal spaces, where something once vibrant becomes empty, is seen as a reflection of the impermanence of life.

The exploration of liminal spaces can be a way for individuals to grapple with the transitory nature of life.

[truthandlove]

A Word About Fathers

(by @ChristineBrejc1 on Twitter) Fathers play a critical role in their children's lives, and in today's article, daughters specifically. A father presents himself just below Jesus and provides a sense of security for his daughter, showing her unconditional love, support, and validation. Validation is a godly stamp of approval on a child's spirit necessary to live life in genuine identity, freely exposing their true nature and with permission to shine freely and without shame. A child loved and cultivated in a way that glorifies God will respect themselves and honor others lovingly. It's unfair to expect a girl or boy to think of themselves as important or worthy if the parent shows them they are worth less. In Psalm 103:13, David writes, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." A father’s compassion and sensitive touch yet stern upbringing molds the center of a child's universe. After all, the father is the spiritual head of the family, and without one makes an opening in the family circle that leads the child to spin out of control. Satan is more than willing to take place meant for a godly head to masquerade in every ungodly man that will steal a little bit of her soul one lie at a time. And in a little boy's case, without a father, don't be surprised if he becomes one of those men, or in today's modern society; he becomes a want-to-be-woman. God created men to be robust, positive, and compassionate role models, teaching their children about Jesus, life, and Holy Spirit, while instilling confidence that is strong enough to withstand a fallen world. At the very least, be present to love and raise the children you laid down with their mother to create. Fathers should support their daughter's development of self-esteem, allowing them to be confident and independent. Or else take responsibility when they get lost and can not find their way back, yet judge them like it's their fault because dad is a deadbeat father. Dare they blame the mother, making them double down on their error? Proverbs 22:6: "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it." God chooses fathers to be like Yahweh and create special bonds with their children, whether through Christ, shared interests, activities, or hobbies. A father is responsible for providing guidance and advice and helping his daughter make the essential decisions early so that later, she makes the right choices. A father’s influence should reflect a godly nature and cement biblical standards from which she can build; Christ’s love is vital and irreplaceable. If you are a Father or Father to be, please provide your sons and daughters with a safe, secure, and loved heart, helping them build their confidence from a tot to a teen to a mother and Queen. Mother and father are to pour into the children to become their best version. Because if not, and without it, the children will grow to feel unwanted, self-loathing, and naive, and people will prey on their vulnerability. Little girls need a daddy, and little boys need a father, and still, long into adulthood, a woman longs for her Father’s presence. I look forward to my new TV network pouring the Lord’s oil over a love-starved world. I look forward to my new network pouring the Lord’s oil over a love-starved world. Can you imagine the healing from every generational scar to make sense of the inner confusion in adults who suffered abuse and were unloved? Awakening godly purpose through the pain revealed by the truth of our Savior?



[storiesofstellis]

Reflection of The Soul (End)

Things had finally calmed down at Time’s Antiques, forcing Vyn on his way to work. As much as he tried not to think about it, Luke was always in the back of his mind. What ifs plagued his thoughts to the point he couldn't hear himself think. He was brought back to reality at the touch of a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

Just seeing his face was enough to make him smile and forgo all negative thoughts. They instantly came rushing back at the sight of his frown.

“I'm really sorry about earlier. I promise that I'll tell you the truth, the whole truth one day. Unfortunately, that day isn't any time soon… I hope this doesn't break what we've been trying to solidify…” apologized Luke, still hiding his left arm.

“That won't, but something else will.” Vyn commented, his gaze stoic.

Silence hung between them before Luke showed his arm. It was bandaged well, he'd give him that. Vyn undressed the wound, assessing the damage.

“Why didn't you go to the hospital? Do you realize this needs stitching?”

“You're exaggerating. It's not that bad!” argued Luke.

What made him more concerned was who was skilled enough to leave such a wound and why they were after Luke? Perhaps out for revenge? A grudge?

“What happened to the culprit?”

“Escaped.”

That wasn't reassuring at all. Who was to say they didn't know about his relationships? What if they attempted to attack Rosa while alone?

“I'm worried. They may target people around me… Rosa and you being special to me… I have to catch them.”

“Well, you can do that AFTER getting this stitched. Come on.”

Luke had been lost in his thoughts, unaware Vyn had taken better care of his wound.

Vyn looked up, seeing Luke emerge. He was properly bandaged up now, setting his heart at ease. He couldn't go after the perp in this state but knowing Luke he still would, not making use of his left arm purposefully.

“Promise me you won't do any chasing until that wound is mostly healed.” Vyn asked sternly, looking into his eyes.

Luke sighed, already able to tell where things were going.

“I'm not going to make a promise we both know I won't keep.” he responded. “But I’m really touched to see how much you care.”

“Of course I'd care even if we weren't…”

“Weren't?” Luke pried.

Now that it was brought up, what exactly did Luke consider them? Just because feelings were mutual didn't mean they were on the same page. Perhaps it was better to play it safe.

“Weren't close.” Vyn finished, dropping the conversation soon after. “We should get going.”

What in the world was close supposed to mean? It could be interpreted in many ways, two of which he didn't feel strongly towards. It felt like they were regressing rather than progressing. Luke grabbed his hand, halting his movements.

“What? Don't say you left something…”

“What are we?” he asked seriously, tightening his hold on Vyn’s hand. “Are we friends or more than that?”

He was the one being asked? He was just as confused too. Sure, they admitted feelings but nothing had really changed. Neither ever made a move to get closer than usual. Maybe now was as good a time as any?

“I’m willing to step forward if you are.” smiled Vyn, letting his emotions show.

Hope yet despair. Excitement yet nervousness. But most of all, vulnerable. Vyn didn't have to say it, he could see it in his face and body language. Luke moved to face Vyn, hesitating before reaching out to cup his cheek. When was the last time he felt this nervous around someone? He had to get his head on as straight as possible right now, Vyn was expecting an answer. And today preferably.

“I am.” he ended up squeaking out. This caused Vyn to let out the giggles he found adorable, making his cheeks grow warmer. “The one time I wanted to seem cool…”

“It was cool enough, honest.”

Yet his giggling betrayed him hard. Well, if there was any silver lining, it was good to know that they were on the same wavelength.

•

Vyn looked up from his papers, hearing pattering against his window. The forecast did mention rain but he didn't expect the sky to open up so suddenly. He peered outside, catching a glimpse of a fleeing shadow. Things had seemed normal after the attack on Luke but he knew better than to be at ease. And now he was thankful he hadn't let his guard down. Someone was snooping around, probably in hopes of figuring out a perfect time to plan something with little to no witnesses. He could handle himself for a while but would Rosa be okay? She seemed like an easier target considering her physique. Hopefully she was taking precautions as well. Now that he thought about it, taking a few days off might throw them off for a bit.

Vyn sat up, hearing his doorbell. He shouldn't have visitors. Are they trying a direct approach? Ah, he was becoming paranoid after spending too much time inside.

Luke called his number, waiting outside the door. Vyn wouldn't have left Stellis without telling him, right?

“Hello?”

“Hey to you too. Are you home?”

“Yes, w- Wait. Is that you at the door?”

“Yeah. I-”

Vyn hung up on him. The door opened, a fully casual Vyn beckoning him in. If he had to guess, he took time off of work. The place looked orderly as usual.

“I hadn't heard from you for a few days so I was worried you were drowning in work. Though, seems I was wrong… and worried over nothing.” said Luke flatly. “Why did you go all silent.”

Tell the truth or lie? Easy choice.

“Just wanted to focus on myself for a bit. Sorry if it seemed like I was ignoring you.” apologized Vyn.

Still, not having seen nor heard from him in days… his longing for him grew. He was afraid of what close contact would do.

“So, how have you been? Tell me everything.”

At first it didn't seem like much but the more he talked, the more things he found to report on. Even small, insignificant things had Vyn’s interest.

“And if it wasn't obvious enough by now… I missed you.”

“Aww…”

Vyn left his spot, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. Luke shivered in delight, causing Vyn to attempt to stifle his laughter.

“Why am I always laughed at?!” he fumed, becoming more embarrassed by the second.

“You make it easy, is all. Had I known you'd miss me this much I would've given something more stimulating.”

Stimulating?! Luke’s blush had darkened, putting his thoughts on display. This arose another round of laughter from Vyn.

“You're naughtier than I thought.” Vyn quipped, raising an eyebrow.

“I wasn't having dirty thoughts! You are!” Luke sputtered, trying to regain composure.

Vyn scooted closer, slowly running a hand up his thigh. Luke visibly tensed at the action. He was doing this on purpose. Two could play at this game. Luke reached over, running his fingers over Vyn’s chest. Clearly he wasn't expecting payback by the surprised sound that escaped his mouth. They locked eyes, waiting for the other to back down.

“I must say, your fortitude is amazing. Shame I won't get to see it used in other situations.” sighed Vyn, backing away.

“Like what?” Luke questioned.

Vyn leveled a look, sending Luke into a flustered mess. How could he be so smooth with something like this?

“You really are adorable like this. I say this sincerely and not in jest.” grinned Vyn, his heart unable to slow. “I fear my heart just might leave my chest.”

He understood perfectly. Despite all the teasing, his heart was running a marathon as well. Luke leaned in for a kiss, stopping half way. Vyn didn't need a prompt, meeting him the other half of the way. It was warm and comfortable, holding the other like this.

The lights shut off.

“Vyn…?”

“Sabotaged.” he whispered back, looking about the living room. Well, as much as he could with limited sight. “So I’m the first target…”

Vyn couldn't quite tell what Luke was doing but he trusted him nonetheless.

“As reckless as this sounds, we’re leaving through the front door. I-”

“Are you trying to do this yourself? I live here, you know. I can tell you where everything is.”

They quietly got up, nestling themselves into a corner. Not too long after, soft footsteps made their way into the living room. Was it just one? Something wasn't sitting right. This one was probably here to scope the place out before inviting his buddies in.

