#I remember that first I had a dream I was at work and had to clean

[cherryxbooo]

Love is never easy

Summary: Meeting a certain footballer wasn’t on your bingo card, but falling in love with him was even more unimaginable.

Reader x Pablo Gavi

Genre: fluff/angst

They say love should be simple.

That when you find the right person, it’s effortless, like a perfect pass that lands gently at your feet, as if it was always meant for you.

A connection so natural, so fluid, that you don’t even have to think.

But what happens when love feels like a game you’re always one step behind in?

When you’re constantly chasing, reaching, hoping, only to feel the ball slip just beyond your grasp?

I met Pablo Gavi in the most unexpected way, by quite literally crashing into him outside the stadium on a stormy evening.

The rain had been relentless, the kind that soaks through your clothes in seconds and turns the world into a blur of grey.

I hadn’t even been at Camp Nou for football.

My best friend’s brother worked security there, and I had come to meet her, completely unaware that fate had other plans.

One moment, I was battling my umbrella against the wind, the next, I was colliding into someone with enough force to make me stumble back.

My breath hitched as I looked up, my heart pounding, not just from the impact, but from the realization of who I had just crashed into.

Pablo Gavi.

His brow furrowed as he rubbed his arm where I had hit him, a soft curse slipping from his lips.

"Joder…" His voice was slightly irritated, rough around the edges, but the second his eyes met mine, something in them shifted.

His frustration faded, replaced by something else, curiosity, maybe. Amusement.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice softer now.

I could barely find my words. "Y-yeah, I think so. Sorry about that."

He let out a short chuckle, shaking his head.

"You put up more of a fight than most defenders I face."

I didn’t expect him to remember me after that.

But he did.

The next time I visited my friend, I felt a pair of eyes on me before I even saw him.

And when I finally turned, there he was, leaning casually against a railing, arms crossed, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

"Still fighting with the wind?" he teased.

That time, I laughed.

The time after that, we talked.

And before I even realized what was happening, he had become a part of my life.

It felt easy. Too easy.

Like a dream you don’t dare wake up from.

But love, love is never easy.

They say the best love stories begin with friendship.

That the strongest bonds are the ones built slowly, quietly, in the spaces between laughter and late-night conversations.

That was us.

For months, Gavi and I existed in a space that wasn’t quite friendship but wasn’t something more either.

A delicate balance of playful teasing and unspoken feelings, of being each other’s first call at the end of a long day, yet pretending we didn’t notice the way our voices softened when we spoke to one another.

It started with late-night phone calls.

"Aren’t you supposed to be asleep?" I’d ask when my phone buzzed at nearly 2 a.m., his name lighting up my screen.

"Can’t sleep," he’d mumble, voice groggy but warm, like he had already been dozing off.

"Tell me something."

"Like what?"

"Anything."

So I would. I’d tell him about my day, about a funny thing my professor said, about how my best friend had tried (and failed) to set me up with someone.

I’d hear him scoff at that, muttering something under his breath that I could never quite catch.

Sometimes, it was the other way around.

"Tough game?" I’d ask when he called me after a match, his voice quieter than usual.

"Yeah," he’d sigh. "I just... I don’t know. I should’ve done better."

I’d listen as he talked, let him get it all out, the frustration, the pressure, the weight of expectations that never seemed to ease.

And when he was finished, when there was nothing left but silence, I’d whisper, "You’re too hard on yourself, you know that?"

His response was always the same, a quiet exhale, a soft "Only you say that."

I never knew what to do with the way my heart reacted to those words.

Then there were the little things.

The way he always seemed to know when I was having a bad day, sending me a simple "You okay?" that somehow made everything feel lighter.

The way he showed up at my university when he had a rare afternoon off, waiting for me outside my lecture hall with a coffee in hand.

"You didn’t have to do this," I’d tell him, but he’d just shrug, like it was nothing.

"You always forget to eat when you’re stressed," he’d say, handing me a sandwich like he had memorized my habits better than I had.

We never talked about whatever this was.

Never acknowledged the way his hand always seemed to find the small of my back when we walked through a crowd.

Or how we lingered just a little too long whenever we said goodbye.

It was easier this way.

Easier to pretend we were just friends.

Even when everything we did felt like something more.

Even when I already knew, I was falling.

And then, without realizing it, I had already fallen.

I fell for the way he looked at me, like I was something rare, something worth holding onto.

I fell for the way his fingers absentmindedly traced patterns on my palm whenever we sat in silence, as if memorizing the shape of me.

I fell for the way he always pulled me closer in a crowded room, his grip firm, protective, like he was afraid I’d slip away.

I fell, hard and fast, like I never had before.

But love, love is never just about falling.

It’s about what happens after.

And somewhere along the way, something changed.

It didn’t happen overnight.

There was no sudden, dramatic shift.

It was slow, subtle, the kind of change you don’t notice at first, like the days getting shorter, the cold creeping in before you even realize summer is gone.

It started with the little things.

The way his replies to my texts, once almost instant, started coming slower.

At first, I brushed it off he was busy, caught up in training, exhausted from travel.

But then, the messages themselves became shorter. A simple "Yeah." or "We’ll see." replacing the playful, teasing paragraphs he used to send me.

The voice notes that once made me smile, his laughter, the way he always seemed to have a story to tell, became fewer and fewer, until one day, they just stopped.

The late-night calls faded too.

"Are you awake?" I would text, staring at my phone, waiting for those three little dots to appear.

Sometimes they did. Sometimes they didn’t.

When they did, it was always the same answer.

"Tired. Talk tomorrow?"

But tomorrow came, and we didn’t talk.

At first, I told myself it was fine.

I told myself I was overthinking it. That he was just busier than usual, that he was under pressure.

I made excuses for him, ones he never even had to say out loud.

"He’s training harder." "He needs space." "Nothing’s wrong."

But deep down, I knew.

I knew when he started canceling plans.

It wasn’t dramatic.

No last-minute apologies, no elaborate excuses. Just a quiet shift.

A "Can we reschedule?" here, a "Next time, yeah?" there.

Plans that were once effortless, ones he used to fight for, rearrange his schedule for, suddenly became too difficult to make.

I knew when he stopped showing up unannounced at my university.

When I stopped catching him watching me from across the room.

When his touch, once so natural, so certain, became hesitant, like he was holding himself back.

The first time I felt it, really felt it, was at a party.

It was crowded, loud, the kind of scene he usually hated but endured because I was there.

I saw him across the room, talking to someone, a teammate, a friend, I wasn’t sure.

He was laughing, the kind of carefree laugh I hadn’t heard from him in weeks. And then, for just a second, his eyes met mine.

A beat of silence.

And then, he looked away.

I swallowed hard, trying to push down the sinking feeling in my chest. Maybe he hadn’t seen me.

Maybe I was imagining things.

But later that night, when I reached for his hand the way I always did, he didn’t pull me closer.

He let go.

And that was when I knew.

The boy who once fought for every second with me was now letting moments slip away.

The boy who once looked at me like I was his safe place now seemed distant, distracted, like he was carrying something he couldn’t share.

And then, one night, everything came crashing down.

It wasn’t one thing, it was everything.

A missed call that turned into three. A message left on read. An excuse that felt too rehearsed, too empty.

And finally, the truth, the thing I had been too afraid to admit to myself.

I wasn’t losing him.

I had already lost him.

Meanwhile,

The ball bounced off his foot awkwardly, rolling too far ahead.

Gavi cursed under his breath, sprinting to recover it, but his timing was off again.

The pass he attempted was sloppy, the kind of mistake he never made, and when he looked up, he caught the coach watching him with narrowed eyes.

"Focus, Gavi!" the coach called out.

"Sí, míster," he muttered, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

Something was off with him today, had been for days, if he was being honest.

He felt it in the way his movements were just a fraction too slow, in the way his mind wasn’t fully locked into the game.

Football was supposed to be his escape, the one thing that cleared his head. But lately, it wasn’t working.

And the reason?

Y/n.

He had been trying not to think about her.

Trying to push away the ache that settled in his chest whenever he saw her name on his phone screen and didn’t answer.

Whenever he caught himself reaching for his phone, only to stop himself. Avoidance was supposed to make this easier.

It wasn’t.

He didn’t notice Fermin watching him until his friend nudged him, breaking him from his thoughts.

"Alright, qué pasa contigo?" Fermin asked, keeping his voice low as they walked off the pitch for a water break.

"Nothing," Gavi answered too quickly, wiping sweat from his forehead.

Fermin snorted. "Yeah, sure. That’s why you’ve been playing like absolute shit today?"

"Fuck off," Gavi muttered, but there was no real bite behind his words.

Fermin wasn’t having it. "Seriously, bro. What’s going on? You’re not yourself."

For a second, Gavi considered brushing him off again.

But something about the way Fermin was looking at him, genuinely concerned, made him sigh in defeat.

"It’s about Y/n."

Fermin’s eyebrows raised slightly in recognition.

"The girl you’ve gotten close with?"

Gavi nodded, running a hand over his face.

"I thought you two were good. What happened?"

Gavi let out a breath, shaking his head. "Nothing happened… that’s the problem."

Fermin frowned. "Okay, you lost me."

Gavi hesitated before finally admitting, "I fell for her." The words felt heavy, like they had been weighing on his chest for too long.

"And I don’t know what to do with that."

Fermin stared at him for a beat before laughing under his breath.

"Pablo, you’re acting like that’s the worst thing in the world."

"You don’t get it." Gavi exhaled sharply.

"I never had someone like her before. She’s… different. She actually knows me, not just the football part of me, but me. And if I tell her how I feel and it ruins everything, I lose that. I lose her."

Fermin tilted his head, considering his words.

"So what? You decided the best solution was to avoid her?"

Gavi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I thought maybe if I put some distance between us, it would go away."

Fermin blinked at him. "Go away?"

"Yeah—"

"Are you dumb?" Fermin cut him off, looking genuinely baffled.

"Like, actually, physically dumb?"

Gavi scowled. "Qué?"

"You’re trying to avoid losing her, but you are losing her. Right now. Because you’re pushing her away." Fermin threw his hands up.

"Bro, you’re literally doing the one thing you don’t want to happen."

Gavi clenched his jaw, looking away.

He knew Fermin was right, but hearing it out loud made his stomach twist.

"Just talk to her," Fermin said, his tone softer now.

"Be honest. If she doesn’t feel the same, then yeah, it’ll suck, but at least you’ll know. At least you won’t lose her like this."

Gavi sighed, staring down at the grass beneath his feet.

"And if she does feel the same?" he asked quietly.

Fermin smirked, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

"Then you stop being a dumbass and finally do something about it."

Gavi rolled his eyes, shoving his hand off. "You’re annoying, you know that?"

"And you’re dramatic," Fermin shot back.

"Seriously, this is some novela-level shit."

Gavi groaned, tossing his water bottle at him. "Shut up, tío."

Fermin just laughed, dodging it easily.

"Nah, but for real, you owe me when you and Y/n get together. I'm talking VIP tickets, front row seats."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Gavi grumbled, but there was a small smile tugging at his lips now.

For the first time in weeks, he felt like he knew what he had to do.

He had to stop running.

And he had to tell you.

Pablo had called.

Twice.

And then he had texted. "Can we talk?"

But I didn’t answer.

I told myself it was because I was still mad.

That I wasn’t ready to hear whatever excuse he had for pushing me away like I meant nothing.

