#I wish all Moth’s a good luck

[hannie-dul-set]

fire and brimstone (and you’re a moth made of gasoline) — TWO.

SYNOPSIS. having fought tooth and nail out of high school, university, and law school, only to end up working for a law firm that basically serves as a clean up dog after the biggest organized crime group in the district, you thought you couldn’t get any lower than this. 

the bar is in hell, and yet you’ve managed to limbo six feet beneath that. alternatively— na jaemin is the personification of hell, and your very existence just makes him even worse than he already is. 

PAIRING. na jaemin x female! reader. GENRE. gang! au, lawyer! au, office! au, comedy, drama, romance, very light angst, this is a sitcom, hate to love(?), a somewhat questionable power dynamic, asshole! jaemin (my beloved…my kryptonite…) but he’s also an idiot, jaemin has an eye contact thing, inspired by the manhwas “weak hero” and “study group.” WARNINGS. an abundance of criminal activity (including but not limited to organized crime, fraud, blackmail, DUIs, unethical and illegal occupational practices, etc.), blood and violence, suggestive themes, eventual non explicit sex, jaemin with a tattoo, legal inaccuracies because i am not familiar with south korean laws, so i’m just using my own country’s as reference. also because this is just a stupid thirst fic. who gives a damn. WORD COUNT. 7.6k.

NOTE. i tagged this as hate to love. i meant it. na jaemin is an objectively shitty person and i’ve given myself the herculean task of trying to redeem him (if ever) HAHAHHAHAHAHA. also, i tried to cut as many corners as i could in the trial scene. don’t expect it to be accurate. anyway, hope this chapter is fun! please let me know what you think! CHAPTER THREE.

YOU DIDN’T THINK YOU’D EVER FEEL THIS KIND OF DREAD ON A MONDAY AGAIN. The usual dread borne out of starting yet another week as a capitalist slave is given. It’s nothing special. But the dread you feel today as you drive to Yeongdeungpo Police Station (yet again, to the point that you’re starting to feel like an inmate yourself) is a dread that you haven’t felt in a long ass while.

Specifically, eight years ago. You’re like a broken record at this point, but it doesn’t stop you from continually cursing Na Jaemin in your mind as you stomp through the echoing halls of the station. Officer Jung is leading the way yet again to the visitation room, all while suffering from the brunt of your temper.

“He didn’t decline your request today,” he starts, attempting to make conversation.

No fucking shit, you reply in your head. “Thank you for the patience, officer,” you vocalize with a constipated smile. 

It seems like Officer Jung managed to catch the eye roll you didn’t intend for him to see. He gives you one polite smile and doesn’t make any more attempts after that, speaking only once you’ve reached the visitation room to unlock it and wish you luck with a nod. 

You thank him, sucking in a deep breath as you force your joints to start creaking. Luck. The door clicks behind you. You damn need more than luck to get through this meeting and this entire case. You need the very devil’s mercy and cooperation.

“Good day, Na Jaemin-ssi.”

But the devil isn’t a merciful man. You swallow down a lump in your throat and force out a smile.

“How have you been?”

He stares you down with the weight of a thousand suns, stabbing you right in the gut with a pain enough to incite a wave of nauseous vomit. “Get on with it,” he rasps. “I don’t think you got Mark on my ass just for some stupid fucking small talk. Hurry up and get on with it.”

Your smile twitches. This guy has never learned how to speak nicely.

*‎

(You’ve established that your new seatmate is Na Jaemin. Yet that’s all you’ve come to know about him up until the bell rings to signal lunch time.

Carefully sneaking out of your seat, you peer down to see that he’s still deep asleep. You huff. Wow. Four classes have gone by, and this guy slept through it all. And none of the teachers even called him out— only going as far as sending a look of resigned acknowledgement at your direction, sometimes even relief. Sometimes fear.

Anyhow, that first half of your day was enough to answer why Natty gave you that warning earlier: that the seat you chose was the worst one possible— next to the very embodiment of trouble, even if you don’t know the details just yet.

Despite not knowing much, you’re already blaming him for the fact that you’re eating lunch alone. 

The heat from the stew broth pricks at the skin of your lips as you scan around the cafeteria. You notice a few familiar faces scattered around, all sitting either in pairs or in groups in their respective seats and tables. You even lock eyes with Natty at some point, who simply averts your gaze with guilt ridden twitch as she turns head to her friend, someone you don’t recognize was in your class. 

Seems like you were doomed from the moment you sat your ass down on that seat. Fuck’s sake. Whoever this Na Jaemin guy is, you don’t like him already. You decide to temper your annoyed steps with some ice cream from the snack bar, seeing that there’s still a couple of minutes left before the afternoon bell. You pick up an extra snack as well— a melon bread wrapped in green tinted plastic. Something to pick at from under your desk as you go through your afternoon classes. You grab a can of pink peach soda to drink on the way back.

Upon returning to your classroom, the first thing you notice is the fact that no one else is here when there’s only five minutes left before lunch.

The second thing you notice— 

“Hey, you.”

There is, in fact, someone here.

Na Jaemin had sat up from the cross-armed, sleep-ridden slump he’d been in all morning. He’s awake. Now that his face isn’t buried, you finally have something to match the name.

“Why the hell didn’t you wake me up?”

There’s a distinct scowl on his face as he sets his phone down on his desk, shoulders slacked and sitting with his legs apart, which pushed your seat away to the very edge of your desk space. 

You feel a twitch in your brow. The annoyance prompts your feet to move close, triggers your mouth to open and speak back. “What?” you start. “There’s—there’s a bell that—”

“I was fucking asleep, you dumb fuck.” Na Jaemin cuts you off, and you flinch. “You think I’d hear a damned bell when I’m knocked the fuck out?” 

A gut feeling kicks in, forcing you to preemptively stop, look down, and choke down the remnants of your words into a stifling silence. You try to take a peek at Na Jaemin’s expression, but the sound of a tongue clicking in annoyance and the reeling back of a chair forces your eyes to continue staring at the classroom floor, feeling your entire body reverberating with the loud sound of your heartbeat as Na Jaemin’s presence loom closer. 

“I asked you a fucking question.”

“S—sorry,” you sputter out. “I’ll…I’ll wake you tomorrow.”

For a brief moment, you manage to take a quick glance at na Jaemin’s face, standing right before you.

And the sheer disdain and annoyance in his eyes makes you instantly regret that very decision.

“Useless.” You flinch back down and  hear him release a huff as he snatches the half-drunk peach soda from your hands. Your feet are nailed to the ground, and Na Jaemin proceeds to down the remnants of the drink before tossing the empty can back to you, shoving past you as the bell rings— and you hear a fumble of apologies from outside the door as Na Jaemin saunters out of the classroom.

Finally looking up, you see your classmates crowding outside the classroom, some slowly trickling in upon noticing that the coast is clear. 

You don’t think you’re wrong to assume that they’d seen everything that happened in the room. You don’t think you noticed wrong either that they’re deliberately refusing to acknowledge it.

All of them make it to their seats. No one tries to talk to you after that, but that’s not the topmost thing that you’re troubled with.

You promised to wake Na Jaemin up for lunch tomorrow. You might have just become his personal alarm clock.)

*‎

In retrospect, that was a completely void agreement. God, it pisses you off thinking just how much of a doormat you were. Still are, considering you’re barely keeping it together sitting in front of Na Jaemin when you’re supposed to be the authoritative figure here. It pisses you off even more knowing that he doesn’t even remember you. 

His impatient taps on the wooden table echo and bounce off the walls of the visitation room. 

“Na Jaemin-ssi,” you inhale sharply. “Your hearing is this Thursday, two days from now. I’ve already made the necessary preparations for your defense, and—”

“So, you’re finally getting me out?”

Can this son of a bitch let you fucking speak? “Hopefully,” you promptly answer. “I’m confident in the case I’ve prepared. However, there’s…something I need you to do in order to ensure that the judge will rule in our favor, Na Jaemin-ssi.”

Here we go. You gotta tread this carefully. Very carefully, because you know damn well that Na Jaemin doesn’t like being ordered around. 

“It is very likely that the prosecution will call you to the witness stand. You have every power to invoke your right against self-incrimination. But in our case, allowing yourself to be cross-examined by the prosecution would actually be favorable for us as a testament to your innocence, so long as you stick to the script.” It’s hard to get a hint of how well he’s receiving this because you’re too scared shitless to look him straight in the face. All you can do is hope he’s actually listening and not picking his ears as you continue to prattle on. “You just have to agree to Atty. Jung Sungchan’s line of questioning— even the fact that you fought the witnesses. However, you have to say that you didn’t start the fight. You don’t remember how the fight started. And you sustained significant injuries yourself.”

Na Jaemin got out of that altercation with just a few bruises and scratches, but the doctor Mark Lee referred you to was able to turn that into a couple broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder. He agreed to attest to the medical report on the stand as well.

The only missing piece you really need right now is Na Jaemin’s testimony and cooperation. 

His lack of response does not bode well for you. The room swallows you up in its cold and eerie silence. “Do you…follow…Na Jaemin-ssi…?” you try to prod out a response. And you get a response, all right.

Just not the kind of response you’d been praying for.

“Are you saying that I have to go up there, pretend I took a beating from those sissy fucks, and act all pathetic and pitiful like a little bitch?”

There’s an angry kick against the table. You suck down a breath when you feel the wooden edge jam against your ribcage.

“Who the hell do you think you are to tell me what to do?”

Your eyes squeeze shut, ignoring the sharp pain on your torso because that’s the least of your problems right now. Why…why does he have to be so goddamn difficult? Fuck’s sake. “Na Jaemin-ssi,” you exhale. “I’m not—I’m not telling you to do all those things. I’m just saying that the only way we could see your full acquittal is if we prove that Yoon Naksung and his party were also at fault.”

“We? That’s your damn job, attorney. You want me to do your fucking job for you?” 

This is different from when he was trying to deliberately push your buttons last time.

He’s mad. He’s really freaking mad.

“Get out. Get the fuck out.”

You know a warning when you hear one. You waste no time gathering yourself and speed walking out the door�� half out of fear, mostly out of angered frustration because holy fuck. This is a mess. You’re so fucking screwed. Sure, you managed to get Hong Hyunjae, and Ma Gildong to cooperate with you. Sure, you managed to get a doctor to fake his medical exam. But all that would be useless if your bastard of a client decides to run his mouth and brag about just how much he wrecked those idiots’ asses.

Say, you don’t force him to testify. Once the witnesses come out and follow the script you made, the judge might still compel Na Jaemin to take the stand to confirm things. If he says anything to the contrary, you’re as good as screwed. At best, you’d lose the case. At worst, you’d be charged with contempt of court, and you can kiss your license goodbye.

That’s how your meeting ends— with a looming sense of dread that follows you out the doorway.

You exit the visitation room as if you’d just gotten your life ripped out from your own hands. It doesn’t go under Officer Jung’s notice, who’d been waiting by the door. 

“JJS is always handling the tough cases,” he remarks.

You grunt. “Give us a call when you wanna get silly with your gun and try shooting at random civilians.”

Thank god he doesn’t attempt any more small talk, nor does he follow you out. You’re way too exhausted right now— mostly emotionally and psychologically, and you’ve almost broken yourself down to simply just admit defeat and abandon this motherfucker’s ass. He can continue being a bitch in jail for all you care. You’re done. You’re so fucking done. You decide that you don’t give a shit anymore and give Mark a call right outside the station.

Four rings. Then he picks up. “Hey,” you immediately start. “What will you do if I fail to release your dog?”

Mark Lee never even got the chance to greet you back when you tossed this question at him. “Hmm,” he ponders, leaving a gap for a quiet pause. “That’s not something I’ve even considered, attorney. I really value our relationship thus far.”

You don’t even give him a response before ending the call. Your arm falls limp on your side. Fuck. You’re so dead.

Either in the hands of Mark Lee, or Na Jaemin, should you continue trying to push him. You’ve only ever seen the lengths of the latter’s violence. You don’t intend on finding out just how much of a psycho the former is. So death by Na Jaemin, it is.

You bring your phone up and call Mark again and ask for another meeting with your client tomorrow. He says he’s always happy to oblige.

*‎

(At some point, after a whole week of being Na Jaemin’s alarm clock, you started to wonder— why the hell do you have to keep doing this?

Lunch bells. Dismissals. Having to leave the classroom for gym or for some other special class. He expects you to wake him up or else you’d get your fucking ass kicked, and even when you do wake him up, he gives you a nasty ass look as if he’s about to kick your ass, until you promptly squeak out that class has ended, or whatever your teachers’ instructed you to do that day.

It’s only after seven days of this bullshit that you realize that you don’t owe him. You’re under no obligation whatsoever to keep being his alarm lackey or answer to him in any way shape or form. He’s just a guy. He’s just a student, just like you. And you bet that he’s probably just bluffing. 

All he’s ever done is snatch your drink from you. He hasn’t even laid a hand on you.

So just as you march back to the classroom after having your lunch at the cafeteria— alone, because getting involved with Na Jaemin has ruined all your chances of making any friends— you decide that it’s finally time to put your foot down and tell him that you’re not his slave. You’re not doing this crap anymore.

Yet your newfound sense of will-power is promptly deflated when you slide open the classroom door and see that your seatmate isn’t snoozing in his usual spot.

In fact, no one is seated in their seats. Your brows furrow in confusion upon noticing that all your classmates are crowding the windows on the other side of the room, all pressing up the glass, gawking and gasping at the same thing.

“Is that Park Gunho from Class 9?”

“Yeah, dude. I heard him talking shit about Na Jaemin the other day, and— oh! Ouch. That’s gotta hurt.”

“Holy shit, is that blood?”

“Where the hell are the teachers?”

You managed to squeeze in between two of your classmates, looking through the glass and right at the crowded spectacle in the courtyard— just in time to watch Na Jaemin land a crunchy punch into Gunho’s nose that has you wincing, even when the fight is happening from several feet away. 

At this point, the other guy is barely standing on his feet. Practically limping when your demon of a seatmate twists his arm behind, only to shove a kick into his back, sending him straight to the dusty ground. You watch as Na Jaemin stomps a foot into the poor guy’s knuckle’s. You can’t hear Park Gunho from here, but you can feel his choked up yelp penetrating into your skin and shuddering into your bones. Holy shit. This guy is a fucking monster. And you almost just offered yourself up to him like an idiot.

