#I’m doing commissions I swear lol
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retroautomaton · 9 months ago
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🔧💎
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moonstruckmoony · 5 months ago
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A Ravenclaw Lunch 🦅
Drew some of my favorite Ravenclaws on this platform. Although one isn't necessarily a Ravenclaw. (@traceyc-uk I genuinely thought he was a Ravenclaw when I first saw him lol but I saw your comment reply somewhere that your first playthrough was Ravenclaw so I think this counts… a bit? 😂)
This post is basically a peace offering (and a love letter) bcs I want to make more Ravenclaw friends 👀👉🏻👈🏻 definitely not because I'm obsessed with you guys' MCs
I swear it was supposed to be a silly doodle at first but idk how or when down the line but somehow it turned into this mega drawing. Took me weeks to finish it. I’m not happy with a few technical things especially lights and shadows… and some other things as well but I leave it be bcs I’m aware that I’m still learning 🥲 The rest I’m pretty satisfied with, I’m just happy that I got to finally finish this.
Front row (left to right):
Violet and Pearl Castellar by @vienguinn Omg HAPPY BELATED BELATED BIRTHDAY TO THESE BABIES! These 2 are some of my favorites and everytime you post I always open my phone real quick, your short comics are my comfort 🩵
Clora Clemons by @choccy-milky I cannot not draw Clora?!!?! I consider you a legend in this fandom tbh 👑 also I want to thank you bcs your fic and illustrations literally helped me go through my stressful period when I was at my lowest bcs of my new demanding job that I started half a year ago. I look forward to your post everytime and your Clora and Seb always heals my soul 😭🩵💚
Sally Salamander by @siboom777 Sally is just so wacky and unapologetically herself and I love her for it 🩵 Does she take commissions for toys tho?
Marvin Jerry by @runicxraven MY LOVELY SILLY ADORABLE LITTLE NERD 💗💗💗💗 I need more Marvin in my life honestly.
@najiang ‘s MC - I’m so so sorry I didn’t draw her full face😭, I tried my best to show her face as much as I can while still looking like she’s taking those sausages haha. But anyway please know that I love your art so so much and I kept going back to the curry one and the one where MC came across Amit with beard as adults (that one is hilarious). Idk if your MC has a name or you left it nameless? I assume it was the latter but if she has one I’d love to know!
Faustine Daemon by @faustinio27 Hey, a fellow INFJ! Winter is the same 🩵 I really love her story and especially her personality character sheet, you drew her expressions really well and I’m a fan!
Back row (left to right):
Oliver Lennox by @pixie-dustss Handsome boi 🥰 We’re friends already (I hope I’m not the only one who thinks that way 🫢) from TikTok and you made me a video for Secret Santa last year and I just found out recently that you’re on Tumblr too so I want to say thanks by drawing Oliver! 🩵🩵🩵
Aurélie Collins by @morelikeravenbore I loove this look for Aura, she just looks so chic with the hat and scarf 😭🩵 Sassy Ravenclaw bebe 🥰 My Winter has some French heritage (the lore is still rotting in my notebook bcs I haven’t had the chance to draw her family members 🥲) so I do hope they can be friends and Aura would teach her French bcs she can’t speak much of it 👉🏻👈🏻
Alistair Dusk by @speedysart Surprise! You commented on my last speedpaint on Tiktok yesterday and I want to spill this art so bad but I was almost done so I kept my mouth shut haha. I love the pretty boi’s hair and piercings, and the fact that you chose this blazer for him, I just love it he looks so dapper in that 😣🩵
Eleonora Russel by @zordanna I love sweet Eleonora and her fascination with the moon and stars 🩵🌌 Oh and I kept coming back to your “I feel like an orange” Tiktok bcs it’s so fluffy and it heals my stress… also I adore your art it’s super soft and painty and delicate 🥹💗
@traceyc-uk ‘s MC - YOUR MC. I SWEAR TO MERLIN HE’S ON MY MIND 24/7 LATELY. Not sure why, it’s probably bcs I kept re-reading your comics. Also bcs he’s an adorable little golden retriever (but also a fierce cat!😼) You’re super talented in drawing comics and facial expressions, I have a lot to learn especially in terms of layouting… last time I made a comic I hated the layout and the fact that it looks stiff to me, so your comics has been such an inspiration!
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accio-victuuri · 1 year ago
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Bunny laoshi’s 1005 birthday CPNs Part I 🎂
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I am giving it this title cause i’m pretty sure we will have more in the next releases or whatever. So yeah. First, I wanna thank you xiao laoshi for all the shiny presents he gave us for his birthday! we have been so blessed! I mean those photos from XZS? and the biggest CPN of the day which is him featuring the Leica camera we have been screaming about for the past days. Personally, we can skip all of these and that sugar alone is enough. But apparently, there’s more….
I will start with my favorite which is related to the birthday cake he was holding in one of the photos.
The person who designed the cake shared info on their creation. No problem. Anyone would be proud for making a cake for a celebrity like XZ. Yes, it’s camping themed. Which is a recurrent CPN in this fandom since both of them suddenly became camping enthusiasts around the same time.
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This time the customer wanted to make a camping model, so I started looking for some pictures from my colleagues. But because Master Fang doesn’t make other store models, He finally decided to use the scene of Xinjiang grassland then add with other camping accessory of ours~
AND THIS CAKE SHOP IS LOCATED IN HANGZHOU. Who is in HZ? Who frequents HZ? Definitely not ZZ. So who had this commissioned??? I’m sorry but as soon as I heard Hangzhou, what came to mind is WYB. I swear. He is that city’s adopted son or something.
Out of all ZZ’s “hobbies” who would decided let’s do camping. I can only think of Bobo. And the delivery fee is 3k. There is really nothing top expensive when it comes to each other.
Next is how photos were with him holding the Leica. Kind of like how the camera was posted in WYB’s photosets in Paris. They are both showing off. Clearly.
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When you put the bday messages from their studios side by side — it appears that the theme and pattern is the same. 😂😂😂😂
lament about how time flies >> one year role review >> talk about life >> good wishes
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I mean it’s not the most unique format but it’s so cute seeing how similar. even how it’s split in paragraphs.
Tho I have to say wyb’s was very very special. That message made me tear up.
WYB is about to go home, Paris to China and he is wearing Ralph Lauren. Yes, ZZ is endorsing the fragrance but it’s still an interesting choice.
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I am cackling tho cause you can see that WYB was online at midnight! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! It got some people nervous. Will he greet XZ? Will he comments on XZ’s bday post? I mean what’s going on???
Turns out, WYB posted about his experience with the Chanel PFW. This is the perfect time cause he is literally leaving Paris. What’s funny tho are the people commenting. It’s BXGs. Because come on, who’s awake? It’s us. We are awake cause it’s GG’s bday. I took a screenshot, just look at the pfps. I think by the time I publish this post, it will be overtaken by so/os cause one fan club asked other so/os to comment. Lol.
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Some are saying the first words he used to describe the show are actually for ZZ’s photos but i really don’t buy that. and well, he is gonna see the love of his life soon ^^ I really hope they get to spend sometime 1005 or over the weekend 😌😌😌
and well the repost on ZZ’s birthday post on his own weibo is another story too 😂😂😂
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AND SOME LAST WORDS ABOUT ZZ PULLING OFF THIS CAMERA CANDY TODAY. It’s actually a joint effort. Intentional or not, I’m all for it. It goes to show that the way we speculate on things actually make sense and are not too out there. They could easily hide the camera if they want to block all the cpf talk but they didn’t. It was displayed proudly.
It’s one of those things where I think they/their team really listen in on what’s going on in the turtle fandom and they get to decide which ones will be given more fuel or not. Again, their relationship is between them, but imagine them willingly sharing this personal part of their life to us is making me 😭😭😭.
Whether it’s the exact same camera or not. XZS’ posting closed the loop of doubt. It’s not all on WYB’s side, ZZ claimed it too. and that to me is an iron clad cpn. No one can say that “WYB is just trying to feed the cpfs…”. It’s mutual.
It’s a lesson on believing in them. A couple of times this year, I’ve seen people question them. Always throwing tantrums for “lack of candy” and being annoying. Be patient. You will be rewarded if you just wait — appreciate them as people and enjoy the content they put out. It will come to us in time. Trust them. 🤍
-END.
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jasntodds · 2 years ago
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Migraines | J.T.
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Pairing: Jason Todd x Reader
Request: Anon - “Hey I get pretty bad migraines, and i was going the injury prompt list and #4 and #6 kind of remind me of how my lovely s/o takes care of me when i have an episode. I’d love to see those prompts with jason todd! Prompts: (from here) #4: Trying to hide your injury from them, but failing miserably once you faint right in front of them #6: Staying the night in case they need your help, being asked to sleep on the bed instead of the couch/floor
Summary: You have a migraine and try to hide it from Jason until you manage to faint in front of him, sending him into a worrying spin over you
Warnings: Description of migraines, friends to lovers, mentions of being nauseous from the migraine, fluff, hurt/comfort (kind of)
Words: 4,595
A/n: I am both a big sucker for injury prompts and Jason Todd so here we are lol I also get migraines so anon, I’m sorry you’re dealing with them 😭 I did friends to lovers just because I thought it fit a little better with the second prompt!! If you wanna be added to my tag list, click the link below, send me an ask, or comment!! You can also follow my library blog @jasntoddslibrary​​ !! If you like this, please reblog it and/or talk to me about it!!
masterlist | request info | tag list
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It starts as a mild headache. It’s just an ache in the beginning of your head at first that’s a bit annoying but nothing horrible. However, with your history of migraines, you take your precautions to prevent it from turning into a migraine. The thing about the migraines is they tend to send you out of commission until they go away. You always play it out to be just a mild headache or that you’re just tired and take a nap. Jason doesn’t actually know how bad your headaches (migraines) actually are. He’s Robin! Jason could have ten broken bones and still go out swinging. You get a migraine and want to explode.
After about two hours though, the mild headache has turned into a full-blown migraine. It’s throbbing in the front of your head. Your stomach is nauseous with the pain and every bit of light in the room makes you cringe. You’re in the library of Wayne Manor with Jason, sitting with him while the two of you read and reading is making it worse. You swear you’ve been on the same page for twenty minutes, unable of focus your eyes or your attention on the book. Everything hurts, even moving your eyes is agonizing.
“You good?” Jason looks over at you, noticing you haven’t turned a page in a while.
“Oh, yeah.” Your voice is quiet as you give him a fake smile and a very subtle reassuring nod, almost wincing with the movement.
“You don’t look good.” Jason sees the grimace across your face. “Seriously,” He puts his finger in the book to hold the page while he closes it. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m just tired.” You shrug it off. “I’m just gonna take a nap.” You smile sweetly but faintly.
“You’re a bad fucking liar.” Jason chuckles softly as you get off the couch. “I know something’s wrong, can’t hide it from me, babe.” There’s a cheeky grin tugging at his lips when you turn to face him, knowing he’s trying to get the real answer out of you by being cheeky.
“Jay, I’m fine.” You insist, giving him a toothy grin as if that’s enough to convince him but the window is right behind Jason and you moved too quickly.
Everything is spinning and throbbing and pounding and your vision is blurring in and out. Everything is agonizing and all you want to do is curl into a ball and melt away. Your heart is starting to race while your legs are starting to feel weak and shaky.
“Y/n?” Jason calls, the grin completely vanishing as he watches the look at your face turn distant and shallow just as your legs give out.
Jason scrambles to his feet, catching your head just before you hit the ground. Panic courses through Jason’s blood as he holds your head in his hands, unsure of what just happened. You’ve never fainted before. He knew something was wrong but something wrong enough to make you faint? He never would have guessed and he’s kicking himself for not realizing that it was something that bad. He should known better, paid closer attention maybe. Something. But, then your eyes open slowly, you barely coming to with your head still pounding like a kickdrum at a rock concert.
“Hey, holy shit, are you okay?” Jason’s words are slurred as he looks at you but you can’t make them out. Everything sounds mixed together, hazy even. “Y/n?” Jason asks and as your vision starts to steady slightly, you can make out his brown eyes laced in worry, forehead wrinkled.
The jig is up.
“Migraine.” You mutter out.
Jason lets out a sigh, wondering why you didn’t just tell him. You both make fun of each other with little stuff. It’s all fun and games though, Jason tends to take some low blows when he gets mad but it’s never anything too horrible and you know where not to cross a line. Had you just told him you had a migraine, he wouldn’t have made a joke or yelled to make it worse. He would have just let you rest. Jason knows his constant training even with an injury isn’t normal, most people know when to tap out. He doesn’t want you to end up like him, unable to take a break even from just reading a book with him.
“Come on.” Jason slides his hands out from under your head as you sit up. “Get your ass to bed.” Jason stands up, offering both of his hands to you to help you up.
You take his hands gingerly in yours, carefully and slowly getting up, trying not to move too much or too fast. “I’ll be fine.” You brush it off once you’re on your feet.
You don’t want to bother him with it. Migraines are debilitating but it’s still a headache. It just sounds so pitiful in a way. You have to nap in the middle of the day over a headache. Jason shouldn’t be bothered with it or you. You’ll take a nap and maybe you’ll feel better later. 
“Yeah, then ya fucking fainted.” Jason scoffs, not realizing he was still holding your hands.
“Mhm.” You hum, your mouth dry from the nausea of the throbbing headache.
“I’ll walk you.” He offers, realizing your hands are soft in his.
His heart swells with the idea but he lets go and opts to move to your side, resting a hand on the small of your back. He gestures for you to start walking, him walking right beside you and not moving his hand just making sure you don’t fall or faint again.
If your head wasn’t a throbbing and pulsating mess right now, you’d have some comment about how nice he’s being. Jason can be a little less than nice at times with people, but he does have these really nice moments with you ever since you followed him to Gotham. It’s….domestic in a way. At Titans Tower, there was this ruggedness to everything and this hardness that almost surrounded him, a bitterness that ate at his bones. But, when he’s here, he’s kinder. He’s still rough around the edges, that’s just Jason but he’s kinder and you’d be lying if you said you don’t like the kinder side of him that mixes with his sarcasm. And maybe if your head wasn’t causing such agonizing pain, you’d notice him looking more at you instead of where you were walking, his eyes laced with worry. It’s just a headache he tells himself, but he worries anyway because it’s you.
Jason gets you to bed, you swearing you can get into bed just fine but he doesn’t take that for an answers. You fainted in front of him and now he’s determined to not let you do anything until you’re feeling better. You’re his best friend and while it’s a migraine, he doesn’t want you to hurt yourself more or prolong the pain. So, he pulls the blankets over you and takes your phone from you before putting it on silent and putting it on your nightstand.
“Did you need anything?” He asks, trying to hide his concern from his voice.
“No,” You say softly, comfortable in your bed now and glad to be able to sleep. “Thanks.”
Jason nods, sticking his hands in his pockets. “Text me if you need something, alright? Don’t go getting up and making shit worse.” Jason offers an awkward laugh.
“Yes, sir.” You mutter, giving him a soft smile.
“I mean it.” He warns as he starts walking towards the door.
“Thanks, Jay.” Your voice is a little louder this time so you know he’ll hear you.
Jason smiles softly. “Yeah.” He nods at you before leaving your room, shutting the door slowly and quietly to allow you to sleep.
Jason leaves you alone for a few hours, casually passing by your room every fifteen minutes just in case. Of course, Jason doesn’t realize he’s passing by so often. He’ll go into one of the living areas and then conveniently remember he needed something from his room which is next to yours. Or he’ll go back to the library only to realize he needed something from the kitchen which means he has to pass by your room. He plays this little game for a few hours, getting an eyebrow raise from Bruce every time Jason passes him in a different room. After the fifth time, Bruce finally just asked what was going on. Jason tried to brush it off with “Forgot something again.” Bruce didn’t press but figured it had something to do with you. Jason isn’t the forgetful type and it made Bruce chuckle softly to himself.
But, after that few hours, Jason got a bit stir-crazy worrying about you. You’re his main form of entertainment here. You’re both either training (to Bruce’s dismay) or joking with each other or reading. You show him a lot of movies and TV shows he’s missed. You’re always together and now he’s just bored and worried. So, he makes his way to your room around 10pm with a glass of water and he knocks softly, hoping it wasn’t too loud but that you heard him. You don’t answer though and Jason feels a bit more worried, so he opens the door just slightly to look inside.
You’re asleep in the same exact position he left you in. Your room is completely dark, the currents drawn and the TV off. But, Jason shines just enough light into your room to stir you awake. Your eyes peek open, catching a blurry glimpse of him in your doorframe, able to make out his dark hair.
“Jay?” You question, barely noticing the throbbing of your head slightly better than it was a few hours ago.
“Sorry.” Jason mumbles. “Wanted to make sure you didn’t die or some shit.” He brushes the worry from his words, trying to act casual.
“I’m alive.” Your voice is weak, stinging Jason’s heart.
Jason takes a step in the room, leaving the door cracked so he can actually see you. “Feeling any better?” He asks.
“Migraine is still kicking.” The sarcasm in your voice is even weak and Jason feels so bad for you.
And he’s still worried because you don’t normally nap this long. It makes him wonder if you nap just long enough to ease some of the migraine but still keep up appearances. But now he does know, so maybe your migraines do last this long after all this time and he feels horrible.
“Well,” Jason walks over, resting the water on your nightstand which you definitely take note of. Was that the excuse he was going to use if you were awake? Bringing you a glass of water? That’s kind of sweet. He sticks his hands in his pockets. “I’m going to get my stuff then.” He holds his head up high, chest puffing out slightly. “Gotta make you sure you don’t croak in your sleep or something.” Jason nods his head, giving you this half-cocked grin. “Or,” Jason clears his throat. “Just in case you need something.”
“In case I need something?” You wanna make fun of him so bad, you love making fun of him. It’s how you two show affection but, you’re actually curious where this is going. The migraine might still be kicking, but the curiosity has now taken over.
“Yeah,” He shrugs casually. “I don’t want you to suffer longer so if you need something, you won’t have to deal with it.” He shifts his weight from his toes to heels.
“Awww.” You manage the quip with a smile.
“Shut the fuck up.” Jason chuckles softly, dodging his eyes from you for a second. “So, I’m staying in here tonight and you’re just gonna have to suck it up.”
“Fine.” You try to sound stern but there’s a smile playing at your lips and your chest bursts of warmth with having Jason stay in your room.
That’s something neither of you do. You are friends and the flirting sometimes gets a bit…too flirty. There’s a difference between two friends flirting and joking around and whatever the hell the two of you do. You always get just a little too close to Jason and Jason always comes up with a quip that’s said a little too seriously. There is this invisible line neither of you have ever crossed because it overcomplicates a fun situation. Jason doesn’t think you’re into him that way and you think if you were to ever tell Jason, he’d laugh or make it weird. But, maybe this is a good opportunity to try something a little less flirty and fun and try something a little more casual and soft.
When Jason comes back, he’s in grey joggers and a loose black t-shirt. He has a pillow with a beige pleated pillowcase under one arm and a matching blanket draped over the other arm. He said he’d go get his stuff but you were certain he was just being dramatic. Jason has always had a flare for the dramatics. And a part of you thought for sure Jason was just going to slide into bed with you with a cheeky grin because that’s just Jason. But, he doesn’t. He puts his pillow on the floor beside your side of the bed. You eye him with suspicion, not moving your head and you want to laugh but you know it’ll just hurt.
“What’re you doing?” You ask once Jason sits on the floor.
He looks at you with, what you swear seems to be innocence. “Sleeping on the floor?” He questions back, not sure why you’re asking.
You let out a huff, smiling down at him. “Can you just sleep in the bed with me, please?” You ask and at this point, you don’t even want to deny the fact having him next to you would at least bring you comfort. You always sit close to him because it’s comforting but having him sleeping next to you now with a throbbing migraine? That might be the only thing you actually want, besides the pain to stop.
Jason gains this smirk and devious look in his eyes. “Oh, want me in the bed, huh?”
“Shut up.” You groan. “I said please.” You pout a lip at him and Jason swears he thinks it’s the cutest thing in the world.
“Since you asked so nicely, babe.” He emphasizes the word and your stomach spins with butterflies.
Jason walks to the other side of the bed and gently flips the blankets up to get underneath them. He tries to play this off in the cool, calm, and collected way he tries to play everything like this, getting a little too close to you. His heart is thundering in his chest and he tells himself that you’re just being nice because he’s being nice. This is a nice, friendly thing to do to make sure you’re okay and he doesn’t wake up with back pain in the morning. This is a casual, friendly thing you’re doing.
You roll over slowly, careful not to move your head too much. The migraine is just barely starting to subside but you know if you move too much or try to stay awake, it will come back with a vengeance. So, you remain careful as you move closer to Jason. He stretches his arm behind your head almost instinctively, careful not to hit to your head with the movement. Your head lays on his chest and you have to admit, he is so warm.
Jason brings his arm around you, pulling you closer to him and this is kind of nice. He wishes your head wasn’t in pain so maybe this would be something a little more or something would come out of it. But, he’s so sure that you’re only willing to cuddle with him like this because you’re in pain and for a reason he doesn’t fully understand, you find comfort in him being here. Your head is aching but this is the most comfortable you’ve been in forever. Jason is comfortable.
“Thanks for checking on me.” You whisper to him, your eyes closed as you listen to his heart still thundering in his chest. “And the water.”
A bashful smile comes to his lips. “Yeah,” You feel him huff under you. “‘Course.”
