#Consider this... an invitation to forget. All I ask is that the Little Fighter does not forget my wisdom that I gifted him

[diavolosthots]

YAYAY THERE OPEN!!! Okay so can I ask for Mammon angst with the brothers reactions to Mammon breaking from their comments

I looked through all 14 beadcanon masterlists because I couldve sworn I already did this. Turns out I only ever did this in fics.

Warning: angst? Maybe? Depends on your definition of angst. 

THE BROTHERS reacting to Mammon breaking from their comments

Lucifer:

Never would he have thought that Mammon would actually break. Sure, Mammon would give him the usual whine spiel of “I didn’t do it!” “Lucifer, please!” while screams echoed off of his walls, but never had Mammon actually… broken. Granted, Lucifer is more of a physical “I’ll show you!” type rather than a verbal fighter, and Mammon would usually take those like a champ. But him breaking from words? It’s unusual, to say the least. Of course he’d tell the rest of his brothers to stop immediately while he goes and takes care of Mammon. He is his favorite, after all. No direct verbal apology will come from him, but he will sit there and listen and then do a few of Mammon’s favorite things. That’s his way of apologizing. 

Mammon:

Usually he’d suck it up and just take it, maybe pout in his room later, but when he has someone to impress? Aka MC? How is he supposed to keep cool? The words always got to him and damn, he KNOWS he’s not the brightest star in the sky, okay?! Not everyone can be as smart as Satan, c’mon! But at the same time… it’s so, so exhausting and hurtful to constantly hear it. Yes, he knows there’s things he needs to fix, but habits are so hard to break. Having everyone around him yell instead of helping him isn’t doing any good, either. Of course he would break… At this point, it was just a matter of time.

Leviathan:

He doesn’t hate Mammon, far from it actually, but he wouldn’t consider him his favorite brother, either. Seeing Mammon break would, however, bring a lot of guilt to light and he suddenly finds himself sad along with the 2nd eldest. Yes, he knows that he doesn’t have a right to feel sad over this, but it’s hard because it just reinstates that he truly is nothing more than useless and stupid. Maybe even more stupid than Mammon. He wouldn’t outright go to Mammon to apologize, either, and only when he has had enough of his self-wallowing pitiness would he go and seek out his second oldest brother, mumbling an apology and inviting Mammon to hang with him. Maybe, just maybe, he would even let Mammon win at a few games. 

Satan:

His first reaction to Mammon breaking is… laughter. As a matter of fact, he and Belphie would most likely be the ones who add tears to the already streaming waterfall. It’s only hours later when he realizes that Mammon was truly, really breaking when he makes an effort to reconcile. Then the guilt hits him like a ton of bricks and honestly… if it weren’t for Mammon, he wouldn’t have half the thirst for knowledge he has today. Satan always told himself that being smart, being intelligent, was a necessity, but truthfully he just feared being played, especially being played by someone like Mammon. The second eldest does have issues that need to be fixed, no doubt about that, but they shouldn’t have taken it this far. He does go and apologize, even going as far as to planning a brotherly make-up dinner where Mammon gets to choose, but he knows Mammon would take advantage if he was shown too much kindness, so that’s where it stops. 

Asmodeus:

Truthfully, he tries to steer away from Mammon as much as possible, unless it benefits him in some way, shape, or form. Parties? Modeling? Mammon is the best one to go to for that, but actual, deep conversations that make one pour their heart out? Not really. Still, he does feel extremely bad that it has come to this point. They’re brothers, after all, and the last thing he wants is for Mammon to do something truly dumb. He does give a verbal apology and he even pampers Mammon for a die, offering an open ear and his shoulder, if he so wishes to use it. 

Beelzebub:

He’s one of the lesser culprits. Sure he has said his fair share of things, but more often than not, besides Lucifer, Mammon usually would come to him if anything was up. Crazy, right? To now be part of this endless batter, makes Beel quite sad. After all, he’s the one who would like for all of his brothers to get along and for them to be a real family. He wishes they were closer, although they’re already extremely close. Less of the fights… less of the accusations… more love. So he also verbally apologizes to Mammon and offers to listen. Hell, he even shares his favorite snacks with the guy, but he’s also the one giving Mammon a reality check. Some things he does deserve and as long as everyone’s on the same page and actively working toward a better future, Beel doesn’t see any problems

Belphegor: 

Like mentioned before, him and Satan are most likely to continue the mocking and teasing long after the guy breaks down. In all honesty, Belphie feels little to no remorse at first and, if anything, thinks Mammon has no damn spine to be reacting that way. He’s also most likely to be the one that says “if Mammon wasn’t so stupid to begin with….” and it’s not until Beel gives him a scolding that he realizes what he said is unacceptable. He doesn’t even hate Mammon. He hates Mammon’s constant lying and idiocy. Much like Lucifer, he can’t bring himself to verbalize this apology, though, and he instead just tries to forget it while also doing small acts of kindness for the demon. By small he means he transferred some money onto Goldie. You’re welcome. 

[verymuchimmortalcat]

Maribat March Day 30: Goodbye

ao3

@maribatmarch-2k21 

At the beginning Marinette's 12 and Damian's 9. And by the end she's 14 and he's 11.

Damian was arguing with his sister as she haphazardly threw things into a bag. She was leaving, not on a mission but for good.

“Not for good Damian. I’m just leaving the League you’re at liberty to join me. I’m not against it.”

“But Mother and Grandfather wouldn’t want you to leave,” trying to sound as convincing as possible even though he wasn’t sure if he believed it himself.

Marinette scoffed, “if it was up to Grandfather, I wouldn’t be alive. You and me both know that. I wouldn’t be shocked if half the League knows it. Mother probably wants me alive for whatever long twisted plan she has in mind. Though, I doubt she still does with my refusal to kill.”

“Mother said she might take me to meet Father soon-”

She inhaled sharply, “That's half the problem here. You know more about him then I do. You are actually told things about him. All I know is what Mother thinks of him. Mother’s opinion does not matter to me. Nor do I actually know if she is right.”

“But you’re a much better fighter than I am, they wouldn’t want you to go.”

“I’m also a girl. The League doesn’t want a female heir, otherwise Mother would have been named heir long ago and we wouldn’t be here.”

“But-”

“You’re grasping at straws here Dami. Like I said feel free to join me.”

“Mother-”

“I know Damian. You don’t have to come. But I am leaving.”

He holds back tears, Mother says al Ghuls don’t cry.

She continues, “If you ever do get out of here, I’m going to try to find Sabine Cheng, remember her?”

He nods mutely. He remembers the woman. He hadn’t seen a lot of her. But she had taken care of Marinette from birth. He remembers Marinette once telling him she was more of a mother to her than Talia would ever be. It makes sense that she would try to find her.

“It won’t be hard to find me with the Batman’s resources after all. And I promise you I’ll be there the second you call. This isn't goodbye.”

Damian doesn't believe her.

She hugs him tightly, murmuring an, “I love you little brother,” into his hair. He feels her grip loosen around him and before he can look up, she’s disappeared into the shadows.

.oOo.

Marinette makes it to Paris. Sabine had told her once that she had always dreamed of going there. When she walks into the Dupain-Cheng Bakery for food the last thing she expected to find was that the Cheng in the name was from Sabine’s. An understandable mistake really, anyone who had known Sabine during her time in the League wouldn’t have expected her to open up a Bakery.

Sabine sees her first. She freezes when she’s swept into a hug. Her assassin instincts telling her to injure the offending person. And then Marinette realizes it’s Sabine and melts into the hug. Her tiredness taking over as her months long search comes to an end. There are tears all around. Leaving her husband to take care of the bakery, Sabine takes her upstairs into their home and plies her with sweets.

Marinette is enrolled in the near-by school. She makes friends with the students there. Then she gets the Ladybug Miraculous and for the first time in her life is grateful her League training. She creates a plan for Cat Noir’s training and they both work on making sure they don’t accidently end up busy during those times, to the best of their capabilities. Sabine figures it out almost immediately and offers any help she can. And Marinette with the support of her friends and family, embraces the responsibility of the Ladybug mantle.

.oOo.

There was a coup in the League. Mother had left him with Father so he could continue his training. Damian had to find Marinette. This was all that ran through Damian’s mind when he first was thrust upon the Wayne Family.

He knew he needed the Batcomputer to conduct his search. But his Father was yet to accept his existence, let alone allowing him access to the batcomputer. Damian decides he has to prove his worth. So, he attempts to kill Drake, surely if he can defeat him Father would consider him acceptable and help him find his sister.

He is reprimanded. Told that this is not the League and that, “Bats don’t kill.” He remembers ukhti’s face then, frowning in disgust at the thought of killing. And his father looks him in the eye and asks him if he understands, Damian realises Marinette shares their father’s eyes.

He thinks about it a lot more after that, what ukhti would consider acceptable and what she would not. Grayson says it’s a massive improval and Damian can’t bring himself to say, “I’m only doing what my sister would do.”

Then Father dies, and while Damian now has access to the Batcomputer he can’t bring himself to introduce the topic to Richard. Knows Richard will see Father in Marinette more than he ever will in him, the same way Damian sees his sister in Father. So, he looks into Sabine Cheng. Finds that his sister is living with her and is using the name Marinette Dupain-Cheng. She seems fine, so Damian doesn’t call. He remembers her promise, knows that she’ll be there the second he needs her. He’ll give it time and then he can bring it up with Richard.

.oOo.

Lila appears a year after Ladybug. But Marinette was trained to be an assassin, and quite literally has lady luck by her side. And while her friends find Lila’s stories wonderful in the beginning, they slowly realise that’s all they are. Stories.

A few months after Lila’s appearance. Hawkmoth is taken down. But Marinette and Adrien keep their miraculous. Master Fu takes the rest of the Miracle Box with him to London, so he can spend his days with the love of his life.

Adrien and her become closer friends than before. Fighting for their city's safety everyday would do that. Tom and Sabine take him in and it’s like having a brother again. And Marinette wonders if Damian’s still in the League. Maybe she should bring it up with Sabine, if they could take him away from the League.

.oOo.

Before Damian can talk to Richard, Drake comes back with proof Father is alive. Damian’s first worry was that he’d have to start from the beginning yet again but when Father comes back, he acknowledges Damian’s presence and calls him his son.

Father’s busy. Damian keeps trying to bring up Marinette but he never seems to catch Father at the right time.

He notices Damian trying to talk to him more often, and invites him on a mission to Paris to check out some relatively new heroes.

Ladybug shows up almost as soon as Batman and Robin take to the roof tops of Paris. She looks annoyed and says to Father, “I don’t know what you think you’re doing here-“

Damian doesn’t register the rest. He knows that voice. It’s been years since he last heard it, but he’d never forget. The next thing he knows he’s darting forward from where he’s hidden behind his Father and has tackled ukhti in a hug. He hears their father’s confusion behind him but he couldn’t care less.

.oOo.

Marinette lands on the rooftop, annoyed. She has no idea what Batman’s doing in her city. Father or not, he doesn’t know that anyways, but it doesn’t give him an excuse to come to the city uninvited. Marinette has barely begun to speak when she’s tackled into a hug. Familiar arms wrap around her, and she can hear Damian sobbing as she brings him closer once she gets over her initial shock. She’s crying too. Well, all the plans for getting Damian out of the League won’t be necessary now.

Marinette leaves the League mainly because of

1) The way she was treated by Ra's and Talia as a pawn, she didn't want to play along with their schemes

2) She didn't want to kill

a continuation (it’s only on ao3)

[theres-an-impulstor-among-us]

TFC is Wels' dad and no one can convince me to headcanon otherwise

-🌺

I completely and totally agree! And I know this wasn’t technically a request but it inspired me so much that I wrote a lil oneshot about it! 

...

<Welsknight> Hi, can I come over to your house?

  TFC frowns at the unexpected message on his communicator. Setting aside the flowers he was planting, he types out a reply.

<TinFoilChef> Of course, Wels. When would you like to come over?

  Wels’s reply came in almost instantly. 

<Welsknight> Now, if possible.

<TinFoilChef> Yes, of course. I’ll leave the door unlocked. 

  However, he only just has time to go inside and put away his flowers before he hears a noise outside and glances out the window to see Wels landing neatly on the grass outside his house. 

  Chuckling, he opens the door. “Hello, Wels. You got here fast.”

  “I… may have been sitting in a tree nearby when I messaged you,” says Wels sheepishly. “Sorry.”

  “No problem. Come in.”

  He invites Wels into the house and the two sit down in opposite armchairs in the living room. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” he asks pleasantly, sensing that Wels is itching to talk.

  Wels fidgets. “Well… the Hermits were doing a bit of PVP earlier and I decided to join in and… I got beaten.”

  TFC nods patiently. “Okay…” 

  “Yeah, it probably doesn't sound like a big deal to you but I’ve always been amazing at PvP. I used to be able to beat everyone easily, but this time, I only just managed to beat Etho and I got my butt kicked by False and Xisuma of all people. Xisuma! He’s always talking about how terrible he is at PvP but he BEAT me! I don’t even really know what happened; one second I was doing well, then the next I was on the ground with a sword in my face.” 

  “Uh huh…” TFC continues to nod. 

  Wels sighs. “I just don’t get what happened to me. I used to be amazing at PvP but now I’m just… average. I must’ve gotten worse somehow but I don’t know how. What… um… What do you think?”

  TFC thinks for a moment. “What if the problem isn’t you?”

  “Huh?”

  “When’s the last time you trained for PvP?”

  Wels frowns. “Oh, I don’t remember. I haven’t needed to practise for so long that I…”

  He trails off and TFC nods approvingly as he sees that Wels has realised now what’s wrong. “Uh huh.”

  “Oh…” Wels’s eyes widen. “I didn’t get worse; the others got better.”

  “Uh huh,” says TFC again, raising an eyebrow. “Because you stopped practising. You’re a naturally talented fighter, Wels, but raw talent will only take you so far. You gotta hone your skills if you want to even keep up with the people who actually practise, let alone beat them.”

  “You’re right,” says Wels in wonder. “I was being cocky by thinking I never needed to practise. I’ve always been one of the best PvPers so I never considered that others would one day surpass me. If I don’t train, I’ll never get better.”

  He pauses, feeling a sudden urge to ask TFC for help. There’s no-one else Wels would trust more to help him train than TFC. But he has the feeling that this might be something he’ll have to deal with on his own. 

  TFC watches him steadily. They know each other well enough that TFC has a good idea of what his friend is thinking. “Would you like me to help you?”

  Wels’s head snaps up hopefully. “Really? You would?”

  “‘Course. You’ve got more potential than you know, Wels. It’d be an honour to help you realise it. Besides, I got loads of ideas and tips to help you improve.”

  “Wow… I-I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that, TFC. There’s nobody else I’d rather have train me.” 

  TFC stands up and beckons to Wels, a smile on his face. “C’mon, let’s go out now. You got time?”

  “Oh!” Wels blinks, before hurriedly hopping out of his chair. “Yeah, I got time!”

  “Good.” TFC takes an iron sword from a chest and hands it to Wels, before getting one for himself. “Come out here.” 

  They go outside onto the grass and take up positions opposite each other, about four blocks between them. 

  “I know you’re not a beginner,” starts TFC, “but we’re gonna start slow. Okay?”

  Wels nods determinedly. “Okay.”

  The two spend hours training together. TFC is very familiar with Wels’s fighting style and capabilities, so it’s very easy for him to keep up with the younger man in a training setting. He doesn’t baby Wels but he doesn’t make things too hard for him either. After a while, Wels even begins to loosen up, forgetting for a while that they’re training and not sparring for fun. It’s refreshing to battle someone who knows him as well as TFC does. 

  Wels doesn’t notice that sunset has arrived until he realises he’s starting to struggle to see in the dim lighting. He backs up a few steps, opening his mouth to tell TFC that he’s ready to stop. 

  “Wels, watch out for the creeper!” TFC shouts suddenly. “Behind you!”

  With lightning fast reflexes, Wels frantically scrambles backwards. TFC’s warning allows him to avoid being blown up immediately but the creeper’s explosion still sends him flying. He hits the ground on his back, painfully wrenching his neck. 

  Immediately, TFC appears at his side and helps him sit up. “Are you alright? Are you hurt?”

  Wels shakes his head, his heart still pounding. “I-I’m fine. Sorry, I…” 

  “No, no. Don’t apologise. Here, come back inside.”

  He guides Wels into the house and sits him down in his armchair, before quickly setting about making a hot drink. 

  Wels watches him, trying to ignore his shaking hands. “Are you okay?”

  “Me?” says TFC in surprise. “Sure. Why?”

  “You, uh… look a little shaken.”

  “Oh.” 

  TFC brings the mug of tea back to the living room and hands it to Wels. “Here, drink this.”

  Wels sips at the hot drink, secretly marvelling that TFC remembered his favourite flavour of tea from that one time he mentioned it several months ago. The sweetness of the raspberry tea helps calm him down.

  TFC sits down in the chair opposite Wels, trying not to stare at his friend. “I’m sorry.”

  “What for?” asks Wels. 

  “I should’ve seen the creeper sooner. You could’ve died and lost all your stuff.”

  “Don’t worry about it, TFC; it was just a creeper. And besides, if you hadn’t called out, it would’ve just exploded me right there and then.”

  “Yeah, but-.”

  TFC breaks off. He had been about to say “it’s my duty to protect you” but he doesn’t want Wels to ask the next obvious question. TFC is too awkward to explain that he sees Wels as a son. 

  Luckily, Wels seems to understand, even without his friend putting his thoughts into words. “Really, it’s okay. Thanks for your concern, though. And thanks for helping me train. It’s late now but we can pick it up again tomorrow?”

  TFC nods happily. “Yeah, definitely. If you need to get going now, you can take the mug with you. I don’t mind.”

  “Really?” Wels smiles and rises to his feet. “Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow, then?”

  TFC nods, letting himself pat Wels on the back. “See you tomorrow.”

[blackhakumen]

Mini Fanfic #803: Bus Tour (Super Smash Bros Ultimate x Persona 5)

11:56 a.m. at Isle Defino's Tour Bus......

Purple Female Pianta: (Points at the Giant Pianta Statue Behind Her) And here, ladies and gentlemen, is where we see the statue of the greatest hero our town has to offer. His brave, peaceful heroism has been an inspiration to us over the years and we will never forget the sacrifice he made for our home. (Sees a Hand Raising Up) Yes, Girl with the curly hair?

Haru: (Lowers Her Hand) Pardon the sudden interruption....(Pulls Out a Mini Book From her Purse) But I just finished reading a chapter about that man from the History Books you've given us yesterday. Is it really true that he was ambused and killed inside a cave?

