#But we're getting the ball rolling on a refresh now

[escape-from-neverland]

Hello!!! Is this still ongoing? :-)

Hey!!

We became a little inactive over the winter months, but I'm happy to announce that we are officially back with some new openings! We're having a bit of a refresh of things, so now is the perfect time to join in if you're interested!

Check out our pinned post on the account to see which roles are open and absolutely feel free to message us here or on the Discord to join!

[starillusion13]

FRIENDS!? Chapter 20

🔳🔳🔳🔳🔳🔳🔳🔳🔳🔳🔳🔳🔳🔳🔳🔳

Series ML

Pairing: poly!ateez × f!reader (An ATEEZ Office AU)

Genre: Mature, Angst, Yandere

Warning: mention of memories (nothing much just go with the flow).

W.C: 4.2k Network: @k-vanity

[Reblogs and Reviews are always appreciated. Thank you for reading and have a nice day ahead. Please always take care of yourself everyone.]

Hello, Can we be friends please?

>.<

"why are we here?"

You looked back at Jongho, who was busy taking off his blazer, placing it on the bench and adjusting all your stuff together so that nothing goes missing.

"isn't it obvious, we are at a basketball ground." He said and unbuttoned the sleeves of his white polo shirt and proceeded to folding it. then he glanced over at you, staring at him for more explanation, not clearly getting the point of being at the place.

When he rolled his eyes, you glared at him, "I thought we were here on a business meeting but it ended in the morning and now we are here in the ground. Care to explain?" his eyes trailed on your white flared skirt, ending just below the knee and a light pink top, fitting your body perfectly.

"let's play." He smiled at you cheekily.

The young Jongho flashed across your eyes. The same gummy smile but with a mature and refreshed look. Your favorite smile which you wanted to watch everyday in your way back to the orphanage.

And this made you miss Mrs. Stella so much. Where is she?

The night was alive with a quiet, peaceful stillness as you both made your way to the center of the basketball court. It was late—so late that the usual sounds of the city had faded, leaving only the soft hum of distant traffic and the occasional rustling of trees in the cool breeze. The empty court sat under the soft glow of streetlights, the pavement shining faintly under their feet as they stepped onto it.

You looked around, feeling slightly out of place. "So, this is what we're doing tonight?" You asked, your voice carrying a hint of nervousness. You had never really played basketball before—just watched from the sidelines or seen others play on like him and Yunho and sometimes others when they joined in the game. The ball felt a little foreign in your hands, heavier than you expected, and the hoop seemed impossibly far away.

Jongho flashed you an easy smile, walking ahead and grabbing the basketball from your hands, giving it a few bounces on the pavement. "Trust me," he said with a grin. "It'll be fun. You'll learn in no time."

You let out a skeptical laugh, crossing your arms. "I don't know, I'm pretty hopeless when it comes to sports. I'm also wondering where did you get the ball."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You say that now, but just wait. I'm a good teacher. The waiter I was talking to in the afternoon...he is a trainee in an academy so well he lent me." He dribbled the ball effortlessly, the rhythmic sound of it hitting the ground filling the quiet night air.

You stood at the free-throw line, biting your lip as he tossed the ball back to you. You caught it awkwardly, fumbling slightly before getting a grip. "Okay, so what do I do?"

Jongho walked over to your side, standing close enough that you could feel his presence but not so close that it felt overwhelming. "First thing's first," he said, gently placing his hands on your shoulders to adjust your stance. "Feet shoulder-width apart. You want to be balanced."

you shifted your feet, mimicking his instructions, though it still felt awkward. you held the ball out in front of you, your elbows sticking out too far, and you glanced at him with a hesitant smile. "Like this?"

"Almost," he said, stepping closer and lightly adjusting your arms, bringing your elbows in and showing you how to hold the ball properly. His touch was gentle but firm, and you could feel the warmth of his hand as he guided you. "See? Now you've got control."

The spark inside you was undeniable as if the night felt colder and silent. His presence so close to you never held such tension between you two but tonight it was rising a new feeling, you subtly caught his eyes, the gleam of excitement and happiness in the orbs, he was always this friendly and acted like a child. He actually never grew up. He is still your little teddy bear, whom you befriended back then. Your gummy bear.

You gave him a doubtful look but nodded. "Alright, I think I got it. Now what?"

"Now," he said, stepping back with a smile, "you shoot. Keep your eyes on the hoop, and when you release the ball, just let it roll off your fingertips. It's not about how hard you throw—it's about the technique."

you swallowed, focusing on the hoop as you tried to follow his instructions. It seemed so far away, and you couldn't shake the feeling that you were about to make a fool of yourself. But you took a deep breath and threw the ball, watching it soar through the air—completely missing the hoop and bouncing off the backboard with a loud thud.

you groaned, covering your face with your hands. "Oh my God. I'm terrible."

Jongho laughed, walking over to pick up the ball. "That wasn't terrible! You've got the right idea. It just takes practice."

"Yeah, practice and maybe a miracle," you muttered, your face still flushed with embarrassment.

He tossed the ball back to you, this time with a more encouraging smile. "Come on, you've got this. You're overthinking it. Just relax and have fun with it."

you looked at him, seeing the sincerity in his expression, and couldn't help but smile. "Do you know what I'm thinking...."

"y/n..."

You cut him off, "Alright, one more try." you took a deep breath, adjusted your stance again, and shot the ball. This time, it hit the rim, bouncing off but much closer than before.

your eyes widened, a surprised laugh escaping your lips. "Did you see that? It almost went in!"

He clapped his hands together, nodding with approval. "Now you're getting it! See, you're not hopeless after all."

you grinned, feeling a small surge of confidence. Maybe you weren't as bad as you thought. And maybe, you could just know a little bit more today what was the situation between you two back then. You continued practicing, with him giving your tips and encouragement between shots. Slowly but surely, you began to get the hang of it, your movements becoming more fluid and natural.

After several more tries, you finally made a basket. The ball swished through the net with a satisfying sound, and you threw her hands up in the air, cheering for herself. "Yes! I did it!"

He laughed, walking over and giving you a playful high-five. "There you go! Told you it wasn't so hard."

you beamed, face flushed with excitement. "Okay, I'll admit, this is kind of fun."

They kept going, shooting around and playing a few simple one-on-one games, though he went easy on you, mostly just showing your different moves and how to dribble. you stumbled a few times, tripping over your own feet as you tried to keep control of the ball, but every time, he was there with a laugh and an encouraging word.

you caught the ball, a smile tugging at your lips despite your frustration. "You really think so?"

Jongho nodded, his expression softening. "Definitely. You're picking it up faster than you realize."

you looked at him for a moment, your heart swelling with a warmth you couldn't quite explain. He made everything seem easier, lighter—like it didn't matter if you messed up because you were just having fun. "Thanks for teaching me," you said quietly, feeling a little shy all of a sudden. "I guess I'm actually enjoying myself."

He smiled, that same warm look in his eyes. "I'm glad. I knew you'd get the hang of it." There was a pause, the air between them feeling different now, softer somehow. "It's more fun when you're not so focused on getting it right all the time."

She chuckled, nodding. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"how are you, y/n?" he asked quietly, just staring at you straight with a heart full of weary and questions and honestly, he wanted to bubble wrap them all, just so he could keep you with him and protect you from your nightmares.

You might not know but the first day he caught you crying in your sleep in your cabin, he felt those sharp pain all again after meeting you after years. He couldn't see the lost eyes and a scared face looking back at him when you jolt woken up by him. even though he asked you the reason to be like that, deep down he knew the reason. He knew more than you could have visioned. He knew the exact scenary. He knew the cause of it. he knew that he was also a part of it.

You blinked at him, tilting your head, "what do you mean, Jongho?" you cracked a soft smile, "how will I be?"

"are you fine with us? Anything making you uncomfortable? You know you can vent to me anytime. I promise I'll always be waiting for you." He stepped closer, holding your hands in his, staring at them for a moment before meeting your eyes. "I just want a better life for you, where you are genuinely happy."

You held the eye contact, he is the only one with whom you can hold gazes for a long time, without feeling otherwise or shying away. He is that of a comfort zone to you, whom you are scared to lose if something happens between you and them.

You were in relationship with all of them.

Then why did Mingi said he never proposed to you?

Oh...you don't even remember anyone's confession other than Yunho. But others, Wooyoung gave you his words that he would love you more than you could remember your past. Is that even possible? Will you remember them all? Seonghwa already stepped up with his date and you accepted him at the exact place because you felt the need to stay with him. Hongjoong is always keeping a watch on you...as if he is scared that a miss of blink of an eye, you will be gone or something might occur for which he can't forgive himself or ... it would pull you away from him.

Yunho...you need a lot more explanation from him.

Mingi, he was honest with you. Since the first day, you got to know everything from him. the trust you build on them was majorly because of him. he was always explaining you and encouraging you to not be scared of the things which are out of hand because he would hold your hand and guide you through all the darkness of your life. Just like the night you two confessed to each other and kissed.

And, Yeosang...even if you two are close but since the first day you have that itchy feeling with his duality. Is he hiding something that's crucial for you to know? If so...then why?

Lastly, San. He did tell you to give him a chance. Right? You felt secure in his embrace that day. He held you so dearly and softly, feeling secure and comfort and you did fell asleep with a content smile on your face.

"I am happy, Jongho...thanks to all of you to bring back an essence to my life." You smiled at him.

A smile cracked on his face, "why? Were you not happy?"

"uh no...it was literally boring because there was no such things where I would meet my long lost friends who all are apparently my lovers and they waited for me for so long and then arranged a place for me in their office. And now I have everything, ever wanted."

His one hand left yours and quickly, he pressed the palm on your cheek, his eyes scanning your face but there was a flick of sadness in his eyes, "you will stay with me forever. I promise...I'll keep you happy and shield you from all negativity...but y/n..." his thumb caressed your cheek in a feather touch, "we were not couple back then...I never really proposed you...we were really close friends but never like...lovers."

"then why am I remembering that..."

"you were as in together with all of us." He completed your sentence, nodding to himself. "I know...let me be honest with you. There's a lot you don't know but I won't tell you just now. I want you to remember everything and only then I can say and reason with you regarding everything."

"I believe you the most, Jongho. Some of you never made me be sceptical of anything and I do really appreciate it so much. Just don't break my trust ever." You looked up at him, your eyes were shining softly same as the way your smile.

"thank you, y/n. I just want us to be friends forever. Even if I want something more but I wouldn't step forward without your consent." He hugged your body tightly, his chin resting on top of your head and you patted his back tenderly, whispering 'it's okay'. "I am just afraid to lose you from my sight."

"then I'm giving you my consent...go ahead and lock me up in your embrace. Don't let me go, Jongho." You said quietly. Hearing your words, he quickly pulled back slightly to take a look of your face and as soon as you nodded, he dipped his head down, locking his lips with yours just to pull you closer to him. his dream and his passion in one place. He loved playing basketball and he loved you. There was a faint smile into the kiss from both of you. You both noticed each other every day at the ground, just oblivion to each other and after so many years, he is here kissing you at the basketball ground.

"I love you, y/n."

You waited before replying. Your foreheads resting against each other, breathing heavily when you stared into his eyes. There was sincerity and the love for you. He will protect you. They will do as well. They want you. You should hold their hands as well when they are extending it to you. If they did wrong, you should forgive them. You will let them know their fault and in the end, you will stay by their side.

Aren't this what like a friendship?

Maybe a true love.

"I love you too, Jongho."

Just don't leave us again...

They sat there a little while longer, side by side under the stars, the court all to themselves, the night stretching out before them like a secret they were both in on. The game didn't matter anymore; it was just the two of them, lost in the quiet magic of the night, sharing a moment that felt infinite.

>>>><<<<

"Yeosang, we need to talk." Placing the file on his table, you gave him a pointed look. Without asking any questions, he subtly nodded his head and got back to his computer screen.

You waited beside the shelf, tapping your feet till he completed his work because you were determined to talk with him for the matter that was keeping him distant and quiet. No. You are not letting him go away without hearing him. He is always the one who will change his personality according to his mood and if it's something like that then you should really hear him out.

While you were staring at him, Wooyoung entered the door in a very enthusiastic voice, "ah, cupcake. You are here. Let's go to my cabin if you are done with him."

He caught your wrist, but you halted his actions when you held his hand and shook your head, "No...Woo...listen I'm just busy right now and..." glancing at Yeosang, you smiled at Wooyoung, "but I'll be there soon...after lunch...how about that?"

"But you don't seem busy." He raised a brow, "you are just standing here and straight up staring at that weirdo."

"Wooyoung..." you gave him a look to shut up and noticed Yeosang's glare directed at him. You shook your head before pulling the younger one out of the cabin, closing the door behind you two.

"What's up with you? Why are you acting like this?" You crossed your arms after asking the questions to Wooyoung who just rolled his eyes.

"You always stay with him alone most of the times and i hate it sometimes."

"You know he doesn't open up to us often and if he does it's only when we are alone and there's something I want to talk to him about." You said.

He nodded, registering your words, "okay but remember our tomorrow plan should be as planned. No deny and failure."

"Of course, woo. Afterall, im looking forward to your little surprise." You wiggled your brows at him.

"It's a big one. Not a little."

"Of course." You laughed at him.

"And what surprise are we talking about here?" Yunho joined in the conversation. He was passing through the corridor where you both were standing and when you took a notice of him, you smiled at him and quickly accepted the open arms directed to you.

His love and warmth are so precious and memorable. As if all these years you missed it so much.

"That's a secret for her from me." Wooyoung said to Yunho while a faint smile dancing on his lips to see you so comfortable in his friend's arms.

Yunho nodded before looking down at you, rubbing your back when he felt you relaxing in his arms but quickly a smirk appeared on his face mirroring the one on Wooyoung.

"wooyoung, isn't our girl looking too pretty today?" Yunho asked the younger boy and you slowly parted from him to furrow your brows at both of them. Not knowing from where this compliment suddenly came from.

The younger one tilted his head and poked his inner cheek with the tongue, "yeah...too pretty to be left alone."

"What are you two saying?" You furrowed your brows and looking between them. You stepped back from Yunho to read his expression. There's something going on.

Yunho stepped forwards hen you took a step back but when this repeated again, your back hit a girl chest and soon two arms caged you in between, the man in front of you folded his hands and smirked, bending down to your level.

"Come on. Why are you so pretty and attracting us so much in office hours. You are becoming a regular distraction for us. You know it's hard to work when you are roaming around." He said.

You could hear the chuckles of Wooyoung from behind you, he placed a kiss to your cheek, surprising you and suddenly, Yunho placed a finger below your chin to lift your face to meet his eyes.

"Do you agree with what I'm saying? Say it, Pearl." He whispered the words, his breath fanning your lips.

Gulping down the sudden intense heat in your throat, Wooyoung's nose nuzzling in your neck when you spoke up, "it's not true. You are just trying to put the blame on me."

"Is it?" Yunho's whisper and his breath tingling on your lips, you closed your eyes in anticipation. Wooyoung placed a soft kiss just below your earlobe. Your breath heaved and you felt lips pressed on yours.

Wooyoung whispered in your ear, "so you are saying that we are telling lie. Y/n..." he chuckled in your ear, "you are just the same...the one I wanted and the one I still want. Either ways you are mine."

Yunho pecked your lips and cheeks before standing straight, "ours."

"We should not do here...uhm...anyone can come." You said between your shaky breaths.

Wooyoung detached himself from you and turned you around, Yunho stepped closer, stroking your head and both of them looking at you, "why? You want us to continue in our cabin...or maybe in our floor."

Yunho nodded at his friend's words and smirked at you. You hit Wooyoung's chest and glared at both of them, "shut up."

