#But one thing you have to understand about Skylar is that they were like

[justashamwithwastedpotential]

1, 8, 11 and 15 for Skylar! About the OC question one! ^^ (if that's okay.)

Yeah, of course, it's okay! I love talking about Sky. Sorry, it took so long. The first question took me forever to answer.

1. What's their biggest fear?

Anytime I think I might have an answer for this, I immediately think about how Sky would probably be able to overcome it.

Part of it has to do with how their grandparents raised them, so while Skylar might be scared of a lot of things in general, they're usually able to cope with the anxiety.

They know that there are things you can't change, or that pain and loss are unavoidable, death is inevitable, and having to face these are scary. It's scary and it hurts. So you let it all out. For as long as it takes. And maybe that means causing a blizzard in your bathroom for the next three days because a crow absolutely destroyed one of your strawberry crops right before harvest and you're upset. But it's out. And then you deal with the snow piling up on your floor.

8. What's the one object they would run into the fire for?

This

It's a photo of their friends at the Saloon holding a "Get well soon!" banner after Skylar got injured in the mines.

11. Who was their biggest influence growing up?

Ông nội, their grandfather. Skylar loves both their grandparents, but Ông nội is the fun one. He was a Knight of Pythagoras but retired long before the current guilds were formed and often describes his adventures fondly and gloriously. He was the one who encouraged Skylar to join the guild in Pelican Town and take up the life of an Adventurer.

15. What's their relationship with their family like?

Skylar is very close to Ông nội and Nonna, their grandmother since they were the ones who raised them. They've met their great uncle, Hibiki, Ông nội's brother, and his husband, but only when they were really little so Sky doesn't remember much other than the fact that they exist.

Outside of that, Skylar doesn't know any of their other family.

Thanks for the ask!

[astrosky33]

𝐌𝐲 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬

Hello! I’m Skylar. I’m a Kepler College graduate and received my diploma from their school in 2022 but have been studying astrology for about a decade now

My mission is to inform people based on what I’ve learned and help others to gain some of the knowledge I’ve gained in order for them to use astrology as a resource for growth

There’s false stereotypes out there that can often create confusion for aspiring astrologers and I’d like to help people understand how to differentiate which sources are accurate vs which ones aren’t accurate as well

For more information about my account click here to see my masterlist

𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭

◈ Planets/Houses don’t just have “a few meanings” they have many more that many people don’t know about. Otherwise astrology would probably be very basic and boring -> beginner astro help

◈ Most astrology information on Tiktok is false. Be careful who you get your information from -> tiktok astrologers with reliable info

◈ Typically twin flames will have a lot of similar placements to one another

◈ Cusps are not a real thing. Only an astrological myth made recently -> more info here

◈ If you’re noticing you don’t really have many long term relationships only flings/short term relationships it could be caused by having Uranus in the 5th/7th house

◈ Jupiter in the 4th house can indicate being the most successful person in your family - money or wealth wise (Ex: Billie Eilish)

◈ Venus sextile Mars is the most flirtatious aspect. This is because sextile aspects can have sexual energy depending on the planets involved (in this case it would), Venus rules over charm/romance, and Mars rules over flirting/lust

◈ The Sun/MC both rule over fame itself. Other placements only indicate things such as attention, attraction, idealization, glamour, etc. but do not DIRECTLY indicate fame as those things can come with OR without fame (they can still be indications depending on the sign/house/degree though)

◈ Both your South Node and Saturn can give insight about your past lives. Chiron tells about karmic wounds made in past lives that were carried into your current one

◈ Aquarius Venus/Uranus in the 7th house can indicate marrying someone that you would’ve never expected to marry

◈ Aquarius venus’ become more romantically attracted to you whenever you get along really well with their friends

◈ People with mercury in the 8th house aren’t big on gossiping typically (depending on other placements)

◈ Many people with saturn or uranus in the 9th house don’t go to college

◈ I’ve noticed a lot of libra and gemini placements are successful dancers

◈ Having your venus conjunct, trine, or sextile neptune can make many people idealize being in a romantic relationship with you

◈ Venus conjunct/square/opposite chiron can indicate a challenging love life before settling down long term

◈ The 9th house mainly rules over religion (the 12th house is more about spirituality) however, since it rules over beliefs as well it can tell a little about your spirituality

𝐀𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐬

◈ Tantalus (2102) represents having a strong desire for something that’s very out of reach and remains so

◈ Desiderata (344) represents what one desires and desirability. It can give you deeper insight beyond mars

◈ Nyctimene (2150) in the 5th/7th house in Solar Return can indicate you need to leave a relationship that year in order to be happy

◈ Deidre (165574) in the 10th house can indicate being known by the public for your immense feminine beauty - many women who are praised for their beauty have this placement

Venus aspecting someone’s Deidre Asteroid can indicate the Venus person is in love with the Deidre persons immense feminine beauty/power

◈ Actor (12238) in the 6th/10th house can indicate being an actor for a living - ex: timothee chalamet

◈ Juno (3) in the 7th house can indicate a happy marriage (whether it be the first, second, etc it will eventually happen)

◈ Eros (433) at 6° can indicate getting into your first relationship later than most

◈ Reddish (2884) represents things we easily get embarrassed over/embarrassment in general

Asteroid Reddish in cancer can indicate your mom embarrassing you often

◈ Sinon (3391) represents persuasion/convincing someone to let their guard down

◈ Tripaxeptalis (2037) in gemini/sagittarius can indicate an interest in numerology

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲

◈ Your Sun conjunct someone’s Moon can indicate you having a really good/close friendship with the Moon person

◈ Moon conjunct/trine/sextile Moon can indicate having a strong understanding of one another’s emotions

◈ Mars in someone’s 6th/11th house can indicate the Mars person struggles to get along with the 11th house persons friends -> info about 6H friends here

◈ Mercury square Venus can indicate the Mercury person doesn’t have interest in the Venus person romantically. Mercury is something under-looked in Synastry and in general when it comes to love. Not only does it rule over communication but also interests

◈ Mars conjunct Mars can indicate being able to resolve conflict with one another very well

◈ Sun conjunct Ascendant can be a challenging aspect and cause you both to resent one another

◈ Your Sun in someone’s 7th house can indicate a romantic relationship occurring

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

◈ 11th house stelliums can indicate you both have similar political views

◈ Saturn in the 11th house can indicate challenges in your relationship involving difference in desires or struggles involving friends/friend groups/socialization

◈ 9th house stelliums can indicate really good romantic chemistry with one another -> why

◈ Saturn at 0° can indicate a karmic relationship or being together long term. You likely knew one another in a past life as well

◈ If you have chiron in the 7th house you may stay together for a while out of fear of losing one another because you’re so comfortable with one another and thrive off of your partnership together

◈ Cancer ascendant can indicate meeting one another through your family or theirs

◈ Many think capricorn/aquarius stelliums are bad but they can indicate a long term relationship with one another

◈ Jupiter in the 5th house can indicate bringing one another lots of joy

◈ Uranus in the 8th house can indicate being close friends before dating

◈ Lots of 5°/14°/23° can indicate being a good looking couple together

◈ True Node at 11° is a strong indication of twin flames and experiencing multiple past lives together

◈ Mars in the 9th house can indicate having a passion for traveling together

𝗦𝗨𝗕 𝗧𝗢 𝗠𝗬 𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗢𝗡

© 𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐤𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝

[nhlclover]

STAY AWAY FROM JULIET! JACK DRURY

pairing: brind'amour!daughter!reader x jack drury

summary: caught between your love for jack and your father's strict rules about dating players, you find yourself navigating the thrill and weight of a secret romance.

warnings: secret relationship, forbidden relationship, reader is coaches daughter + teammates sister, pretending that skylar isn't with the ahl team in chicago and is on the roster.

wc: 3.80k

notes: jack drury fic! i don't know a ton about him off the ice so i hope this is good. thank u to the anon who requested!

As everyone knows, the last thing you ever want to do is cross Rod Brind’Amour—a fact you understand all too well as his daughter. That’s why it’s a surprise, even to you, that you ended up in a relationship with Jack Drury, one of his players, breaking the strict ‘no fraternizing with the team’ rule he’d always imposed on you. You would feel bad for disobeying your father if it weren’t for the fact that you were head over heels for Jack.

Keeping the relationship under wraps wasn’t easy, but you both agreed it was for the best. The risk of your dad finding out — and the reaction that you knew would result from that — was enough to keep you both cautious. Growing up, you'd heard countless stories from your dad’s former teammates and players about his fierce dedication and unwavering standards. Those standards extended beyond the ice, especially when it came to you and Skylar.

It wasn’t that Jack wasn’t good enough. Far from it. He was everything your dad would probably want for you—loyal, kind, respectful, with a work ethic that rivaled your father’s own. But the idea of dating someone on the team went against every guideline Rod had set, a boundary he made clear for you and Skylar growing up.

Despite the careful hiding, sneaking around brought a thrill you hadn’t expected. Late-night meet-ups after practice, stolen kisses in hidden corridors, and text messages that had to be deleted as soon as you read them were all part of the secret that bound you and Jack even closer. And, to your surprise, you found that these stolen moments made you fall for him even more.

At first, sneaking around with Jack felt almost like a game. You both laughed about the lengths you’d go to keep everything hidden—timing phone calls to avoid your dad, coordinating schedules so you could “bump into each other” outside the rink without raising suspicion, and finding creative ways to communicate without leaving a digital trail. Every stolen glance or quick touch that no one else noticed made your heart race. The secrecy added an exhilarating spark, something just for the two of you that no one else could touch.

You joked with Jack about the lengths you went to: how you’d pretend not to notice each other at team events, how he’d throw you a subtle wink from across a room when no one else was looking, and how you’d meet up in empty stairwells of the Lenovo Centre. Jack always kept things light-hearted, his playful grin reassuring you that as long as you were together, it would be worth the risk.

But as the months passed, the thrill started to wear thin, replaced by a longing for something simpler. The constant need to look over your shoulder or keep your voice low when you talked about him to your friends began to feel more like a weight. You’d catch yourself daydreaming about what it would be like to hold his hand in public or just have him over for dinner without the worry of your dad or brother finding out.

And it wasn’t just the sneaking around that was exhausting; it was how much you missed out on. When the team had get-togethers, you couldn’t be by his side, even though you wanted to support him. Sometimes, he’d mention a charity event or team dinner, and you’d have to laugh it off, pretending it didn’t sting that you couldn’t be there openly. As his career milestones came and went, you wanted to celebrate with him, to be the one cheering the loudest. Instead, you found yourself watching from afar, silently, wishing things could be different.

And now not only was the hiding becoming a weight between you and Jack, it was getting harder and harder to manage, and the cracks began to show. You could feel the pressure building, the constant vigilance required to keep everything under wraps growing harder to manage.

There were moments when the secrecy felt like it was taking more than it was giving. Every time you saw Jack after practice, there was a part of you that wanted to shout your feelings from the rooftops. But, instead, you shared a fleeting smile or a brief touch, both of you hyper-aware of every passing moment. Whenever you were at the rink and you’d run into your dad, your stomach would twist in knots, and you’d pray that he wouldn’t catch sight of Jack or—worse—make the connection. The thought of your father, who had built his career on discipline and loyalty, discovering that you were breaking one of his cardinal rules, made your heart race with a mixture of dread and guilt.

But it wasn’t just your dad that made the situation complicated. It was Skylar. Your brother, who had always been protective of you, was starting to catch on to your avoidance. The way you always seemed to have an excuse to leave early when he invited you to hang out, the way you deflected questions about who you were spending time with outside of work — Skylar had always been perceptive, and he was no fool. You could see it in his eyes. He’d give you those knowing glances whenever you seemed a little too distracted, or when your phone would buzz with a text message from Jack and you’d panic, quickly pocketing it before he saw.

The strain was becoming too much, and you were growing worried that it wouldn’t be long before one of them, probably Skylar, would piece it together. Every time you met Jack in a secluded corner of the rink or snuck away for a quick coffee, there was a part of you that dreaded being caught. If your dad or brother saw you and Jack together, even for a moment, all your carefully constructed walls would come crashing down.

One night, with your dad out for a dinner meeting with Eric Tulsky and a few of the Hurricanes’ execs, you’d invited Jack over, excited to finally let him into your world a little deeper. You’d barely gotten him through the door before you were wrapped around each other, muffling laughter and eager whispers as you stumbled up the stairs to your bedroom. For once, he was in your space—somewhere that felt like an extension of yourself, familiar and intimate. Jack looked around, taking in the room he’d only heard about: the bulletin board crowded with photos, ticket stubs, and other keepsakes; shelves overflowing with books and childhood mementos; the whole room exuding a soft, cozy warmth.

