#A Bitter-suite Reunion

[azen13]

Looking at the items the Starlight Pawnshop has to offer... I'd like to purchase the < Avian Necklace >, please. Because a pretty little songbird deserves only the prettiest chain with which to tie it down.

Paradise Lost, Paradise Found

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Avian Necklace: A silver necklace with a pendant in the shape of a bird mid-flight, imbued with a strange energy strong enough to shackle its wearer in paradise forever.

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Description: After the Charmony Festival, Sunday returns to Penacony with the Stellaron Hunters, desperate to be reunited with his lover.

CW: Yandere Themes, Brainwashing, Mind Control, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Intense Distress, Manipulation

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It is a Monday night in Penacony, and all is well in the world.

Sure, your hotel room is cramped. The mattress is lumpy. The view is horrible. But it is real, and that is all that matters to you. After an eternity of dreams so sweet you felt like you were drowning in joy, you would rather be stuck in this dingy hotel room than some luxury VIP suite anyways. It’s comforting in all its imperfections. 

That is, until you hear someone knock on your door.

The sound is rhythmic, three short, quick, evenly spaced knocks. It’s all you truly need to know who stands outside your door. Your heart already knows, beating so fast you feel like you could go into cardiac arrest. 

But then you hear his voice. Smooth and rich like espresso, laced with a subtle sweetness. “Darling,” Sunday whispers quietly, “please, open the door.” It is both a request and a command, though it isn’t infused with Sunday’s usual pacifying power. 

He liked doing this when you realized Ena’s dream was all an illusion; he would give you a chance to submit and  acquiesce to his love and care, but when you inevitably refused, he had no qualms about worming his way into your mind. Once inside, he’d gently smash any shred of resistance you had, before pulling you into his arms and crooning his hymns, praising your holiness. 

Isn’t this dream so blissful? he would ask you quietly, his hands ghosting over your skin, soft as feathers. I can give you anything you want. In Ena’s dream, it was true. Sunday could give you anything you wanted, even your freedom. But you knew it was an artificial imitation of independence; no matter where you traveled in the pseudo-universe, he was always there, always watching you. That was good enough for him: knowing you were safe, his hands cupped around your world like the way one would hold a bird.

The sound of Sunday’s voice breaks you out of your momentary reverie. “My dove, please, I don’t want our reunion to be bitter, but it seems like you aren’t giving me a choice.” You can feel the resonant harmonies in Sunday’s words grow louder, gripping your mind gently, giving you one more chance to open the door through your own free will.

You look around your room for any way out. On the opposite wall is a single window. You’re on the first floor. All you have to do is break through it and find someone. Frantically, you rush over, scrounging around for something to break the glass. You hear a loud sigh. “I wish you could just understand, my love,” Sunday laments. 

The lock clicks.

Instantly, you are pounding and clawing on the glass like a rabid animal. In brief moments of clarity through your haze of desperation, you can feel your shoulder ache from ramming into the glass. Your throat feels raw. Someone is screaming. It’s you.

Sunday’s hands are just as excruciatingly tender as you remember, gliding over your arms and clasping your wrists in a tender but firm embrace. “Shh, it’s okay, my dear,” he whispers quietly. Beneath the insanity that clouds his own eyes, you can glimpse genuine concern in his gilded gaze. “Calm down, shh, yes, relax,” he coos. 

All of the sudden, the world goes soft and blurry; every color in your hotel room, the pallid, washed-out grays and pale, muted blues seem to turn into a psychedelic kaleidoscope, luring you deeper and deeper into a state of tranquility. 

With slow, delicate motions, Sunday lets go of one of your wrists, a placid smile gracing his face for a mere moment. Making sure that you won’t hurt yourself anymore than you already have, he reaches into one of his coat pockets, pulling out a small necklace imbued with the power of the Order. 

“After the Charmony Festival, I was in such a deep state of despair. I thought I had lost everything. My dreams. My power. My home. My sister. My love.” His grasp on your wrist tightens, though you’re so lost in his spell that you can’t even feel the pain. “But now…now I have you again, my dearest,” he whispers hoarsely. Sunday can hardly believe you are real, with how constant misfortune has haunted his life. Time and time again, he has lost everything. Everyone. All his dreams and aspirations have shattered to pieces like stars crashing down to the earth from the heavens. But not you.

“Perhaps my plan was ill-timed,” Sunday muses as he loops the chain of the necklace around your neck. “But for right now, if I can’t give everyone paradise, then at least I can give it to you. And that will be more than enough,” he whispers, taking your appearance in, drinking it in like a man without water for forty days. 

The effects of his tuning are fading, but the power of the necklace is taking root in your mind, warping and twisting it until you understand. Truly magnificent. He can see the clarity and consciousness in your eyes, but he can also see behind it, the compulsion to listen. 

“Now, we must go,” Sunday says, his hands moving to clutch both of yours, pulling you up from where you’re sitting on the floor. “The rest of the Stellaron Hunters are likely getting anxious and ready to leave.” Still, he can’t help but steal one more moment alone. He presses a quick, light kiss to your lips, looking at your splendor one last time.

His sweet, foolish, caged bird.

[koyagifs]

𝓯𝓪𝓬𝓪𝓭𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷

pairing: san x reader au: ceo | arrange marriage genre: angst word count: 1.027 words summary: San struggles to finalize his divorce not ready to let you go warning(s): - part 1 | part 2 | part 3

“you know, if you truly wanted the divorce you would signed the papers already,” you said, taking a sip of your wine.

San glared at you, the pen in his hand slamming down onto the table. He leaned back into his chair, muttering nonsense as he took his phone out. Messages of his mistress taking over his screen. You held a smirk on your face, knowing exactly who is blowing up his phone.

“San, I’m tired of this cat and mouse game. Just signed the damn papers so we can get on with our lives.”

San tsk, shoving the papers away from him as he got up. You rolled your eyes, finishing the remainder of your wine. Your phone buzzed, a smile planted on your face as your new lover informed you of his arrival. San notices, his eyes narrowing as he catches the change in your expression.

“who is it this time? Is it Mingi? Maybe even Yunho, knowing you like to whore around with my friend.”

You pause, his venomous words hanging in the air between you. A slow, bitter smile spreads across your lips as you turn to face him fully. "Oh, is that really what you think?" you reply coolly, eyes locking with his.

“Jealousy doesn’t suit you, San. Besides, you lost the right to care a long time ago.”

His jaw clenches, and he crosses his arms tighter against his chest. "You didn’t answer the question," he spits, his gaze dark and piercing.

“ Is it Mingi? Or Yunho?” He steps closer, voice dripping with venom.

You take a deep breath, steadying yourself. "I don’t need to explain myself to you," you say calmly, meeting his fury with icy indifference. "The only thing I need from you is your signature."

San glares at you, his frustration boiling over. "You're unbelievable," he mutters, running a hand through his hair. "You say you want to move on, yet you keep playing these games."

"Games?" you scoff, raising an eyebrow.

San’s breath hitches as you grip his face, tension between you two crackling like electricity. The memory of that night nearly a year ago washed over both of you ��the same bitter dynamic. Yet, this time, theres a finality in the air, a sense that this dance is coming to its inevitable end.

He doesn’t move, his eyes locked yours, searching for any sign of the person he once knew. But you’ve changed, hardened by the betrayals, and now you hold all the power. His jaw tightens under your grip, he stays silent, letting you pull him closer as if daring to respond. You leaned in, a smirk planted on your lips. Hovering by his ear, your voice dropping to a low, chilling whisper.

“ Darling, if this was a game, you would have lost long ago,” you purred.

For a brief second, it’s as if time rewinds, taking him back to when things between you were different—when his touch was welcomed, when your eyes sparkled at the sight of him. His heart pounds against his ribcage, a desperate reminder of what he's losing. His hands twitch at his sides, fighting the instinct to reach out and pull you closer, to relive even a fragment of what you once had.

Your lips hover tantalizingly close to his, and his breath catches in his throat. It’s almost cruel how you know exactly how to undo him, how to make him feel that rush of desire and love that he thought was long gone. For that fleeting moment, he swears he can feel it again: the love, the warmth, the way his world used to revolve around you.

But then, the reality hits. Your eyes are no longer filled with love but with cold determination. The smirk on your lips isn’t one of playfulness but of finality. This isn’t a reunion; it’s a goodbye, and the taste of that realization is bitter.

“You feel that, San?” you murmur, barely above a whisper, your gaze never wavering from his. “That’s the past. And it’s not coming back.” You pull away, leaving a void in the space where your warmth used to be. His heart aches, clinging to that brief flicker of the past, but he knows you’re right.

He stands there, frozen, his hands still hovering uselessly in the air. Part of him wants to fight, to argue, to do anything to reclaim what he's let slip through his fingers. As San hands gripped your waist, pulling you close,

San’s grip on your waist is firm, almost desperate, as he pulls you close. For a fleeting moment, you catch a glimpse of the man he used to be—the one who would hold you like you were his entire world. His eyes search yours, silently pleading for some hint of the love you once shared. But before he can say anything, the sudden sound of someone clearing their throat cuts through the moment, shattering the illusion. His body goes rigid, the warmth of his touch quickly replaced by tension. He turns his head sharply, and so do you, to see the source of the interruption.

Standing in the doorway is your new lover, Hongjoong, arms crossed, eyes locked onto the scene unfolding in front of them. A mixture of concern and quiet resolve marks their face as they take in the sight of San holding you so close.

You step back from San’s grasp, the air around you shifting instantly from the charged intimacy to something far colder. “You’ve lost, San,” you say, your voice steady and final. “And now it’s time for you to let go.”