“Why is your heart beating so fast?” You ask.
Jason pauses, his eyes widening. How is he somehow at a loss for words? He’s never at a loss for words but how’s he supposed to answer that without admitting anything? Your question and his running through about it just made his heart beat faster.
“Are you...nervous?” A gentle chuckle leaves your lips, you wincing with the throbbing.
“Fuck off, no I’m not nervous.” Jason groans.
“Okay, Jason.” A snicker comes from you. “Seriously, thank you for staying.” Your voice is quiet and coated in a honey-like sincerity.
Jason sucks in a breath and honesty isn’t exactly his thing. Not that he lies, he just doesn’t say how he feels but you’re kind of really important to him.
“Yeah, well, I’d kind of doing anything for your ass.” Jason chuckles.
“I know.” You smile to yourself. You know he would. He’s a bit rough around the edges and he has his issues that he’s kind of trying to deal with, but you know he’d do anything for you. “I’d do anything for you, too.” You admit, just sensing the deadpan expression he’s giving you. But before he can turn it into some type of flirty, taunting banter, you continue. “Goodnight, Jay.”
“Night, Y/n.” Jason lets out a sigh, rubbing your back lightly.
You fall asleep first, the migraine fully wearing you out and Jason offers the perfect amount of comfort. He’s soft and there’s a firmness of his chest that isn’t hard or too stiff. It’s just firm enough to offer support and just the right amount of soft. You think he makes a better pillow than your own (which is insane since Bruce did not skimp on the pillows). Jason, on the other hand, he stays awake a little longer.
It’s been harder for him to fall asleep ever since Deathstroke. But, tonight, that’s not where his head is focused and he has to admit, it’s a bit cathartic. He’s so careful not to move or tense up with you so peacefully asleep under him. He doesn’t want to disturb you because of your migraine and he doesn’t want to disturb you and make you move away from him. You keep him calm and turn his brain off for a little bit. He always chalked it up to you being friends. You’re one of the only people who ever really listened to him anyway and that always helped a bit but, he’s looking down at you with this gentle smile and that’s his real ‘oh shit’ moment. 
It’s not just flirting for fun or the joking banter, but a genuine liking between him and you. Deep inside, he knew why he was worried about you and why his heart was beating so fast. Deep down he knew why he didn’t risk immediately getting into bed with you, because he didn’t want to scare you off and risk you turning him away from the room altogether. But, right now with the dark room and you asleep on his chest, finding comfort in him, he knows and he knows he won’t be able to ignore the warmth in the pit of his stomach. So, he closes his eyes and settles with the thought of maybe. With the thought of maybe something happening between the two of you and the thought of maybe this becoming your thing because that’s where he finds comfort. In the thought of maybe.
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The next morning comes around and you wake up first, bright and early. Your head is a bit groggy from the migraine but you’re finally away from the pain. As long as you get some food and water, it should stay away. You’re in such a state of relief the migraine has finally released you from it’s grip, you almost don’t realize your head is still on Jason’s chest. It only takes less a minute for you to realize it but it’s long enough to surprise you.
You sit up slightly, looking at him and for once, Jason Todd looks peaceful. There’s a blooming happiness that pulls at your heart as you watch him. He’s had it rough and he never really looks at peace, not fully but he does right now and you adore him so much. You don’t think he sees how happy he makes you and you wish he did. Jason Todd also deserves to live in peace and happiness with love and acceptance and that’s all you ever really want for him.
“Hey.” You whisper, poking his cheek softly. “Jaaaayyyyyy.” You hold out his name, poking his cheek again as he scrunches his face and you swear it’s the cutest thing in the world.
“What?” He mumbles, voice drenched in sleep, almost incoherent. 
“You’re kind of cute when you’re sleeping.” You keep your voice a whisper and it’s the most graceful alarm Jason has ever had. Alarm even seems like too harsh of a word to call you.
He peaks an eye open at you, managing this expression of a cross between annoyance and teasing. “Just my face, babe.” He has this tired smirk that gets your stomach in a twist.
“Eh.” You shrug at him while he opens his other eye. “‘S alright, I guess.” You tease him and the annoyance evaporates from his expression.
“How long’ve you been up?” Jason asks, enjoying the lively expression back on your face.
You look like the sun now which he thinks is a cheesy thought but it’s true. Last night, you looked like a rain cloud and not even the cool ones that are large and fluffy, consuming the whole sky in lumps of deep greys and blues. No, last night you just looked like the rain smog around Gotham, gloomy and tired.
“Just a few minutes.” You answer casually before running a hand through his hair. It’s wild this morning, curly strands standing up and scattered about the pillow.
“What’re you doing?” Jason laughs, eyes looking up at your arm and back you.
“Messing with your hair, it’s shockingly soft.”
“Shockingly?” Jason chortles. “The fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know.” You laugh back, pulling your hand away and resting it on his chest. “Thought it would be stringy.”
Jason’s brows furrows, the smile still tugging at his lips. “Yeah, okay, perfect sense.” He jokes with you and there’s something about how this feels right now. It’s not the tension-filled flirting the two of you do. There’s something so domestic about it that he really likes. “You hungry?”
“Starving.” Your eyes widen dramatically.
“Alright, what do ya want?” Jason wiggles his brows at you. “I’ll cook.”
Your brows shoot up with surprise. Jason has cooked for you a handful of times, but it’s not that he really offers. He just kind of makes something and then tells you to try it. “What’re you up to, Todd?” Your eyes narrow at him playfully.
Jason shakes his head, smile turning down and then twitching back up. “Just being nice.”
“Well, I won’t turn down food.” You laugh softly before telling him one of your favorite breakfast foods.
“You got it.” Jason nods at you while you get off of him so he can get off the bed.
“Are you gonna bring it to me?” You pout up at him as he looks down at you. He thinks you look pitiful in the cutest way possible.
He shakes his head and he wants to argue it, tease you but he can’t. “Fine, but you owe me.” Jason has a one-sided grin as he points a finger at you jokingly.
“I’ll take that.” You beam a smile up at him, shocked he actually said he’d bring it to you.
Jason tosses the idea around in his head and you’re clearly feeling better, so why not? “How about a date then?” The words are much smoother than the frantic thoughts in his head. He’s a bit panicked that he just asked that, thinking maybe you’d actually say no or laugh. He’d be devastated if you did and then probably hide out in the Batcave for the rest of the day.
The smile falls from your face for a second, unsure if he’s joking or not. He doesn’t look like he’s joking. He actually looks pretty serious despite the devious grin on his face. There’s a pleading in his eyes that tells you he’s completely serious and you just can’t believe it. You thought Jason just liked flirting and maybe he does, but you thought that’s all it was. It was something you just accepted after a few months at Titans Tower. You just accepted that’s all it would ever be but now? It seems as if it’s real.
“Seriously?” You ask, your voice not giving Jason any indication on how you feel about it.
He shrugs a shoulder, trying his best to play it off. “Yeah, why not?”
The smile comes back to your face and you can feel the heat coming to your cheeks. “Yeah, okay. When do you wanna go?”
Jason’s heart is exploding into fireworks across his chest. You actually said yes. But, he didn’t think he’d get this far into the conversation so now he’s just stuck making it up on the fly. “Tomorrow?” Jason asks, figuring tomorrow would be better in case you need today to recover from the migraine.
“It’s a date.” You’re beaming up at him and the giddiness consumes your bones like a kid in a candy story for the first time.
“Awesome.” Jason smiles widely, looking to the floor and back to you, a few strands of his hair bouncing onto his forehead. “I’ll go make your breakfast and bring it to you then.”
“Thank you, Jay.” You give him a toothy smile. “You’re gonna eat with me right?”
“I guess.” Jason wrinkles his nose, his cheeks starting to ache from the smile.
“Okay, well hurry up, I wanna hear about this date you have planned.” You tease him and watch him stiffen just slightly.
“Just for that,” Jason says as he heads for the door. “I’ll take my sweet ass time.”
“Or, you could hurry up and come back to bed.” You taunt him, brushing your hand over his side of the bed and you can see his jaw clench.
“Fuck, yeah, alright.” Jason groans, knowing he’s lost and you fall into a fit of laughter, a sound Jason adores. “I’ll be right back.” Jason says before quickly leaving the room, leaving your door open just a bit.
You fall back into the pillows, ecstatic that you have a date with your best friend and he’s making you breakfast. A part of you finds it funny that this whole thing is because you fainted over a migraine.
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masterlist | request info | tag list
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Tag list: @fairyofshampoo // @jasontoddsmentaldisorders // @purplerose291 // @lovelessamai  // @makaelaseresin​
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kalifornia1025 · 3 months ago
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The Red Circle Pt. 4 (SPOILERS)
Red Circle finale notes, let’s GET IN!!
Ah right, the cliffhanger…John, why are you always in life-threatening situations? (And why do I eat it up every time??)
“Stop looking down and look at me” UGH I love this trope
Sherlock: “I’m climbing down to you”, John: “Don’t you idiot” they care for each other’s safety!!
“Let me hold your weight, I’m strong enough for goodness sake” oh? Strong enough as in…canon boxer Sherlock??
I’m getting kinda tired of the ‘Sherlock calling John fat’ jokes (I know he didn’t say it this time, but it was still implied)
“Would a fool do this?!” *John painfully tumbles down rubble shaft while swearing profusely*, John I love you so much
OMG NOT THE DEEP VOICES THIS TIME
“Oh God I’m bleeding!! I’m bleed-oh wait it’s paint” as silly as this was, was I the only one worried it would trigger some memories for John?…
They’re REALLY emphasizing that John doesn’t want to use a gun…wonder if there’ll be a case where he has no choice but to use one…
Security thought he was a protestor for a museum because he’s covered in paint, that’s hilarious!
“I’m British mate. This entire museum is built on us sticking our noses in places we shouldn’t be” ope at least he’s self-aware
John: “Let’s go for a coffee-for a cappuccino eh”, Rosso: “THAT IS A BREAKFAST DRINK” he sounds so heated over that lol
Oh shit, sword fight?
OMG I need FANART of this sword fight scene!!! (I wish I could draw people, I would be ALL over it!)
“Traitors! Traitors!!” um what?
Security is kicking John out because he thinks he’s a protestor, HA
‘The Gregster?’, oh no John is rubbing off on you Sherlock
Gregson: “Stop it”, Sherlock: “Ok”, THEY’RE SO SILLY
Sherlock loves looking at screens, huh? Like it’s beyond just doing it for a case at this point
“What’s the password?” “Met123”...very secure password guys
THE MUSIC YOU GUYS, THE MUSIC!!
YES WE GET BOXING SHERLOCK!!!!!!!!
Omg are they flirting while boxing?
Nope not flirting but yes Sherlock, BEAT HIS ASS!!!!
I need fan art of this scene too!!
John why are you STILL covered in paint??
Dang, part of me wishes to know how that Lord Harmson murder case went
Oh, we get to know why Gregson is so salty towards Sherlock?
Gregson, you’re upset because Sherlock trademarked being the first Consulting Detective before you?!...and of course that’s when Sherlock remembers
Don’t be sorry John, I loved it! It’s in my top three cases from the podcast
And that’s the end of The Red Circle case!! I don’t care what John says, this was a really good one. Not just the case itself; we had some really good silly shenanigans happening throughout the story! I was starting to miss the sillier stuff (and not being reminded of certain characters’ issues *ahem John’s alcoholism/insomnia ahem*). It’s definitely going up there in my top 3 favorite cases from the podcast alongside Lion’s Mane and Shoscombe Old Place!
Later this week we should be getting an announcement for the next case art commission winner meaning…we’ll get to see what the next case will be! Me and other members in the Sherlock & Co discord are already theorizing what the next case will be but for now we must wait…
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hugmekenobi · 1 year ago
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S2: The Bad Batch (3)
Chapter Three: Undercover
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Gif by @kamino-coruscant
Hunter x femaleJedi!reader
Series Summary: Some time has passed since everything that happened at Kamino and you and the Batch are trying to figure out your place in the rapidly changing Imperial galaxy. And you're having to do all this whilst figuring out where your relationship with Hunter fits into it.
Chapter Summary: A mission assigned to you by Cid sees you and Hunter make some grounds in your relationship.
Masterlist for S1
<Previous Chapter
Genre: Friends (idiots) to Lovers (we're in the lovers stage now)
Chapter Warnings: Not a Crosshair episode (his later episodes will be covered though)! No show plot here, Cid being Cid, bad flirting/flirting to manipulate, having to deal with unwanted advances, mentions of drinking, swearing, suggestive dialogue, semi-public moment of PDA (kissing in an alleyway), mild panic attack description, unwelcomed pet names, welcomed pet names (honey), protectiveness from both these two, doubts and insecurities coming to the surface, Hunter gets a bit carried away (but is a respectful king and stops), angst, fluff and feelings, hurt/comfort, implied mention of Hunter's advanced senses, SMUT (heavy kissing, biting/marking, non explicit descriptions of handjobs and unprotected PinV (be safe in reality please), mentions of oral (f) receiving and fingering, teasing, Hunter doesn't know how to be vulnerable but reader takes care of him this time round, body and general worship)
Word Count: 6.9K
Author's notes: Okay it's here! Apologies for how long it took, I really did struggle with this one but I hope you all enjoy it! Thank you @keep-calm-and-drink-caf cause your advice was very helpful! And thank everyone for your patience! I am on holiday with the fam so Ch4 may be a bit of a longer wait to but I will try to find some sneaky writing time lol
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Things were peaceful in Cid’s parlour. Cid had reluctantly let you guys have fewer missions since Tech was out of commission, but you could tell she was waiting for the day he made a full recovery, a day that Tech had assured the rest of you would be very soon. Echo and Wrecker were at the bar and your head rested on Hunter’s shoulder- a more comfortable feat since his armour was off- and the two of you watched Omega and Tech play a game of Dejarik. The peace was soon broken though by a recognisable voice.
“I got it!” Lyra announced as she came through the door, case in hand.
You lifted your head and looked quizzically over at her. “Got what? What are you doing here, Lyra? Not that I’m not happy to see you but…”
Lyra stopped short. “Cid didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“Oh uh… I’m sorry, I thought you knew.”
“Knew what?”
“Your next mission. I’m tired of you lot just lazing around here. Time you made some cash.”
You all turned to face Cid as she came back into the main parlour from her office.
“Tech’s not-” Hunter started to say.
“He’s not essential. I’ve found a mission he can help with from here. It just relies on her.” Cid interrupted and she pointed at you.
“Me?” You replied, crossing your arms.
“I can come back…” Lyra said uneasily.
“No, we need that. I didn’t pay you for a social visit.” Cid said sharply.
Lyra walked over to you and handed you the case, an apologetic smile on her face.  
You opened the case and stared at the bundle of fabric, shoes, and jewellery with suspicion.  “What exactly am I supposed to be doing?” You lifted the dress out and your eyes widened.
“Cid, what is this mission?” Hunter asked warily.
“My client needs some intel on the… business activities of a man on the other side of the city. He’s having a party tonight and you’re the way in.” Cid said to you before she addressed the others. “You lot aren’t even needed. It’s easy money.”
“No.” Hunter replied instantly.
“Yeah, sorry, not really sold on that.” You said as you pushed the case away. “My social skills in that department aren’t exactly well developed.”
Cid just rolled her eyes. “All you need to do it get his attention and download his records. Clearly, you got some skill in that area.” She added snidely as she looked from you to Hunter.
You glared at her.
Cid raised her hands to pacify you. “Look, you got the gear right here and there are easy credits to be taken. Goggles can give you something, so he doesn’t even need to go. Right?” She directed her question to Tech.
“Technically… yes.” He replied reluctantly. He knew you well enough to tell you weren’t thrilled with the idea and the look on Hunter’s face also told him that he wasn’t either.
“Come on. I’d owe ya.” Cid pleaded. “You’d be doing us all a solid.”
You sighed heavily and ignored Hunter’s head shake. “Alright. Fine. Lyra, care to help me out with this get up?”
“You got it!” Lyra took the case from you and the two of you went into the back to change.
--
You shed your limited armour and got to work.
“I really am sorry about this. Cid just told me she needed you to look the part, she never mentioned the fact you didn’t know. I shouldn’t have assumed you did.” Lyra said as she kept her back turned.
“It’s classic Cid. She only told you what she deemed to be the necessary information. That often turns out to be manipulated truth or the bare minimum so don’t worry about it.” You appeased. You finished pulling on the dress. You glanced down and analysed your appearance. “Fuck me, Lyra. Exactly what part am I supposed to be playing?”
Lyra turned around and took you in. The floor length dark red fabric suited and fitted you perfectly and the slit was just high enough to grab attention but keep room for eager discovery.  “Okay, I know there was a bit of misinformation but damn I’m good at my job.”
“I want to catch his eye, not an STD.” You adjusted the straps self-consciously. It was a far cry from Jedi robes or civilian clothes and armour. You had seen the get up senators would don, and you were sure even they wouldn't go for something this bold.
“Well, I should hope actually sleeping with him is off the table. Plus, looking good isn’t an open invitation.”
You heaved an irritated sigh. “I know that and of course sleeping with him isn’t going to happen, but that’s not the point. No doesn’t always mean no to some people.” You said gravely as you passed her the necklace.
“It’s a good thing you know a thing or two about fighting then.” Lyra provided by way of comfort as she clasped it. “Plus, there’s no way your man is going to let anything happen to you if it gets bad.”
Her words, in a strange way, did reassure you. You knew you could handle yourself, regardless of the situation and yes, there would be no way Hunter would let you go it alone on this sort of mission, but you hadn’t realised that would be such an obvious conclusion for an outsider. “What makes you think he’s coming with me?”
Lyra just paused what she was doing and gave you a look that screamed ‘seriously?’
You half smiled. You figured the two of you weren’t as subtle as you thought when you were in the more public domain. “Yeah, you’re right.”
“You look the part. Embrace the role and you’ll be just fine.”
“This just isn’t something I’m used to.” You mumbled as you continued to fiddle with the fabric.
“Didn’t you ever have to attend any balls or play dress up as a kid?” She asked as she batted your hands away.
“It was never on the cards for me.” You muttered. You still hadn’t told her the full extent of your past and you intended to keep it that way. For her sake more than anything.
“Hmm well that’s unfortunate cause you’d fit right in. Final touch.” Lyra added as she handed you a small bag. She looked you up and down. “Anyone who doesn’t do a double take when they see you is an idiot. This is going to be your easiest mission yet.”
“I can only hope.” You muttered as you made your way back out.
“Your sergeant is going to struggle to control himself.” Lyra teased as she followed you.
“Shut up.”
--
“Oh wow! You look really pretty!” Omega exclaimed as she tore her gaze away from the Dejarik board.
Hunter, who had replaced Tech for the next match, turned around at her words and he practically gulped. Pretty was an understatement. You damn near took his breath away and he couldn’t find the words to express how beautiful you looked.
Wrecker sent a playful wolf whistle in your direction, giving you an encouraging smile and thumbs up as you looked over at him.
Echo nodded his head in casual agreement at the sentiments expressed already.
“Thank you.” You said, a tad bashfully before you wandered over to where Tech was sitting. “What do you have for me, Tech?”
“Here.” Tech said, not looking up from his datapad as he handed you the drive.
“Thanks.” You walked back over to stand by Lyra.
“What do ya think Sergeant?” Lyra called over to Hunter.
You’d been avoiding his stare for a reason but now you couldn’t help but look over to him as you heard Lyra address him. Your breath caught in your throat as you saw the way Hunter was staring at you and suddenly this mission seemed very low on the priority list and finding a private space became your brain’s main focus.
Hunter cleared his throat. “You’re perfect.” The quiet awe infused utterance was all he could manage because anything else would be inappropriate for general audiences.
“Told you.” Lyra whispered as she nudged your arm. The guy was staring at you like he was willing to get on his knees and worship you the second you gave the word.
You were too entranced by his gaze to pay her words any real attention.
“Good luck.” Lyra said as a farewell.
“Thanks for your help, Lyra.” You said distantly as you registered her leave your side, but your eyes never left Hunter’s.
“Yeah, yeah, you’re wearing a dress, big whoop. Can we get to the important part?” Cid said impatiently before she brought up a hologram.
Cid’s bluntness gave you the required shock you needed to focus on the task at hand. “Who’s the target?” You asked as you crossed your arms and stared at the image of the man.
“His name is Taryn Franco. He’s in the spice smuggling business and is doing remarkably well despite the Imperial presence in the regular smuggling channels. Your job is to find out how he’s manging to do so well.” Cid directed as she brought up a map of the location.
“You want me to get his shipping routes?” You clarified as you studied the map. It really couldn’t be that simple. 
“Yup. Told you it was an easy job.”
“I’m waiting for the catch.”
“The catch is you gotta make him notice you, other than that, the only thing you need to do is a bit of downloading.”
“Once you get a visual on the records, insert that drive and you’ll have the necessary information in two minutes.” Tech added.
“Got it.” You replied as you slipped the datastick into your bag. “How are we getting in? I’m assuming we’re not on the guest list.”
“You’ll have to figure that one out.” Cid said frankly.
You huffed out an irritated sigh. “An easy job would mean we had a way in in the first place.” You griped.
“Be resourceful, it’s not my problem. You better get going.” Cid said dismissively.
“Be safe!” Omega said as she gave you a hug goodbye.
Tech, Echo, and Wrecker waved you off, echoing Lyra’s message of good luck.
