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thestarsarebrightertonight · 5 months

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cinnamon girl // theodore nott x fem reader

"violet blue green red to keep me at arms length dont work"

playlist : cinnamon girl - lana del rey

summary : everyone knows you have a crush on theo , even he knows! so when you randomly start avoiding him one day , theodore cant help but go crazy.

sunshine reader , y/n used , hufflepuff reader

masterlist

"theo!" you called out happily , running to the boys side and catching his wrist to stop his strides down the corridor, "hi, ive been meaning to talk to you!".

he looked at you , seeming displeased and just grunted in response , turning away and not even looking at your smiling face that admired him so softly.

"so you have a match on saturday and i was just wondering wether i should support you or hufflepuff? i always try and do my best in encouraging you but when youre against my house it becomes difficult-"

"i dont care do whatever." he said simply , finally turning to look back at you with an annoyed face.

your expression dropped for a split second , a moment so small it was hardly detectable but for that single second your smile dropped completely. and theo noticed. he thought that was probably the first time in your whole life youve stopped smiling. and the first time youve dropped your delicate hold on his wrist.

but you quickly regained composure , smiling up at him although not as sweetly as before , it almost seemed strained this time , "right , thats fine. ill just see what i can do closer to the time. bye theodore"

theodore. ouch. theo watched as you walked away silently , not turning back at all. he tried not to read too much into you , he didnt want to think he cared enough to, but hearing you call him by his full name and not theo? he hated to admit it stung a little more than he thought it would.

----

"hey!" you said enthusiatically as you sat down besides your close friend hannah , she looked up from the desk and greeted you back.

usually in charms you found yourself sat besides her , talking all lesson or admiring theodore , but you could help but avoid his side of the room like its the plague.

the plague being the pretty ravenclaw girl that for some reason was sat next to him as they discussed something civilly. usually theo sat with mattheo or alone since mattheo wasnt regularly spotted in charms , so to see him sat next to a girl youve never seen him with? you felt your heart shatter right onto the ground around you.

"y/n? are you listening?" hannah tried to ask you until she followed where you stared and saw theodore with the ravenclaw , "oh".

you nodded besides her , forcing a tight smile onto your lips and finally dragging your eyes from them , "its fine , everyone knows he doesnt like me back, i guess i was just in denial about it."

hannah saddened at the forced laugh that you let out , pulling you into a hug and rubbing your back , "he was never good enough for you anyways. youre a whole galaxy and theodore nott is the moon , nothing compared to you."

"i love the moon," you said softly as your eyes began to well up with tears.

hannah pulled back and scanned the room before grabbing your hand , "professor flitwick isnt here yet , leave now and if he asks ill say you were sick. go to our dorms and ill get snacks from the kitchen and we can stay in tonight , sound good?"

you smiled happily at her , "thank you hannah"

she returned the smile with a light nod before handing you your bag and shooing you away , watching as you left the classroom hastily.

failing to feel theos eyes that burned into your fleeting figure.

---

the next few days were odd for theodore nott. something felt missing but he couldnt quite place his finger on it...

that was until he made eye contact with you in the hall and watched in suprise as you looked away and practically sprinted down the corridor , rather than coming up to him with a bright small and a new topic to rant about.

and he didnt like it. not one bit.

for the rest of the week he picked up on the things that you did - or didnt do.

how your smile would drop when you made eye contact with theodore. how youd talk happily to lorenzo and then make an excuse to leave as soon as theo tried to join the coversation. how you stopped sitting next to him in potions and instead sat with hermione , chatting away to her and not noticing the glare theodore sent towards the both of you.

but the one thing that pushed him over the edge was when he flew out onto the quidditch pitch and immediately searched for you in the stands , only to spot you waving at diggory , wearing his jersey?!

theodore had never felt jealous before -lies- but in that moment he held onto his broom a lot harder than before , his whole body felt hotter and his eyes glared holes into cedric diggorys back.

lets just say that throughout the match he made sure to shove diggory with every chance he got , eventhough none of it was necessary as they had completely different roles in the game.

"nott get off diggorys fucking broom and do your job!" adrian shouted at him from across the pitch , making theodore roll his eyes before giving cedric a last shove and flying away.

from the stands you watched theodore in confusion ,along with the rest of the audience , staring as he yet again flew in the path of cedric and shoved him to the side before contiuing to chase the hufflepuff chaser.

"it seems like nott is more concered in giving the golden boy diggory a good push rather than actually fulfilling his job , typical slytherins playing dirty in my opinion-" lees comentating was cut off by professor mcgonagall clearing her throat , "sorry professor."

----

the match had ended and purely because of the rest of the slytherin team , they won , however the poor performance of theodore threw the whole teams goal points off.

"what the fuck is wrong with you theodore!?" draco shouted as the team entered the changing tents , "if i hadnt gotten that golden snitch we wouldve lost AND been the comedic relief of all the other houses!"

theodore let out a heavy sigh before sitting down on one of the benches with his head in his hands , pulling his hair aggresively, "shove off malfoy im not in the mood".

"all this because of some hufflepuff mudblood wearing diggorys jersey-" draco started again , before being pushing harshly by a now infuriated theodore.

"the FUCK did you say malfoy?!" theo screamed in his face , being pulled away by lorenzo who tried to calm the situation.

"guys we won and thats all that matters!" enzo tried to reason with the furious boys.

"barley , berkshire! theo over here nearly fucked everything up because of childish jealousy!" draco shouted back , venom dripping off his words.

"who said i was fucking jealous?" theo shouted back as majority of the team turned to him with disbelief.

"you nearly dropped the quaffle twice because you were too busy figuring out how you could shove cedric on the way to the goalhoops-" mattheo started before being cut off by the curtain of the tent being pulled back.

revealing a girl covered in bright yellow , covering her eyes and trying to walk into the tent without falling, "c-can i look?".

the whole tent gaped in shock before lorenzo finally spoke up , "yeah..yeah you can look y/n dont worry."

you quickly uncovered your eyes and blinked as they adjusted to the light , looking at the scene before you which showed theodore being held back from draco by lorenzo and a disapproving mattheo stood in front of the lockers.

"theodore what are you-" you started before being cut off by the boy shaking his head rapidly.

"stop - stop calling me theodore i cant stand when you call me that."

you stared in suprise as theodore shrugged off lorenzos hands and walked over to you, this was possibly the most emotion the boy had shown to you.

"oh uh right sorry , i just wanted to say well done for the match. i was rooting for hufflepuff but there isnt any other team that deserve it more than you guys!" you smiled awkwardly as the team thanked you a short silence following , "anyways , theres a certain hufflepuff thats a bit gutted about his loss so im gonna-"

"diggory?" theo asked with a sour tone as he stepped closer to you , not breaking eye contact.

"yeah , hes upset but i said if he lost id make him a crochet blanket to make him feel better so-"

"but you only make me crochet things." theodore said coldly as you stuttered again , unfamiliar with this behaviour from theo.

"ha , yeah i do but um , i didnt think you liked them so i thought id just put my efforts elsewhere!" you laughed awkwardly.

"the blanket you made him's on his bed , he takes it home aswell because he cant sleep without it-" mattheos teasing was cut off by a sharp glare from theo.

"shut up riddle!" theo seethed before turning back to you.

"no dont be embarassed theo - its nice to know you love it!" you said , finally regaining a comfort in theos presence at this news.

"i love you." he stated simply as the whole room fell into a dead silence.

your mouth hung wide open , as did his teamates before they were ushered out of the room by enzo , your moment with theo requiring the upmost privacy.

"you- you what?!" you asked in pure shock as the final player exited the tent.

"i love you," theo stated again as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"but- but you like hate me , you dont even reply when i talk or smile at me-" you ranted.

"youre right, i hate you. i hate how you love me more than anyone else has before you... i hate your hair and your perfect smile.... and i despise how you make me feel," he stepped so close that your bodies touched and his hand rested on your cheek firmly , "but theres a very thin line between love and hate."

you gaped up at him in suprise , "theo-"

he quickly took a step back and walked to his locker , pulling out a top, more specifically his jersey that he now handed to you.

"take that god awful jersey off i dont think i can handle looking at it for one more second" he said bitterly , staring down at the yellow top you wore with distaste.

"i love you too." you said , still frozen in place and staring up at him.

"i think everyone knows that princess." he said with a laugh , the first laugh youd heard from him in a long time.

a blush spread to your cheeks , both at his words and the addictive sound of his soft chuckle.

"why have you always ignored me if you love me?" you asked still being slightly unpleased with his random confession.

his smile dropped as he frowned and looked at you sympathetically , "i just thought you were doing it all for fun , maybe to mock me or something. i tried to shut out the fact i like you and it clearly didnt work , i was just ...scared." he confessed in a moment of complete vunerability.

you admired him with care and empathy as he spoke from his heart so purely , before your face cracked into a teasing smile , "you know i wasnt actually rooting for hufflepuff?"

he smirked wrapping arms around your waist and pulling you in closer ,"oh really?"

you nodded and pulled the braid in your hair over your shoulder , to reveal the dark green bow that wrapped around the end of it.

theodore grinned upon seeing this as you both giggled , a sweet first kiss following the heart to heart.

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ronearoundblindly · 5 months

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Lease

best-friend!roommate!reader x Steve Rogers

*This was a totally random and spontaneous idea. Not edited. Light language (so we can get *the joke*), pining, light angst, hurt/comfort, and fluff. This work is for all ages! WC ~2k

Sam Wilson introduces you. Both your parents were veterans and active at the VA, so you practically grew up there.

At first, you’re reserved, a little formal, but very nice. Oddly enough, Steve just likes that you don’t hound him with questions about his military service and how it was different based on the decade, etc. You are just…around to listen.

He finds himself filling any (comfortable) silence between you with stories. Stupid things. Things that don’t have to do with the VA or his past or even his present, which is entirely work as Captain America.

Steve gets to a point where he is itching to live off of Avengers Campus, but he doesn’t want to live alone.

One day he finds you hunched over a laptop and grumbling, “why is everything so fucking expensive?”

A sentiment which, of course, he frowns at.

“Sorry,” you shrug, a look of sincere apology on your distraught face. “I didn’t realize it, but apparently, I’m poor with my measly three-thousand-dollar-a-month budget for an apartment. Now I have to find a roommate, and—“ you start wagging a finger at him sarcastically “—I don’t know if you’ve noticed there’re some real weirdos out there. It’ll take me longer to find a safe, stable roomie than it takes to—“

“I can move in with you.”

Steve almost gasps at how fast the words fly out of his mouth.

“Well, not ‘move in’ to your current place. I mean. I can—I would be willing to live with you. Sorry! That sounds bad. You’re not bad. I meant…you know, anytime you want to chime in and stop me would be helpful.”

You remain silent and smirking.

“Right. Okay. So…think about it? Or not, that’s fine.”

“Let’s talk figures, Rogers. The square-footage just doubled, and I need to rework the budget.”

Moving in is shockingly uneventful. You’re easy to get along with, when not suddenly up on your high horse about something, and Steve is easy to get along with under the same circumstances. You push his militant rigidity to the brink on purpose, but never too far.

Things sit out in the wrong place, but it’s never dirty. Stuff doesn’t always get returned promptly, but if he asks, you’re on it.

There are two bathrooms, thank mercy.

He has random and odd hours. You work nine to five, mostly. It’s the perfect level of independence without loneliness for Steve.

Sam and Natasha stop by regularly or ask you both out for drinks or to fun, new places.

One time, when Nat is ribbing Steve to go talk to a cute girl ordering at the bar, he panics and takes your hand in his on the tabletop.

“How can I do that when my date is right here?” he grits playfully through his pearly white teeth. “Leave it alone.”

Each word is punctuated by a shift forward and a slight tilt of his head.

Natasha is unamused and instantly grabs your other hand (which was holding your drink) to pull you toward the dance floor.

It’s awkward for multiple reasons. You’d pay a whole month’s rent to know what Sam and Steve talked about after you left.

Sam takes a different approach, luring—or attempting to lure—Steve into setting up just one dating profile online.

“You don’t have to put photos,” Sam assures, “and you can stick with your first name only. I swear to you, man, this’ll be good for you. Get you out there more. Help me out here, Tagalong!”

He turns to you for support. To be fair, you did quite literally tag along with your parents for years to the VA, and it stuck. Why it sticks as a grown-ass adult? You’ll never know. You just don’t mind Sam Wilson saying it because he means well and never uses it in public.

“Uh, nooooo.”

Sam’s face falls. “What?”

You look at Steve and grimace, clicking your tongue. “He’s not ready for that,” you conclude.

Steve jumps out of the chair, arms wide with victory.

“THAT’S WHAT I’VE BEEN SAYING!”

“I know you told her to say that,” Sam shouts back.

“Did not,” Steve barks.

“He did not.” You lean against your bedroom doorframe. “I just think it’s obvious.”

That makes Steve deflate a little. “Wait, but…I’m not that bad.”

