#And she is disgustingly clueless

[beatrizamante]

_Shooting Star

Lara is still frozen in front of her ajar apartment door, mouth slightly agape. The passing night breeze slits through her nightwear since she didn’t bother to change into something presentable. No one was expected tonight and the gang isn't used to seeing her in short tank tops and hot pants, so as long as it isn't the gang, it’s alright. The cold winds seem to caress her naked skin, but for some reason, none of that chill seeps in. 

No, her eyes are locked in certain burnt umber ones. She was too concentrated when the bell rang, still calculating equations when she climbed down her just inherited new apartment, trying to find a path through the mess. Many things were bought, hanged and taken care of, but the place was still chaotic, especially because she was also transforming her old Pa’s apartment into a study for astronomy and physics. Well, as much as she could without having government funding and just enough that was still cozy to live in. 

The scientist, though, was not expecting a visitor. A Mal visitor. And he does not look happy. 

He still wears his diner apron, the red fabric billowing with the wind, but he’s sporting his biker pants and sleeveless gray shirt. It is a weird combination and the fact that he’s holding a delivery bag while looking at her like that makes all those times she felt weird so much more meaningful. His brunette hair is disheveled, probably from taking off his helmet in a hurry. And he had this look… Jaw set in a way that Lara could bet that, in the correct lightning, that prominent scar would show. There was no customer veneer to him today, nor the charisma he would usually sport when talking to her. 

There was only an… intensity. His brows were furrowed and mouth set in a dangerous grin. She couldn’t read exactly anger, but maybe frustration? Oh, frustration! The taunt lines of his body exuded that. It wasn’t dangerous, just… very intense. 

Did she do something? 

Think, Lara, think! 

Oh… Well, she did… avoid?... The diner… for two days.

Hey! Lara needed to think, ok? A lot of things were happening and Fernweh was loading a whole set of problems onto her. Especially these… feelings. HOW DOES ONE DEAL WITH IT? The doctor has to think. Sit with these thoughts and really think about them. 

But that couldn’t make Mal this mad, could it? It was only two days.

I have no intention of letting you go. 

Hm, maybe it could. 

Welp, at least they could talk!... She hopes?   

“Mal…”, her voice is very soft with wonder, unintentionally cutting him when he’s about to speak. The bag crinkles at his closed first, blood seeping from his fingers as the skin turns pale. Lara can almost hear his teeth grinding against his skull. Ops. “... Sorry. I didn’t ask for any deliv- I mean! I’m happy to see you, I’m just confused? Can we talk… privately? I think I left my card upstairs. ”, her face flushes, her pulse spikes so much that she worries if a heart attack is on the way. He must find something in her expression that makes him soften. She’s trying to give him an excuse to get upstairs to a private conversation. There’s no hesitation when the waiter steps forward. He’s done waiting. No excuses tonight.

“The delivery was already paid on your behalf, Charmer. Looks like your sweetest friend was worried that you vanished from the world of the living.”, he shadows her steps and, as Lara looks over her shoulder, shivers welcome her. “But I can take these up for you. After all, you’re not very good at holding onto things.”

Lara cocks her head his way, raising her brows. He’s repeating what he told her at the lake, that fateful night. Her waiter loves to recall his own sentences, doesn’t he? She chuckles slightly at that. It was a good one, after all. Lara can feel her marked left hand warm up even without his touch. She wonders what kind of magic he suffused in it, connecting them. 

The door behind them is closed with a click of finality, but her mind couldn’t be giving less fucks about that.

“Don’t mind the mess, I’m still decorating and making it usable for work.”, she exhales. It has been a tiring process, especially with her mind being the mess it has been these last few days. Her heart was beating so fast. The butterflies in her stomach were enraged. MalinmyapartmentMalinmyapartment. 

It takes her back to these last days. Is it what it means to care for someone romantically? Lara can say she likes likes him, but can she believe she loves him? That’s not something she can answer, but it’s undeniable how the doctor craves time with the waiter, how she loves hearing his voice or seeing him working on his bike. True, she still knows very little about him, but it makes her happy that Mal can smile, really meaning it, when they talk. When they hang out together… WHY DOES THAT MAKES HER HEART BEAT SO FAST? She’s already aware of it, alright? No need for this! 

And the shivers? How does his voice seem to caress her neck whenever he speaks with her? It’s not something she can keep giving excuses for. No, it’s not the cold weather. It’s not the electromagnetic fields.

She can’t keep staring at his hands or lips anymore, it’s humiliating. 

The climbing is silent, broken only by their steps and Lara’s own uncontrollable heartbeat. She feels like a rabbit, but doesn't dwell on it. Talking with him about the thoughts of these last few days is way more important now, and Lara knows it. There’s one doubt in her mind, though, that she has to voice. “Is this place safe to talk?”

 Her voice sounds delicate as Mal crosses the threshold of her apartment, absorbing every detail as if he needed to burn it in his memory. The walls further from the windows sport midnight blue wallpapers filled with charting in silver and gold. The kitchen aisle was reformed and thousands of extra-small tiles that seemed to form a blue and green nebula were lightened by soft orange lamps.

  The old windows were removed and now wall-sized ones showed the verdant horizon of Fernweh. Heavy gray curtains could be used if Lara needed more privacy. Her trusty telescope was set in one of the windows overlooking the more wild side of the town. 

Adjacent to it, there was a whole set of modern lab equipment that Lara was still unpacking, a seemingly futuristic laboratory of calculators, monitors and sensors. Fairy lights that looked like twinkling stars were hung in perfect cuts and sizes. 

The whole place seemed like either a sci-fi lab or an old astronomer’s tower.

“I took care of it, you don’t need to worry tonight, Charmer.”, his voice resonates against the walls in a way that makes her tremble. Why? Was it the husky tone? Was the fact that Lara might feel a feathering touch at her arm?  

For some reason, the pressure of tonight seems way out of scale from their normal encounters. It was charged, almost short circuiting. Not insulated as it would usually be. Lara turns to her visitor. Her waiter. Her… Well.

Mal threw his unfastened apron over his shoulder. Their eyes meet and all words leave her. His eyes were almost crimson against the light. Cocking his head, Mal still has that coiled bearing, but his face transmits a very different message as she feels his electrifying focus pressed against her from head to toe. Deliberate. Slow. 

Oh gods, did she have any medicine for blood pressure? 

“Not tonight, huh? Did you tape the supernatural bugs in here? Well, no matter. This is good, I want to talk…”, she ever so softly takes his diner bag from his hands, trying to break eye contact. Key word trying. Focus, Lara!, “Sit, please? I’ll brew something for us. Hopefully I won’t mess up, I have no idea what’s inside these.”, Lara shut up. She brings the bag to the aisle, smelling the perfectly made parfait. She can’t wait to dig in the ripe strawberries, but this is more important. 

“There’s a certain type of drink that I want to taste, Lara. I’m sure that one, you have in here.”, his flirting catches Lara a bit off guard, but she breathes in, heart skipping once more. Her vision is almost blurry from her nerves and she knows she must be a glowing red alert, but she chuckles.

“I wouldn’t put so much trust in it if I were you.”, at that, Lara brings her visitor a cup of hot chamomile tea with milk and honey. As the waiter reaches for his cup, his left hand snakes and grabs the scientist’s left one, warmth suffusing against her palm. She jolts, balancing her tea without spilling it. 

“Looks like you’re learning to hold things better, Lara.”, he pulls her closer, eyes dead set on hers. Their knees bump into each other softly. “Why don’t you sit, Charmer? You’re home.”, Mal says, in a very honeyed and hushed voice. 

She can’t focus like that, but she sits beside him, focusing on the half finished planetarium close to her telescope. Lara sips her tea, tilting her head towards him once he starts to test the give of her fingers. It’s weird to have this… Intimate moments with someone, but not a bad weird. She softly smiles at that. Something that always makes him stop staring so intently. 

“I’m trying to make it homey, although I miss the lab… But this is not why I wanted to talk.” 

“I… hm, first, I’m sorry for not showing up at the diner. Before you said something enigmatic about it, I go there mostly for you, and we both know that.”, she says, looking inside her teacup. Mal will wait for her to speak, she knows that, but still, it is hard to maintain eye contact. And those words need to be said. Lara can’t afford to be hypnotized now. “So, sorry, I needed to think. I never had to deal with this before… And second, well…”, the astrophysicist trails off, eyes automatically burrowing into Mal’s crimson ones. She shudders a breath, but holds eye contact. It is most important. “What I was thinking about was… you.”

That soft expression she spotted other times was back. A fragile hope. Eye contact is broken, but not by her, this time. He seems to tense even more, if that’s possible. With deceptive strength, he pulls her even closer. The scientist reeds the unanswered question, their sides merging with proximity as if Mal couldn’t fathom not being this close with her. 

Then, his head snaps into attention until he’s hovering over her, hands still locked in that firm grip and teacup forgotten in the coffee table. Somehow, even her cup is not in her hands anymore.  

Her eyes scrutinize him, stopping at his lips, and she swallows. He’s biting the bottom one, on the brink of losing control over his calm. His face exudes something consuming, devouring.  

Lara takes a deep breath and searches the monitors on the walls for some reading that can distract her, so the rest can be said. 

“Wait, don’t speak. Sorry, it’s just that… I need to put these into words, and I’m terrible at that. But I think I might… Well…”, he seems to approach their faces, a ground out intent in his eyes. Their noses are almost touching, which makes it impossible for Lara to try to distract herself. Not when he’s this close, warm breath touching her lips. “I don’t ‘think’, I know that I do like you. I don’t know about love, but whatever we have now? It’s nice…”, the admission leaves a little too fast, as if she was desperate to breathe. “Fernweh hasn’t been the best place to be since I came back, but I am glad to have come and met you.”, the doctor manages to push out her remaining words, unable to look anywhere else but him.

He smells like cinnamon, sweet and warm. So warm… Her eyes trail down, locking on his indulgent smile.

“And what do we have, Lara? What is this?”, he says, amused, right hand starts a tentative trail on the right side of her rib cage. Lara doesn’t remember how her hand ended up on his chest, feeling the expanse of muscle beneath his shirt, softly tracing his rib cage, counting bones unintentionally.

Such a thin layer separating them. Such a thin layer of air doing the same.

Her voice is breathless, but she manages to squeeze out some words. “I don’t know… But I want to find out.”

The final distance is cut mostly by Mal, but also by a soft pull from her right hand and the eagerness of her eyes when she looks at him like that. 

As if he was one of the stars she’s so passionate about. 

There’s almost no control over the ferocity of his kiss, sending shivers all over her skin, but that is barely registered as Lara is drunk on the moment. He is still holding her left hand in an unrelenting grip, while his other hand tries to settle her in place so she doesn’t climb on his lap as she wished to do subconsciously. That kiss will leave a mark. She swallows the sweetness of his mouth with abandon, mind feeble. All thoughts are drowned in a fog. A haze of heat she doesn’t understand, but doesn’t shy away either. 

When Lara separates to breathe in, she can feel his smile at her soft gasps for air. A husky chuckle leaves him. 

She was never kissed like that. Her face is flush, but her eyes are still set on the prize. Mal’s eyes are a deep crimson and there’s nothing in this world that could make Lara move from that place right now. 

Is this the feeling of being hit by a supernova?

The woman lets the intrusive thoughts win and oh-ever-so-softly nips at his lower lip. That small action changes something in his fragile veneer of control. An almost death grip on the nape of her neck makes their lips join again with violence, pulling out a decadent moan from her throat. How can two bodies be even closer than they are now? He maneuvers her, setting a trail of kisses, sucks and nips down said throat, drinking her sensitiveness as more soft moans leave his scientist’s lips. Lara feels a bite at the junction of her neck and shoulder and that wakes her from her haze. The sensation that climbs down her lower belly makes her set her thighs together. Wide eyed and heavily flushed, the doctor stares at Mal’s almost too smug smile. “It looks like you learned your lesson well, Charmer.”

She can’t speak. Her heart is beating too fast. There’s too much blood rushing through her head. The doctor stands up suddenly, breathing in with desperation. Mal watches her, amused, even if he’s still holding her left hand in that dead-lock grip. 

Ever so slightly, she eases their hold until he lets go. The smugness is exchanged by a dark expression as Lara grabs the teacups and takes them to the kitchen aisle. I can't think. I can't think! Lara you can't just attack a guy like that!     

The scientist almost flees, but the waiter doesn’t wait for her to return. He gets up and remains just some steps behind her, merging their personal spaces. He doesn’t want any more distance between them. There was already enough of that for a lifetime. She's still trying to recover her breathing when he locks her between him and the aisle, intentionally so close that she doesn't have room to move. Tea cups again already out of her hands.  

“Lara, look at me.”, he commands, impatient for the first time since they started this. Her eyes are unerringly drawn to his, locking in again. As it was always meant to be. 

“Mal, I’m… I’m sorry! I should’ve asked first, not just…”

He has to bite down his bottom lip to avoid laughing. Of course that’s what she’s actually worried about. He’s unable to hide his smile when again, she’s hypnotized by his lips. “We can repeat that as many times as you want…”, he murmurs ever so softly. Approaching his lips to her ear, he gives her a hushed breath. “... Even more. I want all of you, Lara.” 

At that, Lara bites down her bottom lip and, in a practiced movement, she sits on the aisle, but it’s Mal that grabs her face and takes her breath away, making her hold onto him as if he was the only thing in this world that could set her free.  oc from @lacunafiction

[midnightfangz]

There's something about silly cafe AUs that soothes my soul so much

[elliezlils11utt]

🦇-KINKTOBER DAY 1: MASK KINK (elabs) -🩸

A/N: so we r all going to ignore that this is coming out 20 mins b4 the first days over. at least i finished it. 🤷🏽‍♀️

summary: two masked woman break into your home to fuck you.

