#“Hey wait this feels like there should have been way more content for questions�� Yes. There was.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Thank you all for an incredible 500 days of love and support. I offer you: answers to questions that no one has asked.

(As always, more can be found in the tags <3)

[rapunzellovesbooks]

The way I just want to hug Luke Newton and apologize on behalf of the entire Polin fandom for the shit he had to go through over a f*** picture taken without his consent. Like, I get it was the crazies, but still. Being part of the Taylor Swift fandom and seeing how she disappeared for a damn year over a leaked video taken without her consent and taken out of context villainising her... I know it must have hurt. And we can say it was months ago and that he knows who his true fans are, but still, that stuff would affect anyone, specially someone as sensitive as he is. I usually mind my own business and do not ship real people, heck, I usually do not even go online and "protect" celebrities. I tend to just focus on the happy and celebrate the characters they play but something about that June 13th and the look on his face... it haunts me to this day. And I just feel very very bad for him still.

I am deeply aware of the fact that I know nothing about his life, not really. I only know about his feelings for Polin and Nicola, because he has spoken about them. I have access to the same amount of information as the rest of the world, the pictures and videos of their WT and behind the scenes, the interviews he has done. I do not know anyone in his life and I should not have to. Neither do I know Nicola. And hey, maybe it never happens. Maybe they are happy with someone else (I doubt it, but this is just a feeling I have) and their relationship remains unique and the millions of questions we have never get answered. My point is, I got into this fandom because seeing their bond brought me joy. I don´t think them having other people in their lives diminishes that, which is why the hate he got over one picture never sat right with me. I do not get how it affects someone´s viewing experience of a show. I do not understand why we are so focused on labelling people´s relationships, as if it is as easy as saying a pencil is pink or green. It makes me happy seeing their videos and waiting for crumbs. I have fun hoping that what I truly see as more than platonic feelings will come to fruition.

I write this because the world is in shambles right now. And the last thing anyone needs is to add more negativity to it. So, I hope that we can, in the Lukola fandom, be kind and focus on the good. I do not give a shit about paparazzi photos or whatever the "adjacents" or however you want to call them do. In fact, I have not once looked at A´s or JD´s SM, nor do I want to. They are human beings, but not the human beings I care about. Even if they are involved in Luke and Nic´s lives, I will never send them hate or bad mouth them. I have no idea what they are to them. All I know is what L and N have said about each other. And it has always been good. So, that is where I will be.

And, yes, I truly believe they will be together. And I will be happy with anything that suggests it so, cause this is supposed to be fun and joyful. I, unlike other people, do not label people as gf or bf UNLESS it comes directly from the people involved. And if anyone ever confirms or launches anything, I will still be here. Cause that is what shipping is. Not hate, not negativity, not putting other people down, not invading someone´s privacy, not thinking that a moment in time is forever (people break up all the time, there is no way to know if someone is still with someone if there was never a "launch" or whatever you want to call it).

It would make both Luke and Nicola sad to see that a connection that is supposed to bring people joy is putting people against each other. I know we were so well fed with content over so many months that now we hold onto every detail we have not dissected yet. I get it. I also miss them. But that is the way it is supposed to be. We are not supposed to know everything. We are just supposed to be grateful and happy for when something good related to them happens. That is all and that is my hope for this fandom.

Spread joy and leave the rest out of it. Spiralling only makes people dizzy. Let us "get some vision, bro" like Luke said.

Thank you for reading and, remember, be kind to one another.

[g4yforethan]

angel

pairing: ken x male!reader

summary: reader runs into ken who is immediately in love

warnings: kissing ig

a/n: this was rushed so my apologizes but i loved the new barbie movie sm so more ken content is on the way!

it was a regular day for you. well it was your day off so you had decided to spend the day at the beach. you grabbed your skateboard and a blanket and headed over to venice beach. while walking down the street, you noticed a man who seemed to be in 80s disco apparel and roller skating. you thought nothing of it as you have seen way worse in venice beach. he was alone and noticed you walking. “hey. hi there!” he yells at you and smiles. you smile back but give him a signal you are uninterested to talk. “hey man! i’m new here so do you think you could give me a few tips on how to survive here?” you laugh at his dramatic but quirky personality. “haha where are you from even?” “i’m from barbieland.” you look at him with confusion. “um…i’m sorry- wait did you just say…” “barbieland?” “yes. are you for real or are you just joking with me?” you didn’t know if he was okay mentally or had just smoken some weed but he did look like a real life ken. a very handsome ken. “yes i’m here because i wanted to give a shot at the real world” “well trust me the real world isn’t all rainbows and sunshine.”

“then i’m here to fix that! but first i’m feeling rather hungry. what do you usually eat?” “mhm i mean there’s a mcdoanlds up the road. we can check that out.” “yes let’s.” you notice him eyeing you the walk to the restaurant. like he couldn’t take his eyes off of you and always felt like he wanted to say something to you but something in him told him not to say it. you two got to the mcdonald’s and ordered two cheeseburgers and fries. “so got a girlfriend or anything?” “aww why are you asking? you tryna take me out on date?” “well yes! i mean this is sorta like a date.” “i thought ken only went for barbie. not ken going for another ken.” “i mean in barbieland we’re pretty open to anything and right now i’m pretty open to the idea of the two of us going out.” you blushed and didn’t think ken would be so flirty with you. “haha this has been fun “ken” but i should probably get home. have fun in the real world.” “wait- i don’t know where to stay tonight. do you think i could spend the night with you?” you didn’t know whether to say yes or no but you gave in.

that night, you laid out several blankets and pillows on the couch for ken. “there you go. well goodnight ken.” “goodnight whatever your name is.” you laughed realized you never told ken your name. “i’m y/n ken. that’s my name.” “oh well goodnight y/n!” you smile at him and head back to your bedroom. you start to fall asleep until you hear a knock at your door. you open the door and it's ken. "oh hi ken! what is it?" "i'm sorry to bother you y/n but i can't quite fall asleep so i was thinking that maybe i could-well i- if i could sleep with you?" you're taken back by his request but saw his face which looked like he was begging for affection. "uhh yeah sure come on in" you made space for him in your bed and he faced your way, eyes locked on you. "why are you staring at me like that?" "i just think you're really handsome y/n. i guess you can say it’s love at first sight.” you cringe at his flirting but found it really cute. “aww well thank you so much ken. you’re a cute one too.” he laughs and blushes at your compliment. “can i give you a kiss?” you’re taken back by his question. “oh um i mean- yea sure.” he leans in for a kiss and kisses you on the lips. “wow you’re a really great kisser! you kiss better than barbie!” you laugh at his comment. you kiss again for a while, touching his biceps and shoulders. "so does that make us boyfriend and boyfriend?" ken asks you with a smile on his face. "maybe but we'll have to see." he gives a disappointed face but you smile and put his hand around your waist and his face on your neck. "goodnight ken." "goodnight y/n. i love you!" "love you too!"

[spectres-n-soap]

A Soft Breeze - Ghost x Reader x Soap

Content Warnings - Therapy, pregnancy, afab!fem!reader, angst with comfort

Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist

“Why do you lash out at others?” Dr. Miller asks. The session had been going relatively normal, he had started out with the usual base questions he did every time.

“How are you?”

“I’m doing my best.”

“How’s the pregnancy?”

“Healthy for the most part.”

And it felt he was coming out of left field with that question. It must have been obvious how much of a divergence from the norm it was because he tries to back track but you stop him.

“It's easy.” You admit. Admission feels like poison or acid, eating up at you now that you’ve spoken it to life. It was easy, it is easy, to lash out at those around you then to confront the source. You scream and yell, throw things and break down instead of admitting the truth that no one deserves your anger. No one deserves the grief that eats you up and that you refuse to acknowledge until now. “It’s easy to lash out at others then take a moment to reflect.”

“Do you feel bad afterwards?” He asks as he writes down something of note and you cringe a little. Just another thing to add to the ever growing list of things wrong with you. That’s what you’ve concluded that means, that whenever he writes something down after you say something, that it's another thing wrong with you. You won’t dare to ask him if it's true; he’ll probably lie about it for propriety.

“Yes.” You still beat yourself up over the baby shower and every time you’ve yelled at Simon. “I feel awful afterwards because I know they didn’t deserve it.”

“So why do you take it out on Simon specifically?” Dr. Miller asks and you stiffen. What a loaded question, you thought. “Just off the top of your head, why?”

“Because it feels like he’s trying to replace him.” You say, throat becoming tight at the thought, horrible and malicious. “And I know that he isn’t and that it's not right for me to think like that.” Dr. Miller takes notes, his hand moving quickly over the lined paper in front of him as you speak and it takes everything in you not to stop or call him out on it. “It should be Johnny here. Not him.”

“You know that Johnny is dead.”

“Yes I know he’s dead.” You snap, “I know he is, alright? But it doesn’t stop me from wishing he wasn’t.” You put your face into the palms of your hands and sigh. “I’m a terrible person.” You whisper.

“No, you’re just a person.” Dr. Miller says, “There is no such thing as a good or bad person, just people who do good and bad things. Sometimes more of one than the other.” He sets down his clipboard and leans forward, “It's good that you are able to find what the reason is, now we just have to work on finding ways of expressing those feelings without hurting those around us.” You nod slowly.

Simon is waiting for you in the parking lot, a surprise for you. “Hey, I was thinking we could eat out tonight, to celebrate another therapy session.” You scrunch your face up and before you can retort anything he says, “Just accept the free food.” You truly cannot debate with that logic or offer and you get into the vehicle with him.

It’s not a fancy restaurant but to be honest, you might’ve tried to strangle him if he had. Just a simple sandwich place, the food is good and the restaurant surprisingly serves other things than just sandwiches and drinks. You opt for an italian sandwich and some tomato bisque on the side with crackers. 

The silence between the two of you is natural, especially as you eat and therefore become unable to speak without being rude. The restaurant isn’t bustling with tons of other people, in fact it's rather quiet for the time of day. You think it's because of the fact it's Wednesday. “I’m sorry.” You say after finishing your soup.

“What’re you apologizin’ for?” He asks and your cheeks warm.

“I’m sorry for being awful to you all the time.” You say, “It's not okay for me to treat you like that and I don’t know why you stuck around after everything.”

“Because you’re Johnny’s bird.” He says, “I’m doing right by him, I’m making sure the person he cared for and the baby he never knew existed are safe.” He states and you shake your head.

“I don’t get it.” You mutter and he chuckles softly, the sound warms your belly more than the soup did.

“You don’t have to.”

You get a call from Mrs. MacTavish the next day, “I was thinking about what you said the other day, about not feeling prepared for motherhood and I did some looking.” You vaguely hear some mouse clicking and she starts again, “I’m gonna send you some links to places holding parenting classes.” You glance at your phone and see the links copy and pasted into the text chat. “You should attend them, I think they would be very useful. Have a good rest of your day dear.” You say your goodbyes and tap on one of the links.

Just as Mrs. MacTavish said, it is for a place holding parenting classes throughout the week, you look at the next available one and feel your heart rate pick up. Two days from now, it will be held at a nearby library in the afternoon. Simon glances over your shoulder and asks, “Thinking about going?”

“It would be smart for me to go.”

“But do you want to?” He asks as he sets down his dirty mug into the sink to wash later. He leans against the counter and you shrug.

“Wouldn’t hurt to go, just to see if I like it.” Your thumb hovers over the register link before you finally tap it and send in your information. Putting down just how far along you are in your pregnancy feels surreal. Seven months along and nearly at your eighth. How did the time pass by so quickly? 

[ametrictonofaudacity]

yandere platonic supes I am BEGGIBG, there’s not enough yandere platonic Superman I am starved for content, blease

Yes absolutely!!! I am also starved for Yan platonic Superman, so we would get along well!!

Shout out to @blughxreader and @anxiousnerdwritings for so much of my inspiration, and if you like yandere dc works, you should check them out!!

Yandere Platonic Superman x GN! Reader

Warning: This is a yandere work, and as such, has themes of obsession and captivity! Because this is Superman, it’s a much milder work than usual!

“Hey! How was your day?” Warm, almost inhumanly hot, arms, wrap you up into a tight hug, and you blink in shock. You hadn’t even heard him get home, much less approach, and although it makes your heart race, you feel your nerves begin to settle.

“Good! I got to work on the garden I’ve been wanting to start.” You motion to the freshly filled earth, the hard dirt clods having been broken up. “Still have to mix the gardening soil in, and the fertilizer.”

“You did really good! I think we should head inside though, you’re starting to look a little parched.” You sigh, but nod, brushing the sweaty hair out of your face. Mr. Kent beams, stepping back from the hug, ruffling your hair gently. You try to ignore the way your heart leaps into your throat, or his concerned glance.

“So what about you? How’d your day go?” You mumble, trekking up to the tiny farm house in the distance. Mr.Kent keeps pace easily, the wind tugging gently on his red cape.

