#THIS MAKES ME FEEL SO HAPPY I ALWAYS GET NERVOUS ABOUT BEING SELF INDULGENT THIS MAKES ME FEEL SO MUCH BETTER

[dxkjf]

hi hi hi! lapperdoodlelikesurart here! I LOVE when artists become self indulgent so fuckin much. it’s so fun!! You get to create whatever the hell you want! Draw whatever you want too! Draw yourself kissing characters or characters kissing characters—doesn’t matter! If you wanna draw robots MAKE YA ROBOTS! ITS FUN!!!

If it makes you happy, then create it! This is no one’s world���this here blog just happens to be yours! And what are your rules?? WHATEVER YOU WANT BUD LETS GOOOOOO

go crazy. Thats all. Also I still love your art, makes me want to binge puppet media. Always will love your art. Even if I don’t know whose bein’ drawn, you should draw to your heart’s content, I came here for your art not someone else’s media

LOVE, LAPPERDOODLELIKESURART!

OH MY GOODNESS THIS IS. SO SWEET EVERYONES BEING SO NICE TONIGHT THIS IS CRAZY IM SAVING THIS ASK FOREVER 💗💗💗💥💥💥

THANK YOU SO MUCH I FEEL SO GIDDY I CANT STOP SMILING YOU GUYS ARE SO NICE

[dont-look-its-embarrassing]

To Be Seen

Azriel x Reader

This is my first ever one-shot or fanfiction type writing on here, so be patient with me bc it will be FAR from perfect or good.

This is purely self-indulgent bc again, I'm new at this and just wanted to write an insert or y/n type little blurb.

Summary; Being the best friend of Feyre when she was human, you regretfully got roped in and turned with her sisters as a tool for manipulation by Hybern. As the sister's find it hard to settle in claiming the attention of the two other bats, you attempt to make Feyre's and the inner court's life easier by flying under the radar and figuring it out on your own. However, are you really as unnoticed as you hope or is a certain shadowsinger entrapped by your caring and soft nature as his heart battles his mind for the third sister or you.

Warnings: None really, mentions of PTSD and anxiety, loneliness and self-help, slow-burn, slight angst with a fluffy ending, reader just wants to be seen but feels like she can't ask

Word count: 2,389

Pt2

The sound of a door opening broke you out of your thoughts as you sat in the drawing room in the house of wind. The gentle crackle of the fire Infront of you allowed your body to sit comfortably within the rather cold season and the book you were just reading sat loose in your lap. You haven't gotten used to your enhanced hearing yet as your now longer and thicker hair gently fell from where you had tucked it behind your ear.

"Y/n?" Your best friend's voice echoed into the room as her footsteps followed. A soft smile spread across your features as she came in, confirmed you where there, and plopped down ungraciously on the couch next to you. "Thank the mother you are here."

Her features where stressed, the worry written all over her face as she took your form in.

"What's going on?" You ask, hopeful to help.

Feyre let out a sigh as she let her eyes wonder to the fire Infront of the both of you.

"Nothing. Everything. I don't know, it seems that everything I do to try and help Nesta and Elaine seems to only make things worse." She rung her hands, a trait she picked up back in the human lands when she was nervous or upset. "It just never seems enough to make them comfortable or to try and apologize for everything that happened."

Your best friend's eyes slightly widened as she took her gaze from the flames.

"How are you? Are you doing okay?" The genuine care and concern oozing off of the female Infront of you reminded you of why you cared so much about your friend in the first place. When she was taken, you had searched high and low for her in hopes to get her back only to have her return happy and healthy with a loving man, or male, doting on her every need. You were ecstatic, and expressed yourself as so, even if it was with fae beings. When you and her sisters were taken, that happiness was put on hold to make sure that you are all where comfortable. Feyre's self-sacrificing nature did always drive you mad, even now when she was so close to being truly happy.

"I'm okay Feyre." She shot you a look, trying to dig deeper and call the bluff you made. "Seriously, I'm here with you and in an amazing place that I could only dream of with great people."

"A lot happened Y/n. A lot happened to Elaine and Nesta, but a lot happened to you." She was right, and it was weird for you to be so put together when the worlds of the other two were falling to pieces. With your more emotional and strong relationship with Feyre, you had been held captive with her sisters yes, but you also took the brunt of interrogation that the wicked king deemed necessary to gain any information of her court. You had put yourself in that position, you knew how awful she would feel about her familial blood being brutalized in such a way, so you took the heat. But, in the end, her sisters still took the change harder and refused to accept their new life, making everyone on edge and overexerting themselves to help.

With one look at your best friend's-tired eyes, you knew that she couldn't handle another burden. More like she shouldn't have to handle another burden.

The word tasted sour on your tongue.

Burden.

Shaking your head a small gentle smile graced your face, and you forced your features to emulate that same energy.

"I'm okay Feyre, really. Aside from some cool new power thing that I haven't figured out, I'm fine. " The breath she released could only register as relief in your mind as she met your smile.

"Okay, and we will definitely start working on that when we are all settled here." Her reassurance did little to reassure that it would be investigated. Again, with the two sisters gaining war altering abilities, your random energy (that had yet to manifest) would be put on the back burner until everyone else was settled. Again, the slight dismissal ached, but you understood the need for others to take precedence.

Giving a little nod, you two sit in silence for a bit just listening to the crackling of the fire and enjoying each other's presence. That is, until a wince rippled across your friends face and she slowly rose.

