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alittlewhump · 4 years ago

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Unbidden - Act 2, chapter 2

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Content warnings: non-sexual noncon touch mention, just a tiny taste of drugging (fade to black)

Once Jerhyn had bemusedly agreed to Morgan's request for a more private meeting, just the two men and two watchful guards, things went much more smoothly. He'd been able to properly explain the situation with the dark wanderer, and the sultan had divulged a story passed down through the royal family concerning the imprisonment of a great evil within a tomb deep in the desert. The story had unfortunately been rather shy on specifics, but that proved to be a convenient segue into an inquiry about the city archives. They were housed on the other side of the city, staffed by a small team of dedicated archivists. Jerhyn assured him that they would be happy to welcome his inquiries. Lut Gholein was proud of its history.

After that was settled, it had been simple enough to convince Jerhyn that his time would be better spent searching for the source of the demonic activity rather than just reacting to it. He'd promised to share whatever he learned with the mercenaries and the local clergy, which had apparently been something of a surprise. Jerhyn had reassured him quickly that yes, of course the priests of Akarat would be keen to know more, he simply hadn't expected an outsider to consider that angle. Luckily, he seemed content to drop the issue there. There were few enough places that welcomed the Order of Rathma with open arms, and Morgan did not wish to test the hospitality of this one if he could avoid it.

He also made it clear that he was not affiliated with Blaise in any meaningful capacity, and that her considerable skills were her own to direct. After all she had done for him, it was the least he could offer in return. The mention of her got a chuckle out of the palace guards. Apparently she had arisen quite early and demanded an audience with the commander, who did not appreciate being roused. He apparently hadn't expected her to accept his cranky, blustering challenge to a test of her fighting skills, and had expected even less to be soundly beaten. So she had already earned her rank and a great deal of respect. Morgan noted that news seemed to travel quite fast in this city. At any rate, he was glad to hear she was doing well for herself.

All in all, the meeting had been a great success. Pleased with the progress so far, Morgan set out to explore the city. It was one of the largest he'd ever visited. Its centre was dominated by a sprawling marketplace spilling over with all manner of vendors. The sounds and smells were a little much to handle all at once. He would be able to manage brief excursions, but it would definitely be draining. Luckily, the archives were located away from the market. It would probably be possible to avoid the marketplace by taking the smaller side streets, once he got a better picture of the city's layout.

As promised, the archivists were polite and accommodating. After a brief tour, one of them even introduced herself as a local historian. She sat with Morgan for about an hour, patiently answering his questions as best she could. Her specialization was in more recent history, but she was at least able to fill in some of the details. The tomb from the royal family's story was that of Tal Rasha, a powerful mage who had died imprisoning a great evil. The identity of the evil sealed away was apparently the subject of some academic debate, as was the actual location of the tomb. On one hand, that meant there was plenty of reference material. On the other hand, it also meant that there were likely to be a lot of false leads. That was fine by Morgan, though; he enjoyed puzzles, and if he could approach the research from that angle, so much the better.

He settled himself in with a small collection of texts to start with. The archivists took turns checking on him about once an hour, then less often as it became clear he wasn't going anywhere. At one point the historian brought him a cup of wonderful-smelling spiced tea, which he thanked her for and promptly forgot about until after it was stone cold. It had gotten strong and bitter, but it sufficed to get him through another few hours of reading. All the parties seemed to agree that the tomb had been surrounded by a multitude of identical fakes, though estimations ranged in the exact number of those, and guesses as to what distinguished the true tomb varied wildly. It made for fascinating reading, and nobody bothered him except to helpfully point out the storeroom where the oil for the lamps was stored.

It occurred to Morgan about fifteen minutes later that the bit about the lamps had probably been a cue. He approached the archivist ready to apologize for overstaying his welcome. She reassured him that although they generally closed overnight, that restriction would be waived due to him being on royal business. That was welcome news, though he didn't recall mentioning the sultan's request. However, now that he had stood and moved around a bit, it was becoming clear that it was time to seek out a meal.

After confirming which materials he was permitted to borrow - enough to get him through the night, anyway - he left with a heavy pack and directions to a tavern that sounded promising for both food and local knowledge. Although it was his least favoured method of gathering information, it was inescapable fact that people often knew little tidbits that weren't considered important enough to record. Sometimes those scraps of information could prove vital, so he would seek them out as best he could.

Since artificial lighting was readily available and he'd been granted unfettered access to the archives, it was easy for Morgan to slip into a more nocturnal schedule. He spent the hottest part of the days sleeping or meditating in his room at the palace, slowly but surely expanding his magical reserves and refreshing his training in emotional control. That left the mornings and evenings to canvass the locals for information, and the long cool nights to pore over materials in the archives.

None of the merchants or inn staff were able to provide any useful leads, but he had received a plethora of advice on how best to avoid and treat sunburn, including several referrals to a local alchemist. It was something of a relief that his complexion seemed to be regarded as more of a curiosity than a deformity here. The alchemist in question was called Lysander, and he operated his stall by the edge of the marketplace. He was a pleasant, professional man who did not question Morgan when he requested one of each different analgesic preparation in his arsenal. Not one of them had any effect on the pain in his injured arm. That was disappointing; it would have been preferable to chalk up the earlier failures to some sort of error in the preparation on his part, but Lysander was highly regarded and very unlikely to be selling faulty product.

A couple of days in, Morgan was pleased to encounter Cain on his way to the archives. The scholar seemed genuinely interested in his research, and soon began joining him. It was unexpectedly nice to have the quiet company, a companionable silence settling comfortably between them. It was also its own kind of luxury to stay within the city, to be able to go about his business with just the clothes on his back and perhaps a coin purse instead of having to bring everything with him.

The room where he left his things was... well, it was a unique but overall tolerable situation. As promised, none of the other members of the harem guild gave him so much as a second glance, which was a relief. Jemali continued to be aggressively flirtatious, but at least he generally honoured his agreement about physical contact. He was naturally expressive with his hands, so Morgan resigned himself to the occasional touch on the arm or shoulder when he got too close to the other man.

Attempts to explain the prickling discomfort of being touched didn't seem to stick. He supposed the courtesan had little enough reason to care. Most often he retreated to Morgan's room to rest, snatching a brief nap in between whatever else he was doing. Sometimes he would talk about his work. Morgan wasn't especially fond of those times, but thankfully Jemali seemed to want an outlet more than a conversation partner.

The priests of Akarat had given Morgan a warm enough reception, though he'd been careful to avoid mention of his own profession beyond working for the sultan. They made it clear that unless his work produced substantive results, they were not at all interested in learning about his research. That was agreeable for all parties, he felt.

Occasionally, Morgan would venture out into the desert surrounding the city. He quickly learned to spot the signs of the various aggressive insects that seemed to thrive in the desert environment, from the particular patterns the enormous beetles left in the sand to the nearly invisible hives that housed swarms of blood-hungry flies. There were other creatures as well, but the insects were the most dangerous; they didn't take any notice of any golems he raised, interested only in living flesh and blood. At least the misshapen things that might once have been related to vultures, and the occasional undead, could be distracted by his constructs.

He'd managed to locate a few tombs, all in various states of disrepair. Unsurprising, really, given their distance from the city and the aggressive fauna surrounding them. Similar to what he'd seen with Andariel, the dead inside were risen and restless. Fortunately, the supplies he needed to lay them back to rest were easy enough to come by. Lysander raised his eyebrows at Morgan's requests for specific oils but produced them without further comment. There was generally little else of interest in the tombs, but it felt pleasantly useful to be able to carry out these small acts of service to punctuate the long stretches of information gathering.

He was learning much about Lut Gholein - the infrastructure of desert waypoints was particularly interesting, like portals but in fixed locations - but next to nothing about the tomb of Tal Rasha, even with Cain's help. The evidence leaned toward Baal, Lord of Destruction, being the evil that was contained within it. Unfortunately, most references to its location had either been removed or redacted. It made sense for the tomb to be hidden, to prevent grave robbers from targeting it and unwittingly unleashing Baal onto the world. That was a sensible precaution which also happened to make his current objective much more difficult. It wasn't as though he could actually track the dark wanderer through the desert; the wanderer was much too far ahead for that thanks to Morgan's long convalescence. Any traces would have long since been erased. He had to find the tomb some other way.

From time to time Blaise stopped in, usually staying for just a minute or two to share the latest news from the mercenaries. Perhaps she'd been asked to keep communications open. It was a little unusual that it was never any of the other mercenaries, but Morgan wasn't about to complain. Known allies were always preferable to strangers.

Morgan was on his way to the archives one night, later than usual. He hadn't realized how late it had gotten while he'd been reading until the oil lamp had guttered out. Rather than refill it in the dark and risk waking Jemali, who had fallen fast asleep on the bed after airing some complaints about a particularly demanding client, he decided to take his research elsewhere.

He liked the city at night. Everything was softer, the smells of the marketplace just lingering memories, the last of the vendors packed up for the day, the chatter and bustle stilled. If he sat still for long enough, one of the innumerable stray cats would find the courage to rub hopefully against his ankles. He'd made the mistake of feeding one of them once, and they'd not forgotten. They were charming little opportunists. None of them were around this evening, though. Perhaps they'd found someone with a steadier supply of food for them, he thought as he turned down a narrow street. It was nice to imagine they were being cared for.

"Hey," a voice called out softly from somewhere above. "Pale one." Morgan looked up to see a man raising a hand in greeting from a second storey window. The voice was vaguely familiar. "You ever find what you were looking for?" Ah, it was one of the many people he'd tried asking for information. Nothing in particular made this one stand out from the rest, as far as he could tell. People often blurred together, and he was too far away to see the man's face clearly.

"Good evening. I'm making some progress."

"Well, good luck with that. Akarat guide you."

"And you."

The man retreated inside and Morgan resumed walking. He followed the street to its intersection, gazing up at the skyline to orient himself with the looming silhouettes of the palace and the city gates. The streets were mazelike at times, and he still hadn't determined the fastest route across the city from the palace to the archives. Maybe if he tried taking the left fork this time...

The sharp sting of an insect bite interrupted his musing. He swatted at his neck, annoyed. The damned things were usually less active after dusk, but there was no real escape. For half a second, he was confused by the unfamiliar feeling under his fingers. Why would an insect be made of metal, he thought fuzzily as the world tilted around him. He was unconscious before he hit the ground.

#my writing #story: unbidden #noncon touching tw #drugging tw

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something-tofightfor · 4 years ago

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Seasons to Cycles / 4

Pairing: Logan Delos x Reader

Word Count: 10,760

Rating: M (Some language, mentions of sex and drug use)

Summary: Logan’s got an invitation for you - but is it what it seems? Is it real, or is he looking for something in particular? Later, both halves of his life come together in an unexpected - but not entirely unwanted - way.

Author’s Note: Here’s where things start to get very interesting. I hope this chapter answers some questions for you ... but it’s also going to raise new ones. Song lyrics come into play in this one, too, which is what I’ve been waiting for.

Enjoy. (Thank you for the feedback!)

ALSO.

A couple people have asked about Logan’s apartment and Juliet’s house, so here are the listings I’m using as reference: Logan’s High Rise

Juliet’s House

I had one for reader’s studio apartment, too, but apparently it’s not for rent anymore, so it’s not showing. Sorry!

From the 46th story of Two California Plaza, Logan looked out over the city. It always took him a day or two to get used to being back in the office after trips to the parks, and the abrupt end to the most recent trip had made it worse than usual. But I’m happy to be home. He leaned back in his chair, one arm bent and behind his head, and smiled. At least the weather’s good. He’d been surprised to return to his room at the Mesa and find multiple messages waiting from Ariella, one of them apologizing for the way that she’d acted before she’d left his place - but even more surprised to see a rambling message from you, sent in the middle of the week. She’s curious about the parks and the Hosts.

He’d called his fiancée back, for once ahead of her in time zones, and while the conversation had been fast, the woman on her way to meet with her parents, it hadn’t been unpleasant. But that’s probably because I haven’t looked into what she got up to in Amsterdam yet. Logan hadn’t called you back, though, and he hadn’t returned your text, either. But why?

Standing, he pushed away from his desk and began pacing in front of his window, one hand in his pocket and the fingers of the other running through his hair. I wanted to. He had. In fact, he’d thought of you a lot while in the park, his usual distractions occupying less and less of his mind as the days passed. He’d sought out Clementine, not having to look far once they’d arrived in Sweetwater, and spent the night with her before setting out with his business partners the following day. Logan had timed the arrival so that just as they were leaving, Hector and his bandits were arriving, and though that had given him something else to focus on, by the time the four of them had reached Las Mudas as a stopover on their way to Pariah, you were on Logan’s mind again, remaining there for the entirety of the remainder of the ride out to the hidden city.

The men and women in Pariah were more than willing to accommodate his requests, and the time they spent there was pleasant. Logan let loose and drank heavily, the sweet-smelling air perfumed by the spices sold by the street vendors wafting in through his open windows and keeping him awake long after his chosen partners had drifted off. Hasn’t always been that way. The first time, it was … I wore myself out.

Pariah was Logan’s favorite area in the park, because the overall tone suited him, but each time he returned to Westworld, he also remembered what it felt like to be appointed as one of the leaders of the Confederados, the men listening to him without question, following his orders even though they made little sense. Because it’s like it is out there. Just less...real. Even that train of thought led him back to you, though it didn’t happen until he’d read your message and was already back on his way to Los Angeles. Why am I thinkin’ about this?

He stopped moving, pulling his hand from his pocket and settling both on his hips, elbows bent. “You’re the boss, Logan. Act like it.” But he lowered his head, hair moving out of place and falling over one eye. “Shit.” He straightened up, eyes narrowed. Get it together. You have a meeting in an hour, and the rest of your week is … But instead of sitting back down at his desk to read through notes, a few minutes later, Logan was sitting beneath one of the permanent umbrellas on California Plaza, his phone in hand, and your number on the screen. He only hesitated for a few seconds before he called, wondering if he’d catch you on a break again, or you’d push him through to voicemail. After two rings, he got his answer.

“Logan, hi!” Your tone excited, you greeted him, and he felt a smile spreading over his lips and lifting his cheeks before he could stop it. “Did you have a good trip?” She sounds happy to hear from me.

“I did.” He leaned back in that chair, eyes on the fountains in front of him. “Got your text.”

“Oh, Logan, I shouldn’t have -” Embarrassed? No reason to be.

“Are you at work now, I hope I’m not -” You assured him that it was fine, and that you were taking a long lunch. “The only way to answer that would be to let you meet Hosts, you know?” He licked his lips, thinking. “An’ it’s different for everyone, so I don’t know how you’d… what you’d think of them.” That was the truth, and though it wasn’t difficult for Logan and Juliet to tell the difference, he knew - all too well - that it wasn’t the case for everyone. “If you were in one of the parks -”

“You and your sister, Logan. Both of you keep trying to get me into those damn parks when I …” You were laughing. “I’m not the type of person you need to impress, I’m just curious.”

“Jules wants you to go to the park?” It was his turn to laugh. Doesn’t surprise me. “Well then you know it must be -”

“Maybe in another lifetime, Logan.” You took a deep breath and he pictured the way your shoulders would settle, the subtle tilt of your head. “What did you call for, though? That didn’t answer my …” Maybe she doesn’t need to be in the parks to… He leaned forward, thinking. It would be easy, I can ask…

“I’m gonna work late tomorrow.” He stood, heading back for the entrance. “Get some extra shit done, but if you want to stop by the office after you’re out of work, I can answer your question in person?” It was unnecessary, but the seed was planted. “We’ve got a restaurant on-site, so we can get somethin’ to eat, and have a working dinner.” I want to see you, want to see how you…

“If you’re working late, it must mean you’re busy, and I don’t want to keep you from…” He heard the doubt creeping into your voice again, and Logan cut it off quickly, already in the elevator back up to his office.

