#Kind proud of this 1 ngl

[saffusthings]

second chances

mob boss! lando norris x reader

part three: clean up

word count:

warnings: bone cracking, minor violence, some threats, a usual day in the mob life yktv

two | three | four

The night air was damp with the lingering scent of rain and blood.

Lando stepped out of her apartment building, shoving his hands into his pockets as he made his way back to his car. The streets were quiet now—too quiet. Just an hour ago, the space had been filled with the sound of a man begging for his life. Now, the city hummed with its usual indifference, as if nothing had ever happened.

He had stayed just long enough to be certain. No phone calls. No texts. No neighbors suspiciously knocking to ask what was wrong. She hadn’t told anyone.

Good girl.

He slid into the driver’s seat, checked his phone — no messages, no calls.

Finally, some fucking quiet.

Lando finally leaned against the back of his seat, long fingers wrapping themselves around the familiar steering of his McLaren 675 LT as he drove away. He drove without hurry, one hand loose on the wheel, the other resting against his temple as he exhaled a long, measured breath. The events weighed down on his shoulders — not with guilt, of course, never guilt– just the meticulous web of problems that needed to be untangled into solutions.

And the idiots he worked with? They were the biggest problem of the night.

His fingers tightened around the wheel, knuckles pressing white. He could still smell the iron tang of blood from earlier, the sharp memory of the gunshots ringing in his ears. He had done what needed to be done—handled the aftermath, cleaned up their mess. But the fact that he had to clean it up at all pissed him off.

He took a few turns through the empty streets before heading toward his house — a looming, intricate work of architecture nestled in the more quiet part of the  city. The headlights sliced through the dark as he pulled up to the wide cobblestone driveway, shutting the engine off before stepping out, his boots almost silent against the stone.

His own place was nothing like hers.

Large, sleek, classical — all marble and dark wood. A skyline view of the city stretched wide beyond huge church style windows, lights flickering like static against the black water of the pool. It was pristine, everything in its place, every surface immaculate. But that was the difference between a house and a home—he didn’t need comfort. He needed efficiency.

He stepped inside,  letting the heavy metal door slam behind him, the sound like a gunshot in the vast space. He turned and reactivated the alarm system from a side panel before shrugging off his jacket, letting it fall onto the back of a chair. The blood on his boot had dried by now, a small, insignificant detail, but he noticed it anyway. He always did.

Inside, the air was thick with sweat, smoke, and the stench of blood that hadn’t been properly cleaned up. A few men were already there laughing and talking, the remnants of their work sprawled out before them — discarded gloves, a half-empty bottle of whiskey, the stench of sweat and gun oil. They weren’t worried. They weren’t tense. They were acting like tonight hadn’t been a fucking disaster.

By the time he came up beside his seat, unbuttoning the cuffs of his sleeves,  he was already seething. He stood and glared with the kind of measured posture that should have put them on edge.

It didn’t.

Because they were idiots.

Lando took his time stepping forward, peeling off his gloves, his gaze sharp and unreadable. He watched them—studied the way they barely acknowledged his arrival, how one of them laughed under his breath about something, how another flicked a cigarette against the ashtray with a lazy, unbothered wave.

It was insulting.

“You are all too comfortable,” Lando murmured, his voice a quiet blade.

Fewtrell is, of course, the first to notice. Once he goes quiet, the others are a lot quicker to be pulled out of the blissful ignorance of whatever nonsense they were blabbing about moments ago.

Conversation died instantly.

The three of them turned to face him, their relaxed postures stiffening under his gaze. They were good at a lot of things —intimidation, violence, making money— but it seemed like reading Lando’s moods was never one of them.

Which was a shame. He wasn’t in the mood to be patient.

Slowly, he reached for the whiskey bottle on the table, lifting it to the light. Amber liquid swirled lazily inside. He turned it in his grip, then—without warning—he slammed it down, shattering the glass into jagged shards across the wooden surface.

The men flinched.

Finally. Finally, they realized.

“You think tonight went well?” he asked, voice even. Controlled. “You think that was a clean job?”

Silence.

“Because from where I was standing, it looked sloppy.” His words came slow, deliberate. “Messy. Reckless.”

He leaned forward, placing his hands on the table, watching as they shifted uncomfortably under the weight of his stare.

“It was just some low-level asshole,” one of them muttered. “It’s not like he had protection. No one’s gonna come looking.”

Lando smiled. It was a sharp, humorless thing.

“You really think… that’s the fucking point?” he asked, voice deadly quiet.

The man swallowed.

“Are you all fucking stupid?”

One of them, Daniel —a lanky Australian bloke with a knack for fixing vehicles who’d been part of his team for a few years now— shifted, running a hand over the back of his neck. “Look, man, it was clean—”

Lando moved fast.

A sharp, brutal swing of his fist connected with Daniel’s ribs, knocking the breath out of him instantly. He staggered back, wheezing, but Lando didn’t let him recover. His hand shot out, gripping the front of Daniel’s shirt and yanking him forward until they were inches apart.

“Clean?” Lando echoed, his voice dripping with venom. “You brought him and dropped him in a place people actually walk through. You never sweeped the area. Then, you left a fucking body in the open? You idiot,” he seethes. “And now you’re standing here telling me it was clean?”

Daniel’s hands grasped Lando’s wrist, but he didn’t dare push him off. The others watched in tense silence, knowing better than to intervene.

Lando released him with a rough shove, sending him stumbling back onto a chair. He stepped around the table, slow, purposeful, like a predator sizing up its prey.

“You guys got cocky,” he continued. “You were loud. You did it out in the open, like amateurs. And you left yourselves exposed.”

Another beat of silence.

Lando’s gaze flicked over them, assessing. He didn’t mention the witness—the quiet, bookish girl who had stumbled onto something she was never meant to see. He had handled it. They didn’t need to know.

“You don’t get paid to be stupid,” he said finally, his voice smooth as if they were merely discussing the weather, yet something about it had their hearts lodged in their throats. “You get paid to be precise. To be efficient. And if you ever,” he pauses, “-fuck up like that again, I won’t be cleaning up your mess. I’ll be cleaning up you.”

The threat sat heavy in the air, settling into their bones.

Good.

One of the men —Carlos, the Spanish man who had been in charge of planning tonight’s job— shifted in his seat, clearing his throat. “It won’t happen again,” he said, accent curling at the ends of his quiet words.

Lando tilted his head, considering him. Then, in one fluid motion, he reached for the man’s hand resting on the table, grabbed his pinky, and snapped it.

Carlos howled, jerking back, but Lando kept him there, gripping his wrist in an iron hold as he leaned down to just beside Carlos’s ear, lowering his voice to something eerily calm.

“I know it won’t.”

He let go, stepping back, watching as Carlos cradled his mangled finger, his face twisted in pain.

“You’re lucky I’m in a good mood,” Lando mused, wiping his hands on a napkin before tossing it onto the table alongside the rest of their earlier rubbish. “Now, clean this shit up. And next time? Get it right the first time, yeah?”

“I had to take care of a loose end tonight because you were sloppy,” he continued, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. Sharp eyes flicked between them, his lip curling in disgust. “I believe it should be clear by now that if you ever put me in that position again, I won’t be dealing with a loose end — I’ll be dealing directly with you.”

Silence.

No one spoke. No one even breathed too loudly.

Lando exhaled sharply, shaking out the lingering tension in his knuckles before rolling his shoulders back. He unfolded his collar, unbuttoning the top buttons of his shirt as though he hadn’t just threatened to kill them.

“Sort the body. Properly,” he said flatly. “Let’s see if you can actually do something right.”

They nodded, silent and obedient.

Lando turned on his heel, walking toward the grand staircase at center of the house without another word, not bothering to glance back.

By the time he got into his room, the remnants of his rage had dulled into something more calculating. He had made his point. They wouldn’t mess up again—not if they wanted to keep breathing.

And as for her —the girl wrapped in her blankets, now fast asleep in her too-small apartment, oblivious to the choices being made in her name— he still hadn’t decided what to do with her yet. He hadn’t brought her up, didn’t tell them how close they’d come to getting their ]ittle job tonight exposed because she was his problem now.

And if it ever came to it? 

He was more than willing to solve it himself.

a/n: thank you for the response so far! likes, comments, and reblogs are the fuel that motivates me to go work on the next chapter. lmk what you thought of this one!

[sodascribbles]

[TW: eyestrain, blood, eye contact]

art made april 19th, time spent 3hr. don't repost i WILL come for your knees. reblogs are cool <3

[baby-pink-panic]

"I just broke up with my gf" Oh my god I'm so genuinely sorry for you but also can u talk to me abt it with ur head in my lap so I can play with ur hair nd tell u ur gonna be able to move on and you have value outside ur relationship and can take this as a chance to find your own individuality? Pretty pls? I'll call u a good boy?

[cuprohastes]

Shiftshaper

Day 1 of infiltrating the crew.

One of them got too far from the group. Paralysed him and took his form.

Returned to the ship. Everyone keeps asking me where my pants are.

Day 2 of infiltrating the crew.

We have taken off. I have explained that one of the 'native lichens' made me allergic to pants. The rest of the crew seems to accept this.

Day 3 of infiltrating the crew.

I have been helping out around the ship while learning its secrets. And also trying to figure out where my quarters are supposed to be. Got it right fourth time. Managed to talk my way out of three awkward encounters.

Fourth one, not so much. I think I'm dating Crewman Eloise now.

Day 4 of infiltrating the crew.

Brought Eloise some breakfast and used my cunning skills to pump her for information.

So successful that I contrived to bring everyone else breakfast. I am a genius.

Day 5 of infiltrating the crew.

The captain keeps asking for Crewman Vitsie. They are obviously incompetent and lazy and have not responded. Captain sounds very irate. Perhaps I should find Vitsie and eat him to improve crew morale.

Day 6 of infiltrating the crew.

... I'm Crewman Vitsie. Got yelled at by the captain. Grovelled handsomely and explained that I am incompetent and lazy. I think I got away with it.

Day 7 of infiltrating the crew.

Space pirates. Why is it always space pirates?

Replicated one of them, infiltrated the ship, ate their captain. Very greasy.

Swapped back to my Vitsie disguise and pretended I snuck on board and shot the captain.

Luckily nobody asked about why I now weigh 50% more

Day 8 of infiltrating the crew.

Captain mentioned he knew I was a shiftshaper. Now hiding in an airduct. I'm not crying. That's... just... OK I might be crying. Eloise was going to put on a movie and I was really looking forward to it.

Day 9 of infiltrating the crew.

Captain has been yelling into an airvent for the last hour. They say they figured it out immediately.

Turns out Vitsie was an asshole, and they just liked me better.

NGL, feeling kind of proud.

Captain says since I saved the ship from greasy space pirates, they'll call it even if I promise not to eat any more crew.

Asked if that includes Robins from Engineering. Captains says Robins included because he's the only one who knows how to fix the toilets.

This is reasonable.

Day 10 of infiltrating the crew.

Watched "The Thing" with Eloise. Didn't sleep all night. That was terrifying!

[infinitydivine]

Pick A Pile: Short and Sweet Messages For You

If this reading resonates with you, kindly share it to help your reader :)

Masterlist -Paid Readings-Paid Readings Reviews-PAC Readings

Choose your pile intuitively. Take what resonates and leave the other things. If you think this reading is not for you then choose another pile. If still it doesn't resonate then this might not be your reading. There are Three Piles.

Hello Pile 1~~~

This is your gentle nudge to slow down, love. Not everything that’s meant for you will come in a rush. Some things needs some soft pauses like a sip of your favorite tea, a calm breath, and a little silence. You’ve been so used to surviving that resting almost feels wrong, doesn’t it? But you’re not in survival anymore. Life is beginning to open up for you. In tiny, delicate ways, peace is finding you again. This pile has the energy of unwinding... like of letting go of guilt around doing “nothing.”" Maybe the nothing is actually something sacred".(this came through very strongly ngl). You guys need to let your nervous system catch up to the version of you that no longer needs to run. There’s beauty in stillness and You’re not falling behind . You’re just learning to walk differently.