“It was good! There wasn’t much for me to do today, although one of the supports on the Golden Gate Bridge gave out. Me and few other heroes got that sorted fairly quickly, and no one got hurt.” You knew, logically, that he accomplished more in one day than teams upon teams of first responders could ever manage in a week, but being confronted with the knowledge caused a strange sort of dissonance. He had always just been Mr. Kent. Nice, a bit clumsy, willing to help you and your folks when you needed it. Always wearing a button up or sometimes a flannel when he visited, with the strange sort of softness to his accent that you knew happened when someone moved to the city. You hadn’t known him well, but had been close enough to invite him for Thanksgiving when you had heard he wasn’t spending it with his family.

Maybe that was your mistake. Maybe you wouldn’t be here, on a plot of land in the middle of nowhere, if you had just let him stay lonely.

You blink when you realize the farmhouse is much closer.

“I’ll get changed and make us some dinner, okay?” A hand smooths over your hair, and you smile. If he was cooking dinner, that meant you had time to shower, and get the dirt and grime off you.

“Okay.” You murmur, and he beams, the screen door closing behind the both of you. “I’m not allowed to use the stove anyways.” You mutter after him. You know he hears you, but he doesn’t respond, the door to his room closing behind him.

You take your time showering, and changing into the soft, clean pajamas that he had bought you so long ago they were beginning to wear, and gray at the cuffs. He would wait for you to eat, you knew, and he never pestered you unless he was worried about your safety. Which was pretty often, admittedly, but he had been getting better about not constantly fretting.

“Hey, kiddo! I made your favorite.” He grins, and the smell of warm food drifts up, making your stomach growl hungrily. He presses the plate into your hands. “Figured we could do something special, since today’s such a special day.”

You frown, tilting your head, even as you tried to remember. There weren’t any calendars in the house, and the only passing of time you were aware of most times was the rising of the sun.

“It is?” You question, taking a bite of your food. It melts on your tongue, and you glance at the rest of the house, frowning.

Your stomach drops when you realize. There’s four perfectly wrapped presents on the small coffee table in front of the couch, and a cake from your favorite bakery. There’s also a pie, which you know was made by Ma Kent.

You look back. Mr. Kent looks almost sad, and when he speaks, his voice is gentle, sympathetic.

“It’s your birthday, kiddo. I was thinking, since you’ve been so good lately, we could do something special.”

“Like what?” Your voice cracks, but he doesn’t say anything. You don’t know if your grateful or not.

“Well, I know you’ve been working really hard in that garden of yours. And since you’ve been so good lately, I was thinking we could go to visit a greenhouse! Spend a couple days out and about, so you can get out of the farmhouse every once and while.”

You stare. You hadn’t been allowed off the property in.. months. Five, nearly six. The prospect was exhilarating. And terrifying.

“Really?! When are we going?” You try not to sound to excited, but you must fail, because he chuckles.

“Easy there, slow your roll. We’ll be going at the end of the week. Now, finish your food so we can open presents, yeah?”

The food is tasteless after that. It’s good, sure, but that pales in comparison to how your heart hammers with adrenaline and excitement. You were finally, finally getting off the property! And if you couldn’t escape then, you could escape later, and maybe even go home.

Soon, you’re both finished eating, and he herds you to the couch, pulling out a camera from its case. It’s an expensive digital one, the one you know he used for work.

“You know you can just use your phone camera, right?” You point out, and he chuckles.

“Call me old fashioned. Let me get it set up, and then cake and presents.” It takes him less than a minute to set it up, the motions experienced and practiced. “You ready?”

You nod. He lights the candles on the small bakery cake.

It’s the strangest birthday you’ve ever had. Mr. Kent is the only one singing the birthday song, and you’ve always had a large family with a lot of siblings. When you blow out the candles, he doesn’t let you eat the frosting off them, instead plucking them off and setting them on a ceramic plate.

Your presents are odd, too. You were used to useless, impartial presents. This wasn’t that. He had gotten you the dvd copy of your favorite TV series, a set of hardback books, a new outfit, and a telescope, all neatly wrapped in blue wrapping paper.

“The outfit is for when we go out.” He explains, watching as you unfold the blue button up. “We’re going to be visiting Lois, so I figured you would want to look nice.”

Your heart skitters in your chest, unsure. You hadn’t met Ms. Lane yet, he had always insisted you weren’t ready, but now not only were you leaving the property but you would also be meeting his wife.

“I do. Thank you.” You finally murmur, and he wraps you up into another hug, holding you a moment longer than he usually did.

“Of course. Why don’t you try some of your cake and I’ll clean this up, yeah?”

You watch as he cleans up, nibbling on the sweet treat, and when he is finally done, he sets aside all of your presents, putting in the dvd. You shift on the couch, used to this old routine, and when he sits on the couch, curl up next to him, letting him wrap his arms around you and bury his nose in your hair with a smile.

[axelakim]

Title: Regret

Pairing: Ben Chilwell X Reader

Content: angst, fluff

You and ben have been a couple for about 4 years now. Both of you really love and understand each other, moreover for the past 1 year, you two can not be separated from each other because you have moved to Ben's house and that what makes you two more and more in love.

The season chelsea have been through was not really good. The club end up in 12th place in pl rank and there are lots of rumour of his teammates gonna go to another clubs, that's the reason why Ben always get home angry and not in the mood for the past 1 month. Like today, the traning session went well but the match wasn't. Chelsea lost 2 points against Liverpool, you've watched the game at home because youre working and got into some of accident when you were buying coffe at the supermarket across the office till your left palm wounded but u said to Ben that u just feeling a bit sick so you can't make it to the pitch. So you just waiting for Benji to reach home in the livingroom.

Not long after that, you heard your boyfriend opened the door and having such a disappointed and tired look in his face.

"Hei benjii, are u okay love?" while hiding ur left hand

"Yea i'm fine" he didn't even give you kisses when you welcome him.

He directly went to the kitchen and open the fridge "Why the hell there is no food in here? You didn't cook?" he asked

"No im sorry, i didn't cook because im feeling unwell and i just wanted to got home directly on my way home"

"Oh yea right" hearing him just responding u like that is kinda hurt but u dont want to make him more stressed out, so you just ignore it

"Should i cook for you? or we just order some food? what do you want?"

"No need, ill order it later by myself" while putting his dirty clothes in the basket

"Eum how are you today? any stories?" you asked wanted to know more about his day

"You still asking me? you saw me lost right, fucking lost and here you are still asking me about how am i, dont play dumb Y/N you already know how terrible i am now, if you want some attention the answer is not now"

this is the first time he snapped at you, his whole face turning red

Your heart was aching but again u just hold it

"Can u chill out? I just want to know more about my boyfriend's day. Is that so wrong?" holding up your tears

"Yes its so fucking wrong, youve already saw me lost today and u still asking me about my day, and always asking me the same annoying questions when i get home" he answered

"Oh so im the one who is wrong here huh?" you replied

"Yeah because you always so chatty about many things, this and that and also annoying"

You continued, "well maybe your decision to asked me move out with you was wrong then huh?"

"Kinda regret it indeed" he said it cold and went upstairs to your shared room

You frozen for a second hearing what he said, u just went blanking and dont know what to do. Your heart is aching so much, the questions youve always asked him that you consider it as an act of caring but ur boyfriend seemed didn't really happy about it. You always have his back and support all of the things he does but seems it is not enough for him.

You decided to put your jacket on and take your car's key. You told your security at home to open the gate and said to him that you just wanted to go to the supermarket.

After ben done showering, he went downstairs to check up on you because he felt guilty about the argument earlier but you weren't in the living room so he tried to find you in the guest bedroom but u also weren't there, he tried to call your name

"Y/N.... Y/N, are u here babe?" all around the house but he didnt find you

Then he heard some knock on the door, he thought it was you but it turned your best friend, Camilla.

" Omg you camilla, i thought it was Y/N"

"What shes not home? where is she ben?"

"Shes home when i arrived then after i showered shes gone"

"You should find her, her car missing i thought u used it but youre here and her hand wounded because of this morning accident, she really need a rest, im so worried rn"

"What? what accident? she didnt tell me anything? oh my lord, i messed up real bad, fuck it"

"Dont you say youve had some argument earlier ben?" camilla narrowed her eyes

"Yes yes we had it okay, and it was kinda really bad camilla, she must gone because of it, ,im so stupid, ill go find her rn"

"Damn it you chilwell, find my friend rn or you dead with me!"

They both go out to the security guard and asked about you, its almost midnight and you havent even come back home. Ben really worried about you and getting more stressed out. He called you so many tjmes but seems you have blocked his contact, then he called all of his friends and bodyguard acquaintances to find you. He also went to all of your favorite places but still he didn't find you. He drove his car with tears coming down on his cheek, he really regret what he have done to you, you didn't deserve to be treated like that. You are his princess, best friend, and also partner in everything, how could he be so mean, how could he let anger overwhelm him.

Its 3.30 am, hes still on the road till he got a call from a guy name Franky his bodyguard acquaintances, he said he found u because u use your credit card to stay in a hotel. Ben directly went to that hotel and asking your room number to the receptionist, glad that he knew ben and knew that you are his girlfriend so he let him to have the spare key.

Ben already there, in front of room 305 your room. He got in and found the silent and dark room. He turned on the light and saw you slept peacefully on the king size bed. He saw your puffy face and traces of tears that still wet on your cheeks. He checked your wounded palm too, looking at you like this made him really felt terrible rn.

Benji checked your silent phone and found so many missed calls from him, camilla, and others. Benji sent text to camilla first to tell her that youre okay. After that he just lay beside and hugging you till he fell asleep.

In the morning you awake and realized youre not home, but u felt someones arm hugging u from behind, u wanted to shout out at first but then u recognize the hand and also the tattooes. ITS MR CHILWELL.

You try to get up and let go his grip slowly, but Benji noticed.

"Hi baby" u just silent at his raspy voice, youre mad at him but also missing him sm at the same time.

"Hey i know you awake love, come here, let me see your face"

You try to hold ur body but u cant, he managed to turn your body to face his. His face looked so calm now not like last night. He smiled at you for a awhile.

He suddenly kiss your lips and u wipe it

"Huftt i know u must be really mad at me rn, im sorryy babe, i messed up"

"Oh you call me babe now?"

"Sorry sorryy Y/N, babe, i really regret what i did to you last night, im sorry, i let my emotion took control of me" he pleaded

"Yea" that was all u said, tried to get up from his tight hands around you

"No no youre not going anywhere" he said

"Huftt... i dont know Ben, im really dissappointed at you right now. The way u treated me last night make me feel like u dont love me anymore. You really know it well that i dont like when people raised their voice on me especially the people i love, you" u said it in tears

"Baby i know, i know you we've been together for 4 years. I really know it well, im sorry that i treated you like youre somekind of punching bag to me. It was just the effect of bad season and the rumour about my teammates, i just really stress and dont know what to do. Instead i let out my anger and bad mood all to you, while all u did for me was just supporting and taking care of me. Im sorry that i called you annoying i didnt mean it. You always such a loving and caring person especially to me , i really lucky to have you in my life. Im the one whos being a dick all the time since the bad season coming for chels" he said it all in tears also

You touched, you know u shouldnt go easy to him after he breaking ur heart like that. But you love him and you know frpm the deep down of your heart that he really didnt mean it. He even put so much effort to find you. You sighs and continue

"I know, you just stressed out but im here as your partner to comfort you, taking care you, hearing you, and loving you okay not a place for you to let out your anger out. I just wanted to support you Ben in every obstacles on your life, dont get it wrong. And ya maybe sorry if im being too much chatty in your house too, ill try reduce it"

"Love noo, its our house not my house. Its ours not only mine, and no youre not chatty im sorry you just wanted to take care of me and please do it for me" he smiled wiping off your tears

"I really regret my act last night, give me one chance to make us better" he continued

"Um noo" you answered

"Baby what do you mean no" he afraid of the possibility of breaking up and losing you

"Are you not gonna forgive and give me a chance?" he panicking

"I do give you a chance but i cant forgive you yet" you said "It was just too much for me, you know it right?"

"Okay okayy, im glad to hear that thank you sweet" he kissed you

"How do i make it up then baby?"

"With a rope and handcuffs maybe?"

"Oh you want to have playtime? thats easy babe. We just need to get home first"

"Yea playtime but this time im not the one whos being tied and hancuffed"

"You mean me?? hell no" benji refused it

"Okay then no sleeping with me for the next 1 week" you threathen

"Noooo, okay okay babyyy im down for it, youre the dom for tonight's playtime" he smiled

"Yayyy and can i ask one more thing again?"

you pleaded with puppy eyes

"Anything for my baby"

"Can you accompany me to watch barbie and going shopping for barbie related things?"