But deep down, I knew the truth.

I was scared.

Scared that if I let him back in, he’d hurt me again.

That I’d start hoping, start falling again, only to end up in the same place, alone, confused, wondering where it all went wrong.

"You’re overthinking this."

I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts.

My best friend sat across from me, legs tucked under her as she scrolled through her phone like she hadn’t just said something completely outrageous.

"I am not overthinking," I defended, arms crossed.

She gave me a pointed look. "Oh really? So what do you call ignoring him for days instead of hearing him out?"

"I call it self-respect."

"Mhm, sure," she said, unimpressed.

"Or maybe… just maybe, you’re terrified of whatever he has to say because it might actually make sense."

I groaned, flopping back against the couch. "Why are you on his side?"

"I’m not on his side," she argued.

"I’m on the side of common sense, which neither of you seem to have. Look, men are dumb, babe. They don’t know how to act. They get feelings and then short-circuit like malfunctioning robots."

That made me laugh.

"So what, you think he just malfunctioned?" I teased.

"Obviously," she said dramatically.

"Poor guy probably thought ignoring you would fix his feelings. Meanwhile, here you are, going through all five stages of grief in your pajamas."

I smacked her arm, but I was laughing now, the weight in my chest feeling just a little lighter.

"I hate you," I muttered.

"No, you don’t," she sang, standing up and stretching.

"Alright, I gotta go. Just… think about calling him, okay? At least to yell at him properly. You deserve that much."

I rolled my eyes but nodded.

"That’s my girl," she said before grabbing her bag and heading out.

The apartment was quiet now. Too quiet.

I sat on the couch, staring at my phone, thumb hovering over Pablo’s contact.

Should I call him?

My best friend’s words played in my head. "You deserve that much."

She wasn’t wrong. I did deserve an explanation.

But was I ready to hear it?

To let him back in when I wasn’t even sure I had fully healed from the way he had pushed me out?

I sighed, rubbing my temples. Maybe I’d sleep on it.

Maybe tomorrow—

Knock, knock.

I frowned.

Was my best friend back? Did she forget something?

I stood up, walking over to the door. "Did you leave your—"

My breath caught in my throat.

It wasn’t her.

It was him.

Pablo stood there, hands shoved in the pockets of his hoodie, his hair slightly messy like he had run his fingers through it too many times.

His eyes met mine, and for a second, neither of us spoke.

"Can we talk?" he asked, voice quiet.

I should’ve slammed the door in his face.

Or at least made him wait longer, the way he had made me wait for an explanation.

But I didn’t.

I stepped aside, letting him in.

Pablo sat down on the couch, his knee bouncing slightly like he wasn’t sure how to start.

"I know you’re mad at me," he finally said.

I crossed my arms. "No shit."

He sighed. "I deserve that."

"Yeah, you do."

Silence.

He ran a hand through his hair.

"I messed up, Y/N. I know that. And I hate that I made you feel like I didn’t care, because I do. More than I should, probably."

My heart clenched, but I kept my expression neutral.

"Then why did you push me away?"

Pablo hesitated, like he was still debating whether to be fully honest.

Then, he exhaled sharply. "Because I fell for you."

I blinked. "What?"

"I fell for you," he repeated, looking at me now.

"And I freaked out. I thought if I ignored it, if I put space between us, maybe I wouldn’t ruin everything."

I stared at him, waiting for the logic to kick in.

It didn’t.

"So let me get this straight." I leaned forward.

"You caught feelings… and your solution was to avoid me?"

"Yes?"

"Pablo, that is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard."

"Okay, Fermin already told me that, no need to gang up on me," he muttered, rubbing his temples.

"No, because—" I let out a frustrated groan.

"Do you even realize how badly that hurt? You were my best friend, Pablo. And then you just… disappeared."

His eyes softened, guilt flashing across his face.

"I know. And I hate that I hurt you. But, Y/n, I didn’t know what else to do. I’ve never had someone like you before. Someone who actually sees me. Not just the footballer, but me."

My heart skipped a beat.

"And I didn’t want to lose that," he continued, voice quieter now.

"I thought if I told you how I felt, I’d ruin what we had. But then, avoiding you just made me lose you anyway."

I sighed, shaking my head. "Yeah, it did."

Silence again.

Then, softer this time, he asked, "Can I fix it?"

I exhaled slowly. "You really are an idiot, you know that?"

He cracked a small smile. "Yeah, I’m getting that a lot lately."

I didn’t even realize I was smiling too.

The tension in the room slowly shifted, the weight in my chest lifting ever so slightly.

"So what now?" I asked.

Pablo hesitated before saying, "I don’t want to just be your friend anymore, Y/n. I want more. But if you don’t feel the same, I swear I’ll—"

I cut him off by grabbing his hand.

"You’re an idiot," I repeated. "But you’re my idiot."

His breath hitched. "So…?"

"So, you better not run away again."

His grin was instant, and before I could say anything else, he pulled me into a tight hug, burying his face in my shoulder.

"I won’t," he promised. "Not again."

I let myself melt into his embrace, my heart finally at peace.

We broke the hug, but his gaze never left mine.

Before I knew it, I felt his hand on my cheek, gently pulling me in for a passionate kiss.

Damn. It really was worth the wait.

Eventually, we both pull away to catch our breaths.

"So, does this mean we’re together now?" Pablo asked, grinning.

"I don’t know," I teased. "Are you gonna ignore me and be stupid again?"

"No!"

"Then I guess so."

He smirked. "You could’ve just said you wanted to be my girlfriend, princesa."

"And give you the satisfaction? Never."

He groaned, flopping onto the couch dramatically.

"Great. I’m dating a menace."

I threw a pillow at him. "And I’m dating an idiot. Perfect match."

He caught the pillow, tossing it aside before grabbing my hand again, this time intertwining our fingers.

"Yeah," he murmured, looking at me with that familiar, warm gaze.

"Perfect match."

And for the first time in weeks, everything felt right again.

The end

[springloadedcontraption]

This is the first time in a LONG time I've had access to tumblr with an *at home* device that I could just let myself out freely on.. so bare with me..

This is a perfect post for me to start my *incessant* rants with. First of all.. I remember VERY CLEARLY as a child that ALLL I wanted to do was grow up so I could leave the house, do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted.. I was a FIERCE advocate of independence. I was 11 years younger than my two twin sisters, and I IDOLIZED them.. There was this local bar in town they'd always go to with their best friend, Rachel, and it was called "Little Bit" back then. They'd go out basically every single weekend, plus a couple days during the week (this was a local, small town bar that never ID'd anybody, as it was also a college town so nobody gave a shit where the money for the alcohol/cover charges were coming from, as long as they were coming in)

I can remember countless evenings being alone as a child.. Most of my childhood, as a matter of fact. My sisters both had babies at 18, making their youngest children just 7 years younger than me. One of these twins ended up living with us for a little while, giving me the taste of what a little brother/sister (or even a child of my own, which I was NOT a fan of from day fucking ONE) would be like.. and honestly, this trend would end up carrying through a few more children from both sisters based on how much time I spent with said nieces/nephews. Anywho, one sister and her first child lived with us for an amount of time, not sure if I remember just how long.. All I remember is that it was long enough to make sure that this nephew is still, TO THIS DAY, my favorite nephew. But that hardly matters to the point of this post..

While I'm very happy for the things I've learned over the years I've been alive.. from an observant abusive childhood, to an almost divorced household, to teen pregnancy (not my own, obviously) to drug/alcohol problems from both sides of the family, including myself.. I can confidently say that I'd NEVER be at the point I'm at today, or as proud of myself as I am and as in love with who I've turned out to be as a woman, without the trials and tribulations I've faced. Obviously everyone says that to a degree.. but I genuinely mean it.

I've had my fair share of EARTH SHATTERING heartbreak.. more times that I'd like to relive. And honestly, as childish and useless as it sounds.. these romantic heartbreaks have taught me more than most life lessons have.. about love, pain, trust, loyalty, and how fragile the human connection can be. It can be severed in an instant if we all let it.. Obviously death is a little different than regular earthly separation.. But you catch my drift.. I say all this just to make a very vague point..

E V E R Y T H I N G you go through in life is for a MOTHER FUCKING R E A S O N - and more important than that, it's A L L FUCKING T E M P O R A R Y. You learn something from each and every single situation you go through.. No matter whether it's self inflicted or not. Honestly, you sometimes learn more from the self inflicted wounds than you do any others.. I know that's the case with me. And as much as any of those wounds hurt.. whether it was romantic heartbreak, losing a best friend after X amount of years for no real apparent reason, or even a death in the family (even if death hits me differently/less aggressively than it hits most people.. the death of both of my parents happening about 18 months apart when I hadn't even moved out of the house yet was an EXTREMELY low blow.. even if I never admit it to the general public).. Or even on a smaller scale.. work heartbreaks.. your favorite coworker leaving finally to move onto their dream job, or one that just pays more that they didn't bring you along with.. having to quit a job you were really enjoying and learning a lot from and wanted to turn into a career because they weren't valuing you, or the fucking U.S. DOLLAR the way they should have been and you were tired of coat-tailing off your male, non romantic roommate because it was just flat out awkward to ask the man for financial help all the time..

I'm rambling at this point, and it's probably because I've had QUITE a bit to drink (as per usual..) but today, I DESERVE IT, DAMNIT! I finally passed my written/driver's license exams so I finally got my drivers license back after SEVERAL years of driving illegally and paranoid.. I got my nails done (completely unintentionally a Valentine's day theme) and they're BEAUTIFUL.. the man I'm in love with that claims he doesn't actually wanna be with me, but he really does (as terrible as that sounds, I don't think the situation is as doomed as it sounds.. hear me out on future posts lol) went to dinner with me last night and lingered a bit longer than he usually does with any of our friend group.. together or individually.. and he kept using the triangle method on me where he'd look in both my eyes, then at my lips.. and based on the fact that we just had one of the most passionate fucks of our entire relationship not even a month ago and it's pretty obvious that he wants to do it again just tells me that it's not all over with.. that and the fact that NOT A SINGLE EX has ever stayed away completely. I just know it's not ever between us, and thank GOD.. that break up nearly shattered me completely and make it to where I had to admit myself into a mental institution and take a literal mental break from the planet for a while.. God don't get me started with how much I love this man and how much I PRAY that we end up together one day. After all, I've lasted longer than any other woman that he's dated after he got his divorce ;)

I say all that seemingly random ass shit to say this - if you're going through a hard time.. please don't give up. reach out to me. you an find beauty in the world at whatever age you are, no matter what you've been through. While I'm still young, I've been through my own fair share of shit, then most of my family's fair share of shit because I'm so God damn empathetic that it's detrimental to my health at this point.. Just trust me.. I'm here if you need me, even if I don't know you or if you wanna hit me up anonymously.. Don't go through whatever it is you're going through alone. Let me help you find the beauty in this fucked up world again. If I've found it as many times as I have with as much shit as I've fucked up/gone through.. I know I can help you see the light at the end of the tunnel, too.

I love you. Hit me up anytime.