“Peace is your power. You don’t have to earn rest. You already deserve it.”

If you liked the reading, book a personal reading with me or you could leave a tip for the reader.

Hello Pile 2~~~

There’s a version of you guys that would be so proud if they saw where you are now. You’ve made it through parts of life that, honestly, should’ve broken you but it didn’t. Yet you are here. You may not feel like a warrior but that’s only because you’ve been fighting so quietly. The kind of strength you carry isn’t loud. It’s soft. It’s patient. It’s in how you keep showing up even when no is there to clap for you. There’s a beautiful moment on its way... one that will feel like a photograph in your memory. You guys will have something to hold onto and say, "Yes, I lived through this, and it was real and sweet and mine." Let life surprise you. The best part hasn’t even happened yet.

“You’ve grown. You’ve softened. You’ve survived. That’s your magic.”

If you liked the reading, book a personal reading with me or you could leave a tip for the reader.

Hello Pile 3~~~

Someone is watching over you, my pile 3's. Maybe you've felt them in the stillness like could be in a dream, a song playing at the exact right time, a thought that comforts you even though no one physically said it. That’s not your imagination. You might have had moments where you were scared too because to them. That’s Spirit. That’s love. You’re being held so gently through this difficult season, even when everything feels like too much.This pile is a reminder that just because you don’t see the support doesn’t mean it’s not there. You’ve been walking with your heart open, carrying more than anyone knows, and still trying to smile through it. But you don’t have to do this alone anymore. Let yourself be supported by Spirit, by the Universe, by love in unseen forms. You are safe to soften now. You are safe to believe again.

“You are never alone. The unseen is walking beside you.”

If you liked the reading, book a personal reading with me or you could leave a tip for the reader.

Thank you and Love,

Infinity

[pianostarinwonderland]

Hello hello guys!! I participated in the Octazinelle zine 😳👉👈 and this was the fic I wrote!

Link of the zine is found in the notes section. I really hope you enjoy!

graduation [octazinelle: high tide fic submission]

in the few months they have before getting ready to leave for internship, floyd and jade go through the turbulence that future uncertainties bring: where will they go, what will they do, but most importantly... what will happen to their relationship with azul?

ft. floyd leech, jade leech, and azul ashengrotto

╰┈➤ 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: hello hello!! i participated in a zine titled octazinelle: high tide! you can find the full zine through here~ this was a very fun project and i'm so excited to post the fic i wrote for you guys ^^ i really care about this fic so much, so there will be additional notes that i will leave somewhere :3c don't worry, they won't be hard to find fufufu

“Floyd Leech.”

Said student is just climbing down the steps of the lecture room when he hears his name being called in an austere manner. Any remaining students in the classroom cast Floyd that ‘oh boy’ look as they leave the room. Floyd looks to the teacher’s table where Professor Trein stares at him sternly. He returns the stare with a miffed look, but he approaches the professor nonetheless.

“This is the second time this week that I have caught you sleeping in my class,” Trein rebukes. “This may be your last semester in Night Raven College before you go on your internship, but that doesn’t mean that you can be negligent in my class.”

“Uh huh.”

“Don’t give me that attitude, Leech. I do not want to give any penalties so late into the semester, but if I catch you sleeping one more time, I will. Do I make myself clear, Leech?”

“Yes, sir.” 

“You may now go.” 

Floyd steps out of the classroom with the same expression as he wore when getting called out. Damn Professor Red Squid, if you don’t wanna give detention, then just don’t, he thinks to himself. Meh, oh well. I don’t feel hungry at all, should I even go to the canteen? But where do I even wanna go? Everywhere’s so noisy. 

He walks for a bit, hands in his pockets.

Ah wait. 

There’s the supplies arriving today for Mostro Lounge. 

Floyd barely notices his frown growing ever so slightly deeper, but students walking along the same path as him instinctively step aside. Nobody in their right mind would dare interrupt a disgruntled Leech twin. 

I’m not going to help out with those. Azul can suffer with those all he wants.

“Floyd! There you are!” 

Floyd stops in his tracks. He does not look at the classmate who briskly walks up to him, but he already feels the annoyance rushing to his head. 

“Floyd, we got a paper due in two days,” the classmate yells. “We just need your part, and we'll be done! When are you gonna send it in the gc?”

“Go away.”

“Hah? Don’t give me that!” The groupmate’s voice raises in anger. “We have a literal group paper to submit, and we just need your part so that we can submit it earlier!”

Floyd faces him finally, but this time, his eyes are dilated, teeth are displayed, and brows are furrowed. An all-too familiar menacing expression. “I said go away.”

“Eep!” The classmate takes a step back, expression immediately shifting to fear for his life. “O-ok ok! Just- just submit before the 11:59 deadline in two days! That’s all I needed to say, ok!”

And right after, the student runs away.

Floyd huffs. He has now made up his mind on where to go. 

Jade is wiping the sweat off of his face in the locker rooms when one of his Octavinelle classmates approaches him. “Hey, Azul’s calling for you,” he says. “He’s by the gates right now.”

“Oh?” Jade looks up in confusion. “I thought Floyd was supposed to be with him right now.”

“Well, he’s not there now,” the classmate replies while scratching his head. “They need more backup and Azul’s calling for you.” 

“Ah, I see.” He smiles. “I shall be there, then.”

The classmate leaves the locker rooms, leaving Jade all by himself. The rest of the class has already left, eager for lunch. 

Jade slows down in cleaning himself up.

Azul’s name brings back a rip that’s been tearing at his heart. It burns in the way that electricity probably burns, maybe to a lesser degree: his body stops working the way it usually does, and his chest still reels from a shock of pain. It’s not physical by any means, though by the Sea Witch, he wishes it was. It would have been so much easier to deal with. He’d be shipped to the best hospital, all bills easily paid for, and he’d be recovering well back in Octavinelle. Or if he dies, then that is that. No more pain to feel.

No, it’s a harder kind of pain. It’s the kind of pain that makes him want to tear flesh and bone with teeth and claws, the kind of hurt that urges him to destroy a ship, the kind of ache that makes him want to burn his already burning eyes. It’s the kind of pain that won’t go away even if he does all three.

Jade breathes in. Hold it. Breathe out. Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out. Breathe in… breathe out…

He cannot afford to lose himself now, whether by wrath or by tears. 

He packs his bags, changes back to his uniform, and leaves the lockers. His light footsteps are overshadowed by the sounds of enthusiastic jogs to the cafeteria in the corridors. Jade takes a moment to breathe in the afternoon sunny air, letting out a bit more of his worries out of his lungs before he walks down the stairs and through Main Street. 

And soon, he finds himself nearing the tall gates of the school, where a group of students are gathered around large boxes. 

It annoys Jade that the gleam of silver hair stirs mixed emotions. On one hand, his troubles are dashed completely from seeing the very person he keeps close. On the other hand, it is the same person who’s making him go through hell.

He swiftly shifts his focus to the situation in front of him. Some of the other boxes should have been on the way to the Mostro Lounge by this time, yet there are still several of them that the other Octavinelle students have to carry. It isn’t surprising—after all, they decided to upgrade a few things, in preparation for the next dorm leader. Supplies that a simple run to Sam’s shop won’t cover, no matter how much he claims to have it all in stock. 

“Be extra careful with that. That tableware costs us quite a fortune.” Standing by the boxes with a clipboard resting on his arm, Azul watches his dorm mates as he writes notes on the clipboard. He has his dorm leader facade on, serious and stern, but even from a distance, Jade can see his slightly nervous gaze towards the supplies. 

As another pair leaves with a heavy box, Azul looks at them before his eyes fall on him. “Jade, good you made it on time.”

“Hello, Azul,” Jade greets. “I thought that Floyd was supposed to help with the supplies.”

“Well, he’s not here now,” Azul answers, frowning from annoyance. “I was wondering if you had any idea as to where he is right now.”

“I don’t. His history class should have ended 10 minutes ago.” 

“Hmph, nevermind. We need to get all of this into the lounge.” He gestures to the boxes. “All the boxes are complete, and we’ll do a final count of all the supplies once everything has been moved there.”

“I see.” Jade nods. “Will you need me to assist you?”

“No, you may enjoy your lunch break after helping us move these boxes,” Azul answers. “I’ll be making my next successor do that. It’s a part of his learning, after all.” 

“Ah. I see.” 

It annoys him to feel that same shock of hurt returning to his chest. 

A bemused look crosses Azul’s face. “Does that offend you,” he teases. “I never took you for one to be tilted by that.”

Jade blinks. “Why Azul, whatever makes you think I’d be offended over that?” He smiles, with a bit more effort than he’s used to. “You must be imagining things from how little rest you have in passing on your position to the little siren.”

“You exaggerate.” He keeps his clipboard and pen into his bag. “We need to move. Jade, carry that box over there.” He points to one of the smaller boxes, marked with the word FRAGILE, and picks up another box. 

And wordlessly, Jade follows, carrying a box that must contain brand new tea sets. New tea sets that remind him that a new dorm leader and manager of the Mostro Lounge will take over. 

That his term and Azul’s will end because they’ll move up to 4th year and go their separate ways. 

Jade resists the urge to break them. He’ll carry these then find Floyd. 

Back at home, the schools of fish would band together, staying close until Floyd swam past them, splitting their perfect formation. Together, apart. Together, apart. 

Together. Apart.

Separation was not new to Floyd at all. In an “eat or be eaten” world, fish and merfolk alike live with the thought that the people closest to them may be gone the next day. Floyd has hunted before, has fought before. He’s even the one who said goodbye to his parents when leaving for Night Raven College.

But he said goodbye with the promise of seeing them again after school is done. 

He stares down at the river that runs below the bridge. This spot is rarely ever frequented by students at lunchtime, if only because everyone else is either eating in the canteen, having meetings, or just being with friends, and the bridge is on the other path away from the Hall of Mirrors. Besides Octavinelle, it feels the closest to home on this campus: here, he can watch the current flow, and the fish that live below its clean stream. 

Home, huh? Floyd wonders if home will still feel like home once he returns from Night Raven College. 

It will be the same dark passageways and bioluminescent lights, the same faces but all grown up. Except that he isn’t a child that can pick fights with anyone and nab their scales as a prize, he is to be stuck with running the family business of making deals, expanding connections, beating up people who betray their trust. Pretty much like what he already does with Azul now. 

Except that the boss that would stand with him and Jade is not Azul at all. 

The fish in the river swim with no obstacle in their path. They may split apart to avoid the occasional rock, but they would be together again. Together, apart. Together. In the small space that they share, there is no vast ocean that opens up new paths for them to split ways. Not until they swim down the cliff and into the open sea. 

Floyd has never envied river dwellers until now. 

Jade walks behind Azul going to Mostro Lounge. It’s something of a routine that started in Night Raven College. When Azul walks, he and Floyd follow him from behind. He doesn’t remember how or when it started. Probably started to make Azul’s image look powerful: he is in the front, wearing a coat that imposes authority, and Jade and Floyd standing at the back makes him look almost impossible to touch. 

Regardless of the hows or the whys, it’s a position that has always given him comfort. From behind, Jade can watch Azul. He can see if Azul is pleased with something by the bounce in his step, or if he’s pissed by the clack of his heels. And from the front, Azul can’t read Jade since he’s always looking forward, and that lets Jade startle him with a random brutal teasing remark. 

Right now, though, he wishes to not look at Azul. 

Azul appears to be beaming, and Jade knows exactly why. He’s found the perfect successor for not only leadership of Octavinelle but also manager for his prized restaurant. He’s gotten accepted in all the places he applied for his internship. 

He’s gotten accepted already into the university that he aims to go to.

