#why am I dark energy? hmph

[bajissweetgirl]

since mikey won the poll (😔) i wrote a short fluff about him 🫶🏻

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･mikey getting you back to sleep.

in the quiet stillness of the night, you found comfort in the warmth of mikey's embrace. the warm feeling of his strong arms wrapped around you creating a symphony of comfort. moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on your body as you surrendered to the intimacy of shared silence. his touch was tender, a testament to the unspoken connection between you that you both understood.

your eyes fluttered open as you're met with the warm sensation of your cheek pressed against your boyfriend's chest. you're unsure of the time. you begin to tilt your head up to take a glance at his face, wondering if he's awake too. your eyes meet his dark ones before he turns off his phone and places his now free hand on the back of your head. "g'morning, y/n. up so early? why?" he asks you quietly, keeping his tone low to a whisper.

you always felt so much comfort sleeping him his arms. you gently press your cheek against his chest again before softly whispering, "dunno. what time is it, mikey?" you feel a soft, quiet chuckle rumble in his chest. "its like, 2 am. are you havin' trouble sleeping?" you shake your head no as he places a chaste kiss to the roots of your hair, tightening his wrap around you.

"mikey?" "yeah?" "you should go to sleep.." you whisper. you gently position yourself closer to him, despite already being body to body. "okay, i will," he starts. "now go back to sleep, love." he whispers. "you're tired." "no i'm not.." "hmph." mikey takes his hand off the back of your head and hooks his finger under your chin, tilting your head up to look at him. "mm.. what?" you ask. he leans down and places a gentle kiss on your lips. he pulls away slightly shortly after, leaving not even an inch between the two of you. "please?" he asks.

he's always been very persistent about you taking care of yourself. sometimes he'll even help you shower or wash your hair for you when you're down or don't have the energy to do it by yourself. it was an unspoken act of love that he loved to show. there was just something he loved so much about being able to help you when you need it most.

he gently moves his hand to gently thread his fingers through your hair. you relax into his gentle touch and rest your head against his collarbone as you feel him place a soft kiss to your forehead. "fine.." you whisper, closing your heavy eyelids. mikey holds you close to his strong chest and tangles his legs with yours as he presses his cheek against the top of your head.

"i love you, y/n." "i love you too, mikey.." "love you more, baby." "love you most, mikey."

he chuckles softly before kissing the top of your head one last time before you both fall asleep comfortably, in the safety and warmth of eachothers arms.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

listen i know it was a lil bad but its my first one😓

[the-era-of-shadow]

Bam

Comic!

(please put the panels in order this time Tumblr)

Episode Rouge: A Conclusion

(transcript under cut)

》》

》》

》》

》》

》》

》》

》》

》》

》》

[ROUGE Stands slightly limp, a hole already made in one of her wings from an earlier attack, rendering her unable to fly]

Rouge: [weakly] I'm telling you… This is the first time I'm fighting you-!

Infinite: [scoffs] Stop your lies. I will not allow you to defeat me again, bat girl!

Rouge: Good…

Rouge: [pulls out a bat bomb] Because I KNOW that this will be the first time I take you down!

[ROUGE throws the bomb at INFINITE and runs off]

[INFINITE strikes the bomb with his sword, causing it to fling back towards ROUGE]

[The camera zooms in on ROUGE'S fearful face as she realizes the fate that is to come upon her]

[But then, ROUGE is suddenly teleported away from the scene]

[ROUGE opens her eyes to see that she is now on the rooftop of a building]

[In front of her, she seems to see…]

Rouge: Shadow?!

"Shadow": [turns to meet eyes with ROUGE, eyes a striking amber color] Think again.

Rouge: … Hmph, of course it's YOU.

"Shadow": [sarcastic] Wow, what a glorious "thank you" for me saving your life.

Rouge: … Why'd you do that, anyway?

"Shadow": Well, first of all…

["SHADOW" detransforms, revealing themself to be ECLIPSE]

Eclipse: Despite everything, I fear that Shadow would be devastated if you were to perish.

Eclipse: And secondly, we have a common enemy here.

Rouge: Doctor Eggman and his army?

Eclipse: Yes. But it is specifically that jackal that comes to my mind currently.

Rouge: … What?

Eclipse: Tell me, Rouge, why is it he believes he has fought you before?

Eclipse: You know you haven't fought him before. You were playing around in the deep coils of space. So why? Why does he believe that?

[The camera switches to ROUGE]

Eclipse: Well the answer is very simple. You see, it was I who fought him.

Eclipse: I took your place within Team Dark while you were away, taking your form as well.

Rouge: … But why?

Eclipse: Is that all you can say?

Rouge: N-no!! I'm just-

Eclipse: Confused? Why? I told you already, we have a common enemy here.

Eclipse: I don't wish to see this world taken over by The Doctor, and I know you feel the same.

Rouge: Right, because you think it should be YOU who gets to take over Aerth?

Eclipse: Heh… Something to that effect.

Rouge: Figures. Thanks for saving me or whatever.

Eclipse: And just where do you think you're going?

Rouge: Pardon me?

Eclipse: Your wing is still injured.

Rouge: [looks at wing] … Right.

Eclipse: [approached, hand glowing with chaos energy] Stand still.

Rouge: Uhm?? Just what do you think you're-?!

[ECLIPSE places their hand on ROUGE's wing, healing it]

Rouge: [stunned] … Huh.

Eclipse: The Black Arms have the ability to rapidly regenerate not only their own bodies from wounds, but also the bodies of their comrades if harnessed with chaos energy to quicken said comrades' healing.

Rouge: I am not a Black Arms…

Eclipse: I never said you were.

Rouge: …

Rouge: [starts to take off to fly] Tell Shadow I said hi.

Eclipse: Will do~!

[bapydemonprincess]

Enlightening Pillow Talk

Bardroy lounged in bed, inhaling tobacco, staring up at the moon's bright light shining out the window

Lau looked practically ready to start purring any second as he curled around the other bigger man in bed.

"Sorry I can't.. go right to sleep.." Bard seemed to be truly guilty about this.

"There's no need to apologize for anything you cannot do, Master Chef," Lau whispered back soothingly.

"Heh.. 'least someone gives me slack 'round here.." Bard huffed.

Lau smiled in amusement... though those words did strike him in a personally unfitting way...

...He still hadn't worked out why.

"Even in me dreams..." the chef mumbled, overall going distant as he thought on it and tried to get it out.

"..I am judged... By family... friends... Old neighbors from so long ago.."

"The past is indeed an untamable beast in that way," Lau hummed, frowning.

"Yeah... An' sometimes.. it gets extra weird in that... I'll be in a church like the one I got married in once upon a time... But.. No family an' friends in the pews, no wife.. Nobody.. E-Except..."

Lau listened and waited, and the longer the other man took to get this out, the more he felt his own insides clench.

"Except perhaps.. like the pastor or priest?" He tried.

Lau was definitely no religious man, but..

He could put pieces of symbolism together... sometimes..

"W-Well, that's the thing.." Bard stammered out and scratched his head a little, frowning more.

"'E looks like the priest, 'e really does. Got a black robe on, a stiff silhouette before me, all judgmental and all that.."

Bard closed his eyes and started scowling more.

"But then I can make out 'is eyes... An' they're... glowin' in the darkness, I swear. Glowin'.. red... like... like..."

"Hmph... figures," Lau mumbled more to himself at this.

"With how much that butler gets on your case I am certainly not surprised."

Bard opened his eyes.

And slowly looked down at Lau.

"...Wot?"

Lau sighed, squeezing the other man.

"And to have him mix and mingle with your memories like that.." He went on, still distantly like just griping about something to himself.

"...Lau, wot the 'ell are you on about??"

...

Lau stiffened in a way like he'd been caught.

One bead lone of sweat appearing.

"..... Heh.. haha," He started laughing, "ah, I ah.. I am so sorry, my dear, I ah, got confused and took that the ah.. wrong way, I thi-"

"...Lau."

Bard stabbed his cigarette out on night stand, and sat up, twisting enough to stare into Lau's curled up (sweating) face.

"...I was gonna say the red eyes made me think o' Satan."

Blue piercing eyes stared on. Firmly.

"You know. As if a demon was judging me."

He slowly reached out and cupped Lau's face.

To turn that face.

To get Lau to look at him above and straight back.

"A red eyed demon, Lau. I was gonna say that."

His voice had gone very quiet again.

And he leaned in.

And seemed as if.. afraid of saying anything above a whisper.

As if..

"Lau..."

... Someone might hear.

"Why did you say butler, Lau."

He saw the other's adam's apple bob in his throat with a swallow.

And Bard leaned down further.

There was barely an inch between them.

"....Lau,"

Bard's hand clutching his jaw shook, and his palm itself was getting rather sweaty.

"...What do you know about.. that butler... Lau?"

For a few seconds the tenseness felt as tight as a rope wrapped firmly. Tightly. Around a person's neck.

Choking. Squeezing. Strangling.

Lau's heart was felt pounding in his chest.

And his lips would not move still.

And the longer he didn't speak, the more Bard's eyes seemed to pierce into him like the sharpest blade.

...

..

.

But then, the man beneath Bardroy started to smile.

And his eyelids opened, letting Bardroy and Bardroy alone see that elusive set of honey brown eyes beneath thick lashes.

All of a sudden he was calm again like a contented cat about to start purring.

"Why Bardroy," the man crooned.

Bard blinked at this entire sudden change in energy right before him.

Completely caught off guard by Lau.

...As usual.

"...you mean to tell me you... didn't know?"

Lau started to grin wider.

He had a feeling his dear Master Chef was going to having better days working here at Phantomhive Manor.

[disasterbijupiter]

G Gundam side story English translation, Ch. 3 part 1

This is my personal fan translation of the new G Gundam side story, Chapter 3!

(start from beginning/original post) | (read previous part)

~Note:~ Now that a few weeks have passed since the new story started posting, I'm pretty sure some other people are also translating it. However! At least for now I intend to continue with my version, as it's a project I'm really proud of and having fun with. (Also, I'm pretty sure this is still the only English translation readily available/on Tumblr so hopefully this is still useful to some people!) Also, I kind of feel like with translations of media the more the better, so that there are more interpretations of potentially ambiguous parts, and so people can choose to read whatever version/style they prefer. Or at least that's the way I am lol.

Anyways! Here is the first part of Episode 3~~

Episode 3:

Prologue

Everyone becomes dumbstruck at the white Master Gundam.

Everyone: “That’s………”

X X X

Stalker: “Everyone, here is yet another surprise! It seems that what appeared from beneath the cloak was a white Master Gundam!? And that beautiful yet dangerous glow! Holding a white folding fan in its hand and carrying nine funnel plates on its back, as its name suggests its appearance is reminiscent of a fox! And that name is ‘Gundam Master Lone Fox’! Two people who have never known defeat, ‘Undefeated’ versus ‘Seeking Defeat’……… Why would someone with that name, as if they are challenging the Undefeated of the East, take up a seat at the Dark Shuffle? Furthermore, what’s this about being the King of Hearts and the rightful Master of the School of the Undefeated of the East?!”

Domon: “Ah……… Ahhh………”

Domon becomes shocked.

Stalker: “It seems as though Domon Kasshu has some idea………”

Stalker smiles at the reader.

Stalker: “Well then, for today as well, Gundam Fight!! Readyyy, go!!!!!!!!”

Stalker speaks loudly.

Arena

Domon is intimidated by the White Master Gundam.

Domon: “There… there’s no doubt about it……… This white Master Gundam is………!!”

The God Gundam kneels. Further, he quickly kowtows, bowing with his forehead pressed to the ground.

Domon: “I am the lowest ranking member of the school, Domon Kasshu. It’s nice to meet you for the first time!!”

Lone Fox Seeking Defeat: “Hmph, with skills like yours, it’s a wonder you can call yourself a member of the school. From what I’ve seen it looks like you haven’t been able to even properly train, have you? In that case, what a pitiful fellow you are.”

With the white fan in her hand, Lone Fox Seeking Defeat nudges Domon’s head.

Lone Fox Seeking Defeat: “Here, try standing.”

Domon: “Ugh!!”

Even as he tries to stand, Domon is unable to get up with the white fan lightly pressing him down. His knees tremble unsteadily.

Domon: “I……… I can’t find strength in my legs.”

Lone Fox Seeking Defeat: “What is it? What’s wrong? You can’t stand up? Well then, here!!”

She props Domon’s chin with the white fan, and like that she lifts him up.

Lone Fox Seeking Defeat: “Can’t you stand up? But your lower back! Your chest! Both knees!!”

One after another, she hits Domon hard with the white fan.

Lone Fox Seeking Defeat: “Finally, if you gather your energy in your tanden!”

She jabs him in the lower abdomen with the tip of the white fan.

Lone Fox Seeking Defeat: “That should do it!!”

When she looks, Domon is poised in the stance of the school’s kata.

Lone Fox Seeking Defeat: “Well, maybe that looks a little bit better?”

Domon: “!!”

Domon endures the humiliation.

Undefeated of the East: “Hahaha, strict as always. I was also scolded awfully harshly when I was younger.”

The Undefeated of the East gives a bitter smile.

Undefeated of the East: “However, of course I can’t say anything to that.”

Lone Fox Seeking Defeat: “Hmph……… So? Looking at this, what even is the modern-day Shuffle Alliance?”

She surveys the other arenas. Each one of the Shuffle members is overwhelmed and struggling.

Lone Fox Seeking Defeat: “If I were to sleep in the Guyana Tombs for a little while, I would look like this mess.”

Lone Fox Seeking Defeat sends a signal to each of the Dark.

Lone Fox Seeking Defeat: “Thank you for your hard work, Dark members! However, to continue any further would be pointless, so if it’s not too much trouble I think it might be fun to finish this in one go!!”

(continue to next part)

[pandorias-box]

Out of the Ashes

The intense heat of Firespit Island made the standoff between the group of thieves and the lone interloper even more so. In the cover of night, only the light emanating from the bubbling pools of lava could be seen. In the sky, it was raining somewhat, but that was not enough to put out the islands smoldering fire.

“How dare you use this poor pup to further your own schemes?!” Pandoria shouts at the trio of theives, almost snarling at them with disdain.

“Hmph. Why do you care so much about this pipsqueak puppy? We were gonna make it stronger. If you’re gonna stand in our way, then you have a big storm comin’! Get ‘em, Abomasnow!” One of the thieves, Clover, commands.

A hefty thud can be heard on the ground before a bellowing roar emanates from the hulking white creature. The URS member swiftly calls out her Quilava and commands her to attack.

“Mira. Flame Charge.” She stated bluntly. The small mustelid fire-type became engulfed in flames and struck the massive Abomasnow right in its chest. It stumbles over slightly before falling in defeat. It was fell in a single strike.

“I don’t get it! How’d I lose?! Y-you! You just got lucky!” Clover snapped. Her voice quivered with defeat and hesitation. “Sisters! Help me out here!”

