#what do you MEAN i can't put a blue sky through my windows??? i put snow on them?? there are icicles??? a christmas tree?????

[originalaccountname]

adding those tags to Ito's post about where artists and writers come from reminded me of when I was 8 there was this contest we could enter through our school, we had to draw a winter/holiday-themed picture for a maple syrup company, then select our favourite one in class and the teacher would submit that one

I was THE artist of my class, the one known for her drawing skills among her piers, the one people would oooh and aaah at and request stuff to. I cared about colors and details. I drew the inside of a log cabin with a Christmas tree and colorful lights hung around the windows, with snow and icicles along the frames outside. I was real proud of that drawing.

Which is why I'm still extremely mad my classmates refused to vote for my entry because I colored the sky through the snowy windows blue and apparently "the sky isn't blue in winter"

[kayhi808]

They Met in Delacroix

Masterlist

You had followed a man down to New Orleans, thinking he'd be the love of your life and you'd have a future together, only to have him break up with you. You didn't have family to turn to, so now you're by yourself trying to make someplace feel like home.

You met Sarah through the restaurant you worked at. Sarah owned a commercial fishing boat, so she'd sell fresh seafood to the restaurant. You didn't have many friends. Your ex was very possessive & controlling. He kept you isolated, so when he dumped you, you were really set adrift with nothing & no one.

Stopping off at the table you were folding napkins at, "Are you working this Saturday?"

Shaking your head, "No, I'm on Sunday this week."

"Good, my big brother will be in town for a couple weeks and I'm having a cookout. Come by the house."

"Oh, I don't kn..."

"I'm not taking 'no' for an answer. What else do you have planned?" Standing there with her hands on her hips but with the sweetest & most understanding smile. "Come early & spend the day. The boys miss you." She squeezes your arm on the way out.

And that is how you find yourself in Delacroix, driving down the road to a house by the river. The wind blowing through your hair from the open window of your truck that has seen better days. You really need to get your air condition fixed, but that's another expense you can't afford right now. As you pull up to the house, your nerves get the better of you. You wipe your sweaty palms on your skirt. You didn't quite know what to wear. You picked a long boho dress. You felt cute in it. You grab your dessert and slam the door to the truck.

"Y/N!!" Sarah's youngest, AJ, runs towards you, wrapping his arms around your waist. Quickly followed by Cass, the oldest. You wrap your free arm around the both of them the best you can, dropping kisses on them. Her boys were the sweetest. "What did you bring us?"

"AJ, where are your manners?" Sarah materializes, taking the box from your hands, giving it to AJ to put it the house. "I told you to just bring yourself," wrapping you in a big hug.

"I made cheesecake. It's needs the fridge." Sarah tells AJ to put it in the fridge & he nods while running back to the house. Returning her hug, "Thank you so much for inviting me."

"Of course! Come, let me introduce you to my brother." You turn the corner of the house, "Sam, this is Y/N. My brother Sam & his friend, Bucky over there." You give a small wave.

"So you're the one I've heard so much about lately," before engulfing you in a warm hug that makes you blush. This was such an affectionate family. "I think my nephews are fighting over who gets to marry you."

"Uncle Sam! Stop! Don't...God!" Cass & AJ scream immediately. Cass tries to bean him with a football which Sam easily catches, but that didn't stop Bucky from going to your side with his hand out protecting in case the ball came your way. He looks down at you with eyes as blue as the Louisiana sky, "I'm Bucky."

"Hi, Y/N." The tall handsome brunette leaves you breathless. "I...I'm going to see if Sarah needs my help." You walk towards Sarah who's trying to stop a fight between the boys & their Uncle. You look over your shoulder at Bucky & he gives you a smile when he catches you.

******

The morning flew by in a whirlwind of activity. By the looks of it, the entire town of Delacroix will be there. All 116 townspeople. I mean, Captain America & the Winter Soldier are HERE. Who wouldn't want to meet them?

When people started to arrive it got overwhelming. Not in a bad way. Everyone was having a great time. People were so warm & welcoming towards you. It was a lot though. The loud music, laughter, kids yelling & chasing each other around. It was a great party. It just left you out of sorts.

Thinking to escape for a bit, you went to your truck only to find it blocked in by a couple dozen other vehicles. You end up dropping the tailgate to sit on. You needed a little bit of solitude to recharge your social battery. You lay back in the truck bed, legs swinging over the side, listening to the music from a distance.

"Are you alright?" You hear his soft baritone & you prop yourself up on your elbows. It's Bucky.

"I'm fine. Just needed a lil break."

"Mind if I join you? It gets to be...A LOT, " nodding back at the house. You shake your head and shrug as he hops up onto the tailgate & lays back on the other side of the truck, closing his eyes. You go back to doing the same. "This is nice." There's a peaceful silence. You were in the in-between of falling asleep and being awake. "When should we be heading back?"

You turn to him, "When we feel recharged or when we smell food."

He opens his eyes and smiles at you, "Food?"

"I'm hungry. They've got such good food there. I'm still not used to the amazing food down here."

"You're not Louisiana, born & raised?"

"No sir, I'm from all the way out West, California."

"How'd you end up here?"

You turn away & close your eyes, "Bad life choices."

"We've all made a few of those."

You look at him, "I'm sorry."

He gives you a sad smile, 'I'm sorry, too."

"I think I smell ribs." Bucky chuckles. "I'm positive I smell ribs." You sit up & hop off the truck. "Ready to head back?" You hold out your hand to help pull him up. He groans but hops off the truck & closes the tailgate for you. You run around to the front to grab a sweater from the front seat.

You head back to the party when you hear, "And where have you two been??" You gasp as Sam walks over frowning, looking all parental.

"Shut up, man."

"I...Bucky just walked me back to the truck so I could get my sweater." Holding up your cardigan.

"You don't need to explain yourself to him." Sam starts laughing as you hurry yourself away. "Why do you have to be such a jackass?"

"AJ & Cass are going to beat you up! You got some stiff competition for her."

"All I did was walk her to her truck."

"MmmHmmm"

******

After dinner, the guys moved the tables to make way for dancing. You had a blanket spread out on the side where you sat and watched everyone. Even the little kids paired up and we're dancing. They were so entertaining. You haven't laughed this hard in a long time.

A slower song started up and you see Bucky headed your way. Butterflies started circling your belly. He has such a sweet smile on his face.

"Hey, Y/N?" Cass comes running up to you, cutting Bucky off. "Would you dance with me?" Your eyes quickly dart to Bucky and you see his glare which makes you giggle. "Cass, I'd love to dance with you." You take his hand and he practically jerks you off the blanket which makes you laugh harder. With your hand in his Cass runs you out onto the dance floor. You hurry past Bucky and you swear you heard him growl.

Since you danced with Cass you had to dance with AJ next, but he got distracted and left you on the dancefloor to run off with his friends. "The nerve of some people." You spin around at the sound of Bucky's voice. You look up at his smiling face. He steps up to you, taking your hand in his, his other hand, lightly at the small of your back. "Finally, my dance." And every dance after that was his.

[iloveaustinelvisandmannymore]

Pretty admirer.

Pairing: Toji Fushiguro x chubby reader

Warning: Augst, Fluff, Stalking, Death Threats, Kidnapping, Bondage, Housewife kink, Breeding kink, Daddy kink, Toji's kinda sadistic, Unconsent-photo taking, Masturbation, Yandere!reader, reader's a little creep, stalkerish gifts, Creampie, Slapping, Oral(Male), Degrading kink, Mean Toji, Baby-trapping, Fingering, Multiple orgasms, Face-fucking, Choking, Dirty talk, Overstimulation, Rough sex.

Summary: Your love story with Toji Fushiguro was far from normal but you come to love it. By god, do you love it.

Dark, gloomy clouds blocked the Illuminating sun, It was like the weather felt what you were brewing inside. 'It's perfect' you glowered in your mind while you took a sip of the bitter coffee, watching as the sky reflected your mood. Your beloved ex and you were crazy for each other until he met his true love, You wanted to do something to her and you would have done so if he hadn't warned you of what would happen, and you knew better than to test him.

You rolled your eyes at the memory, Now you boredly watched people walk by the cafe window you sat in, the people looked just as boring as you felt. Until he strolled by, you would've missed him at first glance, simply because he was wearing such casual clothes if it wasn't for the flashy woman under his arm you'd completely miss him, through my. He was gorgeous, unbearable mesmerizing the clouds moved for the heavens to shine on him.

Ebony hair reached his ears and nearly covered his irises, they were green like the rainforest, and a scar on his right lip. it made him look ragged yet handsome, and certainly, his masculine body didn't help. His white shirt was two sizes down, every muscle of his was outlined and he wore simple blue jeans.

Your heartbeat quickened, and your breath shorted, it felt like you couldn't breathe, you needed him to live, he was your lifeline. he. was. yours.

You fumbled to get your stuff and rushed out of the cafe, Staying only a few feet behind you followed the couple to a modern, traditional Japanese-style house. The two entered the house, while you stayed back and wrote down the mysterious man's address in the notepad you carried around 'Fushiguro? So that's his last name.' you hummed, checking once again that nobody was watching you and no one was. Everything in you screamed to stay and learn more, watch him but it was daytime people would notice you snooping and you couldn't risk being caught. You left with one last glance at the Fushiguro household.

Day by day, you learned about your love, His full name is Toji Fushiguro, and he's in his early 30s, he has a son named Megumi, who's in college, his number and his hobbies consist of going to the gym your favorite, gambling, and your least favorite, fucking that homewrecker. There was still much more to learn, like his favorite things and what was his job, his work demanded most of his time. You overheard that Toji would be gone for a week on a business trip as he spoke to his employer in his favorite gambling place and you could finally put your plan in action.

You waited for him to leave, wishing him silently to be safe, and hurried to his door after the taxi he left in was out of sight, you took the copy key that you had printed out of the spare key he left under a rock, out of your bag and unlocked the door. You walked in and shut the door unworried that anyone would see you, it was six in the morning and still dark. You leaned on the closed door, a grin on your face, a warmth in your chest, and butterflies in your stomach, you felt like a kid in a candy store. You pushed off the door and walked around his home, clicking your tongue and shaking your head at the small messes around the house .'This can't do. When I'm his wife, I will make sure it is clean around here-' your cheeks heated up, you needed to focus! inhaling you continued. You passed the rooms you were least interested in, and stopped once you stumbled upon the laundry room, it was surprisingly clean, some clothes were on the dryer, towels were on the washer door, and a bin of dirty clothes. You gripped the sliding door and bit your lip, should you? It's not like he'd notice, it was wrong to steal but- without giving any more debate you grabbed a tank top, its dark green with a strong scent of musk, a smell of comfort.

You put it in your bag and moved on. The upstairs, had a second bathroom, a bedroom that looked like would be his son's room, your heart beating fast as you walked down the mini hall, into a master room, his room greeted you. the bed inside was at least a queen, he had a flat-screen TV opposite from his bed. A dark oak dresser and strangely a few weapons lying against or on the dresser, a closet, and a bedside table that had a basic lamb. Overall it was basic and little of characteristics. You sat down your bag and lay on the bed, your eyes slowly closed, you could nearly imagine him beside you, his arm around your naked body after passionate lovemaking, imagine him pushing your rotund thighs to your chest as he humped your pussy, and his balls covered in your slick, smacking against your ass, you imagine-a ring- wait, a ring? Your eyes shoot up as the doorbell rings. You rushed downstairs with your bag "Toji!" a high-pitched voice shrieked, the homewrecker you scowled "TOJI?!" she banged on the door, what the hell is she doing? She is trying to make him look bad? Your eyes widened as you hid as she used the spare key "God he's a fucking jerk, he didn't even tell me he was gone." She huffed walking to the laundry room, unaware of you following her.

You glared at her backside as she bent down in his dirty clothes picking out some of her panties, each more scandalous than the last, she was so..so pretty, seemed just like his type, you wanted to hurt her, you placed a foot in the door, No! no..not here, soon. you reassured yourself, slipping into the other room as she moved to turn to leave the room and the house altogether. You left a minute later, you had some planning to do. Instead of basking in Toji's home, you had to stalk your love's little fuck buddy Mayu, she seemed to like partying, getting shit-faced drunk, and sleeping around, you couldn't believe it. Did Toji have feelings for her? She isn't remotely marriage material. Scoffing you watched her stumbled and trip into her apartment, 'pathetic' You rolled your eyes and put the black hoodie over your head and walked across the street, the door was left unlocked. you quietly walked to the kitchen you had mapped in your head the first time you broke in, the knife block was like a twinkle that shone on a gold bar in your eyes, but what to choose? A thud came from her bedroom, you grabbed a long, sharp jagged knife and sauntered to her room with purpose.

The door of her bedroom was opened a jar and she laid on the bed in a star pose, unaware of the danger she was in. You sneaked in, your stare trained on her akin to a predator, waiting for the right time to pounce on unfortunate prey, Her eyes closed and her breathing evened out. You straddled her waist, pointed the blade to her throat, and slapped your hand over her mouth, her eyes filled with terror shot open "Don't even try." you hissed as she struggled under you, pressing the knife to her neck, enough to scare her to stop. "Now listen. You're gonna stop seeing Toji, and I wouldn't tell him about me, or of course, you want that neck of yours slit." you smiled as she began to cry and frantically nodded. "And just to make sure that you listen." you cut her chest before she could react, ultimately making her cry more. You left her there sobbing, with a wicked grin on your face, and sick joy pumping in your veins. Despite her wild side, she was smart, and knew enough to know you'd do more than simply scare her if you visited her again.

The rest of the week flew by, he came home unexpectedly barely giving you time to hide in his double-door closet. Toji mumbled something you couldn't make out though you wouldn't find yourself caring as you watched with wide eyes, Toji threw off his black shirt on the floor then plopped down on the bed, and his fingers ran through his raven hair. Scars littered his build, big and small, it didn't if not only add to his beauty, but the simple action of moving his bangs heated your core, you wanted to pull on those locks as he took his pleasure from your body. you take your phone from your back pocket, turn off the volume, and flash, you begin taking photos, two, three, or four times. You almost whimpered as he took off his pants and left the room to what you think bathroom, you had to go before you outed yourself.

Even at night, his very being was stuck with you, turning and twisting to get comfortable was futile, sighing you stared at the wall, you itched to do something, show him he was loved, how? You shot up with a smile, love letters! Of course! You tear the blanket away and get out of your bed, you grab some paper and a pencil, turn on the lamp on your desk.

My beloved Toji.

You don't know me, but I know you, and I have come to love you. I fell for your snarky and coarse personality, you can't estimate the length that my love stretches. Nobody would love you like me. I'll show you exactly that.

I'll take care of those who fail to be everything you could want, you deserve the best, and I can be the best for you, only you. I'll spend every waking instant to prove that.

Yours Truly, your devoted admirer.

You hummed this would do for now. You kiss the paper, hoping the love you feel transfers. You folded it and began another. You sent these letters with a flower of different meanings, one with roses, another orchid, and another with Tuberose. Some letters with pictures taken of his beauty. The days you're able to break into his house, the flowers you send are in vases, and your letters are in the bedside drawer, videos of you using his pillow to rub your throbbing clit, yet..yet he continued to find quick fucks, the bitter, burning rage you felt was worse than you found out your ex cheated, the women were met with threats, some times more. He was yours and they won't forget that.

My dear Toji.

Why do you like hurting me so? You know of my feelings yet you keep fucking those unworthy women, you are mine. I should be the only thing you think about when you pleasure yourself. Think about how tight I would be, how the thickness of my body would feel against you.

I will rid those girls of you. You. Are. Mine.

Your devoted admirer.

