#I made these a while ago but I don't think I posted them so here we go uwu

[magics-neptunes-things]

Love Sweet Love

Hi guys!

Happy Steph's day ♥

I'm sorry, I haven't posted for a very long time but I'm working on it. I hope you will love this new Chapter of my Steph's series. You don't have to read the first two, but it's a plus I think.

You can find them here : Lightning Love | Struck By Love

Please enjoy ♥

And Happy Birthday to Steffy ♥

TW : None

When you come back from the USA, after your injury against Colombia, Steph makes you live in her house. Officially to help you with your injury and because she doesn’t have any stairs in her new house. Which is really a good point, because almost all of the other people who could have offered their help actually have stairs in their home.

Steph and you have been friends since you were teenagers, so no one asks any questions when you mention that you are living with Steph for now.

With time, your things found a specific place in Steph’s house, and she even made some more space in her closet for your clothes. Your Tottenham jerseys are washed with her Arsenal ones, you share the vegemite pots that your grandmother sends you and you sometimes wear Steph’s shirt to sleep.

You love the intimacy between you and how everything is so easy with Steph. She is the most easy-going person in the world, and you are falling in love even harder with her every day.

You’re a little afraid of when it will be time for you to go back to your own apartment. It will probably be soon, because your cast has been removed two weeks ago, and you now have an ankle splint to help you walk. You are supposed to still use your crutches, even if you don’t when you are home. You prefer jumping around on one foot.

It drives Steph crazy.

Steph isn’t home for two days now, she had a game in Liverpool and left with the Arsenal squad. You weren’t able to go to watch her because you had to go to your rehab. So, you went to watch Tottenham playing at home instead, cheering for your teammates. Charli and her fiancé came with you to walk Calvin those two days and for the others walk you just stayed around Steph’s house or went in the garden with him.

When you come back home after the game, a look at the clock tells you that your girlfriend will be home in one hour.

You are so grateful for Steph, her patience while you were injured and all the little attentions she had for you during this time. So, you decided to thank her with a real good meal tonight, with all the romanticism you have in you.

You set the table with a red tablecloth, a vase with some roses in the middle of the table and some candles. You listened to the florist talking about the number of flowers for the bunch of flowers, not even knowing before that the number had a meaning. Coming back home, you thought a little bit about your ex-girlfriends and wonder what they would think about your behavior.

You kind of explained to Leila what happened with Steph, without giving her the name of your girlfriend. But you needed to explain to her the reality of your feelings and why things didn’t work between you two.

For dinner, you chose Steph’s favourite meal, and you ordered the ingredients needed to be delivered to you here. It’s way easier for you like this, doing your shopping in crutches would have been way too complicated.

Steph’s car wheels squeak on the gravel in front of the house several minutes after. You jump between the fridge and the table with the starters when Steph opens the door.

A cream and red flash passes next to you when Calvin runs to great Steph, making you smile softly. You distinctly hear Steph cooing and greeting Calvin back, before coming in your direction.

“No! Don’t come here! Close your eyes!”

“Why? What have you done?”

You jump on one foot in her direction, seeing that Steph had in fact closed her eyes. She looks so cute with her low bun, her scarf and her training clothes that you can’t help yourself but steal her a kiss.

You feel her smile against your lips and then kiss her cheek when she talks.

“Is it to distract me about the fact that you are walking without your crutches?”

“No” you giggle. “Can you walk without opening your eyes please?”

You take her bag from her hand and put your hands on her shoulder to walk easier towards the table. You make her stop and move to be able to watch her reaction.

“Ok, now you can open your eyes” you say when you are in the right place.

You totally ignore the table you settled a little bit before, your eyes only looking at her. Steph’s eyes go wild for a moment while she takes everything in sight. You are suddenly nervous, wondering if it’s maybe too much. Or stupid? You never talked about it finally, but isn’t a girl supposed to like being surprised?

Maybe it’s not a good idea finally, after being away Steph maybe just wants to take a shower and go to bed.

“Did you do all of it yourself?” she asks finally, turning to face you.

“Yeah” you nod, fidgeting with your fingers. “I wanted to thank you properly for the way you took so good care of me while I was just like a burden hurt teenager. I am really thankful for you and your patience and your kindness”

You are totally rambling now, talking a little too fast and almost breathless. You weren’t looking at her while talking, looking at the flowers in the middle of the table. But when you feel her grab your hand, you look at your girlfriend again.

“You have nothing to thank me for, I did it because I wanted it. Even if you are terrible to look after, you little troublemaker”

You smile shyly and let yourself relax when she hugs you. You pass your hands around her neck, taking advantage of your position to breathe her scent. You really missed her.

“Do you mind if I go take a shower quickly before we eat, though?”

“No, it’s a great idea. You stink” you smirk.

You giggle when she smacks you behind your head, clinging against her when she pretends to push you away.

“You’re so mean”

“Yes, but I made diner”

She rolls her eyes and smiles before you let her go. She doesn’t smell at all, but you totally understand the need to take a shower and refresh herself after a long travel day.

You lean on the furniture behind you, looking at her leaving to go to the bathroom.

“Steph?” you call her just before she closes the door.

“Yeah?”

You look at her curious face exceeding the port frame two seconds before smiling softly.

“I really missed you”

Her eyes go soft, and you would literally die for the smile coming on her face right now. There is a tenderness in her eyes, and you sometimes are still surprised when you realise that it is destined to you.

“I missed you too” she says softly. “I’ll be quick, okay?”

“Yeah” you smile back.

You look at her going inside the room again, before jumping back towards the kitchen.

“Use your crutches!” you hear her shout from the bathroom.

You roll your eyes again before deciding to oblige and go to look for them. You don’t really know where you left them, and you finally spot them next to the door of Steph’s bedroom. Then you go back to the kitchen and start to warm up a little what you will eat after the starters.

A little lost in your thoughts, you don’t hear Steph coming back. She takes you by surprise, passing her arms around your waist and kissing your cheek at the same time. You almost jump off your skin, which she seems to find very funny.

“You’re so annoying” you grumble, even if you are smiling.

You just can’t resist her laugh.

“I’m sorry. What can I do to help you?”

“Just put your ass on that chair, Catley”

“As you wish”

You weren’t expecting her to take you in her arms, carrying you like a bride, to the table. She then puts you in your chair before sitting in front of you. That wasn’t exactly how you were picturing things, but it’s maybe better like this. At least you aren’t scowled one more time because of those damn crutches.

You have to admit that you are pretty satisfied about how you were able to cook everything. You like cooking, you sometimes don’t have the time or even the energy to do it. But today you really liked cooking for your girlfriend.

After the diner, you went for a quick walk with Calvin and then to the living room. Arsenal men are playing, and it probably will be a good game. You take advantage to snuggle against Steph, happy to find her arms back. She absently strokes your back under your shirt while watching the game, talking sometimes about something that comes into your minds.

“Dean wrote to me earlier today” Steph says casually.

