#(( you get one (1) mute artist ))

[oddinarylani]

'i wish you'd just care about me' arranged marriage skz.

pt 1: chan, lee know, changbin, and hyunjin.

w: blood, violence in changbin's

pt 2 is ⇀ here

𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷.↴

it wasn’t the best of circumstances. no. the day you were bathed in white, promised to a man, and walked down the aisle by your father to be given to the hands of your husband was one you spent in mourning, swallowed by grief. “i bet you’re so excited, yeah?” the makeup artist asked, brushing a pearly shade of pinkish red onto your lips. she had a soft genuine smile as she asked, surfacing you into reality from the fogginess in your head. you nod, once, “yes, i am.” you lie in an attempt to make conversation easy. most of the guests that day knew of the arrangement, but other’s hadn’t a clue - which made appearances dire to keep up with. part of you was pleased to move onto a new chapter in your life if it meant moving on from life with your parents. but the other part reminded you that you were going into a new marriage completely blind to the man you’d call your husband. you met him one singular time before changing your last name, the entirety of it was spent with your parents talking to his own - glances you cast in his direction, if only to study the face of the man you hoped to love one day. 

his jaw was set coldly, eyes focused on the conversation shared between your parents. he was handsome but just stone. was anything there? you would wonder. is there a man beneath that face? the bone beneath his skin rippled in tender structure, ears pierced, nose rounded, and a heart-like shape to his mouth. while there was no longer hope to hold out for, you scrounged up a bit more in the depths of your chest in desire to love him one day. truly love him. and to be loved in return. 

two months into your marriage and you still feel the brick wall dividing you from your husband. it wasn’t exhausting all the time, no. you saw him smile; a few times actually. sometimes you think of it when going to sleep. you hadn’t heard him truly laugh, but you still maintained that same hope from the first time you ever saw him that one day you’d be the reason for him to. your new routine as husband and wife took a minute to settle into; with chan slowly rising to ranks of his family’s company and your own growth in the business of your own. your days were spent at home in your office working from home, a lot of calls into business meetings that you kept your mic muted for, and phone calls to overseas clientele for holiday season. 

chan would wake in the morning and rise from your shared bed quick to get ready for work, leaving you to fix coffee and shrug on a robe in the cold of your home (winters weren’t kind in the mornings) when he’d leave, you’d have a cup ready for him, cream and a sugar cube. “thank you, have a good day.” he’d wish, already halfway out the door with a small tired smile on his face. “you’re welcome, you too,” you’d say, scrolling through your phone as the door would shut. 

he’d take little notice to your attempts at growing your relationship, and you hadn’t had the time to bring it up to him yet that you wanted to try to have a wonderful marriage. you’d step into the living room wearing a new dress for a banquet for the company, smile a bit wider and brighter than usual - he’d look up from the couch, phone still in hand and would give you a thin lipped smile. “you look nice.” you’d rent a movie, one he’d said he’d wanted to watch soon, and welcome him home with drinks by the couch and he’d brush it off, “ah, sorry. i have a company thing tonight. tomorrow maybe?” of course, he’d forget the next day anyway so it would all be for nothing. when he’d come home extra late and you’d be in bed, buddled in pjs in the comforter with a book and the lamp on next to you, you’d muster your best smile and set your book down. “hey, how was work?” he’d sigh, pulling the tie from his neck. “nothing new really.”

and then you’d beg yourself, beg yourself, to just answer the question of why were you in love with him? 

maybe it was for all the times you’d get to see him smile, the chuckles as you’d watch a movie, the thank you’s for cooking, and everything in between. maybe you loved him for the way he stumbled into the kitchen almost late for work, his hair a bit messy and his tie disoriented and you stopped him - “wait,” you put a hand up, walking up to him to fix his tie. it was the closest you’d ever been to him besides the day you’d gotten married, you could feel the warmth radiating from his skin. “sorry, my hands are cold.” your voice still laced with sleep as you straightened his tie and flattened his hair. “i-it’s okay.” he assured, clearing his throat. “eat some on your way to work, coffee’s on the counter. have a good day, okay?” you push a few pieces of toast wrapped in a napkin into his hands, pointing to his coffee before turning back to the stove. “r-right. thank you, have a good day.”

that was pretty cute. you even for a moment thought there’d be hope for you, as his cheeks flushed pink when you started working on his tie. sitting at your desk in your office you’d smile at the thought before catching yourself and smacking your own cheeks. 

but time was catching up with you, and the unbearable ache of loving him was almost too much for your heart to handle. you at least needed to know if he felt the same or if he ever could - but in the following days after your realization, you proved yourself right. there was no way. no way this could work out. a steady stream of emotion was constantly running through you; you couldn’t focus on work, you couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat - and you wondered if he even noticed. you were growing increasingly frustrated with chan, and every passing day of limited conversation, barely any eye contact, and virtually no response from chan was wearing you down. one second you were smitten, and the other you were pissed. 

and it eventually all came to a halt. 

the front door of your house shut loudly, louder than usual. and you had a sneaking suspicion chan hadn’t the best day at work. well. that was a shame - you were still pissed, and to think he had the audacity to come home angry from work when he could barely prove to be a communicative partner was enough to leave your blood boiling. you’d let him have it if given the chance. 

“how was work.” it wasn’t so much a question as much as a routine statement. you sat on the couch, shuffling through your movies to find the one he’d been wanting to watch, which upon realization, you didn’t know why you did that when you were pissed at him. 

“fine.” he stomps into your shared bedroom, yanking the tie from his throat as he did so. you roll your eyes and keep shuffling with a much heavier hand this time. when he re-emerges from the bedroom, he’s shed his tie but still has on his button-down and suit jacket on, you furrow your brows and sit up from the couch. 

“what’s wrong? what happened?” you ask out of the goodness of your heart. he tosses open the fridge, sighing. “nothing. nothing happened.”

“you wanna watch that movie you said you wanted to see?” he runs his hands over his face, closing the fridge door. he looks for a moment as if he’s thinking, his hands on his hips as he swallows. “no. not tonight.” he finishes, beginning to walk out of the kitchen before you stand.

“i really really wish you just cared for me.”

it was quiet, quiet, when you said it. the words left your lips before you could realize that your vision was getting a bit glossy. he freezes in his tracks, whipping his vision towards you at the sound of your voice. there wasn’t venom to your words like you expected there would be, no. just defeat. chan hears it, he hears it in you and all of his frustration, his anger, his annoyance, just melts away. instead, his chest is swallowed with guilt. 

“i try,, i try so hard to make this work, chris. i really do.” you wipe your face even though tears haven’t fallen yet, and he thinks it’s to stop them from ever doing so, at least in front of him, and his chest aches. he’s turned to face you now, just six feet away or so, and his brow softens at the sight of you. 

“i cook for you and make you coffee every morning and try renting your favorite movie because you said you wanted to watch it and wear pretty things out to work events and when i go out with friends but,, you don’t,,,” you look at him when you speak, he sees that water building in your eyes and takes a step closer to you, almost wanting to reach out but stopping himself before he’s to do so. your head shakes, you sniff one more time. 

“because that’s what married people do.” this time he does walk closer, you don’t move, but you don’t look him in the eye either - it seems much to hard to do when you’re on the brink of crying. 

“i promised myself,,” you lift a clenched fist to his chest, tapping him once with it, your lips screwing together in frustration though your voice is still soft and tearful. “that as your wife i’d love you one day.” your hand drops from his chest, you wipe your eyes when a single tear spills over your waterline, ducking your head to do so out of his line of sight. “is it too much to ask the same from my husband.”

it’s quiet for a minute, in one way he knows everything to say. every sweet word to soothe over your aching heart, because that’s what he’s suppose to do as your husband, and there’s another part of him that has no clue what to say. 

because what kind of husband is he to leave you feeling as empty as this.

“i told myself on our wedding day that,, i never wanted to be the one to make you cry.” his palms come to cup your cheeks, though his large hands end up swallowing some of your jawline and neck as well. your eyes widen a bit at the feeling, “look at me?” he asks, voice quiet. you do so with guidance from his own hands. “i’m sorry. i’m really sorry.” even he has some water building on his waterline, you notice. you frown, feeling his thumbs dry your under eyes. 

“i never wanted to make you feel uncared for or unheard. i appreciate everything you do for me. and i’m sorry i’ve made you question if i care for you.” he wipes his thumbs under your eyes once more before his hands lower a bit. “you’re my wife. i care about you so much. and i’ll show you that, i promise.” 

you talk for a little longer, but disregard the movie for the night, instead, you settle on curling up beside chris who wraps an arm around you, his cheeks a bit pink as you adjust yourself in his hold. he feels the burn of your own cheeks against his arm. “is this okay?” he asks, his opposite hand settling on your hip. you smile, “of course. i’m your wife, you can touch me. can i touch you?” he hums, scooting closer, giving you the okay to lay your arm across his midsection. you close your eyes for a moment, if only to enjoy the feeling of holding your husband for the first time. the warmth that always seems to naturally radiate off of him, the closeness of his breath, the feeling of being the only woman who gets to see him like this. 

“i didn’t know you were so cuddly, mr. bang.” you smile to yourself, his hand stroking soft over your hip. “only when given the chance, mrs. bang.” he replies. “ooh,, too smooth.” you admire. 

when silence encircles the both of you, and you feel sleepiness begin to creep up on you, he speaks again, “did you mean it when you said you’d learn to love me one day?” his voice is quiet, so tender - it licks at the wounds of your heart and seals them shut. your heart pounds behind your ribcage and you breathe deep to settle the rage of affection steadily brewing in you. “of course.” you reply, your face beginning to bury in his neck. 

“well, that’s a shame.” you furrow your brows, opening your eyes to look up at him. before you can reply he speaks again. “because i love you now.”

 𝓵𝓮𝓮 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀.↴

“the summer berries on the bushels in the forest are getting ripe now, i brought you some.” you lift your basket, both hands wrapped around it’s weak woven handle, showcasing your proud supply of freshly picked goods. you set the basket down a moment later, your husband batting a quick eye to the basket before he looks back to his spread of books a second later. “mm.” is his only reply. 

lee minho was the protector and guide of the largest castle in the northern part of your land. he was a renowned alchemist and practitioner of magic, known for being aid to a handful of people in the village you were raised in, and most notably - a fierce god of night. a vampire. 

it was true the stories of bloodlust and killings that tainted centuries of vampire lore; but lee minho set out to do something different. he hadn’t a care of the human experience, which he shared with that of his ancestors, but he had no need to kill them either. animal blood tasted just as delicious as a human’s. and when befriending a human, their loyalty was like no other. so he didn’t kill them, no, he made pacts and promises, and if anything used them more like pawns but they’d die soon before he did. 

and then there was you. his wife. promised to his hand by your family - a pact of sorts, one of which you both hadn’t necessarily agreed to if it wasn’t for both of your families stepping in to further push along the marriage. in a quiet candlelight scenery you were married to your now husband, and your seal of a kiss was shared. which, honestly, you didn’t regret. he was very handsome - and kissing handsome men was always a joyous occasion (well, mostly anyway) 

he was rageful. not at you, maybe more to existence itself. he was never angry towards you, he never showed it, but you could see deep within the brown wash of his eyes that he was indeed an angry man. he had a hate you’d only seen a few times, and every time you looked a little too hard you felt yourself look away - to anywhere else in the room. afraid of what it meant, afraid of his own distaste. 

“you’re wearing the dress.” he notes. his vision still wondering over the pages in his book. your slightly fallen expression gleams a little at his comment. “yes, of course. you bought it for me.” your hands smooth over your torso, he still doesn’t look up. your lips twist at the sight of your husband’s disinterest, but you turn to wash the berries and leave the room. 

most of your marriage to minho felt like a huge disinterest on his side. he’d lived many years, this much was true. but in your short time to live, you longed for a husband who loved you; and part of you thought minho was largely incapable of this. he never showed it. he never showed anything for that matter; he was always so far away. life not only was nonexistent to him as a man, but in his very eyes. he showed not a shred of emotion, and even in your good memories with him, he showed very little. part of you blamed it on his years of living, but yet the other part of you reminded you it was all the more reason to care. every day felt like a slow drag, you weren’t really living, not really. survival maybe. but being bound to this castle with a man who rarely payed you mind left an ache worse than death. were you not to his standards? maybe that was it. 

you’d shed too many tears over the situation, now every time you cry you try to pull yourself together in the face of your grief. upon talking to your family, a few members reminded you that your voice was powerful, and you should very much share your opinions to him on the matter if your marriage was to work - but that was the thing. a few months in with the man you were to learn to love, and you felt even now it was helpless. it was a sting that brought you to your knees, god how you wanted to just tell him. tell him you loved him - and hear it from his own mouth. 

upon your ravage of feelings and your family’s request, you resorted to writing a letter to your husband. you surely wouldn’t have the guts to face this powerful man in person, not like this. so you took to beginning your note in scribbles in the isolated space of your bedroom. 

your lips twitch in thought as you think over the contents of your letter, your hand stilling still quipped with a quill. you’re swallowed with silence in the stillness of your bedroom, word after word is brought to the front of your brain. there’s a number of things you could say, but not enough words in the world to describe how you felt. 

“lee minho, i’m unhappy.” you speak aloud as you write, taking a moment to look back at your writing, quickly scribbling the line out before starting again. 

“dear husband, i have a few things to bring to your attention.” you nod along as you write, happier with this line. 

“i believe if we’re to work as husband and wife, we should talk more.”

“i try time and time again to gain your attention, to bring you happiness in a way i know how.”

“but,, it seems to never be enough.”

