#I love how he said Clementine to be honest

[f14fun]

lay all your love on me - op81 (C2)

synopsis: in which oscar piastri and a university student begging for her euro summer vacation collide in a steamy, abba-inspired romance

prose (6.1K words) ✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩ profile | masterlist | series index ⋆.˚✮🎧✮˚.⋆

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02: Love, Sweat, and Secondhand Embarrassment

"Clemmy I swear I wanted to die that entire time. Whoever I offended in an alternate universe I am so so sorry, I truly believe karma is real now," I lamented, voice weak.

Burying my head in my pillow, I could finally appreciate the cool blast of AC (well, it was a little bit of air conditioning but a little is better than nothing) I scratched my right leg that was hoisted up onto the blue duvet cover. If not for the horrible comedic timing of everything, in that moment, I might have said that I was enjoying myself.

On the other line of the phone, thousands of miles away, it was a completely different story.

"What the fuck," Clementine could barely muster out because she was laughing so hard.

"I still don't think any part of this story is funny, Clem," I roll my eyes and trail off.

"But it is! You genuinely should consider a career in stand-up comedy. If you recounted all of this in front of a paying live audience, I'm just saying it could make you a millionaire overnight," Clementine wheezed.

"Oh, shut up, bitch," I retorted, trying to suppress a smile despite my mortification.

"You know it's true though!" Her girlish giggles rang through my room. I could see her face through the screen and it looked like visible tears were streaming down her face from how funny she found this to be.

"I am completely and utterly humiliated. There is no way I can go downstairs and face everyone right now," I whined. It was true, as twenty minutes ago, mid-Facetime with Clementine, I heard the door to the foyer open and heard a lot of new noises.

New people. The neighbors. The rest of the Australians.

Crikey, mate.

There was no way I could face them. And since Oscar was probably their son (he looked way too young to be a father) he had probably already told them about the wretched and humiliating mishap.

"Seriously, Clemmy, you don’t get it," I said, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice but failing miserably. "This is not just some embarrassing story. This is my life, and I have to face these people now."

Clementine’s laughter finally started to subside, and she took a deep breath. "Okay, okay, I get it. But you have to admit, this is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of disaster. You can’t just ignore it. It’s like the universe is telling you to embrace the chaos."

I sighed, feeling a bit more grounded with her calming tone. "Yeah, well, I’m not exactly feeling the universe’s love right now. I feel like I’ve been dropped into some kind of sitcom. And what if they think I’m a total klutz? I can’t even begin to imagine how Oscar must’ve described me."

"It'll be fine. You are a pro at handling horrible situations. I mean, I can really only think that you have had more bad experiences with guys than good ones!" Clem tried to reassure me.

"Wow, thanks," I deadpanned. "Way to make a girl feel special."

Clementine's voice was full of playful sympathy. "Hey, I’m just saying, you’ve survived everything life’s thrown at you so far. Besides, look at it this way: if they’re judging you based on this one incident, they’re missing out on getting to know the amazing person you are."

"Yeah, because nothing says 'amazing' like face-planting into a pile of shampoo and knocking over a bunch of cleaning supplies," I said, sarcasm dripping from my tone.

Clementine laughed. "Exactly! And let’s be honest, if they do judge you for this, they’re definitely not worth your time. Besides, Oscar might even think you’re charming in a clumsy, endearing kind of way. You never know."

"You should really consider a career in therapy. If I lay here and close my eyes for a bit and sleep for three hours surely your advice will work," I retorted.

"Oh be so serious with me now,"

"I am! Now I can add a new skill to my LinkedIn profile," I said, trying to stifle a giggle. "How about 'Expert in Catastrophic Bathroom Mishaps: Master of Turning Shower Encounters into Slapstick Comedy'?"

Clementine burst into laughter. “That’s quite a title! It’s like you’ve got a whole new niche market for yourself.”

“Right? I’m just waiting for the endorsement from ‘The Association of Embarrassing Bathroom Incidents,’” I said, imagining a badge with that exact title. What a big, fat, fucking joke.

“Or maybe you'll become the keynote speaker for the 'International Conference on Unexpected Water-Based Accidents,’” Clementine added, her voice full of amusement.

“I’ll make sure to include a workshop on ‘How to Survive a Bathroom Collision with Dignity and Humor,’” I said with a chuckle. “And don’t forget the seminar on ‘Turning Slip-and-Fall Disasters into Networking Opportunities.’”

“A career to consider!” Clementine laughed. “And you know what? I’ll be your first fan. Just remember to keep me updated on how your new ‘disastrous bathroom mishap’ career is going.”

“I’ll make sure to do that,” I promised with a smile. “Thanks for the laugh. It’s nice to know that even in the middle of a fiasco, I can count on you to turn it into a comedy show.”

"What can I say, I will never turn down listening to a free shit show," Clementine winked at me through the camera.

"Clem! What the hell!" I waved my manicured pointed nail at her.

"Bye! Don't die from embarrassment before you come back!" She quipped, then promptly hung up.

I lay sprawled on my bed, dreading the thought of going downstairs and facing the group of new neighbors. The whole idea made me cringe. I was just about to mentally prepare myself for the awkward introductions when a sudden knock on my door jolted me upright. My heart raced as I called out lazily, “Come in.”

The door creaked open, and I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw Oscar standing there. His eyebrow was raised, and he wore a cheeky grin that did nothing to ease my nerves.

"Well, well, well," he said with an amused smirk. "Looks like you’ve been having quite the chat with 'dearest Clemmy,' haven’t you?"

My face flushed beet red, and I stuttered, struggling to find my words. “W-What are you doing here?”

Oscar leaned casually against the doorframe, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “Oh, you know, just overheard you and Clemmy talking about our little mishap. I believe you mentioned something about me being ‘a charming yet infuriating Aussie who managed to turn your bathroom break into a comedy skit.’”

I blinked, stunned into silence. My mouth opened and closed, but no coherent words came out. The sheer embarrassment was overwhelming. Oscar’s casual demeanor and his cheeky grin only made things worse.

“What can I say, my name was called,” Oscar continued with a mischievous glint in his eye. “If someone keeps calling you hot, I mean, wouldn’t you be too curious to listen?”

His smirk only made my breath hitch and my fingers tremble a little more. I could feel my cheeks burning, and I struggled to come up with a response. The playful glint in his eye and his casual attitude did nothing to alleviate my embarrassment. Instead, they only made me feel more flustered.

I took a deep breath, trying to regain some semblance of composure. “W-Well, I guess I didn’t think anyone would be actually listening.”

Oscar raised an eyebrow playfully, his smirk widening. “Oh, I’m sure you didn’t. But it was too good to pass up. Especially the part where you called me a ‘human wrecking ball.’”

My face flushed a deeper shade of crimson. “Great. Just great,” I muttered, shifting uncomfortably. “I’m sure I’ve made a fantastic first impression.”

Oscar chuckled, leaning casually against the doorframe. “Look, it’s all good. I’ve seen worse first impressions. Trust me. At least you didn’t accidentally set off the fire alarm or flood the place.”

I managed a weak smile, still feeling the sting of embarrassment. “Yeah, well, I’ll try to keep any future disasters to a minimum.”

Look at me, constantly embarrassing myself in front of hot guys. This was the exact reason why I was still bitchless and socially awkward at the ripe age of twenty-one. I could navigate a spreadsheet like a pro, ace exams, and even master the perfect contour, but put me in a room with a cute guy, and I turned into a walking calamity.

I sighed internally, already dreading the inevitable teasing I’d get from Clemmy once she found out I had, yet again, failed to keep my cool around a guy. Maybe I should’ve just stayed in the bathroom and let the ground swallow me whole.

Oscar raised an eyebrow, studying me with a curious look. “You know, you seem like a completely different person right now. Way quieter, more shy… less daring.”

My face flushed with a mix of irritation and embarrassment. “That’s not true,” I snapped, crossing my arms defensively. “I’m exactly the same as I was before.”

Oscar’s grin widened, clearly enjoying the effect his words had on me. “Sure, if you say so. But the girl who almost took me down like a rugby player in the bathroom seemed a lot more fearless.”

My nose flared as I shot him a glare, feeling the fire of indignation rise within me. Who did he think he was, making assumptions about me? I’ll show him just how brave I can be, I thought, my fists clenching. If he wanted to see daring, then I’d make sure he regretted ever doubting me. The nerve of this guy! He might have been hot, but that didn’t give him the right to push my buttons like this.

Oscar gave me a lopsided grin, clearly pleased with himself. "Anyway, everyone’s heading downstairs to meet each other. Figured I’d let you know, since, you know, it’s probably not the best idea to hide out up here forever."

My stomach twisted with nerves at the thought of facing everyone after that humiliating encounter. The idea of meeting new people while still reeling from my disastrous introduction to Oscar was daunting. But there was no way I was going to let him see how nervous I actually was. I took a deep breath, nodding stiffly. "Fine, let’s get this over with."

As we walked out of the room and toward the stairs, I could feel Oscar’s presence behind me—large, imposing, and annoyingly close. My face heated up, and I silently cursed myself for blushing yet again. Why did this guy have to make everything so difficult?

It was like shooting a sitting duck. A little small talk, a smile, and baby, I was stuck. I was a grown woman, for god’s sake, not some teenager swooning over a crush. But there I was, getting flustered over a guy I barely knew. Get a grip, I told myself, trying to shake off the absurdity of the situation. This wasn’t supposed to happen—I wasn’t supposed to be this easily charmed.

When we reached the bottom of the stairs, I hesitated, gripping the railing a little longer than usual. I could feel Oscar’s gaze on me, and it only made my nerves worse. Just as I was about to take the first step down, his hand brushed against mine. The contact was brief but enough to send a jolt of awareness through me. His hand was rough with calluses, moderately enveloping mine in a way that felt both comforting and disarming.

What was it about this guy that made me feel so uncharacteristically off-balance? As I tried to steady my racing thoughts, I reminded myself that I had to keep it together. After all, I wasn’t about to let some smooth-talking Aussie turn me into a lovesick fool—no matter how much my traitorous heart seemed to enjoy the challenge.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, my eyes were drawn to two adults who were deep in conversation with my mom. Their warm, friendly demeanor and unmistakable Australian accents told me they were Oscar’s parents. They seemed just as lively and outgoing as he was, which only added to the strangeness of this entire situation.

Then, I spotted Oscar’s siblings—a trio of sisters who looked like carbon copies of him, yet each had her own distinct vibe, like different fonts of the same typeface. They were laughing and joking with each other, their bond evident in the way they effortlessly engaged in light-hearted banter. I felt a pang of envy, wishing I had siblings to share that kind of closeness with.

My daydream was abruptly shattered when Oscar’s large, warm hand clasped onto my shoulder, his fingers pressing gently but firmly against my skin. The unexpected touch sent a jolt through me, making me jump slightly as a flush of heat rushed to my cheeks. His chuckle, deep and amused, rumbled behind me, the sound wrapping around me like a teasing caress. He was standing on the step just above me, close enough that I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. His presence was unmistakably felt—broad, solid, and way too close for comfort, yet somehow not close enough.