San’s hands fall away from your waist, and he watches as you move toward the doorway. The reality of the situation hits him harder than he expected. He’s no longer the one standing by your side, and for the first time, he truly feels the weight of that loss.

Hongjoong gives San a nod, not in triumph but in acknowledgment of the end of something broken. He extend a hand toward you, and without hesitation, you take it, stepping away from the man you once loved and toward the future you’ve chosen.

[behidethetrees]

LOVE IS ONLY A FEELING.

IN WHICH… You have a bittersweet reunion.

Pairing: Coriolanus snow x Fem! reader

Content: Ooc! Coryo (he's not evil), Covey! reader, They're definitely a situationship, Possessive! Coriolanus, 1.3k words. Requests

You were greeted with Loud clapping and cheering once you finished your original song at the nightclub. It wasn't often that people would stop dancing to take in someone's beautiful words, But everyone did for you. You thanked everyone and stepped down from the stage to get some water when suddenly a brunette boy walked over to you and asked for a dance. Of course, you agreed.

It had been months since you’d seen Coriolanus snow. He had gotten in a fight with your ex, As he was swinging, he accidentally hit one of the covey members with his backhand. You yelled at Coriolanus so much you were surprised your vocal cords were still intact. He never apologized. He never came back after you kicked him out. He had left you for months with bitterness and anger, But you couldn't hold onto that forever. You were done with Coriolanus snow.

The brunette boy was slightly taller than you and he danced well enough. Though His hands were sweaty and he messed up his foot placement every now and then. As you danced with him, Your long white skirt swaying, A drop of temperature in the room occurred, You knew right away that only one man could make a room feel cold. Coriolanus snow. The man that you were so hopelessly in love with but hated every inch of, Stood in the back of the room with a clenched jaw and eyes that could pierce anyone. All you could do was roll your own pair and abandon the boy you didn't even know the name of. 

The covey band was singing one of your songs And Coriolanus immediately recognized it. It was the one you sang to him the first time you showed him the big wildflower field one summer night. He had thought back to when you held each other under that green and yellow leaf tree. When he finally found you on the side of the stairs leading to the stage, Coriolanus swept you off your feet, Like he always did.

His strong arm gripped your waist tightly but he held your hand gently. You were close enough to smell him, he smelt just like roses. You had started to notice actually how nice he looked. He wore a black suit with a red shirt under and his curly outgrown hair was combed back. Was he dressed up for someone else, Or you?

You looked up at him Through your curled lashes, Your eyes were pure, as snow he thought. His upper lip slightly lifted into a small smirk. As the covey band continued, Coriolanus began to move your body with his slowly. Coriolanus liked you better like this. When you were hidden away in his hold, When you struggled to hate his touch, When he knows he's got you.

“Did you miss me sweetheart?” Coriolanus says with that sickly sweet smile. His tone was arrogant like he had no doubts.

“Not one bit.” You gripe back at him. You had missed him. Sitting by the lake only you two knew as you sang and he’d listen, Late night walks while his muscular arms kept you safe from any harm, The feeling of his hands. How rough and slim they were, You’d wonder who else's blood had fallen on them.

“Well, that's a shame because I missed you.” Coriolanus wasn't lying. He missed a certain girl waltzing around with long dresses and feathers in her hair, Those love songs she’d sing to him as she traced flowers in Coriolanus’s palm with her little finger, the security and comfort her aura provided him. 

“Then why didn't you come back?” You ask him. You can tell that hit a nerve by the way he swung you to the right harshly, then returned to slowly swaying side by side. Coriolanus didn't have a reason nor an excuse. He, who was so defensive, never apologized for anything. He just sighed.

“I waited for you Coriolanus.” You couldn't help the tears starting to form in your eyes. Every night you left your window open and a key under the mat. Waiting, listening, Hoping he would come back. Something about you calling him ‘Coriolanus’ disappointed him to his core. He felt his girl slipping from his grasp. He felt the only thing that had ever belonged to him was disappearing. 

It wasn't just your kindness and easily persuaded mind that Coriolanus liked. It was the way your big, curious eyes looked at his unforgiving blue ones like he was more than a poor capitol boy trying to carry on his family name. Like he had the chance to be someone to somebody.

He slowly stopped the movement of your bodies. “Look at me.”  Coriolanus was now gently cupping the sides of your jaw with both hands, Forcing you to look at him. You searched for something in him. The guilt in his eyebrows, the reassurance in his eyes, and the slight resentment he had towards you in his lips.

“I'm here now. And I'm so, so sorry I hurt you. I will make this right, you just have to let me, please.” Coriolanus Begged. You had Coriolanus Snow, One of the most intimidating boys in the capitol, Begging for a way back into your life. His forehead touched yours while he delicately wiped away your tears with his thumb.

His big arms eventually hugged your waist. He buried his head into your shoulder, taking in the scent of you that he was addicted to. You felt so close to Coriolanus, so vulnerable. You placed your arms around his neck. The warmth of your bodies rose, That feeling you both had been chasing since that night.

A few minutes went by as the covey continued to play. You felt the rise and fall of Coriolanus’s chest, His steady heartbeat thumping against his insides. Coriolanus picked his head up to say something. Coriolanus thought for a minute, His lips drawing together. No, he couldn't say that. he couldn’t tell her why he didn’t want to love her. That she’d be the only thing above him, the only weakness people could dangle over his head. That she would have the power Coriolanus so desperately wanted. But if he told her, He’d have to live with that for the rest of his life. The guilt would hurt him no matter how hard he would try not to feel. The regret would build up in his stomach but Worst of all, his jealousy would seethe through his veins and kill him.

The cold sensation of his hands on your jaw and neck swirled into your skin and down to your heart. He took a moment to look across all your features before he put his lip onto yours. It was passionate and long. He never pulled away because he wanted this so bad. he wanted you so bad. to have all of you to himself. his hands gripped tighter on you. His lips pressed harder onto yours. He hated that others were around while you shared this intimate moment. He hated that others were around you.

Coriolanus’s thoughts started wandering into the darkest parts of his brain. He kept his composure. He didn't want to scare you away with his mind because he didn't think he'd survive if he lost you again.

After you pulled away, he gave you a quick smile and guided your head back to his chest as he wrapped himself around you again. His chin rested on top of your soft hair. The lights glistened as you closed your eyes, Listening to a mix of the covey and his heartbeat. Sweet moments of Coriolanus kissing your hair and whispering sweet words blurred together. Coriolanus’s presence sent you in a state of euphoria.

Coriolanus knew it wasn’t over. He knew you, better than you knew yourself. You’d always come back to him and he’d do the same. You were his. This was a never ending story of you two. Coriolanus smiled. He got his girl back.

A/N: srry ive been gone writers block sucks. Anyways hope u enjoyed :3

Requests

[didherodown]

Didherodown's Official Danny Phantom episode recommendations

(for the fan who has never seen the series but is in the phandom)

Ordered in sequence of release (taken from imdb, so take that as you will)

Very Important episodes will be noted like this Episodes I think are fun and kinda important like this

enjoy!

Season 1: Has a lot of groundwork for the show, lots of introductions to our cast of Ghosts

Mystery Meat - E1

Where it all started, establishes Sam and Tuckers rivalry over food, our first encounter with the Lunch Lady, and Danny’s first outing as a hero in general

Episodes 2-6 : feature introductions to Dora, Skulker, Technus, Point Dexter, and Desiree 

Bitter Reunions - E7

Our introduction to Vlad! Establishes Vlad vs Danny dynamic, Vlad's hate of Jack and his obsession with Maddie

Prisoners of Love - E8 is our intro to Walker

My Brothers Keeper - E9

Spectra makes her appearance! Shows a lot of Danny’s insecurities he has about being different, an outsider, ect.  And Jazz finds out Danny's identity!

Shades of Gray - E10 

Our first meeting of Valerie, and where her life gets ruined by Cujo!

Fanning the Flames - E11 is our intro to Ember

Maternal Instincts - E17 

Vlad is up to his scheming and tries to get both Danny and Maddie to join him and abandon Jack. (Introduces the Specter Deflector gadget, as well the the Plasmius Maximus)

The Million Dollar Ghost - E19

Vlad puts a bounty on Danny Phantom, making lots and lots of ghost hunters show up- including the GIW

Control Freaks - E20

Circus Gothica! The ringmaster- Freakshow- has a staff that he uses to control ghosts and Danny of course falls victim 

Season 2: Has a lot of bangers- and is very heavy in the Danny Lore AND where a lot of fannon comes from (ghost king, trans danny, pharaoh tuck, ect)

Reign Storm - E4

In which Pariah Dark is awoken and goes on a rampage, sucking Amity Park into the Ghost zone. With the other ghosts also terrified of the Ghost King, Danny might be the only who has a chance to stop him (ghost king danny anyone????)

The Ultimate Enemy - E6

Danny cheats on a test, which we find out actually will end the world. Our introduction to Clockwork and the Eyeball Guys(™). And of course, Danny’s future evil self- Dan !!