As predicted, the first left after inspecting the place. Now was the time to plan a counterattack while they had time.

“Look, he lives alone. We studied everything about him. There's no way we won't one hit k.o him.”

“I mean, he has a point? The guy seems too elegant to know self defense.” the woman added on.

“Still, being inside gave me chills…”

“Oh stop being a wimp. Come on.”

The two followed him in, heading for Vyn’s office.

“You're absolutely sure he's not home? And you disarmed everything?”

“Yessir!”

They opened the door, a medley of things occurring at once before they were each knocked unconscious. Vyn exhaled in relief before frowning. Petty criminals. Here he was expecting the real deal.

“I’m going to ask and you can simply answer with yes or no. Do they have a relation to the one who attacked you last week?”

“In a way.”

“Are both instances related to what you can't tell me?”

“Yes. Sorry…”

As much as he wanted to press for answers, he was going to respect Luke’s boundaries.

“One day I’ll understand, just not today.” he smiled bitterly, helping Luke move them outside.

He truly wanted to tell Vyn everything, but it was bad enough Rosa knew. It was extremely frustrating to the core.

“Vyn, I-”

He looked around, seeing Vyn was off talking to the authorities. It'd have to wait for another time he presumed. He was waved over, the authorities wanting his piece.

•

Vyn wasn't able to relax after the attack at home. For all he knew, someone could be waiting to attack disguised as his employee. Was he becoming paranoid? Maybe. Though, who could blame him? Vyn exhaled, seeing he needed to relax. It was just the thing he needed. He moved to open the door only for it to open by itself.

“Ah! I'm sorry!” they apologized, trying to see what they hit. “Vyn! Is your face okay? Any scratches?”

“I’m fine but what are you doing here so late?” he asked, subtly gesturing to the night sky.

“Well, you said you were going to be working late these days so thought I'd come by and give you a breather from work for a bit.” smiled Luke, intertwining their fingers. “Say yes?”

“I'd have to be an idiot to say no. I've been wanting to see your face for a while now.”

Vyn always knew how to make smooth comebacks. One day he was going to leave Vyn absolutely flustered. Vyn followed Luke outside before noticing a little setup outside. He didn't have to guess how it ended up there. They sat down, a small yet noticeable gap between them.

“It feels like a picnic but minus the food. Though, you obviously remembered the drinks.”

“I promise it's not alcohol. Now if today was a Friday.” Luke responded with a suggestive look. Vyn gave him a playful nudge before leaning back slightly. “You look better.”

His confusion must've been very obvious as Luke continued on.

“When I first came in, you looked unbearably tired. Like you were carrying a lot on your shoulders.”

Well, maybe…

“I've been worried, actually. Ever since that attack, I've worried about Miss Rosa. I know how important she is to you, so for something to happen… And then the possibility that someone in their ranks is disguised as an employee here.” sighed Vyn, letting his body deflate. “I know I’m overthinking but you can never be too careful. So something like this is really nice. Get my mind off of things and… spend time with you.”

There was probably more that he was holding back for his sake. Luke closed the gap between them, their shoulders touching.

“I promise I’ll keep you safe, so don't worry yourself sick anymore… Please. It ruins your beautiful skin and looks.” Luke said lowly, turning Vyn towards him. He slowly ran his fingers through his hair, finding himself sinking into his golden eyes. “You're precious to me…”

Both were in shock of what had come out of his mouth. Hearing it out loud was much different than either expected. It actually had weight now. Vyn lowered his head as he leaned into Luke’s touch.

“I’m so happy that I can't fully express it.” whispered Vyn, clutching his chest.

Kiss him. Kiss him! He lifted Vyn’s head, pressing their lips together before asking for entrance. A full proper kiss. No interruptions whatsoever. This feeling of closeness he never thought he'd get to feel… Vyn let out a surprised gasp, not expecting Luke to hug him so suddenly. They sat in each other's embrace until Vyn returned them back to reality. He still had some work to do no matter how much he wanted to laze about with Luke.

“Ah, before I go. Do you have time next week?”

“Hm? What for?”

•

Luke happily took pictures, knowing Rosa would love to own a few. He looked up, seeing Vyn squatting by an exhibit. Click. It wasn't every day he got to see Vyn in casual wear. It was always work related. He wondered if Vyn felt differently now. Vyn stood up, approaching his waiting partner.

“I hope the date isn't too boring.” apologized Vyn, restraining himself from wandering to another flower.

“I'm having fun, no worries. It's even better since you're with me.”

The two joined hands, making their way to another section before hearing a voice call out.

“Miss Rosa?”

Her cheer was soon replaced by a mixture of emotions before settling with a thoughtful look.

“Are you two…” she started, looking at their joined hands. “I don't want to assume here but…”

They exchanged looks before one spoke up.

“Yeah. It just kinda happened, really. But I’m happy with Vyn and he feels the same. I’m glad that we met that day, even if it was rocky at first.”

Rosa squealed in delight, giving the both of them hugs. Her boyfriend soon made an appearance, greeting the two.

“I always worried you'd be too busy with work to find someone. I'm so happy for you, Luke!” she beamed. “How long has it been?”

Neither knew off the top of their heads. They quietly discussed, causing Rosa to tilt her head.

“I’d like to say three months now.” Vyn concluded with a nod.

Rosa bounced on her toes, asking Luke questions in rapid fire.

“Makes one a little envious, huh?”

Vyn looked towards the boyfriend who watched the scene before them. It was then he understood the hidden meaning. They had been best friends since they were little tots. No matter how close they were to their partners, there was a space they could never dare to fill no matter how hard they tried.

“It is envy worthy, but it's all the more heartwarming to see.” replied Vyn.

Luke had broken away from Rosa, grabbing Vyn and shouting goodbyes as they took off.

“Too much?”

“No, I just wanted to get back to our date. I can call her and tell her anytime. I want to be here with you right now.” Luke grinned, feeling himself blush.

“Well it's a good thing I want to be here with you now too, fufu. Ahem, shall we?”

They joined hands again, heading off to continue their date.

•

The two sat side by side, watching the snow fall. The forecast didn't mention it but being surprised once in a while was nice.

“The new year is coming soon.” Luke commented, taking a sip of his coffee.

“Mmm. It was also around this time that you left Stellis and me all alone.” Vyn replied, warming up with tea. “Well, in terms of season. The actual month is still a few away.”

Luke tightened his hold on his cup, glancing at Vyn who let snowflakes fall onto his gloved hands.

“Should we spend the holidays together? Unless you already have plans. Hopefully not…” inquired Vyn.

“Vyn.”

Luke held him back, his voice a bit shaky. The whole time during the date he acted as if nothing was wrong, but he couldn't keep quiet any longer. They were getting too close for comfort. Vyn took note of the serious look on his face. Was it that bad?

“I'm listening…”

“Come, it's quieter over here.”

Now he was becoming concerned. Just what exactly was he going to tell him?

“I work for the government. I've been assigned a job here that I've been working on day and night since I arrived. It's because I’m getting close to the truth that they're taking action. They’ll stop at nothing to keep a tight lid on things. Yes, even murder.” Luke said lowly, holding Vyn’s hands. “Don't try to get any more involved than you already have. They're really dangerous.”

“I promise to behave. You stay safe as well. You certainly don't want another wound.”

Vyn didn't comment on the government part. He couldn't have possibly known already, could he? Vyn smiled softly, squeezing his hands.

“I feel a bit better with you knowing, but even if you do know it doesn't change anything…” sighed Luke, averting his gaze. “The thought of losing you… I don't like it.”

“Aw. It really warms my heart that you care so much.” grinned Vyn, kissing Luke’s nose.

“Stop.” whined Luke, his blush darkening. “You're making it hard to resist…”

Vyn stopped teasing him for now, taking in the sweet moment between them.

“It's getting late. Should I take you home?” Vyn asked, the two slowly walking together.

“No, it'd be better if I saw you home instead.”

“I'm not that weak, you know. I can handle a guy or two.” huffed Vyn, displeased at Luke’s line of thinking.

“It's not that. It'll just ease my mind more.” Luke explained. “So if we’re going home then I’m dropping you off.”

“Alright, alright. It would probably be better if we didn't go home too late.”

They waited somewhere warm for a cab, Vyn often glancing at Luke. He never did answer his question about spending the holidays together.

“Vyn, just say what's on your mind. You're making me antsy.” Luke said wearily.

“Well, it's about my question from earlier. About the holidays…”

“Oh. Oh, that. I usually spend them with Rosa but I'd be more than happy to be with you.”

Vyn looked away, trying to hide his blush. How could someone be this naturally cute? The cab arrived, the two piling in.

“Hey, Vyn. What do you think about this one?”

Vyn looked, viewing the photos. They were all so nice, it was hard to pick a favorite.

“Ah.”

Luke had a soft look on his face as he stared at the photo he took of him.

“You look beautiful…”

Vyn wasn't sure if he was meant to hear that or not, but he definitely took it in stride. He leaned closer to Luke, hoping he couldn't hear his beating heart. Luke had selected some, deleting them before sharing the remaining with him. He curiously looked, seeing Luke’s lock screen was actually a picture of him and Peanut. He would've assumed it was an old picture of him and Rosa.

“You're staring awful hard at my phone. Are you trying to snoop?” Luke asked pointedly, narrowing his eyes.

“What? No. I was just observing. Sorry…”

Luke sighed, giving him an apology.

“I do have a few things that shouldn't be viewed so I constantly worry. Sorry…”

“It's fine. I'll be more careful.”

The rest of the car ride was silent, a gap between them. The cab stopped at Vyn’s both getting out. Luke didn't let Vyn get a word in, sending the driver off.

“Go in.”

“You could've taken it home.”