“I’m the boss. It’s fine. Promise.” The doors opened to his floor, and Logan stepped in front of his office, leaning down to let the small camera scan his eye, the door unlocking almost immediately. “I’ll text you a visitor’s parking pass, and if you let me know when you get here, I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

“Sounds good. Is it alright if I get there around…” You thought for a second. “Five? It should only take me about twenty five minutes, so …”

“Perfect.” He was sitting at his desk, fingers flying over the keyboard and he sent you the pass, and again after, as he opened up a blank email. “So I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yep.” He could tell you were smiling, and Logan smiled again, too. “I’ll be there.” There wasn’t much else to say, and so you hung up shortly after, Logan’s lips still curved upward. This is either going to go really well, or it’s going to backfire on me.

---

He met you in the lobby the following afternoon, standing back a few feet while you spoke with Cal, one of the receptionists. One. Your interaction with the man was pleasant but nothing special, and Logan watched you grin at him, reaching out to take the visitor’s badge in one hand. He called out your name, striding over to where you were standing, using one hand to clip the piece of plastic to the strap of your bag. “Logan this place is amazing.” It is.

“Didn’t always look like this.” He touched your elbow, guiding you through the lobby. “My father wasn’t a fan of the open plan, wanted everything to feel… intimidating, so when Juliet and I took over, we made some changes. She did, first. Then I… “You’re right though, this is much better.” He eyed you as you took in the tall ceilings and artwork, the sculptures and the fountains; the clear liquid splashing onto the marble tile of the floor and dripping into the recessed drains. “You look tired.” He finally took a good look at you when you stepped into the elevator, Logan typing in his code for access to the lower floors. “Long day at work?” You closed your eyes and nodded.

“Yeah, I work in admissions, like I said, so we’re in kind of a … slow spot right now, but the entire system went down this morning, and so I spent my entire shift doing data entry, and I …” You rubbed your eyes with both hands. “My eyes hurt.” He grinned at that, but didn’t say anything. “Thanks, though, for pointing out that -”

“Oh, come on. I didn’t mean it like that, I just meant that you don’t look…” He paused. “Alright, yeah, that does make me sound like a dick.” That got you to laugh, and by the time the two of you stepped out into the entryway, Logan was laughing with you. “We’re not goin’ into my office yet. Follow me.” You looked confused, but Logan was eager to show you the first part of the reason he’d invited you to Delos. “This is somethin’ most people don’t ever get to see.” He pressed his hand against a panel next to a set of glass doors, a green light illuminating and the panes separating. “An’ it’s not …” Should I be doing this? “You’ll see.”

“Logan, what …” You were right next to him, and though the hall was well lit, the rooms you were passing weren’t, most of them completely dark. “I feel like we’re in a …” But you stopped speaking as you reached the end of the hallway, where the room was well lit. Here we go. “Logan…” He heard it in your voice - the moment you realized where you were and what you were doing, and only a second later, felt your fingers closing around his wrist. “Are those …”

“They are.” Only glass separated you from the man and woman in the room, the two of them dancing in a slow circle. “We’re workin’ on a new … project. It’s not a park, and it’s not on the island, so …” He looked over, expecting you to be focused on the window, but instead you were staring up at him, eyes full of shock. She’s lookin’ at me instead of… “So they’re here. Some of ‘em. We’re trying to…”

“Logan, they look so much like people, how …” You finally tore your eyes away from him and took a half step closer to the glass, fingers still circling his wrist. “This is …” He remembered what it had been like to see the Hosts for the first time, to speak to them, to touch them - feeling the way that they filled the room at the penthouse bar, Logan only realizing what was happening as Angela giggled and lifted her finger. It was incredible. And it still is. “She’s beautiful, Logan.” You had one hand on the glass and you finally let go of him with the other, reaching up to press your fingertips to your cheek, slowly moving them up and down.

“She is. When they design the hosts, they model ‘em off a composite of actual people.” He leaned closer to you, not wanting to raise his voice. “So some of them? You’ll look at them, and it’s close enough that you might think ‘oh, he’s got Timberlake’s eyes, or Skarsgard’s lips… or she’s got Keira Knightly’s…”

“Did you just give me a list of the people you find attractive, Logan?” You nudged him with your elbow. “Or are you telling me that I could go into the park and find someone as -” Always listening to what’s between the …

“We make ‘em so that they appeal to people.” He set his shoulders, eyes back on the couple, the man and woman still dancing, but laughing at the same time, one of his hands combing through her long, wavy hair. “So yeah, sometimes they pull features from real people, just to… make things more lifelike.” Logan took a breath. “We gotta get permission from them, of course, and even then, the techs change things like eye color or birthmarks, or …” He shrugged. “A lot of the Hosts are entirely new, but we’ve got hundreds of them in each park, and with this project, we need to …”

“You need to keep things familiar, because this…” You pulled your hand away from the glass, taking a deep breath. “Logan, I’ll be honest with you right now, I’m just looking at them, and it’s hard to believe that they’re real, that this … exists. Any of it. It’s overwhelming. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be in one of the parks, surrounded by …”

“It’s a fuckin’ trip.” You turned to face him, though he watched your eyes dart back to the left before they focused on him. “Every time, even though I know none of it is real.” He watched your lips tremble slightly, and Logan contemplated his next words. How much do I … “It only gets as real as you let it, and the parks are designed so that the Hosts can’t really hurt you, but if you forget that - and it’s easy to, sometimes - it can get… pretty goddamn wild.”

“I bet.” You swallowed and turned your head back toward the window, not saying anything else, and Logan watched you, eyes roaming over your profile. You weren’t reacting the way that he’d thought you would. He hadn’t expected you to flip out, or talk his ear off, but he wasn’t expecting the almost stoic silence, either. Is she not impressed? Is she … “Why are you showing this to me, Logan?” You took a deep breath. “There aren’t supposed to be Hosts in the United States, Delos signed a -” She’s lookin’ into us?

“We did. And technically, these Hosts aren’t in the United States, because they’re confined to this building, to specific floors, and if they leave? They cross the barriers?” He reached out cautiously, knowing that you could see the movement, and when you didn’t stop him, he laid one fingertip at the base of your neck, pressing gently. “They’ve got implants, and… boom.” He felt you shiver, watching your eyes close. Is that causea the… “They keep a close eye on ‘em, too, and the only people that know they’re here are the ones we trust.”

“So why am I here?” You turned your entire body to face him, and because the movement shocked him, Logan’s hand moved along the side of your throat and over your shoulder before he could pull it back. Fuck. The contact stunned him, leaving him speechless for the span of two breaths. Oh, fuck, that’s not … He watched the look in your eyes change, realizing that you hadn’t meant for it to happen either, his touch visibly affecting you, and then Logan spoke again, the tiniest wavering of his voice audible.

“Because you asked how real they were, an’ the only way to explain it is to show you.” He drew his hand back, sliding it smoothly into his pocket and gesturing with the other toward the glass. “And this is nothing. It’s different when you’re talkin’ to them, or you’re in bed with them, or you shoot one of them, an’ watch them fall, or when they…” He stopped himself. “But.” Logan sucked air through his teeth before letting out his breath. “At least you’ve seen ‘em now, yeah?” You nodded. “An’ I know you won’t say anything about this, because ...” Because I trust you already, and that’s… “Because I think you wanna be my friend, and you know that …”

“Who would I tell, Logan?” Your eyes were shining. “I never thought I’d…” You looked back, the male Host dipping the female backwards, one of his hands rising to the side of her face, thumb skating over the fullest part of her cheek. “Jesus.” It was impressive - he had to admit it. The Hosts had come a long way in the years since his first private demonstration, and Logan was glad for it. They’re gonna be the only thing that gets me through… He shook his head briefly. Not now. “I won’t say a word, Logan, I promise.” You reached toward him, squeezing his hand and Logan let you, eyes flicking down so that he could watch as you gripped his fingers briefly, not even giving him a chance to squeeze back before you let go. “Thank you for showing me.”

That shocked him - not that you’d thanked him, because he’d figured you would, but that you accepted the short viewing of the Hosts as the extent of what he was offering, and hadn’t pushed further. I guess I kind of expected that, too. And it means that I was … “You’re welcome.” Logan’s mind was racing, the man trying to keep up with his thoughts. “D’you wanna go back upstairs now? I meant what I said about havin’ dinner. You can ask questions, or …”

“I don’t even know what I’d ask, Logan. I wasn’t expecting … this, and now I …” But you haven’t even … “But yes. Let’s go back up.” We should. “You said there’s a cafeteria? I didn’t actually get to eat lunch today, so -”

“Come on, then. Let’s get you some food.” And get to the second part of this.

---

The cafeteria - like the rest of Delos - was sleek and modern, wide open, with windows that overlooked the city, and you felt yourself smile as you looked around, more than a few other people still in the space. I’m surprised there’s…

But the more you thought about it, the more you weren’t that shocked. Delos was a 24/7 company, employees working around the clock in different departments. And based on what I just saw, it makes perfect sense. Logan showing you the two Hosts had been a total surprise, and you’d been in awe at how lifelike they were - barely a few feet away from you, focused on each other like a couple in love, their mannerisms - from what you could tell - no different than your own would have been. “You’re not even listenin’.” You shook yourself out of your thoughts and focused back on Logan, the man leaning across the table and toward you. “And I thought I was interesting.” Oh, you are, Logan. I just …

“Did you have a good trip? Juliet told me one of your guests got sick, so you came back early.”

“I did. It was niceta get back into the park, and …” He grinned, winking and taking a long drink. “Have some fun.” Can I ask? Should I ask? You wanted to, wanted to know Logan’s take on things, and with a deep inhale, you decided to do just that. “Logan.” You bit your lip, blinking. “When you say fun, do you mean -”

“Yes.” He answered without hesitation. “That’s exactly what I mean. Along with some shooting and fighting and …” Ok, so he answered that. But will he…

“So when you go into the park, you …” You raised an eyebrow. “Sleep with the -”

“Not doin’ much sleeping, usually.” He winked at you, but you didn’t let it deter you. You’re not gonna get me that easily, Logan.

“Ok, so that’s my next question.” You took a drink from the cup in front of you. “So you don’t consider that cheating then? Since you’ve got a fiancée, and yet you still…”

“No.” There was no shame in the reply, Logan’s eyes locked onto your face. “It’s not cheating if they’re not real. And they’re not real, no matter how real they look or feel or act, so…” He ran a hand through his hair. “The Hosts are one of the only habits I haven’t broken yet, an’ between you and me?” He leaned in, tone serious. “Out of all of ‘em, it’s the safest.” You’re right. You widened your eyes as he spoke, but tried to hide it. He… Sex with the Hosts presented very few risks to Logan - or his reputation. The parks weren’t traceable, and there was no chance of getting any of them pregnant - or catching anything from them in return. They can’t hurt him, they can’t start any rumors, and there’s no … there’s no permanence. “Any other questions?”

He was resting an elbow on the table, chin atop his hand. So many. But before you could speak, you heard someone say his name, turning your head to watch a man heading toward your table. Oh, this will be awkward, he’ll have to introduce me. “Logan! Good to see you, I didn’t realize you were back.” Logan straightened up, grinning. “Who’s this?”

“Hey, Gideon.” Logan nodded once. “This is my friend.” He introduced you, and there wasn’t even time for you to say anything before the man was holding his hand out to you, saying hello. “She had a couple questions about the parks, and I figured it was easier to talk in person.” He gestured to the chair. “Sit with us?” You were focused on the second man, though, eyes on his face and on the warmth you saw in his eyes; green tinged with blue and gold. He’s… The man was attentive, repeating your name even as he removed his hand from yours and dropped into the chair next to you. “What have you been up to?”

You watched the two of them speak, both animated as they continued their conversation, turning toward you every now and then to include you. They must be friends, this is … Taking their conversation as an opportunity to observe, you eyed Gideon, smiling as the man reached up to scratch his chin, never looking away from Logan. He’s handsome. You realized it after only a few moments, letting yourself eye the man without restraint. Really handsome, I wonder if all of the employees are … But your thoughts were interrupted by Logan asking you a question, and you pulled your attention away from Gideon, focusing back on the other man. “What? No. I’ve only been to Juliet’s that one time, aside from when you and I went.” I was paying attention, Logan. I might have been watching Gideon, but… “She invited me back out to use the pool again, but so far, no.”

“You’ve never invited me out to swim at your sister’s Logan.” Gideon was laughing, and though he spoke to Logan, he was eyeing you. “And you’ve already gotten a callback?” He winked at you, grin widening. “You’ve got to tell me your secrets, about how you won Juliet over so fast.” Logan remained quiet, but as you glanced at him, you saw that he was watching the two of you, barely concealing the smile on his face. But if he’s friends with Logan, wouldn’t…

“No secrets, Gideon.” You shrugged, taking a bite out of your burger. “But it is a nice pool.” The man laughed loudly, eyes closing as he nodded.

“Fair enough.” He rested his forearm on the table, leaning slightly closer. “Logan said you have some questions about the parks?” You said yes, once again glancing at Logan. I’m almost positive this guy is hitting on me, but … “Maybe I can answer. Logan’s got the money and the power, but I work in Asset Development, so I’m much more … hands on, if you know what I mean.” His boldness took you by surprise, but as you thought about his words, you realized that if he was hitting on you, he was doing it without worry. Logan’s engaged, of course he wouldn’t care that someone was …

But even as you continued the conversation with the two men, Gideon supplying answers when Logan couldn’t, the man asking you questions and inviting you to visit him in his office sometime to talk more, you were slightly distracted. But Logan said … when we were in the apartment, that he liked me … he tried to … You looked back and forth between both of them, trying to keep a neutral expression, and then focused on Gideon’s face. Logan’s too calm. There’s no way that he would … Gideon scratched his chin again and you sucked in a breath, trying to keep it quiet. Not only me, he was basically hitting on Juliet, too, and Logan wouldn’t… there’s no way that … Not if it was real. “Logan.” You whispered the single word, locking your eyes on the man’s, finding that he was staring at you. “Logan.”

“That’s enough, Gideon.” The second man stopped speaking, and Logan continued. “All that we need is too close to be seen.” Without another word, Gideon stood and turned away from the table, heading back in the direction that he’d come from. What the fuck. “You figured it out.” Logan leaned closer, a note of pride in his voice. “How?”

“He was a…” Logan nodded. “I thought I was …” But Logan didn’t speak, only watching you quietly. “It was mostly you, Logan. He didn’t do anything, not really, but you … your reaction to him hitting on Juliet and... The way you just sat back and watched? You said it’s never real, and I think that if he’d really been doing that, in front of you? And including me? You wouldn’t have been so calm.” Maybe. He looked surprised at your words, but nodded.

“So I gave it away?” You did, but … “Gideon’s one of our newest. We use him as a test subject. He does work in Asset Management, but he’s going to be something else down the line.” So he let me meet a … he introduced me to … “Are you alright?” Logan’s hand moved as if he wanted to touch yours, but he stopped short. “I shouldn’t have …”

“No, I’m....” You shook your head, lowering it. “I just wasn’t expecting to…” Bringing your gaze back up, you met Logan’s eyes once more. “He scratched his chin a few times, Logan, I caught that. And his eyes were … I’ve never seen eyes like that, especially on someone that seemed like -” But you stopped, not wanting to finish your sentence. I don’t need him to think I’m reading more into this.

“Seemed what?” But it wasn’t going to be that easy, Logan still talking quietly. “You gotta tell me.”

“I’ve never been hit on by a guy that looks like that.” You gestured in the direction that the man had gone. “But it felt real, so I… went with it.”

“Yeah you have.” He gave you a quick smile. “Because I’m pretty sure that I’ve -”

“You don’t count, Logan. You’re practically married, so… you flirting might be honest, but it’s not going to …” It’s not going to lead anywhere. I don’t know what’s worse - the robot blatantly doing it that could have led to … or Logan, who can’t … “Wait, you were hitting on me?” You rolled your eyes, trying to lighten the mood. “You must be losing your touch, because I -”

“Oh, shut up. You know I was.” It was Logan’s turn to take a drink, watching you from over the rim of his glass. “So what did you think? Cal an’ the two in the basement, and Gideon?” Cal? You mean the receptionist? “Yeah, he’s a Host, too. Like I said, we’re rotating the new Hosts through different positions, just to make sure that they can integrate into real situations, when it comes time.” He’s telling me their future plans like I… “So you’ve talked to two of ‘em, touched two of them.” I did, they were … they felt like … “And?”

