#(who i am also somehow mutuals with which is crazy)

[kayak-lmao]

trad. doodles of @clownpalette 's oc Inka! I love her she's so silly :DD

[pepprs]

i will shut up abt this i promise but like. the concept of being in a stable safe mutually loving whatever relationship is INSANE . like how can you ever feel bad about yourself or wounded or whatever again. it’s like a superpower or somethi ng. <- doesn’t know what she’s taking abt bc she’s never experienced it or the absence of it after having it merely the negative space of it and is filling in the gaps w logic or something. but it’s INSANE to me. like of course i feel like shit about myself i am catcrumb unloved.jpg!

[eddiernunson]

Really Drives Me Mad | Older!Eddie x Fem!Reader | 18 +

Previous Part | Master List | Next Part

Big big thank you to @forget-you-morelike-fuck-you for editing and spit balling ideas and giving feedback.

Another big thank you to @bebe07011 for spit balling ideas and fueling my ego &lt;3

I have no idea where this story or be without either of you girls. Or me, for that matter.

Word count: 16.6k

Warnings: Degradation/praise, light use of sir without any discussion, light hunter/prey play, crying while fucking (eddie), and a whole steddie story at the start. Lots of talk of their future in this part.

Author's note: When I say I am blown away by the reception of this fanfic, wholeheartedly mean it. Any word of kindness you have given just fueled the fire in me. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing it and exploring where the story will take us.

Due to some worry in the comments from last part I will clear this up: Neither Eddie nor Reader will be cheating, they're it for one another. Steve is here as a long time friend, someone with a wife and kids at home.

That being said, thank you so much, I really do appreciate it.

edit: somehow the first paragraph was missing? all fixed.

About 26/27 Years Ago:

At the failure of both their university careers, Steve and Eddie both dropped out within weeks of one another. This was unplanned, neither one of them knowing as they went back to Hawkins to a mini reunion. They agreed to meet one another for a drink, just the two of them, where Steve kindly asked how Eddie’s schooling was going, to which Eddie answered sheepishly that he had dropped out. Steve let out a bark of laughter, laughing through his response that he had also dropped out.

The mutual sigh of relief waved over them both, the two of them grateful they wouldn’t be receiving that same damn look of pity again. Their conversation then flowed into ease; the embarrassment was no longer there for either of them. Since they both dropped out, they each had found a dead-end job to make their ends meet while they figured out their next move.

Simply, they were at the exact same spot in life. This would be reoccurring for them over the next few years, finding their wives within the same six-month span, and both Arlo and Dylan being born within a year of one another. It’s no wonder why they became so close.

Steve had a crazy idea in their third hour in the bar booth, a little bit buzzed. “Dude. We should go to Vegas.”

Eddie wrinkled his eyebrows, completely thrown off by the suggestion. “What?”

“C’mon, Vegas! Our jobs both suck, and we’re the only ones who actually understand each-other’s shituations.”

Eddie sighed and took another sip of his beer. “Fuck it, let’s go.”

“Fuck yeah!”

“When?”

“Now!”

Eddie nearly spit out his beer, looking at Steve like he was crazy. “Now?”

“Dude. I still have my parents’ credit cards. They’re too lazy to actually cut me off.” Steve’s words were a bit slurred, holding up the many black cards.

Eddie downed his beer; the financials were his number one reason not to go. If this was gonna be on the Harrington’s dime, you best believe he would take full advantage of his friend’s shitty parents’ money.

Halfway through their first bus, Steve and Eddie started to sober up and wondered if it was a good idea. Too late, they were already four hours away. It took a total of 31 hours of driving on the road and about six different buses, but they finally made it to Nevada with nothing but the shirts on their backs and delirious glee.

The first two days they spent gambling and shooting the shit, both nights staring up at the bodies of women with numerous dollar bills in string thongs. (Eddie will omit this part when he tells it to you, for your own sanity’s sake.) On the third night, as Steve was a bit more drunk than the previous two, Eddie found a strong ass strain of weed on the strip and was a bit stoned. One of them managed to convince the other that finding girls to hook up with was the good idea.

They both went on with their night, keeping an eye out for any girl they could prospect. Even with a few conversations with some girls, they both came up short. Hooking up with women who were also running away from their problems was a bad idea.

Steve found a girl, but soon realized she was a dud when she made fun of Eddie’s bandana wrapped around his head. Eddie came up to Steve as she rolled her eyes and stomped off. Jesus. As he rested on the bar, he noticed something he wondered if he had imagined the whole three days they were there. Eddie’s eyes lingered on him, checking him out not-so-subtly. Steve leered on Eddie’s soft pink lips for too long for Steve to confidently tell himself he was not interested. His eyes raked down Eddie, taking in everything, subconsciously licking his lips. Having these thoughts, he realized Eddie was talking to him the entire time and he didn’t take in a single word.

“Well, that was a bust. C’mon. Let’s go get our sleep, we’re spending the next two days bussing home.” Steve yanked Eddie by the sleeve of the gift shop shirt he got up to the hotel elevator.

Eddie wandered into the bathroom when they got to their room and when he came out, he saw Steve sitting on the edge of his bed, legs out and leant back on straight arms. Eddie chuckled nervously. As dorky as it was, Steve looked fantastic in the makeshift gift shop outfit he had gotten himself.

“Steve?” He asked, hesitantly walking towards him.

An uncontrollable huff of laughter left Steve’s mouth, he stood up to face Eddie, accidentally meeting him only inches away from his face. It was a flicker. Only a flicker. A flicker of Eddie’s eyes looking directly to Steve’s lips, and Steve couldn’t help but smile. “You know, Eddie. If you want to kiss me, all you have to do is ask.”

Eddie’s eyes went wide, the panic in his face was clear. “I-I…” He stuttered, his breathing picked up exponentially in the last two minutes and the air in the hotel room was thick.

Steve gently placed one hand on Eddie’s cheek bone, slowly caressing it as to calm the nerves he could tell were radiating off Eddie. He smiled, glancing down very obviously to Eddie’s mouth to ask for permission. Eddie nodded the tiniest goddamn nod in the world and nearly blacked out when Steve’s lips came rushing for his own.

When their lips met, Eddie moaned into it, moving to someone’s bed, he couldn’t tell nor did he care which, and let Steve fall on top of him.

The kisses were messy, clothes were thrown all over the hotel room, and the sex was rough and giggly, but desperate.

And only one time, they decided as they woke up on opposite sides of the bed, laughing at the sheer absurdity that filled the air as they were both wrapped in white sheets.

-

“Uh, Eddie? It’s for you… his name is Steve Harrington?” Eddie pauses, in the middle of hanging a sweater in what seems to be the designated spot for knitwear. A quick assessment tells you that you now have more sweaters than you need, observing them all hung delicately by his hands.

“No way.” Eddie mutters, a smile slowly creeping up on his face. He jogs right past you to the hallway and down the stairs, the quick thumping of his feet loud in the silence of the house.

Your brain takes a moment to catch up to you, following Eddie’s lead back down the stairs. As the front entrance comes into view halfway down the stairs, you see the two men wrapped up in a genuine embrace, arms flexed as they hug one another. They separate, but not by much, maintaining only a few feet between them.

“You didn’t tell me when you were coming!” Eddie accuses playfully, patting Steve on his shoulder.

Steve’s hands are on his hips, shrugging his shoulders. “Well, it wouldn’t have mattered anyway, I ended up coming 2 weeks early.”

“No shit, hey?” Eddie leans back, crossing his arms.

They fall into a conversation so easily that their comfort with one another radiates off them. You would be offended Eddie hasn’t introduced you to him yet if it weren’t for their entertaining back and forth with one another.

“How long have you two known each other?” You mistakenly interrupt them, cutting off the conversation.

“Uh, since high school.” Eddie answers, elbowing Steve.

Steve’s eyes widen deliriously, jerking back at the neck. “Uh, try Jr. High.” He laughs. “Eddie here was the new kid.” He seems to laugh at the memory of young Eddie. Man, you’ll need photographic proof. “The weird-o new kid.”

“Oh, sorry my mom abandoned me, Steve.” Eddie laughs, not a lick of remorse behind it. You gulp, your heartstrings pulled at his throwaway comment.

“Abandonment issues can forgive weirdness only for so long, Eddie.”

“Yeah, but I got it renewed fifteen years ago. Didn’t even have to ask, she just did it for me.”

There’s a moment of silence until they break into laughter, poking fun at one another.

“I’m so sorry, who’s this?” Steve gestures to you, walking over to where you’re standing by the stairs.

“Oh, I’m Y/N.” You hold your hand out to him, somewhat nervous to be meeting someone who’s known Eddie for so long. Decades long before you were even born.

Steve’s hand meets yours and shakes it gracefully, his kind chocolate brown eyes meeting yours. “He paying you well?”  You’re not sure how to answer this, your hand still holding Steve’s as you and Eddie give another a look of confusion. “Oh, sorry. You must be Dylan’s girlfriend! Where is he off to, anyway?” Steve lets go of your hand.

“Steve?”

“Hmm?”

“Remember I told you I was seeing someone?” You smile to yourself under the mere indication that Eddie talked to someone about you.

Steve nods, remembering the life in Eddie’s voice when he called. “Yep.”

Eddie points to you, gesturing multiple times until Steve finally gets the hint. “Oh…oh. Oh!” Steve’s hands move back to his hips, his eyes switching back and forth between you and Eddie quickly. “But she’s a child.” Steve deadpans, pointing to you and furrowing his brows at Eddie.

Eddie chuckles, placing his arm around you as Steve takes it in. You’re slightly offended on your own behalf at the prospect of being called a child. Eddie places a kiss on your temple to ease the tension, making you melt into it. “No, she’s not.”

You tilt your head back at Eddie, giving him a sleepy smile, eyes half closed. He kisses you as if to put the final nail in the coffin in any disbelief Steve might’ve had. You breathe deeply as he pulls away, and goddamn, did you have a long day today.

“Wait until Robin hears you’re dating someone half your age.” Steve muses, shaking his head. “She’s gonna have a field day.”

“Wait till she hears we’re already shacked up.” Eddie jokes, bringing you to the couch and therefore leading Steve as well.

As you sit down on the couch, you cuddle into him, head laying down on his chest. Steve asks how his shop is doing, to which Eddie gives the run down on the nicest cars he’s seen and a customer’s hunk of junk he couldn’t believe was still driving around. Steve explains the logistics of his job, and by the tone of Eddie’s voice, you could tell he had no idea any of what Steve was saying, but he was being supportive in tone, nonetheless.

“How are the kids?” Eddie asks, and you watch as Steve’s eyes light up in response.

“Oh, they’re great.”

“How old are they?” You ask, a tad curious.

“Uh, Arlo is 24, Nick is 17, Dustin is 15, and Eliza is 4.” Steve riles off, letting his head fall back on the couch. Damn, he sure didn’t look like a dad of four.

“Is Eliza 4 already?” Eddie asks, shaking his head.

“Sure is.” Steve answers, bringing out his phone. He unlocks it, and presumably goes into his photos until passing it over to you and Eddie. “Here. This was from yesterday.”

“Awww.” You let out, seeing the image of a little girl with Steve’s curls playing on a water mat.

“Oh, aww” Eddie lets out, laughing through it. Eliza is adorable, that much is clear. But as you look up at Eddie scrolling through a few of the photos of Eliza playing in the water, the hearts in his eyes are undeniable. He laughs softly at them, as if he can’t get enough of any of the photos. As Eddie passes the photos with his praises of Eliza, a stirring gut feeling sits there, a feeling you’ve been proud that you’ve been able to hold off with Eddie already having a grown child.

Goddamn, you wanted to have this man’s babies. Or at least, baby. The idea of him looking this sweetly at a child you made together invades your heart and makes you squirm on his chest a bit. You lean off his chest, afraid of these strong feelings of wanting this much of a future with him; it was a little scary. “I’m sleepy. Been a long day, I’m gonna go take a nap.”

“Alright, here.” He gets up with you, taking your hand and walking you around the couch. “Be right back, Steve.”

Eddie goes up the stairs to your room, escorting you to your now shared bed. Last week it had dark grey sheets. Now it has your favourite yellow daisy-themed sheets that Eddie insisted upon using. You lie down, still thinking of the way his eyes lit up and the smile that took over his face from the pictures. It made something stir in you. You were exhausted from your long day, that was no lie, but needed the excuse to leave before you did something crazy.

Like riding him on the couch. (And begging for his babies)

“Have a good sleep, sweetheart. I’ll wake you when dinner’s ready.” He kisses your forehead, soft and sweet. “Love you.”

“Love you.” You mutter through your breath, eyes already closing.

-

You’re already fast asleep by the time Eddie closes the door. As he reaches the bottom of the steps, Steve looks up at him expectantly, his brow slightly furrowed. He’s concerned, and to be fair, he has a reason to be. “So, we’re dating 20-year-olds, now?”

Eddie bites his tongue from correcting your age. “I guess you could say that.”

“What is this, some sort of midlife crisis? Get a red sports car, not someone who beats my oldest by months, hell your kid by months. I mean, come on, man. Use your brain.” Steve taps his shoulder on the last sentence, surely thinking he’s putting Eddie’s head back on right. However, Eddie just sits through the lecture without defending himself so he can say his piece when the time comes. “I-I mean where did you even find her, on her way to school?”

The front door slams. Dylan’s home. “Dad, am I tripping or is Uncle Steve’s car out front—Hey!” He cuts himself off, jogging toward them as soon as he sees Steve on the couch. Steve stands up to give him a tight hug, having known Dylan since the day he was born. “What’re you doing here?”

“Came by for a visit, turns out your dad’s having a midlife crisis.”

Dylan’s brows pinch together as he glances around Steve to Eddie for clarification. Eddie shrugs his shoulders, pretending not to know a single thing Steve was talking about. “What, did he get a sports car or something? He says they look pretty but they’re not made to last.”

“No, no. I was talking about his pretty new girlfriend.” The pang of possessiveness that hits Eddie in the chest is unprecedented for Steve just calling you pretty.

Dylan hardly holds in his laughter, walking into the kitchen before a full-on laugh escapes his throat. Steve stares off at him, glancing at Eddie and clearly asking, what the hell is wrong with that boy? Dylan makes himself calm down, coming back into the living room with a shit eating grin on his face. “So did he tell you how they met?”

“N-no.” Steve hesitates based on the grin on his face.

“He hasn’t let me get that far, yet.” Eddie chimes in, looking a little cozy as he settles into the couch. You were right, it has been a long ass day.

“I’m gonna tell him.” It wasn’t a threat per se, Dylan just wanted to watch the panic in his dad’s eyes.

Eddie lifts his head off the back pillow of the couch, having been looking up at the ceiling. “He’s gonna find out eventually. I was just gonna wait until she woke up.”

“Tell me…what?” Steve asks, tired of watching Eddie and Dylan’s back and forth.

Dylan gives one last chuckle, the laughter telling Eddie it’s not something he’s very bitter about anymore. They still haven’t talked about it; he’s been waiting for Dylan to come to him. “She was my girlfriend, first.” Dylan says through a smirk. “She cheated on me. With dad.”

Steve processes it, both Dylan and Eddie can see the hamster wheel turning in his head. He looks back and forth between Dylan and Eddie, his eyes staying on either one for a moment. His eyes don’t blink the entire time, switching back and forth for a solid minute.

“Dude!” Steve finally says, landing on Eddie. “What the fuck happened, Ed?”

Dylan continues laughing, walking over to his dad. “Yeah dad, what happened?”

Eddie lets his head fall back on the pillows again, closing his eyes for a brief second. “Well, I tried to keep my distance…she did not.” Shit, that’s putting all the blame on you. “I wasn’t strong enough to tell her to break up with Dylan, first. Felt like I was seventeen years old, hormones just raging to a point where I couldn’t think straight with her right there.” He gets up from the couch, walking up to his closest friend of 30+ years. “She’s not just some 25-year-old, Steve. This girl, Steve, she’s everything, and somehow, she’s convinced that she’s the lucky one.”

When his dad spews cheesy shit like this it certainly softens the blow. Feels funny that he ever dated you in the first place at times.

Steve seems to miss the fact that Dylan has gotten almost completely over it by now. “That’s all good and nice, but I think you’re missing the fact that you stole your son’s girlfriend?”

Dylan lets out another laugh, wishing Steve was here when everything went down. That would’ve been a show. “Listen, Uncle Steve. I appreciate you standing up for me, truly, I do. If you were here three weeks ago when they fucked in my truck, then that would’ve been…just great.”

“You fucked in his tru—”

Dylan cuts him off, “But honestly, I didn’t date her for very long. If anything, I had only begun to develop some deeper feelings for her, but these two had it right away. They’re good together. I wish they could’ve just told me their feelings and then slept together, but with Maya…if she was dating one of my boys I would’ve done the same thing.”

Steve’s hand lands on Dylan’s shoulder, seeing the truth in his statement. “Well, you’ll have to tell me about Maya, then.” He turns back to Eddie, a pinch appearing back between his brows. “But seriously, you fucked in his truck? What kind of sicko are you?”

“His was unlocked. He knows better.” Eddie shrugs, Steve rolls his eyes fondly.

“Good god, man.”

“I was actually just here to grab something, but I’ll see you for supper?” Dylan shoots, mid stride towards the stairs.

“We’re eating out, be back by 8:30.” Steve calls up, and Dylan waves his hand in acknowledgement.

“We are?” Eddie asks, sitting back on the couch.

“Oh yeah, Munson.” He sits on the cushion beside him, leaning onto his knees. “But tell me about her. Sorry I just assumed…but Robin will absolutely be calling you to rip your head off.”

“Or…she can find out in person one day.”

“Like at your wedding?” Steve teases, but lets out a burst of laughter when the blush appears on his cheeks. “Seriously, you hear wedding bells?”

“I’m not getting any younger, dude. But my hormones are, man, she has me doing multiple rounds, sometimes more than one a day!” Steve’s eyes widen, intrigued by this. “I haven’t fucked like this since my 20s.” Eddie pauses, thinking about his sex life back then. “I’m not even sure I fucked like this in my 20’s, to be honest.”

Steve lets out a laugh, shoving Eddie for good measure. Of course, being men, they both skip over the fact that yes, Eddie has had wedding bells in his head enough to start looking at rings…and go for the sex talk.

“Okay, sex aside. Tell me about her.”

It takes only five minutes of Steve listening to Eddie ramble on about you to realize it absolutely was the real deal. No mid-life crises here. Eddie seemed calm and laxed, whereas his ex always made him wired. For the record, Steve never quite liked her. She had Eddie looking like a wet chihuahua, yapping at every drop of a hat. Steve was a little relieved when she left, ‘cause no one could convince Eddie she was not good for him.

Turns out he just needed to wait a few years. 15, in fact.

-

You wake up to the feeling of Eddie’s hand on your cheek, carefully petting you as he places gentle kisses on your lips. “Baby.” He mumbles, causing you to stir. “Baby, wake up.”

As you start to wake up, you become increasingly aware that he was lying right behind you. “Mmm.”

“C’mon, we’re going out for supper with Steve, you have to get up.”  

Still reeling from the dream that you were just ripped out of, you arch your back slightly, grinding your ass against Eddie’s instantly-hardening cock. You hear a sharp inhale, Eddie’s grip on your hip intensifying. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but we literally don’t have time.” Eddie comments, his forehead falling onto the back of your head in an act of self discipline.

You frown, giving a good hip swivel. “We always have time.”

“Not today, you don’t! Get up!” You pop awake, aware of Steve’s presence in the hallway as he overshadows Eddie, waking you up more fully.

“He knows me enough to know I’d try to sneak something in.” Eddie murmurs, as not to be heard.

You turn around in your bed, now lying face to face with him, a devious smile creeping on your face. “So, sneak something in.”

Eddie’s brows lift at your suggestive tone. “Fuck.” He mutters, crawling out of bed before you could give his neck one of those licks that just melts him into a puddle. “C’mon baby. Get all dressed up, meet you downstairs by 8:30.”

Your teeth grit together, grabbing your phone that was tossed haphazardly aside when you fell asleep. The screen illuminates itself and your eyes widen when you realize you only have…fifteen minutes to get ready. Well, why didn’t he just say that?

You rush into your closet, and for the first time, the amount of clothes you now own settles in. How the fuck are you ever getting ready ever again? You go to the dresses, skimming through the more family friendly options. You trail  over each hanger one at a time until you reach the right one. Some light makeup is done, a five-minute routine.

You finally reach the bottom step at 8:29 pm, all the guys sitting on the couch watching the tv. “Ready!”

Eddie glances at you and breaks into a smirk. “You look great, sweetheart.”

Your face heats up as you find a pair of shoes that won’t make you hate yourself. You smile, recalling your afternoon in the crowded dressing room. “Thanks, Ed.”

Meanwhile, Steve takes only two seconds as he witnesses this interaction to realize. “No. Go change.”

“W-what?” You stutter, not used to Steve’s blunt stature.

“I-just-just go change. I don’t need to be watching this all night!”

“Fine.” You roll your eyes, kicking your shoe off to put on a dress that Eddie didn’t salivate over that very afternoon.

“Wait, what? What was wrong with the dress?” Dylan asks Steve, not having a clue as to what just transpired.

“Trust me, you don’t wanna know.”

“Hey, Dyl, you remember that green little dress that she had?” Eddie asks, recalling it on his carpeted floor earlier that day before he burned it.

Dylan smiles, then recalls what was so special about the dress. “Oh.” He mumbles, now feeling uncomfortable.

“I think she’s overwhelmed with choices, which is why she picked the dress in the first place. I’ll go help. Meet you there.”

-

Steve put up a fight on just meeting you there, but one on one time with his boy is something he wouldn’t pass up. Especially when he talks about a girl the way he did about Maya.

Eddie didn’t give Steve much of an option, still trying to get rid of the hard on that he had. He bursts through the bedroom and closet door, and as he does so, the front door slams shut. Eddie walks in to you staring aimlessly in your underwear at the dresses, not knowing which one to put on. Eddie comes from behind you, placing his stubbly chin onto your shoulder. “What’s up, baby?” He asks, casually drifting your underwear down your legs.  