Jade vividly remembers the way Azul grinned from ear to ear when he received the email. He remembers the audible, “Yes! Yes, I got in!” that almost sounded teary-eyed. He remembers Floyd saying that they should celebrate over some drinks. He remembers smiling to the best of his abilities while saying congratulations for being accepted. 

That was two weeks ago. He’s said many fake things in his life, and he would never say sorry for them. But until now, the heartless congratulations weighs heavily in his conscience. 

It’s simple, really: Azul has been working hard all his life to achieve his dreams. And Jade was there to witness the journey, from the ideas to the headaches to the defeats to the victories. It’s a huge milestone for Azul to get to stay on land and study in a place where he feels he will thrive. So it’s unfair really, to not be able to celebrate such an achievement happily. 

And yet, Jade can’t bring himself to. 

Their relationship started as something transactional. Tweels keep his secrets, Azul lets them in his plans. Tweels support him, Azul entertains them. And if Azul fails to entertain, then they will drop him like plastic to the chute. There and done. That’s supposed to be their relationship. 

So why then does it hurt to hear that Azul got accepted? Why does it hurt to think about how in a few months, he won’t see Azul as much as the present? Why does it hurt to think about the uncertainty of when they will see each other again? 

“Jade, you can put down the box over there.”

Jade blinks. He’s at Mostro Lounge. Has he been so deep in thought that he didn’t realize when he arrived?

Schooling his expression, he puts down the box on the counter that Azul gestures to, unaware of the concerned expression on Azul’s face. 

Floyd doesn’t know when he started staring into nothingness to gaze at memories, but he’s now seeing the stone stage from middle school, where his younger self is playing drums to his brother’s bass and someone’s piano. 

He remembers, he was getting irritated with the piano melody, and at the time he couldn’t pinpoint why, except that it lacked something. Now that he thinks about it, it’s because that pianist’s playing had no life. No vigor, no passion, just technique that wouldn’t get anyone dancing. “Next,” he had said and stopped playing. The pianist was protesting. Floyd forgot what he said, just that he protested that he wasn’t done playing, but he didn’t care enough to hear about it.

“Everyone sucks, Jade,” he threw his sticks to the ground. “No one’s good enough to be part of our band. Let’s just go.” And he and Jade—who was bigger than him at the time—left the small auditorium of their school. And it’s a blur, Floyd doesn’t remember why he and Jade didn’t go home right away, but he remembers very well the syncopated melodies coming from the piano they forgot to close. 

And he remembers the gasp he made, the way his heart was stirred from how alive the music sounded. 

And he remembers how quickly he swam back inside to see who’s playing, and his wide-eyed gaze when he spotted the familiar octopus.

“Hey hey, that was so cool,” he said to the flustered Azul. “Play some more, play some more!” 

“Huh? No way, I have to go soon!”

But he didn’t let him go. He insisted he play the piano as he picked up his sticks and played a beat. “Come on, just one song! Then you can go!”

And he started his beat. And when it was just him for a long moment, Floyd had wondered if Azul left. But the sound of an E minor reached his ears, and the next moment, Azul’s playing was matching to the beat of the drums. And his music had heart. It had spirit, it had technique, it had passion. 

And the best part? Azul matched his rhythm when nobody else did. 

“I knew I’d find you here, Floyd.”

Eyes turning away from his reflection in the water, Floyd looks up to the face that he’s known since birth. Jade, impeccably presentable despite having PE class earlier, walks towards Floyd, leaning on the railing of the bridge he stands on. But he does not go near him. 

“What do you want,” Floyd asks. 

“We had a new batch of supplies arrive at the Lounge today,” Jade answers. “You were supposed to help out with the unpacking.”

He only answers with a curt hum before turning back to the water below. 

He hears a sigh. And footsteps approaching.

“You’re thinking about last last week, aren’t you?”

Floyd turns again to Jade. He’s by the bridge railing now, same side as him, but he continues to keep a respectable distance. Jade doesn’t look at him directly either, his gaze directed at the horizon ahead of them. 

He’s thinking about it too.

“Yeah, you could say that,” he answers. “It’s just, really ass, y’know?”

Floyd believes that in spite of their identical genetics, they are two people with different identities, dreams, and beliefs. And don’t get him wrong, it is a lot better that way to have individuality. But deep down, there is a comfort knowing that Jade probably feels the same feeling that leaves Floyd dizzy with frustration, that binds his chest with a mix of anger and sadness. And Sea Witch knows, Floyd needs that comfort now. 

“‘Ass’, you say,” Jade repeats. “Tell me about it.” 

A beat of silence passes between them. 

“It’s just that. It takes half a fish brain to know that Azul’s got grand plans after graduation. Get into the best business school, build his own corporation, build another company, and a third company. And I’ve known this for Sea Witch knows how long, and it was all fine, I didn’t care that much, but then…”

“...But then the letter came in.” Jade fills in. 

“Yeah,” Floyd emphatically answers. “That damned acceptance letter from whosit business university came in. Like, I don’t know why, but it just made everything feel… real. That Azul’s really gonna go somewhere else. And I hate that it’s been hitting me like this for the last two weeks. I can’t focus well, I’m pissed off, Trein’s told me off about sleeping. It’s so ass.”

The silent air between the twins weighs heavier. Floyd’s eyes briefly look at the fish in the river again—the damned fish that he wants to throw a rock at so they separate too—before he turns to Jade. “How ‘bout you? Was it also the letter?”

Jade doesn’t answer right away. Floyd understands; in moments like these, Jade hesitates to speak his mind, even to him. It’s part of their nature to be cowardly, after all, just that Jade exhibits it more between the two of them. 

“... Somehow, yes, but if I were to think about it… it’s actually been a while now,” he finally answers.

“Eh? Really?”

“I knew down the line that there would be farewells to be made,” Jade says. “Like you said, Azul has already made plans for himself, and he invests in those plans, years in advance. But there’s always that part of me that wonders… if there’s space for us in those plans.” 

Floyd finds himself inhaling sharply at those words. 

“I see his goals coming to fruition, and it pains me to say that I can’t even properly support him. The letter, the new supplies, the little siren he’s going to appoint… they’re all reminders that it will all change.” Jade smiles, but in pain. “Azul won’t be the dorm leader, I won’t be the vice leader, and we won’t do the things we used to do. And we won’t see each other until perhaps the next VDC. And when we graduate… would he call an end to our agreements? Would we grow so busy that we become strangers again? We would always say that our relationship is merely transactional and that we would leave him if we get bored, but…”

Jade stops, and the air weighs even heavier. Floyd feels taken back to the first day on land, when breathing with lungs felt heavy and difficult. 

Suddenly, Jade laughs. “What clownfish have we become?”

Floyd too joins his twin in mirth. “Can’t help it, Azul makes me feel understood.”

He raises a brow. “Is it gonna be about the first time you played together with him?”

“I mean, it’s how it started,” he answers. He doesn’t realize the small smile that settles on his face as he remembers once more. “Like, back then, everyone just kinda avoided, y’know? And that’s fine, at least, I thought it was. ‘Twas fun and all to be intimidating. But no matter what I’d do, Azul always matches me. He knows exactly what to play to my rhythm. And even in how we work, he knows what’s the stuff I’d like to do or the stuff I’d do well in. It just feels nice.”

It feels too nice. 

Too nice that if it disappears, it will leave his heart bound tightly by melancholy. 

“…Hey, I can’t be the only sappy one here.” Floyd eyes Jade. “C’mon Jade, share too what’s made you appreciate Azul.”

“I already shared a lot earlier,” Jade says defensively.

“Heyyy, be fair at least. I know you have your own thing.”

“What else is there to say? You already said everything.”

“Liar. I know how you started reading your books more after meeting him.” 

“So? Those were lessons that we had to learn as well.”

“Uh huh sure. Then explain why you’ve only gotten better in everything you do after meeting Azul.”

Jade glares at him. 

Floyd grins in response. “Gotcha.”

A beat of silence, then Jade sighs. “If he makes you feel understood, then he makes me feel capable.”

“How so?”

“One reason.” He puts up one free hand, with one finger up. “He’s demanding.”

Floyd chuckles. “That’s an understatement.”

“You’re right.” Jade grins, teeth flashing. “He’s exigent. Making us run around the school to do 5 things at once, on top of schoolwork. Even before NRC, he was just like that. I assumed he was insane. Until now, I still think he’s insane.”

“You say that, but you don’t look like you’re complaining at all.”

“Because thanks to that, I wasn’t pretending to be good at something anymore.” His next smile is closed. Softer. “I went from barely comprehending a textbook and barely lifting a seashell with my magic to understanding contract language and unlocking my unique ability. He made me do things, and I planned to just make someone else do it and pretend it was me.” 

“Ohhh.” Floyd’s eyes widened with remembrance. “And then he caught you.”

“Yes.” Jade shakes his head at the thought. “And I was expecting him to laugh at me, but he didn’t. All he did was sigh and teach me. Magic, studies, law, something about the way he taught those things clicked something in me. And even the things that he didn’t teach but always talked about, like culinary and how people behave, I was able to absorb things and got better. Dare I say,” a smirk forms on his face, “I’m better than Azul in some things.”

“Like flight class.” Floyd grins.

“Like flight class,” Jade repeats smugly. 

And they stop talking. Jade turns his gaze to the distant horizon, looking at something farther than the blue of the sky. Meanwhile, Floyd glances back at the river. He understands that Jade is done talking personal. But it’s fine for him. He can almost hear the unspoken thoughts. Once Azul leaves, who’s going to be the pianist in their little band that makes their every day exciting? Once Azul leaves, who’s going to tell them that they can do it? 

Once Azul leaves, who’s going to understand them?

“So this is where you two are.”

Simultaneously, Floyd and Jade whip their heads around. Floyd swears his heart almost leapt to his chest when he saw those familiar blue eyes. 

One hand in his pocket, Azul stands on the threshold of the bridge. He and Jade fully turn around as he walks towards them until he’s directly in front of both of them. 

“Hello, Azul,” Jade greets, like the conversation a while ago never happened. “How was teaching your next successor what he has to do?”

“Went well,” he answers. “His prior experiences already reassure me, but he’s also demonstrated that he knows what he’s doing. Currently, he and our other dorm mates are taking care of the supplies.”

“Weird that you’re not being so strict, considering how much you value your restaurant,” Floyd comments. “You’re not even gonna be there to make sure nothing’s going wrong?”

“I trust that things are going well with my new successor in charge. I’ve taught him very well enough,” Azul says. “But more importantly… I have matters to discuss with the both of you.”

He turns his head to look at Jade. “Jade, you’ve been out of focus lately. Just a while ago, when you were bringing the box of teacups to the lounge, you were so deep in thought, you didn’t look like you were aware of where you were going. And even during work hours, you haven’t been as sharp as you usually are. A few professors have commented on your slouched posture as well.”

Jade’s eyes widen in surprise. 

“And Floyd.” Azul turns to look at Floyd. “Professors have reported to me that you’ve either been asleep during lectures or interrupting class with an outburst. You’ve also been moodier than usual, and it shows in your cooking and your behavior. I’ve heard a few students rant about you in group projects.”

Floyd briefly remembers the group mate that approached him earlier. 

“So what are you getting at exactly, Azul,” Jade asks. “Even we have our off days as well.”

Azul casts him a pointed look. “Off days for two weeks straight.” 

He receives no quip in reply. 

He crosses his arms. “Jade, Floyd.” His neutral serious tone changes. It quivers slightly. He’s worried. “I know you two well enough that there’s something going on. Is there something that happened?”

Floyd looks away. Jade does as well.

Floyd hates the concern in his tone. It makes him want to break. It makes him want to be upfront about his feelings and how it’s been bothering him. 

But how can someone like him really tell someone like Azul that you’re afraid to lose him somehow? How can he retract all the times he said that their relationship is all transaction and no emotional connection? How do you even start bearing something so vulnerable? 