King Tuck - E7

Where Tucker gets influenced by Hotep-Ra (origin of the Pharaoh Tucker fannon)

Identity Crisis - E8

Where we learn that simply splitting Danny from his ghost half is not an option, his ghost half is indeed half of him

Flirting with Disaster - E11

Where Danny and Valerie are dating. In this episode her original ghost fighting suit is destroyed and Technus makes her a new version- leading to lots of fannon about Valerie being a little more ghost than she thought

Kindred Spirits - E14

Cloning! Danielle! AHHHHHHH!!!! (trans Danny? All but confirmed /hj)

Reality Trip - E17

Where Freakshow is searching for the stones of the Reality Gauntlet (very reminiscent of the Infinity Gauntlet from Marvel)

Season 3: Often the most criticized of the three seasons, the show was canceled in this season. BUT THERE IS SO MUCH IMPORTANT LORE IN THIS ONE LETS GO

Infinite Realms - E2

Our first meeting with Frostbite! Also tells us a lot about how natural portals work AND the introduction of blood blossoms

Torrent of Terror - E4

Introduces Vortex, also Danny's mood affects the weather for a good part of this episode

Urban Jungle - E6

Undergrowth has taken over amity, making Sam his “Queen” because of her love and care of plants. THIS IS WHERE WE FIRST SEE DANNY’S ICE POWERS! AND WE LEARN ABOUT CORES! YES REALLY ONLY 6 EPISODES FROM THE END

Boxed Up Fury - E8

The Box ghost, upset at not being taken seriously- steals Pandora's Box, and well, that goes about as good as you imagine it going

D-Stablized - E11

Dani is literally dissolving into ectoplasm, and Danny has to find a way to save her before she destabilizes all the way. (Introduces Ecto Dejecto- a fanfic staple)

Now this is just my personal list- based on 20 years of being in this fandom (holy shit how can it be that long????)

Thanks for reading :)

[pookie-mulder]

August 2024 fic roundup

This was truly the month of the longfic. And to think I only read short fics until @skelavender showed me the error of my ways!

📰🖋️ Paracelsus by prufrockslove

One of the biggest txf fics ever, and I absolutely devoured it. I loved reading it right after Hiraeth and seeing all the little nods to their past lives. This author knows how to spin a yarn, guys. My one complaint is the never-ending miscommunications towards the end, which is never my favorite source of drama/conflict. Just talk to each other, you idiots! (Although they have those moments in canon, as well, I suppose.)

⚾️🏟️ A Moment in the Sun by prufrockslove

I will remember this fic for the rest of my life. It’s the type of fanfic you want to write fanfic about. It makes me wish I knew now to print and bind my own books. The universe is so rich and developed. Definitely in my top 5 of all time!

Here’s a list of things I love about it:

William. My precious, bratty British boy.

The way the plot includes elements of the mytharc but put together in a different way so you don’t know exactly how it’s all gonna come together

Emily!! You know I love a good Emily AU, and this fic certainly counts. I’m a sucker for a found family, and this fic delivers.

Josh Exley my beloved (and Arthur Dales, but the other one)

Dad!Mulder. The man is an absolute DILF. He tries so hard to overcome his shortcomings and be the father his kids need.

Frohike. His job as an eccentric baseball manager suits him surprisingly well, and his characterization is on point.

The little nods to canon, including episode titles and locations.

The insinuation that all of PFL’s AUs take place in the same universe (as Mulder said, “It has to take more than one lifetime to learn to love someone this much.”)

The only thing I’m not zazzed about is the ending. It kind of just…ends? I would’ve loved an epilogue or even a sequel (or a 12-book series).

🏫📸 Dr. Scully’s School for Exceptional Boys by prufrockslove

Oh boy. This fic is a tangled mess of emotions and betrayal and shame and guilt and love and promises and sacrifices and, most of all:

Definitely recommend.

👒👩‍🔬 The Regency Files by @slippinmickeys

I needed something that needed less mental energy after 4 massive PFL fics in a row, and this one delivered! It’s sweet, romantic, elegant, and has just enough of a plot to keep you interested. If you’re a fan of historical AUs (as I am now, I guess), this one’s a must-read!

🛌🍷 The Reunion by @muldersfingers

Absolute trope-y goodness without feeling too cheesy or predictable. My favorite part is how much they laugh and tease each other when they finally make use of that one bed ;)

🐶🥇 underdog takes the title by @wtfmulder

MSR’s first time is sweet, silly, and giggly. Mulder is absolutely pathetic and pitiable, which Scully finds hot (same, girl). It absolutely melted my heart!

👶👨‍🍼 the bitter and the sweet by @xf-cases-solved

What if baby William was a girl? What if they named her after Samantha?

Absolute perfection. This is how season 8 should have ended!

🏔️🌲 The Mountain Man and A Deadly Hunger by aka_Jake

This historical AU takes place in the same time period as Paracelsus, but it’s so vastly different in its setting that it’s unfair to compare them. In this one, Mulder is a Montana mountain man who smuggles arms to the Native Americans, and Scully hopes to become an army doctor in a nearby frontier town. It’s a classic Wild West romance with plenty of drama and conflict. I love how each of the characters feel like themselves, especially Scully, who retains her headstrong independence despite social norms.

🔙🥩 The Mastodon Diaries by aka_Jake

Mulder and Scully travel back in time to the Pleistocene era and must rely on their wits and each other to survive.

This is one of those fics that changes you as a person. I will be thinking about it for a long, long time. It broke my heart a thousand times and then lovingly stitched it back together. There were so many moments that took my breath away.

The portrayal of prehistoric humans is especially incredible — they’re so well-thought out, and their culture is so rich and developed. Even though 12,000 years separates us, we’re not so different from each other in the end. I absolutely fell in love with the native OCs, which is a compliment of the highest order. I already miss them!

Anyway, it’s like this fic was created in a lab specifically for me. It has all my favorite tropes and story elements: wilderness survival, historical AU(ish), soooo much whump and caretaking and hurt/comfort, found families, Dad!Mulder, and a surprising amount of romance. If you haven’t read this one yet, I’m begging you to give it a try!

🇦🇶❄️ On the Verge by aka_Jake

This fic fits into one of my favorite canon holes: How did Mulder and Scully get back from Antarctica? I love reading everyone’s different takes on this missing scene/plotline, and this one is no exception!

[perictione00]

Oops!...I Did It Again

Ch 1: It's Complicated

Pairing: Nanami Kento x reader

Warnings: Suicidal thoughts/behaviour (please do not read if things like this are triggering for you).

Synopsis: When life was throwing you uncountable curveballs, an unexpected reunion with your high school friend helped you dodge every single one of them. Coping mechanisms leave you both in a complicated situationship. So what happens when one of you ends up catching feelings? The cliche or the unexpected?

Jujutsu Kaisen Masterlist

You wonder what your life would've been like if your parents were still alive. Maybe you would have stayed a child for a little longer, enjoyed your life a little longer, without execrating every bitter incident that landed on your lap, and maybe you wouldn't be standing on the edge of a rooftop, drunk, contemplating your next move. It could be so easy to just stop everything and not feel anything any longer. You could be free from all the burden that you've been carrying; you won't have to worry about the deadlines, the debt, the rent, or your sister's school fee. Oh yeah, there it is—the reason you question your decisions whenever you find yourself on the rooftop. You really do love her; you act brave for her sake, and she's your motivation, yet sometimes it all feels so worthless. It doesn't matter when nobody acknowledges your hard work, but it hurts like hell when she doesn't. You try to understand that she's in her rebellious phase and that she's still young; however, you envy her for having the audacity to even disregard you in the first place because you expect her of all people to recognize the effort you put in. Why do you have to grow up and she gets to stay a child, a brat?

"What are you waiting for?", you almost lost your balance as you heard his voice. You slowly turned, only to see a blonde-haired guy with an obviously expensive-looking formal suit. "So you're drunk this time?", he continued as he walked in your direction.

"Heyaaaa, Mr. Richie Rich, what took you sooo loooooong, I missed you shhoooo muuchhh", you weren't sober enough to know how drunk you sounded, but Nanami was. He took your hand with caution as you climbed down the edge. The dark circles under your eyes gave away the reason for your current state. It was evident that you had been overworking yourself for the past few days. You barely had time for yourself, and you had requested Nanami to pick up your sister from her tennis classes twice this week. He was actually shocked to find you a bit too early at the office today as well, and although he wanted to question it, he knew better. There were already way too many rumors about you circulating in the office; he didn't want to add one more by holding a conversation with you.

"Let's go, I'll make dinner", he said as he collected the files and your heels that decorated the rooftop floor.

Nanami closed the door of his apartment as you staggered your way to the very comfortable-looking couch. He knew that you would fall asleep on the couch and that it would be such a pain to wake you up, but the peacefulness on your face changed his mind. This was basically the story of every other weekend, and it was painfully obvious how you both lacked a social life. However, he would rather spend his weekends with you than hold conversations with the people in his company; they were all...tiring and he felt at ease with you, maybe because you both attended the same high school and were part of the same circle. So here he was, almost done heating the leftover miso soup, searing chicken, and preparing parsley sauce to go with it.

Now comes the hard part: waking you up. He remembers that one time, when you had asked him to choose a pokemon that came to his mind when he thought of you, he also remembers how he had immediately answered Snorlax and how, surprisingly, you weren't even offended and instead tried to justify its life style. Of course you didn't need to know that he found Snorlax the cutest of all pokemon.

After 10 minutes of diligence, you were finally awake, cranky but awake at last. He led you to the dining table and served you the miso soup which tasted like heaven. The tofu literally melted in your mouth and the brothy texture was to die for, you could feel yourself sobering. While you were enamored with the taste of the food, Nanami was secretly anticipating your unusual way of appreciating his food, which you did.

"Oh I could just marry you right now", you announced as you pecked his lips, catching him off guard.

To say that Nanami was flustered would be an understatement. The tips of his ears were as red as an apple, and his serious guy exterior was on the verge of breaking. He knew that for you, it wasn't anything unusual because of the peculiar relationship you shared with him; however, actions and words like these never failed to ignite his heart with a hopeful fire. But he couldn't allow himself to give into this fantasy, so he maintained his calm appearance and continued savoring the tender chicken, glancing your way with every bite.