“Oh gosh,” you fake with a huge smile, “look at the time! Gotta be off to bed…”

The men keep fighting albeit muffled from your side of the wall. The only part you can make out before giving them privacy is Sam, whining, “but you actually like bubble baths and walks on the beach, dude. You’re gonna be money on there.”

“Hey, why do you not, ya know, date?”

You look up from your breakfast, stunned because that came out of nowhere. You’ve lived together over six months now, and Steve hasn’t asked for one iota of personal—well, romantically personal—information.

Twiddling your fork around, you think.

“I always imagine what my parents would think of him, any guy I’ve ever considered being with longterm, and…I was just never proud to say ‘here, here’s the one,’ I guess.”

Your parents have been gone for years. You value their opinion anyway.

“Mhm,” Steve hums, “the one?”

You take a bite of food, straightening your back, tossing a dismissive hand in the air. “Yeah, if you believe in that sort of thing.”

He’s quiet for a while.

“So you’re waiting for the right partner?” Steve finally mutters, and he watches your noncommittal gesturing intently.

That was a ‘yes.’

Natasha knows. Sam knows. Steve suspects but won’t admit to anything. You are kind and unreadable.

You’ve always been kind, so there’s no discernible difference to signal you have feelings for him in return. He can’t bring himself to be anything less than a gentleman at home and makes absolutely no moves to find out.

He stays out in the living room a lot more, all hours, hoping you’ll mention staying in for a movie, praying you’ll be tired enough to fall asleep on his lap on the couch.

He’s in way too deep.

What Steve suspects is that it would be too awkward to start anything while living together, but he doesn’t want to leave you in the lurch for rent or a roommate. He also desperately doesn’t want to move out. The status quo is comfortable.

He loves being comfortable with you.

The stress of not telling you, while needing to make some sort of arrangements should telling you blow up in his face, starts to wear on him.

Steve is a pro at compartmentalizing his life, so it’s when he’s stuck at the apartment without any missions, a handful of meetings, and a team that all have lives for two long months that he cracks…in the least attractive way.

He’s messed up his sleep schedule with worry and playing innocent, and out of the not-so-blue, a horrible, vivid nightmare hits him. Steve isn’t even on the mattress anymore by the time he figures out there wasn’t carpet like this in Germany and the desk chair he grips is not a motorcycle.

“Rogers,” he hears. “Rogers, can you look at me?”

The dark room is somehow hollow and stifling all at once. His head turns slower than his brain tells it to.

Steve blinks.

“Do you know where you are?”

“Hey, sweets,” he husks from a dry throat. “What…”

“Can you tell me where this is?” You step closer and pry one of his hands off the mesh to cradle in yours. “Where are we, Rogers?”

“Home.” He swallows. “Our home.”

Your smile doesn’t reach your eyes, but you nod like he’s done well.

“Okay, Steve, I’m going to get you some water. If you want—“ your fingers smooth over the back of his hand, nudging the other to release the chair “—you can sit on the bed.”

You don’t leave. You don’t even get up from the floor.

He doesn’t notice he’s clutching your hands, shaking slightly until long seconds go by.

“Yeah. Okay.” Steve lets go, otherwise unmoving, contemplating how he ever thought the semi-rough industrial carpet felt the same as mud.

You carefully hand him the water and rub his back, using your nails to trace invisible patterns. He can’t remember what he was so scared of a minute ago. He only knows he’s sweating that empty kind of confused.

“What’s that supposed to do?” he asks absently.

You shrug. “Eh. Back scratches just feel good.”

Steve’s mind remains blank as he sips his water.

: We need to renew the lease soon. Like this week.

Steve has stalled as long as humanly possible; he is officially not being a gentleman now. He is a coward.

: Talk about it when I get home?

: Could you at least tell me if this is a hard NO on staying here or just some concerns/questions? : I don’t get why you’re being like this.

Steve gets it, but he hates it.

: I’ll be back tonight. Should I pick up food?

: ffs : Fine. Whatever you want.

Steve also hates when you’re mad at him…which has been happening more and more.

He’s been distant, he refuses to let Sam or Nat come around for fear they’ll play match-maker and ruin the whole thing, and he is about to ruin the whole thing anyway.

Because he is not smooth. Because he is not prepared. Because he’s built up this perfect and amazing, sweep-you-off-your-feet moment.

And he bungles it.

“Out with it,” you command, haughtily yanking your portion of food from the countertop beside him, heading for the dinette.

“I want to be with you,” he blurts.

“Thank god,” you sigh, settling in your spot. “So we’ll go down to the office and sign in the morning. I don’t want there to be an issue if you’re off to wherever for who-the-hell-knows how long on the date the thing expires.”

“No, I…” but Steve’s voice is too quiet.

“There’s only a tiny window where they’re open before I have to head to work, so let me physically sign first, right? Then I gotta go.”

“Sure,” he slurs.

“Steve?” You turn to see him staring down at his food. He’s still across the room. “Are you okay?”

“I said I—I meant that—“ he huffs out his breath and taps his fist on the counter “—I meant that I’m an idiot,” he finishes softly.

Approaching with that beautiful, open-hearted kindness that haunts his days and soothes his night, you cross to him, scratching his back just the way he’s grown to crave.

“Think you might be hangry,” you chuckle.

He cannot do this. Steve is hanging on by a thread until the graze of your hand slides down his forearm to take his plate, and he spins.

He’s thought about kissing you so many times, he mapped out the angles he’d have to hold himself at, how far he needs to lean to get to you, the care to take wrangling in his strength and sheer excitement.

Steve Rogers is good at planning, at least, this part.

Gentle pecks of his plush lips to yours leave gaps in contact that let you whimper, and he fears you stopping him. He presses, wrapping his arms around you and molding your bodies together. The linoleum of the kitchen floor makes sticky sounds beneath your shuffling feet, squeaking once you hit the adjacent wall.

The force of that knocks your frozen arms into his chest, and painfully, Steve relents to step away, but not far. He bites his bottom lip and tastes the balm from yours, his head tilted in shame but fiery eyes watching you from beneath long lashes.

“Oh,” you breathe out. “Oh…you meant…”

Steve’s tongue darts out hungrily.

“Yeah.”

[Main Masterlist; Light Masterlist; Ko-Fi]

They're soooo cute!!!!!!

#steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers x reader #750+#steve rogers fic #steve rogers fanfic #steve rogers imagine #steve rogers fluff #steve rogers one shot #steve rogers x female reader #captain america fanfiction #captain america x reader #captain america x you #steve rogers x you #steve rogers x y/n #hurt/comfort

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frickingnerd · 5 months

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accidentally in love

pairing: shinjiro aragaki x gn!reader (+koromaru & akihiko sanada)

summary: shinjiro and you find yourselves tangled up in koromaru's leash, leading to an (not so) accidental kiss…

accidents could happen to anyone. but none of this was an accident, nor a coincidence.

“how come everyone but us got sick? shouldn't we have caught a cold too, if we're around them all the time…?”

shinjiro had the same thought as you, but you were the one that dared to say it out loud. there was something weird about the entirety of S.E.E.S. getting sick, except the two of you. even aigis was out of business, leaving shinjiro and you as the only two who could look after koromaru now.

“there's no way they're all sick…”

shinjiro mumbled under his breath. he stared forward, watching koromaru run through the living room and bark happily, while he was lost in thought.

“i think… they're just sick of having to do so much work around the house. so now they all decided to fake a sickness…”

you silently nodded. it was the only thing that made sense to you. even if it was out of character for them to all lie like this. sure, junpei regularly tried to get out of work by faking sickness. but someone like mitsuru or aigis? that was certainly odd.

“either way… it's not too bad, right? having to take care of koromaru isn't really work!”

as koromaru heard you say his name, he stopped and tilted his head, his tongue hanging out and he seemed to be smiling at you. you smiled back, unaware that seeing your little interaction with the dog brought a small smile to shinjiro's lips as well.

“maybe we should take him for a walk! he seems more restless than usual today…”

koromaru barked in response, almost as if he wanted to agree with shinjiro. that little guy was smarter than most dogs and he seemed to understand very well what was going around him.

“come here, boy!”

shinjiro knelt down and tapped the ground, causing koromaru to come running up to him, happily jumping at shinjiro and barking.

“can you grab his leash?”

shinjiro patted koromaru's head, as he looked up at you with a smile. you quickly nodded and went to grab the leash, before handing it to shinjiro.

as shinjiro locked the leash with koromaru's collar, you held the dog in place. he seemed so eager at the idea of walk with the two of you, that he couldn't stand still.

“there we go!”

shinjiro and you were both still kneeling, when you let go of koromaru. but just as the two of you wanted to get up again, koromaru seemed to have a sudden burst of energy. and before you knew it, he started running around the two of you, wrapping you up in his leash.

“h-hey, hold! koromaru–!”

shinjiro remained a firm grip on the leash, in case koromaru tried to run off. but that only resulted in the two of you being caught within the leash, as koromaru showed no signs of stopping.

“w-wait, let me help you…”

shinjiro and you were pressed against each other, with very little room to move. both of your faces were red and shinjiro tried to avoid eye contact, as he attempted to untangle you from the leash.

but just when it seemed like he had figured out how to get you out of this mess, koromaru started running. and once again, the two of you were pulled closer together. only this time, it wasn't just your bodies pressed against each other, but your lips as well.

“woof–! woof–!”

koromaru had stopped, as soon as the two of you kissed. he happily barked and finally sat down, his tongue hanging out, as he seemed to smile at you. almost as if he had just been waiting for this to happen…

the kiss lasted longer than necessary. especially given it was supposed to be just an accident. but after a few moments, shinjiro and you pulled away from each other – at least as far away as you could, while still being tied together by koromaru's leash.

“s-sorry, i–”

“it was an accident–!”

both of you blurted out at once, blushing furiously. but both of you knew it wasn't just an accident. the first few seconds were an accident. anything after that was just the two of you wanting to prolong the kiss.

“y-yeah… an accident!”

shinjiro and you awkwardly stared at each other for a moment, unable to get away from each other. just when you both slowly leaned in again, you heard voices from upstairs.

“is everything alright here~?”

it was akihiko, who tried to hide an amused smile, when he spotted shinjiro and you wrapped together in koromaru's leash.

“do you need a hand~?”

you nodded embarrassed and akihiko walked over, helping untangle the two of you. shinjiro and you lingered close to each other for another moment, after akihiko had finally removed the leash, before both taking a step back.

“what are you even doing here? didn't you say you were sick!?”

shinjiro was a bit on edge after that kiss. he tried to hide how flustered he still was, by immediately confronting akihiko about his seemingly made up sickness.

“oh, that? well, i feel a lot better now! must've been just some morning sickness!”

“mh, right…”

shinjiro glared at akihiko, skeptical of what he was saying. truly, he didn't believe a word. but he didn't want to start arguing now.

“anyways…” akihiko smiled. “if you want, i can take koromaru on a walk now! i figured the two of you might want to do other things…”

shinjiro and you both froze up. had akihiko seen the kiss? did he see the first one? or had he noticed the two of you leaning in? if he noticed, then surely…

shinjiro's eyes met yours. the same thoughts seemed to run through your head, as you stared at each other. even akihiko noticed it and grinned amused, as he took koromaru's leash from shinjiro's hands.

“we'll be going then! have fun, you two!”

and with that said, akihiko left the dorms, leaving you alone with shinjiro…

after closing the door behind him, akihiko roamed through his pockets, looking for something, as he tried to listen in on you and shinjiro for a bit. he could very well imagine what the two of you were talking about in there…

“here, for you~!”

eventually, akihiko pulled some dog treats out of his pockets, kneeling down to reward koromaru.

“you were a good boy, koromaru! playing your part just like we practiced~!”

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misc-obeyme · 4 months

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unchained - chapter one

masterpost read the chapter on ao3

recommended music: Ghosts Have Arrived by Drexler word count: 2840

GN!MC x Arsenios [demon OC] a/n: Okay here we go. I decided to include Obey Me background images for each chapter. This is the RAD dance hall where some of this chapter takes place. Warnings: there is some blood & injury at the very start

Your heart pounded as you felt Arsenios’s arms encircling your waist, tightening protectively around you. The chains hanging off his wrists tapped gently against your body. Your back was pressed against his chest which was heaving with his heavy breathing. The scent of his blood was in the air, mingling with the ominous aura of his power and the discordant notes of some mangled melody.

There was a terrified bird loose in your stomach, fluttering through it and battering against its confines. Your wildly beating heart was in your throat, your ears ringing with the fragments of tones, your bones shivering beneath the weight of broken chords.

It was the middle of the night, but the bright silver light of the full moon washed over everything. Beneath you, two dirt roads met. Behind you, a demon whose broken chains clanged in concert with the odd song in the air. Before you, a reaper.

Pale in the moonlight and shrouded in a tattered black robe that billowed around him. A gleam of yellow eyes beneath the hood. The blinding reflection of that bright silver light bouncing off the metal of the scythe in his hands.

You could feel the rumble in Arsenios’s chest, a low growl that somehow sang a specific pitch - like he was getting ready to use his magic to defend you.

You gripped his arms, your fingers digging into his skin. “Arsenios, don’t,” you said quietly.

