#BAM. bound by duty.

[hopeworth]

no because the prophecy child/great evil as minato’s reason for sealing the kyuubi into his newborn is so much more boring compared to the other reason he gave which is that it was his duty. kushina begged him to let it die with her because she didn’t want to inflict her life on her son but minato was acting as a hokage before a father because it was (as he knows it) his duty as much as the jinchuriki’s to guard the kyuubi and if he has to sacrifice his son and martyr himself to do it then so be it.

[muiitoloko]

Needs

Summary: You are there to meet all of his needs.

Pairing: Karl Hoffmeister × Fem! Reader

Warnings: Smut.

Author's Notes: Well, folks, brace yourselves for another rollercoaster ride of a story! I gotta admit, this one had me wrestling with writer's block like nobody's business. Every word felt like it was mocking me from the page! But then, lo and behold, I stumbled upon some Karl gifs on Tumblr and bam! Inspiration struck like lightning! 🌩️ Had to spill some ink on Karl, no question about it. Here's hoping I did justice to the enigma that is Karl in this one-shot! Oh, and can we talk about Charlotte? Let's just say, I'm not exactly her biggest fan... Am I alone in this? 🤔

Also read on Ao3

As Karl stood by the window, his gaze fixed on you, the maid, playing with Otto in the garden, a myriad of conflicting emotions swirled within him. It had been two weeks since Charlotte had left with Friedrich, leaving Karl and Otto behind. Two weeks since Karl had managed to recover from his illness, but the ache of missing his wife lingered like a ghost haunting the halls of his home.

As he watched you, a simple maid with a beauty that had gone unnoticed until now, Karl couldn't help but feel a pang of longing deep within his chest. He missed the warmth of a woman, especially when he lay alone in his bed at night, the cold sheets a constant reminder of his loneliness.

Over time, Karl began to notice things about you that he hadn't paid attention to before. He saw your beauty, simple yet captivating, like someone from his own class. He observed the dedication with which you carried out your duties, the tender care you showed towards Otto, his beloved son.

And then, as if by some cruel twist of fate, Karl's gaze fell upon the neckline of your dress, the delicate curve of your breasts teasingly visible beneath the fabric. His breath caught in his throat at the sight, his pulse quickening with desire as he imagined what it would be like to hold them, to suckle at them with a hunger that bordered on desperation.

Karl closed his eyes, cursing himself as he leaned his forehead against the cool glass of the window. He missed the warmth of a woman, the softness of her skin against his, and there you were, a woman so close and yet so far away.

He wondered if you were still a virgin, if you had ever felt the heat of a man's touch. But it didn't matter, did it? Because Karl would be better than any man you had ever known, much better. He would treat you with the respect and adoration you deserved, fulfilling every desire and whim with a passion that knew no bounds.

But then, with a shake of his head, Karl opened his eyes, the realization of what he was thinking hitting him like a ton of bricks. What the hell was he doing? He was a married man, a father, and you were just a maid, beneath him in every sense of the word.

With a sense of self-disgust, Karl moved away from the window and strode purposefully towards the door, determined to put an end to these foolish thoughts once and for all. He swung the door open, interrupting your play with Otto as he ushered you both inside.

"Enough playing for now, Otto," Karl said, his voice firm as he directed his son towards the bathroom. "It's time to wash up and get ready for dinner."

Otto visibly wilted at the dismissal, his shoulders slumping as he reluctantly obeyed his father's command. You, on the other hand, bowed respectfully, apologizing for the interruption and offering to help with dinner preparations.

But Karl ignored your offer, his gaze distant as he instructed Otto to hurry along. "We will have dinner promptly at seven," he said, his tone clipped. "Make sure everything is ready by then."

You nodded obediently, bowing once again before turning to leave the room. As you passed Karl, he couldn't help but notice the way your dress clung to your curves, the sway of your hips as you walked away sending a shiver of desire down his spine.

But Karl quickly pushed aside his wayward thoughts, his sense of propriety kicking in as he returned to his office at home. Taking a tissue from his pocket, he pressed it against his mouth while coughing, the sound muffled against the fabric as he tried to quell the persistent ache in his chest.

"Damn foolish thoughts," Karl muttered to himself, his voice tinged with self-loathing as he leaned back in his chair, his mind racing with thoughts of you. "I must focus on my work, on providing for my family. That is all that matters."

But even as he tried to push you out of his mind, Karl couldn't shake the feeling of longing that lingered like a shadow in the depths of his soul. And as he sat there, alone in his office, the sound of your laughter echoing in his ears, he couldn't help but wonder what might have been if things had been different.

As Karl sank into the warm water of the bathtub, he closed his eyes, trying to push aside the intrusive thoughts that plagued his mind. The sound of the water lapping gently against the sides of the tub provided a soothing backdrop, but even the comforting embrace of the warm water couldn't chase away the persistent ache of longing that gnawed at his chest.

You, the maid, moved quietly around the bathroom, preparing to assist Karl with his bath as you had done countless times before. But today was different. Today, Karl couldn't help but notice the way your gentle hands moved with practiced ease, the way your touch sent shivers of desire coursing through his veins.

As you approached the tub, Karl tried to suppress the rising tide of arousal that threatened to consume him. He had never given your presence a second thought before, but now, he couldn't even relax in your presence without feeling the stirrings of desire.

Desperate for some relief from his torment, Karl toyed with the idea of visiting some prostitutes, hoping that the physical release would help to banish the thoughts of you from his mind. But even as the thought crossed his mind, he couldn't bring himself to act on it, the image of your face haunting him like a specter in the darkness.

You began to wash Karl's back, your touch gentle and soothing against his skin. But as your hands moved lower, tracing the curve of his spine with feather-light touches, Karl couldn't help but tense up, the warmth of your touch sending shockwaves of desire coursing through his veins.

He tried to ignore the sensation, to focus on anything other than the way your touch made him feel. But when you passed into his arms, your body pressed tantalizingly close to his, Karl couldn't help but look at you, his gaze lingering on your face for a moment too long before he quickly averted his eyes, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

You noticed his gaze and gave him a small smile, your eyes filled with warmth and understanding. "Are you feeling better, Herr Hoffmeister?" you asked respectfully, your voice soft and gentle as you continued to bathe him.

Karl nodded, his voice hoarse with emotion as he admitted, "Yes, I am feeling much better, thank you. Still coughing a lot, but not as bad as before."

You smiled again, genuine happiness shining in your eyes as you said, "I'm glad to hear that, Herr Hoffmeister. You had us all worried there for a while."

The two of you fell silent once again, the only sound in the room the gentle splashing of water as you continued to bathe Karl. And as he lay there, enveloped in the warmth of the water and the comfort of your presence, Karl couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to reach out and take you in his arms, to hold you close and never let go. But he quickly pushed aside those thoughts, burying them deep within his heart as he focused on the task at hand, determined to put an end to these foolish fantasies once and for all.

As the silence stretched between you and Karl, he finally broke it with a question, his voice cutting through the quietude of the bathroom. "How long have you been serving me, uh... what was your name again?" he asked, his tone slightly hesitant as he tried to recall your name.

You smiled softly, accustomed to his occasional forgetfulness. "It's [Your Name], Herr Hoffmeister," you replied respectfully, your voice gentle as you continued to bathe him. "And I've been serving you for ten years now, since I was eighteen."

Karl's eyebrows shot up in surprise at your response. "Ten years?" he repeated, genuine curiosity shining in his gray eyes. "That's quite a long time. I must admit, I hadn't realized it had been so long."

You nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of your lips as you continued to wash his back. "Yes, time flies, doesn't it?" you remarked, your voice tinged with a hint of wistfulness. "It feels like just yesterday that I first started working here."

Karl fell silent for a moment, lost in thought as he processed your words. Then, with a curious glint in his eyes, he asked, "Do you have a husband? Or perhaps a fiancé? Children, maybe?"

You shook your head, a faint blush coloring your cheeks at the mention of marriage and children. "No, Herr Hoffmeister," you replied quietly, your voice barely above a whisper. "I've never had many expectations about marriage or children. My life has always been here, serving you and taking care of Otto."

Karl's curiosity seemed to be piqued by your response, his gaze lingering on your face as he asked, "Do you have any family, then? Siblings, perhaps? Do your parents live nearby?"

You smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in your eyes as you spoke. "I don't know, Herr Hoffmeister," you admitted, your voice tinged with regret. "I was orphaned at a young age, raised by the nuns at the orphanage."

Karl's eyes widened in surprise at your revelation, his expression one of genuine sympathy as he processed the information. "You're an orphan?" he asked softly, his voice filled with compassion. "Do you... do you know who your parents are?"

You nod solemnly in response to Karl's question, the memories of your past flooding back with painful clarity. "Yes, Herr Hoffmeister," you reply quietly, your voice tinged with sadness. "My mother was a prostitute, and my father... well, from what the nuns told me, he was a judge from England named Turpin."

Karl's eyebrows shoot up in surprise at your revelation, his expression one of genuine curiosity as he processes the information. "Turpin?" he repeats, his voice tinged with disbelief. "The judge from England? How did...?"

You nod, cutting him off before he can finish his question. "Yes, Herr Hoffmeister," you confirm, your voice barely above a whisper. "He was traveling through Germany and ended up getting my mother pregnant. But he made it clear to her that he didn't want me, and he returned to England, leaving my mother alone to raise me."

A pang of sadness comes over you as you imagine the struggles your mother faced, the possible loneliness and hardships she must have endured. Only she could not escape the cruel hand that fate imposed on her and ended up dying in childbirth, leaving you alone and an orphan.

Karl's expression softens with sympathy as he listens to your story, his gray eyes filled with compassion. "I'm so sorry, [Your Name]," he murmurs, his voice gentle but filled with genuine regret. "That must have been incredibly difficult for you."

You offer him a small smile, though there is a hint of sadness in your eyes as you continue to speak. "It was," you admit quietly. "But I was fortunate enough to be taken in by the nuns at the orphanage, where I was raised until I turned eighteen."

His curiosity got the best of him, and he asked, "Have you ever tried to contact your father?"

You nodded quietly, a hint of sadness flickering across your features as you recalled the memories of your youth. "Yes, Herr Hoffmeister," you replied softly. "When I was young, I sent a letter to him, hoping to establish some connection. But I heard nothing back. Later, I learned that he had married a peasant girl and started a family of his own."

Karl's expression darkened at the mention of your father's lack of response, a flicker of anger flashing in his gray eyes. "I'm sorry to hear that," he said quietly, his voice tinged with regret. "It must have been difficult for you, reaching out only to be met with silence."

You nodded, a wistful smile playing at the corners of your lips. "It was, Herr Hoffmeister," you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. "But I let it go. I lived in the orphanage until I turned eighteen, and then I came here, looking for a job. The old butler spoke to you on my behalf, and you graciously allowed me to become one of the housemaids."

Karl listened intently to your words, his gaze drifting away for a moment as he processed the information. But when he turned back to you, there was a hint of uncertainty in his eyes as he asked, "And you've been serving me ever since?"

You nodded, a sense of pride evident in your voice as you replied, "Yes, Herr Hoffmeister. It has been an honor to serve you and to take care of all your needs."

Karl looked away, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions as he questioned whether your loyalty was truly genuine. "But would you be willing to take care of me, of all my needs?" he asked hesitantly, his baritone voice betraying a hint of vulnerability.

You frowned slightly at his question, unsure of what he was getting at. "Yes, of course, Herr Hoffmeister," you replied earnestly, your voice filled with determination. "I am here to serve you in any way that I can."

Karl's gaze softened at your response, and he reached out to take your hand in his, pressing it gently against his chest as he searched your eyes for reassurance. "All my needs?" he pressed, his voice barely above a whisper.

You blushed at the implication of his words, understanding what he was asking. Unable to meet his gaze, you looked away briefly before meeting his eyes once again, your cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "Yes, all your needs," you affirmed, your voice steady despite the embarrassment that coursed through your veins.

Karl's expression softens further, his gray eyes filled with a mixture of longing and vulnerability as he pulls you closer by the wrist he's holding. His touch is surprisingly gentle as he brings his other hand to cup your face, his thumb brushing lightly against your cheek.

His voice falls into a low, husky cadence as he asks you to answer to his need now. "Do you mean that, [Your Name]?" Karl's voice is barely above a whisper, filled with a desperate hopefulness.