"I suppose you two have meeting in half an hour." Hongjoong's voice bloomed in the corridor from a distance and three of your heads whipped to the direction. You mentally thanked that it's only him and no other staff or employees. There would be more gossips than already exist. You smiled at him when he started walking toward me you, wiggling in Wooyoung's hold, but he didn't budge and told you stay put.

"Hey, Joong...here?" You asked him when he patted your head with a comforting smile.

"Just to check for a file I kept in Mingi's cabin. But I guess here something else is going on." He said and eyed the three of you.

"Why? Want to join?" Wooyoung raised a brow and smirked.

You hoped Hongjoong to scold him or to say something, even Yunho when he supported his friend but to your surprise, Hongjoong smirked and stared at you, locking eyes when he spoke up, "no need. I can have her to myself alone. We spend more time than you two."

Yunho chuckled, "really, y/n?"

They are going to kill you like this. You are so embarrassed. You pushed Wooyoung from you and glared at three of them, "I'll be with Yeosang for now. Maybe the whole day so none of you should dare to come into this cabin or wherever we will be."

With that you ran inside the cabin and closed the door, leaving behind three men laughing at your flustered state.

Aren't the days going well? The type of life they wanted and the things they wished to be, other than those cursed ones.

NEXT

—————————————————————————

Taglist :

@mymoodwriting @justhere4kpop @vvshere @anyamaris @yeoobin @wooyoungmybelovedhusband @brrrkdslek-personal @icchyi @jwnghyuns @piratequeen-queenofgames @luhwaine @ilove-taeyong @dinonuguaegi @endeav0rsb1tch @loveforred @hwanring @sanwifesstuff @kiwiisnthereoops @kiwiraccoon @sousydive @aliona124754 @tunaasan @iykyunho @jennifermakmur

(open! dm me/ send ask/reply here)

[newjeansislife]

Chapter 7: "The game"

Part of the series: "The neighbor"

Warning: swear words, mention of injury, lying

A/n: Took me quite a long time but I had problems with the app that makes the texts (I got angry 😅😭) And don't look at the time stamps they're not relevant.

prev - materlist - next

The hallway was filled with hurried movements, the ruffles of coats and the soft sound of a plastic made zipper echoed through the entry of the Lee house.

Haerin was sitting on the floor, busy sliding on her red shoes, the air force 1 "Nike x Louis Vuitton" that her parents bought her for her birthday. The shoes complemented her outfit perfectly, beige pants, a green and white top and red beanie to complete the look.

Y/n stood close to the door, her hand on the knob, ready to rush outside. She was already dressed, an extra wide pair of pants with a large T-shirt that fell perfectly on her shoulders, making her silhouette looked thin and muscular even while being quite covered by the oversized fit.

"Hyein-ah! We're late! Hurry up!" Y/n said, sounding a bit irritated by the tall girl's lack of time estimation skills.

"I'm almost ready unnie, just give me five more minutes!" The younger sister shouted from her room.

"Yah! You said that 15 minutes ago!" Y/n retorted, rolling her eyes.

Ten minutes later, Hyein rushed out of her room, brushing her hair while jumping on one leg, struggling to put her second shoe on with one hand only. She looked gorgeous, her hair in a half - bun, big loop earrings hanging off her ears, which were slightly hidden by a strand of hair falling off her messy bun. A light but embellishing makeup on her eyes and lips added a refreshing touch to her perfectly designed look.

"Are you ready now? Can we go? We're gonna be so late !!" Y/n said exasperated by her sister's slow way of getting ready, but also quite surprised by Hyein's stunning look.

"Yep! Let's go, I'm so excited!!" Hyein answered with her usual excited tone.

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

Haerin, Hyein and Y/n were standing in front of the school stadium's gate, breathing loudly after runningthe whole way there.

"I can't let you in, we've closed the entry, I'm very sorry." A tall boy wearing the school's soccer jersey inscripted with the number 8 and "Nishimura" in bright white letters on top of a dark blue base, the team's emblematic color.

"God damnit! I'll have to send a message to Dani saying we couldn't make it then..." Y/n said turning her back to the gate while letting out a loud sigh.

-----

"Guys! I'm here, hurry!" Dani said opening the gate with the keys she had stolen from Minji and beckoning them towards her.

"Dani?!" Y/n exclaimed loudly, her eyes becoming much wider after hearing her friend's voice. "I didn't think you were actually coming!"

Haerin pulled the two other girls by the sleeve, quickly dragging them on the other side of the gate.

"Thanks unnie! How did you get those keys though?" Hyein said, bowing slightly to express her gratitude towards the other girl.

"Oh! Don't worry about that!" Danielle responded winking towards Hyein, a smirk forming on her lips.

"I have to go now, see you after the game!" The cheerleader exclaimed happily before running out on the three girls.

"Well that was unexpected!" Y/n said laughing at the silhouette of their friend reaching her position with the other cheerleaders.

The three girls then made their way to free seats near the front. Weirdly enough these free seats were quite acceptable!

The first half of the game went by pretty quickly, the opposing team struggling to access to the ball even once. The difference in skills was very obvious... Y/n noticed that Haerin's gaze kept flickering towards the cheerleaders (or one in particular).

She observed Dani, too, noticing how graceful and comfortable she was being literally thrown in the air. Her hair was whipping all around her in a beautiful but messy dance.

When the referee whistled the end of the first half, most of the supporters got up to fetch food or to stretch their legs. Hyein asked to go but some food and y/n agreed, too week to ever say no to her little sister.

"Haerin, do you wanna come with us, I'll buy you a drink!" Y/n said offering a hand for Haerin to stand up.

"I'll come with you but I'm not very thirsty."

"Not even for a strawberry and banana milkshake?"

"I mean.... If you're offering..."

Y/n grinned at Haerin's response, grabbing her best friend's hand to help her from her seat. All three girls were now waiting at the far end of the queue leading to the booth. Y/n stuck her head out of the queue to check on the remaining time of the break: only 5 minutes.

Just in front of the three girls stood a fellow member of the robotics club, Yunjin. y/n spent a few minutes talking about their newest project, a talking robot, responding to any questions based on animals. Random? Yes. But they didn't have a lot of members... or a lot of ideas. Y/n being the club's best engineer, had been named the leader: organizing the projects and finding the right pieces for the team. It wasn't a lot of work and Y/n enjoyed it so much that she agreed to take the role of club's president happily.

After a few more minutes of waiting, they finally reach the shop. Ordering a strawberry and banana milkshake for Haerin, sugar flavored popcorn for Hyein and coke for herself, she instructed the two other girls to sit back down in their seats, deciding to wait for their order by herself.

The game had already started again when y/n finally reached out her arms to grab her food. The popcorn amount was a lot bigger than expected, although she knew Hyein would have no problem eating that amount of sugar-concentrated food. In fact, Hyein had always been one to eat quite a lot, usually stuffing her cheeks like a squirrel before chewing it all down.

Y/n, although older than Hyein, was always smaller, much like their oldest sister, both of them eating less than normal proportions of food. As for their parents, their mom was a very picky eater, resulting in her usually eating less than needed, as for their dad, he was a splendid cook, but his rules were clear "if you make the food you eat the food" meaning he would always eat two whole plates of whatever was cooked that day. As y/n walked along the side of the court, deeply lost in her cherished family memories, she hadn't noticed a silhouette going particularly fast towards her.

Sensing a presence mere inches away from her faces she looked up, only to be met by sharp pain to her nose. Her ankle still not being completely stable from her recent escapade, she fell back slamming the back of her head to the green ground of the football court.

Feeling hot liquid streaming down her face, she reached her hand to her nose, her head dizzy but still able to distinguish the clear scarlet red splattered all over the palm of her hand. Then suddenly she heard a familiar person calling for her, horror laced all around the usually cheerful voice. "UNNIE!!" Struggling to keep her eyes open she managed see her younger sister reaching for her bloody face before closing her eyes, pain and dizziness taking over her body.

[mytheoristavenue]

Aggretsuko - Haida x Reader - A Merger?

Summary: You are Gori's assistant, and when she begins having issues with the accounting department, she sends you down to get the ball rolling.

Warnings: Fluff

"Yes sir," you chirped over the office phone at your desk. "Yes, I'll let her know, thank you. Yes, you too, have a wonderful day Mr. Ton!" You sighed, hanging up with the director of accounting before standing up from your desk. This delivery of bad news definitely called for a cup of tea and a sweet treat.

"Ma'am?" you called into your boss's office, cracking the door ajar.

Gori beamed up at you, setting her paper work to the side. "What's up, (Y/N)?" You nudged the door open a bit further, revealing the refreshments in hand with a nervous grin, to which her chipper demeanor dropped. "What happened?"

"Director Ton from accounting just called to have me tell you that we're going to have to shave the budget for the new ad campaign." you explained, setting a steaming cup of tea and sprinkled donut in front of her.

"Are you serious?!" she cried, flailing dramatically. "By how much?"

"Half." you answered with an exhausted sigh.

"Half!? But we've already cut the budget by two thirds of the original number! What the hell guys!"

"Ma'am, may I speak freely?" you asked, sitting yourself down into a chair on the guest side of her desk.

"Always."

"Perhaps anger isn't the right reaction to this? Admittedly, it is a rather outlandish campaign to someone who isn't in the loop. Maybe they're only cutting us because they don't see how well if could turn a profit?" You explained, crossing you legs, and brainstorming a way to possibly help them Ton understand her view of things. "Maybe we should send a marketing representative to partner with an accounting representative to create a presentation to bring both departments together."

"(Y/N), you're a genius!" Gori cried, rising and slamming her palms on the desk. "It's like a corporate arranged marriage, I love it!"

"Well...that's kind of an odd way to look at it, but yeah. Do you thin it could work?"

"Hell yeah it could!" she answered, excitedly, instantly going to her computer and firing off against her keyboard. "I'll get the memo typed up right now."

"Excellent, ma'am! I think we should carefully choose who we send, though. It should be someone polite, yet firm in our needs- a diplomat of sorts."

"Oh, I know exactly who I'll send!" she reassured, pressing the printing button and waiting for the machine to feed out the paperwork. After she received it, she collected it into a manila folder, before labeling it with: 'Marketing-Accounting Merger'.

"That's fantastic, ma'am, who?"

"You."

"Me?!"

-----

You gulped, anxiously glancing around, trying to navigate the accounting floor, which to you, was uncharted territory. You were beginning to feel hopeless as you spun around, utterly lost among the hallways. In the distance, you could hear phones ringing, keys clacking, and people chatting- a clear indication of the main working area, but you were never able to find the room. Just as you were about to give in and return home, you heard a gentle voice from behind you.

"Need help finding something?"

You pivoted on your heels, a bit startled. "Yes, please!" you begged, cheeks heated from your flustered state. In front of you stood a tall hyena, hands in his pockets, greeting you with a snaggle-toothed grin. "I need to find the accounting department? Is this it?"

"Yes but no," he laughed. "If you're looking for a printer or a vending machine, you're in the right place, but if you need to talk to someone, I can help you."

"Thank you so much, sir, I need to find Mr. Ton." His eyes widened a bit and his smile faltered for a moment before returning with a cocked brow.

"I don't envy you. C'mon, I'll take you to his office." As he began to walk away, you scurried to his side, struggling to keep up with him. "I'm Haida, by the way."

"I'm (Y/N)," you replied, finally beginning to calm down from your earlier panic. "I'm from marketing."

-----

You were embarrassed to find, that you were extremely close to achieving your goal on your own, having walked passed the hallway that lead to his office multiple times. Calmly, Haida walked up to Ton's desk introducing you.

"Sir, marketing sent a rep to talk to you." He then looked down to you with a light smile, encouraging you to take the floor.

"U-Um, yes sir," you bowed awkwardly. "My name is (Y/N), assistant to Director Gori, we spoke on the phone earlier." To your utter shock, the pig smiled at you, standing and bowing to you as well before sitting down again and inviting you to do the same.

"(Y/N), welcome to our department, I hope you found your way alright?"

You nodded with a beam, glancing up to the hyena. "I did, thanks to Haida here."

"Now," the director said, leaning across his desk. "What brings you down here?"

"Ms. Gori has a proposition for you," you began, passing over the folder.

"A merger?" he inquired. "I hardly think that's necessary, we are all one big family in this company."

"We in the marketing department believe that it's crucial that we all be on the same page, and we recognize that we have a habit of coming up with some rather...outlandish ideas for ads." You began to sweat, feeling as if you were under a microscope. This area was built differently than yours. It was one big open space where all of the employees there could hear and scrutinize you. Not only that but you were the smallest person in this conversation, sitting there with Ton, his assistant, and Haida looming over you. Regardless, you presisted.

"We have noticed that, over time you have been pulling our funding, and being quite selective in which of our projects you choose to fund."

"Is that right?" the obese man's eyes furrowed, his fake politeness melting away.

"Y-Yes, sir." You proceeded, swallowing a lump of nervousness. "This is why we are requesting a merger. We believe that there is simply a lack of communication between our departments, and we are understanding of your hesitance to fund projects while uncertain of their outcomes. In this folder, you'll find all the information on this idea, and I'm here if you have anymore questions."

You almost felt sick while he analyzed the paperwork, groaning with disapproval, sifting through pages. "So," he finally spoke again, glancing up at you with an irritated expression. "You want me to give you one of my employees to represent my department to waste their time on this stupid side project?"

You gulped, hesitantly nodding.

"Alright," he said, much to your surprise, before turning to your companion. "Haida, how much work do you have left for today?"

"Not much, sir, why do you ask?" the younger man perked up curiously.

"Pass it off to Anai, as of today, this merger is your main priority." Ton decided, only for the fact that he didn't feel like spending energy on reviewing other candidates. "You are representing our department, so you better make this presentation good. Don't embarrass me."

Haida stood frozen for a moment, surprised at his boss's trust in him. His eyes nervously shifted between the director and you, before he responded. "Y-Yes, sir!" he saluted timidly. "I don't let you down!"

A/N: This is just the first part, let me know if anyone is interested in a second part!

[mochamvgz]

｡⁠.° ✿ all it took was a dance

you have a splendid time with a stranger during your village's fête (harvest festival) and can't help hoping it will blossom into something more.

; park sunghoon x reader

genre: fairy au, fluff, strangers to lovers(?)

warnings: none (does socially awkward sunghoon count?)

