#I wasn't wearing any kind of head scarf or anything? I don't really know what to tell you! 😭

[stellaluna33]

So, I just had an Experience... I was getting gas, and the card reader at the pump wasn't working, so I went inside to talk to the employee, who was a young man. When he saw me, he said something that I couldn't quite understand, and when I asked him to repeat it, it sounded like he was saying, "Charge?" which I took to mean that he was asking me if I'd be paying with a card or not, so I said yes... And then he said, "Oh, good! You remind me of a teacher of mine! I went to a convent school back where I'm from, so I know all about that stuff!"

And, guys, I still don't know for sure what he said or what I accidentally agreed with, but it kinda sounds like he thought I was a nun? Which, I have to say, is a new one for me. 😂😭

[crepe-of-wrath]

Shouta Scarf Saturday

Notes/warnings: 18+; fem reader; kind of stretching the scarf connection this week tbh; collar mentions; less smut and more build-up; blink-and-you'll-miss reference to past non-consensual touching; soft yandere Aizawa; no physical violence; Darling Reader fully submitting to Aizawa; big-time Stockholm Syndrome

(not a continuation of any other Scarf Smut Saturday pieces)

Were you really doing this of your own free will?

You crept into the hallway, a leather collar in your hand. Aizawa's voice, stern, commanding, and sexy, was clear from the other room:

"Are you following the rules? You can't come out of your room if you don't follow the rules."

"I know, Sir," you said, hopeful that your meek reply would manage to reach him in the other room. You tiptoed toward his voice. Why did he have to keep it so cold in the house? You only had panties on--that was the first rule--and you were freezing.

He was sitting on his leather sofa in nothing but black sweatpants. He was a very handsome person (you knew you weren't supposed to think that, but he was) and you just wanted to curl up against his chest and feel warm in his arms (you knew you weren't supposed to want that, but you did).

"Good afternoon, angel," he said in the same voice that you imagined he used with difficult students after their punishments. "I'm so glad that you've decided to be a good girl and come out and join me. I've missed you. If you're hungry, you can have some lunch and then you can choose our show. Just show me what gift you picked."

That was another rule: to be able to come into the rest of the house you had to wear one of his little gifts.

Shyly, you showed him the collar you had been holding behind your back.

His eyes and his smile got really soft and you could tell that, perhaps for the first time ever, you had genuinely thrown him for a loop. He crooked his finger and you walked over to him. He drew you into his lap--you shuddered as your nipples brushed against the hair on his chest--and fastened the collar around your neck, letting his hands glide down to the small of your back when he was done.

"You surprised me with this," he said, just before kissing you on the nose. "Looks like I'll have to use my binding cloth as a leash, because I don't have anything else."

Sure enough, he grabbed the scarf that, as you had learned early on, was always within his reach and (somehow) threaded it through the ring on the collar. Part of you was very hot and bothered, and, when one of Aizawa's hands wandered from the small of your back to the front of your panties, you felt your body respond. But, there was another part of you that felt ashamed and embarrassed that you were allowing this man to treat you like this, that you were giving in, not fighting.

He was an observant man and quickly asked, "What are you thinking about, sweetheart?"

"I don't know," you said quietly, as, for reasons you could not fathom, you started to cry a little.

"I think I understand why you've been so silly lately," Aizawa said, his voice as kind as his eyes, the fingers of his left hand now carefully caressing your cheek. "Understand why you've been misbehaving when you clearly want to be with me." His other hand gently rubbed you through your panties again, feeling more of your wetness.

He sighed in longing, then continued. "This is my fault. I wasn't thinking properly for us, and I'm sorry." He continued to lightly stroke your cheek, making you feel so precious and desired.

"My sweet angel, I should have realized that you'd have all sorts of awful ideas put in your head by this stupid, cruel world. It's such a bad world, precious girl. I see it every day as a Pro." Suddenly he looked so sad, and so you stroked his hair. That made him pause and you realized were awash in fondness for him.

Aizawa swallowed hard and continued: "It's why I had to take you away so you'd be safe. This world tells you that there's no such thing as pure love, all-encompassing love, total love. But there is, and it is what I feel for you, and what I think you could feel for me if you would just stop listening to those voices. Can you do that for me, angel? Can you stop listening to them and see if you can try to love me?"

He tenderly kissed your lips. You closed your eyes and your body surrendered to his kiss as your mind had surrendered to his words. Now, the thoughts that you had been keeping at bay--like the ones about how good it felt when Aizawa touched you even when you told him you didn't want him to (of course, now you realized that he just knew best)--could run free. Everything he was saying made so much sense. You did want this. Wanted him.

"I'm sorry, Sir!" you blurted out. "I'm sorry I've been so ungrateful. I just...I just...I didn't think...you actually wanted...you're so beautiful and I...I'm so plain, and--"

You were starting to cry again.

Shouta had started nodding his head 'no' when you had called yourself "plain," and his own eyes were shining as you were finishing your broken little apology and crumbling into even more tears.

"Shhh, shhh..." was all he could manage as he wrapped you in his strong arms and held you so deliciously tight.

After rubbing your back to calm you down a bit, Shouta stood up, beamed at you, and gave a playful tug on your leash. "Come with me," he said, as he moved toward his bedroom door.

Just before you crossed the threshold, you pulled on the scarf-leash to stop him.

"Angel? Is everything OK?"

"I have to take off my panties," you said. "It's a rule, right? No clothes in your bedroom?"

He didn't need to say it: his face showed he was proud of you for remembering. And that made you proud of yourself. It felt good. When you had removed your underwear, you nodded and Shouta led you to the bed.

Shouta straddled you as you settled into the comfy mattress, keeping your scarf-leash twirled around one hand, and starting to slide his sweatpants down with the other.

He settled back for a moment and tweaked your leash a bit. You sat up and put your arms around his neck so you were close to him.

"Angel," he whispered, "I am going to make love to you so many times that you won't be able to move when we're done. Then I'm going to bathe you and soothe you and feed you and keep you safe while you sleep and prove to you that you are the prettiest girl who has ever lived."

If you hadn't cried your eyes dry earlier, tears of happiness would have been flowing. Instead, you smiled and kissed him. What a relief it was to be so captive cared for and so owned loved. You had never been happier.

[eraserisms]

📗 "Good ... Good afternoon, Mr. Aizawa." Carefully peeking into the room, a box hidden behind his back, Midoriya checked if any other students were to bare witness to his slight blunder of a gift. With it being so close to Christmas, he didn't want to be the only one who gave nothing. A deep breath.

Here we go.

"I got you a small gift." While Izuku approached his sensei, his head lowered in defeat despite not yet giving the small box. He slid the present, wrapped decently but not perfectly, he asked Kacchan but he lied about not being good a it, by Mr. Aizawa. "You can open it now." Izuku preferred it so he could properly explain himself.

Inside, beneath a few layers of white tissue paper, Mr. Aizawa would find a thick and soft but pink scarf along with a patch stitched on one end and a sleeping cow on the other.

"So-so, um, I... I know you already have your capture scarf," eyes immediately averted to one side, fingers fidgeting together, "And I'm sure that keeps you warm too but I figure you may not want to wear that every time you need a scarf with it being mostly metal and over 10 meters long so I thought you would like a casual one? I'm sorry about the color!" He bowed fully.

"With the store about to close and the line really long, I grabbed the softest one I found. I was going to dye it black," finger pointed to the sewed on patch, "And I tested a spot at first but no matter how much I added, it wouldn't turn completely black so I covered it up. I-I understand if you would rather give it to Eri. I wouldn't be hurt."

But the small pricks to eyes said otherwise.

Shota had been sitting at his desk, fingers clacking away at his laptop keyboard. With it being towards the end of the term, Mr. Aizawa had been busy as ever. The teacher hadn't looked up upon hearing Izuku's greeting at the door, but he did give his student a small nod to acknowledge that he had in fact heard him.

Upon Izuku mentioning a gift, Shota had stopped mid typing, glancing over at the greenette, his right hand lifted off of the board while his left remained in position. Inky eyes moved down to where Midoriya had placed it and Shota's mouth flattened into a straight line. The gesture had been more than kind although, Shota hadn't expected anything. "Midoriya you didn't have to--" he had murmured, but despite his words he had began to unwrap said gift.

As Izuku rambled, Shota delicately took out the scarf, giving a piece of it a light squeeze, feeling the softness of the fabric between his fingers. The cow on the end of it almost warranted a smile from him. Almost. "I don't have a lot of casual scarfs," he admitted, his eyes moving back over to the adolescent.

Oh no, he was going to cry again. Although, the tears that had glossed over green eyes wasn't what encouraged Shota to say the following, he meant it. "You could have just left it pink and I still would have appreciated it. And the cow is cute." To reassure him, Shota threw the scarf over the back of his neck, the ends draping over his shoulders. "Thank you, Midoriya," he said as he reached out a calloused hand to give the teenager's head an affectionate pat. "It's perfect."

[books-and-catears]

Hello!!! When your request is open again, can I request the brothers react to mc who lost all of their siblings. Like, mc had worse fate than the brothers. I love your masterlist btw, they're awesome! Your writing is well captured and impactful. I hope your doing great there 😸

Oh dear, this is gonna hurt. It's so unfortunate and yet somehow this would make perfect sense for MC to fit right in this family. Thank you for your kindness and the beautiful ask. I combined it with a Christmas theme cause tis almost the season.

You woke up sweating even on the coldest night in Devildom. The nightmares never left you behind.

The fire, the smell of burning pine leaves and tinsel, the screaming, the last time you held hands with any of them before the whole house exploded. You should have never used the fire place while dad was out for presents. You should have waited till mom came home with the cake.

Christmas wasn't supposed to bring bad memories. But it did. It always did. The sole survivor of seven siblings - everyone called it a miracle. And for you, it was a curse.

The brothers were trying to set up the perfect Christmas party for you when Barbatos was the one who told the brothers about it. They listened with heavy hearts and teary eyes. Like if Lilith survived and lost all her brothers to the war.

Lucifer

Lucifer noticed how you always stayed far away from the common room. He looked at the fireplace and it all made sense now.

He put out the fire and covered up the place. Solomon had told him about electric heaters as an alternative. He made sure he arranged it all before you woke up on the morning of Christmas Eve.

"Good morning, MC. Meet me after breakfast, if you don't mind."

You entered his room suprised. A familiar song played in his room. You'd danced to this with your eldest brother every Christmas.

"Would you like to join me, MC? I'm feeling terribly stiff after sitting too long." He held out his hand. You took it almost involuntarily as he spun you around his room.

"Lucifer, you don't have just for my sake-" You started.

"I used to dance like this with Lilith. You don't mind indulging for me a bit, do you?" He smiled warmly as he took you for another spin. You nodded and closed your eyes, reliving your own memories.

Mammon

Mammon was determined to take your mind off the day somehow. Keep you busy. Keep you distracted. Do something new. Do anything to replace your bad memories.

Calling out to you urgently from his room. "Psst psst, MC here!" He said through his half opened door.

You nodded okay and got pulled in by him. He looked panicked. "I can't leave my damn room. It seems everyone is out to get me to pay my debts today! All at once!"

The most believable lie that you break out into a smile. He really never learnt did he? Just like your second oldest brother, he was always up and running from trouble and running to you for help.

"Then your room isn't the best option is it?" You said, shaking your head.

"Oh shit, ya got that right!" Mammon grabbed two coats and draped one over you. "Hurry let's drive far away! I know a good hiding spot!"

You looked outside the frosted windows, Devildom was just a blurs of colors passing by. It was beautiful. And for a few fleeting moments, you forgot anything bad ever happened to you.

Leviathan

Levi was going to make you feel better no matter what. Even if he had to push himself far out of his comfort zone. He was going to take you OUTSIDE.

"MC! You're here!" He exclaimed as if he didn't bombard you with texts and stickers asking you to come. His arm shuddered as you took it.

"You didn't wear a scarf, MC? Here have mine." He almost took off his, when you held his hand, draped only half around you.

"This will be enough, Levi." You smiled at him. He nervously nodded and walked ahead with you.

He was like your third oldest brother who only went out of his room once a year for you to see the lights and take a picture with any Santa on the street.

"Look MC, someone's cosplaying Azumaki! That's your favorite character, right? Go stand next to her! I'll click a picture!" Levi exclaimed, as he pushed you forward.

You smiled fondly before pulling him in. "How about a picture of both of us instead?" You wished you could have said to the brother you lost. But looking at Levi's flushed happy face, you could guess how he'd react.

Satan

Satan was prepping for this day for a while. His bed was stacked with Devildom holiday classic films and books and he was more than excited to share them with you.

"If you're not preoccupied, would you like to join me, MC?" He called out gently through your door. You opened the door and followed him to his room.

You could almost mistake him for your fourth oldest brother. Gentle, considerate and always telling you Christmas stories as a ritual.

His room was a tight fit. New stacks of books and CDs, a projector he'd borrowed and set up and a blanket fort he'd made. But it was that much cozier.

"So this story is my favourite. A legend of two cats who were lost across town but finally found each other under that particular tree and this place actually exists, remind me to take you there someday."

Satan loved explaining films he'd watched and you hadn't. You were so familiar with this, you felt your heart grow warmer.

"I hope I'm not imposing cause I seem to be having too much fun-" He said sheepishly.

"I'd be really upset if you'd stopped in the middle of the best story so far! Now reveal who the star thief is!" You insisted.

Asmodeus

Asmo had turned his room into the prettiest Karaoke room you could have ever seen. He got all the right casettes he was sure. All the songs you both loved.

"MC! I have a suprise for you! You're gonna love me for this! I know you already do, but still!" Asmo said, pulling you out of your room and rushing down the stairs.

You laughed and followed along, trying not to trip. You walked into his room to see what a marvelous job he'd done. The rest of the brothers sat on his bed, clapping and cheering as Asmo took the mic.

"Dearest fans, the moment you've been waiting for - my co-performer is here! So let's get started with some classic Devildom duets!" Asmo said, throwing his arms around you. Everyone rolled their eyes.

You smiled remembering how you and the fifth oldest sibling used to put out performances for your family. Singing, dancing and laughter - you seemed to be lost in it all over again. Like nothing ever changed.

Everyone took turns on the mic with you but Asmo hogged most of it. You don't know how long you kept going but it seemed like you could do this forever.

Beelzebub and Belphie

Beel and Belphie teamed up for this one. They were focused on the simplest pleasures they shared with humans. Hearty food and a good night's sleep.

"MC, Lucifer ordered us to make the Christmas cake, but I keep falling asleep and Beel keeps eating the cake batter. Can you keep an eye on us?" Belphie called you to the kitchen.

You remembered making a mess of the kitchen with the twin siblings you had. And how they still insisted on trying every year. It's why mom had always bought an extra cake as a back up.

"Hahhaa look MC! Belphie fell asleep on the chocolate moulds again! There's stars and smileys on your face!" Beel laughed and pointed as you tried to hold in your giggles.

"Oh please, MC. There's more frosting stuck on Beel's face than there is on the whole cake! Laugh at that instead!" Belphie pointed while you laughed again.

"Guys, at this rate we'll never finish the cake! We only did two layers so far! We need three more!" You reminded them.

Turns out Barabtos and Luke had also sent them a cake as a gift. Belphie groaned over wasted effort while Belphie almost pounced on the cake.

That night you three fell asleep in the kitchen, leaning on top of each other, exhausted with the clean up.

Belphie softly whispered a spell into your ear that turns your nightmares into your best memories. And Beel covered all three of you in a blanket, tucking you in warm and snuggly.

[meili-sheep]

Somewhere, probably underground . . .

Yelan: Before we officially start this meeting, uniform checks, if you please?

Diluc: (wearing his choker) Check.

Ayato: (flaunts his earrings) Check!

Shenhe: (wearing her scarf) Check?

