#vibe killing runs through my veins

[limeade-l3sbian]

I go through phases where I like to watch news broadcasts. it used to happen a lot more but not so much these days. Aaaanyway, in my first roommate situation on my last night there, we planned to just watch TV, eat, and just fuck around as a goodbye. So I was like, "Oh, I've got a video!"

And I pull up this newscast about this guy who got interviewed about a murder of an elderly man in the neighborhood and then it is revealed that he was actually the one who did it. So I'm sitting there, just watching, and I hear one of my roommates behind me say, "What is this...?" I paused it and looked at them and was like, "Y'all don't watch newscasts and stuff...?"

We all laughed our asses off about it but it was such a culture shock to me. Culture, in this context, being what I do in my own private time not translating to social interactions.

[nottsfawn]

hiii, i love the vibes of your acc and can’t wait for your writing! i was wondering if you could do like a enemies to lovers “who did this to you” with theo ahh i’m a sucker for this trope. if not that’s fine! hope you have a lovely day x

"who did it"

- theodore nott x reader ♡

TW: bruises, insults

🐇 author note: ty for making this req!! sorry cuz it took so long to came out tot, i didn't liked how it was going, but i hope you will!! ♡♡

there was nobody to help, absolutely no one. it was only you and the February moon, the only one who knew about your nocturne tears.

Cedric, your boyfriend, could be awesome. a lot of girls would define him like the real charming prince, but in reality, the only charming thing was the way he could tell you how much he loved you after kicking your poor body just because you helped a 1st year boy to do his potions essay.

every part of you body hurted, not just for the big amount of bruises in it, but your desesperation was manifested through yourself in a weak shaking. the only thing you could think about was how much you hated him. hot tears started to fall down your cheeks, making you sob and whine again, quietly.

suddenly, you felt a small step vibration from the Astronomy tower stairs, getting up.

Theodore Nott's body reveled through the ancient door, examining the space. when he saw your body in the balcony's floor, he let out a airy laugh "what's happening to you right now?" he walked in your direction, putting his arms in his chest and lying in the wall, looking at you with a sarcastic smirk.

fastly, you covered a bruise on you naked arm with your hand, squeezing your eyes in slightly pain. when you did that, he started to tease you "what's up? you don't want me to see thoose stupid draws you make in class on your skin? what did you make now? an unicorn, a bowtruckle.." playing, he took your hand off your arm, specting a dumb doodle of yours. but, instead, his pupils dilated when the purple and blue bruise got his attention, making him freeze.

"go away" you said defensively, covering it again. the desesperation was running through your veins, it couldn't be worse. the feeling of him making fun of it and telling everyone that you were in a abusive environment made your stomach ache.

your eyes started to blurry, water was born from them, the only thing you could do was getting out from there. when you turned off to go out, you felt a big hand taking your wrist, strong enough to stop you from making another step.

he pulled it, making your body be near his "y/n" he said, his cold gaze meeting your blurry and sad eyes "who did it." he demanded to know, making your spine cold. "it's nothing, theodore. my own business" you avoided answering that question, under no term you would tell him what actually happened "let me go, please" you demanded too.

he wasn't an easy guy, "ascolta" he said in your ear, with a deep voice and a foreign accent "if that little boyfried of yours did it, im going to break his jaw till he begs me to kill him, bene?" that words came out from his mouth like a dark an evil poem. "so, y/n" he repeats, in a clear tone. his hands were stroking your shoulders harder "who did it?"

you sob, giving up to his light but deep eyes. they were your missery and your miracle, a perfect sin for a girl like you. "Cedric." the name of your boyfriend left your lips like a cold breeze. "coglione" he shouted looking to another direction, frustrated. his ears were getting red and his finger bones pale. "theodore, don't be stupid, please. don't do anything" you tried to stop him by grabbing his arm. "bella," he said looking at you, with a sudden smirk on his face "i would be too dumb if I don't give that fucker what he deserves" he lifts your chin with too fingers, looking at your lips "let me take the control at least once, mhm?" after saying thoose words, his lips collisioned with yours, in a short but hungry kiss. when it ended, he just gave you a flirty wink, before getting out the tower.

♡

the other day, you spent all the afternoon in the nursery, hearing the story of how your boyfriend got 3 bones broken by a masked student; and in the other corner of the salon, you could feel that european satisfied eyes looking at you.

[malum-forev]

First Trimester

(This is a short drabble I couldn’t get out of my head, idk what this is lol)

Bucky kept his head in his hands, eyes closed tightly. His breath ragged.

He could hear Steve’s loud footsteps pacing the room while Sam stood rooted in place. He could hear his friends’ heartbeats thumping rapidly.

“And you two-“ Steve couldn’t get the words out.

“That’s usually how that happens.” Sam retorted sarcastically.

Steve’s hands shot up. “I’m just trying to understand how this happened!”

“Looks like I should have had the birds and the bees conversation with both of you.” Sam rolled his eyes.

“What am I going to do?” Bucky croaked, his throat dry and scratchy. The question was mostly for himself, wondering just how he would manage everything happening in his life.

“You aren’t going to do anything.” Sam ran his hand over his face. “Before you go into crisis mode like a chicken running with its head chopped off, you need to make sure it’s yours.”

Bucky’s eyes snapped open.

“Sam-“ Steve’s cautious tone only made the Falcon more angry.

“Here’s what we know,” Sam’s voice was firm. “You two have got super soldier serum running through your veins, it changed your bodies drastically. Which obviously means your swimmers were altered, doctors told you the probabilities of you two getting someone knocked up are zero.”

“Close to zero.” Steve corrected.

“Whatever,” Sam rolled his eyes again. “Now- this one goes around the tri state are area banging anything with legs.”

Buckys cheeks burned red.

“Two months later, someone comes around saying they’ve got a super soldier baby brewing- does that not sound shady to anyone else?”

Steve rubbed his hand against his chin. “When did Dr. Cho say she could get a paternity test?”

“Two weeks.” Bucky whispered.

“Then these are going to be the most stressful two weeks of your life, kid.” Steve slumped his shoulders.

She hadn’t let the crippling nervousness seep into her body, work, friends and exhaustion had been great distractors. But now, as the steel gates of the Avengers compound opened she felt it.

She was the one who had encouraged a paternity test when she knocked on Bucky’s door weeks ago.

She hadn’t thought twice about missing her period the first month. Long hours at the art gallery we’re to blame, right? But as the days turned into weeks and the strange knot in her throat tightened, she decided to take a test.

Not thinking anything would pop up except the not pregnant label on the plastic test, she left it on the counter and forgot about it. That is, until a three minute timer rang and the scariest word ever written was staring at her. Pregnant.

(Y/n) waited a full week before visiting a gynecologist. Some gel, and ultrasound and some probing later, she was pregnant and that was that. She didn’t even register the bean sized blob on the screen. A muffled sound replaced the cheery doctor’s voice.

“Is Dad excited?” The young doctor smiled. Dad, fuck there’s a dad that needs to be notified.

(Y/n felt as if she’d stuffed a handful of gravel down her throat. She nodded weakly and lied. “He’s ecstatic.”

What she should have said is: he’s terrified.

When Bucky saw (Y/n)’s text on his phone, he’s ego shot up. He whistled as he prepared some eggs that morning, thinking highly of himself.

I don’t usually go back for seconds but I guess I can make an exception. Bucky thought as he shaved his face that morning. He wore a pair of grey sweatpants and a tight shirt, a combination he’d read online was the bee’s knees for getting women riled up these days.

But there might as well have been nothing underneath those boxers he was wearing because the shocking news killed any kind of vibe he had been feeling.

(Y/n) rocked backwards and forwards nervously as she stood in his living room. She didn’t even want to come in but he’d insisted. Now, Bucky was slumped back on his couch with his eyes set on the floor.

“I know this sounds strange-“ she swallowed. “But I don’t usually do what we did, I don’t do one night stands. I love relationships which is why my friends convinced me to sleep with you- not that I needed convincing you’re like so hot but you know what I mean. Well, I guess you don’t know what I mean because you barely know me, barely know I exist.”

“You love relationships?” Bucky’s eyes widened.

“I-well- shit- I shouldn’t have said that. It sounds-“ You sighed deeply, trying to collect her thoughts. “What I’m trying to say is that, you’re the only person I’ve had sex with in- a long time. And I want you to know that I’m not telling you this to make you feel like you have to be involved- that is if we decide to keep it. I just thought you should know that I’m pregnant.”

She tried to make her voice sound firm and confident but her whole body rejected the idea. There was nothing she was more afraid of than this. This life altering decision.

“And you’re thinking of keeping it.” He whispered, blue eyes staring back at her.

(Y/n) nodded slowly then shook her head. “I don’t know. Yes, maybe. I have a stable job, pretty decent insurance and a nice apartment downtown so, I’ve got the basics covered. I’ve always wanted children, not now but- I don’t know.”

“I’m also aware this is insane news so, I understand if you need time to process or decide if you want to- be involved, I guess.”

Bucky slowly nodded. She wrapped her cardigan closer to her body and his whole body jerked up, standing from the couch.

“Ar-are you, showing?” Bucky’s curious tone made her lips tweak upwards.

“It‘s been like two months and it’s the size of a bean so, no.” She tried to lighten the mood.

“You’ve been to the doctor?”

She nodded. “She told me I could have a paternity test done in a couple of weeks, if that’s something you’re interested in.”

Paternity test- paternity. Those words didn’t even seem real to Bucky. It had been such a distant thing that the thought hadn’t registered in his mind yet.

“I’ve got a couple of doctors that would probably know how to handle that-“ he said pointing to her stomach. “With the whole, serum and everything. Would you mind if I talked to them?”

“I don’t mind, whatever’s better for bean, right?”

Bucky’s body was enveloped in a foreign feeling. So different than anything he’d felt before, an unsettling feeling in his stomach that brought goosebumps to his skin.

“The bean?” Bucky furrowed his eyebrows.

“Not the bean. Just, bean.” Her cheeks burned and a smile developed on her lips. “The doctor said it’s going to be a while until I can find out the sex so, I’ve been calling it that. Bean.”

“Bean.” Bucky repeated quietly, fighting from letting out a smile. He couldn’t let himself get involved, not before a decision was made. Did he want to be in bean- the baby’s life? Was he even the father?

(Y/n) and Bucky walked through the white corridors at the Avengers med bay in silence.

Both of them stopped at an opened door.

“You sure you don’t want to come in and check I don’t switch up the viles, rig the paternity results?” She regretted the joke as soon as the words flew out of her mouth. Bucky’s blue eyes widened. She had tried to lighten the mood but the only thing she succeeded was to make Bucky uncomfortable-

“Good thinking,” Bucky’s lips twitched upwards. “I’m sure having my old ass sperm in there was your plan all along.”

She couldn’t help a giggle escape her mouth. Bucky placed his hand on her lower back and lead her into the room.

He held her hand through the procedure and followed her back to her car after everything was done.

“I guess I’ll call you once the results are in.” Bucky bit his bottom lip as she nodded, the tired look on (Y/n) worried him. “I just wanted to say, again, how grateful I am you’re being so cooperative.”

(Y/n) saluted him. “Anything for our troops.”

Bucky tipped his head back with laughter. “Please let me know when you get home safe.”

—

Her feet ached, scratch that, her whole body hurt. (Y/n) usually worked a double shift on Sunday’s to get double pay since that was the day rich people usually liked to shop at the gallery. Even though this was routine for her, she felt extremely tired this time. Pregnancy was starting to take a toll on her body.

(Y/n) heard the rain patter intensify as someone opened the glass doors.

“H-hi.” Was all she heard.

“We’re closed.” She called out but no one answered.

A sopping wet Bucky stood at the front of the gallery.

“Looks like you need to buy an umbrella.” She smiled.

“I’m going to be a dad.” The words came out stuttered, like he was trying to stop them.

Bucky stopped talking the second he received the email. DNA test result came back positive. He was the father. A father. That word echoed through his mind all day but he didn’t tell anyone a single thing, not until he could figure out how to manage the information. Steve would try to find solutions, Sam would freak out, Nat would laugh and Tony would probably ignore him. Each and every one of his friends’ reactions would stress him out more than he already was. He had no one, no one to talk to about this. Except her.

(Y/n) sighed deeply, taking her heels off and walking towards him. Without saying anything, she wrapped her arms around his neck and brought Bucky close to her. The tension he felt between his shoulder blades disappeared the second he was in her arms.

She softly held his face in her hands. “I haven’t decided anything and we still have time to figure out wether or not we want to keep bean-“

“Bean, oh God bean.” Becky’s eyes met hers. I can’t let bean down. He thought.

“I understand if you don’t want to go through with this.”

“Look at me.” Bucky’s voice was hoarse. “I need you to know that I want this- I want bean so much you have no idea. The thought of me having a kid was so lost but you’ve- I- I am forever grateful and indebted with you, you have no idea.”

(Y/n) smiled. “So we’re doing this? We’re having a baby?”

“Let’s have a baby.” He said.

