#I’ll have to try it and see if that improves the fight though because that was my major gripe when I finished my first playthrough

[justagaycryptid]

Since when could we summon Torrent in the fight against the Elden Beast???

[charliemwrites]

Okay so the poll results were for an OC captain, though it was close enough that I still hesitate to name him in the canon of the fic.

I’m also going to be taking my time fleshing out his character because it’s been a while since I made an OC. So please be patient while I add tidbits here and there to build his character.

Content: safe/sane/consensual sex, descriptions of scars, mentions of past torture

Nikto beats you and Nova twice out of three rounds — but that’s no surprise. The man moves like a machine. Even against two opponents he controls the battlefield like a chess master. Neither you nor Nova take it to heart, especially since he always gives you both advice at the end, helping you to improve.

He’s a great partner, a great teammate; you’re sure to show him your appreciation after sparring with a kiss to his nose-plate. His hands spasm on yours as he helps you unwind your wraps, gloved thumb sweeping over your bare palm.

“You did good today,” he says, voice rough and accent thick. He must be pissed about earlier still, when Ghost and Soap threw your matches with them.

“So did you,” you reply, squeezing his hand in return.

“Stay with me tonight?” He asks.

You damn near melt. Nikto has an open invitation to your room, but his is a sacred place, only for him unless otherwise specified. That he’s asking you to come to his tonight…

“Absolutely,” you reply, squeezing his hand. “I just need to see the captain first. Okay?”

He grunts in understanding, eyes flicking to the door the 141 left through earlier. He mutters something in Russian �� some insult about goats and mothers you think.

“Yeah, exactly,” you reply, voice dropping with simmering irritation.

A good spar with him and Nova has helped ground you a bit, but it hasn’t helped the anger. You don’t spar any of your team with anger; they don’t deserve.

Luckily, you and your captain worked something out a while ago when you’re feeling a bit… aggressive.

“Cap?” You call, still holding Nikto’s hand. “Could I stop by for a nightcap later?”

His eyes flash, a sinful twist to the corner of his mouth. “Yeah, babygirl. I’ll leave the door unlocked.”

Over his shoulder, you see Nova arch her eyebrows and Keegan grin wicked into his water bottle. Gossip fiends.

“Showers. Now,” the cap says, slapping them both on the ass. “Double time. I need to have a word with Price still.”

—

Long after the sun has gone down, you’re standing outside your captain’s door. Take a breath. Remind yourself of your mantra. He wants you, always will, and he’s going to take care of you.

Then loosen your shoulders, unboxing all the frustration and aggression you set aside earlier. Feel it burn through you, make your hands twitch in and out of fists.

One more inhale, and then you shove the door open.

“There you are,” he rumbles. “C’mere.”

You flash your teeth, “No.”

He tilts head back and forth, cracking his neck. “Alright then.”

There’s no real fight. You’re not looking to get away or actually hurt him. And he’s not looking to actually make you submit. That’s not the point of this game.

He strides across the room and shoves you back, pins your shoulder to the wall. You grip at his forearm, nails scraping, and squirming as the hot, hard length of his body squishes you flat.

“Settle,” he orders.

“Fuck you,” you snarl back, nipping his lip.

He growls, tangling a hand in your hair and tipping your head back. Leaves a searing trail of kisses down your throat, bites a bruise into your collarbone. You wriggle and fuss all the while, safely held still and supported by his hands and body.

“Brat,” he rasps in your ear.

“I’m not,” you snap.

“Oh, yes you are, babygirl,” he replies, a mean smirk on his flushed face. “But that’s alright, I like you bad.”

He pulls you from the wall, bullies you onto the bed. You try to grab at him, get him under you. He doesn’t indulge like he normally would. Pins you on your back so that you can keep fighting, yanking at your wrists in his firm grip, pushing your hips up to grind into his as if trying to flip you both.

He slots his hips between your thighs, positions just his knees under your ass so that your back is arched, shoulders on the mattress. Limits your mobility, but that doesn’t stop you from kicking at air, making half-angry, half-desperate noises in the back of your throat.

“Gonna say please like a good girl?” He teases.

“No,” you hiss back.

He has the audacity to chuckle, which just riles you up more. (It’s supposed to). You curse as he works a hand beneath your shirt, palms at your bare breasts and pinches your nipples until they ache. You gasp like a pornstar, surprised and turned on.

“Pretty noise,” he coos. “Do it again.”

When he twists, you mewl, face immediately burning up as you renew your “efforts” to get away. All it does is make the treatment rougher than if you just laid still and took it, but that’s what you want, what feels good. A little edge to the pleasure as adrenaline and energy electrify you from head to toe.

He grinds against you, cotton of your loose shorts sticking against your soaked cunt. Christ you were turned on before you even barged in. Now you’re fucking throbbing for it.

“Gimme,” you grit out, rocking against him. Gears successfully shifted from physically taking control to just ordering him around.

“Give you what, brat?” He goads, slapping your pussy. The thin fabric muffles the sting, but it sends a white-hot ache through you that makes your eyes roll. “My cock? You think you deserve it?”

Another slap. You cry out, notice the sly look on his face when he notices that you’ve soaked through your shorts.

“Yes,” you reply, all confidence and reckless arrogance.

He yanks his underwear down to mid thigh, thick cock springing up to smack lewdly against his toned stomach. Precum smears over the pale scars there, sticks in the trail of groomed hair there.

“Yeah?” He growls. “Alright then.”

He yanks the crotch of your shorts aside (you hear stitches pop) and then he’s plunging into you. It’s too much all at once and you cry as much, knees squeezing around his tattooed ribs.

“Fuck.” His voice is shredded, so rough and low you feel it more than hear it. He lets your wrists go to grip at your ass, grinding deeper. Can feel the fat head of his cock bullying at your cervix, his favorite passtime while you adjust to the thick base of him.

“How does that feel, babygirl?” He murmurs in your ear. “You needed daddy’s cock, huh? Needed it to set you right again?”

You whimper out a curse at him, gripping at his biceps. He croons mockingly, thumb slipping between your bodies to press at your clit. Not rubbing or grinding, but just pressing. Just the right amount to make you sweat and pant, start trying to squirm to get any friction at all.

He lets you — could stop you if he wanted, or pull away entirely — but he likes winding you up like this. Likes seeing all that vicious energy turned to seeking pleasure from him.

“Fucking move,” you try to snarl, but your voice breaks midway through and comes out more pleading than you’d like.

“What was that, babydoll? Are you talking to me?” He teases, rolling his hips.

Your mouth falls open, a moan ripping from your chest, deep and needy.

“Daddy, move,” you cry, voice going up in pitch.

“There’s my brat.”

He pushes one of your knees up against your chest and slams into you. You scream and he doesn’t even try to cover your mouth, whispering filth as he tilts your hips for the best angle with his other hand. Fucks into you deep and rough, grinning at the obscenely wet noises every time he plunges into you.

Can practically feel him fucking your cervix open to get just that little bit deeper. Licks his lips when he sees the little bump in your stomach. You give as good as you get, squeezing down tight, bouncing to meet him, nails scoring lines down his back and shoulders.

“Gonna ask daddy to make you cum?” He goads.

“Earn it,” you reply.

He laughs and pulls out, flips you onto your stomach while you’re still dizzy with emptiness. Hikes your hips up and sinks into you like coming home. Your knees almost give out but that’s fine by him, he’s plenty strong enough to hold you up all on his own, using you like a noisy little toy for his own benefit.

“Fuuuuck,” you whine, feeling overwhelmed, pleasured tears gathering in your eyes. Then, in a whisper, “Daddy…”

“Feel like being good yet?” He asks. A large, rough hand circles that back of your neck and pins you face down to the mattress.

“N-no,” you whine, fight gone out of you now that you’re getting exactly what you want.

Fuck it feels so, so good. Every inch bullying you wide open and loose, so wet you’re dripping down your own thighs, wetting his ball as they slap against you. You feel split open and pinned, unable to do anything but take it, tortured stupid on ecstasy. He licks a stripe up your back before pressing you down prone, ankles locked around yours to keep you open and accessible.

“S’alright, doll, don’t need to be good to be mine.”

He’s barely pulling out halfway before ramming home now. You can barely get a breath in, the weight of him pressing whatever resistance was left right out of you.

“Daddy, daddy,” you sob. “Fuck, I wan’ it.”

“Want it, huh?”

“Mhmm,” you moan, pressing your face into your arms. Cant your hips just that little bit to get him abusing that bundle of nerves.

“Oh, right there, huh?” He coos. “Did daddy find your little sweet spot?”

A series of short, ruthless thrusts right there, making incoherent, desperate noises fall from your mouth. Before you realize it, he’s wedged a hand beneath your hips and has two fingers toying with your poor, neglected clit.

“‘M gonna… f-fuck, fuck,” you whine, writhing (or at least trying to) against him. Not sure if you’re trying to urge him on or get away. Doesn’t matter, he’s in charge, has been since the beginning. “Daddy, I wanna…”

“Whenever you want, babygirl,” he replies, voice going all warm and gooey. Your chest hitches. “Squeeze around me nice and tight. Let me feel you cum on my cock.”

Didn’t realize that was what you needed, but you fucking scream as you clench down around him, stars bursting behind your closed eyes. He fucks you through it, tapping against your g-spot again and again until you dissolve into a weak, wet whimpers.

“Daddyyyy,” you whine.

And that sets him off, flooding you with heat. He loses control for a second as his hips jerk, pounding brutally into your oversensitive, swollen pussy. Makes a few tears finally slip down, soaking into the sheets along with your drool. The sound of him groaning as he cums makes you spasm around him again, a little aftershock that milks the last of his release.

“That’s it, easy,” he groans, brushing kisses over your trembling shoulders. “Easy, doll.”

He lies over you for a few minutes, letting you feel him there. Right there with you. Breathing and recovering, holding you through the endorphin rush. When you squirm a bit, he eases off you, cock slipping out. You shiver at the feeling of his cum trickling out of you, glassy eyes fluttering.

“C’mere,” he soothes, tugging you in. Lying on his side, he hitches one of your thighs up over his hip, tucks your arms between your chests and rests his stubbly chin on your temple. You splay your fingers over his peck, over the bold, dark symbol for SpecGru. Feel his heart settling back into rhythm and sigh, snuggling in.

The hormone drop is a monster on your emotions, often leaves you shivery and lonely, a little sick in your own body. First time you did this with him ended in tears, expecting him to get up and leave. He didn’t, never has, but you both learned that as much physical contact as possible in the aftermath eases the comedown away from a total crash.

“You did so well, babygirl,” he whispers, leaving kisses everywhere he can reach without dislodging you. “Such a good girl. Even if you think you’re being bad.”

You flush, hide your face against his neck. He chuckles, honeybalm on your soul. Can feel his hand start to move, then pause as he remembers that you can’t handle that stimulation right after sex. So he just squeezes, slow and gentle, helps get you back in your body.

“I still want you,” he assures, echoing your mantra back at you. “Always will. You’re mine.”

You outline a heart shape onto his forearm, not quite able to speak yet. He recognize the feeling though and gently guides your face up to place a slow, gentle kiss to your lips.

“Love you, too, babygirl. Ready to clean up?”

You nod. He eases you up, lets you cling onto his hand as he walks you to the en suite. Fills you a glass of cool water to sip on while he gets the shower running. Turns his back while you use the restroom and wash your hands, then guides you into the hot water.

You lean into him, near boneless, as he washes you, calloused palms with soap instead of a cloth. Then sits still, hands on your hips, while you return the favor. This part is one of the most important for you, getting to freely return touch.

(Simon hardly ever let you touch, especially in the aftermath. Sure, you could scratch and grip at him during sex, but during foreplay it was all part of his dom persona that you couldn’t just touch at will. And afterwards… well. It’s not like he didn’t do aftercare. He did! But the almost formulaic warm cloth wipe down, glass of water, doze for a bit before he left was not… not ideal. Not like this.)

Your captain hums, eyes half-lidded but trained on you, while you smooth your palms over the firms planes of his muscles. Fingers tracing over tattoos and scars. Squishing and patting at the healthy layer of tissue over his stomach and thighs. Lets you nuzzle and kiss his soft cock, even though it makes his fingers twitch with oversensitivity.

Squeezes when you lace fingers together to stretch his arm out, inspecting the lines your nails carved into him.

“M’okay, baby,” he says before you can ask. “Feels good.”

You similarly assure him over the bruises on your wrists and hips, smiling and leaning up to kiss his jaw.

When the shower is over, he dries you off, playfully ruffling your hair just to kiss the pout off your lips. He dresses you in one of his shirts and a spare pair of your own joggers, found in his duffel.

You sit with him for a while longer still, enjoying how he lets himself relax once he knows you’re taken care of. He lies with his head on your chest, your fingers fluffing his hair, while the two of you watch an episode of some stupid show Keegan got the rest of the team into.

Only when it’s over does he ask if you’re ready to go to Nikto’s. If you wanted to stay, you could. Nikto would understand. But you’re looking forward to a night with your quiet Russian while the other three have a little movie night.

At the door, you kiss your captain goodnight. Hug and kiss Keegan and Nova as you pass them in the hall headed to his room. Nova makes a point of kissing one of the bruises on your wrist, while Keegan whispers that he loves you.

You pad to the first door in the hall, where Nikto has stationed himself as the team guard dog. You tap gently at the door, a pre-determined pattern to let him know who it is.

The door cracks open, one startling blue eye peering from the darkness.

“Evening, Nik,” you coo.

A hand reaches out and gently yanks you inside. And then next thing you know, you’re wrapped up in thick arms devoid of any usual covering. You feel smothered, in a good way.

“Love,” he rasps in Russian into your hair.

You hum in return. Place your palms flat on his abdomen. The muscles clench, you pause as you realize his abs, impressive as they are, feel too defined. He needs water. Taking mental note, you draw your hands carefully around, feeling the raised bumps of wicked scars. Make sure he can track exactly where and how you’re touching until your arms are wrapped around him in a return hug.

“Smell good,” he murmurs.

“Yeah?” You giggle. “Showered just for you.”

He snorts, then scoops you up. You make a delighted noise, wrapping your arms around his neck as he carries you across the room. Of course his navigation is impeccable, even in pitch black. He lays you down on the bed, but before he can crawl up with you, you place a hand on his shoulder.

“You’re dehydrated.”

He makes an annoyed noise, sounds like he’s about to protest. You shush him with a quick peck to his chest.

“Get a glass please? I could use some water myself.”

Which has him instantly moving. You politely turn away as the bathroom light flicks on, the water runs. Can hear him chug two entire glasses before he fills it one final time. The light turns off again. The bed dips as he returns, presses the cool edge gently to your cheek.

“Thank you,” you murmur, sipping about a quarter of it to appease him before he sets aside for you on a bedside table.

And then he gets what he really wants, stripping you down and tucking you in like a nesting bird. Practically on top of you while you’re still reeling from how much skin you can feel. Even during intimacy, he tends to stay clothed or mostly clothed. But right now all you can feel is a pair of underwear against your bare ass. Everywhere else it’s miles of warm skin, uncovered muscle and texture of scars.

“This is nice,” you coo. “Can I kiss you?”

“Yes.”

You wiggle around until you’re chest to chest. Start with his hands. Kiss each smooth fingertip, prints flayed off. Then his palms, the divots from nails driving through. Flip them over to kiss his scarred knuckles, smile at the way he twitches, flexing them outward like he’s trying not to close his hand.

“Okay?” You ask.

“Yes.”

You kiss his wrists, his forearms, to his collarbone. You’ve peeked a blue-black tattoo there before. Stars and the start of something that might be religious. Spend a little extra time there, tongue peeking out. He shifts; you take it as a sign of discomfort and move on.

“Here next,” he says when you dip to go to his chest.

He guides your face up his neck, where you press long (but chaste) kisses until you bump his jaw. And realize that’s all skin too.

“Oh,” you breathe. “Can I…?”

“Yes.”

You feather your lips along his fresh-shaved jaw, the nicked scars on his chin. Then up, ignoring the wicked scar along his cheek. Breathe against his temple, feeling dizzy with the trust he’s showing you.

“I love you,” you whisper, continuing along to his nose, twice broken and poorly set each time. A line over one nostril where a piercing was ripped out. He makes a noise in his throat, think he might be having trouble speaking again. Don’t mind.

He lets you get down to his mouth, where a particularly twisted scar warps part of his upper lip away from his teeth. You think that if you saw it in the light, his canine would be visible. His lower lip is uneven too, like a misaligned seam.

You don’t pay any special attention to any of it, focused more on reacquainting yourself with how your mouth fits with his. He doesn’t lead, doesn’t rush or pull or press. But there’s tension all along his body, everywhere you touch. You don’t ask for more than a chaste kiss, and when you pull away, you tilt your forehead gently against his.

“Still okay?” You ask.

“Still okay.”

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Masterlist

[leonastarry]

Since your request are open may I request yandere self aware sung jin woo in love with a darling who likes his powers and like wants to become powerful just like him!If this is too specific you don't have to write it

[ Req 14 ] Strings in the shadow. ✧. ┊    self aware!yandere!jinwoo x reader

Sung Jinwoo watches you train, his gaze lingering as your dark blade cuts through the air. The shards of his power coursing through you are a miracle in their own right—a gift that only he can give, binding you to him in ways you don’t yet understand.

“You’re improving,” he says, his voice warm, a hint of pride coloring his voice. “But don’t get too excited. Power like this takes time to master.”

You turn to him, panting, your eyes filled with determination. “I’ll get there. I’ll catch up to you, Jinwoo. One day, I’ll be strong enough to fight by your side.”

He smiles at that, the kind of smile that softens his features but hides the weight of everything he knows. You don’t realize how your world—your existence—has been orchestrated for his story.

“I don’t doubt it,” he said softly, stepping closer. His presence, as always, was overwhelming, like the gravity in the room shifted as he moved. “But power isn’t just about power. It’s about control. Knowing when to fight and when to let others protect you.”

Your brows furrowed, the stubborn determination he admired so much flaring in your expression. “I don’t want to be protected forever. I want to protect you too.”

His shadow shifted subtly, arching across the ground like a living thing, but you didn’t notice. Jinwoo’s expression didn’t waver, though his fingers curled at his sides. “Protect me?” he repeated, almost amused. “How sweet, but unnecessary.”

You didn’t understand the weight of his words, how they came from someone who knew the truth. You didn’t know that he saw the cracks in his reality, the way he pieced together the existence of the followers, the writers—and you.

He found you through those cracks, his anchor in a world that wasn’t real. Something he couldn’t lose.

But he couldn’t tell you that. Not yet. If you knew the truth, if you understood the full extent of his control, would you still look at him with such admiration? With such devotion?

“You don’t have to prove yourself to me,” he said softly, his voice dropping into something more intimate. He reached out, his fingers caressing your cheek in a gesture so gentle it sent shivers down your spine. “You’re already all I need.”

You held your breath, but you shook your head, stepping back slightly. “That’s not enough for me, Jinwoo. I want to be your equal.”

Equal. The word echoed in his mind like a challenge, making his smile widen, though it didn’t reach his eyes. He stepped closer, his shadow curling protectively—possessively—around your ankle.

In this fake and arranged world, you were the only gift that was precious to him. Your admiration for him wasn’t because of his looks and status, your innocence and sincerity moved him.

