#I Love Nadja in Red It might be favorite thing in the world | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

forthegothicheroine · 3 years ago

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american psycho, the company of wolves, beauty and the beast (og disney), beauty and the beast (disney remake), tim burton's sleepy hollow, the over the garden wall miniseries, disney's legend of sleepy hollow (lmao i want it to be fall so bad), sofia coppola's marie antoinette, sofia coppola's the beguiled, the innocents, fire walk with me, crimson peak, coppocula

Hoo boy! Stuffing this big series of answers below the cut.

American Psycho:

Love it! I don't think the book would do it for me (I don't do well with graphic torture) but I thought the movie did a good job of showing us the kind of things he was doing, while also leaving enough ambiguity even before the twist at the end, and letting us sympathize with his depression (even if he can't name it) while also making him deeply unpleasant.

The Company of Wolves:

Do I like it as a big feminist statement? Honestly, not really- there's no sympathy for any women who aren't Rosalie or maybe her mother, and I think we are supposed to be conflicted over whether the choice she makes at the end is the right one. Do I like it as an exploration of an adolescent female id? Absolutely. Sex and violence and terror and quests are all on her mind and are all equally awful and thrilling, and Rosalie wants what's bad for her and isn't sure it's actually bad for her and the balance of power is always see-sawing and the whole thing feels like the most amazing dream.

Beauty and the Beast (original):

I thought the Beast was too mean when I was a little kid and forming my Disney opinions- I might actually like it more now. This is probably why I like the Cocteau version, even though what he does is basically still just as bad, because at least he's not a dick about it (and Panna a nevtor, which plays it all for gothic horror.)

Sleepy Hollow:

In retrospect, this one shows a lot of the problems that would later kill my love for Tim Burton, but it's still a lot of fun. The Hessian is genuinely scary, Johnny Depp is mugging a bit but it's not as bad as it would eventually get, and I want all the dresses.

Over the Garden Wall:

Pure distilled autumn in its aspects of both harvest and death, fun and fear. It's a world based on vintage Halloween postcards and fairytales that don't actually exist but feel like they do. I love every character, and that momentary flash where we see what the Beast looks like haunts my nightmares. My only caveat is that I do sometimes have to tell other people to keep watching after Schoolyard Follies, there will be a plot I promise!

Disney's Legend of Sleepy Hollow:

I think this is one of those where I never saw the whole thing, just the main song on one of those Best of Disney compilation videos. I'll at least give it credit for preserving the original story rather than making the Headless Horseman actually real (which I think most adaptations do because frankly the original story isn't long enough for feature length.)

Marie Antoinette:

This seems like one of those movies where you've supposed to get into the mood of the music and the visuals more so than the plot or characters? I can get into that.

The Beguiled:

I still don't know if I want to see this or not! The concept sounds cool and creepy, but I don't like the idea that these ladies are the good guys. Or maybe I'm wrong and nobody's supposed to be a good guy? Or maybe I should watch the grimier original since I unfortunately find young Clint Eastwood hot?

The Innocents:

I'm personally of the opinion that the ghosts in The Turn of the Screw were real (it's just that screaming at a child is not a good way to exorcise them), but the deliberate ambiguity/unreliability of this version is also creepy in its own way. It's a much darker ghost story that you'd get from most big studio films of the time, certainly.

Fire Walk With Me:

This really did a good job of portraying its protagonist as a real person rather than just an object of clinical observation or perverse whimsy (which I think Twin Peaks the Return fell into.) It's just so heartbreakingly sensitive and Sheryl Lee does such a good job of portraying Laura as both kind and mean, loving and hateful, and absolutely the victim of someone she should have been able to trust. And then the end, where Cooper is smiling gently at her and the angel has come back and she's laughing in relief? Oh my god.

Crimson Peak

I didn't love this as much as I thought I would (maybe because I was spoiled about what was up with the Sharpes, or maybe because I didn't like the implication that Edith should have gone with the nice boy best friend she didn't love) but I'd still say it's a good entry in the gothic romance genre. Stunning clothes and scenery, great actors, scary ghosts, an ending open enough for fanfiction. If I picked this up as an Avon Satanic Gothic at a thrift store, I'd definitely be happy!

Coppocula (Bram Stoker's Dracula)

Oof. I don't want to be a snob about this. I've definitely liked Dracula movies that were wackier or dumber than this (looking at you, 2004 BBC version!) This one just breaks my heart because there's so much talent on display and I just. fucking. hate it! That soundtrack deserved a better movie. That red dress deserved a better movie. All the characters deserved better writing. Whenever someone tells me they love this movie, I have to nod and say that it's certainly beautiful looking, because I don't want to be a terrible gatekeeper, and if it was an original vampire story it might well be a guilty pleasure of mine. I just fucking hate it. On the bright side, it did give us Vlad the Poker in the What We Do in the Shadows movie, a pitch-fucking-perfect parody of Gary Oldman's Dracula, and the Nadja/Gregor plot in the What We Do in the Shadows tv show, a pitch-fucking-perfect deconstruction of the reincarnated wife trope.

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chelsfic · 4 years ago

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Leftovers - Part 12/12 - Nandor the Relentless x Female Reader Fanfic

For Previous Parts: WWDITS Masterlist

Summary: The reader shares her last night alive with her new family.

A/N: I realized as I was writing this that this whole fic could really be read as an elongated metaphor for my falling in love with this show and this fandom. I hope you guys like this ending and aren’t disappointed.

Warnings: Angst, Emotions, Crack humor, Turning into a vampire

---

It’s an hour after sunset and you can hear your housemates stirring. You’re still lying in bed. The ceiling overhead is cracked and peeling in places. You suppose this probably won’t be your bedroom for much longer. Nandor will want you to move into his crypt. Will you have your own coffin? Or will he want to keep sharing? How does one even purchase a coffin for...personal use?

You know you’re stalling. Nandor is being uncharacteristically patient, but he won’t wait all night. You’re not afraid. Okay, you’re afraid. But, you’d be stupid not to be. You saw Guillermo during his transition. He looked like hell for about three whole days. But you know Nandor will take care of you. Well, strike that. You know Nandor will try to take care of you and if he fails, Nadja and Guillermo will be there.

The night you met...the night you almost became a meal...was your birthday. So much has happened since then. You’ve been kept prisoner, fed upon, attacked, hurt. You’ve also fallen in love with every vampire in this crazy house, even Colin Robinson, bless his heart. Nandor and his bizarre mix of vicious lust and achingly sweet softness has somehow pulled you into this world, into a place you’ve always belonged without even knowing it. So, yeah, you’re afraid. But the idea of not spending every night for the rest of eternity surrounded by these beautiful, damaged, stupid idiots is even more frightening.

A knock comes at your door and Nadja’s voice trills, “Hello, human? May I come in?”

You roll onto your side and sit up, dangling your bare legs over the edge of the bed. You’re wearing one of your few dresses because...well, because you’re going to die tonight and shouldn’t you dress up a little?

Nadja slips inside looking resplendent and deadly as always. She gives you a sympathetic smile and comes to sit next to you.

“Feeling a little nervous about our unholy transition, are we?” she ducks her head and gives you that mama-vampire-knows-best look of hers.

You lean your shoulder into hers, taking comfort in her presence.

“Maybe a little…” you admit. “I’m not having second thoughts or anything it’s just…”

“A little spooky wooky, yes?” Nadja supplies. She wraps her arm around your back and pulls you closer. “Don’t concern your head off, darling. I don’t know if you realize this but I am considered a bit of an expert. I’ve turned many, many humans in my time. Including my dear Laszlo. I’ll make sure Nandor does not slip up and accidentally make you into a zombie monstrosity like my poor Topher.”

You rear back and stare at Nadja with horror stricken eyes, “That’s a possibility!??”

Nadja chuckles and tweaks your nose, “I am giving you sarcasm! To lighten the mood! It’s working, yes?”

You let out a long-suffering sigh that hiccups into nervous laughter.

“I love you, Nadja,” you say with sudden, overwhelming emotion. You dive forward and wrap your arms around her in a fierce hug.