“And … what?” You were confused, overstimulated, still in disbelief that because of a chance encounter, you’d gotten an opportunity to - in person - see and feel the Delos Hosts. “I had no idea at first, Logan. Is that how it is in the parks? Are -”

“No, they’re dialed back here. They have to be. The parks are meant to be … real, but still over the top. I can’t explain it. They’re tryin’ to get your attention from the second you step offa the train. It’s all a come-on, and everyone’s got a part to play. But here? They gotta fit in, blend in. There, you know that you’re interacting with them a lot of times, but here, you can’t know.

“Well they fooled me, Logan. Both of them, I -”

“Not entirely, though.” He looked slightly worried. “You said you noticed Gideon scratching -”

“Only because I was already focused on the way you were acting, Logan. Without you right here, I probably wouldn’t have …” Stop talking. The more you say, the more he’s… Logan wasn’t an idiot, and you knew that you’d likely already said too much. The look in his eyes confirmed your suspicions, and the next words he said solidified them.

“So you could tell I wasn’t… acting like myself?” You thought about lying to him - for a split second - making up an excuse that wouldn’t make it seem as if you were trying to read into his behavior - and then you didn’t.

“I could. Especially with Juliet. I don’t think any man would have the balls to talk about her like that in front of you.” You took a breath. “And I guess, Logan, that I don’t really think you’d just casually try to pawn me off on someone that I don’t -”

“You’re right.” He chewed on his lower lip for a few seconds. “On both counts, actually. The last person that … disrespected Juliet in front of me? He got what he deserved. Eventually.” You watched Logan’s eyes go cold, lip curling slightly. That’s a sore subject. “And you? You’re damn right that I wouldn’t just sit back and... “ He stopped himself and you felt your heart thud, though you knew it was pointless. He’s just being a good friend. “But a Host?” Logan let out a long breath, closing his eyes and smirking for a few seconds. “They’re built to be fuckin’ irresistable, so…” One eyebrow raised, Logan finished his sentence. “It’s not a problem.”

“So wait a second.” You took another bite, needing a few seconds. “Does that mean that if Ariella were to go to the parks, you wouldn’t bat an eye at seeing -”

“Nope.” He lifted a forkful of pasta salad to his lips, and when he’d swallowed, he spoke. “And I know that a lot of people think that’s bullshit, but as long as you know it’s not real? It makes it a hell of a lot easier to let your guard down, to look at it objectively.”

“What do you mean?” I get it, I think, but … “You could just watch her go off with one of them, knowing that -”

“I could. I have.” He took another long swallow of his drink. “And not just Hosts, either.” That’s… wait, what? “Everyone’s got a history, right? With people, you never know what the fuck the other person’s doing; where they’ve been or who they’ve been with. With the parks? Every Host gets taken offline and cleaned up between Guest encounters, so it doesn’t matter. We’ve gotta protect the people in the parks, and we’ve gotta do what’s right. There’s no risk. No diseases, no pregnancies, no attachments.” His words echoed your earlier thoughts, but Logan continued. “I could take you right now, to where Gideon is, and bring him back online completely. He’d start the conversation with you where it left off. You guys could do whatever, and then go your separate ways… but the next time he met you? He might not remember it, depending on what we’ve had him doing between. To him, it’s like nothin’ happened, when we reset him, even though it did.”

“Logan, that -”

“It’s safe. It’s smart. It’s efficient. Think about how many relationships could be saved if people went and fucked Hosts instead of real people? Think about how many fewer problems there’d be, people blowin’ off steam by goin’ to bed with -” He swore, cutting himself off, muttering under his breath. “D’you wanna do that? Go find Gideon, or maybe even Cal? Have some… we’ve got private rooms here, in the building, you could -” Why is he… why does he think I…

“No, Logan.” You narrowed your eyes. “Gideon was good looking, but that doesn’t mean that I … it doesn’t matter that he’s a Host, I’ve spoken to him for fifteen minutes, and I -” You paused. “That would have been like you and I fucking in the Whole Foods parking lot with that damn ice cream melting in your trunk.” He snorted at that, giving you a look that you couldn’t quite read. I don’t know what’s going on right now, but this isn’t the same… he’s thinking about something different, something … “It would be different if I was in a park, Logan, and we’d known each other for a couple minutes, because that’s … that’s what it’s supposed to be like. But out here? This is real life. I can’t just get back on a train and leave, it…” You’re explaining this really poorly.

“Aren’t you curious? You’ve seen ‘em. Felt them, talked with them. Don’t you want to -”

“Of course I’m curious, Logan, but that doesn’t mean … this is a lot to think about. I -”

“What do you think?” His tone changed again, Logan’s eyes once again filled with warmth. “You asked me if I thought it was cheating, fucking the Hosts in the park, but what do you -”

“It’s not.” You wet your lips. “It would probably be hard the first time, to know that someone I cared about was probably in bed with someo… something else, to see it happen, even just watching y… them walk away with the Host, but it… yeah, for the duration, it’s real, but… fuck, Logan, if I’m paying $40,000 a day? If they are paying $40,000 a day? Fuck all the robots you want and get your money’s worth.” That got a laugh from Logan, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he grinned.

“I’m offerin’ you, right now, the chance. No forty grand, no park, no … strings. You and onea those two, in a -”

“No. Thank you, Logan, but no.” This is… are we really having this conversation? “If I’m going to sleep with one of the Hosts, I want it to be… the real circumstances, not just one basically hand delivered to me by the fucking CEO of the company that’s designing them.” And I don’t really want a Host, either, I… “What does that say about me, hmm?” You tilted your head to one side. “Need someone to play matchmaker for me, and the match isn’t even a real…”

“You don’t need me.” Logan interrupted. “I’m just in a position to offer you somethin’ you can’t refuse for a hell of a lot less than the going rate.” The playful tone was back in Logan’s voice, but you still heard some hesitation. What is … why? “Except you’re refusing it. Are you sure? Gideon’s a hell of a -”

“I’m sure.” Though you were surprised to hear yourself reply so quickly, you were certain of your answer. “I appreciate it, but I…” You shrugged. “He might be designed to be perfect, but I’ll be honest and tell you he’s not what I usually go for.” You saw that Logan was surprised, but the man kept quiet, raising one hand and lifting his shoulder in a shrug. Not even close.

---

The following weeks kept Logan busy with finalizing contracts, the man flying between LA and Boston for work multiple times. Though he kept in touch with you via text, you didn’t see each other again, and Logan thought that it was likely for the best. Because the last time she .. she gave me a lot to think about.

You’d picked up on his behavior both in front of the Host room and in the cafeteria, though you didn’t know him well. You’d paid more attention to him than to the Hosts that you’d been confronted with, even while Logan had seen you eyeing Gideon, almost in disbelief. And that was before she knew. It had been wrong of him to surprise you with so much information in so little time, but Logan had wanted to see your genuine reaction to the Hosts, and if he’d clued you in, it would have ruined everything. And she … she didn’t …

The disbelief he’d understood. Seeing and meeting them for the first time was special, even if their true potential wasn’t on display. But what he hadn’t understood was how quick you were to turn down the opportunity to get closer to either of the two men, though it was apparent that you understood the true stakes of the offer itself. She didn’t care. It wasn’t just about … the experience. You didn’t think that you’d ever make it to one of the parks, and were still willing to turn down the chance to take a Host to bed, no strings attached. Wish my fiancée was the same.

Your questions and comments about cheating, about the safety of being with Hosts had gotten to Logan, and though he knew that you had no idea about his relationship’s parameters, he’d been unable to stop thinking about what you’d said - and how you’d said it. She meant it. Really didn’t think I was honestly flirting with her, was surprised at me saying that I’ve watched Ariella… I’m sure she saw the way I reacted to talking about all those relationships. He swore under his breath, propping his feet up on the railing of the balcony. And then I tried to fucking get her to go off with …

The look in your eyes as he’d suggested you sleeping with one of the Hosts had surprised him the most. It wasn’t that he didn’t think you’d take the opportunity if presented with it under normal circumstances, but he’d put you on the spot, and he knew it. But she… Instead of agreeing out of shock and excitement, you’d turned his offer down repeatedly, providing him with legitimate explanations for your refusal. There was something she didn’t say, though. He lifted the beer bottle to his lips, taking a long drink as the LA skyline twinkled in front of him. Something she was thinking. If Gideon - or Cal - weren’t your type, then what was? There’s gotta be…

He’d told William once that the park managed to seduce everyone at some point, and while he’d been trying to make the man understand what he was in store for, Logan believed the words himself. The park, the Hosts, the stakes … it’s a lot. But she … she’s still...

The more he got to know you, the more he wanted to understand. She’s not like … Logan’s mind drifted to his fiancée, and at the realization that she’d be back in Los Angeles within sixteen hours, Logan winced. Ariella woulda fucked them both, no questions asked. The woman had very few boundaries, and despite the fact that she was wearing a diamond he’d given her on her finger, that deficiency extended to the bedroom - and to her partners. She’s here for my dad’s party, and then we’ll have some meetings on Sunday with vendors, and then she’ll be gone again, and I … He rubbed a hand over his entire face, letting out a sigh. “Same fuckin’ thing.”

Staring up at the slowly darkening sky, Logan watched as the clouds moved across it, his mind racing. He truly didn’t care about the Host interactions, because that was what the parks were for. But each week that passed, each time he checked the woman’s private accounts, or his lawyers had to race to keep stories from leaking about her indiscretions, the amount that he cared about their future decreased, too. Might not be a traditional relationship, but goddamn, she could at least … He knew he was a catch - educated, wealthy, good looking - but Logan’s self esteem dropped each time he saw his fiancée, the woman barely lukewarm toward him, unless she knew the cameras were on. I was in bed with her more when we weren’t anything serious. Who would have …

Logan finished his drink and stood, striding back through the living room and into his kitchen, opening the drawer where Ariella had stashed the small container of drugs. I can’t believe this is … Setting the bottle down on the counter, he picked up the tin, turning it over in his fingers, a frown on his face. He felt the faint pull, deep in his chest, thinking about the days when he wouldn’t have thought twice about opening it and seeing what she’d left for him; carrying it into the master bathroom and dumping out a small mound of the white powder onto the back of his hand, covering one knuckle. It’d be easy. His fingers curled, the container solid in his hand. She might not even remember it’s here, so she wouldn’t know it’s gone. He lowered his head. Or maybe when she gets here, we can say fuck Jim’s party, and…

But before that thought could continue, Juliet’s face - and then Emily’s flashed through his mind. Juliet’s features were schooled into the same mixture of sadness and fear that he’d seen when he woke up in the hospital after Westworld, Emily’s eyes filled with disappointment. I can’t do that. Not to them, not again. Not to myself. His eyes opened and he glanced down, head shaking back and forth before he set the container back down and slid the drawer shut. She’s not worth it. He knew it to be true - knew that every moment following the agreement that they made, every second of their relationship was worse than the last, but Logan was hesitant to let himself focus on it. I can’t. It’ll ruin everything, but no one … no one notices, no one sees…

At that thought, Logan also thought of you, the way you’d noticed his actions, noticed the subtle changes in his demeanor after only spending a few hours with him. He thought of the way you spoke to him - unafraid to question him, and even less afraid to tell him the truth, even when it differed from what he said or thought. She would notice. He knew that it was the truth - knew that the moment you saw him and Ariella together, you’d know something wasn’t right. Maybe that would be … He sighed, moving down the hallway and into his bedroom, laying down atop the blankets and folding one arm back beneath his head. But then I’d need to explain, and she wouldn’t … it’d be like I was lying to her, and I’m not. I just can’t … “Fuck.” He closed his eyes. “God fucking dammit.”

He’d never done so much as touch you anywhere but the arm or the back of your neck; hadn’t even come close to kissing you or holding you, but Logan couldn’t deny that he was interested in you. And it’s not … not even physical, it’s… everything. He wouldn’t act on it - even with the arrangement he had in place with Ariella - because Logan knew that you deserved more. And I think it’s … I don’t think it would be as easy as … He rubbed his eyes with one hand but didn’t reopen them. And if she knew, it would mean that I’d either have to refuse to say anything else, or … or tell her about Billy, and what started this whole thing.

The extent of the William Incident was something that very few people knew. Juliet knew all of it; his therapist knew everything, too. Ariella knew that he’d had a bad experience, but he hadn’t ever found the will to explain to her - preferring to only blame his drug use and excessively destructive lifestyle to nearly dying in the desert, without detailing it. And fucking Jim still doesn’t believe me, otherwise he wouldn’t have … Logan swore again, letting out a long breath. He’d never truly wanted to tell anyone, because the more Logan thought about it, the more he blamed himself - for taking William, for pushing him, for not seeing the signs until it was too late. Do I want to tell someone?

There were days he believed that it would have been easier if he’d died in the desert - all of his shares in the company and his fortune rolling over into a trust meant for any future children of Juliet’s when they turned 18, the only stipulation that they not be touched by William in any way, shape or form. Fucking him out of that would have been something that he didn’t expect, and it would have… ruined him. That got a small smile from Logan, eyes cracking open as he turned his head toward the window. “But I didn’t.” He repeated the words, sitting up. “I’m still here, and still at Delos, and he isn’t.”

Logan pushed himself into a sitting position and swung his legs over the side of the bed, planting his feet flat on the floor. If it came down to it - and you ever met Ariella - Logan knew that you’d have tons of questions for him. But would I answer? He frowned, lower lip jutting out. Do I want her to ask? He sighed, standing. And what would Ariella … would she say anything? Would she see the way… “The way what, Delos? She’s your friend, and …” But if I wasn’t engaged, I think it would be… “Different.”

---

“Ari, come on.” He was sitting on the couch, one arm stretched out over the back of it. “We’re gonna be late, we’ve gotta stop over and pick up Jules on the way.” His eyes were on the TV, a movie playing on low volume. “You -”

“I’m ready, Logan.” He turned his head at the sound of her voice, Logan’s eyes landing on the redhead. “I don’t know why we’re not taking a car, it makes -”

“Because I need to be able to leave whenever I want to.” He stood, swallowing. “”You look great, Ari. That’s a -” His hand landed on her hip, and the woman’s hands moved to his chest, palms flat. “That’s a good color on you.” He wasn’t lying - the woman did look great, the navy blue cocktail dress hugging all of her curves, her long hair swept over one shoulder and held in place by a jeweled clip. “You look like you got some sun, too, you -”

“You never know who’s going to be at these things, Logan.” She rose onto her toes, kissing his cheek. “Have to make a good impression, right?” No, you don’t, because you’re going to be my wife. No one will … But he didn’t say anything in response, pulling away from the woman and grabbing his jacket from where it was hanging over the back of a chair, folding it over his arm. “Who made the guest list this time, Logan? Anyone I’d know on it?” Probably.

They rode the elevator down, Logan reciting some of the people’s names that would likely be there, Ariella rifling through her purse as she half listened. You asked, and now you … He rolled his eyes as the two of them exited into the garage, the woman waiting until Logan had opened the door for her to lower herself into the seat. As he slid into his side, buckling his seatbelt, Logan turned the car on and backed out of his spot, hearing the woman let out a breath. “What?”

