#'you want the ocean to change for YOU? find some gratitude for one of the only things in existence-

[mohntilyet]

waiting impatiently for more info on the lords of fortune + drawing a tarot for my rook in the meantime :)

[neil-gaiman]

Hello Neil, my name is Zalean. If you have a few minutes, I wanted to tell you a little story. Not really a question and I’m not sure how to use tumblr but I wanted to say thanks so much for coming to Florida a few months back and talking with Art Spiegelman. It was my first time ever figuring out how to buy tickets for something. I lived in, middle of nowhere, Vermont for most my life and had no idea what I was doing, I had never been to anything before, nothing had made me excited enough to do the 5 hour drive. And then you just appeared 20 minutes away from where I am living now.

See, I was just starting to get to know your books and work because I fell in love with Good Omens so deeply when I discovered it during season twos release. Funny thing is, I knew of you all along without even realizing it, Stardust has been my favorite book and movie since I was a kid because it was my dad’s favorite story. Finding out my two favorite things were actually connected, I started trying to get hands on as many of your books as I could. I hadn’t read in years before finding your books. It was eye opening.

The talk event at the Dr.Phillips Center was sold out by the time I knew about it, someone had asked me if I knew of the event when they saw my Good Omens keychains my mom had made me. I called the box office because there is no harm in asking. I explained how I’m an art student at UCF and desperately wanted to be inspired and learn from you both. The customer service people were amazing and ended up calling me back to get me a seat in the orchestra pit before they were released to the public. I drove alone, I walked there alone, I sat alone, and it was worth it. I was so thankful to get a seat and grateful to my professor who was a bit jealous he didn’t know about it but let me leave class early to go because of course the art professor would be understanding for any learning opportunities in the arts. And it was truly wonderful, it seemed real and that’s what I wanted. I didn’t want a show. I just wanted to hear, in some sense, that you were like everybody else. I brought a notebook and pen for any information or story’s that I thought made a difference to my little life. The other people around were wonderful, you inspire kind people.

Like I said, I had never been to anything like this and I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know you would have signed books and I only found out because the people next to me came in late. I asked them why they brought the books after it was over and the lights turned on. They did look at me like I had three heads for a moment until they realized I didn’t know there were books to buy, they looked kinda sorry for me but they were so nice. I had never really thought about the importance of someone’s scribble before this but it’s something that proves you were there. It says “Remember when this person made you happy? Remember when they changed your life? Remember when they gave you hope? Look at this and remember.” I hope to see David Tennant and Michael Sheen to get an autograph now that I understand the meaning behind it a bit more but honestly I just love diving into everyone’s projects, the wonder you all create. Oh what fun it is to live a life full of stories!

The people that were sitting next to me let me look at their signed books and hold them. I flipped through some of the big ones, handed them back and expressed my gratitude just to be in the theater. I showed them all my little quotes I wrote down, I never want to forget why I create things and you say so much about never stopping, always creating. Then the women handed me a different book, a smaller book, but when I tried to hand it back, a bit confused, she softly placed it back in my open hands and said “I want you to have it, we have plenty and I want you to love these stories just as much as we do. It’s just starting for you, I want you to remember who started it”. The book she handed me being“The Ocean at the End of the Lane”. The first book I decided to read by you and had just finished a week before. The women had no idea she given me a signed copy of the book that made me want to read again. Your books make the world better. For such a big theater and such a big stage, I just wanted to tell you my little point of view.

The story you told about wishing you enjoyed the past more than you did, I hope you get to enjoy it now, and I hope you want to. And thank you, to you and to Terry Pratchett for creating something special. I convinced my dad to watch Good Omens with me over December break, he loved it.

I forget sometimes that everything is someone's first time, and then I read something like this and feel like I need to remember that better. I'm glad the people beside you were kind.

[theeternalwombtarot]

what you need to hear right now: channeled from spirit

message: I love this type of art, I have tons of it on my Pinterest but anyway that's sort of beside the point, I feel called to do a message but I feel very low on energy within as of late. I want to try and keep this one short, sweet, and clear. As you know, especially if you're a light worker or intuitive, shifts within the collective, within energy however it comes are always felt first by us. If there is a symptom of change, I'm feeling it 10x over so that I can prepare to relay that information to the collective because I would honestly consider myself to be a vessel. As I cope with my life and my own human experience I am also in the process of collecting important information so that I can guide the collective effectively and let me tell you, I've been through some SHIT with the opening force of 2024. Anyways, enjoy the reading and I pray that you find what you're looking for and what you need with me in my space today.

-

I.

"we've been watching you juggle both the physical and the spiritual within your hands for the past couple weeks, you may feel as though your worlds are colliding your the sky and the ocean has folded over with you in the center. There comes a time in one's life when the elements that make up their world must come into alignment and fuse with one another. You were told to learn what it meant to be a balanced individual, and so as you completed and closed off karmic lessons and overcame blockages you became closer and closer to equilibrium and these moments now are crucial as what you had needed all long is on its way to be delivered to you. You've been learning what it means to manage your time, manage your energy, and spread yourself where needed to obtain the results you desire. You have one foot in the spiritual realm and one foot in the physical world. Your development as of now is so incredibly important and we're supporting you in your journey forward.

Things may appear to be slow, backed up, or difficult at this time but movement is coming in quickly and to be expected soon. You've planted your seeds to receive and as you deserve, you shall. within the next two weeks for some of you and even a couple of days for a select few of you, things will begin to move forward or pick up momentum. Set your intentions straight and make sure that they are unwavering. there is success on the horizon, whatever is difficult or isn't working out for you that will change. You've grown so much, and your only job at this time is to nurture yourself and your manifestations, show yourself grace, ask for healing, ask for closure, and ask for the necessary tools to care for yourself as one should. And become clear and aligned with whatever you are manifesting, and put yourself in the position to receive by doing the work on your end and meeting us in the middle with your will and your gratitude. If there's a will there's a way even if you don't have everything in the world to offer in exchange. Come to terms with your power and the part you play in your world.

A select few of you are royalty within the spiritual realm you are kin of spirits who are highly respected and praised in the beyond and that is why the pile you chose depicts the divinity of a matriarch holding her child. Look for gold jewelry and gold trinkets and items if you choose to go out shopping or collecting. You feel called to build something or may have an idea, honor your ideas, and put actions behind what you desire to reap. Those of you who know that you are divinely protected are being heavily watched over and shielded, there could potentially be gossip by those of whom you've left behind or parted from but their tongues will be stilled when they speak of you they summon your spiritual court ( your ancestors, your spirit guides, guardian angels and all deities who call out to you and respect you.) their karma is sharp. Pay no mind to any negative energy sent to you by others. They talk only because they want to be paid great attention to but the audience lies in front of you and the universe's love and support is more than evident on your side.

You are about to succeed heavily, many things will be given to you, prosperity and congratulations are in order, the people will see. you are in a position to receive well in your finances, so well you will be able to give to others or keep your abundance in full cycle forward and back to you. We once told you that you would be compensated greatly for your hardship and the spiritual council has spoken and reached a solid verdict on your reward and the size and volume of the gifts you're about to receive. Do nothing but nurture thyself and expand from this point forward. be easy with secureness in your good fortune, do not let your fear or your anxiety eclipse you there is no purpose for any of it."

-

II.

"You asked to be free of the things that threaten to hold you hostage and one of the biggest of those things happens to be you. It's time for change and it's time for growth. As you step into the new year you have no choice but to be reset now after years and months and weeks of being broken. You need to be able to heal properly. It's time to come clean and be honest. There are many things within your life that have made lasting impressions on who you chose to be or what you chose to do for your survival even at the expense of others, even those you held dear to you. The process of living an honest life is not an easy one. It is easier to be deceptive, to use your pain as a weapon, or to do what you need to do to survive even if it means stepping on others in the process or not meeting the needs of those you've awoken to you. It is hard work to be in alignment, it is hard work to always take accountability, it is hard work to look at your shadow and truly acknowledge it, you know more than anyone."

interception: I'm getting the energy of the film "warrior" with tom hardy in where he plays a character named tommy who ends up having to fight his brother for a large reward in a wrestling championship. He was a marine in the military and has childhood trauma that shapes the way he presents himself to others and navigates in his interpersonal relationships and of course what his goals and purpose are in the film, I'm not going to spoil it for you but if this is your pile, I recommend you watch it. it's on Netflix. it also really does a good job of highlighting an aspect of ourselves that we carry in our spirits to marry ourselves to our trauma or particular factors of it to hide from troubling or conflicting emotions or circumstances. things that are "inherently" bad or negative in theory but can look "desirable" or "acceptable" to us because our motivation for accepting it happens to be a heavily skewed one.

" It's time you finally free yourself from your karma, from your vices, from your shadow, and from aspects of yourself or your life that threaten to keep you stuck or stagnant. You can't take with you all of these things into the new year, into the new world, into your new life. The devil is in the details and he has done nothing but hold onto your ankle this entire time. It is your responsibility to make the changes that you've been asking for or craving. You may fear loss or the reality of the damage you've caused, the opportunities you've put yourself in the position to lose. You will sit with yourself, you will look at yourself in the mirror or you will suffer and continue to do so under the hand of your own decisions. What you are owed in compensation for a hard life cannot be received if you cannot put yourself in the position to receive them. There's a need in life for personal given grace as well as accountability for the part we play in events and circumstances that take place in our lives, take time to self reflect, forgive yourself, show yourself grace and in turn find the courage to communicate with those you've wrong and/or begin your journey forwards.

In our lives, the consequence we bare the burden of however heavy the weight is never the full and eternal end there is always something after. You've proven yourself to be resilient, to be a force. Use your strengths and allow them to will you forward into the next chapter of your life. Someone significant in your past could've heavily admired you or seen in you things you could not see in yourself as they were able to sense higher beings in others however troubled their karma was. The love they had for you is the love you are about to receive from yourself. The things they saw in you that you could not see you are preparing to embody in full. Ace of pentacles upright for you here signifying abundance coming to you when you are able to open yourself up to receive it all. remain committed to your cause."

-

III.

"You're seeking out personal closure or looking for solutions to an issue that you don't have on end. Don't make the mistake of running from completion or leaving doors ajar because it is difficult to close them shut you know what you need to do. You need to make the proper investments for your life, you need to work for your improvement or to receive the life you have felt you were entitled to all along but the mistake you've made along the way all this time is attempting to take short cuts and be strategic, deceptive or ingenuine in your method to try and deceive. You are used to putting on a mask or trying on costumes to appeal what others desire from you so you can receive the result you prefer from them, their approval, their support, their validation. Your biggest enemy is the closet full of masks you've accumulated they work against you, they push people away, they scare people of value, and they mislead as you've asked them to. Your life and it's events however unfortunate or difficult have existed to serve you a purpose and put you on your righteous path forward in alignment with your highest self and the life they live but instead you've sharpened it and allowed it to be used as a weapon against others and against yourself.

put your strengths and your adaptability where it's needed and not into being a sheep in wolves clothing or traveling through the night in such a way in which you won't be seen. Abundance will come for you and doors will open up for you where you set your intention and where you are unwaveringly honest and true. Reflect on your choices, your habits, and your behaviors in order to decide what needs to be changed and what needs to be improved and do it honestly this time and set the intention to change it not make another mask of it and store it away for another time. It is not your place to control the way everyone looks at you and how you are perceived or if they are willing to give to you or not. You control or manipulate what does not belong to you from places of fear you store deep within you and it is time to heal and ready yourself to move forward and leave a karmic version of yourself behind. Pack up the things you need to bring with you and be rid of the rest. Do not be resistant to change you must move."

[clone-anon]

I miss Tech. I know you might not be able to write for awhile and I get that. If you feel up to it though could you please write a fic where Tech is able to come to Pabu after tantis and finds out the Marauder is gone. Maybe reader (platonic/aromantic) comforts him with hugs and memories tks

Hello! I have some pretty strong feelings about Tech and how we still didn't see him in the entire last third of The Bad Batch. Here is hoping he will come home soon. And in manifestation of this....

Tech x GN!Reader

Warnings: Mention of injuries, but nothing explicit. No indication of whether Tech was CX-2 or not. Tech lives, obviously!

You sat on the landing pad near the ocean. It was empty now, but the last few remnants of the Marauder were only recently removed. In the rush to get to Tantiss, the people of Pabu did their best to help clean up the mess from the explosion while Wrecker, Hunter, and Crosshair left with Phee. You were among them, trying to grab whatever you could and sort through anything that you felt the brothers would want to keep. There wasn't much. Thankfully Gonky, Lula, Tech's goggles and various pieces of armor were already removed when the ship exploded. You did, however, manage to find and keep one thing.

You smiled to yourself as you looked down at the yoke and the lever used to jump to hyperspace.

"You recovered it?" Tech asked as he approached.

"I did," you replied with a smile. "I thought you might want to keep it."

Tech sat next to you with a flinch and sighed.

"You okay?" you asked.

"I'm better today." He was still healing, but mostly there. His family had waited until he was better to tell him about the Marauder. He didn't take it well, although he tried to insist it was merely a ship that could be replaced. You all knew better, but it was Tech's way to try to process the information.

Tech reached for the yoke and you gladly gave it to him. He held it in his hands as he had done hundreds of times while piloting the ship. It fit his grip perfectly.

"I requested this particular part," he said. "I requested the modifications to the Marauder. I was nine, but argued that since they felt we were nearly ready for battle, we should be able to get the best equipment. They made some of the modifications, but I made most of them. Even the ones they deemed unnecessary."

He reached for the lever and you handed it to him. He felt so natural holding these pieces, yet they were less familiar since they were no longer attached to anything.

"What was it like when you first flew the Marauder?" you asked.

Tech fondly smiled and answered, "The training simulations were not adequate, but I adapted quickly."

