#If you saw the amount of references i had to both search and make for this...

[morag-renart]

I've been following such a beautiful aerti fic that i just HAD to draw them. This image stuck to my mind and wouldn't leave until it was done. That scene was absolutely fenomenal!!

Tried a different shading style, the perspective was a hell to draw and probably it doesn't make too much sense, but something is better than nothing when you want to create!

You can support my work with a Kofi I'd really appreciate it c:

[thebadboyfanclub]

She Is A Lady (Ivar x Targaryen Reader)

Ivar has always been such an interesting character to me so imagine how delighted I was when I got my first request for him. Also I would like to announce that I will not be accepting any more requests for daemon Targaryen as of right now cause i have written so many and I have also others that I must write. Enjoy!

Y/n) had always been an adventurous character, ever since she could walk she would wobble away from everyone, curiosity fuelling her little chubby legs, when she got a little older and was able to get on her dragon, Rhaenyras's heart raced as she waited patiently for her daughter to come home.

She was her father's daughter, stubborn, brave, and resilient, “the noble she-dragon” was her title when she would often be referred to in the songs of barbs, she would smirk under her cloak as she would often cover herself to visit the small taverns.

When war called for her (y/n) defended her mother with the fierceness of a dozen warriors, however, the pain of losing her brothers one by one, her dear Daemon who taught her so many things, her grandmother Rhaenys, she could not risk the death of her mother.

“We can still fight dear”

“Mother our troops have fought fiercely for so long, most of our men are dead, we need an alliance”

“What if they kill you?”

“Then I’ll let my brothers know how much you love them and we will be waiting for you, my queen”

Rhaenyra overcomes with emotion fell into her daughters' arms in desperation, her precious little girl was now grown up. (Y/n) hugged her mother back with the same amount of love, she hated the fact that she had to leave her mother's side, but this was their last resort.

Rhaenyra pulled away slightly, her fingers reaching for the few strands of Dark hair that were entangled between her Targaryen silver hair, a small token she had inherited from her late father.

“Promise me you will come back to me”

“I won’t come alone, I’ll come with an army to protect you”

-

(Y/n) had searched for inhabited land beyond the wall for a full day, the sun had been tucked away and replaced by the moon when she noticed a land lit by torches, it would unwise to make a haste landing without a warning first, for all she knew this land could be home for cannibals or demon worshippers.

(Y/n) commanded her dragon to fly a bit lower, circling the city to make her presence known, not only did the people notice her, as they had gathered around for supper to celebrate their victory, they rose from their seats to follow the beast that appeared to make landing a bit further down.

“I am unharmed, well… except the dragon”

“Who are you?”

“Princess (y/n) Targaryen, I come from kings landing”

The men came to a standstill with the princess, both parties waiting for a sudden move so they can “defend” their own, you could only hear the sound of the fire from their torches and their breaths created a mist from the cold.

“I understand this is sudden for you but I have come in peace, I have been traveling on dragon back since dawn, it would be certainly easier for me to explain after I get some type of food if you could be so kind to offer one”

The dim light was not enough to reveal the contraption Ivar was using to stand up on his legs, his eyes piercing through hers in such intensity that (y/n) felt like the man was trying to look into her brain, still she did not waver, she challenged him with her strong look she beheld on those intriguing hues, her flame could be identified from a mile away, this was not a meek princess, she came flying in a beast and stood by it proudly, she was a true warrior sent from the Gods.

“Fine, princess. Leave your sword and dragon here and then you can follow us”

Of course, he knew she was lying, he saw the sword that rested on her hip the minute she got on the ground, intrigued by the astonishing beast she came with he decided to offer her sanctuary.

To his surprise, the princess took out her sword before she came on one knee with it laying flat on her palms.

“This has been given to me by a beloved family member, I do not wish to leave it unattended but I trust you with it, Ser”

“Ivar, Ivar the boneless”

Her face showed exactly how puzzled she was by the nickname the name claimed that he was holding, howbeit she did not have time to question it for long since from the first step Ivar took (y/n) picked up on the metal sound and observed just how stiff his walking as she realized that the man was probably barely able to stand up, his entire weight was supported by a delicates design of metal that went all the way up to his thigh.

Ivar smirked at the sight of the woman offering her sword, she seemed smart enough according to her calculated moves, the sword felt light in his hand as it shined under the moonlight, arrogantly he pointed the tip of the sword directly under her chin, his ego allowing him to consider that he had the upper hand.

(Y/n) gently placed the weapon away from her face and rose to her feet, she had been nothing but gracious she would not allow herself to be disrespected.

“Lead the way, my lord”

She simply suggested, she concealed her facial expression well though the devil was always in the details, Ivar could see her hands forming into fists.

“Welcome to Kattegat princess”

He turned his back on her while she took small steps to stay behind him, she did not want to offend him by walking faster so her pace was slow enough to let him walk.

(Y/n)s eyes traveled around everything, people’s faces, their clothing, their tables, their homes, it seemed like everyone was living a simple life, it reminded her of the roads of kings landing.

Ivar could hear the whispers from his subjects, they were all taken back by Ivars sudden kindness, and they all expected him to kill her on the spot, he had to admit that the idea did go through his head, yet something in him told him to let her join their feast, maybe it was the fearsome dragon, maybe her alluring appearance.

Alas, (y/n) took a seat next to him, and quite swiftly the servants gave her a plate full of food and a goblet with ale, the chicken was warm and the ale did the trick of warming her up as everyone danced around the fire, a faint smile played on her lips while Ivar observed her.

“So what brings you here princess?”

“War I am afraid”

“War?”

“In my homeland, we have one king that rules over the land, my family has been been in that position for over a century, yet it is the very first time that a woman-my mother- is to assume authority, that did not go well with her half brother”

“So you ran?”

“I certainly have not, my brothers were killed, my stepfather, my grandmother… all gone”

Ivar felt sadness rush through his chest at how the princess's chin quivered, her hushed tone trembling as she uttered the last two words, her doe eyes misting in the firelight, Ivar was not known for his empathy, still, he reached for her hand under the table to give it a slight squeeze.

“My mother was killed by my father's first wife, she released an arrow while my mother was walking away”

“How did you respond?”

“Oh I’ve tried to kill her several times”

“It is quite macabre, how the family is always the one that causes the biggest pain”

“I suppose, if you are not running then what brought you here?”

“Desperation, countless battles have taken most of our men, I was hoping to look for allies”

“You described it perfectly, desperation is the only thing that could make someone believe that another army of men would come to die for you”

“My mother is all I have left, wouldn’t you do anything to bring your own back to life?”

“Definitely”

“It might sound cruel but forgive me for saying I do not crave to understand your pain”

She was honest Ivar gave (y/n) that much, they sat there gawking at one another, she stood tall, she did not waver under his eyes as most people did, she showed no signs of fear, she did not care about anything, and let’s not even start of how ambitious she appeared to be.

Ivar took a swig of his ale without looking away from those distinguish violet hues, he recalled how the prophets have whispered to him of a queen of a faraway land.

“Your queen will help you fly amongst the clouds, you’ll know lands beyond the eye”

He had brushed it off as a riddle, but now he started to understand that it was the only time the prophet meant every word, could she- princess (y/n) Targaryen- be his queen?

There, for only the briefest moment and for the first time he felt the warm sensation of his heart thumping at the mere sight of her smile, like Freya had come from the clouds to place her cloak around the two youngsters. For so long Ivar had brushed off the idea of love or marriage, sometimes he would even the joke that the goddess herself has cursed him or turned his back on him, cruelly denying him the blessing of a true loves match.

“I cannot throw my men to a war over lands I know nothing about”

“I figure that we will ride tomorrow”

“Ride?”

“We can strap you up on Daylight and you will be safe as a passenger”

“You mean I go up in that?”

“Hey, she is a lady”

Ivar cackled at her correction regarding her dragon. It had been a while since one was so casual with him, that treated him with kindness without fearing his outbursts, sure her ignorance of not exactly knowing his antics had something to do with it, albeit Ivar thoroughly enjoyed her presence, her wit and pride complimented her.

As (y/n) bit her bottom lip her gaze went over to his legs, she wanted to ask as silence overtook them, but she debated if it was the right decision.

“It’s not an injury, I was never able to walk”

“Brittle bones, the masters in my land had informed me of such condition. Back in the day, they used to kill babes that seemed to hold such an illness”

“Oh that is what happens here as well, my mother forbade it”

“She sounds like a lovely woman”

“She was”

(Y/n) could deeply empathize with the look that took over Ivars handsome face, how his expression clouded for just a moment, how his jaw tensed and his lips stiffened to a thin line, she could tell that Ivar was not looking at anyone particularly, he was reminiscing as moments that they shared passed through his ice blue hues.

Ivar was pulled back to reality by her gentle hand resting on his thing, usually, he would shove away anyone that dared to touch his legs, but surprisingly he just allowed his hand to find hers and rest on top of it, a part of him yearning for the warmth of her touch, her genuine interest and zest.

“I am certain she is very proud of you, I understand you two probably shared a very close bond”

“We did, but let’s not dwell on such events, you must rest I do not want the rider of such a large beast to fall asleep while they hold my life in the reigns of a dragon”

They smiled at one another, a grin that behind it was resting countless words left unsaid. Ivar was a stranger to the goodwill of people, although with her, as his eyes rested upon her features he felt like his anger vanished, like a wave that held her name washed through his experience with cruelty and even his brothers belittling him was now gone.

“This feels strange”

“I agree princess, but I do not want it to go away”

“Me neither”

She whispered, her eyes lowering down to the ground to avoid the foreign sensation that was Ivars presence. Ivar allowed her to retreat, as he looked around it dawned on him that a few of the others had also taken it to become viewers of their encounter, he could not blame them.

With some difficulty he rose from his seat with the goblet of Ale in his hand, demanding the attention of everyone to realign with their leader.

“It is with great honor that I present to you the princess (y/n) Targaryen, the future queen of her land, she has come to us with a request for an alliance, to fight alongside her army for a land we do not know. Tomorrow I will ride with the princess to see for myself that foreign land, as well as to marry her”

“What?”

“To unite our kingdoms, to rule by her side in her homeland and for her to rule by my side in mine, to give us a reason to help her. Raise your glass, to your future queen”

Requests are open!

[cacti-are-like-flamingos]

Living Waters...

Gojo Satoru x Reader x Geto Suguru

The Cursed Trio | Desert Oasis

...

Before setting off for the day, you made sure to grab an extra hairband, anticipating that Geto might need one if his broke. As it turned out, he had the same foresight, which wasn't all that surprising considering the amount of times you'd lose them.

Another curious fact, for some reason, everyone came to you whenever their uniforms got a tear or two simply because you had once mentioned liking to sow things back together

You swear Gojo would do it on purpose considering he always had his stupid fucking infinity on. Geto, on the other hand, likely made sure to be just a tad bit more reckless with his uniform before turning it into you.

He actually liked to watch you work, eyes entranced by the way your hands move and manipulated the fabric --- all while you hummed some tuneless melody under your breath

Moving on

Did you know that Gojo accidentally revealed to Yaga that you had a fondness for unique plushies? Since that day, Yaga began surprising you with a new plushie every day. Sometimes he'd toss them straight at your face, while other times, he'd leave them outside your door.

As the days passed, your room became a plushie wonderland, and you realized you needed to have a serious conversation with Yaga about this overflowing collection.

Despite your talk, the "plushie issue" remained unresolved. However, every Friday after class, Yaga started setting up the classroom to teach you how to knit as a way to compromise.

With this newfound skill, you took matters into your own hands and began creating mini-plushies of everyone around you.

For Kento, you designed a stylish cream business suit that perfectly complemented his rather bland calm personality. You also created a matching outfit for his best mate, Habaira, but in a sleek black color. Habaira was overjoyed with the gesture, though he playfully joked that he looked like his mini-plushie was ready to attend a funeral. Kento couldn't help but chuckle at the comment, a rare small smile gracing his lips as he softly muttered a heartfelt 'Thank you.'

For Ieiri, you crafted a unique plushie, dressing her in a doctor's coat and adding her trademark little cigarette, capturing her essence beautifully. She was absolutely thrilled when she saw it, expressing her excitement with a lazy smile as she kissed you on the cheek.

Yaga received a miniature replica of his current look, which he proudly displayed by placing it next to his computer monitor in his office. Sometimes, you'd catch him smiling at it.

Gojo's plushie was a fun challenge, with a spiky-haired version of him sporting a blindfold instead of sunglasses. Gojo playfully teased you about making a second version because you just couldn't get enough of him. You threatened to take it away, and he protested, holding the plushie just out of your reach. Lanky bastard.

(You never did see that plushie ever again tho, wonder what happened to it)

As for Geto, you searched the internet for some fashionable outfit inspiration and dressed up his plushie accordingly. He later humorously referred to it as his mini shaman (the fashionable outfit was a shaman's attire. Sorry not sorry) , but he assured you that he genuinely loved it. In fact, he liked it so much that he transformed it into a keychain for his bag, carrying it with him wherever he went.

I should mention that by now, your fluency in Japanese had improved dramatically. However, out of a sheer habit, both boys had the tendency to order for you. Then again, they also ordered for one another. Everyone in this fucking three-way has memorized each other's orders like the back of their hand.

You know their coffee orders by heart; Geto knows both of your favorite meals by heart, and Gojo knows both your and Suguru's favorite sweets by soul. (Sorry not sorry)

You all take turns treating one another, but often it's Gojo who insists on paying for you and Geto, given his big-boy bank account. (You will never reveal to them how somehow Mei Mei has become your sugar mama and pays you for simply existing, on the daily)

Geto can't ever drink your or Gojo's coffees because they're just too sweet. It's so sweet it could put a diabetic into a coma. So the two of you happily share taste-sips with each other.

On the other hand, Gojo couldn't handle the intensity of your and Geto's meals due to their overwhelming spiciness. Just the aroma wafting around would bring tears to his clear sky-blue eyes. As for you, vegetables weren't your preference, so Geto would kindly slide his plate close to yours, allowing you to discreetly transfer the unwanted veggies onto his plate without creating a mess on the table.

Gojo would then tease you for your preference, mocking you as he likened you to a small child. So properly, the only adult response was to engage in a game of footsies with him under the table until, accidentally, Gojo hit you a bit too hard, causing you to flinch and squeak. Geto noticed your reaction instantly, and he gave Gojo a piercing glare, silently warning him to be more careful. Gojo, feeling a bit awkward, focused on stuffing his face to avoid eye contact with Geto.

Ah, nothing like a protective mama Geto

Whenever you're trying to avoid Gojo and his endless taunts, you have a clever strategy: hiding in his dorm room, a place he never imagines you'd willingly go. As he spends the entire day searching the school high and low for you, you're actually inside his room, peacefully resting or just relaxing. Oftentimes, you snoop. Hehe

You possess like some Gojo-detector, giving you the ability to sense when Gojo is about to return to his dorm room. The moment you feel he is messing you, you swiftly sneak out unnoticed. He never manages to catch you, and the mystery of why his bed sometimes smells like you remains unsolved for him. That is until one night, he stumbles upon your favorite bracelet tucked under his pillow, the clasp broken.

You can't escape him anymore

Geto finds solace in your room, partly captivated by its enchanting fragrance. The persistent presence of an oil diffuser emanates an aroma that seems to be woven from the fabric of dreams. Its sweet and gentle, a lingering scent that holds a subtle allure, almost addictive in its embrace.

Lost in the allure of the ambiance (doesn't help that you like to keep your room dark and cold with blue lighting) Geto spends literal hours nestled amongst the plushies, lulled to sleep by the whole scenario. Whenever he departs from your room, the decent clings into his clothing. Leaving a trail of flowers behind that informing others of his presence in your room.

Speaking of him

Sometimes, you wake up in the dead of night, feeling something off. It's as if you possess a strange, innate ability to sense when someone is going through a rough time. Perhaps it's connected to your Cursed technique, or maybe your soul simply has a way of recognizing their distress. Regardless of the reason, you find yourself instinctively reaching for one of your pillows and following the invisible trail of energy.

Tonight, your focus settled on Geto's room. He had entrusted you with a key long ago, allowing you to enter his private space when desired.

You approached the door with a gentle, single knock (you have this specific way of locking that involves lightly tapping on the door with your nails. Much like a cat would) before letting yourself in. And there he was, sat up on his bed, his blankets tangled around his lap as beads of sweat trickled down his face. A haunted look in his eyes.

Geto prided himself on being able to maintain a stoic poker face, but even he had to admit. Out of your little trio, you were the one most attuned to their emotions. You could read the warning signs long before they fully manifested.

You slipped into his bed, performing your nightly ritual of unraveling his locks from the right bun he wore to sleep. Quietly, you would always mention how it wouldn't do any good for his hair and how it might give him more morning tangles (knowing well that you yourself slept with your hair loosely tied). Yet, with tender care, you gently massaged the palms of his hands, hoping to bring him back to the present, back to you.

And he came back to you, blinking his lovely onyx eyes as they lightly widened at the sight of you in your nightgown, sitting right next to him, his hand in your grasp as you cooed him back to safety.

No words were truly exchanged; that was for the morning routine. So, for then, the two of you simply settled back into his bed. His hand never left your own as you slowly placed it onto your chest, just where your heart would be.

Your heart beat, calm and strong, lulled him into a dreamless sleep.

...

(A/N): As I was writing this, you fuckers kept blowing up my phone with the amount of likes you were giving my shit. Like damn, I see now we have some early risers here. Goddamn.

I have such a headache rn it's not even funny.

The idea of being a Gojo-detector is rather humorous, isn't it?

Wonder what Geto dreamt about that had him so distressed. Is it the start of something or just your everyday PTSD?

Drop a comment

Feel free to buy me a 🦩

Hope you enjoyed!

Edited: 7/24/2023

[annawayne]

I know this might sound really weird but I'm just curious, have you tried rendering with another style? Not saying this out of malice, I'm just curious because I really love your sketches and I'd love to see more art styles other than just retro filters/colors (which I really like btw! Don't take me wrong your works are truly amazing)

Hello anon!

Thank you for your question, and to answer this, I would like just to say that "rendering in different style" is not easy at all. People find/work on their styles for years; someone - search for it their whole life, never finding one; someone desperately watch a lot of videos "How to find your style" etc etc, and to have your consistent (in terms of recognizable) is truly a blessing, the result of hard work. We go to the art museums, sometimes, specifically to see the particular artist's work for a reason, don't we? Because their style is recognizable, something we can distinguish in allusion and reference somewhere else - like in the cinema, or, for example, merch, or some clothing/jewelry brand.

A style is a culture code that makes you different and special from others, building a strong association with an artist, so even if you don't remember their name, you can just go like this with the "Ah! I saw it! I remember this artist!"

Of course, it's good to remember a name, but it's far more easily lost in the amount of information we have around everyday - and to remember someone's style, it's more of emotional connection which leaves more impact.

Juggling between various styles is also hard, because a lot of styles requires specific knowledge and time commitment to achieve some decent level. I try to improve my usual style with every work I work - starting with composition, rendering skills (because there weren't that good; only recently, I'm more satisfied with the way I render my characters faces, for example), with story narration, work with lightning, and I'm also glad to say that I managed to have some progress with working with different colorization since I don't use filters, made by someone else, but I do everything from scratch. To achieve what I have now I work for years, both for practical side and for studying art as a discipline, analyzing different epochs and artists approaches. We know these artist's names from the past exactly because they had their distinguished style, isn't it?

So every style - it's a commitment, emotional, practical, time-consuming and even exhausting.

I understand what you mean here, however, I think that each artist's styles are wonderful exactly because they have their specific traits that distinguish this particular artist from many more. This is why AI sucks so much - it just consumes other artists hard work and produces lifeless products, not arts, and all of them just the same, a dull copy past, stolen from thousands and thousands real artists - emotions, time, commitment and dedication.

[slow-writer]

TMAGP Episodes 7 & 8 Reactions

That was totally my face during both episodes, I swear.

Spoilers below!

Okay, I'm freaking out on a cellular level, it feels like.

Episode 6 had the introduction of new OIAR employee, Celia Ripley, who is voiced by Lowri Ann Davies. Those of us from the TMA fandom recognize her as the voice of Lynne Hammond who later became Celia because her name was taken from her after the Change. There have been speculations on whether she is playing the same Celia (even though this is a separate universe) or if this is just a little wink from Jonny and Alex behind the scenes. But then came the next 2 episodes.

The sheer amount of lore that was dropped in these 2 episodes has the fandom REELING. So, let's get into what we've heard!!

EPISODE 7: Right off the bat, Celia not only references that the dated computer system is basically better than "wrestling with tape recorders and manila folders." This feels like a TARGETED MISSILE at the TMA fandom. But right after that, she asks if any of the spoken cases have anything in common, and if there's a way to search the cases that have common threads, like, "Oh I don’t know. Every case about being buried alive or meat or… whatever." And if that wasn't enough, she recognizes the voice that Alice calls Chester (AKA, John!).

Those statements alone have me thinking with 99.99999999% certainty that this is the SAME Celia from TMA (or at least, she's tapped into her memories in some way).

Apart from Celia, we have Hilltop being referenced in a case, which could very well mean that it's a similar situation from TMA. Very possibly a rift in space-time or whatever. Some nexus of power or something.

Then Sam received a supposedly internal email from someone called "John" that contained an address and a name. Does this mean that John is truly trapped in the computer system like we've all been theorizing? Is this his attempt at making contact and warning Sam not to follow in his footsteps? AGH!

And then we have poor Colin, driven mad by whatever's corrupting the code he's been trying to maintain, taped over his webcam, and full on refusing any electronics to enter his office (that weren't already there, and he must have clearly tampered with them so they cannot spy on him). He even attacks Sam when he pulls out his phone. That man has a lifetime subscription to Paranoia Plus, if you ask me, poor thing.

Lastly, we get confirmation that Lena at least tried to kill Klaus, but may not have succeeded, and Gwen's blackmail of her puts her in a new role of "External Liaison," whatever that may be. (Oh boy, oh boy.)

And if that wasn't enough, we have today's episode....

EPISODE 8: No preamble on this one, just straight into a case. And man, are we having fun with the whole liminal horror plus Stranger vibes in this one! But the GOOD SH*T comes after the case ends.

Poor Colin's been put on Mental Health Leave, so I'm really hoping that wasn't the last we'll 'see' of him. And the banter between Gwen and Alice has much more of an edge now that Gwen's been promoted. But!!!

Sam and Celia went off together after they ended their shifts early (ooooh), and who did they meet?

GERRY EFFING KEAY AND HIS 'GEE-GEE' GERTRUDE!!!!

And I checked, yes, they are 100% voiced by their TMA counterparts, Jon Gracey and Sue Sims (Jonny's mom).

Gertrude calls Gerry her grandson (though I'm curious if this means Gerry's actual mother is dead here too, and when Gertrude stepped in as a surrogate, or if she's actually his grandmother).

When Sam and Celia ask about the Magnus Institute, they both kind of go quiet, like they don't know what they're allowed to say or if they can trust these strangers who randomly showed up to their house. Sam reveals that he was part of their "gifted kids" program (hello, ARG info!) and saw Gerry was also listed and wanted to "swap stories." Gertrude seems to want to push them away, all protective, but Gerry just says he doesn't remember much.

Did Gertrude blow up the Magnus Institute in this universe and adopt Gerry after she found him there?!?

And finally, after Gertrude kind of rushes them out, Celia makes a deal with Sam. They agree to keep track of anything that falls under each other's mystery interests. Because she's "doing a favor for Georgie" (HFGJHFD!), she needs to look into "Weird physics stuff: time travel, other dimensions, teleportation, all that good stuff."