Part 2: Second Trimester

[bangtangalicious]

nexus (m) part 5

focus: jungkook x reader, seokjin x reader, taehyung x reader | smut: seokjin x reader

summary: a notorious casino conglomerate took you in when you were young. you grew up alongside their sons; inseparable from the oldest, infatuated with the middle, and engaged to the youngest. after a shocking murder, a detective with a vendetta drags you into unraveling a web of dangerous lies that cause you to question who you trust, and who you love

characters: detective!jungkook, ex/bartender!yoongi, bestfriend!seokjin, ceo!namjoon, fiancee!taehyung, model/gangster!hoseok, therapist!jimin

genre: 18+ smut slow burn angst romance thriller mystery eventual yandere casino!au organizedcrime/mafia!au arrangedmarriage!au revenge!au

wordcount: 7.5k

warnings: proceed with caution. soft yandere vibes but nothing too explicit, angst, arguing, pool sex, unprotected sex, pet names (princess), arms dealing mentions, jin has some dom energy i guess, taehyung gives solid yandere vibes tbh, choking, strip tease, masturbation, LOADs of sexual tension, flirting, a sickening amount of making out, taehyung tries to kill you but not really, manipulation, firearms, discussions of mental instability (inaccurate), power dynamics, misogyny, feelings of betrayal, heartbreak, anxiety, fainting, taehyung is cold as ice ice baby, jungkook is angsty, jin is a sexy bitch, character death

taglist: @raynom @gimmythatjib00ty @yoshiure @greezenini @victoryscreech61 @tbzhubrecs @namjooningelsewhere @sugarcoffeemochi @jiminie-08 @jinssexytoe @kooookie @only4sana @pinkcherrybombs @taeslarityy @natalie-rdr @mageprincess7 @hopeonysus @bibbykins @sameifnn @shadowmoon21 @juliemae80-blog @gaeguuliii @dvalitaes @satorinnie @fournia @kassandravictoria @jazmine2904 @marslena @iloverubberduckiez-blog @manchuria @btseverafter7 @jamlessstars @doublebunnykoo @you-are-my-wind@toughbook@mini-euphoria-deactivated202302 @lvrseok @n4mina @imjinvolved @rp171198 @codeinebelle @itsallabouthedetails @btseverafter7 @just-me-and-myselfs @blonde-bummer @hcneybees @babycoffeefire @totallynoanalien @seokjinkismet @itslanaanditssad @rhyperia @sporadicfuryface @azazel-nyx @hani-neko-nee-chan (rest of tags on reblog)

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Your eyes fluttered open. A familiar feeling of unease sweeping over you as your mind calibrates. No longer were you dreaming of Jungkook’s strong arms around you. His fingers exploring the expanse of your skin.

His lips—his eyes, everywhere.

No.

He was a Jeon.

You couldn’t fall in love with a Jeon.

There was a shadow casting over you. At the edge of your vision, an ethereal silhouette standing in your doorway.  Enveloped in a dark silk robe. His open collarbones striking in contrast.

Eyes sharp. Precise. Memorizing you.

“Morning” You rubbed your eyes. He said nothing.

“I said good morning, Taehyung”

“It’s 3 in the afternoon” His voice was ice.

“Well,” You sat up, running your fingers over the expanse of your soft blanket. “I hope you haven’t been waiting for me”

Taehyung scoffed slightly.

“I know better than to waste my time waiting for you”

A knife twisted deep in your heart. His words were so bitter. Tone nonchalant. Running his fingers through his jet-black hair. Taking a better look, you could see the ends of his hair were damp. Beads of water on his neck.

He went to your bedside, pouring a glass of water. His arms—those subtle veins—flexing as he did. He looked up at you. His expression shifted. Glossing with rage.

The glass shattered in his hand.

“Shit” You got up, pulling him away from the shards. Brushing fragments off of his robe “Fuck Tae—”

“I see the hickeys all over your chest.” Your eyes widened.

“Excuse me?”

He reached out shamelessly, fingers tracing along your collarbone. A subtle trail of his blood. Dipping into the sweetheart of your neck. His fingers slid up to your throat, pushing your chin up with his thumb.

“Taehyung—”

His grip tightened. Every single one of his fingers wrapped around you like a vice. You could feel the hate in his touch. The resentment on his skin.

“It would be so easy to send you exactly where you belong.” The edge of his lip quirked. “In hell, with my bastard brother. You two deserve each other”

His dark eyes possessed you. You became hauntingly aware that he could probably just kill you. That 10 years of resentment and isolation would brew all kinds of complicated problems.

He released you. You gasped for air, collapsing over yourself as his menacing eyes remained steady.

“What do you want, huh?” You folded your arms over your chest, “I apologized. I begged for forgiveness. The least you can do is tell me what I’m apologizing for.”

Taehyung was younger than you. But watching the expression around his eyes you could tell he’d been through a lot. He was dark—tortured, hurting inside and all you wanted was to take it all away.

“What the hell did they do to you?” You sat back down on the edge of your bed. Taehyung towered over you. Tongue rolling against his cheek.

“Detective Jeon’s father” Taehyung started, “Killed your mother.”

Oh so we’re just diving straight in. Inhaling sharply, you gave him a nod. “I know”

Of course you knew. It was fueling your latest dilemma. Your mantra every time Jungkook kissed you so deliciously and you had to pull yourself back to the reality that he was, in fact, a Jeon.

“Well, I’m the one who saw it happen” Taehyung began to tremble slightly, sliding onto the barstool with you next to him. You set a hand on his knee. “I told hyung, because I was so fucking scared. I thought he would hurt you next. When hyung gets angry he…”

A small smile spread over your lips. You were no stranger to Jin’s anger. How terrifying he could be in the, albeit rare times he would lose his otherwise charming demeanor.

“He had me point out who killed her. He took me with him and he shot Mr. Jeon. Like a maniac. Then he turned around and told the Chairwoman that I pulled the trigger. And my mother…was furious. I think she may have been having an affair with him”

Not just an affair. You mused. She ordered the fucking kill.

But he didn’t need to know that.

“She was furious at me. I was young, and I allegedly had killed someone. Naturally, she sent me away to get psychiatric help. Jin was her shining star, of course. The first son. She believed him over me”

Taehyung’s eyes fluttered shut for a moment. It reminded of you when you’d watch him doze off in your lap. He really did have such beautiful eyelashes.

“That man who was impersonating me, Dr. Park—he was on my care team. He was instructed to give me pills to keep me from being stable enough to leave the facility. Jin orchestrated all of it. He kept me locked up for 10 years, just so he could have you all to himself. I figured it out. Stopped taking meds. I figured out he was trying to impersonate me so I began to lie to him. Hoping that someone I trusted—you, Namjoon—someone would notice he wasn’t me”

You held your hands out. Reluctantly, he placed his palm against yours, letting you squeeze. His eyes flashed. They were starved for affection, you could tell. He must not have had anyone to support him. To touch him. To keep him out of his mind.

“What do you need from me to fix this?” You blinked up at him earnestly. He simply held your gaze. Words apparently caught, as he gulped. “Because I will do anything”

“Time”

Fair.

“You’ve changed” It was meant as an insult. Of course, considering what Taehyung knew of you. A naïve, innocent girl who believed in fantasies. “Do you still play cards?”

Your grip on him tightened excitedly. “I do. Would you like to play?”

He squinted at you. “Later. Detective Jeon called for you” His eyes went back to your bruised chest. You wondered how he was able to figure out so much without any words.

Letting his hand go, you rose to go get changed. Taehyung’s hand brushed against your elbow, stopping you.

“Princess” He breathed shakily.

“Yeah?” You looked back at him.

“Did you and my brother…were you together?”

You smiled. Thinking back to the last night you saw him. The sweet moments before chaos erupted.

“No” Your fingers twisted against the fabric of your tank top. “We did not get together”

Taehyung nodded, heading for your door. He slowed down, for barely a second. Not even looking at you.

Hauntingly soft, he whispered:

“I’ll always know when you’re lying to me, princess”

- The night of the murder -

His plush lips melted against yours. He kissed you like you were a craving he couldn't shake. Like those lips weren't the very same ones spewing the lies that made it impossible for you to trust him. As if he could break through to you through the tug of his teeth against your bottom lip. Or the soft breaths he'd breathe into you.

It was everything. From your fingertips to your head, every inch of you brought to life. You’d never felt anything like it. Dizzy with need, you kissed him back harder, wanting to get lost in him.

He exhaled, barely able to catch his breath. His eyes were so sincere, so in love, you felt your throat get caught. Your chest burning.

“I love you Y/n” He had said it in one fell breath, cursing as his lips continued to move against yours. You could have been flying, you’d never quite felt so high.

“I-I love you too, Jin please”

“Fuck” The growl in his voice had you weak in the knees, “Princess you say my name like that I swear I’ll” He bit into your bottom lip softly, nose tracing yours. His words were caught, and you felt him stiffen.

“So do it” You blinked at him, gripping his shirt so tight it could tear. “Come on, Jin. I won’t tell. You won’t tell.”

His hands circled your hips. Pinching the fabric, tugging at it unconsciously.

“But then what, hm? Princess? I can’t let you go once I’ve had a taste”

“So don’t let me go.” You pleaded. Jin looked away. “You hate that I am getting engaged. You hate when I flirt with your friends. You hate that I have Yoongi. You’re jealous.”

You dropped your volume “Because you want me just as bad”

Jin looked into your eyes and you swore you could see his heart breaking. He was so beautiful, so twisted and yet you adored him.

“Princess…your mother” Jin stroked your waist tenderly, speaking softly. “She didn’t like me. At all. She specifically put in her will that if you and I ever got married you would lose control of her company. Of Nexus. Otherwise”

Jin smiled in defeat, gazing into your starry eyes. “I would have made you mine the second I could”

And just like that. Nothing—nothing was going to keep off of this man.

The safehouse was surrounded by a pine forest. The air was chilly, the stars glimmering in the sky. The back pool was glowing with underlights—the blue marbling reflecting off your face as you sat poolside, legs like a pendulum, kicking against your thoughts.

Jin slowly made his way outside after making the two of you a drink.

He handed your glass to you. Clinking it against his own before you both took a sip. A mutual decision to lose inhibition.

“You okay?” His question was sincere. You stared back into the pool. The edge had a small, sleek fountain. Pouring in more and more—but never overspilling.

You downed your drink. Welcome the burn down your throat. Jin took a seat on the firm cushioned pool chair. Legs spread, resting his elbows on his thighs. Swirling the glass against his wrist as he watched you.

His chest muscles pressing against the fabric of his button-down. He had popped a few buttons open, revealing his smooth chest. The glowing light reflected in his smouldering eyes. Eyes that were on the edge of danger. One word away from snapping.

You set your glass aside. Leaning back on your palms, stretching your neck back.

“You didn’t touch me in the shower this morning”

He took another sip.

“We’re just friends”

You got up, the water dripping down your legs. Facing him. Your dress was already scrunched up, but you looked Jin straight in the eye as you hooked your fingers under the straps, letting it glide down your frame.

“You’re right” You responded. A grin hooked on Jin’s face.

“You really are beautiful, princess” His voice was breathless. His compliments only fueled you. You loved his words like they were silk ribbons against your bare skin.

Next was your panties. Dragging them down your legs—you tossed them towards Jin. Without flinching, he caught them.

He was clearly amused. Intrigued to see what you would do next. Your naked body shivered in the crisp night. Nipples hard and aching to be touched.

“You like playing games with me, right Jin? Making bets”

You jumped into the water. Wading your way to the other end of the pool.

“Sure, princess”

“Then I bet you can’t come into this water and not fuck me”

“What’s in it for me?” He tilted his head, taunting you.

“I win, you take me out of this stupid marriage deal. You win—and I’ll give you Nexus”

His eyes flashed with interest. Thumb running against his jaw and he considered your offer.

Without an answer, Jin finished off his drink. Kicking his shoes off he stepped into the pool—clothes on. Wading towards you.

You could see his chest under his shirt now—the water bleeding through the white. He approached you. Inches away. Not touching.

And then your fingers slipped into your cunt. Without leaving his gaze.

Lips parting, you gasped. You pumped yourself, your other hand falling onto Jin’s neck. His pupils widened when he realized what you were doing.

“You really have no shame”

You let out a soft laugh, but the heat in your core was overbearing. Your fingers trailed up Jin’s neck, cupping his jaw before you pushed your thumb between his lips.

And he sucked it.

Shamelessly.

You surged with wetness.

You floated closer to him still, watching the way his mouth moved, Imagining against your throbbing pussy.

You added another finger to your cunt. Jin’s tongue pushed out your thumb.

“You feel good, princess?” His voice was coarse. You bit your lip, whining as you nodded.

“Yeah” Your voice was embarrassingly whiny. “M’ wanna come”

“What’s that?” Jin taunted, his gaze darkening on you. You could feel the heat radiating off of his skin.

“Wanna come…for you” You slide your mouth against his. He kissed you firmly, his hand reaching down, gripping your wrist hard and pulling you out of yourself. Replacing it with his own two fingers.

He cursed, as you clenched down on his fingers. His thumb rubbing against your clit. Slowly.

Your foreheads pressed together. Mouths open, breathing each other in.

“Wanna come”

“Not yet” Jin growled.

“Please” You whimpered softly. “Let me come”

Jin smirked, his other hand curling around your neck. “You listen to me.” He growled. “You come when I fucking tell you to come. Is that clear?”

