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felixbit · 7 months ago

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i like it

pairing: hyunjin x gn!reader w. 2k genre: drama, a mix of fluff + angst summary: you've been in a situationship with hyunjin for almost six months. while he's taking you out, you decide it's time to make or break what you have with the goal of becoming official. warnings: none a/n: i was in a writer's block for like two months, but the album seems to have broken it?? stream ate for good luck (and there will likely not be a part 2 to this)

Six months of back and forth has been driving you crazy.

You'd met a guy that changed your life. He was everything you'd ever wanted: gorgeous, talented, somewhat wealthy, and a kind soul. He was passionate, driven, and everything else that made you want to be his. This was Hyunjin.

The only problem was: Hyunjin struggled with commitment.

He'd take you out on fancy dinners, dates, drop a grand on a shopping trip, but couldn't bring himself to make it official. He sent you flowers, good morning texts, random food orders to your place whenever you mentioned you were hungry over text. But it was 'casual'.

You decided to play his game, give him time to open up. You'd learned that he'd been in a long-term yet rocky relationship that had only ended three months before you met. Of course you wanted to give him time to heal. You wanted him to come to you when he was ready.

He never did. He'd spend all day in your apartment, taking a day off work just to see you. He'd hold you and kiss you until the sun fell and rose again. You would wake up to breakfast in bed served with a side of kisses and little love notes. But, he was instantly avoidant when it came to you asking if he was ready.

So, you were in a weird relationship purgatory. He'd give you everything but a title in his life, and that's all you ever needed with him. The internet seemed to deem it a 'situationship', but it was another label that Hyunjin would likely avoid.

The thought was eating you up inside. Three weeks ago, you drafted up an ultimatum confrontation text to send him. It turned to collecting dust whenever you pasted it into messages and immediately deleted it. Hyunjin was amazing, even with his faults. Could you stand to lose him over wanting to be his?

You sat on the couch that Hyunjin had bought you two months ago, plagued with thoughts about him all morning. He'd been busy almost the entire week, which would throw a wrench into any potential plans. His work was demanding at times and you knew how committed he was to it.

When you finished making breakfast, you ate it while listening to a playlist Hyunjin had sent. He had a good ear for music, especially picking out songs you'd like. He'd started a habit of making you a playlist at the start of every month and you'd listen religiously.

Just as you were finishing up, your phone vibrate and fished it from your pocket. Looking down at the screen, your heart skipped a beat and a smile immediately rushed onto your face.

hyunjin: good morning!!

This was everyday routine. If you didn't wake up to a classic 'good morning' text, you'd get one before the clock ticked over to PM. Sometimes he'd admit he forgot to right when he woke up, but he was pretty good at staying consistent on his timing.

y/n: good morning hyunjinnie :)

That damn nickname. You'd called him a plethora of nicknames since you first started seeing each other, and it was making it infinitely harder to find it casual. The worst part was that he liked them. He encouraged you to use more.

hyunjin: sleep well? y/n: i did, just ate some breakfast hyunjin: yum! y/n: how's your morning been so far hyunjin: perfect now that i'm talking to you

Seeing that text made your heart tug and caused a small outburst on a nearby pillow. It didn't deserve to be hit so many times, but you couldn't contain the cuteness aggression. Also, a little bit of frustration.

y/n: stop itttt!!! making me blush hyunjin: that's my charm y/n: your charm is looking like a cute ferret hyunjin: oh yeah?

Just as you sent the message, you scrolled through your phone for a few photos you had saved of ferrets the night before. Selecting a few and pressing send, the two of you delved into a discussion on his ferret-like looks.

Turns out, he could carry a conversation talking about what animals you both looked like the most for longer than expected. By the time you realized how long you'd been at it, it had almost been half an hour.

y/n: wait. aren't you supposed to be at work by now?? not texting me about ferrets hyunjin: oh yeah, about that hyunjin: i took today off, was thinking we could spend some time together and go out

This was strange, to say the least. Hyunjin was normally quite engrossed in making sure his work was finished. A few months back, you had to convince him to call out of work when he had a high fever and could hardly stand up from his bed.

y/n: what's gotten into you so suddenly hyunjin: what do you mean? y/n: you? hwang hyunjin? calling out of work for me? hyunjin: well of course, why wouldn't i y/n: idk

It took a few tries of writing out variants of 'you're not my boyfriend' before settling on the text you sent. Such official behaviors by a man so scared of labels drove you mad. It was almost perfect, almost.

hyunjin: talk to me y/n: later, okay? hyunjin: how about when i take you out then? y/n: sure

Being so bland over text made a pain swell up in your chest. You wanted to be open and honest with him, but pushing him past his limits had grown to be a massive fear in your mind. The harder part would be figuring out what to say.

Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to tell him. You'd found Hyunjin to be one of the most understanding people to walk to earth. The last time you'd pushed at all for labels was almost three months ago and you'd given up since.

What was there to say, anyways? 'I want you to be my boyfriend or I'll explode'? It was certainly accurate to how your mind had made it seem. The idea of being exclusive with Hyunjin was exhilarating but terrifying.

hyunjin: can i come get you in an hour? y/n: yes

You turned your phone off and set it face-down, sighing and looking at the ceiling. The uncertainty was building, but you had made a decision: it was time to ask. You couldn't keep dancing around the issue. You had serious feelings for him.

So, you kept checking the time as it grew closer and closer to when Hyunjin would come get you. With thirty minutes left, you were already dressed and finishing getting ready. Your heart raced at the thought of him.

The minutes dragged on, but the time finally came. Feeling a ringing buzz in your pocket, you saw his name and picked up the phone.

"Hello?" His voice came from the other end of the line.

You slightly smiled at the sound of him, but responded. "Hey. Are you outside?"

"Yeah, you can come down now, if you're ready."

"Alright, I'll see you in a minute."

Hanging up the call, you composed yourself to the best of your ability and headed down towards him. The wait as you took the elevator was tense, but the second you stepped out of the building and saw him everything else fell away.

Every time you saw him, it was like the first time all over again. His long, black hair and defined features had your heart in a twist. You approached him with a smile on your face, and one matching on his own. He pulled you into a tight hug, smelling his perfume.

"Hey," He said, his voice muffled into your shirt, "How's your day been?"

You pulled away and smiled at him, taking his hand in your own, "I've been okay, missing you like I always do."

Hyunjin chuckled, reaching his free hand up and stroking your cheek softly. "I've missed you, too. That's really why I called out today."

"You missed me that much?"

"Of course."

Before you could bring anything else up, he was calling you over to his car. He had a cafe he planned on showing you, telling you a bit about it as he began to drive towards it. The whole way, you caught him sneaking glances over at you from the driver's seat.

When he pulled into the parking lot outside of the cafe, he opened your door for you and walked you inside, his fingers laced with yours. He read over the menu with you, pointing out a few things that sounded good to him and a few he thought you'd like.

You picked out an order and he was quick to get to the register, paying for both of you without a second thought. You found a table as he waited and brought you drinks, sitting down right opposite you.

"So," He said with a sigh as he took a sip of his drink, "I was worried about you this morning."

"Worried?" You looked at him slightly puzzled, "What would you have to be worried about?"

"You were just.. distant. I could tell when you suddenly texted differently, and I was scared I said something to upset you."

"Oh." You looked up from your drink at him, seeing the way his eyes gazed back fondly into yours. This was the opportunity, if there ever was any.

You took another long drink and took a breath to stabilize. "Hyunjin, I've been thinking about us. I guess I first have to ask you, what are we?"

Hyunjin frowned slightly and you watched his hands fidget on top of the table. "That's.. not an easy question to answer. You're an amazing person I like to be around all the time. That's all I know."

You felt your heartstrings pull. "Hyunjin, I want more than that. I'm done with just being someone you hang out with and buy all sorts of things. I really like being around you, and I really like you. But I can't keep pretending we're dating in my head when we aren't."

Hyunjin looked at you silently, his expression utterly unreadable. His eyes were slightly widened, and you could only see his uncertainty.

You continued, "I can't do this constant push-and-pull, Jinnie. I want to be yours, and if I can't be that then I need to move on and save my own feelings. I'm sorry."

With that, you set your own hands on the table across from his, looking at him. He sat for almost thirty seconds without speaking, looking down at the table and then back up at you.

"I.. don't really know what to say."

You held your breath, but he continued on after a second of silence. "I've been unfair to you, I know. With my last relationship, I had so many doubts and fears.. I was just so comfortable in having us. I didn't want to worry about labels.

"I never realized that's not really what you wanted. It's not your fault that I didn't. So, don't say sorry. I'm sorry. I can't lie and say it's not a bit scary to say, but I like you too. A lot. So much it made me stupid. So I'll be yours. If you'll have me."

You couldn't contain the smile that spread out onto your face, and his followed. He reached across the table and took your hand in his, and you couldn't help but feel like crying. "Hyunjin.."

"Please be mine. I swear, I'll be a better boyfriend than I was a weird situationship."

You nodded vigorously. "Of course I'll have you," You said through a choked-up laugh, "Do you know how many times I almost introduced you to my friends as my boyfriend?"

He grinned and shrugged. "Well, now you can! I just.. I wanted to take it slow, but I guess I didn't stop to ask you how you were feeling after we first decided that."

You stood up from the table and he did as well, pulling you into a tight hug. "Thank you for putting up with me," Hyunjin's voice shook slightly, "And letting me be your boyfriend."

You pulled away from the hug and nodded. "Thank you for understanding when I said something. And, you know, being my boyfriend."

Hyunjin snickered softly and pulled you into a kiss. Maybe it wasn't so bad, after all.

#hyunjin #hwang hyunjin #hyunjin x reader #hwang hyunjin x reader #stray kids #skz #stray kids x reader #skz imagines #skz fic #stray kids imagines

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tommydarlings · 6 months ago

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fucktoy part 4 | f1 grid

pairing: dark!dom!mick schumacher ; dark!dom!toto wolff ; x sub!bimbo!reader

warnings: smut, dacryphilia, possessive behaviour, obsessive behaviour, mentions of tracking somebody’s location, covering mouth???, pussy eating, hair pulling, breeding kink, spitting, gagging

w/c: 0.7k

summary: the f1 grid loves to simply use you as their fucktoy or as a stress relief and nothing else.

check this out: my masterlist <3 // my ko-fi to support me! <3 // my PayPal to support me! <3 // my Patreon to become a member! (get access to +65 works) // Save a Life carrd made by me! <3

Thinking about how mick would keep an eye on you everywhere and every time and get unbelievably mad the seconds he notices you’re somewhere he didn’t allow you to be.

You were partying with your girl friends but forgot to tell mick — but that wasn’t really a problem for him since he tracks your phone and car anyway — which you didn’t know since you’re only his situationship.

He immediately got into his car and drove to the club you were at.

And as you saw him storming into the club with a not so happy facial expression, taking long and angry looking steps right towards you.

And here you were now, being mercilessly thrusted into against the one of the women’s bathroom stalls, mick behind you gripping your hair in a tight grip, his lips grazing your ear.

“You think you can just go out partying or shit like that without letting me know? You could have given me a call… or at least message me but no, you’re dumb little brain didn’t think about that, huh?“ you arched your back further as his thrust got harsher.

You shook your head, trying your best to find some excuse but you came up with nothing.

Mick chuckled, “can’t find any stupid excuse, huh?“ And you only gulped, rolling your eyes into the back of your head.

“Thought so,“ he mumbled before he almost lovingly kissed your wet temple, still mercilessly thrusting into you.

Suddenly, you heard two women entering the restroom, loudly chatting and laughing with each other and just when you were about to release a not so quiet scream of pleasure, mick swiftly covered your mouth with his hand, immediately shutting you up,

“Shh,“ he whispered into your ear from behind, his thrusts not stopping, “just scream into my hand but just so you know I won’t stop.“

Or how toto would literally think and talk about breeding you all the time just so you don’t even spare a glance at the other men in the paddock.

You were in his office, dress bunched up by his big, veiny hand as one of your legs was laying carelessly by its knee on his glass table.

Gasps and whines were constantly leaving your mouth as the older man ate your wet pussy out from behind, collecting all of your juice and spitting into your hole, his hands roughly spreading and squeezing your cheeks.

“O-Oh fuck! Oh god!“ you screamed through gritted teeth, the tip of his tongue rapidly running along your slit, occasionally entering you before sliding out again and spitting on it, being very messy and careless.

He removed one hand from your ass, running his long pointer and middle finger along your drenched cunt before entering you, his lips not biting and sucking on your cheeks, clearly to create prominent marks.

“Mhmm… who were you talking to earlier, meine kleine?“ my little one, toto asked in a raspy tone with a smirk, his two fingers making quick work of deeply entering you and slowly sliding out of you again, repeating that devious process over and over again.

You gulped, “I w-was only talking t-to Charles about-”

“You were talking to Charles, that’s right… and that’s exactly where the problem begins,” toto told you from behind, his fingers speeding up, forcing you to around them as you heard him spitting onto them, making you even wetter.

You whined in a high pitched tone, letting your head fall onto the expensive table half of your shaking figure was laying on.

Toto spoke up, “maybe I should breed you, make your pretty little body all round, hmm? What do you say, liebling?“ love.

You quickly shook your head, you were too young and the two of you weren’t even together, you were just casually hooking up to have some fun and release some pent up stress or anger.

His fingers left your clenching pussy, quickly putting them into his mouth and licking them clean, his eyes still focused on the back of your head, a frown on his face as he noticed how you swiftly shook your head.

Toto slowly stood up, “no? Why not? Then everybody would know that you’re mine and you’d be pregnant with my child! Wouldn’t that be just beautiful? That way I could easily show those immature, young boys that you’re completely off the market,“ he mumbled into your ear from behind before he entered you with his big cock, forcing you to take deep breaths as he slowly filled you up.

“Oh yeah, I’m gonna put a pretty mini version of the two of us into you now, you just relax and let me do it, alright?“

BONUS;

Or how Lewis would have the audacity to make you feel so embarrassingly small and dumb.

CONTINUE READING THE EXTENDED VERSION WITH THE L.H BONUS ON MY PATREON! <3 [1k]

#fanfic #fanfiction #f1 #mick schumacher #mick schumacher x reader #mick schumacher x you #mick Schumacher smut #mick Schumacher x fem!reader #toto wolff x reader #toto wolff #Toto wolff x you #f1 smut #f1 x reader #f1 fanfic #f1 imagine #f1 fic #f1 2024 #mercedes amg f1

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circeyoru · 1 year ago

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Unwanted Soul _ Part 5 = Requested

[Yandere!Alastor x Owner of his Soul!Reader]

The Request

Part 1 — Part 2 — Part 2.5 (ask) — Part 3 — Part 4 — Part 5 (here)

How you had such a depressing life was beyond Alastor. He didn’t understand it. Can’t comprehend it! But he pushed these questions back to tend to your sadden mood, tucking you in and lulling you to sleep

Alastor sat next to your sleeping form, the room pitch black save for his glowing red eyes that pierced through the darkness. His staff played soft music to calm you down and fill the silence of the room. The only tears you should be shredding are ones of joy and happiness

The people you’ve mentioned, surely they were in Hell as well. They can’t be in Heaven for causing you such torment. He can’t let you see them, any of them. He needs to get to them first. However, for now, he can’t leave you alone in such a state

His eyes closed as he thought out how he’d torture them. Perhaps skinning them till they beg for mercy and your forgiveness? Pulling out their limbs and draining their blood? Letting the cannibals partake in a feast? No, no, he had to enjoy this. They were your tormentors when you were alive, he’ll show you that he can and will be your protector, even a guarddog if he must

But his heinous thoughts were put to a hold when you shifted in your sleep. He pushed away his thoughts while he watched your serene form rest. He put away his monocle, laying beside you and gently pull you closer to him so he was hugging you to his chest. His eyes drooped close. Perhaps he should let those unfortunate souls enjoy Hell a bit longer. If they crossed his path or yours, their voice will be on his everlasting broadcast

When things got slow for you, you found yourself hanging out with the hotel residents at times. They were an interesting bunch to say the least

Charlie was always happy to see you and would invite you on her little activities and exercises to redeem sinners. Though you’d mostly decline unless it catches your interest in some way. On the rare chance you join, she was very appreciative of your presence and wasn’t shy to thank you for joining in front of everyone. Her cheerful attitude was a bit of a hit and miss for you

There was one exercise that got you sharing something you’ve almost forgot

“Okay! Last two to share! Who’s going first?” Charlie beamed

“I’ll go first, My Darling needs all the time to recall!” Alastor directed the attention to him. “My joy in my hay day is my murders. Oh how I felt the rush when chasing my victims, hunting them like prey in the woods. The warmth of their body fading the moment I repeated stabbed my trusty blade into their weak bodies. The—”

“Okay, okay, you can shut it with the creepy killing. Sheesh.” Vaggie interrupted with a groan. She turned to you who was still in a daze, completely unfazed with what Alastor said. “You ready to go?”

“Huh? Oh, okay.” You snapped out of your daydream, unconsciously, your hand patted on your book that was strapped to your hip. “My joy when I was alive… I barely remember it, but I loved going to the library and read all the books I can.”

“That’s surprisingly cute considering you’re with that freaky smil—” Angel’s mouth was immediately shut with the slap of Alastor’s staff

You continued without flinching, this was all a normal banter between the two already now that you were hanging out with the crew more. “I frequent the library, borrowing and finishing a stack of books everyday. The librarian would recommend me new books or save me my favourite corner. I can even eat and drink in the library just because.”

Charlie’s head tilted, “So you love reading.”

“Not just reading. I love books of all kinds. Sometimes I rad that book just cause I liked the texture or the shape of it. I collect books and keep it like treasures. I hate lending books to other because they don’t care for it like I do.” You fondly smiled at the memory, “Then I got a bunch of notebooks too, because I love the design or the cover.”

Lucifer leaned back into his chair, “No wonder your powers are centered around books.”

“Better call you bookworm now! Hahahaa—” Angel was hit by two cranes, one from Alastor and another from Lucifer. Charlie, Vaggie, and Husk flinched with a face twisted to pain as if they felt that. Niffty was living in the moment, wanting one too

Husk gulped some alcohol, “You better shut that loud mouth of yours if you know what’s good for you.”

Everyone laughed and chuckled, Charlie concluding that it was a good exercise and bonding time since everyone was in attendance. Alastor got up and offered you his hand, bringing you two back to your room. You stayed out of it, being in a daze again

When Alastor asked if you were fine, you smiled and said you were fine, if you needed anything, he would be the first you’d call for. So he left you alone

You didn’t tell them. You were that absorbed into reading that you didn’t realize you were being bullied, you were used. You shared your dream of wanting to be a writer that people would love to read what you wrote and share it with friends, to entertain others. You shared your ideas with your friend but your ideas were stolen from you

The moment you handed in your writing, the publishing company said they had one already and that yours was not up-to-date. They rejected your writing. Days later, you saw the newest novel on sell. The title was so similar to yours that you checked the summary at the back. That was your story idea. But your work was rejected so how was it published?

Your nightmare came to life. A betrayal so painful and chilling. Your friend’s name was on the cover. You remember your hands shaking. It wasn’t rage you felt, it was disbelief and sadness. The trust you gave, the care you gave, and the attention you gave. It was all to stab you in the back

You watched from behind the screens at the achievement and success that should have been yours. All of it, it should have been yours to smile upon. But then you were crying and shutting yourself behind the world of fantasy, an escape from reality

Why? Why? Why!

Closing your eyes for a moment, you locked up those memories. They don’t mean much to you now. Not when you had Alastor with you and an unlikely friendship with Lucifer the King of Hell himself, then there was the silly demons of this hotel. Ironic how you found true friends in demons

That’s why when you saw Mimzy again in the hotel, you were skeptical and burning with rage. She had someone as amazing and caring as Alastor to call as a friend, but she’s abusing it without a care. How she has the guts to come back and ask for Alastor, you have no idea, though you’ve seen her kind when you were alive

“You’re a new soul!” Mimzy’s voice made you want to throw glass or grip something until it broke. “Hey, I’m talking to you!”

“What do you want?” You eyed down at Mimzy with a bored expression

She let out a sound akin to ‘uww’ with a face of disgust. “You’re never gonna get your lucky someone with that attitude.”

Your eye twitched, “I never said I was.”

Mimzy gave you a fake shocked look, “Really? I thought you were going for Alastor!”

You groaned, heading over to the bar to ask Husk for something to drink (not alcohol) because you didn’t want this annoyance to follow you to your room

“Hey,” Mimzy sat next to you without asking, “You know what Alastor’s like when he’s upstairs?”

You ignored her, but your face of silent rage was enough to get her to continue

“You don’t know. He’s a realy lady’s killer! Not literally, but you get what I mean. Girls and ladies throw themselves at him and he doesn’t even bat them an eye. A nice wave and a dashing smile, then he leaves them high and dry! Oh, the broken hearts he had was definitely more than his body count and that’s something!” Mimzy laughed at the end

What’s that got to do with you? You thought to yourself as you aggressive sipped on your drink. Husk eyed you two while cleaning some glass to appear like he was busy. You’ll maybe admit, you were a bit envious of Mimzy that she got to see Alastor when he was alive, you wonder how he looked. Not like you were going to ask

Mimzy endlessly talked bad about Alastor behind his back. What happened to trying to apologise and wanting to make up? No idea, down the drain at this point. As the others around you wonder why you were still humouring the chatty demon, you were wondering the same. Why are you just sitting here and listening to all this?

