#Sometimes you get an idea for something mildly amusing and then it ends up the single most complex render you've ever made.

[decamarks]

SPIDDR

[scottiexmariee]

Hi~ ok so I have a request for a LAD headcannon. One where u wanna learn a new dance trend thats lowkey pretty spicy and if the boys reject then u say ur gonna go ask someone else (preferably someone they know like Greyson. Jeremiah, Thomas, one of the twins). Thank u so so so much and take all the time in the world

LADS Boys vs. Spicy Tiktok Trend

Characters: Xavier x Reader | Zayne x Reader | Rafayel x Reader | Sylus x Reader

Summary: How the boys would react to you threatening to ask someone else to assist with a spicy TikTok trend

Warnings: NSFW. MINORS DNI. Suggestive Content, (Implied Smut), Potential Lumiere spoiler if you aren’t familiar with lore

Wordcount: 2.7k

Masterlist

Note: I had way too much fun with this prompt. This is my own interpretation, so I hope this is what you wanted <3

“Well? What do you think?” You asked, studying Xavier��s face as the video you were showing him looped for the third time. He was next to you on the couch, studying your phone as if it were a foreign object, unable to form a coherent thought about what you were showing him. 

There was a new couple’s dance trend circulating TikTok, and it was top priority to get Xavier on board with doing the trend. It was…a little provocative, to put it mildly. The dance started off innocent, but had a move at the end of it that included a little bit of grinding on your partner. You had absolutely zero intentions of posting it. Truthfully, you just saw an opportunity to rile Xavier up, and you were going to take it. 

By the time the video looped for the fifth time, you waved your hand in front of his face. “Hellooo? Anyone in there?” 

As if snapping out of a trance, Xavier finally blinked. Several times, actually, clearly trying to process whatever the hell you just made him watch. His eyes landed on you, and the poor guy looked like he had no idea where to start with his thoughts. 

“Uhhhhh….” 

“Let me guess,” You began, folding your arms indignantly, “you don’t want to do it,” 

Xavier averted his gaze, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “I…don’t know how I feel about recording that.” He finally said, finding a very interesting spot on the floor to stare at. 

You figured he’d say no. Unfortunately for him, you’d planned ahead. You already had your dialogue choices preselected, and now it was time to roll. 

“I’ll just ask Jeremiah, then,” 

Xavier’s eye twitched, but he recovered quickly. He gave your thigh a playful squeeze as he shook his head. “Good luck. He knows better,” His tone was light, but you knew he wasn’t joking. 

He was right. Jeremiah absolutely knew better. In fact, Jeremiah would likely have a panic attack if you even attempted to ask him to do something like that, simply out of fear of Xavier’s wrath. Jeremiah had once been subtly threatened over a completely innocuous conversation, and the deceptive softness in Xavier’s tone when he made the threat nearly had Jeremiah sputtering. (“You have nice teeth. It may be beneficial to find conversation elsewhere.”) Jeremiah didn’t look you in the eye for weeks after that. 

The Jeremiah line, as predicted, was ineffective. With a sigh, you decided to default to your ‘in case of emergency’ tactic. 

You stretched, trying to appear casual, doing your best to prevent a smirk from slipping. “I bet Lumiere would do the trend with me,” 

Any traces of amusement that had been present on Xavier’s face vanished in an instant. The tension in the air thickened as soon as the words left your mouth. Xavier’s eyes narrowed, his expression hardening as his eyes locked onto your faux innocent face. The message was clear: you did NOT just say that. 

Truthfully, you hadn’t meant to actually piss him off. However, the thought of Xavier essentially beefing with himself was too good to resist sometimes. You thought he’d gotten over this by now. 

“I’m not sure I heard you correctly,” He said, his tone deceptively calm. If looks could kill, you’d be dead on the floor. This was a warning. He was giving you a chance to backpedal. 

“I’m just saying,” You said, trying to ignore the way your pulse quickened with his mood shift. 

“You would prefer to do an indecent trend with Lumiere?” He questioned, his tone still eerily even, despite the clear annoyance in his eyes. You needed to be very careful with your next answer. 

“I would prefer to do the indecent trend with Xavier,” You teased, cupping his face in your hands and giving his head a gentle shake. He softened slightly at the contact. “We don’t even have to post it,” 

He rose from the couch, catching your wrist in the process and pulling you with him. 

“Xavier? Where are we going?” You asked, already knowing the answer. 

“To do the trend,” He responded, his tone much lighter than it was previously. “I’ll do it so Lumiere doesn’t get the chance,

Zayne stared at you with an expression that could only be described as unamused. You had made an attempt to show him the newest couple’s dance trend, quietly tossing in a comment about how you two would ‘look good doing that trend.’ Based on his complete lack of a reaction, you had your answer without him even needing to open his mouth. 

You pulled your phone away, cheeks burning with embarrassment. “It’s not that bad,” You said defensively. 

That was a blatant lie. If you tried to shake your ass as hard as the girl in the video you’d just shown him, you’d probably throw out a hip. You, however, were on a mission to spice up things with Zayne a bit, and the new trend was a perfect excuse to make an attempt. 

….it had sounded better in your head. 

“It’s aggressive,” He responded dryly. “I would recommend a psychiatric evaluation if I saw you doing that,”

If you weren’t desperate, his comment would have been hilarious. 

“Guess I’ll wait for the pink slip,” You retorted, leaning back in your chair. “because I’m doing that trend,” 

“It’s a couple’s trend,” Zayne responded, his expression deadpan. “Do you intend on doing it alone?” 

You pursed your lips, searching for an answer. An idea came to mind, and Zayne stiffened upon seeing the flash of mischief in your eyes. 

“I wonder if Greyson would try it with me,” You mused. You had no intentions of actually asking Greyson, you were simply just trying to press buttons now. 

Zayne's eyes narrowed, and it was the closest thing to a reaction you’d gotten out of him so far. He looked almost offended, and you actually started to feel bad. However, the guilt dissipated the second Zayne responded with his ‘professional’ voice. 

“That’s highly inappropriate and unprofessional,” He chided, his brows furrowing as he spoke. “and it would be rather unbecoming of my assistant to participate in something indecent with my significant other.” 

“Okay, I’m sorry. That was a bad joke,” You said, reaching for his hand. He allowed you to grab it, but it did nothing to quell the absolute bewilderment your comment had caused. 

“If you won’t actually do the trend with me, would you be willing to just practice?” You asked, purposefully lowering your voice to ‘bedroom’ tone. 

Zayne’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly. He was definitely listening. 

“I mean, you could consider that as an exercise, right?” You continued, rubbing the back of his hand with your thumb. “And exercise is good for you, right?” Your tone was borderline teasing now, but it seemed to actually be working. 

“It is,” He responded. “It increases blood flow, reduces the risk of heart disease, can increase dopamine levels—“

You squeezed his hand, giving him the flirtiest look you could muster. 

“Well, Doctor Zayne, could you help me increase my dopamine?” 

His resistance was crumbling quickly. Between that look on your face and the tone of your voice, it was getting harder and harder to deny you. 

Especially when he knew what your real intentions were. 

With a sigh, he softly grabbed your hand and rose from his spot at the table, his initial protests long forgotten. 

“Phone stays on the table,” He warned, just to be safe. 

As he lead you toward the couch, you couldn’t help but giggle. 

Your plan had completely derailed, but in a way, you were still getting what you wanted. 

As soon as you saw the newest couple’s dance trend circulating, you knew that you and Rafayel would absolutely OWN it. 

You could already picture how hot he’d look with some shirt buttons undone, chest *slightly* exposed, swinging his hips with yours in tune to the beat of that catchy song. You two were going to absolutely devour this trend. 

….Well, that was the plan, anyway. 

He was willing to hear you out until he saw examples. By the third video, his ears were very pink, and he was staring at your phone like it had personally offended him. The amused smile he’d sat down with was no longer in the vicinity. 

When he finally found his voice, the protesting was immediate. “Nope. Nuh-uh. Not happening,” He said, shaking his head vigorously and shoving your phone away from him. He wiped his fingers on his pants as if he’d touched something dirty. He then rose from his seat, very obviously about to attempt a swift exit. 

“Raf, please!” You begged, nearly tripping over your chair as you followed after him. You caught his sleeve, tugging him back toward you. He didn’t budge. “We’d look so good. I’ll literally start begging,”

He shook his head vehemently. “I don’t even want to imagine the headlines that would cause. Nooo way, (y/n),” 

“When have you ever cared about what the headlines say?” You protested, giving his sleeve another tug. “Please! It’s just one video! I’ll never ask you to do a trend again!”

“I’ll agree to this when I see sharks driving cars,” He responded, skillfully escaping your desperate grip on his sleeve. He began heading toward the kitchen in an attempt to put as much distance between himself and this conversation as possible. 

Fine. Let’s see how he likes this.  

You retrieved your phone from the table and began typing a phone number. Rafayel paused and looked over his shoulder at the sound of your nails tapping against the screen. 

He fully turned around when you hit the ‘call’ button and raised your phone to your ear. 

“…who are you calling?” He asked, already heading back toward you, eyes narrowed in suspicion. 

“Thomas,” You replied casually. “If you won’t do it with me, then—“ 

Your phone was confiscated before you could even finish your sentence. Rafayel held your phone above his head, his other hand pressed against your forehead, effectively keeping you an arm’s length away.  Rafayel quickly ended the call before Thomas could pick up as you began to protest. 

“Oh come on!” You cried out, arms flailing as you tried to retrieve your phone from Rafayel’s air jail. 

“Apologize or I’ll swallow it,” He threatened, holding your phone higher above his head. “You can’t call other men or be influenced by dance videos if I eat your phone,”

You stared at him, beyond incredulous. While Rafayel did have a flair for the dramatic, the look on his face alone made you hesitant to call his bluff. 

“You’d rather swallow my phone than do a 10 second trend with me?” 

“You were calling Thomas! What does he have that I don’t?” 

You folded your arms, glaring daggers at the man holding your phone hostage. “I only called Thomas because you refused.”

Rafayel scoffed, his expression nothing short of indignant. “Oh, so you’re just a traitor then? Gooot it. And to think I shared my smoothie with you earlier,” 

“If you don’t like me anymore, just say that,” 

Rafayel’s mouth dropped open upon hearing you use one of his ‘drama queen’ lines against him. He could not believe you had the nerve to use his own words for your own petty gratification. “You—“ 

He sighed, releasing your forehead from his palm. Your phone, however, was still in air jail. 

Rafayel was silent for several moments, and you could almost physically see the gears in his brain working overtime. 

“What if we compromise?” He finally asked, eyes landing directly on your face. 

“Compromise?” 

“I’ll do the trend with you. But you aren’t allowed to post it. Nuh-uh. It’s for our eyes only.” He finally lowered your phone from above his head, keeping it just out of reach as he continued speaking, “and if you post it anyway I will literally put a curse on you.”

You paused, your eyes flitting between Rafayel’s face and the phone that was still firmly in his hand. You considered your options, and after a small internal debate, you decided that this was as good as it was going to get. 

“Okay,” You affirmed, holding out your hand for your phone. “Deal.” 

He smiled, finally handing your phone. 

As the two of you began to walk to the closet to find a change of clothes for the video, Rafayel spun to face you. 

“Also,” He began, “You know how you said you’d never ask me to do a trend again?” 

“Yes?” 

“I’m holding you to that,” 

The day had dragged on. Sylus had spent most of the day holed up in his armory, and the twins were out doing who knows what. Mephisto wasn’t great company either, and his beady little eyes got uncomfortable after a while. You were absolutely consumed by boredom, which lead to you scrolling on TikTok for far too long. 

Right as you were finally about to throw your phone out of pure frustration, your algorithm came in clutch and graced you with a video from this week’s newest dance trend, a suggestive little couple’s dance. You bit your bottom lip, already feeling flushed at the thought of Sylus with his hands all over you like that. 

It was sexy. It was flashy. And it was absolutely the cure for your boredom. 

Your feet were moving before you’d put any thought into it, carrying you straight to the armory. 

You all but crashed through the door. 

“Sylus~” You chirped, zeroing in on him with a shit-eating grin on your face. 

He looked up at you, eyes softening at your expression. 

“Well, don’t you just look delighted,” He drawled, patting his lap for you to have a seat.  “What’s the occasion?” 

As you climbed into his lap, you pulled up the video you’d added to your favorites and held it out for him to watch. He did so without questioning it, but you could see the subtle expression change as he tried to process what he was seeing. 

When the video ended, he returned his gaze to you, raising an eyebrow but saying nothing. 

“Well?” You poked his cheek, searching for any hint of his thoughts in his expression. 

“That was….modest,” He said, his voice laced with a level dry sarcasm that only Sylus was capable of. 

“Will you do it with me?” You asked, getting straight to the point. 

Sylus chuckled, the sound deep, rich, and like music to your ears. As quickly as your hopes rose, they were quickly squashed by his next statement. 

“While I’m flattered that you think I’d be a good candidate for…that,” He began, gesturing toward your phone, “I’m going to have to decline, sweetie.” 

Short, sweet, and to the point. 

“Ugghhh, but I’m so bored!” You whined, tossing your head back in exasperation. 

Sylus watched your mini-tantrum fondly, desperately fighting off a smirk. “If you’re bored, you could always hang out with me in here,” 

You glanced around the room. It was clear that he’d been down here messing with several different weapons, and by the looks of things, he was nowhere near done. 

You loved spending time with Sylus. On any other day, you would have jumped on the offer, just to be near him. Today, however, your boredom had reached its climax and you were certain you would combust if you sat down here and watched him meddle with various weapons. 

With a defeated sigh, you removed yourself from his lap and began sulking toward the door. “I guess I’ll just go find the twins,” 

Truthfully, you hadn’t meant for it to come out that way. You definitely weren’t going to bother them with the trend, but that was definitely how Sylus took it. You heard the distinct sound of a weapon being set down onto the table. 

“No need,” He said gruffly, abandoning his task and rising to his full height. You turned and quirked an eyebrow, not understanding the sudden change of heart. 

He closed the distance between the two of you, looping an arm around your shoulders as he passed. 

“That…’trend’ gave me a better idea for a boredom cure,” He said, leading you out of the armory. 

“Oh? Tell me!” You chirped excitedly. 

Sylus shook his head. “It’s more of a show than a tell,” 

While you didn’t get to do the spicy TikTok trend, Sylus had cured your boredom in a different spicy way. 

You were reeeally thankful for that trend. 

Thank you for interacting <3

If you enjoyed, please leave a like or reblog!

[ravencincaide]

Men like flowers too 

Summary: When you get him flowers for valentines day, his reaction is far from what you expected OR sometimes taking a risk pays off. 

Pairing: fem! reader x Chuuya 

Requested by: @chuuyaswifeandhoe Thank you so much for your request, it was most certainly one of the more challenging ones for me. Still I hope this is at least a fraction of what you imagined 🩷

Warnings: cursing, reckless driving, very very light hint at possible sexual content

You did not know whether this was a good idea or if it would somehow make the already disappointing Valentine's turn a bitter-sour awkward experience as you missed the mark entirely. Twisted precious Japanese traditions into something western-influenced- but not really. All the while making a hot mess of yourself in the process.

But you were about to find out. 

Without a second thought, you opened the passenger side of the bright red sports car and you flopped down into the leather seats quickly and in-elegantly. You made sure you were inside the vehicle and ready to go before your beloved valentine had a chance to finish his textmessage. The second a low tsk’ made it past his lips followed with a half-hearted curse as his thumb brushed over the turn-off button of the small device, you made your move.

“ Here you go” Your voice was a sing-song purr as you stretched more like dump in his lap a box of especially imported wine infused chocolates and the exceptionally large and ridiculous bouquet of red and orange flowers tied together with a matching obnoxious ribbon that ended in a rosette. You tried to sound casual- like this was the most natural thing in the world for you to do as you reached towards the seatbelt. 

Still you watched Chuuya’s reaction closely.

First, the way his eyes widened, a mildly surprised expression clouded the otherwise focused and slightly work-annoyed look. Then his lips set into a straight line: a thin, displeased thing. As if you had just critiqued him to his face about something Chuuya had done but had not had the chance to show it off to you.Yet. 

An unjustified disappointment.  

“ Did you buy these for yourself, Sweetheart?” Before you could answer he leaned towards the passenger side, the flowers you got almost squashed between you two. His fingers grasped your chin and forced you to look him straight in the eyes. No escape from those piercing orbs. 

“ Y/N what did we say? You never buy flowers for yourself, Baby-girl. Especially not on fucking Valentines of all days- that is my job” he kept his voice low and leveled, yet the red of his eyes gave you an indication of how annoyed he was. No how angry he got at the mere thought that you consider him so incompetent so as to not get you flowers on the one day a year dedicated to love in western traditions.

Japanese traditions could go screw themselves. He was not about to do nothing for you while you showered him in chocolates of all shapes, makes, qualities and sizes. 

“ They’re for you, silly” you replied with a small nervous smile tugged on the corners of your lips. However your nervous smile was quickly replaced with an amused one as you watched his eyes widen, returning back to stunning blue as he shifted them away from you and down towards the flowers between you. They widened as they landed on the petals, getting bent in between your bodies. Quickly he moved back and placed the flowers down onto his lap while he cleared his throat in silent apology. His mind obviously searched for something to say that was not the typical flat ‘thank you’ yet it came up empty. Much to his own frustration and your satisfaction. And the pink tint on his cheeks served as the cherry on top. 

This reaction was not one you would forget anytime soon. 

“ Uh-huh thanks– ahh what the heck” Chuuya started the car without warning before he pulled out of the mall parking lot, his speed double the legal limit. You rushed to get your seatbelt on in the meantime. 

The second you turned your eyes back to the road you realized something. 

“ C-chuu this isn’t the way to the Head Quarters” you gasped as he pulled out into the highway. Had your orders changed while you were collecting his gift? No, they hadn’t, you realized in horror as his lips pulled up into a smirk, while one of his hands let go of the steering wheel and dropped into your lap, giving your thigh a loving squeeze. It was a hint as to what was to come once he finally got you home. Before you could reason with him, said hand started moving upwards,drawing a startled “ Chuuya!” from your lips.

Author note: Happy Valentines day! I hope this request fullfilled your expectations. I'm aware this is not as smooth as my usual ones but I still hope it drew a smile from your lips!

This was the last SFW fic for today. The remaining three will fall within the NSFW category. So for some of you, Raven's special is coming to an end with this fic. I hope you have enjoyed and thank you all who have participated and send requests 🩷

Like this work and want more? Check out Raven's Masterlist

©ravencincaide 2024. Do not copy/repost/translate or spread my work(s) without my explicit permission. If you see any of my work(s) reposted/copied anywhere else without my consent, please inform me!

[velvetwastaken]

I spot another ask meme so you know what that means lol! 3, 4, 10, 16/17 (they're pretty similar so just choose what fits u more ig?) and 50 if you'd like!

well, I appreciate it! these ask games are my ego boosters lol

3. What are some tropes or details that you think are very characteristic of your fics?

Ough, this is a tough question. I'm bad at seeing these kinds of patterns in my own stuff. BUT I think all my fics are some form of friends to lovers or enemies to lovers (or they are intended to be eventually if the fic is pre-relationship).