His grip on you remained tight, but the growl faded away. You knew he was scared, but he also trusted you. You felt his blood beneath your fingers, mingled with your sweat.

You closed your eyes and suddenly all you could hear were the soft strains of the piano, a deep voice full of yearning, a longing in your own soul that seemed to vibrate at the same frequency. A moment where you were so full you thought you’d overflow.

You let that emotion spill from you. Arsenios shivered behind you as he heard you singing.

Singing his song.

The one he wrote for you.

You couldn’t remember the first time you saw him, but you distinctly remembered the first time you noticed him.

You were walking down the hall at RAD and right when you reached a spot where it was crossed by another hallway, you heard it. You paused there in the crossroads to listen.

It was a piano melody full of feeling that wound through the air and around your heart, the notes sinking in like thorns that would never let go again. Your body grew heavy. It was a strange feeling and perhaps you should have been scared, especially when your feet began to move on their own. And yet, there was a longing inside you that was almost painful and somehow you knew that if you followed that music, the pain would ease.

That was the day you discovered that RAD had a piano other than the cursed one in the music room. It sat in the corner of the dance hall, small in the massive space, which explained why you had never noticed it before.

Now you stood behind a column, watching the demon that sat at the bench.

Behind him were dramatic high windows looking out over the school grounds, the darkness of the sky taking up most of them. Stars sparkled behind the leaded panes, silver light glimmering down through the vast space.

It was dim here, the lights off in a place where no one was supposed to be.

The demon at the piano had his eyes closed, fingers moving easily across the keys. You moved a little closer and realized that you recognized him. He was in a few of your classes, but you couldn’t remember seeing him regularly. What was his name again? Arsenios?

He was wearing his RAD uniform, the jacket open and several buttons undone on the green shirt. No tie, but you could see a pair of black suspenders. You remembered that he was tall and thick, though it was harder to tell when he was sitting down. His skin was light brown and his hair was dark brown with bright red highlights. It was long, reaching down to the middle of his back with shorter strands framing his face.

You listened to the song he was playing - something soft and sad in a minor key. Then to your surprise, the key changed and everything became brighter. It felt as though you yourself had lightened and for a moment you felt like you might be standing in a patch of sunlight until you remembered where you were.

How could music make you feel things so vividly?

You shivered slightly. This was the Devildom. Arsenios was a demon. Was there magic at work here?

You didn’t have time to ponder this. As soon as you realized that you were going to be late for class, you forced yourself to leave the hall. You were surprised at how difficult it was.

The next time you saw Arsenios in class, you paid attention. You couldn’t help sneaking glances at him, your curiosity piqued. You wondered if you observed him enough if you would be able to figure out why he had been playing the piano in the hall by himself.

You looked away quickly when he met your eyes. You had seen them long enough to note that they were dark purple with a circle of dark grey.

Life in the Devildom kept you busy. You were making pacts with the brothers, trying to keep up on your studies, and learning everything you could about demons in general. You didn’t really have time to consider a demon you only saw occasionally.

And yet you couldn’t help taking the long way to seductive speechcraft, passing by the empty dance hall on purpose. Many times, you heard the piano echoing through that empty place. And every time, you slipped inside, hiding again behind a column to listen in.

Arsenios never seemed to stop actually playing, flowing from one song to the next without a pause. You would listen for some time before sneaking out of the room again, on your way to your class.

The first time you spoke to him directly was after everything that happened with Belphie. You had settled into the routine of going to RAD, living at the House of Lamentation, and existing in the Devildom.

You were on your way to the Demon Lord’s Castle, on an errand for Lucifer, when Arsenios came out of the door, stopping short just before colliding with you.

You instantly remembered all the times you had watched him play the piano in the darkness of RAD’s dance hall. You never got close enough to see him quite as clearly as you did now.

He wasn’t wearing his uniform, instead dressed in a black button up and a pair of dark blue jeans. His hair was in a long braid, showing off the silver piercings in his ears.

Arsenios frowned at you. “Sorry about that,” he said. “I didn’t mean to run into you.”

“What are you doing here?” you blurted out before you could stop yourself. It was kind of a rude question, but you were so surprised to see him somewhere other than RAD.

Arsenios tilted his head. He smiled briefly. “What are you doing here?”

You held up the paperwork in your arms. “Making a delivery.”

Arsenios shook his head. “Working for the one brother you don’t have a pact with yet, huh? Are you hoping that’ll help?”

You frowned. “What? No. I’m just doing it because he asked.”

“Too nice, then,” Arsenios said. “Listen, MC. You should be careful. What you’re doing isn’t normal. Most humans don’t make pacts with multiple demons and even when they do, it’s a transaction, not a symbol of their close relationship.”

You huffed. “Why do you care?”

Arsenios studied you for a long moment and there was something in his eyes that you couldn’t quite read. It was about to become an awkward silence when he sighed. “Pacts are serious. I’m just telling you to be careful, that’s all. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to my audience of one. Who would listen to me play at RAD?”

You nearly dropped the pile of paperwork in your hands. You felt the blush cross your face. “Y-you saw me? But your eyes are always closed!”

Arsenios laughed gently and the smile that lingered softened his features. “I didn’t need to have my eyes open to know you were there. Humans have a certain kind of sound. We only have two humans in the Devildom and I knew it wasn’t Solomon.”

You couldn’t look at him, suddenly extremely embarrassed that he had been aware of you hiding in the dark to listen to him play the piano all those times. “Uh, right. Well, um, I better get this stuff to Lord Diavolo, I’ll see you later-“

You were about to rush past him, but Arsenios put his hand on your arm to stop you. That was when you noticed the tattoo on the back of it. It looked like a pact mark - a black circle full of unusual symbols and runes. But you didn’t have time to contemplate it because when you looked up, your eyes met his and you felt frozen.

“Hey,” he said and his voice was gentle. “I don’t mind. In fact, it’s nice knowing that you’re there. Maybe next time, you won’t hide in the shadows.”

You stared at him for a moment, speechless. You tried to think of something to say. Before you could, he stepped away, waved a little and walked off down the path.

You watched him go for a moment, still somewhat dazed. Then you turned back to the castle entrance with determination.

You went through the door and made your way to Lord Diavolo’s office, mind racing. What was going on? Since when did demons fluster you like that? You'd been among the brothers long enough now that you were more than used to them.

It was because you thought he didn’t know. You thought he was unaware of you, hiding behind the columns to listen to him play.

But he had known all along. What had he said? My audience of one.

You schooled yourself before you encountered Diavolo or Barbatos or even one of the Little Ds. Then you paused because you had simply been walking, mind elsewhere, and you had no idea where you were. You sighed and began to backtrack.

You continued to hide behind the columns in the dance hall when you stopped to listen to Arsenios play. Whenever you heard those ringing notes, you slipped into the dark space, lingering in the shadows like a little ghost.

Every time, you thought he would acknowledge you. That he would say something about how you should come out from where you were hiding. To your surprise, he never did.

He never brought it up any other time, either. Arsenios was in a few of your classes, so you saw him sometimes. He never once said anything to you or acted like he knew you. However, you didn't get the feeling that he was deliberately ignoring you. It was more like he was keeping your secret.

You weren't sure how he felt about you. He seemed amused, but otherwise unconcerned.

It was your second year in the exchange program already. You found yourself somewhat occupied at the start with the play, distracted by learning your lines and rehearsing.

You didn't really have time to consider the dance that would follow afterward, opting not to go with any of the demons who asked you. You simply didn't have the emotional capacity to deal with the potential of them arguing over you.

The day of the dance arrived and you showed up with Solomon, just as friends. You were hanging around the drinks table awkwardly. There was Demonus, but of course you didn't experience any kind of inhibition from drinking it.

So you were fully aware of the presence of a demon at your side.

"Hey, MC," he said.

You looked over to see Arsenios standing beside you. He was in his RAD uniform, just as casual as ever with no tie and a handful of buttons undone. His hair was loose, flowing around his shoulders. He was smiling at you with a glass of Demonus in his hand.

"Hey," you said. It hadn't occurred to you that he would be here, but of course he was a student here, too. It was odd to see him here in the dance hall when the lights were on. Nobody seemed to be using the piano in the corner. The music was supplied by a DJ.

"Here alone?" Arsenios asked.

You looked around. "So are you."

Arsenios shrugged. "Touche."

"I was just busy from the play," you said. "Solomon is around here somewhere, but we just came as friends."

Arsenios put his glass down on the table and extended a hand to you. "In that case, would you like to dance?"

You looked at him for a moment, letting your eyes fall on the hand open so easily toward you. This was your chance to maybe get to know the demon whose music you so often listened to. You put down your own glass and took his hand.

"All right," you said.

Arsenios grinned and pulled you out onto the dance floor. He paused, waiting for your direction.

You stepped closer to him, putting your free hand on his shoulder. His other hand settled naturally on your waist.

"Do you know this song?" Arsenios asked.

You were only vaguely familiar with it. It was a Devildom song. Slow and a bit sad. "A little," you said.

"There's a dance that's specific to it," Arsenios said. "I can guide you through the steps if you want."

"Okay," you said. Your attention was on the feeling of his hand on your waist.

Arsenios moved you easily, the dance matching the song. It was slow, the movements smooth. You found you didn't need to know the steps. Somehow, you were simply doing what came naturally and it made you feel like you were gliding.

"You're good at this," you said.

Arsenios shrugged. "Music and dance are like the ocean and the shore. You can't have one without the other. Even if no song is playing, the person dancing hears it in their soul."

You were a little surprised to receive such a poetic answer.

"I know you've been back," Arsenios said. His voice had lowered in volume. It was close and intimate and suddenly the proximity of him made you flush a little. "I'm still waiting for you to stop hiding."

"Maybe I like being hidden," you said. "Maybe it's nice not to be the center of attention for once."

Arsenios blinked at this, as though he had never thought of things that way before. "I get it," he said. "If that's how you feel, then don't worry. You can hide with me whenever you want. I'll cover for you."

"What about you?" you asked. "Aren't you hiding, too? Playing that piano there in the darkness, all alone?"

Arsenios smiled. "I'm not always alone, though, am I?"

You frowned. "Don't avoid the question."

"All right," he said, laughing. "Maybe I'm hiding, too."

"What are you hiding from?" you asked.

Arsenios's smile remained, but you saw how it turned sad. "Clarity," he said. He was still looking at you, but his eyes seemed to be seeing something else. "Have you ever felt like there's a storm inside you? And rather than get out of the rain, you decide it's safer to sit in it?"

You weren't sure what to say to that. And you weren't sure if he really expected you to answer.

His eyes suddenly focused on you again. "It's easier to let things stay obscured sometimes."

You frowned slightly. "Are you sure?"

Arsenios seemed like he was going to say something, but the song ended and a new one began to play. He smiled again, letting go of your waist, but not your hand, and stepping back just a little.

"Thanks for the dance, MC," he said. He leaned over your hand and briefly pressed his lips to the back of it. His hair brushed against you as he let go and moved back. "I'll see at you at RAD."

You didn't even have a chance to respond before he was gone, moving across the floor between other dancing students easily. You turned away and worked to fight down the blush that had sprung up onto your cheeks as you made your way back to the drinks table. Demonus wouldn't help you the way actual alcohol would, but it was better than nothing.

Solomon was already waiting for you with two glasses. You didn't say anything to him as you took one and downed it.

What was Arsenios hiding from? It almost sounded like he was hiding from himself.

masterpost | chapter two

masterlist | Thank you for reading!