“On it. Toxicroak, poison this unwanted guest of ours.” Another one of the sisters, Coin, said bluntly before another Pokémon appears in front of her and Mira. The poisonous frog seemed to be more of a problem compared to the Abomasnow, but Pandoria would not give up just easily.

“Flame Charge, Mira.”

The same result befell the Toxicroak. Down in a single strike.

The battle was getting more and more tense. Pandoria’s eyes were aglow with fury, Mira’s flames were illuminating brighter than before until the final member of the trio stood in their way. Charm.

She seemed to be the most component in combat out of the three, judging by her relatively calm and collected demeanor.

“I am going to make you pay for all that you’ve done. Finish it, Rhydon!”

Another earth-shaking rumble caused the ground beneath them to tremble slightly, an intimidating stony creature standing in its wake. It let out a loud roar in defiance, as if it was confident in its victory. Pandoria gritted her teeth at the sight of the Rhydon. There was no way such a Pokémon was going down easily, especially one that had a dual-type advantage over Mira. She was essentially backed into a corner.

But she wouldn’t give up just yet. Neither her nor her Pokémon would give up.

And in that moment of desperation, a spark between them both burst into a raging inferno. Mira became enveloped in a radiant glow, causing a small tempest to form around her. Pandoria and Charm braced theirselves since they had no idea what was going on. Was she becoming a Noble? But… that was impossible!

It turned out that was not the case at all because Mira suddenly stood up on het hind legs and appeared to grow larger. The flame on her backside changed color from a blazing orange to a dark purple, but the fiery energy that emanated from it still remained. Even more peculiar still were the small wisps of ghastly fire that seemed to follow her with every move. She seemed more… elegant somehow. But stronger nonetheless.

She had evolved.

The newly evolved Mira glanced back at Pandoria with gentle eyes and huffed softly, almost asking her to give the next move. She simply nodded in response and instinctively gave the order.

“Mira, use Infernal Parade!”

Ghastly violet spectral flames arose from Mira’s blazing patch on her back before crashing into the Rhydon and burning it. She then followed it up with another attack and swiftly defeated it due to its sudden heat exhaustion.

Even still the battle was not over yet. Charm had one more Pokémon at her disposal. A Gengar then appeared, sticking its tongue out in a mocking manner. Mira growled in response.

In return, the Gengar hurled a mass of poison right at her, and somehow managed to afflict her with toxins. She winced in pain, but was still standing. Somehow, the ghost-like flames burned brighter than ever before. Perhaps her pain was making her stronger.

“Finish it!” Pandoria yelled. Even more dark-purple wisps were hurled right at the Gengar before it became knocked over in defeat. It was made even more dramatic given the distant rumbling of thunder that was a result of the passing storm.

Charm grit her teeth.

“This isn’t over. We’ll keep on fighting you as many times as it takes.” She sneered.

“What is it that you hope to gain with your plundering? Tell me!”

As Pandoria snapped back at the thieves, another voice could be heard. But, it was not that of a human.

Growwff!

A small, ruddy Pokémon dashed in front of Pandoria and snarled at the interlopers. It was the other Growlithe. The heir to Firespit Island.

The runt.

“Stop! You cannot face them on your own!” Yet another person’s voice could be heard Pandoria as quiet but frantic footsteps echoed behind her. It was that of Palina. Somehow, she had followed her here alongside Iscan.

“What are you two doing here?” Pandoria asked.

“He… He jumped into the ocean and started swimming towards the island. Only Almighty Sinnoh knows why he would do such a thing…” Iscan replied, with slight confusion in his voice.

The young Growlithe howled in defiance once more, standing its ground against the Miss Fortune sisters before becoming enveloped in the same light and whirlwind that had occurred earlier with Mira.

It too was evolving.

In the place of the small puppy Pokémon was a canid that had a look of refinement and royalty to it, almost as if it bore the natural look of a guardian. Pandoria looked at its newly evolved form with awestruck eyes.

“It seems as if it has finally mustered its strength and courage…” She commented.

But that peace was short-lived as the storm grew ever closer and a familiar tear in the sky began to make itself known. Radiant lightning hurled into the volcano and onto the noble’s heir; the wardens and Pandoria bracing themselves for what was to come while the Miss Fortune Sisters immediately fled the scene.

It was in that moment that the lordless isle had its guardian return to them. And Pandoria was to face yet another challenge after that initial grueling gauntlet.

Even though she was mentally and physically exhausted, she could not give up or back down just yet. This was the lost Noble she had to quell, after all.

[aeoki]

SHINSEKAI - Empire of Fantasy: Chapter 3

Location: Jungle Characters: Mika, Shuu & Natsume

Mika: ……! Oshi-sa– Onii-chan, it looks like we can get outta the jungle this way.

Shuu: I suppose you’re set on calling me “Onii-chan” now. Well, no matter, I don’t have the energy to obstinately complain anymore.

Good grief, I’m exhausted… It’s far too unreasonable for a dream. Why must I suffer like this?

Beasts, insects, dirt and undeveloped nature; I hate them all.

Mika: Ngh~? I find it pretty fun~ It’s like the adventures I read about in picture books when I was a kid ♪

Shuu: It must be nice to be full of innocence…

In any case, I’m glad to see you’ve somehow gained some stamina. It seems you continued to train during the times I was away.

Mika: Yeah. I don’t wanna build that much muscle, though. It looks like everyone prefers it when I’m all skinny.

Shuu: Hmph. Don’t you go fainting on me in the middle of a performance, then.

Mika: Ehehe, are you worried about me? Onii-chan, I thought you’d say somethin’ like, “Beauty only lasts but a moment”...

Ngh!?

Shuu: What’s wrong, Kagehira?

Mika: Look, Onii-chan! There are heaps of people outside the jungle~

Shuu: Stop running! Do you want to trip over the roots of a tree? Good grief, you’re always just so childish…

Mika: Heheh. You like it when they’re childish, right? Onii-chan ♪

[ Location: Tohoku Town ]

Mika: Ngh~...?

Shuu: Ohh? It’s a rather ordinary town.

Mika: Yeah… On the other hand, it feels pretty unnatural to find this right next to a jungle, though.

Wait, what? I looked behind me and the jungle’s gone!

Shuu: Dreams are like that. The scenario can change without any logical connections…

I didn’t want to stay in the jungle for a second longer so I quite prefer this, however.

Mika: Hmm~? But is this really a dream? I’ve said this a lot but it sure feels like reality.

The sounds I hear and the air on my skin all feel real. I’ve walked a lot and my feet hurt too… People say if you pinch your cheek in a dream, it won’t hurt, right?

Shuu: You’re insensitive to pain even when you’re awake, though. And the sounds do sound real but I don’t think my sense of smell is working here.

Mika: Ngh, now that you mention it, you’re right. I thought it was a bit weird but yeah. I thought my nose was just blocked.

Shuu: Right. Putting this town aside, it was odd that I couldn’t smell anything back in the jungle.

I’ve never entered one of my own free will, so I can’t say for sure, but it would be natural to be able to smell the earth and the greenery, wouldn’t it?

There was not even a single scent. The scenery also seemed rather familiar.

Mika: Ngh~ Maybe you’re right. I can’t really see in dark places so I didn’t notice in the jungle ‘cause there was a lot of shade.

With a bright and beautiful town such as this, it’s true that the detailed parts would appear a bit hazy.

That’s amazin’, Onii-chan. I probably wouldn’t have noticed unless you told me ♪

Shuu: Hmph. If you’re also an artist, you should always sharpen your five senses before confronting the world.

Mika: Ahaha, it’s not because you’re super fussy about things, right, Onii-chan?

Shuu: What did you say? Although it may be true that I wish for us to openly exchange our opinions with each other on equal grounds, however, I don’t intend on forgiving you for unpleasant slander.

Mika: Ngh~ Onii-chan’s mad~♪

Shuu: I am not. I’m talking about manners.

Natsume: “When did you two become brotheRS?”

Mika: ……!? Ngh, that’s–?

Shuu: Is it the Boy? Where is he talking from…?

Wait, we can’t see him clearly because of the large crowd!

Mika: What’s with all the people? There’s a lot of ‘em…

Shuu: I have no clue. Perhaps there is an outdated countryside festival going on.

Natsume: “Oh, I wouldn’t badmouth the people from the Tohoku region if I were yOU.”

“The ‘SS’ Administration Committee won’t punish you for thAT but it won’t leave a good impression on the vieweRS.”

Shuu: The viewers…?

Mika: Wait, where is he even talkin’ from?

Shuu: Hmm, we can hear his voice but he is nowhere to be seen…

Natsume: “AhaHA, over heRE. If you keep staring at your feET, you’ll miss out on the beautiful and precious things in the worLD.”

Shuu: Hmph. You think you’re worthy to preach beauty to me?

Mika: Ngh!? Onii-chan, above… above us!

Shuu: Above…?

Mika: Yeah! There’s somethin’ huge above us!

← Previous Chapter ᠂ ⚘ ˚⊹˚ ⚘ ᠂  Next Chapter →

[maguro13-2]

Shattered Hero ~ Origins of the Ink Demon : Episode Maka Finale (11/11) ~ (FINALLY!)

[Dark Nebula Sanctuary Core]

[Senator - Akira Yamaoka]

Maka : What is this place? Feels like that I've been to the Sanctuary more often.

Moirai : It's hardly to believe that this is the shrine that are ancestors took place at.

Dark Nebula : I've been waiting for you. Welcome to the Sanctuary!

Maka : Dark Nebula!

Moirai : So you're the pseudo Underworld ruler that was accidentally released by that top hat mouse.

Maka : It's his own fault that Kirby's cake got stolen because of you and their mess! I will be the one to take care of their mess and clean it up! I won't let you conquer the Galaxy!

Dark Nebula : Fighting over a delicacy of sweets? When it comes to a rampage over sweets, you threatened that I am food? The cake that he was looking for is gone. But hey, it was much pretty too late than that, my preparations of the ultimate Grand Battle Plan will have an army of mine that will conquer these planets and I needed an exact body of a hero that needs to be absorbed. No, not a hero, but something that has a power to beyond the reaches of parasites like you!

Makoto : What? Daroach ordered all of that to release you!? Hmph, guess the cake he was looking was already eaten!

Maka : Gladly you hardly asked that Strawberry Shortcake is such an overrated name for a--

Dark Nebula : SILENCE! Now pay attention. I will give you demonstration of becoming a godly being, it's powers are extraordinary, I can feel the darkness being awakened in the force. Witness the awesomeness and raw power of Darkness!

*DBZ SFX : Energy Ball Glowing*

Moirai : Sister, can you feel that?

Maka : Is that...That's the heart and soul of King Phanto, our ancestral father!

Moirai : No! You can't do that! What are you think you're doing!?

Soul : What!? He's going to fuse the power of the Phantonian! Damn! Maka's father must've kept it a secret! This alien guys must be part of the Albarn Family, King Phanto!

Meta Knight : (via communicator) Sir Halberd Knight, can you hear me? I found out about Maka Albarn's family tree. You know the whole thing?

Tsugumi/Sir Halberd Knight : Hai! I heard the whole thing. So what did we found out about Maka Albarn's Family Tree.

Meta Knight (via communicator) : I discovered that the Family tree of Maka Albarn isn't her family tree, but seems to be a part of it, it's the Phantonian Family Tree! Spirit Albarn, the man from Tokyo, was keeping all of this a secret from his daughter and we finally unveiled it to the truth, Maka's mother was right about Shinra's legacy, she didn't want to be the hero to protect Shinra's legacy, she wants to protect the family tree that belongs to the monstrous Phantonian race. It was all just a cover up to make Maka a hero, that's why she was brought into the real world of protecting the legacy, the Phantonian legacy!

Tsugumi/Sir Halberd Knight : So it's not the Kusakabe Legacy that she was protecting it. It's the legacy of an alien race?

Dark Nebula : With the heart and Soul of the previous king, I now possessed these two forces and it's power making me an ultimate god of the galaxy. Just by once, this power of a king will prove worthy enough to force everyone to live in the shadows and will make the galaxy fall right into my knees! And you will be the ones to have honor with valor and arms to witnessed the event before you die.

King Phanto : [voice heard] (chuckles) Foolish beings! Haven't you forgot that I am the great king of the Phantonians! I will be much awakened for my return, this would be a favor of resurrecting me in spite on my vengeance of taking over the human race. And I bet you shall be the first one to join me in my powers to bring vengeance on the human race.

Tsugumi/Sir Halberd Knight : Uhh, Meta Knight? What did the king say about his vengeance?

Meta Knight (via communication) : Tsugumi! I got a bad feeling about this! The previous king that is the king of all Phantos was killed! He tried to terraforming the parts of Real World AU to reclaim that Earth and Jupiter will be his domains, but he went to unleashed his insanity when he was conjured by the powers of darkness! So his brethren took his heart and soul from him and put them inside the treasure chest!

Tsugumi/Sir Halberd Knight : So then that means...

Dark Nebula : NOOOOOOOOOO!!! MY POWERS! YOU CAN'T TAKE MY POWERS AWAY FROM ME!!! I AM DARK NEBULA, RULER OF THE UNDERWORLD! I WILL RECLAIM MY TITLE! MY POWER IS FALLING DOWN!!! PHANTO'S POWER...IT'S CONSUMING THE ENERGY OUT OF ME! WHYYYYYYYYYYY!?!

*DBZ SFX : Energy Wave*

King Phanto : At last I have been reborn! The Great King Phanto...has returned!

[Relic of Moirai - Akira Yamaoka]

Seto : That must be the King, the King of all Phantos! He's alive!

"GREAT KING PHANTO : KING OF THE PHANTONIANS"

King Phanto : Fear ye Mortals of the Galaxy! Your King has returned! I am King Phanto, the King of the Phantonian race! I look forward into seeing you beings of the planet called earth to be dispose of the one thing that effects the Real World, the Kusakabe Legacy! But now, I have one reason to fix my mistakes after terraforming in my early days of planetary conquest. Future Relatives of the Phantonian Race, state your names and position.

Moirai : I am Moirai Albarn, and you our ancestor, King Phanto. This is one over here is my younger sister Maka Albarn.

King Phanto : "Maka", you say? So this is the girl that the blood of our race has been connected to for generations, I see. I bring no fear and no hesitation, So I challenge you to a duel to see who will be the strongest Phanto to ever reclaim the title for royalty!

Maka : That's right. I am here to fix that mistake of yours, and I shall restore the family tree in order to clear my name! But first, We'll accept your challenge!

King Phanto : Then it is accepted! Prepare to be challenged by me!

Moirai : Good! Cause it's a fight that's worth fighting for!

(the battle begins with the King creating a scythe with blood magic)

King Phanto : I've waited for this moment, see If you could really be that entertaining! Just watch your back! I will be the most fearsome opponent in battle that you'll ever witnessed! This is the Will of Phanto! See the everlasting dream of two of my future relatives to honor the history of our race's kin!