I'm also pretty sure I use way too many idioms. Like excessively, problematically so. It’s also kinda how I talk though so that’s my excuse 😅

And I really hope that all my fics, even the angsty ones, have moments of humour in them. I know there's almost always something that’s made me laugh out loud while writing, and so I hope anyone reading it also finds it at least mildly amusing.

There's probably more, but I’ll leave it there for now.

4. What detail in [insert fic] are you really proud of?

Am I supposed to specify the fic? Let me know if you had a one in particular in mind for me to think about. I’ll just pick a couple off the top of my head for now.

I like the description in my levihan fic where Levi and his horse wipe out because I had a wreck almost exactly like that when I was working on a ranch. Actually that whole fic is just full of horsey details that please my inner horse girl to no end 😂

Specifically for ganqing, I’m actually really pleased with sneaking in the blueberry cookie detail in Must Love Cats 😂 It’s super minor, I know, but I had already written that part before I was educated about Keqing’s favourite cookie, so then obviously I had to intentionally go back and change it. It makes me feel like I know Keqing a little better now lol.

10. How do you decide what to write?

hmm. I feel like this is a deceptively tricky question, lol. Is it how do I decide what ideas to develop into a full story, or is it how I decide how that story goes? I think the answers to either will be less than satisfying since I barely know myself tbh 😬

For the former, usually there is a scene or image that sparks the initial idea. It might be from a legit prompt, but more often it's just a passing thought, probably inspired from something I saw or experienced at some point. Sometimes the process for writing the story is just getting to that scene, other times it's just starting at point A and seeing how far the idea takes me.

For the latter, I'm pretty bad for not outlining anything and just winging it, so I don't know that I 'decide' anything. It sounds hokey, but I do think I sometimes get to a place where I'm in the character's head enough that they are telling their own story and I'm just transcribing it (this was very much the case for Reversal). I am experimenting with outlining though, and it's been helpful to a point, but having decided what should happen next and actually writing the prose for it are two very different things and I am suffering 🫠

All that aside, there is a part of me that thinks nothing is really decided when it comes to writing, nothing is set in stone. Once I write something I can change it a hundred times after that. I consider everything to be a draft of sorts, even after it's up on ao3 or whatever. And in a way that's very comforting. Writing is flexible in a way that my life is not and I like that very much.

16. What's an AU you would love to read (or have read and loved)?

I love AUs. There are so many good ones! But for a current top three, let's go with University AU, Office AU, and Scifi/fantasy AU. I would read any of these AUs all day long 😂

50. Answer any question of your choice, or talk about anything you want to talk about!

Okay! I’m going to pick #40 and answer that one for this freebie lol

Do you tend to reread fics or are you a one-and-done kind of person?

And the answer is a resounding YES! I reread fics all the time. I have some on rotation because they are just that good they demand to be reread regularly. I honestly love rereading and even rewatching anything that’s made me happy before. Just because I know what’s going to happen doesn’t mean I can relive those feelings again.

[cintasfics]

Weekend Warriors - 1x06

Marley goes with the boys to the park, thinking they’re just there for a picnic or a nice hike

Shawn: What’s with the binoculars? Marley: Birdwatching. I bought my pocket guide too, fits into the bag perfectly, see? Shawn: Amazing. How old are you again? Marley: Shut up, it’s a fun and interesting hobby Shawn: Not the words I would use, but sure, if you say so

She’s thrilled once she sees the civil war rehearsal

Marley: Oh sweet, this is just like that episode of South Park! Or The Simpsons! Gus: Does all your knowledge of American culture come from tv shows? Marley: Movies too Gus: And is that Lassiter? Shawn: Yes, it is Gus: What died on his face? Marley: Huh, didn’t take him for a LARP’er

When Shawn makes their presence known to Lassiter, Marley sends him a friendly little wave

Back at the site of the reenactment after the meeting down at the police station, Shawn catches them up on the situation

Shawn: Gus, she was hot, and she was dressed as a nurse. You know how I feel about that. [Noticing Marley’s side eye] I say with the utmost respect for the profession

She agrees with Shawn’s hunch that this is a murder case

Marley: There’s no reason for live ammunition to be anywhere near this place, and with most of the people being cops, I would hope that they would be able to tell the difference between real and fake bullets. This had to be intentional

Sitting on the bridge watching Lassie give his orders

Lassiter: Find something amusing? Shawn: Mildly amusing. More odd. Delightful, in a queer sort of way Marley: [Nodding along] I find it cute how seriously you take all this Shawn and Gus: [Send her a questioning look, Lassiter and cute not going together in their minds] Lassiter: [Is taken aback by her comment, taking a second before continuing] Lassiter: What are you guys doing here anyway? Gus: I’m a bit of a civil war buff Marley: I just love this kind of stuff

She continues to be impressed by Shawn’s memory and perception, struggling to believe he memorised the war map so quickly and was able to recreate it in their office

Having agreed to cover a co-workers shift at the hospital, she misses the trip to the dentist, but when Shawn approaches her the next day with his plan to infiltrate the camp she is immediately on board

Seeing all the cool stuff in Mahoney’s collection, and being a history lover herself, she struggles to pay attention to what they’re saying

Marley, practically vibrating with excitement: Is this real C-4? Is it authentic? Gus: Better yet, is it even legal? Mahoney: For the reenactments. We fudge the fireworks sometimes. Our audience goes wild every year when the fake cannon fire showers them with dirt Marley: That’s so fucking cool Gus: [Clears throat] Marley: Sorry. I mean, that’s really cool

Due to the lack of remaining women’s roles in the battle, Marley ends up acting as a soldier (tying her hair back and wearing fake mutton chops), much to Gus’ displeasure

Gus: Why do I have to wear all these tassels and feathers, while she gets a regular uniform? Marley: Gus, buddy, I’d swap with you if I could but I think it’ll be a bit of a squeeze on your end Gus: What are you trying to say, Marley? Marley: Nothing! You’re just a lot broader in the shoulders than the guy this costume was intended for Gus, to Sally: Maybe you could alter it? Sally: I’m sorry Gus, it’s just not possible Shawn: Well, I think you look great Gus: Be quiet, Shawn

She admonishes Shawn for bringing his tv and portable stove with him, saying it goes against the whole idea of camping out, but can’t deny the temptation of his gaming system

When they find out Sally is the target after investigating the field and tree

Gus: Why would someone want to kill Sally Reynolds? Marley: Well, she works in insurance Shawn: So? Marley: Money is a good motive for murder, top 10, some would say Gus: But she only writes the policies, she doesn’t gain anything Marley: I don’t know, but I’m sure it plays into it somehow

They steal Sally’s dress, with the intention of putting Marley in her place but they’re stopped by Juliet, who refuses to let them endanger themselves

After Juliet comes out unscathed and they find Mahoney’s uniform on the other side of the hidden tunnel

Shawn: Wait. This doesn't track. Why kill Sally? She's hot, they're friends. She even wrote his insurance policy [Explosion] Marley: That was the C-4! Shawn: That didn't come from the battlefield, it came from the south [All three of them share a look] Shawn: I solved the crime! Gus: No, I did! Shawn: I said it first Gus: I identified the uniform Shawn: I found the button near the tree. I said it first. Tap, tap, no take-backs Marley: Guys! You’re forgetting something very important! Both: What? Marley: I solved it yesterday!

Back at the station, as Lassiter passes the three of them to leave the room after wrapping up the case

Lassiter: Excuse me… [pauses to look Marley up and down, the woman still in her uniform, sans the hat] gentlemen…

[guildofempyreans]

Empyrean Tale: Overcome the Labyrinth - Chapter 41

"Entreat"

[AO3 Link]

[Chapter 1] [<- Previous Chapter] [Book II Chapter 1 ->]

//GARY WE'VE REACHED THE END OF BOOK 1//

When Zandiel awoke, he felt as if he shouldn’t have. It was late morning, but something didn’t feel right about being awake right now. Everything felt too bright.

Despite how groggy he felt, he pried his eyes open. The only light in the room was from the sun, peeking through the curtain. The sight made Zandiel’s eyes sting mildly. He squinted them shut and rubbed them.

At the least, he was getting more used to bright lights. He sighed in relief and confusion, still wondering why his eyes had become like this.

Remembering that he was being discharged today, he got out of bed and changed, packing all of his belongings in his bag.

He wasn’t sure what time Jaune would come by, but he doubted there would be any last-minute examinations today.

Not long after he had finished, he heard a knock on the door.

“Come in.” he said.

“Hello, Ain.” Jaune entered the room with a smile. “Oh, guess you’re ready to go!”

Zandiel gave them a sheepish smile. “Ah, well… I truly grateful for all you’ve done while I stayed here!”

“But, you’re definitely tired of us by now.” Jaune concluded with a laugh. It was lighthearted and reassuring. Something that Zandiel definitely appreciated, given the situation. “Don’t worry, don’t worry. I get it. Before I let you go though, we’ll need to go over the paperwork. Are you ready?”

After the two went over what they needed, Zandiel was given a copy, and the two headed towards the entrance.

“So, I should come back to you if there’s any new issues?” he wondered.

Jaune nodded. “If you haven’t found an eye doctor by then. If you have, I’d expect going there would help more. However, even if there’s no new issues, I highly recommend you come back for a follow-up sometime next month.”

They placed a hand on their hip. “We know that the life of an adventurer can be… hectic, so we usually do walk-ins. If you’re worried about not getting in though, I’d recommend booking an appointment with Uriel.”

“I see…” Zandiel said. “I’ll consider it. Thank you very much, Jaune.”

“Mhmm.” they replied, taking a few steps ahead of Zandiel to hold the door open for him. “I’ll see you then!”

Zandiel thanked the doctor once again before the door closed. Though before he could even turn around…

“Look who it is! Our Ai-Ai Captain!”

Zandiel laughed as he recognized the voice of his guild’s chipper medic.

“Kor!” he said. Turning around, he saw that the only people he recognized were Kor, Ruki, and Alverion.

“C’mere! C’mere!” Kor shouted. “Ohhh, my gosh, it’s so good to see you again! Sig told me what was up this morning, but your eyes are seriously so cool!”

Zandiel paused for a moment at the mention of his eyes. It didn’t help that a few other people in the waiting room turned to him.

“Like– you look like some kinda vampire!” Kor squealed. “The coolest!”

“Alright, that’s enough for now, Kor…” Zandiel said as he hurried over to where his guild members were sitting. He felt embarrassment in regards to the strangers, especially when he heard a bit of mumbling.

Though he had to admit, the idea of his eyes looking vampiric amused him. That combined with his ‘connection’ with blood almost made it seem credible.

He’d only give it serious thought if he suddenly gained a taste for blood, though.

“They really are odd… well, for an Earthlain.” Alverion said. “I’m curious how this happened. Was it the flame?” he murmured.

“I’m not entirely sure how this happened either! Unfortunately!” Zandiel hastily explained, hoping that Alverion would drop the subject.

“Hey, think fast!” Kor shouted. He was balancing on one foot on Ruki’s thigh. Once he was sure he'd gotten Zandiel’s attention, he leapt towards him.

“Kor!” Zandiel shouted, lurching forward to catch him. Ruki shook her head and placed her hand near her temple. Despite that, she was smiling.

“Oh, my heart…! Please don’t do that again!” he chided. Kor grinned in response.

Zandiel smiled back at him. “Anyway, I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“You should be!” Kor replied, hugging the prince once he’d brought him close enough. “You know how scared I was when I saw that… that Wyvern-thing grab you guys?! Terrified! Terrified!”

“Mhmm!” Ruki concurred, standing up and nodding at Zandiel. She quickly grabbed a piece of paper from her bag and handed it to him.

It was slightly crumpled. The paper seemed to be a grocery list for ingredients, but looking at the side that Ruki was pointing to, it read:

“None of us really wanted to say it, but we didn’t know if you, Siegril, or Leo were even alive back then. We didn’t know what to do, BUT! We’re glad you all made it out!”

Zandiel sighed, feeling disappointed in himself. “I truly am relieved we all lived, but I’m still sorry for–”

“Alright, Ain. Enough apologies. I’m not even sure what you’re apologizing for.” Alverion spoke in a gentle, yet pointed tone. “Though, it’s almost funny. The one day I couldn’t make it, this happened! Can you believe it? Hmhm…”

“Hardly…” Zandiel realized he hadn’t seen him the longest out of everyone in the guild. “Alverion, it really has been some time. Where were you?”

“I know, right?” Kor said. “Veri popped back up about a day after you all escaped that misty jungle place. I thought he’d gone and gotten himself hurt, too!”

“I told you,” Alverion said as he held a knee up near his chin, idly floating. “I don’t want to bore you with the details; I was only realigning myself. Don’t worry yourself over me, of all people. I know how to handle myself.”

“Too late.” Kor groaned. “I was way too stressed out all these weeks, you know! I’m gonna be the world’s youngest guy with gray hairs! You all owe me!” he asserted, swinging his arms around.

“Of course, of course…!” Zandiel said with a smile, even when one of Kor’s swings grazed him. “Now, shall we return to the inn?”

“Hm.” Ruki nodded and took the paper back from him.

… … …

As they walked back to the inn, Zandiel felt a spring in his step, despite the slight strain his eyes had been going through. He had to keep rubbing them.

More importantly to him, it had been weeks since he’d actually seen and walked around Maginia. Weeks since he’d even been back at the inn. Weeks since he’d seen most of his guild.

Ruki and Kor caught Zandiel up on what the guild had been doing ever since he and Siegril had initially been captured.

After the capture, Ruki, Kor, Ylva, Wing, and Tyr tried to find a way deeper into the jungle. They found a staircase and went down it that day, but didn’t get far before realizing they couldn’t continue the way they were. They were all too exhausted, high-strung, and unprepared to feasibly go through.

The next day, Tyr’s guild began going into the jungle themselves to try and investigate on their own. He cautioned that it’d be best if the Empyreans waited for them to come back with any news or bodies. Instead, the four went in on their own.

“That…” Zandiel murmured. “That was incredibly dangerous! The jungle isn’t some place you should rush into without a full team and plan.”

“We’re all alive though, aren’t we?” Kor asked with a shrug.

Zandiel gave him a monotonous hum before he continued the story.

After a few days of checking the jungle on their own, the remaining Empyreans managed to get Leonidas and Tenmaar in the mix. The former only came with them for one day, but he still wanted to find that Wyvern.

As it turned out, no one had seen the monster after Zandiel, Siegril, and Leo had been caught. Not even the Alliance Guild had found it.

A day or so after Leonidas went back to work at the Baku Inn is when Tenmaar caught wind of the situation.

“Maaaan…” Kor droned. “Ten-Ten almost made it seem like it was our fault you got caught. He was all: ‘What the hell’s wrong with you guys?!’ and ‘Going into the nest of the Wyvern! Did you guys wanna die?!’” he mimicked in a deeper voice.

Zandiel scoffed. Then coughed into his free arm. “I-I mean—”

Though he didn’t appreciate how Tenmaar worded it, he did understand that he had an odd way of showing his concern. He didn’t mean to sound annoyed, but…

“I know, right?!” Kor commented. “Like, if you wanna worry about us so bad, why don’t you just join our guild?!”

“Exactly!” Zandiel shouted before he could stop himself. Though, once Kor and Ruki began to laugh, he found himself joining along.

As it turned out, the guild had already been searching for about four days, and Tenmaar joined in the remaining two before Zandiel and the others were spotted at base camp. Kor and Ylva were the only members of the guild at the camp that day, so they learned of the situation first.

Siegril was well enough. Leo, Luxes, and Gaile apparently were as well, though Leo needed a bit more care. Zandiel and Flynn were the ones in need of more intensive care. The Celestrian girl, Enigma, was awake by the time they reached base camp, but she hardly seemed cognizant of her surroundings. After being taken care of, she and Gaile went… somewhere. No one really knew where.

“You know, I didn’t see Flynn at Redray at all while I was there. I hope he’s alright.”

“He told me he twisted his ankle or something, but like, it obviously wasn’t just that.” Kor explained, waving a hand around. “You don’t wear bandages on your calf for a sprained ankle!”

“Hmm…” Zandiel found it odd, too. Was it something worth hiding?

Ruki tapped Kor’s shoulder and began to sign.

“Oh, I guess— she said Flynn might be embarrassed about what happened— but I didn’t think he’d be the type to get embarrassed over injuries from monsters...”

“His job is to rescue people.” Alverion noted. “He must be embarrassed that he’s stuck nursing a leg injury in the first place. He can’t go off and rescue like that.”

“I guess…” Kor mumbled.

Ruki clapped her hands together, turning everyone’s attention to her. She then hopped in front of everyone and stretched her arms out.

“Hm…?” Looking up, Zandiel saw a familiar, welcome building that put a smile on his face.

“Oh! We’re here already.” Alverion commented. “I wonder if Ylva’s awake.”

Ruki crossed her arms and looked at the Baku Inn, seemingly pondering. She eventually shook her head.

“Well, Siegril might still be.” Alverion said as they walked into the entrance. The four decided to sit down at one of the lobby tables for now.

Zandiel took a moment to take in the environment again. Leonidas wasn’t manning the front desk, but with the scent wafting through the lobby, it wasn’t hard to figure out what he was doing instead. There were a few other guests sitting in the lobby, with two in particular playing a card game, but nothing else of note.

“Welcome back, Ain. We’re glad you’ve recovered…”

Though he was startled for a moment, Zandiel smiled and nodded at the wispy voice in his head.

“Thank you, Folze.”, he thought.

“Leader!” Leonidas loudly shouted from further within the inn. “Leader Ain!”

Zandiel opened his mouth, but really wasn’t prepared to shout as loudly as Leonidas was for the sake of a conversation.

To his fortune, the man himself peered his head from the entrance to the dining hall with a large grin, stained towel in hand. “One has been informed of your return! And your optical enhancement!”

“Y-Yes, I’ve returned! And my eyes are… fine!”

“He is glad to hear of it~!” he said, holding the last syllable as he dove back into the dining hall.

“I’m almost surprised that’s the same man who was cutting enemies down without a word in the woodlands.” Alverion noted with a smile.

Ruki nodded, also amused by his antics.

“Huh...” Kor mumbled. “You know, I hadn’t really thought about it, but, like, what now? I mean— it’s only a little after noon, but Ai just got back, and…”

Everyone was quiet for a moment.

“Well,” Alverion began. “There still hasn’t been much progress on finding new areas in the expedition itself. We also don’t have any missions from Luxes today.”

“Missions?” Zandiel repeated. “From Luxes?”

“Oh! Right!” Kor said. “Sig made some sort of deal with Luxy, I guess. We had to finish going through this place called the Giant’s Ruins yesterday morning with him. It was sooooo exhausting.” Kor draped himself over Zandiel’s right arm as he spoke. “Soooo many monsters…!”

“Ah. That place was similar to the Primitive Jungle, right?”

Ruki nodded.

“Fortunately, it was only one floor.” Alverion stated, crossing his legs and leaning the side of his head on his hand. “But yes, there were a lot of monsters. Weak, but a lot. And we had to fight a strange monster in the end. A Golem.”

“Yeah!” Kor affirmed. “Oooh, Yl was so happy when she remembered she picked up a wanted poster for that thing some weeks ago. We got 1,000 ental from bringing it back to the Wyvern’s Keep!”

Ruki nodded, then signed to Kor.