"Yes you can love, its easier than to be a sub for a playtime" he carresed your cheek

"Now can you forgive me now? I need an official statement from you"

"Yeaa kindaaa"

"I take it as a yes princess, and dont ever you call me Ben again, its terrifying"

You indeed never call him by his real name its always Benji, love, baby, babe, etc, because if you call him by his real name he knows it well that he has messed up real bad with you and he didnt like that also.

"And btw why u didnt tell me about thi" ben asked pointing to your wounded hand

"Dont want u to be worried to much at me while youre on the pitch" you smiled innocently

"Love u have to tell me okay, im sorry i didnt even paying attention to it"

"Its okay, im okay now"

"Have you bring it to the doctor?"

"Yes i have, yesterday and she said its totally okay, i just need to treat it well and change my bandages"

"Hmm i see, lets get home right now and take care your wound okay, you also owe me a story of this little accident"

"I will tell u in car, lets get out pf here right now benjii, im hungryy"

"Lets goo, but kiss me first and say i love you baby"

"Why?? u always like it when i call you Benji"

" I like it but baby is more special to me, also just want to make sure you really forgive me :)"

"I forgive you Mr.Ben Chilwell" you kissed him in a passionate kiss, quite long kiss the you two pull out

"And i really love you baby, thats the reason why i cant stay mad at you" rub your nose against his

"But promise me you will never do that again?"

"Promise princess, i will make you happy, im sorry about yesterday alright love? I really regret it, i love you so much"

You two once again pull in for a kiss and then checked out from the hotel and going home.

[dailyhelldorm]

[TL] Koga 4☆ FS2 Story / Howling at the Summit

Scenario Writer: Suika

Characters: Aoi Hinata, Himemiya Tori, Aoi Yuuta, Suou Tsukasa, Ogami Koga, Tenshouin Eichi, Sakuma Rei, Kunugi Akiomi, Aoba Tsumugi, Saegusa Ibara

Season: Autumn

Koga: Oh! I thought ya were a despicable guy, but unexpectedly ya have some good understandin' sense huh! Eichi: ...♪

[φ(゜▽゜*)♪]

Location: Rhythm Link Office

Koga: Ya want me to join the ‘Summit’?

Rei: Yes. I have work on the next scheduled ‘Summit’. Neither I nor Hasumi-kun can likely participate on that day.

So I want you to act like a step-in and partake, that’s the thing…

Koga: Then why me? Some other dudes hafta be free that day, too.

Rei: I checked the schedule. The only one who is free that day is you, Koga.

Koga: Ain’t that too sudden... Do I necessarily need to take part?

Rei: ...It is Tenshouin-kun that I’m weary of. He can use RhyLin’s vacant seat that day and try to pull some sinister schemes, which might become unfavorable for us.

And if not him, ‘Summit’ also has Saegusa-kun there. If we don’t have an exclusive, it can create an obvious opening and I would like to avoid that.

Koga: I see. In other words, ya want me to come and watch out for other agencies' weird movements, and threaten them?

Rei: I won’t say you need to go as far as threaten them. Even if it’s just a step-in but as long as RhyLin has a representative, others won’t try and think about doing any imprudent thing.

Koga: Got the gist... But for real, I can’t get hyped at all.

‘Summit’ is the place to talk about some troublesome things, right? Just thinkin’ about it already bores the shit out of me.

(...No, wait.)

(‘Summit’ is the place all the high and mighty dudes in ES come, right?)

(Ain’t this the direct chance to vent all the pent-up frustration about ES’s system and whatsoever?)

Hah! I got ya, Sakuma-senpai. I gotta join the ‘Summit’ in yer stead ♪

Location: Reception Room

Koga: (The place they hold the ‘Summit’, is this the room?)

Hinata: Ah, over here~ Ogami-senpai!

Tori: So it is real, Ogami-senpai is the substitute that participates in their stead.

Koga: What? Ya questionin’ me?

Yuuta: If you don’t understand anything, we can explain it to you. Please feel free to ask anytime, Ogami-senpai ☆

Akiomi: Please wrap up your idle talk. You should hurry and take your seat now, the ‘Summit’ is about to start.

Tsumugi: Here you go, Ogami-kun. Here are today’s documents.

Koga: Thank you, Aoba-senpai.

(Geh- It’s crammed entirely with complicated stuff...)

Eichi: Then, let us start the ‘Summit’. Firstly, let’s begin with each agency’s activity reports...

After a while

Eichi: This is StarPro’s upcoming planned events. Do you have any questions?

Koga: Zzz... ♪

Hinata: Hey, Yuuta-kun. He is definitely sleeping, right?

Yuuta: What are you even saying, Aniki? You don’t even need to ask, he is already deep in the dreamland.

Koga: ...!? That was close, I almost fell asleep.

Tori: No way, you were totally snoozing there! Even if you are trying to play it cool now, it is too late already!

Koga: Hah? Didn’t snooze. I was seriously listenin’.

Tori: Then tell me the plan Eichi-sama was talking about just now!

Koga: …Urgh. T-that shit is already written here on the documents anyway. Ya just need to read it from the paper.

Ibara: Now now, Mr. Ogami has a lot of stress built up in his body, right? ‘UNDEAD’ recently has become a chart-topping variety show's ‘unit’ too.

Koga: Argh? What was that, gotta talk some nasty shit to me now?

Akiomi: It was your fault for falling asleep just then. You should show more apprehension in this kind of meeting.

Koga: ...My bad.

But hey, why are y’all explainin' the things that have already been written on the materials anyway?

Tsukasa: Conveying the content of the materials verbally can help you implement them. It is not a particularly odd thing, isn’t it?

Koga: That’s not what I meant. Since all the agency’s representatives are sittin' here right now, we should talk about something more useful!

Tsumugi: Uhm, what does Koga-kun consider to be useful talks?

Koga: Well... about that. Like what kind of lives ya want to do, that kind of want?

If we do a rockin' live then fans will also jack up a lot! Ain’t that the thing that makes all agencies merry too ♪

Tori: Haa... You really are a child, Ogami-senpai.

Eichi: What kind of lives you want to do, you say... Fufu, quite intriguing.

Today we already disseminated all the things we need to share and our general talk has finished. There isn’t a topic that specifically needs to be brought up as well.

In that case, how about we discuss the useful talk Ogami-kun has mentioned?

Tori: Eichi-sama!?

Koga: Oh! I thought ya were a despicable guy, but unexpectedly ya have some good understandin' sense huh!

Eichi: ...♪

Tsukasa: (Tenshouin-oniisama is taking on Ogami-senpai’s idea...? What is he planning?)

Ibara: (I’m intrigued about His Eminence’s intention... For now, I should stay low and match their pace for a bit.)

Sounds like a good idea. Then, let us continue by brainstorming our configuration ☆

Tsumugi: Wah! Sounds fun~ ♪

Tori: (Whispers) Is it really fine with you, Eichi-sama?

Eichi: (Whispers) Having the same members doing the same talk in every ‘Summit’ is a monotonous thing to do.

(Whispers) At a time like this, when a new breeze is blowing in, should we try and follow along with it for a little bit?

Koga: Heheh, then I will go first! Ya lots, clean yer ears and hear me out!

Location: Seisoukan Common Room

Rei: Goodness me, Hasumi-kun is such a worrywart.

He tells me to inquire Koga directly about the ‘Summit’ discussion. He isn’t a child who can stir up some problems in just one day of being substitute.

Eichi: Yah, Sakuma-kun. You have returned.

Rei: Isn’t it you, Tenshouin-kun? My apology for not being able to join the ‘Summit’ today.

Eichi: It is not a big deal. Your substitute solidly stood his place.

Rei: About that, how was Koga? I hope he didn’t cause any trouble for Tenshouin-kun and everyone on his first ‘Summit’ partaking.

Eichi: He didn’t cause any issue at all. Rather, thanks to him, we were able to have a beneficial discussion ♪

Rei: You said you had a beneficial discussion...?

Eichi: If there is an occasion, please ask him to come again.

Well then, I will be going now.

Rei: What does he mean? Why was Tenshouin-kun happy that Koga joined them...?

Koga, what have you done at the ‘Summit’?

Koga: I thought I heard someone’s mumbles, it is just ya, Sakuma-senpai.

Rei: Oh, speak of the devil. Sorry for the suddenness, but how was today’s ‘Summit’?

Koga: Tsk, even ya asked the same question. That glasses bastard’s been blowin' up my Hold-hands and grillin' me for the same thing.

Even when I told him there wasn’t any big deal goin' on.

Rei: From your response, I can see that everything was really fine and all... But then, what’s with the attitude from that Tenshouin-kun?

Koga: Tenshouin-senpai? That was unexpected, he was a more sensible dude than I thought he would be.

Rei: Sensible, you say...? What did you talk about at the ‘Summit’?

Koga: What we talked about...

(Seems that normally they don’t talk about their ideal lives and stuff. If I just blunt straight out, won’t it become a pain in the ass later?)

...Nothing too hot.

Rei: W-what, Koga. What’s with your response...!? Was it something you couldn’t even tell me?

Koga: Not really. There is nothing I need to talk about.

Is our talk done? If so, I will go back to my room now.

Rei: Hault! ...It couldn’t be, that Koga have gotten appeased by Tenshouin-kun...?

Our talk isn’t finished yet! Hey, where are you going? Koga dear!?

Koga: Argh~! Don’t follow me!

[The end (o゜▽゜)o☆]

[somnianyx]

GN!Reader || Content: angst, fluffy moments, character death, comfort/hurt

There's a mention of girl but other than that's it's completely gender neutral. It's just cuz I don't know what to use to replace it so feel free to use other terms you like.

It's a lengthy oneshot and honestly it kinda sucks. more dialogue than actions too.

"Waa it's snowing really heavily today!" You exclaimed, observing the falling snowflakes like someone who had never seen snow before.

"What's so impressive about the snow that your jaw looks like it'll fall off any second?" Sae sips his coffee, not looking up at you from his laptop.

You turned to him, eyebrow slightly furrowed. "You just don't get it. It means christmas is around the corner! Although it does get a little too cold sometimes..." Shivers ran up your spine as soon as the words left your lips.

Sae abruptly stood up, holding his hand out for you. Albeit a bit confused, you let your lover drag you towards the couch, sitting you down before disappearing to your shared bedroom.

"What are you doing?" Sae didn't respond, he came out with the blanket you had folded just this morning. "Hey! I just folded that-"

"You said it's cold right? Let's cuddle on the couch." Instead of him, you're the one who got all embarrassed. His straightforwardness is one of the things you love about him but you swear its going to kill you one day.

Concerned by your slightly red face, he dropped the blanket he was holding beside you and puts his hand on your forehead. "Did you already get a fever? Your face is quite red. Maybe I should turn up the heater."

"No! I'm fine! Just... embarrassed." You tried to avoid his confused gaze, feeling his eyes linger on your face trying to decipher the reason.

"Why are you embarrassed? Nothing is embarrassing about being cold."

His question just made you even more flustered, "You shouldn't be so nice to me! What if I fell harder for you, stupid Sae."

"It's only natural that I'll be nice since we're a couple. Isn't that something to be happy for?"

"Yeah, but sometimes you'll have to go abroad for nationals. I won't be able to see you for months and I'll miss you too much that I won't wanna let you go."

"You're not making any sense since I take you with me on every single trip." He sighed and slightly shook his head from your antics, "I'm not going to any nationals soon remember? I took the year off so we can prepare for our wedding."

Hearing that puts a little smile on your face that didn't go unnoticed. Your fiancé tilts his head, giving you a short kiss before making his way to the kitchen.

"Ah! Sae, come back! It's too cold."

"I'm making you something warm to drink. Be a good girl and wait for me."

December 24th, 20xx

"Did you get everything we needed for tonight's dinner?" Sae's voice came from your phone.

"Mhm! Did you got the cake that I said I wanted that day?"

"It's right here beside me. I don't see why you specifically want this cake."

"Cause I heard it was so good that you had to wait a whole day in line just to even get a slice! I wanted to try it once in my life y'know?"

"..."

"Sae?"

"People had to wait in line a whole day for this? The owner just gave me the whole cake when I asked for it. Said its for my lovely fiancé to enjoy."

"What!?"

"What?"

"Wow... this must be one of the benefits to have a famous soccer player as your lover."

"We've been together for 3 years. How do you just realize that?"

"I'm just kidding. What were you doing the whole day outside then if not for the cake?"

"I went to buy some more gifts that I thought you would like. You were practically making googly eyes on that watch we saw at the mall the other day."

"Ack! I thought I was being sneaky.."

"You're bad at being sneaky. You know damn well I only had my eyes on you the entire time."

You giggled at his remark, "Yes yes~ I'm gonna start preparing dinner now. Drive home safe Sae ♡︎"

"Can't you wait till I get home so we can make it together?"

"Nope! See you soon. I love you."

"I love you more, (Y/N)"

You walked back into your shared apartment, holding Sae's favorite takeout when the both of you were too lazy to cook. Setting it aside on the kitchen counter, you proceeded with your normal afterwork routine.

