#How do I fix a potential heart issue?? | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

numberonetacostan · 5 months ago

Text

TACO'S (POTENTIAL) FRIENDSHIPS TIERLIST

Explanations for my placements! Placements in each row are in no particular order.

Disclaimer: I am a media enjoyer, not a media analyzer. These are just my thoughts, so nothing is objectively wrong, but if one of my takes is OOC or you disagree I’d be happy to hear why as long as you’re nice about it :).

Tier 1: Tacomic!!! <3

Mic: YURI YURI YURI YURI!!!! Their yuri can be un-toxic’d now and that makes me very happy :). Don’t get me wrong, I love toxic yuri, but I’m really glad to see them work things out!!! Mic can be more assertive, and Taco is trying to be better!! Anyways, I do think that they will start out as just friends as they rebuild their relationship and learn how to interact with each other in a healthier way without the competition in the way, and there will certainly be bumps in the road, but after some time I truly believe that we will have yuri. Taco is going to try calming down on the objectively bad stuff she does and work on apologizing when she does mess up!! And Mic can hold her more accountable while also being someone Taco can rely on to stay by her side. Especially with Soap helping out, making sure Taco apologizes rather than avoiding the issue and/or doubling down, and making sure Mic keeps up her established boundaries in terms of not immediately letting Taco off the hook, as she has a bad habit of doing. I love tacomic so so much, and I am 100000% sure that they can work towards and create a healthy and happy relationship that makes them both better people. If you don’t feel like yuri-ing today, you can see them as besties too, but regardless Mic takes the top spot!!!

Tier 2: Friendship is inevitable

Soap: As mentioned above, I think having Soap around will be really helpful for Taco! Someone who doesn’t hold ill-will towards her but is very willing to hold her accountable! A good balance. We saw Soap throwing away her cleaning supplies and telling Mic to listen to her heart, so she’s clearly got some good thoughts on self-improvement! Also Mic has clearly told her about all the non-competition related stuff that she and Taco did, lesbianing around and such, she’s got a pretty clear idea of who Taco is beyond the competition, which can’t be said for most of the cast. And since Taco will definitely be sticking by Mic’s side for the foreseeable future, she’ll get to know Soap pretty well too!! They can do karaoke together!!! Hooray!!!! :D.

Balloon: This one’s pretty obvious, eh? He had his whole redemption arc from when he was a jerk in season 1, and now he sees someone else who wants to start on that journey? He has the chance to help someone in the way Suitcase helped him? FUCK yeah they’re gonna be friends. He even struggled with giving a proper apology as seen in episode 9!! Just like Taco did!! (I love her, but that was the worst apology I’ve ever heard actually). He’s also quite the sensitive guy, which I think could pair well with Taco and her inability to emotion. [Maybe I should make that long post on why I think Taco is autistic. TLDR we have the same kind of autism.] But anyways! I think he could really help her with breaking out of those negative behavioral patterns and turning yourself around! The advice that OJ gave to him would probably work ever better for Taco. A new chance to meet new people who she didn’t do anything bad to! She hasn’t met most of the s2 or any of the s3 joiners, so she has a pretty clean slate with them, even if they’d heard of her misdeeds. I think she would initially think his poetry was stupid, and then find it really relatable and emotional, and then keep pretending she finds it stupid when anyone she isn’t very close to is around. They can talk about the crushing feeling of guilt, regret, and your sins!! They’ve both fucked up and found out, and now Taco is getting on the path to fixing it that Balloon took. Forgiving yourself is an important step to moving past your mistakes, and he could help her with that. Also, despite s3 going with a final 3 rather than a final 2, he did place second vote-wise, so he and Taco can be in the runner-up club together!!! They both enjoy classical music too, as a fun little bit, so they could parallel play (the best way to spend time with someone) together while listening to it!!

Suitcase: Our s2 winner!! And never giving up on anyone QUEEN. Can you tell I love Suitcase yet? Beyond Truth or Flare, they haven’t interacted much, but given the fact that Taco broke in front of her, her kindness, and the fact that she NEVER GIVES UP ON ANYONE (Can you tell I love Suitcase yet?) I think she and Taco could become friends! Girlies who can put things in their heads <3 <3. With Suitcase having become more assertive, in a similar vein to Mic there isn’t a risk for Taco to, for a lack of a better term, steamroll over her. And of course Taco is working to be better, so she would be trying to not to do that anyways! Suitcase is also so sweet and empathetic towards others, I think Taco could benefit from that example! Empathy doesn’t seem to come very naturally to Taco (see that one autistic taco post that I really need to make), but Suitcase could be a great person to learn from, in Mepad’s absence! (Rest in Peace King I Love You). And Suitcase could also work in a similar vein to Balloon and Mepad with getting Taco to be kind to herself. She has a lot of self-loathing after everything, and hasn’t experienced a lot of kindness from others having been alone in the woods for years. Suitcase’s resilience in staying kind despite other’s actions (but standing up for herself when necessary, of course), could be really good for Taco, in the evitable moment that she lashes out. Recovery and self-betterment isn’t linear, you know? And someone like Suitcase who can go to her in these moments still offering kindness, acceptance, and help is vital.

Baseball: The fumbler himself!! He would take Lightbulb’s advice about making sure he’s looking to heart!! And she told him where to look!! At Taco, who is drowning!! He was the lowest-ranked in season 1, so aside from three episodes and the Stupid Trailer, he wasn’t really around for her whole s1 act. He can get to know her as herself, which isn’t something that can be said for most of the other season 1 contestants. I’d also wager he feels partially responsible for her and Mic’s little alliance too, Mic’s own feelings of worthlessness and how he had constantly put her down being the core reasons why Taco chose her and was able to convince her to work together. He’d want to try and fix things with Mic too, and since Tacomic, he’d end up hanging out with Taco too. Besides, he already has a best friend who’s a short lil gremlin, he could definitely get along with Taco. And speaking of Baseball’s short lil gremlin…

Nickel: Hoo boy, I have plenty to say about a Taco and Nickel friendship!! Nickel fucked up his relationships with Suitcase and Balloon big time over not trusting that Balloon actually wanted to be better, and assuming that he couldn’t change. But he has learned his lesson!! Not only has he seen and acknowledged that Balloon changed, apologized to and befriended him, but Nickel changed too!! Hooray!! His ass would not want to make that mistake again. As well, we’ve heard from Brian recently that Nickel low-key admires what Taco pulled off in season 1. Not as much so after his character development, but still, he feels more positively about her true personality than her fake one!! That is not the general sentiment among the s1 cast!! They’re standing next to each other during the concert at the end of the finale, and he even sings backup for her during the reprise of “She Forgot”!. They have clearly already become friends, I’m not taking criticism on this one actually. They’re both sarcastic little shits trying to be better people! Nickel could empathize with the automatic-response-being-something-mean thing!! Also, since Suitcase does not want to see him (valid) he and Baseball should probably make some new friends anyways! Might as well chat with another mostly-alone object, yeah? Sigh. Two mean shorties against the world. On their own there might be a risk of them making each other worse but I think the people around them could keep that from happening. I really love Nico(?) friendship.

Marshmallow: Mepad mourning. They were both the players helped the most by Mepad, they’re mourning his loss the most (other than Toilet, more on him next ;)) and I think they could connect over that, especially with Taco trying to be more open and honest emotionally, just like Mepad was helping her to be, yeah? Her grief over Mepad is a good place to start. They were also some of the first two contestants to realize how bad the game was for those involved and their relationships. Even if it took Taco longer to get there, they end up sharing the same negative view towards the game before the others do! This was even mentioned in the pre-episode 17 stream!! They also both have a complicated relationship with Knife! We don’t get to see too much of how Marsh feels towards Knife after the whole heroic-sacrifice, but I don’t see her immediately being all buddy-buddy with him. And Taco, who is confirmed to care about his well-being don’t argue with me on this one, has the whole thing with him and Mic going, and he might even be more watchful of her as she and Mic continue to patch things up and work towards healthy yuri. Going back to Marsh not totally forgiving Knife, this could help Taco with better understanding how Pickle feels about her. Knife wronged Marsh pretty hard in the past, and even if he’s sorry and has changed, she can still feel hurt and not want to forgive him. And she could vent these feelings to Taco when they’re talking about Knife!! And this is so so similar to how Taco greatly wronged Pickle in the past, and even if she’s sorry and wants to change, he can still feel hurt and not want to forgive her. With lower empathy, it can be really helpful for someone to explain how they feel about something and why, so I think someone more willing to explain a similar situation to her (since Pickle will not be sitting down with her and explaining how he feels) could really help her out in learning to back off and let Pickle live his life even if that life doesn’t include her. Mepad is incredibly proud of both of them frfr Mepad said so in a cameo.

Toilet: Before I start this one I’d like to clarify I will also not be taking criticism here Toico friendship is so very inevitable you don’t even know. I got a cameo from @justin-chapmanswers right after the finale because I was so very sad about Mepad and they confirmed to me that Toilet and Taco could and would bond over missing Mepad. Toico friendship is “so incredibly important” AND I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. He was the only person that they had to care for them and that believed in them for a period of time each and now, even if Taco has Mic back, they’re both missing that bond they had with him because he’s dead (I am so MeSad). Toilet’s persistence with people would also be really important to their connection! Despite how Mephone constantly yelled at and belittled him, Toilet kept going and stayed kind and dutiful to him! And while that did make their relationship unhealthy, I think it could be beneficial to Toico friendship! Taco is trying to change and do better, but as I believe I said previously that’s not linear. She is going to lash out or fall back on old habits at some point, what matters is that she apologizes and keeps trying to be better. She’s not going to apologize to Toilet after years of this treatment like Mephone did, she will, in her process of growth, apologize to him when she knows she’s hurt him, and she will make sure to treat him better. And her doing this consistently when she messes up is key!!! Because Toilet is Toilet, we love Toilet in this house, and he’ll forgive her. And they will talk about how important Mepad was to them, and it will be healing and beautiful. Again I will be taking 0 criticism on this Toico friendship is everything to me actually. She can sit on his head like where he carried the spaghetti in episode 1. Oh no I’m listening to the cameo again and now I am crying /vpos.

Pepper: Yeah i ship tacopep too what are you gonna do about it i want taco to be loved. But more seriously, I think these two could make a really solid connection. Pepper is another one of the season 1 contestants that didn’t interact too much with the fake-Taco that competed in season 1, so there wasn’t much of a connection there to be spoiled. She probably jumped on the hate-train thanks to Salt, but maybe she should spend a bit less time with Salt anyways, yeah? Branch out some more. Which she could do with Taco! Take one look at Taco and tell me she doesn’t love to gossip. Taco and Pepper could probably gossip for hours, I mean, Taco has surely missed a lot of gossip having been outside of the hotel for so long. And Pepper gets to lead the conversation and talk!! Taco does try to take control of situations automatically, but hey, she’s trying to change for the better, and maybe not try to scheme and mastermind quite as much, yeah? And Pepper could do well being more assertive having been made to follow whatever Salt is doing. I think this friendship would need to pick up a bit later down the line for Taco to be in a place where she isn’t trying to take over so often and Pepper to be in a place where she’s not keeping herself attached to Salt, but I do think it could be a sweet and healthy friendship! Also I tend to think of them both as lesbians and sometimes you need a lesbian best friend to discuss Women with.

Candle: Would immediately be able to tell that Taco needs some serious therapy/help. And Candle loves to be needed for therapy/help! Perfect match! But really, Candle managed to tame both Yin-Yang and Silver over the course of a season, she could definitely help Taco out!! And it would be pretty difficult for Taco to keep her true feelings hidden from someone who can tell what’s happening just by looking at her! She would hate that at first but it would be helpful for her. I do think she would dislike Candle’s salt rock thingy though, it would probably just rile her up more. BUT really I think Candle could be a good help to Taco as she recovers. Candle will help everyone after all the stuff from the finale I think, which would not at all be a way to cope with everything. Keeping herself busy. Being needed in the way she was made to need. This isn’t a Candle analysis aaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Goo: My #1 and #3 must be friends, it’s mandatory (my #2 is Mepad, of course). Taco’s miserable and messy self could absolutely use a visit from the cheer factory, and I think she’d get one! I think Goo would be able to take the news of being created by Mephone better than you’d think, honestly. His best friend was created by Fan and Test Tube, so what if they’re created by Mephone, y’know? That just makes them more like his best buddy Bot!! Not being able to be recovered might make him anxious, but that’s just an unfortunate truth that they’re all going to need to get used to. (Unless whatever the Shimmers are giving them is a recovery device. Brian said it’s up to interpretation but i do not want to interpret i want answers!!). Okay, back to Gooco friendship. He’s such a positive, genuine, and sweet little fella it’s pretty hard for anyone not to like him, and that includes Taco!! Someone she not only doesn’t have baggage with, but she has never even met coming to cheer her up? She has had very few positive interactions with others over the years, this is meaningful to her!!! Being around a positive little thinker like Goo could be good for her, AND they are at perfect hugging height for one another. I don’t see Taco giving out too much physical affection but I can very much see her enjoying it even if she won’t admit it. AND AND having lived in the woods for so long, Taco would know the best place to find his beloved pinecones.

Tea Kettle: She already has one little gremlin child in Nickel, what’s another one? Seriously!! I’m not sure if it would exactly be a friendship, probably the more motherly dynamic she has with Nickel, Balloon, and quite a few other characters, but new mom acquired is not a category so she goes here. Taco, who has been living in the woods for years needing to scavenge and steal for food, would enjoy some hors d'oeuvres!! And this would immediately endear her to Tea Kettle, since she loves it so much when people eat her food (adorable). She, like Candle, and probably everyone else at this point, would pretty easily be able to tell that Taco needs some extra TLC, and like the other s3 joiners, doesn’t have anything personal against Taco. Her motherly instincts would immediately kick in, and again such casual kindness and affection for Taco after all this time? Everything. Key to Taco’s recovery and self-betterment. Also, Taco loves tea!!! TK would refill her cup without even being asked <3.

Tier 3: Pleasant Acquaintances

Lightbulb: OKAY OKAY OKAY I KNOW. Lightbulb would be sweet and friendly and silly and herself and would absolutely 1000% consider herself friends with Taco! Them only being acquaintances is fully on Taco. It’s not because she has a personal problem with Lightbulb though! We have heard from the crew (questionnaire after one of the finale screenings, I believe) that Lightbulb reminds Taco a lot of how she used to act in season 1. The earlier she is in her recovery, the harder that would be for her, yeah? There’s also the fact that Lightbulb would have been her choice to partner up with had Mic been eliminated earlier. I like to interpret this as canon, not just on a meta level, that Taco actually had Lightbulb picked as her second choice. With Taco trying to be better, she’d probably feel guilty about that when interacting with Lightbulb, and especially seeing how close she is with her allies friends. They might be able to be actual friends in the future, but in general Lightbulb might be a bit much for Taco. Though I’ll reiterate that Lightbulb would consider her a friend!! And include her in activities and be kind to her!! Because Lightbulb is sweet and lovely like that, the silliest goose of them all <3.

Apple: They’d probably interact a bit because of Taco’s friendship with Marsh, but Apple isn’t someone I’d see her seeking out for companionship, due to her being a little dumb <3. It’s okay we still love her, but Taco might not. She would be nice to Apple, because if Apple is upset then Marsh is upset at whatever caused it, yeah? And because it’s the right thing to do and all, but this latter reason might take a bit longer to kick in as Taco changes for the better.^^ Also, whether or not Apple knows that Taco was acting and isn’t just an entirely different person is still a bit muddled, so that would be a bit weird, yeah?

The Floor: Honestly just a nice, chill guy, don’t think he’d have any issues with Taco. She would see his movement as reminiscent of Mepad’s teleporting, which would give her the blues, but that’s not really Floory’s fault. Another teleporting assistant… Ah, well, my conspiracy can wait for another day. I don’t have too much to say for this pair, to be honest. I think they’d get along okay and everything, I just don’t see them seeking each other out as much as they each would with some others. Oh, they would both like to go on picnics, so that’s definitely a setting in which they’d interact! I do think The Floor and Toilet could be good friends, so they might end up hanging out together if they’re both with Toilet.^^ Besides, I can’t imagine him staying on Inanimate Island instead of returning to Paradise, since it is his home, so he’d stay more connected with the other s3 players rather than the other casts.

Cabby: Honestly Taco would probably be a little jealous that Cabby won. Definitely impressed by her skillful observations of others, though! Taco is observant too, so they could discuss that if they are together, but I don’t think they’d actively seek each other out, like Taco and The Floor. Cabby is also more likely to return to Paradise since that is where her library was, and Taco’s history might make Cabby wary, since she struggled with being seen that way in season 3. I don’t think she’d hold it against Taco in a personal way, but it might dissuade her from really forming a bond with Taco. Overall, I love them both, they could be perfectly friendly with each other, but I don’t really see them forming a strong connection. Earlier season 3 Cabby, though? They could be the power duo of all time. Even post-canon a team up between them would be incredibly skilled and efficient, I just don’t see it as too likely to happen.

Silver Spoon: We already know what Silver thinks of Taco! He thinks she is a Queen and an Icon and he’s right! He would approach Taco the easiest out of the invitationals, and would very much want her approval. I do not think Taco would like him very much. She’d get annoyed by him pretty easily, I think. They’re both British, so that could be a point of interest for him to try and connect for her, but seeing as neither of them are actually from Britain and were just programmed to have a British accent (and like tea!) that might fizzle out. And again the fact that Taco would not be able to stand him. Silver would try to get on her good side by complimenting her act in season 1, which would Not Sit Well with her at all. She would storm away from him and he would be devastated. It might be easier for them to interact if Candle is around to mediate, but I don’t know if they’d get along too well, at least initially. He remains in pleasant acquaintances because he is very pleasant towards her in his own Silver Spoony way, and considers her a friend, but it is one-sided, he is lying to himself <3.

Bot: A split between Goo really liking Taco and Fan and Test Tube not being sure about her. She did shoot and kill Test Tube. And electrocuted Fan. In front of their first child. So yeah not sure their second child would be super keen on being friends with Taco, but they would still be amiable. As a part of the Cheer Factory, they’d join Goo in his cheering up quest, and they could strike up a conversation if they happened to be alone together, but this is another relationship I can’t see either party really seeking out. Their VA is British though, so Bot could probably do a fair impression of Taco. Not that Taco would like that, but y’know, it’s neat, yeah?