Yelan: Excellent. With that, we can officially start the meeting. The first item on our agenda is . . . (rolls a dice) the ongoing case of Mondstadt Wine Guild v. Liyue Qixing. (to Diluc) What's up with that?

Diluc: (shrugs) Ask Elzer.

Yelan: (raises eyebrows expectantly) Elzer can do that under your charge?

Diluc: It's his freedom to do so. He's the one that really runs the Wine Guild, my family just happens to have 50% of Mondstadt's wine industry by old prestige and good drinks. I don't know what else you want me to say.

Ayato: But why the lawsuit?

Diluc: Apparently the Tianquan started to shove into the Sunsettia trade routes and orchards.

Yelan: She does that in any industry she wants to.

Diluc: . . . she also started to crack down on 'contraband'.

Yelan: Ahh, so the moonshiners.

Diluc: (nods) Yup. Everyone in the Wine Guild, my ancestor included, started off as a moonshiner or small-time brewer. The guild has an obligation to fight on their behalf, as to preserve one of the only respectable traditions Mondstadt has.

Ayato: Respectable?

Diluc: (deadpans) Independent enterprise is always respectable.

Yelan: . . . so the lawsuit's completely deserved, then.

Diluc: I think so. If you think this is bad, the Snezhnayan wine merchants that tried to do the same were publicly beaten and then chased out by the older and more jaded moonshiners.

Yelan: (whistles) So Yanfei might have to throw hands?

Diluc: I won't let it get to that point.

Shenhe: (confused, to herself) But the moon already shines? Is it a metaphor?

Yelan: Alright, the second item on the agenda is . . . (rolls another dice) collateral damage to the Grand Narukami Shrine.

Everyone turns to Ayato.

Ayato: (raises his palms) I didn't know anything about that.

Shenhe: (without missing a beat) Bullshit. You told me that you had a score to settle with Guuji Yae.

Ayato: (protests) I do, but that wasn't me! (huffs) Collateral damage is brutish, brash, and blunt. I'm more sophisticated and have much higher standards than that.

Yelan: (ahems) Which brings me to 2a. (sweetly) Since when did we have an 'Ijimekko Publishing House'?

Ayato: (blinks once, then droops) Dammit. It was supposed to be a surprise!

Yelan: You know that there's no surprising me. At least put us on the legal deeds after it's all said and done.

Diluc: You seriously made a publishing house just to butt heads with Yae Miko?

Ayato: (cryptically) Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. Who knows?

Shenhe: Oh dear, I don't know if Xingqiu can ghostwrite for me anymore.

Ayato: No worries! The legalities can be bent in specific ways.

Yelan: Uh huh. Just don't rack up so much that it's noticeable in taxes. Anyway, next item . . . (rolls three dice, frowns) Fatui quota?

Shenhe: Yes. I don't think we're bullying enough Fatui. Specifically the Harbingers.

Yelan: (genuinely curious) Why do you think so?

Shenhe: (dead serious) We've only cleared out five camps, two fortified structures, and one stronghold in the past six months. These are what my master calls 'rookie numbers'.

Ayato: She is right, you know. It has been quite a while since we've really gotten down to the business of menacing them.

Yelan: Usually, I'd agree, but they haven't really done anything that isn't normal, and to be honest, I think they're kind of scared of us.

Shenhe: Good. They should be.

Ayato: Aww, but it's not fun when they run away all the time! I want a nice fight once in a while, you know?

Shenhe: (nods) It's annoying to hunt them down.

Diluc: Bullying them is starting to get . . . (sighs) boring.

They stop for a moment.

Yelan: (thinking) Maybe we need to switch it up a bit. Do something just a bit more . . . out there.

Ayato: Infiltration?

Yelan: No, something else.

Shenhe: Homicide?

Yelan: Nope, remember the complaints?

Diluc: Can we just pretend we're not there so that they get confident enough to be blatant about it and we can stomp them down again?

Yelan: It's a pattern they can get through . . . (lights up) Say, you guys. How about a bit of a trip?

Ayato: To where?

Yelan: (slowly grins) Somewhere snowy . . .

Diluc: (hums in approval) This is a good idea. Any rules?

Yelan: Only one. If you're caught, make your way to the border as fast as you can. Also, the last person to get caught by the Fatui gets to decide the location of our annual bender.

Shenhe: If we're caught, do we get to kill them? Or at least beat them?

Yelan: The most headcounts, dead or alive, get bragging rights.

Ayato: (giggles like a child) Hide and seek in the middle of Snezhnaya as the most wanted in the land? Sign me up.

Diluc: When do we start?

Yelan: Tomorrow night. And with that, the meeting is adjourned, as I have preparations to make.

----

You can't tell me that they're not crazy enough to have this meeting.

Oh, they absolutely are.

And since the 3.1 trailer dropped. And the doctor was there.

Do you know how Diluc would react knowing Dottore was in Sumeru? Seriously he would call a meeting instantly and just alight like when he was away for four years. Just being a feral 18-year-old again, just banging on the table.

"Dottore is in Sumeru. He's in Sumeru! I know just the 8-year-old to burn him and the whole place to the ground!"

And the other would be concerned, but ya know they are supportive best friends, so they are absolutely willing to help Diluc live through his vengeance quest again.

[readyplayerhobi]

Flower | Drabble 5

; Hoseok x Reader

; Genre: Fluff, slight angst

; Synopsis: You finally decide to take a dip into the world of online dating and find the Flower dating app. One of the top matches for you proves to be a guy who looks to be your complete opposite; tattooed, pierced, a metalhead and oh…incredibly handsome. What happens when you throw caution to the wind and reach out to him?

; A/N: Another little drabble! It's hard to give this couple up 🥺 this is also a scene that was basically deleted from the main series, so it's been given a time jump! I didn't want people to think it was a cliche moment (it kinda is) but...I think this gives some good clarity on how the MC has grown! Unedited as on mobile.

-

"Do you think your mom will like this?" You query, brows farrowing together as you turn the elegantly decorated plant pot around in your hands. It would match her current living room decor and she loved gardening.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah...why?" Hoseok asks with a distracted tone, his attention grabbed with the collection of fake plants. The two of you had come to a home decoration store as you wanted to redecorate your bedroom. He wasn't hugely interested in how it was done and you were pretty sure that he was here just to spend time with you.

Which was sweet and you loved that he was content to just be with you, but he wasn't being very helpful right now.

"...her birthday? It's next week, we're taking her out for dinner, remember?" He pauses for a moment before his lips turn into a circle.

"Oh yeah, shit. I need to book the table for that." Before you can say anything else, he's pulling out his phone and tapping away on it.

Sighing, you place the pot into the cart and begin to look with an eye for your bedroom. You wanted to inject more plants into the house but Kasumi just tried to eat real ones, so you were stuck with fake plants.

"How about C'est Bonne? Wait no, she doesn't like French food. Hmmm, Italian feels boring though. Do you think she'd like Thai, I think that'd be alright." Hoseok is muttering to himself as he scrolls and you smile affectionately.

To say he'd completely forgotten, you weren't surprised that he was throwing himself into it now.

"Hoseok?" For a moment, neither of you respond. You, because it wasn't your name and so you weren't conditioned to respond to it, and Hoseok because it wasn't your voice.

His head jerked up in confusion, gaze going to you first before looking around. The voice calls again from your left and you turn to see who it is, wondering who was calling out your husband's name.

What you didn't expect is for Hoseok's face to open in surprise, shocked recognition taking over his expression. Like, real shock and you're even more confused and intrigued.

"Yoona?" He asks, his tone slightly unsure and you realise it's obviously someone he once knew. You've heard him mention the name at some point, but you can't remember why you know it.

"It is you! Oh my god, it's so good to see you. How long has it been?" The woman in question, Yoona, smiles brightly and you observe that she's pretty. Very pretty with the kind of hair you see in commercials.

She's wearing plain black jeans that conform to her legs alongside a subtly flowered shirt. Her black pea coat tops it off with a matching deep purple scarf and beanie to cope with the colder weather.

"Err...a while." Hoseok laughs, his hand coming up to rub at the back of his neck and you recognise the awkward movement. He's a little uncomfortable and your stomach turns as you wonder if this is one of his hook ups.

Surprisingly, you'd never met one of them given how prolific he'd been. Though you did wonder how many of them had also been drunk and probably didn't remember him at all.

Still, you feel the urge to comfort him and move closer, resting your hand on his back in assurance. He straightens a little at the touch before relaxing into you, his arm coming to wrap around your shoulder and hugging you into him a little more strongly than you'd anticipated.

"Oh, Meeps this is Yoona, the girl in college who got me to sort my shit out?" Hoseok's brows rise as his voice turns dry before he looks back at Yoona. "This is Y/N, my wife."

Her eyes flick over to you and surprisingly enough, she doesn't give you a once over. You almost expected her to view you as some kind of threat or rival, but the reassuring smile she gives makes you realise how silly that would be.

"Really? Oh my god, Hoseok! I'm so happy for you, and for you, Y/N! I always knew he had the makings of a good partner, even if he couldn't see it. I'm glad you finally took my advice." Yoona says before reaching out to shake your hand politely.

Surprisingly, it's not nearly as awkward as you'd think to meet one of your husband's ex-flings. Especially one who'd had such an influence on his life.

"Erm, thank you. Hoseok's talk about you sometimes, thank you for helping him back then." You say shyly, feeling your stomach twist uncertainly as you take your hand back and play with your fingers.

Just like he always has, Hoseok instinctively knows when you're not comfortable and he reaches for one of your hands. 

"I've told her lots of things over the years," He grins before kissing your forehead. "My therapy was very good, I promise."

That's directed to Yoona who laughs sweetly and nods in appreciation.

"Good, good, I'm glad. Anyway, I've got to be going but...it was nice to see you! And I'm really happy that you've found someone. I'd love to get to know you better but I'm sure you're amazing. Gotta be to have captured this guy's attention." She smiles and gestures towards you, causing you to feel hot with embarrassment.

"Erm, thank you." You mutter, unsure of how to react. But you're surprisingly okay with her and don't feel any form of threat, even with her important history with Hoseok. It was clear there were no feelings between either of them and you genuinely felt that she was a good person.

Before either of you could say anything else, she said her goodbyes and headed towards the cashiers at the front of the store. There was a brief moment of silence as you both tried to compute what had happened and Hoseok recovered quicker than you did.

"Are you okay?" He asked quietly, his words laced with concern that matched the worry in his eyes. You knew why he was feeling like that - Yoona was beautiful, once upon a time he'd slept with her and she'd helped him realise how to move forward. Or at least take the steps there.

If this had happened in the first year of your relationship then you probably would feel disconcerted, unsure what to think about this blast from his past. But you weren't that girl anymore, and whilst you still had your anxieties, you had full and complete faith in Hoseok.

Plus, he'd been as blindsided by her as you were. 

"Yeah, I'm fine. It was nice to finally meet the famous Yoona, she seemed nice." You comment, slipping your arm through his and leaning against him as you both walked towards the bedroom section. Bring so close to him meant that you could practically feel him relax at your words.

"Good, good. I didn't...well I didn't know what to think, really. I was worried you'd be upset or something." Hoseok admits, trailing his hand down your coat sleeve until he can grasp your fingers between his own.

"No, I know all about your history and it was only a matter of time before we met someone. And like I said, she was sweet." There's still some uneasiness in his demeanour though and you squeeze his hand before gently poking the back of it with a finger.

The movement makes him smile and you feel relief at him looking a little happier.

"Seriously, I'm okay. Are you okay?" It was probably a big thing to accidentally meet up with such an important fling, but but could understand why he wasn't comfortable with it all.

That was a part of his past that he wasn't entirely happy with colliding with his very happy present. So you just held on to him as he worked through his feelings.

"Yeah...yeah I am. It was just weird to see her, you know? Never expected that." He let's his free hand trail over a soft, velvet cushion idly and you hum in contemplation.

"I get it. But don't fret over it, okay? I'm fine with it all and...well, it was nice to meet the woman who helped to bring the Hoseok I know to life. Or at least, started the process. Without her, we wouldn't be here."

Hoseok is silent as he considers that, his lips twisting before he licks at his lip ring and nods.

"Yeah, you're right. She's the one part of my past that I'm okay with you seeing in person. I should've thanked her…" Muttering, he sighs before shrugging with a lopsided smile.

"Oh well, let's carry on shopping. Your decorations await! And I need to finish booking that table...I'm actually thinking of maybe trying that Lebanese place…"

[anime-corner]

Unmiss You I Iwaizumi H.

A/N: So, I basically don’t know how it turned out like this... Not proud of this one though, kind of am? It’s honestly confusing. But hey, hope you like it!

Two A.M. At least that was the time that was shown on his phone. He couldn't remember how long since then. Or how it happened. He just knew that he fucked up.

The device rang in his hand, answering quickly, not bothering to check the caller I.D., hoping that it was you, "yeah?"

"Aww, Iwa-chan! That was quick! Did you miss me that much?" He scoffed, throwing the phone on his bed, the call on speaker as he laid back down, his arm draped over his eyes.

"What do you want, Oikawa?" He asked without the usual insult to the setter's name.

"Are you… still thinking about her?" The caller said, careful in his words, "Besides, it's what? Almost three? You're usually not up this early."

"Why do you care?" He huffed as he thought about it. He never did stay up late or woke up early unless it was to give Oikawa the support he needed. But this time it was different, he knew that, and that was because he was waiting for you.

"Geez, of course, I care! You're my best friend! And it's obvious that you're miserable without her." Oikawa could hear shuffling on the other end.

"What do I do then? She won't answer my calls o-or reply back to my messages." Iwaizumi held out a pillow, throwing it across the room in frustration, "Hell, I can't even get a glimpse of her without those crows stopping me!!"

"Maybe… She wants to move on?" It was silent for a few moments as he debated in his mind. Was she really?

"... I hope not. Because wouldn't it be unfair if… she gets to forget everything when all I want is to get her back?" He gripped onto his dark hair, tears threatening to spill, his firm look shattering to pieces, "She's all that I think about after that game. She's in my dreams, within my vision… I could even hear her at times but…"

"But what?" A heavy sigh left Iwaizumi's lips as he succumbed to his thoughts.

"You're right… Maybe, she doesn't want me back. I can't just rewind time to make it right. I can't go back to before I fell for her, to stop myself from meeting her and undo everything because I know that I'll just end up liking her. Loving her." It wasn't like him to act like this.

He was stubborn. He wouldn't stop at anything like a breakup. Instead, he'd do anything to get you back. But, with how he was right now, he doubts that he'd be able to. That's just what was running inside his head. Full of doubt and regret.

"It would have been easier that way…" Oikawa comments, giving out a sigh as well.

"Yeah, no shit. But like you said, maybe she wants to move on. And I just have to live with the fact that you can't easily unmiss a person you so badly miss." Iwaizumi let out a growl of annoyance, hearing noises from the other side of the screen,  "Oi Kusokawa, are you still listening!?!"

"Get up. Out of bed. I'll pick you up in thirty minutes." He had to blink a couple of times, trying to register the words of his friend.

"What do you mean you'll pick me up!? Oi, don't come over or I'll kick your ass!"

"Just do it, will you Hajime?" Iwaizumi mumbles incoherent words to himself, debating whether or not he should. In the end, he gives in.

"Whatever."

Forcing himself out of his bed, he dressed with what he thought was okay looking. A long sleeve grey shirt and ripped jeans, not bothering to look good for something Oikawa had planned for him. It was useless, he thought. A distraction was useless. A knock came as he opened it, the setter eyed his friend from top to bottom.

"You look like shit." Oikawa said as he went in, hands in his pockets.

"Yeah, thanks sherlock." He rolled his eyes, closing the door.

"What's with the outfit? Come on, I'll get you something else." The setter darted towards his room, opening the closet for something the dark-haired male to wear.

