#I feel likes these may be hot takes but also

[gatorbites-imagines]

Hi, can I please get Wally West x trans reader? Maybe something where the reader is feeling dysphoric and he comforts them, and also some dry humping?

Wally West x FTM reader

Headcanons

Readers vaguely based off of Daredevil, since I like that guy a lot. And the mental image of Wally and his gritty boyfriend is fun to me. Don’t correct me on if keystone city is right, idc.

Nobody could really tell when you and Wally started dating. You just happened to be a vigilante in Keystone city before Wally showed up after being kid flash and all that. His presence really messed up your mojo.

You were the devil incarnate, ready to break as many bones as it took, but you didn’t kill. That didn’t stop you from maiming folk though. Having Wally swoop by to bring people to the hospital and then be back to try and lecture you, really hurt your image.

You were there first though, so there was no way Wally was gonna stop you from doing what you had to do. In the beginning it was kind of like a new tomcat showing up in someone else’s territory.

You didn’t have the speed to be all over the city like Wally, so it was kind of accepted that hed take care of everything else when you were busy. People started begging for Wally to be the one to catch them doing a crime, since you’d break their kneecaps, and then nail them in the head with your billy club.

The relationship between you two was kind of a running joke in the league, especially in the Titans. They all knew that Wally thought you were hot in your own broody, horned way. Someone, probably Garfield, would joke about your suits matching, since you both were red. And yellow, if you wear the yellow and red daredevil suit.

You two were kinda like Batman and Superman, in a way. With you being broody, growly, the night, I am vengeance and will make you suffer the consequences. And Wally being easier going and lighter, full of jokes and hope.

That didn’t mean Wally couldn’t snap and get down and gritty if he needed to. That was probably when you started feeling attracted to him in return, when he couldn’t go easy on somebody who deserved it.

Up until this point you’d have picked up the changes in his pheromones and body heat, as well as his heartrate, which made you understand that he liked you. But it was after you smelled the blood on him and heard his blush rushing through his veins from an almost animalistic adrenaline that you started returning the feelings.

You guys probably date for months, if not a year before the league and the Titans figure it out. Wally would say something about needing to get back to the city since he had to make it in time for your anniversary dinner, and that’s when everyone would figure it out.

The two of you a very much opposites attract. Someone is gonna try to use your relationship with Wally to make you join the league, but he wards them off before you can break tall their teeth for even asking.

You being trans doesn’t matter much to Wally, outside of how it may affect your relationship. And by that I mean, if you for example don’t want him touching your torso or specific areas of your body, what wording to use, helping you with your T injections, so on and so forth.

Hes more perceptive than people think, at least after you guys have been dating a while. Hed start noticing the different signs that point at you feeling dysphoric. Like you going out for longer patrols because being the devil makes you feel more masculine. Or you wearing your binder for too long, if you need one of those.

I don’t think hes just gonna appear and demand answers, instead Wally has tried to figure out overtime what might help. He knows you aren’t the type to just talk about all your feelings and what can be done about it, so Wally would try to find other ways to be supportive and helpful.

You can always tell what he’s doing, since Wally starts going on about how handsome his boyfriend is, how manly you are and smell, how good your muscles look. Even if he’s buffer than you, you better expect him to drool over your muscles.

If you are fine with being touched, Wally would also just cuddle you when you have days where you struggle to look at yourself or even being in your own body. Hes always ready to talk or make changes if he can do anything to help, or just lay in silence if that’s what you need too, even if laying still for a longer time is difficult for a speedster.

Having a speedster boyfriend also means it’s easy to sense it’s him. Having the abilities you do, means you can point out any hero or villain you’ve met before, even in a crowd of a thousand. But the speedster’s connection to the speed force makes them so easy to point out.

It becomes a comfort for you, to feel the buzz that’s seemingly always present around Wally. It’s different around each speedster, but Wally is the most special out of all of them, to you anyways.

Having a speedster boyfriend also means you have access to something very few do, a boyfriend who can vibrate and who has close to no recovery period. This just means Wally is all over you on days where you are fine with that.

And if its one of those days where you want to get off to deal with dysphoria, you barely have to say anything before he’s on you, or beside you, or behind you.

Dysphoria means you don’t want to be touched skin on skin sometimes, and on days like this, good ol dry humping is just as good as anything else Wally could think up. Hes especially a fan when its him laying down and you on top.

It makes you seem so strong and in charge, even if your eyes can’t meet since well… you cant see like the average person. Wally is just giddy and almost buzzing out of his skin as you guys grind together, his hands shaking where they’re holding your hips.

Your heightened senses let you notice just how much he starts buzzing when he gets close. Other people would never notice until he’s just above to fall over the edge, but you can almost taste how his scent and pheromones start buzzing in the air when he’s turned on.

Hearing his heart race and his blood rushing through his body becomes a turn-on in its own way, just as much as grinding down on him and listening to him moan. Wally is also the type to kiss when you guys grind together, his tongue almost fizzy feeling against your own.

It becomes a lot easier to forget your dysphoria with a boyfriend like Wally, who does everything in his power to distract you from it, especially when he gets to rut against you and moan into your ear or neck. Just watch out for small sparks that might come off him, and that your senses don’t get too overwhelmed thanks to the speed force.

[gd-dollopole]

The historians would be at the their doors twenty for seven, Gwen actually has to take bodyguards and managers to manage their interviews and stuff. Every interview then gets even more chaotic (Merlin’s already as we can see was pretty much crazy, LIKE, ARTHUR SCREAMING IN THE BACKGROUND, I CACKLED😭)

Everyone thirst for Leon, obvs, so he has a fandom, because “ he looks like the only sane on” (he isn’t) Arthur doesn’t understand Youtube, and asks Merlin, who was able to apologise and come to term with the fact that he is an idiot. It would be funny if Merlin remembers everything during an interview and he’s like,

“So there was this king and he was sort of a prat—wait… How do I know?” *everyone waiting on their sofas in their houses watching this live*

“There is someone—oh.”

Because at this point everyone knows their stories (Gwaine may or may not have spilled something during an Instagram live when he was drunk, Elyan recording him and laughing because what can you do? I love them as a chaotic duo, and Percival the boyfriend trying to calm down his man and his man’s bestie) and so they wait. Gwen is basically cursing every manager and bodyguard because they let MERLIN!!! OF ALL PEOPLE!!! HAVE AN INTERVIEW!!! AGAIN!!! And so she is calling people left and right while watching the telly, AND THEN LEON!!! HE BAKES! So he has important people in the house in the mean time and while the queen and his current wife goes batshit crazy, LEON IS SERVING BISCUITS WITH AN APRON ON!!!😭

And Arthur? Oh, Arthur is watching the live WITH A CAMERA ON AND HE DOESN’T KNOW IT’S LIVE!!!

He was on Youtube, trying to understand how that shit worked, and he was alone and he was thankful for that because no one wanted to leave him alone with technology BUT NOW HE CAN LOOK!!! So he put play on a live and doesn’t understand why the entirety of the United fucking Kingdom can see him and tells him shit like “what’s that behind you?” So while he’s scared and he’s also watching the tv with the phone recording him, the silence of the entire world is basically palpable and then Merlin widens his eyes, stays silent, a million images flashing back, his mark brightening up, and he goes,

“FUCK! THAT’S MY PRAT!”

And then he transports himself to Arthur’s house (who is live but doesn’t know. Everyone noticed, Gwaine is recording the live too)

only for him to tackle down Arthur on the sofa and kiss the shit out of him, and confess all his feelings and they cry and they’re a mess and meanwhile the UK is watching with pop-corns in hand like “FUCK, if that isn’t the Once and Future king shagging his hot man and also the most powerful warlock to ever walk the earth”

They keep going at it, while Gwen screams in the phone “ABORT MISSION! ABORT MISSION!”

Leon doesn’t understand shit because he’s still serving biscuits BUT THE WHOLE WORLD IS GONE AND THE REPORTERS ARE WATCHING THE MERTHUR MAKING OUT SESSION LIVE AND THEY GO, “Well, we have a clear image of Emrys the Great biting down on The Once and Future King’s neck—Oh, I’m so going to get a promotion—ZOOM IN, ROBERT!

*Robert zooms in*

Au where merthur have soulmate identifying mark but merlin is the only one who know they are because if Arthur knew he would find out about his magic 👀 (arthur's mark being a beautiful dragon mainly on on his back but its tall is draped on his torso, a wing stretch on his right shoulder, another end on his hip and its head rest upon his stomach. As if it were jealousy protecting him. its scale are of a blue so dark it nearly look black. It has golden eye and tread of gold on is horn, gold shimmer on its body highlighting its scale at some place.

It screams powerful sorcerer.)

And thus it doesn't change anything from the show. Merlin doesn't tell him not even at the very end (Merlin's mark is a smaller red dragon with its head on his shoulder and who is is holding itself on his shoulder)

It would be very angsty but also SO FUNNY if in a post return futur where arthur (Gwen, the knights) are very confuse and lost but luckily for them there exist multiple center for "People who got Teleported at the wrong place/Bought back from the dead? We are here to help!/ your five yo drank a weird potion? No problem! Etc" basically Magic help center.

Just imagine basic social worker sorcerers who tries to do their job at 3 am and see THE Emrys mark ™ on a random dude and they are like *gasp*.

Them : what the fuck

Arthur :???

Them :WHAT THE FUCK

the others :????

Them : we are calling your soulmate RIGHT NOW. WHAT THE FUCK should I call the government too???? I'M NOT PAY ENOUGH FOR THIS.

Arthur : my???

Them : YOU. DO NOT MOVE IF I LOSE YOU I'M DEAD. DEAD.

You can imagine arthur pendragon pacing like a 13 years old stressed before an oral presentation because even if he was afraid then thought he globally didn't really care about his soulmate. He realised that it wasn't so much that he didn't care but he thought it would simply never be so he just... Kinda forgot about it. Now he just can not put it away because is soulmate IS coming and WHERE IS MERLIN WHEN HE NEEDS HIM (he is blocking any thoughts about Merlin potential dead thank you very much)

(Gwen is currently finding the situation extremely funny because she figured out in 5x13 and she is 80 yo (in a younger body but still) . And she is waaaayyyyyy to old to see her former husband stay in his denial.

Leon is 78 years old and he is slowly recognising the dragon in question that look very much like Merlin's family crest. He is looking at his wife in a very conspiracy way.

Gwaine is currently not really giving a damn about the whole soulmate thing. What do you MEAN you can send messages to people in less that a second?!?!?

Elyan would usually not give a damn but he is very much not happy ™ to find out that his sister (first) husband had a soulmate mark who isn't dead and he is glaring at Arthur but he is also getting a hug from gwen so it doesn't look menacing at all.

Perceval (57) is right behind Gwaine but he is currently watching himself in the mirror because seeing his younger self again is weird asf

Meanwhile Lancelot is talking with the assistant (on the verge of a break down because they are going to see the GOD OF MAGIC OH MY GOD) about magical history

[minswriting]

WINTER WONDERLAND - AARON HOTCHNER X READER

About: After a case in Upstate New York that ended on Christmas Eve, everyone was ready to head back home for the holiday. Except the flight was canceled due to bad weather, leaving you and Aaron to share your hotel for another night.

Warnings: NSFW, Minors Do Not Interact (MDNI), fluffy, soft sex, oral (f), winter vibes, established relationship, porn without plot, Aaron loves using pet names, you just love being loved

Word Count: 1,657 words

Being in Upstate New York during the holiday season usually would be quite magical. The snow, the holiday cheer of those around you, and the beautiful Christmas lights that decorated houses. But, unfortunately, the team had just finished a case that was quite gruesome and foul. Even in its gruesome state, the case had ended well and smoothly, saving a victim from being murdered. And now, it was time to go back to Quantico, Virginia. Except perhaps the snow outside may put a damper on plans.

You were looking outside the window of your hotel room after a long case when Aaron’s phone went off. “Oh,” Came Aaron’s voice from across the room. “Our flight’s been canceled due to the weather,” He exclaimed, glancing at his phone.

“That makes sense,” You replied, looking out the window. “It’s snowing like crazy outside. It’s gotta be at least three inches by now.”

Aaron hummed in response, wrapping his arms around you. “I sent a text to the rest of the team letting them know,” He murmured, resting his head on your shoulder.

You sighed in contentment, leaning into Aaron. “It must be sad you can’t spend Christmas with Jack,” you frowned, realizing it was Christmas Eve.

Aaron hummed in response, nodding his head. “Certainly,” He replied, letting out a small sigh. “But he’s staying at Jessica’s and she’ll ensure he has a wonderful holiday. I’ll video-call him tomorrow morning while he’s opening gifts and celebrate with him the next day.” Aaron then moved his hands to your hips, pulling away slightly so he could turn you towards him. “In the meantime, I think we have a day to ourselves, my dear.”

You let out a small chuckle as you looked up at Aaron, nodding your head. “I think we do.” You whispered.

Aaron gave you a soft smile, leaning in to press his lips against yours. “And I think I know something we can do to pass the time,” He exclaimed, still holding your hips.

“Yeah?” You asked, tilting your head with a knowing smile on your lips. “Like what?”

Rather than responding, Aaron simply met his lips with yours once more. This time, rather than a small kiss, it was soft but intimate, showing Aaron's need. You kissed him back softly, wrapping your arms around his neck. His hands moved from your hips to underneath your sweater, touching the skin with his cold hands. You let out a small shiver while also welcoming the touch nonetheless.

Aaron broke the kiss to take your sweater off, revealing the fact that you were not wearing a bra underneath. He let out a hum of approval, his hands moving to cup your breasts before kissing you once more. He massaged the flesh, using his thumbs to rub your nipples. You let out a low moan into the kiss, feeling yourself getting wetter at the feeling of Aaron’s hands on your chest. You were glad that Aaron decided to keep it casual today and wear a sweater as well rather than his usual suit. He looked amazing in a suit but undoing the buttons was quite the hassle. You took his sweater off, revealing his beautiful abs and torso.

“You’re so handsome,” You said softly, running your hands down his chest.

Aaron gave you a gentle smile with a look of adoration in his eyes. “Thank you, my dear,” He murmured, his hands moving to your hips once more. “You’re the most beautiful person in the world,” He complimented you. “I’m so lucky to have you.”

Your cheeks reddened from Aaron’s compliment, feeling yourself getting hot and bothered by his voice alone. “I think you need to fuck me now,” You said, smiling at your boyfriend.

“It would be my pleasure to do so, sweetheart,” Aaron replied, unzipping your jeans and sliding them down along with your underwear. You kicked off both of them, tossing them to the side. Aaron gently pushed you to the mattress, making you sit at the edge. “I’m going to taste you first though,” he exclaimed, going down onto his knees.

You opened your legs for him, your cunt glistening, as you laid back onto the mattress. Aaron didn’t hesitate to dive in, licking a stripe from your hole to your clit. You let out a small whine of pleasure, a hand moving down to Aaron’s hair and entangling your fingers into it. “You always taste so heavenly,” Aaron murmured against your pussy before swirling his tongue around your clit. He wrapped his lips around the nub, sucking gently.

“Fuck,” you moaned, eyes closing as you threw your head back in pleasure.

Whenever Aaron ate you out, it was always amazing. The way he knew exactly how to please you never failed to bring you to the finish line quickly. He was either delicate with it, just like he is right now. Or he was messy, burying his nose in your pussy and practically inhaling it like it was his last meal. And god, that man was absolutely made for eating pussy. It didn’t take long until you were gripping the sheets with your thighs clenching around his face, your juices spilling onto his face.

And when you finished, Aaron stood back up, unzipping his slacks as he pulled them down along with his boxers, revealing his cock. He gave it a lazy tug before gripping your legs and pulling you closer to the edge of the mattress. Aaron took a moment to just look at you, taking in your beauty. You both looked at one another, appreciating each other silently. That was until you decided to break said silence. “Please,” you pleaded, looking at Aaron with lustful eyes.

“Please what, baby?” He asked, tilting his head. He knew exactly what you wanted, what you craved. But he wanted to hear you say it.

“Please fuck me, Aaron,” you practically begged. “Need your cock inside me.”

And honestly, who was he to deny your request? You were always so good to him. And you look absolutely ravishing. Plus, it’s Christmas.

Aaron didn’t respond as he just simply guided his cock to your cunt, gathering your juices before lining himself at your entrance. “Anything for you, darling,” he said before slowly easing himself into you, letting out a hiss of pleasure as he did so.

You gasped at the feeling, gripping the sheets below you. His cock, regardless of how prepared you may be, always stretched you out. He was thick and proud. When Aaron bottomed out, he stayed still, allowing you time to get used to his cock. He leaned down, one hand on your waist while the other rested on the mattress, holding him up. The two of you just looked at one another, his brown eyes looking into yours. Nothing else in the world mattered except this moment with him.

“You can move,” you said, voice soft as you reached up to caress Aaron’s cheek.

Aaron moved his head, pressing a kiss onto the palm of your hand before gently and slowly moving his hips. The two of you let out soft moans. “I love you,” Aaron breathed out, thrusting his cock in and out of you.

