#(and one of the halloween drawings that turned out a little bit more complicated nice one past self)

[whosname]

[ Id. Two pen doodles of Paako wearing a sailor school uniform. End Id.]

Lazy Paako school bully doodles.

[shiversdownyerspine]

14. Isolation

A long chapter, just for y'all. :>

We gonna get a lil sad, a lil sweet, and a lil weird and dirty. >:D

18+

You fold your grocery list and tuck it safely away. The brothers doubt that they'd experience any significant injury, but you won't be discouraged. It's good to be prepared, just in case.

The Commission did provide its field agents with training and adjustments once they had been employed, but the improved healing wasn't as...thorough?..as yours. Some first aid wouldn't hurt.

You'd decided once the brothers leave for the mission you'd get the shopping done. Otto and Oscar had almost seemed to sulk, but Axel had agreed with you that this would be more convenient. There wasn't all that much to grab and everything would be ready and waiting when they returned. Scooting from between Axel and Oscar you remind them that if there are complications they are free to return to you to restrategize, and you certainly wouldn't mind a surprise visit.

Oscar playfully pulls you back against him. "Aw, you're going to miss us?"

Squirming with a laugh you tease him, "Maybe a little."

The youngest Swede releases you with a pout, feigning hurt as you apologetically rub his back. With a grin you wander over to the pantry to double check the cat food supply as Otto heads to their guestroom to retrieve their guns. Tugging the bag you estimate there's a good couple months left before it's gone, so no need to worry. Though you will be grabbing a couple cans of wet food for the kittens as a treat.

Otto returns with bag in tow as you head out to the garden to consider what to plant for fall...carrots, onions, maybe cauliflower? Kneeling you reach for your sugar pumpkins, happy to see that they're coming along nicely and should be ready around Halloween time. Lingering among the plants you take a moment to relax and think, breathing in the cool air. Autumn is practically on your doorstep, and the gray skies and yellowing leaves herald its arrival. Winter won't be long now, and you will once again be keeping an eye out for a space heater.

Long ago you'd found an old used one available in town, much to your delight. It had lasted a single day before the thing let out this awful high pitched noise and died right there on your floor. You count yourself lucky that it didn't burst into flames. For a moment you had considered keeping it to try to fix it, but it didn't come with a manual and you didn't want to risk it burning down your home, so you decided to do away with it. Hopefully you'd find another space heater, but the town is old and you've yet to get lucky.

In the meantime, you have Axel, Otto, and Oscar to help you with the cold. Your cheeks flush; the touches they've been giving you have been working, though some nights your condition successfully rears its stubborn head. You have a feeling you'll have to start knocking on their door when Winter creeps a little closer.

You've yet to see what they've done with the guestroom, if they've put up any knickknacks from home or from their travels. Certainly you're curious but you won't invade their privacy. Maybe they'd prefer your room? The sofa? You don't mind sharing your bed, you trust them.

The creek of the door interrupts your thoughts, and you lift your head to see Axel motion you inside. Dusting your hands and knees off, you head in after him. Coats and jackets donned with packs strapped to the younger's shoulders, it looks like they're ready to go.

With your own canvas bags in tow, you walk along the dirt path with the Swedes to the abandoned bus stop. The vine tangled little shack is being overtaken by nature and is tucked back against trees and bushes, making it easy to miss. The windows are long gone but the door still remains, stubbornly resisting the wear and tear of time.

Before you get the chance to say goodbye, Oscar is pulling you into a hug and kissing you on the cheek. You wrap your arms around him in return. "Be careful, don't get into too much trouble."

"Only a little, here and there. Danger is..ah...spice of life." Oscar squeezes you again as Otto's hand rubs your upper back before lifting to stroke your hair. The two release you as their older brother clears his throat. Faces blank and eyes hard, they stride through the overgrowth into the little shack to wait for Axel.

The blue-clad man gazes down at you with scrutinizing eyes as the sounds of the forest ebb and wane. He steps forward and reaches into one of his coat pockets to retrieve a familiar item wrapped up in a familiar old cloth that you'd forgotten about. Your fingers curl around the 'gift'.

Grasping what you know is your paring knife, Axel's voice is a bit gruff when he declares, "For protection."

Touched, you step forward to reach for his empty hand and give it a little squeeze, smiling when his thumb sweeps over your knuckles. "Thank you."

His opposite hand cups the back of your neck as he leans down to press his lips to the top of your head, nose buried in your hair. The moment is interrupted by Oscar barking out one of the windows, "Pussa henne igen!"

Axel gives an exasperated sigh but takes a second to breathe you in, squeezing your fingers one more time before releasing you to join his brothers.

The three are gone with a flash of light and you're left standing alone. After a melancholy moment or two of eyeing the empty bus stop, you're turning your attention to your knife and unwrapping it to check the blade. But as the cloth falls away, it's the wooden handle that draws your curiosity.

A little symbol has been carved into the wood, but you don't know what it is or what it means. But for some strange reason you still feel a lump in your throat and a prickling in your eyes the longer you look at it. You remind yourself to ask about it when they return.

Your shopping trip was uneventful and you had successfully gotten everything on the list. The trek back to your home was lovely, though when you walked by the bus stop you had lingered a moment. When you entered your home and put away the groceries, the emptiness of your house was disquieting.

Efforts are made to distract yourself hour after hour after hour with relative success. The day fades into night and you curl up in bed to read your well-loved book of fairytale collections until sleep finds you.

The morning is quiet, but the cats keep you company. After lunch you take the opportunity to plant some of the carrot seeds you purchased. Towards the evening as you're figuring out what to make for dinner, you realize you can still smell Axel in the kitchen. It's bittersweet and you wonder at how deeply you miss your cooking buddy. After dinner when you're doing a load of laundry, you discover one of Otto's shirts in the dryer. As you're folding the garment, his scent grasps your heart and squeezes. The entire time you're wandering around your home, something in particular is gnawing at you, something is missing...Oscar's sneak attacks.

You drop on the sofa with a huff, shaking your head at how quickly you miss the three men. It's absurd, you're used to being alone...but at the same time it makes sense. You've gotten used to their company. As have the cats. Rubbing your temples, you watch a little television before heading to bed.

The next day is much of the same; distract yourself, do chores, care for the animals, read books, go for walks, tend to the garden and the forest, miss the Swedes. It doesn't take long for you to start worrying about them as well, if they're okay. Your home doesn't feel right and eventually, you don't feel right.

You feel...twitchy. And restless. And tingly?

The fourth day is a little easier, as is the fifth, but you still feel off.

On the sixth day your cats are crowding the living room windows. Not all that strange considering you live by a forest, who knows how many birds and little critters visit your home. Besides, more important things have your attention this morning; specifically, you feel the urge to bake.

When the front door opens you're in the kitchen messing around with baking sheets so you don't hear it. Maybe you'd have felt the cool air drifting in if your oven wasn't on. But you recognize Oscar's spicy scent a second before he pulls you back into his chest and nuzzles into your nape. He lets you twist around in his hold to hug him as the sound of his brother's boots grace your ears.

You wiggle out of Oscar's arms to pull Otto and Axel down for hugs as well, Otto with your left arm and Axel with your right. It's hard to tell whose hand is rubbing your back and whose is cupping the back of your neck but you don't mind. Noticing they still have their coats and packs, you welcome them back before telling them to make themselves comfortable.

The two brothers head for their guestroom and Oscar follows them after giving you one last hug...and scratching the chins of the cats desperate for the men's attention.

Your house returns to normal, but a little later you find you still don't feel quite right. Your condition doesn't really feel like this, so maybe you're just still feeling the absence of the Swedes? Only thing you can do is give it time...and pop on a cozy sweater, just in case.

The strange antsy feeling gets a little stronger one evening as Otto and Oscar play a game outside in your garden with a vicious looking knife. Leaning back against the side door to your kitchen, you watch as they throw the knife into the dirt at their feet, trying to see who can land it the closest. Apparently the game was called Mumblety-peg.

"Is this what siblings do? Assert...dominance over the other?"

Axel snorts, "For fun."

"...I see." Your next comment is cut off when the knife punctures Otto's upper thigh, courtesy of Oscar.

Immediately you're tugging Otto inside to sit at the kitchen table, the world fuzzing and voices fading as Otto removes the knife with a firm tug. Blood is staining and you're staring, focused and utterly silent before turning to Oscar. "You should have been more careful."

Oscar shrugs, "Not serious. Don't be...tråkmåns?..stick. Stick in the mud."

You know they have better strength, better stamina, and better healing. But while you were missing the three men, you had also been worrying about them...

Axel doesn't have a chance to reprimand his brother again before you're bristling and baring your teeth, "Well do excuse me for caring about you three. The first aid kit is in my bathroom. Get it now. Please."

Oscar blinks, surprise mingling with guilt and maybe a sprinkling of arousal at your feistiness. He follows your order, slinking down the hallway as he remembers the awful sinking feeling in his belly the one time they discovered a bullet buried in Axel's back that they had to dig out.

The eldest Swede watches the exchange silently, approving of this stern, no-nonsense side of you. Not to mention the 'please' you added at the end was cute. Even though you had reacted a little strongly to Oscar's shenanigans, it shows you care for them a great deal. You had worried for their safety while they had been gone. As you check Otto's wound, the large man admires the fire in you that is quietly sizzling down. You're deep in thought, forcing yourself to acknowledge that the Swedes are technically your mission so if anything should happen to them you would be notified. Sometimes it's hard to hear your voice of reason when it's warring with the paranoia and lack of trust in your employers.

Still, Oscar should be a little more careful. The youngest Swede returns with the kit and you apologize for snapping, that you know they heal more than civilians.

Feeling sheepish at having reacted the way that you did, you try your best to explain, "It wouldn't even take me an hour to heal from a wound like this. With my ability...if a wound lingers it's proof that it's severe. That something is deeply wrong. So...I just..reacted when I saw the bleeding. Before I could think."

You admit to them that you panicked a little...and yes, missing them may have had something to do with your reaction as well. Oscar apologizes to you, and when you raise an eyebrow, he apologizes to Otto as well.

That night when Otto pulls you down on the sofa with him to sleep, eyeing your sweater with a little concern, you decide it couldn't hurt. You've been feeling strange for quite a while, so maybe a dose of body heat is just the thing you need. Making sure the man was alright with the way you were positioned on top of him, minding his injury, you settle in with a deep contented sigh.

But you did not sleep through the night. In fact, you woke several hours later to darkness and that strange restless sensation that had been plaguing you for days now.

Otto's hand has slipped down a bit, fingers caressing the bare skin of your back that your sweater has revealed in your sleep. Your lips part with soundless pleasure at the gentle calloused warmth of his fingers, eyes fluttering when a tingle crawls up your spine...and down your arms and legs? Your brow furrows in confusion as your toes and fingers prickle and heat builds under your stomach before reaching a gentle simmer and lingering until...!

Startled, you shakily pull yourself up and stumble on your feet. You feel like you're wading through molasses, your head wrapped in fog as instinct leads you towards the safety and privacy of your bedroom. Entering your room, you whimper as you feel another wet rush that soaks your panties. Desperate, you lurch into your bathroom and rip off your clothes to find your inner thighs damp. With a trembling hand, you gingerly swipe your fingers through the fluid, not quite daring enough yet to touch the direct source. Clear and slightly sticky...hm.

You blink and look closer at the apex of your thighs...you're a bit swollen and flushed...and with a careful ticklish caress, find yourself to be somewhat sensitive as well. You're baffled, this looks to be simple arousal...well, deep arousal all things considered. As if to mock you, another shallow surge slicks your thighs and trickles down your legs. No, the small puddle your body is supplying isn't normal, your fuzzy head and lethargic body isn't normal, but you're not normal so maybe it's just...new? Something that's been delayed because of your long-term isolation? You've always lacked a menstrual cycle, so what are the odds this has some strange connection with it and your ability?

Without delay you hop in the shower, fiddling with the knobs as you begin to put the puzzle pieces together. The hot water that cascades over your skin is soothing, fighting back the earlier panic. Feeling quizzical, you once again gently slide your fingers down, pushing lightly over your clit as your eyes flutter shut with a soft sigh, touch lingering.

And suddenly it's not your hand, it's a much bigger palm cupping you possessively before fingers thicker than your own tease between your swollen lips and oh so slowly, a fingertip pushes inside, sliding to the first knuckle- A rush of juices from your cunt jerks you back to reality as you gasp, practically hyperventilating as you tear your hand away from your aching body to grasp at the tiled shower walls. ...Oh.

Maybe you missed your men more than you realized.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pussa henne igen - Kiss her again!

tråkmåns - Stick in the mud.

[hellreads]

Hello, I just stumble on your blog. Seeing a comment from Wrienne which I also read on AO3, I wanted to ask if you also have AO3 recs..?

hi there darling, of course, I have some recs for you! since you didn’t ask for anything specific let me just share a few faves that you could only read/access on ao3 (I would also recommend you check my ficshelfs and use the ao3 filter to find stories exclusively posted there + i’ll still include wrienne’s works for other readers :3 ) | 🍒

OT7/MULTIPLE MEMBERS

❥ Right of Way by fringesofsanity ➴ Infidelity!AU | Jungkook x Reader x Jimin | Series ➴ In theory, things were simple: your best friend was Jungkook’s girlfriend while your boyfriend, Jimin, was Jungkook’s best friend. In reality, things weren’t always that simple. And mutually exclusive.

❥ The Hills by minlouvre ➴ Vacation/Exes!AU | Yoongi x Reader x Hoseok | Series ➴ A ski trip with old friends sounds like a fun time, right?

when your ex-boyfriend (who you hate but somehow always end up in bed with) and your stepbrother (who you are harboring not-so-secret feelings for) tag along at the last minute, you have a feeling it won’t be an uneventful weekend.

but fun? debatable. that remains to be seen. ❥ A Hundred Percent Human by Wrienne ➴ Hybrid!AU | OT7 x Reader | Series ➴ In which you (reader) are forced to take care of seven hybrids in a twist of fate.

After your estranged mother passes away, you're left with an unwanted will and the heavy burden of responsibility. Although you're desperate not to stray from the familiar path you thought was laid out in front of you with a fully human boyfriend who loves you more than anything, your life is thrown upside down once more after another unfortunate incident (that may or may not have to do with said boyfriend) occurs.

Drunk and down on life, you finally decide to deal with the house and the unsavory business your mother left behind. However, to your shock, you find that seven very different hybrids are included with both the house - and the business. Seven hybrids you never even met before - even less agreed to take care of.

❥ Dead Leaves by Wrienne ➴ Detective/Exes!AU | Yoongi x Reader x Jimin | Series ➴ In which you (reader) are a homicide detective about to face the biggest hurdle both of your career and life.

Married to probably the kindest but most boring man you’ve ever met and living in a town where nothing ever seems to happen means life for you is dull. Dull enough to drive you crazy with boredom and dissatisfaction. However, life changes abruptly when your old boss retires and a new man takes his place - a man you used to love (and sleep very regularly with) more than a decade ago. Especially when your husband comes home smelling of perfume, you’re unable to resist your more carnal urges and dead women start showing up across the city with unnerving frequency. ❥ See Both Sides Like Chanel by minlouvre ➴ FWB/Rich Kids!AU | Namjoon x Reader x Hoseok | One-Shot ➴ You, Namjoon, and Hoseok are inseparable. 

Three best friends that grew up together since you were all in diapers.But lately, Namjoon has been drifting away…

So on his birthday, you and Hoseok remind him just how inseparable the three of you really are.

⤷ or alternatively: a little less twenty-one candles, a little more “touch me”

❥ Love Is A Dog From Hell by yourlocalhoney ➴ FWB/Lovers!AU | Yoongi x Reader x Jungkook | Series ➴ You and Yoongi agreed on being good friends, co-workers, and friends who help each other out under the sheets. What you never agreed on was to catch feelings for each other.

Enter, accidental feelings.

Enter, Jeon Jungkook.

❥ The Uncanny by Sinsirella ➴ Arranged Marriage!AU | Jungkook x Reader x Seokjin x Jimin | Series ➴ (Y/N) is a young girl whose Life turns upside down. One day her mother surprises her with news of her arranged husband, forcing her into her new chaotic lifestyle. Join her journey and experience her new life through her eyes. Will she get along with her husband? Or someone else? What are they hiding? ❥ Seven Deadly Sins by mintedmango ➴ Hell!AU | OT7 x Reader | Series ➴ You stood suddenly, chair being pushed away by the backs of your legs, the rest of the sins standing with you as you looked around in panic. All except Sloth who was out cold in the corner.

“Oh, little pet, indeed, I am still hungry.”

❥ Walk Through The Fire by shellflower ➴ Supernatural!AU | Taehyung x Reader x Jungkook | Series ➴ In a world of supernatural beings, a normal human like yourself always found attraction and wonder towards these creatures. It was your kind heart that led you to become a doctor to treat such people. And it was your kind heart that led you into the arms of a young Alpha wolf who will accidentally force you down a path you were never meant to follow... ❥ Into Temptation by coconutty  ➴ Demon!AU | Taehyung x Reader x Jungkook | Two-Shot ➴ It was just a dare...

❥ Won’t Be Nice by coconutty ➴ Lovers/Poly!AU | Taehyung x Reader x Hoseok | One-Shot ➴ A night by the pool just got interesting...

KIM NAMJOON

❥ Covenant by fringesofsanity ➴ Arranged Marriage!AU | Namjoon x Reader | Series ➴ You are betrothed to Kim Namjoon, the heir of a real estate mogul. To say that it was a fairytale romance would be erroneous. You’re instead loped in the sad tale of the rich and melancholy.

❥ Read You Like A Book by coconutty ➴ University!AU | Namjoon x Reader | One-Shot ➴ Come get an attitude adjustment in the library, courtesy of Namjoon.

KIM SEOKJIN

❥ Éffleurer by @sugaurora / sugalights ➴ Office!AU | Seokjin x Reader | Series ➴ There were always whispers in your office about what secrets Seokjin hid behind his clean image. Now, you knew at least one of them. ❥ The City Comes Alive by minlouvre ➴ Musician/S2L!AU | Seokjin x Reader | Series ➴ Seokjin is a street performer who falls for a girl who is always passing him by. ❥ Seaside Sabbatical by dark_muse_iris ➴ Working Man!AU | Seokjin x Reader | One-Shot ➴ After an accountant in your firm is sent to prison, you are assigned to clean up the mess he left behind. Sorting out your clients’ disastrous business records proves beneficial when you meet the fisherman who teaches you the value of taking a break. ❥ Cake by yeyeniejjung ➴ Yandere/Killer!AU | Seokjin x Reader | Series ➴ "I was always hungry for your love. Just once, I wanted to know what is was like to get my fill of it. I wanted to be fed so much love that I couldn't take it anymore, just once." ❥ The Lord Taketh Away by dark_muse_iris ➴ Medieval/Werewolf!AU | Seokjin x Reader | One-Shot ➴ Every autumn, the dwindling harvest summons fears for the impending winter and its promise of scarcity. For Seokjin and his wife, faith lies in God and their local lord’s generosity to provide what their ailing son needs to survive another year. With each season, however, the lord grows cold-hearted and greedy, squeezing the young family to the brink of despair.