Jinwoo knew that in another universe, he was married to another woman, and that world didn’t have you. And he knew that his current universe was still trying to set him up that way. But so what? Since you were here, it meant that things could change. If there was a hole in this world, then he would take it. He would decide his own fate, and he had already decided that you would be indispensable in his life.

“You already are,” he lied, his tone so convincing it melted the tension in your shoulders. “But if you want to become stronger, I will guide you. Just don’t forget…” He leaned forward, his warm breath tickling your ear, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“You will always need me.”

You didn’t see the way his shadow shifted behind you, holding you tighter in his arms. You didn’t notice the faint glint of satisfaction in his eyes as you nodded, accepting his words as true.

Because Jinwoo knew. He knew everything. And as long as you didn’t know, he could keep you right where you belonged: by his side, forever.

I don't know if this is the self aware yandere Jinwoo you want.

I don't understand much about the self aware part 😥

Hope you like it 💗

[bellesmadeofsilk]

What to wear M.M x FEM! reader

Overture- Matt's worried about meeting your parents

CWs- Mentions of bruises, not being perceived as good enough, one joke about stripping and not a whole lot else

A/N- oops it's kind of late but Merry Christmas if you celebrate it, and happy chanukah if you celebrate that. And have a nice Wednesday otherwise. Also the divider is courtesy of @anitalenia

You’d never seen Matt this worried before. You’d seen him have nerves before court, or even genuine fear over some of the things happening in his city– but they were always overpowered by his endless resolve. You’d listen to him talk through his problems, through opening statements, and lines of questioning– and at the end of the day he’d feel a lot better. But tonight he was spiraling a little bit and no amount of nervous pacing was helping him. 

He had three near-identical suits laying on his bed, and was pacing from the bedroom to his living room where you sat on the couch. It started with him trying to decide on his clothes for tomorrow and had become– this. 

“What if they don’t like me?” You really tried not to laugh at him— like your parents wouldn’t like the nice guy with perfect manners and a stable career. 

“Matt, they’ll love you– it’ll be a great day tomorrow. I’m cooking, you’re going to be so wonderfully charming, and my parents have never even been to New York before– you’ve got the home field advantage.”

“What if they see one of my bruises– or my scars? I don’t want them to think I’m violent.” Currently his bruises were confined to his upper arm, chest, and back— no one would see them.

“Well then I guess you can’t strip at dinner.” It wasn’t especially often that you could tease Matt, but he was being more than a little ridiculous– no one would guess that your blind boyfriend got a bruise because he was fighting someone on a random rooftop at one in the morning. You laugh a little bit as you put your hands on his shoulders, stopping his pacing. He allowed you to give him a peck on the lips, even though he was still antsy. When you pulled away, he put his hand over yours, still on his shoulder. 

“I’m serious. They’re going to think I’m not good enough for you.” 

“Oh Matt– they’d never say that.”

“But it’s true. I’m not good enough for you.”

“Matt– I think you are wonderful, smart, and sweet, and my parents are going to think you’re great– I’m sure of it.” He could hear your heartbeat. He knew you were telling the truth. But you could think that they’d like him all you want, it wouldn’t change the fact that they might not. And much to your dismay he could only sigh in response, looking down at you. 

“Matt, I'm serious. At the very least, they’ll think you’re a polite young man with a stable job and a nice suit.” That got a laugh out of him— it was self conscious, but an improvement over the frown he had before. 

“Well that’s good at least. Something in my favor.” 

“And Matt? Just for the record it doesn’t matter to me whether or not they like you. I love you, and they love me, and nothing is going to change that.” You’d never said that to him before. Not out loud at least— you’d thought it, and when you knew he was far enough that even he couldn’t hear you, you’d practiced saying it. But he’d never heard you say it before. 

“You love me?”

“Obviously— I don’t know if you noticed, but you’re pretty fantastic.”

“And you’re sweet. And I love you too.” He kissed your forehead and pulled you into a hug, your face buried in his chest. 

“So you’ll be ok tomorrow?” He just gave a contented sigh and pulled you even tighter to him, inadvertently squishing your face. 

“As long as you’re there, I’ll be fine I think.” You squirmed away from his hold just enough to press a light kiss to his jaw, then to his lips. You could physically feel him smile, and then feel that smile fade a little bit when he started talking again. 

“But seriously, which suit do you think?”

[estrellayluna]

In another life

Nanami Kento

Synopsis : You promised yourself that you wouldn’t have the same unfortunate fate that your mother had gone through with love. Until your whole world comes crumbling down discovering your husband’s infidelity. Through tears and heartbreak you recall your mothers last words.

(We all know he would never!!) (please check out link once you see it for visuals!!!)

One text message from an unsaved number. One simple message was the reason your whole world came crumbling down in just seconds.

It was vile. The photo. It seemed as if whoever took the photo was in a rush to capture it. A little blurred in some spots but you could immediately make out what it depicted.

Your husband, Nanami having his arms wrapped around a waist of another woman just steps away from his desk. Whoever the woman was, her head was slightly tilted looking up at him with a smile on her face. Arms loosely wrapped around his shoulder blades.

At a loss for words and seemingly unaware the breaths you were holding in, the sudden ache you felt in your chest was growing deeper. Tears forming just before multiple escaping your eyes.

You didn’t want to believe it, but how could you not? The moment you felt the ache in your chest you knew.

-

4 months earlier

The sounds of monitors and footsteps were faint outside the door of your mothers hospital room. The room’s television on low volume as you peel a bright colored orange.

It has been a while coming but your mothers health has been declining since the last attempt of hope with needed surgery. But unfortunately to no avail.

And as much as you wished for your mother to keep fighting she finally made the decision to leave this world in peace. No more mustering up the little strength she had left to the annoyance of appointments or the continuous failed improvements.

So you devoted your time to spend as much time with your mother as you could.

“How is Nanami doing (Y/N),” your mother asks in a soft voice while looking over to you “he hasn’t come along with you for the past 3 weeks or so. Is everything alright?”

Finally finished with peeling the orange and setting it down you smiled at her, “he’s doing fine mom, just busy at work these days. He actually got promoted up at his office job a few days ago.” You tell her with a smile on your face.

Your mother slightly gasps with joy, clasping your hands with yours she beams.

“I’m so happy to hear that, I’m sure the both of you will continue to live a nice peaceful life together. He’s a good man darling, I’ll be able to leave this world in peace knowing you’ll be well taken care of.”

You smile at her words, a pang of joy and sadness.

Your mother was a single mother raising you all on her own. Your father was in the picture up until the age 11. From then on his visits were some and then eventually no more.

Though you didn’t hate him, you grew up more focused on the fact of trying your best to be a good daughter. Not causing too much stress to your mother.

Your father was your mothers first and only love. Only as time passed by, he became unfaithful. Your mother immediately took action into trying to become the best mother she can be with the so little she had. You grew up to promise yourself you refuse to let the same happen to you. To not let this curse that your father casted upon your mother trickle down to you.

“(Y/N), do you want to know why I always called you my little star,” you mother brings up. you can tell she was growing tired some.

8:30 pm

Visiting hours will end soon.

You hum in response, smoothing out the blanket that lays just between you two.

“Because moths always look for light in the darkness. You are my light and star (Y/N). I will forever be grateful to have had you as my daughter.”

Before visiting hours came to an end your head falls onto her lap, tears streaming down as her hands strokes your hair.

-

Moths look for the light in the darkness

Everything you had planned for, promised yourself and your mother was eradicated. You wanted to scream. To make a mess of everything in this home you two shared.

But you can only frown at the thought of your mother disapproving those actions.

You had no idea what to do.

More importantly, what to do with the hidden pregnancy test you tucked away inside your side of the dresser.

Wiping your tears away, headed towards your shared room you look for the test.

You tried to recall when it must have all changed. Was it when Nanami was promoted at work that he was moved to the upper level of the office building?

You recall the first couple of times you stopped by to deliver him lunch that he had forgotten.

The atmosphere was not as welcoming as his previous position. You had felt out of place when just simply asking for your husband at the front desk.

Rummaging through your belongings looking for the damn test you heard the front door open to your apartment.

8:45 pm

Though it was somewhat late, you hadn’t expect him to arrive just yet.

You froze, not sure of anything anymore.

A part of you wanted to confront him, and the other part of you just wanted to be comforted, to be told it was a fake. Absolutely anything else other than being told it was true.

Is this the end?

Finally spotting the pregnancy test you sat down in the corner of the king size bed. Holding the pregnancy test close to you, but hidden from anyone else’s view.

You hadn’t bothered to put all the clothing that fell from your frantic digging back inside.

So when Nanami walked in your shared bedroom, it was the first thing he saw.

“What the hell happened in here?” Nanami sighed placing his briefcase aside the room.

Nanami noticed your lack on response and the fact you weren’t facing him.

“I didn’t intend to have you find out like this (Y/N),” your eyes slightly widen in shock. Nanami brought his left hand to sooth the bridge of his nose.

“I don’t know who must have sent that photo to you. And I don’t intend to let that person have the satisfaction of knowing it actually got to you. Though I do have a few people in mind.” Nanami headed towards the closet to find a more comfortable to change into.

If you didn’t think your heart was beating, his lack of empathy causes your heart to break into a million pieces.

How could he be so calm about this..

“Why Nanami,” your voice trembles, your heart beating faster than ever “what caused this to happen?”

Nanami now finally walked towards you, trying to clasp your hands into yours you refuse to budge. The test tightly protected in your hands unbeknownst to him.

Nanami sighs again with a tight stern look on his face. Knowing there’s no longer any chance you’ll be able to come back from it all.

“When your mother passed away you became a shell of yourself (Y/N). It was easy in the beginning to be there for you. But it eventually turned into mindless sex as an escape for you. I did not want to hurt your decisions into avoiding the reality of losing your mother. If you hadn’t ignored your grief,” Nanami continues while taking off his glasses and watch setting them aside, glancing at your reflection at the mirror in front of him. Your eyes finally met “perhaps I could have better helped you understand (Y/N).”

“Who is she? Is she a coworker of yours?” At Nanamis confession, you felt numb. All the anger and sadness you felt dissipated. You wanted nothing more now than to go to sleep and dream of your mom comforting you and feel her hand stroke your hair again even for a mere moment inside your unconscious mind.

“Her name is Kuina. She was employed just a month into when your mother passed,” Nanami turned around to face you, leaning against the drawer head turned slightly down, arms crossed “I didn’t think I would have ever been one to end up doing such a thing (Y/N). I’m sorry.”

‘I’m sorry’

Nanami walked out into the living room closing the door behind him.

-

6 years ago

“Mom are you alright?” Walking into your moms room seeing her working on paper work for your grandmother. Gathering information about her as needed for the funeral home to work on her death certificate.

Your mom looked frantic and tired. Noting the atmosphere felt different, “hey mom, where’s Karube?” Your mom looked up at you putting up a brave face.

“Karube and I are no longer together (Y/N). He and I just realized we weren’t a match really. No need to worry.”

-

Karube ended up cheating on my mother around the same time my grandmother passed away.

Not only did you fail in keeping that promise you made yourself all those years ago.

You failed your mom too.

Hearing the faint sounds of the television being turned on just outside the living room, you tried your best to muffle your cries as it all eventually settled inside of you.

‘You were my light in times of darkness’

Hugging yourself to sleep, it didn’t take long as your cries settled you down.

-

It’s been a week since everything was brought to light. And just 3 days ago you were met with a few documents settled on the main wooden table of the home.

Divorce papers

You sigh with stress laced within. You avoided even looking through everything until the night before your first appointment with your doctor.

Frantically filing everything down, deciding on stopping by Nanamis office before heading to your doctors to drop off the paperwork.

-

Your walk to Nanamis workplace wasn’t how it was before. Your gentle smiles while walking is now replaced by a neutral toned face. The warmth of the sun is no longer a lovely feeling but a sticky hot feeling all over your body.

You hated to be a burden at such a young age. That night, after Nanamis confession you held out on telling him.

Guilt swept over you as you realized how tragic it all is.

This baby wasn’t due to the love you both have for each other, at least not anymore. It’s due to your wanting to escape from your grief.

Oh how your mother would be saddened.

-

Walking up to Nanamis now private office, trying your best to keep your head held high. You noticed that some look over at you knowing the gossip that had gone around. And others who seem to not care at all. You were silently grateful for the few.

Reaching his office, you knocked twice. Looking over your shoulder to see few of his fellow colleagues quickly look away from you as if they weren’t popping their eyes at the front seat view they had.

You let yourself in once you heard an approval from the other side.

Whispers soon ensued as the door closed behind you.

Nanami was looking over paperwork at his desk, eyebrows furrowed in whatever god knows what he deals with nowadays.

“I came to drop off the divorce paper work Kento.” Stating as you walk up his desk, your soft footsteps and his quick writing with pen hitting his paper being the silence breaker between the two of you.

Nanami drops his pen on his desk and looks up at you.

The tall windows of his office gently illuminated your face, earrings softly shimmering and pieces of your hair fall front of your face framing a delicate balance to your face.

‘You became a shell of yourself’

You didn’t try to improve your appearance just for him. Matter of fact you did it for yourself. You refused to let his words eat your self conscious.

Plus, your mother always told you how important it is to be presentable to the public. Not for the approval of others but for your own self.

Handing him the folder, your hands softly brush against each others.

Keeping your calm composure, you stood straight ready to turn around and leave.

“(Y/N)-“ Nanami starts but you had cut him off.

“I plan to leave the apartment soon Kento. If approved in just days time, you need not worry about me being in that place anymore,” you ushered as to turn around once again “have a good day Kento.”

Pushing his office doors to open and leave this place once and for all, you open the doors to Kuina waiting just outside the doors.

You should have known his office colleagues were just as wanting to know what must have been discussed behind the closed doors.

As your eyes met Kuina’s, all you had left in you was a smile.

Just as the doors of his office completely closed, Nanami caught a glance at the exchange.

Deep down inside he knew he had caused enough pain when all you did was smile at her.

-

As the elevator descends to the lower floors of the building it stopped just below the floor that Nanami once was.

As people come in and go, a tall man with white hair and circular dark navy shades shuffled his way to your side as the elevator doors close descending back down once again.

Wood scents, with a note of eucalyptus

You’re familiar with this scent of the man standing next to you. It’s nothing new. Besides you’re fond of the scent. Nothing extreme from what you’ve come across before. Men and their obnoxious amount of sprays.

So you weren’t so sure as to why the man’s scent next to you caused you to almost gag out loud inside the cramp elevator.

Catching your action swiftly your hand goes up to cover your mouth, catching the attention of the tall white haired man.

Looking down at you he asks “you alright miss?”

The elevator finally opens to the first floor and you quickly nod as you try to quickly get out.

“Woah I’m sorry! Was it my doing? Do I smell bad today?” The man looks in disbelief and quite embarrassed.

“No no no,” you try to apologize for your actions “it was actually just me! Im sensitive to smells at the moment.” You tried to explain in embarrassment.

As people continue to pass by the man shyly smile at you, his cheeks turned slightly blushed.

“I apologize then Miss…” he trails off, smiling back once again you introduced yourself “(Y/N) (L/N).”

“Nice to meet you (L/N), I’m Gojo Satoru.”

12:44 pm

My appointment is soon, but almost gagging earlier has given me anxiety. What if I can’t make it in time?

It was like if the man you just met sense your urgency and asked if things are alright.

“Oh thank you for the offer, but I’m fine I can go on my own!” You exclaimed as you start to walk towards the front entrance.

The white haired man caught up to you once again before beaming at you with a flashy smile of his

“No worries (L/N), I don’t mind!”

Looking down at the time you realized perhaps it would be best. You were anxious all week once you made your appointment for the doctors.

Looking around your surroundings before finally agreeing, you smiled back up at him thanking him.

You thought you’d follow him to the parking structure but his car was pulled up by the valet.

As the valet driver approached to open your door, Gojo reassured him letting himself open the door for you. Thanking him before settling inside his car, he was walking over to the drivers side.

Gojo looked up feeling a stare burn behind him, before driving away.

-

Y’all idk where this one is going either y’all were supposed to die & be sad.

Part 2? Idk either

(Not proofread I’ve been typing 3 hours straight.)

[m0nnypie]

HOT POLICEMAN

Warnings: sex car, unprotected sex, ass slaps, cum, pet names, squirt, Modern! Au, Police officer!Sanemi x Wife!Reader.

Sanemi fucks you in the police car!

a/n: SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH BABYS!! I promise I'll improve. SO, hope y'all like this.

You and Sanemi have known each other since childhood. You were there at his house when he decided to become a police officer after beating up a kid who had stolen his lollipop.

You were there when he had to clean up the wounds from the fights he got into. You were also there when he hit a kid who touched you.

You were there on the day he graduated, even though no one believed it was possible. You were there when he started studying to be a police officer, staying up until dawn with him to help him study.

You were there when he finally became a police officer. You managed to be there when he arrested his first criminal.

Or when he finally asked you to be his girlfriend and gave you a cat as a gift.

You were there, helping him pack his things to move into your house, because your apartment was bigger.

You were there when he decided he was going to ask you to marry him in a stupid way, with the help of your police partner.

And finally, there you were, walking down the aisle, seeing how nervous he was. When they finally said “you may kiss.” You would always be there, by his side.

“Excuse me, ma’am, but you’re in serious trouble. I recommend you cooperate and put your hands behind your back.”

You rolled your eyes hard, knowing exactly who that voice belonged to. As soon as you turned around, you could see the white-haired man with his hands on his hips, while looking you up and down.

I mean, who could blame him? You were wearing a short floral dress that showed off your breasts very well, highlighting every curve of your body.

“You’re stupid, you know that?” You crossed your arms, and a frown appeared on your face. It soon disappeared when you felt him pull you towards him, while he grabbed your waist and looked at you with a smile that always melted you.

“If you keep this up… I’m going to have to hold you for contempt, you know that?” He said amusedly, only taking his hand off you to dangle the handcuffs in your face.

You didn’t need much to understand exactly what he meant by that. A smile automatically appeared on your face. You loved it when he used the advantages of being a police officer with you. It was exciting.

“Oh, is that right, officer? What are you going to do? Hmm?” You said as you traced your finger along his chest. You only saw a small smile form on his face. You knew exactly what was coming.

Anyone who passed by that car would be able to hear the noises that were being made there, or even the rocking of the car, which was moving at a fast pace.

Inside the car there you were, completely naked and on all fours in the back seat, handcuffed with your hands behind your back. While trying your best not to moan, which was difficult, since the man you call your husband was thrusting so hard that you thought you might pass out from the pleasure.

You felt a strong slap, which made a moan escape your mouth. A slap that would be remembered for the next few days. You were going to go crazy.

“If you moan one more time… I’ll throw you out of this car, do you understand me?”

He pulled your hair so you could face him. You tried to answer him, but you knew that if you opened your mouth, only moans would come out.

“If you don’t tell me that you understand with words, I’ll have to stop, my dear…”

“I-I understand….hmm.. Sanemi, love…that feels so good…”

You rolled your eyes as you felt how deep he was in your wet pussy. You started to drool with pleasure. He started to go faster, mistreating your entrance and making it red with the force he used.

“Shit, honey, your pussy is squeezing me so well, I’m going to cum if you keep going like this.”

He slapped your ass again, making you bite your hand so you wouldn’t moan. Along the way, he ended up grabbing your waist with both hands and started to go faster as he felt he was going to cum.