You meet his gaze, your heart racing with a mixture of fear and excitement. His vulnerability surprises you, but there's something in his eyes that draws you closer, despite the implications of his request. "Yes, Herr Hoffmeister," you reply softly, your voice trembling slightly. "I am here to serve you."

Karl's grip tightens slightly on your chin, his gaze intense as he leans closer, his lips hovering just inches from yours. "Then kiss me," he murmurs, his voice a mere whisper against your lips.

You hesitate for a moment, your heart pounding in your chest as you meet his gaze. But then, with a newfound resolve, you lean forward, closing the distance between you as you press your lips against his.

At first, the kiss is tentative, hesitant, as if both of you are unsure of what to expect. But then, as the seconds pass, the kiss deepens, becoming more urgent, more passionate. Karl's hand moves from your chin to the back of your neck, pulling you closer as he deepens the kiss even further.

The warmth of his lips against yours sends a shiver of desire coursing through your veins, igniting a fire deep within your soul. You respond eagerly, your hands moving to tangle in his gray hair as you lose yourself in the intensity of the moment.

For a brief, fleeting moment, nothing else exists except the two of you, lost in each other's embrace. And as you pull away, breathless and flushed with desire, you realize that nothing will ever be the same again.

Karl's gray eyes are dark with longing as he admits in a husky voice, "I want to take you to my bed today, [Your Name]."

Your heart races at his words, your cheeks flushing with excitement as you nod eagerly, your desire mirroring his own. Karl's touch is surprisingly gentle as he caresses your face, his thumb brushing lightly against your cheek as he studies your expression.

In a moment of vulnerability, Karl's gaze drifts to your lips before he gathers his courage to ask, "Are you... a virgin, [Your Name]?" His voice is soft, tinged with a hint of uncertainty as he waits for your response.

You blush at the question, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and excitement as you shake your head. "No, Herr Hoffmeister," you admit quietly, your voice barely above a whisper. "I... I'm sorry."

But Karl's response surprises you. Instead of expressing disappointment or disapproval, he simply smiles and says, "It's alright, [Your Name]. I don't mind." His words are filled with understanding and acceptance, easing the tension that had been building inside you.

Then, with a note of anticipation in his voice, Karl questions, "Do you... want this? Want to go to bed with me, [Your Name]?" His eyes search yours, longing to hear your answer, to know that you desire him as much as he desires you.

You meet his gaze with unwavering determination, the fire of desire burning brightly in your eyes as you confess, "Yes, Herr Hoffmeister. For a long time, I've thought about it, imagined what it would be like to be taken care of by you, just as you took care of Mrs. Hoffmeister."

Karl's heart swells with a mixture of desire and affection at your words, his hands trembling slightly as he lets go of your face and rises from the bathtub. Moving away from you, he looks momentarily irritated as he says, "Don't mention her, Fräulein. I don't want to think about the fact that she left me for another man."

You nod apologetically, understanding the pain that Karl must be feeling at the mention of his estranged wife. As Karl dries himself off with a towel, he orders you to follow him, and you do so obediently as he leaves the bathroom and heads towards the bedroom.

The anticipation hangs thick in the air as you enter the bedroom together, the tension between you palpable as you both prepare to take the next step in your relationship. His gaze lingers on your simple maid's dress, the fabric clinging to your curves in all the right places, accentuating your beauty in a way that sends a shiver of desire down his spine. He can feel his pulse quicken with each passing moment, his arousal evident as he takes in the sight of you standing before him.

With a husky voice, Karl murmurs, "Fräulein, come closer." His words are a command, filled with a raw intensity that leaves no room for hesitation. You obey without question, stepping closer to him until you're standing just inches apart, the heat of his body radiating against your skin.

Karl's hands move to your waist, pulling you flush against him as he leans down to capture your lips in a searing kiss. His lips are demanding, hungry, as he claims you with a passion that leaves you breathless and wanting more.

And as Karl's lips claim yours in a passionate kiss, you feel the unmistakable prickle of his mustache against your skin, sending a thrill of excitement coursing through your veins. You relish the sensation, savoring the feeling of his rough facial hair against your soft lips, a tantalizing reminder of his masculinity.

But as the kiss deepens, you break away, holding his shoulders firmly as you gaze into his gray eyes with unwavering determination. His naked form stands before you, still slightly damp from the bath you had given him earlier, his baritone voice filled with desire as he watches you intently.

With deliberate movements, you caress his shoulders, feeling the tension melt away beneath your touch. Your hands glide down to his chest, tracing the contours of his muscular frame before slowly falling to your knees in front of him, maintaining eye contact as you do so.

Karl's breath catches in his throat as he watches you, anticipation evident in his gaze as he waits for you to take the next step. His half-hard cock twitches with desire, but you deliberately ignore it for now, focusing instead on pleasing him in other ways.

As you settle at his feet, your hands trail up his thighs, the fabric of your simple maid's dress brushing against his skin. You can feel the heat radiating from his body, his arousal evident as you continue to tease him with your touch.

With a coy smile, you look up at him, your eyes shining with mischief as you ask in a husky voice, "Herr Hoffmeister, may I take care of your needs?" Your words are filled with promise, a hint of anticipation laced with desire as you await his response.

Karl's breath hitches at your question, his gray eyes dark with desire as he nods eagerly, his voice thick with arousal. "Yes, Fräulein," he murmurs, his voice husky with need. "Please, take care of me."

With a wicked grin, you lean forward, your lips brushing against the sensitive skin of his inner thigh as you trail kisses along his flesh. You can feel his pulse quicken beneath your touch, his breath coming in shallow gasps as you tease him mercilessly.

But you're not done yet. With a slow, deliberate motion, you run your hands up his thighs, bypassing his aching cock as you reach for his hips. Karl's groan of frustration only spurs you on, your lips curling into a wicked smile as you revel in the power you hold over him.

With practiced ease, you massage his hips, your fingers digging into his flesh as you work to relieve the tension that has built up within him. Karl's grip tightens on your shoulders, his baritone voice filled with desperation as he pleads with you to give him what he craves.

The hunger in Karl's gray eyes grows more intense, his baritone voice thick with desire as he watches you with unabashed longing. The sight of you, dressed in your simple maid's attire, on your knees before him ignites a fire within him, driving him to the brink of madness with need.

But even in this vulnerable position, it's clear to karl that you hold all the power. Your wicked grin, your teasing touch, they all serve to remind him that it's you who dictates the pace, you who decides how far this will go.

And yet, Karl can't help but feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of surrendering control to you. With a low growl of desire, he reaches down to grasp your chin, his thumb brushing lightly against your lips as he murmurs in a husky voice, "You have me completely at your mercy, Fräulein. But I warn you, I'm not easily tamed."

Your eyes sparkle with mischief as you meet his gaze, your lips curling into a wicked smile as you reply, "Oh, I'm well aware of that, Herr Hoffmeister. But don't worry, I like a challenge."

With that, you lean forward, your lips trailing a path of fire along his inner thigh as you inch closer and closer to your ultimate goal. Karl's pulse quickens with each teasing touch, his heart racing with anticipation as he feels your lips inch closer to his aching cock.

And then, finally, your lips closed around him, your mouth hot and wet as you took him deep within your throat. Karl's head fell back in ecstasy, his gray eyes fluttering shut as he surrendered himself to the pleasure of your touch.

With each expert flick of your tongue, each gentle suckle of your lips, Karl felt himself spiraling further and further into a blissful haze of desire. Your mouth was pure heaven, a sinful delight that threatened to consume him whole as you worked your magic on him.

But Karl wasn't content to simply be a passive participant in this dance of pleasure. With a low growl of desire, he reached down to grasp your hair, guiding you with gentle but firm pressure as he set the rhythm of your movements.

The feeling of your lips wrapped around him, your tongue swirling and dancing with wicked intent, was enough to drive Karl to the edge of sanity. His breath came in ragged gasps, his chest heaving with the effort to contain the overwhelming tide of pleasure that threatened to consume him.

As he felt himself nearing the brink of ecstasy, he abruptly pulled away, leaving you gasping for more as he instructed you to disrobe and recline upon the bed. Eager to feel him within you, you wasted no time in complying with his command, swiftly removing your garments and lying back upon the bed, your body pulsating with anticipation.

Karl watched intently as you shed each piece of clothing, his gray eyes dark with desire as he took in the sight of your naked form. He admired the way your curves beckoned to him, the softness of your skin inviting him to explore every inch of your body.

Once you were fully undressed and lying on the bed, Karl moved closer, his hands trembling with need as he reached down to caress his own throbbing cock. His baritone voice was thick with desire as he spoke, his words sending a shiver of excitement down your spine.

"Now, meine liebe, I want to feel you around me," Karl murmured, his voice husky with lust as he positioned himself between your legs. "But first, I need to prepare you for me."

With a wicked grin, Karl leaned down to press a gentle kiss to your lips before trailing kisses down your neck and chest, his lips leaving a trail of fire in their wake. As he reached your breasts, he took each nipple into his mouth in turn, sucking and nibbling on them with fervent desire.

Your breath hitched at the sensation, your fingers tangling in his gray hair as you arched your back in pleasure. Karl's mustache tickled your skin, adding to the intensity of the sensation as he lavished attention on your sensitive peaks.

But Karl wasn't content to stop there. With a devilish gleam in his eyes, he continued his journey southward, trailing kisses along your stomach and thighs until he reached the apex of your desire. His tongue flicked out to taste your wetness, and you moaned in ecstasy as he teased you with his expert ministrations.

"Oh, Herr Hoffmeister," you gasped, your voice thick with desire as he worshipped you with his mouth. "Please, I need you inside me."

Karl removes his mouth from your pussy, and a soft whimper escapes your lips, craving more of his touch. He doesn't disappoint, his thick fingers soon replacing his tongue as he stretches you open, preparing you for what's to come. With practiced ease, he slides two fingers inside you, his touch sending shockwaves of pleasure coursing through your body.

"Karl," you moan softly, obeying his command to call him by his first name. The sound of his name on your lips is like music to his ears, fueling his desire even further. But he reminds you to keep your voice down, not wanting to wake his son with your passionate cries.

You nod eagerly, squirming on the bed as Karl's fingers explore every inch of you, driving you wild with need. His baritone voice washes over you like a wave of heat as he murmurs, "That's it, meine liebe. Moan my name for me, but remember, quietly."

With each thrust of his fingers, you can't help but moan, the pleasure building to an unbearable intensity. "Karl," you whimper, your voice barely above a whisper as you ride his fingers, craving more of him with each passing moment.

Karl's gray hair brushes against your skin as he leans down to capture your lips in a searing kiss, his mustache tickling your skin as his tongue dances with yours. The sensation sends a jolt of desire straight to your core, driving you closer to the edge of ecstasy with each passing second.

As the heat between you reaches its peak, Karl finally withdraws his fingers, his gaze filled with hunger as he positions himself between your legs. With a wicked grin, he whispers, "Are you ready for me, meine liebe? Ready to take all of me?"

You nod eagerly, your body trembling with anticipation as Karl enters you with a single, powerful thrust. The feeling of him filling you completely is overwhelming, sending waves of pleasure crashing over you in a dizzying whirlwind.

"Karl," you cry out, unable to contain your passion as he moves inside you, each thrust driving you closer and closer to the brink of ecstasy. But you remember his warning and keep your voice low, your moans muffled against his shoulder as you surrender yourself to the pleasure of his touch.

With each thrust, Karl's baritone voice fills the room, urging you on with whispered words of encouragement. "That's it, meine liebe," he murmurs, his voice thick with desire. "Take all of me. Feel me deep inside you."

You cling to him desperately, your nails digging into his back as you ride the wave of pleasure together. And as you reach the pinnacle of ecstasy, you cry out his name one last time, your voice filled with pure bliss as you finally succumb to the overwhelming pleasure that consumes you both.

As Karl continues thrusting, chasing his own climax, you writhe beneath him, your body aching with pleasure as you cling to him desperately. His baritone voice fills the room with a chorus of moans and groans, the sound of his pleasure mingling with your own as you reach the pinnacle of ecstasy together.

With a hoarse moan, Karl finally pulls out, his seed spilling onto your belly in a hot, sticky mess. For a moment, he stays on top of you, his body trapping you against the mattress as he revels in the aftermath of your passionate encounter. Then, with a contented sigh, he rolls off of you and lies next to you with a satisfied smile on his lips.