He grimaced, now faced with the thought that he would never fly his ship again. He would never have that home again. He took in a breath. Things changed, but he wasn't alone. He made it to Pabu, their new home. He put the yoke and lever aside and tried to smile at you. You opened your arms to invite him in for a hug if he wanted it. He didn't hesitate. He'd been separated from his family and friends for so long. He rested his head against yours and you held each other. While he wasn't usually one to cry, a few tears trickled down his face.

"I cannot explain why I feel this way. I'm home. We lived. I should only feel gratitude."

"It's okay, Tech," you reassured. "Sometimes I can't put my finger on my feelings, but I simply feel them. We're all built a little different. Besides, you survived a terrible fall. It takes a toll on your body, including your exceptional mind."

He nodded and took in a deep breath. You held him a little closer and waited for him to feel ready to let go. You stayed up with him and watched the ocean while he spent the night telling you all kinds of stories about flying and the modifications he wanted to make on a new ship.

[mlm-writer]

Chocolate Milk (GN!Reader)

Pairing: Spock (AOS) x Gender Neutral Ensign Reader (platonic) Rating: General Audience Words: 1320 POV: Second Summary: Your childhood trauma left you near-emotionless. While most find it unsettling, there are some crew members appreciating you just the way you are. Note: Trauma not described, reader's physical traits also not described. I want to say ft. my OC, but he is deadass more present than Spock in this so ft. Spock I guess. Tags: mentioned trauma, platonic/professional appreciation, Ensign Michael Gabe the empath, alcohol mentions but no consumption, red alert and Kirk & Bones have a cameo

One moment the white hallways were too bright for the early hour and the next they were bathed in crimson. ‘Red Alert again?’ You wondered as you broke into a sprint. Red Alert happened at least once a month with captain Kirk looking for trouble left and right, but as far as times of crisis went, you had experienced far more distressing situations in your youth. At least, they felt more distressing as a child still figuring out who you are and why you were put into a world that was described as a utopia and yet so so full of suffering. 

You arrived at your station not a moment too soon. You were gasping for air, just like your colleagues at the stations adjacent to you. Michael’s fingers trembled with every jolt of the ship. “Ensign Gabe, we need a read on their defences. Any weak spot would be appreciated,” the captain urged the man next to you. His blond hair started sticking to his forehead as he calibrated the scanners to adjust for the shields. You focused on your own task, but from the corners of your vision, you could see Michael making mistakes that were uncharacteristic to his intelligence.

You placed a hand on his shoulder. “Michael, deep breaths. You got this.” You spoke softly to him, trying to make sure he was the only one hearing your reassurance. You felt him inhale deeply, holding the air for a few seconds and then releasing it evenly. You were aware the empath could feel everyone's distress. With the physical contact you hoped your calmness stood out in the ocean of unease. The blond muttered a brief expression of gratitude. You occasionally touched his shoulder again, trying to focus his gifts on you so he could stay level-headed. Sure, you could die today, but you knew your task like the back of your hand and you knew Michael did as well, in spite of his nerves giving the wrong idea and his abilities nearly crippling him. 

Things looked dire for a second, but hardly an hour later, you were at warp 4 en route to a space station for repairs. You stayed at your station monitoring repairs to the systems, while Michael left to get a ‘stiff drink’ as he called it. He could probably use it. You noticed how even lieutenant Chua seemed tense as he checked upon the injured on the bridge, calling over the CMO when he thought they might need a trip to sick bay. You watched how he carried the yeoman with a possible broken leg out to the turbolifts. “Ensign?” You realised you had been daydreaming a little. You whipped your head around, worried the SIC was about to scold you. 

“Yes, commander?” Spock was the ever-intimidating presence on the bridge. Very little scared you, but the idea of disappointing your superiors and commander Spock particularly “All repairs are going as expected. We will make it to Sindku station in three hours at our current velocity.” You added your status report after a short pause, hoping that was what commander Spock wanted to hear. 

He did not seem pleased with the answer. Some people would argue there was not a single expression to read on that half-Vulcan face, but you would disagree. You knew the subtle changes too well, have seen them in the mirror plenty of times to recognise them on another. You watched his thought progress, then breathed out a small sigh of relief when Spock seemed to have calculated his next words. “I am aware you have been called to duty during your leisure time. I will assign an on-duty officer to relieve you shortly.” You gave him a curt nod of comprehension. He then left. 

And just as foretold, on-duty officers arrived to relieve the bridge staff that had their leisure time interrupted by the red alert. You decided to check on Michael. He was in the lounge, as expected. You had expected him to be drinking alcohol, but spotted him with a big glass of chocolate milk. “Is that your stiff drink?” You greeted him with those words when you stood next to him. 

Michael looked up at you, a friendly smile plastered on his face. “What can I say? I prefer calories over alcohol.” He raised his half-empty glass as if he was toasting. “By the way, thanks for getting me through that red alert today. I…” he let out a breathy chuckle, “I really don’t get how you can always keep your cool, but I’m really glad to have someone like you around when all I am feeling from everyone else is the looming dread of death.” You gave him a nod and patted him on the back. 

What you wanted to say was ‘you’re welcome, it’s the trauma’, but those jokes have not been funny since the early 21st century, so you opted for a more modern response. “We all have our virtues.” Michael raised his glass again, as if saying ‘I’ll drink to that’. You decided to join him with a chocolate milk of your own. Michael always knew how to get the small talk going. He started off with the latest gossip, then asked your opinion on a personal or a ship matter and after some time, you always ended up talking mathematics. You seemed like total opposites at the bar, one person emoting like a cartoon character, the other virtually a statue. If Michael was not an empath, he would probably assume you never felt a thing in your life, just like everyone else.

The doors behind you slid open and you noticed the surprise on Michael’s face. He tried to hide it, but was doing a piss poor job at it. You turned to see what got him worked up, only to see commander Spock waltz in. The man was only here when he wished to speak to someone privately and he was heading straight for your chocolate milk hang out. Michael whispered he was worried Spock noticed his small panic today, but then you were the one requested to follow him to a less populated corner of the lounge. 

You had no idea what you did, but you left your chocolate milk at the bar and joined Spock near the windows. “I meant to say this on the bridge, but it seemed inappropriate with the company present,” Spock started. You hummed, eyes locked together like you were having a stare-down. “I would like to commemorate you for your attitude during crisis response, both on the bridge as we have seen today and in the field as we have seen last week on Unico IV. I will put in a request to have you promoted to lieutenant junior grade. Should you remain equally level headed with more responsibilities thrust upon you, I believe you will, in time, make an excellent captain.” 

You were quiet for a moment, trying to take in the unexpected compliments. “Thank you, sir.” It was all you could really say. Spock responded with a polite nod and then made his leave. You blinked as you stood there momentarily. When you were ready, you returned to Michael at the bar. He was chatting up one of the red shirts again, the ever sucker for muscular men. When he saw you though, he slipped off his seat, taking the two glasses with him. 

“What did he say?” Michael asked as soon as he was in front of you, handing you your leftover chocolate milk. You paraphrased Spock’s words, leaving Michael gasping and squealing. “That is so amazing! Slay mama!” He somehow managed to make air come out of your nose at a high velocity. You tapped your glasses together. He seemed happier than you, but you let him celebrate for you. Captain? You? You could hardly imagine it right now. Meanwhile Michael was already planning on being your SIC. 

—————

REBLOG TO SUPPORT YOUR FANFIC WRITERS

Likes do not help exposure!A comment in tags or replies can sustain a writer for months!

[cowgurrrl]

Wonderfully Bizarre

Pairing: rockstar!joel miller x actress!reader

Author’s note: DID YALL REALLY THINK I WAS JUST GONNA LEAVE YOU WITH THAT (i also don’t love how this turned out but I couldn’t leave y’all with all that heartbreak)

Summary: You and Joel try again [1.2k]

Warnings: fluff (finally)

You end up staying in Ireland for a year and some change. Fifteen months if you're being exact. The Beginning of the End is flawless. It's raw and real and one of the hardest things you've ever done, but it's done. You've been home for about a month. Elizabeth was ecstatic to see and show you all her new toys and make fun of Carolina for being too pregnant to bend down and pick her up. She's having another girl any day now. You thought your heart would burst when they told you on FaceTime, and you immediately went into overprotective aunt mode, asking what they needed, the due date, everything. You were gonna be back in the States around this time anyways, but being home permanently makes you feel better.

You did a lot of growing in Ireland. You had to in order to tell the story you were trying to tell. You feel like a completely new person, and you're still trying to figure out if you like it. You think you do. You want to. This version of yourself is slower and takes more time for little things. She sees there's more to life than work, but it's okay to be dedicated to your career. It took you half a decade in the industry to find a healthy work-life balance, but you finally did. Better late than never, right?

The sun is shining, and the ocean air is blowing through your hair, and it feels beautiful. Your sunglasses are big enough to obscure your face so people don't stop you whenever they walk past you on the boardwalk. An email from your manager, Sierra, pops up on your phone, but you don't jump to answer it. She knows the press is not your only priority right now. She knows she can wait. You smile when a familiar twang calls your name, and you stand to hug him.

"Hey, how are you?" Joel asks as he rubs your back, and you smile as you lean back to look at him. He's got a little more salt and pepper in his hair than the last time you saw him, but it suits him. Getting older looks good on him.

"I'm good. How are you?" You ask. You sit across from each other, and he takes a big breath.

"I'm good. Busy."

"I've heard. Congratulations on your Grammy."

"Congratulations on your Golden Globe nomination," he says, and you bow your head just a little in gratitude. He smiles and gets quiet as he just stares at you. You wonder what he thinks about how you've changed. Your hair is shorter, but not as short as when you shaved your head for the movie. It's growing back in slowly but surely, but it's taking longer than you thought it would. "It's really good to see your face." He says. Heat rises to your cheeks, and you have to fight a smile at his words.

"Yours too. How are the girls?"

"They're great. Sarah just started classes at UCLA." He says, and you gasp.

"I remember her telling me about that! What's she studying again?"

"Psychology."

"Smart girl. And Ellie?"

"Ellie's starting high school in a week. She's just… thriving. She's in the art club at school and even won a few prizes."

"Wow." You breathe, and he nods.

"Yeah," he says. "How are you? How was Ireland?"

"It was good! Very rainy and cold but good. I think it might be my best performance to date." You say, not modest about it at all, but he doesn't care.

"I've no doubt."

"Oh, and I got a dog."

"Really? What kind?"

"Big old mean one," you say as you slide your phone open to show him the picture of your big-headed gray pit bull with a flower tucked in her collar. "Her name is Daisy."

"She's beautiful. Rescue?"

"Showed up on my doorstep one day without a collar on. She's been with me ever since."

"I'll have to meet her one day." He says.

"I'd like that," you smile. "How's Angela?" You ask, and he sighs.

"I don't know. She left about a week after you did. Left Sarah a note sayin' she was sorry, but she couldn't do this, blah blah blah."

"That's awful. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, me too," he shrugs. "Anyways. Now that you're done with Beginning of the End, what's next? I'm sure you've already got somethin' lined up."

"I'm, uh... I'm actually taking a little break. At least, until the movie comes out." You say, and his eyes widen. You feel a little shy about admitting that you're pretty much nothing, but you have Daisy now and your little family.

"That's a big deal."

"Yeah, it's weird to not be working, but this role really took a lot out of me. I think I deserve a break."

"You do," he says, smiling. "'M proud of you."

"Thank you." You say as you stare at him.

You talk about anything and everything. He tells you about Sarah's experiences at UCLA and how the tour went. From what you saw, it was sold out night after night, and he kept getting bigger. He looked so happy. You tell him that Carolina's pregnant and give him the few details about the movie you are legally allowed to share. It's easy and fun and so perfect. You can't get over the fact that he's right here in front of you after so long, and things aren't super awkward or weird. It feels like you're picking up right where you left off. Well, before everything went to shit. You're laughing at his jokes and smiling, and he's maybe flirting with you? His boyish smile and stupid jokes always did it for you.

"Are you," he clears his throat like the words won't come out otherwise. "Are you seein' anybody?" He finally asks after about two hours of conversation.

"Joel Miller," you say. "Are you trying to ask me out?"

"If I was, would you say yes?"

"Depends."

"On what?"

"If I've gotta sign a contract or not." You say, and he laughs. The sound of his joy fills a hole in your chest you weren't even sure was still there.

"No contract this time. Just us."

"Promise?"

"On my life."

Years down the line, you'll tell your son, Samuel, about this moment. The moment you decided to give his dad a second chance and the moment that would, unknowingly, change everything. You'll tell him that sometimes people come into our lives at the wrong time, but if they're the right person, then they'll come back when they're supposed to. He'll grow up hearing that story and seeing you and Joel be completely and utterly in love like nothing ever happened. But you don't know that yet. Sam is years and a few heartbreaks away.

What you know right now is that Joel is looking at you the same way he used to, and you're smiling at him, and everything feels right. In this moment and in moments of reflection, you won't be able to explain why you say what you do, but you know it's okay. You don't have to have all the answers. So, you look at Joel and say, "Okay."

And that was it.

[2baddiesfanfics]

From Liyue With Love

Pairing: Beidou x Ningguang

Tags: Birthday, Valentine's Day, Birthday Sex, Presents, Scissoring, Oral Sex, Vaginal Fingering

Summary:

Beidou has always been more partial to Valentine's Day than the other event that happens to fall on the same date. Ningguang wants to change that. In the end, they discover they've both got the best gifts either of them could hope for.

Read on Ao3

The chain of the gold necklace shimmered as Beidou held it up to the light of the mid-day Liyue sun. She’d stopped at Mingxing Jewelry to pick up the Valentine’s Day gift she had special ordered for the Tianquan who held her heart. Over the years she had imported many ores and gems one could only find from the furthest reaches of Sumeru to the deepest seas of Fontaine just for Xingxi’s store.

“Is it to your liking, captain? I admit, I took a few liberties with the instructions you left me,” Xingxi stated hesitantly.