Nadja is stricken for a moment and she pats your back gingerly, “That’s...very nice. You think you want to come downstairs now? Because Nandor is being a real donkey dick down there waiting for you, but his balls are too shriveled to come up here and get you himself.”

You laugh and pull back from the hug, wiping tears from your eyes, “Yeah, let’s go. I’m ready.”

---

“SURPRISE!”

“HAPPY DEATHDAY!”

“SMASHLEY’S IN DA HOUSE!”

“What’s crack-a-lackin’?”

Nandor looks supremely put out when everyone yells something different as you walk through the door to the fancy room. Does no one listen to him? They had an agreed upon plan! He scowls at at the other vampires, especially fucking Colin Robinson, before sweeping over toward you and taking you from Nadja’s arm.

“Welcome to your Death Day Party! Do you like it?” Nandor looks down at you with those wide, sparkling eyes that make you forget he’s a centuries old blood-sucking fiend who once conquered nations and slaughtered thousands.

You take in your surroundings with a look of wonder. There’s a giant glitter banner hanging above the fireplace that reads “Congratulations on your Dark Awakening.” You recognize it as Nandor’s handiwork at once. Also, Guillermo has obviously been to Party City because everyone is wearing pointed birthday hats with little Dracula emojis all over them and the whole room is absolutely covered in crepe paper.

“It’s...so cute!” you squeal, grabbing him around the middle in an enthusiastic hug. This is...just want you needed. A little goofy, human levity before stepping off the edge of the unknown. Your eyes continue wandering over the room until they fall upon a long table set up against the wall. “Oh...my g--gahhhh--is that mac and cheese?”

The table is covered in dish after dish of all your favorite comfort foods. Macaroni and cheese, pizza, lasagna. Apple pie, blueberry pie, cherry pie! There’s a whole giant bowl of Reese’s peanut butter cups. You pull away from Nandor and dash across the room, launching yourself into Guillermo’s arms.

“You’re the sweetest monster I’ve ever known!” you cry, doing your best to squeeze the unlife out of him.

Guillermo laughs, “Listen, you’re going to be puking for days either way. You might as well have one last chance to enjoy human food.”

You roll your eyes, “Thanks for the reminder, Memo.”

“Alrighty!” Nandor is suddenly picking you up from behind and plucking you out of Guillermo’s arms. “That’s enough of that. Why don’t you have some of this--” he turns his head away from you and gags “--yummy food and then we’ll listen to some human musical arrangements that Nadja and Laszlo have prepared.”

Nandor hovers at your side, watching with a wrinkled nose as you pile food onto your plate. You’ve barely made a dent in the impressive spread and you’re feeling guilty about the waste when Colin Robinson ambles up.

“So, nervous about Nandor draining all your blood and killing you tonight?” he asks breezily.

You ignore the question and instead ask one of your own, “Hey, you think you can bring some of the leftovers into your office tomorrow? I’d hate to waste all this…”

Colin’s face lights with a maniacal grin, “Barbara’s on a diet...Yeah...this will be perfect!”

You settle onto one of the couches, sandwiched between Guillermo and Nandor. Both vampires look vaguely nauseated as you tuck into your food, but they’re holding it together.

Laszlo stands up with Nadja and starts strumming a guitar as he addresses everyone, “When I first met our human I assumed she’d soon be fertilizing my vulva garden--”

Nadja slaps his arm and Nandor hisses indignantly.

“But! But!” Laszlo continues, bowing with a flourish in your direction. “I came to realize that this particular human was something special. I decided to accept her into the fold. Mostly because she kept Nandor off my back and also my wife threatened to maim my testicles if I ate her…

“So, here we are, human. The last night of your life and we’ve got just one thing to say…”

The couple launches into a screeching, cloying rendition of “(I’ve had) The Time of my Life” from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack (blatantly stolen from Laszlo’s catalogue of compositions). Your face is frozen in horrified laughter and you flick your gaze to Guillermo’s to see that he’s covering his mouth to stifle his own laughs. On your other side, Nandor is clapping along and bobbing his head with the music. Yup, this is your tribe.

The party goes on for another couple hours. Laszlo and Nadja perform several more “hits” before finishing up with “The Girl in the Village with the Very Small Foot.” Nadja’s singing voice is still ringing in your ears when Nandor bends down to whisper, “It’s time, my human.”

The levity of the party has done a lot to calm your nerves, but you can’t help the sudden grip of anxiety around your throat at his words. You look up, falling, once again, into the fathomless depths of his lovely, dark eyes and you think, That’s what this is. You’re going to live in that deep, dark beauty from now on. There’s nothing scary about that.

You both stand up to leave and say your goodbyes. Laszlo and Colin wish you luck. Guillermo hugs you and presses several quick kisses to your cheeks as Nandor murmurs warningly, “Watch it!”

When he releases you, you’re suddenly engulfed in the arms of a crying Nadja.

“I do love you, you magnificent, ruthless baby!” she sobs. “Nandor, if you fuck this up I’m going to make a hat out of your asshole.”

You laugh into her shoulder and Nandor complains, “Yeesh! Alright, calm down, Nadja!”

By the time you’ve pried yourself from Nadja’s grip you’ve joined her in crying and your face is soaked. Who knew vampires could be so sentimental?

Nandor grimaces in distaste as he brings his hands up to wipe away the tears.

“Ready!?”

---

Nandor’s crypt looks just as it always does. No crepe paper or glitter in sight. Just the warm glow of candles, the rich red and gold accents of the decor, and the solid familiar bulk of the coffin where you’ve spent so many nights wrapped in his protective embrace. He leads you over to the chaise lounge and you both sit, fidgeting nervously and darting shy glances at one another.

Nandor plucks at the fabric of your dress, “This is nice.”

You smile faintly, “Thanks, I--I thought maybe I should dress up for the occasion. Is that stupid? I guess it’ll just get stained…”

“No,” Nandor cuts in, looking earnest and serious. “No, I’ll be careful.”

You nod and fall silent again. The knowledge of what you’re about to do seems to hang like a thick curtain between you. The easy intimacy that you’ve shared is strained with the gravity of what is to come. Nandor finally huffs out an exasperated sigh and pulls you into his lap. At first you think he’s just going to bite the bullet, so to speak, and dig into your neck at once. But instead he grabs your face and pulls you into a searing, all-consuming kiss.

He tangles his fingers in your hair, pushing his tongue into your mouth with a low groan. You stroke your hands down the long column of his throat, running them across his broad shoulders and down his back. How this man--this perfectly imperfect, wonderfully fragile, fierce warrior man--has come to choose you, you can’t begin to understand. For countless other human souls, catching the eye of Nandor the Relentless has meant grim misfortune. For you, finding yourself the prey of a murderous vampire is the best thing that’s ever happened in your life.

Except maybe being MVP at last year’s championship bout.

Nandor’s lips fall away and he looks up at you, panting heavily with his hair mussed and tangled. His gaze flicks down to your exposed throat and you see him swallow in anticipation. He reaches for something on an end table and shows you the stainless steel travel mug containing his blood. You take it from him noting the strip of masking tape on the lid with Nandor’s elegant scrawl--his name and the date.

You snort, setting the container down on the cushions beside you and looking back up at Nandor.

“Prepare yourself, my mortal,” he growls, fangs elongating and eyes flashing with a predatory gleam.

You turn your head, baring your neck for your vampire boyfriend, and answering lightly, “I have a name, you know.”

---

THE END

A/N: Hey, thank you so so so much to everyone who read and supported this fic from the beginning! Your comments and encouragement mean the world to me!