; 1.2k words

“hurry up! we're gonna be late!”

your roommate, yunjin, popped her head into your bedroom

“holy fireflies you almost made me mess up my eyeliner jen! i'm coming, is ning ready yet?”

you inquired about your third roommate ningning who completed your best friend trio

“whoopsies”

she replied sheepishly

“and no, ning is still deciding if she should wear her pearl circlet or rose gold” rolling her eyes at your other roommate's indecisiveness

the three of you were currently getting ready for your village fête, well you and ningning were, yunjin seemed to be all set

“why don't you go help her with that then”

you were done with your makeup and were now moving to your shoe cupboard to assess your footwear options

“yeah i'm going to but hyunjin just called saying on his way so i came to remind you, oh and! i wanted to ask what you think about my wings”

yunjin turned around so you could get a better look and you observed that they were slowly shifting between different pastel colours

you marvelled at them

“whoa! new light trick?”

yunjin was a light fairy which meant she could bend light in certain unnatural ways. you were a concocter fairy which meant you had the skill to brew a variety of concoctions

“mhm”

yunjin affirmed with a satisfied smile

as you and your best friends, with the addition of yunjin's boyfriend, hyunjin, arrived at the main street you were overcome with excitement

ningning had decided on her pearl circlet which was clearly the correct choice to go with her baby blue evening gown

the fête was basically a ball held during harvest season in the middle of the main street; a quintet played traditional fairy folk music and fairies paired up to dance. there was also a refreshment table filled with an assortment of fresh appetizers, desserts and drinks

your group then parted ways, yunjin and hanbin walked over to join the dancing couples and you and ningning headed towards to refreshments table

you and ningning were, at present, chatting along with a few other friends on the side with drinks.

chaeryeong, a tailor fairy, was talking about a particularly obnoxious customer she had attended to the other day when you felt a tap on your shoulder

turning around, you were now facing a charming male fairy who looked to be in his early 20s. he had a slightly bashful look on his face but was trying to appear confident

“good evening miss, could i-uh share a dance with you..? i-uhm hope your friends won't mind”

holding out his hand for you to take, his slight stutter somehow made him seem even more attractive

you could hear your friends' unsuccessfully suppressed giggles urging you to accept

you didn't need to be told twice before taking his hand and assenting to the dance with a firm nod and a smile

the mysterious stranger wasted no time leading you towards the dancers and the two of you soon fall in sync with the rest

you see yunjin and hyunjin leaving to go to the refreshments table our of the corner of your eye

“if we're gonna spend the next few minutes together i might as well know your name”

both you and the stranger were caught off guard at your bluntness while

“i meant to sa-”

“sunghoon”

the stranger- i mean, sunghoon cuts you off, sparing you from having to think of a way to word your question more politely

“what's yours?”

“(name)”

“pretty name for a pretty fairy”

he compliments with a shy wink as you stammer your thanks

there's a silence for a few seconds then as you both continue to wordlessly sway along with the music yet, somehow, the atmosphere doesn't turn as awkward as you'd feared

you compliment him once in between on his dancing because he did dance quite well

“what do you say i try to guess your guild?”

you were surprised at the abruptness of the question but welcomed the attempt at conversation, and you couldn't deny you were curious to see what he guessed

“sure, three tries only though”

you turn it into a challenge

“got it, first guess: baker?”

“try again”

“then..it has to be gardener”

“how do you go from baker to gardener? still not right”

you couldn't help but laugh lightly, this was fun

“okay okay what about florist?”

“pretty close but not quite”

“aww i thought i had it, what guild are you from then?”

“i'd rather keep it a secret”

“c'mon i'll tell you mine”

before you can give him a response, however, the song fades away and something or someone in the distance behind you seems to catch his eye

sunghoon and you stop dancing

“i'm really sorry but i kinda have somewhere to be now..see you around?”

he scratches the back of his neck as he says the last part, nervous for your answer

“oh that's okay and yeah sure see you around”

he still lingered for a moment, seeming to hesitate, his wings were awkwardly fluttering indicating he was about to take off, however, his body language gave off the the impression that he wanted to say something but wasn't sure if should

“is there... anywhere in particular...that i might be able to catch you? you know like-”

he finally spoke up

“i own a store in the marketplace”

you interrupt to spare him from overexplaining

“oh cool, what's the name?”

“i'm gonna leave it up to you to find it, i hope you're not afraid of a little challenge”

you shoot him a teasing smile in an attempt to make him feel less awkward

his expression morphs into a smile and you internally rejoice over your triumph

“challenge accepted, catch ya later!”

“bye, see ya!”

and with that he flies off to who knows where as you return to your friends, expecting to be bombarded questions and teasing comments

it's noon, the day after the fête, you're currently at your floral perfume store and there's a lull in business as most people would be having lunch at this hour

you fail to hold back your yawn, not unexpected when you're running on 5 hours of sleep and a pixie dust latte

you walk over to the door to flip over the ‘·• open •·’ sign so that it now says ‘·• closed •·’ and exit your store to lock it up since you're going to meet yunjin and ningning at your usual deli for lunch break

“is it your lunch break? perfect timing”

you hear a familiar voice as you're putting the key in your bag after locking up

spinning on your heel you find yourself looking at just the person you'd been expecting all day and who hasn't left your mind since last night

“sunghoon, hi! i wasn't expecting you to actually come”

“surprise...i guess..?”

“i see you didn't have much trouble finding me”

you receive a lazy half smile at that which, oddly enough, made you feel all..tingly..(?) inside

“so you're a concocter huh?”

“that's right, i've always had a knack for perfume concoctions in particular and i love flowers so..”

you trail off gesturing towards the signboard over your store which reads

｡ . ° ✿ Bottled Bouquets ✿ ° . ｡

“i could've shown you around if you came a bit earlier”

“next time? oh by the way! any chance you'd be free for lunch?”

maybe yunjin and ningning could spend a lunch break without you

taglist! @inkelea @misokei @cha3w0n-hearts @myboyfriendjake

a/n: this my entry for @i020904 's (formerly @ neighborhae) 100 followers event!! also! layout change!(how do we like it?) i hope this turns out to be worth your time and thank you for reading!💌

≈•≈

© mochamvgz on tumblr | all rights reserved | do not plagiarise, repost or translate any of my works

[kdramaxoxo]

I just finished Ultimate Weapon Alice. Hands down one of the best dramas I've watched action wise and romance wise all year. Actually in the past 5 years. I rank this show that highly. I know when it finally gets popular in the mainstream like Squid Game or something like some other popular top 10 Netflix show, people will definitely ask themselves how did they miss this gem.

Totally reminds me of when I first read The Song of Achilles the year it came out in 2011. I was like this book is wonderful and has so many layers like an onion, that one day it will be on something like OH THIS BOOK IS THE BEST EVER AND LET'S TALK ABOUT IT! It's 2022 and I just now see TSOA at my local Target on the popular books and I don't have to go searching for it like it's some diamond in the rough anymore. It's hilarious watching certain media become popular LATER. So many get so mad and start gatekeeping and I'm like, bro, it's not about that. Sometimes things become popular at different times. We're all not on the same schedule. Loving media is like that. That's the joy of libraries and finding your favorite song at random times. We're not all gonna get that at the SAME time. But when you do come across something and you feel alone, a lot of the time you will be able to see years later the RESURGANCE. The OH WE NEED TO DISCUSS THIS MEDIA NOW. IT MISSED IT WHEN IT AIRED BUT LET'S DISCUSS IT NOW.

Ultimate Weapon Alice will in my opinion have that moment. I can feel that in my soul just like TSOA in 2011. It's amazing in ways that I'm like, productions with 10x the budget and "star power" wish they had 10% of the sheer performances in this show.

Dark humor. Complex story line. Cliché tropes being poked fun of and yet in the end, you realize it's all completely realistic anyways. Sometimes life IS like that. It feels like a trope. Trauma is like that. It's not this little neat little box with oh I fell in love and it fixed me. No. The trauma talked about in this show is refreshing in a way that I'm like, I wish this was in a TED talk by itself. If this was watched maybe just MAYBE we could get the ball rolling on so many mental health points in a way others will NOT feel ashamed or be immediately demonized for saying they are suicidal due to severe trauma etc etc. The writers did their homework. So much work BEHIND the scenes show in this show. Closest mega production I can think of that tackled this and is openly talked about is the first Deadpool movie.

It might not be on a top 10 most watched list this year in 2022 for many, but I know years later it's going to be, oh what was I doing in 2022 when this show came out? How did I miss it? It's gonna have that later.

It's absolutely perfection in a way of, it made me go, I've had the worst year of my life this year in 2022, but this 8 episode show I found yesterday and binged in 2 days, when I've not done that in months due to severe depression myself, I'm like, oh. I feel seen and heard and I have a little more hope too. I know I'm not alone. I'm not new to severe depression. Had it also since I was a kid. I'm 31. But wow, seeing a show tackle it the way Ultimate Weapon Alice did? *chef's kiss* I wish the entire cast and crew nothing but success and happiness and many more projects.

10/10 must watch.

Sorry for writing an essay in your inbox. <3

I love a good essay about an underrated drama!

I feel the same way - is it the best K-Drama ever? No BUT. For the low budget, the NOT a-list actors (though hopefully now they'll all get leading roles!) and the concept I just loved it! And it WAS weird how no one watched it and I honestly just stumbled upon it. LUCKY MEEEEE :)

Heads up y'all it's very bloody.

[djino04]

Will you do an omegaverse fic where Saul doesn't have to cover up his scent for some reason and Andreas is just rolling around, soaking it up because it seems to good to him? Nuzzling Saul's skin and everything

I hope it's what you wanted and that you like it

In the first part of this story, Saul and Andreas are both students at Alfea and share a room. In the second half, takes place after all the events of the OmegaVerse series

POV Andreas

I just got back from extra training tonight. It feels good to be able to fight against the 4th year students. At least they can defend themselves and are interesting opponents. Saul missed it, claiming a review session with Farah. I don't know if it's true, it's his loss. I don't understand how he can enjoy spending time with his nose in a book when he could be using it to improve his sword skills.

When I open the door to our room, I suddenly stop as an overwhelming smell hits my nose. I have never smelled anything so good in my life. I stand still for a few seconds, just soaking up the heavenly scent, before moving further into the room and sniffing around for the source. It only takes me a few seconds to discover that it's coming from Saul's jacket, which he's left on his bed.

Speaking of my roommate, I look left and right to make sure he's not there. It is only then that I realize that the shower is on and that Saul must be in the bathroom. I take the opportunity to grab the sweater and bring it to my nose. I take a deep breath. I don't know where this smell comes from but it's amazing. It tastes like a forest. It's sweet and strong at the same time. It's a little hard to describe, but I feel like I can't get enough of it now that I know it, even though it's been less than a minute since I discovered it. I don't know how it got here but I'll have to investigate to find out more.

The sound of the shower turning off quickly brings me back to reality and without really realizing it, I grab the sweatshirt and put it under my pillow. I collapse on the bed and play with a ball, pretending I didn't just steal my roommate and friend's clothing. We're just friends unfortunately, we're two alphas already and then I think Saul isn't interested in men. He spends so much time with Farah that I wonder if there is something between them. He tells me that there is just friendship, nothing else but I have big doubts. But anyway, it doesn't change anything, he is clearly not interested in me. So I'd rather not say anything than ruin what we have now.

I don't have time to mope anymore because I hear the bathroom door being unlocked. It opens a few seconds later, letting Saul through who is rubbing his hair with his towel. I throw the ball to him and he catches it in midair and I say to him as if nothing had happened: 

"Took you long enough, princess."

Saul throws the ball back to me and pokes me: 

"Yeah because at least I use soap and don't stink when I get out of the shower."

I laugh as I head to the bathroom. Saul is one of the only ones who has a response and it's refreshing. However, I see him glance at the bed with a frown so I quickly close the door. I can't tell him I stole his sweater on a whim because it smelled too good. I still don't understand what I did or where that smell came from but I hope to find out the source. 

The night goes by and the next morning I find an excuse to stay in the room a few minutes longer. Once alone, I grab the sweater and bring it to my nose. But to my dismay, the smell is almost gone. I know there will be no more tonight so I throw the jacket next to Saul's bed, to pretend it fell off yesterday and he didn't see it. If he ever found it under my pillow, it would lead to too many questions. 

I tried to ask Saul yesterday about what he did just before he came home. He only answered evasively and avoided looking me in the eye. I think he wasn't with Farah, otherwise he would have had no reason to lie to me. And I'm starting to wonder if that delicious smell is not coming from an omega, I couldn't find any other explanation. Which would totally explain Saul's secrecy. Besides, it must be someone who isn't in the school otherwise I would have smelled that scent by now and trust me, I would remember. I sigh as I realize how pathetic my life is: I'm in love with my best friend and intoxicated by an unknown scent that probably comes from the omega of said best friend... 

*********************

I had the opportunity to smell it a few more times after that but not regularly. My investigations at the time led nowhere and I eventually came to terms with the fact that I would never know, especially since it stopped before Saul and I started dating. I was almost relieved that I didn't smell it anymore because my attraction to the scent scared me. I knew I was in love with the brunette, but I was afraid of what my teenage hormones might make me do if I ever found the omega wearing that smell. I would never have forced him to do anything, no matter how attractive I was, but if he had agreed, would I have been able to resist and not cheat on Saul? I'm not sure I could have done that at the time.

  It took me almost 25 years to solve this mystery. And I didn't even figure it out right away. Because for several months, every time Saul's blocker was removed, Rosalind would torture him. So I might as well tell you that there was absolutely nothing amazing about his smell. 

But after all the events were over, Rosalind was gone, and Stella took her place as Queen of Solaria, things began to change. The old laws were removed and now omegas have the same rights as everyone else. We won't lie to ourselves, this doesn't mean that mentalities have changed much, but things are progressing little by little. Farah was able to persuade Saul that it was important for him to stop hiding and remove his blocker. She used his heightened sense of duty by telling him that he needed to set an example as co-headmaster of specialists. I disagreed with her, as far as I was concerned Saul did not and still does not owe anyone anything. I told him he was free to do whatever he wanted, but he listened to her and I still remember the moment I smelled his real smell for the first time. It wasn't right away after the blocker was removed because he was stressed in Farah's office. But later, when it was just the two of us in the house, I smelled it. I was taken back years and realized that the smell that was so appealing on Saul's jacket at times was actually his smell. Today, I am no longer a teenager who is ruled by his hormones but that didn't stop me and still doesn't stop me from enjoying smelling it. 

A slight noise brings me out of my thoughts. I turn my head towards Saul, who is lying next to me and is slowly waking up. I gently bury my face in his neck, take a deep breath, breathing in that amazing smell, his smell. I gently kiss him near his olfactory gland and whisper: 

"Hello my love."

[hlmowrer]

Weeks 88 & 89: We're well into the final quarter, folks

Hellooooo!

I think I just have a deep seated desire to confuse you all with the rate at which I send these letters.  Are you confused?  If you're not, kudos from me.  I'm confusing myself.

If it makes you feel any better, not an absolute ton of interesting stuff has happened.  I'm becoming ever more aware of how soon my missionary service will come to a close, and it's one of the most bittersweet things I've ever felt.  I'm well aware that dwelling on that reality will probably lead to nothing good though, so I'm seeking to just keep trucking along until someone calls me one day with my transfer news...and tells me I'm going back to Washington.  

Anyway, I'm now pretty well acquainted with St. Johns!  It's really nice to be in an area long enough to get to know the region and the people.  I thrive as a missionary when I have a positive relationship with the church members and the community, so getting that ball rolling has been nice!  We have a few amazing friends we're teaching right now that are so prepared to take the step of being baptized, but pretty much across the board they're struggling to find time to study and meet with us, so please pray for them.  I don't know why but St. Johns has more of these types of situations than any other place I've ever seen.  In a way it's refreshing, because when we CAN meet with them it goes really well, but it's hard to make changes in life when you never get to stop and smell the Gospel roses.

As for me, I'm trying to practice what I preach a little more when it comes to that.  My time in St. Johns has been some of the hardest in my entire service, and it's testing me in ways that I can only imagine are preparing me for my life that is to come.  I have trust in my Savior, Jesus the Christ, that He will be wiser and more patient than I and that if I nurture my faith, the way I teach others to do, that I will come out the other end a better, more Christlike person.  That's been what I wanted all along, so if this is how He chooses to accomplish that then I'm on board!

I wish that I was able to share more, but for now I hope this update will do.  

Love you <3

-Elder Beren Mowrer

[yourepower]

Cool Tools: A Guide to Vintage Drip, Massage Ice Balls

In the ever-evolving world of wellness and self-care, finding the right tools to enhance your routine can make all the difference. Today, we're diving into a trio of cool tools that have been gaining popularity for their unique benefits: Vintage Drip, Massage Ice Balls, and Muscle Rollers. Let's explore each one and discover how they can elevate your self-care game.