You sent this with a dead flower, if you had to kill them, you would. You won't live in a world where he wasn't in your life, sure you didn't introduce yourself but you will, it will be so cute, that what you thought.

Toji was gone for another business trip, and you took it upon yourself to watch over his house, it seemed to be in a bigger dilemma than the last time you visited, but you didn't put too much thought into it. You beelined it to Toji's room, tiredness of the hardships of love, became unbaring. You wanted to smell him all around you, once your sight landed on his bed, you flopped on it and giggled as the bed bounced your soft, pudgy body. The comfortable scent of your beloved carried you to sleep, and dreams of him danced in your unconscious mind. When you came to, a few things made themselves known, the bed you laid on was now a swing of some kind, the ground was black marble, and a couple inches away, your ankles and arms were tied together in a thick rope. Looking up from the floor view, you realized that you were in a basement, not a normal one but a sex dungeon, and as naked as the day you were born. a bed with a pillory between the pillars of the bed frames, set a few feet ahead of you, and on the walls were paddles of different sizes, leather whips, and horse whips "Sleepin' beauty finally awoke?" a deep baritone voice mocked, pushing the swing just a tad to have you in motion. Your heart flattered and jumped up your throat, carnivorous butterflies ate at your stomach "Oh the possessive whore can't speak now? Y're fine telling me what I can and can't do in that little letter." it was him, this wasn't how you were supposed to meet! You had it all planned- you yelped, a sudden sharp sting was left on your ass cheek from Toji's hand "Speak." that one word spoke pure, unmoving authority "I-I'm sorry! I-" A smack cut you off "You're sorry? You're sorry? Nah but I'll make you sorry." he gave your ass one last hit before he walked in front of you. You only saw him from afar, never this close or bare..no pants, no underwear nor shirt blocked his sculptured body, his length stood proud, twitching to be touched and licked, and a small bead of pre-cum poured from the pinkish slit, his balls hang shapely, and heavily, a mass of dark hair surrounded the base. Your mouth watered "Like what you see?" Toji chuckled cruelly taking his shaft and giving a jerk "Y-yes. It's so beautiful." you admitted in a trance-like state "Then be a good girl and open wide." he grinned lazily poking your bottom lip with his tip. Your mouth dropped and he didn't waste any time to shove it in, your eyes rolled back and you gagged, it so hard, hot, and heavy, his hands held onto your hand as he humped his cock down your throat, the saltness of his pre-come dragging against your taste buds. Deep grunts and groans heaved out of his chest, his head thrown back and his cum-filed balls smacked your drool-covered chin while he used your mouth as a fleshlight. Drool escaped the sides of your lips and pornographic gagging sounds intertwined with his pleased noises.

He was close, his groans raised in volume and his fingers tightened a bit around your head "Fuck!fuck!fucccck!!" he growled as a thick load shot down your throat, almost causing you to choke. Once he pulled out a string of saliva and cum followed before snapping, landing on the floor. "Ya like that huh?" Toji chuckled looking into your lust-glazed eyes "Answer" "Loved it s'happy..Daddy" you muttered the last part, tasting out what the girls he fucked called him, this wasn't lost on him "Fuckin' whore." he hissed, his dick twitched, he's been called that for so long but the way rolled off your tongue made him want to ruin you, not just ruin you but destroy you for any man. He pulled your hair back and forced you to look him in the eyes "'m finna ruin you." his voice dropped a little lower, he let go of your hair and walked behind you. For a second nothing happened until a big finger forced itself way into your drenched core "So fuckin' wet, might just make ya my personal slut." toji groaned, his finger thrusted into your fat cunt, his other hand kneading the flesh of your ass. You whined and clenched at his words, "More..please Daddy!" you begged tearfully which rewarded you with a harsh smack and a second finger "Since ya asked so nicely." he said, tone akin to conceding, his fingers sped up and a curled right on that spot "yes" you cried, the sound of your squelching pussy brought heat to your cheeks at the filthy noise, a third finger joined the two and it seemed like Toji was holding up against you before because his fingers pounded your vagina. The knot inside became so tight that it snapped, and your juices gushed out, spilling all over Toji's digits and the smooth floor "So messy." Toji tsked, you looked over your shoulder and moaned as he slowly licked his hand clean of your slick, his big hand took hold of your hip while he guided his tip to breach your hot sex once the head entered you, his other hand took its place on your hip and he snapped his hips, forcing himself entirely inside you. "Ya want to be mine?" he groaned, slowly pulled out then slammed back, and set a ruthless pace "Yes, please I'll be a good girl f'you Daddy." you cried as Toji growled and pounded into your cunt, your breast bounced out the slit in the swing "I'll make yar dreams come true, make you my baby mama" he grunted, using the sex swing to reach deeper, his cock head bullying your cervix harder "'m gonna make ya my fuckin' slutty housewife, waitn' for me and clean after me." he hissed, your tight sex clenching at his words, "Please..please! I'll be the perfect wife and m-mama" you babbled, tears falling down your puffy cheeks, Toji's hips quickened, driving his cock into your sweet spot and cervix, his fingers came to rubbed at your clitoris. The overestimation was becoming too much and the knot was about to snap "I'm gonna cum Daddy!" you moaned "Cum." Toji ordered, feeling his own inching closer. Just as the words left Toji's lips, your juices coated his cock, and your walls pulsed uncontrollably, milking Toji's cum as he spilled into you.

You were in a state between unconscious and consciousness, you felt the ropes that tied your arms and ankles together cut free. You felt yourself being picked up and carried to a bed, "Toji?" you muttered as you felt a wet cloth clean your puffy pussy and a stern "Sleep." Was all you got in return. The offer was too tempting to pass up.

You fall asleep in the comfort of Toji's bed.

Toji groaned as he stretched his muscles in the door of his house, his stomach growled and the thought of food was appetizing, Toji set his weapon by the door, took off his shoes, and made his way to the kitchen. Toji felt a small smile come onto his face as soon as he saw your portly body cooking dinner with a baby sitting on your hip, a baby girl that had your skin tone with your eye color, his hair, and eye shape. "I'm home," Toji called out, smile growing more as you made a happy noise and rushed to hug him "Welcome home my love!" you greeted with a smile "We missed you," you said as you handed over his daughter who immediately started to play with his bangs "Dinner will be ready in a minute. Sit." you smiles and kissed his cheek before going back to cooking. Toji sighed contently and sat down in the dining with his daughter, since he had let you live with him and eventually made you his wife, the cold and lonely house was now lively with love, laughter, and pitter-patter of feet.

Toji groaned as he rolled off you after showing how much he missed you and pulled you into him, your head on his pectoral "My love." you spoke up a few seconds of silence, drawing shapes on his other spec "Hmm?" Toji simply hummed as he rubbed his thumb on your love handle "How long did you know I was following you?" you asked, Toji had long ago told you off his occupation, being a hitman. It was a part of his job to beware of his surroundings "Since the beginn'." he answered honestly, you looked up in shock "Why didn't you do something sooner?" And why didn't you kill me? You wondered, "You were intriguing," He smirked "Nobody, no woman had tried that before besides..with a body like that how could not let you have your fun?" he chuckled. You rolled your eyes and kissed his scar "It's time for bed, we have so much to do tomorrow..." you laid your head back on his chest before mumbling "I love you." and like that sleep had taken hold of you. Toji kissed your head and whispered "I love ya too." he fell asleep soon after with you in his embrace.

Taglist: @18lkpeters , @ablondehoe.

A/n: Hey guys, sorry it took so long to upload. I hope you guys liked this like I did writing it. The reason I posted this instead of Guilty Love Three is because the poll I posted ended in a tie so I picked this story. I am still working on Guilty Love it will be out soon. If you'd like to be tagged for more of my toji fanfics you can ask here or in my ask and I will immediately add you to the list.

[jennsterjay]

Prowler Hobie x Miles

Miles calls this Hobart 'Hobs' instead of Hobie. 'Hobie' occasionally slips out though

They are both from Miles' universe (Earth-1610B)

----

P-Hobie: Do you think there are other universes out there? Do you think there are people out there like me?

Miles becomes quiet as he flashbacks to thinking about fighting his uncle, fighting his alternate universe Prowler self, and running from the Spider Society after getting freed by Hobie Brown

P-Hobie nudges him.

"Ay Miles, you aight?…" P-Hobie says and looks at him with concern

"Yeah…there are other universes. But be careful what you wish for"

Prowler Hobie sees Miles looking up at the sky for a long while, then sits down with him on the rooftop and puts his arm around his shoulders.

"Ok man"

Maybe one day Miles will tell him

----

They see each other at Visions and Miles avoids him until he's suddenly pulled into an empty classroom by Hobart with no one around

Miles: What do you want man!?

P-Hobie: A Truce

Miles: A truce?

P-Hobie: Yeah, a truce. No Spider/Prowler fighting at school, deal?

He holds out his hand to Miles. Miles half sighs out of relief and annoyance but grips and shakes his hand anyways

Miles: Deal

P-Hobie: Cool

Miles: Cool

P-Hobie:

Miles:

Miles: You can let go of my hand now?

P-Hobie (lets it go while looking to the side to hide his embarrassed expression): You right, my fault. See you round Spider-nerd.

Miles: It's Spider-Man!

But P-Hobie has already left the classroom. At least Miles has one less thing to worry about.

----

Eventually Hobs winds up showing up at his dorm window every once in a blue moon to give vague tips and information that become useful to Spider-Man in the long run. At first it freaked Miles (and Ganke) out, but then they get used to him showing up sometimes because he doesn't rat Miles out or present himself as a threat. He's also used to other Spiders randomly popping into his dorm like Gwen or Pavitr.

It all comes to a crossroads while Miles is lounging on his bunk bed above and Ganke is laying down playing his OLED Nintendo Switch below when they hear a sound at their window. It's Hobs.

Miles jumps down and let's P-Hobie in through the window at the same time he hears a portal opening in his dorm, and you're not gonna believe this. Boots hit the ground and the faint sound of a guitar fills the air, as out of the portal comes none other than Hobie Brown. Spider-Punk.

Hobie: Oi Miles! It's been a while, you wanna crash at my place and play some jam-

Hobie then looks around at Ganke's expression, then at Miles' surprised face as he's still holding hands with Hobs after helping him in through the window, then he looks over at the teen, the counterpart himself, Hobart Brown with an even more surprised expression before trying to cover it up with a nonchalant look. He fails of course.

Hobie: Well look at who we have 'ere

Hobs: So…you're me?

Hobie: Looks like it mate

Hobs: And you're…

Hobie (walks to Miles side and faces Hobs, then holds out a hand): Spider-Punk

Hobs: Spider-Punk? That's- That's cool man

Hobie: Cheers, and you?

Hobs (shakes his hand firmly): Hobs…but you can call me The Prowler

Hobie eyes him for a millisecond with a neutral expression before changing back to his usual laidback persona

Hobie: Hah, been there myself. Nice dreads.

Hobs (somewhat suspicious): Thanks

Miles: Hobie.. what do you mean you've 'been there yourself?'

Hobie (nuggies Miles): Oi don't worry about all that, I see you can't get enough of me

Miles (looks up at Hobie with a smile): Oh please! Yall are two different people

Hobs (looks at Hobie up and down with a neutral expression): Heh you right about that

It's not like a cooler version of him just appeared out of thin air and started messing with and hugging on Miles. It's not like he's jealous or anything.

Ganke: Now there's two of em. If one of em breaks my computer again you're paying for it this time bro

Hobie: Oi I fixed it last time though didn't I, even upgraded it myself

Ganke: It exploded a month later and started a fire, we had to change dorm rooms!

Hobie: And now you have a better view! See all well that ends well

Hobs actually laughs at that and Hobie smirks. Looks like they're the same in every universe.

[gayuu-the-necromancer]

Chapter 4

The Grim Reaper Waits At The Palace Of Death...

(I can't escape....)

These 8 mysterious men, put me inside a carriage, which gracefully rode through the night town.

Beyond the window, I see the cityscape of London.

The palatial palace flew away.

And before I knew it, the carriage is pushing forward into the dense forest.

(Where are we going? And.....what's going to happen to me?)

I left my delivery at the mansion, but I don't know if I'll get paid for it...

On top of that, I'm actually worried if I can return home alive.

(The fact that they are all working in a group and heading to the same place must mean that they are some kind of an organization)

(Then if I have to guess....they must be taking me to their leader)

The Grim Reaper of the Palace of Death...that's what the red-eyed man, William said.

(If that's true then, I....)

The flashbacks of the bright red scene comes back to my mind and a shiver ran down my spine.

Gentlemanly man: "Miss Kate."

Kate: "Yes....!?"

I looked up quickly and saw a gentleman with a mysterious smile pointing out the window.

Looking out the window, the carriage is before I know it, already passed through the forest and crossed a drawbridge over the water.

Gentlemanly man: "We're here. This is the stronghold of evil that could be the end of your life...not our base."

Kate: "Mm...."

(What is this place?)

As soon as I get out of the carriage, the gothic castle that appears before me takes my breath away.

Surrounded on all sides by forests, and ponds to avoid being seen, the bright and brilliant pagoda piercing the night sky radiates an overwhelming presence.

It is so majestic that it makes me want to prostrate myself.

(Never thought there would be a castle like this in London....)

Kate: "Is this...real life...."

Gentlemanly man: "Yes, unfortunately. It is neither a dream nor an illusion. It is a painful reality from which there is no escape."

(Reality....or didn't this guy just say something outrageous?)

(The end of life or the root of evil...oh god, my head)

Feeling dizzy, I became unsteady on my feet.

Then accidentally, I bumped into someone and turned around in a hurry.

Kate: "Sorry, I didn't mean to."

Man with blond hair and blue eyes: ".....I don't mind....are you okay?"

(He's so close...)

The man who held me by the shoulders peered at me. His delicate-looking golden hair just close enough to touch.

(This guy....is so beautiful, that it's scary. He looks like a bisque doll)

Among the art-like forms, only the dark eyes, barely perceptible stare at me with a creaturely temperature.

Kate: "I'm fine. Thank you."

Man with blond hair and blue eyes: ".....I see."

(U-Umm....)

Man with blond hair and blue eyes: "..........."

(Please let go of me sir....)

As I was puzzled, a hand reached out from the side and poked the blond man's hand.

Man that looks like a cat: "Master El, no running away."

Man that looks like a cat: "Miss Kate, you can talk to me. I'd like to get to know you better."

(Huh....)

My other hand was entwined by a cat's tail and I was flabbergasted because I was sandwiched between two men from both sides.

Man with a gun: "Now you guys. You two can save that for later. Right now your priority should be reporting to Victor, okay?"

Man with a gun: "After deciding what to do with her, we all will have enough time to get to know her."

The man who offered to help was a great man with intelligent appearance.

The rational eyes behind the glasses and the calm appearance of the person, eases me a little bit.

(Maybe this guy is easy to talk to)

Kate: "....What's going to happen to me?"

What I had wanted to ask for a long time came out of my mouth without thinking.

Man with a gun: "You will know. Because we're the ones deciding that."

The egoistic grin on his face made me erase the sentence 'Maybe this guy is easy to talk to' from my mind.

William: "Kate. Come here, follow me."

Kate: "....Yes, Master Rex."

William: "Ahahaha! You don't have to be so formal. Just call me William."

Kate: "Okay....Master William."

..........

(Wow...amazing)

Stepping into the castle, it was as if the world had changed for me.

(I never thought I'd set foot in a place like this, even once in my life....)

The castle is as magnificent as its exterior, and it is no wonder that it is said to be owned by the British Royal family.

A dangerous, mysterious and beautiful unknown world spread out before my eyes.

(Only the bastions of those who might be criminals....)