The worst part about it is the fact that Na Jaemin looks like he’s having the time of his life. There’s this crazed look on his face as he walks up to Gunho who’s trying to lip away— only to be yanked by the hair and slammed back into the ground— pinned down by Na Jaemin’s foot as the latter huffs out a grin, and says something that fails to reach your ears.

Needless to say, you’re horrified. This could have been you. 

Na Jaemin seems to have heard your thoughts because right at that moment, he snaps his head up, pinstruck gaze shooting through the windows of your classroom— looking directly at you.

Your blood runs cold. You gulp.

Someone draws the curtains back down. “Fuck, you don’t think he say our faces, do you?” You feel yourself stumble back, and with lightheaded steps, you guide yourself to your assigned seat, and start praying to whatever’s up there that Na Jaemin did not recognize you from down there. 

Much to your relief, he doesn’t return upon the right of the afternoon bell. He comes back between fifth and sixth period, looking like he’s in the best mood he’s ever been throughout your first week here, and it drives an even deeper pit of dread in your stomach.

The classroom grows colder as he comes nearer to your desk. He haphazardly draws the chair next to you back, you flinch, and he sets himself down with satisfied huff, right before assuming his usual position— arms crossed on the desk, serving as his pillow for the rest of the class day. “Oi,” he muffles out to the only person he could be talking to right now— you. There’s still blood on his uniform sleeve. You start to feel nauseous. “Wake me when the bell rings.”

You thought that that fight between him and Park Gunho was the worst thing you’ll ever witness in Ganghak.

Turns out, things would just get worse from here).

*‎

“All rise! The court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Bae Joohyun, presiding.”

It takes all the strength in your body to get up and not fall over from a mere gust of wind from the courtroom’s ventilation system. You’re exhausted. You haven’t gotten any sleep last night from the crippling anxiety of what’s waiting for you today. It took everything in your power to just look presentable for today’s trial. 

You’re a shell of a human being— that much is obvious considering you’re one step behind when Judge Bae instructs everyone to be seated. 

“We are here on the case of Yoon Naksung, Hong Hyunjae, and Ma Gildong versus Na Jaemin. Is the prosecution ready to proceed?”

“Yes, your honor.”

“Is the defense ready to proceed?”

“Yes, your honor.” No, you’re fucking not. You did in fact manage to meet with Na Jaemin one last time yesterday, and you barely managed to acquiesce something of an agreement out of him— most likely because he was threatened by Mark. But you’re not sure if that threat was strong enough for him to actually cooperate with you today.

“Very well. Prosecution, you may make your opening statement.”

Speaking of the bastard, you notice from the corner of your eye Na Jaemin’s unabashed yawn while Jung Sungchan introduces himself and his clients. God. This is a sickening set up— him sitting directly to your right. It’s like this day was designed specifically to make you feel like you’re back in that hell. More than anything, you just want this over and done with. 

“Thank you. May I request the defense to make your opening statement.”

As you make your way to the designated podium, you cross paths with Jung Sungchan. He shoots you an over confident grin and walks past you with his nose high. You chew down a string of swears and curses. Every single man you’ve been dealing with as of late is determined to ruin your life. You hope they all run out of toilet paper every time they have to shit in a public restroom. You hope their zippers get caught every time they have to zip up their pants.

“Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen, the opposing counsel, a pleasant morning.” At this point, your soul is still completely detached from your body. Your mouth is practically moving all by itself as you do your introduction. “The prosecution argues that my client, Na Jaemin, is guilty for disturbing the peace and three counts of physical injury against Yoon Naksung, Hong Hyunjae, and Ma Gildong.” As you say this, your eyes and your eyebags trail across the prosecution’s table, locking eyes with the latter two as you scan past them. “We acknowledge that our party has done some injury to the witnesses. There is a fault in that. However, it is a well understood doctrine that two faults don’t make a right.”

If your client can’t cooperate to save his own ass, those two better do.

They’re smarter than Na Jaemin. They know what’d come for them if they don’t. 

“Your honor, the witnesses have acted in pari delicto, sustaining equally grave injuries against my client, and therefore have no right to seek legal relief. A verdict of guilt against my client would be a grave mockery to our justice system when the ones seeking justice are equally at fault. We hope that you will see the wisdom in our defense. Thank you very much.”

The moment you return to your seat and Jung Sungchan is called first to make their case, your brain continues moving in autopilot. You’re so tired. You’re so damn tired. You know that you should be setting Na Jaemin straight right now, but you can’t find it in yourself to even talk to him without bursting a blood vessel. Jung Sungchan continues to present their evidence— affidavits from his witnesses, a janky recording of Na Jaemin and the other three leaving a bar located right on the cusp of Yeongdeungpo and Mapo, separately where they’d allegedly first bumped into each other, and the same exiting the frame. 

Eventually, he calls Na Jaemin to the witness stand. The air refuses to enter your lungs as the bailiff leads him up the courtroom. You’ve re-oriented him with what he has to do yesterday. You close your eyes, press your palms together underneath the table, and mutter out pleas and manifestations that your instructions managed to get through his thick skull, that an angel would somehow possess him today and prevent him from screwing you over.

But you haven’t done enough good deeds in your lifetime to be granted this one wish.

Jung Sungchan asks him if he admits to being the person who caused Yoon Naksung and the rests’ injuries.

Na Jaemin responds with a shit eating grin saying, “Yeah, I fucking did it.” 

Your face contorts in horror. Your eyes fly wide open, blood draining from your cheeks. Oh, fuck. Oh, fucking hell, please no. Your demon sent client looks like he wanted to elicit his kind of reaction from you— smiling at you from the witness stand, and you feel your nails dig into your clenched palms, biting into the thin skin of your flesh.

To make matters worse, he doubles down. He’s determined to kill you right here and now. “That guy nearly pissed himself when I socked him in the—”

“Your honor!”

This is a stupid fucking move to make, but you’re panicking. And that very panic easily seeps out of your skin and burrows into the notice of your opponent from the other table. Jung Sungchan’s eyes are both sparking incredulously and victoriously at this pretty blatant concession. To think your own client would fuck you over. You’re about to cry. You’re fuming. You’re dying from embarrassment.

“I’d— I’d like to request a short recess to meet with my client.”

Judge Bae narrows her eyes at you. “Overruled.” Yeah, you didn’t expect that to be granted. Fucking hell. You sink back into your seat in defeat, the dread that had once only been creeping up to you now completely swallowing you whole. “Counsel, please continue with your questioning.

No, it’s okay. This is fine, you think to yourself. You still have your witnesses. You’re not totally screwed yet. Maybe that would be enough to dismiss this damned case. Maybe that would be enough to let you walk away scot free.

“Ahem,” Jung Sungchan clears his throat. “Na Jaemin-ssi. Can you tell us the events that unfolded after the four of you left the bar?”

Silence.

“Na Jaemin-ssi…?”

“I don’t feel like answering.”

You let out a muffled noise as you bury your face in your hands. Your face is burning. Not only is he trying to screw you over, he wants to mortify you in front of everyone here.

“Defendant.” Judge Bae Joohyun has decided to intervene. “Are you…invoking your right against self incrimination?”

You almost let out an anguished cry and slam your forehead against the table when Na Jaemin responds with a, “Sure.”

The bailiff escorts him back to your table, and he’s all smiles when he sits down. Is he happy now that he’s thrown a big ass fucking wrench in your plans? Does he not give a fuck that he might get incarcerated as long as he sees you miserable? What a sadomasochistic psychopath, you hope he burns in hell.

“You don’t look too good, attorney,” you hear him chipper from beside you. 

Your head snaps to the side. You hear a crash from inside your ears.

For the first time, you look this son of a bitch dead in the eye— and you might not have a mirror, but you don’t think you’re looking at him pretty pleasantly. In fact, you can feel your own self going lightheaded from the sheer animosity darting through blood vessels in your brain.

Jung Sungchan calls Ma Gildong to the stand, and you turn your head back to the front. Sure, the bastard next to you might have thrown a wrench into your plans, but you still have a few working cogs left— and they better fucking work properly. You think you still have that same, manic look in your eyes when you meet Gildong’s gaze from across the courtroom because he visibly gulps and clears his throat.

Jung Sungchan starts questioning him, and he does just as well as you hoped (unlike the last guy). That rookie attorney gets caught off guard when his client answers with a stuttering, “I—I don’t remember,” in response to Jung Sungchan’s request to recount who started the fight that night. “It all happened suddenly. It was hard to tell exactly who.”

“Witness Ma Gildog,” the judge intercepts once again. “In the affidavit you submitted, you stated that the defendant was the one who started the altercation without warning. What is the meaning of this?”

Ma Gildong looks at you. You look him dead in the eye and he promptly looks away with a hard swallow.

“I…I only wrote that because Naksung hyung told me to.”

Fuck yes.

“We—were were all drunk when it happened. It was hard to tell who started the fight. I didn’t even want to pursue this case, he—he was just pissed that that guy got more punches in.”

“What?! What the hell are you talking about?!”

“Order!”

You watch as the bailiff tries to settle Yoon Naksung down. You stifle down a smile. This whole trial wouldn’t have been necessary if he had only been as cooperative as the other two. God, you wouldn’t have needed to deal with this headache either. 

You hear Judge Bae set down the gavel.  “There seems to be some unresolved issues with the prosecution side,” she starts with a sigh. “In this case, let us have a short recess. We will reconvene after thirty minutes.”

Thirty minutes. That’s just fucking perfect.

“Recess? Are we having a snack break, attorne—”

“Please allow us to use one of your conference rooms.” You quickly shoot up and cut off Na Jaemin, a polite stance directed at the bailiff near you. “That would be alright, right?”

The way the bailiff looks at you makes you come to the conclusion that you don’t look exactly sane right now. Nevertheless, he humors you and leads both you and Na Jaemin to one of the available conference rooms in the district court. It’s hard to grasp the fact he is being very docile right now, lazily looking around with cuffed hands before him as he trails beside you, under the watchful eye of the court sheriff.

A door is opened before you. The moment the bailiff allows you and your client and closes the door behind, you swivel your heels, grab Na Jaemin by the fucking collar, and ram him against the wall with a loud rattle.

Your years and years of disdain for this guy just came to a breaking point today.

You’ve had fucking enough of his difficult attitude.

“Listen.” Your voice comes off as a hiss more than anything. You hear the sound of his handcuffs clatter when you shove him harder against the wall. You feel your nails dig into your palms through the collar of his shirt. You’re beyond livid. “I am trying my god damned best to get you out of here, Na Jaemin-ssi. You’re the last person I want to help. You’re the last person I could give a shit about, but here I fucking I am— fighting tooth and nail for you, for christ’s sake. I literally had to build up a defense out of nothing just to clear you from incarceration. All I asked is for you to not throw a fit, to follow my damned script, to sit still and still pretty for the rest of this stupid trial, and you couldn’t even fucking do that?”

Much to your surprise, Na Jaemin looks pretty much caught off guard. Not intimidated by any means, but he does keep his mouth shut, repeatedly blinking his somewhat widened eyes at you— the only other expression you’ve ever seen from him other than a scowl and that bastardized grin of his.

Another beat of silence. Your upper lip twitches into a snarl. “Useless fuck.” 

You roughly let go of him with a grunt and roll back your shoulders, facing your back to him and release a sigh. Whew. That felt so fucking good. 

Without another word, you take quick strides out the conference room, greeting the bailiff outside with a sweet and refreshed smile, maintaining that same air as you return back to the courtroom, an uncharacteristically cooperative Na Jaemin in tow.

The trial resumes. He doesn’t do anything stupid again after that because you’ve decided to completely remove him from the equation. Ma Gildong and Hong Hyunjae submitted new affidavits as evidence. Jung Sungchan and Yoon Naksung are red-faced and look like they’re sitting on burners from hell— even more so when it’s finally your turn to present your case, speaking before the court with a now clear head and your cards in place. When you call Dr. Qian Kun to the stand to attest to Na Jaemin’s physical exam result, the prosecution table is practically deflated in defeat by then.

You return to the defendant’s table. Your shoulders haven’t felt this light in weeks. Even lighter when the court finishes deliberation, and Judge Bae announces the final verdict.

“In light of the criminal charges against Na Jaemin—”

You inhale sharply.

“The court finds insufficient evidence to declare his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”

Yes. Yes. Fuck, yes.

“Now, the civil liabilities attached to this case— the witnesses’ participation in the aforementioned offenses creates a unique situation. When both parties are at equal fault or in pari delicto, neither the courts nor law will grant relief to the parties. Although the defendant, Na Jaemin, had indeed inflicted less serious physical injuries against the witnesses, the witnesses have inflicted the same upon the defendant.”

Oh, fuck yeah.

“This court hereby dismisses the case without prejudice for want of prosecution. Court is adjourned.”

There is no one happier in this court than you right now. You lock eyes with Jung Sungchan from across the room. You stick your tongue out because you don’t give a damn anymore.

You’re free. You don’t have to deal with Na Jaemin ever again. You’re fucking free.

*‎

Well, you spoke too soon.

“What...what are you doing here…?”

Four days later, you see the very bastard sitting on your chair at the JSS office. He’s swiveling around, stopping the turn with a foot down to look at you. “Oh,” he starts. “Took you fucking long enough.”

Seriously. What have you done to deserve this? Nevermind, you’ve done a lot of things to deserve ten years worth of bad karma, but that’s neither here nor there. You’d just gotten back from a meeting with one of your clients— a normal client: a sweet, old lady who was drafting her last will and testament to make sure none of her nutjob sobs get even a percentage from her estate. 

The meeting ran longer than expected because the lady kept trying to ask you if you’re single and would be interested to meet one of her nephews. So, you’d just returned back to the office at 6 p.m., most of your co-workers having clocked out already, only to be bitch slapped in the face with this psycho again, not even a week since you’ve last seen him.

You ignore him, eyes flitting up to the direction of your boss’s office. The light is still on. You grit your teeth. This son a bitch’s entry was permitted by the other son of a bitch. If he’s miserable, he should keep his misery to himself.

“Hey, attorney. I’m tryna talk to you.”

“Y—yes?” you choke out, taking a step back when Na Jaemin rises to his feet. God damn it. Your outburst mid-trial was an isolated case as a result of your pent up emotions. You can’t be brave anymore— and he notices.

There’s a slight raise in his brow when you flinch back, a barely visible smile playing on his face. It’s almost like this bastard can smell fear, and you’re completely lathered in it. “You were pretty gutsy enough to swear at my face and shove me around the other day,” he says, voice low. “What happened to all that spunk, attorney?”