Purple Female Pianta: I'm afraid so, my dear. He was given an letter from an unknown source to come by that very cave. (Turns Away in a Overly Dramatic Like Fashion) And much to everyone's surprise and shock, it was all a merciless trap. Those vile, heartless, monsters ambushed that poor, beautiful man and left him there alone in his last, dying breath! Once the rest of the tribe venture their way to the cave two days later, it was all too late.

Morgana: So.....He didn't bother bringing any weapons with him? Or have bodyguards and reinforcement come along the cave with him at the time?

Purple Female Pianta: I can't say that he have. He thought he was invited into a peace talk. He was more of a lover than he was a fighter.

Morgana: But that was still a stupid move on his part! How could someone just walked into a deep, dark cave with no weapons for protection and defense, no reinforcements, and all without noticing something was up from getgo?

Futuba: Yeah. And what kind of sane person would host a peace talking inside a literal cave to begin with. If that's not an immediate red flag of something's up, then I don't know what is.

Morgana: Right!?

Purple Purple Pianta: That's right. That wonderful man gave those criminals a benefit of a doubt. Only to walked into a trap that cost him his life..... It's quite ironic once you thing think about it.

Lavenza: No it isn't.

Purple Female Pianta: (Turns to Lavenza Who is Seating Next to Morgana) Hm?

Lavenza: (Smiles Softly at the Pianta) That is not at all what an irony is. I believe that the turn events, you described, would be classified as painfully expected.

Purple Female Pianta: (Couldn't Believe What She is Hearing) B-B-But.... what exactly are talking about, little girl!?

Lavenza: The word Irony is a noun that is also known to be a state of affairs or an event that seems too liberally contrary to what one expects and it's mostly amusing as a result. For example, your former hero was known as brave and resourceful. Yet his careless and naive belief in peace has ultimately gotten the better of him in the end.

Purple Female Pianta: (Eyes Widened in Complete Shock) ('GASPS')

Futuba: (Giggles Softly) Holy crap, Lavvy-chan! That was amazing! We should totally get you a tiny microphone to drop for Christmas this year.

Haru: (Gasps While Blushing) Oh my goodness. That would be adorable!~

Lavenza: A microphone would be nice gift for the occasion. (Turns to Morgana) We should share it together, Mona-Chan.

Morgana: (Smiles Brightly) Not really that much of a singer, but yeah. I'm wouldn't mind sharing it with you.

Lavenza: (Smiles Brightly) Splendid!~

Purple Female Pianta: (Immediately Glares at the Girl in Blue) How DARE you insult the name of our lord and savior!? He was GREATEST, most BRAVEST man that this island has EVER KNOWN!!

Lavenza: Statistically speaking, that says more about you than it does about him.

Morgana: ('Scoffs') Yeah. Considering the fact that you guys still blame Mario for something he didn't do to be begin with. And even after he risked his life to save this Island from any threats afterwards.

Purple Female Pianta: (Stomps her Feet at the Ground) You wanna take this outside of this bus, you little twerps!? I can throwdown with a child and her dumb alley cat! DOESN'T HURT MY FEELINGS IN THE SLIGHTEST!?

Haru: Lay a finger on my babies, and I will tear that fucking statue down to ground myself. Along with you and everyone else on this bus.

Futuba: I'd listen to her if I were you. Saw her kill an evil monster once with an axe. ('Clicking Tongue') Not a pretty sight if you ask me....

Purple Female Pianta: (Immediately Gets Scared Shitless by Haru's Threat Fair Warning) ............D-Duly noted? L-Let's move on to our next destination, shall we?

Pichu: (Shivers in Fear While Sitting on Sephiroth's Lap) P-Pia-Pi......

Sephiroth: (Rubbing the Top of Pichu's Head While Watching Everything That's Been Going On in the Back) I agree, Pichu. That girl seems more intimidating than I originally thought. I suppose her title as "Noir" has more meaning after all. ('Sigh') Regardless, It's best that we stay clear of her fore the foreseeable future.

Pichu: (Nodded in Agreement) Pichu.

@keyenuta

@princekirijo

@cyber-wildcat

@caleb13frede

@26shann

@ma-lemons

@albion-93

[mccnyoongi]

strawberry kisses ⇢ jjk

⇢ word count: 1k+

⇢ warnings: best friend!jk, roommate!jk, lots of kissing, PINING, u both are in love with each other, not smut!!!!! fluff only, suitable for all ages!!!!, jungkookie good boy :(, this is not proof read in the slightest lol

⇢ request: think about THIS. jungkook is her bff and he buys her a chapstick that tastes like strawberries and after she points it out all he wants to do is to taste it. smut and end it however u want 🥺

⇢ a/n: genuinely started writing this in like... november lol and have tried to finish it roughly a thousand times since but its just NOT happening so take these crumbs ig!!! theres no smut tho even tho there was supposed to be ): 

The potent strawberry flavour is only the second thing Jungkook notices on your lips, right behind just how soft they are- which he guesses he only has himself to thank for being the best roommate ever and putting in the bar minimum and grabbing the first tube of chapstick he can find by the cash register. Later he’ll make a joke about how he’d buy you all the lip balm in the world if it means he gets to taste it the same way, but your lips on his are making his brain short circuit and reboot.

All he can manage to think about in his you addled brain is how happy he is that you sent that last minute text requesting something to help your chapped lips right when he was about to check out, that you commented on how good the flavour of it was after you swiped it across your lips in the most unintentionally teasing way possible, that when he asked to try it, you giggled and shook your head, and how it all lead to shared kisses between two roommates who had been sneaking glances at each other since they had moved in together over five months ago. A classic love story, or something.

He’s almost in mourning when your lips finally part, lungs desperate for air, but he refuses to go far, his nose brushing against yours. He gives a fleeting thought to how you have his heart on a collar and leash with a single kiss- after months of pining and longing, yes, but still. Later, when you’re sleeping in his arms, he might consider it a blow to his supposed manliness, and promptly shrug, considering it a worthy sacrifice if it means he gets to cuddle you to sleep like that every night.

But for now you’re all he can think about, manliness be damned. “How’s it taste?” The words take a while to get through to Jungkook, like they’re walking through quicksand as they try to get from his ears- the ones he covers with his hands whenever you compliment him- to whichever part of the brain is in charge of comprehension. 

He blinks at you once, twice, three times and shakes his head once he realizes you’ve asked him a question, which, by design, requires an answer. “Hm-” He tilts his head from side to side, as if in deep thought, his eyes twinkling with a familiar, playful glint. “Fruity? I guess? Need another taste to be positive though.”

He smirks, all coy and confident, as if he wasn’t red eared and stammering through his syllabells just minutes ago, when you had first offered him a taste of the tangential lip chap- Jungkook has no idea who Burt is, and why he has all these bee’s but he’s very grateful for this strange bearded man and his collection of insects. 

“Fruity, huh? All I can taste on you is cheese-” You wrinkle your nose at his corny ploy, refusing to admit that you find it (him) mind-numbingly endearing, so instead you chastise him. He takes it in stride though, and giggles good-naturedly, his distracting fingers tightening around your waist and he lets his forehead come to rest on your shoulder.

“Don’ be mean,” He whines, and like every other time he breaks out that child-like drawl, you want to crumble into a pile of dust on the warped hardwood of the aged apartment- but you don’t have to coo and awe in silence anymore. No, that kiss broke a dam, an extremely thin dam holding back a rumbling wall of sexual tension and pathetic pining, and you’ll be, well, damned, if you waste anymore time with Jungkook containing and hiding the way he makes your heart melt, all syrupy and sappy. Jungkook has turned your life into strawberry milk… You’ll come up with a better analogy later.

For now everything is strawberry sweet, and that’s enough. It’s always been sweet though, living with Jungkook, but now what was once an aftertaste is overwhelming, all consuming, and all the other words that mean “changes your entire fucking world in a half a second.” Yeah, he was able to do all that with a kiss, he’s truly the golden boy, good at anything he tries. Bastard.

He ‘hmphs’ in mock frustration, the air from his nose and mouth tickling the sensitive skin on your neck- he notices the sensitivity there, how goosebumps raise from one simple action, because of fucking course he noticed, nothing escapes this boys’ watchful eye, does it? He takes advantage of this new piece of knowledge, one that he will treasure for years to come, almost immediately, playful smiles disappearing from both of your faces as he presses soft kisses to your neck, and nuzzling into it equally as softly. “Kookie-”

“Hm?”

“We have things to do you know, places to be,” You wouldn’t be interrupting him if you didn’t have to; every nerve and instinct in your body was screaming at you to drag this boy into your bedroom, the one that’s been adjacent to his own for the past year and a half and make him yours in the most primal of ways. But Jimin and Taehyung, the devilish twosome, who had, unbeknownst to either you or Jungkook, been rooting for the exact thing they were putting to a stop, invited everyone to a night at a video game bar in town. And you hated bailing on people, disappointing them in any way.

“Mm.”

“So we should probably uhm-” You clear your throat in a desperate attempt to gain some self control. From what you can tell, it has little to no effect, your restless heart still playing jump rope in your chest. Double dutch, two times speed. “Get going, like, soon.”

He finally pulls back from your neck, relenting, at least for now. Instead he leans his head back, as if physically pained by the reminder of the plans he had agreed to not even twenty-four hours earlier. What a moron that Jungkook was, he thinks, as if the poor kid had any idea of the dilemma he’d be facing the next day. The sucker had no idea what was coming…

But Jungkook had to deal with reality now, how he didn’t want to stop kissing you, but rather, wanted to kiss and explore every single inch of you until it was burned into his memory. Yeah, he’d make a meal out of that. Amongst other things… “I know, I know,” His nose wrinkles in frustration. “I know. It’s just- just that I finally- finally get to, you know-”

“I know.”

“So, I can’t just go play fucking Street Fighter and drink beers with Jin and just forget all- all of this? Not wanna I don’t know, kiss you and just-”

“Well why wouldn’t you be able to kiss me?” Jungkook’s eyes almost double in size.

“Well they’re all, uhm, there, and there’d be questions, and- I mean not that I care what they think if I were to, ah kiss you…” He takes a breath, cocks his head the way he does whenever he’s thinking way too hard and bites at his lip. “Then I guess- I guess-”

“What do you guess?” You probe, hearing him about to trail off.

“I guess I could kiss you whenever I want to, Kim Seokjin be damned,” He only seems to realize what he’s said after it’s left his mouth. “I mean-like- as long as you want that too, to kiss me, I mean, because I wouldn’t. If you didn’t. If you didn’t want it, I mean.”

“I do. Want it, I mean.” You confirm rather than tease, because your poor boy looks like he’s already three quarters of the way to a heart attack. He breathes a sigh of relief and rolls his eyes at his own ridiculous nature.

“Good,” He nods, a small smile inching it’s way back onto his mouth.

And suddenly you’re excited at the prospect of Jeon Jungkook kissing you between rounds of Street Fighter, high off of kicking Seokjin’s ass and the taste of cheap beer still lingering on his tongue- and despite the bitterness of the alcohol, everything will still be sugary sweet.

[lilfriezatyrant]

The Gilded Appearance

A few minutes have passed since he disappeared from this terrestrial hell...or rather he was recruited for a very special tournament.

This lousy monkey had actually managed to convince him. But he can't blame him. Anything is better than to have to be exposed to this cocoon and listen to horrible parades with disgusting fairy songs. He is in a gate that connects this world with the beyond...some human with magical powers had brought him here. A circumstance he does not consider important. His body seems stiff. This repulsive shell hanging from a cherry tree tightened him up very much and he had no freedom of movement at all. What an annoyance! And audacity!

He lets his tense neck circle, whereupon a cracking sound can be heard immediately, his pure ivory-coloured skin appears slightly turquoise due to the blue flames flickering in the portal. One eye looks slowly upwards and he immediately notices a glow over his crystalline skull. Immediately an annoyed sigh sets in. "How degrading for me...of course I have to keep this grotesque halo," he closes his eye again, had briefly determined where Goku is and puts his hands on his hips while he slowly struts to him. His tail flickers elegantly with every step behind him. "Hey, Frieza! I am Glad you're he--!" But he interrupts the mouthy voice with a glorious stroke in the pit of this stomach. "Oops, pardon me...my hand slipped...", he opens one eye again, it is almost like a cheeky wink and he rejoices in the pain of this simian barbarian. His white fist bores into his stomach one last time, but before he could react, his face distorts itself into a painful expression. This monkey had started a counterattack! Also a punch in HIS very stomach. He gritted his perfect teeth and heard the cheeky words of the Saiyan. "Oh, I am also sorry. Mine too." Inside he is loaded with wrath, but he keeps the control he has acquired over the last years. A real anger vein pulsates at his temple, but he smiles slightly, his vermilion eyes glowing at his counterpart.

"Okay Frieza, no more hand slipping. We have to hurry. We only have a few minutes left." The emperor stands upright again and immediately recovers from this little unexpected punch. He seems only slightly confused, his eyes widening as Goku gives him a hand. "Take my hand. I will take us away from here immediately", he himself, in his slight amazement, only brings a quiet "Oh?" as an answer. He chuckles slightly amused, "Then what shall slip next?"

But he doesn't take the hand of this monkey, because a ghostly creature floats panickedly towards them...probably it belongs to this other being. "Baba! We are in trouble! There are several creatures outside! We're surrounded!"

The Emperor puts his hands behind his back and cackles slightly. "A welcome party? You did not tell me that, Goku." He jokes with a smirk. But he does not get an answer, and the other goes out of the building.

His tail flickers enthusiastically behind him for a moment before he slowly follows him.

Oh? Fighters from another universe? This should be interesting. Unknown assassins who probably want to destroy fighters from other universes so that they can no longer participate in the tournament. A...perfidious manner, yet effective.

He watches the action, stands at the entrance of the building, his view directly to Goku and the... locusts in the sky. The unsuspecting monkey asks him questions, but his voice only meets with deaf ears. Clever assassins. Loyal people who understand their work...or they will be subjected to even worse torture if they fail?

Although the Saiyan's contact person gets on his nerves...the same answer follows constantly, namely none.

"I won't tell."

But in the next moment the chest of this dog-like alien is pierced and he falls into the water, rises again, his face screamed in pain. It was a deathbeam, straight from the deadly index finger of the Ruler of the Universe. But he had deliberately missed the vital organ so as not to cause an initial death here on Earth...at least not yet. But his shot was so precise and so close to Goku that he had poked his cheek. "Oh...I am sorry again...I guess my hand slipped after all." his smug grin remains and he can see a certain seriousness in Goku's eyes. Of course he has perfectly memorized his previous words in his head. He never forgets. I guess they will have some minutes left for a little warm-up exercise. "You know, my body has become quite soft in hell...", his smug manner can be heard on the outside and his body slowly covers itself in a golden aura. "And I thought I could loosen it up.", his changed ki continues to grow, it jst like a golden flame in which he is blazing and that's exactly how his inside feels: His body is exposed to so much heat that even the strongest material could melt...but he has got used to it, his body and his organs know this procedure...besides he is a cold-blooded being, literally and heat is very pleasant for his organism. Everyone here isn't moving... nobody is talking. Everyone watches this divine transformation, everyone seems to be spellbound. Just the kind of attention he was hoping for. Very good. A promising audience and it will be his greatest pleasure to eviscerate them. Every single being here.

At the moment, however, he is completely focused on this new power, which he has mastered after another stay in his own hell. Glaring light is emitted as his body takes on a new form in this shell. He has spread out his arms, his back is leaning backwards, almost forming a hollow back, his piercing eyes are closed and he still wears his perfect smug grin. It is the coming anticipation of the bloodbath with which he will inaugurate his golden skin.

Although his posture is inviting, every single limb is under tension. He has to bundle this incredible energy before he can release it and each of his metamorphoses is painful, an irrevocable fact. But it is never visible to an outsider.

Every single cell of his slowly changing body takes on an even more resistant form, micro scales merge together to become more robust as well. The purple spheres on his shoulders disappear completely under a stable golden layer. More muscle mass is formed on his membrane. His perfect transformation is almost complete...the colour gold to humiliate every still living Saiyan and to be superior to this monkey race.

And the hot feeling inside does something very curious: slight signs of goose bumps are visible...but only Frieza himself knows this, no one else would noticed. This unbelievable increase in power causes this. He is excited about what is imminent...he  is bloodthirsty and will show no mercy with his finally mastered power.

His strong toes briefly brace themselves, his nails claw into the stone floor before they glow golden for a moment and relax again. The same tension can be seen on his upper body and arms, which have increased considerably in muscle tone. His facial features are also briefly tense for a millisecond before it turns purple and his smirk is still clearly visible with his black lips.

The glistening light had spread over several kilometers during the night and is now slowly fading as his body completes the transformation.

His upper body makes a forward movement. It is like a bow, an invitation for the honour that all attendees were allowed to experience and it is also an augury for the coming disaster. Executed by the Golden Deity who is reborn.

His scarlet eyes open again in a sharp gaze, his golden and massive tail wagging briefly and swiftly once behind him, before he in his sublime form announces his arrival: "Behold the true power of the Golden Frieza!"

@dragonblobz I promised you I will give you a golden terror, didn't I? uwu

[fly-sky-high-bug-games]

Hi! I saw you answer an ask about your OC Alyssum and I was instantly pulled in. I went to your list of muses to go read some stuff on her but the link isn't working for some reason. Care to share? 😁 also what other hcs do you have about her (optional w/mugo) 👀

I THINK THAT’S MY FAULT, I keep tagging her as available muse but she’s technically listed as “npc” on the muse post because I didn’t want to introduce her yet (so far story wise, she only appears through dialog and hasn’t popped out yet, hard since she’s at Highgrove and setting is in Hallownest). However, her muse has been... oddly strong lately, I keep drawing and doing tiny rp scenes with her with few friends just to test the waters with her and BOY IT’S KIND OF... INTERESTING.

She might be “oopsie haha murder” kind of character but she’s also playing the nobility part quite well. She’s “polite”, invites bugs for a tea, a little chatter (maybe even a friendly one, she’s capable of it), possibly propositions, no refusal, nice job offers~ or death. One always gets to choose, acting like they have an option but forcefully narrows it to few and plays on mental and emotional state at such circumstances. Tricky~

I have yet to develop the details of her faction and who’s in it but very few people will be. Wasps I already covered, I just have to work around clan leader that’s in contact with Alyssum. Others would be black market dealers (lead merchant), underground snail-mail (postal snail), one of the weavers who’s good with seals and couple of others~ I need to brainstorm on this still. :0

Damn, I already rambled about this and didn’t talk about her much, hold on *throws Alyss tidbits under read more if tumblr allows it to work...*

She was looked after by Magnolia and basically raised by her, some time after she turned to be a queen. Fun tidbits about Magnolia family as a whole, they are not related to one another (mostly) but consider themselves a big family because they took down the previous queen and king of Highgrove while raising from poverty. However, Magnolia and her followers were never kind and forgiving, but with promises that there will be change in balance of the hierarchy, they got a lot of followers and supporters from commoners to usurp the royalty and did so successfully.

