#Boy doesn't even know about Any of that and he still somehow manages to cut to the heart of my insecurities and treat them with a kindess

[hidden-highlands]

the. the sheer contrast of my ex telling me "your friends only like the fun drunk you" vs my boyfriend saying "i like sober you the best" 🥺

[loveshydorky]

ethan landry like boyfriend

ethan landry x fem!reader

sfw and nsfw

I think ethan just loves to gossip with you. he is the guy who knows everything that happens at the university or in your dorm with him. ethan loves to gossip with you, in the evenings lying on his bed. especially, you both love to make fun of chad and tara. laughing at the fact that chad can't kiss this bithc, or at the fact that tarantula got into trouble again.

- «tarantula got into some trouble again, she had a fight with some idiot from the fraternity» - you rolled your eyes. and ethan chuckled softly. you both even came up with nicknames for this two bitches.

this guy is very clingy. this guy always manages to hold your hand, keep his hand on your waist or on your thigh. as soon as he sees you, he already out of habit puts keeps his hand on your body.

ethan will save money for a long time for your date with him or for some gift for you. he will save money diligently and try not to spend much. on dates he is definitely a gentleman.

when you find out he's ghostface, you still love him and he's grateful to you for it. he told you a funny story about a richie's girlfriend. ethan immediately started to hate amber.. he's just irritated by her stupid pig-like face. she even tried to flirt with him, so he taught her a lesson. a bucket of bugs fell on amber, and eth also ruined her clothes. after that, he never saw that pig.

he also absolutely despises people who try to make fun of you or flirt with you. he just hates the blonde emily at your university with all his heart because she always manages to make fun of you. ethan somehow ended up changing the water in the water machine to dirty and also broke the machine itself, and all the water poured out on this slut and she was famous throughout the university. you still remember how the blonde ran feverishly, and even fell in the hallway. a week later, ethan killed her.

- «baby.. is this your doing?» - ethan pretended to be the stupidest person in the world and looked at you with his big puppy eyes.

ethan just loves any clothes you wear. but he prefers it when you wear dresses. he loves your elegance. but he just hates it when you wear something revealing in public. he prefers it when you wear it in front of him, because it will definitely lead to sex later.

he loves sharing his cheetos with you, and he also loves cooking with you. he's.. actually, he knows a little about cooking. at least he's good at peeling potatoes.. but he'll definitely cut himself with a knife and you, being a caring girlfriend, will put a bandage on his cut and kiss him to soothe him. he literally melts deep down.

you're that quiet, nerdy couple, but behind closed doors you have a very... special and passionate relationship.

he is just obsessed with your hair. literally. when you are together in the dorm and relaxing, he will gently comb your hair and massage your head. this guy has hands from God.. (i kissed those hands)

if he suddenly does something wrong, he will literally beg you for forgiveness on his knees. for him it is like a catastrophe, and he is already going crazy and thinks that you will leave him. and if you do... then, endure a rough night of love with him.

his heart melts when you protect him from mindy, or anika's insults, or chad's rage. he literally looks at you and thinks.. "how did i get a girlfriend like that"

you are pinned to the very first place in his phone, and notifications are turned on only for you. except for his father, sister and chad, there is no one else in his contacts. he does not care at all about tara, sam, anika or mindy.

during rough sex he often starts complaining about your friends. his mouth is so dirty.. and you are just shocked by his words. he literally curses chad and tara and you can hear him growling.

he doesn't actually use condoms, he likes to take risks.. (what a bad boy) and he also often lies to you that he ran out of condoms, although he just hid them

he probably asked his sister quinn for dating advice and he regretted it.. she was always teasing him and making fun of her poor brother.

ethan is actually good at drawing, he secretly draws in class and rarely in econ when he gets too bored. he can only draw girls and their faces, and you know what kind of girl he always draws.

so in murders he shows his creative personality as an artist and creates his own work of art. remember anika.

you talk about anything. he prefers to listen more, he is ready to listen to any nonsense that you say and just admire your voice. he looks only at you and literally remembers everything that you tell him.

in the second act, your boyfriend literally saved you from falling out of the window. it happened that sam accidentally pushed you and you almost fell, he literally almost went crazy and pushed you away from the window. during the second act, he paid attention to you and only left you alone. when you were climbing the ladder, he deliberately began to slow down to knock down the door so that you could climb over.

his father will definitely faint when he finds out about his future wedding plans.. ethan is actually planning on marrying you when he graduates from university or a little earlier.

ethan is literally a cat. he has excellent vision and can even see well at night, he can also climb on roofs as a ghostface. and he can also.. purr. after his kills, he snuggles up to you and purrs quietly because you're next to him. but he doesn't like fish and can't stand the smell of fish. he can only tolerate salmon.

- «baby, thank you, it's so delicious.. I'll wash the dishes now» - ethan is literally ready to thank you on his knees for your care and food.

this boy barely eats normal food before you came into his life. you started cooking him light and healthy food. he just loves your fruit salad.

basically, ethan landry is a great boyfriend. he's caring, shy, and a very loyal guy. plus, he's your number 1 serial killer. girl, you've fallen in love with a criminal.

[heartshapedcigaretteburns]

(I love my wife 😍😍^^^^)

Okay listen... Roommate! Simon. I can see him allowing himself to survive on the BARE minimum and that's all. He doesn't splurge on anything and would much rather store all of his money away. Soooooo he decides at some point that he doesn't need a whole apartment to himself when he's not even there most of the time, always on a mission or on base. At first he was reluctant bc he doesn't love the idea of sharing his space but he does like the idea of cutting back on costs even more. Long story short, he ends up in your home.

Speaking of his frugal nature, he definitely uses 3 in 1 😔 I hate to break it to you guys but it's just more convenient for him and costs less. Before moving in with you he ordered food most nights he was home and his cupboards were disgustingly bare, his crappy apartment lacked any personality or decor, he had ONE blanket and ONE pillow, etcetera. He never saw the point of making his home nice and personal if he was spending most of his time away.

You couldn't stand seeing him live that way even once he moved in with you. Within a month you had switched out his 3 in 1 for some proper nice individual products (ofc you picked out your favorite scents as well bc duh), made sure he had a decent home cooked meal alongside your own, and took matters into your own hands to make his room look less like a jail cell.

Simon fought you every step of the way, of course. Poor boy just doesn't know how to accept this level of care ☹️☹️. Deep down he loves this heart wrenching attention you give to him. He tries to make you believe that he despises these lovely little tweaks you've made to his life but you can see it in his eyes when he digs into his garlic pasta on the couch you've taken so much care into picking out. The same care that pours from you and into everything in your shining presence.

Simon realizes, four months later, how much he's grown to care for you. It happens slowly, he starts seeing all of the little things that you've always done in a whole new light until he comes to the conclusion he cares for you like he cares for his teammates. It isn't until 3 more months pass that he understands that he's got it wrong. He doesn't care for you how he cares about his team, it's different. His whole perception of you shifts in a moments notice. You're no longer just his friend and roommate who takes care of him. No, to him you're his lovely little Y/N. You already operate like a married couple so it's not hard for him to imagine himself as your husband when you take care of him so lovingly.

I still think he wouldn't be sure whether to try and progress your relationship. He's almost sure you feel something for him beyond normal platonic care. And even if you don't want that, he knows you would somehow manage to be as comforting as always when you let him down easy. The conflict is concerning his career mostly. He knows a relationship wouldn't be easy with how often he's away and the obvious dangers of his job. When he does decide that he needs to at least see if you feel the same it's nothing too grand.

I might do a pt 2/continuation of this later but idk yet 😋 I feel like this was kind of rushed and a little shitty but home you guys enjoy anyways. Thank you all so so much for all of the support on my other works 💞

[bluehourbucky]

Surprise

rockstar!dad!bucky x f!momreader

summary: last show of Buckys tour where he gets a special surprise

part of the same universe as Love from afar but can be read as standalone

a/n: so I'm kinda soft for rockstar dad bucky you might see more of him in the future I already have 2 more fic ideas sushdbbd

main masterlist

bucky masterlist

-more rockstardad!bucky

hope you enjoy! if you have any questions or feedback my asks are open!

DO NOT COPY OR STEAL MY WORK

_________________________________________

Tonight was the last stop of tour, and Bucky was feeling all kinds of things. Nervous, sad that the tour was done, but also incredibly happy to finally get home to his pregnant wife and two boys.

"Good evening everybody!" Bucky yells into the mic and does a riff on his guitar.

"Tonight is the last show-" before he finishes he's cut off by screams of "noo" of their fans.

"I know, I know. This tour has been a real dream come true. I wanna thank everyone who's here tonight and everyone who saw our show in the last six months. And of course, to those who support us from afar."

Bucky stops talking and looks at the huge stadium screaming his name and almost tears up.

"Let's have fun tonight!"

Bucky starts singing the first song, and the crowd goes wild. He loves this so much the adrenaline the energy it makes him feel high.

It's getting close to the end of the show. Only the last song is left, and it's a surprise song for the last show. This song Bucky wrote for you when he was leaving for tour the first time after having a kid. Its not a song they usually play as it is a slow farewell song, but why not.

"Thank you for such an amazing show. You are such an incredible crowd. But can I ask for a little more of your time and energy?!"

The crowd yells out a yes. Bucky and other members of his band smile, him and Steve share a look that says "we made it".

They start singing, and the crowd starts singing the lyrics with them, some people start crying and the stadium is lit up with phone flashlights

When they finish the last song the crowd chants their name.

"Thank you!" Bucky bows lowly.

and then the crowd screams louder and Bucky turns around.

"I know the show is over. But I thought I could ask for one last song?"

Bucky is speechless when he hears your voice, and when he sees his 7 month pregnant wife on stage, he almost collapses. The crowds screaming dies out, and the only thing Bucky sees is you in a pretty purple dress standing a few feet away microphone in your hands.

"So? Just my favourite I'm sure no one would mind? Right Steve?"

Steve smiles at you softly, he knew you were coming and helped you pull this thing off without Bucky knowing.

"What's one more song?" Steve says and starts singing.

Bucky takes the microphone and starts singing to you. He slowly walks over, scared that you'll disappear any second. You wouldn't call this song particularly sweet and romantic since Bucky wrote it about your wild hookups in unconventional places when you were like 18. But still, it remains your favourite song.

By the end of the song, Bucky is close to sobbing he started crying at some point.

"My beautiful wife, everybody!" He says through tears. The crowd has been screaming since you came out on stage.

"Thank you! Sorry to keep you a bit longer I'm sure everybody is very tired. Get home safe." you say and leave the stage waving, but not before kissing Bucky softly and telling him you'll see him in a bit.

While you wait for the show to finish, you log into Buckys Instagram since you don't have your own. Already, there are thousands and thousands of posts about you coming on stage.

Bucky didn't publicly announce the pregnancy, and neither have you. This time, you somehow managed to hide it for so long since the attention was mostly pointed at the tour.

You're sure that by tomorrow, every tabloid will have your picture splattered everywhere but you couldn't care less. What Bucky doesn't know yet is that the boys are here with you and you can't wait to see his face.

"DADDY!" Theo screams and jumps into his fathers arms, and Bucky catches him.

Bucky holds onto his son like he's going to disappear any second.

"What are you doing here? How? When?" Bucky asks in between kisses that he's giving your son.

Leo crawls and hugs Bucky's legs, with Theo still in his arms, Bucky picks up his other son and starts kissing each of their cheeks in turns.

"We wanted to surprise you. I guess it worked, no?" you tease him a little and snap a picture of the sweet scene in front of you.

Somehow, Theo ends up clinging onto his dad's back, which gives Bucky enough space to pull you into a group hug.

"Ew you're sweaty and smell. Theo get down you'll get stinky too."

Bucky doesn't let either of you leave his embrace, and the menace he is, he snuggles Leo even closer to him. You smile into his neck, you missed him so much.

"Alright, I'll go shower, then we can go. Don't go anywhere."

"Daddy wait I'm still here!" Theo screams into Buckys ear trying to get down but Bucky is still holding him.

"Oh right, I guess you're not showering with me." Theo giggles happily and walks over to you.

"The other one too Buck." He rolls his eyes and let's his 3 year old down from his arms.

He doesn't take long, and the four of you are on your way to the hotel.

In the car, boys talk to their father, and Bucky listens very carefully, not to miss a single word.

When you get to the hotel suite, Bucky gets the boys ready for bed and reads them a bedtime story. They fall sleep almost instantly, Theo on his right shoulder and Leo on his left.