You put on his clothes, his scent surprisingly still lingering although noticeably lesser the more you wear it. Rolling into your bed, you wrapped yourself with the blanket you guys share every night. It smells just like him, in a way it feels strangely comforting yet it makes your heart ache.

Missing his voice, you unlocked your phone and set it beside your ear so you can hear him perfectly.

"Hello?"

"Sae..."

"(Y/N), I'm gonna be little late. The road is slippery and there's traffic so I'll have to be extra careful. Will you be okay?"

"No, I won't be."

"Let me know if you're missing any other ingredients. I'll pick it up on the way home. I'm sorry I couldn't get home faster to cook dinner with you."

"You idiot. You don't have to apologize. I told you I'll take care of it."

"(Y/N), I'm bad at expressing my feelings but somehow it feels right to say this now. I hope we can spend Christmas together for the rest of our lives. New years, valentine's day, white day. I promise we'll spend it all together."

"You're such a meanie Sae."

"The traffic is starting to move. I'll tell you more when I get home. Please call me when you hear this. I love you, (Y/N)."

"So mean..."

Before you even notice, tears were already streaming down your face. Slightly dampening the blanket you're holding close to your body.

Voicemail sent at December 24th 20xx, 8:43pm

"You didn't even fulfill your promise of spending this year's Christmas with me. Now I have to spend new years alone too? How cruel of a man you are Itoshi.."

You place your hand on the permanent divot from where his body once occupied the space next to yours. Remembering how you fell asleep to his heartbeat as he held you close, his free hand playing with your hair and the way he places a small kiss on your forehead when he's sure you're slumbering.

"Sae... It's cold. Please come back.."

[lullaebies]

Hey! Can you do some headcanons on what it would be like for Helaena and Aegon as parents if the Dance never happened? They were really young when they both died, so would they have more babies if they lived? What would it be like for the twins and Maelor to grow into teenagers, what would the marriage plans for them be like? Love your content btw ❤️

Oh sure!! This should be very fun. The Dance not happening AU could mean a lot of things so there would be many variables, so bear with me a bit haha. (And thank you for the compliment, dear! <333) [also I'm sorry for the length of this if you ask me about the kids I really can speak for HOURS about my hcs.] Helaegon as Parents, Part 2 - No Dance AU Headcanons

⁎ For the if they had more babies question - probably yes! I don't see them abstaining. I think as the first kids grow older Helaena might specifically want more childen, but generally they would just happen as it is the way of life, regardless of planning or not planning. ⁎ Speaking about more children - Helaena and Aegon would be so bad at naming, lmao. They wait until the baby is out to decide, lol. I think Jaehaerys was named after the Old King via Alicent influence and Jaehaera was named in tow to fit, so Maelor would've been the first true name they've chose (I personally imagine that was from Helaena; also for the record, I genuinely don't believe it had anything to do with Maegor lol). Anyways, they would suck at it, and I imagine they'll have a lot more joke names they talk about. Imagine Aegon coming to Helaena like "Daemon the Younger. To piss uncle off." (He got very inspired from Aegon III's naming pettiness😂) and Helaena is like "I should kill you and make our son Aegon the Youngest" LMAO. ⁎ I always said this, but I do feel like there would be a cycle of hardship in the family; Aegon and Helaena were both not exposed to the best of parenting and Aegon will continue to struggle with his substance abuse/vices, which will obviously have effect. I have gone on several tangents on how I can see him and Jaehaerys butting heads like crazy as the father vs the oldest son. I do think there are times Aegon would try harder to be an active parent, especially after Jaehaerys and him get into a big fight, or Jaehaera mediates, or Maelor being visibly upset. I also think there inherent guilt in Aegon for a lot of things, I do think he will try to be better after he gets a few slaps from his first children, as he doesn't want to be like Viserys. His younger children will get the better of it, likely. I like to think he could find power in the fact his kids believe in him still despite everything. ⁎ Helaena would be such a sticky mom ahhh. Jaehaerys could grow taller than Otto and she would still look at him like he's a baby, Jaehaera she would want kept close too (As Alicent wanted her close, cough) and not even speaking about Maelor! I do believe all the kiddos would have her side on most things - Jaehaerys and Maelor being Biggest Defender no. 1 and Intern Smoll Defender no. 2. Jaehaera is The Conciliator coded and she tends to be midway, she'll probably be the one who is most honest with Helaena. ⁎ If Helaegon have more kids, needless to say the first three would be a pretty hands on crew of sibling help. Probably particularly the twins. I think Maelor might have to go through an ick phase at having a younger sibling always on his toes, though really he was just the same to the twins when he was born.

⁎ Some Teenage personality headcanons: Jaehaerys - mr. Trying to be good enough and work hard to be good enough. Extrovert using humor to cope, can be shady and also defensive like dad. Feels like he has a very big responsibility to help mom and family. He takes to a warhammer as a weapon in the future as he has a grip of six✨ Jaehaera - Careful in her steps, emotional intellegence based girl who is a bit too kind on other people sometimes. Likes to sew, and she makes her own dolls as she grows older. Introverted but Tries. Can be awkward when she's not used to someone or can't tell what they're like. Maelor - forever the first family baby, but he is the type to try and push against it LOL. I actually imagine him a bit more bookish and curious. Skinnier kid but has quips and he talks back. I think he's shyer outside of the family, people that don't know him gaslight Aegon his son is not a menace at all, "all he does is read books in the library and be cute are u fr" vibe, but in reality he learned from brother to not take shit. He's a Grandma kid for sure, I like to think he reads to Alicent back when she's elderly. ⁎ To end this off, on marriage proposals and the likes: I think no matter what AU spoken of, one thing that Helaegon would always agree on is that they would prefer their kids to find a love marriage, and I very much believe they would not be into putting them into Targ incest shenanigans unless the kids express they want it. this is one thing they want to break the chain in and are in full agreement - helaegon do not want the kids to have the same burdens they had to deal with. Overall this topic is muddy because its very much depends on the cirucmstances of things, but in the grand scheme of things - if helaegon are not pressured for alliances/not reigining king and queen, love marriages would be preferred if not at least arranged marriages where the prospective spouse is well regarded and of fitting status. If they are pressured for alliances as king and queen - Houses like House Lannister that are Green supporters will likely be considered first, then general houses that can benefit the crown and stability of the realm (possibly even Rhaenyra's family if its to keep the peace), and only then proper houses where the kids find someone they like. It is the feudalistic monarchy way. At the end there would be an attempt to give the best for them, one way or the other.

[ga-yuu]

WARNING! The story contains assault.

-----Part 1------

Yoshino: "Then have a safe trip, Sueharu-san."

Sueharu: "Mm."

Smiling mischievously, Sueharu-san then hugged me gently....

(Ah)

He gently kissed my cheek.

Yoshino: "....!? W-What was that for...!?"

Sueharu: " 'I'm going out' kiss. I'd be happy if you could do the same for me next time."

-----Options-----

That day will never come.

We're not newlywed couple.

Do it with someone you like.

---------

Yoshino: "We're not a newlywed couple...!"

Sueharu: "Oh, that's great too! If I'm ever blessed with a beautiful wife like you, I will never go anywhere."

Yoshino: "Come on.."

I didn't even get the chance to get angry, and Sueharu-san waved and left the room.

(I should not get carried away)

(After this mission, we'll go back to being enemies)

Or maybe even that was Sueharu-san's calculation...

An unbreakable feeling stabbed at my heart.

After Sueharu-san leaves for the meeting, the moon rises high up in the sky....

Yoshino: "Okay. I'm done!"

Subordinate 1: "Is that medicine? I heard that you are a pharmacist, so it was true huh....?"

Yoshino: "Yes. These are wound medicines by the way. If you don't mind, I want you to have them and also share it with all of Sueharu-san's subordinates."

In the waiting room, I exchange words with my guard, who is also a subordinate of Sueharu-san.

Subordinate 1: "Really? Then, thank you very much!"

Subordinate 1: "I'm sure everyone will be pleased."

Subordinate 1: "Especially those who are ordered to do rough jobs like me."

Yoshino: "It's strange that despite being a merchant, he has a lot of rough jobs..."

(Nothing less expected from a black merchant, I guess..)

Subordinate 1: "Well, he is not an ordinary merchant."

Yoshino: "Um, can I ask you a question?"

Subordinate 1: "....? Yeah sure. As long as I can answer that is."

After a moment of thinking, the friendly subordinate nodded his head.

Yoshino: "What kind of person....is Sueharu-san from a subordinate's perspective?"

Subordinate 1: "..............."

Subordinate 1: "He is-----"

After thinking for the moment, when the subordinate was about to answer...

(....!? What is that sound?)

Subordinate 1: "....!Yoshino-san stand back."

Hearing the sounds of multiple footsteps echoing from the back of the hallway, I suddenly felt nervous----

Subordinate 1: "Is this an e-enemy attack? But what happened to the guards outside...?"

............

Few minutes earlier...

A child stands in the alleyway behind the inn, where Yoshino is currently residing.

Ibuki: *sighs* "There we go..."

Small hands slyly drag something on the ground.

The pale moonlight illuminated and it revealed to be two unconscious guards.

Ibuki: "This should do it."

In the shadows of the alleyway, Ibuki placed the men disorderly.

Nearby were several guards who had also passed out unconscious.

Ibuki: "The finish is good. The workmanship is a little boring to be so proud of."

Ibuki: "It will make for a good night's drinking tonight."

-----No one knew about Ibuki's 'secret prank'.

A few minutes later, at Sadakatsu's mansion.

Sueharu: "Sadakatsu-sama, did you call me here just to confirm the contents of the contract?"

-----Part 2------

Sueharu: "Sadakatsu-sama, did you call me here just to confirm the contents of the contract?"

Sadakatsu: "Yes. I thought it was important. If it turns out something is wrong, I would be in trouble..."

Sueharu: "That's fine. But wouldn't this have been better for tomorrow's meeting?"

Sadakatsu: "Don't say that. Why don't you tell me more about your business over a drink or two?"

Sueharu: "........."

Sueharu stares intently at Sadakatsu.

Sueharu: "Sadakatsu-sama."

Sadakatsu: "....Hm? Yes?"

Sueharu: "What are you hiding from me?"

Sadakatsu: "....!? O-Of course nothing. Why would you think that!?"

Just as when Sueharu stands up....

Subordinate 2: "Boss!"

Sueharu: "What's wrong?"

Several subordinates burst into the room.

Sadakatsu: "Hey!? How dare you enter..."

One of the subordinates whispers something to Sueharu.

At that moment, Sueharu turned stone cold.

Sueharu: "...!"

His cold eyes slowly turned to look at Sadakatsu.

Sadakatsu: "K-Kichiji...? What's wrong?"

Sueharu: "Who told you to keep me here tonight?"

Sadakatsu: "Ngh....."

Sadakatsu started turning pale.

Sueharu: "Or..was it your plan to attack Yoshino?"

Sadakatsu: "O-Of course not!"

Sadaktasu shook his head under Sueharu's pressure.

Sadakatsu: "I didn't expect things to come out so quickly..."

Sadakatsu: "Listen! It's wasn't me, okay!?"

Sadakatsu: "I was serious about my business with you. But the trading company that was associated with me, insisted that I..."

Sueharu: "Were you overwhelmed? Or were you just afraid that the bandits supporting them, would turn on you?"

Sadakatsu: "That's not true..."

Sueharu: "It was you, Sadakatsu-sama who fed them and fattened them up."

Sadakatsu's forehead beads with sweat as he is blamed for the incident.

Sueharu: "So where is Yoshino and my subordinate right now?"

Sadakatsu: "I don't know! How the hell should I know!?"

Sadakatsu: "Sorry. I'm afraid I'm going to have to cancel our business deal, Kichiji."

Sueharu: "Cancel? Heh...Hahaha, you're very funny. Did you actually think that you could say that to me and get away with it?"

Sadakatsu: "ngh.."

Smiling Sueharu looked into Sadakatsu's face.

Sueharu: "Let me make this clear."

Sueharu: "In my business, once a contract is made, its absolute."

Sueharu: "Whether you're a noble or god himself, I don't care. There are no exceptions."

Sueharu: "If you break it of your own volition, you're gonna have to pay the price. Now tell me, are you ready for that?"

-----Part 3-----

Sueharu: "In my business, once a contract is made, its absolute."

Sueharu: "Whether you're a noble or god himself, I don't care. There are no exceptions."

Sueharu: "If you break it of your own volition, you're gonna have to pay the price. Now tell me, are you ready for that?"

Sadakatsu: "W-What are you exaggerating for...did you think you can actually talk like that to me!?"

Sueharu: "There is no use wasting time on you for now. You're no longer my customer, but my enemy."

Sueharu looks at his subordinates.

Sueharu: "Take him."

Subordinate 2: "Yes!"

The subordinate grabbed Sadakatsu, forcing him to stand up.

Sadakatsu: "Hey! Stop touching me! Who do you think I am...!?"