You bite down the swear at the tip of your tongue. “I sincerely apologize for my inappropriate behavior that day.” You’re doing your damn best to keep your head down, but it’s increasingly difficult when this guy is trying to get all up in your space. “Any—anyhow. What business do you have with JSS, Na Jaemin-ssi?”

A flip switches. Na Jaemin suddenly looks very annoyed.

“Ugh. Right,” he grunts, digging into his inner jacket pockets like it’s a chore before pulling out an envelope. A really thick envelope. Your eyes widen. He hands it over to you. “The boss wanted to give his extra thanks.”

Extra thanks for risking your life to release one of his mutts. Holy shit. You say nothing as you take the envelope from his hands, the weight of the paper bills pulling you down heavier than they’re supposed to be. You clear your throat and stuff it into the bag you’ve yet to set down on your desk. “Why didn’t he come in person?”

“He’s out on business,” Na Jaemin flatly replies. Then, there’s a twinge on his tongue when he follows it up, “Why? You want to see him that badly?”

The fuck? That very through slips through expression for a second. Na Jaemin clocks this. 

A grin takes over his expression. He releases a bare laugh when he walks past you with a hand on your shoulder. “I gotta hand it to you. You’re pretty damn good at pulling shit out of your ass out of nothing.” 

Your breath hitches when you feel a firm squeeze. Na Jaemin releases you with a hum and a pat and finally starts fucking leaving.

“See you around, attorney.”

When you’ve confirmed that the psycho has finally left, you immediately lunge for your chair and release a long and hefty breath.

Jesus fucking christ. How many times do you have to tell these Nalkeutta bastards that you never want to see their faces again? Not enough, apparently. Because the next day, Mark Lee makes a visit to your office again. He greets you a good morning and you quietly tell him to leave you alone and never talk to you again. He laughs and disappears into Doyoung’s office for the next two hours, before stopping by at your desk again to inquire about your desk nameplate preferences.

“Do you prefer acrylic or marble?” he asks, peeking out from behind your desktop computer.

“Gold,” you soullessly respond. “Avenir font. Engraved. Heavy enough to knock a man unconscious with one blow.”

“Very particular.” Your eyes flit up to see his pleasant smile, and it just ruins your day further. It gets worse when Kim Doyoung follows not long after him. “Oh, Mr. Kim,” Mark greets. “I was just about to head out.”

“Yes, allow me to accompany you down to the lobby, Mr. Lee,” Doyoung chimes in. You look up at him as he leers down at you, noticing that you are, in fact, here. “Congratulations on yet another winning case, attorney.”

He’s five days late. “Thank you. Are you gonna give me my own office yet?”

“You know very well JSS isn’t in the position to grant you that.”

Very expected response, but you’re annoyed anyway. They finally leave you alone so you can mentally curse them once you die from overwork and overexertion. Indeed, you know very well that JSS isn’t in the best spot right now. Your firm’s reputation has been slowly nosediving lately— fully getting tanked recently because of your latest acquittal of Na Jaemin.

The general public has been questioning your integrity as a law firm. That much is fucking expected when you’re partnered with the biggest crime organization in the district. It’s not that this partnership is a recent thing. But with the establishment of a new law firm within your territory, the GP now has a point of comparison to notice just how many obvious criminals JSS has helped to subvert the rule of law.

These articles and nasty forum posts have been the source of Kim Doyoung’s stress as of late. During the next few weeks, you watch his mood sour and sour by the day after every meeting with the higher-ups.

The source of the problem is obvious, but it’s not like JSS can just cut ties with Nalkeutta to clean its name. In fact, it would the dumbest move ever, practically industry suicide considering Mark Lee and his company is your highest paying client. Not only that. All of the firm’s employees practically have immunity from the hefty protection fees all Yeongdeungpo residents have to pay weekly just to pay the streets. And you don’t want to make an enemy out of Nalkeutta either by cutting them off. Your firm is caught in between rock and a hard place with no easy way out.

“I think the boss has started to grow white hairs lately,” Jungwoo tells you over coffee in the breakroom. 

“Why…are you looking at his hair?” you ask, almost worriedly. Jungwoo simply shrugs and you two watch as Kim Doyoung stomps into the breakroom in a fit again to angrily snatch a glass and nearly rip the fridge open for the pitcher of lemon water you started to make every morning, overpouring into the glass before chugging it clean and slamming the glass down on the counter.

He didn’t even ask for permission. What a monster.

Anyhow, you could give less of a shit about JSS’s steadily dwindling reputation. This ain’t your problem to fix. It’s your higher up’s problem. It’s Kim Doyoung’s problem, and— quite frankly— the peak of your week is seeing his grumbling swears every time he stomps out of another admin meeting, watching him scratch at the growing grey hairs at the back of his head through his private office like it’s your own personal TV show. 

It’s such a great sight to see. Added to the fact that you haven’t received a call from Nalkeutta lately, whether it be for consultations or just simple blotter charges, they haven’t been bothering you at all. In short, you’ve been having the best two weeks of your life. 

It comes to a peak when Kim Doyoung calls you to his office one day, prompting the assumption that JSS’s reputation situation has become way, way worse to the point that the firm needs the help of its rank and file employees like you to settle the matter. 

“Damn, good luck. Let me know what’s up,” Jungwoo sends you off.

Honestly, you’re looking forward to having a front row seat to Kim Doyoung’s meltdown, if things have gotten as bad as you think. Your knuckles tap against the wooden entrance to his office, and you’re filled with a longing envy when he tells you to come in because damn— must be nice to have an office of his own. Why does he always have a stick up his ass when he’s got his own 150 square feet kingdom where he can do whatever he wants?

“Come in.”

Muct to your surprise, however, Kim Doyoung looks well rested today.

The moment you step in, you notice that his usual constipated expression is nowhere to be found on his face. In fact, his skin is perfectly clear. His white button up is crisp and tidy. His glasses are shining. His hair is neat and styled— as though it hasn’t been run through a million times today.

Whoa. What the hell? Who is this? Who is this man in front of you?

“How has your work been, attorney?” he starts, elbows on the desk, chin resting on interlocked fingers. 

You tentatively make your way closer to his desk, slightly unnerved at this sudden disposition switch. “The same as usual.”

“That’s good to hear,” he hums. He’s humming. Kim Doyoung is humming. What? He sets his fingers on a folded piece of paper that’s been sitting on his desk, promptly pushing it forward to you. “Read this.” You’re beyond creeped out. You have no idea what’s going on, but you follow instructions anyway, inching a step closer to peel the paper from the glass surface of his desk, and unfold it in your hands. 

He wants you to read it. So, you do.

The moment your eyes register the heading, your neck cranes, squinting. “Sir,” you say, holding the paper down. “Are you sure you gave me the correct sheet?”

“Yes, yes,” he affirms, waving a hand in the air. “Please continue reading.”

You do. You read the heading once again. LETTER OF RESIGNATION, in bold and all caps. Followed by today’s date. Followed by your fucking name.

The paper wrinkles in your grasp. Haha. You don’t remember writing a resignation letter. “Sir,” you start again, voice coming off as a weak wheeze. “There must be some kind of mistake.”

“There’s no mistake,” Doyoung confirms, spinning a pen between his fingers before pushing it forward to you in the same manner as he did with the resignation letter in your hands— your resignation letter. The letter that says you’ve found better prospects elsewhere and sincerely value the experience and growth you’ve had with this firm. What the fuck is this bullshit? You don’t fucking understand. “Would you please affix your signature at the bottom, attorney? I didn’t have your e-signature. That’s why I had to call you out today.” 

Your stomach drops to the very depths of your gut. “You can’t just fucking do this,” you say with gritted teeth. Kim Doyoung readjusts his glasses and responds with a sigh.

“Attorney,” he starts. “You’re well aware of the problem our firm has been facing as of late, correct?” You nod. He continues. “It’s a difficult situation. However, Nalkeutta and JSS have managed to reach an amicable compromise.”

Oh no. Oh, god, do. He can’t do this to you. He can’t fucking do this to you.

“Starting today, you will no longer be JSS’s Junior Associate. You will be working as a private lawyer for Nalkeutta Security Company.”

“You fucking sold me out!”

“I did not ‘sell you out’. Think of it as a promotion.”

Your mouth is hanging open. Your blood is boiling to the point of evaporation. The resignation is a crumpled mess at this point. You slam it back down on his desk. “I can’t even get my fucking severance pay if I sign this damn thing!”

“I’m sure the benefits you’ll receive at Nalkeutta would outweigh any amount of a severance pay that JSS can offer you,” your boss— former boss— flatly replies. “Now. Please sign the letter.”

Your head is spinning. You’re nauseous as fuck. It’s not like you can just run away. Mark Lee would have your fucking head. Sure, you hate working under Kim Doyoung, but at least it made you feel like an actual lawyer, serving only as an occasional cleanup dog for that damned wretched company. With this, you’re not just dipping your toes into organized crime. You’d be fucking drowning in it.

“Sign right there— yes. Perfect. Thank you for your cooperation, attorney. It was a pleasure working with you.”

Nalkkeutta has officially ensnared you in its burning jaws, and you’ve got no way of getting out unscathed.

fire and brimstone (and you’re a moth made of gasoline). © hannie-dul-set, 2025.

[towasdandelion]

Telling them they were the ones you wanted to give the bottle to Part 2

[Based on the Ep17. Towa, Yuri, Lyca, Subaru]

I swear it wasn't on purpose, but in this one I basically gathered the abandoned ones + Subaru.. Anywaysssss

Towa was definitely feeling jealous. Why did Haru and Seaweed hair get to hang out with you for 3 days straight on some tropical Island but not him? It's unfair. However, he forgets about his grudge as soon as he sees your next words. His precious Dandelion just confessed to him! Now, there's no time to waste. He gets very excited, telling you to come meet him right away. He wants to take you somewhere where it's just the two of you. You're only his from now on.

Lyca definitely didn't like being left out either. Such a good chance for a trip, and snatched by the blonde gigolo and that moth-eaten casanova! Though at least it gave him a chance to prove that he's doing fine on his own. Sorry but, don't expect him to know the meaning of the bottle. Of course, he did hear about the mission from Rui. But since he wasn't going, he didn't really care about such "details". So yeah. You're going to have your crush on him exposed to Rui.. But hey, at least he knows the meaning now! And he's quite happy about it.

Tsk. Yuri is far too busy to go on some stupid mission on some stupid Island anyways! (He's salty) I mean, he does have a lot of medical work to take care of and even if he's alone, so what? He's capable enough. It feels.. weird to him, when he sees your text about the bottle. Do you really mean that? He'll have to make sure by telling you to come over. But he's going to disguise it with a check up of course. It's not like he wants to hear you say it in person or anything like that..

I think I just made a gathering of the jealous ones.. though Subaru makes it look a bit less obvious. Of course he's happy you all came back safely but.. he wishes he was the one spending time with you, not them. He won't really act on his feelings, keeping up his polite and calm demeanor. His mood improves significantly when you confess to him, and he can't believe his luck. You were there with 6 handsome ghouls, yet you thought about him? He's not going to let this chance go to waste. He has to see you and confess his own feelings.

[daisyvisions]

[12:17AM] - Love and Death (e.s)

Warnings: Smut (18+, minors DNI), roommate!Eric, voyeurism, masturbation (both m! and f!), use of s*x toys, clumsy and pervy Eric (if you think about it), allusion to smut, smut, and more smut 😉 Word count: 0.8K

A/N: We cheered! Another writing I managed to do hehe tagging @deoboyznet @aimeecarreros @winterchimez @snowflakewhispers

Thinking about roommate!Eric, who can't stop thinking about you ever since he accidentally heard you pleasuring yourself through the thin walls of your shared apartment.

Look, it's not his fault, okay? Well… maybe it was? To him, it definitely was not his fault at all! He hadn't told you he was coming home earlier than expected that night, so you took it as an opportunity to have some alone time with yourself since you needed to de-stress badly.

And you were really going to town with your trusty vibrator, chasing that sweet release that seemed so hard to reach tonight for some reason. So amidst the constant whines and moans you were making, you hadn't heard Eric's door close.

At first, Eric didn't even notice the sound coming from your room since he had his headphones on. But as soon as he took the headphones off… he heard it.

The prettiest sound to ever linger in the air. A sound so sweet he felt like honey was dripping from his ears. He nearly felt his own two feet floating, slowly gravitating to the source of the sound.

And when he heard the voice curse under its breath, that's when he realized it wasn't a figment of his imagination but rather just his roommate on the other side of the wall.

He could feel the blood pumping south to his dick, his soft member now growing hard because of thinking of all the positions he would get you in, and especially how your lips would feel against his. He shouldn't be thinking like that at all!

But truth be told, it was hard not to since he had always harbored a crush on you but never said anything to avoid scaring you off. You two had a good friendship and he planned on keeping it that way… right?

He didn't even realize he was palming himself at this point. He needed to see how you looked like sprawled on your bed immediately, willing to risk it all in the name of love desire.

To his luck, you forgot to completely close your door as he slowly nudged the door with his fingers, the warm light seeping out along with the angelic sound of your moans becoming louder. As soon as his eyes found your naked figure on the bed, he was completely drawn like a moth to a flame.

You were definitely going to be the death of him.

Your hair formed a halo around your head, your core glistening under the warm light, you looked so ethereal. Eric was so entranced by you he didn't even realize his hand had slipped beneath his sweatpants and held his member in a tight grip.

Your face started contorting more and more as you kept on thrusting your toy inside you. Shit, were you going to cum already? Is that your orgasm face? Eric could feel himself getting close to the edge with you, wishing he was helping you get closer to the edge. Everything was going so well, both of you nearing your highs… until Eric's phone suddenly rang.

You gasped loudly, halting your movements when you heard the sound. Eric frantically tried to turn down the call, finding the button that would shut the noise. From the instant panic and wanting to make a run for it before you saw him, his legs somehow tangled themselves causing him to stumble inside your room.

You instantly cover yourself with the nearest pillow, about to lose your shit on Eric until he started rambling.

“I’m-so-sorry-I-know-I-should’ve-called-when-I-got-home-I-didn’t-know-you-were-awake-until-I-heard-your-moan-and-it-was-so-hot-I-had-to-see-it-for-myself-and-I-know-that’s-pervy-of-me-but-fuck-please-don’t-see-me-less-I’m-so-hard-right-now-that’s-not-the-point-fuck-sorry-why-did-I-say-that?-I’ll-just-leave-now-sorry-for-interrupting!”