Blueberry: He doesn’t make many friends in general, and neither does Taco for that matter. I think combined they could be an absolutely killer duo, could dominate a competition together, but outside of that? I’d say more of a mutual sense of respect for being powerful shorties, but not much of an actual bond. He might be a welcome presence if Taco needs to stew in her negative emotions for a while, as one does, but if she wants to feel better she’d need to go to someone else. Honestly, they might be kept apart on purpose, because those little schemers could probably take over the island together if they really wanted to. But, Taco is trying to change and Mic certainly wouldn’t approve, so she wouldn’t want to. Jury’s still out on Blueberry though. Also, he’s another one I’d see returning to Paradise, less people there, yeah? So their interactions would be limited either way.

Lifering: Nice, friendly guy! He might interact with Taco through Tea Kettle, or through general check-ups. With his medical training, or rather the knowledge he was programmed with, he’d definitely interact with everyone on both islands at one point or another. I wouldn’t imagine Taco being a big fan of such medical check-ups though, with how private of a person she generally is, and that might play into how she views him. He’d definitely do his best not to frighten anyone including Taco, and she would appreciate his work, she just wouldn’t be able to shake the lingering unease surrounding him, and he’d be able to respect that and give her space as long as she needs it. If he found her crying, he’d give her a squeeze and then get someone better equipped to help her, that sort of thing. She might eventually get more comfortable with him, and maybe they could share a plate of hors d'oeuvres, even if I don’t see them forming a super deep connection :) I think they could get along after some time.

Tissues: I think they could have a sort of understanding in Mephone making things difficult for them. He was made to always be sick (fucked up) and she was made to manipulate and hurt people (fucked up). She might get annoyed with him, definitely, but she’d try not to. With the infinite tea generation I headcanon her having, she could pull out a nice warm cup from her shell and give it to him to soothe his sinuses and sore throat, and I think he’d really appreciate that. There’s also an advantage to the fact that they’re only meeting after the big reveal of all the contestants being made by Mephone and running the red line game, Taco’s never been annoyed, hateful, or mocking towards him about his sickness. Tissues is owed a lot of apologies from quite a few cast members, and Taco is actually not one of them! They can also both pull things out of their heads, which I think is cute. That wouldn’t really contribute to a relationship. I just like little guys who can pull things out of their heads!!!^^

Clover: Like Lightbulb, I think Clover would consider Taco a friend! She’d consider pretty much everyone a friend, the sweetheart she is. As Brian once posted, she would find Taco very funny! Taco is trying to change though, so wouldn’t want to be seeing Clover as useful. She might be interested in the luck stuff, but the happy-go-lucky attitude might be a bit much for Taco. Trying to plan for Clover’s luck would be insanely frustrating, since schemes aren’t the only thing Taco could plan(!), and that might turn Taco away from Clover. She’s yet another one I see returning to Paradise, so they wouldn’t interact much, which is probably for the better on Taco’s end. Taco would probably like the butterflies though, because who doesn’t like butterflies, yeah?

Tier 4: Neutral

Bomb: Didn’t really interact with Taco in the first season, despite having been in an alliance with her for a short time, but he is clearly good friends with Pickle, so he wouldn’t be reaching out to her any time soon. Not that I think Pickle would be explicitly telling anyone or even hinting to them not to be friends with Taco even if he himself doesn’t want to, he’s not that kind of guy, but I think Bomb would stick close to Pickle, which means not interacting with Taco much. Yeah, he wasn’t personally hurt by her betrayal or anything, but he mostly knows her as the person who hurt his bestie Pickle, so not exactly keen on her either. Taco would be pretty neutral on him right back, but would be glad that Pickle has made new friends and is being well taken-care of despite everything that went down between them.

Knife: Hoo boy, okay, he is in the neutral category, but feel free to read him as “it’s complicated.” He’s also close with Pickle, seeing firsthand and likely the most of how Taco’s betrayal impacted him, and he was watching over Mic during and after her alliance with Taco, so he isn’t exactly happy with her. But as was confirmed by Brian, so you can’t argue with me on this one, he does care for her well-being. He sees some of himself in Taco. As much as he accuses Taco of projecting onto him in Truth or Flare, they’re really both projecting onto each other. Taco also cares about his well-being!!! (this is also confirmed by brian) Whether or not it’s because he’s someone close to Pickle and Mic, she does care, even if she doesn’t show it. Knife is dead now, too. That might complicate things. Taco though she would be dead forever, and hell, she might have been if Knife hadn’t put pressure on Mephone with Mepad, while Knife spent most of his life thinking of death as meaningless and something that barely even applied to him. One of them survived, and one of them didn’t. They’re such an interesting duo, I really really want to know more of the plan for that body swap episode so so so bad!! Anyone wanna venmo me 30 bucks to get another cameo from Justin so I can fish for info? /j Anyways. Knife would be very wary of her reconciling with Mic and would be watchful to make sure she doesn’t bother Pickle, but he would be proud, in a sense, seeing how she improves. I can’t say he’d help much, as I’m not sure if his tough-love sort of help for people would be super beneficial for Taco, and they’re still not super friendly, but I think they could have a moment of getting along-ness every once in a while. Suitcase might rub off on Knife even more with her never-give-up-on-anyone philosophy, which would lead him to back off on keeping an eye on her a bit more. If anything were to happen to Mic, she would be well protected by these two. AAAAAAAA. Taco and Knife are such an interesting duo, I can’t emphasize this enough. Knife who has already changed, and Taco is who is starting to change. This one has gotten way too long, in short, it’s complicated but more positive than negative post-finale.

Paintbrush: As long as Taco isn’t mean to Lightbulb, I don’t think Painty would feel too strongly either way. Probably unhappy when they find out that Taco shot two of their friends but. They seemed pretty okay with Taco’s presence in act II of the movie, and weren’t incredibly harsh on Taco during the pre-act II stream (if I recall correctly, this one is a bit more blurry tbh) even if they weren’t very pro-Taco either. Didn’t have an extreme reaction to Lightbulb mentioning Taco when they showed up during Truth or Flare either, so that’s another point towards Painty being neutral towards Taco. Might even empathize with how quick-to-anger Taco can be, she could get invited to a painting lesson or something. But really, as long as Taco is civil with Lightbulb (and Baxter), and doesn’t murder Fan or Test Tube again, I think they can coexist without any malice or issues.

Yin-Yang: Yang would like Taco a lot! Yin would be kind of scared of her. Thus, neutral. Yang would admire her sabotage and trickery, which isn’t exactly what she wants to be liked for, but, well, it’s Yang so he’s gonna do what he wants. Yin would be pretty wary of her, and probably avoid her in fear of whatever mischief she and Yang could create with their powers combined. My partner once drew a cute illustration of Yin-Yang stealing and eating a topping out of her head, which I liked very much, and were that to happen I think Taco would dislike Yin-Yang. It would be very rude to eat one of her toppings, especially without asking first. My partner, who I regard as the resident Yin-Yang expert between us, also mentioned them both having a “that-could-have-been-me” sort of connection with OJ, in the sense of how Taco was so close to getting the win that OJ got, and Yin-Yang was so close to getting eliminated instead of OJ. Had it not been for the immunity votes, Yin-Yang would have been the first Thinker out. Had it not been for Bow and all the other chaos that was going down during season 1’s finale, Taco would have been the first winner of Inanimate Insanity. And we know that Yin-Yang and OJ clashed during their residence in the Hotel, and Taco just dislikes OJ after everything, so maybe they could have a little anti-OJ club to get their frustrations out, who knows. Suitcase is still a bit miffed about him eliminating her unfairly that one time, so maybe she could join a little complain-about-OJ session once in a while.

Box: New to the group, so probably doesn’t even find out about Taco’s past for some time, but at the same time she isn’t the most social tool on the shed. And neither is Taco. So I can’t see either one reaching out to the other for a friendship. Box might like that Taco never pretended their corpse was alive, even if it was possibly because she never had the opportunity to interact with Box in general. I might see Taco taking more of the Trophy stance in that she doesn’t see Box’s corpse as alive, which, since it was a corpse, is objectively correct. Albeit with less violence than Trophy handled Box with. They might talk due to both of them being around Suitcase from time to time, but I’d more view them as two relatively introverted people who simply don’t seek a connection with each other. [Also, putting a Box conspiracy here, but does anyone else think her inclusion specifically is why season 2 had an uneven amount of contestants in-canon. Like, the season 2 cast would have been developed before the whole MeLife twist, but on a non-meta level, it was probably Box being included in the cast that made the numbers wonky. 19 contestants? A prime number? What? 18 would make sense, or 20, but 19? Because Box was added in with the actual living contestants, because Mephone couldn’t bring himself to exclude her, which brought the number of players up to 19. Thank you for coming to my TedTalk.]

Cherries: Probably a bit childish for Taco’s taste in friends. And for Cherries, them always wanting a reaction… Well if Taco was pranked, she would not react well, and they might be hard pressed to get her to laugh especially if she already dislikes them due to being pranked. She is quite the actor, so even if she does find a joke or two funny, she’s not gonna break. And then Cherries would get bored of trying to make her laugh, and move on to someone they can get a better reaction from. Unless they try roping Taco into their little schemes before they prank her, then I can see a more positive relationship forming. Either way, I don’t see them as consistently seeking each other out for companionship.

Fan: Taco electrocuted him that one time. So, not exactly a great start. Especially since it was while he was talking to the Shimmers. The Shimmers, one of which was his infant child… A really bad start, then. I don’t see Fan as a very hateful guy, honestly. Passionate, sure, but doesn’t strike me as the type to stay angry for very long. He wouldn’t be approaching Taco for friendship any time soon, and would probably tell Bot that they should be wary around her, but I also think he would respect Taco’s effort to change and let bygones be bygones in the end. Taco probably wouldn’t approach him either, other than apologizing for electrocuting him and shooting Test Tube (she should apologize for that, and Mic would make sure she does). Would probably want to know more about Taco’s strategy and experiences during the first season, but also has the self-restraint not to ask.

Test Tube: Less forgiving than Fan, but would follow his lead in not holding a huge grudge towards her. She wouldn’t trust Taco at all, but she wouldn’t fall into malicious territory like what ended up happening with Cabby. Taco would be wary of Test Tube too, especially after the other apology she gives Test Tube, for breaking into her “secret” lab and stealing things. Testy might actually take that one worse than the apology for murdering her. Despite that, I do see Test Tube letting Taco keep the white invisibow that Mepad was wearing when he was killed. This would probably happen before Taco confesses to murder, assault, breaking and entering, and theft anyways, but I see Test Tube letting her keep it. Random act of kindness while Taco is mourning him, yeah? She is the one who gave him the bow after all. Testy wouldn’t love Taco, and would also warn Bot to be careful around her and come to her right away if she has any problems, but could coexist with Taco.

Tier 5: No

Mephone: Yeah, this is an obvious one. Beyond the fact that he’s left to give the contestants space, at least for the time being, Taco would be pretty damn mad at him after everything. Whether he made them subconsciously or not, he made her to be manipulative and unpredictable and to betray the people she cares about. Thinking further on that, he also didn’t plan anything good for her, unlike other villainous characters. Balloon and Knife both got redemption arcs, Silver got a girlboss, but Taco? She got another “ally” to inevitably lose, years of homelessness and isolation, and not even a million squats. Not to mention his reaction to her during Truth or Flare. Sure, it is reasonable for him not to want to see her, especially with how she acts in the episode, but not wanting to recover her? That’s really fucked up. Seriously. Thank god for Mepad. I can and would very much argue that Taco is the most mistreated contestant by Mephone4. She would not want to see him ever again, and I think if she did see him and he tried to talk with her it would not go well. So, this one is a definite no.

OJ: She and OJ did interact relatively frequently in season 1, and while I’m not sure exactly how betrayed he would have felt by her revealing her true nature, he would not like having been fooled and would very much have not liked her trying to steal his prize. I can’t see them ever really getting along again. Even if Taco does apologize to him (and out of everyone she probably should apologize to, she would hate this one the most), I don’t see that doing much. OJ is another person that saw how her betrayal affected Pickle pretty closely, and he’d still hold at least a little grudge over that. Although, if you take the “built to win” line seriously like I do, (and Brian said in the 700k stream that it was up to interpretation- hah! Vindication! Kind of! Enough for me!!!) their dynamic can be a lot more interesting. And even though I don’t see them ever being friends again, I do see them at some point having a moment in which they both say something like “these guys are all so weird” and then looking at each other awkwardly and proceeding to ignore each other entirely for the next week or so. They’re both drama queens, yeah, but in comparison to some of the other characters they can be a bit more… reasonable? Doesn’t seem like quite the right word. Grounded? Doesn’t seem right either. Hopefully this is still comprehensible, but regardless, these two would not be friends.

Paper: My guy screeched in terror when she was seen in the hotel. I don’t think it’s gonna happen, especially if OJ isn’t befriending her in any way. He wouldn’t be happy about her trying to steal his boyfriend’s prize and is another who got to see Pickle growing depressed after her betrayal, so he’d keep his negative view on her. I don’t think he’d be as scared of her post-canon, especially seeing her trying to avoid violence by Mic’s demand, so I suppose that’s something. I am so very sorry, menu squad fans, I love them too, but I think that ship has long since sailed. I honestly don’t have very much to say for Paper, I feel like he’s a pretty obvious one, though they don’t actually interact that much. He doesn’t like her, and has a boyfriend who really doesn’t like her, so they’re not going to be connecting any time soon. I do think he would feel more sympathetic to her plights than OJ, as the more emotionally intelligent one between them, but would leave helping her to people closer to her.

Salt: Taco would find her annoying, mostly. Especially after she and Pepper become friends, and Pepper vents about some of her frustrations with Salt to Taco, Taco wouldn’t be a fan of hers. Salt wouldn’t like Taco because she tried to steal OJ’s prize, and Salt is all gross and very weird about OJ. There’s a reason why she got the least votes in the latest plushie poll. Even Taco, who doesn’t really like Paper or OJ, would want Salt to back off and tell her to do so even if she had to be a tad aggressive about it. It shouldn’t always have to fall on poor Pepper especially when she starts branching out towards new people and relationships. Taco wouldn't be payjay's biggest fan or anything, but she wouldn't be upset over them or anything. Taco herself is gay. WLW and MLM solidarity!!!!

Trophy: She would beat him in a bunch of stuff (some by cheating, some fairly) and he would hate her like the sore loser of all time he is. She would probably just find him annoying, like a less-tolerable version of Blueberry, maybe. I can see them both getting banned from game night, Trophy because he can’t take a loss and Taco for cheating, of course, and attempting to hang out together in protest. I suppose they could bond that way, but I’d lean more towards them either arguing or getting annoyed with each other and agreeing to never hang out again. Might casually flip each other off in the hallways, not from hatred but from mutual acknowledgment that the other is kind of an asshole sometimes. I think it’s beautiful <3.

Dough: She’d only have to see him when she’s in the mansion, which is definitely for the best. They wouldn’t seek each other out, ever. Taco would find him very annoying, and would hate any and all of his Bow imitating or discussion. She never met him, she does not care about him, and he’d probably feel the same way about her. Not much to say about this one, but I. Well. It’s Dough. I’m so sorry Dough fans but I have never had much to say about him.

Cheesy: Yeah Taco would find him annoying too. He and Mic are on better terms now, so they might sometimes find themselves in the same place, but Taco might soon have to leave that place because she is getting so annoyed with him. He probably wouldn’t dislike her or anything, but he wouldn’t really like her either, seeing as she wouldn’t be the best audience member for him. Poor guy is gonna have to find some new material again, seeing as none of them have mamas and bringing that up is definitely in poor taste at the moment. Yikers. But yeah, another one who will not be friends with Taco because they would be too much for her.

Bow: Taco’s least favorite person! Bow is the reason that Taco lost season 1, and I don’t think Taco is ever going to get over that. (Especially if you interpret the “built to win” line literally like I do~~~). Taco would avoid her like the plague, and probably regard her as a plague on the world too. Would very much not enjoy having to live in the same building as Bow, for however long it takes until they have another building established, since Taco would probably move out the second she could as long as Mic was down to move with her. Anything to get away from Bow. I can not emphasize enough how much Taco hates Bow. Despises her. Would rather stick her arms into a pothole full of piranhas than be in Bow’s presence. That plastic pink headgear is the absolute worst object on the planet to her. Bow doesn’t really care either way. Unless Taco is openly aggressive to her, she’s neutral. But Taco would probably antagonize her at one point or another, so Bow would probably end up disliking her too, just not as passionately.

Tier 6: Pickle

Pickle: Sigh. My fellow Taco lovers. It’s not gonna happen, guys. Pickle and Taco friendship is not going to happen ever again. I KNOW. Taco wants it!! You want it!! I want it too!!! I have been a fan since season 1 was airing, I of all people would love to see them be friends again. But Pickle doesn’t want that, so I’m going to respect it. Taco would probably try apologizing to him once or twice more before backing off, probably being able to do so and really start to move on with the help of Mic, Nickel, and/or Marsh. She does shake her head and move past things during the red line game! It’s a good start! Even if I think she would give it another shot (because in apologizing more she comes to realize how bad her first apology was. Yeesh. Girl I’m your biggest supporter, I am a certified Taco apologist, but damn). But! Regardless of the fact that they’re not going to be friends again, it’s not as though they’re going to be enemies! Taco wants to be better, especially towards Pickle. And as for Pickle, he just isn’t that sort of guy, yeah? He doesn’t want to be friends with Taco or give her another chance, which is fully fair and valid, but it’s not as though he wants her to suffer either!! If she like, fell and broke her leg or smth, he would willingly carry her to get help, yeah? If they both happen to be in the kitchen and she’s struggling to reach something on the top shelf, he’d grab it for her. He’s chill and especially after a longer period of time when he’s been able to heal further and be okay with seeing her around, they could just be… okay. Not friends, but okay. He would show up to the Tacomic wedding.