It didn’t take long for you to feel his hot cream filling you completely. He threw his head back, as he let out a grunt of pleasure and squeezed your waist.

“Fuck…you’re so hot…”

“Sanemiiii…I haven’t cum yet…”

Fuck. He could have cum just from the pout you were making now, you looked so pathetically hot begging to cum. And how could he refuse? He pulled out without any care for you, making you moan from the lack of something inside you. You saw him start to get dressed, was he really going to leave you without cumming?? Seriously?

“What are you waiting for? Sit up straight... I'm going to devour that pussy of yours in a way that you'll never forget”

You quickly settled on the bench and spread your legs for the man. The sight made him salivate, you were completely wet. He wasn't sure if it was from your excitement, or if it was the cum he had just put in you. Obviously he took off the handcuffs first, he didn't want you complaining for the rest of the week that he didn't let you touch him.

So he kneeled in front of you, trying to adjust himself in the small space. He licks your pussy, tasting all the juices it contains, being able to taste yours and his together, as it should be.

He put his arms under your thighs and grabbed them tightly. He started sucking your clit hard, making a sucking noise that made you dizzy with pleasure. You started grabbing his hair and pulling. You felt like you were going to cum just from that.

He ran his tongue all over your pussy, from the outer lips to the inner lips. He stuck his tongue in your tight hole. You started moaning loudly and thrusting your hips towards his face. Until you felt him pinching your thigh.

“Quiet brat, or I’ll stop.”

You knew he was serious, so you held on as hard as you could to keep from moving. But it was so hard, so hard to stay still when you felt him enter you with his own tongue, sucking your clit hard, while he never took his eyes off you. You wanted it to end so badly, you felt like you were going to die if you didn’t cum soon.

When you felt the familiar sensation of contraction, you knew you were going to cum. You started squeezing your breasts. With your head back, you closed your eyes and let yourself go. As soon as the peak of your orgasm arrived, you arched your back until you couldn't anymore and screamed.

As soon as you calmed down a little, to at least sit up straight and start breathing. You saw your husband surprised, which made you frown.

"What's wrong??"

"Of every time we've had sex, this is the first time you've squirted. And I loved it."

That made you laugh. Sometimes you forgot how stupid he could be. After that, he cleaned you up with a wet wipe that he always kept in the car, and drove you home. After all, he would never leave you alone in that state, right?

[soxcietyy]

Uhuh, I got it, maybe everyone being surprised when yuta deals with you being a crybaby

Like maybe you have a reputation for being a cry baby. A scrap your crying a sad movie crying you store ran out of your favorite drink you holding back tears while telling the clerk "no it's ok"

I imagine this being modern au but do as you want 🤣

Alright alright I think I got it🧍‍♀️

Nobody is surprised when you start crying. You were known to be such a sensitive person and nobody blamed you for it. The jujitsu world was harsh but you tend to cry over the smallest things. That being a sad movie, seeing old people eat alone, seeing stay animals on the streets and worst. Your friends where so used to it that sometimes they watched you cry or waited for Yuta to come along and console you. They’ve never seen it really happen though. Usually they would leave the two of you behind and go on with there mission/day.

Then Yuta had to suddenly leave to Africa and well you were a mess. They had absolutely no idea on how to deal with you. Maki would try to make you feel better by being positive.

"We’ll look at the bright side you saved yourself twenty bucks." Maki said as the both of you watched a 13 year old take the last makeup product you were really looking forward too. It was trending all over Japan and you were dying to get your hands on it. You had to wait for pay day to come in so you could get your hands on it though.

You turned to look at Maki with eyes already watering.

"But I wanted it for days now! What’s a kid going to do with makeup?" Tears start to roll down.

Maki looked at you and then the little girl contemplating the solution in her head."Fine, I’ll fight the little twerp." Maki said pulling her sleeves up.

You quickly grab your arm and shake your head telling her it was fine. Maki panicked not wanting to cause a scene in the store. She then patted your back and continued to say more positive things but nothing seemed to work. At the end you both went home as you cried.

Panda and Inumaki tend to try to make you laugh. As you guessed it doesn’t work. It seemed like everything they’ve done has failed.

Then the next year rolled around and Maki would pray that someone would be able to put up with you. That also didn’t happen sadly. The first time they witnessed you cry was over your Ice cream that fell onto the ground. They all looked shocked and looked at the second years for help.

Today you decided to cry over a failed test grade. You held the paper in your hands as you looked at the biggest 69 smacked on the paper. Gojo made sure to emphasize that you failed by putting a crying cat sticker on it.

Panda turned to see your eyes watering. He slowly turned his paper around to hide his passing grade. "It’s okay y/n I also failed."

You look up at him with such a sad face. "You’re the worst liar!" You cry harder. Everyone knew panda was one of the smartest. Before Maki could even step in to try to help out she was stopped by a hand. They all looked to see it was Yuta who was back. Panda wanted to yell that he was here but Maki punched him in the arm. It was a blessing that Yuta came back early from his trip. She didn’t have to worry about you anymore.

He came in from behind you and gave you a tight hug. Trying to keep your hairs away from your face at the same time.

"Wow y/n you almost passed! You’ve improved so much since I left." Yuta said as he looked at your paper with tear drops all over it. "I already took this test when I was abroad and flunked it. (Biggest lie ever) Do you think we could study together so we can score higher?" Yuta asks looking at you for approval.

You give him a small nod as you wipe your face. you didn’t know who you were talking to but you were okay with studying with someone else. "No more crying okay? You won’t be able to see what you got wrong while we go over it." He pulled a tissue from his pocket and wiped your face. He tends to always carry tissue because of you and well it comes in handy. Maki almost jumped out of her seat when she saw you stopped crying.

You finally look at him with red eyes. Then your eyes widen when you noticed who it was."Since when you were back? You where gone for so long and- and I was so sa" You say as tears started to roll down again not being able to finish your sentence. He laughs and hug you tighter than last time.

"I just got back! No more crying y/n, if you stop crying we can go get that makeup product you kept writing to me about." He says as he pats your head.

"About that, it’s pretty much sold out everywhere." Maki said

"Then we’ll just preorder it, or wait till it drops again. It’s not gone forever, for the mean time we can try out new products." Yuta said as he held you. You were still crying but not because of the grade or the product. It was because of how much you missed him and he understood that. He was going to make sure to spend the whole day with you no matter what.

Really short and sweet :)

[uceyliyahh]

SOMETHING BOUT’ US

Summary: "I want you more than anything in my life." After being in a difficult relationship with Carmelo Yasmine decided to move on from him and become the next big thing while getting drafted on the smackdown roster she always thought she would never find love again due to her commitment issues until she met him.

This fanfic is 18+! NO MINORS ALLOWED

word count: 4242

smut warning; it’ll come in the story randomly so PLEASE PLEASE look out for it I’m not really good at writing ✍🏽 smuts but I’m improving at the moment.

Jey Uso x Yasmine

AWFUL GRAMMAR IM GETTING BETTER I SWEAR LOL.

comments, likes, repost are appreciated I would love the constructive feedback in what area I need to approve in. 🤍

ALSO! I don’t not want nobody stealing my fanfics or take it as theirs that will be an issue fasho so keep it cute respectfully.

I only own my OC along with the make up scenarios

But I’ll be writing along the way since this story is in my drafts on Wattpad right now so yuh. 💁🏽‍♀️

TAGS ⬇️ lmk if you wanna be tag 🏷️@pinkwithhearts @420days @jstarr86 @empressdede @angiedawn02 @biancasreign

@bebesobrielo @skyesthebomb @aikosilo @papireigns-05 @punksyeet @paigereeder @magnificentbouquetmusic

@hunnidmilly @celesteheartsjey @charmed-dreamssss @fearlesschimera @partypoison00 @mselenalovebug @bloodlinesbabe93 @lov3rla03 @simpin4pixels @nbanenefrmdao

4.

YASMINE It was nine in the morning as the birds were chirping, and sunlight was beaming through my curtains I and Jey were sleeping soundly while I was lying on top of his body while his hands were resting on my butt firmly underneath the warm blanket.

We were sleeping well until I heard my door open, which caused me to flutter my eyes open, squinting to see who was at my door. I saw that it was Bianca coming in, seeing me and him sleeping in the same bed together.

"Is y'all two like dating or something?" She whispered. I immediately shook my head while she snickered at me.

Feeling Jey shifting his position and pulling me down with him, which shocked Me, and Bianca gripping my butt tightly, making my body feel electricity when he did that.

"Please don't tell Montez about this...even though he knows, but don't tell me about this part." I whispered as she nodded her head before heading out.

Bianca shut the door as I gazed up at Jey, who was still sleeping soundly, mumbling something. Maybe he was having a bad dream right now, which is why he did what he did.

He slithered his hands inside of my shorts. It made me feel a little bit wet from him doing this, but I had to get up and get ready for work. Today, I do hair on the side because it's my favorite thing to do.

I tried to get up from his grasp, but he wouldn't move, "J-Josh...I gotta get up, c'mon." He groaned, not even hinting that he wanted to get up.

'I'm going to be late for work because of this man.'

I just lay there for a moment before trying again. I was playing in his mullet, watching him sleep. His features looked so beautiful that I couldn't help but admire him.

I grabbed his phone, which was next to him, and checked the time. I sighed deeply, knowing that I was going to be late, so I managed to escape his grip while standing up and walking quietly toward my bathroom.

I removed my clothing as I began my skincare routine before heading into the shower. While I was doing that, I heard my bedroom door opening. Montez was probably in there, and that's when I heard thumping on the floor.

'Do these two have to play fight in my bedroom?'

I heard them two going at it with each other playfully as I finished up my skincare routine. When I realized I hadn't brought my towel with me, I cursed under my breath. I slightly opened the door, seeing them two wrestling each other on the ground. That's when I cleared my throat, gaining their attention.

"What's up Minks?" Montez questioned me.

"I forgot my towel can one of yall bring it to me please?" I said, having the door slightly closed so that they wouldn't be scarred for life by my naked figure.

They both stared at each other figuring out who was going to bring me my towel 'I literally told these dickheads one of them can bring it, why do men have to be stupid.' That's when Jey got up from the floor and saw my pink towel that was hanging from my chair.

He walked towards me, holding my towel in his hands, smiling at me before heading towards Montez.

"Thank you Josh."

"You're welcome ma." Jey said, hearing the bathroom door shut.

✧˚° After eating breakfast with everyone, I managed to make it to work. I saw everyone getting their heads done, and then I went inside the break room to clock in for work.

I felt my phone buzz while I pulled it out from my pocket, seeing that Jey had texted me. I had three or four clients today for hair appointments, so today would be busy.

Joshua🤍 sent 2+ messages IMESSAGE 💬 Joshua🤍: Hey, Mama I was seeing if you made it to work safe Joshua🤍: you're one hell of a cook girl is there anything you can't do? 😭

I smiled at his messages. He seemed so sweet and genuine, but I had to protect myself at all costs, and I really did want us to be friends first before anything happened. But I don't know. It's like every time I see him or even be around him, he always makes me nervous.

IMESSAGE 💬 Yasmine🩵: yes I made it to work safe Josh Joshua🤍: that's good mama so your brother calls you Minks? Huh? Yasmine🩵: yeah, it's a nickname he would call me growing up as a kid Joshua🤍: it's cute I should change yo' name in my phone to that. Yasmine🩵: it's your world Joshua do whatever Joshua🤍: whatever little girl Yasmine🩵: 🖕🏼🖕🏼

I'm tired of his ass calling me a little girl like a he's big dawg or something; one of my clients came in a bit late due to traffic. I told them that I wasn't trippin' and was very understanding with the whole traffic situation.

As I was washing their locs in the sink, I couldn't help but think about Jey and how gentle he is with me as a friend, of course. I honestly don't know if I'll be able to fall in love again after what happened to me.

But Jey is something different; different from the others. I just couldn't wrap my head around it. After washing their locs, I sat them down in the hairdryer so that their locs could dry. In the meantime, I was getting my loc gel and comb ready for them, along with texting Jey.

Yasmine🩵: what'chu doing? Joshua🤍: I'm at the gym working out right now Yasmine🩵: interesting 🤔 Joshua🤍: wym by that? you wanna see a pic or something? Yasmine🩵: nah nah i was just saying that's all I thought you would be chilling in the crib Joshua🤍: well I got a dark match tonight on smackdown so I have to be in good shape Yasmine🩵: a'ight a'ight Joshua🤍:

'This man is going to shoot me dead like woah.'

Yasmine🩵: okay period get them gains boy Joshua🤍: girl, yo' ass is funny for real Yasmine🩵: what can I say I'm the funniest person in the fam 🙂 Joshua🤍: don't you got a client to be focusing one right now ma'am? Yasmine🩵: yes but their hair is drying right now, and not too much don't be tryna clock me sir 🙄 Joshua🤍: you and that sassy ass attitude of yours Yasmine🩵: what'chu goin' to do about it?

'Where is this boldness coming from?'

Joshua🤍: fuck around and find out Minks 🙂 Yasmine🩵: you know what let me go finish my clients hair before I catch a case Joshua🤍: man, you ain't gonna do a damn thing little mama better watch yo' self Yasmine🩵: yap yap yap that's all I hear right now Josh and you aren't goin' do shit either so that makes the two of us. 😀💁🏼‍♀️ Joshua🤍: mhm just wait until I see yo' ass

I rolled my eyes at the text he just sent he's so annoying he's like another annoying ass brother hell he's even worse than Montez ass, i sat my client down in the chair and began parting their  hair doing what I do best.

They showed me what hairstyles they wanted, and I told them I could do that for them. As I was focusing on their hair, I heard a familiar voice coming in the background; not even paying attention, noticing that an unwanted presence was walking up towards me.

I looked up only to see Carmelo standing there with my favorite roses in his hands along with some other things, I don't know if this was him telling me that he's sorry or some type of trick for him to do it to me again.

"Carmelo what are you doing here?" I questioned him.

"Baby I just came to visit my favorite girl at work. Are you coming to support me tonight for my dark match?" Carmelo said.

"I'm going to be there only to support Montez and Jey..." when I said that name his facial expression dropped immediately.

He remembered what he had said to me, saying how I only belonged to him and only him, so when he heard me say another man's name, he didn't like that.

"As in Jey Uso?"

"Yeah, Jonathan's twin." I replied while applying the clips onto their locs.

"What's goin with'chu and him?" Why the fuck is he asking me all of these questions I literally just met Jey and we are just friends 'or so I thought.'

Like he's being possessive when we aren't even together anymore, how the fuck does that work?

"Look, don't start this in here with me while I'm at work. You can leave respectfully," I said sternly, staring deeply into his dark brown eyes.

"I'm just asking baby, ion' want no other nigga to be all in that like I do shit he probably can't handle all of you." I scoffed in disbelief. How could he be so confident about this? When he doesn't even know the little mini flirting that me and Jey do like, Jey could scoop me up right away in a heartbeat.

I nodded my head, cooperating with him so that nothing terrible happened to me while I was there because he was crazy and he could end up doing what he did before.

He placed a kiss on my cheek, which gave me shivers down my spine. How badly I wanted to wipe that fucking kiss off of my face as he walked off.

I immediately wiped the kiss off my cheek, feeling disgusted as I continued to do their locs.

✧˚° I was done with work today and made a lot of tips, which made me happy. I texted Montez, letting him know that I'll be in his locker room watching his match, including Jey's match as well. I have never seen him wrestle before in the ring, so this should be interesting.

As I was walking towards his locker room i bumped into Jey who had his yeet gear on along with his golden grills including his piercings and fresh haircut I just wanted to pass out right then and there but I had to play it cool.

"My fault minks didn't even see you there yo' ass is short." Jey said jokingly as I punched him in his arm.

"Don't be coming for my height just because you're taller than me don't mean that I won't whoop that ass." I said boldly as he had a smug expression appearing on his lips.

"You like to talk a lot of shit don't you little mama." I nodded my head while folding my arms over my chest standing my ground I was not finna play with him right now.

Little did I know someone was watching us behind the corner.

"Last time I checked, I said you weren't going to do anything about it." I got all up in his face, looking deeply into his low, hooded eyes.

I felt him pull me by the waist so that I could be closer to his body, he smelt so good it felt like I was in heaven right now with him.

Our faces were close to each other lips almost touching each other while he whispered something in my ear, "and last time I checked I said fuck around and find out didn't I?" His voice was so deep and raspy, almost killing somebody.

My breathing felt uneven, being underneath him like this. Why am I getting like this with him? I looked down at my hands, fiddling with them as he grabbed my chin, making me stare into his eyes yet again.

Earning a smile from him before brushing his thumb against my lips, "your adorable minks but I'll see you later after my match yeah?"

"Yeah, I'll be in Montez's locker room," I said as he and I backed away from each other, letting him off to his match while I walked inside Montez's locker room.

She sat down in the chair, staring up at the TV, seeing her brother and Angelo coming out with B-fab, hyping up the crowd. They always played in my brother's face like he wouldn't have a title shot.

As I was watching them, I heard the door opening and saw Trinity coming in. She came up to me, giving me a hug before sitting down.

"Hey babygirl how are you mentally?" She asked.

"I'm doing better mentally, honestly." I replied seeing Montez and Angelo coming out.

She raised an eyebrow at me, "And who's helping you out with that girl?" I didn't say anything; I just looked at her and then back up at the screen, watching my brother's match.

Trinity got the hint of who was helping out with that, and she knew that it was her brother-in-law, Jey. He and I are just friends, and he's been helpful throughout the whole thing.

"So you and Josh?" My eyes fixed on her. "We are just friends, Trin; nothing more. I told you all I think I wanna be in a relationship again."

"I understand if I were in your shoes, Yasmine, but I think Josh is different from any other guy that you have dealt with, including Carmelo. But I get it, " she said.

I nodded my head while watching Montez get dropped on the table, feeling his pain, as I was watching my brother get demolished right now. Meanwhile, I started to drown in my thoughts, thinking about what had happened earlier at work and then the intense moment Jey and I had together.

I threw away the roses he had bought me not wanting to trace any negative energy around me and when he kissed me on the cheek I just felt so disgusted especially after what he did to me.

I was listening to what Trinity had said about Jey. Maybe she's right, and maybe he is different from any other guy I was with, but I would have to see that for myself. But did I really want to go through that route again?

Dating someone just for them to hurt me again at this point I might as well kill myself if that was the case. Nonetheless I have to protect myself at all cost.

"Do you know when you're debuting on Smackdown?"

"I have no idea Paul hasn't said anything to me yet about it." I said shrugging my shoulders in the process.

"Well, he needs to figure it out so I can see my girl do some flips." I chuckled at her. Looking at the screen, I saw that Montez and Angelo got the W for tonight. I think Jey's match is the main event after the commercial break.

Hearing Montez coming in with Bianca as he held onto his head with an ice pack, man if I was in his shoes right now I probably would've been in pain man.

"How are you feeling brother?"

"Nigga I'm in pain girl just wait until you start you'll understand." Montez said.

"Nigga What'chu mean? I already felt it when I was in NXT." I said jokingly while rolling my eyes at him.

"So, Yasmine, how are you and Joshua?" Montez looked at me and then back at Bianca, confused, trying to figure out what she was talking about.

I told her to stop talking about it because there wasn't anything going on between me and him. We are just friends, nothing more. Well, that's what I believe because we've been doing some mini flirting, like earlier before I came to the Montez locker room.