MIN YOONGI

❥ Zelus by SugaAconcept ➴ Lovers/Sugar Daddy!AU | Yoongi x Reader | One-Shot ➴ Yoongi becomes jealous when your close friend Jungkook puts his hands all over you right infront of his face. So, Yoongi decides to make sure you know who you really belong to. ❥ Carpe Diem by fringesofsanity ➴ Idol/Lovers!AU | Yoongi x Reader | Series ➴ Working for the UN, you are tasked to handle the poverty reduction campaign of a certain boy band. A certain rapper from the group however decides to mix business with pleasure.

JUNG HOSEOK

❥ Feel You From The Inside by coconutty  ➴ Idol/Staff!AU | Hoseok x Reader | One-Shot ➴ You've been watching him for months, little did you know, he's been watching you.

❥ As You Are by fringesofsanity ➴ Lovers!AU | Hoseok x Reader | One-Shot ➴ You're not the girl for Jung Hoseok. Him - who was sunshine and daisies and fireworks. You - who were back-alley darkness and used needles and burnt cigarettes. But he doesn't care. And you fucking hate yourself for it.

❥ The Thin Blue Line by bluesxde ➴ Pregnancy/E2L!AU | Hoseok x Reader | Series ➴ One badly-judged fling with Jung Hoseok, the son of a company-rival, leaves you with a little surprise.

PARK JIMIN

❥ His Throne by hseoks ➴ Royalty!AU | Jimin x Reader | Series ➴ You, a maid for the royal family, have sex with the irresistible Prince Park Jimin on his throne.

❥ Ineffable by fringesofsanity ➴ FWB!AU | Jimin x Reader | One-Shot ➴ You’ve only shared your body to Jimin, mostly silent after the act. The one time you decide to bare so much more, you find yourself baring your soul to him, far more than you bargained for.

❥ Blue Side by hoseokiehopie ➴ Ghost/Lovers!AU | Jimin x Reader | One-Shot ➴ You’re all too familiar with the legend that says the dead can walk freely on Halloween. It’s a secret you hold deeply within yourself. When a classmate starts to break down the walls you built so strongly after your boyfriend’s passing, you have to decide if you’re going to remain in the past with the dead, or live among the living.

KIM TAEHYUNG

❥ Effervescence by fringesofsanity ➴ Idol/Fling!AU | Taehyung x Reader | Series ➴ Just like the fizz of a cola on a hot summer’s day, your encounter with Taehyung is short but sparkly sweet.

OR Getting married in three months, you and your girls attend Ultra Miami to cap your single life, a final hurrah of some sort. What you didn’t expect is meeting a beguiling boy with a boxy smile who gives you a festival you’ll forever reminisce.

❥ Minutiae by coconutty ➴ Stalker!AU | Taehyung x Reader | Series ➴ Y/N meets a mysterious and alluring photographer and wants to interview him. Along the way things start getting a bit strange. What happens when you draw the attention of someone who always gets what they want?

❥ Flower Arrangements by iq_biased ➴ Pregnancy/Lovers!AU | Taehyung x Reader | One-Shot ➴ From the moment you met Taehyung, his flourish for life drew you in completely. It wasn’t long before you fell head over heals for the tattoo artist who was so wrong for you, it felt right. But your story hasn’t always been an easy one, and just recently it’s become a whole lot more complicated…

❥ Freaks Forever by yeyeniejjung ➴ Criminal/Psych!AU | Taehyung x Reader | Series ➴ "So tell me, Mister Kim, what's your ideal evening?"

"Ah..full moon, sex and drugs all night."

You are the psychologist to the world's most dangerous criminal, Kim Taehyung. Kim Taehyung is the man solely responsible for some of the most horrific crimes that the world has ever seen, from burglary, drug possession, sexual assaults, to brutal homicides of a total of 37 victims, though there are suspicions that there are more, that range from children to the elderly; both male and female. The two of you form an odd bond between your weekly sessions, causing you to somehow completely miss his blatant manipulation that soon controlled you in every aspect; resulting in his escape from prison and his bloodthirsty ways and eyes to be immediately turned onto you..but will he spare you in the end of the torturous time he keeps you or will your fate be the same as any other past victim of his?

❥ Slow Burn by fringesofsanity ➴ Idol/F2L!AU | Taehyung x Reader | Series  ➴ He was just supposed to be one of those clients. But then he gives you a night you’ll never forget. ❥ Noona by yuu14045 ➴ Neighbors/Lovers!AU | Taehyung x Reader | Series ➴ Taehyung, Jungkook, and Jimin lives in same apartment building. One day Taehyung received a mail for another Kim. She turned out to be Jimin's new neighbor.

❥ Snapped by Kpopyandere ➴ Yandere!AU | Taehyung x Reader | Series ➴ Your relationship with your boyfriend hasn't been going well lately. His twin, Kim Taehyung, decides to take advantage of this.

JEON JUNGKOOK

❥ If You’re Struggling Like I Am by @btssavedmylifeblr / bts_ruined_my_life ➴ Idol/Lovers!AU | Jungkook x Reader | Series ➴ You are hired as a makeup artist for BigHit working with BTS. You are older than all of them, yet, despite your best efforts, you find yourself slowing falling in love with the youngest member.

❥ My Cheating Amnesic Fiancé by Wrienne ➴ Idol/Arranged Marriage!AU | Jungkook x Reader | Series ➴ A series set in our world featuring Reader, the sole heiress of a multibillion-dollar company, and the Bangtan Boys' Golden Maknae - Jeon Jungkook. Mainly a romance, though doused with angst, drama and the twisted ways of fate. ❥ Return by Kpopyandere ➴ Yandere!AU | Jungkook x Reader | Series ➴ As Seokjin's girlfriend, you're off-limits, but Jungkook doesn't see it that way

[fandom-sheep]

Fundy 28 APR 21

Delayed Liveblog Vault Hunters Part 1/1

Our favorite fox is damp. And apparently can’t get his hair to sit right.

He’s already having to raise the redemption price. It’s been 5 seconds.

I don’t even quite get Vault Hunters I know Hbomb did it last season and that it.

Charm. Lovely.

Is the bottom right a confetti cannon?

Oh no we have to fight? We can’t be trusted.

We are the sort of people to purposefully lose the fight.

Don’t get me wrong. We love Fundy and will cry on command. But also we are rather mean to him.

Mystic Tomato. I don’t know what it is but I love it.

I was saving up Chanel points for water and ads. But now I gotta save for those and the little fun reward pack things.

Oh no. Did we hit 100 subs already? That’s what it says over his name?

Confetti canon?

5up! Hooray!

HBomb humoring Fundy with the emotes.

Fight fight fight!

So close. We tried out best to fight the giant.

Alright chat. We need another arena. Everyone get him.

Everyone in chat yelling about Phil doing stuff in OSMP. Wrong server y’all. We can deal with that later.

Ooo are we doing VC?

Everything is so chaotic already.

Tubbo and Fundy trying to figure everything out.

You know things are confusing when the original people are like “the what?”

There was a how to play meeting? And somehow these boys are still confused.

Tubbo at least has an excuse to be confused.

I love skill trees in games. They just look so pretty.

“I see a melon!” -Fundy

5up our beloved.

My streamer is being beat up with a boomerang.

Fundy doesn’t know what’s happening, but he’s rich so it works.

Tubbo is just saying every name in hopes he says the right one.

Pizza!

We attack!

WE WIN!

We did it! We’re a good chat!

Is 5ups skin still cog champ themed? Maybe not. Maybe my brain is being goofy.

Is Fundy complaining about his hair? I’m not actually paying attention. What is chat on about.

That’s one thing that can be said about all the chats. They like it when their streamers have fluffy hair.

Chat really is just crying aren’t they. Fundy’s chat has a skill of crying at everything.

Hooray 5up is active! Fundy go say hi for us!

Hooray friends!

Super good item! I don’t get it, but super good item!

ITS THE BEING!

Arena arena. We’re almost to the arena!

Aww. I missed the bets.

ARENA TIME!

Beat em up chat!

Oh no. He’s hitting hard.

WE DIDS IT!

ARENA TIME!

Oh were getting hit hard.

But we did it!

Good Job Wolf! Awesome Millionaire!

No arena box for winning. Rude.

Chat can’t even remember how many fights we’ve won.

Stupid full inventory.

Temporary base on the hill.

Pretty chest!

All the gifted subs. Such a popular streamer.

That looks so cool! I missed what it did but it looks cool!

Ooo all sorts of cool things.

Look at chat go

SHULKER SHELLS!

Look at everyone giving Fundy things.

It’s neato that they use peoples skins. That you can see the people who donated.

Shulker crates! Nice! That’ll be good for transporting things.

We’re so fancy.

Ooo sorting. The most complicated thing.

Chats over here spoiling our streamer.

Wool?

ARENA TIME!

We got this!

Beat em up subs!

WE WON!

Looting 2 noice.

Mods bribing chat to stop barking with Scooby snacks. I love them so much.

Wolf my dear you have done nothing wrong.

Oh cloud9 has a fox skin!

Ooo create mod. We know about that.

A lovely little base.

Cake is being stolen all over the place.

Stab stab the dragon.

Hooray follow goal! Music time!

Oh... that was it. Alrighty we’ll take what we can get.

Time to win an arena subs. We want music.

Our boy is confused.

Fundy just read the chat. They are telling you.

I got to get this time! The subs will destroy everyone!

Happy Halloween?

Gasp! Mega gift!

Pretty skin!

We love the Fundy mods dearly. They are so chill and nice.

The water well has run dry.

The streamer has escaped. It’s just us, the mods, and the chair.

Oh a Schlatt plush! Neato!

Schlushy I agree with that name.

“Not the hat the other one.” LOL.

Chat go Glatt

Went to get water the. Forgot to drink it.

Subs can modify emotes left and right.

Viper good job! Good book!

Fundy doing his game at middle of the night o’clock.

Streamer... please sleep. Please eat meals.

We’re almost at the Arena!

Sleep 8 hours... just at the wrong time.

Chat fully admitting to thinking our streamer is dumb enough to fall in lava.

We have learned to balance our expectations Fundy.

Oh this is going to be a long stream. A really long stream. I’ll probably need to take a break and do some work.

Arena Time! Beat em up subs!

Good job subs!! You did it!

Let’s see what we get for the arena.

So many Wolf!

Diamond!!!

Putting the winners on their boxes. Nice.

I have so much work to do, but I just want to watch the funky Fox.

Villagers? We love villagers.

PIANO!

Oh we’re switching screens it’s serious piano.

So lovely. I love listening to music people do their things.

I love the fact the subs keep shouting FundyJam!

I swear improv music should not sound this lovely

Spooky sounding tune. Sounds like a boss fight in a haunted castle.

Awesome piano!

Poor boy so annoyed by his hair. Bless his heart.

For anyone who doesn’t touch Twitter. The Fundy Updates Twitter is fabulous and amazing. They are just always so upbeat over everything.

Trying to nether portal. You go fox friend.

Wow Just portal to the center do a lava lake. Under soul sand.

You go 5up! You get that bastion.

Rip 5up.

Poor Fundy doing his best.

How’s the VC crew doing?

MENDING GOLD PANTS!!!

The drip is back!

Also I voted no in the will he burn pole. I have faith in my streamers.

We’re calling Fundy emo now. And he’s trying to deny having an emo phase, and failing.

I don’t know what’s happening half the time in this chat.

Fire Fox!

We’re still calling Fundy emo. Chat spoils the streamer and chat bullies the streamer.

Oh are we trending emo Fundy? Nice. I’m conveniently scrolling on Twitter.

Look at us bully our streamer.

The two people in chat. Those saying emo Fundy. Those going “his hair is nice stfu”. The duality of chat.

Sounds of suffering coming from the nether.

Fundy has taken responsibility for enderpearls.

We cursed Fundy? I look away for 10 seconds.

Pixel has turned on Fundy.

Fight that ghast.

Fundy’s going to get all the endermen.

Piglin goes smack.

We’re wearing the drip. Nice.

Everyone gets rich so fast here.

Well. We’ll just leave the corpse there.

Sizzle.

The people who bet on him dying are so rich in channel points now.

*sad fox noises*

Surely not. Fundy we have lost all hope in you.

Pixel doing everything they can to do anti emo Fundy.

Aww. I missed the prediction. I bet he won’t die. I believe in him.

Fundy being scared by his own body. Cant wait to see that clip everywhere on YouTube.

Back to attacking the endermen.

Tubbo is such a villain. He’s so willing to kill HBomb.

Fundy just getting back to work.

I’m sorry corpses become skeletons. That’s horrid.

Off to get the dragon. The dragon the dragon.

Tubbo was smote.

HBomb and Fundy fully ready to be that person that steals the temple.

Hbomb shaped chest. That is great.

Everyone bullying HBomb.

Almost Arena time.

Betting yes on the arena. The subs are strong and they’ve got this.

My twitch app is being stupid. This might be my signal to take a break and do my school work.

8k boosters and the chat goes nuts.

Chat from where I am is just a bunch of booster packs. I think I need to close and reopen the app.

There we go. There is the lovely chat.

Arena time!

Aww. My bet disappeared when I moved the app.

No! He’s cheating! The subs are doing their best!

Good job subs!

I mean it’s a diamond sword. It’s not diamonds but it’ll do.

I heard a du du du du?

I’ve got to go. Time to be productive with my life and time.

Let me know if I miss anything especially stupid or funny.

Alright it’s been 2 and a half hours but I’m back.

Looks like I missed a lot, and the boy has been going 5 hours.

Still on Vault Hunters? How is he not tired of this yet good gracious.

We’re enchantin’

I don’t know what’s happening but I’m watching.

Who stole all the luck from the boy?

Good that he’s drinking plenty of water

Good that he’s taking a break for foods.

What is with the lightening sounds? I don’t like it.

Spare the soup pet.

Sadness. No 3rd cow.

Yes! One more arena!

Lure da cows.

No that’s the Fundy Cow!

Nooooo. That’s worse than killing it!

Did we win our other arenas? I only say the first 5 or so.

Lightening Cow. Lovely.

Noooo the cowwww!

For once Fundy isn’t the one thriving.

He tunneled the cow out. Wow.

Bye 5up! Good luck!

Hi Crumb. The cow was snatched.

Noooo. Quit stealing our cows!

What he jumps like Superman and steals our cows.

Cow bunker.

These cows will get snatched. I just know it.

No. No taking da cows.

Our cows must be protected.

Enchanting is not on our fox’s side

Oh so they did beat the enderdragon. Good for them.

All sorts of neato elytra.

I must go again. I am called to dinner.

Good job getting you diamond sir.

30 minutes later I am back and we are chatting with HBomb.

Sharp boomerang.

Saw a bit of cat maid peaking out there.

5up judging Fundy for just sitting and mining.

Oh the facecam is off. I’m just noticing.

I guess it probably goofed up and froze.

Everyone in chat talking about how much to make the magic packs. I like the people saying 6.9k just for the funnies.

I’m voting 6.9k in the pole just for the funny.

I know it won’t win but I’m doing my part.

Goblins? What the squeak did I miss?

What. We stab the goblins. And they give us emeralds?

This mans has been going for 6 hours and a while. I hope he doesn’t forget to look after himself. He was talking about eating an hour ago.

I love all the product minions. All the donators just chilling on their chests.

Why are all the minions black and white? I missed that one?

Oh they run out. They ran out of stuff and out of color.

Wealth in the chest, since we don’t have a mouth.

Angel or Fairy? Is that even a question? (Chat chose fairy)

Fairy Fox. I want to draw that but have negative amounts of art skills.

We’re killing time until we hit 7 hours.

We’re meeting up with 5up! Nice!

Oh HBomb left and thought Fundy hadn’t done anything in 20 minutes but jump around his castle. LOL.

We hit 7 hours and dipped.

7 hours and almost a thousand subs. Look at us go.

Hello Puffy Raiders! You’re a bit late but hello!

Oh no. He’s panicking and not ending.

Please someone who feels like being annoying remind the mans to eat.

Raffle? Oh donators! They go through a raffle thingy! Nice!

Hooray OSMP but also Fundy please sleep and such.

Not even raffling. Just opening and closing.

Nice spin noises.

WOLF! Wolf earned to win the raffle.

Wait wait wait? Fundy go get some food and go to bed!

Hey look there is our streamer!

This is the max post size lol. 5up raid let’s go! Hello 5up! We are here! But now I’m going to bed. Oh nevermind. I hear the fox. Ah that’s smart 5up. Anyway. I’m gone now.

[violetwolfraven]

Peace and Joy

@spot-king-of-brooklyn I’m your secret Santa! @newsies-secretsanta

You said your favorite ships are sprace and/or javid and you’re good with pretty much anything so I’m gonna write two separate vaguely holiday-related oneshots in the reincarnation AU. Don’t worry though nothing heavy, just fluff. No COVID because I’ve had enough of that dude and I say so. Enjoy! Happy Holidays!

Tw: referenced past period-typical homophobia.

...

Spot couldn’t remember being this happy... ever. Not in the early 1900s or in the early 2000s.

Well, the closest he could think of was 1902, when he and Race moved on from being newsies and from being leaders of their respective boroughs and rented that old apartment in Brooklyn together. But that had been muted by the need to be careful. They couldn’t be normal young people in love because they always had to hide.

And that was fine at the time because it was expected. It was them doing whatever it took to be together not knowing they’d ever get the chance to do it another way.

Now, in the bright, beautiful, forward-thinking 21st century, they could be safe. They could be in love without fear of the consequences. They could go out Christmas shopping together, and Spot didn’t know if that counted as a date, but it kind of felt like one as he watched his boyfriend bop a little to Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You as he looked around.

He ended up having to look away before he started blushing too hard. Even if he wasn’t the King of Brooklyn this time, he still had a bit of a reputation as a stone cold badass. For all he knew, one or more of their more mischievous friends could be spying on them right now. And besides, this thrift store probably had stuff he could get the few Brooklyn kids who’d come back, too.

He was still deciding if Hotshot would think it was funny if he got him a tank top that said ‘hot stuff’ on it. The others would find it funny, but Spot honestly wasn’t sure if it would make his former second uncomfortable.

“Hey, Spottie, ya think my little brother would like this?”

Spot turned back to see Race holding up a bright purple worm on a string, but a giant version of one. One that was big enough to be a scarf.

“Knowin’ your family,” he admitted, “I think any of ‘em would be happy to get one of those.”