“if you don’t want me,” you pause, your fingers fumble with the quill in your hand as your palms begin to warm against the hardwood. your lips twitch again.

against all things in your brain reminding you a married couple should speak of their issues and this was a must in your relationship if either of you wish to continue - an overwhelming feeling of pure grief washes over you and your hand as you still to keep from writing. 

every bright moment in your relationship flashes before your eyes like matches starting a fire. it’s so overwhelming that your voice dies, and a tight tug at the back of your throat halts you to a shred of reality you hadn’t dwelled on. you sit further back in your chair, eyes glossing over into thought - lost entirely to the contents of your brain. realization has hit you like a truck in the face of your confrontation. 

because what about all of the wonderful times you’ve spent together.

what about the dancing of your wedding day, the golden burn of his watchful gaze, the presents, the meals shared, the wishes of good morning or good night? what about all of the times that kept you so closely tethered to him? what about the times that kept you in love with the man who barely spoke to you. 

you take a breath - and as quiet as it would be, it’s blaringly loud in the silence of your bedroom. 

“i want to love you. i do. and,, i think i do.” clarity has left your quill, and instead, you write from your heart. what you truly feel. 

“i hate that you don’t notice when i try to do kind things for you.”

“i want to work in matrimony of us.”

“i know our marriage is against our wishes, but i want to make it work.”

“i just.. i just wish you cared about me.”

a hand sharply grabs your chin, pulling your gaze to meet that of your husband's golden gaze. 

“not care?” he asks, his face screwed into a sort of confused expression. “not care?” he asks again as his expression contorts again, further - until his hand is tender. 

you’re so sharply pulled from your own head that you’re left with whiplash. he’s heard you? where was he? did you leave the door open? your eyes are blown wide as you face him in the realization he’s heard everything.

your mouth dries as you look at him, his gaze cuts into your very being and you feel utterly frozen. “no-! i didn’t mean it-” “you do though. i’ve made you feel this way.” his gentle grip on your chin leaves you, and he shuffles away, sitting firmly on your bed. his gaze seems lost, as if he couldn’t keep up with the words you’d admitted. 

“minho..” “i do care.” he cuts in. you swallow, your brows melding together as you do so. “i don’t… want you to feel this way. and i’m sorry for doing so.”

in the face of confrontation he seems genuinely distressed, not that any part of you doubted it - but it was comforting to hear the words leaving his mouth. 

“if we’re to be married, i want you happy. comfortable. i don’t want you to feel bad because of me.” he explains. 

“i just,, i want to work this out. i want us to talk more; tell me what makes you happy and what hurts you.” you reassure, holding onto the back of your chair as minho’s head hangs low. “i’m your wife, i want to hear all of that.” a small smile stretches across your mouth; it’s lopsided and a bit sad, but it’s there nonetheless, and the sound of your voice lets minho’s head rise as he meets your gaze once more. 

he sees in you the beauty he sees across the room even as you just sit a few feet away from him. it’s overwhelming, suffocating; and part of him hates it a little bit for suffocating his heart in one swift swallow. you’re all encompassing and human - he’s learned self-control few could achieve, and yet even a few months into a marriage he didn’t agree to and he’s smitten. he wants to reach deep inside his chest and pull his heart out by it’s tethers, and apart of him wants to feel your love to the highest degree he could if just to be surrounded in heaven once more. 

“were you lying then?” he pauses, hands wrung together. “when you said you loved me?” a small quirk in the corner of his mouth leaves your face and chest hot. 

“i wasn’t lying.”

minho’s made home on your bed, lulled to his side as his pretty eyes wash over your face. you aren’t connected, in fact, you’re a little afraid to touch him - regardless of this fact, your wrist lifts to reach nimble fingers to his face, but you pause, your soft fingers retracting into your palm. 

“touch me.” he needs. his hand cupping your own to bring to his face tenderly.

your face is flushed with a dusty pink, the feeling of his face beneath your touch lights the nerve endings in your palm alight. your brow quirks in thought, but not for a moment do you part with his sun-washed eyes. 

“how did you become a vampire?” you ask quietly, your thumb strokes the soft skin beneath his eye, his hand stroking the back of your own. 

“i was born into it. my family comes from a long blood-line of vampires.” you hum in response, taking a moment to study the wash of sun-like gold that overtakes your husband’s eyes. fractals of evening sun beam through the curtains in your bedroom, creating a soft sleepy haze in your room. dust is seen floating in the room in the portions of sun that reach into the room. 

“you’re beautiful.” he beats you to it, realizing he too has been looking at you the entire time. you retract your hand nervously, a smile stretching across your face in sweet embarrassment. “thank you.”

“do you want to be one one day? or do you value your life?” he’s half joking, a floppy smirk on his lips as he sighs a laugh. you hum once more, looking to his mouth to see the slight glimpse of fangs visible to you. 

“maybe. if it meant i got to spend more time with you, than yes.”

minho’s smirk widens, his eyes washing from your face to the curve of your jaw, to the drop of your neck. his mouth parts, his hand coming to the curve of your ribcage over your waist, his warm hand freezes you in place. he lowers his lips to the column of your neck, a lowly drunken gaze filtering over his face. “that could be arranged.” his breath meets the tender flesh of your neck before he presses your waist closer to your body, his soft lips meeting your neck in a single kiss. 

𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓫𝓲𝓷.↴

“be careful on the job today.” you crane your neck out of the doorway of the kitchen to look at your husband as he tightens a holster around his thigh. he looks up for a moment, face momentarily stricken with something similar to surprise at your well wishes. he looks down a moment later, checks the clip of his pistol, and then shoves it into the holster. “i will. i’ll be back tonight.” the door closes sharply behind him and you’re left in the silence of your home yet again. 

there’s a pool of melted ice on top of your coffee, you take a sip anyway, the palm of your hand now wet from the sweat off the glass. in truth, you were trying. very sternly trying to make your marriage work. but with circumstances of said marriage coupled with the dangerous reality of your lifestyles, it felt like your assumed fate was dwindling before your eyes - a thin bow ready to snap under pressure. 

being born into crime wasn’t all good fellas or the godfather all the time - no. it was nasty business, some of which you came to regret but again this was the only life either of you knew, leaving the business would be impossible without a gun to your head. you persevered in the face of guilt anyway, not knowing fully how your husband felt about the situation. the sound of your phone ringing brings you out of your head for a moment, leaving you rolling your eyes at the sight of your mother’s name across the vibrating screen. 

“yes?’’ your coffee tastes bitter now, too much water - you pour the contents into the sink as she begins talking. 

“hey hun, there’s a job tomorrow that’s opened up. one of the boys got canned, we’ll pay his bail through an anonymous source but we have to wait a few days so the cops don’t catch on. you in?” your fingers tug a coffee filter out of it’s wooden box, stuffing it into the machine as you press a button on your grinder. 

“mom,” your hand comes to your eyes, rubbing them tiredly. “i told you i was out of the dirty work. i’m doing that shit anymore. and i’m severely out of practice of doing anything hefty.” you explain, the grinder stops, you pour the grounds into the coffee machine. she sighs on the other end, her voice coming through more heated now - pressure started weighing on your shoulders. she says your name with a deadly tone, it leaves you feeling as though there’s a cold metal rod stiff in your back. 

“why don’t you ever look out for this family? you think you can just leave and do the bare minimum when your father and i have slaved over making a good childhood for you?” and then you’d argue back and forth until you felt like ripping your hair out and you’d finally cave and you mom would end the call sharply and once again leave you in the silence of your home that was beginning to feel more like a prison. 

when you heard the beep that ended the call, you tossed your phone to the couch and let your mind wander yet again - what else was there to do in your seemingly failing marriage and rocky relationship with your parents? you hadn’t many friends unless they were in the business, and that only counted for a few really close ones. you track around your kitchen with your fingers pushed into your hairline, and your mind wanders back to something she’d said on the phone a few weeks ago. 

“we found you your husband, is that not good enough for you?”

you hadn’t even the energy to put up with audacity of that claim. so you ended the call and showered, but it still ate at you greatly - because no. no it wasn’t enough. changbin, as dedicated to the lifestyle as he was, and you respected him for his commitment, was terrible at showing you what he truly felt. most conversations were barely that, mostly exchanges if anything - and the few good times you’ve had together were truly the only thing keeping you around if it wasn’t for the godforsaken hope you managed to hold onto. 

you saw the good in him - the good he was capable of, and every time you’d suffocate yourself in thought about being three months in and still not working together as a married couple should, you reminded yourself of this fact. it’s what kept you in, what drew you closer to him. because what could you both be? it’s already bad enough you have feelings for the guy and he clearly didn’t feel the same way. 

“fuck,, what am i gonna do.” to clear your head you showered again, tying back your wet hair and slumming around the house until changbin arrived back home when you’d be drifting off to sleep. at least you had an opportunity to clean; and when the house was clean, you felt a bit better. you were correct about changbin returning late - you heard a long sigh as he entered your bedroom, the plop of a duffel bag could be heard. when you look at the time on your phone you see it’s just past three in the morning. 

“how’d it go?” you ask tiredly from the bed, the bathroom light flickers on and he raises his head a bit. “oh i’m sorry i didn’t mean to wake you.” 

“it’s okay. you okay?” 

“yeah. yeah, everything went fine. what’d you do today?” you see the rings of exhaustion circling his eyes as he strips off his shirt and hides the smallest of winces.

you sigh heavily, rubbing your eyes as the sink begins to run. “i talked to my mom on the phone. doing a job tomorrow night. cleaned the house though.”

“what kind of job?” he asks as he starts the shower. you talk a bit louder so he can hear you over the sound of the spray. oh he wasn’t going to like the sound of this - these kinds of jobs were everyone’s least favorite in the business. 

“there’s a warehouse on fifth, when you’re leaving the downtown area. apparently some guys are trafficking there. gotta take them out.” 

“shit.. be careful. small time guys have been trying to make names of themselves.” 

“i know, i will be.”

careful you were, but careful was not enough. those guys holed up in that warehouse with every corner covered, not only that, but with automatic weapons with full mags, dressed in black to blend with the shadows. the job was done, the victims released into promised care and with you aid in the following days, be returned to their families or brought to homes, but not without some wounds of your own. the guys dropped you off at the back of your house, granted it was past midnight but you couldn’t be too careful. your home was secluded - but what the law knew was unbeknownst to the organization in regards to this mission in particular. 

you left your weapons in the van with the promise of getting them back the next day. “c-clean the blood off it for me, would you?” you grinned, shuffling from the van with your arm slung over your partner. you lean nearly fully into his weight as he aids you in finding your back door. you bang on the big sliding window before unlocking it, letting changbin know you were home. 

“we gotta get the fuck outta here. you be careful yeah? call me tomorrow morning.” the driver calls before peeling away from your home. you nod, using the wall to stumble inside your house as the living room is suddenly flooded with light, and your husband walks out of your bedroom with his phone in hand and his brows furrowed. 

“changbin,,” you push the door closed, leaving bloody handprints everywhere you touched. 

“fuck- okay, okay, okay- it’s alright. come here.” his outstretched hands come to wrap your arm around his shoulders and stabilize on your waist as he helps you walk to your bathroom. 

hot spots of pain blossom on your waist, ribs, and leg. it’s throbbing, all encompassing, and leaves your eyes watering when changbin’s palm presses a little harshly into your side. throughout the house your gasps and groans of pain are heard, changbin is working as diligently and carefully as he can to help you to the bathroom, only imagining how much you must be hurting. 

“okay, okay- i’m gonna lay you on the floor okay?” he helps you rest along the floor after he’s put some towels down, and kneels by your side before grabbing the extensive first aid kit you kept in your bathroom. you nod, closing your eyes to focus on breathing, but every breath in hurts, and every exhale throbs your wounds. 

“where are you hit?” he asks, you now notice his hands are tainted with your blood in just a few splotches. he rummages through the kit, reaching for the hem of your shirt as he cuts through your gear and clothing. “m-my sides, and,, one in my left leg.” 

“alright. it’s gonna be okay - let’s get you sewn up. what happened?” he asks as a way of distracting you from how bad this was about to hurt. he pours some alcohol in his hands before barring your torso to his eyes, now seeing the festering wounds. 

“t-they-” you laugh because it’s hurting so bad and your eyes are getting glossy as adrenaline leaves your body. “they had automatics… every one of them was geared the fuck up. and not only that but there must’ve been twenty,, twenty five of them and five of us.” 

changbin’s head slowly shakes in disappointment that you were set up that badly for failure, his haw is tight - but he remains focused on the task at hand, cleaning you up. he lifts you up with one arm and helps you shred your arms of your sleeves completely, focusing now on the wound near your ribs. “why’d they send you in with only five people? did they want you to die? fuck.” 

“seems like it.” you chuckle, his hand stabilizes before he reaches into your wound with medical pliers to grab the bullet still embedded in you. your grip tightens on the towels beneath you, eyes now swimming with tears as you groan at the feeling of the tug of the pliers. 

“i know, i know. you’re doing good though, talk about something. tell me about the job or- your favorite music or something.” his hands dip into a bowl of water, returning to your wound to clean you from blood and put some pressure on the wound. 

“the job was shit, but,, the guys are gone. all the victims are safe and i’ll work on paper work to get them home tomorrow.” he hums, nodding. he puts a bit of topical numbing around the wound before grabbing sutures to close the open wound. “as far as music,” you laugh to yourself again, your gaze focused on the ceiling. “you trying to get to know me? didn’t think you cared so much for that.” 

his hands pause. then lower. he looks at you with a kind of genuinity you didn’t expect from the man you called your husband. “of course i care. you’re my wife.” 

“you’re always so focused on the work, on your job. you’re gone a lot. i can tell you care about the organization i just,, i don’t know. i always hoped you’d care for us too.”

he frowns a bit, his gaze is focused back to his hands as he threads the string more diligently through the needle. he’s paused, he has a focused expression and you can tell when you look at him he’s thinking - part of you hopes you haven’t stumped him, or made him uncomfortable - maybe you did hold out too much hope. 