But Montez wasn't buying it he wanted to know since he trust Jey with his life. "Brother, nothing is happening between him and I; I promise we are just friends." I earned a hum from him as he was smelling bullshit but just left it alone.

I know how overprotective Montez is toward me, especially now since the incident that happened, so of course, he's going to be looking out for me.

I heard Jey's music playing as his match was approaching. I saw him coming out of the gorilla and going towards the ring, mouthing to the camera, "Here I go, here I go." I couldn't help but admire him as I watched him go out there.

He was interacting with the crowd as they waved the hands up and down vibing out with him.

✧˚° I was walking towards the gorilla to congratulate Jey on his win tonight when I felt someone pull me to the side before I could turn. When I turned around, I saw Carmelo next to me with his arms folded.

I rolled my eyes at him, trying to ignore his presence. Walking in, the gorilla saw Jey standing there, his hair all messy and sweating. Man, he never fails to look so good.

He had his back turned, talking to Jonathan about something. As I tapped him on the shoulder, he turned around, noticing my little self gazing up at him.

I still felt Carmelo's presence behind me as Jey gazed down at me with a smile while giving me a hug. I knew that Carmelo was watching, probably fuming right now at the sight.

"Hey, pretty girl you watched my match for tonight?" Jey asked as he kept his hands on my hips.

"Yeah, I did you did a great job out there Josh." I said.

"Thank you, hope I can see you out there I heard you were on hell of an athlete doing flips and shit." I chuckled at him maintaining that eye contact with him god he was so fine and mesmerizing to see.

That's when we heard someone clear their throat behind us, completely forgetting that Carmelo was standing right there with his arms folded, looking at Jey and me. Meanwhile, Jonathan was behind us, knowing that he was protecting me away from him.

Shit both of them were.

"Can we talk in private Yasmine?" Carmelo asked.

"No, I don't wanna speak nor be around you Melo I gotta go home because I'm tired." I said as I felt Jey's hand around my waist.

"Nah it's because you're around this nigga, I told you; you better not find nobody else because you belong to me didn't I?" Jey came in front of me, standing in his face, staring down as they had a face-off with each other.

"She don't belong to nobody like she's some pet show some fucking respect." Jey said sternly.

Carmelo looked him up and down, scoffing before leaving out the gorilla, mouthing that I was going to get it whenever I was alone and not with them, but as long as they were around, he couldn't do a damn thing.

Jey turned around and faced me, signaling Jon that we needed some privacy alone, and that's what he did, leaving me and him alone.

"Thanks for sticking up for me, Josh. That really means a lot," I said, fiddling with my fingers.

"It's all good mama, ion know what's your history with him but he's toxic." Knowing damn well he knew that was your ex-boyfriend me and him walked towards his locker room as he shut the door behind us while I sat down on his couch.

My eyes followed his every move as he took off the gear that he had on; I looked away, scrolling through my socials, not trying to get caught by him.

"Did you drive here to work Yasmine?" He asked.

"Yeah, I did why? Did you want to take me home?"

"I did, actually, that's why I had to ask, but are you good being in here by yourself while I go take a shower?" I nodded my head as he left toward the restrooms, locking the door to make sure nobody came in.

I was on my phone waiting for Joshua to finish when I saw that Montez had texted me.

Big Bro Tez💪🏽 sent 2+ messages IMESSAGE 💬 Big Bro Tez💪🏽: where are you Minks? Big Bro Tez: lemme' know

I know that he's worried about be and my whereabouts but I was with Joshua I am safe.

Minnie🧃: I'm okay Montez I'm in Joshua's locker room right now. Big Bro Tez💪🏽: oh A'ight I was just making sure that's all Minnie🧃: he made sure to lock the door so nobody won't come in Big Bro Tez💪🏽: okay, then little sis I'll see you at home. Minnie🧃: kk

After texting Montez to let him know what was happening, I made sure I had my keys and purse with me. I've seen Jey coming in with some fresh new clothes on, along with his hair still being wet.

"Hey, I'm finna head home Josh." I spoke as he watched me get up from the couch.

"Lemme' walk you to your car then that way I could get to mines as well." Jey replied as I nodded my head while we both walked out the locker room together going towards the garage.

As we were walking down to the garage, I felt his gaze on me, as if he were admiring me. However, I didn't want to catch him in the act, so I just played it off.

He was so bad at hiding it, too, which made me snicker at him, causing him to raise an eyebrow at me. "What's so funny?"  I looked up at him seeing his face being all serious.

"You're funny Joshua, not trying to get caught stealing glances at me or what?" I said in a teasing tone.

"Don't start with that teasing shit Yasmine." I rolled my eyes at him while sticking my tongue out at him.

"Or what? What are you goin' to do Josh?" I was tempting him right now as I could see that same smug expression on his face that he had earlier when we had this similar conversation—running his available hand down his beard.

I finally reached my car, opened the backseat, threw my purse inside, and shut the door.

I felt his hands on my hips turning me around as he cornered me keeping me in place, our faces were close to each other.

"You're honestly testing me Minks."

I shrugged my shoulders at him, folding my arms over my chest.

"What can I say sir, I love to test people's patience so they can fix it." I said boldly, grabbing his face and squeezing his cheeks, his hands slithering down my ass cheeks, squeezing them, causing me to yelp.

"What'chu want me to fix huh? That sassy ass attitude of yours?" Lord have mercy, his deep voice will be the death of me speaking to me like this. All of that confidence just went down the drain after he spoke up like that.

I glanced down at my feet while he gently raised my chin, his fingers brushing his thumb on my lips, and stared deeply at me.

"Don't got nun to say? What happened little mama?"

"Boy, fuck you and move so I can get in the car." He gave me a swat on the ass cheeks, holding them since he enjoys that stuff, me being all snarky towards him.

'I feel like me and his chemistry is there like so there.'

'But I remember what I told myself: don't be vulnerable around anybody or give in. With Joshua he seems so different from the rest.'

Joshua stays that way including eye contact with each other; he is quite patient with me and understanding especially where I am coming from during all of this.

"Fix that attitude."

"No, Josh moveeee." I whined

"Nah, c'mere princess." He scooped me up by the thighs placing me on the trunk of my car getting between my legs.

As he looked down at me with his hooded eyes and I looked up at him with my innocent ones, he was giving me a lot of anxiety right now. He licked his lips while glancing down at my lips and then back to my gaze.

I was unsure of his next move, but I could feel his stiff member between my legs as his hand brushed my cheek and lifted my chin.

"J-Josh...I want to take things slow...I want to get to know you more before anything..." I said softly.

"I understand mama ion' wanna pressure you into anything let's get to know each other a little better and be best friends." He said placing a kiss on my cheek.

This made me blush a little bit while looking away from him for a second. He chuckled at my cuteness before moving away from my legs.

He held his hand out as I took it, getting down from my trunk and fixing myself as he opened my door for me like a true gentleman.

When I got inside my car, he stood there, asking, "Am I going to see you tomorrow?" I nodded my head as he shut my door gently while I pushed the button to start the ignition.

Before I drove off towards the gate, I blew him a kiss. He was so charming, staring down at me like that, that I wondered what would have occurred if we had gone a little farther. I could feel his firm member between my legs, which made me realize he must have been packing.

Because of my commitment difficulties, I do not want to rush things since I am afraid he would cheat on me. Or, while we are currently great friends, find someone else. I began to obsess over it, wondering if Carmelo was correct.  Although she is most likely saying it because it is her brother-in-law, I still want to trust what Trinity said.

I am not sure, but I will continue to protect my heart with this barrier.

SomeThing Bout' Us.

A/n: things between Yasmine and Jey are getting spicy right now but I'm glad that Jey is respecting her and him wanting to be best friends with her.

Carmelo ass finna be shitty when he finds out about them two being all over each other.

But I hope yall enjoy this chapter lmk in the comments below.

Stay Ucey.

[idontplaytrack]

✧ Not A Word

jealous! AJ Campos x fem reader

Warnings: fluff, angst, coarse language, jealous AJ(obvi😂), bit of a smutty ending

Requested? Yes / No

"

Me? Jealous? Jealousy is not a word I'm familiar with.

"

“AJ! You’re out. y/n’s gonna run instead.”

“What…?” AJ looked at coach Murray, in utter disbelief. “Why?”

“Her timing’s gotten better than yours and we need to place, as you know.”

“Fine, whatever. Even though we still have plenty of time for me to train.” AJ jogged away in a huff.

You watched her leave, worried. Shit.

“Okay, y/n. Go to the starting line, you’re gonna run a few.”

“A few?”

“Yeah, a few laps to practice.” He nearly scoffs, “Go, go.”

“Alright.” You shrug, heading for the starting line as he said, then started running. The whole time, you were wondering where the heck she went off to. When you stopped for a bathroom break, you saw her sitting there by a pillar, drawing in her notebook. AJ looked up, saw you, and scooched a little further away. Sighing, you decided to leave her alone for now.

She was still there when you walked out of the bathroom. Resisting the urge to talk to her, you jogged back to the track. You didn’t see her for the rest of practice, and after practice, you couldn’t find her. You tried texting, then you tried calling. She didn’t pick up, she didn’t reply. And then her phone was switched off. “y/n? What’s wrong?” Gabi walked up behind you.

“I can’t find AJ. I tried calling and texting her but then she switched off her phone.”

“I think I have an idea for where she might be. Come on, I’ll give you a ride.”

“Okay, thanks.” You followed her to her car and she drives you a park a little ways away from their house. “She’s usually by the pond sketching after a bad day. Though now, usually she goes to you, but since that isn’t the case right now, here she is.” Gabi stops to let you get off. You spot someone sitting down on the grass by the pond. “Oh, my God. Thanks, Gabs.”

“No problem. Glad I could help.”

You approached her quietly, sitting down beside her. “Hey.”

She shifts slightly, letting you know that she was aware of your presence, but she doesn’t take her earphones off. “AJ.” You repeated. “We need to talk.”

“For what?”

“About practice.” You began, lightly tugging her earphones off.

She sighs, closing her book. “AJ, Murray’s decision— I didn’t think he would pick me to go. I just ran. I- I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry about that. You improved, that’s a good thing.” AJ looks at you, then focused back on the ducks in the pond. “I just— I don’t know, I was—”

That was something she struggled with, opening up to you about her feelings. She always kept to herself. It’s always been like this and you have been trying to get her to be more open instead of trying to shoulder everything herself. Sometimes, it works, she’s okay, she talks. Other times, like right now, she just completely shuts you off and runs away. AJ doesn’t like it that you have to see her upset, you know it but you couldn’t care less if she cried in front of you. You would just hold her and let her cry it out and whatever else she needed. Did she know that? Yes she does, she just…struggles with accepting that you’re there for her.

“Jealous?”

AJ scoffs, “Me? Jealous? Jealousy is not a word I’m familiar with.”

“Babe, that’s okay, it’s a valid emotion. Okay? I will literally pull myself out of the team if it means that you get to run the race.”

“y/n, why would you do that? You’re great at it.” She answered tearfully.

“Because, it no longer makes me happy, actually. I feel more stressed than I do relaxed when I go to practice.” You admit, “I just stayed because it looks good on my record, transcript, whatever. I can see it, you love the sport. It’s what makes you feel happy, confident, recharged.”

AJ swallowed thickly, fighting the forming tears. “I’m just used to having to be the best, y/n. My Dad expects me to be the best, that if I even slip up just one time, I feel like I failed. I feel like everyone is judging me…”

————

“Baby, I- I know it’s so hard, I know your Dad’s hard on you. But it’s me…I’m here for you no matter what. For anything.” You told her, grabbing her hand, “See, look at this. This ring- it doesn’t cost much but it means the world to me because it represents the promise that we made to each other. I wear it all the time, and so do you…it’s tiny, but important. but not as important as you being there for me, me being there for you. We’ve been through some shit. But we don’t let it take us down forever. I don’t care how bad your day is, how much you need to scream or cry, run or punch someone. I will be there with you to do that with. I’m here, let me share things with you. You’re not alone— don’t just shove everything down.”

AJ chokes on a sob and then just ended up bursting into tears. You put your arms around her as she laid her head onto your chest. “It’s okay, baby. Just let it out, okay?”

“I know, you need the reassurance. You’ve told me that. So do I, sometimes. And in the event where I can’t give it to you, remember the ring. Our promise…this conversation. Please. AJ, I love you and I care about you. I want you to remember that.” By the time you finished talking, you were in tears as well. “You’re alright, honey.” You kissed the side of her head while rubbing her back. “We’re okay.”

“I’m sorry.” She sniffled, “It was wrong of me to get jealous. It wasn’t even your fault. And I just — gave you the side eye like you chose to run in the race.”

“Baby.” You chuckled, breaking away from the embrace and tilting her head by the chin, “I don’t care about that. It happened, so what? I know you, I know you didn’t mean that. I actually found that look on your face kinda funny, and very adorable actually.”

AJ laughs a little and ends up coughing, “I…I need you to know that too, I love you no matter what. No matter how shitty of a day I might have.”

“I know that, AJ. I know.” You promised, “I think I kinda know you pretty well by now.”

She blinks, licking her lips while looking at you. Something about that look in her eyes, there was like a shift in the mood almost instantaneously. AJ’s hand travels over your shoulder and down to your upper back, gently connecting your lips with her own. Somehow, you managed to push her back enough so that she’s laid on her back on the grass. AJ chuckles, “Hey. What are you doing?”

“What were you doing?” You retorted.

“Kissing you.” She answered, eyebrows raised briefly before crashing her lips onto yours again, hand roaming your back.

“AJ, do not take off my—”

She chuckles into the kiss, mumbling an ‘okay’ and the kisses don’t stop. “I love you.” She combs a hand through your hair while you now laid your head on her chest.

“I love you too, baby.” You replied, finger tracing her chest randomly.

“Maybe we should go…” She remarked, hand still massaging your scalp.

“Why?”

“It’s starting to get kinda dark, aaaand I don’t want those poor ducks to see what I’m about to do to you.”

“Oh.” You gasped, eyes looking into hers, “So we’re gonna do that now?”

“If you want to, of course.” She bit back a grin.

“Hell yeah, I want to.” You snuggled closer to her for a bit, “I also wanna just cuddle with you. This feels really nice.”

“We can do that afterwards.” AJ wiggles her brows, her fingers stopping in your hair.

“Really? Okay.” You exhaled, “Okay, let’s go.”

Once you returned with AJ to her house, she leads you up to her room, smoothly locking her door. “So, you’re sure?”

“Oh, yeah.” You confirmed, arm resting on her shoulder as you leaned in to kiss her first.

“Oh, my God.” AJ mumbles into the kiss, pulling you in by the waist.

After that, you were in the shower with her. You helped her shampoo her hair and lather the soap on her body. She does the same. You loved moments like these and she does, too. Quiet, comforting intimacy after sex. AJ randomly cups her face in her hands and presses a kiss to your cheeks then all over your face. It made you giggle, and she smiles. “You’re so cute.” AJ says while brushing the hair out of your face.

“Have you looked in the mirror, babe? You’re fucking adorable.” You held her chin, puckering up your lips and she kisses you again as expected.

“The mirror? I just did. Like, 10 minutes ago when you were trying to—”

“Let’s not.” You put a finger to her lips, “I’m too tired for another round.”

She had a tiny smirk on her face that turned into a sweet smile as she shut the water off, “Okay.”

Once you two stepped out of the shower, she quickly hands you a towel to dry yourself off with. AJ did the same then went over to her dresser to get a change of clothes- for her and for you. She got dressed in a comfy muscle tank and sport shorts, and you then put on the t-shirt and shorts she laid out for you. You climbed back into bed with her, immediately snuggling up against her with your head on her chest. “Sleepy, babe?” Her hand was on your back, the warmth comforting you,

You nodded, humming in response. “Jealousy is so hot on you, if I’m being honest.”

“Oh, is it?” She guffawed, patting your back to lull you to sleep.

“Just try not to tire me out so much all the time.” You mentioned that so casually, it made her giggle again. “Okay, beautiful.” AJ smiled to herself, “I promise. Get some rest.”

[flamsparks]

So, I finished Veilguard…

…and I need to vent…

The text ahead is mostly spoiler-free. Minor spoilers are present (and marked)… and it’s quite long. Apologies for that…

TL; DR: Veilguard is not a bad game. It’s just a bad Dragon Age. BioWare made most decisions on your behalf, so you don’t have to. You’re a hero in shining armour (mandatory), surrounded by NPCs in various shades of vanilla, immersed in a non-existent lore, having conversations that swing between generic and cringe. Nothing Dragon Age has ever been.

N.B. I tried to be as accurate as possible while writing this text. I took notes while playing on events and conversations to try and stick to the facts actually occurring during the game. But of course, the game is immense and guides to it are not as detailed or reliable as of now, so I couldn’t double-check most of it. So, if you find anything wrong with what I say, any details (or massive plot points) I missed or got wrong, please do let me know, and I’ll see to correct them!

Good things first. Because despite what the shitload I’m about to drop onto the game might suggest, there are a few changes they made that I genuinely appreciate.

First of all, the playability has greatly improved. When it comes to DA, one of the main issues I always had with every. single. game. was that the first few hours I was lost in the dynamics I needed to figure out before I got the hang of it. Maybe I’m just an idiot. But still, there are mechanics in all three previous games that need to be understood before you get down to actually playing (and enjoying) the game. Veilguard is not like that. It’s very intuitive, everything is pretty neatly marked… it’s something I sincerely appreciated.

I also don’t dislike the new combat mode. I was worried sick that a party of only 3 wouldn’t be remotely enough to cover everything that needs covering, but I’m glad this was not the case. I’m also a pretty non-strategic player when it comes to combat - the kind who’s content with swinging an axe around and decapitate whatever comes close enough to hit. It’s again a very intuitive format the one in Veilguard, and though 3 attacks may be few, they suffice imo. Same goes for steering your companions’ fight. Only downside is just how much you need to dodge. I was hoping to play an archer, but quickly realised that playing solely at range is basically impossible since enemies target you constantly. But melee combat has also become far more manageable than before, so not all that bad. But again, I’m a player who doesn’t really know what strategy is.

And another thing I really appreciated is the pacing. To have more minor main quests scattered all along the way rather than fewer, bigger main quests, interspersed with countless side quests, helps keep better track of the plot and the big events that just occurred (which are supposedly pretty urgent stuff, stop wasting your days picking elfroot!). And in a game as story-led as DA is, keeping the plot together is not a bad thing after all.

Good.

Now that we got this out of the way,

Let’s begin from something that alarmed me already ahead of release: the impossibility of importing your world state.

I’m generally not one to jump to conclusions before having thoroughly looked into the thing. But this could not not be an issue. DA games after Origins have always lived and breathed the lore they’re set in. Choices you made affect the world afterwards. And though in the major scheme of things, they all pretty much came together to the same core points, it’s always been nice to see how previous choices reflected into the new games. You could overhear people mentioning a certain event while passing by, you could ask how your companions from the previous game were doing… and cameos of characters from previous games were doubtlessly the best part of it. Some were just fleeting appearances, but some were so relevant to the game that you ended up doing entire quest-lines with characters you knew from before and cared for. What’s more devastating than having to choose between leaving Alistair or Hawke behind? (Don’t answer please, I know the list of tough choices is long, please, don’t make me suffer further).