Beidou ran her thumb across the small heart-shaped pendant, the cold stones chilling her skin. The two halves glistened in their respective signature colors - amethyst for her electro, citrine for Ningguang’s geo.

“It’s perfect,” she whispered. “Thanks, Xingxi! Knew I could count on you.”

The shopkeeper smiled gently. “I’m so happy to hear it.”

Beidou plopped a sizable sack of mora on the counter but was taken aback when Xingxi pushed it toward her.

“Captain, I appreciate that you think so highly of my handiwork, but I fear this is far too much. Half of that is more than enough. Consider it a birthday discount,” she replied with a wink.

She blinked, unsure of how to respond. If she didn’t have Ningguang in her life, today would be like any other. Commemorating Valentine’s Day was fun for many reasons. Beidou relished any chance she could get to show the Tianquan what she meant to her. The other yearly occurrence that happened to be on the same day…she had never seen a reason to celebrate.

Beidou swallowed back the dark emotions that threatened to burst forth. “Gee… thanks, Xingxi. Wait a second…how did you know it was my-“

The shopkeeper let out a chuckle. “Captain…how could I not? It’s all Lady Ningguang has been talking about for days.”

With a blush spreading across her face, Beidou nodded her head in gratitude and started the lengthy trek to the Jade Chamber.

“Captain Beidou! It’s so nice to see you here,” Baishi said suspiciously loud. She had greeted her right before the doors to Ningguang’s office, which Beidou found unusual.

“Uh, yeah, you too, Baishi. Is the Tianquan in?”

The secretary looked nervously over her shoulder. “Um…she’s a little-“ A loud crash came from the other side of the door, and Beidou looked ready to rush in.

“Ning? Are you okay in there?”

A swirl of platinum blonde hair appeared in the doorway. “Yes, captain, everything is quite alright. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some…business to wrap up. It’ll only be a few minutes.”

Beidou cocked an eyebrow. “You sure you’re good?”

Ningguang stared daggers at her. “Do you mean to insinuate I don’t know what I’m doing, captain?”

She held up her hands in defense. “Not at all. Continue,” she said with a smug smirk.

After passing the time chatting with Baishi, Beidou was relieved to hear Ningguang’s voice echo through the double doors once more.

“You may enter now. Baishi, please let Baiwen and Baixiao know you are all free to go home for the evening.” After a quick “goodnight,” the woman left to find her coworkers.

Beidou swiftly entered the room and was caught completely off guard by the sight before her. Ningguang had donned a dark blue strapless dress that sparkled like moonlight on the ocean’s surface.

A quiet “wow” was the most she could manage. Her attention was quickly directed to the table behind her, however. It had been set for dinner, complete with a tall glass of Beidou’s favorite lager imported from Inazuma. The scent of flash-fried filet, her favorite dish, wafted through the room, making her stomach growl.

“Baobei…did you…did you cook all this?”

Ningguang glided over to her side. “I may have asked Chef Mao’s girl to walk me through some things, but yes,” she answered as she took Beidou’s hand in hers. “Happy birthday, my love.”

Beidou felt the room spin around her. The weight of such careful planning hit her in full force.

“What’s wrong? Is it not to your liking?”

She hadn’t realized tears had started to drip down her cheeks.

“No! Archons…no. I love it. It’s just…I’m not used to this. I’ve always associated my birthday with wishing I hadn’t been born.”

Ningguang’s grip on her hand tightened. “How could you say that, Beidou?”

The captain wiped her face with the back of her hand. “I mean…Valentine’s Day is much more important, don’t ya think? I’d rather celebrate love than a curse like me.”

A look of intense sorrow came over Ningguang. She leaned her forehead on Beidou’s, forcing her to make eye contact. “You are not a curse, dear heart. Those villagers were ignoramuses who believed in mumbo-jumbo bullshit. Please. Let’s celebrate you tonight, hmm? I can think of no one more deserving,” she said as she took her by the hand and led her to the table.

“Well, one thing’s for sure. I’m not about to let this go to waste. Thank you so much, baobei.”

Ningguang smiled at the return of her signature sense of humor. The women sat down and thoroughly enjoyed every last bite as they chatted about their respective weeks.

“Whew. I couldn’t eat another bite! My compliments to the chef. You sure you don’t want to join my crew and cook for all of us?”

Slightly buzzed on her own glass or three of wine, Ningguang let out a hearty laugh. “Oh please. It was one dish! But I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Chugging the rest of her beer, Beidou let out a satisfied sigh. “Shame there’s no dessert, though. Could really go for something sweet after this.” She shifted her hooded gaze to lock eyes with the Tianquan. Ningguang had been with her long enough to recognize this was a different kind of hunger.

“Who said I didn’t have something prepared for your sweet tooth?” She replied seductively as she got up to get closer to her. “Did you honestly think this was all I got you?” Ningguang hiked her dress up as she positioned herself to straddle her lover’s lap. Beidou’s eyes drifted to the garter straps peeking out from under the fabric and had to control herself from ripping them off with her teeth.

“You mean there’s a feast after the feast?” She asked, lips already wandering across her chest and up her neck.

“Hmmm…it’s prepared. You just have to devour it,” Ningguang half-moaned.

“Then don’t mind if I do,” Beidou said as she grabbed the back of her thighs and lifted her effortlessly. Their mouths locked as the Tianquan wrapped her arms around her neck for support. The captain knew the way to the private sleeping quarters of Ningguang’s office like the back of her hand and carefully navigated around the stacks of scrolls that always seemed to inevitably accumulate.

Once she made it to the bed, she set her down and crawled on top of her, continuing to show her gratitude by attending to every inch of her body. Her dress was far too beautiful to remove, so she worked around whatever skin was left uncovered.

She was delectable in so many ways, and Beidou couldn’t help but repay her kindness in the only way she knew would come close. As she situated herself between her thighs, she shifted the fabric of her dress up to her hips to provide her with enough access.

Ningguang could only let out contented sighs and groans as the captain took her time savoring and teasing her. Beidou kissed her inner thigh, causing her to spread herself wider in anticipation. Whether this was a gift for Beidou or Ningguang, neither of them cared. They were lost in each other. Finally, the captain moved the crotch of the Tianquan’s panties to the side and tasted the unique but familiar flavor of her arousal.

“Archons…Beidou, your tongue feels so good…”

“Louder for me, baby. Let me hear how good I make you feel,” she commanded before swiveling it inside of her. The buck of Ningguang’s hips drove her deeper and caused her to moan. She held them down as she continued the practiced movements she knew would make her come undone. Desperate for connection, the Tianquan covered Beidou’s hands with her own.

“Fuck…Beidou…yessssss…” Between the captain’s muffled grunts and her own mewls of pleasure, Ningguang came with a shudder.

Beidou plopped onto her side next to where Ningguang lay on the bed dizzy on alcohol and her orgasm. The Tianquan rolled to face her and softly stroked the captain’s face with her well-manicured fingers.

“Well, that was just lovely. But I do believe I need to exchange a gift of my own. For without you being born today, I would not have a love worth celebrating. The archons gave me my heart on the most romantic day of the year.” Ningguang leaned in and kissed her with a passion unmatched.

The Tianquan tasted the salty tang of Beidou’s tears. To this day the captain still wasn’t used to this poetic tenderness. Sure, she and Ningguang had been together for a while, but she wasn’t usually this romantic. Beidou placed her hands on her waist and pulled her closer.

Their tongues clashed as hands roamed, divesting one another of any remaining clothing until their body heat was the only thing keeping them warm. Ningguang grabbed Beidou’s leg and placed it on her hip as she moved her hand between the two of them to her drenched core.

“What you lack in words your body certainly makes up for,” she teased as she ran her thumb across Beidou’s clit. The captain jolted in response to the stimulation.

“Ning…” She quietly breathed into her ear sending goosebumps down the Tianquan’s spine.

Collecting her arousal, she easily inserted two fingers into her. Moving them in and out, she slowly stroked her thumb across her sensitive bud in time with her movements. She continued her ministrations as she kissed down Beidou’s neck and across her chest. The captain’s flushed face and high-pitched moaning of her name alerted her she was close. Ningguang sped up her thrusts and crashed her mouth against her lover’s as she spasmed around her.

The two women held each other tightly reveling in the happiness and love they shared.

“Oh! Before I forget…” Beidou quickly hopped off the bed to fish around in the pocket of the bag she had brought with her. Producing a small wooden box, she placed it in Ningguang’s outstretched hand. “Happy Valentine’s Day, baobei. A treasure for my treasure.”

Ningguang rolled her eyes endearingly at the terrible pun. Turning her gaze back toward what she now held in her palm, she pried it open and gasped when she saw the contents.

“B-Beidou…this…this is gorgeous!” She gasped. Instinctively she turned around and pulled her hair back so the captain could do the honors. The necklace was surprisingly light considering the weight of the emotion it held. “I love it and will cherish it forever,” she exclaimed as she took her face in her hands. “Just like you.”

Beidou beamed at her girlfriend’s excitement. “I’m glad. I only brought Xingxi the materials. She was the one who worked her magic.”

Ningguang whipped around to her side table and immediately pulled out her own gift. Beidou couldn’t help but giggle at the ornate packaging that was so very…Ningguang.

“Now, you’ll have to let me know if this isn’t to your tastes. It’s nowhere near as ornate as what you’ve gifted me, but I hope you’ll still enjoy it,” she warned as Beidou began to carefully pull the paper away. Soon, it was revealed to be a beautiful photo album. Pictures of memorable moments decorated each page.

Beidou standing by the Alcor, newly purchased with help from Ningguang. Their first lantern rite together. The time Beidou took Ningguang on a trip to Inazuma to meet the sly fox of a light novel publisher she knew she’d want to do business with. A snapshot of the both of them deep in thought pondering over a chessboard. The rest of the photos started to blur through eyes glistening once again with unshed tears.

“I had that lovely little photographer from The Steambird help me restore some of the old photographs I had lying around. I figured it might help if you had something to look at when you were away on longer voyages.”

“Ning…I don’t have words. This is…this is incredible. And perfect. Just like you.”

The Tianquan smiled mischievously. “And…you haven’t gotten to the end yet. Go ahead and turn a few more pages,” she teased. Beidou did as she was told and was greeted by insanely risqué shots of Ningguang in barely-there lingerie…as well as some with her in nothing at all. She snapped the album shut quickly, her face turning red.

“Holy shit. I’m going to need to go another round after that.”

Beidou crawled on her hands and knees toward Ningguang, grabbing her hips and pulling her closer. She wrapped her legs around Beidou’s waist, their mouths clashing once again.

Their cores aligned, they were both reduced to a moaning mess as their bodies shook with need for one another.

“Baobei,” Beidou groaned between kisses, “You’re the…best gift…I could ever hope to…receive.”

The Tianquan wrapped her arms around her, yanking her closer for added pressure. Beidou moved her hips in time with Ningguang’s, their now over-stimulated buds sliding against one another ferociously.

The sound of ragged breathing, sighs of pleasure, and the gentle rattle of a necklace chain swirled in a symphony throughout the room. The captain slid a hand between them, adding additional sensation to Ningguang’s clit.

“Come with me, love,” Beidou whispered as she held her tightly. The two women once again found release, their movements slowing as their orgasms came to a dull throb.

Ningguang clasped the pendant she now wore around her neck. “Beidou, you’ll have to tell me - what does it feel like to be the richest woman in Teyvat?”

Beidou propped herself up on her elbow as she cocked a curious eyebrow at the woman she loved. “Why, Lady Tianquan…whatever do you mean?”

“Mora is easy to come by. But you own something truly priceless - my heart.”

“Now that,” Beidou said as she placed a kiss on her forehead, “is the best birthday gift I will ever receive.”

[defeateddetectives]

water under the bridge | a(nother) natori shuuichi/matoba seiji fanmix

featuring cover art by the incredibly talented and wonderful @izumisays

tracklist + lyrics + notes below:

i.

HEALTH x PERTURBATOR - EXCESS [i didn't do it / i didn't do it for love / what did i do it for]

FOREIGN AIR - IN THE SHADOWS [i know you could hear me / but you pretend you don't have a heart]

OWEN PALLETT - PEACH, PLUM, PEAR (JOANNA NEWSOM COVER) [now its done / watch it go / you've changed some / water runs from the snow]

TAMER - BEAUTIFUL CRIME [when the sun sets we're both the same / half in the shadows / half burned in flames]

PARIS JACKSON - SCORPIO RISING [you're my stained gauze / you are all i've got]

BRETON - PARTHIAN SHOT [you can cover up what you want / cover up what you are]

ii.

DOL IKARA - STONE TOWERS [what am i here for / i've gone astray / what are you here for / now i'm your decay]

TRILLS - SPEAK LOUD [you and me after / you and me before / time splits in two / on both sides of the door]

CHARLOTTE MARTIN - CUT THE CORD [we're too weak too strong / to cut the cord]

ADELE - WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE [if i'm not the one for you / why have we been through what we have been through]

LUDOVICO EUNAUDI - LOW MIST VAR 2. DAY 1 [instrumental]

DAUGHTER - SWIM BACK [i'd just need to erase distance / find a hole in the ocean / swim backwards]

iii.