Maka : Good point! This is what I dreamed of becoming a hero!

Moirai : It's only a noble sacrifice to save a king, not to earth and not to Shinra! I feel the power within our blood! That's why our father has discovered the power of Shattered Resonance from his research. Although Soul World has been a facade to the Shadow Realm, and you know, the Real World is more satisfying than living in a weirdly fantasy!

King Phanto : Fascinating rhetorical theory, Moirai. But it's happening for real, Soul World is nothing a but a fantasy world made up by Shinra or people! It I who conquered the Galaxy of the Real World, and Shinra Kusakabe was nothing more than a fool to Demon Vibe's will! All the weirdness from Soul World is just a phenomenal metaphor of heroism and weirdness! Why does anyone think Shinra created a world with hope and not the despair that was stolen from Sephiroth! My research state that Shinra's world falling into despair were used for omincide for the likes of Cosmic Horror. Although the Evangelist isn't appear to be God at all, but an entity of Cosmic Horror created by Demon Vibe itself.

Maka : (realizing) Sephiroth! He must've done it to Shinra's world! What was the source of the Adolla Burst?

King Phanto : The Source of Adolla Burst that manifested Soul World was more than nothingness, but an illusion perhaps caused by Firaga, that is what the source of Adolla Burst. Originated from the Final Fantasy multiverse.

Maka : So I was right, the Adolla Realm was nothing more than cosmic horror, the Evangelist that Shinra sought as God was just a cosmic puppet created by Demon Vibe himself! The source of Pyrokinesis that Shinra and his people used was Firaga! The technique used by Black Mage and Keyblade wielders!

King Phanto : Exactly! Which is why Demon Vibe has doomed the Kusakabe Legacy from the start! And our race's kind must allow "our" legacy to proceed it's evolution towards the future of our race!

Seto : This guy's good! He knows how to make up alien energy by evolution!

Makoto : So the face of true evil is Demon Vibe, the three-eyed symbols belong to the Shadow Realm, the world ruled by Demon Vibe itself! I knew that this was all Japan's fault! Shinra and his people were doomed from the start!

Soul : That's how we existed into the real world before, your world, Makoto!

Seto : Guess we finally understand what the true meaning of Soul Eater is, Souls get devoured by not only demons, but the Grim Reaper as well. It takes more than Souls to power up a true reaper and that is me!

King Phanto : What's the matter? Had enough yet?

(battle ends)

Moirai : We'll do!

Maka : I think that we won this time! So tell me now, your majesty. Why would you want to help me fix your mistakes?

[Towatsugai BGM 03 - MONACA]

King Phanto : Well now...I rest my case. The weirdness from Shinra's Influence, I don't feel that kind of crap to him, not in a million years I won't. Shinigami he...he murdered some of our kind by mistake to think we are the bad guys. In fact that he wasn't Shinigami, he was just an illusion named Death created from Shinra's mind, heart, soul. He was nothing more than a fluke trying to get the heartless' attention. he got Ashley's people involved that Earth was wrecked by magic. But our kind told Maba that it was neither magic, it was the force of the heartless trying to spread the lying of his creator. Our brethren was letting Truth to win it all! But Shinra's influence, he pushed the truth out of us! You, Maka Albarn, had been led astray from Shinra's kind, the Phantonians would knew that the true death gods were Grim, Seto, Ichigo, and the others.

Seto : Wait, you mean Botan and Ryuk, and others who are Shinigami? I thought there is one Shinigami that knows about ruling the cosmos or something.

King Phanto : No, Deathless! A Death God does not rule the Cosmos, they are only servants to God himself, and the Grim Reaper only works for both Heaven and Hell! They're just a personification and not a god their selves. And I suggested that you, Seto the Deathless, will become Japan's next Shinigami!

Seto : Heheh! Guess I owe you an appreciation for that. I did deserved my title as Shinigami, well this much be grateful for you to be the King of Phantonians.

King Phanto : Maka. Our kind has been appreciated to your kind as Hero of the world, but I offer a deep gratitude for the sake of our kind. Shinra's Legacy, you must overthrow it and proceed our legacy as the Galaxy's greatest gift of all. *Heartbeat Echoing* Gaaah! (holds chest in pain) What...What are you doing!?

Dark Nebula : I'm sick and tired of sorrowful about your race's kind! Having a powerful alien like you should be pleasing on conquering the galaxy will be the end of your kind and your kin! If I'm going down to die with alien, I'm taking you all with me inside!

*DBZ SFX : SURPRISE*

[Critical Moment of Contra - Akira Yamaoka]

*DBZ SFX : ENERGY WAVE*

King Phanto : [yelling] WOAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGHHH!!! The Darkness, It's trying to take my heart and soul away! Let go of me!

Seto : What do you think you're doing!?

Dark Nebula : Despite being a regular entity with only three attacks I have, I still got one last trick up in my sleeves. I'll cause a self-destruct on the sanctuary that I created! and shall blown you all into smithereens! (creates an energy ball) I will be the last one standing and I shall make you oblierated in a grand finale, a beautiful display of fireworks.

Kirby : Hiyah! *DBZ SFX : Energy Ball Impact+Explosion*

[Advent of Stray Idola - Kenichi Tokoi]

Dark Nebula : Who goes there!?

Mizune : See, Dark Nebula? I knew I could easily beat you to the punch!

Dark Nebula : What!? Mizune! You!

Mizune : I too, have the power of light within me! The villains that I have been working for was nothing more than the heartless' dirty joke!

Blair : Hey there, Maka! Long time no see! Sorry that I thought we fought our selves as enemies, but now I realize that I was wrong to Mizune. You see that we're not we're not enemies that hated each other, we're rivals working together! Can't expect the lying of Shinra Kusakabe can you, Dark Nebula!

Dark Nebula : You all wanted a proper fight? I'm gonna give you all a proper fight that's what you'll get!

Mizune : Just say when, Nebula! We won't turn our galaxy into your own world!

Blair : This time we'll get you for good!

Kirby : Hut!

Maka : Hey, Nebula! Ready for the final round? We're all on death's ears for you! You'll never take over the Galaxy, cause that's what defeating a godlike entity like you shall be quite challenging! I'm not here to defeat a God with Courage or Bravery, I'm come here to destroy a God...with Valor!

Dark Nebula : Come at me, Maka! Show me what a hero with valor have to go against me!

"Our battle isn't over yet, it's time that we end this, once and for all!"

~ Act 35 : THE HOPE FOR MAKA ALBARN! ~

[sapphiresterreart]

Tried to scribble a Sonic idea with a throwaway joke-reference only to get completely sidetracked by that very same joke. Got in too deep. Hope it's coherent enough!

Note: Usually picture them as young adults. Prolly early 20s or so. Not super important but might help with context. It's fun for me to mix youthful energy with slightly older characters. Whatever canon experiences they've had took time to happen kinda thing.

Rouge shares her struggle with her roommate’s terrible, no-good very bad coffee bean addiction eating habits. Starring Sonic, Tails, and a startling amount of memes and modern(?) slang as her prisoners. 

Sonic's desperate cries for help go ignored. Maybe if he was a better communicator he wouldn't have these issues.

Under the Read More it goes!

Off-screen, Shadow is blissfully unaware of such plights as he savors a cereal bowl of coffee beans for breakfast. Only faintly wondering why the bag of new beans had been stashed in the wrong kitchen cabinet. Didn’t Rouge know they were supposed to go in the pantry? Mentally shrugs. Everyone makes mistakes. She must've been tired last night or something. She did have eye-bags before putting on makeup this morning. Ah, well. Not his problem.

No. Instead it's Sonic's problem.

"Shadow thinks he's so smart but that guy eats coffee beans for breakfast. It was one thing when he had a gardening phase and cluttered the counters with potted plants; at least that was nice. Got fresh lavender for free and his chao could take care of 'em while he was away, ya know? But coffee beans? Raw? How am I supposed to have my morning coffee when Shadow keeps eating all my chaos-damned coffee beans, boys?" 

"Ah." Sonic blinks and shares a glance with Tails. They’d been trapped on their own living room couch ever since Rouge showed up a solid hour ago with eye bags so heavy not even the secrets of modern makeup could hide them.

Still. He's her friend and he's tried to give her his attention. He tentatively ventures, “I get the feeling you haven't had coffee this morning?"

"I haven't had coffee in days, Sonic, days!"

"Yikes." He grimaces, playing at an attempt for sympathy because there's only so long he can keep trying. An hour is a long time and he still doesn't see what the big deal is, or even care honestly, but he'll at least pretend. "Big oof. That's no good."

Tails slaps his forehead and slumps from where he sits on the couch beside him. Rouge stares at them both. Or maybe just him. Apparently he didn't pretend hard enough. Huh. Oh well. Guess he'll have to try again. 

"I try not to judge people by their dietary needs." Sonic beams, making sure to look as innocent as can be. Adds blinking for good measure

It's a strategic trick he learned while babysitting Cream long ago. She had been, and unfortunately still is, a master of them-big-ole-eyes paired with rapid-fire-eyelashes. 

Whenever Amy did it she looked like she had a bad case of allergies and sometimes caused her mascara to run which only ever made him think of the horror movies he'd seen late at night. It was a problem. She was not good to learn from for that. He's glad she started wearing waterproof stuff or whatever it is at some point. Turns out, black streaks for tear-tracks are terrifying. Not cute.

Guh. Moving on. Maybe his powers of persuasion will sway Rouge away from the dark side of more long-winded rants and dangerously boring tangents. Alas. They fail. She seems unmoved.

"Your diet is nothing but chili dogs." She points at him, needlessly affronted. 

Oh hey now. An age old argument apparently no one is willing to let go of. Not even Rouge. Hmph. He stands by his statement: there's nothing wrong with chili dogs and there never will be! Why fix what ain't broke?

"Like I said," Sonic continues undeterred by non-believers even after all these years. "Dietary needs."

Rouge huffs and whirls on a needle-thin heel. They click click click as she paces a circle in front of the TV.  Dang. Those boots look like they could kill someone. Sonic idly wonders if they have then decides he doesn't wanna know. He might be the next victim otherwise. At least not if this endless talkin’ doesn't do him in first.

"As I was saying; it'd be one thing if he ate them after I brewed them," she flicks a wrist already back on topic as she cocks a hip to the side. Her wings twitch from where they're folded along her spine. "But does he do that? Does he have the decency to do that, boys?"

She pauses a beat. Oh no. Is she expecting proper responses now after all that? Or maybe it’s is a rhetorical question and does not require an answer. Should he risk death by boot or death by boredom?

Tails, brave soul that he is, offers himself as tribute. "He... doesn't?"

"No!" Rouge whips around and her wings snap out on cue. The brothers jolt. "He does not!"

Tails makes some sort of noise. "That sounds rough." 

"Major bummer." Sonic agrees and hopes it'll get her tirade to stop.

"It is! And that's not all-"

Ah. It does not. Was she even listening to him? Or hearing him at all? His attention can only last so long. He's reaching his limit here! Maybe if he throws enough nonsense at her, she'll stop? Or talk about something else?

"What an L, Rouge."

"--maybe had some decency he'd-"

"L plus ratio?"

"What am I supposed to do without the beans, Sonic?"

She's not stopping. Luckily, Sonic ain't no quitter. "Cool story, bro. No cap?"

"The beans, Sonic! Focus on the beans!"

"The beans. So not gucci."

"Exactly! What am I supposed to do about the-" 

Tails leans over to him, bumping shoulders, and mutters. "You've been messing with my tech again, haven't you?"

“I just think it’s neat,” he chirps readily. Grins as he takes the lifeline his benevolent brother has provided him like a drowning soul. Ugh, drowning. "The internet’s a pretty cool place to be. So many ways to get your groovy on."

Tails sighs, sounding faintly irritable but his muzzle's twitching. He ain't foolin' nobody. "You are abusing slang on purpose." 

Sonic’s grin only widens. Score! "I would never do such a thing. Especially not in front of a friend. That's way past uncool, totally un-hippoed."

His brother may or may not have choked. An elbow knocks into Sonic’s side and he jumps with a snickering wheeze.

Tails mutters out the side of his mouth, face impossibly composed while pretending to pay attention to their mutual friend. "What even-? That's not- What are you up to?"

"Nuthin'," he lies like the liar they both know he is. Rouge is still goin' on strong in front of them. "Maintaining my sanity in the only way I can, maybe."

"How's that working out?"

"I may or may not lose my mind."

"It was nice knowing you, bruh."

It's Sonic's turn to choke on a snort.

Rouge continues her tirade apparently oblivious to the lapse in her audience's attention. So Sonic seizes the opportunity to set up a new game plan. He whips out and fiddles with his shiny new phone. The sound file had to be in here somewhere. It was unlikely to have been lost in the recent data transfer. His brother was too smart to let that happen.

Tails had done great work on the device; making it so it could keep up with the speed in which he tapped at the screen. The previous one had been durable but admittedly too slow. Yet his kid brother had fixed it up like the champ he's always been. 

He smiles to himself, unbearably soft, gloved thumbs stalling atop the glass. What couldn’t his baby bro do? Well, not much of a baby now, sure, but who gave him permission to grow up? Not Sonic! As his right as the older brother, he made the rules and the rules say Tails is not allowed to get older. 

What was he doing? Oh yeah! That funny audio. Where was it again? Tails had probably kept it in the same place. Or at least with the same name if he used the fancy search bar, right? He adjusted his grip to tap the screen. 

Bingo! Now let’s see here… A clicking of some buttons, a tapping of a few things, and a finger at the ready to press play. He was all set. Now to time it just right...

Rouge, unintentionally or not, plays her part well. She continues on as background noise with his brother watching her indulgently, politely smiling and nodding along to all the right bits because at some point in all these years he had learned manners. Sonic will never know from where. Certainly not from him.

Sonic waits, politely nodding along himself because misusing slang had proven futile. Tactics had to change and as Rouge works herself into a righteous tizzy he sits up and leans forward. Tails doesn't say a word though he can no doubt sense when his big bro’s ‘boutta cause some trouble. 

Wings flare as Rouge hoists herself off the floor and hovers in the middle of the living room. A fist shakes dramatically at the ceiling and her voice get louder with the momentum. She bemoans the tragedy of mortal kind and the emotionally constipated disasters that will be the downfall of them all. 

It's almost moving. Sonic finds himself engaged despite earlier grievances. She shoulda led with that instead of the bean nonsense. Apparently whatever it is she's talking about now is an infectious disease that only plagues the majority of the male population of everyone found everywhere. Unfortunately, Sonic’s not entirely convinced. It’s a good argument, though, he’ll give her that.

Then it happens. Finally happens. He feared he’d lose his mind before he could execute the most ultimate of masterplans (heh heh, Ultimate. No he'll never let it go, Shadow) but his time to shine has finally come. She makes a statement. Perfectly punctuated on a bold note and everything. She pauses for breath and Sonic takes the chance. 