You lie side by side, panting and spent, your bodies still thrumming with the aftershocks of pleasure. But despite the exhaustion that threatens to consume you, you can't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over you as you bask in the warmth of Karl's embrace.

Feeling a surge of affection, you crawl towards him, pressing your naked body against his as you lay your head on his chest. Karl's arms wrap around you instinctively, pulling you close as he presses a tender kiss to your head.

With a contented sigh, you ask in a soft voice, "Did I manage to meet your needs, Karl?"

Karl's gray eyes sparkle with affection as he gazes down at you, a fond smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Yes, meine liebe," he murmurs, his voice filled with warmth. "You exceeded my every expectation."

Feeling emboldened by his words, you trail a hand down his chest, teasing him with feather-light touches as you whisper in his ear, "Is there anything else you desire, Karl? Anything at all?"

Karl's breath hitches at your touch, his pulse quickening with desire as he meets your gaze with unwavering intensity. "Oh, Fräulein," he murmurs, his voice thick with longing. "I desire nothing more than to lose myself in you, body and soul."

With that, he captures your lips in a searing kiss, his hunger evident as he claims you with a passion that leaves you breathless and wanting more. And as you surrender yourself to the pleasure of his touch once again, you realize that this is only the beginning of your journey together.

Translation:

"meine liebe" - my love

"Herr Hoffmeister" - Mr. Hoffmeister

"Fräulein" - Miss (or young woman, typically used to address an unmarried woman)

[rottenpumpkin13]

Everyone saying Zack will come in and save Aerith but just imagine:

The scene is set, Sephiroth is descending, Cloud panics, feathers are falling, Aerith is ready, it’s so over and then BAM!

GENESIS DRAMATICALLY SWOOPS IN LAST MINUTE, FABULOUS AS EVER, HERO OF THE DAWN, HEALER OF WORLDS,

HE FIGHTS SEPHIROTH OFF AND JUST SAYS

“Surprise bitch. Bet you thought you’d seen the last of me!”

I WISH T—T

To be honest that's not too far off from what I think could happen. If the timelines are bound to merge at some point, it could very well be at a pivotal moment in the story, like Aerith's death.

Plus that scene in the new trailer where Marlene is telling Zack that "a scary man" is going to kill her when she wakes up is a huge indication that Zack is going to find out about the original timeline (And Sephiroth) and one will have some influence offer the other :[

Also, I'm a believer that Genesis will appear in some way. Everything is lining up for him to appear, whether that's through mentions, flashbacks, or—fingers crossed—a full appearance where he hopefully is able to team up with Zack and comatose Cloud and help them (a girl can dream).

I don't think Aerith is going to live though :[ The arbiters of fate are there for that reason. Unless it's a case of "a life for a life" and the person who saves her ends up sacrificing themselves in order to maintain the balance.

Then let's call this a crack theory and say that is the case.....that scene of yours is a little haunting isn't it? Minerva didn't let Genesis die because he hadn't fulfilled his duty as a SOLDIER, then what happens when he does?

I'm not going to say that I genuinely think Genesis is going to sacrifice himself to save Aerith in specific (mainly because I still don't think Aerith will live) but him sacrificing himself in general doesn't sound too crazy. After all this is the final act of Loveless:

Even if the morrow is barren of promises;

Nothing shall forestall my return;

To become the dew that quenches the land;

To spare the sands, the seas, the skies;

I offer thee this silent sacrifice.

[cozypancakes]

I'm the lengthy anon from yesterday. I'm so glad you didn't mind me rambling in your inbox. I have no one to talk to about this show. There is no real fandom, and my friends haven't watched it yet. :/

But yeah, if I think too much about Peter's and Jim's relationship, I want to cry. Obviously, from Peter's point of view, Jim writing the article was utter betrayal. Peter idolized his dad, and Jim was so right when he said Peter hasn't even gotten to know his dad or see his flaws. I would personally also cut ends with him. He was the only adult figure left in Peter's life, and just like his dad, he betrayed him, not even privately, but he dragged his family in public.

But I can't fault Jim too much for it, his best friend did something terrible and he tried to cope with that in the only way he knew, by writing this article. I don't think he regretted it in the beginning. He probably thought Peter would come around later, but after years passed by, I do believe he would have done it differently. I think he also reached out to Peter after the Metro Bombing. He wouldn't have his number, but he would have sent a card at least.

What I find the saddest part is that both of them believe Peter Sr dying in a car crash that could have been a suicide attempt. I don't doubt Jim was angry at his best friend taking the easy way out. He was already convinced Pete was guilty. And now his best friend's son was all alone. They only had each other in that time, and then bam, the rift happened because both of them are too stubborn to see the situation from the other's perspective.

When Travers revealed that it was an assassination, you could see it on Peter's face that he had a moment where he was relieved, I guess. Despite strongly believing in his fathers innocence, there was probably doubt in his mind, and that doubt got louder and louder over the years. Him getting the closure his dad didn't just leave him alone because he was guilty. It must have been such a relief. I know Travers told him that the fate of his father will never reach the public, but with Jim back in his life, sorta, I want to believe he told him about it. Jim deserves this closure as well, despite him telling Peter his father's actions don't matter when it comes to Peter, but that was his best friend.

I also think Peter's blind idolization is the reason he became a night agent in the end, despite not really wanting to. After getting the confirmation his dad wasn't the bad guy, Peter felt like he had to continue his legacy. Making his dad proud, continue what he started. His dad was the reason he joined the FBI, and he's the reason he's a night agent. I just hope he won't face the same fate as him. (Sorry, this was even longer than yesterday)

OH MY GOD! I love you and all these night agent thoughts anon!!! I feel the exact same way about not having anyone to nerd out about this show with. Please, either keep the anon messages coming or reach out in DMs. I'd love to discuss more.

You are so right about Jim having a lot to process. I'd need to go back in the show, but it sounds like Jim became Peter's guardian after his father died. And if the article came out when Peter was about to go off to college, that would put them at 2-3 years of having lived together when Jim published that article. Like, yeah, I'd be a pretty pissed at Pete too, especially if he suspected it was a suicide. Not only is your best friend gone but now you're solely responsible for taking care of this teenager who had already lost his mom. I'm sure Jim started off investigating with the desperate hope that he would find proof that Pete was innocent, as much for Peter as for himself. But then he found the exact opposite and felt duty bound to report it. Like, hello Peter, you're both so honor/duty bound to your profession or your own idea of justice and don't even realize it!

(oh god, oh god, super sad, random thought but...no one was there to see Peter graduate college...I mean, Jim probably went and watched from afar but for all Peter knew, he was all alone that day).

I agree that Peter must have felt a little relief knowing it at least wasn't a suicide. Even knowing that it wasn't a random chance accident. Like there's a clear bad guy in this story now. Someone Peter can channel all his anger towards and take down.

I know the show will probably go down the patriotic, propaganda line of "no, it's just a few corrupt people. The institution is great. USA rules!" But, realistically imo, being a full night agent would just bring Peter face to face with more of the US's shady business and inhumane actions across the world. I really hope at the least S2 makes Peter confront his instinct to obey orders blindly with his need to do good and be good.

[tinandabin]

Helloooo ( ꈍᴗꈍ)

Im inlove with the way you write so I wanted to request something

Can you please do yandere kokushibou headCanons? oneshot is also fine

Also Fem reader please if not gn is also fine ^^

Take careeee

Thank you!! I hope you will like this. :))

Yandere Kokushibo--

As he is a demon he is going to be very possessive. If he could he might as well allow you to breath only in his presence.

He was jealous of Yoriichi if I remember so expect him to be very jealous and maybe sometimes insecure of you liking someone else.

Though, don't forget he is a demon plus a yandere. And the second strongest demon.

And whosoever you would have feelings for should be dead. Maybe he will even make you watch him kill the person you liked.

Not the best with words, very relatable, but when he does speak it's either pure stupidity or the wisest words. There is no in-between.

Cuddly. Very cuddly. Cute. I hate how he can CUTE or HOT or HANDSOME or BEAUTIFUL whenever he wants.

Do you realise how unfair that is.

Would let you take care of his hair. His hair can be so soft AND THEY ARE LONG TOO.

I would like to order a kokushibo, please.

Punishments? Except for him to not feed you anything or eat a human in front of you. Or maybe torture someone you like right in front of you!

Whether it be a family member, a friend or a pet.

He better not touch the pet otherwise I will be coming for him with my death note.

Would 100% steal money from Douma to buy you expensive items and clothes.

Spoiled.

Though, I don't think you should accept the gifts. Idk, maybe it would seem like he did so much for you and you're just gonna leave him like that??

Whether you take the gift or not, don't leave.

Let's say you manage to escape his gaze which stays on you 24/7 and is always cuddling you.

Run to the OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD. PLEASE BE READY WITH A CROSS, A BIBLE AND HOLY WATER.

Would kill anyone that comes in his way while he is searching for you. Probably easier to tick off, which Douma does.

BUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT DOUMA.

And when he does manage to capture you again. I'm sorry. You might as well announce yourself dead to the world because you will never be seen again.

I really, really, REALLY, hate Stockholm Syndrome.

But I feel like it's bound to happen when there's only one person you can interact with who doesn't even speak much and is a demon.

He would secretly be cheering for you to get Stockholm Syndrome.

Where did he find out about this?

Douma, of course.

That shit had to make this situation worse for you. :/

And then you can see Kokushibo staying with you for weeks on end, LITERALLY, he never left your sight, neglecting his duties.

Bam! All of a sudden he left you all alone??? Dude, what the fuck. You are my only source of entertainment and you left me to rot???

And the fact you could be dead and I won't know and would rot here???

Hello???

Then Stockholm Syndrome hits you like a truck and you are just softly crying as Douma has to physically restraint Kokushibo to come right there to comfort you.

A big softie. A BIG SOFTIE.

BUT,,,

A big MEANIE ALSO.

Muzan would probably use you to threaten Kokushibo.

That's all I have thought of this.

MASTERLIST

[notyetbulletproof]

It breaks my heart that Kate thought that Anthony might propose to her (out of duty and because they got caught) and the fear of what she would have to tell her sister and how hurt Edwina would be coupled with the heartbreak she didn’t quite understand when he proposed to someone else.

And we all know why he did it and also how he wasn’t ready to choose love. He was running scared then. Still heartbreaking as all heck though. And to keep hoping she’ll do something to make you take it back or change your course. Like boy, just tell her you love her.

But to her, perhaps he chose right. Duty and honour but not for her sister. Edwina deserved love. And when Anthony replies her confrontation of what happened between then in the library with “would that have been the outcome you desired”, she immediately says no (lies) and they both proceed to lie to themselves again. Anthony feels he made the right choice for all. He protects everyone’s feelings and tells himself Kate doesn’t love him and then their hearts just do the opposite.

Then the Sheffields and Edwina’s feelings further complicate things as they were bound to and bam it’s a circus.

But after that when he proposes to her for real, of course she thinks it’s duty. They didn’t get caught this time but he’s a man of honour. She’s a lady and he’s a gentleman. And she’s too caught up in denying herself what she wants this time out of punishment. She is still punishing herself and wallowing in misery (shoutout to Benny B with the truth bombs) because she doesn’t feel worthy of love and this time it’s Kate running scared and Anthony calls it out.

So at that final dance when they’re both finally sick of running and honest with each other AND THEMSELVES, it’s perfect. No more 2 steps forward and 5 back thing. Just forward. Together.

[mermaidsirennikita]

Do you have any recommendations that are more aligned with show Kate/Anthony than the book version (e.g. emotional affair, forbidden love vibes versus romcom)?

Yeah, sure!

I've said it before and I'll say it again--show!Kate/Anthony is more like Westcliff/Lillian from It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas. They definitely have their funny moments, but there's also a lot of angst due to him being very duty-bound and stuff and her being a freewheeling American heiress who let him see her in her underwear that one time he can't.stop.thinking.about. Also, you know, a Kleypas Klassic last minute wrench in the machine, courtesy of **God's Favorite Idiot*** Sebastian St. Vincent.

Lorraine Heath does forbidden love and angst EXCELLENTLY. Imo, the angstiest books I've read by her are still The Earl Takes All (man impersonates his identical twin for the sake of twin's pregnant widow, she takes a frighteningly long time to catch on) and ugh, peak angst, Waking Up with The Duke (practical but Super Good In Bed duke agrees to get his best friend's wife pregnant because he's basically responsible for the accident that caused the friend's impotency). Waking Up with The Duke is.... Jesus, that shit is angsty. And good. And angsty and good. Before they have the first time, she's just lying there because she expects it to be a wham bam thank you ma'am situation, and when she realizes he's about to go down on her it's like??? So emotional??? Weirdly? Because he wants it to be good for her even though it's something both of them have SUPER complex feelings about? Anyway, hOT.