contents: DARK ROMANCE. dom! abby x subtop!ellie x sub!reader, disgustingly unrealistic, RUSHED ASF! um being fucked by people u don’t know/people who broke into ur home. degrading, reader squirts, porn with like a smidge of plot? bondage. fingering, nipple play (r receiving)

~~~~~~

you slip into the shower. you’re clothes discarded carelessly on the floor. the steamy air fogs the room up. as the water falls down your skin your mind cant shake the stories that have been being passed along your neighborhood. apparently a shit ton of break ins have been happening in your area. its nothing too serious but its still enough to scare the weak. you’d like to tell yourself its just a halloween prank. i mean come on, they only started the first day of October? it’s probably just some dumb teens playing a stupid joke. probably took it too far & r too pussy to back out now. none of the break ins have resulted in anyone being hurt in any way so it shouldn’t be plaguing your mind like this. even if something did happen you’ll be okay. so when your washing away the grime of the day you attempt to distract yourself, singing to your shower playlist, and humming the tunes to your favorite songs.

“CRASH”

welp perfect.

thats just lovely.

the sound just barley makes it past your booming music. maybe your imagining it? no, no, no, you have to be! this cannot be happening! slowly you turn your music off. carefully you wrap your towel around your curves.

just as you suspected your back glass door was shattered completely. shards of glass lay scattered on the cold tile. your body shivers wether that be from the cold wind of the outside air hitting your wet body, or the fact that your home is actively being broken into. there is no way this is happening right now. you feel your stomach completely drop. the room looks almost untouched besides the broken door. everything is in place and the criminals are no where to be seen. this doesn’t seem like a joke anymore.. tip toeing over the glass you pick up the phone. frantically pressing the buttons of 911. your mind races with possibilities. they could be taking all your belongings right now. they could be anywhere in the house while you stand clueless in your kitchen. one hand holds up your towel above your boobs, and the other fumbles with the phone in your hand. in a rush the phone slides around in your grip, landing on the floor. at this point tears r running down your face. the panic of the situation really kicking in.

you bend down to pick up your mistake. you shake uncontrollably.

instead of shaking your movement stops completely when you feel cold hands grip at your hips. the nails of the person digging into ur towel. they stand behind you. a strong hold on your plushy ass.

“shh shh shhh, its okay” you hear her say. its a girl? her grip feels too strong, her hands feel too big. but her voice, its smooth. most definitely a girl.

“and you wont be needing this, nice try missy.” another girl bends down beside you. her masked face gets into yours as she picks up the phone you were trying to retrieve before you got in this whole predicament. you cant help but notice the hint of a tattoo under her sleeve. it seems like almost a fern? maybe it wraps around her arm. definitely noted for the description of them to the police.

“im going to tie your hands behind your back now, stand up for me doll.” the smooth voice speaks again. one of her strong hand finds the slim of your back, urging you to stand tall. slowly with your eyes shut tight, you lift yourself. you clutch onto your towel, stealthy tieing it onto itself so it doesn’t fall.

“goooddd girl.” the woman with the tattoo speaks. when you open your eyes your met face to face with her. well, mask to face. her mask is of course the iconic ghost face. her voice feels muffled as she talks. its raspy and hoarse. you can taste the malice intent in her voice. “take a picture it’ll last longer, oh wait!” she teases. holding your phone between her pointer and thumb. fucking unfunny joke to make right now. childish humor.

“p-please, what do you want?” you spit out, you sound so pathetic. what do you want? what kind of question is that?

“so she speaks” the woman behind you finally joins the party, after tieing you up with what seems like shoe laces? no its softer. ribbon? why would she be tieing u up like a present? they lead you to your own bedroom. the drawers r flung open. your underwear splayed over your floor carelessly. but only that.

wait

wait.

the woman don’t speak to each other at all. tho the tattooed woman does mumble to herself. too low for you to hear, and further muffled from her mask. still you haven’t gotten a good look at the other girl. you can tell her build is big tho. she isn’t small thats for sure. built like an ox. as if on cue she throws you onto your bed. flinging you around so you bounce onto your back. you were right. huge girl, compression shirt, baggy black pants. the other girl, shes way shorter, she wears a black hoodie, and jeans. interesting pair.

your tears have dried, leaving stains on your face. you bet your eyes are red and puffy, snot still dripping from your nose.

“please ill do anything, just don’t hurt me.”

“we don’t want to hurt you, trust me darling. anything but.” the ox stands tall, her arms crossed over her chest. her beefy arms pressing against each other.

then what the fuck are you doing here?

“we just wanna have some fun is all. is that okay?”

have fun? what the fuck does that even mean? and its a little late to ask for permission, no?

“tell me, tell me it’s okay.”

the other one demands. its s stern tone, but its almost seductive, and should not be making you leak through your towel. (which was already falling off from being thrown around) these woman just broke into your home, took your only source of communication, tied you up, and manhandled you. yet now they claim they ‘just want to have some fun’? interesting. something your willing to play along with.

“play with me.” you choke out. eyes switching between the girls.

“yeah? there she is.” the smaller girl praised. you can hear her smirk from under the mask. Your damp hair falls onto the pillows when the tattooed woman climbs onto you, she pulls your towel off. leaving you completely vulnerable. her hands roam your body. pulling and prodding at the ins and outs of yourself. where the other woman watches. standing over you two. you look up at her, looking into the eyes of the mask. the whole idea if this situation sends shocks of excitement and nervousness through your entire body. you see the peak of a blond braid hiding under her mask.

hot.

you turn to watch the woman who’s playing with you, her slim fingers roaming over your naked curves.

“look at how pretty she is.” she remarks.

“mhm, i know. we picked a good one huh?” the blond haired woman chuckles.

you moan when the tattoo clad woman pulls at your nipples, nipping at the sensitive buds.

“enough ellie, move.” the ox demands.

ellie. good to know.

shorter = ellie.

ellie shifts off of you reluctantly.

“she’s all yours”

“turn over, ass up.” the ox speaks to you. shes shedded her shirt, thrown on the floor with your bras. her muscles are neatly sculpted, the bulk of her body making you drip. yet you still cant see her face. no matter the amount of layers that fall off her body the mask remains stedfast on her head.

interesting. (sexy)

you obey. flipping yourself over, you reveal your soaked pussy.

“so fucking wet already. this turn you on? such a fucking slut. cant even see my face and are a complete mess.” the blond climbs onto the bed, she spreads your pussy lips between her fingers, slowly she pulls away. a string of your release connect you.

a whimper escapes your lips as she degrades you.

“shes adorable, good pick abs.” ellie giggles, sitting next to you. your in such a lewd position, with these girls who broke into your home to fuck you. and you couldn’t be enjoying this more.

without any warning you feel her fingers slide around in your folds. her thick meaty fingers plunge into you. you wince, the stretch hitting u all at once. it felt so fucking good. you wiggle in her grasp, wanting more.

you squish your head to look behind you to get a better look of the girl splitting you open. your hands still tied behind your back. you watch as abs motions to ellie. what what she saying? they seem to be able to communicate without words, it’s genuinely a bit scary. and with that ellie scoots down the bed, her hands reach down your body. rubbing your clit vigorously. you shake. the sudden stimulation overwhelms you. abs fingers thrust into you slower than ellie’s hands play with your clit.

“good, good, calm down. it’s okay we got you.” at this point you cant even tell who’s voice it is. all you could think about was how disgustingly lustful this whole situation was.

“i- uh. fuck- so..soo good. please?”

what were you even begging for?

no clue. they were giving you so much, but you were so fucking needy for more.

abs thrusts were deep and strong, ellies hands were fast and frigid. and together they sent you into a fucking spiral. all three of your breaths are fucked up. yours being quick and uneven, the blonds being slow and filled with deliberation, and ellies seems to be just a whiny as yours. you can tell shes getting off on this.

the ox curls her fingers into you.

“ohmygoddd” you whine into the pillows, your face being smushed into the sheets, your drooling all over your once clean bedding. Abs grunts as she flips u onto your back. it seems so effortless for her. she picks you up and tosses you around like you weigh nothing. she stays quiet beside her breathless huffs of lust. again they begin their assault on your pussy. you hold your legs right under your knees, or at least try to. between your foggy head and blurry vision you cant really do anything at the moment. almost embarrassingly quick you cum at the new position. your body spasms as your release onto the blonds arm. without time to calm down ellie chuckles.

“well would you look at that?.” she tsks

again as your brought back to reality you remember the masks. now these woman could be the ugliest people ever under that hunk of plastic (they in fact r not) but they just fucked your brains out. before abs can respond to your liquid on her arm, ellies knife is at your throat.

(HINT HINT HINT TO TMWS PROMPT) 🤫🤫

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[sugarpussyswirl]

₊˚ෆ 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 ₊˚ ෆ ୨⎯ 🧸 ⎯୧ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 . . . 𝘮𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘮𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 ; 𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 ; 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 18 ; 𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺.ᐟ𝘮𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘮𝘪 𝘹 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵.ᐟ𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

it was another day of school, nothing different as usual. i was standing at my locker, looking around to make sure he wasn’t anywhere, before opening it and grabbing my books for my first class. homecoming was approaching, and i desperately wanted to go, but no one really hung out around me, let alone wanted to go on a date to a dance. i adjust the pink lacy bow that sat on the top of my ponytail, as i try to keep that positive attitude as always. the skirt i wore today was a bit shorter than what would be considered appropriate but i had no clue. i never really thought about what others would think. like i was trying to show off when i really i just liked the cute polkadot pattern on the baby pink skirt. i tear my gaze from my hair and my eyes travel to Megumi as he walks through the school doors. i swallow thickly and prepare myself for a day of ridicule. i take a shaky breath and suddenly his hard and unwavering gaze meets mine. i let out a squeak and turn back towards my locker. please don’t come up to me, please don’t. in my nervous antics, i drop one of my books. i huff and bend down to get it, absolutely oblivious of my skirt riding all the way up my plush thighs.

unbeknownst to me Megumi was completely seething at the sight of my exposed body. a few other eyes were on my backside as well, and it made megumi fill to the brim, practically overflowing with rage. part of it because of me, and the insane cluelessness of how i affected everyone around me. and mainly because the other boys in the hall were looking at me like a piece of meat, and they were getting ready to pounce.

he clenched his fists tightly, to the point of his fingernail’s creating marks in his palms. his breathing quickened, and suddenly part of his fury turned into a weird sensation. one he hadn’t felt before, one that made him the slightest bit nervous yet curious to dig deeper and explore it. one of desire. but he pushed it away in fear of feeling it for her. this beautiful but so overwhelming positive girl that left him dumbfounded. i was so sweet to the point it made him sick to his stomach. it made him stupidly angry how one person was so kind to others.

of course my pleading doesn’t work as i hear his hard steps come closer and closer. i squeeze my eyes shut and my breaths quicken, my fingers latched onto my locker. his feet pounded on the ground and he soon appeared next to me, i could tell he was mad, for what reason, i had no idea.

“are you that fucking clueless, or are you acting like this on purpose?” he tilts his head and i could just tell he was resisting the urge to bark a yell at my face. he usually did after all, so what was the difference today? why was he holding back? he looked down at me, anger but also a hint of something else. maybe affection, no that definitely couldn’t be it, he loathed me.

i watched him glance at my skirt, the curve of my ass making him think very lewd thoughts. and it made his heart speed up in a disgustingly fast way. he wanted to yell at me for making him think the most impure and perverted thoughts. of which he shouldn’t be having for a girl like me. a girl that wore cute frilly bows in her hair, and looked like she road to school in a princess carriage dragged by ponies. his eyes focus on my thighs that filled out so nicely underneath the skirt. then they trail back up meeting my own, making me wanna quaver under his gaze.

“don’t you ever dare wear this skirt again,” he huffed, in a eerily quiet of a voice. “or so help me God.” trying to risk not being shoved into my locker or even shouted out, i keep my pouty lips set in a straight line. he narrows his eyes at my lack of communication. “and don’t bend down in these hallways again.” his gritted teeth and angry expression making me shiver, but i keep my composure.

what where these sudden emotions running through me? why did my heart start to pound against my chest, like a gorilla pounded his enclosure at the zoo? this strange heat making me work up a sweat, just by the intense eye contact that he just couldn’t let up. the unwavering look he didn’t suppress. i felt the vehemence of warmth run up my lower limbs and to my core. it was like it had it a own heart beat, going as almost as strong as the one in my chest.

there’s an unmistakable amount of tension, and it only continues to rise between us. neither of us speaking, sounds of students reminding me that it isn’t just us in the hallway. i had to keep myself quiet and not try to express these strange feelings that bubbled up to the surface in such a short time. i slowly close the gap my thighs held, hoping he wouldn’t notice the way his intense look affected me.

i was also affecting him in ways he didn’t dare tell a soul. he felt as though i was teasing him, batting my pretty eyelashes up at him. the innocence that my big bulbs grasped. he hated how plump, pretty my lips were, how his mouth begged to feel them. to caress my beautiful body. he licked his lips at the sight of my thighs tightly clamped together.

i craved for his calloused touch, his fingertips creating tingles throughout my body. to trace each dip and curve, chiefly the one that made my ass look so delicious from each angle. i had never had these sickeningly pleasurable desires in my head, but i didn’t want them to stop. the thought of him releasing his anger on me in other ways made wanna bend down beside his command. to give him a real show, something the innocent part of me wouldn’t had even thought about. it’s like his presence made the innocence drain out of me, creating an alter ego that stayed laying in the back of my head. just the very idea made my mouth water and lace panties collecting my wet arousal. i couldn’t help but think of his hands collecting the sticky liquid instead. i slowly rub my inner thighs together in an attempt to relieve the almost painful pressure there.

megumi takes notice and stares daggers in my eyes. he clears his now horse throat and keeps his stoic look. “you going to homecoming?” i was a bit confused of the unexpected question. was he genuinely curious or was it another way for me to say something stupid for his jokes. i only shake my head to his sudden question and his dark eyes light up to the slightest amount. “good.” he mumbles under his breath, which raises an eyebrow of me. did he not want me to go with anyone else?

“cause no one would wanna go with a annoying girl anyway.” gee what a good insult. i could just tell he wanted to get under my skin, make me feel useless as he does everyday now. he slams my locker in my face. his usual smirk of satisfaction on his face from seeing my reactions. but there was more to it this time, like he immediately regretted his words after saying them. he gives me one last unbreakable glare before walking down the hall to his next class. i watch as his toned arms stay by is side, he walks with a sense of pride in them. it was all an act, but i never knew that. it felt like genuine hate towards me. a girl that couldn’t do anything terrible if she tried. yet it all came so natural to him.

it was like he was testing the innocence that i was specifically known for. never doing one bad thing besides forgetting my homework every now and again. it was like the way he affected me, did the same to him right back, and it was one loop that we couldn’t get out of. one of us had to break it. it wasn’t long before he snapped. God, my mom would be horrified if she knew what was roaming inside my mind.

megumi couldn’t help but take a short look back at my contemplation, wondering what i was thinking. hopefully it was him and not one of the other guys looking like they were gonna snatch you up before he had the chance himself. he needed to get me off his mind, millions of thoughts rushing through it. he needed to keep me suffering, relentlessly torturing me until he proved he hated me. for not only me to see but to convince himself. he loathed my bubbly personality, the cute squeals when i got excited, i looked absolutely radiant to him. it made him wanna puke, but i was still just too tempting.

[buzzkillchainsaw]

If I were to write a WOF book arc - feat. Datura, Sidewinder, Pearl, Tetra & No-one (first draft)

Indulge me for a second. It's gonna be a long second (18 pages in Google docs), so please sit down comfortably and read this if you really have time to spare. Each "book" gets progressively longer. This is your last warning. Enjoy!

Book 1: Ice

Mandatory reading: X

The arc would start with Ice and her backstory, detailing how she grew up hidden away in the Icewing kingdom. How she lost her mother to a clueless Icewing guard and how she discovered and developed her animus powers with Icebreaker's, ahem, help. There would be moments shown between Ice and Icebreaker, as the Queen would sit down with the dragonet and personally train her, making her perform grueling tasks to the point of blood and tears. Afterwards, she would strangely switch up her behavior and act kind and loving so Ice would gravitate towards her again, now that Icebreaker was her only parental figure and source of comfort.

The prologue would end right at the moment where Ice’s glowing blue shackles snapped shut and sealed her magic away, only able to cast spells if the Queen allowed it. The main purpose of this part would be to establish Icebreaker's motives and present her as a threatening antagonist for the arc. It would also paint her as a horrible, irredeemable person (dragon?).

A little time jump later we see Ice still shackled, all alone in her room. Icebreaker and a few Icewings enter and Ice is ordered to give each enough magic to cast one spell. Ice complies, because she doesn’t have much of a choice anyways. The chains stop glowing as her magic is unsealed for just that specific spell. She touches each Icewing, but hesitates at the last one. He looks familiar somehow, but she can’t put her finger on it. His face doesn’t give it away either, he’s staring ahead blankly. She goes through with it and everyone leaves the room. Later, the door suddenly opens again and Ice is surprised to see someone who’s not Icebreaker - it’s the familiar Icewing from before! He introduces himself as Tern, Ice’s father. Ice doesn’t know what to feel. She doesn’t remember him at all because Icebreaker forbade him from seeing Mesa, Ice’s mother, once Ice showed signs of magic - mere weeks after hatching, Tern explains. The only reason he was even allowed to see Ice today to get magic was probably because Icebreaker was so caught up in her extraordinary war plans that she simply forgot about his involvement. He also explains how he even ended up marrying Mesa in the first place. How Icebreaker purposefully made the captive Mesa as miserable as possible and then “accidentally” introduced her to Tern (who was kind and meek and disgustingly weak by Icewing standards, which made him Icebreaker’s least liked son). Tern of course felt bad for Mesa and tried to cheer her up in any way he could - netting Icebreaker’s approval. And so, they started talking, spending time with each other and one thing led to another. Ice is taken aback and disgusted by this story. Knowing that her mere existence was just another one of Icebreaker’s manipulations horrified her, but even more horrifying was Ice’s and Tern’s involvement in her mother’s fate. If they never existed, maybe Mesa would still be alive. Tern points out that Mesa left Ice behind during her escape, but Ice doesn’t want to hear it: Mesa had every right to run from this horrible situation. Tern understands her anger and asks what he can do to redeem himself. “Helping me escape would be a start”, Ice scoffs. Tern complies and uses his ice breath on the chain keeping her tethered to the wall, freezing the chain plate to a point where the metal shatters easily after he smashes it with a rock. However, the chains are still intact, still glowing blue and the spell isn't broken.

They flee together through the halls of the castle, alarmed guards right behind them. In a crucial moment, Tern turns back to distract the guards, allowing his daughter to narrowly escape the palace. Ice runs alone through an unbearably cold storm, her half Sandwing body barely holding itself together in the extreme temperatures. She tries flying, but the winds are too strong and her muscles are too weak from all these years she was stuck in the palace. Her arms are weighed down by the glowing blue chains dragging between her legs as she walks, a constant reminder of what Icebreaker took from her. An Icewing patrol flies above to search for her, so Ice dives into soft snow and lets the storm bury her until she can no longer hear the wing flaps of the soldiers. Only a miracle (or perhaps her Icewing half) keeps her from losing limbs to frostbite. The stars shine above as she slowly reaches a warmer climate. The snow beneath her aching feet turns to rocks, then to sand. In the dead of night, Ice reaches the Sandwing kingdom. Standing on top of a dune, the silhouette of her mother.