Alyssum was young when this happened so while she was somewhat birthed under poverty, she was fully raised as a noble. I don’t have much of her childhood worked out but there isn’t much to say aside from that she was raised and thought under the cruel but rich conditions of the kingdom.

The binding seal on her wings she earned not long before she met Mugo, almost like a sign for maturity and set under higher position in the family and not just as a student. The seals are powerful magic that uses soul, sewed in with magic by the weaver and afterwards trained to use it. It manifests through the shape of petals: swirling, cutting, chipping, slashing or severing, depending on the number of petals created, used, how fast, how they’re choreographed... It’s all soul but she can use regular flower petals that make less damage but not much soul required. Alyss can also use the wings as a shield since the binding is right on them and actually getting through them with anything is worse than trying to cut the metal open. (like, I imagined in game moves, if you know how THK blocks twice then slashes, she does similar things with wings, where she blocks two times but then bursts open the wings to blow the opponent back to the other side of the screen)

But you know, she’s a lady~ Of course she won’t get her hands dirty. :3c She has others to do that for her~

As for her and Mugo... (OH BOY HERE WE GOOOO~!)

I have to say, their relationship and love was rather genuine, it kind of makes me sad it ended up the way it did... With Magnolia, Alyss (and even Zeeke and his family) still visiting Hallownest some time before Pure Vessel was sealed and before infection went crazy (I canonize, by human years, that that was 20ish years before current events, since Hornet seems 15-18ish years old but who knows with bugs~ I just needed approximate idea for the setting). They were at City of tears but Mugo met her somewhere close to it, as she was hiding away from the nobles to explore the outside on her own and spotted Mugo.

Sure, Mugo crushed on her first but when she tested him by giving away her symbol necklace and pedant of White Magnolia for him to sell at black market and get good money, he refused because it was a memento from someone dear to him. It still is... he didn’t take it off because this is when their love was true and pure... Alyss never forget that either. It was very touching to her.

Their relationship was fine, both shared nothing in common but that was such a fun time for both because of it. They were clicking because they were like two different puzzles pieces that do fit together... but sadly, the pieces didn’t give the right picture when one by the other. (don’t you hate when this happens when you’re trying to puzzle grass or sky together?? *shot*) 

Alyssum explained to Mugo how Magnolia works. He didn’t like it one bit, as he ran away from Highgrove partially because they usurped the old rulers and rendered his family’s status almost homeless. Meanwhile, Alyss didn’t like that Mugo kept throwing himself in danger for his job, even if it’s a hobby that means a lot to him, all for sake of survival and geo.

They dated for some time, had fun, but slowly things started kind of... falling apart. The closer Alyss was to heading back to Highgrove the more she pressured Mugo to come with, become part of the family and live with her under riches the Magnolia offers. His counter proposal was, if they’re really in love and she is aware of Magnolia’s wrongdoings, that she would leave them instead and live with him while making the adventures she loved hearing about from him, together. Basically, Mugo put his love for her over riches or anything but Alyss wanted him for herself under the comfort and safety of Magnolia. She couldn’t throw that away, not after building the status and becoming a favorite to Magnolia herself. She thought this was selfish of Mugo but Mugo tried to explain it was for her changing a new leaf and starting over as something good, not ruled by fear and power.

So they started to disagree... argue... and finally physically fight. Of course, Alyss won. Mugo isn’t a fighter. At that moment, it was either she has him or no one does. For Mugo, he could only bark threats. So he did, angered, throwing words he couldn’t even imagine himself doing. When she lighted up her wings, he threatened he will cut them off. So in retribution, she cut him, scaring his face. He saw something or someone completely different then. Mugo ran for his life, leaving Alyss alone.

That was the last time they saw each other, 20ish years ago. Mugo hid away at the lake of Unn and suffered depression and withdrawal for a very long time. As for Alyss... she pulled off something she shouldn’t and Mugo didn’t know about...

He only got one last letter from her, to met her one more time at the Crossroads before she leaves for Highgrove, saying she wants to try one more time and... that she had a surprise for him. He didn’t respond. She waited for him there then left when he never showed...

That was that. :U Until now, at least~ :3 She got to hear about her ex thanks to Zeeke’s shenanigans at the Colosseum~ Oh, what are the odds of the noble meeting and having issues specifically with a certain, scruffy moth~

20 years is quite a bit of time for someone with a heartbreak and power to grow... kind of crazy. Of course she never let go of it. And now she knows he’s still alive too~ Wonder what Alyss will do. :3c

[strangedreamings]

Gingerrose prompt: Modern AU, it's Christmas and Hux is "bah humbugging" the season while Rose is full of holiday spirit, and he doesn't get into the spirit of the season until someone else brings out the mistletoe and Hux and Rose get caught under it.

Mistletoe Is All It Took (AO3)

“One more,” Rose said, grinning, just before she placed another shopping bag in Armitage’s hand. He already had his arms wrapped around the bulkiest bag while two more dangled from each hand.

“It’s becoming all too clear why you dragged me out here,” he muttered. Still, he dutifully followed her out of the latest store and over to her SUV.

She unlocked the trunk then grinned at him as she opened it. “I needed someone with long arms and enough stamina to survive an all-day shopping trip.”

Armitage raised an eyebrow as she took the first bags from him. “And what do you know of my stamina?”

Rose blushed and prayed he’d only think it was from the cold. “You work out all the time, I assume it takes a lot to tire you out.” She busied herself with properly stowing the various bags to avoid meeting his eyes.

The two of them had been best friends for years and had even started an engineering company together but lately, Rose found herself wanting more from him. It’s like I turned around one day and there he was, hot as hell and I had only just noticed. Not to mention he’s marshmallow sweet under that brittle exterior. And he’s one of the few people I can truly depend on no matter what.

“My stamina may hold out, but my patience is another matter,” he muttered darkly.

“I heard that,” Rose said, grinning at him as she finally closed the trunk and locked it again. “Okay, next store.”

Armitage groaned quietly but still followed her back into the shopping mall.

*

She treated him to a late lunch once her shopping was done. Armitage was never fond of chain restaurants, especially ones full of kitschy décor, but his growling stomach won out over his taste. Seated across from Rose in a booth as far from the front doors and the cold outside as they could get, he was struck once again by how truly gorgeous his best friend was.

I’d ask her out in a heartbeat if I thought there was even a chance she’d say yes. But no, I’m her friend, nothing more. I should be thanking my lucky stars that she even considers me a friend. No one else does. Her friends tolerate me at most.

After they gave the waitress their orders and she gave them their drinks, Rose smiled at him. “Did you get an invite to Finn and Poe’s wedding?”

Armitage rolled his eyes. “Yes, but I have to wonder at the wisdom of a destination wedding in Orlando.”

“They want everyone to have fun at Universal Studios, not to mention they’re still boycotting Disney. I think it’ll be a blast.”

“Are you going to bring a date?” he blurted, the words sneaking past his filter like some resistance fighter getting past a guard.

It was Rose’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “The wedding’s not for three months, but I seriously doubt it. I’ve had no luck with guys lately. It’s gotten to the point where I don’t know if the problem is them or me.”

“It’s them,” he insisted, earning him a grateful smile, then more unfiltered words came out. “You’re perfect.”

She let out an unladylike snort. “Hardly.”

“You are.”

“If I’m so perfect, then how come I haven’t had a serious relationship in over a year?”

“Men are idiots.”

Rose burst into giggles at his perfectly straight face. “Present company excepted?”

No, I’m the biggest idiot of them all. Thankfully, he didn’t blurt that out. “I suppose.”

She grinned. “Well, women are idiots too – you haven’t had a serious relationship for longer than I have.” Their food arrived and Rose started on her fries when the waitress left again. “You’re a definite catch, Armie – intelligent, sophisticated, driven, not to mention really hot, especially since you grew the beard.”

He self-consciously reached up to touch his short beard. “You think so, do you?”

“Yep. Rey said that if she hadn’t met Ben, she definitely would’ve tried her luck with you.”

That was certainly news to him, but nothing could surprise him more than Rose thinking he was hot. “Yes, well, she would have been disappointed.”

“Not your type?” Rose guessed, grinning.

Of course not – she’s not you. “Something like that,” he muttered.

“Right. Eat, Armie – cold French fries are nasty.”

He rolled his eyes then dutifully started on his food.

They were headed back to their part of town when Rose said carefully, her eyes on the road, “I may have told Rey and Ben we’d stop by their Christmas party.”

Armitage groaned quietly. “That’s tonight, isn’t it?”

“Yep.”

The last thing he wanted was to be at a party where he only knew a handful of people. “I’m not in the Christmas spirit.”

“Are you ever?” she asked, relaxing. “You’re the Grinch and Ebenezer Scrooge rolled into one. Your secretary tried to decorate for Christmas and you wouldn’t even let her hang mistletoe.”

“I’m trying to save the company from a sexual harassment suit.”

She smiled a bit. “It’s only harassment if the other person is offended.”

“You’re saying I should be like you – strings of lights on the walls and a tree in the corner?”

Rose giggled. “I think our customers would think you’d been replaced by a pod person.” She stopped at a red light then gave him her most charming grin. “Please, Armie? It’ll only be a couple of hours then I’ll take you home.”

I never could resist her. He sighed heavily. “Very well.”

“Yay!”

*

Rose led the way up the steps to the Solos’ house, a newly-purchased bottle of wine in one hand. Armitage was right behind her, and she prayed he wasn’t going to be the specter at this feast. I gotta get him into a good mood somehow.

A beaming Rey let them in. She and Ben had only been married a month but Rose had to admit that marriage looked good on her best friend.

They were just passing through the kitchen when Rey said, “Stop!”

Rose stopped dead, Armitage so close behind her that she could feel his warmth seeping into her and she had to suppress a shiver. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Rey said, grinning delightedly. “Look up.”

She dutifully looked up and couldn’t help the groan that escaped her when she saw they were standing beneath the mistletoe. Oh God, anything but that…

Armitage scowled. “Do you really expect me to kiss Rose just because you hung a plastic facsimile of a tree parasite from the ceiling?”

“It’s a year of bad luck if you don’t,” Rey said, grinning.

“I don’t give a damn about bad luck,” he muttered.

“Not for you – for Rose.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I beg your pardon?”

“The superstition only says girls who refuse to kiss under the mistletoe will have a year of bad luck, it doesn’t say anything will happen to the boys.” Rey smirked. “But I think not getting a kiss from Rose is bad enough, don’t you?”

Rose threw up her hands in annoyance. “Just forget it, both of you. Armie obviously doesn’t want to kiss me-”

Her next words were cut off by Armitage pulling her to him and kissing her like they were alone instead of surrounded by her friends. Someone, probably Poe, started whistling and she swore she heard Finn mutter, “Finally!” but all of that faded to background noise as Armitage kissed her. It was full of passion and promise and Rose did her level best to catch up.

I don’t know what’s gotten into him, but damn, I approve.

When breathing became a necessity, he ended the kiss but then moved his very talented mouth to her ear, murmuring, “I’ve wanted to do that for far too long. What do you say to us leaving now?”

Rose grinned, almost giddy with happiness. “We just got here,” she murmured back.

“Don’t care.” He raised his head to look at the others, who were all grinning like idiots at the little show they’d put on. “If you’ll excuse us, my partner and I have some negotiations to attend to.”

“That’s one way of putting it,” Poe said, smirking.

“Have fun,” Rey said, grinning.

Not waiting for any other responses, Armitage took her hand and led her out of the house and back to the car. Rose couldn’t help thinking that Christmas had come early.

And nothing can beat this gift.

[polar-stars]

👹🍅💥🏀 ⭐🍏 🐉 💧🐟🍇 🔮🌸🌷 ❤️ 🧡💚💗 for chieko Mika yasu shigeo kazuo please ;)

I’ve decided to answer these in multiple parts....I hope thats alright with you ;v;

This one will feature Chieko and next on will be Mika and so on...

But thanks for the ask ^^ The questions are really fun to answer

Chieko

👹 How does you OC act around different people and how does their personality change to match the environment they’re in? How do they act with: friends, family, strangers, children or their lover(s)?

Chieko’s behaviour mainly depends on whether she’s talking to someone her age or an adult. Though the closeness to whoever she’s talking is also a large factor. 

She’s very polite and well-behaved when talking to adults. If it’s authority-figures or people she admires, she’s very cautious with her words and tends to be a bit shyer. If she’s a bit more closer to them (Satoshi, Daigo, Shoji), she’s a bit more open and more comfortable to vent and rant though. 

With people her age, she’s usually more or less polite with strangers, but if you rub her off the wrong way she might become more snarky quickly. Around her friends, she’s definitely more than comfortable to rant and whine about how frustrating everything is. She’s definitely grouchier and quicker to nag, but at the same time she’s also more cheery (if she does end up in a good mood) and less stiff. She’s the same around her family and also the Ibusakis. 

🍅 How easily is your OC embarassed? What subjects make them flush and why? What event has made your OC the most embarassed they’ve ever been?

It’s rather easy to make Chieko fluster. She’s not much used to praise and compliments, so that alone can make her blush. It only gets worse if it comes from anyone she holds admiration for.  Given that she’s also pretty innocent in that regard, anything sexual will certainly turn her into a tomato as well. 

Then there’s also the feeling of being out of place. Chieko does have some insecurities about her looks and thinks of herself as insanely plain. When she’s put into a pretty dress and sent to a fancy party, at times (not always but sometimes) she tends to feel small and stupid being surrounded by girls that she thinks are just so much interesting than her. 

💥 Are there any emotions your OC doesn’t know how to deal with, doesn’t understand or hates having to feel? Any reason behind this?

Chieko is certainly conflicted about the attraction she harbors for Shigeo Eizan. She’s pretty confused about how she’s perfectly aware about how excellently he lies and how cruel he is, yet still she can’t help but to feel drawn to him despite the NUMEROUS warning-sings. She’s greatly inexperienced with love and lust to begin with honestly. She never had much of a Love 101 course so to speak, meaning she never really had any innocent teenage-flirting with a nice, uncomplicated kind-off guy but rather gets thrown right into the advanced course. 

Another thing she’s honestly rather unfamiliar with is true, deep grief but most of the kids honestly are. 

🏀 Does your OC have any skills that people wouldn’t expect them to have? Do they have a hobby or pass time that others would consider strange or weird? How did they learn this particular skill or pick up this hobby?

She actually knows archery. It was taught to her by Yuki’s father who’s just simply very enthusiastic about bows and arrows and wanted to show it to his grandchildren very badly. Chieko’s not perfect at it and she has less and less time to practice it when she grows up, but its still something not many would expect. 

She also knows how to play violin, which is also something not all too many know. She just wanted to learn it as child to impress kids at her school and because she liked the instrument honestly. 

⭐ Does your OC like to sleep alone or do they enjoy sharing their bed? Have they been to any sleepovers? Have they ever been camping? What did they think of the experiences if so?

When they were very young, Yasu and Chieko at times did sleep in the same bed. It was always rather fun for both of them, as they could tell each other stories till deep in the night and such. She also, to this day, at times has to share a bed with her little brother. Sleeping with Takahiro can be a bit more annoying, because Takahiro certainly loves to poke and tease his big sister a lot and falls asleep very hardly. However, once he is actually asleep, Chieko can’t really deny that another presence in bed is in one or the other way comforting. She won’t think of it as a great necessity though, until she actually shares the bed with a romantically loved one. Because then she’ll grow very fond of it. 

🍏 When your OC says “I had a bad day” what does that tend to mean? Is it really as bad as they’re saying or are they being a bit dramatic?

Chieko has a little knack for overacting a bit and she can certainly be a bit overdramatic here and there. Her saying „I had a bad day“ can very easily just be a string of just plainly annoying events that frustrated her enough to be grouchy for the entire day afterwards. 

🐉 How religious is your OC? Do they pray to any god(s) or do they not believe in that kind of stuff? What is their view of religion in general? Where do they believe people go when they die? If your OC is not religious why not and what do they believe in otherwise?

Chieko likes to say she’s an agnostic atheist. Personally she does not believe in any deity. However, she’s also one to pronounce that there’s no way of her safely knowing that there’s no deity or such. She just thinks that the proving of wether god/an afterlife exists or not is outside of mankind’s capabilities. 

Despite not being religious herself, she does think of religion as immensely interesting. Chieko’s a history-nerd in the end and the impact religion had on humanity all around the world is massive. And that’s just something she finds intriguing to analyze. 

💧 What is something from your OC’s past they’re the most ashamed of and why? What is something they’re really proud of? And lastly what is something in their past that could make them shake with dread?

There was a time in which Chieko, desperate to make female friends, would try to make herself out to be more exciting. She’d occasionally make untrue additions to stories she’d tell in an attempt to make them more thrilling or funnier. It’s something she has resigned off from long ago and she’s cringing whenever she thinks back to it. 

What she‘s, so far, most proudest over is getting invited to the inauguration party of Totsuki‘s new library wing. She got said invitation thanks to various teacher‘s recommendations as they named her as an excellent example of intellect on Totsuki.

🐟 What was your OC like as a baby? What were they like as a child? A teenager? An adult? How do you think they’ll develop ten years into their future? Twenty years? Will they live to old age?

Baby!Chieko cried quite a lot and mind you, she was fairly loud. Her parents always had a pacifier somewhere near because of it. Baby!Chieko was also fairly clingy to her father and would sometimes start to cry whenever he set her down. 

She remained a crybaby throughout childhood and would begin crying at any sort of slight misfortune. As a young child, Chieko was immensely shy and soft-spoken and she was practically famous for hiding behind her father’s legs at all times. At the same time, she showed a lot of intelligence early on and began reading and such at an early age while also always having a lot of enthusiasm when her father taught her something new. 

As a teenager, Chieko ultimately toughened up a lot more, mainly thanks to Totsuki’s rough environment and the fact that she had to fight repeated battles over the rights to her room. She’s not as easily brought to tears as she was a child anymore and she also became more snarky throughout the years. At the same time, she of course kept on expanding her knowledge in a wide array of fields and grew into a little genius. She’s capable of more than people give her credit for, but sadly barely any of the people close to her have noticed that she grew out of her former crybaby-self. 