You feel your heart missing a beat and a strange feeling in the bottom of your stomach. All the fun you had after sharing Calvin's last mischief in the park is now very far away.

“What did he want?”

Your tone is flat, probably giving Steph a hint that you may not be handling this information as easily as you should.

“He wanted to see Calvin”

You can feel her eyes on you, but you look straight in front of you, looking at the TV screen without really looking at it.

“I thought Calvin was your dog only, not his?” you frown.

“He’s mine only, but he still wants to see him again”

You just hum for any answer. You don’t believe it for a single second, in your opinion it’s just an excuse to be able to see Steph again. You know that your girlfriend is the one who ended the things between them. Now that some time has passed, maybe he wants to see if they maybe could get closer again.

You don’t like the strange feeling, now not only in your stomach, but in all your body. You maybe are with Steph for several weeks even months now, but you still don’t take your relationship for granted. You are fully aware that you can lose Steph at any time. Few people know about your relationship after all, it would probably not mean much in the eyes of the world. To yours, however, it would be worse than anything.

On another hand, you can’t tell her that you don’t want her to see him. You won’t take that right.

You raise your eyes on Steph when she pokes at your ribs, to see that she’s still looking at you.

“You know that if I ended things and cancelled my engagement with him, it’s for a good thing, right?”

“Of course” you mumble, looking at the screen again.

She already told you that he might have a thing with a girl he was talking to while they were still together. But other than that, you never really asked about him. Steph never mentioned him either, to be fair.

“Are you still talking to him regularly?” you ask finally, raising your eyes on her again.

“Nope. It was the first time he wrote to me since Christmas. You’re the one being friend with your ex”

She’s right here. Since the confessions you made to Leila, you and her are friends again. She started throwing teasing comments on your Instagram’s post again and you call each other from time to time.

“If it bothers you…” you begin while sitting.

“Not at all” she smiles “It was just to point out that you are still in contact with one of your exes too. But I trust you.”

“I trust you too. But Leila knows we are together. Your ex doesn’t even know that you aren’t single anymore.”

“I’ll let him know, okay?”

She’s looking at you with so much affection that you can only smile back at her. You feel your body relax again and you cuddle closer to her again.

“Okay” you say, burying your face in her hoodie.

********

Several days later, you are finally able to walk without any crutches, having received the green light from the physio team. You don’t feel any discomfort in your foot anymore and it’s a really good point.

In fact, you were even able to train with the rest of the team today and that makes you happier than ever. You probably won’t be able to play that weekend, but it’s obvious that it will be okay for next week.

You are practically hopping when you come home that day, parking your car next to Steph’s one in the driveway. You frown when you see that there is another car too, not recognizing it like Beth’s car or even one of her teammates. In your memories, no one is driving a Skoda.

Like usual, Calvin comes to greet you when you arrive, this time silently stroking himself around your legs. You pet him, before hearing voices coming from the living room.

“I just… It doesn't make any sense to me. I thought you were friend with her, nothing else”

Dean. What the hell is he doing here? You frown again, taking two steps to be able to hear better what is happening in that living room. None of them heard you coming in.

“Nothing ever happened while we were together, Dean” you hear Steph sigh.

“Still. She just waited for us to be over to shoot her shot?”

“Not at all. She doesn’t even say anything, I kind of pushed her to know about her breakup at Emily’s wedding and… Well, you don’t have to know everything, but I was the one figuring out alone her feelings for me. Then all clicks and it was like evidence”

There is a beam of silence, only broken by Calvin chewing with application one of Dean’s shoes. You let him do it with a cold satisfaction. You don’t like the way that man tries to make you pass for the one corrupting Steph in the wrong way.

In contrast, you love the way Steph doesn’t share everything with him. It belongs to you and her, not him.

“And just for the record, you were the one getting over it very quickly with that girl from your medical team”

“It wasn’t serious. She was just a rebound”

“You were talking with her when we were still together.”

You can easily picture Steph, her eyebrow arched, and her arms crossed on her chest.

“It was a mistake” he sighs. “I shouldn’t have done that. If I knew it would push you to end things between us, I wouldn’t even have looked at her.”

“She wasn’t the reason for our breakup. I mean maybe a small part of it, but it wasn’t the big deal. What I said at this point was valid and still is. I just don’t have any love feeling for you anymore”

Must be painful to hear, but at least you have to give credit to Steph for standing her ground and being clear with him. You empathise a little bit with him though, you will be destroyed if Steph ended things between you. Even if you never will talk to someone else like he did.

“Okay but what will you do when you will want to start a family? You won’t even be able to do it together”

Okay, we are now finished with empathy. Maybe now is the best time to make your appearance. You go for the door again, opening it without any discretion.

“Love, I'm home!” you shout happily while almost slamming the door.

You take off your shoes quickly without even untie the laces, petting Calvin’s head.

“Living room” you hear her answer.

Deciding to put it more in the show, you start to talk while you are still outside the room.

“Did you know that Hayl… Oh. Hi.”

Dean and Steph are both standing in the room, separated by at least two meters from each other. You look at the both of them, taking the situation. He seems upset and doesn’t answer anything, and you drag your gaze away from him when Steph talks.

“Hi Sweets. How was training?”

“Great”

You smile at her and hesitate to go for her, but when she raises her arm to invite you to hug her, you don’t hesitate. You pass your arms around her waist, kissing her cheek softly. You don’t want to push things too far either, you know she won’t like it.

You cringe a little at the silence coming after that, exchanging a glance with Steph. You want to know what the hell is this guy doing here, but you don’t really know how to ask that question.

“Dean informed me that he found some of my things in his boxes and wanted to give them back” Steph informs you.

You probably will be forever grateful at how much Steph knows you and seems to read into you. You just nod before turning your eyes toward him. He was already looking at you and you know that look perfectly. He seems to be jealous of your proximity, but you won’t move.

Maybe it’s a stupid thing to want to mark territory, but you don’t want him to pop randomly at Steph’s door, now that he knows where she lives. Anyway, you don’t take your hand off of your girlfriend’s back.

“Lucky you were home” you finally answer.

“I didn’t realise I needed to ask for approval to see my ex-fiancée” he growls.

“She lives here too, actually” Steph intervenes before you even can open your mouth “She has her words to say”

You use your better poker face at this, because you totally aren’t living here officially. Now that you are able to walk correctly you could probably go back to your home, but you never really left. Steph never asked you to do and never made you feel like you were too much here.

“I have to go” Dean finally says. “I have training”

You don’t move but Steph nods, saying goodbye too. You can’t hide the smile creeping on your face when you hear him grumbling when he finds his chewed shoe, Calvin now sleeping peacefully on his bed next to the couch.

You love that dog.

When the door is closed, you feel Steph take a deep breath and lean a little more against you. You realised how tense she was, but you are surprised by such a relief.

“Are you okay?” you ask quietly, kissing her temple.