They must be the same questions that Jade is grappling with now. Jade, who’s usually good at worming his way out of any conversation, has nothing to say to leave this topic. 

Azul sighs, breaking the long silence. “Is this something that has to do with me?”

The twins stiffen. 

Floyd can feel Azul’s gaze towards him. 

A tense moment passes. 

“... I had a feeling.”

He finally looks at him but in confusion. Jade is also facing him with wide eyes. 

Azul exhales through his nose. “You don’t have to tell me anything about what you’re feeling right now. If at all.” He turns around, preparing to leave. His head is bowed down, not letting either twin see his expression. “But I just want to let you know, I’m always here if you need me. Not just for this, but for anything, even if in the future.”

Floyd’s breath hitches.

“Do you… really mean that?” Jade asks, almost meekly.

Azul looks at Jade in puzzlement. “Why wouldn’t I? You two have been with me for all these years, even in my weakest hours. It’s not like I’m going to leave you even after we graduate.”

“Really,” Floyd asks. “Even when you get really busy with university and we’re running our family business?”

“Well, I won’t deny that we will be busy,” he answers. “But I’m not letting go of you two just because of that. You know me too well, after all. And you’ve supported me all these years, it would be embarrassing to leave that unpaid.”

“You mean that?”

“Have I ever broken a promise? If you want, I can even put that on a contract and have you sign it.”

In one single breath, the binding sadness and worry that tightened Floyd’s chest leaves. 

Without thinking, he moves towards Azul and wraps his arms around his slim frame. He ignores the surprised gasp as he buries his face on his shoulder. His breathing feels lighter than it has ever been the past two weeks. 

He feels Jade joining in, hugging Azul from the other side and burying his face on the other shoulder. His breathing sounds even to any person, but to Floyd, he can hear a slight quiver, like Jade is trying to hold back tears. 

“Is… is this what it’s been all about, all this time,” Azul finally asks. His hands move to pat their heads, a motion that always comforted the twins. “You two are strange for worrying about this type of thing.” 

Despite his words, Floyd can hear the smile in Azul’s voice.

[hannie-berrie]

MORE BAKU SMUT i loved ur last one i read it like a million times ngl

OMG IM SO HAPPY WOWOW 😭😭😭😭😭💕💕💕💖💖💖💖🫶🫶🫶🫶 So many people asked me for a part 2, so let’s get into it!

Warnings: unprotected sex

wc: 2.8K

Meet and Greet

Click here for part 1 (Courtside confessions)

18+ MINORS DNI

Hoomin, or Baku, as his friends insisted on calling him, stood at the entrance of your cozy apartment, sneakers spotless and hair suspiciously tidy. A smile tugged at his lips, but there was a stiffness to his posture that gave away the butterflies in his stomach.

You opened the door to your nervous and shaky boyfriend, and smiled softly.

"She's already here" you said, leading him inside. "Try not to flirt with my mom."

He scoffed, clearly flustered. "Please. I can’t help being a charm to mothers." He adjusted his shirt.

In the living room, your mother stood up from the floor cushion, warm but observant. Hoomin bowed deeply, his voice dropping into polite reverence.

"Nice to meet you, ma'am. I'm Hoomin. Thank you for having me."

Your mother analyzed him from head to toe. He was tall and confident, but there was a subtle shake in his tone, on the outside, he seemed much better than your previous boyfriends. You settled onto the floor around the low table, filled with steaming bowls of rice, kimchi, and bubbling jjigae, Hoomin practically salivating from the smell. He’s a foodie, but he couldn’t show that in front of his new step mother.

It was going well. He laughed at your mother's jokes, listened with genuine interest when she talked about growing up in Busan, and never once interrupted. He even took the second-to-last piece of bulgogi, a sign he had manners, but not the kind that made your mom think he was too shy to eat.

"So" your mother asked with a sly look, "how did you two meet?"

Before Hoomin could respond, a grind grew on your face and you answered, "He asks every girl if they’re lost on campus then collects their phone numbers, I got tricked too”

He coughed mid-chew, and his ears turned red “What? No! Nonono! That’s not what happened!” Hoomin hurriedly shook his hands at your mother to avoid misunderstanding.

You grinned, lips pressed against your spoon to hide your laugh. He leaned over and hit your knee slightly, telling you to quit embarrassing him.

Your mother noticed the interaction and hid her own smile behind her tea cup. There was something gentle about the boy.

He was practically made of charm and swagger, the typical popular college boy, but he was watching you like you were the only person in the room. His body angled toward yours unconsciously, his hand pushing the soup bowl closer to make sure it didn't tip and spills on you. And when you laughed, he seemed to light up a little.

After dinner, when Hoomin helped carry dishes to the sink without being asked, your mother leaned closer and whispered.

"He's got a big head, but a good heart. You chose well."

Night life was awakening and neon signs flickered to life. Hoomin and you walked side by side, hands brushing occasionally but not quite lacing fingers yet. It was that kind of night, a small breeze and good energy.

"Do you think your mom likes me?" Hoomin asked "you’re still thinking about that?"

Hoomin tucked his hands into his jacket’s pockets.

"She laughed at my jokes." He affirmed, proud of himself.

"She was laughing at you, not with you."

Hoomin stopped mid-step, one hand over his chest in mock betrayal. "Wow. Still bickering me. You wound me."

"You'll live" you said, smiling as you kept walking.

He jogged a step to catch up, slipping two fingers through the belt loop of your jeans just briefly, and his stupid jokes came back, they always do when he gets comfortable.

"If your mom likes me so much, she might want to adopt me, would that make us... siblings?!”

He looked at you with fake surprise on his face. “What the fuck min’ ” you laughed, his brain worked a little weird at times.

You looked up at him with that soft, thoughtful gaze that always made him feel like you were reading past his jokes, into something quieter. It settled him in a weird way. Made his usual energy take a breath.

You ended up at a little food stall on a corner, the kind with steamed buns and tteok skewers sizzling on a grill. Hoomin ordered for both of them, tossing in a hot drink you didn't ask for but he knew you liked. He paid with the kind of casualness that made it clear it wasn't about showing off. Just from habit.

You sat on a short stone ledge near the Han River, the soft sound of water running in the distance, the golden lights of the bridge glowing on the surface.

Hoomin was quiet and watching you like you were the only thing he couldn't joke his way out of.

Finally, you leaned your shoulder against his, and he let out a soft breath. He rested his chin briefly against the top of your head.

There was a rare feeling of calm in between the two of you, no bickering, no teasing, just quiet and something steady. There was this simple truth between you, you just liked being next to each other.

And in the middle of a busy city that never stopped moving, that quiet feeling was everything.

You were walking again, Hoomin's paper cup long empty, your fingers now wrapped around the sleeve of his hoodie instead of your drink.

The streets had quieted some, the crowds thinning as the night grew deeper.

Hoomin was telling a dramatic story, probably (most likely) exaggerated, about a teammate wiping out during practice, using wild hand gestures and sound effects. You laughed, trying to muffle it behind your hand, but he caught it and shot you a triumphant grin.

"Don't try to act like I'm not hilarious."

"You are hilarious" you said dryly. "In a very secondhand embarrassment sort of way."

"Tssst." He hissed. “Uncalled for.” He nudged your shoulder gently.

You grinned, face tilted toward the sky like you were catching a breeze.

You turned onto his block, the building ahead dark except for a warm light glowing from a window two floors up. Hoomin looked at you, the smile still on his lips but softer now, more tired around the edges.

He stopped just outside the entrance, letting the quiet settle around you.

"This is my house" he said, voice lower.

You didn't move. Your hand was still holding the edge of his hoodie sleeve, your fingers curled a little tighter.

"I know”

He glanced down, eyes tracing the line of your profile, the way your mouth pressed together like you were considering something too big to say.

You were still for a long moment.

Then you looked up, really looked, and he held your gaze. The teasing was gone now. It was just you, standing in the hush of night, the whole city stepping back to give a beat of stillness.

His voice, when it came, was soft. "You wanna come up? Just for a little."

You nodded once. "Okay."

Inside, the place didn't look at all like you expected.

Minimalist. Clean lines. Mostly neutrals. It wasn't sterile, just... simple. A few papers, probably his dad’s, layed around the dinning table. Hoomin’s basketball shoes sat tucked under a small bench by the door. It was almost quiet in a way she wasn't used to associating with him.

"I don’t know why I expected a bunch of your stuff laying around, did you clean knowing I’d come and visit?”

He looked sheepish, kicking off his shoes. "You thought I would be messy didn’t you? Too much stuff stresses me out."

You stepped further in, turning in a slow circle.

"It's kind of... peaceful."

You looked at him, as he leaned against the kitchen counter, watching you.

"You're not that chaotic” you said.

"No?"

"No" you murmured, stepping closer to the kitchen window. "Just... loud."

That pulled a small laugh from him.

"I should go soon.." she said, but your voice was too soft to mean it.

He didn't answer right away. Just looked at you staring through the window, with something close to wonder.

"You can stay a little longer" he said.

The city lights spilled in through the window, painting you in soft gold and electric blue. Hoomin hadn't turned on any lights. It felt like a choice, like he didn't want to break whatever this quiet thing between you was becoming.

His jaw was tense like he was trying to say something but didn't trust the words not to ruin it.

You looked back at him

Hoomin pushed himself off the counter, slow and steady, walking towards you without a word. His cocky grin was gone. There was nothing playful in his eyes now, only focus. Only you.

When he reached you, he didn't say a thing. You could finally see his gaze, the eyes he was giving you. They were so tender, so loving, like he had been admiring you like a painting.

He lifted his hand to your cheek, the pad of his thumb brushing just under you eye, slow and warm.

You tilted into the touch, barely breathing.

And then he kissed you.

It was slow, and warm like he'd been waiting for the right moment and knew exactly when to take it. His lips pressed to yours just because it felt right. You breath hitched as you hands found his waist, gripping the bottom of his hoodie like you needed something to hold on to.

He deepened the kiss gradually, bringing you closer into his arms with each breath, One hand stayed at your cheek, the other drifting down to rest lightly at your hip, grounding you.

When you finally pulled apart, just barely, your lips still brushing, you opened your eyes to find him already looking at you, dark gaze softer now, but hungry.

Hoomin couldn’t speak a word, like the kiss had shut him up. You could catch the glow in his eyes with the little bit of light coming in from outside.

This time, your fingers slipped beneath the edge of his hoodie, skimming warm skin, and he sucked in a quiet breath against your mouth.

It wasn't about rushing anything, it was about being wrapped in the heat of the moment, your shared space almost breaking with the kind of tension that lingered on skin.

The kiss slowed again, but didn't lose its weight.

Your voice was barely audible, "I don't want to leave yet."

"Your mother will worry if I don’t bring you back home soon" his thumb stroke the curve of your lips. "But you can stay just a little more"

This time you leaned into a kiss first, no more words were spoken. It was just so softness of his hands brushing through your hair, tugging them aside.

You knew he wouldn’t initiate anything more, as much as he wanted to, there wasn’t much more time you could spend together before you’d need to go.

Your fingers lingered under his hoodie and shirt, finding their way down to his crotch, drawing circles.

He broke the kiss, almost panting, like your touch alone could get him to lose his breath.

“Shit don’t do that if you keep going I might lose it” his eyes were intense, like he was ready to take all of you the next second.

“You don’t have to hold back with me” your lips brushed his in a gentle but suggestive manner.

Hoomin hungrily kissed you again, wrapping an arm around your waist, leading you against the wall behind you. His desperate lips slid to your neck, letting out small noises as he sucked lightly the warm skin.

You instinctively raised your head up, giving him more space to kiss you all over. His kisses were breathy but full of promises. Promises to care for you before you have to go.

He fingers interlocked with yours as he let go of your neck. Still without a word, he guided you toward the living room. He threw this shirt somewhere on the carpet and layed you down princess-style on the couch and hovered you.