Tags:

@festering-queen, @kandomeresbitch, @strangestdiary, @glitterportrait, @scuzmunkie, @redwoodshadows, @sarasxe, @rileyomalley

#nandor the relentless #nandor x reader #nandor the relentless x reader #nandor the relentless imagine #wwdits fanfic #wwdits #what we do in the shadows

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rosethornewrites · 5 years ago

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Fic: Love Language, ch. 5

Relationships: Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug/Kagami Tsurugi, Sabine Cheng/Tom Dupain, Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir/Wayhem

Characters: Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Kagami Tsurugi, Tikki, Tom Dupain, Tomoe Tsurugi, Sabine Cheng, Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Alya Césaire, Nino Lahiffe, Kitty Section, Jagged Stone, Penny Rolling, Clara Nightingale, Alec Cataldi, Nadja Chamack, Fang, XY, Lila Rossi, Chloé Bourgeois, Wayhem, Le Gorille | Adrien Agreste's Bodyguard

Tags: Fluff, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Language of Flowers, Gifts, Traditions, Holidays, Cultural Differences, Kimono, Qipao, Family, Love, Romance, Celebrations, Symbolism, Aged-Up Character(s), Warm and Fuzzy Feelings, Christmas Fluff, Identity Reveal, LGBTQ Character, LGBTQ Themes, Established Relationship, Marriage Proposal, Family Dinners, Airports, feeding each other, sharing ceremony, Anxiety, Engagement, Kissing, It was supposed to be a one-shot, Admiration, Pet Names, Cuddling & Snuggling, yin and yang, Communication, Smut, Food Sex, Cunnilingus, Vaginal Fingering, Multiple Orgasms, Bathing/Washing, Kagami is a boob woman, Nudity, Instagram, Social Media, Sleeping Together, Wedding Planning, Wedding Rings, Lila salt, Alec Cataldi salt, Food Porn, Paparazzi, Panic Attacks, Chloé Bourgeois Redemption, Lila Rossi Lies, Date Night, Adrien Sugar, Relationship Goals, Protective Kagami Tsurugi

Summary: Kagami and Marinette have date night... which is abruptly interrupted by the paparazzi.

Notes: See end.

AO3 link (ch. 3 has smut)

FFN link (ch. 3 has implied sex)

Part 5 (currently) of the Catch a Falling Star series

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 |

Love Language: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4

-----------

Kagami and Marinette decided on New Year’s Eve Eve as date night, since the Eve itself was spoken for. While they normally didn’t frequent many Chinese or Japanese restaurants given the quality of what they could have at home, this particular restaurant was a new Asian fusion place, one that mixed Vietnamese, Thai, Cambodian, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese cuisines. It had received glowing reviews.

The fusion theme also appealed to both of them, based on the symbolism of their recent engagement, and they had dressed appropriately. Kagami was wearing a kimono-style tunic Marinette had designed and made for her, red and black with a diagonal half-skirt, over leggings with some very stylish boots. A matching fabric headband finished the look. Marinette was wearing the full-length qipao she had sewn for last year’s Lunar New Year. It was black with pink embroidery, and she’d added an experimental French flair with peeping black lace down the false slit along the shoulder and all the way down the dress. Kagami had confessed it was one of her favorites, so she loved to spoil her by wearing it. She had put her hair in twin buns again, the same style she had worn when Kagami proposed.

Even in a crowded restaurant, Marinette was hyper-aware of Kagami, of the details of every moment. She loved the feeling that they were in their own world, a special intensity to everything. No moment spent with her was boring; she brought life to everything by virtue of her presence.

Some fusion restaurants simply had food from multiple cultures, but this one actually fused different dishes in fascinating ways. Even better: the servings were tapas-style, so smaller portions, enabling them to try an assortment of options. With each dish, they posted pictures to Instagram, tagging the restaurant and working to come up with descriptions of the flavors to describe to people who might want to try it.

They were both fascinated by the menu and its many options. For her drink, Marinette chose a Korean, Chinese, and Taiwanese inspired omija chrysanthemum milk tea with rose jelly, which was unique and delicious. The mix of flavors was heady, hitting the whole tongue at once. Kagami selected a Taiwanese and Vietnamese fusion, orange tamarind boba smoothie; also fantastic, both fruits a mix of sweet and tart that somehow leveled out both in a way that enhanced the drink.

Since soups traditionally started the meal, they decided on seafood chao ga with dashi flavoring and clams, whitefish, and sea urchin—lovely rice porridge for the cold. The texture was thick and the dashi lent a savory flavor that balanced the fish well. Kagami mentioned that one of the flavors was possibly the light earthy-sweet of miso paste, as well as ginger and a touch of rayu chili oil.

Then they decided on an assortment of bāozi stuffed with different things, including Korean bulgogi, Thai coconut curry chicken, Japanese unagi no kabayaki, Cambodian fish amok, and Vietnamese bun cha. Marinette was familiar with all but the last two. The fish amok turned out to be a unique yogurt-thick fish curry made with coconut milk and a mixture of spices that offered a savory quality rather than heat. Bun cha was amazing grilled pork belly that had been marinated in fish sauce and mixed with rice vermicelli and pickled vegetables, all stuffed in a perfectly-steamed bun.

They also tried a couple types of okonomiyaki, one with kimchi and japchae and the other with spicy Sichuan làzǐ jī. The japchae folded into the pancake was sweet potato glass noodles, strips of beef, and a variety of thin-sliced vegetables, and it matched well with the spicy tang of the kimchi spread atop. A sweet umami Korean junganjang cream sauce, a light spiral on the red kimchi, cut the heat a bit and added another layer of flavor. The làzǐ jī was the kind of spicy that would put off those not used to Sichuan peppercorns, a wonderful numbing sort of flavor that was tempered by the okonomiyaki batter, paired well with a Japanese-style sweet ginger mayonnaise drizzled over the top.

By that point, all they could handle was dessert.

Kagami ordered Chinese gāo diǎn stuffed with Thai pumpkin coconut pudding; they were glazed lightly with a spritz of honey-rosewater. Still warm, the pudding and pastry melted together in the mouth. Marinette opted for Cambodian mango sweet sticky rice with a scoop of black sesame ice cream that both of them knew had roots in both China and Japan. They tried each part separately, then mixed, enjoying the texture of the slightly-warm sticky rice against the icy cream of the ice cream, and the way the different varieties of sweet melded.

Marinette had just fed Kagami the last spoon of the ice cream when their table was abruptly surrounded by people with cameras and microphones, startling her into dropping the spoon. The clatter it made sounded louder than the cacophony of competing voices that assailed them.

She only made our pieces of them, words and phrases.

“... that you’re a gold-digger…?”

“...stalked Adrien Agreste…?”

“...settled for…?”

“...Chinese concubine…?”

Though Marinette felt frozen under the deluge of abusive questions, Kagami stood at that last one.

The reporters quieted somewhat, waiting for a response.

“You dare imply the love of my life is the equivalent of ianfu?!” She pinpointed the man who had asked the question and Marinette noted absently that he was, of course, an older white man. “Ah, you work for that rag. My lawyer will be in contact.”

Marinette stood, trying to find courage in the fire in Kagami’s eyes.

“We do not consent to be filmed or photographed. If any footage or photos appear in any of your media, you will hear from our lawyers,” Marinette added, reaching out and taking Kagami’s hand.

She received a reassuring squeeze. This had happened immediately following their announcement, and in preparation for that Tomoe had the Tsurugi family lawyer appraise them of their right to control being photographed and the use of those photographs—one of the lovelier facets of French law.

The cameras lowered, but the questions commenced, their personal space invaded as what she realized were tabloid reporters jockeyed for position.

Marinette felt hemmed in, trapped by the ugly questions.

In the distance someone yelled, “Is that Adrien Agreste?!”

The shift away from them allowed Kagami to pull her toward the kitchen, which they were thankfully seated near.

Marinette nearly jumped out of her skin when someone touched her shoulder, but standing behind her was Wayhem.

He pulled them into the kitchen, where a waiter handed them their coats and whisked them toward a back exit.

“Adrien?” Kagami asked Wayhem, slipping several large bills to the waiter, far more than enough to cover their meal.

The clipped nature of her tone hinted at her stress.

“In the car. One of my buddies in a wig is distracting the morons.”

Marinette let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Whatever had sparked this, it was big enough for Adrien and Wayhem to mount a rescue—and do it quickly.

The back door of the car opened as they rushed out, and Adrien scooted over to make room for them. Wayhem didn’t bother trying to squeeze in back, instead taking the front passenger seat beside the Gorilla.