“Oof, yeah… That Golem was tough—“

He then began to laugh, startling Zandiel as the Brouni clutched his sides.

He and Alverion could only smile as they waited for a translation.

“Ohhh, my gosh, I-I can’t believe I forgot that…!” he said before continuing to laugh.

Alverion’s eye lit up in realization before turning to the confused Zandiel. “I think I know what they’re talking about.”

As it turned out, the Golem was a massive, robotic creature, metal and all. Not far into the battle, they quickly realized physical weapons weren’t all too effective.

This put most of the team at a disadvantage. And at that point, most of the team was already annoyed by the labyrinth’s overabundance of enemies.

Siegril’s knives practically bounced off of it. His enchantments couldn’t even try to stick. Wing’s knife and fangs weren’t faring much better, and neither was Ylva’s spear. Ruki was at least able to damage it with her Air Cutter technique, so it was mainly up to her and Alverion for a time.

“Luxes’ spells were fairly weak.” Alverion noted. “But, in the end, he’s the reason the fight ended the way it did.”

“Oh?” Zandiel said.

As the fight progressed, the guild and Luxes were able to do enough damage to it to have one of its large fingers fall off.

“What happened next is something that Luxes explained to us after the battle. At the time, I think the rest of us were… confused, seeing Ylva in midair.” Alverion clarified.

“Midair?!”

Alverion had a toothy grin on his face. “Why, yes…! Luxes was able to cast a weak wind spell under Ylva that propelled her in the air. Before that, Siegril cast an ice enchantment on one of the Golem’s fallen fingers. Ylva grabbed it before being sent in the air by Luxes, and…”

“Ylva…” Zandiel paused, letting the odd imagery sink in. “Beat it with its own finger.”

Kor broke out into another laughing fit, and Ruki was covering her mouth as she snickered.

Alverion nodded. “She threw it at the Golem. Its finger struck its head, and managed to decapitate it. After that, the fight was practically over.”

It was an amusing scene to imagine. Zandiel smiled, though he felt a bit worried. “Please tell me someone caught her.”

“Luxes’ spell floated her down safely… enough.” he answered. “I was surprised by all the work going on behind the scenes, and a bit disappointed that I served as the distraction.”

As the group reminisced a bit more on the fight and the aftermath, in which Luxes almost reluctantly paid the guild, someone’s shout interrupted them.

“You!”

Everyone turned towards the voice that held a mix of anger and concern.

Tenmaar was standing near the front desk, wearing a similar, yet much simpler version of what he wore to explore. Most of his armor and accessories were gone, but the sash around his waist had gold and silver bells on them that jingled with every step he took towards the guild.

“Uh-oh.” Kor grumbled.

“You…! What the hell, Ain?! You—“ Tenmaar stopped just as suddenly as he’d started. His eyes were wide open in shock as he took a step back.

Zandiel arched an eyebrow. He even looked behind him for a moment, but nothing noteworthy was there. Once he turned back to Tenmaar, he noticed that his ear twitched.

“What happened to your eye?” All the wind had been knocked out of Tenmaar’s sails as he stood up straighter and donned a concerned, contemplative look. His ears had even flattened down.

“…Oh.” Despite everything, Zandiel had already forgotten about his eyes. He figured it helped that no one really questioned it after Siegril told them. It also helped that only people who knew him would have a reaction to this.

Anyone else might just think he’s just someone with Celestrian blood.

“I’m not sure myself.” he answered. “Well, I have an idea, but it’s a long story.”

Tenmaar crossed his arms and walked closer to the group, though his expression didn’t change. “Are you alright?”

Zandiel nodded. “No side-effects that I or the doctor knows of.”

“…Good. Good.” he leaned his head to the side, looking away from everyone. “I’m, uh. It's good you’re alright, then.”

“Thank you! I’m glad to see you’re well, too. I hope I didn’t worry you too much.”

“I…”

Tenmaar blinked once and, just like that, life flared back into his body. He uncrossed his arms and his ears were standing back up, though he had a more annoyed look on his face than anger.

“Actually, you did.” Tenmaar growled. “What the hell?! Do you know how worried I was when your guild told me what’d happened?! I almost thought you’d died!”

Alverion laughed under his breath, just loud enough for everyone to hear.

Tenmaar’s tail twitched before he turned to Alverion. “Something funny?”

“No, just interesting.” he replied. He got out of his chair and levitated over to Tenmaar, adding a spin as he did. “You travel alone, don’t you?”

“Yeah?” he replied, crossing his arms defensively. “So?”

“We talked about you on the way here.” he added nonchalantly.

“What?”

“Alverion.” Zandiel’s voice was stern as he eyed his overly-relaxed guildmate.

“Oh, it wasn’t anything bad.” Alverion lazily waved his hand, now floating behind Tenmaar. “Ain and Kor just seemed to feel down about how much you worry, yet apparently don’t want to join us. Don’t you know the Empyrean Guild has openings?”

“I…” Tenmaar had calmed down somewhat, but still seemed guarded.

“So? Why not join us?” Alverion asked once he floated back to Tenmaar’s front.

“‘Cause, well—”

“Yanno, as a guild member.” Kor clarified. Zandiel and Ruki nodded firmly.

“No!” he shouted.

Ruki arched an eyebrow, then turned to Kor and began to sign.

“Cause it’s easier to do things on my own!” Tenmaar interrupted Kor right before he could open his mouth to translate. Once everyone’s eyes were on him, he glanced away.

Ruki smiled at the revelation, hopped out of her seat and in front of Tenmaar, then began to sign.

“You— Say that again!” the Therian shouted. Despite the threat, he looked more flustered than ever. Though he shot a glare at Ruki, she simply returned the gesture with a smirk and a wink.

“She asked him how being a loner with no friends makes things easier.” Kor translated as he snickered.

“Oh, dear…” Zandiel sighed. “Tenmaar. The last thing I’d want to do is pressure you into joining our guild. However, I worry for you.”

“You…” Tenmaar looked at Zandiel, bewildered as his guard dropped again. His tail lowered completely. “You do?”

“Is that so surprising? Of course I do! You travel alone in these uncharted lands. How could I not?” he asked. “I know you’re strong, or else you wouldn’t have made it this far alone, but must you do it all alone?”

Tenmaar lowered his arms. He looked as if he were stunned into silence.

“Tenmaar?” Zandiel murmured.

He didn’t move for a short while, save for blinking. Eventually, he breathed out, calm and even. He kept his head low and placed his hands on his hips. “Look, I appreciate it. Really, I do. But no. Not yet, at least.”

“Oh. Very well...” Zandiel said. “Just stay safe.”

He initially figured whatever was keeping Tenmaar from joining wasn’t a big issue. Though, it started to seem a bit more important than that. He couldn’t tell if Tenmaar even wanted to travel alone or not…

“Yeah. See ya. Uh, glad you’re better. Really.” he then raised his head with a slight frown. “Now don’t do anything else stupid. You get into any more trouble, you’ll pay, you hear me?”

“Maybe it’d be easier if you joined us~!” Kor sang.

Tenmaar crouched until he reached eye-level with Kor. Then shot him a dangerous glare.

“And trouble might have a hard time staying away from us, given Ain’s heroically brash nature.” Alverion commented.

Zandiel glared at Alverion. “I’m not brash! I—”

He soon looked down, both embarrassed and disappointed. “Well, I… Nevermind.” he quietly added.

“Mhmm…” Alverion hummed.

“Could you guys please not get yourselves killed?” Tenmaar groaned as he stood back up.

“We won’t! Promise!” Kor said. Ruki gave an okay-sign.

Tenmaar paused as he looked at Ruki. He then returned the gesture before heading out of the inn.

“Whew!” Kor said, leaning back and patting his stomach. “All the talking we’ve been doing’s made me hungry. Anyone else?”

“I haven’t actually eaten today.” Zandiel realized as he stood up with Kor in tow. “Shall we?”

“Yes! I’ve been wanting to know what Oni’s been cooking this whole time!”

… … …

As the four ate breakfast together, Ylva and Wing wound up joining. Ylva suggested they could check out the Wyvern’s Keep for any quests, do some gathering and shopping on their own, or take a day off.

After yesterday’s mission, combined with Zandiel finally being discharged today, it was decided that keeping things leisurely would be for the best.

Besides, they were probably down a member for the rest of the day.

“Yeah, Sig said he’d been feeling all sick n’ weird since last night.” Kor noted. “Nausea.”

”Oh…” Zandiel said after finishing his bite. “Wait, since last night?!”

Kor tilted his head. “Yeah? What, is there something wrong with being sick at night?”

“Well… No?” Zandiel answered. “Do you know how he’s doing right now?”

“Nah, but Ru gave him some medicine before we left.” Kor said just before shoving a spoonful of food in his mouth. “Better hope he’s not vommin’ his guts out.”

Zandiel nearly put his fork down as he looked at Kor in disgust. “There’s better times to say things like that than now. While we’re eating.”

“Sorry, sorryyy…!”

Zandiel smiled. “Apology accepted.”

“Well,” Ylva began. “If we’re takin’ the day off, think I’mma head back ta sleep after this.”

From under the table, Wing began to whine into her bowl of food.

Ylva grumbled as she rolled her neck. “Okay, okay, after we go fer a walk.”

Ruki tapped Ylva’s shoulder and gave her a small scrap of paper. “You still sore from yesterday?”

Ylva nodded twice with a small groan. “Way too much runnin’ around those vines ‘n takin’ hits fer y’all. I ain’t built ta take that many hits! Honestly pretty proud ‘a myself fer gettin’ outta bed.”

“Sorry, Ylva.” Alverion said. “I wasn’t expecting to have to guard Luxes as much as I did.”

“No problem…” she sighed before getting back to her food. “‘Least Kor was around to heal me.”

“That was a lotta work for one little Brouni though.” Kor mumbled. “Even though I’m an amazing healer, I wouldn’t mind some healing backup. A…”

Kor cleared his throat and pinched his fingers together, closing his eyes and raising his head. “…protégé, if you will.”

“Actually, that wouldn’t be a bad idea...” Zandiel said. “Well, the other healer, I mean. You’ve been taking on far too much for one person. I’m afraid you’ll overexert yourself if you keep this up.”

At that, Kor startled himself into sitting up and throwing his hands out. “Wait, I mean— No, no, I can handle it, I was just joking!”

Zandiel furrowed his brow in concern… and suspicion.

Contrarily, Kor’s eyes were wide, yet determined. He clenched his fist. “If I’m the only one who can heal, then I’m gonna be the best!”

He then gave Zandiel a double thumbs-up and a wink. “Sooo, don’t worry about it!”

“Hm…” Zandiel decided to shelve that discussion for another time. “Just take advantage of the rest we have for now, please.”

Kor nodded quickly before getting back to his food.

“And, Ylva. If you’d like, I could take Wing for a walk while you rest.”

At the mention of her name, Wing poked her head out from under the table.

“Ooh, really?! That’d be sweet!” Ylva said.

“Of course! You all need to rest. And you got me a present for my extended stay, so it’s only right that I pay you back somehow.”

“Aww, Ain…!” Ylva pressed her hands together and sniffled.

Zandiel smiled. He hadn’t fully realized it until now, but he really missed the feeling of chatting with his guild, especially over a meal.

This guild didn’t just feel like a guild to him, at this point. No one just felt like allies. He had only known them for a few months, but he truly appreciated them. He gladly saw them as friends.

“Wait, present?” Ylva asked, dropping her hands and arching an eyebrow. Zandiel did the same, albeit more confused than contemplative.

“The one you and Siegril put together?” he explained. “Though, I wasn’t expecting him to sneak into my hospital room to—“

“What?!” Ylva shouted, slapping a hand on the table. “Ugh, are you serious?! We had this planned! We had steps in the plan! Presents weren’t supposed ta come yet!”

Ruki patted Ylva’s shoulder, and she slumped over to Ruki in response.

“Plan? This sounds more elaborate than I figured.”

Ylva sighed. “I mean, Lee told me about how y’all planned a lil’ party with the Alliance Guild after beatin’ up Cernunnos. He never knew how ta find ‘em, so he didn’t know what ta do ‘til they all showed up like, last week.”

“We planned a party…?” Zandiel wondered. After defeating Cernunnos?

He gasped as the memory finally resurfaced. “Oh! We did! I’d completely forgotten about that!”

“Yup yup, me too!” Kor said. “But the Alliance Guild came back here after they learned you’d all made it out of the misty place alive. They told us where their guildhouse was in case we ever needed their help! Now we know where to find them if we wanna do a lil’ partying! Heheh!”

“Partying aside,” Zandiel began, “I’d love to pay them a visit one day.”

“Well, we can think about that later.” Ylva said. “Right now I’m thinkin’ I wanna finish eatin’ ‘n go lay back down…”

… … …

Once the guild dispersed from the dining hall, Zandiel found himself in the lobby with Wing. He’d gone into his and Siegril’s room, but the Celestrian was nowhere to be seen. He felt concerned for a moment, given his stomach issues, but Siegril had a habit of going off on his own anyway. Zandiel left it at that as he sorted out what he wanted to bring.

While he did that, he finally realized that something new had been placed in their room.

A long table on the side of Siegril’s bed. It had nothing on it except for a jar, filled with some solution. Zandiel decided to not pry any further than that.

After being told that it didn’t matter where he walked Wing, Zandiel left the inn with her in tow, having a particular destination in mind.

He crouched down to the wolf, who hadn’t been paying attention to him, and attached the leash that he’d been given.

“Do you… know where Expedition HQ is?” he mumbled, unsure of whether Wing really understood him.

She quickly turned her head Zandiel’s direction before barking once and bolting ahead a few steps. Holding on to the leash, Zandiel was forced to half-stand and stumble with her until she stopped. She then looked back and flicked an ear.

“Are you telling me it’s this way?” he asked, managing a small, confused smile as Wing made small hops in place.

“I’ll follow you, but there’s no rush! This is a walk, after all.” he stated before crouching down again to pet Wing on the head. He hoped to calm the rambunctious wolf, but she only whined while he did, and quickly went back to hopping once he stopped.

“…I suppose we could jog?” Zandiel wondered. “Is that what you want?”

With what he assumed to be a cheerful bark in response, the two began their jog through Maginia.

Zandiel let Wing take the lead as he scanned each area they passed through, hoping to memorize the general path himself. He wasn’t sure how often he’d end up at Expedition HQ or the Explorers Guild, but felt it would be best to keep the location in mind.

Especially if he was considering recruiting some help in the healing department.

After jogging, walking, taking breaks, and letting Wing play in a small park for a bit, the two eventually ended up near Expedition HQ’s front door. A few guards were stationed in front of the large door.

“Wait. Oh, dear…” Zandiel murmured as he looked himself over. The clothing he wore was on the casual side, but more importantly, he’d definitely been sweating in it. It was late afternoon by the time they’d gotten here, so the sun was still shining.

“Can I really go in like this? I’m… insufficiently hygenic to speak with someone like Princess Persephone, to say the least!”

As Zandiel began to fret and consider going back to the inn to change clothes, he felt himself being pulled forward by Wing.

“W-Wait, Wing! I don’t know if we should! I’m…! Ill-prepared!”

Despite preferring otherwise, he wound up half-jogging past the guards and pushing the door open. It wasn’t until the door closed behind him that he regained his senses.

Looking around the foyer with cautious eyes, Zandiel spotted a few more guards with their trademark Maginian armor, and adventurers.

The adventurers were dressed in a variety of attire, and said attire was in all sorts of conditions. One adventurer had blood on their armor that dripped onto the carpet when they turned towards someone else. Zandiel grimaced at the sight, but it put some of his concerns at ease. He felt Wing nudge his leg, and he looked down with a smile.

“Right, right. I suppose she isn’t expecting formality from adventurers like us.”

Zandiel asked the guards in front of the meeting room if he could enter, but the princess was currently busy. As it turns out, there were a few scheduled meetings he had to wait in line for.

He took a seat with Wing, hoping things would go by quickly. While he did, he saw a number of people come and go. He couldn’t stop himself from looking at them in curiosity. All sorts of adventurers, and he was one of them. He’d gotten used to the idea of being considered an adventurer for the most part, but being seen as one before being seen as any sort of nobility was still taking some adjusting to.

As he bided his time with Wing, the meeting doors opened and closed several times. Certain groups were called in by the soldiers, until eventually, he was.

Inside the room, Persephone was cleaning up and reorganizing materials from the previous meeting. She raised her head at the sound of a new entrant.

She opened her mouth, but stopped once she took a look at Zandiel.

“Ah, sorry.” Persephone said before returning to her organizing. “You’re Ain, right? Of the Empyrean Guild? I wasn’t expecting you to look… so different.”

“Right…” Zandiel said, placing his fingertips under his visible eye. “It’s not something I can fully explain the cause of, but I am well, fortunately.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Yes, and it’s good to meet you again, Princess Persephone.” he replied with a smile. “Would you like any help?”

“I’ll be fine, but thank you.” she answered. “I’ve heard that you and another member of your guild were part of the group that uncovered a second labyrinth inside the Primitive Jungle. One that resembles the Misty Ravine in the Scarlet Pillars.”

“We did!” Zandiel answered as he decided to step further into the room. “Though, we could not find your missing soldiers. Not alive, at least.”

Persephone nodded with a hum, before putting down a stack of paper. “I’d been informed that a number of bodies were found in that ravine. Though no one else has been able to find a way into it— or the Wyvern that took you there— ever since you all came out. We’ve been looking into it during our standstill.”

“So I’ve heard…” Zandiel murmured. “The expedition has been on hold due to the fog, yes?”

“That’s right. We believe the shrine on the second island has something to do with it, but we’ve only recently found a way in.” she explained as she walked around the tables to stand in front of Zandiel and Wing.

Zandiel gasped as he put the words together, managing to alert Wing. “Did you say shrine? A… second shrine?”

“Hm?” Persephone looked on, goading him to continue.

“That's actually what I was hoping to discuss with you! I wanted to ask if you knew anything about… four shrines, as I’ve heard?”

Persephone’s eyes widened. “As you’ve heard?” she repeated. “Have others been calling these ruins shrines?”

“I overheard a few people talking about shrines somewhere. Possibly in Lemuria. They may have been speaking of something other than these ruins, but it caught my interest...”

Persephone closed her eyes, staying silent.

Zandiel could feel his nerves creeping up on him, but straightened his posture and took a quiet breath. He had to keep himself composed.

The princess opened her eyes, remaining poised, yet with a new focus as she walked by the tables to take a seat. She then directed Zandiel to do the same. Once he sat down, she gave him a small smile.

“Sorry, I was just thinking things over.” she explained. “To start, I only recently learned through research that these ruins were actually shrines in ancient times.”

“Oh…?” Zandiel said.

“These shrines were built by the Lemurians, but their purpose is unknown. From what I understand, there’s four of them in total. Each one was placed in a cardinal direction, and you were the ones to discover the Eastern Shrine.”

Zandiel nodded, curious on where the story was leading.

“I know that the cartographer with you all was the one to discover the ruins first, but do you know if there was any sort of seal that kept her from entering?”

“Hm?” Zandiel thought it over. “No, I don’t believe so. If there was, Ruto didn’t tell us.”

“I see. I’ll assume there wasn’t a seal, for now. If you find Ruto again on your travels, could you tell them to come here?”

“Of course.” Zandiel responded.

