#I am SO NORMAL about the new outfit (lie)

[arkarti]

New William Afton outfit dropped!!! 💜🔥🔥

Twitter: X

[taeyongdoyoung]

enjoy the silence

summary: your usually quiet self becomes unusually loud around your boyfriend so you want him to make you shut up 👀 pairing: chan x reader genre: smut with hints of angst warnings: silence kink, insecurities, swearing, healthy communication 🥰 belt, fingering, eating out, overstimulation, piv sex, safeword used, pre-discussed scenario, dirty talk, pet names, kissing, overthinking, they're just idiots in love, your honour 😔 word count: 1.5k

You are generally perceived as the "quiet one" among your friends. Always the listener, never the talker. Honestly, you are more than okay with it. Most of the time, you can't think of a funny or interesting thing to say so you keep to yourself. And you genuinely enjoy hearing about your loved ones' days, even if you are not the best at responding with something witty. Some of them say one of the things that they like about you is that you don't give unnecessary advice but offer your support which is more than enough in certain situations.

All of that changes when you meet Chan. He makes you feel so comfortable that you open up without realizing. Sometimes you would babble for hours and he would let you. In most contexts, you would overthink your answer and end up not saying anything. But when you are with him, you don't have to think. You just freely say whatever is on your mind and are met with acceptance. It is like he unlocked a new part of you that you didn't even know existed.

One evening, you are out having dinner with Chan, and you are excitedly telling him about what you did today, what you ate, where you went, what outfit you wore and all the silly details you normally keep inside. He smiles at you adoringly, adding "Really?" and "That sounds nice" every now and then.

You are genuinely having a lovely time when you overhear a remark coming from the table nearby.

"Ugh, does that woman ever shut up? That poor guy..."

"I know, right? Must be so annoying..."

You immediately stop talking and gulp nervously. They must be talking about you. Were you really that loud?

"Let's go home," you say in a quiet voice.

Chan doesn't question it, he just gets the bill and you two make your way out of the restaurant. He drives you home in complete silence and when you are inside the apartment, he finally breaks the quiet spell.

"What's wrong, sweetheart? You didn't even finish your meal..."

"N-nothing, I'm f-fine," you try to lie but your voice breaks.

"Tell me, please," Chan urges you to trust him with your concerns.

"Channie, do I talk too much?" you ask.

"Oh, so you heard those assholes, as well..."

"So...do I?"

"I seriously love hearing you talk, okay? I've seen how quiet you get around your friends and I am glad you feel safe enough to share all these stuff with me. And to be fair, it's kind of a relief, after a long day of me doing a lot of talking, I get to listen to you. These people at the restaurant were just jealous that no one wants to hear their nasty voices."

That makes you laugh and you bury your head in his chest, enveloping him in a hug.

"Don't you ever get tired? Don't you wish to shut me up?" you want to know.

"Where is this coming from? Forget about these fuckers..."

"Not in general. Don't you want to make me stop talking in bed?" you suggest boldly.

"Oh. It hasn't crossed my mind. Is that something you'd like to explore?"

"As long as it's with you, yes."

"With nobody else?" Chan runs a finger across your cheek.

"Nope, never," you admit.

"Well, I'll see what I can do about that."

Chan looks really tired from work and you probably shouldn't push his buttons right now of all times. But you really want to see him snap. Empowered by your previous discussions of this particular scenario, you decide to give it a shot. If he's not in the mood, you'll just drop it and let him rest. But if he's in...may the universe have mercy on you.

"So I told her, no, I don't want to get drinks for everyone, Susan, 'cause you never pay me back and you always treat me like a minion and then she said-"

Chan sighs deeply because you've told this story like three times already but doesn't interrupt you. Okay, he really appears exhausted, maybe this was a terrible idea.

"Tell me to shut up," you beg him at this point.

"Huh?" he blinks somewhat confused.

"I'm obviously being super loud and you're tired. So, make me shut up and take it out on me. Please?"

Realizing where you're going with this, Chan nods and the exhaustion suddenly disappears from his eyes. His gaze is now on fire as he squishes your cheeks with one hand and pushes you against the wall.

"As long you're begging," he smirks cruelly and kisses you.

Oh dear. He's never kissed you like this, so roughly and fervently, teeth clashing against yours, biting your lips until it hurts. You cannot speak even if you wanted to, which you don't. Completely losing yourself to the feeling, you let him do as he pleases.

Chan grabs your wrist and pulls you towards the bedroom. He pins you under him on the bed and starts talking.

"Always so fuckin' loud, huh?"

You shake your head in disagreement. You can be quiet if he wants you to. You'd do anything if it makes him happy.

"Got nothing to say all of a sudden?" Chan teases you and starts taking off your clothes.

You lick your own lips hesitantly but don't dare say a word. Seeing him like this is so unexpected but you can't get enough of it.

"What got you so shy, hm? I thought you loved yapping to me. All. Day. Long."

The way he enunciates each word would make anyone else think he was genuinely annoyed by it. But you know your Channie. You know that he wouldn't hurt you. Not unless you asked him to.

"Talk to me, baby, yeah? Why aren't you saying anything?" he asks while he's unbuckling his belt.

You refuse to speak and he takes it as a sign to continue. He smacks the bed with his belt and the action is so startling you unvoluntarily flinch as if you were the one hit.

"Are you going to speak or do you want me to force the words out of you?"

Oh, so he's going to use your own weapon against you? Very well, then. Two can play at that game. Let's see who folds first.

Chan takes the task very seriously and does everything he can think of to make you talk again.

"Come on, sweetheart, doesn't this feel good?" he keeps asking as his big fingers stretch you out deliciously. Yes, it feels amazing, but you are so stubborn you say nothing.

"Not even a moan? You're crazy," he laughs but doesn't give up.

He eats you out longer than you've ever thought humanly possible, making you cum over and over again. But you still hold on, fingers gripping the sheets and teeth biting the inside of your cheek.

"Was this okay?" Chan needs to know and you swear you see his eyes watering with emotion, begging to be praised for his otherworldly skills, but not even that can make you speak.

You give him a noncomittal nod, which obviously makes him even more competitive.

Finally, he thrusts into you so deeply, so overwhelmingly that it takes every ounce of willpower for you to not break. His hard cock inside you, his strong arms wrapped around you, his smooth voice talking to you, his beautiful eyes gazing at yours. It's too much, yet never enough. You want to tell him so many things. How much he means to you, how grateful you are for him, how happy he makes you, how-

"Be honest, do you hate me?" Chan interrupts your affectionate thoughts out of nowhere.

Huh? Where the fuck is this coming from?

"P-pineapple," you break your silence by saying the pre-established safeword because there is no way you could continue enjoying yourself and each other without unpacking this.

Oh, no. Chan just wanted to hear you speak again, but not like this.

"What's wrong? Did I hurt you?" he immediately asks in concern and stops his movements.

"Did you hurt me?" you answer sarcastically. "Did I hurt you? Why would you ask me if I hate you while literally inside of me, are you serious right now?"

"I was just wondering," he pouts adorably, "you weren't talking to me for so long, I thought you were mad at me or something."

"I wasn't speaking because that was part of the scenario we talked about! Of course, I love you, you big idiot! How could you possibly ask that?"

Chan smiles fondly and gives you a soft kiss.

"I love you, too," he giggles. "So, you're not hurt? We can keep going?"

"No, I'm fine. Yes, we can, I just said the safeword because I can't have you thinking I hate you under no circumstances. You're everything to me, okay?"

"Okay," Chan agrees easily. "But can I ask for something?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"Please never shut up for real, baby. No matter how tired I may look, I love hearing about your day."

"I know. The same goes for you, yeah? You don't have to keep everything in, alright? I'll always listen to you. Whenever and whatever you want to say, I'm here for you."

"Oh, really? You'll be my good girl and listen? You'd do what I like?" Chan raises an eyebrow and you long to see what kind of demon you've unleashed.

"For you? I'd do anything," you promise.

"Then no more silence. I wanna hear you scream for me."

The End

[rhenuvee]

Playing Animal Crossing New Horizons with HSR Men

Warnings: ugly villager slander, established relationship (can be platonic or romantic)

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Argenti: Your fellow knight of beauty grows quite fond of the game, immediately finding the freedom of creativity in decoration endearing. He always gives you compliments on your OOTD, and takes screenshots whenever you design a new area on your island. Argenti gave himself the gardening job- spending his bells on red rose seeds. He gets proficient in following the flower guide, and is very proud of himself if he ever gets a golden rose on your island. He loves the villagers, finding them each very cute, and even beauty in the "ugly" villagers. "Did you see the villagers wearing the red rose on their head? I must say I am flattered they love it so much. Though, I am more happy that they appreciate the beauty of our island." He enjoys documenting the beautiful places in your island with photos <3

Aventurine: From the beginning he points out the fact that Tom Nook is a capitalist, which makes you roll your eyes thinking he thinks this game is silly. However, it is quite the opposite as it doesn't take him long to get out of his home loan debt and is somehow extremely lucky. It's unfair to you that he could just log in on any given day and have the best deal for turnips. However because you are his favourite he says he’s willing to buy you whatever you want, he guesses. He happens to be able to catch rare species like the Coelacanth, and it infuriates you but you really can't be if it's helping the museum. "445 bells per turnip, sounds like music to my ears~" "What's that? You want this violin? Well I guess I could spare you a few bells... is one million okay?"

Blade: Let's not kid ourselves here- it takes a lot of convincing and help from Silver Wolf to get him to even be in the presence of Animal Crossing. He says he would much rather stand and look at the wall (SW: "You already do that everyday"). Eventually he sits himself next to you, and listens to your giddy rambling about what to do in the game while he puts on a serious face not saying anything. After the preliminary tutorial/startup gameplay, he finally says, “…why is this rat harassing me for money.” However, the loans aren't the worst but the villagers chasing him down are. He purposely ignores them and grumbles when you tell him to answer ):/. He prefers to watch you play, but because he sees you smile and laugh at his sarcastic comments, he thinks it's not so bad.

Boothill: He's definitely down to try it out, but he ends up being a bit of a troll. He doesn't really mind cute/ugly villagers, until he judges them for what they say. “That’s right, (y/n) did catch all those fish.” “Did he just ask me if he could call me Muffin.” “WHAT DO YOU MEAN I GOTTA PAY ANOTHER LOAN?!!?” Yeah… he quickly feels the grindy-ness, complaining that Tom Nook was working him like a forkin’ dog. A little bit of comical rage, but he won’t lie he is enjoying it. He also asks if there are any guns and he is disappointed, so he opts for the net. He's a little rough and rowdy, but he does it in style. That being said, he 100% spends his extra bells on a cowboy outfit.

Dan Heng: He agrees instantly- aw :(. He knows you (and March) have been begging him to play. He’s is fairly good at it- gets out of the tent quickly, masters catching creatures, a nicely organized house… He’s quite resourceful too, chopping down trees and going to mystery islands to farm the heck out of it. The villagers love him, both of you often seeing them run to him with the little sparkly flowers. And even though he's normally serious, you can't help but fawn over how sweet he is with the villagers. "...She wants to call me Shmoopy, do I-" "YES." Villagers asking him to catch a fish? He's immediately on it. He remembers their names and treats them like real people :(

Dr. Ratio: "Is it educational?" Bro is such a nerd. You deadpan at him, and sass him for expecting this to be IXL or something. He is also one to get through the tutorial part easily. You expected him to be overly critical of the game, but he finds appreciation in the museum: both the creatures and the art. Is it a farfetched idea that I think he'd know how to tell the reals and fakes right off the bat? "Do you really think Da Vinci spilled coffee on his work?" At least it saves you the troubles of wasting your bells and getting a fake. I think your island would not be a mess, and would have at least a few statues (you know the ones) which add his touch to it.

Gallagher: Honestly he's happy as long as he gets a little area for himself. Kind of a wild card this one- somehow calm and chaotic at the same time, and it's puzzling because how is he doing such weird things with a straight face? Trolls the villagers quite a bit (he's lucky ACNH villagers are nice) by hitting them with a net (just once though) and giving them different catchphrases every time they ask. "Why is Bob saying 'spaghettini' at the end of his sentences?" "Um, because I thought it'd be funny? Also I'm kinda hungry so-" "Gallagher ):/" Despite the randomness, he is wholesome at times. He is also one to compliment your new outfit, and stargaze with you on the new area you decorated.

Gepard: He's busy so you weren't expecting too much from him, but he takes pride in having a well-rounded island. He gets so excited when he catches a new species that you don't have yet- what a cutie. Also goes full throttle when there's a bug-off or fishing tourney. Despite being a video game, I feel like there will be some way he messes up taking care of plants. The flowers overgrow, the turnips rot, and he doesn't understand why the trees aren't growing? But with some tips from you along with your island designing skills, your island rank moves up and he is BEAMING. "Zucker asked about you." "...he did?" "Mhm, he asked how you were doing, and said he saw you laying out pathways on the island."

Jing Yuan: He finds it so cute when you ask him to play. Lowkey like Blade where he likes watching your happy expressions when playing. He's happy that this game provides him a way to relax while not getting bored. Secretly an enjoyer of villager drama: "Wolfgang wants to apologize to Audie with this present. What happens if I don't deliver it?" "Again? Ah, just give it to her quickly." "...what if I don't." "...Jing Yuan." Oddly I feel like he'd enjoy the group stretching (what an old man), and encourages you to join. Like the "Dozing General" he is, there will be times when he's inactive and gets the bed head.

Luocha: You weren't expecting him to enjoy the game, but he's surprisingly willing to be resourceful. His storage is full of materials, which you scold him for because this is the reason for his empty undecorated house. But he always has things you need so you can't exactly complain. Also one to be pretty smart with managing bells and resources, able to maximize their worth. When the island gets visitors like Label or Flick, he has items ready. "Luocha... where did you get that coat?" "This? It's a designer piece, from Miss Label." I'd say he does have a sense of beauty in design, so thankfully your island is gorgeous.

Sampo: Sympathizes with Redd like a true scammer. "Aw look, he just needs a bit of money to get started... he even gave us a 'cousin's discount'." However, a rivalry starts with Redd when Sampo's first art piece turned out to be fake (scammer gets scammed moment). He asks if he can be the salesman that he's supposed to be. When villagers run up to him to offer bells for an item he has, he accepts thinking it'll get him a deal along the way. Unfortunately friendship gets you nowhere in terms of home loans. I'd say he's pretty good with the turnip stonks, so there's a balance. Also TRASH ISLAND. I'm sorry, but your man is a hoarder, "But what if I need this?" (Literally me.)

Welt: When you ask him to play he asks why the animals are crossing. He finds the style and characters are so cute, and he can see why you enjoy it. This is definitely a way he gets in touch with his "youthful" side. He loves the creative freedom in the game, even getting indecisive about how to design your island, and thinking of what outfit to wear. He once made a simple t-shirt for fun, but was surprised when he saw a villager wearing it. It'd be so cute and funny when he learns new emotes- and he just spams them with a straight face. Not gameplay related, but I feel like in his free time he'd draw you both in villager form <3.

──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────

[filmbyjy]

COLLIE DUTY

SYNOPSIS > being the new CEO to the ‘Sim Corp’ was hard and stressful. jake didn’t have much time to spend with layla and so he decides to get a dogsitter, you. though, you were originally already his secretary. how will dog sitting bring you two closer?

EIGHTEEN - jake’s rizz

WARNING: uh. idk if there is any? let me know I’ll edit this chapter to add it in

MASTERLIST | PREVIOUS | NEXT

you couldn’t lie, your heart dropped the moment jake sent those very mysterious and ominous texts. it scared you and you did not look forward to the final results. what if he was going to scold you again? no, what if he was gonna cut your pay? you needed to buy a new outfit for your sister’s wedding soon. actually, you didn’t have to buy a new one, you have plenty of outfits that would look nice if you just figured out a combination to put together. however, where is the fun in that? new clothes always made everyone look fresh!

as a wise man (named park jongseong) would say. either ways, you shouldn’t worry about this. you looked straight down your phone and shot a quick ‘okay, sir’ text to jake. which you realised, why are you even putting effort to the man who was blatantly being mean to you? right, he has the authority and the source of your income. now, imagine jake being your sugar daddy-

wait. where did that come from? god, you were long gone.

you had quickly put on your shirt and pants, threw your hair in a ponytail (or if you have short hair, just a half ponytail) then left your home with your valuables. the drive to jake’s house wasn’t that far, he lived in a gated community with a really sweet security guard guarding the gates. his neighbours were a sweet elderly couple who lived with their cat and dog. very cute. they were super adorable too. when you started working from home at jake’s house, the elderly couple actually thought you were jake’s girlfriend.

they meant no harm but it still got your heart tugging a little. they apologised for the slight mistake and kept complimenting you and jake about how sweet he was and that you and him would definitely look like a cute couple. either ways, you made it and parked at the street outside of his home. a two-storey home that not only looked cozy but was cozy inside too. well, until you enter his office and room. that place is completely so cold in some way. maybe it was the way the furnitures were just industrial and his bed was a huge king sized bed where he was alone.

“oh, (name) sweetie.” the elderly lady smiles. you smiled and bowed at her.

“hello Mrs.Matilda, are you out here to view the outside and just chill?” you asked her.

she laughs, “oh dear, it’s as per usual. my husband is currently sleeping so i don’t want to disturb him. you look different in a casual outfit, you look so sweet and innocent. are you here to babysit layla again? i am sure, jaeyun is home today though?”

“ah, umm he asked me to see him so i am here for him today.”

“oh? you youngsters have a very different way asking people out for dates. back in my day, my husband just surprises me with a bouquet of flowers and asks me out.” she laughs heartily.

“oh, umm. he isn’t asking me out-”

“Mrs.Matilda, you’re awake.” jake says. you turned to look at him. he smiles at Mrs.Matilda. his outer appearance looks way different than how he is normally at work. in fact, he really looked like a puppy. his hair down with bangs covering his forehead. the way he tilted his head in curiosity and the pout he had, god he was so adorable.

“oh, jaeyun dear.” Mrs.Matilda smiles at jake. jake goes over to hand her some biscuits.

“my mom came over yesterday and made these. she wanted to give it to you yesterday but you weren’t around when she wanted to pass it you.”

“oh my, thank your mom for these. my husband will definitely love this even more.”

“any time.” jake turns to you. “let’s go in.” he grabs your hand and pulls you in gently. your eyes widened because he literally intertwined your hand with his. hands clasped and everything. not a single warning???

Mrs.Matilda smiles as she watches this and you could only look at her confused as jake pulls you inside his home.

jake brings you inside his home and you were instantly greeted by Layla. She wags her tail happily once she sees you, she also barks happily and tries to jump on you. it makes your heart burst at how adorable she was.