How were you not supposed to get more turned on by that? You soaked his fingers and his grip on your throat tightened.

He pulled his fingers out so fast, it made you dizzy. The night thing you knew he was lifting you up, pulling your thighs apart so you could wrap your legs around him. His jaw slacked against your neck, sucking your skin as you cried out into the night.

“Fuck” He hissed, “You’re so hot” He cupped your breast, pushing it up to meet his lips. He sucked on your nipples in tight tugs—before widening his mouth so his tongue could flick at you.

Flipped you around—you back against his chest. The buckle of his belt pressed against the cushion of your ass. His hands fisting your breasts. Lips behind your ear.

You were so overstimulated, you wanted to cry. You could come from these teasing touches alone—and you knew he knew it. Your body was glowing despite the cool water it was submerged in. Every cell alive with desire.

He gripped your throat again, pulling you back to him so he could kiss your neck. His hair brushing against you, making you feral.

And then he unzipped his pants.

Pushed himself inside you.

“Go ahead” He ordered. “Come”

The pressure of him filling you up had you shattering. You screamed as you came all over his cock, squeezing the life out of him as he hissed violently. He didn’t move, just let you spasm with wetness while he felt every bit. You lost your balance, held up only by his fingers on your neck and breast which were still squeezing at you.

He filled you up so painstakingly good. And the fact that he just snapped so suddenly had you twitching all over. You’d never come so hard in your life.

If anyone were to see you right now, they’d see a man dressed in drenched business attire fucking a fully naked woman against a pool wall.

Fuck.

“You lost” You mumbled, reaching back to touch his cheek. You turned your face as much as you could to look into his eyes. “I won”

“I don’t give a fuck” Jin growled. “You’re mine now”

You smiled blissfully as his heavy cock dragged out of your cunt before slamming back inside you. The water in the pool spilling out over the edges. Splashing wildly.

“Jin—yes” You pouted with pleasure. “Oooh fuck, yes”

He took his time. Each thrust harder than the previous. And he watched your expression. The way your eyes rolled back, lips parted almost drooling at how good he was fucking you.

“So fucking tight for me, Princess—fuck” He dug his teeth against your ear. “You know how many times I’ve thought about this—ramming my fat cock into you while you whine and beg for me just like this”

He slid out, turning you to face him. He took a moment to smile, a look of incredulous disbelief in his electric eyes.

“My good girl” He tugged your bottom lip. “My pretty girl” His lips glued to yours. Lingering “You’re mine princess”

You nodded, humming against him. He rubbed the head of his cock against your clit—not leaving your lips for more than a second.

“Why’d you give in?” You asked him.

He slid back into you seamlessly. And you felt right at home. Gazing into his eyes, lips locked, with him inside you.

He rolled his hips, bouncing you up and down on his length. Your fingers scraping against his back. Finally grabbing a fistful of his hair and tugging it. Jin hissed, biting at your lips. His hands on your ass, squeezing the flesh, digging his fingers in.

He licked your teeth, then your lips, before pushing his tongue into your mouth.

He gripped your jaw, tilting your chin up.

“Look at me, princess”

You did.

He sheathed himself inside of you. “Come”

And you exploded.

He had you on command. The power he held over you was absurd but you loved it. You loved him.

“Good girl” He stroked your face. The aftershocks consumed you as you whimpered. He coaxed you through it. “There you go, princess, you’re doing so good” Pecking kisses at the edge of your lips as you cursed out.

He slid his hand between your hot bodies, rubbing your clit as you writhed in his hold. He kept you cumming until there were tears in your eyes. And you were begging him—screaming for him to stop.

All the while, he kept digging into you. His pace picking up but his gaze never leaving yours.

And by God the way he looked at you—that was someone in love. So possessed with the flaming adoration and desire that reason flew out the door. He’d kill for you. He’d die for you. You had no doubt in your mind.

And then darkness came knocking into your mind and your high dissipated. You were supposed to kill him tonight.

Your eyes softened at him. A tear rolling down your cheek. Jin slowed his pace, looking at you with concern. He swiped the tear away with his thumb.

“Princess” He whispered, nudging your cheek, “Everything okay?”

The tears began to stream down faster. Jin move your arms so he could hold both your hands, still inside you.

“What’s wrong?” The possessive edge in his voice was evident.

You sniffled.

“I love you so fucking much Jin”

Jin buckled over, digging his nails into your wrists. You could feel the hot pressure burst between your legs.

“Fuck” He cursed loudly, pounding into you at a punishing speed as spurts of cum painted your walls.

He calmed down, pulling you into a tight embrace. Kissing the back of your shoulder.

Facing you again, cupping your face in his palms. He searched your eyes.

“The only way you’re getting engaged tomorrow is over my dead body, princess” He promised. “You’re mine now, forever”

- Present Day -

Jungkook wasn’t sure if you’d even want to see him after how the two of you left things the previous night.

Guilt seized him.

“Why exactly are you putting us in a room together?” Across the room, Park Jimin sat, handcuffed to his chair. The light hanging above illuminated his glimmering eyes. Hair tousled. “You know I can just tell her that it was you. I was Jin’s therapist—I know you two were—”

Footsteps echoed from the hall.

“Shut up.” Jungkook rolled his eyes.

He felt his heart get lighter as you walked into the room.

You. Causal. Jungkook’s cock twitched. Those little shorts that made him want to just grab at you. A long-sleeved hoodie that covered your hands. This version of you, he swore he was obsessed. The version not hiding behind all the Kim’s blood money.

Jungkook knew you were attractive. From the time he lost his breath seeing you at your engagement, until now. But right now. Despite the tiredness in your eyes. He swore you’d never looked hotter.

He reached out for your hand.

The moment you touched; both of your eyes met. Some sense of understanding passed between you.

I’m sorry.

I know. Gazing into your eyes had become such a familiar thing. He couldn’t pinpoint when, but you went from antagonizing him to being a source of comfort.

You were still a brat. And he’d tell you as much.

“Sure, don’t mind me as you eye fuck each other” Jimin’s voice interrupted the tender moment.

Jungkook's fingers intertwined with yours, forming a reassuring grip as he guided you to a seat beside him. The warmth of his touch lingered, his thumb tracing gentle circles on the inside of your wrist—a silent promise that he was there by your side.

"Y/n, Dr. Park. I want to walk through the timeline of the murder with you both to see where your stories diverge. Now, I don’t think either of you did this," Jungkook stated with a calm resolve. “I think it was Jung Hoseok.”

Jungkook felt the tension ripple through you.

He watched as you looked at Jimin. Examining him with distaste. Thoughts running rampant in your mind—he just wanted to climb inside and hear what you were thinking.

“No.” You cleared your throat. “It was me.”

“What?” Both Jungkook and Jimin were startled by the sudden confession.

“I killed Jin. Arrest me”

Jimin’s brows furrowed. Jungkook was simply shocked.

“Y/n this isn’t funny.”

You brushed off his question, pulling your hand out of his grasp. “I hated Jin. I knew about his years of scheming and lies. I knew that he was trying to get hold of my mother’s company after his mother gave everything to Namjoon. And I knew that he wanted me to get married to Taehyung so that he could deem him mentally unstable, send him away again, and steal my shares through the board once we got married”

“Y/n” Jungkook tried to get you to look at him, but you wouldn’t. Your eyes were on Jimin, communicating who knows what to that crazy manipulative bastard. “If you confess, I will actually have to arrest you”

Jimin was quick to interject. “Wait. Hoseok was there that night too, wasn’t he?”

You flinched.

“Y/n. For the love of God just walk us through what else happened that night. Don’t leave anything out. You can trust me” Jungkook urged you.

You pursed your lips. You were playing another game—he could see it in your eyes. Were you lying—why were you lying—and who exactly were you trying to protect?

“Yeah. Fine. Hobi was there. Luckily for me, because Jin and I got into an argument as I figured out what he was up to, and he got so angry that he—” You inhaled sharply “He hit me. So Hobi punched him”

A ringing struck Jungkook’s ears. He hit you. Kim Seokjin laid a hand on you.

A seething rage ran through his veins. He stood up, unable to contain the anger. Needing release.

His fists clenched as he did his best not to punch through the wall.

"That bastard. God, if he wasn't dead, I'd kill him myself,"

Your words from the previous day lingered in Jungkook's mind: "I've grown up around men like that."

For all he knew, Jin had been abusive this whole time.

Jimin smiled, “Funny you say that Detective” Jungkook shot him a look.

"I'm fine, okay. Hoseok and I go way back. He had been setting Namjoon up for months, putting the idea into his head to kill Jin by making Namjoon jealous that I was going to get engaged to Taehyung, and that it was Jin’s fault," you explained.

"Namjoon... and you?" He searched your eyes for an explanation. You avoided him once again. “Well couldn’t you have married him instead, I mean?”

Jimin chuckled, "That was Jin’s doing. Namjoon was totally in love with her. But Jin made sure that she was alienated from him after he assaulted her. He made Namjoon promise it would be Taehyung, convincing him it was what their mom wanted"

“What?” Jungkook’s jaw twitched.

“He did not assault me” You assured him, “He tricked me into giving him my virginity. How’d Jin even know about that?”

“Baby girl,” Jimin spoke steadily, “Jin knew everything about you. I wasn’t lying about the cameras. He monitored you like a hawk”

A disturbed look passed over you.

"Okay. Hoseok came and punched Jin, and then what happened? Did he shoot him? " Jungkook urged you on.

"No. I did”

Jungkook ran his hand through his hair, frustration evident. “You and me. Outside, now”

-

Jungkook directed you to an empty investigation room. Worn out and frustrated as he shut the door behind you.  

He didn’t say a word. Hands finding your hips.

Lips taking your life away.

You craved him. He groaned against your mouth, breath hot and fingers desperate. Lips tangling under a cloud of denial. Searching for a sweet escape.

“Y/n—we do need to talk—” Jungkook hissed in pleasure, forcing himself to part with you. He inhaled you, tracing his nose against your jaw as you arched your back into his touch. Chest heavy with want.

“I missed you” You moaned softly against his mouth.

Jungkook bit back a smile. Eyes ghosting from your eyelids to your lips “I’m sorry” He took on a more serious tone. His thumb running up and down your throat. “About last night”

“Jungkook, I loved last night” You spoke breathlessly. “It was the first good night I’ve had in a while”

Jungkook's fingers traced gentle patterns on your skin as he spoke. The soft glow of a nearby lamp accentuated the contours of his face, casting shadows that danced with the weight of his words.

“Why are you still lying to me, Y/n?”

Your arms wrapped around his shoulders, and your fingers found solace in the tousled strands of his hair. The scent of his cologne lingered, a familiar comfort amidst the chaos of your thoughts.

“Have I not proved myself to you? You still don’t trust me”

“You don’t trust me either, do you?” you asked, your voice a mere whisper that hung in the charged air between you. “Are you gonna let me go?”

You nudged him with your nose, a silent plea for honesty. “Are you gonna arrest me?”

He held your gaze, a storm brewing in the depths of his eyes.

“I—” Jungkook's voice caught, emotions raw and unfiltered.

“I hate that I’m falling for you.”

Your eyes widened. His confession was wildly uncalled for and sent you into a vortex of your thoughts.

Blush painted his cheeks. Speaking from the heart was evidently new territory for him.

“And I can’t stop.”

Your heart trembled. Fuck. You felt the same. You knew it, despite everything. You didn’t think it was possible to love so soon after Jin. Jungkook wasn’t Jin. He was simple. Exactly who he showed up as. He wasn’t playing games.

You were. And you couldn’t hurt him like this any longer.

“You know this doesn’t end well, Jungkook,” you whispered, fingers tracing the contours of his face. “I have to marry a Kim to get my company back”

The realization hit you. You couldn’t marry Taehyung—Taehyung hated you. He would murder you in his sleep, and you couldn’t have that.

Your plan failed. You couldn’t blame this on Namjoon anymore. You needed him.

"You’d marry someone just for a company?" Jungkook asked, his low voice laced with disbelief and frustration. "I thought you hated the way the Kim’s controlled you. Why would you willingly tie yourself to them?"

Your shoulders tensed, a defensive response bubbling up. "It's not just about them, Jungkook. Nexus is my birthright, and I have responsibilities. It’s all I have. I can't just walk away from it because you don’t like the world it comes from"

You knew he wouldn’t understand. People like you were groomed to take over family businesses. All you wanted was revenge. On a life that robbed you of choice. To do that, you needed power. You needed Nexus.

"Why not?" Jungkook shot back, his eyes searching yours for a glimmer of understanding. "Nexus is dangerous—isn’t that the whole reason Jin was trying to keep you out of it?"

"I don't need you to rescue me, Jungkook"

His jaw tightened, eyes narrowing in a mixture of frustration and hurt. "This isn't about rescuing you! I can't stand the thought of you tying yourself to a family that's suffocating you when I could offer you something better."

"And what is that, Jungkook?" you challenged, your frustration mirroring his. "A life where I’m with the son of the man who murdered my mother in cold blood?”

Pindrop silence.

Aside from the harmony of your haggard breaths.

“What?” Jungkook’s large eyes quivered with shock. Did he really not know?

“You think your dad was killed for no good reason—well there was one. Actually.”