#obey me #obey me nightbringer #obey me oc #obey me oc x reader #obey me oc x mc #x reader #misc oc arsenios #unchained #misc writes #let us not discuss how nervous I am about posting this

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l4v3nd3r-bl00d · 12 days

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i thought i'd do an updated introduction post since i’ve been so inactive, so new mutuals/followers can know more about me!😊❤️

my name is kittie, i am 18, i have been diagnosed with autism & adhd since i was 15 (important to know because it explains why i am the way that i am lol) i don’t mind what pronouns you use for me, literally any are fine. i am just a person. 😁

i first started collecting violet exacts in 2019 however my collection has grown pretty slowly since i can’t hold down a job because disability.. disables. 🥲😭💔

i enjoy old things quite a lot, at the moment my main areas of interest are in: gothic architecture, silent film era (georges méliès films are my fav), skeleton keys, children’s books & toys from the 40s-70s, taxidermy, postcards, and vintage fashion/lingerie from the 40s-70s.

i also cosplay, i just don’t post it on the internet very much, my favourite anime are: kamisama kiss, vampire knight, nana, paradise kiss, love live, k-on, the future diary and chobits.

my main/oldest special interest is japanese fashion subcultures! (lolita, mori kei, fairy kei, dolly kei and cult party kei to be specific)

i don’t game regularly but my favourite games/game franchises are: american mcgees alice & madness returns, fran bow, sally face, little misfortune, stray, silent hill, elder scrolls, resident evil, skyrim, bloodborne, life is strange, the walking dead, the last of us and batman: arkham knight.

some of my favourite shows/movies: ahs (obviously), the office, dexter, the walking dead, its always sunny in philadelphia, lost, kamikaze girls, ghost world, sharp objects, wayne, a series of unfortunate events(both the series and the movie), gummo, ginger snaps, donnie darko, twin peaks, black mirror, and every wes anderson, tim burton and a24 project ever.

okay now here is a dump of all of my fav albums because i feel it’s very telling

blonde redhead - misery is a butterfly & 23

scarling - sweet heart dealer & so long, scarecrow

air - le voyage dans la lune & talkie walkie

oingo boingo - only a lad

brennan wedl - holy water branch

daniel johnson - hi how are you

teen suicide - dc snug film/ waste yrself & i will be my own hell

fox academy - luxury beverage

sidney gish - no dogs allowed

s.maharba - s.maharba

mcr - i brought you my bullets, you brought me your love & three cheers for sweet revenge

katie jane garside - lullabies in a glass wilderness

roar - impossible animals & i’m not here to make friends

candy claws - ceres and calypso in the deep time

imogen heap - speak for yourself

ricky eat acid - three love songs

dandelion hands - bleak week

catatonia - equally cursed and blessed

mort garson - mother earths plantasia

black box recorder - england made me

lady radiator - bounce energy hear me out

coma cinema - posthumous release

color filter - sleep in a synchrotron & i often think in music

jenny01 - jenny01 best & cluster

otto benson - songs before bed

marysgate - special memory

fear before the march of flames - the always open mouth & odd how people shake

the avalanches - since i left you

elysian fields - queen of the meadow & ghosts of no

leslie gore - i’ll cry if i want to

my bloody valentine - loveless

smashing pumpkins - siamese dream & mellon collie and the infinite sadness

jack off jill - clear hearts grey flowers

colour filter - sleep in a synchrotron

elliot smith - xo

panic at the disco - a fever you can’t sweat out & pretty odd

maple bee - chasing eva & home

nastyona - another secret

heartsrevolution - kitsune hearts japan

rasputina - transylvanian regurgitations &cabin fever

chris vrenna - american mcgees alice

queenadreena - taxidermy

bunny boy - Shelly & the bunny tree & did the angels come to kiss you

hole - live through this & celebrity skin

akira yamaoka - silent hill 2

hooky - something to look forward to

jack stauber - micro pop & pop food

satanicpornocultshop - arkhaiomelisidonophunikheratos

sparklehorse - its a wonderful life

susumu yokota - symbol

every album by the cure ever

i’m not very interesting so i don’t have a whole lot to say about myself on a personal level, i just like to share the media that i enjoy lol. don't be shy to message me if u ever wanna talk, especially about anything music, fashion or fandom related, just a heads up though that i sometimes really suck at replying(i apologise in advance)🥲

here are links to my other social media if you want to follow me elsewhere, though all personal accounts, not violet or ahs related.

tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kittiebot?_t=8pZwtHs5DjU&_r=1

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kittiebot13621?igsh=MnFpbzlpaWo0enpn&utm_source=qr

pinterest: https://pin.it/4Rlko08SX

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/qenp8br378218on2h77lzldq8?si=-sS3g8ATQECdosiCSmBVyw

- kittie😇❤️

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mllemaenad · 6 months

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The Magnus Protocol: Saturday Night

Well, that went better than expected. I mean – there are implications, obviously, but so far everyone's limbs still seem attached, so that is a definite plus.

The meat of this thing, the case file, is interesting, because of how far it leans into a desire for publicity.

We have:

A forum post with a deliberately provocative and arguably supernatural image in First Shift

The tattoo artist who live streams the creation of an obviously supernatural tattoo in Making Adjustments

The crowd-drawing (and occasionally crowd-murdering) violin in Taking Notes

The surprisingly popular horror media review blog that has had all content removed except the posts that detail the author's ensnarement in a supernatural film viewing in Personal Screening

Needles actively reporting his crimes and harassing the emergency service operators in Introductions

The unnamed gambler character in Rolling with It feeling inspired to dress up and cause supernatural havoc in public by getting people to roll the dice

... And now Mr Bonzo

Pretty much everything about Mr Bonzo, really. This was a character that regularly appeared on television. While the situation evidently escalated, it is strongly implied that there was always something wrong with him, both by the fact that Nigel does not know where the name came from, and by Gotard Rimbaeu's disproportionate terror at encountering him. He had a chart-topping song that can still apparently be used to summon him. He has merchandise that is still being sold. And the thing is, he's still making the news:

Geraldine And how do you respond to the more recent rumours? Nigel (on guard) Excuse me? Geraldine The witness statements from three murders over the last five years- Nigel (speaking over her) I told your producer this wasn’t going to be discussed. Geraldine -that claim a person in a Mr Bonzo costume was at the scene? Do you think there could be a copycat? – The Magnus Protocol: Saturday Night

This bit here is clearly the point of this interview. The nostalgia and the laughter were all to lead Nigel into a trap: the big story here is that Mr Bonzo has been seen killing, and they want Nigel to comment on it.

I know this is a reference to a stunt on an actual British variety programme. I think it might even have aired at some point in Australia – but I must admit it wasn't something that was on my radar in the 90s. It's hard to be accurate about something from that long ago, but I don't think I ever saw it. I'm not completely sure how close this is to reality, but I think pretty close, barring the murders.

The point is, this is something that was obnoxiously popular in the real world ... and perhaps even more prominent here. Even if you're not aware of the cultural impact of this thing specifically – and like I say, this largely passed me by – you'll know how this kind of thing can spread. A novelty can consume the public consciousness. And if it's just a novelty – well, it might be annoying after a while, but no more than that. But if it's more than that?

In an odd way, all of this reminds me of Good Omens, and how the gone-native demon Crowley relates to his colleagues:

"I tied up every portable telephone system in Central London for forty-five minutes at lunchtime," he said. There was silence, except for the distant swishing of cars. "Yes?" said Hastur. "And then what?" "Look, it wasn't easy," said Crowley. "That's all?" said Ligur. "Look, people –" "And what exactly has that done to secure souls for our master?" said Hastur. Crowley pulled himself together. What could he tell them? That twenty thousand people got bloody furious? That you could hear the arteries clanging shut all across the city? And that then they went back and took it out on their secretaries or traffic wardens or whatever, and they took it out on other people? In all kinds of vindictive little ways which, and here was the good bit, they thought up themselves. For the rest of the day. The knock-on effects were incalculable. Thousands and thousands of souls all got a faint patina of tarnish, and you barely had to lift a finger. But you couldn't tell that to demons like Hastur and Ligur. Fourteenth century minds, the lot of them. Spending years picking a way at one soul. Admittedly it was craftmanship, but you had to think differently these days. Not big, but wide. With five billion people in the world you couldn't pick the buggers off one by one any more; you had to spread your effort. But demons like Ligur and Hastur. They'd never have thought up Welsh-language television, for example Or value-added tax. Or Manchester. He'd been particularly pleased with Manchester. – Good Omens, Corgi Edition, 1991. p.22-23. Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

The Magnus Archives was about secret cults and esoteric knowledge. It was about old men and their devoted acolytes trying and failing, over and over, to summon their gods. It was John running into other avatars and getting laughed at, because he had the power and the doom, but he hadn't been properly initiated into the Mysteries, so he didn't know the proper terminology.

It was also about the dead-end job you couldn't quit, no matter how much you wanted to.

The Magnus Protocol is the dead-end job you could lose tomorrow. The apparent high turnover at the OIAR, whatever the hell went on with Karl the former IT guy, Teddy losing his new job immediately after he got it – and Mr Bonzo. Mr Bonzo is the job you lose the moment a new guy turns up:

Nigel Well, there was a different man in the suit, of course. There were a few of them over the years. It was very physically demanding and that wasn’t the only injury we had with it. It actually became a sort of ritual: the newest member of the production crew wore Mr Bonzo until someone else joined. – The Magnus Protocol: Saturday Night

And it's also about freaking out a lot of people in one go.

If I have any theory about this part, it's this: what if the core difference between universes is a desire to be known, and this is because of the way The Magnus Archives ended?

There have clearly been supernatural entities in this world for centuries, at least – otherwise whence came the cursed violin? But it's impossible to reasonably discuss whether these are native beings who have been exposed to something new via interdimensional travel, or whether they are the entities from The Magnus Archives and something about the nature of interdimensional travel means that now they have always been here.

But either way, what if the new thing these beings have is ... a taste, let's say, for the public stage.

The entities from The Magnus Archives were like Hastur and Ligur. They might spend years tormenting one soul, or stage a whole set piece for one guy and have to deal with him just not getting the effort they put in. There were rituals, yes, and they were of a larger scale – but still tended to be desperately secretive.

It was craftmanship, sure, but in terms of nourishment it made them scavengers. They had to catch a person alone, or in a moment of emotional vulnerability, to feed upon them.

Then, of course, the apocalypse happened. And for a while, all the world was their smorgasbord. It turned out that everyone could be afraid at the same time. And while those set pieces still existed, they could shove lots of humans into them at once and torment them all together.

But then:

Archivist Because for the Fears to spread into these new worlds, they would need to leave ours, wouldn’t they? Annabelle If one should leave this place for… greener pastures, the rest must follow. Archivist Leaving us behind in the process, freeing our world at the cost of others.Basira What are you saying? Archivist We can pass them our apocalypse. [MUFFLED DISCOMFITED REALISATION] Annabelle Nothing so extreme. In these new worlds they would exist as they used to in ours, lurking just beyond the threshold. – The Magnus Archives: Connected

That puts everybody back to square one. I'm not suggesting that these beings have a coherent plan for restarting the apocalypse – we might get there, but these are creatures of feeling, not thought, so if we do it will likely be a human plan. Rather, I mean, that they have the feeling that they like being known. It was good to eat well. It was good when everyone was afraid.

And that changes the model. Now they're Crowley, setting up the M25 to churn out a smidgeon of low-grade evil every time someone drives on it. The push is not to isolate someone and work on them, but rather to declare to the world "Here I am".

Several people wore the Mr Bonzo suit. Not for long, but they were all touched by it. Millions saw "Nigel's SOS" (that is on the nose) and – and this is called out specifically – Mr Bonzo was especially popular with children, even though the original joke seems to be geared more toward adults. And all of them then knew about the serial killings. People don't work at the OIAR for very long, at least not usually, but everyone who does is exposed to the horror stories.

It's not the equivalent of being a statement-giver in The Magnus Archives, exactly. You don't have some personally crafted nightmare that will stay with you forever. But you know there are things out there that can hurt you. You have reason to be afraid.

And the OIAR seems to be sending Mr Bonzo out to kill. Kill whom? And why? Don't know. But as I said: he's making the news. And before him there was Starkwall. And they also made the news. By committing a massacre.

In more meta terms, Mr Bonzo seems to fill a similar niche to Jane Prentiss. He's almost certainly going to be a problem, but is probably not the problem with the world. But more importantly the kind of thing he is teaches you something about how the world works.

And he has some interesting similarities: in both cases you seem to be looking at something parasitical. Jane was both seduced and consumed by her wasp nest; and while there was enough of her left to understand what was happening she was desperate for help.

Nigel seems to be Mr Bonzo's prisoner, with the comedy dungeon transforming into a more literal hostage situation. But he's also his livelihood, and his claim to fame.

Geraldine Yes, I was going to ask – Mr Bonzo merchandise is still on sale via your own website. Do you feel at all uneasy about that? Nigel About what? The fact that a few sales might be from people trying to be edgy? A man’s got to make a living, Geraldine, and it’s not like I can tell if someone’s buying a t-shirt ironically. Besides, people think of Nigel Dickerson and Mr Bonzo is never far behind so it’s not like its changing my reputation. In a lot of ways I’m more his prisoner now than I ever was on my show. – The Magnus Protocol: Saturday Night

Jane was a creature of almost pure tragedy: sure, she had problems prior to the wasp nest – that's why she was vulnerable to it – but her descent into monstrosity is marked largely by confusion and distress. Nigel seems actively complicit in spreading Mr Bonzo around, and he's defensive when someone suggests it's inappropriate.

I assume the "worm tracks" Sam and Alice find when investigating The Magnus Institute are at least an Easter egg, although whether they're relevant to any of the current happenings remains to be seen. Whatever brought the place down mostly spared the archivist's office, and that feels relevant.

The return of the tape recorder is interesting, though, because it doesn't fit the pattern of how listening in has worked in The Magnus Protocol. Tape recorders were an Archives thing. Supernatural events would only record on tape. If no tape recorders were available in a given setting, eventually one would just manifest itself.

The situation in The Magnus Protocol has been much more opportunistic: any device with a microphone will do. If you stayed away from microphones – a thing Colin has largely managed to do – it couldn't create one to record you. Of course, tape recorders weren't just popping into being this early in The Magnus Archives either, so I'm not suggesting this is some permanent rule. But Sam and Alice's phones are clearly available as options: the first bit of conversation comes from a phone. But once inside, something makes a tape recorder when it did not have to.

And the other noteworthy thing is, of course ... whatever crawls out of the trap door at the end. Mostly this one is a "put a pin in that for later" situation, because while it's clearly important there's not much you can do with it just yet.