“i do care about us. about you. i always figured since we were arranged to be married that you wouldn’t want much to do with me.” when he returns to working on your wound you wince, eyes closing tight. he apologizes quietly, but it’s over quicker than you expected. 

“i want everything to do with you, silly. you’re my husband. i want this to work between us if we’re going to be married.” your eyes are still watery and the throbbing hasn’t subsided - you wonder if part of this is delusion since your filter has seemingly disappeared in the face of pain. 

he smiles, softly. “i’m sorry that i’ve made you feel that way, and hey-” his hand reaches for yours, the one that bears the ring he gifted you on the day you were married. your eyes meet his as your head lulls to the side, you grasp onto his hand as if he’d stabilize you - and he does. “i do care about you. genuinely.”

you squeeze his hand, the wash of tears that drowned your eyes from pain spill finally. “i care about you too.” 

“don’t cry, silly. i’m almost done, let’s get you cleaned up, yeah?” 

after changbin coaches you through treating your wounds, he runs you a quick bath and helps you wash the dirt and sweat from your hair. it felt strange to say you felt an overwhelming trust to him - but maybe that was just the energy he exuded. he helps you to bed, and quickly showers off himself before laying next to you. 

his arm wraps around you, and the pain in your side has dulled from the medicine he made you take after closing up your wounds and cleaning them. your head rests on his chest comfortably. “you never answered my question about music.” he says suddenly. 

“i’ll play you all my faves tomorrow morning when you cook me breakfast because i got shot.” you grin cheekily against him. 

“deal.”

𝓱𝔂𝓾𝓷𝓳𝓲𝓷.↴

“i am to be his wife.” there was no expression in the gaze you cast your parents, hands folded neatly in front of you, ever obedient in the face of nobility. before your eyes, in the face of your youth your life of freedom ever awaiting your embrace is taken from you and shackled. your life is to be given to a man you didn’t know, and when shoved his own in your hands you feel the pulse of forgotten life in your palms. there was more to say other than you didn’t want this, there was more words you could sputter in anger at your parents, other screams and cries for this to not happen, yet you swallow, let your eyes gloss over, and prepare a wedding in the following year to a man you’d meet only once before promising forever to him. 

across from you at the altar he stood jaw tight, eyes glassy yet lifeless. when the wedding guests settled and your father handed you off to the prince’s hands, you breathed deep in an attempt to conceal the building tears that sparkled in your eyes. officiant you didn’t know, in the sea of people commending your marriage you knew few faces, and he spoke vows because of remembrance not because of promise. when he lifted the veil from your eyes to look at you, he for a moment faltered and his lips flattened. 

you kissed him because you had to. and you slept beside him that night because you had to. 

in marriage, you always imagined that life would blossom with a spark of light. as a seal to two people’s testament of their love it would grow into something truly beautiful - it would drink in the sun, bathe in the rain, paint its colors on pages and tell its story on lips through decades. as a young girl, the idea of one day marrying someone that loved you was thrilling to say the least. it was pure; and good. and every notion, every dream, every promise to your life you’d made, was stripped from you in a single evening. 

you’d rise from bed when the maids would wake you to dress. you’d be dressed beside your husband, wearing the rings that testified your union, and would watch over the kingdom that would be given to your hands one day. 

there was no use in trying, not even from the start. 

but you wanted to love him. oh you terribly wanted to love him. 

beside him you’d sleep - watching the curvature of his heart shaped lips, the breathing his body exuded - existence. how you were his without him even knowing. only in this state could you see him, really see him. the sprawl of his hair on the pillow before it was to be tied back that morning upon your wake. beautiful he was. when his eyes fluttered open, he wet his lips and you heard him speak - for the first time it felt as though it was to you. 

“i’m sorry.” 

for the entire rest of the day you spent in a haze in your own head. 

two months have gone by, and you were achingly in love with him. but you couldn’t say the same for him; his headspace was unknown. you shared a great castle together, a smaller one just outside the village as your parents lived inside the city walls in the palace, but home felt like a restraint on you. nothing was sacred.

when you spoke, it was matters of business and a shred of the time was talk of personal matters. the only truth you spoke to hyunjin was in the hours before he’d wake when sleep would leave you too early. you tuck your folded hands together under your pillow, your eyes washing over his face as he slept. upon your movement, he turned to his side, his broad shoulders creating lines of his body beneath his sleep shirt. part of you wanted to reach out, to wrap your arms around him and tell him you believed in the both of you, but your thoughts still to silence. 

“i wish you cared for me, in the way i care for you.” you mumble quietly. 

“but i cannot say it yet. you’re a shadow; yet you’re sorry. i’m so confused in my love for you.” 

that’s when he turned over, his eyes open. the maids walk in a second later and your wide eyes glance to them. they pause in their steps, looking between the both of you. had he heard you? surely not. you push yourself onto your elbows as he speaks to the maids, his own hands planted firmly in the mattress. 

“i can dress her.” 

they quickly excuse themselves after, mumbling as they leave the room hurriedly. the room stills, you’re left in the wake of his words with confusion bubbling through your head and your face suddenly flushed. he stands without another word as they’ve left the room, moving to the closet to fetch your under clothes, corset, and gown for the day. 

“hyunjin,” you speak softly. 

“i care greatly for you. i do, but-” 

you swallow, still sitting on the bed with your legs curled beneath the covers. “you cannot dress me.” you hold a hand to pause him in his movements as he approaches with your day clothes in hand. he swallows, “you’re my wife. i can dress you. if you’d let me.” 

hwang hyunjin was one of the most beautiful men you’d ever seen, and this he knew as well - yet the cool confidence he usually carried on his shoulders, in his handshakes, and in his voice, had dissipated. he looked at you with darting eyes that searched your own for the answers he needed, his hands gripped your dress tight. 

his hand stretches out to you, offerance of aid. you look to his palm, the gentle length of his fingers, and find his exuding energy welcoming - so you take his hand. it’s warm as your skin washes over his own, his hands were smooth and embracing, and you stand before him with a sharp intake of breath. 

“i’ve made you feel this way,” he begins, beginning to untie the laces that hang from the neck of your night dress. there’s a great deal of nerve vibrating through your body at the prospect of him dressing you, but regardless you let him in the wake of his tenderness. and if it meant a moment you could share closer to him - you’d take it. 

“you only speak your feelings to me when you think i’m asleep.” at that your breath stills, panic settles in quietly to your bones. 

“i-i’m sorry i-” “you have no need to apologize, it’s me. i’ve made you feel this way. and i’m sorry.” when your dress is removed, he kneels at your feet to gather it before letting you step into your under dress. you rest your hand on his shoulder for balance to do so. 

“in truth, i can’t tell you why i love you.” he says, his hands working to tie your second layer skirt around your waist, once it’s firm and not uncomfortable, you turn your head to look at him with glossy eyes. “you cannot say such things to me and not mean it. you can’t.” 

“i know i haven’t shown it, but it’s true, that i promise you.” with that, he gently guides your arms through the holes of your corset, and begins lacing it, leaving your eyes drowning in tears as your lips tremble. 

“you-you haven’t shown it. how am i to know you love me or that i love you when we hardly have a relationship. you’re my husband, i want to love you as one.” you gasp as he pulls the strings to tighten it, his palm laying flat on your back as he tugs once more. 

“it’s a promise i make now, to show you i do indeed love you. i want you to tell me when you’re hurting, i want to help, i want to grow with you.” his hands lay along your waist as your corset is tightened. when he rounds you, seeing your eyes fogged over, his heart pangs with guilt. 

“i’m sorry, truly. that i have made you feel this way. but please, know my promise is true.” his hands come to gather yours in his grip. 

you nod, wiping your face for a moment as you lift your gaze to look at him. “then i’ll tell you. i’ll tell you whatever you want to hear. i want to work to make this kingdom a happy place for our people, we must work together in that regard.” 

hyunjin listens, strokes his thumbs across the backs of your hands and you speak for a while longer on your marriage, how you’re both willing to work to make your love make sense, how you wish to be a unit in making the kingdom a place of happiness for your people. he prepares for the day, wearing an outfit the same shade of off-white as your own with his long dark hair tied back into a bun. 

he offers his arm to you before you both leave your bedroom, smiling softly. “thank you for talking to me.” he says, opening the door for you. “thank you for listening and talking as well. it feels nice to have this weight lifted.” 

“i agree.”

sorry if hyunjin's is written weird i was listening to cornfield chase by hans zimmer and got lost in the sauce.

[punkitt-is-here]

Read These Frequently Asked Questions Before You Send An Ask!

Patreon | Ko-Fi | Youtube

Heyo! I get a TON of asks each day, so I'm making this post so that folks know what's already been asked so my followers don't have to see the same stuff over and over, haha.

Hi! I'm Punkitt! I'm a game developer, artist, editor, director, and a bunch of other stuff! I'm working on an RPG called Astral Guard, a platformer called Susan Taxpayer, and I have a couple more fun projects in my pocket like Happup and Super Mario Death Row.

Did you know you look like weird al?

YES jesus fucking christ i get told this every day. if u send me a message in my inbox saying i look like weird al im killing you with like wizard spells and shit.

Why do you have so many hats? Do you know you have that many hats?

ye i like hats. :) free tumblr badges for one pea i like one piece and took as many as i could. free.

Where can I find your art/game development/horsecomix?

Great question! Everything I make that's my own and not a reblog is under "my posts", every bit of art I do is under "my art", any game development I do is under "gamedev", you can find all my MLP art under "mlp, my art" or "horsecomix" for the best stuff. I also have an "animations" tag and a "shitposts" tab. I also properly tag all my asks to be asks and write out the asker's name, so if you don't wanna see those just mute the ask tag.

Do you have a Patreon or a Ko-Fi?

I do have a ko-fi here! I also JUST launched a Patreon, which you can find here :)

What do you use for your art?

I use FireAlpaca and Paint.net for misc. effects!

What are you using to make your games?

I use FireAlpaca do make my assets! Astral Guard, Happup, and any other top-down RPG games I make are all made in RPGMaker 2003. Susan Taxpayer is made in SMBX2 Beta 4, a Mario fangame engine with lua support!

Why are you using a 2-decade-plus engine to make games?

It's fun!

Do you have a sideblog or something for your art?

Not right now! What you see is what you get. I do have a sideblog for Astral Guard though, if you want to follow that game specifically! @astral-guard

Can I make an OC based on your work? ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!! THATS THE COOLEST THING EVER!!!! LET ME KNOW IF YOU DO!!!! I WANNA SEE!!!!

Can I do dubs/redraws of your comics? As long as you credit me! I get a ton of notifs each day, so if you wanna show me (and PLEASE i so do wanna see fun dubs and redraws!!!) tag me or DM me!

Can I use your art as a PFP? Sure! Just credit me somewhere. :D

Are you the one who trapped her coworkers in a room and made them listen to TF2 lore?

Yep! Everyone had a blast actually. :]

Did you make that comic where Fluttershy eats the weed brownie/Rainbow Dash has a male living space/someone has a cutie mark that says they'll kill Ronald Reagan?

Yep! That's me.

Where are you in MLP right now?

Currently just finished Season 7! Haven't watched the movie yet.

Have you watched Equestria Girls?

Yep! Thought it was super cute. I watched up to Rainbow Rocks and plan on watching more.

What's your opinion on MLP so far?

I love it! I think it's cute. I really don't agree that there was some sort of huge quality drop after season 2 or whatever.

What do you think of G5?

Not my style! I don't really like either animation types and it just seems like I'm not in the audience anymore. That's totally chill, but it just doesn't grab me!

Have you watched any other MLP stuff from previous generations?

Nope! But I did see a compilation called Minty Being Autistic for Six Minutes Straight that I loved. she's perfect.

Favorite pony?

Don't got one, I love all the Mane Six a LOT, but I'm particularly fond of Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity!

Favorite episode/season?

I'm so bad at picking favorites! But any season past Season 1 I have a blast with because I feel like it's just more my style. I don't have a favorite episode, but the most recent one I can remember LOVING is the one where Starlight bottles up her emotions because it was REALLY funny.

Do you like Pony.mov?

Nope! And stop saying my stuff reminds you of it, it's a lil annoying!

Have you watched the Mentally Advanced Series/Friendship is Witchcraft/Other fandom vids?

Probably not! My interaction with the MLP fandom prior to last year was pretty minimal, so I'm making my way through the show first!

What do you think of Fallout: Equestria?

I think it's super weird but really fun because of that. I've never properly read any of it but it's very fascinating to me.

Are you transgender?

Yep! I go by she/her, I'm a trans woman. Have been for many years, but I only recently came out online!

Are you a lesbian?

Nah, I'm bisexual!

Can I commission you?

Yeah! I only have my commissions available on my Ko-Fi at certain times though, so keep an eye out! I usually announce slots being open at least 12 hours beforehand. Slots are usually first come first serve, but we'll see.

Can I use your art as a Discord emote?

Yeah man i'm not scouring every discord on the planet to find stickers of my work. i think it owns if people take my stuff and make it stupid injoke emotes between friends that makes me very happy.

Can I send you an ask inquiring about gender dysphoria?

I feel like this is beyond my capabilities of advice! I'm actually very comfortable with my body and I have been for many years, so I don't know if I can give any good or helpful advice on that front. Apologies, but there are many resources out there where you can ask about those things if you look for them, like Discord channels!

Favorite Color?

I'm a sucker for blue!

Favorite coffee?

Can't drink coffee, my stomach is cringe.

Favorite tea?

I'm lame and can't drink most tea but I love this one orange-flavored tea a lot. I also LOVE ice tea.

Can I say you're horsegender/punkittgender/a little gender goblin void thing?

Well, I can't stop you, but I'm kind of beyond that phase now! I really am a boring ol' plain she/her girl, and I like it that way. It's not much, but it's honest gender.

What's your favorite game series?

