#(since i made him more reserved than being outgoing)

[solchle]

[hannieehaee]

could i request svt with a socially shy s/o. like they are shy in public and around people they don't know, but themselves around the members and othe people they are close to?

their s/o being shy around others

content: established relationship, reader is shy and/or socially anxious, fluff, etc.

wc: 820

a/n: im so shy in real life omg this came from the heart

masterlist

seungcheol -

he adoooores when people depend on him so he'd kinda selfishly enjoy that you're on the shier side. he gets to enjoy you while alone/with friends and also gets to have you stick by his side constantly while out and about. the best of both worlds in his eyes.

jeonghan -

he'd tease you about it but lovingly<3 would love the contrast between how at ease you were with him in comparison to how timid you'd become whenever you were alone and with strangers. he'd take pity on you and always take charge in social situations, knowing you were a little shy (but he'd still bug you about it afterwards bc he's annoying as shit by nature).

joshua -

he'd sadistically enjoy watching you struggle to interact with other people from afar. would chuckle and make faces at you from wherever he was just to let you know he was enjoying your pain. this would all be in jest though!! he'd never actually want you to feel alone or embarrassed, so he'd always let you be your shy self when in public, enjoying that he was one of the only privileged enough to know your real personality.

jun -

poor baby is also a little bit shy himself, so you'd be stuck in a situation where you're both shy in public. however!! you're both extremely energetic and outgoing when you're with one another, so it'd work out just fine as long as u have each other. teamwork!!

soonyoung -

he's just like you!!! he's an shy and introverted around others but insanely social and outgoing while with friends. he often gets confused for an extrovert bc of how energetic and friendly he is with people close to him. you'd both be the lives of the party while together, while being closed off whenever in public. it worked perfectly for the two of you.

wonwoo -

he's a lil quiet and maybe teeny bit shy, but he can handle himself just fine in social situations. would think the contrast between you in public and you behind closed doors was adorable. would tease you about your shy demeanor a little bit, but not too much (specially since he found it cute).

jihoon -

he'd relate to you a bit. he can handle social interaction just fine, but he'd rather not, which is why he rarely goes out. you'd rarely ever have to deal with being around other people while with him, so even though he'd be aware you were shier than himself, he'd think it's normal since he can kind of relate.

seokmin -

he'd the the type of person to introduce you to other people by saying you're shy and making you feel awkward lol. he'd do it with the best of intentions but would end up making you feel even more closed off. he'd also be the type to handle all social interactions if you so wished, being the epitome of social himself.

mingyu -

being the polar opposite, he'd be extremely endeared by you. would not be able to understand how or why you're so shy but would also never judge you. he'd take it upon himself to always stick by you in social situations bc he knows how shy you get sometimes. would occasionally not step in just to see you blush in embarrassment, eventually dragging you away to swoon over how cute he found you.

minghao -

understands and empathizes with you. you cant help being shy, and he's not gonna make you feel badly about it. would still try and encourage you in public, but would accept that you only ever felt comfortable being yourself when you were with the people closest to you. in a way, this made him feel like you reserved a special part of yourself only for those you loved – like him.

seungkwan -

he's the definition of extroverted and outgoing to the point that i dont think he's even aware of the concept of shyness. his extrovertedness makes up for anyone else's shyness, so he'd be your perfect match. would find it cute that you'd be sooo outgoing while alone with him and friends but would turn around and be a shy mess whenever you went out.

vernon -

even though he's on the quiet side, he's not shy at all, so he'd think it was cute when you'd ask him to tag along when you went out so that he could do the talking. he's such a straightforward guy, he would not mind at all. would feel like a good and dependable boyfriend any time you asked him this, and would feel even happier knowing you felt so comfortable with him.

chan -

if you ever felt awkward or shy in public, he'd take it upon himself to break the ice by cracking jokes or embarrassing himself. he knows you're a little shy while around other people, so he'd always be down to help you out if you needed it.

[gyusimp]

Can you please write a kenji sato x best friend . Where he is outgoing/ extroverted and the reader is introverted and totally opposite . Like he fell first but she fell harder troupe. Thank youx

°•𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔 [[ᴷᵉⁿʲⁱ ᔆᵃᵗᵒ ˣ ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ ᵒⁿᵉ⁻ˢʰᵒᵗ]

3.5k words | No warnings | SFW | Fluff | I have no idea what timeline I wrote this in lol just enjoy it 💖😅

"I finally have an answer to your question" Kenji confessed, smiling as he rested on your bed.

"So, do you know what you're going to give me for my birthday?" You had been joking with that for months.

Remembering over and over again the proximity of your birthday while he avoided the question on purpose or simply answered you “my sincere friendship” as a joke. Today he was visiting your house and you both agreed to meet in person to talk in a more pleasant way while you updated him on your things and he updated you.

"Just close your eyes" he told you, while you obeyed and he asked you to extend your hands to receive your gift.

"Wow, you're not even going to wait for the day to come" you commented smiling.

"Now. You can open them" he pointed at you and you did exactly that. You saw his cell phone in your hands and how it showed the website of a hotel with some numbers and its details written on the screen. It was a reservation for a month from now, right on the weekend of your birthday, to spend it alone at the beach, he knows how much you love it even though you haven't been there that many times, so he wanted to do something more special for you this time than just taking you to the movies or an expensive restaurant.

"I can't believe it Kenji! Are you serious?" You asked, to which he nodded, happy to see your reaction.

You were moved by his nice gesture so you hugged him and thanked him a thousand times while you talked to him excitedly, looking at the photos of the hotel on the beach, right by the sea. Kenji told you that he had even already talked to your parents about it so there was no problem with them, both of them knew Kenji since you became his best friend almost 6 years ago so they can trust him.

Kenji was happy to be able to make you smile like that. He would do anything necessary to always make you smile and let you know how much you mean to him. Things haven't been easy since he realized his feelings for you 2 years ago, keeping what he feels for fear of ruining everything you've built together has been exhausting and frustrating at times, but if keeping that to himself ensures that he can talk to you without any impediment or lose your trust then it was worth it. Sometimes it was still difficult not being able to tell you in a different tone of voice how pretty you look, hug you in a different way and kiss your face whenever he wanted, but it's something he's learned to handle. The following weeks you couldn't stop thinking about the trip, going shopping with him to try on clothes and such until the days were getting closer and now you found yourself doing a video call with him while you both packed your things to leave very early tomorrow.

The appreciation you had for Kenji was very special, both of you used to be different most of the time but maybe that made you complement each other better. You still remember when he was the one who took the initiative to talk to you at university when he saw that you didn't do it with anyone else, most of the time you spent reading, listening to music and avoiding people. You used to get along well with some classmates but it wasn't anything serious compared to him who knew a considerable amount of people on and off campus, he had several girls from different careers behind him and several fans who followed him even at the beginning of his sports career until the day he became a celebrity.

Despite being talkative and louder than the average of the people you usually talk to, there was something about him that you found pleasant and made you trust him, little by little feeling happier when you spent time by his side during breaks and then you started talking about him more often at home until you introduced him to your parents and the rest was history. The two of you were talking and joking on the video call, showing each other the things you packed and picking out your outfits. You loved that he had such a good fashion sense.

“Well, I think I’m done,” he said, taking out his phone.

“Wait, not me. I still don’t know where to put my makeup. Should I put it in the clothes or shoes suitcase?” you asked more to yourself.

"Don’t be exaggerated" he laughed "we’re leaving for a couple of days, not a month. Pack just a lipstick and mascara, i don't know"

"Obviously not, I’ll have to be touching up a lot because of the heat so I have to take everything. See! I almost forgot the sunscreen!"

" It doesn’t matter, I’ll bring one"

"Yes, but mine is tinted, like a foundation" you answered, making him laugh with the details you mentioned.

You talked for a while longer until you told him it was better to go to sleep. He would arrive early for you in his car. The next morning, you ended up falling asleep in the passenger seat while he was driving, your nerves didn’t let you rest well and he insisted that you sleep a little longer on the way when he saw you nod off a couple of times, when you woke up, you would meet at the beach. And so it was, in a couple of hours you were already on your way to the hotel and when you arrived it was more incredible than you imagined, the huge building full of windows and balconies was much bigger than it appeared in the photographs on the website. A lot of palm trees adorned the luxurious entrance of the place towards the reception as you both walked with your things to check in and get the key to your room. Anyone would think you were an excited young couple on their honeymoon.

You entered the room and took the bed you wanted since he let you choose, you placed your suitcases on the bed just like him and you changed your clothes in the bathroom to a cooler one. You called your parents to send them some photos and tell them that everything was fine.

"It's nice, isn't it? I didn't think this place was so big"

"Yes, it's incredible… thank you very much for the gift, it really is something very nice."He smiled when he heard your words and lightly shook the hair on your head.

"It’s nothing, anything for you… "

You two decide to leave the room and walk in and out of the hotel for the rest of the day. Everything is so nice and it’s nice to be able to spend time alone with him in a different way, Kenji can notice how happy you are and he loves the way he manages to make you smile. You are the person who has brought him the most happiness in this stage of his life and thinking about that makes his feelings for you only increase. Sometimes he wonders if he will ever be able to let you know, he is a self-confident person and maybe if the fear of losing you because you don’t reciprocate his feelings didn’t torment him so much, he would have already declared his love for you a long time ago.

After a day of walking around the place, he decides to take you to another part, more secluded from the hustle of the clubs near the docks and the tourism that fills the small place. You walk with him to a private part of the beach within the perimeter of the hotel where you decide to sit and talk, watching the waves and listening to their soft sound, feeling the cool breeze crash against your faces, illuminated by the moonlight and some torches serving as decoration of the hotel. The atmosphere was calm and relaxed, making both of you feel comfortable and confident next to each other.

"Thank you very much for everything Kenji…" He smiled, sweetly.

"I just wanted to do something different for you" You smiled in response, running your hands along your arms at the breeze on your skin. He got closer to you "Are you cold? Do you want me to go get your hooddie?" He asked, as attentive as always.

"No, don't worry, I'm fine. Our things are far away anyway" you thanked him, however, he found it convenient to put his arm around you to make you feel better.

"Well, then I'll have to take care of it myself" he joked as he hugged you, letting you cover yourself in his touch as you sat on the sand.

Silence was present for a few minutes, until your voice rang out again to speak to him. "You know, I also mean, thank you for everything…not just for my gift" you continued, in a soft voice, slightly embarrassed for saying such sentimental things "I've never had a friend so close or that I cared so much about before I met you…you know that it's hard for me to create bonds and such, normally I distance myself from people but, I never felt that need when I'm with you…" Your words made him smile, caressing your arm

"Thank you…I'm glad to know that. I'm also happy to be able to have you in my life. I've never had a best friend before either so it's nice that we complete each other so well…" What he said left you thinking and your chest jumped slightly without fully knowing the reason. You looked in detail at his arm around your shoulders and how close you both were, managing to make you nervous and feeling how your face burned, reminding you of all the times you thought how attractive your best friend is but forcing you to distract yourself with something else. "Yes… you understand me so well that sometimes I still can't believe it. I'm sorry if I say weird things, but you really make me very happy" you said smiling "a long time ago I felt bad and I thought a lot about things that worried me but every time I spend more time with you that anguish goes away…" "And what is it that worries you?" he asked, wanting to know more about you to be able to help you

"It's silly, but… I thought a lot about the consequences of my difficulty to be with people. Sometimes I imagined dying alone or things like that" you laughed embarrassed. Although you were referring more to a couple's company, Kenji had managed to calm the anxiety you had anyway, but you never thought about him seeing you as something more. He is quite affectionate with you, but something more direct would have had to happen for you to realize what he feels for you. "Come on, don't think about it. No matter how far away we are, busy or tired, I'll always be with you, okay? For whatever you need…" "Me too…" you told him, smiling. Kenji pulled you closer to him and both of you were in a soft hug that made your heartbeats and his accelerate.

The moment you let your face rest on his chest and felt yourself surrounded by his hands, an inexplicable warmth flooded your entire being, making you sigh and for some reason stirring up the feelings until you wanted to cry, but not from sadness. You knew that if you were with him everything would always be okay and you wanted to prolong that for as long as possible. Even your whole life, if there was any chance. “You mean so much to me,” he told you, in a low voice near your ear. “You do too, everything, actually.” You answered, putting a smile on his lips and butterflies in his stomach.

The conversation between the two of you changed to more random topics and some jokes between you. However, the way your eyes sparkled when you saw him was different, as if this tender and sincere moment had helped you realize what he truly makes you feel. As the night progressed, you both decided to return to your room, to say good night and rest. You went to bed, the sheets were really comfortable and the softness of the pillows and mattress was unique but despite that you couldn't manage to fall asleep even if you tried. You could feel the weight on your head of having unlocked millions of repressed feelings and thoughts freeing themselves inside you, not knowing what to do or how to act in this new situation. You were lying on the bed, you turned around to get comfortable and you saw him asleep, in the bed in front of you on the other side of the room.