The Prince of Broadway by Joanna Shupe. The heroine is a rebellious heiress who wants to own her own casino (for ladies!) and enlists a corrupt casino owner into teaching her the tricks of the trade. But he's actually trying to ruin her father due to a serious Traumatic Childhood Enemies situation.

It's been a whiiiile since I read Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt, but from what I recall the heroine is engaged to another man when she begins an affair with the hero? Lots of sex behind closed doors, angst. You'll absolutely hate her brother in that one, which is why it's most excellent when his book, Duke of Midnight, involves him falling in love with the lady's companion of the woman he's courting and going absolutely FERAL for her. Y'all think Anthony in s2 was bad? Maximus Batten is LEGITIMATELY INSANE.

Also, The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt does a great forbidden love moment when the upper crust heroine falls in love with steward of her lands. He fucks hard, it's great. The Raven Prince really has some forbidden love tones too; the earl in it falls for his secretary, and they feel like they can't be together for various reasons... But she also puts a mask on and pretends to be a sex worker at his favorite brothel so they end up fucking.

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas has a maidenly writer who's engaged to another man fall for a ruthless casino owner who thinks he just isn't good enough for her and tries to ward her off while also saying shit like "you've left me like a drawn dog". (What is a drawn dog, she asks? It's a male dog that's gotten pulled off a female dog midfuck. Him saying that shit was so gross and it LIT MY BODY ON FIRE.)

The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne. Doesn't get much angstier or forbidden or fucked up than Dorian Blackwell and Farah. Forced marriage! Hidden identities! Fucking while holding back the EXTREME FEELINGS!

Daring and The Duke by Sarah MacLean. I'd recommend reading the previous two books in the series for full impact, but yeah. Obsessive duke. The woman he wounded years ago. So much longing and separation leading back to their reunion.

[bambino1294]

Seri’s brother: She’s dead

Seung-Joon, staring right at her: 👁👄👁 Dead?

Me: finishes one of three PowerPoints I need to catch up on

Also me: I think I deserve some CLOY

[heresathreebee]

Dirty Water

Benny 'Borracho' Magalon x Robyn Banks (Black!OC)

Summary: Robb met a couple of shady characters calling themselves cops. Well it just so happens they are, and they're worse than she first thought.

Masterlist

Word count: 2.5k words

Rating/Warning(s): +16 Mature | kidnapping, mild torture, tied up, wanna be clear: IRL I do not condone hooking up with a person who kidnapped you or was complicit in kidnapping you, it just don't work out like that in reality

AN: so basically I'm gonna write and post this in whatever order I please, then go back and figure it out later. Since my brain has jumped back on the Pascal bandwagon, it's hard to focus outside of his body of work but I'm still coming back to this story with relative ease.

Just when she'd started to warm up again, a another shower of ice cold mop water was pitched over her head. Robyn sputtered and coughed, trying not to swallow the suds in her mouth or let them see her cry to keep the dirt out of her eyes. From the shadows that danced beyond her eyelids, she could tell the alleged cop who called himself Nick was crouching in front of her. 

"Last chance, sweetheart," the dirty cop said. "Tell me how you know Tony D'Onofrio." 

Fuck. 

Seven years ago, two federal agents walked in on officer Robyn Banks being sentenced to traffic duty. She didn't mind– she was fed up with the secrets her colleagues were forcing her to keep anyways. Maybe stepping down could help her clear her head, maybe give her time to compartmentalize those events and feelings. Only now could she say that the rest of her career was already out of her hands. 

"Those agents on that file? They approached me about D'Onofrio. Said he was my moby dick. Made a big deal about 'justice' and 'law and order' and 'the sanctity of the badge." Robyn spit more mop water onto the floor and continued, "I told them I didn't know what the fuck it had to do with me and they just sorta looked at each other." 

The blond man– Nick called him Z, she thinks– crossed his arms. "Quit jerkin us around, Banks, get to the fucking point." 

Nick held up a hand. "Easy, tiger. I asked for a story and that's what I'm hearing. Keep going, Robbie." 

Robyn scowled on the inside. "They told me he was my father. More like a sperm donor than anything, he probably didn't even know I was alive." 

"Now that is interesting," Nick purred. 

He cut the zip tie binding her arm to the rolly chair and handed her a towelette to wipe her eyes. She dared not reach for the tie on her other arm, lest her captors think she's pulling a move to escape. Instead she dabbed the sweat and mop water that soaked into the skin of her neck and face to pause and think about her next words. 

"That was the basis of the deal. I join their investigation undercover, see if I can get somewhere with my connection, and help them put one of the biggest crime bosses on this side of the coast away for good. In exchange, I get to call the shots, they'd put in a good word with my CO and elevate me to detective status instead of beat cop." 

"Thought you liked being a beat cop," the one in the silk flamingo shirt said. 

"Apparently nobody believes that." 

"So," Nick steepled his fingers beneath his aquiline nose in thought, "your end of the deal wasn't even your idea? How does that work?" 

"Sounds like she got something else out of it," the bald man in the white polo accused. 

Robyn glared at him, but she didn't contradict him. If she wanted to be listened to, she needed to stay calm. Stay calm, stay alive. Go home with the minimal amount of PTSD. 

"Do you want me to tell you what happened or not?" When nobody raised any more objections, she continued. "I agreed to their terms. Next I know, I'm climbing the criminal ladder, dropping bread crumbs about my parentage, two years goes by, yada yada yada, and then bam. I have a meeting with the heir apparent to the Italian mafia. 

"At that meeting I told Tony D'Onofrio he knew my mother and that I knew they had been dating around the time I was born–" 

"Conceived–" 

"Yeah that– he stared at me for so long I forgot how to breathe and then… he… believed me." 

A pin dropped somewhere in the empty parking garage. A dog barked wildly a mile away but could still be heard in the silence that followed. Robyn still couldn't believe he'd bought it either. 

"He just… believed you," Nick said skeptically. 

Robyn could do nothing but shrug. "I never got the details, I couldn't ask my mom about it and Tony never gave me any indication that he knew about me before that meeting. He just asked me what I wanted and did it." 

Nick dragged his eyes over her form, shivering and glistening, and then-- "what did you ask him?" 

Robyn felt her eyes gloss over as she tried to remember what mysterious force compelled her to say the exact right words. "I told him all I wanted was for him to know, to see him with my own eyes and know he was real. I said I didn't need any favors or special treatment. I just needed some closure." 

That was all. And the agents had been fucking furious with her. They had accused her of using them, of being a traitor and a spy for D'Onofrio or a mastermind cat-woman type villain and all manner of other terrible things. They were ready to pull the plug on the whole operation when Tony had offered her a better job. A job where she would come face- to- face with every schmoe on Tony's payroll. 

"Tony offered me a job 'running errands.' Not quite in his inner circle but higher in his ranks than I had any business being," Robyn said. "Most of the people doing these jobs were kids, easy to get around the city undetected and reliable. Now he knew I wasn't a kid but I guess he wanted to see more from me, put his best eyes on me to see if I was legit." 

Nick nodded and stood up (his knees popping like broken branches). He walked over to Murphy in the flamingo shirt and passed a few inaudible words between them. Robyn wasn't skilled in the art of lip reading, and failed to catch anything from Murphy except the word 'pointless.' It rubbed her the wrong way, sending a spark of fear through her that quickly dulled back into the numbness of being helplessly bound to a chair. She needed to finish this soon before she completely cracked. 

Nick returned to her side, chasing some pepto bismol with a flask of what smelled like tequila in it. "That's a very sweet story, Robbie, really it is. But… what I wanna know is why you're not in this file." 

"That's not what you asked me," she griped, then backpedaled into, "I'm trying to tell you why I'm not in the file. But in order to tell you that, I have to tell you what was left out of the file first. I'm getting to the point, I just… there's a lot of shit to sift through." 

Nick nodded like a patient father (yeah, right). "Just the good parts then." 

"Yeah," she nodded quickly, "just the good parts..." 

"The good parts, uhm. Well he did learn to trust me. I barely had to do anything just… let him try to kindle a relationship between us. I started calling him dad at his request, nobody bothered me or questioned me after that and I didn't abuse it, expect on the downlow giving info to the feds. He liked that about me– he liked me. We'd talk about my mom and he'd let his guard slip, started taking me to his meetings and asking me to deliver his important paperwork." 

"I let him think I was with him and documented everything I could for six more years." In truth, she had had some doubts. About putting him away and the vacuum of power it would create, about the dichotomy of good versus evil, about her career. In that last year, she had actually warmed to the idea of becoming a detective and getting to do work with her own moral backbone and not someone else's. "We made the arrest January 19th and put him away for a dime." 

Nick leaned so far forward in his chair Rob had to lean back. "This is the part where you wrap it up, sweetcheeks." 

Robyn gulped. "Gomer and Valentine pushed me out. They'd been acting really strange at the end, wearing these shit eating grins and looking at each other, and then they iced me out. Had me fired on the grounds that I was too close to the perp, used a fucking Christmas photo for evidence. There went the Italian mob's heir and seven years of hardwork, and I wouldn't even be mentioned by name in the case file. No testimony, no credit, just a dishonorable discharge and dumped on my ass in the streets." 

"Wow." Nick rubbed a hand down his face like he was the exhausted one. "That's quite the story, princess." 

He looked at each of his mates, every face stonier than the last. Especially the silent one's, the latino guy. Then he looked back at Robyn and smiled with a lot of teeth. 

"I do have some questions though, if you'll let me." Sure like I have a choice. "Now it wasn't public knowledge you were in on the investigation, but I find it hard to believe your dad's lackeys didn't know it was you who turned him in. And what I find even harder to believe is that they'd let you live for it." 

Robyn said nothing. There was a part of her that didn't quite grasp it either. When she had arrested him, when she'd slapped the cuffs on him herself and read him his Miranda rights, after the shock of her betrayal wore off, Tony had congratulated her. 

"I'm proud of you, kid. You may be a narc but at least you got your head straight. You got guts, kid." 

As far as she understood it, his last order as the leader of the mafia was not to harm her in any way. Nobody bothered her. They still knew her face on the streets, sent glares her way but never touched her. One of his underlings had come to her place and suggested she skip town permanently just to be safe. It was not a courtesy she ever expected from anyone let alone a man with a reputation for high profile robbery and murder. 

She didn't know what to expect. "I guess he really did love me." And Nick left it at that. 

~

Robyn was unbound, blindfolded, and dumped right back onto the street those so called cops had snatched her from. Her legs shook as she walked the last block to her place, utterly miserable and in desperate need of some sleep. Maybe tomorrow she could figure out what the fuck her life had come to. She showered (and cried) and picked up the half drunk beer from her fridge and brought it out on her front steps, taking a sip of the flat beverage and wishing it was something stronger. 

People passed below her on the streets, never once looking up. The traffic never disappeared but it did lull this time of night. She didn't mean to– barely noticed she was doing it– but she found a pack of cigarettes in her overcoat and lit one up. 

"Next time," she promised herself. I'll try to quit next time. 

Just as she was beginning to ease the tension that had been weighing on her all night, a man climbed the steps to her building and pointedly slowed down to a stop a few feet away from her. She chanced a glare at him and found him no stranger which was somehow infinitely worse. 

"Fuck off," her nerves got the better of her, "I told you everything, can't I at least get some sleep first?!" 

The man lifted his hands in defense, carrying a bottle in a brown bag in one of them. He was, well, he was the handsome one. The Cuban with the neck tattoo and broad shoulders. His eyes seemed a lot softer now Despite the dark setting. 

"Swear on my life, I'm not here for Nick." He took a single step up, waiting to see how she'd react, and when she didn't run, he took another and set the covered bottle down next to her before backing off. Still skeptical, Robyn carefully unwrapped the thing, revealing an expensive looking wine label. Dark red. "It's an apology," he explained with his hands in his pockets, "Nick thinks he's this big, clever actor but he can be a real bully when he drinks." 

Robyn gave him the 'do I look like an idiot' eyebrow and he had the decency to look at his feet. "We could really use your help with this, Banks. Nick forgot to mention the part where Tony was put on parole for good behavior. He'll be out tomorrow." 