2 years ago

Resigning from a company that contributed to a major part of your income was a big decision, but after working overtime for almost a month and not getting a penny for it, that was your limit. You tried complaining only to find out that some legal document under the company's contract deprived you of many rights that were meant for your protection against exploitation. You seriously should've read it all instead of jumping on the opportunity. And with that, you were left with a series of unpaid bills and your unemployed ass. It was hard to find a great job in a short time period, so you went on for various job interviews and took on multiple part-time jobs that paid enough to keep you going for 4 months. It was during this time that you regretted giving up on your previous job, as the list of redirected emails to inform you that your interest was appreciated but another candidate was chosen for the job was taking a toll on you.

In all honesty, your confidence had hit rock bottom. You really thought you were something, that you stood a chance, only to discover how ignorant you were. It was scary—the prices of basic amenities, the rent, your sister's education, and her growing demands. Falling into a cycle of self-hatred, you slowly forgot about yourself, your needs, and your health; life became all about work. If you wanted to exist in the world, you had to be stable economically; money's everything, and you felt utterly useless. What were you even doing? What were you doing with your life? Did you not have any aspirations? Were you nothing but a fucking coward who gave up the moment things got hard? At the young age of 24, you were having an existential crisis. You were comparing yourself to every person your age who had accomplished more than you ever could, and there was no end to it. Though the vicious cycle did come to an end the day you came across a former classmate Nanami Kento while on a grocery run.

"Oh, I think you dropped th-,", Nanami stopped mid-sentence as he stood astonished, looking at the woman who had dropped her cereal box.

"Nanami! Is that you?", you asked in shock.

Let's just say that the grocery run took way longer than it should have as you both dropped by a cafe to catch up. It was refreshing talking about random things to someone your age, someone you knew. You had to admit that Nanami had changed, not only looking more approachable, but it seemed like he finally had no issue talking to people, you were happy for him, and since you wanted to keep it that way, you kept yourself from inquiring about his job. After a good two hours, you exchanged numbers and bid each other farewell. It turned out to be a great day, as that very day, you were offered a job at a MNC with phenomenal pay, but here's the catch: as you went through the documentation process, you learned that the position of secretary was offered to you. That was shocking, as your credentials and experience were suited more for the marketing department, and you were concerned about the legitimacy of the offer because no one pays that much to a secretary; however, beggars can't be choosers, so you accepted the offer right away.

On your joining day, the morning routine started earlier than usual, as you wanted everything to be perfect, from your fit to your timing. After having breakfast with your sister, you left for work, reaching ahead of time to leave a good impression. The building seemed fancy, with a sweet receptionist who directed you to your new boss, warning you not to enter his office until he called for you. That was weird, but maybe it was because your boss was busy. And it turned out that he was actually busy...fucking a woman, who came out of his office with disheveled hair. It was after you waited for a long time that he called you inside.

He was on his cellphone when you entered the office, wearing a tasteful tuxedo with a matching watch that went well with his blonde hair, leaning back on his chair, ignoring your presence. As you were about to introduce yourself, he raised his index finger to his lips, saying, "Shhh...you must be the new one. I'm Naoya Zenin, head of the consulting department and you must call me Sir."

Ch 2

Series Masterlist

[nyaskitten]

I know this probably won't happen, but here's my idea for an Akita and Lloyd reunion in Dragons Rising (this is... kind of long mb) (any feedback would be appreciated tho I'm not v good at writing):

The wind harshly howled, the cold felt like tiny daggers piercing Lloyd's face cruelly and mercilessly, and the snow seemed as eternal as the Endless Sea. And if he had it bad, his students, even in their thick and puffy color-coded jackets, sleeves and hoods lined with bushy fur and wonderfully sturdy snow boots, still couldn't fight the effects of the bizarre frost in this area.

"S-s-s-o c-c-c-cold," Sora struggled to say, her breath as visible as smoke from an open flame before her eyes.

Riyu whimpered in agreement, his tiny dragon jacket clearly not enough for him.

For what felt like an eternity, the four of them trudged through the endless storm, shivering and trying to forge some form of warmth through Lloyd's powers, yet to no avail, so they simply kept journeying, their only sources of slight warmth being the lamps they all held.

I should've taken the bounty. This is the worst training I've ever thought of. Lloyd thought to himself, bitter and annoyed at what he believed would be a wooooooonderful way to teach his pupils that soooooometimes, you haaaaave to adapt to the area around you.

As the storm worsened and the trio began to slow in their movements, a low growl echoed through the surrounding area, the perpetrator of said growl masked in the shadows of night.

"L-Lloyd? W-what was that?" Sora asked, the freezing cold almost seeming non-existent to her in the face of the fear of this unknown sound.

"I don't know. Stay close, and be prepared for anything..." Lloyd instructed cautiously as he unsheathed his blade, while Sora stood in a fighting stance and Arin grabbed his grappling hook from his hip.

As the four stood there in fear and anticipation, they heard what sounded like a set of soft and light feet grazing the snow behind them, to which Arin turned around in fear, watching carefully. More light footsteps could be heard from the shadows, as though there were numerous of these mysterious things, circling the nervous trio.

As the sounds of crunching snow became louder and louder, the heartbeats of the ninja became faster and faster, until they heard a howl echo from the shadows, and several wolves began to slowly emerge.

"This is bad... Like, really, really bad..." Arin said, fearfully clutching his grappling hook.

"Don't make any sudden moves," Lloyd cautioned. "We don't want to hurt them, and we don't want them hurting us, got it?"

"I don't think they got that memo..." Sora whimpered as the group of wolves, around 8-9, really hard to tell in the darkness, began closing in on them.

The supposed alpha of the wolves howled loudly and then leaped to the ninja, causing Lloyd to hurriedly cast his lantern aside and fire a blast of energy at the wolf. The other wolves followed suit, to which Lloyd formed a Spinjitsu tornado to toss the wolves around, and Arin used his grappling hook to latch onto a tree and Spinjitsu his way around as well.

While Lloyd was tossing wolves with tornados and energy blasts, Arin was soaring through the treetops Spinjitsuing wolves like no tomorrow, no, like no next hour, even!

Riyu tried helping, but he, being a baby dragon, couldn't really do much other than growl and bite and get tossed and shaken about.

Meanwhile, Sora tripped and almost got bitten by a wolf, so naturally, she kicked the wolf, which was a terrible idea but Riyu thought it was hilarious so, not a very tough crowd there.

The wolf whimpered a bit then snarled and growled very clearly enraged, a hatred burning like a forest may, causing Sora to back up fearfully and grab a large stick to wack the wolf with, but the stick broke so that idea was out of the picture really quickly. Sora also grabbed stones and the wolf was like, mildly bothered by that at BEST!

The wolf lept at Sora but luckily Arin was still Spinjitsuing through the trees like Tarzan swings through the jungle, and he managed to kick the wolf away fairly easily.

Arin tried to manage a landing this time as he finished spinning, but he flew into a very soft bed of snow instead.

"Arin! Are you okay?" Sora asked as she rushed to his side to help him up.

"Mildly scratched here and there but, I'll manage," Arin nonchalantly said as he got up, seeming very unhurt. "C'mon, let's go help Lloyd!"

The pair, alongside Riyu, ran to Lloyd to help him in punching and kicking the wolves away, but it seemed like these guys just wouldn't stay down no matter what.

"Jeez, do these guys ever know when to quit?" Sora asked as she hit a wolf with a nasty uppercut kick.

"I guess that makes wolves and ninja really close," Lloyd quipped while blasting a wolf away, prompting Sora to mutter something about quitting, ninja, and shutting up under her breath.

The fight felt like it was continuing for an eternity as more wolves began to emerge from the shadows to make their move. The ninja were getting very tired, and kind of sweaty, which did NOT mesh well with the blizzard.

Soon they all felt the endless cold creep back onto them and started to feel the pitiful nature of their situation once more.

"We can't fight like this! It's t-t-too cold!" Lloyd yelled out, trying not to freeze to death.

As the wolves once again started slowly approaching, with malice and rage in their beady little eyes, another howl was heard from the shadows, and so too was the unmistakable growling of a bear... oh crap this can't be good...

The wolves looked to the shadows as the odd wolf and bear approached.

"Lloyd, what do we do now?" Sora asked, shaking both from fear and the cold. Lloyd gave no response, instead, he stared focused upon the wolf and bear, trying to get a better look at them through the dim moonlight and the light of their sidelined lamps.

"Is that... No way..." Lloyd muttered to himself.

"What, what is it?" Arin asked, puzzled by Lloyd's fascination.

"I-I recognize those two! I think they might be old friends of mine!" Lloyd said with a bit of joy in his cold, hardened face.

The wild wolves growled and snarled at this duo, who gave the same response. The duo were hype-focused on this pack, as the ninja team were mostly obscured by darkness and hard to make out.

The bear was the first to attack, leaving his wolf companion baffled. The bear slapped several wolves away, and stomped on one of their tails, while his companion leaped onto another wolf and bit the wolf, which was, very tragically, the same wolf Sora kicked... poor guy...

"Akita? Is that you?" Lloyd yells out to the wolf, causing her to look up from the wolf she was fighting in confusion and shock. Said wolf then kicked her off it, and sent her flying back.

The frustrated wolf growled at the other, only to be jumped by two other wolves. This prompted Lloyd to run to the wolf and help her with the wolves, tossing them off. The wolf then looked up at Lloyd in amazement and a look of happiness, panting like a little dog with her tongue out.

"It is you!" Lloyd yelled out, pulling the wolf in for a hug, which Akita happily returned.

Lloyd helped Akita up and the two got ready for a rematch, only to see the bear having sent all the wolves scurrying, and having left one or two unconscious. Akita disappointedly transformed into her human form, wearing a thick coat and odd new robes underneath.

"Kataru, you know the point of this whole thing was to drive them away, right? NOT bash them around, right?"