TEGAN AND SARA - BACK IN YOUR HEAD (DEMO) [i'm not unfaithful but i'll stray / when i get a little scared]

AGNES OBEL - FAMILIAR [can you walk on the water if i / you and i / or keep your eyes on the road and live the familiar / without you and i]

MARIKA HACKMAN - REALITI (GRIMES COVER) [when we were young we used to live so close to it / and we were scared and we were beautiful]

MACHINEHEART - LOST TIME [i'm thinking about the last time / i wanna try again / i'm pushing on the rewind where it all began]

PVRIS - OLD WOUNDS [they say don't open old wounds but i want to / i think i could love you till the day that you die]

FOALS - MILK & BLACK SPIDERS [and i know you're still with me / you're my compass and my sea]

notes:

endless amounts of love and gratitude for dearest izumisays who put the cherry on top of my scorpio season with the offer to create a cover for yet another one of my little fanmixes! i now desperately need to hang this in the louvre and my wall because i cannot stop gazing at it in awe and adoration and feel the need to make everyone else do the same 🥰

we had talked about the vibe for this being inspired and informed by the transition from the sharp edges of their earlier dynamic to the recent (incredibly! surreal!) gentler pause in divorce coexistence that manga canon has been gifting us. as a result, it wound up much mellower and maybe even cautiously hopeful(?) in parts compared to those before (ie. the overall aesthetic contrast/narrative progression from here still hecks me up in the best way)

not sure how much tumblr may be messing with the resolution so full-view probably best and pls also appreciate seiji's tiny proposal loquat[TM] in the last pic! :D

[softquietsteadylove]

You get so many specific prompts, so I thought maybe it might be fun to send you a prompt with just a few words so you can write ANYTHING you want for them, in any au or in canon! (And obviously if muse doesn’t strike feel free to skip lol but if you like this i’ll keep sending them!) words for this one: sunshine, gratitude, eyes

"Hey."

Gil smiles as she finds her place next to him. They're not on watch, he just would rather be out here than on Ajak's mission to socialise with the humans. "Hey, Sunshine."

She laughs, because she thinks it's funny that he calls her these things. Like it's a sweet joke, just between the two of them. He calls her that because it suits her--describes her. "Admiring the view?"

Honestly, the planet is...dull. Not that Sersi wouldn't have a whole dissertation with which to correct him on that. But he hasn't yet seen enough of it to think it's this truly marvellous place. "I like the water."

"Hm," Thena muses beside him, also taking in the shades of green and blue below them. The scent of the salt travels upward and the breeze of it rustles her hair. "There is something calming about it."

Gil isn't sure if he would describe it as calming. He always looks down at the waves crashing into a cliff as a tumultuous and violent thing. He thinks they should fear and respect the sea, but keep their distance. "You think?"

But Thena nods, soaking in its majesty. "The humans have claimed the earth they need, plots of land and spaces for their settlements. But no one owns the sea."

No, that is true. The waters of this planet are unencumbered, threatening to swallow up the landmasses by domination but always receding as per the moon's orders.

Thena bumps his hip with hers.

He chuckles, "what?"

She tilts her head, and it is unfair for someone so deadly to be so charming. "You're ruminating."

"I am not," he laughs off, but she's caught him fair and square.

"Share your thoughts," she prompts him, pursing her lips as a playfulness comes over her, "oh great tyrant king, Gilgamesh."

He rolls his eyes and huffs at her poking fun. As if her joy is not his joy also. "We shouldn't take the ocean lightly. It's dangerous, no matter how calm the beach waves might look at times."

"I'm not taking it lightly," she replies easily, and he gets the sense that she's heard and understood all the thoughts in his head. "I see it for what it is--the force behind it."

They both look out into the bay, where the gentle lapping of waves against the shore gives way to the rough and choppy texture of endless depth. Those waters will see plenty of Deviant carcasses, too deep for the humans to ever find.

"But I accept that along with this part," she moves her head in the other direction, nodding to where Sersi is showing a human family how to cast a net. The young ones giggle with glee and their joy makes the Elemental Eternal glow from within. "They are both part of the sea. I think that only adds to its beauty."

Beauty, Gilgamesh thinks, is not so simple a thing. He struggles to describe things as beautiful. A sunrise or a sunset merely exists, the sea is the colour it is because of the sediment in the water, the sky changes per the hour sometimes.

But he sees the light shining off Thena's eyes, constricting her pupils and bringing out the green colour of them. The darker rim around the iris, the jade colours swirling more calmly. That, he thinks, is beauty.

"Gil?" Thena asks, pulling him from his silence.

He smiles, because she's good at making him smile. "I guess I see what you mean."

"I for one am thankful for the cooling breeze the water offers," she states more clearly and lightly, moving away from the contemplative. She inhales as another wave crashes below and causes an updraft.

Gil unfolds his arms so he can move some of her hair off her shoulder and away from tickling her face needlessly. She looks at him and he withdraws, exhausted from the affection. "I don't have to be thankful to a body of water."

Thena laughs, and it's a very cute laugh for a Goddess of War. "There must be something for which you're thankful."

Her. It's always her. If she knew the degree to which he focused his thoughts on her surely she would recoil.

"Hm?" she prods, sliding closer until he can feel her much smaller arm against his thicker one. Their shoulder plates clink together and she celebrates getting a laugh out of him. "Anything?"

He looks at her unabashedly now. If he could tell her that she is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen, he would. Far more than any of their travels to this planet, far more than any natural phenomenon here now, he would. "I guess there is something."

"Something?"

"Someone," he amends quickly, and it seems to make his point. She smiles down at the water below, something like shyness coming over her.

Her hands clasp behind her back, "I'm sure they're thankful for you, too."

He snorts, "I don't know about that."

"Well," Thena angles herself towards him before rising onto her toes, "I am."

Gilgamesh lets her bend to press her lips to his cheek. He does it passively, letting her delicate hands balance her against his shoulder and his elbow. He leans ever so slightly for her, but that's it. He doesn't want to encourage this. He'll lose all sense, if he does.

"Shall we?" she prompts him, turning in the direction of their own.

"Fine," he grunts, but follows her like she has him on a leash. His steps are heavy and slow behind her light and graceful ones. If something were to approach from behind, let it face him first before so much as getting a glimpse of her.

"You should tell Ajak you are warming to the planet," Thena suggests lightly. "She seems quite bewitched by it. To say nothing of Sersi."

Gilgamesh has to constantly stop himself from telling Ikaris that he will never fully capture Sersi's heart away from this planet and the people residing here.

"We have much of it to see," she looks over her shoulder at him. "Perhaps somewhere you would like more."

He thinks all of this planet will look the same--feel the same. He shrugs.

Thena doesn't take offense to his lack of contribution. She looks forward again, "Ajak says we will abandon the ship entirely the more humans perceive us."

Gil doesn't entirely trust Ajak. He thinks she means well, but he also thinks that there are times when she doesn't tell them all she knows.

"I know you will miss our refuge away from them."

Gil uncrosses his arms, moving more deliberately to walk beside his partner. "So long as they don't ask me to join in any dancing, then fine."

Thena laughs, letting him capture her hand in his. "I'll defend you from such trials."

Then he has no qualms, no matter where they go, or how long they stay on this blue and green marble. If she is with him, then he can face anything.

[the-cult-of-riley]

Sleeping With Ghosts (Act One: Chapter Six)

Simon 'Ghost' Riley x Female OC

[[Masterlist]]

A/N: Some more Charlotte POV for you.

First Date <3

Placebo - Lady Of The Flowers

Excuse me, I apologize

He likes your attitude, he tries it on for size

He spends the afternoon, between your thighs

How's that for gratitude, I apologize

It seemed to last for hours

It seemed to last for days

This lady of the flowers

And her hypnotic gaze

Excuse me, I apologize

She's got vacuum-cleaner eyes

Suck you in

She's got magazines, filled with pear pies

Excuse me, I apologize

It seemed to last for hours

It seemed to last for days

This lady of the flowers

And her hypnotic gaze

She wears her tears on her blouse

Confused and racked with self-doubt

She stole the keys to my house

And then she locked herself out

Excuse me, I apologize

He likes your attitude, he tries it on for size

He spends the afternoon, between your thighs

How's that for gratitude, I apologize

It seemed to last for hours

It seemed to last for days

This lady of the flowers

And her electronic haze

She stole the keys to my house

And then she locked herself out

She stole the keys to my house

And then she locked herself out

She stole the keys to my house

And then she locked herself out

She lays me down

She lays me

Charlotte was anxious as she glanced at herself in the mirror for the fiftieth time. She’d changed into what felt like every outfit she owned before settling on this one. They were only going to the cinema so she felt a bit overdone in her pretty dresses, yet she still wanted to look nice for him. She decided on some dark grey high waisted skinny jeans and paired it with a black off the shoulder crop top with long sleeves. It was the middle of February and while the weather was slowly warming up, it was still dreary and cold. 

She had her trusty boots on and decided she’d wear her leather jacket too when it was time. She spent a little time on her make up although she once again forwent the foundation. Not only did she hate the texture it gave her skin, she had yet to find one pale enough. She used some dark brown eyeshadow around her eyes, making it slightly smoky and messy for a grungy look before framing her eyes with eyeliner and mascara. She put on some brown lipstick too, always loving the colour and made sure it was a matte lipstick. It was supposed to stay put for hours even when eating and drinking and she hoped she’d really get to put it to the test tonight. 

The thought made a smirk curl her lips as excitement made butterflies swarm her belly. God, he was handsome. More than handsome. Drop dead gorgeous. The idea of getting her hands on him again made her breathless. She wondered if he was obsessing over clothes like she had been. Probably not, he seemed as cool as a cucumber no matter what. Always seemed put together. Did he even know this was a date? She fucking hoped he did or it would be awkward. He had to, right? Hell, he’d allowed her to steal a kiss in public and hadn’t minded at all. 

She hadn't really known what had come over her when she’d done that, she knew it was risky business, but he’d turned up at her work without prompting and it had really made her hot and bothered. She’d really enjoyed getting to know him this past week and she felt like they’d slowly been building a bond that maybe went beyond just sex. Although the sex was absolutely fantastic. 

He’d told her he was a Sergeant in the army, his favourite colour was blue, like the ocean, and he loved steak and pizza. Bourbon was his drink of choice but he also enjoyed a nice cold Guinness. She felt like she’d gotten to know little snippets about him over their time talking and it was nice getting to know him.

She glanced at the clock, seeing it was almost half five. The movie started at six and Simon was going to be here soon so they could get the bus into town together. She slipped on a choker that was a dainty little silver necklace with a crescent moon dangling from it and opted to keep her silver studs in and not wear some dangly ones. Maybe that would be too much. For her hair, she’d left it in its naturally wavy state and put half of it up in a ponytail. She felt like she looked nice. She hoped she did. Would Simon think so? 

As if her thoughts had summoned him, the door knocked and she felt her stomach clench anxiously. With one last look in the mirror, she blew out a breath before moving to open the door. There he was in all his glory, tall and imposing and stupidly handsome. He was wearing dark wash jeans and boots, a pretty burgundy jumper on that fit him in all the right places. It was unfair how effortlessly pretty this man was. Her cheeks flushed when she saw his dark eyes sweep over her body, dragging back up to her face slowly with a predatory look glinting in his eyes. Maybe they didn't need to go to a movie and to get food. Maybe they could just stay here. 

“You look beautiful, love,” he murmured sweetly and it brought a smile to her face. 

When she first looked at Simon, she’d never have thought he was such a softy, that he could be so sweet. She wanted to scoff, tell him she hardly looked pretty when she was just in casual clothes, but she remembered how he didn’t like it when she talked bad about herself. She decided she’d take the compliment. Maybe he just had bad taste in women. 

“You look amazing, it's sickening,” she settled on, huffing playfully as a startled laugh left his lips.

“Sickenin’?” he asked, a smirk tugging on his lips that only served to make her more attracted to him. 

“Yep. It's really unfair that you probably roll out of bed looking like you're a model or some shit. Takes me ages just to look alive,” she snorted and he smiled fondly, grabbing her hand and tugging him to her. He’d done it before and it always caught her off guard, always made her stumble into his firm and broad chest as she blinked up at him. 

“I have it on good authority that you look like an angel even first thing in the mornin’,” he drawled and she bit her lip to stifle the stupid smile that wanted to break free. 

“You're a smooth bastard,” she muttered wryly and he chuckled, leaning in to kiss her cheek. It was so sweet and affectionate that her brain almost stopped working. But it wasn't enough, she wanted more. 

She grabbed the front of his nice jumper, the soft material bunching in her hands as she tugged him back towards her. He went willingly and she pressed her lips to his. His hand slipped around to the back of her neck as he tilted his head, teasing her lower lip with his tongue. It made her heart beat all fast and weird, her stomach feeling like it was falling out of her arse. She opened her mouth and let him in, causing him to moan softly. 

She greedily devoured the noise, pressing herself closer to him as she kissed him back feverishly. He pulled away and the pair were breathless. She felt disappointed but he rubbed his nose against hers and she melted all over again.

“If I don’t stop, we’ll miss the movie,” he murmured before he took a step away from her like he couldn't trust himself.

“So?” she asked, pouting at him and his lips tugged up in a lopsided grin as he shook his head. 

“Need to take you out proper, love. Wanna do this right,” he admitted and her pout slipped from her face, replaced by a shy smile. She wanted to ask just what ‘this’ was exactly but she didn't want to ruin the nice mood they had going, didn't want to scare him off by forcing labels before they'd even been on one date. 

Flashing him a warm smile, she moved back inside to grab her leather jacket, slipping it on before she came back outside. The pair walked down the stairs and meandered down the street to the bus stop. As they were approaching the little shelter, Simon’s hand brushed hers before he grasped it, lacing his fingers with hers. It was such a simple gesture but she felt giddy almost, looking away so he didn't see her smiling like a psycho. 

He kept hold of her hand as they sat at the bus stop and even when they were on the bus. She already felt comfortable around him to the point where she didn’t think small talk was necessary. She liked that about Simon, that she didn't have the need to fill silence with meaningless chatter. Silence with them wasn't uncomfortable. They made it to the Printworks relatively easily and she was more excited to spend time with him than to see the actual movie. 

“Sweet or salty?” He asked her as they stood in line to get snacks. She pursed her lips, wishing that they did sweet and salty. She'd only discovered sweet and salty popcorn the year before and it was the tastiest thing she'd ever had. 

“Sweet,” she settled on, looking up at him with a smile. His hand was still laced with hers, having not let go for a moment the entire time and she enjoyed it. 

