#(actually: they already have in the past when they came at me)

[beloveds-embrace]

Dukedom au but instead of the men noticing reader post marriage, they already notice her pre marriage like maybe before they went to war and meet each other. She use to be so radiant especially on her debut to society. She dances John and Simon and they were entranced since then. Maybe she likes sneaking out bro mingle with the commons and met Johnny and Kyle that way. Then war happened and many other things by the time they were back they’re not exactly expecting their dream girl to be unmarried, she’s so beautiful why would she be unmarried, besides they have each other now.

Imagine their surprise when they found out not only is she unmarried but rather unpopular in society for one or two petty reasons too.

ANONNNNN I LOVE YOUR MIND

It wasn’t until after his return from the military- when he finally came home with Simon by his side, Kyle and Johnny already settled into their places in his household- that John actually heard the full extent of the rumors surrounding you.

You were barren, they said. Damaged. A woman past her prime who had rejected too many suitors out of pride and was now paying the price. Not docile enough to be a good wife, too much of a spitfire. Hysterical, the last time you had snapped at a man who had gotten a little too close to you. A stain on your family’s lineage, who were trying desperately to marry you off.

Kyle had been the first to bring it up, muttering about what he’d overheard at the bakery one morning while helping Johnny’s parents prepare for the day. Johnny, normally so cheerful, had been uncharacteristically quiet about the whole thing- quiet in that dangerous, simmering way that meant he was ready to fight anyone who so much as looked at you wrong.

And Simon?

Simon had just looked at John.

“Fix it.” he’d said, like it was the simplest thing in the world.

But it wasn’t simple.

Not when the love John felt for you had been complicated from the start. Not when Kyle and Johnny and Simon already occupied so much of his heart, and the idea of forcing you to share that space- even with men who adored you already- felt like asking too much.

So he waited, and waited.

He waited until he saw you again, looking so perfectly soft and sweet and untouched by the harshness of the world around you, even despite all the hate-filled rumors aimed your way, it nearly broke him. He waited until Kyle started dropping more and more excuses to see you, until Johnny began dragging you into their outings, until even Simon- gruff, stoic Simon- began pausing to ask how you were doing when he saw you in passing.

He waited until he couldn’t not ask.

And when he finally did- when he knelt before you and offered you everything he had, everything he was, everything they were because he would keep anything a secret from you- you didn’t answer right away.

“John…” You were at a loss for words, eyes shifting to a fro. You could hear your parents practically yelling at you to just accept, no matter what, within your mind.

Your cheeks turned warmer than a furnace, and you lowered your head, gritting your teeth. “Surely you all know that- that I’m not… exactly the best candidate for you.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Your eyes widened, mouth falling open, and he wanted to kiss that expression off your face. Replace it with something happier, brighter.

“It doesn’t matter.” John repeated, voice soft and so painfully fond. “They can say all they want. It’s you who I care about- we care about. Nobody else matters. Nothing else matters, except for your happiness and what you want. So I ask again… will you be my Duchess?”

You bit your lips, ignoring the tiny little voice of your nanny scolding you for your terrible nervous habit. You wanted to accept. You ached to accept.

“Promise me, John,” you breathed out. And he listened, more than anyone else ever has. “Promise me. I won’t ever be a simple accessory on your arm, or a forgotten relic in your home. I won’t be brushed aside, while everyone around me is loved. Please, John. If you can promise me that, then I accept.”

And for John?

It didn’t even take him a second before agreed; already, he could imagine the relief that the others would have, as well.

He could also imagine you, blooming in their home.

[heavyhitterheaux]

Good Intentions

See Me Through You Fic

Synopsis: An argument between you and your twin ultimately leads to an argument between you and your fiancé who calls you out about your actions and tells you how being overprotective isn't a good thing

Pairing: Fiancé!Joe Burrow x Fiancée!Reader

Series Masterlist

Requested by: by boo @hoodharlow 💕

Please Do Not Repost My Content Anywhere

AN: This takes place during Ja'Marr's rookie season. You are still at LSU and taking summer classes

The last thing your twin ever wanted to do was hurt your feelings, but all in all he had had enough and had reached his limit when it came to you being overprotective.

At this point, it was honestly suffocating.

It had been this way since the two of you were born and although Ja'Marr was grateful to be able to get along with his sibling since he knew not everyone did, something had to give. Yes, the two of you would talk to each other multiple times a day, but it seemed as if his phone had been ringing nonstop since he landed in Cincinnati.

As soon as he was going to text you and tell you that he wanted to talk about the situation, his phone was ringing indicating that it was you….

Again.

Taking a deep breath, Ja'Marr answered.

“Yes, Pebbles?”

“Bam Bam! Are you okay? How's everything going? I miss you. Did you eat breakfast already and take your vitamins?”

“I'm fine. I was fine when you called me two hours ago too…. at six in the morning. I miss you too. And yes to both of those questions.”

“It's just so weird not having you here and I hate it. I'm so proud of you, though. I always knew you would make it to the NFL because I saw your potential and how good you were. What do you have planned for today?” You asked as you were currently at the nail salon trying to decide on the color that you wanted.

You would be reunited with both your brother and fiancé in three weeks and you had been counting down until the last minute.

“Same plan that I had two hours ago. Just trying to get settled. Go explore the city a little bit.”

“Okay, well I guess I'll let you do that. I like how you're still getting an early start.” You told him as it was still barely eight in the morning.

“Wait, Pebbles can we talk?”

“We'll talk later when I call you back. I'm at the nail salon. Give me like an hour or two. They're ready for me. Love you!”

“Love you too.” Ja'Marr quietly said before the two of you hung up and he quickly looked up at Joe who was sitting across from him and half asleep himself since you had requested once again for him to head over to Ja'Marr's to check on him.

“You have got to tell her because this is insane. I feel like I've seen you more in the past week than I did my whole two years at LSU.” Joe told him as he shook his head.

“I just… I don't want to make her feel bad because I know she means well.” 

“But this cannot keep happening. I'm surprised she hasn't told me to make you move in with me so I can keep an eye on you. That's probably going to happen by the end of the day.”

“I'll talk to her once she calls me back later.” Ja'Marr replied, but if he was being honest he was actually dreading this conversation.

“You mean in five minutes?” Joe asked and Ja'Marr couldn't help but to laugh.

“I should time it and see how long it takes for her to actually do it.”

“Well in the meantime, I'm going back to sleep. But I know I won't be able to sleep for long before she's calling me back too.” Joe said as he got up and grabbed his keys making his way towards the door.

“I just hope she doesn't take it the wrong way.”

“I think everything will die down once she's actually here in person.”

—

When you had finally gotten out of the nail salon after admiring them and taking multiple pictures and had got settled in your car, you called Joe to see what he was up to and to also check on your brother. It was hard not being able to be with your brother as well as your fiancé since you had gotten accustomed to having both of them. 

You were taking a few summer classes which delayed you spending time with him in Cincinnati. Luckily, you only had a few weeks left until you would be able to.

“Hi baby! My nails are pink! I took a picture and sent it to you.” You proudly told Joe as he had you on speaker and was looking at the picture as you were telling him.

“I love them. Can't wait to feel them scratching down my back.”

“I… behave yourself!”

“I am behaving! I can't help that I miss my girl.”

“Aww, I miss you too. I just wanted to take this class so it will lessen my load come next semester. Anyway, babe, can you go and check on Ja'Marr?” You sweetly asked and Joe couldn't help but to roll his eyes and was thankful that it wasn't a facetime call. He knew that it was only a matter of time.

“Baby, I was literally just over there three hours ago. I'm not going over there again.” Joe told you as he was trying to make himself a smoothie and started to get ingredients out of the fridge.

“But I have to know if he's okay!”

“Y/N, are you going to let him be an adult or…?”

“He's my baby brother! And you told me that you would look out for him once he got to Cincy. And since when is he an adult?! He is still three in my eyes!”

“Princess, I am looking out for him, but you are being extremely overprotective and Ja'Marr is scared to say anything because he doesn't want to hurt your feelings. How long are you going to try and hold his hand for? And he became an adult the minute that he turned eighteen.”

“If he had a problem with me calling him so much, he would tell me. He tells me everything.” You said and Joe scoffed.

“Uh? What was that sound for? See, you're the youngest so you probably don't understand! I have been looking out for him since forever! I have so many responsibilities on my shoulders being the oldest.”

“Older by three minutes. And you need to calm down and let him be. You are in the wrong here, but won't admit it. Nothing wrong with checking on him, but babe this is borderline obsessive.” Joe explained to you as he was now cutting up the fruit he wanted to put in his smoothie.

“Joey, what the hell!? He's the only sibling I have.”

“I'm your fiancé and I'm always going to be honest with you. I don't care if it's something you don't want to hear or agree with.” 

“There is literally nothing wrong with what I'm doing.” 

Joe couldn't help but to roll his eyes once more. 

“Okay, baby. Since you don't think it's bothering him, hang up and call him. Then call me back and tell me what he says.”

“Fine, you’ll see.” You said as you shrugged even though Joe couldn't see you.

Once you hung up with him, you called your twin and he didn't even give you a proper greeting before he started to go off on you.

“Y/N, what could you possibly ask me about now?”

“Whoa, what's the attitude for? And I thought you wanted to talk to me? You always want to talk to me.”  You asked as you were caught off guard.

“Don't you have class, or practice, or SOMETHING that you can occupy your time with instead of calling me every five minutes?”

“I… Ja'Marr I just want to make sure you’re okay. You're my baby brother and my twin. Only one I have.”

“Yes, I know and you will NOT let me fucking breathe. Like got damn. I've only been here a damn week and all of my calls are basically from you every two minutes. Yes, Joe is checking on me and making sure I'm good. But I don't need a babysitter. He's also getting annoyed because you tell him to come and check on me ten times a day!” Ja'Marr told you unable to hold back any longer. 

“But… you turned your location off. I need to know where you are. You never turn it off. What's up with that?”

“NO YOU DON'T. I'm good, that's all you need to know. All you have been doing ever since I got drafted was be extremely overprotective! Mom and dad aren't even this bad.” He told you as he was being completely honest.

It was quiet for a few seconds before you decided to say anything, obviously hurt by his reaction.

“If I'm bothering you, I'll stop. I just miss you is all. But I can see that I'm causing more harm than good. So I'll hang up now.” You said with tears threatening to fall from your eyes. 

“Wait, Pebbles, I just…” Now Ja'Marr was regretting his approach because he now knew for a fact that he had hurt your feelings which he was trying to avoid doing.

“Bye, have a good rest of your day.” 

You didn't give him a chance to finish as you quickly hung up and wiped away the tears that did end up falling. Figuring that you were also probably bothering your fiancé just as Ja'Marr mentioned, you decided to send him a text instead of calling him again.

You- I'll stop asking for you to check on him

Joey- Baby, I don't mind checking on him. Just tone it down a little bit. I promise you that he's okay. If he wasn’t, you would be the first person I told.

You- No, I'm not asking anymore at all. If he wants to talk to me, he will and I'll leave it at that. I guess I'm bothering you too so I'll let you be. Talk to you whenever.

Joey- Princess, stop being ridiculous. You aren't bothering me.

You- Ja'Marr said otherwise so goodnight

“Shit.” Joe muttered underneath his breath before typing a response back to you.

Joey- It is literally 11 in the morning and you're being petty

You- I can tell time, goodnight like I said

For the rest of the day, your phone had been blown up by Joe but you weren't budging. Ja’Marr had been eerily quiet, but you definitely weren't about to say anything to him.

He wanted space so that was what he was going to get. 

If he felt like you were being extremely overprotective and also bothering Joe with your antics, you were simply going to keep your distance.

About a week had passed and Ja'Marr honestly felt weird.

He hadn't talked to his big sister and since it was out of the ordinary, when certain things happened he didn't have anyone he would immediately run and tell about it.

That person had been you.

He had been leaving you messages here and there with no response from you.

Joe wasn't any better and you would be sending him one word answers to his text messages while declining his facetime calls despite him wanting to call a truce.

He came to the conclusion that you were obviously still hurt by the argument that had taken place, but he needed to fix this before you came to see him in two weeks.

Well, if you still wanted to see him, that is. 

Because as of right now he wasn't so sure. 

It was now around six in the evening when you and Erin had just gotten back from going shopping and you had begun to put away your clothes in your closet when you heard Erin's phone ring as she was sitting on your bed.

“Oh no.” She breathed out and you looked at her in confusion.

“What?”

“Your baby daddy is calling me.” She told you and you quickly rolled your eyes.

One thing about Joe is if he knew you were mad at him, nine times out of ten he's calling Erin to check on you because he knows that you'll keep ignoring him.

“I'm not talking to him right now.”

“Wait, didn’t you tell him goodnight at 11 in the morning the other day?” She asked while laughing.

“Yes, and I meant it.”

“Let’s see what he wants.” Erin replied as you quickly shook your head no before exclaiming it.

“NO!”

“Too late. Hi Joey!” Erin said as she waved at him with you quickly rolling your eyes.

Great, it was a facetime call too.

“Hey Erin, where's Y/N?”

“In front of me and I told her to call you so that the two of you could make up but she's being stubborn.” She told him and you promptly rolled your eyes.

“Can you pass her the phone?” He politely asked and she quickly nodded. 

“Sure.”

It took a minute for you to take the phone from her, but once you did, you didn't greet your fiancé but simply stared at him.

“Baby….”

“What? What do you want?”

“Lose the attitude. And I’m just checking on you, have you talked to your twin at all?”

“Nope, and I don't plan on it. He asked me if I had something to occupy my time with instead of bothering him and here we are. And I thought I told you goodnight already?”

“Princess, he wants to talk to you and apologize but you wouldn't know that since apparently you've been ignoring him. And you told me that damn near a week ago. We communicate with each other in this relationship and this needs to end tonight.”

“Okay, can I get back to watching my shows now?” You asked as you had now moved from your room to the living room and turned on Netflix with Erin behind you.

“No, talk to him first and then we need to talk.”

“Well I don't know how that's going to happen because I'm not calling him.” 

“There's no need to, he's right here.” Joe told you and quickly passed the phone to Ja'Marr.

“Wait, what?”

“Pebbles….”

“Wow, the minute I say I'm going to stop calling you, look who decides to come crawling back?” You told him and Ja'Marr quickly rolled his eyes.

“You need to shut your petty ass up so I can apologize.”

“I will jump through this phone and tackle you. Fuck a D-line.” You shot back and he let out a deep sigh.

“Like I was saying because I am ignoring that last statement. I never meant to hurt your feelings and it did come out kind of harsh.”

“Kind of? That's putting it lightly.” You muttered as you were deciding which show you wanted to catch up on.

“Y/N!”

“I'm just telling it like it is.”

“Anyway, I'm sorry but we have got to come to a compromise because we can't keep doing this.”

You sighed before answering him, but quickly nodded in agreement.

“I'm sorry too, but the only way I'm forgiving you is if you door dash me some food.”

“Already done. Honey old bay wings, all flats. Should be there in the next ten minutes.”

“Oh, you are definitely trying to get back on my good side. But on a serious note, I promise to give you more space and I never want you to feel like I'm suffocating you. I just… it's kinda lonely here now. I do have Erin and Alisha but…. I have literally never been away from you.” You confessed as Ja'Marr nodded.

“I know and it's going to take some time for us to adjust. But we'll get there. We good now?”

“Yes, we're good.”

“Now stop being a petty ass fiancée to my best friend.” Ja'Marr said as he eyed you and handed Joe back the phone.

“Babe?”

“Yes, princess?”

“I'm sorry and you know I love you. And yes I need to work on my communication when it comes to you and stop shutting you out.” You told him while you got up off the couch to grab a drink from the fridge.

