#(I’m going to have a response as Art later cause I really want to provide a direct comparison for those two but I need a moment to recover)

[gothamghostwhispers]

It felt deeply unfair that the sun was shining today. Sunny days in Gotham are such a rarity, why would there be one for a funeral?

It almost feels like a cruel joke.

As the service began Artem stood firm. Their posture seems to default to something trained and proper for a formal event. They cried, but their tears were silent. The tightness in their throat has plagued them for most of the day but that was likely for the best in their opinion.

Even though they had planned the service and organized everything. Somehow it’s only now as they send Alvi and Tank off together…

It’s only now that it sinks in that they are…

Their teeth click together and their hands fly up to their mouth before they can even finish the sharp inhale that serves as the preamble of a sob.

He really was gone.

They never even had a chance to figure out how they felt. Not until it was too late.

[fleeting-sanity]

Morning Mist

Thank you to @swtorramblings for proof-reading! If you know which movie scene this art was referenced from, congrats!

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Padawan Rian was amongst his peers after class. Some older, some younger. They were chatting and playing with each other except for him. Jaesa’s words at Ossus kept ringing inside his head, while dreading the potential realization. Acolyte Hyl’sha noticed his silence, approaching her friend sneakily.

“Riaaaaaaaan!”

The boy’s cerulean eyes widened upon receiving a back slap. Turning around to see the smiling face of the twi'lek girl distracted his melancholy. He was sure she was still upset over the defeat from their last sparring match. “Why are you so quiet?” asked his acolyte friend rather bluntly. He found it hard to answer.

“Umm… Nothing.”

“Let’s spar again!” Hyl’sha propositioned, being met with a polite rejection. 

“I gotta go, sorry. Talk later!” as Rian extracted himself from the situation. 

After searching his feelings, he realized he really didn’t want to meet his parents yet. Not wanting to alarm them, he shot a quick message of his intention, subsequently receiving affirmative responses. His destination was already clear to him; the caves always provided him with tranquility and solitude. There were the occasional strange incidents such as beastly cave-dwellers or natural phenomena, but nothing he couldn’t outmaneuver.

But he was not alone in the cave. He fell down from his levitating meditation upon being spotted by his uncle.

“I’m sorry, I must have disrupted your meditation,” the uncle continued; “I shall leave you be, but if you want my company-”

“Yes, please. Meditate with me.” 

Riornivo could sense from Rian’s sad tone that something was weighing on his dear nephew. But meditation first, he thought. It would definitely help Rian’s state of mind and perhaps make him more open to share his possible woes. The two Jedi shared a fruitful meditation session facing each other, levitating and connecting through the Force. 

“Thank you for sitting with me, uncle.” 

“Of course, if you need more of this just call me,” Riornivo murmured while stroking Rian’s hair. “Can I ask you something?” to which Rian nodded.

“Do you need to talk? Something seems to be bothering you.” 

The boy’s gaze fell, and he hesitated to whether to spill his heart or to keep it to himself. His moist eyes were met with uncle’s loving ones, ending with a vague question; “Uncle…  Did you train with my mother when you both were padawans?”

“Sadly, no. We weren’t around each other much, I was often away from Tython.”

“What about father?”

“That… too. I only met your father when we were newly adults. But that was more than a decade ago.”

Rian decided to not continue asking. After he excused himself, his uncle offered to walk him back to the base. The boy was not looking forward to facing his parents today, but then he recalled a lesson about negative emotions; to not dwell on them and to look into a dilemma from a different perspective. He didn’t completely grasp the point of the lecture, but knew the surface level enough. 

The next two days before the trip went by in a flash. There was tension in the air amongst the small family, causing both parents to count on the excursion for relief. Something Rian appreciated was how he didn’t have to retell his lectures because the classes were technical–consisting of sparring and crafting. When it should have been an exciting prospect, the small family was tense and quiet instead during the journey. The silence was so paralyzing, had it persisted longer it would have figuratively imploded the ship. 

The Sith Lord had to be the one breaking the ice. 

“So what do you want to see first in Alderaan, good Sir? We’ll go there first after we’ve settled in our… home.” Rionnic was kicking himself inside over how cringe-inducing his delivery was. 

“Huh? Oh.” As the boy snapped out of his reverie. “Hmm… based on what I’ve seen in the holos… the caves! Then after that, we should go to the Elysium!”

“Right, right. Your grandparents can’t wait to see you again.”

Jaesa was still quiet with a faint smile. The shuttle landed on Alderaan’s space station shortly after, breaking the tension. After landing on the surface with another shuttle, the chilly yet petrichor infused air of Alderaan was a balm to their souls. Memories of their childhood flashed in both parents’ minds.

“Welcome to our home, Rian. I’m sure you’ll like it here.” Jaesa greeted.

As they approached the reconstructed castle of House Panteer, Rian was in awe of the grand architecture, even more so with the interior. It reminded him of the Jedi temples he’d seen in the holos. The entourage dropped their belongings in the guest suite, while Rionnic dismissed an assigned personal assistant. He immediately smiled the jetlag away upon seeing Rian throwing himself on the bed.

Which reminded him that he’d have to sleep in the same bed with his wife again.

He’d cross that bridge when he got there. In another hour, there would be a welcoming dinner for them–but Rionnic preemptively requested it to be a private one. He decided to take his son for a short tour around the castle compound while explaining what he could about those insufferable royal etiquettes, before nightfall. 

“It’s perfectly fine if you struggle to follow these steps. I’ll probably mess up too… it’s been such a long time since I’ve been here.”

“Why must we do all of this, father?”

An expected question. “Culture, or customs. Each place, each habitable planet, has their own society practicing certain ways of life. It’s good to have a strong bond to your identity, but keep in mind that it wouldn’t always be acceptable to others. Some will clash…” as Rionnic kneeled, placing a firm grip on Rian’s arms. “There are ways for you to face that situation. Respect their home and culture, or refuse to participate. Never encroach or disrespect them.”

Rian nodded, with a hint of nervousness from his body language. Rionnic responded with a smirk, while stroking Rian’s arms. “I’ve babbled again, haven't I? We’re doing this because we’re showing our respect, good Sir. Don’t worry too much about it. They’re your family.”

“Thank you, father. You’re not babbling!”

Before the pair could converse further, a harried messenger called out to Rionnic. The dreaded dinner was upon them, which meant it was time to get dressed. Once again, the estranged couple was secretly admiring how they both looked; she was loving how her husband did his hair and how the tailoring fit his frame perfectly, while he was swooning over her makeup and the scent of her perfume.

“Woooow, you both look awesome!” Rian cheered, indirectly confirming his parent’s thoughts.

“Well, you look the best among us!” 

“Agreed!” Jaesa said as she fixed the collar of Rian’s apparel. The small family proceeded towards the banquet hall. The first thing Rian saw was the abundance of food on display, shrugging at how excessive it was. So far removed from his days growing up in Ossus. The next thing he saw was his father bowing to a lady who seemed surprised.

“You’re bowing? You’re the Emperor and you’re bowing? To me?” the lady said with jest.

Rionnic smirked. “You’re the Queen of Alderaan, and my older sister. Of course you outrank me.” To which the lady let out a laugh; a poised and quiet one. 

“And who’s this adonis with the striking eyes?”

“Rian, meet Lady Katei Panteer, she’s my adopted sister.”

“Adopted? How does that work?”

Which caused the adults to chuckle amongst themselves. Rionnic offered to explain to Rian another time, leaving him even more curious as to what was so funny with his question. Jaesa exchanged a curtsy shortly before her parents arrived. The dinner proceeded in quite an interesting way.

“Wow, cloudberry pies!”

Rian was loud enough to make everyone else feel awkward. It was a violation of royal etiquette to talk while eating. “Rian… can we please be more quiet?” Jaesa whispered while lightly stroking his back. Rionnic, however, was quietly displeased with the pretentiousness of it all.

“It’s fine, let’s forget about the protocols for tonight,” Katei interjected. “This is an informal dinner with family. Time to unwind, to reconnect.”

Parvin perked up, utilizing her best aristocratic voice and practiced speech. “I agree! I must say, this appetizer is already so heavenly, I’m eager for the rest of the course!”

Both Jaesa and Gregor internally sighed at Parvin’s counterfeit enthusiasm, while Rionnic found it amusing. Parvin had always loved flaunting her elevated status, not missing any chance whenever she socialized. What could be more elite than being family with the Queen? Said Queen gave a short but polite acknowledgement, proceeding to inquire about her adopted brother’s life in his absence.

“Assuming you’ve seen the holos… Well, life’s been… hectic. It's been looking up rather recently, though. I’m planning on retiring sooner than later.” Quite the generic answer from Rionnic–while Katei was reconciling with the fact that they were separated for too long for him to feel comfortable sharing his personal events to her. Before she could reply however, he continued. “But I do hope that we can talk again later. Possibly before I depart.”

“Of course, I’ll be here for the week–I don’t have any off-world dealings as I know of… How about you, Jaesa?”

The Jedi preferred to not talk much during the dinner, but had to shuffle her brain for an acceptable response. “Not much, Your Majesty. It’s just filled with raising our son, and trying to survive the war. I’ve been wanting to return here, to, ah, introduce Rian to our homeworld.”

The dinner proceeded with Katei conversing with little Rian, admiring his manners and eagerness for exploring. She had been trying for an heir from the last decade, hoping for a miracle each time she interacted with a child. 

Anxiety took hold of Rionnic once more when it was time to return to the guest suite. Rian held off on sleep, informing him that shutting down the body too soon after a meal would lead to indigestion. He, however, was stalling sleep for a different reason. But there was only so much time left before night turned into morning, thus he decided to stop fighting himself. As he laid next to his wife, he began ruminating about why he was resisting. He actually longed for her touch, for that domestic bliss he was starved of. But her words lingered, resulting in pain at the sight of her. That impending death of his marriage.

He didn’t feel like he slept at all. His eyes shot open; the numbers by the end table indicated that only three hours had passed. Shaking his head, he got up and put on a coat as he stepped outside, all without even glancing at his wife. 

The early morning mist calmed his irrational heartbeat. His steps were slow as the grass bent, and his head empty. 

But his solitude was short-lived. Quiet as she tried to be, his senses were stronger–turning around exactly to where she was despite her attempt at hiding behind a tree. Her gaze immediately fell upon being spotted, and his silence pierced her confidence. She pivoted for an exit. “Stop.”

His command was as sharp as a needle through the heart. “Why are you here… What do you want…” Rionnic’s tone was breathy and forlorn.

“I was just leaving.” As Jaesa took further steps away from the situation.

He didn’t think so. Jaesa gasped as an invisible force stopped her movement, then slowly pulled her towards her estranged husband. It stopped about a foot away. She turned to face him with her heart pounding, brows frowning, and resolve withering. His messy hair and exposed chest were forbidden touches she yearned to steal. 

“You clearly want to talk… Why would you be stalking me otherwise? Let’s talk.”

Rionnic’s lower volume and softer tone didn’t help her mind. She sighed heavily, wanting to be soothed by his caresses and the warmth of his body. “I… I don’t know how to start. I don’t want another fight. I don’t know what I want…” Jaesa lamented.

“Neither do I. There’s only uncertainty and I hate that…”

“Red…”

Jaesa braved herself to get closer, gambling on his passivity for a sensible conversation.

“I want to run this by you. Do you agree that Rian should be in the Academy if we are to co-parent? I’m confident the Order will grant you access–I’ve talked to them about it, they seemed accepting. If not there, then he’d be staying in Odessen.”

Rionnic looked away. Of course she’d talk about the separation, he thought. But it was an agreeable term, despite the resistance his heart was exerting upon facing the end of his marriage. 

“Hm.” 

She decided to further push her luck, closing in to inhale the remnants of his perfume. A steady hand reached out for his arm, tenderly grasping. No reaction. It should be a good sign, as she took a deep breath before uttering her heart. “I want to apologize again. I know it means nothing. I just… I just want to stop hurting you… and me. Perhaps it’s time to-”

“I don’t know how to do this, Jaesa!” Rionnic’s volume took a sudden climb, spooking her. His reaction to her touch was to grasp both of her shoulders. “I don’t want this. But it won’t be the same anymore. But I can’t…. I can’t fight it off. I can’t decide!” as his speech became increasingly desperate and vulnerable. “I want it to stop. I want…”

Her hands moved towards his face, attempting to calm him down while secretly relishing the touches. “You should take your time to think about it. I’ll agree to whatever you want. Even if you’d change your mind later.”

Upon realizing how tight his grip on her was, he abruptly released his hands and flinched backwards, fearful of hurting her. His emotions were awry, hand through his messy hair, and creating further distance from his wife. He shook his head before he ran away.

“Red!” 

But he didn’t stop, leaving Jaesa just as confused and indecisive as he was. One moment she was talking about divorce, then took it back just as fast. Whatever happened to wanting a distance away from him just a few days ago? Perhaps it was the wrong decision to make. Perhaps she was rushing into things. There were too many talks with him ending in escalated tension without a decision made. 

Deep down, however, they knew exactly what they both wanted.

[myherowritings]

PART 3. ACCIDENTAL SUGAR DADDY?

SUMMARY. Todoroki Shouto was a wealthy, young CEO who inherited his father’s enterprise. You were a barista at a local cafe who wouldn’t mind some extra cash. One day, Shouto came in during an early morning shift and tipped you such a large sum of money, you were certain it had to have been an accident. To your surprise and complete pleasure: It was not.

PAIRING. ceo!todoroki shouto x barista!reader

WORD COUNT. 2.4k

GENRE. ceo/barista au, fluff, eventual smut

WARNINGS. none in this chapter

A/N. happy new year y’all! :3 i hope you have a good 2021 and here is some flirty ceo!shouto for u to enjoy as we enter the new year hehe ;) thank you for reading and i hope you enjoy! xx sof

SERIES MASTERLIST

© myherowritings — all rights reserved. reposting, modifying, copying, or translating of any kind is not allowed. do not read my writing as asmr. do not plagiarize.

“I heard you dropped by this weekend,” you said as a greeting, a playful smile on your lips. “Looking for me?”

If the tips of his ears didn’t tinge pink, you would have guessed Shouto was completely unaffected by your words. 

“Mn.” He drew his attention away from your gaze and pointedly adjusted his cufflinks. “Good morning to you too.” 

You laughed, accepting you wouldn’t get anything out of your attempt at teasing. “Morning, Shouto. How was your weekend?” 

The cafe was quite busy this hour, but Miyazaki took over the other register to alleviate the stress (though, what she really said was so you and pretty boy—who happened to be rich rich—could talk). Whatever the reason, you were glad for a small break whenever you could get it.

“You could say it was busy,” he replied, sounding a bit tired. For the first time since you met him, you actually noticed how exhausted he looked. You wanted to put cucumbers on his eyes and lay his head down on your lap to coax him to sleep. Nonetheless, he smiled softly at you. “And yours? I hope you were able to have time to rest and relax.”

You nodded. “I just slept a lot and caught up on the shows I missed throughout the week.”

“The real way a weekend should be spent.” 

His voice was teasing but he didn’t sound mocking. Just...somewhat playful. There was something about his tone that made you want to hear it again.

“Something tells me you need a weekend away where you could just relax and do nothing,” you commented, tapping the back of your pen to your chin. “Do you not have any days off at work?” 

He considered this. “Depends what you mean by day off.” 

“If you have to ask that, that probably means you don’t have a day off, huh?” you said with a frown, holding your hand over your chest as you sighed dramatically. “You poor thing. Overworked and tired. Maybe I should steal you away one weekend and get you to just relax.” 

You were only half-serious.

“Maybe you should,” agreed Shouto, sounding full-serious.

“Maybe I will,” you blurted before you could stop yourself. Maybe you could if you actually had his number… Then, feeling shameful you said, “But, ah, anyway, what can I get for you today? We actually have cheese danishes again!”

His face brightened. “You do? I’ll take five dozen.”

With a laugh you took down his order. You really weren’t sure where all these pastries were going when he bought it, but judging from his expression, you figured it must be somewhere good. 

“And for your drink?”

“This time I’ll have a large green tea with almond milk, please.” 

You nodded but tilted your head to the side in question. “No coffee with extra shots of espresso today?” 

“I add too much sugar and creamer to my coffee,” he admitted sheepishly. “And with all the baked goods I’ve been eating I realized I may have had an excess amount of sweets lately.” 

With an understanding laugh you patted his hand that was resting on the counter woefully. “I can definitely relate to that. If too many sweets are bad for you they shouldn’t have made it taste so good.”

Shouto glanced down at where your hands touched, an expression you couldn’t quite discern on his face. Averting your gaze, you quickly pulled your hand back. Was that inappropriate of you? Did he find it too pushy?

“Oh— Sorry about that,” you said, rubbing your elbow with your opposite hand. “Got a bit ahead of myself there.”

“No, it’s fine.” He blinked once. “I didn’t mind.”

Unsure if he meant anything by that and unsure if you were reading too much into things, you simply brushed the topic off and moved on to getting his order in telling him the price. 

“Paying by card again, I’m assuming?” you asked before hitting the appropriate button on the screen.

“Correct.”

By now the sight of the sleek and pretty credit card was one you grew rather fond of as he scanned over the payment terminal and signed his name. Was it weird you wanted to examine his signature more closely? Shouto seemed like the type of person who would have a fancy signature that somehow looked like art. 

As per routine, you told him his order would be ready for pick up at his right and, before he left the register, he thanked you and gave you another $100. 

Did it feel any less strange than the first time he tipped you? Not really, no. But you still weren’t going to complain about a generous tip from a willing customer.

Before he left with his cheese danishes and cup of tea in hand, he stopped by next to you with a small smile. 

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Y/N.”

You grinned back. “Can’t wait, Shouto!” 

— ✩ —

This went on for a whole other week. By this point, he had given you over $1,000 in tip and you were starting to feel like you should give him something in return despite him assuring you he didn’t expect anything. 

When you told your friends about the nice guy you met while you were working and they asked for the details, the first thing they said in response to your situation was, “Sugar daddy?” 

Before they planted that thought into your head, you just took it as a rich businessman who hated the rich and believed in redistribution of wealth—you couldn’t complain about that. That made him even more appealing, if you must say. But once Kaminari and Ashido whispered those two words, you couldn’t help but see the comparisons. 

You had no issues with sugar daddies or sugar babies; as long as they were two consenting adults, what did it matter to you? It just wasn’t something you were looking for at the time and you didn’t want Shouto to get the wrong impression or involve yourself in something you weren’t ready to. 

As you commuted to work for your next morning shift, you told yourself today was the day you’d thank him one final time for the tips, but tell him you couldn’t accept anymore. You were sure he’d be understanding but you also hoped it wouldn’t deter him from coming to see you. That was the last thing you’d want. 

“Mrs. Miyazaki,” you said between customers. “When Shouto comes in, do you think I can step away from the register to talk to him for a little? I promise it’ll be brief!”

She waved her hand dismissively. “That’s not a problem. Are you finally going to ask him out or something?”

You scratched the back of your neck. “Or something, yeah.” 

Thankfully, by the time Shouto arrived today, it was later than he normally came, meaning rush hour was almost dying down. 

“Good morning! Someone’s a little late today,” you teased. “Overslept?” 

“I wish,” he sighed wistfully. “I had a meeting early this morning and it just ended. Didn’t have a chance to pick up some coffee or pastries beforehand.” 

You frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that. I hope whoever was hosting the meeting at least provided you guys drinks and snacks!” 

He paused. “He did, but… I just thought yours were better.” 

Smiling at the compliment, you preened. “Well, I can’t say I’m not surprised. And I’m glad you were able to drop by still. Would’ve missed you too much otherwise.”

Again, you were only half-serious.

“Hm. I would’ve missed you too.”

And again, he seemed full-serious. Not that you minded. 

After taking his order and watching him pay, you pulled him to the side, looking over at your boss so she knew what was going on. She gave you a brief nod as you turned your attention to Shouto. 

A lapse of silence went by and he spoke up, “Did you have something you wanted to say?” 

“Yeah, actually.” You wrung your fingers nervously, hoping you wouldn’t say anything to offend him since you knew his actions were coming from a kind place. “I just wanted to say… I’m not really looking for a sugar daddy right now.”

He blinked once. Then twice. “Pardon?” 

You stared at him, unsure what to say. 

“I— Sorry. I wasn’t… It’s not my intention to be a...sugar daddy either.” Shouto’s face flushed a bright pink that made your own cheeks warm up in response. 

“But the—the money? I just… I guess I thought…” You winced.

So he wasn’t trying to pick up a sugar baby… Well, this was awkward. But regardless, you think you’ve gotten close enough to him to the point where it would feel weird accepting money from him. 

“I’m sorry if I was unclear. It really is just a tip to show appreciation for your service here.” 

You shook your head. “No! Sorry, that makes sense! My friends just said… And then I…” you trailed off, feeling a million times more flustered than when you started. “Sorry about that. The sugar daddy mishap aside, I still wanted to say that I really appreciate the tips you gave, but I don’t think I can accept them anymore.” 

Slowly, he nodded, adjusting the collar of his dress shirt. “I understand. Did something happen?”

“No, nothing happened!” you were quick to assure. “I really am thankful, but… I think we’ve gotten too close for me to be comfortable accepting that much money, you know?”

Shouto tilted his head to the side, listening intently. 

“Like,” you tried to explain, fiddling with your apron, “over the past few weeks I just think we’ve gotten to know each other more and I think of you as a friend of sorts now.” You peered at him through your lashes, hoping your words were making sense. “I think as a relationship develops—for me, at least—adding money into the mix can cause weird power imbalances if not communicated properly. And I just don’t want that for us.” 

He thought through your words for a while before agreeing. “I get what you mean. I wouldn’t want to unintentionally make you feel like you owe me anything, so if you’re not comfortable with it, I can stop.” 

“Thanks, Shouto,” you said with a beam, glad he was so receptive. Really though, what else did you expect? From your interactions with him you took him to be kindhearted and open. Of course he wouldn’t be upset over this. “But just to be clear, this doesn’t mean you should stop coming! Right? I don’t want to stop being your friend or anything!” 

With a small laugh, he nodded. “Sure. I wouldn’t want to part with my favorite cafe. And I’d like to keep being friends as well.”

Those words warmed your heart. You really were nervous about this confrontation earlier; you didn’t want voicing your opinion to mean ending your friendship. (Although, if you sharing what you were comfortable with was enough to end a relationship, then you supposed it was bound to be a toxic and stifling one in the long run and it was good to know in the beginning to end it before it could grow.) Turns out, however, that you didn’t even need to worry about that. He was understanding and sweet and you were glad to have gotten this out of the way.

“Well, as new friends,” you said, gently nudging his side, “maybe we should get to know each other more? Exchange numbers… Hang out outside of this cafe…” You ran through some suggestions, almost bouncing on your feet in excitement. “I mean, I know you’re always so busy and might not have much free time to hang out. But— If you’re ever free one weekend…” 

“I’d enjoy that,” he cut in, saving you from blabbering your mouth off and accidentally embarrassing yourself. “Didn’t you say you’d steal me away from work to relax? I’m still holding you to that.” 

The beginnings of a smirk formed on his face as he looked at your flustered expression. Was he teasing you?

You huffed, pretending to be insulted by his playful mocking. “Guess I’ll really have to do it then.” 

“Guess so.”

“Maybe you should give me your number first so we could plan it.” 

“Okay.”

He handed you his phone and you handed him yours, both of your adding your numbers to the contact list. Smiling, you held the phone in front of the two of you to take a contact picture of yourself for Shouto’s phone. To your complete surprise, he laughed before promptly following suit and taking a selfie for his contact image. 

“Cute,” you said when he handed you back your phone. 

“You too.” 

Placing your device back in your pocket, you looked at him, hand on hip. “Since when did you become such a smooth-talker? Am I going to have to guard my heart now?” 

His only response was a shrug, but you could see hints of a smile playing on his face. The two of you seemed to be smiling a lot lately, you couldn’t help but notice. 

“I should probably let you go to work now—and I should go back to mine.” You gestured to the growing line at the front of the store. Your manager looked like she had things under control, but you didn’t want to take advantage of her kindness. “You should text me later though. If you want.”

“I’ll do that,” Shouto promised, picking up his drink and pastry boxes from the side counter. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Y/N. And… I’ll message you soon.” 

As you watched him leave the store, you were certain you had a silly look on your face as you stared in a trance. 

“I’ll turn my phone off silent just for you!” you said to his back, hoping he understood what a momentous occasion this was. Your phone was always on silent (unless you were playing a game, of course). But for Shouto, you could handle hearing the obnoxious ringtone and text tone. 

With an amused expression he nodded before waving goodbye.

Later on that day, at the end of your shift, you noticed a new message from a certain someone that made your stomach flutter.