[nestaians]

from what i remember tamlin’s and rhysand’s fathers were shitty people and ruled the court with terror

rhysand chose to continue to rule like his father

he calls it a “mask” but lets be real, look at the conditions of 2/3 of his court, he is a tyrant

most of his court despises him and tries to revolt against him. he has to negotiate with the armies of his court -darkbringers and illyrians- to have them fight for him

he dreams of a better world but has yet to do anything to make it happen -illyrian women being allowed to fight isn’t equality ffs- and discriminates

but tamlin chose to not continue to rule like his father

he chose to be kinder -not only to his people but other court’s people who came to spring court as well and during amarantha’s reign they got to celebrate festivals in sc

his people and his army were loyal to him -loyal enough to willingly die to break the curse- even when he started to work with hybern. that is how much trust they have in their high lord

he dreams of a better world but he does try to make it a reality and doesn’t discriminate

there’s more stuff to compare but 99%, if not all, isn’t in rhysand’s favour

worth mentioning;

even after feyre’s petty revenge and tamlin loses his people, he still pulls his weight -when one could argue he didn’t need to. not when rhysand and feyre, who destroyed his court, are the ones asking for everyone to come together- and does what a high lord of a court should do

tanlin lost his people and he still does his duty vs rhysand who doesn’t do shit

side by side it’s such a crazy difference bc they had similar type of fathers and inherited power of the high lord around the same time and yet the difference in their ruling, the style of ruling they have and how their people are towards them as rulers is so vast

rhysand was his father’s heir and knew he would ruler after his father, meanwhile tamlin was the youngest son and had no intention to rule

mind you, rhysand is the endgame love interest, the “hero” as we’re told

tamlin got the first book and then sjm decided to make feysand the couple but why didn’t she explore rhysand as a ruler like tamlin and make rhysand better? it’s bc she’s a shit writer i know

[imaluvsj7]

✿ ─── WE MET IN 2025 : JAKE SIM

SYNOPSIS : finding your soulmate on the new year wasn't exactly your plan but guess fate has its own plan.

PAIRING : jake sim x afab reader ; GENRE : strangers to lovers, fluff ; WC : 2,522

WARNINGS : english is not my first language, I do proofread but if you find typos then I'm very sorry I make typos alotttt. Female reader(s) without any description of body; height; image, reader words in IT tech company, reader(s) has a family along with younger siblings — she is heavily playing older sibling role although the family is mentioned for the plot but no fights mentioned. That's it I think if you find anything lmk !! ENJOY READING DISCLAIMER : This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

“Do you (first name and last name) take Sim Jaehyun to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?” — “I do.” You responded to the priest's questions with tears fighting the urge to fall on your grinning face while hands shaking.

“Do you Sim Jaehyun take (first name and last name) to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?” — “I do.” Jake replied with a cheeky smile and eyes shining with tears as he tried to sooth your shaking hands by caressing your knuckles.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife, now you may kiss the bride.” Holding your hands Jake leaned in and kissed you gently. Soon after parting away he whispered close to your ears, “I may sound like a jerk but I'm glad Do-hyun found you for help after getting lost on 31st December 2024.” — oh of course you do vividly remember that night. [ CLICK TO READ MORE ]

DATE – 31st DECEMBER 2024 | TIME – 11:15 PM

You never thought starting a new year with no one beside you would be this lonely. You lived in a different state for work purposes and unfortunately couldn't fly back to your parents home. The company really needed all the staff this year since the increase in consumers led to a good opportunity for your company to achieve big recognition among locals and brands.

It wasn't forced labour but a request by the company’s CEO and he did give 3 days holiday, for christmas and new year eve and new year to celebrate with families. Not enough big holidays because of the circumstances but an extra paycheck for the staff that stayed to consider his request.

You being one of those staff, currently your parents were facing some financial problems which was an obstacle for your brother’s studies. Being an older sister who had a well paying job you decided to help him as much as you can.

Not that your brother wasn't working hard already, he is studying hard for scholarship and trying to ease your and your parents' responsibility by a side hustle job where he works as a cashier in a small restaurant. But a family has other requirements and necessities too, at the end of the day he is a seventeen year old teen who deserves some freedom after studying and doing his part time job.

So the opportunity of an extra paycheck along with the opportunity to impress your boss as a good staff shined in front of your eyes which lead you to not attend your family holidays.

Your brother who wanted a bike for himself after he turned 18 this year didn't want to burden you so he decided to push the dream of a bike for some next year. Your father unfortunately lost his job after his company faced some serious decline in their business.

Your family always appreciates your efforts and loves you dearly so maybe it's the older sisters’ instinct that kicked you to take it upon yourself to help out your brother with his dream bike by adding some of your own money and help out your parents for their daily necessities.

Being tweety three — oh your birthday comes during holiday what a wonderful time right . You always wanted to work as a computer engineer since you loved the devices and for what reason, you don't know but the coding always looked like a cyber crime mystery to solve. sigh. . .

Only if, as a child , you knew how it's not just moving a cursor and typing vigorously but a lot of responsibilities to sit in front of the pc for long hours and daily headaches. You still loved your job but who doesn't trash talk about their profession right? Especially when you're supposed to enjoy the holidays with your family.

A petty reaction since you willingly chose this for yourself — but hey you're a human with vulnerable emotions so it's valid to have such negative thoughts about your job currently.

“Excuse me miss”, a soft tap on your thighs snaps you out of your thoughts and you glance down to see a boy with age around 7 - 8 years. “Yes, do you need something?”, you crouch down to his level. “I can't find my uncle….. he was here but I lost him in the crowd.”

“Oh it's the new years crowd so it happens it's okay we will find your uncle, what is his name or do you remember his number”, you ask while grabbing his hands on your own. “No, I don't know his number…. Ohhh! But I know his name. It's Jaehyun 삼촌 (uncle).”

“Okay you're a brilliant kid to remember his name huh.” He covered his ears while blushing at your compliment. Cooing at his precious reaction you stand up to find his uncle and ask him more about where they were before and what he looks like.

After a few minutes you start to get anxious but try to stay calm for the sake of the child but getting angrier — tch… who leaves a child alone carelessly in such a crowded place. “Do-hyun”, suddenly you hear a man shout a name while hurrying towards your direction pushing past the crowd.

“삼촌”, the kid whose name you forgot to ask response to the man while gripping your fingers tightly and dragging you towards the man. “He is my uncle miss”, the kid looks up with slightly teary eyes and soon the guy reaches to your distance.

“Do-hyun I got worried sick, why did you run away from the spot I told you to stand.”, the guy pants while scolding the kid with glossy eyes — trying his best to not cry. He scoops the kid in his arm after Do-hyun lifts his arms and soon kisses his cheeks and wipes his tears.

“Sorry I saw one uncle with same jacket as yours and I thought it was you so I ran after him but then I lost the sight of you 삼촌.” Oh so it wasn't the man's fault. Finally the man looks at you and says, “thank you so much for your help Miss — “Yn, Ln yn” — Miss yn.”

“It's okay but please be careful next time it's not safe for him to be alone in such a crowded place.” “Yeah I understand and sorry for the trouble. Btw, I'm sim jaehyun or jake for short.”

“Oh we should leave now Do-hyun, the fireworks are going to start soon for the new year and we can't leave your parents alone.” Jake exclaimed after checking his wrist watch. 11:46 — well they must live in a nearby area, you thought after realizing the time.

“Aunty yn you should join us too, you don't have a partner with you”, whoever said kids are brutally honest and don't have timings is totally correct. You mentally sigh as Jake covers his mouth to control his laugh while trying to fake a cough.

“Do-hyun, you shouldn't say such things to someone.” Jake tries to shut him up but — “but….. she really doesn't have anyone with her so I just thought we will give her some company.”

“That is because I couldn't go back to my home, Do-hyun. My office had some important work”, you try to give an awkward laugh trying to cover the situation which did work in your favour. “That's quite sad…. It's the new year.” “Yeah but the company needed some help this year so few of the workers stayed in which I'm included.”

“A hardworking employee huh, anyways Do-hyun is right you are alone might join us with the new year celebration.” Wow, a way of wording your sentence jake… great. “No it's okay I will get going after watching the fireworks, thank you for the offer tho.”

“Please I insist, this is bare minimum after all you have helped Do-hyun.” “Jake thank you so much but I don't think that will be appropriate plus Do-hyuns’ parents aren't aware and we barely have a few minutes left so you should leave asap.”

“Aunty yn, please join us. I will show you my superman collection.” “I appreciate it so much Do-hyun but I can't, I'm sorry.” “Is there any reason?” Jake asked. “No particular reason but I will be honest, it's our first meeting and I don't know you or your family Jake so I don't think it's reasonable and appropriate.”

“That's fine and pretty reasonable. Anyways thank you so much for helping Do-hyun we should probably get going before twelve.” “Yes of course! Happy new year to you both, deliver my wishes to Do-hyuns’ parents too.”

You take steps back and turn around to walk back to your previous spot since fireworks will start soon. “Btw yn — Jake calls you, making you halt in your steps. He walks closer to you and continues — if you don't mind will you…. uhh… you know.”

Looking at him with your raised eyebrows you wait for him to continue. “Maybe if you don't mind then can you give me your number.” handsome, interesting and maybe a flirt… you chuckle internally at his bold move.

“Asking for my number when you don't even know me properly is a bold move Jaehyun.” He lowers head a little while his face goes crimson red – so pretty – “To know a pretty girl better I definitely need her number”, he speaks with confidence but soon it crumbles when you forward your hand to him.

Well acts bold but is definitely a loser trapped in a hot body. You try not to laugh so he doesn't feel embarrassed while he puts Do-hyun down and fumbles to find his phone. “Just a second…. H-here… wait lemme unlock… password what is the password Do-hyun – oh yes wait… yeah here.”

He fiddles with his ring placed onto his middle finger while clearly trying to act calm and collected. Soon you push his phone forward after typing out your number. “Here you go.” “I can t-text you right….?” “I mean I gave my number for a reason.”

“Uncle Jake, are you done trying to bag a baddie? If so let's go home please, the fireworks are going to start soon. Mom and dad will be worried.” You and Jake laugh at Do-hyuns’ honesty

“Guess someone is using social media from a young age.” “No I don't use social media, I learnt this from uncle Jake when I asked him why he doesn't have a wife – “well Do-hyun I'm waiting to bag a baddie” – his words auntie Yn not mine.

“Okay enough exposure Do-hyun we need to leave.” Jake picks him up back while clearly to cover up his embarrassment and soon bidding good-byes he starts to walk away with his red face. “Thank you so much once again pret- I mean Yn, we will get going it was nice meeting you.”

“It was nice meeting you too Jake and also the little chatterbox.” You get closer to pinch Do-hyuns’ cheek. Soon walking away and smiling to yourself, guess grabbing the opportunity to stay here wasn't so bad.

──────── TIME SKIP ──────────

DATE – 5th MARCH, 2025 | TIME – 1:37 PM

PLACE – Daejeon O-World Flower Land

“Thank you for this date Jaehyun. I really loved the whole experience.” “Well I know your love for flowers especially flower gardens plus this place had birds so I thought you would like it. – “Like is an understatement I loved it” – guess my mission is successful now.”

You both chuckle at his words while holding hands and walking towards the bench. “You know I didn't want to reject your offer of visiting your place with Do-hyun that day.” “I mean it wasn't so appropriate to ask you that when it was our first meeting, that too by coincidence so i don't blame you for rejecting the offer.”

“Yeah plus you are a man and I can't trust a random man to walk to his house on the first meeting you know.” “I did realize that after I told my sister about our encounter. I don't want to sound sappy but it must be very hard to live as a woman right.”