Luke waved his statement off, ushering him in again. Vyn watched from his window as Luke used his phone before answering a call. Who was he talking to with a serious look like that? Luke had vanished from his view, heading down the block. He did his usual look around for anything suspicious before getting settled in his office. He really hoped they'd get to spend the holidays together.

“Hm?”

An ad about cat food appeared, making him remember his time as a cat. Those were some crazy adventures he had gotten into. The ending was pretty anticlimactic the more he thought about it. He never heard their voices again after that night. So they really could've just stripped him whenever they felt like it. As weird as it'd sound, he had them to thank for his current happiness. If he never had the ability, Luke would still be pining after Rosa. And himself? Probably wasting time in a job he never cared about. The butterfly effect truly was amazing.

[bleachbleachbleach]

Bleach 053-056

Four months later, I continue this reread! ToT It’s so good to be back. I’ve been trying to divest myself of all knowledge of who these characters are (or who they will later reveal themselves to be), in order to experience this reading with only what I’ve been shown in canon so far, and boy howdy that’s hard. 

But LMAO RENJI’S INTRODUCTION--HE’S FUCKING NUTS and I love him. Look at this little howler monkey. THAT SECOND PANEL. He comes in so hot, first with Ishida and then with Ichigo. Which stands out because like, Byakuya is standing right there. It’s not as though Renji is unsupervised here, and needs to put on some kind of show. Soul Society would probably prefer to keep this retrieval on the DL, since Rukia’s going rogue (and staying rogue for such a long period of time) doesn’t really reflect well the organization, and like, don’t want people getting ~ideas~. 

But anyway, Byakuya’s just like, watching all this go down. I feel like he’s info-gathering, just to see what Renji will do, because it’s only been a few months since Renji became his VC and there’s a good chance this retrieval mission is one of the first things of note they’ve actually done together. Renji knows a lot about Byakuya, for “well, who doesn’t?” reasons and for various Renji reasons, but I go back and forth on how much I think Byakuya actually knows about Renji. It really depends on whatever I think would be more interesting in a given moment. I bet he learns a lot purely through these exchanges, though--in terms of how Renji interacts with Rukia, how he approaches Ichigo. 

We also learn so much about all of these characters and their many layers of interaction through these chapters and guh it’s so good. <33 And also get some zanpakutou lore, in the most metal way possible. This is badass:

He says “this is the shape of my power” and man, guys, friends, besties, I love zanpakutou so much. I love the way the sword is both an extension of the self but also a self beyond the self--something you must be in relation to. And it’s not this amorphous, ephemeral thing, it’s this incredibly specific shape and like, wow, who are you when you have a soul that’s shaped like that.

Also, the fact that Byakuya apparently reads random Onmitsukidou bulletins about Menos sustaining sword wounds only further deepens my commitment to Detective Byakuya. Playing dime novel detective with the Seireitei equivalent of a police scanner is how he gets his daily jollies!! Mid-battle, he’s just like, oh, by the by, I read this weird Florida Man story on Yahoo! News that seems relevant here:

The other thing about this chapter is that it doesn’t seem like Renji actually thinks Rukia is going to be executed? It’s been four months and now I don’t remember what he and Byakuya were talking about in their little hoods lolol but Renji told Ichigo that Rukia was going to die and Ichigo can’t save her--but when he was actually talking to Rukia about further risking herself for Ichigo’s sake, he seemed to think she’d only be imprisoned (and imprisoned for “an additional 20 years” which seems weirdly specific. Do they make you study the Gotei 13 penal code at the Academy? I mean, I guess they probably do, haha). 

And we get this gorgeous Senkaimon shot, too. ToT <33333 I’m hype for Soul Society, though I think there’s another training arc between it and me rn. I wonder how they got Rukia through the doors, since she’s still in her gigai here, and kind of trapped in it? Is the density of reishi at the threshold of the gate enough to help her?

Below the cut, two boring things that I find interesting!

I’ve never read manga in Japanese before this slightly deranged attempt to do so with Bleach (I don’t speak Japanese...), but I think the furigana that describe random canon-specific terminology are kind of adorable?? Like, there Renji’s like, Who the hell’re you? What division do you belong to? But the furigana--the little helper characters on the side of the kanji--don’t say “what division.” They just say “where.” 

I think that’s an interesting way of worldbuilding, where it clarifies for the reader the meaning of Renji’s question but also gives us a sense of the vernacular of the Gotei 13, and how shinigami conceive of themselves as belonging/locating themselves. It’s not geographic, but divisional. idk, again, boring little thing, but this is the kind of thing I find rad!!

This is fun, too:

Renji’s loudly expressing his disbelief that Ichigo could have done anything to a Menos Grande and is like, “THIS KINDA GUY?” 

The phrase he uses is こんな奴, konna yatsu. “Yatsu” is either a bro-y or lowkey rude way to refer to someone, though initially I wasn’t sure why Ichigo would be stirred by that, since everyone’s been referring to everyone else kinda rudely. (Rukia’s already referred to both Ishida and Renji as “yatsu” at this point in the scene lol, and everyone has called everyone else like three even ruder things, too.)

I think it’s actually the konna that Ichigo’s reacting to, which makes it “this kinda guy” rather than “this specific guy.” That stands out to me in the specific context of Bleach and of this scene because Renji and Byakuya are our first non-Rukia shinigami. They are an entity unto themselves. Given that Rukia’s trespasses are all Ichigo’s “fault,” I feel like Renji’s not referring to Ichigo’s character typology, as in “this insolent angery guy,” but is instead referring to Ichigo as a thing. Like, “this blasphemy of the reiryouku world order,” creating a taxonomic divide between what a shinigami is and whatever thing Ichigo is.

[mccharles1]

Forever sleeping flower.

 On that moonlit night, at the peak of the royal roads, a mere day after that fateful dawn was a lone spider in deep distress. Frantically searching through books he had gathered, he took all he had brought together on the dimensional mirror and further researched it. 

“The mirror has the power to make any wishes reflected in them come true, perhaps it could undo what occured to Sectonia, her life is not lost yet, I can still save her…”, this was the thought that was repeated in his mind and yet, something held him back from just doing it….ever since the day Taranza had given her that mirror… she began to change, at first he assumed it was part of her road to betterment, or a coincidence… but… now he was unsure, he did not want to make everything worse. Should he really trust that mirror with this?

Day after day did he search for a definitive answer to his question, becoming increasingly impatient until he discovered the truth….

The mirror he gave her... it had been twisted before he discovered it.  Corrupted to a state that darkens the mind of all unfortunate enough to gaze into it... in his impulsive need to help her, he gave her the mirror while missing this detail…

It was his fault…. it was all his fault…

His hands were shaking as the book escaped his grasp, his body lowering towards the ground. A piercing pain speared through his chest,, his body trembled, his eyes blurred, his stomach turned. He moved one hand to his chest, gripping it with immense force and two others onto his head. How could he live with himself? How could he do this to her? He killed her, he destroyed her,and twisted the one thing that mattered most to him in this world into a monster . His breathing became more heavy as tears began to run down his cheeks. All he wanted was to help her but… her downfall, her suffering, her agonizing death while lost tot the throes of insanity… it was all his doing. 

The smile that could comfort him through the worst of struggles, her shine that surpassed any star… no…  any universe… they have faded because of him. A kind, pure, perfect soul turned to unspeakable evil because of his ‘gift’. The time they spent together, the love he wished he shared with her, memories that were once so sweet now felt like knives being pierced through his chest. Her form didn’t matter, it never mattered to him, he loved her, he will always love her …Perhaps if he told her that, perhaps if he put aside his fear and told her instead of giving her a cursed mirror, she would still be with him here today. Sectonia perished during that sunrise because of his failure as a servant… and as a friend… she did not deserve that fate. It should have been him..

To the heavens he called an hollow cry, his heart begged a desperate plea; oh butterfly of judgment, take him in exchange for her, end his life to give her another chance, she did not deserve to suffer this fate because of his impulsive mistake. His calls, his pleas, continued hopelessly for hours, beyond his last tear, regardless of the pain he felt in his throat. He continued begging but…none responded, none heard him. The lone spider was left without comfort and without his flower, his queen, his universe. Eternally alone, the spider in the skies continued his desperate calls, his heart asking: why? oh why? but this was answered by none, heard by none. She was gone, and he was still there.

.

.

.

.

.

Oh how badly he wanted to see her again… this lonely creature frequently finds himself absorbed in this thought. If none will answer his calls, he’ll continue to seek for his own way to answer his pleas… he will take fate into his own hands. This small thread of hope and determination is the only thing keeping the puppeteer from the deepest depths of despair. 

[mxvladdy]

THE WAY YOU FILLED YOUR FIRST REQUEST SHOOK ME?!?!?!? YOU BLESSED US!? Would you mind also imagining how Mammon, Luci and Belphie would feel with a MC who's guarded with themselves and their feelings to avoid hurt, so they try to keep these brothers at a friendly arm's length as they don't believe the brothers don't really care about them? It would make me so happy, thank you so much!

EEEEK! Sorry for the wait. It took forever and a day to get enough time to seat uninterrupted and then try to edit ;.;

I hope you like it! Apologies if I didn’t get the prompt just right!

Mammon

He didn’t hide his disdain for his human protection duty when you first met. The fact that you kept him at an arm's length was a devil’s blessing. Good! He is a busy demon after all, he doesn’t have time for some human. At first.

Then he caught the feels and it’s all downhill for him at his ‘cool devil’ act. Not that you ever NOTICED.

He tries to flirt with you. Before you, he thought he was good at it too.

He’s never had someone so civil with his advances. You smile and laugh politely at whatever complement he throws at you. You might even give him a few back in a teasing, but clearly friendly manner.

You stress it heavily whenever he comes on too heavy with his advances. You stamp down whatever feelings he evokes and try to keep your line clean and precise in the shifting sand of your relationship.

He takes you out one evening after school, determined to get an actual answer from you over some made up snack he lied about. You don’t think anything of it, happy for an excuse to hang out. You walk and talk, not taking notice of his steadily reddening face as he keeps making swipes at your hand each time it brushes his.