But there are a couple of things.

The first point of interest there is that it pops up just as Sam is talking about not being chosen for something. So is this someone who was chosen?

The second is how the character is credited: [ERROR]. That looks very much how one might see something in an error log; something technological in nature.

Which suggests Colin is right: he should figure out what's up with the computers as quickly as possible.

#the magnus protocol #the magnus protocol spoilers #the magnus archives

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transparenthologramrebel · 8 months

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Sneak peak at chapter 20 for cots.

Chapter 20

Jayfeather

Jayfeather blinked as his vision was returned to darkness. His paws shook as he tried to comprehend what Rock had just told him.

What does he mean by the long sleep ceremony? What does this have to do with the Tribe and Stoneteller?

“By the Ancestors…please forgive I’ve been so foolish,” Stoneteller rasped, as Jayfeather heard him begin to pace anxiously. “I have so much to do and so little time. Should I take one of Brook’s kits as my successor? No, they are far too young and I do not have long left. I’ll have to take an older cat, but that's never been done before. Then again things are changing.”

Jayfeather lashed his tail, kneading the ground with his paws.

“What did Rock mean by the Long sleep ceremony? What did you mean by "do you know what he is?”” Jayfeather asked anxiously.

Stoneteller stopped pacing and turned his attention to the young medicine cat.

“Tell me how do you know-what did you call him Rock? Odd name, certainly very different from what we call him in our tongue, but I suppose if he wanted to hide his true nature from you then he would go with a different name. But how do you know him?” Stoneteller demanded.

Jayfeather flattened his ears, lashing his tail once more.

“Answer my question first!” he spat. “It’s the reason I was sent here in the first place!”

“I will, but I need to know first how you know Rock. The long sleep ceremony is one of our most sacred rituals one not performed regularly due to its nature.”

Jayfeather stifled back another growl. He swallowed trying to keep his short temper in check.

“I know him because I found a stick belonging to the ancient tribes that used to live by the lake. I knew he was always one of your ancestors, but I thought he was just another ancient Stoneteller. What is Rock really?”

Jayfeather ruffled his fur as surprise and shock sparked from Stoneteller.

“The tribes once lived where the clans do now?” he gasped, before returning to pacing. “I had always known that this was not our first original home from our ancestors' stories. But to have once shared the same territories with the clans…that explains so much. It explains why they sent Feathertail to save us from Sharptooth and the many other times you have come to our aid. Perhaps the clans and the tribes are far more connected than I knew. Ancestors forgive me. I have been so foolish and now time is running out. As for what ‘Rock' is I can not tell you. If he does not wish for you to know right now then it is for the best. What I can tell you is he is not another Stoneteller. He never was. He is something so much more. Perhaps he will tell you what he is in time.”

Jayfeather swallowed back another angry hiss of frustration.

Why can’t any cat ever just give me a straight answer? Have I traveled so far during a harsh season for nothing?

His whiskers then twitched with burning curiosity.

Is Stoneteller afraid to tell me what Rock is? How powerful is he? I know he can send me visions of the past, but that's not unusual for the spirits of the dead is it? Starclan sends us visions all the time! Rock just what are you?

“As for the Long sleep ceremony, it’s one of our most ancient traditions and only used in the most desperate of times. I have only ever once used it in my time of being Stoneteller and that was when we had the problem with Sharptooth. The ceremony is quite dangerous and involves the Stoneteller taking a large amount of sleeping herbs. While asleep they communicate with the ancestors for an extended period of time.” Stoneteller began.

Jayfeather flicked his ears in curiosity.

“How long?” he asked, wondering if it was like a visit to the Moonpool. “What’s so dangerous about being asleep?”

“You’re asleep for however long the ancestors need you to be asleep. It could be a few sunrises, or a few moons.”

Jayfeather felt his hackles raise.

“A few moons? I don’t have time to be asleep for a few moons!” He hissed worriedly.

Stoneteller snorted.

“Then you better hope it’s only a few sunrises then. However long you’re asleep is outside of your control. There is an ancient tale of a Stoneteller who once used the ceremony for a reason outside its purpose. As punishment the Tribe of endless hunting made him sleep for seasons. When he finally woke up his entire tribe was dead from his neglect, aside from his Protector.”

Jayfeather’s ears perked at the word ‘Protector’.

“What’s a Protector?”

“They’re the only cat allowed inside the Cave of pointed stones during the ceremony. They watch over the Stoneteller and take care of their body while they are asleep. It’s a cat that the Stoneteller trusts with their life. If you’re going to undergo the Ceremony then one of your traveling companions must be your Protector.”

Jayfeather’s mind swam as he tried to wrap his mind around all of this.

“So I’ll be asleep? Big deal, that still doesn’t explain what’s so dangerous about it. It doesn’t sound any different from a trip to the Moonpool.”

Stoneteller let out an annoyed growl and padded closer, sticking his nose so close to Jayfeather’s face he could smell his rancid breath.

“It is a ‘big deal’! While you’re asleep your spirit is walking amongst the ancestors! It’s not just an extended dream walk! You’re really there amongst them in whatever they’re showing you! If you’re not careful your spirit can get lost and never return! Since you’ll be walking with the Chronos that makes your ceremony even more complicated!”

Jayfeather blinked at that word.

Chronos? What does that even mean? Rock just what are you?

Stoneteller sighed, his shoulders sagging with a creak.

“Go back and join your companions. Choose which one will be your Protector. We’ll begin the Ceremony a sunrise from now. For now I must prepare for the Ceremony and choose which cat will become my successor.” Stoneteller murmured before padding away.

“Wait! My brother he’s injured and in pain! He needs some herbs!” Jayfeather mewed quickly, following the old cat.

Jayfeather twitched his ears as he heard Stoneteller shuffle around in the cave. His nose flared as the familiar scent of herbs filled his nostrils.

“Here take these.” Stoneteller mewed, pushing a large earthy bundle to his paws.

“Thanks.” Jayfeather mewed shortly, bending down and picking up the herbs.

Jayfeather’s heart thrashed inside his chest as he made his way back down the narrow winding cave paths.

Starclan why couldn’t Rock have saved me a trip and just showed me what he needed to back at Thunderclan? Why do I have to undergo a Ceremony to see what he needs to show me? Why can’t he just tell me what he is anyways? Why did Stoneteller call him Chronos? What does that even mean? Why are tribe cats so weird!

He thought to himself his fur bristled along his back. He swallowed trying to ignore the fear that laid in the back of his mind. It was like a fox that was circling him in the dark of the night. He couldn’t see it, but he knew it was there.

Rock once showed me how the tribe left the lake in a vision, but this is going to be different. Stoneteller says I’ll really be there. What does that even mean and why is it so dangerous? I’ve gone to Starclan multiple times and always found my way back to being awake! How could I possibly get lost? Unless something tempts me? Starclan this is all too much!

#warriors #warrior au #warriors books #hollyleaf #jayfeather #warriors ashfur #lionblaze #brambleclaw #warriors squirrelflight #squrrielflight #consequences of the stars

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basedkikuenjoyer · 3 months

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Rock Emeth Sock Emeth

Bahahahahaha look at the snail getting up! No matter how deep and heavy this story gets at times sometimes it's really that simple. You know that feeling when you see something so eye-catching and it just takes you away? Almost like stars in your eyes? This lil guy doing his best is that for me. And I felt it needed acknowledgement. No other reason.

So the broadcast is back! People who got really hot about apparent sudden turns in the last chapter have a bit of egg on their face this one. We flow back into our current bestie, pulling a very Wano trick yet again of a double meaning in the chapter title. A lot of people get the connection in the title to the Golem of Jewish folklore. But "Emeth" literally means truth, faithfulness as well. Our concept in the little lead-in text "Words that shroud the truth" for our return to...

Here we are, getting back to Stussy. And it seems to be the case that we skipped over the heart of her conversation with Kaku. Last we left off was this notion of her conflicted, wanting to be faithful to both. It's so interesting to use Kaku this way, not for a similar name or the odd through line of giraffes but because we know he was here once before too. He was the one who had some earnest love for his role as a Galley-La shipwright. Is he thinking about Paulie and Lulu and Tilestone? Wishing he could have done the same, enjoy that humble role and honest job forever?

Regardless, broadcast is back and that means Stussy's Gay Pop Summer continues. I got that from a comment on the Chappell Roan clip and well, it's just perfect. This is essentially the same type of bit I saw so heavily in Kiku, very similar to the End of Act 1 example actually, which means it could end up meaning anything. Stussy is both someone who could be our window into what happened last night as well as the subject of it, you know? Like the other two I wanna give room for the idea one of these cutaway ladies is just setting herself up and this right here opened up a lot for Stussy. Girl's really working her way into the very tippy top of the blorbo rankings in her own right with these past few chapters too.

And of course, when we get back to all of this with the Elbaf ship it moves on pretty swiftly. Apparently now there's also some mystery holdup above. Bonney ran out of steam almost immediately and it's even highlighted how it was an illusion of the Age-Age Fruit. I quite like smacking Luffy in the back, especially with the bit about Sanji & Franky doing it without a second thought. Don't forget Bonney's been a rather successful captain in her own right.

All in all, feels like this little side-segment has done what it needs to. Especially since our return to regularly scheduled programming also includes...

Big robot. No one is excited for this. How silly. Look at my entirely flat affect...

Seriously, how fun! Rock Em Sock Em Robonosuke! First off if he's back and the broadcast is still going then yeah that means the idea this ends up in the broadcast being hijacked is back in play. But we do now know for sure there's no ambiguity with the robot reacting to the Nika heartbeat and having this explicit connection to Joyboy. Still think it's interesting we're playing with the split between the two and of course, if it's from the Void Century you always have to wonder about the potential of further info passed on through Toki in some fashion.

All in all, definitely has me feeling good about reading the last little bit as a "crackle" in the story we're still telling. Boo to break week, but they're necessary. Curious to see what's up next when we come back.

#one piece #chapter 1119 #post-wano musings #Stussy #Robonosuke

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flickys-courage-club · 2 months

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Meet Barry's Grandparents (CTCD Story)

[Characters: Courage, Muriel, Eustace, Barry(OC), Marie(OC), Brandon(OC)]

[Barry comes around with Courage and the Bagges to wait for his grandparents on Grandparents Day. And they would love to meet the three]

(Cuts to Barry and Courage sitting together on the floor, Muriel is on her rocking chair and Eustace is in his chair. Barry is holding a bouquet of flowers and a letter)

Barry: Grandma and Grandpa are gonna be here any time soon

Muriel: Oh yes dear. And I hope they are very happy to see you

(Barry and Courage smile at Muriel)

(Then they heard the door knocking)

Barry: That must be them! (gets up and walks to the door with Courage in front of him)

(Courage opens the door for him and here the two are)

(Barry's grandma wears a black dress with white puffy sleeves and a black sunhat with a rose on top of it. She also holds an umbrella)

Barry's grandma: (looks at Barry) Oh hello Barry! My lovely grandson (picks him up and hugs him)

Barry: (smiles and hugs back) Hi Grandma! Happy Grandparents Day!

Barry's grandma: Oh my, look how grown you become since we last seen you (gently places Barry down)

Barry: Yeah it's all thanks to him of course

Barry's grandma: Him?

(Barry's grandma looks at Courage)

Barry's grandma: (gasps) Ohh! How adorable you are! (pets Courage's head which made him giggle) isn't he so precious. What's your name dear?

Barry: Grandma, His name is Courage! Courage, this is my grandma

Marie: It's a pleasure to meet you Courage dear. My name is Marie, I am Barry's grandmother

(Courage smiles at Marie and runs)

Marie: Oh!

Barry: I think he wants to show you this place. come on in grandma

Marie: Ok, but first (looks at her husband/Barry's grandfather) Brandon dear, come along! Our dear Barry is here and he is showing us around the house is in with a new friend he has

(Brandon – Barry's grandpa walks out of his car. He carries out his cane and walks to his wife)

Brandon: So, what is the scamp doing over here Marie?

Marie: This is where he... spends his days in here I would say

Brandon: Oh... right

(The elderly cat couple walk together into the inside of the farmhouse and they see Muriel and Eustace)

Brandon: This seems odd in here (looks at Barry)

Barry: Oh, Grandpa!

Brandon: Hello there scamp (pats his grandson's head. Then he looks at Courage) ey' scamp, who's this dog here?

Barry: This is Courage. Courage, this is my grandpa

(Courage looks at Brandon, he looks anxious a bit)

Brandon: Can you tell me about why is he called 'Courage'

Barry: It's because of his bravery, though he can get scared a lot of things

Brandon: Ohh, right, right. (turns to Courage) So that explains why your called 'Courage' dog (he then walks to Marie who is with Muriel and Eustace)

Marie: Hello dear

Muriel: Hello dear, I suppose that you two are...

Marie: Barry's grandparents! My name is Marie and this is my husband Brandon

Brandon: Hi... and who are you both exactly

Muriel: I'm Muriel and this is my husband Eustace

(Eustace is on his newspaper until his name is called by Muriel)

Muriel: Eustace

Eustace: What!