He clicks the screen and the sound plays. A perfect accompaniment to Rouge’s declaration.

“Oh no.”

Tails. Slowly. Very slowly turns to him. 

Sonic. Very very slowly turns in turn. He makes sure to wear the biggest, most trouble-causing-eatingist grin as possible. Barely cuts off a giggle before it can escape. 

Tails does a remarkable job of maintaining a straight face while also stifling the faint wheezes Sonic can see his stomach make only because he's sitting right next to him. Yellow and white fur almost vibrates from the strain. Wow! What an impressive display of control. He's so proud of him. 

Sonic doesn’t even try to hide his delight anymore. A joke well-received is always a good thing. Even the dumb ones.

Neither notice Rouge coming’ in hot to snatch the phone outta his hands. 

"Was that Knuxie.” She says, honing in on the device in her hands like a starving vulture in desperate need of a feast. 

Sonic will never admit he startled as, between blinks, the bat was there and then she wasn’t. He recovers pretty darn well if he does say so himself. Blinks lashes innocently up at her even if it didn't work earlier.

This time he demurs very charmingly. "Who?”

“Don’t play games with me, big blue.” 

Aw. Foiled again. 

She taps at the screen, face nearly smushed against the glass as she clearly finds the recording and plays it again. A grin of her own spreads. Oops. He almost feels sorry for what he's probably unleashed onto Knuckles. Almost. 

“Where is this from?” Her grin’s looking a lil more evil by the second.

Sure she’s been thoroughly distracted from her war on coffee beans (Or was it a war on Shadow? Dang it! Maybe coulda used that somehow). But at what cost?

Eh. It’s probably fine. Knuckles can handle it.

So he leans back into the couch with an evil grin of his own and threads his arms through the quills on the back of his head. Relaxes in place as he firmly decides to delight in the shared goal of causing trouble.

Heh heh. Sux to be Knux. The guy needed to lighten up anyway.

[fr0st-km]

" FATHER AND DAUGHTER "

In which Idia has to take care of his daughter who apparently acts like a brat while his dear wife travels overseas to work along with Ortho joining her until next week. The shut-in father tries to build up a good relationship with his daughter but is blocked by obstacles given by his own child.

Fluff . Scenario . No warnings

I am so sorry to the Anon who requested this 😭 I ACCIDENTALLY DELETED THE ASK BECAUSE I WAS DELETING OTHER REQUESTS AT FULL SPEED💀—

Istfg if I see a paragraph DUPLICATE I will THROW HANDS.

"B-Bedelia! H-Hold on— DON’T RUN SO FAST!!!"

No matter how hard Idia tries to gain his daughter’s attention, nothing worked. The fiery-blue-haired man slumped against the brick wall, panting as Bedelia pouted whilst hugging her stuffed dragon tightly, “Hmph! You're no fun, daddy! This is why mommy is better than you in every way possible!!" The child huffed and glared at her father who flinched.

Yeah, it’s true, you’re way better than him in most ways but you can never beat him in games! Idia quickly stood up on his feet and gulped, “Y-Yeah, you’re right! My p-player two is better than me in most ways! A-And that’s why I-I love her! S-She’s amazing and t-the most cutest woman ever i-in existence!!” The fiery-blue-haired man exclaims.

Realizing what he had just said, Idia’s pale face flushed red as the tips of his hair turned pink and flickered aggressively, embarrassed at what he had just said. The poor otaku slapped his face and stood before his daughter, not brave enough to look directly at her. ‘Now she must’ve think that I’m some sort of obsessive weirdo! F in the chat for me, Ortho…’

That was until the fiery-haired heard a faint giggle coming from Bedelia, to which it broke into fits of laughter. Idia was truly confused, was she making fun of him? Well, he ever expected less from his own daughter. She had his amber yellow eyes, your ( H/C ) hair, and his natural blue eyeshadow and lips. Bedelia truly is a mix of the both of you but…Where did she get her outgoing and bold personality…?

Bedelia giggled, “Dad, you’re such a fool for mommy!” She exclaims and pointed her index finger at her father.

Idia jumped, of course she’s making fun of him! As a gloomy aura surrounded Idia, he didn’t notice the young ( H/C )-haired girl walking towards him with a brighter aura.

The young girl poked her father’s leg causing Idia to let out a squeak, startled at the sudden contact. The taller an older man looked downwards at his daughter and scratched his nape. Bedelia grinned, “Daddy, follow me! I got something to show you in my room!” The child shouted cheerfully and grabbed her father’s index finger and dragged him with her.

Idia yelped as he felt himself getting dragged— he hasn’t finished regaining his energy!! He was also shocked at how strong Bedelia is, she’s only 5! The man sobbed internally and felt that his legs were giving out quickly, resulting him to trip over nothing and end up getting dragged across the carpet.

“BEDELIA—”

“Auuuwghh…” Idia groaned and plopped himself on Bedelia’s couch, feeling drained out after getting dragged across the long carpet in the gloomy hallway of the Shroud mansion.

The fiery-haired man glanced around his daughter’s room— calm yet dark colored wallpapers decorated Bedelia’s room, an expensive black-colored chandelier hung on top of him as the room was lightened by blue fire, a large canopy bed placed at the corner of the room, and scribbled posters sticking on the walls. Idia sighed, when is she going to finish taking a bath?

The fiery-haired man glanced around his daughter’s room— calm yet dark colored wallpapers decorated Bedelia’s room, an expensive black-colored chandelier hung on top of him as the room was lightened by blue fire, a large canopy bed placed at the corner of the room, and scribbled posters sticking on the walls. Idia sighed, when is she going to finish taking a bath?

Just then, Bedelia burst the door to her master wardrobe open, to which it caused Idia to jump from the couch and whip his head towards the young girl’s direction.

“B-Bedelia…You startled m-me right there…”

The ( H/C )-haired child simply shrugged as a response before walking towards her father while wearing an oversized black-colored bathrobe. Larger eyes with amber yellow irises looked up at another pair of amber yellow eyes, Bedelia gestured Idia to follow her; to which he obliged to his daughter’s command.

The child skipped happily towards her master wardrobe and pushed it wide open before walking in happily with her father trailing from behind.

“Tadaa~! This is my master wardrobe!”

Bedelia happily walked towards a section of silk dresses and rubbed her small hands against the fabric, “Daddy! What do you think I should wear?” The little gal asked.

Idia glanced around the wardrobe, so bright! He looked around and saw different kinds of clothes made out of expensive fabric, the man was impressed, really. However, he never saw any of the designs of the clothes hung on each side of the wardrobe, maybe it’s because he hardly ever goes outside? No, each clothes Bedelia owns has a similar touch to his.

Bedelia grinned, “Hehe, mommy made these all for me! Not the she shoes, socks, and others though. No one is the best designer than mommy!”

“E-EH?!” Idia shrieked, quite shocked knowing that you designed all of these clothing for Bedelia.

“Hm? Daddy, doesn’t mommy design some of your clothes too?” The young ( H/C )ette asked as she tilted her head.

The fiery-haired man scratched his cheek and chuckled nervously, “W-Well…Um…I-I-I— yeah, s-she does…”

Bedelia hummed, “I know. Mommy would usually leave a small, white heart on each of the clothes she makes, like the one you got on the the end of your sleeves.” She explained and pointed at her father’s sleeve.

“R-Right…”

“Anyways, daddy, can you pick a dress for me? I already asked you this but you spaced out.” Bedelia recalled as she walked around her master wardrobe with a pout.

‘P-Pick a dress…? T-This like customizing your o-own character! But now it’s customizing your daughter! Okay Idia Shroud, go! If we can get a dress that nails 10 points, we’ll win for sure!’

After a few hours of picking the perfect dress that suits Bedelia, they had a little fashion show before heading to sleep.

Idia watched as his daughter crawled up her bed using a stepping stool, she fell a few times but successfully got under the soft blanket of her bed with Idia’s help. The fiery-haired man can hear a yawn coming out from the young gal before digging his hand into his pocket and checking his phone on what time it is. Apparently, it’s 10 pm right now. No wonder Bedelia feels sleepy.

“Daddy! Read a bedtime story to me! Mommy always do that before I go to sleep!” The child exclaims before pointing at a the drawer of her nightstand next to her, “The books are right in there.”

Idia nodded and kneeled down on one knee as he opened the drawer before grabbing a couple of random books, he placed them on Bedelia’s lap and the young gal looked at each one of the books. The young gal huffed and looked at her father, “Daddy, I don’t want you to read a bedtime story to me!”

“H-HUH?! B-But you said that y-you wanted me to r-read you a bedtime story!” Idia exclaims in disbelief, such a greedy child!

Bedelia grabbed the books and placed them on top of her nightstand before crossing her arms over her chest, “Tell me how you and mommy met instead!”

Idia’s face immediately flushed pink and the tips of his fiery-blue-hair turned into a light shade of pink, his hair flickered furiously causing Bedelia to scrunch up her face and punch her father’s chest— to which Idia let out a squeak and held his chest in pain. The fiery-haired man pondered, recollecting the memories he received during his Highschool days, and a bit intimidated by his daughter’s intense yet curious stare.

“Daddy, I need to hear a story before I sleep. Or do you want these small but strong hands punch your chest again?”

Idia shrieked, “O-Okay” Bedelia clenched her fist and glared at him, “OKAY I’LL TELL YOU!!”

“W-Well…I didn’t know much about your mother back then.”

Bedelia tilted her head, “How so??”

“Um…I-I hardly ever go o-out m-my room…Hehe…” The older man chuckled nervously while Bedelia cringed at him. “…But did you at least knew mother’s existence?”

“O-OF COURSE I DID! SHE WAS THE TALK OF THE SCHOOL!” Idia exclaimed causing Bedelia to flinch, he apologized before continuing, “I-If I remembered correctly…S-She was the first and only g-girl in my school…I-It was an all-boys school, after all.”

“EEH?! But how did she get accepted?!”

“I-It’s a long story…She accidentally got selected as a student— both her gender and lack of magic…” Idia explained, not daring to tell the secret of you not being apart of this world.

Bedelia hummed and gestured her father to continue. “We both didn’t know each other very well— especially her not knowing my existence until…That event.”

“What event?”

“I-It’s a secret! Even your mother told me not to tell you this until you get older!”

The young gal groaned, “It’s always the “once you get older” excuse…” She mumbled.

“Um…Your mother didn’t really like me after what I did back then— which is a secret, again— B-But I did fell for her ever since the beginning andhadalwayswishedtotalktoherbutneverhadthegutstodosobecauseofmethinkingthatshewouldntlikeme—”

A few minutes past and Bedelia can be seen to be fast asleep. Idia might have went overboard when it comes to talking about you but it was definitely worth it. Just as Idia was about to leave his daughter’s room, he heard his fatherly-nickname getting called out softly.

“Daddy…Don’t leave…Me…”

The fiery-haired man stopped in his tracks and glanced over his shoulder, he could see Bedelia’s small hands twitching. He knows what that means! The child wants their parent to hold their hand in order to comfort them! Just like in all sorts of anime(s) ever in existence! Without having second thoughts, Idia grabbed a nearby chair before walking towards Bedelia’s bed and sliding his hand into the gap of Bedelia’s bed curtains.

Idia intertwined his larger hands with Bedelia’s smaller ones and felt the young gal’s cheek pressing against his hand. The older man opened the curtain, only to see the ( H/C )ette hugging his hand. Idia couldn’t control himself and smiled, chuckling to himself in success.

‘I did it, ( Y/N ), Ortho! Mission: gain Bedelia’s trust— complete! GG!’

[dialovers-translations]

DIABOLIK LOVERS Do-S Kyuuketsu VERSUS Ⅳ Vol.2 Shuu VS Ruki [TRACK 1]

Original title: 暗闇の中で

Source: DIABOLIK LOVERS Do-S Kyuuketsu VERSUS Ⅳ Vol.2 Shuu VS Ruki [CD not owned by me]

Audio: Here

Seiyuu: Toriumi Kousuke & Takahiro Sakurai

Track 1 ll Track 2 ll Track 3 ll Track 4 ll Track 5

→  LIKE MY TRANSLATIONS? SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI!

TRACK 1: AMIDST THE DARKNESS (0:00 - 04:59)

*Cling cling*

Shuu: Ah…You’re awake? I have to say, you’re something else. Snoozing away for even longer than me in a situation like this.

*Cling cling*

Shuu: Don’t move…! Take a close look around. Without moving your body.

You frown.

Shuu: Well…I guess you can’t with the lights turned out, huh? Unlike us Vampires, you don’t have night vision after all.

You ask Shuu what is going on.

Shuu: You’ve been chained up. On top of that, the chains are covered in sharp spikes. …Hah. They almost resemble thorny vines. Somebody has quite the taste. (1)

You start to panic. 

Ruki: I doubt resorting to panic will solve the issue in any way.

You squeak.

Ruki: Stop freaking out over every single little thing. 

You ask Ruki why he is here.

Ruki: What a way to greet me. Am I not allowed to be in the human world? For one, I am not here by my own will. Both myself as well as the eldest Sakamaki have been locked up here together with you. 

You ponder where you are.

Ruki: Iron bars and brick walls…I assume we have been thrown into some underground dungeon. 

Shuu: Ahー I guess you don’t remember since you were out cold. However, I’m sure you remember the Sakamaki manor being ambushed by a Vampire, right?

Your eyes widen as you recall.

Shuu: Exactly. You were attacked by some random guy. While I was out on my nightly walk to get my mind off things for a bit. That guy had the nerve to shamelessly show himself in front of me, while carrying you in his arms while you were unconscious. I’m sure you can imagine what happened next? I couldn’t risk anything under those circumstances, so I surrendered and followed his command, which brings us here right now. 

Ruki: It was pretty much the same scenario for me. That guy suddenly showed up in Eden. There was little I could do while he had you as a hostage, so I was eventually imprisoned down here. 

You ask about the Vampire’s identity. 

Shuu: His name is Kino. I don’t know if it’s his real name, but that’s how he introduced himself. Furthermore, he claims to be the Old Man’s…Karlheinz’ illegitimate child. 

You seem shocked. 

Shuu: Well, knowing the Old Man, I’m honestly not surprised he has one or two of those walking around. 

Ruki: Hah…It makes my blood boil to hear someone like you speak badly about that man. That being said, we need to know what Kino’s plans are. I see no harm in observing the situation for a while.

Shuu: What a drag. You can do that by yourself if you want.

Ruki: If you don’t want to cooperate, then why don’t you simply leave? You inherited that man’s powers, did you not? Yet you can’t even break free from a single prison cell…Pathetic. 

Shuu: …Shut up. I don’t even have my earphones right now, so don’t make any annoying noise. 

You ask why he can’t break the iron bars.

Shuu: You’re getting on my nerves as well…I don’t feel obligated to answer your questions. 