Shouto: Hi there. It’s Shouto :)

You never knew those four simple words would be enough to keep the grin plastered on your face up until the moment your head hit your pillow to fall asleep. But, damn— Were you glad that happened to be the case. 

a/n: whY WAS SHOUTO AND Y/N EXCHANGING NUMBERS SO CUTE idk that scene got me all blushy and :DDD HFJDKSF like taking a selfie with shouto and getting his number? only goal in life BFHFGF,, also y/n said no more tips how we feeling? ;o 

what to expect in the next part:

an unwanted visitor ಥ_ಥ

shouto has a...proposition for y/n 

FLIRTING FLUFF SO MUCH CUTENESS U MIGHT CRY

y/n struggles with their fEeLiNGs~

[korasonata]

I think this is just what my blog is now. Model streams have taken over. Sorry, not sorry. Favourite moments of Joe and Cleo paper model streams part 5! (Featuring a heavily sleep deprived Joe)

—

Cleo (talking to her cat): Ok. You have had attention. Are you— are you going to go? *pausing* This is the sort of thing I ask Joe. Umm… *laughing*

Joe: Constantly!

Cleo: *laughing* You’ve had your attention, can you go now?

Joe: Can you just not be here. *both laughing*

—

Cleo: Yeah, I have to start gluing things to other things. Badly. And, uh, realizing where I’ve messed up. Which is EVERYWHERE!

Joe: Uh oh.

Cleo (totally not fine): Its fine. It’s fine. I’m fin— how are you Joe?

—

Joe: It makes about as much sense as anything else I do? So…

Cleo: I mean yeah. I mean, I wasn’t gonna say it cause I’m not rude. But, you know.

*both laughing*

Joe: Now you’re just lying to me!

Cleo: *laughing* WOW!! Joe!! My heart is just hurting! Now.

Joe: Mhm.

Cleo: You can tell can’t you, I’m deeply— intensely wounded by that statement that you just made.

—

Joe: I was gonna say, we’re gonna have to call whatever the British version of an ambulance is.

Cleo: Um, I think— and I could be wrong here, the British equivalent of an ambulance is…an ambulance.

Joe: oh, ok that’s really good to know. Cause like, not that I’m planning on getting injured while I’m over there, but like—

Cleo: I mean, if you carry on talking that way you might.

Joe: I mean if I meet you, then there’s a chance that somethings gonna get shoved in my eye or something.

Cleo: Somethings gonna get taken off.

—

Joe: I mean, they say it’s the shotty carpenter that blames his poor tools, but I mean look at this.

—

Cleo (about her bisexual tags on twitch): Hold on, hold on, I need to explain what “visibility” means to bisexuals. Bisexuals are often— um, hidden in the community. They are often, um, not treated as either part of the gay community and the straight community doesn’t really appreciate them either. So, having visibility for bisexuals is very important. As it is for any other place. Also having those tags on your stream show that you are a safe place for those people to go. So, you know, actually labeling those things is important because it shows people that they are not alone. And not being alone? Really important. (To Joe) Sorry, am getting frustrated.

Joe: As somebody who’s been alone for the last year and a half with this stupid isolation, uh, yeah.

Cleo: Yeah! Being alone and not feeling alone is really important.

Joe: If you need to be explained at this point in the pandemic why feeling alone is not good, like I don’t know what to say.

—

Cleo (reading chat): What’s my favourite minecraft mob? Do people have favourite minecraft mobs?

Joe (very tired): Just say whichever mod’s here. Who’s got a sword *scrolling through Cleo’s chat* umm… yeah it’s AnnaBomBanana. Is everyone’s favourite minecraft mod.

Cleo: …moB.

Joe: …MOB! OH!

Cleo: *continuous laughing*

—

Joe: This is gonna go off of the rails further and further. There’s no— there’s no rails anymore! It’s just, somebody has scrawled “here there be dragons” on the ground.

Cleo: I mean, isn’t that pretty much how you live your life anyway?

Joe (high pitched squealing): It kind of is. *laughing continues*

Cleo: You know. Here there be dragons— Sometimes it’s not dragons. Sometimes you might be lucky.

—

Joe: So, like, one thing you can do is after this project you can build tiny dollhouses. And create like a bedroom for each of your tools. And so the knife can just be in the knife room. In the dollhouse. And it can have a knife day.

SILENCE

Cleo: Umm…I’m gonna pretend like what you said made sense.

—

Cleo: I could have said something really nasty then, but I’m not going to. See? I’m growing as a person Joe.

—

Joe: You know what? Hold on, we’re gonna— we’re gonna— at the point where NJ is concerned about my caffeine intake, I’m gonna go get a red bull and I’m gonna take my headphones off before anybody can tell me otherwise, byeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! Be right back!!!! *leaves*

Cleo (calling after him): Well done Joe! I believe in you! *narrating* She did not in fact believe in Joe, and was very concerned.

—

Cleo: I know when there’s a bad idea. It’s when Joe has made it. Joe has suggested it, that’s— that’s when you know it’s bad.

—

Joe: I know that there are ways to have computers automatically send invites, but that’s a good way, like, I know there’s a saying like, to error is human, but to screw up like a hundred thousand things all at once—

Cleo: That’s the Joe Hills Difference.

—

Cleo: Ugh, I feel like poop today.

Joe (genuine): I’m sorry.

Cleo (tiredly): No, that’s ok…(groggy) I’ll torment you…later…it’ll make me feel better…

Joe (equally as tired): Yay!

—

Joe (about Cleo and Xisuma): But Cleo, you’re the responsible adult in this scenario, so yeah you probably should have some answers.

Cleo: X is almost as old as I am.

SILENCE

Joe: …it’s a maturity gap?

Cleo: *laughing* Is that why I’m here with you?

Joe: …no.

Cleo: *laughing*

Joe: I say very confidently.

—

Joe (teacher voice): Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles—

Cleo: *flipping him off*

Joe (blissfully unaware): Now classical physics! The collection of theories that existed before the advent of quantum mechanics—

Cleo: *trying to ignore him*

Joe (carrying on): Quantum mechanics differs from classical physics in that energy, momentum, angular momentum, and other quantities of a bound system are restricted to discreet values—

Cleo: *fingers drumming impatiently*

Joe (still going): Now! Quantum mechanics arose gradually from theories to explain observations which could not be reconciled with classical physics—

Cleo: *physically going through all 5 stages of grief*

Joe: (insert continuously long string of rambling science here)

Cleo: *mutes Joe*

—

Cleo (responding to her partner in chat): You have the movie poster for Dora the Explorer? Cam, I’m suddenly questioning our relationship now.

Joe: Uh oh.

Cleo: *laughing*

Joe: Yeah, I knew I was gonna get blamed for that eventually.

—

Cleo (frustrated): I’m gonna kill someone. And since the person who made and designed this castle isn’t here…(trailing off) Hi Joe.

Joe (accepted his fate): Hello.

—

Joe: Have you ever officiated a wedding?

Cleo: No I haven’t. Why, do you want me to?

—

Joe: Oh! Oh! I found my cross stitch the other day!

Cleo: Oh cool!

Joe: *rummaging in the background* Yeah, so, I don’t know if you’ve seen this before—

Cleo (excitedly): ShowMeShowMeShowMeShowMe!!!

—

Joe (reading chat): Am I excited for Minecraft Live? Umm…

SILENCE

Joe: You know, so much of life is minecraft, but you know, maybe this is just a step too far. You know? Um, I think Mojang asked if they could and never stopped to ask if they should. Um, you know, I think their decision in particular to clone dinosaurs at the event as part of their Jurrassic Park, uh, map thing that they put out— which, also, it’s not even like the Jurrassic Park movies are really for kids, but here’s— here’s Minecraft with Jurrassic Park in it, and also we’re gonna clone a bunch of dinosaurs for this livestream, it’s like *groaning*. I dunno. I’m dubious. I think it’s gonna backfire. Ya know, there’s like 4 cautionary films about why you don’t clone dinosaurs. And they’re just jumping in feet first. So…but, you know, I’d like to be wrong about this. Maybe it’ll go great.

Cleo: …are you having a moment Joe?

—

Cleo (reading chat): “when the arts and crafts streams become Cleo with a scream mask” I am not X. I am not X, I promise you I’m not X. I just don’t have a face.

Joe: Heh

Cleo: And if I was— hang on I��ll be back in a second.

Joe: …wait, did you just realize that you do have a scream mask?

Cleo: No, I have a better mask. *leaves*

SILENCE

Joe: *watching Cleo’s stream intensely*

—

Cleo: Are we seriously doing guillotine jokes right now? I’m not saying I disapprove, but

Joe: yeah, we say “Giatine”

Cleo: That’s ok, you can be wrong.

Joe: …It’s a french word.

Cleo: And? You’re allowed to be wrong.

Joe: …*deep sigh*

—

Joe: It’s funny too. Because people will tell me that I don’t seem like a very— like, mostly my coworkers. Like, would tell me that I didn’t seem like a particularly emotional person.

Cleo: *bursts out laughing*

—

Joe: Yeah, I feel like I didn’t make a lot of…visible progress today…but…it’s fine…

Cleo: I made progress for both of us Joe.

Joe (tiredly): Thank you Cleo… (resting head against the ring light)

SILENCE

Cleo (tenderly): …You’re welcome.

[burberryharold]

hey, lovies! i’ve been so excited to post this fic because i am in love with Harry and Jules and i hope you will be too (and excuse the lousy banner i just wanted to have something lol)! this is a part of @1dffchallenges’s valentine’s day challenge, so i hope you enjoy reading it and happy valentine’s day, it’s all about spreading love around so here is some love from me to all of you ❤️

a special thank you to @fireproofrry @bodejacketharry @strawberryystyles​ for beta reading and giving feedback, you are absolute angels <3

word count: 7.7k

warnings: none!

challenge prompt and dialogue: strangers alone on valentine’s day + “I’m allergic to chocolate. And roses.”

It’s official, valentine’s day is the worst.

At least that’s what Jules thought as she adjusted herself on the bar stool, trying to get into a comfortable position while she waited for her drink to be served.

It wasn’t in Jules’ agenda to spend what was supposed to be the most romantic day of the year alone at a bar ten minutes away from her apartment. If she was still with Leon, they would have been having a nice dinner somewhere, laughing over whatever funny story one of them had to share about their day at the company.

But alas, Leon was someone else’s now and Jules was only left with her own company.

Truth be told, though, Jules never minded being alone, in fact, she enjoyed being by herself because people were simply exhausting.

But being alone and being lonely were too completely different things, and Jules hated feeling lonely.

And valentine’s day only made that worse. Seeing loved up couples around her, flashes of red and pink everywhere she glanced, hearing cheesy love songs blasting through the speakers of the shops she passed by. Everything about valentine’s day just seemed to remind her of her lonely status.

Instead of staying at her apartment all night long doing nothing but watching rom coms and feeling sorry for herself, Jules thought of a better alternative, which was to get pissed drunk. So when she got up in the morning to go to work (because even on valentine’s day duty calls), she put on her favourite black dress, one that was sleeveless and had a deep v-neckline, and put on enough makeup to feel confident in the way she looked before pulling on her coat and venturing into the cold streets of London.

If she was going to get pathetically drunk by herself at a bar after work whilst everyone else was being all lovey dovey, then she would look hot doing it.

The sound of a glass coming in contact with the wooden surface broke her out of her reverie and she glanced up, finding that the bartender had placed her drink in front of her and he was beaming at her. “There you go, love, happy valentine’s day.”

After squinting at the name tag (she’s never seen him here before, he must be new), Jules forced herself to return his smile and lifted her glass. “Cheers, Jonah.”

Poor guy must have thought she was waiting for a date or something. Too bad, no one was going to be joining Jules on this fine evening. Just me, myself, and I.

Setting her glass back on the counter after taking a big gulp, Jules scowled as she was reminded of the items she had received earlier in the day. For some reason, Leon thought it was a good idea to give her a box of chocolates and a rose, even though they were no longer together and he had another woman by his side.

She appreciated the thought behind it, he probably just wanted to be nice or maybe he felt guilty, but his gift was staring at her, almost laughing at her misery and she wasn’t having it.

That is why she instantly asked Jonah for a fork, which caused him to send her a confused look but he complied nonetheless, and she proceeded to stab the pieces of chocolate placed perfectly in the box, taking out her frustration on the sweets.

Once satisfied, she dropped the fork with a clunk and heaved out a sigh, lazily resting her chin in her right hand before looking back at Jonah. He was staring at her with wide eyes as he dried off some shot glasses, surely thinking that she was a lunatic, but Jules just flashed him a sweet smile and shifted her eyes back to the chocolates she had just assaulted.

Poor chocolate, but oh well.

“Are you alright there?”

“What the fuc-“ The sudden voice caused her to jump in her seat and she almost fell off the bar stool if it weren’t for the hand that magically materialised behind her, holding her steady.

Before she had a chance to slap the hand off her back, the stranger retracted it and returned to his seat and she had the chance to take a proper look at him.

The man stared back at her with concerned eyes, a stool separating the two of them, but he was still not that far away from her. Jules wondered when he had gotten there because she certainly didn’t feel him arrive. Perhaps it was during her chocolate rampage.

What really surprised her though, more than his sudden appearance, was the fact that she knew who he was. In fact, she believed everyone knew the man sitting beside her because it was none other than Harry Styles.

Many questions ran through Jules’ head, the most important being what on earth was a guy like him doing at this bar on valentine’s day? Jules never believed in the image the media painted of him, but surely he has something better to do than be here, all by himself it seems?

As big of a fan as she was, the fact that he was right before her didn’t faze Jules all that much, her mind was more preoccupied by other matters. So, she ended up doing what she would’ve done if it was any other person: she glared at him and wordlessly turned back in her seat, pretending as if he wasn’t there.

He didn’t seem to take the hint.

“You were quite aggressive with the chocolate there.” His deep voice floated in the empty bar as he pointed at the box in front of her.

Jules inhaled deeply before responding in a flat tone. “I’m allergic to chocolate.” Glaring at the single rose lying beside the box, she grabbed it and tossed it on the floor beneath her, silently cursing Leon once more. “And roses.”

She felt guilty for littering, but she’d pick it up when she leaves. Eventually.

“Are you really?” The man beside her questioned, leaning forward in his seat, his body completely turned towards her at this point. She could tell from her tone that he was skeptical of her supposed allergies and she honestly couldn’t blame him.

“No,” she found herself shaking her head, signalling for Jonah to get her another drink, still keeping her body facing forward and only glancing at him from her peripheral vision, “I’m just fucking with you.”

To her surprise, he let out a small laugh, not seeming to be upset. Jules couldn’t help but turn her head a bit to look at him, finding a dimpled smile on his and she wondered what was wrong with this guy.

“May I ask why you were stabbing the poor sweets then?”

Figuring she should just put him out of his misery and answer his question, Jules huffed and crossed her legs, not missing the way his gaze flickered down for a split second before returning to her face. She ignored it and sighed, “Well if you must know, my ex gave them to me this morning.”

“Trying to get you to take him back?”

“Oh god no,” Jules laughed at the notion, her hand waving off his wrong assumption, “he’s as happy as can be with his new girlfriend.”

The blatant confusion on his face prompted her to provide more explanation.

“We broke up a couple of months ago, he left me for someone else. So he probably just felt guilty.”

“He left you for someone else? And before the holidays?” When she nodded in confirmation, he shook his head with a frown. “Bastard.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Valentine’s day just sucks, it’s just a reminder of how lonely you are,” she muttered with bitterness, “Of how lonely I am.”

“Well if it’s any consolation,” Harry said, pausing to ask the bartender for another drink, “I’m lonely tonight too.”

“Well, obviously, otherwise you wouldn’t be here getting drunk on your own.” With a few drinks already in her system, Jules practically had no filter whatsoever (not that she really had one in the first place).

“Touché,” he clicked his tongue, then leaned back to chug down the rest of his glass. Jules was almost concerned by how quickly he downed his drink, but she’s not in a position to talk, after all, she’d been doing the same. “But I’m not getting drunk on my own now, am I? You’re right here.”

She scoffed, eyebrows raising at his words. “Who said I’m keeping you company? Or that I’m not leaving any second now?”

“I don’t think you are.” He responded with much conviction that it almost threw Jules off.

“You think too confidently about a stranger you just met.”

“Let’s fix the strangers part then, shall we? I’m Harry.” He extended his ring-clad hand and Jules noticed a coat of red nail polish on his fingers. How ironic.

She sighed before deciding to entertain him, grabbing a firm hold of his surprisingly warm hand. Maybe she’ll allow him to keep her company tonight. It doesn’t seem like he’s going to leave her alone anyway.

“Jules.” She simply responded before turning back to her drink, swirling the pink straw around. She made a mental note to thank Jonah later for the cute straw.

“Jules” Harry repeated, as if testing the name on his lips and Jules would be lying if she said that she didn’t like the way it rolled off his tongue. “Is that a nickname for Julie? Julia? Short for Juliann-“

“Juliet. It’s Juliet.” She interrupted his ridiculous ramble. He surely was inquisitive. And did she really look like a Julianne?

“Huh,” he hummed, gliding a finger over the rim of his glass, staying silent for a few seconds and Jules thought he was maybe done for the night.

She thought wrong, it seems.

“Oh, Juliet, oh, Juliet, where art thou, Juliet?” He dramatically recited, voice going deeper as he stared upwards at a spot over the bar. Simply put, Jules thought he looked ridiculous.

She could hear Jonah snickering in the background.

“It’s where art thou, Romeo, but nice try.” She rolled her eyes in response to his theatrics. Almost everyone she’s ever encountered has commented on her name and made a reference to the infamous Shakespearean tragedy that she’s never been too fond of. It’s why she mostly went by Jules.

No one’s ever recited that line though, however wrong it was. That was a first.

“I knew that,” the curly-haired man mumbled beside her, swirling his glass and watching the ice cubes swim around, “was just joking, geez, tough crowd.”

Jules couldn’t help but roll her eyes again in response. That joke got old a long time ago.

She’s beginning to regret coming to this bar tonight. Maybe she should’ve just headed straight home and cuddled into her blankets.

“It’s pretty, though,” he added a few moments later, “beautiful name for a beautiful woman”

No way. She huffed, spinning in her seat to face him once again. “That’s your line? Tell me, Mr. Rockstar, has that really worked on anyone before?”

She could tell he was a bit surprised but tried to hide it; unluckily for him, Jules was a very observant person, hardly anything passed her.

“I-I didn’t mean it like that-“

She interrupted him again and leaned in closer, resting her elbow on the countertop and raised an eyebrow. His eyes flickered for a fleeting second to the charm bracelet adorning her wrist. “So you don’t think my name’s beautiful? Or that I’m beautiful? Sheesh, Harry, you’re not looking good here.”

Harry spluttered, staring at her with eyes blown wide in panic and Jules almost felt bad for messing with him; it was just hard not to, she was lonely and he was right there annoying her with his lousy jokes, so he has the unfortunate fate of being her victim tonight (and truthfully, he brought it on himself). And if she was being honest, messing with Harry Styles was just too entertaining of an opportunity for her to pass on.

To be fair, she was a little annoyed by his presence in the beginning, having originally planned to wallow in her misery all by herself, but now she’s having fun. She might just enjoy her time with him.

“No- no of course I think you’re beautiful, y-your name too,” he responded in clear panic, seemingly trying to figure out how he can redeem himself. Jules’ attention was momentarily caught by the way his rings glimmered under the light as he flexed his fingers, still fumbling for a response. “I was just-“

“Styles,” she interrupted him, yet again, with a light-hearted laugh and shook her head, hair falling forward on her shoulders, “Relax, was just messing with you.”

His shoulders visibly relaxed and he heaved out a sigh of relief; his eyes then narrowed and he lifted his hand, pointer finger wagging in her direction. “You really like messing with people, huh? Not very nice of you.”

“Made you sweat, no? Was just having fun. I can now say that I’ve made the infamous Harry Styles stumble over his words. How much do you think they’ll pay me for that hot gossip? Reckon it would be a lot.” She said as she turned back in her seat, now facing the bar once again, but she knew he caught the smirk on her face and the teasing lilt in her tone.

Coming to the bar was definitely a good decision.

Harry felt like a proper idiot.

Here he was, sitting at a pub with a lovely woman that clearly didn’t want to be bothered, yet he had to fuck things up and be a git.

And the Juliet bit? Harry had never been more embarrassed, he didn’t know what he was thinking, or if he was thinking at all. He made sure to remind himself that he wasn’t that funny and should just stop trying to be. You’re making a fucking fool of yourself.

In spite of his rather embarrassing advances, Harry found himself enjoying Jules’ company immensely, even if she had barely looked his way when he had arrived at his spot.

She might’ve looked irritated by his insistent attempts to start a conversation with her in the beginning, but from the way her body has been facing him for the past half an hour and the smile or two she’d thrown his way, Harry had a feeling she was warming up to him.

He discovered that she was an accountant, which thoroughly surprised him because she didn’t seem like one. Harry doesn’t like to judge a book by its cover, but Jules definitely didn’t scream accountant, more like a Greek goddess or something. Her black dress hugged her body in a way that almost made Harry dizzy; he had noticed her the second he walked into the nearly empty pub – and before he could even think about it, he found his legs carrying him in her direction (he was already headed to the bar anyway, or so he told himself).

Admittedly, the way she was stabbing the chocolates had him fearing for his life for a split second, but Harry brushed it off and figured she just wasn’t a fan of valentine’s day, if her apparent disdain for the sweets and the rose before her was any indication.

He was also surprised to learn that she’d moved here from America about five years ago and this pub was one she often frequented, yet Harry had never run into her somehow despite coming here a lot and living not too far himself.

He’s glad their paths have finally crossed tonight, though.

That being said, Jules was definitely keeping him on his toes. He never knew what she was going to say next, and she certainly did not hold back from saying exactly what was on her mind.

Harry found himself liking that about her, even if her forwardness came at his expense sometimes (he couldn’t say he didn’t deserve it). Oftentimes, people acted cautious around him and treated him differently just because of his status. Not Jules, though.

But now he could tell that she had something on her mind, from the way she looked at him then shifted her eyes elsewhere a second later.

“What is it?” He questioned, deciding to put her out of her fidgety state. He wasn’t sure what was holding her back, she certainly had no problem handing his ass to him earlier.

“It’s just,” she started, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth, the movement catching Harry attention for a second before he reminded himself to be respectful, “what are you doing here by yourself tonight? I find it hard to believe that someone like you doesn’t have anyone to hang around on a day like this.”

Someone like him? Harry furrowed his eyebrows, not sure what she was implying with her words but he didn’t believe she meant it in a negative manner necessarily.

“That came out wrong, I didn’t mean anything like that,” she quickly defended, face becoming redder by the second and Harry was a little endeared by the sight. The woman before him was confident all throughout their conversation, having no fear in expressing her thoughts, yet now she was the flustered one. And Harry couldn’t help but enjoy it.

Time to give her a taste of her own medicine.

“What, thought someone like me had a flock of women at their beck and call and that I’d be off with one or some of them tonight?”

He gave her a blank look afterwards, pretending that he found offence in her words and he almost blew his cover at the way her face visibly fell.

“N-no!” she exclaimed, voice rising a few octaves and Harry could see the bartender, Jonah, suddenly flinch behind her from the sound. He pressed his lips together to silence the chuckle that threatened to escape and continued to stare Jules down.

“Of course I didn’t mean it like that,” she added in a much calmer tone, though Harry could detect that panic lacing her voice and he was starting to feel guilty. “I never believed that you were like that, I just,” she paused, averting her gaze away and staring at the lights above them instead, “never mind, just ignore me.”

Harry figured that she already knew of who he was and his status, and despite having just met her, the fact that she just said she doesn’t believe the rumours about him filled him with inexplicable warmth and he had to remind himself again that he’d only just met this woman. He shouldn’t feel anything of the sort towards her.

He could tell by the way her eyebrows were furrowed that she felt bad about what she’d said, so Harry called out her name and waited for her to look at him again.

When she did, her face holding an apprehensive look, he smiled at her and leaned a bit closer, which made little difference because there was still some space separating them.

“I was just messing with you, Jules,” he reached forward and flicked her nose, causing her to instinctively scrunch her face in a cute manner that had Harry’s stomach fluttering. “Doesn’t feel that nice now, does it?”

Jules chuckled in disbelief, wide eyes staring back at him and a smile was slowly stretching on her lips. “Touché. I see how it is then.”

Harry just shrugged, his own lips twitching as another smile threatened to appear. “Just having some fun, eh?”

Jules was now beaming at him and if Harry was standing, he was certain that his knees would’ve buckled at the sight. He already knew that Jules was gorgeous, and he was sure anyone would agree with him, but when as she smiled at him like that, eyes shining bright under the warm orange lights, brown hair cascading loosely yet somehow perfectly on her shoulders, there was no doubt in Harry’s mind that there was an angel sitting before him.