As he wandered, his fingers traced along your cluttered desk, a slight smile on his lips as he absorbed the details. Then, his gaze landed on a photo pinned to the board, and he plucked it down before you could stop him. “Oh my gosh,” he teased, grinning as he held it up to inspect. “You with glasses, pigtails, and… are those sequins on your jeans?”

You rolled your eyes, laughing as you tried to grab the picture back. “It was a phase. And, anyway, I don’t think Mr. ‘neon-green frosted tips for the playoffs’ has any room to talk about style choices.”

He gasped, mock-offended, holding the photo just out of reach. “Hey, that was iconic. This, on the other hand…” He squinted at it, chuckling. “I need to know how many days you rocked the bedazzled denim look.”

With a smirk, you stepped closer, sliding your hands up his chest, pinning him with a look that was half-daring, half-teasing. “Do you really want to spend tonight making fun of my middle school fashion choices? Or… maybe we could get back to what we’re really here for?”

Jack’s laughter faded, replaced by that familiar, mischievous glint. He leaned down, voice softer, warmer. “Alright, you win,” he murmured, his hands settling around your waist. “You’re way more distracting than a photo ever could be.” With a gentle smile, he placed the photo back on the board and turned fully to you, and as he drew you in.

Your hands drifted to his shoulders, his fingers trailing up your sides, leaving little goosebumps in their wake. You pulled Jack to your bed, easing him back onto the plush comforter, propping one leg on either side of his hips. Jack’s lips brushed softly along your neck, and you tangled your fingers in his hair, feeling the closeness of him, the quiet thrill of sneaking him into your space. His hands traced under the hem of your top, tugging it up, and you broke apart just long enough to pull off your shirts, casting them aside as you reconnected in a kiss that deepened, stealing your breath.

You were so wrapped up in him, so blissfully unaware, that the sudden slam of a car door outside might as well have been thunder. You jolted, pulling away, and Jack’s lips left a small, bewildered whimper at the abrupt loss of contact. “Did you hear that?” you whispered, heart racing.

“Hear what?” he asked, clearly not wanting to hear anything but the steady hum of the moment between you.

You slipped off his lap, crept to the window, and pulled the curtain back just enough to peek through. There it was — your dad’s SUV parked once again in the driveway. Panic clawed at your stomach as you hissed, “Shit!”

Jack’s face went pale as the sound of keys jingling met your ears from downstairs. His expression mirrored yours — frozen panic — as he took in the narrow confines of your room, seeming to realize in real time that hiding nearly six feet of hockey player was no small feat.

“Closet,” you whispered sharply, tugging him in that direction. He stifled a laugh, squeezing himself into the cramped space, giving you a look that was somewhere between grateful and bewildered as you shut the doors.

You dashed back to the bed, frantically tugging your shirt back on and running a hand through your hair, grabbing your phone and slipping on your headphones. You quickly ran back to the closet, cracking open the doors. “Stay quiet,” you said. “Don’t come out until I come and get you and the coast is all clear.”

Just as you returned to the bed and threw the blanket over your legs, the door creaked open, and there was your dad, standing in the doorway, one eyebrow raised, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“Hey,” he said, pausing, taking in the sight of you with the unmistakable air of someone who knew more than he was letting on. “Who were you talking to?”

You gave him what you hoped was an effortlessly casual smile, lifting your phone to show you were on a call. “Oh, just a friend from school. She’s, uh, going through some stuff, so I’m keeping her company on the phone,” you replied, praying he couldn’t hear your pulse thundering in your chest.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it entirely but also not wanting to pry too deeply. “Right, okay,” he said slowly. “Well, I’ll let you get back to it. But maybe keep it down, alright?”

You nodded, trying to look as unaffected as possible. “Will do,” you said with a small, too-casual smile, watching as he lingered for one last beat before closing the door.

As soon as you heard his footsteps fade down the hallway, you practically collapsed back onto the bed in relief. After a beat, the closet door creaked open, and Jack stepped out, eyes wide and lips pressed tightly together as he tried not to laugh.

“Oh my god,” he whispered, still grinning, “I thought I was going to get caught.”

You clapped a hand over your mouth, half-relieved, half-ready to burst into laughter at the situation. "I thought we were both done for," you muttered, letting out a soft, breathy laugh as Jack joined you on the bed. He flopped onto his back, staring at the ceiling, eyes still gleaming with barely restrained laughter.

Jack propped himself up on one elbow, glancing over at you. "You know, one day, we’re going to have to tell people. I mean, if I got caught hiding in your closet tonight, I don’t think I could ever live it down." He chuckled, but his words held a trace of seriousness, hinting at the future you both knew was looming.

You sighed, the humor fading a bit as reality set back in. "I know," you admitted quietly. "I just… I worry about how my dad and Skylar will react. I mean, they know you as a player, as a teammate. But as… as the guy I’m with?" You trailed off, unsure of how to put your feelings into words.

Jack reached over, tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear, his expression softening. “They know me as the guy who’s dedicated to the team, who works hard. And I’d be dedicated to you, too. That’s all they need to know. Besides…” He smirked a little, trying to lighten the moment. “Skylar and I have been in a locker room together more than enough. He probably knows more about me than he ever wanted to.”

You laughed, shaking your head. "You don’t know my dad like I do. He’s seen me as his little girl for so long. And Skylar, well… he’s overprotective." You glanced down, picking at the blanket as the weight of their potential reactions settled on you. "I just don’t want them to think… I don’t know, that we’re crossing some sort of line."

“What? Rod would never overreact to anything!” Jack said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. You give him a shove but recognize that Jack would likely know exactly how your dad would react to finding out about the two of you.

Jack let out a small, sympathetic smile, and his fingers found yours, intertwining gently as he looked into your eyes. "Hey," he said softly, "no matter how it goes, I’m here. Even if Rod loses his mind or Skylar thinks he needs to 'protect' you from me — I'm not going anywhere." His voice was steady, his eyes holding a quiet confidence that made you feel both reassured and grounded.

You squeezed his hand, feeling your heart swell at his words. “You really mean that?”

“Absolutely,” he replied, his eyes steady and sincere. “I want them to know that you’re safe with me, that I’d do anything to make you happy. They deserve that reassurance, and I want to give it to them.” He paused, a playful glint returning to his gaze. “But maybe not when I’m sneaking out of your closet at two in the morning.”

You both burst out laughing again, the tension breaking as the comfort of the moment settled around you. Pulling Jack close, you rested your head on his shoulder, a sense of peace washing over you.

“One day” you murmured, almost to yourself. “But not tonight.”

Jack nodded, wrapping his arms around you in a gentle squeeze. “Whenever you’re ready. I’ll be here.”

As the days went on, though, the secrecy only grew harder. You’d thought you could keep your relationship under wraps with a bit of careful planning and a few white lies, but you hadn’t anticipated how deeply you’d crave being able to share your life with Jack openly. Every time you’d pass him in the halls of the Lenovo Centre having to pass by him like you didn’t know him as anyone more than one of your dad's players. Or every quick squeeze of his hand when no one was looking. It was beginning to feel like a delicate balancing act — one slip, and it would all come tumbling down.

Your dad had started to notice your little “disappearances,” the times you’d claim to be studying with friends or heading out to run an errand but were actually meeting Jack. And Skylar, perceptive as ever, kept teasing you, asking if your newfound happiness was because the Canes were doing so well or if someone was responsible for it. You’d brush it off with a laugh, but deep down, you knew it couldn’t go on like this.

So when Jack suggested a simple date — just the two of you at a small, out-of-the-way restaurant for dinner — you felt a rush of relief. No sneaking, no hiding in closets, just a normal evening where you could enjoy each other’s company without the pressure of prying eyes. The restaurant was quiet, candlelit, and tucked away, and for once, you almost allowed yourself to believe you were truly alone.

The two of you slipped into comfortable conversation, laughing over the menu as Jack exaggerated his disgust at any mention of seafood, and you felt that familiar warmth, that thrilling ease that made you wish every night could be like this. But as you raised your glass for another sip, you noticed Jack’s gaze shift from your face, over your shoulder, to somewhere behind you, his smile suddenly faltering.

Before you could turn around, Jack’s hand took yours that was resting on the table, giving a gentle squeeze, trying to soothe you as he leaned in and whispered, “Don’t freak out, okay? But I think… your dad and Skylar just walked in.”

Your heart plummeted, eyes wide as your head whipped around to confirm Jack’s words. Sure enough, there they were, standing with some friends of your family. They scanned the room, not seeming to have noticed you yet, but your carefully secret relationship was now hanging in the balance.

You quickly turned back to Jack, lifting your menu as if it could shield you from view, heart hammering in your chest. “Of all the restaurants…” you muttered under your breath, feeling the moment's weight settle heavily.

Jack looked at you with steady, gentle eyes. “Hey, it’s okay. If they see us, we’ll handle it,” he said softly, his thumb brushing soothing circles over the back of your hand. “No more hiding, right?”

You nodded, dropping the menu back to the table, feeling the words sink in and taking comfort in Jack’s reassuring touch. You both kept your heads down, focusing on each other and praying the waiter would come quickly to take your orders. But a few moments later, footsteps approached, and you knew it was too late to keep pretending.

“Hey, you two,” came a familiar voice. You looked up to see your dad and Skylar standing by your table. Your dad’s expression was stoic, with no reaction to the sight of you two showing. Skylar, however, had a shit-eating grin on his face. There was no escaping it now.

With a deep breath, you tightened your hold on Jack’s hand and mustered a smile. “Hi, Dad. Hi, Sky,” you greeted, hoping your voice didn’t sound as nervous as you felt.

Skylar folded his arms, raising an eyebrow as he glanced between you and Jack. “Care to explain?” he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. You glared at your older brother who was clearly finding enjoyment in this.

Jack cleared his throat, sitting up a little straighter. “Sir, I’d… We’ve been seeing each other for a while now, and we didn’t want you to hear about it from someone else. We just… wanted to be careful with how it might look, with the team and all.”

Your dad’s face remained unreadable for a moment, eyes flickering from you to Jack as he processed. You could see the wheels turning in his head, and you held your breath, waiting for some sign of his reaction. Finally, he sighed, his expression softening slightly as he looked back at you.

“As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters,” he said, his tone calm but sincere. “It’s important that you’re with someone who respects you — someone who’s going to be good to you.”

A wave of relief washed over you, and you felt your shoulders relax as you smiled. “Thank you, Dad.”

You turned to look at Skylar who was now eyeing Jack, suddenly serious. Finally, he huffed, breaking the silence. “Alright, alright… I know Jack’s a good guy. But you know I’ll kick his ass if he ever does anything to hurt you, right?” He shot Jack a warning look, though there was a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Jack laughed softly, nodding. “Understood. I’ll make sure you don’t have to.”

A smile broke across your face, and you felt the last of your fears dissolve. “Thank you, both of you,” you said, your voice soft with gratitude. “I just… I don’t want this to affect anything between you guys as teammates or between you guys as coach and player.”

Your dad nodded thoughtfully, glancing at Jack. “We’ll figure it out. Just promise me you’ll be open with us going forward, okay? No more hiding in closets or pretending to study at friends’ houses.”

Your smile dropped, a bright red hue flashing across your cheeks as you remembered shoving Jack into your cramped closet a month ago when your dad suddenly came home. “You knew?”

Your dad raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement breaking through his usually serious demeanor. “I’m your father. Of course, I knew,” he said, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Also, he left his team jacket on your desk chair. It says Drury on the shoulder.”

Skylar snorted, unable to contain his laughter. “The closet? Really?” he teased, shaking his head.

“What did you want me to do? Tell him to jump out the window?” you argued.

Your dad rolled his eyes but softened, his gaze landing on you both with a newfound acceptance. “Just… next time, try a little honesty instead of extreme hiding tactics. I’d rather know than worry about you sneaking around.” His voice was gentle, a tone he rarely used outside of family moments, and it only reassured you that he was really okay with this.

You nodded, feeling more at ease than you had in months. “I promise. No more hiding, Dad.”

Your dad and Skylar exchanged a look, something unspoken but approving passing between them before they glanced back at you. “Alright, we’ll leave you two to your dinner,” your dad said, giving you a warm nod. “But I expect to see him at dinner on Sunday night and be properly introduced to your boyfriend.”

As they walked away, you and Jack exchanged a relieved laugh, your hands still intertwined. Jack lifted your hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss on your knuckles. “Well, that went better than expected,” he murmured, his eyes twinkling with both relief and affection.