Tier 7: PLEASE COME BACK I MISS YOU SO MUCH

Mepad: PLEASE COME BACK KING I CAN’T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH YOU SUPPORTIVE ICON. HE IS IN TIER 7 BECAUSE HE IS DEAD AND THAT MAKES ME SO VERY SAD. I MISS YOU SO MUCH MEPAD MY BELOVED MEPAD. I MISS THE OLD SEASON 2 UPLOAD SCHEDULE I CAN’T HANDLE TACOPAD GETTING GIVEN TO US AND TAKEN AWAY WITHIN LIKE 4 MONTHS. GIVE US 4 YEARS AS GOD INTENDED /J. ANYWAYS MEPAD WOULD BE ON THE TIPPY TOP TIER IF HE WAS STILL ALIVE MY WONDERFUL MEPAD YOU WILL BE FOREVER IN MY HEART. ONCE I GET MY HANDS ON YOUR PLUSHIE I WILL MAKE YOU AND MY TACO PLUSH HUG IT IS MANDATORY.

Okay, 13 pages later and that’s everyone! If you’ve read every entry, wow!!! Thanks!!! That’s a lot of reading and a lot of rambles you saw!!! If you skipped to your favorites, that’s also fair!!! Thanks for reading either way!!!^^ I have so very many thoughts about Taco, so it’s nice to get some written out!! :3

184 notes · View notes

toasty-bun1 · 4 months ago

Text

Reconnected (Tadashi Hamada X Reader)

First fanfic post! I hope you all enjoy :)

Summary: With Tadashi constantly at the lab working on Baymax there’s a disconnect in your relationship. Happy ending!

Warnings: none

———

“Thanks, Joan! I’ll get that done by midday tomorrow. Have a good one.”

You end the video meeting and close your laptop, letting out a long sigh as you look around your apartment. The familiar emptiness greets you once again. Tadashi, your brilliant boyfriend, had been consumed by his work for months. His latest project, a healthcare robot named Baymax, had the potential to save thousands of lives, but the complexity of it all had absorbed every waking hour of his day.

Your routine had become monotonous: after work, you’d either hit the gym or do Pilates, make yourself a simple dinner, and retreat to bed. The bed creaked in the early hours when Tadashi finally came home, and when you woke up, the other side was always empty.

Staring at your phone, you hesitate for a moment before dialing his number.

“Hey! This is Tadashi. Leave a message at the beep, and I’ll get back to you soon.”

You let out a shaky breath as his voicemail message cuts off, a knot forming in your throat. The uncertainty of your relationship weighed heavily on your heart. How much longer could you keep going like this? You needed something to change—anything.

Determined to do something about it, you hustle downstairs to the kitchen and start chopping veggies for a soup Tadashi always loved. The rhythmic sound of the knife against the cutting board helps calm your nerves, but you still feel a deep ache in your chest.

The soup bubbles away as you carefully pack it into a thermal container. You take a deep breath, grab your helmet, and hop on your moped. When you pull into the SFIT parking lot, you can’t help but chuckle softly at the sight of only one other moped parked there—Tadashi’s.

Your heart flutters, and you can’t help but wonder why seeing your own boyfriend makes you so nervous. Maybe because you didn’t know what kind of reception you’d get.

Pushing open the door to his lab, you spot him immediately. His back is hunched over the desk as he works on a small wiring issue, completely engrossed in his task.

“Hi… Tadashi…” Your voice catches slightly as you greet him.

He turns around quickly, his eyes lighting up when he sees you, but there’s a hint of concern in his expression. “Y/n! Uh, what are you doing here? It’s so late, and you’ve got work tomorrow. You should go home and get some rest.” He shifts awkwardly, as if caught off guard.

You feel your heart race, but you push through the nervousness. “I, um… I brought you something. I missed you and wanted to make sure you ate well.”

Tadashi glances down at the neatly wrapped bag you’re holding, then back at you. His expression softens, but there’s still a palpable tension. ��Oh, thank you, Y/n, but… I already ate a little while ago. I really need to fix this wiring by tonight. I’ll see you at home though, okay?”

Your heart sinks, but you force a smile, nodding. “Okay, I’ll see you at home.”

You turn quickly to leave, not wanting him to see the tears welling up in your eyes. Clutching the soup to your chest, you step out of the lab and back to your moped.

This is too hard. I can’t keep being a ghost in my own relationship. You try to convince yourself that it’s all worth it, but the ache in your chest doesn’t fade.

Once back at your apartment, you change into comfortable pajamas and collapse onto the couch, too drained to deal with your emotions. You cover yourself with a blanket, trying to shut out the frustration gnawing at you.

The sound of keys jingling at your front door makes you jolt awake. It’s only 11 PM—Tadashi usually doesn’t come home until 1 or 2 AM. You sit up, confused and a little hopeful.

The door clicks open, and to your surprise, Tadashi is standing there, slightly out of breath. He’s holding a bouquet of tulips—your favorite. You walk towards the front door.

“Tadashi, what…” Your words are cut off as he steps forward, his hands gently cupping your face as he pulls you in for a kiss. His lips are warm and desperate, as if he’s been waiting to do this for so long. His arm wraps around your waist, pulling you closer, and you both sink deeper into the kiss.

After a few moments, you finally break away, breathless, and notice the tears in his eyes. Your own eyes fill with tears as well.

“Tadashi, what’s going on?”

His gaze is steady as he looks into yours, his voice trembling slightly. “I’m so, so sorry, Y/n. I’ve treated you terribly these past few months. Yes, Baymax is important to me, but you are more important. I lost sight of that. When I saw you leave my lab earlier, I realized I’ve been neglecting you, and I can’t keep doing that. I love you, Y/n. I promise, I will never forget that again.”

A wave of relief washes over you, as if a heavy weight has been lifted from your chest. You take his hands tightly, the words finally coming out as a soft whisper, “I love you, Tadashi. I’ll always support your work, but hearing you say that… it eases so much of the pain I’ve been feeling.”

Tadashi pulls you into a tight hug, his hands rubbing your back as he kisses the top of your head. “You’ve always been my greatest cheerleader. Now, let me be the one to support you.”

You smile, closing your eyes as you bury your face against his chest. His heart beats strong beneath your ear, steady and reassuring.

He sways you slowly from side to side, and you feel the tension in your body melt away. “Should we go to bed?” Tadashi asks gently.

You look up into his warm brown eyes, a soft smile spreading across your face. “Yes, let’s go.”

#tadashi hamada #tadashi x reader #tadashi hamada x reader #big hero six #big hero 6 #baymax #disney #fanfic #oneshot #reader insert

162 notes · View notes

thedemoninme141 · 8 months ago

Text

Her Heartbeat, Chapter 1: Her Anger.

Summary: Wednesday's anger got her into trouble, Where do you come along?

Warnings: There isn't really any warning but I guess WednesdayBeatingPeople???? FLUFF!!!! No angst in this chapter, but who knows what happens in the future...

Masterlist

Wednesday sat there, in her dorm, right in front of the half-colored half-dead window.Your diary in her hand. And for the first time in her life, Wednesday felt anger. Anger was for people who lost control, who let their emotions drive their actions, who lashed out in fits of rage. Wednesday was never angry. She was annoyed most of the time, but angry? Never. At least that's what she kept telling herself. But inside, her blood simmered with a quiet rage, an anger that she had never considered a flaw but rather a necessary tool for survival. It was not an issue—it was a tolerance bar. And God help whoever crosses it.

So when those boys at Weathervane decided to mock Enid, they unknowingly signed their own fate. The day was already going bad and Wednesday's tolerance bar had reached its limit, and she had done what she deemed appropriate. Enid had tried to stop her, of course, pulling on her arm. She was still in control, right?

Okay fine! She broke a few bones, dislocated a jaw or two, and made sure they would remember to keep Enid’s name out of their mouths for as long as they lived.

When the cops came to the scene, Wednesday was still standing over the boys, wiping her knuckles with a napkin. She was arrested for the third time in her life. Or was it fourth time? Those boys were arrested too, but somehow it was only Wednesday who ended up with a mandatory sentence: Anger Management Therapy sessions. How utterly ridiculous. What could possibly be wrong with expressing herself in a way that ensured she was heard, understood, and remembered?

"You cannot say no, Wednesday, if you do not attend and pass this therapy session, I will have no choice but to expel you."

Ugh, why did Weems even survive Thornhill's poison?

And that’s how Wednesday found herself stuck in this new circle of hell. It was infuriating. It was unjust. And it was a complete waste of time.

The sessions were held in a nondescript building just off the main street in Jericho, where people who had done things they "shouldn't" were supposed to fix themselves. They were meant to "reflect," "heal," and "improve." Wednesday didn't need improvement. She was perfect as she was, she was everything they could never be: self-sufficient, rational, and unapologetic.

The group leader, David, was an insufferable man in his mid-thirties. And much to Wednesday's dismay, he was the male version of Enid. He was incessantly cheerful, overly intrusive, and sickeningly optimistic about everyone’s potential for change. Wednesday found him exhausting.

David had made it his mission to get Wednesday to "open up," constantly encouraging her to share her feelings, recount her past, and dig deep into the source of her "anger." But Wednesday refused to play his game. She sat through the sessions in stony silence, expressing her disinterest as the other participants spoke of their mistakes and regrets. The only sound she made was the tap of her boots. Maybe she can annoy David enough to get kicked out of this nonsense.

She showed up late, ignored his questions, and rolled her eyes whenever he tried to address her. But David was unflappable. He would only chuckle softly, as if she were some mischievous child whose antics were endearing rather than infuriating. Every time she pushed, he merely pushed back with more patience, more persistence, and an infuriatingly steady resolve. After a while, she realized he would not break, and she would only be prolonging her sentence by continuing to fight him.

She attended every session and waited silently while the others poured their hearts out. She refused to say a word, they didn't deserve to know a thing about her. Maybe things aren't exactly too bad. She can just go through alone without causing any trouble so David can finally give some positive feedback on her report and let her be free.

But he had thrown a new wrench into her already miserable routine. He announced, with that obnoxious grin plastered on his face, that they were now required to bring a "partner" to the sessions. Someone who can vouch for them, that they are making progress outside of the therapy session too. Someone who could act as their support system, their "anchor" in times of distress. As if she needed an anchor.

The mere thought of dragging someone else into this circus wasn't exactly unpleasing. At least she could pass her time watching them suffer.

But the problem was she didn't have a line of volunteers waiting to join her in group therapy

Enid, unsurprisingly, had refused immediately, citing her “makeup sessions” with Yoko as an excuse. Wednesday could see right through her, though. Enid’s answer wasn’t about makeup; it was about not wanting to spend her Fridays and Saturdays in a gloomy room with a bunch of disgruntled teenagers and their annoying leader. And honestly, can Wednesday blame her?

Eugene was a possibility, but he was too innocent, too eager to please. He would end up making her look ridiculous in front of the group.

Xavier would have jumped at the opportunity if he hadn’t transferred out last month, much to Wednesday’s relief. Wednesday needed someone but Xavier? Ew, Wednesday wasn't that desperate.

However, she was desperate enough to ask Bianca, who, getting the chance, mocked her before refusing her, “You got yourself in this mess, Wednesday. Surely you can get yourself out,”

That left no one. Not a single person who would willingly subject themselves to the torture of these sessions, and certainly not for her sake. But David had made it clear: no partner, no progress. And no progress meant more sessions, dragging on into the foreseeable future until she complied.

Fine. Screw Bianca. Screw this whole place, this entire ridiculous therapy group, and all its pointless exercises. There wasn’t even a single murder to investigate, no mysteries to solve, nothing to occupy her mind except these meaningless tasks assigned by the so-called professionals who think they can ‘fix’ her. Wednesday was done. Maybe she should run away again. Yes, she could slip out, make her way to Weathervane, and catch a bus to anywhere but here. No one would miss her, and she wouldn’t miss them.

Wednesday was so engrossed in her thoughts of escape that she didn’t even notice when someone approached her. It wasn’t until she heard an exasperated voice that she snapped out of it.

“Hey! Are you even listening?”

She blinked, her gaze shifting to the source of the interruption. A girl stood in front of her, arms crossed, looking more annoyed than intimidated. Wednesday’s eyebrows knit together.

“Who the hell are you?”

“I’m Y/n.”

Wednesday raised an eyebrow, completely unimpressed. “Congratulations. So what am I supposed to do with that information?”

"Ugh" you groaned “Well, I need your help,” you stated, trying to sound confident but there was an edge of uncertainty in your voice.

“No.” Wednesday didn’t even bother to ask what you needed.

“Oh, come on!” you shot back, clearly annoyed by her immediate dismissal. “At least ask what I need help with! I heard you’re quite good with these kinds of things.”

Wednesday’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What things? If you’re talking about murdering someone, then sure.”

“No, not murdering someone!” You glanced around nervously, almost mumbling. “It’s… umm… kind of like that, but not really… how do I say it…”

Wednesday cut you off with a sharp glare. “Waste my time, and you'll be the one getting murdered.”

“Okay, Jesus, calm down,” you muttered. “I need your help kidnapping someone.”

Wednesday blinked, taken aback. Her expression flickered with surprise, but it was quickly masked by her usual indifference.

"Why would you even think I’d help you? Wait, first of all why would you even think I’m qualified for this job?"

"Because you’re bored," you said plainly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You see, I missed the last few months of last year, so I missed your grand entrance and your Hyde case, but I’ve heard about your reputation. How you took down Crackstone and how you saved the school. But I know you didn’t do it for the school—you did it for the thrill. For the challenge. You like going against the system."

She hated how accurate that was. It made her uneasy, like you could see right through her. Still, she wasn’t about to admit that you were right. Instead, she said, “No,” once more and got up, ready to walk away.

“Wait, I can give you money.” you blurted out.

The audacity... Wednesday stopped in her tracks, turning to glare at you. “What on earth is wrong with you? Do you really think I’m some kind of hired goon? Someone you can just pay off?”

Your face flushed, and you quickly shook your head.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. It just… slipped out. Please, I really need your help. Just tell me what I have to do.”

Wednesday should have turned around and left. She should have put as much distance between herself and this ridiculous request as possible. And yet… there was something in your audacity that intrigued her. Besides, she did need a partner for her therapy sessions, and making someone else suffer through them could be mildly entertaining.

"Fine," Wednesday said, her voice low and measured. "I’ll help you, but in return—"

You didn’t even let her finish. "Okay, done, agreed."

Wednesday blinked, momentarily thrown off by your eagerness. She hadn’t even told you what you would need to do, but you didn’t seem to care. You grabbed her hand, pulling her along with you as you headed towards the main gate.

"We don’t have much time," you said hurriedly. "We need to kidnap her right now."

Wednesday stumbled slightly as you dragged her along. Why wasn't she yanking her hand back? Her brows furrowed in confusion.

"Right now? Without any plan or any information?"

"Yeah, yeah," you said dismissively, waving your hand as if that was a minor detail. "I’ll tell you that on the way to the asylum."

“The what?” Wednesday’s voice rose slightly.

You just kept walking, your grip on her hand firm, and for once, Wednesday found herself caught up in someone else’s madness instead of her own.

CHAPTER 2 : Her Touch

[Author's note: Celine pretty much wrote the chapter 1, I just made some changes here and there, lol it took more time for me to create the art for this project than writing this, good news is Chapter 2 and 3 are almost ready.]

239 notes · View notes

startedwellthatsentence · 2 months ago

Text

I would like to remind everyone in the Doctor Odyssey fandom that while “closed triad that replicates monogamy in every way except there’s three people now” is one hyperspecific way that polyamory can be practiced, it is not the only way that polyamory can be practiced.

It’s not even the only or most common form of non-monogamy that has been shown ON THE SHOW. We’ve had hierarchical non-monogamous relationships, both toxic and healthy (Man with wife, girlfriend, and mistress; gay couple who enjoy group sex); we’ve had people with multiple partners, both toxic and healthy (wedding couple fucking the best man and also many other people; Single Sam having sex with the majority of people during singles week; the other background characters during gay week); and we’ve seen ONE other closed triad (captain’s brother and boyfriends).

Exploring other forms of polyamory is actually one of the best ways, IMO, of us getting to have the Ody3 together while still getting multiple seasons of a network show (which NEEDS relationship drama to be viable — we KNOW they can’t sustain this show with just their silly “medical” plots).

Tristan seems to have quick, surface level attractions with a lot of people (guest with the heart problem, Vivian, Spencer, Max) but it takes him a LONG time to act on them (he pined after Avery for years without making a move; he told Vivian that he wants to take things very slow) — what does that look like if he’s in a poly relationship? How can Avery deal with her jealousy in a healthy way when she doesn’t know which of Tristan’s flirtations may turn serious? How does Max deal with not having all the information at all times?

Avery has jealousy issues that she is VERY MUCH in denial about — rationally she knows that Tristan and Max are allowed to be in whatever relationships they want, especially when she has specifically told them that, so she shouldn’t feel jealous or upset and hates that she does anyway. She has to figure out how to deal with both not wanting a monogamous relationship and not having a healthy way to deal with jealousy. Potential plots: Avery successfully achieves a polyamorous relationship, realizes that this doesn’t actually fix the disconnect between her thoughts and feelings; they talk about their relationship and how it will work, Avery agrees to things that are rational and then gets upset and then is angry about being upset, etc etc etc.

Max likes to be knowledgeable and in control. If he ever seriously considers the whole poly thing, he might start reading every book and article available, throwing around words like metamour and compersion — and then do what he seems to prefer, which is use that orthodoxy to protect himself from actually reflecting on what he really feels. We know that Tristan doesn’t like when Max gets arrogant, and we know that Avery is going to have a lot of trouble with the whole compersion thing — would this affect their relationship? Would Max use relationship anarchy to further run away from his dual needs for control and hedonism? Speaking of hedonism:

Max also loves to put himself into plausibly deniable situations in which sex might happen — taking Tristan to his quarters, watching Archer in a hotel room with Tristan, going to Avery’s quarters, taking Ken to the cryotherapy room, taking Tristan AND Avery to his quarters, taking Brooke to his quarters (I had to go back and add more because I kept remembering examples). How many more times will this happen before Avery comes completely unhinged? This seems to be his primary method of flirting — would he stop if he were in a relationship, or would he keep doing it with the “it was just ___” excuses?