Bucky manages to wiggle out without waking them up and makes his way over to you.

"God I love you. You're incredible. How did you even do this we talked this morning and I-" you cut him off with a kiss.

"I love you too. And I can't belive that we've been married for so long and I still get to surprise you." Bucky smiles and put his hand on you belly, feeling the little movement.

"My pretty baby, I'm sorry daddy hasn't talked you I promise I'll make it up to you, I'm gonna be the only thing you hear for forever!" Bucky talks to the baby in your belly.

"I love you more than anything, Bucky I love our family and I missed you so fucking much." you start to tear up, holding onto Buckys hands. It hit you all at once that you're having another baby and that he wasn't there and that you can't believe you found a soulmate.

"Doll, you're my forever. I love you more than there are stars in the universe. I can not thank you enough for being there and supporting me and being the mother of my children. The last 6 months have both been the best and worst of my life. I want you to know that you and the boys were all I could think about. I can not wait to get home, our messy, lively home. Soon, I know we'll be getting zero sleep, and we'll be exhausted, but I will be doing it with you. That makes me extremely happy. You were my dream then, my dream now and my dream forever."

You sob into his chest, holding him tightly, as if he's going to disappear into thin air. The hug is a bit weird as your bump is in the way but it's the thing that you needed the most right now.

"If I could I would fuck you right now you look incredibly sexy." you say through tears and Buckys chest vibrate from the laugh.

"I'll make it up to you my love. I will have you in bed for a week straight, you'll be all mine. My pretty doll." He plants a sweet kiss on top of your head.

"Let's get you in bed. I'm sure you're tired." you only nod and let Bucky take care of you.

When you fall asleep, Bucky is wide awake looking at his beautiful family. He can't wait to get home and take care of you.

[THE END]

*extra*

<breaking news famous singer and guitarist Bucky Barnes is expecting a third child with his wife.>

<we can't get help but feel single when we see this couple! Bucky Barnes and his wife on stage last night! Buckys wife surprised him and requested her favorite song!!>

<after almost a year we see Bucky Barnes' wife and she is very much pregnant! we wish them the best!>

*comments*

omg such goals!

want someone to look at me the way bucky and his wife look at each other!

how does one looks so gorgeous while that pregnant she's literally glowing! Bucky is so lucky!

family goals

[magicalgirlsandcerulean]

Love Macho "Visual Novel"

Thanks again to restinpeacesensei for notifying me of this.

Note some of the pictures have text which adds to the experience, while others duplicate text from the tweets they're from - you could probably still read the former using a screen translator and read tweets with the autotranslation, but there was a bit of a misunderstanding going around about one of the routes which warranted a proper translation.

The bold sections indicate main decision points (the start, the Defence Club and the student council).

Feedback is welcome.

(Even if you did play this thing through at least once, it's fun to see where all the branches go.)

Play along by starting here...

Start: Setting aside the particulars [of how you managed to do so], somehow you transfer to Binan High School and you have #Your Encounter with that person...

----

The people who challenge this and share their results... ---- ...will go into a lottery to win a present of a 10000 yen Amazon gift card! Repost this tweet to increase your chances! ▼Tap the picture to begin!▼

(Picture: Tap to start!)

(Tap here.) You start your new life from today! On the way to school, you pass by... A: The Earth Defence Club

B: The student council

-> A: Earth Defence Club: For some reason, these people are noisy, huh?

A: Pass by them

B: Try calling out to them

C: Head towards the Kurotamayu

-> ->A: Pass by them: "Eh, your bag..."

A: "By any chance, is that made of pure gold?"

B: "Is that the thing that's viral on social media right now?"

-> -> -> A: "By any chance, is that made of pure gold?"

Surprisingly, you have an expert eye. That is exactly the case.

"I...have a feeling I'll get along with you."

He offers his hand for a handshake. He's looking at his bag and smiling...

(Cont. on picture)

"T-That-!"

Somehow, on his bag is a strap of a gold nugget!

”Of course, as a way of guaranteeing [it doesn't get lost], I carry it close to me."

"Yeah, gold's asset value doesn't fluctuate much, so be careful..."

You two talk finance to your heart's content.

This would be my destined meeting with him...(Io end.)

-> -> -> B: "Is that the thing that's viral on social media right now?"

Yes, surprisingly, you're a trend junkie and bought this bag, which you recently saw on social media.

"That's excellent! The cherry pattern on it is cute!"

(Cont. on picture)

"Actually, I bought it as well...Is that made of pure gold?" [4]

Yes, it seems to be of considerably good value. You worked hard at a part-time job, saved up and made a down payment to obtain it...

"I also worked hard to save!"

Then...

"Let's go cut loose, shall we?"

"Yes! Let's!"

This would be my destined meeting with him...(Ryuu end.)

-> -> B: Try calling out to them: "Excu~se me..."

A: "Does Binan High have a chikuwabu club?"

B: "Where's a good place to eat an after-school meal?"

-> -> -> A: "Does Binan High have a chikuwabu club?"

Of course, this place doesn't have a chikuwabu club...Your shoulders slump.

"How about asking the student council?"

(Cont. on picture)

"My previous school didn't have a chikuwabu club either..."

"Did it?"

You wanted to make a chikuwabu club, so you vented your feelings to him.

"...I can feel your passion. However, you can't make a club with less than 5 members."

...is it possible to gather 5 people with the philosophy of chikuwabu...?

"Well, do your best."

"...! Thank you!"

This would be my destined meeting with him...(En end.)

-> -> -> B: "Where's a good place to eat an after-school meal?"

"I know a delicious curry place."

The black-haired boy pushed up his glasses as he responded.

Hearing "curry", your eyes light up. Actually, curry is your favourite food, so much you carry it around in a thermos.

(Cont. on picture)

"Will you tell me where that place is?"

You want to know this at any cost, so you give in.

"That's fine. If it's fine with you, would you like to go together?"

Without hesitation, you nod.

"Yes please!"

"Well, how about next Wednesday [1]?"

You coordinate your schedules.

This would be my destined meeting with him...(Atsushi end.)

-> -> C: Head towards the Kurotamayu: Are you taking a bath now?

A: "Huh, is that a Binan High uniform?"

B: No one's around. You hear the sound of wood being chopped...

-> -> -> A: "Huh, is that a Binan High uniform?"

A petite boy appeared in the middle of the bathhouse.

"My family's bathhouse is the best! After all, it uses fresh hot spring water, untreated from the source! How about taking a bath before going to school?"

(Cont. on picture)

"...this bathhouse has the same name as me, so I went inside."

...well, to tell the truth, your name is Kurota Mayu [2]. It's read the same way [as the Kurotamayu].

"Heh------! Is that so? Somehow, I get the feeling you're extraordinarily lucky!"

This would be my destined meeting with him...(Yumoto end.)

-> -> -> B: No one's around. You hear the sound of wood being chopped...

You called out, but no one came...

*chop* *chop*

"??"

There is the sound of wood being chopped.

You try going out the back where the sound is coming from...where a brawny man is wholeheartedly chopping wood.

"Um...excuse me."

(Cont. on picture)

You timidly call out and the man notices you.

"Ah, a customer? Sorry about that."

He's kinda strong...

"This is a discount coupon. That's 'cos, from the looks of things, you look like you're also a Binan High student."

"? When you said 'also', you mean..."

"My little brother also goes to Binan High..."

A refreshing, quiet wind blows between the two of you.

This would be my destined meeting with him...(Goura end.)

-> B: The student council: Wah, these guys have something of an aura...

A: Comparing them to someone like me, I'm...

B: I have an official Business Skill Test in Bookkeeping, 2nd Grade [3]!

-> -> A: Comparing them to someone like me, I'm...: They, who gallantly appeared before you, saw you and unreasonably deepened your worries.

Then, you start to tell them, "It's the entire world's fault this happened...I'm not evil..."

(Cont. on picture)

"Donum!"

You can hear a voice from somewhere.

"Ugh!"

You feel something stabbing you in the neck...

In that moment, power wells up inside you.

"If I have this kind of power...!"

You head towards Binan High, acting upon an impulse of destruction...(Student council bad end.)

-> -> B: I have an official Business Skill Test in Bookkeeping, 2nd Grade [3]!: Perhaps, they are a group of talented person like you...? Having judged that to be the case, you suddenly appeal to them. "Heh?...We were looking for someone to manage the finances. Are you a transfer student?"

(Cont. on picture)

"I transferred here today. I'm Kurota Mayu [2]."

"To have a bookkeeping qualification at that age is promising," the silver-haired person said, while the other two nodded in agreement.

"As Akoya said, would you like to manage our finances?"

"Yes! I'll make good use of my qualifications and show you I can be helpful!"

Thus, it was decided you entered the student council!

This would be my destined meeting with them...(Student council good end.)

[Note 1: Might be reading into this too much, but Boueibu's season 1 aired late on Tuesday nights, i.e. Wednesdays.]

[Note 2: Japanese name order.]

[Note 3: 2nd grade is the highest possible grade you can get in this test. To get one, you'd need to score 70% - 100% and the pass rate is 20%.]

[Note 4: Originally, my brain rationalised this as the gold nugget keychain being on the bag, but...you can have bags with handles, clasps etc. made out of an alloy containing 24k gold and that can still count as "pure gold".]

Update: Added note 4. Thanks, restinpeacesensei.

[gxlds-doodles]

was thinking abt how much i miss the 2014-2015 era fnaf fandom and it's interpretations of the characters (oh vincent purple guy how i miss you.) so new au alert!! lil chibis of my vincent n phone guy <3 designs are very much inspired by the popular designs for them around that time (originally popularized/created by rebornica i believe - though these are completely separate from their au i am not associated with them in any way shape or form) 🎉✧ SUPER COOL EPIC LORE INFO UNDER THE CUT!!!!!!! ✧🎉

general lore ☆ basically a whole rewrite - not because i have issues with the story (i stopped paying full attention after sister location tbh) just for fun!! again very much based on me missing 2010s fnaf fandom that was PEAK to me ☆ i still tie in some pieces of the lore but for the most part. forget what u know abt fnaf this is a whole rewrite (ex. animatronics are sentient but not possessed by children - not possessed at all in fact!! except for perhaps a few exceptions but i'm working on it) ☆ these two have quite a lot of canon lore tie-ins but beyond these two it's different LOL ☆ set in or around 2014, timeline is a wip vincent dorian (formerly afton) ☆ italian on his dad's side, armenian on his mom's side ☆ william afton's only child, born while freddy's was open but doesn't remember it rlly - his father and henry emily were co-owners/business partners but split ways (aka william got fired bc henry found out what he did. why he didn't bring this to the cops i'm still working out) soon after he was born ☆ raised by william as a single father ☆ was forced to help his father kill since he was like 12 this guy's got TRAUMA. ☆ still deciding on why he's purple (boy why you ourple.) but ik that it's william's fault. idk if i wanna go the walking corpse route like with michael in canon yet ☆ cuts off his dad when he's 18 - moves out on his own, etc. ☆ still kills for reasons i am currently working on however he does NOTTTT kill children ☆ starts working at freddy's at 27 as a way to 'rebel' against his dad, even if he hasn't seen him in yeeears by this point ☆ night guard at first, eventual day shift guard and sometimes a technician when needed ☆ his hair is naturally still black - he dyes it purple bc he thinks it looks cool ☆ his red scrunchie matches the red of phone guy's head <3 scott emily ☆ THE DRAWING IS OF A VERY SPECIFIC POINT IN THE AU I HAVE YET TO FLESH OUT it's not the most reflective of his character overall ☆ puerto rican ☆ henry emily's only child - remembers a tiny bit about william, remembers being scared shitless of him ☆ gets caught in a fire set by william when he's 16. he barely makes it out alive ☆ henry makes him the phone head mask thing. it can *technically* be removed but it never is bc it keeps the scars that never quite fully healed from getting worse ☆ head somehow works like a real phone... don't ask i just thought the idea of him ringing when he feels strong emotions is rlly funny (henry makes sentient animatronics in this au he can do anything. everyone say ty plot device dad!!) ☆ has some sort of contacts made by his dad that allow him to see through the phone ☆ grew up with the restaurant, his dad managed the location he's currently at until passing the business and the manager position onto him when he was 25 and henry was ready to retire ☆ henry told scott the full truth about william shortly before retiring - including that he set the fire that he got caught in. it's made him pretty paranoid that he's coming for him or something's gonna happen to him, even if neither of them have heard from william since then and he's essentially off the grid ☆ always at the restaurant during opening hours but rarely ever seen bc he doesn't want to scare any of the kids with his phone head vincent & scott ☆ yes they're dating. everyone cheer!! early fandom purplephone was my SHITTTT i love them so much ugh they r everything 2 me ☆ ngl they remind me of poolverine (deadpool x wolverine). vincent is deadpool (VERY accurate.) and scott is wolverine (less accurate but their dynamic stands) ☆ scott finds vincent annoying at first but eventually warms up to him and now he loooooves him. he's still annoying but he loooooooooves him ☆ scott doesn't know vince is william's son at first since he changed his surname and looks completely different ☆ they're just rlly cute and deeply in love and got some angsty shit going on later but that'll be a surprise oooo

[utterlyrandomperson]

We Do After All Have A Case To Solve

Fandom: Dead Boy Detectives

Summary: When waiting for your mortal friends to complete their quest, one might have to resort to special methods to keep the boredom at bay. However, those special methods are also very likely to backfire.