"Why are you here, Oikawa? I'm assuming you aren't here just to take my mind off of her." Iwaizumi questioned, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Actually, I asked (y/n) if she could just hear you out. She'll be meeting us at the park." Oikawa admitted, already preparing for the worse.

"YOU DID WHAT!? YOU IDIOT! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!?" Hands wrapped around the collar of Oikawa's shirt, face dangerously close and seething with rage.

"Because you're both hurting! See for yourself!" He got out his phone, scrolling through the messages he and two of Karasuno's members had been exchanging, "Both Tobio-chan and that Small Fry has been sending me pictures of her during their practice and she's trying her best to cope, struggling just the same as you."

"Shut up Assikawa!! (y/n)... She doesn't want me back. If she did, we would have fixed our relationship by now." "I lost her because I messed up. And--" Oikawa threw a pair of jeans with an oversized dark blue denim jacket and a grey hoodie.

"Here. Wear this." It was also the same one he wore when they watched the game between Karasuno and Shiratorizawa, "That's what you wore on your first date, right?"

"I… yeah."

"Good. I'm sure she'd like it if you wore that instead. I'll give you ten minutes to freshen up." He left Iwaizumi to get ready, closing the door behind him, "Or at least, as much as you possibly can. Geez, I can't believe you're an emotional wreck!"

Was it okay? Was it okay to see you? Did you hate him? Or did you still care? Was there still a chance for the two of you to get back together? More questions than answers and honestly, he only wanted to know if you'd take him back again.

"Hey, are you really sure she'll be there?" He got out of his room, wearing the clothes Oikawa handed him.

"I'm sure but…" Looking at him up and down again, a smile on his lips. His usual cheerful and outwardly carefree expression was on his face, "Look at my Iwa-chan, all grown up and ready to get his girl back!"

"Shut up! This was your idea!"

"Huh? Does that mean you don't really plan on fixing all of this? Are you giving up?" Iwaizumi choked on nothing, that wasn't his intention. He wasn't giving up. He just didn't know how to.

"That's not…" He was struggling to get his words out.

"Just kidding, Iwa-chan~!" Oikawa received a hit behind the head, one of the usual violent punishments he would get from his best friend, "Gah! What'd you hit me for?!"

"Shut up!"

"Is your vocabulary only limited to that?"

"Shut up!"

The walk towards the meeting place was quiet. He was uneasy. What were you even expecting from him? A sorry? To beg for forgiveness? A hug perhaps? Because he'd be ready to give you anything and everything. Shit, he should have brought that scarf you made for him.

"Huh? She isn't here yet?" Oikawa looked around but you were nowhere to be found.

"I knew it. She hates me." The dark haired male crashed down on a nearby bench.

"Now, don't go all psychic on me Iwaizumi. I was only late." Standing up quickly as if he didn't drown in his sorrows sitting on that wooden seat.

"(y/n)!" The setter greeted, tackling you into a hug.

"Sorry Tooru, did I make you wait?" You asked, pulling away from his hold.

"Nope! We just got here. I had to make sure Iwa got all dressed up instead of coming here only in sweatpants. Or those nasty jeans I saw him wear when I got there." He shuddered when he felt Iwaizumi's glare hitting his back as he raised both of his hands, making his way to the sides, "Well, I'll be way over there before Iwa-chan hits me again!"

"So…" The both of you start, the male clearing his throat when you didn't open your mouth to speak.

"Uh, you go first." He gestured towards you as you shook your head.

"Tooru asked me to listen. Now, talk. I still have to help Kiyoko and Hitoka in handling the boys." Iwaizumi nodded, realizing what little time he had to explain.

"Right." He began, rubbing the back of his head, "Oikawa told me everything… that happened that day.

• • •

You have been meeting up with Oikawa for the past few days now. You planned on surprising him on your third anniversary and with his best friend's help, you knew he'd like it, especially if he and his team win against Shiratorizawa. Well, you want your team to win too, but can't choose which side you'd support so, you decided that whoever wins would avenge the other.

Aoba Johsai lost.

His team lost and you stood there at the balcony crying your tears out, both in frustration and happiness. The latter because of your team and the former for the loss. You excused yourself, looking for any of the third years in the team. And you happen to stumble upon Oikawa.

"Tooru!" You shouted, running towards the setter.

"(y/n)? Shouldn't you be with your team?" He asked, looking around for the crows. Or at least, his little rival other than Ushijima Wakatoshi.

"They'll understand why I left. But most importantly, how are the two of you? How's Hajime?" It was your turn to look for your boyfriend.

"I'm… not sure. Iwa-chan's probably with Mattsun and Makki. The others should be together." You nodded, grasping both of his hands in yours.

"I'm sorry for what happened, you were all really great! I promise we'll beat up Ushiwaka's ass for you two!" You declared, earning a chuckle from him.

"It's fine, (y/n)-chan." Oikawa ruffled your hair once you released his hands before remembering something, "Hey, why don't you give your present to him, I'm sure he'd like it especially when you've been at it for weeks. Isn't it your anniversary today? It'll help him a lot." You hugged the man in front of you, appreciating the help and support he has given you.

"I hope so. Ah well, thanks again for the help Tooru, I really appreciate it. I'm happy that Hajime has a friend like--" You were then cut off by a shout, your name echoing throughout the hall.

"(y/n)!!"

"Hajime! Great timing! I've got something--” You rushed towards him and was about to give him a hug when the look on his face made you stop.

“No. You don’t have to. I can see it perfectly clear.” Iwaizumi said as your brows furrowed.

“What do you mean?” You asked, glancing at the other two third-years behind him who only shrugged.

“What do I mean?! I should have known that you liked Oikawa from the start! We lost the game and the first person you went to find was him!? Unbelievable (y/n), unbelievable!” He bellowed, glaring at the two of you. His eyes were clouded with grief from losing and seeing you with his best friend triggered something he didn't want inside of him.

“W-what? That’s not true. Look, I just managed to bump into him and--” He cut you off again, his hands clenched tightly.

"Yeah okay, blame it on that!"

“Hey Iwaizumi, I think you should calm down a bit.” Hanamaki joined in, placing a hand on the shoulder of their vice-captain.

“Yeah, they were just talking. (y/n) was probably comforting him and asking for you.” Matsukawa added, getting ready to help his best friend if Iwaizumi ever decides to punch away his anger.

“Bullshit! I know what I saw! How do you explain those past few days huh?! I wanted to ask you out before the Interhigh and it so happened that I saw the two of you together. I ignored it because I trusted you!” He held back, not to get him and his team kicked out and bring shame to the school in his final year. Though it was painful, he knew he needed to get rid of it verbally, "If you wanted him then you should have said so from the start! I would have understood. So, I'm letting you go. That's what you want right? To be free from me?!"

"H-hey now, you don't mean that right? Why don't we take a seat a-and we'll talk this out, yeah?" You offered, walking towards him cautiously.

"Talk? You still want to talk?!! I'm done (y/n), okay!? Just leave me alone! I never want to see you ever again!" He lashes out, his emotions controlling every bit of his sanity.

“Idiot! You’re a total idiot!!” You screamed at him, closing your eyes in an attempt to stop the tears from falling. You don't want to let him see how weak he's making you, not in a situation like this.

“How did I become--!!”

“I asked Tooru to help me think up an idea for the gift I wanted to give you for our anniversary. He’s your best friend so I thought it was okay and that he’d be able to keep a secret. But surprise, surprise, you don’t like that kind of thing. You don’t need to be jealous of someone I don’t have feelings for! But hey, I guess you don’t trust me like you say you do!” Shuffling through your bag, you pushed an Aegean hued scarf with Olive colored horizontal lines near the fringe, “Here, take it. Burn it for all I care. We’re done.”

'Did she..? No wait, don't move. I'm sorry..' He thought, he couldn't voice the words out and even if he did, the damage was already done, 'Why can't I…? (y/n) please, let's talk…'

"Goodbye, Haji-- no, Iwaizumi-san…" Saying his last name added salt, tons of it, to the biggest wound ever inflicted on your heart. And on his too.

'I said don't go..! I can't reach you if you do. I can't feel myself, please don't go.' Again, the words wouldn't dare leave his mouth as he was also afraid that he'd say something wrong. He didn't dare blink, wanting to still see your figure within his vision, 'Let me see those hands again, I'll kiss it all better. Just don't leave me…'

"Oi, Oikawa!!" Suddenly he was on the floor with a bruised cheek and an angry setter in front of him, being held back by the other two they were with. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"I get it that you're like that towards me but (y/n) didn't do anything wrong! She asked me for what you wanted and this is the thanks she gets!?" His grip on his collar was tight as he was still able to get close to him despite being held down by two of their friends, "You saw those bandages on her hands right? Well, she made that scarf all by herself just for you! She did that despite knowing nothing about knitting!"

"I…" He started but, as if you were still there, the words he so wanted to stay retreated back down his throat.

"What!? You what, Iwaizumi!!?" Oikawa snapped, almost on the brink of insanity like how Iwaizumi was before you left, "Got anymore bad things to say about her!?!"

"Zip it, will you?! I know that she didn't do anything wrong! It's just my fucked up and tired self making all the excuses!" He looked down, burying his face in his hands.

"Y-you could still run after her. I'm sure she'd--" One of them said, patting his back.

"She won't. Six years and never did she go against her word once she's made up her mind. It'll take a shit load of convincing but, I doubt she'd want me back." He gave out a huff, walking away until his best friend stopped him.

"Then you've just got to be stubborn like usual and try your best." Oikawa spoke, pumping the depressed Iwaizumi up.

"Huh? Ah, y-yeah…"

• • •

"How long has it been since you last slept?" You asked him, caressing his cheeks with your thumb as he leaned into your touch.

"What?" He blinked a couple of times before sighing, "I slept, maybe for just a few hours before waking up again because every time I close my eyes, that face you gave me that day keeps coming back to me and…"

"And?" He didn't want to tell you but, this would be the chance that he couldn't take hold of on that day.

"And there's this stupid scene that keeps playing in my dreams, during that fight we had, you left and when I saw you again, you were so happy with someone else and that broke me." He wanted to cry but all he could do was ball his fists with his brows furrowed in anger. Anger towards himself and his stupid decisions, "My last words to you that day was to leave me alone. That I never wanted to see you again. But, I was wrong. I still want you here by my side. I still want to see you. I still want to hear your voice every morning after I wake up and every night before I sleep just like before."

"Iwaizumi…" You started but your words just went in one ear and out the other as he continued.

"What I'm saying is, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I fucked up. That my jealousy got in between the two of us. It was dumb of me and Oikawa's supposed to be the childish one." He chuckled bitterly, mostly to himself. Now that he spoke his mind, it was silly of him to feel that way. To feel, was it inferiority? "I guess I still wasn't used to being the one getting the attention instead of him who's always surrounded by fangirls everywhere. Or believe in the idea of someone who would actually love me and not use me just to get to him."

"Iwaizumi, never in my life was I attracted to him. You know that right? I told you this once before." He held both of your hands, placing the other on his cheek. It was as if he was touch deprived and wanted to make up for the times he was away from you.

"I know. It's just that… letting you go that day was the hardest thing I've ever done. I couldn't even stop you, I just stayed there. I tried, believe me, I tried but I couldn't. I wanted to make you stay. But losing my last game in high school and all my emotions were over the place that it took a toll on me." Iwaizumi admitted. Sighing for who knows how many times now.

"It's okay. I understand." He stared at you, confusion written all over his face.

"No, you don't! I'm not blaming this on my loss. I'm blaming this on myself, for doubting you. You've been loving me so right despite studying in different schools and all I did was hurt you! Days after we broke up, I've been feeding myself these useless reasons not to see you, telling myself that you're mad at me and that you don't need me anymore. I'm sorry. Please hate me…" He was crying, he didn't care anymore if anyone saw him so… vulnerable. You wiped it all away, a smile on your lips.

"Hajime." You started. It was the first time in weeks since he last heard you say his name, "I love you."

"W-what?" These words were the least he expected to come out of your mouth but, he wasn't complaining either.

"You heard me. I love you." You repeated before you giggled, "Sure yeah, you were totally an ass for not listening to me but it doesn't change the fact that I still love you. And I also heard from Tooru that you haven't been like yourself since that day, my fault entirely. I should have thought about what your reaction would be.

"You know… I tried to come up with tons of reasons to just give up, so we both wouldn't have to hurt like this. It would have been easier for both of us. But, I can't. I don't want things to be easy between us. Everything you do makes me fall for you over and over, deeper than the last time. And hearing you say that you still love me, makes me realize that I should have tried even harder." Iwaizumi hugged you tightly, afraid that this was all a dream and was about to wake up. Or was he going soft just for you? Because it was obviously not because of Oikawa.

"So, what do you want to happen to us? What's your call?" You asked looking up at him.

“What’s this? Are you two okay now?” The childish devil on Iwaizumi's shoulder popped in between the two of you, “You are! That’s great! I’ll tell them right now--!”

“You, hanger bastard! I’ll beat you up--” He was about to give Oikawa a piece of his mind when he heard your voice echo in his ear.

“Hanger bastard? What’s with the new insult?” You laughed out loud, the wing spiker smiled, missing the sound, "Where'd you get that?"

"I'll tell you tomorrow, I'm sure Mattsun and Makki want to get a say in this too." He suggested, receiving a nod from you.

"Hey Iwa-chan, you guys don't have to diss me every time you get jealous!!" Iwaizumi scoffed, ignoring the setter.

"Anyways, I'll fetch and take you home after practice. We've got a lot of catching up to do." He offered, intertwining both of your fingers together, “We can even start now, I’ll walk you to Karasuno.”

"I'd like that, Hajime."

I gave you my heart and I don't regret not taking it back. My attention is yours and no one else's from the beginning until the end. 

[acommonloon]

TL;DR

about last night's mperfect ending. After stops at three Louisville venues, each more fun than the last, we decided to get a nightcap in New Albany. We didn't manage to get a drink at any of four stops in that sleepy town but we did witness a police officer chasing a black man down the side of State Street. Still watching for a news report.

Alternately a night for Morgans

_____________________________________________________________

D's niece's husband, J, is a sweet guy. He has almost no family of his own living in the area and his own family unit consists of an unruly teen (not his) a precocious 6 year old and 3 year old twins. It's a lot.

With that in mind, I always wait for him to contact me and he always earns his kitchen passes so when he texted me he had a free night out I was glad to hang with him. I only asked if he had a curfew. No sir. He's nearing 40 and regularly admits he wishes he could more often frequent the places D and I do, meaning bars and restaurants. I remember those days when self came last.

Our 1st stop was World of Beer. With 50+ taps and hundreds of bottles and cans sitting in glass front coolers directly across from the bar, it's one of my go to spots. J immediately set about building a flight of five small pours while I took my time picking one or two low gravity beers to sip since I was driving. They had two bartenders on this Wednesday night, Morgan was ours and our service was prompt and friendly. By the time we finished a plate of tots, loaded with melted cheese and fresh jalapeno slices I had our plan.

I hadn't been to Commonwealth Tap since before 2020. This small wine bar is in a movie set sort of town called Norton Commons. Think "The Truman Show." The houses were all built over a small number of years and though they are comprised of many different styles, with no two near each other being the same, they are on the same size lots and there is no variety in terms of weathering or decoration. Everything to plan. Unreal. Creepy.

I glanced at the wine list on a chalkboard noticing a Turley Zin at $18 and a Cotes de Rhone at $8. When the bartender asked what I wanted, I said, "Talk me out of the Turley and into the Cotes. He hesitated for a second and I said, "I want something minerally, earthy, not fruity." Like a Beaujolais Morgon or an Italian grown on the side of a volcano. Before he could reply, a guy sitting at the bar said we don't have that on tap. The Cotes is your best option and the bartender handed me a generous taste saying, try that.