You sigh, the trail of his fingertips sending shivers up your spine. “You got me too many dresses.”

“No, I didn’t.” Eddie says, you hear and feel behind you as he lets his own pants drop. “Bend a little bit.” He whispers as you feel his hard cock against your ass.

You do, lifting your ass up at an angle where he can slide right into your folds. He does, arms drifting below your torso and up to play with your tits as he fucks you from behind.

“I got the perfect amount for my sweet baby.” He mutters into your ear, both his hands doing things to your tits that make you whimper. “Love to spoil my beautiful girl.”

“Fuck, daddy.” You whine, your heat already so goddamn hot. “Help. Can’t decide on a dress.”

“Here.” Ed pauses, causing you to whine, but puts a dress in front of you. “Wear this one for daddy.”

“O-ok.” You stutter, barely paying attention to it. “Love you, daddy.”

“I love you,” he kisses your neck, wet and sweet, “so much, pretty baby.” You turn your head to face him, leaning in for a delicate kiss, your pussy clenching around him as you do.

You lean onto the white walls separating each compartment of the closet, closing your eyes as he fucks into you. “Daddy,” you whine, and he pulls your hair gently in response, bringing your head back to his.

“Yes, baby?”

“You’re so good to me, I’m so-so close.” You pant, giving him lustful eyes.

“Cum with me,” Eddie mutters, having been close himself a few times. He leans down, rubbing at your clit. You cum around him hard, yelling his name.

He catches your lips in a kiss when he cums, so you have no idea what he said.

He lets you catch your breath, wrapping his arms around you protectively until you let him know you’re okay. “Thank you, baby.”

“Oh that was just a spur of the moment, I just got lucky.” He jokes, bringing up the dress to you to get redressed.

“You think Steve—”

“Oh, I guarantee Steve already knows.” Eddie interrupts your worry, that Steve knew you were hooking up. “Just had to be sneaky.”

You put yourself in the dress, staring at it in the mirror. Okay, Eddie is seriously good at picking things that fit you well. Damn. “Let’s go baby.”

“Fuck, with you in that dress I’ll be gunning for round two all night.”

“Then we better go so we can come back and do it!” You assert playfully.

“Fuck, I love you.”

-

As you and Eddie sit down at the table where your ice cubes are already melted with the water droplets making a pool on the table, Steve doesn’t say a word, but the look he gives says enough. If he’s your boyfriend’s best friend, how come he already has the ability to make you feel like you had disappointed him?

The restaurant is a steakhouse, something worth dressing up for, but not like the one Eddie took you to. Steve managed to talk about all his kids, describing each one of the four and their distinct personalities to you.

Arlo is apparently a near carbon copy of his father, only differing on a few personality quirks here and there. He was in every sense of the word the eldest Harrington, making a reputation for the Harrington children to live up to at the daycare, elementary school and finally, but most importantly, high school.  Considering Steve raised his kids in Hawkins, Arlo knew the expectations for him and met them, tenfold. Steve never says it, but you can tell he’s so proud of how cool his kid turned out to be. Apparently, though they were closest in age, Dylan was closer to Nicky than to Arlo.

Nicky was the middle child for most of his life. He still considers himself to be, despite getting a younger sister four years ago. He had found himself gravitating towards the arts, and Steve found himself with a kid who spent his early mornings watching broadway bootlegs and collecting song books. This turned him into somewhat of a ladies’ man like Arlo, his baritone vibrato beautifully toned as he starred in most of his school musicals. Someday, Arlo wants to enroll in a drama school, and Steve still isn’t sure how he feels about it.

Dustin is the third child, and for a while, the baby. It’s explained to you that Dustin is named after a mutual friend, someone younger than both Eddie and Steve, someone they took under their wing and mutually adopted. When Dustin’s name was announced, Steve and his wife made sure he was in the room, so for the first hour of Dustin Harrington’s life, he was unnamed. Tears streamed down Dustin’s, (the original), face when he realized that Steve had named his child after him. Immediately, Dustin was his. Because of Dustin Henderson, Dustin Harrington is a complete dork. He’s completely invested in Star Wars, has built his own Magic the Gathering deck, used to spend weekends on Skype for DnD sessions with Uncle Eddie, and has even been to a convention or two.

Basically, none of his boys were the same.

You resented little Eliza coming up in conversation, only for the sake of her photos enticing some sick and cruel twist of fate.

Eliza, however, is the apple of everyone’s eye, and the darling of the Harrington family. She’s a handful, to say the least, a stubborn personality and even worse temperament. Steve swears he thought her toddler years were a handful; until she reached the independent thinking stage. Now, she wants everything, but she never wants help. Her three brothers are fiercely protective of her, each in their own ways, on top of having her dad, her uncle Eddie, and a few names that aren’t familiar to you (note: ask Eddie who ‘Hopper’ is), she’s got the world wrapped around her pinky.

Steve is at the end of a tale of chasing little Eliza around the mall, having slipped his grip in a quick getaway, creating havoc as she clutched a teddy bear that wasn’t paid for. He laughs fondly, describing how she evaded three security guards attempting to aid Steve in his mission, finally catching her when she was hungry enough to decide to end the chase.

You all sit with your food in front of you, chuckling at Steve’s well-told story. “Man,” Eddie starts, mouth still full. He waits until he swallows to continue, “I don’t know if I could have a toddler now. Especially if they’re as wild as Dylan was.”

“Hey!” Dylan calls, gesturing to himself. “I’m right here!”

“No offense, kid, but you were a menace. I looked away for two seconds once and found you on the roof with an umbrella to see if it would work as a parachute.”

“You remember what you told me?” Dylan challenges him, leaning onto his elbows on the table. “Hmm? You tell her what you told me.”

You perk up, leaning into Eddie. “Well, I came out and asked him what he was doing. He said he wanted to see if it worked.”

“And…you said?” Dylan asks, eager to get to the punchline.

“I told him to try it then and see how it works out for him!”

“So, I did!” Dylan exclaims, exasperated.

“What?” You exclaim, and the three men around you nod their heads solemnly, all having heard this story several times before.

“I didn’t know he was actually going to do it!” Eddie laughs, defending himself at your bug eyes aimed at him.

“You’re my dad, I trusted you had my best interests at heart!”

“How you didn’t know sarcasm before that is beyond me…” Eddie mutters, shaking his head fondly at his son. “That story was used against me several times in court, too.”

“They tried to make him out to be a terrible parent. I was pissed.” Dylan explains, and your heart melts over it. “I maintained that even though I had a cast for a few weeks, doesn’t mean I didn’t learn my lesson. Don’t jump off the roof. You will get hurt. That’s what my dad was telling me before he dared me.”

You intertwine your fingers with Eddie’s, smoothing his thumb with your own. There’s a nagging in the back of your mind as you recall his claims of being too old for a toddler, a slight disappointment. You shove it far, far back into your brain, not wanting to dissect that. “So, you staying the night, or?” You ask Steve.

“No thanks, Dylan has made it clear that you two are insatiable.” He says, toying with his food. “He has told me every story where he has caught you, even the ones you don’t know about.” He pauses, giving Eddie a resigned glance across the table. “Freaks. The both of you.”

Your phone buzzes on the table, and you reach for it momentarily to check out the text from Bethany. As your attention is stolen, Eddie mouths over you, Jealous? Steve spurts out a laugh, as if the idea is so absurd. Your head shoots up, Bethany’s text is fresh on your mind. “Baby, can…can I take a picture of your hand?”

“Uh, sure.” Eddie agrees, placing his hand out from your grip and onto the table. “What for?”

“For my Insta,” you answer, somewhat preoccupied by getting a good angle while making his hand intertwined with yours look natural.

“Oh, soft launch?” Dylan comments, and you snap your fingers in confirmation.

Eddie chuckles, all the words coming out of you and Dylan sounding like a different language. “What?”

“Okay, so it’s not just me!” Steve laughs, holding his chest dramatically. “Seriously, what are you two on about?”

Dylan answers before you can–  you’re still trying to get a good angle of his hand holding yours on the table. “It’s posting an update to your relationship status without giving a name to the person. It’s telling the world you’re taken, but not by who. Usually in case they break up, but I don’t think it’s why she’s doing it.”

“No, Eddie has no social media and I know…” you pause, leaning back to take one more, “that he wants to keep it that way, so, I’m showing him off in my own way.” You glare at your phone, swearing softly when it still doesn’t look right.

“For fucks’ sake, let me,” Dylan snatches your phone and gets up from the booth, squats and places the phone as if you were the one taking it yourself, snaps a photo, and tosses the phone back to you. “There.”

The phone falls past your hand and into your lap. You gently pick it up, assessing the photo in your recents. Damn. It was the exact vibe you were looking for. “Well, thanks.”

Dylan shoots an eye roll back, his heart not really in it.

“Let’s see?” Eddie asks, leaning into you, resting his chin against the strap of your dress on your shoulder. You’ve already captioned and posted the photo onto your Instagram, so you let him view the screen. He lets out a chuckle, a wide grin appearing on his face. “I like the photo, but what does the caption mean? Greater than what?”

Caption reads, ‘Him>’.

“Oh, it just means you’re ‘greater than’ everything else. There is no one thing to put because it would be useless.” You explain, turning your phone off and placing it face down on the table.

Eddie shifts the two of you so he can see your face, eyes switching between yours as he assesses you. You look up at him, curious to what could possibly be on that brain of his. “You think I’m greater than everything else?”

Of course you’ve seen it plastered on social media sites, somewhat of a common way to refer to your personal opinion of something. It’s so normalized, and you figured it was a simple way to announce that you were taken by the finest man you’ve ever seen in your entire life. You nod, “Of course!”

His hand frames your face and suddenly his lips are on yours. Your breath hitches in your throat as the kiss and the pure love you feel in his reaction makes you feel like you’d be knocked off your feet if you weren’t already sitting down. Your limbs catch up and one hand lands on his thigh, ignoring the subtle heat you feel pooling in your cunt.

Steve and Dylan are forgotten as you get caught up in a frenzy, lips locking with a level of need for one another that would give any other person envy over the display of passion. Dylan has gotten used to it, you two were in the habit of kissing one another like this often. Steve takes a large sip of his bourbon, leaning back in his booth and leaning right to him. “So, this—”

“Yeah, that’s normal.” Dylan tells him.

“Jesus, I thought you were exaggerating.” Steve pauses, moving his plate away from him, all done. “Thought he was exaggerating.”

“Exaggerating what?” Dylan asks, afraid of the answer.

Steve smirks, taking another sip of his drink. “Just drink your apple juice.” He nods to Dylan’s beer; Dylan shoves his shoulder fondly in response. Steve takes one last big swig of his drink, gesturing to the waitress across the room for her assistance. “Hey. You two. Take a breather.”

Your kisses haven’t gotten any more intense, though his hand placed gently on your thigh was a tease. You could make out with him for hours, knowing your limits in the restaurant booth. Eddie finally pulls back, kissing you delicately a few times on the lips as to not leave you hanging, leaving you reeling when the server stops by.

“Just the check, please.” Steve tells her, smug.

The waitress nods, grabbing plates when the four of you insist you’re all done with your food. Steve and Eddie end up telling a story from their early 20’s when they were both single, finishing each other’s sentences as they remind each other how unruly they were back then. Your eyes flick back and forth between them, something clicking.

“Hmm.” You muster, letting yourself think about it.

“Yes, baby?”

You zone back in, blinking as you realize the three of them are staring at you expectantly. You hadn’t even realized you hummed out loud. “Oh, nothing.” But he’s not budging. None of them are. “Seriously, it’s nothing.”

Still no dice.

You lean forward towards Dylan, who sits across from you, lowering your voice. “Do you want to be traumatized by your dad’s sex life?” He shakes his head, the smile leaving his face. You lean back, satisfied. “Then don’t worry about it.”

“For the record, I think you mean more traumatized.” Dylan mutters, just loud enough for you to hear. You kick his shin underneath the table, light enough to hurt but not do anything. You giggle at his reaction, leaning into Eddie’s arm as it snakes around your own.

Your phone buzzes, another text from Bethany. You smile as you check it, content in Eddie’s arms as the waitress comes around again with the bill. Steve hands her a card as he watches Eddie speak softly to you, nothing important, just something causing you to giggle. He feels confident in his own marriage, a love that gave him four kids with a stable home to drive back to. It just made him happy to see Eddie in a relationship where it’s clearly reciprocated.

As Eddie whispers to you, you can barely take in the words Bethany has texted you, but what she has to say to you is seemingly important, your phone buzzing repeatedly in your hands. You allow your eyes to focus back on them and the all-caps of her texts become clear.

CHECK YOUR INSTA

HELLO???

BABE

HELLO

GO CHECK IT YOUR POST ALREADY HAS OVER 500 LIKES

BITCH IT’S AT ONE THOUSAND

HELLLLOOOO

“Oh, shit.” You switch apps to make sure it’s true. In your notifications, there are over 300 comments and more likes than Bethany had claimed, 1.5 thousand. By no means is it viral, but most of your posts got no more than 100 due to your circle of friends in the app being so small. “Holy shit.” There are several comments praising Eddie’s hand, even some drool emojis. The only solace you can give yourself is that you now know you are never exposing his face. “Um, Ed. Your hand has gotten attention.”

He leans over, seeing the amount of engagement on your post. “Cool.” He comments, the numbers not meaning much to him.

“I could’ve told you that much.” Steve laughs.

You peer at him questioningly, silently asking what he meant by it.

“Listen, the ladies in Hawkins are…what is it…thirsty?” He checks with Dylan. Dylan chuckles and confirms it. “Yeah, okay, thirsty. They are mad thirsty over Eddie. If I accidentally mention that the Munsons are coming into town, it becomes town gossip. It’s like Billy Hargrove all over again, except this time it’s age appropriate.”

You turn back to Eddie, serious as you can be. “You’re never going back.”

 He laughs, wrapping his arms around you to bring you into a hug. “We’ll talk about it.”

-

As you walk towards the front door of the restaurant, the sun has set on another day. Eddie’s arm is wrapped around your shoulders, and Steve calls out to Eddie as he leads you to his truck, drawing your attentions. “Munson!”

Eddie turns around, the use of his last name certainly grabbing his attention. They quit using last names on one another years ago. The last time Eddie fully recalls being called Munson by Steve; Steve was pulling at his hair… “You rang, Harrington?”

“Can I steal your girlfriend for a drive?” He asks, sending a smile your way.

“Uh,” Eddie looks at you, making sure you’re comfortable with it. You nod your head, sharing a look with him. “Sure. Have her back within the hour, though.”

“Yes, sir.” Steve jokes, laughing to himself when Eddie subtly grits his teeth, and a pink blush reaches his cheeks. “C’mon, I don’t bite.”

You give your boyfriend a hug, embracing his kiss of safety and comfort. “Love you.” As you walk the steps toward Steve, Eddie tugs you back by your fingertips, one last kiss for good measure.

“Love you more.” He mutters, and for a second you believe him. Oh, to follow him into his truck and ride with him in a comfortable silence on the way back.

“Come on! One hour won’t kill you.” Steve grabs your hand before you can register, leading the way to his SUV.

Dylan passes you on the way to his dad, waving cheekily on the way and you flip him off.

You get into the dark blue SUV, a Range Rover, no less. It’s evident he has a four-year-old with the car seat and the mess in his back seat, but you know that if he didn’t have Eliza, the brown interior would’ve been spotless. Steve turns down the radio he had blasting, turning his iPhone connection on. “Ready for some oldies?”

“You and Eddie. Terrible, the both of you.” You mutter, shaking your head.

Steve laughs, pulling out of the parking lot and turning the opposite way of Eddie’s (yours too) house. “Don’t worry, just taking the long way.” He assures you after he sees you staring wistfully off at Eddie’s tail lights.

It’s about five minutes of silence until Steve talks again. “So, I just wanted to apologize about earlier, I was…I was shocked. When you opened the door, I didn’t know who you were, but I certainly wasn’t expecting the answer I got. Can you tell me your version of how you two got together? I didn’t want Eddie interjecting.”

“Oh.” You clear your throat. “Uh, Dylan forgot a parking pass on our way to the beach, so he stopped by the house to look for it. Eddie comes down, sweats low on his hips and hair still wet from his shower, and I could barely focus on anything else around me. I should’ve broken up with Dylan the moment I got to his truck.” You tell him, making sure Steve knows full well that you are still apologetic about the cheating.

“Oh sweetheart, that’s all fine and dandy. As far as Dylan is concerned, it hurt, but it’s long gone in his mind. Trust me. Any hesitation is aimed at Eddie, and for good reason.” Steve reassures you, feeling your defense build. “Don’t worry. Just tell the story.”

“Okay. I didn’t end it because I was afraid he’d lash out and it would’ve been forever before getting ahold of Eddie again. I couldn’t risk it, so I stayed. It lasted until that weekend, when I was doing horny things in the living room with Dylan just because Eddie was home. Maybe he’d hear something, maybe he’d look…maybe he’d watch…” You drift off, remembering the sheer urgency you had for him. “I wore skimpy outfits, I bent over around the house, I was fully prepared for Eddie, and to be honest, I was too hormonal to care or understand the repercussions.” You glance out the window, lights blinding you as you pass each neon sign. “So, we hooked up. After spending more time with him, I realized how much I had already cared about him. Now, Steve, now, I love that man so goddamn much.”

Steve smiles at you as he drives, his head waving with the bumps in the road. “Where do you see this going? For your future? In the long term, are you willing to accept that his body will give out a lot earlier than yours?”

 A knot forms in your stomach in the shape of a confession. You switch your glance to Steve, and you feel safe with him. Not like Eddie, no. It was like he would never tell your secrets, or like he’d protect you. “Uh, this evening, I had the terrifying displeasure of realizing one day I’d want kids with him. One day, after he marries me and tells the whole world who I belong to, I want to have his baby. I want to raise a baby into a handful of a toddler into a snarky teenager. I thought I was totally in the clear for kids with him, but you showed him the video of Eliza and now it’s…I can’t get rid of it. So, thanks for that, Steve.” Admitting to this, out loud even…it’s too much. “I want to spend my life with him.”

You wait for an answer, somewhat on edge as you fiddle with your fingers. “And you’re okay with the knowledge that you will bury him one day?” Steve pressures on, and you respect it.

“I’ve accepted the realities, yes, which is why I’m not telling him I want kids. He said he’s too tired. I can’t force that on him.”

A full belly laugh escapes Steve as he shakes his head. “If you told him that you want a baby, he would absolutely give you one without a moment’s hesitation. I have never seen him like this, not even with his ex.” He pauses, thinking on how to tell you. “Listen, I don’t know if you know much about her, but Eddie’s ex was not all that…kind to him.” He chooses his words carefully. “He was into her from the get-go, but it was obvious he was more into her. Eventually, when Eddie realized she was cheating, he called me, panicking about losing Dylan.

“I sent my best lawyer to him. Less than a week later they have court dates for custody hearings. Honestly, she was angry she was caught and angry she wasn’t the one to file. I think it took her being angry and belligerent in court for Eddie to finally see who she was. The judge was patient, more than she should’ve been. When she didn’t listen to the judge’s warnings, Eddie was granted everything he wanted. He thought it was a goddamn miracle, the only two things he wanted were the shop and Dylan. The shop had people’s livelihoods; it was their only income. Dylan just wanted to be with his dad, he made that very clear.

“Once the dust settled, it sank in. He called, finally, crying on the floor of the closet. He had spent all year on it just for her to only have it for a handful of months. It was a labour of love for him, and it turned out she was sleeping with someone else the entire time.”

Your teeth grit, fucking seething for Eddie. If either Eddie or Steve knew what was good for her, they’d never tell you her name.

“I came immediately, bringing Arlo and Nick to help cheer him up. Nick was only about 2, so he would’ve done more cheering in the way that toddlers do. But even Arlo knew something was up so it’s the one and only time he’s ever played DnD and fully embraced it. When Nick went to bed, the four of us all played together.” Steve observes your body language, your jaw locked and fists clenched. You’re so angry for him. He decides to omit the fact that after the kids went to bed, Eddie was inconsolable in his heartbreak. Steve knows it might come out one day, but that was not the point of this discussion.

“I promise, I didn’t tell you to make you mad, I just need you to know that Eddie will love you selflessly and wholly, because he doesn’t have it in himself to love any other way.” He slows to a stop at a red light, turning his head to face you. “I was very worried at first, but man, I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

The question still echoes in your mind, but the answer is starting to lean towards a yes. “How did you guys become friends?” You ask instead, leaning away from your boyfriend’s heartbreak and his bitchy ex.

“That… is a very long story.”

“Eddie gave you an hour, of which you’ve only used 15 minutes.” You point out, smirking.

“Alright, buckle up. It’s Hawkins, Indiana. 1996. Eddie ‘the freak’ Munson is missing.”

-

Steve was right, the story of their friendship was a long one. He didn’t necessarily dive into the nitty gritty, just implied he was falsely accused in a situation where he had no alibi and helped him out. One day, years later you would finally feel comfortable asking and Eddie would get into the full details of the Upside Down.

Steve brought you home with ten minutes to spare, you cling to Eddie as soon as you see him. The unresolved lust from earlier on top of the empathy for how hard it must’ve been for him drove your need for him, just you and him. “Can’t wait any longer.” You whisper, fingers digging into the now open button up shirt he wore to dinner and fisting the material into a ball with your hands.

You feel a huff of silent laughter come from him, a long sigh leaving his lips as he considers his options. It’s only 11 o’clock. Usually, when Steve is in town he stays for hours into the night to talk and laugh together. Dylan started a habit of joining their conversations as he got older. He knows it’s what they’re expecting, and he knows exactly what you need. He lifts your face with his hands. “Go get dressed into something more comfortable. Be right up.”

You nod, feeling sleepy, and for once, not conscious of the audience you held with him.

As you run upstairs, Eddie turns to Steve. “You and Dylan go to your hotel room. I’ll meet you there. Later.”

Steve’s eyebrows raise. “Didn’t you say you were exhausted?”

“I could just stay home all night. I have no problems with that.” Eddie bites back, a tone of endearment at the root of it.