Mother, Kingdom Hearts, Mario, and I USED to say Fallout, but I found out I'm really only a big Fallout New Vegas fan.

Favorite game from those?

Mother 3 is one of my fave games of all time! I love KHII, and I'm tied for SMB3 and SMW. Also Fallout New Vegas fucks hard.

Any other favs?

Bug Fables, SLARPG, and TF2!

Favorite Movie?

Everything Everywhere All At Once, no question.

Oh, are you going to college?

Yep! I'm a film/theater major.

Do you have a YouTube channel?

Yeah! Click right here for it, I stream there and upload footage of my games/animations/my film projects + other stuff.

What is that little orange creature I see?

That's bweenop, my little persona that I use when I'm feeling a little scrunkly.

Do you have a ponysona?

Yep! Her name is Star Magnolia, you can search her on the blog to see art of her.

When will Susan Taxpayer/Astral Guard/etc. be out?

No clue! I take things slow, that's just how I am.

How do you work on so many things at once?

I make small, satisfying amounts of progress! I never try to complete one giant thing all at once, I just like doing small bursts of fun stuff. I got ADHD, so I learn to work with it.

Did you know you look like Weird Al?

Im going to run you over with a clown car watch out

WHY do you work on so many things at once?

Fun! I like learning, I like making cool stuff, and I like showing it to people :)

Do you need any help with your projects?

Potentially! I'll probably put out a post asking for help if I need it.

If you could be a horse, would you?

You kidding me? Several ton beasts with the frailty of a sickly Victorian boy; my clumsy ass would never survive.

Are you some sort of...furry?

yeag

Why do you reblog so much?

Brother I LOVE posting. that's just how it is.

Fav music artists?

It changes literally ALL the time but I will recommend ANYTHING by Vylet Pony, its music is incredible and probably the reason I'm a weird niche microcelebrity now.

Why are you like this?

theater kid + having a lot of fun on the internet makes you a bit silly hehe hoo

SUSAN TAXPAYER QUESTIONS

Is it out? Not yet! But hopefully sometime in the next year. I dunno! I take things at my own pace and keep stuff fun. :)

What are you using to make it? SMBX2! It's a free fangame engine for Mario episodes, but it's incredibly versatile and has a wonderful community, so I decided to make Susan Taxpayer in it.

Is there a demo? You betcha! You can find it right here. I'll also probably put it up on my itch.io.

How do I install it? I made a post here about how to run the SAGE '23 demo!

[ofmermaidstories]

SUMMARY: The call to be a Pro Hero has never been a question—not for Katsuki Bakugou, explosive and guarded, nor for Izuku Midoriya, protective and determined, and certainly not for Shouto Todoroki, who’s family legacy hangs over him like a shadow. Years after the War that upended Hero Society, these three men have helped rebuild a path to Pro Heroism for the next generation, tentatively heralding a new era of hope. But there’s danger lurking in this rebuilt world, danger that has the power to rekindle old fears and usher in new resentments, and as the trio branch out to find and end these threats, they each encounter a new challenge along the way—colliding with someone unexpected, and falling in love.

(A Pro Hero x Reader Trilogy; in which falling in love is a random chance all at once chaotic and exhilarating and incredible, for each of the Big Three)

The premise is simple: three heroes, three fics, and three different lives to live. Named for the Katy Perry song, The One That Got Away, the In Another Life trilogy was originally intended to be a series of five stand-alone fics that evolved, fairly quickly, into what we have today: three interconnected stories that let our Reader-inserts move throughout the My Hero Academia world, and eventually find where—and who with—they belong.

Started in 2020 when the manga was still on-going, the fics have diverged from the canon Horikoshi’s given us both in small and large ways. Despite where they separate (and where the fics have to stay faithful to their own canon, now), it’s always been my hope that they read like the love letters they are—to My Hero, to the boys, and to x reader fic at large.

i’m running to your side—flying my white flag

1. surrender (whenever you’re ready) [Explicit] — ao3

93k+

Bakugou Katsuki x Reader

COMPLETED ✔️

SUMMARY: You first meet Ground Zero when he's thrown, unceremoniously, through the glass window of your florist shop.

(In which Bakugou cannot stand flowers but finds himself coming back, anyway)

i’ve been reading books of old—the legends and the myths

2. something (just like this) [Explicit] — ao3

203k+

Izuku Midoriya x Reader

COMPLETED ✔️

SUMMARY: It probably says a lot about you that your first thought on meeting Deku, international Symbol of Peace, isn't something like "Oh, wow," or, "Oh he's so nice," but is instead the un-Plus Ultra thought of, "I definitely would've bullied him, in high school."

At least until those muscles came in.

(In which Midoriya is an absolute nerd for the release of his own hero-inspired comic book series—and the artist responsible for it)

all your flaws and scars are mine

3. still (falling for you) [Explicit] — ao3

TDB

Shouto Todoroki x Reader

WIP 🕙

SUMMARY: The first time you and Shouto cross paths, he nearly drowns you.

(In which Todoroki meets a jeweller by the sea, and learns the difference between the value of the lessons he's been given—and the precious things he chooses to keep)

🚧 UNDER CONSTRUCTION 🚧

i am actively adding to and editing this section, still. if you think something is missing, or you have something you’d like included, please let me know!!! i am going through all the posts and links i do have, manually, so i may still miss something and would love a gentle reminder. 🌷

🚧 🏗️ 🧱🔨🔧🪛 🚧

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] do u think bakugou ever gets so angry his mouth misses [Readers] when they’re making out?

Katsuki’s home for once, sleeping off the last few days in the darkness of his room, cocooned.

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] what type of jewellery would Bakugou gift [Reader], if any at all?

The first gift Katsuki gives you after Christmas is a pocket knife.

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] how are weeds and katsuki?

It’s a Wednesday, a normal day, and they are figuring it out.

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] petition for you to write [Reader sending] bakugou horny tweets

light it up like an ELECTRIC STRIKE ⚡️: please please PLEASE Kacchan has blocked me and muted the groupchat PLEASE, I need him to see this, please just send him this ONE THING, PLEASE!!!!!

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] would [it] be important to bakugou for [his parents and weeds] to meet?

Masaru will just scratch the side of his nose under his glasses and think about a younger Mitsuki, who literally would not take no for an answer from him—and a younger Katsuki, who had the same laser-focus when it came to the things he wanted in his life.

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] i am asking for royal au + florist au for [weeds/bakugou]

In his armour still, his forest-green cape, Ser Bakugou is dressed for war—solid and imposing as he stands on your threshold.

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [SJLT] what does [Reader] post [to instagram]? + [SWYR] things weeds would post

The one consistent has been art, good, bad and middling.

[ASK/DRABBLE 📖] [IAL] it’s so cute that SWYR’s reader is a fan of SJLT’s comic

Kacchan has never asked for anything from Izuku—beyond that he doesn’t look down on him (beyond that Izuku live).

[DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] katsuki keeps a pot of strawberries for you in his kitchen;

When they finally fruit he’s disgruntled.

[DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] katsuki’s quieter than usual

So you wait. You let him have his silence, and you fill the space around it with your own presence.

[DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] he tells me he’s gentle when he wants to be—

The bed dipping under Katsuki’s weight wakes you.

[DRABBLE 📖] [SWYR] you and bakugou walk home in the rain

“Y’re meant to go home, dipshit,” he says, disapproving

[DRABBLE 📖] [SJLT] bad touch (you and me)

Minoru’s skeleton nearly fists itself out of his asshole when a voice behind him says, “That was a kindness you just did, for Midoriya.”

[ASK ❔] [SWYR] if you were to write surrender today, do you think anything would change?

[ASK ❔] [SWYR] what would have been the moment bakugou knew he had it bad for surrender's reader?

[ASK ❔] [SWYR] have you ever written/imagined Kirishima’s POV [throughout the fic]?

[ASK ❔] [SWYR] idk if you meant her to come off in this way, but [Reader] strikes me as [lonely]

[ASK ❔] [SWYR] i’m literally going to throw up from excitement if you actually make a bakuweeds oneshot collection

[ASK ❔] [SWYR] i am vibrating in my boots with excitement about the [SWYR] one-shot series!

[ASK ❔] [SJLT] did you have any inspiration for the kimono Reader is wearing in SJLT?

[ASK ❔] [SJLT] looking forward to our [gala] wear

[ASK ❔] [SJLT] could we have visuals of Reader’s outfits during the gala?

[ASK ❔] [IAL] double dates

[ASK ❔] [IAL] what city/prefecture does [the series] take place in?

[ASK ❔] [IAL] how [would] the Y/Ns react to fanfic about their heroes?

[PODFIC 🎙️] [SWYR] surrender (whenever you’re ready) — narrated by Chthonianqueen

[PLAYLIST 🎧] [SWYR] surrender (whenever you’re ready) [plays on spotify]

[PLAYLIST 🎧] [SWYR] and i’d give up forever to touch you: a suggested-songs playlist [plays on spotify]

[PLAYLIST 🎧] [SJLT] something (just like this) [plays on spotify]

[PLAYLIST 🎧] [SJLT] like lightning: a suggested-songs playlist [plays on spotify]

[ART ✏️] [IAL] bakugou & weeds, deku and & scribbles & bakugou/weeds, deku/scribbles, monoma/reader — by @groshia

[ART ✏️] [SJLT] you get to witness, in real time, as [Deku] leaps from the now open door — by @getstarried

[ART ✏️] [SJLT] izuku, just izuku. just as he is — by @handlethegbread

[ART ✏️] [SWYR] when you’re bakugou katsuki, — by @okeydokiescribbles

[ART ✏️] [SWYR] haru + the flower shop signs

[MOODBOARD 🖼️] [SJLT] the moodboard trend inspired me to make this little thing

[MOODBOARD 🖼️] [SJLT] SJLT is my all-time favourite fanfic,

[MOODBOARD 🖼️] [SJLT] this is just […] a collection of things that reminded me of this story

[BINDING 📚] surrender & the widening sky — @ladybirdk

[PODCAST 🎙️] Canonically Incorrect, episode 75, season 2: Surrender (Whenever You’re Ready) — 10 December, 2022

[ spotify | apple ]

[PERMISSION STATEMENT:] You are more than welcome to print out any of the fics and bind yourself a copy for personal use, or otherwise record a [non-AI] reading of them, or translate into another language—as long as my ao3 username, OfMermaids, is credited somewhere as having written it. 🥹📚 I also love, love seeing and hearing about the work that goes into the pieces you create for yourselves, so if you’re comfortable with it, I’d love to see a picture of (or get a link to!) your efforts!!

final note:

This series is the result of several years worth of love and work, and most importantly, encouragement from the people who have come along and read the stories in it. Whether this is your first time discovering the trilogy, or you’re otherwise revisiting the boys, this is a note to say thank-you for being here. Thank-you for reading, and for being apart of something that has been so much fun to create. Fandom and fanfiction has always been about sharing the excitement with other people—so thank-you for letting me share mine with you. 🌷📖

[hsficrecommendation]

Hello Everyone! This is masterlist #4 (June of 2023!) for the all fics I have reblogged on this side blog I hold super close to me. Remember to leave feedback and reblog all the writings below!

Also, a huge thank you to all the writers mentioned, I adore you so very much and I hope you keep writing for yourselves <3

••• JUNE •••

Valentine's Day | Y/N receives a special candy gram on Valentine’s Day. - @nationalharryleague

French Fries | Harry kept glancing at her as he drove. “M’sorry about our date,” he whispered. “I don’t know what you’re apologizing for,” she shrugged and reached over to squeeze his arm while he held the steering wheel. “I had a lovely time.” - @1d1195

Shy | Close | Motherly Love | Don't Leave Me | Mother's Day | ♡ When Harry runs into a perfect stranger at a supermarket, he doesn’t know what to expect. After having been single for over a year and raising Amelia without a mother, dating somebody new feels impossible… that is, until she wins over the heart of his daughter. - @harry-writings

Vogue Beauty Secrets | Actress!Y/N does the Vogue Beauty Secrets video, and Harry decides to help. - @astranva

Gonna be Better in the Morning | Jeff and reader get into a fight and Harry takes Jeff's side. (As always, there is a happy ending with lots of comforts) - @harryhoney-bee

Work of Art | A cute little fluffy artist!Harry piece with a hint of angst! - @nationalharryleague

Update | The Best Present | Harry falls for a mysterious girl from YouTube. - @watchmegetobsessed

When The Levee Breaks | You're a waitress and Harry is being stood up. - @songbirdstyles

Playball | ♡ The reader owns a bakery and hates baseball, but what happens when her town’s bigshot MLB player walks into her bakery and she finds herself catching feelings unaware of his occupation? - @writingsbymarie

The Con Artist | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | ♡ You're a wanted criminal and when Harry Styles, the detective on the case, finally catches up to you- he finds it difficult to resist your charms. - @gurugirl

Baby Steps | You’re Harry’s son's therapist, and he isn’t the only one you end up helping. - @enthusiasticharry

Mute | ♡♡ Where Harry doesn’t talk and falls in love with Y/n. - @harry-writings

Score and Smash | In which their university holds an annual boy vs girl football match, the highly anticipated game of the year has arrived and Harry and Y/N hate each other just as equally until Y/N is under Harry.

Quid Pro Quo | Another lawyer!Harry. Technically six years before this piece. Enemies to lovers with plenty of angst! - @talesofstyles

Six Months (Part 23) | ♡ Layla desperately needs a vacation and her Aunt and Uncle come to her rescue. So, at twenty two, she packs her bag and jets off to America. Harry took a break from education and is now a full fledged content creator on OnlyFans. At twenty, he makes more money than almost all of his friends. What ensues when these two meet and realise the windows in their rooms face each other? How will paper airplanes bring them closer together? - @fishnets-fingers

2022 : Masterlist #1 , #2 , #3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 2023 : Masterlist #1, 2, 3 (June masterlist would be continued in the next list!)