His fingers lingered on my shoulder, almost as if he was testing my reaction, and I could feel the warmth radiating from his touch, seeping into my skin. The space between us seemed to shrink with every passing second, and I could barely concentrate on anything but the weight of his hand and the steady beat of my heart hammering in my chest.

Oscar leaned in slightly, his voice low and smooth as honey. “Jumpier than I thought,” he drawled, his tone dripping with playful mischief. “Didn’t take you for the shy type. Especially not after our little bathroom tango.” His grin widened, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a way that was both infuriating and ridiculously charming.

My pulse quickened at the way he was looking at me—those eyes sparkling with amusement, as if he knew exactly what he was doing. I swallowed hard, my mind racing to come up with a retort, but all I could focus on was how his hand, still resting on my shoulder, felt both protective and possessive. The air between us crackled with a tension that was impossible to ignore, and I had to remind myself to breathe.

I could quite literally cut the sexual tension with the dullest fucking butterknife in the world.

I tried to muster a sharp retort, something that would wipe that smug grin off his face, but my brain was too busy short-circuiting to cooperate. All I could manage was a stuttered, “I-I’m not shy! You just—caught me off guard, that’s all.” The words tumbled out, weak and unconvincing, and I mentally cringed at how feeble they sounded.

Oscar’s grin only grew, clearly enjoying my flustered state. He leaned in a little closer, his gaze locked on mine with a playful intensity that made my heart skip a beat. “Off guard, huh?” he murmured, his voice dipping lower. “So, you’re saying if I hadn’t surprised you, you’d be able to keep up?”

I opened my mouth to respond, determined to regain some semblance of dignity, but nothing clever came out. Instead, I just stood there, caught between wanting to pull away from his teasing and feeling inexplicably drawn to his warmth. His hand slid from my shoulder, and the absence of his touch left a surprising chill in its wake.

Realizing that my window for a comeback was closing, I finally managed to sputter, “Y-Yeah, exactly.” I immediately cursed myself for sounding so pathetic. Not exactly the sharp comeback I was hoping for. His smirk deepened, and I could tell he wasn’t buying it for a second.

“Sure, whatever you say,” Oscar replied, his tone still dripping with amusement. He straightened up, giving me a quick wink before stepping down to the next stair. The playful glint in his eyes told me he knew exactly how much he was getting under my skin, and he was loving every second of it.

As he moved past me, I finally found my voice—too little, too late—and muttered under my breath, “Cocky bastard.” But it was quiet enough that I hoped he didn’t hear it. To my dismay, Oscar paused, turning back with a raised eyebrow and an even wider grin.

“Sorry, didn’t catch that,” he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Care to repeat it?”

My cheeks flamed as I quickly shook my head. “Nope, nothing. Let’s just… go meet everyone.”

Oscar’s grin didn’t falter as he took a step closer, still looming above me. “You know,” he began, his voice casual but with that familiar teasing edge, “I’ve already met everyone else. Your mom, too. And I’ve gotta say, you two seem like complete opposites.”

I blinked up at him, caught off guard again. “Opposites?”

He nodded, leaning against the wall with that effortless ease he seemed to have perfected. “Yep. Your mom’s all smiles and warm welcomes. You, on the other hand… well, you’ve got this whole ‘ready to throw punches’ vibe going on.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to gauge whether he was being serious or just messing with me again. “I do not have a ‘ready to throw punches’ vibe.”

Oscar’s lips twitched like he was holding back a laugh. “Oh, you totally do. But don’t worry,” he added with a playful smirk, “it’s kind of endearing. Keeps things interesting.”

I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. “Glad to know I’m so entertaining for you.”

He shrugged, unfazed. “Hey, I’m just saying, opposites attract, right? Besides, your mom already likes me. You could take a few notes.”

His comment sent a fresh wave of warmth to my cheeks, both from irritation and something I couldn’t quite place. “I don’t need notes from you,” I shot back, though my voice lacked its usual bite.

Oscar just chuckled, giving me one last teasing wink before turning to head down the stairs. “Whatever you say, mate. Just try not to tackle anyone else while you’re at it.”

"Well well well, what do we have here?" A girl with short hair and a devious grin matching Oscar's grinned at me as well entered the kitchen. Shimmering her hands like "jazz hands", she rolled her eyes and rested her chin in the palm of her hand.

I turned to face the new arrival, immediately recognizing her as one of Oscar’s sisters—one of the three siblings who seemed to share his penchant for mischief. Her cropped hair and sharp, playful eyes made her look like she’d just stepped out of a rom-com where she was the resident troublemaker, always stirring the pot and having a laugh at everyone else’s expense.

“Hey, party people,” she said, her voice dripping with a teasing lilt. She shot me a grin that was almost a mirror image of Oscar’s, mischievous and knowing, like she was in on some inside joke I hadn’t been let in on yet. I could feel the same heat from before creeping up my neck. Why did it feel like these siblings were reading me like an open book?

“Looks like someone’s already made a grand entrance,” she continued, flicking her eyes between me and Oscar with an amused smirk. “Oscar’s been talking about you nonstop since we got here. Said something about a ‘bathroom fiasco’ that deserves an award?”

I shot a glare at Oscar, who was leaning casually against the counter, looking far too pleased with himself. “Did he now?” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the mortification clawing at me.

The girl laughed, light and musical, but with an edge that told me she was fully enjoying every bit of this. “Oh yeah, he’s been filling us in. But don’t worry, we’re used to his tall tales. I’m Hattie, by the way,” she added, extending a hand with exaggerated enthusiasm as if we were meeting on the set of a game show rather than in my kitchen.

I hesitated for a beat before shaking her hand, trying to muster a smile that didn’t look too forced. “Nice to meet you, Hattie. I’m—”

“Oh, I know who you are,” she interrupted, her grin widening. “You’re the girl who almost took out my brother. Honestly, I’m impressed. No one’s ever managed to knock him off his game quite like that.”

I glanced at Oscar, who was watching the exchange with an infuriatingly smug look on his face. Maisie’s comment hung in the air, both a compliment and a lighthearted jab. I couldn’t help but feel like I was once again the butt of some inside joke between the siblings.

“Yeah, well, it’s a special talent of mine,” I said, trying to sound casual but feeling like every word was being scrutinized. “Guess I just have that effect.”

Hattie laughed, the sound bright and unapologetically amused. “Oh, I like you already. But hey, if you’re gonna hang out with us, you better be ready for a little friendly chaos. And maybe a few more unexpected collisions.”

Oscar gave a soft snort of laughter, and I could feel his eyes still on me, assessing, teasing, and—annoyingly—almost impressed. I tried to ignore the butterflies that seemed to be staging a full-on rebellion in my stomach. Clearly, this family thrived on playful torment, and I had somehow found myself right in the middle of it.

“Don’t worry,” I said, straightening up and forcing a confident smile. “I think I can handle whatever you guys throw at me.”

Hattie's eyes sparkled with mischief, and she gave me a mock salute. “That’s the spirit. Welcome to the chaos, mate.”

Oscar chuckled again, giving me that damn wink before pushing off from the counter. “Oh, she’s ready for it. Trust me, she’s already made quite the impression.”

The other two girls strolled in, each with their own distinct energy that filled the room. One had a fierce, confident look, dark hair tied up in a messy bun, and a leather jacket that screamed ‘cooler-than-you’ vibes. The youngest, a curly-haired, bright-eyed whirlwind, practically bounced into the kitchen, her infectious smile lighting up the space.

“So,” I said, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the sudden influx of new faces. “I’ve met Oscar, obviously, and… Hattie, right?” I glanced at the girl who had first greeted me, who nodded with a playful smile. “But I’m afraid I haven’t gotten your names yet,” I continued, pointing between the other two sisters.

The girl with the leather jacket gave me a wry grin, leaning casually against the counter. “I’m Edie,” she said, her voice dripping with casual confidence. “The cooler, smarter middle child.”

Mae, the youngest, immediately chimed in, rolling her eyes at her sister. “And I’m Mae, the fun one,” she said with a giggle, her curls bouncing as she hopped up onto a stool. “Edie’s just mad she wasn’t born with my charm.”

Edie snorted, pretending to be offended. “Please, you’re like a tiny tornado of chaos. But yeah, I guess she’s not wrong,” she added, shooting me a smirk. “Mae’s got a way of making everything a little… livelier.”

I couldn’t help but smile at their playful back-and-forth. “Nice to officially meet you all. And thanks for the heads-up on your brother’s antics,” I said, glancing at Oscar, who was watching the exchange with an amused glint in his eye.

“Oh, trust me,” Hattie added, her grin widening as she nudged Oscar with her elbow. “We’ve got years of experience keeping this one in line. You’re welcome to join the effort.”

Oscar threw his hands up in mock surrender. “Wow, ganging up on me already? This is why I never bring girls home,” he joked, though there was a hint of genuine warmth in his voice, like he was more than used to—and secretly enjoyed—their teasing.

Mae leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Just wait till we start telling you all the embarrassing stories. Oscar’s got quite a few, and we’ve got no problem spilling the tea.”

Oscar smirked, shifting his weight just enough to close the distance between us, his presence suddenly feeling a lot closer, a lot warmer. He leaned in with a casual ease, his movements smooth and unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world to make me squirm. His voice dropped into a playful, low tone, rich and velvety, each word dripping with deliberate charm. “Oh, don’t worry about them,” he murmured, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. “I’d much rather hear your stories. You’re far more interesting than anything they could say about me.”

The way he looked at me was like I was the only person in the room, his eyes lingering on mine with a bold, flirtatious glint that sent a shiver down my spine. His grin was maddeningly confident, a little crooked, and devastatingly irresistible—the kind of smile that made it clear he knew exactly what he was doing. It was teasing, suggestive, and far too charming for its own good, like he was daring me to blush, daring me to react.

I felt the heat creeping up my neck, a slow burn that spread across my cheeks, making my skin prickle with the sudden awareness of how close he was. My mind scrambled for something clever to say, but his flirtatious tone, the way his eyes roved over my face as if he was reading every reaction, left me tongue-tied. It was like he was peeling back layers with just a look, searching for the part of me that he could fluster with a few well-placed words and that infuriating smile.

I tried to steady my breath, but his proximity was overwhelming. I could catch the faint scent of his cologne—fresh, with a hint of something spicy—and the subtle shift of his body as he leaned closer sent my senses into overdrive. Every nerve seemed to hum in response to his nearness, and I could feel my face burning hotter, betraying me with every second that I failed to look away.

Edie made a gagging noise, rolling her eyes dramatically. “Ew, Oscar, seriously? Can you not flirt for like five seconds? It’s embarrassing.”

Mae giggled, giving Oscar a playful shove. “Yeah, gross. No one wants to see that. Save it for when we’re not around, Romeo.”

Hattie snorted, shaking her head as she watched Oscar with a mix of amusement and exasperation. “He’s always like this. Thinks he’s Mr. Smooth. Don’t let him get to you.”

But Oscar only chuckled, clearly unfazed by his sisters’ teasing. He turned back to me, his grin widening as he caught sight of my flushed cheeks. “Aww, look at that,” he said, his voice soft and teasing. “Did I make you blush? How cute.”