Joshua Jackson called the show pro-polyamorous — if this wasn’t just a bunch of PR bullshit but was actually true, then I’d like to see some explorations of polyamory in its multiple forms. And considering the textual evidence from the show itself, which has already in 9 episodes explored many kinds of non-monogamy, I don’t actually think this is impossible.

#did I manage to talk myself into demiromantic Tristan? maybe #doctor odyssey #ody3 #tristan silva #avery morgan #max bankman #polyamory

131 notes · View notes

widow-tarot · 10 days ago

Text

PAC: Why Are They So Hot&Cold?

Do you want to support me? Reblog or tip me! - paypal.me/sadwidow

Groups: 1-2-3 4-5-6

Instruction: Think about your person while choosing a group. Do not use more than 1 group for one person. This is only for entertainment purposes.

If you don’t feel drawn to any group, this reading is not for you.

(Want to book a private reading? DM me or check the pinned post!)

Decks Used: The Mystic Dreamer Tarot, Island Time Wellness Love Oracle Cards.

PILE ONE

Cards: 3 of Cups, Judgement, 9 of Swords, 10 of Cups, Boat (Progression, Moving On, Closure Issues), The Runner rx (fear of intimacy, listening to ego), Not Today rx (not dealing, hurt, avoiding a conversation/person, boundaries).

There are too many people around to see how they behave around you. No matter if you're asking about a crush or a potential friend, they care a lot about what other people think, at least in your immediate surroundings (work/school). They don't want to be judged or they don't want their actions misunderstood by other people, maybe even you too but it connects to other people more. They're happy with how things are or at least they're... at peace with how things are. It's not like the connection between you guys is bad, it's just... like it's being kept at a distance. If you delve deeper, the connection might break and sour the work/school environment so they also are trying to avoid that. However, I do feel like they're working on fixing/changing that part of themselves. Can't promise anything will be different, it really depends on the person you're asking about. They're very much trapped in their own mind and perceptions. Very much blockage in the heart/throat chakra.

SONGS:

Door by Mitski (There is a door to me; I've never seen it; Sometimes I get closer to it; But I've never found it; A hopeless violence; I named it love)

my future by Billie Eilish (Can't you hear me?; I'm not comin' home; Do you understand?; I've changed my plans; But I know better; Than to drive you home; 'Cause you'd invite me in; And I'd be yours again)

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Phoebe Bridgers (Someday soon we all will be together; If the fates allow; Until then, we'll have to muddle through somehow)

Unfinished by Noah Cyrus (Now I've got you on my mind; And I'm wonderin' tonight; If we could've been more; But we were left unfinished; I flew back to the life I knew; Left you asleep there in the hotel room; I told myself that it was for the best)

TAKE THIS HOME by DE'WAYNE, Good Charlotte (Take this crown away from me; I hold myself with no esteem; There's no joy in victory; All my heart feels is defeat)

first day of my life by gnash, Goody Grace (And so I thought I'd let you know; That these things take forever; I especially am slow; But I realize that I need you; And I wondered if I could come home)

PILE TWO

Cards: The Tower, The Chariot rx, High Priestess rx, 10 of Pentacles, The Phoenix (new phase, rekindle, growth), Love Call rx (message of love), The Runner rx (fear of intimacy, listening to ego).

At the moment I think they are going through something in their life or some major chaotic change is coming for them, hence The Tower. Honestly seems like they're in their own world, I think the hot and cold is not even on purpose, they don't even see it and if they do, they don't think it's a big deal or that it affects you. You're not at the center of their focus atm and maybe you're also a painful reminder of something as well (very specific for a selected few). They think very highly of you though. If you want them to approach you and explain their behavior, then you're gonna be gravely disappointed. They don't think they're doing something wrong or anything to hurt you so why would they feel the need to explain themselves? But they are changing, that's for sure.

SONGS:

There's Nothing Left For You by Mitski (There's nothin' left for you; Nothin' in this room; Try and go outside Nothin' waits for you; You had it once before; Not anymore; So go on to that sweetheart's door; And find a new you)

LUNCH by Billie Eilish (I could eat that girl for lunch; Yeah, she dances on my tongue; Tastes like she might be the one; And I could never get enough; I could buy her so much stuff; It's a craving, not a crush)

Christmas Song by Phoebe Bridgers (The desire for annihilation; Is as common as it is unkind; And it's hard to recognize the situation; When you're desperately trying to have a good time; You don't have to be alone to be lonesome; It's so easy to forget; The sadness comes crashing like a brick through the window)

Ready To Go by Noah Cyrus (I've lost all the words; Feels like my heart's been tied up; I wait 'til it hurts; I never can choose; I stay, we'll burn; 'Til you leave first)

Bleed Magic by I DONT KNOW BUT THEY FOUND ME (Don't want to scare you off'; Don't want to know your name; You'll never know a single thing about me; Until it's far too late)

SICK by gnash, CXLOE (Why you being so nice to me; I don't like the niceties; I wish I could make you see what I really need; I want you to make me sick; Love me out my mind)

PILE THREE

Cards: Queen of Cups, Wheel of Fortune rx, The World, 9 of Cups, The Grim Reaper (relationship is over, no second chances, grow and transform), Clock rx (need time, takes time, cycles), The Butterfly rx (relationship evolving, growth)

It's weird. It's like they enjoy spending time with you but at the same time, they know they have to cut it to a minimum because you either aren't good for them or they're trying to... leave? It's like smiling at you when you talk, having those fun convos about various topics, and laughing together but then the reality hits them and they withdraw. They think of you fondly though, but it's like they can't let themselves be swept into whatever this is with you so when the moment passes, they distance themselves again. But then, they have a good day again, they're positive again and they're starting the same thing with you. It's like they want to stay but they can't. You either aren't good for them or you can't be one that's good for them (someone else is already good for them). I assume you're asking when this person went cold again - this period will last a longer time for sure, but they have so much fondness for you at the same time.

SONGS:

Class of 2013 by Mitski (Mom, I'm tired; Can I sleep in your house tonight?; Mom, is it alright; If I stay for a year or two?)

Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish (When I'm away from you, I'm happier than ever; Wish I could explain it better; I wish it wasn't true; Don't say it isn't fair; You clearly weren't aware that you made me miserable)

Georgia by Phoebe Bridgers (Georgia, I love your son; And when he gets older, he might be the one; And he never lies or picks up his phone; And sometimes in the pouring rain; He'll fall in the mud and get back up again)

Again by Noah Cyrus, XXXTENTACION (You just made the worst mistake; And you'll regret it, darling; 'Cause once you give and then you take; You'll only end up wanting; You don't know what you got 'til it's gone, my dear; So tell me that you love me again)

WHAT LOVE? by I DONT KNOW HOW THEY FOUND ME (What love would get this vicious?; That's right, but never mind; This blood sometimes, holiness brings you; I think you've got a hold of me; But don't let go and I'll never set you free; You only come around when I got somebody new; You only sacrifice the things I never ask you to)

pajamas by gnash (Let's be immature and ignorant; 'Cause I don't feel like being sad; I wonder if the last generation was better; I wonder if the next one's going to hell; Am I the solution, am I the problem?; Let's stay in our pajamas; Let's not leave the house; It's been real bad lately; But I feel pretty good right now)

PILE FOUR

Cards: 4 of Pentacles rx, Knight of Swords, 4 of Cups rx, The Chariot rx, Heartbroken rx (deeply hurt, sad, feeling lost, breakup), Twin Flames (zen, balance, union, complementing each other), Healthy Choices rx (self-love, making good choices, being happier).

They know they're attached to you. It's an unhealthy mechanism they have, or maybe attaching themselves to you doesn't seem healthy. They're trying to distance themselves from you while not completely cutting you off because they can't. It's not that you are the problem here, but in their eyes, this type of dependency will ruin them, so they're trying to control it somehow. They want you in their life; they just need to digest the situation and make a plan. They're pretty stagnant right now, unable to find a way on how to move with this connection or change their codependency. For now, they're improvising.

SONGS:

Old Friend by Mitski (We nearly drowned for such a silly thing; Someone who loves me now better than you; I haven't told anyone, just like we promised; Have you?)

Lo Vas A Olvidar by Billie Eilish, ROSALIA (Tell me if you still miss me; Tell me if you still won't forgive me; Tell me if we still have something in common; Love can't be measured steadily; One day I'm a Goddess and the next day I can break)

Garden Song by Phoebe Bridgers (And when I grow up, I'm gonna look up; From my phone and see my life; I don't know how, but I'm taller; It must be something in the water; Everything's growing in our garden; You don't have to know that it's haunted)

Snow in LA by Noah Cyrus, PJ Harding (It's Christmas in California; Where the redwoods been burning for days; While the gold embers glow; The church bells are ringing on Sunset; But the preachers got nothing to say; If it turns out we all; Just weren't worth dying for)

Leave Me Alone by I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME (You took the money; But the money couldn't buy a friend; Go fly a kite until you're tangled in the hanging tree; Aristocrat, tip your hat and break your mother's heart; And when the sun comes up; You'll find a brand new god)

I Wanna Feel Good by gnash, Chris James (I swear I try, I do the best that I can; To keep together when I know that I can't now; I've had it up to here with self-doubt and these second thoughts; I'm tired of pretending to be someone that I'm not)

O Little Town of Betlehem by Lily Williams (How still we see thee lie; Above thy deep and dreamless sleep; While mortals sleep, the angels keep; Their watch of wondering love)

PILE FIVE

Cards: Wheel of Fortune, Knight of Wands, Ace of Pentacles, 7 of Pentacles rx, Ace of Swords, Lightning (sudden change, surprise, epiphany), Passion (insane chemistry, having fun), Coffin (Endings bring new beginnings, growth, liberation), Ascending rx (transcending obstacles, expansion, new phase).

Short answer: because they're happy. It seems like everything is going alright at the moment, so they don't need you anymore. It's selfish and very opportunistic but at the same time they haven't decided yet what to do with this connection. Do you need this connection? Is it a connection worthy of your attention and effort? It seems like you're the only one keeping it alive. I don't want to say that they're a shallow person but it seems like they're very opportunistic, using good people and then leaving them behind. You had good foundations for this connection to grow but they don't really care about growing something with you.

SONGS:

Thursday Girl by Mitski (Somebody please tell me no; It shows me what I am; I'm not happy or sad, just up or down; And always bad)

my future by Billie Eilish (Can't you hear me?; I'm not comin' home; Do you understand?; But I know better than to drive you home; 'Cause you'd invite me in; And I'd be yours again; I'm in love with my future; And you don't know her)

Walking On a String by Phoebe Bridgers, Matt Berninger (The things you said are hanging in the middle of my mind tonight; I knew that I was dead before you touched my lonesome skin; You're never running out of ways to warm your way back in)

Oh What a Dream We Had by Michal David, Richard Marx, Billion Streams For Charity, Braison Cyrus, Lauri Ylönen, Marcelito Pomoy, Kimbra, Billy Ray Cyrus, Noah Cyrus (We held each other closer and dreamed the worst was over; a never-ending prayer to let every life be sweet; no heartache anywhere; a time for us to heal)

Mad IQs by I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME (Come inside; Twist the knife; Like it's something to do; Don't you lose all your control; 'Cause you can't get into heaven; If you haven't got a soul; If you're sick or you're obscene; You can bend or you can break; But they'll replace you with machines)

feelings fade by gnash, RKCB (Don't know if I'll be fine without you; I hope I'll be alright without you; Everything's ending eventually; Best friends can become your enemies; Feelings fade when people change; I stayed the same; You played your games)

PILE SIX

Cards: 3 of Pentacles, Wheel of Fortune, King of Cups rx, Ace of Pentacles, The Phoenix (new phase, rekindle, change), Separation rx (sadness, missing you, unsure of future), Wedding Rings rx (union, wedding, eternal love).

You're still an important part of their life, but they want to move on to different stuff. They're not abandoning you, but they need to live their life too; you can't be there with them all the time. I don't know if there's any codependency or if you're really attached to this person, but I'm here to assure you that you're not being abandoned. I also think they start to feel trapped around you, like they're drowning. Give them some space. Let yourself enjoy your own presence or meet other people.

SONGS:

Cop Car by Mitski (We thought we had all night; There was no need to rush; That's when those cops came pulling up; I was too busy watching you going wild child; To be worried about going to jail; And you were so innocent, but you were stealing my heart; I fell in love in the back of a cop car)

when the party's over by Billie Eilish (Don't you know I'm no good for you?; I've learned to lose you, can't afford to; Tore my shirt to stop you bleedin'; But nothin' ever stops you leavin')

Killer by Phoebe Bridgers (Sometimes I think I'm a killer; I scared you in your house; I even scared myself by talking; Can the killer in me tame the fire in you?; Oh, is there nothing left to do for us?)

For Once In My Life by Noah Cyrus (I can go where life leads me; Somewhere I know I'll be strong; For once in my life; I won't let sorrow hurt me; This is mine, you can't take it; As long as I know I have love, I can make it)

Need You Here by I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME (There is no other place in this world that I'd rather be; If I can't be at home then I'll send my apologies; Can't you stay right here forever pretty please?; Where do you go when you're not home?)

leave by gnash (It's all my fault if it makes things better; Blame it all on the change in the weather; I'm not saying I know how to save this; I'm just saying we've been here before; I lost my patience, made an ultimatum; Wrote it down and gave it on a piece of paper)

97 notes · View notes

wake-me-up-inside-imagines · 4 months ago

Note

Hihi, I absolutely love your mafia boss oc 🥹🥹

Is it okay if I can request what would happen if reader falls into a state of apathy after being kidnapped? As in like, not very respondent, barely eating and such. How would Charlie respond?

Sure! I’ve always liked the trope of darlings becoming apathetic and freaking their yanderes out, so this’ll be fun to write. Hope you enjoy!

Yandere! mafia Boss With An Apathetic Darling

Gn! Reader

Warnings: Reader was kidnapped, desperate Charlie, mentions of violence and death, drugging, force feeding, forced bathing (not sexual), mentions of depression and medication

Divider credit goes to @bernardsbendystraws

When yandere! Charlie kidnapped you, he fully expected to get some pushback. He knew that you most likely wouldn’t take too well to being kidnapped and married off to some random guy you’d barely spoken to before, not until you really got to know him at least (so he thinks), so he prepares himself for the coming weeks and/or months, expecting to deal with the worst. Tantrums, freak outs, potential escape attempts, vandalism, the silent treatment, he’s prepared for it all.

That’s what he thought, anyway.

But as he peers into your room for the millionth time that day, watching your still form stay glued to your bed, he realizes that maybe he left something unaccounted for, and the realization makes his heart sink.

Charlie expected everything. Everything except this.

Your capture had started out as expected, at least at first. The screaming, the crying, the silent treatment. All was going as Charlie thought it would, but he didn’t worry himself over it. It hurt his heart to see you so upset, but he knew that it was only a matter of time before you calmed down and began to really settle in. He just had to wait patiently and prove to you that he wasn’t a threat, that’s all!

Soon, he noticed that your silent treatment turned into vacant stares as he passed by your room, dropping your food off before backing away. All the anger he had seen days prior had drained away, leaving nothing in its wake. Nothing but empty, nearly soulless pupils, their haunting stares barely paying him any mind as he moved about your line of vision.

He had thought that was part of the silent treatment at first, so he didn’t think too much of it. You were forcing yourself to ignore him after all, so of course you’d pretend like you didn’t know he was there! It was just a part of your little freak out, you’d become more receptive to his presence after a while.

But then the silence and desolate stares turned into lack of interest in anything, and then the absence of interest turned into you sleeping for far too long, and the sleeping turned into far and few between moments of movement, and then the lack of movement turned into a lack of eating-

Charlie prayed you were just acting so drained in front of him, that you were just trying to make a point while he was physically near you, but the camera in your room said otherwise. You had stopped moving completely, Charlie’s presence making no noticeable difference your apathetic behavior. Even when you were completely alone you refused to move, sleeping away in days old clothes while your food remained untouched. Charlie would have been upset at the waste, if it weren’t for how worried he was about you.

He tries reasoning with you during his food drop offs, shaking you awake and scolding you for being so childish, but you just blink up at him with exhaustion before turning away again. It’s like you don’t even care that he’s there anymore.

Still, he tries this method of “fixing the issue” a couple of times, even going so far as staying in the room until you give in and eat your food, or shower, or even just get up. He even resorts to begging, something he’s never had to do before, nor would he normally ever dream of doing. But it never works, and he leaves your silent room defeated and frustrated, unable to get a response out of you.

Still, he’s not gonna give up yet. He’s absolutely terrified that you’ll end up starving yourself to death, and he can’t let that happen. Not when he loves you so much, more than he can put into words. Not when he knows it would be him who killed you.

So, Charlie becomes what he swore he’d try not do to you, not unless he absolutely had to: forceful. He’ll be as gentle as possible, he doesn’t want to hurt you after all, but he will be making you take care of yourself, whether you want to or not.

When it comes time for meals, Charlie sits on the side of your bed and drags you up into a sitting position before leaning you onto his chest. Then, he effectively forces you to consume the food he’s brought by shoving in your mouth and making sure you don’t spit it out. You can refuse to chew it all you want, Charlie will grab your jaw and force you to chew if you wanna go down that route. Don’t wanna swallow? He’s tilting your head back and massaging your throat until you have to swallow, willing or not. It’s really in your best interest to cooperate with him during meals, because as gentle as he tries to be, rebelling will not be a pleasant experience.

Same goes for bathing. If you happen to realize you don’t want him seeing you undressed and get up to shower yourself, he’ll allow it without any protest, but if you aren’t willing to get up and do it yourself, he’s dragging you into the bathtub and washing you himself. He’ll make sure you’re thoroughly scrubbed down before even thinking about letting you go free, washing every inch of your skin while quietly scolding you for being so careless with your health. He would have been reveling in the skin to skin contact if it weren’t for how unwilling you were to take care of yourself.

It’s not fun, having Charlie do everything for you, but as long as you won’t do it yourself, you’re gonna have to get used to it. He doesn’t anticipate a struggle when “caring” for you since you’ve become so apathetic, but even if you try to break away, he’s much too strong for your weakened form. He’ll simply keep you glued to his side, doing what he has to in order to keep you alive and clean. Worst case scenario, he’ll drug you to keep you from resisting his help. Better to have you on something and cared for than to leave you starving, at least in his eyes.