Content warnings: swearing, tickling.

Edwin gasps and flinches away when he feels ten fingers lightly squeezing his waist. He turns around and catches sight of Charles, who is grinning cheekily.

"Mate, don't tell me you're ticklish?", he aks, though he is fully aware of the answer. Edwin eyes him with suspicion.

"What's this about?"

Charles tilts his head. "What's what about?", he responds with an innocent voice while slowly making a few steps towards the other. Edwin immediately backs up.

"What do you want?", he says, trying to sound annoyed. But the way his voice quivers gives him away. Charles smirks as he keeps approaching.

"To tickle you", he simply says.

"And why would you want that? I didn't do anything to provoke you", Edwin argues, his facade starting to break down. He has a nervous smile on his lips and his hands are raised, ready to defend himself. Charles laughs.

"Well, since we have to wait for Crystal and Niko to return so we can continue with our investigations, I have to find ways to keep my boredom at bay... and, unfortunately for you, tickling you seems like a fun thing to do. And besides, don't start with that 'didn't do anything to provoke you' bullshit. You were literally lecturing me like thirty seconds ago."

Edwin swallows when his back hits the wall. Theoretically, he could just fade through the wall. But somehow, his mind does not catch on that quickly. Before he can make an escape, Charles closes the distance between them and starts squeezing the other's hips. Edwin opens his mouth to protest, but a stream of giggles escapes him instead. He's gripping Charles' wrists but doesn't manage to push them away.

"Charles! Charles, stop thihis at once!", he exclaims. His giggles suddenly become more high-pitched and he bends his body forward to protect his hips.

"Please! You know I cahan't-"

Charles pauses. As soon as he does so, Edwin loosens his grip around his wrists, which allows for Charles to change their position so he's now holding onto the other's wrists. Edwin gasps for air and shakes his head.

"Don't, don't your dare-"

He cuts himself off with a burst of laughter when he feels hands kneading into his sides. He tries to break free by pushing the other away, but he's too weak already.It takes only a few more seconds until he can't take it anymore. His knees buckle and he slowly sinks to the ground, his back pressed against the wall.

Turns out that is exactly what Charles has been waiting for. As soon as Edwin goes down, he grabs one of his legs and buries his fingers in the hollow of his knee. Edwin cries out and tries to pull his leg away but fails miserably. He shuts his eyes and leans his head back, a stream of giggles making his whole body tremble. When Charles begins tickling the front and the back of his knee, he squeals and his laughter becomes louder and higher in pitch. It takes him several attempts to form words as he keeps interrupting himself with wheezes and fits of giggles.

"Not there! Not thehere, Charles I cahan't- plehease! Nonono please-"

Charles abandons his leg, only to grab the other one and repeat the same procedure, pushing Edwin into the next laughing fit.

"It is kind of funny to me that you didn't believe someone could be ticklish on their knees not too long ago. And now it turns out that you are even worse than me", he teases playfully. Edwin winces violently when he grazes his nails over the back of his thigh and Charles chuckles.

"Seriously, you're too ticklish for your own good."

Edwin tries to curl up, but he's trapped against the wall (and still doesn't realise he could simply fade through it... though that probably wouldn't make any difference anyway since Charles could just follow him). He has a weak grip on one of Charles' wrists, but he doesn't have any strength left to push it away.

"Mehercy! Please, Charles plehease."

He hiccups once before he bursts into giggles again. Charles smiles and slows down, leaving his knees alone and tracing patterns over his calfs instead. It's not nearly as torturous and allows Edwin to catch his breath.

"Wow, didn't think I'd ever hear you use the word 'please' in a sentence twice. Your knees must be a really bad spot."

Edwin decides to ignore the blush on his cheeks and scowls at the other. "I'll do what I must to get you to stop this nonsense. We actually have a case to-"

"Oh, stop acting like you are above all this. I know that part of you is enjoying it. Why else would you have conveniently forgotten that you could just make this stop by fading through the wall? Or through the floor, for that matter."

Edwin sighs. Yes, why indeed. Deep down, he knows as well as Charles does that the latter is right. He does enjoy this. Or at least he enjoys the lightheartedness of it. He shoots his friend a glare.

"I will get you back for this", he warns.

Charles breaks into a grin and tilts his head.

"I'm counting on it. But first-"

His hands shoot forwards before Edwin can react and attach themselves to his ribcage.

"-it's your turn."

Edwin shrieks and doubles over. He protectively crosses his arms in front of his chest, but Charles keeps finding new openings. Shortly after, the latter is tickling him all over. His hands dart from his ribs to his sides to his belly to his lower back. When he traces his neck and collarbones, Edwin's laugh falls silent for a few seconds before he inhales and bursts into a fit of hysterical giggles. He pulls up his shoulders and weakly pushes at the other's chest.

"Noho! Charles, for Gohod's sake!"

When Charles doesn't let up, Edwin curses under his breath. It's a very tame cuss, but Charles still raises his eyebrows at it and acts shocked.

"Edwin Payne! Did you just make use of a swearword? How very rude of you. I shall have to punish you for such indecency."

When he grabs onto the other's thigh and squeezes it, Edwin curses again, only this time a lot filthier and directed at Charles. The latter can't help but crack up.

"Wow, okay. Guess I had that coming."

Edwin shudders and frantically tries to push the hands away that have now found the back of his thigh.

"Stohop! Charles, this has been enohough!"

Charles slows down a bit but doesn't stop yet. "Say please one more time?", he asks innocently but with a mischievous grin on his face. Edwin glares at him but crumbles the second the other goes for his knees again.

"Alright! Plehease, please stohop."

Charles nods contentedly and draws his hands back, leaving Edwin as a panting and giggling mess. It takes him half a minute before he manages to calm his breathing and sit up.

"You're a menace, you know that?", he mutters. Charles gives him one of his signature smiles that makes it impossible to stay angry with him. Not that Edwin was angry with him in the first place. But he definitely does not plan on just allowing this to stand. So he makes a show of straightening his clothes to gain a couple of seconds to assess the situation. Then he clears his throat and looks Charles in the eyes.

"But you also know that I promised you revenge, right?"

Charles laughs, but he still eyes the other warily.

"Come on mate, do you seriously think you can get the upper hand over me in the condition that you're in? You couldn't even push my hands away a minute ago."

Edwin purses his lips.

"Maybe not, but I think you will probably let me get the upper hand. Perhaps I should mention that the alternative would be me convincing Crystal and Niko to assisst me, which you know they definitely will. So probably it's better if you just get it over with."

Charles stares at him and slowly shakes his head.

"Oh, you are playing dirty."

Edwin shrugs. "Thought I'd give you a taste of your own medicine. Now."

He suddenly closes the distance between them and grabs his leg.

"Let's see if I'm really that much worse than you."

Charles doesn't even have time to fully process what's happening before Edwin starts squeezing his thigh and skitters his nails over his knee. Despite his mind telling him to grab the other's hands or tickle him back, his body simply goes limp and he collapses onto the floor. As soon as he's lying on his back, Edwin seizes the opportunity and climbs onto his thighs to pin him down. Then he reaches back with one hand to continue tickling his knee while the other hand hovers over Charles to keep him in check.

The latter is bucking his hips and giggling, but he isn't so far gone that he's not able to try to fight Edwin off. After he's blocked two of Charles' attempts to push him off, Edwin clicks his tongue.

"Okay fine. Your knees aren't that ticklish. But I know a place that is."

Charles bursts into booming laughter the second Edwin starts tickling his waist.

"Nohoho!"

Edwin evades the hands reaching out for his own and keeps going, squeezing the other's sides and spidering over his belly. He even slides one hand beneath Charles' shirt and grazes his nails over the bare skin of his waistline. Charles immediately begins writhing and kicking while frantically shaking his head.

"No! I'm sorry! I'm sohorry, I- please, Edwihin!"

He tries to break free, tries to fight the other off. But all of his strength seems to have left his body. He protectively wraps his arms around his abdomen and curls up as much as possible, but Edwin's fingers still find ways to sneak past his defenses.

"Please! Edwin, plehease!"

"Charles, come on. It's been ten seconds", Edwin says with raised eyebrows, but his voice betrays his amusement. He gently tickles the other's lower back when he is presented with the opportunity due to Charles turning onto his right side. He's rewarded with a squeal followed by a stream of giggles and pleas.

"I- No- I can't, I fucking cahan't!"

Charles closes his eyes and focuses on getting air into his lungs. He's holding onto both of Edwin's wrists, but he doesn't manage to push him away. One moment he's close to screaming, the next he's shaking with silent laughter. Just when Charles is seriously considering screaming at the top of his lungs to make Edwin stop, he hears someone entering the room.

When he turns his head and catches sight of Crystal and Niko standing on the threshold, he only manages a very giggly "Hehelp!". But in combination with the tears sparkling in his eyes and the high pitch of his voice, it still conveys his urgency.

Crystal chuckles and walks up to them.

"Alright, alright. Whatever he's done this time Edwin, I think he's learned his lesson. But if you're not sure yet, you can always go for his upper ribs. That'll put him over the edge."

Charles wails and his squirming becomes more frantic.

"Noho! Please don't, Edwin please-"

He yelps when Edwin pinches his ribs, but the other doesn't repeat the action. Instead, he climbs off his thighs, which finally allows Charles to properly curl up on the floor.

"You are in luck, Charles. Now that Niko and Crystal have returned, we can finally continue working on our case, which I think has a higher priority than punishing you for your shenanigans. But this time, please do actually remember the lesson that I - apparently - taught you", Edwin says. Charles is still breathing heavily, but he still manages a cheeky grin.

"You know I won't, mate. Now, Crystal and Niko, would you like to inform us about what you've found out? We do after all have a case to solve."

Masterpost

[unhappytimeleaper]

This is part of my just random blurbs I post on the servers I’m on but no one understands so I’m forcing it on all of you.

Truly unedited thoughts. Gender neutral reader; no age is mentioned but the idea is reader is around Kei age.

This blog is 17+ please have your age in your bio or tagged; any ageless blog and below the age asked for will be blocked at the end of the week.

No warnings outside of yes, it is vague but it is still yandere and possible spoilers for part 8 of Jojo

Kira himself was weird. At least hard to deal with, his narcissistic nature and OCD being one side that you could manage, within small doses, but the other being his naturally cold demeanor made it much harder. Somehow, you did manage to keep some form of a friendship. It was always hard when you would bring things up, and he would brush it off or tell you to just cut them out. You had him; why waste your time with others. Correction, you occasionally had him; you knew he was fond of his own personal time and interests, plus sometimes you just need a break from his personality. Sure, it made him a little more grumpy when you called this out, but amends usually were made quickly, and you'd fall back into your routine with each other. In his own weird way, Kira knew she was more fond of you than pretty much any other person outside of his family, even if it was hard to tell. Something you probably only ever learn from his sister after his disappearance.

Josefumi always felt abandoned and left out less you were around. You checked in on him in conversations, invited him to plans, walked alongside him, and overall did your best to consistently remind him that he had value. Was it wrong for him to be sort of selfish when it came to you and how much you seem to want to be with him? It meant something special to have you around, even if only as a friend, and it wasn't like with Sakunami. Josefumi was, after all, who you always turned to as a close friend when Kira and you were doing your own thing. Although his brutally violence fighting was something you shouldn't forget, or could really as the aftermath of some of them had been burned into your mind, he overall was a kind and caring young man you admired a lot and took pride in being friends with. It wasn't hard to see his crush, a very apparent one, but nothing could ever come from it as soon as he up and vanished.