I took the glass all the while evaluating the man who'd spoken up. He'd said "we" don't have that. He was alone at the bar except for us. I doubted he was just a bold regular, maybe drunk, who felt everyone benefited from his opinion, he wasn't drunk. Then he stood up and walked over the the wine racks. His search was one of familiarity and he pulled a bottle and sat it down on the bar next to me. Was he an employee or maybe a distributor on good terms with the staff? Then he began talking about the wine, about his many trips to France, and I suddenly I knew. "You're an owner here aren't you?"

He laughed and admitted he was. He introduced himself, Neal Morgan and for the next 40 mins or so he told us about himself and the bar. He told us about his wife, a pediatrician who worked for 20 years in Indiana and he went so far as to describe his Scottish heritage along with his general thinking about wines. When he said he was going a friend's house for a pizza party, I thought he was about to leave. Then he said he was going to take a kick ass wine but first he wanted me to taste it. It was a California pinot noir priced at $30 more than the first bottle he'd put down on the bar. It was fantastic! He gave us tasting notes and I admitted I couldn't perceive half of what he reeled off. I said he spoke like a sommelier and he laughed again and said he claimed he had a better palate than Kenny, the sommelier who worked for him. He thanked us for coming in and seemed sincere. When he left, J looked at me and said, "That was amazing." I laughed and said it was a Wednesday at a bar.

Before we left, I asked Rainha to make me a Penicillin and we talked about Scotch. She related how she introduced her brother to Scotch and now that's all he drank. We talked about how things were during the shutdown and I told her about a new place I'd been the previous Saturday. Outside, J exclaimed this was just the best time! He said he'd never be able to talk staff like that, let alone the owner. I said talking to industry people was one of my favorite things. They are so interesting and I think they find it refreshing when someone at the bar wants to hear about them instead of wanting to talk about themselves. Then I said, I know where we'll go next. Maybe Stephen is working.

Our next stop was at Cuvee Wine Table and Stephen greeted me at the door with a huge "Shane!" and a hug. If J was impressed with Commonwealth, I thought he should fasten his seatbelt. Stephen is a trip. Except, Stephen exclaimed I'm on this side of the bar now! To my quizzical look, he said he was the manager now. Amidst introductions, our bartender, Andie came over and introduced herself. She was tall, regally thin, and wore a colorful scarf on her head. She offered an engaging personality I perceived as professional banter but sensed alos she seemed to enjoy her job.

When I described what kind of wine I preferred, she said, "OOh how about a white?" Ooookay??? I thought to myself, this is going to be fun. Stephen came back as Andy set my glass down in front of me and asked, "What are we having?" Andie said, it's the Santorini. Stephen, a newly minted sommelier, immediately launched into an enthusiastic description about this remarkable wine from a Greek Island. He said it was so constantly windy, they braided the vine boughs into bowls to protect the fruit on the inside. I smelled it and it reminded me of a Sav Blanc but when I tasted it, I knew I'd found a new favorite. It had a salty savory aspect with more minerality than any white I'd had previously.

Andie was from Lexington and our other bartender, Heather, was newly arrived from the Nashville area. Heather was training behind the bar but seemed tres calm. At one point she asked us to wish her luck and I realized she was going to take an order. When she came back, I was a little surprised but delighted when J asked her where she was from specifically. It turned out they were from the same area and knew the same high schools and such. Great fun. When Stephen came and asked if we were eating, I said, "What am I having?" The cassoulet he responded immediately and then he tried to add in sweet breads but I insisted I was out on that. J selected a flatbread and when my giant bowl of white beans with pork and a small chicken leg came, I felt I'd got the better order. He admitted sheepishly he just didn't like beans and that was that.

I suggested we finish with a French brandy served in proper snifters and asked for a bottle of the Santorini to go home. It was full dark but comfortably warm walking to the car and J asked if I were up for one more on him. I suggested we go see Emily at Brooklyn and the Butcher. She made me a perfect drink in January and I'd been craving another ever since.

All the way to New Albany, J kept bringing up how much he enjoyed the two wine bars and how he hoped he and his wife could indulge in similar experiences when their children were older. He worried his wife didn't really like anything but sweet wine and was picky about that. I laughed and said D was exactly the same but she was game to hang out and recently started to appreciate ciders and frutied beers, and even some semi-sweet wines.

There were still plenty of cars parked on the street when we arrived at Brooklyn and the Butcher. I noticed there was no one at the hostess stand when we walked in but I breezed past into the bar. There were two women sitting at the bar and I was a bit disappointed when I realized the bartender wasn't Emily. I was even more so when she came over and apologized but said they'd closed already. I laughed and made a joke about the owner being an old man for closing so early then I realized who it was sitting at the bar. I asked, "Is that Emily sitting at the bar?" she said it was and I got up and walked over. We talked for ten minutes about my last visit and I asked her about her trip to Savannah. She kept apologizing for the bar being closed but I assured her I would be back. It was fine, we'd walk down to The Earl.

I got a bad vibe the minute we walked in. The bar was mostly full and there was only one bartender. He was wearing short shorts and took forever to get us a drink menu then never looked our way for the next five minutes. I suggested we go to Recbar nearby. There it was the same. The lone bartender, woman this time, was overwhelmed and though the bar was half empty she never looked our way before I lost patience.

Okay then. We were driving to my final option (so I thought) when I stopped at a light. J said, "Look at that! A cop is chasing that guy!" Sure enough through the sparse traffic I could see a black guy sprinting along the side of the normally busy road. His arms were pistoning up and down, his hands flattened into chopping motions like a track sprinter. Coming behind but steadily losing ground was a hefty police officer. He looked ridiculous and I can only imagine he might be thinking everyone watching thought he looked ridiculous. I wondered if he might pull his gun.

The light turned green then and I moved forward. That's when we spotted a car with the front passenger side crushed in where it had impacted the guardrail, on the opposite side of the road. There was a cop car with its lights flashing parked behind it. I couldn't see any activity around the cars as we drove past. About a half mile up the road we pulled into the parking lot of our 4th attempt to get a last drink. It was closed.

We laughed and decided we'd had enough fun. As we headed back towards the scene of the incident, sirens and flashing lights were suddenly all around us. I guess there was a manhunt. I weaved through parked cruisers while J counted eight more with lights flashing on side streets . Fifteen minutes later I dropped him off. He thanked me profusely but it nothing but what I like to do anyway.

20 mins later I pulled into the garage and for a second my heart did the little flutter it always does when I see D's car parked in its spot. Then I sighed remembering she wasn't home and wouldn't be for another week.

Just a Wednesday.

[heartxclouds]

Diabolik Lovers: Wrong Blood-Prisonned Bridal;;Part 1

[C]♡. Hello! Welcome to this blog..

This is my first try on writting my DL AU, which is called Wrong Blood-Prisonned Bridal if you are new to it! I think that I am experienced enough in writting so this is why I took the courage to write it! I do hope that you enjoy and follow the instructions clearly because yes, I have a rules in here- It isn't forced but you still need to view the rules. 📄

Rules;; {+ Instructions}

If you click on a OST link, you can hear the music ^^

When something is written in italic, it means that it's a wisper.

I would appreciate it if you have enjoyed the story, that you comment or like! Like that it makes me want to continue! If you need to give me constructive critism please send me a PM (Private Message).

In here there will be some spooky things so if you dislike that a lot, please proceed with caution. PS: Niko is a gypsy, that isn't meant as a slur. Niko is a girl that travels, does fortune telling and dances. So don't worry. I'm not here to offend.

If you see a edit with subtitles, read the subtitles! And if you can't see a image clear? Click on it!

Some edits are old or come from friends! I will credit them don't worry, they will be credited in the section 'Information'. And for the old edits, I'll put old in the end of the post in section 'Iformation'.

Thank you for reading the rules! I hope you enjoy this now. 🎃🍂

...

It was afternoon, at this time.. Many kids were playing. Screams of joy because of hide and seek, sometimes pain because they fell and even tears or joy because they were laughing so much. But there was one little girl that wasn't in the mood for playing. She would rather read books at this time of the day, she had secretly picked out some books out of the small library of her mother. Vampires..What were they? Monsters- Bloodsuckers- Creatures of the night... The little gypsy girl was amazed by these stories but also terrified. Welcome to the world of the small Niko Riverdale.

Winter.. It was cold but fun, Niko turned six years old not long ago. She felt like she could be a adult any second. Niko loved to play as the little adult.. But to be honest, it was scary. People always had some type of disgusted look when they spotted a gypsy, and it was like this everywhere. But on the possitieve side.. Some people could be nice and accept them, even enjoy they're dances. A gypsy was never meant to have a bad view.. Being a gypsy was seen as some kind of culture too. The priest always said that God hates gypsy's.. That if you were one, that a spirit will haunt you.. Kill you.. Destroy you. All kids from Niko's age knew the dark reality already, God? Hah.. When did God help? That's what they were thinking.. But Niko thought otherwise, she believes that God is good.

-"Mom.. Why do people hate us?"

Niko was holding the hand of her mother while they were walking back home. Reading hour was finished and Niko had hidden those vampire themed books in her bag before her mother got to see it.

-"Ah.. Don't worry about that honey.. You know.. In this world there are people that can hate you without a good reason.. That is why we need to be strong."

Her mother had felt some un-easy feeling.. Excactly, why did people hate them? She didn't know the answer herself... She held the hand of her daughter slightly tighter, they would go to the cathedral before getting back home. She entered the building and went to the small praying spot that was there. She looked at her daughter, she would need to pick a different one.. Niko went to the Maria statue that wasn't too far away from her mother.

-"My God.. I'm here to ask you questions.. I hope that I don't bother you at this moment but..Do you hate me? Or my mom..? My gypsy people..? You know.. Today some kids didn't want to play with me.. They're parents didn't want that.. Even if it was my birtday.. Hmph.. And God, I'm 6 years old now.. That's a lot, right? Hehe.. Will you please answer me..? I now pray this in the name of our saviour. Amen.."

Niko did the quick cross sign before walking back to her mother, that seemed to have finished her praying. Niko held the hand of her mother.. Did God hear her? Will she get the message..? Who knows.. Maybe God, had a surprise.

After getting home, having dinner and having a bath.. Niko was relaxed and ready to read some more about the nocturnal horror creatures.. Curiousity really killed the cat.. And Niko was clearly the cat in this example. The moon was up.. The beautifull blue moon that shinned in Niko's room, Niko could observe those beautifull night skies forever.. She didn't realise that is was already 2 AM, Niko would be in trouble if her parents found out that she was still up.

{[OST|https://youtu.be/9xWi_RkqYiM]}

But strangely a sound ruined the silence.. Crying.. Rather disturbing. A fenale voice? Calling out for help but it all sounded like a echo. For a kid this could be creepy looking, but for Niko.. She was worried.. Not about that sudden visit in her house of a crying voice but she was actually concerned about the feelings of the person.. Did they need to escape? Was there a killer outside? No.. Not at all. Niko got out her room and walked down the hallway.. The wood plancs made a creak sound. The more Niko approached.. The more the crying became louder. She could see now.

A woman with pretty long white hair was sitting on her knees on the floor. Her clothing was white too- She also had some kind of long blue see-through scarf, she also had white gloves, pretty ones that people always wore when they were from a rich family.. Her skin was pale, as pale as porcelin.

-"Umm.. Miss..? What's wrong? What is happening..? Are you hurt..?"

Niko was a child with good manners but it was kinda weird.. How did that woman come in? The door was locked, the windows too.. Who was this woman? Or what is she? The crying didn't stop but when Niko placed her hand on the shoulder of the beauty, then she turned around and held Niko's shoulders tightly.

-"Where is h-he?! WHERE IS HE?! I NEED HIM-?! MY CHILD.. HAVE YOU SEEN MY CHILD?! AHHHH!!!? I WANT HIM BACK! I WANT HIM BACK?! HE NEEDS TO BE FIXED.. HE NEEDS TO BE HAPPY!! WHERE IS HE?! AHHH?!!?? TELL-?! TELL MEEEE AAHHHH!?!"

Niko felt paralyzed.. A random woman just came here and was finding her child.. Her child is broken? He needs to be fixed? That woman didn't look normal at all either.. She was way too pale for a human being.. It was dead skin colour.. She had long fangs too.. And also you could see through her..? A ghost-? A spirit?! Niko's eyes were tearing up- God, can God explain?! Why don't Niko's parents hear this?! Was she crazy?! Niko just got out the grip and ran to her room and locked it, she got on her bed and hid under the covers.

-"God please.. Make it stop.. Make it stop.. I'm scared.. Don't give me to Satan.. Not the devil, I beg you.. Do you hate me? Is this my curse now?"

This was a bad experience for a child, it could be traumatizing.. Niko was praying for this to stop, but then she heard the loud banging against her door- She was screamed.. The woman was still crying and screaming.

-"FIX HIM?! YOU CAN FIX HIM!! FIND HIM!! YOU MUST FIND HIM!?? DO IT PLEASE!!!"

Niko hugged her knees, she was way too scared to say anything or open the door. Niko cried in her sleep.. In the background she could still hear the crying.. The crying of a female vampire ghost..

...

[{OST}|https://youtu.be/NvMROvgMOz0]

[C]...

It was night time, a few nights have passed since that incident and that woman always kept her awake- Screaming and crying.. Niko was hidding under the covers- Hoping that it would stop soon. She held her bunny plush close, it was a white bunny with red buttons as eyes.. It clearly was a old design, but she loves it. The banging on the door soon stopped.. But it replaced with a wisper. Was Niko getting crazy? Hearing wispers in her head.. That made Niko just hug her plush tighter.

-"Go to the forest.. In the forest you'll find a mansion.. I need you to fix him.. Please"

Niko looked down- She letted out a sigh.. Even if her parents forbid her to go out at night- She would do it- Like that the nights without sleep will stop..Maybe. Niko puts on her small brown boots and then got out the house after grabbing her plushie and wearing a yellow jacket, it matched her eyes perfectly. Now, Niko got in the dark forest.. Why did she forget the flashlight?? She hugged her plush tighter.

-"It's you and me mister carrots.. We will finish this.."

You could hear in Niko's voice that she was scared- She planned to get back home and get the flashlight.. But it already was too late- Her house wasn't visible anymore. Was she lost-? Niko started to tear up, she felt stressed and she could sense that there was danger close by. Niko didn't trust the sound of breaking twigs and leafes that were being crushed.. Without further hesitation, she started to run- She didn't care that she could see nothing- Her mind told her to run. And she was lucky that she started running now, because the hungry wolves were out now, howling and groaning, they wanted the eady prey that was there now.. And the prey was Niko. A girl her size and her age was as easy as catching a mouse.

{ [Wolf howling|https://youtu.be/66HKBdZe_WA]}

-"HELP!! PLEASE SOMEBODY!! WOLVES!! HELP!!"

Niko was screaming while running- But nobody was there to save her- But God must have heard her wish.. The mansion- It was there- Right infront of her! Niko quickly openned the door and got in. She heard the wolves outside, they were howling and sniffing where she was hidding. There was a moment of silence soon.. Were they gone? Niko peeked through the window to see if those carnivores were still there and it seemed that they dessapeared.

-"Hehe!! No dinner for you guys!"

Niko giggled happily, she was happy to stay alive- But soon after her short victory dance, she felt something.. No.. Someone behind her- She gulped and then slowly turned her head to see a tall man.. His eyes were some type of dark pink and his hair was purple- He also was wearing glasses. Niko stepped back as her eyes were wide from how scared she was- Will he hurt her..?

-"Entering the house of someone like that is really dissrespectfull. You need to learn some manners."

The male was getting straight to the point- His expression was serious and he clearly wasn't happy with Niko's action from before. Niko quickly openned the door and ran out- This was unexpected. She never knew that someone lived there.. No wonder that it looked so clean.