You didn’t even need to ask him. As soon as you walked away from Cid, Hunter stood up and followed you out the door and together the two of you made your way to the Marauder, the tension between you palpable and ready to snap at any moment. You just needed to keep it together for a little while longer.
--
“We can pretend I’m your guard as you look for the target. That way I can keep a look out.” Hunter said as you both walked down the ramp of the ship and moved towards the building all lit up and the one that had music blaring from the door and windows.
You grabbed his wrist and tugged him into a nearby alley. “You can’t come in with me.”
“Why not?” Hunter asked with a frown.
“Because the way you’re looking at me right now is making me want to ditch this whole thing and go back to the ship.” You said as you let out a shaky breath.
Hunter really didn’t see the issue with that. He knew you both weren’t enthusiastic about this. “Let’s go then.” He uttered as his hand traced the slit of your dress.
“Hunter.” You chastised as you pushed his hand away. You were having to use a considerable amount of self-restraint. It would be so easy to just blow this whole thing off and Hunter was making it a very tempting idea. He somehow looked even better without his armour on tonight. “Cid’ll kill us, and we need the money. I’ll be quick. In and out, there won’t be trouble but if you enter with me, that’ll make my job ten times harder because it wouldn’t take a genius to figure out our feelings towards each other.”
Hunter nodded in tentative agreement. He knew he would struggle to see you in this environment, and he knew you were right, but he wasn’t going to let you go it alone. He’d go insane. “Okay, I’ll leave you to it, but I’ll come in after you and keep my distance. You need someone to watch your back. ‘No trouble’ isn’t exactly how our missions tend to go.” He offered as a compromise.
“Fine.” You agreed. “I’ll deal with the bouncer to get us in, so we better get moving. Sooner we’re in, the sooner we can leave. And then we can have some time to ourselves.” You added with a sly grin as you nudged past him.
Hunter caught the top of your arm. “If you take less than 30 minutes, I’ll finally let you use the scarf.” He whispered, his lips ghosting behind the shell of your ear.
The tension chord had well and truly snapped. You released a heavy breath. You don’t play fair. With that, you turned your head and kissed him, and you both groaned in relief.
Hunter was quick to assert his dominance as he pushed you against the wall, his hand coming to rest behind your head so as to protect it before he moved it to your waist. Your appreciative moan only helped him deepen the kiss.  
The kiss was desperate, each of you hungry for more but you both were just about resisting the urge to give into what your bodies really wanted to do but the longer the two of you kissed, the harder it got to defy.
It was your hands that betrayed you first. Yours had started to wander down Hunter’s chest whilst the other tangled itself in his hair. His had stayed on your waist and the other had slipped under the fabric and had started to caress the inside of your thigh and was steadily moving upward. So, you really had to pull back before you did get too carried away.
You both let out disgruntled sighs as you broke the kiss first.
“I am going to get that information so fast.” You replied breathlessly as Hunter let you go. You knew that moment was a bad idea as it only served to rile you up more, but you really couldn’t help yourself. You smoothed your dress down to regain your composure.
Hunter focused on getting his breathing under control. “Be careful. I’ll see you in there.”
--
“Invitation?” The bouncer asked as he held his hand out as you approached.
You channelled the Force and covertly waved your hand. “You don’t need to see my invitation.”
“I don’t need to see your invitation.” He replied, his voice distant.
“Me and the man that’ll come after me can enter without one.”
“You and the man that’ll come after you can enter without one.” He replied faintly.
You opened the door. You’re good to go, Sarge. With that, you stepped inside where the sound of music and people’s voices talking over it greeted you.
Hunter made to move once he got confirmation from you that he was in the clear.
“Have a good evening, sir.” The guard said with a nod.
Hunter didn’t reply, he just wandered in and set about finding you.
--
Maker it was loud in here. And hot. And it reeked of sweat. Hunter thought as he pushed his way past people in his search for you. He was very uncomfortable, everything was too loud, including his own heartbeat, and he knew his breathing was growing unsteady. He found a slightly quieter corner and he took some calming breaths as he scanned the area for you.
--
It hadn’t taken you long to find to find your host. He was at the bar eye-fucking anyone that walked past. Before you could make your move, you sensed Hunter’s Force signature, but it was filled with stress and anxiety. You projected your own calm onto him. Honey, listen to me. I know it’s loud and I know it’s crowded but focus on your breathing, focus on my voice. Breathe in and count to 5 and breath out and count to 5. We’ll be out of here soon. If you need to leave, you can, I’ll find you when I’m done. You had to fight the urge to go find him and you wished with all your heart that you could comfort him properly, but this was the best you could manage.
You made yourself focus on the job at hand and swallowed down the bile that threatened to rise in your throat at the thought of having to interact with Taryn, but you knew it needed to be done. You straightened your back and channelled an alternate version of yourself that would be able to succeed at this.
You slid into the space next to Taryn and pretended to analyse the choices behind the bar. When you felt his eyes on you, you turned to face him. “So many choices, care to help a girl out? You look like a man who knows a good drink.” You simpered.
Taryn looked you up and down and he liked what he saw. “You got a good eye, doll. Stick with me tonight and I’ll make sure you get only the best. Both in drink, and in company.”
The look he’d given you was the same one he’d been giving everyone else tonight and you very nearly left right then and there but you needed the credits. You forced yourself to lay a hand on his arm. “How could I refuse such an offer?”
He shouted an order over to the droid behind the bar. He handed you a drink and held his own glass up and took a hold of your hip and tugged you closer to him. “Cheers, baby.”
Biting back your grimace, you gave him a fake smile and clinked your glass with his. This would definitely be unpleasant, but it would be very easy to get what you wanted.
--
Hunter released a deep breath. Your words had helped him calm down and he was ready to wait it out but now he was having to keep it together for different reasons. He had spotted you at the bar and had to witness Taryn’s hand crawling all over your thigh, squeezing it and tracing a path from your knee right up the slit of the dress and Hunter knew you and your body well enough to tell that, despite your apparent enthusiasm, you were hating every touch. He only hoped you didn’t have to put up with it for much longer. In addition to this, Taryn kept having people come over to talk to him and each one gave you an admiring stare and would start chatting to you too and you made talking to them look so easy. If he didn’t know you as well as he did, he would’ve assumed you were a regular here.
--
All the interruptions had been driving you crazy. You needed to get this done before someone else came over and you had to feign interest in their seedy business activities and entertain their creepy flirtations. You waved off the newest arrival before you turned your attention back to Taryn. “So, I keep hearing from you and all these people about how well you’re doing, and I must say it’s very impressive. From what I’ve heard, the Empire has been making people’s operations quite difficult. How are you managing to avoid them?” You asked, fake in your admiring tone.
“Well, when you know the right people and have a great business brain like mine, it’s very easy.” He boasted.
“Hmm handsome and smart. How’d I get so lucky?” You flirted.
“Wearing a dress like that certainly helps.”
You resisted the very strong urge to roll your eyes in disgust. “So, can I see how that business brain of yours operates? I’d sure love a peek of your records.”
Taryn shot you a quizzical look. “Why would you want to see my transactions?”
You had to think quickly so you went for the reason you figured would make him forget any lingering questions in his head. “It really gets me going.” You murmured in his ear whilst your hand toyed with the lapel of his jacket. You hated yourself for it, but you knew you wouldn’t be able to keep up the charade much longer.
“Say no more, babydoll.” He downed his drink and grabbed your hand and led you to his back office.
--
To say you were underwhelmed by what you saw would be an understatement. All he did was bribe certain Imperial officials and put his shipments out on the days they were on shift.
“How’s that for a turn on?” He said, mouthing at you neck whilst his hands started to pull your dress up.
You cringed away from his touch. “Before we do that, can you get me another drink?”
You saw the flash of annoyance on his face, and you figured he wasn’t used to people refusing his advances all that often, but you needed him out. “I’ll make it worth your while.” You murmured, batting your eyelashes.
Taryn practically sprinted out the room.
You wiped your neck in revulsion and got to work. “Great business brain my ass.” You said to yourself as you inserted the drive, and it began its download.
--
You managed to get out without being spotted by Taryn and you found Hunter in no time.
“You okay?” Hunter asked instantly, breathing in relief as he saw you in front of him once more.
“Feeling gross but I got the information and yeah, I’m okay. Are you?” You asked.
“He didn’t force-”
“No, I dealt with any attempt, and he didn’t get far.” You replied quickly, not wanting to even let his mind wander down that path. “Are you okay?” You asked again.
“Yeah, I got better after hearing you.”
“I’m sorry about this whole thing. I know it wasn’t easy on you.”
“Or you.” Hunter added. “You were put in an uncomfortable situation and did what you had to do. You were looking out for the squad by doing this. You don’t have to apologise for that. I’m just sorry this was the kinda job you were handed, it wasn’t fair.”
You gave him a grateful smile. “Wanna get out of here?”
Hunter nodded, but he wasn’t able to shake the voice in his head that was bringing up every illogical doubt as weaved his hand in yours and together, you snuck out the party and headed back to the ship.
--
You had scarcely boarded the Marauder when Hunter backed you into the wall of the hallway and began to kiss you. You dropped your bag that contained the stolen information and let out a surprised gasped which he used as a chance to intensify it. You were lightheaded when he pulled away, but he didn’t give you a chance to recover since he lifted your thigh and slotted himself in between your legs and started to kiss along your jaw and neck.
He breathed you in but the things that made you you weren’t there anymore. They were tainted with something wrong and unfamiliar, and he couldn’t stand it.
The way he nipped at your jaw and neck stung and his grip on you was sore and not the pleasurable kind. It told you there was more to this than simple possessiveness. Something was bothering him. The atmosphere between you now was different to how it was before you had entered the party. “Hunter, stop for a minute.” You said through a gasp as his fingers dug into your thigh in a way that was sure to leave bruises- and not the good kind- if he continued to do it.
Hunter stopped immediately and pulled away from you. Seeing the concern in your eyes snapped him out of whatever mood he was in. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“You didn’t.” You reassured him quickly. “But what’s going on? That was… different. You don’t usually get like that.”
“I know, I know. I’m so sorry.” He went to step away from you.
You assumed things had gone too far with Taryn. You grabbed his hand and tugged him back towards you. “He wasn’t going to get far. He doesn’t even hold a candle to you. I didn’t mean the things I said to him. I don’t understand-”
“It wasn’t just him.” Hunter interrupted quietly as his hand fell to your waist.
“What are you talking about?” You asked softly, running your hand through the hair at the nape of his neck to comfort him.
“Everyone there was looking at you. Everyone. And you fit there. You looked like you belonged. Not with criminals.” He clarified hastily as he saw your brow furrow. “But with people that have something to offer that isn’t just scraping by from one job to the next. And I think it all got too much. You- You could have anyone you wanted. You could have a life for yourself and instead you chose this. You chose us. You chose me. I guess… I guess I just struggle sometimes believing you’re still here. But it’s nothing you’ve done; I just can’t get the voice in my head to shut up and it’s not your fault or your issue. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you like that.” He turned away from you.
Your heart went out to him. You knew it would have taken a lot for him to admit that. So often he was a sergeant first and person with real emotions second. He rarely let his guard down like this. Clearly, your conversation after the last mission didn’t soothe all the insecurities that had built. You knew Crosshair leaving would have left scars, but you didn’t think they ran this deep. You cupped the side of his face and caressed your thumb across his cheekbone. “Well, I’m glad I seem to possess such an acting talent because I was fighting every instinct to not show my disgust at the people there.” You said lightly before you continued in a more serious tone. “Hunter, I am with you 100%, I don’t even think about what my life would be like if I didn’t meet you guys or if I didn’t fall in love with you because it gets too upsetting.” You pulled him in for a hug and held him close. “People leaving doesn’t mean you failed or missed something, sometimes people make decisions that hurt but the great thing about choice is that it can also leave room for future change, you just have to be patient.” You soothed.
He knew what you were saying about yourself was true and he could only hope that what you were saying about his brother was also true. “I love you.” Hunter murmured into your neck. “I’m sorry.”
“I know. I love you too and that’s not going to change.”
Hunter met your eyes once more.
You placed a delicate kiss on to his lips before you pulled away and rubbed your thumb tenderly across his jaw. “Now, to shut that voice up, here’s what we’re going to do.”
Hunter tilted his head at you.
“First, I’m going to take a shower which you are going to join me for.” You crooned as you pushed back part of the scarf and gently bit the skin by his pulse point and sucked a bruise into the skin.
Hunter stifled his groan but his hold on you tightened.
“Then...” You kissed along his jaw, pausing before you reached his lips. “I’m going to both show and tell you all the things that make me happy that I get to call you mine.” You whispered before you kissed him. It lasted for a few minutes before you broke away for air.
“Sounds good to me.” Hunter rasped as he got his breath back.
You smiled at him and began the process of undressing him, a task you took great pleasure and care in before you slipped off your dress and the two of you made your way to the refresher.
--
It wasn’t a completely innocent shower, he still had to work his emotions out, but he was back to his usual self in that regard, and it wasn’t lost on you that the marks he’d left on your thighs and neck were in the places that Taryn had touched you. When he’d used his mouth and his fingers to bring you that sweet release, not once but twice, you’d decided to wrap things up in there. You cleaned each other up and after you turned off the water, you grabbed his hand and led him out the refresher. You didn’t bother to dry off and neither did he. You tenderly pushed him down onto your bunk, so he was sitting but you made no move to follow just yet. Instead, you took him in, and the way he looked had you weak at the knees. Droplets of water were scattered across his tanned skin that were just begging to be kissed away, and his dark hair fell flawlessly around his face and the necklace you had given him sat just past his collarbone. “You’re the one who’s perfect.” You said, your voice barely above a whisper.
Hunter swallowed heavily. “Well, genetics had a helping hand.” He kidded awkwardly as he felt himself growing warm under the intensity of your stare and your words didn’t help. In these particular situations, it was usually him who was the attention giver. This was a new, more vulnerable position for him to be in and it wasn’t one he was used to. But he trusted you and that’s what really mattered here. He reached for you.
Sensing some unease, you let him pull you onto his lap. Your hands found his shoulders whilst his cradled the side of your neck and your waist. You brought your lips, so they were mere inches from his. “Do you know you only have to walk into a room, and I’m left thinking when I’ll have the next chance to be alone with you?”
A low groan left Hunter’s throat and he made the decision to close the remaining distance between you.
Your hands moved to tangle themselves in his damp locks and your slick bodies and lips moved together in perfect sync, the passion and intensity between you never faltered. You only removed yourself to get air, but you didn’t leave him wanting. You pulled on his hair slightly, so his head fell back and more of his neck was exposed to you.
“You did take less than 30 minutes today…” Hunter managed to choke out as you licked away the water on the side of his neck and nipped at the skin.
You smirked to yourself and trailed your lips softly across his collarbone. “Someone’s eager. I’m reserving that for a later date. I told you; we’re doing things differently tonight.” With that, you nudged him to lie on his back and you reached your hand between you. Your mouth hovered above his and you savoured the short, sharp breaths that left him at your ministrations. Focus on my voice. Focus on my touch. Nothing else matters. It’s just you and me. You need me to stop, tell me and I will, okay?
Hunter nodded.
So as things weren’t going to be over before you had said all you needed to, you were ensuring that your movements were enough to satisfy any longing he was experiencing, but it wasn’t enough to fully satisfy him yet. His mildly frustrated grunts and the way his hips were trying to buck into your touch told you though that he wasn’t quite getting the patience memo yet. You pressed your mouth against his. “Ssshh.” You ordered softly. “I got you.”
Hunter looked into your eyes, and he saw something in them that he knew was reflected in his every time he looked at you. The loving way you were looking at him had something so pure and unfiltered behind it. He took a deep breath and relaxed under your touch.
When you felt the tension leave his body, you began. You kissed his untattooed cheek and kept your voice low but there was no hiding the sincere way you spoke to him now. “I love how you look out for us and how protective you are.”
You nudged his nose with yours and kissed the bridge of it. “I love how kind and caring you are.”
“I love how you are with Omega.” You kissed his other cheek.
“I love when you let yourself be vulnerable and that wall comes down.” You kissed behind his ear.
“I love watching you track. I love how you capable you are.” You kissed right by his hairline.
“Your hair not only looks beautiful on you, but I love how you let me pull on it when you’re making me see stars and I need to be grounded.” You didn’t miss the deep groan that left him when you used your free hand to tug on it so you could leave more marks on the other side of his neck that had been without your attention since this had started.
You found his mouth once more and kissed him deeply, lovingly. I love that you know what to say to reassure me. You continued to kiss him, upping the intensity as you did so. An act you knew he appreciated due to the way he cradled the side of your jaw. You let him have a moment of control as he licked into your mouth, drawing a small moan from you. Plus, you know exactly how to drive me wild. You included and you grinned against his mouth as you pulled away slightly to allow you both to breathe. You started to pay his jawbone some care. You laid soft kisses along it.
Slowly but surely, Hunter was starting to forget the outside world for a while. You were being so affectionate and loving and he found himself believing all you were saying. That usual voice that would tell him he was failing, or he was losing you was starting to fade into the background. He caressed your sides and continued to do what you had said at the beginning. You were what he was focusing on now.
You started to kiss your way down his chest, gently biting and sucking the skin and your hand skimmed over the necklace that sat there perfectly. I love how good this looks on you and it means so much to me that you wear it and I love you for it.
Your hand trailed up and down his arm. “I love how secure I feel in these arms when they hold me. Or when you show off how strong you are.” You added playfully before you brought his hand to your mouth and traced your mouth across his wrist before you kissed his palm. “I love how these hands play with a vibroblade. And how talented they are in… other areas.” You teased and you increased the pace of the hand that was between you, relishing in the pleasurable sigh that left Hunter’s mouth.
Hunter knew he was reaching that point of blissful ecstasy. You had driven him crazy but in the best possible way, however, this wasn’t how he wanted things to end. “W-wait.” Hunter said hastily as he grabbed your wrist to stop you.
You tilted your head at him.
“I need-” He swallowed thickly. “I need to feel you.”
You gave him a warm smile and brought your mouth against his. “And what exactly do you want to feel?” You murmured against his lips.
You left him chasing your mouth and instead took his hand once more and brought his finger to your mouth and sucked, emitting a seductive moan as you did so, and your teeth grazed the tip of his finger. “Do you want my mouth?”
“Shit.” Hunter gasped.
“Or is there something else…” You trailed off and ground against him.
A strangled groan left Hunter’s mouth. “Pl-please.” He rasped.
“Please what, Sergeant?” You said alluringly, not letting up on the slow, steady grind of your hips. You kissed him and tugged his bottom lip between your teeth.
“Fucking hell.” He said through clenched teeth, his head fell back down onto the pillow. “I need- I need to be inside you.” He said, knowing he somehow sounded shy, but he was so desperate for you that he didn’t care.
Finding his demeanour rather endearing and as a sign that you’d done your job, his mind didn’t seem as preoccupied anymore and having pushed him far enough and not really wanting to leave him wanting, you lifted your hips. You quieted his groans with your kiss as you started to move with both of your breathing quickly becoming irregular. Force you feel perfect.
Hunter couldn’t help the noises that were leaving him. You looked positively ethereal, he couldn’t take his eyes off you, and you felt incredible. Your words and comfort had helped to ground him, and he knew he was so lucky to have you. He drank in the pleasurable sighs that were coming from you and they were tipping him over that edge.
You had teased him long enough and you could tell he was close by the low moans that left his throat and the way his hold on your hips had tightened that but that wasn’t a problem. Your priority now was his pleasure. His release. And you did everything you could to get him there. You kissed him. You nibbled his earlobe and his pulse point. “I love you, Hunter.” You whispered breathlessly and then you felt him fall apart beneath you. You worked him through it, and it was only when he lightly tapped your hip that you stopped.
You planted light, sweet kisses along his neck and jaw and admired the many love bites you had left in your wake. Still with me, Sarge?
Hunter struggled to find any words. You had made him seen stars and he was still coming back down from the surreal experience you had just provided him, but he was aware enough to know you weren’t taken care of yet, something he was not used to. “You didn’t-”
You stroked the shorter strands on his hair back to silence him as you laid down next to him. “I did. Twice. Right in that shower if you remember. This was about you.”
Hunter let out a disgruntled grunt but accepted it as he kissed your brow. “I love you too.”
“How’s that voice?” You asked quietly as you tossed a leg over his hip so as to get even closer to him.
“What voice?” Hunter whispered in reply as he rested his head on top of yours.
You hummed out a laugh and closed your eyes.
In all the peace, you both had forgotten about the group of people waiting on your return. Your abandoned comms chirped and then Echo’s voice filled the empty space. “(Y/N), Hunter, it’s been a while. What’s your status?”
You and Hunter both groaned but smiled at each other as you sat up.
You reached down and grabbed your comm. “Sorry, Echo. Took a bit longer than expected. We got the data and we’re heading back now.”
“Copy that.” He signed off.
“Kinda forgot the whole point of why we were here in the first place.” Hunter said lightly as he kissed the top of your shoulder.
“I mean, that was the idea.” You said with a coy smile as you angled yourself to face him. “We better get going.” You kissed him quickly once more before you grabbed your dress and slipped it back on with Hunter following close behind.
“If you don’t want any brotherly teasing or awkwardness, you’re uh, going to need to wear this before we get back.” Hunter said apologetically as he examined the marks he’d left on your neck. He hadn’t been too careful about his placements this time around.
You tutted playfully at him as you took his scarf from him and wrapped it around you. “Better?”