You moaned, a hand moving to his back. “And I love you,” you replied gently, looking up at him.

Sex with Aaron was always wonderful. You adored every time you guys did it because no matter the mood he was in, he would always prioritize your pleasure. Due to the stress of your jobs, more often than not, sex was always desperate, needy, filled with tension that had been built throughout the day. But secretly, you absolutely loved moments when it was soft. The way Aaron looked at you with all love and adoration mixed with lust, the way he’d take his time with you, ensuring that you know that you are appreciated. You loved the eye contact, soft kisses, the way that it didn’t matter if you guys finished because all that mattered was the closeness. You adored it all.

Aaron’s movements sped up a bit, getting into a nice rhythm as his cock brushed against your g-spot. You let out a whine of pleasure, your eyes fluttering shut as you threw your head back. However, Aaron didn’t seem to like that as the hand that was on your hip moved to your chin, making you look at him. “Look at me, sweetheart,” he breathed out. “Don’t look away.”

“Oh my god,” you whispered out, wrapping your legs around Aaron. “Feels so good.”

“I know, baby,” he whispered back, leaning down to press a kiss onto your forehead. “You feel so good wrapped around my cock.”

Your only response was a moan, trying your best to maintain eye contact with Aaron but it was hard when his cock was hitting that one spot inside of you repeatedly. The heat was building in your abdomen, begging to be released. “I’m close,” you said, letting out a breathy whimper.

Aaron leaned his forehead on yours, his breath hot on your face. “Me too, baby, me too,” he replied, maintaining his thrusts.

It didn’t take long for either of you to cum. The way you arched your back, body shaking as you came around Aaron’s cock. And the way he let out a loud moan as he released his seed inside of you, thrusting his hips until he was completely finished.

And when you both were done, he pulled out but stayed on top of you, intertwining your fingers next to your head. “Merry Christmas, my love,” he murmured, gently kissing your lips.

“Merry Christmas,” you whispered back.

And for the rest of the day, that was exactly what you guys spent it doing. Having gentle sex and whispering sweet things to one another. Because if you’re unable to go home, you might as well make the most out of being stuck in a hotel room during a winter storm.

[plumeria1]

Night routine with Jinx

I rewatched Arcane yesterday and I wondered how Jinx washes her hair ? I mean it must be hard, it's so long. So what if when Jinx come home tired Reader is here to help her to relax.

Note: English is not my language so there's may be writing faults also it's my first post so please be lenient.

Summary: After a long day in Zaun streets, Jinx come home tired luckily for her you're here for her.

Content: fluff, Jinx x gn reader

Lying on the bed you are reading a book when you hear heavy footsteps that make you raise your head.

With a smile you quickly jump out of bed and run to your girlfriend, but you stop suddenly when you see her covered in dust and smelling really bad.

Hi toots.

She looks tired and as soon as she sees you she drags her feet to you and when she is close enough she gently holds out her arms for you to hug her.

You smell.

But even if she smelled like sewers you love her too much to refuse a hug from her. As if all of a sudden all her energy left her you feel all her weight on you.

I'm tired.

She looks at you with big puppy eyes, a look that never fails to make you smile.

We're going to bed but first you need to take a bath. Where have you been to smell like that?

Long story, too tired.

She had mumbled but you understood.

You managed to make her move towards the bathtub and made her sit on the edge while you ran the water.

Once the bath was nice and hot she undressed and tied her long braids in a very big bun. She always washes her hair after her bath, it is too long and it bothers her when she washes.

While she washes you set up several pillows, a big warm blanket on the bed and the stuffed rabbit that her sister gave to her when she was a child.

20 minutes later you hear her call you softly, you go to join her and see that she has already put on her clothes for the night and that she has undone her bun.

She hasn't undone her braids, she knows you love doing it, you make her sit against the bathtub by putting a pillow behind her back and a towel behind her neck so as not to wet her clothes then you sit on the edge of the bathtub next to her.

You have always loved undoing Jinx's braids, you always take the opportunity to run your fingers through her hair, but you had to postpone that until later the priority was to wash them.

Once her hair is free and brushed to remove the knots, you put it in the bathtub, they completely covering the bottom, you take the shower head and start your work.

As soon as the water touches her hair Jinx lets out a relaxed sigh and closes her eyes. Once completely wet you grab Jinx's favorite shampoo bottle and pour a good amount into your hands and start massaging her scalp with all the gentleness you have.

Jinx feels your nails scratching her head gently and despite the heaviness of her hair she is completely relaxed to the point that she falls asleep. The massage session ends too quickly for her liking when she feels your hand lightly patting her shoulder to tell her that her hair needs to be dried.

After 15 minutes of drying and 10 minutes to redo her braids, Jinx can finally go to sleep. She lets herself fall heavily onto the warm bed and slips under the blanket before falling asleep suddenly.

When you finished putting away the shampoo and the hairbrush you join her in bed and smile when you see her deeply asleep. You smile because you like when she sleeps it's one of the too rare moments when she seems truly soothed.

You know this because one day she confided to you that she liked to take long naps because in her dreams the voices do not come to disturb her.

You join her in bed and instinctively she clings to you to enjoy your warmth, you take her in your arms and turn on the little light next to the bed because you know that although she likes to hide in the shadows she doesn't like to sleep in the dark.

You kiss her on the forehead and before falling asleep you whisper to her

Rest, I'll still be here when you wake up.

I hope you liked it if you have any advice all comments are good to take.

A Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate it and for those who don't celebrate it Happy Holidays. ☺️

*I added the part about the little light because I noticed that Jinx's hiding place is never completely in the dark (we can see that there is always a source of light like the fluorescent paint on the floor or the neon lights above her bed)

[harmonyrae]

A Christmas Kiss

Merry Christmas! This is the SFW lots of fluff version, I am tempted to spend my Christmas writing the NSFW version LOL

Synopsis: Sylus told you he never celebrated Christmas, it was never a big deal. But Christmas holds a special place in your heart. Maybe you can convince him?

“Luke, be careful!”

Just as you utter the words you hear something shatter. You close your eyes and try to steady your breathing. You pray whatever Luke just broke can be fixed or easily replaced. You hold your breath as you bring the last box into Sylus’s office. 

“Uhhh… Something may be broken.” 

Luke stands over the box, his hand kneading the back of his neck. Kieran kneels by the box and gently opens it. He pulls out a clear crystal wing.

“You didn’t have an attachment to the angel tree topper, did you?” 

You sink into the sofa and cover your face with your hands. Worst case scenario. That was the one thing you were excited to show Sylus. You knew he wasn’t big on Christmas, but priceless antiques? He would appreciate that. It was a gift from your grandmother when you moved into your first apartment on your own. 

You held your breath to try and stop the sob threatening to escape. You feel the sofa sink next to you. You finally pull your hands away and see Kieran has sat beside you. He gives you a gentle side hug.

“Luke will fix it. Right Luke?” Even with his mask on, you can tell Kieran gives his brother an intense glare. You can’t help but let out a tiny chuckle.  

“Uhm… yes. I’ll go find the hot glue gun. It’ll be good as new, promise!” Luke picks up the box and hurries out of the room.

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t make it worse. Sorry Ms. Hunter.” Kieran gets up and heads to the door.

“Thanks.” 

You can’t hide the sadness in your voice. You hear the door close and rub your hands together. Why is Sylus’s office so cold all the time when he has a fireplace?

You stand and approach the fireplace to toss in a few pieces of wood. Taking the matchbook from the mantle you light the kindling and watch the fire to flicker to life. As the warmth washes over your face and you finally feel yourself smile. You still have a lot of work to do and plenty of decorations that are not broken. Sylus will be back in a few hours and you want his office to look like Christmas threw up all over it. It’s time to get to work. 

You approach Sylus’s gramophone. You always found it funny how Sylus had such an old school record player, but the look he gave you when you suggested an upgrade told you it meant more to him than you realized. You pull out the Christmas Classics vinyl from one of the boxes. While you knew you should wrap it, you couldn’t let this particular present for Sylus go to waste. You place the vinyl on the turntable and gently lower the needle. The soft melody of White Christmas floats through the room and you shiver with excitement. 

Over the next two hours you carefully move folders and trinkets aside to make room for snow globes and tiny nutcrackers. You can’t help but giggle at the nutcracker you made just for Sylus. Tara dragged you to a Christmas crafting class and was teasing you the whole time as you struggled with the sheer red tool and ruby sequins. 

The nutcracker has white hair, red sequin eyes, a black suit with swirls of red. Of course, you had to include Mephisto somehow. Fortunately, someone in the class had a shifting evol and helped you shape the helmet to look like a crow. More red sequins and some silver and red glitter made Mephisto shine. You chose the nutcracker with the bent arm so you could wrap the sheer red tool around its hand to symbolize his evol. 

After the class, you were inspired to make more Sylus inspired Christmas decorations. But you also wanted to use some of your classic Christmas decorations too. You spent an hour packing some of your favorites before heading to the shop to buy some supplies for your crafting projects. 

The snow globe was filled with soft white snow and a replica of the pouch you made for him during your impromptu adventure to the grasslands. There were five stockings on the fireplace mantle. Sylus’s name in bold black letters against the bright red fabric with little crow pendants sewn in. Yours with bold purple letters and the plushie pins you won at the arcade over the summer. Luke and Kieran had stockings as well, but when you had told them your plans they begged to decorate their own. Luke went with pink letters and polar bear pins while Kieran went with blue letters and reindeer pins. You hoped they’d be put up every year, starting, hopefully, one of many traditions for the little family you’ve made here in the N109 Zone. The last stocking was a baby stocking with a single black crow painted on the baby blue fabric. Mephisto, once again, would be thrilled. 

The mantle was also adorned with garland wrapped with soft white lights, red candles in crystal Santa candle holders. The Christmas tree was delivered right on time and you made sure to take extra precautions to avoid the base leaking after watering. Sylus once told you the carpets in his office were handmade - you were not risking ruining those. It was a challenge to hang the lights and red and silver ornaments on your own, with the tree being over 10 feet tall, but you wanted it to tower over Sylus. Thankfully Luke and Kieran agreed to let you finish decorating alone after the angel mishap and found a stepladder. Luke was still trying to fix the angel, but you could tell it wasn’t going well from the updates Kieran was giving you. 

You hung the wreath made of dark red Poinsettias above his desk. Twinkle lights framed the bookshelves. Fuzzy Christmas blankets and pillows lining the couches and chairs. You sat on the couch admiring your work before looking through the box at your feet for any final additions. Sylus would be home any minute and you wanted to change into a Christmas sweater and be in the kitchen baking cookies when he arrived. You found a small box with a few floral pieces. One stuck out to you, it was a cluster of mistletoe. 

You wouldn’t need that. Or… maybe… You had been dating Sylus for a few months now, and while you were relieved he was taking things slowly, you were also wondering when he’d take the next step. Or was he waiting for you to take the next step? You were anxious and didn’t want to ruin anything. But this was your first holiday season together and maybe this was the perfect time to take that step. Staring down at the mistletoe in your hand, you square your shoulders and rise to your feet. 

You drag the stepladder to the door of his office, you confidently climb the steps and stretch your arm up to secure the mistletoe to the frame. Just as the mistletoe is secured, you hear it, the doorknob jiggles and you don’t have time to react before the door swings open. The stepladder tips and you feel yourself fall. But you’re only airborne for a moment before you land in someone’s arms. Sylus cradles you to his chest, the look of surprise on his face almost makes you laugh. You’ve never seen him caught off guard before. 

“What a surprise. I was wondering why Luke and Kieran were trying to keep me out of my own office. You’ve been busy, sweetie.” 

You watch as he takes in the room around him, still holding you close. You finally release a shaky breath and giggle as he blinks rapidly taking in the new decor. You dare to glance just above him to make sure the mistletoe is still secure. When your eyes flick back to Sylus’ he is staring at you. You can feel your cheeks warm under his gaze. He raises a brow and before you can distract him he looks up. 

“I have a lot to show you! I made some decorations just for you and I was going to bake some cookies. Tara also taught me how to make the best hot chocolate, I thought we could make that. And I brought some Christmas movies, did you hear the music? I got you a record and --”  

You were rambling, you couldn’t stop yourself. Sylus looks down at you in his arms, a smirk forming on his lips and a brow raised. He finally cuts you off.

“Mistletoe? Are you trying to tell me something?”

You are absolutely trying to tell him something, but you didn’t want to be this obvious. He wouldn’t have seen it immediately if you hadn’t fallen from the ladder.

“Of course not! It’s just a decoration!” 

Sylus smiles at your rushed explanation. You wonder if he’ll read between the lines and take the hint. You hung it up, you are ready for the next step, for your first real kiss with him. And if you’re honest, so much more. You held his gaze, falling silent. But instead of leaning in, he drops you to your feet. And he turns to walk further into the room.

Your heart hammers in your chest. He knows. He has to. You tried to make it seem like it wasn’t significant. But you knew he preferred it when you were direct with your intentions. He was punishing you. Your hand moves on its own and you grab his arm before he can move further away from you. He turns back to look at you and you stare at him silently, trying to convince yourself to just do it. Just be bold. If you see something you want, take it. 

“Something you want to say, kitten?”

You’re done waiting, you push up onto your toes and put your arms around his neck. Your lips press against his, gently at first. You’re not sure what washes over you, but you feel brave and powerful. You take his lower lip between your teeth and pull him to you. His hands find your hips and he pulls your body close. You feel his chest vibrate as he grunts in approval. You feel nearly delirious when you finally pull back. He must feel the same, with his ears turning red and his eyes misty.

His arms wrap around you and he pulls you back to him. His lips crash into yours now, you could tell taking it slow was the last thing on his mind. You thread your fingers through his hair. His hands move down to the back of your thighs, he lifts you and you wrap your legs around his waist. You hear the office door close behind you before you are carried into the room. You feel heat across the right side of your face and you turn your head, allowing Sylus to dive into your neck placing kiss after kiss. You’re in front of the fireplace, the heat from the flames damn near suffocating as you try to catch your breath. 

Sylus lowers to the floor, he positions your legs over his lap. One of his hands holding you upright while the other caresses your cheek, explores your thigh, your ass… He kisses you fervently, his tongue tracing your lips begging for permission. You can’t help but smile as you finally let him in, his tongue tangling with your own. It feels like hours before he finally pulls away and rests his forehead against yours.

“I knew you put that up for a reason…” His voice is breathless and raspy, making you giggle. Let him be cocky about being right, you know now more than ever, that you have this man wrapped around your finger.

“I didn’t realize we’d end up making out in front of the fireplace, I would have put some pillows down here.” 

“Use me as your pillow then.” 

He shifts and lays back on the floor, settling you on top of him. Your hands placed firmly on his chest, his hands rubbing your back ever so slightly sending tingles down your spine. You feel your stomach tighten as you stare at him. This man, he is feared by so many, but you have never felt safer. You want to stay here, laying on top of him in front of the fireplace, forever. No one vying for his attention, no Wanderers to fight. Just the two of you. 

“Sylus…”

He puts a hand behind his neck, lifting his head to look at you better. You almost choke on your words, you were just thinking about how you two were taking things slowly and now… You wanted more. But would he want to?

“Yes, my beloved?” 

You loved when he called you that. He started using it more often after getting back from the grasslands. And every time you catch yourself thinking about what life would have been like if you both had stayed. What would you be doing right now?

“I know what I want for Christmas.”

“Oh? But you said ‘No presents Sylus, I mean it’ just two days ago.” You roll your eyes to avoid blushing at his impersonation of you. 

“I changed my mind.”

“Alright, what do you want?”

“You.” 

He stares at you, his eyes wide with surprise. His ears start to turn red and you know he’s thinking up a snarky comment to make you just as flustered. But not this time. You weren’t going to lose your nerve, you were on cloud nine and didn’t want to let this moment slip away.

“You. Your time. Your space. Even your silly comments that drive me crazy. I just want you. And only you.”

You’ve never known him to be speechless, but he doesn’t even try to say another word. His lips pressed together, his jaw clenched. His eyes burrow into yours and you watch as every wall he built up comes crumbling down. Just like you feel entirely safe with him, he feels entirely safe with you. He caresses your face and you drop your gaze, feeling the weight of your confession hit you like a tsunami. He lifts your chin to look at him. 

“You’ve always had me.”

His lips find yours once more. You hold his face with your hands, sighing deeply as his hands drift from your waist, to your hips, lower and lower…

“I FIXED IT!”

You pull away from Sylus in a rush and you both look over to the door of the office. Luke and Kieran stand in the doorway, it seems they are frozen as they take in the scene before them. You, laying on top of Sylus on the floor in front of the fireplace. They start to slowly step backwards out the door when you spot the angel in Luke’s hand. 

“Wait! Oh my god! You did! You fixed it!”

You roll off of Sylus and stand up. Eagerly jogging around the couch to them. 

“Yeah, it wasn’t easy and it, ughh… might not be like it was.” He hands you the angel timidly.

You inspect the angel. The bumps of the dried hot glue and the tiny cracks and chips that couldn’t be repaired. You hold it up to the light and glance behind you, spotting a tiny rainbow square on the floor.