“Truce then?”

Her voice brought him back to earth and Harry chuckled before he shook her outstretched hand, marvelling for a moment at the way it felt enveloped in his. “Truce.”

“But to answer your question,” Harry said after a few beats of silence, glancing at her to find her eyes already set on him. “I didn’t have anything planned, haven’t been on many dates recently to be honest, so I just figured I’d come here and spend time with my good friend,” he lifted his drink with a wide grin on his face, “alcohol, the one thing that never let me down.”

Jules threw her head back in a laugh, the sound being music to Harry’s ears and he wished he could record it just to hear it again and again. “Amen to that.”

The two clinked their glasses together, laughing stupidly for no reason, before they threw their heads back to drink.

“Another round, then?”

Jonah suddenly appeared in front of them, startling Harry a bit. Sometimes he forgot that the man was lingering around behind the bar.

Jules took the liberty to respond for the both of them, exclaiming a “hell yeah, buddy!” that had the two men laughing, and soon enough their glasses were refilled.

After taking a sip, Harry leaned his head on the palm of his hand and set his eyes on Jules again, “So, are you a fan? Of me or of the band?”

He had to ask, he couldn’t help but wonder. If she was indeed a fan, she certainly didn’t show it.

Jules shrugged, playing nonchalant it seemed, but it didn’t escape him the way her cheeks seemed to redden. “Eh, I dabble. You’re alright.”

Her response made him chuckle. “Good to know.” Call him a narcissist, but he really wanted to know whether or not she liked his music. Perhaps he’ll inquire further later.

Because Harry knows that there’s no way he’s letting Jules go anytime soon.

Getting to know Harry was fun.

Sometime during the night, Harry had migrated from his seat onto the bar stool beside her, their thighs brushing against each other every now and then.

Tapping his fingers around his glass, Harry’s rings clinked against it and Jules couldn’t help but be slightly captivated by the action. She wasn’t one to stare at anyone’s hands, but she had to admit that Harry’s were fascinating to look at; his long and slender fingers, adorned by a number of his infamous rings, were truly a sight to see.

She took the chance to also admire his outfit, something she was too busy to do earlier on. His coat was long discarded on the stool beside him, which allowed her eyes to run over his figure. His upper body was covered by a plain white t-shirt with the word “Sex” displayed on his chest, a pair of pair of wide-legged black pants covering his long limbs; it was a simple fit yet it made it difficult for Jules to take her eyes off him. And his hair just looked so soft that her fingers were begging her to touch the fallen strands on his forehead.

Hearing Harry clear his throat broke her out of her trance and Jules realised from the smirk that stretched on his lips that she’d been caught in the act.

She tried playing it off, as if she hadn’t been shamelessly checking him out for the last couple of minutes and smoothed her hands down her dress, adjusting in her seat because honestly, her butt was starting to ache.

But she didn’t want to leave just yet.

Seeming to notice her discomfort, however, Harry downed the last bit of his drink before setting his glass down with a smack, causing Jonah, who was still lingering around them, to shoot Harry a warning glance and a low “careful!”, to which Harry smiled sheepishly before turning to face her again.

“Want to get out of here?”

Jules’ eyebrows shot upwards in surprise, having not expected him to want to continue spending the night with her.

“Sure there’s nothing else you’d rather be doing?” She couldn’t help but question, still struggling to grasp the fact that he still wanted to be around her. Her hands were fidgeting with the hem of her dress, eyes staring into his emerald ones as she waited to hear his response.

Truth be told, she was enjoying his company far much more than she had anticipated and she didn’t want to part from him just yet.

To her relief, a dimpled smile adorned Harry’s face as he took in her words before he shook his head, “Trust me, Jules, there’s no one else I’d rather be with tonight.”

She’d be lying if she said her heart didn’t skip a beat at that.

The two got up from their seats after thanking Jonah and fighting over who’s paying because Harry insisted on paying for her drinks. As she was gathering her things, she felt Harry’s presence behind her and she realised, after looking at him over her shoulders, that he was holding her coat up for her.

Heat rushed into her cheeks at the gesture, finding it sweet that he was helping her when he didn’t really have to. “Thank you,” she whispered, turning to him with a smile after feeling him adjust her hair.

His only response was a faint “No need” and he quickly turned to shrug on his own coat, the bashful smile on his lips not going unnoticed by her.

Flashing Jonah another smile, Harry extended his arm towards her and nodded his head towards the exit. “Shall we?”

“We shall.”

The two stepped into the night, the biting London air hitting Jules’ cheeks immediately and she was positive her nose was already red from the cold.

Jules reached into her pocket to grab her phone, realising that she hasn’t checked the device since she walked into the bar. There weren’t any notifications that she missed, which wasn’t surprising since her friends (all four of them) were out on dates or staying at home with their partners, so she was sure no one was thinking of her at the moment.

Noticing that it was already 8 in the evening and they were aimlessly walking down the street, Jules turned to Harry with a questioning gaze. “Where are we going?”

Leaning his head down to look at her (or perhaps to be closer, Jules wasn’t sure), he paused, seeming to think, before shrugging his shoulders. “Dunno if I’m quite honest.”

Jules found herself chuckling at him. How did her day end with her walking around with no purpose with a man she’d just met?

She looked at the sign closest to them before she turned to him and did something she rarely ever did. She found herself inviting him to her apartment because they were quite close.

A smirk found its way onto Harry’s lips and she started to regret her decision. “Already trying to get me into your bed, Juliet?”

She mentally cursed at the way her heart leaped upon hearing her name roll off his tongue. Almost no one called her Juliet anymore, except for her parents when they were being serious, but she found herself wanting to hear him say her name over and over again.  

Shaking her head at the thought, Jules reached her arm out and lightly slapped his shoulder. “Oh come off it, you idiot. You can just go ahead and cry alone in your mansion if you want.”

Harry raised his hands in surrender and muttered an apology, although the smile lingered on his lips and Jules tried to ignore the fluttering feeling in her chest.

“Lead the way, then.”

“Make yourself at home, I’ll get us something to drink.”

The walk to her apartment was full of smiles and laughter. She’s come to the conclusion that Harry loves making people laugh, even if his jokes were actually awful, but she found it endearing; he was like a ray of sunshine bringing joy to those around him.

She was glad that she had cleaned up the place a couple of days ago, it would’ve been embarrassing to have someone over to see pyjamas and junk strewn over her furniture. Suffice to say, Jules was a bit of a mess around the house.

After hanging up her coat and Harry’s, she made her way into her kitchen and looked for the good wine she reserved for special occasions. She easily grabbed it, along with two glasses, but then Jules found herself lingering by the kitchen island.

It dawned on her that there was a man in her living room, and he wasn’t just anyone. This was Harry Styles, someone she’d long admired and holy shit was this really happening?

And as sad as it may sound, she’s never felt this connection with anyone before, never felt like the person before her got her and could keep up with her. Yet with Harry, it felt different, and that scared her because she’d only just met him a couple of hours ago.

And he was bound to forget all about her after tonight. He’s just looking for some company, and Jules didn’t think she was that special. Eventually, he’s going to leave. Just like everyone else.

Feeling like the black marble of the island was starting to swirl in her vision, Jules snapped out of her thoughts and sucked in a deep breath before moving back towards the living room.

Harry had his hands interlocked behind his back, perusing through her record collection and it made her inadvertently smile. She was proud of her vast collection of vinyl records, a good portion of them handed down to her by her father; they both had a deep appreciation for records that her mum often made fun of them for.

“Found anything you like?” He jolted at her voice, not having noticed her presence behind him, but then his shoulders immediately relaxed.

Turning towards her with a wide grin, Harry gestured to the shelf behind him. Jules liked the way he seemed to glow underneath the dim lights and she wished she could take a picture of this moment as a keepsake. “This is amazing, there are records here that I couldn’t even find.”

“You can thank my dad for that,” she told him, making herself comfortable on the couch but not breaking eye contact once, “he’s been collecting them for decades and I’m so glad he let me have some, like you should see his collection back home, it’s even more impressive.”

“Hope I’ll get to someday.”

His response caught her off-guard. Before Jules could react, Harry’s teasing voice carried through the room.

“You dabble, you said?” He smirked, turning the Fine Line record in hand to show her and also nodding to the space that held One Direction records. Jules groaned out loud and flopped against the back of the couch.

“A little yeah. Sue me.”

She blushed under his amused gaze, a little embarrassed that he’d found her collection of the band’s records and his own solo music.

“It’s okay,” he assured her, dimples adorning his cheeks, “think it’s cute that you’re a big fan.”

“Don’t know why that makes me cute but okay if you say so.” She mumbled under her breath, realising that he heard her when he chuckled.

“Mind if I put on something then?”

Jules shook her head, signalling for him to go ahead while she poured their drinks. Soon afterwards Stevie Nicks’ voice filled the silence and her lips tugged up at the choice.

The couch dipped beside her when Harry sat down, the scent of his cologne invading her senses. Jules doesn’t think anyone has ever smelled as good as him, but she chose to keep that thought to herself and instead handed him his drink.

A few moments of silence passed after he quietly thanked her, Stevie’s voice the only thing that can be heard.

“So,” he started, throwing an arm on the back of the couch, a shit-eating grin on his handsome face, “would I find any 1D posters if I went into your room?”

“Oh fuck you.” She threw one of the cushions at him, smiling at the way he threw his head back in laughter.

Jules did not mind his company at all.

“Hold on a minute,” Harry straightened up from his previously relaxed position on the couch, “you all work together and you see him and his new girlfriend every day?”

“Yup, you can imagine how fun that is.” She loved her job as an accountant, having always been fascinated with numbers, but she hated having to see him every day in the office across from hers.

It’s not like she hated him, they actually ended on good terms, all things considered. Leon wasn’t bad, he never cheated on her, but the feelings between them just died out, a flicker of something that dwindled into nothing. So, they were friendly with each other and that’s probably the reason why he brought her a box of chocolate and a rose.

But Juliet just didn’t like the daily reminder that she was in fact much lonelier than he was; it’s like rubbing salt in the wound.

“Shit, Jules, that must be hard,” he frowns, leaning forward to pat her hand, “I’m sorry you have to go through that.”

“It’s not that serious,” she mumbles, feeling heat rushing to her cheeks at the simple touch and she mentally cursed herself. She had sworn off men for the unforeseeable future. “I’m over him. You know, I actually think I was never really in love with him to begin with.”

“Why’d you think that?” He questions, his thumb still softly caressing her hand; Jules wasn’t sure if he was aware of that or was absentmindedly doing it. Either way, the touch warmed her.

“I think,” she started, setting her glass of wine on the coffee table so she could sink in further into the couch, the move unintentionally bringing her body closer to Harry’s. “I think I was just happy to have someone around, someone to spend time with. I’ve spent a lot of my life alone and I think I just clung onto him because he kept me company.”

A few beats of silence passed before she continued. “That makes me sound horrible, no, it’s not like I used him, I did enjoy his company and we had a lot of fun together, but I think I was just in love with the idea of him, not him.”

Harry nodded his head, leaning back and mirroring her position, “I understand. That’s how I felt in most of my relationships actually. I longed to have someone around so I wouldn’t be lonely, but I’ve learned over the years that having company doesn’t mean that you won’t feel lonely.”

“You sounded pretty heartbroken on your last record though.” If she wasn’t as inebriated as she was, Jules would have probably had some filter and wouldn’t have said that.

Luckily, Harry chuckled in response and relaxed further into the couch, retracting his hand from hers (she instantly missed the warmth), but he didn’t seem upset. “I was. I would say that I was actually falling in love with her, so I was a bit of a mess when she left me.”

His words made her frown. “I’m sorry about that.”

“Don’t know how anyone could leave you.” She muttered under her breath, forgetting that she was usually louder than normal after she’s had a few drinks.

“Could say the same thing about you.”

With her cheeks flushed, Jules forced herself to look him in the eye again. “You don’t even know me.”

“But I’d like to get to know you.” He almost instantly shot back, resting his chin on his hand and his dimples made an appearance, “I think you’re very interesting.”

“Pfft, me? Interesting?” She laughed, waving him off with her hand. “I am anything but.”

“That’s not true!” Harry vehemently denied, sounding almost offended at the thought, which admittedly made Jules’ heart skip a beat. Just a little.

“I’ve spent a few hours with you now and I can already confidently say that you’re one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met,” his eyes shone bright as she stared into them and she could somehow tell he was being sincere, “and trust me, I’ve met a lot of people.”

Dramatically placing a hand over her heart, Jules flashed him her biggest smile. “Oh how special that makes me feel, I can just die happily now.”

Even though she was being melodramatic, his words did cause Jules’ heart to flutter. In the past, some people told her she was annoying, or brash, and some others would make her feel invisible and undeserving of attention.

Harry, though, was unlike anyone she had ever known. From the moment they met, Harry made her feel like the centre of his attention, never once ignored her or brushed her off, even when she was taking the piss; his emerald eyes were always set on her, giving her his undivided attention as he listened to every word that came out of her mouth.

Jules was definitely not used to that.

Harry threw his head back in laughter, a sound that Jules found to be a beautiful melody, and gazed at her with those bright eyes. “Oh you’re insufferable, I take it back.”

She gasped in feigned shock, crossing her arms with force. “No backsies.”

Another melodic laugh left Harry’s mouth and she couldn’t stop the smile forming on her lips; right then and there, Jules decided that his laugh was one of her favourite sounds.

“Backsies?” He echoed, his tone still laced with laughter, “what are you, five?”

“Shut your pretty mouth.”

“Oh so you think I have a pretty mouth?” His smirk caused his skin to flush and she cursed herself for saying those words. She really needed to think before she spoke, something her parents always reminded her of.

She recovered quickly, bringing her glass closer to her mouth. “I mean, it’s fine, your lips are a little on the thin side but-“

“Heyyy now,” he protested, pink lips forming a pout and Jules definitely thought about kissing them at that moment. “That’s not nice.”

“Never claimed I was nice now, did I?” Jules smirked, feeling a sudden surge of confidence as she took another sip from her drink.

Jules did not miss the way Harry’s eyes seemed to darken just a little, his jaw tensing as she continued to stare him down. Harry leaned forward, mouth opening to respond when suddenly a shrill tone burst their bubble.

Patting the couch cushions, Jules was trying her hardest to forget the look on Harry’s face as she searched for her phone. Stop it, Jules, he’s an international rockstar and he won’t even remember you after tonight.

She sighed in relief when her hand made contact with the device, but that quickly turned into a groan upon seeing who the caller was. Looking back at Harry, who was leaning against the armrest simply staring at her, she shot him an apologetic look before she answered the call.

“Hey, mama” she closed her eyes, fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. Not that she was expecting anything to happen between her and Harry, but the mood was definitely ruined now.

“Hello, honey, how are you? Are you home yet?” Her mother’s calming voice sounded from the other side of the line, making her smile a bit despite the interruption. Ever since the breakup, her mom made sure to call her frequently to check up on her, even though Jules insisted that she didn’t have to.

“I am home, mom, yes,” she responded, shifting her gaze back to Harry who was now leaning his head against the back of the sofa with his eyes closed.

“Good, good. Just checking on you, cariña, how was your night then?”

“It was fine,” she paused for a second, not sure if she should mention meeting Harry now, but she decided it was best not to, “had a few drinks then went straight home. Think I’m gonna go to bed in a few actually.”

She could tell by the way Harry’s lips twitched that he was awake and listening.

“I won’t keep you up then,” some noise was in the background and she heard her mother whisper to someone, “okay, honey, good night! And your dad says good night too.”

“Good night, mama,” Jules smiled, finding herself suddenly missing her family that she hasn’t seen since the holiday season. “Tell dad I said good night too, and that he better spoil you today.”

Her mother’s laugh ringed loud on the other side, “We’re going to dinner tonight, cariña, and he even got me a large bouquet of my favourite roses! Joseph shh- Alright then, bye bye, sweets, love you!”

“Bye, mama, love you too.”

A few seconds passed after she ended the call before Harry spoke up, head tilted to the side. “That sounded sweet. Does she check up on you often?”

Jules hummed in response, resting her head sideways on the sofa so was mirroring his position. “Especially after the breakup. She just worries too much about me.”

“I don’t think she needs to,” he shot her a gentle smile, one that made her want to wrap her arms around him and bask in his warmth, “her daughter’s a very strong woman.”

Not finding any words to say in response, Jules continued tracing Harry’s features, lazily admiring the slope of his nose, the curve of his brows, the sharpness of his jawline; everything about the man before her was mesmerising.

Turning her gaze back to his eyes, Harry flashed her another smile before sitting up straight, the smile slowly dropping. “I should probably go now, it’s getting late.”

Jules immediately wanted to shout “no!” and ask him to stay, but the rational part of her mind told her that she shouldn’t, that she would only set herself up for heartbreak when he finally leaves her.

So the only thing she could say was a faint “Okay.”

As they stood up, it seemed like Harry was holding back from saying something, but she didn’t know if she was just reading too much into things. It was probably just her hazy mind (though she’d argue her head has never been clearer)

They silently made their way to her door, Jules feeling deflated at the prospect of his departure. Would they keep in touch? Would she just become a distant memory, a miserable woman he spent a lonely valentine’s day with?

“Can I-“ Harry abruptly stopped in his tracks, causing Jules to almost run into his back because she was trailing behind him. His demeanour was suddenly all shy when he turned to face her, cheeks flushed crimson.

Jules waited with bated breath and wide eyes for him to continue, heart beating loudly in her chest.

“Can I have your number?”

Relief washed over Jules and Harry visibly relaxed at the bashful smile on her lips. Jules didn’t know why he was so nervous, but the sight was so endearing to her.

She added her number after he handed her the device, secretly smiling at her contact name Juliet x. She already earned herself an x after her name after a few hours? Jules’ heart was beating so loudly she feared Harry would hear its calls for him.

Jules watched him put his shoes on, wishing the night wouldn’t end so soon and wondering if it would be too forward to ask him to stay longer.

Deep in her thoughts, Jules didn’t register that Harry was standing in front of her, bodies close enough that the scent of his cologne engulfed her senses once more.

“I should go now.” Harry whispered, leaning down and wrapping his arms around her and Jules had never felt so whole. She’s heard about Harry’s incredible hugs and now that she’s experiencing it, she never wanted to let go of his warmth.

Harry broke their embrace much too soon for her liking, but not before peppering a gentle kiss on the side of her head. “Good night, Juliet.”

Say something. Don’t let him leave. “Good night, H.”

And then he was gone and Jules was left on her own once more.

After staring longingly at the closed door, as if he would suddenly appear behind it, Jules sighed and made her way back to the living room, slumping against the couch cushions and wishing Harry’s arms were around her again.

Her phone dinged on the coffee table, signalling the arrival of a text. A simple “Hey. I really enjoyed tonight. H” was staring back at her.

Jules contemplated for a few seconds, heartbeats picking up their speed again, before she whispered “fuck it” and clicked on his number.

“Juliet?”

Deciding to go after what her heart wants for once, Jules didn’t hesitate to respond, “Do you want to-“

But an insistent knock interrupted her and Jules wanted to scream at the intrusion. Who on earth would be knocking at her door at this hour?

“Harry, hold on just-“

She takes frustrated strides to the door, ready to yell, but the sight behind it made her anger immediately evaporate.

“H-Harry? What are you doin-“

“What were you going to ask me?” He interrupted, sounding a little out of breath and she wondered if he ran all the way back to her apartment.

Feeling emboldened by his return, Jules took a few steps towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck, his hands immediately grabbing her face and pulling her closer, their lips joining together in a gentle yet eager kiss. 

Jules felt her body melt in his hold. Their kiss only lasted for a few seconds before they pulled apart, still lingering so close that she could taste his wine-stained lips. 

“Stay?” Jules asked, rubbing her nose against his, her heart thudding in her chest as she waited for his answer. Her words carried more weight than she had intended them to and she hoped they wouldn’t scare him off. But her worries vanished when she felt him smile widely against her lips. 

“For as long as you’ll have me.”

Maybe valentine’s day isn’t so bad after all.

thank you for reading! i hope you enjoyed it and please come talk to me about Harry and Jules and tell me your thoughts!

[thepeakygurl]

Well I'm here. I wanted to tell you what a sucker I'm for some good fluff Tommy Shelby fluff..

I had this idea at the back of my mind where the Tommy married the reader as a formality because Polly had been constantly nagging him to get Charles a mother.(Like after Grace dies). Now he makes it clear that he cannot give her "love" and she should not expect it but she should be a dutiful wife (I know, patriarchy) and take care of Charlie. Reader decides to give the marriage a try.. and thinks it's not always love that builds marriage. As long as Tommy keeps her safe, it's fine.. It's only when the reader gets pregnant with Tommy's kid, the way her body starts changing, Tommy's heart starts changing as well and he starts falling in love with her as her pregnancy progresses..

I'm sorry if this is too much. 🙊🥺

A/N: I’m so in love with this one, I really, really hope you like it!🥺 thank you for requesting this amazing piece✨ honestly this one gave me so much life that I could wrote a whole series out of it!

Another Day

Thomas Shelby x Fem!Reader

Word count: 1,834

When Grace died, Thomas knew that a part of himself went with her. Part of his heart and his capacity of loving followed the woman who owned that same heart into the abyss of death. And he was fine with it, the only reasonable thing to do was to let his heart rest next to his beloved wife, that was alright with him.

Everyday that went by Thomas felt as his life were slowly drowning into a whirlwind of inconsolable sorrow. Nevertheless, he was trying his best for Charlie and he was darned proud of how such a sweet boy he happened to become. So mannered and so caring that sometimes he almost failed to believe he was his son, this was his only spiral of joy. Every time Ada would come around with Karl, Charlie wouldn’t help, but ask about his mommy and why him and daddy were always alone. And he was right, Thomas and Charlie were always going to be alone in a way, that thought was so dreadful and achingly painful that one morning he did what he had to do. Polly spent the last few weeks begging him to meet the daughter of this friends of hers, single and behaved, What more could you ask for? Polly would always end up saying. A question he would have promptly answer with Grace.

The first time he laid eyes on you, he couldn’t help but think how pretty you were. He was a man with pride, but he also had eyes and he would never say something that he doesn’t mean so he said it “You are a very beautiful woman” in a tone so cold and unemotional that made you laugh, clearly he was forced into this meeting as well. Marriage was the last thing in your list: Travel and study the art of painting that was your dream and see it being crushed by the economical need of your family almost crushed you a well. Being the respectful and obedient wife of Thomas Shelby was never part of your plan, but you weren’t selfish enough to say no and let your family sink in debt. And while Polly was taking your mom’s arm and pulling her aways from you two for some intimacy, you look at time a stare that he didn’t give back and said “Next time be more convincing.”

The wedding came soon enough, everyone on your side of the family was happy, excited and hopeful for the future that this union would bring. The Shelby’s on the other side, they weren’t allowed to celebrate as this wasn’t a marriage of love, but need. A small wedding, no reception. You never really thought about marriage, but somehow it made you sad how so careless this man was. How cruel he was to care so little about something that for you could have a meaning.

On the night of your wedding Thomas didn’t talking much, if anything at all. Some candles were lit on the side of the bed, they smelled nice you remember, but nothing could ease up the tension in that room. You in your night gown standing in front of him as he close the door behind him while he enters the room. His eyes locked in yours but it’s hard to tell whether he wants this or it’s just a duty. A step after another he finally was in front of you, so close that he could easily hear your heart racing on your chest. His hand slowly reached your cheek and he smiled a small imperceptible smile “Love is a tricky thing. From this night on I will respect you, protect you, but love...” he eyes were now somewhere else, they were still looking at you, but you could tell they were elsewhere. That was enough for you, or so you thought.

Time passed and the only thing that made those miserable day bearable was Charlie. You saw in him a lot of Thomas, but there was also a side of him that you didn’t quite get, probably from his mom. Grace a woman that was still an important presence in the house, in their life. Charlie would sometimes stare at the paint of him, Thomas and Grace and would point and her, asking where she is. You would then proceed to sit next to his and point at his chest close to where his heart his “She is here. She’s in here everyday, even if you don’t see her” you would say smiling at him. She was beautiful, so beautiful and so much loved that you would pity yourself, a resentment that caused you to be sickened by yourself, at some point in time you realised that you started to compete with the death and that feeling brought so much shame that you decided it was time to get back at your art. So you did, painting and looking after Charlie. When the Sun would disappear in order for the Moon to gloriously take its place, Thomas would come home, sometimes even later than that. He would kiss Charlie on the forehead, then he would smile at you. After all expectations, Thomas had no problem in engaging in a conversation with you, however he never talked to you as his wife, more like a newfound acquaintance and that again was alright with you.