“Well yeah but I blame man sorry.” You both laugh while he continues – “Valid reason though, I used to believe that we can understand what women go through if we study enough about the reasons for your safety but later I did realize that no matter how much we as a man learn we can never stand in the same shoes.”

“I think you are the first even man with an intellectual brain because wow that was a suppressing statement.” “Thanks to you and my sister, well she said it's bare minimum but yeah.”

“I mean she is right tho but I think someone is a keeper huh.” “Oh really then I think I might need someone to keep me with them to educate me further.” “If you think you can impress me with just a few words for women then you're wrong, Sim Jaehyun.” You tease him but knowing where this is going.

“No ma'am who said that, I will do better I promise but I might need someone to hold me accountable throughout the journey. Plus I have been yearning for a baddie for so long so I think it's time I bag one.”

“Oh is that so hmm… I think you shouldn't miss your chance then.” “Right, so pretty girl will you be please give me the honour of becoming your boyfriend and make me the happiest man alive by being my girlfriend.” “Yes Jaehyun, I will be your girlfriend.”

“Let's gaur”, he jumps while standing up and shouting in his Aussie accent, soon pulling you to him and spinning you around. “Jaehyun put me down I feel dizzy – “Naur I feel so happy.” – put me down or I will punch your face oh god I might throw up.”

Soon after a few minutes of calming your breath you both sit and pull his ears. “Oww… oww Yn that hurts sorry please leave my ears.” Leaving his ear and taking support of the bench to sit comfortably.

“Well the proposal was a bit corny”, you teasingly roll your eyes and while smiling. But he knows it's a joke after all he has spent enough time to understand your teasing. “Well sorry princess but I have been waiting for 3 months. I had to make it special by adding a few beautiful terms.”

“Shut up Jaehyun.” “Btw how many children do you want. – “Jaehyun”, you shout while smacking his shoulder – Sorry my bad I was teasing you.” You both continue to bicker without noticing an old couple who are standing on the footpath after witnessing the proposal.

“They remind me of us, honey. Remember we met in this park after we shared a bench”, one of them exclaimed. “They are in for a long ride sweetheart.” — the other partner replied.

© 𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐔𝐕𝐒𝐉𝟕 2025 | DO NOT PLAGIARISE ON ANY PLATFORM

💌 ─── NOTE : ౨ৎ participation for ‘𝗅𝖺 𝖿𝗅𝖾𝗎𝗋 ⎯⎯ ⠀ ✿ް⠀okwonyo’ by @okwonyo

After 2 months of not posting it's finally here. I'm sorry but after changing the plot since the first one looked rushed I went through writers block and couldn't think of anything so I really hope you all do find it good enough to read and leave your feedback, It will be appreciated <3

🍥 .ᐟ TAGS : (white = not tagged, grey = tagged)

@heeikeuu @whatdoyouwanttocallmefor @ghostiiess @butterflydemons @luvvkym11 @airierine @oliviafrancesca29 @hari-na @stpfvio-07 @daywoniedream @starrxyyz @floxly @rkinishimura @lyks02 @unszent @lovelycassy @tinyteezer @nuwandassi @sunpin @izzyye @danielleism @kiessess @ikeuzzh @yoonzns @parkzbiceps @chaconneriki @bluej4ym @nicolereinara @alex-is-sleeping @luvvkym11 @lyyluvss @ikeulove @joshsmoon @toastybooks

˙ . ꒷ 🍥 masterlist daily click . 𖦹˙—

[choco-worms]

Thanks for tagging me :)))

3 ships i like?

— oh gosh, this is actually hard for me since i approach all ships with this same kind of general interest since i love the dynamics other people create. Ill go wiiith Camteen, Choreman, andddd Cuddley

First ship?

— okay so. Ive been in fandom for a LONG ASS time. The first ship i remember being super passionate about was BoomBox from overwatch, which is lucio and junkrat 😭😭😭 its either that or some hetalia ship i had when i was 13.

Last song i heard?

— Nosebleeds by Doechii!!! She just dropped it yesterday. Ive adored doechii for years and im so so so hype to see her win a grammy :))

Favorite childhood book?

—So, its not a childrens book, but i obsessed over this book as a child. “A Book of Mermaids” by Ruth Manning-Sanders with illustrations by Robin Jacques. This book of mermaid fables changed me irreparably.

Currently reading?

—I dont read too much sadly, but i have currently slowly been working through the poetry collection “Dream Work” by Mary Oliver.

Currently watching?

—House MD of course, i watch a few episodes with my friends every Friday. Im also watching Severance!!! Which i cant recommend ENOUGH. Every now and again i binge some Criminal Minds and i just finished Succession :)

Currently consuming?

— i suck at eating breakfast so the last thing i had was dinner last night, homemade burger and fries! I also had some ice cream for desert but shhhhh

Currently craving?

—Culvers…… chicken tenders and cheese curds….. they call to me….

Most of who i would tag have already done this or been tagged so ill leave it here LMAO. If you wanna join along, feel free!

9 10 Fandom Folks to Get to Know Better

Thanks so much for the tag @schofielded !!

3 Ships I Like

Okay so I’m currently writing for Anderperry so they have to be at the top of the list, Reddie is my beloved which I fear will follow me throughout my life so they’re next, and hmm idk what to put for my third one since I like to read for a lot of ships and have barely written for others. I think I’ll go with a surprise pick and say Boreo! Tragic gays for the win

First Ship Ever

Omg I actually cannot say it was too embarrassing. The first one I’m willing to say is Larry which is also embarrassing and I regret it but I fear the fanfic was so good sorry.

Last Song I Heard

Drums of Death by FKA Twigs. I am addicted, something about the beat is just so good.

Favorite Childhood Book

This is kind of hard for me because I mainly had author phases as a kid rather than just one book that I adored. Looking back, though, I would probably say The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo was my favorite. Her descriptions were so good that it made me want to eat paper like the mice.

Currently Reading

Four Minutes by Nataliya Deleva! It’s a queer Bulgarian novel I’m reading for my around the world goal and I’m really enjoying it so far!

Currently Watching

Just finished watching Swing Girls (2004) so I’m counting it since I’m between TV shows right now. Anyway the movie was so cute and feel-good, I definitely recommend!!

Currently Consuming

I had fried chicken for dinner if that’s what this is referring to. Anyway it was good!

Currently Craving

A strawberry limeade with added coconut and cream from Sonic 💔 I don’t have my car rn so I am stranded sadly

No pressure tags: @neil-perrys-suicidal-tendencies @vinesandvellichor @good--merits-accumulated @lc-27 @axe-76 @dreadedwhim @poetrusic1959 @yawping-poets-society @scriptscraps @neilperryismine + open to anyone who wants to join!!

[theobsidianpage]

You are my affliction...

30 writing prompts compiled from Robert Eggers' Nosferatu:

[If you post any writing pulled from or inspired by this list, please tag me so I can read all of your amazing work! <3]

Image: Hans Schwarz, Death and the Maiden, boxwood carving, c. 1520.

"...if we are to tame darkness, we must first face that it exists."

"Does evil come from within us, or from beyond?"

"Come to me..."

"I have felt you...crawling like a serpent in my body."

"I am an appetite, nothing more."

"There is a devil in this world, and I have met him."

"...I had never been so happy as that moment, as I held hands with Death."

"You awakened me from an eternity of darkness..."

"Soon, I will no longer be a shadow to you."

"You are not for the living. You are not for human kind."

"Your passion is bound to me."

"...I cannot be sated without you."

"I abhor you."

"Do you ever feel at times as if you're not a person?"

"...my dreams grow darker."

"Thank you for loving me."

"You cannot love."

"...what is this insufferable darkness?"

"He is my shame; he is my melancholy."

"Our love was supposed to be sacred!"

"...it was you who gave me the courage to be free of my shame."

"I'm only glad you've become yourself again."

"Did you not think of me...?"

"I brought this evil upon us."

"We must know evil to be able to destroy it."

"You deceive yourself."

"Soon, our flesh shall embrace, and we shall be as one."

"...you could never please me as he could."

"Remember how once we were—a moment."

"Love is inferior to you."

[ravenclaws-stuff]

Here Come the Sun

George Weasley x Reader

Summary: For the first time in months, George laughs.

Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Established relationship, George is depressed, Ron and Reader run the store, Fred is gone, mentions of charming children

WC: 0.2k

“George, you wouldn’t believe it. It was the most beautiful shade of pink.” I regale, using my hands to emphasis my point. When the store first opened, the twins implemented a charm to turn anyone who attempted to steal the color pink. Not a cute pink, but Umbridge’s signature pink.

Ever since Fred, I stepped up and been keeping the store running with the help of Ron. We both agreed, over a drunken night involving firewhiskey that we refused to let the twin’s dream go down in flames. It was hard work but not one I regret. I need to keep it up and running for whenever my fiance is ready to come back. 

The arms around my waist tightens, pulling me closer to his chest. A small sound escapes from George’s throat. For the firstime in months, George laughs. A small one at the beginning then it grows, large, fuller. I turn my head, Pupils blown wide. I can't remember the last time I heard George laugh, so full of life. It is a beautiful sound, like the birds chirping as the sun rises. I couldn't fight the watery laugh that follows. Tears stream down my cheeks. His cheeks flushed red, making his freckles stand out. 

The sun was still there, just hiding behind the clouds.

A/n: I wrote the gist of this story in five minutes while my wife was driving. I don't think I've ever had an idea pop into my head that quickly before.

Divider credit: @saradika-graphics

[lowkaylove]

Anything Less Than, Everything & More

Pairings: Sylus x MC

Please be kind. This is my first ever fic.

CW: Angst, MC remembers everything, comparing herself to past!MC, hurt/comfort, Sylus’s horns make an appearance, Mephie is the best boy, PTSD, feelings of survivor’s guilt/shame, references to Dragon!Sylus’s death, please let me know if I’m missing any tags (I’m bad at this)

Notes: not beta read-we explode like Josephine. Not really edited as I have never written anything before in my life. I’m not creative, I’m just hyperfixated on fictional men that a girl can only dream of.

Prompt: You remember everything. And Sylus couldn’t be happier. You both could finally move forward and conquer the world like you were always meant to do. The problem is…you realize that you’re not her…and you never will be. She was enough for him to sacrifice his life for. Who the hell are you to deserve that kind of devotion from a man like Sylus? Honestly, who are you to demand anything from him after everything he went through to find her, only to end up with your version of the woman he loved. The one who showed him nothing but undeserved hatred and disgust in the beginning. A fucking rookie hunter with a mediocre evol at best. Someone who was useless to him from the beginning.

Why couldn’t you just be her? Doesn’t Sylus deserve to be happy? Maybe…if you can’t be her…maybe there’s a way to become useful and worthy of a little more of his time, however short it will last.

Prologue

You barely make it to your bed after an exhausting day.

It’s been almost nonstop missions for the last month, one after the other. And when you’re not on a mission, you got a second job at a boutique thanks to a recommendation from Rafayel to the owner. You still need to figure out a way to pay him back for his help.

For now, you’ve just been less of a brat when you work for him and will cater to his every whim so he’ll hire you for more bodyguard work.

Truly, nothing has exhausted you more physically. But it’s nothing compared to the mental toll you’ve suffered since a little over 2 months ago. But you are determined that this will all be worth it in the end.

Sylus is counting on you, and you won’t fail him this time.

2 months ago

It happened all at once.