You smiled, feeling lighter than ever. “Yeah, I think we’re officially in the clear.”

Jack leaned in, his voice low and teasing. “So, does that mean no more closets?”

You laughed, squeezing his hand. “No more closets,” you agreed.

[oneshotnewbie]

Authors note: Okay, I have no idea if you'll like it but the idea came out of nowhere and was buzzing around in my head. I told Skylar and she said I should write it, so… you'll get to read it too, of course. Have fun ♥ Can you tell that I'm really into Criminal Minds recently? No? That's good

⚠️Trigger Warning for the whole series⚠️ This one-shot includes the topic of death and alcohol consumption and those plots are presented. If this triggers you too easily or you just can´t handle the subject, I urge you NOT to read this work. I am NOT embellishing this topic under any circumstance. Read at your own risk.

The apartment was dark, only the faint and dull glow of the street lamps outside filtered through the half-drawn curtains. The air smelled of stale alcohol, and the half-empty glass on the coffee table spoke of a night that had gone on too long. Emily Prentiss sat slumped on her couch, her head in her hands. The bottle of whiskey was almost empty, and the dull ache in her heart seemed to be the only reason she felt anything at all. Her head was buzzing, the world around her was blurring, but her feelings were not easily numbed.

Her hand shook as she reached for the bottle again and tipped it. The last drops fell heavily into the glass, but it was not enough. She drank, but the bitterness that burned in her throat was nothing compared to what raged in her heart.

"You can't just run away, Em." Your voice, calm and familiar, rang out softly from the silence beside her.

Emily froze, her fingers clutching the bottle. She slowly turned her head to the side. Your smile was gentle, your eyes looked at her with understanding and warmth that she knew so well.

She felt her throat tighten. She blinked a few times, hoping that the tears gathering in the corners of her eyes wouldn't fall. "Y/n.." her voice broke. Her voice was rough from drunkenness and the sadness that she couldn't shake off. The guilt burned in her chest like fire that wouldn't go out. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see how you were doing," you answered, your eyes piercing Emily as if you could read her every thought, your hand sliding over hers. "You don't let anyone get close to you. Not even now. You don't have to fight like this, my love. You don't have to go through this alone."

Emily snorted bitterly. She shook her head and drank, desperately trying to drown out the words she didn't want to hear. "I'm fine," her voice broke again.

"That's a lie, and you know it." Your calm voice held her tight, pulling her back to the reality she was so desperately trying to escape. "You drink because you don't want to talk about it."

She closed her eyes for a moment. The room seemed to spin, and she clung to the arm of the couch as if it was the only thing that connected her to the here and now. "There's nothing to say."

"Em.." Your voice sounded more patient than she deserved and you tilted your head slightly to the side, the gentle smile fading. "You can't run from yourself forever."

"What do you know?" Emily's words were harsh, a desperate attempt to fight back. "I failed. I lost everything... everything." She stared at the floor, her mind drifting to the moment, the one terrible moment she couldn't undo.

One heavy, painful breath followed another, and the silence in the room became oppressive.

"That wasn't your fault. You can't always control everything," your voice was firm but full of compassion. You moved closer, your knees almost touching Emily's. "You did your best."

"Not my fault? My best?" Emily laughed bitterly, a hard, desperate sound that echoed in the room. "My best wasn't enough, I failed. It wasn't enough. I..." she grabbed her chest as if she wanted to tear out the pain that held her so tightly in its grip. Her words blurred, more indistinct than seconds before. "I should have prevented it."

You were silent, letting the words hang in the air. Your hand hovered over Emily's cheek, almost as if you wanted to touch her. But you didn't. "You have to accept that you are not infallible. It wouldn't have made a difference if you had been there faster. Sometimes things happen that we can't change and you did what you could."

"That's not good enough. None of it is good enough." Emily turned to you, her tears still stubbornly refusing to flow down. She was determined to carry the guilt like a burden she couldn't let go of. She felt the pain in her whole body, sharp and deep, as real as the whiskey poisoning her veins. "It was my job to protect you. I can't go on without you."

"Yes, you can," you said quietly and sat there, your hands both resting gently on hers. A contact that felt so real that Emily almost believed it. Almost. "But not like this. Not in this darkness. Alone."

Your eyes, those warm eyes, seemed to see through her, as if you could see all the pain, all the guilt and all the suffering. "Just tell me what you need. Tell me what to do." Emily whispered back, her voice thick, almost suffocating. You next to her on the couch seemed so real that she almost forgot that loneliness was her constant companion.

A long silence followed. You stayed by her side, but the inescapable feeling of loss hung heavy in the air. Emily knew it was wrong to see you here, to hear you. She knew she had to stop drinking, but she still clung to the illusion as if it were the last lifeline that could keep her from drowning.

"You have to let me go," you finally said softly and Emily paused. The room suddenly seemed colder, the darkness thicker. "I need you not to blame yourself. I need you to figure out how to be happy again even after I'm gone."

Emily shook her head and stared at you. The woman she loved. The woman she had lost. "I... I can't," she whispered, her voice barely audible. The words came out heavy, as if each syllable was pulling her deeper into the depths. "I don't want to."

"You'll find a way," your hand squeezed Emily's briefly before she pulled back. "But not like that."

The silence between you stretched, and the shadows in the corner of the room seemed to creep closer. You were still sitting there, so perfect, so real. But somewhere deep in Emily's mind, the truth was beginning to take hold. She was too drunk, numbing her senses and poisoning her mind.

"I'm not really here, my love," you finally said, softly and gently. Your eyes were shining now, but you kept the smile, even though it hurt. "You know that."

Emily closed her eyes. She didn't want to hear it. She didn't want to admit what she had known all along. "Please... don't go," she whispered pleadingly, and now the tears began to flow desperately down her cheeks.

"I will always be with you, Emily. But you must keep living." Your voice was barely more than a breath now, soft like the wind through an open window.

She blinked and saw you slowly fading away. The room around her grew colder, the dim light seemed dimmer, and she was alone again. Reality hit her with the force of a blow. She collapsed, the tears now flowing uncontrollably.

The empty glass in her hand was a silent testimony to a lost battle against pain. Reality crept back mercilessly, filling the room with a loneliness that was unbearable.

The bottle of whiskey was still in front of her. The emptiness in her heart was not filled, no matter how much she drank, no matter how often she indulged in this illusion. You were gone. Forever.

Tears ran down Emily's cheeks like streams, and she let the glass fall from her hand. It fell to the floor, the dull sound barely audible in the deep, oppressive silence.

She pulled her legs up to her chest. In the darkness of the night she sat there, alone with her thoughts, with her guilt and the unbearable loss. The memories of what she had lost tormented her, knowing that she had to go on living - without you.

Maybe it would get easier someday. Maybe time would heal the wounds. But at that moment she could only feel one thing - the painful truth that she couldn't save you.

And that you would never return.

[sunshine-jesse]

Ashley Literally Did Nothing Wrong, Fuck You, Fight Me

Alt title: Ashley Graves: The most convenient scapegoat in the world

I'm going to espouse a take here that will no doubt be controversial, as you can tell by the title. This is a take I've created from my hollistic understanding of the events of the game, and isn't dependent on any one single point I make in this essay. Because of that, I want you to read it with an open mind; if you hyperfocus on one or two smaller details I might've gotten wrong or are fallaciously interpretated, and either use that to discount the whole essay or go into the comment section and immediately try to debunk my interpretation of that event, that'll make it obvious to me that you're not trying to seriously engage with the core of what I'm trying to say. Because unless quite literally everything I've said here is wrong, I feel confident in saying this:

Ashley Graves did nothing wrong.

Moreover, I think Ashley is on the level of people like Rossiu, Shinji Ikari, and Skylar White as far as people who are mistreated by their fandoms goes.

At first this was going to be an essay about how I don't think the demons are evil, using textual and thematic evidence to show that they're just part of a system that deals mostly fairly with humans and doesn't have any nefarious plans, or at least nefarious plans that stand to fuck anyone over. But then I realized that, goodness gracious, that is boring as shit to write! But I looked at what I had written already and realized that I could write something else with it: something better. I could sum up a lot of the points made in my prior essays and elaborate upon them in much more detail, showing why I think certain themes are obviously present within this game. And here, I intend on doing that.

I've spoken a lot before about how Ashley is a scapegoat for all of Andrew's worst habits; and to a lesser extent, her mother's. The game makes it seemingly obvious that she's the bad one, and generally just a Very Not Good person. It shows her and her brother committing many different acts that are, under most moral systems, wrong, and implicitly implies that she's the reason that Andrew ever did those things. It implies that she's corrupting him, that he could be better and refuses- or is unable to- due to her poking and prodding. But… is that the truth? Is that how their relationship actually works, in practice? I don't believe so. I think I've made it obvious by now that I believe the exact opposite!

I'm going to start off by tackling the morality behind their actions, especially relative to the world they're in. Specifically, I'm going to tackle how the game presents the morality of their actions from a thematic point of view, and any statements it may or may not make.

First of all, TCOAL plays with a lot of different taboos- demon summoning, cannibalism, incest, murder- but the game goes through great lengths to muddy the moral weight of the siblings' actions. Every single action they commit is portrayed in the most neutral possible light- killings were done in self defense (with one notable exception), or done to people who greatly wronged them, cannibalism was a necessity to survive (also with one notable exception), incest is shown to come from a marked improvement in their relationship- leading me to believe that this game is taking a hard morally nihilistic stance. Else, they'd be shown to suffer for their actions, when in reality, the literal exact opposite is happening; they are being rewarded for it. This isn't necessarily glorifying the actions, but instead showing that even the worst of actions can potentially be excused, but whether or not you do is up to the reader. Hence, nihilism, or at the very least, skepticism (as noted by Lisafication). There's an existentialist reading of this too, but I think much of that is contingent on the events of chapter 3 so I won't get into that here.

It contrasts this mostly nihilistic perspective on interpersonal taboos with the deep societal ills that drive people to commit such actions. Evil exists at every level of analysis here, but curiously, the only thing that are shown to do direct harm to others without having a justification of some kind- be it self-defense or retaliation- are those societal ills. There is no (morally) good reason to quarantine people, starve them, and harvest their organs. There's no good reason to burn all evidence and then put a hit on the ones who did escape. There's no good reason to extort sexual favors from someone in exchange for food. These are deep structural problems that force people to either retaliate/lash out or enable people's most exploitative or abusive habits lest they just let themselves die.

And thus, the obvious evils become much less obvious. The game makes a point of subverting the obvious or the well-known when it comes to morals, and I think it does so when it comes to everything else, too. Outside of those societal ills (so far, ch3 might have something else to say), every situation where someone could obviously be shown as the bad person in a situation is immensely more complex than it first appears. So much so that I'd argue that displaying said complexity and subverting simplicity to force/encourage people to analyze things deeper is one of the central themes of the game.

So why, exactly, does he blame so much on her? It's because Ashley is the world's most convenient scapegoat, and the game is well-aware of this and displays it in ways both obvious and not.

First off: the title screen has Ashley wielding the cleaver, establishing that she’s the violent one. It's covered in blood, too, implying that she's the one more driven to kill. The reality of this is the opposite; Andrew is the one with less hesitation to inflict violence on others, the cleaver is his weapon, and most of the kills in the story are done by him (and fully justified). Ashley might push him to do these violent acts, but… does she?

Her reaction to the death of the first warden is one of utter shock.

And her expression afterwards?

This is not the look of someone who enjoyed the fact that someone killed for her sake. This is not the look of someone who finds joy to be had in violence. It's not even the look of someone who is apathetic towards violence. It almost seems to express shame or guilt, but at the very least, she's timid over it. At the very least, it's an "oh shit, he actually had to do that for my sake" face. Not a "haha, I am making him worse!" face.

Not to mention, not only does Andrew kill the first Warden without a care in the world, he proactively kills the 302 lady to eliminate all witnesses, and because he believes Ashley would want him to. But Ashley actually grills him for it; she didn't want the 302 lady to die, although she hardly had good-person-reasons for it. But that's not my point. The point is that she is not the violent one between the two of them.

The door doesn't open in response to violence, remember?

The game intentionally misleads us.

And what happens when Ashley tries to make him take responsibility for all this violence? To point out that she didn't force him to do anything and that he chose to do all of it, including lock Nina in the box? She lashes out, hits him a few times… and then he goes to strangle her, and doesn't let go until she acknowledges that he has no reason for her to be around. He literally doesn't cease his threat to her life until she acknowledges she's useless to him.