It was true. Honestly, the most sensible Larkin brother was the second-oldest, Crutchie, but Spot could still see him proudly wearing a worm-on-a-string-scarf to school after winter break ended.

Besides him, Medda, Race’s mom, tended to embrace whatever unique fashion choice she could find. And Jack, of course, didn’t let being the oldest of four stop him from being a theatrical little shit who liked drawing attention to himself.

And Romeo was somehow even more eccentric than Race, so he would definitely like that thing.

Race grinned, “I’m gonna get Ro a worm scarf for Christmas.”

“Your family is ridiculous.”

“Thank you. So, what’re ya gettin’ for Denton?”

Oh, shit. Spot had completely forgotten about getting anything for Denton.

He really should get something for him. After all, the teacher hadn’t even known Spot when Jack asked if he could stay with him. All he’d needed to know was that Spot needed a place to hide from his terrible parents and couldn’t stay with the Larkins, mostly because Medda had a strict rule about her boys’ partners sleeping over unless it was absolutely necessary. (it was also because Spot couldn’t think of anyone he’d want to live with less than Jack Kelly, but Denton didn’t really need to know that, did he?)

So far, Spot’s parents hadn’t shown any signs of missing him, and Spot couldn’t decide if that hurt or not, but it barely mattered anymore.

Because Denton didn’t really have any rules beyond ‘do your homework’, ‘take a shower occassionally’, and ‘if you leave the house, let me know where you’re going.’ He helped Spot pick out a Halloween costume, let him spend Thanksgiving with Race, and gave him money for Christmas shopping. He was fine with Spot being gay and having a boyfriend, even if there was an added rule with that of ‘you can’t have the door closed if you’re alone in your room with Race.’

He gave Spot space, but also made it clear that he could come to him for anything he needed help with. He never hit him, never pushed when Spot wanted to be alone, never even raised his voice unless they were in an already-loud room and he needed to get his attention.

In short, in only a few months, he’d become the best adult Spot had ever had in his life. He wasn’t his father, but he was closest thing Spot had ever gotten to a dad.

The Denton they’d known in their last life had been kind of like that, too. He’d helped as best he could whenever one of the newsies got into trouble, always being there for anyone who needed him since Kath first introduced her new reporter friend to her newsie friends. Of course, Spot hadn’t been living with Denton then, so he’d never really thought about it.

“What do you even get a middle-aged man for Christmas?”

Race shrugged, “Power tools?”

The idea of getting Denton power tools was so ridiculous that they both laughed.

“Uh... he’s a writer,” Race pointed out, “So... fancy pens?”

“Fancy pens? We’re at a thrift store, Racer.”

“Well we don’t gotta stay here forever. There’s a Barnes and Noble across the street.”

He wasn’t wrong about that, but Spot wasn’t sure about the whole ‘fancy pen’ thing. It seemed a little generic.

“Yooooo! Spot, check this out for Jack!”

He was holding up a bright blue sketchbook that said ‘Sketchy Bitch’ on the cover.

“Oh yeah, ya definitely have to get that for Cowboy.”

Spotting (no pun intended) something else on the shelf behind him, Spot grinned.

He had the perfect thing to get for the man who’d taken him in.

...

“This is gonna be so fuckin’ awesome.”

Davey snorted, “You’re way too excited ‘bout this, Jackie.”

He loved his boyfriend, but he had a tendency to get overenthusiastic about things.

Well, he loved that about Jack, too. And he loved being able to call him his boyfriend, now. That they didn’t need to hide this time.

He and Sarah had both been a little worried about their parents’ reaction, but it had turned out to be for nothing. They’d each gotten a t-shirt with their respective pride flag for the first night of Hanukkah, and Jack and Kath were always welcome to come over as long as at least one parent was home.

Davey loved Jack just as much in this lifetime as he had in his first, but it was different, not having to hide it. It was good different, but definitely different. Being able to be who they were and be in love and knowing that it was generally frowned upon to be homophobic now, at least where they lived.

And being able to do random shit that was romantic and fun as hell, but not something would even occur to most people to do.

After a sleepy conversation once Crutchie, Race, and Romeo had fallen asleep watching White Christmas (which Davey appreciated for the choreography in the dance numbers) one time about how there weren’t really any Hanukkah movies, Jack had collaborated with Kath to write a lesbian Hanukkah musical romcom to post to YouTube.

Objectively, it wasn’t that great. It was good for a movie made by a bunch of high school juniors, but they couldn’t afford good cameras or microphones or anything. Plus, it was appealing to a very niche audience, so Davey doubted this movie would get more than twenty views.

Still, it meant a lot that Jack was so excited about it, that he was working so hard on props and editing in the lighting and music for it so Kath and Saz could play Jewish lesbians fake-dating at a holiday party who fall in love. It was cute.

“It ain’t gonna win any awards,” Jack admitted, “But I think we’s got somethin’ good here!”

“We do,” Davey agreed.

Was he actually talking about the romcom starring his sister and her girlfriend? Partially. It was a pretty good movie for something produced by teenagers.

But they had something good there that wasn’t on the screen of Jack’s laptop, too.

Jack seemed to share those thoughts, with the way he was smiling.

“What’s with the look, mi amor?”

Davey rolled his eyes as the other boy put his arm around his waist.

“Like you don’t know, love,” he chuckled, “Remember the last time we did somethin’ like this? And by ‘we’ I mean ‘you.’”

“Shh,” Jack shook his head, “Nope. We don’t talk about the latkes incident.”

“You mean when you almost burned down our tiny little kitchen trying to—“

“We don’t talk about it!”

Davey laughed. It was funny, how Jack couldn’t, in any lifetime, cook anything more complicated than like... chili or stew. While he could make something edible, he couldn’t make anything that was really considered good.

“Davey, love, luz de mi vida, it was literally over a hundred years ago, so stop. Bringin’. Up. The. Latkes. Incident!”

He punctuated the sentence by hitting Davey with one of his mom’s throw pillows.

“Okay, Jackie, I get it! Stop hitting me!”

“Fine,” Jack grinned, “I ain’t almost burned down a kitchen in over a century, babe. I thinks that’s a good record to have.”

“Most people never almost burn down a kitchen,” Davey pointed out, “I know I—wait, did you just call me ‘babe’?”

Jack was definitely not meeting his eyes to try to hide how he was blushing, “Uh... is that okay?”

Davey smirked. Jack didn’t get flustered that often, but it was adorable when he did.

And even if he had almost burned down their apartment, it had been cute back then, how he’d tried so hard to try to do something nice for Davey for the holiday season. It was cute now, too.

That was one thing that hadn’t changed through the decades, he guessed.

“It’s definitely okay, babe.”

...

“Spot, is this a... ‘Best Dad In The World’ mug?”

“...if you cry, I’m outta here.”

[thiswasinevitableid]

A fun, potentially spooky prompt for Halloween season based on something you wrote in “Amnesty Records”: “Like the monster under the bed came to life, turned out to be hot, and really wants to fuck you.” Something to the theme of Little Monsters from 1989? Indruck and NSFW if you please?

This is indeed NSFW, and also came to me all in one burst.

Duck pulls the Captain Planet comforter up to his chin, sighing as he lays down. He turned seven today, and has been spoiled and fussed over. Mama Newton isn’t much of an entertainer, but she knows how to throw a birthday party. 

 A scrape  of nails on the floor and the rustle of something under his bed makes him freeze. 

“Taco, that you?”

When the cat doesn't appear, he sinks further under the covers.

“Mom?”

“No”  soft voice with a bit of hiss drifts up from under the bed.

He swallows, “Who’re you?”

“My name is Indrid. I live under your bed.”

“No you don’t, you weren’t there last night.”

“How do you know?”

“Just do. So go away.”

“No.”

“I’m gonna call my dad.”

“He won’t believe you” the bed frame rattles, “he will tell you to be a big boy.”

The monster is right, just yesterday dad was saying how proud he was of Duck being brave at the doctor. Fine, maybe if he pretends it’s not there, it’ll go away. 

“....aren't you going to cry?”

“No.” He sets his shoulders, glares at his wall.

“....not even a little?”

“No.”

“Oh.” A sigh, “I am not very good at this.”

Duck didn’t know monsters could be sad.

“Are, uh, are you a grown-up monster?”

“No. I am young and little, like you. They would not send a grown-up monster to a child, they send them to grown-up humans.”

“Grown ups don’t have monsters under their beds.”

“They do. They may not know it, but they do.”

Indrid doesn’t say anything else and Duck falls asleep. He’s hoping the monster won’t come back, but the instant his mom turns out the light, he knows he’s there. 

“I’m n-not scared.” He whispers to the ceiling.

“Yes you are. I can taste it.”

“You can't hurt me. You ain’t real.”

 A hand closes around his ankle and he yelps. The monster laughs, then hisses when Duck kicks his wrist. 

“That was not nice.”

“Neither was grabbing me”

There’s a huff, but nothing else. The third night, Duck is ready, sticking a fake sword under the bed as soon as Indrid says something. 

The sword is yanked from his hands. 

“Why is it this color?”

“Suppose to be from the future. Ain’t you seen space rangers?”

“No. That is not a movie we have down here.”

Duck is only now starting to recognize awkward pauses, but he’s pretty sure this is one.

“Will you tell me about it?” Indrid slides the sword back onto the floor by his dresser. 

He rolls onto his back. He’s not all that tired, and Juno is sick of hearing about it.

“Okay, so there’s this guy who’s a space farmer….”

----------------------------------------

It’s been a year and Indrid is under his bed almost every night, but Duck isn’t afraid of him anymore. Which is why he’s determined to finally get a look at him. How scary can a monster that wants to talk about T.V or trees or whatever else Duck has been up to really be?

When his mom turns off the light, Duck slips out of bed and lays on his stomach, staring into the darkness beneath it. 

Four red eyes appear, but nothing else. 

“Hey ‘Drid.”

“Hello. Why are you down here? Did you lose that action figure again?”

“Nah. Wanted to see you. Where’s the rest?”

“Hidden in shadows. I am not supposed to let humans see me. It can be dangerous.”

“Oh, uh, sorry?”

Indrid hurriedly adds, “But we can stay like this, this is okay. I think. I do not really care, I like being able to see you. You're like the baby multibear my friend has.”

“I ain't a bear.”

“No. But you are, ah, cute.”

Only Iris, Juno’s friend, has ever called him cute, and he only knows that because Juno told him. He understood he was supposed to think that was good. But he likes it much better when Indrid says it.

“What should we talk about tonight?”

Duck rests his chin on his hands, “You wanna play go fish?”

“You have a fish?” The red eyes tip to the right. 

He snickers, “No, it’s a game. Here, lemme show you…”

------------------------------------------

“You better give that one back.” Duck grumbles as he looks down from the bed to see his new Spiderman comic missing. 

“I have given all of them back.” He can hear the smile, the one he’s glimpsed in darkness while whispering secrets under the bed; it’s wide, and there are definitely fangs, but Indrid only ever shows it when he’s happy. He never has a mean smile like the jerks at school. 

“Where’s my Black Panther?”

“...........I dropped it in the stream when I was reading.”

“‘Drid!”

“I got excited!!”

“You owe me a new one.” There’s no anger in his words. It’s just a comic book, not nearly as special as Indrid. 

“Can I give you something from here instead?”

Duck closes the new Iron Man, holds it down to the space beneath the bed, “deal.”

------------------------------------------------

He wakes up with a cry, too quiet to be a scream but with tremendous force behind it. As the nightmare fades, something rolls off the bed behind him. 

“‘D-Drid? Please, please say that was you or Taco.”

“It was me, Duck. I, I am sorry, you were whimpering in your sleep and I could taste more and more fear and I did not want you to be afraid. I, ah, I thought if I held you, it would make you feel better.”

“Thanks.” He shivers, the dream reaching out from all sides, threatening more horror if he falls asleep.

“Can, uh, can you come back up? Just for a little bit?” 

“I should not. It was already risky to do it how I did.”

Duck nods, forgetting Indrid can't see him. That's fine. He’ll be okay. He can handle-

A tree branch scrapes the window and he throws the covers over his head. 

“Put your hand over the edge of the bed.”

Duck slips his hand out from the blanket and lets it hang in the air. Fingers link around it, and then Indrid is holding it full on. It doesn’t feel like holding Janes hand when he’s helping her cross the street; it’s cold, smooth, and the nails are sharp. He sneaks a glance, sees red claws wrapped around his wrist, and feels safe enough to sleep. 

--------------------------------------

“Trouble sleeping?”

“Yeah, don’t know why I’m so worried about startin’ high school. I mean, it’s fucking Kepler, the high school ain’t any bigger than the middle school. “

“I always get nervous for new lessons. Even with some ability to see the future, I am worried I will do something wrong. Maybe it is that?”

“Yeh.” Duck rolls onto his side, hoping for a glimpse of a hand. He wishes he knew what Indrid looked like, wishes he was coming to school with him tomorrow. 

“I am sure you will be fine. You are intelligent, and funny, and charming.”

He smiles at the wall, “Thanks, ‘Drid.”

“Any time, Duck.”

--------------------------------

His roommate is snoring, which is not what he was hoping for from his first night in the dorms. Class tomorrow is going to fucking suck if he hasn't slept. 

“Congratulations on the successful move.” A familiar voice slinks up to his ear. 

“‘Drid? Holy shit, did you follow me?”

“I am your monster, I go where you go. Sort of. It is complicated. What is not complicated however, is this.” The clawed hand pops up to the edge of the bed, placing a wrapped package near Duck’s head. Stealthily removing the paper shows it’s the bright orange truffles that come from Indrid’s home. Duck loves them.  

“You didn’t have to do this.”

“It is traditional in both human and monster culture to give a gift when one moves to a new home. And I like bringing you things. Are you feeling well? Excited to learn about the forest?”

“Yep. Just wish I could get to sleep.”

“One moment.”

He feels Indrid leave. Then his roommate's bed shakes and shudders, the other guy jolting awake in fright. He doesn’t look like he’ll be getting back to sleep anytime soon. 

Duck shifts onto his side, facing the wall, and whispers down the stucco, “Thanks.”

---------------------------------------------

A perk of his roommate getting a girlfriend is that Duck gets more nights alone. He’s soaked the pillow with sweat, and is so wrung out from cumming he hasn't wiped his hands yet. 

“Are you done?”

“JESUSFUCK”

“I'm taking that as a yes.”

“Please tell me you ain’t been there this whole time.”

“No, I always leave if you are doing that. It is private.”

“Thank fuck.”

Relief is followed by disappointment, which he decides he won’t think too hard about. 

It only takes another night before he does, imagining Indrid listening to him fuck himself, whispering instructions for how Duck should do it, even touching himself at the same time, getting off on the sound of Ducks pleasure before holding his hand all night. 

------------------------------------------------

It’s fall, and the apartment he and Juno share is close to campus, cheap, and fucking freezing.

Duck knows just how to warm up. Sliding his hand down his sweats, he starts picturing Rich, but the thought of jerking it to an ex is a boner-kill waiting to happen. So, he switches to his trusty fallback, selecting a blonde, fresh-faced yet kind of punk body for the voice under the bed. 

He wants to draw it out, but fantasizing about Indrid always sets his hand flying, too many nights like this seeding a deep desire in his veins that he has to purge fast for fear of what will happen if it lingers. The monsters name drops from his lips, breathy and urgent, and he’s too caught up to care  

“Indrid, fuck, please.”

“Please what?”

Gasping, he sits up. A figure is standing at the foot of his bed, staring at him with red eyes. In the dark room, he can’t make much out beside their glow and two short horns on the top of his head. Duck’s mind spins so fast it hurls out the first sentence that comes.

“‘Drid’s got four eyes, not tw-”

Another pair of eyes open just below the first.

“They are a secondary pair, so I can keep them shut and see just fine. I thought the sight of them might be too much combined with the rest of me.” Indrid murmurs.

“Th-though I ain’t allowed to see the rest.”

A shrug, “You aren’t. But I cannot bring myself to care right now. Not when you say my name like that.”

Summoning his courage, Duck locks his gaze onto Indrid’s own and slowly drags a hand up his dick, “You gonna show me the rest or not?”

A hissing growl curls around him as Indrid leans forward, clawed hands leading the crawl onto the bed. In the moonlight coming through the window, Duck sets eyes on the whole of him for the first time. 

His face is angular, sporting his wide toothy grin and framed by silver hair falling just past his chin. Past the claws, his arms are a mixture of tan skin and black and red scales, twining up his arms. The same combination is clear on his chest, visible above the neckline of the white tank-top. Flashes of color appear under the fabric, racing down Indrid’s spine, and Duck would ask what they are if Indrids face had not just come level with his. Standing up, the monster can't be much taller than him. But here, pinned against his headboard like a scientific specimen, Indrid bracketing him, he feels frighteningly small. 

“What happened to not spying on me when  I did this?” The words stick in his dry mouth. 

“It was accidental. I only stayed when I heard you call for me.”

“Wasn't callin.” Heat rises in his face. 

The grin widens, “Oh no?” A long tongue drags down Duck’s cheek, “You did not have even the smallest hint of hope I would her? That I would lay in the shadows, savoring the sounds of you, ah, taking yourself in hand?”

He’s so strange looking, every sensible part of Duck is screaming for him to run, to banish him under the bed and go back to his normal life. 

Duck inches his face forward, closing his teeth round the lobe of a pointed ear, “Maybe.”

Indrid chuckles, “Then maybe I have been hoping for the same. Maybe I have been touching myself and dreaming it was your hand instead of mine. Maybe” he brushes their noses together, “I have wanted this for as long as you have?”

“Least a year, more if I’m bein honest with myself.”

“Several years, but then again, I had the pleasure of being able to see your face. It made you all the more appealing.”

Duck reaches out a shaking hand, stroking silver hair. He means to say some platitude about Indrid being handsome because the affection in Duck’s heart means he couldn’t see him any other way. While that may be true,  a second, more surprising truth comes out in its place. 

“Thinkin if you’d let me see you, we woulda gotten here a lot sooner. “

There’s another growl and then he’s yelping out a laugh as Indrid yanks him flat on his back and unceremoniously rips his shirt off. His monster brings their lips together, tongue sliding between Duck’s lips as the human shoves both hands into Indrid’s hair. When he teases his tongue against Indrid’s, the monster whines, pressing closer and pawing his sides. 

“‘Drid” He mumbles. 

Another whine, higher and morphing into a chirr as Indrid grinds their hips together.

“‘Drid, you gotta let me breathe.”

The monster breaks the kiss, but coats his face in pecks as he catches his breath, chirping all the while. Something solid ripples beneath the fabric of his black pants where they rub against Duck’s thigh. 

“Holy fuck what, what exactly are you packin down there?”

“Would you like to see?”

“Hell yeah.” 

The pants and Duck’s sweats hit the ground in quick succession, Indrid’s shirt landing atop them a moment later when Duck pulls it off to kiss along the scaled swirls of his chest. 