Then one day you found out you were pregnant. You had all the signs, morning sickness, late period, body changing, but a part of you didn’t want it to be true. You were so afraid of bring to Earth a creature that was not made out of love that you took quite enough time to tell Thomas, the enough time it took you to start showing and made it impossible for you to hide it longer. Your heart was racing as fast as the horses that Thomas so much loved, when one night he grabbed you by your hand and pulled you closer to him, not a moment of love, but a need. And while a hand slowly caressed your arms, the other was finding his way under your night gown but stopped as soon as he felt your stomach. Surprised as it was he went from looking at your body to staring at your face, while you were nervously biting your lips “I’m pregnant” you said in a whisper. His hand fell down as soon as those words left your mouth and he quickly stepped back. He didn’t want another child, not like this, but he was not going to say it. In fact he didn’t say anything and went to bed.

Weeks after that Thomas didn’t touch you, or talked to you. He even barely looked at you. He felt as if he was betraying Grace, as this baby could bring an end to the connection he had with her. He wasn’t ready for any of that, but neither were you and so the hostility between you two grew. Charlie however was super excited to have a little brother or sister. Seeing his son so excited about the news made him think that maybe that was such a bad news, after all that’s what he wanted for the both of them, not being alone.

And the baby was growing, strong as ever. Polly and Ada started to come visit more and you liked that, that made you feel less alone.

“Don’t worry he will come along someday” Polly would always say to you and you would always smile repeating yourself that you didn’t need his love, that this was a marriage without love, but now with this baby inside you, you couldn’t help but thinking if he was ever going to love your baby.

Thomas was now at home more often “I do not have so many employees for nothing now eh?” He would say every time you would wake up in the morning and see him already on his feet preparing Charlie for the day. The truth was that Thomas knew you had trouble sleeping since the baby, he woke up sometimes during the night to see you walking around the room while moaning in pain. He knew how stressful it could be to not having enough sleep, carrying a baby and providing for another one, so he decided to stick around for a while. Seeing your daily routine, how you would play with Charlie, sit in front of the painting of hi late mom, telling him those kind word and seeing you meticulously give time to your own passion, that did something to him. Perhaps it was just time what he needed, perhaps love was something that he could feel again, because now every time he looked at you, he felt alive again.

“What now? Are you going to do the laundry as well?” You jokingly said while you were having breakfast.

He looked and you and chuckled “No, I pay other people to do that. But you are more than welcome to do it yourself, it’s money that I can save” and as he saw you rolling your eyes in response he smiled “I got you something” he said talking a little bag under the table and placing it in front of you.

You almost gasped in surprise, Thomas Shelby caring to waste a bit of his time to buy you something? Not even your birthday made him turn around like that. You were almost scolding yourself out loud for how much you were smiling at that gesture. You carefully opening the bag to reveal a pair of white baby shoes, the most precious thing he could ever get you. Thomas looked at you with the same big smile that was on your lips and he hold your hand, he didn’t say much after, but your hand on his meant something for the both of you.

You gave birth to the most beautiful and precious baby girl. Polly and Ada were at tears when they first saw her and you could tell to have seen even Arthur shredding some tears and being scolded by John. You even shredded some tears. The love that you thought you couldn’t get and that you were never going to experience, it was all there in this tiny little girl. Charlie was absolutely in love with her, so much that it was hard to convince him that he was to big to sleep in the crib with her. You were looking at your baby girl, sleeping peacefully and there it was, the most beautiful piece of art you ever made. While this thought slid through your mind, Thomas wrapped his arms around your waste in a hug from behind, resting his chin on your shoulder and he smiled looking at his daughter “So darned beautiful” he whispered while looking at her, he was completely astonished and happy, so darned happy. “You both are” he then said holding you a bit tighter than before and this time, you believed him.

[justsomewritingblog]

Of Boggarts and Nightmares

Request:  None

Requested by:  Nobody

Pairing:  Fred Weasley x reader

Warnings:  Mentions of death

Word count:  4K+

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hogwarts was always fascinating to you.  Every corner you turned, it always felt like something was happening.  There were ghosts, appearing food, teleportation, and things you couldn’t even describe.  You were currently in Defense Against the Dark Arts, one of your favorite classes, with Professor Lupin, your favorite teacher.

“Tomorrow we shall be working on facing our fears!”  He announced as everyone packed up their things. “Please read the chapter on ‘Boggarts’ for homework tonight!”  He called. A couple students thanked professor Lupin before heading out.  You approached the professor after almost everyone had left, placing a small box on his desk.  “Another one, Miss L/n?”

You grinned, shrugging.  “Consider them as ‘tokens of my appreciation’.”  You offered.

“I’ll open it at the end of the day.”  He informed, getting ready for his next class.  You nodded, heading out the door.

“Thanks, Professor!”  You called over your shoulder.  When you faced forward again, you had only just closed the door behind you when your wrists were grabbed and you were drug away.  You rolled your eyes, knowing exactly who it was.  Or rather, who they were.  You allowed yourself to get pulled into a mostly empty hall.  You looked up as soon as you were permitted to stop, seeing two identical redheads looking down at you.

“What do you keep giving the Professor, L/n?”  Fred asked.

“Nothing of your concern.  Why?  Jealous?” You asked, smirking.  A mischievous glint was in your eyes as you stared the redhead down.

“Hardly, love.”  He shot back immediately.  You ignored the pet-name, getting back to matters at hand.

“Does it matter?”

“Let’s just say we’re curious.”  George replied.

“Curiosity killed the cat.”  You retorted.

“Well, it’s a good thing we’re not cats, then.”

“Maybe not, but you are in Gryffindor.”

“Well, so are you.”

“I’m not the one being nosey.”

“Touché.”

You rolled your eyes at his response, placing your free hand on your hip.  (You were still holding your things from DADA class.)  “Can I go now?”  You questioned.  The twins glanced at each other, having a silent conversation.  You knew that whenever they did that it was a bad sign. You quickly turned around, rushing out of the hallway to try to get into a more crowded area, hoping that they would lose sight of you.  Or if they didn’t lose sight of you, if it was more crowded they wouldn’t cause a scene.  You had a feeling they would anyway, and that it was too much to hope for, but you were trying.

You kept glancing behind you, making sure they weren’t following. Your relief was cut short when you bumped into a chest.  Your wrists were grabbed before you could react, and you were pulled back into the chest, a firm hold keeping you there.  Your eyes widened as your face became red.  You looked up, meeting Fred’s eyes.  You tried to swallow the lump in your throat, but you couldn’t.

“Thought you could get away so easily, huh?”  He breathed out softly.  You visibly shuddered, and you knew he saw it.  You groaned softly, burying your red face into his chest, hoping to hide it.  He chuckled softly, letting you feel the vibrations rippling through him.

“This is so humiliating.”  You mumbled.  Fred looked around briefly, noticing that you were getting a few looks.  Fred leaned down to your ear.

“Hold on.”  He whispered. The next thing you know, you’re in an empty hallway.  You looked around, taking in your new surroundings.

“Are you gonna let go?”  You asked after a long moment of silence.

“Not a chance.”

“And why’s that?”

“Now who’s being nosey?”  He asked, a large grin on his face.

“Well, they are my hands, after all.”  You retorted, smirking back.  Fred didn’t respond.  He simply chuckled, pressing his forehead against yours.  You closed your eyes, savoring the moment and trying to burn it into your head forever.  You didn’t know how long you were there, but you heard a voice calling.

“Fred!  Y/n!”

You and Fred snapped apart, turning to the quickly approaching figure.  Fred dropped your hands, placing his in his pocket and turning almost fully to his brother.

“What’s up, Georgie?”

You clasped your own hands, missing the warmth his provided already. A frown formed on your face as you looked down at them.  You clenched and unclenched them, trying to get the nice feeling back.  Giving up, you put your hands into your pockets as well, looking between the twins as they plotted the next stage of their latest prank on Filch.

You stood there in silence for several moments before you finally waved your hand in front of their eyes.  You only spoke when they turned to look at you.  “I’m gonna head out.”  You informed, jerking your thumb backwards.  “It’s getting late, and I kinda want to eat some time tonight.” You joked lightly, backing up.

The twins both smiled at you, but you noticed the smiles were different. George smiled at you with genuine happiness and waved you a temporary ‘goodbye’.  Fred’s seemed slightly forced, and you noticed the usual glint in his eye was no longer there.

You turned your back to them, making your way to the great hall like a normal human being.  As you approached the Gryffindor table, you noticed Ron, Harry and Hermione sitting pretty far down, muttering to each other.  You shook your head.  They were always involved in some kind of trouble.  They were almost as bad as the twins.

“Look, Potter!  A dementor!” You heard a voice shout.  Harry whipped around, facing the door.  You looked to the door as well, seeing nothing. You looked behind you, seeing Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle laughing their heads off.  You rolled your eyes, sighing.  Of course, with Draco at school, everyone had heard about Harry’s little incident on the train.

“Pick on someone your own IQ, Malfoy!”  You shouted across the hall.  Malfoy’s head whipped to the Gryffindor table, scanning for the owner of the voice.  His eyes met yours.  You turned to fully face him, crossing your arms and manspreading, your back against the edge of the table.  You noticed Fred and George walk in, but you didn’t take your eyes off of the blond Slytherin.

“Oh, you mean like you?”  He retorted, raising an eyebrow in a mocking manner.

“Are you saying I’m smart, or dumb?”  You prodded, a sly smirk taking over your features.  You really hoped he would answer in a way that would work.

“Well, I think that sentence speaks for itself.”  He replied, earning laughs from the entire Slytherin table. A crooked grin overtook your face. This was better than you could have ever hoped.

“Well, you said I have the same IQ you do, so clearly that means that you’re dumb as well.”  You shot back, turning back to face the table.  The entire Gryffindor table erupted into uproarious laughter.  The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables let out a few good chuckles, trying to be less obnoxious.  Malfoy glared daggers into the back of your head as you started your meal.

“Bloody he-”

“Ron!”  Hermione scolded.  Ron cleared his throat, turning back to you.

“That was awesome, Y/n!”

You shrugged.  “He set himself up.”  You explained simply.

“Well, well, well.  The rose has thorns.”  A voice said, joining the conversation.  You turned, seeing Fred.

“But we knew that.”  George told his twin, pointing at him.

“Indubitably.”  Fred replied. You chuckled softly, shaking your head.

“Well, I hope you’re happy, L/n.”  Hermione started.  “He’s now surely going to be upset.”

“What’s he gonna do?  He’s two years younger than me.”

“That doesn’t mean he won’t try anything.”

“You worry too much.”

“He could tell his father.  You know that’s who he cries to when he doesn’t get his way.”  Hermione reminded, her eyebrow raising in superiority. A cold fear swept through you. Your heart stopped beating briefly and you felt like your stomach was in your throat.  Your eyes flashed in terror briefly before you responded.

“Well, he can’t do anything to me.  I technically only repeated what his son said.”  You played it off, shrugging one shoulder.  Hermione opened her mouth, no doubt to contradict you again, but a voice beside her cut her off before she could say anything.

“Well, I think it was amazing.”

“I agree, Ron.”  George told his brother, leaning on your shoulder.  “Couldn’t have done it better, myself.”

“Could have used some dung bombs if you ask me.”  Fred countered with a shrug, his hands in his pockets. You smiled softly, looking down at your plate.  George sat down on your left, leaning in close towards you.

“Really, L/n.  It was brilliant.”  He complimented.  You shook your head, raising your hand to settle him.

“It wasn’t that impressive.”  You insisted.  “It was nothing, really.”  You told him.  However, a strange feeling in your gut told you that you would regret your little bout of courage.  Draco, like his father, was relentless.  You could only hope he would think better than to pick on a Gryffindor two years older than him with the Weasley twins for best friends.  “I’m gonna head to bed.”  You finally spoke, breaking the silence that filled your group.  You could still hear the excited chatter from further down the table, though.

“You’ve only half finished your meal.”  Fred reminded.

“Not hungry.”  You replied dismissively, standing up.  “You can finish it, if you want.”  You told him, sending him a small smile.  You turned and sent a similar one to the rest of the table before walking out of the great hall.  You had thought about checking to see if Malfoy was following you, but you decided that if he was planning something, your ‘confidence’ might make him think twice.  You entered the hallway, trying to make your way quickly to the common room without anyone noticing that you were in a hurry.  But you also wanted to be there fast enough, just in case Malfoy did try something.

You approached the portrait of the fat lady and quickened your strides, hoping to get there faster.  You got there moments later, telling her the password.  The portrait swung open moments later and you hurried in, turning to look at the open portrait.  Only when it closed did the tension leave your body.  You collapsed onto the couch in front of the fire, resting your head against the back of it.  You closed your eyes, allowing the warmth to consume you.

You awoke with a start when you felt your shoulders being shook. Your eyes snapped open and you were met with a red-head’s face less than a foot away from your own.

“Oh.  Hi, Fred.” You mumbled groggily.

“You sound cheerful.”  He remarked jokingly, jumping over the back of the couch and sitting next to you.  You brought your head back down to re-align with your body again, looking forward and rubbing your neck.

“I just got disturbed from a nap.  What do you want from me?”  You asked, a barely noticeable joking tone coming through your grumbles. Fred grinned down at you, wrapping an arm around your shoulders.  You fought the red that threatened to take over your face.  “Where’s your other half?”  You questioned, yawning through the end of the inquiry.

“Oh, he’s still in the great hall.”  He answered.

“Why are you, here, then?”  You wondered aloud.  Fred looked down at you, his face losing the bright smile he had, being replaced with a slightly more serious one.

“We’re not attached at the hip, you know.”  He reminded.

“Really?  Could’ve fooled me.”  You replied, a small smirk taking over your features.  Fred smirked softly back at you.  You rolled your eyes, looking back into the fire, feeling its warmth.  You zoned out, the rhythmic movements being hypnotic.  “What do you think of Lupin’s class?”  You asked suddenly, breaking the silence that had taken over for a few minutes.  Fred’s head whipped around to face you.  His eyebrows were furrowed in confusion.

“Why would you ask that?”  He asked seriously.  He then chuckled softly.  “Where did that come from?”

You shrugged, tearing your gaze away from the fire to look at him. “I dunno.  I guess I was just thinking about what Professor Lupin said before we left class.”

“What did he say?”  Fred asked, tilting his head slightly.

“He said that we would be facing our fears tomorrow.”  You reminded, looking back at the fire.  You didn’t want to look Fred Weasley of all people in the eye when you discussed fear. Fred cocked an eyebrow.

“And?”  He prompted. You let out a small, exasperated sigh, shrugging again.

“I don’t know.  I just-” Your eyes widened.  “I have homework to do!”  You remembered, jumping out of Fred’s embrace.  “Shoot, shoot, shoot!  I have a whole chapter to read!”  You exclaimed, grabbing your books and rushing up to the girls’ dorm.  Fred still sat, frozen in alarm by your sudden outburst.  He chuckled softly, shaking his head.

You entered the girls’ dormitory, throwing yourself onto your bed and flipping through all your books, trying to find the one on DADA.  You grabbed it and headed back downstairs, finding Fred still sitting on the couch.  This surprised you slightly, but you ignored it, sitting back down in your previous seat.  Fred looked over at you, raising an eyebrow slightly.

“There’s more light down here.”  You answered his silent question, flipping through your book to find the chapter on ‘Boggarts’.  You finally found the page, opening the book wider so you could see easier.  “What are you doing?”  You asked, feeling Fred lean in closer to look over your shoulder.

“Well, it’s my homework, too.”  He replied easily, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.  You rolled your eyes softly, shaking your head before you began reading the chapter on ‘Boggarts’.  It was a disturbing chapter, to say the least.

The next thing you know, people are flooding in from the great hall, having finished supper.  Most of them were chatting quite incessantly, being loud about it.  You furrowed your eyebrows as you struggled to focus on the textbook.  You put your hands over your ears, drowning out some of the noise.  After re-reading the same two sentences eight or more times, you quit trying.  You closed the book, now that Fred was talking to George, and was no longer ‘studying’.  You picked up your book and stood, walking back up to the girls’ dorm.  It was much quitter up there, since there was only one other person up there.  She was currently reading something, too, though you couldn’t tell what it was. Once you finished the chapter, having been able to focus better, you went to sleep, dreading what was coming.

The next day in DADA class, everyone took their usual seats, waiting for the professor to arrive.  He walked in a few minutes later, ordering everyone to push the desks along the wall.  Everyone stood, some pushing physically, some using magic.  Once the room was clear, the professor pushed a dresser to the front of the room.  The dresser shook, the creature trying to get out.  “Now, we have a boggart here.  Who can tell me what boggarts are?”  He asked, looking around the room.  When no one raised their hand, you raised yours.  You wouldn’t have normally, but since Lupin was your favorite teacher, you tried to make an effort for him.  “Yes, Ms. L/n?”

“A boggart is a shape-shifter that takes the form of whatever the person it encounters fears most.”  You answered, bringing your hand back down.

“Correct.  Very good, Ms. L/n.”  He smiled softly, standing up straight.  “A boggart likes to hide in confined spaces.”  He informed, which you had recalled from your homework.  “The spell to defeat a boggart can be quite tricky, because you must imagine your fear in a funny circumstance, or with a funny look.  This takes away your fear, making the boggart powerless.”  He paused for a breath.  “If you are able to laugh out loud at a boggart, it will disappear immediately. The incantation ‘Riddikulus’ transforms the boggart into a more amusing form.”  He stopped for another moment.  “Now, I want everyone to say ‘Riddikulus’ firmly.”

The room was filled with a chorus of the word.

“Keep practicing.”  He instructed, turning around to face the closet.  He walked over, standing next to it, then turning to face the class. “Form a line.”  He instructed.  You filed in somewhere in the middle, being squished by the number of people in there.  “Ready?” He asked the first student.  At their nod, Lupin pulled open the door, and out came a giant snake.  Your eyes widened as the snake slithered closer to the group, hissing and showing its fangs.

“Riddikulus!”  The student shouted.  Before your eyes, a small puff of smoke appeared, and when it was gone, the snake was tangled, wrapped up in itself.  You clapped, along with some other students.

“Very good!”  Lupin cheered.  “Stand over there, please.”  He told the boy, pointing another side of the room.  A girl stepped up and the confused snake disappeared in a puff of smoke again. When the smoke cleared, a pile of bugs had replaced it.  They all came rushing toward her.

“Riddikulus!”  She shouted, pointing her wand at them.  The pile of bugs suddenly had a layer of ice beneath them, and they were sliding all over the place.  You chuckled, clapping again.

“Next!”

The boggart changed into many forms throughout the class.  It was a spider, rats, bats, bees, He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named showed up on several occasions, and a clown appeared a few times.

“Next!”  Lupin instructed.  The girl in front of you went to stand along the wall as you stepped forward.  Your breathing was abnormal, and you were terrified of what form it would take.  You hadn’t really thought about your worst fear that much.  The boggart in front of you, that was currently Filch wearing a tutu, disappeared in another cloud of smoke.  You lowered your stance, trying to even out your breathing as you readjusted the wand in your hand.  When the smoke cleared, gasps from every student in the room could be heard.  The scene before you was terrible.  The wand that you had clutched so firmly moments before landed on the ground with a thud.  Your breathing stopped.

Before you lay Fred.  He was pale and his eyes were open, staring into who knows what, with a blank expression on his face.  He was bloody and bruised, and very clearly dead.

“The spell, Y/n.  Remember the spell!”  Lupin instructed.  You barely heard him.  It was as though you were underwater, and he was trying to speak to you from above it. You heard him, but it didn’t really set in.  You tried to remember what you were supposed to do.  ‘What was the spell, again?’ You wondered.  ‘Riddikulus.’  You told yourself.  But as you stared down at Fred’s lifeless form, you couldn’t think of any way that you would make this even the slightest bit amusing.

Your heartbeat raced and you were cold, clammy and sweating.  Your breaths were shallow and labored.  You couldn’t seem to get any air in.  You stumbled backwards, trying to get as far away from the image as possible.  Lupin, seeing that this wasn’t going to get any better, stepped in front of the boggart, which turned into a bright, floating orb.  The orb floated back into the closet, which Lupin closed and locked. He turned back around to face you, crouching down to your height, (you had fallen over), and offered you a kind, sad smile.

“I’m sorry, Professor.”  You squeaked out.

“It’s perfectly alright, dear.”  He told you honestly.  “I don’t know how I would have defeated that one, either.”  He reached out a hand, helping you up.  “Facing one’s worst fears can be quite a terrifying self-discovery and can very much indeed take over.”  He spoke softly.  You nodded your head, not thinking you’ll be able to speak again for a little while. “Just relax.”  He told you.

You closed your eyes, about to begin taking deep breathes, but as soon as you closed them, Fred’s dead form was in the forefront of your mind. Your eyes snapped open immediately as your breathing picked up again.  Lupin frowned, seeing you begin to panic.

“Will someone please escort Miss-”

“We will.”  Came two voices.  You didn’t even have to look to know who they were.  Fred and George appeared at your side, followed by a nod from Lupin.  They each grabbed a hold of an arm, pulling you out into the hall.  They led you to the Gryffindor common room, seeing as DADA was your last class for the day, and set you on the couch.  They both remained standing, whispering quietly to themselves as you stared into the fire, ignoring their presence.  You felt a kiss on the top of your head and you looked up, seeing George smiling sadly at you before exiting the room.  You frowned at his departure, not wanting this inevitable conversation. Fred sat down on your left, looking at you in silence for several moments.

The image flashed through your mind again as you stared at the fire. Tears escaped your eyes before you could stop them; though at this point, you felt you needed a good cry. But you’d do that later: not in front of Fred.  You made no move to wipe the tears away, still staring into the fire, mind trying to catch up with what was happening and what had happened.

“Are you okay?”  Fred asked softly.  At his voice, the tears started streaming faster and you closed your eyes, hanging your head slightly.  “Hey.” He prompted softly, taking your hands in his.  “Your hands are like ice.”  He noted, a small chuckle escaping his lips.  When you didn’t respond, he frowned, chewing on his bottom lip in thought. His face lit up slightly when an idea struck him.  “Come here.” He spoke, picking you up bridal style. You covered your face with your hands. He sat on the floor in front of the fire moments later, putting you between his legs so your back was against his chest.  The intense warmth from being this close to the fire warmed your hands slightly, but you still felt numb.  He placed his chin on the top of your head, wrapping his arms around your middle.  He sighed through his nose, closing his eyes in comfort.

“That was awful.  It was like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.”  You mumbled.  If he hadn’t been so close he wouldn’t have known that you’d said anything.  A large, uncharacteristic frown took over Fred’s face.

“Did you……did you know that was your worst fear?”  He asked softly.  Your breathing stuttered for a second as you tried your best not to hyperventilate.

“I don’t know.  I never thought about it much.”  You admitted, wiping your nose with the back of your hand.  “I mean, I knew I cared about you a lot, but I didn’t know that losing you would-” You couldn’t talk anymore.  The lump in your throat was too overpowering.  Fred rubbed his hands up and down your arms, trying to soothe you.

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I care about you a lot, too.” He informed.  You hummed softly to yourself.  You were sure that Fred didn’t mean it the same way that you cared about him, but you appreciated the thought.  “I didn’t think-” Fred stopped himself, seemingly trying to figure out how to word his next thought.  You sat in unbearable silence, waiting for him to continue.  “I didn’t think you cared about me in that way.”  He admitted.  You weren’t sure why, but you felt like bursting into tears.  ‘He didn’t?’ You asked yourself.  You thought you had tried to make it pretty obvious.

“Fred, I-” You paused, too, unsure if you wanted to go through with this or not.  You sat in internal conflict for a few minutes before you took in a shaky breath. “Fred, I, um…I think I love you.” You whispered.  You didn’t dare face him.  You don’t think you would have been able to bear the look on his face should he not like you back.  When his silence dragged on, you quickly stood.  “You know what?  Forget I said-”

Fred grabbed ahold of your hand, pulling you back down to his level, this time to face him.  You sat in front of him with your legs wrapped around him, facing his bright eyes, surprise written over your features.  He let out a breathy laugh.  “I love you, too, you bloody idiot.”  He told you, a large grin on his face.

You were certain you’d stopped breathing.  You covered your face with your hands, trying to hide the blushing and the enormous grin that had taken over your features.  His fingers gently wrapped around your writs, pulling your hands softly away from your face.  You looked up at him, smiling like an absolute dork.  He grinned back at you, leaning forward and resting his forehead against yours.  You closed your eyes, enjoying the moment.

“Bloody heck! My eyes!”  A voice shouted.  You opened your eyes, turning and seeing George in the doorway.  He was covering his eyes but was smiling.  You pursed your lips in a fake frown, but sure that they could see a hint of a smile, and reached behind Fred, picking up a pillow and throwing it at his twin brother.  It hit George in the stomach with a force he didn’t expect.  He uncovered his eyes, placing his hands over his stomach as he laughed heartily.  You shook your head, not being able to hide the smile anymore.