“It’s perfect.”

Luke sighs, relieved. Kieran pats his shoulder and tugs at his jacket urging him to follow him out of the room. Luke nods his head and skips out of the room behind Kieran, closing the door as he goes. Sylus walks up behind you and wraps his arms around your stomach.

“An angel?”

“A tree topper. An antique from my grandmother. I thought you might appreciate it being, well… unique, vintage? It’s my favorite.” 

“Then it’s my favorite too. Let’s put it on the tree then?”

You nod, not bothering to hide the smile on your face. He lifts you and places you on his shoulder. He holds onto your legs as you lean to settle the angel on top of the tree. Once it is secure, Sylus bends to let you hop off. You look up at the angel as Sylus wraps his arms around you once more. You hold onto his arms at your waist and lean back against his chest. You feel his heartbeat, always racing, but steady. Sylus leans down and places a kiss to your temple before whispering into your ear.

“Merry Christmas, my love.”

Tag List (comment if you wanna be added!): @trishiepo0 @not-so-quite-human @kitsunetori @babyx91 @libriomancer @lilyadora

[viforavi]

singer/songwriter!caitlyn and producer!vi… known for her quiet allure and silky voice, cait is a rising star whose songs have almost all been produced by vi. most of the lyrics cait writes may or may not be drawn from a crush she has on her producer. vi may or may not be producing cait’s songs because she’s not only undeniably talented, but also incredibly hot.

caitlyn loves to observe the focus vi has when creating her vision in the studio—sometimes she finds herself staring at her a little longer, taking note of how vi plays with her bottom lip and the way her big, beautiful blue-gray eyes dart across the computer screen—but the praise she gets when she records the perfect take is the cherry on top of it all.

“atta girl.”

“amazing work, you did so well today.”

“there we go, princess. knew you could do it.”

she feels her face flush slightly at every compliment and this time is no different. they near the end of a session as caitlyn records the last of her harmonies and the rest of the pre-chorus. as caitlyn’s verse comes to an end, vi smiles and clicks a button on her sound board to let cait hear her next words.

“you did so good in there, sweetheart. i could listen to you all day.”

a small giggle paired with an eye roll is her typical response to the producer’s kudos. cait’s ears and cheeks are tinged pink at the last part of vi’s comment.

“as if you aren’t paid to do exactly that,” caitlyn points out.

she removes her headphones and exits the soundproof room, walking towards the couch at the same time as vi to take a break before the producer works herself to the bone to get this song to sound like a masterpiece. caitlyn’s legs find themselves propped on vi’s lap crossed at her ankles with vi’s hand gently holding her in place, a comfortable position they find themselves in very often. vi expresses a thought she has about cait’s writing.

“y’know, i honestly still can’t believe you wrote these lyrics. i didn’t realize you were seeing someone.”

cait lets out a soft laugh, slightly embarrassed at the idea. the lyrics are… more sexual than what she usually writes, depicting fantasies and desires that she would typically consider private information.

“i’m not! just… felt really inspired i guess.”

“c’mon, don’t give me that. you rarely ever write about sex, let alone ask me to produce a song about it. she must be really fucking good, so who’s the lucky girl?”

she was right. caitlyn rarely wrote songs about sex and even when she did, she was usually too embarrassed to show them to vi. caitlyn’s had her fair share of hookups, but in caitlyn’s eyes none of them could compare to the mere thought of vi: her stupid fucking haircut that she, by some miracle, manages to pull off, her muscular build that convinces cait that she could be picked up by her like a feather, and that voice.

god, that fucking voice and her fucking praise.

even though she was the one to ask, vi’s stomach drops at the thought of cait seeing anyone. she keeps her eyes on the screen, avoiding caitlyn’s gaze and hoping she doesn’t look like a kicked puppy.

“seriously, it’s no one.”

“bullshit, cait. we’re friends! you can tell me.”

“it’s not! i’m really not seeing anyone.”

“please, cupcake.”

the underlying sweetness in her disbelieving tone makes cait want to melt into a puddle on the floor. part of her wants to admit that the object of all her fantasies has been a certain pink-haired musical genius with a jaw-dropping body and a pretty face, but her pride outmatches her desire, even though the use of the dessert-inspired nickname makes her knees weak.

“it’s just a crush. that’s all.”

cait swears she can see vi’s ears perk up. she’s met with a shit-eating grin, and now vi can’t help but poke and prod further to figure out who this mystery crush is. they giggle and playfully fight with one another as vi begs to know about this “crush” and cait wonders why the fuck she decided to say anything at all.

the regret leaves her body when she finds her face centimeters away from vi’s and her arms locked in front of her chest, held by her wrist thanks to vi’s unbelievable strength. cait makes out the curls of her eyelashes, the dark ink of her face tattoo, and most especially the plush of vi’s lips and the scar that decorates the top of them.

shit. why does she have to be so fucking gorgeous?

caitlyn is certain the red all over her face perfectly matches the burn she feels. she feels like she’s opening for fucking beyoncé or something with how nervous she is to be this close to someone she’s known for years.

“you’re really gonna keep this from me, princess?”

something about vi’s lowered voice and her eyes searching her face (particularly at her lips, she noticed) gave caitlyn a sense of confidence that she knows she’ll probably regret acting on. she wants vi, and she’s tired of vi not knowing. she swallows and looks into vi’s pleading eyes for a moment then sighs, nearly surprising herself with what she does next.

her feet find their way to the floor to push her up out of her seat and then she swiftly swings a leg over vi’s lap, seating herself where her legs once were. vi’s grip on caitlyn weakens and confusion is written all over her face with her wide eyes, raised brows, and slightly parted lips. cait gazes at her through hooded eyes, playing with the neckline of vi’s muscle tee. she leans over and ghosts her lips over vi’s ear to tease.

“you really wanna know?”

vi rests her hands on caitlyn’s hips and slowly licks her lips, still unsure of what exactly is going on… but she’s not complaining. her thumbs fiddle with the top of caitlyn’s jeans as caitlyn pulls herself back to face vi, one hand caressing the back of her neck and the other cupping her chin. vi groans at the sound of cait’s voice as she asks vi a very important question.

“do you want me to tell you, or would you rather i show you?”

[the-cosmic-cauldron]

𝒫𝒾𝒸𝓀 𝒜 𝒫𝒾𝓁ℯ：𝒲𝒽𝓎 𝒴ℴ𝓊’𝓇ℯ 𝒮𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓁ℯ 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒲𝒽ℯ𝓃 𝒴ℴ𝓊’𝓁𝓁 𝒢ℯ𝓉 𝒜 ℬℴℴ

𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝟏

Pile number one, I see that the reason you’re single right now is because you’re avoiding love. You feel that love will disrupt your life, shake things up, and distract you from what you’re doing right now. You may fear that it will cause confusion or force you to revisit old wounds and trauma that you’re not ready to face. Some of you may even have someone who likes you or has a crush on you, but you’re keeping things surface-level, not allowing the relationship to deepen. You’re avoiding intimacy and shying away from getting too close to anyone. There’s a lot of fear surrounding love—you’re scared of falling in love, committing, and even the thought of marriage. It feels like a “hot plate” you don’t want to touch.

You’re overthinking the idea of love, trying to plan it out like you would a career or project, but love isn’t something that can be planned. You’re being too analytical and fearful, staying in your shell and not letting yourself open up. Many of you are repressing emotions, keeping them hidden beneath the surface. You don’t want anyone to see what you’re going through, and you’re afraid that love will bring those emotions to the surface in a way you’re not ready to confront.

Some of you may even be hiding aspects of yourself—perhaps you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community and fear your family or friends won’t accept you, so you’re repressing your sexuality. Others might have had a secret relationship or affair in the past that you don’t want to come to light. You’re keeping things quiet and laying low, avoiding anything that might bring attention to your romantic life.

It seems many of you have gone through a difficult period and feel it’s hard to meet new people. Some of you may be sick, bedridden, or dealing with a disability. There may also be mental health challenges or social anxieties that make it difficult to engage with others. Perhaps you’ve recently been heartbroken and feel like you need time to heal. You might be in a “healing girl” or “healing boy” era, taking things slow and focusing on yourself.

A lot of you are struggling to let go of past issues. It seems like you’re still stuck on an ex, unable to move on or take the risk of meeting someone new. You may not want to compromise, feeling like you want things your way, on your own time. You’re not ready to bend for someone else’s demands or expectations.

You’re dealing with a lot of responsibilities and stress right now. Some of you are single because you’re focused on your children and have no time for love. Others might be working long hours, earning money but burning yourselves out. You might be overwhelmed with schoolwork or taking care of someone who’s sick. Many of you feel like you’re just surviving day to day, and love takes a backseat to all these other demands.

Some of you might be using unhealthy coping mechanisms like drinking, indulging in drugs, or binge-watching shows to soothe yourselves. Some are eating out a lot, treating yourselves to good food, while others might be losing weight due to stress. You’re keeping yourself busy with these distractions to avoid confronting the deeper emotional issues.

Right now, you’re energetically repelling others and keeping yourself away from potential connections. You have a lot going on beneath the surface, and you’re choosing to focus inward, avoiding love and intimacy for the time being. You’re in a very avoidant phase, but it’s clear you have some healing and self-reflection to do before you’re ready for a committed relationship.

I see that for a good amount of time, you’re going to remain single. There will be a period of stagnancy, where things feel stuck in the same routine. You won’t be meeting new people or connecting with them on a deeper level. I would say this period of being single and in this stagnant phase could last for about a year, with some of you possibly experiencing it for even longer. The minimum time I see for this phase is about a year, during which you’ll find yourself stuck in an unchanging, predictable, yet unhealthy dynamic.

However, after this period, I see someone coming into your life very quickly. This person is going to pursue you with intensity, and the connection will develop fast. They really want you, and you’ll likely want them just as much. The commitment between you two will form quickly. I see this person having many qualities you desire, and they will be someone you get very close to. They will take the time to truly pursue you, and as you both get to know each other, you will progress to a point where you’re genuinely dating.

Many of the fears and concerns you’ve had in the past will start to be resolved with this person. They will help alleviate your doubts and provide reassurance. I see this relationship leading to deeper commitments, like having a child together, building a family, and eventually getting married. You’ll likely move in together, and your families will feel comfortable with the connection. This will represent a shift in your life, where your perspective on love will begin to change in a positive direction.

This person will come into your life with serious intentions. They are standing firm in their desire to build something long-term with you. They envision a future together, possibly starting with a pet like a dog or a cat, and then moving on to living together, getting engaged, and ultimately getting married. But this transformation won’t happen immediately—it will come after that long period of stagnation, perhaps after a year or two of being stuck in the same routine. Once this person enters your life, everything will change rapidly, leading to forward movement and eventually a deep, long-term bond between you two.

𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝟐

To be honest, I think many of you are single because you’re currently in a phase where you may seem a little boring. You might be very focused on practical matters in life, rather than embracing something light-hearted, fun, and full of passion—things connected to love that make you feel energetic and vibrant. Right now, I feel like many of you are more mellow, chill, and disciplined. You’re focused on long-term goals and being patient, which leaves little room for love, especially in a youthful, carefree way. You might not have much to give at the moment because you’re too caught up in your long-term plans, like saving money, buying a home, or building your finances.

For some of you, this focus on saving and being frugal may even be affecting your love life. You’re being intentional with how you spend your money, which means you’re not really putting yourself out there when it comes to dating. If you’re a man, maybe you’re not interested in paying for dates or taking someone out. If you’re a woman, you may be focused on long-term goals or self-love, working on your boundaries so you don’t exhaust yourself with over-giving, especially if you’ve been a people pleaser in the past.

Some of you are also very focused on your career. You might be working on a master’s degree, completing a program, or trying to secure the job you want. Others might be struggling with unemployment, which leaves little mental space for dating. You’re focused on applying for jobs, preparing for interviews, or just figuring out how to establish yourself in your current city. You’re investing in your future, growing your finances, and prioritizing self-care, even if that includes focusing on health and wellness.

I also sense that you’re closed off at the moment. It’s almost like you’re serious and a bit boring right now, and it’s not giving off those passionate, romantic vibes. Instead, it feels more like a routine of work, setting goals, managing your health, and saving money. You’re being very disciplined and sticking to your plans. You may have high standards when it comes to love, and that’s why the people who approach you just aren’t meeting your expectations. You’re thinking long-term—marriage, owning a home, building a life together—and the people around you don’t seem serious enough.

You’re also busy juggling multiple responsibilities, and the last thing you want to do right now is introduce love into an already hectic life. You’re focused on the future and thinking about how love will fit into your life when the time is right. You’re wondering what kind of person will be able to align with the lifestyle you want to live, and right now, it doesn’t seem like love is a priority.

I also see you gaining more confidence. As your standards and boundaries grow stronger, you’re no longer willing to let people just come into your life without offering anything substantial. You can tell when someone is only interested in a one-night stand or a casual fling, and you’re not allowing that anymore. You’re focused on having a successful, long-lasting relationship, and you’re working on yourself to make that happen. You’re hitting your personal goals, whether they involve career, health, or finances, and that growth is boosting your confidence.

However, the relationships you’ve been dealing with haven’t been working out. You might have been talking to people who ghosted you, or situations that seemed promising ended up fizzling out. Maybe you didn’t get closure from past relationships or had a rocky ending that’s still affecting you. It’s been a difficult cycle where attempts at love have either led to ghosting or situations that just didn’t feel right. Now, you’re focusing on healing and building confidence, and you’re shifting your focus away from love because it hasn’t been working out for you. You’re learning to trust yourself and your boundaries, but for now, it seems like you’re better off staying focused on your personal goals rather than trying to force something that hasn’t been aligned.

For Pile 2, I think it’s going to be a while before you’re in anything stable in terms of a relationship. I’m going to be honest with you; that’s what I’m seeing. It looks like many of you have your hearts closed off. A lot of you are dealing with a cold, frozen heart, unwilling to budge on opening up or being vulnerable. Some of you are completely resistant to being vulnerable and reciprocating love. You’re pulling away from love and from the idea of opening your heart.

I see a few things happening here. Some of you may experience flings, and while the reading suggests you’re struggling with being single right now and that situations aren’t working out the way you want, I do think you will have some fun, thrilling, and exciting moments. These flings might happen during travel, possibly when you’re traveling for work or school, or even during a hike in nature. There’s potential for meeting someone during these moments. The relationship will be adventurous but unreciprocal in terms of emotional connection. One person will be more invested than the other—one will be all in, while the other remains emotionally distant, detached, and unwilling to be vulnerable.

The relationship might be passionate, but it will be intense in a chaotic, fleeting way, like popcorn popping in the microwave—exciting, but also loud and disruptive. I don’t see this becoming a committed relationship because of the imbalance in feelings. It will have a spontaneous energy, and it may catch you off guard when you meet this person, like when you’re commuting, hiking, or traveling.

Despite the passion, this relationship will involve a lot of growth and development, but also significant issues. You’ll argue and fight a lot, and you won’t see eye to eye. There may be jealousy between the two of you—one person’s success or achievements might cause envy, or the coldness of one might trigger frustration in the other. There could also be a lack of emotional depth, where one of you is seeking more while the other remains detached.

Unfortunately, I don’t see a committed relationship in your near future. I see more situationships—unreciprocal crushes or even exes who come back, but there’s still no real understanding or resolution. These relationships may cause drama in your life, but ultimately, they won’t be compatible or lead to commitment.

𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝟑

For Pile 3, oh my gosh, I see so many different energies. I feel like right now, you guys are healing from a really bad ex—someone who came into your life like a whirlwind, shook you to the core, and brought a lot of chaos. You argued, fought, made up, broke up, came back together, and they broke down your self-esteem. They played mind games with you, manipulated you, and now you’re just like, “I just want peace.” You want a peaceful life. You want to live in a cottage, on a farm, far away from humanity. You want to bask in the sun’s rays, bathe in fresh spring water, cuddle up with a puppy, and bake pies all day. That’s the energy I’m getting for you.

There’s a lot to unpack here. First off, you definitely came from something very toxic. Someone was playing mind games with you. They were on and off, stonewalling you, gaslighting you. For some women, it may have even involved domestic violence. You might have been highly dependent on this person, but they weren’t helping you succeed in life. Instead, they were holding you back. They caused you to fail and even go into debt. You were losing money, and your mental and emotional state were deteriorating. You were going crazy dealing with them. This person could have left you at a time when you really needed them, when you needed a compassionate, loving, and supportive person, but they just weren’t there for you. It crushed your heart and soul.

But now it seems like you’re coming to a better place. You’re leaving that person behind, and now you’re just sitting back, maybe drinking tea in your rocking chair, minding your own business. You don’t want to go back to that situation. A lot of you were with someone who never wanted to work with you. There was bad teamwork. If you have a child with this person, you did most of the caregiving and financial support. This person gave very little to you, your child, or the situation. They were hard to work with and probably thought they knew better than you. But working together could have helped. Unfortunately, they refused to listen, refused to communicate properly, and refused to offer any mutual support.