Ruki: I’d argue that we do owe her an explanation. These iron bars have been infused with a strong magical energy. This force originates from the human Church. They are not easy to break through. ーー Of course, that man’s powers are on a different level. 

Shuu: Can you please just shut up for a second? …I’m gonna nap. Don’t talk to me. 

*Rustle* 

Shuu falls asleep. 

Ruki: Hmph. …Reluctant to use your powers, huh? You sure know how to grind my gears. …Oh well. I suppose we can wait for a bit to see what move our opponent will make. 

*Cling cling*

Ruki: The chains? We are obviously leaving them in place. If we were to remove them, he would be able to tell that we are plotting our escape from the second he shows up. Stay like that for a bit.

You pout.

Ruki: You don’t look half bad, honestly. If you don’t want to hurt yourself, I’d suggest you keep still. 

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

Translation notes

(1) いい趣味 or ‘ii shumi’ which means ‘nice hobby/interest’ is almost always used in a sarcastic/ironic way to actually call out the person on their disgusting/freakish behavior.

[dizzydennis]

Sonic x Shadow – Cover Story

(Translator notes: These translations are done by me. I am not fluent in Japanese, but I do speak and know the language well enough. I do my best, so any constructive criticism is appreciated. I hope Sonic fans really enjoy this story with the Ultimate Life Form!)

“Mission Street” is a trendy place for businesses and local shopping. The full moon filled the starry sky and on the roof of the store, there was the figure of Sonic looking up at the night sky.

He came here tonight to see a small celestial view.

Per the norm, Sonic had shown up too early. He decided to watch the hustle and bustle on the busy streets below. –Suddenly, he saw a black hedgehog fighting over something in a back alley. It was Shadow!

Shadow is one of Sonic’s most formidable opponents as he can match Sonic in almost every way.

He isn’t necessarily evil, but his cold-hearted nature and stoic personality sometimes entails a sense of danger that pits him against Sonic.

Why is Shadow here?

Sonic felt something was suspicious and jumped down to land in front of Shadow.

There was the wreckage of the military reconnaissance drone known as a “GUN Beetle.” It was destroyed to bits with black smoke and sparks flying out of it. It was very unusual.

Sonic looked on, knowing what Shadow had done.

“Hey, Shadow. Looks like you’re having fun!”

“This has nothing to do with you. Leave me be.”

Shadow disappeared into the darkness the moment he answered the question. Sonic wasn’t far behind. A high-speed chase unfolded as they ran in and out of Mission Street.

They jumped over the roof of a building and ran across the wall. They exchanged some attacks while in the air as they crossed at high speeds in a tunnel. Shadow’s back kick came out at lightning-fast speeds and Sonic had to throw up his arms to block it.

(Am I able to stop it…?)

(Maybe I can just avoid it…)

After a brief struggle, Shadow made some distance and jumped away. He opened his mouth furiously.

“Why are you following me!?”

“I don’t wanna be blamed again for when you do something wrong!”

“Hmph, aren’t you being overly self-conscious? There’s no time for games. I’ll be leaving now.”

Shadow pulled out a flickering stone and Sonic knew… it was a Chaos Emerald.

“Wait! Hold on!”

“Chaos Control!”

A flashing light shined for a moment and when it stopped, Shadow disappeared from where he was standing.

“Chaos Control” …. Shadow’s special ability. He can use the power of the Chaos Emeralds to distort time and space.

It seemed like Shadow was tired from the previous battle. He pulled off that move with the Chaos Emerald, but it was not in good shape. Sonic, now all alone, looked up to the night sky.

“Shadow…”

--A few minutes later. --

Behind the main road, Shadow was rushing towards an unnaturally large bank. He didn’t make a sound as he created the wreckage of a newly destroyed GUN Beetle right by his feet.

“Hmph, here it is. No doubt.”

Shadow continued to destroy the armored GUN Beetles that appeared from the back of the bank and he made it to the vault on the second floor. He destroyed any guards that fought back. Then Shadow saw something in front of the central vault door.

It was Sonic standing with a smug grin. He was shaking a card key in one hand.

He used the “energy detector” that he borrowed from Tails to locate Shadow. He snuck in from a different entrance.

There were GUN Beetles all over the city. Despite these Beetles being destroyed, it didn’t sound the alarm even though it usually attacks without warning.

Regardless, Sonic thought that something unusual was happening.

Shadow scoffed, “So… what do I have to give you for that card key? Wait… that’s a stupid question. You just want to know what’s going on because this whole situation has piqued your interest.”

With a short, moody sigh, Shadow looked up at Sonic and began to let the details spill.

“This looks like a bank on the surface, but it’s a front. This is actually the source of a weapons research plant. A mysterious power-generating capsule was seized from Doctor Eggman’s base in a previous battle. However, I’m afraid that the weapons aren’t being researched, but rather develop in the city.”

At that point, Shadow continued to slowly walk forward.

“I received a briefing that this capsule was actually a disguised time bomb that would explode at midnight tonight. If this thing goes off, over half the city is going to disappear in the blast. Something seems off here, so I came to check it out. Care you explain why you’re here?”

Shadow stopped in front of Sonic and gave a fierce, questioning look. He held it for a few seconds.

“Do you have nothing to say?”

It was such a sudden development that while Sonic was trying to answer, the energy detector reacted to an abnormally high level of energy. It was coming from the vault.

“I’ll just believe in Tails’ machine!”

Shadow grinned as Sonic swiped the card key through the reader on the door. A heavy metallic noise was heard from inside the vault.

The moment he touched the latch on the door, Shadow stared with an unchanging expression.

BANG!

The door opened from the inside and many researchers rushed out in a huge, desperate panic.

“Get out of here! It’s going to explode!”

People were fleeing or their lives while emergency sirens echoed throughout the building. Every area around the vault was covered in this noise.

When Sonic and Shadow jumped in, it was much larger than they had expected. The capsule-shaped glass body had a diameter over a meter long and a length of 2 meters. It was protected by an electromagnetic barrier while emitting lights from the connections to the laboratory tables in the back.

Just then, a bunch of GUN Beetles placed in the room took aim at the two hedgehog-intruders and fired.

“I see you really get into your job, Shadow! You’re the bomb!”

“…!”

Sonic was able to take care of three nearby GUN Beetles in no time. Shadow ran fiercely into the fray. He was electrocuted and hurt from the electromagnetic barrier, but Sonic was able to find the generator and destroyed it to save Shadow.

“CHAOS CONTROL!”

A ring of light overflowed from Shadow and the Chaos Emerald. It covered the surrounding area. When the flash disappeared both Shadow and the bomb were gone!

Just a few seconds later, a giant explosion occurred far above Mission Street.

A humongous fireball appeared in the sky as if it were another moon. A roaring sound shook the Earth soon after. Sonic jumped out onto a window ledge and saw it while putting out a thumbs up.

Then there was Shadow, who was already outside of the influence of Chaos Control. He looked on with a dissatisfied look. He intended to send the bomb all the way to space. Perhaps he realized the limit of this singular, weakened Chaos Emerald.

Shadow threw the emerald to Sonic.

“Huh? Shadow…?”

“This Emerald is weak! Feels like that fake emerald Tails made. Perhaps if I gave it to a good-natured person, it will get the right powers back.”

Sonic replied with a slightly frightened face while he caught the emerald. He then said, “I’d like to say thank you, but I think I’m gonna pass on that.”

“Why are you still following me?”

Elsewhere from Mission Street, Shadow walked down a deserted road. He grinned as he talked to Sonic, but he didn’t look back at him. Sonic relaxed and put his hands behind his head and talked back to Shadow while gazing up at the night sky.

“I’m the one who needs some answers. When did you become the type of guy who secretly fights for peace for everyone?”

“… I’m not interested in peace, Sonic. Do you know what people are capable of doing to one another? I don’t like the fact that there are such foolish people on this planet. Whether it’s the Doctor or anyone else… and that includes you. Make no mistake.”

They walked in silence for a few seconds as Shadow had a saddened face and Sonic just continued grinning.

“Ok, I get it. I’ll do my best to be careful. But if something like today happens again, I bet there are quite a few people who would wanna thank you.”

“Hmph, that’s crap; that kind of nonsense.”

Shadow reached his boiling point had finally stopped and looked back at Sonic as if to shut him up.

“…!?”

With the lights in the distant city behind them, Sonic stood with his right arm extended and pointing at the night sky while he looked longingly at Shadow. The full moon was shining, but just above it, they could see the “Space Colony ARK” floating by and looking down on them.

Shadow was short of breath when he viewed this spectacle. From under the moonlight, the ARK looked heavenly.

“Ark…”

Hope and tragedy rested there. This is the place where Shadow was born. He gained and learned so much, but also lost a great deal there too. An abandoned ruin floating in a vacuum, offering too many complexities to protect this planet.

There’s a time, once every year, where the ARK perfectly floats above the full moon due to their orbits.

Mission Street is one of the best points to see this view. This is the celestial view that Sonic loves so much. As one gazes upon two “moons,” they’re bathed in a warm sea of light.

Shadow continued to look at the ARK silently.

Nobody can know about the memories that crush his heart when he thinks about what happened in the past. But this silence seemed like a clear answer to Sonic.

Sonic lowered his hand that he kept pointing to the sky and then moved it towards Shadow.

Shadow followed Sonic’s movements and saw that he was laughing!

“Dammit…!”

Shadow threw himself away with purpose as he hopped onto his motorcycle. It was a large military bike. Shadow must have had it prepared in advance.

Shadow revved the engine to drown out Sonic’s laughing and remarks.

“Alright, this whole thing is kind of overkill, Shadow!”

Shadow then rode off, full throttle. Sonic was left grinning, but he seemed somewhat disappointed.

“Mission Street” is a trendy place for business and local shopping. The full moon filled the stary sky above. There was Shadow as he passed through the warm lights of the now peaceful city.

There was one small detail that nobody could ever truly comprehend. That a particular “moon” which sat above this lively city, would keep watching over Shadow for the rest of time…

[machifuwa]

Summer Splash | Episode 6

Yuzuru: I found Hiiro-sama. He's over there.

Aira: You're right! As expected of Fushimi-senpai!

Eh?? Half of his body is in the water...!

O~i, Hiro-kun! It's already dark, you'll never find it- Wah!?

Watch out! Hiro-kun!

Hiiro: .....

Aira: He just ignored me... Can't he hear me? Hey~ hello~

Hiiro: .....

Yuzuru: (Rather than being ignored, it looks like he's unable to hear the sounds around him.)

(As Shiratori-sama said, the river is dangerous at night. According to my preliminary research, the maximum depth of the river here is three meters.)

(We should bring him back even if we have to force him. I borrowed a rope from the management office...)

Hiiro: ...I see it.

Aira: Hi-hiro-kun!?

What do we do!? Hiro-kun has disappeared into the river!

Yuzuru: Ugh, I was late in making a decision.

Shiratori-sama, wait here, I'll go swimming...!

Hiiro: Puwaah! Alrighty. I found the glasses!

Well, it was worth getting all wet.

Hm? What are you two doing here?

Aira: Why, you say. We've been chasing you, Hiro-kun. Hmph...

Yuzuru: Well done, but... How did you manage to find it in the dark?

Hiiro: It's only because it's dark that I could find it. When the sun is shining, the light reflects and glares, and your eyes see so many things that it's distracting to look for them.

When I sharpened my mind in the dark, I could immediately detect the presence of the glasses.

Yuzuru: Oh... I see that Hiiro-sama has excellent physical abilities.

Aira: You don't have to follow him, Fushimi-senpai. Hiro-kun is just a weird guy.

Hiiro: You have a rather strange way of saying things sometimes, don't you? Weirdos, let's stay friends!

Aira: Don't wrap me up with "strange guys" like you! I'm just normal!

Mika: Should I go check on him too? But I have a bird's eyes, so I can't see much in the dark.

Not only will it be useless, it will only be a drag. What should I do...?

Keito: Kagehira, do you hear something in the distance?

Mika: Hmm...? O-Oh!! It's Yukkun and the others! Hasumi-senpai, they're all back!

Hiiro: We're back. Hasumi-senpai, can you give me your hand?

Keito: This is...? This touch... my glasses? I didn't think you'd actually find it...

Hm? What's wrong, Amagi? You're all wet...

Hiiro: The glasses were sunk to the bottom of the river, so I had to dive.

Keito: You dived? Don't do anything rash, for god's sake...

Yuzuru: Hiiro-sama, please change your clothes in the tent. I'm worried you might catch a cold.

Hiiro: Umu, I understand!

Five minutes later

Hiiro: Sorry to keep you waiting. It's kind of weird that I'm the only one in civilian clothes, huh?

Yuzuru: Let's dry your practice clothes later. They will be dry in the morning.

Hiiro-sama, please come this way. I will wipe your hair.

I'm glad we found the glasses as a result. The river is dangerous at night. If you want to go to the river at night, you should have gone at dawn instead.

Hiiro: No, no. If we wait till morning, they'll be gone by then.

Yuzuru: ...You mean the stars?

Hiiro: Umu. Stars that would be lost in the town lights near the ES are visible here.

I really wanted to find it because I thought this view could only be enjoyed at a camp where we could spend time in nature.

We are the five members of Keito's Lessons. We wanted to enjoy and share this moment without cutting anyone off...

That's the only reason. I apologize for worrying you. I'm sorry.

Yuzuru: While Keito-sama lost his glasses, everyone was looking down, not in the mood to enjoy the starry sky.

Although it was dangerous and I can't praise you without giving credit. This time, we were saved by the energy of Hiiro-sama.

You usually act out of the ordinary and sometimes insane. But that's why we can help you and stay by your side.

Hiiro: I am inexperienced, and I will cause a lot of trouble in the future. But as a fellow member of "Keito's Lessons", I hope you'll continue to keep in touch with me.

There are so many things I want to know about idols, about the city, about everyone, and about this world!

Yuzuru: I would be happy to do so if it is all right with you. It seems that you also agree, Keito-sama.

Keito: Unfortunately, it seems like I have a habit of attracting troublesome people. The increase in the number of people in the group is not going to hurt or itch me.

There are limits, though, since we have different offices and different "units". As long as we don't give up, we will take care of ourselves as fellow members of "Keito's Lessons".

Hiiro: Umu! Let's work hard again, together, from now on!

Aira: So it looks like we're done here? Hasumi-senpai, why don't you play with this?

Keito: Hand-held fireworks. Did you bring them all the way here?

Aira: Yes. Fireworks are really used during the summer in some places, and I wish we could all play together...♪

Mika: There are so many different kinds. What are these?

Hiiro: It's shaped like a pistol. Is this how you hold it?

Keito: Don't start yet, alright? If there's a fire, we'll move to the riverbank.

Yuzuru: That's right. Just to be safe, I'll borrow some firefighting equipment from the administration office.

It's going to be a wonderful memory, Keito-sama.

Keito: ...Yeah, that's right.