Book 2: Datura

Mandatory reading: 1 , 2

The next book would start with Datura's backstory and showcase her relationship with her sister. After Queen Taipan's poisoning, Sidewinder would assume the role as replacement Queen until Taipan "was back to normal". Tensions arise in the Sandwing kingdom over this decision, especially with the threat of Icebreaker's seemingly unstoppable magic army looming over them. Sidewinder and Datura argue, which results in Datura being banished from the Sandwing kingdom. She is thrown out by reluctant guards with only her glasses to protect her from the sun.

She stays in the castle's shadow until the evening, enduring her sister's taunts from above. Sidewinder even throws a piece of Datura's veil from the balcony, hoping to watch her scramble to pick it up and put it on. Datura doesn't move. As the hours pass, Sidewinder begins to regret her decision. She realizes that she has no allies left, everyone in the castle doubts her and even thinks that she poisoned Taipan to get the crown. But just as she's about to look for Datura, she finds that her sister has disappeared along with the setting sun.

In the night, Datura would run into a strange Icewing with familiar black eyes and glowing shackles. After an awkward moment of being mistaken for the Icewing's mother, Datura listens to her story and finds out that Ice is trying to find a way to get rid of the shackles to stop Icebreaker, which makes the Sandwing perk up. She asks Ice to relay exactly what she said when she cast the spell.

"I enchant these unbreakable shackles to prevent any dragon wearing them from casting any spell, unless the Queen allows it."

Datura points out that Ice didn't specify Queen Icebreaker, so theoretically any Queen should be able to give permission. She then, reluctantly, tells Ice about her own situation and agrees to ask Sidewinder, the current "replacement Queen" to try and allow Ice to cast spells. In return, Ice would use her animus powers to heal Taipan. It’s a good plan. They travel to the Sandwing stronghold and Datura infiltrates it, leaving a note for Sidewinder asking her to meet up in one of their secret childhood playing spots. Sidewinder, overjoyed that her sister has returned, immediately leaves to find her. But as soon as Ice and the plan to free her is revealed, Sidewinder feels betrayed and accuses Datura of having become a spy for the Icewings. Giving Ice her magic back would only make the Icewings even stronger, after all. Datura and Ice try to clear up the misunderstanding, but Sidewinder sounds the alarm and the two of them flee.

Ice and Datura conclude that their plan needs some work, as they can't just waltz up to a random Queen and ask her to reactivate an enemy kingdom's magic soldier maker. Maybe an even stronger animus than Ice could just override her spell with their magic and free her? Datura remembers reading about powerful Seawing animus dragons and suggests asking around in the Seawing kingdom for help. Ice thinks that it wouldn't work and wants to try asking other Queens first, really fixated on Datura's interpretation of the spell. Maybe the Rainwings were more laid back and wouldn't care about the possible implications of freeing Ice (and, let's be honest, they'd be too stupid to comprehend the consequences anyway). Datura retorts that they have no idea if asking "a Queen" would even work and not be a huge waste of time again (like the fiasco with Sidewinder, which she blames herself for). And time is the last thing they can waste right now, with Icebreaker's army on the horizon. Ice is convinced, but at least wants to try the Rainwings before throwing in the towel. They begin to journey eastwards.

In a quiet moment, Datura asks Ice what magic feels like and if the rumors about losing your soul are true. Ice doesn't know, she doesn't feel that much different than before. Before Icebreaker and her experiments. Obviously she's terrified of turning into a soulless monster. But she also points out that it was Icebreaker who seemed more and more unhinged with each enchantment she forced Ice to do, as if the damage fell upon her soul, not Ice's. But who knows, really. All that matters now is that Ice gets her magic back and stops Icebreaker before it's too late. Too late for whom? She doesn't elaborate.

*

Book 3: Pearl

Mandatory reading: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4

The third book would start with Pearl's backstory, her meeting with Tetra and her eventual escape from Lamprey. Her and Tetra want to see the world together, but also find a way to cure Tetra's wing. They swim together until they reach a river that spills into the sea. This would be the only chance for Pearl to see the surface world while staying in the water. Tetra helps Pearl, who isn't a strong swimmer, to swim upstream until they reach a calmer part of the river. It's very difficult, but they manage to do it. Tetra remarks that she could just construct a harness out of grass and vines and fly, pulling Pearl along with her in the water. However, her wing is still badly injured. The two dragonets take a break, frustrated and tired. If only there was an easy fix to this situation ... Tetra suddenly remembers her father telling her a bedtime story about magic dragons called "animi" and suggests finding one to cure her wing. In the same breath, she excitedly says "and maybe they could cure you too, Pearl!" Pearl is taken aback by this, as she hasn't really considered herself in need of "curing". Sure, her inability to breathe air on land has made their journey difficult, but this is the way she was born. Should she really change such an integral part of herself with magic? Still, she nods in feigned excitement. She figures that she could still have time to think and maybe say no if they actually met one of those magic dragons. If.

The two kids continue making their way upstream, dealing with lots of difficulties, but always finding a way to make it work together. Suddenly, they run into two strange dragons. The dragons introduce themselves as Ice and Datura and tell the two kids that they're on the lookout for an animus and a Queen. Tetra excitedly proclaims that her and Pearl need an animus too and Ice reveals that she is one, but currently cannot cast spells until a "Queen" allows her to. Pearl, who cannot speak or understand "air-breather" language, is slightly put off by everyone talking over her and while she has no idea what's going on. Tetra tries her best to translate, but as soon as she flashes the words "They're looking for a Queen" in aquatic, Pearl feels terror and fear course through her body, visions of Lamprey and the cult swirling in her mind. The other dragons notice her trembling, and Datura tries approaching her to calm her down, but without Tetra's translation Pearl assumes that this huge terrifying dragon is trying to capture her. The misunderstanding gets resolved thanks to Tetra's quick thinking - speaking "air-breather" language to Datura and aquatic to Pearl at the same time to explain the situation.

Pearl agrees to try to free Ice, but doesn't tell Tetra about her doubts with the whole "curing Pearl" part. The group gathers and Pearl formally and regally tells Ice that she is allowed to cast spells - in aquatic. Nothing happens. Tetra translates her words into "air-breather" language, but it still doesn't work. The chains remain as they were, Ice is still sealed. Ice is distraught, because this is yet another "Queen" that "didn't work". As soon as Tetra (hesitantly) translates this, Pearl is overcome by anger. What was her stupid role as a "Queen" even for, if it couldn't even help one single dragon? She tells Tetra in aquatic to say the words again in "air-breather", and the little blue dragon complies. Pearl, with all her might, sticks her head far out of the water, breathes in the air and tries to replicate the sounds. However, all that comes out is painful gurgling and choking. Ice, realizing that this poor little dragonet was hurting herself because of Ice's outburst, leaps forward and splashes Pearl with a wave of water, knocking her over and causing her to slip back underwater. Pearl isn't too pleased, but remembers how Tetra had done the same that night on the beach and concludes that Ice just wanted to help. But Pearl also just wanted to help. She feels awful every time she sees Tetra wince and grimace after the slightest movement of her broken wing. She asks what she should do now. The other three dragons are quiet, thinking. Datura perks up and asks the two dragonets if they could look for an animus dragon in the Seawing kingdom, perhaps in the royal court, while her and Ice would look for the Rainwing Queen. Pearl is unsure about going back into the same ocean she just fled from. But she also knows that the entire continent is at stake. After all, from what she heard about Icebreaker, that Icewing was probably planning to freeze the oceans with magic in her pursuit of the “perfect ice kingdom”. And then, Pearl and Tetra would have nowhere to run anyways. Pearl agrees, and Tetra agrees too. Datura continues with her plan: No matter if successful or not, the two parties would meet up again during the upcoming full moon in a safe harbor between the Seawing and Rainwing kingdom. The group agrees and prepares to go to sleep and leave early tomorrow. Pearl finds a calm pocket of water in the river with not too much flow and falls asleep, dreaming of her mother.

*

Book 4: Tetra

The next book would be in Tetra's point of view as she sits around a small fire with Datura and Ice, on that very same evening. Tetra asks Ice what an animus is actually capable of and if one could even cure Pearl's condition and make her breathe air on land just like all the other Seawings. Ice shrugs and says "Couldn't see why not", but Datura questions whether Pearl actually wants to be "cured" of the way she was born. After all, Datura has a similar problem of being burnt by the sun because of her skin, but she never thought about asking an animus for different skin. Tetra retorts that she wants her own wing to be cured so she can fly again, so why shouldn't Pearl wish to be able to breathe on land? Datura is unsure of what the right answer is, but tells her to ask Pearl before doing anything. Tetra reluctantly agrees, but is still sure that her view of the problem is correct. Or is she? Datura's words had put doubt into her mind.

In the morning, Tetra goes to find Pearl, who appears to be less enthusiastic about following through with the plan than she seemed yesterday. Pearl says that she thought about it and is worried that going to the royal court might be dangerous, because her existence alone would probably be treason in the actual Seawing Queen's eyes. Tetra hurriedly looks for a reason to bring Pearl along anyway and says nobody has to know about Pearl's identity, she can just use another name while they're there. Besides, the Seawings and their Queen wouldn't listen to just one dragon's words, Pearl would be an additional witness and could confirm that Tetra was saying the truth. Even better, Tetra remarks, while they're there, they sleuth around for Pearl's mother. It will be fun! Pearl reluctantly agrees, convinced by Tetra's last argument but still worried about the potential dangers of entering Seawing territory. There is also a lingering fear of running into Lamprey again, but that would be impossible, wouldn't it?

They embark on their way to the Seawing kingdom. Pearl enjoys swimming more and more and feels herself becoming stronger. Tetra is excited for her, but feels weighed down by her doubts about the whole "curing" thing. She is about to finally break down and just ask Pearl directly, when the two kids are suddenly ambushed by a Seawing patrol who are looking for a dragonet that fits Pearl's description. When questioned why, they don't answer. The two kids try swimming away, but Tetra's hurt wing slows her down and Pearl turns around to wait for her, causing both to get captured. They try to deny that the patrol found who they were looking for, until one of the soldiers reveals that the dragonet in question cannot breathe air. One grabs a protesting Tetra while another snatches Pearl and quickly swims upward with her, leaping out of the water and letting her dangle in the air. Tetra watches helplessly while Pearl tries her best to pretend to breathe, but she starts choking quickly while calling for her mother in aquatic. Satisfied, the soldiers dump her back into the water and prepare to make their way back to the palace. Tetra tries to explain why they were here and why finding an animus was extremely important for everyone's safety, but the soldiers tell her to shut up and that a stupid kid has nothing to say worth listening to. Tetra realises that her assumption that anyone would hear them out was childish and not only put Pearl's life in danger, but the entire continent as well.

They arrive at the Seawing palace and are dragged before the Queen. The very same Queen that had sent Tetra's father to his death by drafting him into war. To both Tetra's and Pearl's surprise, a badly injured Lamprey is lounging in the throne room and the Queen asks him if "this" (pointing at Pearl), "is her". Lamprey says yes, with a proudly puffed out chest and malice radiating from his eyes. He is promptly taken away, while some other soldiers drag Pearl along with them. Tetra screams at them to not put Pearl into a cage and to not let Lamprey anywhere near her, but nobody acknowledges her. Finally, the Queen's eyes set on her. Queen Agate of the Seawings asks Tetra who she is, where she came from and what she is doing here with "that", nodding into the direction Pearl was taken away. Tetra answers truthfully, explaining every detail from the first time she met Pearl to the moment the soldiers caught them after they split up with Datura and Ice. The Queen's eyes shift, and she asks for clarification. Datura, the current Sandwing Queen's daughter? Really? Tetra realizes that she had said something of interest and elaborates, embellishing the actual deepness of her friendship with Datura a little. Yes, Datura was banished by Sidewinder, whom everyone considers to be unworthy anyway, so it doesn't really count. Besides, the goal was to get Ice to cure Taipan, and Taipan would surely take Datura's side after seeing the disaster Sidewinder's incompetence caused. And Datura would surely tell her mother about the cause and gain the entire Sandwing kingdom's support. The Queen nods and proclaims that she needs time to think and to send Tetra "somewhere safe" in the meantime. Tetra asks if she would see Pearl again, but again, no one acknowledges her.

She is locked into a barren room with not much inside, so she sits down in front of the door, peeping through the keyhole to try and catch something, anything of interest. Finally some soldiers pass by, and Tetra can briefly see one flashing "...and the traitor will be executed..." at the other in aquatic. She panics and throws herself against the door, claws at the walls and whirls around the room like a tornado – in vain. Tetra finally sits down and cries until the soldiers come back to get her.

She is taken before the Queen again, encountering a familiar sight: Pearl, on the one side of the throne, held down by guards. Lamprey, on the other side, with some guards behind him. The Queen in the middle, staring Tetra right in the eyes. She then turns to Lamprey and tells him to state his case, again.

"My name is Lamprey", he says, "and I have simply been misguided. I was told that this dragonet", he points to Pearl, "was actually the true heir to the throne, so I believed it. I am but a humble servant of the Seawing kingdom and I would hate to see it threatened by a traitor trying to get her grubby fingers all over the throne that rightfully belongs to yours truly, Queen Agate."

"He's lying!", Tetra flashes as brightly as she can, but only earns a sharp look from Queen Agate.

"And so, I watched as this false Queen accumulated a horde of poor, misguided souls and fed them lies about the kingdom. She preyed on the weak-minded, convincing them that staying in the ocean would be the best course of action, just so she could feel better about her unfortunate disability." Lamprey wipes away an invisible tear, underwater. "I only snapped out of her manipulation after she ordered her followers to attack me and I have been nothing but truthful with you ever since, your highness. I gave your soldiers the locations of each site of worship as well as the names of every dragon who participated in this farce. It is truly an unfortunate situation, my Queen, yet I will trust your judgement when it comes to that little traitor."

Silence. "I have made my decision", the Queen says. "Your are correct, Lamprey, the traitor must indeed be dealt with. " She looks at Pearl and flicks her tail, and before anyone can react, one of the Seawing guards raises a dagger and stabs Lamprey in the back. Surprised, he whips around with his mouth wide open, producing a cloud of blood. "You have mistaken my kindness for stupidity, Lamprey," the Queen continues, "You have been, for years, actively gathering an enemy faction seeking to depose me. Yet you seem to think that simply offering me the very same pawns you created would make me forgive and forget your crimes." Lamprey fights against the blade in his flesh and attempts to lunge towards the Queen, but is held back by her soldiers. The Queen comes closer and stares down at him. "I'm old, Lamprey, but not senile. And did you seriously think I wouldn't recognize Sixgill's daughter?" And with that, Lamprey is gone and his limp body is taken away. Pearl and Tetra, stricken by fear and confusion, stand there like statues.

The Queen turns to them and announces her decision: Tetra will to go to the meeting point and take Datura and Ice to Queen Agate, who would not only attempt to allow Ice to use her magic, but also gather the animus dragons in the royal court to break the spell if her word alone wouldn't suffice. Of course, Tetra's hurt wing would also be taken care of. In return, Datura must agree to take over leadership in the Sandwing kingdom, kill Sidewinder if she resists and then enter an alliance with the Seawing kingdom. With Ice freed, the two kingdoms would then lead a joint attack on Icebreaker's forces and amicably split the spoils of war between them. Ice must agree to take away the Icewings' magic and then make a magical swear to never cast magic against any Seawing. To ensure Tetra, Datura and Ice would follow this plan, Pearl would stay with the Seawing Queen until every condition of her pact was fulfilled. Besides, she wouldn't be much of use on the surface anyway. Tetra perks up, remembering her idea to cure Pearl, while Pearl seems to become smaller and smaller. The Queen gives Tetra one of her lavishly engraved and decorated armbands as proof of her goodwill, a huge thing that the small dragonet wears like a necklace. "And since you have personally witnessed what I do to those who betray me", the Queen finishes, "I trust that you will fulfill your end of the bargain swiftly and efficiently." Tetra nods, confused, excited, happy and scared at the same time. She is unsure whether she can trust Queen Agate after what she did to break apart her family, but right now, Pearl and the future of the entire continent is more important. Tetra is allowed to say goodbye to Pearl and promises her to come back soon and "fix everything". Pearl too gives her one of her armbands, this time it perfectly fits around Tetra's wrist. She is then escorted to the shore by Seawing soldiers.

*

Book 5: No-one

Mandatory reading: X

This book would start out with a very short flashback of No-one being tested with the candle and swapping places with the other hatchling, dooming them to death.

It would then jump forward in time to No-one, now appearing to be a Rainwing, hanging out at the edge of the Rainwing territory. He notices an Icewing wearing glowing shackles and a pale Sandwing accompanying her. Curious about the clearly animus-touched chains, he decides to follow them. He overhears them talking about needing to find the Rainwing Queen. Sensing an opportunity to grant some wishes, he decides to take off his earring to reveal himself as not only a Skywing, but also an animus. His instinct was right: Datura the Sandwing immediately asks him to try and break the spell on the chains with desperation in her voice. The Icewing on the other hand eyes him with distrust. No-one reveals the nature of his contract to grant a wish. Datura and Ice are taken aback, with Ice even saying how "evil" this was. Their loss, No-one says, he's not dependent on them. But they certainly are dependent on him. He asks why they wanted to visit the Rainwing Queen. Begrudgingly they tell him the rest of the story. He watches Datura closely whenever it's Ice's turn to explain and tries copying what she does: furrowing his brows at the bad parts, widening his eyes at the surprising parts and shaking his head whenever Datura does. As soon as they're done explaining, he offers to take them to the Queen in his Rainwing appearance and ask her to break Ice's spell. On one condition: once they realize that the whole ordeal was a waste of time because the spell simply won't be broken, they will make a wish with No-one. They agree, partly because of No-one's perceived confidence that he will be able to break the spell. In reality, he isn't sure at all how this will turn out. He just wants to hang around with Datura some more.

Appearing as a Rainwing, he guides the two dragons through the Rainwing kingdom, curiously watched by a few real Rainwings, but mostly ignored. Once they reach the Queen, Ice and Datura are shocked about the Rainwing custom of just letting anyone who wants to be Queen fulfill the role for a month. Still, they continue with No-one's plan. The current Queen, a spunky young Rainwing named Bloom, greets them (after they've waited in line long enough). No-one tells Bloom that Ice is an animus who will grant her a wish once her magic chains are gone. All Bloom needs to do is tell her that she's allowed to cast spells. Bloom is excited, but quickly finds that she can't decide on a wish: She wants a flower necklace that changes colors to match her scales, she wants an earring that will whisper to her where the best sun spots are, she also wants a magic satchel that will always contain the most delicious fruit whenever she reaches into it. One wish just wouldn't be enough! No-one, knowing Bloom's love for bets and games, tells her that Ice will grant all her wishes, but only on the condition that Bloom wins against Ice, Datura and No-one in a series of Rainwing games. If Bloom loses, she will only get one wish. In a sense, Bloom cannot lose at all, since she will get at least one wish granted in either outcome! Ice gets increasingly more agitated as No-one keeps deciding these things over her head. Bloom thinks for a moment, glances at Ice's chains and Datura's rigid looking Sandwing body and finally agrees. The games, clearly hand picked by Bloom to disadvantage Ice and Datura as much as possible, begin. They try to work together to win, but Ice's chains keep getting caught on every branch while climbing and Datura's wings are just too huge to beat Bloom in a gliding race through the dense rainforest. Only No-one, using his animus magic to cheat, narrowly secures the win. Ice and Datura notice, but decide to keep quiet. Bloom is disappointed but keeps up her end of the bargain, formally announcing that Ice is allowed to cast spells again. It doesn't work. Ice breaks down, unable to accept yet another failure. She screams that it obviously didn't work because Bloom isn't a real Queen since anyone can just become Rainwing Queen for a month. Three moons, why don't they try making a sloth Queen next? Or maybe a chewed-on mango? This angers Bloom and the other Rainwings. “And how come your system is the correct one?”, she naps back. “How is murdering your own family to become Queen any better, huh?” No-one tries to diffuse the situation but ultimately, the trio has to leave the kingdom.