Before she could entirely register what happened, the car was pulling out of the alley, the restaurant receding in the background.

Kagami squeezing her hand brought her back to the present.

“I don’t understand,” she murmured. “I thought it had died down.”

“You missed us talking about that, Mari.” Adrien offered her a smile that was tinged with sadness. “It had. Then there were rumors spread by someone to major and minor tabloids. They literally started breaking an hour ago.”

Marinette felt overwhelmed, almost like her skin was too heavy and smothering to bear. “The things they were saying…”

Kagami wrapped her in an embrace, and the feeling started to ease immediately—because they were together, in this. Together in everything.

“My father is coordinating with Tomoe on finding out what happened. But it sounds like different rumors were released to different places, all at once almost.”

“Throwing shit at the wall to see what sticks,” Wayhem added.

Adrien scowled then, a look she almost never saw on him, and she realized he was truly angry on their behalf.

“I would bet anything we know who it was, though these faux journalists might pull the ‘protect their sources’ routine.”

Marinette went cold, her eyes meeting Kagami’s. They were filled with a fire that consumed, rather than that which usually smoldered.

“Lila.” Kagami said the name like it was something disgusting she had to expel.

“H-how… You got here so fast,” Marinette murmured. “Thank you.”

“We were on our way out for date night when the news broke,” Wayhem explained. “We saw you were at that restaurant—sounds amazing, by the way—and had the Gorilla divert.”

“Wayhem called ahead to the restaurant. Then he had a friend who lives nearby and does cosplay at comic conventions play decoy. I called my father, and he’s gotten in touch with Tomoe. Nathalie’s texting me updates.” Adrien’s lips twisted further. “Some of those rumors involve me, which means he’ll actually do something. Because ‘it affects the brand.’ Otherwise he wouldn’t care.”

Oddly, his anger helped ease her distress. Marinette let herself melt into Kagami’s arms, using breathing exercises Fu had taught her so long ago to work on finding her calm. As awful as this was, she couldn’t afford to get Akumatized.

“We aren’t headed to my home,” Kagami noted. “Or to Marinette’s.”

“Paparazzi.” Wayhem turned in his seat. “They’re camped out. It’s a mess.”

“Chloé called. We’re going to the Grand Paris.”

Marinette looked at him incredulously.

“She’s changed.” Adrien shrugged. “She’s probably mad on my behalf, not yours. But she extended the offer. My house is mobbed, too.”

A buzzing sensation registered against Marinette’s leg, and she realized it was Tikki trying to get her attention. She reached her hand in her purse and Tikki pressed her phone into it. She had missed calls and texts from Alya.

Alya: I didn’t know he’d do that.

Alya: he took evrythng out of context

Alya: that bastard i;m sorry

Alya: Mari pick up plz

Another call came in from Alya and Marinette pressed accept.

“Oh thank god! Mari, you got away?” Alya sounded positively frantic. “The feeds cut when you told them off.”

“Yeah. Adrien and Wayhem helped us escape. Putting you on speaker.”

“Thank god for the gays.” Alya’s voice filled the car. “Fucking Alec Cataldi, he… Dammit, I had no idea. He asked about our friendship and I thought it was like for a fluff piece or something.”

Marinette’s heart sank into her gut as she catastrophized over what Alya could have said.

Adrien held out his phone, a video playing.

“Yeah, we’re all awesome friends. For a while Mari had trouble talking to Adrien, had a big crush, bu—”

The clip cut to Alec Cataldi. “And there you have it, folks. An inside source confirms: Marinette Dupain-Cheng, fiancée of Kagami Tsurugi, was involved in a love triangle. An anonymous source revealed a history of stalking and trying to use Adrien Agreste to jump-start her fashion career. So is she a gold-digger…?”

Adrien stopped the clip.

“I’m so sorry!” Alya’s voice was strangled with rage and guilt.

Kagami wiped at her face with the sleeve of her tunic; Marinette hadn’t realized she’d been crying.

“That… You didn’t know,” she managed. “I can’t talk right now, though. I… I just can’t.”

They had ignored Cataldi’s requests for an interview because he did this sort of thing, but Marinette had never expected this. She felt sick, wondering if Nadja had been involved at all. She doubted it, but...

“I understand, girl. I’m gonna do a livestream. Set the record straight. That asshole.”

The call ended. Marinette let Kagami take her phone and tuck it in her purse, likely handing it off to Tikki.

She let Kagami gather her close, pressing her face into her shoulder. Her friends stayed silent the rest of the drive, letting her work to clear her mind, to push through.

By the time she really was able to focus on the world, she and Kagami were ensconced in a plush room at the Grand Paris, and a cup of tea was being pressed in her hands.

“Oh, you’re back.” Chloé’s voice was oddly gentle, the arrogant tone missing. “It’s chamomile. Helps me when I’m stressed.”

It was strange, seeing Chloé almost as though for the first time. The fallout from Miracle Queen back in collège had left her friendless, Sabrina eschewing her, and she’d left to finish her studies through online courses, then attended a different lycée. Marinette hadn’t seen much of her since.

She’d toned down, it seemed. Maybe even gained a little humility. She was wearing much more muted tones of makeup that fit her skin tone and hair. The smirk that had often twisted her features was absent. Even her hair was styled differently, in a loose bun.

“Hi,” Marinette murmured. “Th-thank you.”

Chloé nodded, looking a bit uncomfortable as she backed away. Their previous relationship had been oppositional. This was different for both of them.

Kagami was pressed against her side, offering comfort in her presence. Marinette noted she had her own cup of chamomile, shaking slightly in her hands. She leaned her head against her fiancée’s shoulder.

“I’m okay, mon beignet,” she whispered, and was relieved when Kagami laughed at the endearment and her hand stopped shaking. “We’re in this together. We can do anything.”

A giggle caught her attention, and she was surprised to find it had come from Chloé. Her laugh had always had a haughty quality. It was absent now.

“Those rags are ridiculous, falling for those rumors. You two… just ridiculous how in love you are. Bakery endearments. Geez.”

It was almost strange to hear her say ridiculous as she always had, compared to the rest of her tone.

“It’s like they think collège wasn’t forever ago for us.” Chloé offered a soft smile. “Sorry, I know this is weird.”

Marinette nodded. “You’re… different.”

Chloé shrugged. “I was a complete bitch. But… Well, we’re not in collège anymore. And I didn’t want to be that person who peaked there as nothing but a mean girl.”

A look passed over her face, almost anguished, and she turned away slightly.

“I didn’t want to keep being the stupid entitled brat who willingly worked with a supervillain as part of a fucking temper tantrum.”

The silence that followed was uncomfortable. Chloé offered no attempt at justification, no request for forgiveness.

“I’m glad,” Marinette finally said, at least offering that much, if not absolution. “And I hope you’re happier.”

When Chloé turned back, there were tears on her face. “You know, when you said you thought I could be a hero… I was so awful to you, but still you…” She took a breath. “I just want to let you know it really meant a lot. It was important. So thank you.”

Marinette didn’t know what to say, and just offered a smile.

Chloé fidgeted a bit for a moment. “Um, anyway. This is Jagged and Penny’s suite. They’re getting here later tonight. Already told them what’s going on. Wayhem and Adrien are staying, too, in another suite—you’ll be sharing that one once it’s ready.” She flashed an awkward smile. “I’ll get you guys pajamas and such. We’ll figure this out.”

Then Chloé fled.

Marinette let her; no matter how much she had changed, she knew this was more than a little uncomfortable for both of them—more so for Chloé’s developed conscience.

And Chloé had given her something new to consider, something positive. Something else Marinette could cleave to as she worked through the shock of the awful things she was going to be reading about herself, and that she would have to refute.

She brought the fine china teacup to her lips, the delicate scent of chamomile wafting through her even before she took a sip. The warmth of the tea, of Kagami’s presence, the remnants of their date tattered but still existent, the knowledge that this couldn’t touch the world they had created… all came together to help calm her.