Enter Josuke, or Gappy, nicknamed by his two front teeth. An odd fellow who appeared from nowhere with what seemed no memories. Not to say he wasn't smart, but he lacked a sense of self and the world around him. And despite this. Not knowing who he is, who anyone is really, he notes there is something strange about you. Not in a bad way, but like your fates are connected. That he cares for you even if he doesn't remember who you are. And despite everything, those feelings from both Kira and Josefumi only seem to be brought more and more to the front as you spend time. There is no memory of who you were to them; they are all separate people after all, but the care he has seems deeply burned into his soul. Something he doesn't want to lose, no matter what it takes.

You knew this wasn't them even as you learn and piece together this was the two friends you had lost. Gappy was someone new, and you couldn't push the life you had in the past with "them" onto him. It crushes you to be around him at times, you admit to yourself. The loss of both Kira and Josefumi was devastating; after all, even with the troubling nature they both could have, you did care for them as friends. And Gappy himself wasn't bad; he had many good traits and was fun to be around, but it's not like he could fill the hole in your heart. But even with the distance you tried to put in, acknowledging to him it's nothing he did or didn't do, you just needed space. Time. One day, maybe things would heal more, and you'd be able to truly befriend the new boy.

Distance isn't possible, though; the feelings of Kira and Josefumi, even without memories of who they are, are ingrained in a way he can't understand or explain. Like an invisible string connecting those they held dear to each of his fingers, he can't see what makes them special; he just feels it to his core. And he can't let it slip away, let you slip away when you hold the secrets to his past and to the weird drumming of his heart. Please, just stay a little longer? His drive is relentless, and while he can play cute to keep you around if what it takes, he does have other means he'd be willing to try if you keep pushing him away.

[hunterwritesstuff]

Full on nsfw hcs of the arch angels plz <3 take ur time

HELL YEAH, UNDER THE CUT BECAUSE MINORS DON'T READ, ENJOY, POOKIES! <3

☠️ Azrael is a dom. Full stop. Sure, some things may catch him off-guard, but like. still a dom.

☠️ Very much so into light degradation and heavy praise. He likes seeing you squirm under him.

☠️ As vocal as he can be in bed(Vocal chord injury).

☠️ Any potential noises he may make in bed are growls, low grunts, and deep moans.

☠️ Heaven help you if there are mirrors nearby.

☠️ He likes being able to see you fall apart :)

☠️ Also like, really likes railing you into the bed.

☠️ Azrael is SLIGHTLY Bi(I do what I want lmao), so like. Man? Woman? Doesn't matter. The instant you say yes to doing something intimate with him(consent is very important), good luck walking-

🔥 Dom. You can't take that shit away from him. If you try, he will bite you.

🔥 His flame basically is just hair, so like, if you want extra noises, just tug on it. If he sees you reaching for it, he'll get what you're going for and basically make it no-burn. He likes it getting tugged.

🔥 He's. pretty into bondage, weirdly enough. On you, specifically. On him, it's a, ah...pretty big fire hazard unless it's specially made, and that's a little too expensive for him to feel it's worth it.

🔥 He ain't afraid to degrade you if he thinks you're misbehaving(it typically gets discussed beforehand, if it makes you uncomfy, he won't, he'll just gently correct you).

🔥 Very into overstim. Al.Also edging.

🔥 Heaven FUCKING help you.

☀️ Bottom, I'm sorry.

☀️ Very vocal. Begging, whimpering, whining, moaning, gasping, groaning, you name it!

☀️ He will most likely cling onto you during the act.

☀️ If you edge him while riding him, he'll beg desperately for you to keep going, that he'll be a good boy, that he'll do whatever you want, just please don't stop!

☀️ If you pin him down, he'll get even more riled up.

☀️ If you're into overstim and keep riding him after he's initially released, he's immediately more vocal, alternating between begging you to stop and keep going(he means the keep going bit btw, if he asks you to stop without using your safeword, he doesn't mean it /gen)

☀️ Straight, and loves when you suck him off. Like, it causes him to unravel so Goddamn fast.

🗡️ Hard dom. Do with that what you will.

🗡️ He has this whole thing about being in control the whole time. You obviously have say in shit, but like, he prefers being in control.

🗡️ Closeted gay. This is hilarious considering things about him.

🗡️ Very vocal.

🗡️ Into degradation. It goes both ways. He finds it hot that you think you can get under his skin, but if you actually manage to, chances are high that he'll pick up the pace.

🗡️ Chances are high that while he's railing you, he'll probably jerk you off. Also like, he'll definitely try to control your orgasm as much as he can. He loves hearing you beg for him to let you release.

🗡️ Definitely into cockwarming. Also like, that thing where you sit on his dick while he's in a meeting and have to try to not move or make any noises the whole time. He likes seeing you squirm :)

Bonus!

⚕️ Raphael is a like. Switch.

⚕️ Somehow has a bondage kink. He doesn't know where it came from either.

⚕️ We stan a pan king <3

⚕️ All he really cares about is that you love him for him, and that you don't have any malicious intent, and that you're doing it because you want to.

⚕️ VERRY heavy on praise! Both for you and him!

⚕️ If he hears any noise from you that may be trying to say your safeword or slightly pained, he pauses to ask if you're okay.

⚕️ He's just. Very kind and loving during the act.

⚕️ He isn't afraid to mark you tho

⚕️ Very vocal. Whimpering, praise, moaning, grunts, groans, he's just. verrry vocal.

⚕️ Overall? Total sweetheart during the act! And after of course, but that goes for all of the boys here(Yes, even Michael) <3

[yuri-is-online]

If the 500 followers event is still open, would be alright to ask for prompt 15 with Ortho? Platonic obviously! I just think the robot boy deserves some more love. Thanks! <3

15. Formal balls weren't a thing in your world so you have been hiding in this strategically chosen corner to avoiding having to step on anyone's toes. Unfortunately someone really, really, REALLY, wants to dance with you and has managed to track you down AGAIN.

I was surprised to get Ortho requests this event since I haven't exactly written anything specifically dedicated to him but he is such a good character. He deserves all the love and friendship in the world, and this prompt suits him well given how he acts with Idia.

notes: they/them used for Yuu, Ortho is meant to be post Ch. 6, Yuu is sort of an introvert and a bit self depreciating, that's ok Ortho is here to give some encouragement! The other event requests can be found on my masterlist here.

This had been a mistake.

As much as you liked looking out on the fantastic scenery in front of you, it is all extremely overwhelming. Almost like it's wasted on you, the magical scenery is simultaneously completely comprehensible and extremely unnatural. You've seen pictures of Masquerade balls, seen them used in anime, listened to songs, and thought long and hard about just what it was you would do if you ever magically got invited to one. And now that you actually have been you are faced with the grim reality that no, just because everyone is wearing a mask that doesn't mean that you will suddenly overcome your distaste for crowds or figure out how to dance.

"Yuu!" Now if only you could make a certain someone agree. "There you are! You're getting better at this hiding thing." Ortho floats to keep himself at eye level with you, cheeky toothy smile freed for the special occasion.

"Really?" You groan, maybe you can bargain your way out of this one.

"Ha ha no." Ortho laughs, moving to cut you off from your exit and repeats the same question that's been haunting you all night. "Please dance with me Prefect! It'll be a bunch of fun."

"Don't wanna." You huff in an all too familiar way to Ortho, but he is surprised to find himself at a bit of a loss. Idia is Idia, and you are Yuu, his data is lacking on what to suggest to get you to agree to his request. It's a bit exciting actually, like playing an RPG blind and still trying to get a good end with your favorite companion.

[Ortho: Persuasion] "But I really want to dance with you, Prefect." He makes sure to sag his joints just enough to invoke sympathy without seeming like he is about to throw a tantrum. It seems to sort of work, but not in the way he really wants it to. You just look like you feel horrible for disappointing him and uncomfortable.

"I'm really sorry Ortho." you try to keep your breathing steady, flustered between seriously considering his request (there's no pressure if you are just dancing with a friend, right?) and still trying to plan your out. "But I am just not good at formal stuff like this at all, we don't have big parties like this in my world anymore. And even when there were dances in my world it's not like I ever got invites to any of them." Maybe that's the real reason you don't want to go out onto the floor, not that you can't dance. Deuce certainly isn't able to do things properly no matter how hard he is trying, and Ace is not even doing that. But you still don't quite feel like you... belong here, not after how big of a deal Crowley made out of your invitation being something he was "obliged" to give. "And I don't even know how to dance! I'll just step on everyone's feet and make things awkward."

"Hm, well then that's all the more reason for you to dance with me!" Ortho is... laughing? Not in a mean spirited way, but kindly. It's a soothing tone somehow, and as he mock bows you don't feel like he is intending on making you the butt of a joke at all. "I don't have any toes for you to step on, and if anyone you are uncomfortable with tries to make you dance I can just blow them up with my lasers."

"Uh maybe don't do that?" You gingerly take his hand and let the floating boy spin you around in a dance that's more similar to two children on a playground than a proper ballroom sway, but between just how happy he is and how quickly your other friends join in you cannot bring yourself to remain embarrassed for long.

"That's right prefect," Ortho whispers when he notices you have finally calmed down, "you aren't in your world anymore. And sometimes that probably sucks but tonight? It means that you are very much invited to the ball. Awesome right?!" He means that last bit about himself as much as he does you, you suppose but that doesn't make it any less true. Tonight, you are very much exactly welcome and where everyone wants you to be.

[ghost-proofbaby]

She knows him. She doesn’t know how or why. But she swears it on her life, she knows this pale elf.  She can’t explain the echoing hollow ache that rings out at the up-close sight of him any other way. She knows him, knew him, and had somehow lost him.

summary: aruna meets gale. aruna meets shadowheart. but, somehow, none it matters - they're not astarion, and she's beginning to think this astarion doesn't exist.

wc: 5.3k+

warnings: continued memory loss, more canon violence/gore. a lot of gameplay recount. spoilers for the game below (act 1, ravaged beach).

a/n: anyone else fail that perception check when meeting astarion? just me? that's cool. i can't even be mad when a pretty boy holds a knife to my throat. also, if some of this isn't 100% game accurate/lore accurate, do not come for me. we're here for a good time! not an accurate time!

masterlist | previous chapter | next chapter

Aruna and Astarion. Astarion and Aruna. Aruna – Astarion. 

She echoes the two names in her mind an impossible amount of times. The one name, her name, clicks right into place for her. It makes sense. Her name is Aruna, there’s not a single doubt within her regarding that. And even if there had been, she’s already laid claim to it – she’s already introduced herself to the two strangers she’d managed to stumble upon on the beach as such. 

Shadowheart and Gale. Kind souls, a bit guarded but fair given the circumstances. They share a common affliction, one that Aruna hadn’t even noticed in the daze of her awakening on the beach – a worm in their heads. Literally. 

And she should be pondering more about how odd that is, all the squirming in her brain that she can feel, the way that she managed to connect telepathically with both of these strangers upon running into them, but she isn’t. 

Because, apparently, according to this mysterious letter addressed to her, she’s supposed to save Astarion. And neither of them are Astarion. 

Who the hell is Astarion? 

Maybe it could be one of her new companions; either of them could have lied regarding their name easily. But she had seen into their minds, and they had proven trustworthy so far. Hell, Gale was even offering to cook some sort of dinner for all of them in their current makeshift campsite they had chosen. A clearing in the edge of the woods, not too far from the beach, but certainly not wandering any further than necessary into the unfamiliar grounds they’ve found themselves crashed onto. They’d snagged some bedrolls out of random chests discarded by the crash (they had all doubted the previous owners were even still alive), made a makeshift fire pit in the center of the clearing, and declared it home – for now. 

It didn’t feel like home. Felt the furthest from home Aruna could have possibly been, and she didn’t even remember where her home was. Or if she had one before all of this. 

“What have you got there?” Gale asks casually from where he stands over the dinner he was scrounging together, pulling Aruna away from all her stubborn thoughts.

They had turned one of the fallen trees into a bench of sorts. Waist level and the perfect place for him to carefully cut up mushrooms they had found along their way with a stolen knife they’d secured. It was the beginnings of a home, gut feelings aside. 

“Hm?” Aruna hums, looking up from her palm, closing it on instinct, “What?” 

Gale stops all movement, eyes narrowing in her further at her closed fist, “The stone you’re holding. Did you find it during our travels?” 