His eyes were glistening, watching your puffy lips from kissing, then looking down at your half covered chest. His lips pressed against each other, he felt like he shouldn’t look but fuck did he want to.

Hoomin pinned both of your hands up your head and slid your shirt off himself. And left kisses lower and lower till he reached the outline of your pants.

He could feel your body squirming under him and he looked up as you were already watching him.

His eyes furrowed, peace was fun but the hot feeling in between his legs was taking over slowly. He unbuttoned your jeans and slid them down just enough to see your pretty laced underwear set, wrapping you so well he thought he could lose it anytime soon.

He bit his lips and rested his forehead down against your pelvis like he needed a moment so he doesn’t go insane.

When his head lifted, his thumb brushed over your bud through your panties, getting small whines from you.

Maybe Hoomin was already fucked out, or maybe it was the late hour, but his mind was inevitably in the clouds.

His circles quickened and you couldn’t help your back arching, your leg kicking a little as he was drawing on your most sensitive spot.

“Fuck I’m so close Hmin’, so close-“

He smiled through his dizziness, eager to see your body tremble under his touch.

And with one last arch your mind went blank, the feeling of him wrapped your body into numbness. Time felt uncountable, seconds felt slower when it was just the both you alone, like this.

Hoomin tosses his pants away as he checked up on you. Half your face against the cushion under you, as your vision went back.

Seeing how Hoomin was also only in his underwear now, you let your hand slide on his thigh over you, his head rolled back like gravity had dropped from your touch alone.

“Urgh” his moans couldn’t be muffled, he was so loud you worried people could hear him outside.

“Babe.. don’t tease —fuck” his mouth dropped open when your hand slipped under his boxers, taking out his length and pumping him a few times. Stopping your boyfriend mid-breath.

His lips pressed against each other in a desperate attempt not to lose it. He hovered you, your chests nearly touching.

Watching you with a fond look, like there was only you in his world, he kissed you one more time and his length found its way in you.

His movements were slow but burning with affection. He kept his body above you with one hand and let his other glide your curves like he was unwrapping you like a present.

He detached your bra, taking it off smoothly through the more passionate make out he was giving you.

When you move your hips rhythmically his lips drops into an “o” and his eyes flutter with pure pleasure.

“You feel so good, I missed you” he says with a honey tone that you swear could melt you away.

The better he felt the more he’d praise you. His thrusts got quicker, a little harsher and deeper like his only goal to be buried in the furthers corners of you.

His lips slid down to your chest, nibbling on your nips with his tongue, sometimes slightly bitting to get a whine out of you.

And a knot in your stomach formed.

You didn’t have time to anticipate it, it grew and washed over you within seconds, your back arching upwards, bodies so close. Your head naturally threw back as you felt the heat in your core run through your body.

When your back comes back down, you could see Hoomin’s cornered smile, proud he had given you what you deserve. And his hips buckled into you, shaky.

He pulled out, not wanting to cum into you raw, gentle took hold of your hand and finished himself off, releasing over your wrist wrapped around him.

His moans were loud and clear, they had you close your legs together, almost shy. One thing’s clear, Hoomin wants you to know how good you make him feel and won’t hold back.

He dropped himself onto you, head on your chest again, feeling your heartbeat, your heat colliding together.

You gave yourselves a moment to catch your breath and he helped you up and cleaned you both.

“I hope your mom still think I’m a good man after this” Hoomin laughed

“She said you got a good heart.. and a big head”

[kalims]

⭒ㅤnot gonna lie !

premise. pov prefect opens a ngl, except! the story they shared it from can only be viewed... by one person!

characters. first years

ace

not gonna lie ! smash tbh

unironically pretends that he never sent one when you start bombarding him.

uniquewhere: i didn't even see ur story

shrimp: [attatchment]

uniquewhere: i have no wifi to see that sorry not sorry

vehement denial is actually the most effective defense according to him. even if it bypasses all forms of realism, it's not real if he doesn't believe it to be! <- real life advice from ace trappola guys.

if you haven’t already guessed, he can indeed see the picture you just sent and just assumes his very first form of defense… no amount of proof will remove him from his little ball of: “i don’t know what you’re talking about.”

you gotta prepare some kind of miscrosoft presentation, and sit him down. though he will 100% do that thing where he plugs his ears in with his fingers pretending he doesn’t hear anything even though it doesn’t block out you reading out the words.

“here is the real, actual screenshot of my replies—”

“I NEVER EVEN SAW YOUR STORY.”

“ah, good! next slide after this is the views of the story!”

deuce

not gonna lie ! i like you

very demure, very straight to the point is deuce.

he would've written some long ass paragraph in all honesty but he just can't because he sees what he writes, deletes it, then cringes to himself.

atleast with that one he has the excuse for whichever scenario that might randomly ask about it.. (yes, he's thinking that far) weird flex but ok

1. "you ever confessed to your crush?" someone asking

2. "yeah sorta....." deuce

3. "???" someone confused

he was feeling reaaallyyy proud of himself. the anxiousness finally settles down, alongside with his rapidly beating heart. even if it isn't a real, confession it still brings him a bit of peace.

shrimp: I know what you did

tokyodefenders: WHAT?

there goes his heart rate.

like, you did not offer context to any of that but he's still gonna think you somehow, actually do know even if you didn't provide an explanation to... whatever it is you know about him!

tokyodefenders: whaTEVER IT IS IS NKT TRUE

shrimp: please, ur breaking my heart

shrimp: I like u too :(

heart? ascended

he's not even gonna question it. all his braincells got dumped out, and all he can focus on is that particular message. he isn't even gonna remember backtracking about the ngl cause he's gonna be like:

how did they hack my keyboard.. are they tracking it?! LOL

"I'm a mastermind,"

"HOW DID YOU KNOW?!?!" <- deuce, scared for his life.

jack

not gonna lie ! stop getting into trouble. I'm not always there to pull you out

is concerned with how many times you've managed to unknowingly walk into trouble, jack had been lucky enough (yes, him. not you, cause knowing you, you wouldn't be too phased) to be a near constant presence when the shenanigans during the tournament concluded, he stuck to you then.

as in reluctantly following around you like a tail. narrowing his eyes at the less than friendly faces often wore around you, that you were... well, amazingly oblivious to. or maybe you acted like you didn't know, the carriage didn't pick you up for nothing if you were here in nrc.

shrimp: do u rlly think I'm a troublemaker?

iheldheroncejacob: yes

the random topic being brought up went completely over his head. jack probably had forgotten he'd given the link to your story the time of your day, in all honesty

shrimp: well maybe I keep getting in trouble so u can rush in, and pull me out?

iheldheroncejacob: you're a terrible friend then

shrimp: :(

in retrospect jack is able to keep up with joking around, usually. but it's so hard to take you seriously that he takes whatever you say with a grain of salt, you're almost always tipping between flat sarcasm, or calm nonchalance between your words. it almost always has something to do with the people you're with.

the heartslabyul prefect for example, you take a kind, subtle undertone of teasing to (which is crazy, because you're scarily tame in the presence of the vice-dorm head.) and then you're all stony faced when you're with someone you don't like.

^ and you obviously don't dislike jack, if the little selfish, presumptuous nrc part of him would like to claim confidently so... would you really be joking?

only does jack realize the connection between your text, and the ask he sent when he's just finished his laps.

"I'm not your guard dog! why would you even get in trouble for that, next time I'm not even gonna spare you the time cause—"

"what a pee brain."

"what? don't compare my brain to a tiny pee—"

epel

not gonna lie ! CAN I PLS TRANSFER TO RAMSHACKLE AHHHH

you've never met anyone who's disliked being sorted into whatever the dark mirror fitted their 'soul' into as much as epel.

even without the private story only limited to his response, you're sure you could pick out his message and put a face to it.

epel, in his defense, still has savanaclaw as number one in his heart. though upon asking jack if it was possible to transfer there, the latter confirmed but it was... a tedious process, and suggested asking rook, who literally came from savanaclaw!

the boy only spared his friend a side glance before scurrying away. no use traipsing around that...

but of course, getting away from pomefiore is only a goal! always being near your proximity was a biiiiig bonus!

shrimp: hey I need ur files for the dorm transfer

catchwhathands: [escapeplan.jpg]

catchwhathands: I knew u wanted me in ur dorm!!

shrimp: actually I don't. ur the one that asked ;)

catchwhathands: who cares. I'm finally getting out of this hell YEAHHHH!!

shrimp: who said I was gonna use the files you sent?

okay, admittedly the moment he'd sent over the files, epel shut his phone, and quite literally did a victory lap around his room. making sure to frolic so vil has less chances of hearing his chaos...

the dorm leader woke up so easily from noises that you'd think rook was the reason he developed such a habit.

probably.

epel was already planning the plan! he could see the vision! maybe he could plant around ramshackle since it is a pretty big area. you guys would be together for the remainder of the year—and he'd finally bump the adeuce duo from their pedestal!

*ping*

"AGHHHHH STUPID FRIGGIN'—"

"epel!"

"sorry..."

sebek

not gonna lie ! since it is a request for unbridled honesty, I shall deliver what you've requested. you have done so without much thought, clearly! if you've given such leeway for... criticism! you, human, could use a lot more educating in terms of the glory of our eternal lord, the glorious malleus! in accordance to your previous, description of our relationship. the farthest I can give is acquaintance, but I shall only call you a companion (AKA friend) if you are atleast educated about my interests! as the good companion you desire to be!

woo, alright. he really wrote all that...

oh, uh oh.. you just got another ask from him, maybe even longer..?

shrimp: what would that make silver then

rizzvolt: my brother in arms!

shrimp: but hey, actually I do want to know

rizzvolt: ah! finally! I knew you atleast have some common decency, and sense. for that I shall agree for your request in our friendship! these are the most accurate ones pertaining the great lord malleus' biography! [link] [link] [link]

rizzvolt: is that enough? I will send you more, but only if you finish these three. I will test you rigorously to confirm that you are indeed genuine in your interest!

why he has all that, you have no idea.. if only he displayed that much dedication for his studies...

shrimp: I don't wanna learn about malleus

shrimp: I want to learn about you

rizzley: how dare you! the lord's name should only be addressed with a: 'lord', 'the great', 'the

...

sebek stares at his screen, just in the process of finishing his... educating sentence, because even in text, malleus should only be treated with the highest form of respect!

have you no integrity?! he wonders.

only then does he focus on your response, does he make a rather... dubious sound of shock? sebek doesn't know why he breaks into a cold sweat as he runs the sentence through his mind a hundred times in the span of a minute.

what is this... some sort of human illness? or maybe love—

of course he'd never even consider such a thing! (just did bro)

shrimp: sooo.. since you sent me an ask, does that mean you actually like me?

shrimp: sebeeeeekk.. did you actually read?

with the speed of lightning (and the adrenaline maybe, what else could this frantic pounding of his chest explain besides that you are indeed, dangerous!) he opens the story on your media

'send me an ask if you like meeee :)'

sebek promptly falls over.