“It was the first time I saw him since I left our home” she explains to you. “I told him I was seeing someone without saying your name, but he didn’t want to leave before knowing how you are. I’m sorry, I don’t think we will be able to hide our relationship for any longer”

“It’s not a problem for me” you shrug. “People have known that I love women since my teenage era. What about you, though?”

“I don’t know” she begins slowly. “I haven’t any problem with Kyra knowing it to be honest. But maybe I’ll need to talk about it to my family first”

“Okay. If you need me, just tell me, yeah?”

Stephs smile softly at you, and you kiss her for good this time. The kiss is soft and slow, and you feel her thumb stroking your cheek softly.

“So, what did Hayley do?”

********

Later that day, you are looking at the ceiling, lost in your thoughts. Even if you tried all the rest of the day to forget about Dean and what he said, some things are dancing in your mind.

Did Steph and him talked about starting a family? And if it was the case, why does it bother you so much? They planned to get married; you shouldn’t be so disturbed with that. You know you are lucky to finally be with the girl of your dreams, but that strange feeling in the bottom of your stomach won’t go away.

You tried to distract yourself by cooking with Steph, playing some video games with her and telling her about your first training back since your injury, and it went pretty great to be honest.

But now with Steph under the shower and Calvin sleeping, you are alone with your thoughts.

“I was waiting for you to come with me”

Steph’s teasing voice makes you smile softly. You turn on your side to look at her when she enters the room, wearing a big shirt and probably panties, even if you can’t see them given the size of that shirt.

“You are the most beautiful girl in the world” you mumble.

Your smile grows wider when she rolls her eyes and makes one grimace of her own. You love her with her hair down.

“That’s true!”

“It’s not” she giggles while coming with you under the cover.

“Yes it is”

You let her have the time to lie on her back before you lay on her, sighing with ease. It’s your favourite spot in the world. You enjoy her stroke in your hair while she scrolls on her phone for several minutes, before starting to draw shapes on her hips with your fingertips.

“I can hear your brain boiling, Sweetheart” Steph finally says. “What’s going on?”

You bite your lips softly, looking for a way to approach things. Because she doesn’t know that you heard a big part of her conversation with Dean, and you don’t want to upset her. Your silence pushes her to try to guess what’s in your mind.

“Is it football related?” she asks first, and you shake your head no. “Is it about us?”

“Kinda” you hesitate. “I just…”

“Is it about something you heard earlier?”

Damn. You look at her, stunned, torn between guilt and amazement. You can see the ghost of a smile on her face and her eyes shining with fun.

“Do you think I really don’t know you?”

You roll your eyes with a smile, accepting the teasing easily. She doesn’t seem mad, and she waited for you to show something to talk about it. You really don’t deserve that girl.

“I didn’t want to intrude. I didn’t know it was him” you shrug.

“I knew it the second you passed the door” she smirks, making you smile too. “Plus, I don’t have anything to hide from you. What part of the discussion is playing with your head?”

Sitting on her hips, you pass a hand in your hair. You don’t know how to express yourself and how to tell her things. Once again, you don’t want to fight with her. But you promised each other early in your relationship that you will always discuss and talk about things, not to drag any misunderstandings along.

Steph waits patiently, looking softly at you while playing with the edge of your shirt. You finally decide to go straight to the point, it will be easier like this.

“When he talked about having a family. Is it something you discussed together?”

You try hard to fight against the pictures coming in your mind, focusing on your girlfriend’s pretty face.

“Not really” she frowns. “We were both into sport and I don’t think it was time for us to have this conversation. He was very traditional you know, first dating then living together, then engagement… One thing at time”

It does make sense actually. You nod softly, trying to process this information.

“But was it something you wanted?”

You watch her looking at you with a little bit of… angst maybe? That doesn’t seem good and just when you were going to tell her that you finally don’t want to know the answer to that question, she starts to talk again.

“No, not really. It’s very selfish but I wanted to finish my career before even thinking about it”

Oh. That wasn’t what you were expecting. It’s probably strange to feel a little relieved about it.

“It’s not selfish” you assure her with a smile, redrawing the features of her face with your fingers. “We, women, have to choose between sport or baby. It’s so stupid”

She nods softly, suddenly lost in her thoughts. It looks like things were exchanged because several minutes before you were the one thoughtful. Now you feel lighter than ever.

“What is it?” you ask, tilting your head on the side.

“What about you?”

“I was never serious enough in my relationships to even talk about it” you roll your eyes.

“That doesn’t mean you don’t want to have kid one day”

She has a point. You feel your cheek getting redder because to be honest, the idea of you and Steph with a little kiddo running with Calvin in a big garden is something you would love. Maybe even back in Australia, who knows.

“I do want kids, but not carelessly. I want to have time for them, all of that…”

“Okay” Steph smiles softly.

“And a great mummy to raise them with me” you add, winking at her.

“Okay” Steph says again, laughing this time.

“But not now, though”

“Not now”

Steph repeats your sentence before suddenly grabbing you by your hips to change your position, making you lie under her while she straddles you.

“We have something else to discuss first” she says.

“Oh, do we?”

“Yeah. What do I need to do for you to live officially here? Lose your keys? Burn your house?”

“You just have to ask” you laugh.

“In that case… Would you like to live here with me?”

“I’d love to”

She smiles at you with so much tenderness that you feel your heart almost burst with love. Taking her gently by the collar of her shirt, you drag her towards you to kiss her. She doesn’t wait any second to kiss you back, making you smile against her lips.

“You’re such a dork” you giggle shortly after.

“You love me, though” she answers, her head now on your shoulder.

“I do. You don’t know yet how much I do”

“I love you too.”

[chronurgy]

Taking a look at Dragon Age sales figures -

Origins - 3.2 million copies sold (as of Feb 2010, about 4 months after its launch)

Two - 2 million copies sold (as of two months after launch)

Inquisition - over 12 million copies sold (10 years post-release, unfortunately I can't find a more comparable time frame for sales)

Veilguard - 1.5 million "players reached" (about 3 months post-release, expectation for 3 million copies sold, unclear definition of players reached)

Awhile ago, when the generally positive critical reviews for veilguard came out, I said I was pretty sure bioware would be fine and would make it long enough to at least produce mass effect 5. Now, looking at these stats, I'm not so sure. Dragon age 2 was generally treated as a bit of a commercial flop for bioware, so seeing veilguard undersell it by a minimum of half a million units is not encouraging. Especially when it undersold ea's expectations for it by at least half. And I don't think ea's expectations were unreasonable! Three million in sales would put it in between the first two games and well below inquisition, the game it's a direct sequel to. That honestly feels a little odd, since it would imply that the studio didn't believe they picked up any new fans from inquisition's success.