“The Eastern Shrine was in a far more ruined state, so I wouldn’t be surprised if nothing was sealed away.” she said, more to herself.

“…Moving on, the second shrine that’s been discovered, the Southern Shrine, had been sealed by some magic or technology. I recently ventured to the shrine itself with a few scholars and soldiers, and was able to undo the seal.”

Zandiel focused on her words. The shrines. Every time he heard of them in this conversation, he felt odd. It was as if something was looming within the word itself.

Shrine…

Shrine…

“Break…” he whispered, so quietly that he hardly heard himself.

…

“Prosperity…” a voice called back.

…

Zandiel’s eyes shot open as he felt a sharp pain in his head. He winced and quickly pressed a hand against it.

“Ain?”

He blinked, stunned at what he’d just felt and heard. The pain receded as quickly as it appeared. He could hear Wing whining and moving frantically below him. He watched as the wolf stood on her hind legs and pawed at Zandiel’s leg, surprisingly gently.

“Sorry, Wing. I don’t know what just happened.” he said, though his head felt muddled as he petted her. As the wolf calmed down, Zandiel looked up with worry and mild exhaustion in his eyes.

“My apologies, Princess Persephone. Please, continue. I’d like to hear more about these shrines, if possible.”

Persephone nodded, though hesitantly.

“I haven’t been able to discover much more, especially since we only learned how to unseal it this morning, though I have theories on what the seals are for.” she explained.

This morning? It seemed the news hadn’t caught up to Alverion and the others yet…

“What are they for?” he wondered.

“…Do you know about the rumored treasure of Lemuria? The one that’s said to bring prosperity to whoever wields it?”

“I’ve heard of it, yes.” he replied. He hadn’t thought much of the treasure, or if he even wanted or needed it, but he was beginning to feel the same way he just had when he thought of the shrines.

Something was calling to him from within those words.

Shrine…

Prosperity.

Ruin.

He stared at Persephone.

“Lemurian...”

“Ain?”

Zandiel blinked.

Once again, he found himself face to face with a concerned Persephone. And once again, Wing was whining under him. He was glad that his head wasn’t hurting again, but it only felt foggier instead.

“What was that about Lemuria?” Persephone asked.

“I’m… I don’t know.” he said as he exhaled. “Apologies. I don’t know why, but I’m feeling somewhat out of it.”

“Hm. Well, that should conclude our meeting, unless you have any more questions. I do have a favor to ask you and your guild, though.”

“Oh?” Zandiel regained as much focus as he could. Or at least tried to look like he had.

“Even though we were able to undo the seal to the entrance, there’s still a heavy fog preventing further travel.” Persephone explained. “And we didn’t investigate the shrine further, as we feel that’s the job of adventurers. I’ve asked others, but I’d also like to ask your guild to aid in the investigation of the shrine. We’re hoping that something in the shrine— another seal, possibly— will get rid of the fog.”

Zandiel nodded along as she explained. “I see… I can’t promise that we’ll immediately be venturing in, but we’d be glad to, once we’re able.” he replied.

“Good.” was Persephone’s answer. “As someone who was a part of the groups who discovered the Eastern Shrine and the Misty Ravine, I admit I’m interested in what else you may discover.”

Zandiel gave the princess a small smile, managing to let a laugh escape as well. “I suppose I have been involved in a few odd discoveries… We’ll do our best to investigate when we have the chance. Until then, Princess Persephone.”

Zandiel stood up and bowed before goading Wing to leave with him.

While he felt wary of the shrines, the idea of advancing the expedition was enough motivation to at least try and investigate.

After all, the sooner the expedition was over, the sooner he could return home.

Or possibly, what was left of it.

Their venture back to the inn was much more leisurely, as Wing took her time and walked instead. Zandiel noticed that she kept looking back at him every once in a while. Each time she did, he smiled and gave her a small wave.

Even if he was exhausted by now, he didn’t want to worry Wing anymore.

It was evening by the time they returned. Leonidas was speaking to a group of adventurers at the front desk, gesturing wildly. The group either seemed amused or equally energetic.

Zandiel wondered what to do with Wing. Before he could think of anything, she sauntered off on her own towards Ylva’s room. He tilted his head, then followed, hoping that Ylva’s solution wasn’t to leave her door open for Wing…

But it turned out that a smaller frame with a flap as its cover had been installed inside of Ylva’s door. Zandiel watched as Wing walked right through it.

“I wonder when that was added…” he murmured.

Though, speaking of Ylva, she may have been onto something with her plans for the day…

Zandiel had gone from feeling restless at the hospital, to feeling exhausted now that he’d actually been out for hours.

Opening the door to their room, he was hit with the light scent of oil, and the sound of something scratching against steel.

He looked over to see his roommate, sitting in front of his new table. He was wearing large gloves and idly polishing a rapier on the table.

Siegril stopped, looked at him, then quickly looked back down.

“…Is your stomach feeling better?” Zandiel asked, pulling a book out of his drawer.

Siegril seemed to focus even more intently on his rapier, scrubbing it with the piece of sandpaper faster than he’d just been.

“Yeah.” he eventually answered.

“Glad to hear it.” Zandiel said after sitting down on his bed. “I heard about your fight with the Golem, so I’m glad you all made it out safely.”

Siegril grimaced. “…Don’t remind me. That place was annoying. We got some money from the monster parts, though. And Luxes gave us some more.”

“How did Luxes get involved with our guild, anyway?”

Siegril scrubbed one final spot of the rapier before carefully wiping it down with a towel.

“I made a deal with him. To help him with labyrinths sometimes.”

“Is that so…?” Zandiel said under his breath. “Why agree to that? N-Not to say he is undeserving, but I wouldn’t have expected you to want to help him so readily.”

Siegril put the rapier on a large towel near his bed.

“He’s… giving me the medicine I need in exchange. He has some.”

“Oh!” Zandiel leaned forward with a smile. “That’s wonderful!”

Siegril was shocked for a moment, but a smile had managed to creep up on his face. “Yeah.”

He leaned over his bed and mildly struggled to pull out whatever weapon he was planning to work on next.

“Er…” Zandiel watched as Siegril let go of the mysterious weapon with a huff and jumped off his bed, careful to not land on any other. He leaned down to grab it instead.

“Do you need help?”

“No…!” Siegril’s voice was quiet yet determined.

After a bit more struggle, and with a final scrape against the wood, the weapon was hefted in the air.

“Wha—“ Zandiel flinched away at the sword that was taller than Siegril.

Taller than him.

Taller than…

Well, not Alverion. But it wasn’t that far off.

“Goodness, that’s… That’s huge!”

“Zweihander…!” Siegril said with a small, proud smile. He let gravity help him nearly throw it on his bed. He breathed out a sigh of relief.

“Two-hundred one centimeters— six-foot-seven, including the hilt. Three-point-eight kilograms heavy. Or eight-point-three pounds. Ceremonial, obviously.”

“I’d certainly hope it’s ceremonial.”

Siegril climbed back onto the bed, managed to get the weapon onto the table, and began cleaning it.

“Anyway, back to Luxes.” Zandiel crossed his arms with a frown. “It would have been better if he didn’t feel the need to make a deal to help you.”

“That’s not how exchanges work.” Siegril replied, a bit of humor in his tone.

Zandiel huffed, though he was feeling similarly amused. “Well excuse me for wishing my friend could get his medicine without caveats!”

Siegril stopped polishing, though he kept both items in hand.

“Huh?”

“Hm?” was Zandiel’s response.

“…Friend.” There was no direct tone to the way Siegril said it. As if he was testing the word out.

“Ah, sorry. You probably don’t, uh, see me as one!” Zandiel said, hoping to keep his lighthearted tone despite the lingering disappointment. “Let’s forget I said that—“

“No, I…” Siegril paused, considering his words. He put down the cloth and sword. Instead, he lightly scraped his fingernail against the blade.

“I do. I wanna be.” he mumbled. “…Friends. Yeah.”

Zandiel smiled.

“I see. I’m glad you feel the same.”

Siegril nodded, letting himself smile a bit more.

Friends with Siegril. It wasn’t something he ever thought would happen the first day they met. Siegril clearly wasn’t expecting it, either.

It was odd to imagine what could have happened if one little thing up to this point had changed.

If Serise hadn’t invaded, Siegril would have tried to assassinate him that night. If he wasn’t alone, or maybe hadn’t gone down that alley the first day in Maginia’s outer section, maybe he wouldn’t have met Siegril.

If he did hold enough resentment for Siegril— if he somehow had it in him to not save Siegril from the Blossombeast, he wasn’t sure what he’d be doing or thinking about, now.

But, none of that happened. And this was the reality made from that.

Zandiel sighed. With nothing else to say, he opened the new book in his hands. It was about a myth he’d never heard of; one that originated in Iorys.

…

Though, as time went on, his eyes began to feel heavy.

It really was an interesting book. He was just exhausted. More than he’d expected himself to feel.

He wouldn’t mind going to sleep right about now…

He wanted to sleep.

No, needed to.

Had to.

…

…

…

“Born of mine own blood…”

Zandiel shuddered at his own voice reciting a somewhat familiar phrase. It was deeper, and spoke each syllable slowly, but he couldn't mistake his own voice.

Opening his eyes, he found himself in a space devoid of anything except for white.

It was a stark contrast to the usual environment for these sorts of dreams.

“You.”

Zandiel raised his head, startled to see the red entity he called his apparition. It was standing a few feet away.

“Thou must awaken me from my slumber.” it spoke almost methodically as it began to walk towards him. “To bring about Prosperity to Lemuria. The world.”

“Prosperity?” Zandiel asked, rising to his feet and taking a step back.

“Desire. Purpose. Reason for being.” the apparition stated. “It hath been to bring Prosperity.”

As it got closer, Zandiel noticed it didn’t have a mouth to speak from. Was it really the one speaking? This was only a dream, so anything was possible, is what he told himself.

Yet it seemed as if the meaning of those words had left his mind. What was a dream, by definition? Was this a dream?

The apparition took one more step, and was only a foot away from Zandiel’s face.

“Humanity would fall to ruin, if nothing were to be done. Would that I could bring about prosperity myself…”

“What?” Zandiel whispered. “What do you mean?!” He swallowed down whatever fear he could as he looked at the apparition. It did not move, flinch, blink, or otherwise.

“Break the seals. Awaken me.” its voice became louder. “Awaken...”

“I…” Considering how much pain the apparition caused him, he didn’t like the idea of ‘awakening’ it. It was a powerful asset, but it didn’t feel right to use.

“I will not consider until you explain what awakening you entails.” Zandiel answered, keeping a focused, determined eye on the apparition. “This power harms me, despite its helpfulness. I can’t just willingly rely on you. …Whatever you are.”

The apparition remained still, and Zandiel did his best to do the same. He didn’t want to back down.

“Awaken.” it said.

The voice began to echo in Zandiel’s mind, louder and louder.

“Huh— Agh!”

“Awaken. Awaken.”

Zandiel covered his ears, gritting his teeth as he kept his eyes on the apparition. He could hear multiple sources, all his own voice, calling to him. “Stop…!”

“Awaken. Awaken…”

Zandiel closed his eyes. His breathing became labored. His heart began to thump loud enough to reach his ears as well.

“You…”

His eyes snapped open.

“Shut the hell up!” he roared, swinging down at the apparition. Before he could even process what he had done— or how— he froze at what he saw.

The apparition had dissipated at his touch, but in its place was a growing, inhuman shadow.

Zandiel shakily gasped as he stared at the silhouette. His ears were still ringing from all the voices in his head. He swallowed, clenched his fists, and slowly turned around.

The most he managed to see was a pale, sandy color from the corner of his eye.

His mind felt like lead, and his body was giving out. He failed to brace himself as he fell down on what was now a red, murky floor.

He kept himself propped up with his arms, but they were straining to support him under the exhaustion.

“Awaken me, Servant of mine Blood, so that I may bring about Prosperity.”

The voice was still his, but it had become a low, monstrous rumble. It shook Zandiel from the inside.

The entity soon entered his blurring vision. The sandy color he recognized from it had returned, but there was a whitish shade as well. Black and purple objects protruded from it as well. Zandiel couldn’t tell what any of it was.

He tried to open his mouth to say something. He tried to look up. He tried to do anything. But he couldn’t manage that as his body fell forward. As it did, red particles of light started to swarm him.

“Break the shrine’s seal.”

He heard one more phrase from far above.

“I entreat thee.”

…

…

…

When Zandiel awoke, he didn’t feel quite groggy.

Not exactly awake or tired.

He didn’t feel much of anything, he thought.

Though, his thoughts felt as if they weren’t at the forefront of his mind.

What was there instead was a deep desire.

He needed to leave.

He looked around. No one else was in the room.

He got out of bed, opened the window…

…and climbed out into the dark, comforting outdoors.

Book I: END

[tiger-moran]

It was one of those books where it felt pointless, where I couldn't find the plot, where it was literally just jumping from one random thing to another. Like what was even the point of the... hunting vampires? Demons? Zombies? What even was that chapter? Something about exorcising a demon or whatever the fuck that was? So she needed the money, but that was it; it didn't need a whole chapter for her to do a one off job to earn some money quickly. What a waste of time that chapter was. And it's like, now she's in England, now she's jumped to Japan, now she's jumped into this book, now she's jumped into this... library... thing? Now she's jumped into a... washing machine instruction manual????? WHAT IS EVEN GOING ON. Also the supposedly main plotline was never resolved in it and it ends on a ~cliffhanger~ but I don't actually give a shit about that being resolved ever since that's about her boring husband who's vaguely more interesting in her memories but had almost no actual character development ever when he was a (supposedly) real person and not just a figment of her imagination.

And her character is just... kind of crap too. Like I said already I liked her in the first book up until the shitty end where she gets married off to the guy with crap characterisation who she has no real chemistry with and then everyone starts going on about her having babies. But now it just feels like through the entire book the author really thinks the way to write a realistic woman is to have her going on and on about her husband and being pregnant, and that's mostly it.

Also multiple times stuff happened that referenced something else that presumably had already happened but I have no memory of that at all (what ring that Miss Havisham gave her? I don't remember any ring. And there was other stuff where I had no idea what it was talking about. I don't know what are plot holes and what is the book being too boring for me to take things in but either way I don't know what was being referred to in it multiple times. Also there are these little things in it sometimes that you think are going to lead to something, but they don't seem to actually ever lead to anything? Like why did her arm hurt suddenly? I don't get it. (I also realised I have absolutely no idea what something during one of the time-jump scenes in the first book was about, I cannot remember at all if the author actually ever bothered to address that or that was just another thing that was left hanging and unresolved.)

Also it's another one of those annoying books where the author keeps constantly name-dropping people and things from other people's books all the time and it just sounds so smug and irritating, like 'look how smart and well-read I am'. And it's supposed to be funny! People were saying it's like Terry Pratchett, it's like Discworld, that's how I found out about this series. But it's just not funny, I think I was mildly amused once in it, with the line about Lord Roxton shooting someone. That was it.

Oh I finally finished the second Thursday Next book by the way

I definitely won't be reading any more of that series

[robininthelabyrinth]

I'm absolutely delighted your prompts are open! Your writing is amazing and always makes me smile, it's the best way to start the day along with a cup of coffee!

Lan Zhan and Wei Ying are given another chance at raising a child after a family is killed leaving only a young child behind. Lan Sizhui is delighted to have a baby sibling. Though everyone is more or less nervous about it (mostly be Wei Ying is a gremlin) but also there isn't any other options.

ao3

“It’ll be fine,” Jiang Cheng said, rolling his eyes. “Hanguang-jun raised Lan Sizhui, didn’t he? And he turned out fine.”

“I did,” Lan Sizhui said agreeably, then frowned. “I think I did, anyway.”

“Not to be a spoilsport, but, realistically speaking, how much raising did Hanguang-jun actually do with you?” Jin Ling asked, and held up his hands when Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi both glared at him. “I don’t mean any offense or anything! I’m serious. We know he was in seclusion those first few years, right? Who raised you then?”

Lan Sizhui thought about it. “Back in the beginning? Well…that was mostly Teacher Lan, I guess.”

“Teacher Lan’s the best,” Lan Jingyi said loyally, then added, “Well, other than that fondness he has for surprise quizzes. But that’s not applicable to parenting, is it?”

Lan Sizhui made a face that suggested that maybe it was, in some weird way, shape, or form.

“Teacher Lan, really?” Jiang Cheng asked, clearly getting drawn in despite his best intentions – as was often the case. There was a reason their little group swung by the Lotus Pier nearly as often as they did the Cloud Recesses and Jinlin Tower, despite Jin Ling not living there part of the year any longer. “Wasn’t he mostly in recovery for those injuries he got during the war? I would’ve figured Zewu-jun would’ve been more involved, wouldn’t he?”

“He was around sometimes, but no, it was mostly Teacher Lan,” Lan Sizhui said. “Zewu-jun was often busy – he was rebuilding the Lan sect –”

“I was rebuilding the Jiang sect! So what? I still raised Jin Ling, and he wasn’t even supposed to be here – I had to fight the Jin sect for months just to get the opportunity – ”

“Yes, jiujiu, we know!” Jin Ling said hastily. “You don’t have to tell that story again! You didn’t have to tell everyone that story in the first place!”

Jiang Cheng huffed. He was probably going to tell the story again whether they liked it or not.

“I think I see what you’re saying, Jin Ling,” Ouyang Zizhen put in, always a good fellow for throwing himself on a conversational sacrificial sword. “If Lan Sizhui was already a few years old when he was adopted, and then Teacher Lan raised him for the next three years, then he would’ve been old enough to be entered into the Cloud Recesses’ official junior classes by the time Hanguang-jun took charge of his education, right?”

“Yes, that’s what I meant, that’s it exactly!”

“What does it matter?” Lan Sizhui asked.

“Yeah! Hanguang-jun still raised him the rest of the way,” Lan Jingyi put in, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring. “Gave him lessons and tips and all that!”

“Isn’t that something he does as a sect senior anyway?”

“Well, yes, but it’s different for Sizhui, okay?”

“I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with that. After all, the person who teaches the most is the same as the parent, and being the person raising them is what matters no matter when they’re adopted,” Jin Ling said, with an eye on Jiang Cheng, who looked begrudgingly pleased. He looked begrudging all the time, though, so it was probably just pleased. “But my point is – once you were part of the lessons, even if he was raising you the rest of the time, you still already mostly had your personality down by then, right? We’ve never seen what someone raised entirely by Hanguang-jun from birth would be like.”

They all stopped to consider that.

“More than that,” Jin Ling continued. “This kid’ll be raised not just by Hanguang-jun, but by Hanguang-jun as he is now – after he and Senior Wei got together. You know?”

They did know.

“And of course, that’s all putting aside that the kid will be raised by Senior Wei himself, too…”

“Maybe we should start investing in defense talismans,” Jiang Cheng mused. “Because everything is going to explode. Everything.”

-

“Everything will not explode,” Lan Wangji said calmly.

“Are you sure?” Wei Wuxian asked. “Because I’m not sure, and I’m more likely to be involved in these hypothetical explosions than you are.”

“Mm. I’m certain.”

“But…”

“Wei Ying will be an excellent father,” Lan Wangji said, and his voice left no room for doubt.