“I don't know how many times that I have to remind you that I'm not him. I care about how you feel and am always willing to meet you halfway. I asked you to marry me for a reason. I love you too.” 

“Sometimes I swear I don't deserve you.” You whispered and Joe simply shook his head.

“We deserve each other and we're going to continue to make our relationship stronger because once I slip that ring on your finger next summer, that's it. You're mine forever and whatever problems may arise, we simply have to figure it out together. We're a team, okay?”

“Okay.” You quietly said as you smiled at him.

"See you in two weeks, princess?” Joe asked with excitement dripping from his voice.

“Two weeks and not a day more.”

[little-jana]

"Let's Be Alone Together"

Pairing: Spencer Reid x reader

Genre: fluff

Warnings: kissing, just two cuties

Words: 1.7k

Summary: Reader and Spencer escape reality together and spent Christmas together.

Christmas Eve in Quantico wasn’t exactly where I imagined spending the holiday, but the BAU didn’t really operate on a nine-to-five schedule. A last-minute case had pulled everyone into the office earlier that week, but thankfully, we’d wrapped it up just in time for the holidays.

Now, the bullpen was quiet, save for the faint hum of the fluorescent lights. Most of the team had already headed home, eager to spend Christmas with their families. I should’ve done the same, but somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to leave. The blinking cursor on my laptop screen had hypnotized me, or at least that’s the excuse I told myself.

The truth was, it wasn’t like I had anyone waiting for me at home. My plans consisted of takeout, bad Christmas movies, and falling asleep on the couch. Maybe a part of me had hoped that if I stayed long enough, I wouldn’t have to face that silence.

A familiar voice broke through my thoughts. “Still here?”

I glanced up to see Spencer Reid standing by his desk, looking equally as stranded. His cardigan was slightly askew, his tie loosened just enough to look almost relaxed.

“You’re still here too,” I countered, offering him a small smile.

He shrugged, shuffling a few papers on his desk. “I thought I’d finish up some reading before heading out. What about you?”

I gestured to my screen. “Pretending to be productive.”

Spencer chuckled softly, his smile growing. “It’s Christmas Eve. You’re allowed to take a break, you know.”

“I could say the same to you, genius,” I teased. “What is it this time? A thesis on the psychological implications of holiday traditions?”

He gave me a sheepish smile. “Actually, it’s a collection of Christmas short stories. Charles Dickens, O. Henry...”

“Fiction?,” I said surprised.

“I do enjoy a good academic paper,” he admitted with a grin. “But sometimes… fiction feels like a better escape.”

I leaned back in my chair, studying him. “So, you’re avoiding reality too, huh?”

Spencer hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. I guess I am.”

There was something vulnerable in the way he said it, something that made my chest ache. Spencer wasn’t exactly the most open person when it came to his feelings, but I’d learned to read between the lines.

“You know,” I said, standing and crossing the room toward him, “we could avoid reality together. I’ve got leftover cookies and a terrible collection of Christmas movies. What do you say?”

He blinked, startled. “You mean… tonight? With you?”

“No, Spencer, I meant with the ghost of Christmas past,” I teased, rolling my eyes.

He laughed softly, shaking his head. “I don’t want to impose—”

“Spence,” I interrupted, my tone gentle but firm. “It’s not imposing if I’m inviting you. Come on. It’ll be fun.”

He looked at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine, before finally nodding. “Okay. I’d like that.”

---

An hour later, we were sitting on my couch, surrounded by the warm glow of twinkling Christmas lights. A tin of cookies rested between us, along with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Spencer had insisted on helping me carry everything up from my car earlier, and now he was inspecting one of the sugar cookies with a level of scrutiny that made me laugh.

“It’s just a cookie, Spence,” I said, nudging him playfully.

“Actually, there’s a fascinating history behind sugar cookies,” he began, his face lighting up. “They originated in Pennsylvania in the 1700s—”

I held up a hand, laughing. “Let me stop you right there. No cookie history tonight. We’re watching Rudolph, and that’s final.”

He sighed dramatically but didn’t argue. “Fine. But if I’m going to sit through stop-motion reindeer, I expect at least one scientific inaccuracy to discuss.”

We settled into the couch, the opening credits of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer playing softly in the background. Spencer was surprisingly into it, occasionally pointing out character dynamics or chuckling at the outdated animation.

By the time the movie ended, I felt a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with the hot chocolate. Spencer had relaxed completely, his usual guarded demeanor replaced by something softer, something sweeter.

“You know,” he said quietly, breaking the comfortable silence, “this is the first Christmas Eve I haven’t spent alone in… a long time.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotion. I turned to him, my heart aching at the vulnerability in his voice.

“You’re not alone now,” I said softly.

He looked at me, his eyes searching mine. “Thank you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “For this. For… everything.”

I smiled, reaching out to place my hand over his. “You don’t have to thank me, Spence. I’m just glad you’re here.”

For a moment, we just sat there, the silence between us filled with something unspoken but deeply understood.

“You know,” he said, his voice hesitant, “I’ve always found it hard to connect with people. But with you… it’s different. It’s easy.”

My breath caught at the sincerity in his voice. “It’s easy with you too, Spencer,” I admitted, my voice barely audible.

He hesitated, then took a small, tentative step closer. “Can I tell you something?”

“Of course.”

“I… I think this might be the best Christmas Eve I’ve ever had,” he said, his cheeks flushing slightly.

I felt my heart swell at his words, and before I could overthink it, I leaned in and kissed his cheek, letting my lips linger for just a moment. His skin was warm, and I felt him freeze slightly before relaxing under the soft touch.

When I pulled back, he was staring at me, his eyes wide and filled with something I couldn’t quite name.

“Sorry,” I said quickly, suddenly self-conscious. “I didn’t mean to—”

“Don’t apologize,” he said, his voice soft but firm.

Before I could say anything else, he leaned forward, closing the small distance between us, and pressed his lips gently against mine. The kiss was soft and sweet, a perfect mix of shyness and intent.

When he finally pulled back, his cheeks were bright red, but there was a small, shy smile on his lips.

“Merry Christmas,” he said quietly, his voice full of warmth.

“Merry Christmas, Spencer,” I replied, my heart feeling lighter than it had in years.

And as we sat there, the glow of the Christmas tree wrapping us in its warmth, I couldn’t help but think that this—being here with him—was exactly what Christmas was supposed to feel like.

a/n: I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a peaceful holiday season.

[enbyfvcker]

"Come back home."

𝙒𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙭 𝙇𝙤𝙜𝙖𝙣 (𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙩!𝙬𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙚)

𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩: 2k

𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮/��𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙩: a part two continuation from this from @psychohoneywhiskey because it rented a whole fucking condo in my head.

𝙏𝙖𝙜𝙨: Hurt/comfort, angst, fighting, fluff, kissing, happy ending, Wade needs a hug, Logan needs a hug.

Wade only got home when the sun was already rising. His suit was all torn up, and some wounds still healed from the fight he just had with some stubborn criminals.

He expected to see Logan sleeping on the couch, but he didn't.

Well, maybe he decided to sleep in his bed?

He walks to his bedroom with expectation but also finds it empty.

Actually, not entirely empty.

In his bed layed all the clothes Wade bought Logan folded. All the little thoughtful gifts he gave him. Everything that Wade got him to say through actions that he's wanted.

Looks like the message didn't land.

His heart tightens, tears welling in his eyes as he realizes that Logan left him.

Left after being willing to sacrifice himself for Wade. Left after making this crack house he lived in into a home. Left after letting Wade convince him to stay sober after decades. Left after stealing his way into Wade's heart, his life, his family.

And just like that, 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴. Without nothing with him but his suit.

Honestly, Wade doesn't think he should be surprised for this. He knew it was going to happen. He knew Logan was just waiting for an opportunity to get rid of him. Who would ever put up with him? God, if he could escape from himself sometimes, he would. He tried many times, too.

So could he even blame him, really?

In that moment, all the words Logan spat at him in that Honda Odyssey at the middle of a god forsaken void came back into his mind. They have been constantly in the past weeks.

He did feel like a ridiculous sad joke. He wanted nothing more than to be able to die alone because at least it meant he would just 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺. That his attempts wouldn't just be self-harm anymore and that when he tried blowing himself up, he wouldn't just regenerate back.

He couldn't keep his job. Couldn't keep Vanessa. Couldn't keep Logan. If it weren't for Logan, he wouldn't be able to keep his fucking universe.

He'd never be an anchor being. He'd never make a difference or matter, so why would anyone stay?

He sobbed as he held one of Logan's shirts, burying his face into it and desperately trying to smell any remaining scent of him.

Mary Puppins walks in, her tongue out as she turns her head to the side, looking up at Wade with sad eyes.

"What's all that damn noise? Did you stub your toe again?" Al walks in wearing a sleeping robe and her sunglasses, apparently having awakened from Wade's ugly crying.

"Hey, Al..." Wade just sniffles, his voice broken as he just chooses to ignore her question.

"What happened?"

"Logan left..."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Guess I'm that insufferable that he couldn't stand spending another minute with me."

"He spent whole months with you, Wade."

"Sure, but did he even have a choice? I basically kidnapped him and threw him in a fucking new universe. I'm like an old creepy guy in a van. He was just waiting for a chance to run off. And he did."

"Come here, let's get you some tea." Al gestures for Wade to follow her to the kitchen, and he does, taking the shirt in his hands with him.

"Actually, I could use some cocaine right now. And you could use the cure for blindness to see how heartbroken I am for tea." He remarks, following behind her, dogpool following Wade. "Try not to break any cups this time."

Al puts sets a kettle in the stove and turns it on as Wade sits on a chair, all droopy and his eyes red.

"Did he take anything with him? Any money? Clothes? How do you know he won't just come back?"

"No, nothing. He must be wandering the streets like a lost puppy right now. And I just know."

"I think you boys are just too stupid to communicate properly. If you talked about this shit-"

"Oh, he talked plenty, believe me. He ran his mouth about how much of a joke I am."

"Oh, cut the self-loathing crap. That was before then. You two have been acting like an old married gay couple for the last months, don't give me that. You don't see the way he looks at you."

"Oh, and you do?!"

"I don't have to see it to know that guy would throw himself in the fire for you. If he ran off, then it's probably because the idiot read your sad little kitten act like a sign he's not welcomed."

"What-"

"Shut up. Now, if you don't grow a pair of balls for once and try to find him, I sweat to god-"

"I wouldn't even know where to look. And I doubt it he'd even want me to."

"So you better start right away. Go."

"What about my tea-"

"Go."

...

The last few days were rough. And that's saying something, considering all Logan went through in his universe.

He didn't have a place to stay anymore, so he just wandered around and got from bar to bar. He didn't have any cash on him, so he would flash his claws out to the barman as a threat when he was asked about his bill.

He felt like a goddamn monster, so why not act like it. He's not proud of it, but it's been months he didn't have a drink, and all he wanted was to drown the overwhelming feelings eating at him.

He got banned from multiple bars, always hopping to the next one. Getting drunk, getting in some fights, wandering around...

He felt like he was back in his universe. He felt so fucking stupid to think maybe he could change. That maybe here he could turn the page, start a new life with Wade.

Turns out the place it's not the problem, he's the fucking problem. He's a disease that destroys everything he touches, and he should know better than to try and have any connection with anyone.

He failed everyone. He failed the X-men by not being there. He failed Charles by going into a murderous spree. He failed Laura by not being the right guy. He failed Wade by being the complete jerk he is.

He wasn't sure how many days it had been since he left. He's smelling bad, and his hair is mess, but all he cares right now is finishing one more bottle. Then, one more, and one more, and...

He feels something - someone - poking him. Logan thinks it may be the barman or the manager, so he pulls his claws out. "Look, bub, I-"

"Heya, Peanut. Gosh, I'm getting deja-vu. Ain't ya?" Logan's eyes focus to see Wade standing next to him wearing his suit and mask, and his heart races quickly. "You're a hard one to find, honey badger. And I'm a mercenary, so-"

"The fuck are you doing here?"

"You know the answer to that."

"Save it, bub. I gave you an easy way out. You should have taken it."

"Come on, let's just talk-"

"Not in the fucking mood." Logan grumbles, suddenly feeling his chest too tight and like the walls were closing on him. He stumbles while getting off the chair and heading outside with heavy steps, hearing an angry voice behind the counter as he leaves without paying.

He walks out of the bar, rushing somewhere through the empty street, nightly darkness everywhere. Where? Where the fuck was he rushing to?

He hears a bell noise and other footsteps behind him.

"Fine! I get it, alright?! I'm the worst damn piece of crap that you could possibly be stuck with! You were right, ok? I'm everything you said I am. I'd run off, too." Wade shouts, his broken voice making Logan halt in his steps. "But at least let me return the favor of you saving my universe. Let me try and find you somewhere where you don't have to deal with me-"

"It was never about that." Logan grunts, his heart aching like it was about to break.

How could Wade possibly think it was about that?

"What?"

"I'm poison, bub." Logan sighs, finally turning around. "I destroy everything I touch. I hurt everyone around me, I hurt you. I don't deserve you taking me in. I don't deserve your affection or your family. I shouldn't have thought that there was more to my life than being the miserable monster I am and living with the consequences of my own actions. You got the worst you could possibly have, Wade. I'm just doing you the favor of retracting myself before I fuck everything up beyonde repair." Logan could feel his throat tight like a knot as he fought back stubborn tears.

Wade was stunned, silent for a few seconds before he took off his mask and gave Logan the most puppy dog eyes he ever saw, his eyes glossy with tears matching his own.

"You're an fucking idiot." Wade simply stated, a sad smile in his lips. "You're not a monster. And you're far from the worst I could have. I owe my whole world to you. I know you think I'm a joke, but I couldn't ask for a better-"

"I don't think you're a joke." He interrupted.

"But... in the Honda Odyssey, back at the void..." Wade replies, hearing a chuckle that held nothing but sadness.

Fuck. It never came to Logan's mind that what he said that day actually stuck to Wade. He is an idiot. Those words felt so distant, so different from what he felt now for the merc. After all those months they lived together, getting all domestic and shit. Wade crawled into his heart that had felt dead for years and got a space there.

"That was before, bub. I didn't even really know you, of course now I don't think that shit I said."

"But you did... Back then." Wade looks down, his voice low.

"I'm sorry..." Logan says, the words feeling foreign on his tongue. "You didn't deserve that. I was a jerk. I still am, but... You make me want to be better, bub. It's stupid, but... You kidnapping me was probably the best thing that ever happened to me in years, and I was just... so scared I fucked it up too, like everything else."

Wade chuckles, and his eyes brighten as he looks at Logan, his heart feels lighter at hearing those words.

"You didn't." Wade gets closer, his hand resting at Logan's shoulder. "You're wanted. Loved."

The care and gentleness in Wade's touch melts Logan, he leans closer too.

"Come back home."

Those words alone broke him.

For so long, he didn't have a home. How could he have ever taken this one for granted?

"Alright, bub."

It was like clockwork when their lips met in a soft, gentle kiss, them holding each other closely as if they both feared the other would disappear into thin air any second. It felt so natural. Their hearts were calm and frantic at the same time.

Suddenly, there were fireworks sounds and colorful lights surrounding them, and they could hear people chanting happily in the background.

𝘖𝘩.

So it was New Year's already.

They kept their lips together for a few seconds as fireworks popped and formed colorful patterns in the sky. When they pulled away, their eyes were filled with longing and pure affection.

"You're stinky." Wade comments with a smile even though he keeps Logan close. Logan chuckles.

"Yeah, sorry."