Throughout it all, Charlie feels almost as depressed as you’re acting. Why can’t you see he just wants what’s best for you? Do you really hate him so much that you’re willing to starve yourself to get rid of him? How long will you make him treat you like an incapable child? He’s so tired of it, and yet he’ll gladly do such an exhausting routine if it’ll keep you alive.

Charlie will keep up this routine for as long as he has to, but if you continue to throw your health away, he’ll see if his personal doctor can check you out and prescribe you antidepressants or something of the like. If he can’t force you to get better, then surely medicine will, right? Surely this’ll fix your apathetic state, right? Something has to work…right?

All Charlie can really do is care for you the best he can, putting you on the medication you may need while keeping up the mealtime and bathing routine. He hopes you’ll snap out of your depression eventually, because he truly has no idea what to do to make you better, and it kills him to see you so done with everything, especially when he’s the cause of it.

Having said that… you’re not going anywhere anytime soon. Seeing you so out of it, unable to care for yourself has made Charlie even more resolute in his devotion to you. He will make sure you get better, no matter the cost.

You’re his everything. He can’t live without you, so please…take care of yourself. He doesn’t want to keep doing this the hard way, and he knows you don’t either. But until then…he’ll do what he must.

Hope you enjoyed!

92 notes · View notes

thebenjiblackwoodexpress · 3 months ago

Text

The Blackwood Knight: Troublesome Suitors

Description: In which the Blackwood Knight must fend off some troublesome suitors vying for his fair lady's hand.

Writer's Note: Hi all! Been a long time since I posted any 'Blackwood Knight' related content but this is an outtake/extra part of that story, if you will. It may be the prelude to another story/sequel (*wink, wink*). Not sure if this is still of interest to anyone, but had an idea so thought I'd run with it. There was a request from a very kind reader (@rebeccawinters) to write more in this series, so consider this a taste of more to come.

Warning: Brief mention of non con kiss. Female reader.

Dividers by @zaldritzosrose

A gentle breeze fluttered the golden leaves of the Brackentree, overhead, under which a lady and a Knight were ensconced. The lady looked down nervously at the tome open on her lap, still nervous that the Knight next to her would grow bored of hearing her speak of her favourite stories, though he had not yet, after a week of meeting at this tree. She little knew how fascinated Benji was to hear this lovely girl talk to him on whatever subject she chose, especially her stories, since they revealed so much of her character and interests. He admired the beauty of her mind as much as her person, and that of the ideal world she had built in her mind; a world in which loyalty and honour stood for something more than swearing fealty to the next usurper to make a claim for the throne. Perhaps they could build that world together, thought he, smiling softly down at her as she continued to talk about her book. He found her intermittent stutters and nervous avoidance of his eyes endearing and sweet, though he wished that she would feel comfortable in his presence. Benji frowned as he saw Y/N shudder slightly for the second time in a few minutes, realising that she must be cold.

Swiftly unclasping his cloak from around his neck, he gently wrapped it around her shoulders, holding her shoulders affectionately for a moment longer than he needed to. His heart stuttered as she turned her pretty face to look inquisitively up at him, and he found himself stuttering a reply. "Forgive me for my presumption, I thought you might be cold." He held his breath as she tilted her head curiously at him, fearing he had offended her, but she only rewarded him with a sweet, shy smile before returning her gaze to her book. He smiled to himself smugly as he noticed a light dusting of pink on her cheeks. Leaning back against the tree complacently, he shuffled slightly closer so that his shoulder could brush hers. Looking at her out of the corner of his eye to gage her reaction, he was further gratified when she did not stiffen in the slightest and only continued to tell him about her book.

After a few moments she grew silent and her brows furrowed together in a look of worry. Leaning down to meet her gaze, he questioned frantically, “what's wrong? Have I done something to upset you?” Y/N quickly refuted this, shaking her head and waving her hand as if dismissing the issue. “Oh no, not at all, I was only thinking about something displeasing. No matter”' and with that, she smiled up at him. Her quick dismissal of an issue, which was clearly bothering her, concerned Benjicot, demonstrative of a lack of concern for herself and a lack of belief that anyone would care about something worrying her. He would have to remedy this. Anything that concerned her concerned him, and he would fix it if he could. Speaking softly, or as softly as he could, he sought to ascertain the cause of her worry. “I would be grateful if you would tell me what concerns you, my Lady.”

She titled her head inquisitively at him, once again, as if surprised he would care, but answered him hesitantly. 'It is only that my Lord Uncle has been quite insistent in urging me to consider potential suitors of late and I would rather he was not so. I find it difficult enough being forced to talk to people I do not care for, let alone suitors who have no real interest in my person, just what a marriage between our Houses could do for their own personal gain.” She said all of this without taking a breath, her frustration barely concealed, but she immediately looked bashfully after she had finished, as if half expecting Benji to reprimand her for such openness. The dark expression on his face only seemed to confirm this fear and she stuttered out an apology. “Pay me no heed, it is a foolish thing to complain of. I know I will have to marry eventually, but I cannot imagine marrying a man I did not at least like or respect.”

As she looked away from the Knight beside her in embarrassment, she internally rebuked herself for her complaining. Her internal tirade was cut short by Benji interjecting in a soft, almost coaxing tone. She thought she imagined him moving his hand closer to hers on the ground so that their fingers could touch, a comforting gesture. But perhaps he had not realised how close they were, she reminded herself. “When you do marry, it should not be to a man you merely like or respect.” “No?” She questioned tentatively, surprised to see a warmth in Benji's eyes, as he gazed down at her, his face closer to hers than she had previously thought. “It should be to a man who adores you and loves respects your whole person; not only the beauty of your outward person, but also your mind”. Y/N's mouth parted in silent shock at Benji's outburst before she turned away, growing bashful at his description of her as 'beautiful'. Benji gently turned her chin back to face him, determined that she should fully internalise his words. “For you are beautiful, in your physical person and your mind, which is like a diamond, clear and dazzling.”

He bent lower to her face, noses nearly brushing as he half-whispered. “The man who you marry will not only see this, but do everything in his power to protect such beauty. I know I would.” Y/N emitted a nervous laugh before releasing herself from Benji's grasp on her chin, and turning away from him once again, though she nestled herself closer to him all the same. Benji satisfied himself that he had made his point and that if his lady did not entirely take his full meaning, the confession of love behind his words, she would at least understand her worth. A moment of silence passed before Y/N quietly said words which had Benji's heart soaring. “None of them are as polite and kind as you. They do not understand me as you do or even care to.”

Benji took a deep breath, feeling his heart swell at her sweet words. Perhaps Rob was wrong. Perhaps she could grow to love him and would one day accept his hand in marriage. His joy was cut short, however, by his lady's next words, muttered quietly under her breath, as if she was unsure whether or not she wanted him to hear. “I know that they mock me for my shyness and see me as no more than a bargaining chip.” Benji's next words came out stiff, through gritted teeth. “These suitors,” he spat out, as if the word was distasteful, “bother you? Are insolent enough to be rude to you?” His anger was rising in his chest, his fist clenching into a tight ball at his side as he immediately began planning how to despatch any man who insulted his lady. The next moment he found himself relaxing and assuming a dazed expression as the lovely lady next to him surprised him by turning her pretty features upon him in a look marked with the utmost concern.

Raising her hand to his head, she pressed the back of it against his forehead and he had to force himself not to close his eyes at the feel of her hand upon him. Instead he looked down at her speechless, as she urgently enquired into his wellbeing. "Are you well Benji? You look flushed, is something the matter?" She looked briefly confused at his lack of response, which she began to grow concerned was only further evidence of an incipient illness.

In truth, the normally formidable Benjicott Blackwood was left utterly in awe of the beauty and gentleness he saw before him, hardly believing it was directed towards him. He very nearly forgot himself and swept the angelic creature before him into his arms then and there but, reminding himself that she was shy and probably did not reciprocate his love for her, he restrained himself, even if he did lean into her touch. Lowering his face towards her, pulled almost by a magnetic force he spoke in a soft tone. "No, my Lady, I am perfectly well, thank you. I am only unhappy to hear of your own troubles and would remedy them if I could. Would you...” He hesitated, seeking to indirectly gain her permission to despatch, remove, he corrected himself, these troublesome suitors for her. “Yes?” She asked in that straightforward way she always did. It was one of the things he loved most about her. She had an innocence, almost like a baby deer encountering the world for the first time, in how she perceived the world and communicated her thoughts. He could not understand how she had been mocked for such transparency in a world of vipers and lickspittles. He knew only too well what he would do to the people who had ever made her feel inadequate about the very traits he found so enchanting about her. He'd planned each of their murders in great detail. Not that he would ever tell her that. The aim was not to frighten her, but to win her love.

He'd have to be indirect about his approach to these suitors, lest the sweet creature next to him looking at him with her crystal blue eyes should grow suspicious of their sudden absence. He'd have to pick them off one by one. “Would you be opposed to these suitors disappearing, entirely coincidentally of course,” he added, hurriedly. He could almost hear Rob's patronising voice in his mind: “real smooth, Benjicott”. “That would be too convenient,” She sighed. Benji smirked slightly, that was all the permission he needed to remove these irritating obstacles from his lady's sight...and his path to win her hand to him.. He was snapped out of his malevolent thoughts, once again, by the soft voice of the lady next to him. “What are you thinking of Benji? You have that odd expression on your face you usually have when I talk about Edmund. Are you...angry with me? We don't have to talk about this anymore if it bothers you.” She spoke hurriedly, turning her reddening face away from him in embarrassment, clearly believing herself to be the cause of Benjicot’s ire.

Benjicot’s eyes widened with alarm and he grabbed her delicate hand in his own and held her shoulder gently with his other, before he could think better of it. Y/N's her head snapped up to meet his at his sudden touch, surprised by the almost tender way he had encased her hand and shoulder in his hands, gently turning her toward him. “Sweet...” Y/N's eyes widened at what she thought sounded like...but it couldn't be, she chastised herself. Why would Benji, a Knight who could probably had a vast entourage of ladies interested in him, possibly be about to call her 'sweet heart.'

After a moment of hesitation, Benji continued, only a slight tension in his jaw revealing his frustration at having allowed his love for the lady before him to nearly result in a misstep that may have had her fleeing from his presence before he could stop her. He could not risk losing her by frightening her with the ardency of his feelings when he was certain she did not feel the same. He sought to correct his mistake as quickly as possible, lest she realise what he had nearly said and flee. “You are very sweet, my Lady, but I wish you to know that you could never anger or annoy me. Everything and anything you have to say to me is of the highest importance to me and if I do appear angry, it is only on your behalf. These ignorant pups have no business intruding themselves upon your presence. I would chase them off if I could.” Benji was equally surprised and delighted to hear his quiet lady, usually so reserved and shy, even with him, break into playful laughter at his last comment - which he had meant in all seriousness. He could not contain the smile that spread across his features as she continued to laugh, her hand pressed to her lips as if to suppress her mirth. He playfully nudged her shoulder, before leaning down conspiratorially to her level. “And what, may I ask, is the cause of your laughter my Lady?”

Still struggling to contain her laughter, Y/N met Benji's gaze with a dazzling smile, like the light dappling a woodland, as she responded. “It is only the thought of you chasing those intolerable suitors off. I suppose one look from you would have them running”, she jested. Benji smirked at this, lowering his head teasingly, seeing her face redden as he drew closer, though she did not move away from him, much to his pleasure. Tilting his head, he whispered by her ear, “am I really so formidable, my Lady? I hope you do not find me frightening”. Sensing she was flustered by his close proximity by the way she was tensed, he reluctantly drew back, though he watched her expression carefully. She could little guess how important her answer to his question was to him. He thought he could hardly bare it if she answered in the affirmative...that she was afraid of him too, just like everyone else seemed to be, Bracken or otherwise.

To the rest of the Riverlands, even his own kin and bannermen, he was known as ‘Bloody Benjicot’, and not for nothing. He protected Blackwood lands from Bracken incursions with a ferocity that lent weight to the appellation. Nevertheless, he never wished for the gentle lady before him to view him as such. From their very first meeting and, even before that, when he had only watched her from afar, he had felt a deep desire to protect her. Much to his surprise and delight, she had appeared to view him as such since he had first defended her from her incorrigible peacock of a cousin who, he reminded himself, still needed a plucking for his crimes against her. Beyond her habitual timidity, she had never seemed to fear him. After he had watched her walk back to her home that first day of their meeting, he had feared that he would never see her again, but she had returned each day to the Brackentree, bordering his lands.

Never seeming surprised to see him waiting for her, she appeared contented at the sight, quickly nestling down next to him to discuss her books or her day or anything. It was all as interesting to Benji, since it concerned her - the lady he loved and adored more than anything in this life, even his own lands. She was the only person who had seen him not only for who he was, but who he could be: a Knight whose trenchant sense of loyalty could be directed towards a higher aim than merely countering border scuffles. He had always thought that no single cause or person could ever command the loyalty of him that his own House and lands did, not even the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, though he was proud to pledge his sword to Rhaenyra, the true Queen's cause. He soon came to realise that the lady before him was this higher aim, the guiding star in his life and the object of all his future hopes. She might not ever be a Queen in name, but he would readily admit to anyone who asked that she was the queen of his heart and where his true loyalty lay.

Usually so confident, Benjicot found himself tensing his shoulders and fixing his gaze upon the ground, rather than her lovely eyes as he awaited her response to his question. He looked up suddenly in shock, first to the small hand placed upon his forearm and then to the crystalline eyes that had haunted his dreams so much of late. "I am not afraid of you, Benji. You have always been so kind to me. You are...my best friend" she added, with a nervous smile, before quickly looking away from him. Warm affection surged in his chest at hearing her confirm that she was not only not afraid of him, as he had feared, but also even considered him more gentlemanly than her suitors on the Bracken side. Lowering his head to chase her eyes, despite her adorable attempts to evade them. He couldn't help finding her perennial shyness endearing. When she finally met his gaze, he gently lifted her hand to his lips and placed a reverent kiss upon her knuckles, which only made her blush harder. "You are my best friend too, my Lady, and if your, no doubt, endless train of suitors are causing you distress, I am sure your loyal friend can think of a way of 'removing them'.

Benji grinned, pleased with himself, as a laugh bubbled forth from her and she lightly pushed his shoulder in remonstrance. "Don't be silly, Benji. I appreciate your concern, but there's nothing you can do without crossing the border into Brackenlands. That would be far too dangerous". Benji murmured under his breath, "for them." "What was that, I didn't quite catch it," Y/N looked up inquisitively at him. "Nothing, nothing, my Lady, you just have a twig in your hair. Do I have your permission to remove it?" Embarrassed at having had a twig in her hair for gods only know how long, she quickly assented, "Oh, yes of course." With her agreement, Benji wasted no time in brushing his knuckle softly against her temple and through her hair, before tucking a stray lock behind her ear. "All gone now," he assured her, though there had never really been a twig in her hair to begin with. He smiled mischievously at her, for what reason she could not tell, but she did so like to see him smile, especially at her, because of something she had said.

Smiling brightly back at him, she quickly waved away her concern that he might incur danger to himself in order to rid her of her irritating suitors. Why would he go to so much trouble on her account, even if they were friends? Returning her gaze to her book, the pair happily passed the time in comfortable silence, Benjicott content merely to be in the presence of the one he loved, and she absorbed in her book. When enough time had elapsed, Benji thought, for his next question to be posed without incurring too much suspicion from his lady as to the motivations behind it, Benji tentatively spoke his next query. "My Lady, would you be able to....perhaps, describe these suitors or...tell me their names?" Avoiding her eyes, sure she would be able to see the dark thoughts lingering behind them, Benji directed his gaze off into the far distance as he awaited her reply. A quiet, yet direct response of 'why?' had him struggling to repress a smile at the air of ingenuousness behind it. As expected, she did not as of yet hold any suspicions as to his reasoning; she was genuinely incredulous as to the reason. His brows furrowed the next moment, however, as he realised that her lack of suspicion also spoke to her disbelief that anyone would care enough to intercede on her behalf over something that had upset or concerned her.

A wave of sadness passed over him then, but he quickly rallied himself, a look of steely determination in his eyes. He would convince her, no matter how many years it took, that she was worth more than anyone had ever lead her to belief. That she was worthy of being cared for. That she meant more than anything to him. Gods, he worshipped the ground she tread on and he'd be damned before he let any suitors bother his love for even a second more. Still assuming an air of nonchalance and directing his shifty expression elsewhere, Benjicott responded to his lady's query. "No reason in particular, just to build a better mental picture for myself of these bastar....weasels," he quickly corrected himself. "Oh, of course." She responded, in her sweet, direct way of hers, as if she should have expected us much. She then proceeded to describe the four offenders with a degree of detail he was grateful for, only interjecting a few times to ask for more particulars.

By the time she had finished describing them, Benjicott had a clear enough idea of the "weasels" in question who he needed to despatch...have a stern talking to, he corrected himself mentally, once again. Only one of his lady's suitors had caused enough offense to merit more than that, the others were mere weak-spirited vassals of House Bracken that needed to be removed from his Love's presence. That shouldn't be too difficult. He'd seen all of them before and knew when he could expect to come across them near the borders to the Blackwood lands. The other one, however, would need more than a stern talking to. The craven bastard had dared to touch his lady, grabbing her wrist to prevent her from leaving the room to avoid hearing his pathetic attempts to win her heart. Benji's eyes had darkened at his lady's admission of this, his fists once again curling into tight balls at his side. His voice came out harsher than he'd intended, as he realised he'd been gritting his teeth in his anger at the suitor who had dared to frighten his lady by imposing his unwanted attentions on her. "He should never have touched you or enforced his unwanted solicitations upon your presence.

He would not have gotten so far if I had been in the room, my Lady." Y/N met his gaze with another quizzical look, searching his eyes for something, he could not tell what. He found himself wishing, hoping even, that she might find the love he held for her therein and not be offended by it. That she might even return it. But no, she only looked away from him again and spoke in a quiet tone. "You have always been such a gentleman, Benji. Not all men are so. I wish you could be there with me when I have to deal with these suitors. I never know what to say to them. I always end up offending them merely by being myself." Her eyebrows furrowed at this into a look of concentration, seemingly trying to uncover the reason why she had caused offense. Benjicott found her look of confusion adorable, much as he did everything else about her, especially her directness, which so seemed to offend the spineless scoundrels who vied for her hand. The hand he would so cherish if she were to grant him her love.