Muriel: I'd like you to meet Marie and Brandon

(Marie waves to him)

Eustace: Yeah... hi

(Courage and Barry walk to the four. Eustace takes the newspaper off of his eyes and he focuses on Courage and Barry. He then pulls out his green mask which he regularly uses it to scare Courage)

Eustace: Ooga Booga Booga!

(Courage and Barry scream and hold onto eachother with their bodies, shaking in fear. While Eustace laughs at their cowardliness. Muriel and Marie are shocked from this)

Marie: Oh goodness me!

(Brandon also witnesses it, he then grabs onto his cane and whacks Eustace's head with it)

Eustace: Ow! What did i do?

Brandon: You scared the poor scamp and the dog with your stupid mask

Eustace: (grumbles) Whatever. Stupid dog and stupid cat

Marie: Oh you poor young boys (gently pats their heads)

(Muriel holds a tray full of tea stuff)

Muriel: Tea anyone?

Marie: I would like some please

(Marie gets up and goes to the kitchen along with Courage as he is gonna help her)

Marie: Oh how kind of you Courage (looks at Brandon) are you having any tea Brandon

Brandon: Alright dear

Marie: Ok

(Then it cuts to Brandon, Barry and Eustace sitting on a red sofa together in the living room watching television. Eustace then notices that the channel changes)

Eustace: What the?! Hey! (looks at Brandon holding the remote) I was watching that you stupid cat

Brandon: I ain't interested in that, i would watch what instead of what your watching (places the remote on the table)

(Brandon sees Barry watching the TV. He feels like he seems a bit bored, so he grabbed something in his bag, which is a black cat plush)

Brandon: Hey, scamp! Look who I have here for ya

Barry: (gasps, looks at the cat plush with a smile) Brahms! (hugs him) Thanks Grandpa

Brandon: It's fine scamp

(Eustace grumbles when he saw Brandon giving Barry his cat plush he brought for him)

Eustace: No fair! You give him the good stuff too?!

Brandon: Well of course I do, He means everything to me and Marie. Though I mainly forget about his name and as his grandfather and father of his own father. I don't treat him like how you do to him ya old twit

(Eustace grumbles even more madly at the old cat calling him an 'old twit')

Eustace: (grumbles angrily) Hmph! Stupid old cat

(Then it cuts to the Bagges, Courage, Barry, Marie and Brandon in the living room all together)

Muriel: So, are you both so lovely to little ol' Barry here

Marie: Oh why yes, of course we are Mrs Bagge. Barry was a bit small when we first met him, if we can show you that (brings out a big picture book of Barry's memories) We mostly take him to beautiful places. Such as a parade and that circus he liked, it had a robot possum and his other wacky robot animal friends. And this is how Brandon watches his shows with Barry. He is an amazing boy, though he tends to worry a lot of things the poor boy, but I know he has someone who loves him a lot (pats Barry's head)

Muriel: Oh! How adorable. And what about you Brandon

Marie: Why yes Brandon, would you tell these kind people about how lovely you are

Brandon: Well, unlike that old twit [to Eustace] who scares the living daylights out of the poor scamp. I have been mostly supportive to him, although (rubs his head) I nickname that fella "Scamp" if I sometimes forget his name. But yeah, whenever he feels down to the blues, then he does remember that he can speak to us about what's troubling him

Muriel: Oooh, isn't that very kind of you Brandon dear

Brandon: Yeah, yeah, [nods] I know, I know [pats Barry's head gently]

Marie: Barry?

Barry: Maria?[translate: Marie?]

Marie: Si! [both her and Brandon clap their hands for Barry] Bravo caro[translation: Yes! Bravo dear]

Muriel: Oh, Barry. Seems like you learnt something new. Your starting to speak–

Barry: Italian, Muriel!

Courage: [to Barry] What?

Marie: You see. My parents and also Barry's great grandparents lived in Rome, which is the capital in Italy.

Brandon: While, I lived across the Georgian state around the Victorian times

Muriel: Ohhh

[Then it cuts to the six having dinner]

Marie: [gulps down the food] Mmh, this is wonderful Muriel!

Muriel: Oh why thank you Marie dear. You really enjoy it as much as Barry here

Brandon: [eats a piece of his steak] Tastes... [gulps it down] odd though. But, the steak is all good to me

Muriel: Oh, why I been using my special vinegar of course

Brandon: [went surprised] ...Vinegar?

Muriel: Why yes dear, i use it in all me recipes. And plus, Barry doesn't mind it, don't you dear

Barry: [nods it out] Mmhm, mmhm [then continues eating]

Brandon: ...riiiight

[The six then continue eating their meals across nighttime]

#courage the cowardly dog #ctcd #ctcd ocs #story #courage the dog #muriel bagge #eustace bagge #ctcd oc marie #ctcd oc brandon

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deliwrites · 2 years

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ℝ𝕠𝕒𝕕𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕡 ℂ𝕒𝕗𝕖 // Dream

Date: 10th of June 2021 Published: 12th of October 2022 (Originally: 22nd of July 2021) Member: Dream Type: Fluffy(?), female reader TW: Feels, Angst(?), I am not good with trigger warnings so I do apologize for that Summary: You find the cutest cafe while on a road trip. You end up taking it over and really making the place your own. Then suddenly a guy starts showing up regularly which doesn't really happen. He recently obtained the property, which means it is up to him what's gonna happen to that property.

// MASTERLIST //

Y/n POV

Recently this one guy would come into my cafe. He wasn't necessarily different from everyone else, besides the fact he always came right before closing. A few times I noticed that he look defeated when he stood outside the door as I had just locked up the place. I didn't understand why he would always come so late. Don't get me wrong, a customer is a customer but, I just found it odd.

My cafe was called Road Trip Cafe. When I was 18, fresh out of high school, I went on a road trip with two of my friends. While on said road trip we came across this cafe, tho it wasn't called Road Trip Cafe at the time. It was basically located in the middle of nowhere, nothing close by for another 20 min drive. It was just located in a spot where you wouldn't look. Would only notice something was here if you drove by on accident because of a road trip. When I came here the first time, the owner was super sweet, she ran it on her own as it was pretty tiny and didn't have a ton of customers. I was fascinated when I first laid my eyes on it. She apparently seemed to notice, especially when I pretty much became a regular there.

When my friends and I returned from the road trip I started working. I was like fuck college I wanna own a cafe just like that! I started working for a grocery store nearby in the mornings and worked at a cafe in the evenings. Even though my dad seemed pretty disappointed that I didn't go to college my mom was supportive of me. I saved up for two entire years, returning to the cafe every once and a while just to keep the sweet woman updated on my plans.

About a month before I would put in my resignation for both the jobs I had I told her that I found a cute location similar to this one and said I would place an offer there. She told me she had a better idea. That day she gave me her cafe. She still owned the property but she allowed me to do whatever I wanted to the cafe.

So I changed the name and moved into the apartment above as she moved in with her daughter as she had become quite old and could use the help. Told me she would visit whenever she could. I was over the moon and back. I never expected this but I was so happy. Sure I now lived miles away from my hometown and my friends but I loved it here! I had been doing this for almost a year now!

Anyway! Back to the guy. I found it odd that he would come by pretty regularly. I didn't really have regulars because of the cafe's location. He didn't come by every evening but just regularly enough to make you notice.

I walked towards the door, flipping the open card to 'closed' when I noticed headlights coming this way, parking into the small but empty parking lot in front of the cafe. Squinting I looked out wondering who would come out, and you guessed it. It's the same guy. He walks closer to the door, I notice him looking at the sign that now says closed. I wasn't sure if he noticed me standing there or not, he probably did because the lights were still on inside, but it looked like he sighed and turned back around.

My next action may make you call me crazy but, I opened the door, the bell jingling above my head. "You can come in if you want," I call out to him in the dark night, it being 10 at night. He stops in his tracks, probably surprised and all I can think is 'Please don't be a serial killer'. Cause that sure would be something wouldn't it. Imagine the newspapers or whatever; 'Idiot cafe owner invites serial killer inside as seen on CCTV, only to be slaughtered 10 minutes later'.He turns around back to me looking a bit hesitant.

"A-are you sure? I don't wanna be a bother. It's my fault I came by too late," his voice gives me a trustworthy feeling so I sent him a gentle smile.

"Yeah, it's okay. Would you like your regular?" I ask as I leave the door open, waiting for him to start walking again before walking back in myself and going behind the bar. Good thing I hadn't cleaned everything yet or else I would have to re-clean it after he left.

"Yes, that would be lovely," he says after closing the door behind him.

"Alright, it will be right up, sit wherever you would like," I tell him as I start working on his Caffe Mocha, giving him some extra whipped cream as I realized he liked it very much. I watch as he sits down in one of the booths by the window, fumbling with the sleeves of his green hoodie. 'Was he nervous?'. I finish making his drink, quickly making my own White Chocolate Mocha, also with extra whipped cream. God knows how addicted I am to that shit. Putting both on a tray I make my way over to him.

"Mind if I join you?" I ask as I set his cup down.

"No, of course not, take a seat," he says gesturing to the other side of the booth. I set my cup down before I sit down myself, placing the tray at the head of the table. "Extra whip I see," he says softly an adorable smile on his face. Taking the spoon he starts scooping up little bits of the whipped cream. Enjoying every bit of it.

"Yeah, I noticed you ate it separately, just like me," I said as I did the same. My eyes widening at the sudden realization. "I am sorry, that makes me sound like a stalker doesn't it," I immediately ramble. "I already know what you like to drink, Jesus. I am sorry I swear I am not a stalker!"

"Hey, it's okay," he says while chuckling. "If anything you could think I am. I know you don't really get regulars here."

"I guess you're right," I chuckle. "But I don't think you are. If you were I feel like you would have done something to scare me already or something," I smirk at him, he chuckled looking over his cup as he held it with two hands in front of his face.

"Maybe that's my plan, come off like I won't do anything to you, but in reality, I have a knife in my pocket and the moment you turn your back to me, I'll stab you," he grins all the while saying that, raising his eyebrows in a joking manner before taking a sip.

"Hmm, I guess so, but I don't think you will," I tell him, taking a sip of my drink, licking my top lip afterwards. "But I do wonder if you don't mind me asking that is. Why do you come here as often as you do?" I look at him curiously. To my surprise, his smile disappears. He turns to look out the window, avoiding eye contact with me.

"Uhm," he says quietly and I swear I heard his voice crack just slightly. "My grandma owned this place before she gave it to you," his voice still quiet as he looks down at his cup, thumbs rubbing up and down against the cup like he's withholding feelings. "She- uhm.. s-she passed away about two months ago," my eyes widen at the news. 'She what?'. I could tell his sight was blurring with tears, his grip on the cup tightening like he was trying to stop himself from crying in front of me. "I- I knew she once owned a cafe before she moved back in with my mom. She told us that she gave it to a lovely lady who was my age," I hadn't realized that my eyes had started tearing up till I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I might not have been that close to her but she still meant a lot to me. She gave me my dream. Handed it to me on a silver platter to be exact. I had kept her updated on everything that was going on here when she visited and I even sent her polaroids. "A-and uhm, in her... her will, she left the property ... to me," his right hand went into the front pocket of his hoodie. "She-... she gave me this letter," he took out a very crumpled-up piece of paper and with a shaky hand, he handed it to me.

Dear Clay, When you were little I used to bring you to my little cafe even tho your mother wasn't a big fan of it ;). You loved it every time, and the customers loved you just as much. Your mom didn't want me to bring you with me in case you would fall in love with this risky job as much as I did. And so as you were growing up you slowly forgot about it, and I don't blame you for that. I might not understand what it is you're doing now as, you know, I am an old hag. But I am proud of you nonetheless. You make tons of people happy on the internet and it makes you just as happy. When you read this I'll be up in heaven with your grandfather and we'll be watching over you together. I ask of you one thing, however. To you, my dear Clay, I leave the property my cafe is on. I ask of you to keep it. Remember I told you about this lovely lady, Y/n, who I gave it to? None of my family members have wanted to continue my passion, but she does. She is doing so well! I might not get to see her thrive but you could. It is still your choice what you do with the property but at least visit it before you make a decision. And tell her face to face what you plan on doing. I love you so so so much Clay, never forget to follow your dreams! I will always be here for you even when you can't see me. Lots of love, Grandma

"S-so..," I start with a trembling voice, wiping away my tears that now came more frequent. "U-hm, wha-what's your plan?" I ask not daring to look up. Prepared to be told I need to pack my stuff and leave my beautiful cafe. I fold the letter back up and slide it back over to him on the table. His fingertips slightly touching mine as he takes it back.

"My mom," he starts, clearing his throat. I pick up the courage and look up at him. "Wants me to sell the property," fresh tears instantly form in my eyes as I cover my mouth with one hand, looking around my cafe not ready to give this all up. 'This is it. I can crawl back home, let my dad tell me it was a stupid idea, to begin with.'. I don't notice that he's about to continue when I cut him off.