“Party crasher!”  You shouted.

“Hey, it’s my common room, too!”  He defended. You shook your head, rolling your eyes.

“You’re banished!”  You declared playfully.

“Ah, yes.  I’m sorry, King and Queen of the Room of the Commons.”  George replied, fake bowing.  You laughed along with Fred, throwing another pillow at George.

“Get out!”

“Alright, I’m going!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N:  This is my first Harry Potter story!  What do y’all think?

Tag List:

[juminsmysticmc]

Omg, rfa + minor trio are here again. I almost droped my phone lmao... Can we have rfa + minor trio reactions when police brings their teenage child home? Thank you and take care!

RFA + Minor Duo’s teenage child being brought home by the police

As soon as I read this request I thought ,,yeah, this is just what I want write about!’’ thank you for your request! I hope I can make you happy! Please enjoy! And yes, ahaha, I am always good for a surprise! Let’s welcome the Minor Duo/ Trio again!

Vanderwood’s child being brought home by the police

Jumin

,,You really should send someone,’’ you mumbled, almost begging your husband.

The problem was that your oldest son, who was sixteen, didn’t want to become the new CEO in line. Instead, he wanted to go into show business, something Jumin didn’t want to let happen.

The amounts of arguments in the house were so many, that you lost count.

But as a mother, you were your son’s side.

,,No, I don’t care,’’ Jumin mumbled.

,,Does he really think that music will provide him with food, warm clothes, and a future forever?’’ he asked you.

,,Well, you could also lose the company, you know…’’ you mumbled, getting a cold look.

Suddenly the door rang, making your second daughter open the door.

,,Uhm, Mom,’’ the fourteen year old called you.

It was 10 pm. when two police officers stood there, your boy between them.

,,We caught him stealing,’’ one of them said.

And after Jumin thanked them and gave them so much money, that they would never ever speak up again, he was ready to scold your son if you didn’t protect him.

,,I DID THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO CHANGE MY FATE! I’M NOT YOUR DOLL!’’ he hissed.

Jumin was speechless, and before he could act, your daughter helped you.

,,I will be the CEO in line. Have some faith in me,’’ she said.

,,Hyung is happier when he’s doing music, not working on your projects. I, on the other hand, love it a lot,’’ she said, solving almost every problem...

Zen

You and your husband were enjoying the day with your newborn when someone rang at the door.

Looking at the clock, you knew that it couldn’t have been your oldest daughter who was supposed to still be at school, however, you were wrong.

,,Mom…’’ the young lady began to sob, jumping into your arms.

,,What happened?’’ Zen asked, when he looked over to his little girl.

,,She was robbed in the middle of the street.

Thank god people were there to help, but she got a little hurt. However, she didn’t want to go to the hospital and instead demanded to be brought home,’’ the other police officer said.

,,I was so scared,’’ she sobbed as she cried into your chest, your hands slowly patting her back in a rhythm to calm her down.

Zen thanked the police officer and then closed the door, hugging his girl as she kept crying.

That night, the three of you slept together in a bed even though she was already so old…

Zen even put his pride aside and asked Jumin Han to give her a few of his bodyguards.

After all, the safety of his family was his first priority.

Yoosung

,,I don’t know what to do anymore,’’ Yoosung sobbed.

It has been three years ever since you died, taking two of your children with you.

It was supposed to be a happy day when suddenly he simply got a call, the call about your death.

It took him a long time to overcome this pain, especially because he still had a son he had to raise.

Everyone tried to support Yoosung, but the young boy he had to raise without a mother began to feel the cold.

He began to miss you, the motherly figure he longed for.

Yoosung’s son was just sixteen when he first got accused of a few bad things. People visited him almost weekly to make sure that the family problems would be solved soon.

However, nothing helped.

,,I don’t need you, old idiotic father!’’ Yoosung’s son yelled.

,,WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?! I WANT AN APOLOGY!’’ he hissed.

,,You?! An apology?!’’ he laughed.

,,You fucking let them kill my mother and my sisters. You didn’t do anything good in life, you studied to save some stray dogs, and let my mother die like one,’’ he laughed.

Yoosung slapped his son and panted in rage.

,,Your mother would be disappointed in you,’’ he whispered.

,,You have no right to say that!’’ and with that, Yoosung’s son disappeared into the night, leaving Yoosung alone for a while until he gathered his strength and called Seven, who immediately searched for the young boy.

However, this wasn’t needed after half an hour when the door rang.

,,Mr Kim, we will need to put your son in jail. We need to talk,’’ the police officer said.

Yoosung, however, knew that whatever happened, he wouldn’t let them take the last memento of you...

Jaehee

You always thought that you and Jaehee managed to have your own little, happy family, without anyone hurting you guys.

However, you were wrong.

And neither you or Jaehee knew how wrong you were until the door rang and your son entered with two police officers.

The shop was closed and you and your wife were actually planning a special for your coffee shop when your life was turned upside down.

,,Kang Jaehee and Kang Mc?’’ they asked before they received the response that they were right.

,,We brought your son home,’’ the police officer said, letting the young boy go in.

,,HUH?”’ you gasped, checking if the boy you were raising into a good man was hurt.

,,He was the criminal. I think the family of the boy he hit will drag you into court. You should be prepared,’’ he said and went away, leaving you and Jaehee alone.

It didn’t take long before your son broke down. He was pretty fragile even though he just caused a problem.

,,I’m so sorry,’’ he sobbed and went on his knees, covering his face in his hand.

,,They made fun of me because I have two moms. At first… at first I didn’t care. Even when they called our shop disgusting, I didn’t care.

But when they called you disgusting… I just...I-’’

Immediately you hugged him, kissing his cheek.

,,You were hurt… you felt attacked. It’s not nice to use violence, but you’re a victim too… we will handle it…’’

Saeyoung

,,I can’t believe you stole something,’’ you sobbed as you watched your daughter.

She was currently in her rebellious phase.

,,Me neither. I mean, how many times did I teach you where the CCTV is? At least you could have-’’

You didn’t even let your husband finish as you hit him on his shoulder.

,,DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?! YOUR DAUGHTER DID SOMETHING ILLEGAL!’’ you hissed.

,,And you, young lady! I am so disappointed in you! Go up to your room, give me your phone, laptop, and iPad and write a letter of apology to the shop owner!

And then, later, I want to know how in the world you came to this stupid idea!’’ you hissed and turned around.

Your daughter was just brought home after the police caught her stealing, or trying to steal, a CD.

,,And you,’’ you hissed ,,don’t support her on these things!’’ you warned him.

After a bit you went up to your daughter and sat next to her.

The first few minutes, both of you didn’t say anything until she began to cry and went into your embrace.

,,Will you tell mommy now why you did that…?’’ you asked her.

Saeran

You were still in bed sleeping when the door rang.

Since you were in your last week of pregnancy with the third child, Saeran let you stay in bed and instead opened the door.

,,What-’’ he couldn’t believe what his eyes saw.

,,Sorry, dad…’’ his young daughter mumbled, her black jacket brown by now.

,,What happened?’’ he asked the police officer.

His daughter actually told him yesterday that she would sleep at her best friend’s house, but now police officers were dragging her home?

,,Mr Choi, we found her drunk on the street. We actually first brought her to the hospital and didn’t call you to not cause a false alarm, and also because she said that her mother was pregnant and didn’t want to shock her too much.

Luckily nothing happened and a young woman called for help when she was found.

We beg you to keep an eye on her and call this number if you ever need help,’’ the kind officer said.

Saeran bowed to thank the officer and then let his daughter in.

,,I am so...angry and disappointed that you lied to us. Go and take a shower, I will wake up your mom so that we can talk about this,’’ he said and went straight to your shared bedroom, where you first began to cry while he tried to calm down. 

Memories came up, he didn’t want his daughter to end up like her, like his mother.

But then you had a good talk with her and decided to call help to support your daughter as best as possible...

Jihyun

,,Did you really break into the park for pictures?’’ you asked your son who nodded..

He explained that the stars and the shining lights were just too beautiful for him to ignore so he just had to go and see them.

,,And… oh dear, you know that it will be registered forever?!’’ you asked him.

Lucy was next to you.

She watched her brother as she tried to calm you.

,,Yes, but I couldn’t stop myself, mom. I’m sorry,’’ he mumbled.

,,We could have gone together while they were open,’’ Lucy commented.

,,I didn’t want any people in my pictures,’’ he commented and looked at his dad, who stayed silent the whole time.

,,Jihyun, it’s your fault for making him crazy about art! You need to tell him what’s right and what’s wrong!’’ you hissed and shook your head.

Together with Lucy you left the room, thinking on what to do next.

,,I know, how it feels,’’ Jihyun said when you were gone, making the young boy look up.

,,It’s wrong, but at the same time, it feels so right that nothing can stop you from doing it. I know it, especially with art.

I believe that this was an experience you had to learn. For the future, keep doing things like that, but instead of going in even though it’s closed, call me or Jumin. We will find a way. Always,’’ he laughed and patted his back.

,,Now, show me the pics!’’

MASTERLIST 1

MASTERLIST 2

MASTERLIST 3

14.03.2021// 19:48 MEST

[lilchibi-chan]

Terushima Yuuji x Female Reader

Art by KittleKrattle

Genre: fluff/smut (a good 50/50 for those who appreciate both) 18+ PLEASE

Warnings: jealous/possessive Terushima, degradation, praising, dirty talk, oral, daddy kink, NSFW.

You are in college and Terushima comes to pick you up from school a couple times a week if he’s not too busy with work in the salon. This week he has decided to take a day off, so that he can surprise you and pick you up from school.

When he reaches your campus, he goes to the building that your last class of the day is in. Your class actually let out early, but he didn’t know because he didn’t want to ruin the surprise by contacting you. He decides to walk around the building and look for you since you posted what you were wearing on your instastory. When he finally finds you, you’re with a group of your friends, three guys and two girls. He noticed one of the boys is a little friendlier with you. Always finding a way to touch you whether it be putting an arm around your shoulders, touching your hair/patting your head, even touching your waist at one point. You were also laughing at some of the boys jokes.

He decided to walk over to where you were because he had had enough of watching this random guy keep touching what was his and you laughing at him. Whatever it was, wasn’t that funny.

You heard footsteps coming down the hall, which caught your attention. Your eyes widen and so does your smile because you are so excited to see Terushima.

“Hey ba-” he cuts you off, cupping your face and kissing you, never cutting eye contact with the guy who had his hands all over you.

“What was that for,” you ask smiling

“Oh, I’m just excited to see you sweetheart. Surprise by the way,” he says looking at you and smiling

“Guys, this is my boyfriend, Terushima,” you say excitedly

Everyone goes around the circle introducing themselves. He shakes the hands of the two girls (Kiyoko and Yumeko), daps and bro hugs two of the guys (Soma and Akaashi), even the one that made laugh (Soma). He saved his anger for the guy that was being very touchy (Itsuki).

Terushima did the same dap and bro hug with him, only this time he wasn’t playing nice.

“Don’t fucking touch my girlfriend again. Next time, you won’t get to keep those hands,” he whispered so that you wouldn’t hear. Terushima pulled away from him smiling like nothing happened and your friend tried to do the same, but you knew something was off.

“You ready to go baby,” he asks you

“We were actually gonna go get food and maybe do karaoke, you’re welcome to come, if that’s okay with you guys.”

All your friends confirmed it was okay and you all went to the karaoke bar which also provided food.

When you all get there, you are escorted to a room by the hostess and you all take your seats on the couch. You were next to Terushima in the corner section of the couch and he put his arm around your waist pulling you closer.

Your two girl friends start off the karaoke and you watch them as they’re having fun. You even join in the singing from your seat, Terushima’s arm still around you, but he’s moved it to your shoulders. He was watching as you had fun and smiled at you. When he looked passed you, he noticed Itsuki staring at you.

He decided to show Itsuki that you belonged to him by kissing you on your neck.

“Baby~,” he says slightly moaning in your ear, causing you to melt into him. You start to become flustered and he turns your face so that you’re looking at him and he pulls you in for a kiss. He decided he wanted to deepen it and you allow him entrance into your mouth.

After you finish, he looks back over at Itsuki who now has a sad look on his face, but strangely acceptance which is what Terushima wanted.

Kiyoko and Yumeko finished their song. At the moment, no one wanted to get up and sing yet, so you all decided to eat and drink, even sharing some stories.

TIME SKIP

You all get ready to leave the karaoke bar and you hug your friends good bye. Terushima watched Itsuki closely as he hugged you, making sure his hands drifted nowhere past where they should’ve been. He would prefer if he didn’t hug you at all, but he didn’t want you mad at him, so he let it slide. He wasn’t happy about it, but he let it slide.

You both walk away from the group and he takes your hand in his, intertwining your fingers

“Sweetheart,” he says gaining your attention

“Yes baby,” you say in response

“About Itsuki, has he ever, ya know made a move on you?”

“Well... he did admit his feelings to me, but I turned him down and told him all about you.”

“That’s interesting because when I came to pick you up today, he had his hands all over you, my love.”

“Y-you saw that,” you ask nervous

“Oh ho ho, I sure did, sweetheart,” he says backing you onto the wall of a building you were passing by,“and when we get to my place, I’m gonna teach you a lesson.”

You feel your face heat up and it feels like your heart is in your throat, you’re so nervous. You look into his eyes and they’re even darker. Filled with lust and jealousy and you knew you were going to feel it later.

You finally make it to his apartment and as soon as you enter he doesn’t even give a chance to take off your shoes before backing you into a wall and putting a hand around your neck.

“I’m gonna teach you that you are mine and nobody but me has the right to put their hands on you,” he growls into your ear, sending shivers down your spine.

“Now, go in the bedroom and take your clothes off. If you’re not ready when I get in, the punishment will be much worse,” he says again in your ear.

You take your shoes off and go to his bedroom. You do as he says and take your clothes off. You sit on the bed and wait for him to come in the room. You feel extremely vulnerable, but also slightly curious about what is about to happen.

Terushima finally enters the room, his shirt off and a slightly sinister look in his eyes.

“I don’t remember telling you to sit on the bed sweetheart. Get up,” he says demanding

You do as he says and you stand up. He walks over to where you are and stands over you, taking in your frame. He sits in the spot you once were.

“Come here.”

You walk over and stand in front of him. He opens his legs to make space for you to stand between them.

“Kneel.”

Again you do as he says.

“Now baby, you wanna tell me why that weak bastard had his hands on you,” he says with a hand on your cheek

You stay quiet and he grips your hair in response to you not answering.

“Ya know sweetheart, I’m getting kinda impatient here. You gonna answer my question,” he says getting slightly closer to you

“Yes” you manage to get out

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, daddy.”

“Good girl. Now go ahead and explain.”

“I honestly don’t know. I’ve told him plenty of times that I have a boyfriend. I don’t know why he was putting his hand on me, but I didn’t enjoy it.”

He puts a hand out for you to grab, so he could help you up.

“Lay on the bed.”

You do as he says, then he takes your hands and ties them together.

“Keep them above your head,” he says demanding

He proceeds to go down your body to your wet cunt.

“You’re enjoying this, huh,” he says, laughter in his voice,“such a good little slut.”

He starts to eat you out and you feel a vibration. You didn’t even know he changed his tongue ring.

‘When did he get a vibrating tongue ring?!’ You think to yourself

He starts slow, first entertaining your clit so that you could get wetter for him. You release small moans from the sensation his tongue is providing.

A few minutes later, he starts penetrating you with his tongue and you can feel the ring sending pulses through your pussy and creating a new sensation for you. One that you are really enjoying. You start to grind your hips into him and he brings his hands down your thighs to hold your hips down. He wanted full control of your body and you were gonna give it to him.

As he feels you get wetter and wetter, his desire for you grows. He starts sucking on your folds, even leaving small bites on your thighs when he takes small breaks in between pleasuring your delicate petals.

He can feel that you’re close to your climax, but he’s not finished with you yet. He abrubtly stops and you look at him.

“What baby~, you thought I was gonna let you have it that easy. No, that’s not how things work around here sweetheart. Now, get on your knees like the good little slut you are. I’ll be right back.”

He leaves and goes to the guest bathroom where he had changed to the vibrating tongue ring. He changed it back to his everyday tongue ring and returned to you, who was kneeling on the bed.

He sauntered his way over to you and started caressing your face, stopping once he reached your lips.

“Such a pretty little mouth. Hmph. Bet it’d look even prettier filled with my dick. I’d even bet money on it. Whaddya say, sweetheart? Dare to prove me right?”

He removes his hard member from his underware and strokes himself a little, making him grow a little.

You were taken aback by your boyfriend’s sadistic manner, but you were very turned on by it and did as he wanted, taking his erection into your mouth.

“Ahhh,” he moans

You start sucking his tip, trying to get used to his size and easing yourself more and more down his length the more you wet his dick.

“Ahhhhh,” he moans again,“I was right, you do look even prettier with your mouth full of dick. Really not a terrible sight,” he says smiling

He starts guiding your head, filling you mouth deeper and deeper, until saliva was dripping from your mouth. He made you go faster, taking in the pleasure as he pumped into your mouth.

“Ahhh fuck, baby~. Your mouth feels so FUCKING good and I’m glad it’s only mine to use how I feel like.”

You moan in response since you can’t really talk.

He looked down at you and saw that your eyes were focused on his dick.

“Look at me. Look at me. I wanna see that dirty expression of yours.”

You look at him and a smile grows on his face.

“Good little slut. That’s fuckin right. Look at me.”

A few more minutes go by and he decides he’s ready to finally feel your sex.

He pulls out from your mouth and tells you to lay down again. This time he joins you on the bed. He slides you legs up and goes between them, entering you.

“Fuck~, you’re so wet. Ahhhhh”

He starts thrusting into you. Long,slow, deep strokes. He wanted the anticipation to grow until you couldn’t take it anymore.

“C’mon baby~, I wanna hear you. Don’t be shy. You’re my good little slut right, so let me hear you. Let out those sensual noises.”

You decide to let out the moans you’ve been trying so hard to keep inside. This makes him go faster as the sounds you’re making are music to his ears. He still hitting as hard as he was before, but still controlled and even deeper. He grips your thighs, pulling you closer to him.

“Nobody gets to touch you, but me. Fuck, if they even try, I swear I’ll end them,” he say pumping into

Hearing him say that was hot and brought you closer to your climax.

“Who’s pussy is this,” he asks you

“Yours, daddy”

“Who does your body belong to?”

“You, daddy”

“That’s fuckin right and don’t you forget it, sweetheart. Your my little whore, my little slut. Mine baby. All mine.”

He starts speeding up, as he’s close to his climax.

“Ahhhh fuck..fuck..fuck...AHHHH.”

He pulls out, letting his warm cum drip onto your breasts. You soaked it all up, loving the feeling of him releasing the thick white liquid onto your body.

He got a towel and cleaned you up. After you were clean, he got into bed with you and untied your hands. He kissed your wrists, the palms of your hands and your fingers. He helped get comfortable under the covers and wrapped you in his arms.

“You were so good for me, baby.”

He kissed your forehead, then your cheek. He turned your head so you were facing him. He cupped your face with both of his hands and he kissed your lips hard, but full of love.

“I’m so proud of you,” he says pressing his forehead to yours

“Just rest now,” he holds you closer and starts humming a tune to help you fall asleep

I hope y’all enjoyed this ☺️

[obeyme-kaidii]

Lesson 45 Summary

MC continues to study sorcery with Solomon’s help, and begins the process of acquiring their “Sorcerer’s License.”

***SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT***

The day begins with MC helping the brothers learn their way around human world appliances and food. Asmo points out that it’s been a long time since he’s been in the human world, and that it’s progressed considerably since then. Beel agrees, stating that they make progress very quickly. Asmo wonders if it’s perhaps because they haven’t changed all that much themselves, so it only seems that way.

Lucifer reminds MC that they have a meeting with Solomon. MC is initially confused, but then Lucifer remembers that they had passed out because of Solomon’s food in Lesson 42, so they likely didn’t hear when Solomon was making those plans. He then explains that MC is meeting up with Solomon and he and Beel are coming along. The brothers, predictably, complain. But Belphie seems to have some idea as to why Lucifer and Beel were chosen, though he doesn’t explain further.

After breakfast, MC, Lucifer, and Beel meet up with Solomon in front of the Sorcerers’ Society Headquarters. The society is tasked with providing assistance to sorcerers living in the human realm. The way Solomon speaks about them, indicates that he doesn’t exactly have a lot of respect for the organization. (Some of this is explained later)

Solomon explains that to become an official sorcerer, the Society issues you a license. Much like learning to drive, you are first granted a provisional license before you are able to apply for your full license.

Lucifer attempts to ask Solomon why he and Beel are needed in order for MC to apply for their license, and Solomon deflects, saying it will all make sense once they are inside. Lucifer is of course suspicious of Solomon’s intentions, but nevertheless, follows him inside the building.

Once inside the building, the group is noticed by other sorcerers immediately who recognize both Beel and Lucifer as powerful, well known demons. It seems that some did not believe that Solomon’s apprentice had actually “tamed” the seven rulers of the Devildom. With Beel and Lucifer accompanying them, this proves that they had, and makes Solomon be taken more seriously.

Solomon goes on to explain he’s actually on bad terms with the Society (why is this not surprising?). This apparently has a negative effect on MC’s ability to be issued a license. And it turns out that Solomon actually founded the society back in ye olden days, with the help of his talented apprentice, and eventually left the Society after a difference of opinion.

He then tasks Lucifer and Beel with protecting MC, to make sure they aren’t harassed during their visit.

Without answering any further questions from the brothers, Solomon leads the way to the reception area where MC starts the registration process. The receptionist does not seem at all pleased to see Solomon, but he smiles and continues on like he doesn’t notice.

Solomon instructs MC to hold out their hand, and the receptionist presses their staff to the back of their hand, causing a seal to appear. The magical seal takes on the shape of 3 staves and 7 stars - the crest of the Sorcerers’ Society, Lucifer explains, having recognized the symbols.

The 3 staves are to represent the “Three Magi” who are responsible for “inventing the magical arts”. And the 7 stars represent the “seven virtues” - temperance, chastity, generosity, patience, diligence, gratitude, and humility.

(In other words, the opposites of the Sins the brothers represent - gluttony, lust, greed, wrath, sloth, envy, pride (in order))

Solomon then explains that in order to be granted a license, MC must complete seven trials, and will be awarded 1 star for each. According to tradition, Solomon will give MC their first trial as their master.

Solomon then casts a spell on Lucifer, temporarily restraining him. Lucifer and Beel are understandably angry, and MC has the option of yelling at Solomon for what he is doing. Lucifer is quick to shift into his demon form, as is Beel, but he stops Beel from intervening - insisting that a simple spell like that was not enough to stop him.

Not wanting to anger Lucifer further, he then explains that this is all part of the test for MC. Wanting to do what he can to help MC, Lucifer stops resisting and let’s Solomon continue. Solomon then casts the next part of his spell, and shrinks Lucifer down so that he can fit in the palm of MC’s hand (omg this sounds so cute 😭 someone draw this please).

Lucifer is completely embarrassed, and MC is able to ask Solomon to turn them back, but he refuses, explaining that it’s part of MC’s test. They are to “protect Lucifer for one full day” (24 hrs).

Beel thinks that will be easy, saying they just have to hide out at home. But Lucifer then points out that his brothers are in fact the ones most likely to cause trouble for him, so home is probably the last place he’ll be safe. Solomon goes on to explain that MC cannot command the brothers and restrain them. They instead must rely on Beel’s powers to keep Lucifer safe. Beel is also forbidden from acting on his own to protect Lucifer.

Solomon states he’s going to be staying with them to oversee the test, apparently amused by the situation which only annoys Lucifer more (angy mini Luci is an adorable mental image 😂).

The first place they head to is Simeon’s cafe. Both Simeon and Luke are shocked to see mini Lucifer, and find him absolutely adorable. Simeon teases Lucifer about how cute he is, poking his cheeks and making Lucifer blush. When Luke tries to poke his cheeks too, Lucifer still manages to intimidate him and scares Luke away. MC is then given the option of poking his cheeks or petting him, making Luke and Beel jealous that they can’t do the same.

Beel points out that even though Lucifer has only shrank, he actually smells like a human now. Luke is surprised to learn that Beel can tell the difference, and Beel explains that everyone smells different - even Luke, who he says smells like an angel. Simeon continues to tease Lucifer about his current condition and how it must be because he cares so much for MC. Lucifer ignores Simeon’s taunts, reminding the group they need a plan to keep him safe before they can go home.