“It’s easy for you to say,” Wei Wuxian whined, though he was smiling now. “You already have the experience of it! They say that it’s easier the second time, when you know what to expect…”

“Do not tell lies,” Lan Qiren said mildly. He was looking over some of Wei Wuxian’s notes – he’d insisted on any new inventions passing through a sanctioned approval process before they were put into practice and had volunteered himself to review them, a matter that had caused Wei Wuxian no end of stress until he realized that Lan Qiren really did intend to approve anything that met his standards and, moreover, understood musical cultivation enough to understand what he was driving at with most of them, even the esoteric ones, at which point Wei Wuxian gotten extremely enthusiastic about the whole thing.

This didn’t mean that they were friends or anything, but they’d at least formed some sort of tentative truce.

Most of the time, anyway.

Wei Wuxian squinted at his old teacher suspiciously. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying that it’s not easier the second time?”

“I am only saying that I have experience in raising a child not my own,” Lan Qiren pointed out, and Wei Wuxian nodded, slightly abashed; he knew that the old man had basically raised Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen, of course, although sometimes he forgot. “The first child I raised was Xichen and his personality as a child was much as it was as an adult: gentle, amiable, friendly, obedient.”

That made sense. Wei Wuxian nodded.

“The second child I raised was Wangji,” Lan Qiren said. “He bit people.”

Wei Wuxian burst out laughing.

Lan Wangj virtuously ignored them both, continuing to write a letter without the slightest hint of embarrassment – even his ears hadn’t turned red. What a shame!

“I can testify to that myself,” Wei Wuxian giggled, leering at his husband in the hopes of getting a rise out of him. “He’s still a biter – for certain lucky people.”

“He was a lot less discriminating when he was younger,” Lan Qiren said, and Wei Wuxian winced, abruptly remembering that Lan Wangji’s uncle was, in fact, still in the room. Luckily it was pretty easy to flirt around Lan Qiren, who didn’t seem to notice most of the time, but it was still a bit awkward. “And I once succumbed to temptation and gave him mixed messages, which I believe made it worse.”

That sounded like a story.

“He gave me a candy after I bit Sect Leader Jin,” Lan Wangji clarified, which made Wei Wuxian start laughing again. “He did not expect me to remember. I remembered. Nor did I allow him to forget about it.”

“It is easy to make mistakes while raising a child,” Lan Qiren said, ignoring Wei Wuxian’s cackling. “But if one means well, and tries hard to do the right thing, children are very forgiving – usually.”

Despite his best efforts to remain neutral, Lan Wangji’s eyes curved slightly in a smile. Wei Wuxian felt his heart go all warm and melty all over again.

“This is true regardless of whether it is the first or second child,” Lan Qiren added. “I have confidence that you will both do fine.”

“We will,” Wei Wuxian proclaimed. “With parents like me and Lan Zhan, how could the kid go wrong? And we’ll even try to avoid too many explosions!”

“Please do. One Lan Jingyi is enough for the Cloud Recesses.”

“You know, I was wondering – how did you end up with him being quite so…hmm…”

“Oh?” Lan Qiren said, and Wei Wuxian noted to his amusement that Lan Wangji straightened in back in sudden alarm despite Lan Qiren’s extremely nonchalant tone. “Have you not met Lan Yueheng yet? I must introduce you when he returns –”

“Perhaps not,” Lan Wangji said, sounding a little worried.

Worried, in this case, meant fun.

“No, I think I definitely need to meet this person – Lan Zhan, stop batting at me! I know exactly what I’m doing…”

-

Wen Ning looked down at the baby with which he had been entrusted.

“I don’t have any idea what I’m doing,” he confessed.

The baby gurgled.

“I think Wei-gongzi may have been thinking more about ‘babysitter that doesn’t need to sleep and has inexhaustible energy’ and less about ‘is this person qualified to take care of a baby’.”

More gurgling.

“I just wanted to apologize in advance.”

The baby yawned.

“…right then.” Wen Ning straightened up. Someone was going to have to raise this child, and based on how distractable Wei Wuxian was when he was around Lan Wangji and visa versa, it looked like it was going to have to be him. “Let’s do this.”

[antimonyandthyme]

Another Word for Freefall

1k, Mick Schumacher/Sebastian Vettel

Explicit (this is just porn)

A twist of his wrist allowed for a sharper angle. The groan Sebastian let out was quiet but guttural. Sebastian’s self-restraint was a delightful thing to fracture when given over so readily. He stilled his fingers where they were searching deep in Sebastian, and Sebastian’s hips stuttered.

“You’re being a tease today.” Sebastian’s swollen lips have pulled into a pout, and he looked endearingly impatient. “Won’t you fuck me already?”

“I quite like you where you are at the moment,” Mick said mildly. “Won’t you let me look at you, just a little more?”

It was something to witness Sebastian on the receiving end of praise. The way he curled up at it, vacillating between hoarding it and shying away. Mick loved looking at him like that. He loved looking at him every which way.

Sebastian, for all his face was a furious red, wasn’t above being a petulant brat. “You can look at me if you let me ride you.”

“There’s an idea,” Mick said, and Sebastian blinked. He wasn’t expecting to win that one so easily, Mick could tell. Mick smiled, sliding his fingers out of Sebastian deliberately. “On one condition.”

Sebastian whimpered, clenching around air. He clutched at Mick and nodded. Sometimes it still felt too much, the extent to which Sebastian chose to place his trust in Mick’s palms. Not a crutch—never, nothing about Sebastian was—but weighty, like a cloak upon a king’s shoulders. He was so easy like this, he bent so willingly to Mick’s requests.

“You go at my pace, alright?”

Sebastian’s expression shifted with understanding. “So you’re still being a tease,” he complained.

Mick giggled as he rolled over, watching with amusement as Sebastian clambered on top with all the rough-and-tumble eagerness of a puppy. It should’ve looked awkward. All it did was get Mick harder. “I haven’t even said anything yet.”

“You’ll tell me to go slow,” Sebastian sighed. “I already know it.”

“I might surprise you yet.” He handed Sebastian the lube. “Come on, then.”

Sebastian didn’t waste any time, working the lube in his hands to warm it up and slicking Mick thoroughly. He wrapped his fingers around Mick’s cock, giving him a cheeky tug.

Mick huffed, and fought the urge to chase Sebastian’s touch. “Seb,” he warned.

“Sorry,” Sebastian said, not sounding very sorry at all. He pressed a kiss to the tip of Mick’s cock blithely. Then he placed both palms on Mick’s chest for leverage, aligning himself and sinking down with a haste that seemed unwise, even with how thoroughly Mick had prepped him. Mick barely had a moment to anticipate Sebastian’s next move, before Sebastian rocked down feverishly to take him all.

There was a thoughtless part of him that crowed with triumph at how much Sebastian desired him. Mick squashed that down determinedly. “Sebastian,” Mick chided, a hint of sternness lacing his tone. He dug his fingers around Sebastian’s hips to still him. “Not like that.”

Sebastian whined, but stopped instantly. “I want you,” he pleaded, like it hurt not to have Mick fully inside him.

“I know,” Mick said, strained. Every muscle of his longed to thrust up. “But I want you to go easy.”

“I can take it,” Sebastian said stubbornly, bottom lip jutting out.

“I’m looking for more than blind endurance here,” Mick said. “Can you do that for me, baby?”

He knew—when he asked for it like that, Sebastian would do anything. It was in the way Sebastian squeezed him tight, like an acknowledgement, and slowed his movements down to a smooth glide.

“That’s it,” Mick said, because Sebastian deserved to hear the praise. “You take me so well.”

Sebastian bit his lip and flushed darker. He rose up, inch by torturous inch, thighs flexing beautifully, and lowered himself in a breathtaking display of obedience. Up and down, again and again, even and measured. Mick could barely breathe. The clasp of Sebastian’s body around him was maddening, but he kept himself still in an equal show of control. As Sebastian sank back down once more, Mick made him stop entirely, such that Sebastian could only sit there, completely arrested.  

“Mick,” Sebastian gasped. His breath was coming in short bursts, like he had just completed seventy rounds in Spa. He squirmed on Mick’s cock, desperation writ into every line of his body. “Mick, please.”

Mick shook his head. “Not just yet.”

Sebastian made a helpless noise of frustration, but obeyed, thighs twitching about Mick’s hips.

“You’re so good,” Mick crooned, thumbs rubbing soothing circles around Sebastian’s hipbones. He realized he hadn’t touched Sebastian’s cock once. “Come here, Seb.” He craned forwards, and Sebastian bent down and caught his lips like a drowning man. Sebastian kissed him deeply, thoroughly, with the kind of intention that suffused Mick with enough warmth to carry him through the coldest of days.

Dazedly, a foolish thought occurred: The world could be ending and I’d still choose to be here.

He kissed Sebastian over and over, and hoped he could convey some of the sentiment through touch. Sebastian stroked his hands through Mick’s hair. When they finally broke away, he whispered, soft and adoring, “Mick.”

That was his undoing. Mick tipped his face up, and bumped their noses together. It felt like they were joined at every part. Sebastian’s eyelashes fluttered wetly against his cheek, and Mick said, “Go ahead, darling.”

Sebastian’s back arched as he began to ride Mick with abandon. It was a sight Mick wished he could burn into the back of his brain. The muscles in Sebastian’s thighs drew taut, and he threw his head back, jaw slack with pleasure. His cock dribbled precome, and Mick ran his knuckles along the underside gently.

“Oh,” Sebastian sobbed. “Mick, Mick.”

Mick wrapped his hand around Sebastian’s cock and began to stroke in earnest. His own pleasure was building like a rainstorm behind a dam. Mick let it swell and overtake him entirely as he thrust up, and Sebastian met him with vigorous relief, until Sebastian threw his arms around him, clenched down blindingly hard and came, spilling hot and slick all over Mick’s fingers. And tugging Mick right over the edge alongside him.

Sebastian slumped over and refused to let go. He was a heaving, sticky human blanket. Mick pet his hair indulgently, by now accustomed to Sebastian’s cuddling tendencies. His softening cock was still buried in Sebastian’s arse. Sebastian didn’t seem to mind. Separating was a concern neither of them had the capacity for at the moment.

“What was that about going slow?” Mick mumbled.

He felt rather than saw Sebastian smile, right against his neck. His skin tingled at the sharp imprint of teeth, and Mick relished in the mark Sebastian would leave. “Surprise,” Sebastian said.

[cebwrites]

CEVVV buddy ol pal. this request might be a little odd, but may I request headcanons on how Katakuri and Law might interact with or think of each other?

(and to be clear, i dont mean in a shippy way. perhaps with Kirin/Rio as the reason they meet?)

*evilly responds to this*

MEWWW you're making my brain rattle!!! my silly little thinking cogs turning for our silly little scrunklies kissing maren on the cheek for your brain muah muah ily 💖💕

as an aside i also found out that locomotives are sometimes called iron horses while looking stuff up for this and that’s so 🥺😭😭💖

thoughts on each other (Katakuri and Law)

gen, he/they law, oc x canon word count: 0.9k

Ah yes, another worst gen supernova on Kat’s lawn askdnfkslhf

Rio talked about a lot of things in their little moments of peace together, about his time with the rev army, the people he met long his travels, his captain; Kata was one of the only people he could vent to in his little canary cage, after all - Law and his crew were thrown in here and there

So going into it, he has some idea of what kind of person Law is, even if through Rio’s (correct) dweeb accusations and vague threats of what he’d do to him if that “punk” hurt his captain while he was gone

Actually meeting though, given that they’re not in a life or dead situation, it might be a little awkward - namely because I’m not sure if they’d have that many overlaps in interests

Both their personalities, or at least what they pretend is their personalities to the general public, lean into the “cool, stoic” types that brood in the corner away from anything fun, so I’m thinking any early interaction they’d have would probably fall into that

Law doesn’t think much of Kata at first, or rather not a lot about him, like “oh, another one ally from Kiri-ya’s side, ok”

Is Law surprised at all that Luffy also had something to do with fundamentally helping changing the viewpoints of someone who could once be considered an enemy to them? No, are they still mildly amused and god forbid they’d ever admit it to anyone proud? Yeah, maybe a little 

They’re both powerful pirates in their own rites with fearsome reputations but aside from that what are they gonna talk about, the weather? Lmao with what social skills

Once they’re a little more comfortable around each other though, probably with Kirin to break the ice or Rio picking a fight with Law that gradually fizzles into a regular chat because they’re both great greasing the conversation I can see them having small talks here and there

It’s nothing big and never lasts too long but it’s a start, eventually they’d talk about just things on their mind, inconsequential stuff that doesn’t matter but it feels nice to air out anyway, and sometimes it’s just nice sitting in silence next to one another knowing that there’s no pressure to have to talk, that just each other’s company is enough

I’m thinking of when we talked about Katakuri building/running little model trains and god Law and Kata would go HARD for their hyperfixations

They take turns explaining things at first, but once something gets the ball rolling on Law’s Sora lore (literally just mentioning it) or Kat’s little steam engines (back and forth questions make him SO happy that someone’s listening in and taking note of his interests) - they kind of end up talking over each other at times and circling back to different branches of ideas because they’re going on so many tangents because they’re so excited to infodump to someone who’s actively and enthusiastically participating

You know they’re 100% combining interests and coming up with pages worth of additional Sora lore on how trains were actually a huge part of that lil comic world because they were funded by Germa to privately transport eeeevil supplies and now there’s an entire arc dedicated to it in Law’s canon for it

For a gift exchange once Kata gave Law a wooden model train painted with the Germa 66 colors and Law give Kat a teddy (Katakuri sized, so it was like as tall as them) dressed as a little train conductor, both handmade, they then both proceeded not to feel anything at all like “real, manly men” were supposed to

(Law was faced down on his bed for an hour and Katakuri was hesitant at first but once he held Mr. Walter Puffington III, Rio had to convince him to put the plush away after two consecutive nights in a row of being the third wheel to it when he went to bed)

Lastly I absolutely do not think that these two can smile on command, like if they’re put on the spot, leaning more to Kata’s end but also looking at Law’s first bounty poster?? Hello sir why do you look evil????

They try, they really do, but more often than not it kind of just looks a little stiff if not uncomfortable for them to hold their faces in that position; Kirin and Rio still absolutely adore them either way, Rio’s kissing all over Kata’s face and his teefies, and Kirin’s got Law in a vice, laughing and smooching all over his ‘adorable’ mushroom while Law tries to fight his way out, conveniently forgetting that he has the ability to shambles away

Plus, all this means is that when Kata and Law do smile without realizing that they are, and it’s sweet and endearing even if a little awkward sometimes and god damn it Kirin and Rio are on the floor (internally, for the latter, he has some reputation to keep up, after all Kirin’s just a gay bitch in love)

Bonus:

I think Law would (secretly) find Maren’s style cool and if those two had to do their own things in the same room together they’d be able to vibe in the silence for a while like he/they bitches do but for the love of god once Maren opens his mouth with teasing intent it’s all over Law’s spending at least an hour faced down in Kirin tiddy to decompress and recharge, no bully them he’s trying their best >:’c

[ballorawan740]

SCP Scenarios: SCP x Fem!Child!Hybrid!Reader

Main Masterlist | SCP Scenarios Masterlist | My Works Masterlist | Rules | Request | Socials | My Original Post

Requested by: @nightfoxyycats

I'm so sorry this took longer than expected T_T

(Yes Ik it's longer than the others I do, and that's cuz I usually end up mixing the headcanons into drabbles/one-shots, but this time, I kept it as bullet points and I got carried away. Oops. And yes, it's easier to write headcanons this way but it'll end up being long af)

When Cain first met you, he overheard and was curious about this new SCP during a test, so he decided to come and watch, from afar of course.

When Cain first met you, he overheard and was curious about this new SCP during a test, so he decided to come and watch, from afar of course.

Anyways, the little test was just a plain and boring one and little (Y/N) was taken back to her containment cell after 10 minutes. Cain had requested to see you as he remembered seeing in your file that you can breathe fire and cry lava among other things due to your dragon abilities.

It's not like he didn't believe them since he's been in the foundation for many years, but he was just curious about a hybrid child like you and wanted to see if you were doing well. You being a shy child was quiet at first and when Cain went to visit you every so often, you both became close and he was a father figure to you, even though you were abandoned by your father since birth and your mother died not long later.

He took good care of you and made sure you were well fed. You were rather polite to the guards and staff so Cain wouldn't need to worry too much about you intentionally killing them. But only for a short period of time as who knows what you'll be like when you're older.

Luckily for Cain, you were also carnivorous, so he didn't have to worry about you eating your 5 a day (not that you wanted to anyways you ungrateful meat-eating child).

Whenever there's a containment breach, the first thing he does is to look for you

Aside from some side effects, he isn't worried too much as he wouldn't receive any wounds anyways so hell just charge towards anyone who looks/sound like you

He's basically your new dad ok?

SCP 076 (Abel)

Abel first came into contact with you during a containment breach

He just saw you casually flying around and occasionally lending the guards a hand by breathing fire just to burn some holes for easier access (how professional)

He saw you again moments later when you were alone and you decided to approach this hulk of a man to ask for some help, thinking he worked there. Abel had abandoned you (like your hopes and dreams left you a millennium years ago) but you insisted on going with him so he took you in

Later his rage in the facility had vanished as he had cared for you for the short period of time he had met you and handed you over to the guards, much to their surprise

He then ran away as he's not totally scared of kids or anything and hid in his box

You insisted on visiting 076-2 and so the researchers did, realising much later that you both had bonded. Abel was a parental figure to you.

A very overbearing protective guardian I must say.

Even more so when there's a containment breach

Like imagine 610 and 682 mashed up together to form an extremely hostile entity and that's Abel for you

But that's only if you were hurt, if you weren't or fit was just a normal containment breach, had be extremely worried

SCP 049 (Plague Doctor) (Guy's pls don't be mistaken, I don't have any beef with 049 ok? XD If I make any characters a little OC then 049 will gladly rid the pestilence from you without consent)

This sassy MF so-called doctor right here met you when for some reason, the doctors had decided to put you both into a testing room (no, it wasn't Bright's idea).

049 was just doing his thing as you just sat on a really high chair (cuz you do be short so ofc you wouldn't be sitting on a lower chair which is lower than your taste in men/women) and watched curiously. The doctor thought it was somewhat cute and laughed slightly from your curiosity.

Sensing that you didn't have the pestilence, he allowed you to scooch closer just to see. After the test was done, the guards took you back out with slight aggression, but you, for some reason, were still polite to the guards despite their aggression which made 049's heart swell due to your pureness.