“Can we turn the air on, Logan? It’s disgusting here, it’s so sticky out -” Oh, you better not have … He swung his head to look at her, eyes landing on the woman’s nose before they moved up. But Ariella’s eyes were clear and there was no powder beneath either nostril. So she’s just complaining. Got it. But he flipped the dial, and within only a few seconds, the interior had cooled off. “So why are we picking up Juliet? I thought she’d drive herself, maybe bring -”

“She didn’t want to drive herself, and as far as I know, she didn’t ask anyone to go with her.” Logan turned onto 10, shaking his head. “So I offered to drive her, because I figured it’d be easier.” And because she’ll have to head home earlier because of Emily. “Besides, it’ll give the two of you more time to talk, since you haven’t seen each other in a while.” Logan knew that Juliet wasn’t the biggest fan of Ariella, and that she felt somewhat responsible for Logan’s situation. But she doesn’t need to. It’s my own … He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, merging onto 110. “Ari, I set up a couple appointments for tomorrow. A wedding planner and a -”

“Yeah, about that.” She reached over, letting her hand rest on his knee. “Logan, I don’t … Do we have to meet with them? Can’t we just pick one, and then put them into contact with…” Logan groaned, feeling more disappointed than he thought he would. She doesn’t even … “I’ve already narrowed down the dresses, and I think that I’ve found a way to sell the first look at …”

“We have nothing planned, and you’re already worrying about who you can sell a story to?” Logan switched lanes, fingers flexing on the steering wheel. “Doesn’t that seem -”

“We’ve set a date, Logan. Everything else will fall into place.” She squeezed his knee and then pulled her hand away. “I can have my publicist get ahold of yours so that we can coordinate, but honestly? I don’t… Logan, it’s not like this is …” Yeah. I know. “We might as well make the most of it, right? Get as much out of the whole thing as possible? We don’t need to plan it, we just need to show up.” That’s not what I… But he again fell silent as they continued to drive, Logan unsure of what to say to the woman. So she’s taking it less seriously than I am. I should have known, but … He let out a breath, glancing over at the woman and was unsurprised to see that she’d pulled her phone out, her full attention on the device. I could ask her what she’s been… but I don’t want to fight. I just want to… “Look, right on time.”

She finally spoke again as they pulled around a dark blue SUV and into Juliet’s driveway, the gate open. We are. Actually, we’re a few minutes early. “Do you want to come in and see Em? It’s been -”

“I guess.” The woman shrugged. “I haven’t really ever spent much time with her, so I don’t know how …” For the first time in as long as he could remember, Ariella looked truly uncomfortable, a small frown on her face. “Does she know who I am?” She does, but …

“Yeah, Ari. Of course she does.” He grinned, running one hand through his hair and sliding his keys into his pocket. “Come on.” They walked across the driveway and up to the front door, Logan knocking once before pushing down on the handle and opening it. “Jules? We’re here.” They stepped into the entryway, Logan glancing around the corner. “Em?” He heard the little girl before he saw her; an excited shriek of his name followed by the sound of her footsteps as she ran toward them. Probably in her playroom. The little girl rounded the corner, her arms held out to Logan, who crouched over and reached for her, the grin never leaving his face. At least someone’s happy to see me. He hugged the girl to his chest, turning his head toward Ariella, who was watching with the same uncomfortable smile on her face, but what Logan wasn’t expecting was a second set of footsteps following the little girl’s, abruptly stopping along with the movement that he saw out of the corner of his eye. What … Squeezing Emily one more time, he set her down, still staring. There’s… why? In disbelief, Logan stood up again, lips parted slightly as he said your name, confused. “What are you -”

“Juliet’s babysitter canceled last minute.” You shrugged, taking a step into the room and toward Logan and Ariella, even as Emily returned to your side, one arm going around your bare leg and your fingers barely brushing the top of her head. “And I was supposed to come over tomorrow anyway, so I …” You shrugged. “I just said I’d watch Em, so Juliet didn’t have to miss the party, and …” He heard it - the slight waver of your voice as you looked between him and Ariella, your eyes never lingering on either of them. “So, while you guys are eating all of that fancy food and drinking that alcohol, and schmoozing... Emily and I are going to swim, and roast marshmallows, and …” He heard his niece giggle, watching as you looked back down. “Have fun, right?”

The little girl nodded and Logan felt himself smiling as he watched the two of you interact, you barely paying attention to Logan and Ariella. Where are you, Jules? Why didn’t you … Logan’s heart was thumping in his chest, and he felt closer to panic than he had in months, but he wasn’t quite sure why. “How do you two know each other?” Ariella finally spoke, stepping forward, her heels clicking against the floor. “Are you a friend of -”

“Logan and I met in a Whole Foods like … six weeks ago?” You tilted your head to one side. “He was buying a card for his housekeeper’s kid, and we talked for a few minutes.” You took a breath, clearing your throat. “Emily, go ahead back into the playroom. I’ll be there in a little while.” But before she did as you asked, the little girl let go of you and sprinted back toward Logan, her arms held out for another hug, which he gave her without pause, telling her to be good for you. As she disappeared through the doorway, you stepped closer to Logan and Ariella, blinking. “And after that, he introduced me to Juliet, because I live kind of close, and …” You shrugged. “It worked out, because…” Logan glanced at Ariella, watching as she assessed you, her eyes slightly narrowed, but still curious. What is… she’s never … “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you, Ariella, from both Logan and J-”

“I haven’t heard anything about you.” Her tone bored, Ariella stepped away from Logan, reaching up with her left hand to tuck her hair behind her ear. Why is she… “Are you sleeping with Logan? You should.” He sucked in a breath at the woman’s question, Logan’s eyes going back to you and seeing yours widen, head jerking back in surprise. “You’re not really his type, but it wouldn’t…”

“Ari.” He finally spoke. “Stop, there’s -” But you scoffed, shaking your head and rolling your eyes.

“What kind of a question is that? He’s engaged. He’s been very upfront about that since the second I met him and realized who he was. So no, Ariella, I’m not fucking your fiance.” You didn’t flinch as you spoke, which impressed Logan, the man focused entirely on the way that you were holding your ground, arms loosely by your sides. “Besides, even if I wanted to, Logan’s not the kind of person to cheat on -”

“You didn’t tell her?” Ariella laughed, looking away from you and back at Logan. “Really?” No, because it’s part of the fucking … “Oh, you...” Ariella laughed again, refocusing on you. “He’s engaged, but it isn’t a real…” Stop it, Ari.

“Hello, Ariella.” The three of you looked up, seeing that Juliet was standing on the stairs, arms crossed over her chest. “So good to see you.” Logan caught the ice in his sister’s tone. “Thank you for coming to get me, Logan. I’m almost ready, I just need to say goodbye to Emily, and then we can go.” He nodded, still feeling slightly numb. I need to … But he wasn’t sure what he needed to do, and though he’d thought that he wanted you to meet Ariella, the fact that it was actually happening had unsettled him.

“Juliet, it’s great to see you.” Ariella smiled brightly. “While you go and say goodbye to Emily, I’m going to go and use your bathroom. It’s so hot out, I want to check my makeup.” Juliet waved a hand vaguely at the stairs as she crossed the hallway toward where you stood, and without even acknowledging Logan, his fiancee stepped past him, taking the stairs quickly. I should follow Juliet, spend a few more minutes with Emily.

“You look great, Logan.” He heard you speaking, finally finding it in himself to meet your gaze. “It’s been a couple weeks, your hair got long.” It did. You hadn’t moved, still standing in the doorway, but you’d crossed your arms, a small frown on your face. “I didn’t realize …”

“Thank you.” Logan watched you, unsure of what to say. “I need to get it cut, but I don’t…”

“Nah, it makes you look younger.” You finally cracked a smile, but he saw the confusion in your eyes. “I’m sorry, Logan. I don’t know why she assumed that -” No. Don’t you dare apologize.

“She assumed it because that’s what she thinks of me.” He shrugged, deciding to say as much as he could without saying anything. “I’m used to it, and I should be, because of my past, but …” He wet his lips, frowning. “She had… no right.”

“She should know that. Maybe not about me, because she doesn’t know me, but she’s marrying you, Logan, she should …” You looked up, sighing. “It’s not my business. And neither is …” Swallowing hard, you looked at him again, and instinctively, Logan knew what was coming. “What did she mean, Logan? That you’re engaged, but it’s not … not a real what?” He expected it from you - the direct questioning - but still didn’t know how to answer. He paused, searching your face for a few seconds, but before he could reply, Juliet spoke again from behind you.

“That might be a conversation for another day, hmm?” He watched as the woman squeezed your arm. “We’ve got to leave, and if you guys get into that, it’ll…” She grinned, but Logan could tell that she was unsettled, too. “Em’s playing with her dollhouse, she knows that she has to listen to you, and I think she’ll be good.”

“She will.” Logan spoke, pushing his fingers through his hair again as Juliet stepped past you and next to him. “You won’t have any problems. And if you do?” He widened his smile. “Tell her Uncle Logan’s going to -”

“Uncle Logan’s going to what?” Everyone’s attention went back to the stairs, Ariella descending quickly, one hand on the railing. “Usually that threat comes before he takes his clothes -” Stop it. Logan’s eyes were on the woman’s face, and it only took him a few seconds to see that she was once again out of it, pupils wide and the smile on her face artificial. You couldn’t even wait until we … He heard Juliet hiss from next to him and Logan fought back a wince, his eyes going to you for a brief second. She looks disappointed. “He’s good at making threats… promises… you name it.” He felt Ariella’s hand on his arm, her fingers curling around the space just beneath his elbow. “He’s good at a lot of things. You sure you haven’t -”

“How’d he propose to you, Ariella?” You cut her off, and Logan watched the forced smile on your face, the expression not reaching your eyes. That’s the question she asks? “I saw the pictures in some of the magazines and online, but I’ve been really curious about how he …” What is she doing? Why does she… But Logan realized that you were trying to redirect the woman, reminding her that you knew he was off limits - and Logan didn’t think he’d ever appreciated something more. “I bet it’s a really good story.”

“You know, I don’t…” Ariella laughed. “I don’t even remember where we were when he asked.” Logan couldn’t stop the recoil at her words, his mouth dropping open. I didn’t … really? “Oh, come on, Logan. It’s not that big of a deal. We’d been drinking a lot, and it was mostly for show anyway, because we knew that the press was expecting it, so I guess…” She turned her head toward him, smirking. “He probably remembers, though. Logan remembers everything.”

“It’s time to go.”Juliet spoke again, her voice even frostier than it had been. “Logan, are you ready?” I’ve been ready. “If you need me, call. I can be back here in half an hour.” Logan watched you collect yourself and then nod at the woman, keeping your eyes averted. She must have so many …

“We’ll be fine, Juliet. I promise.” Your voice didn’t waver, but Logan heard something in it, a thinly veiled concern, maybe. I … she… “Hope you guys have a good time.” We won’t. You didn’t say anything else, instead turning away and beginning to step out of the room, but Ariella said your name, telling you to stop. What is …

“I meant it.” You looked back over your shoulder at them, and Logan again froze, waiting. “You really should see what he’s like in bed before we get married and he’s not allowed anymore.” The woman laughed and Logan couldn’t stop himself from pulling his arm away from her, eyes wide and jaw dropped. “He might not have told you what the deal is, but I’m here - right here - telling you that I don’t care what he does.” She raised an eyebrow at Logan, lips curved into a satisfied smirk. “Everything stops when we get married, but not a second before, right darling?” He felt rage, the emotion coursing through his blood stronger than it ever had before; moreso than when William had left him in the desert, stronger than when Juliet and his father hadn’t believed him, sharper than when he’d been disappointed in himself for making such destructive and dangerous choices about his health. Because this isn’t just about me. This is … “Then again,” Ariella drawled out the words, her accent all but disappearing. “Someone like you might not be able to stop when it’s time, since I’m positive you’ve never had anyone like Logan before.”

You blinked twice and Logan saw that you were close to tears. Unacceptable. “Enough. It’s time to go.” He reached for her arm, gripping it with his long fingers and pulling her back toward the door. “You’re being a real asshole, Ari.” She only laughed, wrenching herself out of his grip and turning toward the door, her back to you without another word. Juliet moved too, following the other woman, but Logan focused on you, his mouth opening and closing a few times, though he didn’t speak. What do I even… Rather than saying anything, you closed your eyes, shaking your head back and forth before opening them again, gaze locked on Logan’s face. You mouthed the word “go”, reaching up to swipe beneath your eye with a knuckle, biting down on one corner of your lip, and while it was the last thing he wanted to do, Logan felt his shoulders slumping as he did what you asked. I hope she … hope she lets me explain, lets me apologize…

But Logan had the sinking feeling in his stomach that the friendship that the two of you had built up over the previous weeks had been damaged beyond repair due to Ariella’s interference - and the information he’d kept from you, despite the necessity of doing so.

---

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loftyexecutor · 4 years ago

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suavemente, bebita

Pairing; LV20 Cross/Dream Rating; MA/E/not safe WC; 1487 Notes; size difference, bit of cumflation, soul sex, praise kink, ordering around, but very very soft overall im. love @withtheworms‘s LV20 cross...... i... love he... ..... so much ..... so what i do is throw a headcanon at him

AO3 mirror

Dream was enamored.

Not that he wasn’t enamored with Cross at all times, but call him sentimental, there was something about having a monster like Cross underneath him — big, strong, beautiful and so, so utterly at his mercy. He ground down, their cocks grinding together so smoothly, like they were made for it.

He held Cross’ SOUL in his hand, the one that wasn’t busy running fingers across the magic that adorned his head. Each brush of a phalange through the purple stream had Cross’ eyesockets fluttering, his own hands tightening on Dream’s hips. Their bedsheets would be ruined after this; not that either cared.

“Stay still,” Dream said, leaning up to press a kiss to Cross’ teeth, a simple peck. And oh, was he good at following orders. Dream scooted further against him, to line himself up with his cock. Aside from the fingers digging indents into his ecto and the full-body shivers, Cross stayed still as a statue. And Dream wasn’t embarrassed to tell his lover how proud he was. “Good job,” he exhaled, entrance stretching around each inch of Cross’ length. “You are so good for me, Cross.”

Halfway, he had to let go of the pseudo-horn he’d taken to gripping in favor of leaning back, holding himself upright against Cross’ femurs. The further down he went, the more his ecto-body distended. A blur of purple could be seen through his stomach, almost magenta in its hue. Dream’s knees shook on either side of Cross’ hips.

“You did so good,” he praised, cradling his face with a palm. He wiped the trail of tears leaking from his right socket, only for them to be replaced a moment later. Cross gazed at him with undiluted love. Dream smiled at him, hoping he was mirroring the look in any capacity. “You can move now.”

It was like opening floodgates. It always was. Cross’ grip tightened even further and Dream was sure there’d be marks on his iliac crests later. He looked forward to it. Cross lifted him like he weighed nothing at all and before Dream could even feel empty, he was slammed back down. Cross’ cock hit the back of his passage, Dream’s head lolling back as pleasure raced up his spine.

“Love you,” Cross all but growled, voice husky. He still had to lean down to press kisses along the column of Dream’s neck. Dream always felt so small next to him — so safe, so protected. It was a heady feeling. He craned his head to the side to give him more space and was rewarded with a bite to his clavicle. Cross lapped up the marrow that seeped from the tiny intents of his teeth, each lick of his tongue sparking through Dream like firecrackers.

He got lost in the sensations for a moment, feeling almost boneless as he was bounced on Cross’ lap, cock dribbling down between them. A particularly hard thrust jolted him out of his little reverie and he remembered what he was going to do.

He was still holding Cross’ SOUL, the organ heavy in his hand. It was almost the size of Dream’s skull, overfilled with LV. He brought it to his own chest to hold with both hands. They barely encircled the whole thing.

Usually, the surface of a SOUL was thin, a shell to protect the magic within, but Dream discovered LV made the SOUL swell with its power, and the shell would continually break and remend to accommodate it. He ran a phalange across the crack-riddled surface, exhaling a breath he didn’t know he had been holding on the next thrust. Cross was watching him with curiosity sparkling in his eyelights.

Oh, that wouldn’t do.

“Stop moving,” Dream said, through the authoritative tone he’d gone for came out as a groan, almost.

Cross let out an honest-to-stars whine, high-pitched and desperate, but he stilled, almost as soon as the words left Dream’s mouth. His hips gave a tiny twitch, barely moving his length inside of Dream, but even that was enough to pull a groan from him.

“Good boy,” Dream mumbled in-between pants.

Cross’ SOUL was beating wildly in his hands, but unless one knew what to look for, they’d miss it. But not Dream, not when he was holding it so tightly.

“Dream…” Cross groaned out his name like something precious.

“Hush now. I want you to… watch this closely, okay?”

Cross nodded, the motions making some of his tears drip from his chin to add to the mess between them. It was obvious how much effort it was taking him to stay still. Dream was so, so proud, and he’d reward him handsomely.

His thumbs ran down the length of the SOUL. The thick shell made it hard to feel the touches, he noted. So, when he got to the lower half, he pressed.