On their way out, Ice tells No-one that she wants to make a wish with him to break the spell. Datura protests, pointing out that No-one will damage her already hurt soul even further, but Ice does not care and wants to go through with it again. Datura interjects again, saying that she will instead make a wish for No-one to heal her poisoned mother, Taipan. Taipan is, for all intents and purposes, a real Queen. No technicalities, no strange Rainwing customs, no nonsense. Ice objects, not wanting Datura to sell her soul for her. After all, Ice is too far gone anyways. Isn't it obvious? After her last outburst that would've gotten them killed if the Rainwings were just a little bit more like the other dragon tribes? Ice's soul is crumbling, so one more enchantment won't make much of a difference. Datura looks to No-one for support, but he has no idea what to say. But for some reason, he really wants Datura to think highly of him, so he agrees with her argument: They will first try Taipan and only then let No-one attempt to break the spell with Ice's appearance. But before any of that, Datura remarks, they need to meet with Tetra and Pearl in their agreed meeting spot. Maybe the two Seawings have found a better solution?

That night, they seek refuge in a small cave. As Datura is fast asleep, Ice approaches No-one and tells him to break the spell right now, no matter the cost. No-one thinks about it. On the one talon, he wants Datura's approval, and Datura said no. On the other talon, he's always up for more appearances. For some reason, another one of his favorites recently disappeared. Besides, Datura doesn't need to know, right? They can just pretend that the magic on the chains...wore off, right? Or maybe Icebreaker had choked to death on a seal bone, and that broke the spell overnight? No-one follows through with Ice's request, touches her with his earring and seals the deal. He then concentrates all his power on the chains, telling them to break, telling them to release the magic they contain, telling them to reverse Ice's spell. The chains continue to shine bright blue, not reacting to anything. No-one is secretly offended that Ice's magic seems to be stronger than his own. Ice then asks him if he can try giving her “new” powers by “making her an animus”, but that doesn’t work as well. Somehow, the chains seem to prevent any magic entering or leaving Ice’s body. Ice seems frustrated, but doesn't have another outburst like in the Rainwing kingdom. Instead, she just looks tired and defeated. Ice and No-one agree to not tell Datura about any of this, for their own reasons.

The next day, they travel towards the meeting spot. No-one asks Datura what it's like to live in the Sandwing kingdom, and to everyone's surprise switches his appearance to a Sandwing. Datura, instead of being impressed or maybe even slightly more interested in No-one, accusingly asks who this is. No-one, realizing he did something bad, switches back to one of his Rainwings and explains that the Sandwing was some random bandit he stumbled upon, a really bad guy who wished for a lot of treasure because he was just so greedy. Datura, more or less convinced, drops the topic. As soon as they reach the meeting spot, they bump into Tetra just as she emerges from the ocean, not with Pearl, but with a group of Seawing soldiers. Ice, Datura and No-one are wary at first, but then Tetra explains the situation. The Seawing soldiers stay back to let them speak in private and Tetra presents the Queen's armband. Datura is worried about Pearl while Ice is angry about yet another decision that was made over her head. "So the Seawing Queen offers to release my magic, just for me to seal myself away again?" Tetra points out that she just needs to promise not to hurt any Seawings, which should be reasonable, but is interrupted by Ice who tells her that she's just a kid who doesn't understand the bigger picture. As the situation tenses up, Ice apologizes and explains how they just suffered another failure with Queen Bloom (leaving out Ice's wish with No-one) and that she's terrified of not being able to stop Icebreaker in time. Tetra seems understanding and assures her that everything will be fine with Queen Agate at their side, leaving out her own reluctance about the whole situation - her father is still on her mind. Maybe she just wants to convince herself.

Datura thinks loudly about how an alliance with the Seawings could help when it comes down to numbers. Icebreaker's army may not be big, but their magic would probably make each Icewing as dangerous as ten Sandwings. Ice agrees, painfully aware of what spells are circulating in the army, having tested most of them herself. There's also the question of Pearl: What will Queen Agate do with her if they don't agree to her conditions? After some more talking, Datura calls over the Seawings and asks them to relay a message to Queen Agate: Datura agrees to join forces with the Seawings, but urgently needs to travel back home to her sick mother first and cannot wait for a meeting with Agate. Ice will accompany her for her own safety and later meet Agate and her soldiers at the same river that Pearl and Tetra used to travel into the continent. There, the Sandwings and the Seawings will form a stand against Icebreaker's army. She leaves out their plan to heal Taipan to try and break the spell without Agate's help. And the Rainwing? Oh, that's just our forest guide. We bribed him with mangoes. He has nothing to do with this. The Seawings agree and leave to pass on the message.

Datura, Ice, No-one and Tetra are left to figure out their next steps. Tetra asks No-one to heal her wing so she wouldn't be a burden to them, and he does under Datura's and Ice's watchful eyes. She then asks if he can somehow show her how Pearl is doing, and he enchants a puddle to do exactly that, still using Tetra's appearance. Pearl seems fine, but she's surrounded by unfamiliar dragons. Tetra then tells him about her plan to heal Pearl from whatever affliction is keeping her from breathing air. Datura raises her concerns again, but is ignored by the overexcited little Seawing. Tetra raises her arm, showing No-one Pearl's armband and asks him if he can enchant it to make Pearl breathe air. He obliges, still appearing as Tetra. As for her final wish, she asks him to magically transport the armband onto Pearl's arm. He does. Looking into the puddle, they see the armband appear on Pearl, and as soon as it does, Pearl's eyes widen, her gills flutter, her little hands shoot up to her throat, bubbles gushing out of her nose and mouth. "What's wrong?", Tetra screams, realizing too late that No-one's spell was literal. No-one panics, bringing back the bracelet onto Tetra's arm. Pearl calms down, seemingly breathing normally again. No-one removes the enchantment from the puddle and reaches for Tetra's armband to do the same, but she backs away from his grasp. "I want to keep it", she says. "You do? After almost killing her with it?", Ice asks. "I want her to have the choice.", Tetra retorts and ends the discussion, not acknowledging that she has already taken that choice away from Pearl.

The group then sits down to figure out a way to get into the Sandwing kingdom, get past Sidewinder and heal Taipan. Tetra, feeling that she has to prove herself after her latest screw-up, offers an idea.

*

Book 6: Sidewinder

The last book would be from Sidewinder's perspective. A full scale war is about to break out before her doorstep and she hasn't slept properly in weeks. She tries to avoid her fellow Sandwings, because every time one runs into her, she gets barraged with more problems. The soldiers are running out of rations. The scouts still aren't back. The weapon shipment is late. Sidewinder has no idea what to do about that. About any of this. This isn't what she imagined it would be like, to finally be in charge with Datura and her mother out of the picture. Advisors pop up here and there, but their advice boils down to "step down and let an actual adult handle this" sooner or later. Her aunt Hognose, Taipan's younger sister, even insinuates that she's about to challenge Sidewinder (and Taipan, indirectly) for the throne. Taipan would have her head for this, if she knew. But Taipan isn't here right now.

Devastating news hits: a troop of Sandwings Sidewinder sent to patrol the border to the Icewing territory had been wiped out by a mere handful of Icewings. Only one survivor managed to crawl back and relay the horrors: when the Icewings attacked, they brought storm clouds and snow with them, their spears finding their way into Sandwing hearts, their scales effortlessly deflecting poisonous tail barbs as if made of diamond. "They were showing off", the survivor coughs weakly, "They didn't even use their ice breath."

Before Sidewinder can even react, more news hits: Her sister Datura was seen entering the Sandwing territory from the other side and immediately captured. Sidewinder perks up. Datura is back! Datura was smart when it came to things like this. Datura always did her history homework and sometimes stayed up late reading battle reports in the library. Datura will know what to do. Sidewinder orders her soldiers to bring Datura to the stronghold immediately and runs outside to greet her. It's a strange sight: the soldiers are dragging her limp sister forward like she weighs nothing and she doesn't even protest. She's wearing a strange golden armband Sidewinder has never seen before and she's missing her glasses and her veil. Sidewinder almost feels sorry for her and is about to bend down for a hug, until she remembers how their last meeting ended. Betrayal. "How dare you leave me like this!", Sidewinder hisses, but Datura barely acknowledges her. "How dare you leave your kingdom! Do you know how many soldiers we already lost? Do you know how hard it was to keep everything together on my own? And you just left me here to go play with your friend- wait, where is she? Where's that creepy Icewing with the chains?" Datura still doesn't answer. "Answer me, before I drive my stinger into your skull!", Sidewinder screams. Only then does Datura look up and say, with a voice that is not her own, "Wow. You really are a terrible sister."

While Sidewinder is distracted, Ice, Datura, and No-one disguised as a Sandwing sneak into the stronghold to heal Taipan. No-one assumes Datura's form to fulfill her wish and casts a spell on her mother. It seems like it doesn't work at first, but then Taipan opens her eyes. Datura seizes the moment right before her mother freaks out and explains the situation. Taipan, too weak to be angry about any of this, agrees to try and free Ice under a similar condition as Queen Agate's: Ice must make a magic oath to never use her magic against Sandwings (or Seawings) again. Ice retorts that she will take the oath in front of Taipan and Agate once they have defeated Icebreaker, which Taipan is fine with. She royally announces to Ice that she is now free to make spells, right as Sidewinder bursts in with guards. The chains don't react though, Ice's magic is still sealed. Silence falls over the room. Sidewinder stares at the two Daturas, unsure which one to scream at. The guards move forward to arrest the strange Icewing in their Queen's quarters, but are stopped by Taipan who reaffirms her authority as the ruler of the Sandwings. Sidewinder watches as the guards are dismissed, feeling her own authority slip away all the same. This is it. She's done. She's not needed anymore.

As her mother turns towards her, she anticipates a scolding for all the things Sidewinder screwed up during her "reign", if you could even call it that. Instead, Taipan thanks her and says that Sidewinder likely did the best she could do in such a situation. Bewildered, Sidewinder stares at her mother, ultimately unable to accept her affection. "Now that your favorite daughter is back, I'm clearly not needed anymore", she scoffs, "She's probably dying to tell you in great detail what a terrible leader I was, so keep your praises." With that, she storms out of the room. As she runs through the stronghold, she sees how quickly the news of the Queen's comeback has spread. Excited whispers in every corner, heads held up higher, brows furrowed and eyes shining with newfound confidence. Sidewinder feels sick. She leaps out onto a balcony, the very same one she taunted Datura from after banishing her. Sidewinder sits down to cry, but is interrupted by her sister.

She tries to antagonize Datura, but all that anger from before is gone, only sadness and exhaustion remain. The two sisters share a hug as Datura tells her that she missed her, despite everything. Sidewinder apologizes for banishing her, which Datura accepts. She tells Datura how she always felt sidelined while Taipan fussed over Datura due to her condition, as if Sidewinder didn't matter to her at all. Datura points out that whenever Taipan wasn’t fussing over her, she spent her time with Sidewinder, doing all the fun things Datura wasn’t allowed to do due to her condition: fight training in the blazing sun, hunting for food in the desert, visiting different parts of the kingdom to check on her people, and so on. After all, Taipan loves them equally, but she had to treat the sisters differently due to their different needs. Sidewinder understands. They sit in silence for a while as Sidewinder feels all the tension, hurt, anger and sleepless nights fade away, even if just for a moment. Datura then tells Sidewinder that Taipan has summoned everyone to the war room to plan the next steps, and asks Sidewinder to come. She agrees and the two sisters enter Taipan's war room, a huge space with a giant table in the middle, covered in maps and small dragon figurines. A complimentary bowl of dried lizards sits on the table. Taipan sits at the table, along with a few important Sandwing generals. Ice and No-one are also present, the latter assuming the form of a Sandwing. Sidewinder immediately notices that something is off about him, as he doesn't carry himself like a proper Sandwing would. He doesn't even curl his tail tip properly, for three moons' sake! Tetra sits in a bucket of water in the corner, shooting a glare towards Sidewinder and shaking her head at her. Sidewinder has no idea what she did wrong.

Taipan tells Datura to tell them everything, and Datura does. She retells her adventure with Ice, their meeting with Pearl and Tetra, their discovery of No-one and Queen Agate's deal. She finishes at the point where they attempted to break Ice's spell with Taipan, and formally turns to No-one to ask him to break the spell with his magic. No-one and Ice share a look that Sidewinder knows all too well: they screwed up something. Ice then explains that they already tried when Datura was sleeping, that it didn't work and that they were so sure that Taipan could break the spell that they decided to not tell Datura because they didn’t want her to be mad at them. Datura is angry that she was lied to, but doesn't push it further.. Instead, one of the generals speaks up: If those two lied to Datura about such an important thing, who are they even loyal to? That Icewing may say she’s part Sandwing to gain our sympathy, but she might as well still be loyal to the Icewings. And nobody knows who or what No-one even is, let alone what his motives are. Datura says that she's been travelling with them for weeks, that she could rely on both in difficult situations and that she trusts them. But the generals want to hear it straight out of the horse's mouth. Ice grabs her chain and slams her shackled wrists on the table. "Everything I ever did since escaping Icebreaker was to try and free myself. I want to free myself to stop Icebreaker, because this war is entirely my fault. If I never existed, Icebreaker wouldn't have a giant magic army right now. My loyalties couldn't be further away from that wretched Icewing. Or any Icewing, for that matter." Satisfied, the generals turn to No-one, who turns to Datura. Datura combines a raised eyebrow with a claw gesture, in a "go on, say something" kind of way. No-one takes off his earring, revealing to the generals (and Sidewinder) that he's a Skywing. He says that he's been on the run from the Skywing kingdom all his life, because, as everyone knows, Skywings kill animi when they're discovered. He's been travelling all over Pyrrhia since, always hiding his true identity and never making any real connections. He also admits that he never really cared about other dragons and always acted in his own selfish interest - until he met Datura. He's been helping her and Ice, at first just to gain more appearances, but then even beyond that. He could've left after Ice made a wish with him, or after Tetra’s wish, or even Datura’s wish. But he didn’t, and he wants to understand why. Sticking around and helping the Sandwings further might help him understand someday. The generals and especially Taipan are less impressed with that answer, so Taipan asks Datura to personally vouch for No-one, trusting her daughter’s judgement. Datura does, and the discussion moves on.

Since they couldn't free Ice with Taipan or No-one, it was safe to assume that Agate and her animi would likely be a bust as well. Still, they needed the additional support from the Seawing army to have any chance of winning in a fight. There was also another advantage – well, two, actually. For one, Icebreaker has no idea that the Sandwings have Ice. She may be a cruel, cruel dragon, but Ice is still her granddaughter, if that even means anything to her. If not, it's safe to assume that she'd at least want her animus maker back, because she hopefully respects her (pure) Icewing subjects too much to give Ice's role to one of them. On the other talon, they have something that Icebreaker definitely would not expect: No-one. Now they need to combine these little advantages into something tangible that could actually stop Icebreaker's conquest. Taipan calls for a break and tells everyone to get some fresh air to stimulate their brains.

Sidewinder watches as Ice walks over to Tetra's bucket and puts her forearms into the water, clearly uncomfortable with the heat and dry air of the desert. Tetra scoops up some more water with her webbed talons and pours it over Ice's head. Meanwhile, the Sandwing army generals discuss something with Taipan, who's trying to keep up a tough appearance, but her talons shake slightly as she reaches into the lizard bowl. Datura calls over her friends (and Sidewinder) and offers to take them on a little tour of the stronghold. Sidewinder has a quiet chat with No-one, where she asks him if he really told the truth earlier. He says that he did, but he doesn’t know how else to prove it. Sidewinder tells him that whatever happens next, he should do everything in his (magic) power to protect Datura. That’s how he’ll prove it. The two then rejoin the group. Sidewinder, still thinking about how Datura wasn’t allowed to do the “fun things” as a dragonet, suggests a friendly game of “Sting-you”, a traditional Sandwing game that requires all players to cover their tail barbs with a special covering and then run around in teams to “sting” each other with their tails. Whoever is “stung” has to fall to the ground and be “dead” until a teammate arrives to help them up. Whichever team is left with the last “living” player wins. Tetra doesn’t want to play because she’d want to have Pearl on her team and would be the odd one out, so it’s between team red (Datura and No-one) and team blue (Sidewinder and Ice). Team blue narrowly wins. The group has a laugh and eventually returns to the war room, where Taipan and the generals are already studying maps on the table. Taipan greets the group and reaches into the lizard bowl.

"Icebreaker.", she says after she's done with the lizard. Even though her voice is still weak, everyone immediately turns to listen. "Based on Ice's intel and what the scouts managed to find out, she is not interested in diplomacy. She doesn't care about our territories or our resources. She just wants to unleash a second, magic-induced scorching onto Pyrrhia and rule over the ashes. Or the ice and snow, for that matter." Everyone nods in agreement.

"That's why we will kill her."

Palpable tension covers the room as soon as the word "kill" leaves her mouth. Datura, No-one, Tetra and even Sidewinder look over to Ice. "But what will happen to Ice’s shackles if Icebreaker...", Sidewinder begins, but doesn't finish the sentence when everyone turns to look at her. Ice has a strange look on her face that Sidewinder doesn't understand.

"We will have to lure her out first. I suggest we send her a message and tell her that we have Ice, and that we want to discuss a peace treaty directly with the Icewing Queen. Obviously she's not interested in peace, but she'll hopefully want to see Ice. Maybe she's already covered in all sorts of magic artifacts that protect her from harm, so she's probably feeling confident and untouchable. And this will be her mistake. You, animus." Taipan turns to No-one. "If one can give a dragon magic, one can also take it away, correct?"

"I...think?", No-one says. "I've never tried it before."

"Try it now. It is of utmost importance.", Taipan says. No-one looks around the room helplessly while every other dragon avoids his gaze like hatchlings who don't want to be called on by the teacher. Nobody wants to risk their soul for an experiment. Ice is ruled out by default, Tetra is just a kid whom nobody wants to harm, which would leave Datura and Sidewinder. Sidewinder steps up: "Make me an animus. I'll enchant something small to see if it works, then you undo everything." Datura protests, saying it's too dangerous, but Sidewinder doesn't want to hear it. "I've screwed up enough already. Just let me do one good thing here." After some discussion, No-one lays his hands on her and gives her magic. Sidewinder immediately feels a strange tingling in her claws. To see if it works, she looks around to find something small to enchant and lands on Datura's sunglasses, offering to make them unbreakable. Datura gives her the glasses and Sidewinder enchants them. She then violently throws them against the nearest wall, stomps on them and tries snapping them in half for good measure, but the glasses are unharmed. Sidewinder likes this power. But before she can do more, No-one picks up a dried lizard and enchants it to take away Sidewinder's magic if he snaps it in half. He snaps it in half (and then throws it into his mouth), and the tingling in her claws immediately stops. She feels a mix of disappointment and relief, knowing that she'd definitely be the type to quickly corrupt her soul with this kind of power. No-one suddenly makes a weird face, and his Sandwing appearance seems to phase in and out of existence, his Skywing appearance flickering underneath. He panics and reaches for his earring, shifting to one of his Rainwings instead. “What in the three moons was that?”, Taipan exclaims. No-one explains that sometimes, his appearances fade for no apparent reason. Ice asks whether it has something to do with how much he used them for enchantments or maybe how powerful the enchantments were and No-one shrugs, he’s not really keeping track of any of that. Tetra asks how many he has left and he starts cycling through 3 Rainwings, another Skywing, a Mudwing and then Ice, Tetra and Datura. “Huh”, he says, "I thought I had more left.” Tetra asks what will happen to the real versions if their appearances in his earring fade, but he doesn’t know. Taipan waves it off, they’ll deal with this later.