(....So beautiful)

William: "I see you liked it."

Kate: "!?"

A shiver runs down my spine as I hear whisper in my ear.

I quickly turned around to see a giggling and amused Master William.

William: "Let's go now. The Grim Reaper is waiting impatiently."

Chapter 5 - Grave Secret

[tenebrius-excellium]

Dream

It is March, it's when the daisies and dandelions are out.

It's when the sky is blue and the clouds are running over the hills at rapid speeds, and everything is as cold as it is sunny and windswept.

I have sown seeds today - planted mallows and chives and sunflowers. The garden does not belong to me, but I sow in hope. Hope that with the gardening skills I learn today, I WILL end up having my own garden one day. On a different patch of land, with soil just as rich and black as the one I turned over with my hands today.

My soul sings. The person living across the street has put a silver wind chime in their window. It blinks and glitters and beckons with every gust of wind, be it strong or soft. It makes me think of flying.

My soul remembers all the things it has been fond of since long ago. My soul sings, and grieves for what has been, and longs, and yearns for a future in which the beauty that I secretly dream about might just still be possible. The line "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return" by Leonardo Da Vinci never leaves my mind. I keep thinking of birds. I keep thinking of that fateful day when we went on a walk through the woods, and when we got out on the other side, there was the amazing view of the snow-capped mountain range right in front of us. Endlessly vast pastures stretched before us, and overhead there seems to be a frequented airplane route, because a metallic bird passes over our heads every couple of minutes. I went back to check the same spot two summers ago... the planes are still flying overhead when you reach the end of the forest and step out into the clear there.

It was that day back then - there was no doubt about it somehow - where I knew that one day I would fly just like those planes. In the very same instance, on that very same day, we discovered that I had poor eyesight. I have become a different girl that day. Withdrawn. Different. A dreamer, but never a doer, for what use is a pair of eyes when you can't do everything your brother does, and not even what you yourself want. You can't fly airplanes with bad eyesight. But the dream isn't dead. Ah yes, let your ambitions fly high, but keep your reality grounded, isn't it like that. What if this was my reality.

What if I don't even want to fly airplanes. But what if I didn't even get the chance to try it out to see if I like it. I still dream of the wind. I take a look at the clouds above me and whisper "great day for flying" or "strong winds, dangerous for flying" (details on Hiccup's map) under my breath. I'd still like to get the chance to try it out. When, doesn't exactly seem to be up to me. I'm still fine with that. For now.

So in the meantime, I do what I can do. I stay on the ground. I stay grounded. I watch the first bees of the year and taste the nectar of lamium nettles. I check whether the public water fountains have been turned on again, which means that the likeliness for nightly frosts has waned. I take a walk and lie in the wet, muddy grass and look up at the blue sky and bask in the warm Spring sun. I greet the Red Kites that come around and whistle sweetly, announcing that summer is near.

My dream is alive. I am alive. Life is abundant. Here's to flying.

[moonlit-stay]

Kinktober 2022: Day 6

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Pairing: Minho x Female Reader

Kink: Thigh Riding

Genre: Smut

Word Count: 1k

Warnings: Soft!Dom Minho, Sub!Fem reader, established relationship, dirty talk, thigh riding

Please let me know if I missed anything

-

Color(s) Of This Fic: Sky Blue and Light Green <3

-

If you are under the age of 18, please do not interact with this fic. This fic contains inappropriate content and is strictly 18+ 

Everything in not only this event, but all of my work in general is consensual. Even if not stated within the work.

-

Enjoy :)

-

The sun shines bright and warm, accompanied by the cool, soothing breeze as you and Minho load everyone's personal bags into the back of the van.

After all the bags are loaded, you and Minho stand side by side, watching as each member quickly piles into the van. Chan being the designated driver, and Jeongin hurriedly calling shotgun, fighting with Seungmin before he swiftly jumps in the front seat, locking the door and sticking his tongue out at Seungmin through the window.

Minho walks toward the van, quickly scanning the inside before turning to you with a slight chuckle.

"What?" You ask, mirroring his smile as he approaches you.

"There's only one seat left. The one all the way in the back." He explains with a smirk, looking over your features to try and read how you feel about the situation.

"That's ok! We can share the seat if you're ok with it." You reply, looking up to meet his eyes.

"I mean, considering we're in a relationship, it makes more sense for us to share a seat then any of the other members." He reasons, watching as you nod in response.

With that, you both make your way into the van and all the way to the back. Minho sits down, making himself comfortable before pulling you onto his lap and wrapping his arms around your middle.

After everyone has found their seats for the trip, Chan begins the journey, quickly making Jeongin the DJ for the trip and asking him to play some music. Everyone cheers in excitement at his song choice before loudly singing along.

The next few hours were full of smiles and laughter, loud and sometimes obnoxious singing, the occasional voice cracks, and pictures being taken of one another.

The nine of you stop at a rest stop, yourself and Felix being the chosen two to run in and get snacks for the rest of the trip while everyone else walked around a bit to stretch their legs.

After buying snacks and stretching, everyone loads back into the van, you being the last to enter so you can hand out snacks to everyone else. The van fills with sounds of thanks for you and Felix for the snacks before the loud music resumes and the van continues on its route.

You sit back down on Minho's lap, handing him his snacks before ripping open the bag of your own. You happily munch on your snacks as you stare out the window, admiring the beautiful scenery.

"It's pretty here." You tell Minho, leaning back against his chest as he wraps his arms around you.

Minho hums in agreement, subtly shifting you to one of his legs as he slots his thigh between your own, his eyes never once leaving your form. His actions don't seem to faze you as you continue to explain to him the things you think are pretty from your view out of the window.

You move from your place on Minho's chest, leaning forward to grab for your snacks before shoving some into your mouth. Minho's hands rest at your waist holding you steady as he bounces his leg that you're sat on, watching as you nearly choke.

"You ok, baby?" He asks, a shit eating grin on his face as you glare back at him.

"Peachy." You reply, drinking some water and putting your snacks aside.

Minho bounces his leg again, feeling you tightly grab ahold of his thigh that you're not sat on before he drags you back against his thigh.

You let out a quiet gasp in response, your other hand reaching up to grip his forearm as he starts dragging your center back and forth against his thigh.

"Min, we can't do this here." You whisper back to him, the fear of being caught by one of the boys that were sitting just a few feet from the two of you clouding your thoughts.

"Sure we can, baby. You just have to be quiet." He explains with a smirk.

He resumes his movements, altering between slowly dragging you back and forth on his thigh, and holding you down against the muscle as he bounces his leg continuously.

You bite down on your bottom lip, holding back noises of pleasure that so desperately want to spill from your lips. Your eyes dart around the van, wanting to make sure no one had caught on to what you and your boyfriend were up to.

"Relax, baby. They can't see us that well back here. Especially now that the sun is setting." He gently soothes, noticing your slight panic every few minutes.

He feels you relax against him before he starts to drag you against his thigh with more force. He flexes the muscle of his thigh against you, feeling your grip on him tighten as you quickly clamp your hand over your mouth.

"Look at my baby. Getting off on my thigh while all of my members are sitting mere feet from us." He whispers to you, feeling you jolt against him when he starts to drag you against him just a little bit quicker.

Your breathing is heavy and you're doing everything in your power to hold back moans as your high approaches. You reach back, grabbing a fistful of Minho's shirt, gripping the fabric so tight your knuckles turn white as you get closer and closer to the edge.

"Min, c-close." You quietly warn, feeling your legs start to shake as the knot in your stomach comes dangerously close to unraveling.

"Come on, baby. it's ok, cum for me." He encourages, bouncing his leg while he continues to drag you against his thigh.

That's all it takes for the knot in your stomach to unravel as you cum on Minho's thigh with a muffled moan.

You lean back against him, desperately trying to catch your breath as you feel Minho press kisses along your neck.

"See? That wasn't so bad now, was it?" He asks against your skin.

"You sure they didn't see?" You ask, peering up at him through your lashes.

Minho looks past you to his members who are all still singing their hearts out and munching on their snacks. They laugh at Jisung who was putting on a showstopping performance as he sings his lungs away, Hyunjin occasionally joining him as they pour their all into their performance. Minho chuckles at the sight, you following suit before he peers down at you.

"You know? Something tells me we were just fine."

-

Main Masterlist

Kinktober 2022 Masterlist

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*·°Author's Note°·*

A lot of the details in this work are entirely inspired by the SKZful Days in Jeju [SKZ CODE] episodes.

Bless those videos for the inspiration <33

-

°·*Taglist*·°

@kpophubb @whatudowhennooneseesyou @skzgallll

Send me a DM or an ask if you'd like to be added to the taglist!!

-

·°*Other Tings*°·

©All rights reserved to Moonlit-Stay. Reposting, modification, translation, and plagiarism of any kind is NOT tolerated. Please notify me if you see any work similar to my own.

Released: October 6th, 2022

-

Please reblog my works. Share your thoughts if you'd like, even if it's just a simple keyboard smash.

I read every caption, tag, reply, ask, and dm. Feedback is what motivates me to continue to create content <3

[rottenmemes]

the national—laugh track sentence starters.

some lines adjusted to fit; feel free to change pronouns, proper nouns, etc. as needed

alphabet city

" i don't miss the world, not the way it was. "

" i can't get there. "

" i try to think of it; i'm always at a loss. "

" all of your lonesomeness is kept in your wallet. "

" nobody notices, baby, you got this. "

" i'll still be here when you come back. "

" i will listen for you at the door. "

" take forever off anytime you want. "

" i'll save your place. "

" if anybody asks, i'll say you're coming back. "

" we'll just have to wait. "

" sometimes i wanna drive around and find you, and act like it's a random thing. "

" i always wonder if you ever feel like i blew all chances of this happening. "

" i'm not over it, don't know what it is. "

" something's wrong with me like it always is. "

" everything's orchestrated, follow the arrows. "

" let's meet where we used to. "

" sometimes i barely recognize this place. "

" when you're with me, i don't miss the world. "

deep end (paul's in pieces)

" i'm going off the deep end. "

" i'm barely sleeping. "

" the ringing in my ears sounds like singing. "

" it's the only thing i hear. "

" i'm drowning out inside the sound. "

" i can't stop myself from thinking about you all the time. "

" i'm always trying to tune you out. "

" i'm gonna let you in tonight. "

" when the sound of your voice comes through, it's hardly there. "

" it's all i care about. "

" i can't follow what you're saying. "

" i don't bother to try. "

" i just cling to it. "

" i just listen. "

" it sounds like you're saying bеautiful things to me. "

" it sounds like you're sеtting me up for beautiful dreams. "

" there were little bits of beautiful things you would say while i was fading off. "

weird goodbyes

" memorize the water, memorize the air. "

" there'll come a time i'll wanna know i was here. "

" i don't know why i don't try harder. "

" i feel like throwing things into the water. "

" get it down to nothing, everything that matters. "

" i've been going down some strange water. "

" move forward now, there's nothing to do. "

" i can't turn around, i can't follow you. "

" your coat's in my car, i guess you forgot. "

" it's crazy the things we let go of. "

" it finally hit me after a mile's drive. "

" the sky is leaking, my windshield's crying. "

" i'm feeling sacred, my soul is stripped. "

" the radio's painful, the words are clipped. "

" the grief, it gets me. "

" these are the weird goodbyes. "

" my car is creeping, i think it's dying. "

" i'm pulling over until it heals. "

" i'm on a shoulder of lemon fields. "

" what was i even leaving for? "

" i keep going back and forth. "

" i think now I'm about to see. "

" i didn't know how sad it'd be. "

turn off the house

" put everything in boxes. "

" leave all the windows open, leave the beds unmade. "

" i've gone to see if i can find out what it means when my mind leaves my body. "

" turn off the house. "

" there's nothing you need to get back to. "

" there's no one you need to see. "

" leave all the messages blue, don't even look at the screen. "

" it's a full-body, gentle shutdown. "

" there are so many people to let down. "

" don't еven think about me. "

" you're bailing out. "

" you're free of it now. "

dreaming

" you're always where you leave yourself. "

" you're six feet in the sky. "

" there's true love at your fingertips. "

" you're engineered for life. "

" you can stop dreaming. "

" you're just the way you like yourself. "

" you're social, bright and promising. "

" you have a perfect personality. "

" you're beyond imagination. "

" i'll dream for you. "

" it'll all come true. "

" i slept for an hour, i'm up for now. "

" all this makes me think of you. "

" i hate to count explosions, but i do it all night. "

" you personalize everything. "

" you personalize everyone's emotions. "

" it's always all about you. "

" it's always self-devotion. "

laugh track

" i'm losing my momentum. "

" i'm losing my mind. "

" there's not enough to mention, not enough time. "

" i can't even say what it's about. "

" all i am is shreds of doubt. "

" you don't know how to deal with me. "

" you don't know how that feels. "

" it all comes apart so easily. "

" you're running out of ideas. "

" everything melted in less than a week. "

" watching you felt like forever. "

" the lights started dimming and then they went out. "

" heaven came down like a blanket. "

" turn on the laugh track. "

" everyone knows you're a wreck. "

" you're nevеr this quiet, your smile is cracking. "

" you just haven't found what you'rе looking for yet. "

" let's see if it changes the scene. "

" maybe this is just the funniest version of us that we've ever been. "

" i think our feet are gonna slip. "

" i think our hands are gonna shake. "

" i think our eyes are gonna cry. "

" i think our hearts are gonna break. "

" maybe we'll never lighten up. "

" maybe this isn't gonna quit. "

" i think it's never coming back. "

" maybe we've always been like this. "

space invader

" it's a calculation i made a mistake on. "

" i never should have said it like i said. "

" it'll come to me later. "

" i won't be able to get it out of my head. "

" what if i'd never written the letter i slipped in the sleeve of the record i gave you? "

" what if I'd stayed on the c train until the end? "

" what if we'd never met? "

" what if i'd only just done what you told me, and never looked back? "

" what if i'd only ducked away down the hallway and faded to black? "

" it was too romantic, it was sad and frantic. "

" it was a paperback book in the storm drain. "

" it could go number one if i copied an earworm from a melody that i wish i'd had. "

" it's a quarter after four in the morning. "

" why'd i leave it like that? "

hornets

" what does it mean when your arms fall asleep? "

" how do you get rid of hornets before the weekend? "

" when did they say we should turn back the clocks? "

" why do they always say everything's for the best when everybody knows it's not? "

" i don't wanna talk because i don't wanna fight. "

" we always get bogged down in the heavy shit. "

" you know what it's like. "

" but i don't wanna leave, and i don't wanna hide. "

" i just don't wanna run into you tonight. "

" i need to decide what to do with my hands. "

" i'll turn you into a spiderweb again. "

" it's something everybody understands. "

" i don't wanna talk. "

" i don't wanna fight. "

" i don't need to be rescued. "

" i just need to be pinned. "

" god's in the decals and the words on your skin. "

" not being in love with you, it isn't easy to fake. "

" i don't know if you're ever gonna come back from your cigarette break. "

coat on a hook

" don't leave me here at this party like a coat on a hook. "

" it's been two days, and we're still not talking. "

" you're the opposite of an open book. "

" come back for me. "

" everyone's nervous and looking at their feet. "

" i ask the same questions to everyone i see. "

" what am i missing? "

" where have you been? "

" what if they ask me about it? "

" where would i begin? "

" friendships are melting, nothing is helping. "

" nothing's worth keeping, promises cheapen. "

" from the beginning, i've had you. "

" in my mind, i've been dеad slow swimming to you, in the dead low tide. "

" this isn't your problеm, believe me. "

" i know how i sound. "

" i don't feel like myself anymore, when you're not around. "