“You should shut it, can’t you see you’re the only one talking here?” Husk spoke up, indirectly telling Mimzy to just leave you alone

“Aww, and you should do your job, bar cat.” Mimzy teased back. “I’m given this poor soul some attention cause Alastor’s too high of a standard to give some.”

“Ha! Jokes on you. This hot stu— I mean, cutie here’s always got smile’s attention.” Angel inserted himself into the conversation, climbing over the bar to stand next to Husk

You got up, “This is a waste of time.”

Mimzy faked another gasp, “No way. You poor poor thing. You actually fell for him of all people of this hellhole?” She got so close in your face and not to mention your personal space, “I understand why, but! Ha! That’s just bad luck! You’re bound to get your heart broken like all those poor ladies before you.”

Before you said anything, Husk’s wing separated Mimzy from you, “You really need to shut the hell up before you regret it.”

“You shut it fur ball! I ain’t talkin’ to you.” Mimzy snapped at Husk

Deciding that it was not worth your time, you started walking away. This was drama you didn’t want to be involved in and you didn’t want Alastor catching this happening since he sees Mimzy as a friend still

“The hotel won’t allow this.” Charlie tried to establish order and break things off

“Alastor will leave you in the dirt worse than whatever you were before once he’s had his fun with you! You might think you’re on cloud 9 now, but you’re going to be in a world of pain and hurt soon enough.” Mimzy continued, completely ignoring Charlie and Husk’s words

With each step you took, she continued as if singing a song, “Alastor only like things that entertains him. He never commits. He never cares. He doesn’t even have a heart to care! He’s so powerful because he has no room for ridicious things like love. The love he has is only for himself. Alastor is just a selfish heartless motherf—”

“Shut up!” You turned to her, a deep scowl on your face

“This is gonna be good.” Lucifer whispered to the others watching, “But bad for her. Yeah.”

“Shut you annoying f- mouth.” You snapped, unaware that your hair leviated a bit from your rage. “You don’t know how lucky you are to have a friend like Alastor. Alive and dead. But what do you do? You use Alastor’s name just for the fun of it and for your benefit. You just use it! How can you use your friendship with him like this! What’s wrong with your stupid tiny head?! In Hell, you’re supposed to treasure what you have. Not abuse it.”

Mimzy scoffed, “You think you’re so good? So righteous. Well, you would have been up there, now wouldn’t you. Don’t think you’re any better.” She smirked, “In Hell, we use everything and anything to our advantage.” Another gasp came and she covered her mouth, “Oh wait, could it be?” She got close to you, “Haha, you being so defensive and triggered by all this. You really actually did fall for him.”

“I love him.”

“Wait? Couldn’t hear you, sugar—”

“I love Alastor.” You repeated firmly and loudly

“What was that?”

Getting annoyed, you turned to the direction where the question came from. Perhaps it was all this anger in your system that made you slow to realize, “I said,” That you were now face to face with Alastor. “I love you!”

Note: This part's major focus has been mentioned in an ask already. And since it's confirmed that you and Alastor are dating in the latest asks and requests, I'm putting this scene in more detail since asks are trivia for the story

P.S. There's something new planned for future chapters~ Remember that lover and friend mentioned? OCs might be appearing cause I can't do rando short forms. Still thinking... You're thoughts? Or should I just end this series?

Circe Y.

Other Works: MASTERLIST

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@donustellaron

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#Circe's Nighty Writings #Circe's requested writings #alastor imagine #alastor x reader #alastor x y/n #alastor x you #hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel alastor #alastor headcanons #hazbin hotel fanfiction #alastor #hazbin hotel oneshots #yandere alastor #yandere alastor x reader #yandere hazbin hotel #alastor fanfiction #hazbin hotel imagines #Unwanted Soul

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uracutieraka · 2 months ago

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N Side

༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶

Been crushing on each other for years

But I guess i’d just really like to know if

You feel the same way about me as I feel about you

༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶

Shoyo Hinata x F!Reader

Tw! SMUTTYSMUT, dw tho overall fluffy! Bffs to lovers!

༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶

Synopsis; Hinata receives a surprise visit from an old friend from high school. You know what they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder.

༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶

Hinata and you went wayy back.

Or so he says to everyone when they ask about you.

In reality you had only met the boy 6 years ago. At the beginning of your first year.

Sure 6 years wasnt not a while but with the way the ginger said it, it sounds as if he’d known you forever.

Like you were such a sure part of his life there could be no way you two hadn’t spent everyday together over your whole life.

Truth be told, you also referred to Shoyo in the same regards.

Since you met him it’s as if everything in this massive puzzle we call life had been put together.

Almost like you two were the remaining puzzle pieces.

Finally being put together at the center. Creating the whole picture.

That’s why you had decided for your 21st birthday you would go to visit him in Brazil.

So you called Kageyama who in turn told you off for even calling him over something so stupid as asking for Oikawa’s phone number.

“I don’t even have it y/n!”

“I know you’re lying.”

A brief moment passes before you hear clicking from what could only be his phone’s keyboard.

A huff hits your ears before the black headed boy speaks again.

“It’s in your inbox. Now stop calling me over dumb shit.”

“Yeah yeah, you know you love it when i call you.”

“Bye y/n.”

And with that he hung up, now leaving you to plot and scheme behind your best friends back.

Dialing the number in your inbox you start to second guess yourself.

I mean you dont personally know Oikawa.

Is this weird of you?

“Yello?” A chirpy voice says on the other end of the line.

Welp. Nows better than never.

“Hi. Uhm, is this Tooru?”

“Uhm, yes, who’s this?”

Damn. You forgot to introduce yourself.

“Uhm. Im y/n…Sho’s best friend?”

“Oh! Y/n! I remember you. Youre the cute little manager right? I only met you the once my third year.”

Man is this guy a chatter box or what?

“Yeah! That’s me! So look, I turn 21 next month and was wanting to come down and surprise Sho. So, I got your number from Tobio an-,”

“Ah! Tobio! My protege. He still has my number? I knew he cared about me!,” A hearty laugh over takes your phone speaker. “But hey, i’ll call you back tonight and we can arrange something for ya’! Shoyo’s only 20 feet away from me right now so now’s not the best time.”

“Perfect!”

2 ended phone calls and 3 hours later you finally received a call back from the older man.

6 hours and 1 transition to FaceTime with said man later, your whole trip was planned. Even set with Oikawa confirming plans for the day you land with Shoyo.

(Oikawa told him some friend of a friend was having a birthday dinner and party at a local bar.)

༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶

This is so NOT going as planned.

You had just landed in the foreign land and already things were going south.

You had finally collected your luggage, 2 months worth of luggage in fact, Oikawa had somehow convinced you that a prolonged stay was imperative to ‘restoring Shoyo’s drive to do pretty much anything.”

Apparently he had been down in the dump since coming here 8 months ago.

Oikawa had explained you were the top reason mentioned.

Apparently Hinata would say he ‘just didn’t know how to live without his other half.’

When the man told you this a familiar feeling rose in your tummy, and a heat spread up your neck trailing over your cheeks.

That’s how you ended up with 2 giant suit cases, a large duffel bag, and an oversized carry-on bag full of your belongings.

And now, your uber had just called to inform you that his car had broken down, and he was infact unable to get you.

You had been redirected in the app to another driver.

Who was 50 minutes out.

You look at the time.

You had been flying for over 24 hours since you left Japan.

You decided the time it would take to wait then make the 30 minute drive into the city would eat up any hopes of you getting ready before you go meet Shoyo.

You dial Oikawa’s number, 3 rings and he picks up.

“Hey! Whatsup? You landed? How was your flight? Make it to my place yet?”

You guys decided that since he had a spare room you would crash there so as not to impede on Shoyo or his roomates lives so suddenly.

You begin explaining to him your problem.

“Hm,” you hear him start clicking his tongue, mulling over what to do. “Ok! Im on my way, share your location.”

“Wha-“

He hangs up before you can even say anything else.

So you do as he says.

He makes it to you in 15 minutes.

“That was fast!” You say as he gets out of the car.

“Eh, i have my ways.” He shrugs.

You should have understood what he meant by that.

It was a hint to prepare yourself for the ride ahead.

Your 30 minute drive was easily cut in half by the man.

You saw your life flash before your eyes at least 4 times.

“Alright, well i’ll help you with your bags then leave ya to it! The bar we’re going to is straight down the road, a 4 minute walk to be exact! So we’ll meet you there!”

He grabs your bags easily, much to your dismay and against all your arguments and protests, wanting to help.

Taking you up to the apartment you finally answer all his questions about how the flying was, and he listened to your brief rant about air fare and how it was all a scam.

Laughing and interjecting where he needed to.

He showed you around his apartment a bit, then showed you to his guest room.

It was nice, clean and organized. Surprisingly for a 23 year old bachelor pad.

Especially with the way the man acts, he’s lively and would be one to make you think his life goes by too fast to do such trivial things as make his bed.

“Wow, I don’t know how to thank you for your kindness!” You say bowing in front of him.

“No! Don’t worry about all that. Plus, it’ll be nice to get Shoyo out of this weird slump he’s been in.”

A few minutes later he leaves again, leaving you to do what you needed to do.

Going through your normal routine, you take it slower than usual, now having spared time to do so.

Finally after doing your hair and makeup perfect, you slip on your outift.

It’s simple and cute.

Skinny jeans and a slightly too-tight, to see through, and a very low-cut white tee.

A bright pink bra shows through it from how sheer the material is.

You did this on purpose, there’s no denying you had feelings for your best friend.

But you had also become slightly bolder with the distance that had been put between the two of you.

A desire to make him yours had clouded your mind ever since he left.

Though it had been there long before that, it just seemed to get worse the longer you spent separated from him.

Nights spent wondering if he was with other girls, talking to them, dancing with them, touching them.

You just couldn’t stand the thought of it.

Your ringer chimes.

‘Head this way!’

A message from Oikawa reads.

You make your way to the bar, using the pin he sent you.

He was nice enough to have a bottle of wine pushed against the pillows on your bed when you arrived.

A bow with a little note card adorned it.

‘Enjoy! Pregame a bit ;)’

You finished the bottle before you left.

And the walking had really made you start to feel it.

You were a little more than buzzed and a even newer confidence had surged in your body.

You make your way through the doors, finding the tall brunette and shorter ginger’s heads in the crowd.

You push through sweaty bodies, and a few large men.

Hell bent on reaching the man you had longed for on lonely nights, your hand wondering between your legs, wishing it was him.

Finally you make it to him.

Throwing your arms over his shoulders your hands cover his eyes.

“Guess who~” it’s sweet and sing-songy. A common greeting you two had since your second year, when you guys decided that was for some reason the funniest thing you two had ever done. (It wasn’t)

He grabs your hands spinning around, grabbing your hips.

You rock back slightly, you probably would’ve stumbled farther had it not been for his tight grip on your hips.

“No fucking way!” He yells over the music.

“I was just talking about how much I missed you!” He pulls you forward quickly, moving to grip around your shoulders in a bear hug.

You hug him back, he’s significantly stronger than before, and you can feel the muscles through his shirt.

You pull back from him.

“Let’s fucking drink bitches!” You yell to both the men.

An hour later and you and Shoyo found your way on the dance floor. You guys are facing each other and dancing care-free.

A somg comes on that you recognize. Its slow and has a 70’s funk to it.

Alcohol is pumping in your blood. You know it is for Sho too. All those nights in high school sneaking some from your parents personal collection and getting drunk in secret with the boy helped you figure out when he was and wasn’t under the influence.

You step forward closing the distance between you two.

Your hands rest on his chest as you lean forward to whisper in his ear.

“Sho, I need you.”

Its soft and whiney, you would have never said that sober.

You dont give him time to process before you turn around, pressing your back to his chest, hands flying up to touch each side of his jaw, ass pressing into him.

He takes notice of the fresh manicure on your hands, a french tip set.

He remembers in high school when you had first gotten one, he asked what it was called, and then declared it was his favorite type of nails on you.

And it was, but he wasn’t as innocent with the declaration as you thought, in fact he was far from it.

He was 17 and couldn’t help it, but the thoughts of what your hands would look like wrapped around him, with your cute little french tips was just too much for him.

He snaps out of his thought when your hips sway into him, head falling to rest on his shoulder.

You lightly drag your nails down the sides of his neck before dropping them to continue your swaying and dancing on him.

He moves his hands to fall on your hips, now swaying with you, leaning down he answers you.

“Then come home with me.”

It’s simple, but you know this will change everything. Every dynamic you two have ever had will become something different. Something intense and exciting.

Lust has filled your head, you’re running on pure adrenaline and alcohol. His scent is filling your nose, his warmth is burning on your skin, you’re overwhelmed with all of this.

You spin back around and pull him off the dance floor by his hand, you make your way back to Tooru who hasn’t moved from his spot. But a cute blonde now fills the seat Shoyo once sat in, chatting away with Oikawa.

Shoyo goes up to him, still holding your hand, leaning down he whispers a few words to the other man. Stepping away you see Oikawa give him a wink and thumbs up.

As you both are leaving Oikawa calls out.

“Dont get too crazy kids!”

You chuckle as you’re being dragged along by the ginger.

You didn’t realize Shoyo lived in the same building as Oikawa.

Only a floor apart.

You make it to his door and it seems like something in him breaks, he pushes you against the door in the hallway, kissing you.

You grab at his shoulders.

Moaning into his lips, he deepens the kiss, his tongue slipping past your lips, yours now intertwining with his.

Your hands find their way into his hair as his hands grab at your ass then make their way under your thighs, lifting you up.

You’re now being held between the door and him.

He’s grinding up into you, he’s moving so fervently that you don’t even care if he took you, right here and right now.

He wouldn’t be your first, but you hope he’s your last.

He breaks away from you.

“Not here,” his chest is heaving up and down quickly. “Gonna do this, you, right baby.”

He’s so confident compared to back in school.

Or maybe he’s always been like this and you were just the nervous one.

None of that matters now.

He’s opened the door and guided you inside.

“My roommates working tonight.” He says, now you really study him.

His eyes are blown out, cheeks red, from you or the alcohol is unclear, hes really filled out in the past few months since he’s been here. His hair is slightly longer too.

“Sho,” you say. “I’ve really missed you these past few months. I’ve also had a lot of time to think about things,” you step towards him, putting your arms around his neck you slide closer, having to stand on your tippy toes a bit to get close to being eye level with him. Your eyes are heavy, lids half closed. “I really want to fuck you.” Its low and sultry.

The way you’re looking at him, the sound of your voice, your outfit. The pink bra he recognizes as one he had been eyeing on a shopping trip with you.

You two had gone to the mall together a few weeks before he left, last minute shopping for his big move.

You dragged him into a bra and panty store last second, due to the large sale sign sitting in front of the door.

As you looked around, Shoyo’s eyes were caught off guard by a bright pink fabric. He moved closer to eye it.

It was lacy and the color was perfect.

He pictured you in it, how good it would look on you.

He knew it was wrong but he couldn’t help it.

“That bra,” he breathes out. “It’s the one from the mall back home.”

“You think I didn’t see you looking at it in the store? Plus it’s cute. Right?”

He chuckles a bit before locking eyes with you.

“You’re cute.” He says.

You blush and go to turn your head but before you can he cups the side of your face, turning you back to face him.

He pulls you back in for another kiss. Yet again he picks you up and your legs wrap around his waist. He leads you to his bedroom, kicking the door shut behind him.

Still holding the slow and sloppy kiss he lays you down oh the blankets.

You’re immediately engulfed in a comforting and familiar smell.

All the days and nights spent in his room, sleeping over, laying together much closer than best friends should.

Feet entangled under the blankets as you two face each other and giggle over nothing.

Now this is different, not sweet and innocent, no, its much more than that, this is sinful and gluttonous.

He’s on top of you leaving wet, hot kisses down your jaw and neck, following the collar of your v-neck, he kisses the exposed parts of your breasts.

Once he reaches the point in the v he stops, only to start pulling your shirt up, you sit up right and quickly discard of it. He guides his hand up to trace the hem of the bra gently for a moment, before grabbing your face and pulling you back in.

You reach back up to cup his face in both your hands, pulling him closer to you.

He reaches between your bodies and unbuttons your jeans with ease.

“Take these off.”

Its stern and desperate.

You immediately obey and move to stand in front of him.

You face him and make a show out of discarding your pants.

You turn around, back now facing him, and slowly you shimmy your pants down, bending over to pull them down, slowly, arching a bit as you do.

Once the pants are at your ankles, you stand back up even slower.

Finishing your little tease act, you turn back around.

Shoyo’s eyes are wide and it seems like he’s malfunctioning.

“Sho?” You say, sweet as could be.

“You are so fucking sexy, holy fucking shit.” A smile now crosses his face.

A giggle escapes your lips.

“C’mere,” he stands up grabbing you gently, hands wrapping themselves around you before he quickly does a 180° with you in his arms.

You squeal as he yet again pins you under him.

“But really, who d’ya think you are showing up here, wearing a cute lil’ bra, nails done how i like, oh, and not to mention, these cute panties to match! Y’know im starting to think you only came here to have sex with me.” He says, he’s always been bold but you didn’t expect him to be like this.

“Mhm,” you nod your head no. “I came here because I missed you Sho.”

He smiles at the admission. Standing up to pull his shirt off, he loses his breath when he looks down.

You’re on your elbows, legs tucked up so your knees are in the air. You’re eyes are heavy and seductive. The way you’re positioned and looking at him is pornographic.

He literally moans out loud before ripping off his shirt, then he quickly pushes his pants off.

Eagerly he crawls back over you.

“M’gonna fuck you so good.”

His words send a shiver down your spine, you’ve only seen him like this before a volleyball match.

He yet again captures your lips, kissing down you again, this time though, he trails down your stomach stopping at the top of your underwear.

But instead of taking them off he pushes your underwear to the side.

He spits onto your already wet heat.

You gasp at the sensation then cut yourself off with a small whimper when he slides a finger up and down you.

He stands up, pulling you to the edge of the bed. He drops his underwear, stroking himself for a second before spitting on his hand and continuing the motions.

“I think you’re ready f’me baby. Don’t you?” He says it so condescendingly, like he doesn’t think youre actually ready.

“Please Sho, need you s’bad.”

He groans rolling his head back for a moment before he pushes your underwear back over.

He guides his tip to go up, causing a slight moan to leave your mouth.

“No teasing!” You say quickly.

He chuckles, “Ok, ok, I wont.”

He lines himself up and pushes into you.

He girthy and bigger than you expected.

Definitely the biggest you’d ever had.

“F-fuck! You’re so fucking tight oh my god.” He’s breathing raggedly.

He sits still in you for a moment until you rock your hips forward.

“Move Sho.” You say.

And he does.

He’s throwing you in insane positions you didn’t even know you could do.

But as his thrusts get sloppier he stops, flipping you over to be in missionary.

“Why’d you stop?” You ask, breathless.

“Shh, im not stopping.” He says.

Suddenly he has you pinned down. Legs spread wide, as he presses over you.

Arms hooked around the backs of your knees as you’re now in a mating press.

He bottoms back out into you.

“Ah! Fuck! Feels s’good Sho!”

He’s selfish. He knows he is.

Who is he to throw you in 8 different positions in the past 40 minutes? Twisting you and contorting you in crazy ways.

It’s your doing. You and him both know that.

You came to Brazil, surprised him, wore a matching set, had your nails done just the way he likes. Not to mention the multiple times you had straight up said you wanted to sleep with him over the course of the night.

He picks up the pace, he’s moving out of you so quickly and harshly, your eyes are rolled into the back of your head.

Your moaning a jumble of his name and other gibberish, which he assumes is supposed to be words.

“Baby,” he speaks through his teeth. “Need ya’ to cum fa’ me. Cant keep going much longer m’self.” Its broken up through his grunts and smacks of his hips onto you.

You werent even really close so it surprised you that his simple words seemed to completely take you over the edge.

You’re shaking and calling his name loudly, nails gripping his sheets.

He continues his rough pace, until he yet again slows down, his groans are getting louder and whiney.

“F-fuck! M’gonna cum!” He’s now folded over you, forehead touching yours.

“In me Sho! Cum in me baby!” You say, moaning at just the thought of him filling you up.

“Ah! Fuck!” He slows his movements down. Adjusting so your legs now rest around his waist. He drops his full weight on you.

Your hands make their way to his hair, playing with it between your fingers.

You’re both breathing heavily.

“Sho?”

“Mm?”

“Can we be boyfriend and girlfriend?”

He shifts his head so his chin is resting on your stomach as he now makes eye contact with you.

“I was just about to ask you that!”

Small, love-drunk and real-drunken giggles fill the room.