“I might get a slush too… the blue one,” she mused to herself. She loved the blue slushies and never really got the chance to get one anywhere else. Simon hummed as he looked over the menu above the counter before it was their turn. He ordered the popcorn, a large tub for the pair to share, the slush and a coke. She gave him a death stare when he got the money from his wallet faster than she could get hers from her pocket. 

“Simon,” she whined exasperatedly, causing him to look at her with an amused smile. 

“Yeah, love?” He asked, a teasing, patronising tone to his voice that made her eyes squint even more. 

“You know damn well what! You already paid for the tickets and this whole thing was my idea,” she huffed. She felt bad. She'd invited him out and he was the one spending all his money. He plonked the slush in her hand and it was cold, making her shudder a little. The coldness only got worse when he finally released the hand he'd been holding so he could grab the popcorn and his drink. 

“We're not gettin’ into this again, Lottie. I told you, I wanna pay,” he murmured, giving her a firm look and she rolled her eyes. 

“Fine… then I'm paying for dinner,” she muttered petulantly and she noticed his lips quirk up ever so slightly, the pair making their way to their screen. 

“Nah, don't think so,” he replied easily. She stopped dead in the hallway with a frustrated groan and he turned to look at her with a raised brow. 

“You don't need to pay for all of it. I didn't invite you out just so you'd pay,” she frowned, guilt curling around her like a snake. His face softened then and he tucked the tub of popcorn under this arm, freeing one of his hands. He took her hand, bringing it to his lips as he pressed a gentle kiss to the back of it. 

“I was plannin’ on askin' you out anyway, you just beat me to it. I wanna take care of you, yeah? Let me just treat you,” he murmured sweetly and she felt her cheeks flush. She struggled internally though at the idea of someone wanting to treat her and it seemed like it was written all over her face when he spoke up again. 

“Look… if you're really feelin’ that put out about it then you can always make up for it later,” he suggested, voice lowering to sinful levels as he smirked at her. She blushed furiously and she knew she had because her face became ungodly hot. It did make her feel better though. She wasn't used to the prospect of someone wanting to do things for her for the sake of it and maybe this way it gave her rotten brain something to cling to. A way of earning the things he wanted to give her. She was far more used to an exchange, I'll do this for you if you do that for me. It felt more normal to her. Familiar and safe. 

“I'll hold you to that then,” she replied, shooting him a wry smile. He looked satisfied at disarming the self conscious bomb that was also known as Charlotte. She had a stray thought about how long it would take until he got sick of her and her neediness. Her issues. Issues that were ingrained so deeply inside of her that she didn't think any amount of therapy would help her. 

He led her into their screen and she followed obediently as he picked out seats at the back. She liked the back better, her eyes would hurt if she sat too close to the screen. The seats were fancy ones, large and plush, and as she sat down and set her drink in the holder to her right, she noticed the arms were the kind that could be pulled up and out of the way. She glanced to her left then where Simon was settling in next to her. He set his drink in the holder away from her and a cheeky smile curled her lips as she pushed the armrest between them upwards. 

He looked at her, brows raised as if he hadn't noticed the chairs were possible of such things, but his surprise melted into a warm smile when she scooched closer to him. He had the popcorn on his lap and she reached in, grabbing a handful and stuffing it in her mouth as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. She'd never felt so at ease with someone before. The closeness and affectionate touches they shared seemed second nature and even though this was all new, it was like her body was acting on instinct. Gravitating towards him. 

The weight of his arm around her was comforting to her and she looked up at him as he glanced around the dark room. He was so tall and broad and imposing and she could imagine he was terrifying to anyone who was on his bad side. But she wasn't on his bad side and she found a deep sense of comfort and safety next to his large frame. His dark eyes swept the place before settling back on her, his lips twitching into a smile to see her already watching him. His large hand came to cup her cheek and her eyes fluttered shut as he leaned down, capturing her lips in a kiss. 

He was an incredible kisser, the kind that poured everything into the kiss and left her toes curling. She kissed him back, fist curling into his jumper as she tried to pull him even closer. A noise rumbled in the back of his throat and she felt her whole body tingle but it was interrupted when the movie started. He pulled away from her and his eyes were dark and smouldering pits of amber, burning her skin. 

“Best watch the movie, love,” he rasped and all she could do was blink up at him in a daze. She felt like he'd put some kind of spell on her or something with the way her body reacted to him, the way her mind would go blissfully blank at a mere kiss. 

“Found something better to watch,” she replied mischievously when she finally found her voice. He looked amused, smiling fondly at her before he used the grip on her face to make her turn to the screen. She pouted and he chuckled at her, the arm still around her shoulders pulling her to his side even more. She melted into him, angling her body so it was turning into him a bit as they started to watch the movie. 

It was good but not better than the first one, although Charlotte thought that about most sequels. Rarely did they ever come up with something better than the original. They'd spent the movie attached at the hip, sharing the popcorn between them with her hand on his thigh. She'd been tempted more than a few times to let her hand wander, to dig her nails into the meaty flesh under her hand, to wander upwards to something very impressive she knew was hiding under his jeans. She behaved herself though despite her naughty thoughts, not quite sure how to handle them. 

She’d had a bit of a raunchy side for a while but she’d never been able to act on it. Once, she’d asked Ethan to talk dirty to her in bed and he made her feel like some Harlot from the Victorian era with his reaction, made her feel so stupid she daren’t ask again. She wound up fulfilling her desires through porn, especially when her relationship started getting worse and he’d ‘work late’, code for fucking her best friend apparently. She’d touch herself while watching porn, living vicariously through the videos on her screen which was rather depressing. 

But then along came Simon and he hadn't judged her in the least. The very first night they met he was curious enough to ask, made no judgement about her fantasies and then proceeded to allow her to live them out. “You wanna be my good girl, love?” She’d been powerless against him the second he’d uttered those words, already sussing her out for what she wanted, what she needed and fuck, did he give it to her. 

There was a sense of freedom with Simon she’d never felt before. A sense of being able to fully explore who she was and what she liked. She didn't feel like he’d judge her for any of it, she felt like she could give him a list of all the things she wanted to try and he’d be happy to indulge her. But while knowing this allowed her to feel somewhat bold when the mood struck her, she still hadn't been able to bring herself to fondle him in the back of the cinema. She wasn't quite that bold yet.

When the ending credits started rolling and people started filing out of the cinema, Charlotte leaned off Simon after being practically draped over him the entire time and stretched her arms over her head, enjoying the feeling of her spine stretching. 

“What did you think?” she asked him, flashing him a smile as she grabbed her now empty slush cup. She wasn't about to leave all the litter here like everyone else did, she wasn't rude. 

“It was… good,” he answered, watching as people were less and less in the screening room before he stood to his feet. Her eyes narrowed a little as she stood with him.

“You didn't like it, did you?” she asked knowingly. He hadn't made any indication while watching the film but she felt a little bad if he’d been miserable the entire time. 

“I did. Wasn’t my usual speed but it was still a good watch,” he reassured as he grabbed her empty cup and plonked it into the empty popcorn tub, where his cup also lay. Tub in hand, he took her hand in his and gave it a soft squeeze.

“Mhm, I bet you would’ve liked it more if we’d gone to see hostel,” she snorted and he glanced at her through his lashes, brows raised a little as a smirk tugged at his lips. She knew instantly she was right.

“You're a menace,” she huffed, making him chuckle as they walked into the hallway. He got rid of the rubbish before they both left the cinema. 

“Where d’you wanna go for food, love?” he asked as the pair loitered in the Printworks outside of the Cinema. There was no need for them to go trekking through town to find a place to eat when the Printworks had so many good places right here. She looked around, trying to gauge what she fancied, but then her eyes lit up when she saw an Italian place. Simon, ever watchful, followed her line of sight. She didn't even need to tell him as he started tugging her along. 

They got a table for two and she had to admit, it was far more romantic than she’d anticipated. Slow Italian music played in the background and the place was dimly lit by what seemed like a million candles. She was pretty sure it was a fire hazard but it was cosy so she didn't mind it. They both ordered the bolognese, his with a beer and hers with a glass of wine she couldn't pronounce. Simon, being the gentleman he was, had ordered for them and she’d taken great enjoyment in watching him try to pronounce the word with his thick accent until he just pointed to it on the menu. She’d earned a glare for that but when she’d smiled brightly at him, it melted off into a smile that had the tips of ears turning pink. 

She’d really enjoyed herself tonight, more than she even thought possible and she was still antsy from her thoughts back in the cinema. Knowing they’d be spending the night together had her impatient to hurry with her food, she really couldn't help it. His touch was addicting and she was longing for it. 

“Are we going back to my place or yours?” she asked when she realised they hadn't spoken about it. She hadn't packed anything to stay over at his. 

“Eager, are we?” he smirked, making her cheeks flush red as she rolled her eyes. She couldn't help the embarrassment at being so easy to read, at how obviously desperate she was being. But despite the urge to mutter something along the lines of how she was just asking, she decided she just needed to be direct. She knew he’d appreciate it. He seemed like a no nonsense man after all, no need to beat around the bush.

“What if I am?” she asked, raising a brow as she took a long pull of her wine. His eyes darkened, fork pausing midway to his mouth as he stared her down like a wolf watching a rabbit. He didn't say anything, his dark eyes pinning her in place like the helpless little prey she was as he took the bite of food on his fork. 

“Where do you wanna go?” he asked her and she should have seen it coming, he did that a lot when they spoke, always turning things around on her, making sure she was being firm in what she wanted and not just going along with other people. She twirled her spaghetti around on her fork as she blinked at him through her long lashes.

“My place,” she started, “Just ‘cause I don’t have anything to wear at yours. I washed the outfit you lent me, you could wear that tomorrow,” she suggested with a shrug before she ate her spaghetti. It was amazing and she knew she wanted to come here again. It was a bit pricey though and she’d winced internally when seeing the prices, knowing Simon was adamant on paying. It only made her more resolved to pay him back when they got back to her place.

“Sounds good to me,” he replied and while it was mostly hidden, she heard how his voice was a little deeper than before, saw the flare in his eyes as he watched her eat her food. She hoped he was as excited to get back to hers as she was. His heated gaze made heat prickle at her skin as they both are their food. He kept the conversation light but she could feel the tension between them. She didn't think she was as good as him with keeping it cool. By the time they were done with food, she was desperate to feel his body against hers. She watched him pay, knowing there was no use in protesting even though she wanted to. 

The air was cool when they stepped out of the Printworks and he grasped her hand instantly as they walked together. She bit her lip with a smile, leaning into his arm a little more. When the bus stop was in sight, her eyes widened when she saw the bus already there.

“Quick!” She called out, tugging him as she took off after it before it left. She really didn't want to be stuck at a bus stop for ten minutes or more. Her feet suddenly didn't touch the ground and she squealed, realising he'd grabbed her around the middle and was running with her. 

“Simon!” She giggled, her body being jostled with his movements. His answering laugh was deep and rich, making her heart beat about three times faster. She was sure he'd make her go into cardiac arrest. He got them to the bus in time and the bus driver gave them both an amused glance as Simon set her back on her feet and paid their fare. Her cheeks were flushed as he led her to some empty seats and pulled her to sit with him. When she looked over at him, he was already looking at her, his brown eyes warm and soft in a way that made her insides feel like jelly. 

“You're lucky I didn't throw up on you,” she snorted and enjoyed how his lips tugged up into a smile. He was so handsome when he smiled. 

“It'll take more than that to put me off, love,” he replied wryly and she rolled her eyes playfully at him. When they got back to her place, she unlocked the door before letting him inside. She kicked her boots off and noticed he did the same, putting them neatly by her door. 

“Do you want a drink?” She asked as she shrugged off her jacket and hung it up. 

“Nah… just want you,” he murmured and her lips quirked up at him echoing her own words from their first night together. She turned around to throw a witty retort at him only to find him already shirtless. His jumper was over the back of her couch and her eyes roamed his chest greedily. She wasn't sure just what the army fed their soldiers but it was hardly fair for him to look so good after eating a big meal. 

“Who's eager now?” She asked, forcing her eyes back to his face where he was watching her smugly. 

“Still you I reckon,” he smirked and she felt her face flush.

“I could always take care of myself if you're gonna be mean,” she shrugged, looking at him through her lashes before slowly walking to the bed. He was on her instantly, hands gripping her hips roughly as he tugged her back against his bare chest. 

“You really think you'd make yourself feel better than I would?” He drawled in her ear and she shivered. No, she knew she couldn't but she wasn't about to admit that. 

“Maybe,” she shrugged cheekily and she felt as well as heard the growl that rumbled in his chest. 

Suddenly, his hand was around her throat and he manhandled her so she was facing him. There was something so hormone inducing about how tall and imposing he was as he loomed over her like this. His large hand applying light pressure to the sides of her neck as his amber eyes burned into her. 

“What happened to bein' my good girl?” He asked darkly. She fluttered her lashes up at him, a coy smirk toying on her lips. 

“Maybe I should be punished…” she grinned. She wasn't quite sure what was coming over her. He just had something about him that allowed her freedom to just let go of her inhibitions and be herself. To try things she'd always wanted to. His eyes seemed to light up at her words, a devilish smirk sprawling on his handsome face. 

“Clothes off,” he ordered and his tone made her knickers damp instantly. 

“Yes, sir,” she answered with a sweet smile and she didn't miss how his breathing hitched. 

She made quick work of getting her clothes off, not shy in front of him knowing how much he seemed to like her body. He licked his lower lip as he stared at her with rapt attention, eyes hungrily watching her as she slid her knickers off, leaving her bare for him. He stepped towards her and she craned her neck up to look at him. His hand came up to her stomach, fingers sliding up the skin there. 

“You're so beautiful, love,” he murmured as his fingers delicately danced across her skin. She flushed profusely, biting her lip to stifle the stupid smile that was threatening to break free. He leaned down as if to kiss her and she felt her heart flutter as she waited, but his lips didn't connect with hers. As she prepared for the kiss, he moved away and caused her to whine. He chuckled at her, sauntering over to the bed and sitting on the edge of it. 