"It is their fault if they are offended, not yours. You should always speak your mind, my Lady. It is not for you to pander to weak men such as they are. Have you spoken to anyone of the rude manner in which these suitors have addressed you?" Y/N smiled sadly up at Benjicott before replying. My Lord Uncle cares little for anything involving myself and I would not want to be a burden. "You never could be" Benjicott interjected abruptly before he could stop himself. Another quizzical look from her, before she lightly patted his shoulder. "Thank you Benji, you are very kind." "No I am not, my Lady. Or at least, I say what I say not out of mere kindness, but because I genuinely, ardently mean what I say. You are and never could be a burden...not to me." He said the last part so quietly he was not sure if she would hear him. The light blush on her cheeks was the only intimation that she had heard him and might have been touched by what he had meant as a subtle confession of his true feelings for her, but she quickly looked away before he could completely embarrass himself by falling to his knees in front of her and begging her to grant him her hand in marriage.

"My uncle does not share your view. My cousin, Aeron, is very kind to be and cares for me. I'm sure he would intervene if I were to tell him of Ser Percival's unwanted attentions but I hesitate to do so after the last time I mentioned a suitor was bothering me." Benjicot's interest was immediately piqued at this unexpected revelation. "Oh? What happened the last time you did so, my Lady?"

"Aeron wouldn't tell me exactly, he's very assiduous about not involving me in anything unpleasant, but Ser Benjen did not renew his suit afterwards and I later caught a glimpse of something that looked suspiciously like a purple bruise under his eye. Aeron wouldn't admit that he was the culprit, but he grew very edgy when I mentioned it to him and started stuttering out possible scenarios which were so outlandish that I know it was him. Ser Benjen is an oaf, but not so much so that he could, as Aeron suggested, have 'tripped over a bucket and fallen down the stairs or been hit in the face by a raven.' Aeron's never been a very good liar, gods bless him. Not to mention that he'd already asked me if Ser Benjen had bothered me again, no doubt in full knowledge the poor man had been too afraid to, with Aeron glaring at him every time he was even in the same room as me'. Y/N shook her head and smiled indulgently at the thought of her kind cousin's well-meaning antics.

Benjicot found himself smiling in spite of himself. He had to hand it to Aeron Bracken, he was as loyal to his House and family as he was to his own. That factor alone had earned him enough respect from Benjicot to ensure their frequent border scuffles always involved an element of almost brotherly playfulness that never resulted in full out warfare. But it was his kindness and care for his cousin, the lady Benjicot loved, which had him thinking he could have befriended Aeron under different circumstances. Not to mention he'd done Benjicot the immense favour of already removing one suitor from the equation. One down, three to go, Benjicot mentally made a tally for himself.

"Right, one down, three more Bracken scoundrels to go. No problem, you've come to the right man. I can arrange for them to mysteriously and, quite coincidentally, of course, disappear". Rob echoed the tally Benji had mentally made for himself but a few hours ago, waggling his eyebrows suggestively and making a motion with his hand as if he were physically wiping the suitors away. Benjicot sighed in frustration with his loyal and well-meaning friend. "How many times do I have to tell you, Rob. I won't allow you to murder Brackens and cause a war, just because you hate them." Rob's mischievous expression quickly turned sullen. "Fine," he sulkily replied, "have it your way. How do you plan on 'removing' these drivelling knaves from your lady's presence?”

Benji turned fully to his friend, having advanced a few paces ahead of him on their way back to Raventree. "I intend to have a polite discussion with the first two and a not so polite discussion with the third one who dared to lay a hand on her." Benjicot glowered at Rob as he broke into laughter, holding his torso in response to what he had meant to be taken in utter seriousness. "Enjoying yourself, Rob?" Still struggling to quiet his laughter, brushing away stray tears that had streamed from his eyes, Rob sought to make amends. "I apologise my friend, but I think I know enough of your character to know exactly what you mean by a 'polite discussion' and it involves at least three broken noses and several black eyes." "Not necessarily!" Benjicott peevishly replied, though he could not entirely refute Rob's accusation. It all depended on how amenable these pipsqueaks were to his 'polite' request that they kindly full off and leave his girl alone...or else.

His dark thoughts were interrupted, once again, by Rob breaking into another round of laughter. "There it is, I can see you scheming their deaths right now. I'll marry a Bracken tomorrow if you manage to have a 'polite discussion' with these suitors that doesn't involve them encountering some violence from your end of some kind or another." Benjicot did not honour Rob's sallies with any response, merely glowering at him and turning petulantly to stalk off in the direction of Raventree. He'd show Rob that he could a conversation with these suitors, telling them to never impose themselves upon his lady again or face the consequences, without actually putting those consequences into action...he hoped.

"Right, one down, three more Bracken scoundrels to go. No problem, you've come to the right man. I can arrange for them to mysteriously and, quite coincidentally, of course, disappear". Rob echoed the tally Benji had mentally made for himself but a few hours ago, waggling his eyebrows suggestively and making a motion with his hand as if he were physically wiping the suitors away. Benjicott sighed in frustration with his loyal and well-meaning friend. "How many times do I have to tell you, Rob. I won't allow you to murder Brackens and cause a war, just because you hate them." Rob's mischievous expression quickly turned sullen. "Fine," he sulkily replied, "have it your way. How do you plan on 'removing' these drivelling knaves from your lady's presence?”

Benji turned fully to his friend, having advanced a few paces ahead of him on their way back to Raventree. "I intend to have a polite discussion with the first two and a not so polite discussion with the third one who dared to lay a hand on her." Benjicott glowered at Rob as he broke into laughter, holding his torso in response to what he had meant to be taken in utter seriousness. "Enjoying yourself, Rob?" Still struggling to quiet his laughter, brushing away stray tears that had streamed from his eyes, Rob sought to make amends. "I apologise my friend, but I think I know enough of your character to know exactly what you mean by a 'polite discussion' and it involves at least three broken noses and several black eyes." "Not necessarily!" Benjicott peevishly replied, though he could not entirely refute Rob's accusation. It all depended on how amenable these pipsqueaks were to his 'polite' request that they kindly full off and leave his girl alone...or else.

"Well well, the conciliator returns, no doubt from his successful diplomatic negotiations with the unlucky fellows who dared to bother his sweet lady. Oh but look, lads," Rob called jubilantly from his jaunty position on a fence to Kermit and Oscar beside him, all with smirks on their faces, "is that blood on your collar, good envoy?" "Oh fuck off, Rob, this one deserved it and I barely touched him. He ran off with his tail between his legs." Rob looked at his nails, returning smugly. "So you said the last two times. Did they all deserve it too?" "Yes!" Benjicott spat out quickly, without hesitation. "This was especially." His eyes darkened at the memory of his encounter with the craven bastard who had presumed to touch his lady and frighten her with his unwanted solicitations. He'd found the swine patrolling the border on his own, in his arrogance. Well, this would go a lot quicker than if Benjicott had to deal with a host if Brackens.

"Oi, dastard, I have some business with you," Benjicott shouted across to the Knight, swaggering casually up to the border. "You dare address me in such a manner, Blackwood swine!" The Knight spat out. "Who are you to accuse me of cowardice?" Benjicot advanced so that he was chest to chest with the Bracken Knight, his steely response coming out through gritted teeth. "Oh I dare. Any man that presumes to touch a lady without her permission and insult her with his unwanted presence deserves the name of coward." The Knight looked shifty and considerably chastened by Benjicot’s close proximity and the sheer aggression radiating off him. Seeing the Blackwood sigil on the broach fastening Benjicot’s cloak round his shoulders, the Knight gulped at the realisation that it was the formidable future Lord of Raventree bearing down upon him.

"I don't...don't understand your meaning, Ser." He stuttered out, attempting to take a step back, before Benji grabbed him by his cloak, preventing his retreat. "Did you, or did you not lay a hand on Lady Y/N Bracken when she tried to kindly reject your pathetic suit for her hand?" The scoundrel had the audacity to laugh then, making Benjicot's blood boil. "Is that what this is about? Why should you care, Ser? Is she some great friend of yours." He quickly stopped laughing when Benjicot's grip on his collar tightened painfully so as to nearly lift him off the ground. The knight shivered in fear as he saw Benjicot's eyes darken and heard his next words, spoken in a low, dangerous tone. "She means more to me than a spineless lickspittle like yourself could ever comprehend and if I ever head of you approaching or even looking at her again, I will have no hesitation in paying you another visit. I assure you that I will not be so reasonable, in that case."

"I didn't even kiss her, she wouldn’t let me, the minx. She didn't need to go crying about it. I said as much to her at the time. She's just too sensitive, I assure you Ser." Benjicot saw red at the knight's revelation. Of course his lady wouldn't tell him the whole truth. She never wanted to burden anyone with anything that troubled her, not even when someone offered her physical insult. If he had known that this scoundrel had not only attempted to kiss his darling lady without her consent, but also made her cry in the attempt, there would have been not attempt at a 'discussion' with him, 'polite' or otherwise. What followed was not pretty and Benjicott was sure Rob would laugh at him relentlessly for giving into his anger. He was also sure that his friend would agree that this one really did 'deserve it'. Besides, he hadn't hurt him too badly, just enough to be sure that he'd never approach either his, or any other lady with his unwanted attentions again. Drawing his mind back to the present, Benjicott was irritated to see that Rob, the smug git, was still smirking knowingly at him whilst Kermit and Oscar continued to laugh at his lovesick behaviour. No matter, he didn't care what they thought. He only cared what she thought. He couldn't seem to care for much else at this point, his whole thoughts consumed by his lovely lady. Even now a dreamy look transformed his features, which had shown his irritation only a moment before.

"What exactly is your plan here, Benjicot? I hate to break it to you, my good man, but as soon as you despatch one suitor another shall surely raise his ugly head. You can't prevent every suitor from seeking out your fair lady's hand. She will marry some lucky fellow one day." Rob held his hands up placatingly, seeing the danger in his friend's darkening eyes, but he could not help himself from expressing what to him was an unavoidable obstacle to Benjicot's suit for the fair Bracken lady's hand. "I only mean to point out, dear fellow, that removing these suitors now will not help you in the long run. You can't really believe that she would marry a Blackwood, let alone the heir of Raventree." "I'm counting on it." Benjicot spoke through gritted teeth, a look of fierce determination on his face. "She's my girl, in my heart, even if she won't have me in that way. She will be my wife if I have my way and even if she won't, I'll get rid of any problem that bothers her and that I have the power of removing. Whatever it is, I will attend to it. And if anyone hurts her," his voice became cold and low, "I'll kill them. Whenever she needs someone to rely upon, I will be there. Is that clear, Rob?"

Rob smiled softly at his friend then, before shooting a warning look at his two partners in crime, who were barely holding back their sniggers, unused to seeing the usually fearsome Bloody Benjicott act in such a manner. He understood now, where he had doubted before, that his friend was not merely infatuated, but deeply in love with this lady. He couldn't fault him for that, though he questioned the wiseness of his choice. The enmity between the Blackwood and Bracken Houses was no easy thing to surmount, and his friend had a hard road ahead of him if he were to win the love and hand of the lady he had chosen. "Crystal clear, my good man." If his friend was really serious about gaining the love of the mysterious Bracken lady, he would help him if he could.

A day later, Benjicot found himself waiting for his lady underneath their Brackentree, more anxious than usual to see her and convince himself she was well. He could not erase the image of her distress at that brute's behaviour from his mind. A deep sense of sadness and anger on her behalf left him with a painful feeling in the pit of his stomach that she considered herself so little she would not even tell anyone that she had been insulted in such a manner. That she wouldn't tell him. He wanted so desperately for her to see him as someone she could confide in and trust to fight on her behalf for her interests. Just as he was pondering how he could possibly gain her trust in this capacity, the very lady he was thinking of emerged from the tree line into view, a book in hand, as usual.

His face immediately broke into a smile reserved just for her, her presence alone acting like a wave of calm quieting his anxious thoughts. He was delighted to see her return his smile with a gentle smile of her own, even if she shyly cast her gaze elsewhere as he continued to gaze at her. He continued to find this perennial shyness an endearing trait of hers, hoping that it might have more to do with his effect on her than any reservations around him. He was surprised when she tripped lightly up to the tree he resided under and slid down to sit beside him, a smile still on her face. Normally she would seem hesitant to take a seat by his side until he had first stood up to greet her and invite her to. He always hoped that she would grow more familiar and comfortable around him and was elated to see her already seeming to be so.

"Good morrow, my Lady. What has you looking so pleased this day?" To his further surprise, she turned to meet his gaze fully, where she usually avoided direct eye contact, gushing out, "Oh Benji, you will never guess what has happened. It's the most wonderful thing. All of the horrid suitors I was telling you off have stopped their pursuit without me having to do anything. I have never had so much time to read!" "Oh?" Benjicot responded in a wry tone, a single eyebrow raised. "I cannot account for it. Of course my uncle is less than pleased, but he cares too little about me to take too much of an interest. Perhaps my awkward manner frightened them off or someone prettier has taken their interest. Whatever it is, I am most glad of it." She sighed in relief. Benjicot frowned at her last statement. Though he was pleased that she was relieved to be rid of these troublesome suitors, he was anxious to impress upon her that their sudden absence was due to no fault of her own. "I assure you, my Lady, that neither of your suggestions for your suitors' sudden departure are in the least likely, for your manner is positively charming and," he tentatively placed his hand on hers, as he gazed into her eyes, "you are the fairest lady that ever lived."

Unsurprisingly, though much to his dismay, she frowned at his compliment, as she always did and looked almost disappointed in him, before shrinking into herself and retracting her hand. "I wish you wouldn't say jest with me like that Benji, it's not very kind." He immediately snatched her hand back as she retracted it and chased her eyes with his own. "Don't do that, Y/N. Don't hide from me and lock yourself inside your mind. I can see you doing it." She met his gaze at this, looking startled, as if she didn't think he would notice her protective mechanism. He noticed everything about her. He just wished that he would be where she would look to for reassurance and comfort, rather than withdrawing from him. "I need you to understand that I would never jest about what I believe to be absolutely true. To me you are the loveliest, most charming girl, not least because you are so outwardly fair. But it is the beauty of your mind and person that makes me sure you are the fairest lady in the Riverlands." He did not add, Westeros, fearing she may think he was being too grandiose in making such a claim, though he was confident that he was not.

To his relief, she had not run away, as he had half expected her too, already kneeling next to her in case he needed to head tail it after her and make her belief him. He couldn't risk losing her forever if he allowed her to run off this once. Not when it was so important that she finally understood how highly he thought of her, to say nothing of loving her. He didn't think it was safe to risk revealing that when she was already put out with him at a compliment. Better to be safe than sorry and lose his girl because he was too impatient to gush out his love for her and wrap her in his arms. Instead he gently held her chin in his hand, holding her gaze as he invested his voice with a firmness he never usually directed at her. "Please believe me when I say that I have never and will never deceive you. I always mean exactly what I say when I tell you how lovely you are. How much I value your voice. How any measure of time spent with you could never be enough for me." Her head titled quizzically in that adorable way it always did when she was testing the truth of what he said before she offered him a small smile, much to his relief. "Thank you Benji, you are very kind. I'm glad you should think me such a friend and that you enjoy my company...I think the same of you." She added before he finally allowed her to withdraw her head from his hand and look away. He could help the smug smile that made its way onto his features at this, though he wished she would see him as more than a friend.

"No one has ever much cared for what I have had to say. It certainly makes a nice change." She smiled up at him once again. Benjicot gazed down lovingly at her, his eyes aglow with adoration for her, which she, alas, could not see, though it was there plainly for any other observer to see. "You have the most beautiful voice I have ever heard. It is to others' detriment if they have failed to hear it. Though it is quiet, little mouse," he lightly stroked her cheek, smiling indulgently at her, "I would hear it above a throng of voices." She seemed genuinely taken aback by this, a light blush gracing her features, and he could only hope that the truth of his words had resonated for her.

Not wishing to flustered her too much, he directed his gaze elsewhere. A hard task for him, since he could very happily gaze at her pretty features until the end of his days. He would make this sacrifice to her shyness, however. "In the matter of your disappearing suitors, I suspect a bigger game is at play. Perhaps a more worthy suitor has sought fit to see them off from bothering his fair lady with their suits." He smiled slyly at her from the corner of his eye, trying to silently convey that he was said suitor. "Don't be silly, Benji. What a ridiculous suggestion." She narrowed her eyes at him as he broke out into laughter at her directness. She grabbed his elbow then. "What's so funny Benji!" "Nothing, my Lady. Only I think in this, I may be proven correct, and you may be mistaken. It is an unlikely turn of events, of course, since you are clearly the intellectual in this pair." "You are clearly wrong. I think I would realise if such were the case." She did not hear as Benjicot muttered under his breath, "if only you would."

@lovebabe18-blog

@poppyflower-22

@ithilwen-blackwood

@spinachtz

@lady-callisto

@twistytimesandthoughts

@abookloverlawyerfan-blog

@mymoonempress

@drwho-ess

@dancingbaek

@aemondslove

@cheendrella

@rebeccawinters

#house of the dragon #hotd #benjicot blackwood #hotd imagine #benjicot blackwood x reader #house blackwood #benjicot blackwood oneshot #benjicot blackwood imagine #fire and blood #hotd fanfic #hotd one shot #hotd x reader

77 notes · View notes

genericpuff · 3 months ago

Text

Hey y'all, Episode 67 will be out as soon as it's ready. I'm not gonna lie, coming off the back of a crazy holiday season, I was hoping things were gonna get back on track with the update schedule, but the last 2-3 weeks have brought about a whole new whirlwind of issues:

I took our cat to the vet a few weeks ago to get him checked out (esp because he wasn't eating as much as usual and we wanted to make sure he wasn't sick). The usual vet we go to has become a shithole, the doctor we got was extremely unhelpful and every interaction I've had with other members of staff there has been confusing and unpleasant. After an hour of an appointment that was more uncomfortable than it should have been, we were out $700 which was absurd, even for usual vet fees. After I shared the more detailed version of this story with friends IRL, some of them mentioned that apparently this particular clinic (among others throughout Canada) was bought by an American company. So that certainly explains a lot -_-

Car broke down and that cost like $800 to fix. Thankfully wasn't as expensive as the fucks at Canadian Tire quoted us, but it was still another huge expense on top of the vet bill.