Cross’ breath hitched, whole body going rigid before jolting, along with Dream. He didn’t have it in him to chastise the disrespect of orders. Instead, he himself started to move, feet digging into the mattress for leverage.

Without the help of his hands to steady himself, Dream couldn’t rise more than a couple inches each time, but he made up for it by squeezing down on Cross every time their pelvises met. It seemed to do the trick, if Cross’ panting and groans against his neck were to be trusted. With a steady rhythm going, he started pressing his thumbs against the SOUL again.

The shell was thick and he was almost surprised to find out just how much strength it took to even start to crack it. Little by little, it creaked in his hold, until it gave way and his fingers slid in, into the swirl of magic within.

Cross keened, then, back arching and arms coming to wrap around Dream, to clutch him close.

“Dream!” he cried, shaking all over as he looked down with wide sockets, eyelights barely fuzzy pinpricks in a sea of dark. He was breathless, each gasp punched out of him in a slew of moans.

Liquid, molten magic leaked from the twin holes in his SOUL as Dream all but fingered them, bones gliding through. The magic molded around his phalanges almost like ecto would. It was mesmerizing to watch; Dream didn’t know where to look, between it and the kaleidoscope of expressions crossing his partner’s face.

“You can move,” he said. The speed and force of Cross’ next thrust would’ve startled him, if he wasn’t expecting it.

Cross clung to him like a drowning man would to a piece of driftwood in a waterfall, Dream’s name falling from his tongue like a mantra, a litany, progressively more and more jumbled and slurred. Dream’s fingers kept teasing his SOUL, hold tightening when the organ kept trying to slip from his grasp from all the slick dripping out of it.

It took all of a dozen more thrusts, not that Dream counted, to have Cross coming. He threw his head back with a soundless scream, but Dream could see his mouth trying to shape itself into his name again. He was only slightly glad that Cross’ eyelights sputtered out, because his smile must’ve been way too dopey at that moment.

Cum filled his already stretched ecto-body, cock bobbing as it distended further with more purple. He was so, so close, he could feel the sparks in his joints. But Cross slumped against him, lax and oh-so-softly purring, and Dream couldn’t move anymore.

He mercifully pulled his fingers out of Cross’ SOUL, making him shudder once more, and gently rubbed along the edges of where he’d broken through the shell to soothe the cracks. They were already mending, magic solidifying to protect the sensitive core.

Cross came to himself after a few minutes and started peppering butterfly-soft kisses along Dream’s neck again. Dream let the SOUL float its way back into his ribcage.

“I love you,” Cross whispered against a bone, like he was telling a secret only worthy of Dream’s acoustic meatus. His voice was hoarse from all his moaning. His never-ending tears ran down Dream’s sternum.

“I love you too,” he whispered back, with a kiss to the side of Cross’ skull, the only place he could reach.

Cross nuzzled him, one hand rubbing along Dream’s vertebrae almost idly. Then he startled and pulled away. “You didn’t come,” he stated more than asked, a guilty expression where there had been content moments ago.

Dream shushed him with another kiss, this time to his nasal bridge. “It’s okay. I got what I wanted. You felt good.”

And then Cross’ face set itself into the determination that Dream loved so much. It also meant Cross was dead set on something. “Oh no,” he said, “You don’t get to make me feel that good without getting back what you gave.”

And then he started thrusting again, and Dream saw stars even through closed sockets.

#undertale #undertale au #lv20 cross #dream sans #.ut #.1k #.nsfw fic #dont. dont look at me.#i am respectfully not looking

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angerissue · 4 years ago

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Character Survey.

Real name: Dr. Robert Bruce Banner, Ph.D..

Single or taken: Single, and this probably isn't going to change anytime soon. He has a number of ingrained emotional issues, and ideological issues that pertain to his condition, that prevent him from seeking romantic relationships and even just becoming close to someone. One-night stands are possible, because they don’t involve emotional commitment from either party, but real relationships scare the hell out of him. The closer that someone gets to Bruce, the more he fears hurting them or being hurt himself.

Abilities or powers: He has an extremely high IQ, almost unprecedented intuition when it comes to the sciences and its numerous technologies, and a great ability to think outside the box and solve complicated, confounding problems. Also, he can turn big and green, which makes him capable of inhuman physical feats and gives him a ridiculous healing factor. This cannot be understated; he can literally recover from decapitation if the conditions are right. It's debatable whether these qualify as gifts or curses, because of the experiences they've created for Bruce in the past, but they're definitely abilities at the least.

Eye colour: Brown. Sometimes green if he’s in a mood.

Hair colour: Dark brown with some grey.

Family members: Rebecca Banner (mother / deceased), Brian Banner (father / incarcerated), Jennifer Walters (cousin / alive), Susan Drake (adoptive aunt / unknown), Elaine Banner (aunt / deceased).

Pets: In The Persistence, he owns a white knockout mouse named Eddie, who came from a selection of ailing lab mice that he experimented on with the Hulk's plasma. He doesn’t have pets in other verses, though he wouldn’t mind a cat, or a dog with a calm and mellow demeanour, as long as his living situation and overall routine is constant and undisturbed. Otherwise, it will never be a possibility. Back when General Ross' squad broke down his door in Brazil, he needed to abandon a mutt named Rick, and it hurt because he’d become very fond of him. He doesn't want to do this to another animal.

Hobbies or activities: He loves hiking and jogging (with trails in forested areas being his preferred location), cooking and baking, gardening, reading textbooks and science journalism, bait fishing, programming and experimenting, travelling, sightseeing, meditation, yoga, collecting and listening to vinyl records, and being a rebel by listening to police scanners and going after bad guys if he doesn't have much else to do. But even if it seems like he's not outwardly doing anything, he's probably still occupied — he tends to spend a profuse amount of time in his own head, ruminating and reflecting on future goals, whether it involves anticipating or dreading them. He also likes to contemplate new concepts and designs for technologies.

Animal that represents them: Definitely a pangolin, because you can’t look at a pangolin and the way it carries itself and not think of Banner from a purely visual perspective. Add on the fact that their bodies are covered in hardened scales for defense, and how they curl up into a ball whenever they're upset and threatened, and you have a metaphorical version of Bruce, who tends to shy away and retreat into himself whenever he's having a lower moment, and has a lot of deep-seated defensive mechanisms on display during social interactions. But seriously, these animals just want to walk around eating ants, minding their own business. They don’t have a bone to pick with anyone... Which is also similar to Bruce. And did I mention that pangolins are endangered, because they're frequently hunted and trapped by humans for their supposed “beneficial properties” in medicine (none of which are proven)? That's similar to how Banner has been followed all over the place by the U.S. military, just because they perceived his condition to be useful somehow.

Worst habits: Take your pick. Distancing himself from other people even when he could use the company, self-flagellation, humouring his guilt complex even when he's not responsible for certain negative outcomes, repressing or suppressing his emotions when he needs to express them (or the opposite, staying as the Hulk so he can stew in those strong emotions and therefore punish himself for whatever he “did wrong”), running away from connections that involve real commitment, especially romantic ones.

Role models: Steve Rogers for his patriotism and overall sense of morality, Neils Bohr for his defense of the Bohr atomic model (which had been a radical theory for the time) and subsequent successes, Ernest Rutherford for similar reasons, and his mother when he was younger, though he doesn’t remember much about her because he was only six when she died. Same goes for his aunt, Susan; while he spent more time around her than Rebecca in total, he was rather emotionally absent by this point because of all the trauma earlier in his childhood. In general, his role models tend to be people who remain strong in the face of adversity and judgement, and stick to their values for the benefit of others. All the above people qualify in that sense, for different reasons.

Sexual orientation: Heterosexual.

Thoughts on marriage and kids: Nope, and bigger nope. He would love to have a close connection with someone, however much he's actually repressed the desire for the time being, and some part of him does want to have a child — however, he always concludes that it wouldn't be worth it. Bruce believes marriage would be a shackle for anyone who's unfortunate enough to become his partner, and it would open them up to potential threats from people who could use them to get to him and his condition. And children are a no-go because Bruce doesn’t want them to have a father like him; he might be absent for a lot of their upbringing, and either unstable or otherwise unaccommodating in temperament if he’s upset. And he'll constantly be trying to hide his condition from them as well, because god forbid they find out their father is a monster, and they feel like a freak because of it. He's been in a position where he felt like an anomaly as a child, and he's not interested in subjecting his children to this. He also loathes the idea of bringing children into the world because he would not be able to ensure their safety — after all, he can’t even ensure his own. So to Bruce, he'd be setting them up for endangerment just because they’re related to him, similar to how his partner would become a target as well.

Style preferences: Safe and conservative, and not flamboyant by any means. He usually sticks to warmer and neutral palettes, and cuts/styles that are classic and unlikely to fall out of style; this includes his suits, jackets, pants, and shirts. We're talking chinos and slacks, poplin dress shirts, wool sport coats and blazers. Most occasions will see him wearing the dress shirt, slacks, and sport coat together. If he's feeling more adventurous, he'll pair a sport coat with a crewneck, or he could even go with a polo shirt and jeans, but the latter is rare. In general, Bruce's most interesting piece is a brown leather bomber jacket, which he usually wears in the warmer months; colder weather will bring out a peacoat (and he loves to pop the collar in lieu of using a scarf). As far as cost goes, Bruce is fairly well-off between the royalties from S.H.I.E.L.D. and other work he's done here and there, but even so, he doesn't purchase outrageously expensive clothing and tends to go for the mid-upper brands. He'll do made-to-measure, but not full bespoke. He finds any further spending to be superfluous.

Approach to friendships: Cautious and uncertain about them, and tends not to approach people first, because he would hate to overstep his boundaries / make someone uncomfortable. Rather accommodating to people he considers friends, but he's extremely quick to duck out if they can’t meet him eye-to-eye regarding touchy topics, like decisions that affect the well-being of many people. This is the reason he shunned his friendship with Tony after they debated about the Sokovia Accords. Being an introvert, he’s one of those people who doesn't like bothering his friends; even if they make it abundantly clear that he's welcome anytime, he'll hesitate, but he’s completely okay and even happy if those friends approach him instead. He doesn't always like when his personal space is invaded, or if someone touches him, but he'll start to make exceptions if he becomes more familiar with someone. He loves the people that he can consider friends, but he always views the friendships as something that could dissolve in a heartbeat. On some level, even unconscious, he's always expecting things to end.

Thoughts on pie: An acceptable desert. Bumbleberry, strawberry rhubarb, and pumpkin are his favourites. He prefers the homemade variety, and because of it, he tends to make his own, butter crust and all, avoiding store-bought unless it’s particularly memorable — or if someone buys a slice for him. He’s appreciative like that.

Favourite place to spend time: Somewhere he can guarantee that he's not being watched; these are most commonly his labs in the Northwind Observatory, quiet and secluded trails, or his chambers in the Crown City citadel on Sakaar. Not only do these locations ease his anxieties about being studied, inspected, or followed, but he feels less of a pressure to put on false pretenses and exhaust himself with social niceties, many of which may be fabricated. He doesn’t need much external stimulation, because he’s fine simply turning inward and thinking, without paying much attention to his surroundings, but he’ll certainly admit to spending a ton of time tinkering with pet projects if he’s in the labs. Obviously, Bruce prefers to be alone in most of these cases. But if he's with someone he cares about, whether a friend or a romantic partner, and can openly express himself around them, that's nice for him too.

Swim in the lake or ocean: Lakes, without question. He has some bad memories of being in the ocean, whether it’s about the time he was tossing and turning in glacial waters after his failed suicide attempt, or clawing his way out of a quinjet that crashed into the water while his alter started to take over. Bruce remembers all that, and it's not pleasant. The openness of oceans perturb him as well; lakes are usually far more intimate and amniotic because they’re often surrounded by forests, which allows him to feel safer and less exposed.

Their type: Someone who is, and is comfortable with showing, some semblance of dependence on him, which would placate his need to fill a provider role and not simply be a charity case; he's had enough of that between begging on the streets and asking Tony Stark for boarding. (This doesn't mean he's looking for someone who's a total pushover, cannot make their own decisions, or is emotionally needy, because those would make him run in the other direction, frankly.) Someone who can hold their own and stand up for their beliefs when necessary. Someone who can challenge him intellectually, though not necessarily in an academic sense; it really just depends on how much they can expand his own perspective by giving their own. Someone who really understands his needs and issues. And obviously, someone who isn't scared of his condition, because it's going to manifest a lot. It needs to; he doesn't really have a choice in the matter. Hulk is another story, but fortunately, he doesn't show up enough to really be an immediate concern, and Bruce and his partner can cross that bridge when they reach it. Physically, he's usually attracted to women who are slightly shorter than him; their hair can be anything from blonde to brown, and he prefers body types that are similar to his own; more on the slender side but not necessarily fragile.

Camping or indoors: He’d rather be indoors. He isn’t extremely fond of camping, if we’re using the most common definition of "pitching a tent, cooking with a fire made from sticks and tinder, and spending the night in the woods with the bears and the bugs". There are indeed occasions where he cannot stand to be indoors, whether because he’s feeling claustrophobic (a common symptom of abstaining a little too long from transformations), or he simply needs some time away from other people in the geographic sense, but in those cases, he’s more likely to go for a walk or hike, not set up an entire campsite and spend the rest of the night outdoors. For him, camping is meant for a survival-type situation rather than a recreational one. The closest thing to camping he'll do is living in a cabin with a wood stove and local water supply, which he’s done a few times over the years. He's even purchased a few cabins by the time his Persistence verse rolls around, so if one of the properties are compromised, he could always retreat to another one.

Tagged by: @mynameisanakin! Tagging: @fallencomrade , @asgardianhammer , @alongingwithin , and anyone else who wants to do this.

#( meme response. )#( headcanon. )#( multiple. )

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astrologysvt · 5 years ago

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Chan’s Ideal Type - Natal Chart Reading

Happy Birthday Chan~ 🎉 Thank you for inventing kpop 💛posted early cuz i managed to get it done in time for when it’s actually his bday in korea!