I acknowledge that this isn't the most charitable framing for Andrew, and maybe too charitable for Ashley. After all, she wasn't indignant. She was mocking him. She found it hilarious. But I have reasons for that charitability that I'll go over towards the end. But even with that charitability in mind, I don't think my reading is too off base. Defaulting to laughter or mocking in stressful situations is just what Ashley does. She's not indignant about it; she just finds it hilarious that people keep pretending to be better than her, when they're not.

Andrew killed the 302 lady and used Ashley as a scapegoat to justify it; this is indisputable, stated in the text during the dream. This alone validates Ashley's point of view. There is no interpretation of this event that doesn't paint Andrew as every bit as unscrupulous as Ashley, and thinking she corrupted him into this- when it was both one of the first actions he did on his own in the story and something he explicitly uses Ashley as a scapegoat for- is just ridiculous. It's frankly unreasonable. She has every right to be sick of being used as a scapegoat. And at the very least, whether or not you accept the idea that Andrew only let Ashley go once she acknowledged that she's useless to him, he's still so taken aback by his misinterpretation of Ashley's desires that HE goes to strangle HER.

This is NOT Andrew triumphantly standing up to his abuser. This is both of their masks slipping; Andrew revealing how violent and insistent on keeping up his internal narrative that he is, and Ashley revealing that she's getting tired of being blamed for everything.

And then, when he finally lets her go… she hugs him, and acknowledges that she's happy that Nina is gone, which makes little sense at the face of it. Why would that be her first response to being let go, when it was ostensibly what made Andrew so upset to begin with?

I think, to her, it's a conciliatory gesture. As chapter 2 showed us, she's more than willing to take responsibility for violence to relieve Andrew of stress over it, as evidenced by her finishing off their parents. This is an earlier instance of that; by acknowledging she was happy that Nina was dead, she took responsibility for it. She willingly framed herself as a bad person here, so Andrew wouldn't have to be.

She let herself be the scapegoat, because it's all she ever knew. She put the mask back on.

This alone is enough to challenge the idea that Ashley 'corrupts' Andrew in any meaningful way. How, exactly, can you define it as corrupt when society itself is twisted enough to force these actions to survive? In a more sane world, a lot of their actions would've been bad, sure, but they're also actions that the siblings probably wouldn't have done in a more sane world. Ashley's actions aren't making Andrew worse, they're helping to ensure their survival. You could say that this is still corruptive in its own way, but at that point it seems like your reasoning is motivated by having already had that narrative rather than making a good-faith reading of their dynamic.

At no point did she actually make him worse; he was already like that and just used her as an excuse.

Next up is the Nina situation. This one is obviously cut and dry- Ashley manipulates Andrew into killing Nina because she wants no competition between the two of them. It's not Andrew's fault and Ashley was an evil abuser from the jump. Obvious, right?

No. It's really not.

It's pretty strongly implied that Ashley was mistreated by people her whole life. The Lemon Cupcake scene shows this in more detail, about how people always neglect or ignore her birthdays, but she also says that nobody likes her because she's weird and loud in the Nina flashback too. But unless something big happened in between the two flashbacks, none of this behavior indicates particularly maladaptive or even strange tendencies on Ashley's part. She's a needy, bratty child, and the closest thing to a friend she has- Nina- wants to take away the one thing from her that's a source of comfort and emotional validation.

It's not entirely rational, sure! But it also -makes perfect sense-. NOBODY treated her well throughout her entire life; it's strongly implied that Nina never did either, given Nina's reaction to Ashley being there and the lower left-hand painting past the Questionable door showing her being distant from the two of them. We can also see a star bouncing off of her head, and stars represent closeness in this game, so it shows there was an attempt made somewhere along the line, it's just not clear as to who made the attempt.

At the very least, Nina's reaction of disappointment fed into Ashley's preconceived notions of how people treat her, and how she deserves to be treated. Although, from what has been directly stated, rather than implied, Nina was nothing more than an innocent victim in this scenario; I don't mean to take that away from her.

"But she didn't care when Nina died?"

So? If Nina treated her like trash for most of her life, why should she care? She didn't expect Nina to die. It was just an acceptable consequence. You can say "That's not how normal kids act!" all you want, but there's a level of spite and apathy that comes with intense bullying and emotional neglect that I don't think you really understand unless you've been there to the extent someone like Ashley has implied to be.

Andrew, meanwhile, was the one who told Ashley that they had to lock Nina in the box to keep them in there. He's the one who looked for and found the stick to keep them locked in. You could say he was coerced by an abusive person into hurting someone, sure, but you'd be wrong. Cataclysmically wrong, even. Like, if you actually think that a seven year old girl (nobody wears overalls past the age of seven) can have anything approximating an abusive dynamic with her as the perpetrator with someone both older and stronger than her, you frankly have some issues with women you need to work out. That's simply not how abuse dynamics work at that age.

Andrew wasn't entirely responsible for it either, mind- he was just a kid who should never have been saddled with this kind of responsibility. But that's not my point; the point is that it enables other people, Andrew included, to use her as a scapegoat to avoid his own responsibility. All this scene does is retroactively justify any preconceptions you might've had about them from seeing their adult selves first. But the moment you start digging, it becomes much less obvious who's really culpable here. Andrew was, as evidenced by the blood oath scene, fully aware that he held the advantage over her in strength, and managed to give up nothing when making the oath while he made Ashley swear to silence. He was fully aware that he could've chosen to do better, but he refused, and instead opted to reinforce Ashley's insecurities for the sake of exerting control over her.

I've said before that the 302 lady was murdered without any input from Ashley, but this is also relevant on a meta-level because it's done without any input from the player, either. Both of the murders in chapter 1 were like that, whereas all that we, the player can choose to do in that chapter is either solve puzzles, or hilariously, die. The only person with control here is Andrew, the character, and this is reinforced by the fact that we have no control over him for much of the Nina flashback, too. He locks her in the box regardless of our input, even though Ashley spends a lot of time trying to convince him. The main difference between the Nina flashback and the scenes in the apartment is that Ashley had absolutely no idea that any of that was going to happen in the present, whereas it's something she wanted with Nina- which isn't that big of a difference when discussing how much agency she really has.

As much as the game frames Ashley as a manipulator- and much of the fanbase uncritically accepts- she is given shockingly little in-game control over many of the actions committed. Even in the case of the Hitman- as a good friend of mine pointed out- the only choice the player is given is whether or not to check the closet and be killed; an impulsive decision leading to a swift and unceremonious end. In the end, Andrew is the one given the choice to kill the hitman, and we can consciously choose whether or not his reaction is panicked or measured. No such choice is given to Ashley, as most of her reactions are impulsive and spontaneous rather than planned. This is not the makings of a standard "manipulative evil bitch" trope. She's pretty consistently portrayed as someone with poor impulse and emotional control who loudly and aggressively states her intent in every single scenario she's in.

And you can still call what she says and does manipulative despite that, sure, but at what point are you just pathologizing relatively normal (if extreme and highly emotional) social interactions for the sake of fitting into a narrative you already held?

We see Ashley's status as a scapegoat for people to use to pretend to be normal reach its most blatant with the parents. This time it's pretty cut and dry to anyone that doesn't already have it in their mind that Ashley is evil and unforgivable. Mrs. Graves explicitly brings up the possibility of a normal life without Ashley to Andrew in the basement, and claims that Ashley was at fault for shutting her out. She would've been a normal parent otherwise, right? Well, no; the game wastes no time in showing that this wasn't the case in the Burial ending.

From when Ashley was a baby, Mrs. Graves was already tired of her shit, and too emotionally exhausted to be a parent. Despite her attempts at blaming Ashley, she would've never been a normal parent unless Ashley was a golden child in the same way that Andrew was. And yet Ashley didn't even deny shutting her mom out. She didn't deny the chance to be used as a scapegoat; it was all she ever knew. The fact that Mrs. Graves had the audacity to claim that she was a saint when she was never prepared to be a parent for a child who didn't make it easy, and when she was willing to sell out her children and let them die for a life insurance payment is absolutely astounding.

This alone should've been enough to recontextualize everything we supposedly know about how responsible Ashley really is in all of this, but bad parents have a knack for being great at manipulating both family members and everyone viewing from the outside, including the people playing the game.

And almost including Andrew.

Andrew almost accepting the mom's offer is the single most tragic moment in the game, by far.

Dandy said it best in his video essay: By Ashley leaving Andrew alone with their parents, she showed that she is capable of changing. That she is capable of getting better. She showed that she loves and respects Andrew enough to be able to put aside her usual role as the scapegoat and allow him to make the decision that was for the best for both of them. And make no mistake, it was for the best; if the mom really DID sell out the siblings, and given the two of them were already on the run for supposedly being dead, there was no hope of any of this ever working out. They saw through the conspiracy and knew the truth of how the quarantine operations really worked. They were an active threat to one of the most powerful entities seen in the setting so far, to the point where they had a hitman sent after them.

Mrs. Graves had every reason to sell them out again, for their presence in a public setting was more than enough to put everyone in their family in danger. Mrs. Graves had every reason to believe that the normalcy she wanted was nothing that could ever be grasped again so long as her children were alive, and as such, it was clear that she had nothing to offer either Andrew or Ashley. Ashley trusted Andrew to see through their obvious manipulations and lies, and understand that the parents had nothing left to give them. She trusted him to love her more than the false promises their parents could give.

…And yet. In spite of it all.

In spite of her love, in spite of clearly displaying that she can grow up and become a person that causes him less stress, and in spite of Ashley showing that all she wants now is their safety and security…

Andrew can still choose to consider Ashley the problem. He can still choose to use her as the scapegoat he always has.

He can still choose to see her as the one thing that caused him to be this way, that stands in between him and normalcy, when she, not once, forced him to do anything.

Were he to accept Mrs. Graves' offer, this would've been the single most tragic moment in the game. It almost was, and still stands to be, because he ignores every indication that things could be better for the sake of his own narrative, and a narrative echoed by much of the fandom.

But no matter what ending was picked, things could be better. They could've been better all along. Compared to chapter 1, their dynamic in chapter 2 is already much healthier. Their banter is less venomous, and while they still poke and prod each other in ways that aren't exactly great, they don't get into the same violent fights we saw in the 302 room. By all accounts, what happened in that room was an outlier. Even when they find themselves in their parents' house, where they stand to do the One Thing That Means They Would Never Be Normal Again, Ever (ignoring the fact that this is already a lost cause by then), Ashley doesn't get into any fights with Andrew in the same way she did back in the apartment. All she wants is affirmation and security. She doesn't even lay into her mom like she lays into Julia over the phone, even in their private conversations.

We’re led to believe that she’s still getting worse because the actions she’s taking are more extreme, but her attitudes and behaviors are much, much different. The actual actions they're taking are so obviously the right thing to do (both morally and practically) that I don't think it's until they eat their parents that you should make a double take and go "Wow, maybe these goblins actually are kinda fucked up," because until then, well… everything is justified! Perfectly so! Even then, eating their parents serves a purpose, even if not a mentally healthy one.

Maybe she’s calmer because she’s in control over the situation, but if the calls she made to Julia are any indication (independent of the theory that she didn’t actually say those things), were she unchanged as a person, she still would’ve lashed out at their mother over how much more useful she is to Andrew than their parents were, or something of that nature. Something about how nothing their mom offers could compete with what Ashley gives. But she makes no such claims. She feels no need to prove anything to her parents, or to reaffirm her place in Andrew’s life even in the face of her mother challenging it (or at least implying such a challenge). Regardless of her insecurities, she’s changed. It’s hard to see, but she has.

And then Andrew can ignore that and consider betraying her because he refuses to believe that she's willing to make their dynamic work, when she shows many different indications of being willing to concede as long as Andrew stops giving her mixed signals.

A friend of mine put it best, and I'm pretty much quoting her word for word here, because of how strongly I agree with it. When I look at Ashley, I find very few actual "flaws." I see familiar wounds.

The Burial ending, despite being triumphant and not nearly as "dark" as some people think, is still very, very sad. A lot of abusive dynamics are characterized by someone having to fight every step of the way to get what they need from the other person, usually some kind of emotional validation or relief. This is what happens between Andrew and Ashley for most of the game: Ashley wants Andrew to treat their relationship as special, to acknowledge there's something to it beyond just him going through the motions. And yet for most of the game, he refuses to, especially in chapter 1. And then, in Burial, when he does…

She's confused.