"Come on. Let's get you home and make you a nice warm bath, peanut. Blind Al and Mary Puppins are missing you." Wade says while putting his arms around Logan's waist as he guides him their way home.

"Just them?"

"No." Wade replies. "Not just them."

[strangemaleswaps]

Strange Christmas Family Swap 2

Last Christmas I gave you my heart….or my body more like. A year ago on Christmas day, my family woke up to find we had all swapped bodies with each other. My sister Em with my mom, my brother Calvin and sibling Sam, and worst of all - me with my grandpa Boris.

It all happened because of a magical Christmas knickknack that broke when my grandpa dropped it. We were all stuck in the wrong bodies permanently. Calvin and Sam adapted the easiest, being similar ages and looks, though with completely different styles. Calvin went back to college in Sam's body, and somehow managed to convince everyone that all he did was shave his beard and lose weight. He did gain a good amount back, much to Sam's horror. Sam immediately shaved the beard off once they found out this was permanent, and got their ears repierced. Surprisingly, they didn't seem too preoccupied with losing weight, and seemed to embrace being chubby. They did start to shave all the chest hair off though.

Em reapplied to the same college she went to, under my mom's name, and actually got in. I guess she didn't mind how much older she was, and what people would think of her. Me on the other hand…well let's just say it'd be so embarrassing being a fat old guy in college. Not to mention how hard it would be walking to each class lugging around a huge belly. My joints were so tight as well.

I started living in his house, and surprisingly he actually let me, probably because he knew that if he tried to fight back, the neighbors would take my side because they wouldn't recognize him. I knew he got an apartment somewhere, but other than that, I didn't know anything about where he lived or what he'd been doing. God I hope he was at least taking care of my body…but I guess that didn't matter now that I was permanently stuck like this.

This year I was the one hosting, since my grandpa's house was much nicer than my mom's. Of course he never wanted anybody there before but now that it was mine, I was happy to have everyone over. My mom came over early to help cook the food since I would probably ruin the dinner otherwise.

“Ferris, this place is a mess! Do you ever clean up around here?”

“Sorry.” It was still weird seeing someone that looked like Em, but knowing it was my mom behind her eyes. Being so close to the real Em made it hard to take her seriously sometimes when mom scolded me. It probably felt weird for her too. I was in the body of her dad!

“And are these ramen wrappers on the floor? I guess you do live like a college student afterall.”

“Yeah. At least the place doesn’t smell like cigarette smoke anymore.” My grandpa was an avid smoker, and when I swapped, I quickly began craving cigarettes. I gave in eventually, but managed to quit a few months ago. I guess since the body was the smoker but the mind wasn't, it was a little bit easier to quit.

A while later I got a text. I unlocked my phone to see it was from Em. My heart sank when I read the message.

“Hey Ferris, I'm gonna be bringing my new boyfriend if that's ok?”

I showed my mom the text and she copied my worried look.

“New boyfriend? Did she mention him before? I think it might be too soon to invite him to Christmas.”

“I think she kinda already decided before she even asked. I think it'll be fine. I mean we've been like this for a year so it can't be that hard.”

“If you say so. We could just pretend to be each other.” I'd mostly started a new life and identity in the past year, but there still were some times I had to pretend to be my grandpa, like with his neighbors. It wasn't that hard, and I guess I could always pretend I was going senile or something if it comes to it.

Sam and Calvin soon showed up and we were waiting on Em and her boyfriend. When we got the text that they were on their way, my mom began cleaning up a bit around the kitchen area.

“Ferris, go tuck in your shirt.”

“But mom, I hate doing that. It…makes my gut hang out.”

“I know, I know. But just do it because it'll look nicer. It's not every Christmas we spend with someone we don't know. You want to make a good impression.”

“Ugh fine.” She was right though, we did want to make a good impression, even if our family was definitely weirder than you'd think. I headed to the bathroom to straighten up. When I looked into the mirror, it reflected a face that I now recognized as my own. It felt weird to think I used to hate seeing it, both on me, and on my grandpa, back when it was his. I wanted to grow a beard to cover the double chin and wrinkles, only to find out I really couldn't - it just awkwardly grew in patches. So I settled on clean shaven. I was an old man; it's not like I needed to impress anybody with my looks anyway.

I grazed my hands through my hair, or what was left of my hair anyway, and combed it back a bit. I then pushed in my gut with one hand in order to unbuckle my pants. With the way my gut just hung down, I'd gotten used to wearing long shirts that covered it up entirely. Tucking in my shirt highlighted it, but I really had to now so I took it, tucked it into my pants, and buckled them back up. I hated the way it looked, my belly seemed even more round and obvious. At least my belly was tucked into my pants instead of it hanging out.

I walked into the living room to find that Em and her boyfriend had already arrived. He was a regular college aged guy; must've had a thing for older women, or at least physically older women. He walked up to me to shake my hand. Definitely not something I was used to, having someone around my real age act so formal.

“Ah you must be Grandpa Boris right? Nice to meet you. I'm Aaron.”

“Er yeah nice to meet you too.”

“Em told me all about you guys. You seem like a fun bunch! Someone's missing though.” We all went a bit silent for a moment, but I needed to ease the awkwardness so I kinda spat out my thoughts.

“Oh uh yeah Ferris. My…grandson. Hes uh not coming.”

“Aw why not? Em said he was her favorite brother.”

“Uhh rude!” teased Calvin. Em spoke up to finish the answer.

“He's got his own things going on.”

“Ah shame. I'd love to meet hi-” Just then the door suddenly swung open, and standing in the doorway was none other than my grandpa - and boy, had he changed. I barely even recognized my old body! The signature slim muscle and abs I had were replaced with a chubby stomach contained by a blue shirt. How did he even get that big in just a year? What had he been eating?

“What's everyone looking at me for? It's Christmas! Show a little cheer for god’s sake!” he shouted. I can't believe he did this to me! At least he kinda got what he deserved. He was super proud of his hot body but it looks like he just couldn't keep up with the work needed to maintain it.

“Hey, I'm Aaron, Em's boyfriend. It's nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Nice to meet you.” He replied hastily. My mom suddenly interrupted.

“Well uh. The food is ready now everyone so feel free to grab a plate!” My grandpa rushed to the kitchen to get his before anyone else. He stacked a huge amount of food on his plate. I never realized how much of an appetite I had in my old body. Maybe that's why he gained weight so fast.

When he sat down, I noticed he reeked of cigarette smoke. I was so angry I wanted to tell him off right there and then, but I held it in because I didn't want to upset Em. So I kept quiet throughout dinner until Aaron tried to make conversation.

“So Grandpa Boris, how are you doing? I'm sure having a nice family like this must be wonderful.”

“Uh yeah, it's-”

“He doesn't know shit about having a nice family,” interrupted grandpa. I had enough.

“You know, if you want a nice family, you kinda have to BE nice first!” I shouted. Everyone went silent until he fought back.

“I AM being nice! I came here for dinner after all!”

“Yeah, only to stuff your fat face and get presents!” He looked as though he was defeated for a moment, but then started up again.

“Hey, it's not my fault you got a SHIT METABOLISM!"

“I worked out everyday to get that fit. What's your excuse?” Aaron whispered to Em, in between yelling.

“What are they talking about?”

“It's uh complicated.”

“Well uh I do have a present for you Em,” said Aaron, trying to ease the mood back into cheerfulness. At the word “present,” my grandpa suddenly turned his attention toward Aaron. Em opened the gift to find a little knickknack of an elf wearing a purple outfit. Definitely a weird color for a Christmas thing. It reminded me of the knickknack from last year.

“Well where's my present now?”

“Oh uh sorry Ferris! I only got one for Em.”

“Dad, you're not getting a single present this year!” my mom shouted.“

‘Dad?’ What is she talking about?” Aaron was confused now.

“Go to hell all of you!” Suddenly he grabbed Em's present and unlike last year, smashed it- on purpose.

“Grandpa, what the hell!” Em shouted. Aaron looked shocked.“Why are you calling him grandpa? I'm really confused now.”

“It's um…” started Em. “We uh swapped bodies last Christmas.”

“WHAT?” The next couple minutes we spent reintroducing ourselves.

“Oh shit. So you're your own mom? That's freaky. Very freaky.”

“So wait, the real Ferris is Grandpa Boris? Oh man that's gotta suck.”

“And I was super skinny before he trashed my body,” I replied.

“Well anyway. We should clean this mess up,” started Em. “I don't know why we-” Suddenly it felt like pressure was building up inside my head and I noticed everyone else except Aaron got wide eyed.

“Uhh are you all ok?” The pressure feeling built up until it suddenly exploded and felt like I was flying across the room. My sight went dark for a few seconds until it all stopped. When I opened my eyes I was sitting at the other side of the table, looking at myself.

“What happened?” asked Calvin. “Oh shit a beard!” He grazed his hands over his beard. “Not again!”

It was then that we all realized what had happened. We were all back in our own bodies! Except…I was fat. I looked down at my hands to see a familiar freckle to confirm that I was back in my own body.

“Well this is awkward,” said Sam. “We spend the last year building new identities only for everything to go back to normal. That knickknack really returned to us again!”

“Hey at least we look like ourselves again! Well…poor Ferris.” I felt like I was about to cry. I began heading towards the bathroom to see the damage my grandpa had really done. I looked in the mirror and the sense of security I felt when I saw my own face was quickly shattered when I saw how chubby my cheeks were, as well as the double chin I didn't have before. I took my shirt off to find that my abs were completely gone, replaced with a flabby belly that hung over my belt. I had a pair of jiggly man tits as well.

I was used to being fat, but at least when I was in my grandpa's body, I didn't feel as insecure because most old guys are fat anyway. But now? I was just a young guy who really let himself go.

Suddenly I heard a door slam, so I put my clothes back on to see what happened. My grandpa was gone.“Yeah, he's never coming over here again,” said my mom.

“He's just…”

“Too much?” I replied.

“Yep.”

“Well, no need to be so down in the dumps everyone!” started Aaron. “It's still Christmas! Even better, the whole new year new you thing will be pretty literal with all of you.”

“Again,” replied Sam with a laugh.

“Merry Christmas!”

[narcjsistx]

𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 | OS

kaiser micheal x fem reader ; words: 1.6k (1679)

coming from this event, eighth day, 25/12

𝐌𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 ; take a look, trust me!

plot: why kaiser was at your door the night between christmas eve and christmas day? why did he have a red package, even though you had broken up last month?

It was cold, very cold. Berlin had been covered in snow since the beginning of November, and things had gotten worse during the Christmas week, when the snow had also caused some damage due to the excessive amount. You loved the snow, so going to work with the white weather around you wasn't a sin, and above all it didn't bother you because you always covered yourself well with a heavy coat and an excessive amount of scarves; but now, with only your pajamas on, you were cold. You didn't know if you were colder because of the temperature or because of seeing Kaiser after a whole month, maybe the second one, but who knows

It was a while past midnight, at least half an hour; your friends had just left your house, after you had celebrated Christmas Eve all together, opened the presents and toasted. You were cleaning the living room when you heard the doorbell, and thinking you would find some of your friends who had forgotten something you went to the door calmly, completely confused instead of finding your ex, Kaiser Micheal

"...What the fuck are you doing here?"

Last month you broke up after a relationship that lasted three years, three years so intense that you couldn't even describe them if you had to: you met thanks to one of his teammates, one night in a bar after the team's victory, and two weeks later you were together as an actual couple. Maybe you had run, maybe not, but at the time it didn't take long for you to understand that you could work together, and so you decided to give yourself a chance. Less than six months later you were living in his house, keeping him company and most of all loving him. With Michael it had never been all roses and flowers, you argued like normal couples, but somehow you always came back to look for the other, like a magne. You went to his games, you cheered for him, and he cheered for you for your goals. You balanced each other out, and many of your friends joked that you were going to get married soon because only one could stand the other with a wedding in between

You actually thought so too, and probably he did too. But last month you had broken up, and even now you couldn't understand how he had the courage to tell you that he didn't love you anymore, if until a few hours before he was resting in your arms. And so, from that day on, you didn't want to know anything about him anymore, going back to live in your old apartment

But what the fuck was he doing here now? And why did he have a little box in his hand?. Thinking about this, you realized that it was his birthday, since it had already struck midnight; but wishing him a happy birthday? No, absolutely not, partly out of resentment and partly because you knew he didn't like celebrating his birthday

"I had to talk to you, or rather give you something. I saw your friends' cars and knocking suddenly while you were busy seemed a bit of a jerk... I waited out here for a few hours. And above all, I didn't feel like talking to you with them in front"

It was cold, damn cold, and you knew he didn't like the cold because of his past, where he had often been forced to sleep freezing as a child. But for you, had he waited? With this cold?

"Talk? Wasn't that enough the last time we talked?"

More than talking, the last time you did nothing but yell at each other. He said so many bad things to you, and you didn't even hold back

"No, it's not enough for me. I have to talk to you and give you something"

"I don't want anything from you, and you also said the last time that you wouldn't give me anything anymore because I don't deserve it, right?"

"Don't bring that moment back now"

"And why shouldn't I?"

The wound was still open, and you knew it would be for a long time. You couldn't lie and say you didn't love him anymore, damn it, it was the opposite; you certainly don't stop loving someone from one day to the next after three years of being together. You also knew that, somewhere in his heart, Michael probably felt the same, but that didn't justify him leaving you. You were angry, disappointed above all and sad

"Y/n, please, let me talk. You know I never talk in vain in serious moments"

He had never done it in three years with you, his charisma stopped when it came to talking about serious situations, knowing that he couldn't always throw everything into irony. You wanted to hear him talk, to understand what the fuck he wanted at such a time and especially with such a situation in between, but would that have been beneficial for you? Could you have let him talk?

"Hurry up. I'm cold"

"I try to be as fast as possible, I swear. I don't think I can explain to you how much I hate me for what I did to you, leaving you wasn't on the list of things to do with you, in fact, I don't even know how I could have done such a stupid thing. I'm an idiot, I really am, I'm like my father who as soon as he had all the happiness in his hands he let it slip away... and you know, maybe you're the only one who really knows, how much I don't want to be like that pig. I made a mess because I'm not used to having someone who really loves me, and when I do stupid things that push this person away from me, because I don't think I deserve it. I know perfectly well that you're the only one who cares a little about me, and I also know perfectly well that you're the only one I really care about, that I love in a way that's maybe even a little obsessive. I would like to give you something that I was planning to give you for Christmas if we had stayed together, but something went wrong... but I want to give it to you anyway, and ask you to think of us, because now I have no more doubts, I haven't had them for 3 years now and above all I didn't have them when I bought this"

Maybe you needed these words from him, even if you hated to admit that he already had you tied to his finger. From the day of the breakup until now you had always wanted to see him apologize, and now that you had him in front of you it didn't seem true: Michael wasn't someone who admitted his mistakes, he preferred to miss a goal rather than do this, he also hated showing himself weak in front of the people he cared about. And now he was doing it, both of them, in front of you, just to explain the situation to you

But what did he actually want to give you?

"Micheal... god, this is unexpected. I thought I was going to have to move on"

"Don't start, or at least decide whether to do so after I've shown you what I have in my hand. Think about it, because I have no more doubts"

You look down, Michael clears his throat before getting down on one knee, he who always told others to get down on their knees for him. You hear a small sigh, before the little box opens to reveal a ring, glittering and gold

"Y/n, Schatz, I had no doubts about asking you something so important, because I've met people, but there's only one who understands me, and that's you. I have a shitty personality and yet it doesn't seem to push you away from me, and for that I should thank you every day. You know perfectly well how much I don't like my birthday, yet somehow since we've been together you've made me learn to appreciate it at least a little, and now I would like to appreciate it more if you accept, because it's a gift that only you can give me. I wanted to ask you this to take our relationship to the next level, but the way things went I find myself forced to ask you to give me another chance, this time for life. Y/n, will you marry me?"