Vintage Drip: Nostalgia Meets Elegance

Vintage Drip is more than just a style; it's a lifestyle. This aesthetic trend combines the charm of yesteryear with modern elegance, creating a unique blend that appeals to those who appreciate timeless beauty. From fashion to home decor, vintage drip is making waves. Discover how you can incorporate this trend into your daily life, adding a touch of class and nostalgia to your surroundings.

Massage Ice Balls: The Chilling Beauty Secret

What happens when you combine the soothing power of massage with the refreshing coolness of ice? Enter Massage Ice Balls, the beauty secret that's taking skincare to a whole new level. Explore the benefits of using ice balls for your facial routine, from reducing puffiness to promoting circulation. Learn different massage techniques and unveil the transformative effects of this chilly companion on your skin.

Muscle Rollers: Roll Away the Tension

Whether you're an athlete, fitness enthusiast, or someone looking to ease muscle tension, muscle roller ball are the go-to tool. Dive into the world of myofascial release and discover how these simple yet effective devices can improve flexibility, reduce soreness, and enhance overall muscle function. We'll guide you through the best practices and techniques for using muscle rollers, ensuring you get the most out of this versatile tool.

Building Your Cool Toolkit

Now that you're acquainted with Vintage Drip, ice balls for face, and Muscle Rollers, it's time to build your cool toolkit. We'll provide tips on how to integrate these tools seamlessly into your daily routine, whether it's through a stylish home decor upgrade, a refreshing skincare ritual, or a targeted muscle recovery session.

Conclusion: Cool Tools, Hot Results

In this guide, we've explored the allure of Vintage Drip, the refreshing benefits of Massage Ice Balls, and the muscle-soothing wonders of Muscle Rollers. As you embark on your journey to enhance your well-being, consider incorporating these cool tools into your lifestyle. The blend of style, skincare, and muscle care might just be the perfect recipe for a refreshed and revitalized you. Cool tools, hot results – the choice is yours!

[cursivebloodlines]

As funny as their timing, as their everything was really - there was nothing Logan would change about the situation. Maybe the part where she knew how she felt sooner, would've been better. But it was better to be late than never at all. Sometimes, it took a wake-up call to get the ball rolling. And it sure as hell rolled a lot quicker than he could have ever anticipated. What mattered most was that it was with Danielle, no one else. It wouldn't have mattered to anyone else. It was common knowledge that he was awful at doing things in the proper order. It was something he dealt with when working with code, though - the obvious routes weren't always the correct ones. It sometimes took a different direction, or twenty before reaching their destination. And now here they were. Destination: the start of something new. Hopefully, maybe. If that was what Danielle wanted when they were back into reality. For now, he wanted to cling to this moment for a little while longer, refusing to even acknowledge the world going on around them. Outside of them. It didn't exist, not now, not yet. It was Logan and Danielle, Danielle and Logan. Nothing else mattered.

Their exchange of intimacy was something new even for him. Of course, he'd tumbled into bed with other women over the years, had been in other relationships, had fallen in love occasionally...but he had never been the overly affectionate type. 'Pillow talk' or whatever people called it these days wasn't really something he was entirely bothered about or comfortable with. Well it wasn't that he wasn't comfortable with it as such, it just felt awkward. Like it was something he would do to make others happy. But this... with Danielle? It was one of the most profound and natural feelings he'd ever felt, and to him that solidified his feelings (not that there was ever any doubt, but it reinforced that she really was the one person for him) for him. "Good. Perfect. I've never been happier than when I'm with you," he spoke softly, his voice filled with utmost sincerity. It was nice to just be open and honest, with nothing getting in their way. Yet. "So if you're happy that I'm happy and I'm happy that you're happy, and we are both happy...then that must mean we're double happy. Or triple. The happiest." It felt like such a dumb thing to say, but the thought made him laugh anyway. He laced his fingers with hers, intertwining their hands and brought her hand up to his lips, pressing a light kiss against her fingertips. Could she be any more perfect? And she did it all without even trying to be. She just was...everything. Maybe Logan was a bit biased. But it didn't change a thing. "What's surprising about it? Really?" he quizzed, in his usual playful way but also because he...wondered. He figured it was a given. The way her flush deepened had him grinning from ear to ear. Yep, he still could definitely push her buttons. Wonderful. That will never get old. "Only twice?" He joked, repeating himself just changing the number. Truthfully it made him wonder all sorts of things, silly questions that don't matter as such but it would be funny to see just how flustered she could possibly get; every time he thought they were at peak flushes with her, it would only deepen which only egged Logan on even more. He really was a pain in the ass, wasn't he? "In a panic? I....don't know whether or not I should be offended at that," the man teased further, understanding why she may have done that. Panicked. After all, she supposedly hadn't felt that way about him. But still - he wouldn't be Logan if he wasn't poking fun at Danielle. "Can refresh both of ours if you want...I certainly wouldn't be complaining..." he said, a cheeky grin on his lips, happy to go along with whatever she wanted from him. A muffled chuckle left him as he heard her words... he knew what she was saying but wanted to hear properly so he retreated - only ever so slightly, to murmur, "Say that again."

His hand still combed through her hair, though he allowed his eyes to flutter shut at the sensation of her hand caressing his cheek. How he could quite happily lie there, having her do that for hours. Her touch was the most soothing thing for him. Loved every minute, craved every moment. Made it all the more special. Logan forgot about the call as soon as Danielle started speaking again; what's it they say? Out of sight, out of mind? "Or never at all," he mused, not finding it funny by all means but...it was a possibility that she may never have realised it if it weren't for...outside forces. His face fell slightly as she trailed off, filling in the blanks in his head automatically. A pang of guilt tugged at his heart but shook it off just as fast. Not now. That would be dealt with later, if he chose. He didn't want to deal with it at all though, just stay in this little cocoon for the two of them. Enjoy their little bubble of happiness that little longer. "I'm glad it did... take over for a day, I mean." Did that mean it was only for the day? Today? Logan was too frightened to ask. He let his hand stroke her arm, softly drawing random shapes in her skin absentmindedly. Eyes opening, looking into hers with another little smile. "How about forever?"

Things were all out of order, and she couldn't help but wonder if they would always be that way. Out of order, and just veering off the path. It was great now, but would that way of life come back to haunt them? Probably. Scratch that, yes. They could handle it though. Right? That notion that if they were together, they could go up against anything. Danielle and Logan, against the world. Yeah, that had a nice ring to it. It was wishful thinking, but a lot about them was. What was one more thing?

The whispering was so intimate, it was quickly becoming a favorite of hers. She loved that it was something only they shared, no one else was allowed in. "I'm always happy with you, that's never changed." Danielle was grateful for his follow up. She wanted to ask, but somehow, was still afraid of the answer. Do I make you happy? It was a loaded question, but of course, he had the perfect words. "As long as you're happy...I'm okay." And they were back. One sweet comment in exchange for endless teasing. It was the way they worked. His grin was impossible to miss, and impossible to not love. Maybe she could withstand the teasing, just for that. A raised brow, assessing his mock offense. If Danielle didn't know any better, she'd believe he was genuinely shocked. "Nope, not complaining, just surprised to learn!" Admitting that was a surprise to her as well, she swore that was going to the grave with her. Oh god, Logan was relentless. The flush in her face darkened, "yes. Once...or maybe twice," she admitted. Why was she telling him this?! The daze was making her a bit too honest for her liking. "Reality was definitely better, I didn't wake up in a panic. That's for sure. Refresh my memory or yours?" she asked, eyes glancing up to catch his reaction. All in good teasing. This felt right, it was the moment in movies - just sitting together, letting the time pass. Enjoying each other's company and wishing it never ended. It was a rush of happiness that many chased their entire lives. Then, Logan said it. He'd said it before, so had she. You're so dumb, I love you. You're my best friend, I love you. God, I hate you! Fine, I love you. Everything in between had been said, but never like this. Any other time, Danielle would've frozen. A deer in headlights. It had happened to her before, someone tells her those words and she didn't respond. Just stood there, thinking of something to say. Awkward, no surprise that didn't go far. She was sure she'd told Logan about that time too. Not this time though. With Logan, it was so easy to let love flow, to just let it be. Their lips meeting didn't allow her to speak properly, the words surely came out mushed together. "I love you." Hopefully, he understood.

It was easy to notice his change, the few seconds of panic when their conversation shifted slightly. Her smile fading didn't help, did it? She couldn't help it, talking about the 'before' was not something she felt like smiling about. Danielle just hated making him feel that way. Luckily, his face softened and she absentmindedly stroked his cheek. The softness of his skin bringing her comfort as she spoke. Her heart was doing somersaults upon hearing him. His heart was hers. God, she really did this all wrong. Didn't she? This whole time, his heart was there - just for her, and she only realized it now? When he confirmed the call wasn't important, Danielle took it as permission to keep speaking. Who even called these days? Probably spam."Got it. Well, I was saying..I didn't want to. Get over you, I mean. Jealousy is a nasty thing, effective though. I wouldn't have figured it out otherwise, to be honest. Probably would've taken me a couple of years. It just didn't seem fair, to ruin your.." his relationship. It wasn't easy to say. "To ruin your life, because I figured it out late. That's why I came over today, to do the right thing, but I don't know, think my heart took over for the day." Clearly, her brain was on a much-needed vacation. Overthinking wears you out. "I do, I am in no rush at all...I'll stay here as long as you want me to."

[selineram3421]

May I please request an Alastor x reader oneshot where Alastor is still in denial he is in love, and honestly both of them are. However, someone at the hotel sets up reader on a date with someone else, and Alastor pretends he's fine with it, but internally it has him wrecked as he realizes he might have missed his chance. How does he handle it? Does he sabotage? Follow them? Is the person actually a good-enough person that can be trusted on a date or is this another hedonistic sinner only looking to score? What if they try something?

I also wanna know. Gimme gimme gimme.

A Flame In Your Heart

Romantic: Alastor X Reader Oneshot

Warning! ⚠

⚠ blood, mentions of human trafficking, sexist remarks, burning, thoughts of murder ⚠

~

After looking for your phone for thirty minutes, Charlie finds it and hands it over, but you notice an odd notification from an app you've never had.

Unlocking your phone, you see what it is. A fucking dating app and a check mark to show you've matched with someone.

"Charlie!", you gasp in surprise, flames sparking in your hair. "What the hell!?"

The princess gives an awkward smile in response. "Well.. I thought you could have some fun tonight, you know?", she shrugs.

You look down at your hellphone, frowning at the picture of the "matched" demon.

"This is crossing a line.", your frown deepening, your hair now literally on fire. "How did you even unlock my phone?", you ask.

"Angel saw you type in your password.", she says, now looking like a kicked puppy and no doubt feeling guilty. "I'm sorry."

"Fucking hell-", you pinch the bridge of your nose and sigh. "Never do this again. I get that we're friends but this isn't ok."

And now the blonde is pouting with puppy eyes.

You groan and roll your eyes, patting your hair to extinguish the flames, pulling her into a hug. "No, I don't hate you and I will go on this stupid date to keep you happy."

She squeals in delight and hugs you back, but quickly repeats a couple of ow's when you tighten the hug.

"I mean it, don't do it again.", you say and let her out of your death grip. "I'm telling Vaggie.", you say before running to find the moth demon.

"Wait, no!", the pricess gasps and runs after you.

.

Usually when hanging out with Alastor, you'd leave your phone off or on do not disturb, but today it was out in your hand while on your stroll through the park.

Curious on why the device was out, the red dressed demon taps you on the shoulder. "What's the matter dear? You've been sighing all day at that thing."

You look at him a bit surprised and put away your phone. "It's nothing important, just some dumb date.", you say and look ahead.

Alastor however, stops dead in his tracks. "Date?"

Turning to look back at him, you raise a brow and stammer a bit. "Uh..y-yeah? Charlie set it up, but I-", you explain and then sigh. "I'm just going for her."

"May I see?", he asks and does a hand gesture as he thinks of what it could be. "The text or whatever its on."

"Pfft-sure.", you laugh and walk up to him, taking out your phone and unlocking it. "She made me a profile on a dating app."

I'm gonna have to delete that later.

Pulling up the match on the app, you show him the picture of the demon.

"I don't know why this demon even agreed. I mean they're a fish and I'm basically a ball of fire.", you say and looking at the picture again. "That's a disaster waiting to happen."

Alastor stares at the image for a long time before speaking. "What are the details?"

"Hm? Oh, just some dinner at a bar.", you answer while putting your phone away. "I think near a club or something."

"Would you like me to escort you?", he asks.

"As much as I would like that, Charlie wouldn't let me hear the end of it if my date runs after seeing you.", you laugh.

He likes your laugh very much, its refreshing.

"Well, I hope everything goes swell!"

.

Everything was not going swell.

God this demon was so full of themself. Yes, Alastor has quite the ego but its not the size of Hell.

You smiled and laughed at the jokes that were actually funny, pretending to be distracted when they told terrible ones. The food hasn't even arrived yet and you want to barf.

Someone save me from this. I want to leave.

"And I told that bitch that she was only good for cooking and cleaning! Hahaha!"

Great...a sexist asshole. Not like Hell is running out of those.

"I like your tattoos.", you say to get away from whatever story that was.

"Yeah? I got them after a gig. Had to transport some stock, women and kids."

Yeah, no. Fuck this shit.

You stand up and use the excuse that you need to use the bathroom.

.

Alastor was lying on the couch, thinking for a long while. The feeling in his chest was back.

He had felt odd around you after your third encounter. Not thinking much of it, he pushed the odd fluttering to the side.

However, the feeling just got worse over time and he began to notice everything about you.

Your laugh, your smile, the way your nose scrunches when a sneeze is coming up. When your hair starts to spark when you're angry, surprised, or flustered. How you dance like fire. When your face starts to steam when you are embarrassed, turning a lovely red. The way your eyes glow. Your lips looking inviting after you've had a drink. How soft your voice gets when you're tired. When you sing..

He was unmistakably in love with you.

At the moment he was wondering if he should sabotage the date, kill your date, or just let you go through with it.

Then his 1920's candlestick telephone began to ring. Bringing the phone over, Alastor picks up the receiver and puts it to his ear. "Hello, Alastor speaking!", he says into the mouth piece.

"Alastor?", your voice comes through.

He sits straight up, taking in your tone of voice.

"What's wrong?", he asks.

"Sorry to bother.", you say. "Could you..help me ditch my date?"

"Oh?", he says, trying not to let it slip how happy he is to do so.

"It's dumb, but this demon is so..", you sigh. "They are just down right awful. Would it be alright if I just spent the night hanging out with you?", you ask.

"Not to worry darling! I'll be over in a bit, just wait in front of the establishment and I'll see you soon!", he says, summoning his coat and putting on his shoes.

"Thanks Al. You're the best.", you tell him the address and hang up soon after.

After fixing himself up, Alastor walks out of his radio statiom, humming a few songs as he makes his way over to the bar.

I'm feeling lucky!

.

You walk out of the bathroom, putting your phone away, going over to your table.

"Hey, so sorry to do this but I just got an emergency call from a friend! I've got to go.", you rush out, having to sell the act.

"What?", the fish demon frowns. "No the fuck you don't."

"I don't have time to explain, thank you for tonight but-", you start picking up your things, only to be stopped by your date.

"What do they need you for? We're on a date!", they growl, yanking your arm away from your jacket.

"Hey! What the fuck-!", you shout, feeling your hair start to heat up. "Let go."

"No! We are on a date, your friend should know when not to bother you!", the demon's grip tightens.

"Ow! I said let go!", you heat up your hand and place it on their arm.

The fish demon yells in pain, shoving you away. "You fucking cunt!"