The light was dim coming in through the window but enough for you to appreciate the features of his face perfectly. Did he always have the habit of sleeping without a shirt or did he do it on purpose? You were afraid that he could hear your thoughts as they were so loud inside your head. Eventually you fell asleep, thinking about him. The next day you felt strange, but not in an unpleasant way but as if you felt more nervous, always thinking, do I look pretty? looking at him from time to time with the excuse of seeing something about him, whether or not he had his sunglasses on or what color shirt he was wearing. When he caught you looking at him he smiled at you making you feel embarrassed, using the poor quality of your sunscreen as an excuse in case he happened to notice the blush on your cheeks more than once.

When you both spent some time in the pool it was much worse, you felt the need to see him but acting normal got in the way of your goals. You wanted to hug him and somehow be able to hold his hand so that everyone who saw you together would assume you were a couple. He is open-minded, would he see it as something strange if you dared to do it? Your heart jumped in doubt but again, you decided to let it go for fear of having a moment of embarrassment in front of him. The sunset was beginning to paint the environment a soft pink, he helped you pack your things and carry your suitcases to the car to return to the city. A slight nostalgia filled your chest at having to leave this place, where you had experienced something beautiful with him. A small idea of being able to visit it again and fulfill your wish of walking together hand in hand this time crossed your mind before getting into the car.

The clouds were getting darker on the way, touches of lilac and blue in the sky by the time he was at the entrance of your house opening the car door for you to get out and then the trunk to give you your things. You watched him greet your parents in the living room of your house, both excited to see you two return happily, thanking him for how attentive and thoughtful he was with you always. Seeing the interaction with your family gave you a strong desire to imagine their reactions to the news of you two being a formal couple, that that idea would come to stay in reality but your bubble burst when he suddenly hugged you and said goodbye to you to go back to his house, leaving you with a bittersweet smile on your face, thanking him again for everything he did for you.

And once again you were in your room, staring at the ceiling unable to sleep and when you turned to the side you couldn't see his face like the night before. That your sight collided only with your things in their usual place felt heavy on your chest. What if I tell him? You thought, afraid of ruining your friendship you hid under a stupid excuse of telling him as a way to vent how you felt to someone you trusted instead of a direct confession of your love for him, hoping that deep down you would reciprocate. You thought about this throughout the day as you recognized affectionate gestures from him towards you that left you thinking. The need was felt in each of your heartbeats hoping to be able to talk to him properly tomorrow but time seemed eternal.

You threw the covers off of you and changed your clothes, grabbing a coat and your car keys before leaving the house, to start the vehicle and drive to his house which by the way, was incredibly far from yours, which was an immense relief to see it in the distance as you began to approach until you went up and parked in his driveway. You called him when you got out of the car, expecting him to answer his phone, but when you got to the door, he was already there, having been notified by Mina that you were parking in his driveway. Things unrelated to what was going through your head made him wonder why you were here. Did you forget something in his car? Or did he pack his stuff in your suitcase by mistake? Maybe an emergency had come up? He hoped not. It was almost 11 pm, he usually stays up late sometimes, but he was surprised that you had come here instead of calling or texting him.

“Hey, what’s going on? Is everything okay?” He asked. You quickly said yes, even stopping him from letting you in before you spoke, so as not to lose the momentum that made you come here now.

"Kenji, I… you should know something" your words made him tense but he didn't take his gaze and attention off of you, nervous about what you might say. "These days I realized something extremely important and maybe you'll think it may be stupid or too soon but believe me I've never felt so sure of something, what I want… I know what I want…"

"And what do you want?" he asked, waiting for your answer, with his pulse racing as you approached him.

"You" you said without thinking, maybe deep down regretting having been so direct but it was all or nothing. "I love you Kenji… more than you think, more than just my best friend…"

He was speechless, looking at you in amazement and unable to believe it, he didn't think something so good could happen to him, something he had dreamed of so many times until he found it as something meaningless incapable of coming true. "Of course it's not stupid at all" he told you, approaching you. "Because I feel the same way about you…" you didn’t see his answer coming, his declaration, you felt yourself melting when he took your face with both hands. Your eyes were moistened by so many emotions. "I’ve always felt this way, you’re everything I want, everything I never thought I needed so much. And suddenly it’s been almost two years since I realized how much I’ve been loving you, afraid of ruining things…"

"Two years?" you asked him, with amazement in your voice. You felt like you were almost going crazy these days without being able to show him your affection completely. You couldn’t imagine how frustrating it was for him to keep everything he felt for so long.

"Kenji…" You took his face and caressed it, the distance between you both shortened more and more and without realizing it you let your lips find his to join in a kiss. It was what you had both wanted so much, you could feel all his love and you just hoped that you weren’t too nervous to not be able to show it too.

His lips were warm and soft, his heart leapt with happiness at being able to live this moment after so much, happy to be able to express himself without fear and amazed to receive your confession first in an unexpected way. "I love you, I love you so much…" he answered, kissing your forehead while you kept his hands on your face, taking them carefully.

Now you agreed to go to his house, having too many things to talk about, but now that you could hug him and hold his hand it would be easier for both of you.

[theolivetree123]

◇ Yuuki's Intro ◇

More info below!

◇ Basic Info ◇

Age: 18 years old

Height: 170cm

Birthday: June 4th

Sexuality: Demiromantic, Asexual, Pansexual, Non-Binary

Nicknames: YuYu (Yumei and Hana), Henchman (Grim), Shrimpy (Floyd)

Dominant Hand: Left

Dorm: Ramshackle

Grade: 1st Year

Favorite Food: Ramen

Least Favorite Food: Toast

Likes: Video games, silence, cats, the smell of pastries, knives

Dislikes: Darkness, being alone, sudden loud noises, knives

Best Subject: N/A

Club: Art Club

Hobbies: Drawing, painting, playing video games

Homeland: Japan in the mid-2000s

Family: unnamed mother, father, sister and brother

◇ Before NRC ◇

Warning for mention of attempted suicide and bullying !!

Yuuki had no friends in their old school. There, they would be either ignored or harassed by their classmates due to their odd interests, leading to Yuuki becoming shy and reserved. It didn't help that Yuuki couldn't find comfort in their family, either, as their mother would excuse Yuuki's bullying to just be “their way of thinking” and tell them to ignore them, their siblings would call Yuuki “weird” and even “crazy” due to their liking of knives and horror media, and their dad was almost never home, always working long shifts.

All of this stress over years upon years finally pushed Yuuki over the edge, and on one cold, December night, Yuuki attempted to end their life. After stealing a knife from the kitchen, Yuuki made their way to the middle of the woods, not wanting anyone to see them as they took their life. As they stabbed themselves in the stomach, a black carriage sped towards them, and Yuuki fell unconscious.

The next thing they knew, they fell out of a coffin, feeling strangely fine. No stab wound or anything. Yuuki quickly fled the room, panicking about where they were. And as they fled the building, they looked up at the campus before them.

“Where the hell am I?!?”

◇ Relationships ◇

Grim & Ramshackle Ghosts: Yuuki and the residents of Ramshackle's relationship are very similar to how it is in twst canon, though Yuuki is still a bit frightened by the ghosts. Grim often has to rope Yuuki in with him when he wants to do something, as Yuuki is extremely cautious about almost everything.

Hana: As (technically) vice housewarden of Ramshackle, Yuuki respects Hana and treats her well. Yuuki sees Hana as somewhat of a mother figure, as Hana is older and wiser than them and tends to keep Grim and Yumei out of trouble.

Yumei: Yuuki doesn't like Yumei that much, as she's very outgoing and bubbly. Though Yumei tries to get along with Yuuki, sometimes they just don't click. However, Yuuki still appreciates Yumei and sees her as a sister.

Ace & Deuce: Yuuki appreciates Ace and Deuce due to them being able to push Yuuki out of their comfort zone and being their first friends. Though, Yuuki sometimes feels like a third wheel, always taking a backseat while Ace and Deuce bicker.

Idia: Being the one who supplies and plays video games with Yuuki, Idia is one of Yuuki's best friends. They always get along, even having sleepovers sometimes specifically to play video games. Yuuki feels seen when talking to Idia, as they were mocked for liking video games and anime.

Vil: As one of the people to help him overcome his overblot, Yuuki is quite dear to Vil. Even though they don't have much in common, the two still talk and hang out sometimes. Yuuki still feels somewhat strange about Vil being friends with them since he's such a popular figure, but Vill assures Yuuki that they can still be friends no matter how popular he is. While Yuuki only sees a friendship, Vil seems to want something more. Though Vil acts casual around Yuuki, he still has a tiny crush on them.

◇ Relationship Charts ◇

With some of my mutual's OCs !

◇ Gallery ◇

◇ Miscellaneous Facts ◇

Yuuki has Autism and ADHD

Yuuki doesn't like being around knives

When Yuuki feels sad, they sometimes paint on the walls of Ramshackle

Yuuki covers up their self-harm scars regularly. Only Grim and the Ramshackle ghosts have seen them

[pedroscurls]

chance encounters | pt. 2

character(s): we got all the Triple Frontier boys in this chapter (obvi except Tom). Benny Miller, Will "Ironhead" Miller, Santiago "Pope" Garcia, Frankie "Catfish" Morales, fem!Reader summary: Days blend together and it's become three months since you started training with Benny, and you use fighting and training as a distraction from your grief. It's when you're alone when things become too much. Luckily, Benny books you your first fight and your mind remains focused on winning (rather than dealing with the loss of your best friend). word count: 4.1k a/n: While I do train muay thai/kickboxing, I don't think I'd ever be able to fight (even when sparring in class I'm always so nervous lol), anyway... I hope you guys enjoy. We're going to delve deeper into Reader's grief in the next upcoming chapters and a certain someone might be able to help... warnings: grief (and Reader doing a poorly job at coping with the loss), violence - it's Reader's first fight!, mutual pining between Frankie and Reader series masterlist | ultimate masterlist

It had been three months. Three months since you started training with Benny at his gym. Three months since you started fighting again. 

But that also meant it had been a total of six months since you lost your best friend. They say that days get better, that they get easier, but why does it feel like you haven’t gotten any better at all? You’re stuck in this same pattern where the only joy and excitement you feel is when you step foot into Benny’s gym. When your glove hits the heavy bag. When your leg connects with the pads that Benny holds. But as soon as you leave, you’re back to square one. 

Every morning and every night, you lay in bed and stare up at the ceiling as your mind refuses to shut off. You’re afraid to close your eyes because when you do, all you see is your best friend. You can hear his laugh. You can see his smile. You can imagine him here. 

And you hate it. You hate it because when you do open your eyes, you’re back to reality. You won’t ever be able to hear his laugh or his voice again. You won’t ever be able to see him smile or have him physically here with you. 

All he is now is just a memory, haunting you day and night. 

Benny has been so patient with you and you had gotten to know more about the three men you saw three months ago. The other blue-eyed man turned out to be his older brother, Will. He was quiet and reserved, but just like Benny, whenever he smiled, you felt a sense of comfort and security. 

Then, there was Santiago… or Santi, he liked to say. He was just as outgoing as Benny was and he certainly wasn’t afraid to let you know how attractive he thought you were. It was meant to be a compliment and it would have usually made you blush and smile, but instead, it just earned him a curt nod before you walked past him to start training with Benny. Since then, though, Santiago had always tried to make you smile or laugh and there had been a few times where he succeeded, but as soon as the smile touched your lips or the laugh escaped you, you shut down. It didn’t feel right being happy. 

And lastly, there was Frankie. He was just as quiet and reserved as Will was, but there was something about him that was soft and welcoming. You couldn’t explain it. In fact, he was the only one you hadn’t really spoken to. He liked to keep to himself, but there were certain gestures or actions that made you feel safe with him. He would hand you your duffle bag when you were getting ready to go home, give you a towel when you were drenched in sweat, and he even went so far to order food one night when you had mumbled that you hadn’t eaten all day. 

Today, just like any other day, you step into Benny’s gym. Music is quietly playing and you see all four men wrestling on the mats. It didn’t seem like they were taking it seriously and you can hear their laughter echo the walls of the gym. It makes your heart flutter for a moment because even in the midst of your own grief, these four men managed to sneak into your life and begin to make a home. In fact, you couldn’t even begin to imagine life without them. You knew your best friend would have gotten along with them just fine, especially Benny. And it pains you because your best friend isn’t here to enjoy this with you. 

“Oh, hey!” Santiago calls out, finally being overpowered by Benny as he lands on his back with a thud. “We were just messing around.” 

“And I won,” Benny grins, climbing off of Santiago and standing up. 

“You’re like thirty pounds heavier than I am. Of course you won.” Santiago rolls his eyes, but lets out a chuckle. 

“It’s all about technique,” Benny winks. “Anyway, I thought I had you scheduled to start in an hour.” He says to you. 

“Right,” you sigh. “I just figured I could come in early and hit the bag. If that’s okay?” 

“You sure you won’t be tired?” Will says, sitting up as he and Frankie both try to catch their breaths. “You’re always training. Are you getting any rest?” 