Was Celia sent here from the TMA dimension to do recon?!?

Anyway, there's so much more to dive into, but those are the things that are currently making my brain buzz. How has your Thursday been?

[raveneira]

Know whats dumb? the insane amount of questions about this reveal that'll never be answered but hear me out.

KK says in this timeline B0ruto & S@rada both die when she tried to help him that day, then Kawaki would go on to lose to a much stronger Code, be sacrificed, yatta yatta

This makes no sense however for a variety of reasons, for one where is Ada and Daemon in this scenario? but first lets address the fact that Kawaki somehow loses to Code when theres no way he should've even had the opportunity to get to Kawaki in the first place

Point A- After Kawaki would've supposedly killed them both, he would've been ambushed by the other shinobi, even if he wasn't, they would've hunted him down and forced him to exhaustion chasing him like the canon timeline, so how tf does Code kill him?

Point B- Ada immediately flies to Kawaki's rescue, her charm making everyone unable to harm him as long as shes with him, lets say thats why Kawaki wasn't immediately executed by Konoha in this timeline, how tf does Code kill him with Ada and Daemon backing him up?

Point C- KK says in this timeline B0ruto and Kawaki never switched places, which means omnipotence never happens, how would it not happen if Ada still went there to try and comfort and save him from this situation?

If omnipotence doesn't happen & Code wins then where the hell was Ada during all this? if Konoha spared him cuz of her backing him then how does Code succeed? if omnipotence doesn't happen then did she even go help him in this scenario?

because from the way KK describes it, there was literally no intervention in this timeline, he just successfully kills B0ruto & S@rada, somehow escapes the others without Momos help, & somehow goes on the run away from Konoha where he is eventually found and killed by Code.

In order for this future to happen, you literally have to remove everyone who intervened after S@rada, which is ironic considering ppl are saying this panel proves she saved him when it actually proves the opposite but thats another topic. Point is this makes no sense.

What makes even less sense is this goofiness, so your telling me KK saw them both dying in this timeline, but Momo saw exactly what happened in the canon timeline? S@rada is alive there, whether their referring to B0ruto or Kawaki is irrelevant, whats relevant is shes alive.

The only way you can read this is that Kawaki successfully killed B0ruto before fleeing to the forest where he is then confronted by everyone searching for him, most likely killing whoever he needed to in self defense, I dont see him going all out if he wasn't bein pressed hard

Obviously Kawaki would lose in that situation, he'd be outnumbered, overpowered due to running low on chakra, so exactly how does KKs vision fit in with Momos? because according to KK Code wins, but according to Momo Kawaki was done for if he got no help here

This is why when you introduce this type of plotline, literally ANYTHING to do with time, you need to put ALOT of time and effort into planning it out, otherwise you'll create a bunch of contradictions and inconsistencies like this.

Momos vision makes sense with the info we have of the canon timeline, he foresaw pretty much everything that happened, the only difference being Kawaki actually killing somebody, most likely B0ruto, which explains why he helped him escape when he did to save his own skin.

So in Momo's vision essentially the panel we see of Kawaki is what would've happened if nobody intervened in time to save B0ruto, but Momo also saw the outcome of if they did intervene, OR that would've played out the same way regardless, Kawaki would lose, roll credits.

What am I getting at? simple, just that this introduction of KKs prescience has only appeared for one chapter but is already causing a ton of contradictions, inconsistencies, plot holes, retcons etc and its only gonna get worst. Whenever shows mess with time, its always a mess.

And if you think prescience wasnt pulled outta nowhere to justify the inevitable changes their gonna make to the FF? what more convenient way to explain why the FF doesn't happen as originally shown than to say 'oh that was just one of the bad endings KK saw where B0ruto gave up'

If you dont see the writing on the wall with this, your intentionally closing your eyes to it.

Obviously theres a possibility I could be wrong as could all theories, but if your someone that believes Kishi is writing, then there's no way you don't see the pattern here.

If Im wrong Im fine admitting that, but after this chapter its a very strong possibility Im not.

[imaginethatneathuh]

Cold as Ice: Cait - Fallout 4

Cait & Sole Survivor, platonic.

Cait comes across a warehouse filled with chems and finds out Sole is the one responsible. Her reaction is rather rash.

TW/CW: References to addiction, chems, anger.

Word Count: 2.2+K

Inspired by @danses-with-dogmeat

•

A dull light easily broke through the branches as Cait made her way back to Sanctuary Hills from killing the small raider encampment to the North. Her shotgun hung loosely in one hand as the other stayed on the strap of her pack. Her thick red and white plaid flannel kept her warm, but even so, a cold wind was a powerful thing. Dry twigs and leaves crunched beneath her dirty, mud-splashed boots as one such wind whipped past her. It sent a shiver down her spine, reminding her of what she'd felt after withdrawals set in, but just barely so.

Cait tensed at the thought.

I ain't goin' through that shite again. I'm fine.

Taking a deep breath, Cait closed her eyes and centred herself before letting out the breath and opening her eyes.

It hadn't been that long since she'd been cured. Since you'd helped her get clean. The memories were still fresh, yet the urge was nowhere to be found. Still, the pain from the withdrawals was always the first thing to surface.

You'd said it was some form of PTSD.

Cait wasn't sure what that was even after you and Curie tried to explain it.

As the dark grey of her eyelids disappeared, Cait watched as a puff of wispy, white air twirled in front of her before disappearing.

As it faded, a building came into focus. It was off in the distance, but Cait could see it was cobbled together and unfinished.

"What the Hell?" She asked, mumbling to herself.

Cait frowned as she got closer. She slipped her free arm through her pack's other strap and handled her shotgun with both hands rather than the lazy one-hand position. Cait checked the chamber, ensuring she wasn't going in without ammo.

As she got closer, Cait realised it wasn't some random building and, while cobbled together, wasn't unfinished. The massive main door was just open. The tall, wide building looked like a warehouse she'd seen before, similar to Wicked Shipping Fleet Lockup, rusted, broken glass and all.

What the Hell is this doin' out here? Did Sole make it?

Cait keeps getting closer while keeping her shotgun up, ready for a fight.

Though it did seem like one of your constructions with its proximity to Sanctuary and Vault 111, Cait had been around these parts hunting and clearing things out for a while. Not even you, with your uncanny ability to build like a magician, could have erected such a massive building without Cait noticing. Not to mention, you hadn't been around for several days. You'd have gone to Sanctuary for supplies if this was what you were doing.

As she got closer, Cait heard nothing. Not the sounds of robots thumping around and guarding whatever is inside, not the humming of turrets or lights, not even the sound of raiders or bugs. The place was eerie and quiet, far too quiet to be normal.

The building itself was fine; it was just a little rusty and had broken windows. Otherwise, it seemed sturdy enough, perfect for raiders, animals, ferals, or even settlers.

As Cait climbed up on a ledge, she peered down at the short drop and thought to herself. If something's in here, should I risk letting it know I'm here for the sake of speed?

Shrugging, Cait jumped down with a slight thud. She exhaled as she crouched from the small jump before shooting back up; even with the small amount of noise she'd made, not so much as a radroach crept out. In fact, as she peered past the massive doors and into the warehouse, she saw dead ones strung up, cut into and torn apart.

Immediately, Cait went into cautious mode and aimed her shotgun around as she searched for any living thing.

Those roaches had to have had some interference. Without someone doing it, they wouldn't have been cut and strung up like that, dangling the length of the loading door.

Mentally, Cait began crossing things out.

Not super mutants. They don't come out here.

Can't be ferals or robots, either. Ferals would have ripped 'em a part where they lay dead, not string 'em up. Bots wouldn't give a damn after they're dead.

Settlers are out of the question. Maybe one or two would have been out here, but in that case, they would have gone to Sanctuary or Abernathy Farm. Those places are safer than some random building in the woods.

Raiders then? A new group, maybe? Fucking dumbarses would pick someplace close to a settlement.

Cait noticed something odd as she stepped through the door and under the roaches.

No, not more dead animals strung up. And no, not dead people.

What she noticed were boxes. Lots and lots of boxes. They were everywhere. On every shelf all the way to the top and in every corner. Some open and some not.

But other than the seemingly neverending amount of fucking boxes that are just everywhere, there wasn't much else. Not even a candle.

You could count the roaches, but they're in a halfway spot; therefore, they're off the table.

Cait allowed her shotgun to drop to her side and loosely held it again.

"What the fuck?"

She looked around, confused, and stared at the boxes of all shapes and sizes.

There were crates, ammo boxes, trunks, suitcases, lockers, file cabinets, cardboard boxes, and every other type of container and box you could possibly think of. There were even several coolers.

Speaking of which...

Still erring on the side of caution, Cait approached one of the boxes, well, not boxes, but containers. Specifically, a cooler sitting closed on one of the shelves. She looked around it, ensuring it wasn't trapped with a tripwire, bathroom scale, or anything of the like.

"Clean," she said to herself, nodding.

Despite nothing being attached, Cait still slowly lifted the lid. And, as she peered into the cooler, she scowled.

Silently, she moved to another container and opened it. Her scowl only grew. She moved to another and another and another. She even cracked a crate open, only to be met with the same thing every time. Well, not exactly, but it might as well have been.

And before you ask, no, there weren't body parts, animal or human/ghoul/whatever. No, nothing so simple. Instead, there were chems of every type and lots of them.

The place was a damn warehouse filled with chems, not even a 30-minute walk from where she lived.

Cait stepped away from the disgusting things, the things that had nearly killed her more than a few times, the things that had driven her into a massive hole so deep she couldn't get out alone.

She didn't know if she felt like throwing up or lighting this place up and letting it all burn away. This many chems all in one place? It was a junkie's paradise, but Cait wasn't one anymore, not after 95. You had made sure of that; you'd saved her.

I should tell Sole, Cait thought. They'd never allow something like this to exist.

Cait recoiled away from it all and backed up. As she turned to go back the way she came, she was met with the silhouette of someone. The person had set down a bag and picked up a clipboard, a can of water in their other hand.

If you were close enough, you could hear the woman growling as she found the creator of such a disgusting pile of shite. She stormed over to the person, seeing red and her trigger finger itching.

"Oi! Fuck face!" Cait shouted, getting the perpetrator's attention. "What the fuck is this?"

They turned, and Cait was greeted by the face of the piece of shite who did this.

And it was... you?

Cait slowed as she watched you slowly lower the clipboard and drink. Her mouth hung open, and she just stared.

You, the ever kind, ever caring Sole Survivor of Vault 111, were the one stockpiling dangerous and disgusting chems like Buffout and the shite that had nearly killed Cait, Psycho. The very same person who'd helped Cait through her withdrawals on their way to 95. The same one who'd saved her life a thousand times over. The same person who'd risked life and limb and their own mental wellness to lend a hand to her, to randos, and to everyone they came across. You were the kind of person to take time out of your day to play with kids and teach them things they never would have learned otherwise. Shite, you'd go tend to the sick whenever you could.

So, why? Why would you have such a massive stockpile of the worst sort of things? Alcohol, Cait could understand. And she could understand extra Med-X, the Radaway and Rad-X, and the Stimpacks, but everything else? The Buffout, Mentats, and, worst of all, Psycho? What could you be using that shite for?

Cait, in all her time knowing you, had never seen you take anything but stims on the fly. You always went to the doctor for help if you needed it. You had never self-medicated unless it was an extreme emergency, and there was no other choice.

Cait could still remember you talking her through the withdrawals and the fight in Vault 95. She could still feel you embracing her tightly and grinning after Cait was cured.

How could you? How could you throw all that away? How could you lie the way you did and pretend to be such a good person?

The questions merely infuriated Cait further.

"What the fuck is all this then?" Cait growled. "You got any sort of explanation for me?"

You simply raised an eyebrow, cool as a cucumber. Before you could speak, Cait stopped them.

"No, ya know what, I don't care. I don't give a singular fuck!" Cait pointed toward the door. "With that door open like that and no protection, it's obvious you're jus' fucking waitin' for some kid to come across this place and end up like me. It's fuckin' sick, Sole. This entire fucking place is sick!" Cait got closer, gripping her shotgun and glaring into your eyes. God, she wanted to blow your head off for this. "You are fucking sick. So, if you want to keep me around, you will get rid of all of this. And I mean, get rid of it, not just sell it to some poor soul. So, either these go, or I do."

To your credit, you didn't budge or interrupt. In fact, you seemed relatively unbothered by Cait blowing up at you.

As calm as ever, you slowly, without breaking eye contact, brought the can up to your mouth and drank from it. When you lowered it, your face made no change, no sign of hurt or even relief. You simply said, ice in your voice: "Then go".

The thing about you is, as kind as you are, you ain't the type to take people's shite, and you sure as Hell don't do ultimatums. If Cait wouldn't even let you explain what's going on here, you wouldn't give her the time of day. Simple as.

Cait paused momentarily as she stared at what she thought was her friend. But her shock was quickly overcome by anger. "You are a– Fuck you, Sole! Fuck you! I can't believe I ever trusted you," she spat out. Cait shoved you aside as she made her way past and back outside.

•

Back in Sanctuary, Cait stomped over the bridge between the island and the Northside. Dirt, leaves, and twigs fell as she stormed.

She mumbled to herself, mostly about you and the chems. For a moment, Cait had considered telling people about your stockpile of chems but decided against it. When Preston or Codsworth found out... Well, thinking about that gave Cait everything she needed.

The sun still beamed down. Even with the overcast, the day felt far too happy. Especially after the recent revelation of who you truly are—a drug-dealing piece of shite.

A few settlers pass Cait by as she scowls at the ground and walks back to her flat. They say nothing, too afraid of her to try.

•

In her flat, Cait looked around at the random stuff she'd gotten in her time with you. The teddy bear you had jokingly given to her. The weapons you had modded and named for her. The fresh clothes, bedding, and an actual bed had been given to Cait when she moved to Sanctuary proper. Codsworths' housewarming present: a new pair of boots Cait never wore, not wanting to ruin them. The jacket Curie had given her to keep her warm. And, of course, the Minutemen hat Preston had gifted Cait as a way of saying "thank you for everything you've done" and a "you're always welcome with us".

Despite feeling this emptiness inside, Cait refused to feel sorry for herself or fall back into that hole. No, you wouldn't do that to her.

Cait grabbed a few things and a bag, stuffing some things into said bag.

If you wanted to ruin everything you'd created, you could, but Cait wasn't having any of it.

[clothyume]

The Whereabouts of the Missing Book Episode 9

Eichi: Oh, Tsukasa-kun and Nagisa-kun. I heard about the situation from Keito

Tsukasa: Thank you, everyone, I’m very sorry for the intrusion  

Rei: Fufu, don’t worry. You’re searching for Kagehira-kun’s lost book after all 

Aira: Books from Yumenosaki have a stamp at the back, don’t they? I don’t think we have a book like that here

Eichi: We haven’t really had any business in the Book Room as of late 

Of course, we haven’t borrowed any books, so we should be cleared from the suspect list… 

Rei: …Is a suspect not someone who choses troubling words 

Eichi: Fufu, our house is being searched. Shouldn’t we take initiative to prove our innocence? 

Ahh, however. I do wonder what it was that Shiratori-kun shoved beneath his bed yesterday night

Aira: Eeh, you saw that, Tenshouin-senpai!? 

Tsukasa: Shiratori-kun, what the hell are you hiding? Perhaps destroying evidence…

Aira: Y-You’re wrong! It’s nothing like that

Nagisa: …Hm. Is it in this drawer that’s under the bed? 

Aira: Ah, wait Ran-senpai! Don’t open that! 

Tsukasa: Th-this is…!? 

Nagisa: …My can badge. That and one of Tsukasa’s photo sets. It seems there’s a large quantity of other idol goods too

Tsukasa: …? Shiratori-kun, why are you trying to hide all this?  

Aira: Because I’m embarrassed that you found out I’m collecting goods of you two! That’s why I hide the goods I collect of Sakuma-senpai and Tenshouin-senpai too! 

Rei: Well, we noticed that quite some time ago 

Aira: Eeh?

Eichi: Yeah, even before you hid everything yesterday, Sakuma-kun and I knew. Since you moved in, the amount of goods has increased considerably 

Aira: Eeh!? T-That’s… So what’s the point of me being so secretive all this time? 

Eichi & Rei: There isn’t one 

Aira: Th-that’s… 

Tsukasa: …For now, it seems the book we’re searching for isn’t here 

 

(The other party, Mika and Makoto) 

Subaru: Ukki and Mikki~, welcome to our room~☆

Sora: “Giant-san” and Great-shisho~ both have work, but Sora and Sparkly-onii~san are here to greet you~ ♪ 

Makoto: Ahaha. I’ve thought this for a while, but your room is always full of entertaining people  

Mika: Umm, sorry. We ain’t come to play today

Subaru: Yeah, we get it! We heard from Hasumi-senpai 

Sora: You’re on a quest to find Mika-chan-san’s lost book, right~♪ You’re treasure hunting in Sora’s room! 

Subaru: You have permission from MAM-senpai and Hibiking-senpai, so it’s okay for you to search freely! 

Mika: Thank ya kindly, you two. Fer lettin’ us search freely 

Gyaah!  

Makoto: Uwah, what’s with the sound of a cracker so suddenly!? Kagehira-kun, are you okay? 

Mika: I got scared ‘cause of the sudden loud noise, hm? What’s this? 

Makoto: Eh, what a tiny mummy!? Why is something like this in Akehoshi-kun’s room!? 

Sora: HaHa~! This mummy is a souvenir that “Giant-san” bought overseas~ 

Usually this mummy is resting in a miniature pharaoh! 

Subaru: The souvenirs MAM-senpai buys are sometimes shady, so be careful☆ 

Makoto: Scary! Don’t put something like that in the dorm where everyone lives! 

Subaru: Oh, that’s my Ukki~! You make a great straight man*~♪ 

*Straight man or tsukkomi often refers to the serious party of a manzai duo

Also, that cracker earlier was a prank set up but Hibiking-senpai for anyone that goes in his room 

Sora: Everyday is filled with love and wonder! Is what Great-shisho~ is always saying~! That’s why he pulls pranks when Sora and the others are off guard

HiHi~! This room is Great-shisho~’s surprise box, where you have to be on guard every day 

Makoto: This is too ridiculous! Living in this room sounds like so much trouble…

(The other party, Hajime and Tori) 

Hajime: Sorry for barging in uninvited. Thank you for your cooperation

Tori: So Shiina-senpai’s room was a miss too~. Or rather, Shiina-senpai’s room was just full of strange ingredients

Hajime: As you’d expect of a chef, though I was surprised to see edible weeds that I’d never even heard of 

Tori: Weeds are edible…?  

Anyways, Tsukasa shouldn’t have to put so much effort into one book 

I didn’t think he was being serious when he suggested a house search 

Hajime: But, didn’t you agree when he said it? 

Tori: Ahaha, well, I thought it would be interesting. Apart from this opportunity, I don’t get a chance to go into other peoples rooms

If anything, I’m more surprised that Hajime agreed. I thought you weren’t very good at things like this 

Hajime: …You’re right. It’s just like you say, Tori-kun. If it were just me, I wouldn’t go to this length for an overdue book

Suou-kun and I share the same feelings, of wanting to protect the library’s rules

But I was afraid that if I strictly told everyone to follow the rules, they’d see me in a negative light… 

But when Suou-kun asked why I wasn’t frustrated, I felt a bit ashamed of myself

Suou-kun has been doing his all for this book. He can clearly say when something is no good 

There’s something about Suou-kun that makes him seem so cool, and he seems so much more suited to be the librarian than me, who’s been on the library committee for a long time…

That’s what I’m frustrated about. So I thought I’d agree with Suou-kun’s proposal this time

That way, I could be a bit more like Suou-kun…

Tori: H~mm, I see. So that’s why Hajime was suddenly so enthusiastic about it

Ye~ah... But, I don’t want Hajime to become like Tsukasa~ 

Hajime: Eh? Really?  

Tori: No, because Tsukasa is really annoying about rules. Of course it’s important to follow the rules

I think it’s a problem if we get so desperate to protect our values that we get into conflict with others

So, in order to keep a nice quiet library, I think I’d rather have Hajime, who is considerate and flexible, in charge than Tsukasa, who is quick to lose his temper

Hajime: …You would? 

Tori: Yep. Besides, when I say something, I mean it. You know, like when I got into an argument with Tsukasa 

You broke up the fight before it created hard feelings, and I thought I was really glad that Hajime was nominated for the student council

As the librarian, as the vice president, Hajime is doing great. You should be honoured to have the Student Council President’s stamp of approval! 

Hajime: …Fufu, thank you. By saying that, Tori-kun has restored my self-confidence

Tori: Fufun♪ Show your gratitude by working. Hajime is a member of my student council, so I have high hopes for him 

(Several hours later. After completing the investigation of all the rooms in Seisoukan) 

Hajime: We didn’t find the book…

Tsukasa: How strange. The book should definitely be with one of the Seisoukan residents!  

There’s nothing we can do about it. Once again I have to ask everyone to search… 

Mika: No. That’s enough, Tsukasa-kun 

Tsukasa: But…

Mika: We’ve already troubled everyone enough. Since I lost the book in the first place, I’ll take responsibility an’ pay fer it

Hajime: Kagehira-senpai. I’m sorry I couldn’t be more helpful…

Mika: Ya don’t gotta apologize! I should be the one apologizin’...

Ngah? Sorry, looks like I’m gettin’ a call. I’ll jus pick up 

Ah, Oshi-san. What’s up, callin’ me so suddenly? …Yeah, yeah?

Eeh!? Oshisan, is that true!? 

Hajime: …? 

Previous | Next

[lucky-clover-gazette]

For the Vio/Shadow prompts: how about something with either or both of them interacting with an animal? Like Shadow trying to make friends with a cat, or Vio introducing him to the horses at the castle, something like that.

I set out to write fluff and it became hurt/comfort again... still, hope you enjoy! Threw in the vidow head bonk just for you!

pinecone (1757 words, general audiences, vio x shadow)

They found the cat in the woods near their cottage. An impossibly small kitten with a brilliant tortoiseshell coat, injured leg, and big yellow eyes. The story told itself—most likely, it had been left behind by its mother and siblings. In wordless agreement, they promptly scooped up the kitten and brought it to Zelda. 

The princess was able to magically amputate the injured leg, leaving the kitten temporarily wobbly but in perfect health. She also determined the cat’s gender—a girl, like most tortoiseshells—and asked if Shadow and Vio had a name for her. They did not.

Zelda said that she and Green would contact Erune about finding the kitten a home, but requested that Shadow and Vio oversee her healing process in the meantime. Not quite ready to depart, Vio found himself frantically pulling cat reference books from the Hyrule Castle library’s shelves while Shadow cradled the kitten in his arms. Despite Vio’s apprehension, one look at the pair told him everything he needed to know. He made a list of all the things they’d need and told Zelda not to contact Erune. She didn’t seem surprised by this in the slightest.

read the full piece on ao3 or under the cut...

They found the cat in the woods near their cottage. An impossibly small kitten with a brilliant tortoiseshell coat, injured leg, and big yellow eyes. The story told itself—most likely, it had been left behind by its mother and siblings. In wordless agreement, they promptly scooped up the kitten and brought it to Zelda. 

The princess was able to magically amputate the injured leg, leaving the kitten temporarily wobbly but in perfect health. She also determined the cat’s gender—a girl, like most tortoiseshells—and asked if Shadow and Vio had a name for her. They did not.