In Veilguard, because you cannot bring up the previous state of the world, not only you don’t have any access to news from other parts of Thedas (like, c’mon, you can’t tell me that echoes of whatever is going on in the circles southwards is not reaching maybe not Tevinter, but at least Antiva or the Anderfells), but every cameo is so frustratingly underwhelming! Characters just make an appearance, you don’t really get to talk to them, and even when you do, you can’t ask them how they’d been doing since you last saw them in DA[X]. If I left Isabela to the Qunari, I wanna ask her how she escaped! If Dorian is in a relationship with Bull, I wanna be updated! If Kieran was born, I wanna know how he is! Morrigan is the only character from previous games you have decent conversations with, and you still don’t know shit! These are small details, often irrelevant to the plot, which make the lore of DA rich and alive, and help the player connect to the worlds before the current one!

But the sad truth is that Veilguard was made for new players. Not for old ones. And yes, I understand that after 10 years since the last game, it’s plausible to think that many old players will have forgotten the franchise… but how many people had been eagerly waiting to see this world further develop for a literal decade? I can’t believe they’re not worth enough.

And being unable to choose your own world state means that the rich lore is largely avoided. A big part of discovering new countries of Thedas in previous games was being immersed into the local culture, its traditions and customs, its politics, even its language, and they had an influence in the events. After Veilguard, what do I know about Rivain? Beeches. And they have food of some kind. That’s it. That’s the lore.

Oh no, wait. We know Rivain is a non-binary culture... or do we?

Please, help me out on this. Because I played this part twice, and twice I found a plot hole so massive I sincerely think I must have missed a very easy bridge crossing over it somewhere. Please, if I did, tell me. Because otherwise, this is what I saw. And it’s driving me insane.

When Taash needs to make their choice, it is spelled as “choose between the Qunari and Rivaini culture”. And beside the irony that was noted about Taash’s cultural identity to be forced into a rigidly binary choice, Taash embracing the Rivaini culture additionally translates into them embracing their non-binary identity… except… how does choosing that culture equate to choosing that identity? When is it ever stated that the Qunari culture is a binary one [it is made explicit later on, during that infamous conversation], while the Rivaini culture is not, before that moment? And that’s not even the whole problem! To do some “talks about gender”, Taash needs literally to go to Tevinter ([SPOILER] and since I had Minrathous taken over by the Venatori, the Shadow Dragons are literally missing atm, so how on Thedas did Neve manage to arrange not one but SEVERAL cozy talks between them and Taash?). How is that supposed to be “Rivaini culture” if Taash had literally never heard of it from them and needed to go to a whole other country to find out about it?

This is just how afraid Veilguard is of its own lore. Companions may be the soul of Dragon Age games, but their lore is their spine. Without it, they’re just a shapeless mushy blob. I literally went through every single game just to live and help build this world. That’s just how powerful it is. And Veilguard is so scared of it (and Maker save us from any mentions of slavery in Tevinter or THE CROWS), it won’t let you get any close to it, at the cost of not even giving you the information you need to make your own choices.

But even though the game won’t give you the elements to understand what you’re doing, it will always clearly mark in bright neon colours what’s the choice it wants you to make. And after all, you don’t need to be informed to make informed choices… if the choices are already made for you.

“You’re not very good at being evil” (Bellara, 9:52 Dragon) That’s right… why am I no? Oh yeah, because BioWare decided so for me.

In BG3 you can literally choose to go for a mystery background that forces you to kick a squirrel dead, and you can choose either to fight it or go down the horror lane of the Dark Urge. And regardless of the background, at the end of the game you can literally fuck off the entire mission and just decide to become god and enslave the whole literal world. You can fucking turn your companions into fucking brainless squids! That’s the amount of liberty you have!

Now, a disclaimer. This amount of liberty does come with a cost. The choices you can make are many, but Larian has its own standardised plot, and that’s the one you get. Jaheira can die in BG2, she will still show up in BG3. And if when Larian releases BG4, they will have chosen one path of events. And whatever you might have wished to see reprised in this new game, you can only accept what is chosen for you. This is the trade-off when have this much freedom of choice. And all in all, it’s nice to have a game like BG3, but my heart lies with my choices, and I want to see them reflected in my worldbuilding.

Veilguard instead has a course set for you and all your companions, and you have no power over it. And that’s frustrating not because I would make the evil choice, given the chance. I am literally the kind of player who manually saves before starting a conversation with any PG, so I can go back and try not to hurt their feelings the second time. And yet, having an evil option is important, even for me. Because that’s when I choose not to use it.

I elaborated further on the importance of the evil option here.

In DAO, your character literally doesn’t speak with its own voice, and needs you to select every single dialogue line it’s gonna use with NPCs. From there, PCs have grown more and more independent… until here in Veilguard, they basically do everything on their own! Entire conversations are carried out without you being able to intervene, if not to give a small input every once in a while. You don’t really need to read the options you have, because you know that anything you choose will inevitably be just nuances of the same answer. And even the “blunt” option is not necessarily blunt. Only mildly more determined, but even your personality is not your choice. And the one you get, well…

credit: @9lunarseas6 via @timo-0126 (link)

Like… really? Rook is a far, faaaar cry from the wit Hawke spoiled us with.

For the unlucky souls who’re not acquainted with Hawke, this in the video is one of the personalities they can have. And all these personalities are very starkly defined, and depending on which you’d been selecting most often, they end up colouring many of your interactions, even without your active control.

What’s Rook’s personality? If I had to describe them as a nuance in an array of colours, Rook would be a bleached rag. And it’s not like you can do much about it, because of course, there’s the matter of agency. Rook role plays on its own, and you’re just a companion, giving them your input and hoping that will affect their decisions.

And speaking of companions… let’s discuss them. Because for months, years on end, BioWare wouldn’t. shut. up. about how important companions are to them, how central they are to their stories, so let’s talk about the companions.

Companions have always been the soul of BioWare games, because they have a stark and faceted personality they’re not afraid to show in all its vivid colours. And then there’s Veilguard. I won’t say they’re soulless or without a personality, but they are... bland. They have personal challenges and peculiarities that give them colour, but they are still faint hues of the usual rainbow we’re used to.

To give an example, let’s discuss the irony of Bellara asking why the hero of the story she’s writing would save the world... and this is the exact question the whole game never asks to any of its characters once. None of them has any sort of ulterior motive to join the Veilguard other than the answer Rook gives Bellara: “because we’re heroes, that’s what we do.” (Seriously? That’s how you get away with it?)

In DAI, the world was ending too, and yet there was always another, more personal reason pushing your companions to join the Inquisition. Thom was desperate to give his life a purpose and to make amends. Bull needed to keep an eye on the Inquisition on behalf of Par Vollen. Dorian got sucked in at first because he was trying to save his mentor and his friend, and then remained because he literally didn’t have anywhere else to go. Cole... he didn’t even care about the world ending! He was there because helping others was literally his nature. And all these personal reasons helped shape these characters and build the depth of their personality.

What are the personal reasons pushing these individuals specifically to join the Veilguard? Taash might be tagging along to free the blighted dragons from their misery (or just because their mother told them). But even that is hardly exploited along their arc. And the same can be told of every companion. They struggle to have any depth to them, which is completely foreign to Dragon Age characters, even when too hasty writing made for poor plot and character development (looking at you, DA2). Even Varric! VARRIC! A character who’s had two whole games to build and solidify his personality! Who’s hands down one of the most loved character of the whole franchise! How do you even manage such a feat?? Oh yeah, by relegating him to a corner of your palace that you never visit, without ever giving him any relevance to the game. [non-explicit SPOILER] No, the explanation given at the end is not enough. Varric is repeatedly narrated to be a great man, but all you see him do is making a few motivational speeches and conclude with “I’m going to take a nap”. How can you do so much dirty to such a character so thoughtlessly? New players will never know that Varric is indeed a great character, because they are told so all the time, but never shown.

But this ton of telling and not showing and general flatness is not exclusive to the companions. It touches everything. The lore, the relations between factions and characters, everything is oversimplified, and often reduced to a few key features that characterises pretty much every aspect of them. Most are reduced to their species or faction or such, which doesn’t allow for overly faceted motives and which in turn impacts your freedom of personalising your own beliefs and purposes.

Davrin: “So, you met a god” Bellara: “Well, technically, OUR god”

No, technically, freedom of religion applies regardless of your species, and both Davrin and I made it repeatedly clear that we want nothing to do with these self-proclaimed “gods”. So WHY can’t I just tell Bellara to stop forcing her beliefs on us, just on the grounds that we’re elves? “Remember the nursery rhymes?” No, Bellara. I was raised in Tevinter by human parents. Why would I know elven nursery rhymes?

I chose to play as an elf raised in Tevinter – from where Dorian says the Dalish literally stay away – exactly because I wanted to see what consequences would bring to play as an atheist elf raised far from elven customs who has to take down two gods from the elven pantheon. And guess what I saw? Nothing. It changes nothing. Not in my interactions with others and not in the knowledge I have access to. Bellara will still talk to me and speak of “our” gods, and I will keep on knowing Dalish lore and speak (native?) Elven, because apparently I got that for free, no explanation given to justify such competences. Zevran, Fenris and Sera were all elves raised far from Dalish or any elven influence, and they went about it in three radically different ways. Zevran struggled for every bit of memory he could gather of his mother and her Dalish customs, Sera rejected them all together, while his elven heritage was not even on Fenris’ radar. Me, I just know. Because. And don’t even get me started on tattoos…

credit: @0alix0 (link)

But I can’t conclude this odyssey of an essay before I’ve touched one last subject.

Bellara: “I think we’re getting close” Rook: “How sure are you?” Bellara: “As sure as I can be?”

The script. Oh, the bloody script.

I sincerely hope someone organises a poll to vote for the cringiest scene in Veilguard. I’m sure a fan favourite will be that already infamous scene of Taash’s coming out with their mother. My vote would go to the final dialogue with Isseya though.

Beside the cringe though, most of the problems with the whole script of the game is that it’s just… empty. Dull. Generally uninteresting.

In DAI, I would literally stop whatever I was doing just to pay extra attention to whatever banter had just kicked in. And it was always amazing banter! The wit, the jokes, the stories, the developing relationships! In Veilguard, I appreciated a lot the fact that banters interrupted by STUFF start again from where they left. And I often went back to the Lighthouse to take a tour of all companions and eavesdrop their conversations. But soon I realised… that too was often not worth the trouble.

It’s just all cheap script, that most of the time fails to be interesting or even relevant. What’s the point of the conversation between Bellara and Rook I transcribed above? What does it give me? Nothing. It only feels like a need to fill empty bits. And this applies to every single conversation in the game, from banter to plot dialogues.

Oh, and beside the poll! Can we also have a drinking game with Bellara’s lines? A shot for every time she says “he was/is my brother” (double if she adds another “my brother” afterwards) and “my/our people/gods”. I swear 60% of her lines are just copy-pasted.

Dragon Age had been away for a decade, and I understand the need to call to new players to rebuild a base after so many years. I get it. But while Veilguard is not a bad game, it’s not a Dragon Age game. Because it’s devoid of everything that makes Dragon Age what it is.

So what's next?

First of all, stop your plans on completely wiping off every bit of previous lore by just saying “the south was blighted and destroyed everything”. I see what you’re trying to do there. Don’t. Destroying all previous worldbuilding to start off with no strings attached is not the way to go. Instead, find a way to call back all the writers you chased away over the years, starting from Gaider. You need people who live and love this franchise, who know it and know what made it the grand experience it is. You need them. And you need to listen to them.

Then.

Veilguard introduced us to a shit ton of never-before-seen locations. Now let us get to know them.

No Dragon Age had ever had this many places in one go. Previous games are set in one, two locations at best. And all of them allow you to dive deep into the lore by playing it. You get to choose who rules these countries, to decide on whose side you’d rather stand in a war... so pick one location, two at most, of the many you introduced in Veilguard, and let us go deep into it. Let us fight slavery by Fenris’ and Dorian’s side (in Joplin, maybe? *winkwink*), let us see the consequences of the mage-templar war, let us know whatever the Divine decided to do with the circles. And let us get INVOLVED. All Dragon Age games have always been about being involved in a vast lore, so let us do it! Let us experience and live this rich lore! And let us write a bit of it too.

P.S. is anyone else annoyed that elves and Qunari have gradually become just humans with funny features? Like pointed ears and/or big horns? I so miss Merrill’s and Fenris’ cat-like eyes and the Arishok’s dragon-like brow.

[animeyanderelover]

It’s been eternities since I’ve written for Death Note. I actually did a request of L and Light falling in love with the same darling but honestly, that’s been so long ago and my skills since then have improved quite a lot so I’ll just do it again.

Tw: Yandere themes, toxic relationship, possessive behavior, obsession, stalking, clinginess, manipulation, delusional mindset, gaslighting, sadism, threats, violence, abduction, isolation

Falling for the same darling

Light Yagami & L Lawliet

✍️​🍰​You'd have to be someone either involved in the Kira case or someone who is close to Light which would make you automatically a victim to L's observation. After all you could be an accomplice of Kira if you were to be someone who Light trusts a lot. Whatever the case is, you will get dragged into this one way or another with those two fighting over you because they will absolutely not share you. Whilst I would say that L would actually be the one who would fall faster for you, especially if you give him lots of sweets, he is the slower one in realizing his own feelings. So whilst Light takes longer to gain an interest in you if he shouldn't have known you much prior to L's involvement, he would be the one to notice his own feelings as well as L's equally big interest in you. It's obvious that the detective has formed an attachment to you as he constantly clings to your side as soon as he sees you and even insists on sharing his sweets with you, not to mention the slight blush he has on his face when you do something that makes his heart flatter.

✍️​🍰​Before Light can even begin forming a plan though, L realizes his own feelings too. It took him only the tiniest bit longer because he has never been in love with someone before and the constant isolation due to his identity having to remain a secret have caused him to not be very in tune with his own emotions yet funnily enough he has noticed Light's interest in you before he fully noticed his own. Now that both of them are on the same page though and both of them are aware of that. From that day on both of them start another warfare behind your back as neither one of them wants to expose themselves to you and to the other just yet. It's still too early. So a lot of hidden blackmailing and subtle manipulation is involved as both of them play tug of war without trying to alarm you just yet. Light and L are constantly testing the other one out as they both start getting more involved with your life.

✍️​🍰​Light initially might have a bit of an advantage over L who has still to figure out how to handle his romantic and obsessive interest with you. He's charming, handsome, intelligent and knows how to flirt with and court someone. So he uses this experience in an attempt to get closer to you as he is a master of acting and tries to manipulate you subtly into listening to him and acting to his liking. He has more freedom than L most of the time as he has a life outside of working together with the police force and L to expose who Kira really is. L is because of the case sometimes more limited as he doesn't spend as much time outside as Light does and especially if you are also in college like Light is, he is aware that the boy has a lot of time he can spend with you. If that is the case he tries to interfere as much as he can by either keeping Light busy or using another cover to just squeeze himself in between the two of you as much as possible. He's like a really pesky leech that refuses to unlatch from you.

✍️​🍰​Your opinion of Kira is important to both of them as they constantly question you about your opinion about him and your own definition of justice as both of them try to manipulate you to agree with their own thoughts. Light has to be a lot more careful than L though because differently from L who makes his dislike towards Kira obvious, Light would potentially expose himself to the detective if he were to admit that he supports him. L might even go as far as showing you pictures of the victims of Kira to mortify you and Light is on the inside always seething as he instantly scolds the black-haired man for his insensitive behavior towards you. Light uses his chances in exploring L's far more obvious awkwardness around you as it is obvious for him that the detective doesn't really know how to behave around you. That leads L to coming over as weird and creepy at times when his dark eyes feel like daggers about to pierce through you, obsessively watching your every move.

✍️​🍰​Despite Light's advantage when it comes to behaving like a normal person around you, L has far more influence than he has. He can easily get his hands on all sorts of information about you and can stalk you by getting all camera footage or even going as far as installing a tracker on you. L is able to keep an eye on you even if you aren't with him whilst Light has to bicker with Ryuk until the Shinigami eventually agrees to stalk you for a bit for Light's sake and in return the boy buys him his beloved apples. Light is fully aware that L could probably take you away by framing you for something within an hour and the only reason he hasn't done it just yet is because he is determined to catch Light in his lies, partially by even using you a bit. I can't exactly deny that both of them sort of explore you to get under the skin of the other one since you're currently their weak spot. They keep their dislike above each other hidden when you are around but as soon as you turn your back to them, they look at each other in discontent.

✍️​🍰​The involvement of Misa is a double-edged sword for both Light and L due to her own obsession with Light. She gets extremely jealous of you because she wants Light for herself and he had to suppress the urge to slap her or even just outright kill her since she possesses the Shinigami eyes and because Rem has also threatened to kill him if anything should happen to her. He is forced to keep her on a tight leash and tell her that she is his only one even if her touch makes his skin crawl. Whilst L is obviously cautious of her because she might be the second Kira, he also explores Misa for his own advantage as he uses her as some sort of cheating code to keep Light busy and hog your attention and time for himself whilst leaving Light silently losing his mind whilst trying to deal with Misa. Tension grows as time passes on though and things start to escalate as Light as well as L start putting you in dangerous situations only to rush to your rescue as your personal hero to earn your trust and gratitude all whilst being the ones who are responsible for it anyways. It doesn't matter who you choose, in the end the one who wins this war also wins you.

Fyodor Dostoevsky & Nikolai Gogol

🍎​🕊️​Surprisingly enough a pair that could work somewhat together although don't just get all comfy because of that. Nikolai already has a weird fascination going on with Fyodor whilst Nikolai is possibly the only member in the Decay of Angels and the only person overall that Fyodor sees as more than just a pawn. The one major problem this interest that both of them share for you initially is Nikolai's desire to free himself from his own emotions. He expresses his wish to Fyodor that he wants to kill you too to free himself from the binding chains that tie him to you and that is one of the few times where Fyodor actually threatens the clown to kill him if he should ever try to end your life. Nikolai can't lie tha he enjoys the fact that he can actually get a reaction out of Fyodor, as subtle as it may be and in an almost weirder sense does he think that the friendship between Fyodor and him deepens as he sees both of them as chained to you because of their shared interest in you. What a wonderful experience this is~

🍎​🕊️​Nikolai is the one who will one day just appear in your life and get in contact with you with his eccentric personality whilst Fyodor remains for now in the shadows and watches everything closely. It's likely that he has made a deal with Nikolai to prevent the clown from possibly ending up killing you by telling him that he'd give him a chance to kill him later as soon as both of them have secured their hold on you. From the very first moment with you, Nikolai is very social and open around you in his own weird ways. Despite his somewhat eccentric ways though, he is actually fun to be around and likeable due to his own quirkiness. He can joke with you and make you laugh and shows you some magic tricks too to keep you entertained all whilst gauging you for every facial expression you can give him. He wants to see everything you have to offer from your joy and laughter to your tears and your sorrow as he sometimes doesn't care when something terrible happens to you as his eyes are glued to your face, gleaming with sadistic joy and fascination.