◀ Prev | ■ All

Written by Yuumasu

Season: Summer

Translated by machi

[egcdeath]

ways to say i love you without saying “i love you”

pairing: steve rogers x reader

summary: you and steve explore love languages

word count: 5.1k

warnings: fluff, a little angst because of miscommunications, reader & steve being idiots, good intentions but terrible delivery, mentions of other characters

author’s note: this fic has been sitting unfinished in my drafts for so long. this fic is like, ancient. this fic was almost destroyed because it was briefly in the library of alexandria. when i reopened the document with this fic, there were mold spores growing on it. (p.s. steve’s love langauge is acts of service, and the reader’s is quality time)

you can find my masterlist and taglist here

Prologue

Steve was a multitasker. You knew this well. Perhaps too well.

That never seemed to bother you before, but if the man who was supposed to be taking a serene nature walk with you checked his goddamn flip phone one more time, you were completely sure that you’d lose it. 

You paused your story about your obnoxious coworkers for a moment, stopping in the middle of the gravelly trail you two were making your way down. 

“Steve, seriously, are you even listening?” you griped, ushering him towards the side of the pavement as a man on a bike flew by. 

He guffawed a bit at this, “of course I am. You just said something about…” he paused, and you gestured with your hands for him to continue. “Okay, sorry,” the blush on his face was becoming more and more apparent.

You involuntarily scoffed, rolling your eyes as you did so, “I’m glad to know that whatever you’re waiting for on there,” you gestured to his pocket, “is more important than spending quality time with your girlfriend, who, must I remind you, took time off to be here with you.”

“Nothing is more important to me than you, I’m just on call. I’m probably going to get called to go on a mission any moment now.”

“Steve!” you huffed, “you literally just got back, like, two hours ago. Can’t someone else go? Tony? Vision? Anyone?”

“I might’ve volunteered myself-“

“You’re unbelievable, Steve. Are you getting tired of me or something? You’ve been avoiding me like the plague ever since I moved in with you. If I upset you, or you’re gonna propose to me or something, can you just tell me?”

“I promise you it’s not personal at all,” he reached for your hand and gently held it. “Everything’s just been crazy. I mean, these Hydra bases have been popping up left and right. Just give me a little grace, okay? I don’t get upset with you when SHIELD starts making you work those ungodly hours.”

You opened your mouth to debate him, but surely enough, the canny and familiar ringtone of Steve’s work phone interrupted you before you could even begin. 

“Okay… Yeah. I’ll be there in thirty.”

You frowned at Steve as he spoke on the phone and shook your head disapprovingly, “unbelievable,” you muttered, storming in the direction of your home. 

——

Steve was no fool, he knew when he messed up, and he was more than willing to take responsibility for such. Now was one of those times. He knew that he should’ve been making more time for you. He was well aware that he shouldn’t have gotten defensive when you pointed this out. 

He just had no idea how to apologize.

You weren’t exactly making it easy for him either, taking much longer hours in an attempt to avoid him. While he could understand your frustrations, it became a little more difficult everyday for him to properly apologize to you in a way he felt was meaningful.

Eventually figuring to use your avoidance as a tool, Steve devised a plot to make an apology for you so considerate, so superb, that you could never be angry with him again. A plot that included a several course meal, all concocted by himself. 

He could imagine the look on your face as you came home from work, shocked, but the good kind of shock. Pleasantly surprised that your sweet boyfriend had put in such a huge amount of effort to say sorry. 

He couldn’t help but imagine the scenario: you would relax into your seat at the table after Steve pulled out the chair for you, hum in content as he poured your favorite wine. Moan happily at the taste of a homemade and rarely prepared salad dressing, before complimenting the melt-in-your-mouth entree he had spent an unknown amount of time laboring over. Finally, you’d gush over the dessert that Steve hadn’t had the chance to cook in years, tell him that he worked far too hard putting everything together, especially for a little argument. Steve would scoff, tell you you’re being too kind, and you would pull him in for a red wine and dark chocolate flavored kiss. 

The thought of you, your genuine and warm smile after a long day at work, and an even longer week worth of unspoken tension between you both, was enough to keep Steve motivated through the hours he spent preparing your meal.

He greeted you at the door like an excited puppy as soon as he heard your keys jingle. Sure, work had kept you a bit longer than he’d expected, and your food was likely a little cool by now, but he was excited to make amends. 

However, you did not seem to share the same enthusiasm as Steve. 

“Welcome home, gorgeous. Come sit,” Steve nudged you into the dining area, and you sluggishly followed, exhausted from a tiring day of training new agents.

“What’s wrong?” he inquired, pulling out a chair that you didn’t even attempt to sit down on. 

“I had a really long day. I kinda just wanna get to bed,” you shrugged before rubbing your creased temple.

Steve internally cringed at the thought of all of his hard work going to waste. For some reason, he’d not envisioned this less pleasant outcome before. “Sweetheart,” he began in a nearly whiny tone, but you weren’t in much of a mood to be persuaded.

“I’m sorry. Weird things were happening at work that I don’t care to get into now, and honestly, I’m not even that hungry,” you reached out and gave Steve’s hand a little squeeze. “But it all looks and smells so good! I Promise I’ll warm some up tomorrow for lunch.”

“I-,” he paused, “please. Maybe you could just take a few bites of everything. It took me a really long time to get everything prepped and ready.”

You frowned at the plea, feeling a bit guilty but almost… satisfied at the same time. Steve struggled to make time for you because of his work, and now he was getting a little taste of his own medicine. 

“I really am sorry. But hey, now we’re even?” you offered with a playful wink, slipping away before you gave your partner a chance to respond. You truly didn’t have the energy for a four course meal that night, let alone another argument. 

——

Wanda was silent for a moment as she sipped from a mug of coffee, watching you with a suspiciously focused look on her face. 

“Wanda?” you prompted, seemingly snapping her out of whatever trance she had found herself in. 

“Oh my God, I know exactly what you guys need,” she just about blurted, reaching across the café table to grab your hand. 

“Were you reading my mind?”

Your friend didn’t respond, but the devious smirk on her face was enough of an answer. 

“What happened to telling me before reading me?”

“You just looked like there was a lot on your mind. And absolutely no way that you’d tell me,” she shrugged nonchalantly.

“Of course I was gonna tell you! Why else would I ask my friend in a cute relationship to meet me for coffee?”

“Because you like me?”

“No, never that. I just needed advice,” the two of you shared a laugh for a moment.

“Well don’t waste your breath. When Vis and I had a rough patch, we just had to learn each other’s love languages. You’d be surprised just how much that synthezoid values those acts of services.”

“And you?”

“I’m a words of affirmation girl myself,” she shrugged. “You should find out yours, and try to figure out Steve’s. I guarantee it’ll be helpful in the long run. I can send you guys a test, if you want?”

“Oh god no, please don’t tell him that I told you about us. Actually, I didn’t even tell you! You were digging around in my brain, and I don’t appreciate that. Just do me a favor, and don’t share this with anyone, okay?” You paused dramatically, then leaned in to speak to your friend in a whisper, “but send me that test when you get the chance.”

Gift Giving

“A little reality-warping birdie told me you’ve been having some relationship problems,” Tony said teasingly once Bruce left the conference room, leaving him and Steve alone. 

Steve paused for a moment, trying to decide whether he should lie or fess up to the allegation. “How did she know?” Steve finally responded, standing up and pushing the chair he was sitting on behind him. 

Tony shrugged dismissively, “I don’t ask these kinds of things. I just hear in passing that the geriatric is having a hard time and tune in.”

Steve shook his head slightly, rolling his eyes to mask his clear embarrassment. 

“Well, is it true?”

“We’ve just been having the occasional… rift. A little more than occasionally.”

Tony nodded, fake pondering the situation, “well, I always know what I do for Pep, at least after I tell her I’m getting rid of the suit. Go buy her something nice. Really nice, like jewelry, or a purse if she’s into that kind of thing. I would say a car, but I know that Social Security check isn’t getting you too far. You know what? Put it on the company card. My treat.”

Steve wanted to scoff, turn his nose up at the offer like it was a terrible idea, but it really wasn’t. Maybe a material surprise was the way to win you back. He made a soft ‘hmph,’ noise as he mulled it over. “That’s definitely not your worst idea. Thanks,” he gave his teammate a soft smile before collecting himself and heading out of the conference room. 

His first stop after work was some local jeweler. Steve threw on a (not very) inconspicuous outfit before entering the building, where he browsed for a good hour, searching for something that he believed you’d like. After looking at more jewelry than he had ever cared to see in his life, he decided on a necklace with a thin golden chain with a decent sized diamond hanging off of it. It was a little pricier, and you’d be able to tell— but he hoped it would help the gift mean more to you. 

——

When you arrived home late that night, Steve was sitting in the living room waiting for you. It was almost daunting, the sight of him sitting alone on the couch mostly in the dark, only the television illuminating his face. He kind of reminded you of a parent waiting to confront their child who just snuck out, or a concerned friend seconds away from staging an intervention with you. 

Walking past the room, you peeked your head through the doorway, and observed the flat, small box in front of him on the coffee table. 

“Hey, Sweetheart,” he greeted, standing up so he could greet you with a hug and grabbing the little box as he did so.

“Is everything okay?” you probed, speaking into Steve’s shoulder.

“Of course. I just wanted you to know how much I love you, and that I’m sorry for not having as much time for you as I should,” he pulled away before holding the box out for you. 

You hesitantly took the box and opened it, letting out a gasp when you viewed the delicate looking gold necklace. 

You were having mixed emotions, because it was clearly beautiful and you were grateful to the gesture. But you knew that this must’ve been expensive, and that it was so unlike Steve to have done something like this. Your frugal, Great Depression era guy wasn’t exactly the most material. 

“I love it,” you gushed, admiring the jewelry. 

“Can I put it on you?” Steve asked, and received a nod in return.

Steve set the box down on the table and lifted up the necklace, bringing it up to your neck and focusing on clasping it in the back.

“Babe, how much was this?” you blurted, not even being able to filter the words before they left your mouth. 

“Hmm? That doesn’t matter,” he dismissed, then stepped away from you to admire your clavicle. 

“It just feels weird letting you spend so much on me.”

“It’s a gift, though. You’re not supposed to think about those things,” he hummed, pressing a chaste peck to your nose. 

“Steve, I got you a Nespresso for Christmas and you wouldn’t stop complaining about how expensive it was. I love it, I really do. It’s beautiful and I’ll always think of you when I wear it. I just think that maybe we should have the same standards for each other,” you stood up from your seat and sidestepped him. “I need a shower.”

Steve watched you walk off, letting your words simmer in his thoughts.

That was the last time he would take relationship advice from Tony. 

Words of Affirmation

This conclusion probably shouldn’t have taken you this long, but you were almost completely sure that this would be the love language to win Steve back over. You felt bad for some of the occurrences between the two of you lately, with sour exchanges and sweet moments that turned bitter on a whim.

In all honesty, you were concerned that Steve doubted your love for him. And if his love language really was words of affirmation, this would certainly convince him otherwise. 

You sat at your desk the night before Steve departed for a two-week mission, trying to write a nice message for him. You tapped your pen on the stock paper in deep thought as you tried to figure out the best thing to say. 

I’m sorry for arguing so much with you lately. You and everything that you do mean the world to me, even when you get on my nerves. I love you more than anything and that will never change. 

The words looked cramped and unkempt on the little note. Your handwriting got messier as you went. You groaned at it, crumpled the paper, and tossed it in your trash bin. Time to start over again.

I’m sorry for arguing with you. I love you a lot. Can you stop picking up your phone when we’re spending time together?

You groaned at the passive aggressive tone of your message. That certainly wasn’t going to get you anywhere. Straight to the bin it goes.

I love you so much so don’t die on your mission or I’ll be pretty upset. Be safe out there xx.

The tone was even more off now. You needed to think of something that would really make Steve remember you while he was gone. For a second, you considered snapping a nude with a polaroid and attaching it to the letter.

I’m sorry that things have been so bad nasty for us lately. I promise that I love you, despite our ups and downs. Nothing will ever change that. I’ll miss you more than you know while you’re gone. Make sure you call me every day, my love. 

A little cheesy, but you signed off with your name regardless, and contentedly looked at your work. The spacing looked correct, the tone wasn’t harsh, and you knew for a fact that Steve would appreciate it.

You stayed up a little later than normal, waiting for Steve to get home and change out of his ‘work clothes’ so that you could slip the note into his utility belt. 

You folded the note to a small little square and set it beside an granola bar in a pocket you’d assumed he frequently used. Content with your work, you laid back in bed until your partner slipped in bed beside you, and sleepily cuddled into you until you were both unconscious. 

—

Around two weeks had passed since Steve had seen you last, and he had decided to stop by the office and finish up paperwork before coming to see you. It had been radio silence on his end, despite the note in his clothing that clearly requested daily contact. Part of you wondered if Steve had seen it at all.

Steve had just finished signing the documents when he finally noticed it, reaching into a sparsely used part of his belt to have a quick snack. His hand landed on a folded piece of paper, and he cringed as he unfolded it, the letter becoming clearer and clearer as he did so. He wondered just how long the message had been waiting for him. 

He read your sweet words with a frown on his face, the guilt from not opening it sooner overriding the sweet feelings that he would otherwise have. He grabbed his phone and considered texting you, but abandoned that thought altogether. 

“FRIDAY, any idea where Y/N is right now?”

“I was told not to share any information about Ms. L/N, Captain Rogers.”

“Whose orders?” Steve pressed.

“Hers,” the bot quipped back. 

Steve groaned aloud. He was really in for it tonight.

Physical Touch

“Have you tried touching her more?” Thor casually queried. The water that Steve had just consumed nearly flew out of his nose, and his cheeks reddened instantly. 

“Pardon?” he asked, looking away from his friend instantly. 

“I understand that you and Y/N have been having troubles lately. Perhaps she does not feel held by you. Maybe she wants you to show her off in public, to hold her hand, hug her,” he suggested. 

Could Steve even be blamed for going there? He was having a chat with a god of fertility. Who wouldn’t think the same? 

“Stark’s gala tonight. Show the world that she’s yours, and I guarantee that she’ll love every moment of it.”

——

You were confused. Really confused.

The night began with some simple touches, hand holding as you entered the building, a casual arm around your waist as you chatted with donors and politicians you hadn’t seen in months, a playful match of footsie under the table while waiting for food. But it came to a head when Steve had decided to rest his hand on your ass and grope you in the midst of a conversation.

Now, in any other situation, you would welcome this affection. But both you and Steve had never been a fan of PDA, and this was a bit too far. 

As subtle as you could manage, you pushed his hand away, offering him a sour look as you did so. 

“Excuse us,” you told some rich old man in an artificially sweet tone before ushering Steve off to his office for a bit more privacy.

“What was that about?” you questioned, sitting down in the padded chair behind Steve’s desk, and running your fingers over your necklace in a bit of a nervous tick. 