My official writing account in case you'd like to check out my fics too: @0oolookitsme :)

[craykaycee]

sneaks onto ur dash to talk ab one of my aus with these magma doodles------

This is a Street Artist AU I-- basically adopted from @starrspice (thank you, lovelyy!!) This is a post-fire AU where the DCA escapes the fire themselves and into the city. They're stripped of the proper prompts and triggers for their childcare and entertainment programming, but are able to find something their coding can latch onto: a group of children who need entertainment. They modified their performance and entertainment programming with their arts and crafts protocols to create art as a performance!

More details (so many details-- I went off xDD) and designs of the AU, of which I've titled "City Lights and Paint Water", under the cut :3c

They're pretty beat-up from the fire, and without proper access to maintenance, they've retained the burn marks, splattered paint, and other grime associated with being outdoors. Over the months as street artists, passersby donate their old paints and other supplies, hence the oversized trousers and worn apron! (P.S.: cloth placement is more accurate in the magma doodles)

Sun and Moon each have preferred mediums and styles!

Sun prefers acrylic paints and spray paint, his paintings a controlled chaos with loud, scattered colors, large brushstrokes, and splatters. His paintings always have a lot of movement due to his freeform painting style, splattering paint and getting a laugh from the kids.

Moon like to work with watercolors and colored pencil, the colors more muted with small pops of brighter colors (such as lights within windows). He likes to capture the lights of the streets, wondering what the true night sky looks like, his art giving a soft and ethereal mood.

Then we have our Main Character (MC), the viewer/reader! They're a graphic designer for a big corporate tech company, tasked with making pamphlets, brochures, posters, et cetera for the company. Though they do good work as a graphic designer, their true passion is fine arts, but their work isn't taken seriously due to its "childish" appearance despite the real-life deeper meanings. In the meantime, they create for themself, crafting and making trinkets for their apartment. They even make some of their own clothes, made up of several different garments to make something one-of-a-kind. Their outfits are fairly chaotic, typically accompanied by a hair accessory, but the patterns and colors compliment each other well.

MC grew up in a rural area, and still love the open and free areas it provides, but they had to move to an urban city for work and better opportunities. It's a big step up from their small town, overwhelmed by the activity. At the start of the story, they feel disconnected from their work, drained by the cookie-cutter bland work of their graphic designer job, but it's the only way they can reliably earn income.

The story starts with Sun spotting MC beyond the crowd, rushing somewhere. He continues to see them in the distance, unable to approach them due to their haste. He's mesmerized by their appearance, drawn to their creative expression just in their outfit. Moon catches a few glances of MC in the evenings, but doesn't have the same draw to them as Sun, figuring them as just another "everyman" in the crowd. One day, in MC's haste, they lose a paper from their portfolio. When Sun catches it, he sees a presentation sheet of several different designs meant for a business card or a t-shirt emblem. Sun is astounded by them, making MC more interesting than they already were.

It's not until about a week later that Sun takes an opportunity to return the paper and give his compliments. When he does this, however, MC's face falls before forcing a polite smile, thanking him. Before Sun could say anything more, they're gone.

There's so many small moments I'd like to explore, but that's the set-up :3cc I nearly have chapter one (1) completed, two (2) chapters after that already planned. The chapter length is pretty short right now, but I don't know if I wanna beef them up or keep them at this shorter length. We'll see! :D

Welp, these are my boios! I hold them gently in my hands and present them like a proud parent

[possessionisamyth]

Look, listen to me, come closer. Nope, too close, take one step back. Okay, thank you. Now open your ears and hear what I'm saying.

Whole Cake but sanuso, BUT Sanji has fully transitioned via Ivankov and her poster has not been changed from the bad drawing yet. This means when they go to pick up Sanji, the disowned son, they are meeting Sanji the trans woman who cannot marry another woman ala Pudding. Not because of the gay thing, but because Charlotte Linlin expects babies from all her married kids.

Hold on, I'm not done. There's more, but it's below the cut cause I'm nice.

Okay so clown 1 and clown 2 arrive with their convincing arguments or alternative threats ready to go only to see Sanji and immediately call Judge so they can check. Is this the right person? Judge said a son didn't he?

Vito: "You have two daughters?"

Judge: "No. One daughter."

Vito: "There is a woman here calling herself Sanji."

Judge: "Sanji is my bastard son. He has the same eyebrows as the others, and he's blonde."

Both of the retrievers look at Sanji who fits the bill except for being a pissed off looking woman.

Vito: "Uh, you know what. We'll just bring 'Sanji' to you and you can make your best judgement."

Judge: "You'd better."

Sanji arrives. Reiju is doing her absolute best to remain appearing emotionless, but the giggles are being held at bay by a thread because this was the best possible way to get out of this marriage. Sanji the escape artist wins again in her eyes. The tri color brothers? They immediately start laying on the mockery and sexist comments of which Sanji is Not A Fan, but they threatened Zeff, and she needs to see how this is going to play out before doing anything. Judge? Absolutely pissed. He cannot give any of his other sons to Charlotte Linlin because they have actual value in his eyes. He was supposed to be giving the trash away, and the one thing Linlin needs out of any marriage deal is grandchildren. Grandchildren Sanji cannot provide with the one kid Linlin planned to give up ala Pudding.

Judge will either have to figure out a magical de-transition method that is instant (not possible in the time they have left). Give up one of his valuable sons (extremely not wanted). Or lie about Sanji's gender and go through the deal hoping they can get out unscathed until this is "fixed".

They opt to lie. Sanji who kept her hair short, only because longer hair was too much of a hassle in the kitchen, doesn't even have the option to be dysphoric due to the lengths the Vinsmokes are going through to pass her off as a man. Like. It's extremely pathetic. It's sad. It's one of Usopp's "I can't do X disease" level of awful and bad except Usopp's little lies were at least coming from someone cute.

They put a fake beard on her. Reiju is responsible for her make up. Clothes are tailored to hide the obvious curves. Sanji is making every step of this process as difficult as possible. There's nothing no one can do about her voice, though it's only slightly pitched up from before her transition. They tell her not to talk and slap the exploding handcuffs on her to make sure she doesn't. They say she's half mute or something, and Linlin says something like husbands are best seen and not heard. They buy it. They fucking buy it. Sanji isn't sure who's more stupid, the Vinsmokes for putting her through this fluke, or the Charlottes because they fall for it hook line and sinker. Her beard starts to fall off halfway through a meal and they rush her back to her room.

There are multiple mishaps where she's almost "caught", and her brothers are annoyed because they have to put in effort to cover for her unless they want to be auctioned off. Reiju is putting in a lot less effort to cover for her. But Sanji is tired. She is angry. She wants to go home. The fake beard is itchy. The clothes aren't her style. She misses her cute stilettos that Usopp lovingly sharpened the heels on. She is getting some entertainment from making trouble by nearly exposing her 'secret', but it does nothing to ease her worry of the ticking time clock to this farce of a wedding.

Pudding is nice at least. A little touchy, but nice. Sanji is so tempted to compliment the young girl, but the bracelets around her wrists are a very cold reminder not to.

Usually I have more to write where I go over the whole arc with this kind of headcanon, but I don't. Have some snippet ideas.

Usopp yelling out, "What did they do to my babygirl!" in earshot and Sanji giving him the wettest most pathetic sad cat eyes because she loves when Usopp calls her that and she wants TO LEAVE.

Sanji revealing her gender at the altar, and Pudding having a lesbian awakening.

Sanji actually taunting her brothers with a reversal of the sexist commentary they were throwing at her and then saving them.

Hearing multiple Charlotte kids question why Judge lied about having another son, and that they would've accepted a daughter to marry into the family. Some even say a daughter offering might've even prevented the whole assassination attempt thing.

Usopp gently putting Sanji's spiky stilettos on her feet like Cinderella and her prince, and she gets a horrible nosebleed. This happens moments before she's being dragged off to remake the wedding cake.

Pudding is still having the split genuine thirst and fake angry reactions to Sanji where she's just like (thumbs up emoji) in response.

Multiple cut scene styled flashbacks where random Charlotte kids realize Sanji was very obviously a woman, and they'd been too stupid in the moment to pay real attention to her slip ups.

Injured Sanji giving the double middle finger to the Vinsmokes as they part ways.

Luffy seriously asking Sanji why they didn't put her in a wedding dress. Were they too stupid to see she's a girl? He could tell it was really obvious so why didn't they?

Sanji in an irritated voice explaining to Luffy what they put her through, and then placing her hands on her blushing cheeks as she explains she only wants to wear a wedding dress once. She pointedly looks at Usopp and flutters her lashes. Usopp gets all bashful and smiley and starts a whole spiel about how if they got married it'd be way grander than what the Charlottes could come up with. Sanji is swooning. Nami is moments from throwing them both overboard for being way too mushy.

You got that right? Okay, good. Have a nice evening!

[the-s1lly-corner]

The Creepypasta Masterlist, Volume 1

And we make it at least to the Creepypasta masterlist, or at least the first one! Since I kind of merged the source and crp fanons of masky and hoodie I will be including my Marble Hornets posts as well! If there if anything wrong with any of the links please let me know! Since a post can only have up to 100 links there will be multiple masterlists for Creepypasta! As of 1/20/2024 this masterlist is complete! For future volumes you can find the links in the bottom of my pinned!

MULTI CHARACTERS:

Slenderman, EJ, LJ, Tim/Masky, and Brian/Hoodie's petnames for the reader

Down time w/ Slenderman, EJ, LJ, Tim and Brian

Slenderman, EJ,LJ, Tim and Brian w/ a reader who has plushies

Masky and Hoodie w/ a teen!new proxy!reader (platonic)

Slenderman, EJ, LJ, Tim and Brian listening to a song w/ reader

Reminders from Slenderman, EJ, LJ, Tim and Brian

Random skills and hobbies they'd have: Slenderman, EJ, LJ, Tim and Brian

Slenderman, EJ, LJ, Masky and Hoodie x their ideal partners

Slenderman, Splendorman, EJ, and LJ outliving you

Slender, Splendor, EJ, LJ, masky and hoodie losing the reader

Slender, Splendor, EJ, and LJ when the reader has a nightmare

Slender, Splendor, EJ, LJ, Masky and Hoodie reactions to being told "I love you" for the first time

Slender, Splendor, EJ, LJ, Masky and Hoodie finding out youre pregnant

Slender, Splendor, EJ, LJ, Masky and Hoodie x slenderbeing!reader

EJ, LJ, Masky, Hoodie, and Toby w/ a scarred reader

Slender, Trender, Masky, and EJ w/ an ace reader

LJ, EJ, and Toby x reader whos like Hishino

Masky, Hoodie, Toby and reader going to a pumpkin patch

Date nights w/ Masky and Hoodie

EJ, LJ, slender and Jeff x reader who's been there the longest

EJ, LJ, Jeff and hoodie having a snowday w/ the reader

SLENDERMAN:

Dating Slenderman v.1

Slenderman finding out his proxies get bitches

Living w/ Slenderman

"In all my years.." short post

Slenderman exploring the readers interests

Slenderman x reader who writes horror

Slenderman x fey!reader

"All entwined in one web" Slenderman comfort/hc post

Slenderman x ghost!reader

Slenderman x cottagecore!partner

Matching scarves

Celebrating halloween

Slenderman x slenderbeing!artist!reader

Slenderman x slenderbeing!reader

Date nights w/ Slenderman

SPLENDORMAN:

Splendorman: catch up edition

EYELESS JACK:

Dating EJ hcs v.1

Aftercare w/ Eyeless Jack (kind of spicy but not explicit)

Living w/ EJ

General EJ hcs

Imagine scenario w/ EJ

Jealous EJ

EJ x artist!reader who loves nature

"The world is cruel" shortpost

Reader surprise visiting him

Reader and EJ walking together at night

Reader and EJ drabble

EJ ramble post

"Oh nooo i sure hope there isnt a monster" shitpost

Random EJ tongue hcs (yes this is SFW)

Playing w/ his hair

EJ, reader, and music

He accidentally hurts you

EJ and reader cosplaying BOTW for halloween

Random thing #5/Cleaning the tar

Cuddling and Sleeping w/ EJ

Date nights w/ EJ

LAUGHING JACK:

Living w/ LJ

Gift giving w/ LJ

Carnival hcs/jokepost

Random hcs

Laughing Jack x chaotic!reader who loves music!

Pumpkin carving w/ LJ

LJ x reader whos like Tomie

Random thing #2/Colors

Random thing #3/Pain

LJ x Trans masc!reader w/ cramps

LJ x reader who gets migraines

Random thing #10/Clown physics

LJ x angel!reader

Date nights w/ LJ

LJ x clown!reader

MASKY/TIM:

Masky x fem!reader on christmas

Tim x fem!reader who has tics

Reader finding out Tim is a proxy

Tim/Masky x soft but fierce reader

Father!Masky finding out reader is dating Toby

Tim/Masky x sunshine!reader

HOODIE/BRIAN:

General Brian/Hoodie hcs

PUPPETEER:

Pup x reader whos struggling to sleep

Pup x reader who has nightmares + sleep paralysis

OTHER:

General Zalgo hcs

Platonic Ben Drowned x mute!reader

Platonic Ben x gen z!reader

FLUFF ALPHABET

D, H, N, O, P, Q, R, S, X, Z w/ LJ

A, B, D, G, H, K, M w/ Slenderman

C, E, F, H, I, J, K, M, N, S, Y w/ Masky

E, F, I, W w/ Slenderman

J, P, Q, U w/ Slenderman

A, C, I, G, K, L, P w/ EJ

[barxlupin]

Ted glances at the lone customers sitting at the counter. Technically speaking, Bar Lupin isn't quite open for business yet - explaining the lack of other people inside - but the boss had made it a general rule to still let people in (especially if it looked like they needed a place to hide).