The bear transformed into his human form, wearing a coat similar to Akita's and a smile on his face.

"Sister, you know they were asking for it. Besides, we did still run them out, did we not?" Kataru said, his grin only extending wider.

Akita sighed annoyedly and then looked over to Arin and Sora, then to Lloyd. "Are these... your children?" She asked, genuine confusion in her voice.

"W-what? N-no no no, these are my students, Arin and Sora! Arin, Sora, meet Kataru and Akita. Akita, Kataru, meet Arin and Sora!"

"It's nice to meet you!" Arin says as he enthusiastically shakes both of their hands.

"So, are you like, close or something?" Sora asks Akita in reference to her and Lloyd.

"Something like that. Lloyd helped to liberate our realm from an evil tyrant and his advisor... although the tyrant did turn out to be one of his friends, we worked it out. Kind of." Akita said, as though fond of the past adventures she and Lloyd shared.

"Huh... That sure is something I guess" Sora says scratching her head.

"So, what brings you all out here in the freezing cold?" Akita asks.

"Well, we came here looking for a cursed sword. It landed somewhere in the Never-Land's, and I... uh... thought it'd be a good training exercise, y'know, to test their resolve and all..."

"That is a terrible idea. It's FREEZING here. The fact that you have survived this long is a miracle honestly."

"Yeah... we figured."

Akita let out a sigh. "Come with us, we will get you warmed up and fed, our village is not very far from here anyways".

As the group walked away, the snow glowed and glistened brightly, their footprints, and any traces of their scuffle, soon to be eradicated by the snow.

[abi-cosmos]

destiel fic library

Hi! I'm abi, and I like to bend canon to suit all my whims and fancies.

I’ve finally done a masterpost of all my fics so far, everything is Castiel/Dean Winchester but as always: check the tags. 

I mostly write canonverse, drowning in angst, and preferably explicit.

Always a happy ending.

15k+:

finale fix-it set after 15x19 > conversations with you (M)

dean is cursed by a djinn > this bitter nightcall (E)

castiel is human, but they aren’t on speaking terms; two person love triangle set in s9 > salt & iron (E, written for DCBB ‘22)

AU 15k+:

coffeeshop au; librarian castiel is tasked with fixing up his dad’s bookshop, and barista dean from next door helps > the barista and the bookshop (E, written for Pinefest ‘23)

serial killer au; sam is dead and dean needs a place to rest up, he answers a ‘roommate wanted’ advertisement stuck to the window of a coffee shop and meets professor castiel > like ivy (E, written for DeanCasHorrorfest ‘23)

one-shots: 

cas gives dean a shoulder massage > touch-starved (M)

flirting behaviour > dean and cas play nsfw scrabble (M)

post-confession reunion > kissing is the most fun dean winchester can have without taking his clothes off (but it’s better if he does) (E)

collections/series’:

dean gives cas the mixtape > dean and cas - mixtape collection (G,M,E)

various smut > spoiler alert: they fuck (E)

g: general m: mature e: explicit

[georg-prime]

AaA finale wishes

Things I'm expecting to happen in no particular order:

Next trial is the last one, it's the earth trial but here it doesn't necessarily need a green witch to solve it

Agatha helps both Jen and Billy to regain the memories they lost after their own near death experience

Jen and Billy get out of the road without Agatha but not because they wanted to (either she push them out somehow for some reason, or Rio separate them on purpose then tries and keeps Agatha trapped so that she dies or something)

Timey wimey stuff happen because 'time is an illusion'

we see how Agatha was born/why her mother decided she was evil from birth

We see how Agatha and 'Rio' met and fell in love

How Agatha aquiered the darkhold

Some twist about Nick Scratch

Billy getting his full Wiccan appearance with a blueish suit and a red cape

Jen begins to teach other people, spreading good important witchy knowledge

Things I hope we'll get:

Part of the timey wimey stuff is that Wanda's kids were created from preexisting souls (at least pieces of them) who then went back to the body they were meant to be, hense Wanda's "thank you for choosing me to be your mother". Billy's reunion won't be with Tommy yet, nor Wanda, but with himself: he always has been Billy Kaplan he just also was Billy Maximoff for a bit too

We learn that an other teenager had a near death experience near Westview when the hex went down, but his powers suddenly manifested in a more violent way while he also had no idea who he was anymore. Tommy's souls might still be broken in two which could be why Billy can feel him in a way without really being able to know where he is. Or Tommy really is in a certain institution after he accidentally made things explode, and it's a place build to block all kinds of powers

Explanations about 'Rio', her origins and powers, and purpose. Is she really big cosmic entity Death, or a temporary limited to Earth jurisdiction, nerfed avatar of Death? Is she solidifying people's soul into flowers to transport them? Where does she take them, is it Mephisto's Hell dimension or Dormmamu's or an other - frustratingly - unspecified afterlife place. Would be nice if it was Battleworld for some of them so that we get a chance to see at least Alice again.

Speaking about Alice, if she isn't taken to Battleworld, a version of her from an alternate reality appears at the end.

Implied that Agatha starts or think of starting a magic academy like the MCU's version of Strange Academy

Someone drops the word 'mutant' - like they did in Miss Marvel - for Agatha, and possibly Billy.

Rather than 'Rio' getting Agatha to die in one way or an other, Agatha (maybe with Billy's help) 'frees' her from this Death job, and she just stays/goes back to being a green witch. She's very pissed and might try to/swears that she will directly kill Agatha but it is implied that they might now be more likely to reconcile one day - especially after also having here talked (screamed at each other) about Nicolas.

Billy goes home to his parents and tells them he remembers everything

America Chavez (and/or Kamala Khan and/or Kate Bishop) shows up in the credits

Somehow we learn Sharon "Ms Hart" Devis was using magic so that her flowers look perfect

The Bohner family reunion t-shirt was foreshadowing hilariously, and Ralph is actually Nick - is set up to be an antagonist in a sequel/spin off or something, it introduce Mephisto to the MCU like Thanos was before he appears in Ironheart

Just hopefully it's really as satisfying as they say it is, and not super depressing. In my honest opinion superhero fatigue isn't a thing, people just kept getting disappointed that those movies/shows rather than being cool and fun and safe entertainment, where the protagonist save the day and get the girl/guy, where now almost systematically full of tragedies or at best bitter-sweet.

Just give us some Halloween themed fun please haha 😅

[seospicybin]

WRONG CROWD PREVIEW.

Lee Know x reader. (s,f)

Synopsis: You meet Minho again at the high school reunion, the kid who used to sleep in class turns a tattoo artist.

Preview under the cut!

...

"Isn't this the Ms. Most Likely To Be President?" A voice says.

Your head turns to the side to find someone in a fitted suit and a face that seems so familiar but it's hard to recognize like trying to remember a song you listened to a year ago.

"I'm what the people voted as Most Likely To Win A Lottery and Lose The Ticket!" He gives you a hint with a sly smile.

It takes you a moment to fully recognize him from his sharp nose and the doe eyes, "Minho?"

"Ding! Ding! Ding!" He exclaims.

If it's isn't because of his hair that skipped months of haircut, the tattooed hands and his stance that oozes with confidence, you would have recognized him in an instant.

You pat the empty seat next to you for him to sit on, "Did you win the lottery though?"

"No luck!" He replies, proceeds to take a seat next to you then rests his back against the wall.

"What a shame!" You jokingly say with fake empathy.

Minho clinks his glass with you before sipping his drink in one go and puts it aside.

"Are you the president yet?"

"Sadly I'm not stupid rich and egomaniacal enough to be one," you answer.

"Am I addressing you right though? You're not married, are you?"

This is the umpteenth time someone asking whether you're married or not. Weirdly though, you don't feel offended at all when Minho asked you.

"Why does everyone keep thinking that I am not marriage material?" You ask with an annoyed groan.

"Oh, so you're married?" He asks with apparent disbelief in his eyes.

You look at him and narrow your eyes at him, "Bold of you to assume that I am married!"

He takes out something from his suit jacket while speaking, "Good! You're too cool to settle down anyway."

And somehow that feels like the highest compliment you ever got from someone.

The flask he takes out from the inner pocket of his suit jacket doesn't surprise you at all.

He uncaps the flask and holds it out at you, "ladies first!"

You might have unconsciously stared at the tattoos inked the back of his hand and fingers, quickly snapping yourself out of your daze.

You take a quick sniff and recognize it right away, a strong liquor that is exactly what you need at the moment. You take the flask from him and confidently take a small sip.

The alcohol burns down your throat as you swallow it and you wince at the bitter aftertaste.

"Bourbon?"

He smirks as he takes the flask from you and also takes a sip. As he tips his head upward, you can see tattoos peeking from the collar of his shirt, black against his honey skin tone.

"You're running out of paper to doodle on?" You playfully say as you fan yourself as your eyes get watery from drinking such strong liquor.

"Yeah, I doodled all over my body now," he playfully says back and hands you the flask.

All over his body? That gets your head drifting in the direction you're not supposed to be going.

You take a big gulp of bourbon and let out a breath after swallowing it down, it helps to diminish the aftertaste.

"If you're not the president then what are you?" He slumps a little on his seat with his legs spread, exposing the checkered socks he's wearing.

"I'm a lawyer," you reply.

He nods as he thinks of a response to your answer, "hot!"

You burst out laughing, not expecting to hear a comment like that about your profession.

"Hot?"

He turns his head at you while still nodding, "fight for justice in black suits, hot!"

Again, he gives only the best kind of compliments and ones that you didn't know you needed to hear from someone. What surprises you is it's coming from him!

He was this kid who used to sleep in class and if not sleeping, he sat in the back of the class doodling on his notebook.