I think that the 10 year gap was absolutely corrosive to the fan base. I understand why it happened on a development level, but it was an absolutely massive mistake. They completely lost the ability to capitalize on the excitement and name recognition inquisition generated as the incredibly popular game of the year for its direct sequel. Again, I completely understand what happened. I just think that all of the decisions that allowed this to happen (canceling project joplin, generally putting the series in the back burner, etc) were incredibly bad. They lost hype and momentum and ended up with far less in excitement and sales than they could have, especially since they lost a lot of long-time, key employees because of the development hell that ensued. This is on both bioware and ea. Bioware for their incredible mismanagement and just constant bag-fumbling and terrible working conditions and choices generally, and ea for allowing this to happen and generally pushing their studios toward a live-service model (plus all the other general ea fuckery).

It's also worth mentioning the "players reached" wording. That obviously doesn't mean the same thing as "copies sold," which likely means that the game sold less than 1.5 million copies. Admittedly, it's probably worth asking exactly how relevant sales numbers still are as we enter the era of game streaming services. It's genuinely hard to say, and that's going to be an industry-wide shift. But no matter how you slice it, the game clearly didn't do well commercially.

Looking toward the future, the first question has to be not what bioware will learn from this, but if bioware will even survive long enough to learn from this. They've had three poor releases in a row in an industry that isn't exactly forgiving. There have also been a few high profile departures recently, and while that might not be particularly unusual after a game launch, it can't be overlooked entirely. The studio is very much at risk of shutting down at this juncture.

But assuming bioware doesn't shut down, where do they go from here? What lessons will they learn from veilguard's failure? While it clearly wasn't a commercial success, it reviewed fairly well with a metacritic score of 82 (compare Andromeda's score of 71, Inqusition's of 85, origins' of 86, da2's of 79, and the Mass Effect trilogy's low 90s). Player reviews, on the other hand, were more mixed. Will bioware decide they made a good game and players just didn't get it? Andromeda and veilguard's writing definitely had some similarities, so maybe this is just the direction the studio has decided to go in and nothing will shake them from it. Or will they see the feedback and lurch too far in the opposite direction? They have a habit of doing that (they did it with inquisition after da2 and anthem's facial animations after Andromeda, for example). It could be that they decide it needs to be even more generic, even safer, to make sure they get the broadest possible appeal. It could be that they decide they need to double down on the nostalgia factor to attract the players of the older games. I don't know. I don't think anyone really does, at this point.

Honestly, I don't think bioware knows either. The studio clearly has a lot of issues that will take a lot of time, money, and introspection to fix. These issues are likely very entrenched in the studio's culture, and have been present for at least a decade, if not longer. And I don't know that bioware has the resources or the willpower to address them, given the circumstances.

[apricitae-world]

BASHFUL DAWN

Xavier is exhausted after fighting against Soren and reliving his past. You try to help. [XAVIER X READER FLUFF]

THIS POST CONTAINS: Xavier X gender neutral reader, angst, fluff, Xavier is implied to have self-esteem issues, talking about feelings, cuddling and snuggling, my take on "Voyage of the Outcast" story chapter.

Enjoy.

BASHFUL DAWN

After the report of the college incident and the device left by Soren, Xavier had been missing from your life. The last day you two spoke seemed like a dream now, when he promised he would tell you everything.

Xavier always lies. Bile rises to your throat right after you wake up in the morning, plagued by the memories of your (boy)friend. Even though Xavier lived literally on the floor above yours, it seemed an invisible wall had been put between you.

You knocked on his door the following afternoon, but no response. You hadn't seem him in the Hunters Association for work either, Captain Jenna's brow furrowed in concern, but brushing it off like a "well earned rest". When you left the apartment to feed the stray cat, there was already a bowl of food in its telltale place. You visit Philos, inquiring poor Jeremiah to where his friend might have been. The man was sweating cold, saying he didn't know. Things reaching a breaking point when you visited your garden, the one you saved from a Wanderer oh so long ago.

It really felt like he was gone from your life, barely any signal of life to say he was there at all.

After a few days of trying to pick yourself up (Tara truly was a wonderful friend to hear your rants and watch your comfort movies), you see a familiar bedhead leaving a convenience store with five bowls of hotpot in hand.

"Xavier?" His lustrous blond hair was now matted and lifeless. His blue, shiny eyes did not reflect any light anymore, and his lovely white sweater, the one you stole and wore so many times, was almost falling from his shoulders.

He looked terrible.

"Hi." He says, still not meeting your gaze. You wanted to yell, scream, grab him by his arms and ask where the hell he has been. Even so, seeing him like this made your anger deflate like a sad balloon. "Are you okay?" You ask.

Xavier lifts his head, shocked. Guess he wasn't expecting that reaction either. "I was the one who ghosted you. I'm the one who is supposed to be making amends." He concludes and falls silent again. "I'm sorry. I keep messing up."

This version of your lover was nothing short of terrible. You had never seem him look so defeated. "Why didn't you reply to me texts? My calls? I dropped by your place so many times." Street lights and car honks were all around you, but you coudn't find yourself to care. In fact, your world seemed just too quiet.

"Let's go to my place. I guess I owe you an explanation." No more words were exchanged during the walk, and maybe you prefered it that way. The last thing you want is to make a fuss in front of the whole building.

The inside of Xavier's apartment was messy. Some dirty dishes here and there, unfinished books scattered around and no calm music playing. His trustworthy cleaning robot, the one he would not stop talking about a while back, layed gathering dust in a corner. The entire place seemed pretty much unrecognizable.

Xavier put some water to boil for his hotpots and sat beside you on the fluffly couch. "The first thing I should do is apologize. No one should go missing like that, especially after what we went through." You hum. A sign for him to keep going. "I tought things would be better if I tried to solve them by myself. No matter what, I want you to be safe. And happy."

"What makes you think I don't want to be part of this? Of finding things out with you?" You squish his face gently between your hands. He goes limp in your hold, content. "It's dangerous, and I don't even know if my plan will work at all."

"If you tell me what the plan is, then I can help you." You say matter-of-factly and raise a brow. Xavier's face scrunches and he laughs. His voice was a little hoarse, but beautiful as always. How you missed that.

"What do I have to say to make you understand we are in this together? Don't think you're getting rid of me so easily." He closes the distance between you, holding all of your body close against his. "I would never want to get rid of you."

Your lovely silence was interrupted by the sound of metal clanking against each other and the smell of something burning. "Xavier! The water for the hotpot!" You both look at each other with newfound horror before sprinting to the kitchen.

Some things never change.

-

The hotpots were delicious, even if you scolded him for eating instant food for a week straight. You both made a promise to clean the apartment on the following day and start putting things in order. Slowly.

"Thank you for being here. And not being mad." You think a little before replying. "I am mad, I won't deny. But I also like you a lot and don't want to lose what we have. If you promise me to be more open about what you want and what you need, we'll be alright."

"Okay. I'll try." Xavier takes a deep breath. "I love you." Thank goodness your boyfriend didn't have a phone right now, because your face was priceless: eyes open and mouth agape. "I love you too."

You two end up sharing a bed that night. His room was messy like the rest of the house, but you promised to fix it in the morning. As so, all the lights were turned off and you hugged Xavier from under the covers. Everything seemed alright in the world.