Sueharu: "No one cares. Once you're dead, you nothing more than a piece meat."

Sueharu's voice was so cold that even his subordinates shivered slightly.

...........

Man 1: "Hey! Get in there!"

Subordinate 1: "Argh..."

Yoshino: "Please wait! At least let me treat him."

I was thrown into a cold cell with Sueharu-san's subordinate.

The subordinate who is also my guard, was seriously injured because he fought alone to protect me.

Man 2: "Do we kill the man? This woman is more than enough for a hostage."

(No!)

The subordinate lying on the ground moaning didn't seem to have much strength left to fight.

Man 3: "You're right. He's an eyesore anyway."

Man 3: "You poor thing? Do you now regret being that man's subordinate?"

Subordinate 1: "Ha....Ha..Hahaha...."

Yoshino: "....!"

The subordinate suddenly laughed with his swollen face.

Man 4: "Why are you laughing!?"

Subordinate 1: "Boss...Sueharu-san..is definitely scary."

Subordinate 1: "He won't show kindness to subordinates who fails easily. They will all end up like this if they screwed over."

Subordinate 1: "But that's not the only reason I take orders from him."

Man 3: "Huh? Is he going crazy because he's going to die?"

(No! That person's eyes.....isn't dead yet!)

Subordinate 1: "Kitsuji Sueharu....will hunt down anyone who harms his men to the ends of the earth."

Subordinate 1: "As long as....we don't betray him...Sueharu-san will definitely protect us."

Subordinate 1: "That's why, it's over for you...."

(....Nn)

The men flinched at the spirit of the subordinate who stared up at them, covered in wounds.

Man 1: "Tsk...stop talking nonsense!"

One of the men took out a knife, that he was hiding, in agitation.

Yoshino: "...! No!"

When I see the man about to attack the subordinate, my body moves before I can think.

(I can't let this man, who believes in Sueharu-san and who protected me, die!)

(Also for Sueharu-san's sake)

-----Part 4-----

(I can't let this man, who believes in Sueharu-san and who protected me, die!)

(Also for Sueharu-san's sake)

I pushed the man away from the side.

Man 1: "This woman...!"

I desperately try to shield the subordinate and protected him.

(If help is really coming, let's buy some time!)

Yoshino: "Please don't kill him! Please..."

Subordinate 1: "No...Yoshino...san..."

Man 2: "Get out of my way!"

The moment I was forcibly thrown away----

???: "Let go of her."

Man 2: "Gah!?"

A cold anger rang out, and the man holding me collapses.

Yoshino: "Ah....."

(This voice)

I felt my body being hugged by someone and the warmth enveloped me...

Sueharu: "Ha....How can I forget how reckless you are for the sake of others. I'm glad I made it in time."

Yoshino: "Sueharu...san.."

Sueharu-san subordinates rushed in and attacked the men.

Man 1: "You..Arghh."

Man 3: "Shit.."

In an instant, the men were pinned down and restrained.

Sueharu: "Yoshino. I'm sorry for scaring you. I was late."

The whispered words are less flamboyant than usual.

That's why it was so heartbreaking to hear his voice which sounded genuinely relieved.

(He really came to save us)

Yoshino: "Thank you...but your subordinate was protecting me and got seriously injured."

I pleaded that sounded like a cry.

Sueharu: "............"

Sueharu-san crouched down in front his subordinate who was lying on the floor.

Subordinate 1: "Boss....forgive me..."

Sueharu: "You protected Yoshino well."

Sueharu: "I'll make them pay for your injuries."

Subordinate 1: "...Mm...."

Sueharu: "Go to sleep for now and dream about what reward you want. I'll get it for you by the time you wake up."

Subordinate 1: "....yes."

The tearful subordinate laughed happily and passed out in relief.

(Sueharu-san is a terrifying black merchant)

(But)

(.....he's not just a terrifying black merchant)

After that-----

Sueharu-san's men completely controlled the stronghold of the bandits.

We found out that the bandits thought that kidnapping me would be a good reason for them to join the trading company.

.........

(A lot happened...but I'm glad we were able to return to the inn safely)

After we were alone, Sueharu-san explained everything to me.

Yoshino: "So that's what happened. The guards outside were unconscious...."

Sueharu: "Yeah. Inexplicably, none of the bandits knew about the guards outside, either."

(Who in the world...?)

Yoshino: "There were no witnesses?"

Sueharu: ".....There was only one person who claimed to have seen someone."

Yoshino: "Eh?"

Sueharu: "They say it was a beautiful boy with shiny golden hair."

Sueharu: "There's no way a kid like that could take out a bunch of trained guards."

Sueharu: "They were unsure whether they were dreaming or not."

Yoshino: "A child....yeah that for sure he must be dreaming."

Sueharu: "The matter is being investigated at the moment. If I find out anything, I'll let you know."

------Part 5-----

Yoshino: "Okay."

I nodded and switched to another topic.

(Oh yeah)

Yoshino: "I wish I could personally thank the subordinate again tomorrow for protecting me."

Yoshino: "Can you call me when he wakes up?"

Sueharu: "Sure."

I smiled with relief.

Yoshino: "By the way, I see that Sueharu-san really cares about his subordinates."

Sueharu: "Eh?"

Yoshino: "That subordinate believed in Sueharu-san....until the end. He knew that you would come to help us."

Sueharu: "What are you saying?"

Sueharu rested his chin listlessly.

Sueharu: "The employment relationship is a kind of transaction. My subordinates follow my orders faithfully and I pay them for their work."

Sueharu: "In some cases. It's part of the deal to act as shield for your men."

(....That's what Sueharu-san thinks)

A certainty was gained and an unknown stirring was born deep in my heart.

Sueharu: "I owe you an apology and a thank you."

Yoshino: "Sueharu-san?"

He looks at me with a serious face.

Sueharu: "From the moment I made you my partner, I had a duty to protect you."

Sueharu: "But in the end I put you in danger. Please forgive me."

Sueharu: "Also thank you for protecting my subordinate."

(After all....he's a man of means)

Yoshino: "....You're welcome."

Yoshino: "But that person was actually saved by Sueharu-san who arrived just in time."

All I did is buy time.

Sueharu: "If you underestimate what you've done, let me buy it for a higher price."

Sueharu: "What price should I pay for you?"

His palm gently touched my cheek making my heart pound sweetly.

(I feel....kinda strange when you touch me like this)

Yoshino: "Sueharu-san is so loyal...that if the Shogunate and the Rebels start their war, you would be my enemy."

Sueharu: "A debt is a debt. It would be healthier not to carry it over to the battlefield."

Yoshino: "That...might be true."

Sueharu-san's eyes, filled with glamorous heat, are shaken by my bewilderment.

Sueharu: "..........."

For a moment there was silence but our gazes were still entwined.

Yoshino: "Sueharu-san....?"

(No. I'm not imagining, right? .....His eye is flickering, right?)

When I realised that, my eyes widened.

Sueharu: "Yoshino."

His voice which is supposed to be good at hiding his real emotions, was...

It melts in the night wind as if to restrain something.

Sueharu: "You're right."

Sueharu: "When the war between the Shogunate and the Rebels starts, I will be your enemy by default no matter what."

Sueharu: "Even though I don't like that, it's a sentiment that is not appropriate for a black merchant."

Chapter 15

[kadavernagh]

TIMING: Current LOCATION: The Medical Examiner's Office PARTIES: Lil and Regan CONTENT: Parental death, domestic abuse mentions SUMMARY: Lil comes to Regan once more in search of answers about what happened to her mother. Her new knowledge may prove to be dangerous.

At the question Lil looked at the doctor and said, “Yes. I want to know.”

Lil felt silly in a way, carrying the stuffed bears into a morgue carefully cradling them to herself. It really was the only thing she could assume could be still connected to her mom, beside the ring around her neck. She figured one of the objects should work, and out of the four people who were missing - her mom was the most sentimental. While she figured the rest might have objects connected to them being a medium in some ways discouraged that. 

So carefully she waited in the lobby for the doctor, hoping in some ways that there was more answers this time then the other time. Still, there was a sense of finality here, one that meant that she would confirm it - either way. 

“Hey Doc,” Lil said, seeing the other with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I appreciate you meeting with me.”

When Marcy said someone in the lobby had brought in “a bunch of bears”, Regan wasn’t sure what to expect. Teddy bears would be the obvious answer (and indeed provided comfort to some families coming in for a viewing). But she couldn’t discount the ham child being involved in some way. Seeing Lil again – and with an armful of stuffed animals – had not been on her short list of most likely scenarios. Maybe it should have been since Regan had extended an open invitation. Part of her didn’t think Lil would take her up on it. 

“Hello,” Regan said, returning the somewhat forced greeting, not even feigning a smile to match Lil’s. “I know you gave this the appropriate amount of consideration, so I will try my best.” It was not a light decision Lil had made, coming here today. That was why Regan had made the offer to help using more than just her list of Jane Does and stuffed file cabinets. Death may have chosen Regan, but Lil was the one wearing it right now.

As they descended into the morgue and reached her office – a change of pace from the autopsy suite Lil experienced last time – Regan studied her a little. She wasn’t sure she had ever seen someone so desperate for answers also looking so certain. Lil thought herself a medium, an exorcist, and while Regan wasn’t sure where the truth sat yet, it was possible she knew what Regan intended to do, especially if she pieced together what happened while they were helping Wynne. She motioned over to the chairs and table, more casual than her desk, lined with framed photos of ulcers. “Let’s start with the bears, if that works for you. Tell me about them, and I can tell you if they’re likely to be suitable for this.”

Lil nodded, feeling silly with the bears in her arms and hoping that she didn’t look like the child she felt like. She moved to follow the doctor remembering the last time she had been here. Then she hadn’t been sure what to make of the place, not frightened but knowing that it wasn’t a restful place. Although she didn’t like cemeteries either, they at least felt final. These walls didn’t. It felt like a limbo place, full of shades and something didn’t sit well with her. Death was final, but it seemed like the trappings of life made it seem less so. 

Lil sat down, wondering exactly what the other might do. She wasn’t a stranger to the supernatural, but if she was honest she didn’t know what Regan could be. She didn’t ask either, trusting that the other wasn’t trying to trick or fool her. That was the thing with being steeped in mysteries all the time. Sometimes it wasn’t necessary to know the details, instead allowing truths to come where they were. 

Nodding she said softly, “Those were mine and my brother’s teddy bears - my mom gave each of us one when we were little but - my dad took them away from us pretty quick when it was clear we are getting attached. I didn’t even realize she'd kept them and taken care of them until we came back. I figured I had mine for such a short time and she must be more attached to it then I was. She’s rather sentimental.” She pointed to hers the one that she hadn’t seen in decades before Jonas had found it. It wasn’t even worn like a child’s toy should be, her kolas still plush. 

She didn’t want to explain that her dad was an ass, that had taken comfort objects away from children so they didn’t grow attached and how her mom kept them. It was hard being an exorcist, and while he had never pushed too hard as a child - Lil was expected to be able to calm herself down without the help of others. She’d gotten good at it, but part of her looked at what should have been her toy a little lost  for a second before shaking her head. “I also have her ring. Although considering she was this close to divorcing my dad I wasn’t sure.” 

At some point – and she certainly didn’t know when – Regan decided that she liked Lil. As different as Lil was, and perhaps even delusional in some ways based on what she spoke of, there was respect to be found there. Maybe it was simply the way she carried her grief – marching forward toward answers for herself and her brother when many would crumble under the weight. Yes, that was probably it. Regan appreciated the self-sufficiency. Nothing more.

She listened closely as Lil explained why she had the bears, what they had to do with her mother. She grimaced at the new information about Lil’s – and Jonas’s – upbringing. She thought of the way so many carcasses had been snatched from her own hands, how even Bell had been confiscated from her – Regan, not one more dead thing in here, I swear to God. Her father’s death had illuminated his life, though, and it all made sense now. What reason could Lil’s father have for taking away something as innocuous as a teddy bear? Lil was no banshee, so why was sentimentality discouraged? Even the banshees did not completely frown upon attachment. She didn’t like it. But whatever the case, it allowed Lil to bring them here today, more tethered to her mother than the children the toys were intended for. 

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Regan said, quickly but genuinely, “I think these will work, but the ring is a potential backup in case it doesn’t. You’ve done well.” Lil seemed comfortable enough – as comfortable as one could be sitting stiffly in a morgue chair, about to discuss a potentially dead parent – and Regan saw no reason to delay, so long as Lil’s mind had not be changed. She suspected it rarely was. 

“I will ask one more time. You’re certain?” Regan gestured for one of the bears, her hand tingling mid-air as she reached. She already had an answer for Lil, then, but there was more to see, to understand, and she needed to be sure. Already, the death was sinking into her, making her skin shiver and her breath shallow. This was going to work. She watched Lil carefully, waiting for a final okay, as she allowed her eyes to fill in with darkness, ready to see what death was offering her.