Now that it's proven that magic can be taken away, the planning can continue. Tetra, from her bucket, offers to meet the Seawings at the river and lead them to a spot in the Sandwing territory where they can prepare for the fight. The others agree, saying that Tetra should be kept safe and away from the Icewings (and she'd be useless in a fight anyways). Datura offers to represent the Sandwing kingdom together with Sidewinder, since Taipan is in no shape to leave the stronghold. Taipan doubts whether Icebreaker would come out of hiding if she saw that the actual Sandwing Queen isn't there to meet her, only her daughters. Maybe she'd even see it as a sign of weakness and attack immediately. Tetra holds up the armband Sidewinder saw on the "fake Datura" earlier and says that one of the sisters should use it to appear as Taipan. If it fooled Sidewinder, it would definitely fool Icebreaker. And now that No-one is on a tight budget when it comes to appearances, it would be better to work with what they already have. Datura and Sidewinder look at each other, unsure who should bear this responsibility. On the one talon, if Datura did it, she'd have to go without her veil and sunglasses, because Taipan definitely doesn't wear those and it would raise suspicion. On the other talon, Sidewinder is unsure whether she can pretend to be a convincing Queen, after her failure as "temporary Queen". Taipan flat out asks Sidewinder if she will do it, and she says yes. 

The planning continues. Taipan will send a message to Icebreaker, telling her that she has Ice, who's still wearing the magic-sealing chains, and asking her to meet. Datura and Sidewinder (disguised as Taipan) will bring Ice to the meeting spot (which will be close to the river the Seawings are hiding in), accompanied by some guards. No-one will be among them, disguised as a Sandwing guard. When Icebreaker is close enough, No-one will snap two enchanted twigs in his mouth: one will stop Icebreaker's heart (a spell that they can't test beforehand, for obvious reasons), one will take away the magic from all Icewings nearby as well as their enchanted objects. Because nobody knows how far the spell will reach, it is important to get as many Icewings as possible to be near Icebreaker, which will be achieved by placing a battalion of Sandwings in visible (but not threatening) distance away from the meeting spot. If the spell to kill Icebreaker fails, at least the magic will be gone and the Sandwing guards, all highly trained, will kill Icebreaker - with No-one's magic help, if necessary. Either way, the Seawing and Sandwing army will attack the weakened Icewings at once to push them back into their frosty habitat. Ice, Sidewinder, Datura and No-one will escape back to the castle, protected by the attacking armies. Taipan and Agate will handle the rest from there.

Taipan dismisses the group for now to begin preparations. Datura offers her friends to stay over in her room, as it’s big enough for everyone. (Tetra brings her bucket.) She also invites Sidewinder to this sleepover. The latter remembers how the two of them used to do these all the time as dragonets. Datura tells everyone to get settled while she finds some comfy rugs the other dragons can sleep on. Tetra notices that Ice looks down and asks what’s wrong, but Ice says that she’s fine. Sidewinder asks whether this is about killing Icebreaker and Ice winces. She confesses that she’s terrified of being stuck in chains and sealed away forever if Icebreaker dies. No-one suggests that killing her might also break the spell. There might be at least a tiny chance. Ice laughs and says that it doesn’t matter anyways, the decision wasn’t in her hands anymore and she’s only left to hope for a minuscule chance of gaining a happy end out of this. Sidewinder loudly reflects upon her own desire to make decisions – she wanted to become a leader so badly, but once it happened, she was suddenly making decisions that would affect an entire kingdom and that terrified her. Ice listens, and something about that seems to make her think. Tetra says that there’s still the option of Agate and her animi, but Ice just shakes her head and asks to drop the topic before Datura returns. The group has a little sleepover party with snacks and Sandwing board games before it’s time to sleep. In the dead of night, Sidewinder opens one eye and sees Ice standing at the window, staring outside with a blank facial expression. Sidewinder silently watches for a bit and then begins to fall asleep again. Just before she’s gone, she hears Ice and No-one quietly whisper something to each other.

Hard cut to the next day. Sidewinder, disguised as Taipan, stands next to Datura. In front of them lies Ice, chains wrapped around her arms and a rope tied around her snout. Behind the trio, mere steps away, five Sandwing guards, two of them looking awfully similar to each other. In the distance, a small figure leaves the sea of white spikes and wings and tails. Icebreaker, accompanied by guards of her own, walks over to them, her eyes piercing, her smile anything but warm. She breathes in deeply, and then breathes out a cold sigh that chills Sidewinder to the bone. 

“My oh my”, Icebreaker says. “What a predicament you’ve found yourself in.” The words are aimed at Ice, but somehow Sidewinder feels them hitting her own heart as well, making it skip a beat. 

Icebreaker’s gaze rises up to meet Sidewinder’s. “It’s been a while, Taipan. I hoped we’d meet again under more savory circumstances, but alas.” Sidewinder ignores Icebreaker’s deliberate omission of any kind of formality one would expect when addressing a Queen. 

“I’m here to talk about your plans.”, Sidewinder says. “You’ve been gathering an army near our border. What for?”

Icebreaker ignores the question: “Oh, but first, you gotta let me in on your secret.” 

“M-my secret?”, Sidewinder asks. Icebreaker continues: “I’ve met Sandwings your age, and they all sound so dreadfully harsh and raspy. I always assumed it’s that dry desert air. How did you manage to keep such a pleasant and youthful voice?” 

“Honey-glazed cobra cutlets”, Sidewinder answers while trying to hide her panic, “keeps the throat fresh. I would invite you to try some, but we have other matters to attend to.” Icebreaker closes her eyes and nods slowly and meaningfully. “Right, of course. I couldn’t help but notice that you have my granddaughter with you today. I hope she didn’t cause you too much trouble?” “Splendid. May I come closer to have a chat?” This is the moment everyone has been waiting for. Icebreaker makes a step, then hesitates. “Lemming”, she says with her head slightly turned towards the group of Icewings behind her. One of them jumps, then quickly stammers the following: “I enchant the enemy’s animus-touched objects to come to me!” Before anyone can react, Agate’s armband flies off Sidewinder’s arm, followed by Datura’s glasses and No-one’s earring. Lastly, the two sticks, still wet from his spit. Icebreaker’s eyes widen, then she composes herself. “Much better”, she says, studying the “new arrivals”, Sidewinder and No-one. “Taipan’s dead, isn’t she?”, she asks, “I did hear about the terrible poisoning. Why else would the Sandwings be led by these pathetic little children trying to play tricks on me?” Icebreaker steps closer. One step. Another step. So do the Icewing soldiers. They are surrounded. Datura looks to Sidewinder, who’s muscles seem to be frozen in place. Nobody moves, until –

Somehow, Ice had removed the rope from her snout and screams: “Icebreaker!!!” Her voice makes the Icewing Queen stop dead in her tracks. “You poor soul.”, she says coldly. “Have you had your share of fun running around with these creatures? Have you had enough?” 

“I have”, Ice yells, “You were right. You were right all along. Everything beyond the Icewing kingdom is just a lawless wasteland. Seawings with multiple Queens, Rainwings who let just about anyone rule without question and tyrannical Sandwings who kept passing me around like some kind of bargaining chip!” 

“Ice–” Datura says sharply, but Icebreaker interrupts her. “Oh, no, let her speak.” 

“They treated me like trash”, Ice continues, wriggling towards Icebreaker as quickly as she can with her bound limbs. “They’re enemies, all of them. None deserve to stand between you and your perfect frozen continent.” 

“Correct.”, Icebreaker says with a content smile. 

“And those items you took from them were meant to kill you!”, Ice hisses. She’s now at Icebreaker’s feet. “All this time they were plotting to end your life. But unluckily for them, I’ve been plotting too. A spell that could end this war before it even started.” “I’m intrigued.”, Icebreaker says, unable to hide her excitement about a new spell. For some reason, her Icewing subjects weren’t big fans of experimenting with magic while Ice was gone. 

“Do it. I allow it.”

Ice’s chains instantly lose their cold blue glow, appearing like regular metal chains. Ice turns towards Sidewinder, Datura and No-one. “This is for my enemy. My captor. My tormentor.

Die.” 

Icebreaker’s eyes widen, her hands shoot up to her throat. She falls to the ground, convulsing. “And you.” Ice turns towards the Icewings. “None of you Icewings will ever use magic again!” Dark clouds accumulate in the sky above them all, and thunder begins to rumble. Ice looks down at her hands, her mouth moves and the chains fall off, disintegrating into dust.

“Ice!”, Datura screams and leaps forward, but Sidewinder holds her back. Ice looks back at them one last time before a flash of lightning descends from the sky, striking the earth. Ice disappears, with only smoke and a black stain on the ground where she stood just moments ago. The Icewings are shocked at first, then charge into battle to avenge their Queen who has now stopped moving. Sidewinder signals the Sandwings to attack and prepares to retreat. Datura is still standing there screaming Ice’s name, so Sidewinder drags her along. No-one enchants the magic items to come back and his earring flies into his open palm while the rest of the items get trampled by the Icewing soldiers. He puts on the earring and switches to his Sandwing appearance.

The guards do their best to shield the trio from the oncoming Icewing onslaught, but are quickly overwhelmed. An Icewing aims his ice breath at Datura, so No-one spits a mouthful of fire in his face. Another tries to stab Sidewinder with a spear, she ducks underneath and buries her stinger into his throat. A group tries to cut them off, so No-one enchants the rocks beneath them to shoot upwards and launch the soldiers into the air. Datura has a hard time seeing in the harsh light without her glasses, so both Sidewinder and No-one guide her through the battlefield. The latter turns the ground behind them into quicksand, enchants the Icewing spears to turn against them and hits them with anything else he can come up with. Suddenly, his Sandwing guard appearance flickers and disappears, right as the real guard’s throat is slashed by Icewing blades. No-one switches to one of his Rainwings and continues casting spells, but soon, this one also disappears. One by one, his appearances start to flicker and fade, and he hesitates, almost getting hit by a flash of ice breath.

“Use ours!”, Datura screams as Sidewinder whips around to sting another Icewing. He catches her tail in his hand and buries his serrated talons in it. She roars and Datura spits fire in his face until he lets go. No-one switches to Tetra and fires off another enchantment, then to Ice, another enchantment, then to Datura. A spear hits him in the shoulder and ice breath grazes the tip of his tail. He heals his injuries with magic and carries on. Suddenly, an Icewing manages to rip off the earring and crush it between his teeth, destroying the illusion and revealing No-one’s Skywing form. He tries to retaliate with fire, but another soldier hits him with his weapon, throwing off his aim. Then, out of nowhere, another spear flies through the air and hits Datura straight in the throat, piercing it entirely. She lets out a silent scream that turns into a gurgle as blood spews forth. “NO!”, Sidewinder screams and No-one dashes towards Datura, ripping out the spear with one hand and closing the wound with the other - his first enchantment he did as “himself” in years. He then hurls the spear back where it came from and it pierces something, someone, creating a blue fountain. But the Icewings just keep on coming. All hope seems to be lost, when suddenly, the Seawings arrive, attacking the surprised Icewings from the side. It’s this critical moment that allows the trio to finally escape more or less unharmed.

*

Epilogue

The war between the Icewings and Sandwings (now aided by the Seawings) wages on. Queen Taipan and Queen Agate need to negotiate new terms, now that Ice has disappeared without a trace and Datura didn’t assume leadership of the Sandwings. Sidewinder aids Taipan in any way she can, gaining knowledge and confidence in the process. Tetra leaves to go find Pearl again, who has been given a new identity and reunited with her parents thanks to Agate. The two kids have a lot to discuss. No-one, scared of becoming like Ice, refuses to do any more enchantments for this war and tries to leave the stronghold in the middle of the night. He casts a spell to make Datura’s glasses reappear in his hands and plans to drop them off by her door as a goodbye gift. Before he can do that, he runs into her. She was also about to leave on an entirely different journey to find Ice (fiercely believing that she’s still alive and out there somewhere). She knows that her mother would not approve of her leaving, but what else is she to do in the kingdom? Be Queen? Sidewinder’s there for that. The two agree to leave together and send Taipan and Sidewinder messages every so often.

And that’s how it ends.

*

Thank you so much for reading through the entire thing! As noted in the title, this is just a first draft and also the first time someone other than me reads this – so of course I expect you to find plot holes, inconsistent character moments and other stuff I could improve on. If you're nice about it, maybe I'll even listen ;) (joking) No matter what, I hope this serves as a (more or less) satisfying conclusion for all my WOF characters you know (and love?).

[patolemus]

Sterek fic recs: Fake Dating AU Edition

Because @oldefashioned requested a fake dating rec list, here it is. These are all very funny, as fake dating fics ought to be, so I hope you get a good laugh out of it.

1. Not Your Disney Romance by Wrennefer (Wrenegadeone)

After a long-forgotten agreement of an arranged marriage between Derek and the daughter of another pack's alpha resurfaces, Stiles takes it upon himself to become the most amazing fake fiancé that a clueless, desperate alpha werewolf could wish for.

Notes: Domestic pack, my beloved. Stiles and Derek are precious here, I LOVE THEM!! The visiting pack, not so much, but who cares about them?? It's all pretty lighthearted, all things considered. It's completed.

2. Electricity In the Contact by ladyblahblah

In which Derek has been invited to the Greater Pacific Northwest Alpha Symposium (that's not what it's called, Stiles, stop saying that), and showing up unattached would mean an arranged marriage. When the rest of the pack objects, he agrees to let Stiles come along to pose as his mate. Derek is reasonably sure that he's not going to make it out of this weekend alive.

Notes: Werewolf convention fics are so good! I actually haven't found all that many, considering how common a trope it is, and it's a tragedy because they're always so well done! This one is no exception, and the mini-world building is also great! It's completed.

3. can’t be hateful, gotta be grateful by HalfFizzbin

"Be cool, Dad, we've decided to con Grandma." (Or, the one where the Stilinski men drag Derek to Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma's and she gets the right wrong idea.)

Notes: this one is just *cheff´s kiss* wonderful! It's all pretty domestic and the humor is on point. College student Stiles and the Sheriff are strong armed into spending Thanksgiving with Stiles' grandma, and they find nothing better than to bring Derek with them. Pining and misunderstandings ensue and thus comes the fake dating. It's completed.

4. Gravity’s Got Nothing on You by zosofi

“Three weeks,” Derek says. “Still don’t want to,” Stiles says. “I’ll pay you,” Derek says, and that… that has Stiles interested. Alf’s Antique’s may be a great job, but it’s not a high-paying job, and half of Stiles’s tuition is coming from financial aid, so… “How much,” Stiles asks, “are we talking here? Because I know your family, dude. And it’ll be kind of awkward after.“ “My family thinks you’re some sort of fucking gift to the world,” Derek seethes, like he’s jealous, “they’ll probably be pissed at me when we break it off, so don’t worry about that. Five hundred bucks.” “A thousand,” Stiles says, because screw ethics. Also, the Hale family is loaded. Derek can deal.

Notes: this had such a chokehold on me when I first read it. Absolutely wonderful. Enemies to lovers?? Maybe. Assholes to assholes-in-love, is a better descriptor. There's werewolves, and magic, and it's awesome! It's completed.

5. He’s Not Mine by Sonnee

Derek comes home to find an abandoned werebaby on his front porch and Stiles volunteers to help him out. Surprisingly, that is just the beginning of his problems.

Notes: again, it's all very domestic, like most fake dating fics ought to be. It's a kid fic, Sterek are mates, we have all the love. Not much else I can think to add... it's completed.

6. Real life isn’t a movie (life doesn’t make narrative sense) by dearericbittle (dutchmoxie)

Somehow accidentally insulting a hot guy in a coffee shop leads to pretending to be his boyfriend in front of a house full of werewolves. Stiles Stilinski is living his best life and making the most of his Hallmark movie moment.

Notes: this one had me cracking up because it's so funny! Stiles is living his best life, for real. Derek... suffers. But it's okay, because he gets a boyfriend out of this whole thing! They are disgustingly sweet in that assholish way they have. It's completed.

7. You look like my next mistake by Vendelin

“So, are you dating someone new? Someone who doesn’t mind that you’re frigid?” Kate cocks her head to the side, smiling as though she just asked him about where he bought his shoes. His entire body sighs in defeat as his shoulders grow square. Just as he opens his mouth, someone comes up to stand beside him, snaking an arm around his shoulders. When he glances to his side, expecting to see Isaac, his brain seems to malfunction. Because it isn’t Isaac. It’s Stiles Stilinski, the lacrosse talent of the year, a senior who Derek has seen multiple times from far away, but never ever talked to. In which Derek is a nerd jock, and Stiles is a frat guy, and Derek falls for him even though he knows he shouldn't.

Notes: this one had me HOWLING it's so good!! Frat boy Stiles, my beloved. It's technically not fake dating because it turns into an actual relationship pretty quickly, but it starts as fake dating so I'll take it. Stiles is an absolute sweetheart in this one, I love him! And Derek is shy, and insecure, but he's so great, and everyone gets a happy ending except Kate, which is always a good thing. It's completed.

8. All’s Fair In Orgasms and War by bleepobleep

AVN BREAKING NEWS-- DIAMOND VISTA RIDGE BREAKS HIS CONTRACT WITH HALE HOUSE "We haven't seen much of our favorite rock hard stud from Hale House ever since that indie twink dethroned him as champion in Orgasm Wars, but it's just been confirmed that Diamond will no longer be working for the legendary studio famous for producing some of our favorite werewolf-on-human works. Don't fret, Diamond fans, it looks like he's been spotted cozying up to True Alpha Studios! Apparently he couldn't get enough of that one human and then followed him home. Could it be true love? Keep your eye on this studio-- us at AVN think we're about to get a lot more of Diamond in a very new way!" ~ The one in which (almost) everyone is a porn star, and Derek just wants to curl up with his fluffy blanket and watch the Hallmark channel, but work and falling in love gets in the way.

Notes: okay but is this fake dating? Maaaaaybe. It's kinda complicated. Basically everyone here is a porn star and the pack has this studio where they cater to werewolves and have a whole thing about established relationships, which is where the fake dating comes up. It's surprisingly very fluffy, considering this is a porn au, and Derek is the softest goober in this one. Stiles is completely enamoured. It's completed.

9. Wanted from the You Are series by Asterekmess (Livinginfiction)

With the Hale pack finally settled and safe, it only makes sense that something would happen to screw it all up. To top it all off, Stiles has to pretend to be Derek's mate, or face a pack of angry Alphas. He's doomed.

Notes: Alright so this series is wonderful. The world building done for the Alpha pack is also great, and that's the center of the second part (which has the fake dating). I do recommend reading the first part before jumping on to Wanted because it is a direct continuation. Also, it's an amazing au! It's completed.

10. For Love is Not Ours to Command by weathervaanes

Where Derek's skills at thinking on his feet mean that he and Stiles have to act. For the sake of Stiles' dad, of course, for the sake of the pack. No personal interest interference at all, whatsoever. Right. -0- “Why does my dad say that you and your boyfriend are a bad influence on me?” “What?” “Yeah, what boyfriend? Dude, you are not allowed to not tell me crap like this. You didn't think I'd like be a douchebag or something. Right?” “No, wait, what? I have no boyfriend.” “He says you were with him at the police station.” Stiles blinks. “Uhm. Oh shit.”

Notes: Stiles just wanted to find dirt on Raphael McCall to blackmail him. Somehow, he got himself a whole ass boyfriend. It's complicated. That's it, that's the fic. It's completed.

11. Stiles Stilinski, Boyfriend Extraordinaire by MareLoup

“Beacon County Sheriff's Department, this is deputy Mahealani speaking.” “Oh thank god!” “Stiles?” “I, uh, I need some advice.” “Advice?” “Yeah. So, hypothetically, say you met your boyfriend’s mother and sister for the first time ever. Completely by accident. In the grocery store. And they convinced you to help them make a dinner to surprise aforementioned boyfriend when he got home after work. What would you do?” Danny paused, and then, “Stiles, you don’t have a boyfriend.” “That’s not the point! And I said hypothetically.” “Stiles...what are you doing right now?” *** Stiles never imagined he’d be in Derek’s kitchen cooking a surprise dinner with Derek’s family while they waited for Derek to get home from work. Partly because their visit was a complete surprise. But mostly because Stiles didn’t have a boyfriend. Or even know who Derek was. But he’d already come this far and Papa didn’t raise no quitter!

Notes: this is to date one of my favorite Sterek fics. I laughed so much while reading this, I'm not even joking. The whole thing is a comedy of errors gone right. Stiles somehow finds himself pretending to be Derek's boyfriend, only he has no idea who Derek even is and why his family knows Stiles at all. His inner monologue is one of the funniest I've read, and his slow descent into (good natured) madness is wonderful. It's completed.