Dead silence filled the air after Eric had practically rapped his apology. Oh, he's done for, you’re going to kick him out of the apartment tonight, ex-communicate him from your life, tell of your friends to watch out for this perv, maybe even tell your other friends to beat him up and-

“…You think my moans are hot?” You mumble under your breath. Eric looks up at you confused at first, but decides to answer your question without hesitation.

“The prettiest one I’ve ever heard…” He watches the gears turn in your head as you process his answer. A small smirk appearing at the corner of your lips. “Well? What are you waiting for? Come here and help me finish.”

You swear in that moment you had never seen Eric move at lightning speed to take off his clothes and hop on your bed, help you reach your high and even find the energy to go for rounds and rounds after.

Oh he was definitely going to be the death of you.

[ladykailitha]

Around the World Part 4

Hello! And we're back with this lovely story and we have finally made it out of Utah.

In this we have an encounter of the voodoo kind, Robin wins over two teenaged boys, and Chrissy realizes she hadn't been doing her job as cover for the boys very well.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3  

~

They continued their little haunted tour. Kooky curio shops, haunted mind shafts, Big Foot sighting locations, Moth Man hunted in Chicago as well as the OG in Virginia. They stayed at spooky inns and visited weird museums. They went to the French Quarter in New Orleans and had their fortunes read by a Voodoo priest. And even went on a river tour to see alligators.

The fortune teller’s shop was amazing. Everything they hoped they would get from a quirky little shop in the French Quarter. They didn’t care that it was probably mostly for show and tourists.

The shopkeeper was a thin, black man with tattoos all over his body. He had dark brown eyes that were almost the same color as the pupil, but they had a merry glint tot them Eddie was instantly charmed by.

“Welcome to my shop,” he purred when they first entered. “What can I get you fine folks? A good luck charm for the long haired gentleman? A love potion for the pretty lady? A curse for the red-head? Or maybe even your fortunes told...” And while Steve wasn’t referenced in the last pitch, he looked straight at him when he said it.

“Does the curse need to be for anyone in particular,” Chrissy asked, “or can I have one on standby for the next time a man calls me ‘little lady’?”

The shopkeeper chuckled. “Must have a bit of the person in question to curse them, I’m afraid, but can I interest you in an antique hat pin? It’s what ladies used to do in the old times to deter such men.”

“Sold!” Chrissy laughed. “Show me what you’ve got.”

And he did had three or four beautiful long and sharp hatpins. She picked the one with the emerald and sterling silver pin. She probably paid more than she should have, but she really didn’t care, it was beautiful.

Robin pointed to the painted rat skull behind him. “How much for that?”

“The pretty lady has a discerning eye.” He pulled the skull off the shelf and showed it to her.

She picked it up and turned it around. “I’ll buy it,” she said firmly.

He smiled at her and wrung her up, too.

“And what about you two fine gentlemen?” he asked Steve and Eddie. “What can a humble shopkeeper do for you?”

“Actually,” Eddie said with a grin, “could do all our fortunes?”

The shopkeeper smiled. “But of course, I’ll even throw in a nice group special for you all buying something from me first. $35 for all of you, payment first please.”

Steve smirked. He had a pretty good idea that tourists would come in ask for their fortune, get pissed off at the results and refuse to pay.

“We’ll start with the very pretty lady,” he said after grabbing a medium sized velvet bag. He emptied the bag out of the counter that had raised sides to prevent the pieces from tumbling to the floor. There were small bones, coins, and gem stones that now littered the surface.

“Love is in the cards for you, pretty lady,” he said with a grin. “You know where to find it, just reach out and grab it. It’s okay to be different person to different people, but trust those you love with you true self and sky is your limit.”

Robin blushed and murmured her thank yous. He looked up at Eddie next. He pushed all the items back into the bag and gave it a good shake, concentrating on Eddie as he poured out the bag once again.

“This trip you are on is more about self-discovery then you want to let on,” the shopkeeper said slyly. “You want to appear cool and collected all the time, but you don’t have to be. There is nothing wrong with being you. Be the child you never got to be.”

Eddie blushed and ducked his head. He wished he could shove a locket of hair in front of his face, but he had learned early on in his career that his best disguise was pulling his hair out of his face. And of course he steered clear of metal chains, black denim, and leather jackets.

He then turned to Chrissy after dumping out the bag a third time. “You are strong and powerful. A good friend and a better boss. But you spend too much time on the job. You’re worried that either it will have burned down without you or worked too well in your absence and won’t need you anymore. Learn to let go and be the better friend. Also your love life will flourish too.”

Then he turned to Steve. He cocked his head to the side and looked him a few moments before he shook out the bag for a final time. He leaned over what Steve thought was just an comprehensible mess. He looked back up at Steve warily and then kind of leaned back.

“You are one very complicated fellow,” the shopkeeper said giving Steve the side eye. “Your soul is split in two, but it’s a clean split. You like having two lives. You like the comfort and security of being yourself and someone else.” He pointed to Eddie. “This one could learn a thing or two about being himself from you, it’s that clean.”

He touched a bone and cocked his head the other direction. “One day you will see that to truly be happy you must reunite the two pieces, but for now, enjoy the split.”

Steve smirked. “I plan on it.”

The shopkeeper watched him for a moment before turning back to his fortune. “What you seek from this journey is closer than you think and not what you thought it would be. You thought it was about being free, but you are already free. This journey is about learning.”

“Anything else?” Steve asked. “I seem to be getting a longer reading than my friends.”

“Because these three are but shallow ponds compared to you,” the shopkeeper said wryly. “Everyone else is an easy read. But also they fit together. It’s like sticking your hand in a bag expecting all rubies and pulling out a diamond and three rubies. They weigh the same, but they are not worth the same.”

He started putting the detritus back in the bag. “The thing that is most interesting, is that your friends here would agree with me that you are the diamond. But you would not.”

Steve’s jaw dropped and he tilted his head forward in shock. “Come again?”

“You think of yourself a dross,” the shopkeeper said with a smirk. “You think that given the chance everyone you know would pick someone else, someone better if they came along. You think they’re settling. For shame.”

Steve’s lip began to quiver.

“Shame on you for thinking so little of the people you love,” the shopkeeper admonished. He turned around and rummaged around for something. He turned around and held out a small flannel bag. “There are many names for this, but the one you would recognize is a mojo bag. Keep it in your right pocket and every time you feel like you don’t deserve them, reach into your pocket and it will remind you of the opposite.”

Steve took it bashfully as Eddie leapt forward to talk about some of the weirder aspects of the shop, like the chicken feet and what all the bones were for, to give Steve a moment to compose himself.

Steve looked down at the bag in his hand, thumb rubbing over the soft material. Even if he didn’t believe he was worth keeping, what right did have to think that his friends were horrible people? Because he knew they weren’t.

So if they weren’t bad people, then maybe they did want to hang out with him for him, not in spite of him.

He pulled out his wallet and grabbed a twenty, shoving it into the tip jar. The shopkeeper noticed, but just smiled and shook his head. The advice had been for free, but he would take that tip in good faith.

When they left, their prizes in hand, Steve felt a strange wind send a shiver down his spine. He stopped and looked over his shoulder at the shop behind them. But it was gone. All that was there was a ramshackle building that looked on the verge of falling apart.

But there in the doorway the thin shopkeeper stood. But gone were the vestiges of the Voodoo priest. He wore a smart suit and top hat.

He tipped the hat at Steve with a jaunty wink and then he was gone and so was the strange wind.

“Hey, Steve,” Robin called, “you coming?”

Steve shook off the strange feeling and hurried to catch up with his friends. “Keep you’re shorts on, I’m coming!”

~

If it was was wild, crazy, or just plain silly like the giant clothespin by Claes Oldenburg in Philly while they were there in Pennsylvania for the HH Holmes gravemarker in Yeadon.

They were just having a blast running through the country having fun and doing silly things. Steve was documenting it all on social media, always making sure to tag a place after they left so fans would leave Eddie alone.

The strangest place they found a fan of Eddie’s was definitely the Lizzy Borden B&B.

Eddie had come out of his hotel room and hadn’t had a chance to pull on the hat when a couple of teenagers walked past grumbling about how obsessed their mom was with this true crime bullshit.

And Eddie. Dear Eddie just couldn’t keep his mouth shut. It was out of his mouth before he could even register the words. “Don’t knock true crime, I think it’s cool.”

Now these teenagers whirled around all set to tear into this adult who dared to call them out on their bullshit when they stopped dead cold in their tracks. Their eyes went wide and their mouths dropped.

“Eddie Munson?” the younger of the two boys cried. “Of Corroded Coffin? There is no way!”

Eddie quickly put on his sunglasses and trucker hat. He pressed a finger to his lips and winked. “I’m on vacation.”

The two boys shared an incredulous look.

“There is no way you would choose this place,” the first one said. “It’s lame.”

“The murder of an entire family is lame?” Eddie asked with a smirk. “What are the kids into these days.”

“Yeah,” the younger one said, “but it happened ages ago. Who cares now?”

“Ooh, ooh!” Robin said, having just exited her room. “I do! It’s really super fascinating.” And then she launched into this great big rambling speech about the different theories and who it could have been if it really wasn’t Lizzy like she proclaimed.

She led the two boys like a pied piper all the way to the breakfast nook where she continued to yap at them, waving her arms and talking at a speed Eddie wasn’t a hundred percent sure he could follow.

“They should pay her for that,” Steve said with a huff of laughter as he sat down next to Eddie at the table. “She could take anything ‘boring’ and make it the most interesting thing in the world. It’s how we survived retail together, if I’m honest.”

“She’s cute when she gets animated like that,” Chrissy said dreamily.

“Down, Chrissy,” Eddie warned. “You’re supposed to Steve’s beard for this trip not drooling over Lezzy the Lesbian over there.”

Chrissy sighed, but reined in her longing looks. “How goes the trip for you two, by the way? Is it as hard as you thought it would be? I told Vickie I would keep her updated on how things are going in case she needed to get ahead of something.”

Steve and Eddie shared a look. “It’s actually harder than we thought it would be,” Steve admitted.

“I thought it would be easier with smaller hotels and bed and breakfasts,” Eddie agreed. “But smaller means more intimate in ways we didn’t anticipate.”

“Ooh...” Chrissy grimaced. “It’s harder to get busy when the walls are thinner and the minds more closed off, huh?”

They both nodded.

“Once we get to the British Isles and the rest of Europe, it’ll be easier,” she promised taking Steve’s hand and giving it a squeeze. “They’re more about privacy over there and the walls tend to be stone, and thicker by design.”

Steve let out a shuddering breath. Just two more days and the weight of being seen in America would be soon behind them.

The boys came over with Robin and got pictures with Eddie and then happily skipped back to their parents, excitedly chittering away about meeting Eddie Munson of Corroded Coffin in backwoods Massachusetts.

Eddie smiled as he watched. It was definitely the strangest fan interaction he’s had. Where he became almost an afterthought in the wake of Rambling Robin and her obsession with true crime.

Steve gave his leg a squeeze under the table and they shared a fond smile.

Robin and Chrissy exchanged a look of their own. They couldn’t imagine being that deep in the closet and how much that must have had to hurt.

They silently vowed that they would be better at making sure their besties got more alone time on their European leg of their journey. Because that’s what this trip was for after all.

~

Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9

Tag List: CLOSED

1- @mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog

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[valentine-cafe]

Can I get a Horachta and a Mocha Frapuchino?

The Herrara Husbands with a singer/rockstar AMAB reader! Bottom or vers, and the slow build up of their relationship from virtual strangers to friends, reader unsure if either of them actually like him until it's right In his face.

🍒 𓂃 𝑶𝑹𝑫𝑬𝑹 𝑼𝑷 : croissant & red velvet !! . . . mad doctor & mad scientist ⊹ amab reader .

. ᘛ 𝑓𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔​​​​​​​﹕verse 209 ꮽ  jìngyí & rishen herrera

 𐔌𖹭 ˖ ࣪  who's that ?⠀﹕a charming, snake monster mad doctor and his alluring spider-mantis-moth hybrid, mad scientist husband

ּ  ֗ recepit ℘ ... they're not one to be into rock, but you caught their eye ⊹ cw ٬٬ some dark themes. yandere characters . slight smut

It all started out with you knowing about them and them not knowing you. Rock and big party music usually was not in their palate, unless it involved classical or as a general something a bit slower. You'd only come back from your world tour last saturday. Ending your tour with a bang in your homecity.

Some of their interns and HR workers had been whispering and chatting about the concert. How some wish they could've been there and witnessed it firsthand, how some enjoyed the concert so much they wish they could go back and watch you perform.

One of the country's most influential rockstars up to date. Wording the political faults around the world in poetry thrown into the most beautiful lyrics. With the drums, guitar and sometimes even piano thrown in there.

Jingyi had asked one of his new clinic nurses about you. It was one simple question really. And she had started rambling on and on to each question he asked.

You were from elritea, started out as a nobody that did gigs around the city. Primarily in the clubs around. His poetic ear couldn't deny you wrote incredibly well. . . and yet, getting used to the tunes and the sounnd of your music took a little while.

As did it for Rishen, who was introduced to you and your music by the crazy fangirls in his department, putting some of your songs on during worktime to focus on making formulars for the clinic. It was the first time in, Rishen doesn't know how long. She took the vials and tests down to Jingyi, to get out of the loud environment of people singing and screaming to music.

Rishen and Jingyi agreed on three things about you, however. You had an amazing voice, and a knack of poetry and composition. And it made them wonder. Wherever could they find the little handsome rockstar all of their employees seem to be so passionate about. This would last over several days. A repeat in the weeks, months. They got to know more and more about your music. But what about you?

You knew everything about them. Why, they were your idols! The two people who have inspirered you throughout your life, to do good and help heal the world. What an unfortunate, bittersweet truth that you have yet to meet. Alas, may that fate lay far, far into the future. May the universe be merciful upon your eyes.

You just wanted to watch some Tv. That was all really, but you were instead met by doctor and professor Herrera both answering questions on an interview. And of course, wouldn't the luck be ever in your favor that they were talking about your recent concert?

The interviewer asked more than they knew about you. It wasn't entirely up to your decision whether to be flustered or proud to make them look confused when questions came. What became the cherry on top. Was when Mrs. Herrera proceeds to say: "Well I haven't listened to rock for many years now but. . . This one could definetly be a worthy listen."