You tremble, because you don't know what else to do after a proposal like that. You look at him, and in his gaze you read a sincerity that you have never seen before, which shows how serious he is. You remain like that for whole seconds, unable to tell him what, you know, he wants to hear

"Micheal, my god... yes, yes I do, yes!"

Before he can get up and hug you, you throw yourself onto the cold floor with him, wrapping your arms around his neck as you feel his arms wrap tightly around your back, pulling you closer to him. Small tears begin to form at the edge of your eyes as you hold him perhaps a little too tightly because of the emotion. You hear him chuckle, as he runs his hand up and down your back, not giving you the chance to pull away

"You're an idiot, you really are"

"I know, but now you will be able to tell me until our last days, Schatz"

TAG: @natmagaesp ; @kittenish0 ; @x3nafix

[shhtickerbook]

Baby Feathers

Merry Christmas!

(Helluva Age regression ficlet that takes place post sinsmas)

I don’t see enough fics that have caregivers who want to try regressing!!! So I decided to fill that void and the soul destroying events of sinsmas gave me lots of agere fodder. have a lovely holiday everybody!!! Fic below!

Stolas had everything planned. It was new years Eve and both Stolas and Blitzø had the holiday just to themselves. Millie and Moxxie were spending the holiday with Millie’s family in Wrath, whilst Loona was going to another party at Beelzebub’s. Stolas had spent many a New Year’s Eve at insufferable galas, but there had always been one silver lining. Both himself and Via would slip away from the ball, where the two would sit on the roof of their mansion and watch the first new year’s moon come to rise. He still hadn’t realised that this would be the first year where they wouldn’t be able to share their tradition. He couldn’t stop thinking of Octavia, their last interaction cruelly playing on loop in his mind. His heart was breaking with every second, but at least he had Blitzø. If he hadn’t been grieving so painfully, maybe he’d be able to enjoy himself.

There was one aspect he found great comfort in though, and that was being able to take care of Blitzø. Over the past few months he’d been introduced to the Imp’s smaller side, which had taken a while for Blitzø to open up about it properly. He was a pretty headstrong character, and struggled s lot when it came to expressing any kind of vulnerability.

Stolas had actually found out by accident, with Blitzø regressing involuntarily after a bad night terror. Stolas’s heart had broke when he found his partner looking so afraid and vulnerable. Blitzø wasn’t able to really explain what was happening, but Stolas was already a parent, it was second nature to know how to comfort little ones after a bad dream. The next morning Blitzø had explained what happened, sometimes he found himself slipping younger in age, usually when he was stressed or was reminded of bad things. Especially since he lost his mother, she was the only person who treat him with gentle nurturing care. When he lost her, he never got to feel that again. So when he began to have these episodes, it became a part of himself he had to hide out of shame.

For a long time he continued to suppress this side of himself, pushing away all these childish longings. But he could only hold it back for so long until his body decided for him. When he did find out, Stolas was almost too supportive of it, finding this side of Blitzø absolutely darling. Lavishing him with toys, clothes and all kinds of things he never even considered trying. Stolas even found himself getting a lot out of caring for him too, it made him feel needed.

-

Blitzø had to admit that it felt great to not hide this side of him anymore. Stolas had officially seen every episode of that pony show, and helped Blitzø brush the manes of every single horse figurine he owned. But ever since the trial, neither Blitzø or Stolas had the time or the mental energy to take come time to relax.

Stolas had felt so guilty that in his current state he hadn’t been able to care for Blitzø, and had even collected a set of gifts for him to open from Sinsmas. On the day itself he’d set aside his little gifts so that he wouldn’t have to open them in front of the others. So he’d made the decision to surprise him with a “little sinsmas” on new years, when they knew they’d have the house all to themselves.

Stolas woke up early to get out the gifts he had stored away. Thankfully he had purchased these before he’d lost all of his money and possessions. But when he did get up, he felt awful. The former prince had slept terribly, tossing and turning as he once again replayed what had happened with Via. He was then cursed with unpleasant dreams that only tortured him further. All he wanted was his daughter, but she wanted nothing to do with him.

Regardless of how he felt, he pushed himself through it, today was for Blitzø. The imp had done so much for him recently, he had to pay it back somehow. He quietly looked through Blitzø’s wardrobe in search of some of his little clothes, choosing an oversized hoodie with some colourful horse motifs. It even had an adorable woollen mane that went down the hood. Last of all he collected a plastic box at the bottom of the wardrobe, stolas recognising it. Inside Blitzø kept all of his baby things, pacifiers, some teethers and other equally adorable equipment. It was adorned with multiple stickers, all in the horse variety.

As he entered back into the main room, stolas began to gather some ingredients for breakfast. The plan was to make Blitzø some oatmeal for breakfast, which was simple enough. Blitzø always liked it drizzled with cherry syrup, and if he was feeling little enough he’d even let Stolas feed him.

Stolas carefully arranged the gifts wrapped in coloured paper by the tree, flicking on the fairy lights for added effect. He loved the small touches of sinsmas, indulging in the little details that made it feel magic. Blitzø had mentioned how sinsmas wasn’t really a special thing when he was a kid, the circus would perform through the whole holiday. Which included an extra special sinsmas day show which was very popular, but it meant he never got to really enjoy the holiday.

He thought of a little blitz crouched by the tree, tearing open coloured parcels in glee. You couldn’t help but smile. As a final touch, he pulled the blinds open to let the light in. Such a simple action turned into a huge mistake. As Stolas glanced outside, his gaze was caught to the horizon. Peeking just through the clouds was the new moon, only barely visible. By tonight it would be hanging at the peak of the sky, even in daylight it was beautiful.

How could something so beautiful destroy him so painfully? Stolas remembered everything, his special tradition with his daughter. He thought of Octavia, sitting alone and watching the moon rise. The way she spat her words towards her father, looking like she genuinely despised him. Who was he kidding? It didn’t look like he hated him, she did hate him. Stolas just sank to the floor, his beak quivering as he felt tears building in his eyes. It was all too much. All he wanted was to hold his daughter in his arms again, but would that ever happen again?

she hated him.

she HATED him.

-

Blitzø turned over in bed, dozily reaching over into the empty space of his bed. He’d gotten so used to sleeping next to somebody again, so when he didn’t feel any feathers in his grasp, it pulled him out from his snoozing.

“Mmme- Stolas?”

He mumbled, eyes fluttering open. As suspected, Stolas wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Pushing himself up onto his elbow before rubbing his eyes, recently Stolas had been the one who stayed in bed. Blitzø would usually let him sleep in for as long as he needed, sometimes leaving a note if he had to leave for work.

With a yawn Blitzø pulled himself up, before hearing something from outside the room. It took him a second to realise in his sleep addled state, but he could clearly hear a sadly familiar sound of crying. Within a second he’d jumped from the bed and thrown open the door.

“Stolas? are you okay?”

In hindsight it was a pretty stupid question, especially when he found said bird on the floor of his sitting room. He was curled in on himself, sobbing bitterly. It was uncomfortably reminiscent of what he’d been like when Octavia had rejected him.

“Hey hey- what’s going on?”

Blitzø joined him on the floor, resting a hand over Stolas’s shaking back. Stolas flinched at the touch at first, but couldn’t help but fall into Blitzø’s hold. Blitzø could feel Stolas’s feathers quivering as he tried to control his sobbing. The Imp couldn’t help but notice that a lot of his little stuff was scattered across the room.

His box of pacifiers and that one hoodie he liked to wear, there were also some new gifts under the tree.

“I had planned to- I’m sorry, i just wanted to make today special for you.”

Stolas whimpered, feeling like he’d ruined everything. He thought he would feel better today, if he got to care for Blitzø. But right now owl felt as fragile as glass, but Blitzø held onto him tight and securely. It clicked as he realised what Stolas had been trying to do, his expression softening.

“Oh stolas, it’s okay.”

“It’s not! All I’ve done is mope around and you’ve had to do everything for me. Not to mention the money you’ve spent and the time I’ve taken up. I had it all planned, you deserved a break-“

It took him a little time to string together his response, tears continuing to dribble down his feathers. He felt pathetic, how was he going to care for a regressed Blitzø when he was this much of a mess? It furthered his suspicion that was just a complete failure when it came to any kind of caregiving.

“Stolas listen to me, it’s okay. It’s.. really sweet you thought of this.”

Blitzø gently tilted his beak to meet his face, the tearstained bird’s expression tugging something on his heartstrings. He looked around, spotting the half made breakfast and carefully arranged presents. All the effort he’d made, for him no less.

“I don’t deserve you.”

He chuckled, managing to pull the lanky heap of owl closer into his lap the best he could. His statement seemed to reactivate Stolas tears though, who cried intelligibly into his chest. It was the other way around, it was Stolas that didn’t deserve him.

Whilst Blitzø still wasn’t entirely sure on what had triggered this, it didn’t take an idiot to know it was related to Octavia. In the time Blitzø had known Stolas, he’d never seen him like this. The Goetian Prince was so broken, fragile. But thankfully Blitzø had some experience in that feeling already.

He let him cry it out for a few minutes, with the shoulder of his shirt becoming very wet. He ran his fingers up and down Stolas’s feathers, gently preening him as he murmured comfort. The sobs eventually died down into sad sniffling, but the grip around him still hadn’t broken. Although Stolas’s heart was breaking, Blitzø’s grip around him was at least keeping said shards in place.

As Blitzø rubbed his back, he was hit with a sudden idea. He felt a little guilty that Stolas had gone through all this trouble for him, especially as he wasn’t feeling anywhere near small. And as much as he cared for Stolas, he couldn’t fake his regression either. Anyways, he didn’t feel like he was the one need in comfort right now.

“Hey, here’s an idea. I know we’ve never talked about this before, but what if you let me take care of you today?”

Stolas stirred a little with a frown, peeling his crispy feathered face away from Blitzø’s chest.

“What do you mean?”

“You take care of me when I’m feeling low, why not let me baby you for once? You’re lookin’ like you need it.”

The more Blitzø thought about it, the more he wanted to give it a try. There was something about the forlorn bird in his arms that melted his heart a little. Was this how Stolas felt with him? Nah, he couldn’t he this cute.

“No, you’re my baby. I care for you, I care for people- it’s what I like to do.”

Stolas suddenly felt flustered, face lighting up bright red. He’d never even considered the idea of swapping roles before. Blitzø was his baby, never the other way around. He wasn’t sure if it felt right to him, he wanted to be the one caring for Blitzø.

“Yeah, and you do a great fuckin job at it. So why not let me return the favour, you might even like it?”

Blitzø teased as he gently pinched the owls red cheeks, already delighting in the idea. Stolas found himself wavering a little, especially with how shivery and weak he was. He looked over at the gifts guiltily, but Blitzø already had it covered.

“Look we could try it today, if you don’t like it, we’ll stop. We can save the gifts for tomorrow, and then you can have your turn babying me, sound okay?”

Blitzø sounded so sure that Stolas found it hard to disagree. Although it still felt very alien, he definitely appreciated this cuddling part right now. So in the end gave a defeated shrug, Blitzø’s face lighting up.

“You just relax and let me take care of everything, feathers.”

Stolas shook for a second, before burying his beak into Blitzø’s shoulder again. Fresh tears erupted seemingly for no specific reason. But this time there was a sense of catharsis that came with it, to be able to cry in safety. Was this how Blitzø felt when Stolas would comfort him whilst small? He hoped so, as it felt pretty damn good.

Blitzø began to rock him back and forth, kissing the crown of his feathers. He gave him a few more minutes to cry, Stolas had been forcing himself into long periods of numbness recently and clearly needed it. Eventually Blitzø shifted Stolas to the side a little, who whined at the movement.

“Lemme just move ya onto the couch, I can’t feel my fuckin’ legs anymore.”

With quite a bit of effort, Blitzø managed to lift the bird onto the couch. Unfolding the blanket over the armrest and tucking it around his skinny frame. Whilst no longer sobbing, Stolas had been reduced to the awkward hiccupy stage. Blitzø told ahold of his hand, squeezing softly to get his attention.

“Hey try and breathe a little, in and out.”

The imp demonstrated, and Stolas tried his hardest to follow. But he found himself falling back into the unhelpful gulping, even with Blitzø’s help.

“Here’s an idea.”

Blitzø turned and rifled through his little box, finding an unopened package. Blitzø himself still hadn’t used these ones as he didn’t like the colours. Stolas turned to see what Blitzø was doing, with his pupils pin-pricking when he spotted it. In his hands was a package of pacifiers, a pack of three different shades of lilac to dark blue.

“You’re doing a shitty job at breathing right now, try one of these. You’ll have no choice but to breathe a little slower.”

He spoke so casually, holding out a dark blue pacifier. Stolas had seen this kind of item many, many times now. But now when it was being presented to him, rather from him? It felt a little scary. Blitzø watched as stolas internally fought with himself, rolling his eyes.

“Cmon, open that beak for me, feathers.”

He used the pet name for the second time, which made Stolas melt a little. As if beyond his control he held his beak open, Blitzø placing the pacifier there before he could change his mind.

The sensation was certainly strange at first, the bird wasn’t really sure what to do with it. But his body was still hellbent on breathing hard, so he focused on trying to breathe nasally instead. Without realising he began to suck on the bulb, and breathed in and out. If it hadn’t been such sad circumstances, Blitzø would’ve definitely taken a photo. It was just too fucking cute. Instead he joined Stolas on the couch, still demonstrating his breathing in time to Stolas’s.

“Feels good doesn’t it?”

Stolas looked up at him lazily, his was face a little red self consciously. But he couldn’t lie, the rhythmic sensation of the pacifier was incredibly soothing. With each minute he understood just why Blitzø liked them so much. There was a cloudy fuzzy sensation in his head, one that forced him away from all the sad and scary feelings. It was a blissful escape, but it wasn’t numbing him the way his pills used to.

So he nodded at his partner, squeezing his hand back tight. They spent the next twenty minutes just cuddling, and Stolas honestly felt the calmest he had in months. Blitzø eventually had to pry the owl off of him to sort out breakfast, turned on the TV for Stolas. He considered what to put on, before setting on an incredibly corny fairytale movie about a princess. But it was worth it to see the way Stolas’s eyes lit up when it came on.

Blitzø made himself a cup of coffee, and poured one of Stolas’s weird fancy teas into one of his own sippy cups. Choosing the moonlight unicorn design, after forcing stolas to watch every episode of his horse show, Stolas had eventually chosen his favourite character. When he returned to the couch, Stolas shuffled over to curl into his chest again. The pacifier still hasn’t left his beak since placing it there, he looked undeniably adorable. Blitzø was just so happy to see him looking content for the first time in days. The two could just spend their day with each-other’s company, enjoying every moment.

-

Neither demon even made it to the end of the movie, the two of them passed out in a tangle of limbs. The bird with his head curled underneath Blitzø’s chin, the imp’s hand subconsciously still stroking his feathers. Blitzø had gotten so used to himself being the baby in their relationship, that he’d never considered how much he’d enjoy swapping places. The remainder of their day continued in a similar fashion, Blitzø leading Stolas along in hand. And to his surprise Stolas was a very quiet little, who didn’t speak much for the rest of the day.

It was different than when he was quiet when he was sad though, Stolas would still giggle if Blitzø said something funny and was clearly enjoying himself. Stolas just felt happy that he didn’t have to try and think of words right now, he could just be. He allowed Blitzø to dress him in some loose cuddly clothes, and even hand feed him little squares of pancake when he felt up to eating.