[shapelytimber]

Girls girls girls

First recap was ok, but I'm in the mood to draw characters and I wanted to do a proper lineup/height charts (and then promptly drew maul in heels and Padmé on tiptoe..... I am a genius)

[COMMISSIONS]

[PART 1] - [PART 2] - [PART 3]

Rambling below vvv

It's always so temping to dress maul in white, and I once again caved kflodkd

Also ! I always draw her pre tpm, because it's a) the time in her life when I see her wear silly/'extravagant' outfits the most (can't really do that when you're a half dead giant spider eating rats in a garbage world fkldodi and after *that* I don't think her spirit is really into accessorizing and wearing cute fits- still a slut tho) and b) mechanical limbs are hard to draw and a pain to render (one day I will draw her old I swear !)- but ! All this to say : she stay "small" even after getting bisected ! The bones are staying in the pussy !! Let her be short, then a spider, then short once again but this time with cool metal legs :)

I usually draw Padme all serious, but she can't be all business like when frolicking in a field with her dumbass girlfriend and I think drawing her silly healed a bit of my soul <3 (also took liberties with the yellow dress design- wanted to make it a bit my own and I kind of hate the original faded yellow ngl)

For Obiwan and Anakin, I wanted them in civilian clothing because Jedi outfits are a bit boring (for what I'm doing here)- but I also wanted to stay in the same color scheme as their Jedi's outfit (and I ended up swaping them because I wanted to see obiwan dressed in black kxkdldk). I am very proud of Obiwan's outfit !! I think it fits her, while staying relatively in character :D and next to her you get no rizz butch anakin :)))

I'm having a lot of fun making these :D even if this rendering style takes so fucking long- next up is either Palpatine, Vader, Dooku, boba fett or leia, han, lando, chewie (and maybe luke, we'll see)

PS : I have never watched the 3D clone war show, this is mostly based on the movies :)

[frownyalfred]

How do you deal with not-so-nice AO3 comments? I’m an admittedly slow updater- I posted a new chapter to one of my fics last night after a break of about four months, and got left a comment that informed me that “making us wait this long for a new chapter is kinda rude ngl.” It’s the first I’ve gotten a comment like this and I’m feeling pretty down about it- how do you handle people who aren’t so pleasant in your inbox?

Oh man anon I am SO sorry. You don’t deserve that comment at all, and I know the gut punch of emotion that kind of feedback creates. Please try not to take it to heart at all or dwell on it.

You have a lot of options in how you respond/address this comment. Every author is different. The best advice I can give you is to do something that makes you respect yourself and your work in the long run.

That being said. Rude behavior like this should be addressed directly if at all. If you choose to respond, you need to assert as early on as possible that 1) this isn’t appropriate and 2) you won’t be accepting feedback like this at all moving forward.

My immediate response in my head? “Leaving this comment was kind of rude, ngl.” That might not be in your wheelhouse and that’s okay. They might know it’s rude and they won’t care.

Don’t justify yourself to them. Don’t explain or beg forgiveness. Stand your ground in your head and move forward knowing you’re awesome and put yourself out there.

I’m proud of you, this person is shitty, and if you ever want to direct them over here, I will happily outline, in great detail, how four month gaps between chapters can be filled by, you know, going outside and touching grass.

[bonus-links]

dog days part 1 or 2!

por qué no los dos. I kinda consider it one big update anyway lol. this one might get long, I'll stick a readmore somewhere

i was insane for this. the comic will probably never be this decorated again but I had to do it at least once 😂 I try to give each era it's own subtle stylistic flair, though this is definitely the most overt one. I'm still really proud of this update!! sometimes I think I burnt myself out with this so bad tho that the first half of ch2 is pretty low on ornamentation bc of it. it takes like. a lot of extra mental energy ngl

it's slight but this whole interlude has a paper texture the rest of the updates don't :-)

there's lots of patterns to talk about here. twili patterns for the panel where wolf is zoning out.

the pattern on the sides is kind of an abstract depiction of Ordona, although her light orb is in her hands instead of the horns. I was also riffing off the patterns on a lot of the Ordonian's clothes. The green parts are pumpkin vines! those generally represent wolf himself

this is the dinner I reference at grandma's party in pt. 8

the pumpkin vines change into these kind of gold-leafed vines I often use to refer to zelda. They do this a few times throughout the update.

small detail I should include more often- wolf fidgets with his earring when he's bothered by something or thinking hard.

Lots of people have translated this in the reblogs so I won't do it here, but it's essentially a summons from Zelda to the castle. It's intentionally a little difficult to parse- Wolf is not from Hyrule. I like to imagine a difference between written Ordonian and Formal Hylian. Wolf can read it, but it doesn't come naturally. Also, Wolf is referred to as "Sir Link Goatherd of Ordon" where "Goatherd" could be both an occupation and a surname (that's actually the origins of surnames like Gothard, which I considered using)

Zelda's full name in the letter is Queen Zelda Celestia Nohansen Hyrule (though I think I write it as "Of Hyrule"). Idk if this makes sense actually, but it was meant to be a nod to the fact that TP is a parallel timeline to WW. WW had King Nohansen, so I imagine that as part of TP Zelda's lineage.

Wolf agreed to be a Royal Knight on the basis that it was only a formality, but then Zelda started actually summoning him to things anyway. He basically ignores them all, but they've been coming with increasing frequency. In Zelda's defense, the political situation she's dealing with trying to rebuild the kingdom is pretty tense. She could really use his help.

my favorite part of this update!! I feel like there should be no easy way to use the shadow crystal. if you want that power, you've gotta shove it in your forehead yourself! and yes, it does hurt. His ears flatten a little in anticipation. also sidenote I think this is the best I've ever drawn him lol

I like to think Yeto and Wolf are still buds.

I think whenever Wolf wanders like this, he frequently finds himself in the desert. He's given up on looking for shards of the mirror of twilight, though.

The vines get yellow as they reach the bottom of the page- Wolf's time to hide in wolfmode is running out.

little baby spirits of light hidden in this page, except ordona

who's hiding on this page instead! while Link the Cat reminds Wolf it's probably time to go back to his family in Ordon.

Wolf can't turn back into a human on his own, so he has to return to the sacred grove to reach the master sword. And yes, Skull Kid makes him play hide and seek every time 😂

those are midna's hands on either side.

this pattern has the organic shapes of the world of light, rather than the geometric twili patterns, showing that Wolf has immediately clocked that it's not a portal to the twilight realm. but alas, it's too late to turn back.

In terms of the timeline, while Loft and Slate trek across Hyrule to Hateno, Wolf is lost in the Lost Woods.

I wanted to put Ilia in this update more but this ended up being the only time she showed up lol

and that's all I've got! if you read all of this i love u

[alle-ni]

My thoughts about goodomensverse (I'm clinically insane) (my personal opinion) (long post)

Book Crowley:

- absolute disaster

- lonely boy

- grumpiest

- he's so in love with Aziraphale but didn't even realised yet

- a bit dumb sometimes ngl

- very tired

- he's trying so hard save earth and everything he knows but everytime he tries to explain why it's always AZIRAPHALE

- sometimes he's like... your old gay uncle, the old gay uncle of the family except it's a 6000 years old gender fluid demon

- HISS LIKE A SNAKE GANG

- got called dear once and them died (figuratively)

Radio Crowley:

- flirty

- "Humm have you ever seen me in a dress~~??"

- he's like flirting with Aziraphale 24/7

- 0 patience this man is a BOMB

- if Aziraphale ever EVER got slightly flirty with him back he will EXPLODE

- smartest of them all, he's very intelligent

- HISS LIKE A SSSSSNAKE GANG

- he's so in love with Aziraphale and it makes him SO FRUSTRATED

- his Aziraphale is the hardest one to reach, maybe this is why he's so deliberately obvious and direct with him (he's resilient, he will never give up)

- he's like a tsudere teenager collegial except he's a 6000 years old demon with serious issues

- not called dear yet poor soul </3

TV Crowley:

- SILLY

- he's the dumbest of them all, sorry 😭

- red hair

- he's so in love with Aziraphale and everyone notice it's SO OBVIOUS

- he's the most affected by The Bookshop Burning ™ event

- the only one who got to kiss the angel, good for him ig, or sorry, idk

- anxiety bomb he literally (literally) EXPLODE

- strongest soldier bc his Aziraphale is IMPOSSIBLE

- got dumped 2 times more than the others someone pls help him

- the most brave tho

- doesn't hiss a lot :/ free him from this madness let him hiss

- he's like a puppy with giant yellow eyes except it's a 6000 years old snake demon that lies all the time

- protective as hell this man wouldn't let anyone near Aziraphale if possible

- got called dear but at what cost??????????????

Book Aziraphale:

- Anxious all the time, religious trauma except the god is your father and he left you and never talk to you again and the guard angels are your siblings and they want you do be dead

- He's so soft he wants so bad to comfort Crowley but he's really hard to reach

- his Crowley is the most difficult of all of them, he needs to circle him a lot to get in touch

- this man got called names so often I don't think he even cares anymore

- he's very nerdy

- he's the calmest of them all

- really chill

- everyone is so mean to him for no reason

- he has 1 braincell tbh and it's really bad bc his Crowley is not that brilliant too they're both stupid sometimes

- he really REALLY wants to be with Crowley and Crowley only, he sounds almost obligated to be with heaven

- he is really kind to others even when they don't deserve

- he called Crowley dear once and then implode

Radio Aziraphale:

- full of himself

- bastard

- the most closed and oblivious of them all

- he tries to play cool with Crowley all the time (he's slowly getting insane and someday he will jump on this man)

- he's the most self sufficient one he barely holds on Crowley to anything and they're pretty independent

- Crowley can say shit like "Miss me angel~~??" and he would keep a bored face and not react at all (he screamed with the walls 4 hours later)

- he's also a tsudere collegial but he at least try to look cool and composed in public

- he's the Aziraphale that most believes in heaven, he's sure they are good and selfless and the right side

- he's not so brilliant tbh but he got a lot of spirit

- the most active Aziraphale ?? He really put his hand in the dirt and do the things alone

- the most angry and bad tempered of them all, bro scream "WE ARE CLOSED LOOK AT THE DAMN SIGN" when ppl barely touch the bookshop door

- he has a lot of patience with Crowley, not deserved tbh bc he thinks it's his personal job to get in Aziraphale's nerves

- overall he is polite

- he's really proud of their "arrangement" there not only one chance he let go without saying that

- he likes to provoke Crowley sometimes too but not as much as the other way around

- if he ever call Crowley dear he will explode

TV Aziraphale:

- bitchiest

- this man need to be sedated what the fuck Aziraphale

- most nuts of then all he's CRAZY

- he's the most up to do shit with Crowley they're insane together

- he doesn't let Crowley rest he is flirting and being cute and hitting on Crowley all the time

- he's so obviously in love with Crowley its embarrassing

- he's the fruitiest he's the entire salad

- the most... indulgent, if I can say, of them all

- more like an employer of heaven, different of book Aziraphale

- he's the only one with almost white hair

- he got kissed but at what cost

- he's the most intelligent of all of them how can he be this dumb

- he loves little things about earth and humans and life and he seems to be the Aziraphale that most love EARTH itself, like, the life, the humans, the food, the little pleasures we have, the little time of happiness we have between all the shit that is happening... he really loves humans <3

- he's conflicted about heaven, he seems to know that there's something WRONG with how heaven works but still doesn't understand what exactly it is

- "oh but saving me makes him soooo happyyyy~~~"

- overall kind and sweet, in a excited way

[lunarriviera]

->though i have a LOT of thoughts about how serious luo wenzhou has ever really been about tao ran whom he knows FULL WELL is completely straight but that's a different meta I see those tags <333 pretty please for some meta about that one day? (I love Tao Ran/Tao Ze sm. srsly how perfect is liu yihong in this role?!)

ngl nonny i have been SAVING THIS ONE UP [rubs hands together in evil glee] because you KNOW i'm out here wanting to talk about the bestest boy in the world. the only token straight guy allowed. the shy thoughtful bashful tousle-headed young man, of whom luo wenzhou once said so memorably: "for a while i thought he was gay like me. […] then i saw him get a girlfriend and found out that he wasn’t gay, he was just an idiot. he had absolutely no game."

(there will be spoilers below, for both justice in the dark and mo du!)

and yet, okay. AND YET. in addition to being emotionally foreclosed when it comes to holding a girl's hand, at the SAME TIME, this man is ALSO a highly trained and extremely gifted police investigator, who's not just dogged but actually kind of ruthless when he's on the hunt? he thinks on his feet and he thinks fast, and he's quick like silver when luo wenzhou orders his deputy to handle something.