Her gaze moves up to Jingyi, who nods along. Before taking a chance to speak too: "I agree with my wife. I have never involved myself with rock. Yet, this man's lyrics, they are wonderful. . ."

How could you keep the smile on your face from widening, a grin plastered onto your features. Your idols were actually talking about you? The same who put peace across the continent in present times. The same who try to work towards world peace? This is the point. All that you've sung about. How far you've come. This was the recognition you strived for, To even inspire your inspirations.

The second the interview was done, you turned off your tv and ran to your phone. Called your band manager and told him to immediately send a notice to the Herrera husbands you were honored to receive such compliments from them. And that if they ever wished to meet, you would be more than willing.

Anxiety would boil in your muscles as each day passes. Why should you be so nervous? That have a large amount of letters and mail delivered to them every day, your letter is most likely still being processed in the box. Though at the end of the week, you had begun to lose hope.

It wasn't until band practice had started and your manager, wheezing, ran over to you with a maroon red envelope waving in his hand. His thick arm wiping away the sweat that had collected on his brow. "Mail, from the Herrera estate."

Estate?! This was sent directly from their private mail— You scarce believe it. With ears ringing from the pounding of your heart. You take the letter in your hand and excuse yourself from the band memebers.

Even the card inside of the envelope was intricately put together. Jetblack cover with gold lining and red roses painted onto the bottom. The Herrera name sealed onto the middle of the card. You gulp down the fat lump that threatened to clog your throat as you open up the card.

"Dearest Mx. ___, you have been formally invited to a dinner at the Herrera manor. In hopes you can come, please send this letter back with your signature signed and a yes below. Should you be unavailable, we shall respect your worktime. Signature will be written and a no will be written in the stead of yes. We shall send it once again, on a different date and time."

You had to sit down on the chair behind you, staring at the card for minutes after reading. Fingers stirring with the adrenaline rush in your body. The giddy feel of being invited so personally by the two made you nauseous with joy and slight performance anxiety. You weren't known to be the most formal of formal. Even the clothes you wear are. . . Maybe no in their fashion.

After enough time of thinking, you sign your name and write yes underneath. Perhaps this is an impulsive decision. But you gotta live a little, right?

Two days later you sit in a car, on the way to the manor and you feel like you're about to vomit all over the place again. The anxiety is killing you. What if you give them a bad first impression. What if you end up saying something and they throw you out? Sure you've said a lot of shit in the past but not in front of your inspirerers. It was nerve jittering to say the least.

Even scarier when a group of dobbermen dogs rush up to the old-fashioned car the second you get out of it. Almost tackle you, while they bark and wag their tails. You didn't recognize it as a welcome and more as a sign to make your way back into the car. Perhaps this wasn't the bestest of ideas. It wasn't until you heard a loud whistle and "Get back inside all of you. Lady Beatrice, you get back here at once. Your father has many times said he does not wish for your paws to get dirty."

A butler stands in the doorway, regal, but certainly tired as he claps for the dogs to get back. And of course, Jingyi's famous cat, Beatrice.

You look down to see a ball of displeased white and grey fur, hissing at the dogs as it tries to move towards you to get a proper scan. Some people call her Doctor Herrera's personal person scanner. She's the one that tells whether they're worth his time or not. You just smile awkwardly and reach down to move the dogs away from her, and very carefully redirect her out of the sea of black paws and legs.

"Excuse me, there's a lady comin' through," you whisper gently to the dogs. It is also another known fact, nobody touches Beatrice. Oh you only remember when you get the poor cat out of the crowd. Stiffening as it hits you. You immediately let go of the cat and apologize to the butler, who stares back at you wide eyed. But lets out a loud laugh. "For what, I believe lady Beatrice is more than relieved to have been released from that hellscape."

Indeed the huffy cat trots around your ankles and rub against them. The loud purring vibrating against your feet. As big blue feline eyes meet yours as if thanking you. Strange. What an animated cat.

"Goran, has the guest arrived?" A familiar voice calls from behind the butler, who looks over his shoulder. "Yes Mrs. Herrera, he has."

You always thought she was breathtaking on television, but upfront? Being in her presence. You could've sworn you had breath in your lungs just a moment ago, you felt as though your knees were giving out at the mere sight. Head full of dark brown curls, followed by the lethal face that could strike infatuation into anyone's heart. The makeup and the looks. You'd always thought she would do amazing as a model. But her job as the CEO of valence and the head scientist? Oh she could not be any more attractive. And she's smiling at you.

You take off your sunglasses and give a little bow of respect. Spine quick to stretch back in place as you straighten yourself and move towards the stairs, waving the driver off and thanking him for the ride. While the dobbermen dogs and beatrice all trail behind you. The prissy cat jumping straight into her mother's arms as soon as you reach touching distance.

"Mrs. Herrera. I'm more than honoured to be invited here." Your shy words earn a few chuckles from her. Oh they're clear as the sky on a hot summer day. "No need for such formalities. Rishen will do for tonight. Please, my husband is awaiting you eagerly."

It was hard to figure out whether you were thrilled or anxious at the notion Mr. Herrera is waiting for you inside of the dining room. But as you and Rishen walk together, you take a deep breath and do what you do best. "My, I hope it isn't inappropriate of me to say this. A lady like you already knows it. But you look ever radiant tonight. Mrs. . . Rishen."

Maroon mixes with your own eye colour, a surge of shyness and weak knees hit you all over again. As her smile melts your heart. "You're too sweet dear. truly." She laughs and opens up the dining hall. "Between you and I, the suit suits you, however, come in your usual attire next time." She croons, mocking dissappointment as she looks ahead to catch sight of her husband looking out the window. Hands folded behind his back. "We're here, Jingyi."

Black hair shifts against broad and precise shoulders. The strategic movements, meticulous, another breathtaking figure. Smiling at you so politely. "Ah. You've arrived." He greets. Stride quick and elegant, as he moves to shake your hand. So of course, you take it and with a firm shake smile up at the man. "Thank you Mr. Herrera."

"No need. Refer to me as Jingyi, please. Now, what does one like you like to drink I wonder?" The night blossomed into something you had never thought it would. After all these days of fear and worry, you found yourself at ease. In a space where you could converse quite casually. You all had more in common than you thought. Aside from the way you spoke. They were more formal in speech than you. But if anything your more city night slang and talk, amused them a little. You could use that as a way to impress them too of your musical knowledge.

This dinner became many. Sometimes hosted at your penthouse, sometimes hosted at their manor. The three of you became quite the pair of friends, and had multiple interviews with one another. On both the music scene and personal interview programs.

It was only when they began inviting you to their private vacations that you began wondering whether this was a friendship or evolving to something more. Though you had your reasonable doubts. These are two of the most powerful figures in the world. Politicians and highly skilled in stem. It would be more than intimidating than to enter a potential relationship with them. You never know what sort of bounties would be placed on your head if it happened. Sure there might already be a few worldwide considering your political stances and crazy fans but going into potential politics like this? You weren't too sure.

Yet you found yourself beneath the two spouses on repeated occassion. Sprawled across the bed, whimpering and tearing your nails across their skin while you call for their names in mixed fashion. Sending them straight to the point of zenith.

Oh you were such a delectable little thing, how could they ever let you go. Or walk away from them in the first place? They knew of your doubts. They read your journals and diaries. So they worked towards fixing those. Anything to make you theirs.

[boymanmaletheshequel]

Symbolism of Melinoe

💀💭💀💭💀💭💀💭💀💭💀💭💀💭💀💭

Dark goddess of funeral, of nightmares, and of ghosts and the dead, Melinoê is the dual goddess of the light and the day, said to be charred black on one side in her chthonic nature, and bright and white as snow on the other, contrasted by her heavenly half, Melinoe is a goddess to be revered and respected, and here are some of the symbols and sacred icons you can use to do so.

———————-————————————————

•🌈 Colors:

Representative of her dualistic nature, the analogous colors of black and white are the best colors, or rather lack there-of, to iconize and represent this frightening goddess, like a black and white tintype photograph from a nostalgic, forgotten era.

•🐴 Animals:

- Ravens: the most iconic bird of the dead, a specter and epiphet of all chthonic deities, crows are the most obvious choice for an animal to represent the power and idolatry of lady Melinoe.

- Moths: an insect of the night, bound and destined to follow the white light in the dark, moths are rather reminiscent of the lost souls and ghosts guided by melinoe to those who seek them from the afterlife.

•🌸 flowers & Herbs:

- White Poppies. Long considered a symbol of ancient afterlife, and a bringer of nightmares, poppies are often considered a deeply paranormal flower, and it makes since that because of this, they are often seen as being iconic of melinoe, especially the white ones.

- Mhyrr. An incense of great respect and value, myhrr has historically been left as an offering at funerals for the dead, a sign of luck and prospect in the afterlife. This was especially common in ancient Egypt, but there’s also evidence to suggest that it was regarded in a similar way in Ancient Greece during the Hellenistic period!

•🍗 food:

- Pomegranate: as the daughter of Persephone and Hades, pomegranates played a pivotal role in the conception of lady Melinoe, and are a great food offering or libation to her, if one wants to communicate or connect to her, perhaps a good way to do so would be to snack on a palm of pomegranate seeds, or to make a tea from its rind?

•💎 crystals & gemstones:

- Ancestralite. A somewhat rare natural combination of hematite and iron, Ancestralite is considered a great gateway stone to communicating with the spirits of dead ancestors or family members, as well as a stone of protection from death itself. These qualities make it a rather great option for a stone to use in crystal work with lady Melinoe!

- Snowflake Obsidian. Obsidian, a lavic stone that has long been used in darker magic, and especially Chthonic magic, is a natural fit for iconizing Melinoe? And the stones signature black and white “snowflake” speckles are great representation of her dual nature between light and dark, though, any variety of Obsidian will work in theory!

- Jet. Often worn to funerals as intricately carved mourning brooches during the Victorian era, jet is a stone of deep Black Death, and highly representative of mourning and the afterlife, with the history to back it up. I actually own one of these antique brooches, and have found it to hold a very dark, but not evil, energy! Jet is a great, and very absorbing stone to work with in chthonic or black magic!

•🪐 planets:

- The moon. Like almost all chthonic deities, the moon is iconic of lady Melinoe, as the domain of nightmares and ghosts she reigns over is most active when it is at its fullest phase! Take advantage of the moon cycles if you wish to communicate with any chthonic deity, Melinoe included.

•🏅other symbols:

- Graveyard dirt. A common offering or ingredient used in black divination, spirit work, and dark magic, a jar of (ethically sourced, pls don’t dig in peoples graves lmao) graveyard dirt is a perfect offering of loyalty and reverence, or iconic symbol of respect, to the goddess Melinoe, as funerals are perhaps her most sacred event!

So there you have it, some helpful starters to begin your reverence of the symbolism and iconography of lady Melinoe of Hades, daughter of Persephone and Hades, mother of ghosts and nightmares. I hope you learned something about her, and will consider her in your future practices! Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more posts about the intriguing and powerful deities of Helen! 💙🏛️💙

@xxfox0-chillingxx

[sangoziethesimp]

Well, Good luck, babe! | CLORINDE x FEM! READER

Would you do anything to try to stop the feeling? Kissing a hundred boys or even trying to shoot a shot to make it stop. Even if you made excuses, she knows you but she told you so.

The rhythmic slap of water against the gondola was a cruel mockery of your churning heart. Fontaine hadn't changed a bit. The sunrise still bled fiery hues across the water, a mocking promise of a new beginning you wouldn't have. Sitting across from Clorinde, the woman who'd once been your sun and moon, felt like a betrayal of every vow you'd whispered in the dead of night, every stolen kiss under the pale moonlight.

Clorinde, ever the picture of stoicism, was wrapped in a shawl, the familiar crimson of her hair the only splash of color against the muted dawn. But where there used to be a fire that mirrored your own, there was only a polite emptiness. "Are you alright, [Y/N]?" she asked, her voice a chilling echo of the warmth you craved.

You forced a smile, the gesture a shard of broken glass in your throat. "Just… remembering things. This is where it all started, isn't it?"

Clorinde's gaze flickered away, a phantom limb ache settling in your chest. "It was," she said quietly. "The day you chose comfort over us."

The words were a barbed whip, tearing through the flimsy justifications you'd built for years. You and Clorinde, two souls carved from the same storm, had been destined for a life on the edge, a love that burned brighter than any disapproval. But you, a coward wrapped in silk sheets, had chosen the tepid embrace of security over the passionate inferno Clorinde offered.

Years turned into a blur of gilded cages and polite conversations. You married Elian, a kind man with eyes that mirrored Clorinde's but lacked the fire to ignite your soul. Now, with your marriage teetering on the edge of a loveless abyss, you found yourself back in Fontaine, a moth drawn to the flame that could never be yours again.

"Clorinde," you choked out, the past and present blurring into a suffocating fog. "I know I messed up. Everything. But I can't deny it anymore. I love you. Even after all this wasted time."

Clorinde's gaze met yours, a kaleidoscope of emotions swirling within. But before she could respond, a voice, light and tinged with laughter, drifted from the approaching dock. It was a melody you didn't recognize, a melody that wasn't yours.

A woman with cascading blonde hair, her smile as bright as the rising sun, stood there. Her hand, a hand that should have been yours, reached out to clasp Clorinde's. The warmth in Clorinde's eyes, the one you yearned for with a desperation that bordered on madness, was for her.

The weight of realization crashed down on you, a tidal wave of despair. You weren't Clorinde's sunrise anymore, not even a memory. She had built a life, a happy one, and you were a ghost haunting the ruins of what could have been.

Tears streamed down your face, a salty counterpoint to the bitter taste of regret. "Congratulations, Clorinde," you rasped, your voice a broken whisper. "I… I truly wish you all the happiness in the world, even if it's not with me."

Clorinde squeezed the blonde's hand, a silent promise exchanged between them. "Thank you, [Y/N]," she said, her voice devoid of the warmth you craved. "You too. But maybe find your happiness somewhere that doesn't involve reliving the past."

As the gondola glided away, taking you back to a life you now loathed, a single, horrifying thought echoed in your mind. Perhaps some mistakes truly are unforgivable, some sunrises forever out of reach. You were left with the cold comfort of the dawn and the gnawing ache of a love that could have set the world on fire, a love you'd extinguished with your own cowardice.