At this point, you just want to break free. You’re in a place of peace, and you don’t want to be bothered. This person caused so much disharmony in your life, and they didn’t have any real plans to make things work. They were only focused on quick fixes, not on getting to the root of the problem or healing the situation. As I mentioned, this person could have left you financially strained, and you were constantly depending on them, but they were broke and couldn’t help. This was a relationship built on crumbs—an attachment that kept you together, not love. The emotional connection had been drained, and there was coldness, resentment, bitterness, and a complete lack of mutual support, love, or compassion.

So I think you’ve recently walked away from a toxic relationship or situation, and now you’re just living for yourself. You can’t be bothered to do anything but enjoy simple pleasures like baking cinnamon rolls from scratch, watching the rain fall, and drinking coffee. I understand why you’re in this peaceful place because you’ve been through so much. And now, you’re growing and moving in a new direction. You’re focused on your personal growth, on new adventures, and new things to experience. You’re embracing the new and leaving the old behind.

Your confidence is growing, and with that, your happiness is growing too. There’s nothing that can take that away from you now. Not only do you have more energy now, but you also have more clarity. When you were with that person, you felt like a shell of yourself, but now you’re feeling reinvigorated. Your confidence is rising, and you’re starting to look at yourself differently. You have a lot of goals, and you’re making changes to your lifestyle. You’re glowing up and bossing up, becoming the person you always were, but that toxic situation was holding you back.

Being single and detached from that person is allowing you to flourish. You’re spreading your wings and seeing life differently. You’re more optimistic, more energetic, and more confident. You’re tackling tasks that once felt daunting, and you’ve had many proud moments lately, from the things you’ve accomplished since leaving that situation. There’s a song called Do Better that resonates with this reading, and it perfectly describes what you’re going through. It says, “Look at you doing way better without him. Look at you living.” And that’s exactly what you’re doing now—living.

As you enter the new year, you’ll do so with your head held high. I respect you for who you are and all the changes you’ve gone through. It’s admirable to see how far you’ve come. You’re resilient, and your bounce back is incredible. That person has to miss out because they put you through a lot. But now you’re overcoming it and rising above what they did to you. You’re not letting it hold you down. You’re maturing and moving forward, and I see you making progress, getting to the bag, and attracting better things. Keep up the great work.

I feel that for at least a year—maybe more—you’re going to be single, not actively dealing with anyone. During this time, you’ll focus on rebuilding your life and rediscovering who you are. Your head may feel cloudy as you try to figure things out, as you’re still healing from the past situation. Although you’re moving forward, you’re also somewhat stuck because that past relationship left a deep impact. It will take time to fully heal, and you might not feel ready to seriously date again for a while. You’ll likely be wary of diving into a new relationship, fearing it might turn out the same way as the last one. Your main focus will be on other areas of your life, as you’re not in a rush to pursue love right now.

You may feel that your passion for love and romance has burned out, and you’ll avoid situations that could turn toxic, chaotic, or full of arguments. For a while, you may not even know what you want in a relationship or who you want to be with. But I do feel that after a year or more, you’ll meet someone new. This person will want to marry you. They’ll be serious about building a stable, long-lasting relationship with you. As you get to know each other, they’ll demonstrate their commitment not only through words but through actions. They’ll show you that they’re there for you, supporting you emotionally and physically. They’ll give you lots of affection and romantic gestures, and this relationship will lead to marriage.

So for now, take your time, enjoy your single life, and continue healing. Love will find you when the time is right.

𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝟒

Oh my gosh, so the first thing I got is that someone is not wanting commitment in your life. Maybe it’s someone currently in your life that you have your eye on or someone you’re dealing with in a situation, but they don’t want commitment—or maybe you don’t. Either way, there’s a lack of commitment in this situation and a lack of movement. Somebody might be struggling with confidence here.

I see for some of you that either you or the person you’re dealing with is struggling with confidence when it comes to pursuing a person. Maybe you’re very reserved, shy, and hesitant to put yourself out there. You don’t want to be obvious or assertive. When you find someone you like, you’re subtle. You don’t express yourself directly or approach them. Instead, you stay in the background, waiting for them to make a move. You’re on the receptive end, and that’s what I’m picking up.

Yes, it seems to me there’s an unreciprocated situation. That’s the energy I’m getting. Either you’re in a connection with someone right now, and you’re confused, they’re confused, and the whole situation is confused, or you’re single and ready for a relationship, but nothing is happening—it’s stuck.

Because this energy feels confusing, I’m breaking this reading down into two parts: one for people who are single and one for people who are currently talking to someone.

For people who are single:

It seems like you’re ready for a relationship. You’re in a good emotional place. There’s no chaos happening in your life. You’re ready to talk, to spark a conversation, and to be intellectually stimulated. You want someone who is willing to give just as much as you’re willing to give. You want someone who reciprocates your energy, brings peace into your life, and allows you to explore and enjoy life.

You really want someone who is honest, straightforward, and open. You don’t want someone who hides behind smoke and mirrors. You’re looking for someone fun, someone with a bit of sparkle and energy who keeps things fresh. You don’t want someone boring or predictable. You want someone who switches up their routine, who’s spontaneous. You want someone who, on a Monday, might go to work, and on a Friday, decides to go on an adventure in a different town. You want someone who’s down to say, “Let’s go get drinks on a Wednesday,” or “Let’s go on a hike on Sunday.”

You want someone who is fun, exciting, and spiritual. That’s what you’re really wanting right now because you’re in a space where you’re ready to meet someone like that. You’re ready to match that energy, and you want someone who will reciprocate it.

However, for the single people in this pile, I feel like you’re just not getting anyone coming your way. It seems like everyone’s scared to approach you or to talk to you. You’re over here like, “Come on over!” but they’re over there like, “No, I want you to come over here!” There’s a bit of a stalemate. You’re ready to meet someone, but the people around you aren’t meeting you where you’re at.

It’s not that you’re a bad person or doing something wrong. In fact, you’re amazing. You know how to communicate, you’re fun, and you’re ready for adventure. You’re in a peaceful stage of your life, and you’re very nurturing, giving, compassionate, and honest. But despite all of that, you’re just not getting the attention you’re looking for or attracting the right people.

The people who are interested in you might not be the people you want, and the ones you want aren’t showing up. You also don’t want to go on dating sites or meet anyone online. You really want to meet someone face-to-face. But right now, it feels like nobody is grabbing your attention.

For people who are currently talking to someone:

If you’re talking to someone, it seems like you want all these amazing things in a partner—honesty, emotional connection, commitment—but the person you’re dealing with doesn’t seem to want the same things.

You feel like there’s potential with this person. You think the relationship could elevate into something meaningful, with love, compassion, and commitment. But this person doesn’t want to commit. They’re refusing to come your way and give you what you want.

Even though you’re honest and clear with them, they may not be giving you the same clarity in return. They might not know what they want, or they might just know that they don’t want to commit. They could be avoiding the serious conversations you want to have.

This person might be against marriage, or they may not want to get in their feelings. They like what you do for them, but they’re not thinking about moving the relationship to the next level. They could also be taking you for granted, assuming that you’ll always be there no matter what. So, they don’t feel the need to put in any work.

At the end of the day, this person isn’t prioritizing your needs or the relationship. You might feel like you’re holding on to hope that things will change, but this person isn’t showing signs of wanting the same level of commitment or emotional bond that you’re looking for.

For this group, I don’t see love happening for you anytime soon. It seems that many of you may be unsure about what you truly want or are stuck in a state of limbo, uncertain about how to approach a love situation. As a result, I think a lot of you will be stepping away from love for a while.

There are major changes on the horizon for you. These changes could involve losing someone important, whether it’s a friend or a situation you thought would grow but didn’t go anywhere. You’re going to go through a significant transformation in the future, which will bring endings. However, with those endings, there will also be an opportunity for healing.

I see a lot of healing in your future, but I don’t foresee a committed relationship coming your way anytime soon. Instead, there will be big life changes and a period of introspection where you might feel indecisive or unclear about what you want in love. You might not fully understand your feelings toward another person, or you could encounter fleeting connections—short-lived and superficial, almost like “smoke and mirrors.”

As these endings occur, a new chapter will open in your life, centered around healing and moving forward. While there may not be any immediate or long-term commitments in your future right now, this healing period will help you gain clarity. It will give you the space to decide what you truly want from relationships and to set higher standards for love moving forward.

Though this may feel disheartening, know that this phase is part of life’s journey, and it’s preparing you for something greater down the line. I hope this healing stage brings you clarity, strength, and self-awareness.

[mylovesstuffs]

Jeonghan is THAT type of boyfriend

This is my personal opinion and perspective. It may not accurately reflect their real-life personalities or behaviors.

As we all know, he's an absolute menace, and being in a relationship hasn’t tamed him one bit. But somehow, you love him all the more (as you should)

Jeonghan’s the type to casually suggest a board game for date night, only to absolutely destroy you at it and then give you his signature gremlin smile all while pulling you onto his lap as a consolation prize. He’ll tease, “What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t comfort my sore loser?”

He’ll lean in after catching you looking at him, tuck your hair behind your ear, and whisper, “Caught you looking at me again. Can’t blame you, though, I’m pretty irresistible.”

Jeonghan loves playing the role of the clueless angel. He’ll act like he doesn’t understand why you’re flustered when he presses you up against the kitchen counter to reach something “too high,” murmuring, “Oops, sorry. Tight space, huh?”

He’ll pull you into bed on a cold morning, trapping you with his legs tangled in yours not letting you get up.

Jeonghan’s not above leaning in during a casual conversation, his lips brushing against your ear as he says something completely innocent but with a tone that leaves your mind spinning. “We should head home soon,” he’ll murmur as his hand trailing down your arm.

His fingers will trace random patterns on your bare skin.

Jeonghan thrives on seeing you squirm in situations where you can’t react. Like when his hand casually finds its way to your inner thigh under the table at dinner, his thumb drawing circles while he pretends to listen to the conversation.

Jeonghan? Oh, he’s the boyfriend who’ll untie your apron strings just to see you flustered in the kitchen, claiming it’s an accident when you glare at him. “Oops, my bad,” he’ll say with a grin, but he’s already planning his next move.

He’ll conveniently forget things you told him just to rile you up. “Wait, you said you wanted iced coffee? I thought it was hot chocolate,” he’d say, sipping on your perfectly-made order. Then, when you pout, he’ll offer his cup. “Fine, take mine. You’re so dramatic.”

He’ll swipe your pillow in the middle of the night just to make you fight for it, pulling you closer in the process.

Fake Innocence™”: He’ll pull pranks like swapping the sugar for salt in your coffee or hiding your favorite hoodie, but he’ll always act like he’s completely innocent. “What? Me? Nooo, baby. Why would I do that?” TT no, you tell me Jeonghan, why would you do that?

After an entire day of his endless teasing, pulling you close just to leave you wanting more, he finally pins you against the wall with that smirk of his. “You’ve been so patient, baby,” he whispers, his lips brushing yours, “Let me make it worth your while.”

DEGRADATION!!

Jeonghan’s the type to sneak kisses when you least expect it like when you’re mid-sentence, complaining about his antics. “You talk too much, baby,” he’ll chuckle, kissing you again. And just like that, you forget why you were mad.

He’ll always help you pick out a dress for your date, because he loves playing dress up with you.

Jeonghan is also the king of lazy afternoons so he always drapes himself over you like a human blanket.

He’s memorized every spot that makes you melt whether it’s a kiss on the back of your neck or a light touch on your lower back. And he’s not shy about using that knowledge to his advantage.

When you’re feeling insecure, Jeonghan turns off his usual playful side. He’ll cup your face, look you straight in the eyes, and say, “I don’t know what’s going on in that tiny head of yours, but I wish you could see yourself the way I do.”

[peachiejeongin]

Christmas with Stray Kids! | OT8

Day 12 of the 12 Days of Staymas!

Synopsis: Scenarios on spending Christmas with Stray Kids!

Pairing: ot8!SKZ x reader

Genre: Fluff!

Warnings: None!

Notice: On the twelfth day of Staymas, PeachieJeongin got sad because this is the end of the Christmas fictions :( Nevertheless, my loves, I hope you all have enjoyed this "series" as much as I have! This may or may not be an annual writing, so stay tuned for next year ;) Without further ado, enjoy the headcannons and have a holly, jolly Christmas! XOXO, PeachieJeongin :)

Bang Chan:

・❥ Chan is the type to wake up early on Christmas morning, eager to make the day special!

・❥ You would wake up to the faint scent of coffee or hot chocolate he has already prepared, along with a cozy Christmas breakfast spread of pancakes, bacon, and perhaps a few festive treats.

・❥ Before the two of you open presents, Chan would insist on staying in pajamas all morning; preferably, he would want to wear matching pajamas in a Christmas-esque pattern.

・❥ Chan is a thoughtful gift-giver. He would choose presents that reflect how much he listens to you and how well he knows you. Expect things that feel incredibly personal, like a handmade scrapbook filled with his favorite memories of your relationship or a custom necklace engraved with something meaningful.

・❥ He would also give you something practical that makes your life easier, such as a cozy heated blanket or a technological gadget you have been eyeing.

・❥ To top it off, there would be a fun or silly gift to make you laugh, like a plushie of your favorite animal, a gag gift referencing an inside joke, or an over-the-top designed sweater.

・❥ After opening gifts, he would suggest cozying up on the couch for a little while, basking in the "Christmas energy," as he claims. Truly, it is just a rooze to get you to cuddle with him before it is time for Christmas dinner.

・❥ For Christmas dinner itself, he would go for something simple, yet meaningful. He would opt for a homemade dinner where you both cook together. You would laugh and taste test as you go, sneaking kisses between stirring pots and setting the table.

・❥ If you are celebrating with the rest of Stray Kids, Chan would take on the role of the mediator, as he always does. He would make sure everyone is happy, fed, and enjoying the day!

・❥ Overall, Chan on Christmas is warm, thoughtful, and full of love. He always makes sure the day is as magical for you as it is for him.

Lee Know:

・❥ Lee Know is not the type to wake up super early, but once he is up, he is all in for Christmas!

・❥ You would likely wake up to him snuggling closer, and you would make a cheeky comment like, "I think Santa came, Minnie." He would just snuggle closer to you, mumbling something like, "Five more minutes."

・❥ When he does eventually get up, he would play it cool, but you would catch him stealing glances at the Christmas presents, anxious to open all of his gifts.

・❥ Expect a breakfast that is more indulgent than normal; he would whip up something simple yet delicious, like French toast or waffles, with extra whipped cream or powdered sugar. He would claim he made it so sweet so you could feel the hyperactivity of the holiday.

・❥ Lee Know's gifts are carefully chosen; he would get you something you have mentioned in passing, like a piece of clothing, a skincare set, or a hobby related item, which shows you that he is always paying attention even if you believe he is not.

・❥ He would also get you something small but incredibly personal, like a framed photo of the two of you or a handwritten letter.

・❥ If you are a pet lover, his cat dad instincts would kick in. His gift may include something adorable for your pet, such as a sweater or chew toy. If you do not have a pet, he would get you a plushie that looks suspiciously like one of his cats.

・❥ If you gave him a heartfelt gift, he would act nonchalant at first, but later, you would catch him looking at the gift longingly and smiling when he thinks you are not looking.

・❥ In true Lee Know fashion, this boy would tease you all day long, especially about how excited you are for Christmas. He would make comments about you being like a child, but he would secretly light up whenever he saw you enthusiastic about the day.

・❥ Christmas dinner is important to Lee Know. If it is a family or group gathering, he would be a little reserved but still attentive, making sure you are comfortable and sneaking you brief smiles across the table.

・❥ If it is just the two of you, he would either cook a traditional meal by himself or suggest ordering something from a nice restaurant. He just wants to avoid having to clean up a huge mess in the kitchen at the end of the night.

・❥ Lee Know on Christmas is equal parts playful and tender, balancing his tease with moments that remind you of his gentle care.

Changbin:

・❥ Changbin would sleep in a little later than usual, only because he stayed up late on Christmas Eve finishing up last-minute wrapping.

・❥ He would wake up excited, bouncing out of bed and immediately shaking you awake screaming, "It's Christmas!" before dragging you to the living room like a little kid.

・❥ Presents first, breakfast second. He would watch intently as you opened your presents, grinning from ear to ear at your jolly reactions.

・❥ Changbin's gifts reflect his personality: thoughtful but funny. He would most likely get you something entirely surprising, like a pair of concert tickets or a surprise weekend getaway to a city you have been wanting to travel to.

・❥ If you are into fitness, he may gift you some cool workout gear so you can train together.

・❥ He would also spoil you with cozy items, like oversized hoodies or fluffy blankets, for whenever you feel like having a lazy day.

・❥ No matter the gift you got him, he would be genuinely touched. His reactions may be a bit over-the-top depending on the present, but if they come from you, he would love them nevertheless.

・❥ Changbin would probably suggest building a gingerbread house together, which would turn into a chaotic mess of icing fights and him eating half of the candy before it can even reach the house (see Frosting Feuds for reference ;) )

・❥ If you are having Christmas dinner with family or friends, he would be the life of the party, cracking jokes and making everyone laugh while including you in all of the fun.