Ah. The stone. One of two items she had found in the mysterious pouch on her body. She’d been mindlessly flipping it between her hands, fingers sliding over the smooth surface as she had studied it. Her investigation had proven half useful when she’d realized there was a carving on the flattest surface of the stone – a  crescent moon, just like one of her daggers. 

She could be honest. But for some reason, she feels protective over the stone. Especially after noticing that carving, “Oh, yeah. Saw it on the side of the road and it looked pretty unique. I’ll probably toss it away when we start back up on the road tomorrow.” 

Like Hells will I be letting it out of my sight. 

She doesn’t know much, frustratingly so, but she knows that this unusual stone is not the kind you would stumble upon on the road. Gale clearly knows as much as well, looking entirely unconvinced as they suddenly stare each other down in silence. 

He’s giving her an opportunity to be honest. As if she owes him the truth. 

“It’d be a shame to get rid of such an… unique stone.”

It would be. And he clearly believes it’s far more than a stone. But it only makes her fingers curl far more tightly around the opal, feeling the rough edge of the moon pressing into her skin. 

“Maybe I’ll sell it,” she shrugs, trying to put up an act of indifference, “It looks pretty enough to earn a decent amount of gold, right?” 

As if to prove her point, to further sell this careless act, she lets her hand fall back open. The moon carving is safe against her palm and out of sight, and the stone glimmers in the moonlight. 

“Looks like it would be worth more than just a bit of gold,” Gale says, taking a few steps closer to get a better look. On instinct, Aruna nearly bristles. “That- Are you aware of what that is-”

“Is dinner done?” Shadowheart interrupts with perfect timing. Her distraction lets Aruna quickly move to shove the stone away back into her pouch, having no interest in some sort of lecture from Gale. 

She doesn’t know what it is. But it’s hers, and his hungry eyes on the small artifact are enough to tell her to keep it far away from him. 

“Pardon me?” Gale blinks a few times, taking longer than a normal person might to register Shadowheart’s questions. He’s still focused on Aruna’s hand that now rests emptily against her lap. “Oh! Oh, no. Not quite. Sorry, my hungry friends. Just a few more minutes. It won’t be much but, it’ll be something. Excellent fuel to continue our search for a healer tomorrow, I assure you.”

Shadowheart says something more as she takes a seat on another makeshift bench they’d set up, and Gale responds with ease this time, but Aruna has tuned them both out. 

He’s probably right. Tomorrow, they need to find a healer. She needs to worry more about the worm in her head. She needs to reassess her priorities.

But it’s awfully hard when not only that stone, but that letter burns a hole in her pack, and she’s dreadfully aware that as kind and oddly trusting these people have been given their current situation, neither of them are Astarion.

And the letter said to save Astarion. Not Shadowheart, not Gale, not even herself. But Astarion. 

—

“So, what were your lives like before this entire mess and impending doom of ceremorphosis?”

Gale is a chatty traveling companion. Aruna learns this quickly when they wake the next morning and gather their packs, and she’d even had half the mind to begin a map of sorts so she can mark their camp and the surrounding areas they’ve already explored on it. All her sketches, trees and scribbles to depict the Nautiloid crash, are abysmal at best. But it’s something. If they can just be smart, if they can just be aware of their surroundings, they might be able to continue to call their perfect clearing home. 

Besides, none of them really wanted to continue to carry every single thing they had gathered thus far in their packs. 

Whatever they left surely is at risk of being found by others wandering, and they could be robbed blind of any supplies left behind, but Aruna is just glad for the lack of an ache in her back as she adjusts her pack. 

Shadowheart nearly trips over her steps, as if not expecting the question and clearly panicking over what to say, but Aruna decides to speak up first.

“I can’t remember,” she says plainly, monotonous as she continues to confidently stride forward. They’re nearly back to the main path they had discovered, and something is tugging her back in the direction of that damned beach. 

Shadowheart trips again, and this time, Aruna truly can’t tell if it’s due to shock or simply not watching where she was going in her effort to keep up. 

“What?” Gale chuckles under his breath, as though Aruna’s told a joke. He’s keeping pace with her fairly impressively, “I know this entire journey thus far has been fairly startling, but a symptom of ceremorphosis is not memory loss. Surely, you remember at least where you’re from.” 

“I don’t,” Aruna finally slows, letting Shadowheart fall into place on her right as she faces Gale, “I… I have no memories from before the ship. I must have just hit my head exceptionally hard, or maybe that worm is digging around in places in my brain that it isn’t in yours.” 

It’s a bold show of trust. She should feel more resistance towards laying out her troublesome internal quarrel so plainly to Gale, but she doesn’t. It’s almost as easy as fiddling with her daggers by the campfire, or mindlessly flipping around that stone in her pack. 

She should trust him, shouldn’t she?

Yes, something screams inside of her. The thing she felt locked up inside of her finally finds its voice, it seems, as it calls to her, you should trust him. Trust him with all that you have. 

The issue, of course, is that Aruna doesn’t have much. Material-wise nor of internal self. 

She has daggers. She has a pretty stone. She has a tarnished ring. She has a name. She has instructions to save Astarion, whoever that elusive bastard may be.

She doesn’t have much to offer. To trust with. 

“How very interesting,” Gale murmurs as he looks at her with nothing but unbridled curiosity, “Well, as I said, it’s not a symptom of ceremorphosis. As far as I’ve read, at least.”

Aruna eyes him wearily, instinct to trust be damned, “Yes, you seem to do a lot of that.” 

He throws his head back in a laugh and- why does it pull on her heartstrings like something of recognition? Why does something about this very moment all feel so familiar? 

The deja vu nearly makes Aruna sick, Gale completely unaware as he says, “Reading? Why, yes, I do. A hungry mind is crucial to surviving this world, I’ve found.” 

Why is his laughter so familiar? Why does it spark a flicker of warmth in her chest, as though he’s some old friend she’s shared endless laughs with while gathered around a fire? 

It terrifies her. 

It was different, inanimate objects holding that flame of warmth and unlocking pieces of her. Daggers carved with nighttime symbols and a stone to match don’t scare Aruna; real people that she might have real history with do. 

“I’m sure your hungry mind is very happy, then, having been fed a worm worthy of a feast,” she tries to say it snappily, but it still all comes out a bit flat. 

And Gale only laughs more – Gods, she wishes he would stop, so that the waves of a memory she can’t catch will finally recede – and it’s clear he’s not affected by her defenses. 

He finally tilts his eyes back forward, trained on her, a ghost of a smile still lingering, “Ah, well, not quite. I prefer feasts of words, of knowled-”

“You know what else is crucial to surviving this world?” Shadowheart interrupts, shifting her weight from one foot to the other in a clear sign of her losing patience, “Finding a healer, and getting rid of the worm. Shall we carry on?” 

Aruna shares a final glance with Gale, and can’t help but also find the corners of her mouth twitching up, a mirror to his own. For the first time in several days, it almost feels as though she might have a friend. The exact opposite result of what she had intended by trying to be particularly sharp and even a bit sarcastic, but she doesn’t fight it. 

Instead, she nods to Shadowheart, and Gale motions for her to take the front as he bows, “Lead on, as you were.” 

Gale is not Astarion. She has no instructions to save him. And yet, she can’t help but feel her defenses are too weak, given the way he’s beginning to crack them with so few prods. Maybe his inquiry regarding her stone had been in genuine curiosity, a hungry mind as he had put it. Maybe he’s just trying to be friendly. Maybe he has good intentions after all. 

Maybe she does know him, and maybe her letter had just forgotten to add another crucial reminder.

Maybe she’ll add it when she gets back to camp. 

She can see it now, as if the words have already been solidified by pen to paper: P.S.S DO NOT FORGET TO FIND A FRIEND IN GALE. 

—

Shadowheart is far from amused when Aruna leads them back to the beach. Yet, to be fair, it’s hers and Gale’s fault for following her so blindly.

She knows there’s no healer on the beach. But something is calling her back to it. 

“The-” Shadowheart starts the moment the sand comes back into view. Trailings of sand mingle with the dirt below their feet, “We’re back on the beach? Haven’t we already established that there’s no healer on this ravished thing?” 

“Good name for it,” Aruna whispers more for herself than her companions, considering adding that to her map when they retire for the night. She turns to face Shadowheart and forces a smile. A kind, disarming type of look in hopes that the girl will just trust her, “Call it a gut feeling. I just feel like we missed something here.” 

“A gut feeling? We’ve already looted all the corpses. What more could there possibly be?”

“We only checked one side of the beach.”

“Yes, because to get to the other side, we’ll have to go through the damn crash rubble. Filled with those- those brain things.” 

“There’s three of us. I have faith.”

“I-”

Gale’s head turns back and forth, bouncing between the arguing girls. He seems perfectly content to add any commentary, almost at ease with the current argument, until Aruna’s hand moves to her hip.

Aruna is quick to pull a dagger from one of her sheaths. Immediately, all relaxed state of being drains from Gale, him paling and stepping forward to finally insert himself between them, “Woah, now! I don’t think there’s any need to-”

“I’m not going to stab her, Gale,” Aruna huffs. Shadowheart doesn’t look very convinced as Aruna focuses on her once more, dagger still hovering up in their line of sight, “I was trying to make a point – we have weapons. Gale has magic. And you’ve said you’re a cleric, which means you can heal. I doubt those ‘brain things’ – devourers, by the way, is the correct term – will even lay a claw on us between all our varying skill sets. If you don’t want to go to the other side of the beach, then don’t. I can’t force you. But you’ve both put your faith in me this far, what harm can a little more do?” 

The speech works. She doesn’t expect it to. She expects them to laugh at her, or walk away from her, or for Shadowheart to even start a proper fight. 

They don’t. 

They follow her right into danger, no hesitation. The wizard she’d saved from a portal in some cliff-side rock and the cleric she’d awoken on the beach when she’d stumbled upon her, faithful to her to a damaging fault. Even when the intellect devourers do attack, just as Shadowheart had worried they would, neither utter a single word so much as sounding like the well-deserved ‘I told you so’. 

They just use their skill sets. The very ones Aruna had pointed out. Her daggers, Shadowheart’s cleric artillery, Gale’s infallible spells – they use them for all they’re worth, until each of those brains are unrecognizable on the ground. 

And best (or possibly worst) of all, Aruna discovers something new about herself.

Her magic. 

She hadn’t even been sure if she held any useful skills beyond being decently good with her daggers thus far, but as one of those brains had trampled towards her, she had felt it. A warm hum beneath her skin, erratic and wild as can be, begging for release. 

Release it, she did. The final brain falls from the power of the fire bolt that flies from her fingertips, not even leaving her so much as marked. 

Gale notices immediately, Shadowheart still scoping out the area for any more enemies. 

“A fellow magic wielder, it seems,” he grins, motioning vaguely to her hands, “Now, if only we knew what kind.” 

What kind? 

“If you have no memory of your life before the ship, I’m correct to assume you aren’t very knowledgeable in the boundaries of your magic, yes?” She hadn’t even realized she had said the thought out loud until Gale is in front of her, still rambling, a light of intrigue in his eyes, “There’s wizards such as yours truly,” he pauses, and motions over himself in flourish, “As well as warlocks. Those, however, usually answer to a patron. So unless you’ve had any strange callings to any great deities over the last few nights… well, it’s off the table, I suppose.” 

“I haven’t,” she croaks, still looking down at her fingertips in shock. Magic. She still feels it now. Probably could have felt it this entire time, had she not been so distracted by the tadpole, the headaches, the memory loss. It’s fluid and tangible, something bursting through her veins for her taking, “I- What would that even feel like?”

“You’d know,” Gale says most assuredly, “Trust me. Besides, your patron probably would have already found you by now.”

“So, I’m a wizard?” 

Gale is quick to shake his head as Shadowheart walks back over to them, “Not necessarily. It’s certainly an option, and would make you a magic wielder who learned their knowledge of the Weave through studies. But there’s also other possibilities – sorcerers, paladins, clerics. They all have the ability to wield some magic. Druids, too, although theirs are usually more of the healing nature. And, well… the nature variety in general.” 

All words that make little sense to Aruna. She gives it a moment, waits to see if her muddled brain might catch up and offer her a little help in understanding, but it’s all in vain. 

“I should know these things,” she whispers, so quietly that both Gale and Shadowheart have to lean in to hear her small tone. It’s the first time she’s openly shown such emotion with them – something like devastation, laced with frustration. The inability to remember, to know, as they do. “Even if my memories of my life before this evade me, I should know these things.” 