A lot of people view this as her being afraid of losing control over Andrew, since her "Andy," who she can push around, is gone. Andrew has changed, and the same tricks wouldn't work. But that's not what that is; it's not about control, it's about her finally getting what she wants from him without having to fight. She still thinks about using sex as leverage to keep him around, but that's because she's never understood what it's like to have someone actually want to be around her. And I speak from experience; when you no longer have to fight for every little bit of emotional validation or relief, when you no longer have to keep checking your messages to keep an argument going so you can finally be proven right, when you no longer have to force yourself to let go, to stop engaging, the reaction isn't happiness. It's not relief.

It's confusion. It's discontent.

Because something you've tied so much of yourself up in to is no longer there, despite it being more peaceful, it still feels wrong. The dynamic still has to be this way in your mind, because you've never known anything else. You latch on to whatever you can in order to justify that, and your actions are still heavily biased in favor of maintaining your place in that nonexistent dynamic. This isn't manipulation; it's trauma. And the fact that Ashley almost immediately understands that Andrew is changing is nothing short of a miracle. By consolidating past and present Andrew into a single person rather than splitting them into two, she showing that she can actually heal from that trauma. And all Andrew had to do to enable this is to acknowledge that she CAN change, that things CAN be better, and that everyone who claims to be better than her is full of shit.

I've analyzed the events of the story in a way that may seem needlessly antagonistic to some characters, and overly charitable to others. But I have to ask you, that if you disagree with anything I've said:

Where does that disagreement come from? What about my narrative clashes with your own? -Why- does it clash? Is it because the game presents your interpretation as obvious, whereas mine is not? Is it because you've experienced someone like Ashley before in your life, and you know it when you see it? Maybe you strongly identify with Andrew, and view his status as a doormat with no agency to be obvious? Or did you just accept the narrative that much of the fanbase has taken at face value, without further analysis other than building on top of it?

I don't believe these things to be contrarian; I've held most of these opinions since my first or second playthrough. I don't believe what I do because you don't, I believe what I do because I understand what Ashley has been through. I've experienced a lot of the specific traumas she had, such as deep feelings of isolation and being deprived of the emotional validation I need from the people who need to give it. I know what it's like to be misunderstood, to have who and what I am taken for granted, and to be terrified of being abandoned by the people I need the most. I see what I do because I understand.

And I want to give her that understanding that nobody gave me.

Maybe you should think about it. Why do you take it for granted that Andrew is a doormat who is strung along by Ashley? Why do you find it so odd when the trope of a woman corrupting a good man through leveraging sex is drawn into question? Why is Ashley seen as crazy, when all of her actions are so straightforward and rational? How is she corrupting him, when the single most needlessly violent act in the whole story- outside of the Nina flashback- is done without her influence? Why is Ashley seen as the abusive one when Andrew both threatens and resorts to physical violence and witholds emotional validation?

Weirdly personal tangent aside, Ashley and Andrew are two of the most well-written characters I have ever seen. They're not written like archetypes who interact with each other through a series of tropes; they're written like real people who's words and actions have astoundingly human motivations. They come from places that we can understand and relate to.

And just like people, they deserve respect. In spite of all they've done, they deserve love.

But make no mistake, Ashley is not the one stopping that love from happening. She just has the audacity to still want it in spite of everything telling her that she doesn't deserve it. We're led to believe she wants too much, but all she ever wanted was the bare minimum that she was never given.

And she has every right to be mad about it.

[itzjaza]

OMG! TAZ AS A FATHER UGHHHHH😫🙏

i just wanna say thank you to everyone who has been requesting(only 2 ppl have)

Taz Skylar as a Father:

How you found out you were pregnant: Ever since y/n and Taz got married, the two had been trying to start a family for a while. The two were both so excited about the possibility of becoming parents. One morning, when y/n woke up she went to the bathroom with a pregnancy test, just like every other morning for the past month. When she took it she expected it to be negative, just like every other one, but to her surprise it was positive! After a while of silent celebrating in the bathroom, she went into their bedroom to wake Taz up to tell him the good news. Taz was also excited. He smiled, hugged her, and told her how much he loved her. They spent the rest of the day talking about their future as parents and making plans for the baby. Y/n felt so lucky to have such a supportive husband who was always there for her.

During the pregnancy: Y/n was going through all the normal pregnancy symptoms, like morning sickness and a growing belly, and Taz was always there to take care of her. He would make sure she always had her favorite snacks, rub her feet when they started to hurt, and even take over all of her household chores. As the months went on, Y/n's belly was growing bigger and bigger. Taz was so proud of his wife, and he could barely wait to meet their little one. He started preparing the nursery and researching all the things Y/n would need once the baby arrived. He was determined to be the best father he could be. As the due date approached, Taz became more and more protective of his wife. He would make sure she always had everything she needed, and he would never leave her side for too long. Y/n appreciated his care and attention and knew that she was in good hands with Taz.

The due day: Y/n and Taz were ready to become parents. The due date was fast approaching, and they were both nervous but excited. Taz had prepared everything, from the nursery to all the essentials that they would need. Finally, the big day arrived. Taz took Y/n to the hospital, and they both breathed a sigh of relief as they got into the elevator. Once they reached the delivery room, the doctors and nurses immediately got to work. Y/N was feeling a little pain, but Taz was there to hold her hand and comfort her. As the hours went by, Y/n's contractions became more regular and intense. Taz was by her side, holding her hand and encouraging her. When it was finally time to push, Taz rubbed her back and helped her breathe. When the baby was born, it was a beautiful moment for both Y/n and Taz. They both couldn't stop smiling and looking at their little one. Y/n cried tears of happiness, and Taz was so proud of his wife. Taz was there for Y/n during every step of her labor, and he continued to be there for her and the baby.

How he is as a father: Taz is a loving and supportive father to his child. He spends time with them, reading stories and playing games, and is always there to comfort them when they are upset or scared. He helps them with their homework and drives them to their activities. He is a hands-on dad who is always looking for ways to make life better for his family. Taz is also a patient and understanding father. He listens to his child and tries to understand their point of view. He never yells or punishes them without first talking through the situation. He wants his child to feel safe and valued, and to know that he is there for them no matter what.

[morgansdeb]

Seeing the One Piece fanbase hyping up this 24-year-old white girl to play Robin because they're allergic to older and non-white women is so annoying to me (they're also allergic to fat women)*. The fact that she's super young when Robin is supposed to be visibly older and more mature than the East Blue Five, makes her an immediate NO for me. These weirdos will see a super young girl with black bangs and scream "Robin-chan~~!!!" because they can't consume media without their dicks in their hands. I mean, 19k likes? Seriously?

Iñaki Godoy is 20. Mackenyu is 27. Taz Skylar and Jacob Gibson are 28. Emily Rudd is 31. The ideal thing would be for Robin to be 40 (or AT LEAST 32, and not look like she just graduated high school. She needs to look older than Emily Rudd and the rest of the cast).

I can only imagine the amount of racist vitriol Robin's actress will get if she ends up being a WOC. And let's not even start with the comments about the size of her breasts. Emily Rudd is the most conventionally attractive white girl you could think of, and I still see comments saying she wasn't "right" for Nami because her boobs aren't "big enough."

"But Oda said that if Robin were real, she'd be Russian!!11!" And he also said Luffy would be Brazilian (Iñaki is Mexican), Nami would be Swedish (Emily is American), Sanji would be French (Taz is Spanish/English), and with Usopp... all he did was write Africa, which isn't a country. So let's be serious for a bit. Those answers weren't literal.

Y'all love to talk about how the creepy things that he says on the SBS are "jokes" (remember when he sexually harassed a fan who asked him if she could be a Jump Editor, or when he said he fantasized about Rebecca's top falling during battle? Because I do), so why are these answers the one thing you choose to take seriously?

But this fandom being filled with racist, misogynistic, fatphobic incels isn't surprising considering how terrible Oda is. All these issues are connected and lead back to the source material. It's nearly impossible to have productive conversations about One Piece when everyone wants to blame all the bad on OPLA or Toei, as if the creator himself wasn't the one who opened the door for every single problem.

Some of you act as if someone kicked your dog whenever someone dares to suggest that Oda isn't the Super Progressive Writer™ the fandom has deluded themselves into thinking he is. I don't even understand where the denial comes from, considering his misogyny is so blatant and his association with sex offenders is public information. I understand loving One Piece, but you don't need to kiss Oda's ass, you know? He's not a good person.

Being critical of the media you consume and its creator isn't being a "hater". I can consume One Piece while disliking its many, many issues. I didn't sign a contract that says I have to like every single thing about it.

I'll be upset if Robin ends up being played by some 20-something white actress, but I'm already upset by the fandom's attitude. *Don't think I haven't noticed the obsession some folks have with monitoring Ilia Isorelýs Paulino's social media activity to check if she's losing weight to be "manga/anime accurate Alvida", as if Alvida magically becoming thin is this super important plot point that needs to be adapted. The source material and the fandom's treatment of fat women is another topic I could rant about for days.

[l0t4n]

WHAT IF THEY WERE. WALTER WHITE

a/n I have many wips and I am struggling to finish any of them so you get this for now. Also keep in mind I never actually finished the show and I didn't like it anyways I just think the idea is funny. Posting as a buffer for everyone who did not follow for nsfw bc I'm posting it 2nite regardless watch out

Contains TW drugs, references to violence. What it says. Would they do the shit Walter White did in Breaking Bad? The brothers + dateables. Gn mc mentioned once

LUCIFER

-Yeah.

-He would do absolutely all of it step by step, word for word

-Maybe he would not be as mean as Walter is, but he would absolutely give that “I AM. The danger, Skylar” speech

-Just to MC instead

-And Mammon is Jesse

MAMMON

-I think in his head he would like to think he would/could

-Definitely fucking can't though

-Doesn't understand the chemistry even if someone guided him, would definitely fuck up really bad

-Would be in it for the money, would brag about how he'd make an excellent drug kingpin, is lying

-The moment he needs to shoot someone he's running away

LEVIATHAN

-Not a chance bro

-The closest he would get would be filling in the role of Gale

-Even then, that's a stretch

-It's too scary :(( what if all the drug mules think he's cringe

-Yeah sure he did all those illegal things but the police probably wouldn't care so much if he was cooler

-Absolutely not suited for the meth-making lifestyle

SATAN

-Wouldn't do it if it was his life on the line. Would only do it to get back at someone else

-Ruining Lucifer’s reputation by selling illicit substances out of the HoL

-Probably the most suitable for drug manufacturing. Not anything else though

-Would be the most likely to be despised by everyone else in the distribution chain

-It's a high-stress environment and he takes out his anger on all of them

ASMODEUS

-Personal protective equipment is ugly and the meth business is a thankless one. There is no possibility for him to gain fame and attention doing that unless he also wants to go to prison

-Probably finds it kind of gross and messy too

-There are a number of illegal activities that are far better suited for a demon like him and he knows it

BEELZEBUB

-Eats the meth

-The end

BELPHEGOR

-Perhaps unsurprisingly, would likely have both the intelligence and personality to make it work

-But the meth-making process takes forever, and there are so many points where you can accidentally die, so I think he knows better

-Would accidentally fall asleep and melt his skin off his body

-Also has virtually no reason to do it in the first place; isn't hurting for cash like Mammon and doesn't really care about his reputation like Lucifer

DIAVOLO

-Would have trouble grasping the severity of drug manufacturing and dealing

-Might only get into the scheme if coaxed by the promise of friendship

-I do not put it above him to realize that it is also illegal, however

-Albeit he has had his moments of considering himself above the law, which, if anyone is, it's him, so maybe not

-Will bail the moment someone yells at him or pulls a gun on him, whatever happens first

BARBATOS

-Gus

-His moral alignment and motivations are too vague. Either his moral compass is too strong or he would be the best drug kingpin the devildom has ever seen. Maybe both at the same time

-Would get suitably angry if anyone else got involved though

-Money laundering pro. If nothing else is true I know this is canon

SIMEON

-Oh good heavens

-Deary me

-Maybe with his skills in baking he would do well, but you'd need to lie to him about what you're making

-Shocked and appalled when he finds out

-Most everyone else is nice to him though

SOLOMON

-Probably makes illicit substances for his funny evil wizard experiments

-Since it's a form of cooking though the batches always end up terrible

-Meth that makes all your bones turn to jelly and kills you in five days

-Since he is far removed from human matters of mortality and injury, he probably thinks it's funny

-Evil ass

[simmerstories96]

The Dark Side of Content Creating No One Tells About

My journey as a content creator has been a bit of a rough patch. By no means necessary am I looking for pity or anything like that but there are things about making content, no one tells anyone about. 😣

I opened my content creation shop, Skylar Designs, in July 2024. I got the name after my youngest daughter who’s the sole reason I’m doing this because I want her to know if you put your mind to it, you can basically achieve anything.