Jungkook looked down, “Y/n.” But you knew there was nothing he could say. He couldn’t change the fact that it happened. That the two of you had history before you’d even met.

A bitter laugh escaped you, "We could never work"

"You think I wanted this?" Jungkook exclaimed. "I despised everything about you. And I tried to resist it because I knew it would be complicated. But, fuck, I want you. You want me. I don’t know why, I don’t know when, but somewhere along the line, I stopped hating you”

Your heart melted at his words.

“And you became everything”

You stared at him. Disbelief. And then you were running into his arms. He was lifting you up into a kiss. The kind of kiss that drowns you. The desperation, the pent-up frustration from your argument—the hopelessness of what you felt for one another—was a beautiful concoction of flames dancing between you.

“Y/n” Jungkook mumbled but you wouldn’t leave his lips. Afraid if you did, the moment would end again. And you didn’t want to think. You wanted to fade away.

Your fingers slid under his shirt. Searching his muscles.

Growling lowly, Jungkook pressed you against the wall again. Eyelashes brushing against one another, his expression softened seeing your swollen lips and desperate eyes. Stay. His eyes called to you. Stay with me.

“I’m sorry” You whispered so softly, your words feathering against his skin. “I’ll go, Jungkook”

He grabbed your wrist.

“No” Jungkook closed in on you, “I’m placing you under arrest”

Hobi’s manicured nails traced along the sleek contours of a pistol. Custom made. In his pocket, he felt the vibration of his phone.

Setting the gun down on the glass table, he placed his phone against his ear.

You have a call from—

“I accept the charges” This should be good.

“He knows your name”

There was no time for greetings with you. You weren’t into the charmed bullshit like Jin was.

Hobi inhaled sharply. Fuck. If the investigation moved in his direction, everything would be at risk. All these years, he had been meticulous and careful. Flying under the radar of any and all authorities. You’d only know his truth if he was in business with you. To the world, he wore a carefully curated mask. A budding model. To explain the money.

Explain his sin-stained wealth.

You paused for a moment, “He knows you and I have known each other. He also knows you dated Jin”

The last comment was an accusation. He heard you loud and clear. He knew you well enough now after the last three years spent plotting this intricate web to recapture Nexus for you. After the Chairwoman died, he approached you. Told you the truth about Jin’s intentions.

“How long? When were you going to tell me—before or after we planned to kill him?”

Kim Seokjin was a good fuck. He talked too much for one thing, but Hobi didn’t really mind. He liked to be in control of the situation. Play both sides, if you will. Dating a man like Seokjin meant letting him think he was in charge, when in fact, the reigns were in his own hands all along. He knew about Jin’s psychotic past. His twisted quest. All of it.

Lying was natural to him. One of the first skills he learned. “I was just doing it to make sure he didn’t know what we were up to”

“But he did know. Before you showed up that night, that’s what we were arguing about. I knew what he was up to. He knew what I was up to. And I think you told him”

“Careful darling” Hobi’s voice was silk, “I’m not someone you want to play against”

“They were going to pin the murder on you but I got them off your scent because if they find out about you—they find out—”

“That your mom was a mobster” Hobi spoke plainly “And that Nexus distributes weapons”

Thus the reason Hobi knew about you. Your mother. His family. They were in business together. You’d grown up as loose family friends who lost touch as life materialized until Hobi decided to make his move. Everything precise. Everything calculated.

“Yeah. So I confessed. It was a bluff. I didn’t think he’d arrest me but”

“You poked the bear, I assume”

“We’re not pinning this on Joon. I need to marry him to get control. I refuse to marry Taehyung—swear to God that kid will kill me in my sleep. Figure something else out, or I will whip that Detective around my finger and get him to blame you for it anyway.”

Hobi felt bored, suddenly. Meaningless threats were of no consequence. He owned the police for all he cared. He was untouchable.

“I’m not sure little unhinged Taehyung will react well to you marrying Namjoon. Perhaps you should consider staying in jail. Considering you did pull the trigger”

He could feel your energy shift through the phone. And what you said next was the only time you’d ever managed to tilt him off of his high-horse.

“I did. But he didn’t die. After we left, I saw him again”

Namjoon was back in his home office, urgently responding to some emails. Even among the chaos—he still had an empire to run.

His phone rang. “What?” His tone snarky.

“Y/n’s been arrested” Hoseok’s amused voice filled his ears, “She confessed to murdering Jin”

Namjoon’s brows furrowed, “Why the hell would she do that? And why do you know about it before me?”

“Namjoon. Someone innocent is going to rot in jail for something we both know you did”

Shit. Namjoon sunk into his ergonomic chair. Hobi was right. But if he went to jail then who the hell would run the company?

“I can watch over things for you until you cut a deal. I’m sure they’ll offer you something” It was as if Hobi could read his mind. “I know you, Joonie. You won’t be able to live knowing she’s in jail because of you”

But the truth was that, Namjoon had doubts. He remembered going to the safehouse. He remembered getting into a fight with Jin—Jin who was already battered up.

He didn’t mean for him to die. He had been drunk out of his mind.

“Namjoon” Hobi was persistent, “Don’t be like Jin. Do the right thing. Confess”

Fine. Namjoon shut his laptop and reached for his keys. He hung up the phone, rushing into the hall.

“Taehyung” He searched for his younger brother. He was still reading in the same position Namjoon had seen him when he returned home. He had to tell him what was going on. You were going to come home to him and he needed to know you’d be safe.

“Y/n’s been arrested for Jin’s murder. She confessed but—” He gulped, “She didn’t do it. It was me. I killed him, because I was jealous. I didn’t want her to get engaged to…well you…and Jin was the one forcing her”

Taehyung sat, soundless. Not a word, not a breath.

“I won’t let her go down for this. I’m going to confess. I may have to serve some time in jail—but I can cut a deal. They want to get to me anyway. She will come back alone, and my friend will be watching the company but” Namjoon panted.

He kneeled in front of Taehyung, palms to his knees. “I want you to know I missed you. I know we were never very close. But I hate what happened to you, I hate our mom for it, I hate Jin for it. You’re adjusting. You’re angry, and I understand. But you need to take care of Y/n. She’s our responsibility”

Taehyung nodded, as Namjoon stood up and rushed towards the door.

“Hyung wait!” Namjoon stilled. Taehyung never called him that before.

He walked up to him, before wrapping his arms around his shoulders. “Come home soon”

Namjoon’s otherwise cold heart was flush with love. He had almost forgotten what it was like to have family who cares. His eyes became teary—but he had not time.

He was going to save you.

“Dr. Park”

You sneered at the smirking face before you. In the shared cell, for the first time you faced him alone since everything went down.

“You’re so interesting, Y/n” Great. Not even here for a minute and he’s already psychoanalyzing me. “We both know you didn’t go through with it”

You sat down in front of him, making sure there was a good amount of space. He tapped against the wall aimlessly. The air was musty—even a little cold. You regretted not wearing leggings. Legs bare against the bench.

Jungkook's confession replayed in your mind like a broken record. His hopeful, big, gorgeous brown eyes turned wounded. He opened up for you. He lay down his vendetta, for you. And you simply couldn’t do the same.

Because this is so much bigger than him.

“You can tell me what’s wrong you know” Jimin said. For once, his voice wasn’t laced with amusement. “I know you don’t trust me, but I am a therapist”

“Why’d you even do this?” You spat, hugging your arms against your stomach. “What was in this for you?”

Jimin smiled. “Jin was unlike any of my other patients. He asked a favor, and honestly I was just so interested to see how this would all play out. It’s a house of cards blowing over. Brick by brick”

You frowned. “What would have happened if we didn’t figure it out? Were you planning on actually marrying me? Living with me for the rest of your life?”

Jimin shook his head. “That was never the plan. He needed someone to show up at the wedding. Jin never let Taehyung out because he was terrified that Taehyung would want revenge. So I was to stand in. Get married to you, and then disappear. After all, Jin wanted you to himself but he didn’t want to share you. He can’t marry you—it ruins his plans. After I’d disappear, Jin would say that Taehyung was back in in-patient treatment to the board and take your shares”

You raised your eyebrows. “My mom ran nexus without a man by her side for years. I don’t understand why I had to get married to get access to them”

Jimin clicked his tongue. “That was Jin’s doing. Chairwoman Kim oversaw your trust while you were in her guardianship. Jin leveraged the threat of Taehyung to get her to add the provision. Jimin grinned widely, “Then he killed her”

Your mouth went dry.

“Slowly—and made it look like cancer. But she also knew it was coming, so she didn’t give him the company. Kim’s will do what they do” Jimin marveled, almost in admiration. It made you sick.

Something in your gut twisted so violently, you wanted to hurl.

“And Hobi” You went on despite your state, “When did that start?”

“Oh that had been going on for a long time” Jimin waved his hand, “On and off. They were a bit toxic.”

“Did Jin know…about Hobi?”

“You mean who his family was? Of course he did. He knew about Hobi and Hobi helped him plot all this out. Later, Hobi said he found out you knew everything—I don’t think Jin knew you two knew each other. But they both stood to gain. If Jin got control of Nexus, Hobi and he would be in business together. Though in my opinion I think Hobi was also planning some sort of seduce, marry, kill type thing to expand his own power”

Was there even a single person in your life who was ever honest with you? A stampede trailblazed over your chest. You were bleeding out on the inside so much that it all began to go quiet. All began to feel numb.

“Why wouldn’t Jin just ask me for Nexus? Why go through all this—he knew I’d do anything for him?”

“Y/n, I’m a doctor. I work with intense patients and sometimes in in-patient facilities. People who see me are truly twisted. You can’t hope to understand why they act the way they do. Besides, your mom had gone to great lengths to make sure that Jin specifically kept his paws off you”

Why? You thought back. If your mother hated Jin why would she have let you spend so much time with him? With his family. The two of you had been inseperable.

“Wanna know something else that’s fun?”

You glared at him.

“Jin truly, genuinely believed that everything he was doing was for you”

Don’t say it. You looked down, blinking back tears.

“He loved you. He wanted to keep you safe. Away from gun dealers and mob life. He just wanted you to have everything you wanted without a care in the world. Jury’s still out on if it’s romantic—or just insane”

Namjoon burst into the precinct. Jungkook was at his desk, staring blankly at the screen in front of him. “It was me. Not her. I killed Jin. There you go. Let her go right fucking now” He went on to corroborate his story. It matched up. Him being drunk, arriving at the safehouse no doubt after you and Hoseok had left. A gun was there. Jin was already down. And Namjoon had oh so much motive.

Jungkook couldn’t help but wonder if all your lies and games had just been to protect Namjoon. You acted so indebted to this family of psychopaths—after what Namjoon did to you you were trying to keep him out of Jail?

He was thrilled suddenly. Namjoon away meant you were free. You wouldn’t be able to marry him, not yet—and he had time to show you that you belonged with him. Away from these freaks.

“Okay” Jungkook said, satisfied with the confession. He motioned to guards to take Namjoon into the cell. You and Jimin both were dragged out in exchange.

“You’re free to leave” Jungkook looked down, pretending to shift around the papers on his desk. He couldn’t look you in the eye—the pain was still too tender. Jimin didn’t need to be told twice. He fled immediately. But you, you stayed.

Jungkook looked up at you, annoyed. “What?” He was back to the spiteful tone with which he spoke to you when the two of you had just met.

“I know you hate me” You said quietly. Jungkook noticed the queasy look in your eyes, “But Jimin just told me—everything. And Taehyung is at home who terrifyies me. I guess what I’m asking is—”

“Thought you can take care of yourself”

There was real, raw hurt in your eyes. Jungkook felt a little guilty. He knew this had all been emotionally traumatic for you. He’d seen you fall apart and put yourself back together again multiple times already.

“Jungkook” You gripped the edge of his desk, losing your balance. Alarms went off in his chest. His pride dissipated as you fainted—he rushed to catch you before you hit the floor.

The light began to filter through your eyelids. Slowly you blinked, trying to understand your surroundings.

There he was. Your shadow.

“You’re awake”

Even lying on a hospital bed, Kim Taehyung didn’t give a flying fuck about you. Great.

“I’m glad”

You struggled to sit up as Taehyung neared you. He gently traced the edge of your face. His fingers were tender. Soft. You leaned into his touch.

“Don’t do that ever again” His voice dropped low. Flattening his palm against your cheek, his thumb brushed against the edge of your lips, “I can’t lose you”

Your lips parted in shock. His face was serious as ever.

“Also, there’s something you should know” He stood up, turning his back to you. Staring intently out the window.

Your chest seized with concern. You wondered what happened to Jungkook—if he was alright. You assumed he was the one who brought you to the hospital.

“Dr. Park was found dead last night” Taehyung paused. “He was murdered”

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a/n: its been a while since ive written so! pls let me know what you think!! scream with me!! who are you suspicious of! who are you falling for! i wanna know ;)

thank you for reading <3

[anxiousdreamcore]

May I humbly asks for your interpretation/opinion/view of the Spider & Quaritch as well as the Spider & Sullies relationships/dynamics ?