“Trying,” you admit quietly. 

Frankie’s eyes soften immediately. Since the moment he saw you, he could see the sadness in your eyes, the void that is now left within you after finding out that you had lost your best friend. Loss was something he and the rest of the guys were all too familiar with, especially with being in their line of service, but that didn’t make it any easier. Frankie had numbed his grief and his pain with drugs and alcohol that it got to a point where he almost lost everything, he almost lost himself and it was his friends that brought him back to life. It wasn’t easy, but without them, he knew he wouldn’t have made it. 

“Well, we’ll get out of your way. Go ahead and warm up,” Benny says. He and the rest of the guys stand up to give you space on the mat and Frankie is the last one to brush past you. He hears you let out a shaky breath and for a moment he pauses, stands right next to you. 

“Hey, are you–” he quietly begins. 

“Gotta train,” you interrupt, moving past him. 

Frankie sighs and nods, following the rest of the guys towards Benny’s office in the back. Once inside, Benny hands him a bottle of water and sits down on the couch along the wall, glancing over at the door every so often. 

“What’s up, Fish?” Santiago asks, arching a brow. 

“I don’t think she’s okay,” Frankie points out. 

“I’d have to agree with you there,” Benny says. “But if she doesn’t want to share, then we can’t force her. We all know what that’s like. You especially, Fish.” 

Frankie tightens his jaw, running a hand through his unruly curls. “She’s struggling. You guys saw me struggle and still forced me to–”

“That’s because we have history, hermano,” Santiago interrupts. “We’ve only known her for a few months. We can’t just– We can’t just insert ourselves in her life when she’s made it clear that we’re all just… Acquaintances?” 

“I was going to surprise her, think maybe it’ll cheer her up, but I booked her first fight for this Friday.” Benny says. “I think we’re all more than just acquaintances, but it’s her grief and we can’t push her on it.”

Will nods. “We all grieve differently. We all know this. Just give her time. If she wants to talk, she’ll reach out to one of us.” 

“And how are you sure?” Frankie asks.

Santiago, Will, and Benny all share a look with each other before they turn their attention to Frankie. They can all visibly see the concern in his features and it’s only then that they realize that’s probably something more to this. 

“Okay, what’s really going on, Frankie?” Santiago asks. 

“Nothing,” Frankie waves off. “I’m just– We’ve all been in her shoes and we had each other to get us through it.”

“You like her,” Benny slowly grins. “You’ve barely talked to her and you like her.”

“Oh, shut up. I barely know her.” 

Will chuckles. “But you like her?” 

“I’m just trying to be nice, okay?” Frankie sighs. “It’s nothing like that.” 

“You like her,” Santiago chuckles. “To be honest though, she does stare at you a little longer than everyone else.”

Frankie rolls his eyes. “Okay, you know what, I’m leaving.”

“But wait,” Benny chuckles. “You gonna say bye to her?” 

Frankie’s jaw tightens and he playfully punches Benny’s arm, shaking his head. “You guys are assholes.”

“But you love us,” Santiago grins.

“Debatable,” he mumbles. “I just think… Maybe it’d be nice if we got her some flowers or cake or a card? I don’t fuckin’ know.”

“She doesn’t seem like the flowers kind of girl and she can’t have cake.” Benny says. “A card might be a good start," he teases. 

“Great, you’ll be in charge of that, Fish,” Santiago winks. 

“Bye,” Frankie says with a shake of his head as he leaves Benny’s office. He walks down the hallway and hears the sounds of the bag and exhaled breaths. He sees you hitting the bag with such speed and precision; Benny was right. You did have potential to become a legitimate fighter. Frankie enjoys watching you train because you’re so dialed in, so focused that everything around you just seems to disappear. Just like it is now, you’re light on your feet, bouncing on your toes as you deliver punches and hooks to the bag, finishing with a knee or a high kick. It’s impressive. You’re impressive. 

He doesn’t stay long, doesn’t notice the way that your shoulders sag forward when the round ends. It’s almost like your body reminds you of the grief that encompasses your entire being. To be honest, fighting was a way for you to distract yourself from the grief and loss of your best friend. You’re not dealing with your grief. Instead, you’re pushing it as far back as you can, trying to focus on other things because you know that if you put your attention on the fact that your best friend died, you won’t be able to pull yourself out of it. 

—

Friday rolls around and you’re in the locker room, warming up. It’s your first fight and Benny seems more nervous than you are. Your hands are already wrapped and you’re shadowboxing to keep your muscles warm, bouncing on your toes and switching stances from orthodox to southpaw. Frankie, Will, and Santiago enter the locker room just a few minutes before your fight begins. 

“We wanna wish you luck,” Will says, pulling you into a gentle hug. “We know you’re gonna do great.”

“Thank you, Will.” 

Santiago looks at you and smiles. “Make sure this pretty face doesn’t get beat up, yeah?” 

You roll your eyes, the corner of your lips lifting just slightly. “You never quit, do you?” 

Santiago chuckles. “With you? Never.” He winks. 

Frankie then walks towards you. He’s wearing his Standard Heating Oil cap as usual and he lets a small smile line his lips. “Be safe, okay, hermosa?” 

Hermosa. The pet name slips and Frankie bites his lower lip. The tops of his ears begin to burn, turning red in slight embarrassment. He brings a hand to rub the back of his neck and even you are taken by surprise by the pet name. It brings a sense of warmth in the pit of your belly though and instead of waiting for Frankie to pull you into a hug, you wrap your arms around him and let out a shaky exhale. With Frankie, it’s almost like he can tell what you’re feeling, can read how you’re doing, and right now, Frankie’s arms tighten just enough around you that makes you feel safe, that makes you feel like things are going to be okay. 

“Alright, my little warrior,” Benny grins. “Let’s get out there.”

My little warrior. There’s an immediate shift in you and you pull away from Frankie immediately. He goes to say something, but he notices the look on your face, the distance in your eyes. You’re no longer here with him, with them, and he knows that your mind is elsewhere. 

But he can also see the way your eyes glaze over with unshed tears, threatening to spill out. Instead, you take a deep breath and put in your mouth guard, allowing Benny to slide on your gloves.

You’re walking out of the locker room and down the hallway, eyes focused straight ahead of you as the four men remain behind you. You’re supposed to feel excited, thrilled for your first fight, but all you can think about is your best friend and how he wasn’t there to be able to watch you. You clench your hands into fists, your gloves tightening around your hands and you shake your arms loose, seeing the octagon as the crowd cheers and boos. 

The cutman inspects you, making sure that you have your mouthguard in and your gloves tight and secure. Afterwards, the cutman then spreads petroleum jelly across your face - your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, your forehead, your chin. They are the most common areas to be hit so the petroleum jelly is to help prevent cuts and tears from the impact that you’re sure you’re about to take in this fight. 

Once the cutman finishes, you turn to Benny and he pulls you into a tight hug. You’re closest to him, especially with him being your coach, but he hasn’t yet known your full story yet. “Stay focused,” he says, pulling away. “You got this.” 

You nod and gently tap his chest with your gloves before you turn to see Will, Santiago, and Frankie flash you a thumbs up from their seats in the front. You enter the octagon and let out a deep breath, your opponent staring down at you with narrowed eyes. You feel the nerves settle in, leaning back against the cage of the octagon as the announcer begins to announce your opponent’s name and her current record. You’re obviously the underdog, with this being your first fight, no one in the crowd (except for Benny and the rest of the guys) believe you can win. 

“The Warrior!” you hear the announcer exclaim and immediately, you feel a shift within you. All you can do is focus on the woman on the other end of the octagon, eyes staring straight into her and the rest of the crowd disappears. The referee calls the both of you into the middle of the ring and you step forward, shifting between your feet as you keep your eyes solely on the woman in front of you. 

“Are we clear?” the referee says after having told you both the rules. You both nod and you reach out to touch her gloves, but she just rolls her eyes and steps away, not bothering to give you the respect you had given her. 

You both move back to your corner of the ring and within seconds, the bell rings to signal the start of the first round. You move closer to the middle of the ring, seeing her do the same as you keep your hands close to your face. She delivers several low kicks that take you a while to check, your leading leg beginning to throb in pain. 

“Check those kicks!” You hear Benny yell from your corner of the octagon. It’s taking you a while to get the groove of things, still bouncing on your toes. You notice the woman has a habit of dropping her hands every time she kicks you and you know that you just need to time it right. 

Your leg is beginning to bruise and it’s becoming a bit difficult to stand on it, so you switch stances to southpaw, keeping most of your weight on your right leg now. 

“Come on!” 

“Just end the fight already!” 

“She’s not even that good!” 

You can hear the crowd and it only fuels you even further. You try to remember Benny’s training, try to remember your best friend’s teachings, and they both had told you to be patient. The right moment will present itself. 

There’s fifteen seconds left in the first round and so far, you know you’re losing. You’ve only thrown a few punches that haven’t landed. You can hear Benny screaming, begging for you to just do something instead of standing there and taking the hits that you don’t need to take. 

The woman puts more pressure and backs you into the corner of the octagon. She clinches her hands around your neck, pulling you close enough to deliver a knee to your abdomen. It hits you straight in your core, knocking the wind out of you that you drop to your knees, falling backwards just as soon as the round ends. 

You stand up slowly, walking towards your corner and sit on the seat that Benny sets down for you. You’re breathing heavily and it hurts, dripping with sweat as your abdomen begins to bruise and throb in addition to your left leg. 

“You’re losing,” Benny says, lifting the bottle of water to your lips to give you a gulp. “You said you wanted this. You said you wanted to fight. What the hell is goin’ on?!”

You shake your head, tightening your jaw as you keep your eyes straight ahead, focused on the other woman and her team. 

“Those kicks–” you begin. “I’m sorry, Benny. I’ll do better. I’ll finish it in this round.”

“That’s a bit presumptuous.” 

You stand up from the seat, even with twenty seconds of rest left. “She drops her hands when she delivers a kick, Benny. I’m trying to find an opening.” 

“You’re gonna get your ass kicked just waiting for something to happen. Be proactive. You know you’re fast. You know you’ve got the power. I know you can win this fight. Do you?”

You nod and look up at Benny. “Yes, I do.”

“Then fuckin’ win!” 

The referee waves in your direction, signaling that the next round is about to begin. Benny looks down at you and his eyes soften for a moment. 

“You can do this,” he says. “Believe in yourself.” 

You nod and begin to bounce on your toes, the pain you’re feeling taking a backseat as you stare at the other woman with a tightened jaw and narrowed eyes. 

Then, the bell rings and the second round begins. 

The other woman rushes towards you and you use your footwork to easily move away from her punches. You see her leg begin to lift and her hands drop. This is your moment. You deliver a quick jab that connects with her face and she stumbles backward. It isn’t enough to drop her, so you push forward. 

“There you go!” Benny exclaims. “Just a 1-2! She felt that!” 

You remain focused, delivering just a simple 1-2 punch that continues to connect with her face. You step back to give you enough space to deliver a high kick to her right side, seeing her drop her hands to block the kick which gives you an opening to deliver a hard left hook across her chin. 

You put as much strength as you could behind the hook, hearing the sound of your glove connecting with her chin echo throughout the building. She falls immediately on her back and you quickly scramble to mount her. Her arms cover her face as you just begin to ground and pound, delivering hammer fists to her face. 

Then, you feel the referee come between the both of you, waving his hands in the air to stop the fight. 

You won. Holy shit, you won! 

Benny runs inside of the octagon and lifts you up, cheering and laughing. “You did it!” The rest of the guys rush inside as well, staring at you with excited eyes and grins. 

The other woman finally stands up and the referee holds each of your wrists, waiting for the announcer to announce you as the winner. Once your hand is raised in the air, you feel tears threatening to spill over. The other woman comes to you and reaches out to give you a one-armed hug. 

“Great job,” she says. “That was a great fight.” 

“I’m sure my leg is gonna hurt like hell for the next few days,” you say with a slight smile. 

The other woman chuckles and nods, turning around to walk out of the octagon with her team. 

You turn around and look at Benny, Will, Santiago, and Frankie. Seeing them stare at you with smiles finally makes the dam break and tears begin to trickle down your cheeks. Benny’s the first one to pull you into a hug, holding you so tight that it provides the comfort you didn’t know you needed. 

“Your best friend would be proud,” he whispers and it only makes you cry even harder. He and the rest of the guys lead you out of the octagon, hearing the applause and cheers from the crowd as you begin to make your way back to the locker room.

—

After your fight - and after freshening up and taking a shower - you meet the guys at the local bar that they normally frequent. You’re limping slightly, the bruise on your left leg a painful reminder of the leg kicks you endured during the fight. With each breath, you feel your side twinge with pain from the knee your opponent delivered at the end of the first round. 

You keep your hair down and past your shoulders, dressed in a black slip dress that reaches past your knees and sandals. You’re glad that your face didn’t take much damage, but you’re sure that your body is going to be in a lot more pain tomorrow. 

Tonight, you feel like you can celebrate… But also because you didn’t want to be alone. 