Zelda said that she and Green would contact Erune about finding the kitten a home, but requested that Shadow and Vio oversee her healing process in the meantime. Not quite ready to depart, Vio found himself frantically pulling cat reference books from the Hyrule Castle library’s shelves while Shadow cradled the kitten in his arms. Despite Vio’s apprehension, one look at the pair told him everything he needed to know. He made a list of all the things they’d need and told Zelda not to contact Erune. She didn’t seem surprised by this in the slightest.

━━

Leaves crunched beneath their boots as they followed the tree-lined path home. 

“We should name her,” Vio said, trying not to make the physical strain evident in his voice. He carried a large box full of books and supplies while Shadow transported the kitten, who was so tiny that she fit in the front pocket of his flannel shirt. She seemed to be asleep, undoubtedly exhausted from her injury, abandonment, and subsequent magical healing. Vio shuddered to imagine what would have happened if they hadn’t found her.

“Probably,” Shadow answered, his voice uncharacteristically calm. While the day’s events had caused Vio a fair amount of stress, this cat seemed to be something of a missing piece for Shadow. Inevitable. Peace was not something Vio often saw in Shadow’s disposition, but it was palpable here. 

If the name was up to Vio, it would take weeks to decide. He’d search legends, dictionaries, and dead languages for the perfect word or words for this strange creature. He doubted there was a perfect answer, but if there was— 

“Pinecone,” Shadow said, glancing fondly down at the black and orange ears peeking from his pocket. “Let’s call her Pinecone.” 

Vio smiled. “Perfect.” 

━━

Pinecone wasn’t a kitten for very long. As Shadow and Vio went about their lives in the cottage, leaving occasionally to help heal the earth they once scorched, Pinecone quickly outgrew any reasonably-sized pocket. She became long and poised, three-legged but possessing the pure force of will to cause just as much chaos as she could with all four. 

Vio loved Pinecone very much, but it was obvious she and Shadow had a special connection. According to the literature, this was fairly common with cats—they found Their Person and held a certain amount of patience and affection for them exclusively. It made Vio think about Shadow in what felt like a past life, singling him out from the others and inviting him into his dark troubled world. Except this time, it was him and Shadow inviting Pinecone into the light. 

She didn’t seem traumatized, if that was something cats were even capable of being. Maybe she didn’t remember kittenhood, at this point so accustomed to her safe comfortable life in the cottage. Vio liked reading in her company, inviting her to curl up on his chest and even allowing her to partially obscure the pages. She seemed perfectly aware at all times that Vio would never move her from where she wanted to be, unless she wanted to be somewhere dangerous, in which case he wouldn’t hesitate for a second.

According to the books, cats purred loudly to indicate their pleasure. Pinecone’s purr was very quiet, but a gentle touch to her throat always proved that it was there. Vio appreciated the honesty in that. Shadow had his tells, too—a certain sideways grin, increased clinginess, the words “I love you”—but nothing quite as simple as Pinecone’s purr. 

It wasn’t always so simple, though, with their newest family member. Despite their immediate connection, Shadow admitted to Vio early on that Pinecone was bringing up some difficult emotions.

“I’m guilty,” Shadow had told him as Pinecone slept in his lap. He seemed almost afraid to pet the cat, creating a distance between them Vio hadn’t seen before. 

“Why?” Vio asked, reaching over to give Pinecone’s ears a scratch. “We saved her life.” 

“It’s not that. It’s…” 

And then Shadow was tearing up, and Vio raised his hand to cup his face, startled by the sudden outburst. “Hey, hey, shhh, what’s going on?” 

“I’ve been thinking about this for days. We—I—never hit the human towns. But there must have been animals, right? That I… killed?” 

Vio’s heart sunk. It was the truth and they both knew it.

“Yes,” Vio said. “I’m so sorry.” 

Shadow stood up abruptly, startling Pinecone off his lap. He looked down at the cat as tears ran down his checks, words clearly on the tip of his tongue. His eyes met Vio’s and he turned on his heel, gone before Vio could even stand. 

━━

Vio found him on the forest trail, having abandoned the path for their favorite scenic overlook. Vibrant red, yellow, and dark evergreen trees punctuated the landscape above a crystal-clear mountain stream. Shadow sat on the ground, head in his hands, as his hat blew in the gentle breeze. 

Shadow’s body tensed at the sound of Vio’s footsteps. Vio froze, suddenly unsure. “If you want to be alone, it’s okay.” His voice carried faintly over the sound of rustling leaves. “I’m sorry, I—” 

“No. Stay.” 

Vio nodded and sat down beside Shadow, who finally lifted his head in favor of the view. “I could have destroyed all of this,” he said, voice dripping with disdain. “Eventually, I would have.” 

Vio covered Shadow’s hand with his own. “Probably. I’m not going to lie to you. But I’m still here, and I love you, and so does Pinecone.” 

“She shouldn’t. Neither should you.” 

“Not up to you. Isn’t that a relief, at least?”

Shadow shook his head. “You and I… we’ve talked. We’re working through everything. But she’s just… she’s just this little baby. She doesn’t know anything I did, she wasn’t there. She has no idea who I really am, and if she did, she wouldn’t—” 

“Pinecone is a cat,” Vio interrupted. “The only times in her life she experienced cruelty were before we found her. The world failed to make her feel safe and loved, but you succeeded. It’s as simple as that.” 

“I don’t deserve any of this,” Shadow said, a sentiment often uttered during his most vulnerable moments. “You, Pinecone, our home, this second chance at life… none of it.” 

“Do you think Pinecone deserved to be abandoned or injured?” 

Shadow turned his head sharply to match Vio’s gaze. “Of course not. Why would you even ask that?” 

“What if she got injured while fighting a sibling, or her mother? What if she won the fight?”

“That’s ridiculous, she was just a—” 

“Shadow,” Vio interrupted, “you know what I’m saying. You would love her anyway, you would have saved her anyway.”

“Of course.” 

“Then it shouldn’t be impossible to believe that we love you. You’ve hurt me in the past, sure, but I’ve hurt you too. We will always be in the process of forgiving each other, and that’s okay. There’s no one I’d rather be doing this with than you.” 

“Vio, I—” 

“And as for Pinecone, you’ve done nothing but dote on her from the moment we found her. Maybe… maybe if she was able to comprehend your past, and the things you did, she would struggle with it. You know I have. Not everyone is forgiving by nature, and that’s okay, but I refuse to deny myself a life with you because of things that happened in the past. I can’t speak for Pinecone, because she’s a cat, but why wouldn’t she be the same?” 

Shadow’s scowl broke like a dark mirror, its shards running down his cheeks. “I love you so much.” 

Vio stood up, brushed the dry leaves off his pants, and offered Shadow a hand. “Let’s go home. Someone there misses you.” 

Shadow shook his head, a sad smile on his face as he rose to his feet. “I’ve only been gone for twenty minutes.” 

Try months, Vio wanted to say as he trailed behind Shadow on the path. Months mending the mirror and perfecting the ritual, because I wounded you, I abandoned you, and I was never going to feel peace until I got you back. 

Maybe it was wrong for Vio to love Shadow, knowing in great detail the many terrible things he did. But Vio was no saint, either. He could have prevented countless acts of cruelty Shadow blamed himself for entirely. He himself had been cruel, his actions calculated and completely sober, towards his closest friends and the love of his life.

There was this attitude Vio often noticed in the sacred texts he read, this insistence that amends could only be made alone. That in order to truly be pure, a person would have to suffer for their misdeeds. That any happiness or peace they experienced would taint their good intentions, up until the day they finally Made It All Right.

Truthfully, Vio didn’t think that day would ever come.

Truthfully, he didn’t care. 

━━

Vio made his way to their bedroom around 10 PM, pleased to see Shadow already sound asleep. Even more pleasing was Pinecone, who laid on his chest as she typically did whenever Shadow wasn’t curled up in Vio’s arms. 

He’d let them have this, tonight. 

Vio got under the covers and gently ran his hand down Pinecone’s back, watching her rise and fall as Shadow inhaled and exhaled. He held a finger to her throat and smiled; there it was. Of course, there it was. 

Vio turned onto his side, close enough to Shadow that he could nuzzle against his head. This was something cats did, apparently, an action hotwired in their brains to say, simply, “you are mine.” 

And I’m yours, Vio thought as he closed his eyes. He didn’t mention it earlier, but he could recall another time, before Pinecone, that Shadow found someone lost in the woods and loved them in the only way he knew how. 

And it was amazing, really, to Vio… how lucky they both were to have been found. 

[twdmusicboxmystery]

My Re-Watch of Ghosts

So, I may or may not have watched Ghosts again last night. I don’t know that I have anything to say that we haven’t discussed before, but here are some thoughts I had.

I wanted to watch it again because I looked back through my edits and found one that just pointed out the final, weirdo dream Carol has where Daryl is making breakfast and Henry sits at the table wearing the compass rose t-shirt. I had the thought that he simply must represent Beth in this dream. Henry was a major proxy for Beth anyway, and in this episode, Carol is very much “searching” for him, but never really finds him. He’s the most obvious “ghost” of the title.

And then I started to wonder if everything that happens in this episode with Carol in the school is a callback to Grady in some way. Not necessarily what we know of Grady, but specifically what we don’t know and didn’t see.

Of course, I also think it’s probably a foreshadow to when/how they stumble upon Beth. Carol is so totally entangled in this whole situation, in ways we don’t yet understand. I think it probably stretches back to something we didn’t see at Grady, which I’ll get into in a minute, but she’s also going to be key to helping Beth return to Daryl.

It also made me think of various things we saw in Diverged in the Carol/Dog/Rat situation. And I kind of think that that, and what happens in Ghosts, and what we saw in 6x13, all point to the exact same thing. They just use different symbols to foreshadow it for us.

So, with all of this top of mind, I re-watched Ghosts.

We start, of course, with the waves of walkers that Alpha claims are not her doing. I think we can all agree that this probably represents the CRM and all their walker shenanigans in some way. It could also call back to the 800 walkers we didn’t see in the missing scenes of Coda, but chances are the CRM is responsible for both, so it all amounts to the same thing.

Then we have them drinking coffee in the woods, which we’ve discussed extensively. Per Paula in 6x13, the coffee changes the nature of the water itself. So, to have them drinking coffee in the woods here, makes me think of two things.

I think it’s a callback to 6x13. And if you remember, there were tons of Beth and resurrection references in that episode as well. Blond walker (though not animated) on the ground, holding a rosary, much like Beth did at Grady. The set of the Saw movie, at the end of which the “dead” person who’d been shot in the head stands up and is actually alive. All that jazz.

But I think there’s a specific reason they use this as a Carol symbol, and that they explained to us what it meant through Paula in S6. The point is that the coffee didn’t just change the format of something or tweak it a little. It changed the nature of the thing itself.

So, I really think Carol did something back in S5 that changed the nature of TF’s world. What? I have no idea. I thought on it for a bit, and I think the best bet is that it happened during the missing 17 days. After all, she ended up with Beth’s knife and we have no idea how or what brought that about.

And I don’t by any means think Carol did anything heinous. She’d be the first one to fight for Beth if she had any suspicion at all that she might be alive. So, whatever she did, she probably doesn’t realize she did it, or else didn’t realize how significantly one of her actions changed things, and led to wherever Beth ended up.

This is further bolstered by what happens next in Ghosts. Carol sees something that no one else does. In this case, three whisperers. Even though we don’t see direct evidence that they were real, the fact that the gal at the end who wakes up as a walker was real, and AK confirmed that, shows that Carol was seeing something real, but no one else saw it. And no one, including Daryl, truly believed her.

Could that be an analogy for something that happened during the missing 17 days? Or will that happen when she finds Beth first and no one believes her when she says she saw Beth alive?

Meanwhile, I’ll only touch on this once or twice, but in this same episode, we have the Aaron/Negan situation, that smacks heavily of Beth and Daryl in Still. There are green-covered walkers (think Cherokee Rose), hogweed, they go to a shack, it has diamonds, Aaron loses his sight, etc. To me, those callbacks are another way for writers to suggest there is a second, symbolic story being hinted at here.

So then Daryl, Carol, and co go to the Burnett academy, which has a huge dog on the side. (Sirius).

This is the part I felt might have been indicative of Grady or, dually, a foreshadow of the CRM. There are plenty of random clues, such as Daryl telling the story of the disappearing girl, the clock with no hands, which suggests “time escapes,” as the grandfather clock in Still did.

But to me, it feels like Carol goes looking for something here. She hears strange noises and sees shadows, and follows them. This is when she first sees the creepy walker girl that looks like Somara from The Ring. But it’s also the first time she sees Henry’s ghost. I feel like Carol was looking for Henry here, whether she realizes it or not. After all, she just came face to face with his killer, and Alpha said something about him dying screaming or something. That’s bound to dredge up some major PTSD.

So, I kind of feel like she goes looking for one thing (Henry) and finds another (this creepy whisperer girl). The walker/whisperer girl isn’t super like Beth, but I still think she may represent her in many ways.

Before I get to the climactic scene in the gym, a couple of other themes I noticed. Daryl kept telling her not to take the “coffee” pills so she could sleep. Though they never directly verbalized it, the idea is that, without sleep or rest (he says “you need to rest” at some point) you can’t see clearly what is happening and what is going on.

So, we could go lots of ways with this. Was TF asleep in some manner in S5, and so they couldn’t clearly see what happened with Beth and what was going on at Grady? TD has said similar things since Coda aired. Was Carol more awake and observant, and so she somehow saw something significant, even if she didn’t then and still doesn’t in the present realize how significant it was?

Again, these kinds of theories have been discussed before, but I feel like at some point, Carol will realize how significant whatever she saw was, and it will make her realize Beth is still alive.

The other thing I thought of with the talk of rest was what Maggie said to Daryl in 5x10. “It’s okay to rest now.” That always struck me as significant, though I wasn’t sure why. It’s almost like TF was asleep for a lot of S4 and S5, and they didn’t truly wake up until 5x10 when the music box also woke up. And of course we have the wake up theme around plenty of characters, including Denise.

Oh, one more thing. Before she goes to the gym, when she takes her final coffee pill and Daryl tells her to sleep, she says, “one more hour.” It’s part of the “one more” theme of the Aaron and Gabriel episode, which ALSO had tons of callbacks to Beth and Daryl. Just saying.

So, then we get to the part in the gym. I’ve tried to go take by take in this scene, and nothing really jumps out at me when I think of it that way. It works better with generalities.

So, in terms of this being a callback to Grady, Carol goes in, gets captured (in this case, by the rope trap) and then something really weird and surreal happens. The way they film it, we don’t *truly* see what goes down. But it results in Carol being badly injured, and the same girl Carol was in the place with (the whisperer gal) suddenly waking up at the end, when she should have been dead. That sounds awfully indicative of what happened with Beth at Grady.

It's probably also a template they’ll use for how Beth reappears. Carol is searching for something, just as Daryl was searching for Rick, and stumbles upon something she did not expect. Kinda like in Diverged when she stumbles upon Rat. She spends all this time and effort facing off with a rodent, kind of like all the time and effort she spent facing off with whisperer girl and looking for Henry.

In the end, she somehow frees herself from the trap, but she’s badly injured, and TF takes her to get medical care. At Grady, she was hurt badly, and TF took her with them, caring for her along the way.

So, just spit balling here, but if I had to guess, I’d say Carol is going to come into contact with the CRM, independent of anyone else in TF, and see Beth there. Carol will obviously try to talk to her or help her or whatever, depending on what the situation is, but much like rat, or the elusive ghost of Henry, Beth kind of runs and hides from Carol. Carol eventually gets free of the CRM, but she’s badly hurt, and somehow gets home. TF takes care of her of course, and that’s when she tells them what she saw, but none of them believe her. Just like in Ghosts.

This also feeds into what I’ve always thought about the end of Diverged. She doesn’t go around proclaiming to people that she’s seen a rat in that episode, lol. That wouldn’t have made much sense. But she was still the only one to see it. And the part where she’s looking for it in the dark and tears down the wall just looks a lot like the darkness of this school and specifically the gym. But in the end, when the rat finds its own way out, she and Jerry react with utter shock, even saying, “is that….?” Is that what? What’s so shocking about a rat running between your shoes? I’ve made the joke before it’s like they’re star-struck by a celebrity rat or something.

But if this is symbolic for them seeing Beth, that would make a lot more sense, wouldn’t it?

So, before I go into the dream, there are a couple of other small stories to touch on here, only because they both have Bethyl themes and callbacks to them. We get Rosita and Eugene talking and him finally coming to terms that there will never be anything romantic between them. I know we’ve talked about Bethyl themes and dialogue there. But what we couldn’t have realized when this aired, is that that scene led directly to Eugene finding his true love, Max. If he hadn’t finally understood how things were with him and Rosita, he wouldn’t have left and started a radio relationship with Max. The rest is history.

Then there is Siddiq and Dante drinking together. Again, just alcohol callbacks and such. Also, Dante talks about Afghanistan and Fallujah. I can pretty much guarantee that back when this aired, we had no inkling of the Afghanistan stuff. Just saying.

Okay, so then we get to Carol’s dream where Daryl makes breakfast and Henry sits at the table. No matter how you slice it, it’s a weird dream that makes no sense. Other than Henry and the compass rose, the biggest thing that jumps out at me is that Carol is wearing the watch with no hands, same as she saw in the Burnett Academy, which again calls back to the “time escapes” theme.

But what if the whole point of the time escapes theme is missing time that the audience hasn’t seen? After all, the hands on the clock aren’t running around it super-fast. They’re missing altogether. So, we’re pretty sure we had missing time at Grady, we definitely had missing time (17 days) after Grady. In this episode, we have missing time when whatever happened in the gym went down. And the dream seems to indicate it’s about what happened during one of those missing periods.

The other thing about this is that, even though Henry is sitting there, neither of them really acknowledge him. So, it *seems* like Carol sees him, but she has absolutely no reaction to him. If she suddenly saw Henry, she would definitely have an emotional reaction, whether joy or sadness or whatever, but she doesn’t. So, it’s almost like they don’t see him. Perhaps another indicator that Beth is there, but they just don’t see her.

So maybe this is about the future as well. The two of them bopping along together, but they don’t see that Beth is there, calling out to them. And Carol’s watch seems to indicate that something about this has to do with missing time.  

So then, of course, at the end, the walker girls wakes up. AK said it really was a walker, not someone waking up as a live human, but the point is, Carol did not hallucinate this person. And having her wake up is symbolic of Beth’s resurrection or awakening. Bottom line, Carol was in a very Grady-like place with this person, and then we see her “waking up.”

So, one might ask who this whisperer person was, why we never saw this again, why it was never explained. Because, it terms of Carol’s storyline, it doesn’t matter. It was never going to extend beyond this episode, which makes it feel nonsensical. But it was just there to parallel Beth and foreshadow some future storyline with Carol.

And again, I think we could go two ways for how this might play out. On the one hand, it represents Beth’s symbolic resurrection for TF and the GA at large. But I also think it could possibly be indicative of something I’ve conjectured about the Carol/Rat situation before:

Maybe when Carol first meets Beth, she won’t have all of her memories intact. Even if she had some images or flash-like visuals of Carol, she doesn’t *really* know who she is. Maybe that’s why she runs from Carol, because having these images and memories come back frightens her.

All I’m saying is that maybe the girl waking up at the end represents the “reawakening” of Beth’s memories. That’s all.

So yeah. Those are all my thoughts after rewatching. Kind of want to rewatch 6x13, now. Not sure if I will or not.

I’ll probably use this for my theory tomorrow. You know, since I bothered to write it up and everything. ;D It’s been quite a while since I did a big writeup like this. Even though none of it was groundbreaking, I had fun.

[myers-meadow]

Michael Myers x ofc/you

Title: Care for me, part 2.

Part 1 is here.

Part 3 is here.

Part 4 is here.

Part 5 (final) is here.

Warnings: therapy, obsessive behaviour. References to past murder. Obsessive behaviour increases in this part. Some possible dubcon touching near the end (id rather be safe than sorry with warnings).

Contents: Rob Zombie's Michael Myers in Smith's Grove meets a new therapist with unconventional ideas. Michael x you/ Michael x ofc. 'You' have a name, since i find y/n somewhat awkward for longer fics.

I am also proud to say that this fic is heavily inspired by Michel Foucault's ideas on power difference and how this comes into play in the anti-psychiatry theories. Also: 80s fashion. I'd love to have feedback on this.

“Marion,” he started, before you even properly reached the entrance. “I heard there was some sort of mishap last week, the guards reported it. What happened?”

“Ah, it was nothing,” you shook your head. “The door fell shut and I didn’t want to interrupt the session too much.”

“They also said you walked out right after, that you were inside for less than half an hour,” his tone was sharp.

You dared a look at Loomis, while both walking through the corridors. His expression softened at seeing your face. “I just realized how intimidating Michael could be. And… the drawings. You consider me unconventional, but I don’t know what to do with– with that.”

“Ah, I see, you’re certainly not the first to think that.”

You arrived in Michael’s corridor. “Nothing to do but continue the sessions. To see what will happen.”

Dr. Loomis waved at Michael as the guards opened the door. You stepped in, leaving the doctor to walk away.

“Good morning again,” you started. The amount of drawings on the wall had increased. In some you could recognize yourself. Some were even more experimental than you had seen the time before. “How have you been?”

No answer. Michael was sitting by his desk, so you took a seat in the other chair. They were not fastened to the ground, but were heavy and awkward to move around, and it lead to the two of you sitting closer than you anticipated. Perhaps it was because of the size of him, how wide the span of his legs were. You never noticed when sitting next to Loomis. A small tremble in your hand as you shrugged off your blazer and pushed it over the back of the chair. You leant an elbow on the desk, angled towards your patient.

“Last time was rather interesting as far as therapy sessions go,” you said, after taking him in for a while. “So, I would like to discuss some more theory today. The relationship between therapist and patient is a very interesting one. The therapist is the face of the institution of psychiatry, and therefore holds the reigns. Dr. Loomis carries responsibility for you, and he is the one with the power to sign off on your release. This dynamic… The doctor has power over the patient, and this power is what can be abused.”

You trailed off, gaze no longer on Michael. The drawings scattered on the desk were making your head swim.

The chair creaked, Michael reached for a sheet of paper, searching through them with slow movements. At that point you barely cared if he was listening to you or not, you were just glad to be out from his suffocating gaze.

So you continued, speaking slowly, measuring each word: “However, as we saw last time, I have no power over you. Rather the opposite, although that is not what is the point of this session. However flattered I may feel that you seem to have taken our sessions well, please remember that I am still, technically, in a position of power over you.”

You were interrupted when the man placed a drawing in your lap. Your favourite flower. The one you had drawn time and time again, using many different mediums.

The seriousness from before was broken, instead you let out a breathy chuckle. You looked up at him. “That’s very sweet. A cornflower. Did you learn this from my journal? Impressive.”

You attempted to hand it back, thinking he was merely showing it to you but he placed it back in your hands. “Thank you. I’ll put it on the fridge when I get home.”

You did not notice the eyes that followed you on your way out.

.・*・.・*・.・*・.・*・.

October 18th. In the late afternoon, Michael was once again pulled out of his cell. The destination was clearer to him then. And it was the strangest feeling to know who to expect at the table, waiting for him.

The procedure was the same as before, although you did not stop the guards from attaching his bonds to the table.

“Happy birthday,” you said, smiling pleasantly. “This is an even more informal visit, but I thought I should because it’s your birthday. Here.”