I quickly tried to hide my face, mortification bubbling up as I realized there was no escaping the heat radiating from my cheeks. “N-No, you didn’t,” I stammered, though the pink tint on my face said otherwise.

Oscar’s smirk deepened, and he leaned in just a little closer, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’re not very good at hiding it, you know. It’s kind of endearing.”

I could practically feel my cheeks getting even more red, if that was even possible. His sisters snickered behind us, enjoying the show as much as they enjoyed tormenting him.

Mae nudged Hattie, whispering loud enough for everyone to hear, “He’s really laying it on thick, huh? Someone needs to put a leash on this one.”

Hattie snickered and turned to me, giving me an exaggeratedly sympathetic look. “Don’t worry, he does this to everyone. It’s part of his ‘charm offensive.’ Just don’t let him get away with it too easily.”

“Yeah, make him work for it,” Edie added with a laugh. “And don’t let that blush fool you. He’s got enough of an ego without you feeding it.”

Oscar just shrugged, clearly unbothered by his sisters’ ribbing. He kept his eyes on me, his smile softening just slightly. “They’re just jealous because they know I’m right. You really are something else.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to fight the smile that was creeping onto my face despite my best efforts. “You’re impossible,” I muttered, crossing my arms in an attempt to compose myself.

Oscar leaned back, finally giving me a bit of space but not without one last wink. “Impossible’s my specialty,” he said, the playful challenge hanging in the air.

Hattie clapped her hands together, breaking the charged silence that had wrapped around us. “Alright, lovebirds, let’s change the scene before this kitchen gets any steamier,” she said with a sly grin, glancing between Oscar and me. “What do you say we all head out to the pool? It’s hot as hell today, and I could use a swim.”

Mae’s eyes lit up at the suggestion, and she bounced on her toes with excitement. “Yes, please! I’ve been dying to jump in all morning. Come on, it’ll be fun.”

Edie shrugged, pushing off the counter. “Sounds like a plan. Beats sitting around here watching Oscar make a fool of himself,” she said, shooting her brother a pointed look that he brushed off with a careless smirk.

I hesitated, caught off guard by the sudden change in plans. The thought of the pool—cool water, bright sun, and lounging with these new, vibrant personalities—was tempting, but my mind immediately jumped to what that would mean: changing into a bikini, being under the sun's scrutiny, and, worse, the idea of Oscar’s eyes on me again, but this time with even less to hide behind.

“Uh, yeah, sure,” I said, trying to sound casual, though my heart was starting to race for an entirely different reason now. “Just give me a minute to get changed.”

As I slipped back into my room, I rummaged through my suitcase, finding the bright bikini I had packed on a whim but hadn’t quite planned on wearing in front of a whole audience of strangers. It was a pretty number—a little more revealing than I was used to—but suddenly, the idea of wearing it around Oscar felt daunting. My insecurities bubbled up: the nagging thoughts of whether my stomach was flat enough, if my thighs looked alright, or if the faint stretch marks I tried so hard to ignore would be too noticeable under the bright afternoon sun.

I took a deep breath, staring at my reflection in the mirror. I tugged at the fabric, trying to adjust it in a way that made me feel more comfortable, but the nerves wouldn’t settle. I could already imagine Oscar’s eyes lingering on me, his playful smirk turning into something more appraising, and the thought sent a rush of heat to my cheeks. God, why was I letting this get to me? It was just a pool. Just a bikini. Just Oscar. But the more I tried to rationalize, the more those little fears crept in, whispering doubts that made my stomach churn.

I was so lost in my own thoughts, adjusting and readjusting the strings and trying to silence the negative self-talk, that I nearly jumped out of my skin when a sudden knock rattled my door. My heart leaped into my throat, and I spun around, my breath catching as I called out, “W-Who is it?”

“It’s me,” came Oscar’s familiar voice, muffled but still clear enough to send a jolt of nerves through me. “Just checking to see if you’re alright in there. You’ve been quiet, and, well, didn’t want you chickening out on us.”

His tone was light, but there was something softer in it, something that caught me off guard. It wasn’t the usual teasing or the cocky one-liners I’d grown accustomed to in the short time I’d known him. This felt… genuine. A flicker of concern threaded through his words, almost like he actually cared if I was okay. My cheeks flushed anew, this time from the unexpected warmth of his attention rather than embarrassment.

I sat on the edge of the bed, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my cover-up as I tried to piece together my swirling thoughts. Was this the same Oscar who had been smirking at me in the kitchen, flirting shamelessly in front of his sisters? The same Oscar who seemed to relish every moment he made me blush or stumble over my words? It was strange, almost disarming, to hear him like this—concerned, attentive, with none of his usual bravado.

My heart fluttered at the thought. What if there was more to him than just the cheeky guy who lived for teasing? I couldn’t help but feel a small, unexpected tug in my chest, an urge to believe that this side of him was real and not just some act. But then, just as quickly, my rational side kicked in, reminding me that I’d known Oscar for all of three hours, most of which had been spent flustered and caught up in his whirlwind of charm.

Was I reading too much into this? Was I letting my own insecurities and wishful thinking color my perception of him? It was hard not to, especially when he swung so easily between flirty and sincere, keeping me constantly off-balance. I barely knew this guy, yet here I was, letting my mind wander into dangerous territory, imagining depth and sincerity that might not even be there.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to steady my thoughts. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions—didn’t want to let a few kind words make me think I’d seen some hidden side of him. But it was hard not to feel flustered when his voice had softened like that, when he’d taken the time to check on me instead of just joking about how long I was taking.

The knock on my door, the concern in his tone—it all felt so different from the playful Oscar who’d swaggered into my life just a few hours ago. Maybe it was nothing, just a moment of decency, a brief glimpse of something real behind the jokes and teasing. Or maybe I was just overthinking, desperate to see something more in him because he’d managed to get under my skin in a way I wasn’t quite prepared for.

I sighed, feeling my cheeks heat up once more as the realization hit me—I was blushing again, and not just from embarrassment this time. There was something about Oscar, something that made me want to believe he was more than the carefree charmer he projected. But whether that was true or just wishful thinking, I couldn’t be sure. Not yet.

“I-I’m fine!” I called back, trying to steady my voice, but it came out shaky, betraying the mix of anxiety and embarrassment that had settled in my chest. “Just… getting ready.”

There was a pause on the other side of the door, long enough that I thought he might have walked away. But then, Oscar’s voice cut through again, softer this time, and with a teasing edge. “You sure? I promise no one’s gonna judge you out there. Least of all me.”

The reassurance felt sincere, but I couldn’t help the way my mind raced with all the what-ifs. What if he did look? What if I didn’t look good enough? What if this stupid bikini made me feel more exposed than I could handle? I glanced at myself one last time in the mirror, trying to summon the confidence that I usually wore so easily, but right now felt like it was hiding somewhere I couldn’t reach.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” I finally managed, forcing a smile I hoped he couldn’t hear through the door. “Just... give me a sec. I’ll be right out.”

“Take your time,” Oscar said, his voice fading as he finally moved away from the door. “But don’t take too long. You don’t wanna miss the fun.”

As his footsteps retreated, I let out a shaky breath, trying to collect myself. I ran a hand through my hair, giving myself one last pep talk before heading out. It was just a pool day, I reminded myself. Just a stupid pool day with some new people and a guy who was way too good at making me blush. And maybe, just maybe, it would be fun—if I could get out of my own head long enough to let it be.

─────────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───────────────────

taglist! @mingyusbigrighttoe @theblueblub @demandealalune @linnygirl09

[turvi]

Please some snape x wife reader. They are on vacation withou their child and Severus obviously missed her so much.

Thank you very much 💕

Y/n couldn’t help but smile when she heard Severus grumble about the overpriced dates they bought from the local shop. She knew her husband loved to complain but he was complaining more than usual. As Severus grumbled with a frown Y/n gently held his hand distracting him from his thoughts. It surprised him how his heart still skips with her one simple touch even though they have been together for 6 years now. 

One look at her husband’s frowning face she could tell the real reason he was more grumpy than usual. It was not the overpriced dates. “Severus it’s only been 2 days we will get back to her in no time.” 

Severus rolled his eyes. The audacity of this woman thinking she knows him well (she does). “How are you so calm knowing our daughter is back home without us?” 

Y/n chuckled kissing his cheek, her thumb gently wiping the lipstick off “Sev she is with Mama and Papa she is in good hands.” She didn’t mind his grumbling not one bit because she knew their daughter Clementine had Severus wrapped around her little finger since day one. Although he had been terrified and anxious wondering day and night if he would be a good father or not, it all changed when he held her in his arms.  

“Can we call your parents again?” Severus knew if Y/n hadn’t left him yet now she would, but her soft giggles soothed his thoughts and for a moment he couldn’t take his eyes away from her. 

“My love, I have never called my parents so much in my life as I am now, while on vacation with my husband who misses our sweet angel.” 

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, giving a quick peck on her head. “You tolerate me, my heart.” 

My heart. It still made her blush after being with him for such a long time. “Hmm, I do…but I guess that’s what I get for marrying the notorious Severus Snape.” she yelped as he pinched her hip, her laughter swallowed by his lips as he kissed her. A kind of kiss that said so much. Thank you, I love you, I am so grateful for your presence in my life. 

“To be honest with you, I miss her too. She has your smile and Severus she is so smart for her age.” 

His eyes were full of love as he saw the mother of his child talk. “I think that’s where you are wrong my heart she has your looks and I am thankful for that because I wouldn’t wish my looks even on my worst enemy.”  He felt her soft palm on his lips and a scowl on her face, which was quite hypocritical of her given she also looked down on herself, but in Severus’ eyes she was the most beautiful girl. He had not a single clue what she saw in him that she liked so much that she decided to spend her life with him and have his child.  

“Severus Tobias Snape, don’t you dare speak such foul words about the man I love.” Her eyes. He loved her eyes the most. They were so expressive, so soft yet intense. He kissed her palm and believed every word he said, yet he kept it to himself for he loved her so much. 

“I can never understand how you love me so much. But maybe that is the beauty of it,” he spoke so softly that Y/n would not have heard if they were not in the quiet part of the town. 

His smile got wider when his wife wrapped her arms around his waist his arms immediately doing the same “Now I miss her too.” Severus chuckled. Even though they had taken this vacation to get some alone time, they missed their daughter. “Seems like we are cutting short our vacation.”