"I'm sorry, I have to go. I think Elaine is out and not talking to Lucien and it's a mess-"

"It's fine Feyre, go make sure they are okay." You assure with the same smile. Giving one last 'thank you, I love you' she was gone like the wind that howled outside the windows. The silence that followed her exit had the ringing in your ears become a bit to unbearable. Removing yourself from the couch, you travel down to your room and grab a quick change of footwear.

Today would be a good day to explore the town, or at least good enough to get your mind out of the dark slump of trying to acclimate to its' new body and abilities.

Making your way towards the door, a small flicker of shadow catches your eye.

"Hello?" You call. You know that Rhys is most likely with Feyre and Azriel is also probably there because of Elaine, so you dismiss it quickly after a moment, chalking it up to just a trick of the light.

Opening the door, the slight chill on the wind has a shiver run through you, but the sun quickly chased it away. Breathing a sigh, you look at the vastness of the stairs below you.

No time like the present.

Taking one step at a time and avid breaks when needed, you would rather not admit to yourself just how much time that trek took. However, upon reaching the bottom, the satisfaction that filled you outweighed the journey. Walking down the streets of Velaris, the bustling normality of the people filled you with ease. As your heels clicked against the stones below, your gaze just missed the little shadow that trailed behind your body.

Taking in the colors and vibrant people, the ease and happiness that covered their faces had the ache in your gut grow more and more. Your mind wandered to if you would ever be that happy and mundane. With everything that had happened so far, the familiar life in the human forest (although had its struggles) seemed like an ideal. It was the lack of routine, lack of knowledge, the newly sprouted life, the misplacement, all of it plus more. You didn't notice your breathing gain more weight and take longer to fill your lungs than it did at the house. You also didn't notice the little skitter of the shadow that had followed you as it raced away towards some unseen location. The heat in your body seemed to increase as the sight of a simple family loving and walking together entered your mind.

Would anyone love you like this?

You couldn't think.

Ducking into a nearby ally, the overhead sheets and covering allowed it to be shaded and darker than the streets 20 feet away. Even then, the darkness of the ally seemed to illuminate with your presence there. However, it wasn't the light, it was the lack of grasp of oxygen you could inhale and the strenuous shaking your body couldn't stop. The tears that fell without your knowledge burned their tracks into your skin and sizzled as they hit the ground. Your body gave way to the spasms that took ahold of you as your mind raced. Burring your head into your knees, you attempted to shut the world out and let your mind slow but to no avail. You wished the darkness of the alley would swallow you whole, allow the sun and light to escape you being seen just this once.

Almost as if your prayers where in fact answered, the light surrounding you died as the darkness of the ally surrounded you. Picking your head up to view what cloud or magical being answered your plea, your eyes were met with those of hazel crouching Infront of you.

"Azriel?" You hadn't met this male for more than a couple days ago. He was nice, offering to go with you places or chat every so often. You had a couple nightly talks with him where you shared some stories between the two of you. Nothing out of the ordinary though, you felt safe around him when he was near. Confusion washed your features and for a moment your brain stopped running in circles and focused on why the male might be in front of you in this very unfortunate situation.

"You're okay." His large hands had gently pried your head from between your own. He Slowly, as if not to spook you further, reached for your hands and took them in his own. As twisted as it sounded, the morbid scarring that littered his skin grounded you further and pulled you back to this moment and out of that forsaken cell and cold water. "Focus on me, breathe."

The ease of your breath returned as the seeming dark cloud that surrounded you peeled back revealing that same dampened alleyway. However, the slight char on the walls and burns on the ground was distinct enough to question. Looking around, more of those marks surrounded you but faded as it got further from you. Opening your mouth to ask, a quick look from the male had you hesitant as he shook his head.

"One thing at a time sunshine." You nod, ignoring the small butterfly that hatched in your stomach at the nickname, but the pain in your head from the little outburst brought you back to reality. Bringing your hand up to caress the muscle between your eyes, Azriel scanned you from head to toe checking for any other possible injuries. "Let's get you back to the house, okay? Have Madja take a look at you and maybe give you something to help process."

Although the beginning of his statement was directed at you, for an answer, the second part was mumbled more to himself.

"Okay." The short response was all you could get past your lips as he sent you a small smile and opened his arms.

Looking at him questionably, he held back a chuckle.

"Have you never flown?" Shaking your head, no, you had never flown before. Winnowed? Yes, but never in the arms of one of the three males residing in the same house at you. The aspect of Azriel being your first had a little flush cover your cheeks. He approached you carefully, scanning your eyes for any aversion to being touched or space invaded. If you didn't just have a literally breakdown in the middle of Velaris, you could've sworn there was a deeper emotion residing in his eyes.

Guilt?

Worry?

Longing?

You couldn't place it and decided not to keep the process waiting. Taking a step towards him, he kept his arms spread out to accompany your space against his.

"Wrap your arms around me." His voice was lowered with your closer proximity. Slowly you brought your arms to wrap around the back of his neck. He waited until you settled there before moving to hoist you up into his arms and walk slightly out of the alley to give his wings more room to take flight.

While doing so, you couldn't help but settle into his warmth as it felt nice against our colder frame. With all the adrenaline wearing off, you were left shivering.

"Make sure to hold on." He noted, which was all the notice you got before suddenly you two were no longer on the ground. Tightening your grip instinctually, you shut your eyes as you could practically feel the male smile at your nature.