“What do you mean?” he retorted, standing across from you at the desk and setting his hands on top of the clear table.

“Why were you groping me in front of people? That’s really... unlike you. And it made me uncomfortable.”

Steve frowned genuinely, looking down at the table in embarrassment. “I’m really sorry. For making you uncomfortable. It sounds ridiculous but I was just trying something new.”

“Apology accepted, but are you sure? You weren’t like, jealous of those guys or something? You know you’re the only hundred year old I have eyes for,” you set your hands atop of his and squeezed.

Steve chuckled at this, the flush of his cheeks only highlighted more by the laughter, “it’s just that, uh, Thor told me I should try showing you off more. Or something like that.”

“So you groped me in front of our guests? That’s silly. And a little unprofessional,” you glanced over at the cork board on his desk sitting next to his desktop, and amongst the neatly arranged scratched out to-do lists and random reminders, you couldn’t help but notice the creased paper of the note you’d left for his mission. Your chest warmed when your eyes fell upon it. 

“When did you find this thing?” you asked, pointing to the note. 

“I meant to say something, but when I found it, FRIDAY said you didn’t want to talk to me. SO I was going to bring it up when I got home, but you were still working. After that, I kinda… you know-”

“Forgot?” you finished with a hearty laugh, “It’s fine. You’re such a dork. C’mere so I can get my own groping in,” you chided, grinning to yourself when Steve wrapped his arms around you in a tight embrace. 

Acts of Service

Steve was quietly folding your laundry in your bedroom when it finally occurred to you, but when it did, it hit like a ton of bricks.

Steve’s love language was acts of service!

Things suddenly began to make sense to you, the way that he initially attempted to apologize by spending hours cooking one meal, how he consistently worked to make your life as comfortable as possible, and his great insistence to do house chores, despite you being more than capable.

Steve set down a stack of folded sweatshirts by your calf, snapping you away from your brief retrospective daze. If that really was the case, and Steve’s love language truly was acts of kindness, you had to come up with some sort of plan to communicate to him just how much you cared about him in a way that he really appreciated.

Luckily for you, you were a quick thinker. Before you even knew it, a week filled with random acts of kindness before he was off on yet another mission was quickly hatched.

——

You were up at the ass-crack of dawn. Really. Steve liked to get up earlier than the sun in order to run, or train, or whatever the hell it was that superheroes did. You were seriously regretting your decision to wake up around the same time as him in order to do some favors for him in the morning. 

By the time Steve was back from his run, his favorite coffee was brewed and cooling, and you were in the laundry room at the dryer, preparing to give Steve a warm towel after his shower.

Despite the three mugs of coffee you’d just downed, it was becoming more and more difficult to keep your eyes open. It didn’t help that your eyelids felt like they weighed fifty pounds each, and the warmth of the dryer next to you was providing you with just enough comfort to drift off.

And drift you did. In fact, half an hour later, you’d missed the frantic calling out for you from your boyfriend as he searched for you around the apartment. 

You finally awoke when he shook your shoulders, his amused voice bringing you back to consciousness. 

“What’s going on here?” Steve grinned, pushing some hair out of your face. 

“Mmm,” you began, “Iwantedtogetawarmtowel,” you slurred sleepily and incoherently.

“Even with super hearing I couldn’t decipher that. Let’s get you a mattress, okay?” Steve hoisted you up like you were nothing, and carried your half asleep body all the way up to your bedroom. 

The next thing you knew, you were buried under your favorite comforter and propped against a mountain of feathery pillows. A gentle forehead kiss and an incomprehensible sentence about calling off of work for you later, you were back in a deep sleep. 

So much for warm towels.

—

You were going to do better this time. That’s what you told yourself as you strolled through the grocery store, the same store that you hadn’t shopped in since moving in with Steve, as he preferred to do the shopping himself.

Equipped with a short paper list and sheer determination to make the trip as short and accurate as possible, you gathered all of the groceries that you believed were necessary— just enough to restock the fridge, and fill some gaps left in the cupboard. 

Your time at the store was indeed brief, as you found yourself in the checkout lane after just twenty minutes (you definitely weren’t going to brag about that to Steve later. Definitely not), and back home with just enough time to unload the groceries, and further prep yourself to go to work. 

You’d honestly forgotten about your trip to the store by the time that you arrived home, up until you found your boyfriend arm deep in your pantry, hellbent on finding… something.

“Can I help you?” you poked with a laugh, coming up beside Steve and peeking over his shoulder.

“I’m just… Did you happen to grab any protein bars while you were at the store?” he asked, pausing his search to look back at you.

“I don’t think so. Why? It’s not like you need any more protein,” you teased, squeezing a bicep to demonstrate your words.

“They’re pretty convenient when I’m out in the field. Don’t worry about it, though. I’ll just swing by the store and grab some before my mission tomorrow. Actually, I should probably go now. Y’know, before I forget,” Steve was already grabbing his car keys from the counter by the time his sentence was finished, leaving you to fight off your disappointment at your minor grocery store failure.

You looked at what you now knew was an insufficiently filled pantry and pinched the bridge of your nose. You had seriously underestimated the ins and outs of shopping for a super soldier. 

Well, third time’s the charm?

—

After this week, you would never complain about waking up early again. You were now up at an absolutely ungodly hour, scrambling eggs, flipping pancakes, and spreading jam on toast for a sleeping, unsuspecting Steve.

You placed the plate on a sturdy wooden tray, poured orange juice and an extra glass of water, and set a nicely folded napkin, along with utensils, next to the items.

You hoped that the scent of bacon wafting up to your bedroom would eventually pull him out of his slumber, and seeing how bacon was the only thing left to finish cooking, you took a little break. 

A round of Candy Crush turned into two, then three, and goddamnit, why can’t you beat this fourth level! You got so wrapped up in your mobile game that you didn’t even notice when the scent from your kitchen became slightly rancid, and when you rushed over to the oven to check on your now extremely burnt bacon, the smoke detector wailed.

You grabbed a kitchen towel and waved your arms like a madwoman near the smoke detector, the shrieking eventually stopping, but not before Steve was halfway down the stairs.

“Y/N, where are you? Is everything okay?” he nearly shouted, racing down the stairs and barreling through the smoky kitchen to find you. When he reached you, he wrapped his arms around your waist and began to pull you out of the kitchen. 

“Steve, relax. Everything is okay. Except those pieces of bacon,” you rubbed your now sweaty palms on your pajama pants before breaking away from him to crack open the kitchen window. 

“Christ, what happened? And why are you up so early?”

“I was trying to make you breakfast in bed,” you admitted, rather embarrassed by the dramatic scene you’d accidentally created. “Sorry,” you muttered.

Steve wrapped his arms around you once more, this time in a reassuring bear hug that left your cheeks pressed to his chest. “Don’t be. I really appreciate this, and everything else you’ve done this week. It’s the thought that counts, right?”

“I guess,” you mumbled into his shirt. 

“Besides, everything else looks delicious. And you tried your best for me while trying something new. I think that’s really sweet of you.”

“Really?” you pried, looking up at him.

“Really,” Steve confirmed.

“Well, I think it would be really sweet of you if you went back to bed and got all cozy so I can take care of you.”

Steve chuckled softly, pressed a little kiss to your nose, then nodded, “yes ma’am.”

Quality Time

Steve had been in a bubbly mood since getting back from his mission, and for no particular reason. It wasn’t like you weren’t happy that your partner was happy, but feeling like you were out of the loop was slightly concerning.

Before you could let your thoughts run too wild, you decided to pop the question during one of your evening walks. 

“Okay Steve, what is going on with you?” you asked, veering to the side of the trail when a biker rode past you. 

“Nothing big. Nothing too important. I’m just out of service for the next three months,” Steve said casually, playing it cool. 

“What?!” you paused, your brows raising and eyes widening in surprise as you searched his face for sincerity. “You’re serious?”

“Serious as a heart attack.”

“Steve!” you gasped happily, nearly roaring out his name in excitement. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“I was going to tell you before wining and dining you, but you beat me to it. So…?”

“…So I’m happy to have you back. I may need you to negotiate some time away from work for me in the next few months, then. I don’t wanna miss this preview of stay-at-home-dad-Steve.”

“Hey, don’t push it.”

“Oh, I’m planning on pushing it.” 

Epilogue

The sun was beating down on you, but the soothing breeze that flowed past your checked blanket every so often provided a pleasant antidote to the summer heat.

You’d truly picked the best day for a picnic.

Despite spending a good amount of time with your partner, the last month and a half had truly felt like a whirlwind. You casually started looking for a forever home, found yourselves making plans for an early retirement, and you had a new, sneaking suspicion that a proposal was on the horizon.

In the midst of it all, Steve had suggested that the two of you take a midday tryst at your local park and throw yourselves a little picnic. Of course you obliged, because when your greek god of a boyfriend suggests going on a spur of the moment date, you agree.

You now watched the nearly cloudless sky with pure, unadulterated feelings of content and joy while Steve set a slice of cheese on a cracker, leaning over your body to feed you. As you opened your mouth, Steve paused abruptly at the soft vibration coming from his pocket. 

Steve resumed as if nothing had changed, popping the cracker into your open mouth and letting his phone continue to ring.

“Don’t you wanna get that?” you questioned.

“It can wait,” Steve stated nonchalantly, slipping his phone out of his pocket and pressing decline with absolutely no hesitation before tossing the device to the edge of your blanket.

You didn’t realize how long you’d been waiting to hear those three words.

-------

a/n: this could’ve been solved in like 20 minutes by sitting down and taking a love language quiz together

[spencer-reid-in-a-pool]

It Was You All Along (Part 7)

Author’s note: So that wasn’t much of a break, but I couldn’t resist! Here is the next installment of the series, featuring a meme I made myself to reflect the vibes of the first half of this part! And yes, it is supposed to be that pixely. It adds spice. Also, I tried to be as vague as possible describing reader’s outfit towards the end so that you could imagine it the way you wanted! As always, feedback is appreciated, and I hope you all enjoy! Link to my ask box! 

Tags: @ayyyyitswednesdaymydoods @blackjay04 @weaselbee04​ @bravelittlesunflower​ @mxsmwndr​ 

A voice called for me, but I didn’t quite process it. I was too busy trying to fix this gigantic, gaping hole in Geralt’s trousers. Melitele knows if I don’t do it, he would just walk around with it decorating his attire. 

The voice called for me again, but this time I ignored it on purpose. If I lost concentration, I would prick myself with the needle...again. And I didn’t really want to turn my fingers into more of a bloody mess than they already were. 

I heard footsteps beside me, but I didn’t realize how close they were until a rush of coldness surrounded my body. Not only coldness, but wetness. A bucket of ice cold water had been dumped on me, causing me to scream and drop what I was doing as I stood up in shock. 

“Julian!” 

His real name still felt unfamiliar on my lips. I had taken to calling him that every so often, usually when I was angry with him, or when I was messing with him. It was for that reason, I think, that he froze so suddenly when I spoke. He wasn’t used to it either, even though he was the one that suggested I start using it more. 

The bucket made a small thump sound as it hit the ground beneath us, and Jaskier raised his hands up in an apology. But he also backed away like a scared animal. I almost felt bad for him. Almost, but not quite. 

“Now, (Y/N)...I was just trying to get your attention is all. It’s quite important, you see.”

I gathered my skirts in my hands and stomped towards him, scowling and shivering the whole way. 

“What could possibly be so important that you couldn’t wait until I was finished? And what made you think dumping cold water on me was a good idea?”

I didn’t give him a chance to respond before I starting running towards him, my clothes making a sloshing noise against my skin. A string of curse words left his mouth as he took off trying to get away from me. He could be quite fast when he wanted to be. But no way was I going to let him get away from me that easily. 

As soon as he picked up speed, so did I. He wove through the trees surrounding our campsite, going in between them like a maze. Eventually we made it back to where we started. My spot was near a tree and the pants I had been working on were visibly in a bunch on the ground. But behind that was the river that I’m assuming the idiot got the water in the first place. I wonder if I could lead him back there... and “accidentally” knock him in.

As luck would have it, I didn’t even have to put that thought into action. He had made his way to the edge of the river, and turned quickly on his heel trying to run away from me again. But he slipped on the muddy bank, and fell right into the water himself. 

Coming to a stop, a sharp laugh came from my chest suddenly. And I laughed even harder when he bobbed above the surface, hair sticking to his forehead and his fancy doublet soaked. 

“That’s what you get!” I yelled to him between bouts of laughter. 

While Jaskier pulled himself out of the water unceremoniously, I heard more footsteps behind me followed by a thud. Geralt must be back. Only one man I know could walk and sit down that heavily. 

I turned towards the sound, and sure enough, Geralt was sitting down on the log he had claimed as his earlier. He took one look at me and one look at Jaskier who was now standing on the bank of the river, shivering like his life depended on it. 

“I don’t even want to know,” said Geralt with a twitch of his eyebrow and a roll of his eyes. 

~

Night had fallen now. I couldn’t help but reflect on the past few months since that attack at our camp. Things had been pretty boring since then honestly. But I guess I couldn’t complain. Being bored was better than being in danger. 

Geralt was asleep and snoring at an unholy volume. This of course caused a glance between Jaskier and I, and sent us into a fit of silent laughter together. The kind of laughter that had your stomach hurting and your mouth open with no sound. The kind that had you grabbing onto your friend for dear life. Which is precisely what the two of us were doing right now. I had such a grip on Jaskier’s arm, I thought he surely must be in pain. But if he was, he made no mention of it and kept laughing with me. 

However much time had passed, it seemed to only be a few minutes. And I still had my hand on his arm, although my grip definitely lessened. He didn’t notice this either, and simply looked into the dying flames with dried tears from his laughter on his cheeks. My gaze lingered a moment too long on his cheeks, and I began to think about how gentle his eyelashes looked against his skin as he blinked. 

Heat rose in my cheeks and I silently withdrew my hand from his arm. This seemed to catch his attention though. 

“Composed yourself now? Don’t need to steady yourself from anymore laughter?”

There was a glint in his eye as he asked me the questions. I had to keep from smiling. 

“That depends. Got any jokes?”

He stood suddenly and rested a hand on his chin, making it seem like he was deep in thought. 

“You look as if you are composing a new song, Julian.”

“I’m a musician, my dear, I am always composing.” 

He paced around the fire, which was even lower than before. The way he took everything so seriously was something that entertained me, and I couldn’t help but smile to myself because of it. 

Suddenly, he opened his mouth in a silent “Aha!”

“(Y/N), why must you never use a broken pen?”

I paused for a moment and scrunched my face in thought, trying to come up with an answer. But before I could, he delivered the punch line. 

“It’s pointless, darling.”

I snorted at the same time Geralt groaned. The fucker was awake. 

Jaskier almost jumped out of his boots at the sudden noise, which only caused me to laugh again. The pain in my stomach from earlier was back, but I couldn’t keep from laughing. 