" it's been two years since i saw you. "

" you were telling me not to be so melodramatic. "

" you always come back from things like this. "

" everyone's missing. "

" it's like a confession with nobody listening. "

" it warms my face and gets my hands to open. "

" it's like it says on the prescription. "

tour manager

" do what you can to get me out of this plan tonight. "

" maybe you can say i wanted to make it, but i won't get back in time. "

" it's beautiful how you can find a good excuse for anything. "

" none of them are cheap. "

" how long can you keep on covering? "

" play it like it's nothing. "

" it's nothing. "

" i don't wanna talk about it. "

" i don't like the way it sounds. "

" i wanna keep it kinda quiet. "

" i'm gonna try to keep it down. "

" i know you know what i mean. "

" you've seen me here before. "

" say the bubble left without me. "

" don't say anymore. "

" let me know when you're free. "

" i gotta tell you something i beliеve in. "

" it came to me whilе i was waking up from something i was dreaming. "

" it's beautiful how we can find a good excuse for anything. "

" how long can we keep on covering? "

crumble

" you say that it's true, but you don't know what to do. "

" it's only because you love me. "

" i'm telling you that i'm sure; it can't wait anymore. "

" it's only because i love you. "

" i'm gonna crumble. "

" if you say it like that, i'll die. "

" if you say it like that, i'll probably cry. "

" if you say it like that and don't wanna take it back, i'm gonna crumble. "

" don't misread my words; sometimes, they're gonna hurt. "

" you say you're well aware of that, but you don't care. "

" get yourself ready to catch what you can of me. "

" get yourself ready to pick me up. "

" i said it without intention. "

" i just thought that i should mention it. "

" i want to see you soon. "

smoke detector

" all you need to do is protect her. "

" blink and bless her and let her rest. "

" don't let my memory dissolve. "

" make a list of your loved ones in order of height. "

" laugh at the blackbirds in the knack of the night. "

" forgive all the favorites in your phone. "

" imagine yourself completely alone. "

" i'll sit in the backyard. "

" at least i'm not on the roof anymore. "

" in a year or so, i hope nobody remembers. "

" i need to recharge. "

" it won't really reach anything, will it? "

" i'll get better. "

" why don't you let me lay here and listen to the distant sirens? "

" i wonder why they have a dog in the driver's seat. "

" it's getting closer no matter where we go. "

" sift through the slush and the ash and the dust for whatever stands out, for whatever reason. "

" maybe it's a laugh, or a rush, or a remembered feeling. "

" i don't know what it means, but i don't wanna leave it. "

" you'll know where it is whenever you need it. "

" i make a good argument, admit it. "

" you don't know how much i love you, do you? "

" let's just try to remember the best of us. "

" why don't you lay here and listen to distant sirens with me? "

" i wonder if they have a dog in the driver's seat. "

[thepoeticbubble]

Here the world wakes up, the sky unfolds, the clouds unclog like active acne, bloody hearts throb with a heaviness, salts seep in, amidst the freezed viens and cemented bones , everything is solid from the outside but gnawed from behind.

Infront of our house,few miles ahead there used to be a lake, the lake is orphaned , the stream about to be silenced , the birds about to be subjugated by thirst, the skin about to be parched.

I grow timid at prepositions else there's more to describe, what's beneath, behind,infront and after you. theres more to envision through imagery , but I can't figure out how to photograph it in words.i cant put everything in language even if I want to, I can't bake poetry everytime ,the oven of mind gets in distress ,sometimes the chimney doesn't clear the smoke off efficiently enough that I can cook the next prose. i wish someone would arrive and let open the windows to bring gush of fresh air without intervening my thoughts ,you will be Noticed not by my eyes but heart .

But my door bell doesn't ring anymore, its throat is lacerated and I don't think anyone visits here either, so it could make even the faintest sound.

It's not like city is out of stock , there is a plethora people but I think I exist remotely.

On days , I yearn to fix the bell but the thought of not being visited deliberately seems more repulsive , so I let the broken door bell follow the code of conduct ~ somebody might have tried to reach me but ughhh curse this doorbell

It is unjust for Inanimate things that surround me,dismembered by the loudness of my Grievances , sinking in a air of loneliness. I never ask them if they are fine because what if the reply is blasphemous.

But Some day some one will knock for sure, and i don't intend to send them back without a cup of tea , send them off annoyed by the smell of flashbacks of burning bread crumbs in fire , I intent to offer hospitality.

So, I mop the floor of my heart, scrubb off the dizziness , measure the diameter to have an idea of space left empty , I could be clear enough but why should I, I estimate the entire fleshy landscape is vacant and not even one thirty-sixth of yard is available in yours, I don't expect you to evaluate my measurements, how would the world care if my sound echos paradoxically, my thoughts appear convoluted , my mind a labyrinth where people stray in search of an exit but are Incapable of , where hope sits aloof and inert .

Here the walls are painted red with a mural that pictures thin blue branches stretching in and out the blind walls. Certain fissures depict that this framework has been susceptible to severe earthquakes from years.

In between the cracks, love's left a goodbye letter , an unredeemable heart ache , a kiss of death , verses of ill-omen never to be read by these fragile lips of life.

The realisation jolts my consciousness in exceedingly high S.I units that i decide to depart as soon as possible.

The road is forlorn, no busses are on business, no one promises a lift to home. It's said when you are overwhelmed, you must reminiscent memoirs from your good books , like a thought that would pacify the quarrels of your mind.

I sit on bench nearby try to recollect my address, which doesn't pass on through my head and i feel defeated down to my bones again. The pickle is what people say should be done , doesn't really compensate for my troubles because to retrieve a congenial memory at times of crisis means to uproot the brain and implant a fictitious spray of dopamine without thinking, this quick aid of "not thinking" vigorously mocks at me.

So, I take my head in my hands to wave off the ridiculous resolutions and again count the shops that come in the way of my home.

The numbers do not stop because cities are always on display and to be found in a market is such a farce, you will sold for sale. I wonder if anyone else was this absurd while being on fright and flight mode~nonsence

The bats babble , you see no life in human form and you ought to get panicked in an amount never metered, the leaves clap and claw out your heart,a strange laughter comes from the wild and you are in the middle of road that doesn't have a board to assure you where you are. Your mind has no gps, and location was never mapped too. The lake has perhaps migrated flushing your home or the lake never existed.

So, to scream just for the sake of hopelessness that adheres you seems the only option. When the tears are about to be delivered, you are called by your mother and the glass shatters, you are home , pulled back from your nightmares

Hope is sometimes cloaked in hopelessness, the cry is made to reach to ears and that is what hope is, to subconsciously believe that your tears will be harvested even when you are in your worst dream, that you will be found from the unknown and unnamed roads.

Home is somewhere in the hearts of those who take this responsibility of holding your hand in times when your identity card is lost, those who come uncalled , those who won't let you be lost when you have lost the address, those who remember you .

Home is always nearby ,you are never estranged from it, just know that while you are fidgeting in your worries somebody is looking for you. Someone is searching you and someone's going to hug right after you are traced . You are homed in hearts that aren't dead

-tabish.j

[sezja]

Febuwhump Day 6: "You Lied to Me" Fandom: Final Fantasy XIV Characters/Ship: Sanson Smyth/Guydelot Thildonnet, Raicheille Lhorulgois Triggers/Content warnings: Child abuse

Part 1

Guydelot heaves a long, deep yawn, not troubling to hide it.

It's a beautiful day - balmy and clear, not a single cloud in the perfect blue sky - and for once, they're off-duty: no assignments, no missions, no training, no drills. He doesn't even have to shirk his duties, nor coax Sanson away from his own for a bell or two; no, it's a full day of nothing to worry about, nothing on their plate.

Naturally, Sanson the Stiff has elected to waste it on errands.

"I didn't force you to accompany me," Sanson reminds him, with an all-too-amused little twinkle in his eyes. "You could have spent the day however you chose."

Aye, but I wanted to spend it with you. "What, and leave you to your own devices? You'll be back to work if I turn my back for half a second."

"Nonsense." Never mind that Sanson won't quite meet his eye when he says it. "But these are things I've put off for too long - it's best I see them done while I have the chance."

Guydelot rolls his eyes, but doesn't complain; he's been trotting after Sanson all across Gridania all morning - a delivery to be made here, a form to be turned in there, a purchase to be made here, a favor to be repaid there. For all his theatrics, the bard can't deny it's a delight to watch Sanson in action, even beyond the battlefield: these little domestic delights never quite lose their luster. In truth, what would he rather do with the day?

"Just one last stop," Sanson promises him, sliding his arm through Guydelot's. "A brief stop at the Canopy. We can stop for lunch there, if you like."

He grins. "Well, if you insist-"

A commotion interrupts him; before he can even properly turn to see what's going on, something slams into them from behind, colliding with Guydelot. It doesn't knock him off his feet, but it's a near thing; he staggers away, reaching for a bow he's not carrying-

And then he pauses.

It's a girl.

A ragged, wild-eyed girl in what was doubtless once a nice dress of dark green velvet - it's in poor shape now; the hem of the skirt is ripped and tattered, and the sleeves hang off her shoulders. Burrs and leaves cling to the fabric. She appears to have lost her shoes, and her stockings are a lost cause; they too are in shreds. Her dark brown hair looks to have been neatly pinned up at one point, but many of the pins have tumbled loose, and tendrils fall loose and wild every which way. Her face, beneath too much cosmetics for a girl her age, is wide-eyed - scratches here and there mar it; between that and the state of her clothes, it looks like she went sprinting through the bramble patch, hitting every thorn along the way.

She tumbled when she collided with him, sprawling on the cobbles.

Sanson offers her a hand, propriety shoving his bewilderment out of the way. "Are you hurt, miss?"

"You!" She clutches his hand, pulling herself upright. She doesn't let go, clinging to Sanson's hand with both of her own, breathing hard. "Captain Smyth! I found you!"

Guydelot glances between the two of them, baffled - but Sanson looks just as confused as he does. "Chief?"

"Forgive me, I'm afraid I..." Sanson trails off. Pauses. Blinks. "Lady Raicheille?"

"Yes!" The girl looks frantically between the two of them. "I... I helped you, both of you, before. You remember. I know you do!"

Helped us? Guydelot's sure he'd remember if they'd been helped by a slip of a girl at some point; he makes a point of remembering favors owed... unless, of course, that favor happened when he was otherwise too preoccupied to pay attention. Which means only one thing - one very specific window of time.

His hands ache.

"You'd be Nourval's sister, I reckon." He'd never met the girl himself - not even half her brother's age, and twice as reckless, from the sound of her. Sanson'd spoken of her in tones of exasperated admiration. Not quite the ragged damsel working herself into a fit of distress before them now.

"Yes... yes! That's me!" She still hasn't released Sanson's arm. "Listen, I- there was... I-"

Sanson touches her hands with his own free hand, gentle. "Calm down, Rai. What happened to you?"

She pauses, sucking in deep breaths. Curious onlookers begin to disperse, now that the worst of the drama appears to have passed - encouraged by sharp looks from Guydelot. Whatever's going on here, the last thing they need's a bloody audience spreading rumors all over the Twelveswood. Guydelot remembers the girl's uncle all too well, and he'd wager good money not all of the bastard's scheming died with him. Whatever this is, he doesn't like the look of it, and he sure as hells doesn't trust it.

"There... there was..." She's thinking. Guydelot's mind sharpens. Whatever the girl says next, he knows, is going to be a lie. No one has to think that hard about the truth. "There was, um... an accident. I was... I was thrown from my chocobo's back, on the way... on the way from Fallgourd."

It'd explain the scratches, and the state of her dress, Guydelot reluctantly acknowledges...

...but it doesn't quite explain the bruises peeking out between the tears in her sleeves. Those are fingerprints, or Guydelot's a blind fool.

"Do you need a conjurer?" Sanson asks, gently. "We could get word to your parents-"

"No!" She all but yelps, eyes flying wide once more. "No! No, don't... don't trouble them, I-" Her eyes dart. Guydelot watches an idea occur to her - a sudden hope. "My brother," she says. "You could take me to Nourval. He'd... he'd look after me. Until I'm ready to go home."

Sanson exchanges a quick glance with Guydelot. Ah. So he does suspect something odd about this.

Nourval's been under the Adders' custody for a year now - not quite a prisoner, but under their watchful gaze nonetheless. He lives in a modest home, guarded at all times by two men. He is permitted to leave only seldom... and never to receive guests without supervision. If Nourval has received any visits from his parents - to say nothing of his willful younger sister - they have not heard of it, and Sanson pays careful attention to Nourval's circumstances. He seems to feel he owes the man something for the risks he'd taken a year ago on their behalf - on Guydelot's behalf - but so far as the bard is concerned, it was merely Nourval cleaning the slate between them.

If he no longer has it in him to hate Nourval for what he'd done to Sanson, nor does he have it in him to forgive the man, either.

"Well." He smiles, stretching. "This'll be fun, won't it? To Nourval's house we go."

"Yes!" Raicheille releases Sanson's hand at last, gathers her ruined skirt in one hand, and darts away, heading toward the residential districts.

Guydelot watches her go, unsurprised to find she knows exactly where her brother lives.

"She lied to us," he says, quietly. "You know that."

"Aye," Sanson replies, as they set off after her - she won't get far without their permission to approach Nourval's home, after all. "The question is... why?" His eyes narrow, and a chill creeps into his voice. "And what's been done to her?"

[puckrph]

FALL OUT BOY'S "SO MUCH (FOR) STARDUST" STARTERS

taken from the 2023 album. feel free to change pronouns, etc.

LOVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE

' i'm dying out here. ' ' what would you trade the pain for? ' ' we were a hammer to the statue of david. ' ' we were a painting you could never frame. ' ' you were the sunshine of my lifetime. ' ' this city always hangs a little bit lonely on me, loose like a kid playing pretend in his father's suit. ' ' i'd never go, i just want to be invited. ' ' you've got to give up. ' ' don't fight it. ' ' i'm sending my love from the other side of the apocalypse. ' ' i just about snapped. ' ' don't look back. ' ' every lover's got a little dagger in their hand. ' ' i'm falling in and out of love. ' ' i'm getting that tilted feeling. ' ' nowhere left for us to go but heaven. ' ' summer's falling through our fingers again. ' ' we're taught we've gotta get ahead no matter what it takes, but there's no way off the hamster wheel on this rat race. ' ' i saw you in a bright clear field, hurricane heat in my head. ' ' it's the kind of pain you feel to get good in the end. ' ' give up what you love before it does you in. '

HEARTBREAK FEELS SO GOOD

' no matter what they tell you, the future's up for grabs. ' ' is there a word for a bad miracle? ' ' nobody said the road was endless. ' ' nobody said the climb was friendless. ' ' could we please pretend this won't end? ' ' it was an uphill battle, but they didn't know we were gonna use the roads as a ramp to take off. ' ' we could cry a little, or cry a lot. ' ' don't stop dancing. ' ' don't you dare stop. ' ' we'll cry later or cry now. ' ' we could dance our tears away, emancipate ourselves. ' ' but baby, heartbreak feels so good. ' ' heartbreak feels so good. ' ' we said we'd never grow up. ' ' it's open season on blue moods. '

HOLD ME LIKE A GRUDGE

' when you ask how i've been, i know you mean well. ' ' who am i dialing tonight? ' ' that's a bummer. ' ' burn feelings for twenty summers. ' ' i'm just a cherub riding comets through the night sky, screaming at the stars like night lights. ' ' i love my life. ' ' i guess i'm getting older, cause i'm less pissed. ' ' to the end of the world. ' ' you put the "fun" into dysfunction. ' ' hold me like a grudge. ' ' the world is always spinning, and i can't keep up. ' ' i can't do it on my own. ' ' part-time soulmate, full-time problem. ' ' i guess somehow we made it back with a few dreams of ours still intact. ' ' i am a diamond on the inside, just add the pressure. ' ' i know it's inside me, but i've got no map to my own treasure. ' ' i thought i knew better. ' ' i thought it would get better. ' ' i figured somehow by now i would have got it together. ' ' if you put your heart in it, then we'll do more than just get by together. ' ' i'm like a storm on the horizon. '

FAKE OUT

' take a knife and cut through the darkness. ' ' i make no plans, so none can be broken. ' ' remember us just like this forever. ' ' this can't last. it won't last. ' ' do you laugh about me whenever i leave? or do i just need more therapy? ' ' love is in the air, i just gotta figure out a window to break out. ' ' i'm buried alive inside my dreams. ' ' my mood board is just pictures of you. ' ' i'm not sad anymore. ' ' i didn't take the love when i had the chance. ' ' do i still need more therapy? ' ' we all started off as shiny dimes, but we all got flipped too many times. ' ' we did it for futures that never came and for pasts that we're never gonna change. '

HEAVEN, IOWA

' you and i and a screw top bottle of wine? ' ' i feel so "a star is born." ' ' kiss my cheek. ' ' would you read my eulogy? ' ' i will never ask you for anything, except to dream sweet of me. ' ' when the party ends, will you still love who i am? ' ' scar crossed lovers forever. ' ' i'm checking myself out forever. ' ' i'm saving this all for later. ' ' here, we are untouched forever. ' ' they don't know how much they'll miss, at least until you're gone like this. ' ' save your breath. ' ' half your life, you've been hooked on death. ' ' half my life i've been hooked on death. ' ' twice the dreams, but half the love. ' ' be careful what you bottle up. ' ' the chemistry is a mess, it seems, but i'm still a sunbeam. ' ' i closed my eyes inside of your darkness and found your glow. ' ' shake things up, and see what comes down. '

SO GOOD RIGHT NOW

' i got this doom and gloom in my mind. ' ' i feel alright. ' ' let's sneak in from the cheap seats. ' ' we'll drive until the engine just gives up. ' ' feeling so good right now, so we'll crash and burn somehow. ' ' i know i've made mistakes, but at least they were mine to make. ' ' all of our wildest dreams, they just end up with you and me. ' ' i was drifting from the start, and i ripped myself apart. ' ' i'll be whatever you need me to be. ' ' i'll cut myself down to whatever you need me to be. '

THE PINK SEASHELL

' my parents got divorced when i was five years old. ' ' i saw my father about three times a year after that. ' ' he gives me this big pink seashell, and he says to me "the answers are all inside of this." and i'm all like, "what?" now i realize that the shell's empty. there's no point to any of this. ' ' it's all just a random lottery of meaningless tragedy and a series of near escapes. ' ' so i take pleasure in the detail, you know? a quarter pounder with cheese, those are good. the sky about ten minutes before it started to rain. a moment where your laughter becomes a cackle. '

I AM MY OWN MUSE

' here i am. ' ' not sure you should take a chance. ' ' i like playing dumb, letting you figure me out. ' ' i was faded, in my own defense. ' ' drop a bomb on all the things we dreamed about. ' ' smash all the guitars 'til we see all the stars. ' ' we've got to throw this year away like a bad luck charm. ' ' the trumpets bring the angels, but they never came. ' ' no one let them in, 'cause they didn't know my name. ' ' i know i keep my feelings tucked away. ' ' it's just another day spent hoping we don't fall apart. ' ' let's twist the knife again, like we did last summer. ' ' i'm just trying to keep it together, but it gets a little harder when it never gets better. ' ' i'm trying to keep it together. '

FLU GAME

' i guess to you now i'm just a face in the crowd. ' ' oh, god. kindly, please, would you kill me now? ' ' late at night in my room, i lie awake, think of you. ' ' last night i dreamt i still knew you. ' ' i carved out a place in this world for two, but it's empty without you. ' ' i've got all this love i've got to keep to myself. ' ' it takes all this effort to make it look effortless. ' ' confront all the pain like a gift under the tree. ' ' i can't be who you need me to be. ' ' i'm so real that i feel fake. ' ' one day, every candle's gotta run out of wax. ' ' one day, no one will remember me when they look back. ' ' i can't stop 'til we catch all your ears, though. i'm somewhere between mike tyson and van gogh. '

BABY ANNIHILATION

' time is luck, and i wish ours overlapped more, or for longer. ' ' the first time i took the mask off, just had another one on underneath. ' ' i'm just melted wax on a birthday cake. ' ' another year fades away. ' ' it's self-sabotage at best. ' ' you know what they say: if you want a job done right, you gotta do it yourself. ' ' this palace was crystal, but the world was a cruel joke. ' ' what is there between us, if not a little annihilation? '

THE KINTSUGI KID (TEN YEARS)

' i'm pretty sure, as far as humans go, i'm a hard pill to swallow. ' ' i'm not your intended dose. ' ' roll the highlights. ' ' i've got the wrong insides. ' ' i spent ten years in a bit of chemical haze. ' ' i miss the way that i felt. ' ' i passed my old street, the house i grew up in. it breaks your heart. ' ' i felt you at the beginning, but i needed you at the end. ' ' stop me if you've heard this all before too many times after too much alcohol. ' ' you don't know me anymore. '

WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE

' that's the way the world used to be before our dreams started bursting at the seams. ' ' we're out here and we're ready. ' ' i don't care if it's pretty. ' ' the view's so pretty from the deck of a sinking ship. ' ' everything is lit except my serotonin and my lightning bolt brain. ' ' i just need someone to hold me. ' ' i just need someone to hold me, even though you don't even know me. ' ' what a time to be alive. ' ' they say i should try meditation, but i don't want to be with my own thoughts. ' ' i just want to be your cherry on top. ' ' when i said "leave me along," this isn't quite what i meant. ' ' what's left? ' ' sometimes you wonder if we're ever looking back. '

SO MUCH (FOR) STARDUST

' i'm in a winter mood, dreaming of spring. ' ' i've been burning myself down. ' ' i feel like something that's been stretched out, over and over again, until i'm creased and i'm about to break down the middle. ' ' stars are the same as ever. ' ' i don't have the guts to keep it together. ' ' i'm stuck in the permafrost. ' ' life is just a game. ' ' i'm stuck in a lonely loop. ' ' so much for stardust. we thought we had it all. ' ' i need the sound of crowds, or i can't fall asleep at night. ' ' i can't take my thoughts. ' ' another year of possibilities left unwrapped like gifts the day right after christmas passed. ' ' i'm pretty positive my pain isn't cool enough. ' ' ache 'til you make it. ' ' i think i've been going through it, and i've been putting your name to it. ' ' in another life, you were my babe. ' ' in another life, you were the sunshine of my lifetime? ' ' what would i trade the pain for? i'm not sure. ' ' i used to be a real go-getter. ' ' i used to think it'd all get better. '

[elizabeths-writing-corner]

Hello there! I couldn't help myself but to ask if you could maybe write a story about stargazing with mammon? ✨ it would truly be amazing if you could ♡

"Stargazing" Obey me! Mammon

☁ Thank you for your request ^^ This was literally the first time when I didn't write smut for an individual character... I had a hard time figuring out how to tell this story. I hope it's still to your liking even if I strayed from the idea a bit too much... :p

Mammon x gn!Reader

──────────────────────────────

"Y/N, I finally found you!" a familiar scream of enthusiasm fills the once quiet and peaceful planetarium you were gathering your thoughts in. "We're leavin' for dinner in ten minutes. Get your ass downstairs or Lucifer will be mad."

"Sure, give me just a moment."

It's hard to hide the grimace painted on your face as you raise yourself from the cold stone of the fountain located in the middle of the room. Every movement looks like put in slow motion; you've been frozen in one position for probably too long.

"Is somethin' wrong?" Mammon makes a few careful steps towards you. "Are ya fellin' sick?" he then asks politely, as if he encountered a wild animal and tried not to scare it away.

You fidged your fingers nervously, fighting yourself if you should open up and tell him about your worries or if you should stay silent and act like nothing's wrong. After all, he's just a friend; a friend who you were forced to make, no one but a housemate, really.

"I was just remembering..." you confess after a short consideration, "the human world," You turn over to Mammon with your whole body, suddenly feeling more energized but anxious at the same time. "It may seem out of the blue but I just looked at the sky and thought... it really doesn't differ too much from what I could observe from the window in my house. I do miss it sometimes," your voice undertoned so much that it's now drowning in the much louder noise caused by the squirting from the fountain water.

For the whole time, the demon didn't say a thing. He was listening carefully to all you had to throw out of yourself while making small steps in your direction.

He knows this feeling all too well. His and his brother's exclusion from the Celestial Realm caused his whole life to fall apart. At the time it seemed like a disaster, which drowned all his will to keep going. However, if that had never happened, would he be listening to your soothing voice every morning or have the opportunity to watch your beautiful face floodlit by the cold light of the moon, shining through the glass roof as he does right now?

"I'm sorry, that was unnecessary," you say quickly in defense, worried that you created a melancholic mood with your rambling but when you stand up and try to run past Mammon with your head down, he stops you by putting his arm around your waist and pinning you down to the cold, marble floor.

Your cheeks heat up and a blush sneaks onto them while he seems unfazed. You've never seen him so collected before. He pins you down by gripping your wrists but he soon lets go of them and lays beside you. Your confused gaze follows his every move until he raises his hand to point at the stars-scattered sky and says:

"Ya see this, Y/N? It's a constellation named Grus. Looks kinda like a crow, doesn't it?"

"Not really," you frown your forehead. "It's more like a goose to me."

"Oh, and what do ya know?!" the demon grunts with annoyance at your attempt to correct him. "And here's the little dog," he points at something again but he notices you visibly can't spot it so he cups your cheek with his hand and guides you. "Reminds me of Luke. And next to it is the big dog - Cerberus."

"You surely have your own way of interpreting things, Mammon," you chuckle under your nose. "But since when do you know so much about constellations? Did you swap minds with Belphie? Is this another curse?"

"What's that supposed to mean, huh?" He raises himself to his forearms and looks at you with a piercing, angry, but not threatening stare. "It's so hard to believe that The Great Mammon knows somethin'?"

A bubbly smile doesn't wash off your face. You gently grab Mammon's hand and squeeze it tightly, presumably sending a spark that travels all the way to his brain, because while he was calm just a second ago, now he's just a blushing and sweating mess.

The demon quickly glances at your hand holding his and immediately frees it from your grip as if it was burning his skin. He opens his mouth to say something, but you interrupt him.

"Either way, thank you, Mammon, for cheering me up."

"Where did that idiot wander off to?" you hear a muffled voice from the hall; a voice that means you're in big trouble.

"Shit, that's Lucifer!" Mammon whimpers in great fear of meeting a punishment. "We're late! Y/N get your ass up. I don't want to hang from the ceiling again..."

[dia-souls]

Diabolik lovers Angel and Devil Story [ Chapter 08 ]

Chapter 08 : Father's letter

When the sun shines its golden light through the window into the room, the beautiful goddess is sleeping peacefully in the arms of the devil. She has reached freedom in her dreams. She flies to touch the blue heart of the sky. But this time she is not alone in this dream. This time someone is with her. Her small and thin body has been carried on his arms and the devil carries her to the sky. He puts his face in the golden hair of his goddess to smell her sweet fragrance. He kisses her small red cheek and puts his hand in the hand of his beautiful goddess and holds it tightly. He never wants to let go of this hand.

The goddess smiles in this beautiful dream. She can finally smile. Can feel happiness. The beautiful goddess can feel the love between herself and him. A love that grows bigger and bigger every moment in her heart. She wants to stay forever and ever in this dream and in the arms of her lover. The goddess never wants to wake up from this dream.

Yui puts her head on Ruki's chest and smiles in her sweet sleep. She was able to escape from the dark world for a while and reach freedom in her dreams. A dream of freedom in which she was not alone this time. Yui keeps whispering Ruki's name in this sweet dream. This dream was like a bridge to a beautiful future. Yui wished to stay in Ruki's arms forever.

_Yui is sleeping in Ruki's arms and Ruki gently shakes her to wake her up.

* Rustle Rustle *

Ruki: Yui?!

Yui: Mmm...

* Rustle Rustle *

Ruki: Yui. Wake Up.

Yui: .... Mmmm.....ha .. Good morning Ruki-kun.

Ruki: Good morning. Now that you have woken up, please take your hand off my shirt. I can't move when you hold my clothes tightly like this.

Yui: Huh?

_Yui notices her situation in Ruki's arms and quickly tries to get out of Ruki's arms.

*Rustle*

Yui: Oh. I'm really sorry Ruki-Kun. I did not realize when I came into your arms. I'm sorry.

Ruki: You are so stupid. Do you know that leaving yourself so defenseless in the arms of a vampire is very dangerous?

Yui: I...

Ruki: Pffff.... Hahaha..... stupid girl. If you want to get my attention, just tell me. I am willing to pay attention to you as your master.

_Ruki goes to Yui on the bed and tilts his head towards Yui, which makes Yui blush.

Ruki: Be quick. tell me what do you want ?

Yui: Mmmm... Ruki-kun, you misunderstood. I came into your arms only in my sleep without realizing it.

Ruki: Hehe. Don't try to lie.

Yui: .......!

Ruki: You don't have to say anything. Your face tells me everything. If this is your wish, I will gladly give you my fangs.

Yui: No... wait......

_Ruki bites Yui's neck and sucks her blood.

Yui: Ahhh….

Ruki: Mmm...

*slurp slurp*

Ruki: Your blood tastes different. So this means that the condition has improved. You don't have a cold anymore. This is great. Now, as a reward for taking care of you, I want to suck you more.

*Gulp Gulp*

Yui: Aaahhh..... Ruki-kun....

Ruki: Yui... stay still. Your blood belongs to me...

*slurp slurp*

Ruki: (Not only your blood but also you belong to me. You are only mine. I will not let anyone take you away from me. I want to always feel your warmth in my arms.)

_Ruki continues to suck Yui's blood.

* TIMESKIP *

Ruki: And that's it. Thank you for the meal.

Yui: .......

Ruki: What is your problem?

Yui: Huh? Nothing. No matter.

Ruki: How many times do I have to tell you, don't lie to me. I can read your mind very easily.

Yui: ..... well ..... I .....

Ruki: If you are not feeling well, you can rest at home today. Don't worry, I will take care of you.

Yui: No, Ruki-kun. I'm fine... just...

Ruki: Just what?

Yui: Can I hug you? (Haaaaaaaaa? I can't believe I asked him this.)

Ruki: Hmmm...... Hehe.....

Yui: Please don't laugh Ruki-kun. Don't make fun of me .

Ruki: I can't believe it. You want to hug me. What happened to that rebellious livestock that was running away from me. Are you sure this is you?

Yui: Ruki-kun....

Ruki: Haha. It can't be helped. When you look at me with those eyes, I can't deny it. There is no problem, come in my arms.

_Ruki opens his arms and guides Yui towards his arms. Yui goes to Ruki's arms with trembling and worried steps and hugs him.

*Rustle*

Ruki: You are very cheeky to try to attract your master's attention like this.

Yui: ......

Ruki: Hahaha. It's okay. You can stay in my arms as much as you like to feel better. (I don't want to leave you either. So stay by my side and in my arms forever)

Yui: Thank you Ruki-kun.

_Ruki buries his head in Yui's hair and kisses her hair.

*smooch*

Ruki: Your hair is very soft and it tickles my skin.