Solomon explains that in order to harness Beel’s powers, they must first learn how to draw out his “true power”. He goes on to say that simply saying the same incantation that MC used in Season 1 to harness Asmo’s power won’t work - MC needs to understand Beel “true nature.” It’s decided that MC should spend as much time with Beel as possible (including sleeping with him, which makes mini Luci super jelly) in order to learn more about him and what makes Beel, Beel.

Lucifer states that he will be sleeping in the same room as Beel and MC, since he has to stay close so they can protect him. And Solomon chimes in that he’ll be sleeping with them too so that he can keep an eye on things. He gets excited about the idea of a “pajama party” with the group, and Luke and Simeon are obviously jealous that they can’t join them.

At home, Lucifer and Beel go over the plan once again, reminding MC to stay on their guard and to protect Lucifer. Solomon thinks they are being over dramatic, but Lucifer assured him that he’s underestimating what his brothers are capable of and the lengths they’d go through to harass him. Solomon asks why his brothers hate him so much, and Beel explains they don’t really hate him and MC is able to agree with him, encouraging and comforting Lucifer.

They finally head inside, and the first thing they hear is a voice chanting a spell. Soon, they all are falling through the darkness. Everyone then realized that they aren’t actually falling, that it’s just an illusion. When the illusion clears they find themselves in an odd building. Lucifer identifies the voice that he heard earlier as Satan’s and wonders if he perhaps created a world to trap them in. But Beel recognizes the location as a building from one of Levi’s video games. (And Lucifer immediately calls Levi a bastard for trapping him in another game. 😂)

Levi then makes a dramatic entrance, completely in character as the Lord of Shadow. Beel, Lucifer, and Solomon are not impressed with Levi’s performance, exasperated at being trapped in another video game.

Levi doesn’t let them discourage him for long though, quickly turning to MC to explain what it is they are doing there. MC must defeat the “Demon Lord Satan” in order to save the world (and thus win the game). Lucifer ignores Levi, demanding that Solomon returns them home immediately, but Solomon insists he is unable to do so since he doesn’t even know where they are right now (which I think is total bullshit, but I digress).

Beel then explains to Levi what the situation is - that MC has to protect Lucifer as part of their test, and that they can’t do anything that would put either of them in danger (and I’m assuming that Levi already knows this because he didn’t say a thing when he saw Lucifer). He then says that they absolutely cannot go find Satan, since that would be the worst possible thing to do with Lucifer.

But Levi is a step ahead, and already knew that they wouldn’t want to seek out Satan. He summons up a projection of sorts of Satan, allowing him to speak to the group. It appears that Diavolo snuck off to the human world for a surprise visit (without informing Barbatos, but come on, we all know the butler knew this was going to happen), and Satan has now taken him hostage as an incentive to get Lucifer to participate.

Staying in character, Levi gives MC some money (100 Grimm to be exact, which yes, shows up in your in game mailbox lol) so they can purchase some armor and supplies. (And please play along with Levi 🥺) Levi then gives MC a special “Lord of Shadow” talisman, wishing them luck on their journey. Lucifer, now thoroughly annoyed, reminds Levi that there will be consequences for doing this to them. And Levi, the super cute otaku that he is, explains he just wanted to play a new game with his brothers. 🥺

(NOTE - Based on an in game chat between Barbatos and Simeon, I believe it was Simeon that alerted Levi and his brothers of Lucifer’s...condition. Which is just another point in the “Simeon is an asshole” column.)

The group then heads into the nearby town to start their journey. The first thing they decide to look for is armor and weapons. MC is given the option of breaking nearby barrels (just like in an RPG), which Solomon finds extremely amusing, so he joins MC in smashing things before Lucifer yells at them to stop screwing around and find a weapons shop. 😂

After finally locating the weapons shop, they realize that Little D Number 2 is actually in charge. Solomon remarks that the equipment doesn’t look that great, but Beel is quick to point out that it’s the first town in the game, so that’s usually how it works (and I find it super cute that Beel probably has experience with RPG games like this because he plays with Levi 🥺❤️). When Beel tries to ask Number 2 if he sells food, he soon grows frustrated when he learns that, just like a video game character, Number 2 can only respond using certain phrases.

Solomon eventually is able to buy gear for himself and MC (and thank god his sprite is now wearing his sorcerer outfit and not his hideous human world outfit 😂), and Beel says the only thing that would have fit Lucifer was a small outfit for a fairy, which Lucifer absolutely refuses to wear. Beel was really hoping for armor for himself, so MC is given the option of attempting to haggle with Number 2. Number 2 then offers them a quest - seek out the Greedy monster that is hanging out at the local casino (whom everyone immediately recognizes as Mammon), cheating people out of their money, and get back the money he stole from Number 2. Then Number 2 will gladly give them a great discount on a full armor set for the Lord of Flies.

Everyone decides it’s best to head to an inn for now to get some food and rest, and that they’ll go look for Mammon the following morning. While eating dinner, Lucifer has trouble since he’s so tiny, and MC is able to offer to cut it up for him. He then takes it a step further and asks to be fed (guess you have to enjoy what you can when you’re forced to be pocket size? Lol), making Solomon and Beel jealous.

When they are done eating, they head up to their room and Solomon explains that they will need to share beds since Levi didn’t give them enough Grimm for a bigger room. Solomon and Lucifer will be in one bed, with Beel and MC in the other.

Sometime after laying down, Beel attempts to talk to Lucifer about Satan, but he doesn’t answer. MC then is able to talk to Beel and reassure him that Satan likes Lucifer, he just has trouble admitting it. Beel then tells MC the story of how he came to respect Lucifer -

As a young angel, Beel’s only gift was his strength, and he struggled to control his powers. Often making a mess of things, with Raphael giving him a hard time. One day, Lucifer comes to check on Beel and offers him some words of encouragement. He tells him that being a Celestial Realm soldier isn’t about attacking, but protecting. And that Beel’s powers mean he can protect everyone. He then goes on to say that once Beel learns to control his powers, he’ll recommend him as a cherubim and get him a position as a Celestial Realm Gatekeeper. This was a huge boost to Beel’s self esteem, and he’s been grateful to Lucifer ever since - swearing to do everything in his power to protect Lucifer.

Beel then explains to MC that he knows his brothers all love Lucifer too. Because they wouldn’t have fallen with him otherwise. He acknowledges that Satan’s situation was different, but since MC became part of their lives, he was an entirely different demon. In fact, Beel believes the same could be said for the rest of his brothers too, and he likes who his brothers are now with MC around more as well.

He then says this is why he likes MC so much, and MC is given the opportunity to kiss him. After sharing a sweet kiss, Beel corrects himself, stating he doesn’t like MC, but actually loves them.

Favorite Scenes -

Sorcerers’ Society Crest

Mini Luci

Mini Luci 2

The first test

Solomon is amused

Pets and pokes for mini Luci

Levi’s game

RPG life

Fairy Luci

Beel’s history with Lucifer

I love you Beel

[the-other-art-blog]

Did Amy really wanted to marry rich?

Amy receives a lot of hate for wanting to marry a rich man as if she were a gold-digger. And I get it, it’s wrong, even if she’s doing it to help her family. But it’s not like she wants to do it since she were a child or even as a grown up woman.

1994 adaptation has 12 year-old Kristen Dunst saying that she already knows she will marry rich. And 2019 movie has Aunt March placing this big responsibility on Amy since she’s just a child.

The book is quite different:

In Chapter 13 Castles in the air, all Amy says is that she wants to be a famous painter.

‘I have ever so many wishes, but the pet one is to be an artist, and go to Rome, and do fine pictures, and be the best artist in the whole world,’ was Amy’s modest desire.

She never says she plans on marrying rich or anyone for that matter.

Then in Chapter 15, she says this,

‘Jo and I are going to make fortunes for you all. Just wait ten years, and see if we don’t,’ said Amy...

These aren’t the words of someone who plans on living off her husband’s money. It rather sounds like a girl who plans on working to bring money into the house. She is the one who would make a fortune, not her husband. She’s going to earn it, just like Jo wants and just as Louisa and May did in real life.

Then, everyone thinks Amy went to Europe to catch a rich guy. Really, her sole purpose is to see if she has genius or not to make art. And even if she doesn’t have it, she plans on working. Like May, she wants to be an art teacher.

‘It isn’t a mere pleasure trip to me, girls,’ she said impressively, as she scraped her best palette. ‘It will decide my career, for if I have any genius, I shall find it out in Rome, and will do something to prove it.’

‘Suppose you haven’t?’ said Jo, sewing away, with red eyes, at the new collars which were to be handed over to Amy.

‘Then I shall come home and teach drawing for my living,’ replied the aspirant for fame, with philosophic composure. But she made a wry face at the prospect, and scratched away at her palette as if bent on vigorous measures before she gave up her hopes.

She doesn’t jump excitedly at the prospect of being a teacher not because she doesn’t want to work, but because it would mean she didn’t have genius to WORK as a painter. Cause yeah, painters are also hard working people! It takes a lot of effort to compose a canvas, A LOT of training. Furthermore, she would need to earn her place in expositions like the Salon and be a good businesswoman to sell her works.

The reason why everyone believes Amy planned on marrying rich is because of Jo.

Jo had just lost the Europe trip due to her own lack of self control. She bought it on herself. But it’s normal she is angry and bitter at Amy, so she says this,

‘No, you won’t. You hate hard work, and you’ll marry some rich man, and come home to sit in the lap of luxury all your days,’ said Jo.

I don’t even think Jo believes this completely. She’s angry, more with herself than with Amy. We all say hurtful things when we are in a similar situation, things that we end up regretting. Even if Amy has had luck, Jo has seen her working. Actually just before she learns that Amy got the trip, she acknowledges her virtues and apologizes to her,

‘I understand now what you mean, and I’ll never laugh at you again. You are getting on faster than you think, and I’ll take lessons of you in true politeness, for you’ve learned the secret, I believe. Try away, deary, you’ll get your reward some day, and no one will be more delighted than I shall.’

But Amy keeps defending her plan on being an artist or a teacher and even a patron!

‘Your predictions sometimes come to pass, but I don’t believe that one will. I’m sure I wish it would, for if I can’t be an artist myself, I should like to be able to help those who are,’ said Amy, smiling, as if the part of Lady Bountiful would suit her better than that of a poor drawing teacher.

Just as Jo always dreamed of opening a school for boys, Amy always dreamed of being a patron of the arts.

Back in the XIX century the image of the American girl traveling to Europe to get a rich bachelor was very common. Both Louisa and May traveled a few times, never with that intention in mind (even thought May did ended up finding love in Europe and Louisa had a quick rendez vous with Ladislaw). They were there to work and learn. And they both rejected that negative stereotype. May even wrote a guide for women who wanted to pursue an art education for real. So no way Louisa would have portrayed Amy as one of those women.

Ok, so in Europe Amy meets Fred Vaughn. Again, her thoughts never go to marriage until he brings her serenade! Honestly, she didn’t think of him as anything more than a friend before that. Was she a bit naive? Sure. But it shows that Amy didn’t go around Europe flirting with every bachelor on purpose. She knows how to flirt, she did it pretty well with Laurie’s friends and Laurie himself! So if she wanted to flirt with Fred, she would have done it consciously.

It’s until then that Amy realizes Fred has other intentions. Then she starts considering the implications of the courtship and eventual marriage.

It breaks my heart that Amy knows her family thinks of her as a cold person.

Jo says I haven’t got any heart. Now I know Mother will shake her head, and the girls say, ‘Oh, the mercenary little wretch!’,

And it’s when she writes those words that will condemn her forever by public opinion and by JoxLaurie shippers,

I may be mercenary, but I hate poverty, and don’t mean to bear it a minute longer than I can help. One of us must marry well. Meg didn’t, Jo won’t, Beth can’t yet, so I shall, and make everything okay all round. I wouldn’t marry a man I hated or despised.

Even then, she sees it as a duty. Her three older sisters failed to provide enough money for her family. Jo is in New York and she’s trying, but she sells her stories (which she doesn’t even like and cause her psychological distress) for only $20 each! No one else is willing to do this, so she must.

She sets firm on her resolution until Laurie reminds her of her family values. And later when they get married, she is ashamed that she ever thought of marrying for money!

So people thinking Amy is a gold digger who only cares for luxury and comfort, they need to stop looking at the story from the POV of a petty Jo. The story is not even told from Jo’s perspective, it’s an omnipresent narrator.

For god’s sake, would you like people to just hear the things others say about yourself, or would you want people to know you? Well, Amy deserves the same.

[mistystar022100]

More Bleach x Tokyo Ghoul au

More Characters

Orihime

Orihime is a natural one-eyed ghoul with a Rinkaku kagune. Orihime in cannon has basically one offensive ability that is broken for a whole arc and then rarely used for the sake of defense and healing. Personally, I thought she could have done more so I’m fixing this myself. Her kagune has 2 tentacles that she can use for offensive. Her Shun Shun Rika will be for the healing and shield, the attacking fairy will not be used often unless she needs a long ranged attack.

The reason for her being a one-eyed ghoul is so she could still eat human food. Her weird food combinations are a part of her character and I thought it wouldn’t be right to take that from her. It also doesn’t hurt that Orihime constantly eating food is a good cover for when the ghoul group hangs out at school. The fact that her brother was a human makes for an interesting dynamic as well.

As a half ghoul she can eat human food as much as she wants. The genetic combination may have messed with her taste buds, resulting in the strange food. She can taste it but the human food gives her almost no nutritional value. She has to eat like a ghoul in order to sustain herself.

Her main ability is in her regeneration, which is high even for a Rinkaku. Even though her kagune is fairly weak and easy to cut off, they grow back very quickly. This also applies to any injuries she takes; for example getting completely flattened by a speeding car will only take her a few hours to completely regenerate from; as long as she’s feed.

Her father was a ghoul and her mother was a human. Her mother left Sora’s father, who was a human, for Orihime’s father, a ghoul. Sora and Orihime were half siblings. After her father was killed by the CCG and her mother became an alcoholic, Sora took her and moved to Karakura. Sora at first feed her dead homeless people who he would find until he was approached by Isshin and the other adult ghouls in town who took that responsibility out of his hands. After Sora’s death, Orihime became very close to the Ishida and Kurosaki families. The fathers would make sure she was feed and the kids would make sure she wasn’t lonely.

Uryu

Uryu is an Ukaku type ghoul. His kagune is used in tandem with his quincy arrows for more projectiles and the speed boast is helpful for him to avoid attacks. Since Ryuken is still unhelpful with training him as a quincy, he at least trains Uryu as a ghoul. They still have a horrible relationship but at least they see each other now.

Since all the ghouls in town are relatively close, he is well aware that he and the Kurosaki kids are basically cousins. (Are they really though cause the relations between Masaki and Ryuken have always confused me? No matter, cousins is close enough) Mostly Yuzu (Karin absolutely does not admit to helping), convinces Uryu to visit the Kurosaki household every once in a while. Yuzu calls him cousin, Karin does when she’s happy and Ichigo only calls him that when he needs Uryu to listen to him. Isshin tries to make Uryu call him Uncle but Uryu has picked up some things from Ichigo and smacks him around when he’s being annoying; he will call Isshin uncle on special occasions though.

Due to how tight knit the ghouls in town are, Uryu is friends with the Karakura teens long before the story begins. Him, Ichigo, Orihime, and Chad sit on the roof during lunch at school. He tolerates the presence of Tatsuki and Keigo but finds them both annoying.

Once Uryu learns how to sew, he becomes the mask maker in town. Considering the small ghoul population he doesn’t have to make or fix masks that often but he does get annoyed when someone tells him they broke the mask. (All the individual masks will be another post, mainly because some still haven’t been decided)

Ryuken

Like his son, Ryuken is an Ukaku type ghoul. He still despises being “the Last Quincy” but accepts that he is a ghoul. He makes sure Uryu is prepared for the hostile world against ghouls but otherwise is still distant. Later trains Yuzu in Quincy abilities but only because Masaki asked him to before her death. He later passes this on to Uryu because he is not the best teacher.

Since he works at the hospital he needed a way to keep his kakugan from activating. Through the efforts of both him and Isshin, they annoyed Urahara so much that he made them an oral medication that prevents the kakugan from activating for a time. This is why the fathers can both work in hospitals and smell blood without people suspecting them. After all no one is going to suspect a ghoul is working at a hospital.

He provides the ghouls main source of food. When a body is in the morgue of his hospital, he contacts Urahara who replaces it with a cheap inflatable Gigai. This Gigai lasts just long enough for the funeral so the stolen bodies are never discovered. He first makes sure Uryu is feed, then Orihime and then gives the rest to the Kurosaki’s. If not enough dead bodies come in for the month then Isshin leaves town and hunts while telling others he’s at a medical conference.

Ryuken’s ghoul identity is “Plague Doctor” due to his mask. He is the second ghoul being suspected of owning Karakura town. An A ranked ghoul due to his speed and projectile weapons, he is SS ranked when working with Isshin “Flame Oni”. He hates how in sync they are but tolerates it for the safely of the town.

Occasionally joins Uryu in visiting the Kurosaki’s. He only stays for a short while to talk to Isshin about whatever important things are going on, such as taking care of all the kids. Yuzu is happy her Uncle is visiting, Karin doesn’t really care and Ichigo likes to call him out on being an emotionally distant father. Uryu proceeds to tell him to shut up, sometimes leading to brawls in the living room.

Chad

Chad is a human with a Kokaku type quinque. It’s 2 gauntlets that connect through a long chain in the middle which goes over his arms and back. It makes his fullbring even stronger when using it. It was made from his abuelo’s greatest kill as a CCG Dove (a S ranked ghoul).

He carries the quinque case in a disguise bag for 2 reasons. The first is that owning a quinque outside the CCG is illegal and he won’t let anyone take his abuelo’s gift to him. The second reason is that the quinque makes his friends very uncomfortable so he disguises it out of respect for them. He uses a larger version of his high school bag to disguise it and carries it or uses the straps to wear it like a backpack.

When he moved to Karakura he saw Ichigo in the original thug beat down at the bridge. After that day, Chad was attacked by a passing ghoul who thought he looked tasty (Ichigo was preoccupied in a store). Chad got out his quinque despite never being thought how to use it but was loosing and had heavy wounds from his enemies kagune. Ichigo came back to the sounds of fighting and attacked the ghoul with his kagune. After the fight Ichigo only then realized Chad had a quinque and froze in place out of panic. Chad put the weapons away and limped over to Ichigo to help clean the blood off him. Chad really didn’t care that his friend was a ghoul, especially since said friend just saved his life.

Ichigo took Chad home and after getting patched up by Isshin, Chad became an honorary member of the ghouls. He joined them for monthly training considering he had no idea how to use his quinque and the adults would not have this rarely kind human die. He got a mask so he could use his quinque and not get recognized. He also has a costume that covers most of his body considering a half-Mexican and half-Japanese man is very easy to recognize, especially outside of a big city.

He is just the best ghoul ally. He is a very quiet individual but he will not stay silent when someone (mainly Tatsuki) is insulting ghouls in front of him or his friends. For a man of few words his words can sure pack a punch.

Tatsuki

Tatsuki is a human and doesn’t have the best image of ghouls. After Masaki’s death and Isshin being lost in his grief, a ghoul came into town and killed Tatsuki’s father. Ryuken “took care of” the offender and was the reason Isshin got off his ass.

Since beginning high school, Tatsuki has been in a CCG program over the weekends. She adds on to her pre-existing martial arts skills and is working her way up to learning quinque combat. Her quinque would be a bikaku that is a serrated edge sword and can stretch into a whip when needed. The whip is used to hold ghouls in place as the hooked spikes cause more damage when being taken out.

Tatsuki is still friends with Orihime and Ichigo. Orihime is her best friend and they share dinner quite often. When Tatsuki starts with the ghoul hate speech, Ichigo tells her to talk about something else or he’s leaving. Orihime kinds shuts down and starts doing something else to distract herself. Tatsuki is so caught up in her rage and grief that she normally doesn’t notice when Orihime does this. She gets frustrated with Ichigo but doesn’t stay mad at him.

Urahara

Urahara is a “human” with a vast knowledge of ghouls. He is the reason the CCG ignores Karakura for as long as it does. He hacks into the data base whenever something that might be important occurs (someone having to use their kagune and there’s a security camera nearby) and deletes the data. The CCG eventually figured out that someone is wiping the data and sends Doves to investigate the town. But that’s a whole other story arc.

Jinta and Ururu are failed half ghoul experiments that he may or may not have liberated from the CCG as kids. At first he took them to examine their DNA but he grew to love them. The weird genetics has taken a toll on the kid’s bodies; Jinta needs hearing aids and Ururu wears glasses. Urahara however does him best to keep the kids healthy.

As a man of science, he has taken the liberty of getting DNA samples of all the ghouls in town as the data on ghouls is limited to the CCG’s propaganda. He may or may not want to make his own half ghoul some day (or do it to himself); all in the name of science.

His shop sells all sorts of items that the ghouls may need. It is also the place where the ghouls have their monthly meetings. Most of the kids are suspicious of Urahara since he is clearly “human”. Ryuken and Isshin trust him though so that’s good enough for the kids, at least for now.

[fannishcodex]

Interesting meta from cruelfeline and others inspired my idea for a role swap AU where the main swap is between Hordak and Adora! There are other character swaps in the AU too, or swap variations.

Hordak is the latest Prim-Al, a living weapon that a First Ones faction clones over and over again each time one perishes in battle. FO created Prim-Al in response to their magitech AI Light Hope going rogue and constructing her own army of androids she calls the She-Ra. 

More under the cut, including Queen Adora, leader of the Etherian Alliance and stranded android still loyal to her creator, and her discovery of a baby Hordak (Content Warnings: ableism; child abuse; Catra is a villain and completes her transformation into a Shadow Weaver-like figure, and the implications of that):

But first, a little more summed up detail on Prim-Al’s deal, because there’s more to it:

-Hordak’s genetic template is a mysterious Subject A. The FO took preserved samples of Subject A to continually make clones of him for Prim-Al. 

-FO also made a digital copy of Subject A’s mind, a magitech AI named Prime. As a digital clone of an organic mind, much of him acts like an organic mind. Though FO has added some heavy programming and other alterations, they’ve tried to leave much of the organic-based behavior intact for multiple reasons--as an ongoing experiment in digital clones of minds, as an attempt to deter another rogue AI by trying to make this AI more aligned with organics (in contrast, RS!Light Hope was generally not based on an individual’s organic mind, she is not a digital clone like RS!Prime).

(Magitech is what it sounds like--a typically powerful fusion of magic and technology.)

-AI Prime is contained in the RS!Sword of Protection, and is actually the key to its power.

-The clones are actually vessels that channel magitech AI Prime through the sword. When a clone holds the sword, they sync with AI Prime inside, and together they essentially fuse and transform into Prim-Al.

-Prim-Al occurs in two stages. The first stage has some boost in power, some physical changes in body and clothes. The last stage has a greater boost in power and more physical changes--aged up (to a certain point), more muscular, longer hair, clothes, etc.

-AI Prime will only grant power to the clones/can only sync with the clones because they share a blood connection to the organic mind he was based on. This reaction is largely rooted in AI Prime’s magitech nature.

-Despite the death of Subject A, FO was able to preserve his mind and DNA to continue weaponizing him via biological and digital cloning. (The reasons for the FO’s focus on Subject A are also classified, though one can infer that Subject A possessed a power FO wanted to preserve and control....)

-AI Prime/the Sword of Protection is passed down through multiple iterations of Prim-Al.

-One of AI Prime’s functions is to also serve as a living archive of information, and so AI Prime remembers every Prim-Al. He is supposed to have this information available for new clone vessels to access.

-The clones do get names, but as they mature FO generally uses them less and refers to them as Prim-Al more. FO generally mistreat Prim-Al/clone vessels/AI Prime, seeing them as just weapons to keep under control.

FO doesn’t create a clone army because they’re honestly paranoid about creating another powerful enemy; they think that just one Prim-Al under selective limitations will grant them better control and avoid another Light Hope debacle. There are other classified reasons for this too. Also a FO faction created Prim-Al; the entirety of FO are embroiled in a civil war among each other as well as the war with Light Hope and other enemies.

The FO also put limitations on AI Prime for similar reasons, and all the more so because he’s an AI--they don’t want AI Prime to be another rogue AI like Light Hope.

Feel like sharing some design/tone notes:

Besides playing around with fusing traits from both Hordak and Horde Prime, I was also influenced by Link and the Master Sword in Breath of the Wild, as well as the Drifter in Hyper Light Drifter.

(Above: Base Form!RS!Adora is partly a drawover of a show image.)

The She-Ra units are magitech androids with a base form and a more powerful form they can transform into. This transformation is rooted in their magitech nature.