When the sun arrived the next morning, you two were still holding each other close. No matter how dark the night, there would always be stars to guide the way, and the morning would surely arrive. You hold Xavier a little tighter and drift back to sleep.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO REQUEST A FANFIC, DRABBLE OR FANART? TRY TIPPING ME ON KO-FI! IT HELPS ME BRING MORE CONTENT LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE:

[wakacreations]

Lae'zel: When Dawn Is Upon Us

Author's Note:

This was an old Lae'zel piece I written months ago but just never posted it because I was busy writing my Tav Luther pov of these events at the time. It got too long and I don't think I will ever have the energy to finish it. Anyways here is Lae'zel's pov enjoy.

Word Count: 1066

Summary:

When does a githyanki fall in love if they are even capable? It only takes a ghaik tadpole and the end of the world.

I once dreamt of sailing the Astral Seas but something pulls me to these lands, Faerun. I have met so many peculiar creatures. One istik an outsider in particular sees no sense in githyanki customs. I spent my mission teaching them of our ways.. That is a lie they follow our ways seamlessly but somehow our ways felt wrong. What did this k’chakhi? This idiot do to me? Or are they turning ghaik a mindflayer?

They were a istik on the nautiloid. Who foolishly stopped to save another, Shadowheart. We all fell down to these cursed lands as we escaped the ghaik. To think to see that istik again while being held captive by those tieflings. Another chance encounter with the ghaik would have better sufficed. They even asked for a githyanki to say please. A dragon would never bow to a wyrm.

The smell of battle lingers on their skin is strong. The sweat that clung to them drew me to them one night. They sat alone under the stars writhing in pain. Ceremorphosis was just beginning a true pity. I asked them for any last words, they reassured that it was a common fever of these lands. My instincts are never wrong but why did I accept their word? I am never one to hesitate.

Does their gaze linger on I as I do them? The thirst for battle is a craving I never grow tired of. The night after the goblins were vanquished was not enough to feel sated of that istik. Chk. 

With a sole vow to Varsh Ko’kuu to protect the child gith, they held the egg close. My creche would have already destroyed them but you chose to see to their survival. She’lak that is what they are. They trusted my word to visit the zaith’isk. With a firm order they commanded for I to step down so they may enter. By all means as I watched them enter the zaith’isk. Every passing moment dread filled me. I felt their anguish from the pull of the zaith’isk extracting the tadpole. I held faith that it was not true! Our last chance at salvation would destroy us?! That could not be! Someone must have tempered with the zaith’isk! That is the only possibility left. “I will not be a ghaik!” I cried out.

To look upon my queen was a privilege that came few and far between. An opportunity to directly serve her, I would accept with honour. Ch’mar zal’a Vlaakith. It cannot be true, I am no hshar’lak! A traitor to my own people this cannot be! But why must I be branded so by Vlaakith.

We have made it to Moonrise Towers as per the guidance of that Archdruid Halsin. Preparations are underway to besiege the Absolute stronghold. To think our journey could be over in only a couple more nightfalls. Why does this uncertainty stir this stone heart of mine? I watched them pace back and forth among the others. They see to it they are well equipped for this battle ahead. I continue to sharpen my blades. Tonight may be our last moment of solace.

My blade fixed against their neck as they looked up at I. They winced from the pain that flowed from their abdomen as they covered their bloody wound. It would have been deadly if the fight went for much longer. Their gaze did not waver from my own as they laid knelt before I. Those same eyes that flickered alight like the heat of the sun. Life. With their blood soaked hand they gripped my blade. “Take the kill you've rightfully earned,” they uttered with a smile. My hand trembles at their words. I am, Lae'zel of Crèche K’liir yet I feel no bloodlust from this bloodshed. The smell of their iron, the sweat that drips off them and their imminent death that lingers on the battlefield taints this victory. What is this? Why do my eyes water at these, these feelings?!

“I do not want to hurt you. I want to protect you. For you protect me. I am yours.”

You sleep soundly as our final days will be on the horizon. The seas are peaceful despite the nether brain restlessly lurking. Our final battle will surely come tomorrow. I awoke you from your slumber, rest still blurred your vision. As a leader should, you asked about our companions and if there was urgent cause. “Everything is fine. Trust me. Come.” I reached out my hand to guide you.

Before us was the sunrise upon these docks while we watched above a rooftop. The burning light of these lands were once the torment of my obsession of reaching the Astral Seas. These sunsets were a reminder of faded stars just out of reach. To serve her as a silver sword on a mount of fiery red dragon was my passion. The sun mocked me as they moved across the starless sky. “Look at the sun. What do you see?” You stared intently as the sun rose above the horizon, “Hope. Life. A future worth fighting for”. Maybe that is why your nature reflects in those eyes. 

“I see something else. Beauty.”

You listened to my woes as you have throughout our journey together. Since our first night at Faerun, from the trek to Crèche, to the midnight readings of Prince of the Comets, and now the new dawn of our freedom. We have fought against all manners of battle that would bring pride in my people githyanki. 

“You have shown me the betweens and the beyonds. Between war and peace. Beyond passion and obsession. Most importantly you've shown me freedom.”

You were once a istik destined to be ghaik. I have grown to know you as She’lak, an idealist do-gooder than simply a benevolent burden. You've proved to me you are the source of my bruises. After each deadly encounter you strike fear in our adversaries. Yet, you knew when to lead, when to guide and when to offer peace to those that stumbled into our path. You have earned the title jhe'stil. We danced in fields of battle, you were stronger. I was steel and you were silver.

“I just know whatever comes next I want you near.”

You are mine, say the words.

“When all this is over will you stay with me.”

Our last battle approaches.

“For good.”

[optimisticgrey]

"It has always been you"

Chapter 1: You don't have to do this.

I just collected all the tropes I could think off, threw them in a bucket and gave it a good stir.

Here we are.

We'll have a lot of self-loathing and angst, fluff, romance and the complex topic of polyamory explained to our favourite Professor which will add some drama. Of course, there will be smut. In this case, heavy BDSM stuff. You have been warned but I will add chapter notes.

Yes, they will fall in love but I am trying to do this excruciatingly slow.

This is the most cliché trope heavy shit I have written in my life and I love it.

I decided to post it now before I once again fall into the rabbit hole of over editing.

Basically my interpretation of @evverest "in your neighborhood for your darkest times"

Read on AO3

Pairing: Alternate Universe; Named Tav (Celeste), Professor Gale Dekarios

WC: 5331

Summary:

Alternate, modern universe setting: Gale is a college professor, deeply traumatized by his former relationship. Celeste is a marine biologist, running from her own past. They meet at an airport.

Warnings:

Will be added with the chapters

Song recommandation: Architects - Blackhole

Celeste stared at herself in the mirror. Deep bags under eyes told a story of endless travel and far too little sleep. Makeup might have been a good idea, had she packed any before leaving two years ago.