"How did you get down there anyway?" With the loud wind it was hard to hear, but again due to the lack of space between the two of you his voice rang clear.

"I walked."

"Down those?" Without realizing the easygoing atmosphere he created, you had peered open your eyes to look down at the stairs you both were currently soaring over. Only a brief look however as you still had some human tendencies and did have a slight aversion to heights.

"Yeah." You nodded and went to shut your eyes once more to finish out the flight, but as you did you caught sight of a new look on the spymaster's face.

Pride.

Landing as softly as possible, Madja was already there waiting for the two of you to arrive. Without thinking, you blamed it on the spymaster's shadows (but grateful they were there). Feyre also stood to the side of her, worry wringing her hands again and you let out a sigh of defeat.

Stumbling out of Azriel's arms, he steadied you, giving a once over before his high lady had shot him an inquiring look. She looked at you shortly after.

"You are never to lie to me again Y/n, you hear?" Her chastising voice was filled with love and worry all the same.

But before you could open your mouth to respond with a thousand reasons why you might, a certain male beat you too it.

"Don't go too hard on her, admittedly we have all been a bit busy to check in." You both glanced back at the male in question as his shadows wrapped around him in song. He has said it was so to promise his attention to fix the problem, which warmed your core.

"She will be okay Feyre." Meeting eye contact with him, he had sent you a small nod of his head and smile before disappearing into the dark.

Your best friend looked at you in question, but a deeper thought was spinning in her head. However, the little throat clear of the healer nearby jumpstarted the next 24 hours of care and therapy from your best friend and the best healers in Prythian. The whole endeavor couldn't tear your thoughts to a certain inner court male and the way his arms felt around you.

Maybe you would be okay.

[helluvapoison]

Make Me Weak

˚✧₊⁎ The Vees ⁎⁺˳✧༚

warnings: violence

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ

˚✧₊⁎ Velvette ⁎⁺˳✧༚

• Everything you are she should abhor– and would if it was anyone else— so she doesn’t pretend to understand how you weave into her life so easily. That time is instead spent wondering how the fuck she’s survived both her hellish lives without you

• Velvette always felt she was owed the praise and compliments she got. Receiving them from you was an entirely different type of high to ride. Your candied tone and sickeningly sweet words clung to her like smoke and had her itching for more

• You massage her hands so she has no choice but to surrender her phone, only then does she realize how cramped they’ve become. You sit in her workshop during Hell Week, sending a mellowing wave that relaxes her chaos in the form of a simple thumbs up. You make up for not being on the receiving end of her camera by setting up aesthetic dates for her to capture instead

• Velvette captures your chin, “You put up with a lotta my shit, Dollface. I’m not great at sharing credit, but I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“But I didn’t do anything?”

“You’re my muse, baby. Gimme the word and I can have you on a billboard tonight. Fuck Joanne, the raggetty bitch, I’ll bump her and have you up there for all of Hell to see!”

Your smile falters to a grimace, your eyes telling her what she already knows. Vel doesn’t get why you hate the limelight. This conversation always ends one way and if she hears you say one bad thing about yourself, she’ll tear out her hair. With a sigh, she tucks you back under her arm and kisses the crown of your head

“Fine. I didn’t wanna share you anyways.”

Your light laugh makes her smile again

˚✧₊⁎ Valentino ⁎⁺˳✧༚

• Val does everything in his power not to allow you to witness one of his volatile moments. He has a very specific image of you in his mind and to a looser extent, you do too. You’re not prim or naive that you don’t know what he does, but his violent tendencies are something else to behold. You’re too sweet, too pure to completely join his world

• It’s never bothered him before, seeing that look on someone’s face. The one where their eyes go wide in horror because they know exactly what comes next but there’s no telling what would happen if the pedestal Val put you on crumbled because you saw him grabbing a whore by the neck and using them as an ashtray

• Truly, no indulgence he’s ever sampled has come close to taking the edge off him like one of your hugs. Softer than angel wings and more intoxicating than any elixir, you’re euphoria trapped in a sinner’s body

• “I almost feel bad for keeping you to myself,” Val purrs in your ear. He’s been laying underneath you for six minutes and already the shittiness of the day evaporated, “I could bottle and sell you. Make everyone in Hell as happy as I am.”

A nervous, bitter laugh escapes you

“You wouldn’t make much money, Val.”

“I would make millions, corazón” He argues seriously, though he has no intention of sharing you

˚✧₊⁎ Vox ⁎⁺˳✧༚

• The irony is lost on him; someone as soft as you could bring him, an Overlord, to succumb. Below the surface, he’s more insecure than he lets on. He’s perfected the mask of a charming show host, developed it so well that it bleeds into his personality. So much so, that you make him glitch when he gets an inkling of self doubt. Your gentleness makes him weak and it terrifies him, fills him with the urge to push you away but your arms are so inviting that he lets himself be cradled by them. How could he do anything but?

• Rare are the days where he actually feels tired but those are the days he seeks out your affections. To him, you’re safe. You won’t judge him, you don’t pry for details, you’d never tell him to suck it up

• Vox lets himself sink into the couch beside you, tapping your thigh with a claw to invite you to come closer. You never fail to accept and deliver exactly what he needs. It’s bizarre how you know what he needs when he doesn’t himself. Turning to straddle him, you rest your head on his chest and hug him impossibly closer

• “You’re tense today,” You comment quietly, giving him a comforting squeeze.