Shadowheart speaks up in a tone unlike any other she had used on their journey, “They might still return to you yet, or there might be a greater reason for it all. Don’t give up hope.”

“And if they don’t return to you,” Gale interjects, the air of casualty returning to him as he gives a lopsided grin, “Well, I can always teach you about it all. I have books back at camp.” 

“You have books?” Out of all the things just said, it was probably the most odd for Aruna to latch onto, but she still looks at him befuddled, “Where in the Hells did you just get… books on all this? Did you loot them off of-”

“Bag of holding,” he answers as though it was obvious. 

Great. Awesome. A bag of holding. Because Aruna totally knew what that was. 

“Let’s just keep moving,” she moves on, letting it go. Maybe she’ll take him up on his offer, maybe she won’t. If anything else, she’ll just inquire more about whatever the Hells a bag of holding is later on, back at camp, “I can see the other side of the beach over there.” 

It’s Shadowheart and Gale’s turn to exchange a look, and slowly but surely, it’s feeling as though more than just the tadpoles in their mind are connecting them. Threads are being spun, small connections that are painfully mundane yet easily connecting these three strangers. They could all be friends, if they really wanted to. It might even make their survival a little bit easier. It might make their travels a little lighter.

Aruna can worry about friendship once she’s found Astarion, though. The faceless stranger mentioned in passing on a letter, the one person she’s been tasked with saving.

She doesn’t even know who he, or she, or they are. This mysterious name – it really means nothing to her. All she has to reasonably cling to it is that ridiculous letter. If she were to confide in her two companions about it, she’d probably get an earful, and truly be abandoned. They wanted to seek out a cure to the imminent danger within their heads, and she was sending them on a wild goose chase for Astarion. 

Does this Astarion even have a tadpole as well? Is that how she’s meant to save them? And if they don’t, does that mean that they’ll help her with her issue first, and then she saves them? 

Does she have to save them in order to rid herself of the tadpole? 

It’s all giving her a headache by the time their group of three is slowly walking up the slope of the sliver of beach they’ve discovered, taking small yet sturdy steps along the side of the crashed ship. Gale, thankfully, has stopped his nervous rambling (because, Aruna realized, that’s what it was. His nerves, controlling his tongue endlessly, trying to fill the dreadful silence for even the smallest bit of comfort. It almost makes her feel bad for being grateful for the quiet).

She must have been thinking about her questions hard enough for some mysterious power out in the Universe to hear her, however. Because they’d hardly been walking for a few minutes, she’d hardly been left to all her confusion and cursing of the damn name for such little time, when she sees him. 

Him. Decent height, pure white hair, pale skin that is nearly blinding in the harsh sunlight. 

Him. With eyes so red, she can see them from this distance. They almost match the shades of crimson that haunt her nightmares. 

Him. Who is currently, pathetically, calling out for help. 

“What the-” Shadowheart begins. And Aruna doesn’t notice it, but she starts to reach out to grab the elf by her elbow before she’s beginning to dart up the hill, falling right into the trap. 

Both of her companions, Shadowheart in her guarded glory and Gale in his perpetual state of anxiety, can’t even stop her. Neither dare to breathe out a word as she approaches the pale elf, but she can feel their disapproval as she comes up beside him. 

“You,” he breathes out, half crouched, eyes darting towards the bushes, “Hurry. I’ve got one of those brain things cornered,” he turns and points towards the bushes, assuming where the said brain thing has been lured, “There, in the grass. You can kill it, can’t you? Like you killed the others.” 

She should have been smarter. She should have been more perceptive. She should have heard Gale’s deep breath as he prepared to warn her against getting any closer. 

But she wasn’t. 

She’s a damned fool, a lamb to the slaughter, as she nods and whispers out an immediate, “Of course.” 

There’s no brain thing that has been cornered. The only thing that has been lured is Aruna; one moment, she’s leaning in to get a closer look into the bushes, and the next, a wild boar is skittering out. 

That’s not what catches her off guard.

The blade to her throat is what does it. Quickly, with unsettling ease, before she feels the elf’s arms wrapping around her and bringing them both down to the ground. 

Oh, fuck me. 

He has her trapped. She knows it, he knows it, and both her companions know it. She was an idiot and got exactly what was coming for her. 

All her survival instincts kick in immediately, causing her to trash in his arms, a painful whine coming out as she can feel the cold metal digging deeper into the delicate skin of her neck. 

And all the pale elf does is shush her gently, “Sh, sh, sh, sh. Not a sound. Not if you want to keep that darling neck of yours.” 

His words do little to deter her. He starts to argue with her companions who have finally come to their senses, keeping a safe distance all while spilling out carefully calculated threats to the stranger, but she can’t hear them over the blood rushing in her ears. One hand feebly grabs onto his that is wrapped around the hilt of the dagger, the other reaching for his elbow. She tries to tug the weapon away from her, but he’s strong. It’s a fruitless battle. 

Aruna swears she hears Shadowheart insist she needs her alive. Gale saying something regarding the way he’ll make the elf regret it if he brings Aruna any harm. She can’t be sure. 

The longer his steady grip on her shoulder lingers, the more familiar it begins to become. His leg, trapping both of hers so that she can’t kick out of his grasp, is also familiar. Familiar, familiar, familiar. 

His lips are moving as he stares up at her companions, but it’s only once his eyes narrow back on Aruna that her heart slows and she can hear him properly once more. 

“Now,” he nearly purrs, voice low, dangerous, “I saw you on the ship, didn’t I?” 

She presses her lips together tightly, still trying to maintain her struggle to get out of his grasp. Her teeth grit from the effort, arms shaking violently. 

“Nod,” he commands, nearly condescendingly, and synapses fire off in the darkest corners of her brain. 

I know that voice. 

She almost feels as though she has no control over her body as her head nods on instinct, blade dropping from her neck to her chest now. 

“Splendid. And now, you’re going to tell me what you and those tentacled freaks did to me.” 

I know that voice. 

The same thing deep within her chest that had unfurled at the sight of Gale’s laughter, that had called her to the beach, that had lit up with recognition at the sight of her daggers – it’s wide awake now. Staring through her eyes at his own rubies, tracing every outline of every wrinkle, every curve, every imperfection. She knows his voice. She knows him. 

It weeps at the sight of him, and she has no idea why. The same strings that clench when she reads over her letter, when she let her eyes trace over the words ‘My dearest Aruna’ and the heavily underlined name of Astarion, are now pulled taut. 

She knows him. She doesn’t know how or why. But she swears it on her life, she knows this pale elf. 

She can’t explain the echoing hollow ache that rings out at the up-close sight of him any other way. She knows him, knew him, and had somehow lost him.

Her lack of an answer clearly irritates him, but he’s cut off by whatever quip he had perched on his tongue by the sudden connection. She doesn’t understand it, whether it be due to the new rolling thunder of the most intense deja vu she’s experienced yet or if it were a simple side effect of the tadpole, but each connection via the tadpole has become more painful. More intense. 

She’d first noticed the difference between it happening with Shadowheart versus Gale. 

And now, she notices it an impossible amount with this stranger. 

It’s nauseating as their minds connect, sharp and quick as if their two brains had been laying in wait for this very moment. It feels as though it goes beyond the tadpoles, beyond their shared affliction and terrible predicament. 

She sees bustling taverns and lively night streets, yes, but there’s something more there. Something missing. She’d felt it with Gale as well, an emptiness neither of them could seemingly unlock. But with this one, it’s far more intense than it had been previously. Like gaping wounds being presented to her, interspersed with the exchange of both his memories and… well, the lack of hers beyond the Nautiloid ship, she sees gaps. Spaces to be filled. Questions to be answered. 

I know that voice, the thing in her whimpers, I know this man. 

She doesn’t even care to hold onto the memory. She lets it slip away, wishing the pain would, too. 

But it lingers. 

Not just for her, but for him as well. His grip entirely loosens on her as he winces, a soft gasp falling from his lips as he begins to question, “What was that-”

She doesn’t care to listen to his question. In an instant, she’s pulled away, rolling out of his reach before standing steady on both feet. The pain leftover from the connection fuels her as she holds a hand out, and her magic thrums steadily with her heart as electricity crackles in the palm. 

Neither Gale nor Shadowheart make a single move as she holds out that palm, watching the elf’s every moment as he also rises to meet her. But he’s no longer hostile, hand holding his dagger now limp as he lets it rest at his side. 

“You’re… not one of them,” he says slowly, shame briefly flickering over his features before being replaced with something more despairing, “They took you. Just the same as me.” 

Her fingers shake in front of her as blue bolts continue to flicker amongst them, forming spasming webs between her knuckles. She could obliterate him, if she wanted. Right here, right now, she finally has the upper-hand. 

But she doesn’t. And in her hesitation, she can see him still reeling just as she was from their connection. She swears she can hear the pounding in his head syncing to hers, perfectly in time with one another.

The thing inside her claims to know him, but she doesn’t even know his name. 

I know him. Don’t hurt him. 

She sort of hates that internal dialogue. That true monster inside of her that had been the reason she hadn’t hesitated in her running to his rescue. It was the reason that she’d ended up with a knife against her throat, and she’s praying it’s not the reason for her death as she listens and closes her hand into a soft fist, releasing the hold on her magic momentarily. 

He watches her do it. His face relaxes, a charming smile gracing it now instead. 

“And to think, I was ready to decorate the ground with your innards. My sincerest apologies.” 

She highly doubts just how sincere that apology is, but she’s unphased all the same. 

“Apology accepted,” she sighs, swiping her palm on the side of her now dirty pants. Somewhere beneath the dust she’s now covered in, there’s blood from the intellect devourers, but that’s a problem for tonight. Not now, “I would have done the same thing.”

No, I wouldn’t have. From the very first moment I saw you, all I wanted to do was help. Every instinct in me screamed to help you. 

She’s lying, but she really doesn’t care that she’s lying. He has a tadpole. He can join them. She doesn’t care.

Back in the forefront of her mind, even ahead of the damned tadpole and the need for a healer, the need to keep them all alive, her brain is back to whispering of this Astarion. The quicker she carries out this predictable conversation, the quicker they can get back on the road. And the quicker she can find whoever Astarion is-

“I’m out of wine and flowers, so I hope an introduction will suffice,” his blood-red eyes meet hers, and something in her gut twists. As if she already knows. As if she’s just realized that she’s missed the obvious. “My name is Astarion. I was in Balder’s Gate when-”

Astarion. Save Astarion. Astarion. 

All the breath leaves her lungs as she interrupts, “You’re Astarion?”

[stepmarchen]

what's your general opinion on season 2 ? what did you like/dislike ? which characters you wanted to know more about or generally to appear more ?

Overall, I thought Season 2 was great! Like a super solid 9.5/10

Season 1 was great in terms of establishing story and characters but S2 is when the main story realllyyy starts to play out as the timelines diverge more and more.

I can't really say that I was looking forward to anything specific though. iirc ASM already wrapped up S1 and was starting S2 when I first started reading.

See more below the cut

I'm always preferential towards older characters, so I'm glad we got the 3 year timeskip (even though the majority of our main cast is still Very Young). ofc it was refreshing to see characters that act their age in S1, but I don't know how many more seasons of chaotic kiddie shenanigans I could take before I'd get secondhand parenting fatigue. I think it stopped right before we reached that point.

to be honest, I always cringe a little when pre-pubescent characters act and talk like adults but ASM doesn't really do that (thank god). "Adult in a toddler's body" is a super common trope these days that I'd rather do without it. that's just me though

3 years was the perfect amount of time for a timeskip. Elias' teen angst Sheiss arc was the perfect way to address Shuri's history without making her address it herself. They could've done a cringey scene where Shuri says "you don't understand pain, I know pain," but I'm so relieved they didn't. That would've been... really dumb and more common that you might realize.

The characters getting older also suits the somewhat darker tone that S2 takes on, finally delving deeper into the characters' traumas and violence themes.

The art also got a huge upgrade in Season 2. Orka has always been a genius and a top tier artist even in S1, but she somehow still manages to surpass herself with each new chapter. We live in a household where Orka slander is not allowed but I think we can all agree that Cardinal Richelieu got one of the biggest glow ups of all time.

A super small gripe I had was that a few chapters felt a little rushed in terms of the art and were heavy on reusing old art (not naming which chapters. If you missed it, then there wasn't a problem). That has less to do with Orka and more to do with rushed deadlines, I think. And with 95% of the manhwa looking as great as it does, it's hardly a complaint.