“aww, what good girl~” you cooed at layla as you gave her a bunch scratches and pats seemingly forgetting jake was there.

jake on the other hand, seemed to have just watched you. it gets his heart racing a little. seeing his two favourite girls-

ehem, his favourite girl and uhh. okay, who was he lying to? his favourite girl and the girl he likes interacting.

“oh, right. why did you call me here?” you asked jake.

jake’s brain short-circuits. he just realised you weren’t in your normal secretary smart outfit that you usually wore. instead you were in something casual. you looked so domestic. very wifey material.

“uh. right.” jake points to heaps of papers. “I need help clearing that. I-I know this is your day off but-”

“don’t worry. I’ll help. I understand it’s hard being a CEO and clearing all this approval letters and stuff.”

“right. I also need help with this project i’m working on with umm jay. he said he placed the research in the file so like I just need some help reviewing it. since it’s better to have two pairs of eyes to like get opinions.” jake says.

“mmm, alright. let’s get to work, I guess.” you say.

just as you scanned the many files and papers on jake’s desk, you can’t help but feel him stare into your soul. it was obvious he was staring at you but for what? you didn’t know.

“mr.sim, are you okay? is there something wrong with my face?”

jake’s eyes widened, “no not at all. I just umm…can you not call me mr.sim when we’re alone like this?”

it went dead silent after he said that.

“umm but you’re my boss?”

“we aren’t technically in the office right now and we’re the same age?”

“yeah, but you’re still my boss.”

jake sighs, “okay then. as your boss, I want you to just call me jake when we’re outside of the office.”

you wanted to say something but jake cuts you off, “I will cut your pay if you call me mr.sim or sir when it’s just us.”

you quickly shut your mouth after. you knew was joking about cutting your pay but like in some way, it sounded really real.

“okay, s- jake.”

“mmm, good girl.”

you froze.

DID JAKE JUST CALL YOU A GOOD GIRL??

a/n: OHOHOHO >:) sim jaeyun you naughty naughty 😈

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[gh9stlyy]

Burning desire

☆ warnings ☆

Fingering ~ public (?) ~ praise ~

summary

Your father is a famous, rich, director. He just finished a movie, so he planned a dinner for the whole cast. Y/n must sit next to James.

☆ ☆ ☆

"Y/n, honey, we have guests coming tonight.. and you look.. rough."

"Wow, thanks, mom." I smile.

"You know what I mean."

I run my hands through my hair, then pull myself out of bed.

"Thanks, sweetie." My mom walks away from my doorway.

It's about 3:30 pm, and I've been in bed all day.

I walk to my bathroom, and slide my clothes off.

I turn the shower on, and wait a moment for it to get warm, then hop in.

I shower quickly, which isn't normal for me. Once I get out the mirror actually isn't foggy.

My mom walks in.

"Mom!" I cover myself with my towel.

"Sorry honey. Just letting you know our guests are coming at six."

"Um, may I ask whos coming?"

"Well, some of the cast of your father's new movie."

She thinks for a moment, "I think James McAvoy-"

"James? He's coming?" I cut her off.

"Yes, he's coming."

I smile.

My mom laughs. "Don't even think about it,"

She walks out.

♡ ♡ ♡

It's 5:30 by the time I finish helping mom set up, and getting myself ready.

I made sure my outfit was hot, without making my dad mad.

Short, red, tight dress. Sleeveless, but I put on a jacket, to avoid pissing my dad off. I knew my dad would yell at me for wearing my red heels - that would look perfect with this dress - since they are quite tall, so I put on a low pair of mary janes.

I lean against the counter, playing with my nails, picking at the red polish.

"Quit picking, y/n." My mom demanded.

I laugh, putting my hands down.

"Are you nervous? You only do that when nervous."

"No, I'm just bored."

"Mhm." Her tone was as though she thought I was lying, which I was, but still, it's annoying.

"Ugh, mom, I'm not lying."

"You have a little thing for McAvoy, huh?"

"What? No.."

I had been on set with dad a few times, and I met James, and watched him act. He's extremely charming, it's hard not to have a thing for him.

She laughs. "C'mon, you can't lie to me, I know you do."

"It's okay, y/n."

"He's cute," I said, just to get her to leave me alone.

"Well, just to let you know... you'll be sitting next to him for dinner." She stated, walking out of the room, with a big grin.

"What?"

She ignores me.

"Shit," I whispered to myself.

♡ ♡ ♡

I watch the time, every minute feels like 10, and every time the vintage clock clicks I become more nervous.

Why am I sitting next to him? What did she mean? Was she messing with me? Who decided that?

The clock hits 6:02, and the doorbell rings.

"Y/n," my mom called, quickly walking to the door.

Don't know why, but it's a thing for me and my mom to greet the guests whenever my dad has one of these dinners. He has one every time the filming for one of his movies or shows is done.

I walk along with my mom, and she opens the door.

James stands next to another actor, laughing with him for a moment.

I put a smile on my face, and my mom welcomes them.

James makes eye contact with me when walking in, his smile becoming wider.

He's wearing a suit, pants, jacket, the jacket is over his shoulder, and waistcoat, all black, with a white shirt and red tie underneath. It's a silky material - other than the white undershirt - and it fits him perfectly.

"Oh, y/n, take James jacket."

He looks at me, smiling, and he hands me his jacket.

My mom talks to them for a moment, as I hang up James' jacket.

"Thank you, ma'am."

I walk alongside him.

"You look beautiful." He keeps his eyes forward, while I can't take my eyes off him.

"Thank you, you look very handsome."

He softly chuckles.

My mom guides them to the dining room.

My father says something once we get in there, but I tone it out, like everything he says.

"Please, sit down."

My father had placed names on where each person should go, and, of course, I'm next to James.

My mom is across from me, and my dad is across from James.

We all sit down.

My dad talks about the movie for a bit, while everyone places food on their plates.

I ignore everything he says, and just focus on the food.

After I finish placing what I want on my plate, my father, who must be done talking about himself, looks at me.

"Oh, y/n, take your jacket off, it's not appropriate." It's a black leather jacket, and now I can see how that would upset him.

"You're right, sorry."

I slide my jacket off, having it rest behind my back.

My fathers eyes drift to my bare shoulders, filled with rage.

He chuckles, then moves on, talking about himself and his accomplishments again. My mom joins, and starts telling stories about how fucking great her husband is.

James seems to be as uninterested as me.

He notices me looking at him, and we make eye contact.

I quickly look away, and continue eating

I see him smile out of the corner of my eye, he covers his smile up by taking a sip from a glass full of wine in front of him.

He leans towards me.

"Bored?" He whispered.

"Yeah," I whispered back.

He chuckles quietly, then leans away, downing the rest of his drink in one sip.

"Oh, Mr. McAvoy, would you like more?" My mom asked, her hand already gripping the wine bottle.

"Yes, please." He puts his glass toward her. She fills it.

"Thank you, Mrs y/l/n."

"Of course."

"McAvoy,"

James looks at my father, "yes, sir?"

"That is a stunning suit, looks amazing on you."

My dads words make me cringe. He's kissing McAvoy's ass, for more attention, someone else to talk about how amazing he is. Or maybe he's trying to make himself feel good, I'm not sure which.

"Wow, thank you, sir."

"How expensive?"

I can't quite tell what he's trying to do at this point.

"Uh, I think... two hundred or something like that."

"What was that? Sorry, your accent is so thick, isn't it?" My father looks at the rest of the cast while he asked, 'Isn't it?'

I cringe once again.

James chuckles, his hand gripping the wine glass. His veins become much more noticeable.

"Two hundred, sir."

"Ahh, lot to spend on a suit, isn't it?"

He's definitely not dick riding, he does this when jealous. Must be because of how me and mom look at James.

He's mad at James.

James takes a sip of his wine, a large one.

"I don't think so."

"I think I'd know better than you, McAvoy." My dad laughed.

My mom holds onto my father's shoulder, "oh quit it." She said, laughing.

"Sorry Mr. McAvoy, he's just teasing."

James smiles, taking another sip of his drink.

My father is probably gripping onto my mother's leg, a thought that makes me wanna kill myself. He thinks every man wants me and my mom.

While my father starts talking to one of the other guests, I lean toward James, and he leans toward me a little.

"Sorry, he's a dick sometimes," I whispered.

He smiles.

"It's alright, love." He whispered back, leaning away.

I lean back into my seat, gripping my thigh.

James moves his chair towards me a little more. I look at him, and we make eye contact. His beautiful blue eyes make me weak.

He breaks eye contact, his eyes drifting down to my breasts for a moment. He looks forward, and quietly laughs.

He takes another sip, this time finishing his drink. His hand once again is gripping the glass.

He leans towards me.

"Forgive me, y/n, I can't take my eyes off you." He softly breathes against my skin, his eyes fixated on me, his eyebrows furrowed.

I smile, "don't worry about it, McAvoy."

He sighs with relief, smiling, then leans away.

His eyes remain on me.

"McAvoy,"

His eyes leave me and stop on my father.

"Yes?"

"What are you doing?"

James' tongue runs along his bottom lip.

"Nothing, sir."

"Well-"

My mom slightly pushes against my father.

"Nevermind."

My fathers facial expression brings me joy. He's pissed, and he can't do anything about it.

My mother fills James' cup without him asking.

He smiles at her, then thanks her.

James keeps his eyes on my father, since he's talking, but I don't think he's listening.

James' hand moves to my thigh, and my heart skips a beat.

He grips my skin. To avoid making noise, I take a long sip of the water glass in front of me, since I'm not allowed to have alcohol.

James holds back his smile, still looking at my father.

My father starts a conversation with the man next to him, so James leans toward me.

"May I?"

I nod. He quickly leans away, and his hand slides up my dress.

I hadn't put shorts on, so all that's underneath is my panties.

James' finger runs along my underwear, then moves toward my clit.

I take a deep breath, and tremble while I exhale. James doesn't look at me.

His finger starts to very gently rub my clit.

I grip his hand, and he leans toward me, since my father is still distracted.

"Can you be quiet for me, darling?"

I nod, swallowing my spit.

"Good." He leans away, then pushes down, hard, while starting to rub me faster.

I dig my nails into his skin.

My heart is racing. What if someone notices, or what if I make a noise or face or something?

My dad turns to me, and my heart drops.

"Y/n, why don't you tell our guests your big news?"

Now he's using me for the praise, show them how 'great' of a daughter I am.

"Well... I-I got into Harvard."

My father smiles.

I pray that he doesn't ask me any more questions. I'm afraid to open my mouth.

"Isn't that amazing?"

James smiles at me, and I tone out everything everyone says to me. Well, not me, they all seem to tell my father how great that is, and ask how great he must feel about it.

"McAvoy."

James looks away from me, and to my father.

"Yes?"

"Isn't that amazing?"

"Of course."

James pulls his finger off my clit. Then he grabs my panties.

He slowly pulls them down my thighs, which takes a bit since he's only using one hand.

He pushes them down to my ankles.

"So, Mr. McAvoy, since you're the lead, are you excited about the movie?" My mom asked. James slowly slides his finger down my slit.

"Yes, very."

"Hope my husband wasn't too rough on ya," my mom joked.

James smiles, "no, he's great."

He slowly puts his finger in me, not very far before he takes it back out and teases me by rubbing around my hole.

"He's very good at his job, ma'am." James added.

"Oh, thanks, buddy."

James swallows. It seems like my father really gets on his nerves.

He finally slides his finger inside me, and I grip my thigh.

"Y'know, I think McAvoy might win me some more awards for his performance."

My mom smiles at James.

"I'm sure he will." One of the other guests said.

James smiles widely.

"I don't know, maybe." He said, picking his pace up.

"Y/n, you watched him act, he's brilliant isn't he?"

"Yes,"

My response puts a smile on my father's face. It was quiet, like I didn't wanna be there. I think it made him think I'm uninterested in James.

"Well, I should say everyone was amazing."

James slides another finger in me, and I exhale.

James leans towards me.

"Be silent for me, okay?" He doesn't lean away after he finishes talking, and he places a finger against my clit.

I take a deep breath.

"Good girl," he whispered, then he leans away.

He rubs me perfectly.

James' eyes are on me, and my father notices once he's done talking.

His mood changes again. He seemed relaxed, now he seems pissed again.

James' eyes drift away from me, and he takes a sip of his drink, which gets refilled every time he finishes.

Everyone has almost finished eating at this point, "well, I'll take everyone's plates." My mom said with a smile.

She whispered something to dad, then got up and started taking everyone's plates.

"McAvoy, you've barely eaten," my father stated.

"Just.. not very hungry, sir," James answered.

"Huh,"

"Well, you sure like that wine."

James' jaw clenches, and he rubs me harder.

"Yeah, sure." He responded.

My father laughs.

The man next to my father says something to him, and it starts another conversation.

I feel myself getting close, and I softly grip James hand.

He leans towards me, keeping his eyes on my father.

"Something wrong?" He asked, whispering.

"I'm... I'm close."

He smiles.

"Do you need me to stop? Or do you wanna finish?"

"Don't stop, please."

James softly chuckles.

My father looks at James, and he quickly leans away from me.

"What are you two talking about? Hm?" My dad asked.

"Nothing, sir."

"Well, I'm quite sure it's something."

My mom walks back into the room and sits down.

"What's something, honey?"

My heart pounds out of my chest.

"Y/n and James were talking to each other, just wanted to know about what."

"Oh,"

"It was nothing, promise." James reassured.

My mom gives my dad a look, telling him to let it go.

"Alright then."

I'm about to climax, and James picks up his pace, which sends me over the edge.

I release onto James' fingers, clenching his hand.

I pull his hand away once I finish. He holds back a smile.

He slowly pulls his hand onto the counter, wiping it off on his napkin, then places it back on my thigh, rubbing it.

♡ ♡ ♡

We're finally wrapping it up, after about another 20 long minutes. My dad glared at me and James most of the time.

"Well, we loved having all of you." My mom said, standing up.

Everyone else stands up, and James stands up last, his hands crossed in front of him.

"Y/n, would you mind grabbing my coat?" James asked.

He smiles at me, and I smile back.

I quickly walk towards the closet, grabbing his jacket and quickly walking back. I hand it to him.

"Thank you, darling."

"Mhm."

He ties it around his waist.

My eyes widen once it hits me, why he wanted his jacket right away.

I look at him, and he holds back a laugh, a wide smile on his face. I smile back.

Once my dad finishes thanking everyone, my mom and I guide everyone out.

My mom opens the door for everyone.

James stops, "Excuse me, miss y/l/n, may y/n show me to your bathroom?"

"Oh, of course."

My heart pounds, and I walk James toward the bathroom.

He makes sure nobody can see, then guides me into the bathroom, his hands on my hips.

He places his lips on mine, softly kissing me. I place my hands on his back.

He leans away for a moment.

"I need you, y/n,"

He grabs one of my hands, placing it onto his bulge.

I gasp. "James, we can't," I whispered.

"I know,"

I softly rub him, and he groans, closing his eyes.

"Fuck," he pulls me off him.

"Another time, y/n, I promise."

He opens the door, and we walk out together.

I walk ahead of him, then open the front door. My mom must have gone and found my dad.

He looks towards the dining room, then pulls me into a quick kiss.

He closes the door behind him.

"Y/n?" My mom called.

"Coming!" I speed walk towards the dining room, straightening out my dress.

"Yes?" I asked.

My dad glares at me.

"We need to talk." He said.

Fuck.

[changingplumbob]

Delphine Hubert - SFS

For @ethicaltreatmentofcowplants Simply Lilac BC. Her entry is below but since she is cc free (you will need the below packs for everything) I'm putting her up for everyone because I like sharing.

EDIT: Omg I forgot to mention she has a dolphin tattoo on her ankle because that's one of the meanings of her name Delphine!

Shay: Okay Delphine, finishing touches in CAS and you're all set! We just have to do the intro questions. Normally the watcher asks them but since I gained the paranoid trait I get to help her out

Delphine: Alright, fire away!

Shay: Tell me all the boring stuff I'd need to steal your identity. Name, birthplace, job and so on

Delphine: *laughs* I'm Delphine Hubert (the t is silent). You've probably picked up on my accent. I was born in France, stayed there through high school. I live in Chestnut Ridge now though, trying to start up a nectar business, being an Expert Nectar Maker is my aspiration, but I don't seem to be able to gain skills in anything.

Shay: Oh I had that! Don't worry, it passes

Delphine: I'm bisexual and biromantic. I'm a... forgive me English is my second language... cisgender woman? I use she/her pronouns

Shay: Oh my gosh me to! Are you human? Wait, what is this question? Of course she's human

Delphine: I am human but trust me, vampires are out there. Several nice ones live in France you know

Shay: I did not know that, weird. Moving on *checks notes* tell me some more about you. How would others describe you? How would you describe you?

Delphine: I'm doing my best to be a Rancher, really get in to the life of Chestnut Ridge. I ah, I am quite... what is the word... Clumsy? Oui, clumsy. I am also Creative, I enjoy making things you know?

Shay: So why are you applying? To you know get sent to the middle of nowhere

Delphine: *laughs* You are asking this? That is irony, no?

Shay: I know, I know, I'm still finding sand everywhere!

Delphine: *chuckles* Well Lilac seems like a- an impressive woman. She has done a lot for her short number of years, no? And très jolie.

Shay: Gossip time! Tell me some things you like, in others, to do, that kind of thing

Delphine: My favourite colours are green, brown, blue and purple. For fashion I like the country and rocker styles. I enjoy flirting and gossiping, and find I like others who are idealist or spirited. I really enjoy nectar making, and gardening which you need for that. I have always wanted to try horse riding to, and I enjoy cooking.

Shay: And what about things you dislike?

Delphine: I do not enjoy dressing in polished clothes. I find it hard to get along with others who are egotistical or emotional decision makers. I do not enjoy when other complain, or when they... deceive? Deception? Lie! I don't like to fish. I also haven't enjoyed bowling or snow-boarding. I also do not enjoy playing video games.

Shay: Oh girl you got some cute outfits! Alright, what's on your gift shortlist?

Delphine: For me or Lilac?

Shay: *checks* To give Lilac

Delphine: Oui. Ah... I am a classic, will go with some flowers. Likely rose. She is a music lover? Maybe guitar, cannot fit a piano in my inventory. Then... oh she likes photography, oui? A nice camera

Shay: *sighs* time for the awkward questions... will you be comfortable flirting with other contestants?

Delphine: I plan on flirting with Lilac

Shay: Oh I am with you, go for the goal right! But say there are some other cute ones around...

Delphine: I may flirt with other contestants but I cannot see myself woohooing with them, or any NPC's. My goal is Lilac, no?

Shay: How are you with changes? Gaining new traits or- becoming an occult? Seriously?