You yawned slightly and accidentally blew out fire from your mouth which almost caused a containment breach if it weren't for 049's quick thinking

Later on, the researchers had decided to put you both in the testing room again, and you both began to bond as 049 requested you to burn the bodies he performed surgery on

Needless to say, you both had a great time and the researchers were mildly amused

If you somehow knew another friend (*ahem* 035), he'd probs ask him/her to care/loof for you if there were a containment breach

Or he would just sigh and look after you himself if you were closer to 035 and he asked so nicely

SCP 035 (Possessive Mask) (Right about 049 being sassy.... I'll take that back, 035 is the sassiest, right next to a certain sculpture in the foundation)

Anyhow, 035 was actually the reason you were stuck in the foundation anyways

God knows how, but you met this guy wearing this theatre mask and you ended up here in the foundation

Now everyone thought you were either a Keter or Euclid

I mean, you were so close to being put into the Euclid class but ended up in safe since you were so polite to the researchers as well as shy and relatively easy to contain... For now

Whenever they used you in a test, you were rewarded with whatever you wanted, within reason ofc, whenever you behaved well which was like 98% of the time minus minor accidents since you weren't entirely in control of your powers

Sometimes instead of a reward, you'd request to see 035 as he would perform to you and that was only granted when its safe to do so and when that hideous mask would do as he/she/it is told

035 would be that somewhat overprotective yet goofy uncle that everyone loved and he was totally wrapped around your fingers unless you were hurt or if he urgently needed something or someone

If there was a containment breach, he'd look for you, if not he'll call out his 'friend' to look out for you (*cough* 049 *cough*)

When 035 finds you, he'd most likely ask you to fly around to see the nearest exit or he'd just carry you when there's someone chasing you

If 035 were to kill anyone, you'd cry and tell him no to which did end up in burning the floor but oh wells, they're rich enough to contain him so why not use the extra money to rebuild the floor right?

Anyways, 035 loves you no matter what and he'd do anything to make sure you're doing well

SCP 999 (Tickle Monster)

Ok so, when you and 999 first met each other, you were kind of just wandering around the facility minding your own business

999 just casually slithered up to your leg and offered you some sweets and a hug since you looked upset and so you accepted it

You both found a place to sit and just talk bout stuff and what life was like before you were captured

But you were cheery just like 999 and rarely attacked anyone, and if you ever did, it was either that you were hella pissed or you accidentally breathed fire/teared up some lava which burnt some stuff

The researchers would secretly take in some notes bout your interactions and just continued on with their day and left you both alone, but would sometimes keep a stern eye on you

They say it's for everyone's safety, and that's true to an extent, but the main reason they do it is to monitor your progress of you controlling your powers

Anyways, sometimes when it gets busy in the cafe or down the hallway, you just fly across the room, and sometimes, you'll be extra cheeky and play hide and seek with the researchers

999 would occasionally join in but he's more like a worried older brother to you

During containment breaches, 999 would run around looking for you and when he did, he would check if you had any injuries

When you say you didn't, he was relieved but not for long since you mentioned bout making new SCP friends and he just died right there and then (not really)

SCP 682 (Hard to Destroy Reptile)

Similarly to Able, he'd be wary of you at first

Like, he can sense that you weren't just an ordinary child when you just appeared behind him

He was somewhat irritated when you followed him around, but you reminded him of 053, so he just let it slide and let you show some affection towards him

It's not like he didn't like it, he was just embarrassed

Anyhow, the researchers wanted to test how 682 would bond with you, so they made you meet up with him again but in his cell

You were both chatting like father and daughter and soon, everyone had found out that not only could you fly, you could also cry lava, which yes did burn a small hole on the ground and you could somehow breathe fire

You were also immune to the fire and lava so they decided to have a full-on body check and discovered that you were built similar to the komodo dragon with a side of 682 (XD Don't ask)

682 was left stunned, but luckily he didn't feel the need to run up the wall like that bunny

Like who tf invented a self-eating bunny?

Anyways, research shows that just like Abel, the giant lizard was very protective of you

The theory has it that you were somehow related to the lizard, perhaps he laid an egg before containment and some guy took it in and froze it then decided to hatch the egg

During containment breaches, he would basically rampage around the facility, killing anyone and everyone until he found you

And when he did, he would check on you like the amazing father he is and then carry on killing but was then stopped by you

So he would just carry you around until you fell asleep

SCP 105 (Iris)

I think Iris would be a good mother/sister figure when it comes to kids

It kinda came from the fact that Iris hangs out with Abel and Cain a lot, so it kinda just rubs off her

Her motherly/sisterly instinct just heightened when she first found you on a mission and she just took you in

It took a while to bribe the foundation that she kinda had custody

Not exactly custody, but she had a say when it came to your safety, especially the fact that you weren't exactly human and your appearance would cause a disturbance to others

I feel like Iris would be a stern yet kind guardian towards you, leaning towards the stern part since you're a child SCP and has fire breath and lava tears

Iris wouldn't be entirely bothered by you flying around, but she had to bribe the researchers and some SCPs to help you fly better

She would murder anyone who had to cry because they made you cry and cleaning up after your tears is such a mess considering that you have little control over them

Your fire breath on the other hand is slightly more controllable, but if you were hella happy or mad you'd breathe the fire and burn anyone/anything

Most of the time, its unintentional and you're usually sweet and kind towards anyone, so manners aren't a big thing for Iris to teach you

She'd even teach you some of the stuff she learnt/discovered and you'd just sit there being nosy and curious about everything

Like that one time, you almost caused a breach cus you were so curious and friendly that 682 was about to snap off your head and rampage out of the foundation

And don't even get me started with the brothers and 096, OML

Other than that, you both were like a family you never had :,) (You're welcome!!!)

During containment breaches, Iris would literally pick you up and run

Unless you weren't with her for whatever reason (Yes, you're attached to each other's hips... Don't lie, you love it!), she'd do anything to find you

If you were hurt, shed tend to your injuries immediately and lecture you about safety

If you weren't hurt, shed still give you a lecture, then pick you up and run

If you made friends on the way, she may or may not approve and bite of anyone head

And the foundation wouldn't want an Angry!Iris around

SCP 106 (Old Man)

This old man here is basically the definition of a cool uncle/granddad

Without a doubt, he'd go into his pocket dimension and comes back with a teddy bear or some sweets

He'd spoil you a lot and the foundation had enough of this cuz by the time you become an adult, you wouldn't be independent enough

Anyways, 106 would let you go into his dimension and practice your abilities there for the safety of others

The researchers would occasionally ask you to carry a camera with you just so they know what it's like in his pocket dimension

106 rarely gets mad, and even if he was, it'll be about someone trying to hurt you since you're too kind and shy to make him mad

You're even kind to the researchers and guards which is worrying to 106 as they might take advantage of your kindness (which may be true for some, but most of them are just glad you're kind since it makes their jobs so much easier)

Sometimes, you'd make things levitate which was a shock to anyone who walked by and witnessed this

But only for a few seconds though, so it's not much

106 would encourage you to use your telekineses and he'd attempt to train you

Which didn't work so well, so that sucks

During containment breaches, he'd use his pocket dimension to his advantage

He'd hide you in there just so you don't have to get hurt

If you weren't there with him, he'd kill and hunt down anyone who might know where you are

He'd make sure you weren't hurt otherwise he would go into scary uncle mode

If you weren't hurt, he would just hug you which stops you from crying lava

SCP 096 (Shy Guy)

Now what makes you and 096 a unique pairing is that you're both shy

The only difference is that you can speak but 096 kinda doesn't

But that's not a problem since you both just understood each other since day 1

I'd say 096 is that introverted uncle/cousin but he's kinda chill and sweet with you

As for containment breaches, the only difference with this tall guy is that not only will he kill anyone who sees his face, he'd also hunt down anyone who'd hurt you

096 has a newfound ability for this and the researchers were shocked when they first found out

A certain chainsaw loving doctor wanted to test it out himself but was stopped rather quickly by the other researchers

Anyways, one time you almost burnt down the foundation because 096 crept up behind you which scared you to tears

And you screamed as well which didn't help at all since you could breathe fire

Also, when you're not with 096, you'd use your levitating powers to grab lighter objects which did result in the objects falling onto your head

And this is why you need to train more, so then objects wouldn't be yeeted onto your tiny head and knock the nonexistent brain cells out of your nonexistent brain - Sorry not sorry (Ok so at least pretend to laugh)

If anyone bullied you and you didn't say a word, 096 would know and even if you tried to stop him, it wouldn't work

Unless you're in a life-threatening situation, but even then, he'd kill the guy

Dr. Simon Glass

Unlike the others on the list, you're the one who approached the doctor

Mainly because you were lost, but you were curious as well

Simon would probably be the best person to run into, other than Kondraki, but still

It's because he's a psychologist and still very much human (I mean, Kondraki's a normal human I guess, but he has those butterfly thingys)

Anyways, when he first saw you, you were in his office flying about and crying lava

Simon saw you and was shocked but attempted to calm you down and get you you sit with him for a bit, then call the others

But boy did that not work out, because this poor innocent boi was boutta get killed by your firey breath cuz he startled you too much

Bright, Kondraki and Clef just strolled in and saw the mess and even attempted to get you to chill, but this didn't work either

So poor Simon Glass had to find his way to get you to stop being so scared which obviously worked

You sat down with him and he let you doodle on a blank piece of paper

And being a good psychologist he is, he used psychological methods to get you to feel comfortable and to start talking to which you did

You were so polite he gave it to a chocolate bar, but instead of taking it off his hands, you used your telekineses to levitate it in your direction

Simon recorded what he had seen before letting the other researchers take you and offered to take you under his wing on the condition that you were you have a check-up every now and again

That wasn't much of a problem since you were so polite and chill - Usually

During containment breaches, he would make sure that you were safe first and it wasn't so difficult to deal with you since you were with him most of the time

When you're not with him, he'd be extremely worried like a mother hen and run in any direction that would take him to you

He'd be relieved to see you and if you were hurt, he'd bandage you up and try to not cry

If you've made new friends, he would be very happy about it - Unless it's a Keter or Euclid class

They'll be on his watchlist

Anyhow, Simon Glass is basically your mother and mentor

He'd teach you all the basics you'll need and help train you if he can (he'd most likely have to ask the other doctors and SCPs with some bribery)

Dr. Jack Bright

Our favourite doctor here would be that goofy uncle/dad

I feel that he'd sympathise with you since he's also an SCP (sorta) and he feels kind of trapped in the foundation

If you're lucky enough, Jack might be able to take you out for an hour for some fresh air

You'll automatically be under his wing and nobody will ever question it. Ever.

Although he may be goofy and does stupid things, he would be surprisingly protective and his fatherly instincts kick in right away since he first met you

He would allow you to use your powers to an extent and teach you how to use your power properly

You are well aware of his anomalous abilities with his neckless, so whenever Bright had to change bodies, you'd automatically know where he is (other than the obvious neckless thingy)

If there were to have a containment breach, Bright would panic but quickly become calm as that's the only way he could find you and keep you safe

When he finds you he would give you that lecture while finding any scratches on you

If you were to grow, he would give most guys the dad glare of the century and all those guys would run tf away cuz nobody messes with Bright's newfound daughter

I have high doubts that he would let anyone do tests with you when he's not there and even if he was, they would need his approval, so most of the time, you don't even need to worry much

Dr. Alto Clef

(OML Why do I keep adding new characters?! There's so much to write T_T)

Right, so when Clef found you, it was like as if his long lost (well... not so lost) memory came back to him

For some reason, you reminded him of 166 (OML I'm so lost for this SCP, like boi she had a rewrite)

So he took you in the foundation like he did with his daughter and took care of you Since he works for the foundation, he's not remotely terrified or anything, but he's curious about your abilities

And of course, you managed to use some of your abilities because of some SCPs and Bright Clef took you to meet 166 and you both showed your abilities and since 166 is older than you, she's probably trying to help you control your powers more

Which, of course, makes Clef a proud dad

If there were any containment breaches, he'd panicked but once he found you with his other daughter, he was relieved

166 made sure that you weren't hurt and if you were, you'd be bandaged up so Clef doesn't have to worry too much

Anyhow, if Clef decides to introduce you to the tiger doctors, he'd make sure Glass is the first since he's the most sensible person (but let's face it, he wouldn't admit it)

Then it'll be Iceberg, Coggs (that's his name right), Light and a couple others Bright and Kondraki would be last since they would be somewhat chaotic (mainly Bright) even though they're the fun uncle

Whenever Clef has a mission, he'd shove you to either 166 or Glass, if he's free, if not then it'll most likely be Light (and if she's also busy, then yall screwed)

And bless the guy who takes an interest in you when you become a teen cuz our messy boi would make sure that guy would suffer

Dr. Benjamin Kondraki

Ok let's face it, Kondraki would definitely be the mother hen of the dad world in the SCP Foundation

He's literally your mother, kinda like Glass but kinda not, ya know what I'm saying?

Like he'll feed your curiosity since many people around you wouldn't and you're an SCP so you're trapped in the foundation anyways

I'd say he's quite cautious and caring, obviously, but if he's out and about, he'd definitely let you go with him

Unless he's going out for a mission, then that's a definite no-no

He would let you hang out with the safer SCPs like 999 and maybe 166 if Clef is chill, but he has to let you hang out with her cuz she's the only other SCP who could help you get a grasp with your powers

Like how to not burn the bloody floor when you cry and stop breathing fire inconsistently by accident

An attempt was made when they try to train your telekineses but they'll have to wait till you're older

Since most of the time you're stuck with Kondraki, I don't think he'd be all too worried bout breaches, of course, he'd be worried about your safety, but you're there with him

If not then god knows what Kondraki would do

Like that one time, he begged Clef and Bright to look for you in which they did but then they made him do something for them in return

Let's just say, it wasn't pleasant at all, but it could be worse since Clef had a shred of sympathy left for the man and Bright just wanted chainsaws

[fangirling-is-my-passion]

Dating Bucky Barnes would include... (Headcanon)

Warnings: none, but let me know if there should be any

A/N: Okay, I’m very unsure of whether this makes sense or not, or if it’s even mildly amusing, but I really do hope you enjoy it. I can say for myself that, even though half of the time I didn’t know what I was doing, I enjoyed it very much. Love you! :) <3

Him always looking at you with heart eyes, like you’re the entire universe

And vice versa, of course

Him calling you “doll” and “sweetheart”

Him putting your hair in messy buns

You doing the same with his hair

Eventually sharing an apartment in Brooklyn

Taking turns to make breakfast

Depending on who’s cooking, either you or him wrapping each other’s arms around each other’s waist

Helping him when he’s got trouble sleeping

Certainly comforting him when he wakes up in the middle of the night due to a nightmare

“Hey, it’s okay, it was only a nightmare, I’m here, you’re safe”

Reassuring him that he’d never hurt you and never will

Him calming you down whenever you’re stressed or anxious about something too

“It’s all right, sweetheart, it’s gonna be okay, I promise”

A lot of forehead touches and kisses

Constantly holding hands and intertwining fingers

Him being very protective of you

And you of him

Because “this man has suffered enough, hurt him in any sort of way and I’mma break your face”

Buying him a bunch of soft and warm sweatshirts and cosy clothes in general because he’s been living with cold and harsh stuff for way too long (credits to whoever posted this idea first, I’m so sorry I don’t have the username, I saw it on Pinterest and I couldn’t help including it, I loved it, please don’t sue me)

Resting your head on his chest and listening to the soothing beating of his heart

Both of you falling asleep on the couch while watching a movie

Disney Movies Marathon

Always reminding him how much you love him and how much he is worthy and deserves all the prettiest things in the world and to be happy

Him eventually telling you stories about his past, even though he was reluctant at first because he didn’t want you to loom at him with different eyes

“I would never judge you, love. And I’m not afraid of you. Never.”

Dancing in the kitchen to 40’s music

“For someone who hasn’t danced since 1943, you’re pretty good at it”

Watching Buzzfeed Unsolved together

Buck’s convinced that he’s responsible for almost all the cases

Including the paranormal ones

“Well… They did use to say you were a ghost story…”

“All right, bad joke, I’m sorry… But if it was so bad then why are you smiling?”

In that same matter, making him laugh any chance you get, because he deserves to be happy and because you love the sound of his laughter

Him making you laugh a lot as well because your laugh is music to his ears

Being silly together

Reading together on the couch, enjoying each other’s company, your legs intertwined

At some point, him giving you his dog tags, as a very deep sign of trust and affection

You of course wearing them every single second of the freaking day because you love them and you love him and you simply feel so honoured that he gifted them to you

Him low key feeling all proud and joyful by seeing you wear his dog tags

Sometimes annoying the hell out of Sam together

And pulling pranks on him

Definitely hating on John Walker together

“It’s Sergeant Barnes to you, dollar store Captain America”

Being absolutely heartbroken the moment you get to know of the “and if he was wrong about you, then he was wrong about me”

Telling him never endingly that “No, he was not wrong about you, okay? You’re a good person who’s been through a lot of terrible stuff and who may have done bad things, but that didn’t have a saying on the matter. You didn’t have a choice. And you deserve to be happy, love. You really do.”

Admiring him from afar while he helps Sam fix the boat and you help Sarah with some stuff

Him admiring you from afar when you’re not looking

At some point catching the other one staring, and giggling

Being ecstatic when people start calling him “Sergeant Barnes” again

Having to contain your tears of happiness when the people he saves start thanking him

Just mutual adoration

And finally allowing him to have the happy ending he deserves

[gernades]

Ace is gone. He’s been gone for five weeks. 

Nancy has had a lot of time to think. 

She sees the places where he used to be- the kitchen, his house, the spot in his driveway where Florence is always parked- and can’t stop looking at them. 

“Nancy?” 

Nancy blinks and looks up. Ace’s mother is watching her, hands resting on the dough, eyes concerned. “Are you okay?” 

Today they’re making babka-chocolate bread, braided in sections and glazed with egg wash. Nancy looks down. She’s not very good at braiding, but it mostly looks like Rebecca’s dough. 

“I’m fine,” she says, a half-smile working its way across her face. “It’s just been a long week.” Another week without Ace.  She doesn’t know why she’s here, in his house- in his kitchen- but Rebecca doesn’t seem to mind. She never has.

Nancy’s here every other day, now. They’ve made bread and biscuits and a dozen Jewish desserts that Nancy is now addicted to. 

Sometimes, Thom joins them. 

( “He’s taken quite the shine to you,” Rebecca whispers on one such day, eyes sparkling. “He’s not like this with everyone.” 

Nancy doesn’t bring up the ASL textbooks sitting new and shiny on her desk at home. 

Talking about me again, Thom signs over his shoulder, and Rebecca laughs, flicks him on the shoulder. )

Now, Rebecca gently sets down her dough and wipes her fingers off on her apron. “Do you want to talk about it?” 

No, thank you, is Nancy’s knee jerk reaction. She pauses before letting the words come out. She’s been doing that more often, as of late. Sana-her therapist- would be proud. 

Nancy purses her lips and drags a finger through the loose flour on the counter. “It’s nothing, really. I’m just… going through a lot with my dad’s business, and... I can’t help but feel like I’m never going to be happy again.” 

The last part she doesn’t mean to say out loud. “I’m sorry,” Nancy says immediately, and lifts her head up. “That was…” 

“Oh, honey,” Rebecca whispers. Her eyes are shiny. “I don’t know exactly what’s been going on, but I can tell that it’s been hard on you. You’ve always been so strong. Just like your mother.” 

“Hm,” Nancy manages, throat tight and vision blurry. When Rebecca bustles around the table and wraps her arms around her, she doesn’t pull away. 

Rebecca smells like soap and rosemary: she is warm and accepting and she makes Nancy’s heart hurt less. This will have to end eventually, but she can’t help but lean into it anyway.

                                                              *** 

“You’ve been spending a lot of time out of the house,” Carson remarks later that night. 

They’re sitting at the dinner table, doing their best to eat what is supposed to be spaghetti, courtesy of Ryan. He’s still learning how to use basic appliances: his cooking is dangerous.