You slid a large yet thin package over the table, stacked on top was another thin but much smaller present, and bend down to grab a bouquet of flowers. It had sunflowers, cornflowers, some greens, some baby’s breath and a few white daisies. After a loaded moment of sitting opposite one another silently, his chains rattled. Slowly, he unwrapped the first present, not caring for the wrapping paper and tearing at it almost clumsily.

A sketchbook. Think pages, textured and pleasantly bright paper.

“Thought the size would… fit you better,” you said.

He flipped open the cover and touched the paper. A nod and the rattling of chains was all you received as thanks, but that was good enough. The second one: a pack of different pencils.

You took one of the pencils, pressing it to the paper to show the difference between them. “This one is very hard, and this one is much softer. The harder ones are better for sketching, since they look cleaner I think. The softer seems less saturated, but because of the texture, very useful. My dad always used to use one of these middle ones for everything, but I thought having a few to try out would be fun.”

While at home, Monday 22nd of October, a loud ringing interrupted your evening. You are slow to pick up the phone.

“Marion, yes, hi, this is Samuel,” the voice on the other end of the line sounds hurried.

“Is anything wrong?”

“Well, not really, but this morning I saw some more of Michael’s drawings and…” his voice trailed off, before he cleared his throat and continued. “I am afraid it is no longer in your best interest to continue seeing Michael as your patient.”

“What do you mean? His drawings?”

“I fear he has grown unfittingly attached to you. Even though he seems to be more open and responsive, I worry that this change in his behaviour has more facets that we cannot see yet.”

“So, what you are saying is that he is dangerous? We knew this from the start. Is it not worth pushing through, especially since a good decade and a half of therapy has not done anything to help him?” even if your words sounded confident, doubt was gnawing at your chest.

“Marion, with all respect, but no. This is not a risk I am willing to take. You have not known him as I have.”

“I could say the same,” you shot back, then thinking it over more. “But I trust your judgement, Samuel.”

The doctor let out a sigh. “Thank you. I would not want anyone else to get hurt.”

“One last thing,” you said, “could I perhaps meet with him a last time to say goodbye? I fear it would cause more issues if the connection was torn away without proper closure.”

“Yes, very well. I will supervise the visit then. Perhaps Thursday? I have a meeting tomorrow during the normal hours.

“Alright, see you then.”

.・*・.・*・.・*・.・*・.

It was Thursday in the blink of an eye. You had indeed put the drawing of the cornflower on the fridge, and both endearment and restlessness swirled in your stomach as you opened the fridge for your regular oatmeal breakfast. During the drive over to Smith’s Grove, you were too nervous to put on music. However trivial it may seem, you could not forget your art journal, which you would prefer to have back. That would be a bad idea to bring up to Loomis, so you resigned to just leaving it with Michael.

Dr. Loomis once again awaited you, smoking by the entrance. Mostly in silence you walked to your destination.

“Good morning, Michael,” greeted Loomis. Both of you sat down. The patient was on his cot, as usual, staring daggers at you.

“Hello,” you start, “sorry I wasn’t there on Tuesday, it was not intended, but Dr. Loomis called me the night before to let me know he thinks it’s best to end our sessions. Whenever he needs a second opinion or someone to talk to about unconventional treatment methods, he knows where to find me. ”

For Michael, the days leading up to that last meeting in the sanatorium had been different as well. The guards who had first spotted the plethora of drawings of you had not let up their bullying. Eventually, under orders of Loomis, they had taken most of the ones that he put up on the walls down, leering at him all the while.

“Does Mikey have a little crush?” they laughed. “Better forget about her, she won’t fall for a guy like you. Not with that ugly mug.”

The other one piped in, with a challenging stare at the killer, “What if we were to throw these out, huh? Ruin that precious therapist of yours, what would you do then?”

Michael only raised his head when he heard the tearing of paper. They were lucky his patience was inhuman.

.・*・.・*・.・*・.・*・.

A few days go by without anything of note. Dr. Loomis made you complete paperwork, and after that, you debate whether to visit Michael informally. Just perhaps to get your journal back. Eventually you headed to your car instead, to go home, to clear your head. The drawing he made of you haunted you, your feelings incoherent.

Halloween loomed ever closer. Preparations go smoothly, except that you kept eating the candy intended for trick or treaters. Your mum sent you some wintery snacks from back home, and despite your best efforts to make them last, they didn't.

.・*・.・*・.・*・.・*・.

On the 30th, a loud ringing throughout the living room. You answered the phone.

“Marion, it’s happened! He’s out!” yelled Dr. Loomis, out of breath.

“Samuel, calm down, what is going on? Who is out?”

At that moment, heavy footfalls echoed through the hall. You stare at the open door. A large figure stepped into the living room.

“It’s Michael, he’s escaped. He killed the guards.”

You made eye contact through the mask, noticing the knife in his hand and his mechanic overall.

“That’s bad news,” you say, voice flat, hoping that if you kept staring at him, he wouldn't move closer. “Have you called the police yet?”

“We did. I just- I worry about you, especially considering his earlier… attachment. Stay safe, and call me when you see anything suspicious.”

“Alright, I’ll let him know you called,” and with a glance at the knife, “if I see him. Bye, Samuel.”

You let out a sigh after putting the phone back on the receiver. “Michael, I didn’t expect to see you here, is there something you’d like; tea, something sweet? Are you are exited for Halloween?”

He simply stood there, only taking a smaller step inside the living room. You pointed him to the couch, babbling on. “Have a seat, I’ll put the kettle on.”

You busied yourself in the kitchen, putting water to boil, getting teacups, choosing a tea, putting some cookies and other snacks on a plate. Bringing those to living room, before returning to make the tea and taking that over as well. You moved past the figure on the couch to the chair, but a hand caught your arm. You looked back at him. His intentions soon became clear when he pulled you to the couch, there was some strength behind his grip. So you sat down, tucking your legs underneath you, to have some extra height, some extra space between your organs and his knife. Speaking of the knife, he put it down next to the cookies.

With slow movements, he let go of your arm. He reached inside a pocket, then he handed your journal to you, eyes never leaving yours. Something fluttered in your chest.

“You remembered,” you said, allowing a smile, “thank you. Have you come all that way to give it back?”

That did not seem to be all, as he nudged the book once. Without thinking, you opened it, a page fell open somewhere in the middle. It was one of your original nudes, it had a pairing. The face of the male was crudely scratched out. You leafed through. He had provided commentary on some pages, most things were practical, about the types of pencils used, or on perspective. The English names of the flowers. Then the pages you barely remembered were empty when you gave it – a bad habit of never finishing a notebook. He had filled them. There was the bouquet of flowers you had given him on his birthday. The next one was you, sitting in his cell, details of the masks on the wall behind you visible. You stole a glance at Michael, who sat so closely next to you that you could feel the warmth from his tights radiating to yours.

Another page, that was you alright, pinned on a bed, hair spread out on the pillow, hand around your throat, eyes shut, lips parted. Something prickled hot and uncomfortably on your cheeks. Fingers trembled as you turned the page, too nervous to meet his gaze. The first page was fine, just studies of his own face, in several masks, and of cornflowers, very small. But the right page… You, with thick, dirty fingers in your mouth, once again a hand on your neck, but lower this time, almost on your chest. A much smaller hand, yours, held the larger one. Scribbles next to the drawings, but you pressed a hand to your face and snapped the journal closed.

A hand landed on your thigh.

“Is this how it ends? Have you come to murder me?” you asked, even though you knew that wasn’t the case. The tremble in your voice was real, though. Only then did you meet his gaze, having to loop up despite him sitting down. There was that same intensity to him that you remember from the time he shut the cell door. The same warmth too.

His hand on your wrist, pressing hard. He took the book from you, opened it again, on the last page you saw. He tapped the words. Dr. Loomis would have a field day with his communicative behaviour.

‘Look at me, I want to see her, see into her, show her into me’, underneath the drawing: ‘as a monster I am, so as a monster I will devour’.

You raised your head, furrowed brow, opening your mouth to say something, but in an instant he pulled you closer, into his chest. You braced yourself with hands on his shoulders.

“Michael,” you had intended it as a warning, but it came out as a breathy gasp. His hand on your back, the other on the back of your neck. You could smell the glue of his paper mache mask. The fabric of the coveralls was rough. You settled on his lap, a leg on either side. The heat was not just where he touched you, it was also in the pit of your belly, something primal. Michael traced a bloody finger over your face, from lips to the curve of your nose, over your eyebrows, cheeks and back to your lips.

“I’m afraid that if I let you devour me, there will be nothing left,” you whisper, swallowing thickly. In his eyes shone a promise. You shift your posture, leaning back and attempting to stand up, but he prevents it. The hand moves to your neck, squeezing softly, but you whimper as if it hurts. A warning?

The warmth of his body was not all softness, as something pressed against your pubic bone. A hand pulled your blouse from your skirt, undoing buttons with filthy fingers. The response to such hot contact, his hand on your throat, on your chest, was almost instant. Feeling his breath on you lips. The blood flaked of his fingers, instead fell in your blouse. There was no disgust, strangely, only desire and short gasps from you as he kneaded your breasts. It was only instinct to move your hips. Only instinct to imagine how good he would feel-

The doorbell rings. Persistent knocking on the wood of the front door. “Miss, are you in here? Police.”

He let go, and you got up, hurried to the front door and opened it.

“Hey, is there something wrong?” you ask, when you stare in the faces of two officers, both women.

“Dr. Loomis gave us a call, said he was worried about your safety, so we were just checking in,” said one of them with a friendly smile.

“Thank you, that’s very kind of you. I’m alright, I haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary.”

“Alright, sorry to bother you, have a nice day, ma’am.”

And with that, they left. When you returned to the living room, there was no trace of Michael, but many of the cookies you put out were missing.

[maatryoshkaa]

between the lines | lee minho

𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐘 𝐊𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒!𝐀𝐔

✑ Late fines, shared lockers, and a missing love letter:

In which a frantic search for an overdue library book leads to you finding other things that are...long overdue.

✑ PAIRING: student librarian!minho x bookworm!reader

✑ GENRE: retro!high school au, slow burn, slice-of-life romance, slight enemies-to-lovers shenanigans

✑ WORD COUNT: 9.7k

✖︎ TAGS/WARNINGS: fem!reader, mild language, bullying themes, skz are all around the same age. mc is insecure and a bit of a valentine's day grinch. minho is whipped but too hardheaded to admit it. also, an embarrassing amount of classic literature/pablo neruda references.

Ah, Valentine’s Day.

Call it the most romantic day of the year if you will, but in the treacherous hallways of Levanter High, it meant a minefield of hormonal couples, crushed chocolate boxes, and supermarket rose bouquets. Clutching your backpack with a grimace, you narrowly dodged a pigtailed cheerleader as she leapt into her jock boyfriend’s waiting arms. Turning into another hallway, you plugged your ears to block out a senior boy’s cold rejection of a freshman’s nervous love confession.

You finally caught sight of your locker and breathed a sigh of relief. Levanter High’s lockers were split in half lengthwise—one top row, and one bottom row. You dropped to a crouch to wrench yours open—you’d lost your lock a couple of weeks ago—trying to block out the early morning commotion as you rummaged for your English books.

“Hey, watch ou—”

The locker above yours opened with a screech, and you looked up just in time to see a pink avalanche of cards and chocolates raining down on your head in a painful, deafening crash. The student who had called out the warning was frozen with a comical look of shock on her face. You swore the entire hallway fell silent, blood rushing to your cheeks as you slowly raised your gaze at the person who had opened the locker.

Lee Hana—head cheerleader of Levanter’s pep squad, and in your humble opinion, the spawn of Satan herself.

“Ohmigosh,” she exclaimed, raising one hand to her mouth in mock horror, “I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there.”

The crowd around you was beginning to snicker and point, and you felt your face growing redder by the minute. “What are you doing here?” You asked tersely, motioning towards the locker above yours. “That’s not even your locker.”

Hana smiled and held up a small, glittery package. Oh. You didn’t have to look closer to know that the envelope was a love letter, elaborately tied to a box of expensive chocolates—the kind your parents would probably have to work overtime to afford. “My Valentine—for your locker buddy,” Hana replied matter-of-factly, then added, “Not that you would understand, hm? Since you’ve never received one yourself, and all.”

A smattering of laughs erupted from the crowd that was building around you. Biting back a retort, you looked down at all the other Valentine’s trinkets that had spilled around you. Of course—you should have gotten used to it by now. After all, your locker was right underneath the one that belonged to the student librarian, school heartthrob, and the absolute bane of your existence, Lee—

“Minho!” Hana exclaimed, and you looked up to see him shuffling through the crowd, his eyes briefly falling on yours. You immediately turned away as the pretty cheerleader skipped up to him, and shoved your books into your bag. Slamming your locker shut—twice, because Levanter’s damned lockers always jammed before shutting properly—you snatched up as many of Minho’s fallen Valentine’s Day trinkets as you could before shoving them back into the now-emptied top locker. The metal door was still swinging wide open. You’d overheard Minho complaining to the boy who always did the announcements—Han Jihyun? Han Jisung?—about how he kept losing his own lock. Both of you seemed to have a habit of misplacing things (not that you liked to admit to that similarity).

Out of the corner of your eye, Minho was still watching you over Hana’s shoulder, his lips tilted in a half-smile. Your gut twisted unpleasantly. Four years and counting—that was how long you’d ended up with a locker right under Minho’s.

“You’re so lucky!” Lia—your best friend—had gushed, while you had scoffed in utter disbelief.

“Oh, sure. Just my rotten luck.”

“Come on, y/n. Are you still hung up about that love letter from freshman year?”

Yes, you had thought sourly. “No way,” you had snapped, and Lia had giggled, unconvinced.

It wasn’t like you’d always had a personal vendetta against Minho. In fact, in ninth grade, you’d been head over heels for him, just like the rest of the student body—to the point where you’d even slipped a small love letter into his locker on Valentine’s Day, too. It had been one of those gaudy 99-cent corner-store cards, and you'd saved up your pocket money just to buy a matching pack of candy hearts. Then you’d spent the day with butterflies in your stomach, anxiously waiting nearby his locker to see his reaction.

But when he hadn’t shown up, you'd shrugged and begun heading home—and that was when you had caught sight of Minho, throwing all the love letters he’d received straight into the Dumpsters in the back parking lot.

Talk about a reality check.

As if that hadn't been traumatizing enough, you’d been forced to face him nearly every morning for the following three years. To make matters worse, being Minho’s involuntary locker mate also meant that all the girls—and guys, for that matter—saw you as little more than a stepping stone to him, always asking you to relay party invitations or trying to curry favour with you to get to him.

“We’re not close,” you’d insist to his persistent admirers every time, but it didn’t help. Minho, on the other hand, you thought bitterly, seemed to think he was too good for anyone—he didn’t even respond much to Hana’s advances, and she was drop-dead gorgeous. There was no way he’d even look twice at you—you’d been firsthand witness to that. You finally gave up trying to clean up the fallen Valentines, and stood up with a sigh. Throwing him a death glare, you pushed past the crowd just as the bell rang and students began scurrying away.

What did it matter if Lee Hana was trying to get with Minho? If anything, they were a match made in heaven. Or hell. With a decided huff, you plopped yourself down at your desk just as your English teacher began class.

“We’re starting the poetry unit today! Remember, you’ll be writing a love poem of your own for the final project—so I suggest you all get started on reading!” You teacher had winked and clapped her hands excitedly while a collective groan had swept through your class. A few couples had nudged each other meaningfully, already promising to write their poems about each other, and you’d thrown up a little in your mouth.

Romance was a bit of a touchy subject for you— now, you didn’t hate the notion of love, per se, you’d just always been somewhat...wary of it. After watching your friends fall in and out of disastrous relationships and fleeting feelings from the sidelines too many times to count, your own defense mechanisms had skyrocketed, and now you found yourself trying not to roll your eyes at every piece of romantic writing you read. Still, this inexperience only made you more determined to get a head start on the topic— and so, once the last bell had rung, you made a beeline for the school library. You would tackle love the only way you knew how to—by hitting the books. Pushing open the door, you overheard Hana and her friends muttering in disappointment and immediately recoiled.

“You said he’d be in here!”

“Well, I thought I saw him! Let’s wait for a bit.”

You peeked over the librarian’s desk, and sure enough, it was vacant— save for a tray of half-shelved books and stamping cards. Maybe Minho left early today, you thought, shrugging. That’s a relief. Then you shook your head quickly. What’s it to me whether he’s here or not? You tried to ignore Hana’s disdainful glance at you, heading straight towards your favourite nook at the back of the library instead: a cozy alcove tucked behind the last row of shelves. With a deep sigh, you pulled out the first book of poetry your teacher had assigned—Shakespeare’s Complete Sonnets—and sank into the bean bag chair.

‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May…’

A couple lines in, and the Englishman’s words were already making your head spin. You grimaced, massaging your temples. ‘A summer’s day?’ Seriously? You could swear you’d seen something less cheesy on a dollar store card. After a couple of pages, you could already feel your treacherous eyelids beginning to droop, fighting to stay awake as you tried to make sense of Shakespeare’s verses. But thy eternal summer...shall not fade...nor lose...possession…

“The library’s closing.”

You jolted awake, hands fumbling blindly before you could even force your eyes open. The library came into focus first—the lights had been dimmed, the flickering EXIT sign from the empty hallway casting a warm glow through the panelled window across the room. A dull headache still throbbed in your temples.

“Sorry,” you mumbled, rubbing your eyes groggily. You had to practically peel your cheek away from the Shakespeare book, fingers gingerly feeling the dent the cover had left in your cheek. “I-I’m so sorry, I must have—lost track of time studying.”

A familiar chuckle sent your heart plummeting to your stomach. “I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

When your eyes finally adjusted, your expression automatically soured into a glare.

“Now that’s more like it.” Smirking, Minho crossed his arms, leaning back on a bookshelf. He glanced down at the book in your lap—the book that you clearly hadn’t been studying. “Didn’t know you were one for Shakespeare.”

“I—” You threw your hands up in exasperation. “I’m not. His writing gives me a headache. It’s like it’s all in another language or something.”

Minho raised an eyebrow. “Old English. Why are you reading it, then?”

“We’re doing poetry in class—and our final project is to write an actual love poem, based on the poets we’ll study. Shakespeare was just first on the reading list, so…” you felt yourself trailing off, flustered. Why were you even bothering to explain this to Minho, who probably couldn’t care less? “Nevermind.”

You felt his piercing gaze on you as you shoved your books into your bag, glancing outside at the nearly emptied parking lot. If you squinted, you could spot a couple—Seo Changbin, judging by the male’s iconic leather jacket, and his lover—making out under the bleachers. You shook your head incredulously. Valentine’s Day. Love poems. Hormonal couples galore. It was like the universe was playing a long, cruel joke on you: Ha-ha, look who’s spending Valentine’s Day studying in the library alone.

Well, alone except for a student librarian with whom you had a mortifying history. Not much better. Eager to leave, you got to your feet, only to see Minho flipping through a smaller book he’d pulled off the shelf next to him. “If you want some real inspiration,” he began slowly, pushing up his glasses, “I’d suggest you start closer to our time period.”

You looked down at the book he was holding up, brow furrowing as you read the title out loud. “Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair. Pablo Neruda.”

“The best Chilean poet of the 20th century,” he nodded. “‘I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way, because I do not know any other way of loving but this.’”

It took you a second to realise Minho was quoting a poem, and you were suddenly grateful that the dimly lit library hid the flush of red that had betrayed your cheeks. Clearing your throat, you mumbled, “That actually sounds...kind of pretty.”

He didn’t look up, but you thought you saw the corners of his mouth shoot up ever so slightly. Maybe the shadows were playing tricks on you? Flipping through the book, Minho fished out a pad of sticky notes from his back pocket and marked a few pages. “Here. ‘The Song of Despair’...‘Tonight I Can Write’...‘Here I Love You.’ Those are good.” Clamping the book shut, he held it out towards you.

You almost thanked him, but the words faltered on your tongue as you took it from him suspiciously. “What’s with the sudden helpful attitude?”

He shrugged. “It’s my job.” You raised an incredulous eyebrow, and he smirked. “Consider it my apology for this morning, then.”

That left you at a real loss for words, and for the first time, you struggled to find a retort. “That’s...considerate of you, apologising on behalf of your girlfriend and all.”

“Hana’s not my girlfriend.”

You breathed a small laugh. “Soon-to-be, then. Don’t break her heart.”

Minho scoffed, bringing the book to the front desk and scrawling your name on the sign-out card. He stamped the dates, then held it out at you before glancing out the window. Dusk had fallen, the empty football field lit only by rows of flickering lampposts. “You can get home safe?”

“Screw off, Lee Minho.” You eyed him warily, shoving the book into your bag before practically running to the double doors. The strange atmosphere that had suddenly built up in the library felt terrifyingly foreign to you, and your first instinct was to be rid of it as soon as possible. In the hallway, you spotted a janitor dumping a bin into a trash bag. A familiar avalanche of pink envelopes and gifts caught your eye, and you felt a wave of humiliation. Just the memory of Minho throwing yours out—after reading it and having a good laugh, no doubt—made you want to ram your head into the lockers all over again. You’ve got no chance with him, y/n, you thought blearily. Right when you’d thought you’d finally come to terms with Minho’s brutal (albeit unintentional) rejection, here he was again: crashing back into your life like some...cat-eyed, pointy-nosed meteor.

“Oh, y/n! One more thing.”

You’d already had one foot out the front door when Minho called your name again, making you jerk your head back in surprise. Minho had his bag slung over one shoulder, a pile of books in his arms as he waved to get your attention. His smile looked almost...genuine in the warm shadows, his round glasses softening his usually sharp gaze. Despite yourself, you felt your heart skip a beat.

Then Minho made a wiping motion over his face and grinned. “You’ve got drool on your chin.”

Your face reddened, and you slammed the library door shut, earning a glare from the janitor down the hall. Smacking the heel of your palm against your forehead repeatedly, you stormed out of the school muttering curses under your breath. Typical Lee Minho.

To your surprise, you practically devoured the poems in less than a week, taken aback at how much you genuinely enjoyed them. It was the first time you didn’t find yourself cringing at romance—and sure enough, in a couple days’ time, you found yourself reluctantly standing back in front of the double doors of the school library once again.

Carefully, you craned your head to peep into the panelled window, scanning the room for Minho. As per usual, a gaggle of girls were huddled on the other side, blocking your view.

“Looking for someone?”

Flinching, you nearly tripped on Hana’s long legs as she came up beside you. Before you could respond, she fixed you with a withering look. “You’ve got some explaining to do, Little Miss Perfect.”

“I—sorry?”

The cheerleader rolled her eyes, sneering. “Don’t act all innocent with me, you sneaky b—”

Sighing, you pushed open the doors before she could finish. Hana followed you into the library, still sputtering angrily. Her hand snatched your arm, French manicure digging painfully into your cardigan.

“The Valentines,” she hissed, and it finally clicked.

She’s talking about the love letters, you realized. The ones Minho throws out every year.

Gut twisting, you looked up to see all the other girls crossing their arms and looking back at you expectantly. “None of you...got a response?” You asked incredulously, already knowing the answer. This happened every year: Expectant admirers showered Minho’s locker with gifts, Minho wouldn’t even glance at them— and then, for some reason, you were left to take the blame. A twinge of annoyance shot through your chest.

“You stole them from his locker, didn’t you?” Hana continued accusingly, pupils shaking. “You sneaky, jealous bitch— of course you did.”