“Come with me to set for once, you’ll find out why.”

Nuzzling into his chest as if trying to find his nonexistent heartbeat, you replied, “Nah. Sounds like too much of a hassle.”

“Exactly why I need you there.”

“Promise not to bring me on air like you’re always threatening to?”

A dry cackle escapes as he keeps his gaze towards the ceiling. Vox has this fanatical plan that you two could be the power couple of Hell, outranking Lucifer and Lilith (and lasting twice as long) if you would just sit at the same desk as him, deliver news and playful banter that would knock 666 News down a couple thousand pegs. You were worried someone wouldn’t want to see your face, you’d make his ratings plummet, you’d ruin everything he worked so hard to build. He hates when you spiral like that.

“No.” Vox mumbles honestly.

He’d prove you wrong like he’s done everyone else, one way or another

[jiayouqi]

✩‧₊˚ first time with him. | m!rover headcanons.

⋆.˚ ⁀➴ synopsis: it's just you and rover alone...so what's it like when things escalate between you two for the first time?

⋆.˚ ⁀➴ characters involved: male rover, gender neutral reader.

⋆.˚ ⁀➴ warnings: sub!rover, dom!reader, very soft first time, gentle, lots of praise, handjob (sub receiving)

⋆.˚ ⁀➴ notes: sub rover is literally something that infects my brain and i'm happy to let it do so. this is self-indulgent, being soft with subs is my achilles heel > <;;!! hope you all enjoy this as much as i like fantasizing about it! requests are open as always, please read rules before sending them in!

⋆.˚ ⁀➴ minors dni with this post/blog.

୨⎯ male rover ⎯୧

a pretty sub, both in looks and in how he sounds.

nervous, about to explode from how anxious he is at the prospect of you two going at it together for the first time.

worries that he'll do something wrong, so his touches are shaky and a little hesitant.

a bit shy, needs your guidance in order to help him understand the flow of it all.

a praise fiend, loves hearing that he’s doing a good job from you and how cute you think he looks when he’s in this state.

the briefest of touches sometimes can rile him up easily. 

going on the running theory that tacet marks are sensitive, he’ll whimper whenever your hand brushes against his, feeling his cheeks flush hot.

it’s the smallest of things for him that get him worked up. a soft kiss on his jawline down to the nape of his neck, the way you nibble his ear, the way your hand is gently rubbing circles on his hip bone, goodness he’s going to burst. 

has the cutest gasps. he’s always surprised by what you do, no matter what it is. 

by the time you actually get to his length, he’s already dripping from his pretty pink tip. he’ll whine and squirm, begging you to help him finish, help him release, help him with the mess you created. 

rover glances down at you with his golden eyes, gasping softly as he sits on your lap and grips onto your shoulders. he’s becoming undone by the second at every tease, every soft graze, every sweet nothing you whisper into his ear. he feels as if he’s going to go insane at this point, whimpering cutely as you gently grab his shaft into your hand. you lean your head a bit to the side, stretching a bit and kissing his tacet mark softly, which earns another small whine from him. 

“p-please, you can’t, i-i can’t do this, i need, i need…” he trails off, cut off by a soft moan as he leans forward and hides his face in the nape of your neck. it's a dizzying feeling, having you touch him like this. his legs are shaking, his pale white thighs on either side of your waist as he hiccups. rover can hear you smile when you talk to him, babying him through everything. 

“what do you need, pretty rover?~ use your words, sweetheart.” augh, there you go again with another compliment. he whines a bit, feeling a bit overwhelmed as he tears up.

“p-please, i need you. i need to cum, i-i’ve been so good haven’t i?” he’ll ask, his voice soft and hoarse as you hum for a moment. he takes your silence as a no sign, but when he suddenly feels you picking up the pace, he’ll suddenly get louder and more vocal. rover’s grip on you becomes harder as he bucks his hips a bit, moving with the motions of your hands to reach his climax faster. but, he doesn’t release until you let him by whispering into his ear that he can. he’s obedient after all, and he would hate to cum without your permission.

he lets out one last high pitched whine before he cums, making a mess on his stomach and yours, the pretty white seed spewing everywhere. rover’s breathing is staggered and shaky right after, hiding in your neck. he feels embarrassed when he feels your fingers brushing up against his soft tummy, whining softly as he hears you lick some of his cum onto your finger and exaggerate the noise of you tasting it. 

“you taste so sweet, rover~ you did such a good job for me.” you tell him, gently rubbing his back and coaxing him down from the high as he loosens up his hold a bit, clinging onto you cutely like a koala as he feels his breathing slowly steady out. he felt as if he just went to the divine and back, and it leaves him wondering when the next time will be.

[minkdelovely]

love and power

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧     ✧     ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

chapter ten: part two

“i won’t die for love but ever since i met you you could have my heart and i would break it for you.”

Alastor x Fem!Reader ; MDNI 18+ ; [y/n] used sparingly ; Alias in Hell is Sylvie

tags/warnings: nothing scary to report here — welcome to your happy ending 💖

word count: 8k

author’s note: cherished ones… i can’t believe we’re finally here at the end 🥲 it’s taken me much longer than anticipated to get this out, but i hope it’s worth the wait. allow me to extend my sincere gratitude to you all for hanging in there and going on this journey with me and this series. this started out as pure self-indulgence and turned into something much more along the way and i hope this is received by you as the gift i intended it to be. they’re not off the album i used as the platform for this series, but feel free to listen to rain and take me back to eden by sleep token, which i listened to A LOT while writing this. thank you again for all of your kindness and support. i truly don’t think i could have finished this without it 💖

prelude ; chapter one ; chapter two ; chapter three ; chapter four ; chapter five ; chapter six ; chapter seven ; chapter eight ; chapter nine ; chapter ten: part one ; chapter ten: part two

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧     ✧     ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

The last couple days had been… good.