The man with glasses sighed as he watched a albino with the corner ofhis eye.

-"Oh.. So you did decide to come for dinner. I am waiting for your apologize. The dinner is cold and everyone is back to their rooms."

The purple haired man walked away, slightly annoyed. He puts his gloves on in a more comfortable manner as he was walking. The albino narrowed his eyebrows as he gave off a 'tch' noise, he just got back from the garden not long ago. Who was that girl though? How did she find this hidden mansion? He wondered.. But he won't think about it too much. He went to the dinning room.

Meanwhile, Niko had ran away from the mansion.. Fear was described in her eyes. But then- Her house, she saw it.. And yet, she didn't run far away from the mansion. Magic? How? She turned around.. Only trees were seen. How in the world? The small brunnette ran quickly to her home and her parents waited for her.. Crying tears of relief and ordering her to never ever do that again but.. Will she keep that promise-?

✧.*ೃ༄9 Years later...

The sound of the flutes and tambourines filled the streets, the gypsy's were there.. And it seemed that Niko and her sisters were the ones to dance. The same thing happened once again, for some the disgusted look and for some others there was the look of enjoyement. The gypsies how flexible and gracious moves- They always had a beautifull performance in mind. After the dance performance, niko and her sisters earned some money.. They will use this for food and clothing... And for Niko's mother, Rei. She was doing fortune telling to get money for the small house that they have.

The golden eyes of the brunnette spotted a animal..A cat..A white one to be specefic. She stared at it for quite a while- The cat looked at Niko and purred before walking away. Niko sighed a bit as she furrowed her eyebrows. Then Niko realised that her siblings were already going back home- She better quickly catch up with them.. Niko openned the door of the house and watched her father, he was laying on his usual dark blue couch.. She sighed and went to him, seeing that he was sleeping for bow. Niko smiled softly and puts a blanket over her father.. You could sleep better if you were cozy and warm. Niko remembered that she needed to handle something quick- She went to the door and openned it.

-"Where are you going?"

Her big brother John saw that she was planning to leave..Even if it was almost dinner time. He placed the wood in the fire, it was spring and yet it felt like it was still winter.

-"I'm going to the church.. I'll be back home soon though, see ya..!"

Niko got out once more and step by step made her way to the holy building..To be honest, the church was scary.. All dark colours and paintings of suffering- Even some god statues were scary. But Niko always felt much calmer when she saw the Maria statue. She closed her eyes and held her hands together.

-"God.. It is already nine years and three months that this ghost is haunting me.. The cries, they scare. Please help me..Give me a sign to freedom. In the name of our saviour. Amen.."

Niko could not live forever with this kind of ghost that visits her each night. Each time begging to save her child more specefictly her son.. What was this all about? She letted out a sigh- A sad one.. A concerned one. Was this all in her head? Was Niko getting crazy? Her parents and siblings didn't realky believe her.. Her mother did but she didn't know what to do. She rubbed her forehead and just went back home after doing the little cross sign. Niko really believed that god exists.. That someone is watching you.. Sins, Actions, Desires..Wishes. It was scary and yet so releaving in her opinion. After having dinner and a family talk, it was time to prepare for bed. Niko took a shower to refresh herself, she brushed her teeth, got in a fresh nightgown and then finnaly got in bed.

{ [OST|https://youtu.be/aG-39UWA4u0]}

Niko knew what will be going on tonight, she just hoped that it will stop. Each time, she repeats that hope. 12 pm.. It's almost time, Niko's eyes stayed open- She probably won't be able to sleep this night again. This was a punishement.. Was it really though? Niko didn't know but it was horrible to go through.

-"Go..Go.. Go back to the mansion.. He needs you.. You need to make him happy. Please. That's my only wish.."

-"W-Why can't you just leave me alone?"

-"Go..Go.. Go back to the mansion.. He needs you.. You need to make him happy. Please. That's my only wish.."

This repeated over and over again. Niko tried to get a other answer but it still was the same the "Go..Go.. Go back to the mansion.. He needs you.. You need to make him happy. Please. That's my only wish.." was always repeating. Niko had enough, she will go back there, early in the morning to not get wolves or other wild animals after her.

And she really did this plan. In the morning, around 5 am, she got up and got in her red gypsy dress and she wrapped a yellow scarf around her waist, she also puts on her yellow bandana after that she had brushed her long brown hair. She took a quick toast from the kitchen and frowned. She will return back home like last time, she was sure that it would happen as planned.

-"Let's get done with this"

Niko mumbled after getting out and going to the forest. Niko could see now where she was going. It wasn't dark, it was sunny already. The brunnette tried to find the mansion, but it was nowhere to be seen. It really annoyed her, she wanted to not be haunted by that woman anymore, she didn't want to struggle anymore with it. This was going to be the end. Did she really need to wish for the mansion to appear out of nowhere??

Niko ran through the bushes but that caused her to trip, she shook her head and got up after wiping some of the dirt away. But then.. When she lifted her eyes back up to normal. It was there- The mansion that she searched for for hours long. Niko stepped towards the gates-

Niko gulped when the gates went open on it's own. This was..Magic? No way. She must be dreaming. Niko slapped her cheeks with her hands.

-"Gah.. Niko-chan.. Wake uppppp..! Owie-"

Niko stopped slapping her cheeks and took a big inhale before taking the courage to enter the territory of the mansion. A certain stress overwhelmed Niko, it was uncomfortable... As if she was going in some type of haunted mansion. The crows were watching Niko, some letting out their loud bird noises.. These type of birds were mostly around graveryards. Which made this give more of a creepy atmosphere. Niko knocked on the door and waited- She learned last time that shouldn't just enter a house/mansion out of nowhere.. But hey she had no other choice. Niko saw that the door openned.. But weirdly nobody was behind it. Anyone would be running away from this already..No? Niko would have loved to do that but she really wanted to get the spirit away from her. So- Niko got in and looked around..

-"Helloo?? Someone here..? Uh.."

{[OST|https://youtu.be/_iF7lkXKHlA]}

Niko wanted to check first of course. And yet, there was no reply.. Maybe they weren't home? The brunnette wanted to know what the woman meant. 'Make him happy' 'Fix him' 'He needs you', her only wish. The spirit meant a person? Of course- Niko facepalmed. The brunnette still felt that same uncomfortable feeling, that feeling of being watched. This place wasn't safe.. It wasn't safe at all!! Niko had shivers running down her spine. Blood.. Blood running down the walls, Niko's visions made her think that.. This mansion.. It had bad secrets.. Secrets that nobody should ever know about.

Run..

Niko's mind kept telling her to run. Run for your life. Run for you freedom before-

Niko had ran back to the front door, it won't open?! No no- This wasn't the plan. God, what did Niko end up into?! Tears ran down her cheeks as fear took her over once more, was she trapped? Was this a prank??

Niko felt a hand on her shoulder.. She hesitated to look behind, but after some seconds she did. A albino man, right there..Glaring down at her with his intimidating look. Niko could not take it anymore.. She fainted. The man catched her in time and groaned.

Run for your freedom before it's too late..

It's too late...

He snarled when he saw her exposed neck with her black chocker necklace. He seemed to hold back something- He seemed to control it for now. The man openned his lips to speak out his words;

End of episode 1... 🍂

Information section:

Time taken: Started on 6 oct 2020- Finished on 14 oct 2020.

Credits;; Story (@me); Edits (@Me) Niko at the gates (Old edit)

I hope that you enjoyed! And I also hope that you would like to follow my journey of Wrong Blood!

See you soon... 🎃

I had posted this long ago but I wanted to share it here too♡

[toonytoodles]

Random fun fact time! Ft. OCs! (Repost because I added more/ edited a lot of stuff)

Avery -

- Sneezes like a kitten, and most of the time she accidentally uses her fire breathe when she sneezes, so watch out

- Sleeps on a rock

- Is made uncomfortable by actual dragons, it's just... too weird for her...

- Has a strange and inexplicable extreme fear of eels

- Reacts to fear by singing/humming/speaking very loudly, and also by running and screaming (basically, how markilpler acts when playing horror games? yeah that)

- At least once a week her dad has to help her brush through her hair, he says they should get it cut but she absolutely refuses

- Owns a few pairs of gloves- most of which look nearly identical. Some are for different days, some pairs are for bedtime, and some are for special occasions, but she also has some different types and styles of gloves for different events

- Loves the holidays, dislikes the weather that comes with it

- Absolutely hates people touching/messing with her tail, even if it's by accident she gets kinda mad. That's hers- don't touch it. (Emma's the only exception to this simply because it can't be avoided- although Emma does try to touch it as little as possible)

- Slightly allergic to pollen

- She has a clicking-like purr

- If you scratch under her chin she'll purr and relax, but if scratch a certain spot on her neck she'll sleepily fall over

- Adopted as an egg and raised by her human father and fairy mother

- Has a Scottish accent 

- Works as a Glazier (glass blower) and makes potion bottles, also helps with making the potions, and occasionally costumer service and boring stuff like stocking/inventory

Emma -

- Plays with hoodie strings and/or hair when upset or nervous (it happens often, her hoodie strings are sorta worn out)

- She's a big fan of animals! Especially bears, puppies, and unicorns, she thinks they're adorable! When she was younger she used to like dragons quite a bit too

- She's a protective friend and big sister, and she's a little over protective over people she cares about

- Tends to read into things; if your tone or demeanor is slightly different she begins worrying that something's wrong or that she did something. She also tends to believe that no one actually wants to be her friend or wants to be nice to her, but that they're only being nice because they're afraid of her or pity her.

- LOVES HUGS!!! Absolutely loves them, hugging other giants, hugging people smaller than her, getting hugs, giving hugs, she loves hugs

- Once accidentally ate a fake candy cane decoration, off someone's front lawn, because she thought it was real gigantic candy, left out for giants (she was like four, so it made sense to her then, but she still gets made fun for it a bit by her family)

- Loves snow and winter

- Her favorite color is probably blue

- Is surprisingly good at sneaking up on people, for someone 30ft tall she's quiter than most borrowers

- Is the second oldest of five kids, her older brother Rory is 23, her younger brother Richard is 15, and her youngest sisters Aroura and Tiana are 6 and 8, and they're all pretty close

- Her dad is a size shifter, and so are Richard and Tiana, the rest of the family are giants

- She's ambidextrous

- Very cautious of her surroundings

- Hates surprises/being scared

- Bi-romantic and ace

Sofia -

- Can write without looking at what she's doing

- Only wears slip on shoes or shoes with Velcro/zippers, she never learned how to tie them, she couldn't figure out what to do with her head or look at what she was doing

- She's an artist! She likes to paint!

- Has a hard time saying "no," so when she says it, she means it

- Hates surprises and people sneaking up on her

- Has a pet python named Albert

- Probably the only person on the planet who has worse anxiety than Emma

- Don't call her "Soph" or "Sophie," and she gets mildly annoyed when her name is misspelled

- Typically uses right arm to carry head and left hand for everything else

- Has a weird sense of humor

- Has a million stuffed animals, has like 20 on her bed, but Rupert the blue bunny is her favorite

- She has an enchanted scarf that allows her to wear her head when needed, she doesn't usually use it because she's not used to it & it gives her anxiety (she's scared of the scarf falling off/being taken off unexpectedly) but she has it and uses it on occasion, mostly at home

- She doesn't let anyone else hold her head, it seriously freaks her out, her dad is the only exception, but Avery held her once for a group photo (her body took the picture)

-She loves singing and has a soft beautiful voice but is too shy to sing around anyone 🎶

- She was bullied when she was younger and doesn't like to talk about it, she already gets emotional easily and those memories hurt

- She loves Avery's jokes and has a bit of a weird sense of humor

- She's adopted, she lives with her human father (another fun fact, her dad is one of Avery's parents best friends!)

- Unlike Avery, she wasn't adopted as a baby, she was about 6-7ish when she was adopted

- Loves vegetables

- Gets embarrassed easily

- Doesn't go out of her comfort zone, she only does stuff when Avery basically forces her to

- She really likes Emma, but is also sorta scared of her sometimes, she's just scared of people and being looked at, so she can be a little overwhelming without meaning to be, it's nothing personal and she knows Emma wouldn't hurt a fly, she's just scared of people and sometimes Emma is a lot of person

- Doesn't want Emma to hold her (Emma respects it, although sometimes they work it out to where Emma can give her a gentle hug)

-Her favorite season is fall

-She loves rabbits and frogs, but won't admit she loves horses (there's a stereotype that all dullahans love horses, she won't give in)

-Hates confrontation

-Loves vanilla cake

-Hates strangers and people she's not comfortable around being anywhere near her

- Pansexual

- Sorta has a voice claim, but it's weird and sorta difficult to explain?

Andie -

- Has a French accent (picked it up from dad)

- One of my only OCs to have a voice claim

- Plays the flute

- Mean, selfish, and self centered, but somehow also a good person

- Sings sentences sometimes

- Scared of turtles

- Works as a bard/waitress at the family tavern

- Unfortunately she is heterosexual

Andy -

- Somehow didn't pick up their fathers accent

- One of my only OCs to have a voice claim

- Plates the lute

- Genuine and kind hearted, but also a bumbling moron

- Dreams of being a song writer, wants to be a professional musician

- Works as a bard/waiter at the family tavern

- Bi, but prefers women

Clementine -

- A book worm

- Likes to sing

- Practices magic, knows a few interesting spells

- Sometimes her and Avery fight over magic usage vs. potion usage (they know it's a dumb fight, but they don't care, at this point it's a joke)

- She's a white tailed deer

- She has great hearing, and is usually very aware of her surroundings

- She wants to be a magic professor as an adult

- Demisexual, pan, but prefers men

Pond-

- Elementals don't really have gender, she chooses to present as female and use female pronouns

- Can't "see," but rather senses vibrations, since she's made out of water she doesn't have eyes, but based on other senses she can get around just fine

- She can't smell either

- Doesn't care for romance

- Has 4 pet fish she keeps with her, named Karl, Frank, Phillip, and Fish

- She has a baby sister, Brook

- She's odd and can be off putting unless you know her pretty well, then her weirdness is sort of endearing

- She can tell her friends apart by the way they walk and their gestures, and of course their voices, but really has no idea what any of them look like, she knows their species and the normal traits of those species, but not much outside that

- She doesn't eat or drink

- Smart, but sorta reckless

- Sorta hard to hug :( but the others still try

Sapphire -

- Has minimal size shifting abilities, but prefers to be her true size, she loves sitting on her husband's shoulders or in his pockets (She's about 5ft in her bigger form)

- Used to be an adventurer, at one point she was a pirate

- Met her husband on one of her adventures

- Has a Scottish accent

- She has a sword her size (no it's not a toothpick or a toy or anything, she has an actual tiny sword) 🗡

- Makes potions for the shop and deals with customers

- Grew up outside of Tradeskeep, her and Kal retired from their adventuring career and settled down there

Kalvin -

- Used to be an adventurer/ mercenary

- Huge, ripped, has all kinds of scars, but his 4" tall wife is scarier than he his, he's basically a teddy bear

- Makes potions, does restocking, inventory, and doesn't as much anymore, but makes potion bottles

- Has scars/tattoos from various adventures

- Used to have dragon scale armor, he once saved a village from a dragon, but has sold it and no longer tells the story, he now claims it was a bear

- He's a great dad ❤

- Loves ale & meat, but not as much as his girls

- I cannot overstate how much he loves his family, he LOVES his wife and daughter, like a LOT, it pretty much defines who he is, he's a family man

- Met his wife while on a quest

- He used to be a nomad while adventuring and getting paid for jobs, he'd wander from town to town, until he settled at Tradeskeep and put up a shop

Ok so i know that's a lot, but it's there for anyone who's interested in all that ❤ I have other facts too, so if you wanna know any more just look around on my blog or send an ask, Q&A for OCs are open, and I'm open to art/writing requests/ideas! ❤

[horrorkingdom]

The Satellite Images

A friend of mine showed me how to use Google Maps. I'm sure you've seen it. It lets you use satellite images to look at locations all over the world. A few years ago, I was in a car accident. Since then, I really don't leave the house that often. It's difficult, and the idea of a seeing a car drive by me makes me feel lightheaded. I was fascinated by the fact that I could see all over the world, almost like being there. I could virtually walk down the streets, and it almost felt like I was really there.