*sniff sniff*

Ruki: Mmmm... you smell good. Your smell is like the smell of flowers.

Yui: Ruki-kun.....

Ruki: Hah. What's your problem ? You were looking for your master's attention, now I am paying attention to you as your master.

Yui: It's embarrassing.

Ruki: You are very pure and naive. Just a small kiss made you blush like this. Hahaha, but still very cute.

Yui: .....

Ruki: Stay like this until you feel good.

*smooch*

She melted in his warm embrace. He wrapped his arms around her small waist and kissed her fragrant golden hair. He was holding her small hands with his big hand and caressing her. He touched her red cheek and whispered sweet words in her ear.

When he came to himself, the devil realized that his beautiful goddess was no longer a prisoner. But this time he himself was captured. Captive of a beautiful and kind girl who has always shown her love to him.

It doesn't matter how bad the devil was with her. The goddess has now opened her heart to him and gifted her love to him. Devil smiles from the bottom of his heart for the first time. He feels happy. It has a beautiful feeling that can be called love.

The devil is captured by the kind heart of his angel. An angel who came to his life to save him from the heart of his history. This devil did not believe in love before. But now he wants to give all his love to this girl. He wants to keep her always by his side.

_Yui slowly closes her eyes in Ruki's arms to keep this beautiful feeling in her mind forever.

* TIMESKIP *

Yui: (He hugs and kisses me. It's like a dream.)

*knock knock*

Yui: ......!

Ruki: Yui, are you ready?

Yui: Yes. I'm coming.

_Yui takes her bag and leaves the room.

Yui: I'm ready Ruki-kun.

Ruki: Are you sure you are okay? If you are not fully recovered, there is no need to come to school.

Yui: Be sure, Ruki-kun. I am completely fine. I can come to school. In addition, if I am absent from school more than this, I may fall behind in my studies. I don't like this to happen. I don't want my grades to drop.

Ruki: Even if you fall behind in your studies, I can help you. So you don't have to worry about your score.

Yui: Don't worry Ruki-kun. As I said, I am fine. we better go we will be late.

Ruki: Okay. let's go.

_Ruki and Yui leave the mansion together and head towards the school.

*TIMESKIP*

Teacher: Okay, dear students, today's lesson is over.

*Ding dong*

Teacher: Have a nice day.

Yui: (Hah, this was the last class. But I think Ruki-kun still has to attend another class. I'd better go to the library until his class is over.)

_Yui puts things in her bag and walks towards the library.

Yui: (Even though I'm in the same school as Ruki-Kun, I feel lonely when he's not around. I'd like to tell him how I feel about him. But...)

????: Yui-san?

Yui: This voice?

Riko: Hello, Yui-san. Good day.

Yui: Oh, hello Riko-san, good day. Sorry, I didn't see you, I wasn't paying attention.

Riko: I'm glad to see you again. You were not at school for a few days. I was worried about you. Did you have a problem?

Yui: No, I just had a cold. Just this.

Riko: Are you okay now?

Yui: Yes, I am very well now. I was going to the library to study. Do you want to come with me?

Riko: Sure. Let's go.

_Riko and Yui walk to the library together.

* TIMESKIP *

Riko: And I want to experience this feeling with you forever.

Yui: Fufu. This poem is also very beautiful. Can you read another poem?

Riko: Sure. Let me see what I can find.

????: Excuse me, Miss. Komori-san? You are here?

Yui: .....! Yes I am here.

_A female student approaches Yui.

Female student: Hello, my name is Miko. I have a letter for you.

Yui: A letter? Letter from whom?

Female student: I came here from the church. I wanted to inform you that your father returned from his trip and sent you a letter.

Yui: Father? Is he back from the trip?

Female student: Yes. They sent this letter to you.

_The female student takes out a letter from her bag and hands it to Yui.

*Flip*

Yui: Oh. Thank you very much.

Female student: Have a nice day Miss. Komori-san.

_The female student goes out of the library.

Yui: I can't believe it. My father returned from his trip and sent me a letter. I'm very happy.

Riko: Yui-san it is great. Now you can go back to your father. Right?

Yui: Yes, yes. I can't wait to see my father again.

Riko: What did your father write to you in his letter?

Yui: I don't know. I am reading it right now.

_Yui opens the letter and starts reading the letter. After reading the letter, Riko notices that Yui's smile is slowly fading.

Yui: ......!

Riko: Yui-san?! What is wrong? What did he write in the letter?

Yui: No, no. This is not possible. No.

Riko: Yui-san?! what happened?

_Yui starts crying.

Yui: No, no. I can not believe. *Sob*..... *Sniff*..... NOOOOOOO ......

Riko: Yui-san?!!!! what happened ??

Yui: *Sob*... why... why father? ..... *sob* .... *sniff* .....

Riko: Yui-san????!!!!!

Yui: ......!

Riko: What happened? please tell me.

_While crying, Yui crumples the letter in her fist and quickly leaves the library.

Riko: Yui-san???!!!! Wait!!!!!

_Riko follows Yui out of the library.

*TIMESKIP*

_Yui is sitting on the roof of the school, hugging her knees and hiding her face in her hands and crying.

Yui: *Sob*...*sniff*...*sob*.....(Why? Why father? I can't believe that you sent me this letter. You don't want to see me anymore because you found out I live with vampires. Father? Why?)

_While crying, Yui notices a familiar voice.

Riko: Yui-san? You are here?

Yui: Get out of here, I want to be alone. *Sob*......

Riko: What happened? What was written in the letter?

Yui: IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. JUST PLEASE GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME ALONE.

Riko: ......!

Yui: Oh..... I apologize for being rude and yelling.....Just please, Riko-san. I am not feeling well at all. I just want to be alone.

_Without paying attention to Yui's words, Riko walks towards her with slow steps and kneels next to Yui.

Riko: Yui-san?

Yui: .....!

_Riko gently lifts Yui's chin with his right hand and forces her to look into his eyes. At the same time, he gently holds Yui in his arms.

Yui: Riko-san??!!! What are you doing ?

Riko: Shhhhhh. Calm down, Yui-san. You don't have to worry, I'm here. I will help you as much as I can. Calm down.

Yui: ......

Riko: I don't know what happened to upset you so much. But I know that you are very strong. You are the strongest girl I have ever seen. It's okay if you want to cry. I am here with you. You can cry next to me. I am here to wipe your tears. I am here to comfort you by hugging you.

Yui: Riko-san?

Riko: You can tell me anything that happens to you. I will help you I promise you that you can talk to me if you have any problem or if something bothers you. I will always be by your side, my Yui.

Yui: .....! (He called me his Yui?!)

As Riko hugs Yui, he gently wipes Yui's tears. Riko caresses Yui's head to give her peace. He knows this is hard for Yui. He had always seen Yui smile and had never seen Yui cry. He knows Yui is a strong girl who always cries alone.

_Riko continues to caress Yui.

Yui: Thank you Riko-san.

Riko: Do ​​you feel better now?

Yui: Yes, thank you. I feel much better now. I owe it all to you, Riko-san. Thank you.

Riko: I did nothing. Yui-san, if something is bothering you, you can talk to me about it. I am here to listen to you.

Yui: Thank you Riko-san. You are very kind . But now I need to be alone.

Riko: I'm sorry, Yui-san. But I can't leave you alone in this situation. You are not in a good mood. I have to stay by your side.

Yui: Don't worry about me, Riko-san. I am fine. I feel much better now. But as I said, I need to be alone. But I promise I will talk to you when I feel better.

Riko: Are you sure? I'm worried about you, Yui-san. Are you sure you can be alone?

Yui: Yes, I'm sure. don't worry about me I am fine. I mean, I want to say that I will be fine. Just give me some time and let me be alone.

Riko: Okay, Yui-san. If you need my help, I will wait for you in the library.

Yui: Okay, thank you, Riko-san.

Slowly, with short steps, he leaves her alone in a world of sadness and longing. When the goddess wipes away her tears, she no longer hears a sound. She sees only darkness and loneliness in front of her. Her hope was the love and embrace of her father so that she could have a family and experience the love of the family. Even if this family is small.

The goddess cries again in solitude to get rid of this sadness. Her heart beats faster than before remembering the beautiful memories she had with her father. Maybe this can be a new beginning for her. to find a new family and experience love with them.

Yui: This is not called love. My father did not love me. He dumped me for a ridiculous reason. I thought that when everyone leaves me, at least my father is by my side and loves me... but... I was wrong.

_A strong wind blows on the roof of the school and makes Yui feel cold. until she feels the warmth of a hand on her shoulder.

Yui: .......!

Ruki: It's cold here. You may catch a cold.

_Ruki takes off his blazer and puts it on Yui's shoulders and sits next to him and hugs her gently.

Yui: (I don't know how long he was here. I don't know how many of my words he heard. But his hug is warm and comforts me)... Mmmm... Ruki-Kun?

Ruki: You can cry as much as you want. I will stay here to wipe your tears.

_Yui gently presses her head to Ruki's chest and closes her eyes.

monologue:

My heart rests beside him.

I forget all my pains with him.

Now I know that he is not a devil but an angel.

He gently hugs and caresses me.

He seems to know everything.

I don't care where my family is anymore.

Now I am sure that I belong to the Ruki-Kun's family.

I want to rebuild my family with Ruki-Kun.

I want to experience love again.

I want to forget that letter.

I want to experience a new love with Ruki Kun.

<– [ Chapter 07 ] [ Chapter 09 ] –>

[aerialsquid]

FFXIVWrite2023 Day 2: Bark

A Ran'jit Lives AU heavily inspired by the recent Lodestone side story.

Ran'jit took stock of his body the way a general tookstock of his troops. He laid still, his attention going from one limb to the next, gathering information. The material beneath him was soft, like a mattress. Around his limbs, cold like metal. Chains, perhaps. They weighed heavy on him. Pain, too, was there, but faint and hazy around the edges. They had drugged him and the drugs eased the pain as well. 

He opened his eyes. He was in a small room. Eulmore still, by the banners and architecture. Perhaps Vauthry had imprisoned him as punishment for his failure. 

The light, though, was strange. He can't put his finger to what it was. Slowly he turned his head from the barred door to the single high window above. At first he thought it must be tinted glass, until he'd stared to the point his eyes hurt and were leaving spots floating about his vision.

It was the sky. The sky was blue. If it was blue that means the light hadn't returned, which means Vauthry was….

Ran'jit bided his time, waiting on the drugs to wear off, floating in the soup of his own brain, and watched that tiny little window as the blue was marred by white clouds floating across it. Blue sky and clouds. He's seen artwork of such things. They were never meant to be seen by his eyes.

The clouds changed. They went to red and orange, as if there was a fire outside, but Ran'jit did not smell smoke or hear screams. The clouds dimmed to purple and ochre as the wind began to clear them and now Ran'jit watched in fascination and horror, as they finally cleared themselves away to reveal a dark sky shot through with bright twinkling specks. The cursed night that Lord Vauthry had sworn to destroy forever now reigned resplendent across the skies of Kholusia.

If it still remained, then Ran'jit had failed. Vauthry had failed.Then there was nothing left but the horrific wheel of sin, turning again and again to harrow this vile world.

The helpless noise that escaped his throat, barked loud like an animal's cry, was both laughter and sob, and it lasted until he ran out of breath. 

The door opened. He expected the Crystal Exarch, or perhaps the Warrior of Darkness. He did not expect a slim figure in a white dress quietly easing into the room, the Exarch's hired thug at her back. Ran'jit, still bound on his back, did not dare to meet her face.

"Minfilia." He noticed for the first time how dry his throat was, when even summoning the word was harsh.

"It's. Ryne now. It's Ryne, actually. I'm Ryne." Minfilia's voice was hesitant but bore steel inside it. Ran'jit's eyes cast upward out of reflex and he finally realized what was wrong. Her hair, the wrong color. Her eyes, no longer that unearthly blue. 

"Do you think to hide from your fate, like this? To color your hair and conceal your eyes?" He could not even beg Minfilia to come home. If he was prisoner at Eulmore than even the Citadel of Pleasure had fallen, and there would be no place left to keep her safe. These people would feed her into the meat grinder, just as they did every girl before her. 

"It's not dye. I–it's a lot to explain, really–"

"And you don't owe him any of it," snapped the hired thug, one hand on her shoulder.

"Aye, but our charge may find some succor in it regardless, and such would be the matter of greatest import." The fortune teller who cavortws with the pixies was lurking in the shadows behind them. Ran'jit could sense naught but his voice and see the glimmer of light off his jewelry, but he seemed to have some hand on the thug's leash all the same.

Ran'jit turnws away from the sordid lot of them. "My lord is dead, and you have doomed my child. If there is aught satisfaction you need from this withered body of mine before you execute me, take it quickly and then let me leave in peace."

Eulmore performed its executions publicly and with great fanfare. The Crystarium, in its weakness, only exiled its worst criminals and let the sin eaters do the work for them. At his age, injured, alone and friendless, the only difference would be how many people saw him die. 

Minfilia stepped into the room, sliding out from under her bodyguard's hand. She raised his head over his bed and closed her eyes. The chains that bound him, solid and metal despite their aetherial glow, suddenly warmed and then vanished into glittering dust that evaporated out into the darkened sky.

"Ryne!" the thug snapped. 

"He won't hurt me." Her soft blue grey eyes rested on him. Ran'jit sat up slowly, mindful of the bandages he now saw wrapped around his lower section and legs.

"I am your enemy, child. I am your guardian's enemy. To spare my life is to risk that of your precious cabal–"

"No! You listen to me for once, Ran'jit!" She was nearly shaking but she had her heart in her throat, her voice sharp and strong as a blade. When Ran'jit looked into those soft eyes he found it hard to locate a trace of the timid creature he'd kept in a gilded cage in Vauthry's vaults.

"I'm tired of hard choices. I'm tired of sacrificing one life for another - my life, your life, his life, anyone. I'm tired of being told nothing can be bought without blood!" Her voice cracked, tears hesitating at the corners of her eyes, but she kept speaking. 

"Why are men bloody like this? We have so little left and you have to keep ripping apart the shreds further and then telling me it's just the way of things. No. I'm done with it. Thancred's told me about the other girls, I know what happened and I'm sorry but that's not enough reason to just start burning everything down. I don't want anyone else to die stupidly, no matter what they've done."

Ran'jit's hand moved without his consent, as autonomous as Gukumatz. A frail reflexive reaction to embrace her, one he thought he'd burned out of his brain ages ago. He heard the sound of metal scraping as the thug in the doorway readied his gunblade. Perhaps that would be how General Ran'jit would choose his death: letting the bodyguard cut him down because the fool assumed that if Ran'jit wanted someone dead, there'd be anything he could do to stop it.

…but not in front of Minfilia. 

The hand settled on his knee instead. Ran'jit took in a slow breath, feeling the places where his injuries kept his lungs from fully expanding. No reaction to the pain, just as he was trained, it was nothing but a status report from a soldier to its general.  "Then what is to be done with this old war dog, that you will neither slaughter nor throw out to fight again?"

"I want you to live!" Minfilia angrily rubbed the heel of her hand against her face, trying to pretend the tears weren't there. "I don't think I want to see you again. Or–or maybe not for a long time, at least. But I want you to live out the rest of your life in peace, the same as everyone else, and I don't care what else you do with it besides that. We're going to fix what the Light took from us and I want you to be there to see it. I want you to live. That's all."

She hunched her shoulders and whirled to face away from him, stalking out of the small room. In the shadows Ran'jit could see the glinting, gaudy form of the fortune teller resting a comforting arm on her shoulder before drawing her away. The bodyguard remained, gunblade up on his shoulder, glaring at him.