Vaggie had approached you the morning after your little sleepover with Angel to see if you’d actually take her up on the offer of managing the hotel’s books. It was a welcome distraction, easily falling back into the routine of your old work. And honestly, their records keeping system needed a complete overhaul. It kept you busy and focused, hours passing like minutes as you honed in on creating the foundations of your system.

Funny how in Hell the work you had always approached with a level of disdain in life had become something to look forward to. Something that was all yours. It was nice. Familiar.

Ironic.

You also hadn’t gone to the bar — the biggest improvement, or at least the one you were happiest about. Feeling more like yourself again and less like your father, who had been no stranger to bouts of liquored-up sulking. It was not a way you wanted to remember him by, nor make a habit of for the eons to come. And beyond just feeling better without alcohol in your system, it was great to see Husk in a more friendly capacity again. Haunting his bar in the way you did wasn’t something you were ever planning to subject either of you any time soon. 

You were regaining a level of comfortability in your room as well. Sleeping better in your bed, which had been difficult to do. For the first few days you slept on the loveseat, where you’ve now spent the last two nights curled up with a book in front of the fireplace.

It was a decent distraction, but thoughts of Alastor still plagued you. Try as you might, it was hard for them not to. He felt so present as you went about your day despite maintaining the separation; feeling his aura hovering around you like a sixth sense. You wanted to ask Husk and Niffty if they felt it like you did — if at all — but hadn’t gotten the nerve yet to do so.

What if they said no?

It was too embarrassing even to think of. The possibility of it being some kind of adverse affect from sleeping with him making your blood rush to your face. 

Maybe I took a piece of him, too… 

The heat on your cheeks intensified at the thought. Isn’t that exactly what had happened?

Sure, in a literal sense he had been the one to take a piece of you. But in return, you had witnessed him in yet another state that no one else — in this building, at least — ever had. Just the fact that he had let you help undress him… That wasn’t something you look lightly, even at the peak of your anger toward him. The nervous way your heart fluttered against your ribs at the memory only further proved the point.

You wanted the opportunity to do it again. Undress him, that is. 

What followed after wasn’t of much consequence; you’d be satisfied just the same. Whether that was helping him out of his day clothes and into pajamas or preparing him to pound you into the mattress — either result was made from the same circumstance. You found you had enjoyed it even more than dressing down his bed for the evening, which had always been a nearly meditative part of your day.

Or, well… it used to be.

Did he even bother with that now? Hell, did he ever? Or was it just more busywork? If it was… you missed it.

Taking care of Alastor was tedious at times but it hadn’t been all bad. He was petulant too, which is probably why he was always deflecting and pointing the finger in your face. But past his venom there was charm. His euphemisms and anecdotes. Grumbling into the newspaper with his ears downcast whenever he came across an unpleasant article, which happened more often than not. 

He enjoyed his coffee black and extra hot, but god forbid if it was burnt. That was one of the first things you had been tasked with perfecting, and mercifully, had been able to accomplish. Alastor never made you handle his food, not out of lack of trust but courtesy. Due to the gruesome reality of what he enjoyed eating, it wasn’t a chore he ever charged you with. And you’d busy yourself with cleaning while he ate to allow him as much privacy as possible. 

As much as he adored the structure of his morning routine, beyond that the day was his for the taking. Living the monotonous life that you had, it was admirable. Sometimes inspiring. He had a mischievous, opportunistic outlook on existence — no doubt a quality that followed him into the afterlife — while you had been (presumably) buried jaded and trepidatious.

He was… fun. Even when he was irritating. 

Before Rosie pawned you off on him, the last time you had ever felt something close to fun was killing your grandmother. A horrifying revelation, but true, though that had more to do with the satisfaction you felt from it than anything. But fun was something that was right at your fingertips with Alastor, when you looked back on the last couple weeks. He had quite the proclivity for antics when he wasn’t being crushed by the weight of his self-imposed grandeur.

The memory of when he brought you back to the alley the day after what you had done came to mind. His inspection of the bag you’d left behind had upset you so much in the moment, but now all you can remember is the glimmer in his eyes. The nearly childlike glee in his fanged smile. Sure, it had been at your expense, but that was how he liked to joke. Satire and whimsy adorned with the pretty bow of his voice and charm.

But his jokes were sometimes too one-sided. His delivery too harsh and actions… demeaning. It wasn’t a facet he aimed at you often but the sting of his cruelty ran deep, almost to the bone. Your hand came up to your throat, the pain in your neck only barely subsided. It had been impossible to tell if the chain had bruised you under all of Alastor’s love bites, but if you were being honest with yourself, there was no way it hadn’t. If even just a little.

You made due with covering yourself up. Managing to find some high-collared button up shirts left to rot in the laundry room. Nothing a good washing wasn’t able to fix. And as the days passed and the marks faded, you were able to transition back into more familiar (and revealing, in comparison) pieces of your wardrobe.