You make an off-handed (get it) remark about the closeness and offer to walk behind this was bothering him.

He is miffed and throws out all semblance of “coolness”. Just flat out confess. Face flaming hot from embarrassment and sweaty palms now shoved into his jacket.

It was a blink and you’d miss it kind of moment. Mammon’s cheeks start to heat gradually. A staunch look of panic growing behind his eyes.

The words just slip off his tongue. His lips forming a sentence you were dreading. You didn’t quite catch it all; his declaration lost in the wind of the open market. You try to catch his gaze, to make him repeat himself clearly, for what purpose you didn’t know. You don't particularly want to hear it again, yet it would give you time to compose some kind of response.

He refuses to look at you. No matter which way you bob and weave beneath him, he dances around you. His face always looking in the opposite direction of yours. His gaze permanently pointing at his feet. The uneven cobblestone beneath his scuffed boots was suddenly very interesting it seemed. "I'm sorry? I didn't catch that." You ask once more, grabbing on to the crook of his elbow.

He buries himself deeper into the flipped collar of his coat and whispers it again. "I-I like ya, ok? Like like like ya know?" He stumbles over his thoughts.

Now how in the hells were you supposed to dodge this? It had been easier to evade his blatant affections when even he wasn't admitting to them. "No, you don't." You step away with a dry chuckle. "Don't be silly." You back away shaking your head in denial. You were sure Mammon could feel your heart rate picking up. You need some space, more space than the street could give you. Somewhere away from your tall, sweet, white-haired problem.

"Oi!" He makes a grab for you as you turn to flee. He spins you around leaning down to meet with you face to face. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"We are friends Mammon," You try to wiggle out of his strong, yet gentle grip. "You're just mixing up the feelings." Bullshit. With him touching you, your joint pack acted like an amplifier. You very much felt what he thought of you. The yearning from his newfound mental clarity mixes with the panic of your rejection. It makes a bittersweet taste bloom in your mouth, so hopefully yet reserved.

He was not so lucky. Your feelings felt like ash on his tongue, a sour tang of fear and self-doubt building on his sense. You were afraid of the inevitable, or what you presumed to be the inevitable.

  You were supposed to be friends then disappear forever once the school year was up. Him, down here, and you back to being just another nameless soul in the human realm. No need to get the storyline all tangled. "Hey-hey," Mammon speaks in a rush. "It ain't like that, really." He coos shuffling you closer till you are wrapped tightly in his soft leather jacket. He pours more of himself into the pack, opening himself up in ways he never thought capable of from his demonic form.

"I'm stupid." You speak into his chest. The warm reassurance of his unspoken pledge soothing you. It lessens the tight feeling of uncertainty that you had grown accustomed to.

"Ah- now, ain't that supposed to be my job?" The taste in his mouth dissipates slightly as you let out an indignant huff. He flinches as you poke his side hard between his rib cage.

"Told you to stop talking down on yourself Mammon."

The demon hums noncommittally keeping you close. He rocks you both from side to side, oblivious to the throngs of other pedestrians forced to walk around you two. "Guess I forgot. Maybe you could remind me? O-on a date?"

He smiles down at the little sliver of your face and eyes peeking up from the darkness of his jacket. He could damn near feel the smile trying to break from your forced scowl. "Just one?"

"Heh- don't bet on it."

Lucifer

Welcome to the ultimate game of pleasantry chicken. The two of you know this dance by heart, but your footwork isn't synching up.

Lucifer is trying to keep this whole debacle as professional as possible. You are an esteemed guest and pact holder for all of his brothers and himself. This should be business as usual. He totally has his emotions and growing frustration at your lack of interest in him in check.

Yup. He's fine. He's great; glad you two have such an unspoken understanding of your standing in his company and in the house. The same book, same chapter, same bloody page.

You are a good friend. Just. A. Very. Good. Friend.

He breaks first. Not that he will admit it. But the weekly coffee breaks become a bi-daily thing as he tries to court you. He draws these evenings out now. Have you finished your schoolwork? No, allow me to tutor you. Perhaps you would like to listen to this new vinyl with me tonight? It is a complete demon rendition of Wagner's Die Meistersinger. A classic, you’ll love it.

You take it all in stride. Thanking him innocently enough and going along with it. You buffer every little turn of phrase and slightly off-color hint of what he wanted from you with grace. So tactfully done he begins to doubt himself. You couldn’t be misconstruing his intentions right? He hasn’t doubted himself like this in a long time.

Diavolo catches on quickly to the kicked puppy look Lucifer tots around in your presence. He’ll tease, but try to help. He’s a decent wingman truth be told. “How has Lucifer been treating you? I haven’t seen him this happy in ages. He is a great friend to have, yes?” Kinda backfires when you agree that he is indeed a good friend. Oops.

He’ll crack one night over a glass (or bottle) of something strong he pulled from his study. You had slipped into his room unannounced asking for a quiet place to read before bed.  The interruption to his musings leads to him running his mouth and pile driving his pride into the ground.

He can’t say no to you anymore. He really should. You were hell bent on keeping him at an arm's length, so he should too. Lucifer watches you like a hawk from behind his desk. His ungloved fingers swirling the dregs of his drink. The cognac inside of it looking up at him, his scowl reflecting in the rich red liquor. Don’t judge me. He scoffs at himself, was he that far gone that he was arguing with his glassware? Should have switched to the bottle hours ago.

“Luci?” You say again waving a hand in his face. “You forget to sleep again this week?” Your smile was warm, a little twinkle in your eye drawing a heat to his collar that had nothing to do with the spirits. You sit on the edge of his desk in your sleepwear. The baggy shirt and sweats reeked of his brothers.

“No.” He lies pushing his desk chair away. “Did you need something?”

You shrug hopping off the desk. “Not really. Wasn’t feeling movie night. You ok if I hang out here? It’s nice and quiet.” You slink off to the couch in front of the fire before he could answer.

“You could not do this in your room?” Lucifer snips. He tosses back the rest of his drink and rises to his feet. He grimaces at the burn spreading across his throat. “I’m sure it is quiet in there too.” He catches your eyes looking over the back of the lounge. While everything lower than the bridge of your nose was blocked by the black velvet he could feel the frown growing on your face.

“Well, yes. But I still want some friendly company. Just not rowdy company, I thought you wouldn’t mind...”  

Devils. There was that word again. "You assume to know me?" He cannot hide the venom lacing his words. The liquor had dulled his senses enough that he could not hide his rancor.

“I’m-” You leave the chair coming around it to give him your full attention. This wasn’t like him. Not anymore at least. But you were used to the odd mood swings that plagued your companions. "I don’t assume anything about you Luci. But if you want to talk-"

“I don’t want to have some idle friendly chit chat.” He could feel the tantrum coming. “Have I not proven myself capable of-” His jaw snaps shut with an audible click that echoes across the spacious chamber.

“Of?”

A noticeable blush grows on his pale cheeks. “More.” He sighs deeply, he feels light-headed at the admission. Whether it was from the drinks or from going against his nature and swallowing his pride he couldn’t tell. “Am I not enough to be more than a friend to you?”

That takes you by surprise. You had speculated that he harbored feelings for you. Diavolo all but cementing the idea in your mind. But, this was Lucifer. It felt like just yesterday you were at each other's throats, before he recognized you as something other than a threat to his family. You wanted to respect that little bit of trust he had given you. “It’s not like I never thought about it.”

“But?” He perks up slightly hearing the unspoken word in your inflection. He could see your apprehension yet there was a shimmer of something else underneath. Something he could work with.

“I was- I am scared.”

“Finally, a reasonable response from being around demons.” Lucifer snorts.

“Hey! You know that’s not what I mean.”

“No, I don’t. Explain it to me.” He invades your space waiting to see what you would do. Run or stay. He would have his answer either way. You don’t move, instead, you wrap your arms around yourself. Guarding yourself yet standing firm. One of the many reasons why he admired you.

“I feel like we just became friends. I didn’t think you felt the same and I didn’t want to mess this all up.” You confess. “I just thought it would be easier this way.”

Lucifer absorbs your words quietly, nodding at the logic behind them. “Messes are not something I generally like true, but," He reaches for you, careful of your defensive stature to lead you back to the couch. “If you are willing to iron out the bumps with me I’d like to see what we can make of it.”

If it meant he could have you he would take as much time as you needed.

Belphegor

It takes him the longest to notice that you were trying to keep him at arm's length emotionally. It was hard for him to see at first since you still readily accepted his invitations to snuggle and hang out.

He thought he was very blatant with his desire for you and your affections. The head pats and evening is the planetarium or his attic.

The fact that he had apologized for that little murder mishap. He thought that was a big bright neon sign. Yet you always seemed to try to invite someone else along to chill or leave quickly after an hour or so. As much as he loved his twin and tolerated his other brothers he was trying to get you ALONE.

He starts trying to see you outside the house now too. Lunch in the cafeteria? Pffft. You are going to eat and nap with him in the courtyard. After School activities? Could you help him with some council stuff instead?

Yes, he will go out of his way to do work if you are involved.

You are still too closed off though. You act around him like you do around any of the other brothers and it drives him crazy. You are just so friendly and cordial with everyone. How come he is the only one that becomes a flushing mess now?

He becomes your second shadow, almost as bad as Mammon. You start to get an inkling of his intentions when he starts wanting to sleep in your bedroom at night instead of his or the attic. You let him but offer up the couch or split the bed with a pillow.

He snoops when he gets desperate. Did you like someone else? Was that why you were constantly acting like his advances were just him being overly friendly? He doesn’t find anything, you act like this around everyone else too.

He gives up. Stops interacting with you entirely. He is 99% sure he can sleep through the next century without being bothered. Maybe he’ll get over you by then.