Delphine: *laughs* I am open to changing my personality but I do like being a human so I will choose to stay human

Shay: Final question! Are you comfortable- oh come on! Seriously?

Delphine: There is problem?

Shay: It asks if you're comfortable flirting with the host, Araminta. She's got a guy! The one I was going for, don't tell me she's forgotten Dodo already. Anyway, this is about you, not me

Delphine: I would flirt back but not initiate flirting

Shay: Good answer. Now make sure you don't tell her we're friends or she's bound to penalise you for it. Good luck Delphine!

Delphine: Merci

[drkineildwicks]

So we went and saw Sonic 3 in theaters....

Did it because my uncle paid for it

For context the very last movie I saw in theaters until this one was Sonic 1 so this was functionally the triumphant return

My honest thoughts:

*Crush 40 voice* YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

I've been singing Sonic music, specifically Shadow's songs, ever since going that movie was excellent I loved it and Mom had to stop me several times from vibrating apart in my seat XD

Also Sonic movie 4 is confirmed??? 2027 let's gooooo

Seriously I was all excited for the new Palworld expansion but after this movie that one has to wait I'm replaying SA2 XD

And it beating Mufasa into the ground is absolutely hilarious to me XD

Now that I've seen it I'm listening to podcasts covering it and the fact that Sonic 3 is showing in fewer theaters and making double the money HA!

And disney trying to lie and getting completely trolled by the fans

Three d's or whatever the lady said that got her arrested but Sonic is handing broke disney its head and I am here for it

Spoilery stuff under the cut, if you haven't seen it yet go see it

Also fair warning this gets long

Okay let's open up by saying that whoever makes these movies are MASSIVE GameCube era fans

Because they were pulling from Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow the Hedgehog, and Sonic Heroes

And Eggman's final outfit was his Sonic 06 one!

Was Gerald's Nega-Robotnik from the Rush games? IDK I only played the second one

They finally gave him his theme song as his ringtone!

I was elbowing Mom and pointing out what was from which game I did this with Sonic 2 as well

Sonic 1 when we came home from the theater I sat her down in front of the TV and booted up SA1 and SA2 and showed her the bits that the movie had pulled from

The guy in the Prison Island control room reminded me of the computer nerd from White House Down but Mom and I can't confirm yet

But he did have Omega on his computer console X'D

Shadow escaping from Prison Island

SHADOW MEETING TEAM SONIC AND BASICALLY REINACTING THE OPENING TO SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG

SONIC 3 WITH A CHAO GARDEN SEGA COULD NEVER

Listen I LIVED in those gardens with SA1 and SA2 I was able to identify every single one of those Chao types XD

THEY HAVE CHEESE THE CHAO!

Me spending 90% of the movie pointing like Leo DiCaprio in that one movie like they did the thing! They said the line! and the rest just vibrating apart

I warned my uncle before going in, multiple times, that I would not be normal about this movie

I am not normal about this movie

And I keep joking with Mom that these movies were tailor-made for her XD

Reason being she liked movie 1 and ever since then they've been adding stuff she likes like Uptown Funk, Shemar Moore, Keanu Reeves, etc.

Now they added the Beach Boys X'D

Also Shadow joining Knuckles on the TV women deserve more respect couch

Seriously was that bit with Shadow and the telenovela a reference to Ghosts of the Future? Did they actually reference a fancomic???

Gerald Robotnik still being alive is interesting and framing it with him having one of Shadow's quills makes me wonder if that energy was what kept him alive

It would explain how Ivo Robotnik survived the end of Sonic 2

And with the fourth movie confirmed and Jim Carrey saying he loves the character, I'm left wondering if he's somehow going to come back again

Like realistically there should be no way but I said that about Sonic 2 as well

Also I love that he's retired but for playing Robotnik at this point X'D

That also makes me wonder if Sonic and company are rubbing off on Tom, Maddie and even Wade the same way

Like realistically Team Sonic was only gone for maybe two days? HOW did they get all that done in two days if they aren't operating at Sonic's speed honestly

Also SONIC HEROES REFERENCE

MULTIPLE Sonic Heroes references because when Tails carries the others it's how they do it in that game, Tails throws Sonic like he does in that game, Knuckles throws Tails like he does in that game, etc.

So I was wondering if they were going to bring in Silver so they could go into Sonic 06 but with introducing Metal Sonic and AMY ROSE they look like they're heading for a combo of Sonic CD and Sonic Heroes

More the latter because they've got like half the main cast of that game by now XD

Oh give me Team Chaotix

Also I'm glad they're evidently going with Amy's later characterizations of being a competent fighter instead of just running into danger because she's boy-crazy

Although when Knuckles was trying to talk Sonic down from using the Master Emerald in his enraged state (coupled with the Chaos energy Shadow could generate) I was wondering if that was leading into Chaos coming out of the Emerald and a SA1 adaptation

Also me telling Mom "he left it with Wade" for the movie to immediately hard-cut to Wade X'D

Knuckles series reference!

That show was good y'all just out here acting like it stole your firstborn you'd have never survived the 00s era

BLACK DOOM REFERENCE

I never finished Shadow the Hedgehog but him using a device that summons a black hole makes me think that was Black Doom tech

Shadow coming down in a meteor that looks like the big eye thing that follows you around if you take the evil route

And I find it interesting that they softened Maria's death from getting straight-up shot

I did not tell anyone in my family how she goes out until after the movie, btw

But arguably being that close to an explosion is worse and there's probably good reason she was in shadow in those scenes

GUN having to account for rings being able to take you anywhere you can visualize was a nice bit of worldbuilding

Didn't like the one lady tho

Don't know who the actress is but I don't think I'm fond of her either so that didn't help

I will say that I agree with Mom on the pacing of some of the jokes, I had that problem with the first two movies as well where a joke went for too long

But in listing the parts I would trim down (the two Robotniks dancing, the first telanovela scene, the bits in the gravity scene, etc.) it's all stuff that couldn't be thrown in because of all the work that had to go into it

Like Jim Carrey had to sit in a chair for hours with the Gerald makeup and then had to film it all twice

On that topic, the line with them hanging a lampshade on him playing two characters didn't need to be in there and made the scene run too long

Look, the biggest thing about comedy is that it has specific timing and if something runs too long or too short it throws the whole thing off

Although I kept expecting Stone to come up to Space Colony ARK with one of the Robotnik vehicles to save Robotnik

Eggman ends up broadcasting like he did before and it's to talk directly to Stone

And to be fair to Stone: after three movies of Robotnik saying he hates organics and only needs his machines, being upgraded to syco-friend is the best those two can do

Like dang Robotnik's out here like help me Max, I'm FEELING!

Robotnik's heart grew three sizes that day

They still managed to destroy the moon with the Eclipse Cannon XD

Shadow hurting so badly from what they did to Maria that he was willing to die firing said cannon and he was actively egging Sonic on and telling him to kill him...ouch

I do want to question them being able to have a whole chat on the moon considering there's no air and no atmosphere

Legit my first thought when they were doing that was Stitch and cousins from Lilo and Stitch: the Series because they didn't need suits either

And when I was picking it apart with Mom over breakfast this morning I eventually reasoned that the levels on Space Colony ARK towards the end of SA2 all do the same thing since if you miss a landing there you go, plummeting towards earth in a fireball

I love that of the three of them, Knuckles was the one who could handle the stress of reentry

My boi is as tough as he says

So is Tom apparently dude should not have survived that

Getting hit in the chest like that can stop your heart, as we found out with that football player a few years back--dude is very lucky his plot armor is thicker than the general's

I also like that Shadow, for all his planning to destroy the world and everything in it, looked like he felt genuinely bad for hurting Tom by mistake

And him and Sonic having that heart-to-heart

LIVE AND LEARN INTENSIFIES

Like they teased the song through the whole movie to have it BLARE OUT IN THE CLIMAX

Me trying to resist singing along in the theater X'D

Also petition to have the scene where Sonic and Shadow shake hands and clasp the others before going super be the new handshake meme

HAVING GUN ROBOTS COME OUT OF THE ARK

"Don't tell me you have your own catchphrase" X'D

Shadow with his motorcycle, casually doing a Ghost Rider straight up Tokyo Tower

Me elbowing Mom when Sonic follows: "I told you he could have run up the side of the Trans-American building in the first movie!"

Mom: "Oh yeah!"

They had the same posters in the background of the Tokyo shots as they did in the game YES

Also I noticed during one of the close-ups that Shadow's gloves have that same little smartphone-friendly patch that most modern gloves have??? In the seventies??? Dang Black Doom made sure he got the good gloves X'D

Like seriously I could pick apart this movie for YEARS it makes me so happy it was worth all the hype :D

I wasn't even expecting the first movie to be any good but three great movies and a TV show Sonic fans are eating good and apparently we're not done yet

I am SO ready \.o./

Anywho *goes back to running outside belting "Live and Learn" at the top of my lungs*

also good stuff for that one BH6 AU

[precious-little-bhaalbabe]

You called us to send asks about mindflayer karlach 🙇 I am here to learn. What are your Thoughts

I’M SO GLAD YOU ASKED

Basically most of my points have been made before in the tags of other posts but she deserves her own post.

The jist of it is explained in this post and the accompanying image

Basically, Illithid transformation does destroy the host. Our Karlach isn’t Mindflayer Karlach, it’s her tadpole all grown up. Having absorbed all her memories. Because of this, lots of people say that the Mindflayer ending is Karlach’s bad ending. Personally, I don’t see it as her best ending (going back to Avernus and getting her heart repaired is her best ending for me) but I don’t see it as any worse than her ending where she chooses to burn up on the docks surrounded by her friends as a free woman. In both endings (burning up and Illithid transformation), Karlach dies.

But for her Illithid transformation, Karlach’s little tadpole stowaway takes over, consuming her body and her memories. With no Elder Brain influence (given she’s FIGHTING the Absolute) and only Karlach’s memories to build herself off of, the Tadpole decides to make herself a 1:1 copy of Karlach. She retains her name and maintains Karlach’s relationships and does what Karlach would have wanted (at least what she interprets as Karlach wanting, given she has access to all her memories).

I’ve seen people mad about this, how Mindflayer Karlach isn’t Karlach, Illithid transformation kills the host and this mindflayer is just pretending to be Karlach to manipulate us. And I don’t think that’s quite true. Cause without an Elder Brain to serve, what purpose would manipulating the party have? The tadpoles only memories are Karlach’s. Mindflayer Karlach isn’t a sort of devious trick and lie, it’s more of an “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” situation.

My belief is that as Squidlach continues to live her life, absorbing the memories of the terminally ill she helps leave the world on their own terms, and having her own experiences as a mindflayer and an individual, she will come to view herself less as BEING Karlach and more as FROM Karlach. Viewing Karlach as a predecessor or even a mother. Thus “Karlach III” (she can’t be “Karlach Jr.” because OUR Karlach is already Karlach Jr. if you visit her parents grave in Baldur’s Gate, you see her mother was also named Karlach.)

My hopes and dreams for Karlach III is she gets to meet Omeluum and he can help her figure out what it is to be A Mindflayer but also they can live healthily with their own kind without an Elder Brain, free to pursue their own goals and be good people. And also he can teach her how to wear normal clothes so she can get out of the awful Illithid fleshy horror outfit the transformation left her in. She deserves to wear normal clothes. It’ll help her be less scary.

Maybe the two of them together can start a little colony of peaceful mindflayers together! Not as like, a couple (Omeluum is already clearly married. To Blurg) but like. Idk. Maybe they find a way to grow new mindflayers without being parasitic. Or they take in other runaways from other Elder Brains like Omeluum and the Emperor. Or maybe idk some people are like Karlach and want to choose to give rise to an Illithid for whatever reason. I just think it would be neat.

And even if they don’t, I think it would still be good for the two of them to be friends. It’ll really help Karlach III come into herself as her own person, as a successor to Karlach rather than a copy. It’ll be good for her.

[bluejay-writes]

MysticTober 2024 Day 8/9: His Muse

You can read this over on Ao3 if you’d prefer.

Rating: T

Prompt: Jihyun x MC / Painting || Fate / Lie

WordCount: 8028

Summary: Jihyun needs a muse for his new painting collection. Author's Notes: So, Day 8 got away from me and became both that and day 9. Sorry it's a day late... but not sorry it's over 8000 words.

Hen knocked on the studio door, then stood and fidgeted nervously with the strings of her hoodie. She’d replied to this advertisement on the Art Department’s bulletin board for a model, specifically one who could stand for long periods of time without moving. Honestly, she was pretty sure that most people these days just took reference photos and painted from that, but if some student wanted to pay her an exorbitant-seeming amount of money to stand in one place with her clothes on (the ad had been very specific that while there would be an outfit provided, it was modest), she wasn’t about to complain.

Her friends had been on her case about applying. She’d always wanted to be a model, but she wasn’t model material. She was in that nebulous middle-point, Far too big to be a classic fashion model, but still too small to be an acceptable plus-size model. And she didn’t hate her body by any means. So she let them nag her into it. She’d sent what the flier asked for. Her name (preferred, even, not even her wallet name) and then a headshot and a full body shot. She’d tried to be as confident as she could while her friends took photos for her, but even now, having landed the job, she was nervous.

What if he was a creep? Art students could be anyone really, and…

The door opened to reveal a man in wire-frame glasses with teal hair and eyes and a warm smile. Wait a minute… 

“V?!” Hen had studied his pictures for one of her photography classes, they’d done a unit on current artists, and…

He chuckled looking chagrined. “Call me Jihyun, please.” He led her inside and shut the studio door again before continuing. “V did photos. I’m… well, I’ve moved on from that and I’m pursuing painting, which has been my passion far longer, though I didn’t have the guts to change mediums until recently.”

“Oh.” Hen said, just as awkwardly as she felt. “I didn’t mean to be rude, I…”

“Not rude.” Jihyun interrupted. “I was V. I am still, technically, that same man. I simply am using my given name now.” 

He sighed, and shook himself loose from whatever thought seemed to be plaguing him. “We got off on the wrong foot.” He held out his hand for her to shake. “Hi, I’m Jihyun Kim, the artist who will be painting you for the next few hours.”

She took his hand with a grin and a firm shake. “I’m Hen. And I’m very good at standing still.”

The outfit that he’d chosen for her to wear was very fantasy. Flowing skirts, a corseted belt over a lightweight top. She felt like a peasant girl in a magic world, and she loved it. He’d positioned her standing at a window, and she’d gotten to people-watch campus while he painted her. She’d expected a need to be quiet or mostly still, but he told her to go ahead and fidget if she needed to, and kept her engaged in a number of different light topics as he worked, almost as though he was trying to keep her entertained.

Eventually, as the light was waning, Jihyun stood. “Alright, that’s time. Thank you so much for all of your help today.” He smiled. “Do you need assistance with the belt or anything else getting back out of the costume?”

Hen waved him off. “Nah, I’m good. Give me two shakes and I’ll be out of your hair.”

Once she was back to her normal self, she was sad to see that Jihyun had already closed up his work, so that she couldn’t see it. He immediately spotted her looking, however.

“I’ll show you when it’s done. I was intending to invite you to whatever gallery it shows in, of course, as the model.”

Hen grinned. “It would be my honor!”

Jihyun handed her the envelope containing her payment, all smiles. “Honestly, Miss Hen, you’re an amazing model. May I call on you again for another piece? Same terms, but the next one likely won’t be standing.”

Hen nodded, she’d had a great time, and the pay was definitely worth it. “I’d love to.” She said, honestly. “I enjoyed today!”

Jihyun nodded, and they parted ways. Hen couldn’t help but smile, her friends were going to be so surprised when she told them she might even get a callback.

The second time that Hen stood as a model for Jihyun had her sitting on a bench in an awkward position. It was uncomfortable at first, but she made it work. Eventually, Jihyun admitted to her that the piece involved the woman sitting in a tree, but he couldn’t justify making her sit somewhere ostensibly dangerous for hours on end, so he’d made the bench setup like the branch he had in mind. Once he explained that to her, she found it much easier to settle into a pose that was actually useful for him.

She may have caught him grumbling to himself about wasting less time if he could just trust her more. She didn’t blame him, of course, Artists were often secretive, and she knew it was hard to trust someone you didn’t really know. Goodness knows she’d only met this man twice and definitely didn’t trust him with anything personal, so she didn’t blame him. Not even a little.

When the time was up and Jihyun started cleaning up, Hen realized she was stiff as she changed back out of the costume. 

“Hey, Jihyun, do you mind if I do some stretches on the floor here before I head out? I’m a little bit stiff.”

“Ah. Go right ahead. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. Your stiffness is the consequence of my art, after all.

Hen sank to the ground, grateful that she’d worn leggings today instead of jeans. She worked her way through some yoga poses, careful of the fact that she didn’t have a mat of any variety, only realizing she was humming as she finished the last of the stretches because of Jihyun’s quiet chuckle.

“I’m glad you’re so comfortable in my studio.” He said, chuckling. 

Hen blushed even as she nodded. “You make it easy, Jihyun. This is by far the highlight of my week.”

“Even with the odd held poses?” He was surprised.

“Even so.” Hen nodded. “I’d be honored if you wanted to call me in again.”

Jihyun smiled so brightly at that, Hen couldn’t help but smile in return.

The next sitting was more stereotypical, and Hen couldn’t hold back her giggles as Jihyun helped her pose in a very Ancient Grecian looking gauzy dress while half-laying on a chaise lounge.

“What is it?”

“It’s just… if you told someone they were going to model for a painting, they’d probably imagine something like this.”

“Ah.” He nodded. “Yes, I suppose it might be. I hope that the outcome of the painting far exceeds my pedestrian posing layouts.

“I’m certain it will.” Hen had no doubts that the man had an impressive artistic eye - his photographs were stunning enough that she’d written an entire paper on them her freshman semester of college. Sure, her major had nothing to do with art, but one didn’t see one of V’s photos and not know the man was gifted. “If nothing else, Jihyun, it’s fine to have one simpler piece in a collection.”

He chuckled, and Hen settled in to hold her position. It was surprisingly comfortable, and she knew it wasn’t going to be too difficult, especially because he was good about giving her breaks.

For the first time in their sessions, Jihyun was quiet and focused on the painting, which gave Hen time to think about everything going on in her classes, in life, in that book she was reading… eventually she started to feel sleepy. She knew she should say something, get up and take a walk, get some water, anything so that she didn’t cause a problem for Jihyun.

Instead, she found herself drifting off to sleep while watching him paint with the most blissfully calm look on his face that she’d ever seen on another human being.

What felt like a blink and also an eternity later, Hen woke to the soft shake of a shoulder, Jihyun crouched down next to her.

“Hey, Miss Hen.”

She startled, coming to consciousness all at once. “Oh, no, Jihyun! I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep!”