The two of you got close in the last year of high school for an unfortunate reason. Minho failed most of his classes and you helped him study to earn enough credits to graduate.

Now that you got reminded of it, you're glad to know that he changed for the better but is still someone who's unapologetically himself.

"How about you?"

"I own a tattoo parlor in the city," he casually says as if he's not saying that he owns a business and it's not a big deal.

He takes something else from his suit jacket, a wallet then pulls out a card.

"Oh wow, you even have a business card!" You beam in awe.

That just made it official that he's the coolest person in this reunion.

"Let me know if you want to get inked or just want to hang out," he nonchalantly says.

"Sure, would love that!"

You take the business card your law firm provided for you and give it to him, "just in case you need legal support, I'd be ready!"

He takes the business card and studies it like it's a fascinating object.

"Side note: I charge more on someone I am well acquainted with," you joke.

He slips it into a compartment in his leather wallet and puts it back into the inner pocket of his suit jacket, "I hope we get to be more than just acquaintances then."

...

Click here to read the full fic!

[hes-striker]

At St. An’s in the Sloth Ring

Striker steps into the clinic tucked away in a sleepy corner of the Sloth Ring’s hospital — St. An’s. The receptionist barely glances up, too engrossed in a slow-moving crossword puzzle to take much notice of him. He lets out a sigh of relief, figuring this visit might actually go off without a hitch.

But just as he’s about to sit down, he catches sight of two familiar figures: Moxxie and Millie. His eyes narrow, a flash of annoyance crossing his face as his hand instinctively moves to his holster.

Striker: Well, ain’t this a nice little reunion. *He sneers, drawing his gun and holding it steady on them.*

Moxxie flinches, his own hand darting to his weapon. Millie, with her usual fire, follows suit, eyes blazing as she positions herself in front of Moxxie protectively.

Moxxie: *Glaring at Striker, his voice taut.* What the hell are you doing here, Striker? Didn’t take you for the type to visit the doctor.

Striker: Funny, I could ask the same about you two. *He smirks, though his grip on his gun is as steady as ever.*

Millie: *scoffs, her eyes not leaving him for a second.* And what, exactly, does a lowlife like you need with a doctor?

Striker: *his smirk fades slightly, though he doesn’t lower his weapon.* None of your damn business. Just keepin’ to my own, like you oughta be doin’.

The three of them stand locked in a tense standoff, the sounds of the quiet clinic and the oblivious receptionist in the background only amplifying the tension.

Millie: *Her voice steady and dangerous.* We don’t have to make this messy, Striker. You could just walk away.

Striker: *chuckles, though there’s a hint of strain in it.* Walkin’ away ain’t usually my style, darlin’. Besides, you think I’m just here on a friendly little visit?

Moxxie: *narrows his eyes, his suspicion mounting.* Why are you here, Striker? Last I checked, you weren’t exactly the type to keep up with… routine check-ups.

Striker: *gaze hardens, and he gives a slow, bitter smile.* Guess people change, huh? *He shifts uncomfortably, realizing he’s not about to give anything away to Moxxie and Millie. But with them blocking his only exit, he’s cornered.*

Millie: *Tilting her head, catching his discomfort.* You look like you got somethin’ to hide.

Striker: *snarling slightly* Don’t flatter yourselves. I’ve been in worse situations. *He glares at them both, lowering his gun just slightly.* How ‘bout you two mind your own damn business and let me get what I came here for?

Millie and Moxxie exchange a glance, both unwilling to back down but curious enough not to pull the trigger just yet. After a beat, Moxxie lowers his gun, though she keeps it within reach.

Millie: Fine. But if we catch you causin' trouble again, don’t expect us to go easy on you. You’re lucky we’ve got other priorities right now.

Striker: *grumbling* Fine by me. Would rather not have to deal with the likes of you anyway.

Receptionist: Mr. Striker! The Doctor will see you now!

With a final glare, he shoulders past them, making his way deeper into the clinic, though he can feel their eyes boring into his back. He’d gotten off easy this time, but he knew they’d be watching for him—and that this secret of his wouldn’t stay hidden forever.

[alexiethymia]

[book spoilers]

Lockwood’s idea of a grand gesture is to be more of a fool than usual, more death-defying than usual, to make sure that Lockwood & Co. was always on front page news because if Lucy was the best then Lockwood & Co. could be nothing less than THE best agency to deserve her, to get her to return. And no, he doesn’t stop there. He may not have asked you to return on bended knee like you wanted Lucy, but like any proper gentleman caller he couldn’t come to your door empty-handed. He brings THE case, that one case that Lucy could never refuse coming from Fittes herself. I bet he spent all those four months searching for that one case. Because see the plan was always for her to return and Lockwood has always been an end-justifies-the-means kind of guy. And the way he gets her on board speaks a lot about his own character and how well he knows Lucy.

Lockwood has always been slightly manipulative and he uses the full force of that skill during that reunion with Lucy. Every move was calculated. From his suit he wears like armor, each one carefully chosen. An old coat that reminds them of a case they worked on together, an immaculate new suit (Really? Just to hire her again?), and to top it all of, a tie which Lucy specifically gave him. He catches her off guard, he doesn’t give her time to get her bearings. He knows asking her outright to return wouldn’t work. Even if he did beg, that already failed when he ended up so angry that he left Lucy behind in that cafe (the fact that Lockwood who prides himself on being a gentleman could leave a girl, and Lucy of all people, shows that his emotions were completely haywire that day). In other words, Lucy’s stubbornness proved stronger than his own. So he had to change tactics. He had to make sure that her returning would be all her idea, that she would return all on her own.

Because see, he didn’t need a case to see her. He could have visited at any time after they didn’t have closure when Lucy snuck away in the dawn to leave. He could have normalized ties between them and remained friends even as Lucy was now a freelance agent. But he didn’t. He made sure they didn’t have closure. He didn’t even acknowledge her leaving because to do otherwise would make it final. On Lucy’s end I think she wouldn’t have minded if they could be friends and talk casually together again. She wanted it. But that’s not what Lockwood wanted. He wouldn’t have been satisfied unless Lucy was back home with them. Like a jilted lover, he needed a grand gesture to draw her back in.

So he does everything. He lies. “I wouldn’t ask you again to return.” “It’s just a one-off.” “One night, two max.” But and even though Lucy couldn’t fully see through him, what they really meant, she did pick up on signs of him fraying and unraveling. The uncertain smile that was simultaneously just for her and was shades paler than his usual gigawatt smile, the slight bitterness that she was willing to work with other agencies but not his, that studied nonchalance as if he wasn’t keeping track of her progress and whereabouts the same way Lucy tried not to follow news of Lockwood and Co., the deflection, deflection, deflection.

He doesn’t answer properly regarding Holly because he still thinks she might have had something to do with Lucy leaving.

“George didn’t like it.” This is his mixing up of I and we tendency again but way worse. For him to use George to say that she was missed was egregious because couldn’t he just say that he missed her? Or even we missed you, we didn’t like it [the idea of replacing you]. It wouldn’t be so strange. He is as much her friend as George. Unless her leaving cut him more deeply. And we know he represses that sh*t. So he doesn’t even include himself in the equation anymore maybe because he thought it would make Lucy uncomfortable because not even him losing control of his emotions, being exposed and raw could get her to stay. Or at least that’s what he tells himself when in reality he’s fortified his barriers once again. He made himself open for Lucy, all the anger he’d kept tightly locked inside, and still - she left. So he can’t even talk to Lucy anymore without using someone or something as a conduit, projecting himself because he can’t expose himself to that sort of vulnerability again until he accomplishes his goal. So yeah there’s plenty of bitterness on his part, but what trumps that, always trumps it and his pride (because I’m sure part of him expected that Lucy would come back earlier on her own so he was just waiting and when that didn’t happen because see in a contest of wills Lucy’s would always trump his own, he’s weak when it comes to her, he’s the one who comes to her instead) - is that base desire for her to just come back.

[heartbreak-sandwich]

Billy Hargrove x Fem!OC

Summary: After a day of sledding with a group of her former classmates, JJ is freezing and prepares to walk home when Billy offers her a ride. She invites him in for a warm drink to repay his favor, and things quickly heat up when he lights a fire and shares his best tips on keeping the frost bite at bay. Bask in the glow of this incendiary encounter in the next 1.8k words🔥 CW: SMUT, oral (f receiving), overstimulation, Billy is a little demanding A huge thank you to my beta reader and editor @lifesshort-imshorter for helping me bring this piece to life!!!

DAY THREE OF HOHOHOE WEEK Prompt: Fireplace Read the rest of this mini series here: Part 1 | Part 2

JJ stood at the top of the snow covered hill with the rest of her classmates. Quite a few of them showed up to the Hawkins sledding reunion party Nancy had organized for those of them that were home for the holidays. Everyone was complaining about how cold it was and how they didn’t want to be chilled to the bone by falling in the snow. She couldn’t believe these people had agreed to make an appearance solely for a party to play in a winter wonderland and then refused to participate.

“Seriously, you guys?” She shook her head in disappointment. “Move. I’m going down.” The small crowd parted, and JJ steadied her sled at the top of the hill, making sure it would travel straight from where it started. Everyone’s eyes were on her, including Billy’s, whose burned brightly as he watched her daredevil antics.

“Need a push?” He stepped forward and offered to help JJ start her downhill journey. She smiled over her shoulder at him and replied with one simple word.

“Nope.” With that, she took a running step forward and jumped into the sled, the momentum propelling her forward and down the hill. Inspired by JJ’s bravery, the rest of the group followed suit, everyone finally conceding to having the good time they all gathered for in the first place.