“Well, what do you think?”

“Guh, uh, jesus, uh, ‘Drid, what’s it doin?”

Indrid looks down to where four short tendris are unfurling to reveal a ridged cock.

“Getting ready to fuck you?”

“Uh, how exactly?”

Indrid licks his lips, “Lay back and I will demonstrate. Do not worry, as much as it pains me to focus on anything but your face, I will use my foresight to be certain nothing I do leads to trouble. 

Duck rests his head on the pillow as Indrid settles between his legs, claws pricking his thighs when the monster pushes them apart. 

“Does the whole thing goOH, oh fuck.” He wiggles his hips, “fuck, ‘Drid, that feels so fuckin weird.”

‘That is not surprising. It is one of the tendrils which, unless I'm very wrong about human anatomy, none of your previous partners had.”

“Nnnnnnfuck, fuck you’re gonna fuckin ruin me, god fuckin damn that feels nice.”

“Wonderful.” Indrid bends down, hands gliding to rest by Ducks biceps. He kisses him slowly s the tendril continues stretching him open, slick and pulsing in time with the careful movements of Indrid’s hips. 

His monster noses down his throat, drgs his tongue back up it with a purr, “You taste divine.”

“If you,re fuck gonna eat me, do me a favor and do it after I cum?” Duck teases, stroking Indrid’s shoulder blades. 

Indrid laughs, “A fair request. But I have zero interest in eating you; how could I? I would lose my best friend and my new favorite past time.” The tendril thickens, making Duck moan and throw his forearm over his eyes. 

“Fuuuck, are all monsters this fuckin sappy?”

“Only yours. And it is not as if you're not that way. I remember those love notes you asked me to help with.”

“Okay okay, we’re both big fuckin marshmallows. Now, AAHnn, are you gonna help me break this bed or not?”

Indrid pulls out with another growl, kneading Duck’s ass as he lines up his cock, “Yes, yes I am.”

“FUCK, ohfuckohfuck, yeah, fuck yeah.” Duck digs his fingers into Indrid’s back as he shoves in, “‘Drid, tht’s so fuckin goodohshit, what, what’s it doin now?” The tendrils have spread, one curling around his dick, two teasing his balls, and the fourth twining up Indrid’s shaft, meaning Duck’s toes curl with new sensations on the next thrust.

Indrid grins against his neck, “Taking care of you.”

“Ain’t that, that thoughtful.”

“All for you my sweet, goodness, you’re so warm and your ass is delightful.” His lips find Duck’s cheeks, “I’ve wanted this so long, sweetheart, so very longAHhnnnn.” His head hits the pillow as Duck scratches down his back. Not only do colors flash in his wake; spikes emerge along the ridge of his spine, flickering red to purple to black.

“Is that-”

“-okay yes very, o-okay. You can touch them, they will not hurt.”

Duck runs his finger up one. It’s feathery and smooth, rising and lowering with the undulations of Indrid’s body. Tugging it makes Indrid snap his hips with a chirring growl.

“Yes, yes do that again, more, please ohahnnnnisJunohome?

“No?”

“Good.”

The words Duck meant to say give way to shouts of pleasure as Indrid slams into him over and over, sinking his teeth into his shoulder and clawing at his sides. Duck scratches his scales and skin, strokes and pulls the feathery spines, Indrid trilling when he does. His hips quicken, Duck struggling to keep pace as the monster pins him more firmly to the bed. When he cums the tendrils tighten, sending Duck over the edge right after him. Indrid kisses him again, nipping long his lips as he whimpers the monsters name. 

As his whole body spasms and relaxes, Indrid rolls him over, panting. 

“More, I want more, again, mine, you are all mine.”

Duck looks over his shoulder, grinning fondly, “Uh huh.”

“What is so funny?”

“Nothin. Just, uh, realized there's a plant your dick reminds me of.”

Indrid blinks so intently his second set of eyes join in the expression. Then he cackles, draping himself over Duck to kiss him again. 

“You can tell me all about it after we are done with the extremely pressing matter of me fucking you again.”

“Go wild, darlin.”

This time the pillow takes the brunt of the noise, Duck grunting and moaning into it as Indrid fucks him from behind, switching between slow, gentle thrusts and grabbing Duck’s hips to drive into him hard enough to set off fireworks in his brain. He’s overstimulated to the point of tears, but his whole system floods with pleasure at the intensity of Indrid’s desire, the feeling of being so utterly used and wanted all at once. When the monster pulls out, he’s cum enough that it drips down Duck’s thigh, tingling as it goes. 

“Now” Indrid flops onto the mattress, wriggling into Duck’s waiting arms, “tell me about this plant.”

----------------------------------------

When Juno gets home Sunday morning, Duck is in the kitchen humming long with a playlist on his phone. 

“Holy fuck man, what happened to you.” She stares at the bitemarks and bruises all around his neck and shoulders and the scratches on his legs. 

“Had a real nice weekend.”

“You got all that from a hook-up?”

Duck shakes his head with a secretive smile, “Nah. Just had a sleepover with my new boyfriend.”

[stillebesat]

The Path: A Tale of Trick or Treating -Diva (9/15)

Sanders Sides: Logan, Patton, Roman, Virgil, Deceit, Remus Sanders Shorts: Remy (Sleep) Cartoon Therapy: Emile Picani Blurb: You’ve been trick or treating at the Sanders Side’s homes for as long as you can remember, but this year things get a bit more…complicated. Fic Type: Halloween, Adventure Chapter 9 Warnings: None Author’s Note: This fic is told in Second Person.

Previous Houses: Remus(1) Patton(2) Emile(3) Remy(4) ???(5) Logan(6) Roman(7) Virgil(8)

“Fleeing the light.” You whisper Virgil’s words to yourself as you retrace your steps back up the street, looking for any signs in the houses you’re passing that would clue you into why the Shadowman had given you a clear rock as your next clue. 

You drop your hand to your pocket, feeling both the stone and coin there and bite your lip. Roman had been closer to the end of this Path that you found yourself on. Surely you could just ignore the rock clue and skip---

Violently you shake your head. “No.” It seemed...wrong somehow, to not gather all the clues. To not follow The Path from beginning to end.

After all, you didn’t know what was that the end of it. What if you needed something from one of the houses you had skipped in order to complete this...quest?

You glance up to the stars overhead and to the moon, barely a sliver in the sky. “Fleeing the light.” You close your eyes, pausing on the corner trying to think which house out of the two hundred or so that you’d visited tonight, would have been bright enough--

‘Cause this is thriller Thriller night And no one’s gonna save you From the beast about to strike

The song rings through the night air and you turn, eyes opening, a soft “Of course,” leaving your lips as the Diva’s house practically blinds you at the far end of the street.

You take off at a run towards the home, mentally kicking yourself for not piecing it together sooner. After all, you glance to your wrist where the bracelet you’d been given still glowed. Hadn’t the Diva said that he’d make you shine bright like a Diamond? 

You skid to a stop at the door, hurriedly fishing the clear stone from your pocket and flinch as one of the flashing lights from the house unexpectedly hits the stone in just the right spot, causing it to shine bright like the burning sun. 

You doubted that this was a real diamond, but it sure shown like a precious gem. 

Blinking the spots from your eyes, you take a breath and ring the doorbell.

The door is slower to open this time around and you fidget, glancing at the various glowing Halloween decorations. This had to be the right place. It had to be.

You hear the lock and look up just as the Diva pulls open the door and gives you a look that reminds you of the stares the displeased popular kids at school would give you if you did something wrong in their presence.

It’s not a nice feeling.

“Guurrlll.” He leans against the door, drawing out the word. 

You gulp, clenching the stone tight in your fist. “I--” You clear your throat, shifting your feet, wishing you could see this guy’s eyes. “I found your diamond?” 

It comes out as a question which you instantly regret, but geez, this guy is much more intimidating a second time around. 

He crosses his arms, a single perfectly sculpted eyebrow raising behind his sunglasses. “Reaaallly.” 

You nod. “I-I thi-think so.” You slowly uncurl your fingers from the stone, holding it up for him to see just as another light beam from the yard passes through it, sending a flurry of rainbows over the man’s face. 

He inhales sharply. “Gurl.” The tone is awed now as he leans forward, lowering his shades from his eyes, revealing opalescent irises that sparkle nearly as bright as the stone. 

Though you wonder if you imagined it, because the next instant the sunglasses are back completely covering his eyes and he’s holding out his hand for you to place the stone in it. “When I said Stay Safe, Sunshine.” He says, slipping the stone between the glowsticks on his jacket. “Finding The Path isn’t what I meant.” 

You rub the back of your head, trying to figure out if he meant that the Path was safe to be on...or if it was unsafe. “It...kinda found me?” You offer weakly. 

He tsks. “Ya think, Princess? Your next step is hardly a stroll through the park smelling the flowers. I would glow you up to the max if I thought it would help but even that bracelet is probably pushing it.” He tilts his head to the one he’d given you earlier.

You blink. The little glowstick bracelet? “Pushing it?” What house could be so horribly dark and horrible that having a little light would--

He exhales. “Darkness is his friend for he terrorizes all who approach him.” 

Oh no. 

Ice shoots down your spine as one very particular house and one very particular person comes to mind who would willingly terrorize everyone that came to visit.

You swear your heart stops as the Diva pulls out another small bottle that isn’t water.

“Don’t flinch when confronted by him and when he asks--” He practically shoves the Apple Juice into your hands. “Don’t take the…” His mouth twists. “Juicy stuff. Give it.”

On to the Next House Duke(10) Prince(11) Picani(12) Logic(13) Deceit(14) ???(15)

Taglist in reblog

[hotforharrington]

Strangely Complicated (Pt. 5)

If you haven’t read the first 4 parts, here is the Season 1 Masterlist!

—

Setting: S2•E1 [MADMAX]

Warnings: swearing

Notes: I’m so excited to start season 2!! Bringing Billy in is going to spice things up ;) enjoy you guys!!

—

It was that time of year again. The leaves changed from green to variations of orange, red, and yellow. The air was cool and Halloween was nearly upon us.

The fall season meant that it had been nearly a year since Will Byers went missing. Nearly a year since me, Jonathan, Nancy, and Steve fought an otherworldly creature. Nearly a year since Steve kissed me outside the hospital.

But that exciting time of my life was now only a vivid memory. I figured the thrilling moments of my life were now just a part of my past, and that I should accept my normal reality. But that all changed in the fall of 1984.

I began the dreaded school day sitting on the hood of my car, my favorite novel in my hands. Jonathan had left only moments ago to head inside, but I was lingering. I couldn’t stay focused on my book and I didn’t mean to stare, but I noticed Nancy and Steve kissing in his car just a few yards away from me. It made my heart ache.

I fiddled with the pearl bracelet that Steve had given me last Christmas- a soothing technique I had acquired over the last several months. I locked my eyes at the ground, hoping they wouldn’t notice that I had been staring.

Just then, I heard a loud car engine coming up behind me. I turned my head to see a blue Camaro pull into the parking spot next to mine.

I didn’t recognize the car, so I figured it was someone new. The driver’s door opened and a boy with curly dirty blonde hair, who I assumed was about my age, stood next to his car. He had a cigarette between his fingers and took a quick drag before scanning the area around him. He was extremely attractive, and the looks of him made my heart swell in a way it hadn’t since Steve and I had our little affair.

Everything about him screamed ‘cliche bad boy’, and that honestly made him a bit more intriguing.

Meanwhile, a redhead girl got out of the vehicle and rode away towards the middle school on her skateboard. I assumed she must be his sister.

I didn’t want to be like all the other dimwit girls in my school, gawking at the new guy, so I redirected my focus on the book that was in my hands.

I could tell the mysterious boy was staring at me, but I refused to lock eyes with him. My eyes stayed glued to the page, although I wasn’t actually reading the words, until he walked away.

As he turned away from me, he flicked his cigarette and strutted towards the building. I couldn’t help but bite my lip and stare at how nicely his ass fit into his tight jeans.

I shook myself out of the daze and packed up my things to head inside.

—

Nancy, Jonathan, and I were walking out of our classroom as Tina handed out some orange flyers.

“Thanks!” Nancy said to her before turning back, “Could I get two more?”

Tina handed her two more of the flyers.

Nancy skipped towards us and handed us each one of the papers.

“You guys are coming to this.” She said.

“‘Come and get sheet faced’” Jonathan read off the page.

“No we’re not.” I said with a chuckle.

“I can’t let you two sit all alone on Halloween. That’s just not acceptable.”

“Well you can relax. We’re not going to be alone.” I said to her.

“We’re taking Will trick-or-treating.” Jonathan explained.

“All night?” Nancy asked.

“Yeah.” Jonathan said.

“No, no way. You’re gonna be home by 8:00... listening to the Talking Heads and reading Vonnegut or something... and (Y/N)’s going to be reading that same book she always does.” She said, gesturing to the book in my hands.

Jonathan and I looked at each other and shrugged, “Sounds like a nice night.” We said in unison.

“Guys... just come! I mean, who knows, you guys might even, like, meet someone.” Nancy said before Steve swooped around the corner and lifted her around by her waist.

She hit him playfully, “Oh my god! Take those stupid things off.” She said referring to his sunglasses.

“I missed you.” Steve said to her.

“It’s been like an hour.”

“Tell me about it.” Steve said before pulling her into a kiss.

It made me sick to my stomach. Jonathan and I stood there awkwardly for awhile before moving along down the hall.

“God I’m so sick of those two.” I said to him.

“Tell me about it.” Jonathan replied. “She’s so dumb for wanting to be with that Harrington guy.”

“Hey, it’s not the Harrington guy that’s the problem.” I said defensively.

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re still into him.” Jonathan said, annoyed.

“Trust me, I don’t want to be. Besides, it doesn’t matter. He’s too obsessed with your ‘Little Miss Perfect’.” I sighed before continuing, “C’mon Jon, let’s just stop with this... “

He agreed and the two of us continued on to our next class.

—

At the end of the day, I walked outside to meet Jonathan and Will at my car. I had my book in my hand and gazed off to one side, my eyes locked on Steve who was getting to his car. Then, Nancy showed up.

Barf I thought to myself right before bumping into a firm body.

I dropped my book on the ground and before I could bend to pick it up, the person in front of me grabbed it off the concrete and handed it back to me.

“Thank you.” I said in a sweet voice, before looking up to lock eyes with a pair of sparkling blue ones.

A sly smile swept across the face of my new parking spot neighbor. “No problem. I’m Billy. Billy Hargrove.” He said, grabbing my dainty hand to shake it. “You got a name?”

“Um, I’m (Y/N).” I replied.

“Nice to meet you, (Y/N). Hopefully we’ll get to see more of each other.” He winked before walking off to his Camaro.

—

Like most every evening, I spent my time at the Byers house with Will and Jonathan.

Jonathan and I stood outside Will’s bedroom and Jonathan gave the door a few knocks before going in.

“Hey bud. I didn’t know what you’d like so I got a variety.” Jon said to his younger brother, showing off the videos in his hand, “Take your pick.”

“Whatever you guys want.” Will said to us.

“All right...” Jonathan said before the both of us moved to sit on his bed.

“Whatcha workin’ on, little man?” I asked Will, noticing his drawing, “Zombie boy? Who’s Zombie Boy?”

“Me.” Will said meekly.

“Did someone call you that?” Jonathan asked him. There was no response, so Jonathan continued, “Hey, you can talk to us, you know that, right? Whatever happened.”

I playfully nudged him and said, “Will, c’mon, talk to us!”

“Stop treating me like that.” Will said looking from me to his brother.

“What? Like what?” I asked him.

“Like everyone else. Like there’s something wrong with me.”

“What are you talking about?” Jonathan questioned him.

“Mom. Dustin. Lucas. Everyone! They all treat me like I’m gonna break. Like I’m a baby. Like I can’t handle things on my own. It doesn’t help. It just makes me feel like more of a freak.”

“You’re not a freak!” I said, resting my hand on his shoulder.

“Yeah, I am. I am.” He said looking at me, then looking back down at his drawing.

“You know what? You’re right.” Jonathan said.

I was confused but curious to see where he was going with this.

“You are a freak.” He stated.

“What?” Will said.

“No, I’m serious. You’re a freak. But what? Do you wanna be normal? Do you wanna be just like everyone else? Being a freak is the best. I’m a freak. And (Y/N) is a freak, too.”

“Is that why you guys are each other’s only friends?”

“We have other friends, Will.” Jonathan said with an airy laugh.

“Then why are you guys always hanging out with me?”

“Because you’re our best friend.” I chimed in, “And we would rather be best friends with Zombie Boy than with a boring nobody. You know what I mean?”

“Look... who would you rather be friends with? Bowie or Kenny Rogers?” Jonathan asked.

“Ugh.” Will said, displaying a look of disgust on his face.

“Exactly. It’s no contest. The thing is, nobody normal ever accomplished anything meaningful in this world. You got it?” Jonathan said to his little brother.

“Well...” Will started, “Some people like Kenny Rogers.”

“Kenny Rogers?” We heard Bob’s voice from the hallway. “I love Kenny Rogers!”

The three of us chuckled, causing Bob to ask, “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.” Will said.

Bob examined the movies sitting on the bookshelf, grabbing one from the stack. “Mr. Mom! Woo! Perfect!”

The three of us died in laughter on Will’s bed after Bob left the room.

—

Not wanting to get stuck watching Mr. Mom while Bob laughed at every little thing, I decided to head home for the night.

As I drove in the darkness, I bopped along to What’s Love Got To Do With It by Tina Turner as it played on the radio.

I was a few miles from my house when I heard a loud pop come from one of my tires.

Great. I thought to myself.

I pulled to the side of the road to hear a loud hissing noise coming from the front tire. No one had ever thought to teach me how to change a tire, so I decided to walk on home.

I’ll just have to call Jonathan to pick me up in the morning and help me change the tire another time. I thought to myself.

I was casually strolling and enjoying the crisp night air when it began to lightly rain.

Of course. I thought to myself as I rolled my eyes.

A few moments later, the sound of a loud car engine came up behind me. The car’s distinct revving sound was familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it.

That was until the blue Camaro pulled up beside me. The passenger window rolled down and I looked over to see none other than Billy Hargrove in the driver’s seat.

“Need a lift?” He asked me.

I kept moving forward and said, “No thanks. I’m not trying to owe you some sort of favor.”

His car rolled along side of me, “C’mon, I hear standing in the rain will give you a cold. Just get in, no favor required.”

I hesitated, but decided I would rather take my chances with Hawkins’ new bad boy than walk the rest of the way home in the rain. I opened the passenger side door of the car and slid into the seat.

He asked, “Where to?” And I gave him directions to my house.

The car ride was awkwardly silent until Billy spoke up and said, “So are you and that Byers kid a thing?”

I rolled my eyes, “What’s it matter to you?”

“Just curious.” He answered with a smirk.