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

Notes:

I’m big on verisimilitude, and I know if I read a fic that had the kind of restaurant described at the beginning, I’d want to know the fusion aspects. So I did a bunch of research on foods from each culture. All the foods do exist, but I’ve actually melded them in ways that I don’t believe do. With the exception of Thai curry chicken bao, which you can get at Wow Bao. Man do I wish a lot of them did, though!

I didn’t expect the chapter to go the way it did, in some respects. I actually thought I’d get further, to the New Year Tsurugi family event. But there was a lot happening in this chapter and I realized my initial estimation was way off.

I also wasn’t sure if there was going to be Chloé redemption, but then it just… happened.

Oh, and happy Adrien/Wayhem. In Catch a Falling Star-verse after “Never Let It Fade Away,” Adrien will have done some soul-searching and come to the realization he’s bisexual and was just so hung up on Ladybug he didn’t realize it (much like Mari being bi but hung up on Adrien). So when Alya jokingly calls them “the gays,” it’s more a general statement than bi erasure. Wayhem is totes gay though. Also, it’s casually brought in because they’ve been together a bit and is thus a normal thing to all the characters.

Enjoy the Alec Cataldi and Lila salt.

#miraculous ladybug #miraculous fanfiction #kagami tsurugi #marinette dupain cheng #marigami #kagaminette #kagami x marinette #wayhem #adrien agreste #ml gorilla #alya cesaire #alec cataldi #alec cataldi salt #lila 'the liar' rossi #lila salt #chloe bourgeois #chloe redemption #my fanfiction #adrien sugar

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jolienjoyswriting · 5 years ago

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You Want to Kiss Me?

"You Want to Kiss Me?," a semi-immersive Shake fan fiction story.

If you've never heard of "Shake," then I don't blame you. Most people learned of the series of slot machines through the Team Fortress 2 map, "Wacky Races," and even then, they only know about (Live) F.K. and his song, "Give Me!" But, as you might have guessed, there are more characters than the robotic DJ and more song than "Give Me!" One character, in particular, is Nadja, the pop idol who may-or-may-not be a vampire. (I mean, I think she is, but her wings keep changing color, so…)

This story I've written is about someone who's a huge fan of Nadja, and gets the chance to actually meet her! Who's the lucky someone? Well… it's you, if you want it to be. That's right. I actually decided to write a "Character × Reader" story. Why? Partly because I was writing too many stories and chapters with my namesake, Joseph, but mostly as a change of pace – an "experiment," if you will. So, yeah.

Enjoy "your" time with Nadja the Vampire Diva, y'all~! (I know I did. :D)

Word count: 3,533 – Character count: 19,385 Originally written: April 19th, 2019

After watching your favorite musician, Nadja the Vampire Diva, in concert, you find yourself in her presence at your favorite hangout! Will you let this rare chance slip by…?

“I wasn’t surprised when you noticed me… I stand out of a crowd!” That’s how you caught my eye… “I’m glad I took a chance with you. You’re good.” That’s how you captured my heart. “But… be honest. You want to kiss me?” And, that’s where things got really complicated with you… Nadja.

I’ve been a huge fan of Nadja ever since she debuted over in Japan, a few years back. I practically fell in love with that pop idol the first time I saw her! The focus in her eyes… The sweet, playful smile on her face… That cute little fang! The way her long, deep-pink hair swayed whenever she moved, and the grace of her dance steps… Yeah, she might have dressed like a typical pop star, wearing those bell-bottom pants and that skimpy tank top that accentuated her more… “womanly” features, but I knew she wasn’t shallow and empty, like all the others. She’s a fan of her fans… I guess that’s why I took the chance that I did.

It all started when I went to one of her concerts. She was playing in the states for the first time ever! Not only that, but she was playing right here, where I live! I had to get a ticket to her show! It wasn’t cheap, though… She was practically sold out within the first couple of hours! Still, I managed to reserve a seat at the stadium. It… wasn’t a great seat – I had to use my phone’s camera zoom to actually see her. But, oh man… the way she moved…! It was like she cast a hypnotic spell on the crowd… or maybe, that was just me. I know I was completely focused on her as she sang one of her hit songs, “Vampire.” Hee… That vampire character she plays when performing is really charming. I remember being pulled into her world the first time I heard her song… at least until she said: “I wanna suck your blood.” What a way to get my attention!

Anyway, after an absolutely great three-hour performance, Nadja told the crowd she’d be signing autographs for her new album outside the stadium. I tried to get one, but there were just too many people. She had to leave before even half of us got an autograph. I guess a pop star, like her, must keep a really busy schedule… It was disappointing, but I was still pretty amped from the show, so I went to my favorite out-of-the-way hangout. I didn’t expect what happened next…

“Vampire’s Kiss, please.”

Not five minutes after I’d gotten some food, I heard a voice ordering that strangely-named drink. When I looked over at the place’s bar, I went wide-eyed! Sitting right there… was a lady with long, deep-pink hair and a matching tracksuit. Could it be her…? There was no way a girl like her could have been there, I thought. It wasn’t a popular place full of popular people… It had to be a case of mistaken identity. That’s what I thought… until she started looking around. No, there was no mistaking that playful smile, those beautiful, hazel eyes, or that little fang of hers. That girl sitting there? She wasn’t just “some girl…”

She was Nadja, the Vampire Diva.

I’m not sure how long I was sitting there, staring… but it had to be long enough for her to notice. Once she got her drink – some deep red thing in a martini glass – she slid off her seat and casually walked my way in that lovely, feminine way she moves, one foot in front of the other with swaying hips. I immediately looked away. However… “Herro…” She quietly greeted me, her Japanese accent seeping through her words. She was quick to cough and correct herself. “I mean… ‘Hello.’” Something about the way she spoke made a shiver run down my spine… I’d had dreams where Nadja spoke to me… dreams where we hung out or went on dates… But… “May I join you?” she politely asked. She was there. Really there! Standing not even a couple paces away from me… talking to me…! Me…!! I was way too scared to speak! “You look nervous…” she noted. “You’re sweaty and shaking. Are you okkee?” Her Japanese accent slipped back into her words, making her question sound somewhat stiff. Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to speak. “Well… I’m gonna sit here…” My body tensed. I didn’t dare look, but I could hear her slide into the booth where I sat. Thank God she was sitting across from me. I probably would’ve had a heart attack if she’d sat next to me!

“Nervousness is bad for the brood,” she started before fixing her misspeak. “Bad for the blood, I mean. It makes you feel tense and bad! You should relax! I won’t bite…” I couldn’t help but be reminded: they called her the “Vampire Diva” for a reason… “I kidding!” she merrily giggled. “But seriously, if I making you nervous, I can go. I just notice you looking at me… Am curious… You seem harmress.” She was right about that. I was too nervous to harm anyone! As I listened to her talk more, though… I found myself becoming fixated on all the little quirks with her words. Nadja’s songs have a lot of “Engrish” in them – which is to say, they sound kind of clunky, sometimes. I never considered that Nadja, herself, might not be fluent in English…

“Mm…” That noise got my attention. Nadja sounded… disappointed? I willed myself to look her way… only to blink in surprise. She was looking out the window, completely ignoring me. I also noticed the look on her face. She seemed… lonely. I suddenly felt guilty… “This always happens… I keep forgetting, fans aren’t friends. Boke desu…” She shrugged a little before faintly smiling. “You know me,” said the pop idol quietly told me. “You’re nervous. Okay. I probably shouldn’t be here, anyway… Maybe, I just wanted to take a break, but… okay. This is the life I chose. This is something to keep in mind…” The lady turned my way… only to blink from behind a pair of dark-tinted, rosy sunglasses. “You stare, again…” She narrowed her eyes… then, suddenly, she gasped! “Did I upset you…?! Oh, no, sorry! I talk to myself but sometimes, I don’t notice! I–” “No,” I simply told her. “No, I’m just…” As I trailed off… I couldn’t help but start laughing. I’m not sure why, either…