Once she’s an adult, Chieko will have become a lot more confident. Both in her talents and also her looks actually. She’ll grow into someone very assertive. Career-Wise, she won’t become a chef that opens restaurants and stuff. She’ll probably keep on operating in the landscape of culinary, yes but in a different field than restaurant-owner. By the way, but once she’ll be a mother she’ll actually be much of a worrywart as her father was. 

🍇 Does your OC have any bad habits? Does your OC have any addictions like smoking or drinking? How did they fall into these habits and why? 

Chieko tends to overwork herself. Sometimes she just forgets to take breaks and then her mother finds her having fallen asleep on her books while studying for exams. 

She only drinks on Polar Star Parties. She’s a lightweight though and does not really know her limit all too well. In Polar Star she has Yasu there to watch over her and also generally trustable people, but her drinking around strangers could possibly be more problematic. 

🔮What does your OC think is their best trait. What is actually their best trait? What about their flaws? Are they one to admit these flaws or do they like to pretend they’re perfect?

Chieko herself would definitely name her intelligence as her best trait, but I’d say her best trait would be a combination of her hidden fighting spirit and a sense for justice. 

I think a flaw of her’s is that she does barely every allow herself to just let intuition take over out of worry to escalate a situation more than it already has. She makes her moves much more slowly due to overthinking and its also what mainly keeps her inner fighter and bravery hidden from most of the world. 

🌸 What’s a sentence that would make your OC’s day better? One that would make them laugh? One that would make their day worse? Why? What words would you have to say to them to completely ruin their day?

A sentence that would make her day better would be „I brought you green tea.“ She just greatly cherishes small gestures of kindness. It might not be much for the person who made her the tea, but it really makes her feel warm and fuzzy and like she matters to someone. 

Chieko is super easily peeved, so there’s honestly many things one could say to get her into a bad mood. One drowner is definitely when her dormmates confess they broke one of her things again. 

🌷 How much effort does your OC put into their looks? Do they care much about how they’re dressed or what their hair looks like or are they not bothered? Could they be considered a snob or a slob?

Chieko mainly puts effort in styling her hair and making sure her bun looks the way she wants it to look. She also takes pretty good care of her skin actually. 

On a normal day however, she wouldn’t be bothered to wear make-up or such at this point in her life. She thinks no one would notice anyway. Her casual wear is also mainly about being decent and proper in her eyes; wether or not it’s fashionable or not is second priority honestly. 

For some formal event, she’d put effort in dressing neatly and finding a nice (but still proper) dress to put on. However often her efforts just backfire, as she ends up thinking how silly she is spending so much time on make-up and dress when she’s really just a shadow on such a formal event. 

❤️ What inspired you to make this OC? How long have you had them? How have they changed in the time you’ve been developing them?

Chieko was the first fanchild ever created and I’ve had her since April or so 2016…I was just really excited about MarYu and wanted to try creating a fanchild for them. Because my OTP needed a kid ahshd. 

Chieko honestly hasn’t changed all too much personality-wise, although some of her more minor quirks and such changed from what I initially had in mind. What mainly changed about her is her story within SnKimiko. 

🧡 What traits of your own do you see in this OC? Are they a little bit self-inserty? Don’t be shy, we all put parts of ourselves into the creations we love!

Chieko comes closest to a self-insert of my Fanchilds. Thing is, that I also relate greatly to Zenji Marui to begin with, so what can you do? 

Chieko and I do have quite some things in common and also share a great deal of likes and dislikes. 

But in the end there’s still things about her that differ from me. Mainly the fact that Chieko does have an actual spine, while I’m a complete doormat. Her story about wanting to prove herself to a world that greatly underestimates her because of her looks and former crybaby persona is also something that I do not highly relate to. I’ve been underestimate here and there yes, but it’s not really a major theme in my life so to speak. 

💚 Are you writing anything with this OC or planning on writing anything for them? Do you rp with them or are they just for fun to mess around with?

I have….quite a few ideas for ShigeChi lately. Honestly I always have ideas for ShigeChi. I love them.

💗 Ramble a bit about this character!

Funfact, but the reason why I associate Chieko mainly with the color Blue is because Yuki & Zenji mainly wear blue in the colored version of the manga. Zenji’s polo shirt, which is colored orange in the anime-version, is actually blue in the manga while Yuki is rather often spotted wearing blue as well. 

So blue became not only Chieko’s favorite color but also the color I mainly associate her with. (It’s also my favorite color, yah) 

Another fun fact, but choosing a ship for Chieko was so chaotic. At first, I couldn’t really see her with anyone. Chieko is my precious baby and I needed everything to be perfect for her and out of the existing cast back then I just couldn’t really picture a very exciting romantic relationship for her with any of them. Later on I did eventually consider a few options…options that piled up more and more. There was a time where she had the most end-game-options to pick from. However, none of the options really did the ultimate „click“ on me. Finally I ended up developing Shigeo further and well…..

[bucky-iss-bae]

Little Miss CEO - (Billy Russo x Reader)

Heyy, so another multiple part fic here. This time its Billy Russo as the main man, and I just love writing with him, for real one of my favourites to write with. I know that there's so much I need to improve on while writing still. But I know this, and each fic is giving me more confidence. 

Fandom: Marvels The Punisher 

Pairing: Billy Russo x Reader 

Word Count: 2500 ish 

Warnings: Swearing, hella lot of swearing some anger. 

Summary: Billy and Y/N get set up by their friends, but they clash heads more than they get on. He thinks she’s a gold digger bitch and she thinks he’s Mr Obnoxious, are either of them, everyone else thinks that they’re too stubborn for their own good and probably get on. 

A/N: Hope you all enjoy, any feedback is welcome x 

Masterlist  Fandom list 

Little Miss CEO - Part One 

“Karen, why are you doing this again? I really, really, really don’t need to be set up”

“I’m not setting you up. We’re just going out to a bar, with a few friends”

“Your friends not mine” I whined whilst sitting on the couch and flicking through the channels.

My dear best friend and roommate is trying to get me to go out to the bar with her. She knows everyone that’ll be there, all I know is her partner Frank. I mean considering he’s a killer vigilante, he’s quite nice.

And apparently, the other two are both friends of his. One is Curtis, I know he works with those who suffer PTSD. And I have no idea who the final guy is. Let’s hope he’s as nice as Frank and Curtis are because if not then we’ll have problems. I Don’t know who else this someone else is. Mainly because she won’t tell me.

“Y/N!” She yelled, “Get your ass up, go get a cute jumpsuit on and let’s get going”

“It takes more than a jumpsuit to make me cute” I grumbled,

“I didn’t say you were cute. I just said get a cute jumpsuit” She said.

I glared at her, “Listen, if you want me to join you, you should consider being nicer to me. And let's not forget that I’ve got so much work to do. I don’t have time to go out. I see all my friends either at work, at home or scheduled in appointments”

“You’ve not got any work to do tonight babes. I know this, you have a day off and you mean it as a day off”

“Well, I need to go to the gym. Haven’t been since yesterday”

“You really don’t need to go gym either. Come on, let’s go get you ready”

I let out a whine, “I hate you”

“No, you don’t. Now come on”

I got up and she went to grab my clothes whilst I started on my makeup.

I didn’t do too much, mainly because I wasn’t feeling it tonight. Once I got changed and finished my makeup, I went out to join Karen.

“You look amazing. Now come on, we’re half an hour late already”

“You would’ve been on time if you didn’t drag me with you” I grumbled but we still left and took my car.

I honestly have a nice car, I have a good job, I work as a personal trainer and have got my own team of trainers. I also own a gym, where my team and I work. It’s successful enough, we all have our own high-end clients, we all train in different areas so there’s some of my team who are fighters, either ex-navy or ex-marines. Others are ex-fighters, used to specialise in MMA and then their own fighting style. Then there are others that went to college doing sports science, and enjoy sports and know how to train the body to lose weight or get in shape depending on the client. There are 20 that work for me altogether. But in the last few years, the team has really grown. And I’m proud of the company that we’re growing together, the brand I’ve created. But of course, I can’t do any work tonight because I’m being dragged out by my dear best friend.

“You haven’t got work tomorrow have you?” She asked when we were in the car.

“I’ve just got paperwork to do, a few collaborations with businesses, and need to get back to some potential clients, need to prepare a few things, I don’t even know”

“You overwork yourself you know. You need to find yourself a man, calm down a little”

“Ehh, I wanna work on growing my company first. I can find a man another day”

“Uh huh. You know you can multitask right?”

“Yeah, but I want to give it my complete attention to let it grow, a man will just be a distraction”

“Ok, well considering you’re working tomorrow are you drinking tonight?”

I smiled and shook my head, “Nah, I’ll be the designated driver for you and whoever else as long as they treat my car with respect”

“Uh huh. Then don’t give that open invite to anyone else”

I chuckled and we got there within 15 minutes. When we met everyone, well Frank looked at his watch and started laughing, “This has got to be the longest I’ve ever waited for you, you know” Frank said to Karen once they had both kissed in greeting. She sat beside him and I joined them in the circular booth and sat beside Curtis.

“Well she,” Karen said looking across at me, “Decided she didn’t want to join us, but I didn’t really give her a choice so getting her ready took forever itself”

“See, Bill decided he would meet us here and still hasn’t turned up”

“That’s if he turns up” Curtis added

“Wish I had that option,” I said smirking at Karen but sat down with them all, “But hey, how you both doing?”

“We’re good Y/N. How about you?” Curtis asked with a kind smile,

“Busy with work is how I am. But good other than that”

“And how’s business going?”

I nodded, “Good. Really good actually. Couldn’t ask for much more at this point”

“Yeah because all she literally does is work.” Karen said to them a small smile on her face, 

“Sounds like someone else we know. Here he is, thought you weren’t going to show Billy Boy” Frank said to his friend, Billy apparently.

Billy is a tall, handsome bearded guy. He was wearing a very nice and expensive looking suit. He had scars running down the left side of his face but nevertheless was still incredibly attractive.

“Well, I knew that if I didn’t turn up you would be on my ass about never going out,” He said sitting down beside Karen as she and Frank moved across, and looking at us all,

“Who’s she?” He asked bluntly looking at me,

“Y/N, she’s Karens best friend and roommate, Y/N this is sadly my brother Billy,” Frank said introducing us both

I nodded, “Hi”

He grunted in response, “See if you told me someone else was here, I definitely wouldn’t have turned up” He grumbled.

I rose my eyebrows in amusement, isn’t he an obnoxious one.

“Karen, what drinks do you want?” I asked her ignoring him,

“I’ll start with a margarita” She smiled,

I nodded, and got up, “Get me a whisky” I heard Billy say I rolled my eyes but grabbed my clutch and went to order from the bar.

I ordered myself a virgin mojito, Karen’s margarita and Billy’s whisky,

“Can I have this come a few minutes after the other two please?” I asked while paying, I mean sure I’ll get his whisky, but he doesn’t need to know this right away.

“One Margarita and one Virgin Mojito?” The waiter asked with two drinks a few minutes after I had sat back down.

“Didn’t you get my whisky?” Billy asked.

“Oh, shit. You thought that you could be rude to me then ask for drinks?” I asked him, “Sorry sweetie it doesn’t work like that,” I told shrugged, 

He glared at me and huffed out a sigh, “Karen you didn’t tell me that your friend was such a sensitive bitch”

“Oh did she not. Then I’ll quickly mention it. Karen's friend is a bitch so don’t treat her like shit”  I smiled at him.

Franks jaw hung slightly open as he looked at Billy who was glaring at me, a few seconds after a waitress came with his whisky.

She placed it in front of him but he still had a glare on his face, “Ok wow. This has been fun and we’re only two minutes in” Curtis murmured while sipping on his own drink.

Billy took this whisky and necked it back, all while maintaining eye contact.

“Yeah, it’s going to be a long night,” Karen said adding on to what Curtis said.

Despite what the two were saying the night wasn’t that bad. I mean Billy, prick of the year let me tell you that. He’s lovely to his friends, have a few banterous jokes with them, nice to anyone in passing the people serving our food, but then so rude to me. 

Not that I mind, I mean I know how to handle a dickhead or two. It didn’t stop me from having fun. But for real, he was nice to look at, if I’m honest. His beard trimmed to perfection, his hair slicked back nicely, and the suit he wore. Damn this man gave a different meaning to a man in a suit, shame that his personality turns him into something no one would want. 

You could tell he was well off, the way he held himself, the things he was wearing, right down to his shoes. You could also tell that he served alongside Frank. But I’m sure that he didn’t get his scars from the war.

I don’t know how the conversation got to couples and partners, but it did. Well, it started off by Frank and Karen talking about how they ended up together.

“You got any guys lined up then Y/N?” Frank asked with a smirk on his face.

I grimaced at that, “Don’t have time for that” I shrugged.

“Oh come on, you need to make time, I mean I’m pretty sure we all know your type, what's stopping you from finding that” Karen had a shit-eating grin plastered on her face, both her and Frank waiting on answer almost from me. Curtis just laughed with a shake of his head and I rolled my eyes,  

“For real, I don’t have the time or patience. I just about have time for myself, I mean like what is my type, for my type to be specific”

“Well...” Karen started,

“She likes a well-dressed man. Whenever she’s third wheeling and checking guys out. They’re always well dressed” Frank said pointing at me. 

I snorted, “A good fashion sense is key, and excuse me. You’re the one who crashes my coffee dates with Karen. And then you guys make me leave, this is after I’ve paid” 

“Shh, we live together it's ok. But the next point is a beard. She likes a well-groomed beard, you see anyone on anywhere that has a good beard and that’s it for you”

I rested my head back and let out a small laughed, “That’s true though. So true. It makes all the difference for me”

“What else is there?” Frank asked.

I lifted my head up and look at them, “How about no. That’s enough, there’s like no one in this bar that fits that criteria. And I honestly don’t have time for that type of shit”

“Listen, you work too hard and need to rest sometimes”

Considering she first-hand sees how hard I work. She’s always on my case about relaxing a bit. But I know as soon as I’m confident that my business and work life are where they need to be. I will relax. Until then I’ll prioritise my work life.

“Billy boy is the same aren’t you Bill,” Frank said, “No time to play just work, work and work”

“Well, when you’re running a successful business like I do. Then its justifiable”

“What do you do?” I asked him.

He rolled his eyes at me but still answered, “I run a business called Anvil. A security firm”

I nodded, I’d heard of it. Him saying that and I know I’ve heard of him before as well. Think his name is Russo. A dangerous man, who’s done a lot of bad things but redeemed himself.

I nodded at his answer, “That’s nice”

He had a glare set on his face once again, “You got something you wanna say?” he asked.

I shrugged, “Nah. Was just curious is all”

“I really didn’t think the two of these would clash like this” Frank muttered to Karen who laughed a little at this as did Curtis.

“What did you think would happen?” Billy asked them, he stared at them, and I just realised this was a potential set up, “Fucking hell. You’ve been trying to set us up, haven’t you? That’s why you were so adamant on me joining, and why you’ve been interrogating her”

The three of them were sat there with innocent smiles on their faces.

“I don’t need someone who’s probably a gold digger hanging around. And who says I’m ready for this shit after last time huh?”

“You walked into the last one yourself buddy,” Frank said to him whereas I just clocked on to what he said,

“Who are you calling a gold digger when I’m the one who’s been buying your drinks?”

“Well, clearly you are. I’ve watched how you’ve been drooling all over me, what I’m wearing. Probably trying to figure out how many figures I make, asking what type of business I run”

I snorted at that, “Oh sweetie. You really are an arrogant, obnoxious prick aren’t you?” I questioned leaning forward slightly. 

“And you’re a condescending bitch. You don’t see me calling you out”

“You literally just did. And let’s not forget the comments you’ve been making towards me”

“All I’ve been saying is the truth princess”

“Right, a gold digger, a sensitive bitch? You got a little butt hurt because I let you wait for your drink rather than you being a demanding ass just because you didn’t get it right away”

“Yeah a sensitive bitch. I mean whenever someone starts talking about something you don’t wanna be talking about you completely swerve the conversation”

“Am I now? At least I’m talking you're sat there acting all moody because you didn’t get told that a stranger would be sat here with you guys”

“Well, considering the way you acted when I said I’m CEO of Anvil”

My jaw dropped, “How did I act huh? Tell me because I know for a fact you're imagining things now”

He had a grimace on his face and shook his head, “Nah, see you may have hidden it well. I’ll give you that, but not well enough”

“You’re actually the sensitive one now. Wow. And you’re overreacting. What is there for me to say anyway?”

He didn’t say anything instead if looks could kill, I would be dead right now. He didn’t like what I was saying, everyone else was shocked at what was being said and I know for a fact that this wouldn’t be diffused anytime soon.

“Listen I’m going to go pay what I need to pay. Did you want me to pick you up later Karen?” I asked her.

“It’s alright. I’ll probably stay with Frank tonight alright”

I smiled and nodded at her, I sad bye to Frank and Curtis, apologised to them both and went to pay for my tab before leaving.

I cannot believe I had to endure sitting there with such an obnoxious prick.

** 

Little Miss CEO Part 2

[theomotaku]

Two Proposals and A Wetting

Today was the day! Goku was going to ask Vegeta to marry him. He made a reservation at the nicest all you can eat restaurant in West City for 6:00 PM, he bought the perfect ring, and he's even going to drive instead of flying tonight! He can't wait to see his (hopefully) soon-to-be husband!

Vegeta is so nervous. He is going to propose to Kakarot today. Kakarot made the reservation, so at least Vegeta doesn't have to worry about that. He does need to shower, get dressed, and he can not forget the ring! He goes into the kitchen. He needs a drink to calm his nerves. He picks up the first bottle of liquor he sees and takes a few gulps.

With the... He looks at the bottle... whiskey I his system, he's calmed down a bit and goes to take a shower. He considers using the restroom then, but he doesn't really have to go and he knows he'll need to use it again before he leaves. He goes into his room to get dressed.

After an hour if digging through clothes, he finds the maroon suit he wore when they met Arale. Thank Kami it was clean! He put the suit on and checks himself in the mirror. He looks perfect. He slips on a pair of white gloves. Then he takes them back off. Then he only puts on one. He feels himself starting to panic. He can't tell if he should wear his gloves or not! He needs another drink.