12. Love Like An Ache In The Jaw by Anonymous

“So let me get this straight,” The sheriff massages his temples, “You found a magic book, and performed a magic spell that has backfired and magically bound you to Derek Hale, rendering you both in agony if you’re not in the same room.” Derek and Stiles exchange a look. “Um. Yes.” Stiles says sheepishly. “Right. And just to be clear, when we’re talking agony… exactly how agonizing is the agony?” Derek clears his throat. “Sir, I’ve had a pole stabbed through my chest and held there for an hour. This was… similar.” - In which boredom, magic and dumbassery come together to produce a Christmas miracle slash disaster. Oh, and Stiles' grandmother who knows absolutely nothing about the supernatural happens to be in town. Oops.

Notes: another hilarious one. Stiles does Stiles things and ends up magically bound to Derek. No one is amused except Stiles' grandmother, who's having the time of her life, here. It's completed!

[heartcereql]

playing dangerous

dodge mason x fem!reader [triwizard tournament au ]

cw: minor cursing, sappiest shi ever lmao

ever since his name was sprouted out of the glowing cup, you hadn't left dodge's side. you were there, by him, as soon as the task ended; helping him prepare; carding your fingers through his hair when he couldn't sleep.

which is why he was panicking now. he had to be by hogwart's lake in an hour, and you were nowhere to be seen. dodge hadn't seen you in all morning, which made anxiety gnaw at his insides.

you were nowhere to be seen. heather, natalie and your other friends were as clueless as him. dodge had asked them. multiple times.

it was bishop who came looking for him, finding him on the point of pulling his hair out.

"hey, man. you should get going. everyone's almost there and-"

"no. i can't," dodge interrupted bishop. "not until i find her."

just where the fuck were you? he just needed you there, by his side, like you always were. 'his lucky charm', he'd joked once. dodge was starting to believe there was more truth in his words than he'd thought.

"i'm sure she's on her way there, if not already waiting for you," bishop reassured, in an attempt to calm dodge.

he ran his fingers through his hair one last time, almost wishing they were yours, before nodding. "yeah, yeah, you're probably right.."

dodge didn't look the least bit convinced, but before he could rethink anything, bishop held him by his arm, starting the walk to the lake.

"look, y/n cares a lot about you," bishop sighed. dodge intimidated him, but he was able to swallow it. he was dragging him after all. "and she knows how much it means to you that she's there. i'm sure she'll be there."

dodge only nodded, absentmindedly. you probably had a good reason why he hadn't seen you all morning. and you'd most certainly be there, cheering for him and taking him in your arms as soon as he was done.

in spite of his best efforts to stay calm and concentrate on his bubble-head charm, once in the platform, dodge's eyes kept looking for you. a passing face, or a familiar tone of hair, but it wasn't you.

he was barely paying any attention, and it was only seconds before the magical sign that heather nudged his side.

and then dodge dove in.

the water was chilly enough to make goosebumps appear all over his figure. for an instant, all he saw, and felt, and processed, was a big mass of greenish blue liquid. quiet, fresh, almost consuming.

then, fortunate but disgustingly, he felt something touch his foot, which brought him back to reality. dodge casted the bubble-head charm. his mouth and nostrils became engulfed by a globule of air. he set motion, not wasting any other second. he swam deeper, the lights becoming dimmer as he did, turning the lake into a shadowy labyrinth of thick, swaying kelp forests.

if he wasn't so occupied trying to find the merepeople, dodge would have taken his time to curiously investigate the lake's depths. but the urgency was itching him.

the tall plants obscured his vision, making it difficult to see a few feet ahead. he pushed through, mind focused on emerging back and finding your arms again.

fuck.

a sharp, sudden prick around his ankle made him dart his eyes down. shallow eyes met his own. the grindylow's green and sinewy body lurked around his foot, a claw already clinging from it. the creature hissed at dodge, flowing its tentacles around, but dodge managed to kick it strong enough to detach it from him, and stunning him with a spell muttered under his breath. he clutched his wand tighter before he carried on.

at last, the kelp seemed to dissolve, spacing out a clearer area, where coral and stone structures resembling ancient ruins could be seen. merpeople village.

the constructions captivated him for a moment. if he paid enough attention and stood very still, he could discern glimpses of slim, grey bodies and sharp, prying eyes that studied him closely. merpeople.

dodge looked around. there was no sign of any other champion. he swam carefully, attentive not to provoke the water creatures that lived beneath him. he slowly set aside a kelp that obstructed his way, and then, just like that, his whole world stopped. before it came back to him in a heartbeat.

you.

tied to a stone pillar, you swayed ever so lightly along with the water. your gaze was serene, like you were having the most peaceful sleep. besides you were another girl that must have been your age, and a blond boy who couldn't have been older than 12 and looked an awful lot like the durmstrang champion. they also wore utterly calm expressions.

something dear.

that was what the fucking clue meant. that was why there has been no sign of you all morning.

a hundred thoughts passed dodge’s mind in a fraction of a second. how had you gotten there? were you hurt? were you alive? but he pulled himself out of the spiral of worry when he noticed movement behind him. the durmstrang champion swam his way with unbeatable determination.

clenching his jaw, he resumed his way to you. treading water fiercely, he managed to sink down to the stone pillar that held you still. dodge tried to untie the knot, but the rope was slippery in his hands. he cursed beneath his breath, desperately scratching, clinging, clutching.

the durmstrang champion was almost by his side. dodge could not lose any other second. you needed him. pulling his wand from where it was tucked in the waistband of his swimsuit. he muttered a spell that snapped the rope. he was quick to get ahold of you, pulling you close to him.

swimming to the platforms as fast as he could, his touch remained gentle on you. his fingers found your pulse, head leaned against your chest, trying, hoping, to hear or feel any sign of life. of you.

thud-thud. thud-thud. thud-thud.

the mere beating of your heart was enough to dissipate all his fear. even more, it encouraged dodge to dive faster, the platforms now a few feet away. dodge could feel the bubble-head charm dissolving. just in time.

with one last tread, he pushed you both to the surface.

the cool air hit his wet skin as he emerged from the water. cheers erupted all over the platforms; clapping and whistling, along with some victory music from the band and someone announcing ‘dodge mason, hogwarts champion’ as ‘the winner of the second task, and therefore the leading champion!’

but despite the noises and cheering, dodge had only eyes and mind for you. he watched you resurface, gasping for air like it was the first time you breathed. you were completely clueless, astounded. but then your eyes met his. and you could’ve sworn you could have cried just from seeing the tears forming in dodge’s eyes as he looked at you, gaze still painted with worry, but mostly relief and joy.

you didn’t care that you were still in the water, or that you were shivering, or that you wouldn’t be able to stay afloat if you clung to him. dodge didn’t care either. you wrapped your arms around his neck as he embraced you while trying not to sink. you fit perfectly, like pieces of a puzzle.

dodge nuzzled closer. you were okay. you were okay, and you were there, and you were with him. and that was all that mattered.

“alright, you two lovebirds, time to get out,” alastor moody’s voice pulled you out of the hug.

now a flustered mess, the both of you gladly took the hands that reached out, pulling you out of the lake. your skin didn’t precisely welcome the chilly temperature of the foggy morning. as soon as you each got a blanket around you, you rejoined again; dodge’s arm around your shoulder, your head on his chest.

“are you okay?” he constantly mumbled, tucking strands of damp hair behind your ears.

“i’m fine now,” you smiled, lips trembling as you stood on your tip toes to peck his lips, hand moving to cup his face.

dodge didn’t let you go all day, which you were more than happy to oblige. hand in hand, arm draped around your shoulder or slinging around your waist, you clinging to his bicep. never leaving the other’s side. which was exactly what you both needed.

and this time, once you’d snuck into his dorm, it was his fingers that gently massaged your scalp, helping you rest at ease.

© heartcereql, 2024 || thank you for reading ! 𓆩 ♱ 𓆪

[tammyu-2]

HMMMM can i request 2012mikey dating headcannons 😁😁😁😁

Ask and you will receive

🫡

TMNT 2012 MIKEY DATING HCS

Usage of the pronoun she, one usage of y/n, swearing kinda, Mikey being adorable, nothing else.

Alot of ppl don't write for mickey yet he is the most loved one

You guys met at Mr. murakami's restaurant. You always preferred going to places at night because it was quieter and the scenery was nice.

Mr. Murakami had added these pizza pocket things to the menu, and you had to try it out. As they say, great minds think alike, and Mikey had the same idea. He had been tired of his brothers always eating all the takeout he got, so he decided to sneak out to go get some for himself. He then bumped into you.

The silence that followed after you guys locked eyes was so long that you would have thought you two were mute. Like you are mainly confused. Should you run? Should you be scared? Should you dap him up??

He is sitting here like,'What did Leo say you should do when you get spotted in public?'. He tried to act like a turtle but was unaware of what sounds a normal turtle makes because they are mainly quiet. So he stuck with:

"Turtle turtle"

"What the actual fuck-"

It was safe to say that it was a confusing start. You both were starving, tho so like you two shook hands, became friends, and ate pizza pockets together.

When you two became wore acquainted, he is absolutely CLUELESS on his crush on you. Like wdym yall are just homies. Like he just fw that much. At this point, the turtles know about you, so he blabs about you to them sooooo much.

"Oh y/n is coming around today."

"She was really sad today."

"Did you know she didn't know how to skate??"

"OH she actually is learning the guitar I like it's sorta badass."

"Mikey, oh my gosh, shut up about her! Do you like her or something??"

This comment has him thinking. Does he like you? He asks Donnie for help, and Dontron indeed confirms that Mikey has a romantic crush on you.

"Oh cool... what do I do about it?"

He knows what a crush is because Donnie is head over heals for april, but like, what now? This earns a sigh from Donnie as he dumbs down what a crush is to him, and Mikey goes full-on realization mode.

I don't think he would immediately tell you. I think he will just keep that information in mind but still make it very obvious cause he doesn't care. Like help you out and stuff. Complimenting how good you are at stuff. Sprouting out sentences that imply that he likes you.

"Yo! Your boots look absolutely fire today."

"I just finished the comic you told me about. It was sick!"

"You should probably get out of here dude the kraang is gonna bust the place, and I'd rather you not get hurt."

"You wanna go get some pizza pockets? Just you and me."

Like he would do this noticeably enough that his brothers have to bring it up. Like it's proper sibling etiquette. The classic "How's your girlfriend?" And "Dude, you're so in love with her!" Is to be expected.

Now, one day, he finds a roller skating park that's empty at night. He decided it would be the perfect opportunity to hand out with his favorite person. Also, to teach you how to skate.

He invited you, and you said yes. You guys go, and it's actually locked up at night. But you guys bypass the locks easily. He patiently helps you onto the bored as you pray that you don't somehow fall on your face or break something by just standing on the board with no gear except a helmet.

After a while of close calls and you two being silly, you could finally skate slowly ... with no ramps. Baby steps baby steps.

After a bit, you two sit on top of a ramp just talking about anything, really. Then Mikey confesses to you that he likes you. You say you like him back, and he's all like

"Cool cool cool nice awesome amazing sick fire totally nice."

Leave him alone it's his first time being this flustered. He usually isn't the one who would manage to get a partner in the first place.

When you two start dating, you guys become disgustingly cute. Like you guys take every opportunity to cuddle or just be physically close to one another. You both heavily touch starved. It's like you two read comics together with you up to his plastron with one of his arms wrapped around you and the other holding his comic.

You introduce him to your favorite cartoons and things and you guys have date nights where you two get alot of pizza and sweets and junk food and watch your favorite series that you had non stop thinking about in that week.

You're not allowed the battlefield mostly because Leo says this, but yeah. So, during a fight, Mikey likes to talk about you. He's clingy, is what I'm saying. He could write an essay if he had the attention span and the vocabulary.

But over all he loves youuuu. Like he really fw you. You're the type to bounce off each other's energy and match each other's vibe. It's cute but annoying for others. Poor raph....

Hope you enjoyed it. I hope you liked it. This was super cute to write. I liked it. :>

But that's all from me toodles

~Tammy<3

[coffee-and-tea-time]

S͟͞i͟͞n͟͞g͟͞,͟͞ ͟͞L͟͞o͟͞v͟͞e͟͞

Sup’! This is our little Halloween surprise!

Yup, we asked ourselves what would happen if instead of falling on the shadow dilf’s liminal space, you fell in one that isn’t quite as sweet. - Tea

Yup Yup, and for that, we decided to write it with some of our shared phobias in mind and make our Phobiarooms with a special yan- - Coffee

Shh, no spoilers. - Tea

word count: 3.3k

tw: hehe, trick or treat? Gore! We gotta warn that one (⁠・⁠–⁠・⁠;⁠)⁠ゞ and it's written in you/yours

This really is like a cliché horror movie, cleaning pools at night sure looks like the perfect excuse for a new horror movie saga, or maybe a game, like-

"Honey, you're gonna fall off, be careful!"

The sweet voice of your coworker interrupts your train of thought, saving you from falling over the pool with the cleaning supplies. You were truly grateful that you got the night shift with her, she literally treat you so sweetly, guess she got the habit to treat people like she treat her children, but it's always sweet and never weird so, everybody just smile when she subconsciously start talking with her mom shenanigans.

"Thanks! Sorry, it's my first night shift so I guess my mind wander a little over silly horror movies"

Fuck, why are you so awkward? Hope you didn't seem so weird. Thankfully, she only smiles at you, giving you a pat on the head before continuing working. God bless her heart.

You walked with shoulders slump to the next pool, cleaning supplies rolling beside you in your cart as they are too heavy to carry by yourself. This job was tiring to say the least, but the pay was damn good, which would be sketchy if it wasn't for the fact the pools you had to clean were massive and always so fucking dirty, stupid kids. How do they manage to lose so many toys without the parents noticing?

The outside ones were more bearable, as the process was more forgiving, leaves and dirt are unavoidable when the pool is out in the wild. Inside pools though... Those were the vain of your existence, everything had to be spotless, the floors were slippery so falling was almost a given, and they always stuck you with cleaning the dressing rooms which were filthy every single time. Today you had to clean the inside pools, so to cope you dragged a coworker with you to help, also some tunes couldn't hurt.

Mindlessly chatting with your coworker you find yourselves wandering to the next pool to clean, the white tile hallways all too cold and echoey stretching farther than you remembered, but at last there the hallway ended, opening up into a round, deep and honestly disgustingly dirty pool. Your coworker comments on it too.

"I really can understand whorever plans this, why do you need hidden pools? I don't think I ever cleaned this area so they sure got some extra people cleaning this."

Your coworker agrees with you, both clueless on how they manage to keep this area a secret for special guests with so many people wandering around on a daily basis. You gotta admit, it got a fancy design, even putting some tunnels of water on the hallways that miraculously were all really clean.

"We might need a bigger vacuum.. I'll be right back" She said,  turning around with a tired grunt which you second while looking down at the green-ish water. It didn't smell though, thank god, and so you started to clean a bit while waiting for your coworker to bring the bigger vacuum. 

With a soft bristle broom gathering the dirt and grime off the white tiles, you hummed and quietly sang to that one song you had stuck in your head.

Fuck, stupid tiktok and his catchy 6 seconds of a song, you just can’t help but have it on repeat on your brain. Well, you have a lot of time to kill anyways. You gotta admit whatever guests they bring here are really clean, there isn't much dirt, just the minimum that people make by walking.

Your eyes drift through the white tile, from the small, barely there pile of dust you managed to gather to the edge of the circular pool in the middle of the room, the water this soft green like before, but something is… off.

The water wasn't still, it swayed ever so slightly like there was movement, and now that you focused enough, you could see this strange… string? Was it some sort of moss? A deep green mass of what looked like hair could be barely seen at the bottom of the pool through the shadows of its depth, was it there before? You couldn’t recall. 

Your immediate thought is to ask your coworker if there is some kind of tool convenient enough to reach the bottom of these giant pools and take out what is down there without having to empty them. But now that you think about it, where's your coworker? Shit, she probably had some trouble in the storage room since it's always so messy there and the tools you guys need are big and difficult to carry, you should've helped her.

You start walking to the hallways once again, sweeping a little as you make your way to what you assume is the way to the storage room while that damned song was still playing on loop in your head, why did it have to be such a banger? Worsened also by those damn majestic edits people have been making… God.

Though… this is not the full story, is it?

The green mass at the bottom of the pool wasn't there before, the water indeed moved, but not on its own.

There is something down there.

As you walked, you heard the slight echo of rustling through the hallway, grunts of struggle, but very subtle. You assume it's your coworker trying to carry all those tools on her own and you feel a pang of guilt, quickening your step and calling out to her.

“Mary? Stay there! I'll help you with the stuff, sorry for not going with you!”

You said casually jogging down the hall, but then a voice makes you stop, the voice of your coworker, but…

That can't be her, can it? You still hear her grunting on the other side, down the hall… so why? 

It's right behind you, coming from the pool room you just left

You keep walking, trying to ignore that voice that calls out your name, it is your coworker’s voice, but something feels off. You follow the sounds of those grunts instead and it leads you to one of the side pools, a very gorgeous design with pristine white tile and stairs leading down to a square pool, but the elegant and minimalist pool was tainted with that sight.

Mary was there, grunting with what you now knew was pain, the once green-ish waters painted a haunting shade of crimson, half of Mary was gone, her throat was disheveled, gurgling with her own blood as claw marks covered her whole arms. She struggled, but there was no saving her, she was choking on her own blood, on her own flesh.

You stood there, paralyzed by fear and the gruesome sight of a coworker torn to pieces right before you, her last breath a chilling notion now as you also heard her voice calling out for you from behind.

 ҉"҉H҉o҉n҉e҉y҉,҉ ҉i҉s҉ ҉t҉h҉a҉t҉ ҉y҉o҉u҉?҉"҉

The distorted voice of Mary echoed closer through the hallway, and with it a dragging sound, almost like how the vacuum’s tube dragged through the wet floors while cleaning. Your mind dissociated for a moment, unable to comprehend the situation you were in, but it didn't take long for everything to scream at you to stay alert, just as that dragging sound creeped behind you through the entrance.

You didn't dare look behind you, the thought of not being alone in a scene like this, in what you foolishly thought was the pool area you worked at. The dragging stopped, for a moment at least. Instead you heard the tapping of wet palms against the floor, then dragging again, and drops of water or whatever it was, dripping down onto the floors with a soft sound. 

It took everything from you not to scream and collapse right then and there. Mary's cloudy, blood soaked eye staring blankly ahead, behind you, telling you that you were indeed not alone. Slowly, you turned around, your heart pounding so hard you dreaded the possibility of whatever this thing was hearing every beat and there it stood, a creature, a monster.

Thick, green-ish hair resembling what you saw at the bottom of the pool earlier covering its face, yet not quite hiding its eyes, shining like an opal, if it wasn't for its haunting image you'd say it was beautiful, but it wasn't. The thing stood taller than you by a lot, its snake-like body trailing behind… him? Like an endless rope of green scales that reached up to his hip, scattering along with what looked like clouds of dark green over pale mossy skin. His hands with sharp claws, probably the ones that slashed Mary into pieces, also evident by the thick amount of blood that dripped from them with soft thuds that marked each beat of your heart.

You felt the adrenaline rushing through your veins, like if an explotion went off inside you, your lungs take all the air they can in a matter of seconds. 

You took off running, your legs pumping, your breath coming in ragged gasps. You never moved so fast in your life, each step a desperate attempt to escape the danger that loomed behind you. Every nerve in your body was alight with the primal need to flee, to survive. There was no time to think, only to act.

You feel a growing sense of panic as you run through the endless corridors trying to avoid the pools, you swear you can hear your heart beating on your throat as you try not to strip with the water, that thing keeps following you, no longer talking with Mary's voice but instead scream incoherently in differents voices like and old radio, are those the voices of other victims who faced the same fate as your coworker?