“Over the knee, sweetheart,” he demanded, raising a brow as if asking her to act up. She didn't though. 

She was a good girl for him now as she padded over to him. She’d never done this before and she felt her heart skyrocket as she lay over his knees, presenting her arse to him. There was a sense of embarrassment at the position she found herself in and she let her head hang as she felt the blush sweep up her body. 

“You're gonna count for me. You'll get three,” he told her and she nodded obediently. A sharp sting bloomed on her right arse cheek and she yelped, her body pressing into his legs further. It was a strange pain that gave her a rush that went right between her legs. 

“One,” she murmured shakily as she prepared for the next one. The sting bit into her a little more this time and she was sure she'd have a nice mark to remember this by. The thought only made her more wet. 

“Two,” she called out, squirming a little. She was getting uncomfortable now, between her thighs was so slick. She was desperate for some friction. The last slap hurt the most and she let out a pained moan, rocking her hips against his legs. 

“Three,” she whispered, her whole body feeling like it was on fire. His hand smoothed over the sore patch, soothing the burn as he rubbed it softly. 

“Such a good girl, Charlotte,” he purred as his hand slid from her arse cheek to between her thighs. She parted them for him eagerly and he chuckled, sinking two fingers into her with a moan that mixed with hers. The instant relief she felt was immense and she pressed back against his fingers. 

“Needy girl,” he chided smugly as he started to fuck her hard with his fingers. She gasped, her hips moving on their own accord as she felt an orgasm fast approaching. She felt the tingles starting, her stomach tightening. Her moans got higher as her body shook but then his fingers slid out of her and she almost sobbed. 

“Simon, please,” she whined pitifully but it only served to make him laugh darkly. He picked her up, manoeuvring her on her hands and knees on the bed. 

“Stay there,” he said roughly and she turned her head to watch as he tugged the rest of his clothes off. He helped himself to the condoms in the drawer, putting one on himself. A small voice in the back of her head was telling her to ask him not to use one but she ignored it for now. She was leaning on her forearms, arse up and waiting for him. They hadn't done it like this yet and her stomach was going nuts as she waited. 

He let out a soft hum as he climbed on the bed behind her, his hands smoothing up her arse cheeks to her back before going back down. Her arse wiggled impatiently and she whined when she felt him rubbing his cock through her soaked folds. He pushed into her slowly with a groan and she moaned softly, pressing her head into the bed as she revelled in the delightful stretch. He filled her up so good, hit spots of her she didn't know were there. 

“Remember the safe word?” He asked, his thumbs rubbing circles into her skin where he held her hips. 

“Donuts,” she answered and it clearly pleased him because that was the only warning she got. He set a punishing rhythm with his thrusts and her moans were loud and needy. He was pounding into her like an animal, her bed slapping against the wall hard. She'd never been taken so roughly before and her body was delighting in it as she just held on for dear life. 

“Fuck… feel so fuckin' good,” he growled before he grabbed a fistful of her hair. She let out a mix of a yell and a moan when he used his grip to pull her up, sitting with her back against his chest. Her scalp burned but in the best way and the new angle felt like he was going even deeper. His hand left her hair, her body bouncing as he fucked up into her like a man possessed. 

One hand found her clit and her body bucked wildly at the stimulation, the other hand gripped her throat and he applied more pressure than he'd done before. Her body was spasming like crazy as her brain started to get fuzzy and warm, but then he let go of his grip and she got a head rush that only intensified the pleasure she was feeling. She felt high almost and could do little else but allow him to do what he wanted with her. He kept applying pressure to her neck before releasing, keeping her brain in a blissful state. 

Her orgasm hit her quickly as she let out a desperate moan as her hand clutched the wrist that was near her throat. She was chanting incoherently, not even knowing what she was babbling as her fuzzy brain prolonged her orgasm. She just about registered him moaning wantonly down her ear as his hips stuttered, giving her a few more rough thrusts before he stilled. She slumped against him and his thumb stroked her throat softly. 

She stayed seated on him as she caught her breath and melted into him when his spare hand splayed on her stomach. She enjoyed the closeness after all the rough and she slowly felt herself come down from her high. She felt exhausted now, suddenly completely drained. She allowed him to move her to lay down on her back. He didn't join her right away, she presumed he was getting rid of the condom. When he slid into bed next to her, he scooped her into his arms so she was pressed against his side as he wound his arms around her. 

“Alright, love?” He asked carefully. She smiled to herself at him checking in with her as she snuggled even closer to him.

“More than alright. That was amazing,” she murmured shyly. She felt him press a kiss to her head, his arm tightening around her. When she moved her head to look at him, he gave her a soft little smile that he seemed to save just for her. 

“Glad you liked it,” he replied, stroking her cheek sweetly before he leaned in. His lips caressed hers slowly and she once again found herself melting into him. She couldn't help the smile when she broke away. She was always smiling around him it seemed. She lay her head on his chest and he adjusted his arms around her as her eyes started to flutter closed, tiredness taking her in its grasp. 

“I'm happy I get to try things with you,” she murmured tiredly into his chest. She felt his fingers toying with her hair and she hummed softly. It felt so nice.  

“Me too, love. Get some good rest, yeah?” He said quietly. She nodded, too tired to talk as she nuzzled his chest and settled into him more. 

“Night, Simon,” she mumbled sleepily. 

“Night, Lottie,” he replied. That was the last thing she heard before she slipped off into a deep sleep. 

[finemealcreates]

Some Assembly Required

Danny can’t say he had expected to hear an explosion on his way to work, but he does. He lets out a deep sigh, ducking into an alley before he lets the familiar jolt of his transformation rush through him. Then, he’s taking off into the air. 

There! In the distance, the SHIELD helicarrier is … in the water?

Danny’s eyes widen as he quickly flies over to it. Sure, he may not be legally allowed to exist, but people need him. He’s not strong enough on his own to stop the helicarrier from sinking, but he can at the very least help with evacuation. 

Quickly he phases into the helicarrier and begins to grab people. Most of the agents resist his help, but he ignores them and drops them off on lifeboats or at evacuation points. 

“You’re welcome!” he shouts over his shoulder as they fire at him, letting the blasts go through him. 

Before he can head back into the helicarrier, though, he sees a ship shoot up into the air with a (tunnel? Elevator? Whatever) attached to it. 

“That can’t be good,” Danny mutters to himself as he flies over to investigate. 

A man built similarly to his father is floating in the air, eyes glowing blue with a long beard and even longer hair. He’s holding a man (is that Director Fury?) in the air, spouting some nonsense Danny can’t quite hear. But Fury contorts in the air and Danny glares at the stranger, hands glowing. 

That’s when a hammer hits the floating man in the head, and Fury drops. 

Quickly, Danny changes directions and catches Fury. 

“Phantom?” Fury asks, baffled. 

Understandable, Danny’s been evading Fury for years. He doesn’t even know if the super spy knows what his identity is, he’s gone to great lengths to hide it. Besides, it’s not like Fury yet has the tech to be able to detect Danny. 

“Threaten to kill me later, focus on the big dangerous guy now,” Danny retorts, flying Fury to shore quickly. 

Danny spots Ant-Man on the shore, Wasp beside him. Danny smiles somewhat, Ant-Man has always been one of the good scientists. 

“Please don’t piss him off any more, Fury. I know you’re good at it, but it’s not helping,” Danny says before he takes off into the air again, leaving the trio down on the shore. 

He flies back to the guy just in time to hear part of his spiel. 

“Fury called me Graviton because he knew. He knows I can control gravity! And when you control gravity, you control everything!” the dickwad exclaims. 

“What about things that aren’t affected by gravity?” Danny snarks, shooting Graviton with a beam before becoming incorporeal. 

Thor (the Asgardian, was it?) attempts to land his own blow and is blocked by the man. 

“I may not be able to control the gravity around a ghost,” Graviton spits out, “but I can control the gravity of your friend!”

With that, Danny watches as Graviton increases the gravity on the other hero, sending him into the water. 

Danny speeds off after Thor. He doesn’t know if Asgardians can drown, but he doesn’t want to find out. 

He speeds passed who he’s 99% sure is Wasp as he dives into the water. Thor is sinking deeper and deeper, sand beginning to engulf him. 

Floating towards Thor, he grabs the man’s hand and makes him incorporeal with him, causing him to be immune to Graviton’s powers. Thor nods at him in gratitude as Danny flies them out of the ocean. 

“I don’t know if I can release you without causing you to go back down,” Danny admits. 

“Do not worry about it, friend! I will attempt to call my hammer to my hand regardless,” Thor replies, oddly proper as he holds a hand out and focuses. 

Nothing happens, and they both hear a loud boom! before watching Iron Man get flung into space. 

Danny sighs deeply as he looks at Thor. 

“Go after him! If I am once again submerged in the water, I shall be fine. Us Asgardians are not as susceptible to drowning at Mortals are,” Thor assures. 

Danny doesn’t know whether or not to be offended by that as he releases Thor, taking off into space after Iron Man. 

He does his best to focus on saving the man, he’s not sure if Iron Man’s suit has been adjusted for space travel, and not getting distracted by the fact that he’s in space. 

Iron Man fires his repulsors multiple times, but keeps getting pushed further and further back. He doesn’t have enough power to resist Graviton’s own powers pushing him further and further back. 

Harrumphing, Danny zips towards Iron Man. As soon as he touches the man’s suit, he goes incorporeal and his repulsors shoot him forward suddenly. Danny keeps a hold on the man as he gets a hold of himself, realizing what is happening. 

Iron Man turns his head towards Danny, and he can practically feel the eyebrow raise behind the helmet. 

“Phantom? Aren’t you a ghost?” Iron Man states dumbly. 

“Obviously,” Danny replies monotonously.

“But aren’t ghosts … ya know,” Iron Man stumbles. 

“Evil?” Danny offers, making a show of rolling his eyes. “Yeah that’s what the G.I.W. says anyway.”

“So why are you helping me?” Iron Man asks. 

“Do you want me to not help you? I can let go and let you get pushed deeper and deeper into space if you want—”

“Nope, I’m okay, thank you,” Iron Man interrupts, giving Danny a thumbs up. 

“Yeah that’s what I thought,” Danny mutters, flying them back down to the fight. 

The sight that awaits them is a chunk of land beginning to fall back into the ground. Danny sees Thor begin to fly under the land mass, to slow its fall. He releases Iron Man and rushes to join Thor, hearing Iron Man follow behind him. 

All three of them slow the descent of the land mass. When the ground is about to hit the bottom of the ocean, he waves Thor and Iron Man off. 

“Go! I can phase through this, you two can’t.” 

Surprisingly, they listen to him and leave him to handle it as they get out of there. 

Only once the island is secure does Danny phase through the earth and pop up above ground. 

He arrives topside just in time to see Iron Man charging a beam at Graviton, and quickly matches it with his own ecto blasts. Together, they push him into the ground causing a mini crater. 

Danny winces at the damage they did, but he knows for a fact the area has been cleared. So at least there won’t be any civilian casualties from that attack.

“You need help, Franklin,” Ant-Man says, standing atop the crater they just formed. 

Danny hovers over Graviton as he watches Wasp zip down toward him. 

“Or perhaps some more zapping!” Wasp threatens. 

“Enough!” Graviton yells, hands raising. 

Danny goes incorporeal as he quickly zips down and grabs Ant-Man. They are able to stay steady as Graviton exerts his power, forcing everyone else to their knees.

“Even though you are incorporeal, ghost, I can still stop your attacks! You can’t touch me!” Graviton laughs. 

Danny frowns, it dawning on him that he could try to overshadow Graviton. But, if he doesn’t completely overshadow the man, it could lead to more destruction if Graviton fights the shadowing. 

“I can’t do anything to him,” Danny admits to Ant-Man, “except make sure that you or someone else isn’t affected.”

Ant-Man frowns but nods in understanding to Danny, and Danny can tell the man is thinking quietly next to him. 

“I’m the strongest being in the universe!” Graviton raves, laughing as he holds debris up in the air. 

“Are you sure about that?” a gruff and deep voice asks, before the Hulk jumps down on top of Graviton.

The Hulk smashes against Graviton’s gravity shield, pushing the other man further into the Earth. 

Danny takes a deep breath and focuses, with Graviton’s focus on the Hulk maybe Danny can make this work.

He splits into two, then four, then enough for everyone. Danny’s sweating, weakened by the exertion of splitting himself up multiple times. It’s like playing multiplayer on one TV, his vision is split into numerous sections. Yet, he knows he can control himself and the duplicates have some section of his consciousness. 

Each Danny goes to a hero, making the heroes incorporeal. The only exception is the Hulk’s Danny, as making the Hulk incorporeal would be more of a nuisance than anything else at the moment.

“Phantom, can’t ghosts overshadow people?” Iron Man asks his duplicate. 

“If I overshadow him and he resists? His power would be going haywire, potentially causing more destruction than he currently is,” the duplicate answers, giving Iron Man a look. “Besides, I’d have to not be split up to attempt an overshadowing right now. Do you not want to be immune to the potential fallout that would happen?”

“Well we have to do something,” Wasp insists. 

“Trust the Hulk,” her duplicate answers, all eyes on the fight. “And wait for the right moment to strike.”

All of them are tensed, ready to attack where they can. Hulk’s duplicate flies around, anxious to try and sneak a blast in.

“Stop it you blasted beast!” Graviton growls, hands extended and holding Hulk down. Danny and his duplicates release the incorporeal-ness and they all swoop down to attack him while his focus remains on the Hulk. 

“Don’t think I’ve forgotten about all of you!” Graviton says, raising his other hand and pushing them all back. 

Gravity forces all of them down, and forces all of Danny’s duplicates back to himself. 

With a grunt, Danny goes incorporeal again, but doesn’t have the energy to bring his duplicates back. 