“It’s alright, you held the pose I needed, and you just looked so happy I couldn’t bear to wake you. Good dreams, I hope?”

Hen shook her head, holding a hand to her chest to will her heart to calm down from its momentary panic. “No dreams. One minute I was watching you paint, and the next you were waking me up. I feel insanely well rested though. Probably going to be up late tonight.” She chuckled.

“Hm, I should have been responsible and woken you.” He sighed, but continued before Hen could argue. “Would you let me take you to dinner as an apology?”

“What time is it?” Hen asked, sitting up properly so she could stretch the sleep out of her bones.

“Just about six.” Jihyun said, backing up to give her space.

“I could do dinner, I don’t have any other plans.” She said, and the smile that bloomed across his face warmed her soul. Yeah, she’d do a lot just to see that smile more.

Dinner was lovely. They went to a little hole-in-the-wall bibimbap restaurant that seemed to know Jihyun well, but wasn’t so expensive as to make Hen feel out of place. It was even on an easy bus route home again, so she wasn’t even particularly going out of her way, either.

They chatted over dinner about this and that, nothing important, the same calm, cheerful kinds of conversations that they usually had while he was painting. That just cemented for Hen that Jihyun was just like that and he wasn’t just chatting to keep her from getting bored. It made her wonder why he wasn’t chatty during their session today, but by the time they got to a break in conversation where she might have asked, she’d already forgotten.

When the bill came, Hen snatched it away before Jihyun could pick it up, and handed the whole bill to their waitress - a granny who she suspected was simply the owner of the place - with a smile. The granny even turned a look on Jihyun like she was surprised he was letting her pay. Jihyun looked stunned. “Hen, you don’t need to buy my dinner.”

“But I want to.” She smiled. “We’re friends, now, right?”

Jihyun smiled in that way that made her feel alight, and she blushed and fidgeted with her hoodie strings. By the time she realized it, the granny had gone and come back… and she was only paying for her half of dinner. Jihyun smirked at her, and Hen wondered if she’d been played. As they packed up to leave, Jihyun’s phone started ringing, and his face took on an ominous look.

“Sorry, you head on home, I have to take this… and it might be awhile.”

Hen nodded and waved, waving again to the granny on her way out.

That had been a fun dinner. She hoped his phone call wasn’t too painful.

It had been a few months since Hen sat for Jihyun, and almost as long since she’d heard from the man. She’d thought it was Fate when they met and hit it off that well, even just professionally, but then he’d disappeared. Hen tried to convince herself that it was fine, but at this point even she would admit she was moping. She really enjoyed his company, and couldn’t help but feel like she’d done something wrong. Had accepting his dinner invitation been too forward? But she’d even paid for her own meal… Hen had been worrying about this, of course, for weeks now, with only her coursework to keep her mind occupied and off of her presumed faux pas, whatever it might be. And unfortunately, winter break had just started so she had an entire month to mope about and worry about a problem with no guarantee of resolution.

At least she had her favorite coffee shop to curl up and read in. She usually got tea, but today she splurged on an extra sugary coffee drink, and the woman behind the counter chuckled. “Am I celebrating with you or commiserating, Hen?”

“Ugh.” Hen grumbled. 

“Commiserating it is!” The woman behind the counter quietly put an extra pump of caramel into the drink - Hen didn’t comment, not sure if it was intentional, but she wasn’t going to turn down more caramel goodness.

An hour or so later, Hen’s reading was interrupted by someone sitting down across from her. She ignored them for a moment, but when they didn’t move she put her bookmark in and looked up, only to let out a surprised squeak as she realized the person sitting there was none other than Jihyun, patiently waiting for her to pause.

Before she could say anything, the woman behind the counter appeared and set a coffee down in front of him. “Don’t scare away my regulars, Jihyun.” She said sternly, then returned behind the counter.

Before Hen could say anything, Jihyun immediately spoke up.

“I’m so glad that I found you.” He winced. “I threw my phone in the ocean in a fit of temper. Did you know that there is such a thing as backing up your contacts? I… did not do this thing. And as such, I had to simply hope to run into you. It took some time.”

He slid a brand new phone across the table to her. “My friend set it up so I can’t do that again, even if I do something as stupid as throwing my phone into the ocean again. May I have your number again?”

Hen sighed, and immediately added herself as a contact. “So you’re saying you didn’t respond to my texts not because you were upset with me, but because you didn’t know who they were from?” She looked over at her phone as the message she sent herself pinged in as an unknown number.

Jihyun had the grace to look embarrassed. “I needed a new number.”

“Did something happen?” Hen added his new number to her contacts, and changed the old one to read “Davy Jones’ Locker”, just in case some fish tried to text her later.

Jihyun sighed. “The unreasonable unbelievable drama that is my life simply continues to happen.” He took a sip of his drink and sighed happily. Jaehee could really make a mean latte.

Hen chuckled. “Everyone’s got some weird rats in their closet, I swear. I’m glad you reappeared, I was worried.”

“You were?” His eyes lit up for a moment, but then dimmed. “I’m sorry, Miss Hen. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

“Hey, it’s fine, you reappeared before I could mope myself into a corner.”

“Why would you be moping?” Jihyun was clearly confused.

“Well, I mean, I bullied my way into paying for my own dinner and then you disappeared. I was sure I’d said something stupid, or maybe that I shouldn’t have gone to dinner.”

“God, no, Hen. That dinner was one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time, I just had to leave for a trip the next morning…”

“His not wanting you to pay is just some misplaced chivalry.” The counter lady said, stopping by to leave a to-go cup refill of Hen’s coffee. “This one’s on the house. For celebrating this time, and for putting up with him.” She winked, and Jihyun looked scandalized.

“Jaehee! Are you buying my… are you buying Hen’s loyalty with coffee now?”

The woman - Jaehee apparently - cackled. “Yes.” The look she was wearing told Hen that she had no idea what their relationship was, and was assuming all kinds of things that Hen didn’t want to have to be the one to dissuade her from.

“Listen…” Jihyun took a deep breath. “Between the trip and needing to find you back, I’m way behind on painting work, and the gallery’s already booked. You wouldn’t happen to be… staying in town for winter break? I could book you… a lot… if you had time.” He looked like he expected her to say no, like he was already letting himself down before she could.

“I’m so game.” she said, laughing awkwardly. “I have, well, nothing going on for the next month until classes start up again.”

“No family events, or friend things, or…” Jihyun looked surprised. 

“Nope. Just lil ol me and my TBR.”

“TBR?”

“To Be Read. All the books I haven’t read this past semester because of classwork.”

Jihyun laughed at his own expense. “I should have known what that was. Fair, fair. Um.” He took a deep breath. “So, I can’t use my campus studio during break. Would you be okay coming to my apartment? It’s safe, I promise, and if you don’t feel safe you can leave, I won’t be upset.” Hen nodded, but winked at him before calling out to Jaehee behind the counter. “Hey Jaehee, can I trust this guy?”

Jihyun paled as though he had no idea what Jaehee would say.

“With your life.” Jaehee responded, without a pause. “But if you need an emergency text check-in hit me up before you leave.” Something relaxed in Jihyun, and Hen wondered if he’d let her give him a hug, but the moment was lost when he stood and bussed her empty mug.

Jihyun’s apartment was the 79th floor of an 80-floor high rise building. The entire 79th floor. Well, apparently his apartment was half of it and the other half was studio space, but still. She went directly to the windows and looked out over downtown, her eyes shining when she looked back at him.

“Jihyun, we should have done that first painting here…. this is such a great view!!” The painter smiled. “I’m glad you think that, actually… because I was hoping to do a triptych of that one, and so I’d need you to stand for two more at windows, and, well…”

He looks so nervous! Hen thought, and smiled, shaking her head and then nodding.

“Listen, Jihyun. I will sit for you to paint as often as you need me this month, as long as I don’t starve to death, and get to sleep properly.”

“That’s a low bar. I’m still going to pay you. Same rates. Also, since we’re not on campus I’m covering at least one meal a sitting. No arguments or pulling what you did at Yu’s!”

Hen blushed. “I still think it was only fair.”

Jihyun laughed, and walked over to a closet. “So, this closet has the outfits for the other…” he winced. “Four paintings I have in mind.”

“That’s only like one a week, do you have other obligations? We both already know I don’t.”

Jihyun chuckled. “Well, I can get the part of the work I need you modeling for done in our usual 6-hour blocks, so we could do those, say… every other day? That should give me plenty of time for finishing work on all of them and still be able to get them to the gallery on time.”

“Do you want to start today, since I’m here?”

Jihyun looked at the clock. “Only if you let me buy lunch and take you to dinner after.”

“You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Kim.” He raised an eyebrow, and she relented. “Yes, okay, okay. I want to see your gallery look good. I don’t know why you’re not the one begging here.”

Jihyun blinked. “I… really should be, shouldn’t I? You’re too good to me, Miss Hen.”

“Just call me Hen. It’s already a nickname.”

“It is? No wonder I couldn’t find you.”

Hen laughed so hard she sat down abruptly on the floor. “Jihyun Kim. You seriously thought my given name was Hen. Like a chicken.”

“Yes. Why would I assume otherwise?”

Hen just made flustered hand motions while she laughed at him.

“It’s Henrietta.” She said, once she could breathe properly. “Henrietta Chatham.”

“I like Hen better.” Jihyun said through a pout.

“Me too! That’s why I introduce myself that way! If you start calling me Miss Henrietta, I’ll quit.”

“Please don’t.” Jihyun said, helping her up off the floor. “Hen.”

She blushed at their proximity, and turned toward the closet so he wouldn’t notice. “So, which outfit first?”

Jihyun pulled out an outfit that was leggings and a leotard and a cropped leather jacket. “Cyberpunk? Or 80s Workout?” She asked, and as usual he gave her a shrug. No insight from the artist. No hints. No spoilers. She would get to see the paintings at the gallery opening with everyone else, and no sooner.

Hen was changing back into her regular clothes when she heard a knock at the door. Grateful that this wasn’t her house and thus she was spared from needing to rush to get clothes on and the inevitable falling over that would come with it, Hen simply continued at her leisurely undressing and redressing pace… which also meant she was able to eavesdrop on the conversation.

“Ah, good evening, Jihyun.” A warm baritone that matched V’s friendly tenor practically sang into the apartment.

“Jumin. Good to see you well. What can I help you with?”

“Miss Kang told me you found your muse.”

“I did. At Jaehee’s coffee shop, no less. I owe her.”

Muse? Does he consider me his Muse?? Hen felt her cheeks heat as she considered what that meant, if it meant anything. She hurried a little bit faster to get herself put back together.

“Well, I suppose you shouldn’t have any problems getting five more pieces done in time for the gallery opening, assuming she’s amenable to sitting for more paintings?”

She heard Jihyun laugh as she opened the bathroom door and made her way over to the costume closet without even glancing at the door.

“I’d say she is, we already got one session in today.” His volume changed as he turned and called out to her. “Hen, come over here when you’re done there, would you?”

She turned, surprised to see that Jihyun’s guest was in a three-piece suit, albeit one decorated with white cat fur.

“Hi.” She said, holding out a hand. “I’m Hen.”

He shook her hand, professional to a T. “Jumin Han.” Then, he turned back to Jihyun. “You should tell Luciel you’ve found her so he stops sending photos of random chickens to the chat and asking if they’re her. He’s been at it for approximately two hours now.”

Hen couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing. “Seriously?! Will you show me? We can pick which chicken looks most like me.”

JIhyun smiled that smile she loved so much. “We can look over dinner.” He turned to Jumin. “Would you like to join us? We’re going out for barbecue.”

Jumin shook his head. “Elizabeth is waiting for me. But thank you. Maybe next time.”

They watched as he turned and went back to the elevator and rode it…up. “He lives above you?” Hen asked, as they waited for the elevator to return for them to take it down instead.

“Yes.” Jihyun said with a smile. “We were childhood friends, Jumin and I.”

“And now?”

“Still friends. Less so children.”

Hen giggled, and tried to keep herself from thinking of this dinner as a date. It was just.. a work dinner.

The rest of the week flew by, and before Hen knew it she was back on her own, her sittings were all done and now she had all the free time in the world to get her reading done, but she couldn’t stop thinking of Jihyun. She hadn’t really been being honest with herself about him, it seemed, but now that she had some time to think clearly, it was plain as day. She was in love with the painter. He made her smile and laugh in a way no one else had. None of her previous partners even held a candle to the way he made her feel.

Sure, she might be his muse, not that he’d said as much to her even after she’d heard Jumin say it, but regardless… that was an art thing, not a personal thing. And now that this collection was done, other than the gallery opening he’d wanted her to come to, she may not ever see him again. Hen sighed, and like clockwork, her phone started ringing. Who called these days? Oh. It was Jihyun!

“Hey Jihyun!”

“Hi… I have… a selfish request.”

“Shoot.”

“I need your help. I’m trying to get all the finishing work done and for the life of me I cannot focus. I thought maybe getting someone to body double for me would help, but all of my friends are normal boring adults with day jobs. Jumin offered his cat, but she’s white and a mischief and I do not think that would be a good idea around all the paint…”

“Jihyun. Slow down. Calm down, it’s okay. What do you actually need from me?”

“Come and sit here and hang out? You can bring your books. I know you were eyeing that oversized chair, I’ll clear it out so you can relax. Maybe… get coffee from Jaehee’s on the way? I’ll pay you back, I swear, I… Hell, I’ll even pay your sitting fee just to chill with me for the day.”

“Jihyun! That’s not how friendship works! You don’t need to pay me to hang out with you. But you can take me to dinner. I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”

“Thank you. You’re a lifesaver.”

“Peppermint! Bye!” She hung up to the sound of his laughter, and if she wasn’t about to walk through his door with two coffees and a tote bag full of paperbacks to devour, she’d hate to end the call. Yeah. She had it bad.

Hen knocked on Jihyun’s door in the most inelegant fashion possible: with her forehead. She’d considered kicking it, but that would have sloshed the coffees too much.

Of course, Jihyun opened by her third knock, and instead she stumbled forward a step when her head met air.

“Were you knocking with your head?”

“Shhh.”

“Nooo. Your poor face.”

“I said shhhhh.” She allowed him to take his coffee, and laughed when she spotted the oversized chair in her usual posing space. “I’m modeling my dumb reading faces for you today.”

“I told you I’d pay your sitting fee.” He winked at her when she blustered, and instead she blushed. “What? You’re going to be sitting!”

“You. Are a brat.”

“That’s what they tell me.”

“What, your RFA Friends?” She said, thinking back to the chatroom entirely full of chicken photos.

“Only ones I’ve got.”

“You’ve got me!” Hen argued, and Jihyun turned a look on her that she couldn’t decipher, not even paired with the radiant smile.

“You’re different. You’re my Muse, Hen.”

“Well, you’re my… artist… i guess.. there’s not a good word for that. I’m sticking with friend.” She grinned at him, and he laughed. 

“Well, get to reading, Muse, I better get myself actually working so you didn’t come here for no reason.”

Hen settled and then realized the scale of the canvas he was currently working on. 

“Damn, Jihyun, that’s huge. Is it the centerpiece?”

“It is!”

“And you still won’t let me sneak a peek?”

“Of course not! and ruin the effect of the collection as a whole on opening night? Never.”

“I’m still invited to that?”

“Of course. You’re my muse. You’re my plus one.”

Hen saw the chance and had to ask… to save herself heartbreak down the road.

“What, no boyfriend? I was sure you and Jumin had--”

“No.” He cut her off. “I’m single, Hen. Have been since… well. Everything.”

“You’ll have to tell me about that someday, you know? I hate walking into landmines that just hurt your feelings.”

“You’re right. I should. Maybe over dinner?”

They spent the day in quiet companionship. Every now and again Hen would laugh at something that happened in her book, or absolutely have to read part of something to Jihyun because it was just written way too well.

They took a break for lunch, Jihyun had ordered sandwiches while she was still wrapped up in the most recent book.

“Your reading speed is ridiculous.”

“Jihyun. I’m in law school. Of course it’s ridiculous.”

“…I keep forgetting that. You’re so nice.”

“Sometimes lawyers are nice.”

“My lived experience begs to differ.”

“Hm.” Time to change the subject so that he could get back to work and not just spill everything now. “You’re going to tell me about that over dinner you said. Any ideas where you want to take me?”

Jihyun blinked for a moment, and then shrugged. “I was thinking Sushi?”

“I do not know if I am dressed well enough to go out for sushi, but…”

“I was thinking about a local place that has all you can eat sushi. No dress code. Plenty of time to sit and talk about difficult subjects in an informal environment.”

“Oh. Well then. You will be surprised at how much sushi I can eat.”

“With my friends, I don’t get surprised by much anymore.”

“And since then, she’s been in Alaska, at an inpatient rehabilitation center.”

“Jesus. That was… you? We discussed the situation in one of my classes while it was ongoing.” 

“Yes, I’m not surprised, it was a clusterfuck.”

Hen reached her hand out across the table to take Jihyun’s, heedless of how forward she was being. The man needed comfort.

“That’s a lot of stress, Jihyun.”

Jihyun sighed, but didn’t move his hand out from under hers, a choice that Hen chose to take as a positive sign.

“It was, but it’s over. Now I can move on and be better. To myself. To my friends.”

They paused to eat more of the sushi in front of them, when something he said suddenly connected for Hen.

“You said she’s in Alaska… is that when you ‘lost’ your phone?”

Jihyun chuckled. “When I threw it into the ocean. Yeah. We were still engaged when she was sentenced, and I hadn’t woken up at the hospital yet, so they put me down as one of her guardians. She was demanding to see me since I was on her paperwork… I had to go there in person to get my name removed.”

“Oh because that was safe and healthy for your trauma…” Hen muttered grumpily.

Jihyun nodded. “Exactly. Anyway, once I left, she started texting me begging me to come back, and… I just… I needed to be free of her. Of all that. I’d managed to put myself back together in the two years since and I couldn’t go back to that mental place. So I chucked my phone off of the side of the ferry. ‘Oops’. My only regret is losing your contact information in the process. Why did we never email?”

Hen shook her head with a low chuckle. “Hubris. I don’t know. I’m just glad you found me back. I was really worried I’d done something to upset you.”

“Well, I do wish you’d let me buy you dinner. Grandma Yu teases me to this day about ruining that date.”

Date? Hen must have thought about it for a minute too long, because Jihyun was rushing past the statement like he’d never made it.

“You’re not buying dinner tonight. This is my gift in return for you sharing your day with me.”

Hen nodded. “The chat with the chickens - that was those friends?”

“The very same.”

“I hope I get to meet them someday.”

“They’ll be at the gallery. Maybe… don’t wear feathers.”

Hen laughed so hard she aspirated her tea. “Jihyun!! What should I wear?!”