Our shop moved locations this weekend, which took a lot of time to both prepare for and finally pull off over the course of the last few weeks. My new booth is at least set up enough to tattoo but there's still a lot left to do to make it comfortable.

Now my cat is potentially developing jaundice (sign of liver failure) which lines up with his blood test results from the vet showing increased liver enzyme levels or something like that (but they were apparently not enough of an emergency for the vet to actually do anything about it). I booked with a different vet clinic but they can't get us in until the 20th. So I booked an appointment for today with the emergency vet up the road. I'm terrified for him, he's an old cat so it was inevitable that his health would start to turn, but other than his increasingly picky eating habits and signs of jaundice, he's still acting like himself and it's breaking my heart that he could be hiding his own symptoms. I really just do not need a pet death on top of everything else that's going wrong right now.

As for the episode itself, it's not even that long, but the set design is pretty detailed and in our attempts to create some 3D models for ourselves, it resulted in bugs that had to be fixed on the fly. Thankfully I think we've finally got it down (and it's a recurring location so it's not like it won't be useful to have again in the future) but overall the episode production just hasn't gone as smoothly as it could have compounded by everything else mentioned above.

None of these are excuses, just reasons that have justifiably required my attention. Depending on how the vet appointment goes, I'll try and stream later tonight so that folks can at least watch some of the drawing progress for this episode. Episode 67 will be out by next Saturday at the latest, assuming I'm not able to get it out in the next day or two.

I know I'm a broken record at this point, but I'm incredibly sorry for the wait and I appreciate your patience with me. I'm begging for things to calm down soon.

#lore rekindled #lore rekindled announcement #lore rekindled update #ama #ask me anything #anon ama #anon ask me anything #lore rekindled ama

146 notes · View notes

reader-from-nowhere · 4 months ago

Text

Despite everything, it's still you.

_________________________________

Thinking about them, about how Shockwave lost himself loving Orion, about how absolutely doomed they were from the very beginning. They wouldn't have lasted, neither of them could've kept each other. Not in this line of work.

But still, if one word can be used to describe the two of them, it would be selfish.

Shockwave is selfish in which he refused to let Orion rest, dragging him through hell and back, into the pit of insanity with him. Orion is selfish in which despite everything his partner had done, he still wants Shockwave next to him, close to him. They cling onto one another, hold themselves so close that when they get separated, their claws ripped each other apart.

It changed them, scarred them beyond what they used to be.

Orion, now Optimus, in a body that is not his, with a mind with millions of years worth of memories - Shockwave, with a broken and mind and a shattered heart.

Their past is long dead. But their future, is still very much alive.

And by Primus, Optimus is GOING to drag his dumbaft of a partner kicking and screaming back next to him no matter what. And, hopefully, into a better life.

This new Shockwave caused this big of a mess, might as well help him clean it up. Damn it, Shock', Optimus is suppose to be the troublesome one.

________________________________

This is so self-indulgent sob 😭😭 you can't give me ShockOp and not expect me to go bonkers over them. They are so tragic I HAD to give them a hopeful ending, Primus knows they've suffered enough. Tell me Optimus, the guy who has attachment issues SO BAD that it dragged a war on for millions of years, wouldn't absolutely find any and all excuses to not hand Shockwave over once the shenanigans are over even after what Shock' did to him.

"Erm actually once I told him he can try to revive me if I die during a drinking game as a joke so TECHNICALLY it's fine.☝️☝️ " "He killed hundreds of our men." "I plead insanity."

Also, we kind of need Shockwave if we gonna do the whole 'Jazz gets robot'ed' thingy, so this is an easy fix for any potential plot hole. (and totally not me trying to keep pookie alive) Let Optimus bring Shockwave to Cybertron ‼️‼️

Mecha au by @keferon (sorry for tagging you sm i just love making content for this au 😭😭😭)

#transformers #maccadam #tf mecha universe #optimus prime #shockwave #its been so long since ive written anything #if you see any grammar mistake pls ignore or ill cry /j #so crazy abt them i drew and wrote this during class #is bringing shockwave to cybertron a terrible idea over all?#yes #would optimus listen?#probably not #feeling like there has been lots of angst lately gotta make sure to add at least a bit of crack #shockop

142 notes · View notes

kiraavi · 25 days ago

Text

season by season, heart by heart

Note: Hello, it's been awhile and I guess we can consider this my return to writing fanfiction! I've been working vigorously on this fic for the past couple days and I truly hope you enjoy!! I do have some potential ideas for a part two but we shall see!

Happy reading! <3

CW: lots of fluff but also smut at the end!!

Summary: You've just moved into the neighbourhood and have taken a liking to the man who lives across the street.

Word Count: 6977

Ao3 Link: Read here!

The house was a bit of a fixer upper. You’d known this, though the realization had become painfully clear within your first few days of living there. The front porch steps were a prime example of its many issues, their uneven and wobbling state having tripped you up at least a dozen times already. The second step up, in particular, seemed less like a mere inconvenience and more like a malevolent force with some sort of vendetta against you. Sure, the house had its quirks, but the neighborhood more than made up for it. It was the sort of place that felt pulled straight from the pages of a storybook—white picket fences, perfectly manicured lawns, and the pièce de résistance; the man across the street. Handsome didn’t do him justice. He was the kind of attractive that made you momentarily forget how to breathe. Suddenly, those treacherous porch steps didn’t seem like such a problem.

You’d never been the type to spend much time lounging on your front porch, but lately, it had become your favourite spot. The cushioned bench on the deck became your perch, a book in hand serving as little more than a prop. You weren’t fooling anyone, really. He had to know exactly what he was doing. Mowing the lawn shirtless? That wasn’t just an innocent act—it was downright criminal. The kind of thing you know draws attention—the kind of thing you do because you want that attention. Tall with tan skin and muscles that rippled with each movement, working up a sweat beneath the sun's rays. Yeah, okay, you could definitely forgive the tottering porch steps.

Until you couldn’t.

The morning breeze was always a relieving reprieve from the summer heat brought on by the afternoons. Your alarm didn’t go off and you were left scrambling to get ready for work and out of the house. Taking the steps too quickly, one slanted under your weight and you were almost sent crashing to the ground, but you managed to catch your balance last second. “Shit,” you muttered under your breath.

“I could have those fixed by the time you get back, you know.” A voice called out and you looked up, locking gazes with him—the older man who lived across the street. He stood on his lawn, looking more gorgeous than he had any right to. The tank top he wore clung to the outline of his muscles beneath and streaks of grease smeared his corded forearms. The garage door behind him was open, the hood of the cherry red impala stored within propped up.

“Huh?” A single hum was all you could manage and you felt dumb. One look at this stranger and your mind was rendered nothing more than mush incapable of a coherent thought.

His eyes crinkled at the corners and a small smile twitched at the corner of his lips. If you could’ve, you would’ve taken a picture and hung it framed on your wall. They could use the decoration—Most of your stuff was still packed up in boxes. “Your steps,” he said, gesturing behind you, and you threw a glance over your shoulder as realization dawned upon you.

“Oh.” You said, turning to look at him again and you thought for a moment that you never wanted to look away again. “Wait, really? You’d… you’d do that?”

“Yeah, won’t take long.”

And sure enough, when you returned he was finishing up. Your gaze followed him as he stood up and turned to you. “Good as new.” He placed one foot on the plank for show, and it held sturdy under the pressure, no longer slanting.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” you said as you shut your car door behind you and approached, “well, I’ll start by saying thank you.”

“Consider it a housewarming gift,” he said with a casual shrug, “Miguel, by the way.” His voice carried a warmth that made your heart flutter as he extended a hand towards you. When you placed your hand in his, his calloused fingers closed around it, enveloping yours completely. Something as simple as a handshake shouldn’t have made you feel the way it did—That feeling that coiled in the pit of your stomach like molten lava. You should’ve been more ashamed of yourself, you thought. Instead you told him your name in return.

—

Months passed and autumn cast her influence over the neighbourhood, a slow and graceful descent as the leaves morphed into a kaleidoscope of rusty orange, warm yellow, and ruddy red hues. Summer’s slow and lingering death gave way to the crisp, bitter cold. In the mornings a mist settled low on the ground, disguising the wilting grass. Across the street you noticed two jack-o-lanterns had been set out at Miguel’s doorstep and you couldn’t help but smile everytime you caught a glimpse of the silly expressions carved into the pumpkins each time you pulled out of your driveway to head to work.

Since your first formal introduction you and Miguel had become friends, you think. You hope. He was always eager to help out with anything. Front door was squealing on its hinges? He would fix it. Car troubles? No problem. Leaky faucet? He could handle it. You’d begun to feel guilty. All this help and you’d given nothing in return. With a quiet sigh, you exited your car when your eyes landed on Miguel standing by his front door. His brows were furrowed and his shoulders tensed as he held his phone to his ear, his foot tapping impatiently on the pavement. He hung up, shoving the phone in his pocket as he muttered a curse under his breath.

There was a moment where you hesitated, shifting nervously and clasping your hands together for a moment before deciding to wave. “Hey neighbour,” you greeted, taking a stilted half-step forward. His eyes lifted and landed on you, and his gaze appeared to soften, so you continued your approach. “One of those telemarketers?”

“I wish,” he said as he rubbed the back of his neck, huffing out a laugh, “Gabi’s babysitter canceled last minute.”

This was it. This was your opportunity to finally repay him for all his favours. “Oh, have you got a hot date tonight?” You asked jokingly but he tensed up again, and you swore you could see the hint of a blush on his cheeks. Oh. Oh. Something twisted in your chest and your heart sunk to your stomach. Why did that hurt? It shouldn’t. You weren’t anything to each other. Not really. Just neighbours. The silence stretched between you for an unbearable amount of time before either of you mustered up the courage to say something.

“It’s-”

“I can babysit Gabi.”

“What?”

“I can… babysit Gabi,” you repeated, less confident this time. Maybe it was self sabotage—helping this handsome man attend his date, and maybe you’d regret it later, but the way his eyes lit up made it so very worth it. A small smile graced your lips.

Gabriella was a precious ten year old girl that lit up any room she was in. You’d met her briefly and seen her in passing. Always toothy smiles and enthusiastic waves each time she saw you from across the street. You watched as she rushed up to her dad, wrapping her arms around his middle in a hug. He ruffled her hair and you could almost tear up at how sweet the scene was. The look he gave her was one of pure adoration. “I'll be back before you know it, mija.”

“Thank you again,” he said, looking over to you but you hardly processed his words. He was dressed in a perfectly fitted dark charcoal suit and now you were, not for the first time, left wondering if the cruel fates decided to taunt you with him just to torment you.

“You seriously don’t have to thank me.” You gave a dismissive wave as you shook your head. “You do so much for me as it is.”

He nodded and lifted his arm to check his watch. “Well, I should be off then. Don’t hesitate to call me if you need to.” With that he practically peeled Gabi off of him to which she pouted before shuffling aside, reluctantly letting him leave.

“Want to carve a pumpkin?” The suggestion was sudden and out of nowhere. Gabi's face lit up as she turned to you, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she bounced on the balls of her feet. She tugged on your sleeve, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. “I noticed you don’t have one on your porch, and we got an extra one from the pumpkin patch. I couldn’t decide, so Dad let me pick two. Now we have one to spare!” Her hands flailed animatedly as she explained, her grin widening as she tilted her head expectantly, clearly hoping you’d say yes. How could you possibly resist?

You both leaned over the counter, elbows resting on the edge as you concentrated on your work. Gabi watched closely the entire time, her nose scrunching in mock disgust when you playfully flicked a piece of the slimy pumpkin insides toward her before she burst into a fit of giggles. By the end of the whole ordeal the kitchen island was covered in pumpkin guts and the room was filled with Gabi’s laughter. She carefully lifted your jack-o-lantern and took it to the front door where she placed it on the pavement next to the other two. The sight warmed your heart. As the two of you winded down after dinner, you settled on the couch as she eagerly grabbed the remote to pick something to watch. You reached for a throw blanket and draped it over her lap.

With the movie chosen, Gabi leaned back and nestled against your side. You froze, muscles tensing as you shifted awkwardly at first before relaxing. Gabi’s fingers absentmindedly toyed with the edge of the blanket as her focus remained on the TV. Your eyes followed hers, drifting to the brightly coloured animated movie playing. Before long she’d fallen asleep, her breathing slowing into an even rhythm. About halfway through you heard the lock click and the front door swung open.

Miguel looked exhausted as he stepped inside, heaving a sigh the moment the door fell shut behind him. When his eyes landed on you and Gabi snuggled up on the couch, his steps faltered and his shoulders visibly relaxed. Running a hand through his hair, he set his keys down quietly on the foyer table.

“How’d the date go?” You asked, keeping your voice low so as to not wake the little girl who had fallen asleep at your side. He gave a shrug but offered little in the way of words as he approached. Leaning down, he scooped Gabi up into his arms and made his way upstairs before returning minutes later.

“Think I’m too old for that sort of thing,” he admitted quietly, breaking the silence.

You looked him up and down doubtfully. “Hardly,” you remarked and it was true. He was older but no less handsome for it. The line of women waiting for a chance with him was probably miles long. Still, a selfish part of you was glad to hear that his date hadn’t gone well. He gave you a look, one brow arched. “I mean, I’m sure there’s loads of women who would jump at the chance.” Yourself included, but you left that part out.

He took a few steps forward and sunk down onto the couch beside you, the cushions dipping under his weight. There was but a sliver of distance between his thigh and yours, not quite touching but close enough that you could feel the heat radiating off him. His proximity was dizzying and you could smell the cologne he wore—something fancy and probably expensive but incredibly pleasant, and so very him. His knee bobbed faintly, betraying an underlying nervous energy despite his composed demeanor.

“I just worry,” he said before pausing, looking at you again. Miguel’s gaze lingered as his eyes searched yours, and his stare had a way of making you feel as if you were the only person in the entire world. “I don’t want to bring just anyone into Gabi’s life.”

His fingers flexed against his thigh and your hand itched to reach out—to take it and comfort him in some way you knew your words probably couldn’t but you held back. “You’re… you’re a good father, Miguel,” you said weakly, “Better than most.”

There was another beat of silence and you swallowed the lump in your throat as you fought the urge to break eye contact, your fingers fidgeting with the hem of your shirt. But then he smiled—and it was the smallest of smiles, but it was also the most beautiful thing you’d ever seen.

You were absolutely doomed.

And you absolutely didn't care, so long as you could spend another moment with him.

—

The temperatures began to drop further, the frigid cold nipping to the bone every time you made the trek from the front door to your car or across the street. The first snowflakes had fallen, leaving a thin sheet of powdery snow over every surface outside. The spindly trees fell bare, their bark and winding branches encased in a layer of frost and icicles hung from your roofs eaves. You’d begun to bundle up each time you stepped outside. Over the last couple months babysitting Gabi had become a regular part of your schedule and one that you looked forward to. You hadn’t been planning to put Christmas lights up this year, but Miguel had insisted he do it for you after you spotted him outside on a ladder, hanging his own. That man’s generosity knew no bounds.

A knock at your door roused you from your thoughts and you hopped up from your couch to go answer it. A gust of wind met you and goosebumps rose along your arms as you squinted against the bright white outside. Miguel stood before you, not at all equipped for the weather, dressed in nothing more than a t-shirt and jeans. You gestured him inside quickly, shutting the door behind him.

“Where’s your jacket?” you asked, giving him an incredulous look.

“It was meant to just be a quick trip,” he exhaled, a sheepish smile tugging his lips. He took a moment to subtly observe your house. It was then that you’d realized he’d never step foot inside before, and now you were wishing you had tidied. “I, uh… was wondering if I could borrow some flour. Gabi is insistent on doing some holiday baking this year.”

“Oh yeah, sure,” you said, heading over to your kitchen, “I didn’t take you for much of a baker?” you remarked, throwing a glance over your shoulder. He shuffled in place before following you into the kitchen.

“I’m not…” He looked like there was something else he wanted to say, but he stopped himself. “Can’t guarantee they’ll be any good, but I’ll drop off some cookies when they’re done.”

“Need a hand?” you asked, reaching for the ceramic flour canister that sat on your kitchen counter, “I bake from time to time, and from the sounds of it, you could use the help.”

And so together you and Miguel made the treacherous journey across the street. He walked a bit ahead, glancing back to ensure you were okay as the icy wind whipped around you, slashing against him and punishing him for his lack of proper attire. You clutched the flour canister tightly, your boots crunching the snow with each step you took. The two of you breathed a sigh of relief the moment you stepped inside the warmth of his house. Gabi was immediately bounding down the hallway, calling your name before she made impact and wrapped her arms around you. You gave her back an affectionate pat, “heard you wanted to do some baking?” You questioned and she nodded excitedly.

It was chaos. The three of you really didn’t make a well coordinated team in the kitchen. There was flour everywhere, dusting every surface including yourselves, reminiscent of the snowy scene outside. Miguel was busy kneading sugar cookie dough with an expression so focused you had to withhold a laugh. You assisted Gabi with spooning the batter for a gingerbread loaf into a loaf tin. Afterwards, Gabi reached for the spoon to get a taste of the batter.

“Ah, there’s raw egg, Gabi,” you warned, snatching the spoon from her and watching as she began to pout.

“Dad let me try the sugar cookie dough…!” she whined and you tossed Miguel a glance, tutting when all he offered was a shrug and rueful look in return.

“You can eat all you want once it’s done baking, promise,” you reassured her with a gentle smile as you lifted the tin and brought it over to the oven.

At the end of an exhausting but certainly amusing two hours spent making more of a mess than actual baked goods, Gabi was off in the living room watching a cartoon while you and Miguel began to clean up. He stood in front of the sink and rolled up his sleeves, exposing his forearms as he began to scrub baking utensils and mixing bowls, water splashing onto the counter. You started by wiping down the granite countertops with a damp rag. There was something about it that tugged at something within you. It felt right to be there—in that moment of all places. It was comforting in a way you wouldn’t expect, and the sort of thing that you found yourself craving more and more as of late.