Ted isn't used working behind the counter yet, he's still learning. The manager says he's a quick learner and is doing well - probably the reason why he trusted to leave him alone while he went out to run some errands after serving this one customer.

He nods when the customer asks if smoking is allowed, then gestures for him to wait while he shuffles to the back. He knows they have things others than alcohol in there, such as coffee and tea, although they tend to be more akin to secret menu items or for the staff's consumption. Neither of the waitresses is that fond of alcohol.

As he disappears through the door leading to the back of the bar, a cat jumps on the counter and approaches Ayatsuji. It's a strange feline, not much for its fur pattern, a pretty standard black-and-white tuxedo, if not for the fact that it's wearing a small top hat and what looks like a bow tie collar with a tag reading 'Seuss'.

"He'll be back shortly." Oh yeah, and when the cat opens its mouth, perfectly enunciated words can be heard rather than meows.

True to the cat's words, Ted returns quickly, carrying a steaming cup of coffee, which he swaps the glass of alcohol with, alongside a sugar bowl and a small jug of milk, since the customer hasn't specified how he wanted his coffee.

@barxlupin

"Is smoking allowed in here?" Seated at the bar, he twirls his pipe in his fingers, gazing at the liquid before him. Had he ever drank anything alcoholic in his life? No. He didn't like the thought of not being in control or the possibility of the government finding the perfect chance to adorn him in lead. But as they say-

When in rome, do as the romans do.

Placing it to his lips, he takes a small sip. Absolutely disgusting-

"And do you have coffee?"

[painting-warhammer]

Solitaire in the style of Vriska Serket (Homestuck)

Just in time for 4/13! Commentary under cut.

The Lessons Learned

#1: Learn As Much As You Can Before Letting Your Mini Anywhere Near A Brush

As first figures go, this was honestly not as bad as it could have been, but I am an outlier. (and the second figure would be much worse.) Since the proverbial canvas was so expensive, it was a lot of "measure twice, cut once."

This was the main thing I used, and save for the face looking like chewed-up bubblegum, it came out relatively okay for a first try. Overall, this guy's a legend and this would be far from the only video of his I would reference.

#2: It's Okay To Be Inspired

What really hooked me on Warhammer in general is that you can paint things in your style. This is appealing at first, but if you're not an artist, you're going to be exposed quickly in the worst way possible, and that's by the color wheel theory. If you don't understand contrast and coomplements, all the technique in the world won't save your figure from looking like an eyesore.

This is where "established" characters that you are mimicking end up being your saving grace. If canon material is your bag, that works: You certainly won't lack as far as exact guides then! But in my opinion, you learn a bit more by improvising and trying to make something similar to an established character. Chances are they're popular because they have an appealing color scheme. As it happens, Vriska's various blue motifs really complement her orange, which is something I never realized way back when.

Also, reinterpretation was inevitable. I had initially considered freehanding the sun symbol on her lapel, but when everything was smaller than my pinkie, I just settled for making her jewels yellow. The real masterstroke was taking the Harlequin's Kiss weapon and recoloring it as the Warhammer (oh hey) of Vrillyhoo.

I just took the general colors and used Spiritstone Red on the rounded bits, and made something analogous to it. It's still the neatest part, imo.

#3: The Best Way To Start

For every color, I had a swatch. I had one base color, which I then doused in a shade, and then added one layer paint as the main color and one shade lighter for highlights.

#4: How To Make A Shiny Figure

There's a special paint called Ardcoat that puts a glossy texture on, but something that's a little more muted that gives a shine is... shade paint! I didn't shake the paint pot enough and created a fun glossy texture that you can see on her knee. (I learned how I accidentally did this by asking at my local Warhammer shop, lol)

#5: Don't Be Afraid To Make Mistakes

I'm sure there's more than just this wrong with this figure, but the Solitaire is supposed to be leaping off that little rock there. There were glyphs where I was able to put in a glowing line of Baharroth Blue that was watery enough that it filled in the little gaps on its own. It looked fantastic once...

Unfortunately, I overfilled my brush and it sloughed over into the other creases and ruined the whole effect. I also slopped Mordant Earth onto the stones and made it too ugly.

But that's just it. As much prep work as I was going in with, there was always going to be a mistake, and on a personal psychic level it feels bad when you make it. It ruins a whole day of painting lol. And you can't really stop those emotions, but you should at least try.

#6: You're Not Married To Your Army

It's inevitable that getting your first figure leads you to think about a whole army of them, but I had this distaste in my mouth when I thought about making more than one Vriska. For one, I didn't like any of the other Harlequins or Aeldari, or more importantly, I couldn't think of fun color schemes for them. The thought came to mind to make the ships similar to the Batterwitch/Condesce, but they were too similar color-wise (and even in the symbology!) where it just felt redundant. I get a special kick out of making something different from the boxart, because that's the point in my opinion.

I coped for a while: Green stuff or 3D print horns for the other figures to make them trolls? Suck it up and just use Vriska's color scheme for the others? In the end, I just gave up and called this a practice run. This is still my favorite figure. I'm just happy the first one turned out so nicely, relatively speaking, so I don't really have a lump of paint surrounding what was once a figure like a lot of first-time painters.

But no worries. Because I'd definitely fuck up the next one. 😅 That's for a new post.

[itsohh]

Electra Heart Part 2

A/N: Female reader, I actually really enjoyed writing this dynamic even though I never really did dive into the reader being a popstar too much so I might do something more focused on that element in the future if theres intrest. Dunno, I'm just glad this didn't die in the wip graveyard lmao.

Summary: After a successful date with your long term friend Johnny things go rather well you finally decide to follow your heart without a care for your popstar image.

Word count: 5082

Warnings: Smut

Part 1 AO3

The next day after your date with Johnny, you found yourself at the studio as everyone talked about the demo you had submitted. “It's upbeat, it's fun, it's a song you get down to at the club. I think it should be the single of the album.” Mike, one of your producers argued. 

“It's a love song. It's off her brand, her brand is breaking hearts- ruining lives. Not this.” Katie, your manager bickered back. 

“No it's supposed to be a commentary of the modern age-

Meanwhile, you ignored them. Your focus was on your phone. Johnny's glasses decorated your face and hid your eyeline from everyone in the room. In your hand was your phone, just at the perfect angle to see under the glasses. Eyes on your phone you recorded yourself as they argued next to you- the volume muted. 

Going to work was a mistake 

You zoned out of the conversation as you received a reply from Johnny. His snap was a picture of him at his mansion. Without his shirt, you could see the sweat that covered his chest muscles. A pair of glasses covered his eyes as he flexed in the photo. 

Damn and I thought I looked good in them

Another snap came through of a slightly adjusted photo.

free 2nite?

Johnny, we literally went out yesterday 

what can I say? Can’t get enough of u

Next Tuesday I'm free

that's like five days away :(((

You’re a big boy, you can wait

lunch then? bring swimwear 

or don't ;))

=⁠_⁠=

you weren’t giving me that look last night

need a ride?

Nah I'll find my own way there

u sure? can drop you off again if u like?

We’ll see 

“Gale!” The sound of your stage name snapped you out of your thoughts and your eyes were met with the look of everyone else in the room. 

“Huh?”

“Are you listening?” Katie asked annoyed. You blinked and bit your tongue. 

“I don't know why we're are arguing over this, the album isn't even done.” Jacob, a man who rarely spoke up, raised his voice. 

“Because this is against her entire image if we-”

“Katie who cares?” Jacob leaned forward. “Artists change their vibe all the time. So she's fallen in love? It's not like we can't work with that.”

Something ran across Katie's eyes and she turned to face you. “Who is it? We can-”

“No no no no.” You immediately waved your hands. “There will be no publicity stunt. No tabloids no nothing. This one's private.”

You gave her a stare as you put your foot down, something you didn't do too often. 

“If you do go public with this you need to tell me first. Or if someone catches you.”

“Alright.”

-

Before you could even knock twice the front door to Johnny's mansion swung open and he picked you up in his arms. 

“There's my girl!” He swung you around in a circle before he placed you back on the ground again. 

“Your girl?” You laughed. 

“My girl.” He confirmed and a moment later his lips were on yours. Johnny pushed the door closed with one hand. His body pressed against yours and your back made contact with the now closed door. Sandwiched between him and the door, you hung your wrists around his neck and enjoyed the ride. 

“...Being waiting to do that all week.” He breathed when he parted, his forehead pressed against yours. 

“Yeah? Then why did you stop?” 

Something clicked inside of Johnny and he was upon you again. His hand found the joints on the back of your knees and picked you up with ease. Instictly you wrapped your legs around his waist and he carried the pair of you over to his lush sofa. 

The caps of your knees met the sofa as he at down on it. His hand settled on your ass where he gently kneaded it and encouraged you to grind against him. One hand tangled in his hair, you ran your nails through it and grabbed a chunk. 

His lips separated from yours only to assault your kneck and trail down to your chest where the open cut of your shirt exposed. “So fucking hot.” He mumbled against your skin. 

Then a ring of the phone happened. 

But this time, it wasn't your phone. 

“Johnny, your phone.” You mumbled.

In response, he growled against your skin and continued to assault your lips with his. 

“Ignore it. It’ll stop.”

He was right, it did after a few rings. Then it started again. You pulled back and stepped off his lap which caused him to let out a whine. 

Johnny snatched his phone off his liquor table and pressed it against his phone. “Cage here.” His eyes watched as you approached his swimming pool and nearly dropped his phone when you started to take off your clothes. 

Johnny watched with great obvious interest as you stripped down to reveal your high-waisted bikini underneath. 

“Uh-huh.” You were at least fifty percent sure he wasn't listening to his phone. There was a decently sized charcuterie board on a small mobile table near the pool. It was filled with different, cheeses, meat, fruit and crackers. 

You picked a couple of grapes from the bunch and popped one in your mouth. Johnny watched as you approached him and pressed the grape to his mouth. His lips accepted it without hesitation and you could feel the slight touch of his soft lips against your fingertips. 

“Hey look, I'm actually in the middle of something. I’ll have to call you back or just email me alright? Yeah okay. Bye.” He tossed the phone over his shoulder onto the couch and attempted to snatch at your waist but you skipped out of grasp. 

A squeal left your lips as he chased after you until you jumped directly into the pool as an escape. When you surfaced and turned to face Johnny, he crouched at the edge of the pool. 

“This shirt can not get wet but damn is it tempting to ruin it right now.” 

You swam up to him in the guise that you were going to kiss him but last second you snatched his glasses once again and pushed off the pool wall with your foot. 

Johnny watched as you placed them on your face and grinned at him. He stood up from his crouched position and pointed a finger at you. “In about three to four minutes from now, your dead.”

“Whatever you say Johnny!” You sang back. 

He disappeared from view and you snuck out of the pool to go back to feasting off the charcuterie board. A couple of minutes later the hair on your shoulders stood up and you turned to see Johnny at the top of his stairs. No longer was he in a dress shirt and pants but in a rather small and tight pair of swim shorts. 

Cage stalked his way over to you rather casually but as he got close there was violence in his eyes and he went to grab you. Like a caught deer, you scrambled to jump back in the pool but this time he followed you in. 

It shouldn't have surprised you but he was an extremely strong swimmer and managed to catch you by the waist with ease. You squealed and laughed as he pulled you by the waist. 

“You have something of mine.”

“I have no idea what you're talking about.” Your head rolled over his shoulder and grinned in his glasses. 

He raised his brows up as if to say ‘really?’ but grinned regardless. The pair of you stayed like that for a moment, just looking at each other. Then you saw it, that look in his eyes. Always hidden but now revealed, not desire but care. Johnny looked at you like you were the most precious thing in the world. 

The smile on your face dropped and you slowly turned around to face him. Johnny's grip loosened so you could move and you hung your arms around his neck once again. 

“I swear I can't think I'm around you,”  Johnny said. 

“Really? You hide it well.”

“Gods yes. That time at the academy? I swear I felt like I was at high school again.”

“Johnny you slept through half of the lessons.”

“Dreaming of you babe.”

“Johnny.” You rolled your eyes. One hand left your waist and came out of the water to reach for the glasses. A sudden gasp left your lips and you pushed off Johnny back into the water to escape. When you looked over your shoulder Johnny was on his way towards you, watering flying everywhere as he did so. 

You found the ladder at the side of the pool and quickly climbed out. Water dripped off your body but you didn't get too far before you felt his hand grab at you. Yet, he failed and only managed to get a grasp on the back of your bikini. As you continued to move forward, it pulled the bikini and in doing so it came undone. 

“Johnny!” You hissed and spun around to face him, your hands on your chest to keep yourself decent. 

For once, a red dusting covered his cheeks and he immediately put his hands over his eyes. “Oh fuck I’m so sorry. I swear I didn't mean to.” 

A second passed and you watched him. Despite his obvious horniness for you 24/7 he still cared. His head tilted to the sky so he couldn’t possibly see, his palms were most certainly in the way.  Your heart hammered instead of your chest and you swallowed. Instead of doing it back up, you took a couple of silent steps towards him. You dropped the bikini top in your hands and let it fall to the ground. “Johnny…” You reached up and grabbed his wrist then slowly pulled it down. 

His eyes were squeezed shut and he peaked open one testinly. It went from your face down to your exposed chest. Johnny pressed his lips together and looked away from you for a second as he obviously restrained himself. 

“You can look.”

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. Both eyes opened as he drank up your form.

“Ohmyfuckinggod may I touch?”

“Mhmm.”

The second you gave confirmation he bent his knees and picked you up by the waist. Up in the air, he aligned your chest with his mouth as he latched on. Your legs wrapped around his waist automatically as Johnny sucked on one breast and felt up the other. 