Gonna try to keep these notes on the art as more of a summary for now, and may reveal more specific details about the role swap AU later in separate text posts or even just keep it to later fic--also, still brainstorming, so material in the sketches and the text may change later; and also just felt like this art needed more context/clarification/background info:

(Baby!RS!Hordak is supposed to resemble canon!Imp, thanks to fic from/talking with @revasnaslan​. More info on that is below. Also yes, RS!Adora wrapped baby!RS!Hordak in her cape. :3)

FO preferred raising/training/indoctrinating the Prim-Al clone vessels from infancy, thinking this would give them greater control. They also thought it would make Prim-Al feel even more connected to organics and avoid sympathizing with any rogue AI like Light Hope.

RS!Adora finds the alien baby stranded on Etheria due to a wayward portal (like her situation), and she names him “Hordak” based on the little data she gets from the wrecked escape pod she finds him in. The data had only been text that read “Predecessor: Kadroh,” and she just reversed that name for the boy. RS!Adora names him as part of his paperwork, intending to have him sent to the infirmary with the other orphans, she can’t spend anymore time on him.

RS!Adora fought the Prim-Al before Hordak, but never knew his name was Kadroh. She doesn’t immediately see a resemblance between Hordak and Prim-Al because Hordak is a baby and she’s never really thought about Prim-Al being an organic infant before. Another significant thing is that like in @revasnaslan ‘s Where One Fell-verse fic, infants/children of Hordak’s species start completely blue, and then their faces turn white as they mature; also as @revasnaslan pointed out to me, there’s Imp, baby/child-like clone of Hordak without a white face. So RS!Adora slowly starts seeing the resemblance between Hordak and Prim-Al as Hordak’s growing up and his face starts turning white, and she honestly starts internally freaking out because by this point, between having to provide him medical assistance for his defect and having to spend more time with him than intended and watching him grow up more closely than she planned, RS!Adora is attached enough that the implications of Hordak somehow being the latest Prim-Al is distressing for her and provides a serious conflict with her loyalty to RS!Light Hope...

(Also just feel like saying that while I’m brainstorming that RS!Adora is kind of an android that’s been around for a while/like 1000+ years, I’m more in the camp that thinks that canon Hordak is actually quite young/not centuries old, even though he might have the potential for that/he can get that old later.)

There are more details on how baby RS!Hordak ends up on Etheria and the unique situation behind his birth, but that’s for another text post or fic.

RS!Adora passes herself off as an organic (even a native) while on Etheria. One metal arm is left exposed due to a minor glitch there that messes up the regen protocol for her synthetic skin; she pretends it’s just armor mainly for aesthetic/ceremonial purposes. But this is equivalent to a superficial scar, and it does not hinder or cause RS!Adora any great pain. Before Etheria she was considered one of RS!Light Hope’s perfect androids, and a random portal just plucked her from routine combat duty. (Light Hope didn’t really notice; any missing She-Ra units were assumed to be casualties of battle, and she had plenty more She-Ra units to replace any losses.) 

RS!Catra is a commander in RS!Adora’s Etherian Alliance. RS!Adora and RS!Catra have grown estranged while nominally on the same side. (I’ve been brainstorming RS!Adora/RS!Scorpia down the line after quite a few things go down.)

RS!Catra learned magic in Mystacor and RS!Light Spinner was her most influential mentor. RS!Catra’s specialty was transforming into a large predatory feline and other spells to strengthen her body. (I just keep getting more intrigued by original ‘80s Catra.)

When RS!Light Spinner roped RS!Catra into helping her with the Spell of Obtainment, things turned disastrous. The spell backfire warped RS!Catra, scarring her with a shadowy substance and granting her new shadow-like powers that made her vastly stronger, but the abrupt and traumatic change wrought by magic led to an initial period of insatiability and loss of control that resulted in RS!Catra transforming into an even larger, shadow-constructed feline that killed/devoured Light Spinner and other sorcerers investigating the commotion. RS!Catra flees Mystacor after this and eventually gains control over her new power, but grows more corrupt with it too, and is also left with a new hunger. Years later RS!Catra throws her lot in with the Alliance of monarchs and RS!Adora to solidify/take control of Etheria. (At the moment there’s tentatively another complicating factor with the Spell of Obtainment in this AU, but gonna leave that for another post or fic while I spend more time privately brainstorming it first.)

(Also RS!Catra’s design is very much based on her S3 finale corrupted form because I thought that was neat and that it could work in this AU. I also liked the idea of just using shadow magic to wrap around her and transform her into a large predatory shadow feline as a callback of her original ‘80s incarnation.)

Though RS!Adora is at the head of the Etherian Alliance with RS!Catra as her commander and essentially right hand, most of its high command is made of princesses and other monarchs/nobles who wished to tighten their control over Etheria. However, the Scorpion kingdom, Bright Moon, and Dryl resisted this agenda, and the Alliance considered them enemies and part of the rebels.

RS!Catra actually does just drop RS!Hordak off at the infirmary with the other orphans, complying with RS!Adora’s orders. Despite sensing some strong magic from RS!Hordak, RS!Catra’s content to leave him with the other orphans and just keep an eye on him for now.

(The magic RS!Catra’s sensing from RS!Hordak is something that can only be really triggered once he has the Sword of Protection.)

But when Hordak’s around four years old, his body starts breaking down/his defect becomes apparent. Many in the Alliance give up on the boy’s use as a soldier-in-training (or even use as a servant) and consider casting him out, despite RS!Adora’s insistence that they have enough resources to spare on providing the boy with ongoing medical assistance. (RS!Adora is motivated by a variety of things, including honoring Light Hope’s precept that all creatures have a place under her reign (until she orders otherwise); and at this point RS!Adora still feels some connection to her fellow portal traveler stranded on Etheria and feels compelled to try to help in this situation.) It’s then that RS!Catra steps in and takes in RS!Hordak as her ward. She still thinks he has use (she can still sense great magic from him) and sees this as an opportunity to position herself as the boy’s “savior” and really secure his loyalty.

Though the relationship between RS!Adora and RS!Catra is gradually deteriorating, the nature of RS!Catra’s true motives for taking in RS!Hordak is essentially lost on RS!Adora. While largely everyone in the Alliance had spurned the idea of keeping RS!Hordak around any longer now that he was defective--something RS!Adora found rather discouraging--RS!Catra’s the only one other than RS!Adora to express some interest in the boy. In the face of that much rejection, RS!Adora thinks that if RS!Catra wants to take RS!Hordak as her ward, she should have him.

RS!Adora constructs RS!Hordak’s first set of assistive armor. This eventually includes surgery and giving him ports for a closer/better connection to the armor. RS!Adora continues to treat RS!Hordak and maintain his armor, and helps educate him on how it works when he expresses interest in it and science/technology in general.

RS!Catra is not a good adoptive mother to RS!Hordak. She trains him brutally, pushes him as far as his defect will allow, telling him he needs to work harder to make up for his defect and keep up with everyone else. Her harsh words encourage his self-loathing, and she does aim to break him down to keep him compliant. She’s basically partly swapped with Shadow Weaver in this AU (partly since RS!Light Spinner isn’t really swapped, she’s partially in a “what if she was really on the wrong end of the Spell of Obtainment and was killed by its backfire like those Mystacor sorcerers were,” and also “what if Catra was her student at Mystacor instead of Micah.”)

For a long time RS!Hordak believes he deserves RS!Catra’s harsh treatment, and is afraid that she’ll cast him out if he’s not good enough. He’s aware that there’s no one else in the Alliance that would really take him in. He worries that RS!Adora would just withdraw her mercy and assistance if she realized how weak he really was, so he often tries to hide as much of that as he can from her, including signs of RS!Catra’s abusive treatment. RS!Catra sometimes softens with RS!Hordak--for example, she taught him how to drive a skiff and those were calm lessons, with RS!Catra less demanding and less harsh than when she trains him in combat--but she does not provide him with consistent care and continues to emotionally/verbally/mentally/physically abuse him.   

(Above: Definitely referenced a screenshot from the show. Not pictured: Probably RS!Prime losing his shit immediately after this and cursing RS!Catra out and maybe breaking out a recording of one of RS!Adora’s tongue-lashings to unsettle her.)

RS!Catra is furious when RS!Hordak finally runs away in his teens. Her relationship with him has become somewhat less business and more dangerously personal; she has developed a twisted affection for him as her adopted son, and that makes her reactions even more volatile and harsh when he runs away. RS!Catra does not react well to RS!Hordak’s attempts to escape her.

(When RS!Hordak leaves the Etherian Alliance, he’s a little younger than canon!Adora when she leaves the Etherian Horde due to some reasons that’ll be saved for another text post or fic.)

RS!Hordak isn’t used to getting encouragement from an authority figure/older adult, it always startles him whenever it happens.

(Playing around with role swap AU--also felt like having RS!AI Prime be softer than both canon!Light Hope and canon!Horde Prime, and that’s included him being more supportive/encouraging and even more snarky/playful as another sketch comic indicated above [though part of his humor is just like a result of--he’s pretty old, some inhibitions have just dropped over time and he’s seen quite a few things just repeat over and over, and part of his response to that is to sometimes act more flippant].)

While previous Prim-Al have had some slight variations in appearance depending on the individual clone vessel’s clothing/scars/etc., Hordak’s Prim-Al transformation is the most drastically different. All of his older clone-brothers have had white hair and yellow eyes, and so their Prim-Al transformations have had long white hair and one yellow eye, while the rest turned green and gained visible pupils. Hordak has blue hair and red eyes, and so his Prim-Al transformation reflects that more--the red eye stays, and Prim-Al now has blue hair with a few streaks of white. He has clothes with a primary color scheme of black-and-red instead of black-and-white. Hordak’s Prim-Al is slightly shorter than previous Prim-Al. Hordak’s Prim-Al has more armor, since they shield his defect--which Prim-Al now has since Hordak has it. Due to this, Hordak’s Prim-Al, while gaining a significant boost in power/etc., is typically not as strong as his brothers’ Prim-Al transformations. (However, Hordak’s determination and tolerance for pain is regularly equal to his older brothers’ own determination and tolerance for pain.)

Though the defect remains, the use of AI Prime to trigger the Prim-Al transformation again provides greater power. It also does have some effect on appearance and structure. A closer examination of Prim-Al should show this: Prim-Al looks more like someone recently scarred/mutilated/afflicted with a defect, rather than someone who’s grown up with it. And so, though defective, Prim-Al’s arms look less withered and retain more muscle, and generally look better than Hordak’s usual arms. (And again, they still have a magitech boost going on.)

While FO did program AI Prime to have some regard for the clone vessels, he started caring more than they had planned. AI Prime grew to genuinely care for every clone vessel for Prim-Al, and saw them more as brothers. This now includes Hordak. And though he values his brothers and means well, AI Prime’s cynicism and (remnant) programming can sometimes get in the way of his attempts to help. His own deep-seated trauma can be a factor too. 

With every new clone, AI Prime initially tries to distance himself to avoid further pain, because he grieves the loss of every clone--but he ultimately always admits to seeing them as brothers. (With his long life and the FO and Light Hope and other external factors trapping him in this cycle, AI Prime somewhat copes by comparing the whole thing to the passing of seasons. He’ll be passed down to a new clone-brother, he’ll try to resist caring about the clone-brother, he’ll grow to care about the clone-brother anyway, clone-brother dies, he’s alone until the next clone-brother comes, and then the whole thing starts again.) 

Though AI Prime is a digital clone of Subject A’s mind, he doesn’t have complete access to his mental template’s memories due to FO intervention. The FO also did not tell AI Prime everything.

Yep the LUVD crystal is there, RS!Entrapta should be another sketch post or fic. She’s gone from like the oldest princess to the youngest princess in this AU, and is around the same age as RS!Hordak.

Thanks for checking this out, hope you enjoyed this AU! Hope to have more about this up later.

Forgot to add: Yep RS!Kadroh is that Kadroh, he’s RS!Wrong Hordak in this AU.

[lily-mj-fae]

Nesta and Elain

I’m going to add now: I recognize my own clear bias towards Elain. And in many ways, this post is in part to defend her, especially since now that fandom has more insight on Nesta, there’s been an increase in hate towards Elain, especially in regards to her interactions with Nesta. Some of these include expecting her to remain in a toxic situation purely because she “owes” Nesta. And so i want to discuss, why that mindset is wrong (which i’ve done a couple times in terms of morally/ethically) because they barely have a relationship anyway. Mostly, i just want to actually describe what we see of them. I’m going to try to stick to mostly just facts of what happens, with some inferences based on text on either side.

So there’s a lot of evidence to show, that while the two clearly clung to each other when their family fell, and that there’s obvious love on either side for each other, they do not have a strong relationship. Or a healthy one. Or a good one.

Not only do we have Elain mentioning that no one ever really listens to her (which is obvious it does in fact apply to her family as we see in canon a few times over, I’ll get to that). But you’d have thought that in ACOSF we’d see some kind of fond memories from Nesta about Elain. Some kind of fondness. Something that made us really believed and finally understand why she loved Elain so fiercely she would have ripped apart the world to defend her. Instead, we learn, Nesta has never told anyone she loved them until she said it to Feyre. And we do not see a single happy thought about Elain from Nesta. No happy memories. Nothing. But there was no explanation for WHY she felt so strongly for just Elain. And not a single thing to really support her feeling that way.

We’re led by Feyre to believe that Elain and Nesta are so close. And at first glance, sure, it’s easy to believe. They spend the most time together. They gossip and talk at dinner together. They have the matching iron bracelets (that I believe wasn’t a purchase made by both as Feyre seemed to think, but by Nesta, because Feyre mentions specifically how Elain had spent her money on gifts for her sisters, and I think if Elain had been involved, she would have gotten one for Feyre). Then throughout the series we see how much Nesta is willing to fight to protect Elain. How much she wants to keep Elain away from danger. We see her wanting to do things with Nesta, but not knowing how anymore because she’s becoming more distant. We see Elain even wanting to spend time with Nesta and trying to keep her included in things into ACOFAS.

To me, the illusion fades with that conversation with Lucien in the library. When Elain says that no one really heard her. And when you look at things, it becomes obvious. Most especially with Nesta. Feyre we know already knows little about her sisters. She assumed that Nesta hated her, and that her sisters would be glad to have her gone. And is surprised that Nesta would have gone after her. But with Elain we see this frequently. Elain wants to help Feyre. So she speaks up. Yes, it puts her relationship at risk. And yes, we know that Nesta takes over in an attempt to provide a buffer for Elain should Graysen find out, to maybe save her from the heartbreak of him leaving her for helping any Fae. But it doesn’t change that it was Elain’s decision. Elain’s desire to help. Nesta instead pushed her out of it wherever she could (IE taking over correspondence for them) in the name of protecting her. This is a problem. Because 1) Nesta is sacrificing her own feelings to do what Elain wants, which I think is wrong. Nesta didn’t want to help, and I think she should have stuck to that. Stuck to her own decision. 2) Nesta is preventing Elain from dealing with consequences of her actions (IE, if Graysen found out she was helping the fae). 3) This is disrespecting Elain's agency. She's not letting Elain be herself by constantly interfering 4) she then goes on to belittle Elain for those things, despite it being her decisions and actions to interfere. And we can recognize that her intentions are good all we want, it doesn't make the actions themselves good or even appropriate. Intentions only mean so much. They certainly don't excuse such detrimental behavior.

Now could Elain have fought back? The black and white answer? Yes. But it's not that simple. Elain we know has been belittled from a young age by at least her mother (okay that's an assumption on my part. But with feyre's description of their mother and Nesta's memories, i certainly wouldn't be surprised if she'd said those things to Elain's face). And essentially raised to be pleasant and agreeable. A proper lady. Her confidence in herself doesn't seem very high. Not to mention, she's much quieter than Nesta. Imagine how exhausting it would be to fight your sister on every little thing you wanted to do. And we see this in canon. Every time Elain wants to help, she has to fight Nesta. I don't think this just magically started in acomaf. I'd wager its been going since a minimum of coming to the cottage (It’s part of why I think Elain doesn’t necessarily take up chopping wood when the request is there. i think she attempted once, and Nesta stopped her and wouldn’t let her). I personally think since their mother's death. Elain is also younger than Nesta, and we do have canon evidence of her having at least one memory full of complete adoration. And a respect for the art form and her sister's views on life. So her fighting back, isn’t as easy as fandom wants to think it is.

I also want to bring up someone once mentioning in ACOTAR when Elain and Feyre were talking, and Elain mentions that she feels awful to have her friends over because Nesta makes them uncomfortable, and how that’s so disrespectful of Elain. No it’s not. Elain is allowed to have friends over. And Nesta just glared at them. I’m not saying she had to like them (because I understand why she wouldn’t), but that was rude, and she could have easily been elsewhere, and let Elain have her friends and enjoy time with them. I also read it differently, in that Elain feels awful inviting her friends over because it’s upsetting Nesta too. Which isn’t fair to her either, given that Nesta has at that point begun isolating herself (and while we as readers become aware of why later, Elain has absolutely no idea. And already has said Nesta wouldn’t talk about it. Implying she tried reaching out too), thus leaving Elain feeling very lonely. Overall, Elain here is feeling the way she should. It’s like when you have company over and your parents start yelling at you, or just being anything less than polite and you have to deal with the awkward tension. 

Then comes ACOSF. And i know i wasn't the only one hoping to find out more about their relationship. And i’m not the only one who was left disappointed that we still don’t get to understand Nesta’s behavior when it comes to Elain. In fact, if I had only read ACOSF and you had told me that before that, Elain seemed to be Nesta’s favorite sister, I’d call you a liar. I do not get a single ounce that Nest has a loving feeling for Elain in ACOSF. Certainly at the very least, not enough to justify the way she treated Elain vs. Feyre in earlier books. Not to mention, Nesta is under the very immature and inaccurate idea that Elain has chosen Feyre over her. As if it’s black and white. As if Elain can only love her or Feyre. And yes, it’s a sign of her mental illness with depression and trauma. That’s fine. But it still shows a very limited viewpoint. And really only shows a care for herself, no thought of Elain or Elain’s state of mind or even really any empathy for the fact that Nesta was the one causing the rift between them and how that was truly affecting Elain. (Again more trauma response. But my point here is that there is very little empathy towards the sister that we’re told she so vehemently loves).

Now onto the part that I know is my unpopular fandom opinion: Nesta dealing with Elain’s trauma vs Elain dealing with Nesta’s...and how their traumas were very different to deal with in the first place.

My unpopular opinion is that Nesta wasn’t doing anything to actually help Elain. She was doing everything to protect her. But was not interested really in her healing. Nesta isolated Elain, who had previously been social in many ways. We don’t ever see how she fought for Elain to eat or drink or have a will to live. We only hear her say that’s what she did. But fandom does need to stop saying that Nesta was with Elain every second of every day (i have had people say this in arguments. It’s a flat out lie. There’s far more textual evidence that Nesta left Elain alone throughout her trauma than there is that she was by her side constantly. And I don’t say she was never by her side). Because the fact of the matter is that isn’t remotely true. Perhaps of the first few weeks. Before Feyre returned. But after that? We hardly see Nesta with Elain. We instead see her keeping people from interacting with her. Keeping them from giving Elain choices.

And we can shout that she was doing what she thought was best, but it doesn’t change that the effect it had was Elain being isolated and underprepared. Elain had been trying to do her part to help since ACOMAF. And she was being blocked. Elain deserved that chance to go to the high lord’s meeting and share her story (especially since Nesta didn’t want to and wasn’t going to up until the last minute). And Elain should have been offered the same training as Nesta. Especially once they learned she had powers. Instead no one offered to let her help (even though she’d been wanting to help since Feyre first came asking). No one offered to train her. Because Nesta would have had their heads. Saying that it was to keep Elain from doing something she might not have been ready for, plays into the idea that Nesta is protecting Elain from growing. Learning. Protecting her from the consequences. Nesta refused to let anyone really near her beyond the necessities.

Speaking of: Can we please talk about something no one else does? The fact that Nesta just accepts the fact that Elain is mad. That she’s broken. The effect that could have had on her, is so detrimental to Elain’s mental health. The thoughts she was probably already dealing with and then to hear that from her sister? Like she refuses to accept that there could be another answer. And while we might agree and empathize why she would say that, it doesn’t change the effect saying it would have on Elain, who was already struggling heavily to deal with everything that had been thrown at her at once. And even once Elain became Lucid, and they identified the problem, Nesta (and Feyre) continued to try to leave her behind. Again, yes, in the name of protecting Elain. But Nesta never listened to Elain. Never saw that Elain improved upon being involved. That just that action of her wanting to do something, was making her Lucid and back to herself. Instead, Nesta ignored that. Which is why I say she wasn’t focused on Elain’s healing. That and the fact that she’s making assumptions that Elain is fine now.

Elain tried to stay involved with Nesta. No, she didn’t go outside her comfort zone and go into the places Nesta was spending time. But she was trying. I admit, the shot upon Nesta’s arrival is weird. I’m torn between thinking it was a legit, to help relax, or thinking it was something she was pouring as Amren said the comment and decided to drink it instead of giving it to Nesta. (Because yes, it would be easy to say as Amren spoke, elain had been pouring, but even without that, it doesn’t mean things aren’t happening at the same time). When that didn’t work, Elain agreed intervention was necessary. and I just made a whole ass post about why that wasn’t giving up on Nesta like fandom keeps thinking.  

And of course, Elain is not perfect here. She has made her mistakes. Though hers are mostly in terms of words. At least the ones I could find textual evidence for when it comes to Elain and Nesta. And mostly done in terms of emotional response.

Now. I did not intend for this post to shit on Nesta. I’m afraid it feels like it has. So I am going to tag it accordingly. But this was more to bring to light the reality that Nesta and Elain aren’t that close. They don’t have a close relationship. They were more security blankets for each other in ACOTAR, and their missing foundation began to show in ACOMAF when Nesta was unaffected by Tamlin’s Glamour and Elain was. I do think there’s a lot of love to be had between them. (Honestly hearing Elain talk about Nesta dancing, and hearing her be happy that Nesta has the Valkyries, even though she feels like she’s been losing Nesta made my heart swell for the amount of love there). But I wanted to point out that their relationship was extremely surface level and nothing deep. That it’s certainly not what fandom acts like it is as they spin this tale of complete and utter evil Elain betraying Nesta and how Nesta has done so much for Elain. Nesta had never even told Elain she loved her. Ever. Which i think is telling about where they really stand. 

So let’s please stop acting like Elain owes Nesta everything under the sun because of all the things Nesta did for her. Their relationship was never deep. And while Nesta’s protectiveness stems from a place of love, is actually more detrimental to Elain and her overall growth, than it is good. And Elain has done the things she considered to be best for Nesta, and tried to show love her way. Which is equally unperfect. Because neither of them are perfect. 

[starrysupercell]

Sooo... Now that its my wif- Tara's birthday... Are the Mystics (And Bo) gonna celebrate it :D? I can imagine Gene trying to set up some kind of surprise party for her, that would remain a surprise for like 4 minutes...

DANG IT. Past 12. TwT

But here you go! An outline for how Tara’s birthday is celebrated this year. 🧿 best fortune teller in Starr Park tbh. Your wife says hi 💜

I really gotta start keeping track of the Birthdays to have these things planned out.

~

One of the many good things about how much time Tara and Gene have known each other, is he knows she'll figure it out.

The surprise for her will be not the fact that there's a party because she can easily see that, but the extent of it, because she can promise not to sneak a peek at it.

(But now she's curious! Also, she's so used to checking on the future,* it takes a very conscious effort to not do so.)

So, while Gene keeps Tara preoccupied by taking a walk around the Park, Sandy, the Tribe, Gale and Mortis (because they're also friends with the Mysticals bc of the skins, shush.) are in charge of decorating.

So, with only two responsible adults in this group, how well do you think this is going to go? :)

Gale: So do you have a plan for the setup?

Sandy: hm? >.o oh. Yy*yawns*eah. here you go... *hands him a paper*

Gale: ...this just has a rough sketch of the main room and a couple of balloons.

Sandy- mm..felt sleepy but there's still.... -.-...time to...zzzz....

Gale:

Mortis laughs because well they'd just have to wing it! (He would definitely ask Emz for help, but she's busy with the teen crew for plot convenience) As long as decorations are already bought, it should an easy thing in setting it up the way they want it to look.

....decorations are already bought, right?

Sandy softly snores, and the Party Crew realizes that's their answer.

~

Meanwhile, Gene and Tara walk through the Park. The plan is picking up a few extra gifts along the way before heading back to the main party.

Their first stop is Barley's for some drinks! He gifts one bottle of Tara’s preferred drink, but does charge for the rest. Along the way, we see Brawlers greeting Tara and wishing her well on her birthday.

Colette’s very enthusiastic! She knows all the Brawler’s birthdays, and wanted to make something for Tara!

She doesn’t really have extra money recently, since there was some recent change in management, and she usually makes more detailed items, but because of the money problem, couldn’t buy as many materials she needed, but she’s derailing, so she hands Tara her wrapped gift.