The rest of the afternoon was spent laughing, catapulting snowballs, and wiping out in the icy powder. Everyone agreed they couldn’t remember the last time they had so much fun. Billy was just glad to be there with JJ, soaking in the warmth that emanated from her on that freezing winter day.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun was setting, and JJ was completely soaked through her clothes. Teeth chattering, cheeks aching from smiling and the bite of the bitter wind, she began saying goodbye to her classmates.

“I need to get going so I’m not walking in the dark. I’ll see you guys at Tina’s in a couple days!” She waved, a chorus of farewells arising from the group as she gathered her sled.

“Walking?” Billy’s voice boomed above the rest.

“Yeah,” JJ answered. “It’s not far.���

“No way. You’re freezing. Come on, let me give you a ride. It’s on my way.” Billy stepped toward her while all of the bystanders quieted, waiting for her to bite back sarcastically. To their surprise, she accepted graciously.

“Actually, that would be nice.” JJ’s whole body shook from the cold as she spoke. Following Billy to where his car was parked, she was thrilled to see he was still driving that cobalt blue Camaro she had always made fun of him for but secretly loved.

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

“Thanks again for the ride.” JJ was still shivering as Billy pulled into the Ferons’ driveway.

“Any time,” he drawled, his signature smirk sliding into place. JJ had the house to herself for the night. Her parents were being entertained at another stuffy cocktail hour for some other overly posh law firm, and while she originally planned to get some relaxation time in, she now had a better idea.

“You want to come in? I’ll make you a hot drink for your troubles.”

“Thought you’d never ask,” Billy replied, his smirk blooming into a smile. He followed JJ inside, and he couldn’t help but notice she was still shaking from the cold permeating through her wet clothes.

“I’ll put the kettle on. You make yourself comfortable,” she instructed, leaving Billy alone in the living room. 

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

“What’s all this?” JJ’s grin shone brightly against the dim glow of a fire crackling in the fireplace. She handed Billy one of the mugs she was carrying back from the kitchen, taking note of the pile of blankets on the floor in front of the dancing flames.

“You’re freezing. We need to get you warmed up, and I thought a fire might help. Here,” Billy said, taking JJ’s hand and leading her over to the bundle of warmth he had prepared. They sat down on the plush area rug together, and Billy draped two of the blankets over JJ’s shoulders, wrapping his arms around her, moving them up and down slowly to create friction.

“What a gentleman,” JJ crooned in jest, giggling at Billy’s display.

“Frostbite is no joke, Jacqueline,” he quipped back, his smile still bright in the low light.

“I suppose that’s true,” she agreed. They shared a comfortable silence looking far off into the fire, the crackling and popping sounds keeping them company.

“You know,” Billy started. “Body heat is really the most effective way to warm up.” JJ met his gaze, and his ocean eyes were dark with a devilish haze. She knew exactly what he was playing at, and she loved this game.

“Oh, well, in that case.” JJ stood up, letting the blankets fall from her shoulders, and pulled her sweater over her head, discarding it onto the floor. Billy’s eyes followed her every move as she peeled off more layers – t-shirt, undershirt, pants, socks – until she was down to just her underwear, her blue lace bra almost matching the color of his stare.

Billy followed suit, shedding his sweater, shirt, and pants, still watching her all the time. JJ felt the heat of a blush creep up to her cheeks just looking at him. He was like a God. The outline of every dip and valley of Billy’s body was contoured by the flickering of the fire. His golden skin looked butter-soft, and all JJ wanted to do was touch him, but she forced herself to be patient.

They returned to their seats on the rug, and Billy leaned closer to her, cupping the side of her face in his hand with a hungry look in his eyes. JJ’s lips parted as Billy ghosted his thumb over them, and there was no more talking. He kissed her slowly, with passion and sincerity, and she was already losing herself.

Billy tasted sweet like honey and warm sugar, and soon JJ was melting into him while their kisses turned fiery, all teeth, tongue, and desperation. Billy pressed wet, needy kisses to her jaw, her neck, her collar bone, leaving playful bites in his wake. JJ’s breathing grew heavy, and all she wanted was more, more, more.

Just when she thought she couldn’t take it any longer, Billy leaned into her until her back was pressed into the thick, plush rug in front of the fire. He lowered himself to her face one last time, locking her lips into his and running his tongue along the bottom one, then the top. He was teasing her, and she was eating it up.

Billy placed nips and kisses again down her neck, to her collar bone, to her chest, and he didn’t stop until he got to the top of her panties, taking the waistband in his teeth and letting it snap back against her skin. He glanced up at her from between her thighs, eyes full of sin, and JJ’s heart hammered double time.

“Are you warming up yet?” Billy asked seductively before pressing his warm, wet tongue flat against her clothed slit, just enough so that she could feel the rush of his hot breath.

“Whatever you do,” JJ warned, running her fingers through Billy’s sandy curls, “just don’t stop.” A dangerous grin formed on Billy’s face just before he hooked his fingers into the waistband of her panties and slid them down her legs, tossing them to the side. Big, strong hands pushed her thighs apart, making room for Billy to nestle down in between them. His breath ghosted across her bare skin, creating goosebumps over her entire body as he licked a long stripe through her folds.

JJ’s breath hitched at the contact, and she pulled lightly on Billy’s curls, eliciting a growl from deep within his chest. His tongue was like warm velvet sliding up and down and in delicious circles around her clit, and her vision grew hazy in the glow of the flames. She didn’t have room in her mind to care that her moans sounded pathetic and desperate as she tightened her grip in Billy’s hair and moved her hips languidly against his expert mouth.

“Fuck, that’s so good.” Billy’s eyes snapped up to meet hers as she glanced down at his mesmerizing movements, the work of his mouth and his dark stare setting her core ablaze. She let out a gasp when she felt him push two fingers inside of her, curling them up to meet her sweet spot. He fucked her slowly, the constant contact of his tongue pushing her closer and closer to the breaking point.

“Billy, please,” she breathed, her eyes brimming with tears at the stimulation.

“Beg me,” he purred, the low vibrations of his voice against her aching pussy sending shockwaves crashing over her.

“Please, I want to cum for you so bad. Mmmm – please, Billy.” With those magic words, he picked up the pace, thrusting his fingers into her harder and faster and sucking fiendishly on her clit until her moans turned into blissful sobs. Every move Billy made stoked the embers in her core until it was white hot and smoldering, and then there was an explosion.

JJ’s eyes screwed shut, tears spilling down her cheeks as she lost control, her whole body shuddering as her walls clenched around Billy’s fingers. She writhed against his tongue, a string of colorful expletives flooding from her lips as she rode out her climax. Slowly seeping back into the fabric of reality, JJ steadied her breathing as Billy removed his fingers and set an iron grasp on her thighs, pushing them farther apart while his blunt nails dug into her flesh as he held her there.

He continued to lavish slow, lazy circles on her clit, the overstimulation sending jolts up her spine as more tears slipped down her cheeks. JJ couldn’t take it anymore and tried her best to push him away, but he was too strong.

“Beg me,” Billy commanded once more. He wasn’t going to stop until she was a pathetic, weeping mess.

“Billy, please,” she cried. “I can’t take it anymore, please.” He gave one last long lick along her clit and looked up at her, his cerulean eyes shining like the surface of the ocean under the sun. He steadied himself on his knees and stretched his back, the glow of the fire rippling over his defined muscles before he laid down next to her.

“You taste divine,” he whispered. He leaned in and kissed her fiercely, and she could taste the sweet and sour remnants of herself on his tongue.

Once she was finally able to string a coherent thought together, JJ knew she was in trouble. Everything about Billy consumed her entirely, and though she knew she’d never be the same, in that moment, all she wanted was to be completely immersed in him. He was going to ruin her, and she was content to let it happen.

💕Tag list: @imyourdaninow @justsimonrileythings @b1tchy3lf @jozstankovich @darleenjade @peachyaliien @dananahenderson @strangerthing93 @yoyokiss97 @californiaboytoybilly

[thedaylighteffect]

An Unscheduled Encounter

(OC x GN/Masculine-ish Reader)

TW: Smoking, alcohol, “getting high”, flirty stuff, NSFW. It gets a bit shitty near the end. NOT PROOFREAD. Gender neutral due to the lack of pronouns addressing the reader.

The scent of smoke and sweat choked the air as you forced past the partying mass with your umteenth empty drink. You stumbled towards the metallic bar table and set your empty glass on the cold surface with a clink. 

“A Manhattan, please,” you muttered, retrieving your box of cigarettes from your suit and igniting the blank rear of the little stick.

The bartender took the cue and began fixing up a drink.

You sat on the barstool and sobered up with a cigarette, your feet tapped to the muted bass of the music. Your gut churned as a cloud of smoke from your lips washed a wave of regret over your head. Going to your high school reunion was a mistake.

Your fingers relieved the tie around your neck, and with a sigh— you freed yourself from the uppermost buttons of your shirt— exposing your collarbones. You watched the bartender's hands as he slipped the drink in your direction; all you did was sit there and blink at the swirling golden-red alcohol, your appetite disappearing in a blink. The cigarette in your hand flickered under the dim lights.

"What? Not feeling like drinking anymore? I just watched you down three of those glasses like it was nothing." A voice dangerously close to your ear spoke up— you could feel the little puffs of breath between each word. You jumped, almost dropping your cigarette on the table. The muscles on your neck tensed. You instantly recognized who it was, so you kept your eyes to yourself.

Little specks of ash fluttered onto your suit as you brought the wrapped leaf up your lips and drew a deep breath. Goosebumps rose on your neck as you shifted uncomfortably in your seat, trying to keep your heartbeat from climbing up your ears.

"I never struck you as a smoker," he said.

Your eyes stayed glued on the drink as the voice sat up and posed comfortably on the bar chair beside you. The man leaned forward in your direction, but you instinctively recoiled, avoiding the heat from his body.