“If you must know, Jonathan might as well be my brother. And if you try anything, he’ll kick your ass. Should’ve seen what he did to Harrington last year.” I softly chuckled at the memory of seeing Jon beat Steve’s face in as I ran from the cops.

“That Byers kid beat up Steve Harrington?” He asked, in shock.

I nodded and noticed we were pulling up to my house.

“Well, either Byers is less of pussy than I thought, or Harrington is more of a sissy than I realized.” Billy said as he put the car in park.

I glared at him while saying, “Okay, if you’re going to talk shit about the two of the most important guys in my life, I’m gonna go.”

Billy looked at me in confusion, “Harrington’s important to you, too? I thought he was with that Nancy girl.”

I gulped before saying, “Well he is...” I looked down at my hands that sat in my lap, fiddling with my bracelet once again. “But we’re just friends, that’s all.”

“Oh, I see.” Billy said with a sudden realization, “You’re hung up on him while he’s in love with someone else.”

“Shut up, Billy. You don’t even know what you’re talking about. You’ve been in town for like one full day and you think you have everyone figured out.” I replied sharply.

“I don’t see you denying it.” He said.

I scoffed and gathered my things before getting out of the Camaro.

“Bye, Billy. I’ll hopefully not be seeing you around anytime soon.” I said before getting out and slamming the car door shut.

He rolled town the window and shouted, “See you tomorrow, angel!” He winked at me before speeding off down the road.

Who does he think he is?! I thought.

As my eyes followed the car down the street, I was caught off guard to see Steve, who was leaving Nancy’s, staring in my direction.

It felt as though time stopped when our eyes were locked. Then, he seemed to shake himself out of the trance and get in his car to leave.

I was curious if he recognized the vehicle or heard the words Billy shouted just a moment ago, but I decided to brush it off. I’d had enough bullshit for one day, so I decided to head inside, get some dry clothes on, and relax.

—

Part 6

—

Tags: @hargroveshoe @strangerliaa @maggiesblogsblog

[little-werewolf-oven]

for the writing prompt- harringrove 4??

(sorry that it took so long and sorry if this is absolute trash.  Trying to get better at both speed and kisses.  Speed kisses!)Kissing Meme 2 - #4 “An accidental brush of lips followed by a pause and going back for another, on purpose.”

They were the last at the fire pit, Steve, having promised Joyce he’d sit with it until the embers burned down, seconds before Mike had thrown another log on, and Billy, having nowhere else to go, shamelessly pulling draughts from his flask every few .  Nancy had given him a look when he’d first brought it out, which he deftly ignored.  She and the skinny guy had headed inside not long after Joyce, leaving him and Steve to make sure the surrounding woods didn’t go up in smoke as the kids continued to gorge themselves on marshmallows and grahams, the handful of chocolate bars long gone. 

The inevitable sugar crash came, and the kids dropped one by one, boys heading to the tent set up in the far corner of the yard, Max and the other girl, El he thinks, camping out in the living room.  Steve’s curly-haired shadow held on as long as he could, bogarting the space on the bench next to Steve, talking about shit Billy didn’t understand but Steve seemed to be nodding along well enough.  He takes another pull from the flask, watching as the kid yawns for the third time in as many minutes, and Steve tells him to go to bed. 

“I’m not leaving you out here alone.”

“Not alone,” Steve says, gesturing with his fire poker towards Billy, who still has the flask up to his lips.  The kid scoffs. 

“Yeah, I don’t really think that’s better.” 

“That,” Billy takes the smoke that had been sitting behind his ear, fishes his lighter from the breast pocket of his denim jacket, “is the only reason this town is still standing.”  Steve shares a complicated look with the kid as Billy takes a long drag, and with a huff the kid relents, grabbing the half empty bag of marshmallows as he stands. 

“If you try anything, we’ll hear you,” he warns, pointing at Billy with the hand holding the marshmallows. Billy grins around the cigarette.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he drawls, taking a quick drag, exhaling out of the corner of his mouth, “the king’s virtue is safe with me.”

Curly and Steve share one more look before he actually leaves, plodding toward the tent, bag of marshmallows bouncing against his leg with every step. 

And then it’s just him and Steve, left to tend to the slowly dying fire.  Steve pokes at it a few times, moving the charred logs around, stirring at the embers.  It causes the flames to leap a bit, licking at the dry wood, casting just enough light that Billy can make out the other boy’s features, softened by shadows and an orange glow.  He tears his eyes away and leans in closer to the fire pit, hands out to catch more of the heat.  These days it seems like he can never get warm enough. 

“Wanna hit?” Steve asks, pulling Billy’s attention back to him.  Billy nods, flicking his own nearly forgotten cigarette into the fire as he watches Steve light up the joint in his fingers, the cherry glowing becomingly as he takes the first draw.  He watches, probably a little too closely, as the smoke releases, tendrils flowing delicately from Steve’s lips into the sky, mingling with the smoke from the waning fire.  Billy nearly fumbles the joint as it’s passed to him, prompting Steve to laugh lowly, patting the space on the bench next to him. Billy takes a puff and shrugs, standing from the overturned log he’d been sitting on, maneuvering around the fire until he’s easing down onto the “bench,” which it turns out is really just some two by fours nailed crudely into the base of a couple of logs.  Seems sturdy enough, though, as plants himself down, exhaling through his nose and passing the joint back to Steve. 

They continue like that for the next few minutes, playing puff puff pass, the crackling of the fire the only sound cutting through the silence of the night.  Suddenly Steve lets out a little huff of a laugh, which turns into an outright giggle, hand coming up to cover his face.  Billy pulls the joint from his mouth, lips pursed as he watches Steve laugh.  It’s a nice image, a warm sound.  But what the fuck?

“What the fuck, Harrington?” Steve continues to giggle, laugh muffled behind his hand, as he lifts up his foot, side-kicking at something flat and rectangular, making it flip twice before it settles in the scruff between him and Steve. 

“I saved it.”

“What?” Billy asks, pinching out the cherry before leaning down to retrieve whatever it was Steve had kicked toward him, blindly grasping around the dead and flattened grasses. 

“The chocolate, knew they’d go through it too fast so I-” Billy gets his fingers around the smooth wrapper, still cool from the insulation of Steve’s shoe and the hard ground, and sits back up, only to find Steve had leaned in closer to talk.  Much closer.  So close in fact that as Billy rises and turns toward him their lips brush in the faintest imitation of a kiss, just barely there, but enough contact to make Steve’s wide eyes go even wider, and send Billy’s heart racing.  

He’s been thinking about stupid King Steve and his stupid pouty lips since that night at the Halloween Party, wondered how soft they were, if he ever wore flavored chapstick, if he was as good as the rumors claimed.  

Neither boy moves, faces frozen an inch away from each other, breaths coming short.  Billy watches as Steve’s eyes skate over his face, and he brings a tentative hand up to his jaw, fingers barely brushing against his skin, making Billy suppress a shiver. 

“Don’t kill me,” Steve murmurs before pressing his lips more firmly against Billy’s. His breath catches in his throat.  Chaste as it is, this is a kiss.  Purposeful.  Deliberate.  He doesn’t know what to do.  Feels like he’s standing on the edge of a precipice, and the slightest misstep will send him to his death.  

Steve doesn’t seem to have the same issue.  He angles his head, kisses again, presses his thumb against Billy’s chin, begging him without words to open his mouth.  

It feels like he’s falling as he parts his lips, like the bottom dropping out of his stomach as he moves in, twines his fingers through Steve’s ridiculous hair, tugs a little as Steve slips his tongue into his mouth, just barely there before his kissing him chastely again.  Billy would make fun of him for treating him delicately but it’s so good.  The falling sensation has turned into floating, like there’s nothing else in the world but him and Steve and this stupid fucking chocolate bar he’s still holding.  He drops it to the ground and wraps his newly freed hand around the back of Harrington’s neck, taking charge of the next kiss, needing to prove that the rumors about him were true, too. 

[avengers-nextgen]

Do any of the families have, like, special traditions? Like for holidays, or a holiday they made up, etc.?

The Rogers Family has a LOT of traditions. They value tradition and routine like crazy considering both Steve and Natasha’s pasts. For Halloween they always read a bunch of horror stories together. When they were younger Alex would get scared and end up in bed with her parents or James. Thanksgiving they will literally drag people to participate in. If not everyone can make it they always leave a phone message. They also always say their favorite memory of the year thus far. Christmas is funny because the kids ALWAYS get coal in their stockings as a joke because they actually wanted some one year for Christmas because they were curious. (They get real presents too though). The Fourth of July is a huge freaking deal and Alex insists on sparklers every year.

As for the Starks they are a bit more lenient with tradition aside from a few things. On Christmas they always have a nice dinner and they all drink apple cider. For Thanksgiving they get each other gag themed gifts like turkey hats or feathered socks just for shits and giggles. New Years Eve Tony and Pepper both kiss Piper on the cheek, before ever kissing each other, and Piper only pretends to have outgrown the tradition. They also have a habit of doing Halloween themed pranks.

The Maximoff Squad has a lot of traditions. For Christmas they always get each other one extra surprise gift. At Thanksgiving they always leave an extra seat open for Pietro. It’s dumb but they have fun with it; on Black Friday they all go and pick out a ridiculous hat in case of undercover missions. Easter is insane because they have a competition for who can hide the eggs in the most difficult spots. They each take a turn hiding and finding them. On Halloween they take a family trip around in the sky to look at all the decorations and lights. They do the same thing on Christmas.

The Bartons always invite everyone over for every holiday. Clint and Nathaniel have an annual shooting competition on Thanksgiving by trying to hit the most turkey shaped targets. On Christmas they both help Laura make a shit ton of cookies. They all adore it. They also are the people who go all out for every holiday in order to have the best decorations or the most candy. On Easter Clint and Nathaniel hide random Easter eggs all over the city.

Thalia had traditions but they’ve sort of fallen out of them considering the family issues. She used to accompany Thor to see all of the Christmas trees and pick the biggest one. They tried to see who could drink the most hot chocolate, eat the most candy, or consume the most turkey. Thor also always told her stories of old Asgard legends associated with the holidays.

On Christmas Bianca was reconditioned to forget the holiday. On New Years she was given a brand new mattress for her steel bed. On Easter they gave her empty plastic eggs. She likes to stack them up in a pile in the side of the room. On Thanksgiving they gave her extra portions of food.

Sage had a small family dinner on thanksgiving with her mother and her father. Loki always did little magic tricks with the food like making the little bread rolls float in the air. On Christmas the window would get frosty and a small drawing was always on it. On Halloween Loki accompanied Sage and her mother disguised as a black cat. On Easter the eggs would grow little legs and Sage had to chase them in order to catch them while her mom just shook her head and Loki was off somewhere nearby watching in amusement.

For Siyanda she and Shuri always exchanged tech ideas on Christmas. For Thanksgiving they have a comfy and almost rustic gathering. They really try to spend a full day living a bit more simply. For Easter they don’t use Easter eggs they use complicated little puzzles. They all get a kick out of trying to solve them to get the prizes inside. On Halloween it’s a bit different for them. They don’t dress as scary monsters but instead who their biggest inspiration or idol is. T’Challa always dresses as his father but Nikia and Okoye always jokingly dress as each other. Siyanda dresses as Shuri and Shuri always goes as herself because “I am my own biggest inspiration.”

Additions: Bucky and Peter always get included in the Rogers festivities. Bruce is always either with the Starks or with Siyanda and her family. Tony gets upset because he has to share his science buddy.

[chasholidays]

They Were the Best Years of My Life

An And So It Goes timestamp for @matriarchal and @lushatrocity!

i.

It's not like Bellamy wanted to have kids so that he could come up with family Halloween costumes. He loves Clarke, he's always wanted children, and once they've moved into a larger place and gotten their jobs stabilized, they figure they're ready.

It's still staggering and more than little terrifying to start a family, but then they have a baby, and he doesn't really have enough room left in his brain to not feel ready for that. He's too busy making she she doesn't choke on her own hand or something to think about how he's an adult with a house and a wife and a baby.

Cassandra is just over seven months old when October rolls around, and he remembers that Halloween is a thing, and for the first time ever, he has a tiny, living prop to work with.

"I came up with a list of costumes for us during my free period today," he tells Clarke when she gets home.

"For what?"

"Halloween. I'm going to need to get working if we're going to have three costumes by the end of the month."

She bites her lip, trying to hold back either a smile or laughter, he's not sure which. He's a little ridiculous about Halloween; he knows that. And Clarke knows it too. She thinks it’s cute.

“We’re going trick-or-treating with our infant? I think everyone’s going to know the candy is for us.”

“We must have something to dress up for,” he says. “She can come to parties with us. Or help us give out candy. Or just pose for pictures.”

“Maybe we should get into cosplaying or something,” she muses. “So you have more opportunities to dress her up.”

“Or you could just help me pick a family costume.”

“From the list that you made.”

“From the list that I made,” he agrees. “We’ve got years of family costumes to go. We just need to pick what order we do them.”

“I love you,” she says, shaking her head. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Bellamy's favorite thing about Halloween costumes is that there really is no limit. They range from fictional characters to generic professions, inanimate objects to vague concepts, which means he really has a lot to work with, and he thinks he has some great ideas there.

Clarke, however, gets stuck on the first one. "Frodo, Sam, and Gollum?"

"I'm Frodo, you're Sam, Cassandra is Gollum. She's mostly bald and isn't great at communicating. I could make her a One Ring pacifier."

It sounds as if Clarke is actually choking on her laughter, which is always an accomplishment when he can manage it. "Okay, that's--on the list. Pirates is a little vague."

"We're pirates and we rig Cassandra's stroller up to look like a treasure chest. That one might be better when she's a little older," he admits. "It would kill at trick-or-treating."

"Or when we have two kids and Cassandra has her own costume."

"Or that."

"Bat, Super, Wonder?"

"One of us is one of the Batpeople, the other is one of the Superpeople, Cassandra is Wonder Woman."

"I want Batgirl, you can be Superman."

"Cool, write that down."

In the end, they come up with ten potential costumes to do over the next decade, and settle on the Lord of the Rings group for this year, largely because Clarke can't stop giggling about it.

"Besides," she says, like Bellamy hasn't agreed and she still needs to justify herself to him. "That's a much better costume to show off to our friends than to go trick-or-treating in. We'll save the others for wider audiences."

"You know these were all my idea, right?" he asks, with a smile. "I like them. You don't have to convince me."

"I'm rehearsing for when our friends make fun of us. Just let me know how I need to help," she adds, and Bellamy kisses her and gets to planning.

He and Clarke are still the only ones in their immediate friend group with a child, but their friends also love Cassandra and never mind having to accommodate her when they make plans that involve Clarke and Bellamy. He knows the two of them don't go out to the bar to hang out with Gina as much as Monty, Miller, and Raven do, but they've pretty much accepted that. They have a baby; they're drinking at home.

The Halloween party is at his and Clarke's place this year, both because they have the largest place and because taking the baby places can be a pain, but a group costume doesn't have impact unless it's seen all at once, so Bellamy and Clarke both open the door, with Cassandra in her mother's arms.

Monty and Miller take a second to take them in. The costumes are great, if Bellamy does say so himself; they're not leaving the house, so he even made furry socks to give them authentic hobbit feet.

"You know," Monty finally says. They're dressed as Captain Cold and The Ray, which is also a pretty great costume he approves of. "We met playing Hearthstone. It shouldn't be possible that we're not the dorkiest people here. And yet here we are."

"Is that a One Ring pacifier?" asks Miller. "You can't just give Gollum the ring, guys."

"But it makes her so happy," says Clarke.

"I'm just saying, I wouldn't put my kid in a costume that actually encouraged her to bite my finger off," Miller says, and Bellamy shrugs.

"I'm willing to risk it. But I'll take that into consideration for next year."

"This is going to be a thing, isn't it?" Monty asks, wary.

"We've got a list," says Clarke, bright. "It's already a thing."

Monty just shakes his head, but he's still smiling. "Great, can't wait."

"Yeah," says Bellamy. "Neither can I."

ii.

It gets a little more complicated when Cassandra starts developing opinions of her own about how she'd like to dress for holidays, but it's the nice kind of complication. He remembers, a little bit, how it was when Octavia was growing up, what it was like to see her turning into a person before his eyes, but it's even cooler this time, when he's old enough to really understand and appreciate what's going on.

She's three and a half by the time she's articulate enough to express opinions on Halloween costumes, and when he asks what she wants to be, she thinks it over carefully and decides, "Chewbacca."

Clarke's sitting at the table looking at their budget, and he can actually see her trying not to laugh.

"Chewbacca?" he asks. "From Star Wars?"

"Yeah!"

"Okay," he says, inclining his head. "I bet we can do that. But it's going to be a lot of work to put all that fur together. Are you going to help me?"

"Uh huh."

"And you're not going to quit if it's too hard, right?"

"Nuh uh."

"Okay," he says. "Let's get started."

Obviously, he's not actually expecting Cassandra to do a ton of work, but it's never too early to start learning the basics of sewing and construction, as far as he's concerned. And it's not actually that hard a costume, in some ways. He can buy some brown leggings and a top, sew some fur on there, and then make a mask. And his and Clarke's costumes will be easy; Han and Leia is definitely a dream couples costume.

"One of the big Halloween secrets is that you only make as much stuff as you can't buy," he tells Cassandra, low. They're drawing up plans together, which means he's sketching actual plans, and Cassandra is drawing a picture of Han, Leia, and Chewbacca, which is mostly just a bunch of blobs.

"You know you can just buy the actual costume, right?" Clarke says. As usual, she's not contributing to the overall costuming process, but she likes to be close, so she can still be a little involved.

"Mom's right, but it's more fun when you make stuff. But making shirts is really boring."

"Really?"

"Yeah. But making the costume is going to be fun."

"Sure it is," Clarke mutters, and he sticks his tongue out at her over Cassandra's head.

Of course, he's right, and even Clarke gets in on it, as he knew she would, because Clarke doesn't know how to resist a project, especially when both he and Cassandra are involved. She puts her foot down that she wants Leia's Cloud City look, and Cassandra gets really into going to thrift stores with her looking for costume components, which is really kind of ridiculously cute.

It really is a group effort, and when they line themselves up for the first time in front of the mirror, no one's more excited than Cassandra.

"We look so good!" she says, and just like that, she's hooked.

Bellamy's never been so proud.

iii.

The next year, Clarke is visibly pregnant, so they have that to plan around.

"It's too bad she's too young to watch Fury Road," Bellamy muses, drumming his fingers against Clarke's stomach. "She'd definitely be a war boy."

Clarke laughs. "She's four, we're not showing her Mad Max just for a Halloween costume. I don't care how much you want her to ride eternal, shiny, and chrome."

"Which is what I said."

"Sometimes you say things hoping I'll secretly disagree."