“Nani?” Nadja asked, cocking her head to one side. “What’s so funny?” “The way you speak…” I started to say. Before I could explain what I meant, though… “Ha… how dare?!” She shot me a glare and puffed her cheeks. “I try to speak English hard,” she said in a raised voice, “but English is a very difficult language to speak! You have many words that mean so much! Yayakoshī!!” I knew she was genuinely mad at me… but for some reason, I couldn’t keep myself from laughing more! There was something kind of cute about her temper flaring, I guess…

“Boke!” she shouted as she stood from the table. “Kaerimasu! Hmph…!” As she turned to leave the booth, I stopped laughing. “Wait-wait-wait!!” I called. When she shot me another glare, I quickly told her, “I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you!” “I-I’m not upset…! Boke!” I could see the tears forming in the corners of her eyes. I didn’t just make her mad… I hurt her feelings too! “The way you speak isn’t funny…” I tried to explain with a frown. “I’m just nervous and… I guess… kind of surprised you don’t speak better English…?” Even without her death-glare, I knew that was the wrong thing to say… “Nadja,” I told her, “I didn’t mean to upset you. I really-really didn’t…! I…” I had to pause. I was starting to feel nervous, again. “Your face is red,” the pop idol noticed. After a moment, she asked, “Do you… like me?” She nailed it on the head. All I could do was nod… “So… why are you so mean…?!” “I just–” “If you like someone, you are kind to them!” she exclaimed, practically scolding me. “I like you, so I'm kind to you! You like me? Be kind! Jōshikidesu – it’s common sense!” “Nadja–” “Do not treat girls badly and–” “I think your accent is really cute and I love the way you speak…!!” “Nani…?!” She paused before asking, “Na… nani tte itta no…?” When I gave her a confused look, she quietly translated herself. “Wh-what did you say…?” “I said… ‘I think your accent is really cute and I love the way you speak…’” I looked away before adding, “I think it suits you…” When I glanced back up, I noticed Nadja was scowling… not a good sign.

“I am trying to learn English,” she told me as she slowly returned to her seat. “Real English. Not the… the… what is it… Japanese word: shōgakkō– p-primary school! Yes, real English and not primary school English. Very difficult-desu…” “You’re doing fine– uh… you’re doing well, I mean? Um… doing good!” “See! That’s what I mean.” She retrieved her drink, finally taking a sip before telling me, “Three words for the same word. ‘Fine,’ ‘well,’ ‘good.’ Japanese are much easier.” “‘Is,’” I corrected as I skittishly looked her way. “See…?!” The girl pouted at me. “English is hard… Nihongo wa kantandesu…”

After sitting back down, Nadja ran a finger around the rim of her martini glass, idly staring out the window, again. I think she was still upset with me… She might’ve been upset with herself, though. It seemed like this whole “English” thing was getting her down… so, I decided to break the ice.

“I really like your songs,” I told her. When she glanced my way, I added, “You’re the best thing to come out of Japan since video games!” She stopped playing with her glass and continued to look my way without turning her head. It was kind of uncomfortable… “You rike video games?” is the next thing said. When I nodded, she asked, “Like what?” She laughed when I told her my favorite game genre, but it was a good kind of laugh. “I also like those,” she said before focusing on me. She was smiling… a good sign. “What kind of games do you like best?” I asked, keeping to the topic. “Dansugēmu – dance games!” was her cheerful answer. “I love to move my body!” I blushed, imagining her playing a dancing game. Then, before I could stop myself, I told her… “I bet you’re really good at them!” “I’m not good at them!” she said after a hearty laugh. “Sooo bad! But they are fun. Sometimes, I wish I could always dance my days away…” Nadja paused, looking in a random direction. When she turned back toward me, her eyes were half-closed and she wore a sweet smile. “I want to play with you…” she said in a soft tone. I knew what she meant, but it still flustered me to hear it…

“So… did you watch my show?” I blinked when she suddenly changed the topic. After a second, I nodded. “You were awesome!” I told her. “I have good… um… bakkuappudansā?” She paused to think. “‘Backup dancers?’ They help me look good on stage!” I thought about telling her I didn’t even notice the backup dancers because I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I didn’t think she’d appreciate it, though. “Hey, are you going to eat that?” “Huh?” I blinked, again. Nadja was looking at me… but pointing at my food. “Haven’t eaten, before,” she explained. “It looks good. Can I…?” The pop idol didn’t need to ask twice. I was quick to offer her some. A second later… “It looks better than it tastes.” She rubbed her mouth, then offered a friendly smile. She didn’t like my favorite food… “You’re probably used to eating more fancy stuff, huh?” I commented as I took a little bite. She just shrugged before speaking. “I have to watch what I eat. The manager got angry when gained weight… Boke. Can’t live with tomato juice, alone! Well, I can,” she corrected, “but I hate it!” Despite the seriousness of the statement, she still wound up giggling. “Sometimes… I want a chocolate cake! Or-or, bananapafe! Or… sometimes…?” I tilted back as Nadja leaned over the table, getting right in my face. Then, with half-closed eyes, she whispered… “Buraddiimīto.”

It was hard to swallow as she told me that. When she returned to her side, I started to ask her what she meant… only for her to explain herself. “Medium-rare, tasty, big steak!” she excitedly told me. “And, potatoes… baked twice! Makaroni to chīzu…! Chokorētoburaunī…!! Mmmmm…!!” Nadja dreamily gazed into the distance, imagining all that and possibly more. I have to admit, it was weird to see someone getting so excited over such “normal” foods… which means she probably didn’t get to eat those very often. “Being a pop idol diva sure is hard…” Nadja snapped out of her food hallucination and blankly stared at me. “‘Diiba…?’” she… repeated? “Dōiu imidesu ka– um… what does that mean?” “‘Diva?’” I asked. When she nodded, I told her, “Famous lady celebrity.” “Oh.” She paused to sip her drink. “What were we talking about, before food?” “Oh, uh…” I flustered a little. “I was just saying… you were really awesome, tonight.” After seeing her have a food fantasy, I was feeling a little more comfortable with her. So, as casually as possible, I told her… “I couldn’t take my eyes off you…” Calmer or not, I still had to look away after saying that. When I glanced her way, she looked taken aback… but was quick to smile that pretty smile at me.

“It’s not normal, tonight…” she said before finishing her drink. “I don’t usually go out, so I ran away from my manager. Came here. Saw you staring…” I blushed a little. She didn’t sound bothered, but I still felt embarrassed… “I wasn’t surprised when you noticed me… I stand out of a crowd!” She laughed, then sighed. “I’m glad I took a chance with you. You’re good. But… be honest.” I looked up… only to blush even more. Nadja was looking right at me with a soft, patient sort of smile, her little fang shining in the lights. I was about to ask her what she meant, when… “Do you want to kiss me?” She said that.

I wasn’t sure how to answer or if I even should. What kind of question was that, anyway? Why would she ask me that…? She couldn’t know that I had a crush on her…

“Bad baby, can’t you see…?” The diva quietly and slowly sang to me as she rose from her seat, eyes half-closed and a constant smile on her face. “Can’t you see…? Can’t you see…?” I couldn’t see much of anything, honestly. My vision was getting blurry form how hard I was blushing! Nadja, for whatever reason, was giving me a private performance of one of her songs… except it felt like less a performance… “Hey, baby, can’t you see…? You’ve got to kiss me…” And more like an actual request…

“Oh, will you find me… find me… find me…” she cooed as she sat down next to me. Then, as she drew closer, she softly sighed, “Oh, will you find me… to… hold… me… tight…?” I couldn’t believe what was happening… Nadja, the Vampire Diva, had put one hand on my shoulder and had her gorgeous eyes focused on mine! As she drew nearer, her voice quieted and her eyelids lowered, little-by-little… Was she… was she serious…?

My brain tuned out as her siren song continued. I wasn’t sure what was happening, anymore, but I knew one thing… My wildest dreams were coming true… and I wasn’t even conscious enough to be a part of them! How frustrating…!

“I wanna suck your blood…”

I gasped, my body shuddering. Everything came back into focus and in an instant, I was aware of my surroundings, again! I was also aware… that Nadja had done something to me. Something I never imagined she would ever do…

She bit me.