"He what." That's just the thing isn't it? The case that ended her career permanently and he just got to walk off after only serving two years of his sentence. That was the real crime here. Robyn gritted her teeth, gripped the neck of the bottle and squeezed. She started shaking it like it was her criminal father, or the weasel federal agents who took her credit, or the dirty cops who kidnapped her tonight. 

Borracho looked concerned. "Do you need a corkscrew or– " 

Robyn shrugged off her jacket and looked him dead in the eye as she wrapped it around the base of the bottle and gently banged it on the porch step until the cork exploded into the air (along with a third of the bottle's contents but whatever). Borracho raised a hand to protect his face from the spray, and turned away to hide a silly grin. 

"Nevermind," he said, shaking the excess drink off his hand. "Listen, if he calls you about anything, please let us know." 

He pointed to the bag, which had a phone number on it. "Don't let your work be in vain." 

"You try that line on everybody?" Rob was feeling a little facetious in the face of mercy, over tired from the revelations, and pissed off by these fucking pigs. "Your good cop, bad cop routine needs some balance. Did you know I was kidnapped today? Now this wine is a start but you'd better step it up, good cop." 

He started to walk away but she called out, "I got Nick, Z, and Murphy. Clocked 'Gus' by the name written on his underwear. Which one are you?" 

"Benny," he threw back, and disappeared into the nighttime traffic. 

"Benny," Rob scoffed. "Cute ass." 

Robb drank the equivalent of two glasses, then passed out from exhaustion. She slept dreamlessly and tried to forget last night had ever happened. Benny, in the meantime, returned to the office where his crew was huddled around a phone receiver. 

"Don't appreciate you throwing me under the bus, B," Nick growled from his seat. 

"Shup up and drink this," Benny pushed the glass of raw eggs closer to his boss' hand, a so called 'hangover cure'. Nick shrunk back a little.

"Told you she'd be sweet on him," Z elbowed Murphy in the ribs and ignored his protesting 'um actually I said that.' 

"Wouldn't call her sweet," Benny said, grunting as he took up residence at his own desk. "She looked like a feral cat." 

Nick laughed. "Yeah well don't go getting mixed up with that pussy, B, we've got work to do." 

It was gonna be another long night for everybody. 

[anangelicday-mrwolf]

Wolfsbane : Noblesse Fanfic  (post-ending)

(previous chapter)

Chapter 51 – Nightmare Walking

Hair originally flaunting glamorous gold now stricken dark purple.

Bare torso marred with purple just as dark.

Atmosphere oh-so-ferocious, ridding the bystanders of any desire to approach, the operative part being the fact that it is from someone who is merely standing with his back visible.

And the building completely tattered into crumbles, an influential addition that renders the entire scene as intimidating as it can be.

Nobody would have stayed standing upon the immediate sight of the isle.

But it was Lunark who was at the scene.

“Frankenstein!”

Her voice even hinted elation as she lunged forward, screeching her sweetheart’s name.

She had been steeling herself for the worst-case scenario – Frankenstein’s death via 3rd Elder’s hand – throughout her marine marathon.

And here she was, confirming how he was at least on his feet, a reason legitimate enough for her to place her emotions above her logics that were suggesting she should first get a picture of what happened here.

Despite her ardent glee that matched that of a wife welcoming a husband back from the war, her body halted when her audience turned around.

There was still a distance between them, but the smile that had bloomed across her countenance froze in awkward distortion.

Her facial muscles were reformed in a violent speed when the lean figure wholly faced her, into those that someone would wear upon running into their parents’ killer.

“...What are you? Don’t even think about playing tricks with your tongue. You’re not Frankenstein. I can tell that you’re not.”

The man looked no different from the time when 1st Elder and 3rd Elder invaded werewolf realm. And from the time when she had met Frankenstein for very first time.

He looked exactly what he looks like whenever he deliberately forfeits the control over the Dark Spear.

Nevertheless, Lunark noticed something has changed, for a reason she could not define herself, the closest excuse being an instinct that would allow a mother bird to recognize her offspring among thousands of fluffy chicks.

With all circumstances put behind, Lunark did not hesitate to sharpen her eyes and lips with belligerence.

“What have you done to Frankenstein?”

That was when her party ended the long silence.

“We did nothing. He brought this on himself.”

We?

Just as I’d thought, the Dark Spear took over his body.

That was one mystery gone, but to Lunark it was simply checking the answer she had on her mind as correct. In other words, the weight in her chest has not been lifted at all.

In fact, the Dark Spear’s claim that Frankenstein was to blame for this added fuel to the concern blazing within her.

“What are you talking about? There’s no way Frankenstein would let this happen.”

“We are just as clueless of the exact reason why. Frankenstein chugged this tonic he’d have more often than water, just like a drug addict doing drug. And this is how things ended up.”

Lunark realized what was the tonic the Dark Spear was mentioning; it must be what Frankenstein had in his silver flask, which she witnessed upon her first visit to this island.

“Not convincing. Frankenstein is more thorough than any other creature I know, especially when it comes to research. He will never make any mistake in managing his own invention. What did you do to him?”

“We can’t deny that we have lots of problem with this world and this guy in particular, but we never lie. When Frankenstein returned from your domain, he briefly talked to that 3rd Elder guy, before he downed the whole cup of the tonic he made in his lab in advance.”

Upon mention of 3rd Elder, Lunark momentarily minced her lips, her rage reminding her that it was still there.

“And then he complained of mind-numbing vertigo, until he fell unconscious like a TV unplugged. At the same time, the iron-hard control he has been maintaining at last broke down.”

From Dark Spear’s mouth slipped a low snicker.

Lunark was now familiar with Frankenstein’s unique devilish laughter, but she has never heard such unpleasant, loathsome laugh.

She felt as if she were witnessing the declaration of war from a devil – no, from disaster itself.

“We have no idea how, but both his body and mind fell into slumber! And now we have full control of his flesh and bones!”

The Dark Spear raised Frankenstein’s head high, and maniacal cackle erupted from his throat; and it raised Frankenstein’s arms and looked around as if showing off what it had done.

“And as you can see, we were free to experiment what we can do. Although we couldn’t get a chance to gain experience from Frankenstein’s roommate. How unfortunate. Perhaps he foresaw that something wicked is coming his way; by the time we could walk around on our own, he was nowhere to be seen.”

At then Lunark’s stony face was struck by thousand chasms.

‘I knew it – he’s behind all this. And he scrammed after flinging a lit match into a barrel of gasoline. I will so not let him get away with this!’

To Lunark’s grimace, she was not given time to plot exactly how she can best beat the guts out of him.

The Dark Spear pointed its hideous crimson eyes, which used to be the most beautiful topaz blue in the world, at the werewolf warrior.

“But look what we have here – a new lab rat that visited on its own feet to substitute him!”

Lunark’s jaw muscles thundered with strain as soon as she processed how things were going.

By now she was supposed to race across the ocean in search of 3rd Elder; alas, she knew there was no way she could walk away from this scene. Instantly she stiffened from head to toe, to go ahead and step backwards.

The Dark Spear crooked the either side of its lips at her response.

“Speaking of which, it’s such a shame that Frankenstein fell in death-like slumber. We’ll miss our chance to make him watch how he will crush his lady by his own hands.”

Lunark happened to be calculating and measuring every option available to break free from her immediate position, hopefully escape unscathed, but Dark Spear’s statement made her brain freeze.

“...What are you saying?”

Asked Lunark in a flustered, desperate, pleading voice, something that should not be pulled out as of now.

Her heart decided to be selfish and outrun her logics.

“Oh? So you had no idea that this guy had feelings for you. Ugh, that reminds us of all those goosebumps we had to suffer. You can’t imagine how much agony and anguish he had assigned himself, weighing for millions of times his affection for you against his duty-slash-standing. And he just had to be a drama queen in the meantime; we were beyond cringed to observe him.”

The enlightenment, thanks to the courtesy of Dark Spear, hit Lunark’s head hard, already half-ridden of its functions, like a lash of a whip upon a skinned body.

‘Frankenstein has feelings for me...?’

Several centuries ago, during a pleasant afternoon outing as a child, her mother discussed how she got to be mates with her daughter’s father.

And she told Lunark that to feel love was to feel how the color of blood paints the heart, of which its color in turn paints one’s vision, which ultimately dyes the world.

Back then Lunark, being an innocent little girl she was, retorted if that means love would make her see the world in red, after the color of her own blood.

Her mother roared with laughter and told her that one day she will understand.

And right now, with her life in undeniable jeopardy, Lunark finally understood what her mother meant.

Her blood and heart and vision were bathed white, like crystal-colored feathers, magically glossing the after-war-like scene into snow white.

Sadly, her ecstasy did not long due to what was about to unfold.

“Anyhow, now it’s time to see how much of despair we can give to a living!”

The Dark Spear spread its palm out wide in a swaggering manner, towards Lunark.

Registering what will promptly follow, Lunark kicked off without thinking.

Bam!!!

Splinters of rocks and dust flew about from the spot Lunark was posted to a mere second ago.

The Dark Spear flung dark purple balls of energy towards the werewolf warrior scurrying here and there in evasion, and each and every last one of Lunark’s teeth ground brutally.

Not long after, Lunark emitted enraged shriek and attempted a counterattack.

“Give him back right now, you bastard!”

Lunark’s fist speared through the air, precisely towards where she wanted.

She had yet to shift into battle form, but she was a werewolf. A race with no superior when it comes to physical strength, and she even came with a proud title of a warrior.

Just when her punch was to do what it was supposed to do, Frankenstein’s eyes were cleared of blood-red haze, to instead pay Lunark a blue gaze buried beneath.

It was too brief to be dubbed a split second, but Lunark’s movement automatically ceased.

And hesitation on a battlefield is bound to end as a fatal error.

“Aaargh!!!”

Dozens of hellish darkness and sharpness pierced through Lunark’s every corporal plane and curve.

She was basically a breathing insect specimen, made immobile in midst of a forest of dark purple spears, too packed to shove even a hand.

“Now this is beyond our expectations.”

The Dark Spear sniggered, swinging the arm it just used to land ruthless blows upon Lunark.

She glared murder at the Dark Spear, as she felt sinister energy spreading throughout her shape through her wounds.

“No need to give us that look. We won’t kill you right now. We had thought of killing Frankenstein’s beloved right on spot, but... Change of plan. We have a better idea.”

Lunark’s heart, captured by anxiety, thumped skittishly within her ribs.

“We’ll be heading to Lukedonia.”

“...What?”

“Frankenstein does have a lot of people he cares for, you included, but his top priority is the Noblesse. Which is not surprising. His greatest fear would be to commit anything that could topple the peace of the Noblesse’s heart. So we would be able to stomp his heart for good if we wreak havoc at the Noblesse’s homeland. After all, physical pain can’t be any more meaningless for him.”

Lunark’s pupils quivered in frenzy, at the sight of an animosity claiming how it will run straight to Lukedonia right now.

“Now excuse us. We have a long way to go. Oh, and it’d be wise not to try anything to get yourself out of there. Thanks to Crombel and pieces of Blood Stone he used to own, our power has more than tripled!”

Leaving behind a sickening smirk, voluptuously sized cloud of dust, and a boom of impact, the slender human frame was gone.

“G-get back here, you...!”

Lunark yelled in alarm; she squirmed in gut reaction, to very soon grunt in pain.

Where she was impaled by dark purple javelins began to release much darker aura.

Of course, she could muster her powers in a flash to destroy all the spears and begin her pursuit.

‘But the Dark Spear is equipped with power that works against healing power, with our endowment of healing power no exception. And the natural-born destructive tendency given to Blood Stone would not leave me unharmed. Which means I’d get to start this battle with a handicap.’

So what?

Are you going to just give up?

It took less than a second for her inner voice to reprimand her, because of which the tremor of her lips was gone.

‘Of course not.’

Lunark shut her eyes for a moment, and the next moment her pink pupils conveyed nothing but determination.

‘Just you wait, Frankenstein. I will save you. Now I know how you feel about me, and though my lord told me to get over you... I’m more generous than you’d think. Generous enough to save my secret admirer’s butt.’

The grey-haired werewolf gnashed her teeth, and her vessels began to thud with resolute pulse.

And then Lunark howled, her hair dispersing with passionate battle spirit, and silver-white pillar of light ejected itself towards heaven.