[faegoddessog]

Day 11: picture that imploded in the fandom

Ok loves, I've decided to try something to stretch myself creatively with this challenge. I'm gonna dribble my drabble and see if I can tie each theme into an actual story that I'll write day by day! We'll see how it goes! Wish me luck!

Here is my ongoing masterlist of this project.

My other works are here if you are interested!

Check out the fun challenge here by @slowsweetlove . Feel free to jump in too!

WARNINGS: Explicitly Mature Content, 18+ only, cock stroking, fellatio, PiV (did ya'll think I'd leave you hanging... no sir-ee)

Day 11: picture that imploded in the fandom.

You let a long line of spit drop onto the cock in your hand. You think this is like lubing up my own dick, if I had one. It heightens the eroticism of the moment. 

“Yes, yes I would love to join you…both,” you say out loud, with just a hint of suggestion. 

He thrusts gently into your hand.

“Mmmm, I’ll text him,” Austin’s voice rumbles in his chest, “later.”  His fingertips dig into your naked hips.  His eyes molten pools of deep blue as he stares at you, his mouth hanging open just a bit. His hair is sticking out in all ways from having your hands buried in it earlier.

“This didn't take long,” you indicate his hard cock by stroking it up and down. 

“I blame you,” he says quickly, reaching up to grab you by the back of the neck. He pulls you down onto his waiting mouth. The TV completely forgotten by both of you. Your lips clash together tongues seeking one another out in a kiss full of desire. 

You pull away, sucking his full bottom lip and playing at it with your tongue. 

“Can I?” your eyes flick to his cock in your hand. 

He nods, only guessing at what you mean, but up for anything. 

You slide back, holding him tall. Wetting your lips,  you lower to his cock. Up close, it looks bigger than it had felt inside you. The veins aren’t prominent, and the little pile of blonde curls at the base is well groomed, adding an element of cuteness to his huge phallus. You rub your lips against his red-tinged pink tip, letting spit dribble in little rivulets down his shaft. 

Austin has one hand tucked up behind his head, the other rubbing along his own thigh. Perhaps his petting was more than mere self-soothing. 

You push him against your pursed lips, then let his shaft win, keeping your mouth tight around him.

He groans, hips shaking in want. 

Your tongue caresses his glands inside your mouth. He tastes like cum and a little like latex.

Pulling away, you suck, but just before he breaks the seal of your mouth you slide back down, flicking his underside with your tongue. Up and down, up and down. Soon your hand joins in the motion, tending to the entirety of his cock. 

Try as he might to not, his ass bunches up underneath him, making him push into your throat. 

“Mmmhmmmm” you moan around him you pull back and push him in deep again. He thrusts, again and again. He is made a god in your mouth.  His panting breaths seizing between his teeth. 

“Oh fuck,” he blurts out. 

You pull away just before he cums, wiping your bottom lip with your forefinger. 

“God that’s good,” he pants. 

The corner of your top lip lifts and you nod your head in acknowledgement of his praise. Your eyes flick to the scattered stack of condoms on the bedside table. He reaches, missing them at first. He can’t bring himself to look away from your talented mouth. Finally his fingers land on one and he thrusts it into your waiting hand. 

You make quick work of rolling it on him. You want him inside you and now.  You lift up, leaning forward. Like moths to the flame, his hands are on your tits, playing at the nipples, kneading gently with his fingers. 

You impale yourself on him, guiding him with a hand.  He sinks in deep, splitting you, stretching you.  Your hips roll in his lap. You begin rocking back and forth, feeling him hit deep inside. 

His phone dings. He utterly ignores it, to the point that you wonder if it was in your mind. 

“I’m going to fuck you until I cum Austin,” you moan, trying to bring yourself back to the moment. 

“Use me, ride me, I’m yours,” he surrenders. 

You do. Rocking back and forth, rubbing your mons on his tight abs. Jesus fucking Christ, he is unbelievably hot under you. His eyebrows bent towards each other in self control and need and want. Just the look of him makes you fuck him faster, your orgasm winding up fast. 

Then, pushed over the brink, you are thrashing on his cock. Spine tingling moans rock your body and your fingertips dig into his chest. 

He roars, letting go of any semblance of control as your pussy grips at him. He fucks up into you so hard. You would have bounced off his lap if his big hands hadn’t been gripping your hips. Holy fuck it’s overstimulating. 

“Fuck fuck fuck FUCK!” you scream. 

“Yes yes yes yes YESSS!” he screams, thrusting hard. Pushing forward, pulling you down. Little jerks of his hips, pumping out his cum inside you.  There is a part of you that wishes there was no condom, that you could feel his cum dripping out. 

You collapse on top of him, your chests heaving together. 

He pets your hair away from your face, kissing your forehead. 

It’s not long before he has you bent over the end of the bed, using your hands behind your back as leverage to fuck into you once again. 

And a little while after that that he laid you on your back and made you flood his face, his fucking gorgeous face, with your juices.

...........

Sometime the next  morning, he is woken by his phone buzzing under his hand.  How it got onto the bed he had no idea. Must have happened in the middle somewhere, when he had grabbed it and silenced it. Fuck, why did people have to bother him when he was so deliciously busy!

He opens the message, one of many, from his publicist. 

Anything we need to say about this?  

He clicks the link, it is a fan sighting of you and him last night under the arch, complete with pictures. He had his arms around you, staring into your eyes, his mouth inches from yours in a decidedly ‘not just friends’ kind of way. The angle was a little high, like it had been taken from the bus. The fucking bus with his own promo on it. There were several comments below it. At a glance they ranged from “Good on him!” to “That motherfucker!” He didn’t pay any sort of heed to the comments, it wasn’t good for his soul.  He crept out of bed, snagging his robe. He stumbles through the living room, certain muscles  protesting from their work last night, and made his way out onto the balcony.  He rings his publicist, he would always rather talk than text.

“Hey Yeah, I saw. Can you see her face in any of them? No, I’m not doing that to her,” his voice is insistent, if quiet. 

“I’m allowed to have a private life. And who I kiss isn't their concern. Well then tell them it’s nothing, that she’s no one.”

He hangs up, sighing.

”Even if that’s not remotely true,” he looks at your sleeping form through the balcony windows, “What have I gotten myself into.” 

He shakes his head with a smile, then  dials up Callum. He figures might as well while he’s on a roll.

credit to @saradika for the graphic!

Always tag me: @purejasmine, @slowsweetlove, @richardslady121, @austinbutlerslovers, @tadpoleteef, @allittakesisoneflight

"I've been tagged by you before Lumiere!": @thisworldisntrealhoney,  @1nho,  @megangovier, @briaandthephantoms, @andro-inherdreamworld @callumsgirl @blombardo  @fefeisastar @hacunamy @nestito702 @denised916 @jayydep @r0m4nitcl0v3r @heyidc03, @secondchild-2, @flander42 @natural-born-rebel-spirit @lecosymood @kathrynzaragoza @bsunshinexo @jayydep @ifyouloveweedletsgosmoke

[in1-nutshell]

Hello!

First of all, I wanted to say that words can't describe how much I loved the two "Bot Buddy who's TFA Bumblebee's twin" pieces you did.

Second, can I request a continuation?

Maybe about Buddy getting attacked by Lugnut and Blitzwing after Buddy finally gets a new paintjob with Sari's help (I like to imagine they now have a bright pink paintjob with two yellow stripes, Buddy chose pink because pink is the color of energon and Sari told them they would look good with yellow stripes).

Buddy quicky hides Sari somewhere safe before taking out their stingers and contact their team for help.

The team arrives just in time to see Buddy cornered, but before Bumblebee and Prowl could do anything to help them, Buddy does a cyberninja move, one that they've seen Prowl do before, and gets out of there unharmed.

After defeating the decepticons and returning to the base, Buddy asks the team what they think of their new look and Prowl compliment them by saying looks like a Rosy Maple Moth.

However, after a few days, Buddy notices that Prowl has been very quiet.

And not the normal Prowl type of quiet, but the "deep in thought" type of quiet.

They are worried, but before Buddy could ask him what's wrong, Prowl asks them what they would feel about becoming a cyberninja.

Buddy is confused and Prowl tells them he saw them doing that cyberninja move to get away from the decepticons, he sees potential in them and wish to train them.

Buddy is hesitant in the beginning. Them? Becoming a cyberninja?

But after a long day of thinking, they tell him that they a willingly to do it.

Also, Prowl gives Buddy a pair of katanas after they become a cyberninja worthy of a weapon (like how Yoketron give Prowl his shurikens).

Buddy is shocked and asks him how he even got them, Prowl just smiles and says that he owes Sari a favor.

Buddy was not going to let a couple of Cons ruin their new paintjob on their day off.

Hope you enjoy!

Bot Buddy Bumblebee's twin surprising the team with their fighting skills

SFW, Platonic, Familial, Romance, Cybertronain reader

TFA

Buddy and Sari were heading back to the base to show off their new paint job.

Sari insisted for the longest time to get Buddy a new paintjob, she was getting tired of confusing them with Bumblebee at first glance.

Plus, they needed to express themselves more, what better way to do it with a brand-new paintjob!

Buddy walking to the mirror admiring the new pink paintjob adorning their frame.

“You think this was a good idea? I mean I like it—”--Buddy

“Then it was a good idea! Now no one can confuse you with Bumblebee!”--Sari

Sari smirks a bit.

“And I bet Prowl will like it too.”--Sari

Buddy feels a bit warm hearing their partner’s name.

“Sari!”--Buddy

But they get caught up in the crossfires of a Decepticon ambush on the street. They were trying to look for some sort of machine and were having no luck finding it.

What better way to vent out one’s frustrations than on a little Autobot?

Buddy grabs Sari and books it.

They were clearly outnumbered, and they were sure that they weren’t going to stand a chance against them.

They needed back up now!

Buddy reaches for their com.

“Chello—”--Bumblebee

“GET EVERYONE OUT HERE NOW!”--Buddy

Bumblebee jumps hearing the sudden scream.

The entire team moves to the main screen.

“OUCH! What was that for?!”--Bumblebee

“ARE YOU BLIND?! TURN ON THE NEWS! BLITZWING, LUGNUT AND STARSCREAM ARE ON OUR TAILPIPE!”--Buddy

“Our—Oh Primus Sari’s with you!”--Bulkhead

“YEAH I’M HERE!”--Sari

“Buddy where’s your location?”--Prowl

“WE DON’T KNOW! WE’RE TRYING NOT TO GET SQUASHED HERE!”--Sari

“We got your signal try and get somewhere safe.”--Optimus

“JUST GET THE WHOLE TEAM DOWN HERE—EEEEEEEEKKKKKK!”--Sari

CRASH!

“BUDDY!”--Sari

The line goes dead.

“Buddy!? Buddy?!”--Prowl

“Autobots! Roll out!”--Optimus

The team is out the door trying to get to Buddy and Sari’s location.

Buddy was clutching their side ready to fight.

They caught sight of Sari in a trash bin nearby.

They do not expect to see Buddy actually take down Lugnut with persis nerve blow.

 Lugnut ends up falling on top of Blitzwing and Starscream which causes them to make a tactical retreat.

Buddy watching the Cons fly off.

Bumblebee runs to them and hugs them tightly.

Buddy winces a bit causing Bee to let go.

“Primus that was so cool! But why did you do that? You could have been a streak of yellow—I mean pink—wait is that a new paintjob? Urgh! Don’t do that again!”--Bumblebee

Prowl comes to Buddy’s side putting a servo on their shoulder looking at the sparkling side.

“That doesn’t look good…”--Prowl

Buddy raises an optic.

“When did you become so perspective?”—Buddy

Prowl smiles a bit.

“Sarcasm, that’s a good sign.”—Prowl

Back at the Plant…

Prowl by Buddy’s berthside.

“You look like a beautiful Earth moth I saw once on a documentary.”--Prowl

Buddy raises their optic a bit but rolls with it.

“Thank you?”--Buddy

“I mean it was a complement. It has your paint job colors, which looks nice…”—Prowl

Buddy smiles a bit linking one of their digits with Prowl.

“Ahhh… Now I get it. Thank you.”--Buddy

A bit later, Prowl approaches Buddy proposing to train them I the art of the cyber ninja.

Buddy is surprised that Prowl would offer them this, but after a bit of thinking, they agree.

Prowl definitely wasn’t expecting to see Buddy learn the moves quickly.

Soon enough Prowl feels like they are ready for their signature weapon.

“Master Yoketron gifted me my shuriken’s when he thought I was worthy of a signature weapon. I believe you’re ready for yours.”--Prowl

Prowl presents them with some katanas.

Buddy tears up a bit as he places them in their servos.

“Their beautiful Prowl, but where did you get these?”--Buddy

Prowl having a flash back of raiding Lockdown’s ship the last time he was on Earth.

“I found them laying around.”--Prowl

Buddy puts their weapon neatly on the ground and pulls Prowl into a hug.

He slowly hugs them back.

Snap!

Buddy and Prowl look over to see Bumblebee and Sari with a camera.

“Aww! This is so cute!”--Sari

“Maybe we could get better lighting for the next one though.”--Bumblebee

“Bumblebee!”—Buddy and Prowl

Prowl hugs Buddy closer as they tried hiding their embarrassed face in his chassis.

He is angry that the two ruined the moment.

He lets go of Buddy and moves in front of Bumblebee.

Sari carefully gets down from Bee’s shoulder.

“Put the camera away.”--Prowl

“But how else are your kids going to see how disgustingly cute you two were?”—Sari

“Kids?!”—Bumblebee and Prowl

CLANK!

Buddy had fainted on the floor.