My breath came in long, slow pants as I watched the girl lean back and sit up. She was brightly smiling and seemed like she was… giggling? Hesitantly… I reached up and touched my neck. Nadja had bitten me… but I couldn’t feel any blood. It didn’t hurt, either! Had she bitten me…? When I looked back over at her, she was wiggling and giggling even more. “Just kidding!” she said, sounding calm as ever. “I will never hurt my fans!” “Y… you…” A cold chill shot through my body and I rubbed my neck, again. “You bit me…?” Her smile faded, immediately replaced with a look of deep concern. “A-are you okkee– did I bite too much…?! I-it was just a joke! G-gomen'nasai!” She sounded like she looked: panicked. I was still in shock, though… which is probably why I ended up telling her… “I’ll never wash my neck, again…”

“W… wh…?” Nadja… was stunned. Then, after a moment of wide-eyed staring, she started laughing! “B-boke…! You scared me…! I thought I…” Even though she was laughing, I could see tears welling in her eyes, just like earlier… Before I could tell her not to cry, she was already shaking her head and rubbing her face. “It was a bad joke,” she said between nervous laughs. “Because you like me, I…” “I’m serious, Nadja.” I felt myself smile as I told her, “I’m never gonna wash my neck ever again! I… th-that ‘vampire’s kiss’ you gave me… I’m… I’m…” Slowly, her smile became a smirk. Then, she simply told me… “Your face is red.” I couldn’t do much other than nod. She had that effect on me…

Before long, we both calmed down… but neither of us was terribly talkative. Nadja was back on her side of the booth, looking out the window while I quietly finished my meal. I’m not sure what she was feeling, the reason I stayed quiet was because I was worried I’d say something stupid like “I love you,” or something. Can you blame me? I was excited! Not only did I get to see her in concert… but I got to hang out with her… and she gave me a “vampire’s kiss…!” My head and heart were swimming with joy! What a night… what a night…

“Arigatōgozaimashita.”

A short while later, we left my favorite hangout. As we stepped out of the doorway Nadja got my attention with that. When I turned her way, I noticed… she was bowing. “Wh… wha’–” “Thank you for treating me kindly,” she said as she stood back up. “It was fun!” “I… I didn’t do anything, though.” I blinked as I told her, “We just hung out, and–” “Thank you for a fun time! Ah!” Her eyes went wide. “I don’t even know your name!” Huh. She was right. So… I told her. Nadja repeated it with a smile that made me shiver with happiness. “I’ll remember that name,” she said. “Um… heeey…” My head went to the side. Nadja was rubbing her arm and looking… unusually shy. “Tazunete yurushite… but do you want to… what’s the– ‘hang out,’ again?” I couldn’t help but smile. She really was nervous… Then again… “I-I’d love to.” So was I. It wasn’t every day that I got to hang out with my idol… “Oh! S-sayoka…?! Okkee!” she exclaimed in her Engrish accent. Then, after she took a moment to calm back down, she pulled a phone from her pocket. “Terefon nanbaa?” She couldn’t seem to stop smiling at me. Have to admit, it was infectious. “S… sure! It’s…” I told her my cell phone number and she was quick to enter it. When she typed a few more things, I blinked and watched. What was she doing…? “Huh?” I got an answer shortly after. The phone in my pocket was buzzing. When I answered it, I noticed that Nadja sent me a short message. It was kind of odd, though… “‘Look up…?’” I read aloud. “What do–” As I did, Nadja leaned in and pecked me on the cheek, stunning me. “Arigato…!” she excitedly exclaimed before saying my name. I slowly touched where she kissed… only for her to take my hand on both of hers and whisper, “Seriously. Thank you…” I had no idea what to say, so… I just nodded. That got her to laugh, at least.

“Guddobaiii!” the pop artist cheerfully said as we parted ways, that night. She had somewhere she needed to be, I guess. As we exchanged waves in the moonlight, I could swear I heard her whisper something sweet, but I knew it was just my imagination. We only just met and were barely starting to be friends, by that point. Still… it was a nice thought.

“‘Thinking of you…’” I quietly repeated with a smile. “I’ll… be thinking of you, too!”

#fan fiction #Daito Giken #You Want to Kiss Me #commercial characters #Shake #Nadja #original characters #you #slice of life #romance #Reader x

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chelsfic · 4 years ago

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Unseemly Desire - Chapter 3 - Guillermo x Nandor

To read past chapters: WWDITS Masterlist

Summary: Nandor and Guillermo deal with the fallout of their makeout session and the almost-attempted mind wipe. Guillermo discovers the untapped well of anger living inside him!

Warnings: Angst, Blood drinking, gratuitous use of the word Fuck, Angry kissing

A/N: Look how frickin handsome Nandor is in this gif. No wonder Guillermo can’t resist this idiot. Also, I wrote this really fast and barely edited it sooooo ehhhhhh sorrayyy.

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Shit! Fuck! Damn! Fiasco!

Nandor retires straight to his coffin after storming out of his familiar’s room. He’s still fully dressed and the little hair pins in his bun stab the back of his head as he lies down.

Fucking guy!

Who gave him permission to have those kinds of feelings, anyway? Nandor’s almost certain he included something about not falling in love in Guillermo’s employment contract. He’ll have to check on that tomorrow evening. He growls in angry frustration as he realizes the contract is locked in one Colin Robinson’s basement filing cabinets. Maybe he doesn’t need to worry about checking. He’s positive that he mentioned it to Guillermo before he became his familiar. No falling in love with me. End of discussion!

How dare that little guy ruin his perfect plan? What does he think, just because he has smooth, tan skin, a disarming smile and perfect wavy hair he can just go around forcing Nandor to be horny for him all the time? It’s unacceptable!

Nandor turns onto his side in a huff. He has half a mind to go back there and mind wipe him after all. But the vision of Guillermo’s tear streaked face as he begged Nandor not to hypnotize him floats before his eyes in the darkness and he feels that stabby, annoying pain in his heart area again.

And now he’s having more confusing heart palpitations again. Great!

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The movie is still playing on Guillermo’s discarded laptop. Claudia shrieks after learning that she can never grow or change as a vampire. It’s his favorite movie. He’s watched it hundreds of times. And Guillermo is only just now contemplating the real world evidence of that phenomenon. Nandor may have centuries of life experience but emotionally he is still the same repressed, spoiled, arrogant 13th century warlord he was when he was turned, just with a few new pop culture references under his belt. Can he really never learn or change? And if that’s true then what the fuck is Guillermo doing here?

He’s frozen in place where Nandor discarded him like so much refuse. His eyes are fixed on the curtain in fear or hope--he’s not certain--that Nandor might come blazing back into his little room, filling it up with his massive presence for better or worse. Salty tear tracks stain his cheeks and he’s still half wrapped up in the dumb snuggie. His face crumples and a silent sob escapes his throat. He’d been so stupidly happy there for a moment. Nandor--his dream boy, his vampire, his Nandor--kissed him and held him like Guillermo had always dreamed. But the memory tastes bitter in his mouth now as he remembers the cold, blank mask of his face after Guillermo mistakenly confessed his love.

He fists his hands into the soft material of Nandor’s snuggie, burying his face in the fabric as his tears start anew. He begged for this, didn’t he? How pathetic is it that he pleaded with Nandor to let him hold onto the memory of yet another rejection? He falls asleep like that, crying silently and clinging to the only physical evidence of his master’s fleeting, mercurial affection.

---

When he opens his coffin the next evening Nandor finds Guillermo waiting to attend him like always. The vampire hides his surprise and holds out his hand for assistance with all of his typical haughty self-importance. He spent all day plagued by nightmares of his familiar running away into the sunlight. Packing up his computing book, his cute little sweaters and his pizza rolls and fleeing from Nandor like he was some kind of...monster.

Ridiculous, of course.

Guillermo won’t leave him. He’d said so last night. He’d promised in exchange for his pathetic memories. But then Nandor notices the human’s hands are shaking as he adjusts his cravat and Guillermo won’t meet his eyes. There is also a strange new smell coming off of him that he usually only encounters around victims.

Fear.