For ideal types, I’m not going to be doing specific placements of their ideal partner. Instead, I’m gonna be listing personality traits I think would mesh well with them, as well as focus on their needs and the kind of person who could meet them. what this reading cannot account for is the compromising the members would do on their end for their s/o. so just keep in mind this is only half of the whole picture!

someone very smart.

he’s a very communicative person.

he wants to discuss and have an exchange of knowledge and passion thanks to that aqua sun and mercury.

with a sag influence there is a desire to surround himself with knowledge, and i think he’d be very attracted to someone who could be considered a professional/expert in their field.

he’d not only really respect it, but it’d feel exciting to know and communicate with someone who is so deeply involved in a career/lifestyle different from his.

he’d love to pick their brain, and it would generally make him feel like his life is being enriched.

sag also adds a desire for travel as it expands ones perspective.

so derived from that, he may want to be with someone who is both not in the entertainment biz as well as someone potentially from a different country/culture.

chan is a really interesting mix being of very knowledgable and curious (aqua/sag), passionate and active (sag), dedicated and stubborn (aqua/scorpio), mixed with this very thoughtful and emotional influence (pisces/scorpio).

he has a very well-rounded chart (potentially tunnel visioned) but he’s a very sincere guy.

he’s present on almost all fronts, and isn’t very afraid of emotions or emotional intensity.

so he wants someone with a great deal of intelligence, as well as emotional intelligence.

he’s also very honest, and with this brings a very low tolerance for people who may be overly concerned with appearances.

this is due to his aquarius influence valuing individuality over conformity, as well as his scorpio mars that gives him a very keen eye for shallowness.

it’s not that he wouldn’t like someone who looked/dressed a certain way, but if he felt as though there was something blocking him from gaining his s/o’s full attention, or something preventing them from leveling with him -- that’d really frustrate him.

so with this kind of “truth-seeking” attitude about life, he’s going to want someone very upfront, honest, and unapologetic in how they carried themselves/acted with him.

not even in a sense of them being rebellious or super eccentric, he just wants someone who doesn’t feel the need to put up any fronts around him or has a perception of what they should be together vs. to others.

if he feels like there is a wall, he’s not going to have a lot of patience in trying to accommodate that in his daily life.

this is also emphasized by his pisces influence, but not necessarily in a discerning “ur being fake” sense.

he is incredibly intuitive in relationships because of his pisces venus, and this makes him conscious of other people’s energies.

so he’s very hyperaware if he feels like there is this wall, as it’d feel like there is this connection error to him. he’s very quick to notice if their energies are being withheld/directed elsewhere.

layers, on the other hand, are very different from walls.

his scorpio mars loves people with depth, both emotionally and intellectually.

his s/o should be very complex & have a bunch of different sides to them as he loves feeling like he’s delving deeper and seeing parts of his s/o only he can see.

his s/o should be very open to deep and philosophical conversations.

they should also be different enough from him that there is a feeling of discovery as they get to know each other, as well as a decent amount of friction/push back as this is very rewarding to a scorpio/aqua influence.

but with this sense of difference/friction.

it’s interesting because with a well-rounded chart like his, he’s obviously able to get along with people similar to him, while also having this ability to communicate and empathize with people much different from him as well.

and so, personally, i think there are a bunch of factors in dino’s chart that point towards him being attracted to those very different.

one of them being, with his rising in aries, this puts his descendent in libra.

i’ve been talking a lot about descendants but i haven’t really gotten too much into what they mean.

so your rising sign is very highly linked not only to your identity, but to your perspective and to your approach on life/people.

it’s the energy you excert.

with aries in his rising this makes him a very straightforward, ambitious, energetic, and excitable person.

his approach to life is very hands-on.

and so if you think about your rising as a kind of magnetic pole, on the exact opposite side of it is an energy that is intrinsically attracted to your rising sign in order to balance it out.

so on the opposite side of his rising you have this very diplomatic, intellectual, and easygoing presence through libra.

this is the descendent, which is also the cusp for the 7th house which is the house of love, marriage, and partnership.

so having libra in his descendent/7th house signifies an incorporation of external energies to the self through partnership.

to me, there are a bunch of different interpretations/applications of it in a reading, but i generally tend to read it as compromise.

i see it as what this individual most likely needs to take into account when sharing their life with someone else.

for chan, this manifests as him learning to be more diplomatic and thoughtful than he initially feels inclined to be.

it’d be about thinking “other” when he’s more focused on thinking “me.”

so what this means for an ideal type can kind of go in a bunch of different ways, but i think the most simplest reading would be that he’d more than likely be drawn/destined to be with someone who is going to force him to think.

he’s going to want to be with someone who forces him to stop before acting, and to take into account the general group as opposed to his own agenda.

teaching him to think more broadly than simply what he can immediately affect.

and this more or less loops in his pisces venus.

his pisces venus is a very gentle, loving influence to have in relationships.

he’s an ultra empath, generally really impressionable and easily swayed as he’s super inclined to try and understand others.

this is an influence that can kind of throw his truth-seeking scorpio through a loop, as his pisces can be easily swayed by romance and emotion.

this danger is especially relevant considering the idealist/optimist that his sag moon is that makes him maybe not the most discerning of negative intent if someone is charismatic enough.

so this is an influence that both needs to be reeled in as well as embraced.

his s/o should be as equally emotionally open and very privy to non-verbal communication through affection and that emotional intelligence.

he wants a relationship where they’re able to understand what the other needs without putting it in so many words.

they should also able to understand when each other needs space.

but with that, he’d also really benefit being with someone who is grounded/realistic enough in their perspective to ensure that he doesn’t get lost in this super compassionate/sensitive part of him without him needing to shut it off entirely.

i also think this stabilizing influence in a s/o other is really important for him with this pisces venus as he may have a tendency to get lost in thoughts/emotions.

he is such an individualistic person thanks to this aqua/sag/scorpio, but his pisces may come in and create a sense of disillusion where he can lose his grasp on what that means for him especially in relationships.

so someone who really and genuinely loves him for him, who isn’t going to incorporate a sense of self-doubt/consciousness in how emotional he is, while also truly encouraging him to go out there and do his thing.

they should allow him to be all the things that come easily to him, may it be passion or emotion, while teaching him balance and stability.

his s/o other should reinforce his sense of self, not dilute it.

and now that i’m writing this i want to make a point in perspective.

in relationships, no one should ever feel “diluted” or that they need to compromise on what being themselves means.

but for dino, since his perspective is so individualistic, there are certain circumstances that he may view as restrictive that to others will not.

lets say for a cancer influence, these people really like security, company, and are pretty comfortable with the idea of being someone else’s person as this gives them a sense of belonging/purpose. these “restrictions” add to their sense of self

for an aquarius influence, this may seem a bit off-putting as they want the space/freedom to continue to pursue being their authentic self in whatever way that may mean to them. for this influence, these definitely feel more like restrictions.

i think it’s also really interesting doing this reading because i really get the sense he wants to look to his s/o other for strength, guidance, and knowledge.

and for that reason i can see him wanting to be with someone older.

as much as he wants to offer these energies to someone else, he may find it much more exciting to discover rather than impart.

i also think this is shown in his rising/descendent.

with his rising being in aries, the first sign of the astrological cycle, this gives him a very young perspective.

then you go to his descendent in libra, and there is a sense of maturing in relationships that i think is very indicative of that “older” influence.

“older” in quotations mainly because i don’t think it indicates a large age gap but rather more so just a dynamic.

but overall, chan is just a super kind guy.

he wants a relationship filled with compassion and intellectual understanding.

communication is an absolute pillar and his s/o should agree on that.

there’s a desire in him for stability, and this could be implemented through push-back, discussion, and contrast.

and i think if i had to narrow it down to one specific thing he desires in a relationship, that’d be variety.

he wants to learn and grow in relationships, and for his world to be ultimately broadened.

#seventeen #svt #dino #chan #seventeen scenarios #seventeen imagines #happy dino day #kpop_future_dinoday #don't even know if these tags are even meant for tumblr #but my god will i use them

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yankou · 5 years ago

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a, i, k, and y for rodrick? :0c

Affection: How do they show their love and affection? How intense would it get?

Rodrick is the type to show his love through affection. Why waste time mincing words when you can achieve the same result through action? Especially when physical affection is way more pleasurable to both parties.

This isn’t to say that Rodrick would never use emotional intimacy, though. The largest part of Rodrick’s courting process is using words. There’s definitely something very nice about getting his darling all flustered through loving words and flirting alone.

Overall, Rodrick actually isn’t too intense of a yandere. He’s not very forceful and he’s very good about respecting boundaries and giving his darling personal space. The amount of space he gives is really dependent on the strength of the relationship and how much he trusts his darling to behave. With a strong relationship where he has a lot of trust in his darling, he would never fear them leaving him, so he may actually give them genuine alone time.

That being said, he will never allow his darling to leave the house by themselves, not even out of concern of them trying to leave him, though that is a factor in a weaker relationship, but more so he’s worried about harm coming to them.

Ideals: What kind of future do they have in mind for/with their darling?

As cheesy as it sounds, what Rodrick really wants is a cheesy domestic life with his darling. And by domestic, I mean domestic. His ultimate ideal is to live with his darling on a farm or in the mountains. Somewhere kind of far away from society and where they’ll have to live off the land and provide for themselves, but at least they’ll have each other.

What he really wants is a peaceful and private existence. He would love to have kids with his darling, but if they made it clear that kids were out of the question, he wouldn’t push the issue...much. He very much just wants a happy ending. A place where just he and his darling can live and enjoy each other’s company.

Considering the type of person Rodrick is likely to fall for, while in his idealized head his partner wouldn’t do much, since he’d want to pamper them, in practice it’s unrealistic since he has a tendency to fall for people with stronger personalities.

If his partner asserted themselves and insisted on working and helping out, he’d be willing to accept and allow that, whether it be outdoors or indoors. The only types of things Rodrick wouldn’t allow would be dangerous exploits.

He loves you too much to risk losing you.

Kisses: How do they act around or with their darling?

Overall, as a yandere partner, Rodrick is rather mild. He’s possessive, but not enough to keep your family or loved ones from visiting. He’s obsessive, but not enough to hold you hostage or force his idealized vision on you. For a yandere, he’s not the worst option. That being said, all bets are off if his darling refuses him. He can very easily become forceful with a darling that tries to leave or refuses to accept his love. He would never hurt them, but...

Let’s just say you’re better off taking the easier route.

He very much tends to go with the flow. He doesn’t always just blindly follow his darling, he is very much still a dominant force in any relationship and due to his programming, has a bit of unfortunate bit of machismo. He wants to be the protector and the provider. He offers his darling plenty of leeway, just so long as it’s clear he’s still in control.

With Rodrick, out of all my yanderes, he’s definitely the one you’re most likely to have an equal partnership with. He will accept your thoughts and opinions, though he won’t always allow you to just do anything you want, just as he offers you the same in return. Within reason, if there’s something you’d like Rodrick to either not do, or start doing, he will try to accommodate. He very much values your happiness.

As far as actual actions, he’s very affectionate and he does like to touch, even in little ways. It’s his way of showing affection. If it’s clear his darling needs space, he will provide it, just so long as he still gets his daily fill of touching.

Yearn: How long do they pine after their darling before they snap?

Honestly? It really depends on the type of darling he’s dealing with. Rodrick has a tendency to find himself attracted to strong personalities and that comes with pros and cons. Rodrick is very upfront about approaching people he finds interesting. He doesn’t watch from afar and it won’t take him long to make his intentions clear after a period of getting to know the other person.

Rodrick is a very suave dude. He was programmed to be, so it’s not exactly easy to rebuke him. Most of the time, people don’t want to. Even if they’re not interested in dating, it’s impossible to fully tell Rodrick to fuck off. He’s just too charming. You have to at least be friends.

But if by some chance Rodrick found himself falling for someone who was constantly rebuking his advances, telling him to go away, showing no cracks, Rodrick would snap pretty quickly. If it became clear that he couldn’t charm his darling, he would have no qualms about snatching them up and becoming more forceful with them. Let’s see how much they want to refuse when he’s all they have.

On the alternative side, with a darling who responds well to his advances, there’s a chance Rodrick may never snap at all. Perhaps he’d get a little jealous of certain things, or he may be too overprotective, but nothing overt enough to be a genuine red flag. And if his darling started to date him, and there were no outside factors causing issues or keeping them apart, then Rodrick would play the part of a pretty normal boyfriend, a better than average boyfriend. He’d be loving, fun, charming, remember all your birthdays, surprise you with gifts, pamper you. It would be enough to make anyone on the outside jealous.

#Anonymous #yandere #yandere x reader #yandere imagines #oc #rodrick

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danganronpedits-archived · 5 years ago

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Hello! Could I please have a kin matchup with characters from DR1, SDR2, DRV3 and BNHA? Thank you! I am a very mixed person. When I'm out talking to people in public it's very obvious that I have nothing to say and that I don't want to be there. I'm a complete hopeless romantic and can catch romantic feelings quite easily. I'm a lot more talkative when I talk to people online and I always laugh at the dumbest things. I love the color pink and lovecore in general. I'm also quite insecure- haha

you can absolutely have a matchup!! hehe,, you sound really neat, i’d like to talk with you myself anon... only if you’re okay with that of course!! your kin matchup can be found under the cut, thank you for requesting!! i’m sorry that it took a bit for me to write this one,,

oh, also... i want to clarify something before we start. i was originally going to make peko pekoyama your second dr kin assignment, and i still agree with that. it’s just that writing out the explanation was rather energy sapping,,, it’s not your fault at all, but i hope you understand!!! i can definitely add it on if you’d like though, anon!

-mod tsu (mikan shift)

first off, from danganronpa: goodbye despair, i match you with...

hajime hinata!

this matchup contains spoilers for super danganronpa 2! please proceed with caution, if it’s not too much trouble! i was kind of torn between him and himiko, actually...! but i think you’re a bit closer to hajime! i think that hajime is... very mixed. there are times when he can come off as cynical or even cold, and times when he’s very genuine and determined. these sides of him don’t clash together, but rather make up him as a whole... and i think you’re a little similar, anon! maybe you have traits that don’t really seem like they fit together... but you make them work! i think that unless hajime is close to others, he can struggle to fit into the conversation at times. this is especially clear at the beginning of sdr2, when everyone is just relaxing on the beach, not really seeing them randomly being there as a big deal- but hajime is more hesitant and concerned about their circumstances... plus, this is especially clear in despair arc around the ultimates. he’s very much taken aback by the main course students as well as staff, and... during those scenes it doesn’t exactly seem like he dislikes the interaction. however, it does seem like he’s uncomfortable,, maybe you can relate to that haha. you also seem a little serious, anon! not to assume that you don’t have a sense of humour... but there may be times when you take a joke too seriously. um, if that’s true,, there’s no shame in that haha.. in general... your typing just had a really similar vibe to him, though it may be closer with the hajime at the end of sdr2! i know that’s a bit of a weird, intuition-based point, but... the two of you seem a little awkward, but you have good intentions and it seems like both of you are... rather motivated people. at least, when it comes to the things you really want,, i admire that !! in hajime’s specific case, you may feel a little jealous of people who can do things outside of your comfort zone really easily,, for example i don’t think hajime is very insecure in his ability to study- but people like peko or fuyuhiko, who have talents that are rather niche, i think he would kind of be in awe of how... not normal they are. and you just kind of... strike me in a similar way! sorry if this doesn’t make much sense haha.

while we’re not super sure on how much hajime gets crushes on other people... we can speculate in a way? other characters like monokuma and nagito have compared him to a tsundere, and he’s specifically said to be romantically inexperienced. i don’t think this inherently means he doesn’t have crushes on other people,, it’s implied that he’s interested in chiaki, as well as komahina being... um, a popular ship. a lot of hajime’s feelings about the sdr2 cast are left up to interpretation, and he can technically have feelings for all of them in the bonus mode. at least, that’s how i interpret it,, point is i think that he can have many crushes.. depending on how you see him, haha. sorry that it’s not too conclusive but, in general, i think that while he may be a little uncomfortable with it, hajime may also be a sort of ‘hopeless romantic’ in that... if he sees it as being the best for his friends, he’d also be willing to play a matchmaker !! i think that hajime, without the border of being face-to-face, would be a lot more willing to talk online. in a chatroom, i think he would be more prone to rambling on about something. hehe.. i kind of see him as someone who can accidentally send essays when he texts. i’m just guessing.. but maybe you do that too. hehe, it’s um... maybe a little too literal of me, but i think hajime does laugh at... absurd situations. it’s nice how in a lighter conversation with fuyuhiko, the two are able to just... laugh and have a good time together. i bring this up because... it’s because those smiles are from fuyuhiko suggesting that hajime’s the ultimate counselor. i like their banter a lot, and maybe there are silly inside jokes like this between you and your friends too !! um, lastly.. while i don’t know exactly what your insecurities are, i think that hajime is rather insecure..! he’s visibly upset about the fact that he doesn’t have a talent, and i’d say his seriousness partially comes from this. he does strongly dream of talent, and he puts a strong emphasis on being busy and studying ingame- i’d say that this can make up his seriousness in a way? like, he takes things very seriously in order to learn from them the most. ah, but back to insecurities!! hajime does see himself as inferior to main course students like chiaki and even chisa,, and whenever other people point out his talentless-ness, it is a very sore spot for him. he gets somewhat defensive, and mostly doesn’t know how to react... you may kind of short-circuit like this too, whenever someone hits a sore spot for you..!

and lastly, from boku no hero academia, i match you with...

mashirao ojiro!

okay, so...! i realise that he’s kind of a minor character, so we don’t know much about him. however, from what we do know, i think he suits you well! like always, you had a similar kind of vibe to him in your ask. he would definitely be the type to use proper grammar in my eyes... and the two of you just have similar word choice imo!! second off, mashirao is kind of... mixed or in the middle, in terms of personality. he seems to get along with denki, a guy who’s definitely up there in eccentricity. maybe your friend group is rather versatile... like hajime, the two seem to be able to get along with many kinds of people. more specifically, they’re able to handle the oddities and ‘quirks’(haha. funny bnha joke) of their other classmates/friends. ah, but that’s off topic! so sorry .. i think that mashirao does kind of struggle in conversation, as he tends to not really like the spotlight, and other students describe him as sheepish or bashful. i think that despite his calm demeanor, he would shy away from conversations, especially ones where he has to play a large part- and i think that’s the most important part of him not really ‘liking’ to have in-person talks with other people. the two of you may be able to hold up something one-on-one, with one of your friends... but with a group of people, you’d just blend into the background. maybe that ‘mixed’-ness can make you feel like you don’t have much to say, too... i don’t think he really tries to hide this/can hide this either, like you. i think that the two of you are generally friendly and trustworthy, and maybe you both have plenty of loose acquaintances, the way that mashirao is on generally good terms with all of his classmates. i think that it’s easy for people to have a high view of you, but maybe not know you too closely or deeply. you seem generally nice!!!