Stepping into the bar, you see the four men in a booth in the corner and they spot you immediately. Their eyes slightly widen at the sight of you and you can’t help but let out a quiet chuckle, your cheeks heating up at the way they’re looking at you. 

“You clean up nice,” Benny chuckles. 

“I’m not in spandex shorts and a shirt, drenched in sweat,” you tease, sliding into the booth next to Frankie. 

“You look great,” Frankie blurts out. 

“Thank you, Frankie,” you say quietly, looking over at him. 

Santiago, Will, and Benny look between the both of you and arch a brow before the three of them stand up to walk towards the bar. “First round will be on me,” Will says. “What can we get for you?” 

“Glass of white wine, please,” you answer. 

When the three of them leave, there’s an uncomfortable and awkward silence that fills the air between you and Frankie. He scoots closer to the inside of the booth to give you some space and he lifts the glass of beer to his lips. 

“You were great out there tonight,” he finally says. 

“I got my ass handed to me in the first round.”

Frankie chuckles. “But you didn’t give up and you came back in the second round.”

“Guess you can call it luck.”

“It wasn’t luck.” 

You shrug and look down at your hands. “I just saw an opening and took it.” 

“You work hard and it paid off,” Frankie says. 

“Trying to,” you mumble. “It’s been hard.” 

Frankie leans forward, elbows resting on the table as he looks over at you. “Benny mentioned your best friend…” he begins quietly, eyeing you to make sure that he wasn’t overstepping any boundaries. When he realizes you weren’t going to stop him and change the subject, he continues. “I’m sorry.”

I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. 

Even six months later, that phrase still frustrates you. Even though it’s meant as a way to offer condolences, it’s never brought you any comfort. 

“Yeah,” you shrug. 

“I didn’t mean to–”

“It’s fine,” you interrupt. “I try not to think about it, about him.” 

Frankie nods. “You know, all four of us are prior military. Special Forces.”

“Really?” you ask, brows arching. You didn’t know that, but it does explain how close and tight knit they are. 

Frankie nods again. “We lost one of our buddies a couple of years ago. There used to be five of us and now,” he sighs. “Anyway, I just– If you ever need anyone to talk to, we’re all willing to listen.” 

“You ever get through it?” You ask. “It’s been six months and I feel… Stuck.”

Frankie shrugs. “You just learn how to deal with it. Learn how to live life without them.”

“But what if you can’t?” you say quietly. “What if you aren’t sure how to deal with it? How to live life without them? Then what?”

Frankie sighs. “I don’t know,” he answers honestly. “Would your best friend want you to move forward? Would he want you to be happy?” 

“I don’t know. I can’t ask him.” You sigh quietly and gently reach out to rest a hand on Frankie’s arm, feeling the muscles flex underneath your fingertips. “I’m sorry. I don’t–”

“Don’t worry about it,” Frankie says softly, reaching over to rest a hand over your own. “We all deal with it in our own way. I hope you know, though, that we’re all here for you.” He looks into your eyes, staring deeply. “I’m here for you.” 

[sponfawn]

MTH: The Rowdyruff Boys and the Power of Friendship?

Ok, so we know that the Boys have slowly changed over the course of the fic so far, and we know that the Girls have had a lot to do with that. But something I think people (including me) have overlooked in the past is the influence of their friends/acquaintances.

Brick doesn't have many people he would likely consider "friends", but he's been softening towards acquaintances quite a bit over the past year. Aside from Blossom's obvious influence, I think it started with Bubbles.

Then Julie followed Bubbles' lead and didn't take his shit.

After awhile, people just got used to him. Yeah, he's an ass with a short temper and a loud bark, but that's generally as far as he goes, at least as far as other students see. He doesn't necessarily consider anyone a friend but he has acquaintances with shared interests and he has time for his art and photography. He's in a normal high school, where things aren't nearly as cutthroat and political as JS (other than Mrs. Morbucks, of course). My best analogy is that he's like an irritable, poorly socialized dog who has been sent to doggy daycare to hang out with the calmer, elderly dogs and given enrichment. Except replace elderly dogs with nice, normal kids his age. Nevermind that he thinks he's better than everyone else. It's not exactly friendship, but I suspect it's still a lot more pleasant and straightforward than his relationships with other peers he's had. And that's a big change for a reserved, standoffish boy who takes himself very seriously.

Butch on the other hand, has Buttercup and the guys. His most vulnerable friendship is with Buttercup by far, but he genuinely values his little group of stoners. This latest chapter has made that clearer than ever. Seriously I almost cried

In some ways, Butch is actually the best socially adjusted of the Boys in their new environment, which... says a lot about Brick and Boomer. He has a close-knit group of friends and while they mostly bust each other's balls and goof around, they pretty much see uncensored Butch because (except with some interactions with BC) he says and does what he wants, when he wants. He wants people to like him, but not enough to shut up or stop pushing people's buttons. He isn't the calculating type unlike Brick and Boomer. And despite the fact that Butch isn't as friendly and (seemingly) nonthreatening as Boomer or smart and talented as Brick, the guys truly enjoy and appreciate his company. Look at 'em, caring about his well-being:

Boomer is the least changed of the Boys. He tries to do what he thinks Bubbles would want him to most of the time. But as we saw in this latest chapter, when the temptation is strong enough and he has an opportunity, he slips back into old behaviors. We never really see him spend time with anyone other than Bubbles since they've gotten together. Except for his brothers, the Girls, and people at parties, where he mostly hangs around Bubbles. As much as Boomer's circle has "expanded", those connections don't likely run deep. And there's nothing wrong with having less deep friendships, except I think a contributing factor to his relatively stunted growth is this lack of connection to others.

Boomer hides his capacity for cruelty and his lack of empathy behind a mask of behavior he knows will be seen as likeable. He holds everone except Bubbles at arms length, even though he's outgoing and gets along with everyone. He shows a much more edited version of himself compared to his brothers. We thought he had started to change when he fought impulses, even if it started out as just being for Bubbles' sake. In the last few chapters we've had a feeling that his possessiveness and jealousy were likely going to head into some dark places. And now we've started to see how dark, although, according to Brick his "jokes" get much worse. The way he thinks about Mike in this chapter (and others in earlier chapters) is so detached, much like his attitude towards the spider:

And this is a side of himself that his friends probably haven't seen, and that Bubbles hasn't seen in quite a while. This time when he chooses to mess with Mike, he is still careful to appear like he always does. While Brick works out jealousy by showing off (see prom), and Butch gets a little sullen and subdued and tends to isolate from crowds (see BC wearing Mitch's jacket and the concert), Boomer manipulates ppl while framing himself in a good light (see this incident and Will and Bubbles' anniversary).

It's like a subversion of the "I can change him" trope. Certainly, Butch and Brick have genuinely been changing internally. But it's not just because of Blossom and Buttercup. They are significant contributing factors, catalysts even, but it takes a village of genuine friends (and pseudo-friends) to help them grow and change. Brick and Butch get this experience because they don't hide their personalities as much. Unfortunately, Boomer's current approach to other people basically guarantees that he won't get that.

[navybrat817]

Picture Perfect

Pairing: Motocross!Hal Carter x Female Reader Summary: Your mind drifts as you wait for Hal to show up. Word Count: Almost 1.1k Warnings: Dirty thoughts, light sexual fantasies, reader being a tad shy doesn't stop the mind from wandering, motocross!Hal Carter (he's a warning, okay?) A/N: Seventh day of my Naughty & Nice Nonsense belongs to Cowboy and Belle! "Dirty Thoughts" by Chloe Adams inspired this. I can't wait to share more of this couple. ❤️ Not beta read and written on my phone, so any and all mistakes are my own. Banner and moodboard by yours truly. Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog for new fics and notifications. Comments, reblogs, feedback are loved and appreciated!

Growing up, your mother pushed you to be front and center. She was the reason you auditioned for choir and musicals, even when you told her how nervous performing in front of others made you. You lost count of how many times you almost fainted from nerves. You had talent, but the stage wasn’t for you.

You preferred the quiety beauty of the world around you, which is how you found yourself with a camera in hand. The photos you took were your way of expressing yourself. Your mom has a hard time accepting that you’d rather be in the background instead of the spotlight.

“Still too shy for your own good. After all these years,” your mom told you one day. “Maybe if you put yourself out there, you wouldn’t be single.”

“Or maybe I just haven’t met the right guy,” you argued.

Being a photographer exposed you to a variety of good looking men. Because you took your job seriously, you made it a rule a long time ago to never fall for any clients. Not that a couple didn’t try to flirt. The very few times it happened, you politely diverted their attention back to the task at hand. You wondered if they seemed interested because you didn’t throw yourselves at them.

You thought of some of the girls at the tracks and how open and outgoing they were. You admired that, but that wasn’t who you were. There was nothing wrong with you being a little more reserved.

The right one will see me and appreciate me just as I am.

Maybe someone like Hal Carter.

You may have done a bit of research on him after the race. The videos of his tricks online made you gasp more than once. The man made a name for himself through hard work and grit, but had a good time. It was admirable. The southern charm on top of that, it was easy to see why people called him Cowboy.

While you didn’t belong in the spotlight, he was made for it.

You slightly adjusted the chairs by the viewing table, trying to keep your hands busy. Hal was coming in to view the photos and you had already done two walkthroughs to make sure the studio looked pristine. It surprised you when he made the appointment, half expecting him to want the photos emailed to him.

“Then I wouldn’t get a chance to see your beautiful face, Belle.”

You had no reason to be nervous, but you couldn’t sit still as you made sure the pictures were ready.

One of the best pictures you took was after Hal removed his helmet and waved to the crowd. A wide grin on his handsome face,the messy hair added to his allure. You had no doubt he had the attention of everyone there. Your favorite shot of him was actually the one you took right after. His smile wasn’t as large as the previous, but it somehow looked more genuine.

You didn’t realize until after you developed the photo that he looked right at you as you snapped the frame.

You found yourself staring into his blue eyes before you reminded yourself that it was just a picture.

The seductive gazes aimed your way were never truly for you to begin with. They belonged to your camera. You were simply the vessel who captured the looks for everyone else to see.

Considering Hal likely didn’t even see you until after the race, the look didn’t mean anything.

“Maybe in my dreams,” you muttered before you double checked the time and smiled a little.

Since I can’t hold still, I can blow off some steam.

You still got nervous when you sang in front of a large group of people, but you enjoyed doing it on your own. Maybe you’d even sing to the guy you fell in love with. Pulling up your playlist, you pressed “random” and turned up the volume.

“I get dirty thoughts about you…”

You had to smile, unable to sing the first few lyrics as your cheeks got hot. That would be the song that popped up with Hal stopping by.

“When I’m lonely. All the corners of my mind start racing. Things that should be kept in the basement. Spend my time trying to erase them.”

You’d be lying to yourself if you said you hadn’t thought about his body. The man went straight over to you without his shirt on just to introduce himself. It was only natural that the image of him would pop up later to distract you.

“But when you hold me in the fantasy it’s so convincing.”

At some point, you closed your eyes and began to sway to the beat. Hal was virtually a stranger, but you had a feeling he was an amazing dancer. He’d hold you close and let you feel exactly what you do to him.

“I shouldn’t think the things I’m thinking, but now I’ve gone and let them sink in.”

You couldn’t stop thinking about what it would be like to kiss him. Would he flash a smile or lick his lips before he closed the gap between the two of you? Maybe he’d slowly coax your tongue into his mouth to massage it with his own. What would it be like to break your own rule and take a chance on a client?

“The more that I push ‘em away the more that you’re stuck in my brain. The more I mentally undress. I confess.”

You wondered how rough Hal’s hands would feel against your skin. Would he be gentle and take his time with you? Or would he pin you down with his strength, careful not to hurt you even if he went feral? Being shy didn’t mean you didn’t want or crave.

You were just quieter about it.

“I get dirty thoughts about you. They get worse when I’m without you. Does that mean that I’m going to hell? Or are you thinking them as well?”

Are you thinking of me, Hal?

You didn’t realize how fast your heart was racing until you checked the time again. You immediately stopped dancing and singing so you could shut the music off. Hal would be there any minute and getting yourself worked up would do you no good, as well as looking unprofessional if he caught you.

You’d tuck those thoughts away for another day.

And if Hal happened to get a glimpse at your performance through the door, it would be his secret for the time being.

I wonder how long Hal will keep that to himself. Hehe. Love and thanks for reading! ❤️

Masterlist ⚓ Hal Carter Masterlist ⚓ Ko-Fi

[milk-crater]

Sorry to keep asking request

Diva

Adam Cole/ Adam Page

This fic kind of got away from me ;_;. Adam-squared but Kenny Omega haunts the narrative. Hope you like it.

***

“Oh, and sir, someone left a message for you,” the hotel clerk said after Hanger checked in. Hanger felt a soft ping of dread: who knew he had a reservation here? He’d been lucky and avoided the paparazzi so far. He’d arrived a day early. He wore sunglasses and a surgical mask. He wore a denim baseball cap, eschewing the cowboy hat that so many other country music stars wore. He didn’t even travel with an entourage, feeling it was easier to slip through a crowd incognito that way.   