Sylus had taken you to a field of flowers to watch the sunset. A perfect date as you two grew closer.

After settling down on the hillside, you couldn’t take your eyes off of the beautiful flora that surrounded you. Bold and intimidating red flowers blossomed all around you. The air felt familiar. Sylus felt a little too familiar and yet you swore you’ve never been here before.

After enjoying a small picnic, you stand up to stretch your limbs, gazing out towards the horizon. “It’s really beautiful out here, Sylus. I’ve never seen these flowers before, but the sunset makes the hills looks like they’re covered in rubies.”

“A fitting description, sweetie. The hills are bathed in rubies as far as the eyes can see.” But Sylus’s gaze rests on your silhouette turned away from him, his eyes filled with longing and devotion like no other.

Your heart clenches at his words. A sudden pang sends a tremor through your body. You’ve heard those word before…where have you heard them before?

“Sweetie?” Sylus calls out to you, concerned.

You turn to find him with one leg bent, arm resting on the knee. The other leg is stretched out. He removed his leather jacket and looks comfortable in is burgundy sweater and black denim. His eyes are full of worry though.

Then, images flash before you. Sylus, sitting the exact way he is now, but something is off. This Sylus is different. Black scales adorn his skin. His outfit does little to cover his chest and abdomen, a red gem rests in the middle of his chest.

This Sylus has horns. A tail.

This Sylus isn’t a human.

He is a Dragon.

My dragon is gone.

All of a sudden, an entirely different life floods your vision. You’re there, and so is Sylus. But it’s somewhere you’ve never been. The flowers on the hill shine under the sun. An organ plays beautifully in the distance. A beautiful Dragon carries you across vaguely familiar lands. It’s so beautiful, but all too much at the same time.

Pain sears through your head and you cry out. Your hands move to your temples as you land on your knees. They cover your ears as you moan in pain.

“Kitten!” Sylus rushed to you, he places his hands over yours then trails them down to your elbows and up to your shoulders. “Sweetie, what’s happening?”

It felt as if your head was splitting open. Your eyes were clenched shut but the visions were clear behind your eyelids.

Stayrus? …Can I call you a name that sounds similar? How does Sylus sound?

“Sweetheart, please…look at me…” You faintly hear Sylus’s voice break as if he’s in pain as well.

Sing that song again.

You feel the world spinning as this other Sylus rolls the both of you down a hill of flowers.

Only you and this flower can touch me here…

Your lungs are heavy with exhaustion as you feel your throat tighten. Tears run down your face as you finally look up at Sylus.

“S-Sylus…it hurts…” His eyes widen in panic before checking you over for an injury that isn’t there.

Taurus City can have flowers bloom everywhere…as far as the eye can see…

“You’re okay, sweetie…is it your heart? The Aether core?” Vermillion eyes scan over your face in worry.

But only for one person.

A kiss that never happened. It was all in your head. An illusion the both of you conjured to survive the pain and loss of each other.

You reach up, your shaky hands hovering over Sylus’s head…where his horns should be.

You must press on.

Pain sweeps over your entire body in waves. Your eyes clench shut again. Bile rises in your throat. You know exactly what happens next. You’ve lived this before. You were the one who committed this sin against your beloved.

Sylus won’t stop saying your name, desperate to grab your attention away from the pain your feeling. You faintly hear him shouting in the distance. “Luke! Kieran! Get a doctor to meet us at the base!” The twins respond from a speaker, likely Sylus’s phone.

Because…if you don’t…there’s no going back…

He’s gone. You’re alone in the field this time. You killed your Dragon, and now he’s gone. You remember the agony tearing out of your throat as you wail into the air, mourning the wonderful life you had lost, and the one you never got to have with your dragon.

And then…silence.

Air fills your lungs again. Your entire body goes slack and falls into Sylus’s embrace. You cough and choke on the oxygen overwhelming your senses. The tears don’t stop falling. The tremors do not leave your hands. And Sylus…oh Sylus

Labored breaths rack your entire body. Pain and relief clash together as you try to get your bearings.

“Kitten…are…are you o-okay?” His voice is shaky, as if he’s hopeful, yet afraid the agony isn’t over.

As you continue to breathe heavy and gasp for air, whimpers escape your lips as you nod weakly.

“I-I think I’m o-okay.” Your breathing eventually evens out.

Sylus takes this as a sign that he can touch you without causing any pain. His hands cup your cheeks as he lifts your gaze to his.

“We need to get you home. There is a doctor waiting to check over you. Can you walk, sweetie?” His eyes search your tear-filled ones.

“Wait. Sylus-”

“If not, I don’t mind carrying you. I just don’t want to cause you any pain if I touch you.” Sylus is desperate, frantic to get you somewhere safe. What if he loses you again? He can’t risk that.

A faint smile lifts the corners of your mouth. A sob escaped your lips as you really look at this beautiful man worrying over you.

“Sylus…you could never hurt me. How could you ever think that?” Your hands are hovering over his head again, as if searching for the horns. Maybe they’re hidden by his evol. Maybe he doesn’t have them in this life.

You can only pray that, if he still has them, he didn’t cut them off again like countless times before.

Your voice trembles. “Oh my Dragon…” another sob escaped your lips as Sylus’s heart stops beating for a moment. “I’m so…I’m so sorry.”

Everything stills in the world. Carmine eyes turn glassy as they peer into your very soul. His breaths quicken.

“What…what did you say?” He can’t believe it. He wouldn’t dare hope. This is a trick. Someone has trapped him in an illusion where you remember him. His heart will surely break beyond oblivion. Cursed by his beloved or not, he would not come back after this. This death will be absolute.

“Sylus I-I’m so sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am. For what I did to you then and in this life.” You can’t stop crying.

A slight mist rolls over Sylus’s eyes. Deep vermillion turns into shining garnets as one tear, then another, and another makes their way down his face. A look of hope and despair is all you can see. He then whispers your name so softly you thought you imagined it.

“How…how did you-? How much do you…remember?” Sylus releases short and shaky breaths with his words. A man of calm and collection and dignity has never looked so terrified and unsure and small.

You’re afraid to answer, but he deserves that at the very least from you. You took everything from him in his last life and condemned him in this one. You owe him this.

You slightly look at your surroundings. “Today is the most I’ve felt at peace in a long time. You gave me that. And in a field of datura flowers no less.” Your gaze lands on him, a small reassuring smile graces your lips.

“You gave me everything I could have ever wanted. You fulfilled every desire I craved. You…you protected me when we were ripped apart.” Your voice breaks on that last word.

A hand cups your cheek. “Sweetie, tell me…please. I need to know.” Sylus knows he sounds desperate, and he doesn’t care. This was everything. And he’ll be damned if this moment is gone before he loses you again.

Your arms wrap around his neck as you tackle him in an embrace. Truly giving yourself to this moment, you leave no room for any misunderstandings.

“I remember everything, Sylus. I remember giving you your name. I remember the mark you left me. We conquered enemies together. We took what was ours and fed into each other’s desires. I remember singing for you. I remember…” Your arms wind tighter around him.

“I remember being ripped apart from you. I remember the datura field. I…I remember being reunited with you once again only to take away everything from you. I remember the…curse I gave you…” Your crimes against him hit you hard.

You suddenly back away, already missing his comforting touch. But you don’t have that right or privilege anymore. You can no longer claim him as yours now that ignorance is out of the question. You remember everything. And now it’s time to repay for your crimes.

Your hands hover in front of you, palms forward in a surrendering position.

“And I’m so sorry, Sylus. I’m so sorry for everything I did. And for all of the pain I caused you. You have no idea how much I wish it was me instead of you…”

Your eyes remain on his as you vow to him, “I swear on this life and every one after that I will make things right. I will do anything you ask. Anything you command of me. I will accept any punishment you demand. Whatever penance you desire to inflict upon me. I swear it…” A small glimmer in your eyes begs Sylus to have mercy, but it is immediately shadowed by all of the guilt. You don’t deserve all of this kindness he’s shown you again. Why hasn’t he tossed you to your demise after all of this? What could you possibly have done to be shown his mercy?

Sylus doesn’t move except for the inhale and exhale movements from his chest.

“Sweetie…do you swear this isn’t a dream? Do you really remember everything?”

You nod, the lump in your throat makes it difficult to formulate words.

Suddenly he’s right in front of you. His movements are frantic again. Tremors run through his hands as they trail up your arms to your shoulders and up your neck to cradle your face again.

“My Sorceress. My beloved…I have waited so long to find you again. You’re as beautiful as that day in the datura fields of Taurus City…I finally found you…” he breathes out the last words with a smile.

“And you are my everything, I wouldn’t dare let any harm come to you. You have nothing to apologize for. I knew that…I knew I was losing myself. If you hadn’t done it, I would’ve…” His voice is choked.

He pressed his forehead against yours, and you bask in his embrace. The warmth from his breath, the soothing touch of his hands, the piercing gaze he has over you make you want to melt in his arms.

“I would’ve done something I’d never forgive myself of. Trust me, my love, the sword going through my chest was the better option.”

Although I feel a semblance of relief from his words, it doesn’t shake away the guilt I feel for cursing him.

“But I cursed you, Sylus. You’ll never truly be free. You’re forever chained to me. And I’m not…I’m not her. Not really. All the possibilities of who I could be in the next life and the next…it’s not fair to you.” My gaze drops in shame.

Sylus’s face turns into one of resolve. “Look at me.” He uses his evol to slightly jerk my head up and look into his eyes.

I start pleading again. “I promise I’ll fix ev-”

“You will do no such thing.”

My watery eyes widen in confusion. “I don’t-I don’t understand…”

He gives me his signature smirk. “My love, I’m a little heartbroken. Even after remembering everything, you still don’t get it.”

“You will do nothing of the sort. I am not chained down to you. I am not here unwillingly. From the very beginning, I swore to move mountains for you, crush your enemies, and give you everything you desired. That hasn’t changed…and it never will.”

After all this time, Sylus finally has you back. And he couldn’t be happier. Everything working up to this moment was worth it.

Externally, your eyes shined with relief that his love for you has held strong all these years. You were beyond elated that you have returned to each other.

Internally, you knew what had to be done. You knew that you had to make things right. You weren’t good enough in this life to deserve a man of Sylus’s caliber. He deserved his Sorceress.

Now you just needed a plan on how to become her, or at least anything better than what you are, before Sylus realizes just how much you pale in comparison to the woman he loved in Taurus City.

Sylus would never accept anything less than her.

Maybe I can do a part 2 if y’all want to get into the rest of what I planned to write. I’m hella self-deprecating and self-sabotaging in my own life, why not be the same in fiction.

Let me know if y’all think this can be something

[salty-autistic-writer]

Little Big Clingy Octopus

For @bucktommyfluffebruary, Day 4: "Clingy Boyfriends"

The break-up lasted an agonising long week. 

A week filled with baking. Crying. Aggressively knocking at doors until the neighbours looked out of their windows, shaking their heads. More baking. Crying. Screaming at each other. Crying together. Passing out in Tommy’s bed, exhausted. Drained of energy and words. Yeah. It’s been a ride.

Words were said. Boundaries were set. Questions were asked and answered. Issues, secrets, nightmares, dreams, fears and hopes were uncovered.

Once the storm passes, their world recovers and they start moving back towards each other. Carefully first, almost shyly, all too aware of the fragility of a moment. But soon enough, they fall into a familiar, yet new, rhythm and stop walking on eggshells.