The mans breathing slowly gets softer and softer.

Its only when he hums a bit and rubs his face on you, in a weak attempt at getting closer, that you realize he’s in fact asleep.

Masterlist

#haikyuu #x reader #haikyuu x reader #hinata shoyo #brazil hinata #haikyuu oikawa #oikawa tooru #haikyuu smut #smut #hq smut #hq shoyo #shoyo hinata x reader #haikyuu shoyo #haikyu x reader #fanfic #hq fanfic #hq fluff

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plurapony · 3 months ago

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I pass by you in the school corridor wearing a Pinkie Pie wig and Gir hoodie... I smile and stars appear in my eyes "Cringe is Good" I say and wink...

HIIII!!!! WE ARE A SYSTEM THAT LOVES MY LITTLE PONY!!!!!

Our collective name is Plura Pony and our system name is Pony Plaza System! You can use either :D

We have autism !

We are polyfragmanted !

We have almost 100 parts !

We are bodily 22 !

We are married !

We are monogamous!

pssst spike you forgot to mention the thing

OH yeah! WE ARE SO INCREDIBLY CRINGE!!! We are introject heavy with MOST introjects from my little pony, steven universe or anime!!! and we have tonnes of nonhuman parts :D some people may hate on us for being so cringe but I feel sad for THEM because they don't know how freeing it is to be proudly cringe!!!!!! XD

Silly fact! We have three introjects of Pinkie Pie but the part named Pinkie is NOT an introject!

hi lovelies 🌷 petalfluff here:

endogenics are free to interact on this blog except if the post is specifically for CDD systems.

here is our system map WOWEEE!!!! we have VERY strong dissociation barriers and have subsystems!!!

OH AND IF YOU ARE CRINGE AND ANTI ENDO YOU SHOULD JOIN OUR DISCORD SERVER IT'S MY LITTLE PONY THEMED!!!

#SoundCloud #did system #did #endos dni #did osdd #actually did #system #actually plural #osdd system #osdd #syspunk #systempunk #pluralpunk #cdd #cdd system #cdd community #polyfrag #polyfragmanted #my little pony

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lottesreads · 5 months ago

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Why Me? - Part 12

Pairing: Bob Floyd x Mitchell! Female Reader (Callsign Mantis)

Warnings: Forbidden relationship, some angst, mentions of nightmares, mentions of PTSD, swearing, mentions of anxiety and panic attacks, therapy (we love), mentions of death/being sick, mentions of limb loss (it'll all make sense),

Word Count: 9500

Summary: Everyone prepares for the storm, and you're left with a lot to think about as some forgotten feelings come back.

A/N: Hiiii guys, I am so sorry this took SO LONG. For some reason it was so hard to write and school started so ya know how that goes. But hopefully this makes up for it?? I love all of you and as always I hope you enjoy. Reblogs and comments feed my life force just btw

p.s. you know I love to hear what you think, so fire away

Masterlist

Bob knows he messed up. He knows that, and as much as he wishes he never put you in this situation to begin with, he can’t undo what he said. Things have just gone completely downhill since he told you how he felt and it just…. feels like it’s all his fault. You’re quiet, secluding yourself, and almost scared at work now. But there’s not much he can do if you refuse to open up to him. He can’t help but worry for you, but it’s up to you now. If you want to talk to him, great. If not, he just hopes you talk to someone else.

The wind has slowly been gaining speed since early this morning when he took Sylvia out for a run. It was his last chance to get her out of the house before the shit hit the fan and he wasn’t gonna keep her cooped up anymore than she had to be. He’s been in a daze since yesterday. Can’t quite seem to focus on anything he puts before him, including the several garden gnomes and pieces of porch furniture belonging to his neighbors.

“You sure all of this will fit in the garage?”, he asks while carrying a chair down from the front steps.

“Oh I’m sure”, Rich replies. His eyes have been more focused on placing their gnome collection inside the house, but he’s been making room for everything else in the garage. He’s skeptical as he eyes the rest of the room, they’ve still got to fit their cars inside, too. He’s sure if he moved a couple of those storage bins to a higher shelf he’d be able to-

“You’ve already done enough for us, why don’t you come inside for some sweet tea, huh?”

“I’m ok”, he tries to brush him off.

“I’m not taking no for an answer Bob”, Rich offers with a raise of his thick eyebrow. Bob gives in, like he does most of the time with these two, and follows Rich inside. Harry sits at the table as he wraps up the rest of their pointy-hat clad lawn ornaments, but pauses at the sight of his husband.

“How’s everything going out there?”

“We’re just about done”, Rich responds from behind the fridge door, “I thought we deserved a water break.” Bob laughs to himself, he really hasn’t done much except move a couple pieces of furniture. He probably could have been finished by now if they didn’t keep offering him water or tea.

“Oh that reminds me”, Harry turns to his husband, “We need to bring the hose from the side of the house in. I forgot when I finished watering the garden yesterday.” Bob isn’t able to take one step in the direction of the door before Rich urges him into the seat across from Harry.

“Don’t you worry about that one young man, I got it.”

“It’s really no trouble-”

“I insist, you take a seat and drink your tea. You can take a turn listening to Harry complain for once.” Rich slides a glass of sweet tea in front of Bob before patting Harry on the shoulder and stepping outside.

“I just wish I could help you boys more”, Harry starts. “But ya know the leg starts acting up whenever a storm is coming.” He emphasizes his point by tapping his metal prosthetic onto the side of the table, shaking it the slightest bit. Bob’s never sure if he’s talking about the actual prosthetic hurting, or what’s left of his leg, but at this point he’s too scared to ask. All he knows is that whenever he gets a call from Harry early in the morning, there’s bound to be a storm before the day’s over. This time however, he got his weather from the news, like a normal person.

“So-”, Harry starts as Bob takes a swig from his glass, “Are we going to be seeing Miss Mitchell anytime soon?” The sweet tea halts in Bob’s throat, sliding down the wrong tube and causing him to choke on the beverage. He does his best to not drop the glass onto the table in order to stop himself from spraying the drink everywhere, but Harry looks like he could care less as his brow raises. Bob clearly was not expecting him to bring you up, and Harry’s squint gives into the fact he’s happy to catch him off guard.

“I’d make an assumption, but I’m not quite sure how to make one out of that kind of reaction.” Bob continues trying to clear his throat by coughing, but Harry waits.

“No”, he chokes, “She uh- she won’t be coming by anytime.” Harry hums to himself as he turns back to the bubble wrap.

“That’s too bad. She was quick, I liked her.” Me too, Bob thinks to himself. He just gives him a slight frown at the news. “Seemed like you were pretty fond of her, too.” Bob’s cheeks heat up at his insinuation, and he tries to make a run for it.

“Ok! I should probably go help-”

“Sit back down”, Harry groans. Bob begrudgingly does as the man says as he begins to toy with the condensation forming on his glass. “All I’m saying is, you both obviously like each other. What gives?” All he can do is shake his head at the thought. There’s too much, but maybe he’ll understand.

“There’s just a lot of other stuff involved.”

“Oh yeah, like what?”

“Well, for starters her title isn’t ‘Miss’... it’s Lieutenant.” Bob’s gaze flicks over to watch Harry’s eyes widen in realization.

“Shit. Is she a WSO, too?”

“Nah, she’s a pilot”, he smiles, “A damn good one.” Harry chuckles as he crosses his arms.

“I shoulda known.” Bob furrows his brows, silently asking him to explain. “She just had this look in her eye…Can’t really explain it.” Bob knows the one. The silent determination he sees whenever you climb into the cockpit. No matter what happens on the ground, once you ascend that ladder… you’re focused. And no one can take that away from you.

“So that’s it then? You're just gonna let her go?” Harry probes as Bob shakes his head. He focuses on a grain of wood in the table, avoiding the man’s gaze.

“It’s against strict rules”, Bob shrugs, “I don’t want to be the reason she gets into trouble. It’s better if we just leave it.”

“Is it?” Bob grabs his glass of sweet tea and takes a sip before Harry leans forward in his seat, “If I know anything about you Bob, it’s that you’ve got a level head on those shoulders. And from what I can tell about Lieutenant Mitchell, it’s that she does, too. But you can’t forget underneath all of that, you have hearts. You can’t leave that out of the equation.” Bob stills as he taps his finger on the rim of his glass. Yeah, Bob has a heart, but you do, too. And who knows if deep down this is what you really want? If he’s what you really want.

His thoughts are interrupted by Harry once again, this time as he finishes wrapping up the last gnome.

“Mitchell, huh?” Bob mindlessly nods. “You don’t happen to know if she’s got any family who served, do ya?”

“Yeah, actually. Her dad just happens to be our captain. Pete Mitchell-”

“Maverick?!”, Harry all but yells. “That cocky motherfucker’s still in service?” The front door slams shut as Rich makes his way back inside.

“What cocky motherfucker are we talking about?”, he asks as if this is a normal topic of conversation for the two of them.

“Pete Mitchell”, Harry tells him as he stares at Bob in awe.

“Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time”, Rich replies as he grabs himself and Harry their own drinks. Bob pivots in his seat as Rich brings both glasses to the counter, eyes wide in shock. “Don’t tell me-” He’s obviously already made the connection as Harry nods at him. He simply shrugs and continues to pour their drinks, brushing off the fact that Harry seems to be stuck on. Something he thought Rich of all people would want to talk about.

“Did you fly with him?” Bob directs the question at Harry. He rolls his eyes.

“For a very brief time. He’s a few years younger than me, but always acted like he was the best of the best. Didn’t even win the goddamn Top Gun trophy.”

“Well”, Rich chimes in as he sets the glass in front of Harry, “That wasn’t entirely his fault.” Bob’s eyes unintentionally squint as he tries to think back on what he actually knows about your dad. There’s very limited information he sought after Hangman revealed he flew with Rooster’s dad, and- then it hits him.

“Wait”, he stops the two men, “Were you guys here when they had the accident?”

“I wasn’t”, Harry responds, “But Rich was. He was actually one of the-” Rich’s hand claps down on his husband’s shoulder, effectively stopping him from finishing the story. He grants Bob a forced smile.

“I was. It was a… a very sad day.” Rich keeps moving, leaving his glass of tea untouched as he moves the box of packed up gnomes to the living room. Bob leaves it at that. If there was more to the story he wouldn’t want to probe where he’s not welcome to.

After helping move the small outdoor coffee table into the garage, he insists on parking their cars himself. Just to make sure he did leave enough room for everything to fit. And with his many years experience with Tetris, he’s able to pack anything that the wind might sweep away into safe hiding spaces for the night.

-----------------------

If the puffy eyes that greet you in the mirror are any indication that you’d been crying, the wad of tissues scattered around your trash can would certainly do the trick. It was an ugly cry, one that you realized was futile to resist against the snot dripping down your nose. You’d cried more in the past couple months than you had in the past five years. Not to mention you haven’t cried to the point where you kept a roll of toilet paper to use as tissues next to your bed since you were a teenager. But even then you had mastered to cry in silence, to not alert anyone or “bother” someone with the noise of your anguish.

It wasn’t a question that was the reason for your headache. You even forgot you got hit in the face until you tried wiping the sleep from your eyes, only to pull your hand away as soon as it brushed near the red and purple bruise.

“Son of a bitch”, you muttered as you made your way to the bathroom. The wind howls outside your room as you splash your face with cold water, hoping to reduce the swelling before inevitably seeing your father. Gently, you wipe your face with a towel, taking a good hard look at the aftermath from the night before. You huff out a breath before tearing your gaze away from the mirror, gathering the tissues you’d thrown half-heartedly in the direction of the trash can the night before.

Your father is already up and moving as you descend the stairs. Granted, you did allow yourself to sleep in today. He’s sitting on the couch, slipping his shoes on when you make eye contact. He immediately smiles with a grimace upon seeing your face.

“Hey sweetheart”, he greets you, “How you feeling this morning?” You simply scoff and turn to the kitchen. The coffee machine is still warm, your dad already having at least his second cup of the day.

“Like I got hit in the face”, you respond. The machine hums while you let it work, and you grab an emblazoned Navy mug from the cabinet. You turn to lean on the counter, watching him finish lacing up his boots. “Where are you going?”

“Well, Penny’s moving everything at the bar and I figured since I took care of our stuff yesterday, I’d go help out. Plus it’ll be my last chance to take the bike for a spin this weekend.”

“And they say chivalry is dead”, you comment as the coffee seeps into your cup. He chuckles and makes his way over to you. You turn, mug in hand as he walks up. He grimaces again at your face, but his shoulders slump as he notes your puffy eyelids. “How’d you sleep”

“Alright”, you mumble.

“I can stay here if-”

“Dad”, you groan as you roll your eyes, “What am I, five?”

“No- but I’m just saying, if you need me I’ll be here for you.”

“I know, but I’ll be fine.” He seems unsure as he glances between you and the front door. “Go”, you urge him, “Be a knight in shining armor.” He laughs again as he bids you goodbye and leaves. The rumble of his motorcycle tapering off as he exits the neighborhood.

Truly, you are fine. You’re not great, but you’ve been worse. In fact, this is probably the most down time you’ve had in a while. If you were still talking to Bob you would probably text him and see what he was up to, but alas. There’s not much to do except waste away for the rest of the day. Which is exactly what you do. You turn the t.v. on and throw your feet up. They almost hit the large box Bradley left yesterday. You guess you could see what’s in there for you, but you’re already so comfortable and it's just so… far away. And soon enough, your eyes are drooping shut again.

-----------------------

The day passes by painlessly as you switch from folding laundry, to eating whatever is left in the fridge. Your headache slowly dissipates with every bite of food and drink of water, but as it gets closer to evening, the noises from outside get louder and louder. A leaf from a palm tree being ripped from its home and hitting the side of the house, ran pattering, and thunder booming in the distance.

Deciding you’ve had enough of scrolling aimlessly through your phone, you move back to the living room and turn on something you can watch without much thought. The cardboard box Bradley brought over still sits on the coffee table, and huffing out a breath you decide to take the lid off. There’s a bundle of old photos, a couple of dirtied up baseballs, and an old envelope you move to look at, but your phone rings before you can inspect it further. Your dad’s face appears on the screen and you swipe to answer.

“Hey dad, what’s up?”

“Hey kiddo, listen, there was a lot that needed to be boarded up and taken care of at the bar, I just barely got back to Penny’s. I know everything’s taken care of at the house, but the wind and rain are picking up. I don’t want to leave you alone, but it might be safer just to spend the night here. Are you gonna be ok?”

“Dad, I'll be fine. I’d feel better knowing you’re at Penny’s rather than driving your bike in the storm.” You can hear him sigh on the other end. Even with your permission you know he still feels guilty leaving you.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

“I swear. I’ll be fine.”

“Ok sweetheart. Promise you’ll call me if anything happens or you need me, ok?”

“I promise”, you can’t help but smile through your words at his protectiveness.

“Alright, well I love you, and hopefully things will slow down and I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Love you, too, dad. Bye.” He bids you goodnight, even if it isn’t 8 o’clock yet, it feels like much later with the storm clouds covering up any chance of dying sunlight.

Turning back to the box you pick up the envelope, there’s an unexpected weight to it and you hold your breath at the sight of Carole’s handwriting. There’s one word on the front and it’s simply labeled “Bug”. Your once steady hands shake as you trace the folded edge that has been sealed for almost two decades. You can’t open it fast enough, but at the same time you’re hesitant to see quite possibly what her last words to you could be. Slipping your finger under the seal, you try to minimize the damage as it rips open. As if it were an extension of the woman herself.

Inside sits a lined piece of journal paper, folded neatly into thirds. But your eyes linger on the item weighing it down as you huff out a breath in disbelief. Your fingers reach inside, and once completely taken out of its hiding place, a silver chain with a butterfly pendant hangs from your hand.

With the necklace still wrapped around your fingers, your eyes water as you reach for the note, unfolding it. The paper shakes as your heartbeat quickens. And her voice fills your head while you trace the all familiar cursive with a featherlight touch.

My Darling Bug,

Did you really think I wasn’t going to notice this found its way back into my possession? I don’t know why or when you did this, but I thought I told you it wasn’t mine anymore. I gave this to you for a reason, Bug. I wanted you to know that Bradley, your dad, and I will always be with you. I think you might need it now more than ever. It might be a little different, but I don’t want you to look at it and be sad I’m not with you. I want you to look at it and be happy that I still am, no matter what.

I know I made you promise me to be brave. And you have kept that promise, so if you think you haven’t, you’re wrong. But maybe I should have worded it differently, because you don’t need to be brave like anybody else. I want you to continue being brave like you. Because I know you are. Even so, I want you to remember how I got this necklace in the first place. It all happened because Goose was brave enough to ask. He taught me that being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared anymore. It means that even though you are scared, you do it anyway. You don’t run from it, you face it head on. He always told me I wasn’t born with the fear part of my brain intact, but he was wrong. When we lost him, I knew for a fact that part of my brain was there. I was so scared, but I knew I had to keep going. If not for me, then for Bradley and your dad. Heaven knows your dad was scared out of his mind, but that’s what makes him one of the bravest people I know. He kept flying, and then soon enough, you came along and changed our lives completely. And I know I’m rambling, but I just need you to know how much you mean to me- to all of us.

So I don’t want you to live your life in fear or with regrets, wondering the same things, so please; continue to be the brave girl I know you are. It’s hard to take those first steps. But it is so worth the risk, because you deserve everything good this world has to offer.

And this may or may not make it easier, but I just ask that you take this back and wear it with pride. I will always be with you, bug. And I can’t stand another moment having this sitting in my jewelry box, collecting dust when you can wear it and put it to much better use. You deserve it. I love you very much, don’t forget that.

P.S. I know Bradley’s a big boy and he acts like he can take care of himself, but I know he’ll need you just as much as you need him. Same with your dad. Be there for each other.

-Love, Carole

You move the letter away from under your face as you feel the tears start to fall. You’re just quick enough as they hit your lap instead. The necklace is now safely encased in your grip as you take in a ragged breath. All this time- You can’t stomach the thought. This entire time, these past 16 years you’ve been separated from this last piece of Carole you never even knew existed. And the necklace you thought was lost to time now sits in your palm. You hold on to it. Tight.

You still don’t let go as you gingerly place the letter back in the envelope. Deciding you need to put these two things in a safer spot than your living room, you walk up to your room and go to the shoebox above your closet. Inside, you move the velvet box with your Academy ring to the side, making room for the letter. You almost place the necklace in with it, but you’re not going to disobey Carole by not putting it on the next chance you get.

With the silver chain still wrapped in your hand, you put the shoebox back, just about tripping over your flight suit in the process. In everything that happened yesterday after therapy you must have forgotten to put it in your laundry basket, or hang it up at least. As you pick the jumbled green fabric up, your ears prick up at the sound of something hitting the floor. The gleam of a copper coin catches your eye and you drop your uniform altogether, opting to pick it up instead.

Carole’s words swirl through your head as your heart rate picks up. You stare at the penny in one hand, and open your other to reveal the silver butterfly. The memory of Bob’s crooked smile fills your senses and your heart beats faster again. There’s a phantom ache of his hand cradling yours, gently placing that first penny into your palm on the tiled floor of the locker room. Even before you kissed there was this urge to want to get to know him from deep inside the dark recesses of your heart. From places you thought you blocked off and boarded up after your last boyfriend. You left no room for weakness, no room for anyone to have the upper hand, but yet, you feel safe around Bob. You still do, even after it tore you to shreds resisting that same urge to talk to him, to look at him. It scares you, how after only meeting him a few months ago, it feels like he knows the darkest parts of you, and still wants to learn more. To care for you in a way that you haven’t let someone in a long time. And you want to do the same for him.

That urge sends chills up your spine as thunder booms in the distance, the once small patter of rain picking up as it hails on your roof. Clenching the penny in your fist, you delicately hold the necklace in the other, and you swear the lightning reflects off the silver butterfly, almost winking at you. In the glint, you hear Carole’s voice from when she first gave it to you, and again through her writing. “Be brave”, her whisper echoes. And in that moment, your heart beats louder, anticipating what you know you’re going to do next before your brain has the time to catch up. Placing the necklace on your side table next to your bed, your feet sprint down the stairs the moment the chain leaves your fingers.

You can hardly differentiate the thud of your feet from the thunder that is somehow getting closer by the second. Throwing on the nearest jacket and lacing up your shoes, you grab your keys and head to the garage. Your old faithful Toyota lays dormant as you jump in, and start the engine. Or at least try to. It sputters a couple times as you turn the key again, and again.

“No, no, no. Please”, you plead as you take a deep breath, holding out hope as you try one last time, “C’mon!” With a final twist, the engine roars to life. “Yes! Thank you!” The garage opens and closes with the click of a button as you peel out of the driveway, probably a little too fast, but who would be crazy enough to be on the streets in these conditions?

The rain doesn’t stop on your account, and both hands are white knuckling the steering wheel as you attempt to maintain the little control you have of your vehicle over mother nature. Your windshield wipers are moving as fast as they can, but it’s little to no good as you traverse the streets. You might have been better off with a canoe.