She had always liked her eyes. One blue, one light green. She thought they added a certain distinction to her features, though she’d quickly learned most people preferred symmetry: symmetrical faces, evenly coloured eyes, predictable beauty. Conventional minds. Nothing she had to offer.

Celeste reached behind her back, pulling the massive braid of black hair over her shoulder. She adjusted it gently, retying the hair tie holding it in place and readjusting some of Halsin’s silver pearls she had woven into it before looking at herself again.

Fuck, girl. Ever heard of concealer?

Her expression was as drawn as she felt. The fine scar under her right eye had nearly vanished in the past years and she had come to accept it. Mostly liked it.

A testament to all she had endured. Freckles had begun to gather around the scar, and they shifted slightly when she smiled. At least her clothes were clean. That was something. In hindsight, though, the dark green silk blouse and slim, high-waisted black pants might not have been the wisest of choices. Comfortable enough for a quick flight, sure, but not for hours of delays, long lines, and shuffling between uncomfortable airport chairs. She should have known better. At least she did not wear high heels.

Still, she couldn’t deny that the outfit gave her an edge. Just enough to make her look like she belonged in the first-class lounge Jen had insisted on upgrading her to. She reached for her earrings, untangling one that had locked into another, and took a final look at herself before grabbing the pill bottle on the counter. Her new favourite drug, the one that had gotten her through this assignment, was finished. Tossing the last pill into her mouth, she swallowed it dry, then slipped the empty container into the pocket of her black coat. She would not need more. Eventually, she would have to rely on coffee again but until then, she could finish some work while she waited for the storm to pass.

If her flight hadn’t been delayed, she’d be home by now, wrapped in a blanket. Scratch at her feet or in her lap, her friends buzzing around her in a room filled with laughter, love and familiarity. Instead, the flickering blue light of an airport bathroom illuminated her features. Celeste sighed, threw on her coat and grabbed her bag. Her phone rang just as she exited the bathroom on her way to the lounge.

A smile broke across her face despite the exhaustion.

“Hey, babe,” she answered lightly. “Just called to hear your voice.” Karlach’s laughter roared in her ear. So deep, it sank into her soul and made her longing for home even more. “How are you holding up?” “Checking into the lounge now,” Celeste replied, entering the longue. “I hope the coffee is decent.” “I do hope so, too. Cannot imagine you without decent coffee.” Celeste chuckled as she sat down and gestured the young woman behind the counter to get a coffee by pointing at the menu. The young woman gave her a thumbs up. “Have a safe flight. We’ll keep track and come pick you up,” Karlach added with a gentler tone. “You do not have to,” Celeste quickly objected. “The flight has already been delayed and if my gut is correct, we not taking off tonight. I’ll be staying here for another day. Go to bed, get some sleep.” “Ugh, don’t say that!” “Sorry,” Celeste grinned. “Just make sure to check the flight tracker before you leave. There is no need for us to be stuck at different airports.” “Will do, smarty pants.” “Thanks, Kalla.” “Anytime, Kell. We are all pumped to have you home soon.” Celeste hung up, moving her thumb over the display. The last picture they had taken before she fled her life was set as her wallpaper. They were all smiling so happy, her heart ached.

How on earth did she ever got so lucky? In the friendship department, she was living the dream. Close, intimate bonds with people she trusted with her life, thoughts, feelings and broken heart – or call in the middle of the night because she was alone and tired at an airport on the other side of the world and needed to be comforted. To her surprise, their friendships had only deepened in her absence. Celeste had not expected them to abandon her but she had loved their enthusiasm to include her in their lives as much as possible: frequent video calls, dedicated servers to share information and video logs of their day-to-day life. She missed them so deeply, but they had made sure she knew she was loved and still part of their lives.

She could not wait to go home and hug them all, one by one.

Celeste had not been as lucky when it came to romantic love, though. Her divorce had been finalized eight days ago. She had never thought she’d see the day to be free of this marriage. The aftermath of it all would be messier but that was a problem for the upcoming weeks and nothing she was willing to put any energy into today. For now, she’d stay with Halsin and Soren before returning to work and beginning the dreaded process of house hunting. Just thinking about it made her groan internally.

“Your coffee, miss,” the nice bartender said, moving the coffee cup over the counter. “Thank you,” Celeste smiled. She had passed the age barrier to be called “Miss” some time ago, but was no longer wearing a wedding ring.

Picking up cup and saucer, her gaze darted around the room. The longue was filled with important people – or at least people who considered themselves to be important -, mostly men dressed in suits, deep in thought hovering over laptops and newspapers. Her flight was not the only one that had been delayed. Basically, everyone was stuck here for as long as she had and people were annoyed. Thankfully, as the hour grew late, people started to quiet down or take their discussions and heated calls outside. She looked around and was able to make out one empty seat at a table.

A man occupied the other chair. Dark hair, streaked subtly with grey, was tied halfback. Semi-circular black glasses, well-groomed beard. A dark purple shirt, rolled up to the elbows, displaying well-defined arms. He had tossed his blazer over the back of the chair, pondering over a chessboard. Celeste walked over and politely cleared her throat. Again. And again. And again.

“Pardon,” she then said as friendly as she could manage. “May I sit here?” The man jolted, clearly startled. His dark brown eyes darted around, unfocused for a moment, before settling on her. He blinked, staring at her in silence before straightening and clearing his throat. She recognized the look. He had been deep in thought, far removed from the bustling lounge around him. Up close, he was even more striking. There were faint lines around his eyes, and the tiredness in them mirrored her own. His gaze, the rich brown of her favourite chocolate, flickered with the weight of a long day. And yet, he was sitting here, playing chess with himself. Come one. Behave.

“Apologies,” he murmured. “I was lost in thought. Please, sit down.” He gestured to the chair across from him and began gathering the chess pieces, his long, elegant fingers moving with practiced ease as he cleared the board. She was certain he played an instrument or worked a job that required finesse with fingers this well manicured. Celeste set her coffee down and took the seat. His eyes met hers, and for a moment, his movements slowed. “Do you play?” “I do, yes. Would you like a game?” “I’d love to.” His smile was surprisingly warm. Celeste defeated him in the first two games, though he claimed victory in the third. It were close matches, not rushed but well thought out. Each game was a dance of precision and patience, neither rushed nor careless. Like wolves circling prey, they assessed every move, rethinking strategies before committing to the board. The competition was sharp, yet devoid of hostility. More of a shared challenge they both relished. Celeste loved every second of it. He laughed appreciatively at some of her moves, and she could tell he was enjoying himself. As she did him and his laughter. He was a brilliant tactician and Celeste found herself forcing her focus to keep up with his strategies more than once. The only problem was, he was even more beautiful when he was lost in thought, threading his fingers through his hair, a small crease building between his eyebrows. He had a way of moving his fingers through the beard stubble on his cheek when he was pondering the next move that she found utterly charming. Their silence was companionable. She felt seated with an old friend rather than a stranger. Approving nods, playful smirks, and the occasional taunting glance punctuated the quiet, with soft giggles breaking through every now and then.