But someone had left a message for him. Someone who knew he’d come a day early before the Grammy’s, even knew what hotel he’d be staying at.

The clerk slipped a small envelope across the desk. Hanger took out the small note card.

Hey cowboy,

Sorry about what I said before. Let me make it up to you. Room 409, 8PM.

There was no signature on the note but Adam already knew who’d written it.

Kenny.

Kenny Omega. The biggest pop star in the world. One of his oldest pals. His mentor. His one and off again…boyfriend? Well, whatever they were, they’d been ‘off-again’ ever since the nominations for Album of the Year had come out and Adam Page’s album Anxious Millennial Cowboy had gotten a nom.

Kenny had always been so supportive when Adam had been struggling to get his music heard. Paid for studio time, produced his first album, had him as guest vocals on a surefire hit. But now, now that Hanger was finally getting some recognition on his own, Kenny had changed. Instead of being happy for him, Kenny had sent Hanger some texts. Some really mean texts.

Congrats on the nomination. For such a shy guy you really worked your connections well.

People only know who you are because they know ME.  

You gonna to thank me first when you win?

Never mind that Kenny’s album, One-Winged Angel, was also nominated for Album of the Year. Never mind that it was the front runner to win. Now that Adam was finally getting some respect in the industry, Kenny had gone from sweet to sour, from caring to caustic so fast that it made Adam’s head spin.

Kenny had followed up with some apology texts, but Hanger had left them on read.

Now though, Adam felt his resolve weakening. The thought of seeing Kenny in person was just too tempting. Surely they could work through their shit if they were in the same room. Could get back on the same page before one of them (probably Kenny) won Album of the Year tomorrow. Could just fuck away any tension that words couldn’t resolve.

Adam tightened his grip on his rolling suitcase. It was 7:45. He’d just go right to Kenny’s room now. No need to drop his own stuff off.

He went up to room 409, and took a couple of deep breaths.

When he knocked on the door Adam Cole answered.

Adam Cole was the front man for Undisputed Era, a rock band whose self-titled album was also up for AotY. Cole was outgoing, charismatic, well-spoken, confident. Basically all the things that Hanger wasn’t (“Yeah, but you’re talented,” Kenny had told him when Hanger had confessed his Adam Cole-related insecurities. When Kenny was on your side it was the best feeling in the world). Somehow Hanger and Cole had gotten in the habit of hooking up whenever they were at the same music festival. The man was always a good lay, and he didn’t seem to want to be anything more than fuck buddies, which was a relief to Hanger who already had something deep and complicated in Kenny.

Still, though he more or less liked Cole, Adam was disappointed to see him in the doorway. Why had Kenny asked Adam Cole there?

Cole winked at him.

“Well, don’t just stand there, cowboy. Come on in.”

Adam stepped into the suite. Cole gestured with his arms and smiled wide as he gave a tour of the hotel suite, pointing out each feature like they were on some house hunting reality TV show. The jacuzzi, two separate bedrooms, the large common area with kitchenette. Adam took it all in, the whole time wondering where Kenny was.   

“Big place for one man,” Hanger commented, wondering why Kenny would want all this space. He was a bit of a diva, sure, but this was overkill.

“Yeah, well, Kyle and Bobby’s plane were delayed so they’ll arrive first thing in the morning. Roddy’s flight also got bumped so he’s arriving at, like, 1AM,” Cole explained with a hint of irritation. He brightened when he looked to Hanger. “But that just means you and me have the place to ourselves till then.”

Oh.

This was the Undisputed Era’s suite, not Kenny’s.

Cole stepped in for a kiss but he paused when he saw the look on Hanger’s face.

“What?” Cole asked. His grin was wry but there was worry in his eyes.

“Sorry, it’s just, uhh...” Hanger tried to figure out what to say. “I think I got the wrong idea from the note at the reception desk.”

Cole laughed, leaning in to place a kiss on Hanger’s neck. “What did you think we’d do up here? Play checkers?”

“It’s not the ‘what’ I got wrong but the ‘who,’” Hanger admitted. Cole leaned back to look at his face.

“The who…? But…” The penny dropped. “You thought Kenny left the note.”

Hanger shrugged. Cole looked at him with a mix of emotions: pity, disdain, and unexpectedly, hurt. Then Cole hunched over as he laughed.

“Wow, Adam! You’re really pathetic, you know that? Sooo hung up on what Kenny Omega thinks about you. You should hear the things he says about you behind your back.”

“Yeah, well, I could say the same to you, Cole,” Hanger replied hotly. His own words gave him pause: maybe it said something about Kenny that he felt all right bad-mouthing one Adam to another, keeping them on this emotional teeter-totter with him as the fulcrum.

“You came running so fast,” Cole said. His voice and face were gleeful and Hanger knew Cole grew malicious like this when his feelings were hurt. And the man was oh-so easily hurt. “Like a little lapdog who still comes when he’s called even after being hit. Hey, if Kenny told you to jump off a bridge, would yo--”

Cole didn’t get the question fully out of his mouth before Hanger stepped forward, hand in Cole’s long hair to yank his head back. Hanger cut off any further words with a kiss.

When he stopped to breath, Cole blinked at him.

“What?”

“It’s what we’re here for, right?” Hanger said, pushing Cole down onto the couch. Cole got over his surprise to reach up and pull Hanger down onto him.

***

“Hey, you need to go. Roddy’s plane just landed.”

Hanger had been dozing off in the bed, Cole next to him on his phone.

Hanger blearily pushed himself to a sitting position. “What? Don’t want him to find me here? I thought you lived for drama like that.”

Adam rolled his eyes. “We’re all on edge enough with the Grammys tomorrow. I don’t need Roddy giving me a lecture about sleeping with the enemy on top of that. Plus, I want to take a shower.”

“Fine, fine.” Hanger got to his feet and started getting dressed. He had to admit, while Cole did grind his gears, he always felt chilled out after they fucked. He didn’t have the usual worries and thoughts running around his head, the personal recriminations on repeat. He always felt weirdly at peace, the absolution of the afterglow. Maybe it was way he kept falling into bed with Cole despite not thinking about the man much otherwise.

Cole put his phone down but didn’t look up at Hanger.

“Hey, I meant what I said in the note.”

“What?” Hanger said, mind still pleasantly numb from sex and sleep.

“I’m sorry about what I said last time we saw each other.” When Hanger just looked at him blankly. “At Coachella. You know, what I said then. It was a low blow and I’m sorry.”

“Oh.” Right, ‘Sorry about what I said before’ the note had said.“Honestly, Adam, don’t worry about it. I don’t even remember it.”

Now Cole looked at him, eyes wide with disbelief. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Hanger said easily. “You talk so much shit I’ve just learned to pay it no mind.”

Hanger thought he was being kind, that it would be a relief to Cole to know that Hanger didn’t bear him any ill will. But Cole looked like a kicked puppy.

“Oh. Great. Cool.” Adam picked up his phone and started typing.

“Um, good luck at the Grammys,” Hanger said weakly.     

Adam snorted at that, then seemed to reconsider. He glanced at Hanger.

“Hey, we’re planning on having a big victory part here tomorrow night. If you’re not too sore about losing, you should come.”

A victory party. As if Undisputed Era has already won Album of the Year.

You know Kenny’s winning, right? Hanger wanted to ask. But he didn’t, because as much as he hated Cole’s confidence he also kind of admired it.

“Thanks for the invite,” Hanger said, nodded to Adam with a half-smile, and left.

[eegasleega-will-change-this-l8r]

Sooo I wasn't planning on doing this post just yet and I don't have a good digital drawing of her yet, but

Ana!!

So my take on her is very different from how I think most people imagine her, I wanted to go in a different direction that made her more than just the girl one/ninten's girlfriend/nicher Paula and she's become one of my favorite characters to play around with ^^

Design details and a giant wall of text detailing her character and story below :3

So like the entirety of my interpretation of Ana stems from one thing

That face

T_T

Very prominent eyebrows (Invasion From the Unknown actually mentions the same thing!!! the illustrations don't show it though and there's not really any other similarities between that version and mine), mouth usually spread in a frown, she's not a happy person Pink dress with a white collar and frill at the bottom, pink hat with a black band (or maybe cream with a red/pink band? i might play around with that idk), red shoes and white stockings She almost always wears her hat when she's out, having to leave it behind in Reindeer was very frustrating but she knew she'd get it back eventually at least (And yeah, she's fat. Her sprite doesn't look fat, I haven't seen other designs that make her fat, I didn't really take inspiration from her model because I hate it and it's not really fat either, I just wanted there to be a fat girl who's not, like, a mean-spirited joke, and since MOTHER's sprites are suuuper vague I decided to take advantage of it and design the characters however I wanted. thank god i'm on tumblr and not posting these to reddit or something, they'd crucify me)

Now her character!

Basically, Ana is grumpy and sour Constantly

You can contrast that with Ninten's 24/7 positivity

In general, I see the world of MOTHER 1 being very bleak and gloomy, with Ninten being the sole exception who helps bring light to the places and people whose souls are being crushed by the weight of everything Ana's sort of the final boss of repressed emotions and pessimism for Ninten to tackle (besides the actual final boss, who completely blows anyone else's emotional repression out of the water - I have a Giygas post in my drafts but I honestly have too much to say about him, I need to trim it down ><) It alllllll plays into the themes I wanna play with in my M1 interpretation :3

So Ana was a young girl living with her mother and father in Snowman's local chapel. Even before the Invasion she was pretty well-known for not being particularly upbeat. She was super reserved, pretty much never smiled, and preferred reading and praying to other people's company. She got some of it from her father, who was a priest and raised her to value proper behaviour and following God or whatever, but she's also just kinda like that. Her mother was much warmer, loving her daughter and never judging her for being less outgoing than the other kids, and Ana was always happiest curled up with her next to the fire, listening to a story.

Oh, and of course she's psychic, powerfully so. Bad news if you tick her off. Her family regards it as a miracle from God. She's a little clairvoyant, but not enough to know exactly what the future holds. Just short little confusing snippets and hints of what to do and expect.

One day, everything suddenly changed. The town was hit by an earthquake, everything was covered in darkness, the animals on the outskirts of town went berserk, and people went missing. The sounds and the shaking jolted Ana awake, and she ran down the hall hoping to be comforted by her mother. Opened the door, standing there with a candle, staring at the empty bed and a shattered window.

Ana buried her feelings and set out to try and find her mother (her father just stayed home and prayed, never leaving the chapel), but the monsters and creatures that had appeared were too strong for her alone, and she could only get as far as Reindeer before she had to turn back. But she heard a little voice in her head that told her to leave her hat behind, and she knew that whoever returned it to her would be the person she had to follow to rescue her mother. She waited impatiently back at her home, praying with her father, obsessively reading the news (similar disappearances all over the country, especially in Easter, interesting), and hoping that the hero, "Ninten," would show up soon.

Eventually, after FAR longer than she was happy with, he showed up and. Is this really the hero? This is just some bucktoothed kid and his geeky friend. She shoved down her frustrations along with everything else (at the very least she appreciated finally having her hat back) and told him that she needed to join him. He's happy to meet her of course because he's Ninten ("New friend!" "We are not friends.") And so the trio gets to set off on their journey!

In the completely wrong direction. Why are we stopping in Halloween.

For some reason, Ninten doesn't seem overly concerned about the fate of the world. He and his stupid friend just keep goofing off and hunting for these useless melodies. This isn't a scavenger hunt. The world is gonna be destroyed. She's furious, but she bottles it up. This is the person who's apparently fated to save Earth, so she has to stay with him, no matter how annoying he is or how much time he wastes.

So Ana spends the whole journey getting progressively more ticked off as they keep getting distracted by the hunt for the melodies. Ninten's shenanigans and his relentlessly positive attitude continue to get on her nerves, and she refuses to engage with them. This is a SERIOUS mission, and she's not gonna stoop to their foolish level, even if she has to stick with them.

So I'll be able to get more into the fight among the group when Teddy joins when I do his post, but short story is that Ana is against Lloyd staying. If they're actually gonna see this mission through to its end, someone strong like Teddy's gonna be far more useful, and they've wasted far too much time to let Lloyd slow them down. Her anger's really starting to boil over at this point. They've been together for ages, and they've barely gotten any closer to saving the world.

This all finally comes to a head on the Mountain (I love the Mountain, everything happens on the Mountain). Ninten's starting to lose his cool as the stress of their journey starts getting heavier and heavier, having to leave Lloyd was incredibly painful, and he's angry with her for not having their backs. She snaps that they aren't friends, they're just allies on the same mission, and they can't afford to waste time goofing off and making pals, and the fight gets more and more heated until everything Ana's been holding in finally bursts free.

She's terrified, and she's been terrified ever since her mother disappeared, and she doesn't know if they can really win or if she'll ever see her mother again, and having to just stay bottled up while they just wandered around seemingly not doing anything has been awful, and infuriating, and she can't stop herself from crying anymore.