A/N: Here I am again responding to an old ask. REBLOG AND COMMENT IF YOU LIKE THIS

[satoruhour]

a/n: 0.7k, geto has glasses in this / based on what i wrote below for someone:

On Sunday morning, the sun seeps into the blinds we argued over (you let me choose in the end) and there is a ripe clementine on the kitchen top. I relish at having woken up before you (because you said how European people are always early birds. Birds can oversleep too.), and seeing the mess of blonde and the freckles you said you hated so much. My thumb rubs away something on your face like how I’d peel away at the fruit and I use a little too much force. In the next hour it happens again and you laugh at how the juice misses your eye by an inch. “Thank God I have my glasses on your bedside table, at least. I’ll wear it after.” And after the mundane statement and a graze of your lips on my cheek, I realise how much I like having your things on my furniture and a just-ripe clementine for sharing each time the sun awakens.

the sun is burning when you wake up, back slick with sweat when you rouse from slumber, and you catch the culprit sinking more and more into your rear: geto suguru, one of the special grade sorcerers and a teacher at his alma mater, mumbling into your neck.

it’s a sight to see, to be honest — you’ve seen his demeanour with enemy curse users, with satoru at times — it’s nothing like how geto is when he’s with you.

a flip switched even when he senses you, because he always has a curse guarding you. his eyes soften and his features relax and sometimes he can feel his curses leaving his body with how unstable his heart is and he finds it so hard to control his cursed energy.

sleepily, you inch away from his warm body before sitting up, huffing out a sigh at how your shirt sticks to your back. you’re not complaining, but sleeping in was something you cherished, and waking up sweaty is not the best way to go about it.

you find that your body is warm like helios, but your heart burns brighter than the god’s rays that filter through the blinds that geto let you choose. you have to clutch onto your heart, shaky breaths leaving you.

because you’ve shared a bed so many times, but you still feel like the you who resided in the basketball court, watching suguru practise his shots. your cheeks are flushing from hearing him say this is for you! and then almost missing it if it wasn’t for his curses helping him.

“sweetheart? what’s up?” geto is groggy in the morning, voice scratchy and raspy from the lack of use (he doesn’t sleeptalk like gojo). you shake your head, letting your lover wrap his arms around you, pressing a kiss to your nape.

“just thinking ’bout how much i love you,” you mumble quietly, putting your hands to your face and screaming into it, feeling a smile upon your neck. “you’re so sweet and so cute and hot and—”

“you just take care of me so well.” the last part is a little sentimental, now a little embarrassed at your outburst. geto notices this, easily manoeuvring you into his lap.

“baby. of course i do,” the other removes your hands from your face, kissing both of them before putting them around his shoulders. “i’d die before i put my needs before yours.”

“if you wish to be the stars, then i’ll become the night sky that wraps around you. if you’re a praying mantis, i’d give you my body to eat up.”

you make a face at that, pushing him away at that disgusting image he put in you and he laughs; he sounds like everything right in your life and it’s like you don’t know what disgust is anymore.

“gross. and cheesy. and also was that an oral joke?”

it’s later when geto says that instead, although just the first word, because you absolutely suck at peeling oranges and clementines; you insist on doing it. you’re digging your thumbs all the wrong ways into the fruit and you burst out laughing as another spurt of juice meets with geto’s face.

it just barely misses his eye and he just narrows his eyes at you, reaching for the clementine. you just put it further and further from him, chairs scraping the floor from the chaotic scene.

although suguru is insistent on taking the fruit from you, he lets you win anyway, because it’s so natural to him. video games, random races, rock, paper, scissors. god, he’d let you win at the stupidest games. and with this simple gesture, he knows you want to take care of him.

so while there’s a scowl on his face, you know he never means it when you chase him around the house with a half peeled clementine and juices spraying from how badly you peel it and booming laughter at how he frantically puts on his glasses.

you know suguru could never mean it as long as his glasses take its place beside your phone (and his), as long as there’s clementines in a grocery bag — and as you pop a wedge of the orange fruit into his mouth and the sweet flavour of the citrus floods his mouth, geto suguru hopes you’ll never share your uneven slices with anyone but him.

[mattspoetdepartment]

FaceTiming each other. Maybe to fall asleep

Jack had been in Atlanta for the past couple of weeks working on a couple different features. He had taken a few months off of work after You had Clementine and now his team was pushing him to put something out.

Although you told him he was fine to go, he still didn’t wanna leave you two at all and to be honest you didn’t really want him to go either.

“How’s babygirl?” Jack asked. You were FaceTime ready for bed as you both talked about your day. You could tell Jack was sad not being there with the both of you.

“She’s doing good! I think she’s finally getting use to her sleep schedule. She misses you though” you said. Truthfully you didn’t know who missed him more.

“She the only one missing me?” He grinned as he watched you roll your eyes at him.

“You know I’m always missing you” his face softened as he noticed you were pouting, trying not to cry.

“I know baby. I miss you both so much”

“Can we maybe sleep on FaceTime tonight?” You got settled underneath your covers making sure the baby monitor was close knowing his answer was gonna be a yes.

“Of course sweetheart, as long as you aren’t snoring in my ear like last time” he tucked his chin underneath the covers smiling so big knowing what he said was a lie.

“Baby…you know that was you” you said as you smack your lips at him. You knew he was gonna mention that time because it was so bad it woke both of you up.

“I’ve in fact, have never snored in my life”

“Yeahh sure, whatever you need to tell yourself babe” you said giggling.

“Goodnight baby, love you so much” Jack slurred as he was already half asleep”

“Love you too honey” you said as you started drifting off to sleep yourself.

[world0fmadness]

VOCAL COACHING 101

pelle “ dead ” ohlin x reader x ( platonic! ) oc daughter

♡ general headcanons for pelle teaching his daughter how to do his vocal work!

୨୧ this anon submission was so cute, it infected me with the worst brainrot known to man… i hope this did your thought some justice, anon! i mentioned in a post earlier today that the oc daughter is named calliope to me but i do not name her in the works so you can give her any name you want, i’d really love to hear what names you think pelle would like <3

♡ requested by anon | related hc available here and here | view my metal masterlist here

reading music recommendations: clementine suite by jared emerson johnson - i love you by daniel lanois

♡ to start off, pelle is certainly no stranger to admiration for his vocal work!

୨୧ he’s gotten a lot of compliments on it from people in the scene and he’s very well aware of how much people like his vocal work

♡ he never really took much from said compliments though, they just never did a whole lot for him…

୨୧ but when it comes to your daughter?

♡ when she starts really looking up to him, truly admiring him and giving little toddler babbles about how she wants to be as awesome as him when she grows up?

୨୧ it completely breaks him :(

♡ he’s so so so soft on her and is just so glad she isn’t afraid of him, she doesn’t see him as strange or scary, like most other children and people in general do ( not that he cares all that much but still )

୨୧ he’s just so… happy that his little girl looks up to him and wants to be like him when she grows up

♡ even if the thought of her growing up and possibly going through the same things he went through absolutely terrifies him and you have to assure him all the time that you guys won’t let that happen

୨୧ when she tries to replicate his vocals after hearing him practice or listening to a mayhem tape in the car, he’s so softly supportive

♡ because she’s a toddler, she obviously can’t even reach anywhere near his level but he loves how hard she tries to be like her papa :(

୨୧ often times, he’ll hold her up in front of the bedroom mirror as he crouches behind her small frame, both of their faces coated in corpse paint, his chin resting atop her head as she growls and does strange hand gestures she saw him doing in pictures, all while you record the events from the doorway with a small camcorder, letting out small chuckles at how hard she’s trying to sound like pelle

♡ her vocals just consist of a lot of growling, noises that sound more like an audition for a zombie role in a movie or some kind of dinosaur

୨୧ and to be honest, the hand gestures do not help! she just looks like a tiny t-rex…

♡ pelle won’t talk much but he might just give a very quiet laugh as he looks down at her in the reflection of the mirror, giving quiet mumbles of praise as she continues her attempt

“ good… you’re doing very good, now you’re better than me, yes? ” ( she absolutely won’t take that though, tilting her head back and giving a smile that’s missing a couple tiny teeth before telling him that “ no! no one is better than you, papa, not even me! ” is it enough to nearly get pelle to tear up? absolutely! but he chokes it back and nods softly, mumbling a quiet “ thank you ” back to her )

୨୧ if she ever starts coughing a little, he’ll be really protective of her but not in an overbearing way, he’s very good with handling things and remaining calm when things happen, at least in front of her because he never wants her to get freaked out

♡ pelle will usually just pat her back softly, rubbing his hand in large circular motions as her little lungs catch up, picking her up from the bedroom floor and balancing her on his hip as stands up from his crouching position, his pale fingers brushing some stray blonde hairs from her face

“ oh, come here… just a little too harsh, hm? you need a drink, water? juice box, maybe? ” ( he’s incredibly attentive to her every need, you and your daughter are the only people he will ever treat like this, he opened his heart to you two and does not regret it one bit )

୨୧ when taking her to go and grab a drink to soothe her slightly sore throat, pelle will always slip her some kind of sweet treat like a swedish cinnamon roll or something similar from the kitchen cupboards whilst she sips from a juice box

♡ well, he tries to secretly slip it to her but your motherly eagle eyes always catch the exchange, giving him a shake of the head and an eye roll as their little vocal coach sessions are almost always in the morning before breakfast or in the afternoon before dinner and you don’t want her eating sweet snacks before a meal… but you never say anything, you just let them have their moment

୨୧ pelle is probably so tempted to sample a recording of her growling or even just use a redording of her growling in a song because he’s just really proud of her and wants her to know it :(

♡ y’know how hellripper featured his parents that one time? kind of like that! he’s her number one supporter and really has no problem showing it, even if he’s a little awkward and shy

୨୧ you guys didn’t take her to watch pelle perform live until she was just a little tiny bit older than a toddler and he does not harm himself on stage since she was born so you don’t even have to worry about that <3

♡ he’ll either silently or very quietly dedicate a song to her, i can’t decide which…

୨୧ if he dedicates it to her quietly, he’ll just mumble something into the microphone that most likely can’t even be heard over the instruments loudly playing the intro the song around him

“ if you will… i play this song for my partner… and my daughter, this is her favourite one… some light in the darkness can be good! ” ( he’ll definitely be saying the last part very quietly, he’s still pretty shy about finding his lights in the darkness, his happiness )

♡ of course, you guys maker her wear some little fluffy ear protectors too! pelle most likely customising them for her to make them look like devil horns

୨୧ the whole time pelle was up on stage, her little doe eyes were just stuck on him like glue, the stage lights shining on her face as she became entranced by the extremely muffled sound of her fathers vocals…

♡ yeah, i think it’s safe to say a career as a vocalist may very well be in her future, you and pelle would support her the whole way <3

[polycrowtruther]

Several Sentence Sunday

In honor of @dreamtigress's own SSS post, I will share mine as well! I'm working on several different WIP's and they're all different genres so I figured I'd do a couple sentences from each to show the variety in what's to come!

(excerpt from the Spirit of Grief)

“We’re ready,” Matthias said, his voice hoarse. He squeezed Kaz’s shoulder to get his attention, “We’re going to start now, okay demjin?”

“Do your wors’,” Kaz’s lips wobbled but they found their way to a grin eventually, “S’not like ‘m going anywhere.”

Matthias choked on his response, dropping forward to rest his forehead on his forearm unable to speak. Lying prone over Kaz like that, the two of them looked like a statue. As if they had both been cast in marble. Grief poured down Inej’s throat as she tightened her grip on Kaz’s pants. Fuck, she loved these boys. She loved this life she had, and the person she owed the most to was fighting for his own life now. He had to pull through this. His place beside her was too invaluable to lose.  