“Belphie? You up here?” The demon in question opens a bleary eye to his locked door. He should stay quiet, leave you hanging. Give himself some vindictive pleasure in snubbing you.

“Hai~” He rises from his nest of blankets and pillows. “Hold on.” Unlocking the door he opens it ajar. You smile around the large stack of books and binders in your arms. “What is that?” Please don’t say homework.

“Work you’ve missed sulking up here.” You confirm his worst fear. “Satan and I thought we would spot you a bit though.” Belphegor watches you struggle for a second to pull a folded piece of paper out from the middle of the stack. “We got most of the answers done for you. Now you just have to fill the worksheets in with your handwriting.” You wave the paper expectantly.

Hearing his brother’s name makes him sour immediately. How long had you been hanging out with him now? “Thanks, leave them at the door then.” He goes to shut the door and return to his dreamless slumber but it’s blocked by your foot.

“Ouch.” You wince hopping back on one foot.

“Idiot! Are you hurt?” He wrenches the door open crouching down to take a look at your sock-covered foot.

“Nothing I can’t walk off. Though my arms are getting sore- weak human muscles an’ all.” You hint wiggling the stack in your arms. He takes the work this time, still eyeing your foot. “Relax, I’ve stubbed my toe with more force than that before.” You whisk by him, using his brief moment of distraction to slip by.

“Did I invite you in?” Belphegor eyes you with a frown. He kicks his door close and dumps the pile of papers on his already over-encumbered desk. Hmm. How many days had he missed?

You ignore him plopping down on the still warm sheets. “Nope!” You pop the ‘p’ with a grin. “But that has never stopped you from sneaking into my room. So fair trade all around.” You pat at the bed, clearing inviting him to join you. “Come on. I’ll help you finish that work then we can chill.”

Oh, now you want to hang out. He felt a rush of bitterness wash over him.  “Don’t you have something better to do?” If this keeps up he’ll need another nap, alone preferably. “Doesn’t Asmo need a shopping buddy or something?”

“What’s gotten you all worked up?” You frown, hurt by his accusatory tone.

Belphie shoots you a wounded look. "We never hang out anymore." He sulks. "Alone, I mean. I'm tired of you always inviting Beel or someone else with us."

He glances over to you idly thumbing at one of the books on his desk. It's frustrating. This game of touch and go he accidentally got himself into. Ugh- why did this have to be so hard. "I want to spend more time with you. Just us, so why are you always avoiding that?" 

"I.” You look down at your feet dangling off the side of his mattress. “I’m sorry you feel that way. I just felt like- like things were going off the rails between us.” You weren't oblivious to his advances.

He cocks his head in confusion. "Mmm? What are you afraid of?" You read a flicker in his eyes, a haunting memory of cruel fingers around your neck darken his gaze. "Ah-"

"No! No that's not it!" You panic waving your hands up. Of course, he would immediately go to that. "I'm just worried. I know you like me, and-just what if things don't work out? What if you realize what a mistake this could be?"

Your admission gives him pause. So you knew this whole time? Not surprising; he wouldn't fall for someone stupid. "So, are you admitting to liking me back?" He feels giddy when you nod, covering your heating face with your hands. " Well then, what’s the problem? It’s not a mistake if we both are making it.” He grins slyly. “How can it not work out if the feelings are mutual.”

“But what if you are mistaken?” He wraps you up into his arms, flopping you both over onto his messy bed. He takes one of your hands and places it on the top of his head all while burying his nose in your neck.

“Please,” He yawns, feeling his body grow heavy. “I don’t waste my energy on ‘mistakes’.”

[elizabethemerald]

Nightmares of the Stormlord’s Champion

Yasha is hungry. There is a myriad of problems racing through her mind but her hunger is pressing to the forefront. 

Obann does not need to eat. Or drink. Or rest. Sometimes he only remembers that she does when she is stumbling from hunger or exhaustion. 

She is staring mindlessly into the fire she had made when Obann finally allowed her to rest. The fire seems to offer some clarity, and she finds herself longing for a storm. 

A strange swirl of emerald energy, like a whirling cloak catches her attention, just at the edge of her periphery. Obann doesn’t seem to notice and Yasha isn’t going to hell him. In a second the green cloak disappears and Yasha sees… Jester? What is Jester doing here? She can’t be here, Jester Run! Don’t let him hurt you!

Jester doesn’t react to Yasha’s mental screams as she rails against Obann’s control. Jester looks foggy at the edges, like she’s not fully there, like a reflection of a storm in a pond’s surface. 

“You may have some.” Obann’s voice cuts through her thoughts of Jester. 

Without looking, Yasha reaches out for the bottle of wine. As she takes a ship she realizes she was also thirsty, though the heavy wine does little to quench her thirst. She hands the wine back to him. 

Obann continues talking though Yasha tunes him out, instead thinking about Jester and Beau. What could they be doing? Are they safe? Please Stormlord, let them be safe, where ever they are. When Obann reaches out to her, her focus returns to him. 

She again screams in her mind, fighting with every ounce of her will, to turn her head away, to bite him, anything to stop him from touching her. 

Please! Jester, Beau, Stormlord, anyone! Don’t let him touch me. 

An answer to her silent prayers comes in the form of a spark of electricity that jumps from her chin to Obann’s hand. He pulls back in pain, his eyes dark with fury. 

Then a searing pain strikes the back of her neck. The battle of wills is brief but painful. 

Orphanmaker relaxes, allows the Master of Wills to touch her. He keeps talking to her, though her attention is drawn to the blue tiefling. She is Obann’s enemy. She assisted the last time Obann’s physical form was destroyed. There are tears running down her cheeks. 

For some reason, seeing this foe of Obann, who had evaded her blade the last time they were face to face, seeing her cry tears at Orphanmaker’s soul. 

Another green shimmer fills the air around her and the tiefling vanishes. Ophanmaker is again left alone, just her and Obann. 

Orphanmaker screams in her mind. A scream filled with rage and a bone deep despair. 

***

Yasha woke up, a roar on her lips. She rose, Magician’s Judge in her hand as her blind rage conquered her senses. She whirled around, her blade flashing in her hand, searching for any foe, searching for… him. For Obann. She wouldn’t let him take her again. 

“Stand back Jester!” That voice, it belonged to Beau. 

“Yasha! Yasha, you’re safe, we’re here for you.” That one was Jester’s. 

Their voices were tinged with fear. She whirled again, but the only people in the room were the three of them. Were they afraid of her?

A distant rumble of thunder rolled through her mind, bringing with it clarity. She set the sword down, the point digging into the wooden floor before she let it fall with a clatter from her nerveless fingers. All of her strength suddenly felt sapped out of her. She sat heavily on the edge of the bed, her head in her hands. 

“Are you back with us, Yasha?” Beau’s voice held notes of hesitation. 

Jester showed no such hesitation, immediately sitting on the side of the bed next to Yasha and wrapping her in a tight hug. Yasha took a shuddering breath as she felt the bed sink under Beau’s weight on her other side. 

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” Yasha mumbled into her hands. 

Jester squeezed her tighter, while Beau leaned against her. Yasha sat there, breathing with the two of them for a few minutes. 

“Do you want tot talk about it?” Beau whispered gently. 

Yasha shook her head and made to stand. However Jester just held on, not allowing her to pull away. 

“It’s ok, if you have nightmares.” Jester said. Her voice was soft and muffled from speaking into Yasha’s bicep. “We have them too. You don’t have to talk about it, but please… Please don’t leave.”

“I could have hurt you.” Yasha whispered, her voice hoarse. 

“We’re tough Yash. We could have taken it.” Beau said, lightly punching Yasha’s shoulder. 

“And then I would heal us!” Jester declared. Her voice carried nothing but love and compassion. 

Yasha couldn’t help the emotions that overwhelmed her. Tears filled her eyes as her two girlfriends held her tight, reminding her with soft words and gently touches, that she was loved, she was forgiven, and she was safe. In time sleep came again for all three of them, each playing silent sentinel to the dreams of the others. 

***

Jester woke up slowly to the sounds of someone singing. Her first thought was that she was back at the Lavish Chateau, listening to her momma singing her a lullaby. However the voice didn’t sound like her momma’s, it was lower, with a heavier timber. 

“Wasdat?” she mumbled as she tried to pull the shroud of sleep from her mind. 

“Shh Jess.” Beau’s voice helped bring her fully awake. There was no tension in her voice, so whatever had woken her up wasn’t a threat. 

Jester sat up, looking at Beau in the dark of their bedroom. Beau was also sitting up, the blanket pulled up to her chest. She glanced at Jester then returned her attention to the source of the singing. 

Yasha was still asleep, sitting up against the headboard as she usually did. It took Jester a second to realize Yasha was the one singing. She couldn’t understand the words and looked to Beau in confusion. 

“She’s speaking Celestial.” Beau whispered. 

Jester gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. She could practically feel the stars in her eyes. 

“Oh my gosh! The angel language?” Jester breathlessly whispered. At Beau’s nod Jester asked, “Can you understand what she’s saying?” A moment of hesitation, and fear crept into her voice. “Is she having another nightmare?”

The small hairs on the back of her neck raised as Beau tilted her head, a look of focus on her face. Jester couldn’t sense when Beau utilized her Ki the same way she could sense Caduceus or Caleb using their magic, but she had spent enough time around to get an idea when she was using dope monk shit. 

“It’s not a nightmare. She’s talking to the Stormlord.” Beau said after a second. “It’s beautiful.”

“Yeah she is.” Jester Said. 

Then she grabbed Beau’s shoulders and pulled her back to their bed. She pressed a quick kiss to Yasha’s bicep as she did so. 

Slowly sleep returned for the two of them, lulled to rest by the sound of their girlfriend softly singing to her god.

[insertmesoftly]

4, 5, 15, 22 ? :>

I love you so so much, Faux. Thank you for asking me stuff ;v;

4. mythical creature you think/believe is real?