He rolled your nipple between his fingers as he carried you over to his sofa, not a care in the world for the water that was sure to cover it. “John-ny.” Your whine turned into a long moan. Now that you were on his lap he could use one hand to palm your ass where he encouraged you to grind against him. 

The swimwear that separated the pair of you did little to create a barrier and you could soon feel the sheer size of him that hardened against you. Mentally you made a note that he seemed to really enjoy your movements.

One of your hands leaned on the sofa while the other buried in Johnny's hair and kept him pulled against your chest, not that he needed to be held there. There was a pop as he detached from your breast and then made a large lick on the other one before he swapped sides. 

Johnny hummed against you and his hips started to rock up to add more friction between your legs. “I've wanted you the second I saw you.” He briefing spoke against your skin and continued, his big brown eyes looking up at you. 

“You want every woman that you see.”

“What can I say? There's a lot of beautiful women out there. But you're the one I wanted to keep.” 

Johnny detached his lips from your nipple and placed a kiss between your breasts in your cleavage. “You’re smart.” Kiss. “And fun.” Kiss. “And pretty.” Kiss. “And can kick some serious ass.” Kiss. “I’d be a fool to let you slip between my fingers.” This time instead of kissing your chest, he pulled you down by the jaw and planted his lips against yours. A messy and open mouth kiss that was full tongue. One caused your cunt to drench further. 

“Think you can take me baby?” His eyes trailed your jaw to your lips

“Only one way to find out.”

“Fuck.” He moaned at that thought as his eyes shut for a moment and he swallowed. “That's the attitude.” 

He allowed you to press up from him and separate the pair of you. The distance was just enough to give him room to fish his rock-hard cock from his shorts. The hand that had been him his hair drifted down and you pushed your bikini bottom to one side. Your cunt glistened for him, covered in your arousal. Johnny started to rub the tip of his head between your soaked folds and you watched the way his eyelids fluttered. 

“Fuck.” He moaned again and he drew out the end of the word

Just as he held it between your folds for a little longer and you used the opportunity to slide down on it. Johnny let out a lot of hiss of delight. “Oh, you're going to be the death of me. So tight.” He whined as he slouched slightly on the sofa. Your hands found his shoulders and your nails dug in slightly while you anchored yourself. 

“Your…. Like…Really big.” You panted. Johnny blinked a couple of times as the pain of you slowly adjusted to the feeling.

“No need to tell me.” He winked and placed both palms over your ass. Johnny didn't try and get you to move though, he was content in allowing you to pick the pace. 

As you steadied yourself you couldn't help but be almost overwhelmed by him. Sure you had taken dick before, real or not. But this time, he was so deep inside you could swear you could feel him in his chest. His thick cock had you so pleasantly stretched that he had quite literally stuffed your entire hole. 

Then his phone started to ring. Johnny's head snapped forward and snatched the phone that vibrated next to you. He promptly threw it across the room and it fell into the pool with a satisfying ‘plop’. The sound was cut off as it quickly sunk to the bottom of it. 

“Where were we?” He looked up and down your bare form. “Oh yeah, that's right.” Johnny's lips connected with yours again and slowly you started to roll your hips against him. Just the smallest of movements sent electricity throughout your entire body.

“Please.” Your voice was strained but he wasn't one to make you beg. Johnny started to lift you with your bounces, making it easier for you while he thrust up. 

Johnny's palm cupped your cunt and his thumb found your clit at expert speed. When he grazed it, you flinched up and his smirk grew. He gave you that one look before he started to circle your clit to the same rhythm of your movements. 

It was a different type of pleasure that started to build inside you and soon you were squirming on his cock while he kept control. Mentally you made sure to get him back but then that thought faded to the back of your mind as your body continued to tense up. “Mmm so nice and tight for me. Yeah? Come on baby, lemme see you cum on my cock.” 

His voice, the purr of his voice had you squeeze down on him as the thread inside of you snapped and a wave of pleasure took your body by storm. Your heartbeat raced in your ears and your nails broke through the skin on his shoulder. Yet, Johnny didn't care. He continued to praise you through your high. 

“That's it, oh fuck yes, you’re doing so well. Let it out baby, I got you. I got you.” For a moment his babbles were silenced as you were taken away for what felt like an hour but in reality was only for a few seconds. 

Energy spent, you slumped forward into Johnny's waiting arms. “Tired you out huh?” He chuckled and picked you up with his cock still inside. You didn't bother to look where he was taking you, simply burried your face into his shoulder. 

“Just gimmie a few minutes.” You mumbled into him.

He laughed and kissed the side of your head. “Take your time. I'll be here all day and all night.”

-

The next morning you were woken up by the sound of a loud thumping and it wasn't in your head. When you opened your eyes and blinked you found yourself in an unfamiliar room and it took you a couple of seconds to recover your memories. 

The rush of resting in Johnny's bed cuddled up to him came to your mind. Then the memory of you getting a little handy. Then him getting handsy, then him fucking you. Against the bed, in the shower, in the bed again, the shower again and finally him taking you to the bed where properly went to sleep. 

Sheets barely covered the pair of you and pillows were all over the place in his massive bedroom. Your bikini bottoms nowhere to be seen. The open bedroom door did little to mitigate the continued thumping.  You looked over to see Johnny was on his front fast asleep. You lightly shook him but he just rolled over some more into an even deeper sleep. 

With a roll of your eyes, you slipped out of his bed and grabbed his dressing gown that was hung up on the back of his door. It was a white silk piece with golden embroidery of his name on the back. The bright light that streamed through the windows when you left the room had you pause. You backed into the bedroom and grabbed a pair of his sunglasses. How many copies he had of the same pair, you didn't know. 

The pounding continued again and you slowly made your way downstairs until you got to the front door. With a yawn, you opened it. “Cage reside-” Your sentence was interrupted as you stared at the person at the door. And they stared at you. 

The pair of you both said each other's name in surprise and you let him into the house. Now wide awake you yelled Johnny's name and kicked your clothes to the side as Kenshi walked in after you. “So you and Johnny huh? Should have seen that one coming.” He didn't seem too upset by the matter. Kenshi seemed more amused than anything. 

“Yeah.”

“How long has that been a thing?”

“Maybe a week?”

“Yeah I'm up, you could have woken me a different-” Johnny started to speak and you interrupted him. 

“Kenshi’s here.” 

“Johnny.” Kenshi greeted.

That seemed to wake Johnny up. “Oh shit, hey man.”

“You forgot again, didn't you? I tried to call you yesterday but you didn't pick up.” 

Cage looked towards the pool where his phone still was. “Yeah, it had a water accident.” It was waterproof, of course, but Kenshi didn't need to know that. 

“Right.”

“I thought you weren't coming till noon though.”

“It is noon.” 

“It's what?” You gasped out in horrible and started to rush for your clothes. “Oh fuck my managers going to be pissed.” You found your phone in your pocket to see the right missed calls. Neither of the men were able to say anything to you as you continued to head into Johnny's room to get dressed. You were without your missing bikini top and bottoms but you made do. 

“It was great seeing you both again but I have to go bye!” Is all you said as you practically ran out the front door.

-

It wasn't that you didn't want to reply to Johnny's texts, it was the fact that you were just a bit late that threw everyone off schedule. The mouthful from your manager was an annoyance at best before you were shoved into makeup and costume. 

Like always, you gave the concert your all but you couldn't help but feel a little distracted at times thinking of the ghost touches left by Johnny. Thankfully you had the lyric prompter in front of you. 

It wasn't until an hour later after the concert at the end of the day did you finally settled down. At least it had only been in Vegas and not an international concert. 

There were a few snaps of Kenshi and Johnny sent to you when you finally opened up your phone after your shower. 

miss u already 

home isn't the same without u

how u feeling? surprised u can still walk ;))

The first message had been sent about an hour after you left and the other about three hours later. 

Sorry, I was late for work and then got swept up. I'm good. You’re going to have to try harder than that to stop me from walking, kombat’s built up my stamina 

His reply was pretty quick. 

guess I will have to try again

also had to get a new phone turns out waterproof phones have a time limit

who knew???

You rolled your eyes 

Who would have thought leaving your phone in a pool all night would kill it?

…

He rewrote his sentence a couple of times before the next message came through.

worth it 

Your eyes went to his glasses which you had stolen, the second pair, that lay on the hotel room dresser. An idea formed in your head when you glanced at the large mirror that ran parallel to the bed. You pealed away the towel you sat in. 

Next, you removed the towel around your head and threw them both in the hamper. Completely naked, you picked up the glasses and placed them at the end of your nose so your eyes were still visible. 

You got on the end of the bed and sat on your knees, your feet aimed outwards on an angle. It wasn't a very comfortable position but you only stayed there long enough to take a photo in the mirror. 

I have to confess, I’m sorry, I stole another pair

The response was immediate

keep them

Then came the barrage of texts. 

where r u rn?

can I come over?

babe that's so hot

have that framed on my wall if I could

so hard thinking of you

Sorry, Johnny, I'm out of town for the night.

;-; 

What about Kenshi?

kenshi was only over for a few hours

he has special agent shit he needs to do

Rip

gotta ask sweetheart why are you all dolled up? still got makeup on your face

Had a work thing, just got out of the shower

mmm I love taking showers with you 

wish I was there

Next time Cage

Also after tomorrow I'll be out of town for a while

how long?

About a month

A MONTH? 

u didn't let me say goodbye:((

Then what was yesterday?

me saying hello

Uh-huh anyway it's for work so you’re gonna have to toughen it up

maybe I should come join you ;)

Don't you have a movie to direct?

yeah (⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠)

Promise I'll stay in touch okay? Now off to bed big guy

goodnight <3

Goodnight Johnny 

-

A month later Johnny received a text from you stating you were finally back from your work trip. Exhausted though and bed was your first objective. The next morning he was on the phone with you.

“I still can’t believe you recorded that.” Your voice huffed over the phone. 

“What can I say? I'm a born director.”

“I ate mad ass in that fight, Johnny.”

“Come on, you weren't that bad.”

“I was! I feel like you have an inflated opinion of- ah hold on one moment someone's at the fucking door.” Your tired voice turned into a hiss of annoyance. 

Despite the muffled sound that came from the phone, Johnny could hear rather easily. 

“Um hello, can I help you?”

“Nightingale?” The voice was deep and Johnny stayed completely silent, dedicated to listening. 

“Ah, another one. How many times do I need to tell you that the leak is incorrect? There's no Nightingale here.”

“We both know that isn't true.”

“Excuse me, you need to back the fuck away from the door. I will defend myself- Get the fuck away from me!” There was the smallest sound of what he presumed was a struggle and the line went dead. Alarm bells went off in Johnny's head and he scrambled to his feet. 

When he arrived at the apartment he pounded on the door. But instead of you, he was met with a rather short blue-haired woman. She yawned as she opened the door and he immediately said your name. 

“She's not here. She just finished her tour dude, I know you guys just started dating but she hates visitors just after a tour.” 

Johnny stared at Lisa blankly. 

“She doesn't live here?” 

Lisa’s brows shot up and she shook her head. 

“No way.”

“Where is she? I think she's in danger.” Johnny's voice was quiet, serious for once. Lisa’s lips parted and she nodded. 

“I can direct you, let me grab my shoes.”

-

Johnny drove fast normally but at the thought of something happening to you? It was like he was on a track, like a madman. Lisa surprisingly didn't seem to mind and was quick to direct him expertly. 

She helped him find the mansion. It was massive in the worst of ways. It seemed half of it wasn't in use, curtains covered all the windows. Large high walls surrounded the place like a prison and only when Lisa told him the code was his car allowed him. 

“Stay here.” He commanded and Lisa gave him wide eyes but nodded, his martial skills were no secret. 

Johnny was careful in his approach when he was your busted door, a dead chain on the ground. Your house was a palace. While his house was modern and personalised, yours seemed rather generic and didn't show much of your personality at all. What was alarming was the amount of broken things on your floor. Then blood. There was a decent amount of blood spatters that now stained the once-perfect marble floor.

His keen ears managed to hear something and he crept up the stairs. There was a loud sound and he narrowed dodged the metal object that flew at him. Johnny's eyes went to the Grammy which flew past him and down the stairs. “I told you guys to fuck off- Johnny?” 

When his head turned he was met with you. Your hair was frankly a mess. A massive change from your usual self, you wore sweatpants and a cropped singlet. There was no hesitation before you flew into his arms and buried your face into his shoulder. 

“What happened?” 

“There was this group of men. I don't know who they were but I gave them a piece of my mind.”

“I've got Lisa in the car- let's get out of here.”

You didn't try to argue, instead you nodded and allowed Johnny to walk you out. 

“Where are they?” He asked. 

“I don't know, there were only about five and I think they took off when they realised I wasn't going quietly. There are security cameras in the house, I have a friend at a security company. They can figure it out, the cops won’t do shite.” A sigh left your mouth. “Fuck I knew I should have moved the second my address got doxxed. Fucking hate this house anyway.” You mumbled. 

“Why didn't you move?”

“Honestly? I hate moving, I have so much shit that I don’t care about, clothes I don't care for. And in the end? All houses in LA are the same. Big and empty, all too lonely.” 

Johnny stopped abruptly and turned to face you, his hand planted on both sides of our face so all you could do was look at him. “Live with me then.”

“What?”

“Live with me. You don’t even need to bring your stuff, we buy you new clothes. I’ll buy you anything you want. The bed feels better with you in it anyway.”

“Johnny… we only just started dating…”

“Who cares? We know each other.” His hand directed between the pair of you. “We know each other. Worst comes to worst it gives you somewhere to stay while you look for somewhere else.”

“Okay.” You nodded and he pulled your head in where he placed a kiss on your forehead. The pair of you reached his car and you got in the back seat. 

“So… was that a Grammy you threw at me?”