You peeled your eyes off your drink, turned at the voice, and met a familiar sight. The soft hair, glowing eyes, and the softest smile— You were sure it was over by now, but your heart had other thoughts.

"Oh," was the maximum reaction you could push through your psychoactive head as the man took the glass from your fingertips and brought it to his lips with a smile. 

This certainly wasn't on the agenda today.

You sat in embarrassing silence as you watched him swirl the glass of Manhattan between his slender fingertips. You swallowed as you avoided his gaze, taking rhythmic puffs from your cigarette. A beat later, he spoke up.

"Don't ignore me. Not when you're dressed so fancily in that suit of yours," he said, shattering the loud wall of silence between you. His cold fingers grasped your chin and brought it close to his face, "What's the matter? Last time I remember, you loved looking at me."

Your face flushed a scalding red; you attempted to pull back from him, "That...that-"

He interrupted, "You came here to see me," he said with a confident look, his fingers released your chin.

Bingo.

You rubbed the area where he touched— the place felt like a brand on your chin. Maybe it was the effects of the smoke, but you've accepted defeat long ago, "And what if I did?" you shot back.

“That’d be quite the compliment,” He swirled the glass again and sipped at it elegantly. You watched in silent awe as he wet his lips with the bitter liquor. The neon red maraschino cherry glistened and bobbed in the alcohol as he tipped the glass. He hummed, “You do seem like the person to drink a Manhattan,” he licked the rim of the glass, “It’s bitter-sweet, just like you.”

“Are you inferring I fall into the sentimental category? I promise you, I am quite far from that,” you scowled softly. The smoke was definitely getting to your head. 

“And what if I did?” He echoed your words.

Oh, he was teasing you. 

He turns away and mindlessly sips on your drink. You silently wished that those lips of his were sipping on something else.

“...says the one drinking a Manhattan right now.”

“It’s yours.”

“It still counts.”

He rolled his eyes, clearly not letting the thought get to his head, “Then how about I order you a Dry Martini?” He smiled, turning towards you. His deep ocean-breeze cologne washed over your nose for a brief second.

It suits him.

You frowned, “Not the best fan, though I do appreciate it if you bought me a drink,” you glared at the martini glass in his hand.

His eyes trace your line of sight, and a dry laugh rings from his throat. He sets the drink on the bar and slides the half-sipped Manhattan back to you, “For you.”

You stared at the mahogany drink and looked back at him, “What’s the meaning?”

“What do you think?” He rests his face on his fist and taps the corner of his lip with another finger. You exchanged over to the drink and noticed the faint prints of his lip on the edge of the glass. 

You take out the maraschino cherry and slip the stem between your ring and middle finger before gracefully tipping the glass to your lips. The composure quickly breaks as you toss your head back and down the drink.

You met his eyes, “It tastes good, better, actually. But I’m sure the real thing tastes the best.”

He chuckles at your words, “You’re quite the word wizard when you’re drunk and high.” He turns his whole body towards you and crosses his legs.

Yeah, you were definitely drunk and high. But you didn’t care.

You crushed the half-burnt cigarette in your hand and put the glass back down. Standing up from your seat, you stepped closer and bent down to reach his height, “So when can I get it?”

His icy fingers grace your exposed collarbone, landing a shiver down your spine. With a single thought, he meets your eyes with a sly smile.

“How about you earn it?”

Maybe this wasn’t so much of a mistake.

The bitterness of his liquor stained lips intertwined with yours, creating a swirling concoction inside your heart. Suddenly, it was just the two of you in this little world. The outside world was muted, silent, separated from you.

“Let’s take it to a more secluded place,” his voice felt like a loud tenor in your ear as you nodded mindlessly with his arms around your waist.

–

As soon as the door clicks, your back is pressed up against the wall with a bang, numbing your senses. His face was close to yours as his eyes gazed lustfully into yours. His slender finger caresses your face, “Your lips look so delicious,” with a single breath, he licks your mouth, and kiss you deeply.

Your body twists as his cold fingers travel down your side and slip into the waistband of your pants, “Your fingers are so cold,” you complain under your breath, to which he smiles in reply.

“And you are very warm, darling.” His voice carried a hint of mockery as he eased your pants down to your knees.

Your legs grow weak as his fingers caress your thighs and sex. A soft moan escapes your lips as he grazes the spot that causes your stomach to catch in your throat. His fingers continue to minister the area until you unwind with a soft scream in his hands.

He brings his fingers to his tongue and slowly licks your essence off of his slender hand, "You taste wonderful, especially after that little drink of yours," your face flushes as his voice deepens into a soft growl.

He gets on his knees and begins to unbutton your suit, exposing your chest to his gaze. As the last button loosened, you felt as if your armor had melted away. You felt vulnerable. Your stomach instantly tense as he kisses the middle of your chest, your waist, and your belly, leaving bright red marks as he travels down to your pelvis. You close your eyes as you feel his lips envelop your sex, slowly engulfing you in his mouth.

"Oh..." you whisper as your fingers loop into his hair, his hands keep you from falling. The room echoes with your gasps as your knees buckle from the pleasure; you become undone once again in his hold.

"So cute," he comments as he flips you around so his stomach is pressed against your back. Your legs were still shaking from the pleasure as you felt him enter inside you, stretching your walls with his girth.

Before you could catch your breath, he started moving; you flail your arms, trying to hold onto your sanity before you got drowned by lust, "Wait, wait...please," you gasp breathlessly.

Reluctantly, he slowed down and wrapped an arm around your stomach, nuzzling his head into the crevice of your neck, "Alright, I'll go slow," he muttered into your ear. He stalled for a few breaths, you relaxed around him and he took the cue and began to speed up again. The room was drowned by your whimpers and his occasional grunts, "You're so tight even when you're relaxed."

A hum followed with a broken moan was all you could force out, you were in bliss. He kisses around your back, leaving a trail of bruises in a shape of a heart.

Soon you both become undone in the embrace of one another. He pulls out as soon as he climaxes and lets his seed dribble down your back as you shiver from the stimulation and collapse onto the floor.

“Don't get so sleepy on me now," he says with a smile. You lean your body against his chest as he leads you over to the lounge area of the private room. He sets you down on the sofa, wipes your body clean, and tends to the bruises on your neck; you feel a sudden sense of comfort and warmth. His hands are warm as he dresses you up.

You both sit in uneasy silence as you watch him fix your collar, contemplation hangs in the air. You break the silence first, "So, what are we?"

He stops what he is doing and looks at you with an amused expression.

"Certainly not simply friends."

You smiled.

[five-rivers]

Bittersweet Flavor

Felt like doing a little thing of Vlad being an even bigger creep than in canon during Bitter Reunions after watching the episode last night. :)

.

Vlad floated forward, mouth open, to tell Skulker to stop, that he’d hired him and rebuilt his suit to capture the boy, not to kill him.  That Vlad had other plans, but–

But Vlad had never tasted the fear of another half ghost before.  

Yes, that was what he was feeling, and it was almost intoxicating.  

Oh, Daniel had been afraid before, when they were fighting, but he hadn’t been human then, he hadn’t really had time to be afraid, and Vlad hadn’t had time to savor it.  The fear of a ghost was different.  This… Vlad inhaled deeply.  

He glided forward, and was delighted when Daniel flinched away from him, no-doubt remembering their fight the previous night, even as he made a pathetic attempt at information gathering and banter.  He reached out, cupping one side of Daniel’s face in his hand, smiling as he felt Daniel’s heart rate start to climb through the contact.  

Then, quick as a snake, Daniel turned his head and bit Vlad’s wrist.  Or tried to.  His human teeth weren’t nearly up to the task.  Vlad laughed.  Oh, the boy had some fight in him, didn’t he?  But that wouldn’t do, would it?

He reached over to the ‘shock’ button and pressed it ever so delicately.  

The boy seized, head snapping back for a moment before listing forward, dazed and reliant on the Containment Cube to stay upright.  His eyes were glassy and his breath ragged, and he was oh so scared.

“Plasmius,” said Skulker, snapping Vlad out of his reverie.  Something on his wrist tweedled, but Skulker ignored it.  

“What?” snapped Vlad, angry at being interrupted.

“Remember, he’s young.”

Vlad felt his eyes flare.  “So?  You try to skin him.”

Skulker’s faceplate made a jittery motion, like it was trying to settle into a configuration it hadn’t been designed for.  “You know things aren’t that simple.”

“Wh-what are you two talking ab-about?  Who ev-even are you?” Daniel’s skin was pale, and he was trembling badly enough to stutter, but he still, evidently, had enough energy for sass.  

Vlad pursed his lips.  Right.  He had another goal here.  Doubtless, he would be able to indulge his ghost half’s emotional appetites later.  Perhaps even when he finally showed everyone what an oaf Jack Fenton was.  He smirked.  “Oh, haven’t you put together the pieces yet?”  He let his rings sweep over him, revealing his human form.  “It’s me, the first human-ghost hybrid created by your father’s stupidity.”

[reidhalstead]

REID HALSTEAD, Masquerade, August 2024

Ironing an old suit from a box he's only recently brushed dust from, Reid doesn't care nor much think to consider the rules on white tie. So he's forgone the tie entirely, in bitter annoyance. The panther's mask had once been a buried thing from an old hunter's prank that he'd upheaved from another box. The irony is never lost on him. But if he can hardly pay his water bill (for two now, mind. thank you @anikabooker), he isn't forking out for an event he barely wants to be at. He turns up with his roommate after they both note they're attending; she asks, and he reluctantly agrees. With the recent reunion with his sisters and the attack, he's there to protect them — since he’s now out of the shadows. But he's also hunting in the crowd for the one responsible.