Leaving the restaurant, Hen realized this would be a perfect time to tell Jihyun how she felt. He deserved to know. She deserved to be let down in a nice quiet parking lot, not in front of however many people at the gallery showing. And since that was the last time she was likely to see him, well, she chose now.

“Jihyun, I…”

He reached out and held a finger to her lips, stopping her from talking.

“I know what you’re going to say. Can you wait until after you see the paintings? Please?”

Hen blinked. He wanted her to wait to confess until after the gallery? That was exactly the opposite of what she wanted.

What she was thinking must have shown on her face.

“I promise I will hear you out. I will give you privacy if you want it. But I need you to see… what I see… first.”

Hen sighed and nodded, and only then did he move his finger.

As her bus pulled up to the stop, Jihyun smiled at her. “See you at the gallery.”

“Yeah.” she forced a smile onto her face. “See you Saturday.”

The entire ride home, Hen let the tears silently track down her cheeks. He was going to turn her down, she knew it. He’d known she was going to confess. How many people had fallen for him while modeling? How many women had he turned down? Had he known since he came back from Alaska? Had he known before she did?

He’d had probably the worst relationship experience on the planet, there was no way he’d be interested in trying something. It wasn’t even that there was anything wrong with her, just that with everything he’d been through…

Hen sighed. She was thinking in circles. She should have known better than to fall for anyone. It’s not like her dating history was stellar either. She wiped the tears from her face as her bus arrived at her stop and she started walking home. She would be the best possible muse at this gallery opening. The belle of the ball. Maybe they could stay friends, if she didn’t make a complete mess of everything. She’d like that.

Hen had gone all-out for the gallery opening. She’d secretly talked to Jaehee at the cafe about what the dress code would actually be like, so she wouldn’t embarrass anyone, and the woman had actually volunteered to go shopping with her. Hen turned her down, but they exchanged numbers so Hen could send photos if she needed advice. She felt like she needed to do this herself.

Eventually she found what she needed. A navy blue and black jacquard dress, with an off-the shoulder sweetheart neckline and a subtle high low hem, from knees to tea length. The neckline showed a lot of skin, but a shawl would temper it, especially with her hair in loose curls over one shoulder.

Hair and makeup were easy. She knew how to put on a flawless face, it was practically a requirment with law school. Her favorite jewelry - understated sapphire earrings and a matching pendant on silver chain - finished the look. With a pair of short black suede ankle boots, a cashmere shawl, and her wool coat, she was prepared for a gallery opening in mid-January. Hopefully Jaehee hadn’t steered her wrong. She wouldn’t know what to do if she were dressed improperly. Both overdressed and underdressed were a possibility here, and she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous.

“You’ve really outdone yourself, Jihyun, these pieces are magnificent.”

Hen stepped into the gallery, slightly early for the actual opening, but Jihyun had requested her to be early to meet his friends. The entrance to the room was slightly raised, and had an unimpeded view of the collection. She could hear people talking, but she had eyes only for the art on display. She recognized all of the pieces along the edges from her sittings. First the triptych, Three pieces, one looking left out a window toward a historical setting, one looking right out a window in a cyberpunk-esque future setting (she knew that’s what that outfit was!), and the third looking straight out a window into a modern wartorn landscape.

“I see why you wouldn’t show us any of them early.”

The one where she’d been posing on the bench like it was a tree seemed to be robin hood? Or maybe hunger games? Either way, very stealthy, she loved the look of it. Opposite that was the grecian chaise lounge scene… he’d actually painted her asleep?! Jihyun! She internally scolded him. He could have just asked her to pretend to be asleep. Brat.

“Imagine if he hadn’t found his muse back!”

Her favorite so far had been the hardest pose to hold for the time he’d needed - a sword-weilding maiden from chinese folklore. It actually showed her in three distinct poses, as though in motion, and she stared at it for a long time. The last had her crumpled on the floor in front of a grave, hair in her face, soaked by rain. She’d remembered that - he’d asked her if she’d be willing to go stand in the shower in the giant pile of organza. She’d gotten the entire studio wet. It had been a riot.

“You did five of these just this month? You’re a madman, V… I mean Jihyun.”

But it wasn’t until she focused on the centerpiece - the only one she hadn’t posed for - that she realzied that none of the women in the paintings were actually her. She’d posed for them, but they had different hairstyles, different facial features, like she was playing characters instead of being herself.

“Jihyun, this collection is radiant. If it’s this good, then your muse must be exquisite.”

The centerpiece was actually a painting of her, done the last day she’d been in his studio, sitting ridiculously sideways in that oversized chair engrossed in her book, but instead of it being in his studio it was in a vast library. She couldn’t help but laugh when she realized how many hints he’d tried to give her that she was in fact sitting for another painting. He’d clearly wanted her to be herself. God she loved him.

She looked down, then, to where Jihyun was standing surrounded by a small group of people… all of whom were looking up at her. Of them, she recognized Jaehee from the coffee shop and Jumin his upstairs neighbor / childhood friend. There were also two gingers who could be twins, a girl with long brown fringe and even longer hair, a blonde with dark roots, and a … was that Zen?! Huh. He wasn’t kidding about the eclectic group of friends he had.

Jihyun held out a hand to beckon her over, and she made her way down the stairs and over to the group. Jihyun took her around the group; Jaehee, the owner/operator of the coffee shop she frequented. Jumin, his best friend from childhood and Director of C&R International. Saeyoung and Saeran, the computer-savvy twins. MC, the insightful party planner. Yoosung, the newly-minted Veterinarian. Zen, also known as Hyun, the actor.

“And I’m the model.” She shook her head. “I mean law student.” She smirked at Jihyun who laughed. She didn’t miss the surprised looks from his friends at the sound of his laugh. She was right. This man needed to smile and laugh more. If she could give that to him, she would gladly — no, that was a lie - she would accept simply being his friend. “You sell yourself short.” Jihyun said, a soft smile flickering into place. “This is Hen. My muse. My friend. I hope you can all get along well.”

“Don’t worry, Jihyun. We’ll take care of your girl when you inevitably get pulled away by boring rich guys.” One of the twins - Saeyoung, she thought, gold eyes - said with a smirk. 

After the introductions, the RFA scattered around the room as other patrons of the arts started to filter in, the official start time having passed. Jihyun held his arm out for her like a proper gentleman. “You look absolutely stunning tonight, Hen.” He said with that smile she loved so much.

“Thank you.” She felt her cheeks heat and willed herself to calm down. This was his show. “I didn’t want to make you look bad. Not after you made me look so good.” She gestured to the biggest piece of art in the room, and he had the grace to look embarrassed.

“I should have been up front and asked for your permission, but I wanted to paint you naturally, not posing. I’m sorry I lied to you, Hen.”

Hen shook her head. “You didn’t lie to me, Jihyun. You left so many crumbs, I could have assembled an entire loaf of bread from how much you were afraid to surprise me with this. Hell, you even offered to pay me a sitting fee just to hang out with you. The fact that I was still surprised is more on me than it is on you!”

“I’m still going to pay you for that.”

Hen smirked. They’d had this back and forth so many times, she couldn’t help but kick it up a notch.

“You could pay me back with a kiss.” She said, raising an eyebrow at him.

Jihyun not only sputtered trying to respond to her in any fashion, he even stopped walking.

Hen turned to apologize to him, just in time to see Jihyun school his features and hold his arm out properly again. Great, now you’ve done it, Hen. If he wasn’t going to turn you down before, he definitely is now.

Moments later, a group of men walked up and started talking to Jihyun about his works, and Hen tuned in so that she could respond to any questions asked of her. There weren’t any, of course, she was arm candy and most of them probably hadn’t even noticed that she was the woman pictured in the art.

Eventually, the event was in full swing, and Jihyun went up to the landing to talk about the art a bit. He told a story about a woman who loved to read more than anything, and her trips of imagination through storybooks. He talked about how the collection was about escapism through fiction, and how the modern world has made even fictional war more glamorous than our day-to-day slog through capitalism. 

He introduced her to the assembled patrons as his muse, the beautiful law student who deigned to stand, sit and otherwise pose for long hours just so that he might put some paint on canvas. There was nothing in his description about their friendship, or the bond they’d formed, simply a focus on a beautiful woman who inspired his art. He even kept her name out of it, kept her away from being associated with his art in any way but visually.

Hen was more certain than ever that this would be the last night she would see Jihyun. Maybe she wouldn’t tell him how she felt. Maybe it would be better to pretend that she wasn’t feeling any of this. After his talk, Jihyun passed her off to Saeyoung to walk through the gallery while he was accosted by too many people all at once, just as they’d predicted. 

Hen looked around for the rest of his friends, and couldn’t help but notice MC snuggled up to the other twin. “Those two are cute together.” She said discreetly, and Saeyoung laughed. 

“They are. They’ve been dating for a few years now.”

“Aww, that’s just too sweet.”

“You mean like you and Jihyun?”

Hen laughed bitterly. “I wish.”

“Oh come on, Hen, I’ve only known you for a few hours and—“

“I didn’t realize I was that obvious.” She chuckled ruefully at her own hubris. “He stopped me from confessing, Saeyoung. I don’t stand a chance with someone like him.”

Saeyoung sighed. “I think you’re selling yourself short. You’re good for him, Hen. I haven’t heard him laugh like that in… a very long time.”

Saeyoung’s words stuck with Hen the rest of the night, even as she was bounced between the other members of the RFA. Just as she was thinking she’d hit her limit for socialization for one night, and thought she might try to find Jihyun to say goodbye before heading out, the man found her himself, a hand at her elbow leading her away from the crowd.

“I’m sorry we didn’t get much time together tonight.” He said, turning her to face him, his hands gently circling her, keeping her close enough that their quiet voices wouldn’t carry.

“All those hours with me in your studio, I’m sure you had more than enough of me.”

“Never!” He said with a laugh. “What you were going to say the other night…”

Hen blushed, and bit her lip. Her confidence was gone. Her willingess to have her heart trampled had gone with it. “Jihyun, I…”

“Hen, I’m in love with you.” Jihyun interrupted, and Hen was suddenly very aware of how he was shaking.

“You…”

“I know, it’s inappropriate. I tried to be good, but I couldn’t have you end everything before you at least got to see the gallery and—“

Hen reached out and put her finger against his lips to silence him. “Jihyun. Me too.”

His eyes went wide, but she didn’t move her finger, and he didn’t attempt to say anything.

“I was so sure you were going to turn me down when I tried to confess after sushi.” She moved her hand away then, anxiously twisting her fingers together.

“Wait, you meant—“

She nodded, cursing the tears beading up in her eyes. “And then when you kept me out of your speech except the fact that I was standing there, I..”

“I wanted to keep your bright future from being tainted by my questionable past, is all.”

“We’re idiots, aren’t we? ”

He nodded. “Complete idiots, but at least we’re together.”

“We have got to learn to communicate better. No more throwing phones in the ocean.”

They shared a laugh, and Hen knew, then, that everything was finally going to be alright.

“Hey, let’s get out of here.” Jihyun said, that smile she loved so much lighting his face. “Jumin can handle the cleanup and closing.” He looked over her shoulder and she felt him shake with silent laughter.

Hen followed his line of sight to where Jumin was standing with Saeyoung, the former nodding discreetly while the latter made hand motions as if shooing them away. She giggled. “Okay, Jihyun Kim, I will allow you to drive me home.”

The ride home was silent, but it was a calm introspective kind of silence, rather than an anxious uncomfortable one. Hen, of course, was warring with herself internally about what she wanted to do with her night. She was reminded, as they pulled into her parking area, that she didn’t have to make these choices alone anymore.

“Do you want to come up for tea?” Hen asked quietly, fidgeting with the ends of her shawl in lieu of her usual sweatshirt strings.

“I would love to.” Jihyun said, just as softly.

She led him through the building to her lofty third-floor apartment, where she stepped out of her shoes and set about getting tea started. She set the mugs on the counter and opened the tea cabinet. When she turned to ask Jihyun what kind of tea he wanted, he was right behind her, and she startled. 

“Oh, hello there.” She said with an awkward giggle.

“Hi, Hen.” He said, leaning into her space. “May I kiss you?”

She nodded even as she felt the blush on her cheeks, and moments later his lips were on hers, and her arms were looped around his neck, holding him close. When they broke for air, they both laughed before moving toward each other again.

“What about the tea?” She asked, softly, afraid to break the spell.

“I… don’t need tea.” 

[courtingchaos]

Tease

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Female!Reader

Summary: Eddie finally texts you but like, at what cost?

A/N: More fboy!Eddie, I guess I'm turning this into a series? I don't know. Here's Dangerous, essentially part 1.

Warnings: Sex, minor alcohol use, same douchebaggery from Reader and Eddie 18+ NSFW Minors gtfo please

He won’t tell you anything, just asks for your address. You debate for a while, milling around your apartment, digging through your sparse fridge. It’s been two weeks since Rick’s basement and you won’t lie to yourself, you’ve been waiting to hear from Eddie. You’d gotten his number from Steve so you could give him a stupid little nickname that would pop up when he eventually texted. Every day you’d look at your home screen and sift through a hundred tiktok’s from Lisa, looking for the little bat emoji you’d assigned him. Every day you wouldn’t be the first to text. 

Apparently 10 minutes is too long and he double texts you ‘address??’. You send it, asking again where you’re going. He just reminds you that you’ve got an hour. 

Glancing at the time you sigh, undoing the comfort you’d sunk into after work. He better make it worth it, these were dryer warm joggers. 

Its a nice night, a little warm still but since you have no idea what you’re doing or where you’re going, you pull your hair back into a long braid to save time. Finding an outfit had taken most of the hour but you’d remembered the baby pink dress you hadn’t worn yet. Another pair of ankle heels, nude and strappy, and all your gold. Expensive armor dainty and glittering along your ears and across your fingers, single thin rope laying on the high collar of the dress. 

‘Here’

Flicking open the blinds in your bedroom to look down at the parking lot, there’s a black challenger idling outside your building with a faint puff of smoke from the drivers window. 

‘My chariot awaits’

You take the steps slow while you shove your card and ID into your phone case, keys clutched against the screen. Your new set makes it hard to push the case back on the corner of the phone and you pause, struggling. The sound of a window rolling down and Eddie’s voice echos off the side of your building. 

“You good?” He sucks on one of those dumb little vapes and your sure his car smells like fake strawberries from it. 

“Oh I am now.” You smirk, looking at him from under your brows. A slow approach to his car and when you stop at his door you bend at the waist to look in at him. Yeah, fake strawberry. “Well don’t you look handsome.” You reach in and pull on a damp curl. He’s got a black button up on, sleeves rolled to his elbows and top three buttons undone. That thin chain just hidden under his collar. 

“Get in.”

“Hello to you too.” The curl bounces back against his face and you walk around the front of his car so he has to watch you look soft in your tight dress. 

The car is low but you slide in like you’ve done it a thousand times. You drop your keys in his cup holder and reach for your seatbelt, looking over at him. 

“You gonna tell me where we’re going?” Honestly you’re a little annoyed. You thought he was maybe being cute about it, would tell you once you got in the car but he just smiles quick at you and pulls out of your complex. “Seriously Eddie.”

“A bar.”

“Sure. Where.”

“Over in Elwood.”

“…that’s 45 minutes away.” He just frowns, not taking his eyes off the road. “I’m gonna get out at the next red light if you don’t tell me where you’re taking me.” You say that with some finality. 

You know that Eddie isn’t dangerous like some of the other guys. He’s a little mean sure, a little standoffish. Holds his own normally if anyone feels the need to test his limits but you aren’t worried about him doing anything violent or weird. You’re just pissed because you got out of your pajamas and painted on a new face for him to just shrug at you. The approaching light turns yellow and he guns it. You have to laugh. 

“I need to go pick something up and if I go by myself it’ll look strange.” Another hit off his vape. 

“Why me?”

“Why not?” He does look at you then, eyebrows raised and a grin that shows a glint of his teeth. 

Dick. 

“Did I draw the short straw?”

“You just know how to handle yourself better than the others.”

“Oh?”

“I don’t think you’d be hanging around Lisa and her bunch if you didn’t.”

“I work with Lisa, we bartend.” You cross your arms and turn to face him better. “I’m not sure what you’re implying Eddie.” 

“I asked around. You and her keep the girls outta trouble right?” 

“You asked around.” You avoid his question and he avoids you, doesn’t even react. 

“I know you’re not fucking Rick, I would’ve had a bad night otherwise.” He shoots you another look and his hand flexes on the steering wheel, rings glinting under the passing street lamps. 

“What are you getting at?”

“You seem to stay out of most trouble, you’re good at keeping the peace and if shit does go wrong you’re good at keeping it from going nuclear.” He’s ticking fingers down on his other hand while he lists off your qualifications. “Good to have around just in case.”

“So the phenomenal head doesn’t factor into that at all?”

He laughs from deep in his chest and you’re proud of yourself for getting that much. “You did some homework.”

“Well I try not to stick my dick in crazy.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m crazy.”

“No, you are dangerous though.” There’s that word again. He used it the other day and you played along but you’re not sure what he means really. If you’re dangerous then what is he? Eddie exists at the edges of parties and the corners of Rick’s business and has somehow stayed on a pedestal amongst everyone. You know from Steve, who is another fringe member of this whole organization, that Dealer Eddie and Everywhere Else Eddie are two separate people, diametrically opposed. If he can have secrets, why can’t you?

“What’s so dangerous about me, huh?” You lean over on the center console and prop your chin on your hand to stare at the side of his face. Your other hand lands across his thigh where you catch your nail on a rip in his jeans. Wedge your finger under the fabric and scratch at him just a little. He glances down at your hand. 

“You don’t know?”

“No.” A heavy drag up his thigh to his zipper. He’s not even half hard, you didn’t expect him to be, but a little participation would be nice. “I want you to tell me.” He clears his throat, the only indication he’s maybe paying attention. “C’mon Eddie, tell me what it is that makes me so scary.” 

He’s driving a little faster now, the gps on screen says 10 minute arrival time. More than enough time to wind him up and set him loose in a strange bar. He’s apparently shy all of a sudden because he isn’t talking again. Keeping his eyes directly on the road like a good driver so you pull yourself into his space, nails digging into the inside of this thigh where you use him for leverage. His hair is soft when you brush it back to tuck behind his ear. You run a nail lightly down from his ear to his collar, pulling it back intending on sinking your teeth into his neck when you see someone else has apparently had that idea. 

“Whose handiwork is this Vlad?” You whisper close. He just huffs and shrugs a little, trying to get you to let his shirt go. “Let me guess.” Lips brush the shell of his ear and you watch a cascade of goosebumps go down his skin under his shirt. 

Oh he is paying attention.

“Was it Dani? Maybe Kim, she’s got a big mouth.” You bite his earlobe and he sighs like he’s annoyed. “Someone I don’t know? How many girls do you drive around anyways?” 