 “You make anything look good.” Hunter said by way of reply.
You grinned at him. “Let’s this ship in the air.” You started to walk to the cockpit.
“Hey, (Y/N).”
You turned back around to face him.
“Thank you. For all of it. I- I try so hard to be in control and keep it together. It was nice to not be for a change.”
You made your way back towards him and wrapped your arms around him, sighing happily when he held you tightly against his chest.
“We’re getting the hang of this relationship thing.” You said jokingly before you angled yourself to look at him. “You can share the load, Hunter. You’re not alone.” You said, your tone more serious.
“I know.” Hunter agreed, really believing it this time.
--
As the ship made its way back, Hunter felt a true sense of calm that he hadn’t felt in a while. There would still be uncertainties and he still had his squad to look after but one thing was now certain in his mind: you were it for him. He could face the unpredictable galaxy and protect what he loved with you by his side. He wouldn’t let that doubt creep in and take over like that again. He had you. He had his squad. That wouldn’t change. It couldn’t change. He wouldn’t let it.
Next Chapter>
Tagging: @noeasyisnoisy, @tpwkcalli, @fuckoffthanos, @arctrooper69, @graciexmarvel, @flyingkangaroo, @nightmonkeysstuff, @brujaporfavor, @a-streakofazure, @ladytano420, @dragonrider9905, @keep-calm-and-drink-caf, @yyourmotherr, @xxeiraxx
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vanitythevantropist · 4 months ago
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DISCLAIMER: this account is 16+ as it may contain themes that are not suitable for children. Please use caution and always check the trigger warnings. Stay safe❤️
TWs MAY INCLUDE:
-Suggestive topics
-Blood and gore
-Body horror
-Scary imagery in general
-Swearing
INTRODUCTION POST:
Hi! You may call me Mod Snake/Snake Mod, or Ryn, if you want to :3
I’m a 16 year old furry (scaly?) from South Africa! I go by she/her pronouns and am Omnisexual :> I’m a Christian (and also a Satanist) (Shocker, Ik👀)
My disorders consist of; ADHD, autism (ASD), sensory processing disorder (SPD), alexithymia
Over here on this strange lil blog, you’ll find my random thoughts and interactions with other Tumblr peeps, as well as images of my pets! The main part, though, is my art😌 Yeah, I’m a digital artist and am strangely motivated🤣 (My tablet sucks so it takes a while cuz I gotta charge it after an hour-) (Le sigh)
Also, here’s the second blog: @stevens-satanic-sketchbook :3
MAIN SONA (+the roleplays aspects):
Along with art n stuff, this blog is a hybrid between a personal blog and an ask blog! Who are the asks for? My OC, Vanity, ofc :3 When addressing her, you may use the name Vanity (or Vanitealius if you wanna be fancy lmao)
Very quick explanation of who and what she is; She is the Goddess of Chaos and Imbalance in her world and is able to jump dimensions. She’s very physical but her body doesn’t follow regular physical laws :3
Ref sheet:
(None yet, I haven’t made one💀)
FANDOMS I’M IN:
-How to Train Your Dragon
-Wings of Fire
-Warrior Cats (never read the books lmao)
-Helluva Boss
-My Little Pony (haven’t watched the show lol-)
-Cobra Kai (unironically)
OC STORIES (Named):
-Stones of Gold (original)
-Wings of Fire: the Dragon Pact Chronicles (WoF AU)
-Eternal Twilight (original)
-The Wilds of Pernul (original)
-The Sky of Maroon (original)
-Eyes of Pure Silver (original)
-The Colonies (WC AU)
-The Tempest’s End (original)
-The Divine Deception (original)
-Chasing Echoes (original)
ASKS (n stuff):
Feel free to ask me anything! I’m quite open about anxiety and my disorders, stuff like that :3 The thing you don’t ask are obvious, like sexual things, cuz I’m, y’know, 16💀
BUT! that’s not all!! If you want, you can ask my OCs questions, as well! Whatever you want, really! Want an introduction? Ask em! Wanna ask about their food tastes? Ask em! Wanna know a little more about their toxic ass relationships? Ask em, see if they’ll like that😌 (They probably won’t but you can do it anyway!) (I may or may not draw art for it but probably mostly won’t but hey, who knows?)
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
-“How do you feel about PMs?” Love em! I’m all about chatting with like minded people :D If you wanna drop a compliment, ask about commissions, whatever, feel free!
-“How do you feel about fanart?” I LOVE fanart!! If you wish to draw fanart for me, please make sure to credit the OC/design to me and tag me directly!
-“How do you feel about reposts?” I don’t like reposts. If you want to share my art, please reblog my posts directly. Thank you!
ART REQUESTS:
Status: Open !!
Terms of request (ToR):
-You may request art through my asks or in private.
-The art requested will be drawn as a simple sketch. I leave the complicated pieces to the commissions!
-I draw; furries, dragons, horses/unicorns/pegasi, dogs, cats, gore (artsy), robots, fanart, OCs
-I don’t draw; humans, fish, complicated designs, nudity, overly suggestive, vehicles, hateful art (homophobia, racism, etc)
COMMISSIONS:
Status: Closed
Commission details:
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wired-for-weird · 4 months ago
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I feel like you're the person to ask: I am trying to find some pieces of artwork in the genre that I can only describe as "horny mouth art." Like, big drippy fanged maws. Bonus points for wild neon iridescent colors. I know this type of art exists but I'm having trouble finding it. Can you possibly point me in a useful direction?
*opens trenchcoat* hey mate you wanna buy some Maws?
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gatoburr0 · 1 year ago
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Hello yes I know I’m really tired and JUST came back from a huge ass hiatus but I have debts to pay and I lost a bet- pls help me out here.
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1- Simple ref: $60
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Normal shit, maybe back and front if the og/old ref has and if not just two front views with maybe clothing variants or something.
Includes headshot and brief information.
2- One side view but with a shit ton of info (includes headshot): $70
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Great for AUs. It’s like the example yeah, either right or left side accompanied by character’s lore or abilities, or both, etc etc.
3- A lot more detailed: $95
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Can have variant (colors, weapons, items, outfits, etc).
I will need you to tell me a fuck ton of information on your character, complicated designs preferably.
4- Even more information: $100
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Can include two side view or even three. Weapons, items, forms, abilities, trivia, etc etc.
Two versions included (optional)
5- Variation and also a painting: $140
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Idunno just thought it’d look cool to show character’s abilities on something in a painting. Can have two or three views (front, 2/4, back)
EVEN MORE DETAILED: $150
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Includes separate half body, ref sheet has 4 hairstyle variants and also 3 or 4 expressions, back and front views from both clothed and no clothes/fur or skin patterns/underwear.
Info box with preferences (likes, dislikes, allat)
This time I will work with slots, only 3 available, comment “claim” or dm it and I’ll tell you if I’ll be doing yours or putting you in a waiting list.
I’m being bombarded with chores and other responsibilities so yes this will take a while to be done, please be patient, I’m trying my best I swear.
If you feel more comfortable communicating through Discord, my username is: fl0ccinaucinihilipilificati0n (or Snuyy#6666 if those still work lol).
All payments through PayPal, THESE ARE NOT CUSTOM DESIGN COMMISSIONS. My customs have an extra price, yes I can do them but If you want me to draw a reference for a character I created, buy a custom AND a ref sheet.
Prices will vary depending on character complexity.
SLOT STATUS: 2/3
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jerzwriter · 11 months ago
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Falling for You
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Book: Open Heart (Book 3 Timeline) Pairing: Tobias Carrick x F!MC (Casey) Rating: Teen Words: 1,100 Summary: Ice skating has always been a big part of Casey's life, and for the eight months they had been together, she kept saying how much she was looking forward to doing it with Tobias. He tried to put it off as long as he could, but the day of reckoning was upon him... and panic set in. Could a quick call to his best friend, Kerry, calm his nerves? Or is Tobias about to fall flat. A/N: First and foremost, thank you to @weetlebeetle for this adorable commission of my little lovebirds. This is so precious, and I just adore it! Those of you familiar with some of my older fics may remember Kerry, Tobias's lifelong friend. Information about her and other OCs in my Tobias x Casey HC can be found here. She was instrumental in helping him and Casey get together, and she thought her work was done. Well... maybe not. lol
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His fingers tapped against the coffee table, the dull thud echoing throughout his empty home. But it wasn't enough to release the nervous energy he was feeling, and before long, he was on his feet, pacing the length of the room.    
“Come on, come on! I know you’re off... answer!”
To the shock of many, Tobias Carrick had proven he could be a patient man, and it had paid off dearly, playing a big part in how he was happily coupled with the love of his life today. Casey. The mere thought of her usually brought a smile, but right now, it only amplified the fear coursing through his veins. He needed someone to help him through, and his best friend was the only one he trusted with the job. But his patience was wearing thin as he tried to reach her. About to disconnect the call, he finally heard her voice.
“T?” Kerry answered breathlessly. “What’s going on? You OK?”
“Thank God!” He exclaimed. “Where have you been?”
“At Brenda’s soccer game. I told you she was playing today.”
“Ah! That’s right,” he said, smacking his head. “I forgot; why don’t you get back to her.”
“Because after ten missed calls and as many texts saying ‘CALL ME,’ I assume you have something important going on. So, spill.”
Tobias fell back onto the couch with a sigh.  
“I have a big problem... I... I have a date tonight.”
“A date?” Kerry asked quizzically. “What’s so terrible about...” her face fell as she went silent, fearing the worst. “Tobias Charles Carrick... please tell me your date isn’t with someone other than Casey, because if it is, I swear to God I’m going to drive to Boston and kick your ass.”  
“What!” He gasped. “No! Don’t be ridiculous! Of course my date’s with Casey.”
“Good!” she said with relief. “But then what’s the drama? You have a date with your girlfriend, so?”
“Yeah, well... it’s an ice skating date.”
The line went silent again, then Kerry burst into a full belly laugh... not exactly the support or sympathy Tobias was seeking.
“That’s nice! Laugh it up! You won’t be laughing when I make a total ass out of myself, and she dumps me. I’m not stupid. I know you like her better than me.”
“Well, that goes without saying,” Kerry teased while wiping a tear from her eye. “She’s far more likable than you. But what the hell possessed you to go on a skating date?”
He ran his hand down his face with another weary sigh. “Obviously, it wasn’t my idea. But Casey loves skating, and she’s good, really good. Like almost did it competitively when she was younger, good. And I’m....”
“Far more suited for a basketball court. Not gonna lie, T, you suck at ice skating.”
“Thank you.”
“What? I’m just stating facts. The time we went skating on Mr. Belmont’s pond remains one of my most horrifying childhood memories. I thought for sure we were going to lose you that day; little did I know you’d end up sending your brother to the emergency room instead.”
“Hey! In my defense, if that idiot hadn’t been trying to make me fall, he wouldn’t have ended up with my skate blade in his thigh.”
“Jordan can’t help being obnoxious," Kerry laughed. "It’s a Carrick family trait.”
“All well and good, but the last thing I want to do is impale Casey tonight."
"Really?" Kerry chided. "And here I thought that was usually your goal?"
"Very funny, Ker. I'm being serious here! I don’t want her realizing the error of her ways and kicking me to the curb.”
“For the love of God, Tobias... do you hear yourself? Do you think you may be exaggerating just a little? It’s ice skating. Take a deep breath, and just go and have fun.”
“But what if I fall on my face?”
“So what if you do? That’s part of what makes it fun. Just relax and enjoy the time together. Knowing Casey, she’d probably find you falling all over the ice endearing.”
“You think so?”
“YES! As hard as it is to believe, she loves you for you... not your ability to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics.”
“You’re right,” he surrendered, his heart feeling lighter.
“I usually am. Now, just go and have fun. Let me know how it went later.”
Buoyed by Kerry’s words, Tobias set off for his date, and just hours later, they sat at the side of a beautiful rink just outside of Boston. Casey grinned from ear to ear as she laced up her skates, oblivious to her boyfriend’s inner turmoil.
“I’m so excited,” she beamed. “I’ve been waiting to do this with you since we started dating! I love sharing the things I love with you."
“Yeah,” he chuckled nervously. “I do, too.”   He pulled the laces tightly around his ankle, hoping against hope that a skate malfunction would spare him, but when he realized that wasn’t to be, he took her hand to confess. “Case... I’ve gotta tell you something.”
“Sure,” she smiled. “What’s up?”
“I... I kind of suck at this. I haven’t gone skating since I was twelve years old, and that time, I sent Jordan to the ER.”
Casey’s eyes widened, "You did?" she asked, her melodious laugh filled the air. She placed her gloved hands on his frigid cheeks and pulled him in for a tender kiss.
“Tobias, skating skills really aren’t high up on my list of traits I find desirable in my partner. Let’s just go and have fun, baby. That’s all I want to do.”
They took to the ice hand-in-hand, and while Tobias stumbled and fell throughout the afternoon, he wasn’t embarrassed. Instead, they laughed, teased, and shared a whole lot of kisses. He felt foolish for worrying so much, and the date served as a reminder that the best memories are those made when we let go of fears and enjoy time with the ones we love.
Hours later, they were toasty warm in his car as they headed back to Boston. Smiling as she recalled the day, Casey rested her head on his shoulder.
“That wasn’t so bad after all, was it?” she smiled.
“No, it wasn’t.”
“Still, I don’t think it’s something you’ll want to do too often,” she grinned.
“But you love skating,” he replied. “And if you love it, then I’ll love going with you.”
“You don’t have to,” she assured. “There are plenty of other things I love doing with you. I got you on skates once; that's all that matters.”
As she said that, a little lightbulb went off Tobias’s head, and a tiny grin came to his lips. “Yeah.  At least we got to do it once.”
~~~~~
A/N 2: Tobias recalls that he knows someone else who skates really well... and right now, his wheels are spinning. More to come! :)
@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics @choicesholidays (solely because it's winter-themed! :)
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ozzyoftheangels · 5 months ago
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HIIIIIII so Ik my page says Bucky and shit idk I’m doing another name experiment just bear with me and shut up. Call me Ozzy, or whatever, Bucky if you’re feeling silly, I’m literally not sure I like Bucky though but yeah we’ll see. I mean I dunno if I wanna be thought about like a Marvel character or an old man who I stole my current name from while wearing a shirt my mom made with lyrics to his song on it but we’ll see. I mean Bucky is hot asf, honestly transition goals minus getting my arm ripped off, unless I get a cool arm replacement. (Spoiler I stuck with Ozzy)
Anyways.
So basically this is literally just an art page tbh I’m not a full adult so I don’t do commissions, and I’m still trying to figure out basic anatomy outside of shoulder up bc I literally can’t anatomy to save my mother’s life. Idk anyways here’s a fandom list, if you wanna ask me to draw smth you can do that and I’ll post it here.
Welcome to Nightvale (Perfect Carlos, and his perfect hair~)
Supernatural (I dabble, I’m still watching the show)
Good Omens (that hyperfixiation is a bit fizzled out until S3 drops)
Malevolent (PLEASE GIVE ME AN EXCUSE TO PRACTICE DRAWING THEM)
The Magnus Archives/Protocol (just started the protocol)
Helluva boss (I don’t draw it honestly, but it’s a good show. DO NOT ASK ME TO DRAW HAZBIN HOTEL STUFF.)
Deviser (PLSPLSPLSPLS THIS FANDOM IS ITTY BITTY WE NEED MORE SOLDIERS)
The Hobbit/LOTR (I’ve drawn Bilbo once, it looked like shit but I love Thorin and Bilbo ship art so someone feed me I beg you. Also I need to refresh on those movies it’s been forever.)
V E N O M P O O K I E < 3
That’s it I think idk, I mean I started playing Hades on my friend’s switch but then school ended lol and we have yet to be at each other’s houses, but even still I could never draw anything that would give that game justice.
Ok bye never expect a masterpiece like the Crowley art I made to ever appear again that was something I made while I was on something I swear idk how I did that.
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skeptical-saniwa · 7 months ago
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Man the way you draw so quickly and use colors so nicely is really impressive :33
I swear your art literally tastes like a whole package of sweets with different flavors with how diverse the colors are (considering the way you align them feels nothing but right and is pleasing to the eyes). If not it would taste like strawberry meringues (Your art is literally so perfect in so many ways I cannot word, tho I would say it looks so floaty and it reminded me of meringues x3 Hehe I LOOOVE MERINGUES). And the fact you manage to make your art look like such a blessing that you won't get to see everyday so quickly too (I lit take WEEKS to finish a piece and here you are finishing them so quickly it's impressive)!!!!
😓 I started Yapping lol but I had to get it out of my chest smh.
AAA ty pookie I appreciate your yapping sm😩🫶
I am known in my friend group as the one who can make a fully rendered work from start to finish in a day! 😊
It happens often enough that I usually stay drawing in that pace. Rn I’m slowing down a bit since I have a big commission🫡
& ty again!! I love how you compared my art to meringues… it’s been a while since I’ve eaten them 🤤
Anyway here are two examples of drawings I finished in 6-7 hrs each! Both are oc dtiys for my art mutuals on insta!✨✨ Do check them out :)
Tumblr media Tumblr media
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shootingstarrfish · 7 months ago
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HOW DO YOU DRAW SO QUICKLY AGH
I swear every time I turn around you’ve posted another masterpiece I’m jealous you can draw so fast it takes me like 3 days at least for a piece lol
AHH i keep being asked this and im flattered yall think this?? ill take a bit to explain the choices that help with my speed and circumstantial stuff that helps a lot
obligatory YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THINGS FAST taking your time is good!! i just get bored easily so i like being done with things and moving on, but i'm very aware of the fact that social media rewards this and punishes inconsistency so i get it lol
long ass ramble under the cut lol
okay so things i deliberately do to draw fast-
i specifically have 2 distinct styles because i constantly have too many ideas, and most of them don't need to be several hour long illustrations so i try to pick my battles and go for a simpler more expressive style for shitposts/memes/etc and reserve my more detailed style for ideas that actually benefit from having that extra time and effort. ofc this won't work for everyone but i tend to have 50 styles at any given moment anyway so giving myself the freedom to switch between them has been really nice
not necessarily deliberate??? but theres no perfectionism in this house, which helps a lot so i don't spend ages fussing over minute details (im a perfectionist at heart but a lazy one LOL)
giving myself time deadlines is also really helpful, like "i have to finish the lineart im the next half an hour" has been really good for getting me to focus and get things done, even if i don't make the 'deadline'. i think generally being conscious of how i use my time is good
okay so circumstantial (?) things-
ALSO USE REFERENCES they help a lot!!! stumbling around trying to figure things out on your own is time consuming, don't be scared of using references!
this isn't a speed thing but i think it's important to note that i spend like ALL my free time drawing, probably to a ridiculous degree. i draw during my work break, i draw after work, on the weekend, speed is nothing in the face of time lol. im usually tired after work but im also stubborn so i try to push through and draw anyway (50/50 chance it works and i get something done or i just sit there in a daze wishing i was asleep LOL)
im also a dumbass who takes on way too much, i have a whole buncha zines and commissions constantly at all times cause i can never say no so i kinda just HAVE to be fast to keep up with everything. i don't recommend it but it's a thing ashdjfj
i also used to be on tiktok and for some god forsaken reason i spent like a solid few months consistently posting 3 times per day which burnt me out SO fast and i absolutely don't recommend but it definitely required speed lol
i will also say that as i draw more and feel more comfortable in my art it comes to me a lot more naturally, and i'm able to make decisions on the fly a lot easier
also okay so starr lore my dad used to be really against me drawing so i would have to sneak onto the computer when he was out of the house hahaha, this gave me anywhere from 30 mins to 2 hours per day to do whatever i wanted, so i had to quickly adapt to that and be super fast if i ever wanted to get anything done
again speed isnt the be all end all of anything, tbh most of this is just my brain working in weird ways that prefers the quicker pace so please don't compare yourself!!
okay long ass ramble over thanks for reading <3333
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aneenasevla · 2 months ago
Text
Red Velvet - Chapter 7
MasterList / Akane’s profile / Last chapter here
Chapter 7 - First Snow
Himuro has never felt so at peace as he did in these last  two months.
To begin with, he had won a match within the Kengan Association, securing yet another new property for his boss to further expand Ginokuniya Bookstore's business and, as a bonus, he had received a large commission to put him at ease regarding financial matters for the next few months.
Afterwards, he got a little closer to one of Tomori's friends who had become interested in him and asked for his contact information. Her name was Mariko, and she had a very refined taste for drinks and cocktails, so they were getting along quite well. A friendship with benefits to keep him warm in those cold days.
And finally: it had been two months since Rihito had stopped bothering him with his constant whining and requests for alms in the form of girls' phone numbers. The truth was that Rihito no longer complained about his lack of luck with women, because through some miraculous intervention from some merciful god, he had become able to attract them on his own.
May God, the devil or whatever bless Agata Akane, because she deserved it. 
His phone buzzes, and a text appeared in his friend's group chat:
Dickhead_Tokita:
Kanami invited you guys for a hotpot here at our house on christmas eve 
we’ll have karaoke and dancing games, according to her
come if you want
EggHead:
If it has karaoke and just dance, tomori is already in for sure, and so am I LOL
Himuro smiles at this, setting the dishes aside and drying his hands on the tea towel so he can type.