As much as I enjoy doing this and watching everyone use my recolors or poses or sims, as an added bonus.. there were the dark sides to this hobby I didn’t expect. No one tells you how much it can affect your mental health.

I have extensive editing skills from a few hobbies I’ve done in the past with video games so I came over to The Sims Community since I’ve been playing this game since the very first Sims game.

It’s disheartening when you’ve been at this for quite awhile and only see very little progress while someone who just joins Patreon or Boosty, grows rapidly with barely any content posted for download.

Me as a human being, I seem invisible to a lot because I’m a small content creator. I’m in no way huge like a lot of these awesome people are. But I’ve tried so hard and got so far, which was very little.

Not only that but this hobby also is a monetization hobby, so creators get paid for their creations. Well it’s alittle hard when some creators don’t allow early access when doing recolors (which is understandable) and I respect all creator TOUs. Me personally, I just don’t know how to create meshes and really have no interest because why should I try to learn something no one is going to even bother looking at.

I gave up on horse stencils because my first one was a botched project. I didn’t like it. I also know I cannot draw and I’m better at painting things.

This whole journey has just put me down deeper in the endless spiral of mental health. Even though I enjoy it, I don’t see why I should continue when the progress I’ve made or done goes unnoticed.

[yuna542]

Note/Disclaimer at the beginning:

I do not want to romanticize or trivialize (domestic) violence, suicide, drugs, and toxic relationships in this story. If these topics trigger you, then you should rather skip this story. If not, I hope you enjoy the little OBX Story I had in my drafts for forever and I've finally written down. If you are experiencing domestic violence, as hard as it is, tell someone, whether it's a friend, a teacher, or a family member. You are not alone <3

——-

Soundtrack:

⏯️Play: Wait a Minute by WILLOW

“Hold on, wait a minute

Feel my heart's intention, oh Hold on, wait a minute

I left my consciousness in the sixth dimension

Left my soul in his vision”

Prologue

Now I'm sitting here in a hammock in front of an old fishing shack in the swamp, trying to figure out how to tell this story in a structured way while my life is actually a complete mess. Well, before you read this, you should know three things: First of all, Hey! I'm a Kook. But not just any Kook. I’m Skylar Diaz the Kook Princess. At least that's what most people call me, since my family owns one of the largest ferry companies in the US. At least the part of it that's still left. I have built up this reputation over the years and have also lived up to it in a petty and clichéd way. The typical rich spoiled girl living in an estate in the Outer Banks. A brat and arrogant little bitch. The most popular girl at school, desired by all the boys and envied by the rest. With her perfect little family, hip friends, like the Camerons and no money problems at all. The perfect Barbie Dream Life.

But it wasn't always that way. Little Trauma Dump: My father was from the Cut, the South Side of the island. That's where those who make their living as waiters, yacht cleaners or skippers live and work. My mother was also from the Cut, which few people know. She and my dad fell in love and had me. Their perfect little star. My father was a very ambitious man who actually managed to become a police officer and was even promoted to detective on the mainland. However, he died on a job when I was six years old. So I have hardly any memories of him. A short time later, my mother started a relationship with Rick. He was my father's best friend and the richest man in the Outer Banks at that point. So all our money problems were forgotten and I have been raised and lived in a huge mansion in Figure Eigth ever since. The fancy Island Club, big parties and banquets, as well as expensive clothes were now part of my life. I played the role of the rich and arrogant princess flawlessly and knew how to present myself to survive among all the scavengers. And for quite a while I really liked this life.

Next, I should mention: All of this is a lie. Nothing in my life ever went perfectly, even if everyone thought it did. My mother committed suicide when I was only 16 years old. Everything fell apart as a result. My relationship with my stepfather Rick was disastrous even before that, but it got a lot worse in the months after “the incident”, how he liked to call it. I was never allowed to talk about it again and to call it what it was: A big shitty tragedy which ripped my life apart from that point on. We moved away from the Outer Banks and lived in Nassau for a year. Rick had always had a fondness for alcohol, but that year it took on proportions that made my life more than difficult. We never talked about my mother's death again. That was okay, because I didn't understand it anyway and the less I thought about it, the better I felt. Meanwhile, Rick was a violent choleric who couldn't even control himself around his own daughter. My great "friends" stopped contacting me after only a week and had probably forgotten about me even faster.

And last but not least (that’s when the shitshow really started) : We were now moving back after this year and I had no idea what to expect of Kildare. According to Rick there were new business opportunities, but what did he actually tell me? Actually, I didn't care either. With my return began a crazy journey full of chaos, a lot of anger, sadness and no end of adventure. I ran into old friends and things escalated quickly. I learned things about my mother's death that made me more than suspicious, and gradually I began to suspect that her death had not been a suicide after all. My father's death also suddenly seemed to be no longer a coincidence and I learned a lot about my roots and especially about treasure hunting.

Then there were the Pogues and a certain blond boy. My nemesis, who regularly drove me to white heat and equally to madness. But let's start at the beginning:

[-Press Start]

[marvelobsessed134]

Oh i just had this idea and i'm explaining it because i'm sure if you're writing something that thing has to be perfect. (you're my favorite author on tumblr, your posts are so since). Y/n and vince have been dating for like a month and Vince wants to introduce her to skay. First skaylar is like 'I already have a mom, i don't need another one' but at the end of the day she falls asleep softly in y/n's arms(maybe vince joins them).. can you write someting like this?? :<

It’s the little moments

Requested: yes, by anon

Pairings: Vince Neil x Fem!reader

Warnings: None

A/n: Thank you so much for the compliment I’m so glad you enjoy my writing!

Summary: You meet Vince’s daughter for the first time

“Are you sure we should be doing this?” You asked Vince weary. You’ve never dated someone who had a kid before, therefore, have never met your boyfriends kid.

“It’s going to be okay, I promise. Now come on, Sharise is expecting me to come pick her up.” He responded. He was so sure of this. However you couldn’t shake the feeling in your stomach. You knew that have his daughter didn’t like you then it’d be over for you two.

Once you arrived at his ex wife’s house, you stayed in the car while he walked to the front door to get his little girl. Your heart melted as you watched him carry her. She was so cute and the way that he, this big tough rockstar was handling her was the cutest.

He put her in her car seat. You turned around to smile back at her. She just kind of gave you a look. One of being unsure.

Vince happily got in the front seat and started the car again, “Okay, how does ice cream sound?”

“Yayy!” Skylar cheered.

You smiled, “That’d be great, babe.”

Once the three of you arrived at the ice cream shop, you immediately went to the front counter to order. Once you got your ice cream, you all sat down by the window.

“So, Sky, this is Y/n. My girlfriend.” He explained slowly so that she’d understand.

“Girlfriend?” She asked.

Vince hummed in response.

She didn’t respond after that. You let out a breath you didn’t even know you were holding as you mindlessly messed with your ice cream with the spoon.

After a rather less than eventful day out, Vince took her home with you guys. Mainly because he needed to ask what was wrong, since she’d been so quiet.

“Skylar, honey, can you tell me what’s wrong?” He asked gently, sitting on the couch next to her. You distanced yourself, not wanting to intrude.

“Y/n.” She said and you understood, because the poor girl must be heartbroken to see her parents split and then her dad to be with another woman? Yeah, that’d make you sad too.

“What about Y/n?” He asked.

“I already have a mom! I don’t need another one!” She cried. Your heart sank.

The blonde hugged her in his arms, gently soothing her.

Later that night you couldn’t sleep, and heard noise from Skylars room. You got up and walked to the door, and pressed your ear against it. You heard cries. And motherly instincts you didn’t even know you had kicked in. You opened the door to see the girl in her little bed, crying. You immediately sat down and pulled her onto your lap.

“Hey, what’s wrong, babygirl?” You asked softly.

“T-the monster! It was gonna eat me!” She cried.

“Oh honey, did you have a bad dream? It’s okay, it’s just a dream, it’s not real. And it’s over now right?” You cooed, stroking her hair. She buried her face into the crook of your neck and you held her tightly.

After she calmed down, you tucked her back in and absentmindedly placed a kiss on her head. As soon as you started to leave she said, “Y/n…stay?” Two little words had you rushing to her side in an instant.

“Of course honey.” You crawled into bed with her, however much the little toddler sized bed would let you, and hugged her to your chest.

Vince woke up to use the bathroom and came back realizing you were gone. He furrowed his brows, his heart rate picking up. Had you left because you didn’t feel welcome anymore? However it was you’re guys’ shared home and he knew you wouldn’t up and leave without warning. He walked down the hall and saw that his daughters door was open, he walked in to see you cuddling with Skylar.

His heart melted. He turned around, went back to his room and grabbed a pillow and some blankets before walking back and setting himself up on the floor. You hand was hanging from the bed, so he gently grabbed it. He sighed soundly and slowly closed his eyes. Having his two favorite girls right there with him.

[dear-friends-12]

When you get jealous. (Ninjago boys x reader) HC

Kai

You didn’t care for this Skylar girl. For some reason Kai acted a bit differently with her. You didn’t know why. Until you found out that they dated for months. They broke up for some unknown reason. All of this happened before Kai met you. You were jealous yes. But,Kai looked so happy when he was with her. All you wanted was for him to be happy. You sighed. He thought that you needed a day out. Only he brought Skylar. You didn’t get upset. Because Kai didn’t know what you were dealing with. He thought that you were stressed. After all you had to translate an ancient book for the team. This was a very hard task. Because it was in an ancient language that nobody understood. Zane tried. But,he didn’t understand it either.

The three of you went to the boardwalk fair. “Look (Y/n) it’s your favorite restaurant! Let’s get a bite to eat.”Kai said. “The desserts look good too.” Skylar added. “Huh? Yeah that sounds good.” You replied. Maybe if you ate something it would cheer you up. This is your favorite place to eat. Only you kept on looking out the window and not paying attention. Even when after you were done eating. You almost hit your head on light post. Kai grabbed your hand and lead you away. “Watch out.” He said. You had a huge blush on your face. “Sorry.” You apologized. “You don’t have to apologize. Are you feeling okay? It wasn’t the food was it?” Kai asked concerned. You shook your head. “No. I-I just have a lot on my mind.” You admitted. “Maybe we should go back.” Skylar suggested. “No. I don’t want to ruin your night. I’ll wait here you can go on a ride.” You said.

Later, You texted Kai saying that you went back to the bounty. He hadn’t seen Skylar for a long while and you didn’t want to ruin. You tried working on translating the book. But,you couldn’t. You had too many what if’s in your mind. You laid in bed. Kai knocked on your door and you told him to come in. “What was that about? We should’ve headed back together.” “It’s okay. I made it back safely.” You replied. “I know. But,if anything happened to you…” He said frowning. “Nothing did.” You held his hand. “Honey what’s wrong with you? You’re not yourself.” He said hugging you. You told him. “You don’t have to feel that way. Because I realized that you’re the one for me. I love you so much. You brighten up my day when I’m blue.” He smiled at you. You cried. “Shhh. It’s going to be okay.” He said. That night he made sure that you got all the hugs and kisses you needed.

Jay

Jay has been hanging out with Nya way too much lately. At first it didn’t bother you. Jay likes fixing things and Nya likes fixing things. It made sense. Until he was late for your date. He had you waiting for two hours. After waiting for two hours. You went back to the bounty and to your room. “What should I do? Maybe Jay just forgot…or got lost track of time. Yeah that has to be it.” You said brushing your jealousy away. You knew that he couldn’t be with you all the time. Besides Nya is his friend. You know how much he treasures his friends. You sent Jay a simple text. “I love you. <3” You went to bed early that night. Only you did have trouble sleeping.

You got up in the middle of the night and admired the stars. “I probably just needed fresh air.” You said hugging yourself. You could feel like someone was near you. “Jay I know that you’re busy. But,I really want to spend time with you.” You said sighing. You turned around to see Cole. “Oh sorry. I thought you were Jay.” You apologized. “You don’t have to apologize. Why are you crying? Did something happen?” He asked. “I’m not..” You began. Then you realized that you were crying a bit. “I just had a bad dream. That’s all.” “Do you want to talk about it?” He asked. “No. Thank you. Actually…how close are Jay and Nya?” “Well,they dated for a while. That was way before you joined the team.” “Oh? Do you think that they love each other still?” You asked. You wanted Jay to be happy. After all you love him to pieces. Even if it meant letting him go. “I think you need to tell him.” Cole said. “But,I don’t want to seem clingy though. I’ll think about it.” You replied.