It was the perfect reprieve. For the first time since Celeste left Greenland nineteen hours earlier, she felt herself relax.

“Would you like another coffee?” He asked after the third game. Celeste nodded, stretching as the hours of travel and sitting began to weigh heavily on her body. “Yes. And some water, please,” she answered, rummaging in her coat looking for her wallet. “As you wish,” was all he mumbled and stood up. Celeste found her wallet and wanted to offer cash, but he had already walked to the counter. Her gaze followed him. He was surprisingly well built. With his graceful gestures, the way his hands moved the pieces with practiced ease, she had expected him to be less toned. To avert he gaze and calm her jumping ovaries, she checked her phone.

Everyone on their message group was wishing her a save and soon flight home. She marked every single message with a heart and thanked them for their support, while quickly highlighting the fact that her flight was still delayed.

“Scratch and I can’t wait!” Jen answered. It made Celeste smile. “Good news?” His voice pulled her from her thoughts, she flinched. “I apologize,” he said, his voice a little too gentle as he set a tray onto the table. Two black coffees and a water were put around the chess board while they moved their used cups onto the tray. “I did not mean to pry.” He took the tray back to the bar before he said down. “You were not prying; I was lost in thoughts.” She moved the money over the table before taking the water. He raised an eyebrow, moving the money back with the same gesture – index and middle finger pressed onto the note -, looking as if she had deeply offended him. Celeste gulped down the glass of water and was laughing, when she finished.

“Thank you,” she said, storing the money in her pocket. “It’s the least I can do. You are an excellent chess player and deeply appreciated company.” “I appreciate the compliment,” she answered warmly and he smiled. Even his smile was gorgeous. Get a grip, Celeste. “So, what brings an accomplished chess player like yourself to an airport at the edge of the world in the dead of night, if you don’t mind me asking?” He asked, moving his gaze back to the board. “I just ended a two year assignment-“ “You are military?” “I am not. I am a marine biologist and my university sent me to set up a permanent research station in Greenland. It is a cooperative project of different universities and NGOs across the globe, so…..” Her voice trailed off; she had troubling finding the right words. “An administrative nightmare,” he offered. Celeste’s eyebrow rose. “Correct, yes. You work in research?” “Thankfully that is no longer the case,” he smiled, reaching for the coffee. “But I did, a long time ago.” “How long ago might that have been? You are what? 32?” To her delight, his cheeks flushed briefly as he drank, his thumb and middle finger layered over the rim of the cup. “Quite charming, thank you. I will turn 40 at the end of the year.” “If it makes you feel more comfortable, it does not show.” He laughed warmly, making her smile. “Thank you, you are very kind.” They sat in silence for a moment, Celeste pondering the idea of asking him everything that came to her tired mind. There was no feeling of unease or restriction. It felt as if she could talk about everything with him. Instead of talking and losing herself in inappropriate questions, she chose coffee. “What is the research on?” “Pardon?” “The station you have established. What is its purpose, exactly?” “Ocean acidification and ecosystem response. Carbon absorption, effects on calcifying organism, food web distributions, these kinds of things. How climate change effects the sea level is a well-known, well researched fact. We are observing the effects it has on food chains. There are 25 researchers permanently stationed in the middle of nowhere and they will remain for at least two more years. I will supervise from home.” “A long-term commitment, indeed. I’ve never been part of such research teams myself, but it’s undeniably a noble cause. One that demands dedication and a shared vision.” “Depends on who you ask or beg for money,” she grinned and he chuckled. “What is your area of expertise?” “I am mathematician.” “A wizard,” she nodded approvingly and joined his surprised laughter before she could stop herself. “A wizard? Well, that’s a new one! I’ve been called many things in my life, but wizard was never among them.” He smiled, somewhat pleased. “One if my friends is impacted by severe dyscalculia. She considers any person who can handle abstract numbers or more than basic algebra a wizard,” Celeste chuckled into her coffee and took a sip. “I apologize.” “There is no need to, it’s a title I will wear most appreciative,” he grinned. ”Following this line of argument, I might be considered an Archwizard. You are returning home?” Celeste gestured around the longue. “As most people, I got stuck here when the storm hit. But yes,” she sighed, rubbing her cheek, “I cannot wait to get home. Sleep in a real bed that’s not a bunk bed. Have a bath with my favourite music blaring as loud as I wish. Hug my friends.” She rolled her eyes longingly. “Maybe eat food that has not been dehydrated before. You know, vegetables that actually crunch when you bite down?” Her voice trailed off again as she thought of all the things she was looking forward to before she realized he was staring at her. His arms rested on the table folded, his gaze intrigued yet somewhat gentle. As if she was a piece of art he was trying to understand. A puzzle to solve.

Flattering.

“What about you?” She asked into the stretching silence, and he flinched. Celeste regretted her words immediately. The same kind eyes that had just darted into hers now seemed somewhat fearful. She had unknowingly touched one of the most intimate topics possible. “I apologize,” she added gently but he waved it off. He let his gaze move through the room though. “I am returning home as well. I took a sabbatical after… well, let’s just say it was long overdue.” He took deep breath as if to summon the courage to look at her. As his eyes found hers again, she was certain he was assessing the level of trust he was willing to show. “My former partner left me some time ago,” he added quietly. There was gentle timbre in his voice. “I buried myself in work afterward, but it did little to improve my state of mind. It was an intense relationship—deeply so—but in hindsight, perhaps not the healthiest. I loved her profoundly, and her departure hit me harder than I’m comfortable admitting. So, I chose to do something I’d long denied myself: travel. See the world. Try to rediscover who I am outside of what I’d known.” “I am sorry this happened to you,” Celeste answered and the weak smile on his lips was genuine. She lifted her hand, displaying the line her wedding ring had left. “I understand,” she simply stated.

They both reached for their coffee cups and shared a weak smile over the rim. “How did you become such a competent chess player?” Celeste appreciated the change in topic though she suddenly missed the sincere underline of his voice. She checked her watch and reached her coat pocket to find the pill bottle empty. With a look of disbelief and shock, she stared at the bottle.

“Fuck.”

She did not need the pills that had been stored in the bottle, but she wanted one. There was no physical component to her blooming addiction, she was aware. It was not how this particular amino acid analogue worked. But she could feel exhaustion creeping into the back of her mind, slowly numbing her senses. Celeste wanted to stay awake, to be able to soak him in, attentively listen to every word he was saying, every little detail he was willing to share. She could not get tired now.