(and they're still best friends! do you know how hard it is to be good friends with the same guy who tells you what to do all day? but tao ran has absolutely no ego, and he also knows that not only does lwz listen to every single thing he has to say, but that if he had to, he could also bark an order at lwz who'd move into action unhesitatingly. they're so easy together, the way people who have been friends through a lot of shit can become. shit of the "ugh my new freshman roommate" kind and also the "frontline criminal policeman who's probably seen 800-1000 psychopaths" kind) (to quote luo-dui.)

and yet HOW do both these things go together? adorable sweet helpless straight boy on the one hand, and on the other slightly unhinged detective who cancels on his crush to work a murder case?

you can't make it make sense, but priest can. because she's a genius. just sat at her laptop one day and thought: hey what are two random qualities i could shove into the same character that don't make any sense together at all? and she came up with tao ran. 1) clueless stammering awkward tiny baby who is 2) in his own way, just as driven and on-tilt about shit as luo wenzhou, just slightly better at being polite and acting normal. until he, you know. DRIVES HIS CAR DIRECTLY INTO ANOTHER MOVING CAR. ON PURPOSE.

(and goddamn, i believed liu yihong in that moment. and yes he has been absolutely EATING i am so proud of this child. i only have two sadnesses: 1) they've sidelined him from the last episodes and i will not spoil it for anyone but only say that in the novel he's more involved at the end of the investigation, and there's one scene in particular with fei du that i'm mopey about not seeing; and 2) i'm worried he won't get jobs from this, bc of the whole…cancelled-for-two-years/only-streams-in-japan/no-one-can-talk-about-it thing.)

he's a good team mom, too! they trust and look up to him, you can tell.

okay. BUT: what about tao ran as baffled straight love-object in zhoudu's bizarre little game of wishbone? or anyway the game that they seem to be playing, at the beginning of the story? how into him are either of them, really? i have different answers bc i think their feelings and existing relationships with tao ran are already different. (and i have to mostly defer to the novel here bc that's the only way we really get interiority; the drama doesn't have enough time for e.g. tao ran and luo wenzhou to sit in a patrol car and talk about dating.)

and! i know this is gonna be heretical! but! i must speak my truth!

in the case of luo wenzhou, first, he honestly doesn't ever show any particular inclination or intention to go after tao ran. i'm not sure we would even know he supposedly likes tao ran, other his throwing a tantrum when fei du gets flowers delivered to tao ran's desk (and a card with a poem…admittedly a better poem than the "nauseating" one he writes later for lwz in an extra). lwz never asks tao ran out, never makes a pass at him—and we've SEEN him with fei du later, we KNOW how fast luo wenzhou can move when he's really interested.

i can imagine maybe when they were first getting to know each other, maybe even in college/at the academy, luo wenzhou might have tried it on once, still young and curious and not entirely sure of himself. tao ran's pretty, and very smart, and good; luo wenzhou would have noticed all those things. and then he would have realized really, really quickly that it wasn't going to happen. maybe he even had some sad beers about it. but he's practical, and not given to pining (fei du is very much an exception). i think he probably decided: you know what, i like this guy, i want to keep him. and then they were friends.

we also know lwz is casual enough around tao ran to talk about who he's (not) dating; tao ran asks, listens, and expresses consternation that the guy lwz was (sort of?) seeing (...but a while ago?) left him for italy. and sure, luo wenzhou then demands that tao ran say which of them he'd rather marry, him or fei du, and forces him to choose—but he's doing that for one reason: to fuck with fei du. as soon as tao ran grudgingly allows that lwz might be the better choice (not least bc fei du hasn't turned 22 yet and can't legally marry), lwz laughs gloatingly and leaves him alone, bc he got his cellphone recording.

fei du, i think, is different. when he calls tao ran "ge" in that soft voice, casting his eyes down, you can tell it really means something to him. we already know that if he ever had any semblance of home life after his ma's death, it was only when he stayed with tao ran, and that must have been extremely rare, given fei chengyu's rule with an iron fist. maybe he could sneak in an hour after school, or run away on weekends somehow. lie about an overnight, if he felt that brave. but even as minimal as their contact might have been, it clearly meant everything to teenaged fei du. tao ran became his haven, his one safe place. a place he could take luo yiguo, when he had to, to save his life.

does that translate into romantic love? not necessarily—but fei du is in many ways that count even more emotionally foreclosed than tao ran. whatever painted skin he hides behind, he's painfully lonely, and tao ran doesn't reject fei du in any way; he never has. if you're in the drama world of apaths, that stuff is meaningless to tao ran; and if you're the novel world of…i guess just the usual venal petty violent one we all live in, tao ran has still never felt there was anything wrong about fei du, or anything lacking; he's just a human kid to him.

tao ran tells lwz as much, always trying to get them to stop bickering:

here they are, astonishing each other—lwz, startled tao ran has actually noticed that he and fei du are getting along better (like it's not 8000% easier to be around them now); and tao ran, startled that lwz is beginning to act like…he likes fei du? but that's not possible, right? (tao ran is one of the last people to get this memo, later, in a way that's excruciatingly hilarious. sorry for your tongue, tao-ge.)

so while i think fei du absolutely adores tao ran, and is devoted to him in a way, at this point, that he's not to any other living person, all this really points to is fei du's deep and deeply repressed desire to be devoted to someone. of course, if you've spent your entire life telling yourself you're a monster who can't form limbic, empathetic, emotional connections, then it's probably impossible to admit that you need and want to do exactly that. fei du doesn't think he can be trusted with a kitten; he certainly can't trust himself with another person. (something something something, dead mama something.)

so when i try to add up "how many working members of the SID are really in love with tao ran?" i'm gonna come up with: zero. as fun as we all think their tug-of-war is! and as entertaining as they are when trying to elbow each other out of the way! i don't think luo wenzhou even has a crush on tao ran anymore, if he ever did. and i think fei du has some advanced confused garbled case of desperate need for a big brother and/or unresolved gege kink that's just wandering around the world seeking a convenient and plausible target.

not that he knows that. anyway he still thinks he has to take down two separate crime syndicates and a bunch of corrupt old-line police directors and then, you know. lie down and die smiling on the floor somewhere. so it's easier and safer to worship at tao ran's shrine, write him poetry, send him flowers, try to sweet-talk him (to which tao ran is astoundingly immune, just because…he has no rizz). it's easier and it's safer to do all those things especially with tao ran, because fei du knows tao ran won't reciprocate. think about how frozen and panicked he gets in book 3 when lwz calls his bluff.

i know this got long and i'm sorry for being wordy but i've been thinking about all this for a really long time, and as i tell my undergrads, sorry: the good news is through no fault of my own i know a lot of things, the bad news is you're now trapped in a room with me for three hours a week while i bang on and on about my special interests. (i bring them a lot of fruit and cookies.)

just to go back to liu yihong for a final moment—earlier i mentioned interiority, and he's an actor who has a lot of that. you can watch his face when he doesn't have dialogue (always the best time to catch an actor not really showing up) and he's still completely tao ran: listening, thinking, reflecting, processing, deciding. it's a cliché but acting in many ways is about making choices, and if you think "well i'm just standing here in the background of a scene" and lose focus, even for an instant, you've lost the camera's regard. even if you're not "doing anything" there are still choices to be made, and if you've done the work of transmigrating into your character, you can still make choices, even when you're sitting motionless and expressionless.

it's odd to say this, but in the same way the camera loves some people's faces, it will also show you the things that it thinks are most interesting. (i'm being a bit mystical here about the collaboration between a DoP and an editor, but i'll allow it.) in scenes that aren't even lyh's, the camera is always meticulous about showing him to us, making sure we see him. that's not—that's not typical. not a lot of actors draw that kind of attention. i hope for good things for him.

(and zhang xincheng? he's actually the real thing, and needs to start making films instead of dramas; but that's a whole other meta.)

[animalsalvationassociation]

Hey friends, I’m going on a Hiatus . . .

(Please read till the end — There’s a doodle & a cookie for anyone who read all the way through)

My plan is at most a month, which to me isn’t very long, but maybe to you guys it is. Though who knows maybe it’ll be shorter, I have no idea.

One part is my mental health and work. It’s hard to worry about posting when you’re trying to meet daily deadlines at your job (as low as the income is I do need it). We have also been going through a management shift and it’s been kind of hard but we’re pulling through. I’m proud of my team, it’s just hard some days when it’s the summer and we get a lot of business and hundreds of tasks.

The other part is my art. I’m not short on ideas, but I am struggling to post every week. I have all this art stored up, but because it’s not (directly about) “The Octonauts” my view count is tanking.

That’s not the only reason, but it doesn’t really help my self esteem when I’ve spent 20+ hours on a illustration that took me 10 more to just sketch out on paper, only for 25 people (bless their hearts) to even leave a like on it.

(I’m working on trying not to focus so much on the count again, but it’s kind of hard sometimes ngl)

Anyways, I’m going to be gone for next little while working very heavily on lore and re-explaining my world because I’m not entirely sure how much you guys understand about it. And I mean, how are you meant to enjoy it if you don’t know what you’re looking at?

(I’m also in the process of illustrating another book so I need to focus on that before August — Aka it’s due date. I’ve put it off long enough that I just want to get it done with before mid July)

Thank you guys for understanding, and I also wanted to thank you because we’re up to 360+ followers which is beyond amazing!

To everyone who sent in an ask within the last two months, you are my top priority rn besides my main lore. As soon as I get back you are the first people to be mentioned!

I will be returning: July 2025

Please expect these things when I return:

Answered Asks

“Make Your Own A.S.A. Oc!” Sheet

Gen. 1 of the Octonauts

Shellington/Inkling’s Redesigns

(Possibly) Vegimal Redesigns

Species “Types” Explanation (Wildes, Forerunners, Elected, Variants, Primals)

The Grassland Wars / The Palace (Ref Sheets) — Basically the Risen Arc (Also just an explanation of all my arcs)

Cryptid References

Meme/Image Redraws

Start of Crossover Redesigns (Ex: Zootopia, Creature Cases, Sing, etc)

Sneak Peaks for the Metropolis / Fallen Arcs

(I may tweak this list depending on what I actually get done but this is my plan!)

Thank you all for your amazing support, please take care of yourselves and I’ll see you soon! <3

~ MR

(💙🍪)

[blue-jisungs]

streamer!bf jeongin

song inspo. item by stray kids!! woo!!

a/n. this jeongin lives 24/7 in my mind ?! also this is the last july jam session piece of writing <\3 oh and thank u @l3visbby for helping me out w this one mwah ily!!

pronouns. not specified/gender neutral

foxI.Ny was a small steamer that started with minecraft videos and tutorials

but with time he blew up, people loving his personality, voice and handsome face ^_^

he’s known for playing with his other 7 friends online, being the youngest amongst them

chill streams r one of his favourites, just playing animal crossing and talking to his fans

or singing

but his fans noticed that sometimes his gaze would linger off in another direction or his smile would become heartwarmingly wide upon seeing something behind his screen

so they were like ‘meh, those r probably his friends, right? he mentioned he lives with someone’

but one day during a q&a session while he’s rambling about some of his future plans connected with vlogging, the fans see a glimpse of hand and someone putting down a bowl of fruit

jeongin smiles, has literal hearts in his eyes… and chat goes crazy bc!! what just happened!! is this his s/o?! he HAS AN S/O?!

and he’s like “umm yeah 😁”

it goes trending and he’s so :(

“y/n i’m so sorry… what do we do now…”

so you discuss it and just… settle on saying that he’s taken and if and when you feel like it, you’ll show up on the stream ^_^

but in the meantime you continue to give him some fruits or water while he’s steaming

the fans go insane once u place a soft kiss on his forehead and run away giggling

like, they already love u

when the day comes… oh boy…

you pop in, smiling shyly and waving; jeongin is just staring at you in awe (as usual) and chat goes crazy

this is your chat now.