It's not like she's wrong. "I just can't think of many age-appropriate characters who are visibly pregnant."

"That's because kids can't know that pregnancy exists, or else they'll ask where babies come from."

"God forbid." He sighs. "I guess she'll have a lot of opinions. You think you're going to be up for trick-or-treating? You've been a little tired."

"I think I'm good." She kisses his shoulder. "I don't want to miss it. And I really want to find out what you guys come up with."

He smiles. "Yeah, I'm looking forward to that myself."

He and Cassandra sit down to talk about it the next day.

"So, I was thinking it would be fun if our Halloween costume this year had the baby in it," he tells her, and she frowns.

"Is the baby going to be born?"

"No. But maybe Mom could dress as someone who's having a baby soon."

"Oh." She frowns. "That could be okay."

"Okay?" he asks, a little amused in spite of himself.

"I wanted to be ponies."

She's been watching My Little Pony basically non-stop on Netflix; he should have seen this coming. "And there's a pony with a baby?" he asks.

"Uh huh. Princess Cadance had a baby. So Mom can be Princess Cadance and you can be Shining Armor and I can be Twilight Sparkle!"

Twilight Sparkle is her favorite, so it's not like this is some great sacrifice for her. "You want to do that?"

"Yeah!"

"Okay," he says. "I bet we can figure it out."

And he really does mean it, but after about half an hour of googling, he'll admit he's not entirely sure what to do with the whole thing.

"I'm worried if we just dress up as ponies, we're going to be furries," he admits to Clarke.

"I think furry is something you already are, not something you become the first time you dress up as a cartoon horse."

"Is that based on something, or are you just guessing? Remember when the dean on Community got that dalmatian fetish? It could be like that."

"Community wasn't a documentary, Bellamy. Except for the documentary episodes," she grants, before he can make the argument himself. "Anyway, did you look at Equestria Girls?"

"At what now?"

She rolls her eyes. "Didn't you have a Navy buddy who was a brony? Why aren't you better at this?"

"I'm okay with not being better at this. What's Equestria Girls?"

"It's the one where all the ponies are humans in high school."

"How is that real?"

She shrugs. "No idea, but it would probably be a lot easier to do those costumes. Regular clothing decorated with, like, their cutie marks and stuff."

"You think that's going to be pony enough for Cassandra?"

"We can do pony ears, just to be safe. I bet you can talk her into that."

"Oh, so it's my job to talk her into it?"

"Halloween is your holiday, babe," she tells him, patting his shoulder. "I'll tell her that Santa's not real, when that comes up."

He laughs. "And you're fine with being a pregnant, anthropomorphic horse for Halloween? Just checking. I want it in writing that you're fine with this and it was your idea, because I don't want you to be complaining ten years later about how much this sucks."

"I promise I will only ever complain about the year you made me a pregnant anthropomorphic horse costume as a joke," she says, and he kisses her hair.

"Good enough for me. I'll see if the kid doesn't mind."

She's thrilled, of course, and Bellamy doesn't worry about it until the night of. It's their first year trick-or-treating with Monty and Miller; they'd only been fostering Dylan for a few months last year, and he wasn't comfortable going out with a big group of near-strangers. Now, he's settled in a little more and sees the wisdom in going on a longer route with nicer houses and better candy.

He's just that he is, unfortunately, also a six-year-old boy, so he looks a little wary at the sight of them.

"What are you supposed to be?" he asks.

"Ponies," says Cassandra, smug. "We always make family costumes."

"Oh," says Dylan. "That's cool."

"I bet Dad would make one for you too," she says, with the magnanimity of a child making a promise she won't have to put any effort into fulfilling. "If you want him to."

"We're not doing a six-person costume next year," Miller tells him, low. "I will actually murder him."

"I know," says Bellamy. He smirks. "We'll have the baby, so it's actually going to be seven people. Unless Raven and Gina want in, and--"

"There is something wrong with you."

"That too," he says. "Happy Halloween."

iv.

Seven people is really a lot to work with, Bellamy has to admit. It's why he and Cassandra decide they should start planning in September.

"It's like Christmas creep, but specific only to our family," says Clarke.

"They're already selling Halloween candy some places," Bellamy points out. "It's not just us."

"Well, I think we should go back to an old classic idea," she adds, which is surprising. Clarke usually considers her role in Halloween planning to be supporting, not leading.

"Yeah?" he asks, "What's that?"

"Pirates."

Cassandra lights up. "Pirates?"

"Yeah. Dad had this cool idea where he thought he could rig a stroller up so it looked like a treasure chest, and then the rest of us could be pirates, protecting it. That would be fun, right?"

"Yeah!" she says. She's practically vibrating with excitement. "Can we do that, Dad?"

"We should check with Uncle Nate and Monty and Dylan," he says. "Make sure they wants to do it too. But even if they don't, we make a pretty good pirate gang with just the four of us, right?"

"Uh huh," says Cassandra. "Well, three of us. Marc is the treasure, right?"

"Yeah. This one's going to be complicated," Bellamy adds, doing his best to bring some real gravity to the statement. "We have to put together the treasure chest. That's construction, not just sewing."

"I like complicated," Cassandra declares. "Let's do it."

Clarke, unsurprisingly, takes point on building the treasure chest; construction and artwork are her fields, and she manages to put together a sturdy cardboard shell that slides over Marc's stroller. For the lid, she finds some cloth to go over the top of the stroller, taking advantage of the part that folds up, and Bellamy has to admit, it looks awesome.

"It's almost like I'm good at things," says Clarke, with obvious smugness.

"It never gets old, finding new things you're good at," he tells her, fond, and leans in for a kiss. "Seriously, this is awesome."

"Of course it is. I love our Halloween tradition," she adds, with a small smile. "Just because I'm not always as involved--"

"I know." He smiles. "Trust me, I never doubted. Now you just have to help me come up with an appropriate pirate costume for you."

"I didn't know it was that hard."

The smile turns into a smirk. "When I think about you dressing up as a pirate, it's not exactly G-rated fantasies."

She laughs, tugs him down for another kiss. Both the kids are actually asleep, so there's an outside chance he's going to get laid tonight. He's pretty sure they can make it happen.

"So tell me about your idea tonight, and I'll help you figure out something appropriate for me in the morning," she murmurs, and he grins and tugs her closer.

"Works for me."

The pirate costume she ends up wearing to trick-or-treat is not, therefore, the pirate costume of his fantasies, but once the night is over and the kids are settled down, she undoes the top few buttons and tightens the corset, so, really, who says you can't wear Halloween costumes all year round?

They're going to get a lot of use out of this one.

v.

At age ten, Dylan is the one who finally says, "I want to be Spider-Man this year," and Bellamy and Clarke exchange a look,

Bellamy doesn't often think of the conversation he and Clarke had during their first Halloween together, all those years ago. He does remember it, but less on its own and more as the first time Clarke confirmed that she wanted to have kids with him, that she didn't just love him and want to stay with him, but that she was planning a future for them, the same as he was.

He did not expect, in any way, to actually have to make Spider-Man costumes for any number of children.

"I wanna be 'Pider-Man too," says Marc, right on cue. He thinks Dylan is the coolest person to have ever lived, which means that everything Dylan does, he wants to do too.

"Is there a girl Spider-Man?" asks Cassandra. "A good one. Not just Spider-Man with a ponytail."

"I think we can probably figure something out," says Bellamy. "But I'm not being Uncle Ben. There's no way I'm jinxing myself like that."

"I think as long as we're all in the Marvel family, it still counts as a theme costume," says Clarke. "I bet Monty will have ideas."

This, as it turns out, is an understatement.

"Okay, so, Spider-Gwen is awesome, Cassandra can be her. She's got a hoodie, it's a really cool aesthetic. And then Dylan can be Peter Parker Spider-Man and Marc can be Miles Morales Spider-Man."

“So they’re not just different costumes for the same person?” Bellamy asks, frowning. “How many Spider-Men are there?”

“How many roads must a man walk down before you can call him a man?” Monty asks. “This is not for us to know. I already have a Black Widow costume, so I’m set. Assuming it still fits.”

His frown deepens. “Why do you already have a Black Widow costume?”

“Because I’ve already dressed up as Black Widow. Nate wants to be Heimdall.”

“Does Nate know that?”

Monty just looks at him, unimpressed. “It’s Idris Elba. Everyone wants to be Idris Elba.”

Bellamy can’t argue with that.

After some googling, Clarke opts for Captain Marvel for her costume, and Bellamy goes with Captain America, mostly because he has a thing for Chris Evans. And Clarke has a thing for Chris Evans. Everyone has a thing for Chris Evans, from what he can tell.

But for some reason, it feels like more work than usual.

“It’s because you’re making fucking armor,” says Raven. She and Gina are coming with them this year, but have opted for DC superheroes. Bellamy’s pretty sure Raven just wants someone to try to tell her she’s a fake geek girl who doesn’t know Oracle isn’t in the Marvel universe so she can fight them. Which he completely supports; he hopes she kicks their hypothetical asses.

“So it’s Miller’s fault.”

“And yours. You want a real shield.”

“What’s the point of having a fake shield?”

Raven rolls her eyes. “So have you always been like this, or is this a weird biological imperative? Like you had kids and decided you needed to disguise them so they’d be protected from predators.”

“That sounds real. I like Halloween,” he says. “Miller and I did costumes together when we were little, and I always liked it. And when O let me dress her up.”

“Masculinity meant you couldn’t play with dolls so you had to figure out another way to do it,” she supplies.

“Or I just like Halloween. Seriously, it’s fun. And I’ve got another five years tops before Cassandra decides she’s too cool to dress up with her family, so I’ve got to milk it while I can.”

“Kids sound exhausting, I’m glad I don’t have any.”

“Yeah, if that's how you feel about it, it's definitely good. You want to be sure about kids. But you’re still coming out with us? Trick-or-treating can be a lot."

"Obviously. I miss having an excuse to get free candy. The costumes look really cool," she adds, bumping her shoulder against his. "You're good at this."

"Costumes? Yeah, my mom taught me to sew when I was a kid."

"Not just that. You guys are good at all of this. I still feel like I'm not used to you being parents, but--you're doing awesome at it."

He smiles, but there is a lump in his throat. Validation never gets old. "Getting sentimental in your old age, huh?"

"Shut up," she says. "Metal-working always does that to me."

He puts his arm around her shoulders and gives her a squeeze. "Yeah, that must be it."

The costumes get done, and by the time Halloween rolls around, Bellamy really does feel like a successful parent. Not, of course, that Halloween costumes are the be-all and end-all of parenting, but--it's not just costumes. His kids have two parents who love them and are able to take the time to do things for them and with them, which is lucky, and they have adopted aunts and uncles and friends who all want to go out with them. When Bellamy was Cassandra's age, he was already taking his sister out alone, and while he could do that, he likes that his kids will probably become embarrassed to be seen with him long before he stops wanting to make them all family costumes.

"Do you think if we do this again next year and I start now, I could make myself web shooters?" Cassandra asks.

"Depends on what you're thinking," says Clarke, clucking her tongue. "You could probably get something that would shoot something out of it, but it's not going to be like real functioning webs."

"I know that," says Cassandra. "But I really like this costume, and it would be cool if we could do, like, silly string! Fwip, fwip," she adds, flicking her wrists at the darkness. Monty loaned her some Spider-Gwen comics, and Bellamy can sense the start of a new obsession. It really might last her all the way to next Halloween. "We could do that, right, Dad?"

"Raven might need to be technical consultant," he says. "I'm not really an expert on web shooting. But yeah," he says, putting his arm around her and giving her a squeeze. "Any costume you want, we'll figure it out. You know that."

"I do know that," she says, easy, and that's his favorite tradition.

After all, he gets to be a superhero every single Halloween.

[michaelandy101-blog]

34 of the Greatest Workplace Pranks & Sensible Jokes to Use at Work

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34 of the Greatest Workplace Pranks & Sensible Jokes to Use at Work

In the event you’ve watched the TV present “The Office” as religiously as I’ve, the traditional “stapler in Jell-O” trick absolutely sounds acquainted. It is just about what the title describes: Merely make a batch of Jell-O, however be sure that your colleague’s stapler is hidden contained in the mould.

It is a traditional prank. However what different, much less typical pranks are on the market so as to add some kicks to an in any other case common day on the workplace?

We requested our pals and combed the web for extra examples of among the funniest workplace pranks, and pulled collectively this listing to function inspiration on your personal work pranks.

Each firm has a narrative about that humorous workplace prank of yore. Whether or not you are performing some early April Idiot’s Day analysis, or simply feeling a bit tricksy, it is time to get a prank of your individual within the books. Listed here are some concepts.

Humorous Workplace Pranks to Pull on Your Coworkers

1. Caramel Onions

When Halloween is across the nook, these caramel onions are not any match for different tips (or treats). Dip every onion in caramel — perhaps some pink meals coloring first, if it is advisable to additional disguise them — and stick popsicle sticks down the middle. Your colleagues will not know the distinction, however they’ll surprise why these caramel apples are making them cry a lot…

Supply: Instructables

2. Nicolas Cage Bathroom Seat

Talking of Halloween, here is what nightmares are actually manufactured from. Nicolas Cage is straightforward to come back by within the meme neighborhood lately. Print an image of him at his most, nicely, enthusiastic — and permit him to greet everybody who takes a rest room break.

Supply: Pinterest

three. Fish Drawer

There’s one thing fishy about this workplace prank… Simply make sure to embody fish meals; consultants recommend you need to feed this prank twice a day.

Supply: Reddit

four. Pants within the Stall

Often, if you see toes beneath the stall, you simply have to attend your flip. On this case, you is likely to be ready perpetually. Set this man up in your workplace toilet and see how lengthy it takes for folks to start out speaking. We simply hope no person referred to as the paramedics on this poor, empty go well with.

Supply: BuzzFeed

5. Febreze for Days

Tighten the zip-tie, throw it, and run on your life. Or, go away it in your coworker’s workplace after they’re on break. They’re certain to return to a potent workspace.

Supply: Emlii

6. Vehicular Sticky Notes

That is the proper use for these sticky notes that maintain piling up — particularly in the event that they’re all for somebody who simply will not end his or her duties. The prank beneath is a superb method to remind them earlier than they take off for the day.

Supply: Reddit

7. Misspelling Macro

By no means ask your work buddy to unlock your iPhone for you, or they will make you seem like the worst speller of all time if you go to sort a textual content or e-mail. Settings > Common > Keyboard > Add new shortcut will make this prank a actuality in opposition to your most detail-oriented colleague.

Supply: Gottabemobile

eight. Foghorn Entrance

Have not you ever wished to get a room’s consideration the second you stroll via the door? Nicely, the prank beneath will even get the particular person getting into to face up straight. That is actually a technique to ensure everybody’s alert earlier than a gathering.

Supply: Reddit

9. Ballooned Convention

Hey, at the least it is not glitter? This prank works two methods: You’ll be able to both shock the subsequent workforce who reserves this room, or have a day-long assembly in right here with out anybody realizing your online business. You’ll in fact have some static electrical energy if you exit the room.

Supply: Reddit

10. Desk Trolls

For trolls, by trolls. Fortunately, you should purchase many of those trolls in bulk. Click here should you’re severe about trolling your coworker’s workstation — simply bear in mind you’ll have to purchase a couple of pack of trolls to make this stunt value it.

Supply: CollegeHumor

11. Water Works

Oh look, a finances journey to the seaside. This prank offers a complete new assembly to the time period, “staycation.” Shock your coworker when he/she comes again from a seaside getaway with, nicely, one other seaside getaway. The draw back is it will be nothing like the place they have been. The upside is they will not want a towel.

Supply: Imgur

12. Anti-Gravity Desk

“That’s it — you’re suspended.” Simply be sure that the one that arrives within the morning to a floating desk does not attempt to sit down…

Supply: Daily Mail

13. Nailed the Cake

Hey everybody, there’s cake up for grabs within the kitchen! The prank, nonetheless, is written in frosting. It is a good gesture to somebody who loves the expression, “needle in a haystack.” Comfortable searching.

Supply: Reddit

14. Psychedelic Supervision

“I don’t know, I feel like my boss is always watching me,” your coworker may say. Change their notion of micromanagement when this colourful prank. Immediately a “quick checkin” does not appear all that unhealthy.

Supply: Imgur

15. Voice Toast

Easy, but sensible. Change the phrases of breakfast ever so barely, and the kitchen turns into probably the most complicated room within the workplace. This little be aware pranks your complete workplace — a real masterpiece of prank-dom.

Supply: Tumblr

16. Work From Dwelling

As Ron Burgundy from Anchorman says, “I’m not even mad. I’m just impressed.” Assist your coworker who loves taking his/her work house, take their house to work as a substitute. As you’ll be able to inform, you may want to remain late the night time earlier than to get this prank excellent.

Supply: Reddit

17. You have Been ‘Felined’

This might really make your cat-loving coworker’s day. Or, it may make for the best prank of all time in opposition to the coworker who’s violently allergic to cats (that’s, so long as they don’t seem to be allergic to images of cats, too).

Supply: Reddit

18. The Seedboard

Work along with your IT division to fertilize this prank completely. Quickly sufficient, its person will surprise why their keyboard is rising. We recommend concentrating on somebody who sits near the window — some pranks simply want some daylight. “You said you wanted to spend more time with nature,” you may say in your protection.

Supply: BoredPanda

19. Wholesome Creme

Who stated you could not be useful whereas additionally being a prankster? “The bad news is we’re out of donuts. The good news is you have all these nutritious alternatives to help your immune system cope with the lack of donuts.”

20. The Ceilings Have Eyes

You could possibly freak out simply wanting on the photograph of this horrifying prank. It is likely to be a bit an excessive amount of on your jumpiest colleague, however for the one that cannot cease speaking about scary motion pictures, it is simply the revenge you deserve. (Trace: paper mache, white paint, and a black wig. Completed.)

Supply: Tumblr

21. Chair Scare

Just like the Entrance Foghorn (prank #eight, above), this prank will in all probability scare extra than simply the one that sits down. In fact, it will be a lesson to anybody who, I suppose, tries to sit down too low at their desk.

Supply: Reddit

Humorous Pranks to Pull on Your Boss

22. No Stalling

For the worker who by no means has sufficient time. Or, for the coworker who takes approach too many toilet breaks in the course of the day. Prank them with their very personal throne the subsequent time nature calls.

Supply: 22words

23. Glitter Bomb

About that complete, “At least it’s not glitter” factor in prank #9? Nicely, this prank cannot make that promise. For the coworkers who do not but know the permanence of getting glitter on your self, this prank is bound to set them straight.

24. Substitute Employee

Generally, you are unsure the way to ask for one more break day. For these days the place you merely cannot come into work, however haven’t got the center to name out once more, the doll who seems similar to you is the proper substitute. Or, simply put ’em at your colleague’s desk and provides them a much-needed id disaster.