・❥ If it is just the two of you, he would suggest ordering out because the day has worn him out, even though all he has done is open gifts, and he does not feel like cooking.

・❥ While waiting for the food, Changbin would delve into discussion about his favorite childhood Christmas memories, bringing a soft and nostalgic vibe to the evening.

・❥ After dinner, Changbin would insist on a movie marathon. He would pick classics, such as 'Elf' or 'Home Alone.'

・❥ He would absolutely fall asleep in your arms during the movies, mumbling to himself about how this was the best Christmas ever.

Hyunjin:

・❥ Hyunjin would wake up slowly, a way to savor the magic of Christmas morning. He would pull you close, mumbling something about how sweet it is to spend the holidays together.

・❥ He would suggest that the two of you sleep for just a little longer; after all, you have the whole day, so why rush it?

・❥ Once awake, he would take his time preparing a cozy breakfast for both of you; it would most likely be something artistic, like perfectly plated fruit or pancakes/waffles decorated with powdered sugar that he would call "snow."

・❥ He is not the type to rush into opening gifts. He would want to sit by the fireplace at first, taking in the morning's moment before unwrapping presents.

・❥ Hyunjin's gifts would be deeply sentimental and emotional. He would probably create something, such as a painting inspired by a favorite memory together or a hand-drawn card with a heartfelt letter inside.

・❥ His gifts would also be on the luxurious side. He would spoil you with a piece of jewelry or an elegant bag that he picked out specifically to suit your style.

・❥ He would absolutely want to do something creative, like designing Christmas cards for family members and friends or painting a festive scene together.

・❥ If you are not as artistic, he would guide you, holding your hand as you attempt to paint, and laughing softly when it turns out a little messier than intended.

・❥ Hyunjin would enjoy planning a more intimate dinner for just you two, complete with soft lighting, a festive playlist, and an attempt to cook something fancy.

・❥ If you are celebrating with others, he would focus intently on you, making sure you feel included in the festivities.

・❥ To end the night, Hyunjin would also insist on a cozy photoshoot, making sure the lighting is solemn yet soft before taking a mix of sweet and silly photos to comemorate the day.

・❥ As you doze off beside him, he would sketch a scene of the Christmas tree quietly, inspired by the perfection of the day. He would give you the work in the morning when he was done, claiming it to be a late present.

・❥ Christmas with Hyunjin would be full of beauty, warmth, and sentimentality, making you feel as if you are living in a fairy tale.

Han:

・❥ Han would wake up early, practically vibrating with excitement. He would hesitate to wake you up, though, instead amusing himself by scrolling through his phone or singing carols under his breath.

・❥ Eventually, his impatience would win, and he would gently poke your cheek, whispering, "It's Christmas!" until you groggily join him on the enthusiasm.

・❥ He would race to the Christmas tree like a little kid, eagerly pulling you along, and insist on opening presents right away, barely able to contain his curiosity about what you got him.

・❥ You would literally have to remind this boy that he has to eat breakfast first...

・❥ Speaking of, breakfast would be haphazard but fun, like snowman-shaped pancakes.

・❥ His reactions would be over the top, with loud gasps, dramatic "thank yous," and a goofy grin plastered on his face.

・❥ Han's gifts would be quirky but reflective. He would most likely compose a song, comprised of lyrics about your relationship and including funny memories in some of the backup vocals.

・❥ He would also throw in something silly, like a novelty mug with a cheesy joke. It would come with a heartfelt explanation like, "This reminds me of when you..."

・❥ Han would surprise you throughout the day with little "pranks" throughout the day, like putting a large, ridiculous bow on his head and declaring himself your "best Christmas present."

・❥ If you are celebrating with friends or family, Han would bring the energy, making jokes and overall being Han! He would also brag about your cooking skills, even if you were not the one who made the meal.

・❥ If it is just the two of you, he would suggest ordering out because, "It's Christmas! We shouldn't have to cook!" You would end up feasting on your favorite comfort foods while sitting on the couch in your pajamas.

・❥ Han would absolutely initiate a mini concert in the living room, pulling out a guitar, or using anything he could find as a microphone, and performing hilarious dramatic reenactments of Christmas classics.

・❥ Han's Christmas would be full of energy but just as sentimental.

Felix:

・❥ Felix would wake up early, but would not rush you. Instead, he would take a moment to admire how peaceful you look while sleeping, grateful that he gets to awaken next to you on Christmas.

・❥ When you finally stir, he would great you with a soft, "Merry Christmas, my love," and a warm hug, burying his face in your neck for a few extra seconds of coziness.

・❥ You would wake up to the smell of freshly baked breakfast treats, such as cinnamon rolls, since Felix would have started his day in the kitchen to make a perfect, festive breakfast.

・❥ Before opening presents, he would insist on savoring breakfast together by the tree, wrapping you both up in a large, fluffy blanket while you eat and sip hot chocolate.

・❥ Felix's gifts would be nothing short of heartfelt. He may knit you a scarf or bake you a tin of cookies decorated with your favorite colors or movie characters.

・❥ He would also spoil you with something expensive, yet practical, like a high-quality sweater or a charm-bracelet.

・❥ As a playful touch, he would add in something nostalgic, such as a plushie or game you loved as a child, just to see your face light up with joy.

・❥ Felix would be incredibly thoughtful if you are celebrating Christmas in a group, making sure everyone feels comfortable and full from the food.

・❥ If it is just you two, he would go all out in the kitchen, preparing a fancy, yet comforting meal. He would plate it like a chef on a cooking show, grinning proudly as he sets the table in front of you.

・❥ At some point, Felix would set up his gaming devices for a "cozy gaming session." He would pretend to go easy only to get hilariously competitive halfway through a round of Mario Kart.

・❥ He would absolutely sneak up behind you at random moments to softly kiss you, cheekily commenting how he "though he saw mistletoe."

・❥ Before bed, Felix would get sentimental, holding your hands in his and thanking you for making the holiday so special. He may even tear up slightly as he tells you how much he cherishes you.

Seungmin:

・❥ Seungmin would wake up at a reasonable hour, greeting you with a sleepy but soft, "Merry Christmas," and immediately teasing you for being more excited than him.

・❥ He would prefer to start the day with breakfast before presents, even if it is something simple such as toast and coffee. He would probably prepare it himself and plate it carefully.

・❥ Seungmin would be methodical with presents, opening one at a time and paying close attention to your reactions as you open his gifts.

・❥ His gifts would be endearing mixed with applicable. He would get you something you have been needing or casually mentioned wanting months ago, showing how he remembers the smallest of details about you.

・❥ He would have a singular gift referencing an inside joke just to make you chuckle, as well.

・❥ He would have a subtle, proud smile if you love what he got you, but he would still find a way to cheekily make fun, saying "Of course you like it. I have taste."

・❥ If you suggest singing Christmas songs together, he would roll his eyes but eventually cave. His voice would be so beautiful and warm that you would stop singing just to listen, making him blush as he asks why you are staring at him.

・❥ Seungmin would keep dinner simple but cozy. If it is just the two of you dining, he would prefer a homemade meal, perhaps working together to cook. He would also sneak tastes of whatever you are making and pretend to judge your technique.

・❥ If you are with friends or family, he would be polite and a little reserved, but would sneak glances your way, smiling softly whenever your eyes meet.

・❥ He would insist on a proper dessert as well, such as pie, cake, or cookies, teasing you if you felt too full to eat sweets.

・❥ Seungmin would want to spend the evening quietly. He would suggest reading a book together, playing a board game, or watching a holiday movie.

・❥ Honestly, most of the day would be spent besides the Christmas tree or fireplace; Seungmin loves the soft glow of either reflecting in your eyes as you ramble about whatever that day.

・❥ Before bed, he would pull you into a warm hug, resting his chin on your head and whispering, "Thanks for making today so perfect. Just don't snore too loud tonight."

Jeongin:

・❥ Jeongin would wake up early, excited but attempting to act calm about Christmas morning. He would lean over to check if you are awake, and casually ask, "So are we doing presents or what?"

・❥ He would practically drag you out of bed and over to the tree, insisting you both wear Santa hats or something festive for the "full Christmas experience."

・❥ Honestly, this boy would forget all about breakfast.

・❥ His gifts are a mix of heartwarming and goofy. He would get you something meaningful, like a keepsake that ties into a favorite memory. For example, if one of your first dates was a concert, he would get you a laminated version of the concert ticket.

・❥ He would also include something trendy or fashionable, like a cozy sweater or a new pair of sneakers that he thinks would look amazing on you. Bonus points if it matches his own style so you can coordinate outfits.

・❥ There would be the playful side to his gifts as well, like a quirky gadget or something silly he knows will make you cackle.

・❥ At some point in the day, he would pull out his phone to record a short vlog of the day's highlights, grinning as he says, "I want to remember this Christmas forever."

・❥ He would absolutely sneak a surprise gift under the tree that he would not let you open until the very end of the day. It would be a small present, but just as meaningful, like a handwritten note or a necklace that symbolizes your time together.

・❥ He would also spend part of the day FaceTiming or texting his family to keep up with them on the holiday! He would even pass the phone your way so they can say hello to you.

・❥ If you are with friends or family, Jeongin would charm everyone with his bright and easygoing nature. He would probably sneak his way into grabbing extra helpings of certain dishes due to his kind, innocent personality.

・❥ If it was an independent sort of Christmas, Jeongin would want to make the meal fun and stress free. Whether it is ordering takeout or making a simple comfort food, he would prioritize time together over a fancy tradition.

・❥ Before bed, Jeongin would snuggle up to you by the fireplace, wrapping an arm around you and declaring that this was the best Christmas of his twenty-three years.

---

Taglist:@velvetmoonlght, @amararosesblog (If you would like to be added to the taglist, please let me know!)

[writingtraumaforever]

A Courtship Christmas: Chapter 4

Notes: Hello! With the Sonadow tag booming right now after the movie, we have a LOT of new readers! I want to welcome everyone along for the ride, and thank you all for joining! Hope you all enjoy this chapter and check out my blog’s writing masterpost for more of my work! Also a quick reminder that this series was started before the movie came out, so there will be minor inconsistencies with the canon movies but nothing too major.

Summary: Shadow faces the ghost of Christmas past.

Courtship Series Masterpost!

Link to my AO3!

Start:

Sonic can’t find his voice. He can’t find his sanity, actually, because this is insane!! Maria can’t be alive! She died! It’s part of Shadow’s whole angsty backstory that made him into the anti-hero he is today! Sonic is pretty sure he’d know if he got such a big plot point like that wrong. And yet here standing before him is a girl with long, blonde hair, big, blue eyes, and that same wide, bright smile Sonic has seen in all the pictures. She’s wearing a red Christmas sweater and some matching ear muffs instead of her typical headband and rainbow colored sweater— but it’s still her, right???

“Are you okay??” she quirks a brow at him, her face turning to one of slight amusement but also one of concern, “You look a little.. green.”

Her accent is definitely Polish which Sonic doesn’t remember Shadow mentioning at any point. He assumed she just sounded like Gerald when she talked.

It takes Sonic way too long to answer, but he eventually does. And when he does, it maybe overcompensates a bit and is way too energetic.

“That’s funny!” Sonic practically yells with the widest smile he’s ever mustered, “Because I’m usually told I’m blue! Ha!”

She flinches slightly at his suddenly louder voice, but her smile remains as she gives a little giggle, “You’re weird..”

Sonic snorts at this, blushing a bit as he realizes that yeah, he’s being weird. He should stop.

“Well I am alien, in my defense,” Sonic smirks, leaning against the door by pulling it closer to him, so that she can’t see inside.

“That’s true,” she grins, tilting her head at him, “So what’s your name then?”

“I’m Sonic,” he answers quickly, “I came with Shadow.”

Saying he’s his boyfriend still feels so bold, and with his nerves already worked up currently, he may throw up if he adds to that.

“I assumed,” she giggles, rocking back and forth from her toes to her heels with her hands clasped behind her back and her eyes watching him filled with wonder and curiosity, “You two look a lot alike from what I’ve seen in pictures of him.”

“We get that a lot,” Sonic chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck and finding himself sweating a bit. Is it hot in here?? It’s definitely hot in here, right.

“So he’s here then??” she asks, her brows knitting with a hopeful smile, “Sorry if I sound pushy, I’ve just been dying to meet him.”

Very poor choice of words there, kiddo.

“Uhh..,” Sonic clears his throat, thinking on his feet before answering as casually as he can, “He’s kinda napping, right now.. we’re from a different time zone and all, so he’s pretty beat. Didn’t get much sleep last night, and we got up pretty early to get here.”

“Oh,” her smile falters only slightly, but she stays upbeat for the most part, “That’s okay! I can wait then. Wouldn’t want him grumpy from being tired. Though, he’s pretty grumpy in general, right??” She giggles at this, talking like she knows him when she clearly doesn’t.. or does she?

“Right..,” Sonic says with an uneasy and lopsided smile, “..I’m sorry, I’ll tell him you stopped by. What was your name again??..”

”Where are my manners?” she rolls her eyes at herself, holding her hand out to him for him to shake, “I’m Marzia. Marzia Robotnik.”

“Marzia,” Sonic repeats slowly, eyes never leaving her as he reaches a hand out to shake hers.

That’s.. real close to Maria.

None of this is sitting great with him.

“It’s nice to meet you,” he smiles nonetheless.

“You too, Sonic,” she grins, nodding her head as she retracts her hand from his, “You both will be at dinner, right??”

“Uhh- Hope to be!” he grins nervously, not offering any promises.

“Good,” she giggles before backing up, “I’ll let you two settle in and rest. Please tell Shadow I am so glad he’s here when he wakes up!”

“I will!”

And with that, she’s running off down the hall again, Mr. Tanaka waiting for her at the end of the hall with a smile on his face as he places a hand on her head and escorts her back down the stairs.

Sonic waits until they’re out of sight before he’s quickly closing the door and pressing his back to it, eyes wide and staring at Shadow now who is looking right back at him from the bed with fear in his eyes.

“Who was it??” Shadow asks before Sonic even has a chance to think of how to explain what he just saw, let alone tell Shadow, “You look like you’ve seen a ghost..”

“Well,” Sonic chokes out in an unusually high-pitched tone, clearing his throat before trying again, “It-… I-… dude, I’m not sure what I just saw..”

“What do you mean??” Shadow asks with knitted brows, more anxiety seeming to pour into his tone as his fingers curl into the comforter on either side of himself.

“Okay— let’s just breathe a second,” Sonic offers, walking towards Shadow again, but Shadow isn’t having it.

“Sonic..”

“We don’t know anything for certain, and we’ve seen some crazy shit— but not that crazy, right??”

“Sonic, what is it???”

“You’re stressed out as is, Shadow, and I don’t wanna make things worse because I’m misunderstanding something or jumping to conclusions—“

Shadow grabs Sonic by his wrists when Sonic is close enough and clutches them together in front of him, the both of them meeting eyes and Sonic’s heart stops. Shadow looks so scared.. so vulnerable.. and so lost.

“Just tell me.”

Sonic swallows.

“I think I just talked to Maria..”

Shadow blinks, big, brown eyes laced with crimson searching Sonic’s own emerald ones as if looking for some sort of cruel joke or a hint of sarcasm that he’s not catching. Shadow never has been the best at catching onto vocal cues when it comes to making jokes or being witty, but he’s certain he’s missing nothing here. Sonic is serious. Very much so. He looks just as shocked and scared as Shadow imagines he himself looks..

“But… but that’s impossible, right?? I mean, maybe I’m missing something here—“

Sonic can’t even finish the thought before Shadow is gone. The sound of air shoes kicking on and then a gust of wind, and Sonic is left standing at an empty bedside with Shadow having fled out the door.

“Fuck,” Sonic curses in a whisper before speeding off after him.

He should’ve worded that better. He shouldn’t have dropped it on him like that.

Shadow is racing down the stairs already, sliding down the railing with zero care to being a good guest at this point.

How could Maria be here???

How could she be alive???

Perhaps they managed to save her after the GUN invasion, and he was none the wiser??? Or maybe they cloned her??? They’re Robotnik’s, he doesn’t know what sort of mad scientry they’re capable of, but cloning isn’t far off the realm of possibilities with everything Shadow himself has endured. Or maybe time travel?? Or dimension hopping?? With chaos being experimented with, it’s quite possible—

He skids to a stop at the bottom of the stairs, his ear twitching at the sound of voices in the library..

“Shadow, wait—!”

He hears Sonic hiss from the top of the stairs, but he ignores this. His eyes are wide as he quickly steps to the doorway of the library and looks for the hosts of the voices.

There’s a group of children there. Two boys and a girl. Shadow hardly notices the boys, though. His eyes are locked wide and far too full of hope to be hesitant on the girl..

She’s facing away from him. Her hair long, about to her waist. Blonde. She’s about the same height Maria was.. same build. She’s got her hands on her hips and is scolding the two boys currently— all the same spunk and defensiveness as Maria can be seen from that alone.

He approaches her quietly. Slowly. Carefully.

His heart is pounding so hard in his ears, he can barely hear what she’s saying.