 Nancy wrinkles her nose and stabs at a coagulated lump of pasta. 

“Yeah. Nothing bad. I’ve just been… baking.” 

Ryan hums and shoves a forkful of food into his mouth. Nancy and Carson watch in amazement as he gets it down without gagging. “You’re really good at it, too. That, uh, chocolate croissant thingy you brought home yesterday was amazing.” 

Nancy raises an eyebrow, amused. “The rugelach?” 

Ryan jabs his fork into the air. “Yes. So good.” 

“Spending time with Rebecca, I gather?” Carson’s voice is light and free of judgement. Before the whole Wraith thing, Nancy would have pulled up her walls, deflected the conversation. 

It’s a little different now, though, so Nancy just nods. “It’s just... nice to have someone to talk to who’s normal.” 

Carson sighs and rubs her shoulder. “I understand that completely.” 

“Hey,” Ryan states, expression pinched, “is pasta supposed to make my stomach bubbly?” 

Nancy and Carson exchange a long, tired look. 

They take Ryan to the ER for food poisoning. 

                                                              *** 

George slams a palm down onto the table. Her engagement ring sparkles in the afternoon light. Nancy jumps. “It’s been quiet, Drew. Too quiet. I don’t trust it.” 

Nancy takes a long look around the Claw. It’s nearly packed to the brim with customers- their Yelp ratings have skyrocketed since the staff have actually started working again. “This is your idea of quiet?” 

George groans and slides into the opposite booth. “You know what I mean. We’ve had nothing supernatural happen for almost a month. It’s driving me crazy.” 

“Good,” Nancy replies mildly, and takes another bite of her crab roll. “I’m taking a sabbatical from sleuthing.” 

Sana was the one to suggest a break from anything stressful- like sports or large events! Avoiding murder and possession via the paranormal probably isn’t what her therapist means, but Nancy can read between the lines. 

George screeches. Half the restaurant turns to look at them. They turn back when they see who it is. 

“What?” She narrows her eyes and leans in. “Okay. I never thought I’d live to see the Hero of Horseshoe Bay gives herself a break.” She crosses her arms. “I’m proud of you, Nancy.” 

Nancy’s heart hums. She sends George a grateful smile. “Thanks.” 

George smiles back. “Your lunch break was over ten minutes ago, by the way. I need you to clean out the grease traps.” 

Nancy’s smile drops. 

The grease traps are gross, hard work. They’re also the last normal thing Nancy did with Ace, which is equal parts sad and amusing. 

She grits her teeth and scrubs her cloth against the dirty metal. At least it’s cool here, in the kitchen, and away from the always-prying eyes of customers. 

The bell above the restaurant door tinkles faintly. Nancy sighs and dips her rag into the bucket of degreaser. 

Bess screams, high-pitched and excited. “Ace!” 

Nancy stands up so quickly that she knocks the bucket onto its side. No way. 

He can’t be back- it’s too soon, too late. Nancy needs to think more. If he’s back, she can’t go to his house again, can she?

Heart pounding, she creeps over to the window and peers into the restaurant. He’s surrounded by Bess and George- and, after a moment, Nick jogs in from the parking lot, smile blinding. 

Nancy wants to go see him. She does. Her feet seem to have other ideas, though. She can’t seem to move at all. 

Ace looks good. His hair is longer, and sun-bleached; his skin is tanned. Even from this distance Nancy can see the new freckles on his face. 

There’s a leather jacket, black and tight around his shoulders- and two new silver studs in his ears. He’s smiling. He looks happy.

 Nancy’s chest aches. 

“Hey,” she hears him say to George, “Where’s Nancy?” 

Nancy takes a half step backwards. 

“Cleaning the grease traps in the kitchen,” George replies, spreading her arms in a grand gesture. “The best job in the world.” 

Ace laughs. 

Nancy runs. 

She doesn’t really run- she simply makes a strategic, tactical retreat into the staff room and out the back door. 

There’s no time to overthink it- not yet, her brain and heart agree. Not yet. 

Nancy thanks her former self for parking her car at the very edge of the lot. Nobody notices as she pulls out onto the road, a full two hours before her shift is supposed to end. 

Ooh, she’s a little runaway! Bon Jovi croons on the radio. Daddy’s girl learned fast- 

Nancy grits her teeth and pushes her foot against the accelerator. 

All those things he couldn’t say! Ooh, she’s a little runawa-

Nancy spins the radio dial with fumbling fingers, and spends the rest of her drive listening to germanic opera. 

“Shit.” 

                                                               *** 

“Jesus,” Ryan says when he opens the front door. “You look worse than I do, and I spent three hours getting my stomach pumped last night.” 

Nancy pushes past him without a word. 

Ryan’s voice lowers, softens. “Nancy. Hey.” He reaches out, gently wraps a hand around her wrist. She stops walking. “What’s wrong?” 

“Nothing,” Nancy says, but her words come out wobbly, uneven. 

Ryan scoots a little closer. “Okay, well… that’s a lie.” 

Nancy snorts. “Ace is back.” 

Ryan smiles, relieved. “That’s great!” He pauses. “Isn’t it?” When she says nothing, he squints his eyes, searches her face. “Oh,” he says finally. “I see.” 

Nancy stiffens, alarmed. “How did you-,” 

Ryan sighs and taps his cheek. “We make the same kind of face, you know. Genetics and all that.” 

“Shit,” Nancy says again, and tries very hard not to sink through the floor. 

“Don’t worry,” Ryan promises. “I wont say anything.”

“What’s going on?” 

Ryan and Nancy turn to face Carson, who is wrapped in a purple robe, fresh out of the shower. He takes one look at the expression on Nancy’s face and rushes over. “Is there another entity-,” 

“No,” Nancy says vehemently. She drops her head onto his shoulder, breathes in the smell of his aftershave. “I’m just not feeling well.” 

Neither of her dads press her for more- they simply stand like that, the three of them, for a very long time. 

                                                              *** 

        George: where the hell are u?? 

        George: hello? nancy?

        George: are u ok

        Bess: ACE IS BACK!!!! :D

        Bess: wait where r u 

        Nick: Did something happen? 

        Ace: hey. i just got back. where are you? 

“No,” Nancy says softly, and turns off her phone. “I am not good.” 

She needs a plan. Something to protect herself, and to spare everyone from the complications that one-sided feelings often bring. It’s been a good five weeks, if she doesn’t include the whole Ace thing. It’s been peaceful. Happy. 

She doesn’t want to ruin that. 

Nancy draws her knees up to her chest and stares out the window. I think I’ll just have to pretend. It’s either that, or avoiding Ace altogether- which would be impossible.

No more baking with Rebecca and Thom, either. That hurts more than Nancy wants to admit- but she’s already made up her mind. She’ll keep her feelings on the back burner, and do her best to keep things normal. 

With a sigh, she stands, and goes upstairs to take a much-needed nap. 

She dreams again. It’s the same one she’s been having every night for the past five weeks.

Nancy dreams of silk and cigarette smoke- because Ace always has to light one up after he has a joint- and of the ocean. The waves lap at the shore, rhythmic and quiet. It’s peaceful, here. Safe.

She dreams about a cliff, soft grass: warm, roving hands and a familiar mouth against her own. If she calls out his name in her sleep, that’s her problem.

 If she wakes up sweaty and teary-eyed, that’s her problem, too.

[thevindicativevordan]

On Lois Lane

Figured it well past time I got to the matriarch of the Superfamily, especially since I already wrote about the other major "LL" in Superman's life.

Hardest part of writing about Lois is what more can be added that hasn't already been said? She's The Love Interest when it comes to female supporting characters, so iconic and successful that like Superman himself, she's inspired countless copycats: Iris West, Vicki Vale, the current video game version of MJ Watson, if your hero has a love interest who is a reporter, they're drawing on the archetype that Lois established. She was there from the very beginning, before there were Krypton, Smallville, the Kents, the Rogues, before Superman could even fly Lois was there.

And my God is she such a fantastic character in her own right.

Whereas Clark himself is pretty damn different if you compare and contrast his Golden Age incarnation with his modern incarnation, Golden Age Lois is pretty recognizable as Lois Lane. Feisty, independent, scornful of danger and of cowardice (especially in a "peer" like Clark), a bit in awe of Superman while also eager to press him for information about himself, willing to throw herself into danger if she can get that exclusive scoop. Her personality in the early comics is much more like her modern incarnation than the lovestruck wanna-be housewife she became in the Silver Age. Lois is one of the few characters who basically came into comics perfect from Day 1.

I love the Rucka idea that she somehow has everyone's number and can call up anyone from the lowliest criminal to the highest politicians. I like when writers show that she herself is able to wear a variety of disguises, something I'm sure she and Clark can bond over once he reveals his identity to her. And I love that she is basically waging a one-woman war against corruption and evil in Metropolis long before Superman shows up, something the Superman & Lois show highlighted.

It's easy to see why Clark would fall for her. Even putting aside that Lois is hot as hell, she's a great foil to him personality wise. They both are committed to rooting out social ills and taking the fight to crime and oppression wherever it rears it's head, from the Lexcorp boardroom, to the darkest underbelly of Metropolis. They both are kind and compassionate, but have explosive tempers if you piss them off. They both love to snark, although Lois has more bite whereas Clark is more deadpan.

The biggest contrast, and honestly the biggest turn on for Clark, is that Lois is free from doubt. Clark is constantly second-guessing himself, worrying about how others see him, worrying about whether he's making the right choices or if he's approaching his heroics/journalism the right way. Lois? Lois never second-guesses herself, never allows the doubts or opinions of others to affect her course in life. She knows her dad is disappointed and upset with her and she couldn't care less. She knows others think she's a bitch and that only amuses her. She's confident and self-reliant and those are attributes Clark wants desperately to posses himself. How could he not fall head over heels in love?

Why Lois would fall in love with Clark is a bit trickier. It's easy to see why she would love Superman, which is part of why Clark wants her to love the "whole" of him and not just the public persona. Superman is confident, Superman is powerful, Superman kicks ass, he's kind and intelligent, he's a huge celebrity, who wouldn't love him? Clark? Eh he's easy on the eyes but he doesn't really have much of a presence. That's how everyone else views Clark. Lois, I think, would start off viewing Clark as a dweeb who will be gone in a week, the big city too much for him. That he sticks around and toughs it out impresses her. That he manages to outscoop her multiple times infuriates and intrigues her. That he manages to live in Metropolis and see how rotten it can be beneath the shiny gilded exterior, yet doesn't lose his sense of optimism, his faith in other peoples inner goodness, his "naivety" so to speak? I think that's what would make her fall in love with him.

Lois is at heart a "cynical idealist" in my estimation. The cynical side is she's someone who will always fight for the truth, for justice, but I don't think she believes that peoples inherent goodness will win out in the end most of the time. She's seen how selfish people can be, how uncaring, and I think before Clark shows up there's a part of her that thinks she's just bashing her head against a wall trying to change things. The idealist part of her is that she will continue to bash her head against that wall of public indifference anyway. Lois will always fight even if nobody else will fight alongside her, she'll keep writing articles and investigating long after a lesser woman would give up, because it's the principles that matter damnit, even if only to her. That Clark is someone who will join her in that fight while still believing that the rest of the public can be swayed to join them is what I see as the reason why she finally gives him a chance, that optimism remaining in Clark is refreshing and uplifting to her. That he's also hot and can trade banter with her doesn't hurt his chances any.

Lois becoming a mom has been really interesting, even if I haven't always been wholly satisfied with how they've handled the relationship between her and Jon. I haven't seen enough of Lois traits in Jon to really buy him as her offspring, I hope that changes. While I'm not the biggest fan of Tom Taylor to put it mildly, I liked that he emphasized Lois' importance with regards to Jon becoming Superman in interview leading up to the first issue, and I hope we get lots of Lois/Jon interaction in Superman: Son of Kal-El that really flesh out their relationship. At the very least I want to see Jon get some of that Lois patented verbal bite to him.

One last thought with regards to Lois: how the hell was Tom King the first one to realize that Lois and Selina would immediately hit it off?

They're both so similar when you think about it: Brunettes who are willful and independent, who flaunt the rules to get what they want, who outright laugh when their male significant others try to order them around, yeah I totally can see the two of them becoming friends. I really hope that gets continued under someone else, since I don't think anyone other than King has really played with it, but I love the idea of Lois having a "gal pal" that's also caught up in the insanity of life with a superhero.

If not Selina I'd like to see Lois being shown to have a friendship with her copycats such as Vicki or Iris or the rest. Definitely with Cat (even though Cat Grant can drive her up the wall sometimes). More girls' nights out/double dates for Lois, that's all I'm saying.

[bucky-at-bedtime]

Stucky Fic Recs

So basically I went through all of my ao3 bookmarks and collated a list of some of my favourites (I couldn't fit all of them on this list, so if anyone shows interest there might be a part two).

Please read tags and descriptions of the works before reading, some of them are pretty dark or extremely horny so just make sure you check that the fic is for you!!

Please please please send me your favourite fics in return! I am always happy to hear fic recs, headcanons and any other ideas/comments you all have!

Without any further ado, here are a few of my favourite Stucky fics:

‘Not Easily Conquered’ series by dropdeaddream, WhatAreFear

Rating: M, Words: 117,692

https://archiveofourown.org/series/115516

“I told you, you heard me: I told you never to follow me into Hell. Now I’m not vain enough to think that’s why you’re out here now — if there’s any person in what’s left of this God forsaken planet who’s part of a bigger picture, it’d be you. But I’ll keep saying it until it sticks. You got nothing to prove. I’m not worth much, I damn well know that, but I’ll ask you anyway: Stay for me. If you leave me alone in this world I’ll turn into something terrible. I’ll turn into the nasty creature that’s growing inside me. This war, it’ll swallow me whole”

[To me, this fic is like the classic Stucky 101 fanfic – if you're a Stucky fan and you haven't read this, I highly recommend it. The authors explore the Steve/Bucky relationship in such an interesting, tragic, emotive way and I cry every time I read it. I couldn't praise this work enough.]

‘Ain’t No Grave’ series by spitandvinegar

Rating: M-E, Words: 131,789

https://archiveofourown.org/series/426577

"Yeah, he never calls me by my name," Steve says. "It's always champ, ace, hotshot, that kinda thing."

"Man, that is flirting," Sam says. "That nicknames thing, he is flirting with you. He's just working his way up to calling you baby or something."

Steve goes redder than a damn coke can. Sam pumps his fist. "Yes, I am so right, I am wise as hell. He did, didn't he?"

"He called me sweetheart," Steve says grimly, "because he's a drug addict with brain damage."

"Or because he looooooves you," Sam says. Captain America throws a cookie at his head. Sam eats it, because he deserves a treat for being so damn wise.”

[I'm currently re-reading this fic and absolutely loving it. The way spitandvinegar writes Bucky's road towards recovery and Steve's entire characterisation – it's all just so good. It's another one that covers some pretty dark themes, so make sure you're checkin those tags!]

'Einherjar' by thecommodore_squid

Rating: M, Words: 71297

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7157024/chapters/16249814

But Steve was fine.

Sure, he hadn’t seen Bucky in months, and sometimes he was at the punching bag so long that his skin started to peel off to expose the bones of his fingers, and sometimes he couldn’t find the energy to drag himself out of bed, and sometimes he went weeks without sleeping, and sometimes he thought about throwing himself head-first off the nearest tall structure, but he was fine.

He was absolutely, perfectly, one-hundred percent, fucking fine.

AKA In which Steve learns how to deal with his shit, and Bucky learns how to stop leaving.

[basically the definition of a recovery fic, I absolutely adore it. This is tragic and amazing and makes me cry and smile. It’s got a bunch of fantastic cameos and It really just ticks so many of my boxes.]

‘Like real People do’ by 2bestfriends

Rating: E, Words: 67,775

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19887376/chapters/47103217

“"Ask me what?" demands Bucky. "I didn't hear a question."

Steve licks his lips. "Will you stay with me? Will you come back home, Buck?"

"Home," repeats Bucky in a small voice, and then he's crying for real.”

[Basically soft lumberjack!steve and lonely twink!bucky being horny and in love. This is a comfort fic for that’s really just about my favourite boys falling in love.]

‘This City Bleeds it’s Aching Heart’ by anonymous

Rating: E, Words: 34,537

https://archiveofourown.org/works/835829/chapters/1591736

“The one where Steve and Bucky pose as a happily married couple while on a mission for SHIELD, to catch an international arms dealer hiding in a suburban neighbourhood.”

[The plot in this one is just a good time and i think it’s just a really fun take on the fake relationship trope. Also some really great characterisation.]

‘Home is Wherever I’m With You’ by cydonic

Rating: E, Words: 88,570

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18868081/chapters/44783077

“Bucky kisses Steve and Emma goodbye before they leave for school, which is why – partway down the road – Amelia turns to him and asks, “why are you and Daddy kissing?”

Which is definitely a conversation Bucky’s been expecting since Steve just did it, but it still takes him by surprise. Again, he thinks he should wait for Steve, but Amelia’s not the sort of kid to let anything rest. Plus, Bucky’s taking her to school where she will undoubtedly share the story with anyone who’ll listen.

He also stops to think that Steve’s asked him to stay, which means Bucky must be trusted with their happiness and well-being, at least in some small capacity.

Bucky clears his throat and searches for some explanation that will help Amelia make sense of this sudden turn of events. “Because we love each other,” is all he comes up with.”

[Bear with me, this is a House Flipper!Bucky Au. And dad!Steve. I just love a found family trope I’m not gonna lie to you. Another comfort fic that warms my lil heart.]

‘Lucky Seven’ by BetteNoire (WeAreWolves)

Rating: E, Words: 94,364

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7033105/chapters/16002481

“Back from where--?” James says, the sentence ending in a distinctly undignified squawk as Steve sweeps him up in his arms, bridal-style, and starts carrying him upstairs.

James tenses momentarily then relaxes into Steve's arms and throws back his head and starts laughing. The laughter peals out of him, his body shaking, his amusement occasionally broken by little gasps of pain.

“What's so funny?” Steve frowns.

“You are,” James says, still giggling. “You're ridiculous, Steve Rogers.”

“Behave. Or I will drop you,” Steve growls.

[The shrunkyclunks modern AU of my dreams featuring Mechanic!Bucky and cap!Steve and some really beautiful writing.]

'Dishonor On Your Cow' by mandarou

Rating: E, Words: 111695

https://archiveofourown.org/works/10659162/chapters/23589582

“Sergeant Barnes?”

“Oh, hell no, don’t call him that, man,” Sam warned.

“Captain Fuck Off!” Barnes shouted over him. “Fight me!”

Steve didn’t know whether to laugh or just slink away. He managed to combine the two by pacing two steps and snorting instead. Like a bull.

“I’m gonna need you to calm your ass, Barnes,” Sam said as he went limp again, obstructing Barnes’s struggling under him. “This is so undignified. That is Captain goddamn America.”

“Captain goddamn America!” Barnes repeated, louder. And angrier.

Steve cleared his throat again. “I’ve been looking for you,” he told Barnes.

“I hope you brought lube this time!” Barnes shouted.

[I’m not gonna lie it took me a minute to get into this one but by the end I was crying with them, laughing with them, and just really in my feels. Some very insane things happen so here’s a few of my favourite tags: ‘Seargent Barnes is done with your Shit Steve’, ‘blatant disrespect of a man’s motorcycle’, ‘Steve you ding dong’ and ‘PR nightmares in the form of Supersoldiers’.]