Ninten quiets down and lets her have what she needs for a few minutes before he tries to comfort her. He didn't realize she was keeping all this inside, and he feels horrible that she was dealing with this the entire time. Once her tears die down, he rests his hand on her and assures her that they're gonna save her mother, and everyone else, too. He doesn't know how, and he's terrified sometimes too, but he also knows that for whatever reason, they need the melodies if they want to win. He apologizes for just ignoring all her feelings for the entire journey, and tells her that even though she's been so firm about not liking them, he doesn't want her to be alone. She can tell him anything, she doesn't need to keep everything to herself. That's what being friends is about, right?

So this is huge for both of them, and it's when Ana finally starts to warm up. She finally sees that it's good to be open and have friends, and that they'll be stronger for it if they're close. And, as they climb further up the Mountain and continue being friends, she starts to realize some muuuuch more uncomfortable feelings, too. Of course she pushes them down at first, but when they reach the cabin, they're alone together, and who knows if she'll have another chance to open up like this, she comes out and asks Ninten to dance.

I flip-flop a lot on whether Ninten actually feels mutually about her (you can choose yes or no when she asks if you like her back, I don't think Ninten's really ready to figure that stuff out for himself), but goddd I love this scene so much, for such a simple, clunky game, its tender moments hit so hard ;-;

So by the end of the story, Ana's reunited with her mother, she finally has friends that she loves and cares about, she's discovered new things about herself, and she's developed a new sense of hope and brightness for the future. A happy ending :)

So that's my version of Ana, I think she's very different from every other version I've seen of her so it's not like I'll ever see content for her that'll really speak to me unfortunately, but I love her and I love thinking about her dynamic with the other characters ^^

[saikoucorps]

⋆ ˚｡⋆ ꪆৎ ˚ (commission) matchup for @morgueslvt !!

ꪆ୧ if you would like to request a matchup, read this. If you want to commission, consider reading this.

Long(er) Matchup commissions are $5.00 !

ִ ☆゙ requests are closed. (commissions are open)

[nsfw warning]

♡ ➜ YOUR MATCH IS....

ʚ‎‏ ͜ ̩͙ ︵ ̩͙ ୨RENGOKU KYŌJORŪ

ִ ☆゙ REASONING: This took a lot of consideration, but Rengoku and you are a perfect match. His positive and optimistic nature complements your more introverted and quiet personality since you mentioned that when you are around people you trust, you are an entirely different person. Rengoku's determination and passion for his responsibilities and relationships matches your own determination and loyalty to your loved ones. Rengoku's outgoing and friendly demeanor compliments your sarcastic and slightly reserved attitude towards those you don't know well. I can definitely see you two lasting a very long time, and clicking immediately.

⋆ ˚｡⋆ ꪆৎ ˚ favorite thing about you: your loyalty! He really admires your loyalty to the people you love in your life! Your determination and passion to better yourself every day also really makes him happy, as your ambition inspires him to keep pushing himself more and more.

★ ship name! : kyōbrina

ꪆ୧ HOW YOU MET:

I see you as a hashira in this universe, so you guys meet through that. You needed someone to train you, and Rengoku actually did. He didn't really become your mentor or teacher. He occasionally helped you from time to time. He'd send you to someone else to be mentored, not that he doesn't like you or see your potential.

He just believes you'd work better under someone else. He noticed how quiet you came of when you guys first met and was extra with you. His goal was to get you out of your shell. So, he did. He would be more talkative towards you and a little more loud. You seemed to slowly open up, he liked that. He realized that maybe admiring you, wasn't platonic. He loved your company more, he loved your personality, your laugh, your beautiful brown eyes, everything. You stood out to him in a room. It made him want to protect you. He will.

You were still training under someone, but you two were sent on missions together. Kagaya said you both worked better together, your breathing styles and all. So, you two were always together. Fighting. He always made sure you were okay, even if you could protect yourself. Everything about you stood out to him. He realized that over time, he was in love. This admiration was romantic.

ꪆ୧ CONFESSION:

Rengoku and you were sitting on the roof of a building, enjoying the view of the setting sun. The sky was painted in hues of orange and pink as the sun was slowly sinking below the horizon. Rengoku glanced over at you, admiring your features in the soft light.

"You look beautiful like this," he said, his voice warm and sincere. You turned to look at him, your cheeks flushing slightly at his compliment. "Thanks," you replied, a small smile playing at the corners of your lips. Rengoku scooted closer to you, his shoulder brushing against yours. "You know," he said, "I've been meaning to tell you something." Your heart skipped a beat at his words. "What is it?" you asked, curiosity and anticipation filling your voice.

Rengoku took a deep breath, looking away from you for a moment. "I know we haven't known each other for that long," he started, his voice soft. "But, I've really enjoyed spending time with you. I feel like I can be myself around you, and I feel comfortable being vulnerable with you." Your heart fluttered at his words. "I feel the same way," you said, smiling at him reassuringly. "I feel like I can truly be myself around you, and I trust you more than anyone."

Rengoku exhaled, a small smirk forming on his face. "I'm glad to hear that," he said, his gaze locking with yours once more. "Because there's something I want to ask you." Rengoku took your hand in his, intertwining your fingers together. "I like you," he said, his voice steady but filled with emotion.

"A lot, actually. And I was wondering if you'd like to make this official? Be my girlfriend, I mean." Your heart practically skipped a beat. You didn't expect that. But, you knew your answer instantly. "Yes," you said, a smile spreading across your face. "I would love to be your girlfriend." You two shared a smile, Rengoku got up. "I'm glad. Let's go home, ay?"

ꪆ୧ FIRST DATE:

( this one is more modern AU centered )

You and Rengoku were driving around the neighborhood. He had told you he wanted to take you out prior. "So, where are we headed?" "You'll see." His answers were very nonchalant. He wasn't planning on giving away the surprise. He turned on the radio, rock music began to play. He drove out of the neighborhood and went on to the main road.

You both sat in comfortable silence, as the music that played in the background was the opposite of silence. He pulled into a restaurant, a fancy one, in fact. "Annndd we're here!" He opened your door for you and grabbed your hand, walking towards the restaurant.

You two talked for a while, enjoying dinner and dessert. After a few hours, you two decided to go home. As you both headed back to Rengoku's house, the cool night air blew through the open windows of the car. The car ride back was filled with the sound of the music still playing and the occasional comment from Rengoku about the song. Finally, you both arrived back at his house. Rengoku turned off the car and looked over at you.

"So, are you ready for the next part of the date?" he asked, a smirk on his face. You nodded, your curiosity piqued. "Sure, I'm ready." Rengoku chuckled and got out of the car, coming around to your side and opening the door for you. He took your hand and led you into the house. Once inside, he led you to the living room, where a comfortable couch was situated in front of a large TV.

"Alright," he said, grabbing a remote control off the coffee table. "Let's get this movie night started." He smiled at you, then darted his eyes to the side. "Actually, I'll be right back. Sit tight for me, alright?" You nodded and sat down on the couch, scrolling on your phone whole you waited for him. He soon came back with a tray of snacks, your favorites, in fact. Along with a bunch of popcorn.

"Now we're ready." He sat down next to you and began to play horror movies. You both spent the rest of your night watching TV and cuddling, drifting off to sleep together.

☆ GENERAL HEADCANONS:

So most of these depend which AU he's in.. so this is mainly up to interpretation.

ADMIRESS your love for skin-care! He will literally ask you to do your routine on him, including hair. He finds it cute how much you care about those things, it may or may not have inspired him.

You two would have a very fun dynamic on the surface! Like you're very sarcastic and closed off-ish (if thats the right word..), and he's very optimistic and loud!

I feel like as you two get to know eachother more, your personalities just CLICK

you two are similar in your own ways, while also contrasting with one another.

He literally isn't afraid to compliment or praise you, it comes natural to him

Like you could do anything and he'll be your number one fan. It may even catch you off guard.

KITTENNSS imagine you two just walking around and seeing a stray omg. He would consider adopting it if you wanted to or not, actually, considering isn't even the word, he wouldn't hesitate to say yes.

Loves how you always smell good. He once saw your collection of body mists and perfume and was actually caught off guard.

He's very observant so he'd know you like things you didn't even tell him yourself.

He saw you sniffing flowers once and admiring this one garden, the next day he brought you some flowers from his walk. They surprisingly smelt really good.

Imagine you two baking together omg

He'd probably follow the instructions very closely and somehow lose them.. you two end up winging it and the cake came out BURNT.

It tasted .. somewhat good. It was a really nice moment between you though, so it wasn't all bad.

YOUR STYLE IS EVERYTHING TO HIM.

he loves how your best dressed, like you could walk into a room full of fashion designers and you'd be his favorite.

Once you gave him a bracelet and he uses it as a luck charm now.

(he brings it on missions and it always stays in check somehow.)

You guys definitely go to the gym together, most likely at different levels. His is definitely INTENSE considering his breathing style focuses on strength.

If he ever sees anything pink or cutesy it immediately reminds him of you, and gets you it.

He keeps every gift you give him. Everytime he sees them in his room, he smiles and admires you in his head.

This is more for the modern AU, but he definitely would binge shows with you.

Like, with horror movies he'll start off all unphased and very cheerful, to immediately being quiet and scooting closer to you. He wouldn't look scared at all, but he'd definitely act it.

WOULD BRUSH YOUR HAIR if you were doing your hair care and ever needed help with it, he's right there! Or, he would style it for you.

ꪆ୧ NSFW HEADCANONS:

☆ volume, pace, stamina — quiet, fast & soft, tons of stamina. I see him softly grunting, maybe whimpering here and there, even though he is loud when he speaks. he's pretty quiet in bed. definitely likes going fast. unless you wanted to slow down, he isn't. plus, because he's a hashira, they need a lot of stamina. he has tons of training and definitely the body for it. prepare to go many rounds.

top or bottom? — top. no questions asked.

dom or sub? —I see him more of a dominant person, but he can definitely be slightly submissive during the moment.

masturbation — I dont see him doing it to you before you guys date, he may of once taken a good look at you inappropriately before and got hard that way, but that was probably the only time. he started doing it after you guys dated, though. he definitely doesn't do it a lot, as he doesn't have time, but sometimes being a hashira is stressful.. so when you aren't around, he does it.

favorite position — missionary 100%. he wants to look at your eyes. he really likes them.

favorite location — in bed. he wants to enjoy the moment with you without any possible interruptions.

kinks —praise! Big praise guy definitely.

turn-ons — he isn't the type to care about physical appearance, but he finds your thighs attractive a lot. if not that, your hair. he loves how long it is.

turn-offs — honestly, nothing. his turn-offs would probably be normal criteria. he's fine with anything that you're fine with, he wouldn't be too into power dynamics or anything authority related.

experience — none. probably heard people talking about it once but that is about it.

quickies — doesn't mind them, but wouldn't do them.

risks — 50/50. If he's really feeling it, he will. But most of the time, no.

wild card —he's a thighs kind of dude.

:ఌ¨ ♱ "Even though the path is long and thorny, and there’s no one around to help you… I hope you know that I’ll support you until the road gets easier.” ꪆ୧

♡ DYNAMICS ꪆ୧

ATTRACTIVENESS — (what they find the most attractive about you)

: your eyes and hair! Your brown eyes stand out to him in a way, and he loves to admire them. Your hair is unique to him, and he loves it when he helps you with it.

EQUALITY — (do they split the checks?)

: he sees you both as equals. Most of the time, he pays for stuff, but he allows you to be independent and pay yourself. So, the checks are split.

ARGUMENTS — (how are arguments with them like?)

: Rare. Isn't the type to argue, especially over small stuff. If an argument were to happen, it'd be resolved fast and handled. He'd be the first to apologize and admit his wrong.

HONESTY — (do they keep secrets from you?)

: Never. Unless it's to keep you safe, he wouldn't pass up the chance to tell you something. He's very honest with you.

AFFECTION — (how affectionate are they with you)

: A LOT I see him being very affectionate even if it isn't entirely on purpose.

PDA — (do they enjoy pda?)

: isn't against it. As long as you're okay with it, he is. He isn't ashamed to show his love for you in public.

WILD CARD — (anything random)

: he's less loud around you.

SUPPORT — (how supportive are they?)

: VERY SUPPORTIVEE. You're number 1 supporrer, actually. He's always going to be there to back you up.

NICKNAMES — (do they give you nicknames?)

: he probably isn't the type to use nicknames very often, if he did, it'd be a short version of your name. Like, "Sab" or "Sabri".

PET NAMES — (what pet names do they use?)

: Definitely uses them. He most likely uses "Dear", "Babe", and "Honey" often.

BEFORE DATING — (how were they before you guys were a thing?)

: Always trying to impress you. He'd help you with whatever you needed and would compliment you more than everyone else. He'd always be around you, too, like a parasite. He still does that now that you guys are together, but it's way more now.

JEALOUSY — (do they get jealous?)