Nonetheless, you’re so close. Your destination is only a couple blocks away, practically in sight as your car lurches forward, sputtering, before ultimately slowing as you pull to the side of the road.

“No, no, no, are you kidding me?!”, you scream as you hit the steering wheel. She was doing so good! What happened? Placing the car in park, you remove the key and try again, but nothing. Squinting through the rain pattered window, you make out the street sign up ahead as it sways in the wind. This is ok. You can do this. Clenching your jaw and ensuring your phone is buried deep in one of your pockets along with your keys, you push against the gusts of wind and open the car door.

Your face is immediately pelted with ice-like bullets, raining down on you without mercy. Even with the hood of your jacket on, it does no good as you run across the sidewalk and turn down the street. A few house lights are on, but you can barely see as the rain washes over you in sheets. A gust of wind almost gets the better of you as you try your hardest to hold the hood to your head, creating any kind of cover you can. You are so close to throwing in the towel. So close to going back to your car and hiding away until the storm is over. But you didn’t come this far just to turn back. You will not give up.

Shining just a bit brighter than every other house on the street, your destination is in sight. Just one block and your feet make the decision for you to move faster. To run like you never have before, because this time you’re not running from anything. You’re running towards something. The rain hits you quicker, but it’s hard to feel it soak through your clothes as your feet pound against the pavement.

Your shoes slip on the step to the front door, and your fist meets the entrance much sooner than you were expecting. It creates a loud knock, but there’s no sign of life behind the door. Gaining your footing back, you knock once more. Nothing. You knock twice again. Damn it. He must not be able to hear you through the storm’s havoc. You don’t care anymore, you weren’t thinking when you hopped in your car, and you aren’t trying to stay out in the rain all night. Your knuckles are knocking repeatedly on the door, and that’s when you hear Sylvia bark. She’s getting louder as she moves closer to the door and you continue your knocking, hoping he’ll hear you over her.

“Please, c’mon”, you mutter to yourself as your teeth chatter against the words. Your knuckles are going raw from the sheer cold and the fact that you’ve been hitting them against the door for what feels like 20 minutes. The door opens with a rush of warm air and you’re greeted with the halo wrapped face of someone who only feels like warmness and comfort. The light shines around his features as they contort at what stands in front of him.

“Mantis, what the hell?!”, he yells through the wind while reaching forward to pull you inside. “Oh my god, are you crazy?!”, he exclaims as he holds your arms in place. Your teeth are chattering as he tells you to stay put before coming back with a towel that he promptly throws over your shoulders. It doesn’t do much good as you’re soaked to the bone, but he’s frantically looking for more before you reach out for him.

“Bob-”

“What are you doing here?!”

“I- I’m being brave”, you explain through the pounding rain and thunder. He pauses just for a moment, then shakes his head as he stares at you in utter confusion.

“Did you.. run here? Mantis, are you ok?”

“Bob I’m fine-”

“Do you know where you are? How did you get here?”

“Bob!”, you finally raise your voice and he meets your gaze instead of your rain-drenched form. “I will explain everything, but please just let me say what I came here to say”, you breathlessly supply. He looks back to you, hesitant, but nodding to let you continue.

“Ok”, he whispers. You can barely feel your fingers, or your toes for that matter, but your shaky hand reaches into your pocket and grasps onto the single penny you came here with. The only thing that you made sure to bring.

“What did you mean by this?”, you ask as you hold it out in front of him. “When you gave this to Phoenix, what did you want me to make of this?” His eyelashes flutter in a series of blinks as he silently takes in a breath. Without meaning to, the coin shakes in your hand, and he rushes an answer before you have to stand there any longer.

“It means what it’s always meant. I know I messed everything up, but I still want you to feel like you can trust me, and talk to me. Because you can. I know how scary it can be, and it’s…rare to find someone you feel so comfortable to be around and talk to about the nitty gritty parts of your life. And I like to believe I was that for you for a little bit, ‘cause… you were that for me.” Your heart melts at his sentiment as you continue to drench the walkway of his home.

“Now can you please tell me why you drove here in the middle of a hurricane?” You swallow, hoping whatever fears you have fall to the back of your throat to make room for what you need to tell him. Because, here you are: Soaking wet, standing in Bob’s home, with nothing but a penny and the knowledge that even if you’re scared, you can do this anyway.

“Bob”, you sigh, “You have not messed anything up. In fact, you did something I was too afraid to do.” Taking another deep breath, you ignore the lines riddled in his forehead and continue.

“I have been scared for most of my life. I know sometimes I act like I’m invincible, but I’m not. But I am also sick of being scared. I am sick of pretending. Life is too damn short, and for once instead of just acting like I am, I am trying to be brave. I can’t let this be another ‘what if’. I won’t let you be that. You deserve to at least know how I feel.”

“Mantis, you don’t have to-”

“No, but I want to”, you nod with authority, solidifying to Bob that this is a risk you want to take. You take in another deep breath as it fills you with courage. “Bob, it’s hard to explain, but- you make me feel brave. But at the same time you also scare the shit out of me”, you can’t help but laugh as the crease in his forward melts a little bit. “You scare me because you care so deeply for the people around you, and you’re so generous, and kind, and I can’t help but want to be around you all the time. And- and I’m rambling aren’t I?”, you ask as he breathes out a miniscule laugh. And then you’re gifted with the slightest uptick of his mouth. Just enough for you to know that he’s still listening. But when is he not?

“Anyway. I just- it kills me that you think so lowly of yourself, and I need you to know that I care about you. A lot. And if it hasn’t been blatantly obvious by how I’ve kissed you”, he blushes and looks down at his feet as if he didn’t kiss you with just as much passion, “I like you beyond the point of being friends. And- I feel like you see me. Not just as an aviator, not just as a woman, but as a person. But that’s also scary in itself because you’ve seen my flaws, and each time you didn’t look away. You stayed. You stayed and made sure I didn’t stay down.”

“You didn’t need me for that”, he shakes his head. And you smile through your shaky breath. “You don’t stay down long.”

“Maybe not, but it’s easier to get up when someone lends you a hand.” He stills at your words and your mind tracks back to find the courage you came here with. It’s not hard when Bob’s standing right in front of you with Carole’s voice running through the back of your mind.

“I’ve tried brushing these feelings off, and staying away from you, thinking I was doing what was best for the both of us. And… I don’t know about you, but it’s only been like two days without talking to you- and I miss being around you.” The tell you’re about to cry starts with your throat straining, and at this point you’re trying everything to talk through it. “I don’t want to mourn you while you’re still here-”, you choke out as you clench your jaw to stop your teeth from chattering any louder than they already are.

“Hey”, Bob whispers as he moves closer to you, “It’s ok-”

“I don’t want to lose you when I’ve never even had you”, you breathe a shaky breath as he places his hands on your shoulders, the warmth permeating through your jacket and towel.

“Whoa, where is all this coming from?” Your breathing is rapidly increasing, as he stares down into your eyes, concern painted through the way he looks at you. That and something else you’re too hyped up on adrenaline to identify at this moment.

“It’s ok, just breathe for me. Can you do that?” You nod as you stare back at him, his hands reaching out to grasp your own, placing one on his chest. Just like he did in the locker room. God, it feels like it was ages ago.

“Jesus Christ, you’re freezing”, he mutters as he puts both of his hands atop your own. Your fingers thrum over the soft cotton of his shirt, and you’re almost certain his heart is beating just as fast as your own.

“Your heart’s beating really fast”, you comment as you watch your fingers underneath his.

“Are you sure that’s not your own?” You exhale a laugh, but continue to feel that familiar thump from his chest.

“No, that’s definitely you.”

“Yeah”, he manages a nervous smile, “That usually happens when I’m around you.” Your hand is slowly gaining feeling back under the protection of his own, and your eyes meet his. He whispers your name softly, and this time you don’t flinch. You don’t break away, you don’t blink. Your teeth are still chattering, the noise distracting him from whatever he was going to say.

“Let’s get you into some dry clothes, yeah?” Silently you nod as he gives you a brief smile. He’s seemingly already accustomed to the idea of you staying the night, something you didn’t think of before running out of your own house. Taking your hand in his own, he leads you to the bottom of his stairs before jogging up to what you presume to be his bedroom. You wait as you attempt to clench your jaw to stop chattering your teeth, but that’s when you spot a shiny black nose poking out from the corner of the living room.

“Hey Syl”, you whisper while bending down. She retreats almost immediately at the sight of you, but reappears at the familiar voice. You realize you must look kind of scary with your jacket hood plastered to your face. In an attempt to get her to come closer, you peel your hood off of your head and tempt her again with your outreached hand. “It’s just me sweet girl”, you whisper as she moves forward to sniff your hand. Her tail starts a wag at the appearance of your face and you smile as she gets close enough for you to pet her head.

You’re scratching her ears as Bob returns from upstairs, now carrying clothes for you to change into.

“Ok, I’ve got some sweat pants and a t-shirt”, he explains as he sorts through them, “But I do have a sweatshirt in case you’re still cold.” He shifts his attention back to you as you stand and accept the clothes with a quiet ‘thank you’. Without the hood obstructing his view of your entire face, his brow immediately furrows at the shadow just to the side of your eye. He doesn’t get a good look at it before you’re turning to change in the bathroom. He must be seeing things. A shadow from your hair, the dim lighting, it just can’t be what he thinks it is.

Peeling your wet clothes off your body was something you didn’t think about while sprinting full speed down Bob’s street. But here you are, in his downstairs bathroom, admiring the softness of both the shirt and sweatpants he’s offered you. You’re soaked right down to your underwear, and rather than sitting uncomfortably in a wet bra and underpants, you decide to go commando. If you get cold enough Bob did offer you a sweatshirt. Tossing your wet clothes over the shower curtain, you slowly walk out of the bathroom. It’s quiet. Other than the occasional rumble of thunder, or whip of wind and rain against the windows, the only thing you’re aware of is your own breathing. Until you get into the living room and find Bob picking at his thumbs on the couch. He doesn’t notice you, and for the first time tonight, you hesitate. You run your fingers over the bottom of Bob’s shirt, holding it out slightly in front of your body. Just admiring how quickly he offered his own clothes to you. Your hair is slightly damp, but not dripping like it was moments ago, thanks to the towel he gave you when you first came in.

He must hear you shift on your feet, because soon enough his eyes follow your form in his clothes, the pants tight in some places, loose in others, but the large t-shirt does its job. He stops on your face as you give him a nervous smile and make your way over to the other end of the couch.

“Oh my god, what happened?”, he all but rushes out as you sit. His eyes are frantic with worry as you trace his concerned gaze to your cheek.

“Oh that”, you try to laugh, “It was an accident.” He swallows while he stiffens in his seat. Bridging the gap you left between the two of you, he catches your gaze as you look down at his hand.

“Mantis”, his voice darkens, “I need you to be completely honest with me.” He’s staring so intently into your eyes you feel like you’re center stage in a show you weren’t given the lines to. A kind of intensity you’ve never seen directed toward you from the man. “Did somebody hurt you?” You’re stuck in your spot, and without hesitating you answer him.

“No”, you breathe as you softly shake your head, “Bob, I promise you it was a complete accident. I was playing catch and wasn’t paying attention.” He eyes it one more time, and you see his hand twitch in his lap before it slowly makes its way to cup your face, turning it to take a better look. You hold your breath at the movement, but once his thumb strokes lightly over your skin you melt into his warmth.

“Well whoever you were playing catch with knows how to throw a pretty wicked fastball”, he mutters as he takes in the bruising along with the indent of the stitching.

“Yeah”, you sigh, not able to say much as he holds the weight of your face and much more in his gentle hand. “Rooster was a pitcher on his high school team.”

“You were playing catch with Rooster?” You let out a breathy laugh, knowing how confusing this must be.

“It’s a long story”, you tell him. “I just wasn’t paying attention.”

“And he still threw it at you?”

“I try not to make sense of Rooster’s actions anymore.”

“Next time you wanna play catch, you come to me. Ok?” His eyes are still on the bruise, analyzing it from every angle.

“Are you saying you won’t throw the ball at my face?”

“No. I’ll make sure you’re ready first.” His smile fades the tiniest bit, but his hand has yet to move. It’s quiet again until a particularly loud burst of thunder has him dropping his hold on you.

“Um, let me get you some ice.”

“I’m fine. My face, feet, and hands are pretty much still numb.”

“May I?”, he asks, reaching for your hands. You’re facing him now, and he turns to mirror your own crossed legs as his hands clasp your own. Slowly, without looking back at you, he brings them closer to his face and before you have the good sense to realize what’s going on, his warm breath fans over your dead fingers. Something flips in your stomach as he starts rubbing his thumbs over the back of your palms after each slow and agonizing breath.

The contrast in temperature hurts your fingers down to the bone, but you can’t seem to take them away from Bob. He stops the breaths just for a second as he rubs your hands in contemplation.

“Mantis… Why are you here?” You’re almost certain your swallow is audible as you stare down at your joint hands. He doesn’t push you when you don’t immediately answer. He only continues to soothe your aching extremities. But when he starts breathing on them again and his glasses fog up slightly, that’s when you truly start to feel the discomfort seep from your fingers. And that’s when you know you have your answer for him. Because he will truly put your needs before his own. His clothes on your back, his sight for your warmth, his happiness for your own. But he doesn’t quite know the true extent of your own unhappiness without him in your every day.

Your answer sits on the tip of your tongue, but truly, your brain speaks before you can formulate the words you need him to hear.

“I went to therapy”, you blurt out as you stare at him. God, why can’t your mouth just say what it needs to? Why is this so hard? Bob looks at your face at your admission, blinking away his shock at the volume at which you spoke them.

“That’s- that’s great.” He goes back to rubbing your fingers, ruminating on your words, then stopping suddenly. “It wasn’t ‘cause of me, was it?”

“No!”, you’re quick to correct him. “Not at all.. I mean it wasn’t your fault, but I did talk about you a little bit”, you admit bashfully. He nods, seemingly drawing his own conclusions. “It wasn’t anything bad. Just-”. You’re hesitant to tell him about your dreams, about why your dad called him that day. Why you were so fidgety and couldn’t even look him in the eye. But then you look back at him, and you know everything will be ok. He won’t run, or look at you with pity. He might be concerned, sure, but he’ll still be there for you.

“After Nat’s party, I had a nightmare. I haven’t had one in years, and it kind of rattled me. And then I had another one. They usually happen after I feel like I’ve done something I shouldn’t have. Something that would- make my mother mad at me.” He stiffens at your words, brows drawing up once more. He knows. And you don’t want him to blame himself. “But yeah, I got back in touch with my therapist. Gonna make it a regular thing now… but after my session she asked me to list three people who make me feel wanted. And it was very clear to me you’re on that list. And I hope I make you feel important, too. I know I haven’t this past week- and I’m sorry-”

“Hey”, he tugs your hands toward him just enough to get your attention, “You had enough going on, you don’t need to worry about me.”

“But I do. I can’t help it.” He whispers your name and averts his gaze from your face like he can't even bear to look at you right now. You didn’t think this was news, last time you were here he told you essentially the same thing.

“What?”, you whisper back.

-----------------------

Bob did not imagine even in his wildest dreams you would run to him in the middle of a storm. But here you are, pouring your heart out to him, your hands in his, his old t-shirt draped over your shivering body, but there’s still that tiny part of his brain telling him it’s too good to be true. And in reality, it is. Because what is he supposed to do now? What did you hope to achieve by coming over here? Your feelings don’t change the fact that this is still wildly against rules in place.

It might have been easier for him to deal with it on his own not knowing exactly how you felt, but now? He can’t put you in a position for someone to take your dream away from you. Especially after how much you’ve had to sacrifice to get to where you are. And there’s still so much for you to do.

“What do you want me to do with these feelings?” He finally asks and you’re caught off guard.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean- a few days ago when you came to me you were so sure this wasn’t a good idea. And now?” He searches your face for an answer in your silence. “What changed?”

“I found a letter from Carole. It was meant for 12-year-old me, " you can’t help but release a watery laugh, “but she just reminded me that some things are worth the risk.” You pause for a moment, squeezing his hands for reassurance before continuing.

“Our jobs are dangerous, and even if they weren’t, life is so precious. And I don’t want to continue breathing if I’m only half-living. I already did that, and I refuse to do it again. And I’m not asking you to do anything with what I’ve told you, I just had to let you know. And that might be selfish, but I know running from what I’m feeling isn’t fair. To you or me.”

It’s quiet again, you’re not sure if Bob is looking at you anymore, but your eyes are drawn back to his hands. One of the single greatest comforts you can’t help but indulge yourself in. A flash of lighting pierces the corner of your eye and the boom of thunder follows shortly after. It almost bleeds into the rasp in his voice as he speaks.

“Is it selfish if we both want it?”. Your eyes snap to meet his and you’re hit with that intensity again. It’s slightly masked by insecurity, but you can see how much this means to him. You’re so sure he can hear you release a sharp breath.

“What do you want-” Your thought is cut off by a deep rumble of thunder, almost shaking the structure of the house. You flinch as if the roof were about to collapse on the two of you, but you’re not catching a break as the remaining kitchen lights click off.

“Damn it”, he mutters under his breath. Bathing you and Bob in total darkness, you instinctively squeeze his hands and he squeezes right back.

“It’s ok”, his voice echoes as he tries to see anything around the darkened room. Sylvia whines from beneath her hiding spot as he blindly searches the coffee table for his phone, petting her in the process to calm her nerves. With his phone located, he turns the flashlight on and you wince at the harsh white light. Sylvia continues to whine even as she scurries out from under the table and runs up the stairs. He runs a hand through his hair as he stands and you’re left in his absence. Goosebumps crawling up your arms and legs force you to shiver and Bob sees it out of the corner of his eye.

“Here- you can take my bed. It’ll be way too cold down here.”

“Bob, no. I’ll crash on the couch”, his mouth opens to protest but you stop him before he even starts, “Plus, I think your daughter might need you up there.” He moves his hands to his hips, deliberating his choices until he eyes you.

“I mean- we could always, ya know…”

“What?”

“We could share my bed. It’s not like we haven’t already slept in the same bed together- Not that I’m assuming you want to! But it’ll keep you extra warm if we’re both there, and that way we’re in the same room and-” With a soft smile you cut off his rambling.

“I think that’s a great idea.” That crooked smile graces his face for the first time in what feels like forever, and your nerves are put at ease. You want to be the reason he smiles like that for as long as you’re able.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

He silently leads you up the stairs and offers to let you use the bathroom first while he tries to tidy up the mess you hopefully didn’t see through the lens of your phone’s flashlight.

There’s not much, just a couple of dirty shirts he didn’t have the time or energy to throw into his laundry basket. And then there’s the laundry basket of clothes he was going to fold today, but got distracted at Rich and Harry’s. Shoving the basket in the corner of the room, his eyes catch on the rain-pattered window. Palm trees sway in the wind, and thanks to a flash of lightning, he watches the street run like a river. He squints, trying to find where you parked your car, hoping the damage won’t be too bad.

The click of the door opening has him turning to you, brows still furrowed.

“Hey, where’d you park your car?”

“Oh, that. Funny story”, you laugh, “It stopped running about a block that way-”, you point up the street, “And I kinda ran the rest of the way.” His eyebrows shoot up to his hairline as you stand there chuckling.

“Mantis”, he sighs, “Why did you think any of this was a good idea?”

“I wasn’t really thinking, I just knew I had to talk to you”, you bashfully admit. A flash of lightning reflects in his glasses, and you’re brought back to your conversation downstairs. Your unfinished conversation. The hairs on your arms raise before Sylvia whines from underneath Bob’s bed.

The two of you glance back and spot her nose peeking out from under the frame. You’re on your knees, petting her head as Bob stands at the window.

“It’s ok sweet girl”, you coo. With the two of you distracted, he takes a minute to finish getting ready for bed. God, he just can’t believe you’re actually here. Granted, he wishes it was under better circumstances, but still. Stepping back into his bedroom, he’s pleased to find you already underneath the covers, your back facing him. His heart speeds up at you already so comfortable in his bed, but he gathers himself quickly before turning to close the door to the room. The bedroom the two of you are currently sharing… with his dog lying on his side of the bed.

“Before you say anything”, you rush out as you sit up, “She got up here all by herself, and I don’t have the heart to tell her to get down. So you’re just gonna have to look into those big brown eyes and be the bad guy here.” He bites down a smile as he pretends to deliberate on what he should do. Not giving in and telling you that she normally sleeps on the bed with him.

“Plus, I don’t think she’ll be as scared if she’s up here with us”, you add. With us. Yes, that word just came out of your mouth. And it might not be a big deal, but you just used that word and Bob is having a hard time not pinching himself to make sure this is all real and not another dream. Clearing his throat, he manages to cough out a “yeah”. Or something akin to agreement.

He starts to settle onto his side of the bed, and you scooch as far away from the middle as you can. Sylvia moves down the bed in between the two of you and you finally lie back on your respective pillows. You can hear his glasses hit his bedside table as his hand falls to Sylvia. There’s an unspoken tension in the room, and you’re not sure if you can wait until morning to break through it. But neither of you say anything. You just lie there like a lifeless body whose heart is also about to burst through her chest.