Lil wasn’t quite sure why the other was sorry to hear it, but it was comfortable nonetheless. She didn’t feel pity, or the nagging feeling that she was awfully different. She was also happy the doctor didn’t pry into it either. So she nodded, grateful that it should work that the bear might actually help her.  

Maybe if it did it her mom might have won something in their life. It wasn’t much but she hoped for once her dad’s harsh words could be circumvented by something her mom said. 

At the question Lil looked at the doctor and said, “Yes. I want to know.” It felt more than a want at this point, but a need. If her mom was dead - it meant that she needed to find her and bury her. If she was gone it meant likely the rest were gone as well and she was going to help them to the otherside. They would be on this side of the veil for too long, and as the next oldest she needed to take care of them. 

It meant that Lil knew what she needed to do, and after almost a year here - she needed that. She didn’t become frightened seeing the doctor’s eyes fill with black although she couldn’t say for certain what it meant either. Maybe she should have asked, but instead she just sat still a carefully blank look on her face. 

That was all Regan needed to hear. She dove in – or, rather, let the vision sweep her away. Her office’s skull-lined walls were replaced by the dark interior of someone’s home, a living room, lit only by flickering candles. She could hear something almost melodic, some kind of chanting – she pricked her ears more and heard the familiar hard syllables of Latin, but words she didn’t know rather than the language of medicine. There were others there – the woman she recognized from Lil’s photo to be her mother, surrounded by a dark shadow that Regan was certain only she could see. A couple of younger individuals, who also looked vaguely familiar, and related to Lil’s mother. It took her a second to realize there was a man in the middle of the floor, immobile, maybe unconscious, tethered down in the middle of the room. Then there was a woman practically in hysterics, who seemed to be strategically blocked off toward the doorway by the younger people, keeping her away from the action.

What action? What was happening? More details carved themselves out – a circle in chalk in the middle of the room, strange symbols on the walls, and before Regan could take more in, the candles wavered and then extinguished themselves like a fierce breeze blew through the area. And in the darkness, a scream. It was chased by yelling, scrambling, the clattering of things flying around the room and desperate pleas to run, get out. She had heard fear like this before in the moments around someone’s death, an attempt to protect.

Another scream, and this was one she was more familiar with – someone’s last, frantic breath. The sound came to an abrupt end and as everything seemed to swirl and blur around her, Regan knew what came next. The morgue was dizzyingly solid, a fixed point on a blurry horizon, as it wrapped around her field of vision, like she’d never even left. But she knew what she saw (even if she didn’t fully understand it…) and her heart was pounding when she looked at Lil, eyes wide. She set the bear down on the table like it was an explosive device. Partially because she refused to hold it while talking about anything remotely serious. Regan hesitated for a moment, knowing Lil might need to collect herself, too. Regan hadn’t exactly explained how any of this would work. By now, she probably should have been used to being the bearer of bad news. But it never was easy, was it? She looked at Lil with something that might have been empathy, but she pushed any kind of label for that thing swelling in her chest far out of her thoughts. “I am sorry for your loss, Lil.”

Lil waited seeing Regan’s eyes fill with a black sort of smoke that if she hadn’t known the other would have terrified her. Still, she sat frozen willing the fear to go away. She was good at that - holding and letting go of fear so it only tormented her at night. 

I’m sorry for your loss, Lil. It rang in her head for a moment knowing the answer to what the other had seen. She had expected it. It shouldn’t hurt like it did in the moment a bit of foolhardy hope that she hadn’t meant to keep in herself aching in her bones when she realized what this meant. 

She’d never see her mom again. Likely the rest of her family was gone too. She wasn’t so hopeful to try and get each of them checked, knowing that if their had been a survivor surely they would have called. Carefully taking her teddy bear she started to collect herself. Her sadness wasn’t the other’s burden. Still she wrapped her arms around the bear for the first time since she had been so little kissing the top of it’s head. She just wished it felt comforting instead of just silly. 

“I see. That explains a lot. They must have  - well I appreciate your help, Doc,” Lil said with a hollow sound in her throat as she thought about how she was going to tell Jonas. How they were going to get past this too. She had been stubbornly telling him that they didn’t know, and well now they did. She had no doubt whatever Regan had done was real and the truth. She didn’t understand what had happened, but the doctor wasn’t one to mince words either. “I - am pretty sure that means the rest of them - I don’t think we’ll have to do this again.” 

Standing up she took Jonas’s bear as well, as gentle and careful as she could be towards his and tried to breathe again. She was sure if she cried, Regan wouldn’t have faulted her for it but at the moment Lil couldn’t. Not when she had her twin waiting. She would hold him as he cried and she would keep it inside until it turned into anger - something anything to keep her moving. 

“Sorry for - well I’m assuming with your eyes going dark you had to see her die or something like that. That must not be pleasant. Still, I - am glad to know. Now I can go make sure she gets found and moves on properly. That’s more than a lot of us get, and I appreciate the opportunity to do so” Lil was babbling slightly, but she wanted the other to know she wouldn’t just collapse outside. She had people to go and help, and as long as that was the case she would. She had to find them, and she had to make sure they could rest. She wouldn’t let them be missing forever. Not now that she knew. Finally looking at Regan she gave a little bit of a nod not bothering to smile again.

Realization spread slowly across Lil’s face like a droplet of blood blooming on a white cloth. As still and composed as Lil managed to be, there was a lot happening behind her eyes, and Regan offered all she could right now – silence and space. Lil reclaimed the bear, the best proxy to her mother she might ever have again, but there was no weeping. When Lil spoke, Regan was once more both impressed and stunned by her handling of such hardship. “I don’t… I don’t know about the others. I’m sorry.”

This was one of those moments. There was a gap, an emptiness in the room and inside of her, where there should have been something. Some comfort, some humanity. What used to be there in another life often felt lost, but over the last few months, something new had taken hold in its place. She resented it most of the time, this indescribable thing. It was ruining her. It was easier to resist a scream. 

Regan reached out toward Lil, but her hand was as confused as her mind and didn’t know what to do, where to land. This was the worst part about her job, other than Rickers. Usually there was someone else here with the next of kin, someone to soak up the grief and tears and allow Regan to stand to the side, only there to answer questions with no expectation of warmth. But Lil was here alone today, and she had just received confirmation of something long-suspected but surely not completely accepted. And, Regan realized, Lil would now need to tell Jonas. She swallowed the lump in her throat and stared at her own hand, that cold thing hovering over Lil’s shoulder now like a specter all its own. Her grandmother would have choice words about this. With a sigh of acceptance, of giving in, Regan gave Lil the lightest pat on the shoulder, a did-it-even-happen feather touch, then drew back.

She cleared her throat. The thing was still there. “I’m as acclimated to it as someth– someone can be. But yes, I saw it.” Lil didn’t have questions? Didn’t she want to know? That was the point of this, right? Why Lil was here. Maybe Lil didn’t know Regan knew more. “Do you want to know what happened?” She asked in a tone she hardly recognized.

Lil knew. If her mom was dead, it didn’t seem likely the rest of her family members had made it out. Not with the people who were now stalking her and her brother so close to killing the two of them. It didn’t seem possible that they were, but Lil had known since she was a child that everyone died. 

Even the people she loved were going to die. How could she not - seeing ghosts around her and knowing that even in that state there was still a bigger version of Death just above the horizon watching her. You had to accept it, or let it consume you. She had long ago accepted it even now when she wanted to scream that it wasn’t fair. “It’s okay. My mom - if she’s gone I think it’s safe to assume that they took the others. Still I appreciate the thought that they might be okay.” 

She didn’t stop Regan moving towards her and showing her sympathy in a way that felt - oddly familiar. If she wasn’t swirling in her own thoughts she might have laughed at the idea, but it felt like when Lil had to tell someone that the ghost needed to leave. She wasn’t in the same position often, but she knew how it felt to have to tell someone something awful and not know what to do. While Lil usually tried to make people laugh, she could see that Regan wasn’t like that. It didn’t make it less sincere though, and for a moment it did comfort her. 

Lil nodded wondering how that must have hurt to do. Seeing ghosts after all was one thing, but she never had to live what they had just seeing the remnants that were left behind. “Sorry you had to -,” she began and paused as the other had said she had seeing something. She figured she had only felt her mother’s death not seen what had happened. “I - yes I didn’t realize you were actually seeing it unfold. Anything you could tell me would help.” It could help Lil find her after all - get to where her ghost might be and ask what happened. Help her mom go to rest. 

That hope filled Lil as she thought maybe she could speak to her one more time, even if she wouldn’t be able to hear her voice again. Oddly a small part of her heart broke when she realized Jonas would finally be able to hear her. While she was sure her mom would want to move on, part of her knew she would wait. She would wait for the twins to find her to warn them what happened. To help them figure out who Astra was. She would. Looking up she steadied herself ready to hear to make sure she noted everything. 

Every moment that passed, Regan grew more assured that her assessment of Lil was right. It made her all the more dejected to be here with her under these circumstances. Dejected. The word felt vile to think about, something alien. But like always when breaking news like this, it ultimately helped, didn’t it? What was more important than closure? Lil would have spent a lifetime searching if she had to. So Regan nodded, more than willing to explain more. “It is a gift, not something to apologize to me for.” 

Now to grasp at what she even saw. “I will not pretend to know I understood what was happening.” Which was so often the case in her visions, really; the autopsy itself was often more informative than even seeing something. Her eyes ticked to the side as she tried to pick out the details, the ones that might be important. They still burned in her mind like they were right in front of her. Her tone was still strange, tight with more than just the gravity of the death. “There was a group of people in a room. Someone on the floor, tied down and unconscious, in the middle of a…” She drew out a circle in the air, “sort of a chalk circle. Surrounded by candles.” Regan steeled herself for what happened next. “Then they went out. There was a scream.” Though not a particularly impressive one. “Your mother wanted the others to leave. She knew something was about to happen. I do not know if they got out.” She paused, letting Lil comprehend and make sense of what she could not. “Is that helpful?”

Lil nodded at the idea of it being a gift and said, “That’s fair. I mean - seeing spirits is also a gift too.” It wasn’t one she wanted, but well it wasn’t something that hurt her either anymore. It made her who she was, at least partially so she understood thinking of it kindly. 

She listened carefully trying to put the pieces together struck again how much her mom loved them. “It sounds like it was an exorcism, but - not exactly right. Something must have been wrong.” Her eyebrows furrowed as she now tried to think her chin now resting on the bear as she thought. Maybe it had been a failed ritual? It wouldn’t help to press Lil knew that, but part of her wished she could see it. 

“I’ll have to ask my friend what that might have been. It doesn’t sound like something any of my family members would have set up, but it doesn’t sound not like a ritual either,” she finally said looking back to Regan. “It is helpful. - I can imagine that my mom would do that.” Of course she had. June didn’t have a stubborn pride that her husband had, and as soon as she realized something was wrong she would have wanted Jane and Jude to run. She just wasn’t sure if they would have. 

“I appreciate it. It - is rather important to me to know my mom was still herself even then,” Lil almost stuttered thinking of the woman and shaking her head a little. “But really. It’s a big help. It looks like I need to find a ritual site and see if anyone else went missing around that time. I - should go tell Jonas, but I’m grateful for the help. If anything now I know what to start watching out for.” 

Once more, there was that rankling need to reach out, both literally and figuratively. Regan thought of her grandmother’s dark eyes peering down at her and bit back that urge. “I don’t know what went wrong. But something surprised her.” She shook her head. At least this was more information than Lil would otherwise have, more than she had even minutes ago. “What do you mean, still herself?” It was an odd comment, and Regan didn’t know what to make of it. But what else was new?

More questions bubbled up inside her. To start watching out for. What did that mean? Regan knew Jonas had been attacked, and there was a possible – even likely – connection to what happened to the rest of Lil’s family. But how present was the danger? How could it be connected to what Regan saw? “I – right, of course. I’m–” glad? “--pleased you have something you can do with this information. And that you came to me.” Before she left. With an uncertain look toward Lil, she hesitated again. No, why should she? She cared, didn’t she? “Don’t do anything reckless. The same could happen to you, and I’ve seen others die in pursuit of things best left in the past. You and Jonas best be careful.” That was more than enough. “Take care, Lil,” Regan said, knowing it might be the last time they spoke, whether Lil followed her mother to the grave or not.

“That’s a worry, but now I at least know it was a ritual that went abnormally. That’s a big clue I’ve been missing. And - well when people are about to die - they sometimes don’t act like they normally would. It - I’m just comforted by the fact that she didn’t become someone else.” That would have hurt more at least to Lil. Knowing that her love was stronger than her fear gave her a bit of hope about what she had to do next. 

Maybe resolution didn’t have to be angry, or maybe it would end up being that way. She wouldn’t know for awhile. Still at the words she nodded. She was normally reckless, and even now part of her just wanted to do something anything to get rid of this feeling of grief, but it wasn’t just her. Jonas didn’t deserve to be alone, and if Lil died now he would be. She’d already had a taste of what it would feel like to be alone and she couldn’t do that to him. Not when they were alive. 