"-G-give me a moment, please," I tell him, not waiting for an answer as I get up from my seat and walk to the back where I lean against a storage closet, slowly sinking down to the floor. Tears freely leaving my eyes as I try to cry as softly as possible so he won't hear me. Shoving my head in my arms which are wrapped around my knees.

'Is that why he always came by so late?'

'Maybe he was scared to tell me in person?'

"God, my dream just became a nightmare!" I spoke out loud, though, it was still muffled by my arms and knees. I didn't hear the door being opened. Nor the soft footsteps of a person looking around in the dark for me. I only flinched when I felt a gentle hand being placed on my arm. My head shot up, staring at the hand.

"Y/n, I am not selling the property," he says quietly, his thumb running gentle circles on my arm. He was crouched in front of me. His - beautiful - green eyes staring back into my (e/c) ones. I could tell from the slight moonlight that semi-lit up the back room from a tiny window that his waterline was still filled with tears.

"You-" I sniffed quite loudly. "You're not?" I asked timidly, wiping my arm across my nose, sniffing again. God, I must look disgusting right now. Ugly crying in a back room.

"No, I'm not," He says gently. "I've seen the polaroids you sent my grandma, I can tell from every picture that you're in that you love this just as much as she did. I can't take that away," he smiles gently, watching me as I wipe at my face some more to try and stop my tears from flowing. The sad tears now having turned into happy tears. I can't help myself when I leap forward and wrap my arms around his neck, hiding my face in his chest as I cry.

"Thank you!" I say into his chest while he stumbles a bit at the sudden weight on him. He falls onto his butt, tho he chuckles at it gently.

"It's okay," he says wrapping his arms around me as well, a bit hesitant. He gently strokes my back as I continue my crying, mumbling out 'thank you' after 'thank you'. After a little while, a slowly pull away from him.

"I'm sorry," I mumble sitting on my knees in front of him. One of his legs on either side of me.

"Again, it's alright," he says with a slight chuckled. "I understand why, you thought you were about to lose it all," I nod, agreeing to his words. I wipe my nose once more with a loud sniff.

"C-can I ask, what made you decide to... to go against your mom?" I ask slowly looking up at him.

"My mom finds this job risky cause you don't get as many customers as other cafes do. Which is why she didn't want me to go down this route. She didn't like this lifestyle as she had very little growing up. And I can understand where she's coming from, but my job is risky too. But I love my job and I understand the risk, it's not stable. But I wouldn't want someone to take it away from me and I can't do the same to someone else. I can tell that you love this so much and you put so much into this place. I can't take that away from you."

"Thank you," I tell him sincerely. "That means the absolute world to me. C-can I offer you another coffee or anything else? Unless you want to go home, of course, it is-" I take my phone from my back pocket. "11 now, so I don't know if you want to stay," I suggest, putting my phone back into my pocket.

"I can do with some water, don't wanna end up with a headache from crying. You should probably take some too," He says standing up and dusting off the back of his pants. Reaching out a hand to me, I accept it and he helps me off the floor.

"Good idea," I tell him. "Sorry, you had to see me ugly crying, along with crying on you," I chuckle embarrassingly, walking back to the front. I take out two glasses filling them with water.

"It's okay," he says taking the glasses from me and bringing them back to the booth where we take a seat again. We both stay silent for a bit, just sipping on our water.

"Can I ask, what your risky job is? According to your grandma, it's on the internet but that doesn't help me," I chuckle slightly, Clay displaying a grin on his face.

"I am a YouTuber," he says. "I am in a great spot at the moment, but income is not always even."

"Oeh, that's quite cool! I wouldn't consider myself a YouTuber but I do share how I make my coffees and such on YouTube. It doesn't get a ton of views or anything, but I don't mind all that much," I shrug my shoulders. I take out my phone and go to YouTube. "What's your channel, I wanna see at least one of your videos," I put my phone on the table sideways so he can see my screen better. To my surprise, he clicks on one of the videos in my recommended feed. Actually a video I had already watched. It was his most recent manhunt video. "No way," I whisper.

"Now I am kinda surprised you didn't recognize me before," he says. To others, it might have sounded cocky but I knew he didn't mean it that way.

"Well, to be fair, this is the first time we had a full-on conversation," I chuckled. "Besides you haven't wheezed yet," I smirk sticking my tongue out at him in a teasing manner. It successfully makes him wheeze which makes me recognize him even better. "I do wanna make one thing clear. I know now what you look like, but I promise you from the bottom of my heart that I will never tell anyone," I tell him sincerely, trying to tell him with my eyes as well that I am not lying and that I mean it.

"Thank you, that means a lot."

5 months later

Five months went by pretty quickly. Clay came by a bit more often now, still during the night but I gave him a key. It felt a lot safer to do that instead of leaving the door open in case he would come by later at the night. Often when he came by I would be cleaning up the place and he would surprisingly join in and help me. Over the past few months, we had gotten a lot closer. And somehow I started seeing a lot more people at the cafe during the day. It actually started getting busy and I was just so surprised. I had to buy tables and chairs for outside because of how busy it was getting.

"Oh my god, this is it!" I heard the voices of a small group of people who had just parked their old-school Volkswagen van.

"Hello, welcome to Road Trip cafe! What can I get you?" I ask the group as they look around the place slowly making their way over.

"Hi!" One of the males says looking at the menu. "Could we get four Caffe Mochas?"

"Of course, that makes your total $11," I tell him. He takes out his wallet, handing me $15 dollars.

"You can keep the change."

"Oh, thank you," I smile sweetly, putting the bills into the cash register. "You guys can take a seat and I'll bring it right over," he nods and guides the two females and the other guy to a free booth. I quickly got to making their coffees, putting them on a tray I bring them over to the group. "Enjoy!"

"Wait, wait!" One of the girls says as I'm about to walk away.

"Yes, can I help you?" I ask surprised.

"Do you know 'Dream' personally?" My right eyebrow shoots up in confusion. How could they possibly come up with this question?

"No, I can't say I do. I don't think I know anyone named 'Dream' to begin with," I tell them. I didn't like lying but I did promise to Clay I would keep it a secret. "May I ask why you thought so?" I ask curiously.

"Oh, well, apparently Dream, a YouTuber, has been here when he went on a road trip with his friends!" The other girl says enthusiastically. "He said this place was great. Perfect for a mid road trip stop, perfect to take pictures because of the area around it and perfect because the owner makes the best Caffe Mocha! He shared it on his Twitter including pictures of the cafe, the area and you actually!"

"Wait what," I said in pure shock. When did he have time to take pictures of me! He was never here during the day! "Can you show me? I don't use Twitter," one of the guys takes out their phone. Quickly going through his phone before handing it to me.

As you guys know, Sapnap, George and I are on a road trip! Just last night we made a stop at this amazing cafe called Road Trip Cafe! It's the perfect spot for a quick stop! You can take great pictures in the area and the owner makes the best Caffe Mocha!

Underneath I saw 4 pictures. One of the front of the cafe, one of the area, a picture of the Caffe Mocha and lastly a picture of me making said coffee! I had to say the pictures were beautiful. Clay was indeed on a road trip at the moment, but these pictures were taken about 2 weeks ago, midway through the road trip.

"Woah, I had no idea he was here," I tell them. "Thank you for showing me this, now I know why I suddenly have so much traffic around here," I giggle handing the guy his phone back. "I'll have to thank him some way," with that I walk back to the bar where a new customer was waiting. "Hello! What can I-"

"Y/n, it's me," I instantly recognize the voice as he whispers. I look over to the four I just spoke to, seeing them fully indulged in their conversation. I quickly take his arm and drag him with me to the back room.

"Are you crazy!? What if they saw you?" I question him in whisper yells.

"It's okay, calm down," he chuckles, placing his hands on my shoulders to calm me down. "They didn't see me come in and they don't know what I look like. Just what I sound like. Now, where is my welcome back hug?" He smirks slightly, his arms open waiting for the hug.

"I know," I said crossing my arms. With a huff I roll my arms, giving him the hug he wants. Tho I surprise him with a sudden hit in the chest with my elbow when I pull away. "hey!-" "Also you could have told me you would fucking advertise my little cafe! Do you have any idea how busy I've been! I had to buy new chairs and tables for outside! And I had no idea where the hell all this traffic suddenly came from!" All Clay did in response was wheeze! Folding over holding his stomach. All the while I continued on rambling. Tho I got interrupted when I heard the little bell at the bar, ring. "I am not done yet and you better stay here," I told him pointedly as he continued laughing. Shaking my head I make my way to the front.

"Excuse me, hello! What can I get for you?" I ask with a bright smile. I quickly help the customer before returning to the back room where Clay had finally calmed down enough and he was trying to catch his breath. I just look at him with crossed arms, a stern look on my face.

"Look okay, all I did was help you out a little. You deserve to be seen, including the cafe!"

"I appreciate it, okay. Don't get me wrong but I was fine the way it was!" This time Clay crosses his arms, his features turning stern, my own softening because of it.

"You sure about that? You don't think I haven't noticed the weight you've lost? When was the last time you ate a proper meal?" He asked seriously gesturing towards my significantly slimmer figure.

"Okay fine! I wasn't doing the best," I grumble, looking away from him. "And for your information, I have been eating proper meals since I guess about a day after you left here for the rest of your road trip."

"Good," he says with a sigh of relief. "Also, I'll be staying for a bit, is the door to upstairs open?" Turning away from me, it's only then that I notice he had quite a big weekend bag filled to the brim with most likely clothes. Probably some unwashed as well. 'Great, more laundry for me'.

"How long do you plan on staying? And yes it's open."

"Don't know yet!" He answers, already making his way to the door that opens to the staircase. I sigh but shrug my shoulders nonetheless. Already used to this behaviour. Clay had gotten used to staying the night here sometimes after we had grown closer over the past few months and I was honestly fine with that. I liked him and he trusted me which made it just that much better.

I finished off my workday, locking everything up after my last customer left, cleaning everything that needed cleaning before going upstairs. Also locking the staircase door behind me. Walking up the stairs my nose was filled with this amazing smell of food. "Clay?" I ask as I walk around into the kitchen. "What are you doing? Where did you get this food?"

"I am cooking us a good healthy meal! And I brought it with me!" He says with excitement. He had just placed two plates and was now busy scooping the food onto said plates.

"You know you didn't have to do that right?" I told him as I took out two glasses and filled them with water.

"I know but I wanted to," he grins, picking up the plates and walking over to the living room area and sitting down on the couch. I sit down beside him, handing him his glass as he hands me my plate.

"Do you wanna watch a movie?" I ask, already turning on the tv. He tells me 'yes' and we scroll through Netflix while eating, trying to find something to watch. When we finally did decide on one we had already finished the food and were now just sat close to each other, leaning shoulder to shoulder. "How was the road trip by the way?" I whisper as we awkwardly watch the characters on tv do the naughty. A blush probably visible on my cheeks.

"It was a lot of fun, but I gotta say, I missed you a lot," he whispers back. I turn to him in somewhat shock.

"You-... you missed me?" I whispered again, staring straight at him.

"I did, yeah," he says turning to look back at me. "Y/n, I gotta be honest," he starts, sitting up straight, nervousness suddenly taking over his being. Just like that day, he started playing with the sleeves of his hoodie. "I- ... I want you to know, that you make me very happy. I look forward to seeing you every single time I step into my car," he says gently. "Y/n... I like you."

My eyes couldn't be wider. This I wasn't expecting. I wasn't mad or anything, I just never expected him to have feelings for me. I mean, I returned those feelings but, I genuinely thought he only saw me as a friend or a sibling even.

"Really?" I whisper, hope lingering in my voice and I could tell he picked it up as a smile gently graced his lips. Wrapping his arms around my waist he gently pulled me closer to him.

"Yes," he spoke gently, pecking my cheek, lingering there for a little while. A blush instantly flushes my face, a smile forming on my lips.

"I like you too," I whisper.

"Thank god, this would have been awkward otherwise," he chuckles. "Also why are you still whispering."

"Because you make me nervous!" I tell him, the blush still on my cheeks as I lean closer to him again and snuggle up into him. He chuckles softly, wrapping me tighter in his arms. Slowly moving backwards so I'm lying on top of his chest. We continue watching the movie, nice and cuddled up, sharing gentle kisses, falling asleep nice and warm in each other's embrace.