Still, being left to your own devices when Alastor had been the one responsible for not only the marks but ruining the dress that would’ve easily solved your problems with its modesty nicked at you. Not that you had expected gifts after the argument, but considering how he made you wear that dress as uniform there was no way he didn’t have plans to provide a replacement that morning. But it never came. 

Instead he had given you a threat and left you on the floor in nothing but a towel, feeling used and humiliated and alone. And yet here you were, with a book in your hand you hadn’t absorbed the last few pages of because your mind was busy remembering the feeling of removing Alastor’s coat.  

Or how disheveled and boyish he looked the morning you went into his room without permission and found him in bed. The strain in his eyes before you walked into Valentino’s arms. His drawn brows and open, kiss-swollen mouth when he made you his own on the bed right behind you. That face would haunt you for the rest of your afterlife.

But there was another face that earned the honor, too. An expression that eclipsed even your grandmother’s worst sneer. Was what you said to him that morning really so outrageous that it had warranted such wrath and disdain? Alastor had been in quite a decent mood too, before the conversation took a turn. Not that it made you feel any better, but you couldn’t shake the feeling that it was something bigger than that. You had copped attitude before and Alastor had either laughed it off as a mild tantrum or course-corrected you before you even had a chance to realize it.

Beyond that, there were also the things he had done after you fell asleep, face buried in his scarred chest. The medicine he had waiting at the ready for when you inevitably woke up from the ache of his bite, which he had taken the liberty of cleaning and bandaging. He had more than likely done it by hand as well, the same as when he tended to it on your bed that awful morning. No magic, no minions. Despite being the least he could do since he inflicted the wound, that didn’t mean he had to do it himself. But he did.

Your stomach turned thinking about it. The force of his anger just didn’t match up with the efforts he took in caring for you after your entanglement. It was the push and pull you had been battling all week, and your eyes flitted to the door. Going up to his room wasn’t something you had entertained, knowing better than to try and call Alastor’s bluff, but the desire to speak with him now was a temptation you worried you’d lose the battle against. 

Knock.

The single, hollow sound echoing off the door sent a jolt through your body, sitting up from your relaxed position on the small sofa near the fireplace. It was Friday, wasn’t it? Meaning everyone had left the hotel already except for you and…

There’s no way.

Your pulse spiked. 

Maybe you just imagined it. Or the hotel was settling. Things like that could still happen to buildings in the afterlife, right? Ghosts and hauntings and creaks and groans seemed fairly on-brand for Hell. Alastor’s shadow — that you had found yourself missing as well — was proof of that all on its own. 

It was that final thought that brought you to the door, hand hovering over the knob as your breath thinned; perspiration beading your skin like morning dew. Tormented by the prospect that opening it would either reveal him or nothing at all.

Unsure of which you were hoping for as you let your forehead fall forward, a huff of air passing your lips. Eyes closed as you relaxed into the cool lacquer of the wooden door, reaching out. Alastor felt especially close now. Typical that he would show up now that you were not only beginning to feel better, but also reaching the end of your rope in your banishment from him. If you weren’t too busy fighting the whiplash of frustration and want coursing through you, you would have laughed. 

Even reconciliation had to be on his schedule…

If he was actually on the other side of the door wanting to make up, of course. This could all be your imagination, which would be particularly cruel on your mind’s part considering how just moments ago you were feeling so desperate to see him, if only just to talk. You sighed, condensation from your warm breath pilling under your mouth hovering near the door.

Was he really there?

Your hand gripped the handle in response, heart heavy and loud in your chest as you turned it and pulled. There was only one way to know for sure.

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

Alastor took you in as you opened the door. An apprehensive expression on your face, but with an underlying relief. Though he didn’t need eyesight for the confirmation. Your heartbeat and scent told him all he needed to know with an honesty that betrayed you for his benefit. It was rather unfair, wasn’t it?

The life coming back to your eyes did not go unnoticed, either.

He felt what was left of his vitriol drain out of him, and in a rare moment of self-deprecation he found himself hoping his unpolished state would put you at ease. Despite the lingering tension that was still eating away at him, he truly did wish to avoid an argument. Shouting matches were simply… nasty. In a way he did not much, if at all, enjoy. 

Conversation is called an art for a reason.

A true favorite of his and it was much more his speed. With such an adaptable form you could be fencing one minute and duetting the next. Unless, of course, the conversation was bad, which was a fate worse than death. But that hadn’t been a problem with you, for the most part. He’d like that to be the case now as he prepared to linger for as long as it took to reach some kind of resolution. 

Things couldn’t stay the way they were. He knew you’d both return to yourselves eventually, but you had gotten a head start on him. Leaving him to grasp at what was on the other side of this only in regard to himself. If ever he needed you, you’d be just a summoning away. Tied to him always by your contract. Something that typically provided a sense of security to the point of aloofness. But the uncertainty of how you would approach your days independent of him in the aftermath made him falter. Made evident by the color that had returned to your face, that spark of ferocity in your eyes. 

Deep down he understood that you would carry on. 

Tied to him, yes, but not entangled. There was an unpleasant tightness in his chest at the thought, his jaw flexing with irritation. He wasn’t through exploring this, relishing the fire he felt in his blood at seeing you again up close, lungs taking in your scent to feed the flame. Your racing heart a sonnet so sweet in a way that only he could truly appreciate. Feeding a part of him that either had not existed or had been lying dormant which, now awakened, was eager for more and he found himself wondering when it ever would be satiated.