He threw them all out, you wanted to scream back at her, but the words wouldn’t budge from your tongue. Somehow, saying them out loud felt like tearing off the stitches of an old wound; a painful reminder of your personal humiliating memory. And—though you hated to admit it—a small part of you still didn’t have the heart to throw Minho under the bus just yet, even after all that he’d done.

Feeling defeated, you sighed and turned towards her. “Why would I want to do that?”

Hana scoffed, tossing her chocolate curls over one shoulder. “Oh, please. We all know you’ve had a massive one-sided crush on him since ninth grade.”

A rush of heat flooded your cheeks, the other girls’ snickers at your reaction drowning out any of your protests. “That’s not—”

“Not true? Then—is it mutual?” Hana sneered mockingly. “Don’t make me laugh. He wouldn’t be caught dead with the likes of y—”

“Can I help you with anything?”

The small crowd fell silent as Minho appeared from one of the aisles, eyebrows raised slightly in his usual nonchalant manner. A chill of panic rushed down your spine, palms growing clammy with cold sweat. H-how much did he overhear? In your peripheral, Hana was practically batting her eyelashes at him, but Minho’s mild eyes were focused on yours expectantly.

“I—uh. Well,” you stammered eloquently, your entire body suddenly paralyzed. Hana’s cherry red lips were twisted in a smug smirk, clearly waiting for you to embarrass yourself. “The book,” you blurted, immediately rummaging for the poetry book in your bag and holding it out to him.

Minho took it from you, fingertips grazing yours slightly. They were surprisingly warm. “How’d you find it?”

“R-really good, actually.” Then, you hesitantly added, “I...like the way Neruda uses imagery—he’s precise without being plain, and artful without deviating too much into purple prose. I think I liked Tonight I Can Write the most— y’know, ‘Tonight I can write the saddest lines...’” You swallowed, then instantly began regretting having ever spoken. Great job, y/n, now you sound like a full-blown nerd.

But Minho nodded, his eyes gleaming. “‘I loved her, and sometimes, she loved me, too.’”

“That’s the second verse,” you muttered automatically, and his lips twitched.

“It’s one of my favourite lines.”

The other girls had begun to awkwardly shuffle out of the library, their absence easing your racing heart. With just a few mildly spoken words, you noted, Minho had managed to make you feel as though you had blocked out the rest of the world. Out of the corner of your eye, you spotted Hana glaring daggers at you, and the small smile dropped from your face.

“Do you need something?” Minho asked her blankly, his gaze trailing down to Hana’s hand, which was still painfully latched onto your arm. With a roll of her eyes, she spun on her heel and stormed out of the library.

As soon as she was gone, you breathed an audible sigh of relief. Minho was peeling the sticky notes off from the poetry book you’d returned, eyes still watching you intently. Giving him the side-eye, you deadpanned, “She’s pretty, you know. Maybe you should go talk to her sometime.”

There was a small smile on Minho’s lips. “Does she like Chilean poetry?”

You could only give a short—slightly too shaky for your liking—laugh in response, ruffling your own hair as you tried to calm your frazzled nerves. Don’t forget, y/n. One, that he’s out of your league. Two, how this was all his fault to begin with.

“Is that all you came here for?” Minho’s voice broke into your thoughts again, making you jump. There was a glint of amusement in his eyes. He finds this—me—amusing.

“Well…” you looked down at your feet, then grudgingly nodded at the poetry book you’d just returned. “Do you...have any other recommendations?”

Minho’s face broke into a shit-eating grin, and you bit back a groan. before your pride got the better of you and you changed your mind, he was already heading towards the back of the library, sliding books out as you struggled to keep with his pace. “First of all, Dickinson. Hit-or-miss, but you never know. Then there’s Sylvia Plath, some Emily Brontë…”

Before you knew it, you’d been whisked into a world of verse and metaphor, flying between numerous time periods and continents as you and Minho perused the shelves. Just like the time when you had accidentally fallen asleep in the library, the library seemed to grow cozier, quieter, more peaceful during moments like these, as if the entire world was holding still as you lost yourself in pages upon pages of books. Soon, you found yourself heading to the library nearly every day after school. Despite yourself, you found yourself looking forward to that sunset hour, the fleeting period where most students had left, and the entire library would glow warm as though it were blushing under the swathes of golden light. And in these same fleeting moments, you found your gaze lingering more and more on Minho—the way he would push his silver glasses on, furrowing his brow in concentration whenever he searched for a book, or run his long fingers over their worn spines whenever he was lost in thought—

“Like what you see?” With a flinch, you realised Minho had begun walking back towards you, a crooked smirk on his lips as he set a new pile of books down at the desk you were sat at.

“No!” You snapped, too quickly. “Just—spaced out for a bit. Too concentrated on the project.”

The smirk hadn’t budged from Minho’s face, and you resisted the urge to throw a copy of Emily Dickinson’s Selected Poems at his long, pointy nose. “Mm. You seem to be coming here a lot more often.”

“That’s because the due date is coming up.”

“No. I mean, you seem to be talking to me a lot more.”

You rolled your eyes, snatching a book from the top of his pile as you muttered, “Screw you, Lee Minho.”

His eyebrows shot up in wicked mischief. “You’re more than welcome to try.”

With a cry of exasperation—and surprise at having been heard—you hoisted your book bag onto the table, building a makeshift wall between the two of you.

You didn’t catch the way Minho’s laughter slowly faded as he rested his head on one hand thoughtfully, quietly watching you read. Your lips were pursed in concentration as you muttered your notes under your breath. Cute, he couldn’t help thinking.

Minho had always been good at memorizing things, but he couldn’t remember exactly when you’d begun disliking him so much. You had always intrigued him—what with the way your locker always seemed to be overflowing with books, or how you used to lend him your copy when he forgot his, back in ninth grade. That Valentine’s Day, four years ago, your name had been the only one he’d hoped to find as he rifled through the cards he’d received. But he’d come up empty, and so he’d thrown them all out. And for some reason, you’d been cold to him ever since.

Minho had assumed that you were probably annoyed with all the letters that would fall out of his locker and onto you, and so every year he tried his best to get rid of the Valentines as soon as possible. Nevertheless, you only seemed to be getting more and more annoyed with him.

And now here you were, right in front of him, four years later, and he still couldn’t bring himself to ask you why. Confrontation had never been his strong suit—his words always seemed to come out too blunt, too cold, too soon, and so he’d always avoided bringing it up with you again. Minho sighed, raking a hand through his hair. Written words—that is, books—had always been so much easier than people.

He did, however, remember when he’d started falling for you.

Tenth grade, literature studies. He’d begun arguing against your thesis during one of your presentations, and the two of you had ended up bickering the entire class—pulling out quotes from nearly every chapter of Pride and Prejudice before the class president had to intervene, and your teacher had sent you both to detention.

You had glared at him once, and he’d fallen head over heels.

These violent delights have violent ends, he’d mused in his head back then—Romeo and Juliet—and with the murderous stare Minho sometimes caught you fixing him with, he was willing to bet that you were wishing a violent end on him, too.

He couldn’t pen a love letter to save his life, either— and so, he resorted to pettily glaring at any admirer that approached your locker like Gandalf—you shall not pass—until they backed off. Minho didn’t think you would appreciate him revealing that, either. The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous his actions seemed—and like a poorly written plot twist, you had ended up stumbling back into his life again. Never in his life, however, did Minho think that Pablo Neruda would become his wingman. Glancing down at his portrait on the back cover of the book, Minho could almost imagine the Chilean poet pointing his pen threateningly: “Don’t screw this up.”

“Hey, Minho?” He snapped out of his thoughts to see you waving your hand at him from the other side of your book bag. “You were right. I don’t get any of Dickinson’s poems.”

Your words took a moment to register, Minho caught off-guard by the soft golden hour light illuminating your pretty features. You waved your hand in his face again, and he blinked, breath caught in his throat. Almost tripping over his tongue, he finally quipped, “How on earth are you passing AP English?”

You glowered and smacked his shoulder, the near-silent library ringing with Minho’s laughter once again.

With a week left to the deadline, you were planted at your desk in your room, the wastebasket littered with crumpled up half-sheets of notebook paper. To your dismay, none of the words seemed to be coming out the way you wanted them to. Gnawing the back of your pencil in frustration, you dumped the contents of your book bag onto the desk, and spotted your latest library book—100 Love Sonnets, by Pablo Neruda. Inexplicably, out of all the poets Minho had introduced to you, you always found yourself coming back to him.

Flipping through the well-thumbed pages, your fingers stopped at one titled Sonnet XVII. “I love you without knowing how,” your eyes scanned the verse curiously, “or when, or from where. I love you simply…”

It was the poem Minho had quoted that evening in the library, you realized, heart skipping a beat. “...without problems or pride / I love you in this way, because I do not know any other way of loving / but this, in which there is no I or you / so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand / so intimate that when I fall asleep, your eyes close.”

With a sigh, you buried your head in your arms, lying face-down onto the desk. Maybe the reason why you instinctively disliked reading love poems so much was because of the sheer sincerity of them all. You envied their ability to put feelings into words—with unabashed, unapologetic ardour, and be celebrated for it, to boot. Eyes scanning the verses again, your mind wandered to the way Minho’s eyes had lit up as he’d explained the lines to you, his brow furrowed in focus.

At Levanter High, you had grown used to being pushed around and out of the spotlight. It was either the popular girls and their backhanded compliments, or the boys who spoke to you condescendingly just to a) get you to do their homework, or b) get in your pants. But Minho had always taken you seriously, albeit while driving you half-insane with his infuriating remarks. And as much as you hated to admit it, that same fiery look in his eyes whenever he got worked up—so different from his usual reserved facade in front of the teachers and swooning students—had always made your heart skip a beat. In tenth grade—back when he seemed to pick a fight with you nearly every English class until Bang Chan had to hold the two of you back from killing each other—you’d thought you’d successfully quashed your feelings for the mild-voiced, hazel-eyed librarian. Yet every time he spoke, he left you feeling vulnerable, disarmed, and you were back—though you refused to admit it—to square one.

“‘I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul,’” you whispered, fingers tracing the words on the paper. Feeling a sudden surge—of confidence, or simply exasperation, you weren’t sure—you seized the pen and began scribbling on a new piece of paper. For years, you’d been afraid to face your feelings, terrified of the humiliation if Hana—or anyone at school—found out. But if getting them all out in one cheesy, hot mess of a love letter could give you some closure, you thought tensely, you were more than happy to oblige. You would write it all out under the guise of a love poem, and then it would never have to see the light of day again.

Words began coming to your head like a floodgate had been thrown wide open, and you began scrawling onto the page. “‘I love you as the plant that never blooms, but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers,’” you quoted thoughtfully as you drafted your own poem. In a way, it felt cathartic—you could get all your feelings out, pass it off as an assignment, and never think about the forbidden fruit again. For all you knew, it was a win-win situation. The pen kept wobbling, ink spilling out haphazardly and skipping, but you relaxed slightly. Maybe this assignment wasn’t too bad, after all.

Head filled to the brim with poetry, you set the pen down and dozed off.

“You’re not coming to the football game?” Lia flashed puppy eyes at you, and you smacked her hand playfully, swiping a french fry from her plate.

“Lia, since when have I ever gone to one?” The two of you had dropped by the Sunshine Coffee Shoppe for a quick pick-me-up during lunch hour, but one smile from the cute waiter—Yang Jeongin, if you remembered his name correctly—had dazzled Lia into ordering an extra burger combo, complete with a plate of fries. “Sports and crowds—not my thing. And I have an English project due the next day.”

She pouted. “Oh, come on! Knowing you, you’ve probably already finished it by now.”

You grinned, thinking back to your love poem and fighting the urge to cringe. You’d read it the morning after, and it had taken every fibre in your being to hold yourself back from ripping it to shreds. Piercing, catlike eyes, you’d written in one line. Silver spectacles. Long fingers on dusty pages. Shuddering, you’d stuffed it into the Neruda book before banishing them both to your locker and going about your day. Love poems are supposed to be cheesy, y/n, suck it up. It’ll only be this one time. Besides, it wasn’t like anyone other than your teacher would ever read it.

When you dropped by the library after school, you spotted Hana’s familiar figure by one of the cubicles. As she tossed her hair over her shoulder with a laugh muted by the plexiglass windows, you saw that she was talking to a grinning Minho.

“Are you sure you’re not coming to the game on Thursday?” Hana was whining as you pushed open the doors to the library. She patted his arms playfully. “You could be on the football team if you wanted to, you know! Why don’t you try?”

He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m not that quick on my feet.”

“Well, tell you what. They’re having a party at Hyunjin’s place right after—his parents are out of town. If you don’t feel like coming to the game, at least join us at the afterparty to loosen up a little—have a little fun.” She blew him a kiss and stood, throwing her purse over her shoulder and spotting you. You instinctively froze, bracing yourself for whatever slew of insults she had for you today, but all Hana did was beam and wave at you.

As she passed you by the door, she threw you a knowing wink. “Have fun on your little study date!”

Her words made your ears grow hot again, but to your surprise, there was no trace of venom in her voice — only a lighthearted teasing, as if she had been your friend all along. Hana really did look sweet when she smiled genuinely, and you could see why she had so many people easily wrapped around her finger. Maybe people do change. Or she’s just in a good mood. Before you could shrug and turn away, you sensed Minho’s presence behind you and yelped.

He held his hands up in mock surrender, and you could swear he was suppressing a laugh. “Here to work on your project again?”

Hana’s strange exchange with you on her way out had left your mind reeling, and you scrambled to form coherent sentences. “No, I, um—I actually finished it last night. I just…” Thought I’d just drop by to say hi. But your pride turned the words to mush before they had even formed, and you ended up trailing off awkwardly.

“Really?” There was a flash of disappointment in his face, then Minho’s gaze landed on the book-borrowing register on the front desk. “Right—your book is due today. Did you want to return it?”

Your eyes widened, silently cursing at your own forgetfulness. “Um—yes,” you lied, pretending to search in your bag before giving an awkward laugh. “Yep. I think it’s in my locker—let me go get it.”

After jogging to the other side of the school, you flung open the bottom locker, making another mental note to replace your missing lock. Still catching your breath, your hand sifted through the notes and textbooks before coming up empty. Where is it? You could swear you remembered putting it there, unless—

Breath catching in your throat, you shut the locker with a mortified bang. The English classroom. You practically sprinted down the hallways, earning another dirty look from the janitor as you raced past. Bang Chan looked up in alarm when you nearly crashed into the English classroom door. The entire room was empty, save for the class president, who looked like he was helping to file the teacher’s papers.

“Where’s the fire?” He asked jokingly as your eyes frantically raked the room.

“Have you—seen a book, by any chance? 100 Love Sonnets. Pablo Neruda.”

Chan frowned. “We shelve all the books after class, and if it’s one we don’t recognize, we keep it until the students come back in the morning.” He shrugged. “I don’t remember seeing anything.”

Your heart sank, and you saw the corners of Chan’s mouth lift bemusedly.

“What’s the hurry, anyway? I thought you hated love po—”

With a groan of frustration, you left the baffled class president staring after you as you turned on your heel and back into the hallway. Your mind was racing, panic making your ears buzz. The love letter’s in there. Where the hell did I put it? You sprinted to the Sunshine Coffee Shoppe next, but only got an apologetic shrug from Jeongin even after you’d scoured every nook and cranny of the diner. The sun was already beginning to set as you trudged, defeated, back to the school. Spotting the library’s dim windows in the distance, you wrestled with your options — if it weren’t for that cursed love letter, you could’ve probably just told Minho you’d misplaced it. But now the book—along with everything you’d never dared to tell anyone, crammed onto a sheet of notebook paper—could be anywhere, and there was no way in hell you were going to stop looking until you found it. Heart heavy with dread, you did a full 180 and began walking home.

It was no use. You’d practically pulled an all-nighter tearing your room apart searching for the book— and then, the better part of the following day running around town. But no matter where you looked—the record shop, Blockbuster’s, or even the laundromat—you came up empty.

It’s like it’s disappeared entirely, you thought as the lunch ladies piled your tray with a few sad-looking burritos. The cafeteria was buzzing with teenagers jittery with caffeine and sugar, and you had to duck as a boy chucked an apple at another across the room. You passed the cheerleaders’ table, trying to avoid eye contact, but their giggly conversation carried over the chaotic commotion.

“Did you see how cute Hyunjin looked today on the field?”

“Are you sure he doesn’t have a girlfriend? Maybe Hana can talk to him for us—if he doesn’t fall for her first.” The blonde cheerleader that had spoken nudged the older girl insistently.

“Me?” There was a smile in Hana’s voice. You could feel her eyes on you as she mused, “Oh, I don’t know, Hyunjin’s not my type. I much prefer boys with—how should I put it—catlike eyes, silver spectacles, and long fingers perfect for turning dusty pages…” She clasped her hands together in mock adoration, and her friends erupted in giggles.

“What the hell was that? Sounds like a cheesy love poem.”

You had frozen stiff as soon as she had uttered the words, stunned eyes finding Hana’s only a couple feet away. She gave you a winning smile—the same one you’d deemed friendly just a couple days ago—and winked.

“Give me my book back.”

You pulled her aside after the last bell had rung, voice shaking. Hana only tilted her head innocently, eyes round as a puppy’s. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Before you could spit a biting retort back at her, the taller cheerleader tapped her chin thoughtfully with one bejewelled nail. “But I might think harder if...I got a little something in return.”

You grit your teeth. “What do you want?”

“Make your librarian boy come to Hwang Hyunjin’s party as my date,” Hana beamed, “and tell the office you want to change your locker.”

“You’re crazy,” you blurted, and her face immediately darkened. Dropping her voice, she leaned in closer, until her voice was right beside your ear.

“Oh, I can be even crazier. What would happen if I made copies of this little letter on Monday, hm? Or published it in the school paper for everyone to read? I’m sure Han Jisung would love that—”

Your eyes trailed down to the slip of paper she’d pulled out of her purse, the sight of your own familiar handwriting making panic surge through your veins like ice. Snatching it from her hand, you quickly began tearing it apart before noticing the calm smirk on Hana’s face.

“Photocopy, silly,” she giggled in a sing-song voice as you peered more closely at the shredded pieces, hands shaking. “Oh, all right, don’t cry. If you want the original so badly…” she leaned in again, cruel smile on her lips. “Then you might want to look in the library.”

Eyes widening, you immediately pushed her away and bolted for the stairs. “Don’t forget the deal! Thursday night,” Hana called after you, and you broke into a run.

Most of the classrooms were already empty, their dark windows reflecting your own face back at you as you hurtled past them. Your heart pounded in your chest as the library finally came into view at the end of the hallway, but you nearly came to a screeching halt when you saw that the lights had been turned off. Had Minho gone home early? Chewing your lip anxiously, you peered past the plexiglass. Aisles empty, books all shelved neatly, chairs stacked. The library was quiet as a tomb. Desperately, you tried the knob—and to your surprise, the door creaked open. Maybe he forgot to lock it. You had nothing to lose. Holding your breath, you slipped in.

Even the faint click of the door closing again sounded deafening. You rifled through the front desk first, dropping to a crouch as you inspected the carts and borrowing-bin. To your dismay, they were all empty—they must have all been re-shelved already. Heart sinking, you began tip-toeing through the shelves, fingers trembling as they ran over the laminated Dewey Decimal labels. Please, please, please…

You reached the poetry section at the back of the library, eyes squinting to try and read the spines of the books under shrouds of shadows. Poets— Nash. Naidu. Nemerov…

“Neruda,” you gasped, eyes falling on the book you had practically gone through hell searching for. 100 Love Sonnets. Almost sobbing in sheer relief, you reached out to grab it—just as another hand shot out from beside you. Your yelp of surprise broke the still, dim quiet, and you didn’t have to look up to know who the warm, pale fingers belonged to.

“Care to explain what you’re doing here?”

Spectacles glinting under the twilight, one hand in his pocket, nonchalant as ever, was the boy that had gotten you into this mess. Lee Minho.

As you stared back at him, mouth slightly agape, you felt as though your entire world was balancing precariously over a yawning abyss— as if one wrong move would send everything you’d spent the last two months—no, the last four years—repatching. You swallowed hard. His hand had landed a split-second later than yours, holding both you and the book in place, and you tried to ignore the feeling of his warm fingers on your chilled skin. Forcefully, you yanked the book from the shelves and out of his grasp. “The—book. I-I realised I still needed it for the project. It’s due this Friday, you know.”

He raised his eyebrows, unconvinced. “Today’s only Wednesday. Why not come back tomorrow morning?”

Shit. “I, um, promised Lia I’d go with her to the game tomorrow,” you fibbed, flipping through the book quickly, ready to grab any stray piece of paper that flew out. Nothing. “So I—need to finish the assignment today. Could you renew it for me?” Trying to plaster on an unbothered smile, you flipped through the book again. Still nothing. Had Hana lied to you?

In your peripheral, you saw Minho slowly shift his weight, crossing his arms as he mused, “Well, I’m not too sure about that. We’re getting...careful about letting students borrow books for too long. People tend to leave some...strange things in them.”

Your eyes snapped up, fingers freezing on the fluttering pages. “What—then did you—see anything? S-strange, I mean.”

A flicker of amusement passed through Minho’s eyes, and then it was gone. He cleared his throat, humming thoughtfully. “Why? Do you have something in mind?”

The strange intensity of his gaze seemed to corner you into the shadows, and you swore your heart was pounding so hard it seemed to echo through the room. “Nothing,” you stammered, throwing your hands up in exasperation, “I mean, I just—accidentally left—” Kill me now. You shook your head rapidly. “N-nevermind. I’m heading home.”

“Y/N—”

“Oh, one more thing.” You turned, remembering Hana’s sly words to you back in the stairwell. “You’re invited to Hwang Hyunjin’s party, after the game on Thursday.” Then, hoping you sounded more convincing than you felt, “Hana’s really counting on you to be her date.”

Minho chuckled. “You know I go to parties as often as you do.”

You rolled your eyes, but there was no malice in his words, only that same, airy indifference Minho always carried himself with. “Please? Hana—I mean, it would make her really happy if you went.”

“Would you be happy?”

The strange question caught you off guard, making you look up again. Minho was no longer smiling. His hand was still resting lightly over the missing space the book had left on the shelf, and his expression looked strangely lost under the twilit sky.

“Would it make you happy if I went?” He repeated, and you felt your mouth go dry.

Make your librarian boy come to Hwang Hyunjin’s party, and I won’t publish your little love letter for everyone to see on Monday. You nodded firmly, laughing in an attempt to ease the strange atmosphere that had settled over the two of you once again. “Y-yeah. Ecstatic.”

You turned on your heel, breath leaving your lips in a shaky sigh. If the poem wasn’t in the book, where on earth could it be? Option one: It had fallen out somewhere along the way, and hadn’t fallen into anyone’s hands. The best case scenario. Option two: Hana had been playing with you again, and she had had the original all along. Option three…

“By the way, Hana told me not to give this to you.”

You whirled around in surprise, and your eyes landed on a horribly familiar piece of notebook paper dangling from Minho’s fingers. Option three, damn it all. Mortified, you snatched it from his hand, crumpling it into your fist as he laughed lightly.

“It’s a very good poem.”

“Shut up, Lee Minho,” you wailed, wishing the ground would just swallow you up and bury you six feet under for all of eternity. “It’s a cheesy, cliché wreck.”

He hummed in amusement. “What were you writing about?”