I became instantly hooked. It gave me a real eye on the world. I could go to almost any major city, and I did. I'd seen streets in China, Japan, Germany, and England... so many places. I'd even gone to tourist attractions like the Great Barrier Reef and Dracula's castle.

My favorite was to go to random places in major cities and see how many people and animals I could find. The faces of the people were always blurred to protect their privacy, but it was still enjoyable to see them out there, enjoying their life, walking like it was no big deal.

"She must have good taste," I laughed.

I zoomed in closer and noticed the grey bag she carried on a grey and purple shoulder strap. She was walking in a relaxed manner, one hand trailing the wall beside her. I bet if I could have seen her face, I would see that she was smiling. I began to feel a little sad. I let my hands fall onto the arms of my wheelchair and looked at her for a minute more. I wished that I could be there, walking so carefree with her. That wouldn't happen though, until I died. I was stuck in this chair. I sighed and zoomed out of Tokyo. Enough of this for tonight. I turned off the computer and went to bed.

—

I got up early and decided to look around Paris. Paris was always fun. I liked the look of the city, with all of the old, beautiful buildings and so many people to watch. I randomly zoomed to an area and saw a street, lined with old brick buildings, a few small shops, and an old tan brick church. Ahead was an intersection, and dozens of people walked by. A balding businessman walked quickly past, looking back at an old woman, hair covered with a scarf, carrying a large purse. A curvy woman in black pants that were too tight stared into a store window, and two women led a group of small children around a corner.

I spun the view around a few more times, and then saw something peculiar. Sitting on the bench at the bus stop, were two people. One of them was a young woman with her feet stuck in front of her in a relaxed manner. She was wearing a pair of red sneakers, like my own. I was startled for a moment; as I noticed the black pants, white t-shirt, and black hooded jacket. Her dark brown hair was tied loosely behind her head. A grey bag sat on the bench beside her, the shoulder strap hooked over her shoulder.

"This is crazy," I thought. "It can't possibly be the same woman. This is a different country, different continent even. How could it be her?"

This was stupid. It wasn't as if these were live photographs. They were taken ahead of time and then stored. It's not like she was in two places at once. She could just be a traveler. Besides, without seeing her face, it was impossible to tell it was the same person. Brown hair was probably the most common hair color in the world. Those red sneakers were something I purchased online. I'm sure a million other people did too. I shook my head and went to fix some lunch.

When I got back online, I decided to look at Berlin. I picked a random street, as usual. It looked pretty empty. There were brick buildings lining the streets, looking more like factories than anything else. There were also empty lots, full of long grass and piled gravel. There wasn't much to see at all, really. There was a line of motorbikes and a car with two German flags sticking up from it. After more searching, I found one kid. He looked like he was dressed for school, a jacket thrown over his bag. He was intently looking at some kind of mobile device. I was disappointed. I started to leave, but then I caught something out of the corner of my eye. I turned the view, and there they were. Those damned red sneakers.

She was standing on a street corner, next to some kind of signpost. She had a hand on the post, looking down the street, as if waiting to cross the street. I stared, in shock. How could she be there too? Even if she was traveling, there's no way I would find her every time. Even finding her in Paris would have been one heck of a coincidence, but this? This was crazy. Was this some kind of joke? Had Google decided to play a prank on its users that used their product so much? It would have been a great joke...

I did a quick search, looking for a note about a woman that shows up like Waldo. There was nothing. I looked through articles on strange things you can see on Google Maps, but none of them mentioned the woman that travels the world with you. This was crazy. Had my self-imposed isolation driven me mad? Had I become so lonely that I created a hallucination for myself?

Leaving the Berlin image on my screen, I sent a text message to a friend, asking him to look at the locations. I asked him if he saw the same woman. Then I waited, hands sweating, heart thumping in my chest. I jumped when my phone beeped with a return text message, ten minutes later.

The text read, "I see the lady you're talking about in Berlin. I didn't see her in Paris or Tokyo. Is this some kind of game, or what? Are you okay?"

I didn't respond, instead returning to the locations in Tokyo and Paris. There she was. She was there, but it was different. She no longer sat on the bus-stop bench, in Paris. She was standing in front of it, looking for something in her bag. In Tokyo, she was blocks away, squatting down to pet that calico cat. I shivered. Who was she? What was happening?

I switched the map to Brussels. It was another city street. It was lined with old looking buildings, with shops on the ground level, and what I guessed was apartments above. I quickly scanned the streets. They were empty, other than a stocky woman in a bright blue sweater. I did a second sweep. She wasn't there. I sighed in relief. I couldn't believe I was getting so worked up about this.

It was nothing but a coinci-- I stopped, my eyes frozen on the screen. There was a building at the point of a fork in the road, white with a black-ironwork-framed balcony jutting from the second floor. I hadn't seen her, as I had been looking at the sidewalks. There she stood, standing on the balcony, her head tilted in the direction of the camera, almost like she was coyly looking toward me. My breath caught in my throat.

I switched to Sydney. She was leaning against the wall, inside the doorway of a bright blue Carricks Pharmacy building. London showed her getting ready to step onto a red double-decker bus, her head turned to look over her shoulder. She was everywhere I looked. She stood on a brick sidewalk on a bridge in Venice, she walked across a yellow barred crosswalk in Zurich; and in Hong Kong, and she stood between a Wing Lung Bank and a McDonald's adjusting the strap on her bag. In each picture, she came closer and closer to looking directly at me with her blurred out face.

My heart felt like a terrified bird, slamming around inside my chest. I couldn't catch my breath. I wasn't sure what to do. I couldn't call the police. Should I send screenshots to Google?

I clenched my fists tightly and closed my eyes. Who was she? Was she following me? Was I following her? I wish I could see the expression on her face, know what she saw when she looked back at me. I wanted to get out of the chair and run. Why is it that the only thing that made me feel free again, was the thing that made me feel even more trapped? I had to know.

I typed in the name of my town and zoomed into a random street. It was a couple of miles from my house; the gates to the city park were shown in the clarity of daylight, despite it being night here. There she was. There... There she was. She was only a few miles from my house, standing under the ironwork arch that stated the name of the park. She looked directly at the camera, directly at me. I felt like I might throw up. She was near me, and she was watching me. She was coming for me. What did she want?

I typed in the name of the apartment complex where I live. I could see the outside of the building. The parking lot was full of cars, and there were a few blurred out children on the playground. I searched everywhere for her. She wasn't in the parking lot or on the sidewalks, not hiding between the buildings or standing in the playground. I even scanned each of the cars, behind the bushes, and each of the blurred windows. She wasn't there. I curled tightly around myself and lay my head down on the desk.

This place was safe. I didn't leave the apartment anyway. I would never use Google Maps again. I would never see her again. She could stay at the park for all I cared. I smiled to myself and was surprised to find a tear slipping down my face.

"I'm safe," I said to myself in a whisper. It felt good to hear it out loud. "I'm safe."

As I said it, there was a knock at the door. A chill ran down my spine. I had a camera hooked to my computer that showed who was at the front door, which made it easier for me, with my mobility issues. I slowly reached for the control to show myself who was outside, but my hand trembled furiously. As I touched the control, I realized my mistake. The last of Google's images that I'd seen had only shown the outside of the building. Just the outside.

I looked at the screen and saw a woman in a white t-shirt, black pants, black hooded jacket; and carrying a grey bag with a purple and grey striped shoulder strap. Of course, there were those red sneakers. She looked directly at the camera, her face still a complete blur. As I tried to stifle a scream, she raised a hand and knocked loudly on my front door.

[growingupautie]

StoryTime: All That and a Bag of...

At my previous job, I and a coworker or two would often grab lunch at a local restaurant. Usually, it was just me and one other guy thought. Sometimes we'd go to the pizza place. Sometimes the Chinese place down the street. There were a few good spots but we went to them all the time so they got pretty boring. Isn't it funny how when you finally have access to almost any food, you end up feeling like nothing sounds good and taking it for granted?

One day, most of my coworkers were busy, and my go-to guy told me he had errands to run. I drove by the Chinese place we usually go to and parked my car. But as I got out, I saw the Subway next to it and decided that since nobody ever wanted to go there, I would do that instead. I closed my car door and felt someone watching behind me. It felt like they were ready to make their move and ambush me with something but there was a distinct lack of a feeling of ill-intent.

I started to rush off toward the entrance as I hear from the watcher behind me "HEY! Hey man! Can you uh...I don't get paid for two weeks and I just started a new job...Can you buy me lunch and I'll pay you back?" I look back and see an older man in his late 30's sitting in his beat-up work truck wearing a neon work vest frantically awaiting my answer. "Uh..." I said, not really wanting to interact with anyone that day but feeling like I was long overdue for a good deed. "Sure, man...Come on."

He said "Are you serious?! Thank you. Oh, God. Thank you. God Bless you." and he leaped out of his truck, and threw the door shut running toward me. He held the door open for me and said "I'll pay you back. I promise." When I do things like this for people, I don't really want to be paid back and as I told him, it "wouldn't be much of a good deed if I did." He thanked me with an oddly frantic nature and seemed to almost get teary-eyed.

I thought to myself about how rare kindness must be to him if that small amount elicited that response. Then I realized that it most certainly was to me, and that's about the same amount of kindness it would take to move me as well. "I haven't eaten in a few days..." he told me. "I just started this new job, and I'm in a bad way until I get paid." He added. As his words hit me I said with a somewhat heavier heart. "Well, you're eating today, man. Get whatever you want.

The person in line ahead of us turned around and mean mugged him, and looked at me as if to say I was being scammed. That the guy was just in it for a free meal. Honestly, He could've been right in that moment for all I knew. But the truth is, I didn't care. I'd rather it be a free food scam than any other type because it's still a good deed done in the name of goodness.

But at the same time, I felt like this guy was either legitimate or extremely exaggerating his actions to seem that way. Either way, I didn't care. And because of that, the joke would be on him if he was lying. He ordered a 6-inch sandwich, and I told him to make it a foot long if he hadn't eaten in so long. He almost broke down again but snapped out of it, and changed his order.

He added chips and a drink to it, but only after I insisted. Further taking away the idea that this was all a scam to get free food. He picked his sandwich and drink up and looked like he was ready to walk out. "Do you mind if I eat with you?" he asked me. I was taken aback. Most of the time when I had bought someone lunch over the years they either doubled their order, left as soon as it was ready, or both. "Uh...Yeah, man. Sure." I told him.

We went and sat down and he thanked me again frantically for the food. Then he pulled the sandwich out and started literally scarfing it down in front of me. And I mean scarfing. And for a brief moment, I thought to myself "Who eats like that?" until it clicked in my head that only someone who hadn't eaten a meal in a long time would... I immediately felt horrible. "How long has it been?" I asked. "Um...Been a few days. Maybe Saturday?" It was Tuesday.

"I'm sorry, my brother. I didn't realize how bad it was." I told him as tears burned in my eyes burning my nostrils as I was overcome with emotion. He told me he understood, and I did more than anyone else did for him. I explained my stance on doing the good for the good and he told me again he would pay me back. "No, my brother. I never expected you to. That's the whole point. His eyes welled up more than they had before as he kept eating.

"My wife left us..." he said. "us?" I asked seeing what I was assuming was his wedding ring on his necklace and worrying about his answer. "Yeah, me and my little boy. She left us, and went to Louisiana." (I believe) he told me. "She took almost everything with her leaving me broke, and without any way to provide for my son." He took another bite and continued. "I just started this job, and it pays good. But I ain't gonna see a dime until next Thursday."

I asked him when the last time his son ate was, and he told me he had been going without so he could feed his son. I believe he said he could only afford ramen and hot dog weiners and was making his son that. I had always wanted to be a dad and I didn't really have the best examples growing up. At that time I was questioning ability to be a father.

Kandace and I were either planning to or trying to conceive, at the time and all I could think was being in a situation where I couldn't afford to take care of my son and what that must be doing to him. Much less foregoing food for himself to do what little he could. Thinking about it now as a father makes the emotion so much worse but at that moment it nearly broke my heart.

He didn't ask me for money. He told me he was going to find a way to get some groceries. That he didn't have anything to sell, but he would find a way. He nearly finished his entire sandwich by that time, and I asked why he was eating so quickly. He told me he had spent 30 minutes of his 60-minute lunch break asking people outside to buy him lunch so he didn't black out at work with no food.

In that moment...I had had enough. I wasn't going to put up with a situation like that that I had the power to change. I packed the rest of my sandwich up to take to work and said. "My brother. I know you don't have much time left but can you follow me to the Grocery store real quick?" He said "uh..sure" unsure of why I would ask him that. He followed me over to the ATM directly inside and upon realizing where we were said "I...No, my brother. You've already helped me enough."

"My brother..." I told him. "I don't trust these humans out here to help you, and I'm not going to let a hard-working single father and his son starve. It's just not going to happen." He started actually crying at that point and I did all I could not to do the same. I pulled out what I could afford to give him.

The number is not important, and I can't remember anyway, but it's not as much as I wanted to give him. I told him that I hoped what I gave him would get him through to payday and he hugged me (After asking.) I told him they would be ok and that we was an amazing father to sacrifice for his son like he had. The kind of father many kids unfortunately never had. I knew he needed to hear that and I'm glad I said it.

He kept trying to tell me he wanted to pay me back. And in the end, I finally told him how he could. "When you are on your feet and can afford to. Find someone who needs help like you did, and help them." I said. "That's what I'm doing now, and that's why I'm doing it. I continued.

As an Autistic adult, I came from a place where nobody would hire me, and no matter what I tried to make money, I fell flat on my face. I have been plagued with bad luck most of my life and have often felt cursed, so when I finally get on my feet and out of the bad times and see someone struggling to do the same just like I did, my first thought isn't to judge them or tell them to pull themselves up. It's to help them up.

He was a single dad with a new job trying to do right by his son. He was pulling himself up. But he needed help. Sometimes when people help themselves up, they still need a hand. And in a world of apathetic "not my problem" attitudes. Be that hand. Be that hand in spite of the judgmental onlookers, and naysayers. Yes. Guard yourself against being used, and abused but do what you can afford to do to help make their world, and by extension the rest of the world a better place.

And wherever you are, my brother, if you are by some random happenstance reading this. I hope you and yours are as well as me and mine. Thank you for being a shining example of fatherhood in a time where I was questioning my ability to be one.

-Nathan Alan McConnell

---

Hell me make more content more often at PAYPAL.ME/GROWINGUPASPIE and PATREON.COM/IRISHWOLFPRODUCTIONS

[loulougoingsolo]

DIYing a Bold Hair Choice

So, as we all know, we live in troubling times. I've personally been living in quarantine-like arrangements for about a month now, and although I've been mostly doing alright, some things have proven to be hard. I was supposed to have my hair professionally cut and dyed this week, but I had to cancel the appointment, and at the moment, I don't know when I'll get to visit the salon for the next time. So, I had to take matters (or scissors) to my own hands.

I'm a DIYer, but I've never cut my own hair. I've also had it professionally dyed since I was 15 or so. For a short period, I only had it bleached and cut by a pro, but then dyed it myself with a pretty intense cool shade of red - but other than that, and a few toner touch ups, I've always relied on professionals. So I was in a bit of a pickle, when I realized that I'd have to either DIY or have my grey roots grow wild for months. And because my hair is short, the roots way too grey for my age, and I had all this time ln my hands, there was really only one way this could go.