(next chapter)

Well, there’s one good thing that Dark Spear has done for Frankie and Lunark - it testified that Frankenstein has feelings for Lunark XD. Now that the battles are about to unfold, I will be going back and forth between different places as I make progress with my fic. I’ll do my best to make sure there won’t be any confusion or misunderstanding as you read the future chapters. Hope you’d stay tuned for more!

[sweetcheol]

got7 reaction; their s/o has a cold

aka i have a cold and wish i was their s/o

jaebum.

he’s so caring.

ears perked up the first time you sneezed.

tried not to worry because you tend to sneeze as soon as you get out of bed in the morning. 

but you kept on sneezing as you ate your breakfast.

which you never did.

so by the time he came back home from the studio, he was prepared.

hot tea in a travel cup in hand, he joined you on the couch, where you were snuggling in a fuzzy blanket with a pack of tissues by your side.

“here, you’ll feel so much better,” he says as he hands you the warm drink.

you thank him with a quick peck on the cheek ‘cause you don’t want him to get sick too, but he just responds by cuddling closer to you. 

won’t get away from your side.

cooks you dinner (or he probably just orders some fried chicken) and has a lot of midnight snacks prepared.

u too watch fluffy movies until u both doze off. 

all of the cats cuddle up with u two and it’s just the best thing ever. 

probs wakes up feeling a bit sick too bc he really did refuse to get away from u lol. 

jackson.

ngl he probably freaks a bit at first.

healthy boi isn’t used to being sick.

and since you take care of yourself too, he isn’t used to you being sick.

so u have to constantly remind him that it’s nothing to worry about.

u just left the house without a jacket the other night and caught a cold.

feels kind of bad when he sees u trying to sit away from him on the couch so he won’t get sick.

so he turns to pamper the living shIT out of you. 

lets you not drink the morning shake. 

texts the guys and doesn’t go to practice or the studio so he can be with u the whole day. 

which you appreciate a lot since him spending the day home is rare as he’s a very busy guy. 

tells you a lot of jokes in an attempt to make you laugh.

gets you nearly a thousand cups of warm, organic green tea.

lends you your favorite hoodie of his as you cuddle up in bed.

even breaks his diet a bit by ordering not-so-healthy take out for you and eating it in solidarity.

we stan boyfriend!jackson sm. 

mark. 

the softest bean.

was in practice with the boys when u told him you weren’t going to catch up with them for lunch because you were sick.

you didn’t tell him it was just a small cold so he got super worried.

bolted out of practice and to your apartment.

and even when he saw you weren’t actually dying, he still proceeded to be the sweetest boyfriend ever and took such good care of you.

he ran you a nice, warm bath.

prepared your fluffiest and fuzziest blankets and hugged you so close to him as you play some videogames.

feels bad for you bc he hears you sneezing too much and lets you win <3333. 

sighs and plays with your hair when he feels you nuzzling your face into his neck.

you end up napping for a few hours until you hear some banging on the front door.

turns out it’s the guys trying to make sure you were okay bc mark was supper worried and had told them he just had !!!! to see you because you were sick.

blushes and proceeds to cuddle you even closer to him, if it was even possible.

youngjae.

you weren’t answering your texts and the two of you had kind of gotten into a small argument the night before, so bby boy thought you were mad at him and didn’t want to talk. 

bought you flowers and went over to your apartment to apologize.

found you sleeping on your bed with tear stains all over your cheeks.

and :(((((( thought you were crying bc of him.

so when you woke up he apologized and gave u the bouquet.

but then you told him you were sick.

and he kinda felt relieved but then proceeded to worry abt you. 

sings for you as he cooks you a warm bowl of soup.

and then snuggles the living shit out of you as you binge-watch some random show.

it’s a comedy so he’s laughing the whole time.

and it brings a smile to your face bc his laugh is the most adorable thing ever.

gives you a ton of forehead kisses.

he makes me so soft and i literally can’t thx.

jinyoung.

we know how caring he is with the boys.

so you can just expect him to be just as caring with you.

if not more.

literally spends the whole day by your side.

won’t listen to you as you tell him to go on with his day because it’s just a cold and it’s not like you’re actually gonna die anyways.

no. he sees it as his duty of bf to make sure you’re well-taken care of !!!!! at all times !!!!!

makes sure your tea cup is always full.

gets u a lot of nice snacks.

gets u a brand new tissue pack right next to your bed before u go to sleep so he can close the bathroom door without feeling guilty. 

if there’s anything else u need he gets it for you in record time.

will propose a scary movie marathon.

does it both because he likes scary movies and also because you always end up hugging him for dear life.

bambam.

okay so

it’s kind of his fault that you’re sick.

it’s definitely his fault that you’re sick.

he had been kind of catching a cold for a few days but boy kept on kissing you like everything was fine.

even shared offered you water straight from his bottle when you told him you had left yours at home.

he was just kind of sneezing here and there so u didn’t think he was actually sick.

but then you got sick.

bby bam feels really guilty so he offers to take u shopping.

but u are sick !!!!

so he shops for u while u are taking a nap.

comes back home bearing so many gifts it actually kind of scares you.

he also gets you some flowers bc he’s just devilishly charming.

gets u matching hoodies and u wear them for the rest of the day while u lounge around the house.

bam is lowkey trying to take selfies with u the entire time.

u don’t let him because your nose is red and your eyes are puffy.

“but you’re still so beautiful”

u watch a movie while eating a nice bowl of soup that he tried his best to make.

even looks up recipes online and ends up following a yt video.

is kissing you the entire and doesn’t take a no for an answer.

he literally doesn’t care if he gets sick.

“i’m the reason you’re sick anyways :((((”

yugyeom.

yugyeom.

woke up to find u sneezing while sippin on some tea in the kitchen of your apartment.

u didn’t want to wake him so u left the bed.

but he can’t sleep without u next to him so he was bound to wake up anyways.

gets u to go back to bed with your tea.

and cuddles u under the covers.

doesn’t go back to sleep even when u do.

puts something on tv on like... super low volume and stays awake to check up on you the entire night.

and when it’s morning he tells you he already told the boys he’s not going to practice because he has to take care of you.

cooks you breakfast and the two of you have breakfast in bed.

tbh you don’t really leave the bed much for the whole day.

only when he gets to run you a bath.

bc your muscles were getting a bit sore and you were feeling a bit uncomfortable.

updates the guys on your condition that sounded weird lol.

gets u in a nice fuzzy sweater of his and sings softly in your ear.

low-key laughs when u get one of those particularly harsh sneezes.

hdkjfdgkdshfj i love him.

[act-addict-actors-matchups]

@navi-chan said,

(♡1♡) Hello ˃ᴗ˂ I wanna know who I match up with in A3 Ｏ(≧▽≦)Ｏ I'm a Virgo and IFJT girl living her life at the moment. I know and think things that are apparently weird (idk why) that makes my friends question on what I do when I'm alone (✿◠‿◠). I'm exactly 5 ft for now (still growing), wavy shoulder-length black hair and I have a fair skin tone cuz I don't like the sun too much XD. I love and enjoy to draw and read stories and articles that captivates my interest.

(♡2♡) I like to travel cuz I want to know the place and it's culture especially its art. I also like to sleep cuz whenever I'm alone and have nothing to do I would feel lonely that is why I tend to sleep the loneliness away. And, I love-hate cuddles (don't attack me pls ( ˃̵⌓˂̵)). LOVE cuz I would feel sense of comfort with the person. HATE cuz I feel like the person might disappear or will leave me behind and I would feel lonely again. Well, that's all (❁´▽`❁)

✧ Tumblr is not letting me tag you. 😔 I hope you’ll see this. Honestly, I really wanted to match you with Azuma but ‘I’m still growing part’ made me feel like you’re a minor so I couldn’t. I can be wrong though lol. Sorry for taking so long and thank you for requesting a matchup, love. 💞✨

I’d match you with: . . .

➜ HOW YOU TWO FIRST MET ; It was a hot summer day and for some reason you’ve made it into your personal mission to do random acts of kindness for the people who were a total stranger to you. So far, you’ve helped old people cross the street, helped someone load their groceries and left a copy of that days’s newspaper on your neighbor’s doorstep. You had to admit, it was a productive day and it wasn’t even midday yet! With your accomplishments for the day, you decided to treat yourself something cold, like ice cream or soda. Just the thought itself made you smile. With a nod of your head, you began walking towards the area that had the shops in it. While walking, you caught a glimpse of a boy in front of vending machine, sulking. He was wearing a short sleeved shirt with black and white patterns on it and a black shalwar like leggings. Ah, you knew what the problem was. The vending machines in this area were famous for eating the coins of people. You were a victim of them yourself many, many times. But with some brain power, you managed to come up with a single move that can get the snack or drink you’ve wanted. You were already on a kindness roll so you might as well help another person out. With a smile on your face, you cleared your throat and shot the boy a knowing look. “Allow me.” You have said before hitting a specific spot with your hip and bam! one of the sodas has dropped. Sticking your arm in, you grabbed the cold beverage and tossed it to the boy, who was looking at you with shining eyes. “Eh!? That was so cool! Teach me how to do it!” A giggle escaped from your lips at how enthusiastic he was being. You could basically see a tail behind him, wagging with anticipation. With a small shake of your head, you flashed a knowing grin as you took a coin out of your pocket and popped it into the machine, pressing the numbers of the drink you’ve wanted. You were planning on buying something cold anyway and this was more convenient for you too. And just as you thought, even though the vending machine took your money, it didn’t give you the drink. You hit the machine one more time and grabbed your drink after it fell down. You popped open the can and took a sip, turning your attention to the red head afterwards, you began to explain how hitting that exact spot was important and if he messed it up even just a little, the money would go to waste. With every word left your mouth, he nodded with serious eyes. After you were done, you took another coin and basically sacrificed it. “Alrighty, it’s now your turn. Give it your best shot!” You said before stepping aside and giving the boy a thumbs up. “Yes, ma’am.” He said before hitting the machine and successfully making the can of soda fall. His bright blue eyes lit up as he throw his fist up. “Hey, I did it! I really did it!” “Haha, congratulations. Make sure to use that power for good.” “You can count on me!” After that exchange you two grabbed your cans of sodas and sat on a nearby bench. He told you that his name was Taichi Nanao, he was a student at Ouka High School and an actor at Mankai Company. After that, you introduced yourself and you two just chatted about whatever came to mind until it was around three pm. Taichi was first to leave since he had practice with Autumn Troupe around an hour later but he didn’t leave without getting your phone number, which you happily gave without much thought.

➜ PERSONALITY COMPATIBILITY ; Taichi is like a puppy, often noisy and upbeat so there is never a dull moment when you two are together. Don’t ever worry about him leaving you behind because he is so whipped for you. In fact, I feel like you both might fear that whole ‘my significant other is to good for me what if they leave me all of a sudden?’ more than necessary. Yes, I said both of you because let’s not forget that under that positive attitude of his, Taichi actually has very low self esteem. What I’m trying to say is words of affirmation and physical touch is your canon love languages, although the later happened less in your earlier stage of relationship. IFJT people are often perfectionists with extremely high standards of performance for themselves so whenever you’re too harsh on yourself having a chill & silly boyfriend would calm you down or whenever he needs to get serious about something (ex. schoolwork because let’s face it, he’s the type of person who does his homework at the very last moment be it on the breakfast table or while the teacher is collecting them) you’re there making sure he’s not destroying his future academically. Those are just basic examples but in short, you two just balance each other out very nicely. Please just marry each other. 🥺

➜ SHARED ACTIVITIES ; Since apparently you do things that are considered weird, now you have a partner by your side to do those things. I feel like the both of you would totally be up to having intense conversations with pets, rating total strangers out of ten or texting each other weird things even though you're in the same room. If not, I can see you two going to a convenience store, buying the magazines that catches your eyes, sitting back to back or with him laying down on his back and you on top of him, making a + form and reading articles until one of you gets bored. If you’ve seen Taichi’s doodle he made in the notebook, you’d know that the boy is at the very least decent at drawing, so even though he might get bored quickly, he would do his best to draw with you. Since you don’t like the sun very much, if he wants to go outside with you he’d wait until late afternoon-evening. When it comes to outdoor dates the first thing came to my mind was amusement park date. Can you imagine how fun it would be to go on the rides with him??? I headcanon that Taichi loves rollercoasters so you bet he’s gonna beg your to go with him. If you freak out, he lets out a laugh and you feel his arm wrap around your waist, pulling you back against him, his other hand is stretched up to the sky.