Gigolo_Master:
I’m in!
is it okay if I bring a friend?
miss kanami knows her as far as I know
it’s one of the girls tomori introduced me to 
GiantKiller:
I’m going to spend Christmas with my family this year, guys, sorry 😔
But even if I went to this hotpot, I would be just third wheeling
EggHead:
c’mon, man, hiro and mr. paikon are single too, they’ll probably also go
and koga and ryuki, and kazzy… 
GiantKiller:
True, but I still can’t go. My bad
Dickhead_Tokita:
no, the two kids and yamashitakazuo also have plans
kaede went on vacation
it’s just us
Gigolo_Master:
lets fill that house up then
I’ll bring my friend
we need more women for that party lol
and don’t worry kaneda
will you also spend new years with them?
GiantKiller:
I can spend it with you guys if they don’t force me to stay with them 😆
Gigolo_Master:
try to show up, we’ll spend new years eve getting shitfaced lmao
I finally got a day off on the 31st guys
the first in two years, holy shit
we can’t miss this opportunity
EggHead:
well, if we do that on a safe place, I’m in
Dickhead_Tokita:
the message is given anyway 
we can inform ichiro later 
Gigolo_Master:
I haven't heard a peep from him since afternoon
he must be out on the razzle somewhere
or getting busy with miss agata 😏
EggHead:
Oh damn xD
ATTA BOY 
Chu-cha-cha-chu-chu-cha 🎶
GiantKiller:
You really liked this brazilian funk thing, uh 
Gigolo_Master:
LMAO
I swear to you guys
you have no idea how PEACEFUL my life has been in the last two months
first okubo got a girlfriend and stopped being a pain in my ass
and now rihito finally got a fuckin grip and learned the bennefits of kissing and not telling
or fucking and not telling in this case LOL
and consequently he stopped bothering me too
I’m living the fuckin dream
Dickhead_Tokita:
that’s what I call a christmas miracle
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
nope, you learning how to get outta the convo without kicking yourself outta the chat is what I call a miracle
dumbass
and good evening guys
Gigolo_Master:
speaking of the devil
there he is
good evening loverboy
Dickhead_Tokita:
hey there is an invitation up there in the chat
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
I saw it and I’m also im!
especially since we'll be eating auntie's food
hell yeah 😎
hey can I bring someone too?
EggHead:
I already know who it is
Dickhead_Tokita:
Kanami said she knows the organ thief, and she does not steal organs 😎
so its fine
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
my guy, she steals other things
not organs, but sometimes what comes out of them LMAO
but yeah, its her
she's already an old friend of the bakery staff, so I think it'll be alright
Dickhead_Tokita:
so she steals blood then?
I do that too, but with my fists 😎
GiantKiller:
Seriously, guys, quit with these jokes Ohma never gets 🙄🙄🙄
Dickhead_Tokita:
I actually got it, kaneda
you are the ones who did not get mine 😎
Gigolo_Master:
and seriously kaneda
you're asking rihito to stop being an idiot, basically
its like asking water to stop being wet 
just give up
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
🖕
EggHead:
man I don't know if ohma is dumb or if he just pretends to be
Dickhead_Tokita:
you will never know 😎
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
anyway
I'm too busy to try to understand what's going on inside tokita's head
but I'll go to the hotpot, it'll be dope
Dickhead_Tokita:
alright, I will tell kana
she told you guys to bring drinks, minus okubo, who will come with tomori
he can bring some soda
EggHead:
fine be me 
but the party is in two weeks, isn’t it?
miss kanami really likes to give invitations in advance, doesn't she?
GiantKiller:
Well, she’s a business owner 
She needs to be organized 
And early invitations help us to prepare accordingly 
It helps you guys, in that case
Dickhead_Tokita:
well, now the message is definitely given
Gigolo_Master:
drinks are kinda my thing, so we're covered
I'll tell my friend to bring some too
speaking of which, mr. ohya gave me a nice gift
do you remember that pricey sake called Kotozakura?
he gave me a full bottle!
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
damn himuro
that’s what we’re talking about!
this is getting better and better!
EggHead:
HELL YEAH!
Dickhead_Tokita:
if you start to drink too much and do some stupid shit, I will kick you guys out
kanami said that
Gigolo_Master:
relax, we’ll behave
you heard that, rihito?
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
for fuck’s sake
I didn’t do anything!
I’m just chilling! 
Dickhead_Tokita:
said the guy who got arrested about 4 times for doing dumb shit after drinking
And you say I’m the dumb one
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
shut up, I’m not the only one!
okubo also got arrested with me
but you fuckers always forget about that
you guys are obsessed with me, I swear
do want me to fuck you too or something?
Dickhead_Tokita:
what, are you mimicking your friend now?
are you also a cannibal? 😎
EggHead:
damn, I went to drink some water and came back only to be accused of past shit
CANNIBAL LMAO
first an organ trafficker and now a cannibal, this shit only gets better LOL
Dickhead_Tokita:
If you bring her, you will be the dish, not us 😎
EggHead:
fuck, and that makes so much sense
he called her a "sword swallower"
that's why he's so quiet now LMAOOOOO
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
you guys can go suck a bag of dicks
fucking assholes
anyway, I’m kinda busy here
I’ll take to y’all later 
Gigolo_Master:
too busy fucking and not telling?
Dickhead_Tokita:
(answering to @Mr_Iron_Fingers) Nah, I like mangoes better 😎
Gigolo_Master:
DAMN OHMA
what’s happening to you
you’re scaring the hell outta me
Dickhead_Tokita:
???????
Why?
EggHead:
since when do you make this kind of joke? o.O
Dickhead_Tokita:
I learned from you guys 🤨
I’m not deaf, and I’m a quick learner 
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
Hell yeah bro!
you’re finally learning from the master, eh, seaweed head
I’m so proud!
you’re going places!
Gigolo_Master:
weren’t you busy?
Christmas came early?
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
Fuck you!
it’s ‘cause you guys won’t shut up!
Dickhead_Tokita:
what a short attention span 😎 
GiantKiller:
I think I finally got it, Himuro
Ohma uses the smiling face with sunglasses emoji to make it clear that he’s joking
Dickhead_Tokita:
yes, and I’m doing it right now
koga says it helps making things clear
if I don’t use it, everyone thinks that I believe all the shit you guys say
kaneda almost started crying last time
and koga thought we were going to spar in the middle of the night 
he waited about 30 minutes for me and almost froze from the cold
GiantKiller:
Oh, poor kid 🤣🤣
He’s okay, right?
And thanks for your concern, Ohma
I can tell when these three are joking, but you almost never change your tone when in or out of the chat
I really thought you went to call the Kure that time 😭
Dickhead_Tokita:
he survived 😎
and just remember that I would have to pay an arm and a leg
the kure would never work for me for free, and I don't want it either
raian is my friend, but I don't want anymore favors from the Devil 
he's more of a cannibal than ichiro's girl 😎
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
RIHITO
GODDAMMIT DUDE
how many times do I have to tell ya???
and she isn’t my girl
she’s just a friend that I fuck occasionally 
Dickhead_Tokita:
change my nickname and I will think about using yours
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
for fuck’s sake
(@Mr_Iron_Fingers changed @Dickhead_Tokita’s nickname to @Kelpthullu)
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
there
happy now?
Kelpthullu:
my name isn’t Kelpthullu, dumbass
fuck it, now you’re Ichiro forevermore 😎
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
DUDE FUCK YOU
Kelpthullu:
go cry about it on Cannibal’s shoulders 😎
Gigolo_Master:
holy shit rihito
even ohma is making fun of you
you’re out of your game lol
Kelpthullu:
I'm also inspired today so don't get used to it 😆
this must be the afterglow you guys talk about so much
Gigolo_Master:
LMAOOO
seriously, guys, I’ll be off now
my shift is almost over and I have to catch the train home
I’ll talk to you later
Kelpthullu:
I’ll be off too, I was going to just send the invitations but got carried away
later
And the chat went silent after that.
Himuro puts his phone in his pants pocket, still laughing to himself. Adding Ohma to that group chat had been the most genius idea they had come up with. Now only quality jokes came out of there.
He finishes stacking the glasses and heads out to clock out; he couldn't wait to get home and take a hot bath. It was freezing cold now. Soon the first snow would fall. It would be the perfect time to stay under the blankets with someone...
And at another establishment, on the other side of town, another member of that group chat was enjoying the evening in the exact same way.
"Rihito, are you okay? You're looking at your phone like you want to punch it..."
Rihito starts a little, turning his head to look over his shoulder. He was sitting on the edge of the huge bed, in one of the several rooms in the luxurious Gold Pleasure Club building, in the company of two beautiful employees who were willing to warm him up on that cold night, the three of them resting from the night's activities. He smiles awkwardly, trying to contain his anger.
"Oh, it’s okay, girls, relax. It's just my friends talking shit in our chat group, as always. I'm turning off notifications."
"Anything interesting there?," One of the girls, a curvy blonde, bites her lip. The other one, who talked first, had dark skin and curly hair.
"Nothing as interesting as you!," He lies down again, and they both laugh when he hugs them, bringing them close to his huge chest. And he does it without grabing them too enthusiastically, which was a very welcome development "I was feeling so lonely today... you guys just made my night better."
"Yes, you've been coming here alone these last few months. So Okubo really got a girlfriend?," the dark-skinned one asks.
"Yep! And now he's out there, too busy being all cute and disgusting with her," He pretends to sniff, his tone playfull "He's too good for his brothel bro now..."
"That's so mean," the blonde pouts, "Leaving his friend behind like that..."
"Well, at least we still have this hottie here to keep us company," the dark-skinned one puts a leg over his hips, smiling "But man... is it just me or you got sexier?"
"Yeah, you made me shiver all over," the blonde laughs "Even more so when you asked me to sit on you."
"C'mon, I pale in comparison to you," He laughs slyly "And I really developed a taste for that, I won't deny it. What can I say? I see these smooth, soft skins and I already want to kiss them all over...," He pretends to try to bite the dark-skinned one, who makes a sound that was half a scream, half a high-pitched laugh, playfully pushing him away.
"Oh, okay, that's enough," she gets up "Let us clean up, you animal. Come on, Naoko," she calls for the other one.
"We'll be right back," she kisses his neck before getting up.
"Alright. I'm just going to stay here and laze away...," He smiles as he stretches, dropping back onto the bed with a satisfied sigh. Wow, what a great way to end that night! Good booze, some snacks, two beautiful girls on each arm... was there a better way to live life?
"It's just a shame Akane is so busy with that evil lair she calls a hair salon..."
The thought makes him open his eyes. Akane and he had gone out together a few more times in the last two months, to eat or to dance, and they always ended the night at some small love hotel or at her apartment, if they were close enough to it. He honestly preferred the apartment; he had developed a taste for colorful walls and tacky decor, especially the hot pink monster that was the couch. Just as he had enjoyed Akane's company too. So much so that he even missed it. She was busy during the end of the year, with women appearing one after the other in the salon, wanting to get all dolled-up for the holidays in an attempt to impress uninterested husbands. So he had to seek company at the Gold Pleasure Group, which always ended up emptying his wallet. He couldn't wait for the year-end bonuses... 
He hears a very low buzz and some giggling in the bathroom of the suite, but what caught his attention the most was hearing his name.
He raises his head immediately. Oh, were they talking about him? A mixture of strong curiosity and fear took hold of him. Were they arguing about his performance? Those giggles were worrying... unable to resist, he got up from the bed and went to the bathroom door, as silently as he could, putting his ear close to the door to hear better. 
"... when he got closer I thought he was going to grab me, but then he brought me closer slowly, and gave me a sniff on the neck… wow, I got goosebumps…," he heard the blonde say.
"I saw it... but I was too busy feeling him inside me... where did he learn to do that?"
"Girl, I wouldn’t mind if he comes after me again, I swear to you…"
"I know! He’s much better than before. What happened to him?"
"I don’t know, but it was good… a winter miracle, I’m actually cumming for the first time in months…"
They begin to laugh coquettishly.
"Stop, that sounds so wrong…"
"Am I lying?"
"I was luckier than you then… but it’s true, he’s really getting better."
Rihito had to make an absurd effort not to run to the window, throw his fists in the air and scream in triumph for the entire fucking district to hear.
Damn, he had done it! Two girls loved his performance, and not out of pure pretense so as not to hurt his ego! He had truly learned how to be a good lover!
“And it was all thanks to her!”
And again, thinking about Akane brings that warm joy deep in his chest. Damn, he was going to make that woman moan and scream so much the next time they met! She deserved all that and more.
"Oh... damn," he heard the dark-skinned one say.
"What is it?"
"Our time is running out... shit, I wanted him to give me head too."
"We can ask him later, outside…"
"For free? No, he'll get used to it."
"Yeah…," she sighs "It’s a shame… but we’ll offer our services if he comes later, okay?"
"Hell no, I want him for myself."
They both laugh louder.
"Okay, let's go, we have to tell him anyway...," he hears footsteps.
He starts for a second, running away from the door and lying back down on the bed, trying to strike a relaxed pose on the sheets, with his arms behind his head and one leg casually bent up. That's it, a badass pose, he had to keep good impressions with the girls...
They look at him, picking up their dresses from the floor while smiling at him.
"Sorry, Rihito, we have to go."
"Yeah, time's up…," the dark-skinned one says in a sad tone, which he learned was genuine.
"So… are you going to come visit us again?," the blonde smiles.
"Oh, it’s a shame, I was loving the company," He smiles at them, "And I intend to, when my wallet is a little fuller again, hahaha! But it was really worth it. You two are wonderful," He coos, in a deliberately sugary tone to make them laugh.
And they really laugh, one of them waving her hand shyly. They quickly put on their clothes and leave.
"Oh, you still have another half hour, so just relax," the dark-skinned one says "You already know how it works."
"I know! I'm going to stretch here a bit. Good night," He blows kisses to them, and they laugh again as they close the door. He takes another deep breath, stretching and hugging a pillow.
That bed was really huge, warm and comfortable. But strangely, he missed something. Preferably something a lot more... fuzzy.
He opens his eyes again. And here come those strange thoughts... it was probably because she had been mentioned in the group chat, when he had received carte blanche to take her to Kanami's house, at the upcoming Christmas party that their friends would throw.
He frowns. Would inviting her be too weird? They weren't dating or anything, just having fun together every now and then... but damn, they were friends now, weren't they? What harm would it do to want to have some fun with a friend, especially among so many others? He finally makes up his mind, grabbing his phone from the dresser next to the bed and searching for a specific chat.
Himbo_King🦍:
hey miss lumberjack
are you busy? lol
She takes a few minutes to respond.
Boss_Bitch🍑:
hey he-man ❤️
I’m home now
Himbo_King🦍:
I have an invitation for u
do you have any plans for christmas eve?
Boss_Bitch🍑:
I’ll be busy during the day
those hags love to show up at the salon on short notice
but I’ll be free after 5 o’clock
we’ll have the next day all for ourselves ❤️
why?
Himbo_King🦍:
great, it's a nighttime event anyway
our friends are planning a hotpot for christmas eve
at miss kanami’s house
you’re invited
we’ll bring booze and ours empty stomachs lmao
Boss_Bitch🍑:
wow, really?!
Butch’s gonna throw a party?? And she’ll cook???
she never baked me a loaf of bread without charging me for it!
damn what a Golden boy doesn’t do to a bitch’s humor LMAO
A fuckin christmas miracle indeed 
I’m in! Christmas Eve, right? 
Himbo_King🦍:
yeah, but quit with the Golden boy shit lmao
that sounds so fucking gay
I’m a Fuck-Buddy with a capital F 😎
and anyway, her boyfriend eats like he’s about to starve
he must have convinced her lol
Boss_Bitch🍑:
I’m talking about HER Golden boy, dumbass LMAO
and yeah, that must’ve been it
Butch’s the kind of girl who grabs men by their stomachs 
and you’re a Golden Retriever, yea, but far from a Golden boy, get a fuckin grip LOL
Himbo_King🦍:
ooh, got it
but he isn’t golden either
he’s a cosmic horror creature coming straight from the depths 🐙
then he found his own Amazon
you’ll met him at the party
Boss_Bitch🍑:
well fuck
I’m curious now, he doesn’t seem bad…
is he such a pain in the ass?
anyway, forget about it
I got worried that Butch was with some good-for-nothing pos, but I remembered that she would’ve kicked him to the curb if he was that bad
that woman is terrifying 
Himbo_King🦍:
believe me, I know that lol
and don’t worry, he’s nice
he’s one of my bros
he’s just dumb as a roch
*robs
*ROCK
DAMMIT
Boss_Bitch🍑:
LMAO I got it
anyway… are you coming or will you stay there, scratching your balls?
or did you already have fun and just wanna chat?
I guess it’s the third option, you usually show up earlier than that
Himbo_King🦍:
hey, is this an invitation?
I can crash at your place, no problem at all
I prefer your nails to scratch my balls anyway LMAO
and sorry, you were busy at the salon today
I thought I would be a bother if I showed up
Boss_Bitch🍑:
well, if you went straight to the salon you wouldn’t come out alive LOL
but you’re welcome at my place
speaking of which, I still haven’t crashed at yours
do you have a roommate? 
since you do not bring any girls there lol
Himbo_King🦍:
I was talking about waiting for you at your doorstep, dummy
I won’t steep a foot in that chicken house you call a salon ever again LOL
I thought you were too tired to do anything, but if not, I’m coming
and yeah, you still haven’t see my place
I also live alone
Boss_Bitch🍑: 
A massage from your fingers would be really nice, not gonna lie
and well, I’d like to come to your place, but you can come to mine today
and since you must’ve already fucked some bitch today, I'm going to prepare a bath 
I won't kiss a mouth that tastes like other chick's pussy LOL
Himbo_King🦍:
dude fuck you LMAO
alright I'll tidy up before I go
gotta rinse my mouth to meet Her Highness' demands lol
I’ll be there in 20m
man its so fucking cold!
a hot bath would be really nice, specially with good company 👅 
Boss_Bitch🍑:
exactly
you really think that I’ll waste water just to wash your stinky ass?
you must want some glitter-filled bath bombs too, oh my
maybe for me cause this bitch here likes to smell good, but you?
only if its like when we're on my couch
you on top of it and me on top of you 🍑🍆
Himbo_King🦍:
have some shame, you demon LMAO
I’ll give you some real bombs after the bath, not before
right on top of your pink-pornstar monster 
no, seriously, I’m coming
want me to bring something?
chocolate, some beers idk
Boss_Bitch🍑:
dunno, bring some noodles or anything we can microwave
and yeah, beer and chocolate sounds good too
oh yeah I almost forgot
bring your sausage and two eggs causa I’m starving LMAO
I mean, if there’s anything left for me 😗😗
if not, we can do netflix without chill LOL
Himbo_King🦍:
fucking hell woman LMAO
you wanna make me run like the fuckin wind or something??
I need to be careful, I don’t wanna get run over lol
but alright then, beer, chocolate, instant noodles, my sausage and two eggs
that’s my grocery list
be there soon 
Boss_Bitch🍑: 
man take your mind outta the gutter 
I just want a sandwich 😇😇 
Himbo_King🦍:
yeah, sure you do
a sausage and eggs sandwich
whatever, I’ll bring everything
kiss on ya tits 🍒
He then leaves his phone aside, going to the bathroom to take a quick shower, just so he doesn't show up in her apartment smelling like perfume from two different women. They weren't dating, but it was all about respect and consideration.
About ten minutes later, he had already paid for his stay, gone to a convenience store nearby and bought everything she asked for. He had even bought more than one chocolate bar, because in that cold weather, a sweet treat sounded really good. He walks through the busy streets of the outskirts, the extremities of his body slowly becoming numb from the cold. Holy shit, it seemed like winter was getting more intense with each passing year, and it wasn’t even snowing yet! He lets out a shaky breath, the air leaving his mouth and condensing into smoke, hanging in the air. He then makes up his mind, taking out his phone and sending a private text to Okubo.
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
seriously, man
let’s bring some quality booze for the hotpot
if it’s cold af now, just imagine how much worse it’ll get til christmas
Okubo answers pretty quickly; he must’ve already been on his phone.
EggHead:
I’m counting on that bro
I’m shivering all over and I’m not even outside wtf
I’m on my car, with the heater turned on and everything
wyd man?
your space heater broke or something? lol
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
I’m leaving the golden pleasure club  now
all alone in a cold winter night, all because my brothel bro found a bedmate to keep him warm
I’m going to akane’s house
EggHead:
lol you’re one to talk
you have a bedmate too, she’s just not your gf
anyway, I have to go now, I’m kinda in a hurry
I have to get there in time before the First Snow falls 🥰
Rihito frowns, the sight of that emoji sending shivers down his spine.
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
First Snow?
and what the hell is up with that emoji??
dude, are you gay? 🤨
EggHead:
I should ask you the same lmao
you never heard about the First Snow thing? I read about it recently 
it’s a thing about couples watching the first snowfall of the year
it’s said that, if a couple watch it together, their relationship will last forever
it’s the kind of cute, cheesy thing tomori likes 
will I get something good in return? For sure
so I’m in 😁
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
… Okubo Naoya
my man
my guy 
my chummy chum
that was the gayest shit you've ever said on this chat
fuck that first snow crap
why are you making excuses to get laid? Just get under your sheets with her and that’s it
you can watch that first snow from the window while you’re pounding her
EggHead:
says the guy who twerks like a bitch LMAO
and my girl like this stuff, man
if that makes her all wet for me, so be it LOL
and besides, it’s fun!
getting under the sheets with a hot cocoa mug and my chick to keep me warm sounds fuckin awesome, 10/10
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
LMAO you fucker
I knew it, you’re a pervert just like me afterall
but whatever, do what you want
I don’t need all that to get laid, I’m a very simple man
and I only twerk if I know that’ll get someone twerking for me in return
EggHead:
see?
it’s the same principle, dumbass
my girl only asks for a bit of snow
yours asks for you fucking dignity LOL
Mr_Iron_Fingers:
what dignity LMAO
I have way more dignity than a mf who’s gonna watch some stupid snowflakes fall
drinking hot cocoa and eating some sissy cookies
while he waits for his missus to get in the mood
but again, do what you must to get a good fuck, that’s not my problem
have fun
and tell tomori that akane will be at the hotpot
EggHead:
hell yeah!
alright, go twerk and have some fun yourself
send my regards to your Cannibal LOL
And his icon goes offline. He must already be on the road.