: subtly. If he is jealous ever, it isn't noticeable. But he would be very passive-aggressive. And if you were ever jealous, he'd assure you by being closer to you instead.

COMFORT — (how do they comfort you, if at all?)

: He loves comfort. Giving, mainly. He'd comfort you two when you're alone, holding onto you, and telling you how much he loves you. Whatever problem you may have, he will listen and find ways to fix it.

FIRST KISS — (how was your first kiss like?)

: Magical, best way to explain it. After his confession, you two walked back home. But he had a different idea. He stopped in his tracks to look at you closer. Admiring every feature of yours. Then, he kissed you.

"I didn't get the chance to earlier. My apologies!"

COMPATABILITY — (how compatible are you guys?)

: Him being an aquarius, and you being a taurus, it may not seem like a match at first. Although, these signs can be very compatible in the long run. It embraces an 'opposites attract' situation, and Rengoku isn't the type to run away during your struggles. "Their needs might be different—an Aquarius craves novelty and freedom while a Taurus’s main priorities are stability and comfort—but like any contrasting signs, they can complement each other and build a strong relationship if they look for common ground. "

these signs usually have different interests, and Rengoku being observant, and you being curious, this is a perfect match.

MARRIAGE — (how would marriage go for you two?)

: He'd totally propose to you. He'd make sure you guys have this big wedding together and would make sure everything is perfect. He isn't opposed to marriage. In fact, he really wants it. It'd be up to you whether you wanted it too or not.

MOTIVATION — (are you their inspiration?)

: yes. You're the reason he tries harder on missions. Your personality and interests push him further. He thinks of you during certain situations.

HONEY-MOON PHASE — (does that feeling stay?)

: Yep. No matter how long you two are dating, he will treat you the same way he always has, maybe even sweeter.

UNDERSTANDING — (how understanding are they when it comes to things)

: Can be either very understanding or clueless. If he's clueless, he'll do his best to understand, and when he does, he's respectful. He sees eye to eye with you.

LOVE LANGUAGES — (what are their love languages, and how do they deal with yours?)

: His love languages are definitely words of affirmation and physical touch. Yours also being physical touch is perfect. Quality time is something he values a lot with you, so since he knows it's what you like, he always makes sure to spend time with you. It doesn't stop him from complimenting you, though.

ִ ☆゙ DRABBLE:

The both of you decided to train together. Despite the fact that Rengoku was much stronger than you, you decided you needed input and help. His sword was near close to stabbing you. You managed to dodge. You were good at dodging, but he was quicker. This back to back fighting went on for a while. You two could keep up with one another, but not in the way you could have the upper hand. He had managed to finally pin you, asserting his victory.

"You did some great work. Sabs. But, I should note that dodging won't always help you in the final battle. You must always keep your guard up, and fend for yourself!"

You sighed and avoided eye contact. You knew you had a lot to learn, and fix. It didn't mean you were weak, you were strong in your own way. You just didn't have the chance to get the upper hand, yet.

Your training went on for another few weeks, and you improved. Maybe not as fast as you wished you did, but you still did it. Rengoku declared this training session your last. Not that because he didn't want to train you, he was bluffing. He wanted you to show him your potential.

He tried to get the upper hand, throwing attacks at you one by one, you dodged them all. Rengoku didn't realize you had a trick up your sleeve. Over time, you worked on speed. He's fast, but you're faster. The moment he threw another hit, you immediately went under him and attacked from behind, claiming your win.

"I see you've proved!"

"Naturally. You should've kept your guard up, huh, Kyojuro?"

"Aha! I guess so."

He was proud, proud of you, and somewhat of himself for teaching you. You were a wonderful and strong opponent. He knew that overtime, you could surpass him.

⋆ ˚｡⋆ ꪆৎ ˚ tropes:

Opposites Attract

Declaration of Protection

Devoted to you

⋆ ˚｡⋆ ꪆৎ ˚ second choice:

Sanemi was a very close second! I originally thought of him. You and Sanemi could have a pretty interesting and intense relationship, given both of your personalities. Sanemi is a strong and fiercely loyal person, and he values loyalty and strength in others. You have a determined and loyal attitude, which could compliment his own traits. You also both share a passion and drive to protect and care for those you love, as Sanemi is incredibly protective of his loved ones, and you mentioned how protective you are of those you love as well. Although these are all good, they conflict with one another. While both you and Sanemi share some common traits and values, there are a few potential issues that could arise in a romantic relationship between you. Sanemi's aggressive and often confrontational nature could clash with your more reserved and sarcastic personality. Sanemi can be very blunt and rough around the edges, while you prefer to be more playful and sarcastic in your interactions. This contrast could lead to some miscommunications and arguments, as you may not always be on the same page in terms of communication styles and conflict resolution.

☆゙ SONG RELATED TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP:

[griffinxgallo]

JACOB ELORDI, CIS MAN, HE/HER) Oh, is that GRIFFIN GALLO? I heard the TWENTY SEVEN year old is A GOOD PERSON. But don’t let that pretty face fool you, they are SOCIOPATHIC. Makes sense seeing how they are a CAPPO in the THE SERPENTS gang. (Leila, She/her, 24, est)

BASICS

Full Name: Griffin Antonio Gallo

Nickname: Griff, Gallo

Age: 27

DOB: October 27th 1997

Parents: Vincenzo and Isabella Gallo

Siblings: Twin Brother: Gabriel Gallo

Children: Torin Moretti, Raelynn Moretti Gallo

Hair color: brown

Eye color: Brown

Height: 6'5

Tattoos: tbd

Scars: tbd

Piercings: tbd

Sexuality: heterosexual

Occupation: tba

BACKGROUND

Gallo is a name you never want to cross. Known for being ruthless and forceful. Vincenzo and Isabella Gallo both come from families with the crime background so entering this world was never knew. They brought into this world 5 children who are neck deep in the innerworkings of the 'family business'

Griffin Gallo was the first-born son of the clan followed by Gabe minutes after. The two identical twins grew up attached to each other's hips. Where one fell, the other followed suit. While the boys were identical in every physical way, they could not be more different.

Gabe is known as their sunshine child. While his antics are more devilish quests, he is outgoing, loud, confident, and playful. Griffin always lurked in his shadow as he wished. As children, geo was their voice as a collective. He did all the talking, asking, and planning.

The Gallo's of course were worried at first by their son's closed-off personality but as he got older he was more open... to those closest to him. But some signs could not be ignored, like shooting squirrels in the backyard to having no emotional reaction when Grandpappy Gallo was shot in front of him. To anyone's naked eye, Griffin Gallo is the rudest, foul-mouthed, douchebag you could even encounter. He might even be a sociopath. He pins you with a glare that gives children nightmares. All except one.

Concerned for his well-being, his father sent him away at the age of 13 to a place for at risk youth. They did not know when they got their son back he would be worse off than when he left. The events that took place deeply traumatized the preteen and he still has not told a soul.

If there was one thing Griffin knew, it was that he did not want to take over. After 3 days in college, he dropped out and listed in the military. He was shit at school but worked well with discipline. He was strategic and it served him well. His longing for isolation made him one of the best snipers in his platoon. He enjoyed coming home to his long-term girlfriend, someone who understood his dark soul and loved him anyway, or so he thought.

While Griffin may be 'intense' deep down he is a lover boy with a cage protecting his heart. A heart that was shattered when his long-time girlfriend, Ella, dumped him out of the blue and ghosted him. Turns out being careless with condoms really does have consequences. two in this case.

9 months later, Griffin's ex gave birth to twins, Raelynn and Torin. When Raelynn grew sick, she desperately tried to make ends meet and afford treatment for her acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In hopes of giving Rae the best chance at life, she found herself at Griffin's door fessing up to her lies. She handed the 7-month-old girl to her father and said she wanted no contact from either of them before leaving town. While that might seem like a stab to the heart, the truth lies a bit darker.

Since becoming the sole caregiver of his child, Griffin was able to leave active duty and go to the reserves. Rae cancer allowed him to do so free of consequences. Since then he has become lost yet again on a career path and has taken a more active role in gang operations where his strategic defense training comes in handy.

A few weeks ago, Griffin found out about his son and his life was changed all over again

WANTED CONNECTIONS

Gabe Gallo - Griffin's twin brother. Known to be a bit more outgoing than his brooding twin. Geo is funny and playful with a cynical sense of humor. Both brothers are equally as lethal in their pursuits.

Ex gf/baby momma - She has now returned to town for a reason. While she is unsure of how long she will stay, she knows she will need to keep her secret as long as she can from Griffin Gallo.

Nanny - She is a trusted member of the 5 families, trusted enough to care for Griffin's daughter. With close proximity to Griffin she would overhear and see some things that should be considered classified, what she does with that information is up to you. This connection has a lot of potential plot paths with it.

[m-v-tique]

💙📘Dolly = ISTJ📋🖊️

The Alex hcs also applies with Dolly as well.

- Stern, quiet, and dutiful. She is more fond to peace and order, rather than conflict and chaos. [ Phlegmatic + Dom Si + SP Enneagram 1 ]

- She prefers to be traditional in ways and tasks. Even as well the rules is considerate principle for students that should be following. [ Dom Te -> Aux Si + Enneagram Head/Social 1 + gut 3 ]

- When it comes to remembering, she’s Sentimental of the past often. Either thankfully or not she couldn’t express it, just by keeping it to herself, never softening her grip. [ Dom Si -> Ter Fi + Phlegmatic ]

- Although looking like she is a doll made from crafts, she isn’t so well nor inclined with creativity. She probably likes to do sewing related works like embroidery. [ Inf Ne ]

- Even if the behavior of Alex is suspicious, as supernatural events might’ve almost occurred in the school she remains loyal by heart. Not even trying to suspect anything from him. [ Wing 2 + Enneagram 6 + hinted Self-perseverance]

- Although being authentic and absolutely having no filter, she displays restrictive or authoritative views or behavior. [ Aux Te + Enneagram 1 ]

- Based off her inspo and treatment she’s possibly passive. [ Non Open-minded ]

- She miss her friend. [ Dom Si -> Ter Fi ]

Conclusion:

ISTJ (The Logistician)|| 1w2 - SP/SO - 163 || Phlegmatic (Dominant) || RCOAN

Dolly is an ISTJ, “The Logistician” Type.

ISTJ’s are private, logical, and dedicated people, mostly to either work, family, friends and acquaintances. ISTJ’s can be very Loyal, Dutiful and honest individuals to depend on, but they can also be too strict, stubborn and often insensitive.

(Introverted, Sensing/Observant, Thinking, Judging)

As a 1w2 “The Advocate”, 163 “The Taskmaster”, and finally Self-perserved and Social as her instinct. Here are the list of things you need to know;

As 1 /One as her head with her Self-Perserved instinct, she displays full dedication of putting out the rules, and convinces others to apply this when entering the school ground. Enneagram 1s are Perfectionistic, they follow their own standards, guidelines, and even principles.

Social 6 are really outgoing and friendly. SO6 are providing individuals and they basically see Friends, Acquaintances, or any type of members as a resposibility. 6 are dependable, they are trusted and as well keep promises or secrets. Which explains why Alex keep her as a good acquaintance.

Gut 3 seems almost confusing but it really fills in the gaps. Since there’s an idea about 3, as a gut the goal here is literally keep an eye, and rightfully achieve what needs to be done when one breaks the rules in the corridors.

Despite of certain events or Olivia/Players lack of conscience, she still remains calm yet serious and isn’t fully angry, which is why she’s phlegmatic.

As completed to Reserved, Calm, and Organized, she may take things seriously since she wanted and needed the assigned rules to be acknowledged by everyone (Ego.). But in actuality, she wouldn’t push that behavior, and remained true to herself. (Accomodating)

And this is a slight mean take on her but she wouldn’t be much of a listener. Unless it’s something important. (Non Openminded)

Other Notes/Trivia:

- Funny enough, Dolly is somewhat almost identical to Principal of the Thing’s Personality Type if you take a long look in Personality database.

- Since the school is under a curse, it’s possible that Dolly isn’t egotistical and just didn’t knew she’s being controlled. (In simple terms she’s Accomodating.)

- She could be in an Auxiliary Introverted feeling/Fi loop. Where basically she questions things in her head when thinking of her friend.

- Dolly is still either ESTJ “The Executive” or current type ISTJ.

Refrences:

[lcec0ldheart]

Time to introduce my OCs‼️

Oh boy! Here we are!

Since I’m beginning to use tumblr, I can now finally introduce my trio of disasters! I’ve been waiting a while to start talking about them, and I think putting them here is better than info dumping on my private account lol. With that out of the way, let’s go!

VIOLET STARIUS⭐️🌙

(Funfact: She’s the newest of my ocs, being first made only a month or two ago! Loosely inspired by Liko, but she’s changed quite a lot since then!)