“It’s draining me too much to stay duplicated,” Danny admits to them, flying above where most of them are being pushed against the ground. 

“Just focus on hitting him! We’ll focus on getting up,” Iron Man grunts. 

Danny nods as he flies close to Graviton, whose focus has returned mainly to the Hulk. 

“Why won’t you stay down,” Graviton grunts, exerting more force on Hulk who gets shoved deeper and deeper into the Earth, yet keeps moving. 

“Maybe you’re not as strong as you think!” Danny exclaims, forming an ecto blast in his hand. 

As soon as he tries to shoot it, though, it blasts backwards and through Danny. 

“Perhaps you’re not as smart as you think,” Graviton snaps back, a sneer on his face. “I may not be able to keep you down, but you can’t land a hit on me!” 

Graviton seems to increase the gravity on the Hulk, and Danny watches as he strains against it. Graviton growls as Danny flies to the other side of Graviton and debates if he would get pushed back if he went corporeal enough to hit Graviton with his stinger. 

Yet, he doesn’t get a chance to think about it before Graviton lifts dozens of shipping containers in the air, then throws them down on top of the Hulk to keep him down. 

“Good luck powering through that!” Graviton laughs as Danny changes tactics and soars down towards where Hulk is buried. 

He barely manages to begin to phase through the shipping container when Graviton suddenly lets out a yelp and smacks at the back of his neck. The shipping containers are thrown away as Hulk smashes out of them, Gravtion’s effect clearly gone again. 

Danny pauses his flight as he watches Hulk jump up and smack Graviton down. As Hulk goes to continue his attack, Graviton sends Hulk high into the air, aiming shipping containers at him. 

With a slight growl, Danny changes tactics and begins to fly up to Hulk. Danny sees the Wasp follow him in the air as the rest focus on attacking Graviton.

Hulk begins to fall, but Wasp and Danny are right there with him. 

Wasp uses her blasts to split a shipping container in two, while Danny uses his powers to make Hulk incorporeal when a shipping container gets too close (if he makes him incorporeal the entire fall, his punch won’t have as much strength behind it without gravity’s help). 

Hulk turns to both of them, a quizzical look on his face.

“You’re … helping me?” Hulk asks, confusion so painfully clear in his voice. 

“That’s the question you want to be asking right now?” Wasp questions. 

“What Wasp means is of course we’re helping you,” Danny pipes up. “Besides, I know what it’s like to be unfairly labeled as a villain.” 

Hulk’s face goes soft for just a moment, before twisting into something fierce. He turns back to Graviton, smirk on his face. 

When Hulk lands on Graviton, a creator is formed underneath Graviton. 

Immediately, Graviton shoots a hand out and pushes a chunk of the Earth up underneath Hulk to get him away, seemingly keeping Hulk pinned to the piece of Earth. 

Iron Man and Danny beam Graviton with their combined blast’s, pushing the man back. Graviton responds by picking up another piece of earth, and moving it to smoosh Iron Man and Danny against the other piece of Earth he raised up.

Danny grabs Iron Man and makes him incorporeal as they watch Ant-Man go big and throw a ship on top of Graviton.

“Holy shit, I thought that dude was called Ant-Man, how’d he go so big?” Danny questions, mouth agape. 

“Well, when he goes big I think Wasp calls him Giant-Man,” Iron Man comments, as if that explains anything. 

“I have more questions than before,” Danny replies. 

Before they can move towards Graviton, thunder rings throughout the air as dark clouds form above, lightning crackling. 

“Thor,” Danny breathes out, eyes wide as he shrinks instinctually at the sight of the lightning. 

“For Midgard!” Thor yells, swinging his hammer in a downward motion, pointing at Graviton. 

Danny pulls Iron Man back, out of the blast range as Thor leaves a giant crater in the ground. After Danny’s ears stop ringing and he stops shaking slightly, he peers down into it.

Graviton is still there, but he looks … like he couldn’t fight any longer. He looks severely burnt, eyes half-closed and unfocused. 

Iron Man and Danny join the rest of the group at the edge of the crater, looking down at Graviton. Wasp shoots him with one final blast, making him fall the rest of the way. He’s even drooling a bit. 

“And I think that’s it,” Danny states, a slight smile on his lips. 

That’s when, of course, a loud megaphone sounds. Danny turns and sees the Hulkbusters and G.I.W. off to the side. Safe, and not interfering of course. Why get their hands dirty when they could wait for the fight to be over?

“Attention!” a too-familiar voice starts. “Hand Phantom and the Hulk over! They’re fugitives of the country!” 

Hulk growls and gets into a defensive position, while Danny floats next to Hulk, hand outstretched and ready to retreat. 

“I got us, big guy. Trust me,” Danny whispers to Hulk, eyes meeting. 

Hulk nods and Danny smiles. 

“If you want them you’re going to have to get through me!” Iron Man states, standing in front of Hulk and Danny.

The rest of the team also move forward, making themselves a physical barrier between the duo and their enemies. 

Danny and Hulk spare glances at each other, surprise clear on their faces. 

“Stand down!” Fury’s voice yells over everyone, hand raised to stop any protests. “We have bigger problems to deal with. Like the fact that seventy-four villains escaped and need to be recaptured and brought in.”

“Yeah, and exactly how did that happen, Director Fury?” Iron Man asks, getting in Fury’s face. 

Danny is still tense, hovering beside Hulk. Ready to make them invisible and incorporeal the moment it’s needed. 

“We don’t know yet,” Fury answers, which shocks Danny. 

Sure, Danny’s pretty sure Fury doesn’t know his secret identity, but he assumes Fury knows pretty much everything else. He’s like … Batman? Somehow, someway, the dude knows things he shouldn’t because he’s that good. 

“But while we’re finding out, you could help us. Join SHIELD, make a difference, together,” Fury continues, extending a hand towards them. 

“Absolutely not,” Hank says before anyone can say anything, storming up to get in Fury’s face. “This is your fault, isn’t it Fury? You had Franklin working on something, and then he became Graviton. And then caused this.” 

Hank gestures to the destruction around them. Danny winces, wondering if there were things they could’ve done better to have limited the amount of destruction.

“Fury’s right,” Iron Man pipes up, all heads whipping towards him. 

“You of all people are going to join SHIELD?” Wasp asks speculatively. 

“No, of course not!” Iron Man exclaims, clearly slightly offended by the implication. “I mean about us, working together. Making a difference as a group.” 

“If we worked together, we could avenge those who these villains hurt,” Danny pipes up. 

“The Avengers!” Wasp suggests, bright smile on her face. 

“Hey, that’s got a nice ring to it,” Hulk comments, offering a smile. 

“Director Fury,” an agent starts. Danny changes focus to be on that man instead, listening in on the conversation. “The security footage is back online. Graviton didn’t wake up until after the prison break, it couldn’t have been him who caused this.” 

“Then who did?” Fury mutters to himself, eyes narrowing as he thinks. 

Danny’s eyes narrow at them, before turning back to his new team. Interesting. 

[melishade]

In the beloved timeline, we're at the part where the warriors leave, right? So next comes finding the Neutral Ship and then the whole overthrowing the government arc. There's no way Elita-1 will sit back while her man's out doing who knows what with his sworn enemy. What would her part in this be? Also, your version of Optimus and Elita give me Millie and Moxxie vibes.

Previous Episode of the Beloved Timeline AKA Megatron getting fucking wrecked!

Say my name Grieving Soft shit

Elita?! Sitting out?! Absolutely fucking not!

Look, she had to miss out on the remainder of the war because of what happened on Cybertron, and has been stranded on the AOT world for 20+ years. She is not going to miss out on another conflict where innocent people could suffer (which is definitely not her trying to overcompensate for her absence in the war), she not going to leave her Conjux Endura behind, and she's definitely not going to let Buckethead do whatever the hell he wants!

There are...a few issues unfortunately.

See, Elita wants to see if maybe she could see something on the mainland. Marley doesn't know anything about her, maybe she could spy on Marley for Paradis. But the first part of that issue would require Megatron to take her to the mainland.

Elita pulling out her sword, causing Megatron to take a step back.

Hanji: Oh my god, Elita, keep your murder boner in your pants.

Levi: And if you are going to murder him, do it over the ocean. Less clean up and they won't find his body for a while.

Hanji: Levi!

Megatron: You'll be stuck down there with me.

Elita giving an unsettling grin: Only for a moment.

Optimus has to address them both that they need to stop and to not antagonize each other.

Megatron: I'm trying to stay away from her!

Optimus deadpanning: I am saying this from experience.

Megatron:...fair point.

Optimus: Elita, put the sword away.

Elita glaring at Megatron.

Optimus: Elita.

Elita narrowing her optics as she slowly puts it back on her back.

So once that is addressed, hopefully but unlikely, Elita needs to update her alt mode. She can camouflage her colors just fine, (as proven in RID2015, don't like the show, just some aspects of it), but her vehicle mode is too futuristic. Hanji thinks that it can't be that bad, but Elita just transforms and she's a fucking hovering car. Hanji's completely distracted now, placing her hand in and out in between Elita's hovering wheel and the ground. At one point she just starts rolling under her, giggling like a little kid. So Elita needs to update her alt mode to this time period.

Three, she doesn't have a holoform, and neither Optimus nor Megatron know how to really install it themselves.

Elita: Why do you have one?!

Megatron: Soundwave! Deal with it!

So if Elita wants to help out on the mainland, she and Megatron...have to work together.

Elita:...Is killing him over the ocean still an option?

Hanji: NO!

Levi: Please do!

Hanji: Stop antagonizing!

So once Megatron scopes out the area and finds an area where Elita can find an alt mode to scan without being seen. Megatron has to take her to the warehouse, with Hanji deciding to go with them. Because both are people Optimus cares about, and she can't handle Optimus being upset! So the two of them are going to tolerate each other or else someone's losing a T-Cog!

So they end up going to the warehouse in Marley and its a pretty tense ride to there. Elita looks at the vehicles and picks one that just looks like this:

It's one of the newer models of this time period, but still old and primitive compared to Cybertronian standards. She can still drive extremely fast, the internal components haven't changed, and the windows are tinted. It's still not a model she's entirely comfortable with but it'll do for now. Hanji says that they should head back to the island, but Elita states that she'll start her mission right now and drives off. Megatron's relieved she's gone, but Hanji immediately turns to Megatron demanding some gratitude out of him.

Hanji: I am trying everything that I can to make sure that she doesn't kill you, so I better hear a fucking 'thank you' out of you or else I'm just gonna let her do whatever the hell she wants to you! And I am very eager to see a repeat of what happened last time!

Megatron quietly grumbling:...thank you.

Hanji: What was that?!

Megatron: THANK YOU!

Hanji: YOU'RE WELCOME! LET'S GO HOME!

So now Elita's scouting out other parts of Marley in her new alt mode while Megatron is dealing with the situation in Liberio. A few thing:

-Elita does come back to the island on a monthly basis with Megatron. Hanji has to be with them at all times so they don't kill each other.

-Optimus and Elita have to start managing a long distance relationship. Optimus walks her through some of the human customs that might translate over from Earth while Elita is pretty excited to talk about the sights she's seeing since she's been on the island for so long. Although, Elita's not too happy about the discrimination the Eldians on the mainland go through. She expresses her displeasure at the situation.

-When Elita does come back to the island, she and Optimus are literally spending their time catching up and being in each other's company. The Survey Corps can't help but notice the way Optimus lights up around her.

-Zeke, Yelena, and the Restorationists have no idea that Elita exists and they intentionally keep it that way because they don't trust them yet, and this does allow Elita to spy on them and gather information. Like she did with the Quintessions.

(I probably should write Elita having interactions with the Survey Corps to see why Optimus cares about them so much. Like how Eren feels about her, but that's for another day. And yeah I guess it could be Moxxie and Millie vibes.)

Also Hanji with Megatron and Elita:

[angelst4re]

We need more Jamie x trans masc reader if you're comfy <3 I have such a huge crush on this man, my bisexuality is shook whenever I see him 😭

Maybe where reader accidentally destroys his binder so Jamie gets him a new one? Or introduces reader as his boyfriend on social media I keep day dreaming about it😭

ahhh of course!! i had a super similar request to this a while ago which i began to write... so i changed up a few things and finished it <3

Pretty Boy- Jamie Campbell Bower x trans masc reader!

summary: you finally allow your boyfriend to confirm your relationship on social media!

warnings: none! :)

notes: i'm not too happy with how this turned out... it feels too short :( but my requests are always open for more trans/male reader fics because there aren't many accounts that post them and i want to change that!! <3

You’ve been dating Jamie for almost a year now, and although it has been the most amazing year you could ever imagine, there was something that kept you up at night, and that was Jamie announcing the relationship on his social media’s. It’s been rumoured that the two of you are together, but you’re both yet to confirm it.

Jamie's been more than happy to share it with people, but you couldn’t help but worry about whether his fans would like you, whether they would be accepting of you. Jamie would constantly reassure you that they would love you, adore you even! But you couldn’t help the worry in the back of your mind.

Jamie had noticed you’ve seemed a little more stressed out than usual the last couple days, and when he would ask you about it, you’d just play it off as something else, knowing he’d tell you that your worries were silly- which you knew deep down he was right.

But this particular night, he wanted to know the truth. You had spent the day together just relaxing at home before Jamie set off filming again, and he decided to finally ask you.

“Love, I know somethings up…” He began, looking at you with those ocean blue eyes, “please, just tell me what it is. If there’s something troubling you then I want to know what I can do to help you, I just don’t like seeing you upset.”

Your heart ached as he spoke, and you began to move over on the sofa slightly, so your head was lying in his lap.

“More and more people are finding out about us, I’m just worried about what they’ll think, and how it will impact you and your career. What if you lose fans? What if they-“

“Hey, hey, nothing in this world means more to me than you do. I don’t care about what anyone else thinks, and the only thing stopping me from posting you is you!” Jamie chuckled, “Like the time I wanted to post that really cute picture of us from our holiday and you took phone until I promised not to…”

You couldn’t help but smile at the memory, Jamie had to chase you to get his phone back, and as usual it ended with the both of you in bed, bodies intertwined...