S2 really drove home some great character building moments with Jeremy and Nora. The S1 Jeremy we all knew and loved was obstinate and loudmouthed while S1 Nora was calm and kind. S2 flipped things on its head as Jeremy's stubborn attitude turned into righteous devotion and Nora's will to protect turned ferocious and roguish.

Nora's still my top boy but Jeremy really shot up my rankings this season. He's just such a good boy that only wants the best for his people and you can't really find any fault in that.

Lucas was also a surprisingly good character in Season 2. Not because of who he is (which is a piece of shit) but how much depth he gained as a character. I won't talk about it again but I go into more detail about Lucas here.

[onthatbkdkbs]

"Holy fuck," Katsuki blurts suddenly and rather loudly, because for all that he's been a fucking ace at everything he's tried since he was old enough to walk, he somehow still hasn't mastered the art of volume control, "I'm in love with that little shit.”

From across the library table that they're (reluctantly, on Katsuki's part) sharing, Todoroki barely reacts. He scribbles down a few more meticulously crafted notes on the bullshit hero politics course they're being forced to take and says, quiet and distracted, "I should hope so. Haven't you been together for awhile now?"

"What??? No?”

Katsuki screeching at near-maximum volume is apparently enough to actually get the bastard's full attention, as heterochromatic eyes deign to lift away from the neat scrawl on his notebook paper in order to level him with a look that's more flat than anything, but skirts the edges of annoyance all the same. Guy's a freak like that, and Katsuki can't figure out how he does it. "Come on, Bakugou. I'm not blind. Or deaf. He gushes about you and your supposed 'manliness' all the time."

"WHAT," Katsuki shouts, because seriously, what. The librarian shoots him a nasty look and he just barely resists the burning urge to give her the finger. That hag has some serious pull around here, as he unfortunately learned the last time he pissed her off and received two full weeks of detention for his efforts—most of which he had to spend being one of Dominatrix-sensei's personal bitch boys. And if that wasn't bad enough, Ball Head had served almost as many detentions as Katsuki had. He still shudders just thinking about that whole fiasco. Not fucking worth it. He manages to lower his voice to hiss, "are you actually talking about Kirishima right now," right at Todoroki's stupid, blank face without causing any more of a scene.

"Well, yes. Who else would I be talking about?" IcyHot pauses with a blink upwards, as though an alternate answer will drop from the ceiling and bash him over his stupid candy-cane colored head if he thinks about it hard enough (likely not, but Katsuki might hit him anyway. On principle). None is apparently forthcoming, so he glances back at Katsuki with a shrug. "But from your reaction, I'm assuming I'm off the mark. So…Kaminari?"

Shit, now that's just insulting. To both of them, even. Katsuki would be willing to bet serious cash that they'd both rather drop dead than somehow fall in love with each other. This idiot, he thinks. What a goddamn joke.

"NO, dumbass. Not Dunce-Face.”

"...Sero?"

There comes a flash of something that could be interesting to consider in Todoroki's mismatched eyes as he mentions the Human Tape Dispenser, or would be if only Katsuki wasn't preoccupied with NOT leaping across the table to strangle this dumb bastard with his bare hands. Instead, he very calmly says, in his calmest voice, really, really calmly, "ARE YOU STUPID. NO. IT'S DEKU, YOU FUCKING HALF-N-HALF WIT.”

"If I'm a half and half wit, doesn't that actually imply I'm a whole wi—”

"For fuck's sake," Katsuki cuts him off with a groan, letting his forehead drop against the cool wooden grain of their study table with a thunk. He'd rather glare a hole through the tabletop right now on the off chance he suddenly develops the ability to explode people (Todoroki, namely) with his eyes. He can't afford to add a manslaughter charge onto his current list of problems. Being in love with Deku is problem enough.

Actually, it's probably the biggest problem he's ever had.

"Are you….okay?" Turd-oroki asks him, seeming curiously wary but looking more constipated than anything. The words sound strange as they pass through the space between them, strained and sour as though Strawberry Shortcake is having some sort of sudden internal crisis about the idea of trying to comfort Katsuki, of all people. Can't really blame him. Katsuki doesn't know how to comfort himself, either. Never has. "You seem…off."

"Off." Katsuki huffs, though he doesn't bother denying it. "Brilliant fuckin' analysis. Screw being a hero, you should be a goddamn therapist.”

There's a pause, like either Todoroki is actually considering a career change or maybe just considering bashing Katsuki over the head with his textbook to put them both out of their misery, and then he says, quietly and with palpable concern, "you seem really off. You didn't even tell me to go to hell just now."

"Go to hell," Katsuki mumbles after the fact. Any vitriol that would otherwise sharpen his voice is tempered by the way his cheek is still smushed morosely against the table. Even Katsuki can't remain intimidating while feeling so pathetic, though he can't bring himself to care much. Not when he feels like this, sick and hot and twisted up inside. "Eat shit and die. Shut the fuck up and get out."

Todoroki ignores all that, which…fair. "Do you…want to talk about it?"

"No.”

"Are you sure?" As Katsuki finally sits up, all the better to glare at him, IcyHot leans forward a bit and gives him the single most horrifying look of commiseration Katsuki's ever experienced in his shitty life. He's obviously trying to empathize with Katsuki in some way, and even seems to be managing it, and this is… Well, it's too pathetic to stand any longer. He doesn't want to have this conversation. He can't believe he'd been stupid enough to open his fat mouth and blurt this shit out in the first place. Why can't he ever keep his fuckin' mouth shut when it counts?

He does keep it shut, now. He can't think of a thing to say. Nothing that doesn't make him sound like a lovesick loser. Instead, he meets Todoroki's probing gaze and shrugs. He can't be sure of anything, anymore.

Under the table, Katsuki's hands ball into tight fists, fingernails digging savagely into his palms. It eases some of the tension in him as the skin breaks, as though the confusion and longing and misery he's stubbornly holding inside is escaping through the cuts little by little, like air from a sad, deflating pool toy.

He feels a bit like that, right now. Collapsing into himself and wilting from the steady force of gravity. Inescapable. Inevitable. Inexorable. A weight that doesn't push, but pulls—a force that reels you in so gently that you barely even notice it's happening. Not until you're already falling.

[lionmythflower]

Evan scoffs. "'Does he know?' he asks. Yes him and the whole fucking school knows."

Regulus' eyes go wide and he opens his mouth to respond but is cut off by Evan continuing his rambling.

"No, he doesn't fucking know are you crazy? I didn't even know for merlin's sake! And gods help you if they find out, because it's not gonna be me helping. Even Pandora didn't think twice about it until the quidditch match last fall! Jesus Christ, you are an IDIOT. An absolute fucking idiot. I hope you know that. Him. HIM, OF ALL PEOPLE. Salazar, Rowena, Helga and Godric are rolling in their graves laughing at you. I guarantee this is not what McGonagall meant when she said we need more 'House Unity' goddamn. And gosh let's not even mention-" Evan continues ranting.

Regulus' head was spinning. 6 years of knowing Evan Rosier and he still hasnt gotten used to his rambling. At least not these kind of ramblings. He could deal with ones about school, or Evan's lastest hyper fixation, or the random things that Evan would think of and just go with. Those he could deal with. Evan's angry rambles made his mind work overtime. He somehow managed to talk even faster when he was angry.

At least with Regulus. With anyone else he didn't let himself get too angry. Regulus didn't care how much Evan rambled though. He knows that he doesn't mean it. In reality Evan is just trying to work it all out in his mind, trying to connect the dots and fit the pieces together. Regulus is fine with it. In fact he encourages it. With anyone else Evan either stops himself mid rambled or gets interrupted. With Regulus, Evan doesn't stop himself, and Regulus doesn't interrupt. When he does stop, he looks over to Regulus and Regulus gives some input.

Talking isn't one of the things regulus is best at. He either doesn't think before he speaks or things too long about what he's going to say and then it's too late. With Evan that's not a problem. Regulus can blurt out the most nonsensical thing that comes to mind without having to think about whether Evan will find it weird. Regulus can take as long as he needs to think about the answer to something without worrying that Evan will get annoyed with having to wait.

Regulus looks up and realizes that Evan has stopped talking. "You done yelling at me now?" Regulus says with a slight smile.

Evan sighs and lays down so that his head is in Regulus' lap and he's starring up at Regulus.

"yeah," he mumbles. This is normal how most of his rambles end; with Evan finally having run out of things to say and going silent.

Evan looks like he's about to say something and then hesitates.

"What?" Regulus asks.

Evan starts tapping his finger tips on his stomach nervously.

"Was that too much? Sorry I didn't mind to react badly I'm not mad at you and your not an idiot, I'm just trying to process this for a minute and I didn't know what to say, sorry." And this is normally how Evan's 'angry' rants end. No matter how many times Regulus tells him that it's fine.

Regulus smiles and reaches over to put his hand over the one anxiously tapping on Evan's stomach. "It's not too much, your fine," Regulus promises.

Evan nods slowly. "Okay." He whispers.

Regulus nods too. "Okay."

Evan sits up and fidgets a bit before asking, "Can I hug you?"

Regulus almost laughs. Instead he just smiled again and hugs Evan gently. The other boy takes a few seconds before relaxing into the hug and hugging back.

Evan has never been one for physical affection. His parents never gave him any and he grew to not be a physical person. Which also led to him being severely touch starved. He hadn't even realized it until a few of this very very close friends expressed physical affection towards him. And he realized he was ok with it as long as it was someone he completely trusted. That didn't mean he wasn't still hesitant and slightly tense about it.

Regulus hadn't ever got any form of affection from his parents either. But he was fine with physical affection. Holding Pandora's hand, hugging Dorcas, resting his head on Peter's shoulder, leaning against Remus, coming up behind Barty and burrowing into his side, cuddling with Lily, being held against Emmeline, playing with Mary's curls when he got bored and more. He was able to tell that Evan didn't like physical affection too much. He was fine with that and respected it. The first time Regulus hugged Evan, he was having a panic attack, and Regulus panicked and had hugged Evan. Evan had tensed so badly at first that Regulus almost let go. But right before he made the decision to let go of Evan, the boy hugged him back and cried into Regulus' shoulder.

Another thing that Regulus was constantly had to reassure Evan about was that he didn't have to ask if he wanted a hug.

Evan let out a quiet sigh as he burrowed into Regulus' chest. Regulus pulled him closer. He would remind Evan as many times it took for him to accept it. To accept that he was loved and accepted and welcome. Regulus didn't care how many times he had to tell Evan.

Evan's breath eventually slowed to an even pace , that signified that he was asleep. Regulus stared at the boy hugging him for a while before he slowly drifted asleep.

[luimagines]

I think I'm on time! Can I request something something... Reader tending to wounds? I ESPECIALLY love Four x Reader (Romantic), and I'm kinda a sucker for hurt/comfort, so it sounded like a perfect mix.

Just something... Idk, Four's hurting and he can't Fix It by himself and maybe he also needs a hug, but then,,, Ta-Da! There Reader is, worried outta their mind for him and getting him to calm down, and yeah maybe it still hurts but Reader is gentle with the bandages and the cleaning and doesn't even have to be asked for a hug or to wipe tears if need be... And Four just knows it'll all be alright now 🥺

(I would be happy with any and/or all of the boys, but Four is my fav ☺️. Honestly just whatever you feel you're up to)

Thank you!!!

... Four it is! Message Received! XD

Don't worry Anon. Four you want? Four you will get.

Masterlist

Content under the cut!

“Ouch.” Four hissed and pushed himself up against the wall of the dungeon.

He finished the boss and won the fight, but not without his penance. A large cut had been sliced though his abdomen. It hurt to move. It hurt to so much as rub his tunic against it. And he was losing blood. A lot of it.

“This.. is not one of my finer moments.” Four curses and manages to push himself into a sitting position. He needs to take care of this. He needs to stop the bleeding. He needs to-

The world goes sideways.

Four has to push himself the against the wall and against the hack job if he wants to keep from face planting himself on the dusty, dirty dungeon floor.

He sucks in a breath to stop himself from screaming. He coughs instead and waits for everything to return normal. Surely, he has a fairy somewhere... or a potion. He should have-

“Time? Hyrule? Wild?... Link?” You call from down the hallway. “Man, where is everybody? Am I the only one still in here?”

Four perks up at his name. The true name. He coughs some more and blood dribbled down his chin. It’s getting hard to breathe. The cut might have gone to his lungs.