In her head, she recounted the last ones she took. She had a backup bottle, but it was in her suitcase that had already been checked. He wanted to ask but did not, she could sense it. Celeste closed her eyes and rubbed her hand over her face. “Okay, great,” she then stated, opening her eyes and slipping the bottle back. “My father thought it important for his children to be reliable tacticians,” she explained, picking up the talk where she had left it. “Chess was one of the things I was taught from a very young age. I will boldly assume you were a prodigy.” He did not even try to hide his surprise. “That is surprisingly accurate, yes. How did you know?” Celeste grinned. “There are two types of mathematicians I have met in my life and - please don’t take this the wrong way - the slightly neurodivergent kind who just have a deep understanding of math and logic in general make up for the larger part.” “And the other kind?” he smirked. “There is no other kind,” she admitted and he burst into laughter. His laugh was so warm, she felt goosebumps blooming on her arms. If she could have one sound for the rest of her life, it would be this laughter. Deep, honest, unrestrained.

Jesus fucking Christ, Celeste, get a grip.

It took him a moment to calm down. “Again, surprisingly astute, yes,” he replied with a slight smirk. “I was considered a child prodigy and have claimed many notable titles in my life. But I must admit, the thrill of a chess game never quite fades, no matter how many victories I rack up.” “No Nobel prize yet?” she teased. “There is still time.” While she set up the chess board again, he rose. “Would you like more coffee?” “You do not have to do this.” “Allow me to be a gentleman,” he mimicked a bow. Celeste sighed and suppressed a charmed grin. “Yes, please. And anything sweet, if something is left. “ They played so many matches, Celeste stopped to count. And to care. Losing against him was surprisingly easy. Not that she lost often, it was quite a close tie after all. He continued to compliment her moves and offered insights to the strategies he preferred, never condescending. She could tell he had been called that in his life, as often as he was checking in with her, asking if his insights would be appreciated. His fingers did not stop to intrigue her. The obviously experienced moves with which he touched and moved the pieces on the board and off. The conversation flowed freely now, as did the coffee. Celeste could feel the tension leaving her. Somehow, he had seemed to decide she was worth the trust. Or risk.

Don’t flatter yourself. You look halfdead.

The trust, it seemed, allowed him to open up, he talked about himself. He had travelled the world, never stood long in one place while co-authoring a paper here and there. Not because he needed to, he tried to gently move around the topic, but it became obvious quickly. Sitting across from him in a restricted first class longue had made it quite obvious but she decided not to talk finances. He enjoyed reading, fine dry wine and had a cat he deeply missed that was currently staying with his mother until he started teaching again next semester. He had made a meticulously planned timeline to return home and look for houses. Time to settle in for himself and his cat and set up his library again.

A library. Of course.

Oh, for fuck’s sake, Celeste, this is an airport flirt, nothing more. He might go back to Belfast or wherever he is from and forget about you the second you turn around.

Still, she was unable to take her eyes off him. In her defence, she had spent the last 919 days with the same 25 people who she now knew more intimately than she wanted to. They had had sex on occasion, as it was common on such missions, but it had never been about romance. Just pent-up energy, a bodily need to be fulfilled. Some of her coworkers had partners at home, even spouses they were looking forward to seeing again. Despite her own history – and Celeste had to admit to herself she needed some work there – she never understood the appeal of leaving one’s love behind to follow her own ambitions. If a man like this, like him – intelligent, charming, well-read and breathtakingly beautiful – would be her partner, she would not want spent a day apart from him. She gulped at the realisation, shoving the implications down and took another sip of coffee.

Celeste phone rang. Jenevelle. “Hey.” “Hey,” Jen started before words started to spill out of her in mind-bending speed. “Youarestrandedsoilookedaroundandguesswhattherewasonehotelroomleftthatitheincrediblefriendthat-“ “Jen, Jen! Slow down, please. What is happening?” “All flight are delayed for the next 12 hours,” she sighed, clearly annoyed she need to repeat herself. Celeste chuckled despite the news. “The snow will only be getting worse. You are not going anywhere, so you might as well get cozy.” Celeste smiled warmly. It felt good to be known. “What did you do?” “I secured the last hotel room for you. It costs about what I imagine an organ on the black-market costs, and you can repay me later but I will graciously accept some praise now. Everything else is completely overbooked. The airlines were surprisingly fast, so you have to hurry.” “You are aware you are not my personal assistant, right?” Celeste blinked warmly as he set down the coffee in front of her and dropped back into the seat. “I know! But I cannot wait to have you home have been reloading that damn flight tracker every five seconds!” “I love you, too,” she smiled, noticing the man flinching slightly. “Wait…What are you doing? You sound far too relaxed.” “I am playing chess,” she grinned and their eyes met. He looked at her puzzled. “But I promise to go check in after the next match.” “You need to leave now, I ordered you a cab. They will not keep the reservation for longer than an hour. It is a fucking suite after all.” Celeste rolled her eyes. She was afraid what might happen when she left. Or wouldn’t happen. “Okay, I will leave now. Thank you.” She slipped the phone back into her pocket. He tried not to ask but his curiosity was palpable.

Continue on AO3 (I apologize, Tumblr fucked up the formatting)

[doodleodds]

Happy Valentines, Akira. Happy Valentines, Asshole.

If you can’t read what Akechi’s secondary inner-dialogue says cause I obscured it too much behind his regular dialogue, here’s a transcription in panel order: Hello, you fucking- Ah- Hello, Akira! Fuck off, why should I tell you- Just a soda- there’s a new flavor.

I don’t want your shitty gift. Oh- haha! You’re so sweet.

I hope I choke. They’re lovely, thank you.

Like hell. Likewise. There’s no way it’s just a coincidence. Still though, it’s a funny coincidence.

[buttercupshands]

welcome back, Todoroki family arc! in both anime AND manga

[silkjade]

i haven’t been here much recently, and i’m sorry i’ve only been negative on the off chance i’ve been online, but let me just say one last piece before the end of this month, so that maybe the next might be better….

[anna-draws-stuff]

Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil 👁️

Aᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ ᴀs sᴛɪᴄᴋᴇʀs + ᴘʀɪɴᴛs + ᴋᴇʏᴄʜᴀɪɴs ✨ 

ᵂᵉᵇˢʰᵒᵖ || ᴱᵗˢʸ

[discoreptile]

As of yet unnamed game card art!

[sysig]

Really digging out the old OCs now; Pan-na, Pilok, Azalea, squirrel boys Will and Damien, and Cupid and Venus <3 (Patreon)

[anonyanonymouse]

🙈

[izzy-b-hands]

Putting on last year's trans rigs stream from Drawfee before i have to get ready to go out with my mum and her bf today (bc i have the worst feeling in my gut he's gonna make that An Thing for me if given the chance today, aka whenever i eventually need the restroom while we're at Mystic)

[bat-the-misfit]

LISTEN UP EVERYONE:

think about someone you haven't talked to in a long time.

if they died now, would you regret not talking to them?

if you would, maybe you should talk to them.

[unproduciblesmackdown]

one in a million when i watch smthing in the horror genre and don't end up disappointed to/and/or pissed off about it so like "also yeah i liked it. ooo" is like relative to that an off the charts rave review of media of the millennium. also i did think about mh a lot along the way so would recommend its affect/effect if you like mh's horror too

[xcziel]

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