As he downs more whiskey, he hears the doorbell ring. Bulma answers it. (He still stays at Capsule Corp. He and Bulma love wash other, but more as siblings.) He hears her invite Kakarot in with a "Vegeta's still getting ready." He takes off his one glove, tosses it onto the table, and puts the whiskey back up. He all but flies back to his room to pull on his shoes and then greets Kakaorot in the living room.

Vegeta looks so adorable when he's flustered, Goku thinks. He realizes he should say something out loud.

"You look good, Vegeta."

"You do, too, Kakarot." He was wearing his beige suit that he's worn a few times.

Vegeta felt a twinge in his bladder reminding him that he forgot to use the restroom. Oh, well. Too late now. The two Sayains exit the house.

When they get to the car, Goku opens the passenger door for his boyfriend. Vegeta nods his thanks and gets in. Then Goku goes around and gets in the driver's seat. They take off.

Half an hour later, they're at the restaurant. Vegeta's bladder is uncomfortably full, but he doesn't want Kakarot to know about his delema, so he decides to hold it. The waiter shows them their seats and they order drinks. Vegeta realizes that he can slip away as they go out to the buffet area, and he does so.

When he reaches the restrooms, his bladder almost releases at the thought of release so close. He actually has to hold himself for a moment. He looks up and sees that the men's room is out of order. He looks to the women's room as a lady walks in. Looks like he'll have to hold it a while longer. He walks back to the buffet and piles his plate with everything that looks good.

Back at the table, Goku has just sat down when the waiter brings his water and Vegeta's wine. Goku tries to wait patiently for the Prince to come back, but it's hard to do. The food looks and smells so yummy!

Before long, though, Vegeta comes back with his food. They both dig in. Kakarot , unsurprisingly, doesn't bother to use any manners. Between that and all the alcohol in his system, Vegeta allows himself to relax and eat the way he wants to.

Before Vegeta notices, he's on his second glass of wine. He realizes he should slow down before he gets drunk. Just then, he felt a spurt of urine in his underwear. Shit! He forgot he'd been needing the restroom. He excuses himself under the pretense of getting more food, hoping there would be an open restroom now.

"Vegeta, wait!" Kakarot calls. He gets out of his seat and gets down on one knee. Vegeta freezes, watching the younger Sayain, though he has to concentrate on holding his bladder

"Vegeta, I know we've had our differences, but I wouldn't change that for the world. You're not only my boyfriend, but my best friend, my Prince, my insparation. Vegeta," he pulls out a little black box and opens it, "will you marry me?"

"Kakarot," Vegeta whispers breathlessly. "Yes!" Kakarot slips the ring on Vegeta's finger. Just then, the Prince feels a wet warmth spreading from his crotch.

"Woah, are you okay?" Goku asks his new fiancé as the older Sayain wets himself. Vegeta nods, but there are tears running down his cheeks. Goku hugs him and IT's to right outside a restroom at Capsule Corp. "Here, it's okay. Get cleaned up. I'll be back."

Goku IT's back to the restaurant. It looks like he managed to get Vegeta out of there before anyone else noticed or before he started making a mess. Goku finishes his food, pays the bill, picks up the car, and IT's back to Capsule Corp., this time to the driveway to put the car down. Then he searches for Vegeta's energy, but he couldn't find it. Poor guy. He's so embarrassed, he's hiding his energy, Goku thinks. He IT's to the restroom he left Vegeta in front of.

Meanwhile

When Kakarot left, Vegeta knocked on the door to the restroom.

"Someone's in here," Trunks calls. The shower is running.

Vegeta freezes in panic. He can't stop the urine from pouring out of him. He can't get to another restroom and he can't go in this one. He can't do anything, so he just let's himself cry and wet.

When he's finally done wetting himself, Vegeta flares his Ki to dry himself and the floor.

Trunks felt his dad's Ki flare up and assumed something was wrong. Every Z-Fighter uses something like that as a distress signal, right? He jumps out of the shower, wraps a towel around his waist, and bursts or if the restroom, just in time to watch the wet spot dry from his dad's pants. Trunks stares, mouth agape.

"Hurry up and get dressed, Trunks," Vegeta says, voice shaking.

"Dad...." Trunks feels bad for his father. "Um, are you okay?"

"Just get dressed, boy," Vegeta tries to command, but the words have no bite. Trunks obeys, however.

He gets dressed then comes back out. That's when Goku appears in front of him.

"Goku... do you know what happened to my dad?" the young demi-sayain asks. Goku isn't sure what the young prince meant.

"No, I'm looking for him, too."

"That's not what I mean..." Goku feels guilty all of a suddrn. He didn't realize he had been locking on to Trunks's energy until now.

"Yeah. And I think it's kind of my fault. I need to apologize." Trunks nods.

"Well, if I find him, I'll flare my energy to let you know. Once to tell you I found him, twice if something is really wrong. Can you do the same if you find him? I won't come unless something is wrong."

Goku sniles. Bulma' s kindness, Vegeta's strength, and both of their brains. Trunks is so smart! He agrees to the plan and they spilt up.

The first place Goku goes is the only place they actually had to look. Vegeta s room. Well, Vegeta is in the en suite restroom, but still. Goku flares his ki once to let Trunks know. Goku knocks on the door.

He hears Vegeta sobbing and the shower running, but the Prince doesn't answer him. He tried the door. Locked. He knocks again.

"Vegeta?" No answer. "Hey, I'm sorry that Trunks found out. I didn't realize I locked onto his energy. Please, just leery me in."

Goku hears a click. He waits for Vegeta to get back in the shower if he wants before he goes in.

"Kakarot," Vegeta's voice was rough, "why... how are you not disgusted? Why are you here?" Goku wrapped the smaller Sayain in a warm hug.

"It was an accident, and it's not that gross. It's just water." Vegeta didn't bother to correct this. "I love you. Even if it was gross, I would help you."

Vegeta closed his eyes and just enjoys the hug, trying to stop crying. Once he calms down, he invites Kakarot to join him in the shower, to which he says yes. Then they get dressed and go to find Trunks.

Trunks is okay with everything. He understood before they even had to explain. He, slightly awkwardly, tells his dad that its okay.

Just then, Vegeta remembers that he forgot the ring. He drags Kakarot to his room to give it to him. He gets down on one knee.

"Kakarot," Vegeta is very nervous again, "you annoy the hell out of me at times, but I can't imagine a better life. You... have already proposed to me, so I hope I can count on your answer, but. Will you marry me?" He opens the ring box and, when Kakarot says yes, places it on his finger.

[7deadlycinderellas]

The Second of Spring

Ao3 Link

 Sansa

Sansa expects anger the next morning, she expects disbelief. She expects someone (Father most likely, or maybe Robb) to have to be talked down from racing after them.

Sansa does not expect this.

The day is clear, and warmer than it has been in ages. The snow on the stable roofs has begun to turn to slush, horses being led out taking time to try and lick at it before being pulled away.

Everyone is energized by the sudden warmth, and this leads them all apart. Sansa doesn’t even see her parents while breaking her fast, and Bran leaves after only a few minutes to chase after Maester Luwin.

It’s not even until the evening meal, when, during Robb and Father discussing road clearing, when Father suddenly stops and changes topics,

“Has anyone seen Arya?”

Suddenly Sansa her face redden and her mouth force itself shut, while everyone else chatters

“One of the servants said she wasn’t in her bed this morning, but she does get up early sometimes.”

“Bran were you two causing mischief again?”

“No, I was with Maester Luwin all day.”

“I didn’t see her in town either,” Robb comments.

“Sansa was she with you when you were with the Septa?”

Sansa shakes her head, still squeezing her mouth shut.

They go back and forth for a few more minutes. It’s not even all that serious even. Everyone seems to assume there must be a reason.

Then Father makes a move to call over someone to start a search, when Sansa can’t hold herself anymore, and lets it out.

It’s not in words though. It’s a noise, like halfway between a sigh and a squeak.

It gets everyone’s eyes on her though. Sansa doesn’t like it, she’s never liked being put on the spot, even for something good. So once she realizes everyone is staring, she reaches into her pouch, pulls out the scrolls and hands them out without saying a word.

She’d sent off Jon’s earlier that morning. To her eye, it had felt the fattest, which made sense to her. Arya had always been close to Jon, she probably had a lot to say to him.

Robb’s isn’t too thick, and he’s always been good with his letters. Sansa can tell immediately when he’s finished reading, because he starts laughing.

Hard.

No one else reacts though.

Bran is the next. Somehow he doesn’t seem too moved. He ends by setting it aside and returning to his dinner with a soft, “That explains a few things”.

Mother and Father both take their time, and their expressions are solemn.

Then Mother puts down her paper and cracks a smile.

“Your sister could always be counted on to take things into her own hands.”

Father is the only one who looks pained as he finishes his letter, the longest one here. When he’s done, he sets it down on the table and rubs his eyes.

Then he meets Sansa’s gaze.

“She trusted you with this?”

Sansa can barely convince herself to nod. Inside she’s all warm though. Arya had trusted her with this, and that felt terribly important.

Father sighs.

“Be careful what you wish for they always say.”

“We did so wish the two of you would get along,” Mother adds.

Father stands, and gestures to Robb and Bran.

“The two of you, prep to leave tomorrow and follow them. I don’t want you to try and bring them back- not that I even think you could, you both know what your sister’s like when she’s made up her mind- but check on them. And once everyone gets to Storm’s End, try and get a feel for the going-ons there. See if you think Renly’s up to anything suspicious. There’s a few things I’d like to check into on the way as well, but I’ll bring you up to speed on those a bit later.”

Bran and Robb get up to attend to this. Robb looks dutiful, but Bran looks excited.

“And Bran, when the two of you return, I think it’s time we discuss you becoming a squire.”

Bran leaves to follow off his brother suddenly looking as if he’s on cloud nine.

“Are you really worried that Renly might have some sort of agenda?” Mother asks.

“Renly’s never feuded with his brothers; Robert and Stannis did enough for all three of them. But there are persistent rumours about him, specifically about his ability to produce heirs, so I feel it’s worthy to check up on.”

Sansa feels her heart sink. She had never thought this would be any bigger than just their family. She looks at Mother, who’s still smiling a bit, but also looks quite burdened.

“Are...are you really not angry at her?” Sansa asks carefully.

Mother takes a deep breath in. “Sometimes storms come out of nowhere. But sometimes you see them coming, dark clouds on the horizon and the smell of rain in the air.”

“We knew better than to promise your sister’s hand to anyone, especially without her consent. Her not being a firstborn made that easy enough.”

“You can prepare for a storm, take precautions. You can pray it will pass you by, but you cannot stop it.”

Well, that analogy seemed far too appropriate, considering where Arya was going. Sansa tries to pull up anything she knows about the Stormlands, and can’t recall anything other than them being known for being, well, stormy.

“Though now it feels as though I invited the storm into the front door.”

And with that, Father gets up to leave, but Mother remains at the table. Neither her or Sansa has touched their roast pork. Mother lifts her fork and takes a bite.

“I’m ashamed to say I never paid much attention to the boy.”

There’s a pause, and Mother looks at her long and deep.

“Did you? Did he seem good to her at least?”

Sansa nods sympathetically. “She told me she spent so much of her life thinking no one would love her without having to change herself, and that Gendry never once wished that of her.”

Mother breaks her gaze and returns to her food.

“Her naming day is in a fortnite. She will be seven and ten already. This game we play will take all of you from us at some point. I was so grateful for this winter, keeping us all together just a little while longer. But it seems winter too must end.”

Sansa and Mother finish their meal in silence, and Sansa leaves.

Dwelling on her mother’s words, she is suddenly grasped by a thought that fills her with glee.

Not only had Arya, wild, untamed Arya, gotten married, she’d been the first of her siblings to do so.

 Ned

“Have you decided if we should do anything to punish Sansa?”

Ned was still sitting up though him and Cat had retired some time ago. The day had been long and was still weighing heavily on his mind.

“I don’t see what good it would do. She’s never needed convincing to behave before, and I fear it might threaten her romantic heart.”

Cat was already stretched out in their bed.

“With spring coming, we should send out invitations to other families seeking matches for some of the others. “

Ned nods to himself, as mixed about the slow loss of his children to marriage as Cat had been earlier.

Cat laughs to herself softly again.

“I really was so certain Sansa would be first. If not her, Robb.”

“Arya befuddled all of us. At least we didn’t actually have to deal with Sansa marrying that Lannister brat.”

Ned pauses, suddenly deep in thought. Then he begins to laugh uproariously.

“I should write to Robert and tell him he got his wish. I’m not sure this is quite what he meant though.”

 Arya

Dear Sansa

I’m writing along the road so I don’t forget anything. I don’t want to risk sending Lyanna before we reach Storm’s End. Without her, I won’t have an easy way to reach you. So maybe this will be more diary than letter. I’ll send it all at once.

We’re just in the middle of the group, helping Mya keep her herd together. Edric is in front, and the rest of his guard behind us. I never realized mules could go so much longer than horses, you couldn’t tell by looking at them.

Gendry’s never ridden much, and you can tell. Thankfully, Mya’s herd is so sturdy, or I would fear him toppling out of the saddle. It would be awful for him to have to spend the rest of the journey stuffed into a supply cart.

I picked him a handful of snowdrops the other day. Where we are, they’re already showing their heads through the snow. We can sleep beside each other when we camp, but there are so many people we haven’t been able to lie together since the night in the Godswood. I guess we could, but it wouldn’t be worth the jeering, though part of me is so desperate for him to touch me I think I might have to.

Seven hells, I’m starting to sound like you.

*

The birds are awake again, Gods above how I’ve missed it. We woke to them singing this morning, despite the remaining snow on the ground.

Gendry keeps asking me what I’m writing to you. Despite Father having made sure him and all his siblings knew their letters, I think it’s still a bit of a mystery to him. I almost want to make him write something to you himself. Father’s right, the vast majority of smallfolk being illiterate can only lead to others taking advantage.

We’re getting close to Moat Cailin, it would be a good shelter but the snow is still so heavy upon its buildings. I hope Bran takes the time to look at it, he always loved the stories about first First Men.

I really hope they’re not trying to be stealthy, because one of the guards told us we were being tailed the second day, and soon after gave us a description.

*

Wasn’t able to write again until we got through the Neck. It rained the entire time that we were on the causeway. A couple of times we stopped hard when Mya’s mules wouldn’t go another step until it slowed a bit. Stubborn as a mule indeed.

It’s spring for sure here though. I don’t think most of these trees are the kind that ever lose their leaves, and their all as green as can be. Flowers in all colors too, peak up through the swamp waters, and along the sides of the causeway.

Gendry asked me about the people who live here. I told him what little I knew of House Reed and the crannogmen. How they hunted frogs and fished to survive, how they were still fierce fighters who were hard to conquer, and how a single graze with a poisoned arrow could fell a grown man. He just gazed out over the swamp and said it rather looked like one of the hells. I told him others had probably said the same of Winterfell. One of the other guards kept making japes about mudmen. If only I could make him regret that. Father always spoke well of Howland Reed. Gendry bristled at the jokes too. He’s a bit sensitive at people being made a joke of just for the fact of their births. He and Jon would have much in common.

The rain doesn’t let up at night, but someone in Edric’s caravan had the foresight to pack lots of oilcloth. There’s no real way to keep a fire going, so our camp is always dark. The storms combined with the cover they give, and the darkness of the trees has given us the first semblance of privacy since Winterfell.

This last morning before we passed through the end of the Neck, it was only raining lightly. The early morning sunlight was just barely making its way through the tree canopy, and the rain caught some of the light in its drops. It made for a strangely beautiful morning. Mornings like this I could understand being a mudman, rowing a boat through it’s waters, no matter what the world thought of me.

Then Gendey rolled over underneath my arm, muttered something about when we’re going to be getting out of here. Apparently he doesn’t appreciate being wet.

I wish I could tell Robb and Bran to be careful. If the rain keeps up the way it’s been, the causeway could wash out.

*

The inn at the Crossroads is a nice break from sleeping on the ground.

It wasn’t terribly full, so Edric treated us all to mead, and his singer sang a few rounds. Everyone was happy. I’ve never realized, but it’s really much easier to get to know people when you’re dry and warm and well-fed. Edric’s a bit dramatic to be sure, but he spins a good yarn. Honestly, you would probably find him intriguing, but we’re already sisters, so I don’t fancy you marrying my husband’s half-brother.

That seems to be the high point for Gendry. Father bringing him to Winterfell not only led to him finishing his apprenticeship somewhere nicer than Flea Bottom and getting something resembling a formal education, but also gave him an actual family.

There’s even more, Edric says. More than him, and Mya and Barra. As far as the sources he’s followed has been able to find, Robert fathered at least ten more bastards. Gendry officially has more siblings than I do.

It’s wonderful having an actual bed to ourselves too. More details to tell you, but you’ll have to visit for them, I’m not writing them down.

*

We’ve reached King’s Landing, and the skies are now mostly clear almost every day. I was hoping that we might be able to avoid having to pass through the city itself, but the roads around it are still flooded from the spring rains.

Gendry’s been a bit cross about it for a few days. Bad memories he says. King’s Landing, to him it seems, is just memories of crushing poverty and his dead mother. Maybe I’ll sneak off and get us a couple of apricot tarts to bring up his mood.

We did have a very interesting encounter with another group of travelers leaving the city while we were still camped outside the walls. Jamie and Tyrion Lannister, traveling in the very early morning, with both Tommen and Myrcella. Ser Pounce was even napping on Tommen’s shoulder, though he’s not as spry looking as he used to be. We didn’t exchange much more than casual greetings, but Myrcella did get to tell me that it was decided that her and her brother would be better off in Casterly Rock for the time being. Suddenly I remembered that rumor I told you about, and I hope nothing bad happens to them. Neither of them deserve it.

Also, Tommen’s taller than me now. If you’re fine with being surrounded by kittens, you might still get a chance to wed a prince.

The route through the city didn’t take us through Flea Bottom thankfully, Gendry was really quiet the whole day. He barely even nibbled at the tart I smuggled him.

At night when we were camped outside the gate, he whispered to me that the times I used to pester him in the streets while fleeing the Red Keep were often the sole bright moments in his days.

The guards say there’s no more sign of our tail. I hope Robb and Bran are well.

*

They’ve build a bridge over the Blackwater Rush. I wasn’t looking forward to the ferry, and neither was Mya’s herd.

Edric says we’re really close now, a few days away. And all of a sudden, I’m nervous. Neither Gendry nor I have ever met Renly before, we only know him by reputation. Edric tried to put my mind at ease, saying Renly was very far from serious about anything, much less scheming and trickery.