Paralyzed, your eyes flickered towards the window before sputtering, “The—sunset. Figurative approach, you know? Emily Dickinson-inspired—”

“Mm. Then what was that quote about—” He tilted his head in thought, fingers snapping. “Catlike eyes, silver spectacles, and long—” He stopped when you plugged your ears instinctively, eyes glowering at him in disbelief. If looks could kill, Minho was sure he’d now have died more times than the characters in a Shakespearean tragedy. “—was that about the sunset, too?”

“Of course,” you snapped, your voice a tad too pitchy for your liking. Damn Lee Minho and his knack for memorizing things. “Haven’t you ever heard of extended metaphors? Rest assured, Lee Minho—I will never, ever, ever—have feelings for you.” You crumpled the sheet of poetry into a ball as you spoke with a note of finality, jamming it into your back pocket for good riddance.

Minho looked unfazed, the light curve of a knowing smile playing on his lips. After a moment, he took a step towards you, making you stumble back in alarm. “‘You can cut all the flowers,” he mused, glancing down at the crumpled love letter, “‘but you cannot stop spring from coming.’”

“Wh-wha—”

“Neruda quote. Tell me if I’m making you uncomfortable, and I’ll stop,” he murmured, eyes growing serious for a moment before his lips twitched with mirth, “but something tells me I deserve to hear more about that sunset from your poem.”

Gulping, you felt hot tears brimming in your eyes, and suddenly wished you were anywhere but here. This confrontation had been your worst nightmare, what you had always wanted to avoid. Your pride’ll be the end of you, y/n, you remembered Lia remarking when you’d sworn up and down that your feelings for Lee Minho were a thing of the past. And it was true—your pride had always gotten the better of you. You were a hypocrite, and a terrible one at that—always telling yourself you had gotten over that stupid, ninth-grade heartbreak, before unravelling into a nervous mess whenever Minho so much as threw a glance at you. And now, you could feel everything you’d feebly repressed for the last four years caving in. Crashing down on you like an avalanche of cheap supermarket chocolates.

“It was about you. You, alright?” You hissed, voice coming out more wounded, rather than venomous like you’d intended. “There. Are you happy now?” You were glad the shadows hid the humiliated tears beginning to roll down your cheeks, and wiped at your eyes furiously. Damn it all. So much for not crying.

“Then why didn’t you—”

“Say anything?” You breathed a short laugh. “Because I didn’t want to see you just throw it out again, okay?”

The silence that met your words was deafening, and when you finally mustered the courage to lift your gaze you saw that Minho’s look of disbelief mirrored your own.

“'Again?'”

Damn Lee Minho and his two-faced ass. Had he already forgotten? “In ninth grade. I left you a—stupid love letter in your locker, with all your other Valentines. Then I s-saw you throwing them all out, behind the school.”

“But I read every name on the cards,” Minho insisted, running a hand through his tousled hair. I left you—a stupid love letter in your locker. Your words sent his head spinning, and he felt his flustered cheeks heat up as he mumbled, “I’ve never—seen yours on any of them.”

Now it was your turn to blink in confusion. Minho’s brow furrowed in vague recollection. “But I did see Hana pulling an envelope out from my locker that day. She said that—she’d heard someone had been sending chain mail on Valentine’s Day, so she was helping the principal clean them up from people’s lockers.”

Hana? Your mind flashed to the missing locks, and the cheerleader that always seemed to be hanging around your locker, and suddenly everything dawned on you. “What did the envelope look like?”

“A corner store card. With—”

“Candy hearts. Right.” You muttered, watching Minho nod slowly. Your anger faltered slightly, feeling a slight shame wash over you, but you weren’t willing to give up just yet. “That still doesn’t explain why you dump out all the gifts you get every year.”

He sighed. “Look. Why would I keep love letters from people I don’t like? That’s just...narcissistic. And I don’t...like chocolate, either,” he added as an afterthought, and you couldn’t help exhaling a short laugh at his ridiculously blunt sentence. Another silence fell between the two of you, the angry tension in the air replaced with an almost childish awkwardness.

“I really did like the poem,” Minho spoke tentatively after what felt like an eternity, and you buried your head in your hands.

“Shut up, Lee Minho, oh my g—”

“And I wouldn’t have thrown it out.” The soft edge to his voice made you stop, peeking out of your fingers to look at him questioningly.

“Why not?” You asked, swallowing hard. “You said keeping letters from someone you don’t like would be narcissistic.”

He was barely a foot away, and the sheer proximity of his face from yours made your stomach flop—with irritation or butterflies, you weren’t sure you wanted to find out. Nonetheless, a tiny voice at the back of your head told you that you were heading towards the latter.

“You know, for someone who reads so many books, you sure are dense,” Minho murmured, shaking his head.

“Wh—”

“I throw out all my Valentines every year because I never see your name on them, alright?” His expression was as careless as ever—that cool, calm facade he wore like a suit of armour—but you didn’t miss the slight tremor in his voice, the flicker of apprehension in his eyes. Lee Minho, you realized with a jolt, was nervous. “I...only ever wanted to receive one from you.”

Your eyes widened, hands lowering from your face in shock. The book tumbled from under your arm to the ground. “But—Hana always told me about how much you hated me.”

“Hmm.” He dropped down to pick it up before fixing his piercing eyes on yours. “Funny. She’s been telling me the same about you. How you’re a two-faced, back-stabbing...such-and-such,” he smiled at the indignant look on your face before his face grew serious. “You’ve always let people walk all over you, and you never retaliate. It’s both admirable and frustrating to watch.”

“I’m not good at confrontation,” you mumbled, still shifting your weight from one leg to the other nervously. “Every time I think I’ve finally got the guts to try and say something back, I...I get all terrified that the words’ll jumble up and I-I’ll start to cry like an idiot again—”

“You’re not an idiot,” he interrupted sternly, “You’re probably more clever—and genuine—than everyone in our grade combined. Your thesis was brilliant.”

You snorted incredulously. “Then why did you keep attacking it every class?”

“It was the only time I could get you to talk to me.”

“Weirdo,” you muttered, but you couldn’t find it in you to make the word sound insulting anymore. Minho chuckled, hand grazing yours as he handed the book back to you. You didn’t move your hand away, and neither did he.

“It is weird. I must be out of my mind. Whenever you look at me, it’s like the whole world stops, and suddenly every cheesy line of poetry I’ve ever read just seems to make sense.”

Your heart was pounding so hard you were more than certain Minho could hear it. The way he was looking at you was nearly overwhelming, stomach fluttering with a feeling so strange and foreign it terrified you. Never in your wildest dreams had you thought that you would be here, in this delicate, unreal moment, and you felt all your insecurities threatening to swallow you up again. Out of everyone in the school, he likes you? A voice snickered at the back of your mind. Don’t kid yourself.

Shrinking away, you mumbled, “Y-you—don’t have to say stuff like that, you know. I mean, i-if you feel bad because of the letter and everything, you don’t have to pretend you lik—”

There was a flash of an exasperated smile on Minho’s lips. Before you could finish, his hand reached to pull your chin towards him again, and suddenly his mouth was pressed flush to yours. You froze, lips parting in surprise, but the kiss was light—barely even a brush of soft skin, and bringing with it the faint scent of vanilla and old books. Minho pulled away almost as quickly as he’d pulled you in, stammering, “I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

That seemed to send what was left of your hesitation crumbling into dust. You grabbed the collar of his dress shirt to pull him back in, and the library fell silent again.

Minho kissed the way he talked—soft but firm, and always leaving you struggling to catch your breath. Each touch had the growing intensity of something long overdue, starting out careful—as though you were treading over the newly shattered, four-year-old misunderstandings of one another—before your hands instinctively tangled in his hair and Minho pulled you in impossibly closer. You could feel his heartbeat pressed against yours, the crumpled poem and Neruda’s sonnets long forgotten on the carpeted ground.

The click of the library door opening sent the two of you flying apart, Minho hitting his head on the shelf with a comical thud. The kiss left you dazed and out of breath, and Minho’s face was flushed as both of you whipped around to see a livid Hana at the front of the library. Mouth opening and closing in silent fury, she shot you a death glare before storming out the door, leaving both you and Minho blinking after her.

Several moments passed, the whiplash of the unexpected interruption having sent both of your heads reeling. Then, the two of you broke into stunned laughter, slowly sliding down to the carpet as you doubled over in giggles.

When you finally stopped laughing at the ridiculousness of it all, Minho’s gaze was fixed fondly on your face. You poked his cheek. “You’re blushing, asshole.”

He didn’t respond, eyes falling to your lips again, and you felt your own face flush. “W-what?”

Minho grinned. “And you have drool on your chin again.”

“Hey, Minho! Minho, you won’t believe this!”

That enthusiastic voice belonged to none other than Han Jisung—voice of Levanter High’s morning announcements, and notorious school gossip. He hurtled down the bustling hall towards you and Minho, hunching over with his hands on his knees to catch his breath.

“Shit, ‘sung—did you kill somebody?”

The dark-haired boy shook his head rapidly. “Did you see the school newspaper?”

Your mouth went dry, Hana’s lingering threats still ringing clear in your ears. Jisung continued excitedly, “Two people submitted anonymous love poems over the weekend—at the same time! Can you believe it? I’m supposed to cover it on the announcements in a bit!”

Two? You peered at Minho, who hadn’t looked at you, and glimpsed a knowing glint in his eyes. “W-who submitted them?”

“Well, Lee Hana was handing out copies of the first one to everyone first thing this morning. But when I showed her the other one, she refused to tell me who the first belonged to.” He pouted.

Minho looked like he was trying hard not to laugh. “Do you have a copy of the paper, ‘sung?”

The dark-haired boy grinned. “Yeah, ‘course! You guys can have mine. See ya!”

As Jisung disappeared into the crowd of students, you turned back to Minho. He had been in the middle of putting a new lock on your locker, and was now setting the combination on his own. “They’re matching,” he’d pointed out when you’d gone into town together to buy them, and you’d groaned.

“Gro-oss.” The old, PDA-hating you would have probably thrown them away on the spot, but now the sight made you smile like a dork. If you can’t beat em, join ‘em.

You looked down to read the papers Jisung had deposited into your hands. Sure enough, on the left column, you spotted a photocopy of your own love letter. But on the right, there was a completely new one—and you had a sneaking suspicion you knew who the anonymous writer was.

“You know, Minho,” you deadpanned, “I don’t think either of us are cut out to be poets.”

“I stayed up all night writing that love letter, you know!” Minho exclaimed indignantly, and you just shook your head laughing. “But you’re right. I could feel Neruda turning in his grave.”

“You’re going to be the end of me, Lee Minho.”

His face broke into a mischievous grin at that, pinning you playfully to the lockers and stealing another kiss as you yelped in surprise.

“Can it be a happy ending?”

[shmaptainwrites]

Conserving Warmth [Aaron Hotchner]

Pairings: Aaron Hotchner x fem!Reader

Characters: Aaron Hotchner, Derek Morgan, Emily Prentiss, Jennifer "JJ" Jareau, David Rossi, Spencer Reid, Penelope Garcia

Words: 1.6K

Summary: When the power goes out in the small hotel the team is staying in middle of nowhere Alaska you convince Hotch that the best way to stay warm involves one bed and lots of cuddles

Warnings: none :)

A/N: These were two blurb requests I got kind of combined to make this cute short fic that I've always wanted to write so I hope you all enjoy it! Note: this takes place in S5 E21: Exit Wounds

GIF belongs to @dudeitiskarev photos from Pinterest, header created by me

“There are not enough rooms for all of us so we're going to have to double up,” Hotch explained, “And it doesn’t look like the power’s going to come back on until morning so bundle up for the night,”

“Alright, but I am not sharing a room with him,” Derek teasingly pointed to Spencer.

“Then I call you,” Penelope grabbed Derek’s arm and you laughed at their shenanigans. Everyone had seemed to easily pair off grabbing their keys and heading off, leaving you and Hotch with the last key.

“At least there are two beds,” you tried to joke with him and he nodded his head with a small smile.

“Come on, we should probably get some sleep,” he gently placed a hand on your back, leading you towards the rooms upstairs.

It wasn’t your first time sharing a room with Hotch. Oftentimes when there wasn’t enough space you would be the two to volunteer to share a space and take one for the team. As a result, you had developed a routine between you both, first, he’d take the washroom and get ready while you used the room space to do the same. He’d always check-in and make sure you were decent before coming back out and occasionally you would discuss some points of the case before bed to see if any last revelations came to you.

This time was a little different, however, because thanks to the cold Alaskan air and the fact that the power was out, no amount of tossing and turning could warm either of you up.

Hotch could hear your teeth chatter slightly as you hugged yourself, trying to conserve whatever warmth you had. He could only take hearing you so uncomfortable for so long so he grabbed the flashlight next to the bedside lamp and flicked it on, searching for his go-bag.

“Hotch what are you doing?” you asked, sitting up and observing him as he dug through his bag. Finding the things he was looking for he came towards you pointing to your legs, curled under the blankets.

“Give me your feet,”

“Give you my what? Excuse me?”

Hotch showed you the large wool socks in his hand and you understood what he was referring to now, sliding your feet out from under the blankets and letting him bend down in the space between both your beds. He slipped the socks on your bare feet with the flashlight in his mouth, and then he grabbed a sweater lying on his bed, helping you slide it on over your pyjama top.

“Thanks,” you said quietly.

“Don’t mention it,” he shrugged.

“Hey Hotch?” you said before he turned around to go back to his bed.

“Yeah?”

“Why don’t you just stay here,” you patted the bed you were sitting on. “The power won’t be back until morning and it’s freezing. We can conserve heat if we stay together,”

“I-I mean, I guess we could,” you could see him visibly swallow. “Um, are you sure though?”

“Seems like a logical next step in our room sharing relationship,” you joked a little and you could have sworn you saw his cheeks go red under the warm hue of the flashlight, or was that just the cold?

You moved back to the other side of the bed, freeing up the side closest to him so that he could slide in under the blankets. He moved around a little to get comfortable and once he was settled you came in closer to him, taking his arm and wrapping it over your body, coaxing him to hold you tighter and closer while you pulled the blankets up more.

“Warmer?” you asked.

“Mhmm,” he nodded, his nose practically buried in your hair. You could feel his heart practically beating out of his chest and you couldn’t help but laugh a bit.

“Hotch your heart’s beating 100 miles a minute. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” he said, but it was rather unconvincing.

“Well then this is a lot nicer than what we used to do,” you hummed, basking in the warmth radiating off him.

“You’re comfortable?” he asked.

“Very, you know there’s a bit of a running bet on who nicer to spend the night with, you or Derek and I think I have to say you win,”

“You slept with Derek?!” Hotch sounded more alarmed than you had ever heard him and it made you throw your head back in laughter.

“Not like that,” you rolled your eyes. “We had to share a room on a case once too,”

“O-Oh,” he stammered and your eyes went wide while you lifted your head to look up at him.

“Oh my God, Hotch were you jealous?” you asked.

“Well I-I don’t know if-this is a highly inappropriate conversation to be having,” he tried to save himself, but it was painfully obvious that you were right.

“Aaron you were jealous, admit it,” you pressed and pushed yourself up further on the bed, your head now laying on the same pillow as his.

His eyes drifted away from you for a moment before finally settling on looking down at the sheets.

“(Y/N), if I say what I want to say it’s going to change things, and I don’t want them to,” he said quietly.

“You don’t?” you asked softly.

“Well… I do, but not in the way that this will change them,”

You lifted your hand slightly, your cold fingers coming to gently touch his cheek, coaxing him to look up at you.

“You won’t know if you don’t say anything,” you shared. “Come on, try me,”

He still looked hesitant and didn’t say anything, so your fingers held onto his face more firmly before leaning in and pressing a strong and assured kiss to his lips. His hands slipped to your waist, pulling you in and turning around so you were on top of him.

When you finally broke apart, slightly breathless, you asked,

“How about now?”

“I was jealous,” he finally admitted. “But not just because I wanted that. I-I’ve wanted you, all of you for a while now,”

“Well, I’m glad the feeling’s mutual,” you smiled, but a yawn escaped past your lips.

“We should sleep, talking can wait until morning,”

You nodded your head and let it rest against his chest, noticed how his beating heart still hadn’t steadied completely, but nevertheless, provided enough comfort for you to fall right asleep.

—

The next morning there was no alarm to wake either of you up so Derek had decided it would be a good idea for that to be his job, stealing an extra key from downstairs and barging into your room only to find you and Hotch snuggled under a large pile of blankets, fast asleep.

Before he woke you up he took some pictures for proof then called everyone else in so they could see the embarrassment on both your faces once you realized that you’d been caught.

“Hey sleepyheads,” Derek chuckled, “Time to wake up,”

“Hotch, turn off your alarm,” you groaned tiredly, burying your face in the crook of his neck.

“That’s not-,” Hotch yawned and opened his eyes, mouth staying agape. “My alarm. (Y/N) get up,” he nudged you quickly and you awoke to find literally the entire BAU team inside your room with cheeky knowing smirks on their faces.

“Would you believe me if I said we did it because we were cold?” you asked and JJ snorted.

“I believe it started that way,” Emily nodded. “But yeah definitely didn’t end like that,”

“You guys suck,” you whined, throwing a pillow at them feeling a familiar warm sensation coming to your cheek and ears.

“Come on lovebirds, we’ve got work to do!” Dave chorused as they all left your room so you could get ready.

“God, I cannot wait to go home,” you laughed a little looking over at Aaron who seemed to raise his eyebrows in agreement with you, but nevertheless, got out of bed and walked over to your side, pressing a sweet and gentle kiss to your lips.

“Don’t worry we’ll be back before you know it,”

And he was right, you only stayed there one more night before flying back home, but somehow on the way home, the teasing got worse.

“If someone makes one more comment I will literally explode,” you whispered under your breath, looking discreetly over at Hotch who was sitting next to you.

“Hey (Y/N)-,” Spencer started, but you stopped him, putting your finger up.

“Fine, go ahead make a comment,” you said, “Is this what you want?” you asked turning over to Hotch and before he could ask what you were going to do you kissed him in front of everyone else. “Is that what you wanted, Spence?”

“I-I was just going to ask if you wanted a coffee,” he said while trying to hold back a bit of a chuckle while the rest of the team went berserk. You swore quietly under your breath then regained your composure before sitting up straighter in your seat and nodding your head.

“Yeah, coffee would be great Spence,” you said quietly while Derek patted you on the shoulder.

“You lasted two days (N/N), that’s a record,” JJ teased you and you just rolled your eyes.

“Whatever Jayje, I’d just be careful cause I am kind of going out on a date with all your guys’ boss and I think it’s fair to say he likes me enough to give you all extra paperwork,”

“She’s not wrong,” Hotch added quietly while flipping through his book and you put out your hand for him to high five which he did. Maybe the teasing wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Comments and reblogs are very much appreciated!

[storiesforallfandoms]

oh captain ~ jack sparrow;pirates of the caribbean

word count: 2488

request?: yes!

“Can you do a Captain Jack Sparrow smut where the reader has a kink of calling Jack her captain”

description: in which she loves to call him her captain, even in the most intimate of situations

pairing: jack sparrow x female!reader

warnings: swearing, smut

masterlist

It all started as a joke.

I came aboard the Black Pearl in search of my sister, Elizabeth Swann, and her secret lover, Will Turner. It was no secret that they were travelling with notorious Captain Jack Sparrow and, although my parents did not exactly like Will Turner, they had sent me as a way to tell Elizabeth that they were giving her their blessing to marry Will.

Of course, the moment I - a single, young maiden that had often been described as “beautiful” by my suitors - stepped on to the ship, the captain himself couldn’t keep his eyes off of me. There was many a moment in which Elizabeth had to actually tell Jack that he was being too forward or too crass with me. I liked to play along with his games as well and would tease him back. My favorite way of teasing him was to call him “Captain” in a sarcastic manner.

The first time I said it was in response to Jack’s very bossy tone as he told Elizabeth and I to do something. “Oh, of course, Captain.”

I could see a fire light in his eyes even then as he looked at me. “What did you say?”

“Well, you insist that we on the boat here refer to you as your supposed title,” I had told him. “I was just saying it. I thought you would like that.”

“The way you said it,” he pointed out. “It wasn’t very...crewman like.”

“Oh, my apologies, Captain.”

The fire ignited in his eyes again, but he decided to leave it be this time and to go on to yell commands at his other crewmates.

That’s how it all started. It was just a joke, a way to poke fun at Jack without being too harsh. I used the nickname almost every time I saw him, and almost every time I could see a look on his face that was hard to understand.

That was, until I found myself bent over his desk moaning the original teasing nickname repeatedly.

I never expected to find myself falling for Captain Jack Sparrow. Elizabeth had told me many a story about his attempts at courting beautiful maidens, including herself despite her love for Will. The stories led me to believing that Jack was just a man who wanted to use then leave a woman. I wrote him off as nothing more than a scoundrel, a pirate captain. Oh, what a fool I was.

No one on the ship knew of our love affair, especially not Elizabeth. I loved my sister dearly and I knew she would never judge me for who I had fallen in love with, however I also knew she couldn’t keep a secret from our parents for the life of her, and the last thing I needed was to break my parents hearts by telling them that their youngest daughter had fallen in love with a pirate.

That’s why I continued to use the teasing nickname in such fashion in front of my sister, but every time I used it, I could see that spark of desire in Jack’s eyes.

There was one day that we were on course for some sort of treasure that Jack was dying to find.

“It’s been lost for hundreds of years,” he was explaining to Will. Elizabeth and I were trying to help some of the crewmen and overheard the conversation that both men were refusing to tell us. “Wealth and riches beyond your wildest dreams. You could buy over Elizabeth’s parents with that sort of money.”

“I don’t think anything could buy over Elizabeth’s parents at this rate,” Will joked. “But do you really believe it to be truth? I’ve heard it’s nothing but a - ”

“A pirate’s tale,” Jack finished. “A way to lead pirates to their deaths? I’ve heard those stories, too. But there’s only one way to find out.”

“Mad man is going to get us killed,” Elizabeth whispered to me. “He only cares for the riches he may get, he doesn’t think of the countless lives he’s risking.”

“Of course he doesn’t,” I responded. “Anything that will shower him in gold and recognition is his top priority.”

“What are you two talking about down there?” Jack called from his perch at the steering wheel.

Elizabeth and I shared a teasing glance before Elizabeth responded, “Just about how smart you are, my dear captain! This journey can only go right!”

Jack raised an eyebrow at the obvious sarcasm in Elizabeth’s voice before his eyes landed on me.

“We were discussing how much recognition you will get once you find this totally real treasure you’re looking for,” I said. I paused a moment before giving Jack a brief smirk as I added, “Captain.”

He shuffled a little, trying to make his lust seem like he was just annoyed with me and Elizabeth. I couldn’t help but smirk triumphantly at him before turning back to Elizabeth, who was also giggling.

“You both doubt me,” he finally said after a long stretch of silence, “but I’ll show you both, and this whole boat, that I am right and this treasure is real.”

He came down from his perch and walked into the room that was designated as “his office”, his eyes meeting mine for a split moment. “I’m going to study the map for some time, please do not disturb me.”

What he really meant was, No one else come disturb me, I will be fucking (Y/N)’s brains out.

I felt myself becoming tingly between my legs, a regular sensation that Jack was able to get out of me. I tried to keep a light look on my face, but it was hard to do so when all I wanted was to follow him into that room.

“You two should be kinder to him,” Will said, although he, too, was laughing. “He’s been kind enough to let us travel with him.”

“After trying to get under mine and (Y/N)’s skirts for a few months,” Elizabeth added. “He knows that we like him and that we are grateful for him. It’s just so easy to tease him sometimes.”

Tell me about it, I thought to myself.