25. Crushed It

If you lastly find out about your colleague’s movie star crush, be sure that they know the way a lot you care.

  #officeprank

A publish shared by Alice Lei (@alicerabbit1) on Aug 1, 2015 at four:04pm PDT

26. World’s ‘Greatest’ Boss

When phrases simply aren’t sufficient to specific your sentiment, give your supervisor the proper method to say “thank you” each time they go to take a sip of espresso.

27. Cup o’ Spiders

“Hey chief, I found a spider on your desk, but don’t worry, it’s been handled.” This prank does not need to have an precise spider in it — the thriller, alone, is all it is advisable to prank your worker.

28. That is a Wrap

For the boss who has all the pieces, it is the reward that retains on giving.

Supply: Giphy

Distant Pranks for Digital Groups

The above pranks are superior, however what about pranks which are inclusive for distant workers or groups which are 100% digital? These pranks are perfect for the digital workplace:

29. Flash Mob

Right here at HubSpot, we love flash mobs. That is why Head of search engine marketing Aja Frost and Weblog Supervisor Christina Perricone jumped on the likelihood of organizing a digital flash mob for one among our quarterly conferences.

It is a excellent prank for a big gathering however requires a little bit of prep — from selecting a track, deciding on the dancers, and educating the choreography. Nevertheless, the tip result’s value it for the shocked and delighted expressions on coworkers’ faces alone.

30. Digital Background Shenanigans

There’s a variety of pranking potential utilizing the virtual background feature in Zoom and different video conferencing platforms. For instance, one Twitter person creates a digital background with the surprising look of a doppelgänger… or perhaps a time warp?

So, I made a customized Zoom background for my subsequent assembly the place I convey myself a cup of tea. pic.twitter.com/DJBxrH5Cqv

— Graham/Jaws 19 (@Jaws19present) May 7, 2020

31. Leap Scare

One method to take the digital background prank to a different degree is by impersonating a horror film director and counting on one of many oldest scary film tips within the e-book: the sudden bounce scare. The video beneath walks via the steps for executing this prank efficiently:

Simply just remember to know who you are presenting to. The improper viewers might not respect the humor on this one!

32. You are Not on Mute

We have all heard the horror tales of customers who thought they have been on mute and went on to say one thing embarrassing. One prank could be to stage this example and make your coworkers suppose that you simply suppose you are on mute. You could possibly enlist somebody in your family to say actually embarrassing or fully outrageous, the objective being to see how lengthy your coworkers will watch in horror earlier than letting you recognize you are on mute.

33. Stolen Id

In case you have a office chat system, a easy and efficient prank is to “steal” somebody’s id by altering your show title and film to match theirs. The extra coworkers you get to comply with go well with, the simpler, hilarious, and chaotic this prank turns into. Better of all, it is easy to reverse on the finish of the day: Simply revert again to your unique show title and photograph.

34. Suppose Exterior the Field

With video conferencing apps, we’re restricted to our personal little sq. of digital actual property… or are we? This Twitter person subverts expectation by dumping water on a coworker in one other sq., stunning all the opposite assembly attendees:

I pulled off my very own lil #AprilFools prank as we speak in our each day digital assembly 😂☔️ pic.twitter.com/RjGW2RhgRT

— Phang (@PhilaUnionPhang) April 1, 2020

All you need to do is use somebody who can be in on the joke with you.

Pranking might be extraordinarily good for morale and firm tradition. In any case, why not have a bit enjoyable to interrupt up the workday?

Editor’s be aware: This publish was initially printed in October 2018 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.

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[imgilmoregirl]

A Thing Between Light And Darkness (Chapter 11)

AO3 Link

Notes: I'll be away for the weekend which means this is probably going to be the last chapter of the year, so I would like to leave here my thank you for all of you who have been not just reading this story but many of the others I posted ever since I decided to start writing Rumbelle fanfic. If it wasn't for you I probably would have given up. Sending my love to everyone. And may 2018 be as beautiful as it can.

The ceiling had never looked so interesting for Gideon before that morning. He laid on his bed, eyes wide open, tired like never before as he hadn't got much sleep in the night prior after those crazy events at the Gold Manor. Gideon turned around, getting his cell phone and realising it was already half past ten, what surprised him, because Mrs. Potts usually woke him up at seven, even when he didn't have to go to school like today, which was a good thing, as he had no mood to face a full day there. The Storybrooke High School was hosting an open big Halloween party during the whole day, so nobody had classes.

Sighing and stretching himself a little, Gideon closed his eyes again, concentrating so he could feel his mental bond with Alice, finding that she was awake. She felt him, even from her own room back in the Manor and smiled to herself.

How are you today?

Feeling weird, Gideon answered. I'm the son of the town's oldest scary joke.

She slid to the comfortable huge chair in front of her desk, looking down through the window and seeing the garden where Gideon had followed her to, weeks ago. Getting a hold of a pen, Alice bit down her lip.

Listen, I told him about the chain last night and everything else, the girl confessed. He took it and said he would ask your mom to analyse its powers.

Gideon nodded, even though she clearly couldn't see the movement. He knew it wouldn't be long before Gold took all the truth from Alice and she didn't seem to be the kind of person who would lie for someone she loved; he knew it because he wouldn't do that himself. Sitting up, Gideon started to pick some clothes to start the day, when he glanced at a picture of his family - or what he thought it to be until recently. Gaston had a hand on his shoulder, a frown stamped in his face, Belle kneeled beside his ten-year-old self smiling as widely as him.

Even in that photograph everything seemed a lie and Gideon didn't know how he didn't realise it before. They were never truly happy, at least not as a complete family, because he and his mother had always shared loved and complicity, while Gaston was just and addition to the picture.

So, about my mom, Gideon started again, calling Alice's attention. What exactly is a Keeper?

Just a librarian, but one from our world, she answered with a shrug, drawing lines on her notebook.

His mixed feelings were so clear to the girl that she could almost feel them by herself, which was weird and not exactly the most comfortable thing in the world.

Does she have powers? Gideon questioned.

A laugh left Alice's mouth.

Of course not, she just got a great brain and a couple of secret keys.

Cool, the boy grumbled. But what about you, Alice? We've never talked much about you.

She stopped what she was doing and stood up, eyes wondering around the room. The walls were painted in a dark shade of blue, the ceiling full of fluorescent stars, most of her childhood books and dolls were still somewhere inside the huge closet. Her story was written there, and as she let herself sit in a corner on the floor, Alice felt fear. The future terrified her.

I... Well, I'm a Caster.

That I know, Gideon replied, rolling his eyes. Why does my father want to keep you here?

He raised me, most of the time, until I went to aunt Regina's house, Alice explained. I stayed there until now, then I came back because he wanted to show me how to use my powers and keep an eye on me.

Why? The boy chuckled. You're not a big trouble.

His laugh was contagious and she almost let herself giggle too, however Alice was too nervous and anxious for that. It was panic that came to fill her whole body, making a lump appear on her throat and it felt difficult for her to continue talking.

On my sixteen birthday I shall be claimed to Light or Darkness, Gideon, and there is no coming back, she confessed.

What? You can't choose for yourself?

No.

Holding a pile of clothes against his chest, Gideon stopped, finally understanding why she always seemed to be on the edge of her emotions. She was afraid and being afraid was not a good feeling.

You'll be Light, Gideon assured her. I know it.

My mother was dark, that's why they fear what I will became.

Yeah, but I know you, he insisted. You have a good heart, Alice.

Wiping a tear that had ran down her cheek, Alice sniffled, allowing herself to give a little laugh.

Silly boy, I can't believe you're my cousin.

Silliness is a family thing, Gideon remarked.

He felt Alice slip away, closing her mind with one last laugh, then he did it too.

"How do I look like?" Alice inquired appearing by the doorway of the living room where her uncle had been playing piano.

Rumford looked up at her, pausing his hands and making the music stop as he faced his niece. She was wearing a white shirt and a big pink tutu in which a white fuzzy pompom was hanging, her face covered with a rabbit mask.

"Ridiculous," Gold stated, "take this thing off."

"I'm doing trick or treat!"

"No, you're not."

She furrowed, resting both hands on her hips. Alice could barely believe he - one of the people that most insisted for her to have a normal life - was forbidden her from going out on Halloween. Never before, the girl had been interested in such things, but Gideon and Roderick would be wandering around the neighbourhood and she wanted to go with them and just have some fun for a change.

"But uncle..."

"You're not a child, Alice, and I say you're not getting out of this house today," Rumford bounced. "I already have too many problems to worry about you too."

He stood up going to the bookshelf and picking one of his spell guides, what she thought he considered a light reading for the night. She groaned, knowing he wouldn't change his mind, not after what aunt Zelena did last night.

"You could be nicer," Alice mumbled, taking off her mask.

"I could also turn you into a bunny, so Pongo could spend the rest of the day following you around," uncle Rum answered with one of his sweetest smiles.

Alice rolled her eyes at him, clapping her hands to make Pongo stand from where he had been napping, near the fireplace.

"Great deal," she muttered to herself as she took the dog to her room.

Roderick had chosen a classic vampire outfit for the night. He lived close to Gideon's house, so there was no need to leave his too early, but he wanted to see if they could maybe watch something while they waited for Alice to arrive and maybe, Gideon could show him another cool magic trick. The boy thought it was very exciting to know this kind of things existed and he couldn't wait to know more about what his friend could do.

The street was strangely empty, no one walking around but him, however Roderick knew most people should be attending the school's party. A thin rain was falling and he started to walk faster in an attempt to reach Gideon's place before his clothes got damp.

"Hello, Roderick," he heard somebody saying behind him and stopped turning around on the balls of his feet.

Ivy's mother was standing there in the middle of the rain, holding a tiny umbrella and wearing a perfect ironed outfit that matched her stilettos.

"Mrs. Belfrey, hi," Roderick greeted her, praying she wouldn't talk too much. "How can I help you?"

A lazy smile stretched on Victoria's lips as she took a step forward.

"Very nice from you to ask this," she purred.

His Han Solo costume was settled on a chair upstairs, but the rain outside made Gideon want to stay home. He was sat on the couch zapping through the TV's channels in an attempt to find something interesting to watch when Mrs. Potts came from the kitchen holding her big red umbrella.

"Gideon, I'll make a quick trip to the grocery store, but I shall be back in an hour to make dinner," she informed him. "Would you like roasted potatoes?"

"Sure," he smiled, thinking about having a delicious dinner after some hours of fun with his friends. It would be a great relief from his problems. The housekeeper nodded and waved at him, heading to the door. "Bye, Mrs. Potts."

As soon as she left he felt the unique presence of Alice in his mind, just like as if she was there in the house with him, sitting on the couch by his side. These were things that would still take some time for him to get used to it and all of the magical things. His mother was out to meet his father on the Tunnels and do some research, although he was pretty sure that was not the only reason she wanted to desperately spend her Halloween locked on the Lunae Libri.

No Halloween for us today, Alice's voice echoed in his mind. Your father grounded me.

Why? Gideon questioned.

Because he is an idiot, the girl grumbled.

Another presence joined hers and he could feel an odd new connection reaching them.

I'm not, his father said.

Get out, uncle Rum, Alice replied, moodily.

There was a knock on the door and Gideon sighed. It seemed it would be only him and Roderick tonight, what a good luck Mrs. Potts would be back soon to cook something for them to eat. He stood up, taking his keys and going to the entryway.

Wait, he told Alice, there is someone in the door.

The boy opened it, just to face Victoria Belfrey. That was the last thing he needed today. He couldn't find a good reason for that woman to be there paying them a visit as she hated his mother, because of all their arguments over the library.

"Gideon," she smiled.

"Mrs. Belfrey, I didn't expect your visit."

She nodded, with that serious intimidating expression she was wore when she fiercely wanted something and was on her way to get it.

"Is your mother around?"

"No," he replied dryly, "I'm sorry, but she must be coming home soon."

"Can I come in and wait?"

Gideon's eyebrows narrowed in confusion. Belfrey always thought herself better than everyone else, she didn't enter the house of people she thought to be inferior to her. It was just too out of picture to be a normal attitude of hers.

"Actually no," Gideon said, holding the doorknob firmly, ready to close it. "I'm not allowed to have visits when I'm alone."

"Don't be silly, I'll just have a seat and drink some water..." Victoria started, taking a step ahead and being pushed back.

The boy blinked as she tried to do it again and what it seemed to be an invisible barrier prevented her from entering the house.

"What the hell?" He muttered.

Gideon, his father's voice spoke loud and harsh on his mind, get away from the door.

A manic smile stretched on Victoria's lips and she opened her hands in front of her body, letting a black glow take them. Gideon stepped back.

"Protection spells, very clever," Belfrey murmured. "But let's see how strong they are."

A strong, wave of power, hit the door making Gideon be throw against to the wall behind him. His heat bumped against it and he groaned in pain.

Run! Alice screamed.

And he truly wanted to do it, but his vision got blurry and he still heard the bangs of Victoria's powers fighting the protection spells, however he was too weak to stand up, so instead, he fainted.

[lifeofaliterarynerd]

YA & NA Contemporary Reads for Valentine’s Day

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before - Jenny Han //  Lara Jean  has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters.

P.S. I Still Love You - Jenny Han //  Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter. She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever. When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins //  Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.

Lola and the Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins //  Lola Nolan is a budding costume designer, and for her, the more outrageous, sparkly, and fun the outfit, the better. And everything is pretty perfect in her life (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. When Cricket, a gifted inventor, steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Isla and the Happily Ever After - Stephanie Perkins //  Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart.

My Life Next Door - Huntley Fitzpatrick //  The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

Better Off Friends - Elizabeth Eulberg // For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are.  They are platonic and happy that way.They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

Wait For You - Jennifer L. Armentrout //  Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

A Little Something Different - Sandy Hall //  The creative writing teacher, the delivery guy, the local Starbucks baristas, his best friend, her roommate, and the squirrel in the park all have one thing in common—they believe that Gabe and Lea should get together. But somehow even when nothing is going on, something is happening between them, and everyone can see it

Royally Screwed - Emma Chase // Nicholas Arthur Frederick Edward Pembrook, Crowned Prince of Wessco , grew up with the whole world watching, and now Marriage Watch is in full force. Nicholas has to decide who he is and, more importantly, who he wants to be: a King... or the man who gets to love Olivia forever.

Summer Days and Summer Nights - Stephanie Perkins //  Maybe it's the long, lazy days, or maybe it's the heat making everyone a little bit crazy. Whatever the reason, summer is the perfect time for love to bloom. Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories, written by twelve bestselling young adult writers and edited by the international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins, will have you dreaming of sunset strolls by the lake.

Just One Day - Gayle Forman //  Allyson Healey's life is exactly like her suitcase—packed, planned, ordered. Then on the last day of her three-week post-graduation European tour, she meets Willem. A free-spirited, roving actor, Willem is everything she’s not, and when he invites her to abandon her plans and come to Paris with him, Allyson says yes. This uncharacteristic decision leads to a day of risk and romance, liberation and intimacy: 24 hours that will transform Allyson’s life.

Just One Year - Gayle Forman // When he opens his eyes, Willem doesn’t know where in the world he is—Prague or Dubrovnik or back in Amsterdam. All he knows is that he is once again alone, and that he needs to find a girl named Lulu. They shared one magical day in Paris, and something about that day—that girl—makes Willem wonder if they aren’t fated to be together. He travels all over the world, from Mexico to India, hoping to reconnect with her. But as months go by and Lulu remains elusive, Willem starts to question if the hand of fate is as strong as he’d thought.

The Sun is Also a Star - Nicola Yoon //  Follow Natasha, a girl who believes in science and facts, as she meets Daniel, a dutiful son and dreamer, as they spend a single day together in New York - and try to stop Natasha’s family from being deported to Jamacia.

Everything Everything - Nicola Yoon // My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla. But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. His name is Olly. Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster

Beneath Wandering Stars - Ashlee Cowles //  After her soldier brother is horribly wounded in Afghanistan, Gabriela must honor the vow she made: If anything ever happened to him, she would walk the Camino de Santiago through Spain, making a pilgrimage in his name. The worst part is that the promise stipulates that she must travel with her brother's best friend--a boy she has despised all her life.

Isn’t She Lovely - Lauren Layne //  Stephanie Kendrick gave up her whole summer to ace her NYU film school screenwriting course, so she's pissed to be stuck with a preppy, spoiled frat boy as her writing partner. Then again, with her piercings, black-rimmed eyes, and Goth wardrobe, Stephanie isn't exactly Ethan Price's type, either. He's probably got his eye on some leggy blonde with a trust fund... or does he?

Catch a Falling Star - Kim Culbertson //  Nothing ever happens in Little, CA. Which is just the way Carter Moon likes it. But when Hollywood arrives to film a movie starring former child star turned PR mess Adam Jakes, everything changes. Carter's town becomes a giant glittery set and, much to her annoyance, everyone is starry-eyed for Adam. Carter seems to be the only girl not falling all over herself to get a glimpse of him. Which apparently makes her perfect for the secret offer of a lifetime: playing the role of Adam's girlfriend while he's in town, to improve his public image, in exchange for a hefty paycheck.

The Hating Game - Sally Thorne //  Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. Hate. And they have no problem displaying their feelings through a series of ritualistic passive aggressive maneuvers as they sit across from each other, executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company. Now up for the same promotion, their battle of wills has come to a head and Lucy refuses to back down when their latest game could cost her her dream job…But the tension between Lucy and Joshua has also reached its boiling point, and Lucy is discovering that maybe she doesn’t hate Joshua. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.

Wanderlost - Jen Malone //  Aubree’s ready for a chilled-out summer at home in Ohio, until she finds herself taking over her sister’s job as a tour guide…in Europe. Things fall apart almost immediately, and when the tour company owner’s son comes along for the ride and steals Aubree’s heart, keeping up the ruse of being her own sister becomes the hardest challenge of all.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith //  Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row. A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

The Geography of You and Me - Jennifer E. Smith //  Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they’re rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. Lucy and Owen’s relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and—finally—a reunion in the city where they first met.

P.S. I Like You - Kasie West //  While spacing out in chemistry class, Lily scribbles some of her favorite song lyrics onto her desk. The next day, she finds that someone has continued the lyrics on the desk and added a message to her. Soon, Lily and her anonymous pen pal are exchanging full-on letters—sharing secrets, recommending bands, and opening up to each other. Lily realizes she’s kind of falling for this letter writer. Only, who is he?

On the Fence - Kasie West //  For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. To cope with the stress of faking her way through this new world of  makeup, lacy skirts, and BeDazzlers , Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with Braden by the fence that separates them. But their Fence Chats can't solve Charlie's biggest problem: she's falling for Braden. Hard.

Since You’ve Been Gone - Morgan Matson //  It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.  Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane's list. Who knows what she’ll find?