Rihito thinks about calling Okubo every name under the sun, but it wouldn't be funny since he wouldn't see those messages until the next day, after spending the night fucking his girlfriend to the sound of crackling fireplaces and snow piling up on the windowsill. And like the helpless romantic that he was, he would be too happy to care about some dumb insults. It wasn't even worth wasting time.
He huffs and puts away his phone, picking up the bags with his purchases and walking faster, eager to get away from the cold. He didn't need all that cheesy bullshit. He had found a friend who disliked them as much as he did. And they were both going to enjoy that cold as it deserved to be enjoyed, yes sir.
The relief is great when he finally sees the dirty block where Akane lived. The good thing about that freezing cold was that the smell of garbage and cat piss was much less pronounced.
He goes up the stairs; the place was strangely quiet for such a neighborhood. Normally he would hear some ear-splitting music from some apartment, or some crazy couple in the middle of a screaming match or even cats fighting or mating on the roof. But the night was completely silent. Which was actually good, at least the walls were thick.
He knocked on the door and a moment later she opened it. She smiled and opened it completely when she saw who it was. She was in her homely clothes, with her glasses and a loose shirt, and barefoot.
"Hi," she lets him in and closes the door, giving him space and grabbing the bags he was giving her "Get in the bathroom, I'll put the groceries away and I'll be right there." 
"'Night!," He greets her with a smile, his face red from the cold, but it didn't seem to have affected his mood at all "Sorry for coming this late. If I had known that you'd be free after work, I would've come straight from work," And after taking off his shoes, he heads towards the bathroom, without thinking to much. He had been visiting that apartment for two months now. They were already past the formalities.
"Sorry, I also thought you were busy. I remember once you were working late on a last minute delivery, and the next day you had a match scheduled," She says while putting things away.
"See? It’s not just you who’s racing against the clock because of a job," He comments, raising his voice as he opens the door to the bathroom, already taking off his clothes and folding them over the basket next to the sink "Year's end has been pretty busy, but after the holidays we'll be able to make the most of it..."
Rihito had seen that bathroom before: it was tiny, but organized and very clean, and of course, a bit cluttered, with colorful things on the shelves, some motivational pictures (his favorite was the one were it was written “one shit a day make your problems flush away”) and some little decorative plants. It still was way less eye-catching than the rest of the house (no piece of furniture had surpassed the vintage-porn couch yet), but still, he doubted he would ever meet a more extravagant, wild and exigent woman when it comes to home decorations and her own appearance, but that still had a no nonsense attitude and was as foul-mouthed as a truck driver. 
This stark contrast, to this day, made his head spin so much that he simply went with the flow while trying not to laugh to himself as he undressed.
As she had said, the bathtub was already filled with hot water, which was good for the cold night; it was a little shallow because otherwise, given its size, the water would overflow. He was a big man, afterall.
A thought comes into his head, “She thinks about everything, doesn't she?”
The sudden thought ended up eliciting a mischievous half-smile from him. Yes, that woman thought of everything, including the best ways to take advantage of a poor motherfucker who until recently was a lost cause in terms of interactions with the opposite sex. But he would never complain about that, because he was learning a lot from her. Not only to be a better lover, but to be a better friend and person as well.
He enters the bathtub after having undressed completely, closing his eyes and letting out a low sound of pleasure as the hot water enveloped him, up to his chest. He rested his arms on the edges of the bathtub, throwing his head back a little "Damn, this is one of the best things you could do at the end of a long day... you can almost nap in here..."
"I do it often," Akane appears at the door, coming closer to him "Even more so after I had a really busy day," she sits on the closed toilet seat, on the edge of the bathtub, enjoying the view "Feel free to relax."
"I already am…," He jokes, smiling at her "But what about you? A bathroom isn't the best place in a house to keep your clothes on, you know…?"
"I know... I'm just enjoying the view for now...," 
"Oh, feel free to enjoy it, but you can also enjoy it while your sausage is warm from the water," He laughs, while she gets up and opens a side cabinet, where there were some hygiene products "So... are we going to have a party at Butch's house?"
"Yes, we will! A Christmas party with everything we could ask for, a courtesy from Aunty! But we still need to bring booze."
"Aunty? You're hopeless, man, if she hears you...," She laughs softly, taking a weird little ball from the cabinet "Anyway... I'll go for a casual look, since the girls will be there, and Kanami's house usually has a more cozy atmosphere."
She takes off the loose shirt she was wearing, and... oh, what a surprise, she wasn't wearing anything underneath. She takes off her glasses too, throwing her curls around to loosen them. She sighs, approaching the bathtub and throwing the ball she had in her hand inside of it. The ball hits the water and immediately starts to sizzle, releasing good-smelling bubbles.
"Yeah, it's some sissy shit but I love it. Shut up," she says as she was getting into the tub, and the water overflows when she sits on his lap.
"Hnn…," He shivers slightly, the middle of his legs being duly graced by her ass, which for him was very welcome "I deal well with other people's sissy shits if I'm well rewarded for it, you know," And he hugs her to his chest, bringing her closer, one hand already going to lazily play with one of her tits.
"The view is enough for you, don't lie," she uses a little bowl to catch some water and pours it on his head, wetting his hair "Did you come to spend the night here? "
He closes his eyes so the water doesn't get into them, blowing some, the droplets spreading around "Yeah, the view is pretty awesome... and I'd like too, if that's okay. It's freezing cold outside... returning home in the early hours of the morning would be torture... it could start snowing today."
"The forecast said it was likely," he feels, still with his eyes closed, her nails massaging his scalp, applying some kind of shampoo with a subtle scent there "In that case, you’re more than welcome. I think I have something in my room that might help you. If I remember correctly I have a pair of sweatpants, so you don't tease me early in the morning," and she laughs softly.
He laughs along with her... and then wonders how a single woman, who lived alone and was so thin could have sweatpants that fit him. Was it someone else's? The thought wasn't the most pleasant, but damn, it was either that or his dick would shrink two inches from the cold, and that was the last thing he needed that night.
"Fine by me. And I hope it's not yours, because if it is I'll finally find out how guys who have a fetish for wearing panties feel, hahaha!"
"Hahaha, no, dumbass, I bought it for you," she presses her nails into his scalp, laughing "I knew that one time or another you'd end up spending the night here, so I took precautions," She throws some water in head head, rinsing his hair.
He chokes on the water, such is his amazement. He wipes his eyes quickly, blinking awkwardly at her.
"What… did you buy me sweatpants? Really?!"
"And why not? Or do you prefer to sleep in jeans?," She raises an eyebrow "I don't think so," She continues to wash his hair, her expression unchanged, but still seeming a little embarrassed by his surprise; her already small mouth had turned into a pout due to her full lips.
 "No, that's not it! It's just...," He doesn't know what else to say, even more disconcerted when he sees her embarrassment. He tries to get back on track by hugging her again, his hands around her hips, her breasts pressed against his chest. And for the first time in two months, the proximity didn't turn him on. It only increased that strange heat in his chest "It's just that no one had done something like that for me before. Damn, woman... you're making me feel like a fag here, making me all emotional like that, hahaha..."
"Then shut up and just accept it," she laughs a little "And that's not fag shit, you're just happy, and even though it's for a silly reason. It's just like you," she shakes her head "An extroverted through and through," and she continues playing with his hair "And you're my friend, so... it's just consideration, no big deal. "
He laughs through his nose, thanking the heavens from the bottom of his heart for the water she poured over his head, since he could use it to disguise any sign of emotion. Because for a tiny second, he felt his eyes burn. And crying in front of her would mean exposing a fragile side of him that he flatly refused to expose, even more so to that woman, who he wanted to continue seeing him as a friend, protector and a respectable sexual partner, and not as a crybaby who needed to be comforted all the time. He tries to interrupt that flow of disconcerting thoughts by closing his eyes, enjoying the caresses on his scalp while hiding his face on her chest, between her breasts.
"Fuck, you're such a… no, seriously, thank you. Now I’m going to think of something nice to give you in return…"
"Nah, you don't have too," she rinses his hair again, putting the bowl aside and grabbing a soap bar "I did it for myself too. Now seriously, let me finish washing your hair. It's a mess and I can't stand seeing it like that."
"I didn't have time to take care of it these days, my bad. And it wouldn't cost me anything to give you something too, come on. I usually only bring you food when I visit, not counting my sausage," He jokes in an attempt to push those strange emotions deep down in his gut again "What would you like to get? An appointment at a nail salon? Some extensions for your hair? A pair of stilettos that can be used as weapons if necessary?"
She laughs at the last one, shaking her head.
"I don't need any of that," she looks at him, and her expression is strange "Okay, you'll accompany me on a thrift store hunt. Don't make that face, you'll have fun, I guarantee it."
"... Alright then," He nods, sighing "I want to return the favor, afterall. Let’s go hunting for cheesy things to buy at a bargain price. Maybe some heart pillows to match your monster in the living room, so I have somewhere to rest my head while you ride me," And he slowly squeezed her buttocks while he lightly nibbled between her breasts. She laughs at the answer.
"You really liked my couch, huh," she jokes, shivering with his touches "Wait until you try my bed…"
He looks up at her "Good idea. Now that I'm thinking about it, I've never been in your room before," He says, surprised. Akane had never invited him into her room, and he had never suggested for them to go have sex there, both because he respected her need for privacy and because he really liked that fuzzy monstrosity in the living room. And now he wondered why she had that preference "You never invited me and I never asked..."
"Oh, it's because it's messy," She blushes a little "It's where I keep my stuff... and I have a lot of stuff," she concentrates on scrubbing his skin so she doesn't have to look at his eyes "And it's also where my sewing supplies are, so expect to see patchwork everywhere."
"Oh... believe me, I have no room to judge. My place is messy too," He shrugs calmly "Mess has never bothered me. And honestly, all things considered, I might like it as much as I like the rest of your place. All this cozy cheesiness and such," And he relax underneath her hands, enjoying the feel of the soap sliding across his skin, the hot water undoing all the tension in his muscles accumulated throughout the day.
She smiles. "I'm glad you don't mind. And it's also not fair for me to make you sleep on the couch when there's so much space on my bed... and it's a cold night too, so your presence is more than welcome," she runs her hands over his face and then stops "Oh, I didn't notice... you didn't shave before coming?"
"I'll gladly accept the offer, ma’am. And I ended up leaving it like that, I jumped outta bed in a hurry and didn't had time to shave," He pouts at the way she pressed his cheeks, smiling like the cute idiot he was "Do you like it? If so, I can leave it like this more often."
"Look, I don't mind shaving, I like it both ways, but this looks great on you too," she smiles, and then lets him go, becoming more serious "Okay, you're all clean. Now get out and let me wash myself up too. You take too much space," she bites his neck "Use that big whit towel on the basket. Now scram."
He shivers at the bite, laughing afterwards.
"Hey, I let you wash me, didn't I? It's only fair that I return the favor," He raises an eyebrow, smiling as he picks up the soap and the sponge "You know how good I am with my fingers. Don't you want to try 'em out in other areas?"
She smiles "You'll end up just groping me and making me horny. We won't be able to leave the bathtub even after the water gets cold...," she squinted at him "If you want to do it so badly then be chaste about it, you pervert."
"Are you doubting my ability to behave and do things like that without ulterior motives? ... Yeah, you wouldn't be the first or the last," He snorts, pouting when she laughs "Seriously, I want to try! I'm feeling quite generous today, so you should take the opportunity. And besides, I prefer to do our funny business on your bed, because this water will soon cool down."
"Stop messing around," she turns her back, sitting on his lap and moving her hair away "And don't make me wait," she looks at him mischievously.
"So fucking bossy...," He grumbles, but promptly obeys, rubbing the soap on the sponge and then sliding it across her skin, slowly, cleaning and adding some light pressure from his fingers on her muscles. He takes the opportunity to kiss her on the back of the head in the meantime, as innocently as he can, while bringing her closer so he can wash her chest too.
She smiles and lets him do it. She seriously thought about provoking him with moans, but when she felt his effort, she held back. But that didn't mean she couldn't relax with the massage he was giving her, even if involuntarily. He had said he had strong hands and she knew he did. But there was something about it, even though he knew how to control that strength well, he still had a somewhat rough touch, one that she liked, because, all things considered, he was extremely gentle with her.
Some intrusive thoughts came to ruin the mood, stupid memories of painful touches long ago, coming from people she thought she could trust, which made her tense.
She feels his fingers pause momentarily, seeming to hesitate. And then she hears him ask, "Hey... am I making you uncomfortable? I'll stop if you want to, okay?"
"No… it's not you. Just some annoying stuff that came to my mind. Don't worry. It's just old ladies gossiping and things like that," she diverges the subject.
"Hnn... okay," He says simply, realizing that she didn’t want to extend the subject. He felt a certain relief in parts, because he was terrible with traumatic or sentimental issues. But on the other hand, he also felt a certain guilt. He remembered all the things his friends had already told him, about how inconvenient and clueless he could be about things like personal space, especially when it came to women. After a few good blows to his ego, he had become much more aware of those flaws. And he felt distressed at the thought that he might be inflicting them on her.
He tries not to think about it too much, finishing with her chest, managing not to play with her breasts too much, and then imitates what she did with her hair, putting shampoo in his hand and rubbing it slowly, taking the opportunity to appreciate the various colors that appeared beneath those golden locks. He smiled with himself.
"That seems like a lot of work. Do you do things like that in the salon?"
"Not often, and not in colors like these. I use more of the normal ones, black and shades of brown... sometimes a redhead when someone gets divorced, ahahahaha," She says, being happy to have a new subject to focus on "I do more haircuts and hairstyles that use hairspray, and to not lose practice, I test it on myself. There are times when I wanna die of boredom, but old ladies at the salon are pretty good friends. There are times when they treat me like I'm still sixteen, but oh well, what can I do...," She leans back against his chest "It's not like I've changed much since then," She smiles, relaxing.
Okay, she seemed relaxed enough, so he wasn't the problem. He sighs in relief.
"I can relate to that, hahaha," He bends down a little to touch the curve of her neck with his nose, still massaging her scalp "And most of the clientele must be old ladies, right? It must be boring as hell. I'd schedule an appointment with you there if it wasn’t for the anti-male brigade that threatened to fry my eggs, hahaha.”
She laughs again, "Exactly... but they're right. That salon is a woman-only temple, and there are things that men cannot hear under any circumstances. And… you can still book an appointment with me, right here at home. I’ll give you a discount. I love doing freelance jobs," She turns her head, looking at him "Because they're always the most fun".
"I'm in! I'll just wait for the end of year bonuses to come in, I kind of emptied my wallet...," He makes a face while picking up water with his hands "Close your eyes...," He instructs before pouring water over her head "Thank fuck the guys came up with this hotpot, because otherwise I would spend Christmas eating noodles in my apartment or in a bar, drinking my ass off, hahaha..."
"Hey, what about me? You have me too, dummy," She whimpers "I would probably be watching movies or getting drunk at home or making things to wear or give as gifts next year," she helps him rinse her head, and then she gets out of the bathtub "Shall we?"
"Uh... would you stay with me for Christmas, if we didn’t have another party to attend?," He blinks, and then he smiles, getting up from the bathtub to go with her "I would be in! It's just that I thought you would have arranged something else if I hadn't invited you, like a night-out with your friends, or a party with your family..."
"I don't have any family," she dries herself, handing him a towel meanwhile "Well, not anymore. I don't want to spend the holidays with the salon ladies either. My Gyaru friends, or ex-Gyarus, already had their own plans too. I remember one invited our group to an Izakaya but everyone else declined, so if it was just me and her there it would feel like a date, according to her. I told her to stop being dumb and she told me to fuck off. We ended up not going out, afterall," she shrugs.
"Well, I made that invitation at the right time then, haha ," He laughs a little, trying to hide a sudden outburst of sympathy by hiding his face in the towel as he dries himself. So she didn't have a family? He understood the situation perfectly. Biological family had always been a sensitive topic for him, so he understood her need to not talk about it more tha necessary. He didn't need any fucking biological family anyway. He had a stepfamily with all the friends he had made in recent years. And maybe she had something like that too "And ex-Gyarus, huh? Traitors to the lifestyle? 
"More or less. They just changed their views, it's normal. Some of them still keep some remnants of it, but it's like something from a punk phase or a rebellious phase, you know. At some point there are people who find those studded coats a pain to wear, and there are girls who, when they leave their teens, realize that that lifestyle doesn't suit them. I… well, not only does it suit me, but I embrace it…" 
"Hunf," He sniffs with a certain haughtiness, one hand on his hip while the index finger of the other scratches his nose "So it's just you and me, the pillars of fidelity to a lifestyle, while the rest conforms over time. I won't stop bleaching my hair, and you won't stop being a Gyaru, and that's what makes us badass, hehe," And he playfully pats her on the hip, making her smile. 
"Yes, in my case I was never anything else. I've always had this tanned skin, y'know. My friends were jealous because I didn't need artificial tanning to achieve this tone," she covered herself with the towel until she remembered who was next to her "C'mon, I'll show you my room. Your pants are there anyway."
And she leaves the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel, putting her glasses back on her face.
He follows her quickly, drying his hair and shoulders too, not bothering to tie the towel around his waist, either "I'm right behind you. And you can tan so easily... the beach would be another nice place for us to go, just so I can see it with my own eyes," He smiles, enjoying the sway of her hips without any shame.
"I'd love to. It's been a while since I've been to the beach, I'd been a little... eh... uninterested. But I intend to in the near future, I love summer," they quickly arrive at the bedroom door "And... eh... sorry about the mess in advance."
She opens the sliding door, and Rihito smells the pile of clothes (clean but put away) before he even enters. Yes, as he suspected, the bedroom was the largest room in the house, but it seemed small with the amount of things piled up there, and none of them, interestingly, were decorative. There were at least three closets, one with a huge mirror on the door, the other two made of wood, and they all had clothes inside, organized on hangers. On the other side, there was a shelf full of drawers with labels, saying “silk”, “chiffon”, “polyester”, “beads” and others. In another corner, barely visible, there was a very vintage, old-fashioned sewing machine, black and with a foot crank. The environment looked like the dressing room of a famous artist or the home of a costume designer who shared the apartment with the tacky owner who owned the couch. In the center, beyond the window on the wall, he wasn't surprised to found a double bed with a heavy, plush duvet, with a Frankenstein-like amalgam of hundreds of different, furry animal fur prints. Saying it was tacky would be an understatement, but he already knew it was all her: so tacky that it was actually beautiful.
"Yeah... this is my... eh... my bedroom-studio," She looks at him, blushing "I told you I sew most of my clothes".
He smiles a lot as he enjoys the immensely colorful and extravagant mess "Wow, would you look at that. The pink monster in the living room swallowed the 70s and threw everything up right here, eh," He laughs at her "I loved it, like the rest of the house, hahaha! And yes, you said you sew your own clothes. Did you find that sewing machine at a thrift store too? I think one of these costs a fortune on the internet."
"No. It's a family heirloom," She smiles a little tenderly "It was from my mother's side. But it was the only thing besides me that she left, and this beauty still works today, so it's still with me," She nods "It must already have a soul within itself, with how old it must be."
"Ooh…," He nods, trying to hide his embarrassment, wondering if he should say something. Damn, he was starting to get frustrated with his own insensitivity. Well, the others had always told him... "Maybe it has, who knows? If you took such good care of it all these years... it must've become the protector of the apartment or something. She and that pink monster, beating the shit outta intruders to keep them from disturbing the Force, haha."
"Ahahaha… very likely. If you were surprised by my pink monster, then it must definitely have a sense for disturbances in the Force. It's aura is very unique, as Butch said," she covers the machine and the table with a heavy cloth. She was probably working on something before he arrived "And again, you reacted much better than I expected...," she opens an embarrassed smile, blushing a little, as she sits on the bed.
"I didn’t react badly to your vintage porn couch, why would I react badly to your room?," He shrugs, unconcerned "I already told you, I like the atmosphere in your apartment. All the cheesiness is fun. And I find it cozy. It's not like those houses of stuck-up rich people that look more like a dentist's office, where everything is white, cold and there's not even a fucking plant in a corner. It's a house that really looks like a house, where there are people actually living, not just existing. Do you understand me? Or am I talking nonsense? I don't know, I just know that I like it and that's it."
She smiles "Yeah, I understand, and I think the same. I like colors," she lies down on the bed "And interesting things to look at. And you can get a sense of the personality of the person living there. I think you look at a jaguar print on a dress in a store and think 'Akane', right? Or cheesy and furry things in general."