Your footsteps pause before they pick up speed. “Hey, is anyone-? ..Oh by the grace of god-...”

You run to him. It makes him dizzy.

“Four.. Smithy.” You gulp and look down and take in the situation. Four tries to follow your line of sight but his head lulls to the side instead. “Woah! Hey, hey, none of that, ok?”

You fling yourself back and start looking through your supplies. You pull out a fairy and release it. Instinctively it flies toward Four and gets to work. Four can feel the effects of the magic work through his system and it lessens the pain somewhat. It’s enough to make him coherent once again.

“Hey...” Four coughs again. Tears spring to his eyes and he reaches toward you.

You don’t think twice about grabbing his hand tightly. You don’t mind the blood. You’re too focused on keep Four awake.

“Hey yourself.” You smile, if only to lighten your own panic. “Not your best fight, huh?”

Four coughs and more blood dribbles down his lips but he smiles back. “you should have seen the other guy.”

You somehow find it in yourself to laugh. The fairy starts to clearly grow tired as she flies more sluggishly around the injured hero. She doesn’t have enough magic to fix this, but a lot of leeway has been made.

You gulp and move to get the bandages out of your bag. “You’re going to be, ok?”

“Am I?” Four looks to the side. The world doesn’t fall with the motion and Four shimmies a little in his spot. He’s incredibly sore. He winces but gets settled.

“Yeah.” You reply. “This is nothing.”

Four hums. He knows you’re lying.

You take out your dagger and cut away at his tunic. Four doesn’t seem to notice but he’s mentally saying goodbye. He has more cloth to fix it but the embroidery took forever.

Next thing Four knows, you’re moving him a bit. A curse leaves his mouth again and you pause. “Sorry.”

“You’re ok.” He hisses. “Keep going. I know you’re helping.”

You whine. “I don’t want to make it worse though.”

You pour disinfectant without warning him. Four cries out and tears falls down his cheek.

“Sorry, sorry... I know I just said-” Your hand comes up to wipe away his tears. Four gulps and ignores the iron in his mouth. “It won’t last forever. I promise.”

Four doesn’t reply. He just whimpers instead and leans into your touch.

You keep working, quietly whispering words of encouragement and praise just to get reactions from him.

By the time you’ve finished, Four is thoroughly exhausted. He can’t stop crying from the amount of movement and prodding he’s taken to his wound even with the fairy’s help.

You coo and shush him, wiping his tears as they fall. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. You’ll be ok. Let’s get you out of here.”

He grunts but reaches toward you once more. He wants to be held. But you get a different idea. Four doesn’t know where you get this strength but you pick him and with a free hand, you pick up what little you would have left behind otherwise.

You start moving again with him in your arms. “Let’s go get Hyrule and fix you up, yeah?”

Four nods. “I’m tired.”

You don’t stop walking but you take a moment to think about your next words. “...Sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

“Really?”

“Mhm.”

Four nods and kisses your cheek, tucking himself into the crook of your neck. “Thank you.”

He falls asleep in seconds.

[paper--moons]

Regressor!Gentle Criminal Headcanons

(with cg!La Brava)

A lot of Danjuro's motivation for his goals can be attributed to a deep-seated desire to be wanted and loved. To find a way to earn those things, because for him they never seemed to come naturally. As a child he decided he wanted to be a hero because he saw the way his parents' eyes lit up when looking at them, how they praised them (things they never did for him the older he got because he always, always managed to mess things up somehow). And when that path didn't pan out no matter how persistent he was, no matter how much he wanted to help, well...there were other ways to make his mark and fill that void inside of him. Heroes need villains, right? He would be filling an important role and bringing attention to a lot of issues in society! People would surely come around. So it isn't really much of a surprise that his regression presents itself due to the same underlying issues and insecurities. Right when he's trying his hardest to get his life turned around to where he wants to be, a tiny mistake sends him over the edge. It should be nothing—by all accounts is nothing—but making tea is a simple task that he's supposed to be good at and now he's gone and burned his fingers and, and... And he's sticking his fingers in his mouth to soothe the owwie away like he's done a million times before for things like burns or cuts, but this time is different because something just...clicks. The childish habit feels like it's leaking into the rest of his brain, enveloping his entire body in a comforting warmth as he realizes that if he was younger, then it would be okay, wouldn't it? To make mistakes? Back then his mistakes could be overlooked because he was small and still learning. Maybe...maybe he can pretend for a little while. Even if it feels less like pretending than he thinks it should. What Danjuro does know is that it feels good. It feels easy.

After his first slip, Danjuro tries to recapture that feeling any way he can think of, all while trying to put together his Gentle Criminal persona. Even after he came back to himself that first time, things had continued to feel lighter for a little while. Though he finds that he's experiencing everything from involuntary regression to voluntary regression the more effort he puts in to triggering it. Moreover, it isn't as consistent or predictable as he would like for it to be. He thinks surely another injury or another mistake would make him slip since that was what caused it the first time, but that turns out to be a toss up. Even purposefully doing activities geared more towards children—a stroke of genius that he is certain will lure out the little boy in his psyche—is another hit and miss. Trying to sort out what works best for him (and what to avoid) inevitably leads to him both age dreaming and age regressing—there's a few subtle differences as far as he can tell, at least in his particular case. It's a wishy-washy line for him, but he figures out that the main difference between the two is his age. Or at least that's what conclusion he comes to, based on the fact that if he's age dreaming he can still do plenty of big kid things for himself (even if he does them poorly). So he estimates his dreaming age to be somewhere around six or seven, while his regressing age is closer to three or four. Once he eventually manages to sort out more reliable ways to age regress however, he still can't help but age dream from time to time as well. Because if doing both helps him, then why not do both?

He has regressed in public before and will do it again, whether he wants to or not. Specifically, he is highly prone to regressing in the second-hand store he frequents. There's nothing new about going to these sorts of shops, as his funds have never been exactly stable after being kicked out striking out on his own, but rather there's something new about him. It doesn't matter how big he is feeling that day either, or when he last regressed. Because without fail, by the time he goes to pass the children's section his chest starts feeling tight and his head starts feeling like it's full of stuffing. It's impossible to stop himself from making a detour and browsing the toys. Danjuro is practically running on some sort of wobbly autopilot as he reaches out for one of the teddy bears staring up at him from the shelves, all plush fur and button eyes and practically begging for a hug. A voice in the back of his mind telling him that this poor little fellow has been tossed out and abandoned, forgotten. He can't just leave them here! And so Danjuro finds himself scraping together what change he has left (maybe even putting something back he needs more) to try and bring home as many teddies as he possibly can at the end of each week. It's his personal teddy rescue mission, and the beginning of his teddy bear collection; other stuffies are of course more than welcome to come home with him, but the classic teddy is his favorite. The fact that his shopping cart is comprised of mostly his newfound friends shouldn't tip anyone off, he thinks—although the way he takes longer to count out his yen might, counting out on his fingers yet still needing the help of the elderly woman that runs the place to help him reach the correct amount with a knowing twinkle in her eye.

Now, it may come to absolutely no one's surprise but this thing is a tea party fiend. If he's having a small day, there's about a ninety percent chance that there will be a tea party at some point amongst his many make-em-ups. Danjuro gets very into his pretend play and treats it quite seriously, with tea parties being no exception to this rule. All of his teddies have a specific seating arrangement that is liable to change depending on the current teddy bear drama (Snuggles is still not speaking to Daisy at the moment and they have to sit with several bears between them, a bearrier if you will, or there will be problems by the time Danjuro is offering all the bears another cup). There is also a set menu for these little parties too, which is subject to change depending on whether or not he's dreaming or regressing. If he's age dreaming, then he's making little sandwiches cut into triangles accompanied by a floral green tea blend. However if he's age regressing, then he has to go a little simpler. Simpler of course referring to opening a box of lemon cookies that he carefully sets onto the little saucers served with whichever bottle of juice is easiest for him to get open. Both menus are equally good and tasty if you ask him, and he's certainly had no complaints from the bears...but sometimes Danjuro wishes he had someone else to help with all the grown-up parts about setting up and to share his snacks with. Tea parties are all about "the more the merrier" after all, and it would be nice to have someone besides his bears to talk to (as they most often derail the childish worries he is trying to express with their teddy bear drama that is honestly getting a little too complicated for him to keep up with).

Eventually he is no longer alone, of course! But that doesn't mean he immediately tells his new house guest about the smaller parts of himself. Manami is absolutely wonderful and already helping him out more than he could even begin to describe; Danjuro doesn't want to scare her away by being too much, not when she's the first person that seems to understand him. They click surprisingly well, almost as if they've always known each other. So it really should come as no surprise that when she does inevitably catch him on one of his small days that she isn't bothered by it. Danjuro thought it would be best to just ignore all of that once Manami quite literally showed up on his doorstep, and instead focus on further developing his life as Gentle Criminal. But repressing that healthy coping mechanism that he's come to rely on so much is far from a long term solution. Especially when he keeps slipping in little ways. Little ways that Manami, ever observant, picks up on. And not only does she pick up on these small slip-ups, but she always seems to respond in a way that makes it so incredibly hard for him not to slip further. Forever acting as compliments to one another, it's only natural that his regression would be matched by her caregiving. Her heart is so big and she only wants to help! So what if he needs more help than other people? It isn't a big deal. The small gestures that she doesn't even think about—like reaching out to dab his face with a napkin after lunch when he's gotten a little messy, or covering him up when he falls asleep at his desk—leave him in a tizzy. So when he finally can't keep it bottled up any longer, it isn't hard to just...let her find out. They're comfortable enough with one another by that point that Manami doesn't even give a second thought to him shyly asking if she could help him with the tea, only asking him about the fuzzy friend he's got hugged to his chest.

Over time, he starts feeling a bit more bold about things with the bravado from his Gentle persona bleeding into his little mindset. This bravado primarily manifesting as energy and curiosity. Much like an overgrown puppy that's gotten off of its leash, a high energy baby spells trouble. Danjuro simply must do something or he'll die of boredom, and what he decides he must do is bounce. If he cannot find a bouncy castle then by God will he create one—while technically he could use Elasticity on the walls and floors of his entire room, he might get in trouble with his landlord (which a voice in the back of his head that sounds an awful lot like Manami tells him is a no-no). Although it turns out he can make his bed extra bouncy if he uses his quirk on it, and then really all he has to do is make a few other little jumping pads for himself out of some (again, quirk-altered) sofa cushions that he has carefully dragged from the living room and repositioned in his bedroom. It works out pretty well too, allowing him to bounce around his room to his heart's delight. Until he falls off and bumps his head, that is. Really, it was to be expected given that his coordination while he is feeling so small is lacking to put it nicely. Luckily the bump isn't too serious, but it does bring tears to his eyes as he hiccups because it's quite scary to fall! Just as Danjuro is starting to feel like the world truly hates him he hears the lock on his front door open with a click, which lets him know Manami is home and he suddenly remembers that he isn't supposed to use his quirk if he's little. Which in turn leads him to scrambling to hide the sofa cushions that won't go back to normal for a few hours yet, which results in him slipping and falling again only this time falling flat on his face. Manami is less worried about him breaking a rule and instead focuses her energy on fussing over him and making sure he didn't break his nose.

Danjuro is very sensitive to making any sort of mistake or having any sort of accident. This anxiety and panic that accompanies making a mistake only increases once Manami becomes his caregiver. Not because she is mean about it, because she's always so so patient with him (showing him more patience than he thinks he deserves). No, he worries because what if she decides he's so bad that she throws him away just like mommy did? Manami does her best to reassure him that nothing like that would ever happen no matter how badly he messed up, explaining that they can always make things better again together. Still, while her words are appreciated it's very different when he's all of three and he accidentally drops one of his nice teacups as she's handing it off to him. The sight of the shattered glass gives his complex about always screwing everything up all the permission it needs to sink its claws into his chest and make it hard to breathe. There's a long moment where it's hard to hear, hard to move, but he finds he's ushered to the couch and wrapped in a hug. It takes a few minutes of quietly soothing him and reminding him to take slow, deep breaths, but eventually he calms enough for her to get up to clean up the broken porcelain. Though first she makes sure to wind up the carousel music box for him and place it on the coffee table. The gentle, tinkling of the music box as it spins is enough to disguise the clinking of the porcelain being swept up, the moving pieces being followed by his gaze as he nurses a few digits. He wishes he could believe Manami when she says he doesn't make as many mistakes as he thinks. All Danjuro can really think about is how he will prove himself through the flawless actions of Gentle Criminal.