“Thank you… for everything. I hope you know how much it means to me—to us.” he said suddenly and his voice was soft as he spoke your name like it was something precious—like the syllables of it were to be cherished. The things you would give to hear him say your name like that again.

“You don’t have to thank me…” you said, swiping your arm once more over the counter before walking over and stopping at his side. It occurred to you that you’ve said those words a lot to each other over the short course of your friendship. You folded and hung the rag over the sinks edge before grabbing the bowl he was washing from his hands. Your fingers grazed his and it was electric, sending butterflies fluttering through your body. Pausing momentarily, you blinked before refocusing and grabbing a sponge. He reached for a spoon that needed rinsing.

“You have done a lot for me. Too much. Spending time with you and Gabi hardly feels like repaying a favour. She’s great.” Babysitting Gabi wasn’t a burden at all. She was a brilliant little girl and a joy to be around. You were sure he knew it better than anyone else.

You looked over to him, having to tilt your head up to catch his gaze and there was a sort of misty look in his eyes that made your heart palpitate in your chest. Just what was this man doing to you?

“She’s struggled a lot since her mom…” His words drifted off someplace else, hanging in the air between you like a physical thing. His grip on the spoon he was rinsing tightened as he gathered himself. You didn’t know much about Gabriella’s mother but you did know she wasn’t in the picture now, a fact that obviously affected Gabi greatly. “But since you’ve been around… she’s been happier.” And suddenly you were the one getting misty eyed. You jutted your chin aside as you took a moment to blink away the glossiness in your eyes.

“She talks about you non-stop,” he said with a chuckle and when you raised a brow, he added, “No, seriously. It’s a constant.”

You couldn’t help the quiet laugh that escaped you. If you were being honest, you’d never felt so elated. There was a warmth that rose and encompassed your entire being. It was perhaps the sweetest thing you’d ever had the privilege of hearing and as you looked into his eyes, you found yourself wishing the moment could stretch on for an eternity—just existing, doing something as simple as washing dishes by the sink while outside the glistening kitchen window, snowflakes continued to fall, flittering to the ground.

—

Spring had sprung, as they say. There was that loamy earthy scent that mingled with the smell of fresh cut grass. In the neighbourhood you could hear children playing outside, finally free from their bulky winter jackets and able to enjoy the warmth of the sunny days that had begun to become more and more frequent. Things began to come alive around you, buds unfurling into blooming flowers and the foliage returning bright and green.

To be honest, you weren’t sure how you ended up going on a date. Well, you did know. Spring was rife with all sorts of symbolisms for new beginnings, and maybe you got too caught up in it all when you decided to install a dating app. And perhaps hopelessly pining after your neighbour had something to do with the sudden desire to be fulfilled in that way. Maybe. Potentially. Definitely. Of course, dating was easier said than done and the date hadn’t lived up to your expectations. How could it when the only person you wanted to be sitting across from you at some fancy, stuck-up restaurant was Miguel? When you had looked across the table at your date all you could think was how desperately wished it was him. You felt bad.

The moment you pulled into your driveway, you pulled your phone from your purse and deleted the dating app. It was one part alleviating and two parts anguish. Maybe being doomed to yearn for a man who couldn’t possibly return your feelings wouldn’t be that bad. Leaning forward, your head came to rest on the steering wheel as you let out a dejected sigh. A knock on the window had you jolting in your seat. Heat rose to your cheeks and you exited your car to face Miguel who stood outside, looking concerned.

“You okay? Thought you might’ve passed out or something,” he said with a wry smile.

“I… yeah, I’m fine,” you said, waving your hand lamely. His eyes seemed to linger on you, drifting down your body, clad in a little black dress, for a millisecond. You thought that maybe you’d imagined it—imagined the way they caught on your hips and curves. He cleared his throat.

“Need a drink?” He asked before adding, “I know I could definitely use one.”

The house was quiet when you entered it and Gabi didn’t rush to you like she usually did. “She’s at a sleepover,” he said before the question could leave your mouth. Following him into the kitchen, he grabbed a bottle of wine from the rack on the counter. You moved toward the cupboard to grab two wine glasses while he popped the cork. You placed them on the counter with a light clink.

“I don’t know why I even bothered going out tonight,” you began and he froze momentarily mid pour, glancing over at you, “I guess I thought… maybe it would help.”

“Help with what?” He slid the glass closer to you and you grabbed it, lifting it to your lips to take a sip.

“I don’t know… feeling stuck? Like I’m waiting for something that’ll never happen.”

He leaned back against the counter and a thoughtful look crossed his face as he studied you. Suddenly you felt nervous under his stare, like he could see right through you and see all the feelings that had welled up inside you over the past year—the way you felt about him. “That guy was a total idiot if he didn’t see what was right in front of him.”

You sighed and shook your head gently. Your date wasn’t the problem. You were, and in a way, Miguel was too but you couldn’t say that, so perhaps it was best to find solace in the wine glass you held in your hand.

As time passed, the alcohol warmed your system and you were admittedly more tipsy than you would’ve liked to get. You couldn’t stop giggling at whatever Miguel said, leaning against the kitchen island while he stood across from you, leaning against the opposite counter. He suddenly set his glass down with a sigh. “You know, I wasn’t expecting to feel this way when you moved in…” his voice turned wistful and your next words lodged in your throat for the next beat.

“Feel what way?”

“Like I finally met someone who… gets it. Who makes everything feel easier, just by being there.”

And suddenly the house was swaddled in a suffocating silence. You blinked as you tried to process his words—as your mind went to war with your heart, trying to stop yourself from reading too deeply into his words but they made your poor heart pound violently against your ribcage. It was all you could hear, your heart beating, blood rushing.

“Miguel I—” you spoke, your voice a whisper now.

“And Gabi… she’s not the only one that’s happier when you’re around.” His approach was slow and stilted, pushing off the counter and taking hesitant steps forward. You should’ve felt cornered the way he towered over you. You swallowed thickly, at a complete and utter loss for words. A hand lifted, his knuckle grazing your cheek gingerly as though he were afraid to touch something priceless and delicate. “Why have we been trying to see other people when you’ve been right across the street this whole time?”

“Stupid, right?” You managed to say, your voice breathless. And he smiled, that gorgeous smile of his, his pupils dilating. When he leaned down and his lips brushed yours, it was barely a touch at first, as if he were testing the waters before diving in.

His thumb traced the line of your jaw and at long last he pressed his lips to yours, fully. It was magic. Or the closest thing one could get to magic. It started slow and gentle, and with the utmost care, but when you made a sinful little sound, it distorted and turned into something darker. The unadulterated hunger of a man starved. You knew that hunger well. You’d lived with it for months—constantly denying yourself the pretty idea that maybe, just maybe, he’d been craving this too. But you were here now and he was in front of you, impossibly close and all your foggy mind could manage to focus on. His scent, his voice, his lips on yours. His breath tickled beneath your nose and his body crowded closer, the lip of the counter jutting into the small of your back.

His hand slid from your face, sliding down your body languidly as though he were trying to memorize every dip and curve of your body. His hand rounded your thigh, and it fit perfectly into the groove of his palm as he hiked it up to his hip before hoisting you onto the counter. The cool granite sent a shiver through you and the kiss ended abruptly—far sooner than you would have desired. Your breathing was uneven and you peered up at him in a bit of a daze. He examined you for a long moment as if temporarily mesmerized, and you nearly lost yourself in the deep pools of his dark brown eyes. He closed the gap for a second time. It took no effort to give in to him—a heady, lightheaded decision, and one that was as inevitable as the seasons changing.

Miguel came to settle between your legs, your knees knocking against his hips. He withdrew but not for long, trailing tender kisses down the column of your throat until he reached your chest. The cut of your dress dipped low to reveal a tempting display of cleavage. Humming softly, his fingers toyed with the hem of your dress, tugging it upwards with an adamant intent.

“Miguel…” your voice wavered as he ran his fingers along the waistband of your underwear, daring to venture a step further. His teeth grazed the slope of your breast, his lips brushing over the spot in a featherlight kiss a moment later, as if in quiet apology. When you didn’t say anything else he continued further, hand traveling even lower to cup you. You shuddered and he pulled the fabric of your panties aside. His thumb pressed firmly over your clit and a soft sound escaped you as he began to rub slow circles over it.

“Been thinking about this all night, hm?” He whispered, dipping his fingers inside you. It was far worse. You’d been tormented by your own imagination for the better part of a year, and you had an inkling that he knew exactly the kind of effect he had on people. “Think your date had any idea you were thinking of another man the whole time?”

Your walls fluttered around his digits as he crooked them, his fingertips passing over that sensitive spot within you with each thrust. Any thoughts still floating around in your head vanished and you nearly choked on your breath as he spoke. “I— hah…!” you gasped. He was teasing you. Still, the better part of you wanted to deny his words even if they were spot on.

“Oh? Sorry, what was that?” he said with a knowing grin, his thumb returning to your clit as his other hand reached up to grasp your chin and tilt your head up to meet his gaze. “I didn’t quite catch that, cariño.”

“You’re… insufferable.” Your voice pitched higher in a whine that only goaded him on. He tutted and withdrew his fingers. Your hips jerked. The loss was sudden and frustrating. It left you shaky and desperate, but before you could protest your world spun on its axis. He lifted you into his arms and began the trek to his bedroom. Instantly, your legs locked around his waist and your arms slung over his broad shoulders. The steps creaked with each step, but before long he was dropping you to his bed.

You yelped, peeking up at him as you laid on your back. Stepping away, he gripped the hem of his t-shirt, making an obvious show of pulling it up and over his head. He was a fucking fantasy. Truly. The hard planes of his abdomen rippling stole your breath, and he chuckled when he caught you gawking at him. Next was his pants and boxers. Your eyes followed the trail of hair that led beneath his waistband. As he bent down to slide them off, his erection sprang free—thick, flushed, and somehow bigger than you’d imagined. Your gaze trailed the curve of his cock, following the prominent vein that traveled along the underside of his shaft and guided your eyes up to the flushed tip.

The advance he made was painfully slow. Taking a leisurely pace as he sauntered toward the edge of the bed. For a heartbeat, he loomed above you, gaze raking over you as if etching the sight into his mind. You thought he might make you beg for more, but instead he lowered himself until he caged you against the mattress.

Your dress became his focus again, the fabric slid up your thighs as he rucked it higher and slipped it off. Your lacy bra joined the crumpled fabric on the floor soon after. Heat flooded your cheeks when his eyes snagged on your bare breasts, darkening imperceptibly, then dropped to your panties. Those too were stripped away. He slid them down at a snail's pace like he was savouring each damn second. When he leaned back to take in the sight of your nude body, your heart threatened to beat out of your chest. There was pure reverence in his eyes when he looked upon you, and it made you feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.

The heat of his mouth closed around your nipple before his hands even found your breasts, his blazing eyes slanting up to meet your gaze. It was the most sensual sight. He suckled gently while his hand gently pinched your other nipple. The heat of his body was laid over yours and you could feel everything—every hard line and ridge of his form pressed against yours—the way his hips subtly rolled against the edge of the mattress in an effort to create friction.

Pulling away from your nipple, he trailed lower. His lips skimmed the valley between your breasts, and down your navel where he paused to give your hips a firm squeeze. He continued his path of kisses until he halted and lingered just shy of where you needed him most. A gasp. A curse. The subtle hitch of breath as his teeth grazed your thigh. A twitch of your hips betrayed you, earning another firm squeeze from his hands.

“Need something?” He asked, giving you that smoldering look that made heat pool between your legs and your stomach flutter.

“Mhm…” you hummed, your mind too fuzzy to form and speak an actual sentence, but you could tell that it wasn’t good enough of an answer for him. Another kiss to your thigh. A gentle nip. Dangerously close and yet so, so far. Blood roared in your ears. Skin prickled along your entire body in anticipation as if already drowning in the pleasure you’d yet to receive

“Gotta use your words, nena,” he murmured. Something incoherent left your mouth; more of a jumble of mumbled syllables and huffs than words. But it revealed the frustrations he stirred up—the need he stoked but refused to relieve just yet, and that was a treacherous thing. He made no movement. Instead he continued to try and coax proper words from you. “Don’t get shy on me.”

“... need you, Miguel…” you whimpered again and this time he heard the words loud and clear.

“Atta girl,” he praised and the torturous teasing you had endured was suddenly so very worth it. He ran his tongue along the seam of your cunt, stopping once he reached your hooded clit. The first little flick had you choking back a strangled noise. He took it as a sign to continue, latching his lips around it and suckling with fervor. One of your hands landed and tangled in his curls, giving a light tug.

Miguel was relentless in his pursuit, lapping at your folds with a borderline animalistic lust. The sounds were obscene and wet. You would’ve been embarrassed if you had been capable of stringing together a singular thought. Beneath his ministrations, your hips rocked up into his face. He held them down firmly. Fire pooled low in your abdomen and when you came it was a shuddering thing. Static rippled through you and time seemed to slow.

“Yes…! Oh God- fuck… yes!” you cried out and suddenly you felt like you were falling, your breath getting away from you. When he retracted himself from between your legs and peered up at you, his chin was glistening with your arousal. Calloused hands glided up your sides, framing you like a work of art.

“Dios, you’re so fucking beautiful,” he rasped as he reached for his cock and notched the crown against your entrance, sliding it along your slit in a teasing manner before finally nudging inside. The clench of your walls around his shaft drew a groan from him. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted this.”

As he sunk deeper, inch by inch, he continued to speak. “This pretty little thing moves in across the street and I’m meant not to obsess…” you moaned in unison as he bottomed out, his tip prodding somewhere deep inside you.

His girth challenged you, spearing you open even as your velvety walls clamped down. His words—low, ragged, and filthy, somehow undid you more than the rest. You’d spent so much time believing, in your heart of hearts, that he didn’t return your feelings—that the chances of him feeling the same way were some sort of statistical improbability that was so out there it might as well have been an anomaly in the fabric of the universe. But now he was balls deep inside you, groaning and whispering dirty words in your ear. Funny the way things worked out.

Agonizing. The pace he set was slow and deliberate—each drag of his cock was anguish as he slid all the way out before starting with short, shallow pumps back. Soft mewls tumbled past your lips. And when he thrust all the way back in, the sound that left you was a quivering noise, nothing short of sinful.

A large hand gathered your wrists and pinned them above your head. Writhing beneath him, he huffed out a ragged breath as he picked up the pace. His hips snapped into yours. “Joder, you’re perfect…” he husked. He released your wrists before long and grabbed for your thighs, lifting them until they were pressed to your chest. The new angle of penetration hitting your front wall with each pass of his cock.

Shoving a hand between your legs, he massaged circles into your clit again as he lifted his gaze and met your eyes. He searched them for something, studying the furrow of your brow and the flutter of your lashes—memorizing the sweet sounds that fell from your lips.

“Please… ah!” you cried and you weren’t quite sure what you were pleading for. More. More of him. You wanted everything and he seemed more than willing to give it. Your hands splayed over his chest, nails scraping over the skin.

“I’ve got you…” Fingers dimpled the flesh of your hips as he yanked your hips down harder with each thrust, taking pleasure in the pathetic noises it drew from your lips. He watched his cock glisten, coated in your arousal, as it slid in and out. “Doing so well for me, nena…”

You could feel something building—warm and fervent. An ever tightening coil that threatened to snap and when it finally did, it was all consuming. Your body tensed, muscles going rigid before relaxing like a sigh. It was too much. It was not enough. The way your cunt spasmed around his cock as your pleasure crested caused his pace to stutter, turning into frantic, off rhythm thrusts as his control began to slip. His jaw clenched and his thighs shook as he fucked you through your orgasm and chased his own.

He slowed to a near stop, grinding deep and letting you feel him twitch and throb inside. His forehead fell to your shoulder. He appeared to shatter, his hips jerking as he released deep inside with a grunt. You could feel his breath flitting against your skin. He planted a kiss to your shoulder that grounded you both in the aftermath as you took a moment to just stay like that. When he pulled out, it was a slow drag that dredged a whine from you. He rolled off of you.

You looked aside to him. His skin was slicked with a sheen of sweat and his breathing was uneven. It was quite the state and you were sure you didn’t look any better off. The sight of the mess between your legs moved him and he leaned forward to press a kiss to your lips, one hand coming up to cup your face. His lips caressed yours, nipping at your bottom lip gently. It was no less passionate than the last, only less frenzied. He took his time, slanting his lips over yours before hesitating to pull away. There were no words as you chased him, closing the small distance he created. He tucked you into his side as your fingers idly drew circles against his pec.

“Since I moved in, huh?” It was your turn to tease him.

Closing his eyes, he groaned and you took pride in the fact that it embarrassed him. “I said that, did I?”

You giggled and he brushed a damp strand of hair from your forehead before planting a kiss there. Your heart thrummed and you’d never felt more cherished before than you did laying there in his arms.

—

Sunlight poured into the room through a gap in the curtains, casting the room in a golden glow that had you squinting as you stirred from your sleep. It took a few seconds for your mind to catch up. The arm around your waist tugged you closer, beckoning you to remember. And you did. Every last sensation and touch was ingrained in your mind and body.

“Good morning,” Miguel whispered, his voice raspy with sleep. You blinked up at him before a smile touched your lips. If you could spend an eternity with him you didn’t think you’d mind. And maybe it was stupid. Maybe it was far too soon to say, but you loved this man. You loved him and his amazing daughter who brought a kind of love you’d never known possible into your life. Season by season you’d fallen for him and the way he looked at you, bathed in the morning light, told you the one thing that you’d struggled to see for almost a year. He felt the same.

“Thank goodness for those porch steps.” you laughed quietly and his brows shot up.

“Are you letting some crooked porch steps take credit for this?”

You gave a shrug. “They helped, didn't they?”

He huffed a laugh, shaking his head in amusement. He pulled you closer and laid his lips over yours in a tender kiss. His lips brushed yours ever so slightly as he pulled away just enough to whisper, “Whatever you say, cariño.”

47 notes · View notes