“I won’t be reckless,” Lil said softly almost like a promise as she looked at her koala bear again then back to the doctor. “I have no intention of leaving my brother to pick up the pieces of this alone.” At the idea of taking care she smiled a little, a sad thing but not devoid of care. “You too, Regan. Let me know if you ever need anything.” 

[pomie-fruitshake]

Part 9!

part 8:

--

We are sitting on his bed by the time I calmed down. He smiles at me and jokes "Did my question make you this sad? Haha"

"That's not why I-" I groan and hug him again. "I missed you.. a lot. Why did you disappear?.."

"Well.." He doesn't finish his sentence and instead laughs awkwardly. But I pry further.

"That's not fair, Solomon. I always tell you everything!"

"Do you really?" He says with a suspicious smile. As if he knows that's not true.

"Uhm-" I nervously try to scramble for words.

"It's alright, MC. We all have our secrets." He pats my head. Wait he WHAT!? I stare at him and he just chuckles.

"You like that, don't you?" A teasing smirk appears. And my heart beats faster.

"S-Solomon!! You- " I hide my face behind my hands. Though I don't stay hidden for long as I feel the pull of magic take my hands away from my face.

"HEY!"

"Ahahaha!" He leans in closer, while he's smiling so happy. I feel my heart fill with joy. "Please don't hide from me, my adorable apprentice ~"

I stay silent for a bit. And Solomon tilts his head, looking a bit worried now. "MC I'm sorry if I-" I don't let him finish as I kiss him softly on his even softer lips. I also see a very, VERY cute blush appear on him.

"Wh.."

I ruffle his hair and it's SO soft. My hands feel like they're experiencing heaven. So of course I continue petting him. Which doesn't help the already flustered sorcerer.

"M-MC!!"

"Aaawww~ look who's all shy now~" The roles have been reversed and I'm sure I look very smug right now.

He now groans in embarrassment and I have a feeling he'll get revenge on me. And revenge he takes. I feel hands on my sides start to tickle me. I start laughing and squirming, playfully trying to get away.

"Solomon! Hahahaha! Please!! Mercy!"

"Now now, why should I do that ~" He mercilessly continues until-

"MC? Solomon..?" An angelic voice is heard by the door. It seems we have been too loud. "I knocked but you didn't answer.." He looks troubled.

"Were we too loud..?" I look apologetically at him.

"Thankfully Luke has not woken up yet. But you were quite loud, yes."

"I apologize Simeon, we'll be quieter." Solomon says as he still has an arm around my waist from his tickling attack. I try not to think about that now.

And Simeon noticed that, he's been staring at it to be exact. "I see you have resolved what's been bothering you, MC?"

"Ah y-yes..?" No??? I haven't figured out anything! It got even more confusing!

"Well then. I wish you two a good night." Simeon leaves and closes the door. A silence befalls the room, Solomon is staring into the abyss, still with a slight blush. He giggles and leans back, closing his eyes and sighing happy. I'd stare at his lovely content face for longer, but I need to progress in my quest. "Solomon?"

"Yes, MC?" He says while his eyes are still closed.

"Can you.. come to my room tomorrow?"

He opens his eyes now and takes my hand. "Of course MC, I should be more free from now on."

I smile and get up. "That's a promise!!" I go to his door and open it, wanting to leave as it's late. But Solomon closes it again, suddenly having appeared behind me and leaning on it with his arm.

"Not so fast, MC."

... By the way this is how our dear Solomon looked after the kiss!

[hamliet]

Hey hamliet, got a bit of an unusual question for you about RWBY.

How do you deal with the negativity?

Now that Volume 9 is going to be on Crunchyroll first and free an entire year later, there's been a lot of negative talk about RWBY and Rooster Teeth. How RT is dying and a shell of its former self. That the RWBY Sub and Discord is going to pirate the hell out of the show instead of supporting it due to the poor treatment of the staff, calling Geoff's statement about how pirating will do nothing more than hurt the show as bad taste, and pretty much fine dooming the show because all that matters now is RT is supposedly a shit company these days and that's all that matters...

Not to mention you STILL have people like the Judgemental Critter releasing videos about how bad RWBY is. There's so little positive RWBY content on Youtube...

Just, how do you deal with it all, the hatedom for a show you love and worries that it might not be ended thanks to the hatedom and controversies surrounding it? Or do you think I'm just making a mountain out of a molehill?'

Sigh.

Regarding YouTube, I ignore it. Sometimes I think about doing takedowns of the Reddit Dudebros who have made RWBY hate videos, but I also don't wanna give them traffic. Instead I use the site I write for (the non-Tumblr one) to write positive RWBY content, which will go up over the next month. It won't have the same reach, probably, but it's all I can actually do.

As for the production stuff, I have mixed feelings.

I think the long hiatus has soured a lot of the trust in CRWBY, and rightly so. Yes, covid, the WBD merge (and WBD's scorched earth policies in general are creating atmospheres of anxiety and fear for all their subsidiaries), Ice Queendom, and the movies have happened, but the sudden hiatus when your previous volume ended on a literal cliffhanger is not a good look. People are going to rightly get suspicious and anxious, and frankly, I think RT didn't handle it well at all. If RWBY continues, and it better, they absolutely cannot have another long hiatus, and they should be forthcoming about things.

I think Geoff's letter is an attempt to be forthcoming. I don't think it's super clear, though, and kind of made things worse--but I also don't think that is Geoff's fault. I think the fandom, as a whole, has issues that are absolutely not the fault of Rooster Teeth or anyone in CRWBY, and are instead the fandom's issues.

The fandom has a semi-parasocial relationship with the actors and writers, which is great on one hand and yikes on the other, because the fans do act entitled in a lot of ways. Because people involved do say certain things, fans take it as Gospel Truth because Their Friend The Involved Person wouldn't possibly have other motives or be a complex human being themselves with subconcious pain and desires that may or may not align with theirs. But the people involved are all, well, people, and they aren't your friend. They're not a bad person or an enemy; they're just a person you don't actually know. People are complicated. I'm also not blaming people involved who speak out; they're doing what they can with what they know. I just wish fans would accept that what fans know is far, far less than they think.

I don't know how to say this in a way that will not get fans furious at me or think I'm dismissing the issues because I'm really not trying to. I'm just an adult who has unfortunately seen the results of simplistic thinking, and there are not simple solutions to complex problems.

If you watch any anime at all, you're probably giving money to studios that treat their workers way, way, way worse than Rooster Teeth does.

If you consume manga, you're giving money to a company that has worked numerous mangakas into permanent disabilities because of their insane deadlines and low pay. Like, Shuiesha is awful. Ishida lost his ability to taste food.

Wait, I can hear all of you now: JUST BECAUSE X DOES IT DOESN'T MAKE IT OKAY FOR RT TO DO IT! To which I say: you're hella f*ckin' right. I am not making this argument at all, just laying facts out. It absolutely is not an excuse. 0% excuse.

Get your sh*t together, Rooster Teeth.

But it is to say, if you're boycotting RT but watching something else, don't say it's on blanket moral principles, because it isn't. You're going to have to ask yourself why you hold them to another standard. And to be fair, we all have limits and our own boundaries, so it's not possible to judge others. I avoid certain media and consume others.

There isn't a great way to handle this. There isn't a simple solution that will just magically make everything okay for everyone. It sucks.

But boycotts actually, imo, not going to help and fairly likely to make the situation worse. So instead of no pay, you want them to get... no pay or jobs at all? Because it's not like there's a "good" animation studio. Trust me, I work in the arts. Having no job is awful, too.

It's not remotely the same, but I think back to the sweatshops people boycotted in the late oughts--understandably so. But here's a little known fact: thanks to all the boycotting, a lot of those women went into the sex industry, and not exactly willingly, but out of desperation. I know some of these women by name. It is not the same thing here, and I'm not saying it is, and maybe shouldn't even use this analogy, but I am using it as an example of how boycotts as simple solutions are not nearly so moral as you might think, in broad terms.

Regarding RWBY's future, I really hope we get the ending as Monty planned. I want it, and I think we only need 3-4 more seasons for it.

Frankly, I think RWBY is one of the most well-written American animated shows to exist in the past decade.

(Go ahead and argue with me, dudebros. You'll lose.) RWBY is actually very popular overseas, which also helps.

I also think of Monty's quote from when his mother passed away, which seems eerie considering his own untimely death:

“I believe that the human spirit is indomitable. If you endeavor to achieve, it will happen given enough resolve. It may not be immediate, and often your greater dreams are something you will not achieve within your own lifetime. The effort you put forth to anything transcends yourself, for there is no futility even in death.”

Anyways, the finale of volume 9 is airing on the anniversary of my dad's death, which is the same day as the anniversary of the death of the friend who introduced me to RWBY's parent as well (yes, our parents died the same day, years apart). RWBY is one of those stories that gives me life and hope again in how it handles grief. I hope there's a path forward for the story that involves treating workers fairly.

[ikatako38]

Hey all, I have some good news and some bad news.

The bad news

is that TPWCH is going on an emergency (unplanned) hiatus. This means I won’t be making any effort to work on the fic or any related work such as art and side projects, whicle I try to get myself back on my feet. This means we might miss the 2nd Anniversary Special, but I will post it eventually even if it’s late. I’m really excited to share it with you! I don’t know how long this emergency hiatus is going to be, but I think somewhere around a month would be a reasonable estimate. Keep in mind that this is when I’ll start working on things again, so it might be a few more weeks after that before you start seeing content again.

The good news

is that I’m going to be emptying out all my WIPs, notes, and any other content I can easily throw at you guys to help hold you over throughout the break! So anyone following me here should be getting a bunch of exclusive content over the next several weeks.

Also,

since everything’s getting pushed back, I think now would be a good a time as any to start Ship Wars! I’m not going to put an exact start date on it yet, because it will take a bit of work to kickstart, and I don’t know when I’ll get around to that, but once I do get it started it should mostly run itself!

So…

I feel like I’ve been saying this a lot lately, but thank you guys so much for sticking around with me through all of this. I’m painfully aware that I’ve only uploaded one and a half official chapters since April, and I know that I’ve lost a lot of readers because of that. So again, thank you so much for staying. It really means the world to me.

I’m sure the question a lot of you probably have on your mind right now is, Is Tako ever actually going to finish TPWCH? And with how things have been going lately, that’s a very valid question. To be 100% honest with how I’m feeling another the fic right now, I kind of wish it could just be done already. Or that it could just somehow write itself. But the reason for that is that I’m so excited to share with you all other parts of the TPWCH universe that are just waiting to be written! I really don’t see myself dropping the TPWCH universe anytime soon, and I really don’t see myself dropping TPWCH itself anytime soon, either. And an important reason for that is simply that… I don’t have any other ideas to write. Even for other fandoms. It’s a bit crazy just how strong of a hold TPWCH has had on me for three years now.

By the way, that’s not normal for me. Back on my FFN and Wattpad days (don’t bother going to look for my accounts, they don’t exist… yet 👀), I was usually working on 3-5 fics at once and was constantly having ideas for new ones, to where it was a struggle to keep up and I to make hard decisions about priority. I don’t know if I’ve gotten less creative with ideas as I’ve gotten older or whether TPWCH is just the first universe to be so interesting to me that I don’t have any need or desire to come up with new things outside of it.

Either way, if I have no desire to work on other things, the only way TPWCH would ever stop is if I stopped writing altogether, and that’s just not going to happen. Writing has been a huge part of my life since I was ten, and maybe even younger. It’s my most important hobby and makes me happy. If I don’t do it for too long, it’ll actually make my mental state worse.

So I really don’t want you guys to think that this is like a vacation for me, or some sort of respite from the… AWFUL chore of writing. (　ﾟдﾟ) Really it’s more like I’m grounded from writing until I can get my grades up. (;_;) The grades in this case, yes being my university grades but also my life in general because it’s been kind of a mess lately. Within the last two weeks, I fell out with two of the closest people I’ve ever been to and pretty much the only irl friends I have at this point (the Discord server will know who these people are). One of them going very badly and increasing my conviction that everyone secretly hates me. （╹◡╹）On top of that my room is slowly becoming uninhabitable, I’m not sleeping, and I’m just constantly stressed and anxious. But I’m gonna be okay. The fallings-out are very fresh and will fade with time, and just two days ago I finally got a consultation for ADHD. I now have initial diagnoses of ADHD and Social Anxiety Disorder, which I should be starting treatment for in about a month, so I’m really hoping that will help me somewhat to get back on track. And all the support from everyone between Discord, here and AO3 has always helped, and I’m sure it will continue to help. Many of the people I’ve met online through the fic have ironically been far more supportive and trustworthy than the people I’ve met irl. You’re all so real for that ╰(*´︶`*)╯♡

Wow, that got really long! Thank for reading this far!