Sure! I’ve complained about how my opinion of the characters changed throughout the year of being engaged in the fandom so I might as well share! 🤭

Spider: An audacious, frat-boy-ish teen who stinks of dirt, sweat and will eat a live bug to gross you out. Kiri said that he bites and she was 100% honest because this kid will fling his mask off and tear into your throat if you mess with his baby siblings 😤 at the same time, he’s more than capable of being responsible and gentle, especially when it comes to Pandora, its wildlife and cultures, all of which are clearly very important to him. A menace with a heart of gold and an iron fucking will, untameable. Unbreakable. No authority scares him.

Quaritch: A man so damaged he can’t be repaired. He’s seen too many horrors, killed too many people, watched too many comrades die, has been infected with too much poison. It runs in his veins and destroys everything he touches…which is precisely why he is only likeable as a father. He has never been one before and that part of him is completely new, not yet damaged. The only part of him not yet tainted by the rotten creature that is the rest of him. A mangy, old army dog that will burn Pandora to the ground if its chain is broken, but will lie down and wag its tail for his child, and only him.

Oh, and he’s mentally ill too, at least to some extent, canonically. It’s not to say that his mental illness makes him a bad guy. No. It’s the lack of care he puts into coping with it that contributes to the dumpster fire that is Miles Quaritch. My personal headcannon is that he needs mood-stabilisers yet regularly skips them.

Spider & Quaritch dynamic: Two outcasts who bond over being isolated by their respective groups. Also, Lima and Stockholm syndrome duo! Quaritch gets an instant liking to Spider that soon grows into fatherly love, as Spider brings out the best in him; his most pure, childish and kind traits. Does the rest of him, the rotten, the poisoned, hate it? Oh, absolutely. But he can’t, won’t stop the wild-child from worming his way deep into his decaying heart. Spider meanwhile battles his own platonic feelings and holds onto his resentment as much as he can. He wants to love Miles but he doesn’t. He loves him but he wishes him an agonising death. He wants to be hugged by him and sink a blade into his chest. He wants Miles to prove him that not all grown ups are rotten and he can still be loved. He wants Miles to love him.

Spider & Sully siblings dynamic: “A family disappointment and local cool stoner to his siblings, who are more than happy to take after him because they think his utter freedom and lack of care for authority is cool” kinda vibe. Will play fight with his siblings and bite their noses before kissing them better and shoving them away. Calls Tuk a little gremlin affectionately. Brings Lo’ak back down to Pandora when he spirals into his insecurities or gets too bold and self-sacrificial. Is platonic soulmates with Kiri and feels a profound connection to her, as she does to him. Resents Neteyam for abandoning their little group to become a "respectable warrior". Wants him back. Wishes things could be like when they were kids.

Spider & Neytiri dynamic: She she sees him as a pesky, dangerous demon child that…that didn’t do anything but stay loyal, through all the torture and horrors. A lot of guilt is present between them after the final battle, and they will definitely have a horrible, explosive argument about it sooner or later, but for now they are content at silently sharing space, at time quipping and taking light jabs at each other, because that is their cycle. Playfulness, fear, resentment, until it all explodes and they scream at each other, then the cycle repeats, fuelled by guilt. Is there a chance to stop it? Will they ever be okay?

Spider & Jake dynamic: Hero worship turned disappointment. Spider idolised him for his status and incredible feats as a child but as he grew, and Jake consistently kept him at an arms length without establishing clear boundaries, the constant pining to have him as a father became a never-ending, aching pain in Socorro’s chest. Jake gave him an empty hope that they might one day be a family, without ever clarifying that it’ll never be true, confusing the boy until he was proved not once, not twice, but thrice, that he isn’t needed, isn’t missed, or loved by Jake. He’s a stray animal, and that is all he’ll ever be to him. He knows better now than to wish for something that can never be…doesn’t even want to. Quaritch might be a horrific monster, but at least he genuinely loves him. He doesn’t need Jake’s pathetic scraps of affection anymore. He doesn’t need him anymore.

•

[kittycatboyhalo]

I have some lowkey demon lore that I’ve been revolving around in my head.

Despite Bad, Tina, and Mouse all being demons, they’re not the same at all which led to me to start world building a bit in my head.

Irl there’s different types of demons, but stepping back from demonology or religious sources and into Minecraft, I think Demons would be more of a taxonomical catagory, specifically a phylum. Im way too into biology and genetics, so I’ll spare all the science talk, but underneath that phylum of demons, there’s different classes and families. I think what defines the Demon phylum would be having infernal blood, which is different from being warm blooded, mammals birds and such, and cold blooded, reptiles fish etc.

That choice also made me start thinking of that means people like bird hybrids aren’t mammals or if some players who are cold blooded would be reptile, but that’s something to think of on a different day.

I think infernal blood is something a lot of demons are born with, but my running theory is that certain spells, experiments, or spending enough time in hell chemically, magically?, transforms a persons blood to become infernal. Or they die.

I don’t know exactly what type of demons Tina or Bagi are, but I think Bad would be a fallen angel. Fallen angels are somewhat rare, they’ve had to be cast from some pantheon to burn. Many of them die but those who make it have many struggles. They remember a life outside of hell, and often do whatever it takes to claw their way out, a painful and tedious procedure. Once they make it through hell and out of the nether, they find that humans and those in the over world tend to fear them. They’re powers that once protected and created now kill and destroy when they try to use it. I think they also have a bad reputation amongst other demons due to mistrust of them once being holy.

I don’t watch much of Tina’s pov, so forgive me and pls correct me if she already has lore, but Tina gives me the vibe of somebody who was once a human that was forcefully transformed into a demon. She gives me strong “girl raised in country village vibes who was subjected to the horrors”.

I feel like she was greatly content, with a happy upbringing. One day she gets kidnapped, dragged to hell, and transformed. They underestimate the kind village girl, and she kills her captors. She still looks very human, but now she has two horns and some unholy power running in her veins. She returns to her village only to be chased away with pitchforks, forever scarring her physically and psychologically. Humans can’t get past her horns, sharp teeth and claws, so she hides them.

Mouse is the only demon out of the three to have actually been born in hell. Not just born in hell but into royalty!! For a demon, she is kind, patient, highly educated, but naive. She’s always had power and protectors. When she’s visited the overworked she is simply too strong to recognize any attacks against her, though being royalty, she’s protected and somewhat above that. While she’s used to assassination attempts and crime, she’s never quite gone through discrimination for being a demon. She’s so confused as to why Bad and Tina hide what they are.

Other little things: holy weapons like crosses, holy water, and blessed items only hurt bad. Most demons have weakness to things like silver but they’re all very strong.

if anybody has more thoughts, pls lmk. I love to hear what people think!!

[bee-snail]

So a friend and I were playing around and I felt... Inspired. Vigilantes AU 🙌

Co-written with @davestriderisasimp, it's currently only a vague idea but it's so so fun either way!

YAPPING AHEAD, BEWARE !!!

Oh man. This AU was born because my friend made a funky Daniel in a really cool Epiphet Erased AU, and in turn, I made a David that matched. Then they became arch nemeses, kissed, punched each other, and committed so much dang crime!

In David's defense: he commits crime to stop criminals. Criminals like Daniel, and his team of EVIL MINIONS (they're all petty criminals AT BEST they're the cutest, bestest ever, I LOVE THEM)

Her Daniel was genuinely so fun that he was the first and only Daniel I ever even considering making a Danvid with. The OG Danvid has neat vibes, in a Killing Stalking kinda way, but it just wasn't my vibe, y'know? Good for those who like 'em, tho !!

This David is just... so neat. He's like if Davey's original snarky attitude had never been completely overriden by his love for camping. He blackmails Cameron for favors from time to time, but is pretty fond of the guy because he's not exactly a genius evil mastermind. He loves his friend Gwen and his son Max—who may or may not have been "kidnapped" from his home by some red-headed stranger who distracted his parents by setting their car on fire—and has started to care a little for his roommate, CJ.

He started vigilantism when he was just a teenager with some anger issues, man. And now he just got used to it! But hypocrisy just runs through his veins, as he feels super stressed whenever Max decides to sneak out to go after him and help. He wants to beat up strangers too!

Neither Max or David have "offensive" epiphets either: theirs are "Recover" and "Endure", respectively. A healing and a passively defensive power. Gwen's, though? Hers is "Orgasm". It's perfect for sweeping someone off their feet— if you get what I'm saying, HAH

Daniel's epiphet is "Kool Aid", and he uses it so dang well! He's the silliest villain you'll ever meet and I adore every moment he's "on-screen" (aka, whenever we talk about him, HEHEHE). He's the captain of a team of minions—yes, he does call them his minions. It's a very worthy title, I must say—who perform LOTS OF CRIMES together. Most of them are simple robberies, though, and David is incredibly amused by them.

He does, occasionally, fall on one of their traps. And then they laugh at him. Then they take him hostage to make him gawk at their mighty evil lair (they bring him over) and feel pathetically miserable once he sees that his own personal resting hours are nothing compared to the glory of their favorite entertainment (they watch some movies), and so on...

They're so, so, so so silly. I cannot express enough how much I freaking love them.

Also, Max has a bear motif. It just... It just stuck. I love him too (so does David HEHEHE)

As for Jasper...

His epiphet is "smoke", and he disappeared a long, long time ago. That's all I have for now!

Also this WIP, which I will probably never finish. Hehe.

[jacksgreysays]

"like normal people do" - Sai/Shikako, cosmic horror under the guise of romance

Anonymous asked: "Memento Mori," Master of Death!Harry Potter/Shikabane-hime!Shikako, vows under the auspices (only shooting stars)-verse, because I really just want to see these two reluctant gods of death being sweet and earnest and soft with each other as the rest of the world watches in bemusement and/or wariness Anonymous asked: Nec deus intersit, nisi dignus vindice nodus (inciderit), Shikabane-Hime 🌌🌟🦌🖤🌠 damnsmartblueboxes asked: jic tumblr ate my counting corvids fake title asks: Would you ever write an Original? Fiction about accidental body cohabitation & platonic devotion? Like cyborg & ai, Venom-style, transmigration, however the temple that is a body is devoted to two gods :p

Because there are SO MANY prompts left in my inbox and I am RUNNING OUT OF DAYS and, also, these four resonated when I went through my inbox, I will be answering these prompts together, I hope you don’t mind anon(s) and @damnsmartblueboxes!

Let me start by saying: while I do look fondly on my fic vows under the auspices (only shooting stars) and consider it some of my best work as well as love how it endeared people to my genin OCs for jounin sensei!Shikako, I’d rather not further engage in the Harry Potter franchise for obvious reasons.

However, the concept of reluctant god of death still applies to Shikabane-hime!Shikako even without an equally reluctant god of death counterpart, and the premise of your prompt still applies, for the most part, especially in combination with the other anon prompt of cosmic horror under the guise of romance. The dynamic of affection from an eldritch being, whether romantic or, as in damnsmartblueboxes’ prompt, platonic.

And what turns these prompts from my darling, dearest ambiguous vibes of god nonsense into an actually plot is the latin phrase prompt: Nec deus intersit, nisi dignus vindice nodus (inciderit) which translates to “That a god not intervene, unless a knot show up that be worthy of such an untangler” or less literally “When the miraculous power of God is necessary, let it be resorted to: when it is not necessary, let the ordinary means be used.”

All of this mixes into the following:

Shikako’s post-Jashin coma is not JUST mental/spiritual backlash of surviving a hostile outer god’s attack. It is, in fact, a chrysalis for mortal!Shikako to turn into burgeoning eldritch god!Shikabane-hime.

UNFORTUNATELY, it gets interrupted by the entirely well-meaning, and necessarily intervention of Sai—who, even so early on, is so ready to defy Danzo on Shikako’s behalf that it’s not even funny.

The thing is—at least with butterflies—you can’t really stop the metamorphosis without, you know, killing the pupa, and if you, for example, poke a hole in the cocoon, the liquified goop that is on its way into becoming a butterfly just… spills out and dies. Uhoh

Thankfully, our girl is NOT a literal pupa. But her metamorphosis has been interrupted. What’s a devoted disciple of a burgeoning eldritch god to do?

Basically, Sai is the mortal/physical touchstone for evolving deity Shikabane-hime. I do also like playing with the idea that worship can look like dating from an outside POV—after all, whether to a partner or a god, devotion is devotion even if differently flavored.

In the damnsmartblueboxes’ vein of Original Fiction, I once wrote a script playing with the idea that the grieving process can look like a messy break up—it involved a ghost, also—so the above concept is the arguably more lighthearted version of that. I mean, it’s not entirely lighthearted, what with the eldritch god and the cosmic horror but, you know. It’s not sad, per se.

I also, keeping in line with damnsmartblueboxes’ prompt and also my own leanings in regard to canon!DoS Shikako and Sai’s relationship, would make this a platonic fic. Mostly because I think canon!DoS has SO MUCH power over Sai. Like. Again, that devotion. I didn’t make it up. That’s in there. Sai is so ready to defy Danzo’s orders to protect Shikako. The power imbalance is just too much.

I am a multishipper, so I do think there is a version of Sai and Shikako that COULD work romantically. There’s even a version of Sai and eldritch god!Shikako that could work romantically in an AU. But since the brainstorm we’re currently running along is more canon divergence than AU, I think this would work BEST as platonic. Especially to further contrast the cosmic horror under the guise of romance. Like, if it isn’t even at all romantic, just cosmic horror and platonic devotion, that makes the juxtaposition all the greater.