Steve rolls his eyes. “Okay, okay. God, I miss when you were single,”

Dylan and Steve leave for the hotel room, the two shooting teasing glances at Eddie.

You lay on your side of the bed, scrolling on your phone but only paying the littlest attention. Eddie opens the door, his long legs take him to the bed quickly as he lies right next to you. You immediately crawl into his arms, the phone forgotten. Your chest feels tight as you mentally go over what Steve told you, the way his ex treated him. There’s no way it was true, because Eddie ever feeling like he deserved any of it was too much for you to bear.

Eddie feels the shift in you, something’s different. It isn’t one of your normal hugs. Your arms are wrapped around his, as if you’re sheltering him. “You okay, baby?” He asks, brows furrowed as he notes your quickened breathing and heart rate. You’re lying down; you should be far more relaxed.

“Steve…Steve told me more about your ex, and it made me sick to my stomach.” You admit, not wanting many secrets between the two of you. You’re already harbouring one, you don’t need another. “I don’t know how anyone could possibly treat you like that.”

Eddie’s eyes well and he looks up, trying not to let a tear fall from the tone of your voice or how genuine you sound in your anger for him. “It’s ancient history, now, baby.”

“Doesn’t make it right.” You counter, hands squeezing him. “I love you more than I can even conceive. More than I can wrap my head around… I can’t stand the thought of you being heartbroken because that bitch decided someone building her a closet wasn’t good enough for her.”

Eddie can’t wrap his mind around how loved you just made him feel, and how in your own way, you just told him he would be just as protected as you are by him. You would stand up for him the same way he would for you. He doesn’t have the words or the strength to hold back the tears, so he leans in and kisses you, really kisses you.  

As his lips meet yours, you taste the salt of his tears and lightly use your thumbs to brush them away. He climbs on top of you, brushing his hand under your PJ shirt, testing the waters. You guide his hand to your tit, aching for him to touch you for what felt like hours. Your kisses are slow and purposeful, the stream of the salt still coming, and you ignore it for the sake of his hand feeling so goddamn good on your nipple as he teases you. He doesn’t seem to want to talk about them, anyway. Your mouth opens against him as he flicks it, whimpering.

You wrap your legs around his hips, unwinding them from between his legs and his bulge presses into your covered heat immediately. You kiss down his jaw, gently decorating his neck with wet kisses as you kiss away the salt that streamed down his face. Your hand moves down to palm him through his slacks, a whimper leaving him. “Do…do you want to?” You check, slightly stroking him through his jeans.

He sniffles, bunching up your shirt to help it off. “Yes. Sorry, I can’t handle strong emotions, they…overwhelm me.”

“I’ll handle them for the both of us.” You offer.

Eddie is a mess already, and he tugs on you to kiss you some more. “I didn’t know I could love someone this much.” He mutters, gulping through his kisses.

You don’t answer him, grabbing at his shirt to take it off. As the shirt flies off, his chest comes full contact with yours and you arch your hips up to meet his, the bulge hitting your heat almost too perfectly. You grind on it, needing him now, wanting to feel all of him.

Eddie reads your mind, tearful but still in tune with everything your body needs from him. His hands move your pants down your legs, placing kisses down your torso as he does. He crawls back up to you, taking his own pants off as he continues to wantonly kiss you. Before you know it, you feel his cock against your thigh as he presses your legs into your stomach.

Eddie leans into you, connecting your foreheads. You frame his face, staring at his wet brown eyes. “Please baby.” You kiss him, your hips barely able to stay still. “I love you, I fucking need you.”

“I know.” He mumbles, nodding his head. He guides his cock into you, pushing in gently but deeply into you within seconds. Your legs tighten around his torso, your pussy sucking him in. “Christ.”

His face finds itself in your neck, giving sweet kisses up and down as he starts to move his hips. You hold onto him, hands wrapped around his torso, spread-out palms down on his back. His hips rock so slowly, taking in every inch of your pussy he possibly can. His forehead finds yours again and his eyes open and stare into yours. His mouth is parted, his cheeks are flushed, and no longer wet. Somewhere in the midst he stopped crying, but the emotions he felt were still there. “Feels good?”

You nod, breath hitching by the sheer emotion you see in his eyes. “So good, baby.”

He smiles softly, staring at you half lidded. “Don’t want it harder?” He teases, bucking his hips hard once before moving back to his soft pace.

The buck releases a loud cry of pleasure from you, not expecting it. “Fuck, Ed. Can you do that again?”

Eddie smiles wider. “Mmhm.” He bucks into you harder again a few times, and your eyes close immediately, the heat from your pussy starting to pool. “Oh my god, Eddie.”

“More?” He asks, slowing his hips again. “My love, if you want me to fuck you harder, you need to tell me.”

“Fuck me harder, Ed. Please.”

Eddie chuckles softly, stopping his movements altogether to give you a kiss, taking your breath away by the love in it. “Sure thing, baby.”

Before you know it, his hips start at an unforgiving pace, the force takes you aback so badly, you moan loudly at every buck, every rut of his hips against yours. His thumb connects to your neglected clit, and the subtle heat explodes into a frenzy. Eddie feels your velvet walls pulse around him as you get closer. “I wanna feel that perfect pussy cum all over my cock.”

“Eddie, so close…love you so much…” you’re seeing stars, your legs tense around him. He leans down to you, giving your torso one long lick down your tummy and, oddly enough, it was the final thing to drive you over the edge.

Your pussy tightening around him does it for Eddie, watching your face as your orgasm rips through you, filling you up with his cum, white ropes shooting into you. He collapses on your chest, the physical exhaustion from the day mixed with the added exhaustion from emotionally breaking down finally piling on him. “Sweetheart, I love you. So fucking much. I just…can’t believe how much better you’ve made my life.”

“I love you.” Your entire body wraps around him, holding him close to you. “Do you have to go?”

“Would you like to come with me?”

You nod your head, knowing full well you’ll probably fall asleep on the couch in Steve’s hotel room.

“Alright, let’s go.”

-

Eddie scratches his head while working on some paperwork in his work office, glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose as he goes through some numbers. One of the things he hates about owning a business is the math part of it. Luckily, he’s good at math, it’s just when the numbers suddenly go negative, it creates an issue.

His phone sitting on the desk starts to ring and he picks it up, expecting it to be you, but instead he’s met with an unknown number. Eddie sighs and reluctantly answers. It could be a customer with a new number for all he knows.

Wrong. Dead wrong.

“Eddie Munson speaking.” He answers, scanning over another invoice.

“Why the fuck are you dating a 25-year-old?” It occurs to Eddie this phone number has an area code from Boston…which is where she moved to. Fuck.

“Hi, Brooke.” He sighs, tired.

“Yeah, yeah. When and why the fuck are you dating some little hot piece of ass? You know she’s probably a gold digger, right? This morning she posted a selfie from my closet and it looks like she’s already moved in?”

“We met through a friend” Eddie wraps his head in his hands, wondering what the hell he ever saw in her craziness. “Wait, why am I telling you this, what fucking nerve do you have to call me and accuse my girlfriend being a gold digger?! How the fuck did you even find out?”

“Her little Instagram post with you two holding hands, which by the way, was cheesy and not in a good way. It got a lot of attention and Laura recognized your hands immediately and sent me the post.”

Fucking Laura. “Good for you, you found her Instagram.” He sighs, leaning back in his office chair. “I owe you nothing, Brooke. Nothing. I’m not sure what you had expected from this conversation but I’m sure this wasn’t it. Oh, and Brooke? That’s not your closet, hasn’t been for 15 years. Don’t call me again or I'll get my lawyer.”

“Oh, calm down.” Brooke huffs, her voice agitated. As if her voice had any other tone. Eddie hears her muffle the speaker to her phone. “Boys, quiet down for five minutes? I’m on the phone!” There’s another shuffle of noise on the other end, then her voice is directed back at Eddie, “That won’t be necessary. I just need to make sure you know that she will ruin your life because she’s a little skank.”

“Talk about my wife that way again and you’ll be hearing from a lot more than just my lawyer, you absolute cunt.” Eddie hangs up on her, missing the satisfaction of slamming a phone on the receiver. He picks his work phone up and slams it down. There, much better.

Wait until Steve hears about this… Holy shit.

Wait until you hear about it. Oh, fuck.

-

Steve manages to stretch his visit for one more day, laying on the couch with you as you watch a movie he recommended to you. He lays down with his torso on the arm rest, legs resting on your lap. When his legs landed, you glared at him, asking if he had nowhere else to place them. Steve said in response, “Of course, I do! You’ll just hold them because you’re so nice.”

So, you do. The movie is called The Gentlemen, a fast-paced comedy about a drug lord attempting to sell his business and all the shenanigans that follow. You find yourself laughing with him, expecting some movie like The Godfather or Fight Club, though it came out only four years ago.

Eddie swings open the door, rubbing his eyes tiredly with a smirk on his face. “Oh my god, Steve. Oh my god.” Eddie came straight from work, the phone call not allowing his brain to go over another invoice, especially when the numbers didn’t make sense. He struts to the couch, lifts Steve’s legs and sits right next to you, placing Steve’s legs back on his lap. He places his arm around you, looking at Steve with a smirk plastered. “Steve. Oh, my god.”

“Ed?” You ask, taking in his flustered features. Not flustered in the way you’re used to, but flustered nonetheless. “Everything okay?”

He nods his head, an incredulous laugh escaping as he does. “Oh, yeah. Totally okay. Got a phone call today.” You and Steve share a look of concern over his shoulder. “From Brooke.”

Now, this name means nothing to you. But from Steve’s reaction, in a split second you realize it’s the name of the woman you have grown to viscerally hate. “No way. What…what did she say?”

“She found Y/N’s Instagram post from last night and recognized my hand.” Eddie says, squeezing your shoulder. “She uh, then proceeded to insult me, insult her, and remind me how grateful I am she left me before I realized what a terrible person she is.”

“Anything else?” Steve asks, eyes wide. Brooke has literally been radio silent for years.

“Yeah, but nothing worth getting into.” Eddie comments, leaning into the couch, raising his eyebrows at Steve. Not something he wants to get into with you around, but definitely will with his best friend. “She sounded…jealous.”

“Jealous how?”

Eddie looks at you, twisting his body to face you. “Jealous of you. Out of line, absolutely, but jealous.”

The satisfaction that ripples through your body is simply too much. A woman took advantage of his kindness and left him for dead and now she’s jealous? Good. “Wait, she stalks my Instagram?”

“Uh, I suppose, yes.” Eddie answers, not so sure he understands the use of stalk.

“I could have some fun with this.” You mutter, thinking to yourself.

“Baby?” Eddie asks, slightly scared of the wicked smirk he sees displayed on your face.

“Hmm.” You mumble, opening your phone to your Pinterest app. “Yes?”

“What do you mean?” Eddie asks, talking low as he watches over your shoulder.

“Nothing. Just be ready for a picture when I need you.”

Eddie laughs, ready to calm you down a bit, but finds himself a little fearful of the plan in your mind.

You scroll through your Pinterest for about ten minutes while Steve and Eddie converse about the boys again. If you have learned one thing about Steve, it’s that his kids are his pride and joy. The conversation leads to Eliza, and you feel that pang in your stomach again. It’s getting harder to ignore as you watch Eddie’s face light up at the endless stories of the kids’ mischief.

Steve gets up from the couch, needing to use the bathroom. While he’s gone, you take advantage, finally having a moment to ask the question that’s been on your mind. “Hey, Ed.” You start, his head turning to face you, almost impossibly close.

“Yes, baby?”

Shit, his lips are so tempting. You sigh, ignoring the pull to his lips. “I just have a question, and please don’t be offended if the answer is no.”

Eddie huffs out a laugh, pleasantly surprised by your reaction to his ex-wife calling, so he’s certainly intrigued by what you’re about to say. “I make no promises.”

That’s not comforting. “Okay. Have you and Steve…did you guys ever hook up?” You ask, avoiding his eyes, which is impossible because they’re right there.  

Eddie breaks into a smile followed by incredibly contagious laughter. You were certain you must’ve been dead wrong based on his laughter alone. You’re just reading into things that aren’t there. He finally stops, grabbing your face for a smiley, giggly kiss. You pull back, looking at him in confusion, as he laughs again. “I should’ve known you’d figure it out.” He says, eyes searching yours.

Oh, fuck. You were right! “Wait.” You say while giggling. “I…I was right?”

“Yeah.”

“When?!”

Eddie squints comically, looking up. “Uh, 27 or so years ago in Vegas.”

You squint back at the sheer cliché of it all. “Vegas? Really?”

“Well, we were both down on our luck, we thought, very drunkenly, might I add, a trip to Vegas would help. It certainly did the trick, I think.”

You laugh, the situation described much differently than what you had expected. “I bet it did.” You boop him on the nose as he scrunches it adorably.

Steve comes out from the bathroom and sees your silly display of love, jogging to the couch. “You guys are cavity inducing. Seriously.”

“Steve.” Eddie says, turning his head to face him. “She figured it out.”

Steve smirks, silently asking Eddie if he was talking about what Steve thought he was talking about. “Hmm?”

“Mmhmm.”

“No shit! What gave it away?” Steve asks, genuinely curious as he attempts to extend his legs onto Eddie’s lap again.

“No offense, you guys, but you both act like you have a secret with one another that you won’t share with the class. There’re only so many secrets that could be.” You offer an answer, and they seem to accept it…for the most part.

“What, we don’t give off two very straight dudes?” Eddie jokes, making you shove his shoulder.

“See, Dylan’s great, but I’ve been dying to ask since last night, and I wasn’t gonna ask with him around.”

Eddie chuckles, leaning in for one last gentle kiss. When he separates, he clutches onto Steve’s leg, startling him. “Sorry,” he laughs through his apology. “I have to take a shower then I have one more errand to run, and I need your help before you take off tonight.”

“Sure, dude. What do you need?”

You go back on your phone, checking your Pinterest and mostly tuning out the conversation, looking for subtle ways to show Eddie off on your Instagram that will piss Brooke off. Eddie nods his head to indicate it isn’t a conversation to be had around you, and you don’t even notice.

Steve nods in understanding, fist bumping Eddie as he runs around the couch and up the stairs. The silence that settles around you while he’s upstairs is comfortable, Steve paying attention to the movie as the plot thickens while you scroll through your phone and gather devious ideas. You barely notice the ten minutes pass by as Eddie comes back downstairs. You clock the scent of his freshly showered self, causing you to look up.

Eddie is wearing a pair of jeans and a button up loosely tucked in with a chain necklace. You pick your jaw off the floor, gulping as he walks up to you with a smirk on his face as he witnesses your very visible reaction. He lays a chaste kiss on your forehead and taps on Steve’s leg.

Steve gets up from the couch and Eddie grabs his keys. “Be back soon, baby!”

“Could you get some pop?” You ask him as he opens the front door.

“Baby, we have so much to drink that’s not gonna rot those pretty teeth. It won’t kill you to drink water.” He says, stopping in the doorway. You roll your eyes, tempted to order in from a convenience store if he was gonna be this stubborn. “If there’s pop here when I get home, you’re gonna see a consequence.”

“Yes, daddy.” You bite back. Well, if you order one drink and place it in the bottom of the recycling, he won’t see it, right?

“Hey. Drink some water. I mean it. Take care of yourself, for Christ’ sake.” He yells, hearing your eyes roll. “Love you!”

Eddie shuts the door, reminding himself to check the recycling when he gets home.

“Daddy, huh?” Steve asks, poking fun as they get into his truck.

“Yeah, yeah, shut up.” Eddie rolls his eyes, shoving the keys into the ignition. His hands move to put the vehicle in reverse when something occurs to him. “Shit.”

“What?”

“Uh, give me a sec.” Eddie brings out his phone, going through the 15 contacts, scrolls right to Maya. He rings it.

“…Hello?” Maya answers, sounding understandably perplexed.

“Hi, Maya, how would one know what kind of ring to get without asking the person it’s for?” Steve’s brows rais, the errand being ring shopping is news to him.

“Well… it depends. Do you want to buy her a ring just because…or are you shopping for,” she pauses, slowly saying it. If she was wrong, it could set off an alarm, “…an engagement ring?”

“Yeah, an engagement ring.” Eddie admits, saying it out loud feels crazy to him. “How would one figure that out?”

“Give me five minutes.” She says, and abruptly hangs up the phone.

As Eddie stares at his phone in bewilderment, Steve leans into him. “Engagement ring, huh?”

“Won’t be asking her until at least another few months, if I can even wait that long. I said something on the phone with Brooke today. It just came out.” Eddie offers, his voice soft as he explains to Steve what’s been invading his mind for the last hour. “Brooke went a bit far on the insults. She called her a skank.”

“How classy.” Steve offers dryly, his face suggesting it was anything but.

“I got so mad. I’ve never been as mad at her as I was when those words left her mouth. I said if she ever called my wife a name again, I would be calling more than just my lawyer.” He quotes himself, letting the word sink into Steve’s skin.

“Oh shit.” Steve mutters, the weight of the word kicking in.

“Yeah, it slipped out, but calling her my wife felt so damn good I couldn’t help myself. I’m not getting any younger.” Eddie pauses before saying anything else, the next confession might be too much to say out loud yet.

“C’mon. If you can’t tell me, who can you tell?” Steve says, giving him some comfort.

“Her eyes when she looks at pictures of Eliza, or listens to stories about your boys, fuck I thought I never wanted another kid, but Jesus Christ, I need to see her face when she looks at one of ours.” Eddie admits out loud for the first time, the words scaring the shit out of him. Dylan in his 20s was exhausting. Could he handle another newborn? Another toddler? Another teenager?

Steve felt like he held all the power in knowing you two both wanted a kid. Feels like neither of you are ready to tell the other, so it’s a secret he’ll have to keep to himself for now. (If he’s strong enough.)

Eddie’s phone buzzes, a link appearing in a message from Maya. He opens it up and it directs him to your Pinterest page. Eddie wonders how Maya even found it. Your name isn’t connected to it. The link is specific to a board labeled Engagement Rings with a bunch of sparkle emojis surrounding it. Eddie looks at a few of them, screenshotting a handful to get the basic idea of what you’d want. He texts back Maya to thank her and puts his truck in reverse before Steve even knows what’s happening.

-

Eddie and Steve go through at least three jewelry stores before Eddie angers Steve at his indecisiveness. It isn’t that Eddie is indecisive, it’s that he’s hoping for a jeweler to look at the general vibe of your board and have the perfect ring to offer. Instead, Eddie’s met with vague indications of where he could look. These interactions all leave Eddie feeling frustrated as just walks out of the store for the next one only about ten feet away.

It takes Eddie a few tries until he finds the fairy godmother he’s been looking for, but finally he shows an engagement ring specialist the general aura of the rings you had saved, and she brings out four or five options that fall into the same category for Eddie to look at. Maybe Eddie could’ve been clearer with other stores of what he needed, but it felt as if they didn’t think he was going to buy one, anyway. Here, in this store, he feels like a respected customer, which goes a long way with him. In his shop, he spends his extra time making sure his men don’t treat any ladies like they know less just because they’re women. He hoped that even though he had a few faded tattoos and dressed alternatively, he’d be extended that same courtesy.

The helpful sales lady holds up each ring and explains to Eddie why she picked it in relevance to the photos you saved. Eddie sighs, each one in the right field, but not quite there. As she puts rings away to keep on looking, Eddie clutches onto the glass in frustration, feeling completely unprepared. Brooke basically gave him her ring and told him to propose when he had the balls. He wants you to love this ring, he wants to see it and know that it was made for you.

Maybe that’s too much to place on a ring. But for Eddie, just the simple prospect of searching for this ring means he has the hope that you will be his for the rest of his life.

Just when he’s ready to leave for the next store, she brings another one, a look on her face that tells Eddie she might’ve found exactly what he’s been looking for. She lays it out on a cloth, as Eddie marvels at it. It’s a thin, silver ring with four blue stones lined up along the band as the metal crosses over itself like vines. Eddie knows all of the jewelry you wear is silver, dainty, and has a few hints of blue. From the moment he sees it, he knows it’s the One.

Eddie holds it up for a few moments, circling it around in his hand. It takes all the self control in the world not to just head home and propose that night. He hands over a ring he took from the center console in your closet to the sales lady for your size. Within ten minutes, the papers are signed, the ring paid for, and Eddie walks out with a small white bag.

They get into the truck, the white bag small, yet significant as it sits in the back seat. “Well, that’s a step you’re taking.” Steve observes, carefully assessing his best friend’s emotional state.

“Mmhmm.” Eddie hums, staring at the bag in the rearview mirror. “And now, I’m fighting the urge to propose tonight.”

“Tonight?” Steve asks him, the speed of your relationship knocking him in the gut. “Let’s not scare her off. Plan a nice meal, set out a pretty dress on the bed for her. I bet she’d appreciate that.” Eddie considers this, knowing Steve is probably right.

So, now the ring sits in its box in the bottom of Eddie’s underwear drawer.

-

When Eddie and Steve get home, they find you on the couch napping while a movie neither of them has heard of plays on the TV, a bottle of nearly empty coke on the table next to it. Eddie sneaks upstairs to hide the evidence, the bag shoved into the bottom of a trash can, and the ring tucked safely away. When he comes back down, Steve is in the kitchen making himself a snack for the road while Eddie crouches in front of the couch to wake you up.

“Morning, baby.” He says in a low voice, petting your left cheek with his thumb.

Your breath hitches as you wake up, the last thing you remember is being giddy as you picked up your order from the front step with chips, candy, and a single bottle of pop. As you finished most of your snack, the movie started to matter less and less, a phenomenon that only occurs when you know that you’re about to pass out on the couch.

“There she is.” He mumbles as your eyes take in your surroundings. Him, the end of the movie you picked out, and the setting sun through the curtains. “Hi. I see we didn’t take my concern for the amount of pop you consume to heart?” He musters, gesturing to the side table.

You stretch, every muscle in your extended limbs feeling it. “You made it pretty clear it was for my teeth.” You mumble, unable to prevent a smile at Eddie’s floored reaction.