“BUDDY!”--Prowl

“GET RATCHET!”--Bumblebee

[starii-lins]

*wakes up in a cold sweat in the dead of the night* I don't know enough about loomf 's symoth (???) (PHLIGHTING??? MISS MOTH TIMOTHY PHLIGHTING AND MISS SCYTHE PLIGHTING??? HELP)

May I know more? <3

FROTHS AT THE MOUTH OH BOY OKAY SOO

some silly funfacts to get started:

-she/they

-horrible sleep schedule (you can find her sleeping basically anywhere dark)

-crashes quite a bit when flying (good acquaintances with medkit bcs of it)

-decently strong, can pick up a body. with effort but still could probably pickup scythe

-suck up

-doesnt like asking for things or confrontation

-runs away from problems literally n metaphorically

-jack of all trades master of none

-hates hates hates loved ones getting injured/going missing bcs her brain immediately thinks theyre gonna DIE

-anxious mess

-jittery and skittish, fidgets a lot

backstory

moth was a lost, poor lil guy who had no home no kin and no destination (/ref) and survived through pickpocketing, odd jobs and luck. (pre playful land fellow honest style) she'd gotten injured at some point after getting caught stealing which is why one side of her wings was replaced w a prosthetic (after she joined the cult)

at some point scythe found her (either through alleyway encounter or near death experience i havent decided yet) and they ended up building a weird sorta friendship by bonding over being criminals (moth has committed a lot of thievery and maybe one accidental murder cough) and annoying banhammer together. then eventually scythe offers moth a place to stay, food to eat and a family (the cult) so moth accepts bcs of course she would she has no other option

they grow close in the cult, along with broker and katana (though katana leaves the cult uh. very violently. causing many a trauma and broken trust) and eventually yuri yay yippee!! tentative strangers to yuri!!!

cult stuff

- moth's job in the cult is basically just odd jobs here and there: delivery, errand running, idk what else but it involves travel and or transport mostly cuz she's fast and she likes travelling

- wishes she and scythe could live without the fear of being caught by the authorities, and wishes they could both have more stability and not have to rely on the cult to survive. unfortunately scythe is fully loyal to the cult

- ^ i accidentally made them doomed bcs of this sobs- moth, in later years, would want to leave the cult. maybe after encountering katana more often. however, even if she were to leave, where would she go? she has no friends or connections outside of the cult, and due to her association with it + her past committed crimes, she'd still constantly be on the run, with the additional threat of the cult hunting her down for being a heretic. but in the cult, she basically can't have any friends outside of it (which yeah thats the point) and she'd never really be free to do what she wants. everything she does and says is monitored and controlled by the cult and she doesnt really even get to keep most of the money she makes bcs it goes back towards the cult.

- ^^ additionally, if they were to leave the cult, they couldn't stay with scythe. scythe would never look at her the same if she were to admit how much she dislikes staying in the 'family'. she'd seen what happened when katana left.

relationships

- moth -> scythe: scythe saved her life. gave her a life, even. cannot live without her. will do anything for her gf. yearns to be with scythe without the cult acting as a middleman. drawn to her like a moth to a flame. disgustingly in love haha GAY GAY GAY

- scythe -> moth: moth is a core part of scythe's life. she's powerful, a high ranking and respected person within the cult. people respect and fear her, yes, but nobody except moth and broker really like her. moth loves her without condition, expectation or fear. she absolutely adores moth

- moth -> katana: misses him. katana, scythe and moth (and broker even tho he joined a bit late) were very close together. katana and moth kinda had a mutual understanding though, even if neither of them confronted it. they werent fully happy with the life they had in the cult. unfortunately, katana was much braver.

- katana -> moth: mixed feelings. again, kinda had a mutual understanding with moth over the cult thing. but moth chose to stay. he can't overlook that. he knows she isnt as loyal to the cult as scythe and broker are, but he knows she's too far in to get out. pities them enough to not immediately try to kill her on sight at least

- broker & moth: not much to say with this one theyre kinda just chill w each other sorry i havent developed it much

- moth -> medkit: thinks he's cool, respects him. very thankful to him for upgrading their prosthetic wings

- medkit -> moth: neutral w her. wishes theyd stay out of his office more stop getting injured so much!!! /silly

- moth -> banhammer: HATES him. he's part of the reason her wings broke before (not sure how yet ill write it in eventually) also scared of him cuz. well. police. just doesnt like him

- banhammer -> moth: moth is an annoyance to him. keeps stealing shit, and when she isnt, she's aiding and abetting (kinda?) a serial killer (scythe) and also extremely difficult to catch bcs shes so fast

likes and dislikes

likes:

- fire (moth things. pretty lights yippee)

- travelling (has been to every faction except blackrock bcs she doesnt want to. likes exploring a lot)

- night time (again moth things)

- rain (its rarely cool in lost temple so rain is just. nice weather. she's very temperature sensitive okay)

- reading (she never really got to sit down n learn stuff so she enjoys it sometimes. she isnt very good at it though. consequences of being homeless and a criminal for the first half of her life ig)

dislikes:

- sudden loud noises (jumpscares in general tbh)

- extreme cold (again, temperature. she's built for the desert man)

- being bound or restrained against her will (theyre very jittery and being slowed down means she cant run which means danger which mean ew ew BAD)

okay. thats most of it i think. heres some extra stuff to end off thank you for opening the floodgates

(left to right) moth and scythe height comparison

this is just. her core

[multi-lefaiye]

Gelf Crittery Traits Thoughts

tagging @corvus-rose @skitzo-kero @anexor @chaieyestea and @vacantgodling bc i wish to curse y'all

this is a mix of ideas by me and cal, because we wanted to hit the gelflings with a Get Crittery beam

gonna list general descriptors for the species as a whole, then for specific clans. as a note, they are all still the same species. gelflings just have a shitton of diversity in appearance and biology.

all gelfling traits:

- little bit of a snoot, black nose but a more humanoid mouth

- large, pointed ears, positioned kinda high up on their head, can move and swivel independently of each other

- digitigrade legs, but not really paws or toe beans--their legs are just shaped differently.

- t a i l s

- three fingers + opposable thumb on each hand, and four toes on each foot

- in canon female gelflings have wings, but i usually ignore that, and instead say that some clans have wings while others usually don't. gelflings have like no sexual dimorphism. good luck.

- female gelflings are usually taller, but not always.

--

grottan clan:

- usually have wide, dark eyes, and very poor vision--extremely sensitive to light, it takes time to adjust to being outside the caves.

- huge ears and excellent hearing.

- skin is usually some shade of grey, green, or blue.

- hair is usually very light, often some shade of blond or grey. usually long, but short hair is fine and dandy.

- the shortest of the clans on average. absolutely itty bitty.

- they have wings! their wings are similar to moth wings in material and shape, and they can use them to fly for short distances.

- long, skinny tails like little mice, sometimes tufted with fur.

- mouse-coded but also moth-coded, and a little bat-like.

--

dousan clan:

- usually have brown or tan skin and dark hair, not a lot of body hair aside from their head and tail. short hair is rare but acceptable.

- culturally, tattoos are extremely common. most of them are tattooed with elaborate designs in blue, purple, or black ink, though some may instead use white or gold.

- some of them have horns, usually small and curving up from their temples.

- look like they have four ears--in reality, they just have two ears that are split in a way that *looks* like they have four. the increased sueface area helps them thermoregulate and hear better.

- can also close their ears to keep sand from getting in during storms.

- tend to be pretty tall with long limbs, usually have kinda small, narrow eyes.

- don't typically have wings.

- usually very long tails, sometimes tipped with feathers or fur.

- sometimes have patches of scales, usually localized around their shoulders, back, and face.

- slightly more pronounced muzzles than the other clans, sharp features are common in general.

- somewhere between lizard-coded, fox-coded, and vulture-coded.

--

drenchen clan:

- naturally usually have brown skin, but many of them are green tinted or have green markings as well as camouflage in the swamp.

- aquatic, with fins and gills. they do also have lungs and can breathe on land just fine, but many prefer the water.

- and if they dry out too much or spend too much time away from the water, it can seriously hurt them. need to keep their skin moist to stay healthy.

- some of them have whiskers/barbels like a catfish, helping them hunt underwater.

- they also have that third eyelid shit alligators do to be able to swim with their eyes open.

- often have very thick, dark, hair, usually very curly as well. long hair is most common--it's rare that you'd see a drenchen cut their hair unless necessary to maintain it or for health reasons.

- generally tall and beefy, clearly built as ambush predators.

- thick, finned tails to help with swimming in the water, and webbed hands and feet.

- some have wings! but their wings usually aren't suited for flying at all, and are actually meant to help them propel themselves faster when swimming. they can also glide as needed.

- alligator-coded and also shark-coded.

--

stonewood clan:

- wide range of skin tones, usually somewhere in the tan-brown range, but many have blue or green markings, usually splotches of color or spots.

- tallest and beefiest clan on average, they build muscle and fat very easily.

- usually have dark, straight hair, sometimes with streaks of blue or green in it. often worn long and in braids.

- hairy motherfuckers--typically have manes around their necks and down their backs, hairy arms and legs, etc. thick, furry tails, too, sometimes tufted like a lion's.

- often have big claws and sharp teeth--more than any other clan, a stonewood doesn't *need* weapons to fuck you up.

- ears are often tipped with fur, like a lynx.

- no wings. these fuckers run. and they run fast.

- wolf-coded, but also kinda lion-coded and bear-coded. basically, stonewoods are the big predators.

--

spriton clan:

- deer-coded and goat-coded, to the highest degree, with a bit of rabbit as well.

- skin tones range from very pale to dark brown, often have freckles or dappled spots like a fawn.

- usually have dark, straight hair, which they wear in braids. some may have lighter or blond hair, but this is rare. long hair is common, as with the stonewoods and the drenchen.

- also no wings. they do, however, have hooved feet, and long legs designed to run fast.

- horns!!! female gelfs have longer horns that look more like antlers, male gelfs have lil horns like antelopes.

- usually kinda short--built to be fast and stealthy, to hide from predators.

- also put on fat and muscle pretty easily, but not quite as easily as many stonewoods.

- short lil puffball tails, like rabbits. and yes, they wag.

--

sifa clan:

- the most diverse in appearance, as the sifa clan will take in outsiders and exiles from other clans, and they don't have any rules or reservations about taking mates in other clans.

- that being said, "pure blood" sifas vary widely in appearance still. a wide range of skin tones and hair colors are common, and other traits more commonly associated with the other clans are also common.

- red hair is most common among the sifa, though.

- whether or not they have wings is kind of a mixed bag, for reasons i've already established.

- with how varied they are, they don't have a single animal inspiration, but in my brain they're kinda monkey-like, if that makes sense. all lanky limbs and with long, prehensile tails.

- many sifa are physically very lean and strong, hungry from long weeks out at sea relying on rations, fit from all the hard work it takes to keep the ship afloat. not all of them, but many.

--

vapra clan:

- generally very short, often have very pale skin and light hair--their hair is sometimes straight up white, not just blond.

- darker hair isn't like. unheard of though. it still happens. and same for darker skin tones.

- they also put on fat very easily, in part b/c they live in the cold mountains and need that insulation to survive.

- lots of patches of feathers on their body, especially on their chests, shoulders, and hips. very bird-coded. some even have ruffs of feathers around their necks.

- and along that vein, vapra bones aren't *quite* hollow, but definitely less dense than the other clans' in general. this is to make them lighter so they can fly more easily.

- long claws, especially on their feet, like talons--good for both defense and landing after a flight.

- they've got wings! and their wings are larger and stronger than the other clans'. still kinda like moth wings, but with feathers as well, if that makes sense. vapra tend to be the strongest fliers on average.

- vapra tails are usually either like. straight up tail feathers, or they have prehensile tails that are just tipped with feathers. usually one or the other.

- usually have round faces and flatter, less pronounced snoots. also large eyes.

[ray-array]

【I’m sending it as an ask because it hurts the eyes too much to read it so cramped in a comment section…(ᐡっ ̫ •̥⸝⸝ᐡ)】

https://www.tumblr.com/ray-array/777311822742208512/i-do-apologise-i-guess-for-participating-in

I don’t wanna say “I feel the exact same way!” just in case it provokes discomfort, but I’m someone who only involved myself in either OC or small fandoms where I was extremely closed off to my peers until I found CLH. I don’t like to take over 10% from others mostly because I feel like I’m stealing personal love and becoming a low-quality factory. I even search up things before speaking about them because I don’t want to be seen as a copycat. But if it’s too good to pass, I just explain myself with my head down haha т  ̫ т So I have similar feelings…

My personal opinion regarding nicknames is that it’s either an epiphany or something you can spend a lot of time researching. I think you can view it as a pet! You give them a “main name”, and then many other nicknames.

Sometimes, nicknames will suddenly feel really cold. This is a normal feeling. I used to call the “Normal Ray” I fell in love with Ray-myon and Myoyyan because of the squid-like feeling until I realised it sounds more like Ramon… If you’re an all-you-can-eat, it sounds like there’s no problem. But I couldn’t accept this at all so I started to research again. 🥹

It even helps to search up name endings!! That’s where I got ‘-rin’ for Rayririn (and then I added on an extra ‘ri’ to fill the extra space. Beause of this, I like to spam ‘ri’ and summon Rayriririririn.). And if you want to get really picky… you can look into the tone. In my opinion, tones that go up sound cute and tones where you have to hold it sound playful and sweet, and maybe even glamorous depending on the usage (I don’t have opinions on any other tones lol). Ray ri↑ri↑n→, something like this (I’m sorry it’s unintelligible, I really do try haha)

You can also use objects!! For me, there’s a 5% chance I’ll call Ray ‘little lightbulb’ in regards to the light and how the bulb looks like his nose ₍ ᐢ. ̫ .ᐢ ₎ There’s a lot of spikeiness to Fake, so I like to call him ‘little lawn clippings’. It’s really good the more stupid it sounds…

TLDR: You can search up name endings, affectionate terms, and derive inspiration from other nicknames. As long as it comes from your heart and you feel happy with it, don’t worry about how “genuine” it feels or how other people may view it. It’s easier said than done, so… I wish you a lot of luck (ˊo̴̶̷̤  ̫ o̴̶̷̤ˋ)🍀.