“Have you been awake this whole time, Geralt?” Jaskier yelled in surprise. 

“Long enough. Don’t you have anything better to do? Like sleep?”

Jaskier open and closed his mouth a few times before settling on a simple, “Right,” in response. He then took his spot a few feet away from Geralt and laid down for the night. 

“Goodnight, Geralt.” Jaskier said with a stifled yawn.

Geralt simply grunted in return, rolling over so his back was facing Jaskier. 

“Goodnight, (Y/N),” Jaskier called in my direction. 

“Goodnight, Jaskier. And goodnight Geralt!” 

“Hmph,” was all I got in response. 

There was a silence over our camp now. But it was too quiet. The kind of quiet that felt like it would be broken at any moment now. Jaskier’s voice was what broke it, of course.

“Goodnight, Roach.”

“Oh, yeah! Goodnight, Roach and Lily!” I called out excitedly. 

“How could I forget Lily? Goodnight, Lily!” Jaskier parroted. 

“Oh, for the love of-” Geralt groaned loudly, sitting up and gathering his things. He promptly moved farther and farther away from us, settling on a spot under the cover of darkness in the trees. 

I snickered to myself as I got my things ready to lay down. Annoying Geralt had become one of our favorite things to do together over the past few months. 

It became silent again, and I could hear Jaskier’s even breathing now, signalling that he was asleep. I had the feeling I wouldn’t be able to sleep. Call it instinct, I guess. 

I laid down on my back and stared up at the sky. Jaskier and I were closer than ever, and it was so nice. But I needed more. I craved more. They say time heals all wounds, but my heart was still shattered after all these months had gone by. I was still so in love with my best friend that it hurt. Even more than it did before. 

Jaskier had been acting differently lately though. He called me more nicknames, and he was even more of a flamboyant disaster than when I first met him. Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen him with any random women in bars or taverns anymore. Could he-? No. No way. I must be out of my mind. 

My fingers instinctively went to the dagger Geralt had given me a while ago. Sometimes I would run my hands along the inscription, trying to remind myself to be brave like it said. I could almost laugh at myself right now. I was being anything but brave when it came to Jaskier. 

“Could you please calm your nerves down? I can feel them from over here,” a gruff voice said in the distance. Geralt. Of course.

“Sorry to disturb you. Maybe you should move to another new spot, even farther away. Oh yeah, I’ve been meaning to ask. How is Yennefer?”

I didn’t have to have Witcher senses to feel how that comment landed. 

~

Morning came much more quickly than I was hoping it would. It meant today was the day we had to get moving, which meant we would be moving closer to the situation I had been trying to avoid thinking about. The ball. 

I seemed to be the last one awake, and I could feel the energy as soon as I had rubbed the sleepiness from my reluctant eyes. Geralt sad brooding in the corner of our camp, and Jaskier was flitting about getting everyone’s things together. It was easy to see who was excited and who was not. 

“Today is the day, you sad sack of...sadness,” Jaskier vocalized in regards to Geralt. 

“I know. Don’t remind me.”

I almost laughed as I sat up from my spot on the ground. Geralt wasn’t looking forward to this, and truth be told, I wasn’t either. At least part of me wasn’t. The other part couldn’t help being excited in a childlike way. I had never been in a castle before, let alone a ballroom. Although I couldn’t help but feel like I would be out of place, and painfully so. 

“Don’t look so excited, Geralt.” 

“You weren’t there. You don’t know what happened at the last one.”

I winced and realized that he was right. Although Jaskier had told me some of what happened, I was almost certain that he watered down the events of Pavetta’s betrothal ball in doing so. 

The man in question turned to look at me, apparently just now realizing I was awake. 

“There you are! Come on, we are losing daylight!”

“Jaskier, do I even really need to come? Geralt is only going to be your body guard, so I don’t really have a purpose.”

“Don’t be silly. You must come! We couldn’t just leave you by yourself for hours at a time. These things do tend to take a while.”

I rolled my eyes and stood, stretching as I did so. 

“I am a grown up, you know. I can take care of myself. Afraid I might get kidnapped?” 

Jaskier scoffed and continued packing, mostly ignoring my comment. But it was true, I could take care of myself. Geralt had taught me some things with the dagger over the past few weeks, and I felt confident in my abilities. 

“Well if I must go, at least be careful with my dress and things. I’m sure Yennefer paid good money for them.” 

“The witch probably stole them, more like.”

I watched as Jaskier carefully started packing my things, and tried not to cackle when Geralt made a comment about shoving his foot somewhere it didn’t belong in reference to Jaskier. 

Today was going to be quite...something. 

~

Since we had done most of the travelling yesterday, what was left for today didn’t take long. We made it to the castle in no time it seemed. 

Lily and Roach were tied up in the stables, in the same stall actually. I was quite happy that the stable master was willing to do that. They always seemed to enjoy each other’s company. 

I sat in my borrowed room getting ready, and I was assuming that Geralt and Jaskier were in their own rooms doing the same thing. But that thought was at the back of my mind now as I looked at myself in the mirror. Or at least, what I think was myself. I didn’t really recognize the woman staring back at me. 

Yennefer had picked out the most beautiful, elegant, and intricate floor-length ballgown I could ever imagine. It was sleeved as well, with lace adorning them to match the bodice. The skirt was made of layers on layers, it seemed, and with every move I made it swished gently to follow. It was even in my favorite color. I wonder how she knew? I don’t remember telling her...

She had also gotten me some jewelry to match, and the metals and gems complimented my skin tone perfectly. How did she know all this? I had only met her once, and it was very briefly. I would have to thank her for all this later. 

Not long after I had finished getting dressed, jeweled, and made up, a knock sounded at my door. 

“Come in,” I called. 

Jaskier entered in his outfit for the night. It was a dark, silky purple with golden accents along the doublet’s center, and my breath hitched in my throat when I saw him in the reflection of the mirror I sat in front of. 

“You look breathtaking, darling,” he said in a whisper as he approached me. 

Hopefully he didn’t notice the blush creeping up the sides of my neck. I don’t think I would ever get used to his names for me. 

“You don’t look too bad yourself. Compare that to when you fell into the water yesterday and looked like a dying animal, you basically are a different person.”

Jaskier feigned anger, but I could tell he was amused. 

“Do you like your clothes? I made sure to tell Yennefer all your favorite colors and shiny things.”

My heart skipped a beat. He had told her all of that? I didn’t even know that he knew those things about me.

I stood before really thinking about what I was doing, and turned to face him, the shock evident on my face.

“You told her all that? I didn’t know that you knew such trivial facts about me...Thank you.”

He chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. 

“Of course I know. And it was no problem. I had to make sure she didn’t dress you in an unflattering way.”

I tilted my head in thought, almost as a reflex, and it caught his attention. 

“What are you thinking about, (Y/N)?” Jaskier asked me quietly with a crooked smile. 

“I seem to be thinking about everything and nothing at once...but I am mostly wondering how you convinced the people hosting this ball to let me in. Geralt is your security, of course, I get that. But how did you get me in? I’m no one special.”

He was silent for a moment and stared at a spot past me, for almost so long I didn’t think he would reply. But then he did, with an odd look on his face that showed happiness and some other emotion I didn’t recognize. 

“I told them you were my muse. A musician cannot perform without their muse.”

My mouth twitched as if to fall open in shock. but I didn’t let it. I didn’t want him to see how this affected me.

“I’m your what?”

“My muse. You know, inspiration?”

I shook my head furiously, matching the speed at which my heart was beating.

“I know what it means. But why did you tell them that? You couldn’t have come up with a better excuse to get me in here? You didn’t have to lie to them.” 

You couldn’t have come up with a better excuse in order to keep me from getting my hopes up?

He looked at me with a smile. But it was a pained smile. Then for a second, it looked like he might speak. Until Geralt passed by the open door way and told Jaskier it was time to go. The crowd was waiting on him. 

I stood frozen in the same spot I had been in, and I watched them leave. First Geralt, then Jaskier following behind him. At the last second before leaving the doorway, he stopped, placing a hand on the frame. 

Finally he turned to me, and looking over his shoulder, he simply said:

“I didn’t lie.” 

[nixcwen]

➳ this time around | ryoumen sukuna

requested by: @pyschopotatomeme, @1000crows, @drlngn

temporary madness (until it isn’t); a series: part 1, part 2, part 3

"Still thinking about that incident?"

You stirred the cup of coffee, absent-mindedly answering. "I am. He was damn attractive."

"You’re so good at offending me, you know that? If it's attractive you're talking about—haven't you gotten used to me?" You rolled your eyes at him while the man only burst out in laughter. You can’t disagree though, the Gojo Satoru is an out-of-world beauty, that’s a fact.

As if a switch has been flicked, a serious look immediately replaced his pouty lips. "That was Yuuji, one of my students."

"No, it wasn’t Yuuji that I met. It was Sukuna. They have the same body but they're entirely different,” you answered, blowing the steam away before sipping from your drink.

If they weren’t different, you would have no interest in having a romantic relationship with a student. Yes, Yuuji was cute, he was more of a brother though. Meanwhile, the King of Curses has his alluring charm.

“If you say so, sweetheart. Anyway, we ought to get ready for the school meeting, it’s going to be hectic.”

That was Gojo pulling back after the sting he felt because of your previous exchanges. He’s good at this, acting like it's nothing when it digs into his heart but he can’t even fight back. Well, you were oblivious, and he does not want you to realize he’s still not over the past.

Meanwhile—hectic and exciting—was what you thought, for the students as well as for you. Would Sukuna be there? You wondered. Probably yes, it wasn’t such a big world you live in after all. You must be insane. Who wants another encounter with such a formidable and intimidating curse? Only you.

Your argument: the heart wants what it wants. If coincidence turns into fate, you’ll meet him again.

Finally, it was the day of the supposed meeting. Your heart thumped against your chest as you took a step inside the school premises. On the way to the designated meeting place, you passed by the same hallway where you met the curse, unlike that time though- the sun was up in the sky. And neither the curse nor the student was there.

If it’s meant to be, it will be. With that thought in mind, you nodded and continued on your way.

The meeting was hectic indeed, yet it finished quite quickly unlike your expectation. With Gojo’s voice of opposition, radiating energy, and suspicious bright grin, everything was over in an instant. When you walked out of the door the sun was already saying its goodbye from the horizon, still, no sight or presence of the curse you were waiting for.

“Y/N!” Despite the voice calling your name, you didn’t stop walking, at least not until he appeared in front of you. “Why were you ignoring me? Other people would beg for my attention yet you-“ you slid past him and continued walking- “haaa, what’s even the use of explaining?”

You answered him, not without a chuckle. “What is it that you need Mr. Gojo Satoru that has people begging for his attention?”

“Hmph. Are you that upset you didn’t get to see that damn attractive curse? Sorry, sweetheart- you won’t be able to see him today.”

Without being able to ask him what he meant, Gojo immediately disappeared from your line of sight as the head calls for him in the office. Your eyes followed the man but he was gone in a second. You sighed with a little smile, and turned your head back to your path which was—the man whom you were waiting for—he was back with his deadly grin clad in a jujutsu high uniform.

"So it was you, huh? Let's continue where we left off, human." It seems the world has heard your plea, even the setting sun positioned behind agreed to make him look more glorious than ever. He swept your hair to the side of your face, it seemed to be an eternity as his eyes trailed down your features, a sparkle lighting the dark of his eyes. “No one would be able to interrupt us anymore.”

Please boost my confidence people, huhu. I’m not quite sure if this is alright, did I disappoint you? This is also the first time I get to write about Gojo, I accept constructive criticism, hehe. The fluff part is just about to come true the next part. Anyway, I hope you still enjoyed reading even if just a little bit, thank you so much for the support you’ve shown the first part! I’ll do my best to make your wait worth it. 😊✨

Sincerely, Nixxy ♡

taglist (join here!): no one yet

[lyranova]

Hi Lyra, may I have a Yuno x reader drabble, please? The reader is also from Hage and can see the future through dreams, and (before the Magic Knights Entrance Exam) Yuno keeps bugging her to "confirm" that he's going to be the Wizard King and she messes with him by never answering seriously.

Hiya anon! I hope you enjoy this and I’m sorry its taken so long (the holidays I swear 😭!). I also apologize for it being so short but I hope you still like it 💕!

Word Count: 585

Warnings: None

———

Yuno let out a soft yet tired sigh as he sat down on top of the grassy hill he and his childhood friends/foster siblings would meet at. When he, Asta, and Y/N had made the decision to leave Hage and become Magic Knights they had made a small promise to meet at this site at least once a month to check on each other and to see how they were doing with their training.

“ Aw you beat me here!” Y/N pouted as she walked towards the dark haired mage, he let out a soft chuckle as he turned his head to look at her.

“ Well,be a little faster next time.” He teased as Y/N let out a ‘hmph’ before sitting next to him, he knew that Asta would probably be a little late since he knew that he wasn’t very good at keeping track of time.

The two mages sat in silence for a while, it was sorta funny how Yuno and Y/N didn’t really have to talk but when it was Y/N and Asta you couldn’t get the two of them to stop talking even for a second. Maybe that's why they were all such good friends, because she could match both of their energies easily.

“ You’re not going to ask me today?” Y/N asked suddenly as she closed the book she had brought with her. Yuno frowned in confusion for a moment before it registered what she was talking about and he let out a soft chuckle.

“ I was planning on letting you finish your chapter first before I asked, but since you brought it up.” Yuno said as he leaned back on his hands and looked at her. “ Am I going to be the Wizard King?”

Y/N let out a soft laugh before she set her book aside, everyday since they made their decision Yuno had been pestering her to confirm that he was going to be Wizard King and every time, she gave him a less than serious answer.

“ I dunno, maybe Father Orsi will be the next Wizard King, or even Sister Lily could! Heck maybe the next Wizard King won’t even be human!” She answered teasingly, Yuno groaned and laid back on the grass with a soft ‘thud’.

“ Seriously? Are you ever going to answer me seriously?” Yuno asked with a small pout, Y/N giggled before laying back on the grass next to him.

“ I dunno I’m having too much fun messing with you at the moment.” She giggled again as he made a tutting sound.

“ But honestly?” Y/N started seriously as she stared up at the blue sky. “ I don’t know who’s going to be the Wizard King. Just because I see the future in my dreams doesn’t mean it’ll come true. The future is never set in stone, y'know.” She added before looking at the dark haired mage again.

“ I know it’s just, it’d be nice to get a little heads up.” He muttered with a sigh.

“ I know. But don’t you think this is something you’d like to keep a surprise? So that way when you do become the Wizard King it’ll feel like you earned it based on your hard work instead of it being preordained?” She shrugged. “ Just some food for thought.” She added, giving him a light hearted smile.

“ Hm, maybe.” Yuno agreed with a shrug. “ Either way, I’m sure we’ll find out soon who’ll be the Wizard King. Me or Asta.”

———

Thank you guys for reading and I hope you all have a good day 🥰!