“Guillermo…” Nandor wrinkles his nose “Have you been cleaning the cell? You should really shower afterwards. It’s not hygienic to be dressing me after being around all those human juices.”

His familiar finally looks up at him, eyes narrowed in confusion as he tries to parse his master’s thought process.

“No…” he finally answers and his voice is like a ghost, thin and ephemeral. “I haven’t been cleaning the cell master.”

He self-consciously leans down to sniff his own armpit and Nandor grimaces in disgust.

“Well, then why--” he stops himself, his deep brown eyes going round as he finally makes the connection. Guillermo is afraid of...him? It is like his nightmares are coming to life!

“Guillermo! Snap out of it now! This is very upsetting and...unprofessional. Why are you afraid?”

Guillermo flinches as if struck by Nandor’s words. He didn’t realize how transparent he was being. His first instinct is to deny it but a flare of anger takes hold of him and he’s speaking before his ingrained habit of suppressing his true feelings can kick in.

“Why am I afraid!? Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because you almost erased my memories last night? And you could do it any time you want and I’d be powerless to stop you?”

Nandor’s brows knit together and he scoffs, “But that’s always--”

He stops himself, guiltily averting his eyes, but it’s too late. Something changes in Guillermo’s face. The anger bleeds away and his skin goes pale. He almost looks like a vampire or… or one of his victims. The thought sends a shiver down Nandor’s spine.

“Master…” Guillermo’s voice is calm and cool but Nandor has a feeling that what comes next will determine something very important.

“Have you--” He swallows against the lump in his throat. “--Have you hypnotized me before?”

Nandor grimaces, baring his sharp fangs in an uncomfortable smile and looking like the vampiric embodiment of a dog shaming video.

---

There’s the time he dropped Guillermo while he was helping him dust around the spider houses…

...the time Guillermo saw Nandor fall down at the roller rink and the human children all laughed at him…

...when he shamed himself while Guillermo helped him adjust his orgy suit…

And countless other small, trivial moments that now seem to add up to quite a lot.

And, of course, there’s the other night when Nandor admitted that Guillermo is special to him.

---

“...Once or twice.”

Nandor watches his familiar’s face fall and his eyes start leaking. Guillermo angrily scrubs the tears away and shakes his head, throwing off the hurt as he’s learned to do all his life. From elementary school bullies to the love of his life, Guillermo has been rolling with the emotional punches for as long as he can remember. This is no different. So what if the last five years are a lie? So what if he can't trust his own memory? Guillermo is resilient. Guillermo is rubber. Guillermo kills ‘em with kindness and lives to fight another day. Or...

“Fuck you, Nandor,” he reaches up to finish tying the cravat, angrily cinching it around the vampire’s neck with a painful tug.

“Ouch! Watch it with that!” Nandor complains, batting Guillermo’s little hands away. Guillermo crosses his arms over his chest and glares back at him with fierce, thunderstorm eyes. Nandor’s never seen his familiar like this. So forceful…he shakes his head violently, banishing the stupid horny thoughts attempting to take over.

“Alright! So I hypnotized you a few times. So what? Kind of comes with the job there, Guillermo. Did you even read your contract?”

“You mean the one you scribbled on the back of a Panera menu?” Guillermo rolls his eyes. “How did it go? ‘I.O.U. one unholy transition. Signed, Nandor the Relentless’?”

Nandor scrunches his face up and he shifts his eyes as he tries to remember. There must have been more to it…

“I don’t think…” he falters, losing steam for a second before riling himself back up through sheer force of will. He is Nandor the RELENTLESS! “That’s neither here nor anywhere, Guillermo! The point is...eh...the point is you should have expected the occasional hypnotic trance when you took the job! It is common sense!”

“You’re right, master,” Guillermo says in the tone he uses when he doesn’t mean the thing that he is saying. “Silly me, expecting that you’d treat me any differently than one of your victims.”

Nandor feels like he’s rapidly losing the thread of this conversation. Or, more realistically, that the thread ran out from between his fingers long ago and he’s grasping at the empty air. Guillermo thinks he treats him like a victim? After all the troubles he went through to get the smelly red flowers and the music for his dirty biting fantasy? After he saved him from Nadja’s horrendous aim? After all of their chess games and strolls through the moonlit hunting grounds and the countless hours Nandor has spent listening for the soft thump of Guillermo’s human heart? This is what he thinks?

Nandor curls his lip and hurls his next words to Guillermo’s feet with disdain, “Didn’t you say you were jealous of my victims, Guillermo? Well, now you do not have to be. You are one. Perhaps I should finish the job.”

Guillermo barks out a sound that’s somewhere between a laugh and a sob, “Oh, please! You’re not going to kill me anymore than you’re going to turn me.”

Guillermo turns away, the job of dressing his master left unfinished and he starts to leave. Nandor looks at his familiar’s back and he sees him running away, abandoning him just like in his dream.

“No!” he roars, lifting off the ground several inches as he flies at Guillermo, tackling the human into the wall of his crypt and knocking a 700-year-old sword to the floor. He presses his hands into Guillermo’s shoulders, pinning him in place and marveling at the soft give of his flesh layered over strong muscles. “You are my familiar and I have not given you permission to leave!”

Guillermo’s eyes harden and he parts his lips to deliver what Nandor is certain will be a devastating blow. He’s going to leave him. He’s going to quit. All because Nandor wasn’t aloof enough! He can’t let him do this! If Nandor’s heart could beat he’s sure it would be bursting from his chest this very second. He squeezes Guillermo’s shoulders too hard, painfully grinding the bones beneath his palms as he lunges, burying his face into the pristine, smooth expanse of his familiar’s neck and biting down with all the force in his body. Guillermo screams and flails against him, but it’s pointless. Nandor is too strong and he’s hell bent on giving his human a bruise to match the one on the other side of his neck.

Guillermo’s blood was made for Nandor. It floods his mouth, coating his tongue like a thick, sweet nectar. He swallows it with a savage groan and presses harder against Guillermo, digging his growing erection into the softness of his belly.

Guillermo is lost in a confusing tangle of rage, sadness, fear and arousal. He can’t fucking believe that Nandor is doing this, basically proving that Guillermo is nothing more than another human victim. And it really, really shouldn’t turn him on this much. His words ring in Guillermo’s ears as the life pulses out of him. Perhaps I should finish the job. Guillermo doesn’t believe for a second that his master is planning to kill but just in case…

He fists his hands in the vampire’s shiny, soft hair--hair he’s lovingly brushed and arranged every night for the last five years--and he yanks it back with all of his might.

“Ouch! Fucking--” Nandor rears back, blood pouring down his chin and his eyes blown with hunger and lust. He captures Guillermo with those eyes and the familiar is drawn in like a moth to the flame. Why is he always chasing the thing that will hurt him?

Before he can second guess himself, and before Nandor can do something stupid like turn into a vapor, Guillermo grabs the vampire’s collar, tugs him down to his level and slams his mouth against his in a brutal, angry kiss. Fuck you for throwing an axe at my head. Fuck you for making me feel inadequate. Fuck you for kissing me and then trying to erase it from my memory. And really, truly, deeply, fuck you for making me love you anyway.

Guillermo’s hands paw at Nandor’s bearded jaw, holding in place as their lips slide together, tongues seeking and massaging. The salty copper taste of Guillermo’s own blood fills his mouth as Nandor plunders inside. The vampire moans, his hands straying down over Guillermo’s chest, his stomach, reaching around to settle over the round curve of his backside. Guillermo whimpers into Nandor’s lips as the vampire squeezes his fingers into his buttocks and simultaneously rolls his pelvis. There’s a sound in the distance trying to attract his attention. As if Guillermo would let go of this moment for anything in the world.

In the next instant, the door to the crypt flings open and Laszlo ducks inside, slamming it shut again just in time to keep out his shrieking, furious wife. Nandor breaks away from Guillermo, jumping back and holding his hands aloft with an obvious, guilty expression.

Laszlo takes one look at Nandor’s blood stained mouth and Guillermo’s utterly ravished appearance and snorts in amusement.

“I fucking knew it!”

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