🍎​🕊️​Whilst Nikolai takes for now over the part of spending time with you and getting to know you personally, Fyodor takes over everything from behind the scenes. He gathers the information about everything else in your life from your family to your friends to your job to your entire past. Both of them exchange intel about you every night over a cup of tea. Most of the time it is Nikolai just gushing and rambling about everything he could observe whilst spending time with you as he switches back and forth between having a sickly infatuated smile on his face to a scarily sadistic grin as he wonders how you would react if he were to kill someone you love in front of you or if he would hurt you. Fyodor just listens calmly to him as Nikolai talks and talks and talks about you, recalling everything about in accurate detail before Fyodor eventually has to interfere or else the white-haired man might talk for hours about you. Nikolai just gets so very easily lost in thoughts of you.

🍎​🕊️​Nikolai doesn't think about stopping Fyodor though when he starts slowly crushing everything you have so carefully built and established in your life. In fact he supports his bestie with this deed as he gets to enjoy you slowly unraveling in front of him each and every day as your life slowly falls apart. He has seen you already expressing joy, surprise and confusion but he has never witnessed you giving him a face full of despair so he sucks your every expression and sound up like a dry sponge with an utterly fascinated and happy grin on his face. The fact that you get freaked out when you notice the smile on his face as he leans closer to you, his gleaming eyes scrutinizing your face closely and carefully to engrave this memory in his mind just like he has done with everything else you've done, doesn't really bother him. Instead he starts questioning you how it feels to lose everything as he chooses to give you some of his quizzes, his scary behavior slowly pushing you away from him. By now it is far too late already though.

🍎​🕊️​You are put in a literal cage by Nikolai's desires as he could spend hours staring at you in it, his hands clutching tightly the bars as a frenzied look appears in his eyes as if he is about to pounce on you every moment now. How does it feel to be a bird without freedom now~? Do you feel the same sweet torment as he does? Or are you just in plain misery? Whatever you feel, he's sure it'll be entertaining. As crazy as it sounds, you almost prefer Fyodor for a while as he is much more calmer than Nikolai as he's the one who actually gives you some information instead of his partner who just toys with you and keeps you on edge all of the time. Sometimes he even apologizes for Nikolai's eccentric and overbearing and if he would have any heart left inside of him, he might even sympathize with you because he is all too familiar with Nikolai's antics by now. If you thought that you were suffering before, you're in a world of pain now.

🍎​🕊️​It is Fyodor who has to establish the boundaries though as his friend is far too volatile as he is guided by his emotions more often than Fyodor. Fyodor and Nikolai obviously both share a sadistic streak so there are times where both of them enjoy your torment and pain together with Nikolai being the more vocal one in expressing his joy over seeing your misery whilst Fyodor is just silently drinking in the sight of your pain. Fyodor knows when to stop though as he punishes you for the most part only until he's broken you and freed you from human's sinful nature, even if he might still sometimes be a bit sadistic. He's composed and controlled but Nikolai struggles with holding back at times as he seems to go back and forth between his behavior. Sometimes he acts like the Nikolai you once knew, all funny and joking with you, and other times he has his hands wrapped around your neck, squeezing until you see black spots dancing across your vision. His feelings have reached a weight, a gravity that pulls him down and even he doesn't know anymore at this point how to feel. He wants to kill-No, he doesn't...But he wants to be free...But can he really...?

Jouno Saigiku & Suehiro Tetchou

♦️​🌸​God, this is going to be so messy because those two just don't get all too well along. They're disagreeing always about something even during their duties and the tension only sharpens as soon as both of them develop an interest for the same person. Saigiku is the first one to notice because of course he can sense Tetchou's quicker heartbeat when around you and all the other sounds from his co-worker's body that go crazy as soon as you are around. In that moment to Jouno feels like this is the worst thing that could have happened to him because from all people it had to be Tetchou. The Hunting Dog doesn't want to share his darling with anyone but especially not with such an hopeless and idiotic optimist such as Tetchou. Now, Tetchou is certainly slower to realize everything that is going on. Chances are that he might be even a bit oblivious to his own feelings at first but seeing how Jouno tries to get involved with you certainly pushes him to notice his own feelings as well as Jouno's mutual obsessive interest in you.

♦️​🌸​He knows what Jouno is like so Tetchou doesn't trust you with his fellow Hunting Dog because he has a strong desire to protect and coddle you as much as he can. Saigiku on the other hand is just a sadistic bastard and he doesn't want you to suffer or to feel any pain because of him. So Tetchou makes it his personal mission to protect you from Saigiku as he tries to glue himself to your side as much as he can. Jouno's involvement is funnily enough the trigger that pushes him to reveal his own unhealthy feelings more to you. He's suddenly overprotective and clingy as he tries to get you to listen to him because he tells himself that he knows what is best for you as you don't know how cruel Jouno can be. Because Tetchou is as often with you as he can, Jouno decides to step temporarily back and just observe from the sidelines with a displeased expression on his face. What should he do about Tetchou's pesky behavior?

♦️​🌸​Both of them are somewhat limited though, much to their dismay. Both of them are part of the Hunting Dogs after all and the growing tension between the both of them is palpable and that becomes quickly obvious for the other Hunting Dogs as well. They glare at each other, Jouno's words are snarky and aggressive as he constantly provokes Tetchou and tries to get under his skin whilst Tetchou constantly warns Jouno to not do anything with you through clenched teeth as his hands form into fists. There were a couple of times where it almost looked like the situation would escalate and both of them would just fight but eventually Fukuchi gets involved and forces both of them to sit down together with him. Let's talk to each other, okay? Despite those friendly words, he as a threatening and displeased aura around him due to their immature behavior and so both of them are forced to admit what their problem is.

♦️​🌸​Fukuchi looks somewhat bamboozled as he realizes that the main problem is that two of his subordinates have just gotten quite attached to the same person whilst Teruko is laughing her ass off in the back and tells both of them that she'd like to meet the person who made both of them act this way. The old man quickly regains his composure though and reminds both of them that they are Hunting Dogs and that they have a duty to fulfill and that does not include constantly brawling and looking like they're about to kill each other. They have too much value as Hunting Dogs for the government so they wouldn't be thrilled either if they were ever to find out that there is such internal conflict between Tetchou and Jouno. Fukuchi decides to give both of them a chance to figure this out themselves though before he or the government get involved because they can not afford to have those two possibly drag down the efficiency of the Hunting Dogs because of their feelings for you. Either they work this out themselves or you have to leave the picture via Fukuchi or the government.

♦️​🌸​It's a threat that both of them know will become reality, they know better than to underestimate Fukuchi just because of his sometimes questionable antics despite his age. So Jouno approaches Tetchou not long after and whilst the dark-haired man doesn't even want to look at Jouno, he listens as Jono forces the idea of a cooperation out of him. He'd rather nail his tongue on the wall than do this but now both of them have been pushed in a corner with no real other way out. It isn't even the government both of them are worried about, it's more the lingering threat of Fukuchi and the likely involvement of Teruko since she is extremely loyal to her captain that manages to keep both of them on some sort of leash. They argue still though as Jouno wants you locked away and isolated and Tetchou disagrees as he still wants you to retain some right for freedom. Both of them ultimately can agree on moving you into an environment that both of them can supervise more closely. If an enemy would find out about your connection to them after all, this all could get very bloody and troublesome.

♦️​🌸​Honestly, if it wouldn't be for Fukuchi who manages to have some amount of control over them, both of them would have gotten into a lot of serious fights by now. They can never agree on anything when it involves you besides brutally murdering everyone who dares to hurt you. Tetchou is too lenient and weak for you in Jouno's mind and Jouno is too uncaring and sadistic in Tetchou's mind. They can literally not stand to be in each other's presence and so both of them have to be left alone with you because it would end in another huge conflict if they would try to share you whilst in the same room. The relationship is restricting and suffocating because both of them bring the worst out in each other as their behavior escalates. Jouno grows even more possessive and controlling over you whilst Tetchou grows all the more overprotective and clingy. You probably still prefer the dark-haired male though because he at least knows how to express his emotions around you whilst Jouno still struggles to be more vulnerable around you and your preference for Tetchou does not help him to be nicer.

[planet-crait]

Part 1 analysis of Dev Dimmadone from Fairly Oddparents A New Wish. A couple of things I want to mention before jumping into this, I have not finished the first season. Last episode I watched was Pattys Possum Party Playground, but I have thoughts and I decided to share them before I reach the end so I can see how my thoughts change as the season goes on or after I finish the finale. Second I recognize I have some bias regarding Dev. I’ll go into more detail why but I heavily empathize with Dev and his struggles so it’s something I wanted to make clear before I started. I’ll also put a Trigger Warning for discussing abuse and my own experiences with it so please keep that in mind. Apologies for how long this gets I didn’t realize how much I had to say about Dev until I started writing. With all of that said let’s get into it.

Something that caught my attention very very early on regarding Dale and Devs relationship is it is painfully and abundantly clear Dale has no love for Dev. We see Dev adores and looks up to his father but no matter how hard Dev tries that love is not reciprocated.

It is unfortunately common for kids who are neglected at home to lash out at school and misbehave, it gets to a point where even negative attention is better than no attention. This is of course not healthy or good behavior but more desperate acts of a kid desperate for any sort of attention.

Growing up, I was in a somewhat not necessarily similar situation to Dev but I can somewhat see parts of myself in Dev? I’m not sure the best wording for it but I was not wealthy nor my family, but I was largely outcasted by my peers and ignored and bullied by them. It was hell. And while Dev isn’t bullied by anyone, he certainly is more the bully, he’s also very alone.

Despite being bullied I had my family who at least cared and I had the occasional recess person? I can’t remember their official title but they wherent teachers lolz. But regardless they took pity on me and let me hang out with them. For Dev though….he doesn’t have anyone in his corner. His dad doesn’t care about him, he has no friends and the teachers don’t care about him. He’s just painfully alone. No one has his back. The sins of his father are put on Devs shoulders regardless of how realistic it is to blame him for things. We see Mr. Guzman glaring at Dev in Lost and Founders Day

All Dev did was hand out bracelets his dad made but Mr. Guzman is suspicious, it seems, of Dev himself as if he is up to something bad with them. The animators actively choose to have Mr. Guzman look at a nine year old this way. He could have been looking this way at the bracelets but no. It was directed towards Dev himself. Despite him, for now, being friends with Hazel and seemingly behaving better Mr. Guzman doesn’t trust that Dev is changing and improving. Instead of being glad something changed with Dev, Dev is met with distrust and suspicion.

In that same episode Hazel assumes the worst of Dev and assumes he was behind everything that happened at the Founders Day Festival. She refuses to listen to him and even give him a chance to explain and decides he’s a bad person. Now this isn’t to say Hazel is a bad person for this, more it was unfair and so far I haven’t seen any real resolution to this. Dev almost seems to be held to a different standard in this regard, we see Hazel screw up big time in The Wellsington Hotellsington in regards to Winn and Jasmine and they forgive her right after she apologizes despite Winn not knowing her for long. Hazel similarly hasn’t known Dev for that long but won’t even let him apologize and storms off very angrily and seemingly never reached out to him to try and work things out.

No Dev does not either but I don’t blame him as much in that regard because Dev clearly has never had friends before Hazel. He doesn’t know really it’s okay for friends to fight and make up and still be friends. And with how Hazel blew up at him I was kind of thinking as well Hazel decided the bridge was burned so to speak and was admittedly surprised when she said in Battle of the Dimmisonian that they could still be friends (which I…question how accurate a statement from Hazel that is but I’ll get their I promise). It’s interesting to me Dev is worried about how Hazel perceives him despite them not being friends. Even though Hazel turned her back on him, he still wants some sort of connection with her even if he’s going about it in an unhealthy manner. Again negative attention is better then no attention, so even if it means fighting and bickering he’d rather take that than have absolutely nothing.

This kid has sky high walls he’s built, but they’re shaky and crumble at the slightest pressure. After only two days of being friendly Dev is willing to disobey a direct order from his father and put himself in harms way to keep Hazel safe. This is very likely the first time Dev has ever disobeyed his father, the man he is desperate to prove himself to and get some sort of love and affection from. He risks ever getting that from his father to protect Hazel, someone he’s not been on friendly terms with for all that long. Which makes him being so alone all the sadder.

I mentioned it in another post but Dev has a lot of love to give people who are willing to put in honestly what feels like the bare minimum of work to break down his walls. And it seems no one has even tried to get past them. He’s written off by everyone as nothing but a rich bully that doesn’t care when that couldn’t be further from the truth when push comes to shove. He’s willing to disobey his father, someone he still is desperate to win the love and affection of, to protect someone that matters to him.

Circling back to the point I mentioned earlier about my doubts regarding Hazel still considering Dev her friend. Now this may just be an oversight but…it still happened so I feel it’s okay to discuss here. In Pattys Possum Party Playground we see pretty much all the classmates we’ve seen previously hanging out and having fun, Dev however is missing. I’m not saying anyone has to invite him, but if you consider someone a friend…why not invite them? Maybe the background characters were thrown in to make it seem more like a party and to emphasize them then being alone. Why not include Dev then as well? Why is he left out of the fun with everyone? A line from say Hazel commenting his dad wouldn’t let him come would do a lot of heavy lifting to show how terrible Dale is and how rough Dev has it and show Hazel is thinking about him.

Again, Hazel doesn’t have to be his friend. But she said they could be friends which is why I mention this. I will admit this is potentially where my own biases come into play. I was the kid people said was their “friend” to get teachers off of their backs and I just didn’t realize this is what was happening and it hurt when I was excluded from things. If I was in Devs shoes I’d feel hurt I wasn’t invited to something everyone else was invited to. And I imagine it would hurt even more as someone already struggling to try and get some sort of love and affection from anyone really.

I hope I’m wrong and I hope we see more of Hazel and Dev rebuilding their friendship, but I’m concerned we won’t really see that or any consequences to that really play out. Again could be wrong I’ll have to wait and see in that regard this is just how I’m seeing things with my own biases as of right now where I’m at in season 1.

We know that Dev gets Peri because he is miserable due to his and Hazels fight and his father’s very public rejection of him. Godparents are supposed to help make things easier to deal with for their kids and help them navigate their difficult lives. Unfortunately, so far from what I’ve seen Peri and Dev aren’t a great match for Godparent and Godchild. I’ve only seen their dynamic for one episode, but when they first met, we see Dev is extremely exited when he first meets Peri:

However, something things to go very wrong because he goes from being sad but not wearing his sunglasses to being back in his sunglasses and being overall disinterested in Peri while Peri seems very frustrated and disinterested in forming any sort of bond with Dev.

I don’t know what all has happened between the pair, but for me it’s notable he wasn’t wearing his sunglasses when he and Peri first met and are wearing them again next time we see him. He was so excited to met Peri and I wonder if he wanted to try and have some sort of bond with him that was shut down. We don’t know obviously and it’s just speculation on my end but it’s something I wonder about.

When Peri notices his parents later on in the episode he’s so focused on himself he’s not even acknowledging Dev or his questions and seems uninterested in sharing about himself. For me, it reads that Peri is really only focused on granting wishes and not about with forming any sort of bond with Dev, something Dev right now desperately needs. He’s lonely and sad and lashing out because he’s been denied real affection for so long and doesn’t know how to connect with other people. It’s sad that his AU Pairs seem to on some level recognize this as they try and comfort Dev after Lost and Founders Day and acknowledge that they cannot give Dev what he needs.

I honestly think Dev would be much better off with a Godparent like Cosmo and Wanda or even Juandissimo, he needs a Godparent who is willing and knows how to connect with a kid like Dev who has a seriously troubled homelife and Peri doesn’t have the tools or knowledge to really help Dev in the ways he needs. I imagine based on what we’ve seen recently of what Jorgan thinks Godparents need to be for their Godkids I am not surprised Peri isn’t handling Dev the best. He was likely taught granting wishes correctly and quickly for their kids is what makes a Godparent good, rather than forming a connection and understanding their godkid. This isn’t exactly Peri’s fault, he’s new and inexperienced but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s not helping Dev either and granting wishes isn’t what he needs, he needs love and someone to be their for him that loves and cares about him.

A side note, I realize again this is more of a gag and not meant to be taken seriously but since I’m looking at all of the things that has happened to Dev so far I just have to wonder. In Battle of the Dimmasonian, Peri’s first instinct is to hide Dev from his parents when they ask if he has a Godkid.

Again I know this is just for a gag but don’t we all love playing the game of “find ways to emotionally devastate our favorite characters even more so we can give them comfort and put them back together again? No? Just me? Well I’m gonna do it anyways. If I was in Devs shoes in this moment I would probably be thinking that my Godparent is ashamed of me, that they don’t want to be associated with me or anyone to know that they where assigned to help me. We know Peri is anxious and doesn’t want his parents smothering him or being weird about his first godkid but Dev definitely doesn’t know this given all the questions he asked that Peri didn’t answer. In Devs mind this could be just another person rejecting him without giving him a chance. Another public rejection of him.

Again I know this is a nothing burger moment in the grand scheme of things but it’s fun to imagine something for it. This being the moment Dev realizes Peri is just another adult in his life stuck with him who doesn’t care about him. Dev falling into the mindset of “if he doesn’t care about me, why should I care about him?” Because angst is just a little fun to think about.

Dev is so desperate for love and attention he tries to get something for his dad by trying to make it work related in the hopes of Dale noticing and agreeing to do “work”. Asking to throw merch boxes back and forth, testing proximity sensors by holding hands this kid will do anything to get something from Dale but it’s not enough.

It’s hard to properly describe the devastation that comes from realizing someone who should love you, who you thought loves you never did. It’s a gut punch over and over again every time you look at them. This recently happened to me and to be frank I’m still not okay from it. You think someone has your back and cares about you but then you come to realize that you’re nothing to them. For me I swing wildly between rage and crying uncontrollably, for a kid as young as Dev I can’t even imagine what that knowledge is doing to him. And what’s worse is even when knowing you don’t matter to this person and that they don’t love you, your love for them doesn’t just….go away. It lingers, longs for some sort of proof that it was just a fluke, that they love you, that you’re not unlovable and the smallest scraps they throw your way have you scrambling to hold onto that, to show them that you are worthy of their love, but it never works, and you’re just tossed away again like trash. You start to wonder if it’s you that’s the problem. You think there has to be something you’ve done to warrant being treated this way. There isn’t though, but to accept that you would also have to contend with the person you love being a monster and it’s not an easy pill to swallow, it’s almost easier to see yourself as the problem and try desperately to try and “fix” whatever your loved one thinks is wrong with you. You live in survival mode just trying to get through it all and it doesn’t just shut off when you’re not around the person or people causing the harm it’s constantly running.

Since this is a kids show I highly highly doubt they’ll really truly dive into the trauma and after affects of dealing with emotional abuse. When I was a kid shows where willing to dive into these topics but shows these days tend to shy away from it (something I have issue with but that’s not the focus of todays post). I just more am sharing because I think some aspects are applicable to Dev.

Again I have a support system, I have friends who worry and care and let me vent and cry and try and deal with it all. Dev has no one in his corner. No adults looking out for him, no friends to offer comfort, he’s painfully alone and dealing with this sheer devastation, pain so bad it’s the tipping point for him getting a Godparent who unfortunately seems overall disinterested in really engaging with Dev in any meaningful way.