[mortemoppetere]

TIMING: march 19, 2019. FEATURING: rosa cortez LOCATION: emilio's living room in mexico. SUMMARY: rosa wants to know why emilio hasn't started training his daughter. an argument ensues. CONTENT WARNINGS: mentions of child abuse (in the form of hunter child rearing practices)

19 MARCH 2019

“This is getting ridiculous, Emilio.” 

He stepped to the side as Rosa marched by him, knowing she’d shove him out of the way if he didn’t move. “Please, come in,” he said dryly. “Oh, I’m good. How are you, Milio? I brought your knife back! Sorry there’s blood on it.” He shut the door with a sigh.

Truth be told, he knew what brought Rosa here today even if he’d pretend not to. There was only one thing on everyone’s mind lately, only one question that brought them to Emilio’s door. Flora was walking in earnest now, talking in clipped sentences that had more words than what he’d wager he’d said at that age, or Rosa or Victor or Edgar. She laughed too much, her squeals of delight making his mother shoot harsh glares his way any time they met her ears. She was a flurry of energy, she called everyone by name.

She didn’t know how to hold a knife.

He knew he was dragging his feet on it. He knew she was supposed to. She was two years old now. In four more, she’d be the same age he’d been when he’d killed his first ghoul, trembling and terrified. What chance would she stand if she were locked in the shed the way he and his siblings had been? She’d be dead before it began. He knew that. But her hands were so small. He couldn’t fathom putting a knife in them. He couldn’t imagine them bloody.

But Rosa could. She’d stuck to the schedule with her own son. Jaime had been a quick study. At four, he was already ahead of the curve. He was smart, he was quick. He was picking up on the physical things that Rosa had always excelled at, but he was also learning the mental strategies Edgar had always boasted. And his mother did not hesitate to do what her mother had done to her. She didn’t flinch at the idea the way Emilio did, didn’t shy away from it. Another area in which his sister was a better Cortez than he could manage. He’d stopped keeping count a while ago.

“I’m not in the mood for your jokes. No one is ever in the mood for your jokes. They aren’t funny.”

“Ouch.”

“Shut up. Just — What the hell do you think you’re doing, Milio?”

“I was making lunch. Just a sandwich, nothing fancy. I don’t have enough bread to make you one. Also, you’re yelling at me, and I don’t like making sandwiches to people who are —”

“Shut up.” Her tone sliced through him like a knife, her glare just as sharp. She looked so much like their mother in that instant that he braced himself for the blow. It didn’t come, but his mouth remained closed all the same. Hey, look at that. He did know how to listen. “You need to get off your ass.”

“Why can’t it wait until she’s older?” He stopped playing dumb. “Other families —”

“Other families die out two generations in. We go back centuries, and this is why. We start them young so that when we’re gone, they can keep going. And we train them together. Jaime is already so far ahead of her, Milio. She’s supposed to watch his back.”

“So that’s what this is about.” His tone was flat.

“Yes, that’s what this is about. My son is where he’s supposed to be. He’s what he’s supposed to be. And if the person who’s supposed to be watching his back doesn’t know how to hold a fucking knife —” 

“Oh, fuck you! Why is he more important? Why should my daughter be cannon fodder so that your son can live longer?”

She didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. He knew the answer. Jaime was better because Rosa was better. Jaime was who their mother wanted to carry on the family name because his mother was strong and capable while Flora’s father was an embarrassing disappointment. His daughter was the only good thing Emilio had ever offered this family, and now he was unable to give her fully. He couldn’t stand the idea of it, couldn’t think on it without feeling nauseous. 

“You need to do what you need to do,” Rosa said lowly, “before someone else steps in and does it for you. You coddle her, Milio. You can’t afford to. None of us can.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“You know what I’m trying to say.” She crossed her arms over her chest, shaking her head. “You’re my brother, Milio, and I love you. But I’ll do what I need to do, too. Okay?” She turned then, crossing the living room floor to the door. He shuffled to the side, feeling small even as he towered over her. She stopped, hand on the doorknob. “Enjoy your sandwich,” she said, and then she was gone.

He stood there for a moment, the living room somehow feeling both smaller and larger than it ever had before. He knew what he needed to do. He just didn’t know if he could do it. But he’d try. He knew that much.

He ducked into his daughter’s room and took a few items of clothing from her dresser, tucking them into a duffle bag. It would take time. He’d need to work slowly, under the radar. But someday, he’d do it. Someday, he’d do what he needed to do.

He just hoped someday would be soon.

[saintobio]

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧ walking in on him watching adult content.

pairings. various (xavier, rafayel, zayne, sylus), fem!reader tags. mild smut, suggestive language only, master/servant themes (rafayel), safe-sex practice (zayne), consensual filming (sylus), no explicit scenes notes. 1.6k wc, sparked by a random thought i had today :’D rbs appreciated. dividers from anitalenia <3

⭒ xavier.

the very moment you walked into his room, xavier was caught off guard. in the worst way possible. he was quickly closing his laptop, his face and ears turning a deep shade of red, as the titillating sound of a girl moaning through the screen could still be heard from the audio. 

oh, dear. 

“sorry, i didn’t knock,” you said, trying to excuse yourself while hearing him frantically cursing under his breath, scrambling to exit the webpage.

it was quite a different image from his usual calm demeanor. while xavier had moments that suggested the impurity of his mind, especially when he often initiated doing the deed with you, it was still unusual to see him engage in watching adult content all by himself to satiate his needs. 

so, when he could feel you holding back a smile, he couldn’t help but stammer, “i-it’s not what it looks like.”

you could see the embarrassment written all over his face. it was clear he was mortified, and you weren’t helping him with your presence. “you don’t have to explain,” you assured with a light chuckle, trying to ease his discomfort. “i’ll go now.” 

“no, wait—”

grabbing the doorknob, you turned to him. 

“i’m so sorry.” he fidgeted nervously, unable to meet your eyes. then, the explanations soon followed. “i wasn’t… cheating on you, okay? i’m just… watching those things to help me learn. it’s for educational purposes only.”

yeah, right. what exactly did he need to learn? he was already good in bed. his explanation was silly, but you didn’t hope to press it on seeing as xavier was already a blushing mess.

“it’s okay.” you placed a hand on his arm. “i didn’t think you were cheating, anyway.”

for a moment, he nodded and sighed of relief, but the discomfort stayed in his visage as he patted the small area on the corner of his bed. “can you at least sit close?” 

so you did. and as soon as you sat on the edge of his bed, xavier was quick to lean in and give you a soft kiss on the lips. “hey,” you teased. “not so fast.” 

he eyed you with a pleading look, almost like a puppy begging for treats. his gaze tempted you of the exact questions in your head; should i give in or should i not? and just as you decided to choose the latter, your arm happened to brush against his crotch while climbing into bed, feeling the hardened member buried underneath his pajamas. 

“is that because of me,” you asked, face inches close to his, “or is it because of the girl you’re watching?” 

xavier, solemn and all, took your hand in his and made you feel his growing bulge. “i promise, it only responds to you.” 

⭒ rafayel.

the first time you caught rafayel watching adult content on his phone, he was more annoyed at being interrupted than embarrassed. he even clicked his tongue at you and closed the screen with a bratty sigh as if he would have been having fun if you didn’t bother to walk in on him.

“were you spying on me?” he pouted, crossing his arms. “how naughty!”

you rolled your eyes at his playful defense. “i wasn’t spying. it’s your fault for keeping the door open. why are you even watching that in broad daylight?”

“there’s no rule saying i can only watch it at night.” rafayel quickly shifted the focus, teasing you for catching him instead of being the subject of mockery. “so, did you like what you saw?” he asked, his tone dripping with mischief.

“rafayel, really?” you replied, trying to keep a straight face.

yes, he turned the situation into a game and he was so good at it. it was his petulant nature that craved a reaction from you. “let’s see, you’re the one who walked in without knocking. it seems you’re already hoping to catch me in the act,” he presented an idea, displaying an intrigued gaze. “what a pervert!”

“i…” you struggled for the perfect words to deny his diabolical accusation. “hey, why are you turning this on me!” 

just as you were about to turn away, he pulled you close with his playful demeanor softening. “where do you think you’re going, bodyguard?” he whispered into your ear before feathering kisses along your jaw. “now that you’re here, why don’t we reenact that video? this is a premium offer from the famous rafayel. don’t even try to reject it!” 

you kissed him playfully, smiling into his lips before pulling away. “well, i have to know first… how many other girls have had this premium offer?” 

“you’re the first and only one. aren’t you lucky?” he trailed kisses on your neck, unbuttoning your top as he added, “now, sit back and let me do all the work.” 

⭒ zayne.

out of all the places you could have caught him, you never expected it to be in the doctor’s office during the after hours of his duty. and the funny thing was, zayne didn’t even flinch when you walked in on him. he was even calmly closing the screen, his stoic demeanor unchanged as though your presence didn’t bring an ounce of panic in him.

“zayne?” you asked, surprised by his lack of reaction. 

he looked at you with his usual level-headedness. “it’s normal human behavior. nothing to be alarmed about.”

his pragmatic response was typical zayne, addressing the situation with clinical detachment. it even seemed as if he was willing to discuss it if you wanted, only to provide rational explanations and ensure there were no misunderstandings.

“it’s just a way to unwind,” he said, his voice steady. “nothing more.”

because of his calm approach, you decided to retract any teasing you had in mind. “i guess you were stressed today, huh?”

zayne’s expression softened slightly. despite his stoic nature, he gently held your hand and made you sit on his lap. his subtle sweetness shone through as he planted a soft, tender kiss on your shoulder. “perhaps you can say that,” he agreed, while your mind was a whirlwind of indecorous thoughts the moment you could feel his bulge pressing against your bum. “are you alright?” 

“um…” you let out a small chuckle. “i can literally feel your…” 

he traced your curves with his large, manly hands while pressing his lips into your ear. “would you prefer it if i bent you against the table?” 

your dilated pupils were enough to confirm that you were into whatever this was, but you still tried your best to act hard-to-get. “you’re not exactly very professional here, dr. zayne. i’m gonna leave negative feedback on you on akso hospital’s website.”

you could hear zayne scoffing from behind as he forced you to get up from his lap while he was opening the drawers on his table. and as he had you sitting at the edge of his desk, you realized he was fishing out a packet of condom that he strategically hid underneath piles of paperwork. 

“better be safe than sorry.”

“z-zayne.”  you nervously chuckled, placing a hand on his chest. “what if someone walks in on us?” 

but he didn’t need to answer, because when you looked at the door to his office, the entire knob was already frozen in ice.

“i suggest we finish this before the ice melts.”

⭒ sylus.

look, if you thought catching sylus in a very compromising position would—in any way—make him lose composure, you were wrong. 

in fact, he was very upfront about it. he didn’t even care to hide it. 

when you walked into his living room and saw him lounging on the couch, his dark, crimson eyes met yours with a smirk playing on his lips. there was no sense of shame in him even if the background noise was a clear skin-slapping fest, added by the sensual whimpers of a woman and the guttural moans of a man as you heard another series of rough pounding. degrading words were thrown, and there were lots of begging, screaming, and crying. 

his search bar was definitely ‘hardcore sex’.

“caught me, did you?” he said, his voice smooth and dripping with arrogance. “what are you going to do about it, kitten?”

your heart raced, knowing sylus turned this around so that you were the one embarrassed to walk in on him instead of the other way around. as always, he knew how to manipulate a situation to his advantage.

“do you mind keeping it down?” you retorted. “it’s very noisy.” 

“i like the noise,” he replied, still having that cocky smirk settling on his lips. he then grabbed you by the hand and pulled you closer, forcing you to straddle him on his black leather couch. “but i’d prefer it better if it’s coming from your mouth, sweetie,” he whispered, his lips brushing against your ear, and his fully erect member poking against your clothed core. 

you didn’t need to look down to see the prints of his huge manhood pressing on his sweatpants.

“sylus…” your breath hitched as sylus’s hand moved to the back of your neck, pulling you into a deep, heated kiss. the intensity of his touch made your head spin, and you couldn’t help but melt into his toned chest.

“you drive me crazy,” he murmured against your lips. “i’ve been wanting to have you all day.”

you sent a light punch to his chest. “then, why are you watching another woman?” 

his eyes were dark with playful desire as he pulled you right back. “don’t get jealous now, kitten,” he said, his voice a wanton growl. “we can film our own so i have something to watch while you’re gone. what do you say?”

you swallowed heavily, feeling a shiver run down your spine. “i, uh,” you masked the shyness in your voice by clearing your throat. you’ve never done it before, but sylus’s suggestion awakened a kink you didn’t think you had. “you mean we’re gonna film our own… sextape?” 

sylus’s lips curved into a satisfied smile as he claimed your mouth once more, his kiss searing and possessive, leaving no doubt in your mind that you belonged to him.

“we’re gonna film every second i’m inside you, kitten.”