// MASTERLIST //

#dreamwastaken x reader #dsmp fanfic #dsmp dream #dsmp masterlist #mcyt x y/n #mcyt x reader #DSMP #dream x reader #dream x y/n #dream x you #dreamwastaken x you #dreamwastaken x y/n #cc!dream #cc!dream x reader

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justaphangirl07 · 1 year

Text

Cheated On (JJ Olatunji/KSI)

A/N: I got this request from a comment on Wattpad, I post on there as well! My username is emilywalker9

Y/N's POV

Silence

That is all that I heard when I walked into Simon and JJ's flat

Usually this place is absolute chaos, especially with JJ living here, it is never quiet

I've been friends with the boys for ages

I lived down the road from the first Sidemen house and I regularly bumped into the boys in the neighbourhood

I made friends with Vik, I usually bumped into him when he nipped the shops and I was on a run

I started to go and chill at their house and I became friends with Freya and she introduced me to the rest of the girls and here we are

Talia had actually invited me round to the flat today because I was going to help her and Simon film a video for her channel

"Simon just popped out but he won't be long, do you want a drink?" Talia asks as I follow her in

"No thanks I'm good! Where is JJ? It seems pretty quiet around here" I ask with a laugh

Talia shrugs

"When I got here, Simon said that he hadn't really seen much of him or heard anything from his room this morning" she explains as she adjusts the camera on the tripod in the middle of the room

"I might go and see if he is ok" I say

It sounds really odd for them not to have heard anything or seen anything from JJ's room

Usually during live streams or just in general you hear him laughing or something

But I have something to admit

I have liked JJ for a long time

Ever since I met him, I have always thought there was some kind of connection there

I was there whilst he was with Seana and after they broke up

I've been in his life throughout everything, I've seen girls come and go

Since JJ has been with his new girlfriend, I haven't seen much of him

Sometimes I think that he is trying to avoid me

But then again, it is probably be just being paranoid

I walk through the hallway and knock on JJ's door

It is a few moments before I hear a small "come in!" from the other side of the door

I open the door and make sure to look down at the floor to see if either of the hamsters are rolling around in their balls

I don't see them so I walk in and shut the door behind me

I walk through his room and turn the small corner to see JJ sitting up on his bed, watching the TV in front of him on a low sound level

"Are you ok? Talia said that Simon hasn't heard anything from you this morning" I ask him

He doesn't really say anything, he just sighs and shrugs

"Yeah, I'm ok" he mumbles

I shake my head and walk towards his bed

He instinctively moves up and gives me space to sit down next to him on his bed

I sit down next to him and I look towards him with a soft smile

"Now we both know that isn't true, what's up?" I question

JJ signs once more

"I got cheated on a few days ago" he admits

My mouth drops open

"Shit, what happened?" I ask in shock

(A/N: I used a random name for JJ's girlfriend and the guy she cheated on him with)

"Jess came over the other day and she went in the shower, she left her phone unlocked and it kept dinging, so I picked it up to take into the bathroom to her and I saw that some guy called Jacob was asking when she was next coming over, when she was going to ditch me and that he had an amazing time last night" JJ explains

"Oh my god, I am so sorry JJ! Did you confront her? What did she say?" I ask

"She didn't say anything at first but then after a few minutes of back and forth, she admitted that it was true and that she has been cheating on me for like 2 months! When I asked why she said that it was because she thought that I was cheating on her with..." JJ trails off

"With who?" I ask curiously

JJ gulps

"You, she thought that we have been cheating on her" he explains

If my mouth could drop open even wider then it would

"You cheating with me? Why would she think that? You don't even see me like that!" I exclaim

JJ stays silent

I raise an eyebrow at him

"Do you?" I ask quietly, not wanting to get my hopes up when I know that JJ will never see me like that

JJ just looks me dead in the eyes

"I guess I have to be honest now that this has happened, I have always thought about you like that ever since I met you" JJ admits to me

"You what?" I say in absolute shock that JJ reciprocated feelings for me, even though he didn't know that it was reciprocated

"I've liked you, no let me be straight with you! I have liked you maybe loved you since we first met! We just connected straight away and I've been trying to forget about you because you have been on my mind and I never wanted to say anything because honestly, I didn't want to ruin our friendship but I guess this is all out in the open now" He explains to me

"Feel free to run away from this conversation" He continues as he looks down at his hands that are in his lap

This is my moment

My moment to finally tell JJ how I feel

I slowly reach out for his right hand and I put my left hand on top of his

"I won't run away JJ because I have felt the same for a long time as well" I admit to him

I look up at him and our eyes meet

"You really feel like that? You aren't just saying that?" he asks vulnerably

I nod

"Of course I'm not just saying it! I would never mess with you like that! I honestly feel the same! I've liked you since I met you as well! I also felt that connection that you felt! I just thought that you never saw me like that!" I explained to him

JJ laughs, which causes me to laugh because his laugh is contagious

"I guess we was both a bit oblivious to how we both felt" he says interwinding our fingers together

I smile at him

"I guess so" I agree

We are quiet for a moment just taking in what has been said

I look at him and his eyes meet mine again

We both instinctively lean in and our lips meet

I feel butterflies in my stomach, that I have been hoping to feel for years

We pull away from each other and sit in silence again

"I do want to be with you, but we need to take this slow" he mumbles

A smile spreads across my face

"We can take things one step at a time" I say

It's safe to say that me helping with Talia's video goes out the window because for the rest of the evening, me and JJ spend time enjoying each others company

As bad as it sounds, I'm glad JJ got cheated on because if he didn't we would of never finally admitted to each other how we feel

A/N: PLEASE REQUEST IMAGINES

Masterlist

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gvftea · 10 months

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I’ve been on Greta twitter for years at this point and I have NEVER felt the need to say something but I guess there is a first time for everything…The drama going on right now about who is a stalker..who isn’t a stalker is one of the most ridiculous points of discourse to ever happen to this fandom. And I have some things to say about this topic that isn’t exactly a popular opinion but it is my opinion nonetheless. So many of you have lost the meaning of the word stalker while arguing about who is and who isn’t and its funny watching everybody argue on the timeline about it honestly. There are ACTUAL stalkers in this fandom that so many of you are friends with and its funny to see everybody try and drag shay/albie/laney/schae/liz on the TL while still being friends with this person. I’m not going to name names here because unlike some other people in this equation I am NOT looking for 15 minutes of fame…But there is a girl (I am NOT talking about Anna, btw. There just so happens to be someone else who is approaching Anna level crazy) among us that is friends with one of the boy’s EMPLOYEES, and this employee tells this person every single piece of information about the boys that we should not be knowing, including but not limited to: where they are, what they are doing, what time they will be somewhere, who they are with etc. But NOBODY is talking about her. And I don’t mean some random person who works on their team sometimes…I mean someone who interacts with them daily and drives them places regularly. but NOBODY seems to be bothered by how creepy and DANGEROUS this person is. There was a girl who would CAST SPELLS on one of them…She dug through Sam’s trash just to get something of his so she could complete a spell…but nobody is talking about that. Someone got STUCK in Josh’s driveway, again, nobody is talking about that. Someone found their hairdresser with the sole intention of going to that salon to hear more about whichever boy goes to that stylist. Nobody is talking about it. People literally have moved ACROSS the country with the intention to seek them out, they go to their favorite places waiting for them. They push the boundaries of their privacy constantly. Nobody is talking about that. I was in a groupchat right around the time of the Nashville/Fort Worth shows and the boy’s individual addresses were sent in there (against everybodys will mind you) and when someone asked where they got these addresses…They said that they bought them and they even have their phone numbers as well as Ronnies number and their parents number. I left the groupchat shortly after this, but again, NOBODY is talking about this person. Either me, or one of my friends, have been in groupchats that have talked about the boy’s homes, what they look like, where they are, what cars they drive, etc. I do think that it is rather odd to casually talk about this (especially because I can’t begin to understand why people care about what other people’s houses look like and why would you ever want to have a strangers address like what are you even going to do with that?) But I would say that easily 80% of this fandom know where they live or at least what their houses look like. WAY more than you would think, and a lot of you either stay silent and pretend like you don’t know this information or you blatantly lie and pretend that you are something you are not. Nobody on this app is perfect. Nobody here is innocent. I’m certainly not. YOU may not know, but I GUARENTEE one of your friends does. People dragging Shay/Laney for staying in an airbnb next to jakes that wasn’t picked out by them is insane. People dragging Schae about a rock that wasn’t taken from his house is insane. People Dragging Liz about getting an airbnb next to Sam is insane. People dragging *Take your pick* for any reason is insane. Almost all of these reasons are so frivolous and stupid. There are people who are GENUINE dangers to the boys and I promise it isn’t Liz/Shay/Schae/Laney.

#greta van fleet #gvf #josh gvf #sam gvf #jake gvf #josh kiszka #danny wagner #danny gvf #jake kiszka #sam kiskza

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talesofsorrowandofruin · 1 year

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heyyyyy! if you're still doing the dragon asks game, can I request fire and poison? 👉👈 thank youuuu ❤

Thanks! :D

Fire: share a snippet with some dialogue you’d like to show off. Here's an excerpt from Houses Full of Deceit:

With heavy sarcasm he asked, "What do I owe this pleasure to? Have you been hired to kill me or have you come to turn yourself in?"

Colman laughed. Just once, and with an odd rattle in his chest. "Neither. You'll never believe this but I've come to you for help."

"Really." Yo-han leant against the door-frame. "What sort of help? Did someone hire you to murder their enemy and now won't pay?"

"Not quite. Have you heard of the Hastings murders?"

"Not a word," Yo-han said. Now he regretted not buying international newspapers regularly.

Colman looked up at the ceiling. He didn't sit up, or prop himself up on his elbows, or move any part of his body except his head. "Horrible business. Husband, wife and three children all dead. Shot in the head. And guess who's got the blame?"

Yo-han frowned. "You didn't kill them?"

Colman gave him a downright offended look. "Have I ever killed children?"

To be honest Yo-han had no idea. He'd never been able to work out how many murders Colman had actually committed. Luckily Colman didn't wait for an answer.

"I was in Italy when the Hastings — Hastingses? — were murdered in London. First I heard of it was when I was recognised at the Italian customs. Had to run for my life. Got hold of a paper and discovered the whole thing's been pinned on me. My picture's in every paper in England and most of the ones in Europe too. So I decided to leave Europe. Got as far as Siam by pretending to be a missionary, then I met an attaché of the American embassy in a bar. He'd just been reassigned to Japan. So I got him drunk, stole his tickets, and got on the ship under his name. When we stopped at Seoul I went for a walk around the harbour and never came back. Then I wormed my way into the British embassy, found your address — you'd be amazed what people will say when they think you're Lord So-and-So — and came here."

"You seem to have had a very exciting time," Yo-han observed dryly. "And when did you get injured?"

Colman's casual façade cracked. As he looked at Yo-han, weeks of exhaustion and fear showed on his face. "How did you know?"

"You haven't moved once since I arrived. Either you're unbelievably lazy, or you're trying not to aggravate an injury."

Colman moved his left arm away from his side. "Remember when I said I ran for my life? I meant it. In Bangkok I was recognised again. That was why I resorted to something as stupid as identity theft. The guy went at me with a garden fork, believe it or not. It's shallow but hurts like hell."

Poison: share a snippet that’s all about relationships (good or bad). Here's an excerpt from Silver Glass:

This is not how David wanted to bring Alec into his bedroom. Alec is still shaking. He collapses onto the settee and stares into the fire. David pours him a glass of water and sits beside him. He wraps his arms around Alec's waist and rests his head on his shoulder.

"You'll have to marry her," he says. Alec makes a noise like a wounded animal. "Listen to me. She can destroy us both. You'll have to marry her, collect evidence against her — do you think she'll be faithful? — and divorce her the first chance you get. Ruin her reputation so well that no one will believe anything she says against you."

Alec cranes his neck to look at him. "But David…" He closes his eyes and visibly steels himself to continue. "No church will marry us, no law recognise us, but in my heart I'm married to you. I can't stand in front of God and man and swear to take that woman for better or worse, forsaking all other. It would be a monstrous lie."

David kisses him. He tries to pour all his unhappiness, all his rage at the situation, all his love for Alec into the kiss. Alec responds in kind.

When they break the kiss David presses his forehead against Alec's. Alec wraps his arms around David and pulls him closer. They watch the fire together.

"I couldn't continue this relationship with you," Alec says sadly. David knows him, knows his efforts to reconcile his sexuality with his religion, and was expecting this. "I'd be legally married to her, so I would be breaking a commandment."

"Aren't we already breaking commandments?" David asks. He doesn't want to be a married man's secret lover, but when the marriage is a sham built on blackmail it can hardly be considered binding.

Alec smiles ruefully. "Not one of the ten commandments, unless you count this as covetousness. I can list every reference condemning us, but only adultery is forbidden in the ten commandments."

They fall silent for a while. Alec has stopped shaking. David can guess what's going through his head, and knows his decision before he declares it.

"In the morning I'll tell her I agree to marry her," Alec says, and he says it as if he's reading his own death warrant.

David tightens his grip on him. The morning. It's afternoon and morning is getting rapidly closer. He calculates how long it will be before their absence is commented on. Not long enough. Especially if they miss dinner. But after dinner…

To hell with restraint. He can sneak out of Alec's room and back to his own before the servants start their rounds.

"You know, we haven't had our wedding night yet," he says.

Adding Deceit's and Glass's taglists: @lightgriffinsect, @oh-no-another-idea, @kittensartswriting, @writingpotato07, @sarahlizziewrites, @acertainmoshke, @author-a-holmes, @sam-glade (Let me know if you want to be added to/removed from the taglist!)

#ask #ladydawnxx #writing #my writing #my WIPs #WIP: deceit #WIP: glass

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