Previous posts have somewhat discussed the Dale situation but it was very uh angry for Dev so maybe I can try and write out my thoughts without wanting to commit a crime. Dale is a horrible parent. There isn’t any other way to put it. He’s a shit parent who emotionally abuses and manipulates Dev, who is desperate for his love and affection. Dev tries to sell acts of affection as work related to try and get attention from his dad and is willing to do insane things if it’s what he wants (he seriously considers eating a lizard. This kid is just so desperate for love). Dale emotionally manipulates Dev and tries to use his own past to guilt trip Dev and deny letting him just be a kid. Kids shouldn’t ever have to work, they’re kids they should be able to just be kids but Dale has Dev so spun around and desperate for love he’ll work if it means maybe his dad will love him. It doesn’t work but Dev is desperate and willing to do anything if it means getting even crumbs of affection from his father who can’t even be bothered to great his son and walk away without him forcing Dev to run to catch up.

Dale clearly has been extremely absent from Devs life overall, we see in Peace of Pizza just how excited Dev was when he thought his dad actually came for Dev.

He’s so happy and carefree and excited to see his dad come to support Dev and the anger when he realizes it’s not Dale hurts all the more. For just a moment he thought maybe his dad did care and want to be there for him but no, he doesn’t even care. It’s notable to me that when he finds out Hazel tried to trick him into thinking his dad came is when Dev really gets angry. He was mostly just playing games and such until that moment when he seems to get genuinely angry and I wonder if that comes from a place of deep hurt. The one thing he wants more then anything is for his dad to actually be there for him, and in his mind Hazel takes that desire and mocks him with it, trying to parade a pretend dad just to use him to get what she wants from him.

This next part is pure speculation but I just don’t know another way to explain this. After Dev revealed he’s lactose intolerant and him being forced to watch everyone else have fun and enjoy something he cannot have a why he was fighting so hard against letting them have one, Hazel mentions they could have ordered him a lactose free version which makes Dev freeze and comment he thought that was a myth. Now I know from a writing standpoint they wanted to make sure it’s Hazel who saves the day, however it carries a very painful implication of Dale likely actively lying to Dev about lactose free alternatives for Dev. I can’t imagine why he would do such a thing, maybe he thinks they taste or smell gross and don’t want them in the house? So he thinks it’s easier to just lie and say they don’t exist and eat pizza and such in front of Dev who can only watch in misery.

And yes I am assuming Dale likely would do this based off of when Dev talks about how he would have to sit and watch everyone enjoy pizza and not get any. He sounds like he’s talking from personal experience and with how sensitive to it he is it feels more like a reaction to something he’s had to deal with before vs a fear of it he has.

Regardless of it I’m correct or not, it is undeniable the school really spectacularly failed Dev in this regard and once again set him up for failure. What do I mean by that? In Peace of Pizza we see Dev show Hazel his allergy card.

(Yes I am going on a mini tangent here bare with me I didn’t know a better place to put this) now I don’t know about you but I have only ever seen allergy cards like this in either a school setting or perhaps at a large dinner where everyone is defaulted to being served the same plate of food and people with allergies or other dietary restrictions have a card so the server knows they have one of the special plates. This to me indicates the school knows or should reasonably know Dev can’t have lactose. Despite them reasonably knowing Dev can’t have pizza, they do not offer him any alternatives to enjoy as a reward. As a kid when something like this was done, an alternative was given to the kid with allergies so they could still participate in the fun and not feel left out, however for Dev it seems the default is he’s left out. He’s expected to and frowned upon for not participating in Kindness Day despite, in his eyes, him being actively punished if he does. While everyone else gets a reward to enjoy, he would have to watch and be miserable. No, this is not the end of the world obviously but it is incredibly unkind to Dev to not have anything for him that he can enjoy as a reward despite being expected to participate for a reward the school knows he cannot have and it carries an extra sting happening on a day literally called kindness day.

Yes I know that the school is trying to teach kids the importance of kindness so it shouldn’t be about the reward, but again it does feel wildly unfair to reward most students while seemingly singling out one to not get anything. They’re trying to teach kindness while refusing to be kind to one of their students. And further yes I understand this was done so we could see Hazel be a good negotiator and be the hero. Yes fine, but it is hard to ignore the implications this writing choice carries regarding Dev. It shows the school is extremely disinterested at best regarding Dev and his health needs and I don’t blame Dev for not wanting to participate if this is what the school does when Dev has an allergy restriction and can’t enjoy something for the entire class. Hazel has to be the one to wish for a pizza for Dev. It’s not Hazels job to make sure her classmates feel included and have fun. It shouldn’t fall on her shoulders to help her classmates, that should be on the teachers but they didn’t seem to notice or care Dev was feeling left out. The school could afford to buy a whole pile of pizzas it doesn’t feel unreasonable to think they could afford to do something so Dev doesn’t feel so left out.

Like I don’t know get him Oreos or something it doesn’t have to be big just something so he’s not the only one who doesn’t get anything. Again yes I realize the point was to have Hazel save the day and get her and Dev closer I understand this but that doesn’t change the fact that it makes the school seem to not care about a kid who is already severely emotionally neglected at home. They could have had the school offer an alternative that Dev didn’t like or if they wanted to keep this a secret have Mr. Guzman be the one to hand Dev the lactose free pizza and make some comment and realize he forget to tell Dev or something. Yes it’s not ideal to have him forget to say anything but for me it would be easier to hand wave away then absolutely nothing, and again it just adds onto Dev the feeling that he is unimportant and doesn’t matter. These moments of rejection and loneliness start to add up and get harder and harder to deal with emotionally.

Rewinding some for just a second but in Stanky Danky we do see a brief moment of Dale showing more love and affection to a sentient trash can than Dev. Once again it’s a short moment on screen for us but we can see Dev is pretty upset and hurt by this rejection.

Dev seems to bounce back from this pretty quickly, possibly he’s used to his dad behaving this way which is a whole other can of worms to open up but at this point, he’s not friends with Hazel and still has his walls up which I think potentially plays a part in this but I’ll circle back to that.

Then theirs the uh infamous statue scene that is emotionally devastating and no one besides Hazel and sort of Wanda seem to recognize how fucked up it is. Even still Hazel forgets all about Dev the second she wins the hat and once again, Dev is a lower priority than an inanimate object. Let me be clear, I am not angry at Hazel, she’s a kid at the end of the day and frankly it’s very easy to distract kids. She’s not a bad kid or friend here for getting distracted I’m just discussing from the Dev side of things that in this episode the two people that matter most to him have placed an inanimate object as their priority over Dev. Whether or not Dev realizes Hazel forgot about him for her hat isn’t exactly clear, but it happened and I talk about it solely because it makes my heart hurt and if I have to suffer so do you.

What’s interesting to me is we see Dev has been suffering for some time, but it’s only after Founders Day that he finally is given a Godparent. Arguably it’s likely the getting direct confirmation that boots are more important to his father then his own son, he bought them on the day Dev was born, seemingly if Devs math is correct, and that overshadowed Devs birth, but I find it interesting to explore some other factors that maybe make the blow feel even worse.

We know Dev hasn’t had a friend before Hazel, she’s really the first person that he called a friend. She helped bring down his sky high walls that his classmates seemed to intimidated by to even attempt to cross over. (I also wonder if somehow a fear of Dale maybe also involved with his lack of friends). And we also know Dale is at best emotionally distant which likely Dev impersonated to try and fit in better with his dad and to try and protect himself from getting hurt. However, Hazel breaks down that protective barrier he’s had on so when his dads statue is revealed and he and Hazel fight, it hurts more then it did previously because he doesn’t have that protection anymore and has to face the full brunt of that pain and rejection. Not only that but he is also, in his mind, losing his first and only friend despite him risking so much trying to keep her safe from his dad. Being rejected hurts, but being rejected while trying to do the right thing? Thats got to be an even bigger emotional blow.

I know some of what happens in the season 1 finale, I don’t know all the details or how we get their but I have a feeling Devs feelings of being unwanted and unloved potentially play a massive role in his breakdown. His school couldn’t care less about him, his dad is emotionally abusive, he doesn’t have any friends and every time he gets a glimpse of happiness it’s brutally ripped away from him. This is a literal 9 year old child, and he’s having to deal with being neglected and ignored by any person in his life who is supposed to really be there for him. It’s realistic to life kids slip through the cracks far too often, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less, especially knowing that things just get worse for him from here. All I can hope is season 2 gives him some relief and he gets someone in his life who genuinely cares about him and will be there for him.

That’s everything so far I have in regards to thoughts about Dev. I always love hearing other people’s thoughts and I certainly will have more as I continue with the season.

[ficsandgiggles]

Core Muscles (Natasha x Yelena x Reader)

“Ahh so pleased your prompts are open again! I’m not great at asks but how about reader x one of/a combo of the Marvel girls (actors or characters, up to you) training in the gym. Reader is working on core strength and one of the girls points to the muscles reader should be working on and reader loses it because their stomach is their worst spot so of course the girls go to town. Have some fun with it!”

A/N: I really hope this is okay! I have no knowledge about these types of exercises although I wish I had the motivation to learn/do them 😂 but I hope you enjoy! ❤️

Word count: 1255

Warnings: None

“So you’re working on your core strength today?”

You jumped when you heard another voice, but relaxed when you recognised it, turning around to see Natasha enter the gym, wearing a tank top and gym pants with her hair up in a ponytail.

You vowed to yourself that you would start looking after your body more, as you knew that sometimes you needed more than just your powers in a fight or for self-defence in general.

You nodded in response to Nat’s question. “Yeah… I heard that having a stronger core can do more than just give you abs, it can help balance and stuff.” You replied, briefly looking at the mirror, you had some insecurities with your body, but you could see improvement. But now you regret wearing a crop top since you were no longer alone.

“You’re learning your stuff,” Natasha commented with a smile, going towards the punching bag. “If you need any help, give me a shout, I’ll be here for a bit.” She told you before beginning her workout.

“Thanks…” you replied quietly, trying to concentrate and return to what you were doing. You decided to do the classic plank, despite hating it, there were a lot of benefits in doing it. So you got down and stretched into the position. You went into your own little world, trying to stay there for as long as possible. You were so zoned out that you didn’t notice that Yelena had walked into the room.

“You are putting yourself through torture by doing the plank you know.”

You snapped out of your head and collapsed, turning around to see Yelena smirking. “I was getting to my record time!” I whined, getting up to shove at her.

“Oh boo hoo, if you’re looking at strengthening your tummy muscles I can show you a few more exercises you can do.” She offered, and you immediately nodded, anything that avoids doing the plank.

“Okay, so you will need to be on the floor on all fours, then you stretch out an arm and then the opposite leg and switch. It’s called the bird dog.” She chuckled as you followed her directions.

You could definitely feel your core muscles working and got more and more confident as you tried to extend your limbs higher and higher, thus arching your back a little.

“You do not need to stretch high, it’s about control.” Yelena guided, putting her hands on your ribs to gently move you back to the original position, making you flinch and briefly bring your arm back.

“Oh, I’m sorry, did I hurt you?” She asked, you immediately shook your head, smiling innocently.

“Oh, no, I just didn’t expect you to touch me.” You replied casually, doing a few more rounds of the exercises before giving yourself a break.

Your eyes flickered towards Natasha, who was watching the two of you, she gave you a brief smirk as if she had already figured out why you reacted the way you did when her sister touched you.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I will be more careful next time.” The blonde apologised. “Another classic exercise though is called the dead bug, and you need to be on your back for this one.”

You nodded, rolling over so you were lying on your back, Natasha had now stopped her workout completely to observe you and Yelena, but you didn’t say anything and listened to the blonde.

“So it is basically like the bird dog but you’re on your back and you are bending your knees toward you instead of stretching it out.” She got on the floor and gave you an example, you quickly understood what she was doing and started doing the same.

“You are arching your back a little,” Yelena told you, already forgetting what she said about being more careful when touching you and putting her hand on your tummy to gently push you back down flat onto your back.

Once again, you flinched and dropped your arms and legs, blushing as Yelena gave you a confused look.

“Are you okay?” She asked, concerned that she had hurt you again.

“They’re fine, they’re just like you,” Natasha replied on your behalf, coming over and skittering into her sister's ribs briefly, causing her to yelp and slam her arms down, before smirking over at you.

“Oh, that’s what it is?” Yelena asked, lighting up a little as she knelt next to you and put a hand on your shoulder to hold you to the floor so you couldn’t escape. “Are you ticklish, Y/N?”

Your eyes widened, shaking your head as you tried to wiggle away, but it only made Yelena skitter her fingers into your ribs with her free hand.

“Pretty sure they are,” Nat replied, smiling a little before sitting on your ankles, not doing anything just yet but it was enough to make you gasp and wiggle even more, despite knowing that you couldn’t throw the Black Widow off your legs.

Yelena grinned, now just going for it and using both hands to skitter up and down your sides and ribs, causing you to arch your back with a giggly squeal. “Hehehehey nohohoho!”

“It seems that you’re right, Natasha, very ticklish indeed, and laughing helps with strengthening core muscles as well so this could be a part of your exercise routine!” Yelena beamed and now scribbled into your belly, causing you to squeal with laughter, especially since Nat started tickling your feet.

“GUHUHUHUYS QUIT IHIHIHIHIT!” You screeched, scrunching your toes up whilst shoving at Yelena, shaking your head helplessly.

“Yelena is right Y/N, laughing is highly beneficial, so I think this needs to happen more often,” Nat commented loud enough for you to hear as she held your toes back to scribble underneath them whilst Yelena now experimented with a raspberry.

You blushed, your laughter going silent as Yelena blew the raspberry, you weakly pushed at her head as you squirmed around as much as you felt able to.

Eventually, they let you up, and you immediately curled up, taking in deep breaths with the occasional giggle slipping out.

“That was… so mean…” you huffed out, making the two women chuckle fondly, Yelena ruffling your hair.

“I don’t think it was, I think you loved it more than you know.” Yelena teased, to which you flipped her off.

“Hey!” Yelena gasped and briefly dug under your arms the second you sat up, making you shriek and slam your arms down. “You know I’m right!”

You remained quiet, looking at Natasha and watching for any judgement. The redhead just smiled fondly and nodded, putting a hand on your shoulder.

“It’s okay, Y/N, it’s quite sweet if it’s true, we’re happy to do it whether it’s to strengthen your core muscles or just to cheer you up.” She reassured, pulling you into a hug, which was swiftly joined by Yelena who didn’t want to feel left out.

“This is not the last time I’m going to tickle you because it was just plain adorable.” She teased, suddenly raspberrying your neck to make you squeal before letting you go.

“Now come on, I’ll challenge you to a planking contest, all three of us.” Yelena grinned as the two women pulled away and got into position, followed by you doing the same.

Of course, you lost, and happily accepted the punishment for being the loser. But you didn’t mind, it brought you closer to the Widow sisters whilst enjoying the feeling of just letting yourself laugh for a bit.

[drabblesandimagines]

400 requests~ AAAAAAAH CONGRATULATIONS ON 400 I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU OMG (⁠ﾉ⁠◕⁠ヮ⁠◕⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠*⁠.⁠✧ May that following increase and the journey ahead be an enjoyable and rewarding one!

May I request a Joshua x Reader? Where reader gives as good as she gets and they banter/tease one another? Developing relationship with secret smiles and whispers (⁠人⁠*⁠´⁠∀⁠｀⁠)⁠｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+

Ty so much my dear, please take careeeeeee! And congratulations once again ❤️ 🎉

Thank you so, so much! <3 Sorry this took me an age - I hope you enjoy it. I had fun writing it in all its fluffy nonsense. Banter Joshua Rosfield x fem reader

You smile at the sight of Joshua breaking his fast in the Ale Hall. Jote is by his side, as usual, eyes watching him like a hawk as he picks idly at his plate. You stride over, a bounce in your step and sit down to his left, nimbly stealing a piece of Maeve’s famous sweet bread off his plate.

“Morning.” You grin, before taking a bite. If Jote could kill with looks alone, you’d be long gone.

“Good morning.” Joshua nods in acknowledgement, suppressing a grin.

“There is still food being served, my lady.” Jote states, politely.

You finish your mouthful and smile, sweetly, in the Phoenix attendant’s direction. “I know. I didn’t think Joshua would mind sharing, though.” “Oh, I certainly do mind.” He replies, though his tone is teasing. “Only because my lady is surely sweet enough.”

“Careful – if you make me faint, Tarja will be most displeased.”

“Then I will be sure to be swift enough to catch you.”

“Hm,” you muse, looking him up and down. “I’ll believe that when you finally best me in the pit, for how many times is it now that I have sent His Grace down upon his backside?”

Jote’s nostrils flair in annoyance.

“Very true,” Joshua chuckles. “I will mind my words to avoid an unnecessary trip to the infirmary. Speaking of,” he turns to the woman besides him, “Jote, I know Tarja would appreciate your help again there this morning, if you’d be so kind.”

“If you are sure, Your Grace. I do not mind… watching over your training session.”

Jote had been vehemently against your tutelage of Joshua in the pit, even though it had been at Clive’s request. Your weapon was similar to that of the delicate blade Joshua wields and knowing the repercussions of what the use of aether did to the body, Clive was keen for him to start utilizing it properly in battles. Though the Undying had tutored the Phoenix to the best of their ability, Clive had noted areas of improvement whilst fighting alongside Joshua and you had immediately come to mind… much to Jote’s chagrin at the constant, somewhat flirtatious banter you and the blonde had relaxed into throughout your training sessions together. “I’ll be fine, Jote. Thank you.” Joshua smiles, warmly, and you see her relax a little at his words.

“I do not wish to face Tarja’s wrath if I were to send Joshua back to his sickbed, so I promise to be most careful.” You try and reassure too, but the way Jote’s lips fall into a tight line as she gets to her feet, bows her head and heads off towards the infirmary tells that you hadn’t quite hit the mark you intended.

Joshua waits a moment to be sure Jote is clear of the Ale Hall before he drops a hand under the table, subtly reaching for your hand and interlacing his fingers with yours. “Sweet one,” he leans into you to whisper the nickname he’s bestowed upon you for moments such as this, “Once again, I must insist you stop tormenting poor Jote.”

“She makes it so eas-“

A firm squeeze of your hand cuts you off.

“My apologies.” You concede. “In my defence, I was being sincere about the last bit though – I do not wish to send you back to your bed with too much exertion.”

“You will not.” He lets go of your hand, somewhat reluctantly, and stands. “Shall we?”

“Let’s.”

--

A little while later, the two of you are catching your breath after a round of sparring in the pit.

“That was much better.” You wipe the back of your hand over your brow. “I only knocked you down three times.”

“Twice,” Joshua corrects.

“No, it was definitely three.”

“No, it was definitely twice.” He retorts. “The third time you are referring to does not count.”

You tilt your head, curious. “And why is that, Your Grace?”

Joshua scoffs. “You know exactly why, sweet one.”

“No, I don’t.” You cross your arms. “Enlighten me.”

He sighs. “I will reiterate that kissing me on my cheek is not an acceptable move in combat.”

“Says who? It’s an excellent distraction technique, as you have experienced.” You grin, thinking back of how flustered Joshua had got when you’d pecked him on the cheek… before thwacking the hilt of your blade across the back of his knees to send him toppling down into the sand of the fighting pit.

“Oh, really? Pray tell, who engages with this technique?”

“Me, for a start.”

“Anyone else I might know?”

“Why, Barnabas Tharmr. How do you think he conquered Ash all those years ago?”

Joshua can’t help but laugh at that, taking a step closer. “Of course, pecked his way up to the throne. No-one else?”