“Nina’s gonna fix you right up,” Inej said, before correcting herself, “She’s guiding Jes, he’s gonna get that poison out of you.”

“I’m certainly going to try,” Jesper chimed in weakly. 

They waited only long enough to confirm Kaz could hear what they had said, but they were done hesitating. They’ve wasted too much time already, it was time to act now.

(excerpt from God I Want to Feel Again)

“Kaz is a fine boss - ,” Jesper fired back quickly. 

“ - That’s funny, because if I recall correctly Per Haskell was in charge of you. Does your allegiance lie elsewhere now? I’m sure he’d be delighted to hear that.” Iago lifted his paw up and sniffed it, “Not that I much care, that is. I’m sure you follow whomever you please, so long as their pockets are deep enough to keep up with your ‘extracurriculars’ right?”

“Fitting a leech like you’d assume we could be bought,” Clem growled, “But unlike all your boss’s lackeys, it takes more than just a flash of kruge to secure our follow.”

“And what about your discretion?” Iago cooed, “Because we are only here on behalf of a rumor that came directly from your mouth, after all. How much does it cost to keep you quiet, Clementine?”

Jesper flinched. The crew had already discovered this revelation, back when the Black Tips had struck as they left Ketterdam, and to be honest Wylan didn’t really blame Jesper - or Clementine, for that matter. It had been dangerous, and Inej had taken a major hit, but Wylan believed that was inevitable. There was no way they’d get to go on this heist without other players in the game taking notice. If it hadn’t been Clementine’s overeagerness, it could have been Wylan’s rambling. Or Matthias blunt honesty, or Shanti’s well-meaning fretting. Hell, Oomen himself could have stumbled on them in the street and put two and two together. No amount of discretion can prevent bad luck and simple mistakes. Jesper had a big mouth, and he could say things that left deep cuts, but Wylan would always place his bets on the sharpshooter to have his back when it mattered. Loyalty did crazy things to a guy, sometimes. 

(Excerpt from ambiguous and not yet named lingerie shopping trip fic)

“Have you found what you’re looking for?” A raspy voice asked from behind her. Speak of the devil, as they say. 

Nina turned, smiling brightly at her boy, “Yes, actually, I have. Be a dear and hold onto my choices for me.”

Without preamble she hefted her picks into Kaz’s arms, feeling her grin sharpen as he balked at the amount of clothing. Wordlessly, he looked at her, as if waiting for a more concise explanation. She hummed, pausing a moment to take a generous sip of her wine, before setting down her glass again. 

“We’re going to be here awhile,” She patted his cheek lightly. 

He furrowed his brow but did not lean away from her touch, “We have to try on everything? If one pair of smalls fit and the rest are the same size, they should all fit. If they don’t, that’s just bad tailoring.”

“You speak as if you’ve been privy to the process already,” She pouted, “What if I don’t like the color on you? Or what if it’s not the right feel? I want you both to look your best, and if we buy it we should make sure we look damn good in it, right?”

“Fair enough,” Kaz acquiesced with a shrug. He shifted the finery in his arms until they were no longer wrinkled in his hold. So far it seemed any fight he’d put up was, upon closer inspection, just his grumpy curiosity. Nina grinned. Kaz Brekker was a very good boy. 

softcore tagging @sissytobitch10seconds and @lunarthecorvus as well as anybody else who has been reading/writing SOC/SAB fics!

[laughterisorange]

TICKLETOBER 2023

Prompt Day 14: Soft

(yeah I know it’s technically the 15th at the time I’m posting this for me, but sue me, I wanted to write it well)

Pairing: Bakugou/Kirishima

This is a tickle fic. If you don’t like, don’t read. WARNING FOR PROFANITIES, it is Baku after all lol

Summary: Bakugou has really soft hair, and Kirishima is in awe.

Fic Size: Clementine

A Soft Head

Contrary to popular belief, Bakugou was the clingy one in the relationship. If someone had told Kirishima that when they first started dating, well, the redhead would’ve laughed, as he knew himself to be one of the most touch oriented people in their class, hanging onto other people, and giving hugs without reservation. In comparison, Bakugo was the most averse of their class, and either had to be manhandled to accept affection, or was doing the manhandling to prove his own dominance.

Now though, after dating for a few months, Kirishima had borne witness to the truth of Bakugou Katsuki. He was cuddly. Impossibly so, if he was honest - Katsuki was the type to be aggressive in his desire of affection, rather than aggressively affectionate himself. 

For instance, at the moment he was practically on top of Kirishima, face smooshed into the spiky teens chest, as the boy ran his fingers through the blonds hair. He had come into the room and basically inserted himself into Kirishima’s personal bubble - demanding Eijirou’s love without uttering a word. Eijirou ran his fingers through Katsuki’s hair again.

That was another thing. 

Contrary to popular belief, Bakugou’s hair was so… soft.

Bakugou tilted his head with a muffle whine. A question as to why Kirishima stopped.

Kirishima huffed out a laugh, resuming his carding.

“Wut.” Bakugou asked, his eyes flicking up at Eijirou.

“Your hair is soft.”

“...You knew this already, Ei.”

“Yeah, but,” Kirishima twisted the strands between his fingers. “It’s really soft. Like… how?”

Bakugou chuckled lightly, “What do you mean, how?”

“Well when nothing’s touching it, it looks razor sharp! You don’t even gel it or anything, it’s just like that - it’s amazing.”

“Don’t sound so reverent you weirdo.” Bakugou wriggled into Kirishima’s, burying his face deeper with a deep breath.

“OH, but I am reverent, Katsuki. As someone who literally has to gel his hair to get it as spiky as it is -”

“You could just leave it down -”

“- my point is,” Kirishima said, wiggling his fingers at the base of Bakugou’s neck, making him scrunch up with a choked sound. “It’s unfair that you don’t even have to try, and yet it’s so SOFT.” He massaged into the scalp and hair again, but lighter this time, playing into the reverence of his boyfriends beauty. 

He didn’t expect the startled giggling that Katsuki produced at the feeling.

“Eihihih don’t,” He reached his hands up to half heartedly stop the red head, who was now looking like Christmas had arrived early. “Don’t even think about it.”

“This is too good.” He wiggled his fingers up from the base of his head by the neck to the top and around to Katsuki’s ear. A stream of higher pitched giggles repeated from the blond. “You’re ticklish. On your head.”

“Fuhuhuhck yohohohu, AH, nohohoho!”

Eijriou attacked Katsuki’s neck, wiggling and prodding, grinning like a madman. The look on his face only made Katuski laugh harder, still sleepily trying to catch his boyfriend’s hands. Mischievously, Eijirou darted down and scribbled at Katsuki’s sides and stomach. Like a sort of game, he would raise his hands up and Katsuki would follow him. It made him think of a cat video he had seen recently, the thought making the smile on his face widen.

“Stohohop looking at me like thahahat!”

“Like what?” Eijriou asked, feigning ignorance with a smile.

“Like I’m fuhuhuhucking - EIehehehehe!” Katsuki dissolved into laughter, as Eijirou targeted the spot between his underarms and his ribs.

“Like you’re fucking… what?”

“LIhihihke I’m cuhuhuhte!”

“You are cute!”

“NOHOHOhohohoh!”

Kirishima slowed his fingers, sensing that Katsuki was nearing his limit.

“Cute,” Kirishima poked him in the stomach, “and soft,” he tickled his side, Katsuki squirming as his giggles died down.

Kirishima looked lovingly at the giggling mess underneath him.

He leaned down, and pressed a kiss to Katsuki’s lips, stealing the last bit of his laughter. “And a softie.”

Katuski rolled his eyes, grumbling and tugging slightly at the hands who had him pinned. “I’ll get you back for it, you asshole.”

Kirishima tutted. “Katsuki, you know what they say,” 

Katsuki’s brow furrowed slightly in confusion, and Eijriou continued with a shit-eating grin. “The only thing worse than a hard heart is a soft head.”

[jeanbie]

WAYS TO SAY I LOVE YOU #6 ★ masterlist.

pairing: reiner x reader

genre: werewolf au | warnings: abo themes, forbidden romance, sexual references | wc: 2.2k

⏤ imagine the first time they say i love you. imagine it repeated, quietly, with desperate eyes and a defeated voice.

Reiner considered himself just and fair, thinking with his brain and his heart in every situation. Due to this, he’s branded as one of the nicer higher ups amongst the eight great packs of Marley, the wolf who people wanted to talk to when they were in trouble, who they could talk to when there was nobody else. As heir presumptive, it was mandatory for Reiner to make his mark, and show himself as strong and thoughtful and selfless, able to carry the pack should his older brother prove unworthy. To be honest, that would be the only thing he could think of that could change his life; if by chance, his pack brother should be shunned away, or killed or exiled, that would change things for Reiner indeed.

Of course, that’s what he used to think. Those were trivial matters that actually mattered, way before Reiner’s father passed away and Zeke took the role as lead alpha, enforcing new laws and reforms that set everybody on edge. Reiner originally wasn’t bothered by these changes, until a strict and firm law on rogues was enforced, making it difficult for Reiner to differentiate between his head and his heart when he stumbles upon one outside of the camp.

Every year, the eight great packs of Marley merge together on sacred grounds, setting up camp in The Brush, otherwise known as the mainland for the packs, who merge on treaty purposes. That’s how his parents met; at a merging in the eighties, over the campfire and with tribal music and paints, their wolves compatible by the moon and the fireflies lighting up a pathway back to his father’s cabin. It’s also how his brother met his mate- it was at the Gathering, over supper, over the bear that a Paradis pack member had slaughtered near the creek, the pups escaped with the mother but the father was hereby declared as food. It should have been how Reiner met his mate.

It wasn’t.

In the outskirts of the forests, surrounded by pine and ferns and chunky blood, Reiner found you littered with wounds and burns, the pine jagged in your furs. Something had happened in transition; a complication, with your wolf injured to the point where you couldn’t return. By happy miracle, he had gotten the medic from his pack out to you in secret, and overwatched the treatment to your wounds; his wolf, however, raged. The sour smell of clementines and an oriental scent of wood filled his nose and the wolf inside of him clawed to be free- on the small bench, with pants, was his mate. His mate- a solid black wolf with a missing ear and bloodshot eyes- a rogue.

Somehow, he had managed to keep this secret. To his friends, you were a wolf from his pack who had gotten in an accident attacking a bear that got the best of you. To his mother, you were a wolf from the Hizuru pack, with Reiner’s close friend Berthold as an ally to his lie. And, to his pack brother, the alpha of his pack, you were his mate. 

It had taken Reiner some time to get it right; you were quiet and standoffish, only transforming into human form when he had turned around, and one day he caught sight as he turned back of gashes marking your skin, one white ghastly scar across your face, a branded tattoo on your collarbone. A rogue, descendant of the Akzlar Clan exiled to the North.