And then Gendry pointed out that as a blacksmith, he can work pretty much anywhere. He told me that if we had to flee, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

I swear Sansa, some days I really still can’t believe he actually loves me.

 Robb and Bran

The causeway had washed out. Badly. When the two of them had tried to ford through the riding water, Bran’s horse had become spooked and bolted. Robb has chased him into the marshes, and the two of them had become lost.

“What should we do?” Bran asks, seeming frightened and young again. His brother was nearly six and ten now, but once again sounded the role of the youngest child.

“We have to get back to the Kingsroad, it’s the only safe passage through the Neck”.

They do their best to follow the sun to find their way, but the canopy disguises it. And soon the rain begins to pour down even more heavily. Robb is beginning to despair.

Eventually they come to an area where the ground is fairly solid and covered by enough trees to be drier than what’s around it.

“We’ll stay here tonight. Try again in the morning.”

The ground is too soft to camp, so the two of them eat on horseback, and Bran volunteers to take first watch. Before Robb makes to try to sleep, as best as he could on the back of his horse, Bran comments.

“Going to be really mad if we go through all of this and Arya attacks us as soon as we get there.”

“Arya won’t attack us unless we try and take her home. Which we shouldn’t have to. You’ve spent time with Gendry, yes, he seemed like a good man to you right?”

Bran can agree to that.

“Still seems strange to me. I could never picture her in love, or as a wife.”

He also didn’t really understand what Gendry had seen in her.

“I could never picture it for any of you, you all seem so small to me still. “

“What about you?”

“Women are great, but I’ve never met one I wanted to spend all my life with.”

“That’s because you only meet girls with Theon.”

After that Robb finally manages to drift off, Bran stares off into the murky green-black darkness. It’s the strangest place Bran has ever spent the night, and he’s not sure he’ll be able to sleep when his turn comes. The swamp, rather unlike the forest, felt alive all around him, as if it had a blood and heartbeat all it’s own. There were chirps and squelching wet noises coming from things he could not see, and Bran feared something else would spook his horse.

After some time, he feels like his eyes have begun playing tricks on him. Spots of light seem to appear out in the darkness. In the shadows he thinks he might see a figure in one of the trees across the clearing.

Suitably ill at ease, Bran resists the urge to squeeze is eyes shut, and waits desperately for Robb to wake.

When he finally does, Bran thanks all the Gods, and tries to sleep. He barely makes it, when suddenly Robb is shaking him awake. It’s very early morning, only the tiniest hint of sunlight making it through.

And while there’s no figure crouching in the trees, there is a spot of lantern light across the horizon. It’s not coming closer though, it’s just hovering.

“Who are you?” Robb yells out into the semi-darkness. He doesn’t sound terribly lordly right now, but Bran doesn’t feel it either.

A figure emerges, holding the lantern in one hand, and a sharpened spear in the other. Bran can see that it’s a young woman, around Robb’s age, dressed in scale-leather, dark hair tied in a single braid.

She walks to them with confidence, and her spear clutched tight.

“I am Lady Meera, of House Reed. You are out of your place. State your reasons to be in our lands.”

Suddenly all the fear leaves Robb’s voice.

“Robb and Brandon, of House Stark. The section of the Kingsroad we were on is washed out, and we got lost. “

Meera looks them both over. She reminds Bran of Arya in a way, a similar wildness to her. He also notices that she’s rather beautiful, in a similarly wild way. She loosens her grip on her spear.

“My father, Howland Reed, spoke highly of your father.”

“And ours of yours”.

Meers nods to them.

“Follow me. You’re far from the Kingsroad, but we know other ways through the Neck. We’ll let you rest up and then get you on your way.

As Bran and Robb begin to follow Meera through the swamp, Bran notices several other people emerging from the darkness of the night. Several people in the dress of the Crannogmen, both on the ground and in the trees. Suddenly, last night seemed more normal.

And soon his gaze shifted back to Meera, leading them through the marsh.

Robb watches him warily.

“God’s above, Bran,” he thinks, “Not you too.”

[alitheamateur]

The Grind-Chapter 2

See what you’ve missed here …

We had been meeting at The Grind on Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s, & Saturday’s for the last two weeks. We discussed last names, home towns, the obvious sports, and the strange hatred we shared for cherry licorice. I took notes on the path that led him to becoming a fighter, & he filled me in on his basic training habits for a fight of this magnitude. He had been on the wrestling team throughout high school, & could’ve hand picked from the patch any college he wanted to attend, and a scholarship would’ve been offered on a silver platter. For a moment, I let myself envision Colton sporting a varsity letterman jacket marking the halls as captain of the wrestling team. The mental illustration may have produced an overdose of lust, which caused me to shift lustfully in my seat. He chose a rowdier way instead, consisting of drugs & some extra-curricular gambling debt, leaving him in need of some quick pocket cash before he quote, ‘got ran down by some greasy-haired bookie’. Enter, the dabbling inside the octagon. 

The first two matches he had managed to pin down had been easy defeats to his pleasant surprise, & a blue fired flame had been lit in his core. The adrenaline. The passion. The sheer ruthlessness was something he said he became dangerously addicted to. The rush of feeling alive, yet toying with combative death, replaced his desires of betting. As he climbed the latter of men’s’ competitive cage-fighting, his mom had fallen ill in the meantime. Leading him eagerly back home to her side, and promising to lay down his habitual drug use, and shady gambling. But the fighting, no. He explained how it had become his only way a life, and an outlet amid all the worrisome stress of his mother’s illness. And his speculations of my Pilot family beaming with excitement once I dropped the story onto their desks, had been correct. Ryan, my boss, had guaranteed me a full front-page for my “excellent snag.”

 This particular Saturday morning strayed away from the typical routine the two of us had settled into. Colton suggested I join him for his morning run through the city, and he’d show me around to some of the crevices of Pittsburgh I hadn’t seen. If I’m truthful, nothing about trouncing through the freezing streets of downtown Pittsburgh, in the dead of winter, at 4 a.m. appealed to my senses. However, the added minutes of Colton to my day, were ones I would gladly grasp on to. He offered to meet at my place, because it was “a real bad idea for a girl like me to be wondering alone in the streets at the break of daylight.”

Finishing my second layer of apparel, I took one last survey in the mirror dragging on the thermal elastic headpiece. My dirty blonde waves were tied in a tight ponytail, and I nixed the makeup, concluding this morning would involve ample sweating. I checked my watch spitting out the last remnants of toothpaste, assuring I wouldn’t have my running partner waiting. At that very second, I heard a heavy knock on my door. Spewing a nervous exhale, I made my way to the front of the apartment, loosening my tensed shoulders, and rolling my neck along the way. This was a simple run, not a date. He would probably have headphones stuffed in his ears the entire time, forgetting I was even tagging along at his side. So, why was my stomach twisting dopy somersaults?

I swung the dark green barrier open, and his freshly awoken, soft eyes trailed up my form. “Good-morning sunshine.” He checked his watch, “And I see you’re right on schedule.”

I slung the thick mane off my shoulder as a “take that” to his cheeky tone of surprise at my ability to flop out of bed this time of day. I squeezed the handle closing the door behind me assuring I had locked it, and we made our way down the silent stairs from my upper level abode.

“How far are we going again?” I kicked myself for only now deciding to request that particular information.  

“I tracked a course that’ll bring us right back to your place. It’s just 4 miles. You think ya’ can handle it, hot shot?” He smiled teasingly & began jogging backwards out of sight without any warning. What had I gotten myself into?

 Just as he’d promised, we completed his perfectly mapped out 4-mile route, ending at the very steps of my apartment complex. There wasn’t much talking along the way, but he’d shoot me a wink shaking his head, impressed that I was able to keep up. We decided to skip out on The Grind, & instead I extended an invite for coffee at my place.

“Make yourself at home, I’ll get the pot started.”

As I was pulling mugs & filling the Mr. Coffee, I watched him intently from afar. He began wandering around my living room looking at every picture I had framed on display. Senior prom with all the girls from the team, my best friend Sara & I on our unplanned trip to Mexico before I left home. He seemed genuinely interested in seeing more of me and his eyes smiled, meticulously observing a deeper look at my life in the snapshots. Who I really was, and where I came from. I could feel a warm snicker sneak onto my lips at the realization.

While the liquid brewed in the kitchen, I found my way back to the living room to join my guest. I dead-weighted myself onto the leather couch with a dramatic, exhausted sigh.

“And here I thought you were in shape after stayin’ on my ass this morning.” He laughed, making his way to the open seat next to me. I extended a light kick in his direction for the insult.

“Next time, my rules. Let’s see how the big bad cage fighter takes on 100 suicide sprints, huh?” Suicides were Coach Gibson’s chosen form of torture, and boy, did he torture us. I considered myself a master of the trade by sophomore year.

“Do you ever miss it? Basketball, I mean?” He propped his sculpted arm on the back of the couch and turned to face me, and his eyes held such sincere interest.

“Every day. It was my way of life. I think, maybe my injury was life’s way of telling me it was time to expand. Grow up, ya’ know? Time to make another name for myself.”

“You have no idea much I get that, Liv. Honestly. But, it looks like you done pretty well for yourself on ya’ own two feet out here.”

That was enough about me, and the basketball topic for today. Ball would lead to my parents, my parents would unveil the family drama, and it wasn’t the right time for such. I needed to shift his attention to something lighter, and quick. But the shift it took, was not one I expected.

“I still can’t seem to get warm! My whole face is numb,” I shuddered.

He reached his masculine hands over playfully to smoosh my cheeks in an attempt to warm my frozen skin, my lips forming into that of a duck face. I reached for his wrists, giving a weak effort to pry his scorching hands from my face with a chuckle. My doe eyes locked with his, and I watched them turn from lighthearted and tender, to darkly mischievous. Our bodies tensed in unison, and he lightened the grip he had on my now very flushed skin, but didn’t release. His dark shadow slowly carried itself into my personal space, and I knew what was coming next. I didn’t dare rush the intensity of this moment, nor do anything to stop the inevitable. The misty bluish orbs on his face danced from my eyes, to my lips. Eyes, to lips. Eyes, to lips. His left hand eased back a fly away strand of hair that was sticking to the apple balm on my mouth, then he coated his own lips before they finally reached their desired destination.

They were every bit as perfect, and downy as I knew they’d be. Instantly, my first reaction was to melt to doughy-like putty when his large arms slowly began to cloak my small form. I was nearly high from the sheer bliss, and my entire body appeared to lose feeling. Yet, it seemed feel everything in the air at the very same time. Limbs immobilized, along with my mouth, which was doing little to sustain its role in what was transpiring between us. I pinched my thigh between two fingers to awaken myself, & suddenly my body caught up with my mind. I reached my arm up to caress the back of his thick neck as he began to deepen the kiss, grazing my fingers through the baby hairs that laid sweat slicked there.

We just jogged 4 miles, how does he smell so good?

I could vaguely taste drops of salty sweat leftover from our morning adventure. His hands wandered over my hips to the small of my back, squeezing almost as if he didn’t realize his own strength. A glossy tongue tickled my lips gently requesting entrance. All too eagerly I obliged & opened my mouth to welcome him in with lazy a mewl of need. Our tongues danced to an unfamiliar rhythm in efforts to learn how the other moved. I could feel the build between my thighs becoming irrefutable, causing the stickler in me to pull away abruptly. I accepted this night would likely end with a forbidden visit from my battery-operated friend stored in my bedside table.

“Woah, Ritter. Let’s take a breather, yeah? Didn’t see that coming.”

His face still dangerous, minimal inches from mine he spoke. “Honest? I been plannin’ that one since the second I laid eyes on ya’, kid.” He winked & bit his pillowy bottom lip, nearly sending me choked over the edge of heated exile.

I dipped my head feeling the flush rise up my neck. Colton Ritter was pushing all the right buttons & he knew it. “How about that coffee now? Although, I’d say it’s plenty warm in here at this point...” I grinned.

I escorted him to the kitchen, seemingly walking with the legs of a clumsy fawn, and served him a dark cup of caffeine. He asked about some of the pictures he’d noticed throughout the house, & I told a few old basketball tales from my “glory days.”

“What would you say to gettin’ together again sometime, Liv? Someplace other than The Grind, & no damn sweats allowed. For either of us.”

I patiently held off on answering, giving my best effort to play it off calmly. “I think I could manage that just fine. I might even enjoy it, too.”

TAGS: @torialeysha @eap1935

[charleymountbatten]

The Journal of Charlemagne Mountbatten

Thoughts on my friends, an updated list: [since the last one might have been was a dick move on my part]

Astraea: Astraea is a hard shell on the outside. Her unwillingness to open up and to trust is understandable. The fact that she let me in at all is probably the greatest gift I could ever receive from her. Because yeah, she’s cunning, and opportunistic, and manipulative in her own uncharismatic way. But gods, she is trustworthy, once you’ve earned her trust in return. She’s so smart, and brave. She thinks things through and doesn’t just charge in blindly. The party has so many hot-heads (myself included) that we need her to balance us out, and I am so grateful we have her. And she is good. Unflinchingly good. She says she doesn’t understand love, but with her (secret) warmth, her protection, her endless patience with me, her utter delight at making me smile when I need it, and how much she tries to help others (no matter how begrudgingly she does it sometimes) - she doesn’t have to. I know she cares about me. That’s more than enough. I care about her more than I can say.

Poltak: I fucking love this guy. Never in my life have I met anyone who pisses me off more and who makes me instantly forget that fact. He’s hilarious, and knows how to party, and has been responsible for some of the happiest and funniest nights of my life. He’s a natural leader who cares deeply about those under his charge and those who he counts as his friends. I trust him with my life, knowing that I am genuinely safe in his hands. I appreciate his methods, even if I don’t always agree with them. I don’t know why he chose me to be his God Father, seeing as I don’t share his faith, but from what I can tell it’s a gift given to someone who is trusted enough to watch over, defend, and guide the one being baptized. I won’t let him down. He’s my best friend. No matter how much we butt heads (as a fighter and a diplomat are apt to do) I don’t think anything could ever change that. I’m so lucky to have him in my life.

Corellon: Corellon can be haughty and prickly, but I’ve come to know them too well to be put off by it. It’s all an act. They have little self-confidence and can’t understand why anyone would like them in the first place. It becomes a bit of a vicious cycle- self loathing leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy, but before they left things were starting to get better. They are a key part of this party, and a dear friend. They genuinely do care. Any time they acted like a dick, they corrected the behavior as soon as it was brought to their attention. They’re not a brawler like Poltak, but they are necessary to the success of a fight. And when we get out in the world, there is no one more skilled at forestry and nature than them. They are beautiful, still without a doubt the most gorgeous person I’ve ever met, but far more importantly they are a genuinely wonderful person. I could kill their father for how much he belittled them and made them think that they are worthless. Corellon has more value than the lot of their family put together, and though they still act tough, I think we have all wormed our way into their heart. When they return to us, I fear things will be as bad as ever for them. But I won’t ever give up on them, and I think at this point everyone else feels the same way.

Theren: Theren might just be the more adorable person in the world. I genuinely mean that. And he’s grown so much since we first met! His spells are getting increasingly powerful, his confidence in himself is blossoming, and despite every knock he’s had he’s somehow kept his vibrant personality. I do sometimes wonder what exactly his thoughts on his relationship are, and at this point I’m too scared to ask. I have also realized that I never actually get to spend time with Theren outside our light shows. This really saddens me. I’m loud and obnoxious and he’s quiet and studious, but we really do hit it off together. When we escape this city, I should take him to a bookshop. I think he’d really enjoy that.

Nels: I wish I was closer to Nels. We had such a lovely chat when we were first reunited and spent the whole afternoon together. She’s a lot of fun and has such a happy and positive personality. I think we take that for granted sometimes. She’s quiet, and I wish she’d come out of her shell a bit more. I’m happy that she seems to be doing so with Poltak and Theren. Maybe I can invite her out for drinks and bread, or something. I like her sense of humor, and how pretty her birdcalls are. She’s clutch in a fight (except against cats), and with how many disasters there are in this party, it’s nice to have someone calming to balance it out. We really, really need that.

Igor: Igor is a lot more fun than his stoic persona lets on. He’s driven by logic, which I don’t always understand (being the messy emotional bitch that I am), but I think we balance out pretty nicely. He’s got a goofy side, and he lets me bring it out. He’s a lot of fun to play chess with, and the fact that he actually seems to like wearing my gaudy costume is either a sign of a wonderful sense of humor or a complete lack of one- and I fucking love it either way. I am glad we’ve become such good friends. I don’t spend nearly enough time with him, and I know a lot of the time he has to come up to me. He definitely has some anger issues he’s working very hard to keep in check, and I think he feels like he has to prove himself no matter what. I don’t think the party helps with that, sometimes. I know I don’t. But I hope he knows how much I care about him. And I hope he knows that I appreciate his obsession with trying to plan out everything, even though nothing ever actually ends up going according to plan (and we rarely do what he suggests anyway). May that optimism never leave him.

Robin: The whole party hates Robin right now, and I understand the logic. If she had escaped with the pipes, they might have been trapped in that Apollo hell-scape for all eternity. Honestly, I doubt that would be the case. I’m sure Ashley would have helped eventually. Or they would have found another way out. But nothing is a guarantee, and I’d probably be more angry too had I been a victim myself. I still wonder, though, how willing a player she was in that disaster. I don’t know much about her patron, but the fae are not to be messed with lightly. For as much hell as she could have caused us, I do wonder how much more hell she endured for failing in her own mission. I hope she’s alright. She doesn’t strike me as evil, no matter what everyone says. To be fair, I don’t think she’s good, either. I don’t trust her. If it came down to her patron or us, she’d kill us in half a heartbeat. Like any of us wouldn’t do the same, though, in her circumstances. 

Ashley: I don’t understand him, and it’s certainly not for lack of trying. Ashley has been through hell. I don’t know much about the war (I was so young when it ended) but I did hear stories from fellow bards and travelers about its atrocities. I don’t know where he served or what he did, but I know it was bad enough that he drinks just to get through the day. I wouldn’t mind any of it, except that he gets so upset when I don’t know what’s going on in his head. It’s hardly my fault! He’s never actually confided in me. Gods, he can be such a dick. Never admits when he’s wrong, never apologizes when he hurts you, treats you like an idiot if you don’t see things his way or understand his logic. I could hate him, if I didn’t fucking adore him so much. He cares. When it counts, he really cares. He goes out of his way to help people. He’d die for each and every one of us. He’s charming, frustratingly charming. And honestly, he probably feels more than all of us put together, if he didn’t try to drown it all in liquor. I know, in the end, he’s a great man. I hope someday he’ll be a good one too.