More of your voice ringing in his ears, whether it was coated in insolence or lust… or laughter. More of your scent in his lungs, oxygenating his blood with the bliss of childhood summers. More of your taste on his tongue. Blood, sweat, tears. He’d take it all, or whichever morsels you were still willing to give him. Even if all that left him with was cordiality, it would be far better than letting you slip through his fingers. How wasted you would be on some tramp off the street. Not even taking into account that the average soul couldn’t appreciate your scent, attributes like responsibility and integrity weren’t typically admired here in the pit.

Who else could see you the way he did? 

Past the pout of your lips to the lethal fangs hiding behind them; that sleeping anger you managed to keep at bay but weren’t afraid to use if necessary. Would you ever reveal that ferocity and glowing eyes to someone else in the ways he had witnessed them — induced by tapping into some of your baser instincts? It made stomach twist just to think it. 

Alastor’s imagination began to run away from him then. Flashes of you making some other sinner’s bed, fetching their coffee, and picking up clothes. Drawing a bath, hanging their coat, laughing at their jokes. That now-dear sulk of yours aimed at the faceless menace when one of those jokes went too far. Phantom hands stripping you of clothes, cupping your face, roaming your body… holding your chin. And though his urges were few and far between, worse still was the thought of you crying out a stranger’s name like a reverent prayer, writhing underneath them as you fell apart.

Foul.

Bile scorched his throat as he fought to maintain his composure in your doorway. The filthy handprints he had just pictured all over you gone in the blink of an eye as his own hand twitched behind his back, eager to hold you once more and feel the heat of your skin soak into his palm. Easy as it would be to reach out and satisfy the urge he refrained from doing so, smothering his desire in his fist. Now wasn’t the right time to succumb to impulse. 

As much as Alastor wanted to pull you into his embrace he knew there was still a hatchet to bury. You had touched quite the nerve that morning, after all, and his actions had been less than genteel as a result. As justified as he had felt at the time, it settled in now as something he was less than proud of. Warranted… What a fool he was to think so. Though misguided, all you had done was try to make sense of things. You would be well within your rights to sever any further personal ties with him, and he swallowed against the anxious lump in his throat.

He had spent so much time wallowing in liquor, wasted countless hours justifying his anger toward you to ease his own unrest. Even if you had picked the fight… hadn’t he brought you right to the edge of it with his antics over the past weeks? In truth, hadn’t making you lose your composure been his goal from the start? He had certainly got what he wanted, just not in a way that was originally intended; culminating in a misunderstanding that threatened to keep parts of yourself locked away from him for, quite possibly, eternity.

Desiring someone’s comfort the way he did yours was something he never expected to have to face, let alone something he ever feared to lose. Alastor wondered for the first time how things between you would be had you met sooner. Granted, you had only been in Hell for two-or-so months, but he was a different man now than he was even then. The Alastor of two months ago still had his microphone, for starters. His sword and shield. Now nothing but another one of his corpses left to decay in the bayou.

That man hadn’t had his confidence shaken, his power drained. Alastor had felt so invigorated when he retreated to the radio tower to mend himself after battling Adam, but the healing process hadn’t been simple. Seeing as the weapon that caused the wound was made of angelic steel, Alastor expected it would take more time than usual, but he had underestimated the reality of it. So many arduous, slow hours had passed as he used all his strength just to make minute progress in closing the gash. It took a week to finally get it to seal, the scar barely formed by the time he encountered you at Rosie’s. 

Simply put, you had weathered emotional storms that he typically had much better control of. There was a sourness in his soul that had been poisoning him from the very beginning of your relationship, which you took — more often than not — in stride. As much as he felt there was no one who fully appreciated you, Alastor believed it to be a two way street. Whether there was anyone else who could take your place — paramour, caretaker, or otherwise — was inconsequential. He simply wasn’t interested in the prospect. Hadn’t he gotten along just fine in his relative solitude before you fell to suffer your infernal fate? 

It wouldn’t be the same.

It already wasn’t, in fact, which is why his feet had brought him here when his stubbornness wouldn’t. Opening the door to him was only the first step. You could still slam it in his face, effectively shutting him out; leaving him standing alone in the hall as the Overlord who owned your soul and nothing more.

He found it to be a dreadful prospect.

“May I come in?”

Even he could hear the exhaustion in his voice, making the question heavy in air as he watched you contemplate. Nervous fingers tapping the doorframe to the same beat as his heart before you stepped off to the side to make way for him. Alastor managed to fight the instinctual twitch at the corners of his mouth. Now wasn’t the time for smiling, despite the wave of relief he felt at your accepting of his request to enter.

As long as it takes…

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

You watched as Alastor practically collapsed on your sofa, massaging his temples with a single hand as he leaned back to cross his legs. Still doing his best to maintain decorum despite how worn out he was. Discontent, you shifted on your feet, not wanting to give into the pity you felt towards him too easily. 

As much as you tried to remember your anger, there was no denying the relief you felt at being near him again. Hearing his voice. And knowing he could pick up on it only made it worse. Would it ever be anything but an uphill battle for you when it came to him? Your eyes couldn’t help but look just past him to where you had fallen to the floor, left to console yourself in your shame and grief. The memory didn’t fuel what was left of your animosity, but pricked at your sadness instead, making you feel the weight of the day.