What little you said, you made up for with your wolf. There was a security in being exposed in wolf form that you enjoyed, and that Reiner embraced with his own. To outsiders, you were flashes of ghost white and ebony black, running through the pines to the stream and back to the lavender meadows. Reiner couldn’t get enough of the tightening pressure in his chest as he bounded after you, cautious of how close you got to the cliff sides, how long you stayed underwater to bring him a fish. He enjoyed these fleeting moments of courtship, taking what he could get; and when his wolf tired and he transformed back, he welcomed your wolf’s soft furs to lay over him protectively until he regained the energy to transform back.

Wolves can mate more than once, Reiner knows this. But he never wants to. In mornings, he does his duties around the campground, and on the evenings, he howls his thoughts to the moon and returns to the retreating spot in the meadow, searching for the cluster of black fur he had grown to care for. 

There, under the moonlight and surrounded by a circle of dusty white flowers, Reiner’s wolf could curl next to yours, his snout in your ears or neck or between your legs, testing the waters. His ears would prick as he heard your quiet whimpers, perhaps the only noise besides groans of pain and snarls when he misinterpreted a look as inviting that he had heard from you. One morning, after the sun shone into his eyes as he wakes, in human form, on the bed of flattened flowers, Reiner turns and is startled by the sight of your human laying beside him, black hair spread over his arm as you look up at the clouds and then back at him.

When he rustles, you look over at him gently and notice his staring. Reiner is careful to collect you, wrapping an arm around your waist and slightly dragging you to him, his eyes in wonder as you smile through your eyes and say: “Y/N. My name is Y/N.”

Reiner gapes slightly, smiling. “Reiner Braun.”

Your eyes search his face for an invitation, and Reiner actually feels his chest tightening and his eyes watering when you push up next to him with your hands on his face, “my love” on your lips. What happens next is what Reiner considers to be progress; his wolf and yours are intertwined with the flowers, mounted and brought together under the moon; your human becomes more open, allowing Reiner’s hand in your own as you sit by the stream, and eventually inside the camp. 

People stare- you’re unfamiliar, they’ve not seen you before, but if Reiner says so, then it must be true. Nobody bats an eyelid when Reiner brings you to campfires, or takes you to his cabin and dresses you in his clothes, his scent on your skin and marks on your neck once he invites you to his bedroom. Reiner’s wolf loves you through his skin under the knitted blankets, your fingernails like claws on his shoulder-blades as he fucks you, kisses you, worships you. It’s bliss, for a bit.

On the day that Reiner prepares to make you his- on the day that Reiner is ready to have you by blood and oath, Zeke says something at breakfast.

There was an attack in a village that happened a few weeks ago, word only just got to them from a messenger wolf. A rogue did it, big black one with a missing ear.

Reiner’s stomach drops.

From across the tribal tent, Berthold gives Reiner a wide-eyed foul look; if he’s found out having protected the same wolf who slaughtered an entire village, he’ll be exiled. Reiner would be too, maybe worse done to him, if Zeke found out it was the rogue that Reiner was trying to mate and court.

He left quickly, advancing with haste towards his cabin where to his alarm, there was nothing; you had vacated, leaving his robes in a messy folded pile on the bed, with his family pendant on the kitchen counter. Following your scent across the forest, Reiner, to no surprise, found you in the meadow, standing looking up at the sky.

“Tell me it wasn’t you,” was the first thing Reiner said. “Y/N, look at me and tell me you didn’t slaughter that village.”

Slowly, you turned to him. “I can’t tell you what you want to hear. I’m sorry.”

Reiner wants to scream. “What, why? Why? Why would you do that? How could you do that?!” You don’t flinch as he raises his voice, your inner wolf standing tall. You won’t cower to anybody, not anymore: “There were children in that village. Innocent people who you murdered!”

“They got what they deserved,” you explain, in a calm voice.

“How can you say that?” gasps Reiner, taking two steps backwards.

“Was it okay for them to murder my family? It was them, and your family founders who slaughtered my entire pack- when we were pushed up to the North, dozens of us died in the winters. Innocent children went hungry and freezing and women died, carrying pups that could have repopulated our entire pack. Alphas went crazy, attacking each other, running from those who came after them- running from wolves like your pack. For me, it was either be killed with the rest of them, or run, and live. And so I ran- I ran away, forced myself to become rogue. I had to watch my entire family line be destroyed, so tell me again how anybody could do or say something like that?”

This time, Reiner takes several steps forward. He shakes his head, momentarily speechless. “Y/N, I had no idea-”

“No, you didn’t,” you say. “Even if you did, you would still protect them. You’re a good man, a good alpha. Which is why I have to go.”

“Go?” Reiner repeats, confused. “No, you can’t leave? I just got you, you can’t leave now.”

You pluck a tall flower from its roots. “I have to. I’m gonna die here if I stay.”

Reiner shakes his head. “No. I’ll protect you. I’ll- Look.” Frantically, he takes your hands into his and forces your eyes up to his own; they’re pleading, guilty, his wolf whimpering inside. “Please. Don’t go. I want to be with you- I’ll do anything for it. We’ll figure it out, and by law, you can stay.”

“It’s not worth it,” you reply quietly. “I’m not worth it.”

“You are,” he says firmly. “You are to me.”

For a moment, Reiner thinks you’re considering it. A flash of regret passes your eyes and Reiner gently holds your face in his hands, the snow from the January sky fluttering down and clinging to your hair and your lashes. If only he had brought the fur robes back with him…He stops thinking when you carefully remove his hands from your face, attempting a smile that he barely sees.

“I can’t,” you tell him, shaking your head. “I can’t be who you want me to be, who anybody wants me to be. This is who I am- a rogue, a killer.”

“No, you’re not. I’ve seen it, you’re better than that.”

“What did you see?” you ask lightly. “Saw me pick flowers? Look at you in a different way? It’s better for everyone if I just go.”

“And where will you go?” Reiner questions, his tone confrontational. Inside, your wolf bristles; he’s getting awfully brave. “Back to villages to murder people?”

“Home,” you answer.

This is it; Reiner picks up on all the little details, as you shrink back and turn away, moving across the thin layer of snow towards the direction of the stream, towards the great North, where he suspects home is for you. For you, this is destiny, but for Reiner, it’s now or never. He bursts forward with desperate energy, grabbing your arm and pulling you towards him. His skin and body is on fire, his mind reeling as he brings you to him with a kiss, one that breathes pleas into your mouth, quiet and muffled words escaping between each pucker.

“Please, don’t do this,” Reiner begs, “please. Please, please, please, don’t leave me.”

“I have to.”

“Please stay,” comes his quiet and defeated voice. All he can do is beg, force his wolf into submission before you. “Please, baby.. I just got you.” Reiner opens his eyes, looking at you desperately: “I love you. Please. Please don’t do this.”

He makes it so much harder for you. Feeling the chances of you staying rising, you smile at him and press a small, fleeting kiss to his hand. “I’m sorry.” He sinks.

As you move away towards the edge of the meadow, you take one look back at him, feeling your own wolf churn with grief as Reiner stands and cries, the ties and bonds made by stolen moonlight kisses strained and stretched painfully and you snatch your gaze away, leaping into a scream that echoes into a howl, your wolf on four paws in the snow. Riding past the stream and in the snow, you never look back to Reiner, never feeding the urge to go back to him.

You always were better off alone, anyway.

[samrsgyi]

Beautiful eyes [ Violet Mikami ]

Warnings⚠️: fem!reader, Dom! Violet, sub! Reader, fingering, saliva, aftercare, passionate sex, affection, fluff, cuddling

A/N- We love our pretty paramedic!!! Reader is a nurse that works at Chicago med

Scenario- You and Violet have a little chat and you're glad that there's no more sexual tension between you guys after the death of Evan Hawkins and Violet doesn't know how to respond to that. You bump into Violet at Molly's and she agrees with you but also decides to become a tease and gives you a kiss that you'll never forget. You get all flustered and she leads you into a mist of lust

Short summary for paragraph 1: You go to the firehouse and see violet

" Oh, hey best friend." Said Y/N awkwardly. " I'm so sorry about the death of Evan, he was a good man." Said Y/N. " Thank you." Said violet. " So you decided to come back to the firehouse?-- I mean! How have you been?" Said Y/N sounding Shocked and surprised at the same time. " Oh, good and you?" Said violet. " Good as well." Said Y/N. " Y'know to be honest-- I'm just glad that there's no more sexual tension between us anymore, we can finally just be friends." Said Y/N. Violet stayed silent and looked at you for a little while before dropping her head. Y/N stayed silent too before chickening out as well. Then Y/N took off without a trace. Violet was gonna call back after you but it's like her voice wasn't even there. You ran all the way home and started panicking and saying that you were a fool to even say that. You cooled down and took a shower then went to sleep

Paragraph 2: you bump into Violet at molly's

At the end of your shift you decided to go and stay at Molly's. After a couple cups of water, you were fully hydrated and went to go to the bathroom. You happened to bump into Violet when she was exiting the bathroom. " Oh, hey." Said violet. " Hi." Said Y/N. " Uh y'know what, you were right it has been fun being friends-- but I don't want you to forget this." Said violet. She leaned in to kiss you and then both of your lips crashed into each other. Her lips tasted like clementines and tangerines mixed with honey. Then she walked off smiling. You looked at her walk away and she turned to face you and blew you a kiss and you caught it. " Violet you sneaky son of a-." Said Y/N. Later that night at Molly's violet came to you and grabbed your hand and took you outside to her car. " Uh vi- where are we going?" Asked Y/N. " Don't worry about it sweetheart, were just going home." Said violet. You gulped wondering what was gonna happen to you next.

Paragraph 3: It got steamy

You guys got in the apartment and she pushed you onto the bed and got on top of you then started kissing you. You guys were sharing tongues and saliva but the thing is, you were to submissive to handle it. " Wow, you taste good, bunny." Said violet. Your face was flushed and you looked at her shocked. You didn't even know how to respond so, you just smiled. You looked into her eyes which was mixed with admiration and adoration with a hint of passion and lust. " Your eyes are Beautiful." Said Y/N. Violet sighed then smiled.

" Hey, Y/N."

"Yeah?"

"Can you do me a favor, bunny?"

" Sure."

" Lay down for me will ya?"

And you did then, violet took matters into her own hands and took off your pants and panties. Violet's face was flushed at the sight of seeing you. "Bunny listen, I'm gonna fuck you and all you're gonna do is feel good for me okay?" Said violet. You nodded. Violet pushed two fingers in you which earned a gasp from you. " There you go, just like that." Said violet. Her fingers were in and out of you at a fast pace. Then you had knew, she was trying to get you to cum quickly. " V-Violet wait, I'm gonna cum-." You managed to get your final words out. " That's it bunny, cum for me." Stated violet. " Shit, shit, shit-." You chanted. Then that's when you came and let out a huge gasp and a moan. Waves of pleasure and euphoria washing over you. Violet went down to your face a kissed you. You guys finally breathed for air and saliva connecting your tongues. Violet licked and bit your lip before, chuckling softly. You sighed slowly still trying to recover from your high. Violet got up and went to go run a warm bath for you. Which you both ended up showering together. Then violet went to go get some snacks and set on a movie. Once it was done you guys cuddled

" Goodnight, Bunny."