...please excuse this second half being really short. like hajime, we don’t really know his status on crushes,, but i honestly headcanon him as bi due to him having... ‘softer’ friendships with other people, if that makes sense? not that that inherently means attraction... i just think that he could be very interested in and enjoy other people, leading to crushing of varying intensity. he kind of has a pink... vibe to him if that makes sense? ghgghgh we’re not sure about what colours he likes, but he seems to have a lot of lighter ones in his overall design and outfits... maybe a baby pink would fall under that! i think he would also be a lot more talkative online. um, my explanation for this is very similar to hajime’s. he may not feel such a strong need to be polite or accommodating through a screen! though i think he still would be out of respect. mashirao also seems like the type to find the more strange antics of his classmates funny... once again, he seems rather close to denki, and is described as a “straight man”(like, composed or deadpan in contrast to their more eccentric partner). maybe you’re also the type to go along, but have a more level head as things get ~weird~. lastly, like hajime, mashirao does seem rather insecure. he doesn’t really get why he got into UA with a quirk “like his”. he’s rather humble and doesn’t like to accept results he feels like he doesn’t deserve. in fact, he even dropped out of the sports festival because he felt as though he didn’t properly earn his placement in it. maybe you’d be more or less active in voicing this than he is, but the two of you generally have underestimating your own abilities in common. at least, that’s what i gathered, haha.

you all know what time it is, hehe... from dr, you also remind me very strongly of peko pekoyama, and somewhat of mukuro ikusaba, himiko yumeno, mahiru koizumi, toko fukawa, and kazuichi souda. from bnha you also remind me somewhat strongly of fumikage tokoyami, ibara shiozaki, and kyoka jirou, as well as lightly of toru hagakure and shoto todoroki !!

i hope this helped you out anon!! thank you again for requesting,, if you need anything about this changed or edited please let me know!! i’m happy to edit this, it’s not a bother at all... getting requests kind of makes my day, hehe..

#kin matchup #boku no hero academia kin #bnha kin #my hero academina kin #mha kin #dr kin #danganronpa kin #icon by xc4tb0yk0m4ed4-kinhelpx #ask #request finished #anon

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abbacchiosbelt · 6 years ago

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Hewwo!! Can I ask for headcanons of Jotaro, Joseph, Kakyoin and Risotto with an autistic s/o please?

thank you for your request, anon~ i hope i did it justice!

Jotaro is a good partner to have.

As a very quiet person, Jotaro has a relaxing presence once you get to know him. He won’t ask you pointless questions, and he won’t pester you for information unless you volunteer it first.

He has his own special interest - marine life. He’d be more than willing to chat about your interests. He may not say it, but it’s a great way of bonding with him that makes him feel closer to you. He’ll be very excited if you like the ocean too. (Although you might only know because Star Platinum pops up with an enthusiastic ‘Ora!’)

If you happen to like to stick to routines, he’s your man. He likes to do the same things every day at the same time.

He’s good at understanding any nonverbal queues you may have because he communicates the same way.

Will glare at anyone who asks you an offensive question or tries to question your relationship for any reason.

He’s not overtly affectionate, but he does like to wrap his arm around you if you’re sitting on the couch together. You’ll probably wake up to find him spooning you.

Overall, he’s an accepting person. He may be shy and quiet, but he’ll love you for you, and would never ask you to change for him.

Joseph is going to be a little curious, but he still loves you more than anything!

At the start of the relationship, he’s going to ask you all sorts of questions. He really doesn’t mean any harm, but he likes to know things. Explain anything to him once, and he’ll understand. He’s the type of guy to advocate for others, so he’ll always be there to support you!

If you stim, Joseph is a great partner to have because he always has something to play with in his pockets anyways! Young Joseph would get you your own set of clackers, if you wanted. He’s not bothered by repetitive noises or actions.

Is a master at carrying on conversations, so don’t feel like you need to be constantly talking to him. He always has a topic and isn’t offended if you don’t have anything to say back.

Another partner who is intrigued by your interests, and is more than willing to learn about them and join you in experiencing them.

He’s always willing to get you out of an uncomfortable situation, or to make a scene by himself to get you out of somewhere. He’ll stand up to anyone!

He’s a super cuddler, but he’ll always respect your space if you ask for it.

Kakyoin, like Jospeh, is going to be curious. He’s more than likely to do research on his own, but will ask you things here and there. He knows what it feels like to be seen as different, so he empathizes and loves you without judgement.

If you’re willing, he’d love to introduce you to painting as an activity for the two of you to do together. He likes it when you join him in the studio.

He went without friends for a long time, so sometimes communication can be a bit awkward. He’ll really work with you to figure something out, but he’s also more than happy to enjoy comfortable silences with you.

Might ask you how you view certain things to get a different perspective. He values your input a lot and is always interested in what you have to say!

He likes to watch bad movies with you and criticize them afterwards.

He’s a bit of a homebody, and once he’s serious about you, he likes to spend free days lounging around with you and cuddling.

He’s always there to listen to you vent or complain. He’s not great at advice, but he is a great listener.

If you have stim toys, he’s always trying to mess with them.

He’s always asking you for recommendations, whether it be movies, music, or books. He likes your tastes a lot.

Risotto, considering his line of work, sees no issue with anyone as long as they respect him and his team. Once he trusts you, he’ll start falling in love with you.

He won’t bring up any questions unless you prompt him first. Really, he thinks it’s a non-issue as far as things go, but he understands the importance of empowering yourself. (He’ll threaten Melone if he asks anything weird.)

He’s a pretty quiet guy, so he doesn’t mind silence or slow back and forth conversations.

He’s very observant, and catches on to any ‘quirks’ you may have. He’ll accommodate you at need be without any question.

He’ll be really amused if you like his Metallica beans - he’ll get them out for you if you ask nicely!

Proudly introduces you to the rest of the team, who accept you with no problem. Pesci is the most friendly despite his shyness, and the others warm up once they trust you to not betray the Capo.

He doesn’t get to spend a lot of time with you, so he communicates a lot through text.

Understands your brand of humor and always has a quiet laugh to give you, (He’s actually really bad at telling jokes himself, so he appreciates you.)

His affection comes in the form of gentle touches on the back as he walks by, or sometimes even a hair ruffle due to your height difference. He likes if you cling to him at night.

#request #jotaro kujo #joseph joestar #noriaki kakyoin #risotto nero #jjba headcanons #stardust crusaders #vento aureo #Anonymous #my writing

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thesecondcircleofkel · 6 years ago

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NSFW Alphabet, Izuku A-Z

Reposting all of these together for convenience and to save space. Alphabet requests are still open, but remember, I don't accept requests to do the entire alphabet for someone all at once. You have to stick to the guidelines of 1 character per ask, and 5 letters per ask, and once I finish the alphabet for a character with requests like that, I will repost it all together.

A: Aftercare (What they’re like after sex)

So cuddly. He’ll go and get you whatever you need afterwards, and he’ll be really quick about it because he wants to get back into bed and cuddle with you. He loves to lay his head on your chest and listen to your heartbeat as he falls asleep, so he’ll cuddle with you in any position that lets him do that.

B: Body part (Their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

On himself, his hands, not just because he loves to give you pleasure with them, but also because the scars there are good reminders of what can happen if he’s not careful with his Quirk.

On you, he loves your entire body, and he will never neglect to show you that. He could lie in bed with you for hours, just running his hands over your body, telling you how beautiful you are and how you’re perfect in his eyes.

C: Cum (Anything to do with cum)

Regular consistency, a little excessive in amount, though. He’s not very picky on where he cums; he’ll be just as happy to cum inside you as he will to pull out and cum on you, although he does have a preference for cumming on your lower belly and thighs. He has got a pretty balanced diet, so the taste isn’t too terrible, and he is not above licking his own cum off of you, whether that’s via going down on you after he’s cum inside you, you making him clean his cum off of you while your dominating him, etc.

D: Dirty Secret

He has a huge album on his phone of all of the nudes that you’ve sent him over your relationship together. You’d think he’d be paranoid enough to delete them after a while, but nope, he’s kept them all, and he frequently goes back through them whenever he has some ‘personal time’. That album is definitely on lockdown, though, so don’t worry about anyone else finding it. He would also love to record the two of you having sex at least once, so if you let him do that, he’ll also have screenshots and clips of that video in the album.

E: Experience (How experienced are they? Do they know what they’re doing?)

He doesn’t have a lot of experience, but on account of all the research he does, he knows what he’s doing. He’s also a fabulous listener, so just tell him what you like and he’ll do it. He’ll be sure to make note of it for later too, and whether that note will just be in his memory or in the notebook that he has dedicated to you, who knows.

F: Favorite Position

He loves it when you ride him, so positions like Cowgirl are right up his alley. He also loves the Crab variation of this position, since it gives him a great view of you and he can watch as his cock moves in and out of you.

He likes the Workout position because it lets him show off his strength, and when he wants to be really deep inside you and close to you, he generally goes to the Anvil position.

G: Goofy (Are they more serious in the moment, or are they humorous, etc.)

He doesn’t take himself too seriously, so if some funny mishap happens while the two of you are together, he’ll definitely laugh at it. He thinks that giggly sex is cute, too, but since his sense of humor is rather ‘unique’, he won’t try to make jokes in bed to get you to giggle. He will instead try to set up a situation beforehand that will have you laughing, like maybe watching a comedy program together, and he’ll take you to the bedroom afterwards while you’re still giggling at what you watched.

H: Hair (How well-groomed are they, does the carpet match the drapes, etc.)

The carpet matches the drapes, and it gets really bushy without any maintenance, so he’s stays on top of keeping it all trimmed up.

I: Intimacy (How are they during the moment, romantic aspect…)

He can be really intimate when he wants to, which is most of the time. He’s really big on eye contact and holding your hand during sex, and he will tell you several times how much he loves you as he’s buried balls deep inside of you.

J: Jack Off (Masturbation headcanon)

He has a really high sex drive, so he at least gets himself off 2-3 times a week, even if the two of you regularly have sex. He prefers to masturbate while laying out on the bed, in the hopes that you’ll walk in and catch him so you can help him out.

K: Kink (One or more of their kinks)

Izuku has got a major Praise Kink. He loves it when you start praising him during sex, and if you praise him for something outside of the bedroom, then it will very quickly lead to him dragging you off for a fast round or some very intense sex later on. He does not shy away from praising you, either, and he loves to rain the Body Worship down on you.

He loves it when you Dominate him, especially if you’re having a bad day and you feel powerless over something. He wants to make you feel better and give you that power back, and he doesn’t want you to hold back on him. Just don’t Degrade him; he’s not into that, but he does love it when you tease him with some Dirty Talk while you dominate him. He will insist that you tie him up, and if you’re a female, he’d love it if you pegged him. He also has a tendency to be a bit of a cumslut when he’s being dominated, so be sure you play into that. Edge him for a while, too, he loves it.

L: Location (Favorite places to do the do)

Anywhere around the house, but especially on the kitchen counter and the couch. He loves the idea that the two of you were so in need of each other that you couldn’t make it to the bedroom, plus he loves the way that you’re able to ride him as he sits back on the couch. He likes the kitchen counter mainly for its height, and he’s able to use it as leverage to angle himself and hit some fantastic spots inside of you.

M: Motivation (What turns them on)

You barely have to breathe on this boy and he’ll get horny. There’s more about that in the Y section, though.

There are some things that really get him going though, like lingerie and when you whisper something dirty in his ear in public (he’ll be so embarrassed, but also really turned on).

Compliments are another weakness of his, especially since he’s got a praise kink.

He also really likes it when you just straight up demand sex from him. He loves it when you take charge, and he’ll be stripped down in seconds, ready to meet your every command.

N: No (Something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

He refuses to hurt you under any circumstance, and the mere mention of it immediately turns him off. He also can’t stand degradation, no matter which one of you is dishing it out.

O: Oral (Preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

He made it his life’s mission to be good at oral, and that was definitely a mission accomplished. He’s done research, taken notes, and practiced on fruit all in the effort to be able to drive you wild with his mouth, and he’ll go down on you as many times as he can for ‘further research’. In that vein, he prefers to give over receive, but just by a little bit. Seeing your mouth working his cock really drives him wild, and he will never turn you down when you offer him a blowjob. He absolutely loves any variation of the 69 position, as well.

P: Pace (Are they fats and rough? Slow and sensual? etc.)

He generally has a very moderate pace, and he’s very good at maintaining it, even when he’s getting close to his orgasm. He instead increases the strength behind his thrusts, and you’ll definitely end up with some bruises wherever his hips make contact with you.

Q: Quickie (Their opinions on quickies rather than proper sex, how often, etc.)

He’d prefer proper sex so he can take his time with you, but he’ll indulge in a quickie from time to time. It’s kind of a necessity with how high his sex drive is, but quickies in his Hero office or anywhere else close to public are pretty well off limits given how loud he is.

R: Risk (Are the game to experiment, do they take risks?)

He absolutely loves to experiment with you. He’ll try just about anything at least once, and if he liked what you tried overall but there were a few things about it that threw him off, he’ll make a few changes and try it again. He’s very accommodating, to say the least.

He can be a bit risky, but when it comes to actually doing something in a public or semi-public setting and there’s a chance you’ll get caught, he’s out. He does have a career to look out for, and he hates to think of what would happen to his heroic image if he got caught fooling around so brazenly in plain view.

S: Stamina (How many rounds can they go for, how long do they last…)

It might be his Quirk coming into play, but he has amazing stamina, and he will keep fucking you until your voice goes hoarse and then some. He only likes to go for one round since he doesn’t want to overwhelm you too badly, but he can go for more if you want him to.

T: Toys (Do they own toys? Do they use them? On a partner or themselves?)

He passed out the first time that he saw you using a toy on yourself. This green bean is a huge fan of toys; he’ll use them on you, let you use them on him, the whole nine yards. As embarrassed as he got that first time, he became very well accustomed to using toys after that, and he has done quite a bit of research trying to figure what the best toys to use are.

U: Unfair (How much they like to tease)

He doesn’t do a whole lot of teasing himself. He thinks it’s mean for him to tease you, but boy does he love it when you tease him instead. He will be a happy man if you decide to dominate him and edge him until he’s begging for you to let him cum. It may be a bit of a double standard, but he just doesn’t have it in him to deny you what you want.

V: Volume (How loud they are, what sounds they make)

He is so damn loud. Like, I hope you don’t live in an apartment, because your neighbors will hate you if that’s the case. He can’t hold it back, either. He’s a moaner, too, so there’s really no denying what the two of you are doing, either. He sounds amazing, though, and I used this line in some other headcanons that I made for him, but I’ll use it again here: his moans are so sweet that they could make an angel weep, so don’t try to cover them up.

W: Wild Card (Random headcanon)

Wants to watch someone else have sex with you. He claims it’s for scholarly purposes just so he can get some new ideas and techniques, but he really just likes to watch you getting fucked. If you’re really against this, then another option would be to videotape a session between the two of you so he can watch it later. If you are down for it, it will definitely be with somebody that the both of you trust. Just go ahead and suggest Bakugou to him, and his eyes will nearly pop out of his head. He is intrigued, to say the least, mainly because he knows that the two of them will be completely different in the bedroom. He is more than ready to observe those differences and take notes on them, and it will definitely give him some good memories to get off to later.

X: X-Ray (Let’s see what’s going on in those pants)

Average length, but he is quite girthy. His dick is also pretty straight, with no obvious curves to it, and he’s got 2-3 prominent veins going along his shaft.