I WAS ALWAYS A BELIEVER OF THE KRAKEN BEING REAL AND IT IS!!!! THE OCEAN IS FUCKING SCARY!!!!!!! >:V NEVER CATCH ME OUT THERE WITH THE WAVES, I CAN'T TRUST MARINE ANIMALS other than octopi. they own my soul. i would commit myself to an Octopus uprising anyday. I love them so much.

5. favorite form of potato?

Mmmmmmm McDonalds hashbrown/ Tater tots...... mmmmmmmmm best potatoes...... crispy.....

Runner up is mashed potatoes cuz yum uwu

15. rank the methods of death: freezing, burning, drowning

Drowning if only because I've kept an idea of a pretty death, drowning in a lake while staring at the moon from a suicidal nightmare I had as a teen. It was poetic for me to die within a reflection of the moon.

Freezing because I'll have enough time to experience the sudden heat trick in my mind that makes me take off my coats, that seems wild to me. I'll probably be laughing, knowing it's a lie but being a slave to my mind juices.

Burning. Reminds me too much of the witch trials, lol. I sure hope the smoke gets to me first before the licks of the burns. I'll die either way but damn, I've been burned before and shit is the worst if you live. I remember the mercy killing of a main character shooting a victim in the heart as they were being burned to death in Game of Thrones. I shudder hoping that would happen to me.

22. do you have an emotional support water bottle?

Nope. I just use my cups if I want water from the jug we have. Got an Ice Bear head, Skeletons dancing, and Max's from Camp Camp's 'Nope' mugs :>

[ladyanaconda]

Helluva Boss Vol 2: Loo Loo Land

Striker awoke with a start, panting heavily. His heart pounded so fast that he thought it would burst out of his chest at any moment now. The imp sighed as he ran a hand through his ash white hair.

He had that nightmare again. He didn't cry, as he had no more tears to shed and it wouldn't being her back but the wound was still raw. He'd tell himself that he did what she asked of him: to save their son. However, the guilt was still there.

Striker went to the kitchen for a glass of water. As he looked through the window, he noticed it was raining. There were no thunders tonight but still, he better go check on Jake just in case.

Something pulled on his pants. Speak of the devil! Striker looked down and found the infant next to his leg, his little hand grasping his pants. How Jake managed to crawl all the way down from his nursery was a mystery to Striker.

"What's up, kiddo?" Striker asked, not really expecting an answer. Jake reached out his hands, asking to be picked up. Sighing, he bent down to pick up his son. " Can't sleep either, huh? That makes two of us, my boy," he said gently as he walked up the stairs. "How about we keep each other company for a while? It'll be less lonely that way."

Striker sat on his bed and placed Jake on his lap. He entertained the little one with the rattling of his tail for a while until Jake lost interest and snuggled into his father's chest, yawning. Striker knew what the little one needed. Jake protested via whimpers as he was tucked back into his nearly started to wail if not for the familiar sound of a guitar's strings and his father's voice as the cradle was rocked from side to side.

Come stop your crying

It will be alright

Just take my hand

Hold it tight

I will protect you

From all around you

I will be here

Don't you cry

For one so small

You seem so strong

My arms will hold you

Keep you safe and warm

This bond between us

Can't be broken

I will be here don't you cry

'Cause you'll be in my heart

Yes, you'll be in my heart

From this day on

Now and forevermore

You'll be in my heart

No matter what they say

You'll be here in my heart

Always

Always…

Jake had long been lulled into sleep by the end of the song. Smiling, Striker kissed the little one's forehead.

"Good night."

*HB*

"M and M, J and S, get in here! We're going to Loo Loo Land!"

Striker frowned under his hat, annoyed at having his nap interrupted. "Isn't that the rip-off of Lucifer's far more popular LuLu World?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"That's right, Strike! Stolas is paying us extra cash for making sure he and his daughter are still breathing by the end of the day."

Striker covered his face with his hat again. "Sorry, Blitz, my contract only includes assassination jobs."

"Look at it this way: you're going to 'assassinate' whoever tries to lay a hand on Stolas and his daughter."

The cowboy frowned. "Why us? Doesn't that blueblood have a whole legion of guards at his disposal?"

"Come on, dad! I want to go to Loo Loo Land!" Jake pleaded, taking his father's hat. "I've never been to a theme park!"

"Yeah, Strike, it'll be fun!" Millie wrapped an arm around the cowboy's shoulder. "You won't find a cheaper theme park in all of Hell, plus it's a good opportunity for you and Jake to spend some quality time together!"

Striker would have protested further, but Jake (and Blitzo) were giving him the 'puppy eyes' face. At last, he murmured. "Ugh. Fine."

They picked up the owl Goetias in I.M.P.'s van and went straight to the theme park in the Greed ring. As always, Striker and Jake rode Bombproof to avoid an overcrowding inside the vehicle, especially with two bluebloods inside.

Striker'd seen a few tv commercials about Loo Loo Land, but something he'd learned over the years is that no intentional rip-off of anything was worth wasting money on. He was soon proven right once they arrived at the place. Most of the attractions within Loo Loo Land were either broken, cracked, or disheveled-looking. And judging by the look on Octavia's face, she didn't like it here either. Jake, on the other hand…

"Cool! Look, dad, there's a carousel! Can we go? No, wait, I wanna try the roller coaster first! Whoa, is that a dragon? I must pet it!" the impling was running around the place, awing over the rides and booths with wide eyes.

"Blitz better add another zero to my next paycheck." Striker murmured under his breath.

"Woow! I haven't been to this place since I was a tot! It hasn't changed a bit- oh, LOOK!" Millie pulled Moxxie and Jake into a hug and gestured to an old dinosaur-like animatronic. "It's Big Woobly!"

"That is… deeply upsetting," Moxxie whispered.

"Oh, come on! It's fun! You've never been here?"

"No, theme parks always disturbed me. Especially the mascots."

"I agree with Moxxie." Millie, Jake, and Moxxie himself gave Striker a baffled look. "As incredible as it sounds."

"Well, hey there!" Striker was caught off guard as Moxxie suddenly jumped into his arms with a frightened yelp as a guy in an old cartoonish apple costume appeared out of nowhere. The only reason he didn't drop Moxxie was that he too was disturbed by the awful, smelly costume. "I'm Loo Loo! Welcome to Loo Loo Land! If ya'll get hurt, just try and sue us!"

Striker quickly wrapped his tail around Jake's waist and lifted him up before he could get too close to 'Loo Loo'.

"Hey, dad, let go!" the impling protested.

"Stay away from that predator, kiddo." Striker finally dropped Moxxie to the ground.

"I have a question."

"Well, ask away, little girlie!" the mascot made a poor attempt at goofy laughter.

Octavia sneered. "Is it true this park is just a really shameless spin-off or Lucifer's far more popular Lu Lu World? This place reeks of insecure corporate shame."

Striker held tightly unto Jake until they left the creepy mascot behind. Being new to this place, he decided to follow Millie and Moxxie around for a while.

"You really love this place, huh?" Moxxie asked casually.

Millie nodded eagerly. "I love this place! My parents would bring me and my siblings here when they could swing it. Money-wise."

"Dad, look!" Jake ran towards a gift shop and pressed his face against the window, eyeing a plush dragon like the one on the Petting Zoo. "Can I have one?"

Striker only had to look at the price, 400 souls, to reply. "Absolutely not."

"Whyy?"

"400 souls for a doll you'll end up throwing away? Don't you wanna throw away all of my salary, since you're on it?"

Jake pouted, arms crossed. "Meanie."

"He does have a point. I mean, that much for a novelty cup you use one time?" Moxxie added, pointing at said cup worth 29 souls.

"Cause it's Loo Loo Land!" Millie chirped.

"Listen to your hoe, Mox." Blitzo seemingly had no trouble with loading up on the theme park's merch. "Hey, Strike, how 'bout you and I take the first watch while M and M have a little fun with Jakey?"

"Can I, dad? Please, please, please!"

Striker sighed. "Fine. Just stay close to Millie and Moxxie and listen to whatever they tell-"

"Um, Striker, I have to interrupt your fatherly monologue, but they already left." Blitzo was right. Millie, Moxie, and Jake were gone already.

Striker merely sighed and loaded his rifle.

*HB*

Jake still couldn't understand why his father had never brought him to Loo Loo Land before. This place was incredible! The rides, the junk food, kicking the guy in the Loo Loo costume; for some reason, he couldn't resist the urge every time he saw the apple costume. And of course, Moxie simply had to ruin everything. His wimpy stomach couldn't handle The Lawsuit ride and he ended up vomiting unto the people in the front car, Jake included. They had to get him new clothes in the nearest gift shop.

"You're so lucky my dad wasn't here or he would have fed you to that," Jake pointed at the dragon peeking over the Petting zoo fence.

"Okay, guys, how about we take a look around the smaller rides?" Millie suggested.

"You mean the kids area? That's where the Petting Zoo is! Can we go there to see the dragon?"

"I don't care as long as I don't have to get on top of it," Moxxie murmured, his hand still clutching his stomach. Jake squealed happily.

There were lots of animals at the Petting Zoo. Jake recognized some from Wrath, most notably some Hellhorses with green fire to reflect Greed. He had seen how Bombproof's fire color change from orange to red each time they entered Pride, and it had changed to a minty green when they entered Greed. There were other animals he had only seen in books too, but his attention was entirely focused on the giant red, black and white wyvern. Known as Hellvern, it is native to Greed and is often used as a 'guardian dog' of sorts by Overlords.

Jake felt a shiver down his spine as the giant dragon stared down at him curiously. Taking a deep breath, he stroked the animal's snout. Once he realized his hand was attached to his body, Jake began to laugh and jump.

"I touched the dragon, I touched the dragon!" he cried out happily. "Just wait until I tell dad!"