you even go trending on twitter

and the people want you on the streams 🫵

what people want, jeongin shall give… and well, you liked it too

so often he goes streaming with you, different kinds of games or just q&ns

animal crossing, the sims, minecraft, league of legends, the witcher, genshin, valorant…. you name it

even cooking simulators

he just wants you to have fun

and his chat js so :((

he’s stealing kisses from you occasionally or just kissing your temple

“good job!” “you’ve got this!” “you did so good, im so proud baby!!”

you two are goals ngl

JEONGIN IS JEALOUS THO BC THE FANS KEEP EDITING YOU TOO

“guys… i beg… i know my partner is amazing but please…”

and you’re like “hehe >:)”

yeah… fans truly love u 🥹

other than that you always have some kind of matching; whether it’s clothes in game, keychains, pfps on social media

he can be a sweetheart while playing games with you like helping you out or fighting mobs if they’re bugging you

but if he’s feeling mischievous he will steal your crops or hit you lol 😭

but oh man if you’re having an open mic in valorant or csgo

he will get defensive if someone insults you,,, he won’t let it slide

lol but also he’s like

playing with the boys, yelling being loud

it takes one (1) text from you

“can u shut up ‼️‼️‼️‼️🔥🔥”

or “be a bit quiet please i’m studying :(“

for him to quiet down lmao

you often hang out in his chat as well

and he’s so :”) when he realises

but gets pouty when you start flirting with his fans literally in front of his eyes 😔

sometimes switches to emote only bc of that LMAOO

but sometimes you just type that u “miss his stupid face” while you’re at work

and everyone is like <\\3

he takes you to diff events n all, you’re often featured in his vlogs

basically you’re the fav couple of the internet bc u can just feel the love between you two 🥹

and everyone loves you, seriously

who knows, maybe you’ll open your own channel one day?

skz masterlist | event masterlist

taglist.@geniejunn ,, @luvhyun3 ,, @starlostseungmin ,, @elviransworld ,, @jnks6r ,, @sieunsgf ,, @ethereallino ,, @laylasbunbunny ,, @duolingofanaccount ,, @slytherinshua ,, @stxrseungs,, @ka-ni-ma ,, @iliveforlixie ,, @ameliesaysshoo ,, @dazzlingligth ,, @mark-geolli ,, @l3visbby ,, @w3bqrl ,, @ddeonudepressions ,, @yourfavoritefreakyhan ,, @mirxzii ,, @kazmura ,, @primoppang

[duckys-extra]

Melbourne...let's talk about it cos I got a lot to say.

I'mma start with rookies because honestly it's their first race and so many didn't make it.

DISCLAIMER: this is all based purely off of my opinions on what I saw this weekend. Do not get offended if I said something you don't like, opinions are allowed to exist. I tried to make sure nothing came across as hate or too hard but I will admit some drivers I was maybe harsher on in sharing my thoughts. You do not have to agree but don't come at me getting mad, though feel free to share discussions I'm happy to keep it civil and talk about it with people in replies (i'm saying this bc I share this bc people have asked for my thoughts but I am not interested in or looking for arguments)

Rookies

When I say I was verging on tears seeing Hadjar, like that was devastating. I don't have much more to say but I know he's better than that, it was a very common mistake today and there was no way to be prepared for it. I will admit seeing him hug Lewis' dad left me in fucking tears. But it's good to see that emotion, it's important to see how much this means to these young guys. I hope he takes a leaf out of Yuki's book and uses this sort of thing as motivation for the next race. Same for Doohan and Bortoleto, obviously they were later but same things really. Hard to watch.

Bearman, I mean his race was...more testing time imo. He was on track and thankfully kept it on track which like credit to him bc it was a struggle we saw more than just rookies struggle and given his weekend so far, obviously he needed to show us that he could keep that car on track. Hate to be harsh but hopefully lessons were learned for next week and we see improvements from him moving forward.

Obviously stand out was Kimi, he did kind of get quite lucky Ferrari absolutely bottled their strategy, Oscar went off, Yuki also got fucked by strategy (I have something more to discuss about this). But there's no denying he was on fire, easily one of the top 3 drivers of the day no doubt in my mind. Also absolutely adorable seeing him involve his little sister and be so protective over her throughout the weekend. Very cute.

McLaren

Two very different outcomes, one I'm overjoyed for and one I'm absolutely devastated and it was hard seeing Oscar after that race. Like I have never seen him where his voice is wobbling when he was asked how he was feeling. Broke my heart.

I'm ngl Lando absolutely earned that race win. He got pole, he kept that p1 off the line, he controlled the race, even when he very much almost fucked it, the team managed to regather him with strategy (thank the fucking lord). He got fastest lap, he got driver of the day and it was all deserved imo with his performance like especially his fight with Max at the end, I was fully prepared for Max to use that DRS and make a dive.

I know some people might say Oscar was flying but he was pushing while Lando was coasting and when we saw Lando start to push, he was gone and Oscar just couldn't keep up. So still some work to do on tyres for Oscar imo, he has improved but he's just got to be more careful especially when he's behind and not priority for strategy because of that. I think we'll see Oscar with another opportunity to win, we know there's some sort of curse with the podium and Australians in Melbourne. It was a really really hard watch. But positives to take away, he is right there behind Lando and he made a very very sexy overtake on Lewis at the end and knocked Lewis who is praised for his wet drives down to p10 which is something to be proud of given the expectations for Lewis coming into Ferrari this season (I have more to say about this too dw). Also didn't even notice Lily's reaction but just seen a clip of it, I know that was hard to watch for us but I can't imagine how Lily and his family felt watching that. It's gotta be an impossible feeling and they'll have to try and comfort him.

I think it'll be a McLaren 1-2 next week, which way around? Lando is VERY strong around China so it's hard to make the call as to who will be the race winner. But I'm confident either way around it will be McLaren...unless it's wet again, maybe someone else will pop up randomly.

Red Bull

Max...I mean incredible for him to be P2 in that car. Not necessarily surprising, even on Friday I had thoughts he would be in with a chance of winning bc Red Bull have a habit of always looking pretty shit on Fridays and then fixing stuff over night and looking amazing for qualifying and the race. So incredible but not surprising. As always with Max, I look forward to seeing what he can do for the rest of the year and just how close he can still fight to maintain a championship. Although shall we take a minute to commemorate his championship leading streak coming to an end.

Liam...oh Liam. Oh lord the second Red Bull seat immediately pressing on his throat. Even Checo would have strong starts to the year. I know people are going to say he's testing stuff and he's being used to see how things work and blah blah blah but qualified only ahead of 1 Haas since Bearman didn't actually partake in qualifying. That's bad. Like even by rookie standards, he was in the second best car for the rookies and he only outqualified the one who didn't take part. That's worrying. This isn't hate, this is concern. Because even on track he never got further than the Haas'. I personally don't like the man but even I'm not being harsh when I say that Red Bull expect more than that. Not to mention he crashed and he doesn't have the excuse of other rookies who never experienced a chaotic wet race in an F1 car. I think Liam's lucky that they don't have a back-up to replace him with mid-season, unless they want to risk Hadjar in that seat. Because otherwise I'd say he's under the biggest threat of losing that seat, but they don't have that so I think he's safe at least till 2026. He's got to show better pace though, like being out of the points the whole race and then crashing...they might as well have just stuck with Checo who at least brought a hell of a lot of money in sponsor to the team which rn they definitely need since they're not going to win the constructors.

Ferrari

If in doubt, trust Ferrari to fuck strategy. I do have to laugh that Lewis fans genuinely seemed to believe they'd fixed their strategy issue in time for Lewis' arrival (spoiler it was actually Carlos doing the leg work for that and now he's gone). Idk what it is about rain and Ferrari but they cannot make a good call in a wet race if a gun was held to their head. I'm sorry Lewis fans but you should've heeded the warnings.

Very concerning that both Williams and Sauber who only had one driver finish the race are ahead in the constructors standings (I know it won't last long but like Ferrari what is that?)

Charles? I mean man is fighting for best radio messages this year that's for certain. He had me laughing so hard with his leaking water messages. He was disappointed from qualifying, I didn't see him after the race yet but I can't imagine he was overjoyed. In fact I imagine there's some interview where he said "it's like this" which iykyk is a bad sentence to hear from Charles.

As for Lewis, I said it before and I'll say it again. Ferrari did too much setting him up as going to be the greatest thing since the colour red. They should've moved in silence throughout the break and in the run up to the season. And just waited. They built him up and that race was a disaster for him. From the strategy to his radio messages where he basically shut down communicating with them and refused to take their suggestions or requests. That's a bad sign, hopefully they discuss things after the race and really work to improve that moving forward from both parties but we saw that from Lewis last year at his absolute worst with Mercedes when they just stopped caring about him. For that to be what we see in his first race with Ferrari, I'm worried for him and how he's really settling into the team. Obviously language barriers and Charles can communicate fluently with the team. It's not gonna be as easy as I think Lewis' fans thought it would be and it might not be that successful either.

I do have to say seeing Charles overtake Lewis like he did, I think Lewis is going to have to get used to that. Obviously that was an area him and George often butted heads as teammates, Lewis did not like being challenged by George (ik some people might not like that but it was true) and I do think he's going to find that Charles is quite similar to George in that he's unrelenting and will not concede unless directly told by the team.

A team to keep an eye on for team dynamic, priority and results that's for certain.

Williams

I mean Alex Albon. That's a boss man. Allegedly Carlos was in the garage helping with strategy after he crashed, which he did a lot in Ferrari so honestly no surprise there. But he's got the team above Ferrari in the standings...maybe once Carlos has the car under him...maybe...Williams will surprise us?

Idk I'm rooting for them very heavily. Easily my second favourite line up for the teams (after Lando/Oscar) for combination of drivers. I think James was overexcited saying they're the best line up, but they are definitely the best lineup Williams has seen in a long time.

Obviously not great to see Carlos crash, if it was something with the car which James seemed to agree there was something off that meant Carlos wasn't entirely to blame. Then I do think it's hard to swallow but not representative of what to expect from Carlos moving forward.

Mercedes

George, ngl I think he had quite a lonely race. He was sort of in no man's land. Too quick for Albon and Yuki, but too slow for the McLaren's and Max. Idk how he's always there to collect reward when there's an accident (maybe carrying Bottas Monza 2021 energy a little too much these days 🤣). I mean great for him, right place at the right time and Mercedes hasn't wavered in being one of the best for strategy, they made all the right calls and George got on a podium in a car that quite honestly I didn't expect to be ahead of Ferrari going into this weekend.

Kimi I've already discussed but again just amazing from him, Mercedes did not let him down for strategy and yeah he got the penalty (didn't actually see any evidence for as to why, like no replays which is annoying) but still a top 5 finish on debut at 18? That's very very good especially with where he started.

The rest (sorry we're spewing through the others)

Hulk and Stroll...clearly good strategy for them bc they randomly got in the points ahead of the Ferrari's. Ngl good to see from Sauber, getting more points in the first race than they got all season last year. I know Bortoleto crashed but he is a rookie and he was not the only one.

Alonso...I mean lowkey, expect more from him. I know wet races are very hit or miss and the Aston is a hard car to get a read on for drivability. But hopefully this is not foreshadowing his season moving forward.

Yuki drove incredibly, I'm so fucking angry on his behalf because that strategy came straight from Marko who doesn't want Yuki to look like he's doing too well and if they can prevent him from doing well then they will do whatever that have to. Ok...maybe that's very dramatic of me but there is something suspicious going on that Yuki does amazing, maintains position for almost the whole race and then when the one opportunity for them to fuck over the only RB driver still on track appears, they do? Mmm...

Alpine, Doohan another victim of the rookie wet race spin that took him out. Again something to use as a means of learning. Gasly, he did what he could with what he had. Didn't see much of him tbh so at least he kept out the drama. P11, so out of the points but I mean he finished the race so you take the wins where you can.

Haas...just look so slow. Obviously not Bearman's weekend at all, but again finished the race. Ocon again not much screen time and just sort of stuck at the back. Only thing I can credit them with is that they kept up with Lawson in a Red Bull till he crashed.