It’s a cute hand-made Shade Plush!

Tara is delighted and thanks her for it. It’s a pleasant surprise, and she appreciates it. Colette fangirls a bit, thanking her, and then waving bye as the Mystics carry on.

~

Back at the Bazaar, they're trying to brainstorm on what to do. Well, half of them present are. Sandy is asleep and Nita + Leon are playing around the house.

Mortis says the only things he has back home are.. well, decorations of a more... gothic type..you know,.. (Halloween decors. they’re Halloween decors.)

Gale also offers up... some Snowtel hangings, but again, ‘tis not quite the right season to be jolly.

Bo suggests makeshift decorations. The twins are good at crafts! .. but more so along the lines of forest materials, not sand and...

Everyone’s drawing a blank, and decide that they could gather up their own share of materials, and see what could work best. Their time limit won’t really allow a break after all.

So Gale contacts Lou and asks him if he could meet him halfway with everything he can carry. Try not to get caught by the Penguin boss. Lou, ever the chaotic good guy agrees.

Bo gathers up Leon and Nita and they head out to see what they can scrounge up.

Mortis wonders if he should call up Frank too since he’ll be here later to set up and provide the music, but decides to be ~generous~  and just send a flock of his Bats to pick some things up for him. He sees them off adoringly.

With a content sigh, he lounges back and waits for his precious lovelies to return with his ideal decorations. Sandy sleeps on...

~

Back with Gene and Tara, the next item to pick up is the cake. Piper has the order ready-- a black forest chateau cake.

“Magnificent taste, darlings!” she compliments. she has it all boxed up very fancily. “It’s on the house. Take it as my gift for you. Happy birthday!”

She’ll also be attending the party later. Tara thanks her for the cake. She and Gene then take their leave.

Along the way to their last stop at the new Castle environment for the food, (because while they don’t know Ash very well yet, Tara loves trying out the new items and pizza is always great for a party.)

“Hey, Tara! ...hold up.” Edgar jumps down from a building they’re passing, just because he can and . “...this is from the rest of the Gang. Me too, I guess. Happy birthday.”

~

The party squad are actually worse off than before.

The Shaman Tribe are back, and the Twins became interested in using fabrics to try and make something too. so they’re playing around with it pretty much.

Gale just arrived, with Lou joined along because he was interested in the party planning too. (So, the snowtel is understaffed right now.) but they’re just chatting instead of working.

Mortis’ bats haven’t arrived yet, and he’s getting worried. They don’t usually take this long in running errands for him.

Leon and Nita are practically playing catch right now. They knock over something that looked priceless. Oh, a crystal ball, perhaps. Bo reprimands them.

They haven’t gotten much closer to making up the room...

There’s a knock, and the group freezes because oh no, they’re out of time. but it ends up being Frank. A very unhappy Frank who was suddenly surrounded by screeching batties who kept picking apart the house while he was packing up his set up for the party. They followed him there afterwards, along with several things.

Mortis tries joking it off ;; , and then very quietly and off-handedly apologizes when Frank doesn’t find it very funny.

But then so hey!!! you’re here so decoration time, everybody! let’s hop to it!

Gene’s Lamp, Sliver, floats in. Sent by Gene himself to check on the progress. They were nearing after all. The Lamp’s alarmed by what it sees. That is, absolutely nothing.

It glares around, and spots Sandy still sleeping. Sliver floats over to him, and hops on him-- Wake up!

Sandy does so, but is very grumpy. “what?”

Tara’s Birthday.

“yeah? what about it?”

Don’t you care?

“obviously.” he swats at the lamp. “it’s tomorrow.”

>:( Today. It’s TODAY.

“,” Sandy looks around, as wide-eyed as he could be.

broken crystal ball, a mix of decorations, and nobody currently fixing up anything from the looks of it.

They’re on the way.

Sandy makes a face. “ok... game plan on the fly.”

~

The final stretch of the day out.

Gene and Tara are nearing the Bazaar, and along the way, Gene starts to get heartfelt.

He reminisces how they first met, how far they’ve traveled together, how much longer they’ve yet to go.

He wishes he could think of something to give her that meant something like the other gifts that she received that day.

He was a Genie, but after everything they’ve been through, she deserves much, much more than what he could ever imagine to conjure up for her.

Tara smiles. “(Don’t... put me on too high a pedestal, my Friend.”)

Don’t sell yourself short either. You’ve done so much.

“(Yes. I have.)” Tara muses unhappily, thumbing the doll.

Gene suddenly gets the idea of what his gift could be, but he needs his Lamp to start on it.

~

Right before the two opened the door, a pair of bats were hanging up the last decoration.

And when the two walked in with the final party supplies at hand and are amazed at the display.

intricate ice sculptures and a more snowy feel set up where the food would go. the music section where Frank set up (who was talking with Mortis.) had a darker aesthetic, including the balloons over there.

Lastly the rest of the place was decorated with very cute works of art. no doubt the Tribe kid’s handiwork. she recognized it from when they stayed over, and the gifts Bo’s gotten from them and shown her.

You’d think that the seemed like the mix of fancier silver decorations, a more gothic theme and natural crafts would look odd together... and well, it was quaint, but it was very pleasing to see.

a patchwork of oddities, not unlike this park, really. She’s always been fond of odds and ends. Tara loved it!

Sandy yawns and walks over to them. “we actually just got done with the set up. but if it makes you feel better, we can still hide right now and yell surprise.”

Tara laughs. It’s okay.. it isn’t like she could be-- but she appreciates it. Sandy shrugs, like he didn’t just call all the shots and work in a hurry with the other eight. “you’re welcome.”

Lou offers to help set up the food and cake. Gale helps too, after presenting his gift too.

Frank and Mortis notice the arrival of the Birthday Gal and wave her over. They chat animatedly-- it’s been so long since they’ve had the chance to catch up! They should plan something soon. Tara agrees, and their gift is from the both of them. I can see it being a very nice piece of clothing, though I’m drawing a blank as to what.

The Lamp reunites with Gene, and their perspectives merge again. Oh. the party was really cut close, huh? but it worked out well! what a relief. a scrap book of actual memories is what you have in mind? how very sappy.... She would like it.

Lastly, Bo walks up to Tara, greeting her and wishing her well on this day. He hopes she likes what they helped with ....he then has the Twins apologize for breaking a few things around the house--

Tara dismisses it easily. They can be replaced. The Twins, that is. (joke to scare them.) But really, as long as they were careful from now on, it was okay. the cub and chameleon agree with no hesitation and then run off to cause more mayhem, but quieter this time.

The Psychic smiles. The guests would be arriving soon, and it was already so lively.

Time to party~!

_______

*I’m still deciding on the extent of her powers, so future sight might not be a thing, because of the characterization I have for her. I’m thinking something along the lines of “Can see past events, and make very informed guesses based on what she knows about people, but cannot see the future itself.”

[p1nkwitch]

Just wanted to drop this cause im tired.

Enjoy some lonelyeyes reincarnation au in a coffee shop.

Peter works.

Its not something that particularly bothers him much. His sister laughs and jokes around with him, while moving around serving her orders.

Their cafe is small and cozy but also sort of lonely, they have the oddest shifts imaginable, mostly working the graveyard shift.

Peter cooks the pastries while Judith and Aaron take the orders and serve the food. Clara has her music show on fridays and Lydia works at the art gallery but spends most of her time helping around as well.

The five of them are happy.

Simon was happy to help them pay for the Tundra Cafe. He hums under his breath while Judy sings along, there weren't that many people so they could do it without shame.

He is content.

…

At least he thinks he is. And honestly why shouldn't he? He has a good job, he has a good relationship with all his siblings, his adoptive dad loved them unconditionally.

By all means he should be nothing but happy.

And yet.

He feels… as if something was missing.

It was like an itch that he could not get over with.

It probably started back when he got a crush in one of his college professors that he realized-

That he really was missing something important.

Mister Wright was older than him sure, but he was handsome and Peter wasn't one to care much about age. However, the few times they spoke it was-

It was like there was something not right, it soured him somehow, but perhaps it was for the best, the man was married and he just had a stupid silly crush. It still did not take away the fact that he felt as if there was something off with him too.

He thinks his eyes should be a clearer grey than they were.

The next time he realized something was off was when he met Elias Bouchard.

Again it was embarrassing how quickly he seemed to get a crush on him, he just saw him a few times and his mind got stuck on his face. He was handsome and this time he was around his age. They had a few classes together so despite his anxiety he actually spoke with him.

And it was….

Dull.

He was dull as a wall. It did not lead up to anything else, beyond a few greetings later on, but it stayed on his mind.

Any other attempt at dating or going out turned out badly for him and its not as if he didn't try! It just was never… right.

Clara said that if he kept looking for the perfect person he would die alone and miserable. Lydia hits her and tells him that its ok, sometimes people don't click, he just needs to find someone who gets him.

He tries, but between his social anxiety, personality and perhaps his lack of interest in sex during the best of times, people are more or less put off with him. His sisters and brother are all offended on his behalf but Peter has resigned himself to not think too much about it.

Maybe he is like Lydia and he is better off alone.

That makes all of them look at him with tight faces and he blinks confusedly at them.

“What?”

“Nothing, nothing, just, you have us and dad Peter you're not alone” Judy holds his hand and Aaron nods.

“I- i know, i just meant like relationship wise, maybe i just have to be alone. I know I have all of you. We live in the same building block. I don't think we could be alone if we wanted” That makes them all sort of laugh and the tension breaks.

His siblings talk and joke and he ponders.

He wonders why sometimes they all act weird with him when he speaks about being alone. Why his adoptive dad always made sure to let them know he loved them. Simon was fun and took care of them, but it always felt as if he wasn't saying something.

However he sees his family be happy around him and he ignores that feeling of wrong that always permeates around him. He won't dampen their happiness with his own pessimistic thoughts and paranoia.

So yes, Peter bakes, makes models of ships on his free time, takes pictures a lot-

He found out he enjoyed keeping pictures of things he liked, plus taking odd ones of his siblings. It was just… harmless fun, more often than not he went to the port to take pictures of the ships. He wondered how it would feel to have his own.

Still that's a dream for someone else.

Peter Fairchild is happy with the quaint little life he has.

It stands to reason that his life would be upturned on a Tuesday, Peter has a personal hate towards that day of the week and it makes sense that this happened then.

Aaron was running late, he had to help a friend move out and it took longer than expected, the cafe opened earlier than usual and there were a lot of people. Judith could not take all the orders on her own, and their sisters would not be able to help at least for another hour. So with a sigh and discomfort he goes to take orders.

They work faster like that at least.

Its when he asks about the order of some guy working on his laptop that he gets hit with something familiar.

“One black coffee and a chocolate croissant” The order rings alarm bells on his head so he looks to the face of the owner.

A man with curly auburn hair, red glasses and freckles gives him a practiced strained smile that he sees in more clients, but what actually makes him almost drop the paper he was writing on was the eyes, they were such a cool shade of grey.

He flounders and the man raises an eyebrow impatiently, so he writes quickly and goes back to get order. She gives him a puzzled look since she is usually the one taking them to the customers, but Peter shakes his head and works.

His hands move on autopilot to make the coffee, and even if he says black he puts just the right amount of milk and sugar that his mind provides.

Picking up one of the freshly made croissants and after hesitating a chocolate chip cookie he goes and gives it to the man quietly and without a word. That done and his sweaty palms and his heart going faster he goes to hide in the kitchen, expecting to get yelled at for messing up the order-

But nothing happens.

Judith comes to check on him, but Peter was at that point just cleaning up a little bit and waves her away. Nodding she hesitates and hugs him a little bit before going out. He lets out a breath and sighs.

Lydia and Clara come 10 minutes later and he can stay cooped out in the kitchen in peace. Still he can't help but to be nervous about the customer he gave the coffee and cookie.

Why did he change his order? It was insignificant but it just sounded right. Fretting a little he finishes cleaning the plates. Nothing else comes about and by the time they close the man is gone.

The feeling of loss becomes stronger.

He doesn't see him again for at least another 3 weeks, in fact the only reason he realizes is because Clara says there is a sour red head giving her and Judith the stink eye every time they try to get his order. His lips twitch upwards and he suggests sending Aaron, she rolls her eyes but asks the younger boy to go.

Its not five minutes later that he comes back just as perplexed.

“Is he trying to just get the wifi for free? I'm going to kick him off” Peter dries his hands and quietly prepares the order. Once he is done he sneaks out and delivers it to him, the man gives him a critical look that sends shivers down his spine. Both in disgust and familiarity.

“I didn't order yet”

“... Well you didn't let anyone take your order anyways” His lips purse in thought and he picks up the drink taking a sip. He puts the rest of his things down and goes to turn around to leave, when he asks how did he know how he takes his coffee.

Peter doesn't have a clue.

“You just looked like you needed something less bitter” He sees his mouth fall open slightly and Peter goes while feeling his ears burn, oh god why did he say that?

Once back in the safety of the kitchen, Judy gives him a look but pats his shoulder and goes out.

Ok, ok, he is fine.

The man keeps coming and refuses to let any of his siblings pick out his orders. So Peter is the one in charge to talk with him. Albeit that is an understatement. They merely snark a little, he gives him his order and goes. Whoever is working that day is supposed to charge him, Peter is only obligated to present the food. However the interesting thing is, that just as their cafe opens at weird hours of the day, the man appears there just as well, its kind of eerie how well he seems to know when it's open considering they have the oddest schedules.

Its in fact in one of those times they work at night that he sees him again. Usually he is very put together, but this time he looked… well messy. His hair looked as he had run his hands through it several times, his eyes were red and puffy and he honestly looked miserable.

Peter was completely baffled, the worst part is he wasn't sure what to do, or if he should say something.

The place was almost empty, his sister was keeping watch, so he just stands there and asks what he wanted that night.

He looks up to him and Peter has that feeling that this man should not be looking like this, he should be smug or sure of himself not… whatever this was. He also wanted to pull him towards him and that thought made his cheeks heat up.

“Just- heh, just surprise me i guess. Its been… its been one of those days” He is not sure what he means, but he nods and goes to make him something. Most of the names of the drinks and desserts were Lydia's ideas, the rest of his siblings alongside him were terrible at picking names. He is surprised they even let him pick the one of the cafe, but considering the other options, it was the least weird one.

Still they do have some that they chose for the orders.

Case in point.

The chocolate tower cake lovingly named the panopticon and his special coffee the watcher. It was named like that when it was proven that it had so much caffeine that it made you unable to sleep. He is sure he saw a guy stop blinking for like five minutes after insisting on drinking it, despite the warnings.

So once he grabs it, he takes it to the table and warns him.

“We are not responsible for the repercussions of drinking the watcher” The man looks at him and for the first time since he started to come he sees him smile, soon it turns into laughter. Peter watches while clutching the tray and feeling butterflies in his stomach.

He has a lovely laugh.

“What- what is so funny?”

“You- i- it doesn't matter. I get the name now I suppose. The cake?” The small chocolate tower had several fillings and it was very spongy and full of chocolate.

“Mm the panopticon is the best cake we have, surprised you didn't try it before little man” The slip up comes and he freezes expecting the man to say something or get annoyed, but all he does is sigh and smile more sadly at him.

“Thank you” Its weird and he is unsure what happened but he smiles back awkwardly.

He doesn't come back for 2 weeks.

Its raining when he sees him again.

It was Lydia and him and the place only had two clients sitting around drinking and talking amicably. He doesn't pay attention to the little whistle that lets them know someone entered, Simon thought it would be more fun than a bell.

Still his older sisters comes inside looking-

Frazzled?

Lydia is the most calm out of all of them so he immediately goes to see if she is fine, instead she shakes her head and points inside the cafe.

When he looks he sees the man, but he also realizes he has an awful bruise on his eye and chin as if someone had punched him. His heart sort of seizes and his sister goes out with him.

“Are you-”

“I want another watcher and panopticon” He doesn't let him finish, he is sitting close to the register. The man looks even more tired and wiped out.

“... I will get it?” Lydia elbows him. “Do you- do you want some ice for your face?” He can feel his sister disappointment and need to hit her forehead, but he honestly doesn't know what to say. The man, and he really needs to get a name, nods, so Peter prepares the order and gets some ice wrapped up for him.

“Thank you”

“You are welcome um..-?” He drifts and the man looks at him with one eye squinting due to the swelling.

“Jonah. In Jonah Magnus” He seems to be expecting something, yet Peter just nods.

“Peter Fairchild pleasure to meet you?” Lydia is giving him looks. Jonah seems to deflate, but smiles a little, albeit is tainted by the grimace of pain.

“Now that we have names can i eat?” He scowls but nods and lets him be. Still he checks on him from time to time and everytime he peeks from the kitchen window he sees him staring back at him. Peter blushes and works.

He leaves and he is left with questions.

Lydia acts very oddly and concerned about him and the man, but he waves her off.

Jonah comes back, still with the bruises but he looks more calm.

“I wanted to apologize for the scare, I had an altercation with… a friend. That went poorly as you can see” Peter nods and gives him his cookies.

“So- um.. I was wondering if perhaps as a… you know, treat for being so nice, you would like to go out to eat? Or well i was going to suggest getting some coffee but i think you might already be tired of it by now” It takes him a few seconds to realize he is asking him out. When he does he chokes on air and after thinking it a little he nods.

He sees Jonah smile become more real and realizes he was concerned he would say no. He also sees his cheeks start to slowly become more pink the more he stares. So he looks elsewhere and says they can pick a date later. Jonah nods, grabs the writing pad from his hands brushing their fingers and puts up a number.

“So we can arrange it more easily” Peter nods and laughs nervously while walking away. He feels them tingle pleasantly.

“YOU HAVE A DATE!!”

“With the weirdo Ju, i'm sure Peter can do better than him-”

“Cla don't be mean, plus he said yes so he is interested-!”

“That he is interested doesnt mean its good for him Aaron!”

“Don't be so sour-”

Lydia sits with him and they just watch TV calmly while the others talk in the kitchen making dinner. It was Saturday so they were having it in her apartment.

“Do you think it will make you happy?” The question is too particular, but his sister is always like that so he nods.

“It feels… right, more real than anything i suppose, i know its weird but i just…” He just sometimes feels as if he is sort of existing in some sort of empty space and that everything is his imagination.

Life is good. He has siblings that love him, a dad that cares for all of them instead of their original family that was terrible.

Peter has a job-

Life is perfect.

And yet-

This man is more real than anything else.

Like a splash of color in his grayscale world, he is infuriating with his answers when they have small talks at the cafe, but the banter is familiar, it gives him an ache that doesn't understand.

The same ache he thinks he got when he met James and Elias, only this time its because its right. Jonah is right. He is put out of his musings by a hand on his arm.

“I get it Peter… i really do. As long as you are happy its fine. Just… just know that we love you ok? Don't forget it” He tilts his head and sighs before giving her sister a side hug, the top of her head is a little below his collarbone, so he kisses it and says that he could never.

They meet up to actually have lunch.

Its… its nice.

Jonah is a little bastard and they spend time judging and betting on the people around. He also learns more about him.

He is working mostly in management, which he thinks suits him way too well, he seems bossy enough.

“Rude!” He grins at him and feels…

At ease.

The man likewise seems far more calmer and happy, it makes him oddly happy to see him like that.

They keep going out, sometimes for lunch, sometimes they get coffee somewhere else. But they do and the more he gets to hear him talk, the more he feels as if he had always know him, but just could not remember it. Sometimes Jonah seems that he knows him too and its sort of perplexing. Clara would say he stalked him, but its- there are such small things that its not possible for him to know, even if he had.

Its at their 6 date that he asks him to eat at his place. He looks surprised but nods.

When he opens the door and sees him, he almost stammers a holy fuck, he barely manages to get a hold of himself. Jonah looked-

Handsome, so so handsome. It sort of fried his brain a little bit.

So he lets him and tries to finish cooking to distract himself from saying something stupid or embarassing like-

Marry me.

No, no he is not that stupid.

Still Jonah offers to help and they work in tandem and it is such a familiar feeling he is left breathless.

They move as if they both already were used to having the other in their space, its… nerve wracking. Peter wants to know why.

The dinner is delicious and they end up curling on the couch watching tv, Jonah is using him as a giant pillow and Peter can't complain, the weight on top of him actually makes him feel comforted and also sleepy…

He sees the man yawn and before thinking it better asks if he wants to crash here since its late and they are both tired. Jonah blinks at him and he sees him hesitate, so he assures him he won't take it bad if he says no, it was merely a suggestions and-

He laughs and nods before hiding his face on the crook of his neck. He lets out a breath almost as if punched and feels his cheeks warm up while grinning like an idiot.

Once they change and he offers the man a shirt that hangs a little bit too loosely around his frame they get in bed and Peter sort of… stares, Jonah does the same.

“Hey” His lips twitch.

“Hey yourself” It's not clear which one of them moves first, but the next thing he knows they were kissing. It wasn't rushed or anything merely a press of their lips that sets him aflame inside. God he loves him doesn't he?

He loves-

He-

…

Oh.

Son of a bitch.

He bites his lip lightly making the man complain and then he pulls back.

“You sneaky bastard” He sees him frown and then light up with realization.

“Oh”

“Hello Elias” He frowns.

“Jonah if you don't mind” Peter mulls it over, thinking of James and Elias. It wasn't the body that he wanted.

It was the smug bastard that was piloting it that he loved.

“Jonah” The man shivers “I died” He sees him lock his jaw and close his eyes. How peculiar, he would not have hidden away before or shown… shame for what he can see on his face, he wonders what changed in this life.

Peter sees him swallow.

“You did” Nodding he thinks. He died, there were fear gods, he was a Lukas once upon a time, but now he was a Fairchild even if by adoption.

He grew alone, he grew with his siblings.

He was lonely, he was loved.

Peter sees a small tear escape Jonah along with his body being tightly coiled, as if waiting to sprint out.

The punches make sense now, if someone else remembered...

Letting out a breath and pulling at his hair in thought, Peter closes his eyes too and lets it all go over him. That was a life ago, and now? Now he is here and he was… content, but not happy.

Not until he found him again. Or more like Jonah found him.

Its easy honestly, the answer to what he wants to do with him and this chance.

Peter in his first life had only cared about two things, his god and Elias. One is gone, the other.. changed, but was still the same. The same man he had fallen in love with so many times, and in different ways through the years of their marriages and divorces.

The only one that had some form of hold over his heart.

“Come here my little siren” Jonah’s eyes flash open and he blinks a few more tears away before scrambling to his open arms. Its raining outside and the sound its what they hear beyond their breathing and the beating of their hearst. The lights of the room are dimmed and Peter finally feels right, he pulls the covers up and tangles their bodies together, fitting perfectly together.

Without forsaken he can admit it freely, that he loves this, loves the feeling of Jonah pressed against him, a different body, but also always the same.

He just needs to get used to it again, slowly playing with his hair he speaks.

“You are quite a bastard, but so am i and… as nice as this life is… i think its much better with you in it” Jonah shivers.

“What i'm trying to say is i missed you, even if i didn't remember you before. It was always like there was something amiss. A hole in my perfect little life”

“I-” He smiles tiredly.

“You didn't, i know, but its ok. I know you” Jonah shakes his head.

“I did- i just didn't know it either, i thought it was Barnabas at first, then the others, but… it was you. I missed you Peter, I really did…. Even- even in the apocalypse I still did, I would look into the lonely often. Useless sure, but i did” His plan had worked, but at the same time that was no longer their issue.

“Well I guess we are at an impasse. What do you want to do?”

“... I want- i want to stay, please” He thinks of his apartment, big enough for two.

“You will have to deal with my siblings and Simon, this time we stayed close” He snorts.

“If they don't kick me out, i was… an ass with them” Kissing his forehead Peter laughs.

“You were, but… they are happy for me”

“... then yes i would like to stay”

“Good, Jonah?” He looks up to him again, and Peter sees the eyes are the same, that this time they are right, leaning down he kisses him. They fumble in bed for a long while and when they are both sated and more used to each other's bodies, Peter lets the smaller man hug him from the back to cuddle and finally fall asleep.

“You know one would think you would enjoy the opposite of this-”

“I do, but i missed you, so hush and just sleep” He stays quiet for a little bit.

“Night Peter”

“Night, I love you”

“.... i love you too” He smiles.

In the morning they will make breakfast, Jonah goes to his place and he prepares to work. Once he sees him come in later on during the day he presents to him his order and gets a smile.

They will try to make this life count.

He wonders how long till he moves in with him.

On his way to buy groceries he sees a box with a familiar kitten left to the side of a building and he sighs. Better take his cat to the vet now, food can wait.

His sisters will be ecstatic.

Aaron not so much since he is allergic, but well.

It is his cat.

Life truly is good now.

He got his husband, his cat, family and job.

Humming along with the kitten pawing at his arms softly he feels the most happy as he has ever been.