Anyway, as I was saying, the plot part of this is: mortal touchstone/devoted disciple!Sai is a very competent shinobi on his own, but even he can’t deal with [[insert divine level threat here]]. Everyone knows that Shikako has been teaching him fuinjutsu—that they have been getting closer/getting along more so than before—but everyone is surprised when he breaks out what looks to be the Shiki Fujin but instead of summoning the Shinigami it is instead the debut of the Shikabane-hime in full force.

What is the divine level threat? Maybe it’s Jashin again and this time, Shikabane-hime gets to go toe to toe with him rather than just slamming the door in his face. Or maybe it’s moon aliens O_O

[kaddyssammlung]

Aqua Regia – Analysis

Name/ meaning: it dissolves gold.

“Well, my love is an animal call”

Did is say something somewhere about blind range and maybe killing something with your bare hands? I would never say that he did something like that but it kind of reminds me of this for some reason.

Either that or he was called by an animal? Maybe he means Sleep?

“Cutting through the darkness, bouncing off the walls”

I like this image. Love that is cutting through darkness. This is really nice. It sounds nice and also the image that it creates is just lovely.

“Between teeth on a broken jaw”

This makes me think about the car accident allusions. Or he means a broken jaw in a metaphorical way since he said something about jaws and how they show our true emotions.

“Following a bloodtrail, frothing at the maw”

This again reminds me of “Jaws”. It creates images of hunting and wild animals. I'm not really sure what he means though.

“These days I'm a circuit board Integrated hardware you cannot afford”

That sounds so damn cool! Seems like he is starting to say “goodbye” to someone? Hardware you can't afford...? I'm too good for you?!

“The perfect start to a perfect war putting down the roses picking up the sword”

It really seems like he is done with something or someone. Maybe he means Sleep.

“Aqua Regia”

Since he kind of hints on alchemy every now and then, at least in my perception, maybe you can see this referencing alchemy again? Since alchemy is about “creating gold” whereas Aqua Regia is about dissolving gold?!

“Well, my past is a holy book”

I wonder how he means this. This is me sensing some religious abuse again....or maybe he means that it has something to do with God? I don't know. It could also mean something positive. You really never know. I keep sensing relegious trauma though for some reason.

“A call from Olympus, ringing off the hook”

Olympus hinting at Greek mythology but I don't know which way to go from here because I don't know much about it.

“I'm stuck in a time where the mountains shook”

I take from that he is stuck in the past and also maybe there was a lot of drama going on with someone or maybe even him?

“And these days I'm a picture frame Screaming at the sunshine, singing in the rain”

I like the play with opposites. Most humans like sunshine and not the rain. I can relate to the feeling that sometimes the rain fits the mood better and then you look at the sun in an angry way. As if it was shining in a sarcastic way.

“Sugar on the blood cells, carbon on the brain”

Sugar I've got a taste for you....well! I still get ED vibes from this. Or from both of them. And carbon...maybe not breathing right? When you start to breath the wrong way because you are stressed?!

“Out of Eden's vices running through my veins”

To me this just represents the way we are so deeply attached to the materialistic world. Hinting on Adam and Eve maybe and how they were not supposed to eat apples from that forbidden tree?!

To me this always symbolizes how humanity is kind of a slave to the materialistic world.

“Oxytocin running in the ether”

I like that! Oxytocin has something to do with connection or connecting to others. Let's say you just slept with someone then your body is flooded with it.

Ether uses to be in the periodic table of the elements but someone made sure that it got erased. Not going into the depths this one, though.

“Silicon ballrooms Subatomic interactions if it's all good”

This is the nerdiest way ever of saying “sex”. At least that's what I think he means.

I'm picturing myself saying this my none existing girlfriend “let's have subatomic interaction tonight”.

(I think I need a girlfriend...for only one reason: that I can say this to her)

“Gold rush, acid flux”

That rush that love can give you? But he also says acid and I know the meaning of this word. Maybe he means drugs? Or maybe just acid from your stomach, when you ate the wrong food and then your stomach starts acting up? I have no idea.

“Saturate me, I can't get enough”

Imagine me sitting on a desk and raising my eyebrows in a suspicious way. Sex again Mr. Vessel?!

Of course he means just saturated atoms....oh well I don't know how to say this in English actually. I think he means saturated chemical compounds...or maybe not.

“Cold love, hot blood Running to your heart when you're thinking of”

Makes me think about the whole album of “This place will become your tomb” where it feels like he is torn between loving or hating someone. This feels the same way to me. Maybe he know that they are no good for each other but he still likes the thought of them being close to him.

I swear....this is such a BPD thing.....

“Oh and I am done dancing to alarm bells No wonder my ears are still ringing”

This makes me think of someone being highly emotional, very impulsive and also hysterical af...I think I know her. She is typing this right now. Okay, it's a past version of me that it reminds me of.

“And I am done fighting off change No wonder my arms are still swinging”

Change is often considered to something bad. It's us staying in the know. But it can also be something good.

[gjdraws]

Art ask: 4, 7, 11, and 14 💖

4. Fav character/subject that's a bitch to draw

Mr. Miyagi sorry Mr. Miyagi I love you but is very hard to draw

7. A medium of art you don't work in but appreciate

OH HMM. tbh I would kill to be able to do painterly visdev type stuff like the amazing @cookietastic but hand no paint gud like that 😭 I also love soundscapes and podfics but those are so much work ooof

11. Do you listen to anything while drawing? If so, what

Oh hmmm. Well I guess I have playlists to get in the zone for a particular comic sometimes but tbh I think I'm one of those people who just draws in the quiet? If I'm listening to something tho, that vibe will 100% make it into the comic. Like for Running through my veins/the johnny jogging chapter I was listening to Iron Maiden and this song clearly made into the chapter name/summary etc etc

14. Any favorite motifs

Absolutely cringe but if there's a trash man with self worth issues I will be talking about him. I will do ludicrous pulpy variations of him being a well meaning goof, a repentant damsel in distress and if canon/fanon makes him an idiot I WILL MAKE HIM SMART IN HIS OWN FUCKING WAY. The repentant damsel in distress thing and the helpful goof thing are so real tho I'm extremely attached to them fully aware of how cringe I am

[oltammefru]

I've been playing a fuckton of IS3, I got to the point where I maxed out the Cognitive Shaping tree so I thought I'd share all my scattered miscellaneous thoughts about IS3. Warning, this is extremely long, and ramblely and not particularly coherent. Currently I've played up to the +11 difficulty.:

The story is great. The vibes are great, I really like all the writing in the collectible flavor text (the ones that were modified from the IS2 text anyway. Some of them still reference IS2 specific stuff and that feels a little off) and encounters. There's a really good combination of sad/heart-wrenching (the Irene, Lumen encounters, some of the AH related ones), unsettling (basically all the seaborny encounters), and hilarious (first Big Bob gets busted for tax fraud, then seaborn get drunk on his beer and he goes gamer mode because of it).

The symbiosis stage in floor 1 is hard as fuck. Like I think the normal version of it is harder than emergency versions of most other floor 1 stages. Like making it through floor 1 mostly feels like luck on whether I get that stage or not and it's sort of really frustrating.

There's a few really really cool new collectibles. In particular I'm a big fan of of the ones that give big boosts to an operator if they're deployed on a specific tile, and also the one that makes all your ranged operators camouflaged (although admittedly this one is also like. super fucking busted)

Some of the new enemy designs are very neat. In particular, I think that the Hermit Crabby guys are really really neat (I talk about it more extensively here). One really neat thing about the IS3 scaling difficulty is that the exact same enemy can feel extremely different to play on different floors. Early on, the hermit crabs aren't that scary to your ranged operators unless you misplay them quite hard, but lategame they can be an incredible threat to your ranged operators unless you play against them quite well.

I still haven't completed the Last Knight ending yet, but I do really like how much more interesting the encounters for it are. The task of escorting the knight to the last floor is a lot more interesting than what you had to do for the BSL ending. I also appreciate how deciding whether or not to take the Knight's Corpus is a serious, meaningful decision and not just something you try to go for every run like Blank Suicide Note was for BSL. Lastly, the fact that if you're not going for the Knight Ending, the fact that you get 2 hope instead of a tiny 1 hope is so nice.

The difficulty scaling feels done in a lot more interesting manner than IS2 hardmode. In IS2 hardmode, really the only source of additional difficulty was some negative collectible you receive at the beginning and that's it, so oftentimes if you just made safely through earlygame you'd could just take every lategame emergency fight with no consequence and snowball out of control. Meanwhile, in IS3, the difficulty scales massively with floor, meaning the game not only tests your ability to make it through early game, but also compound your initial advantages and snowball hard enough to outscale the difficulty.

In a similar vein, knowing when to take emergency operations or not feels like a far bigger deal in IS3 than IS2, both because 1. they're generally pretty important to scale into lategame, and 2. some of the later game emergency ops are hard as fuck and can extremely easily kill runs, a lot more so than in IS2.

Also in a similar vein, I like how there's a lot more in battle "minigames" that allow you to scale better, like the addition of the sad doggo detective guy and the chests being more interesting.

A lot of the tactical equipments got buffed and some of the buffs I'm pretty surprised about, especially the Mr. Boom/stun one, since it's already inherently better in IS3 (with a stunnable boss 1, and many hovering enemies) but they also decided to make the item give you two stun bombs instead of one.

The spiked treasure chests are ridiculously annoying, the damage they reflect is so incredibly much. I generally find them way worse to deal with than chest seaborn, despite them giving way worse rewards.

The fact that you get a free shield in each fight in IS2 was super useful but also made my play super sloppy in certain areas, and I didn't realize until playing IS3 how reliant I was on that free shield. There's something sort of similar in IS3, but that requires you to repeatedly get flawless runs while at least 8 life, which is far bigger of a condition than getting it for free.

The +1 Hope to all 3star and above operators from difficulty level 3 feels extremely restrictive if you're picking a squad which isn't the -1 Hope squad or one of the Tactical X squads. It means you can't start with a 6star without any additional initial hope, and it means you're often just taking reserve ops instead of 3stars. Since +1 hope punishes lower rarity units over higher rarity units (for instance, going from 2 to 3 hope for a 4star, is a +50% increase, while 6 to 7 for a 6star is only a +16.67% increase), oftentimes it feels like the best option is just to take only reserve operators and 6 stars, which is a little unfun. This image here is a good summary of this penalty as a whole. Also shoutouts to reserve operator - defender, who is ridiculously cracked and has saved so many runs.

For the collectibles exchange tile, I'm reasonably sure some basically "single-use" collectibles (like ones that give a promote on acquisition) aren't exchangeable, but the cursed ones are, which I think is hilarious. It's also incredibly funny that there seems to be no difference in terms of text/dialogue no matter if the collectible you give is a beneficial one or a cursed one.

Before unlocking the enemy summary screens of all the stages, they all seem very long and scary, but it turns out that's just because they include 4 different "probably won't actually show up" bonus enemies.

I wish there were more miniboss fights. There's technically six, but there's really only small differences between several of them so it feels a lot more like 3 to me. I also don't think I've ever really particularly struggled with any of the minibosses in any run (although the tidelinked bishop one does feel the hardest to me), in contrast, I've died on random normal stages (not even emergency) so many times.

Overall I really love IS3, I think it improves on IS2 in so many ways and while there's a few things that I dislike about it, those tend to be relatively small.

[distort-opia]

Has Joker ever flirted with Riddler in comics? Reevesverse riddlejokes got me hyped because they seem lowkey wholesome together, but idk if there's any canon merit to that.

Well. No, and yes? It depends on how you want to look at it, I suppose.

In my eyes they're frenemies with a good amount of tension; I don't ship them, but I think they're a lot of fun to see interact. Joker doesn't always get along with his fellow villains, since he tends to be feared for his cruelty and unpredictability even by other criminals... or simply considered terribly annoying. But he seems to have a kind of villainous competition going with Riddler, at least in earlier years, for the title of Batman's greatest rival. Or rather... Riddler has it with him? Out of the two, it's Edward that seems more interested in proving his superiority, and Joker tends to dismiss him or egg him on just to get on his nerves. Joker generally really enjoys getting on people's nerves.

I ended up going through comics I remembered having more relevant Joker & Riddler interactions in a vaguely chronological manner, to get an idea of it... for my own curiosity and records as well. I'm putting the comic panels and the discussion under the cut, as always.

A relevant and relatively recent Joker & Riddler comic takes place at the end of Bruce's first year as Batman: The War of Jokes and Riddles, otherwise abbreviated as TWOJAR. Riddler realizes that Joker cannot laugh anymore, and endeavours to be the one to solve the why of it. To be the one to make him laugh.

-- Batman (2016) #25

Joker had been directing the puzzle at Batman (as usual), but then Riddler intervenes. And it... doesn't go over well. Joker shoots Riddler and then Batman pretty much leaves him for dead. Joker and Riddler then end up in a war for Gotham, each of them taking over one half of the city and recruiting different allies in a fight that's tearing Gotham apart, and that Bruce is desperate to stop. All along, Joker is not very respectful towards Edward:

-- Batman (2016) #29

In the end, it's more of a Batjokes story, tbh. It's about Joker stopping Bruce from killing Riddler, but not because he cares about Edward -- but because he doesn't want Batman to become a murderer, and thus stop being Batman. Although I guess you could argue Edward ultimately did make Joker laugh. Just not in a way he ever predicted. He pissed Bruce off so much he attempted murder (an utterly hilarious ongoing theme, Bruce seems to be deathly annoyed by Edward in particular, so many times).