Kyr’zhan: I honestly think Kyr’zhan is the first person in my life to ever see me for who I want to be. He became my friend not for the music, or the persona, or the title, or anything else, but for me. He broke down all my walls, and he is earnest enough that I’m not even scared that he did. He doesn’t judge me for my past, or even get mad when I fuck up now. He offers advice, corrects what can be improved upon, and never once made me feel bad about myself. He’s endlessly compassionate, and in the short time I’ve known him he’s given me a sense of self-worth and confidence I’ve never had before. Considering how people treat drow and how he constantly must hide his face out of fear for his life, his faith in the good of the universe is endlessly inspiring. He has a quiet sarcasm that I find hilarious, and he sees the beauty in everything. Nothing seems to bring him down. Even his nerdiness is cute, damn him. And despite not knowing Corellon, he’s gone above and beyond to help save them. He’s like a comet, shining light on everything around him as he goes on his way across the stars. I’m going to be devastated when he leaves. Even if this is just a fling, and not true love, I could live a hundred lifetimes and not meet anyone quite like him again.

[shogetsus]

Stripes of Auburn, Eye of Sapphire

10. Mai

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Summary:  "Soooo, anytime you want to let go of my hand, I can—" She adds with a hint of sarcasm, although doesn't truly mean that, deep down.

"Don't be shy, kitten. Come on!" His bright grin breaks all possible attempts for a negative, "I promise I don't bite… unless asked for, sure thing,"

Mai snorts, shaking her head as to try hiding the amused smile in her face. Somehow and for all intents and purposes, that hurricane of a man manages to draw her in every single time, as if they're bound by invisible handcuffs or another power in the universe.

Spoiler alert! - Mitsunari and Shingen's route.  (I'm smooching and giving a golden star to the one who figures out the sort of easter egg here (?))

Mai

“Hey, settle down, you. We’re about to meet your ‘dad’, don’t be impatient,” The rowdy tiger in her arms meows longingly, refusing to stay still, making her flinch in pain as he claws on her shoulder. “Ow, ow! That hurts, boy!”

Coming to a stop, Mai first works on detaching the cub off her kimono, bringing him to her eye level and shooting a stern glare, straight into his yellowish eyes. “Alright, let’s make this straight. I want no clawing and no biting. Otherwise I’ll have to punish you and believe me, neither of us wants that. Are we clear?” As she formerly predicted, the little tiger doesn’t hold her gaze for much longer, rumbling softly and casting his eyes down to the floor, pretty much getting her warning.

“That’s a good boy,” Mai flashes a big smile and readjusts her grip on him, scratching the back of his ear as to reward that improved behavior. She gets a delighted purr in response. “Ah, you like this, don’t you? Aw, seems you do, yes you do!”

It’s a stroke of luck the ear scratching gesture appears to be generally accepted by all felines. And with the tiger quite more at ease—still squirming a little, yet at least not as desperate as he seemed to be put down after coming to a mutual understanding—by the time she reaches the northern side of Azuchi castle and Masamune’s manor comes to sight, Mai once again almost forgets why she was coming over there in the first place.

A pair of men clad in blue robes is stationed by the entrance, chatting idly. One of them, who she can only guess to be Masamune’s chief vassal, merely judging by the clothing, acknowledges her with a once over as she approaches.

“Excuse me. I’m the new chatelaine, Mai, and I’ve come on Lord Nobunaga’s orders,” It’s hard to put up a sort of business stance with a playful tiger cub in her arms, but apparently she doesn’t have to as the Date vassal bows down to the waist.

“Oh, greetings, Princess Mai. We were expecting you,” The man says with an inviting smile, stepping aside for her to pass with a respectful flourish. “Lord Masamune awaits you inside.”

“Thank you. Um, huh?”

Two rows of vassals come into view, all standing in attention and lining either side of the hallway to the main entrance. Moving forward, each pair she passes bow down in sync with her steps, looking pretty much like a royal reception… or walking into a haunted house, it’s hard to tell.

She does her best with keeping a straight face as she goes, struggling not to squirm. What’s the guy really up to? First I’m a poison tester, then a sword fighter, next an animal tamer, and now I’m treated like a princess? What the heck?

As she reaches the end of the hall, the door opens before her.

“Welcome, Mai…”

A warm and refreshing as spring voice drifts to her, the ears of the cub in her arms tilting up in recognition. As if a spell would be, Mai’s drawn inside by Masamune Date’s quite distractingly charismatic smile, finding him sitting with his legs folded before a small desk. And if she’s a Princess, there’s no doubt in her eyes he could absolutely be the charming Prince from tell-tales of old.

But he most certainly knows that, judging by the amused glint in his beautiful eye. “Looks like Shogetsu’s found a friend. He doesn’t usually let people hold him. Scratches and bites are all he does, the imprudent kit…” He mentions, appearing satisfied.

Huh, so, Shogetsu, written like “bright moon”, she guesses. Right, it takes merely one look at Masamune and she can tell he has a moon theme going. Yet even when both owner and pet are making it terribly hard for her to make a solid stand on her next reasoning, Mai knows in her heart someone at least has to.

It may as well be her. “And that’s even the more reason you can’t keep him!” Her lips purse tight, determined to stand her ground—even if the little cub may or may not already have been growing on her.

The sheer confused look in his face wasn’t entirely expected. “What? Why?”

“Because he’s a tiger! And he may be a baby now, but that won’t be for long! He knocked the wind out of me. What if he hurts or kills someone?” Stalking over to his working desk, she unceremoniously drops Shogetsu into Masamune’s lap. “Tigers aren’t pets!” She remarks with the best stern look she can manage.

However, Masamune looks all the more stunned for it and doesn’t say anything; his one gorgeous sapphire eye wide open, dangerously threatening to break her resolve just as simple as with a look. What!? You have no call to look at me that way! I haven’t held a sword to your throat or kept a lethal pet!

But then, he looks genuinely shocked. And to add up to the torture, Shogetsu joins his owner and casts his big and bright yellow eyes towards her, meowing ever so softly. “… Mraow?”

Her heart all but melts at that. Oh, fine!

Huffing in defeat, Mai pinches the bridge of her nose. “Look, as chatelaine, we can’t have any ‘imprudent kits’ on the loose.” She remarks sternly, “Just… make sure your kitten doesn’t stray,”

She’s about to turn on her heels before recalling that’s actually not everything she has to say to him. At her flourish, Masamune snaps out of his daze. “I see…”

“Well, that’s good, milord.” Even sitting cross-legged, he appears taller than life, his single eye intensely fixed on her, idly scratching Shogetsu’s cheek.

Slowly, he breaks out into another of those delightful smiles of his, the sort of one that spreads all over his face. “You surprise me again. I knew I wasn’t wrong about you!” He grins like a child after getting his birthday present, “And it’s just Masamune,”

“O… kay?”

“You scolded me before even saying hello!” A wholehearted cackle bursts out of him, his gaze full of mirth. “I like that boldness! Although… it’s not the only thing I like about you…”

Her treacherous heart comes back to life at his honeyed tone, skipping a couple of beats. “Um, okay, alright,” As hardened as Mai considers herself to be with shameless flirts such as him, a faint blush creeps up her cheeks nonetheless. “That was rude of me, I’ll admit that. So… hello, Masamune,” She remarks the informal usage of his name with a sheepish smile, “But listen, we need to—“

Completely out of the blue, Masamune snatches her wrist with fast reflexes that can only be compared with the feline currently squirming out of his lap, dragging her down next to him. That crescent smile and so vivid eye—that mysterious eyepatch—surrounds her entire line of sight. Leaning even closer, his warm breath fanning her face and a very alluring glint in his gaze, Mai’s conscious there’s no such force in the universe that would help her look away from the rapturing spell in that single eye; her brain sending her signals completely not related to work whatsoever.

“It’s alright, kitten. I won’t let you stray… again,”

Mai’s head tilts to the side just slightly as if hypnotized, feeling wrapped by an ocean of sapphire she’s almost too willing to sink and drown into. And his hand affectionately cradling hers is the precise amount of warm, a strong part of her very inclined to admit how appropriate of a time it is to start meowing.

And yet, that spell he just cast on her comes to an abrupt stop once Shogetsu prowls about, surely becoming bored and lonely, before exiting through the door she’d come in from.

Snapping her mouth shut—and for how long has she been staring at him slack-jawed!?—and shyly clearing her throat, she recovers some of her composure by attempting to give him a small piece of his own medicine.

“You say that… while your tiger just ran off again,” Mai says sultrily, conveying the same honeyed tone he used on her, playfully tugging at the black straps of his cape. “Maybe reconsider your caretaking ways. Leashing him could do, for starters,”

Masamune’s charming smile falters, yet only briefly, going wider as he can’t seem to help to laugh out loud. “I’m not the kind of man who’d turn someone against their nature. He’s free to roam where he pleases,”

That admission is certainly something she appreciates, but at the same time Masamune’s acquiescing ways can’t help but feel a tad bit problematic, at least in the long run. Or, for starters, just in that moment; as she considers about ditching the whole situation herself, yet it’s equally oh so tempting to stay right there with him, having a presumably very easy conversation.

Taking a defeated sigh, Mai opts out for spill out her concerns before anything else. “We need to talk about this morning, by the way. What the heck was all that about, honestly?”  

“Before I answer that, am I your last stop for today?” She nods, not giving it too much thought. “Perfect! That should give us enough time. Let me walk you back and I’ll tell you on the way,”

Tenderly squeezing her hand, Masamune rises to his feet, prompting her to do the same and walking her out. “Kojuro! I’m going out! You and the guys watch the place while I’m gone.” The vassal named Kojuro who’d led her in and the two rows of the other guys in the hall all answer enthusiastically in the affirmative. “And remember this will be our place for a while, so suit yourselves…” He reminds them, speaking past his shoulder as they turn on the corner.

“You don’t have to walk me anywhere, Masamune. I’m comfortable with the castle now, I can get back on my own just fine,” Mai can’t help but say, not wanting to be a bother. “Soooo, anytime you want to let go of my hand, I can—“ She adds with a hint of sarcasm, although doesn’t truly mean that, deep down.

For some reason her comment does nothing but goad Masamune on, tucking her hand in the crook of his elbow instead. “Don’t be shy, kitten. Come on!” His bright grin breaks all possible attempts for a negative, “I promise I don’t bite… unless asked for, sure thing,”

Mai snorts, shaking her head as to try hiding the amused smile in her face. Somehow and for all intents and purposes, that hurricane of a man manages to draw her in every single time, as if they’re bound by invisible handcuffs or another power in the universe.

And as he takes her through downtown Azuchi, she resorts to stop swimming against the tides for once—knowing deep in her heart it’s becoming almost impossible to stay away from the force that is Masamune Date. 

“Would you look at that sky, kitten…”

Mai follows Masamune’s eyes, both humming in appreciation at the clear sky above, a pretty much tolerable cold breeze brushing past as they stroll together throughout town. As for having already given up on her hand, still tucked in his elbow, she allows herself to enjoy their idle walk.

“By the way, I have all I need at my manor,” Masamune points out, dropping the subject entirely before it even began.

“Right. Crap, I was about to ask you that,” She mentally slaps herself—leave it to him to make her completely forget about her job, and on her first day, no less. “But wait. You knew why I was coming to see you?”

He shoots her a sideways glance, “I’m the one who told Nobunaga to give you this task in the first place…”

“Really? Huh. And why is that?”

Shrugging as if not considering it a big deal, his eye returns to their surroundings. “You looked apprehensive about the size of the castle and the people in it. Now you’ve got some faces to put to all the manors…”

Idly stroking her fingers with his free hand before going chilly from the breeze, they briefly fall into a companionable silence, leaving Mai to ponder. In truth, she did think it was a good way to spend her first day on the job.

Quite at ease with each other, her eyes wander as they stroll past a tight row of merchant stalls, displaying multiple sources of shopping—from fabrics, housing adornments, to jewelry for women. Sadly so, the latter stall seems particularly packed up for her to take a better look at, the broad back of a tall man in earthen-colored robes covering half the shiny merchandise on display.

It’s not like they were out for shopping either way. “So, let me guess. Were all those tricks a way to make sure I remember everyone?” Mai wonders, shooting Masamune a questioning look.

He cackles loudly, as free and careless as the breeze brushing past them. “Ha! No, I set those up so you wouldn’t get bored, of course!” Why, how nice of him. Mai can’t help but snort, not truly mad at the fact yet not appreciating it either. “Did you enjoy them? I wanted gifts that would make you feel welcomed,”

She tugs scornfully at his blue sleeve with her free hand. “Those weren’t ‘gifts’ per say, Masamune. They were more like pranks!”

The glare she sends his way doesn’t make him flinch in the slightest. On the contrary, his smirk turns smugger, “You could just admit you had a fun time, you know…”

“No, I really didn’t!” She rolls her eyes, huffing exaggeratedly. “But maybe Mitsuhide did, though…”

Either way, they could keep that circular argument going all day to no avail. Whatever complaints she lodged with Masamune, so far it looks like it’d run off him like water off a duck’s back. I should probably take a page out of his book. Though that reminds me of my poor sketchbook!

As they turn on another row of stalls, presumably about to make their way back to the castle, people seem to recognize him—or most precisely, the female audience.

“Look, it’s Lord Masamune!” A woman nudges her lady friend’s side, happily waving their way. “Oh, is that the beautiful Princess everyone’s talking about?”

What? They know about me already? But I’ve barely spent less than a week here!

“Aaw, they make a lovely couple!” The second woman appears to squeal in delight.

Masamune’s smirk turns into a full impish grin, tilting his head politely in greeting at the onlookers, but otherwise looking so blatantly full of himself to correct the women—his chin a little straighter, shoulders more squared, clearly appearing to show off. A couple, huh? Oh, if only they knew.

To their credit, walking arm in arm probably made it look like a couple. Romance and dating, especially the latter, must be another one of those things that’s changed drastically in 500 years. Regardless, she’s quite honestly the last person to talk about on the matter.

Well, for better or worse, at least it looks like I’ve made a friend here—if I can call him that.

Testing the waters on that tidbit, she gives Masamune a friendly nudge with her elbow. “Didn’t take you for showing off,” She says low, only for him to hear.

“I’m not hearing you complain about it, kitten…”

The so charming smile he sends her way makes her flush all in a sudden, prompting her to change the subject before making an embarrassment of herself. “So, um,” Mai coughs awkwardly, “That was a pretty short answer to my former question, by the way. It certainly didn’t require a whole walk. Why didn’t you just tell me at your place?”

Masamune quirks a curious brow, “For all that questioning, I thought I’d already answered that as well,”

“Um, no? I’m pretty sure you didn’t?”

“Oh, so, when you want to know something in your future time, you just stand there and talk about it?” He wonders, hinting some disbelief in that fact alone.

“Well, generally, yes…” Mai is inclined to admit.

He shrugs at that, also seeming inclined to accept that. “To me, action is a more reliable way to get an honest answer out of someone.” Right, that brings her back to the events of last night with the sword display. Honestly, I’d rather talk. “Also it’s a lovely day out, don’t you think? Good for exercise,”

On that, she can wholeheartedly agree with, giving him an appreciative smile before falling into another comfortable silence. On their way back to Azuchi Castle, Mai can’t help glancing at him from time to time, watching the way the midday sun takes on the best of his handsome features. Drifting onto her thoughts, she sizes up how best to handle a man like him from there on. Is he just optimistic? Sure that he knows best and can’t possibly be inconveniencing other people?

One thing’s for sure, and that’s Masamune seems to be permanently set at high speed, although it isn’t precisely a bad thing. To be fair, she should have figured that out from their horse ride on their first encounter. And yet, for how slow everything seems to work in that past time, Mai won’t deny it’s a nice change of pace.

“You’re a very different kind of man.” There’s no real judgment in her musing, merely stating out a fact.

However, Mai doesn’t realize she’d been voicing her thoughts until Masamune turns another curious brow back at her. “That’s a compliment, right?”

The subtle doubt in his voice tempts her to tease him a little for a hot second, but opts out of it a moment later. It feels somewhat rude, after all, and he did just take her out for a walk. “Just in this case, yes.”

Mai allows herself a genuine smile and he returns it with a dashing one of his own, about to approach the main gates of Azuchi Castle. All in all, Masamune Date seems to get a lot of pleasure out of life while blithely ignoring the rules and to be quite honest, she finds that admirable—if not also partially relatable.

“You haven’t slept in three days!?”

Her breakfast tray almost falls off her hands, gaping at the relaxed figure of Mitsunari Ishida like a fish out of the water. Being that involved in a book is certainly a skill, but as impressive as it is, seems it’s also dangerous.

“It’s not that unusual, and I probably won’t pass out,” The young strategist is quick to come up with an excuse, appearing fairly used to do such a thing. “Although I typically only do that when we’re busy,”

As he sets his reading glasses aside, she begins to come to the realization of what everyone was trying to warn her about. I think I understand why he walked into that pillar now…

“Those glasses look cool. I didn’t know they had been invented yet…” Mai is inclined to admit as he sets the tray between the two of them on a spare table. It would’ve been truly sad if a bookworm like Mitsunari seems to be couldn’t be able to read properly. Plus, they seem to look very nice on him, and the thin silver frames set his amethyst eyes off in a really pretty way.

“Invented… yet?” At that, her eyes go wide.

“I-I meant, um, I haven’t seen people use glasses around here, um—“ She stammers, cursing her stupid tongue inwardly. This is totally my fault for spending too much time with Masamune. Seven hells! “Soooo, just tell me, is the rice of your liking, Mitsunari?”

Hoping he’d forget about her slip, turns out he does so more easily than what she’d have expected. “I don’t know if I have a preference for any particular food,” He admits with a shrug while folding his legs and taking a seat before her on the table. “I’ve always eaten these because it’s convenient,”

Almost as if to prove a point, Mitsunari hurries through his tray of breakfast in the same way he did the other morning with Masamune’s zunda-mochi, as if the act of having a meal is an obstacle. “The sooner I finish eating, the faster I can get back to reading. The last time I ate I had dried rice too...” ‘The last time I ate?’ Why don’t I like the sound of that? “That’s it. It was the day before yesterday.”

“The day before yesterday?" Astounded, all she could do is repeat what he’d said.

“I had so many good books arrive yesterday morning that I couldn’t wait to start reading them. Luckily, that one I just finished was the last.” Mitsunari quirks a sheepish smile before wolfing down another piece of rice in a mere second.

… How are you alive?