Propietary Information by Notlucy

Rating: E, Words: 85141

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11964402/chapters/27054777

“Okay, so Bucky Barnes has a crush on Steve Rogers. The guy's gorgeous, talented and, oh yeah, the Chief Design Officer of the biggest tech company in the world. In other words: he's so far out of Bucky's league that he might as well be in a different stratosphere.”

[We were never gonna get through this list without a Sugar Daddy!AU (I have a weakness). This one is… saucy and sexy and sweet and uh pretty kinky so read the tags and all. I’ve read it a few times, and I love the way the author has written Steve in this one, he just makes my heart go '!!!']

‘Roots Have Grown’ by AustinB

Rating: M, Words: 17280

https://archiveofourown.org/works/6912451/chapters/15767941

“Bucky is a mildly agoraphobic veteran with funds to spare, who becomes enamored with the cute blonde guy in his building.

So when Steve mentions needing a roommate to cut down on rent costs, Bucky decides it would be a good idea to volunteer.”

[Another weakness of mine is Roommate AUs, and this one is phenomenal. I tend to go for post serum!Steve stories more often, but this is a pre-serum Steve that I just adore.]

‘The Cold Never Bothered me Anyway’ by icoulddothisallday

Rating: E, Words:75562

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11728869/chapters/26425530

“Bucky Barnes has spent his whole life in a state of mild hypothermia. Steve Rogers has spent the last 70 years in the ice. The two things aren’t related until, suddenly, they are. Shrunkyclunks soulmate AU (AKA the awkward bb au).”

[I think this is the only soulmate AU in my bookmarks? I would totally be down to read more though! This one is really fun and really enjoy Bucky’s characterisation here!]

'War, Children' by Nonymos

Rating: E, Words: 106615

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5373050/chapters/12409394

“After Bucky was released from the hospital, it only took him a couple of weeks to give up on himself. Difficult to believe in any kind of future when the simple act of staying alive was almost too big an effort.

Out the frosted window, across the street, there was a tiny homeless guy burrowing under an awning.”

[An interesting exploration of Bucky’s PTSD with a trans!Steve which was a cool take on his character too!]

'The Company You Keep' by orbingarrow

Rating: G, Words: 51191

https://archiveofourown.org/works/3468605/chapters/7613072

“Hurt, hungry, and on the run, the Winter Soldier doesn’t have a lot of safe options to go to for help. Figuring that any friend of Captain Steve Rogers is unlikely to be HYDRA, Bucky takes a chance and reaches out to the first Avenger he can find.

It works out better than anyone could have expected. Eventually.”

[hurt/comfort, recovering Bucky, protective Steve, found family and domestic avengers, need I say more? I absolutely loved this one]

[takenyoomies]

Takeomi's "Day Off"

Title - Takeomi's "Day Off"

Rated - T

Summary - When Senju said it was his "day off", this was not what Akashi Takeomi had in mind.

Tags - Food, Movies, Wakasa Lock-picking, Swearing, Benkei Slander, Mildly OOC

Characters - Takeomi, Wakasa, Benkei, Senju, Draken(mentioned), Shinichiro(mentioned), Terano South(mentioned)

TWs - mentions of character death

Word Count - 2977

Read on AO3

The evening forecast calls for-

“Rain.”

Thunderstorms until the late evening, and it will then clear up around nine o’clock. Back to you for the local news to talk about how you can protect yourself from-

Click.

Takeomi sighed as he took another drag off of his cigarette, neatly ashing it in a black ceramic ashtray he’d found long ago in the belongings of none other than Shinichiro Sano. With his gaze affixed to the ever infinite tile ceiling, one thing crossed his mind. What was he going to do on his day away from the rest of the members of Brahman?

It wasn’t often that the scar-faced man had a rare “day off,” as Senju called them. He chuckled at the idea as he hadn’t been employed since he lost his ambitions, though all things considered, helping manage the gang members did feel like a full-time job. There was the somewhat apathetic Wakasa, who seemingly followed Senju to the ends of the earth. However, enjoyed the occasional prank. Benkei was pretty hot-headed in their quarrels. However, outside of them, he seemed to enjoy the more minor things...only to also become hot-headed about those too. Takeomi rubbed the bridge of his nose as he remembered the time they went fishing only for Benkei to pick a fight with his fishing pole for not catching him any fish. There also was Senju, his sister, who was calm for the most part until she wasn’t, and it became a game of World War between the five of them as they tried to figure out who stole the last manju from the plate in the middle of the table. And lastly, there was of course the new member of the gang, Draken, who hid mainly in the shadows and made a relatively decent hot curry.

The scar-faced man stood from the well-loved recliner, stretching his back as he made his way to the kitchen to grab a beer, “Wonder what they’re up to today…” He murmured as he opened the fridge, plucking a silver can from its place on the shelf. He turned his body to walk back towards the living room only to hear the doorbell ring. He froze in place, blinking. No one other than four people knew he lived here, and all four of those people knew it was his day off.

The bell rang again.

He pursed his lips, thinking that perhaps they would go away.

“He has to be home, and he never goes anywhere.” A deep voice stated, almost in annoyance.

“True...I don’t see the point in him going anywhere, to be honest, and it’s raining.” A tired voice replied, almost sounding bored with the situation.

Takeomi huffed, “Oh, so they think I’m a hermit?” He thought to himself, crossing his arms with a smirk.

“Well...we could always use...that.” The last voice said, the doorbell ringing one more time.

“Oh! I like that idea.” The deep voice spoke excitedly.

Takeomi blinked, wondering what that meant, only to hear the telltale sound of scratching at his door. He hurriedly rushed over, unlocking the door as he quickly realized what that was.

“How many times have I told you, if I’m not answering the door, don’t get Waka to pick the lock!” He yelled in exasperation as he whipped open the door. Benkei collapsed into the genkan while Senju and Wakasa remained kneeling outside, both looking up at the semi-tired-looking man holding a beer, a cigarette between his lips.

“Oh. Hi Takeomi.” Wakasa finally spoke with a wave, his bored face showing how unaffected he was by the man in front of him.

Benkei groaned as he rose from his position on the floor, “If you would’ve answered the door, maybe we wouldn’t have had to use Waka.” He rubbed his head, “And would it kill you to open the door slower?”

“You act as though I’m some item for you to use when you get locked out…” The two-toned-haired man retorted, standing from his crouched position, patting his pants as he put away the lock-picking kit back into his bag.

The buff man clicked his tongue, “As if that’s the biggest fucking issue here.”

Takeomi sighed, looking at the group in front of him, “What are you three even doing here?” He questioned, noticing the plastic bags, “It’s my day off.”

“Well…” Senju started, standing from her position on the ground as well, “We were going to meet up at the park, but it’s raining.”

“Yeah, I wonder who did that.” Benkei huffed sarcastically, crossing his arms.

“You can’t blame me for the rain every time.” Takeomi pointed out, taking a drag off of his cigarette.

“I can, and I fucking will.”

“Regardless of if Takeomi made it rain,” Senju cut in, looking over at the several plastic bags on the concrete behind them, “Your apartment was the closest.”

Takeomi exhaled, the smoke wrapping around him like the safety he needed in that moment as he paused to think. Yes, he could refuse them entry. Unfortunately, though, that would likely just cause them to force their way in like usual. He sighed in defeat, “Alright, get in.”

Senju smiled, “Yay!” The smallest cheered, rushing into the apartment past Takeomi and Benkei.

“Wait, shit, she’s gonna get the chair!” Bekei roared in sudden realization, attempting to blow past the other man as well, only to be stopped by an arm.

“Pick up the bags and then go fight over the chair. Don’t make Waka carry everything.” Takeomi warned, only to receive a glare in return.

“You do it if you’re so concerned.” He snapped, sliding under the arm that was blocking his path inside and rushing inside, “Hey Senju, you got it last time!”

Takeomi shook his head, “Never changes.” He looked over at the plastic bags that Wakasa was beginning to gather up, “It’s always us, huh?”

“Been that way since…” Wakasa trailed off before shrugging a bit, the lollipop in his mouth shifting, “Take these, and I’ll carry the rest.”

The older man knew what he meant by that sentence and was somewhat thankful he didn’t finish it. Sometimes he wondered if that ghost would ever stop haunting the three of them. He shook the thought as he grabbed onto the two plastic bags, peering into them and noticing the sheer amount of food.

“Just...how much did all of you buy?” He questioned, the cigarette on his lips nearly dropping in astonishment.

A hum of amusement came from Wakasa’s throat, “Senju kept putting things in the basket, and Benkei...Well, you know him.”

“And you?” Takeomi questioned, only to see the two-toned-haired man pull out a bag of lollipops. The scar-faced man's lips tilted into a smile, “How predictable.”

“Please,” Wakasa began as they walked inside, Takeomi could already hear the sounds of an argument, “My simple tastes are far superior to Benkei’s ridiculous tastes in cola-flavored garbage.”

Takeomi snorted, “I didn’t know you had a candy complex.”

Wakasa rolled his eyes, “Is that even real?”

“Beats me.” Takeomi chuckled as they made their way into the living room to see a smug-looking Senju placed in the comfortable recliner and an angry Benkei gesturing.

Benkei groaned, “Like I said, you got it last time so, get up!”

Senju smiled sweetly as she settled herself into the recliner, “No, I’m comfortable.”

You could see a vein pop on the buff man’s forehead, “Oh my god, you’re so!” He attempted to piece together before growling once more.

Senju snickered, “Use your words Benkei.”

“Senju, don’t be mean to the wildlife.” Wakasa sighed, placing the bags on the coffee table.

“I am not an animal!” Benkei yelled in offense.

“Hm. Debatable.” Wakasa shrugged as he sat down on one of the pillows.

Takeomi shook his head, placing the other plastic bags onto the table, opening his beer, taking a sip, and wrinkling his nose. Warm. However, this seemed to get the attention of Benkei.

“Hey, Takeomi, if you’re having a beer, share one with the rest of us.” The bearded man complained, strolling over to him.

“Bring your own.” He breathed, waving his spare hand at him, sitting down at the table beside Wakasa, “You just were at the store.”

“If I remember correctly, you said you were going to bum one off of Takeomi.” Wakasa’s bored voice cut in, exposing the other’s plans as he opened a bag of hard candy.

“I-I did not.” Benkei huffed, crossing his arms and looking to the side.

“I clearly recall you stating, Waka, I’m gonna get a beer from Takeomi, so I don’t have to buy a six-pack! I’m so smart, haha or something of that effect.” Wakasa mimicked the burly man set before himself, popping the lollipop out of his mouth and pointing at him with it.

Takeomi hummed, “Is that right?”

“No way, I would never say that!” Benkei denied, holding his hands up in refusal.

“Senju can confirm it, probably.” Wakasa sighed, popping the sweet back in his mouth.

“Ain’t no way she heard sh-”

“I was in the other aisle. Even I heard you say it, Benkei.” Senju confirmed.

“Okay, maybe I did say that,” Benkei muttered, looking to the side, “But come on, beer is expensive!”

“And bumming it off of me makes that okay?” Takeomi asked incredulously, shaking his head.

“Yes.” Benkei grinned, only to receive a look of disapproval from the man.

Takeomi sighed, “I’d say you’re unbelievable, though this is far too in character for you.”

Benkei snorted in amusement, “The fuck is that supposed to mean?”

Eyebrow twitching, the scar-faced man sighed once more, "If you could stop swearing in front of my sister, that'd be wonderful."

Benkei huffed, "I don't think she minds it."

"Well I-"

Senju waved an arm, interrupting the conversation, “Hey, can you pass me the sour gummy worms?” She asked, as if to ignore the on-going conversation about herself.

Wakasa sighed and looked over to Takeomi, “You’re closer.”

Takeomi stared daggers at Benkei, who shrugged with a lopsided grin. He turned towards Wakasa, “Fine, fine.” Takeomi groaned, putting his cigarette out into the ashtray, “Which bag are they in?”

Wakasa shrugged, opening a can of juice, “Probably the one with the candy.”

Takeomi pulled one of the bags forward, fishing around for the bag of sour candy. “Is this the right bag?” He questioned as he fumbled through the several different types of snacks.

“Probably.” Wakasa’s bored eyes peering over at the man, “Actually, they might be in the other other candy bag.”

Takeomi stopped his search to look up at the two-toned-haired man, “You mean to tell me you have two entire bags of candy?”

The accused party sighed, “Listen, blame Senju for that one.”

“Nuh-uh Waka, you pitched in to at least half the damage!” The light-haired girl chimed in, crossing her arms with a knowing look.

Benkei snorted as he sat down at the table, “And by half, that’d be one bag each.”

“Thank you. I can do basic math,” Wakasa replied, rolling his eyes and pulling the other bag forward. His fingers instantly pulling out the bag of sour gummy worms, much to Takeomi’s surprise.

“How did you…” Takeomi started, only to have the bag of gummy worms flung into his chest, “...Nevermind.” He breathed, standing from his place at the table and walking over to the snowy-haired girl, “Here.”

Senju grinned, “Thanks.” She spoke happily as she grabbed the package of sweets out of his hands, biting open the top with her teeth.

Takeomi sighed attempting to grab the package back from her, “Hey, you’re gonna ruin your teeth like that.”

Wrinkling her nose, Senju looked up at Takeomi, “You’re not the boss of me.” She spoke sarcastically with a slight smile, shoving a gummy worm into her awaiting mouth.

The dark-haired man raised a brow, “...And I’m assuming you forgot that sour food is sour, again.”

Senju’s face had contorted, her nose wrinkling as her lips puckered, “Shut up…” She whimpered, shoving another gummy worm into her mouth.

"You're how old?" Takeomi questioned with an amused smile, as Senju pouted.

"Worst brother ever." She huffed.

Benkei tilted his head over only to burst into laughter, “Happens every time, man.”

“You do the same when you eat spicy food.” Wakasa mentioned as he took a sip from his drink, “Remember the time we ate Draken’s hot curry? You were crying like a baby.”

Takeomi snorted as he remembered the scene, Draken had said he would make them curry since they were eating out too much, and Benkei had been the most excited about it. But, of course, this only seemed to fire up the braid-haired man more when it came to making the curry, so when it came down to them eating, he had even given Benkei an extra serving.

“Do you remember when he took the first bite?” Takeomi pondered as he walked back over to the table, Benkei groaning and placing his head on the table in embarrassment.

“Man, quit it, do you have to?” Benkei pleaded, peeking an eye up towards the man.

“Do you mean the it burns part or take me to the hospital one?” Wakasa questioned with slight amusement.

The buff man grumbled, “I’m going home. This is bullshit.”

“So you can bark, but you can’t take a bite?” Takeomi teased, grabbing his beer and taking another swig, once again scrunching his nose, “This is disgusting.”

“Then why are you still drinking it…?” Wakasa sighed in exasperation.

“Because wasting beer is a cardinal sin.” Takeomi clarified.

Benkei sat up quickly, pointing at both Takeomi and Wakasa, “You know what else a cardinal sin is? Dunking on your homies.”

The two-toned-haired man blinked, before shaking his head and clasping his hands together, and looking directly into Benkei’s eyes, “So is having an IQ of below 70, but we’re still accepting of you, Benkei.” He spoke carefully before downing the rest of his drink, “Alright, are we watching a movie?”

Benkei sat at the table, mouth agape, unsure of what to say or do, all while Takeomi and Senju snickered uncontrollably in the background.

“Sure, we can do that.” Takeomi finally spoke through his laughs, lighting a cigarette, “Though we’re not watching Jurassic Park again and making Terano South references.”

“Aw, come on!” Senju pouted.

“We could always watch Pulp Fiction?” Wakasa offered with a half-hearted shrug.

Takeomi raised a knowing brow, “You just want to say the does he look like a bitch part again, Waka.”

He sighed, “Guilty.”

“What about-” Benkei began.

“No.” Takeomi interrupted.

The burly man huffed and crossed his arms, “But I didn’t even say shit!”

“We are not watching Austin Powers.” The man with the cigarette proclaimed, shaking his head.

“...Fine.”

“What about Goodfellas?” Senju pointed out, swinging her legs from the recliner, “That’s always a favorite.”

Benkei groaned, “We’ve watched that like 20 times, though.”

Takeomi hummed, “What’s 21, though…”

“Waka can probably quote all the lines in that one, too, then.” Benkei thought out loud.

“Did you hear him last time?” Senju asked while tilting her head to the side, “He even did the voices.”

“He wasn’t here last time we watched, remember?” Takeomi pointed out, taking a hit off of his cigarette and exhaling.

“Oh, right!” Senju realized.

“Wait, you mean to tell me I missed Waka doin’ Goodfellas impressions?!” Benkei asked, looking around at the group, “Why did no one tell me!”

“You miss a lot of things when you screw around doing other things.” Wakasa pointed out as he stood, “Goodfellas it is.” He walked over to the bookcase and grabbed a VHS case for the movie.

“The real question is...did we rewind it when we watched it last time,” Senju commented as Wakasa walked over to the television set and shoved it into the VHS player.

“I don’t see why we wouldn’t ha-” It was not rewound, “Goddamn it.” Takeomi huffed.

“Short intermission, I guess.” Wakasa breathed as he hit the rewind button, walking back to the table and plopping down.

The smoking man chuckled, “You know, I didn’t expect to spend my day off like this?”

“Oh?” Wakasa asked, raising a brow.

Benkei snorted, “What, did you expect to sleep all day and drink beer?”

Takeomi rolled his eyes, “No, though that sounds peaceful compared to the mess all of you seem to bring.” He huffed, inhaling the last of the cigarette and putting it out into the ashtray. The VCR clicked, signifying the tape was done rewinding. “I got it,” Takeomi stated as he stood from his seat at the table, walking towards the TV set.

“I guess it is your day off…” Senju hummed, her legs once again moving back and forth as she spoke, “But, we missed you.”

Benkei’s eye’s widened, “Shhh!! You weren’t supposed to tell him!” As he attempted to silence the small leader.

The scar-faced man’s hand stopped as it reached forward. He blinked. They missed him. He felt his heart swell in his chest as a smile spread its way onto his face.

“Hey, Takeomi...” Wakasa questioned boredly after a moment, “Tell me they didn’t take you out with just that?”

“I’m fine.” He responded, pressing play on the VCR and turning to walk towards the light switch. While the smile on his face had disappeared, the warm and fuzzy feelings had not as he switched off the lights. Making his way back to the table, he received an all-knowing look from Wakasa as he sat down.

As the previews for the movie were nearing their end, Takeomi leaned forwards towards Wakasa, attempting not to alert the other two members of the room.

“So, even you missed me?” He questioned quietly as the beginning scene started, the two-toned-haired man not entirely paying attention.

“Yeah, yeah…” the two-toned-haired man dismissed, the piece of candy in his mouth shifting against his teeth.

“Hm.” Takeomi hummed, leaning back on his elbows and looking up at the tiled ceiling once more. He could vaguely hear the storm outside over the sound of Wakasa quoting the movie, Benkei’s obnoxious wheezes of laughter, and Senju’s tiny kicks against his favorite recliner that he always gave up to one of them instead to sit on the floor himself. A gentle smile once again made its way back onto his face.

Maybe it should rain more often.