 ҉"҉O҉v҉e҉r҉ ҉h҉e҉r҉e҉!҉ ҉T҉h҉a҉t҉ ҉t҉h҉i҉n҉g҉ ҉i҉s҉ ҉n҉o҉t҉ ҉h҉e҉r҉e҉!҉"҉҉

 ҉"҉L҉o҉v҉e҉,҉ ҉i҉s҉ ҉t҉h҉i҉s҉ ҉a҉ ҉p҉r҉a҉n҉k҉?҉"҉҉

 ҉"҉I҉'҉l҉l҉ ҉b҉e҉ ҉r҉i҉g҉h҉t҉ ҉b҉a҉c҉k҉"҉҉

You spot a set of stairs leading down, and your heart leaps with hope. Could this be the exit you've been searching for?

Oh, naive little thing, you already know the answer

You start running towards the stairs, your mind is filled with expectations as you head down the stairs, finally, a way out! But as you are half through it, your heart sinks. Instead of a door or an exit, you find yourself face to face with a massive pool of water.

Desperately, you try to turn around and run back up the stairs but you move too quickly and lose your footing, your ankle twists painfully, and you are thrown off balance, your head slams against the sharp edge of the staircase. The last thing you remember is the feeling of the cold water hitting your back roughly as you fall into the abyss of the pool.

. . . 

You groggily open your eyes, your vision still blurry, the room seems deathly silent and your surroundings are eerily still.

As your vision clears, you find yourself lying on the cold floor next to a large pool of water, you notice a tunnel situated in the wall opposite the pool. It seems to be the only way out of this isolated room, but you know it won't take you out of this place entirely don't you?

You carefully turn your head to the other side, trying to inspect the other side of the room. You were met with a rather curious sight; Piled up in various corners of the room are countless trinkets, personal belongings, and various objects that you usually complain about while you work.

Among the items, you see broken glasses, faded and crumpled pamphlets, forgotten toys, some broken bags and a lot of stuff in general, some of them look like they’ve been there for a long time, covered in dust and mold or straight up rusty.

Others appear more recent, still retaining some of their original color. It’s unclear why these objects are here, but they sure do create an odd feeling. How did they end up here in the first place? Is this room like some sort of discard bin? Somehow it doesn't feel like it... It's feel more like it's someone's

 ҉"҉T҉r҉a҉s҉u҉r҉e҉"҉

You almost jump as you hear that radio voice again, but your hurt leg forbids you to do so, you gather all your courage to look at the direction of the voice and see that thing peeking out of the pool, can he read minds or something? What kind of creature is this?

 ҉"҉T҉r҉a҉s҉u҉r҉e҉"҉

He repeats, nuzzling his face against your hand as you froze still, okey, he wasn't replying to you but rather, calling up to you? Maybe, just maybe there is a way that this could be like a fantasy book and this thing wants to help instead of eating you? He sure must know a way out… probably.

 ҉"҉I҉s҉ ҉t҉h҉a҉t҉ ҉y҉o҉u҉?҉"҉

You watch in speechless fear as the creature emerges from the pool, its half snakelike body undulating through the water gracefully. His long, serpentine body glides gracefully through the water, his scales glistening in the dim light. 

With a surprisingly delicate touch, the thing reaches out with one of his arms, grabbing a hold of a toy resting on top of a pile. For a brief moment, the monstrous creature locks eyes with you before holding the toy up in a strangely cute display.

҉"҉I҉s҉ ҉t҉h҉a҉t҉ ҉y҉o҉u҉?҉"҉

He repeats himself in yet another voice, you focus on the toy, trying to figure out what he's trying to say. The toy is a classic waterproof toy for kids shaped like a balloon with lights and music. However, this particular toy has seen better days. The once bright lights now flicker weakly, and the familiar cheerful tune of the children's song has become distorted, sounding more like a sad, warped version of its former self…. Wait a minute.

"D-do you… want me to sing?"

You manage to ask, your voice quivering a little. The thing seems confused, like he has never heard such words in his life, his eyes fixed on you, waiting for you to comply with his silent request, so you figure out it's better to give it a try and not test the patience of the creature.

You clear your throat, trying to force out the words without stammering and then inhaling deeply, steeling your nerves, and begin to sing. Your voice wavers a little at first, but you force yourself to continue. The thing watches you intently, his eyes never leaving the focus on you.

As you sing while praying inside not to forget the lyrics of the music of the toy, he moves slowly closer to you, his long body slowly slithering across the ground in a strangely graceful manner, almost as if it's being drawn to the sound of your voice. As the last notes of the song die out, you take a deep breath and try to speak to the creature in the most simple words for him to be able to understand.

"You want me to repeat that?"

 ҉"҉R҉e҉p҉e҉a҉t҉"҉

You blink in shock, momentarily thrown off balance by the thing's ability to mimic your voice. But then you shake your head, you had to focus on what this creature wants, so you start singing the song again.

And again

And again

And again

AND AGAIN

 "̶̦͎̲̜͊̏̽̔R̷̬̱̮̫̲̈́́̂e̸̦͍̮̥͙̔̈́p҈͙̣̒̀e҈̱͇̯̝̙̚̚à̸̩̲̆ͅt̶̬͚͊͒,҈̟̯͕͋͌͗̏ L̴̯̞͈̣̅̓ͅo҈̘͇̮͙̃͑̽̂̎ͅv̵̤̬̩̞̓̃̊̉e̸͇̟̓̚"̴͖͔̭̆͂

You try to sing again, forcing yourself to muster up what little energy you have left, but your throat is dry and sore. After a few moments, the coughing starts, and you simply can’t continue.

You quickly try to explain to the creature, gesturing to your throat and making coughing motions, hoping that it understands.

 ҉"҉H҉u҉n҉g҉r҉y҉?҉ ҉U҉n҉d҉e҉r҉s҉t҉a҉n҉d҉,҉ ҉L҉o҉v҉e҉,҉ ҉I҉'҉l҉l҉ ҉b҉e҉ ҉r҉i҉g҉h҉t҉ ҉b҉a҉c҉k҉"҉

You watch as he slowly submerges itself back into the water, its large form disappearing beneath the surface. Relieved, you attempt to stand up, trying to seize the opportunity to escape.

However, as soon as you put weight on your injured ankle, a sharp pain shoots up your leg, causing you to gasp and sink back down to the floor. Looking down, you realize the severity of your injury, the ankle purple and swollen.

You curse under your breath in pain, maybe you could crawl and hide under a pile of trinkets but it sounds really stupid, he could easily find you again, and you sure as hell don't want to risk making him angry.

You didn't have much time to figure out what you should do as he returns from the depths of the pool, and you look up, expecting it to have found something to help you. Instead, it was something completely unexpected.

He holds a horrific amount of limbs in his arms, and with an almost loving-like delight, it carefully places them on the ground beside you before giving you an expectant look, like a puppy bringing a bone to his master.

You feel your stomach clench as revulsion and horror wash over you, a cold sweat breaking out on your skin.

The creature's smile is nightmarishly sweet, his rows of sharp teeth gleaming, as he takes something from the corpse's pile and presents you with… the dismembered head of Mary.

You're paralyzed with disgust and terror as the thing act like he's offering you a top tier snack, you quickly press your lips together as he press the open cut of her neck against your mouth, trying to feed you lovingly as you force yourself to not start crying out of fear as your mouth and cheeks get painted with her blood.

 ҉"҉N҉o҉ ҉l҉i҉k҉e҉?҉ ҉D҉i҉f҉f҉e҉r҉e҉n҉t҉.҉.҉.҉.҉"҉҉

He finally stopped trying to feed you after seconds that feeled like an eternity. But your peace didn't last long, his cold, slimy tongue glides out of its mouth, leaving a trail of glistening saliva in its wake. Suddenly, it begins to lick your lips and cheeks, cleaning the blood, the sensation both repulsive and unnerving, putting you on the verge of throwing up.

The thing moves away from you to reach for one of the broken bags that lies on top of the pile of trinkets and rummages inside. To your surprise, it extracts actual human food and a bottle of water, both seemingly in good condition. 

With an almost cat-like eagerness, the creature pushes the 'gifts' towards you, his serpentine body coiling anxiously, as if awaiting a sign of acceptance.

"T-thanks" 

 ҉"҉T҉h҉a҉n҉k҉s҉"҉҉

You shiver as you take the food and water from his hands, your hands trembling involuntarily. The creature watches you intently, its gaze fixed on every movement you make, almost like a protective guardian watching over you. As you begin to eat, he seems to relax slightly. It seems happy to watch you eat.

"You know if… this repeat?"

You said pointing to the water and food, it's very important you have proper things to consume in order for him not to try feed you a somebody's limb again, and he nods happily, you sight in relief, at least he seems to understand you need different type diet that him, and he seem very happy to be able to provide it to you.

You're sipping the water, happy that at least you aren't going to die from starvation, and suddenly, the thing's long, snake-like limbs wrap around you in an embrace that feels both comforting and terrifying. He rests his head on top of yours, its muscular arms encircling your body, trapping you in its coils. As you tense up, feeling the panic rise, he speaks, his voice once again mimicking yours.

҉"҉R҉e҉p҉e҉a҉t҉"҉

Your voice falters as you begin to sing again, the realization of your dire situation slowly sinking in. You know deep down that there's no escape possible. There's no exit in this room except the watery tunnel placed after the void deep pool that the creature uses to move in and out, and the odds of you outrunning him are close to none.

He, however, seems completely oblivious to your despair. Its head rests calmly on top of yours, almost like it's listening intently to your voice.

 ҉"҉L҉o҉v҉e҉ ҉T҉r҉e҉a҉s҉u҉r҉e҉"҉҉

The creature holds you firmly in his coiled embrace, his head nuzzling against the top of yours in an affectionate manner. Your mind races in a panicked frenzy as a sickening thought takes root in your mind.

Is this your life now?

HIII, this is a really something new for us to write so I hope it came out good. My twin did a simple doodle before university stabbed him with exams, and I love it. He wanted to draw more but he's being forced to rest (no clue how he manages to draw such good doodle in a damn minute or less)- coffee

And just in case i'm giving y'all a clear version of some of his/its dialoogues:

"Honey, is that you?"

"Over here! That thing is not here"

"Love, is this a prank?"

"I'll be right back"

"Treasure"

"Is that you?"

"Hungry? Undertand, Love, I'll be right back"

"No like? Diferent..."

sorry for any misspellings or weird sentence structure ❣

image from pinterest, drawing by Tea ⚘

[clemswinecorner]

Sidewalk rule [Marcus Armstrong]

Summary: During Yeah Nah G'day you and the screamingmeals cohosts realize Marcus does not know what the sidewalk rule is. A TikTok for reference, in case you also don't know :)

Wordcount: 844

Warnings: none

Huge shoutout to @pinkysky-darling for the idea! Haven't posted in a while, here's little thing I wrote instead of trying to make deadlines :) Have fun!

Main Masterlist

“So I was walking with my girlfriend and as always she was on, like, you know the side of the store window, so of course she had to look at every single item,” Clem, in the middle of the couch, frowns and interrupts James. “Why as always, couldn’t you switch?” James looks to his right at the French man. “Sidewalk rule,” he casually says. “Ah yeah… Okay go on,” Marcus looks at the two, at Rory and back at the duo. “What’s the sidewalk rule?” He asks, a little in doubt whether he missed out on something. "You don’t know the sidewalk rule?" Clem asks surprised as he turns towards the Kiwi. Marcus just shakes his head as you look up from your laptop casually listening to their conversation. "Wait but I thought you did it like, all the time," James asks confused, looking at you behind the camera for confirmation as you look at the three of them with your eyebrows furrowed. "Yeah, you don’t know it?" Marcus shakes his head at you and the other guys. “How un-gentlemen like of you,” James says as Clem dramatically shakes his head. “Red flag, you should break up with him,” you chuckle. “Honestly it kind of is a red flag, maybe I should,” Marcus looks between you guys with wide eyes, still not having a clue what’s going on. He looked adorable being this clueless. “No but I think you do do it,” you say and Clem agrees, having walked with the two of you more than he can count. “I still don’t know what it is,” You chuckle before opening your mouth to explain, James immediately interrupting you. “Wait, do it in the mic,” you roll your eyes as you stand up and walk over, leaning over the couch. “So, for everyone like Marcus who doesn’t know what the sidewalk rule is, there’s two steps to it. One is that the guy, no matter what girl he’s with -whether it be his mom, friend or girlfriend or any other girl- he walks on the side of the road. So this way, when a car comes and crashes into you it will hit him first etc. And then part two, I guess, is that if you’re in a small alley or road and you can’t walk next to her, the guy always walks in front. This way he sees the danger, he gets hit first and all that jazz.”

The boys listen intently as you explain everything. “Oh, well, I actually didn’t know there was a second thing as well, I never thought about that,” James mentions as you walk out of frame again. Clem looks at him, “No I think I've seen that before. Just think it’s sort of something natural to do.” Marcus nods his head in agreement. “Yeah. I never really thought about it but like I always walk in front of you,” you smile at him as he tries to think back to whenever you were walking together. “I don’t know, I kind of always walk on the same side, I think?” He looks at you for confirmation and you hum in agreement. “Yeah I guess most times it just feels weird if I walk on the other side of, you know like my girlfriend,” He says, making a hand gesture in your direction. “I’m rarely consciously thinking ‘oh just need to make sure I’m walking on the side of the cars!’ like it just happens,” Clem smirks as he shares a look with James. “Well. That was the sidewalk rule. Anything else to share about you and your girlfriend’s disgustingly cute habits or should we round it up?” Marcus blushes at James’ statement as you softly giggle. “Weren’t you in the middle of a story?” Clem asks as he glances over at Marcus, who's smiling and biting his lip after you just made eye contact. “Yeah mate, you were talking about your girlfriend looking at every single item,” Marcus changes the subject as he lightly slaps James’ arm over Clem’s shoulder. “Right, I was.” 

“Do you think they notice?” Clem asks James as they make their way to the store for some form of dinner and drinks. “What, that we’re third wheeling?” Clem chuckles at his response. “No, how pure their love is. And how oblivious Marcus is to how he’s actually romantic.” James chuckles as they look at the two of you in front of them walking closely together. "Oh, yeah, no, Y/N definitely knows," James says, Marcus looking at you like a love-sick puppy as the two of you laugh at a joke. "You think?" James nods in your direction, as you look at Marcus with a fond smile, to answer his question. "Yeah. Does he, though?" James simply shrugs. "I mean, I’d assume he’s aware that’s it’s like, real love and what not. Don’t think he knows to what extent, considering the Yeah Nah G’day," Clem laughs along as they catch up with you and Marcus in front of the store. "So, what drinks we getting?"

Taglist:

@alexk2002 / @thesatansgirl-blog / @haasterplan / @fortunatelylovingsweets / @charles-and-chelsea / @greedayag / @emmabluesky / @breals02 / @sikeyeehaw / @mariiaamr / @idontwantablogthanks / @agirlwithmidnightthoughts / @zira44 / @adore-u-ls / @starcandy-y / @louisaamz / @langdonsluxiouslocks / @leclercswhore / @clearavenuementality / @wilmasvensson / @vxlesunflower / @shewatchesf1 / @ashf1 / @idkiwantchocolatee / @minl0u

like or comment under this post to be added to my taglist!

[neonponders]

For @chrisbitchtree​ !! 💋🍦

Thank you so much for donating to Harringrove for Turkey AND thank you so much for your patience, omg lol

Read on ao3 here ~

• • •

“When should we tell them?”

“We don’t,” Heather answered. The hard candy of her lollipop clattered against her teeth as she moved it from one cheek to the other with her tongue.

Robin blinked softly, following it before she remembered what they were talking about. “Steve’s my friend. I’m not leaving him to the whims of Billy Hargrove.”

“You’re nicer than me,” Heather disregarded.

“I thought you and Billy were friends.”

Heather looked at her over the rims of her sunglasses. “Where are you going with this?”

Robin looked back at the boringly empty Scoops Ahoy parlor. Slow days were a blessing and a curse. “You’re just in it for the show. I was too, back when I thought Steve was a total lady killer.”

Heather snorted. “I knew Steve was a sweetie way before you did. Don’t worry. Once the ruffled alpha feathers finally relax, they’ll see each other for what they are.”

“Disgustingly horny for each other?”

“Two alphas wanting to bone each other’s brains out isn’t disgusting…so long as they keep it out of my work hours. I don’t care where they get nasty, just stay the hell away from the pool. Draining and cleaning is a nightmare.”

Robin smirked and offered, “If it takes less than a month, I’ll trade jobs with you for a day.”

Heather looked at her, silently processing the offer. “You really think it’ll take them that long to be in each other’s pants?”

“Steve’s sweet but Hargrove only has so many strikes until he’s out of Harrington’s good graces.”

“Yeah but…hormones? The nose knows?”

Robin snorted. “I’ve seen first hand that Steve is predictably clueless and weirdly smart when I least expect it.”

Heather sighed an agreeing sound. “Billy surprises me too. He turns up his jean hems and irons them down.”

“You’re surprised he’s a diva? With that car?” Robin teased. “Have you seen his hair?”

Heather countered, “For a guy who’s trying to have all the peacock feathers of a war-prized veteran, he’s…soft.”

“I’m gonna need you to elaborate on that.”

So Heather did: “Usually it’s the girls who are supposed to teach the kids’ swimming lessons. Don’t get me started on that—”

“Regardless of second gender?”

“It’s old world bullshit,” Heather fumed and continued, “but it’s Billy. Billy’s the best one with the kids.”

Robin adjusted her position in the seat. It was going to be a real bummer whenever someone came in wanting ice cream, but for now, she enjoyed her extended break. “Steve’s the same. I never would have assumed he even liked kids, but the only people who ever visit him are next semester’s freshmen.”

Heather perked up. “The ones Billy’s sister is friends with?”

“Max,” Robin informed. “They’re all fine, I guess. In an…obnoxious freshman way. Max is the most tolerable of the bunch.”

“And she spends more time here than at the pool…” Heather contemplated aloud.

Robin felt inclined to correct, “She spends more time in the theater. Steve lets them into the R-rated films through the staff hallways.”

Heather dropped the stick of her lollipop into an ice cream cup and concluded, “A late night mall date sounds like just the thing.”

Robin stood up and disposed of the cup in the trash bin as she refuted, “I’m not friends with Billy’s sister, and the idea of recruiting a kid so her brother can screw my coworker gives me a bad taste.”

“Okay, prudish,” Heather scoffed. “What to you suggest?”

Robin smirked as she rotated to lean back against the glass, refrigerated case. “I’m so glad you asked.”

• • •

Steve sighed heavily, blunt fingertips scratching his neck as he mentally willed customers to keep walking past Scoops Ahoy. For some reason, all of Hawkins had him on their radar, and where was Robin to witness his ability to draw people into the store?

Steve needed to get laid. Between the internal itch of his body and him fidgeting near his glands, his throat was slowly becoming a red beacon. A dark blue, stupid sailor costume was not doing him favors in concealing it. And it was just his luck that he had to work solo on such a busy day—

“Wow. Do you want a cream for that rash?”

He frowned at none other, than Robin approaching the counter. Dressed in casual clothes, she pointed her stoic glare at him, but he’d developed a skill at reading her.

“You hate this place way too much to be here on your day off. What gives?”

She leaned on the counter with all the familiarity of someone used to being on the other side of it. “Word on the street is that Billy Hargrove is in the parking lot.”

Steve stared at her, visibly processing that until countered, “Robin. That’s not a rumor. You just saw him on the street on your way in here.”

“Whatever. Are you gonna make a move, or what?”

“Oh? A move?” His brows flew up towards the white sailor’s cap on his head. “Like the other move you suggested where I use the community pool’s gymnasium?”

“I didn’t know you could get ring worm from the gym,” Robin defended.

“No, I wouldn’t expect a band geek to know that.”

“You don’t need to go for my throat. At least it got you and Billy talking.”

“Yeah, because it was so thrilling for our first somewhat polite conversation to be him teasing me about the rancid gym. And he was right.”

Robin pursed her lips to the side and recalled one of Heather’s tactics. “Well he gave you nail polish for that, didn’t he?”

Steve’s eyes narrowed on her. “Buckley. I always knew band geeks can’t keep secrets—”

“The hell does that mean?” she recoiled.

“It means someone told him I needed to suffocate some ringworm on my skin!” Steve paused as his eyes darted over her. Steve might’ve been oblivious to her preferences until she spilled about Tammy Thompson, but damn it, that had been the key to a lock that was Steve figuring her out forevermore.

“Heather. You and Heather—!”

“They work together!” she shushed. “I had the best resource to help you with your dead end crush—”

“I am never a dead end,” he huffed. “Tammy Muppet Thompson is a dead end.”

“Okay,” she drawled in a hiss.

“Nothing stays at band camp! You squealed to Heather!”

“Why would I have supported your crush on Hargrove if I didn’t know you had a chance?”

That brought Steve up short. “You know he likes me?”

Robin’s dark blue eyes went wide. “Where did that get lost? Was it how he salivates around you so much that his tongue wags? That he brings you ice pops from the pool despite you working in an ice cream parlor? He behaves like it’s Florida or California, walking in here wearing only his swim shorts!”

“It’s hotter than hell outside, half the town is shirtless. Maybe if you’d told Heather to tell Billy that my favorite flavor isn’t cherry, I would’ve been impressed.”

“We’re always out of maraschinos because you eat them,” Robin countered. “What’s your favorite flavor?”

A deeper voice answered, “Caramel apple.”

Steve’s red neck blossomed up through his cheeks as Robin froze. Steve recovered faster, “You did say he was outside.”

“I thought we had time,” she bit out. “He takes so long to go anywhere, letting people look at him.”

“Are you two a package deal? Because I’ll need to read the fine print,” Billy remarked as he approached and placed two wrapped ice lollies on the counter.

Robin glanced at the green apple flavor boasting caramel sauce inside before she asked, “How long have you been here?”

“Long enough for all your customers and half the GAP to hear about you meddling in my sex life, thanks. Heather’s shifts for the rest of the month depend on how fast you can run.”