[invisibleraven]

asking your “friend” to be your plus-one to another friend’s wedding for Willie/anyone. I think he'd be an amazing 'help I need a date'.

"So..."

"What do you want?"

Willie pouts, twisting his fingers together. "Who says I want anything?"

Alex looks up at him over the edge of his book. "You only start sentences with so... if you want something, so out with it or let me get back to my book."

"Clementine is getting married."

"Mazel tov, what does that have to do with me?" Alex asked, eyes already trained back on the page.

"I'm going, but I don't want to go alone." Alex glanced up at that. "I used to work with have the invite list, and I left claiming I was gonna find my purpose, or at least a boyfriend. I have found neither, so I cannot go to this wedding stag."

"So ask Reggie, he loves weddings," Alex said.

"Except he's friends with half my former coworkers, and all of them know he's dating Julie. Would be kind of weird if I showed up with him on my arm. Especially since I think they're invited as well," Willie said.

"Why not ask Luke?"

"He's working, and Bobby already said no."

"So I'm a last resort?" Alex said with a withering glance.

"I know you get anxiety at large events," Willie replied. "Otherwise you would have been the top of my list, honest."

"Will there be food?"

"Caleb is letting them have it at the club, so I imagine so," Willie said, hope invading his voice.

"Shit, I was hoping you wouldn't say his name," Alex swore. "Now I have to go so you don't punch Caleb and end up in jail."

"I would never sully Clem's wedding with violence!" Willie said with a mock affronted gasp. Which Alex just glared at him for. "Look, Caleb's a first rate bastard, but even he wouldn't start shit there, so I'll be good."

"Uh huh. When is it?"

"Saturday night?"

"Lucky you, I'm free. You are buying all the drinks, and paying for the Uber home," Alex said, eyes back on his book.

"Thank you thank you thank you!" Willie shouted. Alex grumbled out something that sounded like 'you're welcome' but Willie was too excited to hear.

~

On Saturday night, Willie straightened out his bright yellow tie, the lapels of his dark black suit, grinning at the mirror. He looked good. At least no one at the club would be saying otherwise.

But he was still nervous, because Alex had yet to emerge from his room and they were going to be late if they didn't leave soon. "You ready?" he called.

"Yeah yeah, keep your pants on!"

Alex came out, and he looked like a ray of sunshine. He was in a suit the same colour as Willie's tie, with a classic white shirt and black tie, looking amazing.

"Damn Mercer, you clean up good!" Willie hooted, letting out an obnoxious wolf whistle. Alex rolled his eyes, but did nothing to hide the soft pink blush or the pleased little smile on his face.

"Let's go." Alex took his arm and they were off.

The wedding was lovely of course. Clem looked stunning in her sparkly silver dress, like a disco ball come to life. Her partner was in a suit of deep midnight blue flecked with gold, and they made a stunning pair. Willie totally didn't tear up at the vows, no matter how many tissues he and Alex seemingly went through.

The reception was bangin', as was expected. The chefs at the club had gone all out, and it seemed as though Caleb was avoiding him, which Willie was happy enough with. Plus Alex knew how to cut a rug, so the two of them set the floor on fire as they twirled and bopped together.

Only, then there was a slow son, and Alex didn't hesitate to draw Willie into his arms and sway them around the room. And maybe it was the wedding, or the few glasses of champagne, but Willie sighed as he rested his head on Alex's shoulder. "Thanks for coming with me."

"I am actually having a lot of fun, so I'm glad I did," Alex murmured back. "Best date I've been on in a while."

Willie smiled, nuzzling in further. Wait... date? This wasn't a date. But he really really wanted it to be.

Oh.

Willie clutched Alex all the tighter as the song played on, not wanting this moment to end. But it did, and they broke apart, red faced and a little awkward. They giggled as they went back to the table, picking at the rest of their food, drinking more. And when the next slow song started, Alex offered Willie his hand, and he took it gladly.

So maybe it wasn't a date, but as they grew closer and closer on the dance floor, Willie wondered if he asked Alex out tomorrow what his answer would be.

For now, he'd keep dancing, happy enough in the fantasy.

Little did he know that the next wedding they would go to would be as a real couple. And the one after that? Would be theirs.

[stop-breaking-my-heart-telltale]

oh goodie, more teasers for Clementine Book Two

because if anyone is keeping one eye open at all times for Clementine Book Two news, it’s me... and probably only me, let’s be honest. 

We have a look at four new pages, except they’re not full pages, they’re more like chunks of pages here to show us something that makes us gasp and go, “oh no, Clementine! That’s not good!” 

Let’s talk about ‘em. It’ll be quick, there isn’t too much to talk about, but it’s worth updating y’all on. 

Wow... much exciting. I’m sure those hands are meant to be Clementine and Ricca’s, and they’re touching... anyone who has been a follower of my blog for a long time now and knows anything about TWDG knows that it’s all about the *hands*....that’s how you can tell they’re in love. 

Except they’re not really holding hands yet. I guess they’re not quite ready for love yet. I see Tillie’s really taking the slow burn route then. 

Yeah, the big “oh no” is that Clementine has a fever, and as we’ll see in the next page, it might have something to do with her leg. Remember how in Book One Rabby was lookin’ at her leg all, “Clementine, you have to wash your leg to avoid infection, infection bad, don’t get that.” 

We didn’t see Clementine do much of that in Book One... which if she was doing it, that’s something you’d think would be shown to us, no? Kind of important? 

Alright well, the cat’s still alive at least. 

Also I’m assuming this is after they got away from the weirdos who grabbed Olivia in the previous teaser pages we got. Clementine’s got a fever and they’re covered in mud, shit, and blood...not great things to have on an infected leg, y’all. 

Also, “We’ll eat fish.” .....insert AJ’s “I like fish!” line here.

Oh wait, you can’t, because AJ’s not here. Because he’s back at Ericson. Because Clementine left. I bet her leg wouldn’t be covered in mud if she had just stayed... just sayin’. 

I really like that establishing shot with the moon and the clouds... I said this previously, but I think Tillie’s found a better footing with the art in this one. She’s always been great with shots like that, even in Book One, but also the characters look a little better, too. They’re still not my favorite design and I don’t think Clementine looks like Clementine, but I see improvement. 

Anyway, what I take from this is they’re still traveling and Clementine’s not doing great. 

Yeah, that’s all I really have to say. I said there wasn’t too much to talk about as the big takeaway from this teaser is that Clementine’s feverish and her leg might be infected, which isn’t great. I’m sure she’ll put through, though... unless Tillie’s pulling a power move and killing her off in the second book only to turn the third book into....I dunno, Clementine’s adventures as a walker? She dies and it’s revealed to be one big dream and she never actually left Ericson? This Clementine turned out to be a fake and the real Clementine shows up to take her out? 

I guess we’ll have to wait to find out. 

Do y’all have thoughts? Are you excited for Clementine Book Two? I doubt you are since most aren’t, but you never know. 

Personally, I’m excited to be disappointed, but hopeful to be proven wrong. Either way, I win. 

[hellolovers13]

Hiiii so idk if that's something you'd like but, tiny prompt from Unplanted? Harry patiently explaining to Louis how to water her plant and Louis being super attentive with it, pls give me some fluff?????

Hello lovely,

only for you 💗

As this is a tiny sequel to Unplant, it might not make much sense if you haven't read that. Idk.

Louis could watch her forever. Probably had, if he was being honest with himself. Just doing mundane things like ironing her clothes, reading a book, waking up on a Sunday morning.

But watching her take care of her plants was a very special treat. The way she spoke to them softly, urging them to grow and flourish. It was a delight. 

“Lou, are you even listening?” Harry pouted. Louis might not be able to see her, as she had her back to him, but he could hear it clearly in her voice.

“Course I am, darling.” Louis got up from the couch and took the two steps it took to reach her, arms coming up around her middle. He pressed a soft kiss to her neck, momentarily getting lost in the vanilla scent of her perfume.

Harry hummed, obviously not believing a word Louis had said. “Lou, you’ll need to take care of them for the next week. Can you do that for me?”

Them. Yeah, they’d got quite the plant collection by now. Or Harry had, to be more precise. Louis had to admit, he sometimes lost count of how many there were exactly. But it was all worth it, seeing Harry care for them. Blossoming just like her plants.

Harry turned around in his arms and puckered her lips. Words could not describe how much Louis loved her. And he’d tried to put it in writing before. Before his proposal. In the end, he’d just rambled until she said yes and kissed him. It worked, so he wasn’t too mad at himself. 

He pulled her closer and kissed her gently. When they pulled apart she put her head on his shoulder and sighed. “I’m gonna miss you.”

“Me too, darling, but it’s not for too long. We’ll make it. And I promise, I did actually listen to everything you told me. I know to only water Audrey and Bethany when their soil gets too dry.”

Harry pushed him slightly, even if she wasn’t letting go of him at all while doing so. “If, Louis, only if it does. I just watered them so they might not need to have more until I am back.”

“I know. And Clementine, Victoria and Cherry I’ll water more often. And I’ll remember to add that green stuff to Olive’s and Clara’s water on Thursday.”

Harry smiled up at him at that. “Good. I made you a list anyway, and if anything is wrong, let me know.”

“Promise.”

A soft whimper coming from the other room made them pull apart. Harry giggled. “Guess Alice is ready for our trip to her grandma.”

send me a prompt and i might write something

[writingonleaves]

not sure if you’ve addressed this yet or not but how do clem and nico navigate both having busy schedules? also is there anything else you’d like to share because i can never think of questions to ask 😭

omg hey! this is such a great question and one i think about a Lot. it'll definitely be addressed more in part two which will be out .... soon (lol) but here are some of my thoughts about it below! adding a read more bc this will probably be longer than you asked for

i am by no means an expert on med school / residency so i'm basing it off research and some of my friends who are incredible enough to go on the journey to become smart-ass doctors, but that life is Busy for clem, especially because she's technically doing two residencies in one. its not shown much in the first part, but besides being at the hospital and taking classes, clem doesn't really have the energy to do that much besides eat and sleep and occasionally bother jack and luke for shits and giggles lmao

on the other side (during the season at least) nico is, well, a hockey player. his schedule is all out of whack and during his days off, he truly Takes Them Off and usually just lounges around.

when we put them together, it's similar in the fact that they're both so occupied all the time, but then, like you'd imagine, it doesn't overlap much.

tbh, clem's schedule is probably more predictable, despite it being busy. she doesn't really have days off (unless it's after an overnight shift) (which i also could be making up so if any residents are reading this i apologize) but it's more consistent in terms of the times she's home.

so, as these two enter the 2024-2025 season, this time as a couple, it starts with them hanging out on the nights nico doesn't have a game and isn't on the road.

and then from there, it kinda just, works? like ofc they're both busy but they do dedicate one night a week to date night, even if they're just relaxing on the couch together (unless the devils are on a road trip) and clem does try to go to a game when she can to support. usually at least once a month.

but also keep in mind that clem has been around The Hockey Life in one way or another for so long now, so she understands more than most might at the start

logistics aside now, emotionally, as we've (hopefully) seen, clem is pretty independent. she doesn't need to be hearing from nico at all times of the day. if anything, nico is the "clingier" one between them, which is saying a lot because nico is pretty independent too

it takes a bit of trial and error, but they find that honest communication is key, as well as taking the time they do have together to have it be just them (though ofc jack and luke and various other teammates crash, because everyone loves clem, but they find a balance)

it does naturally make things easier that clem lives with jack (and luke) and nico already has a strong friendship with the former (and eventually the latter) so when dates are at the trio's apartment, there's not really much awkwardness or an adjustment period needed.

all in all, it's not easy by any means, and more challenges come up later on which i hope i'll address (being The Captain's girlfriend and getting more involved with the other significant others, the off-season, etc etc) but clem and nico are both mature enough to figure it out, and they love and care about each other enough to want to figure it out, you know?

that was SO long LOL and tbh i might've said a whole lot of nothing but thank you for asking!! these are the kinds of questions i love answering and i hope people like seeing the answers to. writing is great and its lovely, but it can only answer so much without seeming too unnatural, you know?

hmm, idk if i have anything else to add without giving anything away 🙃 maybe that something i've been thinking about a lot is that clementine, for her whole life, has been taking care of others (her mother after her father died, the brothers, her patients etc etc) so it's in her to be nurturing. i think nico is the first person in her life who she lets take care of her. quinn, jack and luke try, and clem tries to let them, but she'll always be their older sister you know? it's different with nico

okay thats enough from me lol. thanks for sending this in anon! i hope you're having a lovely day <3

[vampywriter]

For the ask game!