In the aftermath, Tommy starts to ask for things he likes or wants with a confidence that wasn’t there before. He's not holding back anymore. It makes Buck feel warm inside. Everything is … softer now. Now and then, their hearts still remember the storm and remember old fears, but all the talking they missed in the early stages of their fast-moving relationship, they do now.

They are in bed, their bodies entangled in every way possible, warm soft skin pressed together. Tommy’s head rests on Buck’s arm, his eyes closed. The morning sun catches in his tousled curls, making them shine golden. His lips are parted slightly and his breaths even. Seems like he dozed off again.

Buck watches Tommy and he could stay here forever, but spots on his body start to tingle uncomfortably and he will need the toilet soon. Not right now though. Not while Tommy is clinging to him like …

“Like an octopus,” Buck mutters absently, chuckling as the picture of Tommy with eight arms forms in his mind.

“Hmmm?” Tommy stirs, raising his head from Buck’s arm and blinking sleepily.

“You remind me of an octopus when you’re like that. Did you know they have three hearts?”

“Oh. Wow. Must hurt so bad if they get broken,” Tommy mumbles. Then grimaces. “Sorry.”

“Are you alright?” Buck asks, noticing Tommy tensing slightly.

Tommy sighs. “Yeah. I just … had some dreams tonight. Of the bad kind.”

“Oh.” Buck swallows, thinking of his own nightmares. They still smell vaguely like lemon loaf and loneliness. He strokes down the curve of Tommy’s back.  “Don’t listen to them. This is real.”

Tommy smiles weakly. “Well. Me sometimes being an idiot is real too.”

“You’re my idiot. And I’m yours. Idiot for idiot.”

Tommy raises a brow. “Hm. I can live with being an idiot if I’m not the only one in the room, I guess.”

He flinches and chuckles when Buck pinches his side, snuggling even closer. Buck hums and buries his nose in Tommy’s hair, closing his eyes for a moment. Just feeling. Floating. Basking in warmth.

“This is not too much, right?” Tommy mutters, a hint of old insecurity in his voice. “You’d tell me if I’m too clingy?”

“You’ll never be too much. I have to pee though,” Buck says regretfully. “But I will come back.”

Tommy makes a sad noise. “What if I don’t want to let go?”

Buck grins. “My little big clingy octopus. You don’t have to. Hold on.”

“What - No. Evan, that’s not a good idea.”

“Come on. I want to try.”

“I have to show up at work tomorrow, Evan. I can’t break my back!”

“I won’t let you fall. What do you think all that weightlifting is for? Just hold on, okay? On three. One, two, three. See?”

(AO3 Link)

[dramalove247]

Favorite Things: Your Sky

First, you had us at fake dating. We are huge suckers for this trope when it is well done and they did it SO well!!! This show felt like the writers sat down and said, "How can we make the most over the top main couple that is sickeningly cute and sweet with every green flag you can imagine?" Then they added the best big sister ever, doting parents with too much love... (for the most part), amazing friends, great side couples, and a freaking puppy. This show gave us serious cuteness aggression! And just when you forgot it was a Domundi series, they start delivering the spice in EPIC proportions until you can no longer remember how shy and cute their relationship started.

Here are some posts we loved (spoilers ahead):

The elevator scene is hilarious! Thanks for posting @hughungrybear

@poetry-protest-pornography post about them launching their relationship with an IG post is HILARIOUS 🤣

@iguessitsjustme pointing out some of the things we have loved about this show ❤

So many of the side characters were GREAT in this show! We loved Babe and Lee and all the friends, but Hia and Real were EPIC! @hughungrybear captured this hilarious Real and Hia moment and named it perfectly:

using sunscreen to flirt: a guide

The confession scenes/episode were so great 🥰 @soujux shared this fun background information about how the scene was changed.

Agree so much with @axibani. We LOVED that Fah is so gentle and reassuring to Rak. He wants Rak to be ready. Not only does Meunfah not pressure him, but he is constantly checking in and watching and stops the second he sees Teerak's hesitation. Absolutely love how caring and respectful Meunfah is. 100% green flag. Plus, consent is so hot.

😳 We had to make a NC 18+ appreciation post. The chemistry in this show was off the charts. The scenes were so spicy and sweet and fluffy that we decided it could only be considered Jalapeño Cotton Candy.

We absolutely loved how the desire between Muenfah and Teerak was mutually intense, like in this scene posted by @kittycaths when Teerak takes the lead. This super sweet series gave us an unexpected amount of spice and the chemistry between Thomas and Kong was wild!

Episode 12 gave us so much cute between Fah and Rak 😍 @tortibomb posted a collection of some of these sweetest moments in this compilation of GIFS.

Episode 11 was nightmare fuel and Teerak's fears were justified. Makes you wonder what made him doubt his father's love would be unconditional when it came to coming out. But as much as this blindsided us, we realize that was the actual point.

Sometimes it's the little details:

[pedrosgrogu]

Born Too Late - Chapter 13

pairing/au: neighbor!joel x reader // no outbreak

Warnings: so much fucking angst it literally isnt funny. soft!joel

Summary: You're embarking on a journey of self discovery. Of things that make YOU feel good. Like setting boundaries, and getting your dream job! But that means leaving Sarah, and Joel. You actively don't think about it, until you have to. (1.7k+)

a/n: okay so shoutout to @frankensteingotwet because their vision literally inspired this chapter. ive been so down the dumps w this fic because of many reasons and im so sorry this took so long. but, if you've stuck around this long, this ones for you too. leave a like or a comment or a reblog, they mean the world. love u all bunches xoxoxo ps still figuring out writing from other POVs and boarders. :P bear with me pps didnt proof this so sorry for any errors :/

Chapter 12 - Masterlist - Chapter 14 (coming soon)

boarders: @evansyhelp

It’s been a few months since the fallout with Joel and things are relatively the same. Every so often there's muffins on the porch or you bring Sarah home, but you leave his spare key under the flowerpot and you don’t go out of your way to speak to him. 

You try to tell yourself you’re healing. You tell yourself that in order to heal you need to take more time. More time to think, more time to find yourself. But what you’ve actually done is build a wall. A wall so tall and so thick that not even the Romans themselves could conquer it. A wall so strong that a meteor would barely scratch its surface. 

But despite that big ass wall, you’re trying to get back out there. You’re trying to fix the shit that you didn’t even break. Trying to be better for yourself. You’ve gone on a handful of dates but none of them made it past the first one. The first guy, Bryan, wouldn’t shut the fuck up about how damaged he was from his ex, and the second guy, Carter, didn’t talk at all. The third? You don’t even remember his name because he didn’t show. Or at least you don't think he did. You sat alone at the bar 15 minutes past when he was supposed to get there before you blocked his number and left. Men these days make you want to become a fucking nun. 

Work is fine, and you still occasionally bring Sarah home but don’t stick around for casual conversation. You don't ask how he is or about his recent jobs. You decline many coffee invitations, and leave little room for misinterpretation. You might be trying to get back out there, but not with him. 

The more you think about your relationship(?) with Joel, you want to smack yourself. It’s like you had red fucking glasses on and couldn’t see the flags. But you were no saint either, which is why you don’t think it will ever work. There's too much shit that you both did that screams “WE ARE SO TOXIC, ESPECIALLY TO EACH OTHER!” 

Your most recent life development has been preparing to take the middle school social studies Praxis exam, your dream job. And you’ve told no one. Not even Penny. Again, “protecting your peace” or whatever self-help journey you think you’re on. 

After months of studying, you take the Praxis. And you pass. With flying fucking colors. Your excitement can’t be contained and you call Penny. She answers after 2 rings. 

“My sweet Yellow!! How are you?!” she basically screams into the phone. 

“So good Pen. You have no idea!” you pause, barely able to get the words out. 

“I passed my test! My test to teach middle school social studies-”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” She screams so loud you have to pull the phone away from your ear. 

“I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO SEE HOW ELEMENTARY WAS? REGARDLESS.. AHHHH!! YELLOW I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!” 

“I know I know!! I considered it but I really want a change, and I want it now. I think it’ll be good for me. I'm even considering taking a position at the charter school which means I’ll have to possibly move so I'm not driving a borderline 40 minutes to work everyday but I'm excited.” you say, feeling like this is the first right decision you’ve made since you moved here. 

“You know I support you, no matter what. But…” she trails off

“Spit it out Pen. You’re making me nervous.” You say, chuckling in both joy and anxiety. 

“But… I’ll be moving back at the end of July. I'm going to finish my doctorate at UT Austin. I love Ireland so much but with everything going on at home with moms health and being far from my friends, I just think it's time for me to come home.” she says, more cheery than you’d expect. 

“I haven't really figured out the logistics yet, but I’ll definitely be back. I found an apartment that's about halfway between my moms and campus.” 

You speak lightly, empathy lining every word. “Oh Pen, I'm so sorry. I know how much Ireland means to you.” 

“Hey, I got all my clinical shit done so really all that's left is my dissertation. But I’ve got to finish some stuff up here before I head out for the evening. I'm so glad you called. We have so much to catch up on. I'll text you, and we can schedule something, kay? I love ya. Soooooo so much.” 

“I love you too Pen!” you say, clicking the phone shut. 

You accept the position at the charter school and inform your current school that you won’t be returning. It feels like a weight off your chest, knowing that you’ll soon be in a new town miles and miles from here. But your stomach churns at the thought of having to tell Joel, having to tell Sarah. Be away from Sarah. From Joel. But you’re healing. You’re getting the fuck over it. 

The rest of the school year flies by. Everyday is like the last. Wake up, go to work, take Sarah home occasionally and avoid small talk with Joel, maybe eat, sleep, repeat. You browse newspapers and websites for homes to rent, not finding anything worth calling about. You start to worry the closer to July you get but push it to the back of your mind.

With one week of school left, your kids are beyond done. They’re so mentally checked out from school it's like having 23 little zombies everyday. On the last day, you receive that same “Hey works running late, can you hang with Sarah?” text from Joel and the answer is always the same bland “Of course!”. 

You guys jam out to Sum 41 on the way home and do all the basics; homework, some version of spa day, dinner, and a movie. 

You both fall asleep on the couch watching Freaky Friday, and don’t even notice Joel come in. Sarah is splayed across the couch, her head using your thigh as a pillow and her feet hanging off the edge. You have your hand sitting on her head, fingers nestled in her hair like she's a baby needing the external stimuli to fall asleep. 

*Joel's POV*

Things never really changed after that last conversation, and her words play in Joel’s head like a broken record, stuck skipping on the same groove over and over. “Joel, respectfully, you were an ass to me the day we met. You don’t treat someone you care about this much, like that”. It makes him want to punch a wall every goddamn time he thinks about it, because she's right. He was an ass.  

But on that night, the night on her porch, he was vulnerable. Soft. Like a butterfly on its first day out of the cocoon. But her blinds never opened back up. And she never took the key, never accepted coffee dates, and never stuck around for banter after Sarah was asleep. It hit him like a ton of fucking bricks everytime he saw her. 

Especially when he saw her leave at night in mini-skirts and heels, knowing that someone else was getting to see her. Getting to touch her porcelain skin. Kiss her strawberry lips. Run their fingers through her walnut colored locks. It made him spiral, but she said she needed space. But how much space is too much? How much before she's gone for good? He wishes he knew. But for now, even just seeing you for 5 minutes when he gets home late will be enough. It has to be. 