Sure thing, her own lifestyle couldn’t be considered the healthiest in the world—not even to her modern age standards—but Mitsunari’s case sounds practically inconceivable. “That’s… that’s—“ Mai struggles to come up with real words, all but astonished. “That’s not good at all, Mitsunari. You can’t keep living that way,”

She’s not truly the type of scolding people on their preferred routines, but as far as it goes, Mai’s pretty much obliged to do so. Besides, his health is actually one of the perks of her current job.

For the matter, whatever retort he might have had, he doesn’t seem to have it at all, flashing another of his terribly endearing smiles. “I didn’t expect you to care so much about me. I’ve never met someone as thoughtful as you before, Lady Mai!”

That’s definitely not the reaction she was expecting in the first place, looking away sheepishly when his amethyst eyes twinkle happily, just like she might from looking at so bright sunlight. For reasons partially unbeknownst to her, he seems truly pleased.

And that’s not bad per say, but why is he so pleased to begin with? “I just want to see you healthy and happy, Mitsunari,” All she feels about doing with that is shrug it off a little, “Take it from me, but living this way may hurt you in the long run…”

Setting his cup of tea aside, he reaches for her hand. “Thank you for your concerns, that means so much to me,” The blinding smile in his face falters just slightly, yet he sounds genuinely grateful all the same. “And since it matters to you, I’ll put in the effort. On that, I promise,”

Mai tilts her head in partial surprise until a grateful smile of her own reaches her lips. That’s a wonderful start! Finally there’s someone willing to work with me!

It’s been scarcely a week and a half since her arrival to that detached, dangerous time in the past, but it’s thanks to Mitsunari Ishida’s sunny smile that she feels truly welcomed among the people she met there, her mood improving drastically. Getting news of Sasuke’s whereabouts would certainly make it all the better, but making another friend in the young strategist feels quite comforting as it is.

And so, while watching him finish breakfast and more at ease than in the past days, Mai settles for facing the rest of the day ahead much more positively. 

… And to her disgrace, her bright mood only lasts for so long.

Humming low in partial concern and anticipation, she stumbles upon no one else than Mitsuhide Akechi on the dim-lighted hallways, appearing to be returning to his quarters with a pile of books in his hands. “Oh, hello, Mitsuhide. Still working this late?”

Quirking up one of his mobile brows, he looks down at her, “I’m afraid some of us cannot afford a good night’s rest,” Mitsuhide excuses himself with ease, his golden eyes appearing to come alive with a gleam of curiosity, “But I could ask the same of you, dear chatelaine,”

“Well, Nobunaga has just summoned me to his tenshu…” She shrugs, hoping that to be enough detailing, not truly looking forward to being the subject of his scrutiny, of all people in the castle.

If he has any reaction whatsoever, Mitsuhide seems quite the master in hiding it. “My, my, has he already?” He just says, a very impish smirk creeping up to his elegant lips. However, he doesn’t lean her in whatever off-putting thoughts he may be having, stepping aside for her to pass. “Why, don’t let me keep you then, milady,”

Mai shoots a skeptical look at that, but the mysterious warlord is quick to be out of her hair to notice, disappearing past a corner without further ado. Determined to not let that ruin her nice mood, she pulls Mitsuhide’s vague commenting out of her mind and goes on her current matters at hand, walking the stairs up to Nobunaga’s tenshu.

Out of politeness, she knocks on the door before seeing herself in. “Excuse me,” The Lord of Azuchi Castle meets her on his working desk, barely bothering himself to acknowledge her. “I’ve been told you wanted to see me, Nobunaga,”

“Yes.” More than at ease for her personal liking, Nobunaga carefully sets his writing brush aside before meeting her eyes. “Tonight, I shall bed you.”

WHAT IN ALL HELLS AND HEAVENS!?

Tenshu: An architectural typology found in Japanese castle complexes. They are easily identifiable as the highest tower within the castle. 

[sorenmarie87]

A Halloween to remember.

Summary: You are force by your roommate to invite people to a Halloween party she’s throwing.  When the two people you like show up together, your roommate comes up with an idea - bring a date and make them jealous.  Is this going to work?  

Square Filled: fake dating (SPN Kink Bingo) Pairing(s): Dean x Reader x Charlie, Cas x Meg, Sam x Eileen, Crowley x Reader Word Count: 2,631

Warning: Mentions of past Destiel, Sexual situations.  Show references.

A/N: Written for @spnkinkbingo.  

I wanna thank everyone who helped me out with this fic in particular, you’re all amazing.  I wanna give a huge shout out to @fictionalabyss - she looked this over for me.  This is the first time I’ve written a fic this way, so let me know what you think.  Also this is the first time I’ve attempted writing Meg, so be gentle.  

I do not own the pictures in my story aesthetic - I found them on pinterest.   

Forever Tags - @lovetusk​ @coffee-obsessed-writer​ @mirajanefairytailmage​ @srj1990​@aquivercactus ​@kazosa​ @soythedemonqueen​ @docharleythegeekqueen @holyfuckloueh @ellen-reincarnated1967  @buckyscrystalqueen

SPN Tags - @clockworkmorningglory @underestimatemethatwillbefun @nyxveracity @lefthologramdeer

SPN (Crowley) Tags - @gettinjoyful @wholita

Y/N created the room Halloween Party

Y/N added Dean, Charlie, and Sam to the chat.

Y/N - Roommate and her boyfriend are throwing a Halloween party and told me I had to invite people.  

Dean - I don't know sweetheart..

Charlie - Really guys - where's your Halloween spirit?

Dean - In the bottom of a bottle…

Sam - Dean please.

Y/N -  …

Y/N - Please guys.  I don't want to have the talk with Cas again about how my people skills are rusty.  You don't have to stay the whole time.

Charlie - Costumes?

Y/N - Of course ;) I'm kind of stoked for mine.

Sam - Dean, let's go costume shopping.  See ya later Y/N.

Dean - See ya at the party sweetheart.

Sam and Dean have left the chat.

Charlie - Any hints on what you're going as?

Y/N - Nope.  You'll have to find out the night of the party.  

Charlie - Time to go pull together an amazing costume.

Charlie has left the chat.

Y/N - I can't wait to see what they put together.

Y/N has left the chat.  

**

Meg has entered the chat.

Cas has entered the chat.

Cas - I see Y/N has taken my advice and invited some people to our party.

Meg - Could our dear Y/N be any more obvious?

Cas - ?

Meg -- She obviously wants to bang the elder Winchester and Peppy Longstockings like drums but she's too scared.

Cas - By elder Winchester, you do mean Dean right? Granted John Winchester is a handsome man..

Meg - Okay, tone it down there Wings.  

**

Dean, Charlie and Sam have entered the chat.

Charlie - I don't know how we did this without coordination.

Dean - I'm just as surprised as you are.

Charlie - What did Sam come as again?

Dean - He's a star wars rebel alliance fighter pilot.  At least he picked out a costume.

Sam -  Hey Dean?

Dean - Yeah Sammy?

Sam - Bite me.

Charlie - Do I have to separate you two?

Cas has entered the chat.

Cas - Hello Dean.  Hello Sam.  Hello Charlie.

Charlie - Hello robot Cas.

Dean - Charlie, don't be rude.  Cas isn't a robot.  

Sam - He was more robot like when we first met him.  You probably could've given him the Turing test…

Cas - Still not a robot though.

Dean - Ain't that the truth ;)

Sam - Dean, please.  

Charlie - Where's Y/N?

Cas - She's around, I think.

**

Meg - Your lady love and the big dummy are downstairs asking about you.

Meg - You have to come out sometime.

Y/N - I know. Cas sent me a picture of them.  Meg, they came in matching costumes and everything.  There's no way they didn't come here together.

Meg - There is one solution - you could always make the two of them jealous.

Y/N - It would never work Meg.

Meg - Never say never ;)

Y/N - who would even agree to something like that?

Meg has added Crowley to the chat.

Crowley - Hello darling.

Y/N - Really Meg? *sigh* Hello Crowley.

Crowley - Don't sound so excited to see me.  I have it on good authority that we need to make Squirrel jealous?

Y/N - This is going to backfire somehow, I know it.  It's not just him.

Crowley - Ah yes the red head as well?  

Meg - Stop being a negative Nancy.  Crowley, are you actually dressed up like a king?

Crowley - It is Halloween after all.

Meg - Someone thinks highly of himself.

Y/N - lmao.  I'll be downstairs in a minute.

Meg - Good.

**

Dean - I've seen Cas's costume somewhere before.

Charlie - You know where it'll never end up?

Dean - … where

Charlie - On your floor again, because Cas has moved on - you should too.

Sam -  Damn Charlie, look at you taking my job.

Charlie - You hush.  

Dean - Is he dressed up as the pizza man?

Charlie - Does that make Meg the babysitter?

Sam - The both of you need to stop confusing porn with real life.  

Sam - So I have yet to see Y/N…

Cas - She's hiding out in the study with Crowley.  Apparently he's her date for the night.

Charlie - Why, he's old enough to be her father.

Sam - Maybe she likes that.

Dean - There's no way.  Also Sam, it's not right to kink shame someone.

Sam - You would know all about that wouldn't you - or have you found someone will wear a Zorro mask and slap you during sex?

Dean - Shut it bitch.

Sam - Jerk.

Charlie - As if you're all pure and innocent Sam…

Dean - Oh hey Sam, look Eileen’s here.

Sam -  I'll be back later.

Sam has left the chat.

Charlie - His crush on her is so adorable.

Dean - It is.  

Meg has entered the chat.

Meg - I swear the three of you are going to be the death of me.

Charlie - What'd we do?

Meg - The matching costumes Peppy.

Dean - ?

Charlie - Dean's dressed as Jon Snow, and I'm Daenerys..

Meg - That's my point!  Y/N is looking super hot as Khal Drogo and yet she hasn't talked to the two of you all night.

Dean - We talking regular Khal Drogo?

Meg - Female Khal Drogo, Dean bean.

Dean - don't call me that.

Charlie - I'm going to go say hi, be right back.

Charlie has left the chat.

Charlie has entered the chat.

Dean - That was fast… so did you find her.

Charlie - I can't handle this right now.  I'm in love.

Meg - So that's what it takes to get.your attention.

Charlie - I will find you and slap you.

Dean - On a scale of 1 to 10...what are we looking at?

Charlie - 100.

Dean - Really?

Charlie - Go find her if you don't believe me.

Dean has left the chat.

Dean has entered the chat.

Dean - Holy shit you were right.  Why is Crowley her date?

Charlie - You know how the song goes right?  He does look amazing in that suit. 

Meg - Ew.  That's my boss you're complementing.

Charlie - and?

Meg - I need to find Castiel, and step away from all of this.

Meg has left the chat.

Charlie - Dibs!

Dean - Dibs!

Charlie - Really Dean?

Dean - Don't yell at me when you did the exact same thing.

Charlie -  Wanna make a bet?

Sam has entered the chat.

Sam - This won't end well.

Dean - Shut it Sam.  What's the terms?

Charlie - Winner gets to go on a date with Y/N.

Dean - and the loser?

Charlie -  I didn't think that far.  

Dean - Loser has to clean the bunker for a month.

Charlie - Oh it's on Winchester.  Apple bobbing first?

Dean - Okay sure.

Sam - Party games are not the way to go but what do I know -sigh-

Dean and Charlie have left the chat.

**

You heard the doorbell ring and with a sigh, you made your way downstairs.  You smiled a little when you opened the door and Crowley was standing on the other side.  You chuckled at his costume - which was his normal black suit with a crown upon his head.  “I love your costume Crowley.”

“Why thank you darling.”  He gently kissed your knuckle as the two of you made your way inside.  You stopped by the kitchen as Crowley picked up a drink, he offered to get you one of your own, but you declined.  Hand in hand, you made your way to the loveseat in the living room.  It was the only place where it was remotely quiet.

“How are you doing, kitten?  You can be honest with me, I won’t judge.”  You watched as he took a sip of his drink.  There were a few thoughts running around your head and you considering lying, but what was the point?  

“I've been better.”

“It’s rough having feelings for more than one person.  I know this might come off as forward but I could make you forget about them.”  You gasped as Crowley picked you up and settled you into his lap.  You couldn’t help it as hid your face in your hands.  Crowley laughed as you moved your arms around his waist.  

“How so?”  Your eyes met for a brief second.  “Wait...do I really want you to answer that?”

“I think deep down part of you is curious and that's why you asked.”

“How would you do it then?”  

“A gentleman would never talk to a lady like that.”  He watched your face for a split second before he continued.  “However, I can see those gears turning.  It would be tender at first - I would make sure every need you have is met.  Has anyone ever gone down on you?”

Your felt your face flush.  “Once, and he was horrible at it.”

“I would never leave you unsatisfied.  In fact - we wouldn’t leave the bedroom all night.”  

Feeling a little bold, you leaned into him.  “What about you?”  

“No, this would be all about you.”  He smirked as he felt you squirm in his lap.  “I can tell this is getting you bothered Y/N, do you want to sneak away and take care of your little problem or would you like some help?”

“I'm fine, please continue.”  You had to bite the inside of your cheek to keep the moans from coming out.  

“I would make sure you're ready for me then and only then would I enter you.”  Your face was red as Crowley kept whispering the things he would do to you in your ear.  Cas and Meg watched the two of you from doorway and looked at each other.  Meg knew she had to do something - otherwise you’d go home with Crowley.    

Meg - Hey guys - if you're going to have sex, could you not do it in the living room?

Y/N - Ohmygod Meg, why would you even…

Crowley - and I thought my mother was a cock block.  

Meg - We could hear her moaning in the kitchen.. It got their attention however.

Y/N - What?

Crowley - It worked?

Meg - It stopped their stupid competition..

Y/N - What competition, Meg?  You know what - I'll go ask about it myself.  

**

Y/N - Can anyone tell me why Dean and Charlie are being super competitive all of a sudden?

Sam - I can't. Sorry.

Y/N has left the chat

Sam - Damn it, you two.  

Dean - What?

Charlie - I just watched Y/N storm upstairs, what did we do wrong?

Sam - Well...

Cas has entered the chat.

Cas - Y/N is in distress.  What happened?

Dean - We made a stupid bet and she caught the tail end of it.

Sam - Told you it would blow up in your face.

Charlie - I was winning too.

Dean - We were tied at best.

Charlie - ...

Dean - Truce?

Charlie - Fine.

Cas - I don't understand why you were fighting…

Sam - How do I explain this? Both my brother and Charlie like Y/N.  

Cas - Why would you fight over something like that? It's kind of obvious she likes the both of them.

Dean - What?

Charlie - Cas what do you mean?

Cas - I'm afraid I've said too much.

Cas has left the chat.

Sam - I think your best bet right now is to go talk to Y/N.  I know you don't like this Dean, but tell her how you feel.  Charlie - you too. Then maybe this will stop you from acting like idjits in the future.

Sam has left the chat

Charlie was the first one to knock on your bedroom door.  She heard noises and when she cracked the door open, you were half way out the window.  “Y/N, where are you going?”  You sighed and pointed to the door leading to the balcony.  Whenever you needed to think, this is where you would always go.  

“I just needed to think about something.”  She took a seat next to you and when you heard Dean tap on your bedroom door, Charlie yelled at him.  

“Hi.”  

“Hi Dean.”  

He pulled an empty chair next to the two of you and you smiled briefly.  “Can either of you explain what the hell was going on?”

You watched Dean rub the back of his neck and Charlie couldn’t meet your eye.  “It’s dumb really.”

“Tell me.”  You grabbed a hold of Dean’s hand forcing him to look at you.  “Please?”

He cleared his throat and you felt him lace his fingers with your hand.  “We had a bet that who won the most party games would get to ask you on a date.”

“Wait, why would you do that if you two are going out?”

“What?”

“You honestly think that Dean and me are dating?”  Charlie practically screeched and you heard Meg yell from downstairs to keep it down.  

“What else would I think when you came to the party in matching costumes.  I thought only couples did that.”

“Oh sweetie.”  Charlie placed her arm over your shoulder and pulled you in closer.  “I can appreciate how attractive Dean is but he’ll never be my type.”  

“What on earth do you mean?”  Dean chuckled and moved his chair closer towards the two of you.  

“Dean's one of my best friends, hell he's the closest thing I have to a brother but I'm not attracted to him.  At all.”

“You like girls, of course…”  She watched as you processed that information.  “And you like me?”

“Of course, why else would I fight this knucklehead all night to go on a date with you.”  She felt you kiss her on her cheek and Charlie smiled.

“What about you sweetheart, is there anything you want to tell us?”  Dean watched as you bit your lower lip and tried to avoid looking  into his eyes.  

“I don’t see why the two of you had to compete at all - if you would’ve asked me, I would’ve said yes.”

“Wait, what are you saying right now Y/N?”  Dean watched as you shifted towards him.

“I can’t believe I’m telling you like this.  I like the both of you.”

“As friends right?”  

Y/N - I swear to Chuck, Dean you are so dense.  

Charlie - Lmao we are in the same room, I don't think he's going to check this just yet.  But oh my god Y/N - get it girl.  Wait…

Charlie grinned as she watched you pull Dean closer and kiss him.  Friends didn't kiss the way you were kissing him.  Maybe this would work out after all.

Dean - Okay okay, I get it sweetheart.  

Charlie - shebahhdgdg

Dean - Charlie?

Y/N - she's a little busy at the moment Dean...

Dean chuckled as he watched Charlie's phone fall onto the couch.  “Should I leave the two of you alone?”

“No way, we're not done with our conversation.”

“I would never ask you to choose between the two of us.”

“I like both of you and I want to be with both of you.”  A small moan slipped out when Charlie hit a sensitive spot on your neck and Dean raised an eyebrow.

“We can talk about this later, Y/N.  Let's go back to my place..”  Charlie grinned and Dean winked at you.

Y/N - Dean, if this escalates, you have my permission to watch.

Dean - I can do more than watch sweetheart.

Y/N - Meg is going to kill me.

Dean - At least we know now…

Y/N - You're lucky Meg told me what was going on…

Dean - Oh?

Y/N - Yeah, I might've slept with Crowley if she didn't say anything.

“Please tell me you're joking, Y/N.”

Meg - Guys, if you're going to have sex, please go somewhere else.  Y/N, I love you but I don't need to hear Dean's sex noises again.  

Dean - We'll be out of your hair shortly.  Y/N is packing an overnight bag.

Dean has left the chat,

Charlie has left the chat.

Y/N - So do I give you details tomorrow or no?

Meg - Of course.  Be safe and use protection.  Also don't do anything I wouldn't do ;)

Y/N has left the chat.

Meg has left the chat.