Blitzø loved learning more about this little side of him. And Stolas found himself embracing a part of himself he’d never even uncovered. They spent the day indoors, playing games and watching movies. In the evening when Blitzø was busy running a bath for him, Stolas couldn’t help but glance outside. The moon was beginning to rise in the early evening, himself and Blitzø agreed to head to bed before midnight. The whole new year’s celebration never interested him too much, he really only ever used it as an excuse to get wasted.

Stolas pulled the pacifier from his beak and dropped it to the floor. Feeling the fog of his small space drift away, he took in a deep breath. Slipping outside onto the balcony, he dared himself to look up at the moon. Giving anything just for one more moment with Octavia, wondering what she was doing right now.

“I know you hate me, and that you can’t even hear me- But I love you so very much.”

He spoke to himself quietly, not breaking eye contact with the rising moon. Hoping that just maybe Octavia could somehow get the message. He stayed there for a little while, not even realising the slow tears dripping down his face until he felt a hand on his. Blitzø didn’t say anything, he stood aside the Owl for a while until he stirred from his trance.

“I got your bath ready, even added a bunch of those bath nukes you like.”

“Bath bombs- you mean.”

Stolas couldn’t help but correct, although he still sounded sad. Blitzø held onto his hand and lead him back inside, finding the pacifier abandoned on the floor.

“Hey you still want this buddy?”

He held it up, unsure if Stolas was feeling completely big again. The owl looked at the object, clearly considering it. He watched the Imp as he stared up at him with genuine adoration. Instead of a verbal response, he just took the pacifier back and allowed himself to sink back into that comforting headspace. The Goetian prince stood tall above Blitzø, and to any old person they must’ve looked ridiculous. But Blitzø looked up at the tall owl and only saw a little baby bird, one that was in desperate need of some love and care.

“Cmon then baby feathers, I have a whole collection of rubber duck horses just waiting to play with ya-“

Merry Christmas y’all ❤️❤️❤️

[kmgkmg]

HELLO MERRY CHRISTMAS - LEE SEOKMIN

word count: 2.1k…

pairing: seokmin x gn!reader

synopsis: a situationship with seokmin turned in to something more with the help of some mistletoe...

genre/s: fluff, non-idol!au, friends-to-lovers

warnings: suggestive and flirty but nothing actually happens.

rating: pg

a/n: long time since i wrote so i might be a bit rusty! this has been a v loose idea for the past year or so but inspiration hit so i wrote it tonight! the title is based off of hello merry christmas by gsoul! happy holidays :D

“I’m telling you, it needs more flour,” Seokmin whispers at a volume loud enough for you to hear. Despite the objections, his hands held the bowl in place sturdily while you fervently mixed the cookie batter.

You frown and momentarily stop mixing. “And I’m telling you, we’ve already added nearly twice the amount of flour than the recipe called for.”

Seokmin stops nagging, realizing he was probably the cause of your failed batch of cookies. Joshua’s birthday party is less than a day away and while you got your present for Joshua weeks ago, Seokmin’s present was as good as non-existent due to delayed shipping. So here the two of you were, baking sweets for your friend’s birthday as it snowed outside. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

You stop whisking, finally breaking your focus on the bowl. As you think of an answer for him, you can’t help looking at the sad creation in the bowl in front of you. “We should just scrap this Min…” 

He resists the urge to squeeze your shoulder. Well, if he had the choice he would hug you tight, telling you that your attempt to help was enough and never let go. Especially after seeing how cute you became every time you focused on something. But, he wanted to encourage you, not scare you off. Silence fills the room. Minus the occasional meows from your cat. Seokmin frowns as guilt creeps up since he knew you worked a full-day before offering to help him. You look up to him, curious of his unusual quietness.  

He snaps out of it, trying his best to not act like a complete fool from your sudden eye contact. “But you were so passionate about this recipe, Y/N!”

You nod, agreeing and suspecting nothing. It is true you wanted to try this recipe out. Your eyes drift to the clock: 6:47. “Can you go to the store and get some more chocolate chips? They say the third time’s a charm, right?”

Seokmin flashes a big smile your way before ruffling his hands in your hair. “Exactly! I will be right back.” 

Without even getting a chance to thank him, he’s put on his shoes and coat and ran out the door. You smile to yourself while throwing away the disastrous cookie dough. Despite practically being on death’s door when you came home, seeing him enter your apartment instantly made your fatigue fade. Determined to keep the first batch, you turn from the counter to look into the oven. 

After confirming their status, you double check the timer on your phone. Seeing the remaining time, you plop down on the couch. For the first time since eight this morning you were able to relax, not before noticing Seokmin’s scarf. You text him, worried about him turning cold. 

You have to get better at dressing warmly! Min, the easiest way to catch a cold is not dressing warm enough :(

Within seconds your text is read and he replies: The chocolate chips are in possession, checking out now. It’s crazy busy because of Christmas though.

That is not the main point, Lee Seokmin! 

Okay, how’s this: If I get sick, then you’ll just have to nurse me back to health  ;) 

You close the messages app, still processing his text. For safe measures,  you toss your phone to the opposite side of the sofa. You were still unable to deal with his flirting. No matter how many times you hang out, he somehow manages to leave you flustered. You reasoned that it was his personality and that he acted that way with everyone, but seeing him with your other friends made you doubt that conclusion. Sure, he is playful and lovable regardless of who he interacts with. But the flirty vibes that you picked up from him seemed to be exclusively directed at you. Then again, all your friends knew you were prone to getting ahead of yourself. You brushed off your thoughts, vowing to overthink less in the new year. 

Maybe calling Joshua to see his favorite cookie flavors would be productive. The phone rings a few times before you hear a familiar voice. “Joshua, hey, um, if you were to receive any food what would you want?”

Joshua chuckles, knowing your motive behind the question. “To be honest, I don’t like being gifted food. I can’t really mask if I hate the taste of something and I know how much effort goes into cooking, you know?”

You’re speechless, wanting to deny reality. All you can think about is the past almost two hours that you and Seokmin spent baking. “Yeah, totally!” You squeak out. 

“Didn’t you brag you got my gift like a month ago, though? What’s up with this last minute plan?” Joshua asks, his amusement evident in his voice. 

“Hey, my gift is killer, don't worry. Seokm-” Your hand flies to cover your mouth, shocked by your carelessness. 

“Seokmin? I didn’t realize the two of you talk like that.”

“I mean we hang out more these days…but he hangs out at your place all the time too, right?” 

“Hold on. Seokmin has turned down hanging out the last couple of times me, Seungkwan, and Mingyu have tried to get him to come out. We figured he wanted some time alone…so you’re telling me he’s at your place now?” 

You cover your mouth, realizing you shared something you shouldn’t have again. “He probably had reasons he canceled on you guys. He’s always talking about that time you all went to LA and stayed at your family’s house. You know, I um-I think my timer’s going to go off in a minute for this thing I’m waiting on and uh-”

“My bad, Y/N. I didn’t mean for this to turn into an interrogation. Seokmin usually doesn’t hide things so I guess I just wasn’t expecting the two of you to be so close.” 

“No no, you don’t need to apologize! After all, your birthday party is tomorrow. I wasn’t lying about my timer though, it has about three minutes left…”

“Uh huh. I know you said you got me a present, but you wanna know a better gift you can give me?”

You’re skeptical of where this was leading to. “What’s that?”

“The details of whatever the two of you have going on.” 

“Prepare to be disappointed. I mean there’s nothing going on besides me being delusional about everything he does and says.” 

Joshua laughs whole-heartedly. “I doubt that’s the case. See you tomorrow, Y/N.” 

You mutter a small ‘mhm’, before hanging up. 

“Time to check the cookies…” You trail off, talking to yourself.

Seokmin waits in line, tapping his foot anxiously as more time passes and you don’t reply to his text. Putting his phone away in his coat pocket, he decided to hum along to the music playing on the market’s overhead speakers. Spending Christmas night with each other means nothing. That’s what situationships do, right? As cheesy as it sounds, he liked you ever since you were in college together. The two of you took a literature course together and ever since, he was unable to get you out of his head. Your circles didn’t overlap much until Joshua befriended him in senior year and you showed up to a party that his house threw. He knew he was being foolish acting this way, when you never reciprocate his feelings. Anytime he mustered up the courage to flirt, you would change the subject. Shaking away his thoughts, he placed his item on the conveyor belt. 

Seokmin headed towards the store’s exit, already preparing to venture out into the snow once again. As he exited the store, an employee stood at the entrance. 

“Happy Holidays! We’re currently giving flowers to people who donate for the local animal shelter, would you be interested in donating today?”

His eyes scan the flowers, locking in on the roses sprinkled with glitter. As if hypnotized, he grabs money from his wallet before handing it to the employee. “The glitter roses, please.” Roses might be cliche, but they are classic for a reason. And being non-toxic to cats is a plus. 

He hypes himself up walking back, holding the flowers in one hand and the chocolate chips in the other. The store was not even a ten minute walk from your place. As he enters your apartment building, he takes deep breaths on the elevator. Finally, he opens your door. “Look what I found outside your door!” 

You crank your neck from your fixated gaze on the oven to try your best and see what Seokmin had in his hands. He scurried inside in a hurry and managed to be by your side in no time. He was towering over you, with his shoes and coat still on. The only thing that changed from the time he left is that now he’s completely covered in snow. Well that, and his cheeks and nose were cutely rosy red from being outside for so long. Before even getting to see what was in his hand, concern overcame you. 

“Wait, I didn’t realize it was a snowstorm outside! Oh my god. Hurry and take off your clothes, I’ll warm up some hot tea for you to drink!” You run to your tea collection and fill your electric kettle with water before hitting the start button. 

Seokmin breaks out into the largest smile humanly possible, making his cheeks hurt from it. He attempts to get your attention. “Y/N.”

You take the cookies out of the oven, placing them on the stovetop. Although Joshua would not be getting them, they were cooked to absolute perfection. Your attention shifts to the kettle which is now boiling. Opening the kitchen cabinet door next to the oven, you grab a mug for Seokmin. 

“Y/N?”

“You like goji tea, right? I remember you getting it when we went to that boba place a couple weeks back. Goji tea is full of vitamin C too, so it’ll help boost your immunity!”

Seokmin turns away and fakes a cough, trying to conceal his blushing face from you. Faking a cough was not a smart move though as you worry about him even more. 

You put the mug down next to the kettle and turn to him. Your hand moves on its own as you lightly turn his head to look at you. With your free hand, you place the back of your hand to his cheek, then to his forehead checking for a fever. 

He’s burning up, but it’s not the harsh weather outside to blame. 

“You’re so warm! Can you pour the water into the cup? The goji berries are already in there. You can add ginger for your throat too, let me go see if I have a hoodie for you-”

Seokmin puts the chocolate chips on the counter. He softly takes your hand away from his face and holds it. “Y/N.”

He shows you the roses, having your worry dissipate and turn into confusion. You tilt your head and finally look at him, breaking away from your auto mode. “What-? I mean, why?”

“Sorry to scare you. But I’m not sick, I just turn into a complete mess whenever I’m around you,” he confesses. 

He shyly hands you the flowers and you – still confused – look for a vase to put them into. As you take the flowers out of their wrapping, a familiar plant with white berries falls out. Mistletoe? You decide to be as bold as him, having the past couple of weeks play in your mind you realized you weren’t being delusional. This person in front of you liked you. He was practically screaming it.

You look back at him as he’s leaning his weight against the counter. You clear your throat before saying, “I’m glad I’m not the only one that can’t function properly…” 

Seokmin’s eyes dart up at yours, expecting you to be by the flowers. To his surprise you are awfully close to him, holding the mistletoe in between your heads. You lean in and kiss him to which he does the same, instantly warming up from your touch. He wraps one arm around your waist and cups your face with his other hand. The two of you enjoy the moment for a while more.

Separating from each other, he scratches the back of his head and asks, “Well, would you be okay with being the person I kiss under the mistletoe next year too?”

“What about the years after that?”

“We’ll see,” he shrugs, smiling and kissing you another time.

also here is the overall playlist for this fic! i feel it is very fitting for the szn and wanted to share it for those that would like to listen! happy holidays!

[football-and-fanfics]

Christmas Morning - Trent Alexander-Arnold

Who: Trent Alexander-Arnold Summary: A Christmas morning marriage proposal Word count: 1119 Warnings: none

For weeks he'd been carrying the ring around in his pocket, just waiting for the perfect moment. Trent always felt that proposing to you needed to be perfect. Not because you demanded that, but simply because you deserved nothing less from him. Perfect for you, though, wasn't some huge spectacle or big party, it rather was something intimate with just the two of you.

Trent had had ideas over the past weeks, but when it came to the actual moment, it just hadn't felt right and he'd let the opportunity pass by.

Christmas Eve had come and gone, spent wonderfully with friends, and still that ring was in its box instead of around your finger. It had gotten to the point where Trent now couldn't catch sleep. Lying on his back in bed and staring up at the ceiling, his mind raced over new possibilities on how and when he could propose to you.

Trent slowly rolled his head on his pillow, glancing to the side where you slept soundly beside him. Words could not describe how much he loved you, and it bugged the hell of him that he couldn't seem to find the perfect moment to finally pop the question.

Trent shifted his gaze back to the ceiling. It would be Christmas morning soon, which you would spend together. Perhaps he would find the right moment then after all.

---

Trent had eventually fallen into an uneasy sleep. His dreams were filled with failed attempts at proposing or you turning him down.

It was your warm hand on his bare chest which finally woke him up. He looked around blearily for a moment. He still lay on his back, apparently having fallen asleep during his endless staring at the ceiling.

"You're restless," you mumbled. Trent swallowed hard, unable to tell you the truth, but wanting nothing more. "Yeah, uh... weird dream." You soothingly rubbed circles over his chest with your hand. He hummed softly, savouring the feeling. "It's snowing, by the way." An excited grin spread across your face. "Is it really?" Trent sat up, looking out your bedroom window at the white world outside and the snowflakes still falling. "Nice!"

You stepped out of bed and slipped into a bathrobe and some sweatpants. "I'm going to put your presents under the tree, make us some breakfast, and then I want to build a snowman." Trent chuckled at the excited twinkle in your eyes, as you trotted out of the bedroom and down the stairs.

Trent stepped out of bed, too. He put on a hoodie and also a pair of sweatpants. He hesitated. This snow was a gift he hadn't been expecting, but might finally make for an opportune moment for his proposal. Almost instinctively, Trent took the small box with the ring from its hiding place inside his bedside drawer, and hid it in the pouch of his hoodie.

---

As Trent stepped into your living room, the large windows offered a spectacular view of your snow-covered garden. His gifts for you were already under the Christmas tree, and you were just placing your gifts for him there as well.

For a moment, Trent just stood on the doorstep to your living room, watching you. Even with a ghastly, candy cane pink bathrobe on, oversized fluffy socks on your feet, and hair tied into a messy bun, you still were the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. And he was the lucky man to be by your side.

"Open that one first." Trent stepped into the living room, pointing to a medium-sized package wrapped in golden wrapping paper and with a red bow on top. "Are we opening presents yet?" You looked questioningly at him. He smirked. "Trust me, you'll want to open that one." You quickly took the package in your hands. "Oh, now you've got me curious."

You carefully peeled the bow off the package and stuck it in your hair, which made Trent chuckle softly. You meticulously plucked loose the sticky tape until the wrapping paper fell away. "Oh, you found it!" You gasped when you saw your present. It was a beautiful reddish brown scarf you had fallen in love with months ago, but which had been sold out almost everywhere since then. You knew Trent had gone to great lengths to get you this.

Trent stood a few feet to your side, in the middle of the living room, watching you glow with happiness as you unwrapped his present.