It’s been months and he’s trying to accept the new normal. But when he comes home and Sarah is splayed across the couch with head in your lap and your fingers tangled in her coils, it shoots a wave of pain and agony through his once strong body. His eyes overflowed at the sight. How could he fuck up something so goddamn perfect? Despite anything you ever did, it would never compare to the shit he put you through. He felt like he was drowning, and needed to calm himself down. He quietly sneaks off to his bathroom and tries to wash away the negative thoughts running rampant through his mind. 

He throws on some sweatpants and a t-shirt, combing his chocolate curls from his eyes. Walking out, his steps echo through the house. The TV must've auto shut off and the only sound heard is the hum of the refrigerator mixed with the soft snores of his 2 favorite girls. He dreads having to disturb either of you. You both look so peaceful, holding onto each other like your lives depend on it. He rubs his thumb across your cheek, soft as not to wake you. Knowing it would only cause more turmoil. He sighs, scooping Sarah off your lap. You barely stir, mumbling softly as Joel carries Sarah to her room. He comes back and you’re burrowed into the couch, your hair covering your eyes. 

*Readers POV*

“Hey” Joel whispers, standing over you, but you don’t move. 

He crouches down so he's now eye level with her “Sweet girl, I’m home” 

“Yellow? You gotta wake up. Sarahs already in bed.” He says, a little louder this time, rubbing your shoulder, your skin so hot it makes him feel like he’s going up in flames. His heart is full of desire, and regret. 

You stir, eyes crinkling open. “Hey Joel. Where’s Sarah?” your voice groggy and light. His heart melting at the mere sound of it. 

“I took her to bed, ya both were knocked out on the couch.” he says, flashing you a quick smile. 

She stretches, becoming more conscious as the seconds pass. 

And then it hits you. The thought of having to tell Joel that you’re moving makes your stomach churn, but it needs to be done. You want him to have time to arrange her transportation next year. 

“Joel?” you ask, your mouth salivating because of how nauseous you are.. “Can we talk?” you say, sitting up. 

“Always. I actually need to ask you something too.” He sits beside you, but not too close. His honey brown eyes meeting yours, looking at you rather than through you. 

You both sit in silence, just staring. And almost as if the same spit it out bug bites you both in the ass at the same damn time,

“I’m moving.” “Can you keep Sarah for me some days this summer?” 

And a singular tear rolls down Joel’s cheek.

[ollyissleepy]

𝟎𝟏. 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐲

summary: Rafayel is convinced by Thomas to read one of your previously released books to have him agree to illustrate the new one cw: none? a/n: make sure to check out this months posting schedule to know when more chapters will come out! taglist is open!

m.list | next →

"How many times do I have to tell you that I don't do commissions?" Rafayel tries his hardest not to raise his voice at Thomas, his manager, knowing he just wants to make sure his works are known with a bigger audience. "I don't care if it's the god itself; you can't pay me to draw for you."

"I know, I know. I just want to give one of their books a shot." Thomas raised the book he was currently holding, hoping that acting nonchalant would somehow convince Rafayel. "I think your styles match pretty well, that's all." He shrugs his shoulders, coming closer to where Rafayel was working.

Rafayel watches his manager closely, analysing what the man is plotting now. Thomas doesn't comment on Rafayel's suspicious gaze and slowly places one of your books on a small table next to an easel with an unfinished painting. He pats the cover lightly, as if he's quietly trying to encourage Rafayel to read it. Thomas then leaves, saying his goodbyes on his way out.

Rafayel stares at your book for a bit, unsure if he should just leave it there. He realises he doesn't care if the book is destroyed with paint or not. It wouldn't be his fault anyways; Thomas was the one who put it there, not him. Rafayel picks up his brush and puts some already mixed paint on it, returning back to his work, before it was rudely interrupted by his manager. Rafayel tried his hardest to focus on his painting, the brush strokes on the canvas barely looking like anything. He kept going back to Thomas's words. What did he mean by your style matching his well? Rafayel's sight kept going back and forth between his canvas and your book. He keeps telling himself that he's not an artist you can buy and that he doesn't care for that little book of yours.

Rafayel sighs, noticing that he spent more time staring at your book than working on his painting. He gives in to the temptation, hoping that after reading one page he'll grow bored of it and will be able to return to his work. Rafayel throws the brush into the cup filled with paint water and picks up your book. He decides against moving from his stool, thinking he would just take a small peek. He flips to the first page and starts reading.

After the first page, Rafayel, without thinking, turned to the second page. The story captivated him, from the way you described your characters to the way you wrote about emotions. Rafayel kept reading more pages from your book, only stopping once to move from the stool next to his easel to the couch. He didn't notice the time passing, the sun no longer shining brightly and now much lower in the sky.

Finishing the book left Rafayel with his heart aching for more. He grabbed his phone in a daze, ready to search more books that you seemingly poured your soul into. Only then did he remember why he had your book in the first place. Rafayel decided that he has to make you an exception to his rule. Instead of looking up the titles of your other book, he looks up your social media accounts. Once he finds one that you seem to be the most active on, he opens up your direct messages to send you a text.

@sashisuslover @withering-dream

[carame1bunny]

Hi!:D

Wanted to ask if you mind writing smth smth heavy angst for Jayce? Some mental breakdown maybe with hints of self-hatred, cause so far all the fiction I saw was about Viktor having bad time, but I really want to see my bbgirl Jayce suffer:(

Bonus points if Viktor actually finds him like that for the first time and is scared as hell but helps the golden boy (JayVik for life yeeeah)

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭! 𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭!<3

𝐉𝐚𝐲𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬 𝐱 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭(𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟), 𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞

It was all becoming too much. The invisible grasp wrapped around his heart was becoming tighter and tighter.

His days were spent trying to please everyone, while losing himself more. Every expectation from him chipped at his will to live. As the days became weeks, he realized that he just couldn’t please someone without hurting another. The more he tried to make good, the more he spoiled and complicated things.

He couldn’t even remember the last time he slept soundly, the cogs in his mind never stopped.

Hextech, the Council, the question of Zaun’s independence—they never left his mind.

He was absolutely sure that if it wasn’t for his sleeping pills guaranteeing him a good night’s sleep, he could have easily ended up in the hospital.

However, it all changed when you popped into his life.

To him, you were a breath of fresh air, a safe place he could always hide away in.

You were the electric impulse that kept his heart beating.

When with you, he felt like nothing was impossible.

Your gentle petting made him sleep like a bear. That good, dreamless sleep that he desperately craved.

For more than a year, you kept him from going insane. However—nothing lasts forever.

One day, it all came back to him.

His own mind constantly torturing him. The pressure.

Again, he could only rely on those little blue pills, which only added to his guilt. He was so lucky to have you, and he still depended on them.

Before, when he passed by a mirror, all he could see was a successful and brilliant, and a fool endlessly in love.

Now, all he could see were the heavy bags under his eyes, the constant line between his eyebrows, the everlasting frown on his lips, the slump of his shoulders and the worst of all…

That dull empty look in his eyes. Gone was the young scientist with big dreams. For a while, it was affection that held him together, but he lost sight of what was important along the way. The person in the mirror made him want to shatter it into tiny pieces. His insecurities soon found their way to him. Jayce felt ugly, like a beast, on the outside and the inside. He hated the scars on his face, the gap in his tooth, the pudge on the bottom of his stomach.

He hated himself.

Even your touch couldn’t soothe him, and those were big words. Your presence didn’t brighten his day like before. He was still deeply in love with you, it was his declining mental health at fault, not as if he saw it that way. He couldn’t stand the thought of hurting you. He would rather bash in his own skull with a hammer, than breaking your darling heart.

He thought that no one saw his suffering. Not the people of Piltover, not the Council, and not even you. He mastered the art of acting like he was happy, even you believed it. You had no idea how many tears he shed while holding you in his arms.

However, you happened to notice that you saw him less and less. Rainchecks started occurring more often than not. While it saddened you, you knew how hard he worked and tried to accept that. And you were more than aware that trying to talk to him about it was no good. Whenever the topic of his mental health came up, he shut down. He either became mute or angry, at himself, of course.

But, since he barely saw you, Viktor was the one seeing his declining mental state. He, too, tried talking to Jayce, but got the same behaviour. The scientist figured that it was a phase that would pass by. Boy… how wrong he was.

It happened on a rainy night. Viktor just couldn’t fall asleep for the life of him, especially after working on a calculation all day, with no direct answer. Once he laid in his bed, an idea popped into his head, a potential answer to the rune combination that nagged him the whole day. He quickly got dressed and made his way back into the lab. As he got closer, he could hear it. It was so unexpected that, for a second, he was sure it was his exhaustion. A moment later, he heard it again.

The sound of Jayce Talis sobbing.

He peeked in and his eyes widened. The decorative mirror in their lab was shattered to pieces, and Jayce was kneeling before it. His sobs made his whole body shake, his knuckles were bloody.

Viktor knew that he couldn’t do anything, he wasn’t what Jayce needed at the moment. He couldn’t provide the gentleness that the golden boy needed, but one other person could.

He rushed back to his room and dialed your number.

After a bit, you were nearly tearing the lab door down.

You ran all the way to the Academy, fearing that if you got there later, Jayce would harm himself. As you stepped in, your heart tightened. Your sweet boy was looking up at you, but he wasn’t the Councilor Talis that Piltover knew… No, he was a scared boy, whose walls finally came tumbling down.

There wasn’t a second wasted, you fell on your knees beside him and immediately cradled him into your arms. In a flash, a pair of strong arms were clinging on to you, the head buried in your chest seeking comfort. Your shirt got wetter and wetter, due to his tears that were refusing to stop even for a second.

“Oh, my darling…” Your fingers caressed his hair. Just the loving and gentle touch he needed.

“I…I—Please, forgive me…” he half-said and half-sobbed.

“It’s okay. You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“It’s just… all of it. This… pressure.” His body grew more limp and tired with every cry. “I never asked for this!”

You held his face in your hands and lifted it, so his puppy eyes could meet this. You smiled gently at him, which caused his expression to slightly relax. “I know. I cannot imagine being in your shoes. But admitting that this pressure is making you crack… makes you the strongest person I know. No one else could do what you do, and take pride in that. Also, take pride of the fact that you are a person, and as a person, you are allowed to feel like everything is too much. It’s not shameful to take a break. It. Does. Not. Make. You. Weak.”

After some silence, he spoke.

“Thank you, Y/N.”

“Come on.” You helped him up from the ground. “Let’s get you home.

Once you were home, you cleaned up the cuts on his knuckles, and helped him into bed. Eventually, his cries stopped. His body left the tension behind. Finally, he could let himself rest, the world could wait.

As he laid in your arms, felt that healing touch of yours, he could only think about one thing.

It was all going to okay.

[oceanista08]

[ 3 ] Bounds by Shadows ✧. ┊    igris x shadow soldier!reader.

The moment you wake up, you know you’re different.

You’re no longer human.

You can’t remember your old life—not completely. The flashes of battle, the weight of the sword in your hand, the thrill of combat. But everything else? Faint. Faint. Like a dream slipping through your fingers.

And then the voice.

“Arise.”

You have no choice but to obey.

When you open your eyes, the world is dark, filled with figures in black armor all kneeling before one presence.

Him.

The Shadow Monarch.

You don’t speak, but you don’t need to. Your instincts tell you everything. You are one of them now—a warrior of the Shadow Army, bound by an unbreakable will. As you rise with the others, however, another pair of eyes meets yours.