“I see.” He mutters, and the smirk on his face is enough to send a thrill of fear through you. “C’mon, Steve is about to leave town. Let’s go say our goodbyes.”

He tugs on your hands, lifting you up off the couch, guiding you to where Steve’s packing a recyclable grocery store bag with snacks he found around the kitchen. He comes out of the kitchen clutching the bag, his brown eyes shooting a fond look to the both of you. “Sorry, guys. Gotta get to the actual purpose of my trip eventually.”

You squint at him, pretending to consider forgiving him. “I suppose we’ll forgive you. If… you bring Eliza next time.”

“Another one bites the dust.” Steve mutters under his breath, chuckling. Eliza Harrington really has the whole world wrapped around her little pinky. (And oh, boy, does she know it.) He grabs onto your shoulder, pulling you in close for a hug. “Take care of him, will ya?”

You nod into his bicep, the soft spot he had gained for you over the last two days taking you by surprise and vice versa for him. “You know I will.”

Steve can’t resist the joke. “Oh, I know you do.”

You hit him playfully, feeling the heat creep up on your cheeks.

Steve and Eddie share an even longer hug, something about saying goodbye to old friends is always hard, you know that. As they separate, still clutching each other, Steve says something under his breath that makes Eddie hit him harshly. “Steve.”

“What?”

“Dude. Subtlety?”

Steve chuckles as he picks up his bag of goodies. “If you two are one thing, it ain’t subtle.”

You’re left questioning what could’ve possibly warranted the reaction that Eddie let out as Steve and Eddie do a few more rounds of farewell. It never seems to end as they keep bringing up new topics with each step Steve makes toward the door. It reminds you of your mom at the grocery store when you were eight.

The door finally slams, Steve yelling an "I love you" while Eddie shouts “Yeah right!” He brings out his phone soon after, sending I love you, too to Steve as a text. Well, Eddie is realizing that a next time is never guaranteed.  

The moment Steve’s SUV takes off, the low hum of the engine riding off to the end of the street, you turn back to the couch for a night in with Eddie. Alas, he has other plans. You lead him to the couch, holding his hand. Eddie tugs you back sharply, your limbs flailing as a result. “Woah, there, sweetheart.”

You give him a questioning look, wondering if you were just picturing his eyes darkening. “Hmm?”

“I asked you, very nicely, not to order pop. For one thing I think you drink too much of it, and for another there is water, juice, alcohol, even. Baby, I would just appreciate you taking my wishes into account.” His voice is serious, to a point that startles you. “So. As mentioned, there will be a consequence.”

“Like…like what?” You ask him, gulping as he traces his fingers along your collarbone so lightly you barely feel it.

He leans down, leaning into whisper, “Run.”

Your heart rate stutters as you turn away from him and run straight towards the basement, a place you know was once Dylan’s hangout spot, but now is just a dusty living room. Your feet trip over themselves as they run down the steps, pure panic and adrenaline coursing through your veins as you run to a guest room, hiding in the corner.

Upstairs, there are footsteps leading directly to the steps you just ran down. He fucking walks. He takes his time, step by step, and you can tell with each step as your heart rate picks up that he’s taunting you. He knows you’re in some corner somewhere, but he just doesn’t know which one. “Downstairs, huh? Didn’t see that coming.” Eddie admits, peering around each corner with his hands behind his back.

Fuck, you’re just a sitting duck here. You crawl up by the door, waiting patiently as he walks into the room right across from the one you’re hiding in. You make a quick run for the stairs, your breathing tight in your chest as you run, but for some reason, can’t recall why you’re running, you’re so fucking turned on right now. Your first few steps are loud and you curse out loud when suddenly Eddie’s feet are right behind yours, giggling with glee as you do.

Somehow, you make it up the steps and run straight to the kitchen, stopping at the island. He lands on the other side, his face hungry with want, his shirt untucked. There’s a wild look in his eye you can’t quite understand. You giggle as you attempt to go either way, realizing you’re stuck where you are.

“Oh, how is she gonna get out?” He taunts, watching you assess the situation.

Your instincts take over. You miraculously hop onto the island, using some sort of kicking method against the counter straight across and crawl into a dive for him, attacking his lips with yours. He accepts you without fail, wrapping his arms around you and kissing you back hungrily. You place kisses down his neck, focusing on the one spot on his collarbone you knew he loved when you sucked on it.

“Like that.” You answer him, starting to run straight towards your bedroom.

Laughter like music to Eddie’s ears leaves your mouth as you reach the top of the stairs, and he books it straight after you, not waiting another second to chase you to where he suspects is either the hallway or your closet. You’re crouched down in the hallway, hoping he’ll go straight to the bedroom. He doesn’t, seeing you as soon as he rounds the corner.

He fists your hair at the crown and you help as he lifts you to your feet. “Looks like I caught ya.” He hums, his face watching you closely. His hands let go of you and he moves to kiss you again, his tongue feeling a sort of rough it hasn’t before. “Holy shit.” He mutters, guiding you so you’re up against the wall.

You kiss him back, and for what felt like the first time, you didn’t spend an ounce thinking about it, just giving in. “Ed.” You whimper, the heat between your legs now begging you to provide friction.

“Hmm?” Eddie asks, his hands moving roughly up and down your body. “What, baby?”

“Ed. Please.” You beg him, lifting your leg so you can at least feel his boner peeking at your clothed cunt.

“Nuh uh.” He tuts, lightly pushing on the knee. Your leg falls down, as well as your face. “You don’t get off until I tell you to. So, unless I move your leg, or remove your shirt, you just let me kiss you and respond. Got it?”

You gulp, nodding your head. “Yes.” Eddie licks his lips, his eyes faltering for a fraction of a second. “Eddie?” You ask, making sure he’s okay.

Eddie loves that you can pick up on this, even as he gives you new rules and a new playground to explore. “Do you mind just…doing one thing for me? It kind of stuck with me since you moved in.”

“What?” You ask, your heat still aching, but for the sake of his sanity and for his good graces, you attempt to stand still. (You’re terrible at it.)

“Call me sir?”

You reflect on moving day, the men calling him the name that so obviously gave him a bad taste in his mouth. Apparently, when you commented on it, you made an impact. “Yes, sir.”

“Holy shit.” Eddie hisses, marveling at you now, staring up at him through your eyelashes, waiting to be told what to do. “Now, be a good girl and bend over against the wall.”

“Yes, sir.” You tell him, turning around against the wall.

“No, actually.” He says, taking you by the hand and taking you downstairs. He guides your hips so you’re right in front of the kitchen sink and he bends you over. “Much better.”

He moves your sweats and panties down only to the middle of your thighs, bending on his knees as he admires the slick that has already gathered. “So wet.” He murmurs. You whimper as he barely dips a finger into your entrance, gathering some slick on his finger. He lifts it up to your mouth, “Open.” You do so without hesitation, licking your tongue all over the three knuckles he places in your mouth, tasting your own arousal. Without warning, he takes his finger out from your mouth and wipes it on your shirt. You waited for the praise that never came.

“Oh, now brats get praise for doing what they’re told?” Eddie asks, knowing exactly what you’re thinking as he pulls down his pants.

“No, sir.” You mutter, now craving that praise even more.

“That’s what I thought. Now be a good girl and take this for me.” It’s the only warning you get before he slides his cock in. Your feet are practically planted right next to one another so you start to open your stance to allow him to go in deeper. “Ah.” You freeze in place, realizing your mistake.

He places his hand around your neck and brings it back to him, your neck extended feeling both incredibly uncomfortable and hot. “What did you do wrong?”

“Move without your say so.”

“Hmm?”

“Oh, move without your say so, sir.”

“Here. If you ask, and I say yes, or, if I tell you to. That’s it. Understood?”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

Eddie smiles down at your blown pupils and half open mouth. He was afraid he jumped in too deep and threw you into the bathwater, but he could feel your pussy tighten around him. You’re so into this. He gently kisses your forehead and lets go of your neck. He slides his cock in even more, and keep in mind, he hasn’t even started to fuck you, yet. He’s barely halfway in your pussy and holds onto your hips as he sees you start to squirm. “You need something baby?”

“Could you move please, sir? Just a little bit? Need it so bad.”

“Should’ve thought of that sooner, then baby.” He musters, sounding bored, though he’s anything but. “Here.” Without warning, Eddie moves his fingers against your clit and has you teetering the edge in mere minutes. You’re so close, you can see the edge. It’s right there.

He stops. He slides in a bit more into you as his mouth gets close to your ear, his breath giving you goosebumps. “Consequence.” He grunts out, his grip on your hips bruising.

Your knuckles are white as you hold onto the edge of the sink like a vice. It’s like you can taste it. He doesn’t move another inch, his heartbeat against your back and the only audible sound coming from you is your panting in need. Eddie pushes in the rest of his length and a second beautiful sound is added to the mix, one he couldn’t get enough of, even if he tried. Why would he ever try? The sound of your pussy as you gush around him is perfect. “Taking me so well.” Eddie mumbles as he places both of his hands over yours on the sink.

The whimper that leaves your throat forces its way out, your body is tense from doing everything you can not to swivel your hips or back yourself into him. “Baby, you’re so tense.” His arms flex along yours, a shaky sigh leaving your mouth. “Why, hmm?”

“You…you said not to move unless you say so.” You tell him, frustrated because, of course, he knows.

“Or, unless you ask to.” Eddie adds, his chin resting on that spot on your shoulder. “I’ve been waiting for you to ask.”

“Sir, can I please move my hips?” You ask him, hoping he isn’t teasing you again.

“Of course, baby.” Eddie’s tone is sweet and endearing. What a goddamn liar he is.

The words are like music to your ears as you start to move your hips, testing the waters. When your movement isn’t met with any punishment, you start moving more frantically, fucking yourself on his cock. Eddie lets out a sigh of content, hands raking down your back to your hips, the palms rough against your bare ass. “Sir, can I please move my feet?”

“See? My good girl is catching on. Of course you can, baby.” He answers, a smile lacing his voice.

Giddily, you move your feet further apart. “Sir, please…please take my clothes off?” You ask, waistband restricting your legs. “Wanna feel you.”

Eddie’s hands move down the apples of your ass to the sweats that started moving down your legs from the impact of your ass that had just started bouncing on him. He kisses your clothed back as you step out of them, kicking the garment aside. You feel the cotton of your shirt move up your back, your arms lifting over your head to assist Eddie as he takes it off. His lips touch the bare skin of your back, his tongue sending ripples down your spine as you shiver under his touch. Eddie grunts as you continue to swivel your hips against him.

“Fuck.” Eddie grunts, watching your naked form wither against him. He can no longer fight the incessant need that’s grown while waiting for you to ask him for movement. His hips start mercilessly pounding into you without a hint of a warning. The moans that fall from your throat are uninhibited and radically full of relief. “Is this what you’ve been waiting for, baby?”

“Mmhmm.” You nod your head, curling over the sink as your arms give out.

Eddie slows down and takes himself out, and your hand moves to push yourself off the sink the littlest bit when you realize your mistake. “You can move.” Eddie smirks, noting your obedience. He’s still standing with his pants down to his calves and his shirt disheveled. He steps out from his pants, tossing the pair toward your pile of clothes. Then he goes down each button on his shirt, slowly exposing his chest to you. As his fingers move over each one, you eye his chest hungrily, aware he’s watching your face while you watch him.

The shirt falls down his arms with a slight flop as the material hits the floor. “Sir…” you gulp, the two of you staring at one another. “Sir, can I kiss you?”

Eddie smirks, nodding his head. You take the two steps toward him and your legs wrap around his hips as you hungrily kiss each other. He turns toward the kitchen island, a small yelp leaving your mouth as the cold granite counter hits the warm flesh of your ass cheeks. He guides his cock into you, slowly pushing into your heat, watching your face as your eyes roll back. “Feel good?”

You nod, a laugh escaping your lips.

“What’s so funny, hmm?” Eddie asks, using his mouth and tongue against your neck.

“Good? Your cock is perfect, Ed.”

“What happened to sir, baby?” He asks, yet continues to rut into you. Your face falters, realizing your mistake. He lets out a laugh, pitying you.

He places his fingertips on your clit, circling slowly, making the heat that’s pooled in your stomach hotter and larger than you could even conceive. “That…that feels so good, Ed.” You tell him, letting your head fall back.

“God, I love when your tight pussy just-” he inhales through his teeth, “sucks me in… Feels like heaven.”

You giggle, the end of it cut off by a particularly rough thrust. “Heaven?” You gasp out, Eddie starts to move his fingers faster and matches the pace with his hips.

“If Heaven isn’t fucking this tight pussy all day, then I don’t fucking want it.” Eddie gasps back, a growl forming under his breath.

“Ed, I’m gonna—” the feeling overwhelms you, the edge muting your senses as your orgasm ripples through your body.

Eddie moans as you tighten more around him, a fix he figured impossible. He still rotates on your clit, you release two sharp exhales, the heat too hot, too much. “Too much, Ed.”

“You can do it, baby. I could just edge you more.” He mutters.

You giggle, frightened at the goddamn prospect of it. “No, no, no.”

“No? Well then show me. Let’s feel that pussy make a mess all over my cock.” You came from the words alone, giggles intertwined through your moans. “Oh fuck, good girl,”

“I’m so close, baby.” He moans.

“Gonna fill me up?” You ask him, your legs tight around his hips as you bite at his collar bone.

“Keep doing that.” Eddie begs you, and you happily oblige. Every nip, bite and suck at his collarbone had him gasping over you, the chain of his necklace hanging between you two. Your hands go into his hair, pulling at him and you could probably have a third one at the rate he was going at.

No probably about it, but Eddie’s panting and you’re exhausted.

Even then.

He pushes you down as he cums, your back screaming with cold as it hits the island counter. Eddie collapses on top of you, and you breathe heavily together, both catching your breath. His mouth latches on your neck, kissing a trail to your lips. “Oh, I love you.”

You smile into his kiss, your noodle legs falling from his hips. “I love you.” You find yourself wrapped in his arms, the smell of sweat and sex invades the kitchen. His chest is covered in sweat and there’s nothing better.

“Join me for a shower?” He asks after you two have a moment of silence, his fingers single handedly causing a brigade of goosebumps down your side as they move in a whisper over your skin. His other hand is wrapped on your left hand, and you don’t realize he’s unconsciously rubbing at your ring finger.

“If I can walk.” You giggle.

Eddie chuckles, pulling himself out of you and giving you a sleepy half smile. “I could always…” He begins, and then he scoops you up over his shoulder to take you up the stairs. You protest for the first minute of it, but when the view is his toned ass as he walks up the stairs, you really couldn’t complain.

-

Thank you so much for reading! I love to read your comments, replies, and reblogs. As always, reblogging is the best way to support your fic writers on tumblr.

Taglist: @pinkcowracing @yourthebrokengirl @skrzydlak @thirddeadlysin @sammararaven @bebe07011 @prettylovley @josephquinncore @forget-you-morelike-fuck-you @names-were-taken

Taglist for Really Drives Me Mad: @yunnie-f1 @hollster88 @corrodedcoffincumslut @daisyridleyyyy @daniellabrandt @lail1010 @alicentswife @bl4ckt00thgr1n @ali-r3n @tlclick73 @vintagehellfire @hellfirefiend @kittydeadbones @luumunson @uncxmfxrtablex @eddiesgfffffffffff @hkurbsjundebi @eddies-puppet @joantje @novelnovella @shady-the-simp

(Okay the very idea that this many people wanted on the taglist is INSANE to me. If you want on it, just reply and I'll add you.)

[lestappenforever]

My ask is maybe a bit silly, and would probably go in 'sanity check' category. It is about Max, and how he is perceived. If I understand correctly, it is said he is mad max, bad guy, aggressive… and similar. Now, I know teenagers are sometimes a bit crazy, and from what I read he was actually very badly treated by freaking adults, fellow drivers, when he first joined F1, so maybe then he was a bit aggressive, and it would be even understandable… but still it is difficult to even imagine that. Because Max I see (I am only following racing since last year) is nice, soft, funny, polite guy, still more looking like an innocent kid than an adult, even appearing naïve (unlike the sweet, adorable devil that is Charles!), and obviously so nice towards rookies (Oliver and Liam-who himself said it). So am I delusional and see what is not there or for some reason he is so vilified (I guess most coming probably from jealousy and Netflix crap…). Oh and one additional observation, he always looks so much softer and somehow cuddlier and cuter on photos from his streaming at home… What do you think? One final observation, then I will shut up  Sometimes it seems to me that all the Lestappen moments and specila connection maybe come from the fact that when Charles came to F1 Max finally had kinda his person there. Because he went form father abuse to fellow drivers abuse, but when Charles came to F1, he had someone he could have a real relationship with, even if they fought and were a bit sulky almost teenagers still in the beginning, they got over it as they grow up. But Charles is his genuinely healthy, good, fun, friendly relationship. Having spent time as kids growing up of course also deepens the bond and friendship, but also mutual respect and understanding each other’s qualities. I don’t know if explained it well enough… P.S. I LOVE your fics!!!!

Hi anon, and thank you so much for this ask! I don't think it's a silly ask at all.

All these "Mad Max", being too aggressive, being mean claims etc. stem from two things:

1. When Max made it into F1 almost 10(!) years ago, he was 17(!!) years old. He was a kid — a literal child. And he was a cocky, arrogant little shit at that, as any kid would be making their debut in such a prestigious sport at such a young age.

2. Max haters who will hate him forever, no matter what, no matter why. They don't even need a reason; they're just determined to hate him and will do so forever.

But the thing is, and his haters especially seem to love to ignore this fact, Max was seventeen years old when he made his F1 debut. He was, for all intents and purposes, a child. I watched Max make his F1 debut, and I watched and read the way he was viewed and the reception he received from his fellow drivers, the media, and fans alike. And I watched these grown-ass men already on the grid when Max joined welcome him by treating him like shit. These adults were so threatened by this kid who came into the sport without having to go through the same ranks almost every other F1 driver has to go through to get there, such as several years in F3 and F2 (Max only spent a year in F3 and skipped F2 altogether), that they did virtually nothing to make him feel welcome. Quite the opposite, in fact. It was so fucking sad and infuriating, and I lost a lot of respect for many drivers because of it. And if I'm being honest, anon, that's what made me decide Max would be my favorite driver. I can be incredibly spiteful when I want to be, and watching Max get slammed and slandered from so many directions from the very beginning made me want to be very spiteful. That's what made me decide that I was going to support that kid like hell. And I haven’t looked back or regretted it since.

I cannot stress this enough, and I know I've said it so many times before already, but: Max Verstappen was a child when he made it into the world of F1. But he's not a child anymore, which a concerning amount of people seem to be blissfully and willfully ignorant to. Max has grown and matured so much in the years he's been in F1. And, like most other people, Max Verstappen the adult is not the same person as Max Verstappen the teenager, or Max Verstappen the child. And he hasn’t been anything like his 17-year old self in a long, long time. But this, of course, is something his haters will never accept or acknowledge.

I truly believe, from the very bottom of my heart, that Max is always so nice and welcoming towards rookies, always willing to lend a hand or giving them advice, always going out of his way to praise and support them, because practically no one ever did that for him when he was a rookie. And that speaks volumes about his character and the kind of man he has grown into since making his debut.

You're not delusional at all, anon, and having only followed F1 since last year means it's not surprising that you don't see the very outdated and frankly incredibly incorrect persona the people who dislike Max will always keep trying to convince themselves and others is still him. Because it isn’t — not even close. Practically every single person who has worked with or been around Max in the past few years all say the same thing: that he's funny, easy-going, and one of the genuinely kindest people on the grid. And that means a hell of a lot more than the opinions of people who have never and will never know him, and have made it their personal, sad mission to hate him. So you keep holding on to the impression you have of him, anon, because that is a far more accurate representation than the image some people are so hellbent of painting of him. (He’s definitely not naïve, though, not even close.)

And I absolutely agree: he looks even softer and cuddlier when he's streaming at home! I love streamer!Max so much.

"When Charles came to F1 Max finally had kinda his person there". <- You are spot on with this, anon! I've talked about the special bond I think these two share in the past, like in this post, and so have many others. (@tsarinablogs @valyrfia @thearchercore to name a few - highly recommend checking out their blogs if you haven’t already!) It truly seems like they have never, and will never, see any other driver as a big a rival as the other, and the numerous accounts of their karting days from people who got to watch them battle first-hand from such a young age definitely backs up that claim. And I think that's so beautiful, and it's one of the many, many reasons why these two are so dear to me, and why other F1 ships will never be able to come close.