He... he had been a little amazed to find that she was right. How many times in the last two months had he passed by a thrift store on his way to the fridge or the gym, seen things like leopard print rugs or pink plush dice and immediately thought that Akane would to have one of those? Four? Five? It was kind of impressive that he was able to remeber her tastes that well and had learned to make associations automatically, without anything needing to remind him of that. Was this what happened when you became intimate with someone? Did things that reminded you of that person start to appear frequently? Or have they always been there and you simply become more interested in them?
He didn't know, and that complex monologue was already overheating the simple machine that was his brain, leaving him frustrated. He dispels those conjectures by doing what he does best: smiling and being a hopeless pervert.
"Sometimes. And what reminds you of me every day? The sausage you buy at the butcher's?"
She laughs loudly and turns her back to him on the bed, still laughing, even letting out a light snore before composing herself "No... not exactly...," she doesn't turn around, letting him look at her back "But now that you mentioned it, I'll put it on the list."
Her back, exposed like that, naked and sporting those almost imperceptible bikini lines, was too tempting for him to resist. He approaches, climbing onto the bed, supporting himself on his elbows and knees above her, and she feels his lips touching the base of her neck, descending with a slowness that makes her shiver.
"I want to hear about the other items on that list later…"
Akane shivers at his touch, smiling a little, turning her head so he has better access to her neck "Oh... I have some... like... I was watching a movie where one of the guys was splitting wood and he picked up the wood and ripped it in two with his fingers. For some reason it reminded me of you and that coin. I see… hnmm… a fit guy leaving the gym, then I… you're going to think it's crazy, but I keep thinking that you could easily beat his ass. And also... cats. Big cats...," she turns around, pulling him into a hug, while sighing "And for some reason a very big and fluffy golden retriever from a neighbor reminded me of you, but I apologize for that, because I laughed," she laughs softly.
He had to hold back for a while not to grab her right there, exultant with the comparisons as he returned the hug "Splitting logs in half, huh? Yes, I can do that, I'll even show you later if you want... and I certainly have the capacity to beat some gym rat's ass, but it won't happen because I don't want to be arrested, hahaha! And I'm a leopard, lady, just like you... but a golden retriever?," He blinks. And then he smiles scathingly "I'm a leopard, but I can also be a dog. Raawn!," And he nibbles her neck, then licks it.
She gasps, laughing, and hugs him more "Ahaha, hnmmm... I know, but part of it is because you're both blonde and cute," she then blinks, a little surprised by what she said, making a pout.
He looks up at her, equally surprised. Boy... had she called him there to have sex or to make him all disarmed and dumbfounded every five minutes? He manages to recover relatively quickly, however, smiling mischievously "Oooh, I think I understand... today you want me to be cute, then? I can do that. I'm going to be adorable," And he kisses her, his tongue asking for passage, his cock slowly brushing between her legs.
"Ooh," she lets him kiss her, and thanks the heavens that he is stupid, or at least ignores these things. She didn't really want to think about it. She hugged him with her legs, passing her thighs along his sides "Yes... but not too adorable, I'm not made of porcelain," she jokes, and her nails passed over his torso, tickling him in a good way "I'm not much in the mood for foreplay, anyway," she looks at him, biting her lip; her eyes were light brown, but like when she was using blue contacts, they were very intense.
He shivers with the feeling of her nails running across his skin, with the heat between her legs, and especially with the words spoken. He was already getting hard as a rock "Hnnn... not even a little tongue? We're being very straightfoward today...," He jokes, his hands massaging her breasts, his thumbs playing with the nipples until they become hard.
"Oonh… I like it, but when I'm a bed with you like this I get wild," she runs her nails through his hair, letting him play with her, panting softly "Hnmm…. so much so that...," she pushes him away a little and turns onto her stomach "I want you like this...," she pushes her buttocks against the middle of his legs, her torso on the mattress, looking at him "Choose your entrance...," she says in a malicious moan "As long as you come in slowly."
He kneels on the mattress, and she sees, over her shoulder, the exact moment his brain turned off and everything else turned on, his green eyes becoming a little unfocused, delight written in every line of his expression.
"Damn, that's the best invitation I’ve been given today…," He leans over to kiss the tattoos on her thigh, moving down to her buttocks afterwards "I accept it… but doing it dry like that won’t be good for you, right? Don't lie to me, you want some of this...," And she feels when his fingers slide from bottom to top along the line of her sex, massaging it, searching for her clit and gracing it as soon as they find it. 
And he is surprised when his finger practically sinks into her heat when he presses a little, before reaching the clit. She gasps more when he moves, shivering all over.
"Ahnn.. I told you… ooh…," she looks at him "But don’t stop, please…"
He would be a complete idiot if he didn't comply with that request. He goes back to kissing and licking her buttocks, positioning his arm more comfortably and then moving his fingers back and forth, moving his phalanges to massage her insides, especially that little elevation he felt when he went up to where her clit was. And all the while he was admiring how wet she was, running on his fingers, his mouth watering at the sight.
"Damn, you got like that without me barely touching you... all this just by imagining me fucking you? Hnn?," He asks in a hoarse growl "Naughty girl... "
"You already know who I am…," she says between moans, looking at him "And I know you were already getting a hard-on just with me invited you in, you big dog. Just me calling you-aaah!," She trembles all over, arching her back, when he touches a sensitive spot beyond her clit.
"Dog... you know what happens when you provoke a dog, right?," He takes a bite there, on the juicy flesh of her buttocks, sucking a little to leave a reddish mark and smiling mischievously at her reaction to the capricious work of his fingers "You get eaten... both ways. Only one thing at a time...," And he presses his face against her ass, giving a nice lick from bottom to top, from her sex to that tight hole between the buttocks, and her stays there, his tongue caressing it while his fingers work vigorously. 
"Aaaah...," She trembles all over "Oh, fuck yeah... Rihito, this is torture," she doesn't make any move to stop him, however "I love that tongue, and those fingers, ooh... they make me melt, aahn...," she was so wet that her juices ran down his fingers.
Her praise made him even more hallucinated, hard as a rock, and even more desperate to devour her and extract more of those sounds. He makes her lift her buttocks so he can move his arm more freely, loving the sight of his fingers moving in and out of her, the pink flesh hugging them in a way that makes him ache for his dick's turn. He licks her butthole in the meantime, kissing it afterwards, saying in a low growl, "Ask for it. And don't play coy with me. I want to hear it, Akane..." 
"Ahnn… eat me, c'mon… fuck my pussy and fill my ass up...," She asks, and in such a sultry way… she even wiggles her buttocks in his face "I know you want it too…," she leaves her glasses on the bedside table and when she comes back, she hands him a package. He knew exactly what it was.
"Fucking hell, woman...!," He takes his soaked fingers out of her, almost panting with excitement, bending down to give that juicy flesh a long lick before picking up the condom, wraping himself up as quickly as he can before positioning himself, his huge hands firm on her hips "Yeah, lift that ass for me... hnnnn...!," And he shivers as he enters her all at once, being immediately pressed into that delicious, warm grip that made him a little dizzy "Fuck, there's- there's nothing better to do in this cold...!"
"Aahnn!," She moans loudly "That's it, c'mon, fuck me! hmmm!!," she lifts her torso a little, to arch her back more "Say you love this, say you'll always want to fuck me!"
She was a vocal girl, she knew that, but she always had this fear of being foul-mouthed with her partners, so much so that she had heard complaints or even hands over her mouth several times... but with Rihito... no, with Ichiro, she knew that he loved every note and every sound she made, and he even asked for more. This euphoria was everything to her.
And holy fuck, how much he loved it. He holds her even tighter, grunting like the dog she accused him of being as he thrusts into her, slamming his hips into hers with loud, wet sounds, rotating his hips to make sure he hits her in all the right spots "Damn, I want...! I want to fuck you every day, all the time, I can't stop thinking... hnnnn...! Thinking about those beautiful tits, that ass, that pussy...! And your face..."
She raises her torso even more, placing her back against his chest "I want it too, I'll never get tired of such a hot motherfucker, aaaahn!," She grabs his neck, bringing his head to touch her shoulder "Oohhh yes, I love it... more... hold me tight, don't let me get away... Ichirooo...!"
And the sound of his real name was like a magic word. He grabs her willingly while biting her on the shoulder, growling, keeping her in place like a male cat biting a female's neck, the pounding of his hips against hers becoming even more merciless.
"Gruunf...! I'm not going to... you're gonna stay here with me, you're gonna let me fuck you and make you come all night, you're not gonna leave my side...!," And one of his hands moves between your legs, his fingers firmly on her clit, his strong, hoarse breathing in her ear, an extremely welcome sound as an accompaniment to those wet pops.
"Aaanh! Yessss...!," she moans loudly, and when she is touched she practically whines, facing him, her breasts bouncing with his thrusts "K-Keep going, Ichiro, I love when you fuck me like that, uughnn... I love it...!," The view of her mouth open, her sexy face, with her eyes closed facing a window showing the dark night sky, the snow falling outside... it was something that would remain engraved in his memory.
He stares at the window with snow piling up on the eaves, the dark sky seeming to be dotted with white spots that fell in a slow dance, the ecstasy of the climax arriving seeming to make the scene more surreal, intimate, cozy... and then he lets out a deep sound of pleasure, the back and forth getting rougher, as well as his fingers "Fuck, Akane...! I'm almost there, come with me, squeeze me tighter...!"
"Aaannn, me too, Ichiro… don’t stop-aaahh! Ahhhnn!," She squeezes him hard, with her arms and with her insides, while shaking hard, bouncing on top of his dick while riding her climax "Ohhh... Ichiroooo... I love... oohhh..."
"A-Akane...! hhnNNG...!," He locks his hips, holding her tight against him, and damn, cumming hard while he was inside that wonderful woman while snow was falling outside in the silent night was an almost magical experience, fuck how cheesy that is sounded! He then goes limp, resting his forehead on her shoulder, breathing heavily. She feels his lips sliding there, on her skin, in a small kiss. "Holy shit... I love it too... shit, I've really missed you..."
He ends up sitting on top of his own legs while she sat on top of him, still panting her, leaning against him.
"Oh... me too," she turns her head and kisses him. "Hmmmm," she lets him go slowly, looking into his eyes. In that light, her eyes were even more bright, and she looked at him with a face full of want that gave him goosebumps.
He looks back at her, his eyelids heavy, his face sweaty and his breathing still labored. Her eyes looked like a cat's in the dim light, bright and penetrating... yes, there was no better nom de guerre than 'Panther' for her. He smirks, a shiver running down his spine. "Good to know... because I didn't forget that request of yours... about filling your ass up. Just let me recover first...," He gets rid of the condom (good thing there was a little trash bin next to the bed. She'd certainly thought of everything, huh), and then makes her turn over onto her back, slowly laying on top of her. A hand goes up to her face, giving her another kiss, and then he rests his head between her breasts, an idiotic smile of satisfaction taking over his face. "You're so fucking hot that I can barely stand it, haha…"
"Hnmm... with someone as hot fucking me, is hard not to be," She hugs his neck, keeping his face between her breasts, caressing his head. "Hmm... I love this feeling... the aftergloow ... hmm," She hugs him more "It makes me melt..."
"Me too... I don't even want to get out of bed to eat...," He murmurs, almost moaning with her caressing his hair. "Even more so in weather like this, hnnn... damn, this bed is almost as good as the pink monster in the living room, yes sir..."
"Haha, I told you… good thing there's enough space for both of us and very warm blankets…," She pulls out a pillow and adjusts herself on it… then she lifs her eyes and sees it. "Oh, just as the forecast predicted. It's snowing outside… it's a very nice sight when you're inside a cozy room, right?"
"Hell yeah!," He turns over in bed too, looking at the window. "I kinda saw it two minutes ago, but I ended up forgetting. You are a sucker of memories, as well as souls, hehehe!," And he puts a hand on her back, watching the snow fall with a happy smile "The first snowfall of the year…"
"Hnmm… yeah…," she says nothing more than that, caressing his head with her nails, as if combing his hair, a smile on her lips.
He reciprocates by caressing her back more, his fingers very gentle, almost affectionate, seeming perfectly happy to just stay there, enjoying the moment with her. He covers them both with the blanket (colorful, fuzzy and patterned, because if it weren't, it wouldn't be Akane, after all), murmuring against their skin, "Thank you for inviting me to come here. On a night like this, it's better to sleep with someone than alone."
"I agree... and I wouldn't leave you in the cold like that, honey," She kisses him on the top of his head. "Thank you too."
In the silence of the room, with his body still not very tired, his thoughts did some pirouettes until they reached what his friend had said. The First Snow… He chuckles. 
"Hey, lemme tell you something funny. I exchanged a few texts with Okubo before arriving here. Guess what he was gonna do with Tomori," And he indicates the window, which had already accumulated a certain amount of snowflakes on the sill, with a gesture of his head.
"Let me see… Tomori and I are birds of a feather, but she loves cheesy shit… so some really good sex, with hot cocoa and fluffy blankets on the side?"
"The Egghead loves that shit too, even though he doesn't admit it, that's why they're perfect for each other," He laughs more "And that's exactly it, but that would be the consequence of their original plans. They went to see the First Snow," He rolls his eyes with a smile that she saw was more affectionate than mocking "Some kind of winter magic and whatnot…"
"Really? What kind of magic?," She blinks "Never heard of it...," She blinks,  and then she seems to remember. "Oooh, it's a Korean superstition about the first snowfall of the winter," She smiles at him. "It's just that they believe that if a couple confess to eachother as soon as the First Snow falls, the love between them become pure as snow, so it will last forever...," She laughs softly "Tomori kept telling me that, and she and I watched some Korean soap operas that had that trope in them. Kinda cute, but… that's… eh…," She sighs, looking disbelieved.
"Oh, so it's Korean? I didn’t know that. But yeah, that's exactly it! The gayest shit to end all the other gay shit," He has a small coughing fit while laughing. "My bro was never into that stuff, but he found a girlfriend and immediately let the hopeless romantic that always existed inside him come out," He pouts , making kissing sounds, and then he looks out the window at the snowy night. "Eh, he's as happy as a clam, and that's what matters..."
He turns to her. Then he notices her thoughtful expression. The smile fades from his face.
"Uh… I'm just joking, okay? I don't think less of those who believe in that stuff, I just think it's funny..."
"It's okay. It's not like you can actually kiss someone under a snowfall and shazam! True love...," She snorts, shrugging a bit. "But I'm happy for my friend. Good for them..."
"... Yeah," He looks at the covers, before looking up once again, admiring the dark winter night outside. "I don't have any experience in the department, so I can't say much. But I know that, with those two specifically, it wasn't a Disney movie or all the shit we see in soap operas. I saw everything unfold from the beginning. I know they built something nice and solid together. So this First Snow shit seems a bit unnecessary in their case. But yeah... I'm happy too." 
"Huhum…," she strokes his head once again. "Tomori told me some things while it was all happening, but I couldn't do much for her, unfortunately. I was in a tight situation myself, but when I managed to settle everything, I went to talk to her, and she told me that they had sorted things out. I was happy for her, she'd been waiting for her special someone for years, and she was lucky enough to bump into her idol at Butch's bakery. But seriously, was that pure coincidence? You guys saw the bakery, got in to have a quick snack and boom! Instant meet cute?"
"Actually, we found out about the bakery through Tokita and his employer, Mr. Yamashita," He tells her, smiling again. "Some crazy things happened that made Miss Kanami need help, and our friend group ended up offering themselves. Because of this, Okubo, Himuro and I decided to go visit the place. We were curious to meet the buff baker," He laughs softly. "And what a surprise we had when the cute  subchef had a burst of happiness when she saw Okubo and ran over to ask for his autograph. You should've seen his face, the happiest dumbass in the whole world, hahaha…"
"Ooh… so it was thanks to the buff couple? How interesting...," She smiles too. "And cute... she got the romance she wanted so much. Now my chest feels all warm, "She looks at him. "And your face looks pretty warm too," She laughs.
He laughs too, all happy, pushing his face between her breasts even more.
"Girl, it'll be warm for the whole night if you let me stay here. But anyway! The Seaweed Head was the pure definition of a clueless virgin, and then, out of nowhere, he and Aunty fell in love. Three months later it was Okubo Tomori's turn. Mr. Yamashita says that Tokita finding someone was the event needed for  some cosmic lock to open, and them things snowballed from there. What do they call this stuff again...," He frowns a little, making a face of hilarious concentration before continuing. "Oh yeah! Butterfly Effect."
"Interesting. And a clueless virgin? Really? A handsome guy like that? He must've been traumatized to his core. Maybe someone fucked him and he ended up not liking it," She wonders. "I've seen people like that."
He shudders, making a slightly scared face.
"Don't joke about these things, Phanter. And anyway, he's not even that handsome! He just has that sulky face that a lot of girls like, I don't know why...," He makes a jealous pout. "But anyway, I don't really know what happened to him, but I know he had a fucked up childhood. And meeting Mr. Yamashita, us and, later, Miss Kanami, gave him the chance to live like a normal person. That's it. He's even making double entendres in our group chat nowadays, the clown..."
"That's good to know," she nods, and the she looks at him, raising an eyebrow "And I wouldn't call it a 'sulky face'... it's pure presence, the aura of someone who doesn't playt around. You know, that person who enters a saloon in cowboy movies, and everyone inside stops whatever they're to look at his face. They're all tense, already thinking that he's going to shoot everyone if someone messes with him... that's what I'm saying. This type of person has this kind of presence for two reasons," She raises two fingers, pointing at eachone. "Either someone fucked him up and he's trying to get revenge, or he ruined a lot of people's lives and enjoyed doing so. In general, women like this kind of guy because it's the aura of someone who doesn't need to prove anything to anyone and has a lot of self-confidence. A lot of girls are deceived by that and fall into his web." 
Her tone, he noticed, was not that of someone who admired this kind of man. She sounded like someone who had seen a lot, to the point of being able to analyze these things from afar and not fall for the trick.
"... Alright, fair enough. Can we stop talking about the Seaweed Head now, please?," He asks, almost whimpering, hugging her tighter. Damn, it was quite a sight, a man that size acting all jealous. It seemed that he didn't get even more mad only because he realized that she was speaking as an analyst and not as an admirer.
"You can have all this confidence too, you know?," She smiles at him, when she notices the pout he made.
He looks up at her. And then he smiles happily.
"I already have it. All thanks to you."
Her eyes widen as she blushes. She was going to tease him about also being fucked too boost his confidence, but he caught her completely off guard. Shit, why did he had to attack her with a cuteness combo? The entire sentence she was formulating went down the drain in her conscience and her chest began to complain about the blow, so she looked away so as not to stare at that human golden retriever with leopard claws.
"T-That's good to know... I was good for something," She opens an embarrassed smile, still mortified. "I'm happy to have helped you, yeah..".
"Don't talk as if your help wasn't a big deal, or I'll be forced to fuck you even harder just to reinforce the message," He stretches a little to reach her lips in a quick kiss. And then he lifts himself up a little, sitting up and taking the covers with him. He calls her as he pats his own lap, smiling more, "Now, since we've succumbed to all that cheesy shit, how about we just go with the flow? I can wear the sweatpants you bought me and then we can stay here, watching the snow fall until we feel hungry," He looks out the window, his eyelids getting heavy, his expression serene. "I have to admit, it's really pretty…"
She looks at him again, her eyes glistening. It was the third time he's seen her with that slightly surprised, even helpless look, as if he had break down a wall that was surrounding her. But it always lasted half a second, with her smiling a little mischievously and shrugging. "Heh. Alright then. If you're going through Hell, walk as if you own the place...," She hugs him, resting her head on his arm "... which I do, since I'm a she-devil."
He laughs loudly, hugging her eagerly and throwing the fluffy covers over the two of them. "Well said. And you can sit on my lap whenever you want while we're doing so, hahaha!"
"Careful what you wish for, big guy," She jokes more, tickling his ribs a little. "Because I’ll do it."
"As if I were going to stop you in any way...," He smiles in the same way after laughing with the tickles, reciprocating with a firm grip on her tattooed thigh. They ended up getting into a playful fight, while she furiously tried to tickle him and he calmly parried her blows, barely using any strength. As expected, Rihito ended up winning, pinning Akane by her arms to the bed. Their movements caused something to fall from the bedside table with a thud, and when they realized with alarm that it had only been a plastic lamp, neither of them could hold it, laughing loudly. 
Deciding the game was over, but still laughing, they arranged the pillows so that they made a soft backrest where they could relax, slouching on them under the covers.
And then they stayed there, hugging each other, watching the first snow of the year fall.
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Next chapter Here
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asimplearchivist · 8 months ago
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What’s your preferred way to write? On a PC, laptop, phone, in a hardcover notebook? Something else entirely?
Also, how do you organize worldbuilding, references, outlines, and other stuff for your projects?
Don’t mind me, just taking notes… 📝 👀
Hi, Sofie!😊Thank you for popping into my inbox!
I almost exclusively write on laptop/PC/iPad/even my phone when I get the chance. (When I was a waitress I was in my Dragon Age kick and would write on my tickets front and back so I wouldn’t “be on my phone” the whole time. I have the majority of the future scenes of The Smallest of Deeds transposed from those tickets, and I still have them in an envelope tucked away.) Otherwise I’m a tech/cloud enthusiast haha. I have enough blank notebooks that I want so very badly to get into the habit of actually using them, though…one day!🙏🏻
As far as my notes…they’re usually chaos lol. Most of the time they end up just being billeted lists at the start of my documents. Plot points and twists, character details, etc, all lined up so I can check them easily. I add them as I think of new things, like snippets of dialogue or scene ideas and the like.