“Maybe we should leave the captain alone to his mapping for a while,” Will said, wrapping an arm around Elizabeth’s waist. It was his only silent way of asking Elizabeth for what Jack was trying to get from me.

“Perhaps we should,” she responded and gave her husband to be a light kiss on his lips.

The two left without another word to me, which was alright by me. It meant that I didn’t have to make up an excuse as to why I was “disturbing” Jack when he asked me not to.

Once I was sure they were too busy with one another to notice me, I turned and raced for the door. I hastily did mine and Jack’s secret knock before shoving the door open. I was shocked to see that the room before me was empty - the desk where Jack usually sat waiting for me was empty, and there was almost no sight of him at all.

Before I could even consider why this had happened, the door slammed behind me and I felt someone take hold of my throat and shove me against the closed door. Jack’s lips met mine and I felt the familiar explosive feeling I had whenever we kissed. His hands were already roughly pulling at my skirt, trying to pull it up around my hips.

“Someone is impatient,” I breathed against his lips. “You told everyone not to disturb you, remember? You don’t have to be so fast and so rough.”

“But if I take you quickly once, I can take you again before anyone notices that we’re even gone.”

His dirty words ignited a fire in me. I giggled as he picked me up in his arms and laid me down on his desk. The poor thing had seen more of our action than any actual work that Jack had ever done. I was surprised that it was still standing after all this time.

I took hold of the back of Jack’s neck and pulled him in for another kiss. Our lips moved so perfectly with one another as his hands trailed up my bare legs, his cold rings leaving shivers where they trailed. I pulled at his pants, trying desperately to get them off. He chuckled against my lips, the vibrations running through my entire body.

“Who is the impatient one now?” he asked.

“Not like the great Captain to leave a girl waiting in her desire,” I teased, hoping the nickname would be used to my advantage.

Lucky for me, I knew that was the one thing that could break Jack. He roughly pulled at the strings around the back of my dress, causing it to loosen and fall off my body completely. Once my dress was a heap on the floor, Jack pushed me onto the desk so I was laying on my back. I watched as he undid his pants and pulled them down just far enough for his hard member to pop free. Just seeing how hard he was from the little amount of teasing we had been doing was enough to make me start dripping in anticipation.

I gasped as I felt him pushing himself into me. No matter how many times we had sex, I still continued to be shocked by how big he was. He made my eyes roll into the back of my head just by filling me with his hard cock.

His hand found my hair and he roughly pulled me up so my body was pressed against his. “What’s my name, love?”

“Captain,” I breathed, dying to move my hips against his to get some sort of friction between us. But I knew that would only result in him punishing me for being naughty.

My response earned me a few slow thrusts. I bit my lip as to not moan too loud, but it was hard to keep quiet during one of our rendezvous. They were often few and far between, leaving the two of us very pent up and needing of release when the time came.

“Say it again for me my pet,” he purred.

“Captain,” I moaned, wrapping my legs around his waist to pull him as closely as I could. “Oh, Captain.”

The grip he had on my hair tightened as he began to thrust into me more, now going at a quicker and more steady pace. I pressed my lips to his to try and muffle my moans, which were now starting to become loud enough for anyone who would be passing by to hear.

I moaned out the name a few more times, which led to me being laid back over the desk yet again with Jack leaning over me, his thrusts so rough now that the desk was being moved. I arched my back against him, trying to get him as far into me as he could go. One of his hands was gripping my thigh while the other was wrapped around my throat, pressing slightly against the sides every now and then, and causing me to feel lightheaded.

Jack was always able to hit a spot in me that made my brain turn to mush and my eyes roll back into my head. I could barley think straight when he was pounding that spot relentlessly inside of me, especially at that moment when the only thing I could feel was waves of pleasure rippling through my body.

I managed to pull my thoughts together enough to utter out a sentence, “I’m so close, Captain.”

“Let me feel you come undone around me, my pet,” he said. I could feel him twitching inside of me, indicating that he was close to finishing himself.

My fingers curled into the desk as I felt myself hitting my climax. My entire body seemed to curl in some way as I felt myself contracting around Jack. His hands slipped under my arched back, pulling my body up to press against him as he did his final thrusts and finished inside of me.

The aftermath of our love making rarely lasted long in fear of being caught. Jack held me for a short amount of time, kissing the top of my head and whispering sweet nothings into my ear, before he finally had to pull away from me and begin to redress himself. I pulled my dress back up.

“You mind tying me back up?” I asked him, turning around to present my still bare back to him.

He laced the strings through their proper holes and tied it tight enough that it would stay up, but not too tight to cause discomfort.

“Do you really think you’ll find that treasure you’re on route for?” I asked him once he was finished. “Do you think it’s real?”

“I choose to believe every treasure is real until proven otherwise,” he responded. “I know everyone on the ship thinks that I’m leading us to our deaths, but I truly believe there is something waiting for us at our destination.”

“Well, if you believe it then I believe you,” I said. “What do you plan on doing with your riches once you get them?”

“I’ll share them amongst the crew,” he started. “There’s supposedly enough to keep a dozen men from having to work for the rest of their lives, and I have just a little over a dozen men on this ship. What I keep for myself I’m going to use to get a better ship. The old Black Pearl is starting to see her end I’m afraid. And, with whatever is left, I intend to buy you a rock so big and so stunning that any royal woman would be jealous of it.”

He lifted my hand to his lips and gave my knuckles a soft kiss.

“You intend to marry me?” I asked him.

“Of course I do. Why do you seem shocked to hear that?”

I chuckled. “Well, the stories I’ve heard about the great Captain Jack Sparrow, none of them made it sound like he would ever settle down with a woman.”

Jack smiled and wrapped his arms around my waist, looking lovingly into my eyes. I could get lost staring into those beautiful eyes of his.

“A man must know when the right woman has come along,” he told me. “Especially a pirate. And the moment you stepped foot on my ship, I knew you were the right woman.”

“You sweet talker,” I said before pressing my lips to his. “When you do get me that ring, just know that I will say yes.”

“Of course, my love. And I cannot wait to have you to sail the seas with for the rest of my life.”

[temporarilyunstable]

Director Naoyoshi Shiotani was prepared to face criticism for changing the main characters in PSYCHO-PASS 3

(link to the original article)

This was one of my most favorite interviews of Director Shiotani - and although this is completely translated by means of software, I like to think more or less the context has been captured well so I'm sharing the translation here (online translators, we've come a long, long way).

What I do always is double-check both (google and deepL) piece by piece, one because both software do not do well with big amounts of text at the same time, and I do this at least twice because I notice that the translation gets better and the sentences are more coherent, especially when you use deepL. In fact, I ended up using mostly the deepL translations because I feel it's more a contextual translation rather than a word-per-word. You'll notice that both of the translations only slightly vary, though.

Since again, this is software translated, please leave a bit of room for errors. I did of course change some of the names (all hail mister shinya cunningham c/ o deepL lol).

Sharing this because I have such a huge respect for Director Shiotani's passion for this show, and now that we're drawing close to potentially an annoucement of what's next for the series, I think it's good to look back on the steps it took to get us this far, and to appreciate all the work HE's done to push this series forward. Enjoy!

Director Naoyoshi Shiotani was prepared to face criticism for changing the main characters in "PSYCHO-PASS 3” 

Published on March 26, 2020

There is a popular anime series that began airing in 2012 and has continued for eight years. It is "PSYCHO-PASS:"

In October 2019, "PSYCHO-PASS 3," the third season of the series, will begin. Director Naoyoshi Shiotani, who has worked on the series since the first season, looks back on the third season and reveals that he was prepared for criticism.

In March 2020, "PSYCHO-PASS 3: FIRST INSPECTOR," the final installment of the third season, will be released in theaters. Amidst the high expectations for this completely new film, which is expected to reveal various mysteries that were not discussed in the TV series, we present a must-read interview with Director Shiotani to find out his thoughts on the matter.

Psycho-Pass Synopsis

The story takes place in the near future, where people's security is maintained by the "Sibyl System," a gigantic surveillance network that quantifies the soul. The film depicts detectives with the "Dominator," a gun that measures the "crime coefficient," a numerical value related to crime, as they pursue "potential criminals" before they commit their crimes.

I wanted to make sure to portray the drama of Shinya Kogami in "SS" before the third season.

The TV series "PSYCHO-PASS 3" (hereafter referred to as the third TV season) aired from October to December 2019. Looking back , what are your thoughts on it?

Anyway, I think it's been a long time ....... About 4 years ago, I started planning the third TV season at the same time as the movie "PSYCHO-PASS: Sinners of the System" ("SS", to be released in 2019).

Around the time after "PSYCHO-PASS the Movie" (released in 2015), Fuji Television asked me what to do next. At that time, I had a vague idea that even if I were to make a third TV season, it would be centered on the story that continued from the movie version, and the characters would continue with Akane Tsunemori (CV: Kana Hanazawa) and Shinya Kogami (CV: Tomokazu Seki) as its central characters.

I was shocked when I saw the release of information about the third TV season. I didn't expect the main characters to change. ......! And.

In my mind, "PSYCHO-PASS" was created with the image of focusing on a turning point in a major current. (GT: in a big stream). I dare to use the word "justice," but the story is centered on the protagonist's continuous search for the answer to the question, "What is my own justice?” The central axis of the story is to depict the continuous search for this answer.

So I think it is quite natural that the central character, the protagonist, changes with the times.

However, I thought that changing the main character and creating a new work would be the next best thing, if I were to do it.

I was told that it was okay to take a "leap forward”. It would be interesting to continue what we have been doing, but it doesn't have to be the Public Safety Bureau. For example, the young detectives/detective boys* could be the main character. I was like, "What are you talking about?” (Laughs.) But I thought it would be okay to change the way I thought about it and make it that way. I felt like I had a boost in my back**.

*young detectives = I chose this because it was translating to “detective boys” and when i looked at the romanization it was “shonen

** could be re-contextualized as “I had support behind my back” = TAKE IT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT! 

That was the reason behind the birth of the new Criminal Division 1.

However, I think the challenge is to create a sustained flow of the series, rather than to abruptly introduce a new Division 1. If you skip the process to the third TV season, viewers will be confused. They watch the third TV season and ask, "Why is Kogami back in Japan?" I told the producer and the production committee that he has his own drama and I wanted to portray that so that I could create "SS," which would also be a new series line.

Therefore, we discussed the composition of "SS" and the third TV season almost simultaneously.

How did you go about the composition? (series composition)

Makoto Fukami, who has been working on the script since the first TV season, and Tow Ubukata, who has been working on the script since the second TV season, participated in the composition of the new series from the beginning, and then we asked Ubukata to put together the composition (GT:summary) for the third TV season. Ryo Yoshigami, author of the novel "PSYCHO-PASS ASYLUM," also participated in the writing of SS and the third TV season. The third season is a story that we created together with the three of them.

SS, which is the link between the two, was based on the synopsis I wanted to create, and I worked with Fukami-san and Yoshigami-san individually to shape it. SS has a flow as a series leading to the third season, but I thought it would be wonderful if I could create a story that would show each artist's individuality, and this is how we came to this arrangement.

This time, in order to incorporate the changes and positions of the main characters into the drama, the process of creating timelines one by one and dropping them into the scenario drama was just a long process.

I also told the scriptwriters that the third TV season would probably be heavily criticized*

*I chose this as the direct translation was “hammered, hit, punched” etc.

— and yet you proceeded with the production?

Akane, who was the main character until now, has been arrested and does not appear. Kogami is also back in Japan. In my mind, I had no intention to depict the third season with Kogami as the main character, so I was afraid that people who would watch "SS" and then watch the third season would be disappointed. However, this was a very natural and necessary flow of the story in order to depict the world of PSYCHO-PASS.

That is why we spent a lot of time on the structure and script so that the axis would not be blurred. We already had a story about the events that took place between "SS" and the third TV season. The story of the third TV season and "PSYCHO-PASS 3 FIRST INSPECTOR", which will be released in March, are based on that story. It just took longer than I thought it would (sweat).

The third TV season features two main characters, Shindo Arata (CV: Kaji Yuuki) and Kei Mikhail Ignatov (CV: Yuichi Nakamura), the first male buddy in the series, right? Was this also your intention?

To begin with, "PSYCHO-PASS" is intended to be a human drama regardless of gender. Although Akane is a female, she also has a masculine side inside her. In that sense, I am not conscious of gender in the third TV season. Well, I had never made a male buddy drama before, so I was interested in it (laughs).

Also, when I thought about their backgrounds and relationships in creating the drama, they had to be male-buddies, so they became male buddies.

How did you create the characters of Arata and Kei?

I wanted to contrast the uneven combination both externally and internally.

First of all, I wanted Arata to be short and I wanted him to look like a non-powerful figure with no obvious fighting ability. But if I made him too small, he'd be off the screen when I took a closer shot. ...... I set the average height of male characters in "PSYCHO-PASS" at 180cm (laughs). The shortest of the main characters was Shusei Kagari (CV: Akira Ishida) at 165 cm.

Shinya Kogami, Sugo (Teppei, CV: Hiroki Tochi) is 180 cm, and Ginoza (Nobuchika, CV: Kenji Nojima) is 183 cm, and the men are all tall.

So I decided to make Arata 168cm which is not too short. So, I guess Kei is 182 cm. I also wanted to portray Arata with a ridiculous personality, so he has a haircut that I can't tell if it's a do or not, and he has all the same personal clothes that he keeps in the back of his garage. I wanted to portray him as someone who has this side to him, but also as someone who, when he focuses on something, can't see anything else.

On the other hand, Kei is a person who has a part of his personality that Arata does not have. He is a serious person and spent his childhood in Japan, away from the country of his birth (Russia), living under racial discrimination. A former military man, he is usually calm and collected, but only because he’s restraining himself. By nature, he is a fighter, and his hands come out before his mouth. He continues to endure the situation he is in, making him a frustrated man at heart.

I see. However, although Arata and Kei are opposites, they are bound by a common case, aren't they? 

I wanted to depict two opposites supporting each other on the path they take together, with the key word being the growth of the parts that each does not possess.

Also, the reason why the two are tied to the "past" is because the third TV season is a "leap forward" story. For viewers who have watched the series up to now, the third TV season is a "future" story. Therefore, we wanted to place the theme in the "past" to fill in the holes leading up to the future.

This time, the enemy, Koichi Azusawa, and Bifrost, is an organization that has existed long before the third TV season. Arata and Kei  will confront the persistent darkness that exists from the "past". The drama was drawn so that the various "pasts" would be spotlighted.

I am impressed that the drama is quite calculated. ...... What do you think about the names Arata and Kei? I thought both of them have "fire" in their Kanji names.*

The names of Arata and Kei and (Homura) Shizuka (CV: Mamoru Miyano) were suggested by Mr. Ubukata. It has a meaning of their position in the drama and what they should do. It has the meaning of their position on the drama and what they should do. Besides, their intonations are easy to understand when they say it out loud, which is honestly cool! I thought it was cool and immediately agreed.

However, Arata and Kei's names were sometimes mistaken in the recording scripts (laugh), and I realized that it is difficult to have too many similar kanji, but I like their names very much.

The members of the new Public Security Bureau Criminal Investigation Section 1 have great personalities, but I thought the main characters from the first TV season were tremendously popular. Did you feel any pressure to renew the characters, even though you expected them to be criticized?

As I mentioned in the previous section, I also believe that one of the attractive aspects of "PSYCHO-PASS" is that the characters can change their principles depending on the situation at the time.

I myself think that the main characters in "PSYCHO-PASS'' are Kogami and Akane, but I think it's okay to have a different point of view. This story can only be portrayed if Arata and Kei are central to the story. We believe that if there is an entity that should be the central figure of the theme to be portrayed in each series, it is best to focus on that person. The former members of Division 1 should shine in their respective situations as long as they do not die.

For example, I personally don't think there is any absolute need for Akane to be a Division 1 inspector. Even Kogami doesn't have to be in the drama if he doesn't have to be. I would just say something like, "Meanwhile, Kogami is ......" (laughs). However, if they are necessary for the drama, I will depict the moment when they shine the brightest.

The scene in the second episode of the third TV season where the SAD, including Kogami and Ginoza, made an appearance was quite glorious, and was even trending on Twitter.

I had decided to show all the key characters in two episodes. In the first episode of the third TV season, we had to show the "current" Criminal Investigation Division, including Arata and Kei. Therefore, it was inevitable that we would show the enemy organization and another organization, the SAD, in two episodes.

After thinking this far, I decided on the scene that would feature Kogami and Ginoza.

Was it also decided to have Arata & Kei and Kogami & Ginoza fight?

I said I wanted them to fight. The staff asked me, "Why do you need to fight?" (Laughs). I wanted to introduce the new organization and show the composition of the relationships in the second episode.

Like Kei, Kogami is the type of person who uses his fists(hand) before his mouth...the type who tends to get caught up in conflicts. However, when Kogami and Kei fight, Kei is also very strong, so Kogami cannot take it easy on him. But Kogami has been through the line of death and is too strong, so he will absolutely overwhelm and win. In fact, he might even break an arm or two. It's not funny (laughs).

It is because Ginoza understands this that he himself went forward and fought against Kei. Ginoza protected Kei.

—I had no idea that such an intention was put into that scene...!

Also, I was cool enough to say earlier that "Kogami doesn't have to be in the drama if it's not necessary" (laughs), but from the viewer's point of view, it would be better if there were more situations in which Kogami was on camera.

So I included a scene in which Kogami fights with the enforcers Tenma and Irie. From episode 1, Tenma and Irie have been rebelling against their inspectors, saying "We're strong, aren't we?" but if we portray them as the ones who will break their tengu noses (?), the spotlight will naturally fall on Kogami.

In addition, behind their struggles, we included a scene where Sugo, a mid-level staff member, works with Hanashiro (Frederica, CV: Takako Honda), the head of the SAD of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and created a flow where Hanashiro and Shimotsuki (Mika, CV: Ayane Sakura) make a pact.

By creating a structure of conflict in this way, we can simply and clearly convey the relationship between each standpoint and character. With this in mind, we distributed the scenes in which the characters appear.

I was also surprised that you took on the challenge of a 60-minute format, which is rare for an animated television series.

I have nothing but regrets ...... half joking, half serious (laughs). I thought it would be too naive to make a film with the idea that "you just need to double the 30-minute format”. The specific weight of the production flow was about four times harder than the 30-minute format.

—I didn't realize it was that hard. ......

This may be especially true in the case of PSYCHO-PASS. From the first TV season, I had been creating the beginning, middle, and end with foreign dramas in mind. The 30-minute format limits the number of crime and incident spots to show and the human drama to delve into. We had to focus on a single mountainous point to compose a story for one episode.

But with the 60-minute format, the way you make that mountain is different. Simply making the mountain longer, or making it twice, is different. I discussed this with the script team as we proceeded, taking care not to make the drama too long.

Since we want to express on the screen as much as possible the necessary information that should be available on site, we created the character information for each case through a series of meetings. For example, the profiles of the guest characters in each episode were created after the backbone drama was firmly established during the literary meeting process. Especially in the religious section, I thought I could create as many dramas as I wanted just from the backgrounds of the guest characters (laughs).

As you mentioned, there have been few examples of this format in the past, so we created "SS" as a test case. It was also necessary to create the structure for the third TV season, and to understand whether the production site could tolerate a 60-minute TV animation format, we took on the challenge of completing a single 60-minute episode.

So "SS" was 60 minutes for Case 1, 2 & 3. Were there any parts that were utilized in the third TV season?

We started with the production of Case 2, and it took two years to create Case 2 alone. The production period was longer than that of the first theatrical version, due in part to the fact that we worked with a small group of elite artists. Because we spent so much time on it, we had less time to produce other episodes, and Case.3 had less production time than the first episode of the third TV season. Case.3 was produced in about six months.

The first episode of the third TV season also took about 10 months, but we were not able to bring in enough staff until the production of "SS" was finished, which was not good. I think the eight episodes of the third TV season took less than a month. There was even less time for FIRST INSPECTOR. I didn't even have time to sneeze. That's just a joke (laughs).

It takes too much effort for the production staff, and (the 60-minute format) is not something that is easy to deal with. I try to keep the staff as focused as possible on the work, but I feel sorry for the burden I always put on them at .......

If there is a next time, would you like to do it in this format: ......?

It would be realistically difficult given the burden on the staff. But if we can come to terms with a little more money and scheduling, I would like to do it (laughs).

Of course, because it is 60 minutes long, the story becomes more intense and challenging as a drama. In the third TV season, we had three thematic sections, "Economy," "Politics," and "Religion," and we did the sound work accordingly. Because of the 60-minute format, I believe we were able to focus on the sound composition.

But, as I said, there are many more downsides than I had anticipated. That makes it all the more rewarding when each story is completed, but I hope that once you try it, you will understand... (laughs).

It seems like 60 minutes would be a lot of work to record, how was it?

The cast members also seemed to be having a hard time. The recording script is over 100 pages long for one episode, so the recording time is naturally long. Everyone is a professional, so I think the recording process was quick, especially Yuki Kaji, who plays Arata, and he has a lot of lines.

Everyone was busy, but due to various circumstances, the recording period was extended, and we really didn't have a lot of time, but we were able to keep the schedule.

What is your impression of their portrayal?

I am sure of it. I auditioned about 70 to 80 people for Akira and Kei, and in the end, I chose Kaji and Nakamura. After finishing the recording of "FIRST INSPECTOR," I feel that the characters could not have been created without these two.

Both of you were very well matched. Was there anything that impressed you during the dubbing?

There was a time when there was a bit of a gap in the recording period, and because of that, there were a number of things I noticed when I received the lines with the cast's voices in them. For example, "Maybe Arata is not as good a character as I thought" (laughs).

Which specific line made you think of that?

What came out plainly was the scene in episode 2 when he said to (Komiya) Karina, "Cute girls are always followed by stalkers, aren't they?” That's the scene I was talking about. Isn't it really bad to say that kind of thing intentionally to hear the other person's true intentions (laughs)? In response to these, I put into my production plan that Aratais a person who, because of his bad character*, restrains himself and pretends to be a good boy.

The bad character* is only when it is seen by others, and Arata himself is pure in his actions and words. However, depending on how you look at it, it may seem harsh to others. I realized after the recording of the first half that I wanted to include other people's perspectives.

*sorta took this to mean “misunderstood” character 

In the last episode, episode 8, Kunizuka interviews the characters and the story is told in a special way. There is a scene in which Kunizuka says to Shaku, "Why do you always hide your true feelings?” This line was not in the script at first, but I wanted to give Kunizuka a line that would get to the heart of the matter, so I added it later.

You gained a deeper understanding of the characters through the dubbing.

Listening to Mr. Nakamura's voice, I thought that it might be better to be more penetrating and quarrelsome (laughs). I think I was inspired by the post recording and was able to deepen my understanding of the characters.

When I hear about the character settings and post recording, I get the impression that Director Shiotani is quite flexible in creating his works.

I think it is important to enrich the personalities of the characters. I am conscious of creating works that do not fit into a mold. I believe that the ideal way to create a work of art is not to do too much based on rules of thumb, but to question each and every thing in my mind.

For example, in "FIRST INSPECTOR", there is a scene in which (Karanomori) Shion (CV: Miyuki Sawashiro) calls Shinya Kogami "Kogami!".

Hey, I think Shion called Kogami "Shinya-kun". ......

That's right. They were close to the same age, and saw each other more often when off the job than when they were working, so she called him "Shinya-kun”. So during the dubbing of "FIRST INSPECTOR," Sawashiro-san asked me, "I've never called him Kogami before, is that OK?”