It gets eerily quiet when the door opens.

Static crackles loudly as the Radio Demon steps into the bar.

"ĆΔŘ€ ŦØ Ř€Ƥ€ΔŦ ŦĦΔŦ?"

.

So after Alastor basically repainted the walls with your date's blood, you both headed out to take a walk in the park.

"You're fine, yes? How's your arm?", he asks, taking a glance at your arm.

"I'm fine, its nothing to worry about.", you smile a little.

You felt terrible for ruining his peaceful night.

He probably thinks I'm pathetic..

With your thought beginning to spiral, you don't notice that you've begun to frown.

"None of that my dear!", he places a hand on your cheek, turning your head to face him. "You're never fully dressed without a smile!"

You blush, your hair staring to spark.

"O-oh! Yeah, you're right.", you say looking away to hide your face.

Alastor smiles when steam starts to rise from your head, putting an arm around your waist as you continue to walk. "Let's make this night memorable!"

With a snap of his fingers you both teleport to a gazebo with vines and fairy lights, a table for two sits in the middle with food and wine.

"Wha-", you say in shock, eyes glowing brightly. "How did you know I haven't eaten yet?", you ask.

"I had a hunch.", he winks and guides you over to a chair, pulling it out for you to sit.

Once sitting down, he pushes your seat in and goes over to sit in the chair across from you.

"Tonight we have~", he goes to explain the dishes set out on the table before opening the bottle. "And a bottle of red wine."

Dinner with Alastor is amazing. You actually get to enjoy dinner while talking and laughing. Your heart skips a few beats everytime he smiles at you.

Now both of you walk on a bridge, the red sky darkening as it gets late.

"Thank you Alastor.", you say, stopping in the middle of the bridge. "For making my night better."

"It was a pleasure.", he says with a soft smile. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

Geez.

You blush and look to the side, sparks appearing in your hair.

His hand moves to hold your chin and tilts it up slightly. Your eyes go to look at him, seeing that he's leaning in and-

"Je suis amoureux de toi."

Alastor is kissing you.

A flame burns in your heart, making your chest glow.

This really is a memorable night.

~

I really liked this one!

~Seline, the person.

.

French Translation:

Je suis amoureux de toi. = I'm in love with you.

ML for Alastor🎙

[tinyboxxtink]

"Doppelganger" *Part 12*

I give you this my babies, because tomorrow I have tons to do and I don't know if you'll get a chapter during the day, it might just be tomorrow night after most of you are asleep. So enjoy the plethora when you can!

Also, I hope you're not getting whiplash from the twists and turns. I'm just making it as dramatic as possible, apparently.

Please still read my stuff.

Part 11

Part 13

Tag List

@madamsnape921

@lolliepopsicle

@chasingeverybreakingwave

@milkshqke

@wanniiieeee

@word-scribbless

@gibbs274

@sassyada

@aprildecker-blog

@bookishfanfic

@stars-in-the-skies-world

@stars-trash-18

@omgsuperstarg

@objection-argumentative

[Once again top is Nevada as 'Rafael', Bottom is Rafael]

---------

You walked silently through the park while crying. You were fuming, you felt guilty, but mostly you were heartbroken. You knew Rafael didn't mean what he said, he was just hot headed. But you did mean what you said. You didn't know if he could ever get past what happened, and you weren't positive you could either.

You wanted to, but just knowing the damage was done to Rafael's heart killed you inside and how you could spend the rest of your life just feeling guilty?

You were so lost in your own thoughts you didn't notice cops running through the park towards the cave.

-------

"FREEZE!!!!" An NYPD officer yelled at Rafael as several more surrounded the cave and him.

"Okay gentlemen, I try that you're doing your job but there's been a mistake--" Rafael put his hands in the air.

"Save it, Ramirez. Barba told us everything,"

Olivia had told him over the phone that Nevada had gotten to the people at Ryker's and they had alerted the NYPD but he didn't expect them to be this fast.

"Look if you go into my jacket pocket you'll see my wallet with my ID," He assured them.

"Yeah how dumb do you think we are?" One cop scoffed. "Even my fifteen year old sister has a FAKE ID,"

"Fair point," Rafael nodded.

"Now where's the girl?" Another police officer barked.

"Girl?" Rafael’s brows furrowed.

“Barba's girl. You know it takes some balls to kidnap the ADA's fiancée, I'll give you that,”

“Wha---he DID! I just rescued her!” He insisted.

"Yeah, before you got what you wanted?" The cop asked him suspiciously.

"And what did I want?" Rafael asked.

“You wanted your boys free,” he replied.

“No HE did. That's why HE was there. Come on guys you're smarter than this,” Rafael started to take a step forward.

“DON'T move,” The cop cocked the gun closer to Rafael.

“Really then how did he explain why he was there breaking them out and not me?”

“He said you had the girl and when he brought you the boys you'd let her go.”

"What would be the point of that if we look identical?!" Rafael exclaimed in exasperation. This was ridiculous.

“You think we're gonna buy you're that stupid to walk into Ryker's completely unarmed, just because you look like the ADA?”

“No he's just that cocky,” Rafael rolled his eyes at Nevada’s ego.

“Alright enough, where is she?” The cop ordered.

“She just ran away….” Rafael realized this didn’t look good.

“Oh really? She just ran away from the love of her life, who just rescued her from an evil man?” The officer asked sarcastically.

“Yeah she--we--- it's a long story,” He sighed. If he had just kept running after you, you’d be together right now. God knows what was happening to you right now.

“Right, well you can tell it downtown,” One cop nodded to the others to handle him.

“Well fine, Olivia Benson will vouch for me,” Rafael was talking a tough game, but secretly praying he was right. Olivia would know he was himself, right?

“Whatever you say Nevada,” Two cops grabbed by the shoulders and dragged him out of the cave.

---------

You suddenly realized as you reached the end of the park that you had no cell phone, no money. You didn’t even have shoes. You really didn’t want to continue to fight with Rafael, but it seemed you had no choice in the matter at the moment. You started heading back to the penguin cove when you saw a bunch of NYPD officers surrounding the place, and after a few minutes they were dragging Rafael out in handcuffs.

You were just about to run and tell them there was a mix up, when a hand clamped over your mouth. And then everything went black.

When you woke up, you were back in Nevada’s limo.

“Are you fucking kidding me…” You muttered to yourself, but you quickly realized you were not alone. Two more of Nevada’s men that you had never seen before were sitting across from you, huge evil grins on their faces.

“Hola, mami,” One rubbed his leg up and down your bare leg but you kicked him away.

“Now that’s not very nice, mujer,”

“Especially when we brought you refreshments,” The other one pulled out the champagne bottle of mind serum Nevada had on him the last time you saw him.

SERIOUSLY?

-------

Rafael was dragged through the precinct, glares from every single cop and detective, finally reaching the squad’s room. Olivia rushed over, trying to help Rafael out of the cuffs.

“What are you doing? THIS is Mr. Barba!” She exclaimed.

“No offense, Ms. Benson, but this man is very good at fooling people, you’re no exception,” One officer told her.

“Then why did he have Mr. Barba’s phone?” Olivia asked them with an attitude. The officer’s looked between each other, not really having an answer for that. Maybe they had been mistaken.

“.....Because I dropped it when I was running for my life with my fiancé,” A voice came from behind them. Everyone turned to see ‘Rafael’ with you draped on his arm.

“No….” Rafael whispered. This couldn’t be happening again.

“Ah, Mr. Barba,” One of the cops nodded. “Thank you so much for helping us catch this guy. That’s a decade of fine police work’s worth,” He shook ‘Rafael’s’ hand while Olivia circled around them to talk to you.

“What are you doing?!” She hissed.

“What are you talking about?!” You hissed back.

“Why are you vouching for Nevada?”

“What are you talking about? This is Rafael,”

“....Seriously?” Olivia was taken aback.

“Yes Olivia, SERIOUSLY. Don’t you think I would know my own fiancée?” You gave her an offended look.

“Yeah well from what I heard, you’re not that great at it,” She smirked.

“OLIVIA,” ‘Rafael’ suddenly stepped in between you two. “This vendetta you have against Y/N has got to stop, I thought we talked about this,”

“I...she...you…” Olivia looked from him to you, her eyes searching both of your eyes for anything telling.

“Do you have any idea what she’s been through?!” ‘Rafael’ barked, you laid your head on his shoulder looking very scared and traumatized.

“Yeah, I don’t know why you’re so mean to me,” You pouted, making Olivia gag.

“Oh my god, there is no way you are--”

“We’re done here, Olivia.” ‘Rafael’ shut her up. “If you can’t tell the difference between a hardened criminal and your ‘best friend’, then clearly we’re not as close as I thought we were.”

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

Inside your mind prison, you were watching all of this go down with absolute horror. How could this be happening again? How did you do this to yourselves AGAIN? What is WRONG with you? And now, now it was worse than ever because now Rafael was actually in trouble, and it was your fault.

“OLIVIA!!!!!” You screamed. You couldn’t believe out of all people, you would need her help. But here you were.

Olivia watched in shock as you and ‘Rafael’ walked arm in arm out of the station, leaving ‘Nevada’ in cuffs, with the most pitiful look on his face.

“Alright Ramirez, you can drop the act. It’s gonna get you nowhere, the jig is up,” Olivia sneered at him, with a wink.

“Olivia,” Rafael looked at her sadly. “I know you know me better than that. You know about….things that would convince Y/N that Nevada is me,” He muttered softly, looking around them.

“I know,” Olivia pressed her forehead to his. “I never doubted it was you, Rafa,” She smiled; now that you were completely out of the way, and turned against him, he needed her. For the first time, he needed her. And she was going to take every advantage of that.

“But they’re not going to take my word for it,” She sighed. “You might just have to wait it out in Ryker’s a bit while I sort this out,” She shrugged apologetically.

“Oh no, he won’t be going to Ryker’s Detective,” The mayor had entered the station, and heard the last part of their conversation.

“...Excuse me?” Olivia asked worriedly.

“For all the bad things this man has done-- murders, rapes, pillaging, for a DECADE now. No for that he’s not just going to ‘wait it out’ in a cell, wasting our taxpayer dollars. He’s getting the chair as fast as I can sign the release,”

Both Olivia and Rafael’s faces went white; Oliva fell back as if she was going to pass out.

“Mr. Mayor, please-- I understand this is a serious manner but this is a man’s life here. Don’t you want to make absolutely sure that you have the right man?”

“I’m pretty sure Miss Y/N knows her own fiancée,” The mayor pointed out.

“Well no offense to Miss Y/N but that’s how she got herself kidnapped, sir. By NOT recognizing her fiancé,”

“....I’ll take that under advisement,” The mayor nodded.

“Liv,” Rafael looked at her seriously. “Look whenever someone’s under….the influence,” He whispered looking around the both of them.

“They are still ‘there’. I know it. I know Y/N is there, she's just...trapped,”

“...I’ll see what I can do,” Olivia nodded. “Don’t take him anywhere until I come back,” She instructed a cop, before running out of the station.

---

“Nev---Rafa!” Liv came running out of the station where you and ‘Rafael’ were waiting on an Uber.

“Liv,” He nodded curtly.

“Look you’re right, I need to talk to Y/N, give her a proper apology,” Olivia looked between the two of you. ‘Rafael’ eyed her curiously, but then addressed you: “Go on baby, I’ll wait here for the car,”

Olivia took you to the side and lowered her voice so ‘Rafael’ couldn’t hear.

“Y/N, Look--” She put both hands on your shoulders. “They are going to put Rafael to DEATH,”

Inside your mind prison you let out a blood curdling scream, making ‘you’ wince in pain. Olivia stood in front of you so that ‘Rafael’ wouldn’t see, but she tried to talk to you.

“Yes, exactly. You should feel bad, because we both know that that--” Olivia pointed to ‘Rafael’. “That is NOT our Rafael,”

“Okay, ‘our’ Rafael is pushing it, Olivia,” You rolled your eyes. “But whatever-- this, this cannot be happening. My body cannot be this vulnerable. I have GOT to love Rafael more than this, GOD DAMMIT!!!!!”

You pulled at the bars until your arms felt like they were going to fall off, you sobbed until no water was left in your body. How could this be happening? How could you be failing him this hard? How could you keep hurting him like this, and now you were going to get him killed!

“Please,” You looked up to the sky, whimpering softly.

“Please, I don’t know-- I don’t know who or what is up there, I’ve never really believed in a lot. Hell I’ve never even believed in myself. But I believe in Rafael, and I believe in our love. I really, really do. And I believe that our love can beat anything, I just-- I need, help.”

Suddenly a blinding light appeared, and when you adjusted your vision, you were back in your body. You looked up at Olivia, who was apparently comforting you from another ‘migraine’. Before you could say or do anything, ‘Rafael’ came walking up to the two of you.

“Carino, our ride’s here,” He smiled at you sweetly. You wanted to vomit; But as long as he thought you were under his spell, you were safe.

“Coming baby,” You kissed his cheek sweetly, over exaggerated. You know his ‘version’ of you was over the top, like a freaking trophy wife stereotype.

“You have to get him out of there, Liv,” You whispered, tears in your eyes. "This is all up to you now,” Then you turned and followed “Rafael” to the car.

Olivia stared at the car as it drove off. How had you just...woken yourself up like that? But you were right. It was all up to her now. She bolted back into the station where they were processing ‘Nevada’.

“Ahem, gentlemen,” Olivia nodded to the officers, then the mayor. “Sir if I might have a moment,” She motioned him to the side.

“Sir, like I said you want to be absolutely sure you’re going kill the right man. And I have a way,” She told the mayor.

“Which is…?”

“Let me take him and get a DNA test,”

“A DNA test? Right now?” The mayor laughed.

“The lab doesn’t close until eight, it’s six now,” Olivia looked at her phone. “I can get to the head of the line, and you can get your results instantly. Then if it turns out this is indeed Nevada Ramirez, then you can execute him tomorrow,” She explained.

“....I suppose that is the best course of action,” The mayor nodded. “Do you think you can handle him all on your own?”

“Trust me sir, I’ve handled worse,” Olivia shook her head, showing her gun.

“Alright,” The mayor walked over to the men holding ‘Nevada’.

“Men, Detective Benson will be taking Mr. Ramirez to a genetics lab to get a DNA test, to make sure he is in fact Nevada Ramirez,”

“Seriously? Sir, come on--”

“Did I stutter, Donahue?” The mayor narrowed his eyes at the cop.

“Alright fine,” The officer shoved ‘Nevada’ towards Olivia.

“Let’s go, Ramirez,” Olivia grabbed ‘Nevada’ roughly and dragged him out of the station to a squad car. She threw him in the back and got in the driver’s side.

“Liv, I appreciate you getting me out of there, but we need to go to Nevada’s place and get Y/N,” Rafael instructed.

“Screw that, I’m proving your innocence before anything,” Olivia scoffed as she drove towards the lab.

“OLIVIA,” He emphasized.

“RAFAEL.” She emphasized harder.

“Come on, Liv I know you don’t like her but--”

“Nevada’s not going to hurt her, you know that. I know that. She’ll be fine,” Oliva rolled her eyes.

“She won’t be FINE,” Rafael pounded on the glass between the front and the backseat.

He thought about your last conversation-- your last fight. He had told you that you hadn’t been ‘assaulted’, that you ‘enjoyed’ being basically raped. And now, you were back there.

You were probably just thinking how he’d be upset, how he’d react, when really he was just scared for you. He realized none of the other bullshit mattered. All that mattered was you, and him, and the love you both shared. And that had to pull you through, didn’t it?