Jay felt awful about missing the date. So,he was going to apologize. He wanted to give you breakfast in bed. “Good morning.” He said. “J-Jay what time is it?” You asked. “It’s almost ten in the morning Buttons.” “Oh? I didn’t sleep well last night.” You said rubbing your eyes. “I-I heard.” He said frowning. Jay saw you last night talking to Cole. The only thing he heard was that you couldn’t sleep. Jay remembered that Cole kinda liked you too. “(Y/n) I’m really sorry. Nya and I are..” Jay stopped. He didn’t want to tell you about your birthday gift. “I know.” “You do?! Oh no!” He yelled. No one knows about the gift. How did you find out? “Listen it’s okay if you still love Nya.” “What?! No! I don’t still like Nya. What makes you think that?” He pulled you into a tight hug. “But,you’ve been nonstop talking about her…” “You’re jealous? Buttons you don’t have to be. I love you sooo much! Besides I can be myself around you. When I was with Nya..I always pretended to be someone I wasn’t. You love me for me.” He said. “Jay I’m sorry for getting jealous.” You said. “It happens to everyone..” He said. It has happened to him before. You hugged him. “I love you so much.” You smiled. He made it up to you for missing the date. By bringing you to your favorite cafe.

Cole

Lately you’ve been acting weird. You had a terrible feeling in your chest. It happened when Cole was with Nya alone. You didn’t know why. You didn’t pay attention as Lloyd went on about some cool thing he did. You turned your head to see Cole and Nya talking. Even Jay was looking at them. “Are you listening?” Lloyd asked. “Huh? Oh yeah. You did the laundry and the dishes.” You said. “Uh no. I was talking about the last battle we had. Why are you acting so weird?” He asked. You didn’t answer. “Ha! The two of you are jealous!” Lloyd said. “Are not! Now be quiet before they hear us!” You and Jay said in unison. “Okay okay. But,you two are definitely jealous.” Lloyd said. “Lloyd stop!” You said frowning. Lloyd left the room. “What are you doing?” Cole asked. “Ah! Jay did you hear about that new movie?” You asked. “It looks so good. Ha ha.” Jay responded. “What are you two up to?” Nya asked. “Nothing.” Jay said frowning. “I-I think Pixel was calling me.” You said walking away. “Huh? Pixel isn’t even here.” Cole said frowning.

You and Jay were talking about how stupid it was. The two of you didn’t need to get jealous. “You’re with Nya.” You said. “You and Cole are a couple. So,I don’t understand why we’re jealous.” Jay said. “Yeah,I don’t get it.” You said smiling. The two of you thought that was a good idea to go talk to them. “Kai, have you seen Cole or Nya?” You asked. “Yeah. They went to the shopping district.” He replied. “What?!” You and Jay said in unison. “That’s creepy.” Kai said. “I know.” Lloyd said. You and Jay went to the shopping district. “I can’t see anything.Jay your big head is in the way.” You said. “They’re looking for a gift.” He said. You frowned upon getting caught. “What are you doing here?” Nya asked. “Uh…we wanted to look at the pens. Right Jay?” “Yeah I love pens.” He replied. “This is flower shop.” Cole said. “Oh right.” You said blushing.

Later that night you were pouting. Cole wanted to talk in private. “Babe why are acting weird?” He asked. You didn’t want to tell him. “I get it you’re jealous. Because I’ve been hanging around Nya a lot. You’re cute when you’re jealous.” He said. You pouted. “I am not.” You said blushing. “You are. But,I’m not mad at you for getting jealous. Next time though can you tell me. I don’t want you to feel like I don’t love you.” “Fine.” You said blushing. “That’s my love.” He said kissing your forehead.

Zane

Pixel seemed perfect for Zane. They had so much in common. That it caused you to have a really weird feeling. You didn’t understand what it was. But,you hated it. Kai asked if you’re okay. You didn’t answer. Pixel was very interested in Zane. She had questions about his functions and it got annoying. You were alone with Pixel. “Please leave Zane alone. I don’t think he likes it when you ask so many questions.” You said frowning. “But,Zane is unique. He has functions that I don’t understand. He’s is really special.”Pixel responded. You sighed. Yes Zane is special. He’s very kind to you. Even though you can be very rude sometimes. Zane has the patience to be with you. You never had anyone care for you like Zane does. Mostly because you had a hard time showing others kindness and love. Pixel is more polite than you are and doesn’t require patience. You wanted to be polite. Also you wanted to show Zane how much you love him. “I know. Zane is really..um something.” You said frowning. You really wanted to say amazing or incredible. But,you couldn’t.

You didn’t like the feeling of jealousy. It was eating you up inside. You were quiet too quiet. You didn’t even make a remark if Jay said something dumb. You just didn’t seem to care. Maybe it was the ninjdroids they’re causing trouble. They captured Lloyd. Maybe you were secretly worried about him. Zane took you aside. He wanted to be there for you. If you’re worried then he wanted to comfort you. “Darling? What is troubling you?” Zane asked politely. This was the first time he called you a cute name. “N-Nothing.” You said walking away. You could hear Pixel asking as to why you acted like that. The ninja didn’t know. But,Zane knew that you cared for him. You just didn’t show it that much.

You turned in for the night. Only to Zane’s dismay you didn’t have dinner. You also haven’t done your bedtime routine. Normally you would have something hot to drink like tea and Zane would make sure that you were relaxed. “May I come in?” He asked. “Sure.” You said trying not to seem upset. “I brought you something to eat.” “Um…thanks.” You said quietly. “What’s the matter? You haven’t been yourself.” Zane asked frowning. “Really? You don’t have to worry about me.” You said turning away from him. Maybe if you acted cold enough Zane wouldn’t worry about you. He sat next to you on the bed. “Is it about Lloyd? Because we’re close to finding him.” He asked. You are a little worried about him. You shook your head. “You don’t have to tell me. Just know that I’m here.” Zane said holding your hand. You turned your head and blushed. “It’s Pixel. I can’t stand her. She’s getting too close to you and she’s everything that I’m not. I’m not polite or caring.” You said frowning. “You are a lot of other things though. You just don’t see it. But,I do. You’re a diamond in the rough.” Zane said smiling. You did something that you don’t usually do. You hugged him.

Lloyd.

There was something odd about this Harumi girl. You couldn’t put a finger on it. You had a really weird feeling around her. Especially when she was talking with Lloyd. Kai and Nya tried to reassure you that you’re probably just shy. You’re really close with Kai and Nya. They took you in when they found you wounded and alone. Turns out you didn’t remember who you were before that day and you still don’t. Also you didn’t like talking about it. So,Kai and Nya didn’t tell anyone. You wanted to believe them. That you’re just shy. Only when you saw Lloyd and Harumi together in the city alone. You felt really sad and a bit angry. Lloyd looked really happy. You wanted to pull her away from him. But,you didn’t. Lloyd deserves to be happy. He had a rough life. However you wanted to be the one to be there for him. You stood there for a while before leaving.

Lloyd was the first notice that you weren’t quite yourself. Normally you would look at him from across the room. Just cute small glances. Also you would put notes of encouragement in his lunch box. But,he hasn’t gotten one in a while. What bothered him was that you wouldn’t even talk to him. This wasn’t you just being shy. This was something different. You were in a funk and he was going to try to get you out of it. You were in your room. Trying to rest. When you heard a knock on the door. You let him in. “Hey. I..uh brought you something to eat. Don’t worry I didn’t cook it.” He said. You shook your head. “Maybe later then.” He put the tray down on your nightstand. You didn’t look at him. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” You said still not looking at him. “It’s not nothing.” “But,I’m fine.” You said. Lloyd crossed his arms. “Is about Morro?” He asked a little worried. Morro wanted to take you away. He had a weird obsession over you and Lloyd had a weird feeling when Morro talked about you. Especially when he tried to give you flowers or stuffed animals. Lloyd got a little jealous and he didn’t know why. But,luckily him and his friends saved you. Before he could take you away. N-No.” You blushed.

“You don’t have to worry. I don’t think he’ll come back anytime soon.” Lloyd reassured you. He put a hand on your shoulder. You gently took his hand off your shoulder and he held your hand. Lloyd never got to ask you. Did you like it when Morro took care of you? Did you like him? He did get very close to you. But,it looked like you didn’t want to talk about it. To Lloyd’s dismay you let go of his hand and looked away. “Are you-” He began. Were you mad at him? “Just go back to Harumi. I think I heard her calling for you. Your relationship with her should come first.” You didn’t want to look at him. This made him worry. This wasn’t your shyness taking over. “What?! I’m not with Harumi! I don’t even like her.” Lloyd said frowning. “But,I saw you with her. You looked like you were blushing.” You said. “Ah! Well,she was teasing me.” Lloyd blushed. She asked him why he was talking about you so much. He even showed her your favorite sweet shop. “Oh? I’m sorry for misunderstanding.” “You don’t have to apologize.” He said. Lloyd was just glad to clear things up.

[tabl3]

you guys remember the oneshots i drew pictures for forever ago? here's the kaz and oil one //tw for homophobia and interrupted f slur

Kaz & Oliver (pre-Decimation)

“Beautiful day, isn’t it?”

“It’s gray and disgusting.”

Kaz spat a little laugh. Oliver animatedly whirled around to shoot him a look.

Kaz waggled his fingers at him.

Oliver huffed, turning forward again.

Kaz grinned, kicking pebbles as his feet thumped on the sidewalk. 

It was a beautiful day, in fact. Cool, breezy, lively as well. Everyone was out it seemed. Parents pushed strollers, people paused to pet dogs being walked, and kids kicked soccer balls in Centium City Park. 

Kaz dodged the peanuts thrown at him in his regular routine. A lovely lady, Mrs. Dabney, held a grudge against him for accidentally scaring birds off that she was feeding a week after he arrived. This was their sweet little exchange whenever Kaz entered the park.

“I love you,” Kaz skipped over the light filtering through the trees. They were cutting through the park to get to the comic store that wasn’t nearly as good as the Domain but sufficed in its absence.

“No you don’t,” Oliver grumbled, folding his arms. 

Kaz laughed again.

“Do you want me to buy another one?”

“You can’t fix this,” he sniffed.

Kaz shrugged, continuing to trail behind his best friend.

“Buddyyyy,” Oliver ignored him.

What atrocity had he committed? Eating the last Philly Cheesesteak sandwich Chase had bought them a few nights ago because they made passing comments that they missed them. Bought was a light word. He’d gotten into a jet, casually flown to Philidelphia, and popped in an hour later with authentic sandwiches for the two boys.

Eating the last sandwich, yes. And he’d stained his polo, broken his lamp, read his feelings journal, and used his toothbrush. Silly things.

“C’mon,” Kaz poked his shoulder obnoxiously. “Commemorative “I Kazzed this up photo”?”

“No.”

“Ooh-kay,” Kaz shrugged. “I love youuu.”

“I know where you sleep.” 

Kaz snorted. He looked up at the sun for fun, squinting as long as he could.

“Hey!”

Both boys startled.

“Yeah?” Kaz turned. He flopped onto the nearest bench.

There was a group of four men. They gave Kaz a strange look.

“You’re Elite Force?”

“Yeup,” Kaz clicked his tongue. Oliver stood behind the bench, not forgiving Kaz for the slight but also not that thrilled about fans. He was far more reserved now than when he was younger. “Resident super-” Oliver planted a firm kick to his calf. “Bionic heroes.”

Murmurs. 

“So you are a sissy,” one of them said, curling his lip under his ratty baseball cap. His eyes unmistakably went to the rainbow flag patch that Skylar had ironed onto his jacket months ago.

Silence.

Kaz smirked.

“Bree’s the only sister, actually,” he shrugged. This would be fun. 

“You’re one of them.”

“I’m on the team, yes.”

They seemed to get frustrated with Kaz’s indignance, which was his exact plan.

“You slimy fa-”

“Hey!” 

Oliver’s eyebrows scrunched up angrily. Kaz’s smirk widened. The man who had almost let that word fly out of his mouth paused, looking at him. 

Oliver normally wasn’t a scary individual. He had soft swoopy blond hair and a face full of freckles. He typically preferred to have one of his teammates do the talking, sticking to the side and observing. It was very rare for him to raise his voice the past couple of years. Still, he began yelling all the same.

“What the hell makes you think you have the right to talk about someone like that?” Oliver demanded, jabbing a finger toward the group. “Do you seriously have no shame?”

The one he primarily addressed wrinkled his nose. “What, you his boyfriend or somethin’?”