“It is true that there were times when I was torn between calling him "Kogami" or "Shinya-kun" in my mind. But lines are based on the feelings that are developing at that moment. I called him "Shinya-kun" before, so I won't call him that way again this time. After thinking about what I would call him in this situation, I decided that calling him "Kogami" would be correct.”

You are making your work by convincing yourself bit by bit, aren't you?

Simply because you cannot proceed if you are halfway through, and by working to unravel each question that comes up, you will also gain depth. It is better to ask questions such as, I wonder why this is happening here," or "Is this really the right word for this scene?"

Someone once asked me, "What is 'interesting'? I thought about what "interesting" means to me. Then I thought, "It's something I don't have”. Something that is already known to me is not interesting.

That may be true.

That's why there are moments when my work becomes uninteresting. If you complete the script and proceed with the production as it is, it becomes an uninteresting task. 

But if we keep looking for questions in the work, we can deepen the work while keeping it interesting. It was a very interesting moment for me when I realized that Shion could say "Kogami”. That was a very interesting moment for me.

PSYCHO-PASS contains a variety of messages, but I think one of the most consistent messages from the first TV season is that "the system cannot completely understand and control people. Once again, what is the message that Director Shiotani wants to convey in "PSYCHO-PASS"?

PSYCHO-PASS is a story that "shines a light on people who resist the system”. For me, science fiction is a story of despair and human misery. It is also a story about people standing up to change a bad ending.

In my mind, fantasy is the exact opposite of science fiction. Fantasy is a story about people living in harmony with the world and society. On the other hand, SF is about people who live in defiance of the world and society. In "PSYCHO-PASS," I wanted to depict the latter.

—I wonder why that is?

This is because we are trying to envision the future of ourselves 100 years from now. The environment surrounding us is being managed little by little, isn't it? I wanted to depict the groundwork of such a current situation.

In the world of "PSYCHO-PASS", the choice is left to the self, but the Sibyl system guides the choice. Does that really mean living?

The idea of Makishima (Shogo, CV: Takahiro Sakurai), the antagonist in the first TV season, comes from that*, and "PSYCHO-PASS" is a story in which each character thinks about what is right and wrong and keeps fighting. In fantasy, you can live with the world and society through dreams and magic, but I didn't want to do that.

*line above

It's not as simple as just settling with the Sibyl system and that's the end of the story.

Sometimes the staff tells me, "You should settle up with Sibyl as soon as possible," but I say no, no, no (laughs). "Let's drop the sibylla system! Let people make their own choices!" When the rough guy with a sense of justice turns off the power of Sibyl, think about what will happen after that—. If you break the rules you have just made for the sake of instant catharsis, you will certainly create chaos*.

*or confusion

I also personally think that is why I am able to continue the story so far.

The first TV season aired in 2012; was there something inevitable about the story that kept it going for eight years?

The reason we have been able to continue this long is because there are people who want to watch it. I think that the drama depicting our awareness of the problems we have with society is a theme that people who watch the show also care about. I think it was not simple and clear, but in such a way that people would be curious to see what happens next and would want to watch it. It took a lot of time for me as a creator, but I was able to bring a story to the world that was worthwhile.

I understand that "FIRST INSPECTOR," which will be released on March 27, is the story that concludes the third TV season. The last episode (episode 8) of the third TV season ended on a disturbing note, so I am very excited to see what will happen. What will happen to Arata and Kei? ......

From the end of episode 7, the relationship between Arata and Kei has become a misunderstanding. When Kei punched Arata, the staff said, "Why did you hit him! You should consider Arata's feelings too," but from my point of view, it was only natural. I left my wife in the hands of the person I trust the most and jumped into a dangerous place myself, and after what happened, I felt like punching him.

utterly lost for words ......

Well, how such a misunderstanding will turn out will be depicted in "FIRST INSPECTOR". The foreshadowing that was left behind in the third TV season will be recovered. It is a composition in which all the dots are connected in a line: the encounter between Arata and Kei, the encounter with Maiko, the keywords seen during mental tracing, which is a special ability of Arata, and so on. It is made in a way that is like an answer to the question.

I am looking forward to the drama scenes, but I think the action scenes are one of the highlights. Will we see them in "FIRST INSPECTOR"?

Although the emphasis is on the drama part, of course there is also action. It is not my taste, but in the end, there is a part of "PSYCHO-PASS" that is told with the fist (laughs). I think I was able to express the action I wanted to show, so much so that even Mr. Kaji said to me, "It's a detective drama.

Hearing that made me look forward to it even more.

As I mentioned earlier, "PSYCHO-PASS" is about "shining a light on people who resist the system"-this meaning is also expressed clearly in "FIRST INSPECTOR".

It would be interesting to see the key characters, Arata, Kei, Asuzawa, and Shizuka, paying attention to their past, their connection to society, and their way of life.

[neon-junkie]

Multitasking

Summary: Tech's job is to repair the ship. Your job is to test his focus by riding his cock.

Pairing: Tech x Reader

Reader Description: Reader is gender-neutral. This fic does not include any descriptions of their appearance.

Word count: 4.1k

Tags: Established relationship, Oral (giving), Smut, Cuming inside, Praise kink, sub!Tech, dom!Reader, Making out, Fluff.

Notes: Happy Tech Tuesdays!! I just had to write something for this specific shot in last weeks episode teehee

Being stranded on an unknown planet is one thing, but being stranded on an unknown planet with a broken down ship? Now, that's entirely another thing - a thing that the Bad Batch has been unfortunate enough to come across. Luck, nor hope, has ever been on their side, nothing ever goes to plan, but today's plan is simple: You and Tech are to stay on the ship and work on repairs, whilst everybody else heads out and searches for food, supplies, the will to live, and so on. And that's exactly where you are right now. Tech is currently suited up, helmet on, laying down on his back, working on the underside of the ships control panel. Most of your jobs are complete, and Tech urged you to have a break like the caring sweetheart that he is. You two have kept your relationship hidden from just about everybody, including the Batch, as you fear that it might cause a rift within the group. Although, you're almost certain they know. You've seen the glances Hunter and Crosshair make to each other when you and Tech are nattering away, and you've overheard Omega ask Wrecker and Echo multiple times if they're certain that you two aren't actually an item. The Batch knows, but the Batch doesn't officially know, and you both plan on keeping it that way. Alone time is a rarity. You'll be lucky to receive a kiss whenever you bring Tech a cup of caf whilst he's alone in the cockpit, or feel his hand in yours whenever you two are buddied up during a mission. You're both touch starved an unimaginable amount, and now that you two have some privacy, you want to make the most of it. Only, Tech being Tech, he needs to work. Tech wants to spend this time with you, just as much as you want to spend it with him, but the Marauder is in dire need of repairs, and only Tech has the ability to fix this ship. So, whilst on your break, you make Tech another cup of caf and bring it over, informing him of your presence as you settle down beside him. He thanks you, but his eyes remain glued to the underside of the cockpits control panel. Dare you say it - he looks inviting. Yes, he's busy working on the ship, and that's exactly why you're fighting the urge to hop on his lap right now. There's something enticing about Tech when he's literally buried in his work. Your mind has blanked out almost every single time he's attempted to explain something to you; you never understand what he's actually on about, but you always ask him to further explain, as the glisten in his eyes always makes you smile. But this? This is something else. You've seen Tech work on the ship so many times, but never in this position. He's lying on his back, hands and eyes fixated on the wires dangling above him, but the way his legs are casually spread is just so... oh. "Tech?" you question as you place a hand on his thigh, gently kneading at the fabric wrapped around him. "I know," Tech sighs. You're about to question what he apparently knows, but his sorrowful eyes meet yours, and he continues with "I want to spend this quiet time with you too." "Awhh," you sigh, giving Tech's thigh another squeeze. "I was actually going to tell you that your caf is there, and to be careful not to knock it over," you laugh, pointing to the cup beside him. Tech rolls his eyes, but from the way they're squinting, you know he's smiling beneath his helmet. He turns his attention back to his work, and you express your agreement with his comment. "But I also wish I was spending this time with you," you reply, and purr your words at the end, hoping that Tech knows what you're implying. "Stars," Tech sighs. "It's been some time, hasn't it?" "Tell me the specifics, Tech," you smile, and Tech's eyes happily meet yours. He's often silenced by his vods for 'blabbering' on about 'unimportant' details, but to you, his ability to remember so much makes your heart flutter. "Eighteen days, to be precise," Tech states as he continues working. "It's been eighteen days since we've had some time alone together, and four days since we've kissed." "I held your hand yesterday," you say with a laugh. "Yes, and I'm almost certain that Hunter saw that," Tech sighs. He stretches his hand out and makes a small grabbing motion, and you fill his palm with one of his tools. Tech shifts up onto his elbows as he looks at the tool that you've handed him, and he can't help but laugh. "I was motioning for you to place your hand in mine," he says as he places the tool down, and shuffles his way from underneath the control panel, sitting on the floor beside you. You laugh along with him, one hand still on his thigh, the other settling in his gloved palm. Tech gives you a comforting squeeze as he flicks his helmets' visor up, revealing his wide eyes, protected by his goggles. He speaks so much through his eyes alone, and you know him to a point where you two can speak without words, and right now, Tech's asking for more. Your hand slips from Tech's grasp so you can remove his helmet. His helmet remains in your grasp as you shuffle closer, and with a smug expression, you ask "do you want to change our four day count back to zero?" Tech nods his head as he softly laughs at your flirtatious remark. He shifts his goggles from his eyes, resting them on his forehead so they won't get in the way as he leans in and kisses you. Tech's kisses are always so soft and gentle, affectionate with a sprinkle of needy. One of his hands finds the back of your neck, simply holding you there as he makes up for all the lost time. Shuffling even closer to Tech, you debate asking a specific question, fearing rejection; you know that Tech wants the same, but he's busy with work, and work is always his top priority. You understand, and you understand that you two would have a lot of explaining to do if the rest of the Batch returned to find an unfixed ship, so you always allow him to prioritize his work. But Tech's kisses grow hungry, deeper and sloppier, and the whimper that he makes when you pull away confirms that he's just as eager as you are. "Do you want to reset our eighteen day count also?" you softly question against his lips, and your tone of voice makes him shudder. "I want to," he sighs, and gives you another kiss before continuing. "But I have work to do, although I estimate that it won't take me long to complete. Then, I'm all yours." "And what if the others return before then?" you pout. "They set off two hours ago. It's highly unlikely that they'd return in such a short time," Tech states. Smart, as always, but the Batch are unpredictable, and you worry that today might be one of those days. You ponder your thoughts, lazily kissing Tech as you weigh out your options. All of your work is done, and Tech doesn't have long to go, but you need him right now. He has the ability to work in an array of situations - under pressure, stressed, overwhelmed, and so on - but what about aroused? Yes, you've teased him on the odd occasion when he's been working, but that's as far as you've gone. Is it time to take things further? "Tech?" you sigh as you pull away. "Mhm?" Tech responds, half-lidded eyes meeting yours. "You still have work to do, but I don't. So, maybe I could start us off whilst you continue working?" you suggest, batting your lashes as you speak, even though you know Tech will say yes. To your surprise, Tech thinks about it, and quickly points out a negative to your idea. "I'm sure you're aware on how distracting your presence is, and... engaging with me sexually will distract me tenfold," Tech objects, moving his hands as he talks. "I've seen you work whilst distracted before. I won't be any different," you shrug. "I understand what you're referring to, but your presence can't be compared to the heat of the battlefield. They are two completely different types of distractions." "What I'm saying is..." you begin, and straddle Tech's lap as you talk, placing his helmet down on the floor beside him. One hand gently cups Tech's chin, tilting it to the side, leaving his neck open for you to begin kissing along. "You're a good worker, Tech, and you've worked through just about everything. So, you'll be fine with my presence, I'm certain of it." You can physically feel Tech shuddering in your grasp, turning into putty whilst you kiss along his neck, speaking against his skin. He lets out a groan when you nip at a sensitive spot behind his ear, and his hands find your hips, squeezing and kneading them. "What do you think?" you question, and wait patiently for Tech's answer. Tech stays silent for a while, minus his quiet mewls and moans. He's putting a lot of thought into this, possibly too much, but he eventually comes to a decision. "Alright," he gently nods. "You're welcome to engage with me whilst I work, but if you are too distracting, and I am unable to work with you around, then I will ask you to stop." "Of course, love," you reply as your kisses move up to his cheek. "I only want what's best for you." "You're what's best for me," Tech sharply exhales, and from the way his eyes turn wide, you know he wasn't meant to let that slip. "I mean... Uh, I shall return to my work, and you're welcome to... do whatever you'd like to do." Tech fumbles for his goggles, pulling them down from his forehead. You sneak in another kiss before his helmet is placed on, and just as Tech's about to lie down, he points something out. "I'd suggest that you shut and lock the door." You scramble up from his lap, shutting the cockpits' door, just to be safe. As you're about to lock it, Tech informs you of a different code to use, and explains why when you turn around and raise your brow at him. "It's a private code that I installed recently, just to be safe." "Safe from what?" you question. "Well, after the inhibitor chip situation, I wanted to install a code that only I know, so if something were to go wrong, say the Empire takes control of us and reinstalls the chip, then sends said person down to attack us, then we'd be safe from them in the ship." You're left speechless as Tech explains his bizarre, paranoid scenario. He notices your bewildered expression, and adds "hypothetically speaking, of course." As if that somehow makes things any better. "You and your paranoia, Tech," you sigh as you punch in the new code. "If it weren't for my paranoia, then we wouldn't now have this safely locked door, preventing the others from walking in on us, if they are to return early," Tech points out, motioning with his hands as he talks, before lying down and shuffling under the cockpits control panel. You roll your eyes whilst smiling, your heart fluttering over yet another reason why you've fallen for Tech. He goes back to work, leaving you to your mischief. Just like before, Tech has his legs partially spread, feet firmly on the floor with his knees slightly raised. As you settle beside him, your hand comes to rest on his thigh, fingers fiddling with the straps of his utility belt. You unhook the straps from his thighs, moving them up to his waist, giving you access to his codpiece. You know far too well how to remove his armour, and you find the hook that unlatches his codpiece, removing it entirely in one swift motion. Tech's already semi-hard, his cock straining against the tight fabric of his blacks. You palm over his erection, eyes peeking up to watch his reaction, and there is none, minus a soft sight. It's clear that he's attempting to focus on his work, and you're torn between wanting to be a massive distraction, and wanting to let him get on with his work. Sadly, repairing the ship is important, but you're certain that you can test his focus another time. For now, you're happy with slowly and lazily getting both of you off, waiting for Tech to finish so both of you can quicken the pace. Shuffling down onto your front, you free his cock from beneath his blacks, pumping it loosely whilst you find a comfortable position. Tech lets out another sigh when you swipe your tongue over the tip of his cock, swirling it around a few times, and then sinking down onto his length. You know by now exactly what makes Tech stir, and like the minx that you are, you go for those specific areas. Tech lets out a groan as you glide your tongue down the underside of his shaft, your hand lightly squeezing his tip. You spend a while between his thighs, earning weak moans, muffled through his helmet. One of his legs begins to lightly bounce, something his body subconsciously does when he's in deep though, and as of recent, something he also does when he's attempting to focus whilst distracted. With one hand around Tech's cock, you manage to slip your pants off, kicking off your boots in the process. You find the perfect balance between satisfying your partner, and preparing yourself, and although the position is slightly uncomfortable, the sound that Tech makes when he notices you prepping yourself makes it worth your while. "Copaani gaan?" you overhear Tech speak in his mother tongue. His eyes lock onto yours as he raises his head slightly, propping himself up on elbows, and Tech watches as you tilt your head in confusion. "Need a hand?" he repeats, and you mumble an 'oh' at his translation. "Shouldn't you be working on the ship?" you question. As Tech starts speaking, you slip his cock back into your mouth, completely malfunctioning his brain. "It's- I... the work- uh..." Tech stutters, and groans as he blurts out "mesh'la." A gloved hand rests on the back of your head as Tech lies back down, eyes scrunching shut, moaning softly for you. "So beautiful," he mumbles, and lets out a choked sob when the tip of his cock hits the back of your throat. "What were you saying about the ship?" you innocently ask as you pull off his cock. "It's almost fixed," Tech groans, followed by a heavy sigh. "Finish your work, Tech," you order, and your tone of voice makes Tech shudder. "Elek, cyar'ika," Tech whimpers. "Anything for you." The hand on the back of your head is removed, and Tech turns as much focus as he can to his work. You decide that you're prepped enough, as is Tech, and begin shuffling into position, straddling Tech's lap. His eyes flick away for a moment, watching through his slowly steaming-up goggles as you sink down onto his length, letting out a soft sigh once you're fully seated. Despite not being able to see Tech's face, you know he's struggling to hold himself together, especially from the noise he makes when you begin slowly rising and falling on his cock, taking your time with every thrust. "Your work, Tech," you comment as you lock eyes. "Y-yes, right..." Tech's words trail off as he attempts to finish up, moving wires and tightening bolts, putting together the final parts of the ships control panel. You keep your pace slow and steady, not wanting to move Tech's body too much as he works, plus the sensation of slowly fucking yourself on your partners cock is oh-so-satisfying. And from the sounds that Tech is attempting not to make, you know that he's feeling the same way. You two spend some time like that, Tech finalizing the ship as you slowly get each other off, tensing your muscles every so often to tighten your grip on Tech's cock. Wanting to see how Tech will react, you catch him by surprise by slamming down on his cock; Tech lets out a choked moan, the air from his lungs being pushed out, and he almost drops the bolt tightener that he's holding. He perks his head up, groans at the sight of you, and then lets it fall back again. His hands pause mid-air, uncertain if he should attempt to work, or enjoy a brief break. "Tech?" you purr, and his eyes lock onto yours through the tint of his goggles. "Carry on working, love, you're almost finished." "Cyar'ika, you're making this unbelievably difficult," Tech whimpers. Tech isn't always one for praise, unless you're reminding him of how intelligent he is, but maybe he'll accept a few compliments whilst he's literally beneath you? "You're such a good worker, Tech, you can continue with a minor distraction," you praise. Tech's eyes momentarily flick away, as if to question if he really can work in these conditions. You know he's accepted your compliment the second his hands move up, returning to the control panel. "See?" you smile. "Pretend I'm not here. Pretend I'm not riding your cock right now," you tease, and your smile grows when Tech lets out a deep sigh. "I'll get you for this," he threatens in his own, soft, Tech-like way. "I can't wait," you purr, and pick up the pace, positioning your hands on his armoured chest to give your body extra support. Your eyes fall shut just as Tech returns to his work, putting your focus into riding him. Your pace isn't perfect, but it's enough to get you off, and from the sounds you're hearing from your partner, it's enough to get him off too. You're so engulfed in pleasure that you almost don't hear Tech suddenly states "I'm done." For some reason, you instantly assume he's done with you, motioning for you to stop. "Huh?!" you yelp as your eyes snap open. "I'm done with my work," Tech states, unaware of your confusion, and you let out a heavy sigh of relief. He lightly taps your thigh, signalling for you to raise your hips, and with the tip of his cock barely inside you, both of you shuffle so that Tech is no longer pinned beneath the control panel. You slam back down onto his cock just as he props himself up on his elbows, almost collapsing down again from the sensation. Tech curses under his breath, and with shaky arms, he manages to reach up and remove his helmet, placing it down beside him. His cheeks are redder than ever, almost as bright as when you two shared your first kiss, and from the light layer of sweat over his face, you assume that he'll be needing a shower later, and no doubt, you'll join him. "That wasn't so hard, was it?" you cheekily smile, and Tech has the audacity to roll his eyes at you. "You're unbelievable," Tech groans as he shifts his legs, placing his feet firmly on the floor, hips slightly raised - the perfect position to begin thrusting up into you. Tech meets your hips halfway, finding the perfect rhythm within no time. He's no longer holding back, moaning and groaning freely, and treating you to the occasional whimper. Tech's hands are snugly sitting around your hips, and his eyes are struggling to stay open, eventually scrunching shut, his mouth remaining parted as he puts all of his focus into fucking you. Your hands grip onto his chest once more, thick plastoid armour pressed against your palms, steadying your weight whilst both of you chase your orgasms. You know Tech is close when he begins stuttering, his mind becoming hazy, but Tech manages to whimper "I'm close." "Inside," you quietly state, and all Tech manages to do is nod. You beat him to it, tightening around his length as your orgasm hits. The sensation of you squeezing his cock has Tech sputtering, mewling beneath you whilst he pulls you down onto his hips and holds you there, his cock twitching heavily as he fills you up. You rock your hips back and forth gently, just enough to milk him, and Tech's grip on your hips tightens as he begins panting; his eyes slowly open, pupils blown, gawking at the sight of you. "T-too much," Tech eventually stutters, so you ease up, coming to a halt. Both of you spend a moment to gather yourselves and catch your breaths. Tech's hands move from your hips so he can prop his goggles up on his forehead, wiping his face with his palms, attempting to snap himself out of his post-orgasm haze. "Good?" you simply question, smiling when Tech nods in agreement. "Yes," he sighs, "so good. I think you'll agree that we both needed that," Tech comments as he pulls his goggles back on, and props himself up on his elbows, looking up at you, still sat on his lap with his cock slowly softening inside you. Tech takes a hold of your hips again, keeping you firmly on his lap as he sits upright. His soft eyes remain glued to yours, and a sweet smile appears on his lips when you playfully rub your nose against his. Tech wraps his hands around your waist, holding you in his lap, enjoying the sensation of your bodies being pressed together. Neither of you speak, but you don't need words to express the connection that you're feeling right now. You cup his jawline, holding his head steady whilst you enjoy some slow, sensual kisses. The taste of sweat is light on Tech's lips, but it's not enough for you to pull you away from him; if anything, you're enticed by how he tastes, parting your lips slightly so your tongue can glide across his. An unknowing amount of time passes as you two remain tied together, catching up on those lost moments; the nights where you can't be in each other's arms, the kisses you've missed due to lack of privacy, the gentle touches that are always kept private. As you move apart, you motion for Tech to tilt his head to the side, revealing your favourite place to kiss. Your hands slide over his shoulders, fiddling with the ends of his short hair, and you plant kiss after kiss on his faint scar, hidden beneath his short, buzzed hair. Tech smiles as you kiss over that area, and once you're done, he presses his forehead against yours. Finally, one of you speaks up. "Would you like to join me in the refresher?" Tech offers. "Of course," you smile, and place a kiss on his nose before shuffling off his lap. Once both of you are dressed, and Tech has tidied his equipment away, you go to make your way through the ship. As you open the locked cockpit door, you're both met with an extremely grumpy looking Hunter. He's sat with his arms crossed, tired eyes, and the only thing he asks is "are you two finally done?" "T-the ship is repaired, if that is what you're asking," Tech replies, struggling to maintain eye contact. "C'mon, you know I'm not on about that," he sighs. "You're lucky that the others wanted to stay outside and enjoy the sun!" Both of you stand there awkwardly, gawking around the ship, looking at everything but Hunter. He lets out a long, defeated sigh before saying "both of you, go and clean up, please. And leave the cockpit door open, it stinks in there." With that, Hunter rises from his chair, and makes his way off the Marauder, leaving the ships' door open to let fresh air flow through the ship. At the same time, Tech and you lock eyes, sharing an awkward expression. To your surprise, Tech states "that went rather well." "You're joking, right?" "It's been a long time coming," he shrugs. "Anyway, are you still joining me in the refresher?" You let out a laugh, but shake your head in agreement. "Lead the way!"