“He’s sleeping!” her voice sounds like Maria’s, just a different accent.. maybe she picked it up from living here?? “You two are going to just have to be patient and let him rest! He’s not a toy, he’s a person! He doesn’t have to tend to your beck and call just because you want to see him right now!”

“Uhh, Marzia?” one of the boys says, interrupting her tantrum with wide eyes staring at Shadow approaching from behind her.

“Don’t interrupt me!”

“Look..”

She pauses at this, following the boy’s pointing finger behind her and turning to find Shadow standing there a few feet before her..

Her eyes widen down at him..

Her big… brown eyes..

They’re… brown..

Sonic stands in the doorway watching, his own eyes wide in concern and fear at the sight before him.

This is either going to be really good or really bad..

“You’re awake,” she smiles, her eyes twinkling from the reflection of the fireplace as she grins at him.

Shadow just stares..

She looks just like her. Freckles speckled across her face— Shadow use to count them.. he wonders if this girl has ninety-eight, too. Same button nose. Same blonde hair that was unruly from antics she had been up to, never one to sit still..

Same pale skin..

But there’s differences..

The mole under her lower lip on the right side is missing. Her eyebrows are darker in color, making her face appear less soft than Maria’s had been and more defined..

and her eyes…

The cool, clear blue eyes that reminded him of the night sky right as the stars began to appear in it…

They were replaced by brown pools of mud. Like chocolate, or a deep caramel.

Not familiar.

Not hers.. not his Maria’s..

“I..,” Shadow tries, but his voice fails him. His hand twitches at his side as if to reach but he doesn’t. Instead it clenches there, shaky..

Sonic watches helplessly from the doorway, his eyes folding back and his tail sagging behind him as his frown becomes more prominent..

It’s not her..

Shadow is quiet for too long.

The boys behind the Maria-look-alike grow impatient with him.

“Come on then,” one spats with a huff, “Talk!”

Shadow flinches at the sudden snap from his daze, blinking his glossy eyes over to the red-headed boy who appears a year or two older than the girl.

“Yeah, come on! Show us what makes you so special!” the youngest of the children speaks, strawberry blond and full of freckles. He too seems impatient with Shadow.

“Stop being so rude!” the girl snaps at the two, turning to them again to stomp her foot at them, “You’re going to scare him off!”

Shadow stumbles back a few steps, feeling like the world is spinning and his heart is failing. Sonic takes a few steps forward to meet him halfway, catching Shadow in his arms with his chest pressed to the hybrid’s back and his arms hugged up under his partner’s.

“Shads, easy..,” he whispers, brows knit up tight as he presses his hand in Shadow’s chest fur to rest over his heart, “I’m right here. You’re okay. Just breathe—“

“Don’t touch me—“ Shadow twists in his arms, feeling incredibly overwhelmed and overstimulated as the three children bicker before him. Managing to jerk from Sonic’s hold, he turns to rush out of the room only to be halted in his tracks by a woman now standing in the doorway of the library.

Terra.

He recognizes her from photos on file Rouge had collected.

“I see the children have made their introduction. Rather rudely, if I may add,” her voice comes loud and stern, her eyes glaring at the three bickering kids in front of the fireplace.

They each three stop immediately, wide eyes staring at her before they all apologize in unison, “Sorry, Grandma Terra..”

The two boys look grouchy about their apology, but the girl seems genuine. Disappointed in herself.

“Mm..,” the woman sighs before returning her gaze to Shadow, “I too apologize. I.. didn’t want you to be introduced this way. I had hoped to greet you for myself beforehand..”

Shadow stares up at her, still feeling dazed and dizzy but trying his best to regain his composure and not make a scene by rushing out now that his host was here.

He doesn’t speak. So Terra continues.

“Would you and your friend care to join me in my office?” she tilts her head at him, Shadow staying quiet a moment before nodding a bit reluctantly.

She nods in return before turning to walk down the hall, “Follow me, then.”

Shadow spares a glance back to Sonic who is watching him as if for permission to join them. Shadow merely offers an apologetic knit of his brows for his momentary outburst towards him only moments ago before reaching a hand out for Sonic’s.

Sonic takes it without a thought, following him down the hall behind their host.

She isn’t at all what Sonic had been expecting. Perhaps he had been expecting someone older and more brittle. This woman was nothing like that.

She did in fact look like a grown up Maria. But her hair was more strawberry than blonde, a few gray streaks in it that had come from age. It was pinned up neatly on top of her head, her skin resembling porcelain without freckle or blemish, but having a few wrinkles in the corners of her eyes and around her lips. She wore a nice, red top that had a bow on one shoulder, and a formal black skirt with black boots to match. She looked very professional, very put-together, very classy.

She was intimidating… but not scary.

“I want to apologize again for not being able to greet you,” she sighs once they reach a closed door, opening it and turning on the light to reveal the warm and comfortable office inside, “I was tending to some business with my lawyer with GUN, and—“

She pauses when Shadow’s eyes meet hers, sighing quietly through her nose before offering a small smile, “None of that is why you’re here, though. So let’s not talk about that, hm?”

Shadow merely nods a bit before walking himself and Sonic into the office, Terra closing the door behind them.

“Now for proper introductions,” she says with a softer smile, “I’m Terra Robotnik,” she holds her hand out. Shadow stares at it a bit too long since he’s holding onto Sonic’s hand with his dominant one for comfort, so Sonic quickly shakes it himself with his own free hand.

“I’m Sonic,” Sonic introduces, gaining the attention of the woman, “Shadow RSVP’d a plus one? That’s me.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Sonic,” she nods politely, “I trust your travels here were safe?”

“Oh yeah. Nothing like a good ‘ole warp ring to get ya places quick!”

She blinks at this before offering a breathy little laugh, “Right, um-… And you’re Shadow..”

Her gaze returns to Shadow who still looks pretty out of it. His eyes are foggy and his cheeks look paler than normal.

He doesn’t shake her hand.

Instead, he looks right at this woman after a long moment of staring at nothing and speaks in a rattled and raspy voice, “Who is she??”

Sonic’s brows knit at this, squeezing Shadow’s hand a bit tighter in his own to try and calm his nerves some. But Shadow doesn’t seem too reachable at the moment. He needs answers. Explanations. And he needs them now.

The woman seems to know immediately what he’s talking about, sighing before retracting her extended hand towards him and moving to her desk,

“She would be my daughter.”

She opens the top drawer of her desk to pull out an album, opening it up to pull out one photo from the front and another from the back.

“Her name is Marzia,” she explains softly, sliding the two photos across her desk for Shadow to see for himself. He steps over to investigate the two.. one being of Maria before she passed. Another of the strange girl from the library.. they’re nearly identical.

“It’s.. uncanny, yes?” Terra chuckles breathlessly, her smile bittersweet, “…I never knew my sister. She was gone before I was born,” she explains softly, her eyes lifting to look at Shadow who is now picking the photos up to look at the more closely. Compare the two.

“But I looked at her photos all the time growing up.. watched the old home videos. And as my darling daughter grew older, it was undeniable that she took after her deceased aunt..”

“How old is she?” Shadow asks quietly, eyes never leaving the photos.

“She’ll be twelve next year,” she answers quietly, “I had her late in life—“

“Where is her father??”

“There isn’t one,” and this gains Shadow’s attention, curious eyes looking up at her now, Sonic taking the chance to step closer and look at the photos for himself. It is uncanny..

“I had my eggs frozen when I was thirty..,” she explained, “As you can imagine, family was a difficult thing for me growing up. My parents thought having me would fill the void in their life that Maria had left.. sadly, they never were the same.. divorce was inevitable. I blamed myself for not being good enough. For not being more like my sister.. I idolized her for a long time.. and then I hated her.. now I simply miss her.. which is silly because I never met her,” she admits with a little knit in her brow, Shadow looking at her with a purposely neutral expression. Void of emotion..

“..I never married. I dove myself into my studies, my work. I didn’t have time for trivial things like relationships or love.., but as I got older, I thought that perhaps I’d regret this one day. Life has a way of making you question the present constantly and always look to the future by studying your past, you see. So I had my eggs frozen. It was the best decision I ever made, too. The father was simply an anonymous sperm donor that I selected based on his file, and the egg grew until the embryo was ready to be implanted in surrogate’s uterus— carrying her myself at my age was a risk I didn’t want to take.. nine months later, I had my baby girl. And it was like fate had mocked me with how much she resembled my sister. But never once did I not love that girl.. not for a moment.”

Shadow listens in silence, his eyes staring straight into Terra’s as if to tell if there’s any deception behind them. He sees none. Just a woman who has endured a lot in her lifetime.

“…Once I had her, family became far more important to me,” she explains with a sigh, “I reached out to family I hadn’t in years. My first cousins..”

This gains Sonic’s attention, eyes snapping up to her as he speaks without really meaning to, “Even—“

“Ivo, yes,” she admits with a roll of her eyes, “He was a Robotnik scorned by our grandfather’s sins, too. I thought perhaps he’d understand.. instead, it seems he’s followed in his footsteps.”

Sonic snorts, “That’s an understatement.”

“Indeed,” she shrugs, “It’s a shame. I think if he had been loved properly and seen how he could be happy with a family, things may have been different for him..”

It’s an odd thought. A world without Eggman.

Would Shadow even be here awake now without him?? Or would Knuckles and Tails be part of the Wachowski’s???

Sonic doesn’t know, but he doesn’t wanna think about it either.

So he doesn’t.

“What made you reach out to me??” Shadow asks the inevitable question now, “…Why now??..”

The woman takes a long breath, moving to pull out her office chair and take a seat at her desk with a heavy sigh. She gestures to the two seat in front of the desk for Sonic and Shadow to sit as well, Sonic being the first to do so and Shadow watching him before reluctantly doing the same.

They hold hands.

The woman looks at their joined hands and seems to take note of this but says nothing of it.

“..For a long time, GUN lied about what happened on the ARK,” she explains, her eyes staring blankly at the door now, “Maria was sick.. my parents had done all they could for her, but there was nothing that could be done here on earth.. Gerald Robotnik swore he could cure her if he could only take her to the ARK. My parents weren’t so easily persuaded, having little faith in Gerald’s research.. so he took her by force.”

Shadow takes note she calls him ‘Gerald’. Not Grandfather.

He also takes note that Maria was taken by force.. something he wasn’t aware of.

“GUN showed up at my parents’ doorstep. There was no arrest or guns drawn, but it was made very clear that this wasn’t optional. Maria was part of Gerald’s bargaining with GUN to work for them. So they took her. She was none-the-wiser, my parents not wanting her to be scared. They knew Gerald was insane, but he’d never hurt her. He loved her far too much. So they packed her things and told her they’d write her letters and send her care packages every month that GUN sent supplies to the station.. and she left with Gerald under the guise that this would cure her. That she’d come home..”

Terra takes another deep breath, blinking away some mist from her eyes as they fall on Shadow, “…We both know she never did..”

Shadow doesn’t say anything, brows furrowed a bit as he looks at her. Sonic squeezes his hand a bit tighter..

“…For many years, my family was told that it was Gerald’s experiment that had gone rogue. That Gerald had dealt with forces far beyond his control and paid the price.. we thought—,” her voice cracks, brows furrowed as she stares down at her desk with a mix of loss and anger. She blinks a few tears away, shame in her eyes as she looks at Shadow, “We thought you had killed her…”

Shadow’s brows knit a bit at that, his jaw tight and his fingers clutching around Sonic’s tight.

The very idea he’d ever bring harm to Maria in any way.. it made him sick.

It was moments like these that his faith in GUN dwindled. That it became hard to see the good in them. How they’ve grown, how they’ve changed for the better.. how Shadow is doing good with them now..

“..I was brought into this world believing that Project Shadow had taken my older sister from me,” she whispers quietly, leaning across her desk to pick up the picture of Maria and look at it, “…My hate for you ran deep.. the very thing that was meant to cure my sister… destroyed her..”

Shadow’s ears twitch back at that, Sonic’s brows furrowing at her poor choice of words..

He doesn’t like this.. doesn’t like how little Shadow’s feelings are being taken into consideration with all of this. He was invited here with no explanation. He was bombarded with a Maria look-a-like with no warning. And now he was being put through the emotional ringer and for what??

So the Robotniks could get some closure and feel better about themselves??? Shadow wasn’t their charity case. He wasn’t there to make them look good or feel redeemed in some way.

He went through more than any of them..

Sonic’s quills rise a bit in defense..

“But when the Project Shadow’s files were leaked to the public.. I discovered the truth,” she continues, looking to Shadow then, “…She was taken from both of us.”

Shadow doesn’t speak. Doesn’t feel he had the right to.. he had failed this family in so many ways.. sure, he hadn’t been the one to kill her. But he hadn’t cured her, either..

It was his creation that led to her demise..

“…So here I am, Shadow,” she uses his name, at least, “…trying. I’m trying to understand my sister,” a tear falls from her eyes now, her voice shaking and her hand holding Maria’s picture trembling. “I’m trying to understand why she loved you so much.. why she was willing to—“ her voice cracks, swallowing as she tries again, “to sacrifice her precious life for yours.. the life of a simply little hedgehog that talks.. what makes your life so much more important than hers.. that she’d give hers up instead of come back home to us all—“

“Okay, that’s enough,” Sonic rises from his chair, Shadow flinching at the movement. He was shaking. Quivering. He looks like he’s lived the horrors of the ARK all over again, like he’s reliving it all and left scared and paralyzed by what has happened. Sonic won’t stand for it.

He moves to stand between Shadow and Terra, his brows furrowed and jaw locked, “He’s not here to help you understand. He was here looking for family. If you’re too blind to see what makes Shadow so special— to see what made Maria so special??? That’s on you.”

“Sonic..,” Shadow’s voice comes quiet and weak behind him.

“You obviously know nothing about your sister if you don’t know that it wasn’t Shadow, it was just her being her. You don’t deserve answers if you can’t even see them when they’re right in front of you.”

“Sonic..”

“How dare you??? Invite him here for what— just to make you feel less like your grandfather??”

“Sonic!”

Sonic stops at that, turning to look at Shadow and see him looking up with a pleading expression.

Sonic’s quills lower a bit at this, his eyes softening slightly at the sight of his distressed boyfriend..

Then he looks back to Terra with a glare, her eyes locked wide on his as well.

“…We’re out of here.”

He grabs Shadow’s hand and drags him up out of his chair, pulling him to the door without giving him much of an option.

Shadow looks back at Terra as he’s pulled along, watching her wide and teary eyes as the door is opened. When he turns back around, he sees that little girl sitting there outside the door. She’s knocked back— having been listening with her ear pressed to the door.

Marzia.

Sonic doesn’t pay her much mind, stepping around her with Shadow’s hand still in his and a mumbled “Sorry, kid.”

Shadow’s eyes watch her as they step over her, her own eyes big and round and distressed by their exit.

“Wait!” she calls, trying to scramble to her feet now to catch up to the two, “Wait— Shadow!”

Sonic ignores this, tugging Shadow still. He won’t allow this. He won’t sit by while they all use Shadow like this and leave Shadow with nothing but an even more broken heart and heavier guilt. He won’t.

Shadow’s head turns to Sonic, pulling his hand from Sonic’s but Sonic snatches his wrist instead.

“Sonic, wait—“

“We’re leaving, Shadow.”

Shadow swallows hard, head turning back to the little girl as she manages to get to her feet and chase them a few steps— then she falls back to the ground with a little grunt, her breathing sounding wheezy and ragged..

Her hand reaches out to him weakly.

“Shadow..”

Shadow’s eyes widen at this, his mind flashing back to a similar image where Maria had been lying bloody on the ground reaching for him..

‘Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog..‘

His hand jerks from Sonic’s, Sonic spinning around but not able to stop him before he’s rushing down the hall back to the little girl.

Crouching down beside her in an instant, his hand moves to hold hers and help her sit up a bit, his other hand rubbing her back in slow circles as she looks up at him with teary, brown eyes.

“Breathe..,” he whispers quietly, brows knit up tight as he demonstrates by breathing in slowly through his nose and then out his mouth. Deep and deliberate.

She nods, sniffling a bit before she slowly takes a deep breath in and then blows it out as he demonstrates..

“Do you have an inhaler?” he asks, his voice so soft and gentle and nearly a wisp in the wind with how quiet it is.

She nods, still trying to match his breathing as she points a bit shaky towards the stairs, “I-in my room..”

Shadow’s eyes turn to Sonic then, looking at him in silent desperation.

And as much as Sonic hates the reason they’re here, this kid is innocent. And Shadow… Shadow needs this, right now. To help her..

So he doesn’t hesitate to dash up the stairs and find the girls room, searching and finding her inhaler in a matter of seconds before returning to the hall to hand it to Shadow who then hands it to her..

Sonic has never seen this side of Shadow.. the kind to mend.. heal..

She takes a couple of deep breaths of the inhaler, her breathing evening out now. Sonic’s eyes drift up to see Terra standing in the doorway with wide eyes, watching the entire thing. His brows furrow a bit at her, but then return to Shadow and the little girl..