Another flash of lightning slices through the curtain, followed almost immediately by a horribly loud boom. Sylvia whines again and your hand falls to her. You knew his hand was there, but it doesn’t stop the shock at the feeling of your fingers brushing his. As your hand swoops over Sylvia’s fur he almost moves back as you stop. But that single touch in the dark makes you want more. So with a clear mission, you bring your hand back over her fur and start to slowly trace his knuckles and fingers. His hand turns over, inviting you to do the same to his palm before he halts your motions and instead intertwines your fingers. He’s still so much warmer than you are, and your hand melts in his. It makes you feel safe.

You don’t say anything as his thumb rubs your hand. The two of you lay in the backdrop of rain and thunder, staring at the ceiling as if it had some kind of hidden message you have to decode. Bob must find what his side says because he clears his throat before speaking.

“What you asked earlier, about what I want- I want you to be happy. Above anything else.” Your heart turns over as you face him.

“I want that for you, too… But you should know you make me really happy”, you whisper into the night. His hand flexes as his pillow rustles to your right.

“You mean that?”, his voice is clearer as he turns his head, and although you’re having a hard time seeing through the dark, you can imagine the look of fear and insecurity in his eyes.

“Of course I do.”

“Cause you make me happy, too”, he rasps, his voice somehow even deeper. And you just can’t help the way you move closer to him. Reaching with your free hand, you hold onto his bicep and rest your head on his shoulder. He welcomes it with a relaxed sigh as you get comfortable. Sylvia doesn’t seem to mind being squished in between your legs, and you’re happy for the warmth these two provide you.

There’s still a lot to talk about. A lot to figure out as to what happens next, but right now? You can’t seem to care what happens tomorrow because you’re content to hold onto Bob tonight. And as you feel him kiss the top of your head, you get that deep butterfly feeling in your stomach. The good kind this time. No overwhelming urge of anxiety or doom washes over you and you know everything is going to be ok. It has to be.

-----------------------

Hey Siri, play Fearless by Taylor Swift

Taglist:

@lemmons1998

@itsmytimetoodream

@theamuz

@harrysgothicbitch

@mygyn

@luckyladycreator2

@marve2014

@wretchedmo

@callsignwidow

@finnydraws

@melsunshine

@jostan456

@okiegirl24

@beebeechaos

@eclecticfashionbookszipper

@hunbomb

@nerdgirljen

@knight-of-the-doctor

@smoothdogsgirl

@planetaryempire-blog

@dumblani

#why me?#top gun maverick #bob floyd fanfiction #top gun fanfiction #bob floyd fic #bob floyd x reader #mavdad #robert bob floyd x female reader

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treedaddymcpuffpuff · 9 months ago

Note

Hi, I love your writing! I'm not sure if you are doing the erotic horror prompts anymore but if you are, then may I request a Prompt 9 OR 34 with John Wick?

Hi, thank you so much, Anonymous. It means the fucking world to me!!! Allow me to express my gratitude with some predator/prey:

(I know these are supposed to be horror, but I keep turning them into fluff. Please forgive me🥺❤️)

“So, the first rule of self defense is run,” John says, giving her a heavy, doubtful side eye that speaks volumes about his faith in her to do so.

“Second?” She asks, arms crossed, foot tapping, watching him stalk circles around her like he’s going to drop her at any moment - her heart patters wildly every time she sees his step slow or his eyes move to a vulnerable part of her body, even though she knows that whatever “tells” he exhibits are actually fakeouts and dead ends. Just a way to get her nerves worked up so that she’s taking him seriously.

He stops in front of her, places a finger in the center of her chest, and she knows he could give a little push and she’d be flat on her ass.

But he doesn’t. He smiles. “Hide.”

She rolls her eyes. “The third?”

“Fight. And -“ he moves his finger against her bare skin, drawing her eyes and attention, then flicks her lightly on the forehead as punishment for falling for it. “Don’t roll your eyes at your superior.”

She rubs the pink mark. “Ow,” she tells him, even though the trick only stung a tiny bit.

“Now say, “yes, master.”” His eyes light with mischief.

Every piece of her fucked, masochist body wants to fight him on that if only to earn more brutality for it. But this is supposed to be critical training, even though her trainer isn’t taking it as such.

She figures that she’ll be the determined one, for once, so she tips her head, straightens her shoulders, and says, “yes, master.”

His eyebrow raises behind untamed bangs. “Good.”

“Did you take that from a job orientation class?” She asks him.

“What?”

“At jobs, they use the ‘run, hide, fight’ for active shooters.”

He shakes his head no, but it’s so hard to tell when and if he’s fucking with her…

“Have you ever had a normal job?” She wonders aloud.

He shrugs. “Then you already have the basics down. Excellent.” He continues circling. “Start small,” he says. “Then, work your way up.”

She nods, although annoyed with being ignored, continue.

“So, we start with running.”

She cringes. The mere thought of him watching her run laps is painfully embarrassing.

Wanting to impress and not kill this before it even gets started, she keeps her mouth shut.

“I’ll give you a minute head start.”

Wait, what did he say?

She almost laughs. “We’re racing?”

His grin is worrying. “No, I’m chasing you.”

In that case, she wants to ask for at least a five minute head start; eyes his thick, long legs. The taut muscle is visible shifting and tensing, even under his baggy sweatpants.

“You’re going to catch me,” she tells him, wanting to argue about this being unfair.

“Then you’d better start running,” he replies, flipping his wrist over to check the ticking time.

“What - where am I allowed to go?” Cool sweat collects at the nape of her neck.

“Anywhere.” He’s still looking at his watch, waiting patiently.

“When are we starting?”

His eyes flit up, glint at her, then focus back on the dwindling time. “Five seconds ago.”

Prickling anticipation drives her to argue. “How is that going to help me? Just running all day so you can keep catching me? Pretty soon I’ll get tired and will just give up and let you catch me.”

“Oh, that’s what I forgot to mention,” John murmurs.

Anger anxiety cocktail spikes. Forgot to mention? There’s a lot of shit that he’s conveniently forgetting to mention.

“If I catch you, I tickle you.” His grin grows into a sharp-bladed tip.

“John,” she says, voice worried, which delights him. “That is not fair. You’re going to catch me and you can’t just tickle me all day when you do.”

He’s a reasonable man. He’ll see her issue. She’s valid in her concerns, and they both know it.

“Yes I can.”

“Are you serious?!”

“Uh huh.” He taps his watch face. “Thirty seconds.”

Her shoes slip on the cushiony matts, landing her on her knees before she can start bolting.

He resists the urge to go to her. Thankfully, she’s not down for long, or else his concern would get the better of him.

She stands and runs. Up the stairs, already panting and sweating, adrenaline an ache that builds higher the farther away she gets from him.

Out the door of the gym, down the hallway, trying not to fall again and losing precious time because of it.

She’s in the cold before she knows what she’s doing. Her t-shirt does nothing to cover her from the frost, but fear and physical exertion help her stay warm.

Down the left block, then ducking through an alleyway, wondering if he’s on her tail by now.

Blessedly, there’s no snow on the ground, so she’s not leaving any footprints. Also, that means she can go faster and not have to worry about falling.

She rushes a corner and almost takes out an older man walking his dog, so, of course, she has to stop and profusely apologize.

“It’s fine, dear,” he chuckles.

She pats his friendly Labrador on the head. “Are you sure?” She looks him over, and he seems okay. Her memory says she ran smack dab into his frail frame, but maybe it’s just her psychosis acting up again.

“I’m alright, dear, where is your coat? Your skin is ice cold.”

“Oh, I left it at home, just going for a jog,” she replies, trying to be casual.

His fluffy dog pushes a wet nose into her hand and nuzzles her out of more attention.

“This is Sam,” the older man introduces. “He is very friendly.”

“He’s amazing,” she says, using both hands to stroke blonde, cold fur.

“Are you training for a marathon?” The man asks. “I hear there’s a big one by Macy’s next week.”

“No. Just exercising.” She smiles up at him, wondering how to politely break this conversation off and save her own ass.

Behind him, about half a block down, is her pursuer and teacher.

It would be better if he looked disappointed. So, so much better.

Her hand stills on Sam’s head.

That expression would be a glare if his mouth wasn’t pulled up at the seams. His eyes of brilliant brown are blown black. Like a shark. No, too intentional to be a shark - it isn’t pure hunger that drives him.

Gotcha.

Fear is the only thing she’s capable of feeling for a couple of seconds as she forgets what, exactly, is going on while an instinctual and ancient part of her remembers what it’s like to be hunted.

She’s going to feel really bad, later, about turning away from a nice man and his dog without so much as a goodbye and sprinting the opposite direction.

That trepidation just coils tighter the more she runs. She wasn’t built for this. Her legs are too short, her body too pillowy to gain any sort of momentum, her lungs too small for the air required in running.

It’s nothing but luck and adrenaline carrying her down crossroads and alleys.

She spares a glance behind her, and almost feels like she’s winning when she doesn’t see John.

It’s because he’s in front of her.

At the end of the gravelly side street, lounging lazily on the wall.

Michael fucking Meyers, that’s what this reminds her of. You never see him moving, but somehow he’s always catching up to you.

She almost falls again when turning around to dash the other way, but manages to keep a shaky, vertical grip on earth.

John surpasses her, the easy stride of his legs infuriating, and plants himself in her path so that she runs smack into his chest.

There’s no time to get away. He already has her biceps gripped tight.

She winces, writhes, glower resembling more of a pout.

“When you run,” he says, kissing her head with a soft mouth that contradicts his hard grip. “You zigzag. Go every direction. Never in a straight line. Never predictably. You have to not think about where you’re going, but focus wholly on your destination.”

“Helpful tips that I should have known earlier?” She tries, grinning dryly.

He chuckles. “If I just tell you, you won’t learn. Which reminds me: Let’s take you home and get you warm. I owe you some merciless tickling, don’t I?”

“I was hoping you’d forget,” she groans. “Second chance?”

“You’ll get plenty of chances,” he assures, leading her back to where she came with a big arm wrapped around her shoulders to keep her warm.

#john wick x reader #john wick fanfiction #john wick x plus size reader #keanuverse fic #keanuverse #Idk wtf this is #My touch starved brain said fluff #And I obeyed #IV Drabbles

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estellardreams · 3 months ago

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Introducing the Fusion Trio from the LMK Battle Nexus AU [which belongs to @purble-turble]!

Basically take EVERY SINGLE AU THAT MANAGED TO ESCAPE CHARCOAL BONE KING AND SMASH THEM TOGETHER.

(Lore ramble incoming: )

There are notable aspects between each, but the most obvious ones are definitely the more animal features coming to the forefront.

And yes, all three of them do have the Samadhi Fire. At least one of their variants had it so they all get the flame.

Red Son's primary physical form is a fusion between, surprisingly, both Time Travel Red and King Red's appearances, leading to the half shaved have long look. The pink/black and orange/yellow streaks are the samadhi fire and his normal flames being visible.

MK got Wukong and Macaque's natural hair colors in his hair along with more naturally colored monkey fur. Not to mention his outfit was updated to be a lot more nimble and like the stone monkey's since he is one himself.

Mei is noticeably more dragon-like and was given a more flexible outfit because of it. Not to mention her hair got grown out as well and is tied up in a ponytail along with being hung downwards.

The violet grey bands on their right wrists are for magic regulation so they don't just... Explode when trying to use their powers. Naturally they all hold base level abilities but combined experience from all of the versions into one.

Despite how busted this is... Nearly everyone is at war with themselves, leaving them mostly unfocused on combat and unable to work in sync for the most part.

Only very few of the variants are allowed in the forefront despite this, though. Mainly because DKR and Yandere MK would easily jeopardize everything if given the chance (also no one exactly trusts them).

But they do force themselves to the front quite a few times, leading to a lot of sudden issues in fights against the possession trio.

Specifically King Red is an issue, leading to the other Red's to forcibly pry him from the front and force him far into the back. The body's collective interest in MK and Mei along with the other two (Yes chimera shipping but only Spicynoodles and Dragonfruit. No Goldendragon shipping) leads to him smothering the two during sudden rescues from harm. Both MK and Mei just wanna focus on the mission if only the DKR side of possessiveness wasn't so OVERPOWERING.

Mei is naturally the only one able to pry the two off of each other in that situation, needing to get everybody back on track and they can deal with fixing, well... Themselves, later.

Mei essentially becomes the main leader of the trio, with MK being their muscle and Red being their smarts. Though with that in mind... Red oftentimes "short circuits" whenever his counterparts begin arguing internally. So whenever that happens, on the outside his expression falls blank and he's just... Stuck there until someone in the mental headspace makes them start moving.

For a potential reference as to how the headspace works, think of the control panel in Inside Out.

Thankfully, there aren't too many people in each headspace. The average on active ones is around twenty but for all of the souls the number is closer to fifty.

So... Yeah. That's about it. They're definitely a complicated trio and- OH WAIT I ALMOST FORGOT.

The Battle Nexus counterparts of their friends and family. They're actually super chill yet have no idea that the fusion trio are, well, actual fusions. Besides Wukong and Macaque, of course, who managed to put the pieces together very quickly. MK did explain what was happening to the two of them and they realized just how serious the situation is.

So they got some assistance. Though, Pigsy, Tang, and Sandy just treat Red, Mei, and MK as normal counterparts and not generally fusions. It was like the blueprints of the world made them assume they've always been like that, which makes Wukong and Macaque's attitude towards the trio all the more bizarre to them.

Their appearances are generally leaning towards their og counterparts for reference, albeit with the added awareness of the Battle Nexus existing and being inaccessible for the average person.

Though once the world gets fixed, surprisingly the fusion trio is allowed to exist after the fact (they got generated to replace the original fusion trio). They occasionally go to the Battle Nexus themselves but mostly remain on Earth.

Jin and Yin become aware of them very quickly, as it's very hard to ignore three visibly unique versions of Red Son, MK, and Mei together. So when they did sign up, they were put under a few extra rules to avoid destroying the battlefield during fights.

The most obvious is being allowed to only use a select five powers by assistance of the band per match. They can switch them out whenever they want before or after, but not during the fight.

... Suffice to say, no one ever challenges them except for each other. They literally hold the combined powers of all of the AUs in the Battle Nexus combined, so the second anyone tries fighting them they'd get pounded to the ground in seconds.

Color pallettes + seperate designs

#Lmk #Lmk au #Battle nexus #digital art #traffic light trio #lmk mk #lmk mei #lmk red son #text post #🌸mine #Fusion Traffic Light Trio #Fusion trio

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weirdmageddon · 1 year ago

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yesterday i wrote a scene where jade wasnt a plot device and was left the hell alone in A6A5 because this being dave and jade’s last proper conversation in years made me sad and i wanted to see them reunite properly. i mixed a bit of narration in too even though it was rare around this point in the comic but its just to paint a better picture. also i wouldnt mind feedback on character voice (it’s important to me that the dialogue sounds believable)

[3 years are over, everyone is in the new session. The prospit ship is on LOMAX, as is everyone who arrived on the meteor, safely warped by Jade onto LOMAX as well. Jade has banished B2 Jack to the Furthest Ring already. She hasn't seen her friends in 3 years, not to mention she never met the trolls in person yet.]

[Jade teleports to LOMAX where John was talking with the meteor crew. Her eyes widen when she sees the trolls, giving everyone a greeting. Jade waves to the trolls.]

You’ll have time to catch up with them later. First you want to reconvene with Rose and Dave.

> ==>

Dave... Oh my god! DAVE!!! That’s right! The last time you saw him, he died in your arms after Jack redirected the bullets from your gun into his body!

JADE: dave!!!! DAVE: hey DAVE: this has been three years coming hasnt it DAVE: cmere

> ==>

[Dave hugs Jade with a slight grin on face. He notices her… sniffing him?? but doesn’t even bother to question it.]

JADE: it is so nice to hold your body when its not a corpse :) DAVE: ok DAVE: weird thing to say DAVE: actually who am i kidding who gives a shit DAVE: i almost forgot how much i missed the enigmatic riddlefuckery that is your phrasing DAVE: fortunately i have context for this so i know what youre saying DAVE: humor me for a sec and imagine that i didnt DAVE: but first DAVE: are those dog ears JADE: yes! i am part dog now JADE: because i prototyped my dreamself with becsprite JADE: jadesprite became part of me! and so did her doggy traits from bec DAVE: got it DAVE: oh yeah john mentioned that on the back of his dumb poster inside that bucket that appeared out of thin air DAVE: right before we had to haul ass out of there before jack caught up to us DAVE: karkat had a complete fucking meltdown over that btw i wish you couldve seen it DAVE: damn it feels like so long ago now JADE: heheheh i remember JADE: john realized it at the last second but it was too late! DAVE: of course it was johns idea only he could do something that gooberish DAVE: you know what this means though JADE: yup!! woof woof DAVE: it means youve done it harley DAVE: youve finally done it god damn it DAVE: the evolution of humankind is finally upon us DAVE: the scientists said it would never happen in our lifetime DAVE: but look what we have here DAVE: before me stands mans first legitimate furry subspecies DAVE: homo canis DAVE: as the name implies theyre gay as fuck btw DAVE: its too bad all those scientists are dead and cant witness this phylogenetic breakthrough DAVE: rip to the science community yall wouldve lost your collective shit DAVE: hey jade lets pour one out for the science community for being real ones

> ==>

You are still nestled into Dave’s shoulder. He’s taken a sort of protective position over you. Your perceptive barkbeast ears can hear his formerly bullet-riddled heart beating a mile a minute with the regularity of quartz beneath his time-branded pajamas, all the while he continues to ramble to you about certifiably dumb shit. You can tell Dave is psyched to see you again, even if he expresses it in his OWN bizarre way, which means extended metaphors and topical tangents. What a hypocrite, calling YOUR phrasing perplexing! You sure missed this guy.

You realize you started tuning him out while thinking about all this.

DAVE: jade JADE: umm homo is the species name JADE: so wouldnt that mean were all gay? :p DAVE: yeah that sounds about right DAVE: anyway enough of this bullshit

> ==>

[Dave motions to retract his arms since he doesn’t want it to get too weird, but Jade squeezes tighter. Dave immediately yields to the movement]

DAVE: jesus wow ok DAVE: really happy to see you too DAVE: like if you had a tail it would be wagging so forcefully youd be knocking over all the fucking furnishings in the room DAVE: just slapping it so hard on the owners thigh that it feels like theyre being flogged DAVE: talk about getting bitch slapped JADE: :D DAVE: so howve you been JADE: really really excited to see you guys all again!!! JADE: and to meet the trolls! DAVE: yeah theyre pretty weird DAVE: and im still not used to it DAVE: but it gets more manageable the longer youre around them DAVE: by the way JADE: ?

> ==>

DAVE: sorry you had to go through that JADE: through what? DAVE: seeing me die and stuff again DAVE: except that time right in front of you JADE: .... DAVE: when we were gathering up all those frogs i knew jack was going to appear DAVE: i was waiting and waiting to play it out DAVE: mentally rehearsing my fucking torso getting turned into swiss cheese and knowing you would have to watch on top of it DAVE: i had to make sure it happened to protect the integrity of the alpha timeline DAVE: but if you knew this was going to happen you wouldve tried to prevent it and created a doomed one DAVE: and so i didnt say anything DAVE: i couldnt DAVE: so DAVE: sorry for putting you through that JADE: oh..... JADE: dave D: JADE: well im here JADE: if you ever want to talk about it DAVE: its cool DAVE: you just deserve to know what happened there DAVE: but thanks DAVE: so am i JADE: yeah i know JADE: i guess i should be glad you did that then... JADE: even though i was freaking out when it happened ._. JADE: otherwise you wouldnt be here will us now dressed in your red god tier time pajamas DAVE: yeah these magical rags really are comfortable arent they DAVE: and they stay like perma clean JADE: they are! i would wear mine over and over for days on end JADE: id take a nice shower and put it right back on JADE: and you know how much i love cycling my outfits through my wardrobifier JADE: by the way dave your cape is sooo cool! :o DAVE: thanks DAVE: yeah i love it its hella soft DAVE: its like ive got a portable snuggle blanket with me in case i ever need to drop to the floor like a tired sack of shit and get my snooze on DAVE: ive got a permanent personal reservation at club bed featuring dj pillow and mc blanky JADE: heheheh JADE: can i touch your cape? DAVE: of course go nuts JADE: yaaaay!!