Y: Yearning (How high is their sex drive?)

His sex drive is really, really high. He was hoping that it would go down once he got out of high school but jokes on him because it just got higher. And once he got into a relationship and started having regular sex? Yeah, his sex drive went through the roof. He will want to have sex with you every day of the week if he can, and more than once on some days. He’s honestly like a freakin’ bunny, and he does get embarrassed about it sometimes. He can definitely hold himself back, though.

Z: ZZZ (… how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

He doesn’t fall asleep right after since he likes to make sure that you’re taken care of and comfortable first. After that, he’ll lay his head on your chest and fall asleep to the sound of your heartbeat.

#midoriya izuku #bnha #bnha deku #bnha izuku #boku no hero academia #mha #my hero academia #bnha headcanons #mha headcanons #not so sfw alphabet #don't read in polite company

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imaginejamesandsirius · 6 years ago

Note

Hey, can you write a story in which James is protective of Sirius and gets angry whenever someone speaks ill of him (maybe accusing him of being just another Black or a Death Eater) so when he and Sirius come back after the Veil (because they do come back), James is appalled to discover Sirius is considered a bad guy and is so upset and founds the Sirius Black Defense Squad? :) please and thanks!!

"You sure you're not a Death Eater?" the other auror said, voice low and quiet like he knew exactly how cruel he was being and didn't care in the slightest. "Like your dear brother? Well... ex-brother?"

Sirius didn't bother grabbing his wand, he just pulled his arm back and plowed his fist into the other man's face.

Right about the moment he was hitting the ground, James rounded the corner, carrying two mugs of tea with a pile of paperwork tucked under his arm. "Er." He looked up, saw the hurt and infuriated look on Sirius's face and the way he was holding his hand oddly in front of him, and sighed. He walked over to their desks, nudging-- oh what was his name, McLaggen?-- with the toe of his shoe. "C'mon lad, off the floor some of us are trying to work."

"Your partner's bloody mad!" Probably-McLaggen said as he scrambled to his feet, hand coming up gingerly to his face which would bruise spectacularly if he didn't get it healed.

"He does look rather angry, doesn't he? I suggest you leave before I decide to join him in that." James ignored what he actually meant by that phrase because this was earl grey in his hand, and he was having a craving. Getting worked up would only sour the taste, and McLaggen wasn't worth that.

"Here you go love, English Breakfast two sugars. I halved it because I don't want you bouncing around all night while I'm trying to sleep."

People stared for a minute as Sirius took the tea with a mild grimace before they tottered off, clearly getting the hint that nothing further was going to happen. Probably-McLaggen had to be dragged away by his friends so he didn't try to restart anything. James really wished people would stop pushing him like this. He was going to bloody snap one day, and Merlin help whoever was on the receiving end of it.

Being brought back to life was just weird. Honestly. People asked James if he felt any different, and he didn't. They asked Sirius the same and got-- you guessed it-- the exact same answer. They felt normal. Not tired, not too energized, they didn't think they were missing any memories, and overall they felt absolutely normal. Unfortunately that answer was unsatisfactory to the Medi-witches, and they were trapped in solitary. Which would have been fine except James did want to see Harry and Remus again, and he would rather have liked to acquaint himself with Moony's kid. Moony had a kid! The future was wild, but here he was, stuck in hospital instead of exploring it.

In an attempt to sedate James and Sirius's escapist tendencies, they brought the Prophet to them every day. "Ah," James said, delighted, "we made the front page." Except... he frowned. The headline stated Hero James Potter returned from the dead! and there was a picture of him from the first war, but Sirius was nowhere to be found. He lifted the paper and looked under it, like somehow the second half of the headline and main picture had been separated and was waiting for him to find it; it wasn't. Well that couldn't be right.

He read the article, which said a lot considering that their return was confidential and even the people who knew what had happened didn't really know what had happened. And there, like an aside hidden in the middle of an essay, was news of Sirius's return. Sirius Black-- heir apparent for the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black-- also returned from the dead in a manner similar to J. Potter. Black is a suspected Death Eater from the first war, though no official charges were ever pressed. Ex-fucking-cuse him? 'Suspected Death Eater'??? What the bloody fucking hell was that shite! When he pointed it out to Sirius, expecting similar outrage, Sirius just shrugged. "What?"

"C'mon James, I told you I was arrested for blowing up those Muggles. Pettigrew being alive apparently didn't change matters all that much."

James stared at him, dumbfounded. "Please tell me you're joking," he said faintly.

Sirius shrugged again.

James threw the newspaper at him, glad that that, at least, got a reaction out of him. "What is wrong with you? People think you're a murderer, doesn't that bother you?"

He sighed. "James. They've thought that for nearly twenty years now, and I'm too old to try and change their minds. I'm not in Azkaban, and that's all I care about."

James glared, then crawled out of his bed and into Sirius's, aggressively cuddling him. If it was the last thing James did, he was going to hunt down every single person that made Sirius so dispassionate with himself, and he was going to wack them over the head with a mop until their opinion changed. Because thinking that Sirius wasn't the best person on the entire planet? That was bad enough, but to actively dislike him? Heresy.

Sirius chuckled and wrapped his arms around James. He thought he was overreacting a bit, but he wasn't going to turn down some cuddles.

Later that day, they were reluctantly told that they could leave the following day. The Sirius Issue wasn't gone from his mind, but for the moment it wasn't absorbing his every thought.

Remus and Harry were waiting for them when they were released from St. Mungo's. Sirius wrapped Harry up in a tight hug, and James decided to give them a moment of relative privacy by turning to the baby in Remus's arms. "Oh well aren't you just the second cutest thing in the world," he said wondrously when Teddy blinked at him.

"Second cutest?" Remus repeated in amusement.

"Well I have to be honest don't I? Don't I?" James said in a baby voice, grinning as Teddy responded in baby babble.

"Sirius your partner is insulting my baby."

"I am not. Am I?" James said, still using the baby voice. "No I'm not."

"Sure you're not," Remus said drily. "Harry's his godfather by the way. Not sure I got to tell you that."

James straightened up from where he'd been hunched over to be on eye level with Teddy. "Really? Aww they grow up so fast. Mostly because I was dead for your entire life," he said in an aside to Harry, who had finally stopped hugging Sirius. "But I do remember how quickly you grew as a sprog. I swear, between one day and the next you went from babbling to running around the house."

"Speech and movement aren't that conn--"

"Oh shut it Moony I'm having a moment."

"Not a very good one," Harry joked.

James gasped theatrically, putting an arm around Sirius's shoulders when he went back to standing beside him. "Do you hear this treachery? From our very own son?"

Harry's face flashed with confusion, but Teddy let out a loud wail that reminded Remus they should head back to continue talking. James agreed easily, though he wasn't quite sure where they were heading back to.

Remus went ahead and apparated with Teddy since the floo could be a little dodgy with a newborn, and Harry led them to the fireplaces, telling them to go to 'the Burrow'. Sirius seemed uncomfortable with the idea, but James didn't have a chance to ask him about it before they were stepping into the green flames and swirling away.

When he materialized, it was to the image of a middle-aged red-headed woman fussing over Harry, oblivious to his discomfort. She ushered him off to the kitchen, then turned to James with a neutral smile. "You must be Mrs. Weasley," he said with an equally polite smile. He didn't know anything about her other than she was Harry's friend's mother, and she had eight kids or summat.

"I am dear." She stepped forward to shake his hand, and James tried not to let his smile wince at the endearment. She didn't mean anything by it, he knew, but he'd always felt that endearments were earned, not given away like mints. "You're free to stay here for as long as you like so you and Harry can become acquainted. I'm afraid it's a touch crowded for beds, but we'll find a space for you."

The words were nice, the offer genuine, but something about it struck James as off. He realised what it was a moment later: Remus wasn't staying here, and he'd explicitly said that Sirius could stay with him. And if Sirius was staying with Remus, then James was staying with Remus, and James was now confused as to why she thought James didn't have a place to stay since Remus had obviously been around in the past few days to be with Harry. "Ah, er- thanks for the offer, but we'll be fine at Remus's."

"Did Harry say he was going with you?" she asked with a confused tilt of her head, like plans had been made without her knowledge.

"No," James responded, equally confused. "I thought Harry was staying here with his friends." He looked to Sirius to see if he knew what was going on any better.

"He is," Sirius confirmed. "Ron and Hermione," he added in a lower voice, and James nodded. There were too many new people, and he wasn't remembering any of them except Teddy. But Teddy was a baby and hardly counted.

"Oh, well if everything's in order, why don't we get a bite to eat? You do look a bit peckish dear," she said, looking over James like she thought he could stand to gain a pound or ten.

Rude, he thought uncharitably. This was the perfect size for holding Sirius and fitting both of them on any given horizontal surface. If he gained weight without warning, who knew what would happen to impromptu cuddle sessions? He shuddered internally as they followed Mrs. Weasley to the kitchen; it didn't bear to think about.

There was a long dining table taking up the entire room, which was abnormally large to accommodate the ludicrously long table. The table was laden with food, and most of the seats were already filled. Half were Weasley's, but the other half looked to be friends of both the children and the family. The young, dark skinned woman talking to Harry was surely Hermione, and it appeared that she, Harry, and half the Weasley children were having a discussion about Quidditch.

Remus took the empty seat at the end, strapping Teddy into the highchair next to him before he plated up some food for both of them. The seats next to him were open, and Sirius and James took them. It was like a small version of meals at Hogwarts. It was strange to be around people that looked the same age as him, but he was born a decade or two before. Hell, he and Harry were only a few years apart, physically speaking.

James poked dubiously at the food on his plate. It's not that it looked bad-- quite the contrary, it looked delicious-- but he couldn't help his trepidation. Normally he would have wolfed it down, but Sirius was only nibbling. The two of them had similar tastebuds, and it stood to reason that if Sirius didn't like it, then James wouldn't either.

"Mister Potter?"

Sirius had to nudge his leg before he realised they were talking to him. "Hm?" he said, looking up from the questionably good food.

"What do you think?"

"I wasn't paying attention," he admitted with a grin. "What's the question?"

"Is the seeker the single most important player in Quidditch?"

James rolled his eyes. "It's called a team sport for a reason. There's no such thing as 'single most important player'. One person buggers up, you all suffer."

"Language," Mrs. Weasley said, and it didn't seem like she was joking.

James glanced at Sirius in a 'are you kidding' way, and he made a face that said 'no, she is completely serious'. "We've all fought in a war-- or two," he added with a nod at Remus who was busy making a face at Teddy in an attempt to get him to eat what was currently on the fork in front of his mouth, "and we've probably all killed people. Are you really gonna get upset about a stray curse?"

"I just don't think it's nice to say in polite company," she said, a touch primly, and James had to stop himself from saying 'what the fuck' aloud.

"Riiiight," is what he said instead. "Anyways, Quidditch is a team sport, and trying to break it into pieces like that doesn't even make sense to the sport."

"You were Quidditch Captain in your day weren't you?" Hermione asked, and James nodded. "I don't think Harry mentioned, but he was in our year. When we were still going, that is."

"Nice." James held up his hand for a high five, and Harry paused for only a second before slapping it.

"I'd meant to pursue it as a career, but then the war happened and then I died, so." He shrugged.

"Do you really think it best to bring that up?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Bring what up?" James asked. Honestly, every time she said something he was plunged into a state of confusion that never resolved, only dissipated over time while something else distracted him.

"Your... absence," she said delicately.

"It's kinda hard to miss. Or do I actually look the forty years I'm supposed to be? Me and Sirius used to look good together, now I just come across as a cheap sugar baby."

Sirius snorted, and Remus sighed in a way that meant he was amused but he wasn't going to admit it. "Be glad for your youth, sweetheart. You could probably play professionally now," he mused. "Once they get rid of your death certificate or whatever rot they're planning on doing to declare you alive again, you'd be able to audition."

"I haven't so much as looked at a broom since I got back, I might not even be good anymore." Sirius rolled his eyes at that because come on, and James amended, "I'm sure a lot has changed in the past twenty years for the League. I can't show up with no knowledge and no recent practice." He frowned as something occurred to him. "What're you planning on doing? Cause pros travel, and I'm not sure I want to try and live without you for weeks at a time."

"I could travel with you, it's not like I've got anything else going on for me. Besides, then I'll be the trophy spouse and people won't have as much cause to complain."

"Sirius," Mrs. Weasley's voice cut in, and James was really about to get annoyed with this.

"What," James said, a touch shortly as he turned from their conversation.

"You shouldn't joke about such things," she said, eyes darting to the children, but fuck if James or Sirius knew what she was trying to convey.

"I wasn't joking?" Sirius said, utterly confused.

She heaved a put upon sigh, and Remus cut in just as she was opening her mouth. He very carefully wasn't looking at anyone but Teddy as he talked in a mild tone, "Molly I suggest you think about whatever it is you want to say, taking into consideration how much you may or may not know about the two of them."

"Oh!" She looked away as a light blush covered her cheeks, and James's brow scrunched. What in Merlin's name was going on? She cleared her throat. "Well, erm. I think I should check on the biscuits!" she said before bustling out of the room.

"Do you know what's going on?" James asked, turning to face Sirius again.

"Not really."

"She didn't know the two of you were together," Remus supplied.

"How is that possible?" James asked.

"Well James, the last time you were alive was twenty years ago, and since then everyone decided that you and Lily were married-"

"What? How is that possible? We barely even talked!"

Remus shrugged. "You all got married on the same day. I guess pictures got mixed around, and there was no one left to say which wedding picture had the correct partners."

James shifted his glare to Sirius, hitting him upside the head with a flourish that dealt very little pain. "Why didn't you tell her? I thought you'd been seeing her on and off for three years?"

Sirius ran his fingers through his hair to get it back in order. "Well it's not like we got on, is it?"

"What? What do you mean you didn't get on? You're wonderful, everyone likes you."

"Most people disagree with you," Sirius pointed out, and he was wholly unprepared for the shock that gave James.

"Excuse me? You are the best thing to grace the face of this planet, and people don't recognise that?"

"James-" Sirius started to say, and James could spot the telltale splotches of pink on his cheeks that would turn into a full body blush if he didn't calm back down.

"You stay here, I need to plan." He bopped Sirius on top of the head and left for the sitting room before anyone could even think to stop him. He pulled out a wand-- not his wand because that was long since gone and he hadn't had a chance to replace it yet-- and started a list in front of him. He only had four bullets before Harry came into the room and sat beside him.

"Maybe badges?" Harry suggested, pointing at point two which said: Public but low key support sign??? James nodded thoughtfully, adding a dash and the word badges next to it.

James glanced at Harry. He didn't seem upset which, now that James thought about it, was a relief. "You're not upset?"

Harry shrugged. "Would've done a few years ago. Now I'm just glad you have each other. Professor McGonagall always said Sirius wasn't the same since you died. I thought she meant Azkaban at the time but."

James nodded, adding another bullet to the list.

"I won't have to see you kiss, will I?"

"Do you want me to lie?"

"Yes."

"Then no, you won't ever see a thing. We're practically strangers in public, and in private we stick to hand holding and nothing more."

Remus, who wandered in with Teddy a few moments ago, snorted. "That's possibly the biggest lie you've ever told, since the current winner of: 'of course I don't love him Moony we're just friends'."

"I was in denial, you berk."

Harry laughed when Remus flipped him a v and James returned it, sticking out his tongue. Remus settled into the sofa next to Harry and nodded at the list. "What about that charity he donated to?"

James snapped his fingers and added it to the list. "You're a genius Moons." He added a few more bullets before going to the top and titling it SBDS.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry asked, tilting his head like the angle would reveal the secret to him.

"Sirius Black Defense Squad. I considered 'Sirius Black Lovers' but that sounded a little off."

"I'll say," Harry said. "You're the only 'lover' in here, and I don't want to be that closely related to you."

"Oh bugger off," James said fondly.

#prongsfoot #marauders #fanfic #james potter #sirius black #remus lupin #teddy lupin #molly weasley #filled #married #established relationship #first war #second war #james lives #siriuslystarbucks #Anonymous

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