“Do you care?”

Honestly? No, but this hickey is mocking you just by being there first. 

When you sink your teeth in it’s probably a little harder than needed. It makes Eddie jump, pulling the steering wheel and jerking the car. 

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” He’s harsh but doesn’t pull out of your grip, doesn’t slap your hands away or shove you back over into your seat. In fact, you can feel his interest growing under your hand planted on his jeans. 

“Same thing wrong with you I think.” 

It’s only an exit and a few more turns until you get to your bar. You’re practically crawling into the driver seat with him by the time he parks. Chest pressed into his shoulder, holding his neck against your mouth where you’ve doubled the size of his stupid fuckin’ hickey. 

Eddie had played aloof with you the other night while making you work for it. Tonight you’d barely made a move past palming him through his jeans and he’s trying to unbutton his pants for you. 

“What are you doing?” You pull back from his neck to watch him fumble with his button. When you glance up at his face you have to bite your lip to hide your laugh. He’s looking at you like you’re crazy, like you’re the one not understanding this situation. You pull your hand off his dick to tap your nail on the time display. “I thought you had an appointment?” Pouting seems to make him mad. 

Good

“You gave me one hour to put myself back together and I’m not gonna let you be late for this little rendezvous.” You gesture outside his windshield at the cinder block bar in front of you. He looks like murder and you scrunch up your nose up at him. “Maybe if you can get me home before 2 I’ll treat you nice.” You fall back into your seat, rearranging your dress and grabbing your phone before stepping out of his car. You lean down to look at him expectantly. “We doing this or what?”

“This.” He points at you, mean smile on his face. “This is what I mean.”

“What, fondling you in the car? Come on, if that’s the worst thing you can think of…”

“You fucking tease people-“ You cut him off by slamming his door. He shoots out, rounding around the front of his car to get in your face, effectively pinning you against the door. 

“Don’t slam my fucking door.” 

“What are you gonna do about it?” You’ve got a little taste for a fight, maybe because you aren’t on your home turf. You don’t have to worry about other drunk assholes you know that might need you to intervene. Maybe you can be the asshole tonight. “Hmm?” You hook your fingers in his belt loops and pull yourself flush against him, can feel that he’s still hard even with all this frustration. His expression softens just a tad, realization washing over his face. He rubs his jaw and huffs a laugh at you. You just want a rise out of him. 

“I’m not doing this right now. We’re gonna go inside and you’re gonna behave.” He looks you straight on. “Please.” You roll your eyes but let his jeans go, nod your head once and huff right back at him. “Thank you.” He heads back around to turn his car off and close the door, motioning for you to follow him when he heads for the front. You debate standing out in this parking lot till he comes back, leaned against his car and moody but he whistles, the sharp sound echoing off the building and you roll your eyes again. 

“I’m not a dog.” You scowl at him and start trying to pry your phone case off to get your ID. He watches, amused for a moment before snatching your phone out of your hand and pulling out your ID to hand to the bouncer. 

“No, they listen better.” 

“Dick.” Holding your hand out you expect him to just drop your stuff in your hand but it puts your phone back together again. 

“Don’t break a nail.” 

Eddie didn’t actually need you along, that much is clear. Once you two get in he stands close behind you until some guy that you’ve maybe seen before comes over. Before Eddie walks away he grabs your elbow to get you to look at him. 

“Be nice.”

“I’m so nice Eddie.” You lean into his touch, batting your lashes at him. He just gives you that detached stare you’re getting used to. 

He isn’t gone for long but it’s enough for you to start a game of pool by yourself and get a drink. The bar is a little shoddy but it’s busier than you thought it would be. The room you’ve ended up in has four tables and a handful of groups with no one paying you any mind, even if you are overdressed for this place. 

You’ve sunk half the solids when you feel a hand on your hip while you’re bent over the corner of the table and you whip around, cue clutched in your hand like a weapon. Eddie immediately backs up, hands held up in front of himself. 

“Whoa Rambo, sorry.”

“Announce yourself, Jesus.” 

“You were really gonna hit me weren’t you?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time.” You lean back down to finish your shot. 

“You beat a lot of guys up in pool halls?” He cocks his hip into the table, watches you sink two more balls. “You’re good at this.”

“Thank you, and no, not in pool halls.” You sigh at him. “But I have laid hands on a few men, why? Do I need to lay hands on you?”

Eddie chuckles, “Uh, no. I’m not really into slapping girls around.” 

“You coulda fooled me earlier.” 

He holds his hand out for the pool cue and you hand it over. He lays down against the table to get at a striped ball and you follow the long line of him draped over the felt. His all black is stark against the bright green, his hair falling forward where he’s trying to blow it out of the way. You pull the curls back with your index finger and he sinks one in a corner pocket. “Thanks.”

“How do you know I’m beating up guys?”

“It’s what Lisa’s gone to court over a few times. Doesn’t take a genius.”

Fair. You nod at him and finish your drink, dropping the glass at an empty table. “You all done?”

“We can finish your game.” 

You want to be funny and ask which one. That spark of fight you had earlier has been petering out, the last half hour spent alone just reminding you of your joggers at home. 

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Well then I want to finish it.” He walks to the other side of the table to eye a shot. “You want another drink?” He’s in a better mood so something went right, and he didn’t even need you. You tell him as much and he stands back up from where he was taking a shot. 

“I needed you just in case, okay?” He shrugs at you.

“Oh you know how to make a girl feel special.”

“Jesus christ.” He rubs a hand down his face and stares up at the ceiling, pool cue propped in front of him. 

You barely know him, really just what everyone else has said. You’ve heard it all from Steve and from Kim and from Dani. Heard it through parties and from Lisa when you’re both at Rick’s. Everyone either wants to fuck him or they’re singing his praises. You’ve watched him cruise through spaces with new girls on his arm all the time, watched him look uninterested and unflappable and unconcerned and maybe you wanted to get under his pretty skin. Make him a little concerned. 

“I thought you might cool off out here by yourself.” He walks around the table to lean on it, across from where you’ve propped yourself against the wall. 

“Well I did and then you showed back up.” You give him your best bedroom eyes. Run your tongue ring light against your teeth so he can see it glint, hear it clink before your pull it back in. “So this is all on you big guy.” 

“Big guy.”

“Don’t like nicknames?” You push off the wall to stroll the three feet over to him, hands tucked behind your back. “I don’t mind them, but then again I usually get the mean ones.” You stop, toe to toe with his boots. He isn’t moving or sighing or rolling his eyes, just braced against the edge of the table watching you like a hawk. You lean down to whisper close to his cheek, “Jokes on them, I like those the best.” There’s that little curl of the corner of his mouth again, like he’s trying to hide his smile from you. “You can laugh, I know I’m funny.” There’s a perfect ringlet laying against the open collar of his shirt that you’ve been staring at. You wind it around your index finger and bring your other hand to rest on his thigh. “It’s only midnight, you can still get me home on time, win that big prize.” The curl springs off your finger. “Or we can just fuck in your backseat, I’m sure there’s enough room for what, five minutes of bliss?”

The backseat of a Dodge Challenger is but a mere suggestion. You realize this only after Eddie has shoved you in behind the driver seat and folded himself in after you. His long legs tangled until he finally sits back and yanks you over his lap, pulling the heel of your shoe to help swing your knee over. Your dress is already short and with your knees splayed wide it slides right up to your hips, giving Eddie all the space to run his hands up your thighs. The roof is low so you have to stay close to him, hands gripped tight in his hair to pull him against the back dash and hold him in place while you kiss him hard. He groans when you shove your tongue in his mouth and grind down into his lap, his fingers sliding up under your thighs to grip, brushing over your thong before he breaks the kiss. 

“What the fuck are you laughing at?” You pull his hair harder and he shoves his fingers into your underwear. 

“Are you seriously this wet? Over what, our little fight?” He’s mocking you, eyes shining in the dim light filtering through his heavy tint. You scoff and pull away so you can attack his neck again, the hiss he lets out accompanied by the painful grip he has on the cuff of your ass. You hate that it pulls a whine out of you while you’ve got your teeth in him, knows he can feel it against his bruised skin when he moves his fingers further up, teasing at your hole. 

“Fuck.”

He takes your momentary lapse to pull at your braid, wrapping it around his fist twice so he can pull your head back. Your nose is pushed up against the roof and all you can do is look down at him, your hands still locked in his hair. He pulls your thong to the side, runs his thumb up the cleft of your ass to fully move it and you gasp into the headliner. His fingers slide through your pussy, pressing in at your entrance until he feels you clenching. “Oh you want it bad don’t you?” His voice is dark but you can make out the little pants between words. “I bet you’ve been waiting every day for me to text you huh?” He slowly slides his finger in and you cant your hips down to try to speed him up. “Is that why you tried to start a fight earlier?” He tilts your head back further and pumps his hand a few times before adding another finger, leans up to lick a stripe up to your chin. “Did you want me to fuck you over the pool table? Right in front of everybody, you could have really shown off tonight.” Your jaw hangs when picks up his pace, thick fingers dragging against your walls when you tighten around him. “Is this how I get you to shut up?” He moves his fingers against that soft spot and you laugh between gasps because he’s still on that?

“If you want me to shut up you can just do it yourself.”

He pulls his hand away from you, leaving you clenching after nothing, and you feel him bucking around under you. Out of the corner of your eye you see him toss his wallet and then hear his zipper. The crinkle of a foil wrapper and you make a face he can’t see. 

“Aw, you don’t trust me? I’m on the pill.” You can feel him pulling at his jeans and his cock bumps you, hot against your inner thigh. 

“No.” He lines himself up and pulls you down till you’re seated fully against him, leans his head into your chest with a groan, hand gripping your thigh to hold you still for a moment. Your happy he can’t see your face, eyes squeezed shut and lip stuck between your teeth. He’s thick, stretches you enough that you’re fluttering around him but you don’t want to give him anymore satisfaction other than what he can feel. You let your hands drop so you can brace yourself on his knees, so you can roll your hips down into him. 

“Oh fuck keep doing that.” He’s still buried in your chest, mouthing at your tit through your very nice dress, moaning against you and really he’s making it too easy. 

“I know, that feels good doesn’t it?” You whine at him. “Talk a big game Munson, I’m the star fucking ath-“ He lets go of your hair and grabs your face, big palm covering your mouth to finally shut you up. Muffled, coming out around his hand in wet bursts, you laugh. 

“Want me to shut y’up, I’ll shut y’up.” He slides down lower in the seat and bounces you forward, holds your hip steady and starts pounding up into you. It punches the air out of your lungs along with any more shit talk you had left. The stretch of his cock burns, hurts a little where he’s hitting you over and over inside but you bite his fingers when rubs his thumb over your ignored clit. 

“All you do is run y’fuckin’ mouth.” He’s keeping up his pace, bullying in to you and you’re whining behind his hand, grabbing at his shirt to try to keep yourself steady. “Don’t know when t’shut the fuck-“ You’re close and you bear down on him pushing your hips into his hand, chasing that heat growing low. A groan crawls out of your chest when he hits just right and you fall into him, hand sliding up around his neck to hang on, riding out your high. His hips stutter and he pulls you down, holding you tight to him when he comes, breathing heavy into your throat. 

You’re the first to move, peeling your hand away from his shirt and catching a glimpse of a tattoo near his collarbone. 

“Is that a D20?” 

“What?” Eddie has his eyes closed and head back, catching his breath while you prod around in his shirt. 

“Your tattoo.” You poke it and he looks down, frowning. 

“Oh, yeah.” His breath catches when you sit up and he slips out, watches you pretzel yourself to get into the front seat without getting out of the car. “DnD shit.”

You’re pulling your clothes back into place, looking around for your phone. “I took you for a Warhammer guy.” 

Eddie stops putting himself away to stare at the back of your head. “What do you know about Warhammer?” You don’t turn, just hold up your phone so he can see your background, big lady in big armor. 

“Sister of Battle.” 

Eddie doesn’t have time for this, he can feel the urge to start asking questions but he tamps it down, just wants to get you home so he can also go home. Wants to take a shower. Wants to go to bed. You are utterly tiring in a hundred different ways that he doesn’t care to examine right now. 

Halfway back to Hawkins he stops at a McDonalds because you want a milkshake and he doesn’t want to argue. In the drive thru he catches a glance at his neck in the rear view. 

He almost opens his mouth to say something but again, he’s not starting shit with you at 1:30 in the morning, not when you’ve been quiet and humming along to the radio, mindlessly scrolling your phone. 

You look up when he pulls into a spot at your apartment. “Well this was great, though I don’t expect any purses from this.” You snatch your keys and your milkshake and get out, coming around to lean down at his door. “You know Dani won’t tell any of us what she did for that bag. I’m kind of afraid to ask what kind of depraved shit you two are getting up to.” 

“Well, if she’s not talking I’m not.” Eddie is quiet, tries to take a pull off his vape and it’s dead. He was hoping he could cover up your perfume with that sugar vapor. You just hum and wink at him. “Thanks for the milkshake Eddie.” You finally start walking away and he catches two red marks on your thigh peaking out from the hem of your dress. You twist back to wave at him before climbing the stairs. 

“Call me, Vlad. This was fun.”

[pink-tonic]

Day Off With You📰

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All Chapters

Warnings: None

The day prior, Ayato asked me to hang out with him. I couldn't say no to him after he helped me with Osoro. I thought that accepting his invitation would be a great way to repay him and his actions. I haven't hung out with Ayato in months, so I want to give a good impression.

I feel that Ayato has proven himself enough. I'll still be wary around him, but it will be much less than before.

Have I gotten my childhood best friend back?

The feeling makes me giddy. I know it shouldn't. It's not normal to forgive someone who almost killed me and emotionally hurt me, but I can't help it. A part of me did miss Ayato. Maybe this can be a new beginning for the both of us?

I walk over to my mirror and I take a look at my outfit. It's a normal outfit, I didn't bother experimenting with it. This is just a simple hangout after all. But I'm happy with it. I'm ready to go out and be with Ayato.

I head downstairs and I see that the mail is already here. That usually doesn’t happen. It usually comes in the afternoon. I pick up the pile of envelopes that the mailman dropped off through the slot in the door. I look through them, maybe there’s something for me? I was right with my assumption. My name was printed on one of the envelopes, but I noticed that it came from one of the nearby courthouses. Am I in trouble?

I open the envelope, and I read through the letter. A name caught my attention and it was Mido Rana. It’s asking me to testify next week at ten in the morning.

I can feel dread start to take over my body. I wished that I never opened up the envelope. I place the envelope away, where only I can find it. I then place the rest of the envelopes at the kitchen table.

I leave the house, trying my best not to think of the trial that I’ll have to take part in.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

I make my way into town and I go looking for Ayato. He told me to meet him by the railing that is overlooking the sea. I go down the street that will take me to that area. As I walk by all the shops, I see Ayato standing by the railing. I move quicker and I wave to him. He notices me and walks closer.

"You know, it was nice of you to invite me on our day off. I haven't been out like this in awhile," I happily tell him and I can feel the wide smile on my face. Of course, Ayato looks at me with his usual blank expression, but I know that he must be a little happy.

This could give us more time to continue our conversation that was disrupted by Osoro. I still can't believe that Osoro would go out of his way to invade my time with Ayato. It felt too out of character for him. As if it was some sort of last resort. The thought of that spikes fear in me. Maybe it was some type of last ditch effort to make me realize something about Ayato. But that can't be. But I have no real reason to believe Osoro. Especially with his notorious reputation.

Ayato could be lying. But the same can be said for Osoro. They each have their own reasons to lie to me, but is it wrong that I want to be on Ayato's side more?

I've known him longer, and he is slowly proving himself to me. Osoro can be kind to me, but I know that isn't the same for everyone else who crosses his path. Osoro could have very well attacked Ayato, he has the power to do that.

"Are you listening? I asked if you would like to go eat somewhere?" Ayato's monotone voice snaps me out of my daze and I look up towards him. He looks a bit nervous but he must have thought that I was ignoring him.

"Sorry!" I exclaim, "I was just lost in thought about, you know, what happened yesterday." I look off to the side in order to avoid his gaze. I can't believe I'm so nervous around him, but it must be because of my previous thoughts about him.

"You shouldn't worry about him. I'm sure he'll stop bothering you," Ayato does his best to reassure me, but I know that Osoro not bothering me isn't a promise. Osoro is a stubborn man, and it's likely that he will come around to drag me away from anyone. My only hope would be Saikou. Maybe Shidesu will think twice before approaching me. But that's only wishful thinking.

"Where do you want to go? I hope I didn't kill the mood," I give him a smile and he seems to remember what we were just talking about a few moments before.

"Well, this new cafe opened," he suggests, "I heard good reviews."

"Sure, I'll give it a try!" I always liked going to coffeehouse. They had a quiet atmosphere to them and the smell of the coffee and pastries are so calming too. That's what I need right now, something calming.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

The walk to the Cafe was quick, it was just down the street close to where the Odayaka Bakery was. The sight of the vacant area doesn't sit right with me. Nothing is there. No one bothered to rebuild a new building for someone to lease, it's just an empty lot overrun by tall grass. While the two nearby buildings stand tall with many customers going in and out of them.

I wonder if the new cafe took advantage of the vacancy of the building. It did mean one less competitor in the area, and the cafe seems very popular. People are constantly going in and out every minute, and the inside is filled with people.

Ayato and I walk inside and I can see a few tables are empty, but not very many.

"I'm going to get us a table, alright? We don't want to stand around with our order. Just get me anything, everything looks so good. I'll be waiting!" I quickly leave Ayato behind and I go looking for a table. I maneuver through groups of customers and I end up finding a table near the corner by a window. The window gives a clear view of the ocean. I take a seat and I look out the window. I see all the boats rocking back and forth along the small ocean waves.

"Here is your coffee, sir," I hear coming from the table in front of me. I didn't pay much mind to what was said, but the person receiving the coffee interested me. He has white hair and it's slicked back.

It reminded me of someone...

Saikou!

But that can't be him. Maybe it's just some random teenager with similar hair. But the guy who gave him the coffee does look like a butler of sorts. Maybe it's another rich teenager with white hair. But how many of those are out there?

I keep looking at him, but I'm just looking at the back of his head. He’s drinking his coffee, but he's not making any small talk with his butler - or who I assume is his butler.

"You know, I would like to be alone. She's coming soon, and it's private," the sound of his voice makes me jump. He was so quiet until now.

The man across from him nods and gets up and leaves. The man's movements remind me of that of a robot, but he leaves without any further notice. Now, the teen is all alone. I wonder who the girl is? Maybe she's his girlfriend or maybe a friend.