And suddenly he knew... This. This was the moment he had been waiting for all those weeks that ring had been sitting in his pocket. And now, with you sitting by the Christmas tree, in the comforts of your own home with just the two of you, and with the beautiful backdrop of snow still falling onto your already snow-covered garden, all the puzzle pieces fell into place.

Almost in a trance-like state, Trent reached into the pouch of his hoodie and pulled out the small box with the ring.

"I... I've got something else for you as well," he stammered nervously. You looked around at him, startled slightly by the sudden change in his voice. One look at him betrayed his nervousness, and the small box in his hands quickly explained why. "Oh... my god..." Your voice chocked up immediately as you slowly rose to your feet. You instantly recognized this for what it was.

Trent gulped a few times to find the breath to say what he wanted to say. "I'm not going to make a big speech," he finally started. "Because... no words can describe how much I love you and what you mean to me. I just know, with every fibre of my being, that I want to spend the rest of my life with you." His words were interrupted by a quiet sob of his own, but he quickly recollected himself. "So, I... I hope you feel the same way, and..." Trent slowly lowered himself onto one knee in front of you, holding out the ring. "Will you marry me?"

You clasped your hands over your mouth, tears of happiness streaming down your face. "Yes!" You exclaimed without any hesitation. Trent just had the time to stand up again, before you flung yourself at him and kissed him passionately.

"I was so nervous," Trent chuckled in relief once you released the kiss. He took the ring from the box and slipped it onto your finger. The fit was perfect and the ring absolutely stunning. "You thought I was going to say no?" You asked in surprise. "No, no, not that," Trent answered quickly, "I was so worried I wouldn't be able to find the perfect moment to actually propose." "Oh, sweetie." You lovingly cupped his face between your hands. "Don't worry, it was absolutely perfect."

Writing masterlist

[women-in-ssports]

FOREVER AND A DAY

Ch 3

Are you Gay?

AZZI POV

As Azzi scanned her room for what felt like the millionth time making sure she had everything she needed for the day, her mind kept picturing the list with her name on it. The varsity list, as a freshman no less. She didn’t tell her parents because even though her name was on the Varsity list didn’t mean she was on varsity. It just meant she was practicing with them today to see how she did. The nerves were more than set in, no freshman in the history of the basketball program has made varsity. Azzi being the first was to crazy of a thought to think about.

As she walked down stairs she made sure to smooth her face into neutrality with a hint of nervousness. Exactly what her parents would expect from her going into the last day of tryouts. Quickly grabbing her lunch off the counter she gave her parents quick hugs and ran for the bus she was already late for.

Sitting in math her friend Alyssa came up to her rather nervously.

“Hey Azzi!” Alyssa spoke without meeting her eyes. “Do you know that transfer girl, Paige you have been hanging out with”

“yes” Azzi answered matter of factly, searching Alyssa’s face but not saying anything more

“Do you know if she’s gay? Because I would really like to ask her out!”

Azzi’s eyes shot up to meet Alyssa’s wondering ones. A pit of something caught in her chest that she couldn’t quite pinpoint but didn’t miss a beat in her response to Alyssa. “I’m not sure, I can ask if you want!”

“Really! Aww thank you Az!” Alyssa squealed as she gave Azzi a quick hug and went back to her seat

PAIGE

Walking into lunch, she spotted Nika in line already and made a bee line to join her before a teacher could tell her to go to the back. Once they got their food they found Caroline at the back table near the windows they had taken as their own the last few days.

Sitting down, Paige felt everyone’s eyes on her and she already knew the questions before she lifted her head. “I feel fine, it’s not like we are actually on Varsity, they just want us to practice with them today.”

“Sure Twin”, Nika grinned as she playfully hit Paige with her shoulder. “I’m serious!” Paige protested holding her hands up in a giving up motion. “Speaking of Varsity girls,” Aubrey said as her eyes lifted past Paige and Nika, “hey superstar” she said with a wide grin directed at Azzi. The blush already visible on Azzis cheeks (as she shot Aubrey a look that said please stop as she reached past Paige to place her tray down beside Aubrey.)

Following Azzi movement with her eyes, Paige thought it was weird she didn’t just walk around the table and take a seat. But when she turned to ask Nika something about their science homework she felt a hand on her shoulder. “Can I talk to you for a second” “of course” Paige shot up not meaning to move so quickly, bumped Azzis side, quickly grabing her hips before she had a chance to fall. “Um thanks” Azzi said her head still faced down where Paige couldn’t quite see her eyes. “Let’s go over by the stairs” She said turning on her heels not looking up to see if Paige was following. But of course she was.

Paige without a second thought grabbed Azzi hand the minute they got to the stairs. “It’s going to be okay. If we play like we did yesterday we should be good. We already have such a good connection at that was on Day 2. I know Varsity as underclassman is scary but I think we actually have a shot and if not we will be amazing on JV until it’s ou….” Azzi pulled her hand from Paige’s stopping her rant. Just as Paige looked up she noticed a shift in Azzis mood. “Oh no Azzi, I’m sorry did I say something” “No Paige, sorry” Azzi realizing this grabbed paige hand and placed it back in hers “I wanted to ask you a personal question and I didn’t want to ask it infront of everyone. Are you Gay?” Paige couldn’t help herself she snorted, multiple times. “Who’s asking” Paige said once she got her self in check enough. “Well my friend asked me in math today, and I said I would ask you.” “We’ll tell your friend I’m flattered, but no” Paige said with a small smile on her face. “Okay I will” Azzi replied

As they walked back to the table Paige was besides herself why didn’t she tell the truth. What friend was asking. Was it really a friend or was it Azzi. Wait why did she care if it was Azzi asking or not. Why did she just lie to Azzi, it’s not like people didn’t know, or she was ashamed. Why did she lie to Azzi. Azzi.

AZZI

Getting up to throw her trash away she caught eyes with Alyssa a few tables down. She shook her head no hoping to keep the conversation at that and not have to explain further, but to Azzis disappointed Alyssa waived her over. Taking in a big calming breath Azzi walked over to the table Alyssa was sitting at. “What did she say exactly?” Alyssa asked eyes big with question. “She said she was flattered but no, she’s not gay” Azzi responded, adding in a quick “Sorry Lyss” to the end. “It’s okay Az, worth a shot in the dark with her, let me know if she changes her mind” Alyssa adds as Azzi turned to walk back to her table.

“Was that your friend?” Paige asking jokingly as Azzi sits back down at the table. “Actually yeah” Azzi answers looking up to see as Paige turned to get a better view of Alyssa. (Humm Azzi thought, if she’s not interested why does she care so much what she looks like, a bit of something Azzi would never describe as jealousy built in her chest) “How’d she take the news?” Paige asked with a hand over her heart. “Horribly” Azzi answered, “poor girl wont ever recover, maybe send a fruit basket” Paige broke into laughter, “you’re horrible Azzi” “I’m just teasing Paige, but she did say she will hold out hope for you just in case”

This time both girls busted out laughing, catching each other eyes for a second to long with a look neither understood. Broken a moment later by the bell signaling the end of lunch

[triptychgrip]

So sorry to ask @arom-antix but do you think you (or someone else, if you see this first) could send me screenshots of thegirlwhorideslikeasamurai’s post? I am now blocked, so can’t see their analysis for myself 🙃🙃🙃

The topic of plagiarism reminds me of something I’d refrained from including in my earlier post which, in my opinion, is a tendency as damaging to fandom as their trying to dictate how others enjoy the source media: their preference for competition over fostering community

…even when they have posted very openly about wanting to feel like a more rooted part of the fandom.

This actually gets at something you already touched upon @arom-antix and I love how you framed it:

“And considering Samurai believes their interpretations are the most correct according to canon and that anyone who doesn't share those views is illiterate (I can't find that screenshot rn, you're free to doubt my claim), shouldn't it be good that Vic came to the same conclusions? Doesn't that mean that Samurai's analysis is being backed up and that Vic is not illiterate? But Vic's analysis gained more traction and that's apparently enough to accuse the fandom of being a waste of time and energy (Fig. 22).”

I’ll mention a similarly telling example of the focus on traction/ the tendency towards competition: thegirlwhorideslikeasamurai made a post during the past summer, I believe that (paraphrasing) said something to the effect of: “when you plan to post something only to discover that someone has already gone ahead and posted nearly the exact same thing, it makes you wonder why you even bother, sometimes”

I’ll be honest, I found this line of thinking very bizarre, and even more bizarre to readily admit.

Because if you profess to care so much about canon compliance while also feeling that nobody is capable of presenting the kind of intellectually based discourse you really want to see more of, why is someone else posting about something you share interpretations around such a bad thing?

Might it be because they did it first?

I think this honestly goes beyond “well I spent a lot of time developing the post and now that’s all a waste”. Because here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be a waste, depending on your attitude.

Shouldn’t you feel happy that someone else is analyzing things the way you do? Can’t that be a platform to foster a connection and maybe even a friendship (i.e. “I noticed your analysis really resonates with my own headcanons, would you be open to talking about them?”)?

Now, maybe they in fact did reach out to that person via DM’s or a non-public forum, but given the things I’ve already seen people bring up, I highly doubt they did. Because as has become increasingly clear to me, their main drive seems to be to preference appearing relevant over cultivating connection.

And before I get accused of speaking in absolutes, I’ll say that it’s likely true that thegirlwhorideslikeasamurai was indeed genuine on the occasions they’ve said they want more fandom friends/community.

However, it has always read to me that those statements were extremely conditional, and left many things unspoken like: “I want community, as long as I am perceived as the most relevant. Community, but only if I am the foremost authority figure, the person who posts first, and comes out looking like I have the most unique thing to say.”

(If you can’t already tell, I have some long-harbored frustration around this…mostly due to my making excuses for them for far too long.)

I remember a post they made shortly before going on a social media hiatus in which they mentioned (again, paraphrasing) feeling like they are the antipode of fun.

I can’t remember the exact wording, but it was essentially a very vulnerable post about feeling like the odd one out in the fandom, and a general struggle to make friends. I believe I had commented to them with something sympathetic — if anyone who they haven’t blocked wants to look this up and verify, feel free.

But what I wish I would have added had I been more brave is that a really valuable opportunity for making friends could be to engage in conversations with people from a place of curiosity. It’s like you’ve said so well already, @arom-antix : come at things not from a desire to prove anyone wrong — nor in order to come out looking like you’re the only one with something worth saying — but because you genuinely value the opportunity to connect with others around something you’re both so passionate about

Hey, just wanted to reach out to say that I found you pointing out and calling this person was really great and you shouldn't have apologized. It was incredibly true what you said, and to be honest it seems out of touch with the reality of a great deal of the japanese fandom, the nuances and their culture. Also, it was as you pointed out, extreme and may I say rude. I want to mention too that the way it was written, as if entitled of the knowledge and the 'explanation' made it all worse in context of the 'fucked up'. The original poster always gets away by using the 'well-written academic'' statement of their 'metas' as an excuse to do or say and make everyone else agree and if not, uses victim narrative and discourses exactly selecting wording for people to agree on it or feel bad.

I don't know if they tagging you in the way they did made you reblog and apologizing/backing up, but no one thought bad about you pointing it out. On the contrary, a lot of people had been bullied and discriminated by this person when they called them out/disagreed going onto lenghts of sending their friends to harass people, and the other persons can't even defend themselves because they are effectively blocked. To quite a few people in the fandom has been done, even accusing them as 'acephobes' (when they're not) or even Nazis by spreading lies. So yeah, I just wanted to say that. I think you were right to call them out publicly.

Thank you very much for this ask. To be completely honest I agree with everything you said here and don't actually feel bad about pointing anything out. I mainly apologised because I didn't want any potentially poor phrasing from my side to cause unnecessary hostility and because I myself have gripes with this person's behaviour but didn't want to cause a scene.

My honest opinion is that they have a serious issue with taking accountability for their own mistakes and highly overestimate their own intellect. If you're reading this, @thegirlwhorideslikeasamurai, sorry if I seem harsh, but it's true. I saw your post lamenting how you're the only academic meta writer / fan in the fandom and I didn't interact then because I honestly do not care enough to start that drama but with the information Blonndiec has just given me, I think it's necessary that someone calls you out.

You're not an academic. You're not beyond the mental capabilities of other fans. You're actually incredibly childish in your metas and analyses and I am not kidding when I say that I was halfheartedly writing essays more academic than every analysis I've seen from you when I was barely a teenager. I don't know how old you are and I frankly don't care. You're not as clever as you think you are.

Also, don't think I didn't notice that you didn't reblog my correction (link here to my correction and here to their "response" for those who didn't see that exchange) of your post so that you could control what your followers saw of the exchange. You're the opposite of an academic. You control information to tailor the narrative, you don't cite your sources properly if at all, you don't format your posts in anything close to how an academic analysis would be, you make unbased claims, you reference posts and canon material without in any way indicating where that information is from, you reference your own (equally unacademic) metas and your conclusions from them without indicating what post it's from or that it's your own theory this new one is based on and instead present it as a common fact, and I could go on and on and on. Your posts are also riddled with logical fallacies and you talk in absolutes and opinions when there's no canon basis to claim such things. I'm sorry, but that's not academic in the slightest.

To be clear, you don't have to be an academic to post on the Internet. You don't have to be anything at all. You could up front be a genuine idiot with no remorse and that's fine. But when you claim to be an academic and also put down the rest of the fandom for not being on your level, you have to be able to back that up. It'd still make you sound like a prick but at least your arrogance would have a basis. It currently does not.

I haven't personally seen the discussions that Blonndiec is referencing and I'm not going to claim anything definitive (because that would be unacademic of me, take notes) but if what they're saying is true and did happen as described, which I have empirical, if anecdotal, evidence to believe could very well be (a friend of mine has personally been blocked by you after they criticised you without actually mentioning your name which I of course can't prove is the reason for the block but the timing is awfully convenient), you should know that you should be ashamed of yourself.

If there's context missing, feel free to enlighten me and call out any incorrect accusations. You have every right to defend yourself. However, I encourage you to cite your sources since you're such an academic. If you don't, then it's just your word against Blonndiec and anyone else who might comment's word and that doesn't prove anything. Don't misunderstand, acephobia and nazi rhetoric should absolutely be called out but only if it's actually happening. False accusations can ruin lives. I hope you know that.

I'm not a fan of calling people out publicly and, again, thank you for this ask, Blonndiec. But considering many of the issues I've personally seen and those I've been informed of by second hand sources were posted publically, I don't really feel bad about calling this out. I could do a full breakdown of just the insulting "academic" comments alone and how there's no academia to be found in said academic metas and, Samurai, if you give me reason to, I will show exactly what I mean point by point (and academically just to give you an example of even low level academia).

If you respond to this, do it in a reblog. That's what a real academic would do. If I'm wrong and you can prove it, you'd have no reason to not show my post in your rebuttal. If I'm right, you'd have every reason to be upfront about your mistakes and how you intend to rectify them. There's nothing wrong with being wrong but there's a lot wrong with refusing to admit to it in a way that lets others peer review you (academic thing, look it up) and come to their own conclusions about the situation. That's what you did when you just @'ed me instead of reblogging my response. A true academic wouldn't hide a peer review. You'd know that if you were one.

I swing in many academic spaces and yet that doesn't make me any kind of expert and I don't claim to be one because I'm not. But since you want to be one so badly, reblog this with a response and show us all how smart you are. I'm dying to know what your academic take on this is.