➜ ZODIAC COMPATIBILITY ; Taichi’s birthday is on October 11 which makes him a Libra. Considering that Libra and Virgo are zodiac neighbours, it goes without saying that the two will be compatible. While Libra is an air sign, and Virgo is an earth sign, the two are as disconnected as they are connected. Virgo is duty-bound and nurturing. While Libra is also a sign that will do what needs to be done, their priority will be more on the reality than the idealistic acts. When Virgo and Libra join together in a love match, it can be like puting two puzzle pieces together. Each locks into the other and sits comfortably in place. Both Signs seek security in partnership, and they share a love of beauty and culture. They can work together efficiently and smoothly because they desire similar rewards. The Virgo-Libra relationship may trickle along in the beginning, but it will rev up once both partners grow to respect one another. Just like any other pairing, this pairing has its own set of pros and cons. Both these personality types have a tendency to be very similar to each other. As such, the suggestion would always be to give this relationship a shot. However, another advice would be to keep your eyes open. While loyalty is the way for both these signs, triggers for a change of duty may be something as simple as their partner not putting the toilet seat down. All the best!

[dappercritter]

Star vs. the Forces of Evil for the ask meme!

(Based on this meme.)

The first character I first fell in love with: Marco Diaz. Although Star was a pretty fun protagonist from the get-go, Marco impressed me in the first episode with both his plucky attitude and intensely responsible, protective nature. He had everything to be a great friend to Star and, by extent, a deuteragonist. He knew karate and basic psychology, he could help Star with both her personal problems and on her exciting adventures, but he also had his own story to navigate with and without Star. He had his own family, a friend group, a crush, a rival, and a fighting style he trained in—all of which were a joy to watch him interact with! (Well, maybe not his other friends.) What’s more, I have tons of things in common with him; namely, his desire to be seen as cool in spite of his intensely safe nature, said intensely safe and responsible nature, body image issues, being awkward around my crushes, and so on.

The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Toffee (of Septarsis). I mean, as a lover of cool villains, reptiles, and bespoke fashion, I liked Toffee the minute I laid eyes on him—as many of us did—but I never expected to be as attached to him as I ended up being. Besides being the most competent, menacing villain in the show, Toffee’s character was a mystery that both added to his allure and opened up the possibilities to a more significant backstory that we sadly never got to see. All we ever knew is that he had a passionate hatred of magic and the Butterfly family, a single-minded determination to destroy them, and a plan which almost succeeded perfectly. What we don’t know is whether or not he was a tragic anti-villain who wanted to free monsters from the terror of magic but whose motivation became clouded by vengeance, or if he was just a petty warmonger who only made things personal when he was humiliated. Either way, it’s Toffee’s combined sense of mystery, menace, and sophistication that kept him a permanent personal favourite of mine.

The character everyone else loves that I don’t: Glossaryck, but that might be a bit of a stretch. Mostly because I don’t know how many people liked him to begin with. Most people like to think of him as a weird deadbeat dad who did the bare minimum to take care of the universe, the MHC/his kids, and his students, the queens of Mewni until he finally gave up. As you can guess, that’s exactly what I think of him. But there are people who think his antics are funny and who sympathize with his weariness—not surprising given who he’s had to work with—but his inconsistent characterization throughout the series, and just his general uncooperative teaching style, I just can’t find it in me to like the little blue man.

The character I love that everyone else hates: Janna Ordonia. Don’t get me wrong, I know she does some sketchy stuff like harassing Marco in some shockingly intrusive and insensitive ways. But in spite of that, I like Janna for her troublemaking antics, her love of the weird, and especially her friendship with Star. She felt like a good friend for Star, Marco, Jackie, and Tom because her fondness for the strange and getting into trouble put together with her nonchalant attitude and street smarts, made her a good bridge between the two different worlds of the show (i.e. Earth and the larger multiverse).

The character I used to love but don’t any longer: Hekapoo. I’ll be honest with you guys: I was fascinated with Hekapoo since she first showed up onscreen, and after we got to know her in Running with Scissors, I… I had a crush on her. There, I said it. She was my type, alright? Sassy, adventurous, mischievous, but also ferocious and duty-bound. Everything I could want in a woman! But then we found out that she’s actually kind of a creeper, and she’s a self-righteous corrupt official who supported conspiracy, kidnapping, and genocide and didn’t apologize or try to make amends for it until the last possible moment. And even then she only did it of what appeared to be feelings of obligation to Marco and Moon, nor did she seem to be sorry about all the stuff she did. She vanished from existence with the rest of the MHC along with (most of) all their other magical problems, and frankly, I think that’s how I like it.

The character I would totally smooch: Well, uh, if that Septarian girl in the hat from Meteora’s Lesson is still around, I’d like to get to know her. Maybe take her out for a nice dinner. Go for long walks in the woods. Then wrap it all up with a nice smooch. I mean, if she’s interested of course.

The character I’d want to be like: Tom Lucitor. At first, I didn’t like Tom that much. I just assumed he was going to be a petty rival for Star’s affections that Marco would have to fight. But once we got to know him better and he began his journey of character development, I empathized with him to the point where I saw myself in his struggle to overcome his anger and grow as a person. I may not have made some of the terrible decisions he made early on, but I can be volatile myself, and I am always trying to change for the better as a person. I feel that Tom’s attempt to improve his anger management skills, make amends with the people he hurt, manage failed romantic relationships with maturity, and be a better friend and boyfriend in general make him a decent role model in my eyes.

The character I’d slap: Pony Head. This accursed disembodied unicorn head hasn’t done anything good since maybe Season 1. I used to tolerate her as an intentionally bad parody of valley girl friend archetypes, but after “Bam Ui Pati,” I lost all patience with her. Pony Head, I got two words for you: Shut up. Shut up, shut up, shut up. Shut up! SHUT! UP! SHUT UP!!!

A pairing that I love: Jantom. Starco used to be my main but since that drained me of all my lifeforce and slapped me in the face, my enthusiasm for these two dorks has diminished—significantly, at that. Jantom (or at least the concept of it) on the other hand, was a breath of fresh air. I believe these two feel like they have an even greater right to be together than Starco. I mean, think about it: Janna likes occult stuff, Tom is the prince of the Underworld. Tom likes troublemakers, Janna is all about trouble. And even if Tom is a bit more mature than Janna, we know Janna is capable of selflessness and compassion (one of the few good things we saw from Cleaved), and I like to think that Tom might share some of the life lessons he learned from his journey to maturity with her. …When they weren’t taking turns bugging Marco, of course.

A pairing that I despise: Marclipsa. NO. Hard no. Marco is just a teenager. Eclipsa is a married adult woman. I don’t care how funny you think the whole “Marco’s a harem protagonist” joke is, that is just gross.

[majestrixstormbringer]

I don’t understand why there are some people saying the show is treating the Marisol circumstance as a good thing. It’s fairly obvious they’re not - it took its toll on everyone involved - Marisol, Macy, and Dexter and it didn’t happen just for the dramas.

Why wipe Macy’s memory? Why didn’t they just let her continue knowing? 

Let’s ignore the pain Macy displayed in that short amount of time she got to spend with her mother. The renewed ache she felt for her presence and the peace she had achieved over years in regards to her mother’s “death” completely undone.

Let’s ignore that for now. 

Macy needed to stay off the magical and demonic radar period. Her witch powers were bound by Marisol but she had no way to bind Macy’s demon powers. And it’s apparent that up to the conversation she and Dexter had, Macy hadn’t exhibited her fire ability yet, but they were aware it was something that could happen.

Marisol had to make sure Macy didn’t get snatched up and/or recruited by the demon side because eventually her witch powers would be unbound so she could be a Charmed One. She would’ve been hunted by both sides after that happened. The Elders wouldn’t have let Macy live knowing she was a demonic Charmed One and the demons would’ve destroyed her on principle - heck, there’s a reason why Abigael doesn’t let her duel heritage be known. 

Marisol couldn’t keep sneaking away to who knows where because again, eventually, one of her fellow Elders would get curious/suspicious, track her to Macy and knowing the circumstances of her continued life, the Elders would have stepped in to end Macy’s life.

Why is that not hyperbole?

Charity did find out and did kill Marisol in attempts to keep her from unbinding all her daughters’ powers which included - drum roll please - Macy! The one she just found out was brought back via necromancer. 

Marisol is just one person, and even though I hate the Elders, they were a group of extremely powerful witches. It only takes one to get through/around Marisol to get to Macy, and BAM game over.

Marisol couldn’t have unbound Macy’s witch powers because again, that would’ve put her on the magical radar and Macy had no whitelighter and no training. Her unbound magic would’ve done more harm than good considering what her offensive power is/was. 

And then there are some people saying Harry was being shitty? Like, how? He followed the order - an obviously painful one at that - of an Elder and performed his duty. He was kind and sweet as he could be about it, and then after it was said and done he had his own memory taken. Of course, Marisol would’ve taken that step to ensure the continued life of her daughter.

[lichlairs]

Checkout our new post over at https://lichlair.com/monday-monster-60-flameskull

Monday Monster #60: Flameskull

I’m very sorry if you got PTSD just from reading that title; I know many out there have suffered at the figurative hands of this monster, which is why I vow to dig deeply into its lore and statblock to see if we can reach some sort of redemption. Without any further ado, let us discuss the…

Flameskull

The basics

For a floating calcium deposit these things have surprisingly good stats; we’re looking at matching +0 CHA and WIS, a +2 CON, and a single dump stat assigned to STR for a -5 modifier. Today’s monster is both incredibly smart and incredibly dexterous with matching +3 scores to DEX and INT.

The Flameskull gets +5 to Arcana checks as well as a nice +2 to Perception for a total Passive Perception of 12. They also get 60ft of Darkvision and 40ft of hovering movement. Thanks to that big head of theirs they can also communicate in Common despite, you know, not having a tongue or any of the other important bits we use for talking.

In terms of combat durability, this thing can probably rival creatures of much higher CR. Its measly AC of 13 and average hit point pool of 9d4+18 might not look like much but today’s monster is immune or at the very least resistant to a wide variety of damages. We’re looking at Immunity to Cold, Poison, and Fire damage… you know, only the most widely used type of damage in the game, but as if that weren’t enough, they also have resistance to Lightning, Necrotic, and Piercing damages and cannot be charmed, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned, or prone.

But even now we’re not quite done yet; Flameskulls also have Magic Resistance for some nice advantage on saving throws, not to mention their Rejuvenation feature that will have them regain all their hit points back after being destroyed unless their magic is dispelled, or they get sprinkled with some of that good holy water. That’s a thing, yeah.

On the bright (ha!) side of things, your party of adventures won’t have to carry torches while they fight this thing because today’s monster does give off 15ft of dim light at a minimum (though it can choose to increase the range and brightness for a further 15ft).

As promised for ranger week, the Flameskull is fully reliant on range spell attacks, its main attack action being a Fire Ray that works with its Multiattack feature. Chances are though, that, before this creature goes down, you’ll want to use up the spells that it gets access to:

Cantrip (at will): mage hand

1st level (3 slots): magic missile, shield

2nd level (2 slots): blur, flaming sphere

3rd level (1 slot): fireball

That’s right, this thing has a goddamned Fireball waiting to go off. Not to mention the fact that it gets the option to use shield on top of all the crazy resistance it already gets. Actual bananas.

Last but not least, today’s monster is considered a tiny undead ans is usually of neutral evil alignment. Although this bit might be a little debatable, it is also technically a CR 4 creature.

The lore

The Flameskull was first introduced in volume one of the Monstrous Compendium for 2nd edition. As a monster that has been part of the game for most of its history, today’s monster has been through a handful of changes (mostly to do with the list of spells available to them) but remains the same when it comes to its lore. Speaking of older editions though, despite their very bright presentation, these monsters somehow managed to qualify as stealthy back in 4th edition, don’t ask me how though.

The first thing you should know about these creatures is that they aren’t born and have no way of reproducing amongst themselves. Flame skulls can only be fashioned from the skulls of recently deceased spellcasters or cultists, human wizards in particular, through a dark ritual performed by a powerful necromancer. The skulls themselves are often carved with esoteric runes and symbols.

After being summoned and bound to their master, Flameskulls will listen follow instructions to the letter until their purpose has been fulfilled. Oftentimes they will be used as guardians of particularly important places or treasure, but it’s not completely unheard of for them to be assigned to guarding a living being instead.