-

Johnny's house really started to feel like home as he helped you get comfortable. Originally you had refused his offer to buy new clothing but when you thought about the overwhelming closet had, you reconsidered. In the end, you had agreed to let him shop for you so long as he used your card. 

“I can't believe you never told me you were an international pop star.” His finger made a small gesture for you to turn so he could see the entire outfit. Normally you weren’t one for clothes shopping but Johnny really made it fun.

“It never came up.” 

“Does Liu Kang know?” He nodded while he ate up the sight of you.

“Yeah, all our friends know.” 

Johnny gasped at you, offended. 

“Why didn't you ever tell me?!”

A sigh left your lips and you turned off your phone that was in your hands and placed it on the coffee table in front of you. 

“To be honest I hid it from you.”

“But why?” He whined. 

“Because all my relationships have been PR stunts I didn't want it to be that I didn't want you to like the performance version of myself. I wanted you to love me for me. Just me.”

Silence filled the air as Johnny proceeded what you were saying. “You want me to love you?” 

“I do.”

He leaned in close to you, his lips almost touched yours. “Good, because I do. I have, for a long time.” They connected with yours. 

[hansoeii]

I wanted to thank you for

1) all of your gorgeous art, seriously, you’re a wonderful artist and I could stare at your drawings for hours!! <3 i hope you enjoy making all of your art as much as we love seeing it.

2) being one of the only people in the loki fandom who understands what’s going on💀I’ve seen so many people completely missing the point and arguing for toxicity, or calling us lokius shippers “delusional”, and you’ve been nothing but friendly and articulate the whole time, which I for one really appreciate.

here’s hoping the finale isn’t a trainwreck!

Hey!

First off, thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoy my stuff!

And yeah, I've seen some nasty stuff myself. I've been into Lokius since the beginning and people are absolutely ruthless with their blatant homophobia. Are they aware they're watching a show with a queer and genderfluid main character? lol

I've learned to just block and mute them all and instead focus on the people whose opinions actually matter to me. A lot of the theories I love come from @ charcubed, @ sherlokius and @ mslm_97 on twitter! I highly recommend following them if you want a nice loki twitter timeline, haha. I gotta be honest with you that it's sometimes hard for me to stay nice since a lot of the times the negative comments I get about lokius stem from straight up homophobia, but you usually can't change their mind anyways so why use up all your energy on them? They probably have a hard enough life already living with such a microscopic brain.

[lolotheparagon]

After my last Batman design post went over so well: I think it’s only fair to tackle my fave piece of Batman media, warts and all: The Arkhamverse.

I’m gonna be doing a separate one for all the Arkham characters but for this one, I’m gonna be reviewing every suit Batman wears in every game (including Catwoman’s outfits in City.)

(Im not gonna count every DLC suit cos we’ll be here all day. I’m only gonna talk about the main suits that came default with the game)

Let’s start with Asylum!

Default Suit - 7/10

I’m glad this is not a suit of armor and the artists have kept that classic superhero silliness with the long cape, long bat ears and black underpants. The gloves are now armored gauntlets yet still have those spikes on the sides that just complete the look. A little on the dull side in terms of colour scheme. I miss the yellow circle behind the bat symbol. I think the Arkham City version was a lot better in terms of colour balance and how the blueish light the cape and cowl had in that game really makes a difference.

Armored Suit - 4/10

It’s a far too militarised version of the Batsuit and not silly enough to be a superhero costume. It is not worth completing the game 100% for.

Right, that’s all. Let’s head to the City!

Default Suit - 8/10

Honestly, this update of the default suit from Asylum is the perfect blend of a hardened combat suit but enough classic superhero silliness. Not too militarised and probably the best suit in modern Batman to date. I like how they incorporated the sleek blueish tinge on Batman’s cape from the 90s animated series. Great suit, even if the yellow utility belt is still an awful shade of yellow and there’s no yellow on the bat symbol.

Animated Suit - 10/10

A suit referenced from a legit good piece of Batman media. Streamlined, stylised and the mixes of navy blue and gold, with the muted grey and black is just chef kiss. Considering the technology of cartoon costumes into a gritty 3D video game at the time, this is still really good and holds up well.

The Dark Knight Returns - 0/10

Oh yeah. That comic. The one that Batman stans won’t shut up about and paved the way for morose, ultraviolent takes on Batman for decades to come. The suit isn’t even that good, he looks like Stan Smith in Batman cosplay

Batman Beyond Suit - 2/10

This isn’t Terry McGinnis so what’s the point exactly? Also the Beyond suit looks a lot less cool with all the added detail and defined muscle.

Batman Inc. Suit - -10/10

I know Bats has a hard-on for justice but Jesus, dude. I’ll give it points for being one of the few gritty Batsuit skins to keep the yellow bat symbol and utility belt.

Earth One Suit - 1/10

No underwear over the top of his costume and no yellow utility belt. You get an F. Not silly enough.

Year One Suit - 0/10

Oh wow, that’s boring! He doesn’t even have BAT EARS!!

Sinistro Corps Suit - 7/10

I’ll give it this: it’s a unique suit. I didn’t think black and murky yellow would work, but somehow it does. And that cape is LONG, surprised Bruce hasn’t stumbled on that yet. I don’t get the reference so I’m sure some comic nerd out there is going “aha” at this and good for them. It is one of the better skins of this game. Although tbh it does look like a men’s sized Batgirl suit.

Im not done, this is only the first part! See you all in a moment!

[muchalucha-art]

Evolution Of A (Mucha) Lucha School...*UPDATE with one more version!

I was going through some episodes and backgrounds and realized there were three - possibly four - versions of the school.

Version 1 as it appeared in the 'Lucha School' pilot. I wanted a typical high school-type building that wouldn't be out-of-place in SoCal, right down to the muted colors. That was the point of the show: the mascaritas could be living next door to you, and that typical, everyday school could house all kind of crazy shenanigans...

Version 2. After the series was greenlit, I made a few changes and added the statue. This was the version that is actually used, and survives, in the main title sequence - even though the school itself was about to be changed for the series!

Version 3 (?). As we were going into production, Kids'WB decided the series should be set in a MASKED World: buildings should be masked, animals, everyday people...a bit like the old Kroft series LIDSVILLE. Cue a revolt from the series' creators, who thought this was beyond ridiculous and so decided to take their pencils and leave. Kids'WB decided not to pursue this direction, and so the series' creators picked up their pencils again.

Returning to the design process, I discovered the above version by one of the show's background artists was the school they were going with. (I also remember another version with a different statue, that I was able to nix). The above version is the one that appears in the first episode 'Back To School'.

Now, I was never that taken with this design, as I never really 'got it'. To me it reminded me of something carved out of rock from The Flintstones, and perspective-wise just wasn't dynamic enough.

*Update! Thanks to the sharp eyes of @newlunapastel there was a version 4 that was used in Dawn Of The Donuts. Got a feeling we were getting a bit tired of the same of opening shot, so the following version was used. Not sure by who, but I have a feeling it may have been by Roman Laney before he left the series. Love the statue. I think I may ultimately add it to my new version (see the end of this post).

But regardless of my opinion, it IS the design of the school. And so in 2024 as I revisit the series (What? Who? Why?). I made a few tweaks...

Isn't time travel wonderful? :)

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for making a social blunder? Please focus on the blunder not the fiction fan parts T_T Gender doesn't matter, we're both 24.

I follow 400+ accounts on twitter, mostly artists. I need to keep some people muted, eg nsfw artists who might end up on my tl at a wrong time, or artists who post a lot of Kpop stuff I'm not into etc. Basically I curate my tl well.

A friend (K) got into a ship a few months ago, started retweeting a ton of sfw-nsfw art, I muted them but kept up conversation otherwise. For the whole of last month tho I was preoccupied and only saw what was on my tl (didn't check muted accounts) and only talked to my closest friends. I also had notifications muted.

Last week I was going around catching up with my other friends who I didn't talk to last month and realized K had messaged me, their usual memes and pet videos, some fanarts. All went ignored for over a month. So I sent them a ship art of their fave character from a lesser known artist (hoping to surprise) as peace offering.

K replied soon, just as usual, didn't mind that I was MIA. At no point did they seem upset or angry during this conversation. Now this is the case. They ignored the ship art at first until I asked if they liked it, they said it was a huge notp and they already blocked the artist. I apologized. They said, and I'm copying, "Nooo it's okay, you wouldn't have known 😅"

We talked for some more and they were still casual. We talked about that ship too. Thing is their fave character in this ship is like the fanfavorite Hole, all other people I know from that fandom ship him with Everyone. So I thought K would like anything I sent. I then checked K's account and found out K only liked one (1) ship with this character and they have retweeted hundreds of fanarts. They've written fics for them. They have also recently talked about why they disliked the notp in private. Later I saw that they were harassed by notp's fans on CC.

Anyone following K for a couple days would know this but I missed it because on top of muting I didn't get to check their account for a month. Made 2+2, they had somehow figured out I muted them and that's why excused my mistake that way. Now I think they were being sarcastic. It made me panic and I felt terrible. I looked at their account more thoroughly, that's how I found the CC anon hate.

After that conversation they're avoiding me? I'm not sure. My new messages are unread, they don't reply to comments much. But they don't seem to be online often anyways and I know for a fact they also keep notifications disabled, so I don't know.

Ship preference or nsfw posting is not a problem so please don't come at us over that.

AITA for potentially upsetting my friend by muting and temporarily ignoring them, then sending something they hate without checking first?

What are these acronyms?

[snow--berry]

Teacher AU Headcanons #1

Characters: John Price, Kyle "Gaz" Garrick, John "Soap" MacTavish, Simon "Ghost" Riley, Gary "Roach" Sanderson

John Price

•He teaches English and History

•Also something like vice headmaster

•Everyone's (optional) father figure

•He always brings his tea in a mug from the teachers lounge and then forgets it in the last class he was in

•Usually pretty nice and caring but strict when he has to be

•His classes are actually interesting

•Tries his best to be accommodating towards disabled students

•You might have to explain somethings if you're mentally disabled or for some physical disabilities, but he'll listen patiently :)

•Don't be loud please he's an old man

Kyle "Gaz" Garrick

•Understands like 95% percent of slang and trends Gen Z has

•You gotta be careful with your words

•He's pretty chill

•You can joke with him

•Brought cookies (more like biscuits) and cupcakes for his class a couple of time

•Teaches English also and Cooking classes

•Watches movies with his class

•Or videos that actually explain the topic they're on, both on a regular basis

•Plays board and card games in the breaks with his students

John "Soap" MacTavish

•Teaches Art and Chemistry

•He teaches proper art, not these stupid classes were you just do your own version of an dead artist's work

•Like, he teaches anatomy, shading, etc.

•He also takes students' requests

•Also very chill

•Jokes around a lot

•Forgetfull

•His desk is a mess

•He misplaces his papers all the time

•He knows his chemicals and he makes his class as fun as possible while also properly explaining everything

•Yes he has exploded things

•Yes Ghost saved his ass from getting in trouble

•Very understanding with everyone

•Especially towards neurodivergent kids, he promises he's a safe space <3

Simon "Ghost" Riley

•Teaches English and PE

•Not strict per se, but no one dares to piss him off

•Also does his best to help disabled kids, even if he struggles a bit because he's cold and kinda distant

•Much more organized

•If he watched a movie with his class and they didn't get finish it, at some point it'll bother him so much he'll just cancel a regular lesson so they can finish the movie

•If there's some sort of project week or club/after-school activity type of thing he'd teach self-defense

•#1 person to do something about bullying when he hears or sees

Gary "Roach" Sanderson

•Not a teacher, he's a school counselor and visits classes to check up on them

•He's still mute, so he usually communicates by writing things down

•He's happy to use sign language with anyone who knows it and might teach children who want to learn it

•Very sweet and patient with the children

•He listens and actively helps them

•He hangs a lot around Ghost's classes, but makes sure to visit most of them

•Probably the most patient with disabled children out of all of them

[riordanverserpdatabase]

Archer "Cherrie" Valor Penthia

Daughter of Apollo, legacy of Nyx, camp’s lovely nurse and Will Solace’ assistant

Archer is a quiet and most likely mute woman of 20, lacking the usual ’sunshine’ like personality her cabin is known for, and more serious when thinking about it. Though, what she doesn’t lack is the healing abilities she has from her father, but neither does she lack the plaguing abilities of father dearest, or grandmother Nyx dearest.

While Archer doesn't seem like the type to really much harm, and while she doesn't do harm, she can though , it just needs a reason.

Fun facts:

Most children of Apollo have blond hair, Archer dyed her hair black on the left side of it, not because she hates her hair but from the person that it reminds her of, which is Apollo! The funniest thing about her is that her personality is like that of Artemis, in combination of her mutism she’s reserved and keeps most things to herself (depression am I right-), she rather stays in the dark than engulfing with the light. But but but, the one thing she is proud of while being the daughter of Apollo, is the fact that her archery is perfect and she’s a good artist, to most campers at least, to her it’s just “something that comes along with being this man’s kid“.

In a way, she can, if she wants, morph shadows to shapes, that's what being a legacy of Nyx can do, and honestly the shadows are better friends than most people on camp (Aiden if you’re reading this I swear she loves you-), a type of shadow manipulation but it’s more for fun than anything. The mother of a child (cough, Coco, cough), but as well as the second doctor of camp when William can’t right now, you need a bandaid and she’ll let you choose between a spongebob or batman one (hello kitty is better). Not to brag or anything but the best bond she has with would be Will, she’s his backbone when he can’t and he’s her backbone that knows when she can’t, they’ve got each other’s back.

ANOTHER AMAZING CHILD OF APOLLO!!! The System loves to see how creative everyone is getting with their child of Apollo OCs!!! (In addition, this Mun is one of our favorites!!! Kind and patient!! Lovely to interact with!!!

Say Hi to Archer @daughterofthesunandtheatregod

Spotlight 1 of 3, August 8.