(Good thinking, the comment section really is so smoll.. > <'')

Awww well I'm just happy to know there is someone who understands! I try not to stress over it too much, in a way it's like a cute blind collaborative project between random artists, but the thoughts are always there ovo'' and I crave something I can call my own. Oh though getting ideas and nicknames from my friends is more like accepting gifts, i am very at peace with that as long as its fitting or funny > < hehe I understand and admire your way of thinking and diligence n.n

Spend a lot of time researching.. I have been doing that for the pony/mlp version but it somehow didn't cross my mind for the clh one :O Ohhh I suppose my mother languages do have endings I could experiment with too, though the ones we have are mm maybe less.. elegant? xD (Omg now I get it, Rayriririririn.. that's so cute 😭) Now tones, i don't usually consider that at all, how cool! :0 (I think I get it! :D) Little lightbulbb.. 🥺💕 WHAAATT that's precious!! He did kinda remind me of that lamp from Brave little toaster. Little lawn clippingsss?? I'M DYING THAT'S SO CUTTE >//v//< 🤲 UOOOUUUheheeee The more stupid it sounds the better, genius >:D I mostly associate Ray with sun rays (how subtle) so I was thinking of Fake as a lamp (fake source of light + my oc is part moth), but I didn't think of using that for nicknames either :O Though thinking about it now maybe a lamp is too warm and cozy? Maybe he's more like a spotlight from a stage.. xD

I really appreciate this, thank you kindly, i love the way you think and you gave me a lot to think about :33 <333

[bloodbxrn]

DEEP DIVE

NAME: Kalpas

BODY

height: 190cm / just shy of 6'3

strength ★★★★★ [ how funny would it be if I docked him a star because he can't beat Kevin hahaha no jkjk sorry buddy of course he gets five stars could you imagine ]

dexterity ★★☆☆☆ [ his fighting style is described as splattering chunks on those nearby ]

health ★★★★★ [ see Kevin re: genetically modified supersoldier ]

energy ★★★★☆ [ has wild swings, he is only ever hyper-manic or super sedate. there are a lot of implications for both that I could pick at, but I think that's a meta for another time ]

beauty ★★★☆☆ [ well I think he's handsome ]

style ★★★☆☆

hygiene ★★☆☆☆ [ likely not a slob, but I don't think it's a priority ]

SKILLS

perception ★★★★☆ [ a huge part of chapter 30 is how much sharper he is than everyone gave him credit for  ]

communication ★★☆☆☆ [ most of his flavor text opines how he can't communicate properly, and during Elysium Everlasting his whole deal is basically laid out for us ]

persuasion ★★☆☆☆  [ less persuasion and more intimidation, although there are moments when he does try (and fails) to use his words ]

mediation ☆☆☆☆☆ [ cussed out su once. su. ]

literacy ★★☆☆☆ [ no evidence suggests that he can't read ]

creativity ★★★★☆ [ dawg he outwitted su and fu hua. ]

cooking ★★★★★ [ Golden Courtyard indicates that he's the best cook of the Flamechasers. I know that Golden Courtyard is kind of its own can of beans wrt bias and self-perception and wish-fulfillmet, but I'm willing to take it at face value bc I think this one's cute ]  

tech savvy ★★☆☆☆

combat ★★★★★ [ yes the ripping yes the tearing. his signet is Decimation and a literal computer virus learned to feel fear at coming face to face with him so like. ]

survival ★★★★☆ [ docking a point for being dead ]

stealth ☆☆☆☆☆ [ Kalpas is not who you call for a stealth mission. on top of being Like That, I think similar to Kevin his presence is just absolutely suffocating. ]

street smarts ★★★☆☆

seduction ☆☆☆☆☆ [ I think we should put Kalpas on a dating show I think it would be enriching. for me, not for him ]

luck ☆☆☆☆☆ [ listen if I'm so fr I think all of the flamechasers deserve this obviously I can't speak for the others but like just look at their lives oh my god ]

handling animals ★★☆☆☆

pacifying children ★★☆☆☆

MIND

intelligence ★★★☆☆ [ see perception above ]

happiness ★★★☆☆ [ all things considered, and if the scene where his sim is deleted is any indication, i think the direction his life took after being taken in by MOTH and the way that he went out was what would have made him the most happy ]

spirituality ☆☆☆☆☆

confidence ★★★★★ [ bro thinks he can beat kevin idk what to tell you ]

humor ★★☆☆☆ [ "nothing flies over my head, my reflexes are too good, I would simply catch it" type mf. Elysia does mention that he tells jokes, however ]

anxiety ★★★☆☆ [ interestingly, we see Kalpas be the most actively skittish in the Elysian Realm of all the sims. although this is also due to a number of factors going on in the plot, it's still an interesting trait he doesn't display when he is chained, but rather when he's allowed to roam and interact freely. ]

patience ★☆☆☆☆

passion ★★★★☆

nice         ☆☆★☆☆     mean [ he is rude and brusque and aggressive. the most polarizing of his teammates, outside of Mobius, but whereas hers is deliberate maliciousness, his is due to his inability to communicate his wants and needs and intentions properly ]

brave       ★☆☆☆☆     cowardly [ thinking about the Herrscher of Corruption situation makes me fucking ill ]

pacifist     ☆☆☆☆★     violent

thoughtful ☆☆☆☆★    impulsive

agreeable ☆☆☆★☆     contrary [ he isn't entirely intransigent just mostly ]

idealistic   ★☆☆☆☆     pragmatic

frugal        ★☆☆☆☆     big spender

extrovert   ☆☆☆☆★     introvert [ shockingly shy ]

collected   ☆☆☆☆★     wild [ glances at his Trial Transcript recollection. shrekmmh ]

ambitious / possessive / stubborn / jealous / decisive / perfectionist

SOCIAL

charisma ★★☆☆☆

empathy ★★★☆☆

generosity ★★★★★ [ spoilers for his backstory but he let himself be tied to a pillar by strangers and have his blood ritualistically siphoned to attempt to cure honkai sickness for an indeterminate amount of time. he just let them do it ]

wealth ★★☆☆☆

honest   ★☆☆☆☆ deceptive

leader   ☆☆☆★☆   follower

polite     ☆☆☆★☆  rude [ aggressive and to the point, but can be smacked with a newspaper to say yes maam sorry maam ]

political ☆☆☆☆★  indifferent

BELIEFS

higher power ★★★☆☆ [ seems the type to be superstitious. was worshiped as a god for a period but it's implied he has more complicated feelings on it which is a meta for another time ]

fate/destiny ★★☆☆☆

magic ★★★☆☆

soulmates ★★☆☆☆ [ complicated. not in a romantic sense, but I do think he thinks that his rivalry with kevin is preordained in some manner of fashion, and the situation with emile  ]

good and evil ★☆☆☆☆ [ I think he acknowledges them as concepts but insofar as believing that they have a tangible effect on the way people behave? he's willing to compare himself to aponia in saying that he thinks they both belong in hell, but that it would disgust him to go there at her side ] 

luck ★★★☆☆

PRIORITIES

family ★☆☆☆☆ [ don't ask him if he considers the flamechasers family. he does, but I don't think he's willing to come to terms with what that means just yet ]

friends ★★★★★ [ he will turn up for his friends ]

love ★★☆☆☆ [ complicated. for the purposes of this I will refer to only romantic love here, otherwise this would get long. we get implications that Kalpas would like to see what a future with a romantic partner is like, but acknowledges that it isn't an option ]

home ☆☆☆☆☆ [ he. well. he isn't from here. I think the concept of home is complicated for Kalpas, outside of him literally being an alien - between sunrise alley and fire moth and the flamechasers, I think he's searching for home and coming up short, which leads to a bit of a cyclical devaluing of it ]

health ★★★☆☆

praise ★★★★★ [ one thing that I've noticed in a not-insignificant amount of his interactions is that the people that Kalpas is kindest towards, or those in whom he holds the highest esteem (see: Kevin, Elysia) talk to him like he's a dog. please tell him he's a good boy he needs to hear it so bad ]

justice ★☆☆☆☆  [ not in an unbiased sense, mind you ]

truth ★☆☆☆☆ [ the truth is what you make of it, and if it isn't true yet, then you haven't made it yet ]

power ★★★★★

fame ★★★★★

wealth ☆☆☆☆☆

others' opinions ★★★☆☆ [ one might think that this is in a similar vein as praise, and while that's not entirely inaccurate, I think he's accepted that he'll never fully have another's good opinion. is often made a joke of, and knows about it. at the point, unfortunately, where I think he thinks fear is just as good as respect ]

[imthepunchlord]

Man, hearing about the season 1 days of miraculous makes remember when we first saw the leaks of the season and first the art for the pearls and stone, Alya with the fox (and how everyone called her Volpina), and Chloe with the bee. Man, those were days. I also remember how everyone was thinking Gabriel had the peacock and Emilie had the butterfly originally. I even remember when we first got that one image of Pixie Girl, and everyone thought she was a teenage Emilie with the butterfly miraculous that was going to appear in a flashback episode 😆. Ah, I miss those days.

Gosh so much is taking me back.

I remember expanded Square chaos. I remember there were theories of Ladybug and "Volpina"/Rena being rivals/antagonists to each other as a reversal of them being best friends + clearly Marinette wouldn't trust the new Fox (which I was never crazy about, especially as you typically didn't see that for Adrien and Nino, felt like turning girls against each other); and QB and LB were going be friendly. And there were speculated shenanigans for QB and RR, I think there was also a small rise of Chloya and the idea that maybe they'd have their own Square going.

Some I didn't see, like the theory that Pixie was teen Emilie, but I did see that she was planned for the NY Special, and there were the plans for the Shanghai Special.

I really did theorize that Marinette and Adrien were going to get their own exclusive Specials to be focused on, with Marinette in Shanghai and Adrien in NY and he for sure was going to work with Pixie.

Another theory I had was where Fu was going to become Marinette's mentor, Gabriel was going to be Adrien's, cause I did like the idea that he had the Peafowl, not Emilie. And I thought this concept art of Duusu was her being furious with Gabriel literally shutting her away.

And something was going to go down and this "Paon" was going to steal the Peafowl from Gabriel.

Or she already did and what Gabriel had was a fake.

And potentially that HM was who Gabriel and Emilie feared and that's why Adrien wasn't allowed out.

Those really were the days. The theories were so fun. And much of it I think was more interesting than what we got.

And it was a time of aus. I don't know how many aus are being done for ML these days, I think most are salt fics now, but that was the time to have fun, do different spins. Doing kwami swaps. Life swaps. Cowboy au.

You could get creative with akumas, like, I remember finding old fics that swapped Marientte with Bridgette and trapped her in a different reality/timeline, and I kinda wish the Paris Special did that. Off topic, but I feel the Paris Special should've gone full comedy and full reversal for characters. And that we actually got to see this different Paris.

Like, could you imagine Marinette and Emonette swapping places, either through akuma or Bunnyx, and Marinette's scrambling trying to figure out how to get back and how to keep going in this topsy turvy world where apparently Ladybug is a villain? "Hawk Moth" is a good guy? Wtf is Chat wearing? Wtf happened to Adrien.

And you got Emonette just needing shades cause this world is so bright and sunny and why do these people keep talking to her? Tf happened to Adrien, was he a poser this whole time? HM's a villain? But of course he's a bad villain just like he's a bad hero. And ooooh she's going to have so much fun with Chloe... and who tf is this Lila and what does she think she's doing picking a fight with Emonette. Oh, she's adding her to her list...

And you could add to it if kwamis were also kinda reversed.

Emonette stuck with canon Tikki trying to get her Marinette back, but also trying to rein in Emonette, try to be that voice of reason and her consciousness, and oh, she's dumping all of Chloe's things down the toilet... she's got her work cut out for her.

Meanwhile Special Tikki is more "pure luck" and is more chaotic and sporadic, she's not outright malicious, but she's just rolling with that neutralness of luck, it having good and bad and it comes down to karma and your own actions. She's just here to sit and watch the consequences play out. Emonette was kinda funny though she was predictable in her karma as her negative actions fed negative consequences. But man, this Marinette is freaking hilarious. Tikki is constantly eating popcorn, enjoying the show cause she never knows what she's going to get with this well meaning if all over the place Marinette.

[cloudyswritings]

HAII!!!! SURPRISE HEADCANON INSPECTION

PICK AT LEAST 3 OF YOUR FANDOMS AND GIVE ONE HEADCANON FROM EACH THE NICHE/WEIRDER THE BETTER!!!!!!

Chainsmoker hornet doesn’t count.

(Turning this in as the latest HW ever 💀)

Hollow Knight:

The Moth tribe invented picked foods in Hallownest, it’s just a flavor they prefer(salty yum…) but it’s become sort of a touchy topic for nobles in the city, who both find the flavors exotics and also a very racist and dislike moths and their “savage” customs.

Bloodborne:

Gerhman, joyless old bastard he is, loves cinnamon and licorice jellybeans. Should you, the Good Hunter, ask kindly for beans from your mentor, you’ll wish you’d downed a vial of cold blood instead

Percy Jackson:

One of Sally’s parents wasn’t human, they both just up and died in a plan crash, which is either terrible luck or has Zues written all over it, especially given how he threatens to blow Percy up if her flies(because son of Poseidon). Basically I think one of her parents may have been a nymp or some other water spirit. And not necessarily a Greek one, given Percy can host Nekhbet( an Egyptian goddess). It also might explain some of Percy’s BS powers he picks up randomly

@clever-naming-convention, so sorry for taking forever to do this one. It’s been burning a hole in my mental pocket for a bit.

[blurrypetals]

The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig - blurrypetals review

originally posted jun. 4, 2025 - ★★☆☆☆

If anyone here uses the word "ignoble" just one more goddamn time, I swear to god...

I really loved One Dark Window when I read it back in December and, while I didn't care for Two Twisted Crowns quite as much, it still stuck the landing with its ending and made the duology as a whole a worthwhile read (and worthy of preordering those tasty-looking special editions coming out this fall).

This, however, I can't exactly say the same about. There's definitely some good here, especially with auxiliary characters like Rory and the gargoyle, but the worldbuilding and magic here felt really thin, especially in comparison to the world Gillig put together in The Shepherd King books. I never really felt like I could get my bearings with the world, with the diviners and omens and what their places all were exactly in this world and narrative.

I think my biggest issue was Sybil as a main character. She wasn't exactly devoted to her role as a diviner and she didn't end up being the most devoted as a knight to Benji, which I think was what Gillig was going for, but instead it just gives us this bland, middling character with very little true agency. We also don't get much time with the other diviners before they disappear, so we don't get to see their relationship or connection before they're gone from the series entirely.

It almost feels like Gillig was dying just to make Rory the main character but chickened out. I really wish there was more male POV where they were the sole POV and I think this story could really have been a good one for that.

I thought the romance between Sybil and Rory had its moments as well, but it had none of the depth Ravyn and Elspeth had in One Dark Window, nor did it even match Elm and Ione in Two Twisted Crowns, a couple that wasn't as good as Elspeth and Ravyn but still had some sweet moments and decent chemistry. There was a little bit of good buildup here and there, but there wasn't enough yearning or payoff for me.

All in all, I was really disappointed in this one. While there were some decent characters, the story has very little going for it, the worldbuilding has poor structure, and has an extremely predictable twist which really pats itself on the back for. I really wish this wasn't the case! This one is gonna hurt for a while, y'all. Better luck next time, I suppose.