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

Back at Nevada’s place, ‘You’ changed into a see-through red teddy, and waited on Nevada. You knew that you were supposed to be under the elixir, so you had to act obediently, at least until Olivia showed up. She’d show up, right?

She had to show up.

[octupus-on-the-moon]

I`m the favorite

Pairing: Non, just the Wilson family and Red Wing.

Wordcount: 2689

Warning: Non

Author´s note: This little story is based on this post of this super cool blog @justsamwilson, check it out too.

The moon stood high above a lake bathed in darkness; only a soft light, that emerged of a house near the shore, reflected on the water surface. The air was pleasantly warm and humid, around the double-gallery house, whose blue color almost seemed black between the shadows. Crickets were chirping and fireflies humming, only the subdued sound of conversation and laughter, coming from the residence, disrupted the almost complete silence.

The Wilson family was having dinner. James Barnes or ‘Bucky’ as everyone called him, came over to spend the weekend. The kids where specially excited about Uncle Bucky’s visit, he was the only one with enough time to play. Sam and Sarah were also glad that he came over every once in a while, to help out with whatever he could.

Now after a long day of fishing, cleaning and packing up deliveries all were enjoying Sarah’s gumbo.

“The soup is amazing Sarah” Bucky praised her with a warm smile, she blushed looking down at her half full plate.

“Thank you. It´s a family recipe. I can write it down for you if you want” Sarah replied, tucking a strain of hair behind her ear, earning an annoyed look from Sam who was sitting across from her.

“That won´t be necessary, if I want some I just need to come here. It´s really good so I’ll be around a lot” Bucky chuckled tilting his head and taking another spoon full of gumbo. The boys whispered at each other giggling.

Sam sighted irritated “Okey enough flir…”

A loud melody coming from his phone in the pocket of his jeans interrupted Sam.

“Oh it´s Torres” He said tapping on the screen “Hi, what’s up?”

A distorted voice, only understandable for Sam, came out of the phone as he stood up. “I’m with my four-favorite people in this world having dinner” He explained, walking out on the porch into the friendly night.

The scraping of spoons continued unaffected.

“Of course, I’m his number one favorite nephew and person” Stated Cass out of the blue, blowing at his glasses that tarnished under the steam of the hot soup.

“Ha. You can´t even eat a soup right” AJ opposed, whose glasses where perfectly clear “I´m older than you, so I´m his favorite”

“At least I can take my glasses off and stop seeing your ugly face” Cass snapped back sticking out his tongue.

Sarah took a deep breath “Stop it you two” she scolded both, clapping her hand gently against Cass´s head, who was sitting right next to her.

“Well, I´m his partner in crime and I saved the world with him, so I would be his favorite number one” Bucky added, innocently starring at an interesting spot on the wall, while Sarah glared at him.

“That’s not fair. Just because he didn’t let me go with him” Cass pouted “I could have saved the world too”

AJ rolled his eyes behind his glasses. “You couldn´t even walk back then, dummy”

Sarah quickly chewed her last bite “Hey, we don´t talk like that in this house” extending her right arm over to the front side of the table to clap softly AJ´s head, as she did before with Cass. “And you are all wrong. I’m his sister. I know him longer than any of you. So obviously I am his favorite” She taunted, challengingly looking towards Bucky now.

Turning their eyes into the same direction, the brothers waited expectantly a response; causing Bucky to clear his throat and shift his torso to sit up right. “Oh really” he said still searching for a quick answer.

Then his eyes lit up “IIIIIIII spent five years with him in a weird glitch reality. That” Bucky paused dramatically “Makes me his number one”

The mention of that unfortunate time stiffened Sarah´s shoulders, but went unnoticed by the boys who high fived, twisting around on their seat, to see their mother´s reaction.

“Aha. After a month you probably bored him to death” Sarah countered with a serious tone “I can cook him all his favorite meals, ergo I´m the favorite”

The brothers quietly glanced over to Bucky, who did not appear amused either. The last words altered the atmosphere. It was chilly in the room, yet the temperature had not changed.

Bucky lifted his chin pretentiously “Pff. That´s nothing. Sam went two years on the run for me” his voice had a harsh undertone, that was not there before “I am his favorite”. Sarah stared back at him with ice cold eyes and the brothers hold their breath.

The tense moment passed as soon, as Sam’s heavy steps entered the room “What did I miss?” he asked with the always welcoming warm tone he had.

Bucky relaxed, as far as he could, picking up his spoon pocking the remains of his soup.

Sarah turned her head, letting down her shoulders, with a bright beam “Not much. How´s Torres doing?”

The dinner went on as before, polite conversation and more gumbo, but something unkind lurked in the air among the plates.

A silent dare between Sarah and Bucky settled.

Prove each other who was the favorite.

***

The weekend passed under an invisible contest between Sarah and Bucky.

The kids thought it was a fun idea persuading uncle Sam to admit who was the favorite number one, by doing extra nice things for him. The brothers gifted Sam some self-painted comics, with their cool uncle Captain America saving their day and helped him cleaning his super suite, among other little chores; But quickly let go of it, when their uncle Bucky and Mom took it to the extreme.

Bucky was constantly around Sam asking him at any given moment if he could help him or do it all himself instead of Sam. From renovating the whole cabin of the boat, to just serve him a coffee. Always being polite, letting out any teasing or offensive joking, which rapidly irritated Sam.

Unlike Bucky, Sarah, worked in the background: Serving the meals he most liked, bringing a refreshing lemonade under the hot sun of July or checking on the boats motor, so it would not die while Sam was out fishing. Smiling and being nice, without drawing to much attention on herself.

Sam did not mind being so well attended by his loved ones the first hours of that Saturday morning. After lunch he started to feel that something was off, apart from Bucky´s suspicious behavior. On his way back to the boat after a little break he realized, that the Boys were quieter than usual around their mother and that Bucky had not flirted with Sarah in more than 12 hours, which was nearly a miracle.

As almost every Saturday, Bucky and Sam, kept working on the boat.

“Hey Buck, can you pass me that screwdriver?” Sam asked looking straight at the doorless frame in front of him.

“Yes of course. Do you need something else? Can I help you with that?” Bucky passed him the screwdriver, looking interested on the hinges Sam was exchanging.

“No, it´s fine, you check on that doors paint” Sam replied, signing towards a freshly painted door leaning against the rail of the boat.

"Just" he stopped for a moment turning around to see Bucky in the eyes. "One question"

Bucky nodded enthusiastically, unusual for his serious persona "Of course, what is it?"

"What the hell is going on with you all?" Sam asked leaning against the doorway, crossing both arms over his chest.

"Us? Nothing. We're just doing what we do every weekend?" Bucky’s enthusiastic face fell apart, making place for his familiar icy expression. Without awaiting another word from Sam, he turned around to keep working on the paint of the door.

Sam sighted. He knew that face far too well and now he was more than sure that something was up. But Sam never got far pressing Bucky to tell him what he knew, felt or thought.

He will need to ask the boys what is going on.

Sam pressed a button on what at first sight could be a wristwatch. It was actually a remote for Red Wing. Sam made a second one for daily use. Red Wing is not only a weapon for him; he could be quite useful for many things.

"Red Wing locate AJ and Cass, tell them they should come to the boat" Sam quietly order into the remote. "Then I want you to fly over my position and take pictures"

The roof of the cabin was leaking since Sam had memory. Bucky wanted to climb on the cabin earlier this morning, since Sarah lent their ladder to one of the neighbors. But with the boat slight movement and the wet surface of the cabin roof, Sam did not want him to get hurt. With a few good pictures of Red Wing, they could see what needed to be repaired and do it the next time both had a free weekend.

***

Almost an hour passed, till Red Wings hum, announced the arrival of the two brothers.

Sam did not worry; both often went down to the village to play soccer with the other kids.

"Hey uncle Bucky, hey uncle Sam. What's up?" AJ questioned tiredly climbing on to the boat. The two were covered in mud and Cass was holding a brown round mass of what must be a soccer ball.

"You two had fun I see" Bucky said smiling at them.

"Only your mom will not be pleased when she sees you two like that" Sam added, smirking towards Bucky, who nodded accordingly. "Anyway, you need to clean up and I need to talk to you. Dinner must be ready soon" Sam answered AJ's question.

"Buck, I'll be back in a second. Then we can hang in the door and finish up for today" Sam's bracelet remote beeped. Red Wing had sent the pictures to his phone.

***

"What's going on uncle Sam?" Cass asked after all three had left the boat and were slowly walking to the back of the house to clean up their mess, before their mother saw them.

"That's exactly what I wanted to ask you too" Sam replied.

"Nothing. What should be going on?" AJ eluded him, nervously side eyeing Cass.

Sam specified his question "Why are your uncle and your mom acting so strange?"

"Oh, about that..." Cass and AJ responded in unison, looking at each other. Then both giggled. And Sam's confusion grew even worse.

Then a high pitched and blurred voice, from inside the house, screamed at them.

It was Sarah. She opened the window "Look at you two. Who is going to wash that? And the grass stains on that jeans AJ?"

"I was goalkeeper" AJ said, loud enough so only his brother and uncle could hear it.

"You’re not going to enter my house like that! AJ I heard that. No talking back to me, you know that. You two are going to wash your own clothes, just so we are clear" Sarah's frustrated tone changed immediately as she saw Sam "Oh, hey Sam, are you done for today? Dinner is almost ready, but you can shower before that if you want"

The boys went around the house to follow their mothers request and get rid of the mud, while their mom was distracted; Sam´s question already forgotten.

It took him a beat too long to respond, but Sarah waited patiently “Yes we´re almost done. I’ll shower before dinner, but don´t wait for me. Bucky probably wants to…”

“Oh, don´t worry we can wait. It´s not like we’re starving to death” Sarah interrupted him with an exaggerated laugh.

Sam sighted again. The day was pretty busy, the sun hot and he was tired.

But curiosity killed the cat, right?

“Sarah” Sam voice now a little sharper “What is going on between you and Buck?”

***

With a frustrated huff Sam let the cold water run down his body.

Nobody knew anything, but everyone acted strange, he thought, massaging his temples enjoying the cool wet.

Sarah did not answer. She gave a short explanation about her relationship with Bucky, completely missing the point of his question. Then she vanished from the window, leaving Sam with his doubts.

Now he was trying to figure it out himself. What exactly he needed to figure out was unclear too. “What did I miss?” he questioned out loud in to the empty bathroom.

Everything was perfectly fine till today morning. They couldn´t have discussed in the morning, because he was always the first up on his feet.

Absentmindedly he soaped and rinsed his hair and body.

Then it struck him. Torres´s call. They must have discussed during his call. That would explain why the boys were so obediently quiet afterwards.

“But what could they have discussed about?” another question floating unanswered in the steamy air of the bathroom.

Sam stepped out of the shower, at the moment his Red Wing remote beeped. He sent the little drone out to look for bee nests around the house. They were pretty common around here, but for AJ deadly due to his allergy.

He must have found one somewhere.

Sam made a mental note to call the beekeeper, to remove the nest safely. But he dismissed the idea almost immediately.

Red wing.

Red wing was laying on the sofa last night, he probably recorded the whole evening. Bucky complained afterwards that Sam leaves Red Wing everywhere after repairing or upgrading him. He must have recorded the discussion between Sarah and Buck.

Without wasting much more time in the bathroom, Sam rushed over to his room, where Red Wing was patiently waiting for new orders on his bed.

“Red Wing, replay the audio footage of last night between” Sam rapidly took his phone out “7.35 and 7.40”

***

AJ and Cass looking shiny new in their fresh clothes, were nervously waiting for uncle Sam. Their Mother and Uncle were ignoring each other sipping on their glass of wine. The kitchen smelled amazing with the different pregnant spices of the casserole hanging in the air.

From the top they could hear Sam´s distinguished steps coming down the stair. At the sound of it, Bucky´s and Sarah´s posture changed immediately to warm smiles and relaxed shoulders.

Sam came down with a big grin on his face and Red Wing in his hands.

“Finally” Cass sighted, already grabbing the spoon to serve himself, just to get his hand clapped away by Sarah.

“Don´t be so impatient Cass, let your uncle take a seat first”

“Oh, don´t worry about me. Cass serve yourself; I still have something to say” Sam intervened his grin growing even bigger. Sarah and Bucky exchanged for the first time a glance.

“Red Wing, had been quite useful today” Sam said laying the drone on a little side table near the stairs. “Yes, quite useful” Sam repeated with a chuckle seating himself on his usual spot besides Bucky, who seemed really preoccupied over his strange behavior.

“I think if I ever stranded on a lone island, I would hope to have Red Wing with me” Sam kept on talking, taking the spoon from AJ, who already was pouncing his plate. “He could alarm me from any wild animals or even hunt something for me, without complaining or competing” he added savoring the confused expressions of his family “Yes, he truly is my favorite” Sam finished, passing the spoon to Bucky.

Sarah choked on her wine, looking over to Bucky, who couldn´t compute what was going on.

The boys bursted out in to a laugh, Sam gladly joined.

“How?” Buck asked knitting his brows, still holding the serving spoon, then his eyes shifted to the little red drone on the side table “Oh”

“Yes” was the only thing Sam managed to say between tears.

Sarah and Bucky looked at each other for another moment completely embarrassed. Then both grinned joining the others laughs.

After everyone caught their breath again, Cass broke the silence “But uncle Sam who´s your real favorite?”

Sam smiled at his little nephew “Red wing is real isn´t he?”

All rights reserved.

[tigerkirby215]

5e Rammus, the Armordillo build (League of Legends)

(Artwork made for Riot Games.)

Yeah...

Any more words for an introduction would be excessive, alright?

Let's just get on with the build.

Okay.

GOALS

Yeah - Yuumi isn't the only one with Zoomies. Super Sonic style!

Alright - I'm rubber you're glue; whatever you say bounces off me and makes you explode.

Okay - What good is murdering anyone who touches you if no one gets close? Call them names (or just say "okay" in a very annoying tone) to force them to fight!

RACE

To carry a big shell on your back look no further than Tortle. (The spikes come later.) I'm going to invoke Tasha's ruling and suggest a +2 to your Dexterity and a +1 to your Charisma, to spin around fast and know just the right way to say "yeah" to piss people off. You have Claws that do a d4 damage, Survival Instinct for proficiency in the Survival skill, and can Hold Breath for up to an hour!

But of course there's two things we're here for: Natural Armor gives you a base AC of 17. Period. There is no way to increase this (other than wearing a shield.) Additionally you can go into a Defensive Ball Curl as an action for some Shell Defense, giving you +4 to your AC and advantage on Strength and Constitution saving throws. However while in your shell you can't move, are considered prone (meaning melee attackers have advantage against you), have disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws, and can't take reactions. The only action you can take is a bonus action to come out of your shell.

ABILITY SCORES

15; CHARISMA - Rammus has to be saying something to get everyone to attack him.

14; DEXTERITY - You need Dexterity to keep rollin'. Also Strength is largely pointless to us because... Shell.

13; CONSTITUTION - You are a tank so more health would be a good investment.

12; STRENGTH - Just because you have a thick shell doesn't mean you don't have to push some things off you at times.

10; WISDOM - Living in the deserts of Shurima means you have to fight for Survival every day, even if it's more like the desert is fighting you.

8; INTELLIGENCE - You literally have 6 voice lines.

BACKGROUND

For Desert Survival the Outlander background is pretty good. You get proficiency in Athletics but since you already have Survival proficiency you can choose a different one instead. Truthfully: pick whatever you want, because Rammus is a closed book you can make him however you want!

You also get proficiency with a language of your choice that you're not going to use, and a musical instrument! Imagine if they made a Spirit Blossom Rammus skin and he played an instrument like Yone and Yasuo.