Shadow’s eyes are on her. Only on her. Like she’s the only thing in the world at that moment..

Yeah..

They’re not going home, are they.

[reverie-starlight]

skincare with keigo bc I'm never not soft for him and want to take care of him forever. happy birthday !!!!!!!!

gn!reader, no physical descriptions, lots and lots and lots of fluff. he is my baby. also I don't have a real skincare routine, so I'm apologizing in advance for how lackluster it may seem. this is in the pre-moving in together stage of your relationship, but not too early on either, if it matters to you!

keigo watches you curiously through the doorway that leads to the master bathroom as he sits on your bed cross-legged. he doesn't want to disrupt whatever it is you're doing (you seem very focused), but he's extremely interested in what you're putting on your face.

he thinks you look stunning with the fluffy animal headband on and some shorts paired with one of his old shirts. he thinks he could look at you like this forever, actually.

he watches you smile slightly and lean over the counter to get closer to the mirror. "I can feel you staring at me, you know."

his heart flutters and he tries to ignore how hot his face feels.

you stand up straight again and turn your face towards him, beckoning him over with a wave of your hand. as if he's been waiting for you to do just that, he gets up and saunters into the bathroom.

"so... what exactly is all this?" he asks, settling behind you with his arms around your waist, inspecting the different bottles and containers.

"they're skincare products. see?" you hold up one of the tubes for him to read, going back to spreading the cream over your skin.

"hydrating... morning and night use... huh."

you pick up on the curiosity in his voice and look at him through the mirror. “do you want to try my skincare routine for yourself, keigo?”

he hesitates and you give him a moment to decide, though you have a feeling you know what he’s going to say. eventually keigo does nod and you peck him on the cheek. “I’ll get you a headband, just a second.”

moments later you're sitting on the counter, shoving a white headband with panda ears over his head. he stares at himself in the mirror, watching you adjust it so his hair is pushed back from his forehead.

"you're so cute," you murmur, smiling at him and resisting the urge to press kisses all over his face. "okay, brush your teeth before we start. I've heard doing it after messes things up."

"really?" he sound skeptical.

you shrug. "I dunno if there's any merit to it but I've seen enough people mention it, so I just do it this way now."

he nods and reaches behind you to grab the red toothbrush you keep for him whenever he sleeps over. you sneak a kiss against the corner of his mouth when he's close enough and it makes him grin.

once he's done brushing his teeth, he steps away to spit into the sink and wipe his mouth before returning between your legs. "alright, what's first?"

you grab a tall tube and present it to him the same way he's seen people online do it in those viral review videos. "face wash. it helps get all the dirt and grime out, and it's good for sensitive skin."

you wet your hands in the sink and raise them to his face to dampen it. "this one suggests using it on slightly wet skin for better results."

he lets you pat him until you're satisfied, and he watches as you put some of the gel on your hands. "close your eyes."

you don't need to tell him twice.

keigo happily lets you massage the product into his face and you giggle a bit when he leans into it. "does it feel nice?"

he nods a bit. "so nice."

"alright, it's foamy now, you can wash it off."

he blinks, returning to reality, and does what you say. once all the face wash is gone, you tap a towel against him, careful not to rub. "okay, would you say your skin feels dry, oily or a combination of both most of the time?"

he thinks about how his skin can get a bit itchy and wind burnt from all the flying he does while on patrol. "very dry."

you nod and grab the tin he was looking at earlier. "this helps with that."

you scoop a bit onto your index finger and smooth it over his cheeks, forehead and temples. "there," you smile softly and cup his face in your palms. "now you'll be even softer, which I honestly didn't think was possible, but here we are." he's certain his pupils are heart-shaped at this point. your entire aura is tinted pink and red and there's cartoon hearts bubbling up around you. he wonders if you have a secret second quirk he doesn't know about or if the mind really is as powerful as they say.

he doesn't know how exactly to filter the intense emotions running through him as you continue to dote on him, so they just well up inside of him until he can't stop the quick and sap-filled "I love you so much," from bubbling out of his mouth.

you pause a little at how... thankful he sounds. you know that he isn't used to being pampered- not that he's ever explicitly stated that, you just kind of put two and two together based on his career and what he's told you of his past- but you hadn't realized how much it would affect him.

so you smile at him and tilt his face down to kiss his head, careful not to get any product on your lips. you return the sentiment, happy to be of service to him for once, and ignore the way your insides are turning to goop at his expression.

you'll have to dote on him more often. not only because you want to see him like this more often, but because you want- no, need to make up for all those years he must have felt discarded and used and overworked... he handles it well. he's accepted his duty and thrives in his field. you know he does, otherwise he would have snapped long before he met you, but... it hurts to realize that something as simple as skincare is enough to toss him into unknown territory.

once you're done with the moisturizer, you slip the panda headband off of him and blink away the tears threatening to fall. he's still wearing that appreciative expression, heart eyes and all, so you pull him close and wrap your arms around his shoulders.

"I love you more than you will ever know, keigo," you mumble into his neck. "don't ever doubt that, okay?"

his arms find their way around your waist and you feel him nod against your head. you reveal your face to him and press your forehead against his, gently nudging noses.

comfortable silence lingers for a bit before he whispers "you smell good."

you snort and pull back. "it's the moisturizer, it's pear scented. do you want to head to bed now? the counter is cold."

he nods again and picks you up, encouraging you to wrap your legs around him despite the fact that the distance from the washroom to your bed is only less than twenty steps.

as soon as you're both under the covers and he expels one of his feathers to turn the light off, you beckon him over to lay on your chest.

you tangle your fingers in his hair, gently massaging his scalp and tailing down to scratch the nape of his neck. he lets out a content sigh and he presses soft, sleepy kisses to any bare skin he can find without moving too much. you almost laugh at how quickly you're able to get him relaxed.

you know you'll miss his weight on your body by time you wake up- he'll be long gone for an early morning patrol. even so, at least you'll be comforted with the knowledge that he was able to get a good night's sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I love him :(

[1425fivefive]

this may be a silly question but whats your process for writing smut? i can write fanfic, but when it comes to just positioning and pace of writing smut, i literally feel like i have no idea what i am doing. you clearly EXCEL at it so im wondering you’d ever share your process? thank you

this isn't a silly question and i'm delighted you asked me! also so lovely to hear you think i excel at it, i love writing it and always am overjoyed to hear people enjoy reading it 💕

i don't know how much help i can be, but for me, smut writing is usually (1) hot image or line of dialogue pops into my head and (2) sitting down and writing it. while i'm writing, everything plays out like a movie in my head. like i visualize literally everything, which makes smut writing much easier. i often feel with smut writing i'm just transcribing stuff that's playing out in my brain. i also am just... terminally horny.

BUT i have tips to make smut writing better/easier:

Kill the cop inside your head

So many smut writers feel shame about writing smut. There's nothing shameful about it! It's fun, it's normal, it's a healthy way to explore your own sexuality and ideas and concepts and dynamics. I think of it like a sandbox. There are loads of things I write in smut that I would never want to do in real life, but it's fun getting to play around with them in a safe space.

If there's a voice in your brain saying, "This is weird, this is something I should be embarrassed about," that's not some objective truth. That's a lot of culture being weird about sex and desire and thinking it's something that should be shamed and controlled. Not to be all "writing smut is a radical act of resistance," but like... it sort of is.

2. Tap into one characters' point of view

A lot of smut reads like porn. Like you're sort of watching the author mash Barbies together, but the Barbies don't really have thoughts or feelings. I always find it weird when the POV character's body or appearance gets excessively described during smut. Like why is the POV character thinking about their tight little nipples or whatever. Unless the POV character is actively thinking about how the other character is perceiving them, it's confusing to write about the POV character's appearance.

Also - think about what the POV character finds hot about the sex! Like you're not just writing about sex between two people, you're writing about sex between these characters specifically. Think about what about their personality, appearance, whatever that each character finds hot. That'll make your smut unique rather than feeling like it could be happening between any two characters.

3. Read lots of smut and figure out what you like about it

Just find smut you like. Read it with a critical eye and figure out what you like about it. Look at the writing structure, the dialogue, how the author describes orgasms, sensations, feelings. Try to incorporate some of that into your own writing.

4. Be weird

I've read a lot of smut, and so much of it feels indistinguishable from each other. The top thrusts once, twice, three times and then comes. The bottom begs to get fucked and says "I can take it" when the top tries to give them a third finger. Characters always need exactly three fingers before they can be fucked.

Be weird! It's ok to write smut differently than how other people write it. That's part of what makes fic so interesting! I love reading weird smut that's written by someone who was just clearly really into it. Like I want unique, fun smut! If you're into it/you find it hot, readers will too. Don't think you have to write smut in the way all the most popular fics write smut.

I don't know how helpful this is, especially because I have loads of criticisms of my own smut writing, but hopefully this is interesting, at least!

[osmanthus-wine-addiction]

Fresh Snow and Twinkling Lights

Zhongli x Reader / SFW / Reverse Isekai / Ending is up to interpretation / I'm a slowpoke so this is late T_T

You had left the login screen of the game open on the monitor of your computer. A sudden sound downstairs distracted you, forcing you to leave your bedroom to investigate. You never found out what the sound was, but when you returned, you froze in your doorway. The initial shock and confusion eventually wore off. If this was simply a dream, then so be it, you thought. It wasn't everyday that you get to dream about him. "The way the streets are decorated reminds me of Liyue Harbor during Lantern Rite. It's quite a beautiful sight." Zhongli remarks as the two of you take a stroll around the block. "Are you perhaps celebrating something?"

You jumped at the opportunity to tell him about the holiday that has the whole city decked out with multicolored lights, tinsel garlands, and ornamented trees. In the game, it was always Zhongli spewing stories and random trivia about every little thing you passed by. You finally had the chance to introduce him to traditions and history that he had never seen or heard of before. Along the way, you insisted on purchasing a little gem-encrusted brooch for him. He stood still while you fastened it to his lapel for him. Of course, you also filled him in on the tradition of gift-giving on Christmas as well. He listened intently to your every word, etching it carefully into his memories. "This is hot chocolate." You handed him his cup as soon as the street-side vendor had placed it on the counter.

"I can see why you enjoy this in the winter." He remarked after trying the drink. "The sweetness of the chocolate coupled with the frothy whipped cream makes for a comforting sip."

"Mines is eggnog. Do you want a taste?" You offered, holding out your cup to him.

He eyed the straw your lips had been wrapped around just a moment ago. You did not appear to mind, so he took the eggnog from your hand, giving it a try. Unlike the hot chocolate, this drink was chilled, creamy, and rich. There was a hint of alcohol in it as well.

"This one is also quite good." He smiled appreciatively.

"This is the best Christmas gift I could ask for. Thank you Zhongli." You said with a fond smile on your lips as the two of you walked along the lighted path. A Christmas date with your favorite character, even if it was just for a few hours, was enough for you to reminisce over for a good while. You just hoped you wouldn't forget everything that happened as soon as you wake up from this dream.

"You give me unearned credit, dear. Though now that you mention it, I may indeed have something I can gift you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a flower.

It's delicate golden petals appeared to be sculped from a smooth stone. You immediately recognized it to be the Flower of Creviced Cliff, part of the Archaic Petra artifact set that you had spent weeks farming at the Guyun Stone Forest for. It felt strange, holding something from the game in the palm of your hands.

"I'll cherish it." You assured him.

This gift would disappear like morning dew, but at least you would always remember how it felt in your hands. You would also remember the feel of his hands against yours as the two of you walked side by side under the string light canopy as snowflakes fluttered to the ground around you. Zhongli had taken off one of his gloves and given it to you to wear on the hand he was not holding. All around you were strangers, but he was the only one in your eyes.

"Wait, Zhongli!" You tugged his hand.

He followed your eyes up to the curious bundle of leaves and little red berries overhead. Before he could ask you what it was, you spoke up.

"Can you close your eyes for me?"

He chuckled, taking notice of the nervous flush on your face. "Sure."

You took a step towards him, heart racing as you lifted your heel off the ground. If this was all just an indulgent dream, then surely he wouldn't mind fulfilling this little wish of yours too, right? Your lips pressed against his. As soon as he felt the touch, his eyelids fluttered open. You could hear Zhongli draw in a startled breath, but what happened next exceeded your boldest imagination. His arms circled around your waist and brought you closer. The timid ministrations of your lips against his was emboldened by his reciprocation. He held you gingerly in his arms, like the precious gift you were. Ever since he had met you, he had wondered what kind of soul was behind those starlight eyes. Now that he had truly met you, he would never allow himself to forget this magical night.

"Now will you enlighten me on the reason you've decided to kiss me?" Zhongli asks you, a gentle but obviously amused smile on his lips.

"There's a tradition..." You began explaining. Heat blossomed over your cheeks yet again. "Two people standing under a mistletoe have to kiss."

"So you wouldn't have done so if not for that plant hanging above our heads?" He asked you, although he already knew the answer.

"No! I wouldn't mind kissing you even if it wasn't there." You said all in one breath.

"I see..." He stroked his chin in contemplation. "I suppose I would not mind it either."

"You what?" It was your turn to be speechless. Even if you knew this was all just a dream, it still managed to feel unreal.

"We should head back." He simply said, reaching out to catch a handful of snowflakes. "Liyue does not experience such frigid weather. It's beautiful to behold, fresh snow and twinkling lights. Nevertheless, I would hate for you to catch a cold."

You return to your home. Your eyes drifted over to the clock on the wall. Zhongli sat on your bed, thumbing through a photo album of yours as you took a shower. When you stepped out of the bathroom, changed into a comfortable pair of pajamas, all trace of the man who had been keeping you company all evening had disappeared. Your heart fell, but it was nothing unexpected.

The fans on your computer hummed softly, indicating that it was still on. You had forgotten to shut it down before leaving the house. With a yawn, you woke up the monitor. There was Genshin, looping endlessly through the login screen, a familiar door at the center. You clicked into it.

As soon as the white screen cleared, you could see the familiar backside of Zhongli. It was expected. He was your favorite character so it was natural that you parked the game while he was the active character. You still had one daily to finish before you could log off again. Another yawn escaped you as you finished the simple task, teleporting back to the wayport closest to Katheryne. Just as you were about to exit out of the game, a glint on Zhongli's lapel caught your eye. Your heart skipped a beat. No, it can't be. You had to rub your eyes to make sure you weren't hallucinating.

There, on his lapel, was the pin you had gifted him hours ago. You had fastened it to his lapel with your own hands.

You refused to blink, afraid that the pixels your eyes were seeing would disappear the moment your eyelids closed. Maybe you had too much eggnog earlier. Or you had to still be in a dream somehow. Right, none of this had actually happened. It was time to go to sleep. You would turn on the computer and open the game as soon as you woke up in the morning. Surely everything would just go back to normal.

[multifandomfix]

Rhaenys Targaryen Angst Alphabet

A = Anger (what are they like when they’re angry?)

Rhaenys’s anger burns hot but controlled, like dragonfire waiting to be unleashed. She sharpens her words, cutting deep rather than raising her voice, though she is not above a dramatic flare if truly provoked.

B = Break Up (if they had to, how would they break up with you?)

If she had to break up with you, she’d do so with regal grace but undeniable finality. Her pride wouldn’t let her drag it out, and she’d leave you knowing it was for the best, even if it broke her heart and yours.

C = Cry (how often do they cry? do they cry over little things?)

Rhaenys rarely cries, as she believes showing vulnerability is a sign of weakness. However, in private moments with you, she allows herself to feel deeply and isn’t afraid to shed tears if overwhelmed by emotion.

D = Debt (how do they make it up to you when they’ve done something wrong?)

When she’s wrong, she doesn’t hesitate to make amends, often through grand gestures like lavish gifts or public declarations, though she’ll also offer heartfelt apologies in intimate settings.

E = Entrapment (how would they react to you being kidnapped?)

If you were kidnapped, Rhaenys would unleash fury on the world. She’d gather armies, raise fleets, and call upon her allies to rescue you, willing to raze cities if it meant ensuring your safety.

F = Fear (how badly do they fear losing you? do they fear for you somehow losing them?)

Her greatest fear is losing you, whether to death, betrayal, or some other circumstance. She masks this fear well but will often hold you closer after battles or tense moments, silently reminding herself that you’re still hers.

G = Grief (if you were to die, how would they react?)

If you were to die, Rhaenys would be devastated. She’d mourn publicly, seeming sad but stoic, and privately she’d crumble, finding solace only in vengeance if your death was unjust or avoidable.

H = Health (How are they at taking care of themselves?)

Rhaenys takes decent care of herself but often prioritizes duty over personal well being. She relies on you to remind her to rest, eat properly, and avoid burning herself out.

I = Insensitive (how do they act when they know they’ve said something that upset you?)

When she realizes she’s upset you, she’s quick to soften, though it may take her a moment to swallow her pride. She’ll offer apologies laced with poetic words and tender gestures to make things right.

J = Jerk (when can they tell you’re mad at them? do either of you resort to name calling?)

Rhaenys can sense your anger even in the slightest shift of tone. While she rarely resorts to name calling, she isn’t above sharp retorts in the heat of an argument, though she’ll regret them later.