The first, and youngest of the trio! Violet is 14 years old, her birthday being January 31st. She’s a curious, intelligent, somewhat shy gal. Kind, empathetic, caring, and wants to help others. She loves space -and in the pokémon version of her- pokémon as well. You’ll find her reading, drawing something, or playing her violin, and while she’s a bit nervous, she’s open to try new things to learn them, as she wants to learn what does the world around her hold! Though, Violet’s a bit forgetful, clumsy, and gets lost easily…She’s also a bit of a people pleaser, and is terrible at lying. The heart of the group, as she’s why the three have managed to form a strong friendship.

Violet has the ability to use telekenesis, via focusing energy using her hand onto objects (or people!) to move them around, to wherever she wants them to go. She can also see in the dark, hear very well, and her eyes glow in the dark for some reason…While she doesn’t like to fight, she’s good at dodging and using the oppenent’s movements against them.

FROST AURORA❄️🏹

(Second image is a shitpost. Funfact, he’s the first oc I made that’s listed here, being first thought up in november 2023!)

The second of the trio! Frost is 15 years old, his birthday is December 25th! He’s a more reserved/aloof guy. He’s also quite smart, especially in terms of tactics and fights! Frost is swift, chilling, and tenacious! Sassy, and he can get angry or spiteful. Despite this, he’s pretty considerate, and stands up for what he believes is right. Frost is somewhat stubborn, antisocial, but he wants to do the right thing. You’ll find him practicing the gutiar, drawing, or thinking. He wants to find his purpose and be strong for those he cares for -even if it means taking drastic measures.

Frost has the power to cool the temperature of stuff to the point it’ll freeze, being able to create ice and snow out of the water droplets in the air. He can manipulate ice too, and he’s skilled with a bow and arrow! He usually goes in for a fast attack, then getting out of the opponent's range until they’ve been defeated, though he knows how to put up a fight in close quarters as well.

CITRINE GOLDENHEART🗡️💛

(I still need to actually draw her, but this will have to do for now. Fun fact, the first concept of her was “what if this cartoon character was in pokémon”)

The last, and the oldest of the three! Citrine is 16 years old, and her birthday is on April 13th! An adventurous, hot-headed, brave and passionate girl. She can be impulsive and sometimes fails to consider the consequences of others, but she means well! Outgoing, reckless, and tackles things head on! She’s the most athletic of the three, being physically strong with good stamina. Citrine’s also very persistent, and will literally refuse to give up. Ever. It’s both one of her greatest strengths and flaws. She likes to play the drums, or go for a run, and…write? I know, surprising, but she loves creating stories, to tell during her journey or inspired by her adventures!

Citrine is real good with a sword, she was very excited when she found one! Turns out she likes stabbing and slashing whatever stands in her way! She’s best in close combat, using her sword to deliver strong attacks to deal a lot of damage! She tends to get hit, but being so perseverant and stubborn allows her to keep fighting until her opponent falls.

I hope that wasn’t too boring to read, but now I’ve introduced my main OCs! I’ll probably ramble about them on here, if you don’t like that sorry lol, this is my blog im the one writing about these idiots at 10 pm

Joking, though it is actually late! Thank you for reading all the way through, and I hope you have a lovely day! Bye byeee

[quillpokebiology]

How can I determine which starter Pokemon would be the best fit for myself? And I'm meaning the traditional starters across the regions. Should I go for one that's more similar to myself? Or more of an opposites attract situation? I want to make sure I find the best fit for myself, but I also want to take the best care of my partner that I can.

((OOC It appears that Liko's school from Pokemon Horizons pairs the students with the best fit for them, which is what I'm referring to. Almost like they were interviewed to see which starter mon would work best with them. I've seen theories that this is why the students were called up in a certain order to get the correct partner for themselves))

(Ooc: My brain was confused on Horizons and how they couldn't choose their own starters. I like the theory you made)

How to choose the best Starter Pokemon

There are a lot of debates on which starters to choose for each region, but it can be even more difficult to choose in a place where you can choose starters from multiple regions.

I've heard of some Pokemon-related schools that decide which starter to choose for the kids by observing them and their behavior and doing interviews/tests on the kids. If you don't go to a Pokemon-related school, I'm not saying you should take tests or anything (but there are quizzes online that can be quite fun, even if they're not always accurate). But you should observe your lifestyle, behaviors, what you want out of your journey, etc. There isn't really a science to choosing a starter.

That being said, I think choosing a starter you can easily get along with is a very good idea. Obviously, having a close bond takes a lot of time, but having a starter that has the same energy is good. But there isn't a way to define the 'same vibe' and all that.

For example, a lot of people are surprised when I tell them my ace is an Inteleon, since they say we aren't similar at all (not sure how I should take that) but I can confidently say we get along great. I first got Squirt as a Sobble, and she was a lot different than me. I was outgoing and loved to explore and meet new people, while she was very shy and preferred to stick to herself. But I also lived in a remote area and was by myself a lot, so we got a lot of bonding time. We're not the complete opposites of each other, and we're not the same either. But we get along great.

Another thing that's good for a partner pokemon is both of you have traits that can balance each other out. Talking about me and Squirt again, Squirt being my partner helped her with her anxiety and being less shy or scared around new things, as well as raising her confidence. Me being around Squirt helped me learn sympathy, how to care for and understand others, and how to just chill out and relax (younger me was a freaking menace, which I guess fits because now Squirt is a menace).

An additional example would also be a kid at my school named Magnus who has a Ralts. Magnus is really reserved and quiet, while his Ralt's is more social and more 'battle ready.' But his Ralt's also looks out for him, and the two seem really close.

What I'm saying is this: you and you're partner should have similar vibes and get along well, but it's important for you to have differing opinions and traits in order to grow as people.

Sorry this post is long. Hope it helps!

[malewifehenrycooldown]

TW for slight mentions of henry’s emotionally abusive parents + big warnings for those with tokophobia as this post is a decently indepth discussion of fankids.

HHHHH OKAY. So. I’ve been sitting on this idea since April, and only now I’ve felt a little comfortable talking about it since I’ve mentioned it to @eris-ships. But also the developments that occur in TSA/NMH3ms narratives have def made me a bit more confident in my decision to talk about having fankids with Henry. Like look. I don’t want to have kids myself (it’s a whole can of worms that’s basically just: ‘I can barely take care of myself, how do you expect me to raise a whole human being from scratch?!’).

Anyways what kinda spurred this was from NMH3’s peculiar ending + these images [one, two and three] and the third one particularly made me want to throw my phone because it triggered my baby fever BIG TIME but also just the thought of Henry being a good dad made me so happy 😭😭

But also at the same time it’s so sad too especially With knowing the implications of his backstory and how his own childhood was taken from him, and so that’s what makes the thought of him being a dad SOO appealing to me. To me, he’d do anything to make sure his own kids don’t experience the same horrors and trauma he did as a kid. It’s like. Him making up for lost time that he never got and. GAH THAT MAKES ME SO EMOTIONAL?! [I’ve made an entire post about this here if you’re interested]

OKAY ON TO THE ACTUAL FANKIDS IN QUESTION:

Amelie (on the left) and Rhys (on the right). Before you ask, yes Amelie is named after the film ‘Amelie’ and it’s important because that film was like a special date night for Henry and Shallow.

The reason that they pop up in NMH3 is that they’ve time travelled back into Shallow’s present bc. Henry has gone on a destructive path and that if he ends up permanently dead, it would result in their own existence being erased by the universe and they don’t want that to happen.

Oh yeah, I should mention they’re on their tenth try to make sure that their parents and future selves are saved. Which is at odds of the (known) time-space rules put in place to keep abilities like this in check. If Rhys keeps resetting the timeline, the more imbalanced and fragile the fabric of space-time becomes - and that could just jeopardise the entire fabric of the universe itself. So yeah. The two are kinda at the end of their rope in regards to options, and honestly causing timeline paradoxes is the least of their worries at the moment.

Amelie is a bit of an odd one out in her family as her personality is a lot more sociable and outgoing. While she does wear a similar fashion aesthetic to her mother, but specifically takes a liking to ‘yami-kawaii’ subculture. her abilities as an assassin are more so from her father. She particularly has her own version of Henry’s ‘barrage mode’ and additionally a beam katana that’s similar to Henry’s Vosmir.

Rhys, is more so the quiet, reserved one much like her parents. They are more comfortable wearing suits, and more masculine attire, but xyr abilities are more so from their mother. Rhys is… kinda responsible for their current journey of doing time travel to secure their future existences + correcting the main course of the timeline in general. Much like their mother, they wield a dual set of beam katanas, but it should be noted that they also use military grade knives + can pack a surprising punch when in close combat.

Before anyone asks, no they’re not twins. Amelie is born first, and she’s about 2-3 years older than Rhys, who is the younger sibling - although they are both younger than Jeane Cooldown. I should stress that they aren’t assassins either but have been trained by parents, but even then their appearance in NMH3 is just two university students trying to save their parents, and this is while the fabric of space-time hangs in the balance and it’s not made any better when your dad was the one to bring aliens into the equation [which has kinda fucked with the main timeline that was put in place to begin with.]

Amelie uses she/they, Rhys uses xe/they/it pronouns.

Picrew one (LINK) and Picrew two (LINK)

[shepfax]

tagging all the posts about my personal BG3 run as #palustris, my tav's name, just so I can find them all at once.

and to help my brain build him up a bit I will write thoughts about my tav here. it's a long ass post

Name: Palustris Mancinell

Race: Green Dragonborn

Pronouns: he/him/his

Identities: Intersex, bisexual

Background: Sage

Class: Circle of Spores Druid

Romance: Astarion

Key traits:

Firmly established sense of self; confident in his abilities and identity

Reserved, unapproachable, sometimes intimidating

Wary and often cynical towards other thinking beings

Insatiably curious especially about natural history but slow to share his passion with others

When finally close to someone: nurturing, physically affectionate, top leaning but identifies as a switch

more off-the-cuff thoughts below:

he is that kind of nerd that is really, really private about his nerdiness to the extent that you'd assume he's a jock but when he opens up in private you're like goddamn this guy is a massive nerd. he's not particularly outgoing, preferring to avoid conversations outside of his companions, and is kind of scary by virtue of being a dragonborn. so while stat-wise he does have decent charisma, roleplay-wise it's explained because he has lethal resting bitch face and terrible social skills/no interest in selling himself as something he's not. so while he is basically allergic to outright lying, he is widely in favor of lying by omission. it's much easier to hold your tongue than to flick it thoughtlessly.

he has real issues trusting people at first. he's cynical, assumes self-serving/bad intentions from the vast majority of people, but once someone has made an effort towards him (e.g. meeting his needs unprompted, complimenting him, remembering something important about him, sharing something important about themselves) he invests a lot into maintaining the relationship. he believes in reciprocity and that a lasting bond requires effort from both parties. he shows he cares by spending time on people either directly by helping them with his bare hands in the moment or by doing things off to the side that he knows will make them happy when they notice.

Palustris has a tremendously solid sense of self, unwilling to change for anyone or anything, so meeting someone who both trusts him and doesn't have that security and stability (aka the entire fucking companion lineup) kicks him into a new gear: caring about people. he doesn't know what to think of it or do about it other than either firmly guarding them or, if that makes them uncomfortable, wait quietly and anxiously for them to ask for help. he doesn't like to admit it outwardly but he gets a lot of satisfaction from when people come to him for love and support since it's something that very few ever considered him for prior to the gang getting together.

his affection towards Astarion is... complicated. in his stupor and stress and desperation from the tadpole debacle he legitimately fell for Astarion--the honeyed words, the biting, the sex, all of which he assumed were mutually enjoyed. (I haven't reached the point where Astarion shares that he never intended to care about you and ended up falling in love anyway, but I know it's coming 😔.) it will hurt deeply when he finds out that Astarion's attraction to him was exaggerated even for a moment, to know that he was giving more than his partner ever intended to repay. it will be extremely hard for him to hear that he's been manipulated even if Astarion doesn't want to do that anymore. Palustris ultimately finds it easier to be casually and broadly distrusting than to deeply and lovingly trust anyone, but the shit that matters in life isn't easy. it's so much more rewarding to make things right than to give up. he made up his mind pretty early about Astarion (that he was both a formidable ally and a deeply intriguing/attractive personality) and has no logical reason to give up on him especially when trying to deal with the game conflicts. his trust is hard to win, yes, but he's also hard to get rid of once you've won. he develops a ridiculously strong patience over time.

moreso than Palustris being angry at Astarion for manipulating him, Palustris mourns for Astarion's lost agency. he feels an aching yearning love to find the man underneath all those scars clawing his way out through the cracks in that smug facade. he knows what it's like to be cynical and maligned by many, to make use of your abilities for personal gain. most importantly once he knows Astarion's reasons for acting that way are almost entirely out of his control, his heart breaks knowing that this poor man hasn't had a real say in his life in about 200 years. Palustris has a choice in the matter of his own behavior; Astarion does not. Astarion has no reason to believe anyone would want anything better for him. Palustris realizes he is someone who wants something better for Astarion, and he's upset with himself too. upset that it took him this long to realize some people act out because they're deeply mentally wounded, not because they're bad people.