“What if I told you I was ready…” you said, and Jamies face instantly lit up.

“Are you sure, baby?”

You pushed yourself up from his lap and placed a kiss on his cheek, before reaching over to the coffee table to grab his phone.

“I’m sure.” You smiled, and he began peppering kisses over your face.

“Oh, I love you so much!” He said, “you don’t know how happy you make me.”

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

@jamiebower shared a post:

[8 images]

After a year of keeping this a secret, after a year full of love, laughs, gratitude and wonderful memories, it’s time I introduce you all to my sweetest, most handsome boyfriend. Some of you may have guessed by all the speculations, and the articles online but he’s finally given me the permission to confirm it… it’s true! I couldn’t ask for a better partner in crime, nor would anyone else put up with my sleep deprived humour, but I was so lucky to meet you and eventually call you mine. I love you, always and forever. X

(P.s, please stop flirting in his dms! He’s mine!❤️)

[prismaticpichu]

Inspired by Zack & Seph week, Hair/Training! I love puppy-haired Zack! He’s such a bean. What if he had some kind of reason to keep it like that? <3

Zack stared in the mirror for a long, long time. He wasn't sure how long exactly, but he was vaguely aware of the clouds scudding across the window and towing sunset with them.

He ran a hand through this hair, tracing both sides of his bangs, the charcoal strands filtering through his fingertips; he held a pair of scissors in the other

He really should have asked Aerith to do this. She was a master at anything aesthetic, and so gentle too. He really would have asked her. It was just getting late, and she would be heading home. He also wasn’t particularly ready to be asked why he wanted to change his appearance.

A cold, deep swallow, and Zack finally lifted the scissors off the bathroom sink, hovering the twin blades over his flopping bangs. They almost looked like they were sagging, wilting… a pair of ears drooping at his sides.

“Always the puppy…” Angeal ruffled his hair, Zack’s cheeks flushing scarlet under his touch.

No!

Zack threw the memory aside, blue eyes straining, the cloying sweetness now drowned in salt and acid. He swallowed the memory and hoped he never spat it up again. The scissors were brought closer, taking a stretch of hair in its jaws.

Gaia… why were his hands quivering?

He did everything he could to steady them, everything in his power. Grappling with his own thoughts and denials and reasons in order to just… close the blades.

This wasn’t him anymore. He was not Zack the puppy, doe-eyed and wildly haired from Gongaga.

He’s been like this since he was four…

Angeal had died, by his own two hands. He was wading through blood, an entire ocean… Wutains, rebels, Genesis. Ash and snow falling from the sky.

He ran away from haircuts. He had always had,.. no one could change him.

He had changed himself. He was a monster…—

“Zack?”

The world snapped back into focus, all at once, his turmoil shattered by a sudden round of knocking. His eyes flickered to the mirror; the scissors were still waiting, floating, the wilting bangs pinioned under their grip but still uneaten. His cheeks were slick too, thin, glistening rivers spilling from Mako pools and mapping his face.

The front door creaked open, Gaia… Zack set down the pair of scissors and dried his tears, hoping the swollenness wasn’t too palpable.

“Zack? Are you here?”

He recognized the voice immediately, soft yet stern velvet. It did something in his chest… he just couldn’t discern in that second if it was annoyance or gratitude.

“Seph?” Zack slipped through the bathroom door, making his way through the narrow hallway and into the den.

Sephiroth was lingering by the couch, bristling slightly at the moniker, still alien to his ears, but the uneasiness soon bled out of him. He met his subordinate in the heart of the room.

“What’s up?” Zack tried to chirp, twitching the edges of his lips.

It must have been unnatural to some degree, because Sephiroth noticeably shifted, a flicker of something uncertain in his eyes. He stifled it though, and continued.

“We found this in the rec hall,” Sephiroth said quietly, reaching into his pockets and withdrawing a mound of aged, orange fur.

Zack’s eyes widened. “Muffin!” He regretted it as soon as it left it lips, but couldn’t control himself from eagerly swiping the dragon from Sephiroth’s hands, slamming it into his chest in fierce, apologetic protection. “I’m so sorry…!” he whispered into its crown, before lifting his gaze and locking with the warrior’s. His cheeks inflamed.

Oh Gaia, oh Gaia… he could just imagine it… someone finding Muffin under the table he had been sitting at, looking under his paw and finding his name stitched into it… No one knew Muffin existed—not one person. And now… oh Gaia… He almost groaned, if his throat wasn’t left so raw.

“You… you said ‘we?’” Zack’s cheeks refused to drain, hoping he could hide them in Muffin’s fur—which probably only made him look like more of a child. Emerald eyes were fixed on him, as veiled and cryptic as ever… judging him. Needled pupils sitting still in disdain.

Zack almost averted him gaze. Almost. He would have, if not for the fact that, miraculously, surreally, those icy green ponds thawed into something that Zack could only describe as a subtle embarrassment of their own.

“Actually… no,” Sephiroth admitted, “I found it, and saw your name was written.”

“…Oh.” Zack lowered Muffin below his nose, a gallon of tension filtering out of it. Maybe? So Sephiroth was the only one to know… but Sephiroth was the only the know.

“You… you didn’t get rid of him?”

The question seemed to catch the other off guard, enough for him to quirk an eyebrow. “It is not my place to do that. And… no. I didn’t.” His gaze drifted towards the plushie, ripping calmly, that same ghostly embarrassment bleeding back into his visage. “It… brought a smile to my face.”

Zack had to be dreaming. He had to. He would pinch himself awake and laugh at the idea of his covert toy making General Sephiroth smile.

“…For real?” was all he could bring himself to say, opting he might as well relish in the warmth of this warm, strange escape.

Then, Sephiroth’s frown twitched right in front of him. His lips slightly curving, cracking the numbness, a vague shadow of a smile gracing his features. “I was glad to see it.”

Glad…?

Zack was nonplussed, even if he was in no position to express it. He just held Muffin tighter, closer to his chest, staring into the same beady eyes he locked with when he was five years old. Still standing. Still soft. Still loved. Aged and tangled and threaded with a smile that had never faded away.

“…I’m glad you found him then.” Zack returned to his friend, smiling not feeling like such a strenuous thing anymore. “Thanks, Seph.”

There was a beat, Zack burying his chin back into his treasured toy… and lifted it again when he felt Sephiroth’s glove rustling through his hair. The movements were slow, awkward… but real. He let himself relax, sinking into solace for the first time in a long while.

“You won’t tell anyone about him… right, Seph?”

Sephiroth looked amused, withdrawing his hand. “Of course not.” He couldn’t help but notice the light still permeating from the bathroom, or how a trash can was placed just under the mirror.

“Did I interrupt something?” He did feel a pang of guilt at the idea; he had his own rituals regarding his appearance in the washroom, and admittedly was very bitter towards those who disturbed it.

Zack turned over his shoulder, nothing more than an idle glance. “Not at all,” he assured. “I just needed to clean that up.”

[edenslice]

New follower here, if u wanna, tell me about ur ocs i want to know everythin about siso and emery go wild i wanna know everything (if ur willing to tell)

EDIT JUL6 2023: these r largely outdated and/or changed !!!!

ANOOOOOON tysm for this mwah (⁠ノ⁠^⁠_⁠^⁠)⁠ノ

siso and emery are my one piece ocs !! they're mother and child basically, estranged up until wci where they reunite after 10 years of separation

siso is NOT a strawhat, just a major ally (enies lobby + marineford + punk hazard → wano)

this follows a timeline wherein yamato escapes onigashima pre-timeskip after siso washes up on onigashima one day, frees him from the exploding cuffs, and they basically explore the world together

gonna be very long so i'm putting it under the cut

emery: fishman, formerly part of whitebeard's crew before leaving (on good terms). she has complete mastery over the Voice Of All Things which pushed her to find people like her and form her own crew, the aegis pirates. they dominated the south blue, and after literally witnessing siso's birth and adopting the child, moved to paradise once roger died and the great pirate era began. personality wise, her motto is "if someone helps to you, go all out with gratitude. if someone hurts you, go all out with revenge".

siso: you know how much the sea plays a role in the narrative right? yeah. that's basically siso. he's the human embodiment of the sea. and i know how overpowered that sounds, but trust me, he's just some guy!!!! i am so serious

backstory......complicated.! wait for their wikis ^_^

trivia timeeeee (siso only, emery is still fairly new and i haven't had enough showers to think abt her character yet)

・。.・.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.・。.・

siso

is genderfluid, but only uses he/him pronouns

6'7 hunk of a bear.....he was already 5'7 at 15, had a growth spurt from 6'5 to his current height during the timeskip. he's built like a fat heavyweight guy (healthy fat, not obese or overweight). hairy all over except his face and thighs. his hands are as big as chopper's head

i KNOW that isn't very tall in the one piece universe, but keep in mind that the unaturally tall characters are usually infamous pirates/marines and he's spent (almost) all his life blending in with normal people

cringefail. can and will cry crocodile tears in front of children and scam good-natured people to get what he wants. will bring out his pathetic/lazy side so people would look down on him only to surprise them with all of his lovecraftian loser energy and laugh when everyone else thinks theyre going mad

quite literally incapable of lying—not out of guilt, but of laziness. why bother lying to someone when the depths of the ocean will swallow them whole someday and show them truths they cannot comprehend? either say the truth, keep quiet, or kill them. works like a charm!

has no sense of duty or moral obligation, much to his and everyone else's detriment. he will do and not do things based on how much fun he thinks he'll have, then complain and sulk and be generally unhelpful when wrong until he gets off the task.

odd-job man! used to be a pirate (aegis at 0-16 y/o, donquixote at 16-18 y/o) then decided to become nomadic and lay low at places where marines are prohibited (19-24 y/o) up until the year the strawhats debuted as pirates

siso's reasons for being Heroic and saving those he loves are not simply "i love you and i care about you" but more like "you're the most fun i've had in my life so who the fuck do those bitches think they are to take my happiness away from me"

has a casual manner of speaking and writing, but not so much as slang or informal. he just doesn't care all that much about honorifics and respect in formal spaces EXCEPT if he holds any personal reverence for the person he's talking to (i.e. robin)

deeply, earnestly, respects robin, even going so far as to bow, offer his seats, and say "po" and "opo" to her (filipino honorifics), even if she's just 4 years his senior. robin is like. the oden to his yamato except no kinnie stuff.....the burning of ohara and robin surviving it really moved him and made siso view her as his inspiration and light in a world so needlessly cruel

↑ also the reason why he even met the strawhats in the sea train to begin with, because he heard that robin was in danger and rushed to help

likewise—deeply, earnestly, hates zoro, but his hatred is not born from malice or ill will, but from feelings of helplessness too overwhelming to process. there stands the man who is his exact opposite, who bases his entire existence on his role as protector just to fulfill a promise to a friend long gone and to a crew too dear to lose. reckless, self-sacrificing people like him who are consumed by guilt and duty are fated to die in the most painful ways possible and siso doesn't want that, he wants zoro to live long and to fucking take care of himself, but he's helpless. he wants to grab him by the shoulders and shake some sense into him—you'll never be the greatest because your standard of greatest is a desire too grand even for the sea to grant, i don't want to be the one that will bury you in the end, fucking listen to me—but it's no use, really. all siso can do is stand back and watch zoro slowly kill himself for the people he loves. and he hates him for that

WOAG sorry that was long . this was meant to be sillayyyy (head in hands)

has a complicated relationship with sanji. on one hand, sanji's dream in finding the all blue washed away a deep-rooted despair in him and reignited his hope in becoming whole again and finding that lost part of himself, so he has high hopes from the cook and admires him. on the other, he's just so fucking weird around him. amorous to the point of being condescending whenever siso identifies as a woman. throws his used cigarettes into the sea. fucking pathetic loser of a human man. smells like uncooked fish. has a crush on him that he tries so desperately hard to hide but fails because siso doesn't lie and he can sense when others do. again, smells like uncooked fish.

like seriously what is up w u sanji-kun........stop glaring at me ur sweating thru ur pants. i can see ur bulge. stop (siso, probably)

is in a qpr with yamato!!! i call it a qpr because although you can technically classify their relationship as romantic since they kiss/pda/make-out alot, but it's a little more queer and arospec than that. siso is very conflicted with human labels and yamato grew up loveless so they're experiencing All This for the first time

literally got each other's backs 24/7. they travel together 99% of the time by ocean current or by riding sea kings—siso is responsible in keeping yamato dry and away from the seawater, yamato is responsible for keeping siso's cringefail ass away from physical harm

they don't travel together all the time though, as in both times siso appear in enies lobby/sabaody yamato isn't with him, and yams only debuts in punk hazard after the aokiji vs doflamingo vs smoker encounter

one day sanji will be welcomed in the qpr and turn it into a polycule. idk how though. maybe when she's less emotionally constipated (takes a dramatic drag from my fake cigarette)

aaaaaand that's all for now ^_^ i don't want this 2 be too long . i'll make a separate post for sisos relationships with the other strawhats teehee

[amnesiaguy]

you want the ocean to change for YOU? you think that being tamed is the only way for her to prove her love??? go sit on a rock by the seaside and listen to the tide. find some gratitude for one of the only things in existence that always keeps its promise to come back

“the sea doesn’t care about you!!” ok well just because the ocean is unspeakably powerful and can’t stop the rhythm she’s held for uncountable eons just for one person doesn’t mean she can’t love you. loving and changing are two different things. we wouldn’t have life without the ocean…. and yeah, if you don’t respect her and treat her cavalierly, you’ll perish. but how can anyone say the sea doesn’t mourn when she holds so much life and beautiful secrets in her belly? why are we putting atheism on the ocean that loves us?