You hum in thought. “Clive of course. His foes are always commenting on how handsome he is in battle, so he gives them a quick kiss and down they go. In fact, I heard he kissed a Morbal once-”

“Oh, hello, Clive.” Joshua interrupts, looking behind you. Your heart skips a beat as you spin on your heels, ready to utter a thousand apologies… ..only to find the dock behind you is empty. You turn back, Joshua’s name on your tongue to admonish him, only to find his lips meet yours instead and he kisses you, a hand cupping your cheek and causing your mind to become utterly blank.

It only lasts a moment when he sideswipes at your ankles and sends you toppling down to your backside with a boyish grin.

“You’re right,” he crouches down and offers you his hand, “it is a good distraction technique.”

-- PS: I love Jote, really! Just had to tease her a little bit too.

Masterlist . Requests welcome . Commissions/Ko-Fi

[yzafre]

it could've been so good - a possible interpretation and extrapolation of 2012 April O'Neil

So, 2012 makes me want to take every character apart and put them back together like a jigsaw puzzle.  The characterization drives me crazy because like.  It’s messy but not entirely incoherent.  It’s like... someone was making a bracelet and picked out a bunch of matching or complementary beads, but then just left them scattered on the table instead of finishing stringing them up.

Similarly, 2012 puts a lot of fascinating character moments on the table but then doesn’t really... do anything with them, or thread them together with any kind of intent, and it makes me insane. 

So this is me, frantically putting my own strings between them like a conspiracy board.  I’ll probably end up meandering through most of the main cast but we are STARTING with April because I’ve already alluded to my thoughts on her in a couple posts. 

And I know, I know, it’s always easy to talk shit and say “they should have done this” in hindsight - and it very much seems like the writers just.  Didn’t know what to do with her for a long time? 

But if you look at the scenes/episodes she’s given, you have the skeleton of an interesting character arc focusing on the desire for agency and control over your life, chasing strength/power, and the difference between the two.

Starting point

Okay, we’re going to start with two key themes I’ve found and go from there: April’s desire to become a ninja, and her whole family-kraang situation.

When it comes to April and fighting, one of the first things I noticed was this exchange between April and Splinter, when he offers to train her:

“If I do this… does that mean I can kick everybody’s butt?”

And then, when Splinter is against it: “Oh yeah, me neither… but I could, right?”

That is the attitude of someone who wants to fight – and not only fight, but to win.  To beat others.  That was… interesting.

We also see, as time goes by, that – when the writers remember to include her – she wants to be involved.  To a reckless degree.

Metalhead: she set up her own research avenue, gathering information on Krang sightings.  Then she immediately goes to sneak in, even though the turtles can’t go out yet – and has her own mini-adventure!

Panic in the Sewers: she approaches the Purple Dragons with the pizza plan of her own accord.  She volunteers to spy on the meeting with the Shredder the moment the turtles look to be giving up – even when they are very against it – and keeps going when her first plan doesn’t work.

In the next season, after she’s been training for a while, you have the Kraang Conspiracy (incidentally, where she gets a big lore dump about her family’s connection to the kraang): she’s trying to get involved in their training/missions, upset about not being able to keep up -  she refused to be left behind to wait “like some stupid sidekick”.

“I want in on the action, too.”

She’s not theatrically bombastic about it as Casey is, but… She wants to be in the game so bad.  She is consistently frustrated when left behind, when reminded of ways she can’t keep up.  She volunteers herself to get involved, even against the turtle’s recommendations at times.  Insists on it.

This continues even as she improves, as she’s more often on the team – look at City at War in season 4.  April is so thrilled to finally be a “full fledged ninja”, but frustrated when Raph points out how much further she has to go, and does not deal well with being defeated by Shinigami so easily.  First it’s simply self-doubt, yes, but when she sees Shinigami again there is impulsiveness and anger. (yes there is some influence by the Aeon crystal here, BUT).

((Also sidenote, it was also Raph who specifically brought up time spent training with Splinter, and what it takes, back in the Kraang Conspiracy.))

((Also also, don’t love the cattiness/pitting girls against each other way this episode is written.  But for the observation section we use what we’ve got.  Sigh.))

All of this put together: they are giving April a very active, driven personality, who is interested in being able to fight, being involved with taking on the bad guys, and being a main player in confronting the world around her.

HOWEVER – she's often only middling-levels of successful, when she’s not side-lined.  It’s a show about the turtles, so they have to save the day, right? ....right? no

Now, the other half of her we’ve got to talk about is her, the kraang, and all the effects that has on her family.

When we start the show, her mom’s already gone, and it’s just her and her dad – thus why she ends up staying with an Aunt.  We don’t know it yet, but that’s important.

So, she loses her father in the pilot – it's how she meets the turtles, why she continues to interact with them (and at this point from the writing it’s not entirely convincing she would stay in touch otherwise – to me Mikey's “You have to like us” comment feels very real, early on).

She gets her dad back, but he’s compromised, leading to events in the Season 1 finale.

((Not her family, but the one “normal” friend we see her with turns out to be a Kraang in disguise, so like.  That’s also interference in her life.))

Season 2 opener, she loses him again – this time to mutation.  Her hallucination in the fear mushrooms episode was about bats/her father, remember, so the state of her father is front and center for her – and with only one parent, why wouldn’t it be?

When they cure that, it’s not long until the invasion.  And he gets mutated again, left behind with the rest of New York.

We found out her family line – her mother specifically – was part of a project by the Kraang.  April is the end result of this genetic manipulation, a tool to finish their goals.

These are all things that are done to her, which she has no control over.

So, we get an (ostensibly, when April isn’t being put on the shelf by the narrative) active personality, contrasted against plot developments in which things keep happening to her.

These are the two rocks I’m banging together to create the lens I’ll be interpreting her character through.

What do you do when your fate is never in your hands?

So, let’s go back to the beginning, and let me show you the context I’m looking at:

You are a smart, promising, self-motivated girl, who despite the loss of a parent has a generally good life.

And then you get attacked, and though you are rescued your father is not, and despite your best efforts, there’s nothing you can do about it.  You’re helpless, largely having to depend on these strangers to save your future.

But then you get the offer for martial arts training – you can learn to fight back.  Where you have been made powerless, you can reclaim power.

As you go deeper in the rabbit hole, you learn more truths – you have a strange power, the enemy is somehow connected to your lost mother, your very DNA has bene tampered with, your fate altered for someone else’s benefit before you could even walk.

You get your father back – he's mutated again.  You cure him – he's lost to an invasion.

You can’t do anything about it.

You find out the real truth of how the Kraang stole your mother from you.  More ways you never had control of your life, your fate – how everything about you was manufactured, out of your control.

You keep trying to get stronger.

And yet, despite your best efforts, you keep getting left behind.  This entire situation has to deal with you: your life, your father, your history – but they keep saying: you can’t keep up.  Your best is not enough

Even when you finally graduate, you’re met with reminders of how much further there’s left to go.  You’re met with enemies who are better than you, who you can’t defeat.

You keep trying to get stronger but it’s never enough.

…hey, The Power Inside Her is making more sense now, isn’t it?

((Aren’t you tired of being nice?  Don’t you want to go ape shit?))

Even the trope that she occasionally touches on – which generally annoys me – of “character who is clearly unqualified tries to force their way into the mission” gets a different view to it, because it’s not about a generic “want to be included” or “but I am good” (you are not).  It’s... it’s this tension of “my agency keeps getting stolen from me, so I’m resisting when people tell me no to something that will let me get it back”.

Now, to be clear, I don’t think this connection was well executed – and I’m extremely skeptical whether it was even intentional, but you can make the connections if you want to, and isn’t it interesting?

Where could we go with this?

This is the extrapolating section, and is admittedly just a fun thought experiment for me to indulge myself with – but if the story were to take this direction more explicitly, what could you do with it?

First off, to make anything work, you need to let the POV sit with April and her grief occasionally.  Show her away from the turtles, how she’s handling the change in her living situation, and also how losing her Mom young affected her/is currently impacting her.

To adapt the story we already have, I think you could lean into her not being personally invested in the turtles early on – her focus is on getting her father and her life back.  It’s not that she dislikes them, it’s just her headspace isn’t in the “make friends” mindset – they're co-workers or team-mates, not real friends.

(Of course, that’s not going to hold up, long-term.  Genuine affection for them starts slipping in when she’s not looking – but it’s always competing with her focus on her dad, and will frequently lose to it.)

I think you could – probably mostly in season 1 – make some interesting tension between her acting with a sort of professional distance, versus the turtles (maybe minus Raph?  He was always the most skeptical of humans) wanting to make a friend for the first time.  You’d have to actually dedicate time in the episodes for relationship writing rather than just the plot, but it could be done!

Then, the period where she splits from the turtles at the beginning of season two could be a really make-or-break moment of clarity.  Her (mostly subconscious!) view of “turtles as tool to regain what she cares about” vs the honest affection for them that snuck up on her.  Grappling with the way her anger is complex and misplaced – she's angry this keeps happening, that she’s involved with this at all – angry because – even if she can’t put this into words – the turtles were supposed to be the thing that makes this better and now they made it worse.

Again, you need the camera to be on April more for this to pan out in any kind of sympathetic way!  Show the empty spaces where her Dad should be once more, show her thinking about/instinctively reaching out for the turtles for little social things, but then stumbling over it.  You gotta show how she’s feeling about the separation and not make it all about Donnie.

So when she comes back it’s a firm choice on her part to move past (a part of) her issues – and yes, you can still have Casey Jones be the one to hit her over the head with this emotional revelation, I liked their interactions in that episode.

Jumping tracks, this interpretation is also a big part of why I think she should have been positioned as closer to Leo, rather than Donnie (apart from just giving her some space from the love triangle).

Of the turtles, Leo is the most invested in The Plot – and April is obviously personally invested in the Kraang side of it.

Beyond that, April shows investment in getting better as a fighter.  Who else values improving their martial arts?  That’s right, Leo.  And April’s quitter than Casey, enough that I think she’d be interested in discussing some of the more philosophical parts of it that Leo likes, you know?  What it means to be a ninja, or whatever.

Under this paradigm, I think they both would exhibit a.... a demeanor of responsibility?  Feeling the weight of importance of dedicating yourself to getting better?  But their underlying reasons are a bit different.

Leo has the burden of being a leader – and the tension he feels with the weight of it, wanting to be able to let loose, to do something just for him. ((Not to mention living up to Splinter’s expectations.))

April is desperate to get her agency her father back.  In this circumstance it would have this feeling of... if she’s just strong enough, she can fix it all.  She can prevent it from happening again.  She can control her life.  Even when she moves past the subconscious “the turtles are supposed to fix it”, it instead could move on to an equally subconscious, “if I’m strong enough it will fix this”.

And – okay go with me here – I think this has April showing vaguely Leo-esque behavior, with a vaguely Raph-esque reason.  And that tension/dynamic could be fascinating.

I haven’t really seen a lot of talk about April being angry – other than I think I’ve seen some bashing takes of her being “bitchy” in the worst sense – but.. she kind of is, isn’t she?  Just a bit?  And with this interpretation you take it and let it run deep underneath it all.

She is angry and doesn’t realize the depths of it.  She is hanging all her hopes on martial arts giving her control back over her life and doesn’t realize how desperate she is for it.

With that, you could do some really interesting things of having her be close with Leo, have him think he understands her... but as she begins to crack, and everything she’s been repressing starts spilling out, have Raph start recognizing parts of himself in her, gaining understanding of her while Leo is still floundering.

I think it would add some texture and push growth for all three characters!

...and, -sigh-, if we’re going to talk about the love triangle.  You could look at the mess with “the boys fighting over her and making moves in uncomfortable ways” (she can’t control them, its confining, she needs the turtles to like her early on) for some thematic relevance – perhaps with a hint of “trying to gain back control, she begins to try and manipulate/control their reactions/affections”?  Not particularly healthy, mind you, but it could be done to make it more of a clusterfuck all around.

But honestly if it has to be here, I would prefer for it to just affect Donnie’s development and be more of a background thing to April while she focuses on all the above aspects.  Her biggest actions would be just trying to dodge it all, until she shuts it down for good, given she seems generally uninterested.

So, there’s my emotional conspiracy board on April O’Niel.  Obviously with this level of interpretation (and blatant re-writing) it’s a subjective, YMMV type thing, but I think the groundwork is there. 

And it could have been so good.

[fluentmoviequoter]

The Slaying of a Vampire

Monster Monday, October 9, 2023

Fic-tober Masterlist

Summary: Chris is dressing you and Dalton up as a couple for a Halloween party. The catch? Neither of you know what the other is going as.

Warnings: fluff, mutual pining, biting?, kissing, a couple Buffy the Vampire Slayer references. 1.3k+ words

A/N: I'm currently trying to improve certain aspects of my writing, so if this reads a little differently than my other fics that's why. I hope you enjoy! :)

Black satin drags the floor with each step as the cape sways. The full moon reflects off the sharp fangs that poke out from the handsome face hidden in the shadows. With great care and questionable intention, a vampire awakens and begins his quest.

Dalton groans quietly as he steps out of the dressing room, the long black cape trailing behind him. The inner lining, blood-red satin, is visible where the collar frames his face.

“Remind me why I’m doing this?” Dalton asks.

“Put these in,” Chris commands, handing him a set of faux fangs.

“Chris,” Dalton sighs. “I don’t even want the costume.”

“We already bought it. You agreed, Dolphin, stop complaining.”

Dalton’s shoulders rise and fall with yet another sigh as he slips the fangs into his mouth. They sit over his bottom lip, seeming to glow under the fluorescent lights of the costume shop.

“Besides, you know you’re only doing it for her,” Chris points out.

Even though she didn’t say your name, Dalton knows who she is talking about. And she’s right; Dalton only agreed to this weird request for unknown matching costumes because he would be matching with you. If he’s a vampire, he can’t imagine what you will be, but he knows you will be beautiful no matter what costume Chris picks.

“Dolphin? Still here?” Chris asks, waving her hand in front of his face.

“Yeah,” Dalton says, moving his lips to accommodate the fangs.

“I think this is it. Want to add anything else?”

“Please, no.”

Chris nods and ushers him back into the dressing room. Dalton hopes you win the couples' costume challenge, not because he wants the trophy - he actually thinks the whole thing is stupid - but because he wants to be presented as a couple. Just thinking of your names together is enough to make Dalton smile.

“So, what’s my other half dressing up as?” Dalton asks as he exits, vampire costume in hand.

“You’ll see,” Chris says, winking over her shoulder. “Oh! By the way, I talked to the people who won last year, and they said staying in character increases your chance of winning, so start practicing. ‘I vant to suck your blood’ and all that.”

Dalton rolls his eyes as she pulls out her phone, likely planning to take you shopping next. He thinks he can play a vampire for a few hours to spend time with you if no other reason.

✵✵✵✵✵

“Are you kidding me?” Dalton asks.

You turn to face him, and his shoulders slump forward. Slowly looking him up and down, you begin to smile.

“The fangs look good.”

Dalton shakes his head, glaring at Chris.

“Remember to stay in character,” Chris sings as she walks away, patting Dalton’s shoulder.

“You’re,” Dalton begins, pointing to you.

“A vampire slayer. Yeah.”

“I can’t believe I didn’t see this coming.”

“Well, looks like we have to keep some distance tonight,” you say. “Otherwise, I’ll have to put a stake through your heart.”

“You wouldn’t.”

You smile at Dalton, looking up at him through your lashes. He looks up and down your costume before stepping back.

“I’ve heard of you, but I won’t go down without a fight,” he says.

Your eyes are fixed on his mouth as he talks, the fangs distracting you. He looks incredible, and you want nothing more than to stay glued to his side for the rest of the night, but you have a character to maintain.

“We’ll see,” you respond. “I haven’t lost a vampire yet.”

“I can imagine,” Dalton says under his breath.

Someone yells your name, and you look away, surprised to see Dalton is gone when you turn back. If that’s how he wants to play, it's time to hunt a vampire. Dalton is worth it. And if you can’t resist kissing him when you finally catch him? Maybe you change the ending for the vampire and the vampire slayer. No one ever suffered from a Buffy and Angel-type relationship. Right?

The party lasts all night, and the costume contest winners will be crowned at sunrise. Most of the night is spent walking through the house and looking for Dalton. Every time you find him, you raise the wooden stake and lunge for him, but his newfound vampiric abilities allow him to lunge out of the way at the last moment. He has tried to sneak up on you between attacks, but you raise the crucifix hanging from your neck when you spot him. His eyes seem to catch on the skin of your neck, affecting him more than the crucifix itself. As the early morning hours tick by, you find it harder and harder to stay away from Dalton.

You’re standing over to the side, gripping the fake wooden stake in your hand, as you search for Dalton. Fabric brushes against your arm, and you sidestep out of the way before something sinks into your skin at the juncture of your neck and shoulder. You yelp at the feeling and jump away, turning to see who or what that was.

“Did you just bite me?” you ask, hand raising to the affected area.

“Just a little,” Dalton says, smiling. “It’s how I show affection, I promise.”

“You got lucky this time,” you say, pointing the stake at him as you walk backward. “It won’t happen again.”

“And where are you going?”

You look outside and see the sun rising before answering, “I’m going for a walk. Outside.”

“I’ll go with,” Dalton says quickly, never one to let you go into danger alone.

“How?” you ask with raised brows and crossed arms.

Dalton chews his bottom lip, his fangs once again drawing your attention. “Have they made SPF 300,000 yet?”

You laugh and turn around, leaving the lucky vampire in the shadows.

✵✵✵✵✵

“Attention! We have a winner for our couples’ costume contest!” a girl announces, stopping the music.

Dalton is nowhere to be seen as the sunlight begins to stream in the windows at the back of the house.

“This couple has been seen several times tonight and their characters are adorable! The winner is…” The cord provides a drum-roll before she says your name and Dalton’s. “The vampire and the vampire slayer!”

Dalton is suddenly at your side, and you can’t stop the goosebumps that spread as his hand brushes your waist. He takes your hand and leads you to the stage, accepting your crowns and the trophy. Chris cheers the loudest, but you can barely hear anything over Dalton whispering in your ear.

“You look amazing,” he whispers, his fang brushing your ear. “We only won because of you; you know that right? I almost gave up three hours ago when you were standing in the corner. Biting you was a spur of the moment idea to get close to you.”

You shake your head as he says you won because of you. “You look far better than I do; I doubt anyone even noticed me.” You take a deep breath before confessing, “And I needed a break from the distance too. So, thanks for biting me.”

Dalton’s cheeks are tinted with pink as he mumbles, “Anytime.”

The partygoers begin leaving, and Chris waves to you as she leaves with a group of people. Dalton’s arm remains around your waist as he leads you toward the door.

“Wait,” you say, raising a hand to his chest. “Can you go outside?”

“I can go anywhere with you.”

You smile up at him, and he can’t take it anymore. Dalton’s hand raises your chin as he kisses you, his fangs brushing against your bottom lips as he kisses you like you’re his source of life. Desperate for air, you pull back and sigh as Dalton continues kissing down your jaw, stopping to brush his fangs over your pulse point.

“These things are in the way,” he grumbles, kissing you again before removing them.

“That was a way better prize than that trophy,” you whisper against his skin, leaning up to kiss his cheek.

His hands hold your hips steady as he smiles and says, “This prize was the only reason I agreed. We were going to win tonight, no matter what. The trophy is just a bonus.”