#hs #homestuck #davejade #dave strider #jade harley #my hs dialogues

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asmutwriter · 10 months ago

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Just A Woman (Part 3)

DESCRIPTION: You attend the party that your friend, Benedict, invited you to

WORD COUNT: 3549

A/N - The long awaited part 3. Hopefully it will take me less then then 2 years to write part 4

From Beginning / Previous / Next / Master List

WARNINGS: swearing, brief mentions of injuries, sexual tension, kissing, undertones of brothels/prostitution

DISCLAIMERS

- I wrote this in my knowledge of sex workers and I am truly sorry if I got it wrong and/or is offensive, that is not what I intended to do and I’m sorry if that is the case

- This is fiction. Please always talk to your partner before doing anything and make sure they are ok with what you are doing beforehand

You walked back to your house after you say goodbye to Benedict. Being greeted by the girls. You go into the bedroom. Rebecca sitting comfortably on the bed. Grabbing a bowl and clean water you tend to her injury again. Cleaning and re-bandaging the wound before going about your usual chores. Tending to the animals, collecting the eggs. So on and so forth.

Later that day, when the girls are going to bed, you grab Daisy’s attention. Standing in the living room as you speak in a quiet tone.

“I’ve been invited to a party this Saturday”

“Was that by the Bridgerton boy? What’s his name...?”

“Benedict. Yes he invited me. But I wanted to check with you that it was ok?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“It seems harsh to leave you with Rebecca when shes in this state. She can be demanding ordinarily, let alone when she has this injury”. She chuckles softly. Her hands going to your arms.

“We will be fine Isa”

“I am happy to stay if you’d rather. I’m sure he’d understand”

“You are going. You’ve done so much for all of us, you deserve this small bit of happiness”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely” you smile as you hug her.

“Thank you Daisy” you kiss her head as she hugs you back. “I love you”

“I love you too” you pull back from the hug. Wiping at your brow. “Do you still have those dresses?”

“I do. Will you help me pick one out for the event?” she grins and nods.

She picks out two dresses for you. One for the party on Saturday, and a mildly less formal one for the Sunday morning. You place the two dresses into a bag. Going to the brothel in your ordinary clothes. It was pavement to where the Bridgertons were staying. So you could walk there with getting minimal mud on the bottom of your skirt. Storing your dress in one of the rooms at the brothel before making your way to the Bridgertons party. Getting there, you fear, rather early. You were anticipating the walk to be longer so you were hesitant to go up to the door. Taking in a breath you go over. Placing your bag onto the floor before knocking onto it. No answer. You ball at your hands in front of you. Bringing your hand back up to rap on the wooden door again but it opening. Being met by Lady Bridgerton. Violet.

“Lady Bridgerton” you say. Bowing slightly.

“Oh miss... I don’t think I ever got your last name” she smiles. An almost naive smile.

“Isabella. Just call me Isabella. Please”

“Yes. You’re a little early” she says. A politeness in her tone as she looks at you.

“Sorry. I overcompensated the time it took for me to get here” you fold your hands over yourself “may I...?” you motion at the doorway.

“Oh goodness. Yes please come in” she motions for you to enter. Going past her as she shuts the door. “We’re still setting up... Oh dear” she motions at a maid that’s walking past “could you show this young miss to her room please?”

“Yes m’lady”. You follow the maid. Her taking you to a magnificently big room.

“Who will I be sharing with?” you say, placing the bag down onto the chair. Looking at her. She stutters slightly

“I don’t understand miss”

“My room. Who will I be... sharing... with?” you trail off.

“No one ma’am”. She smiles at you. “Party will be starting soon” she says before exiting. It had been a while. You forgot how to be prim and proper. That wealthy ladies didn’t share rooms with anyone. They get a room the size of your house all to themselves. You bite your bottom lip as you smile. Going over to your bag. You grab out your day dress for tomorrow. Draping it over the mirror. Going back to your bag, you rummage around.

“Fuck” you mutter. “Oh fuck”. You had forgotten to bring any night clothes. You knew you had forgotten something. “That’s fine” you mutter to yourself. “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to sleep in my underwear”. You bite at your thumb. Beginning to grow anxious as the events of the night ahead catch up to your thoughts.

“Ok. Dancing. Can’t say no to a dance. Unless my dance card is full. Rule two. Can’t go to a room with a man unless attended with another human. Rule three...” you tap your finger to your chin as you continue pacing around the room.

“Rule number three is don’t swear in front of my sisters or mother”. You turn at hearing the voice. Seeing Benedict in the doorway. A dashing suit on him. Smirk on his face as he looks at you. “I’m glad to see you made it”

“It took a lot of convincing. Dancing, free food and booze is a tough choice”. He goes to take a step towards you. “How did you know I’d arrived?”. You fold your arms over yourself. Him walking towards you as he speaks.

“Mother came into the kitchen in a hurry. Telling us that the guests had started arriving but nothing was prepared for it yet. Now, I figured that all other guests would know that the proper etiquette would be to ask the carriage to wait down the lane. Until the time was correct to arrive”. You feel a soft blush come over your cheeks. “But I knew that we had a guest coming that didn’t know about proper etiquette. So I asked the maids which room our guest had been put in. And here I am”. He stops with a foot between you both.

“I didn’t know that it wasn’t ok to turn up to a party early” he chuckles. “Normally the parties I go to are a lot less formal. Require less clothing”. He laughs again.

“You and I enjoy the same types of party”. You smile. Biting your bottom lip slightly as he takes another step towards you. More intended this time. You put your hand up. Causing him to stop in his tracks as it rests against his chest.

“I am a lady tonight. Rule number two of my ‘to be a lady guide’ was that I’m not meant to be unaccompanied in a room by strange men”. He smiles. A mischievous and soft smile.

“You’re right. I completely forgot”. You smile. Unnecessarily pulling up your gloves on your arms. “Where is you chaperone?” he says. A teasing in his voice.

“Fuck” you mutter. Him laughing again. You think. Racking your brain for a quick idea. “I’ll ask your sister to be my chaperone”

“My sister?”

“Yes. Eloise. We got on well last time I saw her. We can be each others chaperone” you rest your pointer finger onto his chest. Looking at him as you smile. “We can make sure that we don’t do anything... unladylike tonight”.

“Oh we can’t be having any of that tonight now can we?”

“No we cant”. You look up at him. Eyes meeting his as he looks down on you. “Do you’re brothers know I’m here yet?”

“No. And I wish to keep it that way for as long as possible”. You let out a slight chuckle.

“You do realise they’ll probably find out when they see me?”.

“You’ll be with my sister. They wont mention anything even slightly scandalous around her”

“Oh well, that’s good to know” he smiles. “What time does the party start?”

“Soon. I’ll send Eloise up to come and fetch you when the other guests start arriving”

“Oh you’re so kind to me” he smiles, turning around. Shutting the door behind him as you watch him leave.

As he’d promised you hear a gentle knock at the door. Eloise coming in. Buzzing as she sees you. Linking an arm with you as she talks. The both of you heading downstairs. The familiar red headed girl coming over and joining the both of you as you stay by the food. Throwing some grapes up into the air and catching them in your mouth. Eloise smiling at you as Penelope lets out a soft laugh. Benedict comes over to the three of you. Smiling at you as you fail at catching a grape. Instead, it sadly bouncing off of your chest and onto the floor.

“You didn’t see that” you say. Causing him to laugh.

“I’m glad to see you girls having fun” he says. Eyes going to the two other woman by your side. But falling back onto you. “Now, I believe I’ve seen my sister and Penelope on the dance floor but not... you. Miss Isabella”

“That’s because I am a terrible dancer” he chuckles. Holding his hand out. Palm upwards.

“I’ll lead you”. You smile. Trying to hide it by biting the inside of your cheek. Placing your gloved hand in his as he takes you to the floor. Placing a hand on your waist as you bring your arm up. Letting him lead you as you dance together.

“Your brothers don’t seem to have noticed that I’m here” you say in a hushed tone.

“They’re to busy with their own ordeals to notice you” he spins you before speaking again. “I told you they wont notice you. Not for a while anyway”

“You’re right. I should’ve trusted you from the start”

“I’m a very trustworthy person” he smiles at you. Spinning you again.

“I always forget how much fun dancing is”. He lets out a soft chuckle. “What?”. A smile on your face.

“I can tell you don’t go to balls much”

“How?”

“Because most young woman find them incredibly dull”. Spins.

“I don’t understand that. Everyone looks so beautiful and the food is magnificent. And dancing is fun. So much fun. I wish I could do it more often”. He pauses the dance. Bowing to you as you curtsy at the end of the song. You take his arm, going back to Eloise and Penelope. Pen half smiles at you

“You were brilliant out there Miss Isabella”

“Thank you Miss Featherington” she smiles fully at you. You drop Benedicts arm as you stand. Elise linking her arm with yours instead. The four of you watching as the next dance starts up.

“Brother” you hear a male voice say. Seeing Anthony walk over. You turn your body slightly. Hoping he doesn’t recognise you as you look at the girls. Benedict mirroring your behavior. Going forward slightly as to hide you from his brothers point of vision. Hearing them start to talk. So focused on trying to remain quiet that you don’t register Eloise talking to you.

“Isabella?”. You look at her. Confusion on your face as you try and recall what she said.

“Hmm?”.

“Did you hear a single word of what I said?” Before you can answer you hear a voice behind you speak.

“Isabella”. Anthony’s voice hitting your ears as he says your name. You shut your eyes. Opening them before turning.

“Mr Bridgerton” you smile at him. “Always a pleasure to see you”. His face stern as he watches you. His eyes still boring into you as he addresses his brother.

“Benedict. Can I talk to you? Somewhere more quiet?”. He nods reluctantly. The older turning as he walks away. Followed by his younger sibling shortly behind.

“Wonder what that is about” Eloise says. The three of you watching as they go outside. The two girls turning back to the dancing and chatting as you watch the boys outside. Seeing Anthony growing angry at his brother. His eyes sending daggers into him. You turn back to the dancing. Watching the men and woman move. Knowing that you going over to help would only make the situation worse.

The end of the dance comes about. Seeing the dance floor disperse. You look out the small window. Expecting to see the Bridgerton brothers outside but no. A small frown coming over your face at their absence. Curiosity wondering where they’d gone to. You turn back to Eloise. Smiling at her “I’m going to run off and use the bathroom. Wont be long”.

“Be quick. I fear my mother is going to force me to dance” you chuckle. Nodding as you walk off. Wondering around the house, trying to find the brothers. More specifically the second oldest brother. Playing with the necklace around your neck as you look into one of the rooms. No luck. Walking forward you keep your eyes on the room. Bumping into someone. They take your shoulders. Making sure neither of you fall over.

“I’m so sorry” you say quickly. Looking up as they speak.

“Nothing to worry about” he says. “Isabella?” You meet the eyes of the younger Bridgerton brother.

“Fuck” you mutter. An amused smile on his face at your words.

“I’m not my brother. You don’t have to worry about me trying to kick you out” you nod. A small smile coming over your face as he drops your arms. “I assume Benedict invited you?”

“You assumed correctly”

“Does Anthony know you’re here?”

“Unfortunately yes”. He lets out a small laugh. Smiling at you as a few moments of quiet pass.

“How is your friend? Is her arm getting better?”

“She’s fine. Loving how much attention myself and her sisters are giving her” he chuckles again.

“I can imagine. I remember how much Hyacinth loved having a cold as she got so much attention from everyone”. You laugh softly. Stopping as you hear a noise. The both of you going quiet.

“Shit” you mutter. Recognising the strong tone of Anthony. Colin grabs your arm. Going into a room and shutting the door. Both of you staying silent for a few minutes as you hear the voices and footsteps walk past the room. “Thank you Mr Bridgerton”. He turns and smiles at you. Meeting your hushed tone.

“My brother has told me a lot about you. He seems to be fond of you. We cant have my other brother ruin that friendship now, can we?” he smiles as you let out a soft laugh. He listens again. Opening the door as he pokes his head out. Turning back to you, he outstretches his hand. You take it. Letting him open the door for you as you go into the corridor. Letting go of his hand as he shuts the door again.

“Colin?” You hear a female voice say. Both of you turning. Seeing Penelope in the hallway.

“Pen” he smiles at her. Her eyes look between the two of you. A small yet fake smile on her face as she looks at you.

“I’m going to go and fine Eloise” you say. Eyes moving from hers to Colin's. Placing a hand on his upper arm to draw his attention. “Thank you again” you say. Smiling at him as he smiles back at you. You smile at Penelope. Walking past her as you go back to the party. Looking around for the younger Bridgerton.

“You’ve seemed to have lost your chaperone” a voice says. Looking you see Benedict standing beside you. Smiling at him before turning to look again.

“I’m trying to find her”. You glance up at him before talking again. “How did the talk with your brother go?” you say, almost anxiously.

“I told him that you are my guest. Reminded him of a few guests he’d invited to parties before that people politely forgot about. So to leave you alone this one time”. He looks at you “you don’t have to worry about him potentially kicking you out now. So long as you don’t draw to much attention to yourself”

“So I shouldn’t go to the middle of the dance floor and start stripping”.

“No you shouldn’t do that” he says. Amusement lacing his voice. That’s when you see her. Eloise comes over to you. Linking an arm with you.

“That was absolute agony”. She addresses you and her brother.

“What happened?” he asks.

“Mother made me dance. Told me it would be good to practice for when I get a suitor”. You smile. A chuckle escaping your lips. Spending the rest of the evening with her clinging to your arm.

The party disbands close to midnight. The guest retiring to their beds or homes for the night. You were one of these people. Going to your bedroom. Closing the door. Shutting the curtains of the grand windows before starting to undress. Getting ready for bed as you take off your shoes and gloves. Just as your about to take off your dress there’s a knock at the door. You go over to it. Opening the door. Benedict waiting on the other side. Smiling softly at you.

“What are you doing here?” you whisper. Eyes on his as he continues to hold his smile.

“I wanted to make sure you had everything before I went to bed”

“You doing that with all your guests or only me?”

“Your the only guest I really care about at this moment in time, if I’m being honest” you let out a light scoff. “Do you need anything?”

“You don’t happen to have any spare night clothes do you?”

“Not for a woman”. You nod. Him speaking before you can say anything else. “I could give you one of my shirts to sleep in? That’s the best I can do”

“Oh no I don’t want to be a hassle”

“Not a problem. Give me a few minutes. I wont be long” he smiles. Turning as he heads to his bedroom down the hall. You watch until hes left your vision. Going back inside your room. Removing your dress. Leaving you in a corset styled bra and underwear. Stockings thigh high. You sit on the edge of the bed. Removing them both. Throwing them on the floor near your shoes and gloves. A knock on the door again.

“Come in” you say. A loud whisper. The door opens. Benedict walks in. He quickly turns around as he sees you in your underwear.

“I got you a shirt” he says. Holding it out behind himself as he faces the half shut door.

“Thank you” you stand up. Grabbing it from his hand. “I get that your being polite but you can look. I don’t have anything that you’ve never seen before” you say. You’ve found that working in a brothel you don’t have the worry of being self conscious about being semi naked or fully naked around people. He turns. You see his eyes flicking to the tops of your breasts before looking at your eyes. You let out a soft chuckle.

Turning from him. Undoing the bra as you face away. Placing the shirt over yourself before turning around to look at him. His eyes go over your body. He mentally shakes himself before speaking. “I should leave you to rest”. You nod. Your lips tilting slightly as you look at him

“Thank you for inviting me tonight. Its quite nice to live like the other side for once”. He chuckles slightly.

“I hope its not been to daunting”

“I mean, I feel a bit like a fish out of water. But its still been fun”. You go over to him. Hugging him. Your face resting against his chest as you grip at his tailcoat. His hands coming around you. Resting onto your back. Feeling him rest his head on top of yours.”I really enjoyed it” you whisper.

“I’m glad” he says. Moving away from him as you bring your arms over your chest in a criss-cross fashion. “I should be leaving. I’ve got my own bed to get to” you chuckle slightly. Taking his face in your palms as you bring him downwards. Kissing his forehead. He closes his eyes at the affection. Opening them as you go back down from your tiptoes. Looking up at him. He rests his hands on your hips. Going closer to you as he kisses you. A gentle, soft kiss. Your hands turning to fists as you wrap your arms around his neck. Feeling his hands snake to your lower back. Pulling you into him.

He pulls away. Face inches from yours. A silence filling the air before he speaks in a low, hushed voice. “Tonight, you are a lady”. You half smile. Brushing your lips over his again. His hands gripping at the flesh of your back. Another kiss being exchanged between the two of you before you pull away. Biting at your bottom lip as your eyes look downward. Fingers coming from the back of his neck to play with the collar of his shirt. He looks down at you. Watching you. A playful look in his eyes.

“I am a lady” you whisper back. Eyes looking back up at him. “Because of that... I will wish you goodnight”. You kiss him again. Hands gripping his shirt as you pull him close. The both of you breaking away for air.

“Goodnight Isa”. He says. Moving away from the warmth of your embrace.

“Goodnight Benedict” you whisper. Him going to the door. A moment of hesitation before he opens the door. Turning back he gives you a soft smile. Leaving your bedroom as he exists the bedroom. Leaving you for the night.

TAGS

@runs-with-sciss0rs @nevillescomslut @lightdragonrayne @random-bouts-of-randomness

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#benedict bridgerton #benedict bridgerton smut #smut #benedict x reader #benedict bridgerton x reader #benedict bridgerton x reader smut #angst #fluff #benedict bridgerton angst #benedict bridgerton fluff #bridgerton angst #bridgerton smut #bridgerton fluff #benedict smut #benedict angst #benedict fluff

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riverofjazzsims · 2 months ago

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Total Drama Season 3 Entry for @jonquilyst

Espresso Bean Teen Aspiration: Admired Icon Traits: Adventurous, Dance Machine, Outgoing, Cheerful

Ok. Look guys Coffee is fine, I promise, she calmed down. **mumbles** After not talking to me for 2 days and making me twin swear on the blood of grimms to not ever, ever, ever ever scare her like that again. I mean, be honest, do we really see the Beanie Baby back on TDS. That would be a big fat NOPE ! But me, Ohmagosh **dancing in circles** I. CANT. WAIT. I mean, new faces and possibility of new friends, AND travel. Plus I just have an adventurous spirit and as my mom always tells me "Esse you're like the morning jolt of coffee to the system that no one ever has to drink"

So a little bit about me I am the oldest between Beanie and I. There are 4 of us bean babies , and in case you are wondering I am THE MOST fun, just saying! Anyway where was I? oh so Ive got the sib situation and a twinster, I may or may not be a touch hyper, I like to talk ALOT. seriously Beanie has actually said that its amazing I haven't dehydrated myself from over talking. Like the Beanster, I like am big on school, shocking I know, but, uhm yeah I maybe a rainbow in a skirt but I love absorbing new info and learning. low key like being outdoors doing stuff, thanks Dad. I am dancer, mostly I do hip hop, I actually was in a local kids show when i was smaller as one of their dancers.

I should also mention, I dance ALOT, almost as much as I talk I dance doing almost everything, It centers me, just in case my hyperactivity didn't jump out and scream look at me to y'all yet dancing is my happy space and its one of those things that me and my family can connect and no words are needed. Anyway I am suuuuuper excited about the show and how far I can push myself with this new experience. Look I need to pack and that takes me FOREVER to accomplish because, you know I am also part squirrel. Lord did I even tell y'all about my sock collection, I love colorful socks the more socks the better and well **talking to self** Esse you're forgetting something. Any way. See ya soon TDS Oh did I tell ya, y'all can totes call me Esse! Ok. I'm out for real now Byeeeeeeeeeee

*Watcher here * She is an unmedicated joy and I hope my girl does well. Poor sweetness completely forgot to tell the producers, She has no experience in the Romance Department but my girl is a lover of people and the vibe and spirit they exude so its safe to say at this point in time she would be open to either sex, and if she finds a teen first crush/love let my baby explore as it would not be in her nature to not see what's down the rabbit hole, heaven help us. And I'll pray for her roomies that she doesnt dance her way onto their last bad nerve.

PRIVATE DOWNLOAD

#ts4 #the sims 4 #black simblr #black simmer #showusyoursims #ts4 simblr #tds3 #total drama sims #bc challenge #sim: Espresso Bean #my bc entry

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am-i-the-asshole-official · 1 year ago

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AITA for almost killing my 8th grade english teacher? (warning: racism, sa mention)

I (M16, 14 at the time, white (this is important later)) was part of the newspaper in middle school. The teacher running the newspaper (F… 50? 60? i have no idea) was always really nice to me, and we got along really well. I was ecstatic to see that she would be my english teacher in 8th grade.

That is, until the class actually began.

This english class we mostly read books about oppression and historical atrocities and genocide because our history class wouldn’t cover that for some reason (the reason is racism). It seemed like this teacher would have done a good job of teaching this material, but well. you can see where this is going.

a week into the school year the whole class saw that she was pretty racist - not like overtly racist; she sort of said she cared about fighting oppression and then… was a part of that oppression. like she’d say “i could never be racist” and then she would be racist. it’s hard to explain. she would always be incredibly weird about disciplining the Black kids in the class, blaming one guy in particular for like. every time a guy in the class acted like and eighth grade boy would act. she was also really condescending to him; she’d constantly make comments about how he couldn’t follow rules (which obviously isn’t true). she did this to an extent to all the other Black kids in the class as well; later when some of them went to the principal to talk about what happened they said they didn’t feel safe in her class.

additionally, pretty much nobody even stood for the pledge of allegiance (we were usually busy reading cause the library in that school was really nice and had a really good collection of books), and when they did they’d never actually say it. this teacher had a problem with this, and every time she saw absolutely nobody in the class standing for the pledge of allegiance, she’d make the entire homeroom (oh yeah i was in her homeroom too, forgot to mention that) tell her why they didn’t for literally the entire class period. Every time someone mentioned systemic racism or racist history she’d butt in either saying “my parents were immigrants and they stood for the pledge” or she’d start talking about her gay son. some kids told stories of being called slurs when they were younger. some kids cried. she would always bring up her gay son as a rebuttal. and i get that being gay is hard, i’m gay myself, but that is not in any way applicable to the situation at hand here. This happened on three separate occasions - sometimes a single person would stand for the pledge just so there was at least one person doing it and so we wouldn’t have to have that conversation.