Perhaps the man would kill him anyway, and simply tell Minfilia that he'd escaped in the night. It was what Ran'jit would do. You saw a threat and you removed it, one of the simplest lessons his people learned. (And if he'd finished the job back in Amh Areng and slit the thug's throat, perhaps things would have gone very differently.)

But instead the bodyguard slid his arm back and returned the gunblade to its holder behind his shoulderblades. "She's more than you deserve, you know," he said. 

"I'm aware."

"More than either of us deserves. I can't…" He wavered, his hand on the doorknob. "I can't say I wasn't headed down your path either."

And then the door was quickly closed again, before the thug could let more slip. Ran'jit gingerly laid back on the bed, casting his gaze up to the tiny square of stars.

<i>Live.</i>

At eighty-eight, wasn't that enough living? He'd already far outlived his father. His children too, save the final stolen one. To live and still bear the weight seemed a terrible punishment compared to the blissful benefits of death.

…Ah. Now it became clear.

[couldntbedamned]

Goodbye Grey Sky, Hello Blue - 32

Summary: In an alternate universe where trains and zeppelins are still common forms of travel and the internet and cell phones exist, nineteen year old Peter Parker has few options left after he’s swindled out of his inheritance. Unable to pay for college, let alone keep the house left to him by his deceased aunt, he’s running out of time before he’s out on the streets. Desperate, Peter signs his life over to the Bureau of Civic Spousal Selections to take his chances as the selected husband of a complete stranger. After all, he only has to make it through a year and then he can choose to annul.

Dr. Stephen Strange has little interest in marriage, preferring to focus on his career. When his career is threatened by what a nosy board of directors considers a “lack of personal fulfillment and settling down,” he opts to select a spouse through the BCSS and chooses Peter Parker. The young man’s profile he’d briefly skimmed suggests intelligence and compatibility. It’s not ideal, but if after a year it’s not working out, he can always annul the marriage and send Peter on his way.

It’s a marriage neither truly wants, with sharp learning curves for both. It’s either going to be forever or it’s going to go down in flames.

Warnings/AO3 Tags: 18+ MINORS DNI, Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - 1950s/Modern Fusion, Doctor Stephen Strange, Jewish Peter Parker, Peter Parker is an Adult, Marriage of Convenience, Marriage Contracts, Government Sanctioned Marriages, Domestic Discipline, Dubiously Consensual Spanking, Spanking, Aftercare, Mildly Dubious Consent, Dubious Morals, Dubious Ethics, Asshole Stephen Strange, Smartass Peter Parker, Passive Aggressive Canned Soup, Two Morons Trying to Try Their Best, Borrowing Characters

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Chapter 32

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Tony Stark's mansion sat on a cliff with a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean. While it was the largest private residence he'd ever seen, it wasn't a clunky multi-storied monstrosity like Peter had imagined, but sleek with curving lines and generous windows. It felt modern, almost futuristic.

"Impressive, right?" Stephen asked as they waited for Klaus to unload their luggage.

"It's amazing!"

"And here is the man of the hour," Stephen murmured.

Peter around and spotted Tony striding towards them, arms spread in greeting.

"Doc! Pete! Welcome to my humble little mansion!"

Peter snorted.

Tony had a quick word with Klaus, who then drove off with a grin.

"Now, I'd say tell me all about your first flight, Pete, but I know Sharon's going to ask so we may as well hold off until you and your taller half are settled."

"Where is Sharon?" Peter asked.

"She's in the sun room, reading with her feet propped up. Her obstetrician absolutely refuses to put her on bed rest, so it's the most I'm able to convince her to do," Tony said, disgruntled.

"Tony," Stephen said patiently. "I've read over everything her doctor sent me. There's no need for her to be on bed rest."

"Not even for my peace of mind?"

"Not even," Stephen said.

Tony huffed but nodded. "I just want everything to go okay. Sharon and I can always make another baby. I can't make another her." He paused. "Not ethically, at least. I mean, if anyone could figure out human cloning, it's me. But, you know, ethics and all that."

"She'll be fine," Peter soothed, holding back a laugh. Tony was probably right on the whole pioneering cloning thing. He'd already made science fiction science fact a few different times. "Pretty soon you'll find all new reasons to annoy her."

Tony inclined his head. "I know, I'm driving her crazy. I just can't stand the thought that something might go wrong."

"It won't," Stephen said. "She's healthy and she has the best doctor at her disposal. Her obstetrician is quite good as well."

"Can you believe that this guy lacks all self-confidence?" Tony asked Peter, jerking his thumb in Stephen's direction.

"It's tragic," Peter said, playing along. "He doubts himself all the time."

"You two are hilarious," Stephen said dryly. "Can we go inside now? It's gorgeous out but we've been flying for fourteen hours."

Tony took Peter's luggage with a wink and led them in.

The inside of Tony's mansion was just as sleek and modern as the outside, albeit lived-in and somehow comfortable.

"We decided to put you in the west wing guest suite. It's close to us but you'll still have plenty of privacy and your own bathroom."

The suite was more like a small apartment. They had a sitting area with a royal blue oversized couch that Peter ached to just sink into and two charcoal armchairs in the same style. Their kitchenette boasted a cold cabinet, range, oven, and top-loading dishwasher from the Stark Kitchen Living Collection - not in Stephen's preferred Superior Sapphire, but Tony's signature Hot Rod Red. The bedroom had a chest of drawers in dark walnut that matched the odd bed frame. The mattress looked... sunken somehow, as if the frame was built around it. And the bedding was tidy and clean but definitely lacking in precise corners.

Stephen noticed his puzzlement. "Why don't you take your shoes off and lay down?"

Peter did, shooting Stephen a suspicious look. He laid down and immediately tried - unsuccessfully - to get back up.

"Wha-"

"It's a waterbed, Peter. The mattress is a reinforced bladder filled with water that's kept heated." He couldn't help but laugh at how startled Peter was. "It's quite comfortable; just relax and lay down."

Peter did. It felt like he was floating. The mattress seemed to mold around him so there was no pressure. He shifted and his body undulated with the mattress. It was as if he was being cradled.

"It's comfortable," he agreed.

"But?"

Peter blushed. "It's just... well, I enjoy when you cage me in against the mattress and I'm not sure how well that will work on this thing."

Stephen smirked. "Oh, we'll have plenty of fun." He extended a hand and helped Peter up and out of bed. "Let's get changed. Tony said dinner is being catered so there's no need to go out."

They changed out of their button-downs and blazers and Peter pulled his tie off with relish. He pulled on a polo and Stephen pulled on a light-weight sweater.

"You're not taking your shoes off?" Peter asked.

"Oh, right." Stephen slipped his loafers off and lined them up with Peter's against the wall.

As Tony had said, they found Sharon reclining on a couch and ottoman in the sun room. She wore a pretty blue caftan and her propped-up feet were clad in matching cushioned slippers. She was reading, and after taking a closer look, Peter could see it was one of the scandalous romance novels his aunt May had sworn she didn't read but he'd once found a stack of stashed in her bedroom closet.

"How is romance with-" he read the title "Lord Wickersham?"

Sharon rolled her eyes. "A little tame for my tastes but it is the only romance I've been getting lately." She nodded in Tony's direction. "This one won't touch me."

"Oh, come on!" He complained. "I don't want to risk hurting you or little Starter."

"Starter?" Stephen asked. His hand was warm on Peter's shoulder; Peter liked the closeness.

"His portmanteau of Stark and Carter," Sharon explained. "He thinks it's clever."

Peter snorted.

"You know, I'm glad you two are here," Tony said, sounding put upon. "You can be the focus of her sass."

"If sass is what you're calling it, I don't blame her," Peter said. Stephen's hand squeezed his shoulder in warning.

Sharon marked her place in the book and set it aside. She motioned to the seat next to her. "C'mere, Peter." He sat and she pulled him into a side-hug. "I've missed you," she said.

"Guess we know who's really important here," Tony muttered to Stephen.

"Be nice," Stephen chided. "Growing another person is a taxing, often thankless endeavor."

Tony sighed. "You're right. I'm just-"

"Just wanting everything to go smoothly," Peter finished. "We know." He looked at Sharon. "Right?"

Her expression softened. "Right." Then, "well, sit down already!"

Stephen and Tony did, each taking a chair, though Tony's chair was closest to Sharon. He picked up one of her feet, removed the slipper, and began to massage.

"Oh, that's perfect," she said, eyes closing in pleasure. "I think I'll keep you after all." She enjoyed the foot rub for a few moments before asking Peter about the flight.

"It was amazing!" Peter exclaimed. He launched into telling Sharon and Tony all about the trip, from the early wake-up and Stephen's teasing about him being a menace when running low on sleep - ("What teasing?") - to arriving at the Upper York Air Hangar and checking through security and actually boarding the airship. "It was a Cessna LTA 2-4026!"

"Top of the line," Tony commented approvingly.

"For now," Peter agreed. "Luftschiffbau in Deutschland has been making some headlines about their upcoming trials." Tony smiled and motioned for him to go on. "I got to see some amazing views after we actually started flying and were given the all-clear," Peter continued. "Then I had to take a nap because Stephen said so."

"It was a few hours out of a fourteen hour flight," Stephen inserted.

"I needed it," Peter admitted. "And we had one of the private cabins, which was great! The bed was so comfortable."

"Did you join the LTA Club?" Tony asked Stephen with a smirk.

"No, I did not fornicate with my husband in the very un-soundproofed cabin of the zeppelin," Stephen said.

Peter's cheeks burned at that. He hadn't known what the LTA Club really meant. He'd thought it just meant people who'd flown in a zeppelin! Oh, Stephen must have laughed at him during the previous week when Peter was talking nonstop about his excitement in joining!

Stephen should have corrected him, Peter thought, annoyed. There was so much canned soup in that man's future!

"You alright there, Peter?" Tony asked.

"Leave him alone," Sharon insisted. "Not everyone is comfortable talking about sex openly." Peter shot her a grateful look.

Thankfully, Stephen didn't mention any of the comments Peter had made and prevented further embarrassment.

"How was the drive?" Tony asked. "Was Mr. Haas satisfactory?"

"Klaus? Oh, he was great!" Peter said. Stephen nodded his agreement.

"Good, I'm glad. I know traffic can be a nightmare coming out of that hangar."

Peter made to ask a question but was interrupted by his stomach growling. "Ah, sorry," he said sheepishly.

"No, no, that's fine. It's just about time for dinner," Tony said. He helped Sharon up, resting a hand at her lower back. "Let's go to the dining room."

Dinner finished, Tony insisted on showing Peter his workshop, spiriting him away. "You'll love it; I have all the toys!"

Left alone, Stephen walked Sharon to the family room and helped her into the cushioned rocking chair. He helped her prop her feet up onto an ottoman and took his own seat.

"So," Sharon said. "Where shall we start?"

Stephen leaned forward. "Tell me about these agents I'm supposed to meet."

"Agents Hunter and Morse. They're two of the less... morally upstanding agents of my acquaintance, even by CSB standards."

"And they understand the situation?"

Sharon nodded and went over the particulars of what she'd told them and what they'd agreed to. "Everything is set up for you to meet with them on Thursday, so you and Peter should be able to enjoy yourselves tomorrow and Wednesday. I know he was excited to see the beach."

"The location I'll be meeting them?" Stephen couldn't think about enjoying himself just yet.

She sighed. "Middle California, just like you requested. Is there a reason why you were so insistent on Middle California?"

"The less anyone knows, the better," he said evasively.

Rolling her eyes, she nodded. "Okay, we're good on that front. Now, I told you last week you weren't getting out of a conversation. So what's had you in such a foul mood?"

He sat back and rubbed his eyes. "Richards," he gritted out. "That man had the audacity to come to my office and tell me that I had no business staying married to Peter after our year is up." He forced himself to unclench his hands and relax. "I'm holding him back from greatness, apparently."

"Oh," Sharon said softly. "Oh, no that was terrible of him!"

"No, he was right," Stephen said wearily. "I know how brilliant Peter is; if it hadn't been for Beck, Peter would be busy finishing up his first year of college. Hell, maybe he'd be well into his third or fourth semester, knowing him."

"You can't torture yourself with what-could-have-beens," she reasoned. "Did you ever consider that maybe Peter is more happy with you than he'd be if he'd gone to school?"

He snorted. "Please. What about life married to me could make him truly happy? Like I once told Dr. Grimm, I'm self-aware enough to know how insufferable I am."

Her expression hardened. "Stephen, for one of the most brilliant men I know, you can be quite stupid. I know exactly what kind of man you are, and you are so good, but it's as if you're the only one who can't see it. Peter sees it," she added at his skeptical look. "No, don't roll your eyes at me! Stephen, I talk to Peter multiple times a week. And yes, we talk about you and I am telling you that unhappy is the last thing Peter feels concerning you."

"He deserves better," he said.

"He deserves a life where he's happy," she countered. "And whether you believe it true or not, he's happy with you." A sly smile played around her face. "Somehow miserable people like you and I both ended up with husbands who are happy with us."

He couldn't help but laugh at that. "You deserve every happiness," he said.

She sighed. "I'd settle for Tony loosening his strings even a fraction. He's been driving me crazy, Stephen. I can't even go for a snail-paced walk on the treadmill anymore; he's always hovering."

"He wants more than anything for you to come out of this in good health. And he's determined to do everything he can to ensure that," he reasoned. "He's also determined to be the best father he can be."

"I know this is scaring him," Sharon acknowledged with a sigh. "But he shouldn't worry; he'll be a wonderful father."

"Of the four of us under this roof at the moment, the only person who grew up in a loving family is Peter. I'd certainly be scared in in Tony's place. And yours," he added. She'd told him all about growing up as a Carter and none of it sounded pleasant. "So cut him a break," he suggested. "He's doing his best."

"I know. And I love him for it."

"Baby Starter is going to have the best parents and the best life," he assured her.

"I'd like to get to the having Baby Starter, if it's all the same. I've already told Tony I am not doing this again."

"And how did he take that news?"

"Oh, he was fine with it. Said he wasn't sure he could handle more than one."

Stephen laughed. "That sounds like him."

"So, what do you think?"

Peter looked around the workshop - which was essentially the whole basement of the mansion. "I think it's wonderful!" he exclaimed. "Really, it must be incredible to work here whenever you want."

"It gives me something to do," Tony said easily. "Share-bear would probably be happier if I spent more time down here at the moment but-"

"But you don't want to miss anything, do you?"

Tony rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't, no. I know I'm driving her crazy, but Howard was never around and I want to be better than that."

"Something tells me that you already are."

Tony smiled. "He set a pretty low bar so I'd have to bring a shovel and start digging to do worse, I suppose."

"You'll be great," Peter said confidently. He turned back to the infusion pump prototype Tony had shown him earlier. "What's the status of this one?"

"Oh, well, I'm still working out the heating element of it, figuring out the optimal temperature without compromising the variety of tubing that can be hooked up to it."

Peter frowned. "The tubing isn't standardized?"

"It's in committee," Tony said. "So while there's going to be a consensus and soon, manufacturers are dragging their feet and keeping substandard material."

"Then put out a statement that Stark Industries' medical line for this, in anticipation of whatever standard is forthcoming, will only be designed with tubing that complies with the forthcoming standard." It sounded simple enough to Peter. "Why would you even want to be associated with substandard materials?"

Tony considered, then grinned. "You really are brilliant," Tony said. "Ms. Potts is going to love this."

"I'm glad I can help," Peter said.

"You'd probably have set the medical world on fire, Pete."

Peter shrugged. "Maybe. I could have ended up a laughingstock, too. Life didn't exactly turn out that bad, all things considered. I didn't know just how lucky I was that Stephen chose me, but I've learned."