When I go about a DIY project, my first step, always, is thorough research. I had an idea for what I'd attempt to achieve, so I went on Youtube and searched for diy haircuts. I got some good tutorials, but most of them were for long hair - and I also got suggested GMM episode #989, in which Rhett and Link battle in cutting their own hair (wigs). Can I just say, they predicted the Tiger King craze long before Netflix:

So, I immediately figured I would not be able to follow yhe hair styling tutorials of this GMM episode. First of all, I could only find one pair of scissors even remotely sharp enough to cut hair. They were not sharp enough. Secondly, the longest part of my hair barely reaches my chin. I would need to really commit to every snip I make, or I'd end up with a bald hair style, instead of bold. As attractive and gorgeous some people are with a fully shaved head, with my head shape, that was something to avoid at all costs.

Another thing I was worried about was that I'd probably end up cutting my own finger, like Link. I've always found it extra difficult to see my own reflection in a mirror and try to do accurate motions according to the reflection. Simply put, my brain gets confused. Also, I don't really have a way to see the back of my head through the mirror at all. How the crap am I supposed to cut anything?

At this point, I understood that the actual haircut was going to be the tough part, so I decided to focus on the dye. Since I cojldn't just go to a big supermarket to buy the equipment, I had to order the dyes online. At this point my plan was simply to buy a multitude of wild colours to mix and match according to my mood, so I ordered a tub of Midnight Blue, Daffodil Yellow, Flamingo Pink and Cerise dyes, all by the brand La Riche Directions. These dyes are semi-permanent, sonI knew they wouldn't cause permanent damage to my hair, and at this point, that was kind of my goal - whatever I do, I don'g want to ruin things too badly. But, because I'm familiar with semi-permanent dyes, and I've had pretty much every shade on the spectrum on my hair at one point, I knew I might require an extra step to see results. Which is why, "just in case", I added a hair lightening kit to my order. I figured, I'd make some lighter strands on top, to have some colours show properly.

By the time the dyes arrived, I was already pretty fed up with my grey roots. I watched the GMMore which followed the hair cut episode. Rhett, who won the haircut challenge, got to decide what colours would go in Alex's hair. Alex had done the smart thing and bleached his hair professionally to be dyed in this episode, but he somehow agreed to letting Rhett and Link add the colours.

When Rhett explains everyone how he and Link used to dye eachother's hair back in the day, I realize that even though I'm technically watching a DIY hair tutorial, they aren't actually doing it themselves. It's quite different to put dye on someone else's head than your own. (Also, something I didn't notice back when I first saw this episode: Link says it would be crazy for him to have his hair dyed, but looking back, he most certainly had his hair dyed at this time.)

It was slightly alarming to see that Alex was worried about how things would go. I could hardly expect to achieve anything much better than the guys, since at least they had the studio lighting and a full team to help rhem not screw up. I had a mirror in my dark toilet, which is barely big enough to stand in.

I also forgot to buy vaselkne, which was a big mistake - although I don't think it's even possible to buy a container that big here. Why would they have that at Mythical in the first place? But something about seeing how much trouble the guys were having controlling the unmixed streaks of dye and all that vaseline made me worried.

At this point, I need to tell you that seeing the blank canvas which was Alex's hair, I, now the proud owner of a 40 % bleack kit (which apparently is the strong stuff), decided I was not going to waste energy by trying to dye my hair without bleaching, only to find out that the colours didn't show. So, I mixed the bleach, put on a worn-out t-shirt, used hand lotion to vas up my forehead, neck and ears, and then just went for it.

I did watch quite a few proper tutorials. They taught me, firstly, that 40% was a no-no. Secondly, never bleach something that has already been bleached, especially, if your hair has multiple colours. Forth, never start from the roots, as they get bleached faster (this ended up being the only rule I followed). And, above all, go to a professional.

So, I added the bleach to my hair. First I tried sticking to just a few strands, but then a blop of the bleach fell on the wrong spot, and I figured, why not just go full head. I did. I left the stuff on for maybe 20 minutes, and after that I got scared and rinsed it off. Then, I used a silver toner, and was left with a fascinating mix of orange, yellow and white hair - and a strand of persistent green from my previous dye. But it was blond enough for my plans.

Alex had a beautiful mix of blue, pink and purple in his hair - and that accidental splash of green - and after considering thoroughly, I decided to go for these colours, too. I mean, pink, purple and blue are my jam. Also, as much as I wanted to go full rainbow, I figured it would be an impossible task to keep the different colours from mixing, and that might result in brown, which is the colour of defeat. So, I went with midnight blue, flamingo pink and cerise, and wasn't too concerned aboit getting the colours mixed together.

This is how Alex's hair looked on the episode, before he rinsed the extra dye off:

I couldn't find any good photos of his hair after it was rinsed, but tgere was one which suggested only a faint shade of blue stuck.

And finally, here's what happened with my hair. Now, I'm not posting my face here, just the hair. Imagine a white blop with green eyes below the hair, and you'll get the idea. In the first two pictures is my hair during normal times, and just before I diyed it. It looks particularly nasty in the just before hack job pic, because it was adviced not to wash your hair before bleachkng to save the scalp - but as you can see, this was not a fun thing to see in the mirror each morning:

After I had dyed my hair, I did some snips here and there, and also, because I was able to borrow a hair clipper from my dad, some clipping - which in my books, saved the day. The haircut is pretty botched, but I actually absolutely love the colour. And the criss-cross shave despite it being pretty bad - it also looks badass in real life. The picture taken outside shows the pink colours more accurately, but the cut shows better in the other pic. There are a couple of ways I can style this later on, but I kept styling to minimum for starters, because I didn't want to cause extra damage to my hair:

So, this has been the story of how I diyed my hair during quarantine. My mom loves the whole thing (I showed it to her yesterday while taking them groceries), and although there are some spots in the back which could have more colour in them, I'm pretty satisfied. I know my hairdresser is going to weep when she sees me, but she'll get over it.

So, in conclusion: Would I do this again? Yes, but I'd definately leave the cutting and bleaching to the pros. Also, now I can't really bleach again for a while. But I'm actually thinking about taking the dyes I have to my hairdresser so she can dye my hair properly with them, in a healthier way, once all this chaos settles and it's safe again. I'd probably need a slightly darker, permanent colour to the roots, but I absolutely love these insanely bright colours. And I'm so going to try the full rainbow this summer, too.

Would I recommend this to others? Yes, but with caution. The direct semi-permanent colours are safe and won't damage the hair, but bleach does. My hair is naturally a tad too dark to show bright colours properly, so I took the risk. I was also mentally prepared to shave the whole thing off and wear my mythical hat for the summer - but I'm happy that wasn't necessary. If you aren't willing to risk damaging your hair, stick to semi-permanents.

To end this post, here's a selfie I took yesterday on my grocery store trip in full safety gear (I have a paper mask under the scarf):

Stay safe! Do things that make you happy! BYMB! 💗💗💗

[channydraws]

Diamond and FellBro

It was one of these moments. Where the prince of monsters had returned to his normal form and all sorts of different events turn about as if timelines are making a big fucking joke out of his life. As if it wasn't bad enough his Chara wasn't who he thought it was and It wasn't bad enough certain events connected with insolent people that don't know how to take orders and now...

BASH!

The boss monster felt his body flying a few feet just for his back to make friends with the floor, his body making it hard to get back up. He heard the sounds of soft footsteps coming towards him. A “monster” wearing strange Gothic like clothing with a scarf and some sort of silly headband with horns. Her arms wrapping around some sort of book to hug it against her body. She looked worried about him as she looks down towards him.

“...Asriel, please... I don't want you to get hurt because of me...” She said with such a soft voice filled with hesitation.

Asriel growls as he snaps at her with anger. “Shut up! I can handle these bastards!” 

This caused the girl to let out a frighten eep as the Boss Monster looks at the two Royal Guardsmen with an intense look of anger. Burn marks can be shown on their armor.

Royal Guard 01 spoke up. “THE PRINCE'S PRETENDER WON'T LAST LONG Y-YOU VAMPIRE ON A DIET!  WITH 02 WITH ME YOU ARE AS WEAK AS ANY OTHER MONSTER!"

Pretender? These fools think they can get away calling him that.  Well, he's supposed to be dead... But that gives them no rights to call him as such. Still...  How did this all begin?  What started all of this...?

Oh, yes he remembers now. He first met this “monster”... No, only idiots would think she's a monster.  This HUMAN came upon him...

...No, She bumped into him as if she wasn't paying attention. It went just like this. 

While he was thinking about what to do next with his current predicament, he was walking in a set path. But, there was a moment of weakness where he closed his eyes and suddenly he felt something bumping into him and a soft feminine sound that was let out. He stomps his feet as he let out a growl as he was so rudely interrupted in his thoughts. His red eyes spotting a girl who had fallen on her rear as one of her hands rub the area gently to try to sooth the pain. Before he could even speak he heard that timid voice.

“I'm...S-sorry...!” She wasn't much of a speaker as even those two words was a quiet as a pathetic mouse.

Asriel took a step closer as he gets a better look at her.  Her strange black hair with ends that had shades of pink, red concern eyes looking back at him. A light red-like scarf and a black sweater where he can tell she had a plentiful size for her chest. Along with the remaining features of her outfit, the most concerning detail were those red horns... His gaze made her react and got her even more nervous. 

“...W-what are...you staring... at?”  She said as he watches one of her hands went to the horns that his eyes look upon.  

Course this made him bring up a question while his eyes narrow to glare at her. “What is a human like you doing here in the underground?” He spoke with a cold and uncaring voice. Although as the girl stood back up she answers his question.

“H-human where?” She said as she looks to both sides as if looking for one.  “...I don't see a human?”

The goat taps his feet on the ground as his eyes do not let go of her. “I'm talking about you, idiot.”

She points at herself trying to vain ignorance. “M-me? I'm not a...a  h-human...”

He tilts his head to one of his sides. “Oh? Tell me what kind of monster are you?”

“...A vampire on a diet?”

There was a pause from the Boss Monster, staring at her as if he felt insulted that she would think such a lie would work on him. Then he spoke up once again.

“Firstly, Monsters don't normally have blood. Second, you don't look like a fucking vampire. Third, do you really believe such a lie would fool anyone?”

“Well, I-”

“Do not answer that! I don't care. Pathetic...”

“...How did you-...”

“IM NOT A FUCKING IDIOT!” He shouted at her in anger causing her to step back a few and with a quiet nervous voice she responds...

“C-can you, m-maybe n-not...s-swear like so...?”

“...”  He lets out an annoyed sigh and as he reminds silent he heard her speak up once more.

“S-say... Um, A-are you... u-uh... related to that.... goat lady...?” She asked as the goat took notice of her body shivering as if she was scared.

“You mean my mother? Toriel...?”

“...Your m-mother...?  I-I mean, yeah...Toriel was her name... um... who are you?”

“....”  He crosses his arms as he stares upon the frightened human and then answers. “Asriel Dreemurr, Prince of the monsters.”

“Asriel Dreemurr?  B-but... A-Aren't you s-suppose to be..D...De...”

Bothered by her stuttering he finishes her words for her. “Dead, Yes. Normally you would have been welcomed by a pathetic coward flower. Those times have changed and I return to my normal form. I suppose you heard the deceitful tale.”

She nods her head. “W-wait, Deceitful?”

“Don't worry about it. Now, I'll ask again. What is a human doing her-”

He was interrupted as he heard a shout.

“02! SHE'S OVER THERE! THE ONE I TOLD YOU ABOUT!”

The boss monster heard the voice as the sound of heavy armor approaches them and the soft cry of the human who went to the Boss monster's side.  

“02! SEE! THERE'S THAT MONSTER! THAT VAMPIRE ON A DIET!

02 speaks as he saw what looks like Boss Monster with her. “.....Vampire...has a friend?”

“HEY, WHO ARE YOU?!”  01 said with a surprised tone.

Before he responded Asriel looks towards the human. “.......Really?”

She shrugs with a nervous smile. “...He believed me...I didn't know he had.... a friend...”

“...Stand back, I'll deal with this idiot.”

The Boss Monster step forward with a stomp as he turns to face them. “Royal Guards!  I, Asriel Dreemurr order you to stand back!”

01 and 02 look at each other. “THE  PRINCE?! THAT VAMPIRE IS WITH THE PRINCE?!"

“...Prince?.... no....  prince dead.... impostor....yes.”

The Boss Monster growls. “HOW DARE YOU!?”

“QUIET! WE WILL GET RID OF YOU AND THEN THAT W-WEAK VAMPIRE ON A DIET!"

Silently the human girl steps backwards as she quietly standby and watches.

As the guard's steps towards them, the Boss Monster throws a few fireballs at them which only left a few burn marks.  He took notice as the fireballs seem to have no effect besides save the burn marks. As he was thinking about what to do his eyes took notice of 01 charging towards him and getting a tackle on him causing his body to fly back a few feet.

And there he was laying down, his body refusing to move from the shock of being bash by such a large heavy armor clad monster, the human looking down at him worried about his well-being and hearing such words that will hurt his pride. His subjects to call him a pretender. Do they really want to die so badly? Fighting his body he slowly gets up and gets back on his feet.

“I told you to stand back, didn't I!? Idiot! I'll take care of it... Just watch or whatever I don't care!”

The Royal Guards watches as the pretender gets back up. “01... he back  up....team attack.”

“YES! PRETENDING TO BE THE DECEASED PRINCE IS DEATH!”

Asriel's eyes widen as 01's sword came at him forcing him to sidestep where 02 was ready to cut him in half although Asriel not underestimating them this time quickly dodges and counter attacks 02 with a large fireball that strikes at his armor. It may only have left a large burn mark but Asriel had a plan to deal with the royal guards. Although he felt a strong punch from 02 connecting. A hit across the face. Causing him to step away as 01 goes in for another tackle but this time Asriel throws a more potent fireball at 01's helmet causing him to struggle and forcing him to move the wrong way from where the prince was standing.

Although with 02 seeing his partner being attacked he closed into the Boss Monster and recklessly tried to slash at him with his large sword. With the recklessness, Asriel was able to predict its attacks and dodge efficiently.

While this was going on the “vampire on a diet” was making quiet gestures as if cheering on the Boss Monster hoping he will pull through and maybe believe if she cheers him on it will help him win. Asriel caught a glimpse of it as he was dodging 02's attack making the girl have a small blush as his gaze met her eyes. He rolls his eyes and got close enough to 01 where he lured 02 to accidentally strike at his partner's armor leaving a scar on it. Although the blade did not penetrate through it. It did cause a reaction from 02.

“You made me...  hit 01...!

“DUDE! IT'S OKAY!...”

“01...okay,... another.... team attack... let's kill him...”

Asriel found himself having one in front of him and one at his back with both of them pulling out their swords and attacking simultaneously and in perfect contrast to cover their blind spots making it difficult for him to dodge. With each dodge, he was able to pull he throws a fireball at one of them and switches back and forth with each dodge. Though he lets out a grunt as he felt the blade cutting into his sweater and making a wound on his arm,  then the side of his torso and the tip of 02's blade slashing at his forehead although he took notice of their team attack slowing down with each moment and with every fireball that hits. Though he wasn't expecting both of them to go right in for a punch striking at both his gut and his spine, then 02 throwing the goat towards the girl. The Boss Monster didn't allow himself to make friends with the floor this time and barely kept himself standing.

Asriel was taking deep breaths as the girl paused her cheering as she looks over. Asriel seemed to be in a bad spot. Her red eyes catching the wounds on him with his arm wiping on his forehead... Dust spilling out from wounds. If there was anything else she could do for him...- but as she thought about it she heard the boss monster speak. As she took another look at the guards who were standing side by side looking as exhausted as Asriel although something else seems wrong with them... were  they... sweating?”