P.S. That makes me so happy to hear, anon, thank you so, so much. 🥹❤️

[garbbitch]

Can you write something about reader and Julien being friends forever and ignoring their mutual pining (which is obvious to everyone around them) until one day one of them finally breaks?

mutual pining

julien x reader (roomate)

fluff!

i hope yall like it

i feel like she would try to be subtle, and it would work most of the time until lucy or phoebe were around cuz they would obviously know she likes you

you would be subtle too but also would be super blushy and stuff when you guys talk.

i feel like she would call you little pet names, nothing that’s too specific like baby or honey or babe or something super specific to relationships but she def calls you princess or sugar and she always does it by accident, like it even surprises her when she says it

i can also imagine her getting you coffee in the morning on her little morning walks (as mentioned on gayotic) and you want to think that means something but you convince yourself it doesn’t

i feel like you (a character i’m constructing… go with it) would bake her stuff, cookies and brownies or something

i feel like julien wouldn’t know if your queer or not which is why she doesn’t make moves, you’re kinda femme and she hates to make assumptions but she also doesn’t wanna make you uncomfortable. i feel like the convo about you being queer would happen in a super lowkey setting and it wouldn’t be a big deal

you guys would be at a party or something like that and some random guy would hit on you, (🤮) and you would be visibly annoyed or disgusted by him (cuz he’s a man, honestly so real) and you would be looking around for anyone to ‘rescue’ from him, he wasn’t doing anything other than talking to you, but julien was watching him this whole time anyway. jealously. so your eyes would pan over the room, you would see jo and naomi and kelli all goofing off in a corner and wouldn’t be able to get any of their attention, then you’d look over to katie and lucy who were also not looking your direction and wouldn’t get see that you clearly needed someone to get him to leave you alone cuz no matter what you said he wouldn’t let up. then you’d look over at phoebe and bo who were also not paying attention to where you were and then you’d see julien who seemed to be burning holes into the back of the guy’s head. she would come over as soon as you looked at her. “hey, you ok?” she would say as she walked over to you, casually placing her hand on your waist. you would respond saying you’re ok or something and then she would try to make a joke “not your type?” i feel like she would try to make you more comfy as he walked away or something by cracking a joke. and that’s when you’d say something like “definitely not, i pretty much only like girls” and she wouldn’t react but like i feel like she would ask what your type is, and you would probably say it just depends.

also, going back to when lucy and pheobe make it obvious, i feel like it would go over your head or you wouldn’t want to think too much of what they’re saying. cuz like if they’re wrong somehow you don’t wanna mess things up with her

they’d say stupid shit like

“you look really nice in that dress, what do you think julien?” and obviously she would immediately blush and try to say something that wasn’t stupid

if the whole group were at a party i feel like lucy would dance with you to make her jealous

i feel like julien would compliment you a lot, not in a weird way, but in a cute way

it would obviously make you blush like crazy and she again wouldn’t think anything of it

pheobe would get so frustrated watching yall flirt with each other that she joked she couldn’t stand to be around the 2 of you

but omg the moment one of yall “break” it

so cute

i feel like it would be another night that you had tried to go to bed early but you were feeling restless so you got up to sit with julien while she strummed her guitar

“hey sleepyhead.” she said as she strummed the guitar softly. you would probably huff dramatically. “i am not a sleepyhead.” you would protest for the umpteenth time and she would chuckle like she always did, how could she not. “what’re you doin up so late?” she asked you as she sat the guitar down and tapped she seat next to her. “couldn’t sleep” you said back to her avoiding her eyes. “playing anything new?” you asked her a second later. “nah, just strumming. why couldn’t you sleep?” she asked as she turned to face you. “i dunno, busy mind i guess” you said, sorta lying. not that your mind wasn’t busy, you were thinking about her… again… big surprise! you were running over the little moments that you didn’t know if they meant something or not. “wanna talk about it?” she asked wanting to help if she can. “i dunno i’m overthinking stuff… it’s whatever” you say back to her still avoiding her eyes. she reached over to touch your hand as you fidgeted with your fingers. “can i ask about what?” she asked gently as she rubbed your hand softly, not wanting to make you uncomfortable. you would sit there and try to think of the correct thing to say about it, you don’t want to make things awkward or uncomfortable. “i dunno if i should say.” you say quietly as you stare at her hand on yours. “you don’t have to, but you also don’t have to worry about talking to me.” she would reassure you as she stroked your hand softly. you took a deep breath feeling a little anxious about putting it to words. "i was thinkin about you." you said softly, avoiding her eyes and trying to not get more embarassed by what you said. realization dawned on her as soon as she heard it. when she didn't say anything right away you panicked and immidiately back pedalled. "'m sorry- i shouldn't have said that. i get it if you d-" you started to ramble and she cut you off with a kiss. you immidiately shut up and didn't stop the kiss, you gently touched her face. she gently broke the kiss a moment later. she stares into your eyes as if she's looking for uncertainty. "i- wow- we should've done that sooner." you said with a soft giggle. she chuckled too. "i should've asked you out." she said softly. you blushed a little and she gently stroked your cheeks with her thumbs.

you guys have a long talk about what you guys want out of a possible relationship.

a couple days later you guys go on a cute date

she brings you to a party at lucy's house and neither of you hear the end of it from lucy and phoebe.

[burnandblind]

I guess I'll just keep saying it in as many ways and as many times as it takes:

Humanity needs to grow out of this phase.

Materialism. Capitalism. Toxic levels of selfishness. Lack of self awareness. Lack of compassion. Ignorance. Lack of accountability.

Just.. basic growing up stuff. But on individual, group, demographic, and societal levels.

Who the fuck am I?

Brown. Mixed. Black/Greek/White. Trans. Autistic. cPTSD.

I exist at a lot of intersections. I also happen to be pretty, smart, and strong.

That's its own can of worms/double edged sword.

Bc people think these traits SHOULD be mutually exclusive. Or something. Idk.

Then there's the.. spiritual connection thing. Which everyone has. But I think the more experiences you have, the more it changes you. Just like anything else.

I've lived at least 3 life times. I can weld, drive a forklift, operate a crane. I've been a busser, a line cook, and an assistant manager/cashier.

I've been homeless. I've been an alcoholic. I've had my share of crazy times and drugs. I've been married and divorced to an abusive woman of color.

The only things I haven't had enough of are love and money.

Most people kill for those. I just try to work for them. Honestly.

Somehow, that's never been good enough. Though many people didn't bother to work as hard for me as I have for them.

Not in my personal or business lives.

Now. Now, I'm sick of being humble. Of being quiet. Of being chill about how I've been treated or people's stupid bullshit.

I've only ever made my problems other people's when I've asked for help.

When I try to share my experiences? There's a lacking of response that eats at me

I don't care for attention. I want to live my life in peace.

But my issues are indicative of The Issues™️ that have been eating at humanity for thousands of years.

I'm just very much the guy that is here and tired of the bullshit.

I'd like to have a 3 some with a girl and guy or they of my choice and fuck off to the woods. Really.

[mochinon-yah]

How would you describe your friend's art/writing? (E.g.: scenario, food, memory, etc.)

OMGGG ANON THANK YOUUU LET ME SMOOCH U RNNN <3333

But i'm gonna twist the question a bit since i haven't read everyone's work so yeah 🥹 i'm gonna describe the way they talk or how they 'feel' like to me lolll

@beloved-brynn: (<- my dear sweet hallow) whenever brynn is talking about something, it could either be the most mindblowing thing ever or the funniest thing ever 😭 i love her sm (platonically) since she's my first ever mutual and the first ever person to just... kinda welcome me to tumblr (i can hesr her in the distance saying smth smth abt i traumatized her despite the warm welcome- /silly) also she's good at giving advices! She's somebody who would cofmort you in an objective but warm way while also try to joke around so you won't feel like you're being nagged at (good grief, i cried more while she did that lol) ALSO A SIMP FOR DIMITRIII ‼️‼️

@meimeimeirin: tbh rin's writing or way of speaking is so so uniquely her that even if she tried to mask it up, i could guess that it's her 😆 she's an amazing mutual that i have no clue how the heck did we even be friends and be close like this??? Is it the same thing like how me and brynn get close- i gave you a drawing- anyway, she has a very elegant way of doing things, and especially when she starts to ramble or write about something that she loves! It's always so lovely reading her posts <3 btw rin, keep a chicken head with you always, yeah? 😋

@leftdestiny-posts: NOW THIS IS AN ENIGMA BECAUSE I HAVE NO CLUE HOW DID WE ACTUALLY BECOME MOOTS????? Shiro, did u just somehow in someway adopt me- 😭 but anywayyyy, shiro's way of talking is so so so soft and cute and warm and it makes me wonder how the heck did they mask their craziness so good like that- /smacked sorry sorry, enough jokes, what i meant to say is that shiro is such a down to earth person, and honestly i could see them go "wah, the clouds are really pretty today~ the flowers too~~" their writing or talking style has that vibe to me! It's so warm and fuzzy to me 🫠 i feel so comfy with themm 💗💗

@a-bookworms-teashop: i took a liking to one of her series and ever since then, i am a fan of her works!! I like to leave comments and just yk... support her works! Suddenly, bam! She dm'ed me or smth and we just kinda talk 😆 i love when she goes to ramble about her works because it shows how much love and effort she pours into each and every one of them!!! Im still waiting for an update to that series hiks but in any case, her other works sre also a masterpiece! Example? The yandere ceo one! It's so interesting and honestly bae, i would read every chapters 😻 i mean i already did, but eh YEAH READ EM GUYS!!!

@jessamine-rose: bae jess, ur works are amazing pookie, i once read one of ur work before eventually falling in love with how u write but i forgot which one was it... (it was a long time ago) was it abt capitano...? I'M SORRY I FORGOT HDBSHSJSJ 😭😭😭 but anyway, jess has the mom vibe that it always made me think of those asian moms (I'M ASIAN- THE TRAUMA IS THERE- /silly) who would hit their kids with sandals and be "i told you don't be like that!" >:o also her way of speaking and the amount of kaomojis she used is so so her that i would just imagine her every time i see one of those kaomojis 😆💗 please keep using em, i love ittt <333

@harmonysanreads: i simp for u. Yes, you read that right, my friends... I SIMP FOR HARMYYYY (shoo shoo eun- /silly) 😻💗 harmy has a very distinctive vibe and personality despite being similar to rinrin, and uhh how do i describe it...? It's like talking with a mom figure (no harm, i don't see u as a mom figure-) who knows you so well!! Her way of talking is so elegant, but it's not the warm-like elegant! It's like seeing a queen (?) and you can't help but to be mesmerized by her mannerisms! I also love the way she can form her words, they're always so thoughtful and really straightforward in a way lolll (she's my argue buddy too- anyway prince hirang 👎 /silly)

@navxry: NAVI ACTS LIKE THE MOM FRIEND!! Not really the mom mom friend, but navi is our server mom 💗 they take care of us and sometimes pop in and say either the most horrendous down bad thing ever for female game characters (while im like "oh yeah so true lmao" but i don't usually pop in and say that) or they'll help us around the server because apparently most some of us are not pretty... tech-savvy (me included HAHAHHA) navi is such a mood sometimes and i absolutely love them for ittt 🫶 u go girl (/gn) be as silly as you wsnt for your fics, or in other words, kill em all- *cough* i mean what

@calxlu: a fellow infp who really loves albedo 😆 i love when one time i made a bedo art for them and they reblogged it so many times,,, it made me super happy and super proud that the art made them that happy 💗 anyway, vivi talks similarly like me methinks but like ummm how do i say it? Vivi is like cuter...???? IDKK HAHAHAJDJ- um, moving on 😆 i love it when vivi describes or tell smth because it could either be the most cutest thing ever or the funniest thing ever (i still remember that grandma comment pls 😭) anywayyy i hope your life has been less stressful!!! Also will be hoping that ppl won't bother you especially when you don't want to get bothered 🫂

@teabutmakeitazure: ZURIII MY BELOVED 🙌 HELLO HI <333 muach muach i hope you're doing well when you read this post /gen /pos !!! When zuri comes in the server and say smth, i will always imagine someone wesring a glasses, talking in such a monotone voice but tries to appear caring and sweet because YES they are actually really sweet and very much loveable and smoochable <3 it's just how you 'feel' like to me, so don't mind em too much loll 😆💗 also, i see that zuri and speckled can match each other vibe so well and it makes me think that they'll be such a great and cute duo together sbsnsjkssk

@vennnnn-diagram: VENNNNN OMG MY PARTNER IN CRIME 😻💗‼️ (<- we never did any crime other than bully brynn... i think-) ven is so funny and chaotic that it makes me wanna smooch em every time they appear <3 how do i explain this... uhhh, like ven always seems to be the silliest person ever whenever they talk in the server, but GUYS they're like really thoughtful and so overall nshdjisks i can't describe it but i will fight anyone who diss or insult ven /hj kinda srs actually ✨️ ven, if u think that being silly feels weird out of nowhere, bae we're all weird, so dw abt it 😆 im also very silly, so we can be silly together!!! ALSO ONE IMPORTANT FACT, ven is our music genius 🙌‼️ i'm so serious abt wanting to hear ur music for an hour straight-

@stickyspeckledlight: speckled...... well, uh, the word 'silly', 'random', "what in the world-" as a person fr 😆 i also just kinda deem her as the gamer pro in our server and well.... i gotta say she's real good when gaming (<- has never seen her gaming stream) BUT LIKE WHATEVER THOSE GAME TERM STUFF, SPECKLED KNOWS IT ALL ‼️‼️ like whenever she said oh this and that about hsr or genshin, i'd be "oh yeah so true" despite me not understanding her words (sorry yall i'm not a gamer 😭) alsoooo it's pretty noticeable, but uhh speckled (and zuri) is aventurine lover and she's pretty crazy abt him *cues me looking at her fics* keep going bestie 🙌 you (and zuri) are our aventurine truther lol

@ainescribe: AINE MY SPOUSE ✨️ THE LOVE OF MY LIFE /pos 💗💗 ainneee, one of our talented super amazing artists in the hostelry 😻 thought despite me saying that aine is the loml, we haven't talk or interact much, but i know that she's a sweetheart hehe 🫶 aine has a very bubbly way of talking, she likes to yap yap like eun especially if it's about.... uh lores? Idrk the kind of stuff that aine likes to talk about, but it's always fun to hear her (and eun) yap ‼️ also, i can't describe it but she makes me wanna smooch her but also nom her (it's just cuteness aggression-) ALSO I HAVE TO SAY IT AGAINNN, HER ARTS ARE REALLY PRETTYYY 💗🙌 LIKE 100/10 PRETTY ✨️

@lucienbarkbark: girl, idk what goes on in your mind but you're a mood 😆 i am always so surprised whenever rika appears and say something, it's too straightforward but i love her for it <333 she seems like someone who would just do whatever she wants, and i would totally support her for it 💪 rika and her... 66 or more men that she would (respectfully saying) sleep with 🔥🔥🔥 HAHAHHAH THE LIST IS SO LONG AND LIKE 😭😭 i can never not laugh whenever i remember it hdjdjsjwkw pls never change your frank and honest attitude, i love it 🫶 btw, uh, pls have some rest bestie 😭 like an actual rest and also a mental rest 🫂 wishing the best for you rikaaaa >:o

@mixed-kester: esther! While i may not know much about you, but i KNOW one thing!!! It's that she's a really great artist 😻 i'm telling yall to check her arts because (from my opinion) her art style looks like one you would find in a cute short comic (that i would totally devour-) AND YEAH she's just really sweet yk 🥺 also esther talks in a very direct way that it makes you want to just know what's up inside that head of hers 😆 she's also part of the 'would eat mochi 😋' gang and i just.... have to accept that....... anyway LOVE HER 💗‼️ please be more braver and accepting of your feelings, you're precious and worth it, okay? We love you, and i hope sincerely that YOU love YOURSELF 🙌

@euniveve: OHOHOHO OUR RESUME DESTROYER HERE /silly ✨️ jokes aside, i think me, jess, and shiro would say "what can't eun do atp" if we're talking about eun 😭😭 wdym she can write amazing fanfics, great artist, good at debating, a highschool athlete, a student council president- LIKE EUN WHAT THE HECK DID YOU NOT DO???? Is it the intj in you- /silly LMAO anyway, all that aside, eun talks in a very pookie way, so full of.... love (especially if she's talking with harmy) and she would totally yap yap abt smth altho sometimes she's a bit direct about stuff (not in a harsh way tho) all in all, i hope you're not too harsh on yourself 💗 OH AND i love how confident you are!! You know that you're amazing, and i think that's great pookie 🫶

@fishanonishere: FISHHHHH 🫂 the 'albedo' in my life LMAOOOO 😭 they're so cute i wanna smooch them fr ✨️ they like to yap about their works and honestly yap more bestie (I HAVEN'T ANSWERED THEIR DM IN DISCORD BUT YEAH YAP MORE BESTIE 😭😭) they have a distinct way of talking and it's hard for me to describe it, but imagine albedo talking with such an interest while also keeping it low with how monotonous his face is and you're a bit confused whether he's excited or chill with it 😆 fish is also an amazing artist, their art style is very very 😋💗 yeah i'd eat all of em HAHAHAHA anyway fishhh, i hope you keep being 'you'!! It's always fun talking to you, but i think my energy is just not that big enough for us to keep talking for so long 😭🙏

[hanakoofthejungle]

HuskerDust Sinatra playlist (to be updated)

Given Husk and Angel's time when they were alive, Sinatra's songs would no doubt fall into their mutual category of favorites. I believe Angel would very much like Sinatra's crooning considering Sinatra's melancholy voice, him being also Italian and having alleged connection to the Italian mob. Husk spent so much time in casinos so surely he knew all of these songs like the back of his hand.

Below are the songs that I find would fit well into their inner thoughts and stages of their relationship. When Sinatra sang, he didn't just sing a song, he was telling us something from his heart which I imagine is what Husk wanted to say to Angel and vice versa (and there are duets :))). You will see that Husk was allocated more songs than Angel. This is because I firmly believe Husk is the more sappy and sentimental one in the relationship.

Who knows :)) these songs might inspire some fanfictions. Whatever you imagine, Sinatra can provide :)))

One song might have different version sung by Sinatra. The ones listed here are the most fitting in my opinion. These are all youtube links because some came from nice musical films/music shows and some aren't available on spotify.

The pining stage (sprinkled with some self-loathing/insecurity in case they didn't think their feelings were mutual)

Husk

These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)

These foolish things remind me of you You came you saw you conquer'd me When you did that to me I knew somehow this had to be

It could Happen to You

All I did was wonder How your arms would be And it happened to me

Half As Lovely (Twice As True) (or Husk's insecurity about himself being just a washed-up drunk while Angel could have anyone he wants, also mention of Angel's facade. This is the perfect song :))))

I'm only one of those who thinks of you and sighs, Just another who knows your laughter and lies. I wish that you were someone who was half as lovely, twice as true. I love you, I love you, too much it seems, for any fool can see, With your heart so crowded with other dreams, how can you dream of me?

Bewitched

I'm wild again, beguiled again A simpering, whimpering child again Bewitched, bothered, and bewildered am I Couldn't sleep, wouldn't sleep Then love came and told me I shouldn't sleep Bewitched, bothered, and bewildered am I Lost my heart, but what of it?

Angel

I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)

You never seem to want my romancing The only time you hold me Is when we're dancing I don't know why I love you like I do I don't know why, but I do

I fall in love too easily (This fits Angel so well)

I fall in love too easily, I fall in love too fast I fall in love too terribly hard, for love to ever last My heart should be well schooled, 'cause I've been fooled in the past And still I fall in love too easily, I fall in love too fast

Glad to be unhappy

Unrequited love's a bore And I've got it pretty bad But for someone you adore It's a pleasure to be sad

Prisoner of Love

Alone from night to night You'll find me too weak to break the chains that bind me. I need no shackles to remind me, I'm just a prisoner of love.

The confessing stage

Husk

Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart

Dear when you smiled at me I heard a melody It haunted me from the start Something inside of me, started a symphony Zing! Went the strings of my heart

Then Suddenly Love (I can imagine Angel kick the door open :)))

I never heard bluebirds, the songs that they sing, I never get crazy, not even in spring, Then suddenly love struck me like lightning, Love it blew up a storm, Love suddenly grabbed me, and ooh, was it cozy and warm 'Cause I found you, now I no longer just exist, Ooh, what a change, it started from the time we kissed

Angel

I Get a Kick out of You

Some they may go for a cocaine I'm sure that if I took even one sniff It would bore me terrifically too Yet I get a kick out of you

I've Never been in Love before

I'm full of foolish songs And out my song must pour So please forgive this helpless haze I'm in I've really never been in love before

Husk and Angel

You're Awful (A silly duet confession of love :)))

Husk: Those words that everyone knows But my thoughts gets mangled, And all the words get tangled, But since you asked me, here goes: You're awful, awful good to look at, Awful nice to be with, awful sweet to have and hold. You're nothing, nothing if not lovely, Nothing if not dazzling, nothing but pure gold, You're frightening, frightening me when you say That you might go away, You're boring, boring into my heart to stay. You're cheap, dear, cheap at any price, dear, Cheap for such a diamond, Cheap for such a pearl, What I said before, I'll say again, You're awful, awful nice to be my girl. Angel: You're old, dear, old with worldly wisdom, Old like Gorgonzola, old like finest French champagne, You're so-so, so-so, so-so kinda charming, So-so kind of witty, so I can't explain, Husk: Can't stand you, I can't stand you giving some fellow the eye, Can't stand you in the arms of another guy, Who needs you? Need you to distraction, Need you too this crazy, need you rain or shine, Both: I'm the one who needs you, And I think you're awful, awful nice to say you're mine.

The dating/domestic bliss stage (sprinkled with some angst/couple fights)

Husk

[How Little It Matters] How Little We Know

Who cares to define what chemistry this is? Who cares, with your lips on mine, how ignorant bliss is? So long as you kiss me, and the world around us shatters, How little it matters, how little we know.

I Could Write A Book

If they ask me, I could write a book About the way you walk and whisper and look I could write a preface on how we met So the world would never forget And the simple secret of the plot Is just to tell them that I love you a lot Then the world discovers as my book ends How to make two lovers of friends

That Old Black Magic

Those icy fingers up and down my spine The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine The same old tingle that I feel inside And then that elevator starts its ride And down and down, I go 'Round and 'round, I go Like a leaf that's caught in the tide

Too Marvelous for Words

You're much, too much, and just too very very To ever be in Webster's dictionary And so I'm borrowing a love song from the birds To tell you that you're marvelous Too marvelous for words

Polka Dots And Moonbeams

In my frightened arms, polka dots and moonbeams Sparkled on a pug-nosed dream There were questions in the eyes of other dancers As we floated over the floor There were questions but my heart knew all the answers And perhaps a few things more Now in a cottage built of lilacs and laughter I know the meaning of the words? Ever after? And I'll always see polka dots and moonbeams When I kiss the pug-nosed dream

Witchcraft

'Cause it's witchcraft, wicked witchcraft And although, I know, it's strictly taboo When you arouse the need in my My heart says yes indeed in me Proceed with what your leading me to It's such an ancient pitch But one I wouldn't switch 'Cause there's no nicer witch than you

Dear Heart (Husk waited for Angel to come home from work)

Dear heart, wish you were here to warm this night My dear heart, it seems like a year since you've been out of my sight A single room, a table for one It's a lonesome town all right But soon I'll kiss you hello at our front door And dear heart, I want you to know I'll leave your arms never more

Husk and Angel

We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye

We thought that love was over, that we were really through, I said I didn't love her, that we'd begin anew, And you can all believe me, we sure intended to, But we just couldn't say goodbye. The chair and then the sofa, they broke right down and cried, The curtain started waving for me to come inside. I tell you confident'a'lly the tears were hard to hide, And we just couldn't say goodbye. The clock was striking twelve o'clock, it smiled on us below, With folded hands, it seemed to say, we'll miss you if you go. So I went back and kissed her and when I looked around, The room was singing love songs and dancing up and down. Now we're both so happy because at last we've found That we just couldn't say goodbye.