But they don't seem to hold that much of a grudge, going forward :)) Such is life when you're a supervillain, I guess. Later on, somewhere around the beginning of Tim's time as Robin, Edward calls Joker first to brag about teaming up with Batman:

-- Batman: Run, Riddler, Run

They also have the same "frenemies who take shots at each other" vibe in a flashback to the earlier years:

-- Batman (2016) #90

Then they seem to be getting along in the same vein, in a story that takes place immediately after the earthquake that hit Gotham in Batman: Cataclysm:

-- Arkham Asylum: Tales of Madness

Really do recommend this little comic, it's got especially fun interactions between Joker, Riddler, Scarecrow and Killer Croc, with Joker as the ringleader (which tends to happen more often than not).

Then there's Riddler's oneshot in Joker's Asylum, a series of stories told from Joker's perspective about multiple Gotham Rogues -- which is actually pretty great and I do recommend it overall (Joker breaking the fourth wall, my beloved). We don't really get interactions between Joker and Riddler, or at least not direct ones. As Joker tells the story of Edward falling in love with a woman as with a riddle he needs to solve, and then getting depressed when he's rejected, there's one villain that shows up at his door...

-- Joker's Asylum II: The Riddler

Joker makes who the visitor was a mystery, but it's most likely him (or Riddler himself, but look, I personally think Joker was the visitor and Riddler himself tipped off the police later due to his compulsion to leave clues). And so, seeing as it's probably Joker, "Want me to snap your neck?" and "That a promise?" is really endearing to me. On the whole, it's an interesting story, since it's a window into how Joker views Riddler as much as it is a story about Edward.

Then there's this absolute gem of an interaction that takes place sometime after No Man's Land concludes:

-- Justice Leagues: Justice League of Arkham (2001)

Bruce hosing them down like two misbehaving cats is utterly hilarious. I love it. And seeing as Joker's very definition of flirting is pissing people off, I'd say that this qualifies.

[sigh] Chronologically then there's... the Hush Returns storyline from Gotham Knights #50-55, but I'm pretty sure it isn't canon. If it was, Joker's name and history should've been known to everyone a long time ago -- and it wasn't, clearly. Basically, in this story, Riddler apparently witnessed how the murder of Joker's wife happened, and he has the name of the man responsible; he's got something Joker wants, and so Joker protects him from Hush, who's after Riddler. Yeah, that's right, it's making The Killing Joke fully canon, but by having Joker remember everything perfectly. Hate it. Skip.

The rivalry vibe does continue, though, if this is any indication (yes, that's Edward, and yes, it is confusing):

-- Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #189

And during Battle for the Cowl, later on, there's this:

-- Batman: Battle for the Cowl -- The Underground

"Dear God, let the Joker not be right behind me." Lmao. Wonder how many people get this train of thought a day in Gotham.

And well, Joker certainly seems to be trying to get on Edward's good side so he can be part of his scheme in Death of the Family, in the New 52:

-- Batman (2011) #15

Love the "you keep his sword nice and sharp" metaphor from Joker. Not an euphemism at all, no sir. Still, since Joker did choose Edward as one of the four most important villains to Batman, there's truth in what he's saying; he does respect what function Riddler serves. However... it's once again quite obvious that it's all about Batman to him, much like in TWOJAR.

And well, since then, there's been this tidbit in Batman: Preludes to the Wedding -- Batgirl vs. Riddler:

Tbh, the idea of Joker tying Edward to a chair and complaining about how he wasn't invited to Batman's wedding while Edward's having his whole life flash before his eyes is quite funny. But obviously, Joker knew what he was doing by dropping that word, since it did get Edward to attack and stir up trouble, which is what Joker orchestrated thorought the whole volume (or "kicked up hornets' nests", to quote Dick).

I guess, to conclude, Joker and Riddler had an ongoing rivalry for a while, with more lighthearted banter here and there. Joker does respect Edward and his intellect to a degree, enough to both fight him and recruit him; however, at the end of the day Joker doesn't see anyone as more important or intelligent than himself. He views only Batman as an equal. And the competition for Batman's attention is more what Edward cared about, but even he's clearly scared by Joker and defers to him in different stories. And that's just healthy survival instincts, honestly.

I do want to say these are comics I can personally think of. I did not include Elseworlds, or comics not in continuity like Azzarello's The Joker because I hate it; also, it's Clayface in Batman (2016) #75 and #81, not Joker, so I didn't include those issues either. But there's certainly other interactions out there, and if anyone wants to add to this, please do! Hope you had fun going through these, Anon. And that they're allowing you to make an idea for yourself of Joker and Riddler's vibes in comics.

[pigeonwit]

hihi hello how are you doing?

(if you'd like for the aus: shapeshifter au + 1920s au)

(hi davey!! i'm good!! i mean i'm tired but i'm good i'm making Ideas and i'm loving them!!)

oh that's SO fucking juicy... i'm gonna be borrowing some bartimaeus trilogy vibes for this.

Urban Fantasy Noir AU:

Jack is a shapeshifter working at a Medda's speakeasy, which has become renowned as a place of safety for for magical creatures. Jack has made something of a name for himself for his abilities as it makes him sought after for certain jobs, specifically the theft and distribution of magical artefacts.

Davey is a human detective hired by William Hearst for the recovery of an antique printing press that was stolen from him by a shapeshifter he wants imprisoned. Normally Davey avoids any jobs to do with magickind, but his family needs the money, and Pulitzer's willing to pay whatever price Davey wants to name - provided he gets the press back.

When Wiesel, one of Jack's usual colleagues on his jobs, and Snyder, the officer Davey's meant to be assisting on the investigation, both attempt to kill them, they both realize there's more to the job and decide to work together.

Snippet:

Jack watches from the rafters as a dark figure sweeps into the church. He’s dressed all in black – a wool cloak, dark trousers, a smart black hat. He’d almost look like one of the folks on Wall Street if his shoes didn’t give him away – thick leather lace-ups, built for walking, running, climbing, all things rich people didn’t need to do.

From beneath the brim of his hat, he can make out Davey’s eyes sweeping across the ceiling, silver-blue with a ring of rust around the pupil. He looks from pigeon to pigeon, until his gaze lands on where Jack is perched below the stained glass window.

“You gonna come down?” He smirks playfully, hands shoved in his pockets, as he meets Jack’s gaze head-on. “Or are you gonna make me come up?”

Jack’s tempted – sorely tempted – to take Davey up on the bluff. Serve the bastard right for showing him up. But he’s itching with adrenaline, that thrill of the hunt racing through his veins – and if he’s honest, which he rarely is, the thought of looking into Davey’s silver-rust eyes makes that thrill turn wild.

He spreads his wings and flutters to the pews. As he lands, he curls his wings around his head and twists, his bones stretching as his body is painted anew – and his boots land, perfectly balanced, on the back of the bench, meeting Davey’s gaze.

“How do you keep doing that?” He huffs, hunching his shoulders as if he still had feathers to ruffle. Davey only smirks at him, his blue eyes glowing under the pale light that filters through the roof.

“I don’t reveal my secrets to any old colleague, Jack.”

“So you admit we’re colleagues.”

“Temporary colleagues.” Davey says firmly, his smile now vanished. “What’ve you got for me?”

“You’re no fun.” Jack scoffs. Davey only raises an eyebrow at him expectantly – he groans and hands him the folder he’s kept tucked in his jacket. “Records from the storage facility. See? Right there, in the middle, under Delancey – Wiesel was storing something big, and he was willing to pay a lot to keep it secure.”

Davey looks from the paper to Jack, brow raised.

“How much of an idiot do you think I am?” He asks, voice flat. “Delancey is an awfully different name to Wiesel.”

“Delancey means Oscar and Morris.”

“Oscar and Morris Wiesel.”

“Delancey.” Jack glares. “They’re orphans. Wiesel’s not their uncle, not by blood – he picked ‘em up from the Refuge, wanted some extra muscle. Delancey is the name they were given when they first got turned in.”

“And how do you know that?”

“’Cause I was in there with ‘em.” Jack sneers. “Jack Kelly, remember? They go alphabetically for each kid – not much between D and K.”

Davey looks at him for a moment, blue eyes wide, like he’s seeing him for the first time.

“You’re an orphan.”

It’s not a question.

Jack looks to the floor, forces himself to chuckle.

“Don’t s’pose many folks want a monster in the cradle.” He holds up his arm and flexes, thick fur sprouting from the pores as his nails turn to claws.

[dexadin]

What's your opinion on female Strahd/"Strahdyana"? I know it's a popular way of reducing the creep factor inherent in the CoS module, but it always rubbed me the wrong way somehow.

This will also probably be a long one because I have been shaking it around in my brain like a snowball.

So first off, I do not actually care if you make your Strahd a woman, I know that there are Big Name D&D players who do it successfully. I believe Ginny Di runs a female Strahd, and what I've seen of it from over on Twitter seems pretty neat. That being said, I think about Strahd, like, too much, and also spend a lot of time on CoS reddit and twitter, and I do think a lot of DMs use female!Strahd as a quick & dirty way to reduce the creep factor, like you said, without really considering the power imbalances and forces at play that allow Strahd to be a creep. I think that might be why it rubs you the wrong way the same way a lot of it rubs me the wrong way. It isn't actually the gender swap that's the core problem, but the lack of assessment that goes into a lot of these types of games. I'm going to go into Probably Too Much Detail as to why below the cut

CW for discussions of sexism, sex/gender based violence, suicide, and homophobia, as well as major spoilers for Curse of Strahd below the cut

As written in the module, Strahd is a horrible fucking monster. He acts like an incel and is a manipulative, jealous, psycho-sexual creep. Strahd works as a timeless villain, because he's more than just a bogeyman. He is not only the monster under the bed, but the monster sharing the bed. He's deeply pathetic and deplorable and terrifying all at the same time. I think this is something a lot of tables don't want to tackle headfirst for obvious reasons, but still want to enjoy the classic gothic horror of CoS, and I think that's great! D&D is supposed to be fun, and as written, CoS is a meatgrinder that can be a pain in the ass to slog through at times. But in my opinion, it requires a lot of work on the part of the DM to really look through the module and see what needs to be kept, what needs to be reworked or reinterpreted, and what needs to be scrapped.

I think that it's very easy to see a character like Strahd whose main plot revolves around gendered, sexual violence (pursuing an unwilling Tatyana to and through her death) and say that changing him to a her will fix that gendered violence in a way I really do not vibe with.

For example, simply changing Strahd to lady!Strahd isn't going to make finding a 16-year-old Gertruda in her bed any less terrible. Lady!Strahd might make the initial discomfort of the pursuit of Ireena less uncomfortable, especially if you change the subject of Strahd's pursuit to Ismark, but it doesn't actually change the immorality of the actions. And obviously, lady!Strahd will not fix the fact that she pursued Tatyana (or even guy!Tatyana) until she is driven to suicide.

If you change Strahd to a woman, are you also going to gender-swap the rest of the characters, or are you just going to have a woman be responsible for the torture and killing of so many women and children? In the same vein, are you going to consider the potential homophobic implications of having a lesbian predator treat women the same way as-writ Strahd would? Are you going to dismantle the power structures that exist in CoS just as diligently as you would with a male antagonist? Are you going to make sure that your changes aren't diminishing or making light of gendered and sexual violence perpetrated against men by women? Will these changes alone be enough to make CoS enjoyable by you and your players? Obviously, if the answer is yes, then go off! Use your safety tools and keep communication open. I just think that sometimes DMs, especially on Reddit, think they're doing a lot with lady!Strahd without doing much at all.

That said, I do think there is some interesting potential in CoS having a woman antagonist, though. I think it could be fun to explore some antiquated gender dynamics-- is it really Tatyana that Strahd is after, or is Strahd jealous of Sergei because he's the male heir who received their parent's keep, while Strahd had to go out and fight for her respect? How would Strahd's relationship to Rahadin, or Fiona Wachter potentially change? I think a woman Strahd would make a great baseline to bring Baba Lysaga to the forefront as a more prominent, plot-important enemy than she's written as. I'd love to see what could happen with that maternal dynamic with a hardened woman instead of an entitled man. From what I've seen though, that's not the kind of thing most DMs who gender swap Strahd are looking for. I could be wrong though!

TLDR: lady!Strahd can be a fun way to challenge preconceived notions about the module, and to revamp (heh) the story a little. It can also give your players a new way to simp over Strahd, because BBEG-fuckers come in all genders and sexual orientations. However, I think a lot of DMs use it as a way to fix the module through 'girlboss-ifying' Strahd instead of confronting its many, many issues, and I don't think it should be used as the DMs primary method of 'fixing' the module. In fact, I think it can actually open more ideological cans of worms than running it as written.