"He's lucky he has you, too," Tony said. "I've known Stephen for a number of years now, and he's a lot lighter than I've seen him in a long time."

"He's said that I make his life easier," Peter said, studying the schematics for the infusion device. "And I'm actually happy that I can, which is definitely not how I felt at the beginning when he selected me." He picked up a pen, crossed out one of the tolerances noted, and wrote in a different one.

Tony looked it over, curious as to what Peter changed. Then he nodded. "Yeah, I think that will about do it." He eyed Peter. "Think we should go and break up their little tête-à-tête?"

"Stephen's probably calmed Sharon down a bit," Peter said in agreement. He looked up at Tony and smirked. "She really has been going crazy. You're lucky she hasn't slipped a sedative in your drinks."

Tony laughed. "Yeah, I know. Come on, we have games to play."

Games turned out to be Scrabble, which the four of them were viciously well-matched for. Tony had to keep his mobile on so they could verify the words in various language were, in fact, words. With the radio set to an easy music station, they played for a couple of hours until it was growing dark and Sharon couldn't stifle her yawning.

(Peter won by four points, with Sharon close behind thanks to her knowledge of languages.)

"Well," Tony said. "It's time for us to hit the metaphorical hay." He looked at Stephen. "Will you two be doing some sightseeing tomorrow?"

"That was the plan for tomorrow and Wednesday," Stephen said. "Then I have a meeting on Thursday."

That was news to Peter. A meeting? While they were on vacation? What if Sharon went into labor? She was due any day now! She didn't look concerned at Stephen's plans, though, or surprised.

"I'll have a list of places for you to check out ready by breakfast," Tony said. "You're going to love it," he added, turning his attention to Peter. "Malibu is a great place."

"I'm looking forward to it," Peter said honestly. "I can't wait to actually walk on a beach."

Sharon yawned again and leaned heavily against Tony. "Alright, good night, you two. Sleep well."

"Oh, we will," Stephen assured her. The tone had Peter's cheeks flushing a hot pink.

They did.

-------

[anticomedygarden]

England's got a new queen! part 4

part one | ao3 link

-

Nora has been on her laptop for five hours now. It is not by any means her longest stretch or even her average of long stretches, but she's hit a dead end. And that's not okay.

On the bed, June and Pez are eating lunch, something a staffer delivered in a fast food bag, and it smells really good. It's not like Nora can't go and get some, anyway; there's an order in there for her. She just can't stop.

"Nora, why don't you take a break and eat?" Pez suggests, holding out a takeout container while June snorts and mutters, "Fat chance."

She grabs it but sets it on the floor, turning back to the screen.

She must expect Pez to leave her alone and go back to his food; after all, everybody else has learned to by now. So whenever he says, "Alright," and settles down on the floor next to her, she's a little surprised. "Where are you at?"

Once the shock of someone trying to break through her research haze wears off, she is then hit with the shock of someone actually asking what she's doing.

Pez is lucky, though, because he found her at a point he can understand. "I gathered everybody who's ever said anything bad about Queen Mary, Ellen, and the rest of us, figured out which of them have connections here and in England, and a whole bunch of other criteria, and there's still dozens of people. Plus, there's no guarantee that whoever's doing this is even on this list, or that there's only one person, or even that all of this is someone's fault!" Her eyes don't move from her laptop throughout her tirade, and Pez grabs her hands to bring them below her head.

"Have you considered that there may not be anything you can do right now?" Pez asks gently.

Nora stills, blinking owlishly. "There has to be something I can do." She's freaking Nora Holleran. If she can't do anything, then what use is she?

"I really don't think there is," Pez says. "There's an incredible amount of people in the world who hate us and the Queen, even when you make assumptions. If you keep trying to narrow the list down, you'll end up profiling."

God. She hates that he's right.

He must sense that she's about to give in because he slowly closes her laptop and puts the takeout container in her lap. "Now, eat."

He doesn't have to tell her twice. The first bite somehow opens up a hole in her stomach she hadn't realized was there, and soon, it's all gone. She turns to him. "How the fuck are you so calm right now?"

Pez laughs. "Look at me, babe. I grew up at Eton. I've been getting death threats my whole life."

Well, she can't argue with that.

"Um, guys," June says quietly from the bed.

They look up only to see the First Daughter of the United State's face red and swollen.

"Oh my god!" Nora shrieks and jumps up immediately. Pez does the same behind her. "Where's your EpiPen?"

She lifts a shaking finger. "P-purse."

Pez grabs it off the chair by the window and shoves it into Nora's hands who dumps it out on the bed.

"Go get Amy," she commands as she looks for the injector. She spots it and grabs it up, removes the blue cap, and swings the orange end (Blue to the sky, orange to the thigh, she thinks) down into June's thigh and holds it there. She counts to 3 slowly and hears a click, then removes it and holds it in her hand, unsure what to do with it now.

Thankfully, June's breathing is already getting better, less wheezy, and her forehead glistens with sweat.

"Alright," she mutters, cupping the back of June's head. "You're okay."

June makes an odd noise, somewhere between a gasp and the sound of a drowning man.

Someone at the door brings her attention away from June.

It's Pez and Amy.

The head of security takes one look at June supine on the bed and the EpiPen in Nora's hands and says, "What the shit, guys?"

Nora has no response.

-

When Alex comes into the kitchen on their third morning of vacation, there's a note on the table from Cash that simply says, Out. Alex doesn't quite know what to do with that, so he just starts making breakfast. They're running out of supplies left over from the last people who stayed at the cabin, so breakfast this morning is Jaffa Cakes and eggs. Henry seems to like it, though, so Alex doesn't complain.

While is Henry is washing dishes, Alex goes into the living room to find something to do for the day.

They had discovered early that the TV wasn't connected to anything that got regular channels, yet there was a DVD player and no DVDs.

He decides to search the end table this time, but he doesn't have much hope. It is a little circular thing with a tiny door. Maybe there are cards in it or something.

Bingo. When he opens the door, he sees at least two decks of cards, UNO, and Life. He grabs UNO and starts setting it up.

"Oh, good, you found games," Henry says, walking in and sitting down on the floor in front of Alex.

"Yeah, baby, I'm gonna destroy you," Alex says.

Henry snorts. "Good luck."

Oh, it's on.

Right off the bat, Alex has to draw a bunch of cards because he doesn't have the right color.

"This is stupid," he says.

Henry refuses to comfort him, and it's all downhill from there.

Finally, they both get down to two cards, and Alex, thinking he has it in the bag, lays down a plus four and proudly yells out, "UNO!"

His victory is short lived. Henry smirks up at him.

"Don't you fucking dare," Alex warns.

"Sorry, babe." He lays a fucking plus four down on Alex's. "Uno."

Before Alex can even start drawing his eight cards, Henry lays down his last one - wild card.

"Oh, fuck you," Alex spits out and throws his cards at his boyfriend. "We're playing something else now."

Henry laughs as he gathers up the cards and puts them back in the box. "What did you have in mind?"

Alex pulls the only board game out of the cabinet. "The Game of Life."

Henry cocks his head. "I've never played it before."

Perfect. "It's great, you'll love it."

Alex sets up the game board quickly because he doesn't put the little extra pieces in, determined to beat Henry at something before they inevitably move into the bedroom.

"You spin first," he tells Henry.

"I don't even know how to play yet," he protests.

Alex grins. "You can learn as we go. Spin."

Henry sighs but does it resolutely, as if he already knows he's about to lose.

Ten minutes later, Alex is sitting pretty on $400,000, a pro sports salary, and the deep wood cabin.

"How am I in so much debt?" Henry asks pitifully as he lands on yet another tax day. "Why would I ever buy a mansion on a teacher's salary?"

"Sorry, babe, sucks to suck." Henry glares at him, and Alex sticks his tongue out.

A few minutes later, Henry tries a new tactic.

"Why don't we end here, darling? There's no possible way for me to catch up." He puts a hand on Alex's thigh and rubs his index finger there.

"Nuh uh, not after UNO." He cheers as he spins a ten. "Wooh, payday!"

"Come on, baby." Henry leans forward and puts his other hand on Alex's neck-

"Baby, I only have a few spaces left, just hold on." He has to stay strong.

Henry leans back and groans. "Shouldn't I be getting another salary from my husband?"

"No, all NPCs are homemakers." He lands on spin again and rolls a nine this time.

Sweet. He only needed seven to finish.

"Thank god," Henry breathes. Then, he reaches over the board and takes the little driver out of his blue car and swaps it with Alex's passenger. "Now you can provide for me. FYI, I'm $645,000 in debt."

Alex throws his head back and laughs, and, without further preamble, they stumble back into the bedroom.

-

A couple hours later finds Nora in an armchair, back in the sitting room where all this shit had started three days ago watching June bug Ellen into finally trying to reach Alex and Henry in Colorado.

"Sugar, I told you, they're safer where they are," Ellen insists. It's kind of amazing the president can even be here with them at this time of day, but once she heard about her daughter's allergic reaction, she had raced straight to June's bedroom. Unfortunately, the moment June had been able to speak, she'd been making the case for contacting her brother and his boyfriend and bringing them home.

Nora isn't sure if the sudden increase in anxiety is from the current situation or the use of epinephrine. Probably both.

"We have no way of knowing that, though," June points out, "because no one's been in contact with them for three days."

"Two and a half," Ellen says and crosses her arms.

Nora and Pez glance at each other again, amusement written on both their faces. Ellen and June had been arguing since the on-call doctor gave the all clear about ten minutes ago.

June tries a new tactic. "Please, Mom. It can't hurt just to try."

Ellen's face softens minutely. Bingo.

"I just almost died. You can't say no to me." June looks smug now, knowing she's won.

Ellen sighs. "Fine, but I'm not forcing them to come home early."

June nods, satisfied, and Ellen turns in the direction of the Oval Office.

When she turns to Pez and Nora, she's smirking. "She should know by now that as soon as Alex finds out what's going on, he'll want to be right in the middle of it, celebrating."

Nora giggles because she's not wrong.

They chatter mindlessly for a while, and Nora begins to appreciate what Pez told her earlier despite the newest emergency.

However, when Ellen comes back an hour later with scrunched eyebrows and a frown on her face, Nora hands itch for her laptop, and she sits up and says, "What is it?"

Ellen wrings her hands. "Well, we couldn't get a line out to them," she starts, "and we couldn't get Cash either."

"What about comms?" Nora asks immediately. She hadn't expected for them to be reachable by phone, but still. Something should be working.

Ellen shakes her head. "Nothing's getting through."

"Well, can't we send someone to go get them?" June asks.

Ellen looks even more concerned at that. "That's the other problem. The cabin they chose isn't technically-" she pauses, thinking of the right word "-on the grid."

Pez pipes up next. "We don't know where they are?"

"No."

June stands from where she was seated next to Pez on the couch. "So why don't we send someone to drive up and down the unplotted parts of Colorado?"

Nora doesn't have the heart to tell her how ridiculous that sounds, not when she looks so panicked.

"Sugar, you know exactly why we can't do that."

"But they could have been kidnapped or eaten by a bear or something! Mom, there's someone trying to kill us-"

"Allegedly trying to kill us, sweetheart. I can't send a manhunt through an entire state when there may not even be a threat." Unfortunately, she is correct. That would be an incredible abuse of power, however funny it would be whenever Alex found out about it.

"I was basically just poisoned! How can you now see what's going on?"

"You had an allergic reaction to peanut oil. That is not poisoning. The restaurant probably just messed up, or the Internet forgot to tell them about your allergy again."

June fixes her lazer focus on Nora next. "Can't you get into Alex's laptop and figure out where they are or at least who they booked the cabin through?"

If she could've, she would've already, but- "No, they booked it under Henry's name, and I don't know his password."

"Can't you hack in?"

"Royal firewalls are even tighter than ours," Nora says, wishing she had a better answer.

June looks back at her mom. "So that's it? We just have to sit and wait?"

Ellen nods. "I'm sorry, baby."

Suddenly, they are interrupted by Oscar Diaz running into the room and making a beeline for June. "Mija, I'm so sorry, they wouldn't let me leave. How are you feeling?"

June glares at her mother over Oscar's shoulder and says, "Fine, now. Did you know we lost Alex and Henry?"

He pulls back abruptly. "What?"

"We don't know that," Ellen interrupts.

Her daughter will not be silenced. "We don't know where they are, now do we?"

Before Ellen can respond, June's phone starts to ring.

She looks up with wide eyes. "It's Philip."

There's a general look around the room of, What the fuck?

"Answer it," Oscar urges, and Pez tells her to put it on speaker.

She does. "Hello?"

Instead of Philip, a woman's voice answers in a hushed tone. "June?"

June narrows her eyes. "Bea?"

"Yeah, it's me," the Princess of Wales answers, still whispering. "Philip took all our phones and hid them because he's scared of another leak and Mum actually agreed with him, so I had to steal his. Are all of you alright?"

June looks around at everybody. "Well, that's actually a funny story, but we can talk about that later. What about you guys? How's the Queen?"

"Not good," Bea says, not sounding very unhappy. "What do you mean 'funny story?'"

Nora decides to break in. "June went into anaphylactic shock from peanut oil, and weird shit keeps happening."

"Nora? Who all is there?" She pauses. "Is June okay?"

"Hello, Bea," Ellen says. "It's me, June, Nora, Oscar, and Pez."

"I'm fine, by the way," June says.

"That's wonderful," Bea remarks. "Listen, I don't have much time. Are Alex and Henry nearby?"

Pez takes it this time. "They're somewhere in Colorado, actually."

"They're not back, yet?"

"We can't get in contact with them."

June breaks in. "What happened with the broken pipe?"

"It exploded and destroyed a 320 year old sitting room, but the bigger issue is that a bunch OF PPOs called in sick."

Ellen gasps. "Do you think it could be related?"

"That's the working theory, yes."

Another voice joins Bea's side of the call. "Bea? Where are you?"

"Shit, I have to go. Please be safe, and call Philip if you get in touch with Henry and Alex. Bye!"

She hangs up.

-

Alex drags Henry into the bedroom by the hand, giggling. He can't stop himself from continually looking backwards, too, taking in the sight of his love happy and grinning wide. Everytime he looks at Henry, he immediately thinks about how his boyfriend completely wiped the floor with him at Uno and then stuttered and blushed through an absolutely erotic game of Life.

Alex's thighs hit the edge of the bed, and he turns to fully face Henry.

The prince doesn't let him stop for even a second before pushing him backward onto the mattress.

"Baby," Alex gasps.

"Shh," Henry urges, pressing his whole hand against Alex's mouth. "You'll get your turn."

"Baby, you know you can't shut me up for long." Nevertheless, Alex waits only long enough for Henry to pull their shirts off. Then, he plants his left leg on the bed and flips them over so he's looking down at Henry's flushed face.

"Told you," he pants. "How's it feel, Mr. Prince?"

"Not - ah - prince for much longer," Henry points out.

"God, sweetheart, do you know how sexy it is when you talk about abdication?" Alex says, barely holding on, thinking about his boyfriend giving up the throne for him, so that he would be a prince for no one but Alex. And it isn't just sex talk; Henry had decided - with Alex's minimal input - that abdication was the best route for them (and just the right thing to do).

Alex knows it isn't just for him, but it's fun to think of it that way.

"If you - haa - like that," Henry narrowly manages to bite out, "what if I talk about the redistribution of - hmm - stolen arti-aah-facts back to their home countries?"

Alex actually has to take a minute to rest his head on Henry's chest while he calms down, and a deep laugh makes his head shake. "Baby, you can't say shit like that when my pants are still on."

Henry's grin is maniacal. "Let's rectify that, shall we?"