Kisses and Tears

Kisses and tears, it's up to you If we laugh or we cry through the years Unless you trust me, whenever a doubt appears Your future with me will continue to be kisses and tears You're crying again, you're sighing again Can't we patch it up this time? I guess it's alright, we've finished our fight It's just about kiss-time

Nothing in Common

Our two goals are apart as the poles are As lovers our roles are completely miscast Let's make a clean break And not take any chances 'Cause outside of thinking you're something divine And outside of wanting your lips close to mine We've got nothin' in common We've got nothin' in common at all

How Are Ya Fixed for Love

How are ya fixed for someone to watch the rain with? To stroll down the line with? For someone to just go a little insane with? How are you fixed for memories? Memories that shine so bright? If we let fancy take us We could make us a few tonight How are ya' fixed for someone who'll fit your arms like a glove? Hey, tell me baby, how are ya' fixed for love?

Bonus: Sinatra's Loser, baby a.k.a Here's To The Losers

Here's the last toast of the evening, here's to those who still believe All the losers will be winners, all the givers shall receive Here's to trouble-free tomorrows, may your sorrows all be small Here's to the losers, here's to the losers, here's to the losers Bless them all!

[geuwon]

pairing: zoro x sanji / zosan (one piece)

genre: fluff, idiocy, getting together, mutual pining

warnings: none, just headache inducing dumbassery from the two of them

ao3

sanji never liked books. he thinks they're too unrealistic to entertain him. the only ones he can stand are those with recipes.

that was until robin introduced him to a "stupid" romance novel, one that he liked quite a lot.

since then, he's become a bookworm and bonds more with robin over their shared interests. he has also been comparing a certain marimo to the books he enjoys.

about how unpredictable the novels that robin recommended to him are, just like the seaweed. how he enjoys watching zoro's day-to-day routine, just like how the books entertain him. how he thinks he knows where the story is going but then it takes a huge turn- just like zoro, who surprises him with every move he does.

a plot twist, an enigma, that's what zoro is. zoro is like a book to sanji, maybe that's what got him hooked to books in the first place- which he never liked from the start, zoro, yes that's it. he likes books like how he likes zoro.

but of course, the marimo doesn't need to know that.

just like in books, he's gonna be watching from afar, silently watching zoro until he gets his own lover and reaches a happy ending. then that's where his cue to stop is going to come.

books are entertaining and this should be as well, right? he's gonna stay as an outsider from zoro's romance story, like how he reads books. he's gonna root for zoro, the main lead, and his love interest, he would want them to get together, for his own enjoyment as well.

so why the hell does it hurt?

guess that's the difference between books and reality.

the other gives you little pangs of pain whenever the main couple have misunderstandings, the other.. well, makes you suffer in silence. much worse that being kicked by blackleg sanji himself, the very own sanji bets.

'whatever', the blonde brushes it off. these stupid feelings will go away soon anyway. he's too busy to fall inlove, it won't do him any good in finding the All Blue. 'it's just a little crush because zoro is so cool and hot- nothing serious.'

is what he'd like to say if this "stupid little crush" hasn't been here for the past 6 months already.

okay- so he might be slightly inlove with the marimo BUT it's sure to go away soon. he swears.

while he was having an internal conflict about his dumbass feelings, zoro casted him a look, and gave a gut-wrenching (positive) smile that made him want to rip out his beating heart in an instant.

it's times like these that sanji falls harder for the goddamn marimo. a smile so so small while he's working out and the blonde relaxing a few inches away, a pat on the head after zoro finishes his dinner as a praise for sanji's (usual) great food, zoro hearing him out when a sudden depressive episode hits him while they're on night watch, god fucking damn it.

he IS head over heels for zoro, fine. fuck you if you somehow get the balls to mention all of this information to the dumbass.

he has no clue about sanji's feelings, and it shall stay that way because he's not kidding when he says he's gonna throw himself out of the ship, in the middle of this huge ass sea, if god forbid his feelings reached the ears of the seaweed.

zoro suddenly stopped lifting his weights and looked at sanji for a second and said, "hey cook, the dessert earlier was amazing. you remembered that i don't like sweets, thanks."

FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK.

A RARE COMPLIMENT FROM ZORO HE'S GOING TO ACTUALLY DIE.

"ah.. it's nothing. what kind if cook am i if i don't please my customers, yeah?" sanji managed to reply normally despite malfunctioning like crazy on the inside.

he fucking hates this side of zoro.

the rare, soft, gentle, zoro who you might mistake for the man of your dreams if it weren't for the fact that this side of him is the complete opposite of the real zoro who is a brute, stupid, no-table-manners, swordsman.

the soft zoro who always manages to catch sanji off-guard and makes him wanna throw himself to outer space and never come back because of how much his heart was beating for the marimo.

he is exaggerating but he can't help it he's head over heels for the swordsman- not that he actually wants to admit to it.

despite sanji's brain going into ruins he failed to miss the smile that zoro- again- gave him.

this is the worst.

he only wanted to relax in this fine afternoon after the exhaustion of which feeding the bottomless pit that is luffy's stomach gave him, not fall inlove harder with this crewmate!

it doesn't help that their other friends are out enjoying themselves and left only the two of them to guard the ship.

yes, that's right, guard the ship AND NOT UNDRESS THE MARIMO WITH HIS EYES.

this is the worst, oh god- this is the first time he turned to the guy above whom everyone worships and it is shameless to ask but- sanji wishes for a sea king to just appear and swallow him, never to be found, never to come back aboard on the ship with the man he loves.

well apparently god hates non-worshippers because the marimo just had to talk to him again- now with a slight blush on his face.

huh? a blush? what? why-

"cook, are you dating someone?" zoro asked with a voice so quiet it makes it seem like he didn't want to speak in the first place.

sanji, confused, and quite frankly tired of running around in his own mind just because his crush did something cute, replied with a raised voice, "HUH?" which seem to have startled zoro a bit, he's used with the cook yelling all the damn time but he didn't really expect that the blonde would take offense from the question.

zoro slightly panicking, took his question back "shit. should i have not asked? sorry cook, i was curious and robin told me to ju-" but he was cut off when sanji gave a reply.

"no no no just wait you goddamn marimo- i'm not dating someone. and what do you mean you were curious?!" sanji replied with a blush that you can never miss, even if you were the dumbest seaweed on earth.

zoro returned the blush, equally flustered as the other because his motive was just exposed to the chef, "yeah- uh- i was curious, it's like i know everything about you but not if you have a lover or something.. i asked robin and she told me to just ask you directly and i did. is that weird?"

shit. zoro's actions makes it seem like he likes him back.

wait.

like.. him.. back?

"w-why were you curious in the first place anyway? i'm pretty sure you don't have a single romantic bone in you... the question isn't weird but now it is because it came from you!" sanji asked- more like demanded to know to be honest- the blush still not going away from his face.

zoro gave him a dumbfounded look, like sanji was THE dumb one, "why would you ask that? i thought you knew...?" he said with genuine confusion.

before sanji could ask- yell 'what the hell does that mean marimo?!' zoro spoke again, the most unbelievable sentence so far.

"i like you, cook."

for the love of everything holy.

sanji bursted out laughing, though not genuine, "no- haha, i must be dreaming! i read too many romance novels and now i'm projecting on my dreams that the stupid marimo actually likes me back! yeah that's it- that's what's happening here. this isn't real." he nervously laughed it off, after all it's impossible that the roronoa zoro has romantic feelings for someone, let anyone sanji himself.

the chef was proven wrong when zoro's reaction turned into one of concern, "the hell do you mean cook? this is real life. i'm being genuine here and you just laughed it off, just say so if you feel the same way, i can actually take rejections you know." after he uttered the last bit, zoro's expression turned into just genuine sadness, definitely a reaction you wouldn't expect from the man himself.

"no, god no, it's not like that you dumbass marimo! didn't you hear what i just said? i said i like you but i never expected for you to return the feelings- hell, i didn't even expect you to know your own feelings! it just feels like a dream, you know? i've been fighting my feelings for 6 months already and i swore to never let you know but here you are, confessing. i even compared you to the romance novels that robin gave me- said i would've been okay with just watching you from afar getting all happy and soft with your lover even if i knew it was a lie but then you went ahead and said all this. of course i wouldn't believe it!" sanji was practically rambling but he didn't really care, as long as the message gets through zoro's thick skull.

"what? 6 months? i never noticed!"

sanji lit up a cigarette to hide his embarrassment, "told ya' you're stupid." then he blew out a smoke.

zoro frowned at his response, "i could say the same thing to you shit cook. i've been flirting with you for 9 months already and you never noticed."

the chef choked on his own smoke, "what the hell?! how long have you liked me!?" sanji yelled while coughing slightly and zoro replied with the same volume, "since arlong park you dumbass!"

"then why the fuck did you not tell me!?"

"you're always flirting with women, who would?"

sanji looked over at zoro who he didn't notice scooted near him and stopped working out completely, and if he wasn't observant enough he would've missed the pout-y expression that zoro was making, though he was amazing at hiding it.

"yeah, my bad. we're just both idiots huh?" the cook extinguished his cigarette and grinned, zoro shortly returned the face, "yeah. you're worse though. dense as hell love cook."

"even the most intelligent person wouldn't know if you're flirting you idiot! you're always glaring at me and picking a fight, how the hell would i catch the hint? it's not like i can rea-"

"shut up and kiss me, shit cook."

they spent the whole afternoon making out (gross) and cuddling, when the crew came back they sneakily went back to doing their own thing as if nothing romantic happened in the first place.

the crew could tell though. the first fight that broke out between them after the others arrived back from their little trip was practically filled with hearts and flowers all over the both of them.

oh and a certain someone was definitely spying on them, congratulating sanji for making the scenes in his favorite romance novels come to life, albeit not as romantic.

though it is quite obvious that the cook wouldn't have his own romance any other way.

[khaopybara]

tag game ✨

@mbjw saved me from saturday boredom and tagged me in this, so thank you jubs, i enjoyed these a lot.

1. why did you choose your url?

i love khaotung. khaotung was obsessed with the capybara song last year before i even knew who he was. capybaras happen to be a very common animal in the region i live. i was very happy they were getting the recognition they deserved. put them together, we have lovely khao + capybaras = khaopybara (i'm also super sure i've seen people here and on tw use this and i just stole it. i'm not creative especially when it comes to usernames).

2. any sideblogs? if you have them name them and why you have them.

i have two other sideblogs. @tuseryoo for all of the gifs i make so i can have all of them in one blog just because, so i feel like i'm not losing track of the things i create (even though i haven't updated that one in a while), and @captain-xandis that some moots might have noticed in their notifications bc i recently created that one to post gifs about critical role, but i always forget to check which blog appears on top of the thingy, so i'm constantly deleting and reblogging things in the right blog these days.

3. how long have you been on tumblr?

as of july 3rd, i've been here for 11 years now, so since 2013? which tracks with my super strong k-pop phase tbh.

4. do you have a queue tag?

nah, i have a queue going for gifs that are requests or for episodes that already aired, but usually i just post things whenever.

5. why did you start your blog in the first place?

ha, i was into super junior. and i was experimenting with fandom for the first time at the time. that's it. i felt like tumblr was a lot more creative and pretty than twitter or facebook, so i stayed.

6. why did you choose your icon/pfp?

i am a mook defender and apologist. i also think aya is super cute and super pretty. i change icons so often though, i blame all the pretty women in qls these days for making me change it all the time.

7. why did you choose your header?

i am breathing and living for the heart killers and kantbison and unfortunately i'm dying from lack of content. the tattoo table kiss is going to change lives i think, so until we don't get the official version, i'll have this masterpiece displayed there somehow.

8. what’s your post with the most notes?

as of now, it's a 23.5 official trailer gifset of sun being jealous of ongsa with amazing 939 notes, but the gifset of lada protecting earn from hitting her head on the table is quickly catching up with 877.

9. how many mutuals do you have?

17 mutuals? i think that's right.

10. how many followers do you have?

843 if you count the main blog + side-blogs.

11. how many people do you follow?

... 27 blogs.

12. have you ever made a shitpost?

i mean, sure? i do get embarrassed by my own shitposts sometimes and i delete them tho.

13. how often do you use tumblr each day?

all the time. it's my favorite social media for sure. i get to see pretty things and my dash is much better curated than other apps. it's great.

14. did you have a fight/argument with another blog once?

i don't think i ever fought online. i block people with remarkable expedience tbh if i don't like their vibe or their tone or the shit they post, and i also make use of the filtered tags, so you know, no reason to fight.

15. how do you feel about ‘you need to reblog this’ posts

these exist? good for them. you shouldn't tell people what to do.

16. do you like tag games?

sure! i only started being part of them now, so sometimes i forget them, or i just don't see i was tagged, but i do enjoy them.

17. do you like ask games?

i don't think i've ever done an ask game but that's mainly bc i think people won't want to know and won't send any asks, and i'd rather spare my ego from that humiliation.

18. which of your mutuals do you think is tumblr famous?

i think many of my mutuals are famous in our ql bubble which makes it a little crazy that some are my mutuals tbh. that's most of them actually.

19. do you have a crush on a mutual?

i do have people that make me kick my feet when they interact with my posts like, twirling my hair, silly smile, giggling because they've noticed me. but actually crushing, imagining our lives in the countryside, with a kitchen facing the meadow in a fine spring morning, with two dogs and three cats, no.

20. tags?

i'm tagging @namtanfilm, @aylinaliens, @sollucets and @sherrymagic, @ayansukkhaphisit and whoever feels like doing it, and to those i've tagged, just ignore this if you want, too, no pressure.

[theircurse]

━━━━━━ㅤㅤGET TO KNOW THE MUN . 🌙

ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴘɪᴄᴋ ᴜᴘ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ ᴍᴜꜱᴇ(ꜱ) ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ?

This is embarrassing but when I first watched BSD, the second I saw them in the OP, I was like ' WHO IS THAT CUTE KID ? ' and then it was all over from there. I did not know that this ' cute kid ' would be holding the brain cell for like six years nowㅤ—ㅤor that in those six years, Asagiri would still REFUSE TO GIVE THEM ANY SCREEN TIME OR STORY RELEVANCE PAST SEASON 2.

ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇ?

Nothing really aside from s/mut and r/omance ? I have played adult muses despite my abundance of child muses and shipping was never really something I found appealing. And when I do play adult muses, I tend to like slowburn but probably too slow for the other partner lol

ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ?

Let Yumeno see things ! Let Yumeno experience life ! But also let them experience THE HORRORS.

ʜᴏᴡ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴜᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴄᴀɴᴏɴꜱ?

Sometimes they just pop in my head or some sort of media or thing I'm consuming makes me think of the headcanons ! And considering Asagiri didn't give me a lot to work withㅤ—ㅤit's free real estate.

ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇ ɪɴ ꜱɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴏʀ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴘʟᴀʏ ᴍᴜꜱɪᴄ?

Usually I do !

ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴘʟᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇꜱ ᴏʀ ᴡɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ?

99% of the time, I wing them because I am the most organized A/DHD person in the world /s. Sometimes in the rare instance that a reply is REALLY LONG or there's a lot of stuff happening in the reply, I plan them !

ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ ꜱʜɪᴘᴘɪɴɢ?

Motions at the answer I typed about this. Not really ! Maybe that's why I stick to minor muses for the most part. Howeverㅤ—ㅤI am all for platonic / familial dynamics.

ᴡʜᴀᴛ'ꜱ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀʟɪᴀꜱ/ɴᴀᴍᴇ?

Stella ! I don't have any profound story about it tbh. I just liked how it sounded.

ᴀɢᴇ?

Old 28.

ʙɪʀᴛʜᴅᴀʏ?

May 1st and I have the most FUCKED Astral birth chart ever !

ꜰᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴏʀ(ꜱ)?

Everyone knows it's blues but I enjoy the rare purple / pink / red every once in a while.

ꜰᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ ꜱᴏɴɢ(ꜱ)?

I have this disease called I hyperfixate on the same songs for long periods of time until they lose all meaning. I ALSO have a disease called I'm very specific about what I like to the point that I DON'T know what I like. But some of my favorite artists are Bring Me The Horizon, Emilie Autumn, FAKE TYPE, In This Moment, POPPY, etc. Butㅤ—ㅤI've mainly been listening to P/okemon OSTS lately lol

ʟᴀꜱᴛ ᴍᴏᴠɪᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ?

I honestly cannot remember !

ʟᴀꜱᴛ ꜱʜᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ?

Some weird Kdrama my Dad and I still haven't finished.

ʟᴀꜱᴛ ꜱᴏɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪꜱᴛᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ?

Giant stellar turtle !

ꜰᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ ꜰᴏᴏᴅ?

Basically any form of junk food like cookies and cake and also Chinese egg tarts. In terms of real food, pasta, shrimp rice noodle rolls, adobo, lumpia, sinigang, etc.

ꜰᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ?

The cold dead winter because I don't have to worry about cutting the grass or bugs ! We SOMEHOW always get wasp infestations in our house every spring / summer and it's super annoying.

ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ ʙᴇꜱᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ?

Yes ! There's @jardinae who's so creative and talented and her OC world is absolutely magical ! Then there's @embxllmer who I've been friends with since before BSD which is crazy because you all know I've been in BSD for YEARS. Then there's @diverse-hearts and @smol-sirens-garden who've seen me at my best and my worse and tolerate me screaming about infinitely spawning fish in H/SR ! @idleautumn is like a big sister to me as well ! There are definitely more I'm missing as well but every mutual is friend-shaped !

Tagged by: @jardinae ( ilu )

Tagging: Whoever !

[frankmillerturnonyourlocation]

🔖⛓️💭 for Henry?

HIIII ECHO THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! 🩵🩵🩵 Sorry I took so long with this!!! Also I accidentally answered these in reverse order. oops lol.

☆ ask game

warning for: discussions of implied/assumed csa

💭: What scenario do you return to when you think about this selfship? How does it make you feel?

Getting personal as fuck with this first question here, but I invented a faceless, shitty older half-brother oc for Emerson to bounce some backstory off of. He’d be semi-involved with the villain/hero world, mainly someone who’d help Emerson create and repair weapons and gear and be unattainable and unapproachable for them. Someone they’re kind of devoted to, if you whittle them down to their little-kid core, who doesn’t want much to do with them in turn.

Swear to god this wasn’t intentional but it kiiiinda reverse mirrors Ray and Henry in a fun way where Henry, after some kind of Event where Em puts themself wayyyy out there for the sake of their half-brother or does something at his request and gets the shit kicked out of them. And then after the fact, Henry would be like, hey could we please fucking talk about this. Which leaves him WIDE open to Emerson’s reverse pot shot of OH we’re going to talk about unhealthy attachments here? We’re going to talk about endangerment? Like if there is one thing about Emerson it is that they are Always going to take the opportunity to imply but never state explicitly that Henry is a victim of grooming which drives him CRAZY because he’s like hello what this is our mutual friendboss?? my mentorbuddy? my brotherroommate?? the man I've spent the most time with out of anyone since I was thirteen?? and Emerson’s just like. okay well i won't say anything more about it today but did you hear what you just said.

but it’s whatever and silly and flippant until this point, because Emerson is hurting and angry that Henry’s even treading this territory and it just kind of drips from their mouth in a way it hasn’t before. Here let me link the nonsensical writeup I’ll copypaste it verbatim from my notes app just for this ask. …realizing now how much of their reaction is a messy kind of envy, here, also. Yuck!

I just love this Emerson because I can be a real dysfunctional little shit with them and like. Just kind of poke at certain themes and feelings in such a ridiculous way. They're my power fantasy smooth-talking bad guy sona which somehow also means I am also torturing them with an inability to manage any of their emotional issues. Do you ever take a look at an s/i you crafted during a certain year or event and go mmm fuck I’m telling on myself too much with this one? Well not me I never do that.

⛓️: Is your f/o protective or possessive? Why one over the other?

💙❤️💙❤️ yeah. I love him so much. I’d say protective more than possessive— when they first meet, during Henry’s senior year, Em only sticks with him long enough for a couple of dates before they ditch him for the next target (they’ve been hired to reveal the identity of kid danger and captain man. they narrowed it down to a high school and went undercover as a new student. they are. well they didn’t quite get it right but they got close. <3) so he’s kind of carrying a little bit of that minor rejection into the relationship when it truly begins in earnest (after identity shenanigans and villainous activities ensue) PLUS the betrayal of learning that it was totally fake that whole time and the shame of falling for it like some kind of amateur. So even AFTER said shenanigans, he’s still partly steeling himself for Em to up and leave in the middle of the night if he screws up and gives them a reason to. (I am the toxic one here. he is perfect and wonderful) So I think he’s got enough self control to not be outwardly possessive, even if he’s feeling it. Sulky little baby.

Protective, though, that’s kind of his whole thing! Hard to turn the hero part of your brain off, even when it’s looking at a murderer. He’s not like, annoying about it, though— he doesn’t ever (successfully) try to stop Em from doing things. Again— can’t scare them off. Better to tag along, anyway! He’s good at working as half of a pair.

And THEN he's gotta even defend the idea of trusting and engaging with me post-betrayal reveal to his friends, who have just watched me dump and sell him out AND KIDNAP HIM. the fact that the kidnapping was extremely unsuccessful grants me little favor. (I win 'em over, though. Love them too much. And like, the distrust is warranted, and I respect them for that, and I think that helps.)

🔖: If your ideal fanfiction existed about you and your f/o, what would the AO3 tags look like?

THIS WAS SO HARDDDDD I struggle with tagging even WHEN i have a tangible fic already written... but here's what I've got.

Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Henry Hart/Emerson, Past Unrequited Henry Hart/Ray Manchester, (which way? up to youuu), Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Fake Dating, Whump, Humor, Implied/Referenced Grooming, Pining, Secret Identity, Sparring, Kidnapping Gone Wrong, Hypothermia, Only One Bed, Heel-Face Turn

^^ something like that. this would be a longfic. covers a lot of ground.

[bookwyrminspiration]

Quil you featured in a dream I had last night!

so I dreamed that i had been texting you on this app and the whole conversation was like 20 pages worth of texts but I didn’t remember any of them except for the first 3 so I was concerned that someone had hacked me to text you as me? I had told you that I lived in this town named Cairo that wasn’t the one in Egypt but was named after it. And according to the website we had only been mutuals for 30 minutes (and somehow we had sent a years worth of texts in that time) and I thought we were on tumblr but it turns out we were on this website named pinbubble (pintrist and red bubble combo that looked like a knockoff tumblr) and so I was going to tumblr to clear things out but it couldn’t access it in my computer and needed to get my iPad but no one would let me have it.

that was one of about four crazy dreams I had last night

i think I should enter a competition for weird dreams

anyway sorry for rambling on but just in case you’re interested that’s what happened in my nightly hallucinations featuring you :)

I also had an odd dream last night! I don't remember most of it, but I do remember it ended with me trying hurriedly to cook a plastic bag of pinto beans, which were wet and I was scooping with my bare hands into a bathtub? which for some reason was in public? and the jets were dirty so I was stressedly adding my handfuls of beans to dirty bath water in public trying to hurry because I needed to get back to class </3

My dream got several things wrong though. I would NOT go to class knowing we were watching a movie and choose not to bring my earplugs. and my ass would NOT eat ANYTHING while out and about. ESPECIALLY if the bathwater was dirty. cibophobia got HANDS who tf do they think I am?

Anyway back to yours! No need to apologize I am always interested. Can't believe you got hacked so that someone could text me, I'm simply too charming and conversable </3

"we had only been mutuals for 30 minutes (and somehow we had sent a years worth of texts in that time)" there's a joke in there about how you fit lifetimes into minutes when you're having fun, but I can't think of the best wording.

i hope you can get access to your computer and get your accounts back and let me know i'm talking to a fake <3

[koolades-world]

hi i just saw your update thing on your du x reader book thing and i just wanted to say du era was crazy im so glad its over now. i love your writing and i hope youre doing well now!!

OMG HIIIIII (wall of text incoming under the cut about my previous fandom)

wow hi omg im literally stunned that someone actually read that update chapter and actually checked out my new page (new in air quotes because I think it’s been about a year and a half since I’ve had this blog? not too sure) thank you so much for making the effort to reach out 😭 i didn’t expect anyone to actually listen to me. im doing pretty good! fall semester starts for me tomorrow. we probably both feel old now. I hope you’ve also been recovering from that era and have found a better place to be. honestly if you’d even like to chat, I’m still in contact with a few people from the fandom, some of which you’d definitely know if you knew me. Wont say any names but my best friend is the one who made the infamous sarcastic, if you catch my drift. sorry that’s so incredibly vague but im wayyyy too afraid to say anymore out in public. so! hit me up in dms or something if you’d like! I promise we don’t bite and it would be nice to talk to someone else who suffered through that and think about just how crazy everything was. my writing isn’t what it used to be but I still try my best, I feel like I definitely matured with my style and the content itself which makes sense. I still think about that infamous oneshot that was 60k words that I somehow wrote in a week all on my phone, and how the hell that was even possible. actually, I don’t think I ever shared this with you at the time, but that was actually the shortened version. yeah. I know. let’s not talk about that haha. Now, I can barely get out 2k in a week LOL. I hope you’ve been equally as well and have found a new, more healthy fandom :) thank you for reaching out again!!

for anyone that has no clue what any of that message means (I hope that’s all of you) I will not share what the letters du stand for for your own good lol but before I was here on tumblr, I was a wattpad girlie for another fandom. sorry haha. but I always have been a x reader author lol. I won’t get into it becuase that old fandom was WILDDD I’m sure anon understands me but I can’t tell if it made me who I am in a good way or did irreversible damage. probably both now that I think about it. I actually think that book just hit 70 or 80k reads. 14 year old me would’ve been losing it if I heard that

thank you, my long time fan. even if you don’t give two shits about obey me or any of the things I like now, thank you from the bottom of my heart. back in the day it was so rare for me to get any sort of feedback period about my work, except for the ridicule kind. it’s so crazy to find ex du fans out in the wild, I wish you the best in life!!!! I will not be offended if you don’t want to reach out, by the way. Just the mutual understanding of the fandom culture and environment is enough for me. if you do though, you can send me a dm and I’d be more than happy to give you my discord! HUGS AND KISSES ANON YOURE THE BEST STAY BEAUTIFUL

[kachikirby]

GranEssex Chronicles: Chapter 4 - Visitation

A few months have passed since Meta officially joined the crew as Kurabe's apprentice. His training, both physically and mentally, has been going perfectly. In the warrior's mind, the child was an excellent student. Though today's training was cut short as she received a call from her boss.

"You want to visit Meta tomorrow?"

The general nodded. "Yes, I'm interested in seeing how much your training with him has paid off."

"I don't have an issue with you coming over, sensei, but..." She looked at the second person in the call. "Why are you bringing him with you?"

The "him" in question was Reedy, Kurabe's co-worker and so-called rival.

"The feeling is mutual, trust me. I rather you not be here, either." He uttered while adjusting his glasses.

"Then why do you want to come to my ship?"

"I'd like to see how Meta is doing. And to make sure a certain cursed blob of grape jelly is not abusing him." He seemed to glare at her, which was returned in favor.

"Reedy, that's enough. Any more unnecessary antagonism and you'll have to remain at headquarters. Understood?" Z said as his eyes sent chills throughout the Limet's entire body.

"Same goes for you, Kurabe. I don't need any infighting at the moment."

The glare he gave also sent chills down the warrior's own spine.

"Y-yes, sir." Both people immediately replied.

"Excellent. So Kurabe, what time works for you tomorrow?"

"Well, I believe any time works."

"Wonderful, we'll be there at 1 AM."

She replied with a slight chuckle. "Very well."

"Kurabe, that was a joke. 1 AM is too early even for me." Z said while laughing. "We'll be there by noon."

"Understood. We'll be expecting you then."

"Excellent. Until then."

With that, the call ended.

The warrior then gave a slight sigh. "Well, I should probably inform the crew about this. Especially Meta..."

She pressed a button that connected her voice to the intercoms.

"Attention all crew members, meet me in the meeting room, now. That is all."

She wasn't exactly thrilled about this whole mess of a situation. She had no problems with her mentor coming over. She looked up to him like a father and was honestly hoping that her student would get along with him. No, her issue was with that stuck up know-it-all Reedy. There was no doubt if he even disapproved the slightest with how Kurabe was raising Meta, he would put him in a foster home. The thought of that it... it put a pit in her stomach. She knew why Reedy disliked her. He didn't really keep it a secret. He considered her a spoiled brat who only gained her position because she was General Z's student. Which in Kurabe's mind, made him sound like the spoiled one by acting as if he was the ultimate authority just because of his position. Of course, she couldn't directly say that, or he would rant about how difficult his life was as a Limet. She took a moment to try and calm herself, but it didn't work. Her mind simply kept going back to that single thought. The thought of losing Meta.

Before her thoughts could drive her crazy, she heard a loud knock on her door.

"Who could that be? I told everyone to head to the meeting room." She thought aloud as she headed towards it.

Kurabe opened the door to reveal Meta, who had a concerned look on his face as he looked up at her. She was slightly surprised by this, but decided to question him about it.

"Is something wrong, Meta?"

"That's what I want to ask you sensei. Your voice on the intercom, it sounded like you were in pain."

"Oh, I just had a paper cut that was acting up. It's nothing." She responded quickly, glad that she somehow thought up an excuse on the spot. There was no way she could tell him about those thoughts she was having.

"Sensei, you've told me to never lie. Please don't lie to my face." Now Meta sounded hurt. This, of course, broke Kurabe's heart enough so that she couldn't stay silent.

"Tomorrow my mentor and an associate of mine will be visiting. This associate is named Reedy, and he doesn't think I'm fit to take care of you. There's a chance he'll try to take you away from me and I..." Her voice became more choked up as she continued to speak and placed her hands on his shoulders. "...I don't want that to happen. I can't imagine losing you, Meta."

Seeing and hearing this made the child pout a bit. "...do you want me to beat him up for you?"

Hearing this sudden shift in tone, Kurabe laughed. "As much as I would like that, it wouldn't be a good idea. He'll probably try to ask you a few questions about living here. All I ask is that you be honest with him."

There was a moment of silence before the child gave an understanding nod in response.

"Also, he's a Limet like Mercury, but a lot less likeable."

He tilted his head upon hearing that before asking yet another question. "What about sensei's sensei?"

"As I mentioned, he's our boss as the leader of The Organization. He's a bit of a stubborn old fool..."

"So, do you not like him?"

"Quite the opposite."

Meta looked confused.

Kurabe chuckled. "Despite his stubbornness, he's a kind man. The type of person that makes you feel safe. Except for if you get on his bad side. I might be stronger than him, but even I wouldn't dare cross him unless I really had to."

"Oh..." The child uttered in understanding.

"Well, let's go to the meeting now. Everyone is waiting for us." She said while taking his hand.

He nodded and followed her to the room.

---------

By the time they got to the meeting room, it seemed like the rest of the crew was already there. Kurabe herself stood at the head of the table and Meta sat across from Mercury next to his mentor.

The warrior then cleared her throat, ceasing all conversations from the Bukisets and other crew members in the room. "Sorry to call you all here on such short notice. To put things briefly, General Z is coming here tomorrow, primarily to meet Meta and to see how his training has been going. Oh, also, Reedy is coming. I expect everyone to be on their best behavior. Any questions?"

"Yeah. You need me to distract Reedy for you, Captain?" Mercury was the one who spoke up this time.

The warrior only shook her head. "While I appreciate the offer Mercury, we both know that would only be delaying the inevitable. If Reedy is anything, it's persistent."

"Ah...good point. Well, it was worth a try. But wait, why's he coming here anyway?"

"He thinks he's the ultimate authority of all children."

Kurabe's response was bitter enough to let Mercury understand exactly what she meant by that.

"...Is he coming on his own ship? Because if he is, I could-"

"No, I believe he'll be coming with my mentor."

"Well, there goes that idea." She gave a sigh as she sat back in her chair.

"I have a question, captain." Next to speak was one of the Bukisets. "Tomorrow I'm on kitchen duty, how much food should I prepare?"

"More than usual, since I think they will stay for lunch."

"Understood. Are they allergic to anything?"

"No allergies."

The Bukiset nodded.

"Any more questions?"

There was a moment of silence.

Kurabe nodded. "Then this meeting is adjourned, please return to what you were doing prior. "

After everyone left, Kurabe, Mercury, and Meta were the only ones that remained.

The woman turned to her superior. "Are you worried?"

"Only about Reedy. But a talk I had with a certain knight helped me calm down." She said, smiling at Meta.

The woman then gave a smile as she adjusted her hat. "I'm sure everything will be fine."

"I still think you should let me beat him up."

Kurabe giggled upon hearing the child say that. "You can when you're older."

She patted his head affectionately.

---------

The next day, Kurabe seemed to be even more anxious as she waited for the arrival of her mentor's ship.

"Calm down and have faith in Meta."

These were the words she had been repeating to herself since she woke up. However, her worries were still not eased. This was especially true when she jumped upon hearing Mercury call for her.

"Captain, the ship's here." She said while entering her room.

After taking a moment to calm herself down, Kurabe turned back to give a response. "Well, let's just get this over with..."

"Are you going to greet them?"

"At least the general."

"And the other?"

"Nope, unless he greets me first."

The woman gave a slight chuckle as they entered the hanger and saw two people stepping off the ship.

"Welcome aboard, General. I trust that you had a safe trip?" Kurabe said with a salute.

"At ease."

She stopped saluting.

"Yes, I did, thank you."

General Z was a Star Warrior just like Kurabe and Meta. He was gray and his eyes mostly closed most of the time, making people wonder how he sees. He also carried a walking staff with him, but those who knew him knew that it was just for appearances. He didn't actually need it at all. Behind him stood a well-dressed humanoid man, colored mostly in shades of gray with short hair and glasses. This was, of course, Reedy. He seemed to be looking down on Kurabe, both figuratively and quite literally. He adjusted his glasses before speaking.

"Kurabe."

"Reedy." She replied.

Z cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention. "Enough of that. I understand you two have your differences, but we have more important matters to attend to. Where is young Meta at, Kurabe?"

She quickly straightened herself up.

"He is over there, sir."

She gestured towards the ship's crew, lined up at the ready.

"Come forward, young one. I'd like a good look at my successor's student."

The child tensed up as he approached the old man. Z looked over Meta as if analyzing him. Meta himself was doing the same and what he saw... or rather felt surprised him. He was radiating with power, a power that could dominate anything that got in its path. That wasn't exactly what surprised him, though. It was his emotions, or rather, the lack of them. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't read the old man.

Z suddenly smiled. "After living for so long you learn a few things, such as masking emotions. I can tell by your emotions you are quite impressed by my power, aren't you?"

The child stared in shock as he blinked.

"Y-yes..." He barely managed to utter.

Z laughed. "You have nothing to worry about, young Meta. I've sensed your strength as well. You have plenty potential. I'm sure Kurabe has said the same thing to you."

"Uh...uh-huh!" The child nodded enthusiastically upon hearing that.

"I have no doubt that with Kurabe's teachings, you'll be more than able to reach that potential, if not surpass it." Then an idea crossed his mind. "Kurabe, is the training room open?"

"Yes, it is." She immediately responded.

"Excellent. Young Meta, we're going to see how effective your training has been." Z said cryptically.

"Sir, are you sure that's a good idea?" Reedy quickly asked.

Z open his eyes, causing him to pause. "It will be a simple exercise, nothing more."

Something about the way that was said made Meta shudder. Frankly, Z's way of speaking reminded him a lot of Kurabe. Although there was something much more mysterious about Z. He couldn't quite explain what, but the feeling was there. Honestly, all just made him uneasy.

The general must have noticed this, as he opened his eyes towards Meta. Unlike the sharp eyes he gave Reedy, his were now soft.

"Trust me, Meta, it won't be anything too bad."

The child nodded in understanding. For some unknown reason, he felt he could believe his words.

"Kurabe, lead the way please." Z said looking at his student.

"As you wish, sir." The warrior replied as she began to guide them.

---------

As they walked to the training room, Reedy decided to converse with Mercury and slowed down to start walking beside her.

"How've you been, Mercury? It's been a while since we last talked."

The woman equally slowed down to match his pace. "Things are fine. A bit more hectic since the kid joined us, but it's also definitely gotten a lot more interesting around here."

Reedy pushed up his glasses in questioning. "Hectic how? If he's being a nuisance, I'd be happy to take him."

She shook her head. "Oh, he isn't a nuisance at all. "Hectic" probably isn't the best word. I think it's better to say that things have gotten a lot livelier since he arrived. Not only that, but the captain herself has also changed..."

Reedy scoffed.

"Changed? She's the same as ever as far as I'm concerned. She's nothing more than a spoiled brat." The man declared, to which Mercury transformed into a kettle in response.

"Hey, pot."

"Yes, yes, very cute. But you can't deny that I'm right, Mercury."

"Considering I've spent the past couple of decades with her, yeah, I'm pretty sure I can deny it."

He then picked up the kettle-Mercury and began to carry it.

"Well then, would you care to explain to me how she has..."changed"?"

He used a free hand to give air quotes over the last word.

"She's a lot happier now than she's ever been. She's far more open with herself now that she has a kid to look after. She used to spend hours locked in her room or in the training room. Now you'd be hard pressed to not see her with Meta."

"Hmph. If she was that desperate for a child, she could've put the work into finding a husband."

"Before you got married, did you ever think about having children?"

"No, but maybe there would actually be someone able to keep her in line then. Not saying that adoption is a bad thing, it's quite good, as all children deserve a loving home." He particularly emphasized the last two words as he tapped the sides of kettle-Mercury.

While he couldn't see her face, Reedy could tell that Mercury was frowning.

"One. She has someone to keep her line. You're holding her. Secondly, you act like she's a wild beast off the battlefield."

He seemed to give a smirk. He then gave a slight squish to her side, pulling it in an overtly dramatic fashion.

"If she really isn't, then why does no man show interest in her? Or woman? Since she's unfortunately going to become the leader of The Organization, who's going to be her successor?"

As he raised the kettle-Limet into the air, Mercury tried her hardest not to laugh at the pseudo-dramatic performance he gave as he uttered that.

"You act as if people haven't shown interest in her. You'd be surprised by the number of love confessions she deals with. It's Kurabe who hasn't shown an interest in romance, Reedy. If you actually took the time to talk with her instead of writing a false narrative, you would know that."

The man sighed as he lowered the kettle-Limet once more. "Believe me, I've tried. You'd have a better time getting oil and water to mix."

"Yet it's always you that instigates arguments between you two. Let me ask you a question, Reedy. How many students have you had?"

"In combat or tactics?"

"Combat."

"Ten, perhaps fifteen. I'm primarily relegated to teaching tactics, you know?"

"Yes. Now let me ask another question. How many those students kept in touch with you after they left?"

"Five, maybe. I'm a busy man. I don't have time to talk to every single one. Besides, I train them well enough so they don't need to contact me for help."

"There's you're issue, Reedy. To you, everything is business. Anything that isn't related to work is pointless... minus your family, of course. But I digress, that single aspect is part of why you despise Kurabe. She has the exact opposite mindset as you and as a result is a more successful teacher. You can't stand the thought that she's better than you. Am I wrong?"

Reedy took one of the sides of the kettle-Mercury and pulled it like it was putty with an annoyed, slightly angry look in his eyes.

"And how much of that is because she's a Star Warrior? Because she's the general's student? Have you forgotten everything both of us went through as the first Limets to join The Organization? How we had to fight tooth and nail to have someone even look at us as anything but monsters?"

He began to stretch the other half of her body.

Mercury stared at him in an equally angry way, yet the way she spoke sounded unusually calm.

"No, Reedy, I haven't forgotten. But your points against her make zero sense. Her being a Star Warrior means nothing. Her students didn't gravitate towards because of her species, it's because of who she is. Her being the General's student also means nothing. She started at the bottom just like the rest of us. She didn't receive special treatment despite what you may think. And in case you've forgotten, I would be dead if it wasn't for her. I may respect you, Reedy, but one more word against her and that will change."

For a moment, the man became silent in slight surprise.

"I see. I may have gone too far. How unbecoming of me."

Then he gave a slight chuckle as he patted the now-blobby mass of metal on the head.

"It seems you've changed much as well. I'm at least proud that you've become a lot more independent."

With a slight pout, Mercury transformed back into her humanoid form, comically crushing the hand she was being held in.

---------

Eventually, the group reached the training room. Z looked around the room nodding in approval.

"Yes, this will work perfectly."

Suddenly, Meta spoke up. "Excuse me, sir-"

"Old man. You can call me that if you wish."

The child tilted his head, confused why this man would want him to call him such a thing. "Ok. Mr. Old Man Sir, what are we doing here?"

"I'm glad you asked."

Z walked onto the middle of the room and looked directly at Meta.

"This exercise is very simple. Get me to move from this spot and you win."

"By get you to move, what do you mean exactly?" The child asked.

"Use whatever method you can to move me. Even if it's a miniscule distance, as long as I move, you win."

Suddenly Z's feet turned into stone.

"Though it will be easier said than done."

Admittedly, Meta had a feeling it would be something like this. However, he nodded in understanding.

"So, method doesn't matter. Sensei told me to analyze a situation before attacking but..." He thought as he observed the situation.

No matter how hard he tried, Meta couldn't see any kind of opening.

"That staff he has... he'll probably use it against me if I attack head-on. So instead of attacking, I'll use a different strategy..." Meta thought to himself.

Sending mana into his hands and feet, the child began to charge an attack. The past few months had been dedicated specifically to mana control as well as using Copy Abilities without copying. While he was nowhere near mastering anything, he at least learned a few helpful tricks. Electricity began to surge from his feet, and he dashed at Z. Meta swung his sword which was easily blocked by his opponent, but that didn't bother the child one bit as that's exactly what he wanted. He let go of his sword and got behind Z using his enhanced speed. Meta touched Z and used all of his mana to teleport both himself and Z. However, he was only able to move a single inch. The puff looked disappointed until Z started laughing as he reached out a hand to help steady him.

"Congratulations, Meta. You passed."

The child only blinked in surprise.

Kurabe then commented with a smile. "If you remember, he said all you had to do was move him from his spot."

Realization hit Meta as he looked up at the old puff.

"You never intended this to be a test of strength, did you?" Z smiled in response.

"Of course not. While you are indeed strong, I'm still leagues above you. This exercise was about testing tactics and thinking on the fly. Remember this lesson, young Meta, some fights are impossible to win with brute force alone. Some enemies you will face can become intangible. Some might not even be able to feel pain. Fights are like puzzles. You have to look for a solution or an opening, and exploit it."

The child looked at him, slightly puzzled, before nodding in understanding. "I get it."

"Excellent. Let's all eat lunch!"

"You all move on ahead. I wish to speak with Meta. Alone." Reedy suddenly spoke up as he adjusted his glasses.

The air suddenly became tense.

"Is he really doing the questioning right now?" Kurabe thought to herself. It seemed to get worse as she was reminded of how opposed he was to having Meta as her student.

"Reedy, can't it wait until after we eat? Meta used up most of his mana, he needs food in his system." Kurabe said, trying to hide her anxiousness.

"I believe it would be better for all of us it we get it done and over with." He replied simply.

While his words were understandable, the warrior had a feeling there was another message hidden within them. It was "I rather do it now before you have the chance to possible influence his answers.".

Mercury piped up with her own stance on the situation. "Reedy, look at the kid, he's barely able to stand without wobbling. Do really think he can answer any questions you have clearly?"

He gave a slight sigh as he looked at the struggling child. "Very well, but I will be monitoring your interactions with him."