As a Wanderer of the sands you can easily remember the layout of terrain around you, and can also find food and water for you and your allies to survive in the jungle! "Alright."

(Artwork made for Riot Games.)

THE BUILD

LEVEL 1 - ROGUE 1

Starting off as a Rogue because while Rammus may not look the part he's actually quite talented! Take proficiency in Persuasion, Deception, and Intimidation to be the master of taunts and... well you may as well take Stealth proficiency for ganking. You also get Expertise in two of those skills: I'm going to recommend Persuasion and Deception as your two "taunting" skills.

Rammus doesn't talk much because he's a master of the subtleties of Thieves' Cant, allowing him to speak without actually speaking what he means to speak. "Yeah." But of course if you gank from the jungle you can Sneak Attack for an extra d6 of damage. If you have advantage or an ally nearby you'll get this extra damage out, and your Sneak Attack increases with levels. "Okay."

LEVEL 2 - ROGUE 2

Second level Rogues can optimize their jungle clear with Cunning Action, letting them Dash, Disengage, or Hide as a Bonus Action. "Hm."

LEVEL 3 - ROGUE 3

Third level Rogues get to choose their Roguish Archetype, and to be the master of one-on-one combat look no further than the Swashbuckler. Fancy Footwork is basically the mobile feat, making it so that the enemy can't hit you with opportunity attacks after you slam into them with Powerball.

Rakish Audacity meanwhile is basically two smaller features put together into one: for one you have a bonus to initiative equal to your Charisma modifier, so you can be the first one around for a dragon fight. "Alright." Additionally if you find someone alone in the river (without an ally within 5 feet) you can sneak attack them, even if you don't have an ally nearby or advantage against them! This means you can dash into someone with Powerball and then taunt them for a Sneak Attack. Speaking of which your Sneak Attack damage increases to 2d6. "Yeh."

LEVEL 4 - ROGUE 4

4th level Rogues get their first Ability Score Improvement but Rammus isn't really meant to do damage? So grab the Durable feat for +1 to your Constitution and double the Constitution when healing during Short Rests, guaranteeing that you can heal up after a skirmisher and always be ready for a fight. "Right."

(Artwork by Kienan "Knockwurst" Lafferty. Made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 5 - FIGHTER 1

Taking a level in Fighter for... well kinda just to get proficiency with Shields, really. +2 AC goes a long way! And the Defense Fighting Style can further increase that AC by 1, equaling a +3 to your 17 total which means... hey look at that! 20 AC! "Alright."

You also get Second Wind for a refillable potion, giving you a d10 + 1 (because we're not getting more Fighter levels) healing as a Bonus Action.

LEVEL 6 - WARLOCK 1

People say that I make too many Warlock builds, to which I say... "Yeah." First level Warlocks get to choose their Patron at level 1, and to be the rolling speed demon of the desert the Fiend Warlock is a nice, universal subclass. That's because Dark One’s Blessing will give you a burst of Triumph (temp) HP when you down an enemy equal to your Warlock level plus your Charisma modifier.

But of course what we're really here for is Pact Magic. You get two cantrips from the Warlock list: Frostbite could be reflavored as a not-quite-Frenzying Taunt because it's basically just Vicious Mockery that targets Constitution instead of Wisdom. Inversely Mind Sliver will let you soften an enemy up for an ally's big damaging abilities!

For your leveled spells Armor of Agathys shall serve as your passive of which we will get many more abilities that do the same thing. Note that Temporary Hitpoints don't stack, but as a DM I'd be willing to say that if you get a new source of Temp HP while this spell is active its duration essentially gets refreshed. Inversely if you want a more direct source of retributive damage Hellish Rebuke will cause fire damage to anyone who hits you as a reaction. "Right."

LEVEL 7 - WARLOCK 2

Second level Warlocks get to choose their Eldritch Invocations; gifts from the sands that make them better from the standard armadillo. Eldritch Mind is a surprise tool that will help us later, and you might think that we should've taken Resilient (CON) instead of Durable at level 4 to which I say... "Right." Anyways there honestly isn't that many other invocations I want until about level 5 so take what you want (Devil's Sight is never a bad thing) and we're going to keep going. You can also learn another spell but again: not much I want! Wait for...

LEVEL 8 - WARLOCK 3

3rd level Warlocks get to choose their Pact Boon and we're still a Rogue first and foremost, so Pact of the Blade is still the best choice. You can summon weapons from thin air to always be ready with spikes on your shell.

You can also learn second level spells like Blindness / Deafness to make it harder for people to hit you, and Hold Person which is like a ranged taunt.

LEVEL 9 - WARLOCK 4

4th level Warlocks get an Ability Score Improvement, and while Charisma controls most of what we do currently Dexterity still leads to kills which leads to more temp HP, so increase your DEX by 2.

You can also learn a new cantrip like Chill Touch for some Thornmail anti-healing. There are good spells at this level too (Misty Step and Mirror Image being two great ones) so take them for now but we're going to swap them out come...

(Artwork made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 10 - WARLOCK 5

5th level Warlocks get more Eldritch Invocations! For a start we'll be taking Thirsting Blade, letting you attack twice in a round for more chances to get a kill for some healing. "Hm." We'll also be taking Cloak of Flies for Sunfire Cape, or more realistically Turbo Chemtank as CoF does Poison damage and I'm writing this build during patch 11.8 when every goddamn jungler in the game is running Turbochem.

You can also learn third level spells at this level like Spirit Shroud for a Frozen Heart that also increases the damage of your weapon, and Counterspell for some magic "resistance." "Yeh."

LEVEL 11 - WARLOCK 6

6th level Fiend Warlocks can give themselves the boost they need to make it out alright. Dark One's Own Luck lets you add a d10 to a skill check or saving throw: you're probably going to mostly be using this on saving throws but boosting ability checks can be helpful to. You can only use this ability once per Short or Long Rest however, so use it wisely, yeah?

You can also prepare another spell but again: waiting for a level!

LEVEL 12 - WARLOCK 7

7th level Warlocks get another Eldritch Invocation like... Devil's Sight? A bit late to be grabbing it (proper) now you may say, but it's a requirement for our one-two Defensive Ball Curl special!

First spell: Shadow of Moil! Along with heavily obscuring you (giving most enemies Disadvantage to hit you) any enemy that does hit you takes 2d8 Necrotic damage back!

Second spell: Fire Shield (from the Fiend Warlock list.) It creates light yes (which gets canceled out by Shadow of Moil) but you can choose between a Cold Shield (that blocks Fire damage and does Cold damage) or a Fire Shield (that blocks Cold damage and does Fire damage.) Regardless of which one you choose any attacker within 5 feet of you will take 2d8 damage (Cold or Fire depending on which shield you chose) if they try to attack you.

Here's the fun part: Fire Shield isn't concentration. That means that these spells do stack, allowing you to do 2d8 damage to anyone who misses you and 4d8 damage to anyone who hits you! I don't think I should need to explain why essentially getting a second level Chromatic Orb off every time you get hit is absolutely insane for action economy and overall DPS.

LEVEL 13 - WARLOCK 8

8th level Warlocks get another Ability Score Improvement: Dexterity is still our main "fighting" stat despite most of our levels being in a caster, so a simple +2 would cap it off to guarantee that you're doing something in a teamfight even if the enemy isn't shooting you.

You can also learn another spell like Dimension Door, which is basically a very long ranged Flash. Like, a very long ranged Flash. "Yeh."

(Artwork made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 14 - ROGUE 5

Hopping back over to Rogue because for some reason Rogues are very good at staying alive! Uncanny Dodge is part of that, letting you reduce the damage of an incoming attack by half with your reaction! "Okay."

Your Sneak Attack damage also (finally) increases to 3d6. "Yeah."

LEVEL 15 - ROGUE 6

6th level Rogues get Expertise in two more skills. I'm actually going to suggest the two skills from your background at this point: Athletics and Survival to continue optimal jungle pathing and escape grapples.

LEVEL 16 - ROGUE 7

7th level Rogues get Evasion which feels like an oxymoron for Rammus. But here's the thing: they can't attack you with weapons without taking damage themselves, so what if they cast spells on you? Well if it's a DEX save you take half damage on a failed save, and no damage on a successful save! "Alright." Your Sneak Attack damage also increases to 4d6 at this level.

LEVEL 17 - ROGUE 8

8th level Rogues get another Ability Score Improvement, and while more Charisma means better spell saves and more Temp HP when you kill someone I'm instead going to simply suggest the Tough feat for +2 HP per overall character level you have. It's 34 health points now and a total of 40 HP by level 20. "Hm."

(Artwork by SixMoreVodka Studios. Made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 18 - ROGUE 9

9th level Rogues finally get your goddamn Frenzying Taunt! Panache lets you make a Persuasion check against an enemy's Insight, and it works in one of two ways: if a target isn't hostile to you they're charmed by you! (I don't know what you're saying to charm them, but it's probably more than 6 voice lines.)

Alternatively if you Panache an enemy they get taunted by you, and have Disadvantage against all enemies other than you. Note that if your allies hit the taunted enemy they will lose this effect, meaning that you will have to constantly taunt them if everyone's focusing one target.

Oh and your Sneak Attack increases to 5d6 now, meaning that you actually do some good damage overall regardless of if the enemy is attacking you or not. "Hm."

LEVEL 19 - WARLOCK 9

9th level Warlocks get another Eldritch Invocation: your ultimate just got reworked, so Otherworldly Leap will let you jump into the middle of a teamfight! ...With the Jump spell...

You can also learn 5th level spells now! There's a lot of fun ones but I'm going to suggest good ol' Hold Monster. It's like Hold Person, but it works on Dragon! "Right."

LEVEL 10 - WARLOCK 10

Our final level is the 10th level of Fiend Warlock for Fiendish Resilience. Choose a damage type to gain resistance to! This doesn't work against silvered weapons, so it isn't that good against ADCs but it does give you some resistance against spellcasters. (Most literally.) You have to pick the resistance at the end of a Short or Long Rest, so it does help to know what you're going up against.

You also don't learn a spell because lol Warlocks, but you do get another cantrip! So take good ol' Prestidigitation to put on a show after reaching max level!

FINAL BUILD

PROS

Ok - I already mentioned how strong Fire Shield plus Shadow of Moil is. This damage goes against any enemy who hits you in melee, and can really hurt against multiple attacks!

Alright - You have plenty of ways to keep from getting hurt while you tank all the hits. Temp HP from Dark One's Blessing, Uncanny Dodge and Evasion, and of course 20 AC with just a shield!

Yeah - Despite not investing completely in Charisma your proficiency carries you a long way in social encounters. Just remember to say more than 6 words! (If "hmm" can even be considered a word.)

CONS

Right - All your damage is loaded against melee enemies, as you need to be in melee to hit them with Sneak Attack and both your shields only deal damage back to melee attackers. Ranged enemies are still going to suffer against your high AC and you're capable of spamming cantrips at them, but you really shine against melee bruisers.

Yeh - Only having 10 Warlock levels means that you only have two total spell slots. That's enough to cast your Defensive Ball Curl combo once. If you want to operate at maximum effectiveness you're going to need to take frequent short rests.

Hmm - Perhaps the biggest irony of Rammus is that being a Tortle doesn't really help us much. Being any other race would give you access to magic armor, as well as likely better racial features to generally be more useful overall. (Don't get me wrong: hiding in your shell is nice to boost AC but come late game the lack of movement will hurt you more than it'll help, especially since it makes you go prone.) My suggestion would be to make a Warforged for their innate +1 AC, or go for something like a Satyr or Gnome to resist magic.

But you can do okay no matter what the enemy lineup is. Hmm? You think you'll struggle, yeh? Well with the right team backing you up you'll do alright. Yeah.

(Artwork by Alvin Lee. Made for Riot Games.)

[mcshiiin]

Title: Not My Energy

Pairings: KageHina

Sypnosis: A short, sad songfic about the two where Hinata lost his ability to fly

Song used: Not my Energy by IV of Spades

[A/n: Thank you for reading! I hope u enjoy huhu]

"I've ran out of reasons, reasons to comfort my mind."

Harbingers of daybreak busted his windows open. With gleaming dark eyes and sleek black talons, a crow stared straight to his soul. A sudden prickling sensation running from his toes began clobbering his body, rendering him paralyzed. Panting... Gasping... Drowning his mind in a sea of sorrow.

"Illusions, delusions. Confusions are running inside."

Hinata, despite sinking down the shallow waters feels as if he's floating mid-ar, going "boing boing". Slowly plummeting down the sea floor, he never hit the bottom. Instead, he landed rather harshly on the plywood surface of the gym. A familiar stinging pain on his palm smiled at him viciously. Taken aback, he grabbed his thumping, hollow chest and inhaled as much air as he could. An unforgiving force clashed against his torso, almost obliteraring him before the ceiling collapsed.

"Pale lips and dark lies has conquered the dreamer's eyes."

Poring dreamily at the honey glazed tree tops with hooded eyes, a sigh escaped from his drought ridden lips. While licking away the parchness on his lips, a worried yet kind gaze cut through him from the opened door.

"Sho-kun, you're going to be alright. Don't worry sweetie, we're here for you."

"Nii-chan! Hang in there. I love you!"

The warmth from his sister's hug dissipated into thin air. The soft caress from his Mom ghosted above his puffed out cheeks. Forcing his lips to curl upwards, he fooled them. Just as how their words of affirmation and consolidation were mere lies to comfort him.

" 'Cause there is something in those eyes I can never find, boy."

"Hinata boke..."

Shoyo swore Kageyama's voice were softer than ever. Terrified to face him, the bed ridden boy looked away. His bones shaking. His muscles tensed up.

"I don't want to dive in those same steel blue orbs..."

He kept his mouth silent. He kept his resolve solid. Then it crumbled down.

A feverish touch was ignited from Kageyama's fingertips grazing atop Hinata's trembling hand. The setter is careful enough not to break him, delicately and softly, he slid his hand and interwined it with his partner's. Shoyo's ribcage shattered, his throbbing heart and strained heartstrings tore it down.

His orbs stung with pain as he stared back at steel blue ones.

"I'm sick and tired of the noices, the voices. Everything seems magical."

"We're here for you, Hinata."

"Call us anytime!"

"I'm sure everything will be figured out by the adults. Cheer up, Hinata!"

"Let's buy popsicles when you're discharged, ne Shoyo?"

"Here's some food for you, eat up. You're getting thinner. Ne? I'm the best senpai aren't I?"

"gET WELL SOON AND WE'LL PRAY FOR YOU!"

"Don't worry too much. Idiots don't get sick, tch."

"Tsukki's right, you'll be okay, Hinata."

"I--no we, are here for you. Don't worry about catching up to class, I can teach you anytime!"

"Get some rest and take care please."

"I won't bother you with my words, Hinata-kun. You'll be okay, I'll pray for it."

"Rest up well, kid."

Everything and everyone seemed to pass by in a blur. Their faces muddled together like a murky pond. Indis​cern​ible. Chafing. Quaint. As if it never happened, as if he never heard anything.

"I'm sorry but there's nothing that we can do..."

"D-doctor no-!"

What? He heard nothing. His mother's face didn't crumple to despair. Her hands didn't ball into a fist. Her lips did not quiver. She never looked at him with those eyes.

No. Natsu is a sweet and clingy sister, her hugging him to death is nothing. She always said that his hands are rough, calloused, and big. They're also warm, and emollient. Maybe that's why she's holding it tight. Oh? Natsu is drooling. He chuckled, overseeing the shuddering figure of his dear sister.

 

Such an ethereal dream it is.

"And yes, my mind is awakened, dead conscience. Eveyday's a torture for me."