I am currently in the process of transferring all of my Docs to a platform called Dabble, which is also cloud compatible, since Google decided to allow AI to delve into that space. I need to save a bunch of my old college/uni assignments into my Word Documents, but my PC is still out of commission for the time being so that process has been on hold for a while, unfortunately.
(I digress.) Dabble has character cast, plot grid, and worldbuilding notes features that help me to organize a lot more effectively, which is why I like using it so much. You can pull up your “notecards” within whatever chapter or scene you’re writing in at the time, and it’s enough of a blank slate that I don’t get overwhelmed with feeling like I have to fill everything out. (I swear I’m sponsored lol, but it really is nice if you can afford to pay its subscription fee. It just feels a lot more secure than Docs, runs more efficiently without lagging, and has features that allow for importation and exportation. It structures the document itself like a manuscript for easier transferral, and it has cloud syncing and allows for others to comment and access for beta reading and the like. I’d highly recommend checking it out!)
In the Morning Light (or, currently, That Poison, Reconciliation) is the first fic that I’ve really invested in organizing since I’ve had a bunch of different documents over the span of ten years keeping track of all my ideas. I’m exclusively writing it in Dabble rn.
Speaking of which…I’m a week late for an update, huh🥲I have some free time tonight, so I’ll try to work on the next chapter!
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with-love-from-hell · 1 year ago
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5 Sides of Human
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{Part Twenty-Three}
Genre: Mixed
WC: ~3.7k
CW: skin picking/scratching, anxiety/panic attacks, mentions of blood, mentions of death, Barbatos being aggressive lol, Illusion to past trauma, swearing, Storm has a stutter but I am not depicting it with written word consistently, prolly lots of typos lol, spoilers for season 1&2, I'm skipping over/changing some things I didn't like in the main story so it will be a bit different from canon!
Series Masterlist
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©️ artwork commissioned by @vivi8bit ©️  
“I don’t understand, why is a stupid record bein’ broken such a big deal?” Mammon crossed his arms. “Beel’s just cursed or somethin’ right? So just reverse it. No biggie for someone like you, Lucifer.” 
It didn’t take long for most everyone to begin sobering up once Lucifer began to exhibit signs of panic. While some thought it was just because he cherished his precious records, others were a bit more concerned. The usual stoicism of the eldest brother faltering was not something often seen, and Storm especially began to grow deeply concerned by what this meant. 
“It’s not just the siren song that was on this record.” Lucifer sighed, nervously picking at pieces of vinyl. “It contained numerous dangerous songs. One of those songs was the Hymn of the Reaper.”
Solomon and Barbatos gasped in sync, catching everyone’s attention. 
Storm swallowed, fear welling in her stomach. “W-what’s the Hymn of the Reaper?” 
“It’s a song from the opera of the same name. It’s performed at the climax of the story.” Solomon gave a deep, concerned sigh. “The protagonist is a young man who is killed by the reaper in the last scene. That’s when the reaper sings this song, blowing out the candle upon which the man’s soul burns. 
“This is the record I obtained for you in exchange for some rare demonus several years ago, yes?” Barbatos nervously glanced toward the pieces in Lucifer’s hands, already knowing the answer. 
“Indeed.” Lucifer sighed. “The version from the year 1818.” 
“That’s the performance that was so ghastly that it’s rumored they were actually channeling the spirit of a reaper, right?” Solomon shook his head, his eyes widening in panic. “This isn’t good at all...” 
Storm shuddered as a chill went up her spine. Looking to the other humans for support. The only other sober human was Vivi, who shrugged in uncertainty as she caught her gaze.  
“So, what does this mean exactly?” Diavolo sighed, rubbing his temples to nurse his impending hangover. 
“It means that Beel may have incurred the wrath of the reaper by breaking the record.” Solomon glanced toward the 6th born, who nervously fidgeted with his fingers. “And there’s a chance that the reaper might decide to extinguished Beel’s soul at any moment.” 
Belphie shook his head, frantically trying to regulate his breath “What! B-but that would mean-” 
“Beel’s soul would be taken by the reaper and he would cease to be.” Lucifer sighed, refusing to make eye contact with the others in the room. His heart pounded with fear, and his skull felt as if it may crack with how terribly his forehead was throbbing. 
The room grew silent for a moment, those were still in their boozed haze before where now snapped back to the harshness of reality. Beel whimpered nervously, not knowing what to make of his situation. 
“T-that can’t be right...” Vivi shook their head, feeling their own panic begin to rise.  “They’ll kill him over a shitty broken record?!” 
“That’s so stupid! And how would the reaper even know that Beel was the one that broke it?!” Fern added, trying to shuffle their way closer to Belphie without being noticed. They stood a few steps in front of him, holding his hand behind their back to ensure no one else saw. 
“I’m afraid I can’t say for sure, but I wouldn’t exactly rule it out.” Barbatos sighed. Everyone glanced at each other nervously, not sure how to take the news that Beel’s life could end at any second. 
“W-what are we going to do?” Storm nearly shouted. She squeezed Beel’s hand tightly, smoothing over his knuckles to try to calm both him and herself down.  “There’s got to be something we can do to fix it...right Lucifer..?”
Lucifer hesitated but glanced up to meet Storm’s panicked expression. His heart dropped to his Stomach as he watched the last bit of hope drain from her eyes, clearly not reassured by his demeanor.
“I’m not sure...” He dropped his eyes back to the record pieces. He smoothed over the vinyl with his thumb, trying his best to remain calm to not further spiral the room into panic.
After a moment of tense silence, Satan cleared his throat. “Well, based on what I’ve read, the reapers are said to live in a cave somewhere in the Devildom, though the entrance is hidden quite well.”
Fern crossed their arms. “Okay, so say we find this place...what exactly are we looking for, then?”
“In the deepest part of the cave is a chamber where row after row of candles are kept. Each one represents someone’s soul- angels, humans, demons...all creatures that reside within the three realms.” Satan began pacing, as if trying to work out the logistics of getting to the cave. “Normally, the reapers monitor these candles. When one of them starts to go out, they know that the person’s death is nigh, and go to harvest their soul.”
“So all we have to do is just get into the reaper’‘s cave and check on Beel’s candle right?” Storm glanced around, her eyes finally landing on Lucifer
“Then...then why don’t we do that?!” Belphie yanked his hand out of Fern’s pushing past them to plead with his older brother. “What the fuck are we just sitting around for then!? Beel’s life is on the line here!”
“Belphie, I’m afraid it’s not that simple.” Lucifer sighed, finally setting the pieces of the record on the credenza behind him. “Amongst all else, I don’t even know where the reaper’s cave is, and-”
“But we can’t just sit and do nothing!” Belphie yelled, now standing toe-to-toe with the eldest. “Don’t you care that Beel could die!?”
“Of course I care!” Lucifer snapped back aggressively, hurt evident in his tone. He and Belphie stared each other down for a moment as everyone watched on in an uncomfortable silence. After a tense minute, Lucifer sighed again, pinching the bridge of his nose. His voice was now a mere whisper, hiding the tears that threatened to pool in his eyes. “I care more than you know, Belphie.”
Beel whimpered again, trying to ease his discomfort by squeezing Storm’s hand. Before Lucifer and Belphie could argue any more, Solomon chimed in cheerily.
“Oh, I know the location of the reaper’s cave. I can take you there if you’d like.”
Everyone snapped their heads toward Solomon, confused as to how he even had that information. He smiled at Storm, who looked incredibly relieved.
“Why the fuck didn’t you say so earlier!” Vivi snarled, balling their fists tightly. They attempted to take a threatening step toward Solomon, but were stopped by Satan’s outstretched arm.
“Whatever! We just need to go. Now.” Belphie gestured impatiently toward Solomon. “Lets get a move on!”
“Wait.” Beelzebub sheepishly murmured. “I should go alone. This is my problem, I need to fix it.”
“No, I have to go with you. You can’t do it alone.” Belphie linked arms with Beel, refusing to let go.
“You have no idea what you’re up against.” Lucifer sighed. “Everyone else stays put, Belphie, myself, and Beel will go.”
Before Storm could open her mouth again, Lucifer interrupted her. “That includes you, Storm. You are staying as well. I need someone responsible to look after the others.”
“What, ya saying I ain’t responsible?!” Mammon snorted in frustration.
“Yes.” Lucifer stated flatly, before turning to Solomon as he began drawing a large circle on the ground with chalk.
“Lucifer...” Storm pleaded, her eyes shimmering with fear. “I’m worried about Beel. Please...”
Lucifer sighed. “...I have a bad feeling about how things will turn out with all of us going to the cave. This is enough of a hassle as it is. I have no desire to make it even worse...” he paused, staring into Storm’s puppy dog eyes.
“But there’s power in numbers, right?” Heart added with a shrug.
“Yes, I’m sure that would be true if you were talking about individuals who were in any way competent.” Lucifer pinched the bridge of his nose. “But that’s not the case here. Just imagining this group in that castle gives me a headache.”
“We’re a family.” Levi interjected, stepping forward. He puffed out his chest in a display of faux confidence as he stood up to Lucifer. He swallowed hard, sparing a nervous glance to Sarah for support. “We wont just stay back and do nothing. We’re going.”
Lucifer sighed, closing his eyes as he admitted defeat. “Fine. But you will all behave and better not touch a single thing in that cave.”
Storm ran to Lucifer, hugging tight around his midsection. He lifted his arms, uncertain of what to do with them as she nuzzled her head against his abdomen. Her voice was low enough to where only he could hear. “Thank you, Lucifer.”
His cheeks burned red as he awkwardly patted Storm’s back, not knowing how to feel about her sudden, brazen display of intimacy in front of the others. He glanced around, landing almost instantly on Fern’s harsh scowl, and then to Barbatos’ warning stare. Finally, she let go, smiling warmly at him. He couldn’t help but smile back.
“I will request that we have some individuals stay behind to aid in cleaning the mess with the angels.” Barbatos interjected, trying to shift the focus to the ridiculous mess behind them. He narrowed his eyes at Sarah, knowing she was a significant contributor to the mess.
“Fine. Sarah, Vivi, and Fern, you two will stay.” Lucifer aided Solomon in moving some furniture out of the way as he marked his path, whistling a joyful tune as he worked.
“What! Why us?!” Sarah’s words slurred as she whined at the oldest.
Lucifer whipped around, a look of rage passing by his features as he pointed to Sarah and Fern. “First of all, you two are beyond drunk and your presence would likely cause trouble. Second, you all specifically are responsible for a significant amount of this damage, and I expect that Barbatos will keep you three in line.”
Lucifer turned to Barbatos, straightening his back. “You have my permission to inflict any punishment you desire if either of them shirk off their cleaning duties.”
“Understood.” Barbatos smiled wickedly, casting a satisfied grin toward the 3 humans. He immediately handed them all brooms, ordering them to get to work.
Lucifer sighed, catching Storm’s twinkling eye and warm smile out of the corner of his vision. She moved to grab Beel’s hand again. He figured she was comforted by the supportive touch, and thought for a moment perhaps he should take up her other one.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve drawn this particular magic circle.” Solomon mused, cutting off Lucifer’s thoughts.
“Hurry up Solomon.” Belphie hissed, impatiently pacing around Beel and Storm.
Another deep sigh escaped Lucifer’s lips. “Please try to be patient. We don’t want him to make an error and send us to the middle of Lotan’s lair or something.”
“He could work a little faster though.” Belphie murmured as Solomon stood, dusting off his hands.
“I have to say, I am surprised that you counted a reaper amongst your acquaintances, Solomon.” Satan sighed, dusting off a stray mark from where Solomon’s chalk had snapped.
“Yeah, aren’t reapers known to like...keep to themselves?” Levi added, “I hear they’re pretty anti-social...”
“Oh! Oh! Solomon! This reaper friend of yours...are they hot?” Asmo giggled, leaning obnoxiously far over him as he continued marking the ground.
Solomon chuckled. “Hmm. Good question. I suppose you should just see for yourself, right?”
“Aww, no fair! I want to meet the hot reaper!” Sarah pouted, stamping her foot in annoyance.
Barbatos clicked his tongue in annoyance before whaping her across the nape of her neck with a wooden spoon. Sarah yelped, glaring toward the butler in annoyance.
“Fucking OW!” Sarah whined, now sweeping faster for fear of being struck again.
“Come on, Solomon. At least give me a little taste of what to expect!” Asmo begged, tugging on his coat.
“Well, I wouldn’t say this reaper looks like an antisocial loner, but I suppose they do sort of fit that description.” Solomon shrugged. “Though I suppose their appearance is a matter of taste, really. I find them quite attractive, though I’ve really only seen them looking quite angry.”
“Wait, I thought you said this reaper was your friend...” Heart glanced uneasily toward Asmo.
“I’d like to think we are.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Vivi raised an eyebrow in irritation.
“...Well...” Solomon chuckled nervously, “...I just don’t know if the feeling is mutual.”
Storm swallowed hard, shifting her weight between her feet. Lucifer looked on, feeling bad that she didn’t have Malice at her side. Beel’s reassuring squeeze of her hand seemed to calm her down slightly though, which eased his guilt.
“Alright, finished.” Solomon turned to the brothers and Storm. “Now, this reaper isn’t exactly the friendly type, so it’s possible we may be accused of trespassing.”
“Wha- why are you smiling!? That doesn’t seem like the sort of thing to smile about!” Levi shook his head, scooting his way anxiously toward Heart to mimic Storm’s act of receiving comfort. He gripped Heart’s entire arm tightly, accidentally yanking them toward him.
Ignoring Levi’s anxiety, Solomon began his incantation. A strong wind began to circle the sigil he had drawn on the ground as everyone stepped inside of it.
“I am the magician Solomon, Heed my words! Open the way forward, creating a path where there was none!”
“Wait, Solomon! Whaddaya mean we’ll be accused of trespassing!” Mammon shouted over the wind as it picked up speed, causing everyones hair to whip back and forth.
Again, ignoring the brothers, Solomon continued: “Show us the way to the reaper’s cave!”
A bright white light blinded everyone in the circle before the group disappeared from the castle ballroom, leaving only trails of chalk dust and stands of Storm’s vibrant red hair in their wake.
Barbatos sighed, glad the chaos that was caused by the brothers was now finally over. He turned his attention back to the other two humans, only to be caught completely off guard by the brooms laying haphazardly amongst the broken glass and bits of food strewn about the floor. He snapped his eyes up to Simeon, his eyelid twitching in annoyance.
“They asked me not to say anything.” Simeon chuckled. “Don’t worry, we’ll get this place cleaned up.”
“You’d better.” Barbatos hissed, now turning his attention back to Diavolo.
Luke groaned in frustration. “Simeon! We have to do this all ourselves?!”
Simeon merely smiled, returning his focus to sweeping. He hummed as Luke groaned again, louder this time.
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“G’AAAHHHH!” Mammon yelped, collapsing onto the ground first. Most of the rest of the group fell from the portal that opened a fair distance above the ground in a plethora of screams and yelps. Each landed clumsily around Mammon, who slowly tried to get back up to his feet.
Storm had tried her best to land gracefully, but the amount of others cascading down out of the portal ended up throwing off her rhythm. Fern grabbed her ankle as they fell through after her, causing her to land directly on top of Mammon.
“G’URGH!” He spat out as Storm’s weight sent him flat onto his back. “H-hey! Get Offa’ me!”
“Fuck, sorry!” Storm scrambled off of him quickly before helping him up and dusting off his jacket. “Are you okay, Mams?”
“Acgh...No! What’re ya thinkin’, Red?!” He groaned, clutching his abdomen. “Seriously, how’d ya manage to land knee-first on my stomach!? I’m gonna end up dead before I even have the chance to meet the reaper at this rate!”
Storm shifted anxiously. “I-I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to-”
“Solomon, why the fuck did you put the portal so high!” Fern groaned, stretching out their back from the painful landing they had. Unfortunately for them, a very angry Vivi had been their cushion as they fell to the ground.
“Fern, I’m gonna fucking kill you.” Vivi growled as Satan tried to help her to her feet.
"Hup!” Solomon brushed off his cape as he landed on the ground perfectly. “I couldn’t ask for a better landing!”
Lucifer was the last to Land from the portal, surprised to see how many of the individuals had not learned that portals can be tricky to maneuver through. What also caught his attention was three extra humans who shouldn’t be here. 
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Lucifer pinched the bridge of his nose, the pounding in his head only worsening from the fact that this trip was clearly shaping up to be worse than he anticipated.
“I forgot to mention that you should watch where you land whenever you transport somewhere.” Solomon chuckled, helping a few of the others to their feet.
“T-thanks for the tip.” Heart groaned as Levi finally rolled off of him.
“It’s a little late to be warning us NOW!” Levi whined, rubbing his lower back with a wince.
“Hey...Solomon..?” Asmo whimpered nervously. Solomon and the others who now stood turned to him as he pointed at a message scrawled above the entrance to the cave.
“Is...Is that blood?!” Sarah shrieked, immediately hiding behind Vivi for protection. Vivi hissed, pushing Sarah away aggressively and scooting closer toward Satan.
“Attention Solomon, you damned pest of a magician...” Satan cocked his head trying to read the messy chicken scratch. “Just TRY sneaking into my cave while I’m gone, and I promise I’ll make you pay. I’ll take your candle and trample it, boil it, and chop it into a million pieces. Then your soul will be MINE, you bone-headed fool!”
“Ahaha! You have to admit, that’s pretty funny!” Solomon laughed as the others glanced amongst each other in confusion.
“Uh, no...That’s definitely not what I’d call funny.” Levi shook his head. “Anyway, if this reaper wrote a nasty message specifically directed at you, then...”
“Solomon...what did you do?” Storm scratched her forearm nervously.
“Hmm...nothing I can think of off-hand.” Solomon tapped his chin for a moment before eventually shrugging. “Anyways, lets head in!”
“Whoa, hold on a second!” Mammon spread out his arms, blocking Solomon’s way. “You see a message like that and you’re just gonna ignore it? Are ya crazy!?”
“Well, the reaper’s not here, right?” Belphie shrugged. “So that means we can go in, find Beel’s candle, and leave. Easy.”
“Oh, wait! I almost forgot.” Solomon grabbed Belphie’s sleeve, signaling for the others to pause. “There’s something else you all should know. Here in the reaper’s cave, there are certain rules that must be followed. Otherwise, you may end up dead before you even make it to the candles.”
“What?!” Mammon shrieked, feeling a shiver run up his spine.
Storm bit her lip to keep it from trembling, now digging her nails deep into her skin. She felt so much anxiety rise at the idea of another one of her close friends- or rather, family- falling victim to the reapers wrath. Perhaps she made a mistake in insisting they all come with. The anxiety coursing through her veins caused her breath to pick up, almost causing her to dry-heave. Beel watched as she desperately tried to hide he growing panic from the others.
“Storm.” Lucifer placed a hand gently on her back, murmuring to her quietly. “It’ll be alright, just relax.”
She whipped her gaze up to him. The soft look in Lucifer’s eyes and the tickle of his thumb rubbing against her shoulder blade allowed her to calm down ever-so slightly. She took a deep breath as Lucifer turned his attention back toward Solomon.
“What are the rules, then?”
“Yeah, and if we don’t follow ‘em..? I mean, c’mon, ya gotta be exaggeratin’ right?” Mammon added.
“I wish I were, but no.” Solomon crossed his arms. “Now listen up. The reaper’s cave consists of 5 levels, each one deeper than before. And each level has its own specific rule, which the reaper has determined. If you break a rule, you get punished.”
“Sounds soo dangerous.” Vivi rolled their eyes, their tone dripping with sarcasm. “So, then we follow the rules. What’s so hard about that?”
“The rules here are absolute. You have to obey them, no exceptions.” Solomon raised a brow toward Vivi, who still looked disinterested. “So before we go in, you all have to agree to follow the rules exactly.”
“Wait. I don’t want to put Storm and the other humans in a dangerous situation like this...” Beel glanced uncertainly toward where Storm stood at Lucifer’s side, feeling unnerved by the fact that she had panicked before even stepping foot in the cave. “Maybe you should take her and the others home.”
“We’re not leaving.” Belphie shook his head.
“But-”
“I’ll be fine.” Storm breathed deeply, catching Beel’s eye. “I have you all here with me. I’ll...I’ll be okay.”
“Exactly!” Asmo beamed. “Besides, Storm isn’t an ordinary human. She’s got enough power to subdue all of us just by yelling “sit” and “stay,” right?!”
Lucifer tightened his hold on her back. “That is correct, yes. And the other humans here can follow her lead just as easily. So we’ll be fine. Solomon, lead the way.”
“I see...” He smiled, but beneath it showed uncertainty. “It’s good to see such glowing support amongst friends-”
“Family.” Beel corrected, moving to stand beside Storm and grabbing her hand.
“Yes...Family.” Solomon swallowed hard. “Well then, alright. Ready to get going?”
The group nodded amongst themselves, straightening their posture to follow Solomon into the cave. Solomon’s demeanor changed as he turned to face the cave.
“Alright! Lets face the reapers’ challenge!” He chuckled to himself, a slight bounce in his step as he eagerly entered the dark cavern.
“...He sounds like a child at an amusement park.” Lucifer mumbled, shaking his head and beginning to follow the group into the cave.
“You took the words right out of my mouth.” Asmo sighed, taking Heart’s hand in his.
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