Bright purple.

A warrior in black armor, towering over the others, his aura both powerful and majestic.

He studies you, silent. You feel the weight of his gaze, the way it lingers a little longer than necessary.

Then, without a word, he turns away.

That is the first time you meet Beru’s opponent. The greatest knight of Monarch. The one they call Blood-Red Commander Igris.

And for reasons you cannot explain, it will not be your last.

U•ェ•*U

Your first mission is a bloodbath.

Monarch sends you and Igris to destroy a pack of high-level monsters that are rampaging through a newly-spawned dungeon. This is not a challenge. This is a massacre.

You move on instincts you don’t remember learning. Your body—new, yet somehow familiar—cuts through enemies like blades cutting through the air. But even as you fight, you can feel him.

Igris.

He’s always within reach, his presence a quiet commanding force. He moves like a storm, his cloak billowing, his greatsword slicing through monsters with easy precision.

At first, he doesn’t speak to you. He doesn’t acknowledge you beyond what’s necessary.

Yet whenever you falter, whenever an enemy dares land a blow too close, he’s there.

A silent shield.

You don't know why.

But something tells you that Igris has been watching you since the moment you opened your bright, sunken eyes.

Days—weeks—pass in the endless abyss of the Shadow Army. You have fought, you have trained, you have learned what it means to be reborn in the darkness.

But unlike the others, you are not just a nameless soldier.

You are strong. Faster than most, smarter in battle, unpredictable in battle. You don’t just follow orders, you think for yourself. And that makes you… different.

This doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Igris is watching you,” Beru licked his lips one day, his voice ringing with amusement. “Kieeek, he seems curious.”

You frowned. “Curious?”

The General tilted his head. “You fight like a soldier who had a name.”

You hesitated. The past… was hazy. It always was. But—

A sword in your hand. A battlefield. A voice calling your name.

Something was missing.

“I don’t remember,” you muttered.

Beru groaned but didn’t push. Instead, he pointed to the battlefield where the other soldiers were training.

“Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

Your eyes followed his.

Igris stood alone, sword in hand, moving with precise, controlled strikes. Every movement was deliberate—graceful, effortless. He swung his weapon like an extension of himself, as if fighting were the only thing he had ever known.

And he was watching you.

You met his eyes.

For a moment, neither of you moved.

Then he gave the signal—silent but clear.

Come.

You had no reason to refuse.

/ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\..........

Sparring with Igris is an experience unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.

He doesn’t go easy on you. He doesn’t hesitate. His strikes are powerful, calculated, designed to overwhelm—but you refuse to be overwhelmed.

You meet his every move with your own, your instincts sharper than you thought. The sound of clashing steel echoes across the battlefield as you move forward, faster, stronger—your mind and body working as one.

And for the first time, you see it.

The way Igris moves changes.

From testing you… to challenging you.

A normal soldier would have lost by now.

But you’re not normal.

And as your blade meets his in the final clash, a realization dawns between you.

This isn’t just training.

It was a conversation.

No words, only movement. No voices, only steel.

And when the final battle was over, both of them still standing, something unreadable flashed in Igris’s violet eyes.

Respect.

Recognition.

Something… different.

“You are strong,” he said finally, his voice low and soft.

You wiped the blood from your lips. “So are you.”

A pause. Then—

“I want to fight you again.”

An unfamiliar feeling welled up in your chest.

“…Yeah,” you whispered, looking into his eyes. “Me too.”

yes. “Me too.”

ᓚᘏᗢ

Days turn into weeks. Missions become endless battles. And throughout, you and Igris fight side by side.

You begin to understand him—not through words, but through actions.

Igris doesn’t waste a move. He doesn’t hesitate. He doesn’t allow weakness.

But when you struggle, when you’re hurt, when you falter—he’s the first to catch you. The first to make sure you get back up.

One evening, after a long battle, you sit on the ruins of a destroyed fortress, staring into the abyss of the dungeon beyond. Igris stands nearby, sharpening his blade in practiced silence.

This time, you break it.

“Do you remember?” you ask.

He pauses, then turns to you.

“Remember?”

Your fingers curl into the fabric of your armored gauntlets. “Before. Before him. Before the darkness.”

A long silence stretched between the two of you. Then he spoke.

“I remember the battle.” His voice was even, deep, but there was something distant in it. “I remember the purpose.”

You hesitated. “…Is there nothing else?”

His eyes met yours.

For the first time, there was something unreadable in them. Something almost—longing.

“I remember honor.”

Those words gave you a strange feeling. A feeling you couldn’t name.

Before you could say more, Monarch’s call echoed across the abyss. Another mission. Another battle.

Igris stood up and held out his hand to you.

You took it without thinking.

And as you reached up, you realized something.

You were no longer just a shadow warrior.

You are his.

And he… is yours.

@pan-kojiwa yup Igris's hereeee

[izavella21]

This book. This book right here. I love it. I love it a lot. Here are some reasons why:

The narration style. I remember when I first read this book, there were so many moments where I'd read a line and think "so relatable". Tori, why are you so relatable?

Tori and Charlie's relationship. I think it's not that common to see a wholesome sibling relationship, so I'm glad that was included in this book. (Also, I don't know if it's just me, but I feel that we don't really see that a lot in Heartstopper)

Tori and Charlie both saw the signs of each other's decline in mental health, and regret never doing anything about it. And they both assure each other that despite the mental health struggles, and despite not doing anything about each other's mental health struggles, they still love each other and care about each other.

There's a scene where Lucas gives Tori a can of Sprite, and Tori mentally notes that it isn’t the drink she likes. Later in the book, Micheal gives Tori diet lemonade, which is the drink she likes. And the beats of these two scenes are very similar.

Also, after Lucas gives Tori the sprite, she asks him about the books he has, and one of them is The Great Gatsby. When Tori asks him what’s it about, he answers “It’s about someone who's in love with a dream." You don't say...

(Basically, I think those two scenes are meant to show that Lucas is in love with idea of Tori, while Michael loves Tori as she is. Lucas goes about his relationship with Tori in the "wrong" way, while Michael goes about it in the "right" way)

The way Tori’s depression was handled felt so…candid for lack of a better term. I feel that depression and suicidal thoughts/ideation is something that is tricky to get right. I think Solitaire is a good depiction of depression. A believable one at least. One where you're able to empathize with the character.

Michael Holden. Just, Michael Holden.

I don't know about others, but I've always read Tori and Micheal's relationship as queerplatonic. You never see that in fiction, so I appreciate it.

The story takes place in winter, and there are so many moments when Micheal shows up in a t-shirt, or otherwise light clothing, and Tori wonders at various points if he’s a human furnace.

Meanwhile, there are multiple lines where Tori is described as a “ghost” or as “cold”.

Nick Nelson beating up Ben Hope. Do I condone violence? No. Do I condone violence towards Ben Hope by Nick Nelson? Absolutely.

The scene where Tori's not having a good day, and Michael comes over to her house to spend time with her so that she isn't alone. In their phone conversation before that, Michael says that Tori reminds him of "an old person who lives alone, like, with cats and daytime television." Michael also seems like the type of person who would keep old people company.

The scene where Tori realizes Michael wanted to invite her to one of his races, a really important one at that, and the minute she realizes this, she instantly books it to the rink. She wasn't planning on doing anything that day, but the minute she learned that Michael had something important going on, she dropped everything to be there.

I think every scene focused on Tori and Micheal is amazing.

To this day, it amazes me that Alice Oseman wrote and published this book at the age of SEVENTEEN!

There was the right balance between dark and mature elements and more wholesome ones. I'd say that's the case for all of Alice Oseman's work, but especially Solitaire, which is considered the darkest. I feel that's a tricky balance to strike, and I felt that Solitaire, even the original iteration, strikes that balance well.

This book has short chapters, and I think that makes it easy to read.

I love the audiobook. I mean the old audiobook narrated by Jayne Entwistle. I've listened to the new one narrated Jenny Walser, and it's good, but I think I prefer the old one. It's so pleasant to the ears. I love her voice.

Thank you for reading!

[boiledpanini]

Klangst fic

fair warning I have very little writing experience

this is based off of “Rose’s Turn”

Hope you enjoy!

All that work and what did it get me?

Lance could feel the heat, the anger, rising in his chest.

Why did I do it?

He gave everything to this team. To this coalition. And what had they done in return?

Scrapbooks full of me in the background

They had let the one thing he had die. Keith was gone, and none of them had even tried to save him.

Give them love and what does it get you? What does it get you?

He loved his team. He really, truly, thought he did. But they had made their minds up the moment they turned around, leaving Keith trapped in the Galran ship they had doomed to explode.

One quick look as each of them leaves you.

Lance walked with more purposefully than he ever had. He knew what he had to do. His rage was rising, coming to a boiling point that no one could stop before it spilled over.

All your life and what does it get you? What does it get you?

Keith had lost his youth to them. To these aliens who didn’t even appreciate his efforts. Now he had lost his life, and they still couldn’t give some semblance of remorse?

“Thanks a lot” and out with the garbage

Well, that just wouldn’t do.

They take bows, and you’re battin’ zero

They would feel remorse. But it was already much too late.

The rest of the team was so high and mighty, weren’t they? Always so much better, so much more mature than he or Keith could be. How tragic, Lance thought, that those things couldn’t save them now. Nothing would.

I had a dream

Lance had wanted this once. He wanted to come to space, to be a pilot.

I dreamed it for you, Shiro

And who had inspired him, but his dear leader. He still remembered seeing Shiro’s face on TV for the first time when he was younger.

It wasn’t for me, Shiro

Would Lance be here, if it wasn’t for that television broadcast? Was all of this a misguided pipe-dream?

And if it wasn’t for me, then where would you be-Team Voltron?

Without him, without Keith, there would be no Voltron. The others were ungrateful. Unappreciative on the sacrifices they made, focusing only on themselves.

Well, someone tell me when is it my turn?

It ended today. They didn’t matter now. They never had, not next to Keith. Lance would get what he wanted this time. And he wanted them gone.

Don’t I get a dream for myself?

He didn’t need to be a paladin anymore. He didn’t need to worry about them. All he had to do was be patient, get their quintessence, and bring back what really mattered.

Starting now it’s gonna be my turn.

As he reached the ship’s core, he almost could’ve laughed. They really were getting a taste of their own medicine! They could die on a burning ship, just as Keith had!

Gangway world, get off of my runway!

As dumb as he acted, Lance was smart. He knew that once the others were gone, their quintessence would end up in the lions. From there, he would take it and use it to restore Keith. He would be remade- brought back just as he had been.

Starting now I bat a thousand

The bomb wasn’t hard to plant. Not enough to entirely destroy the ship -Lance still might need some of the supplies- but enough that the other paladins would come running.

This time, boys, I’m taking the bows- and

Their clambering about the room would set off the other bombs, and that would be the end of it. Lance would get what he wanted.

Everything’s coming up Lance

He set the final wires into place and worked the timer.

Everything’s coming up McClain

He hoped Keith would understand. Of course he would, right? 

Everything’s coming up Lance, this time for me

As the timer ticked down, Lance smiled. Yes, Keith would understand. This was just the beginning of their story. He made his way to his escape pod, laughing harder than he ever thought he could.

For me

5

For me!

4

For me!

3

For me!

2

For me!

1

FOR ME!

Boom.