“Oh god, no,” Oliver gagged. “I’d rather die, to be honest. It takes a special person to put up with him.”

“I’m telling Chase you complimented him-” Kaz whispered. Oliver drove his pointer finger into a pressure point on Kaz’s neck. “OW!”

“Anyway,” he refocused on the group. “You need to grow a damn pair and understand that us endangered heterosexuals can coexist with other people, jackass!”

Kaz giggled at their reddening faces, sitting back.

“I don’t want one of them protectin’ my city-”

“Move out, then,” Oliver firmly put his arms around Kaz’s shoulders from behind. “He might be an asshole, but he’s my favorite asshole, and that’s saying something because I know a lot of assholes! At least he isn’t bigoted and a public embarrassment at like… what are you guys, forty?”

The four men reddened further. They muttered more unkind words, kicked at twig at Kaz, then shuffled off.

“Yeah, keep walking,” Oliver waved. “Buh-bye.”

Kaz cackled. “Wowzers, Oli,” he looked up at him. “I’m gonna buy you Loopy-Loops.”

“With your sugar-boyfriend’s money,” Oliver quipped, stepping back so Kaz could stand up. 

“Do you want them or not?”

“Yes please.”

Kaz smiled, fishing his phone out of his pocket. He motioned for Oliver to follow him, headed toward their favorite grocery store. It was on the way to the comic shop, anyway.

Oliver started a step behind him when the phone was picked up.

“Hey, baby. What’s your card pin again?” Kaz hummed.

A beat of quiet on the other line.

“...What did you do?” Chase inquired, already sounding exasperated.

“Little ol’ me?” Kaz put a hand to his chest. “Nothing.” he slowed to be at pace with Oliver, reaching up to ruffle his hair. “Oliver deserves a sweet treat because he’s such a sweet boy.”

Oliver rolled his eyes, but his slightly upturned mouth corners gave him away. 

“Not even going to ask. Just get home without wrecking the city, okay?”

Kaz’s phone beeped with the texted pin. 

“No promises.”

He slung his arm around Oliver’s shoulder, strolling inside the sliding doors. 

[haveyoureadthisfanfic]

Summary: Revenge is the misguided attempt to transform shame and pain into pride. Being forsaken and neglected, ignored and forgotten, revenge seems a fairly competent obligation at this point. Skylar is the boy who lived, that's why he's important. I'm not Skylar. Going to Hogwarts is part of the plan, waking the basilisk is part of the plan, taking potions, learning spells, being tortured, murdering others, watching people di- I’m going to tell you a story, although it’s a bit long. I’m going to make you listen, because I want you to understand how you made me a monster. I’ll call this story antithesis, and you’re going to learn every single moment where things went wrong. I want you to cry, and beg for me to kill you, and when I’m done with this, you’re going to want to do that to yourself. You’re going to listen, because in the end, you owe me that much. You owe me so much more, but here we are, and this is how it’s going to end. Who knows, maybe this useless battle between you and me and this bloody world, well, maybe we always were fated to kill each other. Do you know what it is like to be unmade?

Author: @digitalta

Note from submitter: this was the first fanfiction i ever read. although i'm definitely no longer participating in this fandom, i was really curious to see if anyone else here had read this work. despite being nearly half a million words, i sucked this one down in about thirteen hours both times i read it 😭 and while i don't think i'll ever reread it (due to the length) i think this has had a big impact on my writing and my taste in fanfic

[yandere-fics]

Josephine Anderson

♡ "Aww I'm really sorry about the blood, dolly, I just... I need to see you, can you come here please?" ♡

She's a silent delusional yandere, you won't hear a word out of her mouth as you hang out for months until one day she tries to kiss you and you realize she thinks you two are dating. It's so frustrating cause you've been together for months but haven't expressed any affection to her. She's fully aware you must be shy, but it's really hurting her. Not to worry, she'll make the first move, she just doesn't understand why you shoved her away. She doesn't enjoy this hard to get act. She should have a perfect life with her darling, one where she eliminates all the obstacles and you lavish her in affection for being such a good protector. She sees her love as the best form of love and so when she says she loves you then you should obviously know that means you shouldn't talk to anyone she disapproves of. She also won't tell you if you've crossed a boundary though since she thinks you should obviously know why she's killing that person.

♡ "It's Josephine but please don't call me that. I hate it when people call me that, I'd rather you call you Sophie or Soph instead." ♡

The Anderson family is a very prominent religious family within the region although they never come to the seaside anymore after discovering their eldest daughter decided to move to a small coastal town. Sophie faked her death when she was 17 to live with Skylar once she found out where her parents were sending the payments. She doesn't go by the Anderson name though she won't outright deny it being her last name if you ask but she really would prefer you never mention anything to do with her last name. It was a very gruesome fake death scene. No one outside of her sisters is aware that Sophie is alive.

♡ "21, I don't fully understand the point of these questions, dolly. If you want to know more you should ask Skylar, I'm sure she'd be glad to see her future sister-in-law." ♡

Sophie doesn't actually remember alot of their childhood, Skylar was the one who kept track of these things so if you really want to know anything about her then the best person to ask is the one who practically raised Sophie. Though be warned, Sophie might take this as accepting her proposal and thus she'll start to toss money at you to plan the wedding.

♡ "Stupid question, I'm only interested in you so get whatever weird idea you had out of your head." ♡

She's a lesbian, run of the mill for this blog though.

♡ "It's not something you should worry your head about, all I'll say is I'm good at my job and I make enough for us to be secure." ♡

She's not a permanent member of the syndicate but she occasionally picks up odd jobs that the official members don't wish to take on. She makes good money from it though it's dangerous work. She'd never allow it to be traced back to her though and the members already know better than to mess with her or her family since she's mostly tasked with killing traitors to the organization.

♡ "I like knives." ♡

She didn't feel the need to specify that she likes you since you should be smart enough to know that anyways. She likes her family and she likes knives, a simple gal, what can I say? She has a decent collection of them. She also really enjoys the idea of being domestic although like the other sisters, her idea of a perfect family with her darling is not normal. She really loves the idea of you waiting at home for her, possibly hanging out with her sisters, and greeting her with joy when she gets home from killing.

♡ "..." ♡

She is refraining from saying what she hates as she doesn't want to scare you, she may be delusional but she also realizes that at times she can be scary to people who aren't Skye. She hates a lot of things, she hates her parents, she hates dirt, she hates when you leave the house without inviting her to come with, she hates people who try to lie and tell you that her love for you is crazy, really there's just too much that she dislikes.

♡ "I'm good at organizing things. You also know, I'm very good at taking care of you, dolly." ♡

Her knife collection is meticulously organized despite her not being able to keep many other things clean, she's not dirty but she gets blood everywhere but if you opened her knives then you would assume that they had never been used based on how spotless they are. I suppose being that delusional is a bit of a skill too though.

♡ "Hmm? Oh no, you're not going back to your 'home' tonight. It's much safer for me to just keep you here. Would you like that doll? Would you like it if I just kept you safeguarded here? There's no need to deny it, I know you would, heh." ♡

[goodstories08]

Aphrodite💕

Steve Randle X Male Reader

Request: Yes @shamelessloverhairdopainter

Description: Steve Randle, the God of war, chaos, and battle strategy was one of the elites. They were the most well known and powerful Gods, the Gods that were always surrounded by their followers and sex slaves. Having riches that no man could even fathom, But as time went on the gods slowly married off leaving Steve all alone. He had many options but none of them caught his eye, until he met Y/n. A kind, loving, and thoughtful person who Steve new would be his.

Meeting

“You may now kiss the bride,” The officiant yelled aloud, his left arm raising high above the crowed from the stage he stood on. Darry leaned down and sealed his lips with Skylar, the lucky lady who was now married to the God of leadership and strength. “Too bad you’ll never be able to “kiss the bride” Stevie,” Sodapop whispered earning a grunt from Steve, who rolled his eyes as Soda turned toward Sandy and kissed her sweetly. “Shut up, and get a room,” he muttered.

You see for the longest time the gods had never settled down, always “getting around” with different women and sometimes men, but after one of them found love it seemed all of them did. Steve was there the day Soda brought Sandy home, his best friend found true love and felt like he was stabbing him in the back. Eventually he realized he was just mad at himself, mad that he wasn’t the one up on the stage filled with flowers kissing his lover. He simply wanted to settle down after centuries of partying and doing dangerous things.

The sound of music played throughout the field, couples danced in each others arms, spinning around to the energetic music. Steve stood on the side watching with envy. If only he could be dancing with a person he loved. He had thought about what he wanted for a long time yet he still didn’t fully understand what exactly it was. He just hoped that the right person would help him realize that.

Lost in his train of though he accidentally bumped into someone, they fell toward the floor. Luckily Steve caught them, gazing into their eyes until the shorter male finally spoke, “Oh I’m so sorry, My name is Y/n.”

Steve felt something inside him, something different that he had never felt before. “Y-yea, and I’m Steve the…,” he paused, contemplating to either tell Y/n who he was or not. “The what?” He let out a little giggle causing Steve to blush, “The great.” He decided to wait and see how you liked him first before he told you how he was a God. “Cool, Steve the great,” Y/n smiled, Steve already pinning over the mortal, “Yea.” He starred into his eyes, “You wanna meet up some time?”

“Like a date,” The shorter male said while coming closer, Steve falling even more in love as he took in his sweet scent. “Y-yea I guess.” He mumbled feeling nervousness for the first time in a while. “Sure, you seem different,” he said before walking away, Steve’s eyes following Y/n’s but. Steve jumped at the sound of Darry’s voice, “Hey Stevie.” Steve turned and smiled and the groom. “Hey, and nice wedding. Just be prepared for mine soon.”

Darry chuckled a bit, “Why you found the lucky lady…….. or guy?” Steve’s cocky smile was brighter than ever, “No. I’m the lucky one here Dar.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dating

Y/n lay on the picnic blanket Steve staring at his beautiful face, “What?” Steve smiled and let out a small laugh, “Nothin just looking at my beautiful boyfriend.” Y/n rolled his eyes and snuggled up to Steve’s strong arms. The beautiful night sky was only illuminated by the moon, the stars twinkled, and the evening breeze sent a chill down Y/n’s spine causing Steve to pull him closer.

“Ahh, Steve I can’t be any closer to you,” Y/n said giggling as Steve kissed his forehead. “Oh but I can,” Steve said in a flirty tone, while cocking an eyebrow. “And what do you have I mind.” Y/n questioned as he straddled Steve’s hips.

He felt something like his but, “I-I didn’t mean that, but I’m not mad about it.” Y/n got off and Steve got on one knee, “Will you make me the luckiest guy ever and Marry Me.” Y/n’s eyes water and he opened his mouth to speak but stopped. “Steve, I need to tell you something. And I feel that this might not be real.”

Steve stood up slowly and looked into Y/n’s eyes, “What do you mean?” Y/n sighed, “I lied about who I was, My mom is Aphrodite. The god of Love and beauty, So I’m her next of kin and naturally I have an effect on people… A-and I feel like our Love might be fake or forced. Everyone that fell for me, I could never know if they really like me or it was just faked.”

Steve didn’t know what was happening at the moment, his boyfriend just confessed that he was practically a God as well. “Our Love could never be faked. I love you for you and I probably should tell you something too,” Steve paused allowing for Y/n to wipe his tears, “I’m a God too.”

Steve looked to the floor as the silence spoke for them. They had both been lying to each other for months now. “So… say something please,” Steve begged. Y/n grinned and held his hand out, “I would be happy to be your husband.” Steve’s serious face filled with excitement as he picked up Y/n by the waist and kissed him before sliding the ring on his finger. “I want you so bad right now,” Y/n moaned causing Steve to grow harder. “Oh really my love?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marriage

The wedding bells rung aloud as Steve stood waiting at the alter, his smile enough to light up the room. Behind him stood Sodapop, of course as his best man.

The music played as Y/n stood at the other end of the isle. “Mom, what are you doing here?” Y/n turned as his goddess mother held her hand out. “To take my son on a little walk.” Y/n smiled as a tear formed in his eye, “Thank you mom.” The crowed watched as Y/n and Aphrodite, the god and goddess of beauty walked down the isle in beautiful outfits.

As they reached the end Y/n walked up the small stairs and reached Steve. “You look hot.” I chuckled a bit, “My moms here.” Steve gave a small wave to her before he turned back to me. “Stevie you look sexy, can’t wait for later tonight,” Y/n says causing Steve to straighten his posture, trying to remain normal looking. “Just wait.”