A few minutes pass and the door chimes, I don’t look up to see who walks in. I assume it was another ordinary customer. I hear footsteps coming closer to my area, and it makes me look up. I thought it was Ayato coming back with our order, but it wasn't him.

I see a girl, and she makes her way to the teenager from earlier. She looks interesting. She has bright red hair, paired with a set of matching red glasses. I couldn't help it and I decide to listen in on their conversation.

"This is a highly populated area. Why did you pick here? It would be better to discuss this somewhere more private. Or do you not trust me?" I can see her smirk at the end of her sentence.

"I only have trust in you because of what you can give me," he answers her while crossing his arms.

"So that must be a no."

"I suppose it is."

"Well, I can only give you so much information. I already told you that some of my cameras were down when everything happened," she explains to him. My interest piques. Cameras? Are they stalking someone or something?

How odd.

"Not to mention. This is your family, after all. If it comes out that they have been covering up all these situations, then you will be put under scrutiny, even if you were the one to leak the information to the press. And even if you do that, then your family is likely to kick you out. I really don't get your plan, Saikou," did she just say Saikou? Is the man in front of me actually the heir of the Saikou Corporation?

"I just want my brother out of the picture. It's unfair he gets all the spotlight. What about me? I’m better than him in all regards," I can see his tone start to shift from calm to frustration. He must see his older brother as competition.

"How about another plan? But it's going to cost you more," I can hear the smugness in the girl's voice and I know she must be smirking. She does have the heir of one of the most influential families in the country under her thumb.

"Fine. But I want the public to see who my family truly is."

"Sure. Let's discuss this another time. I am quite busy, and getting here was a hassle."

"Take your leave."

The girl with red hair quickly gets up and discreetly leaves the cafe. The boy goes back to drinking from his cup of coffee. It's like nothing happened.

"Here."

I'm snapped out of my trance and I look up to see Ayato giving me a cup of coffee. I take it and get a quick sip from it.

It's my favorite. It's done so well that it might be the definition of perfection.

But now that I remember...

I don't think I ever told Ayato how I like my coffee.

Maybe just a lucky guess?

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

Ayato and I left the cafe shortly, barely spending any meaningful time inside of it. I felt that he was in some type of rush to leave, but maybe that wasn't the case and the cafe wasn't all that interesting to him.

When we left, we decided to walk around the town. We passed by different shops and looked out towards the beach with the many boats occupying the ocean. We made it to a more residential area, where an elementary school was nestled between all the houses.

And then it hit me. It was our elementary school. The first place I met him.

I tug at his sleeve and point at the building. "Hey, it's our elementary school!" I tell him with joy in my voice, but I wasn't fully filled with joy. The sad sense of nostalgia filled me.

The memories of our first encounter. I stood up for him because my friends at the time refused to let him play with us. Telling him that he should play with other kids, but I stepped in and said that it was okay for him to join.

I was in another classroom than Ayato, so I didn't know the reputation he gained. The reputation of being a husk of a person, someone who you couldn't talk to or gain a reaction from. Someone who was nothing.

But to me he was just another kid. Another kid who could be my friend, and since that day I stuck by his side. Until everything happened, but I'm still by his side.

"Yeah, it is," Ayato responds. There’s no emotion in his voice. I've gotten used to it over the years.

We keep moving on, and it's silent. I'm not sure what our destination is. I feel like a lost puppy following the nearest person on the street.

But maybe the silence isn't such a bad thing. Maybe it's best for our time to be spent in silence.

We keep walking and we go further into an area that is mostly filled with trees rather than houses. Then we come up on a park. One filled with healthy, tall trees, scattered playground structures, and people enjoying their time with nature.

But it's the same park we would spend so much time at.

"Ayato, let's go to the park! Do you remember it?" I point at the entrance that is in front of us and tug his sleeve again to get his attention.

"Do you want to go?" He asks me as he looks down at me. I look at my hand that is holding his sleeve and I get flustered. I quickly pull away and look at him properly.

"Yes! Of course, I want to go. It's where we would spend so much time together!" I tell him before I walk into the park.

I can hear his footsteps behind me, and I smile. This time he is the one following me instead of the other way around.

The deeper we walk into the park, I spot the same swing set we would play with.

Ayato wasn't a very active kid. It seemed by the time he had me as a friend he stopped asking to join games like tag and hide and seek. He would rather be in my presence, even if I was the one seeking him out the most.

We would sit and I would try my best to start a conversation. I wouldn't be successful all the time, but the days I did get him to speak more freely, I mentally cheered.

I rush over to the swings and I sit down on them. I start to push myself and I begin to go up into the air. I feel the slight breeze rush through my hair and hit my skin. The refreshing feeling is the embodiment of spring. I close my eyes and I let myself get lost with the tranquil feeling.

But then I am unable to move the swing. I quickly open my eyes and I look up. I see two hands, one on each of the chains holding up the swing. I look back and I see Ayato.

"What's wrong, Ayato?" I question him, wondering why he would want to stop me.

I suddenly feel two hands on the small of my back, and I straighten my back at the feeling of his hands. I can't help but to chuckle.

"Aw, did you want to push me, Ayato? That's so cute," I couldn't help but gush at his affection.

Ayato starts to push me and I go up into the air. I feel the rush of the wind again, and it feels that I'm being pushed into heaven. Everytime I come down, I feel Ayato's hands and I can't help but jolt a little. I don't want to, but I'm not used to feeling his hands on me. My mind associates his touch as something harmful, something I need to get away from.

But I slowly ease into it. The touch becomes more familiar, and I can feel when it's about to come.

This happens for a few minutes with him pushing me and me going into the air. I eventually ground my feet within the gravel, and his hands stay placed on my back but they don't push me.

"I think that's enough," I look over to him, "Do you want to go now?" His dark eyes look down upon me and he shakes his head, not bothering to even use his words.

"Should we keep walking? It is getting late," I look towards the horizon and I see the sun slowly going down. The shadows grow darker, and the light grows sparse. The absence of lights makes me want to get up and run back home.

I hate this uneasiness. Why do I have to keep feeling this way? Ayato hasn't tried to do anything to me. He's been gentle and considerate to me. But the thought that it all must be a ploy gnaws at me. In due time he is going to show his colors, and finally take me out like he wanted to do months ago. But he has had so many chances to do so.

I need to talk to him. These small conversations that go nowhere aren't helping. I need to have a long conversation with him. I tried doing that at school, but we never get anywhere with it. Now that we are alone it's the right time to talk to him.

"Ayato," I call out to him, he turns to look over at me,"Can we talk?"

My question hangs in the air. It feels like my throat is closing up and I can't retake my words. Now, I have to see where my words go or if they'll be left unanswered.

"About what?" He asks, his voice filled with a tone of nothingness. It's like having a serious talk with me means nothing substantial, but maybe I'm just overanalyzing everything.

Maybe he does care. Deep down in a small part of him.

"Well, about... us I guess. We weren't fully able to talk in school... I just want to know something," my voice progressively grows smaller because I started to get nervous.

"What's your question?"

"I asked this before... but what made you change? I thought... I thought you hated me?"

His response comes quicker than I thought, and it leaves me unsatisfied.

"I'm unsure..."

There has to be more to it. It can't be as shallow as him being unsure. There has to be a deeper meaning. Something must've triggered him to come back to me, and to leave Taeko behind.

I get off the swing and I walk closer to him. I grab him by his hands, and it immediately catches his attention. We both look each other in the eyes.

"Please, Ayato, there has to be more. It was months ago when you hurt me! You scarred more than my arm! You hurt me so bad... I felt so lost because I lost my best friend and dignity! I couldn't sleep at night, I couldn't go near you without the thought that you would kill me. Ayato, please tell me why you came back to me?"

Tears started to come out of my eyes. If I blinked they would go over the edge and come down. I did my best to keep my eye contact with him, but I closed my eyes and looked away from him. The tears started to come down and stained my cheeks. My lips started to tremble, my throat felt like it was closing up, and sobs started to come out.

"It was Aso. He made me realize how much I missed you. I... regret what I did to you. You did nothing wrong to me. I should've left you alone... I want to make it up to you. Can I make it up to you?" His monotone voice doesn't help with his answer. He sounds cold and uncaring.

My paranoid mind wants to back away and run away, but the other side of me wants to hug him until my arms get tired from holding him.

Why is my mind so torn over his existence?

I feel a sudden grip on my shoulders and I jump. I look up from the ground and at Ayato. He slowly pulls me closer to him. He presses me against his chest, and my eyes wide in realization.

He's hugging me.

I start to cry again at the feeling. I quickly wrap my arms around him and hold him tight, he does the same.

"Oh, Ayato... I didn't want to forgive you... but my heart wants to. Can you prove me right? Can you prove to me that forgiving you won't hurt me?" I ask through my tears. My tears won't stop coming, but Ayato's thumb comes up and wipes them away for me.

"I'll prove you right."

We both hugged each other for a few minutes. The cool breeze swept over us, and the sun slowly setting beyond the horizon casted a warm glow on us.

Everything felt right for once.

After months of feeling that something was missing, I finally got it back today. It's back in place and my heart is full again.

[dellamortethelesser]

Caspian's Inquisition Mod List

For his transmasc Trevelyan

Not even gonna lie to you guys, I probably could handle more mods but my computer is a little old. He's trucking along though and I am so proud of him. I'm gonna include all of the mods I have downloaded for my Trevelyan playthrough (with a link) and a brief description of what they do/why I picked it. I'll try to update it because I usually end up adding more as I go.

Any Voice - Mod that allows you to choose any voice during character creation (male or female/British or American). I don't know how well this portion of the mod works because I opted for the optional file: Flipped Pronouns. This causes your character to be referred to by the opposite pronouns of the gender presentation you selected at character creation. (For me, this allows my male Trevelyan to be played on a feminine model). Player's Note: This does not apply to text in game. Missions, notes, and letters will still refer to the default gender for your selection.

Divine Armor for Lady Trevelyan - Mod that allows the Divine Armor (normally bestowed to a Divine Cassandra or Vivienne in the Trespasser DLC) to be acquired early and equipped on a female Trevelyan model.

War Table (No Waiting) - A classic. I'm an impatient little bastard when it comes to those missions.

More Banter - Make those companions talk a little more often! Guaranteed chatter about every fifteen minutes so they're not just silently following you around for hours on end.

Skills Revamped (Warrior) - I think Warrior is (sadly) one of the weakest classes in Inquisition. I chose to revamp the sword&board and the battlemaster lines, but there are files for all of them. The mod creator has also done a revamp for mages and rogues as well.

Party at the Winter Palace - Allows for ALL of your companions to join you at Halamshiral! Bit lengthy on the introductions, but I think it's worth it to interact with everyone and hear all of the dialogue. Optional file that I think is a MUST is one that cuts out the sexual harassment dialogue concerning Cullen.

Actually Alistair - Another must have. They butchered my boy in Inquisition. This doesn't restore him quite to his Origins glory, but it's much better...

Blackwall, Warden of the North - I just couldn't stand his beard. I'm sorry.

Lady Josephine's Outfit Retextures & Lady Josephine Complexion - I picked blush for the outfit and gold for the headband and jewelry under her complexion. It gives her soft brown eyes and a much more fun and romantic outfit detailing!

Dark Knight Cullen - The outfits are fun but I really appreciated the complexion retextures here! I liked it best with the scars and the DA2 beard.

The Wolf - Darker Solas Retexture - Self-explanatory, and it's a gorgeous labor of love.

Refined Varric - He just looked a little too grungy for me. Sorry grungy Varric lovers, the vanilla complexions in this game are too oily.

Refined Vivienne - Fell in love with this mod the second I saw it; I love the makeup and contours it adds to her face, very striking and very VIV!

DA2 Cassandra - Very close to her default Inquisition complexion, I just wanted something a little more familiar.

C.A.R.P. Concept Art Sera Overhaul - New complexions and face textures + hairstyle that causes Sera to more closely resemble her concept art design.

Royal Retextures - Retextured outfits for Celene, Florianne, Gaspard, and Briala at the Winter Ball. (BTW if anyone can send me the link for the Briala mod that overhauls her whole design. Throw it my way)

New Outfits for Human Female - Wanted a mod that overhauls the default Skyhold PJs and found one that didn't make my poor Trevelyan stand around with his tits out or in lacy lingerie. Features some mixed armor between Vivienne and Cassandra and Flemeth's outfit.

LL Inquisition Faction - Mod that recolors all of the Inquisition heraldry into a green/black/gold scheme. Includes optional files for retextured furniture and Halamshiral finery.

Inquisition Branded Finery - I opted NOT to use the finery from the above mod and selected the white/emerald one here. There are other cute color options too!

Anto Hairstyles for DAI - I picked the Elena mesh for Veremund's hair. I will say this was the only mod that I could get to load (AND PLEASE READ THE REQUIRED MODS ON THIS ONE).

DAI Frosty Texture Glitch Fixes - Fixes a bunch of things that I broke :)

Sprint Key - Another must-have. Enables you to sprint at any time by holding down left shift.

Winter/Autumn in Thedas - I have only linked the winter one here as that's the one I'm using, but I LOVE both of these retextures! If you love autumn leaves or crisp snow, check these out. You do not need reshaders to play with these.

Winter Fog ReShade - But if you'd LIKE a reshade to complement the mod above, this is the one the creator recommends! I'm giving it a whirl, too.

Always Night in Skyhold - It's always night in Skyhold! I think it makes cutscenes more dramatic.

**Other recommendations:

Gender-Neutral Pronouns for the Inquisitor - Similar to the first mod I listed, except it removes any mention of "Lord/Lady" and strives to be an entirely neutral mod. (You can find the original tumblr post explaining the mod in more detail here).

Custom Body Models - Adds more variety to the Inquisitor's physical appearance. Only works on the Skyhold PJs and the various meshes you can find thereof.

As I said, I'll be adding more as I go! If you have any recommendations, please send them my way as well :)

[fallloverfic]

TGCF donghua Season 2, Episode 9 thoughts

This episode T-T Very good ep. Spoilers for the show and the book below.

Qi Rong looks really pretty aldkjaldja I mean yes, he looks like Xie Lian, duh, but also alkdjal he just looks pretty <.< I really like his braided hair :3 I think they did a good job making the two of them similar enough without being identical. It's the little things like his hair style and mouth movements that sell it.

The gentle Xie Lian hand touch on Hua Cheng's back T-T

Hua Cheng like no I am not stopping because there is an injustice here that is hurting you and I refuse to let it slide even if I have to hurt you to do it.

They really got across Hua Cheng's rage at Qi Rong really well. Like obviously he spent last episode beating Qi Rong up and he's doing that again here, duh, but it's just... there's a lot of stuff they do with Hua Cheng's other movements and expressions that's just really excellent.

Okay the angry budaoweng Lang Qianqiu crawling out of Xie Lian's robes and jumping on the ground next to writhing Qi Rong just... the animation is so good. It's a really good-looking scene.

Distracted by Qi Rong bein pretty.

Xie Lian insisting on keeping up the partial lie because it's better than the whole truth T-T

Qi Rong looks so happy to discover it's Xie Lian! His cousin! And of course it's really because he's making the connection between Fangxin and Xie Lian, but like... for a moment you can think about the little boy who loved his cousin who came to his rescue, and idolized him.

Qi Rong's laughter is animated really well. I just love all the details when the characters are all standing together.

Another gentle Xie Lian on Hua Cheng hand touch T-T He really doesn't want Hua Cheng to dirty his hands dealing with Qi Rong. Am I thinking about Qi Rong being used to bullies and scorn and unsurprised this last family member turned their back on him, it's just normal, nope, not at all.

I do like the way Qi Rong's hair pillows over his jacket collar.

aslkdjaldj Qi Rong rolling over in laughter is just alkjdalj

I love this terrible man your honor. Love him.

Xie Lian fightin his own fights against Qi Rong. Love him. I love Hua Cheng always going to Xie Lian's defense and honestly nothing that Xie Lian doesn't typically defend himself (for various reasons), but really, Xie Lian just keeps himself in reserve a lot. He can dish it out as he pleases. The first thing to know about any weapon is when not to use it. And Xie Lian does love his weapons.

Hua Cheng watching Xie Lian slap Qi Rong: -new kink unlocked-

(I mean he's always been into Xie Lian hitting people but the way they framed Hua Cheng's awed expression while the dramatic theme plays made me lol)

Xie Lian... not... stoppin Hua Cheng slowly step towards Qi Rong this time... >:3 (this entire episode is so fun with movement, just love it so much)

I truly love that Xie Lian, who is generally viewed as weak by just about everyone, does not even remotely view Lang Qianqiu as a martial rival. Like he is not even remotely intimidated by this guy. He knows Lang Qianqiu's abilities, that he's a full on god with a lot of power (unlike Xie Lian, who's wearing two cursed shackles). But Xie Lian can and will still take him on. Not using power doesn't make you weak. Knowing when and how to properly use it is what matters, and that's a theme throughout the story, but this episode/arc in particular.

roflmao what did Hua Cheng do to Qi Rong before stepping off of him. Qi Rong's Chinese VA is doing a great job.

Aww the Hualian animal masks. With matching red pearl earrings. Cute.

Xie Lian catching the plates just alkjdlaj That straight left leg. Love him.

I also still really love how much of Fangxin's outfit is butterflies.

Qi Rong comin in to spoil everything :/ Terrible man. Love him tho.

Also I didn't realize but a couple episodes ago the ending credits animation changed a little, and it's very pretty!

A wonderful episode! Had some more bad English sub moments, but it wasn't the worst. The beautiful animation, character movements, little character moments and interactions, everything happening just... It was really good. Loved it.

Also wanna boost this really good post-coffin scene Hualian fic I read ages ago.

Other episode thoughts for season 2 (didn't start till episode 3):

S02E03

S02E04

S02E05

S02E06

S02E07

S02E08

S02E09 (you are here)

S02E10

S02E11

S02E12

[vethsoddities]

Hold Me Like a Grudge

Summary: Ted Sankpoffski Holds A Grudge Against Stephanie Lauter For What She Had to Do In Cool As I Think I Am reprise

CW: Spoilers for NPMD and mentions of what Steph having to do in the moments after the summoning and during In Cool As I Think I Am reprise and mentions of canon things and spoilers for nightmare time 1 Time Bastard(kinda) Ted and Steph get into a argument

Master List

Credit 1:The idea was given to me by @veeicecream screenshot at the end of this post to see the idea

Credit 2:I took the white streak idea from @capriciouslyterminal with permission of corse

Credit 3: To me my idea of Duke Keane and Miss Holloway taking in Steph and teaching her how to bake and Steph working at mode Retro’s which is getting its own fic soon which is a technical part one of this story that on how Holloway and Duke took in Steph

remember requests are open and I evey so often rp if anyone wants to and I’m always looking for proofreaders if you are interested DM me if I messed up anywhere let me know the prequel to this coming at some point this took me long enough as it is lol I suck at endings lol

Ted Spankoffski was acutely aware of Eldrich away’s of the boring town of Hatchetfield, How couldn’t he when the local homeless man looked exactly like him but 50 years older than him and Pete, and how during the honey festival anyone crowned Honey Queen goes missing afterward even if there was reasoning to why the Honey Queen was no longer there in Hatchetfield. Or how so many people go missing every day and how most of the people in town seemed to always have a case of mass hysteria and blame each other like they were in a trial in a courtroom.