On a lighter note, I do think Strahdyana von Zarovich is a silly name. Like, Strahdyana doesn't feel particularly Slavic, it's not good to look at or say, and it feels weird especially when you are keeping Tatyana's name Tatyana. But most importantly, it should be von Zarova because that's how Slavic surnames work. The naming conventions are frustratingly inconsistent in the book, but if you're gonna do it at all, I say do it better LMAO

[poisonouswritings]

okay... last ask... for now.. I DON'T WANNA BOMBARD YOU SKHSKS

anywhos,

hc of Sage and MC getting into a fight where he accidentally says something seriously hurtful? Mc who deadpans upon hearing it and calmly walks out of the room they're in. Later Sage (or anyone else) goes to check on them in their room but they can overhear crying coming from the other side of the door. Yknow the vibes

IT NEEDS A HAPPY ENDING THO THIS IS HURT/COMFORT BECAUSE I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH

anywhos, thank you for all you do for the fandom ozzy! You keep the brainworms alive and well.

[Gets carried off by a giant cockatiel]

This post has a really good example of this and I'm gonna try really hard not to be too similar lol

Reg I want you to know that I've written this for Kit,, like they got into a really bad argument over something and she semi-accidentally said something hurtful so he said it was her fault Snow died and if you listen real closely you can hear my heart breaking at that part

GN!Reader, hurt/comfort, self-hating thoughts, vague mentions of (metaphorical) violence and self-harm, soft ending, kinda long

It was such a stupid fucking argument. He couldn't even remember who started it, much less what it was about. In the moment it doesn't matter. You accuse him of drinking too much. He calls you a prude. You snap that his anger makes him dangerous. He snarls that you're a coward.

Your voices are rising. There's nothing physical - no blows dealt, no blood lost - but it still hurts. That's the danger of letting someone in, isn't it? You expose the softest parts of yourself and wind up vulnerable. Beaten. Gutted by the hand of the person who you love most.

There's some part of him - that dark, gnawing monster in the pit of his chest that craves blood and destruction - that knows you will leave him. And maybe that's why he does it. So that when he sits at the bar and drowns his pain in whiskey he'll feel that it was inevitable. That he is simply a monster obsessed with his own self-destruction and there was nothing he could have done to change it. It puts flames in his blood and red in his eyes.

He knows you. The little fears that creep out of shadows, the insecurities that whisper in your ears, the regrets that refuse to rest in the graveyard of your past. You'd shared them all with him in moments of intimacy, his arms wound around your waist and your fingers combing through his hair as you mumbled your secrets. Yeah, he knows you.

He knows how to hurt you.

The words fly out of his mouth before he even knows that they're forming on his lips. And it isn't until he sees the way your shoulders stiffen and your eyes go dark that he realizes it would have hurt less if he'd just hit you.

Your lips move soundlessly for a moment. Then you shake your head just slightly and stumble like the world is spinning and run as far away from him as you can.

He feels sick to the pit of his stomach. Didn't he make a promise once? That he would never lose control of his corruption? That he would never, ever, ever hurt you?

Fuck. His head is pounding. He wishes he could tear his own throat out. He hates himself for it - well he hates himself for a lot of things but this is just the fucking cherry on top - but his ears flick as he tracks your footsteps. They move in short bursts like you have to stop to catch your breath.

A door slams shut. The fire in his veins finally turns to ice. His hands won't stop shaking no matter how tightly he balls them.

He isn't sure what prompts him to look up but he sees Felix and Anisa. How long were they standing there for? He has no idea. But from the look of horror in Felix's face and the look of rage on Anisa's, he guesses it was long enough. Before either of them can get a word out, he storms away, through a hidden passage and into the darkness that craves his damnation.

It's not the first time he wishes Elowen had killed him in Mournfall, but it's the first time he means it.

-----

The other two Starsworn know better than to intervene right away.

First they collect themselves. They've seen Sage's temper explode but it's never been like this. Never against you.

It's Anisa that goes off to find you, about an hour after the incident. She thinks back to the question she asked you oh-so-very long ago; Do you trust Sage? She remembers the way a tired smile had quirked the corner of your lips when you confirmed you did. In fact you'd seemed a little amused that she'd even asked.

Maybe it's wrong of her but she can't help but wonder what your answer would be now.

She doesn't have an ilephta's sense of hearing but she can still make out the sounds of your muffled sobs and choked wails from halfway down the hall. It tears her heart in two.

When she steps nervously up to the door she can't bring herself to knock. Not when you let out another muffled scream into your pillow. So instead she leans her back against the cold stone wall and waits.

And waits.

And waits.

It takes another half hour for your wails and sobs to subside, and even then she still hears clear sniffling. You only go silent when she taps on the door.

Her voice is soft. Sincere but not pushing. Do you want her to beat Sage up? ... No? No, you're right. It wouldn't make you feel better. She just wanted to bring a moment of levity. ... Well, look, i-if you... If you want to talk about anything... You know where to find her. And if you want her to send Sage out of Fathom so you don't have to- ... ...no. You're not that type of person. She knows that. She just... She just hopes you won't let him think what he said was okay just because he's hurting too. That's all. But you're a strong person, perhaps stronger than you realize. She doesn't mean to tell you how to handle this. She's just... She's worried about you. ...

The door creaks open. You poke your head out just enough to see her. Your eyes are red and puffy from sobbing and your voice is scratched from screaming. You thank her. She asks if you'd like some tea. You're about to refuse when a rough cough rattles your dry throat.

... maybe a cup wouldn't hurt.

-----

Felix goes to find Sage.

While he might not have the ilephtas impressive knowledge of Fathom's hidden passages, he does have a tracking spell. And it's using this spell that he finds Sage leaning over a balustrade, cold night air cutting against his skin, moping.

He tells Felix to leave before he's even set foot in the balcony. Felix promptly ignores him and walks over anyways.

The stand in silence for a few minutes, looking out at the night suffocating Porrima. Sage asks how you're doing. Felix admits he doesn't know for sure, considering he didn't go with Anisa, but he imagines the answer is 'not well.'

Sage buries his face in his hands and asks Felix to throw him over the railing.

Green flames flicker at Felix's fingertips. He clenches his hands into fists to snuff them. Then crosses his arms over his chest and tells Sage to get over himself. Sure, Sage did something horrible. And it's good that he feels guilty over it. But he hurt you. You are the one that suffered the wrath of his rage. You are the one that ran off with tears in your eyes. So Sage needs to stop being so damn self-pitying for a moment and do whatever he possibly can to help you. And if that means staying away for a while, fine - but he needs to put in the effort before he turns tail and runs away.

Sage's growing growl dies in his throat. He fixes Felix with a tired glare. Amber eyes are gradually come into focus. His throat is thick with angst as he asks if it's even a good idea. Won't his presence hurt you more right now?

Felix sighs. The fight drains from his shoulders and he looks out at the skyline again. The air doesn't feel quite so oppressive this time. The distant torches seem to glow just a little brighter.

He loved Rime. And Rime loved him. There was no doubt about that. But they argued - gods how they used to argue sometimes - and they hurt each other. Ugly words were gargled like broken glass in bleeding throats, tears formed rivers, pain was a currency. They were horrible incidents. Ones that Felix still shudders to remember.

But there were other things too. Hesitant touches. Whispered apologies. True remorse. More tears - always more tears. New understandings. New beginnings. They're messy and imprecise and confusing. But they were genuine.

No matter how devoutly and purely you love, you will inevitably hurt your partner. Just as they will inevitably hurt you. But if you love them enough, you won't just run away. You'll stay and pick up the pieces and try to mend them. And with any luck you'll make something stronger in the process.

Sage closes his eyes and takes a long, slow breath. The same way you taught him to do when the little beast in his chest starts to claw and gnaw and crave.

Not again. Not again.

-----

Sage knocks softly on your door. He doesn't want to wake you if you're asleep. It's late now - or early, depending on how you look at it. He'd stayed outside longer than he meant to trying to figure out what to say. All he'd really accomplished was remembering how shitty he was at stringing together sincere words.

He just barely hears you mumble that the door is unlocked. It creaks almost painfully loud when he opens it. His ears pin against his hair. His tail gives an agitated twitch.

You're little more than a pile of blankets and pillows and two weary eyes poking out of them. As his own eyes rapidly adjust to the dark, he can make out dried streaks of tears clinging stubbornly to your cheeks.

Gods he hates- ... No. This isn't about him.

You sigh softly and lift up the blankets, revealing the empty spot against your side that was normally reserved for a certain overgrown cat. He hesitates. Wrestles down a new wave of self-hatred. Kicks his boots off and half-heartedly nudges them to the side. Leaves his armor and sword on the desk and drapes his jacket over the back of the chair. Slowly crawls in beside you, settling into the familiar dip in the mattress that is his and his alone. You tuck yourself against his side and mumbles that he does a much better job of keeping you warm than the blankets do, anyways.

And for a few minutes you both sit there. You mush your cheek into the broad expanse of his chest. He runs his fingers up and down your spine.

He's... Sorry doesn't even begin to cover it. You know he didn't mean any of it, right? That he was just worked up and angry and he lashed out at the nearest thing. And that doesn't make it right - it'll never be right - but he never in a million years wanted to hurt you.

You close your eyes and hum in agreement. You know he didn't mean it. But he still said it.

He knows that. And he knows he'll have to work hard to regain your trust. That is, if you even want him to....

You tilt your head up just enough to lock eyes with him. Call him an idiot. Snuggle back up to his chest.

The little laugh he gives is somewhere between relieved and incredulous. It's the first time he's relaxed in hours.

Sure, there's plenty of work to be done, discussions to be had, apologies for be made.

But you're still here in his arms. And that's enough to lull him to a restful sleep.

[winterandwords]

✍🏻 WRITEBLR INTRO

👋🏻 Hi, I'm Winter. I write dark, emotionally intense fiction about queer disaster-people who collide against a backdrop of moral bankruptcy and surf the downward spiral hand in bloodstained hand. It mostly ends well for them though, because I get pretty attached to them and apparently readers do too (which is why I appreciate all you twisted beautiful souls so much).

🌈 I write a lot of LGBT+ characters so it feels relevant to say that I’m an LGBT+ character too. I know that might not matter to my readers, but it matters to me and it impacts my creative perspective as well as my perspective on life in general.

📝 I don't write explicit sexual content because it's not my vibe (not a genital in sight here, folks). That said, if you're uncomfortable with themes around fictional violence, drug and alcohol use, and angsty kink in stories aimed at an adult audience, I might not be the ideal writer for you to follow. Not everything is for everyone and that's OK.

🔗 LINKS

📖 Read my books online, and download them as EPUBs and PDFs, for free at WinterAndWords.com ☕ If you enjoy my writing and would like to offer some support, you can buy me a virtual coffee on Ko-fi 📲 If you want to see some non-writing life fragments, my photo and video diary lives on Instagram and TikTok

💜 My reblogs tend to be writing-related, with a few exceptions. My likes are (mostly) non-writing-related things I got a kick out of, or personal posts that I want to acknowledge but that don't feel appropriate to reblog.

⭐ Encouragement for you Write what the fuck you want Gentle truths and kind honesty for writers Writing advice about 'writing advice'

🌊 NOVEMBER BREAKS (complete)

Genre: Transgressive, literary Audience: Adult Length: Approx 52k words

Working title was Project Storm

VIBE Crime, weather symbolism and questionable life choices. Hurt me, I need to feel alive. Violence is a drug. Also, drugs are drugs. This is a love story like crude oil is a tea. #ThatShouldNotBeHot. Nothing’s real anyway.

INTRO No conscience, no problem.

Noah kills for money. Brett hides a life of crime behind a successful career. Officially, they both protect people from people like themselves. Unofficially, everything is falling apart. Until they meet. And it all gets worse...

Read or download on my website

💀 FIVE (complete)

Genre: Various Audience: Adult Length: Approx 6.5k words

INTRO A collection of short science fiction, experimental, urban fantasy, and horror stories exploring themes of loss, transition, and altered states.

Read or download on my website

🌃 PROJECT FREQUENCY (WIP)

Genre: Cyberpunk, neon-noir Audience: Adult

VIBE High-rise buildings and low-life scum. Everything hurts, but not enough to feel good. Yes, that’s a gun in my pocket and no, I’m not pleased to see you. If mind control is real, why do I still have to make decisions?

INTRO Corruption and cruelty run through the veins of an opulent metropolis, where every side is the wrong side and progress is fuelled by exploitation. Too useful to waste on prison, underworld assassin Rafael Turner is sentenced to military service. When a mission to infiltrate a criminal gang drags his past to the surface and someone he thought he'd lost forever unexpectedly returns, Rafe has a chance at a future he’d given up hoping for. But how much is he willing to risk to make it a reality?

WIP summary Sign up for the tag list

Updates 23 October 2022 05 September 2022 13 August 2022

📇 TAG INDEX

#the shit in my head | rants, rambles and writer life

#project storm | WIP excerpts, updates etc (see also #november breaks for posts about the book after publication)

#project frequency | WIP excerpts, updates etc

#my writing | snippets and other wordstuff

#microfiction | tiny little stories

#your writing | other people's words

#writeblr tags | tag games and memes

#writeblr connect | finding writeblrs to follow

#reblogs | what it says on the tin

#reblogs plus | reblogs with my additions