K = Knife (how do they feel about hurting others? physically or emotionally?)

Rhaenys has no qualms about hurting others, especially those who threaten her loved ones. She’s calculated in her actions, knowing the power of both physical and emotional wounds when wielded strategically.

L = Liar (are they a good liar? how often do they lie to you?)

She’s a skilled liar when the situation calls for it, but with you, she prefers honesty. If she ever does lie, it’s out of protection rather than deceit.

M = Maudlin (how do you cheer them up when they’re feeling sad?)

When she’s feeling down, you cheer her up by reminding her of her strength and value, perhaps by recounting her victories or indulging her in quiet moments of comfort and affection.

N = Never (what would they do if they knew they could never be with you?)

If Rhaenys knew she could never be with you, she’d feel the loss deeply but would not beg or grovel. Instead, she’d carry the heartbreak as another battle scar, letting it harden her resolve.

O = Oath (what happens when you break a promise? how do they take it?)

Broken promises cut Rhaenys deeply, as she values loyalty above all else. She’d confront you directly, demanding answers and expecting reparations before deciding whether to forgive or part ways.

P = Pressure (how do they handle stress? how do you help them relax?)

Rhaenys handles stress with outward poise but internal turmoil. You help her relax by offering her a safe space to be vulnerable, free from the burdens of her title and her family.

Q = Quiet (do they ever give you the silent treatment? how do they react when you give it to them?)

Silent treatments are rare but intentional with Rhaenys. When given the silent treatment, she grows restless and demands resolution, unwilling to let things fester.

R = Rejection (how would they take it if you were to reject them?)

Rejection would bruise her pride, but she wouldn’t show it outwardly. Instead, she’d carry herself with dignity and perhaps distance herself until she could process the hurt.

S = Self Doubt (what are they insecure about?)

Rhaenys occasionally doubts whether she can protect those she loves, especially in matters she can’t control. She worries about failure more than she lets on.

T = Triangle (what would they do if they were caught in a love triangle with you? would they fight for you or give you up?)

If caught in a love triangle, Rhaenys would fight fiercely for you, unwilling to surrender to anyone else. She’d expect you to choose her, not just for her status, but because of her devotion.

U = Unloved (what would you do to make sure they felt loved?)

To make her feel loved, you’d have to remind her that she’s cherished not for her title and status but for who she is, a woman of strength, intelligence, and passion.

V = Vault (do they keep their emotions sealed tight, or do they let them out openly?)

Rhaenys is skilled at masking her emotions in public but reveals them openly in private, trusting you to handle the full weight of her vulnerabilities.

W = Wound (how do they react when you’ve been injured?)

If you were injured, Rhaenys would be fiercely protective, refusing to leave your side until she knew you were safe and healed.

X = X Lovers (what happens when they’re confronted with an ex of yours?)

Confronted with an ex of yours, Rhaenys would exude confidence, making it clear that she has nothing to fear. However, she’d keep a sharp eye on any lingering sparks and act swiftly if needed.

Y = Yell (how often do fights occur? how bad do they get?)

Fights with Rhaenys don’t happen often, but when they do, they’re intense and passionate. She’s fiery and quick with words but calms down just as quickly if you show sincerity.

Z = Zestless (what happens if you lose that initial spark with them?)

If the spark ever faded, Rhaenys would work tirelessly to reignite it, using her charm, passion, and creativity to ensure you never doubted her love.

For anon

Forever Tag: @baubeautyandthegeek, @ghostsunderstoodmysoul, @immyowndefender, @valencethefriendlychangeling, @crimsonwidow666, @rebelbossheart, @thedailyspiritualist, @orangeisnttheonlyfruit, @woman-simp, @aperol-with-izzy, @leonoralessoem, @ellepossum69, @lakita-fisher, @trexsuit, @analuw, @luvlesavyy, @malfoyfeed, @aliciabrower, @sparrowspixie, @imaginationismyworldlypleasure, @og-kxsh-420

Rhaenys Targaryen: @thekirbishow, @astrogrande

[pasta-in-the-pudding]

Ben and Jeff with a child reader thats like nezuko?:33

-🎀

Summary: Ben Drowned and Jeff the killer x (platonic) Child!Reader with the personality of Nezuko from Demon Slayer

Genre: Fluff

Warnings: Mentions of speculated abuse, but nothing ever goes into detail

Credits: Ben Drowned- Creepypasta, Jeff The Killer- Creepypasta, Blood divider- bucciniexe, Code divider- sister-lucifer

A/n: I haven't watched Demon Slayer in a HOT minute so bear with me, I may get some personality traits wrong ourghhh....

Ben Drowned

So generally Ben doesn't worry himself with kids

The most he is ever seen interacting with children is when giving them their uniforms and job instructions after they first join the mansion

Sometimes you will catch him trying to spook the older children, but typically he keeps the pranks to a minimum around kids

All of this is to say, he doesn't get to know many of the children at all

But when you first came to the manor it was pretty much mandatory that everyone you'd be interacting with knew at least a few basic rules for interacting with you

You had to keep the little plastic "chew toy" in your mouth at all times, because you tended to be very bitey without it, and due to your sharp teeth it would cause the victim to (at the very least) need a few stitches

You tend to get a little slobbery, especially around meats, but it's nothing to worry about unless your pupils start restricting (which would only happen if you were on the brink of starvation)

No sudden movements around you, because you would instinctually defend yourself

And by defend yourself I mean tear anyone who isn't also a demon to shreds

Other than that, you were a very friendly kid!

Ben had no intentions of interacting with you too regularly, but due to him being the first person (aside from slender) you interacted with, you kind of just followed him around

And after a while, he just sort of became your caretaker

For the most part, you're pretty easy to take care of

You don't wander much, and seem to take more pleasure in observing the world around you

You're also very quiet, only ever making noises to signify your thoughts on something when asked directly

But when you do get antsy, well

Lets just say there's a reason they call you a demon

For example, lets say if you don't wanna go down for bed

Due to your nocturnal nature, you go to bed right as the sun is coming up

But a lot of the other children are just waking up then

And tonight it seemed, you wanted to stay up so you can play with the other kids for once

Ben tried to be nice for a while, but after a bit he got tired of being nice and began trying to wrestle you down into your bed at least for long enough so he could lock your door and have you trapped in there for the night

But when you wanted to be, you were a fast little thing

so every time he got you tucked in, you'd be already down the stairs and trying to hide by the time he blinked

And due to him having to take a more solid form to hold you down, he ended up with lots of scratches from you fighting him

He ended up having to hold you down while Jeff closed and locked the door, and just phased through the door

Needless to say, Ben already hates being a parent and he doesn't even have any kids of his own yet

But you're starting to grow on him

Jeff The Killer

Honestly, Jeff isn't to crazy about the whole "Chew toy" thing

It reminds him a lot of a muzzle, and with how he (and a lot of the other residents) were raised, it just really gives him a bad feeling

And as we know, Jeff would rather die than listen to authority

So one day he fucked around and found out when he decided to take off the plastic tube from your mouth

Almost immediately your body missed the stimulation of biting on something, and reached for the closest thing for you to bite

Which just so happened to be Jeff's arm

Even with his high pain tolerance, he couldn't help the shocked yelp that left him

So begun the walk of shame to E.J so he could get his arm patched up

"Why didn't they have their chewer on?" E.J asks as he sews Jeff's arm back together

Jeff coughs awkwardly before making up an excuse "Looked a little tight" he mumbles "Thought I'd loosen it"

E.J scoffs "Right. Well, now you know better"

"Yeah" Jeff grunts

After this, you always seem to be confused around Jeff

Not in a bad way, but whenever he is around, you cant help but look up at him like you're trying to decode what he's thinking

And in your little child brain, you think maybe he was trying to take yours so he had something to chew on

So one day you find a piece of scrap wood by the log storage, perfect for him you think

You wipe off all the loose dirt and bugs, and run off to go find Jeff

When you do find him in his room, you struggle to get over the pile of clothes in the middle of the walk way

He notices and picks you up over the pile and puts you into a clear-ish spot on his floor "Whaddya doin' in here, kid" He asks as he sits back down on his bed

You offer the wood to him, and he just stares at you

You offer it again with a grunt, and when he stares at you again you begin to crawl into bed beside him and into his lap

He raises a brow, but has no time to question what you are doing because almost instantly after you get into his lap, you are shoving the wood into his lips

He grabs your hand and pushes it away "Alright, that's good" he grumbles

He gets up, picking you up as well and carrying you over to the door

You kick your feet and whine, trying to get put down

He puts you down at the door, and you begin to reach up with the wood, trying to put it in his mouth

He closes the door in your face and you grumble frustratedly

Every time you see him, you try to put the wood in his mouth, and it is only after complaining to Tim that he finally catches on

"The damn kid has no sense of personal boundaries! Puttin' wood in my face and shit"

"They are trying to get you to chew on it"

".....dawg."

[haikyuuharemdreams]

merry christmas to everyone! please do listen to this as you read!

“love you, baby.”

“love you too, rinnie. i hope you rest well!”

as much as you wanted to stay longer on the phone with rintarou, he has to go to bed while you have to grapple with your feelings of disappointment.

rintarou may not have been your first partner, but he will be the first you will be spending christmas with. or at least, that was supposed to be the case until he dropped a bomb on you during your phone call - he won’t be able to make it home in time for christmas. he had flown to argentina a week ago for a match, and was supposed to have boarded the flight hours ago; the keywords being: supposed to. his flight was delayed, and eventually, cancelled.

he tried to find another flight, but most were already fully booked (it’s the holidays, what did you expect?). furthermore, it was already late and he is exhausted from the wait.

you try not to cry, but that’s an impossible task. you don’t blame anyone, as much as you would like to curse the universe for the awful timing. maybe, you’re just plainly unlucky and need to be cleansed.

christmas is not something you celebrate, but you’ve spent years watching your friends posting photos of themselves with their loved ones on christmas day and each one you come across only serves to exacerbate the painful feelings of loneliness and yearning that has rooted itself into your heart. you spent most of your christmases playing your otome games or watching your kpop men in an attempt to fill that void, and it does help till you realise that they’re fictional and unattainable. you would spend the rest with your friends, former members of inarizaki’s volleyball team - which included rintarou, but that only alleviated a part of the loneliness; it didn’t help the longing for a romantic partner on a festive day.

it doesn’t help that you’ve also never had the chance to celebrate christmas with your former partners, relationships ending even before the month of december.

that was why you were beyond ecstatic when you realised that you were able to celebrate not just this christmas, but hopefully many more, with rintarou. even though he had to leave, he reassured you countless times that he would definitely make it home before christmas - just in time to have a day of celebration.

alas, the spirit of christmas has chosen to not shine on you favourably this time around.

as tempted as you are to spend christmas alone feeling all miserable and pitiful in your apartment while your parents will be on their cute date, you decide against it and contact your friends to see if they will be willing to spend some time with you.

the miya twins invite you over for christmas dinner, but not before attempting an interrogation. the rest are away on trips, but had immediately expressed their concerns over your question. you reassure them that nothing was wrong in yours and rintarou’s relationship; he is simply just stuck in another country.

you spend the rest of the day looking for presents to give to the miya twins and their parents, thankful that they’ve invited you over for christmas even when you’re not part of their family (even though they have, multiple times, stated that they do wish you were their biological sister).

hours pass by, and your phone rings when you’re back at home in your bed after a hot shower.

“you didn’t send me anything today.”

“you were sleeping, rinnie. i didn’t want to bother you.”

“that wouldn’t have stopped you a day ago. what’s the matter?”

it was merely a question, but that tipped you over. you burst out into tears, and everything you say quickly becomes incoherent to him.

“baby, i need you to take deep breaths for me, okay? breathe in, 1, 2, 3, 4. okay, now breathe out, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. it’s okay, baby, it’s okay.”

it’s not okay, but your current state won’t help you in conveying that to your partner.

“i don’t blame you, rinnie, but i’m so, so, so, so upset and so incredibly angry. i miss you, and i hate that you’re away. i hate that i’ve been looking forward to our first ever christmas together, yet that won’t even happen because for some goddamn reason, the universe hates me.”

rintarou tries his best not to smile. he doesn’t want to make you feel bad or invalidate your feelings, but you’re just so adorable to him right now.

“baby, i get that. i feel the same way too. i was really hoping to spend christmas with you, the love of my life. i’m sorry your boyfriend can’t dr strange his way back to you right now, but i promise you that i’ll make it up to you.”

your heart clenches, and you feel bad for being this emotional when rintarou must be feeling just as bummed.

“i love you, rinnie. i’m still bugged by it, but i know we have so much to look forward to. we can always celebrate together next year!”

your effort to cheer yourself up, and to convince yourself makes him laugh a little. hearing his laughter makes your heart sing, and you inevitably feel ten times better.

“i love you too, baby. do you want to share with me about your day?”

you do. you don’t forget to tell him that you’re spending christmas with the twins tomorrow, and he pretends to be annoyed about it.

“merry christmas, baby.”

you don’t even realise that the clock has already struck midnight, signifying that it is already christmas in japan.

“merry christmas, rinnie.”

“merry christmas, baby.”

the both of you continue your conversation till it’s one, and rintarou insists suggests that you go to bed.

“good night, my love.”

you rarely call him that, and he cherishes every moment you do.

“good night, my love.” you cherish every moment he does too.

you don on a camisole and a pair of cargo pants, layering your outfit over with a sweater rintarou got you and your winter coat - a birthday gift from the twins. you put on some light makeup, and leave the house with a cute clutch bag you got for yourself.

you were at the miya’s earlier than they’ve expected, and their parents inform you that the twins have gone to play volleyball nearby. you internally roll your eyes at that; of course they would. despite their protests, you help out with setting the table while waiting for the twins to return.

they only do about half an hour after. upon seeing you, they start a fight over who gets to hug you first before you stomp over to them and squeeze the both of them into a tight embrace.

atsumu squeezes your cheeks, crying about how much he misses you. osamu just gives you head pats, asking about you and telling you to eat up as they’ve prepared more food just for you.

their parents ushers the three of you into their dining room, joking about how long they’ve made you wait.

“yer know, osamu’s seeing someone?”

“no way! who’s the lucky girl?”

“a regular at the restaurant.”

“tell me more about her!”

you find out that osamu is seeing an office worker. she was a regular at his restaurant, and thought she was pretty but didn’t dare approach her till she was stood up by a date. he replaced her date that day, and discovered that they were very compatible.

they became a couple soon after.

he wanted to invite her over for christmas, but she usually celebrates with her family.

atsumu, however, is still single. he claims that he just haven’t found the one, but you know that he wouldn’t have an issue with that. he is a sweet man with so much love to give, and any woman who has the fortune to be with him will be given the world.

as you enjoyed your time with the miyas, rintarou’s lack of responses to your updates throughout the day is beginning to gnaw at you.

he doesn’t usually disappear like that, but you try convincing yourself that he could be out spending christmas with his teammates. that he could be practising. that he could be in deep sleep.

none of it soothes you, but you don’t want to worry the miyas. you don’t want to bring down their mood; it is a holiday, after all.

you exchange gifts with the family, and the twins offer to send you home seeing that it is already close to midnight. you accept, and extend your gratitude to their parents.

“bye! thank you for tonight!”

“ya don’t hafta keep saying thank you, (y/n).”

atsumu rubs your hair.

“i know! i’m just really happy, that’s all!”

they drive off after you give them their hugs.

you carry the gifts into your apartment without removing your shoes, noting to mop the floor before your parents return. you place them in your living room before removing your shoes and socks.

you check your phone, frowning when you see 0 messages from rintarou. he hasn’t texted you the whole day, which is alarming, but you thought he would’ve at least sent something to let you know that he’s alive.

did something happen? oh, god.

you try calling him; none of it gets through.

you don’t have his teammates’ numbers, nor his coach’s.

a knock at your door startles you, and you wonder if someone had confused the apartment numbers. another knock, and you hesitantly make your way over to look through the peephole.

you gasp at the familiar face outside the door.

“rinnie?” you ask, flinging open the door, in disbelief.

“merry christmas, baby.”

you jump into his arms, pure bliss reverberating through your body.

“h-how?”

“i spent hours scouring on websites, and was luckily able to find a plane with last-minute availability. i took it the moment i saw it, and wanted to surprise you.”

you smack him.

“you should’ve told me something! i was so worried.”

he takes your hand in his, and gives it a light kiss.

“i’m sorry, my love. i didn’t mean to.”

he leads you back into your apartment, into your bedroom where he guides you to lie on top of him.

“i’ve missed you so much so much.” you mumble into his chest.

“i’ve missed you just as much, if not more.” he responds. “so, where’s my ‘merry christmas’?”

“belated merry christmas, rinnie!”

the clock has already struck midnight. it’s the 26th of december.

“not belated in argentina, baby. it’s still the 25th there.”

you pull back from his chest, eyes twinkling with wonder and awe. he’s right, it’s still the 25th in other parts of the world, just maybe not japan.

“let’s celebrate christmas together, baby.”

thank you for the dividers! @enchanthings