Panting heavily whilst swimming in a sea if sweat, Shoyo is wide awake. But, awake from what? Running away from what, his reality or his nightmares? Scampering to and fro, for what? Just to slam his head on a rock, trying to shake his dreams up.

He doesn't know what's hounding hin anymore.

He run a hand through his thick tuft of hair, unable to get back to sleep. A frown creeping up on his lips as he tries to pry his gaze to his legs. His world stilled. His breathing stopped. His mind blown to smithereens.

It hurts. The seering pain from mid-thigh down to his calf. It hurts, so he screamed.

"No I am not holding on to the darkness, 'cause you're already in my mind."

Natsu must be lying, his hands isn't big at all! She probably hasn't seen Kageyama's slender, setter hands. They look also pretty. Tobio's obviously taking good care of it, he bet that he goes as far as taking it to the nail salon. He's both dilligent and an idiot. He wants himself to be in a perfect condition so he can exert his best every game.

Shoyo wonders what lotion his setter is using. He want to buy one for himself too. How irksome it is to look at your partner's long fingers, perfectly groomed nails (it must be nice to have a manicure once), and mosturized, vanilla scented palms whilst yours is anything like that.

"Hmm spacing out?"

Tobio snaked his arms to his frail waist. Nudging his face deep into Shoyo's neck. So warm. So cool. So comfortable. Too real.

"Nah, I'm barely hanging."

"And if you would walk alone, then just do it. The clock is ticking backwards."

A tall, tall wall looms before him. The view from the top. He wants to see it. But he never can, unless alone.

And now, he's more alone than ever.

"Onigiri, pork buns, curry, what do you want honey?"

He's out in the cold again. Jumping higher, digging deeper, receiving with his face to no end. Wheezing as his body thrives, playing as his blood pulsiates. His heart more alive than before. His grin toothier than before. Hinata Shoyo loving too hard ever than before.

The pure joy from he gets from being with the team. The steam he emitts whenever Tsukishima pushes his buttons as Yamaguchi fell in line with laughing at him. The always fidgetty Yachi and Asahi-san. His superb senpais. That reminds him, he need to ask Nishinoya-senpai to teach him the rolling thunder double. The hardworking second years, the goddess Kiyoko-san, everyone. Even Daichi-san's roaring voice along with Suga-san's refreshing smile.

And of course, the skull-crusher milk boy who knows no word except Boke.

"I'm going alone."

"I ain't got it all, I don't care. You're not my energy."

Extending his arms, reaching with his hands, everyone is too far away.

Lying awake for hours, figuring how to run, how to fly.

Then, his bed decided to swallow him up.

A stringent touch engulfed his throat that produced an acrid cry from his mouth. The need for air is urgent, but his compressed windpipes aches with the mere presence of oxygen flowing through. For a second he thought the hold loosen, then his limbs. were vehemently ripped apart.

As blood splattered, his lower region were mangled.

"Your tears are in laughter while your smile is in despair."

Happiness looks good in Kageyama and Natsu. No doubt, hands down, bets raised.

Their carefree laughter bounced off the four walls of his room. Pearly white teeth are exposed as their lips ae stretched up to a smile. As far as their drinking game goes, Natsu is losing. Yes, they're drinking milk, much to Kageyama's delight.

Shoyo lost a long atime ago and the two milk heads are on it. The way their eyebrows knits together in concentration, noses scrunched up, and cheeks puffed out is a sight to see. You don't get to watch Kageyama with a child that doesn't cry within his mere presence, let alone play with him.

"I can't hold it in! I'm going to pee!"

The shorter ball of fluff ran outside as fast as her legs could carry her. Just a little bit more... three more steps... two... then one. She got in!

Natsu came back to her brother wiping his tears as he cackle like a rooster. He reminded her of the Kuroo Tetsurou that he once mentioned, bedhead, hyena laugh and all. When she glanced to her Kageyama-nii-chan, she was almost blinded. His higantic smiles were presented at her boldly. A soft glow from the dying sun illuminated his face. She can feel the love strongly eminating from these two.

Just as the puzzle is coming on together, someone had to filp the table and topple off the pieces.

Whimpers and hiccups. Rattling and rustles. Disintegrating and decaying. Shoyo-nii-chan is crying.

One end of his lips tugged upward. Blood-curling smirk emblazoned on his dainty face. And as she peek at the door opened ajar, tears came rolling down her rosy cheeks, staining the fabric of her shirt with pure sadness that a child can't comprehend. A younger sister shouldn't see her brother's soul being chipped off like that, you know.

"The poison of your tongue has killed all your truthful words."

His throat is a sand paper being stroked on a piece of wood that produces a nasty sound. It aches. It's painful to shout. It's straining. He too doesn't like sound coming off from his mouth. Disdainful words that tarnishes their bond, lacerating sentences that makes him bleed too.

"I don't need you!"

Yes I do.

"Go away!"

Please stay.

"I didn't like the food. It was awful."

They're my favorite, thank you.

"When I said I don't wan't to it, it means I don't! Don't force me!"

Maybe I'm a bit hungry?

"I AM OKAY. I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP I CAN DO IT BY MY FUCKING SELF!"

I am a lost cause.

"Pale lips and dark eyes has broken the dreamer's lies."

He inaudibly shrieked one morning when he woke up. The world was wet with dew as it sleepily waved back at him. He tried to wave back, but the shock of living in monochrome froze him. Then he tumbled down with a thud.

For a moment he forgot what predicament he's in and tried to stand up only to out balance himself and landed face first down their wooden floor. Natsu, who was never asleep the entire night, came rushing by to her brother's room beside hers. Clearly shocked and bemused at her nii-chan's bleeding nose and busted lip, she stood frozen. A part of her wants to laugh but the other half actually feels bad. And good thing she did, because the next scene was horrifying.

"AAAAAHHHHH!"

"N-nii-chan..."

"SEND FUCKING HELP!"

A soul was broken.

"There is something in your mind you can never find, boy."

Searching. Wandering. Roaming around an unprecedented area.

What was he seeking?

He alwas have thought that it was the adrenaline. His heart beating so fast, so loud that he can hear it through his ears. An energy flowing deep within, tingling his senses, pricking under his skin. He enjoys the rush, the pain, the smile in his teammates' lips.

Yet when he stared at Kageyama, he realized it wasn't.

What kept him alive...

"Im sick and tired of the voices, the noises. Everything seems magical."

"Hinata boke..."

"Nii-chan."

"Sho-kun!"

"HINATA SHOYO!"

...was love.

"My eyes are hiding the pavements of my vacancy. You can't take the power from me."

Kageyama wish he could hold Shoyo tighter. Peacefully zoning out in his arms, a small drool pooling below his mouth, and beautiful long lashes. So angelic and breathtaking.

Yet he still fears poring directly in his partner's eyes for they scream,

"I'm going to eat you alive."

Placing a kiss atop his head, a sigh escaped his lips. Then, honey-flecked orbs dangerously stared at him. A tremble was awaken inside his body.

"I love you."

The both of then were taken aback by his sudden words. Hinata was left in awe, speechless while Kageyama quickly recovered his composure. He came into terms with his feelings finally just right now, it's now or never.

"I want you more than any perfect toss. It's you that I want to hit my balls. We're partners, aren't we? I want to be by your side, holding you, loving you. We'll drink hundred liters of milk, we'll eat as many pork buns as you want. I want to spend my life with you."

"Kageyama-kun..."

"I know it'a sudden but Hina--!"

"Loving means being alive. Being alive is being able to love,

But you see, living, is not my energy."

-FIN

[blackarmyslave]

Masquerade [IkeRev]

Pairing: Ray Blackwell x Alice

Fandom: Ikemen Revolution

Notes: really trashy writing oof

Pshh dont act so suprised its another ray thing

Alice hated masquerade balls.

She hated them with a passion. There was just something irritating about them... how those disgustings pigs, commonly referred to as men, often tried to lure her into bed; or how, every time she talked to women, their conversations would almost always end up in gossips about her family's riches that were acquired with bloody hands, and how they killed countless people under a single man's orders, not knowing the person they were talking to about it is part of said family. Yet despite her loathing for occasions like these, Alice would still have to attend, for it was the only way she could fraternize with others. Her family was shunned by society for being such a hideous and brutal one. But here, in masquerade balls, she can wear a mask and pretend to be someone else and mingle to her heart's content. Nobody would know it was a girl from a bloody household.

Once or twice, Alice had danced with a few nobilities she considered decent enough for her. Those who weren't pedophiles, she conversed with. Those who were purely sober, she'd bonded with. But it was way past midnight now and she had gotten bored of the ball. A woman can only take so much soulless dancing and meaningless political talks. Not to mention the rough mask that hid her face from bashers, was starting to irritate her sensitive porcelain skin.

With a forced smile, the young descendant of the country's most infamous household excused herself from the festivities and went to the garden. Truly, it was a beautiful garden. The flowers were in full bloom and the breeze was refreshing. Alice stretched, in a way that was very undignified. Yet she couldn't care less. Her muscles were sore from keeping up a flawlessly upright posture all this time, and she was bored beyond measure.

The itch on her face that was long there reached its peak, and Alice couldn't take it anymore. She moved to dispose her mask until a voice warned her, "It's rude to take off your mask in a ball like this."

It was a man's voice, smooth like the waves and light as the garden's breeze. Undoubtedly, it had belonged to a young man... a cool young man. But Alice despised people who dared talk to her so fondly. She swirled around to reprimand whoever it had been.

"I don't recall holding responsibility to oblige," she retorted, her prissy tone leaking with every syllable. One corner of the man's lips slowly curled upwards in an amused smirk.

"Then by all means, go embarrass yourself."

Alice scoffed with irritation. Who does this man think he is? Yes, it's true that taking off your mask is a big no in a masquerade ball, but--

Oh.

She suddenly felt like smacking her forehead. If she takes the accessory off, she's to reveal her identity. And no doubt receive countless ridicules. And Alice didn't want that, especially from a man like him. Her cheeks flushed in realization. Suddenly the girl wanted to keep it on and couldn't feel the itch anymore.

"You're from the infamous Bright household, aren't you? Alice Bright, if I'm correct; twin sister of Edgar Bright, the Jack of Hearts and known as the Gentle Demon." surprise mf

Alice took her time studying the man. How had he known about her? What gave it away? What had she done to inform him of her identity? Most of all, who is this bastard? He was handsome, without a doubt, even with a mask on; black hair and intense emerald eyes, containing a youthful aura, but at the same time holding himself with such composed regality. His body was carved to perfection. He wore a simple yet dazzling dark sapphire mask with round diamonds literring it, the suit on his body looking ridiculously expensive.

Dark and regal... only one name clicked in the girl's head: the popular and widely loved King of Spades.

"I take it you're King Ray Blackwell...?"

The man rolled his eyes distastefully at the attached title. But he made no move to deny his identity, something that's against tradition. 'How hypocritical,' Alice thought dryly.

"Forget the King part, it's too preppy for my tastes," he said. "Just Ray is fine."

Alice rose a thin eyebrow. For a king, Ray Blackwell was too casual. She's always depicted him as cold and dignified, with no intention of fooling around; just like the opposing King of Hearts. Yet here he was: the Black King himself who didn't give a horse's muck whether people found out about his identity or not, speaking informally as if he'd known Alice all their lives.

'Charming-- I mean, preposterous! Ghastly!'

Well... what can she say? It's her first time meeting a man like Ray; someone true to himself and didn't stumble foolishly in a vain attempt of becoming the perfect gentleman.

But no. In the Bright household, emotions were a mortal sin. It was the biggest crime. And Alice grew up all her life believing it.

Naturally, she ignored her fluttering heart.

"So," Alice walked around the garden with Ray. She hadn't even noticed how her irritation with him had suddenly faded after witnessing his genuine personality. "The King of Spades is a fan of balls, then?"

Ray snorted. "Heck no. What makes you think that just because I attend 'em, I like 'em? Isn't everyone only here for the sake of making connections?"

"Probably." Alice would be damned if she voiced her agreement. "And does that rule apply to you as well, sire?"

Ray gave the girl a disgusted look. She only blinked, urging him to voice out what took him aback.

"Okay. One, it doesn't. I'm just here to let loose for a bit. Second... Cut that formality out! It's creepy." "Why so? Do your soldiers not address you that way?"

Ray's green orbs took on a fond light, giving Alice the answer right away, as if his memories of his subordinates were all warm and cozy. One could tell he was a good leader and a true king by just a glance of that. And maybe, she thought, he was a brother, too; a brother to the rest of his army. Alice wondered how they treated each other... did they eat at the same table? Did they disregard ranks and fraternized comfortably? Was it like a home in the Black Army's headquarters?

"They address me as a king during official business, yes," he replied. "But we're just ourselves around one another for most of the time. Parties every week or so, lots of laughter and pranks... it's like a brotherhood."

The faintest trace of a smile ghosted the girl's lips. "It sounds lovely."

From there, it went on and on. Ray asked Alice what was her favorite animal, to which she replied cats for they were elegant and had the cutest little mewls; and much to her surprise, Ray shared her thoughts. She, in return, asked him what he thought about table etiquette, and he laughed at just how preppy Alice was being. Nevertheless, he answered her, saying "I think dining fancily's fine if serious stuff are going on, like funerals or oathtakings. It's a way of showing respect. But people shouldn't be judged by how they act at the table. In fact, class shouldn't even be a social judgement or something. 'Course, this is just my opinion. And I think table manners should be kept to a minimum. People deserve to enjoy their food and time without fear of being critiqued of how classy or polite they are. They should be able to be just themselves in a table, because after all, that honesty's bound to form really tight relationships real quick, no?"

A bit more of talking and before she even knew it, it had been past 3AM now. Alice never thought it would be so fun to converse with the king. He was honest and frank, yet still respectful and even funny. They shared a lot of opinions about several topics, and one's answer changed the perspective of the other. The Bright lady wished to the twinkling stars high above she'd get another chance at talking with Ray in the future.

Now, Alice knew she shouldn't be rooting for the opposition. Her household is a Red through and through. In fact, her brother's the Jack of Hearts himself! At the back of her head, the ever-obedient little prodigy of the Bright family screamed at her to get away and cut off all connections with Blackwell. 'What do you think you're doing?!' a part of her screeched.

But right now, she wasn't really a Bright. She was just Alice. Little ol' Alice, who came to a masquerade ball in hopes of being able to talk to whoever she wants without her status bothering her. And she wasn't ready to throw that away just yet, and return to her uptight lifestyle.

'Just not yet, please,' she pleaded with her own self.

Suddenly, a slow, hopeful, smooth tune took on. It was faint and distant, coming from the ballroom many yards away. Yet she and Ray both heard it, the melody carried by the wind to their ears, and Ray took the cue.

"May I have this dance, Alice?" He asked her, the gentlest, most handsome smile on his lips, offering her his hand, and the girl's heart skipped a beat.

Had it been any other man; a pretentious, try-hard fake gentleman or a drunk bastard, she would've slapped. But no... not this one. He was a bastard, yes, the feisty part of her claimed, but he was a good bastard. A modest, decent, alright bastard.

Alice let her face be lit up by a grin. It had been her first in so long. She placed her hand on top Ray's and they both started dancing to the slow, almost-romantic music, everything else fading and all they could feel was this blossoming warmth in their souls.

And long after the song was over, and all was said and done, they still remained in one another's embrace. Red and Black forgetting their blazing feud for even just a moment; even in just a masquerade ball. They're just Alice and Ray, each silently praying dawn never comes and they'd never have to say theeir goodbyes.

Alice giggled under her breath. She'd decided. Maybe masquerades aren't so bad after all.