02 spoke to the monster they believe was an impostor. “...You... Done?.... Time.... for you.... to die...”

“YEAH...  WE GOT YOU... NOW!!” 01 speech was delayed as if indicating how tired he was.

Asriel smirks as he lets out a sinister laugh that scared the girl. “You do? You both really are idiots...  I am disappointed that you two are EVEN part of the Royal Guard.”

“LIKE, WHAT ARE  YOU...TALKING ABOUT... WE GOT YOU ON LIKE...THE...ROPES!”

The boss monster points at them with a smile, and soon to the guard's surprise fireballs started to appear like magic near the Boss Monster. It was just a few than a few because many and then many became overwhelming and they were quite large.

“Fireballs...  more?.... so... what?”

“YEAH DUDE!  OUR ARMOR CAN ... WITHSTAND THE DAMAGE!”

“I know... But, surely you must have noticed it been getting rather hotter for you?”

“S-SO...”

Asriel lets out another laughter that this time scared the Royal Guards. “With the amount I have created and how potent they are. These fireballs will be enough to cause your armor to be your own personal oven that I'll compare the heat as if you were in the lava in hot lands. You'll both burn to death in an instant! HAHAHAHAHA~!”

This threat made the two guards hold onto each other's hand tightly as if scared for each other's life. What is this monster? How could he still be standing?  How could he be able to make all of those fireballs like their king... Are they really going to die here?

Quickly Asriel felt his uninjured arm being grabbed by one of the human's arm and which pull his arm against her chest to stop him. “A-Asriel, Y-you can't do that! Y-you can't...k-kill them!”

He felt the soft feel of her chest against his arm yet his focus reminds on the guards. “Why? They wanted to kill us. I think it makes sense to kill them.”

“D-DUDE!...UH... L-LIKE SORRY! WE'RE SORRY...!  r-RIGHT 02!?”

“...Yes... we …. sorry...  don't kill... us....”

“S-see, Asriel... t-they don't pose a threat a-anymore...!”

“...” Asriel stood silent for a moment and then let out a sigh. “...Both of you, leave before I change my mind.”

02 and 01 looks at each other. “LIKE, BYE! THANK YOU, VAMPIRE ON A  DIET!”

“... thank you... vampire...”

and with that, the guards retreated and soon was out of sight from the two of them. Once Asriel could not see them anymore his fireballs disappear.

“You make some good use after all...”

The girl looked surprised by the Boss Monster's words. “..H-huh?”

“...I'm saying you have use, Idiot! You made it so they would make sure they would surrender rather than fight to the death. As well, they are thankful to you. They shouldn't bother you anytime soon.”

“...you mean, you weren't...”

“...forget it.”

"...hmm....” She paused and then spoke a single world. “...Diamond...”

“What are you saying?”

“...Diamond... it's my... name.” she said as she holds his arm tightly against her chest as she kept hold of her book with her free hand.

He looks towards her with narrow eyes.  Looking down at her. “Idiotic name... Can you let go of me before I make you.”

“ ...ah...?” She looks down as she took notice of her holding onto his arm against her bosom. Making her slightly embarrassed. “...oh... s-sorry!” 

“...I don't-” He paused himself as he took notice of her book as she brings it back to her holding it with both arms. “...What is that?”

“This...  oh... my.......uh.......  sketchbook...”

“...You draw?”

“....I do, in my... free time...”

“Good for you. Diamond, idiot. You're staying with me.”

Her eyes widen with surprise as she heard his words. “W-why...?”

“Because you are so weak and helpless. If I allow someone to hurt you. It would reflect poorly on me...and I WILL NOT allow my pride to be diminished because I allow an idiotic human to be killed more so now people will know I defended you once and thinks we are friends.”

“uh...  um...” She looked nervous. Did he mean what he said or does he really care about her? Then again he sounded like he was  gonna let those guards live right?”

“...can I ask you..... something Asriel...?”

“You get this one question.”

“...okay uh... were you gonna let them go anyways...?”

He glares at her with narrow eyes and then turns to his side. “I'll only tell you this, Diamond. You can't solve problems by just being nice. That doesn't mean you can't show MERCY at the same time.  Does that work for you?”

She nods her head happily. He seems so tough but deep down Asriel was a good person in heart. Maybe he was raised to be so tough and he learns some lessons before she met him. Perhaps one day she would find out more about him “...Yes...  T-thank you, Asriel.”

He lets out a growl as a small blush was seen on his face. “Whatever! Idiot! Dumbass! Just come along with me and stay close! Can you at least follow that?!”

With a smile on her face and with a more joyful tone, she spoke up. “I can... just let me take care of those wounds. I can try to help... it's the.... least I can do...”

“...you're so annoying!  I can handle it...  But, you better fix up my sweater. You got it?!”

She then responds with a small giggle. “I got it.” 

With that Asriel and Diamond had their own little adventure together, what more may happen with the two of them. Well... those are stories for next time.

THE END!

(I-It's not like I wanted to P-pair up Diamond and Fellbro... B-baka!)

------

Fellbro's secret harem has expanded-

Even though he calls them bakas.

[the-mad-starker]

Starker Christmas: Baby, it's cold outside

Day 9 (Dec. 21th): Tony (or) Peter got sick, and the other takes care of him

Not entirely SFW but rated M at most?

Notes: ABO Dynamics, omega Peter, alpha Tony, mpreg

Note#2: Peter is written as 18+

AO3 Link

❄️❄️❄️

Tony worried too much.

His alpha actually took some days off because  Peter was home with the sniffles and cough. It wasn't so bad… It just sounded pretty awful.

Peter welcomed the attention though. He loved being coddled by his alpha, wrapped up in warm blankets and surrounded by the scent of home. They were already planning to have the week of Christmas and New Year's together, but Tony left early just for him.

Anyone that said his alpha was neglectful or cold hearted truly didn't know the man.

It started after he had this huge snowball fight with Ned and a bunch of friends. Peter, defiant little thing that he was, hadn't been wearing enough layers. Thicker socks and maybe a scarf would've saved him from getting sick, but yeah… He hadn't really been all too concerned when the snow all fight happened.

He got home, dripping with melted snow. His nose and ears were bright red.

Tony had taken one look at him and while his mouth got that pinched, unhappy look, he didn't say anything, didn't reprimand the omega even though he surely wanted to.

Peter stayed glued to Tony's side for the next 24 hours, only feeling warm when his alpha was the one keeping him that way.

It didn't stop him from getting the sniffles.

Tony took it in stride, doing his best to keep Peter comfortable and resting so he'd be fine for Christmas.

A couple days passed and Peter got better. He still demanded cuddles on the couch, their feet warming by the fire.

Tony indulged in drinking hot chocolate but only handed Peter some soothing hot tea for his throat. Peter would pout but drank it with a grateful smile after since it did help.

On the 22nd, it looked like all was right with Peter and he was looking forward to spending a nice, Christmas dinner with May and the rest of the Avengers.

The next day, Peter was bent over the toilet, face pale. He had fallen asleep with an uneasy stomach and hadn't thought much of it besides knowing it'd pass. But come next morning, and he wasn't feeling well at all.

“Do you think the food was bad?” Peter bemoaned when the nausea passed.

Back in bed, he snuggled back into Tony's embrace, instantly soothed by the rich familiar scent.

“Could be,” Tony hummed, “Maybe we'll have the restaurant look into it, just in case.”

He sounded skeptical though and it was then that Peter realized that they had shared all their food. It didn't make sense for Peter to be sick as a dog but not Tony. Especially since Peter's body was better at handling such problems.

“Maybe I'll lay off the soda,” Peter noted.

The next morning, Peter was glad he wasn't as sick, but the unpleasant feeling of nausea followed him throughout the day.

Lunch with May while they were last minute shopping ended up as a disaster. The club sandwich he ordered offended his nose, which made no sense whatsoever. Maybe it was the mayo?

His aunt eyed him as he picked at his food. A not so subtle sniff of her nose had Peter looking up.

“Don't worry, May,” Peter assured her, “We're definitely making it to Christmas dinner. Not even a stomach bug will stop me.”

“A bug, huh,” May pondered, looking at him in such a weird fashion that Peter perked up.

“What is it?” He asked.

She patted his hand gently. “It’s nothing, just some thoughts.”

He squeezed her hand.

“You know you can tell me anything, right, May?” Peter said softly.

She smiled then. “I just wish Ben was here to see this… You, all grown up… Happily mated with an alpha that treats you right. I think he would've been happy. I know I am.”

For some reason, the soft spoken words tugged at his heart and he gave his aunt a happy, watery smile.

“I wish he was here too.”

They shared a smile and the moment faded soon after. The shopping was wrapped up, each buying one or two more items.

He promised that he and Tony would be at the house for Christmas.

Peter didn't get any worse or any better. He almost got used to the nauseous feeling clinging to his days, but he found something else annoying.

Tony had come home that evening smelling of different perfumes. It made Peter's hackles rise and not in the possessive kind of way. He trusted Tony completely and knew the alpha had gone out to personally handpick a gift for Pepper and May.

He had chosen perfumes it seemed.

The different mixtures had offended Peter's nose and he had to shut himself in their bedroom until Tony scrubbed himself clean. Then Peter realized he had basically shunned his mate and for some reason, that sent him spiraling into a weird mood.

He barged in on Tony's shower, clinging to the alpha and apologizing.

Tony's eyes were large and confused, but he just shut off the water and carried the crying omega back to their room. After drying them both and getting them both into their pajamas, Tony settled Peter in their large bed and held him close.

“I'm sorry,” Peter muttered, feeling entirely embarrassed for his outburst.

“I've done worse,” Tony teased.

Technically true and untrue at the same time. Tony has done some rather embarrassing things, but they rarely happened after they got together

“You still wanna go to May's?” Tony had to ask.

Peter turned in the alpha's arms, but he nodded his head.

Tony kissed his forward and simply said, “Okay, baby. Get some rest. The holidays always stir us some craziness in all of us.”

He knew he should listen to Tony. He felt tired from braving the crowds and Peter knew he could easily fall asleep. But Tony's steady, unfaltering support and love was kindling a different kind of want in him.

“Tony…” Peter muttered as he pressed close.

“Hmm?”

“Alpha…” Peter whispered, pressing even closer and nibbling on the older man's sensitive neck. It was a dangerous place for an omega to play, but Tony never seemed to mind.

“You need something, sweetheart?” Came Tony’s low, husky voice.

“Love me please…” Peter urged.

After that, he didn't have to try luring Tony into the tight mood. Tony was always happy to make love to him and that Christmas Eve, it was slow and gentle, and it made Peter light up from the inside out. He was filled with so much love and nothing in the world could ever compete to how Peter felt when Tony was holding him close.

They made it to May's dinner. Everyone else had joined in too. Presents were stuffed under the Christmas tree and the party was warm and full of family, blood or not.

The evening passed by so fast. Peter and Tony were the last ones left and we're helping May clean up.

Just before they went, May pressed a small wrapped box to his hand. Tony was curious, as was Peter since the presents had already been opened

“Something for you and Tony when you get home, alright?” May said with a bright smile. “Call me after?”

“Um, sure…” Peter said hesitatingly.

At home, they unwrapped it to find a pregnancy test. A simple but reliable one.

They stared at each other, puzzle pieces clicking into place.

Five minutes and two pink visible lines later, and Tony was whirling him around, cheering and excited. He kissed the omega's face all over as Peter laughed and cried.

“Congratulations!” May's cheerful voice bubbled from the speaker.

It was the best Christmas gift ever.

[miracleofunicorns]

Look What You Made Me Do

WARNING: This is a very OC centered fic! It's in @malenchka's mafiatale AU and is basically my character's backstory. If you don't mind that then I hope you enjoy reading this!!!

Btw this is my OC

This wasn't really what they had aspired to be.

Who in their right minds WOULD do this sort of thing? No, their life had to take a turn for the worst in order for them to become a cleaner for the mafia.

And in Miracle's case it had.

Maybe.

To be honest, before they had woken up from that hospital bed, Miracle didn't really remember anything. And they had no sort of identification on them. No driver's license, no dog tags, nothing. They were given the standard John/Jane doe name all amnesia patients with no identification had. And they hated that name. It felt like something was wrong with them. Even after all of the tests came back negative, after all of the doctors said that they were fine…

“You know, you're a real miracle you know.”

“I'm a what?” they had said, looking up at the doctor through the bandages covering their head.

“Miracle, you should be dead.” the doctor replied.

“Miracle….”

The doctors had tried to make them stay, but as soon as Miracle was able to walk on their own, they were out of there. Which might not have been the brightest idea. Without identification, they couldn't get anything. No driver's license, no social, no birth certificate. Meaning; no job. The first few months since then was the hardest they had ever remembered. Miracle refused to panhandle. They didn't need anyone's help. They were fine on their own! They were… dying.

Shit.

It was a cold winter's night when he had found them. There was a vent by the building that spilled hot air outside. They were about to drift off into death's arms when he suddenly kicked them.

“D-DON’T K-KILL ME!!!” Miracle screamed, wrapping their arms over their head.

“What the fuck, I ain't gonna kill you.” he replied, a hint of a growl rising up at the end.

He was a fire elemental, kind of demonic looking in a way with how his mouth parted. But to Miracle, he was an angel.

His hand was warm, as fire should be, but it wasn't burning them. Miracle was merely wearing wool gloves, how were they not catching on fire?

“Did you get them to agree to come inside?” an excitable blue skeleton bounced over. He towered over Miracle. But his demeanor was incredibly childlike. It frightened Miracle at first. Who were these two monsters trying to corner them?!

The fire elemental seemed to sense Miracle's discomfort and waved the skeleton away.

“My patron here just wanted to make sure that you were alright.” the elemental tried to comfort them.

Miracle's eyes shifted from between the two monsters. They seemed…. Okay… Not totally trustworthy but the monsters were alright. Slowly, Miracle allowed the monsters to bring them inside.

Inside was like an oven. It was so warm that Miracle could feel like they were slowly defrosting. Once again, they could feel their fingers and toes. The kind skeleton, with a gentle hand on Miracle's back guided them to the bar counter. Where the elemental soon placed a large plate of food in front of Miracle. It was all so beautiful and lovely and….

“I don't have any money…” Miracle admitted, looking down at the plate hungrily.

“That's alright, little buddy!” the kind skeleton smiled at them. “I have it taken care of.” he winked… somehow and then showed Miracle the money he soon gave the the elemental. That didn't make it better in Miracle's eyes however.

“But… I can't accept this… I have to give you something…” Miracle insisted. The skeleton seemed to be losing his patience as his jaw clenched. But he kept up the smile.

“Hey, Blue, I could use somebody to clean this place.” The elemental said after a bout of silence.

The skeleton frowned before looking around, taking the place in as if for the first time. He visibly winced. The bar wasn't bad looking, but it was obvious that it was getting traffic. Blue nodded, seeming to agree with his fiery friend.

“You're right, Grillby.” Blue sighed and looked to Miracle with a big smile. “How about it? You get to eat and THEN you get to clean Grillby's bar.”

Miracle didn't even answer, they were too busy scarfing down the burgers and fries. Grillby let out a chuckle as he cleaned a glass, setting it aside for another customer to use.

By closing time, the bar was sparkling. The once rough wooden floors shimmered again like it was new. And the bar was now reflective, it impressed Grillby. The fiery man looked over to where Miracle had passed out, seeing value where he saw none before. It had been Blue's idea to bring a stinky homeless person into his bar, but now the smell didn't matter as much any more. With the right tools and resources, Miracle was a rather clean person. It must be torture to such a person to go on every day stinking like ripe garbage.

The elemental would have hired Miracle himself. But he had debts to pay,  people to impress and people to get on his side. As Miracle snoozed on, Grillby pulled out his phone.

“Malchenka? You needed a cleaner, right?” Grillby grinned maliciously, “Well I think I found you one.”