Instead of leaving, Robin smirked at him. “How about I take the rest of this shift, and you take the dingus to the pharmacy.”

Billy’s features flattened as he looked Steve over, not having considered him to be ill. He found the source quickly enough, sharp blue eyes riveted to his throat while Steve otherwise handed Robin his Ahoy sailor’s cap. However, she grasped it and frisbee-tossed it through the back room window.

“Screw company policy.”

“Oh-ho, look at you,” Steve sassed, shimmying his way around the counter.

They had to pass each other as she took over his shift, and her features pinched into a grimace. “You smell like a BLT. With pickles on the side.”

“My favorite,” Billy crooned, almost too quiet to hear.

A wave of heat swept over Steve, causing Robin’s eyes to roll while Billy’s nostrils widened. “God, get out of here before someone thinks we have salted caramel as a topping. You’re disgusting.”

“Maybe if you spent your time with Heather gossiping less and getting laid more, you’d sing a sweeter tone,” Steve finished, ice lollies in hand as he waved Billy through the staff door to the back room.

Billy’s composure lasted about as long as it took them to walk through another door to the hallways networking the back of the mall, and for the two of them to glance at each other. Billy’s hand slid over Steve’s lumbar, feeling his fellow alpha jump a little as the heat of his hand seeped through the sailor uniform. “Outside, pretty boy. You might lose your job if your scent lingers like that.”

“Why do you talk like that?” Steve blurted, shoving open the door to the outside. Hawkins was hotter than ever, and the lollies dripped condensation through his grip.

“Like what?” Billy countered, in the same husky tone as he let Steve back him up against the conveniently parked, maroon BMW. A good thing, indeed, that he’d worn a shirt today; the hot metal made him reach for one of the ice pops in Steve’s hand.

“Like you’re growling but shy.”

Billy pulled the wrapping apart to expose the green pop with murky innards promising caramel sauce. Instead of answering directly, he knocked his leg against Steve’s. The natural humidity on their skin made them stick, just for an instant, deliciously together. Billy liked the friction of their leg hair together. “And why’s it taken you this long to stand up to me?”

“I’ve always stood up to you. I just didn’t realize you liked being courted like this—that’s insane.”

Billy had bitten right through the corner of the green lolly that was threatening to melt into slush any second. His head tipped backward, a fast gesture to spare his teeth from the cold chunk in his mouth. “It’s ninety-eight degrees, Harrington, and we haven’t even reached today’s high yet.”

“You’re telling me,” Steve said as he raised the other lolly to the back of his neck. Billy’s tongue moved around his mouth, eyes resting way too long on Steve’s crimson neck. The poor guy was clearly in the cusp of a rut in the thick of July. It was a damn shame, for Billy’s cool fingertips found the edge of an inflamed gland and Steve vocally sighed at the tickling relief.

“You might actually need an ointment for this.”

Steve huffed and shoved the lolly—now ice pack—underneath the hair on his neck. “I get sweat rashes in the summer. This hair comes with a price that my glands pay.”

“Uh huh,” Billy purred, watching Steve’s mouth connect with the top of his ice cream and how his cheeks hollowed while he sucked the caramel out. A thread of sauce followed Steve up before he licked his lips—

Billy chased after it, licking sugar off of Steve’s lips between their kiss before Steve pushed his sweet tongue into Billy’s mouth. Billy’s fingertips found Steve’s chin and cheekbone, holding him in place while he switched sides. Their noses bumped together and Billy smiled against Steve’s overeager pursuit of his mouth. Getting teeth instead of lips made Steve complain, “Do I really smell like a BLT?”

Those doe eyes looked huge across the distance of their breath. Billy shamelessly gripped the red knot of the Scoops Ahoy ascot and pulled Steve’s uniform off his skin so Billy could press his nose against a collarbone. In his other hand, green apple juice dripped over his hand.

“Not yet, at least. You busy this weekend?”

The artificial highlights in Steve’s hair beamed in the summer sun as a dopey smile lifted his tired face. “I sure hope so. You mean with you, right?”

Billy nodded his head toward the car behind him. “We’ll take my car, before the heat takes you out.”

“What’s wrong my car?”

“I can’t drive home smelling you.”

Billy watching Steve’s throat move as he swallowed. “Yeah. Yeah, sure.”

[passthe5sauceplease]

allergies.

so I wrote a little thing that felt too small to post to ao3 so I'm posting it here🤷‍♂️

it's basically how Bobby found out about buck's naproxen allergy (inspired by me rewatching the coma episode)

ty to @sofiareidings for being my beta reader🙏

word count 0.7k

Buck walked into work Thursday morning with a raging headache. Eddie was practically begging him to stay home that morning but according to Buck he'd just take a painkiller from Hen.

The two made it upstairs in their uniforms, Buck dropping onto the couch with a groan while Hen watched with furrowed brows before turning to Eddie, asking without words.

"He's got a headache," Eddie sighed as he poured himself some coffee. "said he was just gonna ask you for painkillers since you have uh medical profession or something." Eddie shrugged and sipped his drink while Hen rolled her eyes and stood up.

She went down to the locker room, digging through her bag and looking at the bag she kept in there full of painkillers and other non-emergency medical supplies.

She found some naproxen and took a couple pills out, getting upstairs to see the disgustingly cute scene of Eddie feeding Buck toast because according to Chim, Buck was dead. She sighed at the sight of Buck being so dramatic, and Eddie simply indulging him.

Hen walked up, handing Eddie the pills along with a water bottle she had grabbed from the kitchen. It was then that Eddie made Buck sit up, dropping the pills in his hand before opening the bottle of water. He handed it to Buck after the pills were in his mouth, and watched him swallow.

They all separated after that, Hen saying he should be good in half-an-hour. Eddie was about to sit next to Buck until he noticed his boyfriend suddenly struggling to breath. Buck's hand went up, grabbing at his throat while coughing and wheezing. He was taking the smallest breaths until eventually it just stopped.

Buck fully couldn't breath and fell back against the couch after a sudden rush of dizziness that came over him. Hen rushed over while Chim went down to grab a medical bag. Hen was looking over Buck while Eddie stood close, gripping Buck's hand.

Which, he noticed, was covered in a red rash and some form of hives.

"Constructed airway, throats swelling up-" Hen had started while Eddie cut her off, "Rashes on his hands too" he pointed out to her, showing his hand. "I-I mean it looks like…" She trailed off, checking over a few more things before shouting. "Chimney, grab me an epi pen!"

It clicked for Eddie then, anaphylactic shock. Buck was having an allergic reaction to something. Not toast, he's eaten that countless times. Coffee? He drinks it every morning. Was this the same reason he had a headache? Eddie's head was spiraling so he couldn't figure it out.

It was then that Bobby came out, pulling Eddie aside while Chimney brought up the epi pen to hand off to Hen. By this point Hen had Buck's pant leg ripped open to expose his thigh before she took the needle itself, sticking it into Buck and holding it for a moment.

"What did he eat yesterday and today?" Bobby was asking Eddie, sending him into thought. Buck had cereal yesterday, the same he always had. Then they got street tacos from the same truck they always get them from. For dinner, Buck cooked lasagna. Then the toast and coffee this morning. He said this all to Bobby who looked just as clueless as Eddie in this situation before he realized something.

"Any medicine that he's taken? Medication allergies are hard to spot sometimes."

Of course. Buck took naproxen, which he hadn't before. All Eddie's ever seen him take was Advil and Tylenol, nothing different until today.

He looked over as Buck gasped and quickly sat up, Hen rubbing over his chest with Chim handing him water. He looked up to Eddie, clearly confused, tearing eyes from everything before Bobby patted Eddie on the back.

"Why don't you two go to the hospital? get buck checked out to be sure it naproxen." he raised his eyebrows at eddie and looked between the two.

_________________

At the hospital, once Buck was through triage and in the hospital room itself the doctors ran some tests, gave Buck fluids and lots of water all while Buck refused food out of fear. He wasn't allergic to anything before, so what could he be allergic to now?

It took the whole night but by around 7am the doctor finally came in and told Eddie that Buck would be fine, that it was in fact the naproxen and that he should carry an epi pen around just to be safe.

So that same day, Buck was discharged and returned to work the following week with an updated health record for Bobby to store in his file.

[cassandra-maria]

HIIIII so I wrote a little something on Cassandra, just fleshing out her character a bit and giving a look into her life and stuff :3333

her life was nothing short of one big indulgement

days spent cuddled in bed, only leaving to shower and retrieve snacks. cheeses and meats and wine, going through several bottles a week while doing nothing but laying around.

she did whatever she wanted to do whenever she wanted. she didn’t let anything stop her, no responsibilities, no laws, no obligations, no nothing.

just her and her desires.

when she moved to gotham it was disgustingly different, people loudly bustling in the streets, cars driving by 15 miles above the speed limit, juds outside screaming bloody murder, it was so loud. so hard to focus when she laid down, the sounds seeping into her mind, an itch that could never be scratched. it could never be quiet, there could never be a moment of stillness that provided that relaxation that seeped deep into her stomach.

she hated the people in gotham. they were loud, rude, and obnoxious. especially the men. she hated it, she hated walking down the street and getting heckled and catcalled, where she came from women were seen as a gift, the most important of people, as they were the only ones who could beat children. they were seen as a blessing, treated with the utmost respect and compassion.

they weren’t meant to be ogled, and grabbed at by men who were full of themselves, thinking they run this town.

when she returned home she would sit down on her bed in silence, tears running down her cheeks as she stared mindlessly out the window, she felt violated when she went outside. not even by the men, but just by the utter disrespect people had for each other.

albeit she wasn’t the most respectful either, but those were her urges, her inhuman hunger. she couldn’t control that. but she always tried her hardest. why couldn’t they control themselves? why couldn’t they put at least a bit of effort to keep themselves in check.

she didn’t mean to be born this way.

that was a sentiment she shared often, as she sat in her bed, platter of meats in front of her. an overwhelming wave of guilt rushing through her like a storm. sometimes she didn’t want to hurt people, sometimes she did. this was one of those times where she didn’t, but she was hungry. she couldn’t help herself.

she hated that she was this way, but loved it at the same time. her mother always told her it was gift, that she was the chosen one, she was special. she believed it wholeheartedly. but sometimes she felt as if the gift was a curse. when she was bent over in an alleyway, her fingers deep inside the corpses stomach, clawing out whatever organ meat she could find, her face covered with the metallic liquid that spilled out of him.

the mix of his warm blood, her hot tears, and the rain that poured down on them. she felt like she was being flooded, literally and metaphorically.

when she returned home she felt out of place, her pretty delicate decor didn’t match the mess she had turned into. her clothes stained, her eyes wide and bloodshot, and her mouth covered in it. she lumbered through, feeling heavy almost. out of place.

she always felt out of place. this city wasn’t for her. she wasn’t like anyone here. but she didn’t know where else to go. she didn’t know how to drive, she barely knew anything about this country. she just sat there, washing herself off, curled up on the floor, disgusting. she felt disgusting.

she wasn’t the chosen one, a special person, who her mother said she could be.

she was clueless to the world around her, alone in the world.

today felt different. weirdly enough.

she had woken up full from last nights meal, the sun was shining brightly today, the warmth flooding her bedroom as she got up. she felt energized, and active. she bounced on her toes as she got ready for the day.

this feeling was odd, foreign. but not unwelcome.

she felt pretty today. when she dried her hair it fell in the perfect spots, the curls framing her face, cascading down her back. and when she smiled in the mirror, she didn’t mind when her nose scrunched and the skin around her eyes wrinkled.

maybe it was a sign. a sign to start something new.

recently she was invited to this club, by one of her friends, Barbara, one of the only people who made her feel welcome. supposedly they were having a new act tonight, a hypnotist..

when she looked at the message she was intrigued, she didn’t know those even existed.

she wasn’t doing anything tonight anyways, it couldn’t hurt to go watch his act.

perhaps it would be a new start to something new in her life. get some new experiences.. meet new people.

after all, she knows the best, it doesn’t hurt to indulge.

[distortsverity]

Hikari if she had a normal life, went to high school / university, and at one point got mad after a networking event between students and the League :

If you just opened this like I told you to, tie yourself down to whatever chair you're sitting in, because this email is going to be a rough fucking ride.

For those of you that have your heads stuck under rocks, which apparently is the majority of the student body, we have been FUCKING UP in terms of evening networking events and general social interactions with the League. I've been getting message after message about people being so goddamn AWKWARD and so goddamn BORING. If you're saying to yourself, "But oh em gee Hikari, I've been having so much fun with my friends this week!", then punch yourself in the face right now so that I don't have to find you on campus to do it myself.

I do not give a flying fuck, and the League does not give a flying fuck, about how much you love to talk to your friends. You have 358 days out of the year to talk to friends, and this week is NOT, I repeat NOT one of them. This week is about fostering relationships between us youth and the region’s professional hotshots plus their support, and that's not possible if you're going to stand around talking to each other instead of them. Newsflash you stupid pieces of shit: OFFICIALS DON'T LIKE KIDS WASTING THEIR TIME. OH WAIT, DOUBLE NEWSFLASH: THE LEAGUE IS NOT GOING TO WANT TO SHOW US THE ROPES IF WE FUCKING SUCK, which by the way, in case you're an idiot and need it spelled out for you, WE FUCKING SUCK SO FAR.

"But Hikari!" you say in a whiny little bitch voice to your computer screen as you read this email, "I've been cheering on our League at all the conference matches, doesn't that count for something?" NO YOU ASS HATS, IT DOES NOT. DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY? IT DOESN'T COUNT BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN FUCKING UP AT THE MATCHES TOO. I've not only gotten texts about people being WEIRD (for example, acting braindead and saying stuff like "durr what's a Z-Move?" is not funny), but I've also heard about people cheering for the opposing team. The opposing. Fucking. Team. I don't care about “sportsmanship,” YOU CHEER FOR OUR GODDAMN LEAGUE AND NOT THE OTHER ONES. Have you never watched a single tournament before? Are you blind? Or are you just so disgustingly dense about what it means to make people like you that you think being a good little supporter of EVERYONE ELSE is going to make our League happy? Well it's time someone told you: NO ONE LIKES THAT, ESPECIALLY OUR LEAGUE. I will cunt punt the next person I hear doing something like that, and I don't give a crap if you report me, I WILL ASSAULT YOU.

"Ohhh Hikari, I'm now crying because your email has made me oh so so sad.” Well good. If this email applies to you in any way, meaning if you’re a little asswipe that stands in the corners during nighttime discussions or if you're a weird shit that does weird shit during the conference, this following message is for you:

DO NOT GO TO TONIGHT'S EVENT.

I'm not kidding. Don't go. If you have done ANYTHING I've mentioned in this email and have some rare disease where you're unable to NOT do these things, then you are HORRIBLE, I repeat, HORRIBLE PR FOR OUR SCHOOL. I would rather have four students that are fun and interesting chatting with our League officials than eighty clueless imbeciles. If you are one of the people that have told me "Oh nooo boo hoo I can't talk to them I'm too scared", then I pity you because I don't know how you got this far in life. With that in mind, don't show up unless you're going to stop being an embarrassment for our school. I swear to Arceus if I see anyone being a jackass at tonight's event, I will tell you to leave even if you're a straight-A battling prodigy. I'm not even kidding. Try me.

And for those of you who are offended by this email, I would apologize but I really don't give a fuck. Go fuck yourself.

- Your Class President

[goldenguillotines]

Veterinary Assistance 47, 49, 67, 74, 87

♡Art by zayathekid!♡

47. What are the dates like?

Yani being clueless for the entirety of the event or being over eager and Viz being a wee bit nervous with his braincell hitting the corner. /J

I think in all honesty, Yani doesn't understand what the fuck a date is and even after would just assume every single moment together is a "date". He's got the spirit! But a lil lost. I think he'd eventually understand. Though would be a little odd because no matter who else they're with, they'd never call their time together a date. Only with Viz.

Probably a bit of high energy just from having Yani there but it's almost disgustingly sweet how affectation they are. PDA everywhere and Viz trying to calm her down a little. It does work.. but results in some blue, red and black lipstick all over his face.

49. Who loves flower crowns more?

Yani! She never learned that one.. Haruyu and Miyako haven't been around to show her how to do it.. but I think the moment she learns again. BAM. Smooshes one onto his head gently and is just tail wag city

67. Who is the forgetful one?

Yes /J

Though for real.. I think both of them, while a little air headed.. I don't think they forget too much? Yani is rather attentive and tries to remember everything.. even if she doesn't understand.. and Viz definitely seems to keep his head on right too.

74. Is either one confrontational?

I think both run passive.. but Yani definitely would be the one to confront things. He might be a sweetie but he's got that Xahara blood. Runs a little aggressive. However- most of that results from him misunderstanding someone or perhaps getting a little territorial on a rare occasion

87. Do one of them sleep talk? If so, what do they say?

Yani doesn't sleep talk.. but based on Viz's habit to drool when he sleeps. I'm guessing probably him. Brain is telling me.. something about fluffy or comfy.

[riftwalker-limbro]

horribly self indulgent 600 words of pule bullying vince. disgustingly sweet too. enjoy

They'd been invited out for the customary post-recording drinks by the band Octavia. It was something semi-formal with their producer included, too. Pule was just about vibrating out of his skin with excitement, whereas his best friend was more nervous, but happy to support his girlfriend anyway.

That was still so fucking wild to think about - she was his girlfriend. Pule has never seen his friend so disgustingly in love before - it was a neverending source of opportunities for teasing remarks that he was never quite capable of refuting. Every time he'd either turn red as a tomato or get a faraway dreamy look in his eyes. It was absolutely hilarious.

Anyway, they'd arrived a bit early, met up with the others in the lobby of the place, said hello to their producer, and had sat down. After which the producer had started making half-hearted comments towards the band's performance and today's results. Verica had not been taking it well.

She'd been retorting in kind, at least at the start - veiled, one-eyebrow-drawn replies. It had devolved into badly-hidden snorts of disbelief and mockery at the producer's expense, and was looking like it was about to end in a shouting match, if it were up to her.

The producer had said he was going to step out and get some air.

Verica had followed.

Pule had a feeling this would be the first and the last time he'd ever have drinks with this producer.

Tala and Raga were chatting with him as normal, amused at Verica's antics, half-visible through the glass and the darkness of night, but when Pule glanced to his other side for a second, he noticed that his friend's gaze was absolutely glued to the window, eyes big.

Tala noticed him looking - but slightly misread what he was distracted by. "She can be scary, can't she?" Tala said, laughing. "He's been a real dick all night. I hope she drives him off, else our contract has us stuck with him for another three months."

"I'm just glad we're on this side of the glass," Pule laughed. "I'd be terrified going up against her."

"Me too," his friend breathed.

Pule opened his mouth to continue the banter, when Tala elbowed him in the side. Auch.

"Tala, what the-"

Tala made a shushing motion at him. Then, he pointed at his friend. Pule looked back.

Oooh.

"Absolutely terrifying, she is," Pule said, leaning in close to his friend. He nodded, still not looking away. He was leaning towards the window, as if he hoped to catch more. From his other side, Pule could hear Raga start to giggle.

His friend's cheeks coloured a little deeper.

"Bet she could crush his skull under her heels without stumbling," Pule whispered, conspiratorially.

Bingo. He finally had his friend's attention again. His pupils were more blown than the pub's dark interior warranted, face rather more red than it should've been too, and at his last comment, his mouth hung just a little open.

Nope. He wasn't this strong. Pule broke, cackling, falling to the side. After some blinks, his friend had recovered, drawing himself up tall and stiff, still red but now with embarrassment. Tala and Raga were howling next to Pule.

"You are the weirdest guy I've ever met, and that's not even accounting for all the mathematics you leave all over the place," Pule wheezed. "Really? Her being intimidating is a-"

"Hey guys," Verica said, shuffling back into the booth, hair a little wild from the wind outside. The producer wasn't with her anymore. "Fired him. Dickhead. Next round's on me!"

When her boyfriend took just a second too long to move, she noticed his face. "Warm in here, huh? Take off your jacket, honey, you look better without it anyway."

To Verica's clueless smile and his best friend's scarlet face disappearing behind his hands, Pule once again completely lost his shit.