"Oh, I bet he'll be very proud of you!" Millie smirked, ruffling the impling's hair. "

Afterward, they took a break from the rides and wandered around the snack and game booths. Jake and Millie ate big cones of ice cream bugs and fried butter sticks. Moxxie chose not to consume any 'junk food of questionable origin'.

"This place is amazing! Man, I wish I'd come here sooner!" Jake said happily as he looked around the game booths.

"So Striker has never brought here? He would have loved the rides for sure!" Millie pointed out.

"Nah, dad's never been too fond of machines. He'd rather do things the old-fashioned way."

Moxxie scoffed. "Yeah, why would he come to work on a horse otherwise?"

"Well, at least we don't waste time on looking for a parking spot."

"Touché, kid."

"Hey, now that we're on it, I don't think we've ever met your mom."

Jake stopped in his tracks. His… mom? It's the first time someone's brought that up. Dad has never talked about her and there are no photos of her in the house. But surely he had one, right? Everyone has one.

"Hello, hello! Step right up and win a thing!"

Millie's excited cry distracted Jake from his thoughts. "Oh, look, Moxxie! A thing!" The 'thing' in question was a purple stuffed penguin-like creature with imp horns and pink overalls.

"Oh, you like that thing?"

"Yesss! I don't really know what that thing is but I want that thing!"

Moxxie smirked. "Finally, something I can handle." he placed a soul bill on the counter. "Okay! One game, please!"

Unsurprisingly, the cork but the target. To Jake's surprise, however, the target barely moved. Moxxie didn't seem to mind since he had hit the bullseye.

"Strike one, little man!"

Moxie's smugness faded instantly. "But I hit it!"

"Hmm, I don't know what to tell ya, buddy. The target, see?" the vendor pointed at said target "It didn't go down, so yeah, no go, bro."

Growling, Moxie placed another bill on the counter and fired another cork at the bullseye, but again it didn't move. Annoyed, Moxxie slapped the pistol. "The Heaven's wrong with this thing?!"

"Oh. Man, a real shame, I tell ya." the carnie made crying gestures in a mocking manner, prompting Moxxie to slam yet another bill on the counter.

*HB*

As incredible as it may sound, Striker envied his son. Jake was probably having a great time at the admittedly cool-looking rides while he is stuck babysitting a blueblood. He couldn't say he was completely bored, though. Turns out the pervert was right when he said there'd be lots of people going after him. Striker even ended up making a bet with Blitzo over who could shoot more people by the end of the day. Up to now, Striker was winning.

The cowboy casually spotted Octavia, who by then looked like she'd snap at any second now. He couldn't blame her, the show's musical number was rather bizarre.

"How come that pervert hasn't noticed his daughter is not enjoying himself at all?" he asked Blitzo casually.

"Not our business, Strike. We're their bodyguards, not their family therapists. Speaking of which," Blitzo shot an assassin in the back before he could stab Stolas. Blitzo smirked. "That makes it four on my count, Striker."

"Let's save that for later, Blitz. Looks like the mare's finally kicked." Striker motioned to Octavia as she fled the tent, Stolas following closely behind.

"You should find Jakey. It's Millie and Moxxie's watch, anyway, they can go keep an eye on Stolas."

Striker nodded gratefully and left the circus tent. Surprisingly, it didn't take him too long to find Jake, Moxxie, and Millie. They were at a shooting game booth. Judging by the enraged look in Moxxie's face and the 600 souls in the vendor's hands, the wimp just got scammed.

"Hey, dad! You won't believe what I did, I petted a dragon!"

Striker chuckled and petted the boy's head. "I'm glad you had a great time, kiddo."

"Hey, you, cowboy! You look like ye might be better at shooting this sad little fella."

Striker frowned. He knew from experience that these booths were rigged to scam customers out of their money at the vendor's leisure. He had a better idea. Smirking, Striker pulled out his pistol and handed it to Jake.

"Show them what you got, kiddo."

The impling's face lit up. He pointed the barrel of the weapon at the carnie to give him a fright before shooting all of the targets with flawless precision in quick succession. The bullets went right through the targets, leaving big holes. The carne was reduced to a trembling, frightened mess.

"H-Hey, take it easy, p-pal…" he stuttered nervously as Jake pointed the gun at him again.

"That's my boy!" Striker laughed, patting Jake's shoulder.

"Now I think," Moxxie sneered as he leaned unto the counter. "That you owe us a thing."

Something crashed through the roof of the shooting gallery and on top of the carnie. The group leaned in to take a look.

"Sir?" Moxxie asked.

Striker sighed once he turned around and found the theme park literally on fire. "Really, Blitz? I leave you alone for a second and you screw the damn place up?"

"Oh, hey guys!" Blitzo seemingly didn't hear him as he drew his pistol. "You should probably go, uh, make sure Stolas is okay. I got some… unfinished business to take care of."

The group dispersed, with Millie quickly grabbing her plush thing. Strike quickly picked Jake up and moved out of the way as Blitzo fired at the burning robot; the thing caught the bullet in its mouth and curled up to roll towards Blitzo in a fiery charge. Blitzo jumped out of the way just as the robot hit the booth and it exploded in an inferno of green flames.

"Um, Dad, should we lend Blitzo a hand?"

"I suppose so lest he ends up blowing the whole place up with us inside."

Jake smirked as he spotted the dragon from before on the loose. "I got an idea!"

Striker knew what the boy was thinking. He wasn't sure if it was such a good idea, though; he's dealt with wild hogs, hellhorses, and many fauna, but never a fully-grown Hellvern. Then again, he's always liked challenges. He had Jake climbed onto his back and cling to his neck.

"Hang on tight, my boy, this will be one hell of a ride!"

Grabbing a discarded rope and tying it into a lasso, Striker expertly threw it over the dragon's neck and pulled, tightening around its neck. When the animal reared back and spread its wings, Striker took advantage of the momentum to pull himself onto the Hellvern's back.

"Easy, there! I'm your new master now!" the cowboy shouted over the Hellvern's angry shrieks, pulling the ropes tightly in the manner of reins. It wasn't that hard, as the Hellvern had already been tamed. Otherwise, it was like riding a giant version of Bombproof.

"Woohoo! Can we keep the Hellvern, dad?!"

"I already got enough with a Hellhorse, kiddo!"

Striker led the animal through the green inferno, eyeing the crazy robot going after Blitzo. Millie and Moxxie were shooting it, but it was far too fast for bullets. Striker couldn't contain an excited 'yeehaw' cry as he whipped the Hellvern forward and it snatched Robo Fizz right before it could run Blitzo over; the animal threw Robo Fizz into the air before eating it whole.

"Got a new mount, Striker?! Can I keep Bombproof?!"

"In your dreams, Blitz!"

They barely made it out of Loo Loo Land before it was consumed by flames, then made a run for it before anyone could identify them as the people who destroyed the place. Mammon would look for heads to roll before the day's end, after all.

*HB*

"Best… Day… Ever…" Jake laughed in-between exhausted pants as they got home that night.

Striker fell on top of the couch, groaning in exhaustion. "We're taking the rest of the week off, kiddo. If Blitz calls, tell him Bombproof has a cold or something like that, but I'm not moving from this couch."

Jake joined his father and snuggled against him. "Thanks for taking me to Loo Loo Land, daddy."

"I'd say 'anytime' if the park hadn't been reduced to ashes." Striker chuckled, eyes closed as he wrapped an arm around his son.

As Jake snuggled into his father's arm, he thought about what Millie had said back at Loo Loo Land about.. "Hey, dad?"

"Mmm?"

"Can I ask you something? "

"What?"

"Well…" Jake took a deep breath. "Do I have a mom? I mean, Millie has one, Moxie too, Blitzo… Even Stolas's daughter has a mom. I've never seen any pictures and you've never told me about her…"

Jake trailed off as he heard snoring. Dad had already fallen asleep. He must be really exhausted, Jake thought. I can ask him some other time. I'll let him rest for now.

…

Striker didn't open his eyes until he was certain that Jake had fallen asleep; then he carefully cradled his son in his arms and carried him upstairs all the way to his room. He carefully tucked Jake in as quietly as possible; Jake shifted a bit, but otherwise didn't look like he'd wake up anytime soon. Striker smiled as he stroked his son's hair.

It's not that he didn't want Jake to know about his mother. He wanted to tell his son about the wild-spirited, strong-willed woman that stole his heart. He really did. But he just couldn't find the words to explain what had happened to her. Just even remembering her was like adding lemon and salt to an open wound. Striker would tell Jake about his mother eventually, just not now.

The cowboy carefully placed the stuffed dragon he had grabbed from the shooting gallery in Jake's grasp, carefully leaning in to kiss the boy's head.

"Good night."

*HB*

Well, seems there's been a hint about Jake's mother. What do you think happened to her? I might go into details later on.

[aotimagines]

Aperture [1]

Hey. Remember when this blog hit 5,000 followers and I mentioned I was going to be writing something self-indulgent? The moment has finally arrived, lol. The idea spiraled way out of control before I could stop myself so here we are. This is probably not what the anon meant when they sent this in, but I couldn’t stop myself from plotting this story out. It’ll probably have around 8-10 chapters and I want to be realistic and say I’ll be able to update frequently, but there are no promises. My goal is for a new chapter every two weeks, but it’ll probably be closer to once a month. It will contain NSFW at some point, so minors do not interact. To the anon who sent this request in almost a year ago, I am so sorry this has taken me this long to write. I apologize and hope that this suffices. Without further ado, I hope you enjoy the first chapter!

“Could you lift your head and look towards the camera, please?”

Your breath was nearly whisked away from your lungs at the sight of your model’s eyes flickering towards you, the intensity swirling behind his irises rooting you to your spot. They reflected the ocean itself—deep, vibrant, and tumultuous just like rolling waves and you felt yourself drowning at sea. You could barely tear your eyes away from his ethereal beauty; from the sharp angle of his jaw, to his sinewy, sun-kissed skin. Each and every ripple of muscle resembled someone akin to a Greek statue over real life and the longer you looked at your model, the more difficult it became to stop your eyes from gazed lower…

Immediately, you brought your camera back up to your eye to conceal your reverie and took another photo, peeling the camera back to examine the frame you had just taken with more intense than you should have. “Great!” Your voice came out rushed and quick—high and pitchy. You wanted to die right then and there on the spot, but you needed to act more professional even if you couldn’t resist the temptation to ogle your client’s perfectly sculpted, perfectly nude body.