[aller-geez]

I’ll Be Home For Christmas

What’s this? Geezie actually has a CHRISTMAS FIC written ON CHRISTMAS? This is unheard of 🤓

A little more than 4k words, Ofc it’s more Remi torture, based on this prompt~

***side note, the place mentioned that Remi is going back home to, (Anseyn), is part of the universe that I’ve been building for the past few months called Hiraeth, and I’ll eventually get around to posting more about it, but for now, that’s all you get 😬 pls enjoy, and happy Honda days 🖤🖤🖤

The call came on a dreary evening, the sky outside dim and gray as snowflakes drifted lazily to the ground. Remi was propped up in a too-small hotel bed, his long legs stretched awkwardly over the edge, and his head tilted against the lumpy pillow. His radioactively green eyes, normally sharp and bright, were dulled by exhaustion and fever. The tissues scattered around him, damp and crumpled, told the full story of his misery.

Levi’s concerned voice came through the phone. “Remi, I’m serious. You sound awful. Just stay there and rest, okay? I don’t want you making yourself worse trying to get back for Christmas.”

Remi sniffled thickly, his nose so clogged it made breathing a chore. His voice, hoarse and painfully congested, broke as he tried to argue. “I’b fide,” he croaked, though he clearly wasn’t. “I cad bake id. Id’s Christbas, Levi. I bissed you.”

“You don’t sound fine, Remi,” Levi said gently. “It’s a nine-hour flight. Then a layover. Then another four-hour flight. Then three hours of driving. Please, just—”

“I’m cobig,” Remi interrupted stubbornly, coughing harshly into the crook of his arm. It was a wet, rattling sound that made even him wince. “Dod’t try to talk be out of id. I’ll be hobe by Christmas.”

Levi sighed on the other end of the line. “Alright,” he relented, though his tone was laden with worry. “But promise me you’ll be careful. I’ll have everything ready for you when you get here.”

That night was restless.

Remi tossed and turned in the unfamiliar bed, trying desperately to find a position where his head didn’t throb and his sinuses didn’t feel like they were filled with cement. Every time he managed to drift off, his stuffy nose betrayed him, forcing out a loud snort or whistle that woke him with a start. His fever left him both shivering under the blankets and drenched in sweat, unable to get comfortable for more than a few minutes.

By the time his alarm blared at 4:30 a.m., signaling the start of his long journey home, Remi was already wide awake—if "awake" could describe his feverish, half-lucid state.

The airport was a blur of noise and fluorescent lights. Remi’s black shaggy hair was damp with sweat as he lugged his carry-on through security, his broad shoulders hunched as he fought the chills wracking his frame. His nose was an unrelenting source of misery, dripping constantly despite the tissues he clutched in one hand. He’d blown through half the box already and hadn’t even boarded his flight yet.

“Boarding for Flight 4287 to Anseyn,” the loudspeaker announced.

Remi shuffled toward the gate, ignoring the curious looks from other passengers as he sniffled and coughed his way onto the plane.

---

The first flight was unbearable.

Wedged into an economy-class seat with barely enough legroom for his tall frame, Remi could feel the pressure building in his sinuses almost as soon as the plane took off. His ears popped painfully, making his already aching head feel like it might explode.

He tried to sleep, leaning his head against the cold plastic of the window, but the cabin air was so dry that every inhale burned his throat. Whenever he did manage to doze off, he’d wake himself with stuffy snorts and gurgles, his congestion making his breathing impossibly loud.

“Hhh… Hdt’ISHHhh! hh—IhhTSSCHhh’iew! Hhh’TSSSHhhhuuuh!”

The sneezes came out of nowhere, loud and uncontrollable, and he barely managed to muffle them into his sleeve. He caught the wary glances of the passengers around him but was too miserable to care.

By the time they landed, nine hours later, Remi felt like he’d been hit by a truck. His chest had grown tight, a wet, rattling cough settling in, and the chills were worse than ever. He stumbled into the airport, his legs weak beneath him, and made his way to his connecting flight during a bleary, hour-long layover.

---

The second flight wasn’t much better.

Remi’s lap was overflowing with used tissues, his nose so stuffed and runny that it felt like a lost cause to try keeping up. The takeoff and landing made his sinuses throb, the pressure sending shooting pains through his head and ears.

“Hhh… hhh’IISHHhh! hh'IETSH’UE! HI’DTSCHIEW! Hh—IITSCHHH’iew!”

His sneezes were so wet and obvious that the passengers nearest him did their best to lean away, but Remi was too miserable to care about the judgment. He sniffled thickly, his glowing green eyes half-lidded and glassy as he tried, unsuccessfully, to fall asleep.

When the plane finally landed, Remi staggered into the terminal, his entire body aching. The dark winter sky outside mirrored how he felt inside: exhausted, freezing, and utterly drained.

---

The drive home was a nightmare.

The wind howled across the frozen parking lot, biting into Remi’s fevered skin as he shuffled toward his car. Each step felt heavy, his limbs aching as if he were wading through snowdrifts instead of walking across slick asphalt. His breath puffed visibly in the freezing air, mingling with the occasional wet, rattling cough that erupted from his chest. Each cough sent a sharp pain lancing through his ribs, making him wince and hunch forward.

By the time he reached the car, his nose was dripping uncontrollably, and his hands were trembling from the cold and his fever. He fumbled with his keys, nearly dropping them twice before managing to unlock the door and collapse into the driver’s seat. The cold leather sent a shiver racing up his spine, and he groaned as he adjusted his long legs awkwardly to fit into the cramped space.

Then, the tickle in his nose surged. His nostrils flared, his glowing green eyes fluttering shut as his breath hitched uncontrollably.

“Hhh… hh—IISSHhh! Hhh—IhhTSSCHhh’uhhh!”

The sneezes burst out of him with no time to reach for a tissue, spraying the steering wheel. He groaned hoarsely, grabbing a crumpled tissue from his coat pocket to mop up the mess. “This was a bad idea,” he muttered, his voice thick and congested, barely audible. His glowing eyes were dim and glassy, his entire body screaming at him to rest. But Christmas was waiting, and so was Levi.

---

The snowstorm made the roads a treacherous, winding labyrinth of ice and slush. The wind whipped against the car, rattling the windows and obscuring the already poor visibility. Remi gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white against the leather as he squinted through the flurry of snowflakes.

Every few minutes, his breath would hitch again, and he’d fumble for a tissue to catch another forceful sneeze.

“Hhh—IISSHhh’iew! Hhh’TSSCHhhhuuh!”

Each one made his head throb and his chest ache, leaving him gasping for air and sniffling miserably.

His body was so worn down that it took all his focus to stay awake. The heater blew weakly, barely cutting through the chill that seemed to seep into his very bones, and every cough rattled in his chest like loose gravel. His muscles ached, his hands shook, and the dull pounding behind his eyes made it hard to concentrate on the road ahead.

Remi’s exhaustion grew heavier with every mile. By the time he reached the halfway point, he knew he couldn’t keep going without stopping for a break. He spotted a small roadside diner up ahead and pulled into the empty parking lot, the tires skidding slightly on the icy pavement.

The moment he stepped out of the car, the bitter cold hit him like a slap to the face. His chest tightened immediately, and he doubled over with a harsh coughing fit, his breath coming in wheezing gasps.

“Hhh...hh—Hh'IISHH! -hd’ISCHhh!! -h’dtTISHh! snffhh! Hhh—IISSCHhh’uhhh!” Another sneeze fit ripped through him as he stumbled toward the diner, barely catching it in the crook of his arm. His nose was running nonstop, and his entire body shivered violently, the fever and cold conspiring to sap what little strength he had left.

Inside, the diner was dim and nearly empty, save for a single bored-looking waitress wiping down the counter. Remi ordered a large coffee, his voice so hoarse that the waitress leaned closer to hear him.

“Rough night, huh?” she said sympathetically as she handed him his cup.

“Somethidg like thad,” Remi muttered, his glowing green eyes narrowing as he tried to ignore the tickle building in his nose again. He shuffled to a corner booth, blowing his nose loudly into a fresh tissue before collapsing into the seat.

The coffee was hot and bitter, and while it didn’t do much for his sinuses or the throbbing in his head, it gave him enough energy to keep moving. After a few minutes, he dragged himself back to the car, his shivers worsening as the freezing air clung to his damp clothes.

---

The second half of the drive was even worse.

The snow had picked up, falling in heavy sheets that made it almost impossible to see more than a few feet ahead. The car heater was working overtime, blasting lukewarm air that left Remi feeling alternately sweaty and chilled to the bone.

“Hhh… hh—Hihh’ISSHh! ihH’ktdSHhh!!! hhEhh-! HhEHh’IITShh’IIEW! hiiih’ISHHHh—uhH!! HAHH’IKKTsh—uhh!”

Remi’s sneezes grew wetter and harsher, his tissues quickly piling up in the passenger seat. He could barely keep his glowing green eyes open, the exhaustion dragging at him like a physical weight. The coffee he’d had earlier was wearing off, and his head lolled forward a few times before he snapped upright, shaking his head in an attempt to clear the fog.

“I cad do this,” he muttered to himself, his voice little more than a hoarse rasp. “Jusd a little… snnnRRFKKK!... a little farther.”

But as the miles dragged on, the storm grew worse, and so did Remi’s symptoms. His chest felt like it was being squeezed in a vice, each breath rattling ominously. The chills that wracked his body made it hard to keep his hands steady on the wheel, and the constant sneezing fits forced him to pull over twice more, each stop adding precious minutes to the already grueling trip.

---

By the time he finally pulled into Levi’s driveway, five hours after leaving the airport, Remi was a wreck. His head throbbed with every heartbeat, his nose was so red and raw that even the tissues felt like sandpaper, and his entire body ached as if he’d been dragged through the snowstorm himself.

He slumped against the steering wheel for a moment, too drained to move. But then the front door flew open, and Levi came rushing out into the snow, his freckled face alight with concern.

“Remi!”

The sight of Levi gave him just enough strength to sit up, though his voice was little more than a croak. “Dodd ged doo glose,” he warned weakly, fumbling for another tissue. “Budd… berry grisdbas. I bissed you so budge.”

And as Levi wrapped his arms around him, ignoring his protests, Remi let out a shaky breath of relief. He was home.

“You idiot,” he murmured, his ice-blue eyes scanning his mate’s flushed, miserable face. “Come inside. You look like you’re about to collapse.”

---

Inside, Levi wasted no time.

The moment Remi shuffled through the door, his towering frame hunched and shivering, Levi was already moving. “Bathroom. Shower. Now,” he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Remi groaned softly, the sound thick with exhaustion and congestion. “I’b fide—”

“You’re not fine,” Levi interrupted, slipping an arm around Remi’s waist to steady him as he swayed on his feet. “Shower. You’re freezing, and you need to get that fever down.”

With Levi’s help, Remi made it to the bathroom, his glowing green eyes glassy and distant. The warm air in the small room was a stark contrast to the bitter chill outside, and the moment Levi turned on the shower, steam began to rise, filling the space with a comforting heat.

“Clothes off,” Levi said gently, stepping out to give Remi a moment of privacy.

Remi moved slowly, his fingers trembling as he fumbled with his jacket and shirt. Each movement felt like a monumental effort, his limbs heavy and uncooperative. By the time he managed to strip off his damp clothes, his feverish skin was already slick with sweat. He stepped into the shower, the steaming water cascading over his broad shoulders, and let out a low, guttural sigh of relief.

The heat eased his shivers almost instantly, and for the first time in hours, his chest didn’t feel like it was constricted in a block of ice. The steam worked its way into his clogged sinuses, loosening the congestion just enough to allow for a few deep, shuddering breaths.

But he was so tired.

His head lolled forward, his forehead pressing lightly against the tiled shower wall as the water poured over him. His glowing green eyes fluttered shut, the flickering light dim and weak. He felt himself drifting, the haze of fever and exhaustion pulling him under, but a sudden, wet sneeze jolted him back to reality.

“Hhh… hh’IISHHhhuhh! Hh—IISSCHhh’iew!”

The sneezes bent him forward, his hands bracing against the wall for balance as the force wracked through his already-aching body. He groaned softly, his hoarse voice barely audible over the sound of the water.

Levi’s voice came from the other side of the door, gentle but insistent. “Remi? You okay in there?”

“Y-yeah,” Remi rasped, though his voice cracked under the strain.

Levi pushed the door open a crack, his freckled face peeking in. “Don’t fall asleep in the shower, okay? You’re scaring me...”

“Not sleepig,” Remi muttered, though his drooping eyelids said otherwise. He reached for the shampoo with shaky hands, managing to lather his hair before the motion left him winded.

Levi sighed softly, stepping fully into the room now and grabbing a towel. “Alright, big guy. That’s enough. Time to get you into bed.”

---

By the time Remi stumbled out of the bathroom, his black hair damp and dripping, Levi had transformed the bedroom into a cozy haven. The humidifier was running on high, filling the room with a soothing mist of eucalyptus-scented steam. On the nightstand sat a glass of water, a dose of cold medicine, and a fresh box of tissues.

“Here,” Levi said softly, guiding Remi to sit on the edge of the bed. He handed him the medicine, his freckled brow furrowing as he watched the wolf struggle to open the blister pack. “Let me.”

Remi surrendered the package without a fight, sniffling thickly as Levi popped out two pills and handed them over. He swallowed them with a sip of water, his broad shoulders slumping as he crawled under the blankets.

“By dose bages gross doises whedd I sleeb righd dow,” he warned weakly, his voice thick with congestion. His glowing green eyes were dim, barely visible beneath his heavy eyelids.

Levi smiled softly, brushing a hand through Remi’s damp hair. “I don’t care what you sound like,” he murmured. “I just want you to rest.”

Remi let out a faint hum of acknowledgment, already sinking into the pillows Levi had propped up to help him breathe.

The medicine and humidifier worked wonders.

Within minutes, Remi’s body relaxed, his breathing slowing into a rhythm of congested snores. His broad chest rose and fell unevenly, each inhale punctuated by soft whistles and gurgling sounds from his overworked nose. Occasionally, a wet, rattling cough would break through, his body shuddering with the effort before settling back into sleep.

Levi sat beside him, his hand moving gently through his mate’s hair in slow, soothing strokes. He didn’t mind the noises—if anything, the sound of Remi’s breathing was a comfort. He was finally resting, his body beginning to catch up on the sleep it had been so desperately craving.

“You’re home now,” Levi murmured softly, pressing a kiss to Remi’s temple. “Just rest, Acushla.”

He stayed by his side until his own icey-blue eyes grew heavy, his fingers still tangled in Remi’s hair as the room filled with the gentle hum of the humidifier and the soft, labored sounds of Remi’s breathing.

---

At 6 a.m., however, the peace was broken.

Levi stirred awake when he felt the heat radiating off Remi even through the layers of blankets. He shifted, blinking against the early morning light filtering through the curtains, and frowned turned toward their mate. Remi was pale, his shaggy black hair plastered to his forehead with sweat, and his glowing green eyes barely cracked open at the sound of Levi’s voice.

“Hey,” Levi murmured softly, shaking him gently by the shoulder. “Remi, wake up.” His freckled brow furrowed in concern as he pressed a hand to his forehead. The heat there was almost alarming.

Remi groaned weakly, his voice rough and nearly incomprehensible. “Wha’…?”

“You’re burning up,” Levi said, his voice tight with worry as he reached for the thermometer on the nightstand. He slipped it under Remi’s tongue, brushing a damp strand of hair away from his flushed face as he waited for the result.

When the thermometer beeped, Levi glanced down at the reading and frowned deeply. “106,” he muttered, shaking their head. “You’re not going anywhere today. No arguments.”

Remi shifted weakly against the pillows, his brow furrowing in faint protest. “B-buhh… I dod’t—”

“No,” Levi interrupted firmly, cutting him off with a soft kiss to his fever-warm temple. “You’re spending Christmas in bed, big guy. Biziil, Connie, and Meeko will understand. I know you wanted to be there, but right now, the only thing that matters is you getting better.”