And then there was the actual teaching. oh boy. so, as i said before, almost all of our books in this class were about some sort of historical atrocity because the history class didn’t have time for it apparently. and uh. uhhhhhhh yeah. with this teacher it was not a good experience.

We had read books about racism for summer reading and we were reading the novel Chains at the beginning of the school year, and the teacher would always talk about how “resilient” the characters in the books were and how they made the best of their situations and fought back, but never about how these characters should have never had to be in these situations in the first place and WHO PUT THEM IN THESE SITUATIONS, WHAT SYSTEMS PUT THEM IN THESE SITUATIONS YOU KNOW THE KIND OF STUFF ONE WOULD NEED TO KNOW FROM A COURSE LIKE THIS TO MAKE SURE HISTORY DOESNT REPEAT ITSELF. Later in the year we read Warriors Don’t Cry and it went exactly how you’d expect. “Resiliency”. Also worse than you’d expect. The teacher victim blamed the author, a real ass person writing about real fucking events, for almost being assaulted at a young age. And though we focused more on the systems of oppression, thankfully, we also watched and interview with the little rock nine and some of the people who harassed them in school, and one of them, a white woman, said the n word and refused to apologize. and this teacher defended her???? On another occasion we had a lesson about feminism and we read some of Sojourner Truth’s writing, and she interpreted it as solely being about womanhood and not race - and when I tried to talk about how race is an important factor in the message of one of the speeches, the teacher called my parents. We also read books about the holocaust and this teacher was surprisingly respectful throughout the whole thing. No victim blaming, no talk of resilience, nothing.

I had talked to her about all of this before. We knew each other from the newspaper, and it even seemed like I was her favorite student. She would not budge. Sometimes she even made the argument that I was smarter than the other kids, that I cared more than the other kids, that I would notice these things and care about them but other kids wouldn’t and I should just shut up because nobody understands me because i’m just so smart. which made me fucking pissed. i don’t care any more than the other kids who told you stories of being harassed and ridiculed at 8:30 am on a weekday so that the whole class could excercise their freedom of speech. i’m not any smarter than the other kids who cited countless examples of the atrocities this country committed against people of color to you who you didn’t listen to. in fact, i’m not even that smart. i’d say i’m kind of an idiot. and i want to be an idiot, because then i’m not put on a pedestal to push other people down.

This happened two years ago so i don’t exactly remember the order in which these next three events happened.

Since during these talks sometimes i’d start to cry, in may my french teacher asked me if i wanted to transfer to her homeroom and i did. It was a lot better there.

Around this time about eight of the kids from my old homeroom went to the principal to talk about this teacher and how her class made them feel unsafe.

Anyway, my backpack is very heavy. I usually have a lot of books in there, until this year I used five subject notebooks, I never clean out my folders and I brought a laptop as well. Even with all this though, my backpack always ends up being heavier than I expected.

So, one day my anger toward this teacher boiled over. On my way out of english class, when she went to say goodbye to me, I shoved her to the side with my backpack. It turns out that broke her hip, and she was out of school for two weeks. When she came back she said she had almost died in the hospital. She also announced her retirement, and that she was going to go and “end racism”, ironically. She knew I was the one who hit her, but she didn’t say anything about that. I was still her favorite, apparently. It left a bad taste in my mouth that she still thought of me like this. Eventually I graduated from that school and I haven’t seen her since.

tldr: A teacher of mine was racist and making a lot of the kids in the class feel unsafe, and she tried to keep me from arguing with her about it, so I hit her with my backpack and broke her hip, almost killing her.

AITA???

What are these acronyms?

#aita #am i the asshole

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the-bad-batch-baroness · 1 year ago

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Where's Mommy?

Wolffe x Lilith Sestri (OFC)

Part 7

Summary: Wolffe's wife suddenly dies, leaving him a single father in the middle of a war.

Pairing: Wolffe x Lilith Sestri (OFC)

Characters: Wolffe, Cara (child OFC), Comet

Tags & Warnings: heavy angst, mention of death, off-screen death, spousal death, grief, hurt/comfort, family fluff

Word Count: 1.2k

Author's Note: We are back to the Wolffe angst! (but did we ever really leave?) This part is really sad. I know I keep saying that, but this one actually made me tear up while writing it. I don't usually get emotional when writing emotional scenes, so yeah. Do with that what you will. As always, please enjoy 💚

Part 1 || Prev | Next

Series Masterlist

"Cara," Wolffe said after a moment of them sitting silent. "I need you to go with Comet and pack some things from your room, okay?"

Cara looked up at him with a puzzled expression. "Why?"

"Because we can't stay here without mommy," Wolffe explained.

"Oh," she frowned. "Where are we going?"

"The Jedi Temple," Wolffe said. "We'll be staying with Plo for a while."

"I don't want to go," she pouted.

Wolffe sighed. "I don't want to go either, but we don't have a choice. Please, help daddy and go with Comet to pack."

"No," Cara whined.

"Come on, ad'ika," Comet said. He hopped off of the couch and stretched his arms over his head. "I bet I can pack faster than you."

"Nuh uh," Cara said, then jumped off of Wolffe's lap and ran toward her bedroom.

"Well, that was easy," Comet chuckled. He looked down at Wolffe. "You okay?"

Wolffe sighed. "Do you want a real answer?"

Comet frowned. "I guess that was a dumb question."

"I'm fine," Wolffe said, but his facial expression betrayed his words.

Comet decided to change the subject. "How many boxes can she bring?"

"One," Wolffe said. "The Jedi aren't big on things."

"Understood," Comet nodded, then walked off to follow Cara.

"Oh, Comet," Wolffe threw over his shoulder. "Make sure the di'kute in the kitchen clean up their mess."

Comet smirked. "10-4."

Wolffe remained seated on the floor and fidgeted with the carpet pieces again. Fine. He didn't even know what that word meant anymore. He used to, back when life was simple and fine just meant he wasn't dead. Now, he wasn't sure what to feel, how to feel, or how to deal with whatever feelings he was having. Sure, he felt sad when his brothers died, but something about this death felt much different. It felt heavier, denser, tighter, and suffocating in a way he couldn't fully explain.

Unwilling to dwell on his unchecked thoughts, Wolffe grabbed whatever box he could find and headed to his bedroom. He scrolled through the mental list he made and collected all of the obvious items he wanted to keep. Some things were on the bookshelf, like her favorite holo-novel. Some things were in the dresser, like her nightshirt and a lingerie set he bought her for their first anniversary. And some things were on the bedside table, like the holo-photo album and her half-used chapstick.

He opened the bedside table drawer to check if there was anything hiding in it he wanted and his heart sank. His gold wedding band sat alone in the drawer. He almost forgot about it. He couldn't wear it most of the time, but usually he'd put it on when he was home. He didn't even get a chance this time around. He picked up the shiny band and admired it fondly, reading the inscription and the date on the inside. His wife saved every credit she had to buy those rings for them and he promised to repay her one day. He carefully placed the memento in the box.

Wolffe rummaged through the closet next, pulling little bits and pieces of his wife out and placing the most important items into the box. He only had one box, so he needed to make every spot count. He shifted a stack of clothes to the side on the top shelf and a data-stick fell to the ground with a small clack. He bent over to pick it up and studied it for a moment, wondering what could be on it. He walked over to the holor-projector across from the bed, plugged in the data-stick, then sat on the edge of the bed. An image popped up of his wife and his breath was stolen as the recording played.

Hi darling, his wife said with a warm smile while sitting next to Cara at their kitchen table.

Wolffe gasped, then covered his mouth. He remembered when his wife sent him this recording on Cara's third birthday. He was away on a mission, and wasn't able to look at it for a couple of rotations, but it made him so happy to see them both. He'd been on that mission for months and missed them dearly. He completely forgot about it until now, and couldn't believe his wife kept it all this time. She looked so beautiful that day, and Cara was all dressed up for her special day, too.

Today is Cara's third birthday, she continued, then looked at Cara. Say hi to daddy.

Hi daddy! Cara yelled with a big grin.

"Hi baby," Wolffe said. It might seem stupid to say hello to a recording but he didn't care.

It's time to sing happy birthday, his wife said. Ready, Cara? Nice and loud so daddy can hear.

Cara nodded and they both started to sing. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Cara, happy birthday to you.

Wolffe's eyes turned misty and his body trembled as he tried to contain his emotions.

Now, blow out the candles and make a wish, she said.

Cara blew out the three lit candles and his wife clapped.

What'd you wish for? she asked with a big smile.

Daddy come home! Cara yelled towards the recorder.

Wolffe couldn't hold back the tears that rolled down his face. He wished he had more time with her. With both of them, together, as a family. It was too short. He didn't even get the chance to give his wife the life she deserved. The life he promised her. She took care of everything while he was deployed, and he vowed to take care of everything when the War was over, but now… Every vow he made to her had turned to ash. Until death do us part was the promise, but now, death had claimed her.

Okay, Wolffe, his wife said. I know this needs to be short, so we're gonna say goodbye now.

"No," Wolffe's voice cracked. "Please, don't say goodbye."

Say goodbye to daddy, she said to Cara while waving towards the recorder.

Bye, daddy! Cara yelled and waved.

"Please," Wolffe begged, his entire body shaking. "Cyare. Don't go."

Come home soon, she said, then blew a kiss. I love you, Wolffe.

The recording ended, but the last image of his wife stayed on the screen. Wolffe stood up on shaky legs and approached the projected image. He stretched out his hand to touch his wife's cheek, but his fingers passed through the pixels. He gasped, then tried again. This time to brush her hair with the palm of his hand, but it also passed through. It was just an image. It wasn't real. She wasn't real. Why wasn't she real? All he wanted to do was touch her one more time and hug her one more time; to feel her warmth.

"I love you, too," Wolffe whispered through broken breath.

Wolffe carefully pulled the data-stick out of the holo-projector and cradled it in his hands. Besides his daughter, this was his most prized possession. His wife's voice. He thought he'd never hear it again, and he didn't know if it helped him feel better or made him feel worse. Regardless, he nestled the special memory into the box and surrounded it with his wife's other things to keep it safe from harm. If anything ever happened to that memory, Wolffe didn't know what he would do.

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soulnottainted · 5 months ago

Note

How about :3c for whichever romantic f/o this fits best: “God. You look adorable/etc. (when you’re blushing).” | AND/OR | A smiles fondly when B starts to blush and draws them closer, allowing them to hide in their embrace. (-dragonsmooch)

@dragonsmooch @jocelynships @featherstiitch

FIRST DRABBLE WITH BORIS! It took me a couple hours to write this and I hope you'll like it! Some dialogue my friend Adam aka featherstiich threw at me last night and I needed to incorperate it somehow too!

tw: slight mentions of alcohol, smoking, death

A heavy sigh escaped the PI as he took a long drag of his cigarette, papers and notes scattered on his desk. If he wasn't an investigator, he would've looked like a maniac: the scattered papers plus the rings under his eyes from lack of sleep would suggest it so easily if he was spotted on the street. For the most part though, he was stuck inside his tiny office which he split for the other half being his living quarters. Four of the six totems he had collected thus far. Who knows what hell would be unleashed if they were all put together. That wouldn't happen though, as Boris made the decision early on, that once all of them were found, they'd be hidden some place to not fall into the wrong hands.

In the meantime, it was a doozy of a time trying to locate totem number five. A guy name Sly Tony mentioned that he captured something in his basement. Boris though he was off his rocker, but come tomorrow night he would see what was going on over there. If Sly was truly telling the truth, the creature could lead Boris to the next totem perhaps. But tonight however...

A few soft knocks came from the door, which made Shuster almost jump out of his chair.

Damn, take it easy, will ya, you ol' geezer? It's just the door, just loud enough that a baby could've knocked! God, I need sleep.

His lanky form begged him not to get up, but his brain insisted otherwise. It was either a client who was at the door, or one of the employees from Louie's down the street, who liked their regular so much that they offered to deliver his pizza pies to his door whenever he called for one. Not many had that luxury, and Boris didn't have many of 'em, so he would take that luxury any day. Disheveled, he went to answer the door, not even bothering to grab his coat or hat for appearance's sake. That would've been a mistake because of who was on the other end of the wall. Before he could turn the knob, he heard.

"Boris?"

When Boris heard who it was, it snapped him out of his zombie-like state like he had been hit by lightning. He scrambled to grab his trench coat, almost knocking the coat hanger down in the process and threw his hat on. He tried not to turn to cause suspicion by his guest, but Boris hurried over to a small mirror on top of his sink to adjust his tie, to not look like a man who had been up for almost 48 hours trying to get close to a lead, thriving off of coffee alone.

"Just a minute, doll!" he called, "Almost ready!"

"No rush," he heard her insist back through the door.

Dammit, he forgot. Out of all things to forget...

What day of the week even was it? She said it was for Fri...Oh. It was Friday already. Shuster you sonnofa, she's a one-in-a-million gal and you forgot you had a date with 'er! Don't make her wait any longer!

With one last look and pulling down his fedora a tad, he turned and made his way to the door for a second time, this time opening it to reveal her. And oh...she was a beauty!

"Hello Boris," the soft, quiet, but light voice swirled the PI's mind before warming his heart. Kelsey bashfully clasped her gloved hands across her stomach. She wore a dark green coat with brass buttons overtop a hint of a mint dress underneath. Matching earrings adorned her, silver cat eye glasses framing her rounded face.

Being exhausted didn't let a grin differ a centimeter from Boris' lips at the sight of her, "You're prettier than Miss Monroe." A slightly calloused hand made its way to gently cup her cheek, the detective stepping closer to have Kelsey hid in his much taller shadow.

A soft laugh made both her dimples show, as well as a slight blush washing over them as she brushed the compliment off, "I'll never beat the likes of Miss Marylin." Ever since he met her and before that, she had insecurities of her bigger body. Unfortunately, sometimes, it gnawed and ate at her, any compliments passing her by like a taxi ignoring a patron who desperately needed a ride home.

"No?" Boris asked surprisingly taken aback, before the hand that held her cheek went to lift up her small chin to look into his eyes, "You look adorable, stunning, when you blush. You give her a run for her money, Angelcake. Plus, your beautiful figure in front of me? I don't know how you haven't been kissed to death yet, doll. It surprises the hell out of me, that's for damn sure."

There we go. That made her cheeks bright pink!

Shuster chuckled softly. He found out it didn't take much to make her this way, but it was endearing to him. Many women wanted Boris over the years, making themselves known to him so quickly and longingly, but he was never interested. Temptation was something that he didn't mess around with. Sure temptation could overthrow him when it came with a slug of whisky and another cigarette, but when it came to dames, he never bit the bullet.

It was ironic however that Kelsey and Boris had met at the hell hole of temptation, the Kitty Kat Club. A seductive voice insisted from inside the club to Boris who was smoking against the brick wall outside, to come on inside and dance with her. People had been disappearing from the club for awhile at that point, and Boris knew for certain that the lure the woman gave him was one step in the process for never being seen again.

And then Kelsey with a few of her friends could be heard, about to go into the club. Clearly Kelsey didn't want to be there, but she wanted to appease her friends who wanted her to have fun, let loose, and drink. Once the group went inside, the detective watched from afar, sneaking into the club to see what would happen. One of the seductive women who ran the club handed her a drink and Kelsey took the slightest sip.

Then things took a turn, as Kelsey screamed for help before passing out. The drink had been laced with a sleeping agent and the beautiful women around her, including her friends, transformed into she-devils, ready to pounce and devour their newest victim. Luckily Boris took care of the she-devils one by one, also spotting the fifth totem, a vase, on the liquor shelf behind the bar. When it was dead silent, surrounded by the bodies of the supernatural women and also the dead victims that had been the audience for the singer Madame Murie, the detective ran over to the latest victim. He checked her pulse. She was alive. Scooping her up into his arms and then retrieving the totem that belonged to the Strengoit legion, he brought them back to his office. From there, Boris took care of Kelsey until the affects of the poison wore off.

The rest was history, as Kelsey befriended Boris, knowing now that supernatural evil existed. There wasn't any turning back now, and Boris led her into that understanding together. And then he fell for her...oh so quickly. He didn't think it would ever happen. Now the two were on their 6th official date, among the many times Kelsey would stop by his office on the way to the laundromat or the market every week.

"I'm surprised you didn't fall for one of the She-Devils that night," Kelsey said quietly, awkwardly smiling, the insecurity in her voice despite the PI's sickeningly sweet words making her cheeks go into a reddish tone.

"She-Devils?" he responded, putting a hand on his hip, the bottom of trench coat giving a slight sway as he did so, "Dollface, at least try and say someone possible. They're the farthest thing from ya— "

Then he leaned closer to her face, just near the tip of her ear, hands holding her shoulders so she couldn't hide in his coat just yet, knowing she would try and do so. Shuster's voice became almost whisper in tone, "and that's why I love you so much. You've got a golden soul under that sunshine smile and body. They had nothing. "

He could hear Kelsey's breath hitch, which made him hum in amusement at her sweetness.

"Yeah," she responded, finally remembering to breathe, "Yeah you're right..."

As predicted, Kelsey tried to get closer and hide her face in the crook of Boris' coat, and at a moment's decision, he let her right on in.

"I mean...they tried to drug and kill me," Kelsey continued, murmuring into the fabric, "Those...Those broads from below never stood a chance."

The sudden insult from her made the PI laugh out loud, making it reverberate and echo as Kelsey had her ear pressed to his chest. His arms wrapped strongly around her figure before he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "See? That's the kinda self talk I wanna hear from now on, hon." Then he opened his coat so he could reach down and peck her cheek, which made her giggle slightly. "Now doll, you ready to take a walk on the town?"

"Mm. But Boris?"

"Yeah doll?"

"When we get back, you're gonna sleep. I can smell the amount of coffee under here. And I'm gonna stay just to make sure that you do."

"Is that a threat?"

"No, but if you don't get any sleep, I won't visit for two weeks."

"Well damn," the lanky detective patted her back as the two huddled together just outside his door, holding her close to him in his embrace, "That would be quite the let down, wouldn't it? Well...alright. I guess I fold my cards."

Not even a second later, his hand cradled the back of her head, lifting it to kiss Kelsey ever so softly.

"Thank you," the petite lady pulled back, smiling up at him, with all the care in the world, her blush in all that time now red as a tomato, "Now lead the way. You know the city better than I do."

Boris kept an arm wrapped both her shoulders as he led her down the stairs and out the front door, and then down the front steps outside. He gave her a wink and another kiss on the head, "You got it, sweetheart, you got it."

The two of them walked into the night, lit by the soft glow of the street lamps. Uncertainty flooded Boris' future, but he knew that if this lovely lady stayed in his life, things would look up. They already have. Whatever happened with the totems, Boris would make sure Kelsey stayed as far away from that whole situation as possible, when the time were to come. For now, his mind had been fully taken off the case for the first time in a long while. It would do him good to do so. He was a good man, but also a mad man for what he had gotten himself into with all the mess of the damn totems. Kelsey offered him sanity, just by her company being alongside him: that was a deal he could never refuse.

#selfship #hhn #halloween horror nights #my writing ;;#boris shuster ;;

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kamenstranger · 1 month ago

Text

Castlevania Nocturne Season 2 Review

You know, it's funny. At the end of my Nocturne Season 1 review I mentioned that I felt the series was in good hands, that the trepidation of starting from scratch with a new creative team on a whole new entry had been calmed. And yet, going into season 2 it almost felt like I had to be won back over again. Why was that?

For me, the trouble started in mid September when the first trailer dropped and I realized I had not thought about Nocturne since the original review. We had an entire Castlevania DS collection come out and I never even thought "Oh yeah, there should be another Castlevania season on Netflix soon." That's probably not a great sign, is it? It's not even that I forgot about the show entirely, I still remember it. But it completely skipped my mind upon seeing the Dominus collection. The association simply wasn't there.

And looking back it's kinda easy to see why it skipped my brain pan. I still maintain Nocturne was a solid season with a lot of bold ideas, but frankly so much of it is "Maybe they'll get to explore this more next season" with Richter being the only one with an actual character arc. The lack of a strong villain also hurt the show. That last part was so bad that I forgot the villain's goddamn name. I forgot that the main antagonist of Nocturne was the second most popular name and historical figure used in vampire fiction. I called her "That lion-faced countess" when conversing about it to my girlfriend. And why not? Sure, they say her name constantly in whispers throughout that first season, trying to build her up as this great menacing force of nature. But we never see Bathory until very late in the show and she… has no personality. Her character in Nocturne in busting down a door and being strong. That's it.