It was wrong. It was beyond heinous but, the instant Eren Jaeger walked out to your photoshoot and shed his robe, his stunning looks had been on your mind. As a professional photographer, you had seen your fair share of models, both nude and not, so why were you acting so ridiculous? There was something undeniably electric about Eren and the way he was able to express so much emotion through his eyes alone. After having worked with him for only an hour, you could definitely see why he was scouted to be a model. There was an air of shyness that radiated off him despite the wave of confidence that brimmed so brightly from within. It was cute, which felt foreign and almost like an insult when thinking about the man standing before you.

Still, you needed to maintain your composure and do your job. You could allow yourself to be dazzled by your model for a moment, but now you needed to get back to work. Standing, you exchanged a friendly smile with Eren and motioned to his hands, pointing out, “Do you mind if we get some close-up shots of the watch? I know the campaign said that they wanted a full body shot, but I’d like to give some other options…”

“Sure,” he agreed, his electric gaze never leaving your face even as he held out his wrist and loosened the tension. Immediately, you snapped into your role as the photographer and began taking photos, unaware that you inching several steps closer.

Captivated with the elegance of his long, deft fingers, you became enraptured in your own little world and mindless gave instruction and praise, your prior embarrassment all but gotten. You were unaware of the way Eren’s eyes were glued to your every expression; the way your tongue would push through your lips as you found an angle or shape you liked. As exhilarated as you were to photograph him, Eren was, in kind, just as thrilled to way the way you worked. It was difficult tot keep cool and focus on his job with the way you moved around him, the sheer delight across your face almost tangible. He had been subjected to many photographers, some good and bad, but never…

“Okay!” Your voice dragged him from his thoughts, your lips curved into a soft, gentle smile. “I think we got it? Good work, Eren. You were great.”

“Ah—thanks,” he replied, the fabric of his robe hitting his shoulders before he realized it. One of the assistants must have gotten it for him and it took him all but five seconds to realize that he was still standing before you, naked. His cheeks heated up, a tennis ball lodged in the back of his throat, but he managed to force out, “You were a good photographer. It was, uh…easy to follow your instruction.”

You were positively beaming by the time he glanced at your face, eyes wide and sparkling. “Thank-you! That means a lot, especially since I’m kind of new to working on a professional set and everything.”

“Seriously!” Eren couldn’t believe that he was still continuing the conversation—continuing to praise you, a complete and utter stranger—but here he was. Eren was not the type of person to be physically attracted to anyone right off the bat, but there was something so…mesmerizing about you that he couldn’t bring himself to stop talking. “It was a nice shoot. I didn’t even realize we were here for a couple hours.”

“Me either,” came your confession, camera clutched between your hands. “You take direction really well. Oh!” As if an idea just came to your head, you moved to the monitors behind the lights and popped out your SD card, gently sliding the chip inside the reader. Angling your chin, you glanced up at his features, your eyes shining with complete and utter excitement. “Want to see some of the shots? I usually offer to let the models see so they can view the before and after.”

“Uh…” Eren contemplated it for a moment, his mind very cognizant of the fact that he was still only wearing a robe. You seemed completely oblivious to it, which dashed some of his prior thoughts. A moment passed by until he cracked a smile and moved closer to gaze down at the computer monitor. “Sure. I don’t really get a chance to see what I can improve on, or anything.”

Your fingers clicked open the file folder, pulling up the images you had taken not even ten minutes ago. Scrolling through, your eyes darted from one side of the screen to the other as if making mental notes about which ones you wanted to save for editing, later. “Here—this one is really nice,” you said, double-clicking the image until it was pulled up for Eren to see. Despite his nudity being on full display, Eren couldn’t help but notice how…tasteful it was done. Truly, like mentioned in the job description, his focus was on the multitude of watches adorning his wrist, but there was something else about it that…

It was like you had managed to dig deep inside of him and photograph his soul; his emotions. Everything was displayed in his eyes and it took Eren a second to recognize himself. His silence made you worry, hastily bringing up, “Of course, they will look better with editing in post, but—”

Eren shook his head, cutting off your explanation before you could really begin. “No, it’s—it’s not that! Really, the photos are…” He floundered for the right word to describe what you had created; what you had managed to pull out of him and then captured on film. No other photographer had managed that before, so to see himself like that was a little…

“It’s different,” he concluded, gaze still lingering on the images on the screen. “I’m not used to seeing myself look like that. You’re an amazing photographer and I’m sort of struggling to come up with a better compliment than that.”

Visibly, you relaxed upon hearing his praise, pride swelling inside your chest when you realized that he liked the photos. “It makes it easier when my model is able to pull from within, too,” you countered, finally looking up at him after what felt like an eternity. Eren’s eyes met yours and it was like a magnetic field was drawing you closer to him, but you refrained from your urges and settled for exiting out of the photos. It took everything inside of you to swallow back the attraction and fascination that was bubbling inside of you, which only made you antsy and anxious to begin the editing process.

“Anyways, I should let you get dressed. I’m sure you’re itching to get out of here.”

“Ah, right.” Reluctantly, Eren broke eye contact first and stretched, the fabric of his thin robe inching higher against his toned thighs. You jerked your head away from him to conceal the heat crawling across your cheeks and praised whatever deity above that Eren hadn’t paid any attention to your sudden shy demeanor. He seemed to think to himself for a moment before exhaling deeply and walking off, leaving you to skim through the multitude of images you had taken.

A period of time passed because, the next thing you knew, Eren was back by your side, his silky, chocolate-colored tresses pulled back into a bun that rested at the nape of his neck. Small hairs framed his face, only fanning the fuel to his already handsome, boyish looks. You swallowed thickly and offered a smile, rising from your chair to ask, “You heading out?”

“Yeah, but I actually wanted to ask you something, first…” Eyebrow quirked, you watched Eren rock back and forth on his feet, a nervous energy teeming off of him. While the two of you knew nothing about each other outside of first and last names, you couldn’t help but wonder if this was typical behavior. He seemed to self-assured whenever he spoke. Was there something wrong with the photos after all? Before you could ask, Eren’s hand shot out and encircled around your wrist, preventing you from turning away or moving back to your computer screen. “Listen,” he pressed closer, temporarily catching you off guard with how bold he was being, “there’s a party happening later tonight. I really don’t want to go, but my manager said it’d be good for connections and I was wondering if you wanted to go with me.”

“Why?” The question escaped your mouth before you could process what was happening, confusion written across your features. You didn’t pull away from his touch, however, and repeated after a moment of clarity, “You barely know me, Eren. We’re strangers. Shouldn’t you invite one of your friends?”

Eren fell silent for a moment before an uncharacteristic smirk danced across his lips. There was something fierce about the glimmer in his eyes and his body language exuded an amount of confidence he had only displayed the instant his eyes locked with your camera lens earlier that afternoon. He leaned in closer, studying the way your face heated up, before murmuring in a low tone, “I saw the way you were looking at me, earlier.”

Embarrassed, you averted your eyes to the ground. “I’m—I’m sorry! Really, I sometimes get lost in my work and you are beautiful, so I…got swept away. It was unprofessional and I swear it won’t happen again, if we happen to work together.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it.” Eren chuckled, the sound so dizzying that you felt yourself drawn to it—to him—like a moth circling a flame. This was a dangerous game you two were playing and you weren’t sure what kind of out come Eren was looking for. Rather, he released your hand and stepped back, the intensity gone and replaced with a softer, kinder smile. “I liked your photos,” he simply stated, his hand resting against his hip as he continued to stare at you. “And you liked what you were able to get out of me. I just thought it’d be a good opportunity to each to know one another.”

“Professionally?”

“Both,” he easily quipped with a shrug of his shoulders.

You ran a hand through your hair, teeth catching your inner cheek. “I don’t know.”

“How about this.” Eren reached for the sharp on your desk and ripped the cap off with his teeth, balancing the piece of plastic between his two lips. Before you could protest, he grabbed your hand again and began to write numbers into your palm, a string of digits staring back up at you. “When you decide what you want to do, you can text me. Even if you don’t want to go with me, specifically, it’d be a good idea to make connections. You said yourself that you’re new to the industry.”

You had said that, didn’t you? Eren’s number stared up at you, silently replaying your words from earlier like a broken record until a heavy, shaky sigh pulled from your lips. You didn’t know what his intentions were, but you figured that you could worry about that, later. Even if you couldn’t decipher Eren’s true nature, the prospect of getting your name out to more people in the industry was too tempting to ignore. “But what do I wear?” you asked weakly, watching as Eren’s features lit up like a light.

“It’s cocktail, but whatever you have should be fine. I really don’t care about what other people are wearing, either way.”

You couldn’t help but laugh genuinely at this, pointing out with amusement dripping from your tone, “Aren’t you a fashion model? Shouldn’t you care about stuff like that?”

Eren scoffed, lips twisted into a smile. “Nah. That kind of stuff is stupid.”

“But then why…?” You stopped, shook your head, and moved to the desk where your cellphone rested. Holding it up, you tilted your head to the side. “So, I’ll text you? I’ll need an address, you know.”

Eren’s name was being called from across the building—probably whoever he brought with him, you noted—but his eyes still lingered on you even as he began to step away. “It’s for seven-thirty. See you!”

You watched as he jogged away until he was completely out of sight, your heart hammering against your ribs repeatedly. You weren’t sure what the hell had just transpired, but the area where his fingers brushed your skin tingled pleasantly as an aftershock effect.

You were way, way in over your head.