While Flamekulls will follow their master’s instructions unlike they can no longer follow them, they do retain a few aspects from their previous life; most notably their intelligence. It is also common for Flameskulls to have a similar spell list to the one they had while alive. The only way for Flameskulls to regain a semblance of autonomy is to complete their task. Of course by the time that happens most of them will have been driven mad by their long years of isolation safeguarding treasure.

Once freed, these creatures would show a curiosity for the world after years of duty. In fact, Flameskulls have been observed to follow adventurers around in search for excitement. In return, Flameskulls might choose to share some of the more obscure knowledge and lore they might have come across in their time as wizards.

The execution

Okay, hear me out. I think a lot of the reasons why people dislike this creature so much has to do with CR and level. Yes, fighting a Flameskull should be challenging, but there is a very steep curve for Fireball danger at this level. Which is why I want to put forward the idea that your party should not fight a Flameskull, but instead fight three of them.

If you have a higher level party!

My stance on this is this: Flameskulls should be used as minions against higher level adventurers. Take for example this encounter:

The party finally reaches the top of the evil necromancer’s spire, they trade snarky comments with our heroes, and bam! Our villain smirks and snaps their finger only to have three Flameskulls appear. Heck, it could even be an interesting premise for a villain: a powerful necromancer who is going around killing wizards only to raise them in servitude as Flameskulls.

Keep in mind Flameskulls aren’t only fun in combat situations either! Got a big bad you were fond of only to have your party of aventurers make quick work of them? Why not have them come back as an extra powerful Flameskull under the influence of your next big bad? You could even give them some especial armor or a particularly nasty spell list to toughen them up depending on your party level.

But even if you don’t have a big bad to bring back, Flameskulls can still be plenty fun in social encounters. The idea of luring the party into what appears to be a difficult encounter with a Flameskull only to have the creature start jabbering ridiculous riddles or pestering the party for the rest of the dungeon is extremely fun to me. If done right this creature would very well turn a would be mediocre dungeon into something memorable. Don’t believe me? Give it a try yourself!

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[angelofthequeers]

Ladybug and Reine Nuit: Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I don’t own ML.

THERE IS FAN ART. @vitaliciouscreations drew Reine Nuit's head and I LOVE how it's just how I imagined her looking! Go and check it out and support this awesome artist!

Part 3 | Part 5

“So, wait, why exactly is her Lucky Charm so…weird?” Alya says from where she’s sitting cross-legged on her bed and finishing off the last of her homework, while Plagg stuffs himself with Camembert cheese nearby.

“Tikki’s the kwami of creation,” Plagg says. “Creation does weird shit. At least we’re pretty straightforward – wham, bam, take it down.”

“That still doesn’t answer my question.”

“And that’s why you weren’t picked to be Ladybug.” Plagg’s shit-eating grin makes Alya’s eye twitch, but she chooses to ignore it for the sake of her newfound superhero status. Who knows if annoying the tiny god creature will screw with her powers? “Ladybugs have to be quick on their feet and be able to make plans out of the weirdest circumstances. Adapt to the situation.”

“I’m quick on my feet!” Alya protests.

“They also have to be imaginative and creative,” Plagg says loudly. Alya rolls her eyes at him. “You’re impulsive and charge without thinking, even if you’ll get flattened for it. That’s why you got me. We protect the Ladybugs, so they can fix the crap that the akumas cause.”

“So, what, like brains and brawn?” Alya says. “Both equally as important for different reasons?”

“Exactly!” Plagg gulps down more cheese. “And we both know which one you are.”

“Alya?” There’s a knock on Alya’s door before she can strangle Plagg, powers be damned. Plagg dives out of sight just in time; Otis opens the door, then wrinkles his nose. “Phew! Since when d’you like that stuff?”

“…Acquired taste?” Alya says. She picks up a crumb of Camembert and pops it into her mouth, struggling not to gag and grimace at the disgusting taste that explodes across her tongue. “Mmm!”

Otis just blinks. “…Okay. Well, Nora’s plans got cancelled, so she’s staying home with you and the twins. Just thought I’d let you know. Your mother and I will be back later tonight.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Alya says. Otis shoots her one more suspicious look before retreating from her room, and Plagg emerges as soon as it’s safe.

“I expect compensation for that cheese,” he says, diving back into his stink nest as Alya coughs and spits out the gooey bit of cheese in her mouth.

“It was one crumb to cover for you in the future!” Alya says, downing half her water bottle in one go.

“Doesn’t matter. Camembert is sacred.”

Alya rolls her eyes. Then she grabs Plagg, ignoring his squawked protests, and stuffs him in her shirt pocket before scooping up her phone and heading out into the living room.

“I’m going for a walk,” she says. Nora, who’s stretching while Ella and Etta watch TV, just grunts, so Alya makes her escape before she’s roped into doing chores or helping Nora “practice” for her next match, aka fulfil her sisterly duties of being a punching bag. Once outside, she walks around to the next block over and then ducks into the first alley she finds.

“Why would you separate me and my beautiful cheese?” Plagg moans.

“Because I’m gonna take a bit of time to practice without having to fight for my life,” Alya says. “Plus, I don’t have to listen to you if you’re stuck in the ring. Plagg, claws out!”

The transformation once again washes over her with its cold green power. It’s just as thrilling as the first time turning into Reine Nuit, and she can’t help her giggle when she looks down at her black leather suit, the green bits almost glowing in the evening dimness. She spots a nearby building, takes a deep breath to psyche herself up, then takes a running start and tries to leap to the roof without the aid of her baton. No knowing when she’ll be left weaponless, right?

As it turns out, her super abilities also extend to strengthening her leg muscles, because she’s easily able to make half the jump, then bound off the brick to reach the top. She whoops and punches the air and spins on the spot giddily, shrieking, “I’m a superhero!”

A ringing sound suddenly emanates from her baton, and she looks down to see the green cat’s paw on the end of it flashing. With a frown, she presses the paw with her thumb, and she gasps when a small rectangular screen pops out, then flickers to life to reveal Ladybug’s face.

“Ladybug?” she exclaims. Ladybug waves.

“Hi! Uh…I was just testing out my yo-yo. I take it you’re out practicing with your powers as well?”

“You know it!” Reine Nuit says. “Wait, so our weapons are also phones? How cool is this?”

Ladybug grins. “Since we’re both out, maybe we should meet up and talk in person? How about the Eiffel Tower?”

“Sure thing! See you there!” Reine Nuit presses the cat paw to hang up, causing the screen to retract back into her baton, and then she starts to leap and vault her way in the direction of the Eiffel Tower. Just like last time, the wind whistles through her hair, making her ponytail stream out behind her in a brown bush, and she can’t help the laughter that escapes her as she flips off a building, extends her staff as far as it’ll go, then vaults herself through the air and uses her staff to catch in one of the gaps in the Tower’s interlacing metal structure.

“This is like a dream come true!” she whoops, bounding up the Tower with a combination of her enhanced abilities and her staff. When she finally flips herself onto the same platform at the top where she and her partner had fought Stoneheart, she realises that she’s not alone; Ladybug has gotten here first, watching her with a small grin.

“From the sounds of it, you’re having a lot of fun,” Ladybug comments when Reine Nuit stops next to her, panting.

“Are you kidding?” Reine Nuit says. “This is – like – oh my god, all my life I’ve wanted to be a superhero! And now not only do I learn that this stuff is real, but I actually get to be one!”

Ladybug laughs and sits down, crossing her legs neatly. Reine Nuit follows suit, hugging her knees to her chest.

“I’m sorry I was late to Stoneheart the second time,” Ladybug says. “I…well, I nearly gave up. I didn’t purify the akuma, and everything was worse, and…I was convinced that whoever’s behind these earrings made a horrible mistake. I was going to give them to a friend, until I realised that I had to step up and do the right thing.”

“You nearly –?” Reine Nuit shakes her head. “Are you kidding? I’ve only fought with you twice and I can already tell you that I don’t want anyone else as a partner! The way you told Hawkmoth off like that? And how you talked to Paris? Oh my god, you’re, like, my idol.”

“Stop that!” Ladybug nudges Reine Nuit. “Don’t idolise me. We’re partners – we’re equals. I meant it when I said that we did it.”

“Well, that Lucky Charm just proves that you’re Ladybug,” Reine Nuit says. “I asked my kwami why you get weird stuff and he said that part of being Ladybug is being creative and imaginative and adaptable. If you weren’t any good as Ladybug, there’s no way you’d have made that whole plan in the stadium out of a wetsuit! Or up here with the parachute!”

“Really?” Ladybug tilts her head. Her blue eyes are dark in the evening light, and Reine Nuit once again finds herself questioning just how straight she really is. Not that she’s thought of herself as straight since she was ten and first heard of Majestia, to be fair. “My kwami never told me that.”

“Oh, mine was super rude about it,” Reine Nuit says. “He’s a bit of a douche. But apparently, I’m the brawn and you’re the brains. My power’s meant to work with yours to make sure that you pull your Lucky Charm off.”

“So, we balance each other out, then,” Ladybug says with a small smile. “That makes sense.”

They lapse into a comfortable silence, gazing out at the sea of lights that is Paris at night. The sight is nearly as mesmerising as her partner’s Miraculous Ladybug, although she’s not sure anything could come close to that beauty.

“I think we should talk about our identities,” Ladybug says. “It’s bound to come up.”

“I know you said that we have to keep them a secret,” Reine Nuit says. “And as much as I’d love to know who my partner is, I agree. The more people know who you are, the more chance there is of villains finding out, so the more danger your friends and family are in.” God, if anything happened to her parents or her sisters – or her new best friend Marinette…

“Not just that,” Ladybug says. “We’re partners. I get the feeling that we’re gonna become pretty close, since we’ll be working together to take down this Hawkmoth. And if I know who you are, it’ll make it harder for me to put my feelings aside and focus on the job when you’re in danger. At least by seeing you like this, it’s easier to tell myself that you can take care of yourself.”

“That’s…actually a good point,” Reine Nuit admits. “I didn’t even think of that, but you’re totally right.”

“Of course I am,” Ladybug says with a mischievous little smile. She sobers and looks back out at Paris. “I still can’t believe someone thinks I’m the best one for this job. It feels like…”

“A dream?” Reine Nuit says.

“Yeah. A dream. I keep expecting to wake up and find that it’s the first day of school and I was just having a really vivid dream.”

“Mood,” Reine Nuit says. She hums when a thought occurs to her. “Should we – I dunno – patrol the city every so often or something?”

“Patrol?” Judging by the way her forehead creases, the thought probably hadn’t even crossed Ladybug’s mind. “What for? We’ll know when an akuma pops up.”

“Who says we have to fight just akumas?” Reine Nuit says. “We’re superheroes. Our job is to fight crime. We can totally practice our skills on normal bad guys.”

“Huh. That’s not a bad idea. We do need to make sure that we can hold our own against akumas. And it would let us develop a working relationship with the public and the police.”

Reine Nuit snorts. “I still say you shoulda let me go that one for what he said to you. Honestly, like he’s never made a mistake before, especially when he was new!”

“He was scared and facing something totally new,” Ladybug says. “Just let it slide, okay?”

“Fine. Only ‘cause it’s you. So…what nights should we patrol? Obviously not every night, since I’ve got schoolwork and all…”

“Same here,” Ladybug says. “Every second or third night?”

“Should we really be that predictable?”

“Only at first. Just until we find our feet. Then we can organise a more random schedule.”

“True.” Reine Nuit sighs and then jumps to her feet. “I should get going. I told my family I was just taking a walk. The last thing I need is for them to think I’ve been kidnapped or something.”

“Yeah, my mum will probably be up to check on me soon,” Ladybug says. She tosses her yo-yo out into the city until it latches onto something that Reine Nuit can’t see, then smiles and waves at Reine Nuit. “See you next time, partner.”

“Later, angel bug,” Reine Nuit blurts out. She can’t help it; against the blanket of Parisian lights, Ladybug really does look like a softly glowing angel. Ladybug blinks. “Uh – sorry, that was probably inappropriate.”

“I don’t mind it,” Ladybug says. The corner of her mouth turns up, and she says, “Bye, pretty kitty,” and swings off. Reine Nuit stares after her, transfixed, until she shakes her head to snap out of it.

“Right. Home.” She starts to leap down the Tower, praying that she can get home before Nora gets too worried and starts asking questions.