She didn't have a fun presence like Doltra with her snarky innuendos and style, or the slithering unnatural calm of Olrox and his incredible homoeroticism, and she certainly wasn't tragic like Dracula. Hell, she wasn't even Carmilla. Bathory works in the moment and as a cliffhanger for the next season as something to be contented with-- but it also doesn't lay a foundation for a personality. A lot of season 2 was going to have to make good not only having a satisfactory vendetta story with Maria, but also making Bathory into an actual character we enjoy seeing on screen since, let's face it, Emmanuel wasn't gonna stick around and Drolta was dead. Well, until the second trailer hit, which did look considerably better. Still, the fact Nocturne was missing an October release for the media dumping ground that is January did not provide me with optimism.

Compounding this is during the year long gap from Season 1 we've had a number of other animated shows that have been shockingly good. I don't even mean major game chargers, but simply well made art that were above mediocrity and pleasant surprises. X-men '97 is the obvious example, which I have thought more about than Nocturne despite how big of a Castlevania fan I am. But maybe it's not fair to make a comparison to something that has the advantage of using stories with decades of hindsight. All the same, '97 did more with its cast, had better balance of interpersonal character stories with a broader narrative, and had more biting commentary with fictional stand-ins for marginalization than Nocturne did drawing from very real examples of French imperialism and slavery. That's just a tad embarrassing. (Although maybe not as embarrassing as Disney's animation being a fraction of what Powerhouse 51 was pulling off, so take that for what it's worth.)

Just to be clear, I'm completely for taking the appropriate amount of time to write and animate something of quality. I find most of the turn around in the modern landscape incredibly egregious, and having other things to watch in-between shows is an objectively good thing. Regardless, as time wore on, season 2 was going to have to contend with making good on a follow up in a crowded streaming landscape. But, I digress. I'm ignoring the main meat in this castle wall, so let's get to it. Spoilers ahead.

I'm going to be approaching this a little bit differently from the previous Nocturne review. Instead of going an episode by episode basis, I'm going to focus on the different story threads until they intersect, similar to how I did with the last seasons of the first Castlevania series.

That said, we pick up where last season left off, everyone is surprised when the Eclipse comes to an end. Despite the intention of an endless night, it seems Bathory's ability to make it last is not as strong as was believed. However, that doesn't make her weak. Alucard informs the four that the Egyptians believed the soul resided in two places; the blood, which Elizabeth has already consumed, and the heart contained within the Mummy. Having been to Egypt, the tomb was empty. Sekhmet's mummified remains have been moved and Alucard has been tracking it across the globe for three years, with the presumed location being Paris, hence the convergence there.

This is where the story starts to split off, with Alucard, Richter and Annette heading to Paris, while Maria and Mizrak stay behind. Maria is no condition to fight after losing her mother and she blames Richter for running away like he always does.

Suffice to say, we're not getting that family bond between her, Richter, and Annette-- they actually do something more clever. As such, I'll be taking a look at Maria's story first. One thing to get out of the way is the deal with her mother, Tera. She isn't a warped vampiric thrall. She retains her will and is almost killed by Bathory because of this. The loss of Drolta certainly exacerbating matters-- Tera clearly not even a fraction of Drolta's power. And Tera is… just sorta forgotten by Bathory after being sent on a suicide mission in broad daylight. She survives and goes off on her on from there.

Eventually, Maria heads back home to gather supplies, Mizrak in tow. Here, she encounters her mother, which has all the trepidation you might expect. But they also avoid anything hokey, or cliche. In fact, throughout all of Tera and Maria's scenes there's a tendency to be put at ease. Tera shows no signs of malevolence, to the point it's easy to forget or even fall into believing that she might not be vampiric at all. Very little is presented to indicate such, aside from the obvious visual cues and the fact Tera is always cast is shadow, while Maria is in the faintest of light. No sly smirks, no dramatic music, no entendre. And yet, from the audience perspective, we've seen Tera kill to feed early on in the first episode, she can give into Vampiric tendencies. Being privy to something Maria isn't aware of, you can't help but question what exactly it is Tera is after. Is it as simple as spending time with her daughter? Will she maintain her will?

Hell, Tera isn't even all the violent when Mizrak notices her and attacks. She's going out of her way to not be monstrous. It's that which ultimately makes Maria part with Mizrak and go with her mother.

By nightfall, the two return to where Maria first learned to summon her animal buddies, although they are currently twisted and all together different when she's angered. Tera begins encouraging Maria to summon the darker creatures that are conjured, to harness their rage and control it. Even this doesn't feel wrong, despite how much it should.

Her practice however is interrupted by Juste, who was requested by Richter to also look after Maria, and, yeah, a Belmont crossing paths with a vampire goes about as well as you'd expect. Tera's skirmish with Juste is the closest hint Maria sees to her mother losing control and going berserk. All the same, Tera refuses to harm him. Neither get a chance to reflect on this before an additional interruption occurs; the stirring sounds of a night creature platoon in the distance. The revolutionary national guard sent to fend off the vampiric threat has been slaughtered and transformed. This becomes the tipping point for the already mentally unstable Maria, whose anger reaches a fever pitch. She flies off to kill Emmanuel. As dawn is breaking, Juste is the only one capable of stopping her now. But that's easier said than done. Maria is on a completely different level now and is going completely mad with that power, finally summoning the dragon Seiryuu.

They're a lot bigger than the ROB version.

I'm not gonna lie, this confrontation with her father is incredibly cathartic. Maria berating him for the monster that he is, a man willing to sell out both a former lover and the child has with them, a betrayer of his own beliefs. Juste pleads with Maria to stop, that she doesn't have to go through with it…

Welp.

That motherfucker burns. And it is glorious. But it's not lost on me- or the show, that this is kinda fucked up. Even if the bastard deserved it, it didn't need to be by her hand. Maria just committed patricide by burning a man alive.

But there is a problem, two problems, actually. One is that a strange indecipherable shadow figure emerges from the cathedral walls and whisks Emmanuel's extra crispy body away. The other more immediate problem is that the Dragon doesn't want to go back, nor is is listening to an exhausted and clearly traumatized Maria. It's rather pissed off at the very notion and instead chooses to turn against its master. Conveniently, Juste's powers return, just as Richter's did when he needed them most, shielding her from the flame. A follow up with an ice spike to the mouth is enough to force the dragon back to whatever plain it emerged from.

Much later, Tera approaches the former location of the Abbot's body and smirks. Don't think too much about it, Tera has but one more appearance and a small cameo in the finale. In a wise decision, Nocturne seems to have taken a page from fellow streaming series Arcane and focus on an arc for the here and now, with smaller incremental hooks to build next season rather than big cliffhangers. All that matters for now is after a very tense scene, Tera removes herself from Maria's life, realizing her presence is only making things worse-- Maria even tempted to become a vampire to live with her mother forever. Tera needs to find her place as much as Maria does, and it's simply not something they can do together. It's a gut wrenching scene.

Tera exiting the picture means we can switch focus to Juste and Maria's dynamic, a very fascinating direction given Juste's track record with raising kids. Now he's paired with a girl who's extremely troubled and sick of oldmen pretending to know what they're doing. That's a great concept. One that, if I'm being perfectly honest, I do wish got more time in the spotlight. But what's presented is still pretty good.

After the incident, Maria's powers are in someway tainted and her animals stuck in their darker form, some even more twisted and almost cosmic in their horror, and all are out of control. This season never delves into what or where Maria's Animals originate, but Juste expresses concern over that very notion. Fact is they're something very different from any magic they're familiar with. Although answering that question is not as pertinent as Juste trying to make good on his past failures by helping Maria overcome her grief and anger. The story knows what's important and focuses on that, which I applaud… Even if Juste's advice amounts to little more than "Think happy thoughts."

Before I tackle the other big story half, I do want to mention the smaller ones interspersed throughout, such as the Night Creatures. The Night Creatures are downplayed considerably compared to the previous season. We still get Edouard's lovely arias and we even get another night creature who retains their memories; a captain of the revolutionary army, who is turned into a Frozen Shade.

There's still tinges of the themes present regarding free will and the parallels with the hypocrisy of France's political climate. But other than leading a rather isolated revolt against the more obedient creatures near the end of the series, they don't do much.

The most noteworthy occurrence that's tangentially related is with Drolta. Bathory realizes that she could be revived by the forge and retain her sense of self, and it works. Drolta comes back, albeit mutated, stronger and capable of walking in broad daylight. And you know what? Drolta was one of the best parts of Season 1 and this was as good excuse as any. Speaking of, we get multiple flashbacks of Drolta before she was turned vampiric- something which ultimately was her own choice after killing and drinking the blood of a vampire that slaughtered her entire temple. We witness the centuries following as she searched for the perfect vessel to reincarnate Sekhet before landing upon Bathory.

Outside that, we still have Olrox up to his usual routine of slinking around. He's likewise downplayed, having a handful of scenes with Mizrak and a few other characters. Brief, but frequent and impactful. Curiously, he encounters the shadowy being that took the Abbot's body, and Olrox recognizes it. Calling him a tempter of many names, Mephistopheles, Old Man Coyote. Which-- I have several questions about using the name of the Crow Deity as being synonymous with a devil, but we don't have time to unpack that. There's also a line that reveals Olrox and Alucard are familiar with each other, and Olrox has even gotten Alucard out of a bind more than one. They don't elaborate on that, just something to possibly explore later.

This brings me to the main narrative through-line with Alucard, Richter and Annette. How would these character play off each other without retreading familiar territory? Richter and Alucard's dynamic is thankfully quite a bit different than with Trevor. Whereas with Trevor it always felt like two immature shits taking the piss out of one another, this Alucard is much more mellow, wiser, and worldly. This offers a fun contrast to Richter being a well to do kid with a chip on his shoulder. That's further emphasized by Richter's willingness to follow his moral compass over practicality, albeit with the added baggage of still being arrogant, much to Alucard's understandable chagrin. Annette defends Richter from the admittedly warranted beration, perhaps even a bit too much. But it does serve as an extension of the two's growing relationship, which is pretty adorable this season.

On the more down to earth side, the two continue bonding over their shared trauma of losing their mothers, their struggle to live up to their family legacy, the very obvious chemistry between them etc. The season gives the two a lot of scenes together discussing their experiences and getting flustered to really drive home that connection.

And that brings to me Annette herself. Along with Maria, my biggest interest was what they were going to do with Annette's story and I'm happy to say that they expanded upon it considerably. I've always found the wider cultural implications of Castlevania's world fascinating. From a game perspective is has very little impact on the admittedly bereft narrative. It's simply to add an exotic flare to the bestiary containing a deluge of global folklore so we're not stuck with the stereotypical European monsters of yore. Which, hey not for nothing, I also love. But the animated series? Now that's a spot to dive into more than just designs. I was disappointed that last season they barely scratched the surface with Annette's cultural roots. That's rectified quickly here.

From the first episode Annette is seeing ghostly visages. First, sporadically and only vaguely humanoid in shape. Over the course of the season and their journey to Paris, they become more numerous and better defined, even overwhelming. By the time they do reach Paris, just in time for Louis the whatever (XVI) to be beheaded, Annette sees his spirit rise from the body and taken in by a three faced demon not dissimilar to Dante's depiction of Lucifer.

It's never clear if this is just a manifestation of Annette's fears and uncertainty regarding the spirit world, but I think we can presume this to be "Old Man Coyote" given his province in appearing around death throughout the season.

Eventually the trio make it to the Louvre, the spirits helping Guide Annette to the precise location of the mummy. Unfortunately, it doesn't help much because the trio are set upon by two night creatures and Drolta, who is far more of a challenge than previous encounters.

Which I might as well take the opportunity at this point to discuss how goddamn amazing the animation is, because this is a standout moment. I'm legit surprised how well the quality has been maintained. There are still some classic animation tricks here and there-- like panning across still images rather than animating an entire crowd for 5 seconds of screen time. But even stuff like that is far and few compared to some other shows. Part of that is no doubt the shorter episode to budget ratio not requiring it, but the other is simply being very clever about what's shown without it feeling as painfully obvious as other productions. All this is to say that it looks good to begin with and when the show goes hog out for its fight scenes, it's going hard. Even now, Castlevania is still delivering on both fluid animation and impeccable storyboarding.

Take Richter binding this night creature and icing the floor, only to lightning skid across to meet the monster's spine with his foot. That is awesome. It takes what otherwise could've been a standard fight and makes me point out all the little fun and clever things they do. Such as a three headed lizard monster which gets its middle head stuck in a plank of wood and the other heads start biting the wood off. (Although I will note, the wood comes back later, so that's either an error or that head is very unlucky) I laughed either way. This entire sequence is wonderful and it comes at only the halfway point.

In the end, Drolta makes off with the Mummy, Alucard gives chase but ultimately fails. At wits end, they have little choice but to do all they can for the inevitable turn. Alucard heads to the National Convention to meet with freaking Robespierre to prepare for the coming assault from Bathory's forces, while Richter and Annette take care of any vampire stragglers before the sunsets. All the while the ghosts haunting Annette refuse to leave. But, that gives her an idea; what if there's a third Soul, what if Sekhmet herself is in that spirit world?

Indeed if you know about Egyptian mythology, this is called the Duat. So as the Revolutionary army prepares for the coming battle, Alucard and Richter stand watch over Annette as she enters a trance and begins her spirit journey.

Without going too overboard with the details, as we spend quite a bit of time here (almost an episode and a half) it delivers more of what I wanted without bogging down the story with heaps of lore. She has a heartwarming reunion with her mother and she meets with Ogun directly, who gifts her a shield and sends her off to Sekhmet's Realm.

Interspersed with this journey are cutaways to little character moments between Richter and Alucard, the latter encouraging Richter not to wait around on telling Annette his feelings. We also get a rather telling and sweet moment when the topic of Alucard's lineage comes up and if he would change it. But as Alucard puts it, you can't remove one name without removing others. And for as long as he's been around, aren't the Belmonts just as much of a family? Of course, Richter falls asleep before hearing this. Cliche but cute.

Meanwhile Annette's trip is a treacherous one beset by powerful monsters. But she manages to make it to Sekhmet all the same, the goddess in tears over the desecration and abuse she has suffered.

A nice visual detail being the scales of Maat out of balance.

However, Annette's presence is unwelcome, if not by Sekhmet specially, then the very realm itself, as Ammit attacks Annette. Seeing Annette put up a good fight, Sekhmet takes advantage of Annette's soulless body, possessing her as a vessel, while Annette continues an endless battle in the spirit world.

The transformation is taxing on Annette's body, the longer Sekhmet stays and uses her powers, the more likely Annette's body will just burn away. But it's the best shot they have against Bathory, who, having consumed the heart, is even more grotesque and powerful. Another eclipse is called fourth, signaling the final battle.

Sooooo, let's talk about Bathory, shall we?

We're at the penultimate episode and the reality is that she's simply a boring villain. Sure, the narrative goes to great lengths to make her a powerful threat, but even now she's little more than a boss, an obstacle. On one hand it's sort of hard to complain when so many other angles of the season work; Maria, Tera, Juste; Annette's spirit Journey and the relationship with Richter, even the handful of Olrox and Mizrak interactions, and, of course, Drolta and the backstory with the goddess Sekhmet. Make a note of the last bit.

That being said. This powered up Bathory is a great excuse to give one of the best fight sequences in the entire series. With Sekhmet able to weaken the other two souls, Bathory is finally vulnerable. Not that she's a push over by any means. It still takes the arrival of Juste and Maria (Who has a cute moment reuniting with Richter) to actually do some damage. But boy do they go for it. I could spend multiple paragraphs simply describing the shit that goes down in a matter of seconds. Bathory's left arm being chomped on by Maria's Dragon, Richter lassoing her other arm and ripping her out, only to freeze his own arm and clothesline Bathory's neck.

What's impressive about all this isn't just the fight itself, but how impeccable the pacing is. This easily could've devolved into a mess of noise and indecipherable editing. In fact, that pacing is a benefit of the entire season. Every episode we're hopping across multiple different stories, but it never feels exhausting or frivolous. It's the same in this final battle with just enough quick character moments sprinkled throughout to break up the action.

Speaking of, we have multiple other battles going on at the same time, Mizrak dealing with various vampires, Alucard and Drolta fighting. Even Olrox decides to get in on the fight against Bathory's forces and helps Alucard out with Drolta. And don't forget, Annette's soul is still in battle elsewhere. We're bouncing all over. Amongst all the hard fighting, Mizrak is gravely injured, distracting Olrox enough to let Drolta escape. Once again, Old Man Coyote is lingering near by.

Bathory meanwhile is at the end of her rope. She's putting up a fight still, but her arm is gone, and she's having to face the reality that the real Sekhmet is in front of her. She is not a reincarnation, just someone in possession of something that was never hers to begin with. Sekhmet offers a chance to make things right and forgo the two other souls. But Drolta has other plans, taking off with with the badly weakened Bathory.

But the lioness clearly isn't what she was, and maybe never was. Pondering for a moment, Drolta makes a decision she felt she should've made centuries ago-- simply become Sekhmet instead, as she drains Bathory and mutates into an abomination that no doubt has even more teeth in every orifice.

I have to just laugh at this development. It's like they realized Drolta was the far more interesting personality and instead of trying to make Bathory work they just built more upon Drolta at the last minute with a good enough excuse. Like, Drolta isn't deep, don't misunderstand. At best she's sort of a dark reflection of Richter, Annette, and Maria. Someone that had survivors guilt and took a dark path. Though that's kind of a stretch. Regardless she was clearly more fun and a fan favorite, so pulling this off is sort of amazing.

If you can believe it, get another goddamn amazing fight scene with plenty of moments that pop off.

Although Drolta's new found power doesn't last long, Sekhmet forcibly adsorbs the two souls, almost killing Annette in the process. But it works, just leaving an incredibly pissed off and still very powerful Drolta to contend with.

And Richter, oh they make up for Richter being over shadowed by Alucard last season. I thought he was going to go Hokuto no Ken on Drolta at one point with how many punches he was tossing out. Hell, he even manages to break through an attack that sends Alucard flying. They're very much giving Richter his due here, even if, of all people, Olrox comes to assist. No Grand Cross or Hydro Storm, but they do something interesting. Richter gets tossed Alucard's sword and kinda creates the Dark Moon greatsword from Elden, splitting both Drolta and part of a building in two.

Fuckin' A. And they don't ruin it with with a forced one-liner or subversion of such! Amazing. All the happens afterwards is Richter turns to Olrox saying he'll kill him, just not today.

In the aftermath, Olrox saves Misrak by turning him; Richter and Annette confess to eachother, departing to Saint-Domingue along with Edouard. Juste comes out of retirement, Alucard decides he's tired of traveling and will stay in France for the time, and Maria is a little all too keen on the continuing beheadings-- as she's watched by Tera, the shadowy hand of Old Man Coyote on her shoulder.

And That's Castlevania Nocture Season 2. It's freaking good.

It's a legitimately well written story that does just about everything I wanted with these versions of the characters, with even a few surprises thrown in. Is it better than season 1… That's a hard call. I think Nocturne Season 1 was more ambitious in some ways, with stuff like how Edouard and night creatures were handled, Richter's PSTD, and actually giving Annette a character. Very intriguing and different stuff. On the other hand, I think season 2 is better paced and does more for most of those characters. Not ending on a huge cliffhanger is also a boon in me eyes. The creative team simply seems a lot more comfortable having both season 1 under their belt and established characters to work with.

If I did have a notable criticism of this season, Bathory having spies follow Alucard to find out that Sekhmet's mummy was located in the "place for bringing together monuments of all the sciences and arts" is probably the goofiest plot detail. I understand the Louvre wasn't firmly established as a museum yet, but that still seems like the place you should check first.

Also the music kinda just washed over me. I've always tried to give the series some leeway when it comes to music, even if I do find it very annoying you only get one game track per season, if that. But man, even as far as atmospheric stuff goes, I couldn't recount much. A very "yeah the music there that fits the mood at any given time." And that's rather backhanded, isn't it? I feel bad saying it, but I just don't remember much. We get Divine Bloodlines again, but it's the same version as last season so hearing it is a little less special, if albeit used appropriately in the finale battles.

Other than that I don't have a lot of criticisms with season 2.

As for the next season? Well, I'm certainly intrigued by the implications left hanging for this one. But I'm not sure if I'll bother reviewing it when it comes. I've thus far kept up with reviewing all the Castlevania seasons, but this is also the first time a season has dropped where I haven't had Netflix. This very well might just be a one off simply because I don't think Netflix is worth it year round and it's troublesome just for one show.

Other than that obvious caveat, absolutely check out Season 2 of Nocturne. Next time I'll be getting back to Tokusatsu with a review of Ninja Sentai Kakuranger.

B. Sky

Ko-fi

#review #castlevania #castlevania nocturne #netflix #konami

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