For example, in the recent murders of three Hatchetfield High students two out of three were Pete’s best friends Richie Lipschitz and Ruth Fleming and the third was Maxwell Jägerman Pete’s bully for years now since the fourth grade which from what Ted had seen for two weeks Pete seemed happier after Max went missing. Pete was even talking about Stephaine Lauter the mayor’s daughter and how she thought he was funny he even changed his outfit which was a tapestry of his trauma he dropped the bow tie and suspenders for her. 

 Ted approved of the new outfit maybe that was because he gave Pete the sweater a while back even if it didn’t follow the idea of picking an outfit and sticking with but, but sometimes change is good. Though he never moved on from Jenny he didn’t know where she was at all but where Jenny was he hoped she was safe. 

Speaking of being safe Ted sat in his apartment with his head in his hands in disbelief across him was his younger brother Pete was talking to him about some eldrich beings called The Lords In Black and Max Jägerman coming back from the dead which Ted didn’t know what to believe but he was wanting to hear him out. “After we went to the school which is one of many of the black alters and with the black book to summon The Lord’s In Black and the only way we could stop Max. Was one of us had to give up what we Cherish Above All Else,” Pete started as he looked at Ted whose head was still in his hands.

“And for a moment Steph was the one to do it from what one of them said she was lying to herself about what it was before one of them told Steph that,” Pete paused for a moment as he started to quote Wiggog Y'Wrath while trying his best to copy his voice “You can lie to yourself but not to me, think about it” after quoting Wiggog Y'Wrath Pete did his normal voice as he continued to tell Ted the whole story “When Steph Realized what he meant one of The Lords in Black had his hand on my hair said something like  ‘ah their he is’ that had me confused until I realized myself what he meant, which let me tell you having an eldrich being touch you is fucking terrifying. That thing even left a white streak in my hair which I honestly don’t know how to feel about it but Steph said she likes it and thinks it cool so that means that it has to be cool if she thinks then it must be,” Pete said trailing off topic for a moment. 

Ted was about to say something when  Pete got back on topic and  continued to speak “The whole time before and after Maylor Lauter brought us to the witchwood to get the black book Steph had a gun on her,” when Ted heard mention of a gun he looked up at Pete and cut him off to say “A fucking are you Serious Pete, Please don’t tell me this is going where I think is going.” 

To which the teen gave his brother a look and nodded his head and continued to speak before Ted could speak again 

“We didn’t have a choice at that moment, Ted it was either I die or the whole damn world did and I wanted to be cool this time and take the bullet, Ted don’t be mad at Steph she didn’t have a choice as I said and I’m still alive because of  Max stopping the bullet and Grace having sex with a fucking  ghost.” 

Ted had a Scowl on his face hearing that Stephanie Lauter the former Mayor’s daughter almost Sacrificed his younger brother screw the fact the world would have been doomed because of his living. Ted couldn’t even think of being i n a world without his nerdy little brother in  it 

“No Pete I think I will be mad at her hell I'm even holding a grudge against her she got you in trouble for cheating and she’s the reason Max beat you up and she almost fucking killed you and you expect me not to be mad or hold a grudge then you’re damn wrong Pete” Ted looking at Pete Scowl still on his face but it wasn’t directed towards Pete at all. Pete just sighed “I understand where you’re coming from Ted but we didn’t have a choice and I hope you know Steph would never hurt me on purpose and I hope someday you’ll understand that Ted.” With that, the Conversation between the brothers ended.

Over the course of a week after learning Stephaine had almost killed Pete, anytime Steph came over to Ted’s apartment to hang out with Pete she notched the looks Ted threw her way and the snide remarks that she got thrown her way from the elder Spankoffski. Though the remarks were never as harmful as her Father's were Ted was a sleazeball with a grudge but he was respectful to her he heard from Pete by accident what Solomon was like to her and he wouldn’t insult her too badly but he isn’t above being an asshole.

Eventually, the next time Steph came over was after she made brownies with Duke Keane and Miss. Holloway in Miss Retro’s.She had even brought hot chocolate that she also made at Miss Retro’s for Pete she’d rather make it herself or buy it from Starbucks.

Don’t get Steph wrong she’s all for supporting small businesses, But seeing as at Beanies they take forever for getting the order and spit into the drinks in general or if you’re a tad bit rude about not getting your order. Steph will always remember how Pete yelled in Beanies about not getting his hot coffee and how the barista spits in it she’d rather not get it from there.

But she also always liked Miss. Retro’s better because of how understanding and nice Miss. Holloway was to people than the baristas at Beanies were. Maybe she was a little biased on that account of liking Miss. Retro’s because she’s working there until she graduates and gets back on her feet. But that’s another story for another day.

The next time Steph came over was with brownies and hot chocolate like I said before was made with Miss. Holloway and Duke. So when she got to the apartment she knocked on the door and waited for it to open which it did but instead of Pete it was Ted “Hey Spankoffski senior I brought brownies and hot chocolate for Pete can I come in because it’s freezing out here” it was late October which was starting to get colder out.

Ted rolled his eyes and said “Sure come in sycophant make yourself at home and I’m not that old I’m 35 ” Ted muttered and then yelled “Pete your girlfriend’s here with a few things” After a second of Ted’s glaring at her Pete came out of his room and smiled wide at Steph.

“Hey,” Pete said starting to talk as he walked over to Steph “Steph you didn’t have to bring me anything at all” Steph smiled “Well Pete I did anyways plus Miss. Retro helped me make these” Stephanie said lifting her hand that had a dessert box with Miss—Retro’s Dinner logo on it.

“I also made you hot chocolate because I’d rather not give you a drink that the crappy barista at Beanies spits in,” Steph said Ted despite the fact he has a grudge against her agreed with Stephanie on that fact. He knew Emma was crabby he’d seen it himself and yet how co-worker and friend Paul liked her.

Steph gave Pete his hot Chocolate that wasn’t hot or cold it was warm which was just right to drink and Pete wouldn’t have to wait to drink it. After Pete Took the hot chocolate Steph handed him the brownies and he went to put the brownies in the kitchen.

Stephanie in general had enough of Ted’s snide remarks toward her Stephanie decided to confront him upfront about it when Pete wasn’t close enough to hear so she took the chance to confront Ted here and now. So she took the chance to speak to Ted

“I have a question Ted what the fuck did I ever do to you Ted to make you hate me enough to make snide remarks around me” Steph looked him in the eyes as she spoke “Because whatever I did please tell me so we can get over this whole irksome indifferent’s.”     

Ted looks back at Steph and lets out a harsh sigh “Alright i will we’re do I start you almost shot Pete and then acted like it’s nothing and causing nothing but trouble for Pete since you started to talk like how you caused him to get beaten,” Ted continues as he stares at Stephanie done

“And even summoned fucking Eldredge beings called the lords in black and one of them touched him which caused a white streak in his hair” Ted wasn’t going to hold back on what he was saying as he continued to speak. Steph looked at him with a sight shocked expression realizing what this was all about the snide remarks and comments that were aimed towards her.

It took her a moment to speak “Is that what this is about?” Steph said her brows furrowed as she looked at Ted a be it a little hurt “Yes that is what all of this is about Stephanie you act so alienating yourself from showing how you feel,”

“It seems like you don’t give a damn about shooting at my brother to save the whole damn world, and not because of you he only lived because of fucking Grace Chasity of all people.” Ted’s tone was one of anger and indifference towards Steph as the scowl Ted tended to get when angered or annoyed was etched onto his face.

Steph raised a brow and asked “Really? Is that why you hate me honestly I don’t blame you for that I don’t, but you know it was an impossible situation, you know there wasn't a lot of options, so what do you want from me!” Stephanie’s tone was a defensive one.

Ted took a breath and admitted “Yeah there weren't many options, but that's my baby brother, that's all I have And I almost lost him and I never would have known why. It isn't logical or rational to be pissed because I am.”

Ted and Steph sat in silence ending the conversation and the silence tension went painfully slow for a moment before it dawned on the two of them that Pete hadn’t come back yet from putting the hot chocolate on the counter that Steph brought for him. Almost as if it was on queue the sound of something dropping alerted both Steph and Ted.

Steph quickly got up and rushed to the kitchen beating Ted there before he could. Where the sound came from was from the kitchen Ted followed after to check on Pete in case he passed out from low blood sugar.

When Steph rushed into the Kitchen she saw Pete drop one of the hot chocolates she brought. Pete was panicking and Steph’s brows furrowed in concern “Pete? Are you okay can you hear me?” Steph asks knowing that he isn’t good but she thinks she might as well ask him.

Through panicked breaths, Pete looked up at Steph “Steph?” Pete asks his eyesight blurred by tears “Yeah Pete it’s me I’m going to need you to breathe with me okay can you do that?” Steph asks walking to Pete.

Pete nods as he feels Steph put a hand on his shoulder as she tells him to take a deep breath in which he does and then out. After awhile Pete is a bit more calm as Steph tells him to do ‘54321’ he starts to list enter off. “Hey how about we get you into the living room for you to have a seat would you like Pete?” Pete nods as Steph takes his hand and starts to walk back to the living room.

Ted seeing them move steps out of the way side eyeing Steph but with a less aggressive more softened seeing how She handles Pete with such care and compassion. This causes him a moment of trying to fathom how Steph was willing to shoot at Pete but seeing the caring and loving expression with care and understanding for Pete the look she held when she looked at Pete.

It reminded him of Jenny and himself. especially when Jenny did the same thing for him when he had a panic attack in college. He loved Jenny more than a friend but he never got to tell her seeing as she moved to Clivesdale before he got to. The more Ted stared at both Steph and Pete as they talked Pete seemed more calm than he was before.

As the time bastard watches the pare he starts to realize he missed judged Steph. Ted knows that if he had to shoot Jenny to save the world he’d would be especially to keep Pete safe. As he came to that realization he felt bad but he wouldn’t say it out loud at least not right now not in front of Pete.

Ted noticed Steph looked over at him her brows furrowed in confusion trying to pin out why Ted was staring. When he noticed Ted’s gaze had softened more he gave Steph a nod of approval and a scent promise that they’d talk about this later. When Steph got the nod of approval from Ted she had a small smile forming on her face.

Despite the irksome indifference that is sightly still there between Stephanie and Ted at the end of the day the two of them care for each other. Even if Ted still holds the grudge he has towards Stephanie it’s now softened as he slowly understands why she had to nearly sacrifice Pete for the sake of the world.

[jinlizz-dragondrama]

Chapter 1

Ew school!

Y/n- your name

H/c- hair color

S/c skin color

It's been 14 years, and I've been living with my family, The Foot Clan. Foot lieutenant ( i call him papa Lui) and Foot Brute (I call him papa Brutus) only I am allowed to call them these names in private. They've taken care of me since I was a baby. They never told me who my birth parents are, but that didn't seem to matter as they have treated me as their very own. But ever since I can remember, I was told that my life had a greater purpose, and I'm not like anyone else in the Foot Clan. I was never made aware as to what they do during the late hours of the night of New york City, but I trained with everyone as soon as I could walk.

Cassandra and I are best friends, and she's the only one other than my papa's that treats me like a human being and not some type of God that needs to be worshipped. Cass and I sparr every chance we get, and it's so exhilarating. Wearing a typical foot clan ninja outfit and having my long h/c hair in a pony tail wrapped with a pink bow whip around as I jump and dodge and sweat dripping down my now shiny s/c skin. Of course, I can't get too aggressive because I have elemental power, and I could seriously injure someone. The power to control water, which in turn helps me heal minor injuries and to able to control the greenery around me to be exact. It's hard not fighting to my true potential, but I can easily defeat anyone with the knowledge I have. My weapon of choice is two fans made out of sharp titanium steel that can fold closed like a normal handheld fan. Engraved on both of my fans are a beautiful cherry blossom tree. One day, while sparing with Cass, Papa Lui, and Papa Brutus, come up to us and ask to speak to me.

"Y/n may we both speak with you?" Papa lui said

"Of course, sensei," I replied cheerfully, and Cass quickly left the room to hit the showers.

"Well darling y/n, we believe it's time for you to start living like a normal teenager, so we have enrolled you into a local high school," Papa Brutus says cautiously

"High school, I thought going to school was something that was needed," I say, slightly confused. I've always been homeschooled and found what I was taught to be extremely easy, so I got bored quietly. I'm pretty much at a college level of intelligence... maybe more....not to brag or anything 🫣.

"Yes, we know that what we taught you has come naturally to you, be we think it'll be beneficial for you to be with your peers and experience life as a teenager," says Papa Lui

"Alright, when do i start?" I say a bit defeated knowing I wouldn't be able to convince them otherwise.

"You start tomorrow," said Papa Brutus happily as he held up a rainbow colored backpack with peace signs on it and a brand new pink iPhone with a cheet blosdom tree phone case.

I accept the backpack and phone, I've never had a phone before, so I'll have to have Cass teach me how to use it. I bow to my sensei in thanks and head off to my room. Once inside, I jump onto my bed and toss my new things onto the bed. I fall back onto the bed and stare up at the ceiling that has pink glow in the dark stars. There's a knock on the door, but before I could answer, Cass barges in with her eyes almost popping out of her head.

"You're starting school tomorrow?!" She shouted excitedly

"Y-Yes I am," I say after I calm down from my little scare, and I giggle quietly

"You need to tell me everything when you get back, you hear me!!" She says loudly

"Okay, okay! Can you help me set up my phone before you help me pick out my outfit for my first day, " I say happily

Once , I learned everything about my phone and finally picked out an outfit from the full closet that my papa's have graciously packed. I set an alarm, take a quick shower, and plug in my phone to charge. I hop into bed, braid my hair, and lie back on my pillows.

"Normal teenager, huh?" I say quietly and turn onto my side and fall into a restful asleep.

[qu33nincrims0n]

My Dumb Thoughts on Higurashi- Watanagashi Part 1

the second of my Higurashi reactions. had to break it in two because of picture limits, but I hope you like it! My other chapter reactions can be found with #dumb-thoughts-series. Also, I had to break this one into two parts cause it was too long. that should be up in the next fifteen minutes or so.

Ch 2-1

Some kid causally coming into the game store-

No Keiichi Bad!! Don’t be weird about your middle school friends.

Mion, you can’t leave your own competition! How rude >:(

 – future me coming in to say I really need to be more attentive to stuff, can’t believe I missed the inciting incident of this chapter – 

I wonder where this would be in relation to Oni timeline wise. The festival will probably help.

Tip: So, you’re saying Mion has a lot of adults in her life? Say, at least five men who may or may not have a white van?

KEIICHI NOO!!

Ch2-2

The unearned confidence level on this lad

“Why would I need to know how to put on a garter belt?” Keiichi, don’t lie. I know you well enough to know there’s a 25% chance you’re keeping that outfit.

Hey Shion. Pretty sure I got spoiled on you existing, but hey its nice to meet you. (I guess there’s a chance It’s actually Mion, but I doubt that. Also really undercuts this plot point to know the steam designs seem to have different bangs. Glad I’m using the originals.). Also, you’re now voiced by Silver the Hedgehog as played by Red Van Buskirk.

--- future me coming in to say I was right in that their bangs are slightly different, but it seems like it switches if and when they pretend to be one another so it’s just a weird choice ---

Also, interesting Characterization of Oni-Keiichi being too stressed to even make much note of the outfits while Wata-Keiichi notices a whole ass new character.

One of her uncles owns this place? Well, that could help explain how the talk with Ooishi got to Mion so fast in Oni

Am I crazy? Did this game take like 20 horny pills when I wasn’t looking? Like Oni had some horny stuff but this is a lot. Like a full armada of horny. 

Ch2-3

“Maybe Satoko is helping the most by doing nothing at all 🙂”

Be normal Keiichi!!

Aw man this is chalk game adorable. Reminds me of playing with my little cousins, even if it’s just a diversion. It’s really cute Keiichi just immediately goes along with it too.

Casually drop kick a child. Teacher: does nothing

Compare a Onigiri to Curry. Teacher:

Man you’re real bad at not being suspicious, Mion.

Weird to be on this end of Rena’s lie detecting powers.

That’s actually really sweet, Shion.

“Not like Mion would ever go as far to put a needle in my food”

Tip: okay so Mion and Shion are doing some sort of twin switch thing, right? Where one is the other for a day or something.  That seems like what this is telegraphing.

Ch2-4

I feel Keiichi going to sleep during recess in my soul.

Wata-Keiichi not being weird challenge: impossible

I love Collage Mode in Disco Elysium cause now I can make this:

Oh, I remember that keychain from Oni! It’s so Kyu-te!

The entire town acts like bees heating up a wasp, just getting progressively closer. And closer. And clos-

Oh, hey Ooishi, nice to see you back.

Is it really so unbelievable that it might actually be twins Keiichi?

Shion: Keiichi, that’s sexist

Me:

Okay, so based on this, the main divergence point is that Keiichi didn’t go to the junk yard and meet Tomitake, so he’s not suspicious about the events of the dam project, and now even sees it as a cool part of the village.

I imagine Keiichi is an 80-year-old in a child’s body, sitting in a recliner watching Jeopardy.

Aw this is sweet; I can’t wait for this to all go horribly wrong and for it to all be Keiichi’s fault.

Ch2-5

The guys outside when they hear you have an invite:

Chaos! Control!

Keiichi Moments Later:

“Bringing in Reinforcements! The No-Horny Brigade shall prevail!” said Keiichi, unabashed horndog and

I love casually carrying around laxatives in the hope I can use them for hijinks and tomfoolery. Truly the best friend of every growing girl.

You know the answer Keiichi, you just stop beating around the bush.

It’s all clicking together. Also, finally a VN flashback that was actually useful and not filler!

(and so the bento tip wasn’t a switch, she was legit jelly).

Oh nO hOW CoUld tHIs HavE HAppEneD?

Mion seeing the gift:

Hey, kinda a dick move, Shion. You know what, you lost your little Silver voice privileges. Go to space!

(This is because of poor behavior and definitely not because I couldn’t keep the voice in my head no sir-e!)

Prediction time: This chapter, Shion or Mion is going to be murdered, but Keiichi is unsure which one it was, and he begins to think the survivor is the other pretending to be them.  Whether it really is or isn’t is left ambiguous.