🦀 - A favourite piece of dialogue

☀️ - Current word count

Hi!! thank you!!

I took ages to answer this but here I finally go :D I'll answer about Three Real Dudes and a Chemist, the WIP I've been writing for most recently ^^

☀️ - 5726 words

🦀 - Under a read more because it gets a little long. But it was not complete otherwise hehe

'And what do you mean you "like" me? You don't even know me! All you know is how to bully me!'

'You like physics. You're studying chemistry, and it's obvious you like chemistry, but you also like physics, and you borrow physics books above your level sometimes. Your pen is a quill, a fake quill, because it's more convenient, but at home you use a real quill, if I'm to guess by the bloats of ink you've got on some of your papers. You really like your dark green shirt; that's the one you wear most often. It suits you. Maddie MacDougall is your best friend. She's nice and pretty, friends with most, but not with assholes. Denis likes her. You're her best friend. He thinks you're competition, but I don't think you've ever even thought about her like anything but a friend or a sister. You take the same bus to come to school. Rumours say you managed to recreate the philosopher's stone. If I believed it existed, I would believe it. You are clever, sharp, practical. When you sit down to study, you put everything you've set yourself to accomplish in one pile and go through it methodically, creating a new pile with everything you've done as you go. You don't trust many people, but you seem to do rather well on your own. You like chocolate pie. Your favourite fruit is the clementine. Need I keep going?'

Lucas stepped back. Tony swore internally. He had said too much. He had fucked up.

'I don't know if you're a creep, if you've studied me just to get me and hurt me more later, or if you're honest.'

Tony's shoulders dropped.

'I'm a singer, not an actor. I don't think I could fake that. I wish there were a way for you to… get it, to feel what I feel and trust me.'

'Why don't you write a song, then? Worked well with your previous girlfriends, didn't it?'

Tony frowned.

'I haven't ever had a girlfriend. Fangirls, maybe, but that's not… I never… That's not the point.' Then he remembered an article from a newspaper a while back. 'Wait, do you believe the rumours they publish about my love life? Or—wait—you heard about that, right, you didn't go and read it yourself, right? But you remembered, that's… that was the least important thing ever to remember!'

'It does not matter how I heard about it,' Lucas said in a pinched tone.

Tony smiled weakly.

'So… Do you care about those girls? I never dated them.'

Lucas looked away.

'I do not care. I really do not care about anything you do, ever.'

[cagedchoices]

GET TO KNOW THE AUTHOR.

name:  mel 

pronouns:  they/them/theirs

preference of communication:  mainly tumblr IMs these days, but i have discord and wire and occasionally i will drop my info on tumblr, give it out privately if asked, or add if someone else is looking to add. it can take me a while to work up the courage to message someone in the first place and i'm really... not good at the usual social cues of "hey how are you/good how are you?/what have you been up to?" but i'm usually game to chat about other stuff

most active muse:  Caleb. i've had a lot of other muses but he's been the one i've been most consistently able to write in the slightly over 3 years since i first started writing him.

experience/how many years:  i had a couple false starts trying to set up rp blogs for Samwise Gamgee from the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Wirt from Over the Garden Wall back in 2014 and 2015? but i just never really managed to get off the ground and start writing in-character for them because i was super heavily intimidated by the rpc and too nervous to approach anyone. finally in january 2017 i stumbled across a parody of Portal 2 on youtube called the Unauthorized Musical and discovered that there were already a handful of muns on tumblr who had picked up characters specifically based on that production and regularly hosted rabbit streams where they'd watch the video again together and welcomed anyone who wanted to join to do so. i noticed nobody was really writing any antagonistic characters against them so i wound up setting up a blog for GLaDOS and following everybody i met during the stream and that was essentially how i became hooked on tumblr rp. i've been kicking around on and off for about 7 years now.

best experience: there's so many to choose from, but i think i'd have to say my best experience was when i started writing Caleb. i was just fresh off watching Westworld season 3, i was actually feeling more compelled at the time to try and write either Dolores, Maeve, Clementine or Teddy but i felt like i wouldn't do any of 'em justice. i ended up making a sideblog to my old multimuse after deciding i would try writing Caleb, and that's where i almost immediately connected with melody/aworldofyou/copiesofme and was enthusiastically introduced to a bunch of other muns residing in the tiny but mighty westworld rpc. 🥰

rp pet peeves: one is pretty much the same as Sandra said; making a new main blog in the spur of the moment. exhausting all energy on curating a distinct aesthetic for icons/banners/promos/custom themes/etc, and then completely losing interest in a week or 2 without ever getting to write that character. and then more often than not the process gets repeated down the line until that person either becomes overwhelmed from having too many blogs to manage or too many memes to answer or too many starters to write.

i also don't particularly love memes that promote making rp into a popularity contest or seeking an almost constant stream of validation from other people. things like "send a _ and i'll rate your blog on a scale of 1 to 10/using a scale template" i try to stay far away from. arguably every notification you get on tumblr is an instant dopamine hit just like all social media is but. idk there was just something about those blog rating/character rating memes that made them feel more addictive to send and receive than like, taking the time to give someone your honest opinion on how you feel about them as a person or on their writing and characters and such.

another similar thing is reblog chains to the effect of 'reblog this if you actually like following me/seeing me on the dash.' i really don't like these. there's a level of self-deprecation and guilt-tripping involved and when people already feel awfully low and vulnerable to negative self image this just makes it worse. especially when people post with side commentary like 'oh nobody will reblog this from me lol.' and i don't think they're always necessarily aware that this is manipulative behavior, but...it is. even just the way the source post is typically phrased, it preys on insecurity and it makes me sad when i do see mutuals reblogging posts written like this because then i'm like. just sitting there thinking "i'm not a spambot so...if i didn't like following you or seeing you on my dash i would not be following you??"

other forms of reblog chains like 'reblog to give the person you're reblogging from a hug' or 'reblog this and say something nice about the person you reblogged from' are far better in my opinion because they don't inherently contain that same level of insecurity. they put the focus on lifting up and supporting the person you're reblogging from instead of centering on yourself.

plots or memes: i like both but i am very much a memes person because i feel like i'm not very good at plotting.

long or short replies: i don't really have a preference! but lately my thing generally seems to be letting the length creep up so my replies just get longer and longer over time. i never expect anyone to match me, but like. the one thing that would crush my soul is me posting like. 5-7 paragraphs and getting back a one sentence or one word response 😭

are you like your muses: i have a few things in common with caleb, one of them being that we're both neurodivergent and just trying to exist in a society where it is typically seen as undesirable to be classed as such. i stumbled across a venn diagram a while back comparing and contrasting common traits associated with ptsd and autism and it has given me a lot to take into consideration in the way that i portray caleb

tagged by: @k4ndall

tagging: @gunslingcr @paddyfuck @weirdwonderful @killjoysanonymous @prettydead & you (not labeled)

[cagenewman]

Is that your gentle way of saying that I should step up my game? I don't think we have to worry about things being boring, to be honest. Even the most casual, sleepy morning routines end up having a little bit of spice to them. I know what you mean, don't worry. You don't want that spark to go out before we even get to light the spark, and it won't, I can promise you that. That makes me incredibly happy to hear, you know that? That you don't worry, that you trust me. I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I'd never go anywhere unless you, Colton and Rosalyn were with me. But I think we're pretty solid Merrockites. Okay, yeah, but then let's say you get overzealous with the whipped topping can, and sure, we get up and shower, but that one dollop on the floor gets left behind, and the ants are like, oh hey, and then next thing you know, you wake up with ants. … see? Don't worry, I won't, I'll remember that I told you to do it, or more accurately -- you will remind me. Yes, but. I'll just claim to be nursing my old people knees and then he won't be able to drop them off, I'll figure itout. No one will mind. In fact, I'm pretty sure Clementine and Kellan would love to have you guys over. Colton and I still do the Christmas morning thing, but thankfully he's not up at six am pounding on my door anymore, it's just a lazier morning. He asks sometimes, like I think he isn't quite sure how to talk to me about it, but he'll ask about you and me, and it's more of that curious kind of asking than annoyed or worried, you know? Mm, no, because I feel like if I bring breadsticks into bed, you'll just be a smartass and tell me we're going to get ants. So. I don't know, that magic might just be you. Thank you for a perfect date night.

Normal is fine, it's boring I won't accept. So just make sure that's what you're understanding in that. That's good I would be worried if that stage came up early since you know we're still figuring out a lot of what we are. I mean I know what we are but you know what I mean, we're still in that honeymoon stage. See we have all the time if we're not going anywhere. I'm not too worried about it anymore, before maybe I was, but I'm just not anymore. You've proven you're in this, you treat Rosalyn like she's your own. I just don't feel the need to worry about if you're going to up and leave anymore. How is it you get ants from that, it's not like we wouldn't be showering but fine, I concede I will keep my whipped cream and chocolate sauce for myself. Alright, just remember that when I bribe him you can't be mad later that I bribed him to lie. You do realize all you will get is them leaving the loud toys at your house and dropping the kids off for you to babysit and have to deal with all the noise and sound! Honestly she's still so young she doesn't get the whole Christmas presents under the tree from Santa thing so I'm not that worried about it. Though I would love to have dinner at the big house so long as they don't mind an overexcited toddler and me. Good so no over crazy planning. I just want to be honest with him that this could be a path we're taking someday. No breadstick babies unless you're talking we have breadsticks just randomly in one of our rooms and said oops happens. See as nice as that would have been I really don't want you feeling like you have to do that for me so we can save it for later. I promise another round of dessert later. Christmas at home is the best plus the snow, the twinkling lights. Have to admit there's always a magic about this time of year.