"Reedy, that's enough."

Suddenly, the general spoke up, causing both Reedy and Kurabe to stand straight up. "The boy will be eating next to me. That way neither of you can influence him. Understood?"

"Y-yes, sir!" Both people immediately responded, as if on cue.

The general nodded before gazing slightly towards the child.

"Not that any amount of influence can change his heart..." He thought to himself.

---------

The cafeteria was filled with an awkward silence. Kurabe, Mercury, and Reedy were all sitting together while Meta was with General Z.

"You do realize that once he's done eating, I'll be in questioning him, right?" Reedy asked.

"I'm well aware of it and am trying to ignore that." Kurabe mumbled in irritation.

"Afraid you'll lose him?" The man asked.

"Reedy, enough." Mercury said in a harsh tone.

The man instantly became silent as he returned to his meal. As much as Kurabe hated to admit it, that aspect was absolutely true. She was absolutely terrified, especially considering how nitpicky Reedy particularly was to her. The more she thought about it, the more she became... lightheaded.

While this was going on, Meta had a question he wanted to ask.

"Mr. Old Man, why do you have someone like that work with you?"

The general looked in the direction he was pointing and saw it was towards Reedy.

"What do you mean?"

The child pouted in response. "He's rude to sensei for no reason. I don't understand. Why would you keep someone like that around?"

The general gave a slight sigh. "Reedy has his issues, that much is true, but he's still a reliable man. As you grow older you will inevitably have to work with people you don't like. That's an inescapable fact about life. Though I do wish he would stop being so hard on her."

Suddenly, Kurabe stood up, sweat noticeably dripping down her face.

"I-I need to go get something from my room..."

The general gave a silent nod in understanding.

"Are you sure you aren't just running away from what's about to happen?" Reedy calmly asked her as he pushed up his glasses.

Kurabe tried to ignore him and walked, but as soon as she reached the door she fell to the floor.

"CAPTAIN!"

"SENSEI!"

Mercury and Meta were the first people to jump to their feet and run to her side.

"S-she's at least breathing but-"

Before the subordinate could continue, the child glared at Reedy, lightning coming out of his hands.

"What did you do to her!?"

Reedy looked at the boy's angry, grief-stricken face.

"I didn't do anything physically but-"

He then looked at Mercury's concerned expression.

"It seems that I did go a bit too far in my teasing. I wasn't aware that she was taking it that seriously. But that's hardly an excuse."

He walked over to one of the phones and dialed a number.

"Please send a medical officer to the cafeteria immediately."

He then began to walk out of the room.

"I take full responsibility for this and..."

He took a moment to look back at them.

"I'm greatly sorry for my actions."

Those were the last things he said before the door shut. Mercury just stared at the door, wanting to go after him but also not wanting to leave Kurabe's side. Suddenly, she heard a voice from behind her.

"I'll stay here and watch over my daughter."

Z, who had been silent the whole time said as he walked over to them.

"Go talk to him, Mercury, you know him better than anyone."

She nodded and left after the man.

---------

After spending several minutes looking around the ship, she found him staring outside one of the ship's windows. She stood next to him but didn't know what to say.

"You probably hate me now, don't you?" Reedy asked with a regretful sigh.

"I'm mad at you, but I certainly don't hate you."

He looked back at Mercury for a moment, but then looked back out the window.

"The child probably hates me, though."

"I'm not going to sugarcoat it, he probably does. You made a terrible first impression."

"Can't say I blame him. I should have listened to you, Mer. If I just kept my mouth shut this wouldn't have happened. I should leave."

The woman frowned. "Reedy, you're just running away if you do that. Yes, most of the ship wants you dead, but what else is new?"

Reedy chuckled. "Your attempt at humor is appreciated. Mercury, may I ask you a question?"

She looked at him in concern. "What is it?"

"Meta loves Kurabe, doesn't he?"

Upon hearing that, Mercury gave a slight chuckle that soon erupted into a fit of laughter.

"I-I'm sorry, but... I think it's a bit obvious..." She uttered after taking a moment to calm herself down.

Reedy sighed at that reply. "I suppose you're right. Given what just happened, I don't think my interview will be necessary."

"You mean the one to see if she's properly raising her?"

"Correct. She fainted because she was afraid of losing her son. As a parent myself, I should have noticed it sooner. Unfortunately, I let my pride get the better of me. It's clear to me that they need each other, and I don't wish to cause any more damage than I already have."

Mercury gave an audible "Hmm..." as if she was thinking aloud. "If you don't want to cause any more problems, then you need to apologize. Not to me or to Meta, but to her. Unless you want to keep running."

He gave a slight sigh in response to that serious tone she spoke in. "You're right..."

"I'm always right." Mercury said with faux smugness.

"I wouldn't say always."

Turning around the two saw Kurabe, standing there with her cape wrapped around herself as usual.

"Captain, are you ok?" The woman asked.

"I'm fine, but thank you for your concern, Mercury. Now then..."

She looked at Reedy coldly, who just looked straight back at her in silence. The man gave a slight sigh in attempt to break the awkward silence that had developed.

"Look, I'm sorry for harassing you as much as I did today."

Kurabe just stared back until sighing herself. "I suppose that's the best I'm going to get out of you, Reedy. Apology accepted, but..."

"But...?"

"I want you to interview Meta. While I hate the thought of you taking him away, it's only fair that you get the chance to speak with him."

There was a moment of silence, as if the man was so surprised by this response that he had to take a moment to process that what he just heard was true.

"Are you really sure you want me to after that?" He then asked.

"No. But I'm honestly tired of the two of us constantly being at each other's throats."

Reedy crossed his arms and nodded in agreement. "Good point, I'm starting to find it very tiring, if I'm going to be honest. But what does he think?"

"I talked to him about it after I woke up. He still has his reservations about it, but he's agreed to go along with it."

"I see..."

There was a moment of awkward silence.

Then Reedy crouched down to her level and reached out his hand to Kurabe.

"...what is it?" She asked.

"Don't you know what it is?" The man grumbled, slightly looking away in embarrassment.

"Why do you want me to shake your hand?"

He then gave a sigh.

"Don't you want to... bury the hatchet...?" He mumbled it, but it was audible enough for her to hear it.

Kurabe gave a slight smirk. "Oh, I'm sorry, I can't really hear you if you mumble."

"I said I want to bury the hatchet!" He shouted before realizing the number this was doing on his pride.

Closing her eyes, Kurabe walked up to him and took his hand.

"Apology accepted, Reedy."

---------

After a short bit of discussion, the location of the interview was decided to be in Meta's room due to it being a more private and quiet area that he would be the most comfortable in. This was where Meta was waiting now as he squeezed the metal stress ball he received from Mercury. Admittedly, he was a slightly nervous about this interview, but there was something else that he was feeling. It was anger towards that man. Who did he think he was, hurting his mentor enough to make her faint?! He squeezed the ball even harder than normal as he laid back on his bed. However, he promised his mentor that he would go through with this interview and had to put up with it.

After a few minutes of waiting, he heard the door to his room open and looked up to Reedy enter. Immediately, the man could tell that Meta had his guard up, which was perfectly understandable given everything that transpired earlier. Reedy adjusted his glasses as he took the chair from the desk and sat in it.

"As you know, my name is Reedy and I'm here to ask you a few questions."

The child stared at him silently as he squished the ball harder. The gaze he gave him was cold. Reedy sighed in response to this. He wasn't going to make any progress like this. The man then noticed the ball he was squishing. Maybe some small talk would help.

"I assume Mercury made that for you? Only a creation from a Limet could survive that much pressure."

The child nodded silently without looking at him.

"I also take it that you like to squish things? In that case..."

Reedy took off his glasses and transformed into his original blob-like state.

"...you're also squishy?" The child uttered.

"All Limets are. Though some may be squishier than others."

As much as Meta still wanted to remain on guard, he was also curious. Was his squishiness different from Mercury? Or would they be the same?

Meta walked over and picked up the blob and pinched him, stretching him as far as he could.

"You're rougher than Mercury but somehow more stretchy." He concluded.

"Half of it is because I'm a stronger Limet than her. The other half is because I'm used to my children pulling on me like you are." He explained.

"I see."

Reedy finally caught his attention, just as he was hoping. However, being used to being squished as much as he was didn't mean that he still didn't like it.

"I'd rather talk to him in my normal form, but this will have to do." He thought before speaking up. "Are you ready to answer my questions?"

The child became silent again, but he looked at him in a way that knew he just wanted to get it over with. "Yeah..."

"Excellent. My first question, how do you feel about Kurabe?"

Meta sighed as he remembered what he was told.

"Just be honest." He thought.

Then he answered. "She's really strong but also really nice. I feel safe when I'm with her. She's a bit scary when she gets angry, but it's almost never with me. When she does get angry with me, it's always because I deserve it. Her training is harsh, but she always comforts me afterwards and makes me a lot of yummy food to help me feel better. I think you could say I like her a lot."

The child gave a slight squish to the blob.

"I see. Would you say that she does a good job of taking care of you?"

"Well... I feel safe here... and I don't go to sleep hungry like I sometimes did back on that horrible planet... and she really seems to care about me despite some bad things I did..."

"It appears that you are happy here then. How do you feel about the rest of the crew?"

"Um... I haven't spoken much with the Bukisets, but they seem to be really patient with me. I really like Ms. Mercury. She's really squishy and she's really nice even though I touched her heart thing by accident."

That didn't surprise Reedy all that much. Children tended to do that.

"Was that the only time you did that?"

"Yes. She seemed really uncomfortable, so I didn't want to do it again. Also, because she said not to because it's her heart."

"I see. I'm sure I don't need to tell you, but don't touch a Limet's core without permission."

The puff tilted his head in curiosity. "...is there some other reason?"

Reedy paused, quickly weighing his options. There was no easy way to explain it to a child.

"Mercury will explain it to you when you're older. I'm sorry but it's a delicate matter."

Meta nodded in understanding.

"Good, now then. Did Kurabe force you into being her student? Did you actively choose to learn how to fight or did Kurabe make that choice for you?"

"Well, when I first came here, she wanted me to call her "sensei", but then she said I could just live on the ship if I didn't want to train under her. I decided to learn how to fight because I wanted to become stronger."

"So, the final decision was yours? You didn't feel pressured into doing it?"

"No, not at all. If anything, she kept saying I could live on the ship without becoming her student and it'd be fine. I was the one who wanted to be trained by her."

"So, she would of been content with just raising you. I see. Last question, say you given the choice to live on a peaceful planet with a new family. Would you take that offer or stay here with Kurabe, despite knowing you could be put in danger at any moment?"

The child simply stared at him.

"Do you know where I grew up? I hated that place, but it made me used to being in danger every day. But I had to survive alone there. Here, I at least know I won't be dealing with it alone... I have sensei and everyone on the ship..."

"I see."

Reedy turned back into his humanoid form and put his glasses back on.

"Our interview is done. I hope you enjoy the rest of your time here. You'll be with Kurabe and Mercury for a long time."

The child gave a big smile in combined happiness and surprise. "R-really!?"

The man gave a nod as he adjusted his glasses once more.

"Yes. I see no reason to remove you from here. In fact, it seems taking you away from Kurabe would just cause more harm than good."

"You just realized that!?" He shouted with a pout.

"Shamefully, yes."

He only continued to pout.

"Thank you very much for your time, Meta." He uttered with a sigh before walking out of the room.

---------

Reedy walked down the hallway and saw that General Z was waiting for him.

"General, I would like to apologize for-"

"Save your breath, Reedy. You'll need it for our training session later." Z said, putting a lot of emphasis on training.

The man sighed. "Understood, General. Are we leaving now?"

"No, I'd like to speak with the boy before we do."

"Very well. I will wait for you at the ship." Z nodded and walked into Meta's room, where the child was once more playing with the stress ball.

"Come with me, Meta, I have something to discuss with both you and your mentor."

Curious to what this would be about, he decided to follow the old man. Upon reaching Kurabe's room, he quickly knocked on the door. Almost immediately, the woman in question opened the door. Upon seeing her student, she had one thought on her mind.

"Meta, how did the interview go?" She asked, hoping for the best.

"He said he saw no reason to remove me because doing so would be harmful."

Kurabe felt a large weight remove itself from her the moment she heard that. "That's wonderful! Now sensei-"

General Z opened one eye.

"Father, what is it that you want to talk about?"

The old man smiled. "Did you really think I would visit without bringing gifts?"

Admittedly, she was surprised by this.

"You should have told me ahead of time. I would have gotten you something you had I known." She replied, feeling slightly bad.

"Nonsense. Besides, now I have a grandson to spoil." Z said jovially.

The child tilted his head, as if confused as his mentor's cheek blushes became more pronounced.

"So, these gifts?" Kurabe said, trying to get back on topic.

He laughed heartily at this reaction. Z pulled out a book from seemingly nowhere and handed it to Kurabe.

"I know you like expanding your culinary skills, my dear. This is a book compiling the greatest recipes in the galaxy. Now for young Meta."

Z pulled out a replica of his staff, but much smaller.

"I know you've chosen the path of the sword, but just in case you become interested in the art of staff."

"Thank you very much, father!" Kurabe exclaimed happily before she looked at her student. "What do you say, Meta?"

"Thank you, Mr. Grandpa." Meta responded shyly.

Z gave a hearty laugh as he patted the child's head. "Well, I should be going, I can only stay away from my office for so long. Kurabe, keep up the excellent work and Meta, always remember this... a Star Warrior's heart is their strongest weapon. Stay strong no matter what adversity you may face."

"I will, father." The woman nodded.

Meta stayed silent for a moment before speaking up. "I understand. I'll try to remember."

"Good. I'll make sure to visit sometime in the future. No promises that it'll be anytime soon, you know how my schedule is."

With one final laugh, Z left to go meet up with Reedy. It was at this moment that the child thought of something.

"Sensei, where's Mercury?"

"She's probably talking to Reedy. While the two of us have our differences, those two are on much better terms. It's part of why I don't just ban him from visiting." She said half joking.

"...I still think I should beat him up." The child pouted.

"You can when you become stronger. He might seem like a push over, but his strength is the real deal. He's the third strongest of the Top Five for good reason."

"Are you the strongest then, sensei?"

The warrior gave a proud huff. "Indeed, I am, but just barely. Father is second, Reedy is third. As for the other two, the fourth is Bio Raiden, the strongest ninja in the galaxy, and fifth is Momo, a powerful mage who isn't a slouch in close combat either. You'll probably meet them at some point."

The child looked at her with determination. "Then if I get strong enough to beat you, I can beat him as well and make sure he doesn't bully you anymore!"

Kurabe chuckled and patted his head. "I'll look forward to that day."

---------

As Kurabe had said, Mercury had been conversing with Reedy for one last time before he and the General left.

"Do you believe I made the right decision, Mer? Of letting him stay here I mean."

"I think you already know my answer to that, Reed."

"I figured as much. You know, Mer, maybe you're right about me making false narratives. I mean, the way she desperately wanted to keep him here... and how the mere thought of him leaving destroyed her. No spoiled beast would act like that. She's still a thorn in my side though."

Mercury gave a chuckle. "Yeah, she can be like that for me at times, but it's worth it to me."

"I see. I was going to offer you a spot on my crew again, but it seems that won't be necessary. I still don't fully trust her, but I do trust you, Mer. Make sure Meta stays happy."

While the woman gave a bit of a sigh, she then replied with a slight smile. "I will, Reed."

"There you are, Reedy." Their conversation was cut off by General Z. "Come, let us leave."

"Understood, sir." The man nodded.

"And young Mercury, it was nice seeing you again."

"Likewise, sir."

Reedy then turned to the woman. "I have to go now. Let's talk again, ok?"

"Of course. Now come on, you're not welcome here anymore!" She said while laughing.

"Alright! Alright! I get it!" The man replied, laughing equally.

---------

As Z and Reedy got on their own ship, a thought crossed Reedy's mind.

"You know, General, I never asked what you think about Kurabe taking care of that child."

His superior gave a laugh. "I don't think you need me to answer that question."

"I'd like to hear your opinion anyway, sir."

The old puff gave a sigh. "They need each other. The way Kurabe looks at Meta is the same way I looked at her when I took her under my wing. The look of parental love. Meta will help her just as much as she'll help him."

He nodded quietly. "I see... I think I can see that..."

Reedy then narrowed his eyes, as if realizing something. "Sir, was this an attempt at teaching me a lesson?"

"Perhaps."

"That means yes." He sighed.

"So then, what lesson was I trying to teach you?"

"That I allowed my own biases to control how I view things. Specifically, how I view Kurabe."

"Exactly. and what will you do to change that?"

Reedy paused to think. "I don't know."

A simple statement but for someone like Reedy who prides himself on knowing everything, it was quite the pill to swallow.

"Then that is something you will have to learn."

Reedy just wordlessly nodded. The ship began to rumble and in a matter of minutes it was gone from sight.

[pencilofawesomeness]

FT x TW: Each NRC boy favorite Fairy Tail mage

This is like, half “favorite” and half “who would gravitate towards each other and end up becoming friends”

(Also limiting this to the FT guild so I don't have to think about Everyone)

Either way, interactions go brr—

Riddle: After witnessing Erza beat some manners into some people, he would probably respect her a great deal. That said, after Erza inevitably is also chaotic (they are the same but Riddle doesn't have that self-awareness yet), I think Riddle and Charle would get along really well. Tea-buddies and why-am-I-surrounded-by-thugs? buddies, and what-not.

Trey: I think Trey and Mirajane would be buds. It's the mutual eldest sibling energy, and also the steadfast dedication towards being supporting (when they are actually crazy op). They will probably bond over cooking.

Deuce: As soon as Deuce figures out that Jet is a speed-mage, they bond over their love of going really fast and Jet would absolutely love the blastcycles, and then neither of them can be stopped.

Ace: Bickslow would actually adopt Ace first, because he thinks the sleight-of-hand tricks are rad, and then probably teaches Ace even more, which Ace in turns thinks is really cool. Plus, Ace would respect how wildly blunt Bickslow can be. (They would be relentless with the teasing. They will not be stopped.)

Cater: He and Cana would be good buds. Just hanging around, sharing gossip, maybe going shopping...empathizing with the existential dread of always being a background support character with no strong connections. (So they think. The idiots /affectionate.)

Leona: Someway, somehow, Leona is going to blink and accidentally adopt Lisanna as a little sister. She's got a good head on her shoulders and doesn't pick fights but Leona sniffs out that latent exasperation and it's now he's invested in letting Lisanna release her inner feral. As a treat. Also the cat naps are real.

Ruggie: One thing leads to another and now he and Gajeel are sharing pick-pocket techniques from their Street Days. Plus Gajeel can face-tank just about anything and Ruggie would be thrilled to use him as a shield. Also Ruggie would be both impressed (and maybe jealous, because eating metal sounds convenient) to find someone with greater jaw strength than him.

Jack: Panther Lily. They would have the bro nod of respect at first, but Jack would also really look up to him, for being so cool-headed and diligent.

Azul: I'm honestly not sure who he would pick as his favorite, per se, because he would be interested in all of their magics and bounce around, but somehow now I cannot get out of my head that he would love Chico. One, making deals with the dead (in addition to the living) would probably fascinate him; two, family-owned-restaurant/diner buddies. That's it. That's all I got. (He's very Blue Pegasus-shaped though, so I bet he would love that guild.)

Jade: Droy. They will talk about terrestrial plants for literal hours, and Jade will probably bamboozle him into free garden labor. (And Droy would be thrilled to have someone interested.) Honestly a win-win all around.

Floyd: Gray—both because Floyd would think the ice magic is really cool, and because Floyd would have waaaay too much fun messing with him.

Kalim: He and Lucy could totally bond over being sheltered rich kids, and being generally hyper beans. Though Lucy would definitely be the voice of reason, lol.

Jamil: resists the urge to swing into htryds and start my Jamil And Erik Would Be Friends agenda I think Jamil and Kinana would be very chill together, hiding in the corner to destress and then just vibing. (Snek friends.) Kinana would bully Jamil into self-care, probably, and she would probably remind him a bit of Najma. (yes these are my own hcs involving Kinana's characterization but let me have this)

Vil: I think Vil would sniff out Juvia's earnest try-hardness and chaotic people-pleasing and then make her a personal project, so to speak, trying to instill as much self-confidence in her as possible. Then mid nail-painting they hardcore bond over being villainized by random bystanders.

Rook: He, Bisca, and Alzack would have a sharp shooting competition and trade good ol' hunting stories, and maybe gush over baby pictures.

Epel: He'll probably unironically think Elfman is very cool. Elfman will probably declare Epel manly. They'll both shed (manly) tears.

Idia: Happy. Both because Happy is an easy-going cat and because I think Happy would be genuinely amused/interested in video games, or just watching video games. (That said, if Idia is able to get past his people-are-scary anxiety for two seconds, he and Levy would be amazing friends. Mutual nerd infodumping grounds right there.)

Ortho: I think Ortho and Wendy would be good friends. Just helpful little guys. They would equally fuel the other's cinnamon roll status and their secret gremlin status—helping kittens out of trees and bulldozing forests when provoked. That kind of thing. Ortho would be super interested in replicating enchantments on himself, I think, and Wendy would def try to help him out.

Malleus: Natsu would 100% challenge him to a (friendly) fight and then eat his fire at least once, and Malleus would be both very fascinated and thrilled to have a) someone not afraid of him and b) and fellow!! dragon!!!! buddy :D

Lilia: I know there's not really a feasible way for them to actually meet, per se, but Lilia and Mavis would be dangerously good friends. Dangerous for everyone else, that is.

Silver: One sparring match later, and Silver and Erza are definitely sharing a braincell. They'll be talking about swordplay for hours. Erza will introduce him to a new type of cake and change his life. (They are simple, straightforward beans and they will vibe so well.)

Sebek: He will probably do his best to antagonize almost everyone, but nevertheless, you know who I think he would get along great with? Evergreen. Whether or not he believes she is a fairy is irrelevant; they will agree that fairies are superior. They bond over having their favorite dragon dude they dote on and find ways to be dramatic. Evergreen will gift him some coat or accessory and Sebek will be so honored.