Remi let out a soft, defeated sigh, his glowing green eyes fluttering shut. “I’b sorry,” he mumbled hoarsely.

“Don’t be,” Levi murmured, smoothing a hand through his damp hair. “I’m just glad you’re here, Rem. Get some rest, Acushla. I’ll be back soon.”

---

When Levi returned later that morning, the house was quiet except for the gentle hum of the humidifier and the soft, labored sounds of Remi’s breathing.

Levi set down the bags of groceries they’d picked up after their brief visit to family and crept into the bedroom, their heart sinking at the sight of their mate. Remi was sprawled awkwardly against the pillows, his massive frame practically melting into the bed. His breathing was loud and uneven, each inhale a wet, congested whistle followed by a rattling exhale. A crumpled tissue was pressed to his face, and more were scattered across the blanket, evidence of his ongoing struggle with his cold.

Levi sighed softly, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “Oh, Rem,” they murmured, brushing a hand through his messy hair. “What am I gonna do with you?”

Remi didn’t stir, too deeply entrenched in his feverish sleep to notice. His brow was furrowed slightly, as if even in rest he couldn’t escape his discomfort. Levi gently adjusted the blankets around him, tucking him in more securely before slipping into bed beside him.

The warmth radiating off Remi was immediate and startling, his fever like a furnace beneath the covers. It sent a pang of guilt through Levi’s chest, knowing his mate had pushed himself so hard just to get home. But despite that, they couldn’t stop themselves from wrapping their arms around him, pulling his sweaty, shivering frame close.

Remi stirred faintly at the touch, letting out a soft snort as his glowing green eyes cracked open just a sliver. “Nnnnn… l-Levi?” he mumbled, his voice barely more than a croak.

“Yeah, I’m here, Rem,” Levi said softly, stroking his hair. “I got you.”

The tension in Remi’s body eased at their words, his head lolling weakly onto Levi’s shoulder. His breath came in loud, wheezy gasps, each exhale rattling painfully in his chest. “I’b sorry… he croaked, his voice breaking as he sighed in defeat. “That this is how you have to spedd adother grissbas…”

Levi shook his head, his freckled nose scrunching slightly as he placed a gentle kiss to Remi’s damp temple. “Hey, shut up,” He murmured affectionately. “I’ll spend every Christmas like this if it means spending it with you, Acushla. Just get better, okay? We can worry about the other stuff later.”

Remi nodded weakly, his eyelids fluttering closed again as he relaxed into Levi’s embrace.

“Merry Christmas, Acushla,” Levi whispered after a second, his voice heavy with love and worry.

“Hhh… b-behhh- hehhh- Hd’IZTSsHHhhh’ih!”

Remi barely had time to bury his face in the blanket before another harsh sneeze tore through him, his whole body shuddering with the force. He sniffled wetly, wiping at his nose with the corner of the blanket before collapsing back against the pillows with a heavy sigh.

“Berry Gristbas, kitted,” he mumbled weakly, his voice nasally and clipped with congestion.

Levi smiled softly, his hand still stroking through his hair as he whispered, “Bless you, Rem. Rest now. I’ve got you.”

And as the humidifier hummed quietly in the background, Levi stayed by his side, determined to nurse him through this miserable Christmas—and every one after.

[spittyfishy]

Thoughts on the Typhlosion allegations/pokemon teraleaks?

Okay, here’s what I’ll say about that. (And fair warning, it is nothing positive)

I think the fandoms reaction to these “leaks” has been absolutely ridiculous. They are not canon, they do not change pre-existing information present in the games and anime. Concept art is interesting, but things that were scrapped and did not appear in the actual media should not be regarded as fact.

Especially the Typhlosion thing, it’s like if jk Rowling said ‘oh yeah at one point in the writing process I thought Harry Potter would be a girl, but I changed my mind’ and the fandom went ‘oh my god Harry’s been a girl this whole time!’ Like no, a lot of work and ideas go into the concept and development of works like these, and then creators pick and choose the best of their ideas and use that, but I think it’s very problematic to judge them on the concepts that they themselves already decided weren’t good enough to use.

I have very strict opinions about what counts as canon, and that very simply is ‘what is in the work itself’. Unused concepts, things a creator said years later online, and really popular headcanons don’t count. They’ll never count, sorry but that’s not how language works, you can’t just redefine canon to encompass anything that maybe could have been a part of the project. It can be super neat to look at what changes could have been made, but it needs to be understood that that does not impact what the actual game is like.

This Typhlosion thing especially, it *could* be neat if people just took the scrapped stories to go “oh yeah the Pokémon world could have had myths and legends similar to our own! That will be interesting to explore in fan works!” But that’s not what the majority of people did. Instead, people took it to mean that somehow all Typhlosion are secretly evil and shouldn’t be left alone with children and anyone who has one or likes that Pokémon should be ridiculed based on nothing.

Because the stuff that in those leaks (baring things about unreleased games) are nothing. Looking at them in the sense of seeing ‘How It’s Made’ is interesting, fine go for it yeah sure, but they have absolutely no bearing on the actual franchise itself. And I have no patience for the people taking them as gospel and insisting they be considered more true over the actual canon.

[puhpandas]

as someone who isnt super excited for sotm for certain reasons I am really glad that like. it's clear that since ruin theyve been setting up for carnival and sotm IS carnival. so now that carnival is finally coming out, afterwards theyll be moving on to other plotlines since the main villain stuff is sorted out

I'm just rlly happy to finally see a clear direction for how the story is gonna be playing out with like "okay these games were leading up to this so after this will be open possibilites" instead of like. absolutely no info about each upcoming game and being left guessing before it releases and just having to wait and see what's in it and if anything you're looking forward to will be in it

it feels like they have a plan and a solid direction for what they're trying to do and after carnival releases thatll be all that buildup coming to fruition. & we already know from the Scott interview that theres another release 'beyond sotm' that's 'super exciting' so maybe thatll be focusing on another big currently untouched (which is basically all of them) plotline, or even the big campaign game that dawko has been calling security breach 2

[lion-eva61]

Nah you guys just really see a beautiful person and brush all of the politics of them aside.

Before Mel talks about the weapons Jayce has not even thought of using hextech for weapons.

He tells Mel that if they would built they weapons it would shatter the peace with zhaun heimerdinger was building with the city.

What does Mel say : that heimerdingers inaction cause all of this „like you said yourself Jayce „ and that peace is already broken. We want you to protect your city and if we are lucky we don’t need to use the weapons.

Now tell me that is not a conning and manipulative politician. Using Jayce’s own action and words to consider building weapons . And saying that when we don’t actually use them it is fine to at least build them.

Yes this is decently totally a good moral politician and good influence for Jayce. Not even considering building towards peaceful solutions. Also at this point the undercity doesn’t have any weapons, jinx didn’t build one yet. (If I am not mistaken ) like their is only the slight chance the zhaunits could use hextech to revolt and she just jumps the gun. Jayce even asked her if their is proof and Mel said that she doesn’t want to find out.THERE WASNT EVEN PROPER PROOF THAT THE UNDERCITY MIGHT HAVE HEXWEAPONS. Jinxes bomb has no hextech technology and even Viktor said it is a leap to say they could copy hextech.

Man obsessed is harsh since my post is 90% about Mel and only Jayce to make a point in her character journey and struggles. I focus more about Mel as a politician with a merdada upbringing, and that upbringing is constantly fighting with her morals. Which is very well shown in the series with her relationship with Jayce.

But I am not contradicting anything you said, like you are just summarizing my post. I just 1.include Mel’s probable initial goal that bringing Jayce into the council gave her power too over hextech and was probably her plan. Her game began before she warmed up to Jayce. So yes it didn’t happen because the story unfolds but why is it offensive to say that the richest politician from a war family wants to have somecontrol over hextech too?

With hextech weapon : I said she is a catalyst, not that she carries all the fault. Maybe I should have written that more clearly because that is not my intention.

yes it was Jayce’s decision to make them,I actually talked a lot about Jayce in the past and his broken promises to Viktor and building the weapons was one of them. That Mel brought him to politics but he made decisions that put a rift to his and victors relationship and literally killed a child.I never freed Jayce from his faults I just didn’t focus on them in this post.

But I take critism because I got the order wrong : the bridge scene and Jayce’s : „theyAre dangerous!“ is first and then Mel talks to Jayce about weapons and that he needs to protect the city from zhaunits. She wasn’t the first one to say : it’s them vs us.Jayce was thinking that already. So there I made a mistake.

Still she said that, in response to the uproars of the under city. You can even argue that makes her politics even more bad: instead of working a solution with the under cities rightful anger she approaches the topic of weapons. She is literally on the same side as Markus and ambessa at that point, it is only viktor being his voice of reason right now.

Like she is so smart with the hextech weapons that she tells Jayce not to worry because as long as they don’t actually use the weapons, it is not bad to make them. How is that not a cunning and slightly manipulative politician? Make the people killing weapons with magic but don’t worry I am not saying to use them immediately.

AND SHE SAID THAT PEACE IS ALREADY BROKEN WITH ZHAUNITS.

Another mistake I made is that Ambessa actually didn’t put pressure on Mel to talk about weapons. She arrived after Mel came into the lab to talk about weapons with Jayce .She ist still only a catalyst, to bring that topic and that seed of thought into Jayce. And I didn’t say she carries all the fault. I said she is a catalyst.

But since Mel is his girlfriend and cares about Jayce and gave him all the power I criticize her because she should have helped Jayce not to spiral more into becoming a violent politician, instead she is like Markus and ambessa another influence for Jayce to make bad decisions. Literally like you said.

Not manipulating him into any decision but still influencing him enough to make bad decisions.

If Mel is such a morally good character why did she actually talks about weapons with Jayce instead of negotiating with zhaunits and their struggle ? Like a good politician . Because she is not one yet.

Like it was Viktor reminding Jayce that they wanted hextech to help people not take their lives. Again I already said that in my post.

This is her journey after all, her personal struggle in the story and that is why I mean you guys just can’t handle a woman in stories struggling with her true morals , because you want to even ignore her personal struggles : rejecting the merdada upbringing vs giving into them

Mel talking about weapons is her fall into becoming like her mom. That’s why I am no brushing that under the rug.

And I also mentioned that yes, it is Jayce who at the end surprises everyone with the peace deal and catches Mel by surprise. Like the tables turned.

Another critism I take is not mentioning that it is interesting that Jayce is the one who profits more that Mel is in the council than Mel having Jayce in the council. Because Jayce managed to kick heimedinger out because Mel gave him his vote first and the other council members followed.

But how does that make Mel look better ? It even makes her look worse because she brought a guy in the council she can’t control, has no political prowess, makes bad decisions and she still gives him her vote.

It looks like her affection for Jayce is blinding her. But it doesn’t free her from the fault at the escalation with the undercity.

Saw that tweet on twitter and hated it. Because 1. people seem always to gaslight Jayce , saying : oh, you are saying Mel manipulated him? Well his fault for being so easy to be manipulated. He is a himbo ! He is like a leaf in the wind so don’t you dare point out Mel’s grey morality. Instead make more jokes about Jayce!

Even half serios only half joking : Jayce actually wanted to be manipulated by a beautiful woman!

Here is my take:

First : Mel is deep down a good moral leader who is empathetic and cares about all people. But her true potential is buried and need to get out.

Second, Mel should have teamed up with ekko in season 2. Her journey to a good moral leader was not in season 1, her vote for independence of zhaun is not enough to make me say: her dream is to help people just like Jayce and Viktor. But her journey (right at the bombing of the council )should have began to become that person.

With ekko there was so much potential for her to learn about zhaunits and make her finally believe that they are HER people too, that all that gold she wears is like blood gold when all the zhaunits suffer.

Here is why:

First I want to establish Mel’s very grey character by her interactions with Jayce:

Jayce was easily pushed into all kinds of decisions (Markus and ambessa ) and into a political position by Mel, were she gave him full power over the future of hextech, BUT, the council gave no room for him to even have time to think about it. People often say: why didn’t he just say :No actually I don’t want it!

Well watch episode 4 again : Mel IMMEDIATELY began with the voting for creating a house Talis. The council was already 3 steps ahead before Jayce could even utter a word and talking over him. No one even asked him : hey do you even want this Jayce? It shows that the council, once they have something in their minds, they will have it reinstated. In this case :Mel wanted Jayce in the council , and she got that.

Not to mention that Mel already put the seeds in his head (same episode I think but earlier) that he could be a good leader to spread hextech to the world. She made sure to put that idea in his head to achieve his hextech dream.

Also it is not altruism that Mel gave him so much power, because she actually gave herself power over hextech. With Jayce in the council she has one vote more for whatever she wants to be reinstated, because it is easy for her to convince Jayce of her opinions(for example hextech weapons).

Mel used Jayce’s lack of political and tactical understanding. I mean, she was smart enough to approach Jayce and not Viktor, because getting a say of the future of hextech would be impossible through Viktor, a zhaunits who distrust the upper piltover class.

Her journey in s1 is that she moved and used tactics like a Merdada but learns to open up to Jayce and reject her upbringing. But that journey is rocky. To remind everyone : she was(under the pressure of her mother ) the catalyst for the hextech weapons, she brought that idea into Jayce’s and victors lab and brought another dilemma into Jayce’s life : is it morally correct to use his dream to fight other people to protect your own people. At that moment she didn’t consider the zhaunits her people, planting another seed into Jayce’s mind : it’s them vs us.

Meanwhile Viktor was defusing Jinx’s bomb and reminding Jayce , that there is choice for not using violence against people. A deliberate contrast to what Mel said.

And even the final vote for independence for zhaun is rocky : she was taking by surprise with the peace deal and looked worried and unsure. It looks like a mirror how Jayce felt when she took him by surprise and made him council. Now Jayce surprised her with the decision where her morals finally really stands, and she votes for peace.

Problem is, the council already overlooked so much of the issues in zhaun, that their voting is way to late. The pain of zhaunits expressed by jinx is boiling over and the rocket hits.

A final and very good conclusion, a middle finger to the council and their half asses morality.

And that was Mel’s journey : she was just not quick enough to realize, where her morals stands. She was not fast enough to let go of her merdada tactics and work for peace instead of wealth for piltover.

She is not a villain but also not an ally to zhaun. YET

Now season 2:

In season 2 she should have cooperate with ekko, learning the people of zhaun and become the person she really is deep down but is buried under the pressure of her mom and all the years of accumulation wealth for her and piltover, ignoring zhaun.

Her journey was not over to become a true good leader, she was barely a good moral leader in season 1. she should have become one in season 2.

The symbolism to throw away the gold to help the tree of the firelight’s, make it bloom and shine again like she wanted as a child, a city beautiful that it’s shines bright: THAT IS LIERALLY THE FIRELIGHTS HIDEOUT

That’s why it is so so disappointing that Mel Stan’s never talk about her in greater depth, brush her decisions and tactics with a moral white brush, ignore all the so obvious wealth symbolism around her that point out how far away she is from the pain of zhaunits , gaslight Jayce and ignore her journey.

And make stupid tweets.

You guys should not be angry why she didn’t end up with Jayce , but why she never had the chance to show us , that of all people in piltover, she is actually the most caring. That she would have the biggest heart for zhaun. Why didn’t we see that? When it was established how much she actually cares that people don’t suffer? Why didn’t Mel not have a single chance to interact with zhaunits ? To see their suffering ? To make actual changes ?

[crystalkitty1220]

Man I wonder where the leader of the fear realm could've gone, it's alMOST LIKE NEVIN HAS AN