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit - Jaye Robin Brown //  Joanna Gordon has been out and proud for years, but when her popular radio evangelist father remarries and decides to move all three of them from Atlanta to the more conservative Rome, Georgia, he asks Jo to do the impossible: to lie low for the rest of her senior year. And Jo reluctantly agrees.  Things get complicated when she meets Mary Carlson, the oh-so-tempting sister of her new friend at school.

Far From You - Tess Sharpe //  After a painful car accident led to a dangerous OxyContin addiction, Sophie’s fought every day to get and remain clean. When someone plants drugs on Sophie after the death of her best friend Mina, everyone assumes that Sophie fell back into her destructive habits and took Mina down with her. Only she knows that Mina’s murder wasn’t a drug deal gone wrong, and only she can stop the killer.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe - Benjamin Alire  Sáenz //  Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

History is All You Left Me - Adam Silvera //  When Griffin’s first love and ex-boyfriend, Theo, dies in a drowning accident, his universe implodes. Even though Theo had moved to California for college and started seeing Jackson, Griffin never doubted Theo would come back to him when the time was right. But now, the future he’s been imagining for himself has gone far off course. To make things worse, the only person who truly understands his heartache is Jackson. But no matter how much they open up to each other, Griffin’s downward spiral continues. 

I’ll Give You the Sun - Jandy Nelson //  Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life.

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour - Morgan Matson //  Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it's Amy's responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn't ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip - and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar - especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory - but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.

The Unexpected Everything - Morgan Matson // Andie’s got a plan for her summer, just as she does for everything in life. But when it falls apart thanks to a political scandal, and she ends up spending the summer living with the last person she ever wanted to—her own father—all her carefully laid plans take turns for the unexpected, including the one she had for her heart.

Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell //  Cath is a Simon Snow fan.  She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to. Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell //  Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.

Everything Leads to You - Nina LaCour //  Emi, a girl who knows how to design a film set like no one else, but finds her love life far from cinematic. Stuck in a hot-and-cold pattern with the same girl, she begins to break the cycle when a mysterious letter from an acting legend leads her to the beautiful and unconventional Ava.

Gena/Finn - Kat Helegeson & Hannah Moskowitz //  Gena and Finn, two girls in different life stages, brought together by fandom for a TV show called Up Below. While their shared love is what initially bonds them, it doesn’t take long for them to click in every other way, baring their souls to each other about their lives and loves and worlds beyond the screen.  But the closer they get, the more complicated things become, especially for Finn and the boyfriend she lives with.

South of Sunshine - Dana Elmendorf //  In Sunshine, Tennessee, the main event in town is Friday night football, the biggest party of the year is held in a field filled with pickup trucks, and church attendance is mandatory. For Kaycee Jean McCoy, life in Sunshine means dating guys she has no interest in, saying only “yes, ma’am” when the local bigots gossip at her mom’s cosmetics salon, and avoiding certain girls at all costs. Girls like Bren Dawson.

If I Was Your Girl - Meredith Russo //  For Amanda, moving in with her father is an opportunity to start over where no one but her dad has ever known her as Andrew, and the move most certainly agrees with her: she makes new friends in no time, and it gives her and her father a chance to get to know each other again. But she also falls in love, which is something she never expected to happen, has no idea how to handle, and just may spell her downfall.

Run - Kody Keplinger //  Bo’s a wild girl who does her own thing and whose parents couldn’t care less what she’s up to. Agnes is legally blind, and has parents who practically keep her prisoner in an attempt to keep her “safe” from the outside world. Despite their differences, the two become best friends…which means when Bo comes to Agnes one night on the run from the cops and asks her to leave town at her side, Agnes agrees, and the two head off on a hell of an adventure, complete with a whole lot of law-breaking.

A List of Cages - Robin Roe //  When Adam Blake lands the best elective ever in his senior year, serving as an aide to the school psychologist, he thinks he’s got it made. Sure, it means a lot of sitting around, which isn’t easy for a guy with ADHD, but he can’t complain, since he gets to spend the period texting all his friends. Then the doctor asks him to track down the troubled freshman who keeps dodging her, and Adam discovers that the boy is Julian—the foster brother he hasn’t seen in five years.

You Know Me Well - Nina LaCour & David Levithan //  Mark and Kate have sat next to each other for an entire year, but have never spoken. For whatever reason, their paths outside of class have never crossed.  When Kate and Mark meet up, little do they know how important they will become to each other—and how, in a very short time, they will know each other better than any of the people who are supposed to know them more. When Kate and Mark meet up, little do they know how important they will become to each other—and how, in a very short time, they will know each other better than any of the people who are supposed to know them more.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda - Becky Albertalli //  Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

Always the Last to Know - Crystal Bowling //  Wearing a Maid of Honor dress that very well may cause the South to want to rise again, Jess Reynolds is prepared to walk down the aisle at her best friend's wedding. It's just that things keep getting in the way, like a sex-crazed coworker, an annoying brother-of-the-bride, and a handsome and horribly charming friend posing as the Best Man. As it turns out, Jess might just be the last one to know everything, including the workings of her own heart.

Can You Keep a Secret - Sophie Kinsella //  Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets: Secrets from her boyfriend: I've always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken. Secrets from her mother: I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben-Hur. Secrets she wouldn't share with anyone in the world: I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is. Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger.…

Famous in Love - Rebecca Serle //  The romantic story of a girl who gets plucked from obscurity to star in the next major feature film franchise based on a book and the ensuing love triangles she gets entangled in on—-and off screen. 

Love and First Sight - Josh Sundquist //  On his first day at a new school, blind sixteen-year-old Will Porter accidentally groped a girl on the stairs, sat on another student in the cafeteria, and somehow drove a classmate to tears. High school can only go up from here, right? As Will starts to find his footing, he develops a crush on a sweet but shy girl named Cecily. And despite his fear that having a girlfriend will make him inherently dependent on someone sighted, the two of them grow closer and closer.

Fan Art - Sarah Tregay //  With the hurdle of coming out to his family overcome, some might think that the worst of Jamie’s problems are over, but really, they’re just beginning. With prom around the corner and his best friend Mason already lined up to take a girl, Jamie is forced to confront overwhelming jealousy and the knowledge that his growing feelings for Mason aren’t going away anytime soon.

One Man Guy - Michael Barakiva //  Aleksander Khederian doesn’t need (or want) summer school, but his strict Armenian-American parents think it’s the best way for him to stay on the honor track. Just when he thinks his summer couldn’t get any worse, he meets Ethan. Cool, confident, and adventurous, Ethan is everything Alek wishes he could be. As he’s drawn closer to Ethan’s alluring persona, Alek realizes that he might want to be a bit more than “just friends” with the attractive skateboarder.

Look Both Ways - Alison Cherry //  A summer away from the city is the beginning of everything for Brooklyn Shepard. Her theater apprenticeship at Allerdale is a chance to prove that she can carve out a niche all her own, surrounded by people who don’t know anything about her or her family of superstar performers. Brooklyn immediately hits it off with her roommate, Zoe, and soon their friendship turns into something more.

The Art of Being Normal - Lisa Williamson // David Piper has always been an outsider. His parents think he’s gay. The school bully thinks he’s a freak. Only his two best friends know the real truth – David wants to be a girl. On the first day at his new school Leo Denton has one goal – to be invisible. Attracting the attention of the most beautiful girl in year eleven is definitely not part of that plan. When Leo stands up for David in a fight, an unlikely friendship forms.

[allumetterouge]

Okay, so after four scratched stories, I've settled on something cute and fluffy and not complicated and multichaptered as @lexiconallie ‘s Christmas present. It's very late; thank you for your patience and I hope you like it!! <333

Also, thanks to @minchen0897 for saying she liked it and I trust her so now I actually feel like I might have written something nice once again <33

Dead Robins Society

Summary: It's Christmas Eve and Damian is perched on a roof instead of celebrating at home

[Read on AO3]

“Okay kid, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be back at the manor, celebrating?”

“I don’t like Christmas.” Damian shrugged as Jason sat down beside him on the roof top. “I have to be nice to everyone - including Drake.”

Jason knew a joke when he heard one. The little bean had been getting along with the family for quite some time now. He was a good kid but he did like teasing Jason. Rubbing his neck, Jason bit his lip to stop himself from smiling.

“Okay, fine,” Damian whined, not suppressing his own smile. “Tell me what you got him.”

Chuckling, he pushed his hands into his pockets, grabbing hold of the lighter inside. “Naa, you’re just gonna make fun of me.”

“Of course I will,” the kid amended. “It’s my prerogative as your younger brother, isn’t it?”

“Brother?” Jason grabbed the lighter tightly, glancing at the kid from the corner of his eyes.

Damian’s face was flushing, a faint dusting of red on his dark cheeks that wasn’t just from the cold. “You’ve been adopted into my family for years now, Todd. Get with the program.” After a beat, the kid huffed, straightening his spine and looking anywhere but Jason. "It has come to my attention that people give presents to those they care about during these holidays."

"Astute observation, bean bag. What gave it away, the noisy TV ads or Pennyworth asking for your wishes since the season started?"

Damian huffed, his breath a steamy cloud in the cold air. "You're obnoxious, Todd. I don't know why I made the effort."

With a jerk, Jason slipped the lighter from his jacket, trying to disguise his reaction as he patted his pockets down for cigarettes.

And, it really was strange. Jason wasn’t quite sure how to take that statement - Damian was thoughtful, of course. Damian wouldn’t just buy random things, instead, he’d take the time to find the perfect present. That’s what he had been trained for - Talia wouldn’t have it any other way. She had poignantly told Jason to make sure he knew his mark’s heart, their deepest desire. It was a thing an assassin more than often needed to know. So it really shouldn’t have come as such a surprise Damian had made an effort with his present. Deep down, Jason knew that wasn’t what had surprised him.

“Didn’t have to get me anything,” he grumbled, lighting his cigarette.

“That is true.” The kid fidgeted, producing a red envelope with Jason’s name on it in Damian’s ornate cursive. “But I wanted to. I’m not sure I got it right, though.”

The lump in Jason’s throat made it hard to answer, so he hid by taking a drag before even looking at the boy. People didn’t give him presents. It didn’t happen. Sure, once or twice, he’d been offered a freebie by some of the working girls he had saved, or got offered money by some asshole for this or that, like letting them live, and, sure, Alfred did buy some things, but they both knew Jason wouldn’t come to pick them up. By now, Jason was pretty sure the old butler was re-using last year’s gifts. And the gifts from the year before that and so on. Jason Todd didn’t get presents. Not present presents. Not the kind that actually counted.

Damian’s hands were shaking almost as much as his own when Jason put the burning cigarette aside and took the envelope. They would both blame it on the cold, of course, but they knew either would be telling a lie.

The envelope was light, not much more than a few pages inside tops - probably just a card. People did hand out cards around Christmas, right? They still did that, right?

Carefully, Jason pushed a finger under the seal. Because the pretentious little bean would not just use glue, oh no. It had to be a good, old-fashioned wax seal with his initials on it. Not wanting to break it, Jason pulled back, reaching instead for the knife he was carrying in his boot.

“Just rip it,” Damian scoffed, blowing on his hands to keep them warm. His eyes flitted between Jason and the letter, only to stare straight ahead when the kid noticed Jason grinning at him. “It’s just some thing. Nothing of value.”

The knife cut through the thick paper almost effortlessly, satisfying in a way little else was. Jason put the tool aside, keeping the envelope in his hands for a while, only marveling at it. Maybe it wasn’t anything expensive, maybe it was just a stupid Christmas card, but it was for him. The kid couldn’t know, couldn’t even fathom what that meant.

“It is to me.” His voice was low, getting swept away by the icy wind blowing and tugging at their clothes, but Damian understood.

“You haven’t even seen--” The accusation veering off into a shriek when he saw the first tear roll down Jason’s cheek. He could not tell if it was because of the sentiment - or the present itself as Jason had pulled the card out by now. Only a little bit, but it sure was enough to recognize the likeness of one Catherine Todd.

Damian hadn’t had too many pictures to work with, but he was still a little proud of that drawing. It was small, just a little charcoal on some good paper, but it did look like the woman he had only seen in a handful of newspaper clippings and mugshots.

“I... I hadn’t seen her in any of your safe houses. It... It wasn’t because you don’t want her around, do you?”

The kid sounded weird. Uncomfortable. Like he hadn’t just pulled out Jason’s heart with his bare hands. They both had their mommy issues alongside the obvious daddy issues. They both knew their mommies could’ve been better and maybe Jason should’ve hated Catherine. Maybe he shouldn’t even call the woman who had raised him his mother at all. She wasn’t actually biologically related to him, was she?

“Thank you.”

Damian blinked, not understanding the tone of his voice and Jason couldn’t blame him. He wouldn’t have understood the strange love-child of a croak and a whisper that left his throat either. Instead, he reached out, making sure the kid knew what he was doing before clutching Damian to his chest.

“Thank you,” he repeated, his face buried in the kid’s shoulder.

“It’s fine,” Damian said. “I’m glad you like it.”

Chuckling, Jason squeezed the boy a little, wiping his face with the ball of the hand still holding onto the envelope. He refused to let the brat go. Not right now, at least. Not completely.

“That why you were outside tonight?” Jason looked down at the kid who frowned at him in return. He probably hadn’t wanted Jason to see the tears and snot run over his own face, but hey, they were both giants messes and that should’ve been common knowledge, so Jason didn’t comment on it.

“Maybe I just don’t like Christmas.”

“Or maybe you just don’t like everyone pretending that they do.”

Sniffing, Damian leaned into his shoulder. “Or maybe I just plain don’t like Christmas, Todd. Don’t make this a big thing.”

But it was, right? Damian cared too much for all those assholes - including the biggest asshole, Jason himself. The little nugget cared and it was no secret.

“Wanna go back there and exchange the decorations for Halloween themed ones?”

“What?”

Whatever the little bean bag wanted, Jason would get it for him. And if that meant finding a way to keep the family from pretending and lying all night just because they were supposed to be ‘happy’ during the holidays, Jason would do just that.

“We could just fuck things up a little. Make it less serious, less... you know.”

Wiping his face with both hands, the kid turned to look at him. “You’re serious.”

“Like a heart attack.”

“You think if we take away the pretense for them to act all...” Damian waved his hand about, trying to convey his hatred for all the false cheer waiting at home.

“Christmas-y”

“That’s not even a word.”

“It so is.” Throwing his forgotten cigarette off the roof, Jason stood, motioning for the kid to follow. “D’you know Tim and the old man didn’t even celebrate before they got to know Dick? Christmas is not such a big deal as they make it out to be. They’re just looking for an excuse to make everyone else happy.”

“Yeah, well.” Damian straightened his jacket before looking up to frown at Jason again. “They should stop. It’s making me uncomfortable.”

Laughing, Jason tousled his hair. “They could definitely learn a thing or two from you. -- Care to teach them a lesson?”

“Are we really going to...”

“We’re gonna steal Christmas. It’s kinda tradition anyway.”

“How’s that tradition?” Damian grumbled as he followed Jason off the roof.

“Hatchling, have you never heard of the Grinch? We really need to get you more books.”

“Maybe I should put it on my wish list.”

“Maybe you should.”

[noikracs]

Summary: Sunada Family fluff, and cute little things they do together

Christmas—

• It will start off with Tajima buying cute little Christmas sweaters for everyone, even though he’s the only one enthusiastic about it

• This is the one season Reiji is actually happy to spend movie nights and insists they’re Christmas horror movies like Krampus

• Suprisingly, Sugai makes The. Best. Gingerbread and hot chocolate ever. And Tajima and Reiji both love it

• Most of the time, Tajima will have the weather channel on just to wait for the snow, and so will Reiji

• All three will decorate the house and will put their damn best into it, and it always turns out as so

• Choosing a tree is usually always complicated, it usually being Sugai wanting a fake tree and Tajima wanting a real tree and Reiji not caring

• Unlike Reiji and Tajima, Sugai likes the warmth of the fire place more than the cold snow, so he’ll often be inside

• Though it takes a bit of begging, Reiji and Tajima will convince Sugai to join them in a snowball fight or at least make a snowman or a few snow angels

• And Reiji will surprisingly be in quite the jolly mood when he sees Christmas themed lights or hears Christmas music

• Speaking of Christmas music, you bet your ass the trio will be jamming out to all the songs

• Mistletoe is a big deal when it comes to Tajima, and he’ll always be trying to catch Sugai off guard with some (with the help of Reiji, of course)

• Both Tajima and Sugai will absolutely spoil Reiji with presents and every time Reiji feels bad because he draws them stuff but his parents love it so much and treasure it deeply

• In the end of Christmas, everyone is sad but knowing it’ll be back next year is good enough

New Year’s—

• Since it’s right after Christmas no one really does anything, still more in the “Christmas spirit” than the “New Year’s spirit”

• But they’ll have a nice dinner and invite some friends and family just to get together

Thanksgiving—

• Usually it’s just the same every year: inviting friends and family over to eat a turkey with

• Since Japanese and American people celebrate thanksgiving differently, it was Sugai with his American heritage who wanted American thanksgivings

• Sometimes they’ll have to get a second turkey just from how much Reiji likes turkey

Halloween—

• None of them are too passionate about the holiday, but they do things in theme still

• Usually it starts off with Tajima buying loads and loads of candy that only he will eat

• And a few days before Halloween, Reiji insists on watching a lot of horror movies— both the old and the new ones

• Sometimes Sugai will decorate a bit just because he likes to stay in theme to things, but won’t put too much effort in

• Once they got their house egged by some school bully of Reiji’s, but Sugai and Tajima went back and did the very same to his house out of spite

• Sometimes Reiji will be caught jamming out to old Halloween songs like “the monster mash” but other than that, none of them really care for Halloween music

• On the day of Halloween, none of them dress up and go anywhere, they just stay inside and watch horror movies, ignoring the rings on their doorbell

Easter—

• None of them really care for this holiday, but they’ll do things anyway

• Often Tajima is painting eggs just to donate to places to use them for kids’ Easter egg hunts

• When Reiji was little, the family would often do the egg hunts, but Sugai would end up hiding them in places that were too hard (like three feet underground or at the bottom of a lake)

• None of them care much about church but occasionally Sugai will want to go just to seem like a highly religious family

Valentines Day—

• Both Sugai and Tajima will just spend the day flirting with each other lightly, saving the rest for when Reiji isn’t present

• Though Reiji will often ask for relationship advice on things, and won’t explain why other than “it’s Valentine’s Day”

• Both fathers will often annoy Reiji with cheesy love songs just to poke fun at him

• In the end, they just eat a lot of chocolate together from those heart boxes

Father’s Day—

• Usually Reiji acts like he forgot about it but always ends up getting them something

• Sometimes he’ll get them clothes but usually it’s just handmade cards with drawings, just because he doesn’t know how to buy things

• Though he will occasionally treat them to a breakfast in bed and try his best to not burn the kitchen down