I’m so sick of this…

Alastor’s gaze followed you as you moved to take your seat next to him, picking your book up off the cushion and placing it on the small coffee table in front of you. His eyes and hand lingered on the cover as you sat down.

“I just missed the first draft,” he said quietly, static replaced with the distant sound of remembrance. Eyes never leaving your copy of A Farewell to Arms as he continued with a small, humorless laugh. “I was eligible for the others but the only Divisions I could have been placed in were booked. Funny, isn’t it, a quota on the worthiness to die at war? But I suppose that’s a conversation for another time…”

The glimpse of his human life caught you off guard. Vulnerability wasn’t something you expected from him, especially not in the wake of your argument; the admission was given so casually you couldn’t help but soften just a bit, leaving you hungry for more of his secrets. 

He turned to you then, somehow looking even more tired than he had before. “We have our own battle to rectify, don’t we?”

You sighed and positioned your body to face him, bringing your legs up to sit criss-cross. This was shaping up to be a long night, so you decided you might as well get this out of the way. Even managing to get a piqued eyebrow out of him from the sober look that was no doubt on your face as you considered what you were about to say. 

“I wasn’t lying when I told you that I enjoyed our…,” you trailed off, looking for the right word.

Our what? 

Things had become so muddled you weren't quite sure what to call it. Sex, obviously, but… it had felt like more to you in the end. No matter how many times you reminded yourself that it wasn’t supposed to be anything other than a one night stand at best — and had spent the whole week drowning your sorrows trying not to think about the worst.

“I know you weren’t.” He said it in almost the same tone when you had admitted it in the first place, but his eyes were soft. “I enjoyed it myself, the second time. I thought that was obvious, but when you asked about the pheromones that morning… they had nothing to do with it. Not that evening. I… initiated that. Which is why I was so incensed by the implication that I was acting outside of myself.”

The confession sunk to the bottom of your stomach. You hadn’t expected him to be so forthcoming and even keeled regarding it. And while you felt relief that the pheromones weren’t at play that evening — and that he had not only enjoyed, but desired it — you didn’t miss the implication of the words he kept to himself regarding how you ended up in this mess in the first place. The more you thought about it, the more you were beginning to understand why he felt the way he did. Was that why he had returned you to your room to wake up alone, because being in his bed was too much of a reminder? Had he really regretted it that much? 

Because you didn’t.

The truth was you had been more than willing to give yourself to him that afternoon. Yes, you knew something wasn’t quite right, but you didn’t know he was fighting against Valentino’s nasty little trick. You’d never know what would’ve happened if you had denied him instead, because that’s not what happened. Would he have gone into a rage? In the state he was in, that wasn’t an impossibility. In fact, that was what you had been expecting, wasn’t it? In a way you dodged a bullet — received his affections, however intense, instead of his violence. The bruised remnants of his mark on your shoulder were a dizzying mix of both. 

Though the ferocity you received the next morning… had it been lying in wait? Using the chain on you the way he did compounded by the words he spat at you was a tough memory to forget, to the point where you wondered if you ever could. He had only punished you that way one other time, but it had been nothing compared to this. Blood burned under your cheeks as you recalled how humiliated you felt. How different would things be right now if he had just let you stay?

“Look I…,” you sighed and ran a hand through your hair, but resisted the urge to look away from him. “I really do understand why you’re unhappy with how things happened that afternoon but…”

Here goes nothing.

“It’s something I’ve been aware of in myself for a little while but… you don’t know how much it meant to me, being touched that way by you and how you let me touch you back it —” You wiped a tear you couldn’t stop from falling and cleared your throat, but the thick, choking feeling didn’t subside. The pinched look on Alastor’s face nearly sent you over the edge, but you couldn’t stop now that you’ve started. He needed to hear this as much as you needed to say it. “It made me really happy, if that’s even the right word for it.”

It wasn’t. But you didn’t know how else you could try to tell him how wanted and safe you felt underneath him. That no one had ever managed to turn your blood to kerosene; every bit of him the match, the bed behind you kindling. At this point it didn’t really matter that you hadn’t known him for very long. You cared about him, much more than you ever expected to, and you wanted to be near him in whatever capacity you could be. Whether that made you his errand girl or concubine, so long as you were spared from the more acidic side of his temper.

“And when I think about how much you regret it, it kills me, even though I know why you do. But… I don’t. You didn’t take advantage of me, if that’s something you’ve been worrying about. Honestly, now I can’t help but wonder if it’s the other way around…”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he huffed, lightly exasperated as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’ve only ever gone along with my impulses and games. My behavior in this has been… unbecoming. I fear my mother would be quite ashamed, and rightfully so, but you’ve come to know me at a low point.”

Everything about him felt wrung out and far off, from his posture to the defeat in his unfiltered voice. It had been absent from the moment he asked to come inside, but for some reason was only hitting you now. Though you couldn’t fight the ache in your heart from the poor state of him, there was still more you needed to know before you could let yourself give in. No matter what subconscious queues your body was undoubtedly feeding him in the meantime.

“You say unbecoming…,” you began tentatively, worried that what you were about to ask could possibly upset him again. “Is that because of how you punished me that morning, or the toying you’ve subjected me to?”

If you had to choose, you really hoped that he’d feel apologetic for the chain. While they could be annoying, his games and tricks were mostly harmless. You had admitted to yourself not too long ago that you were even beginning to miss them. That was not a feeling you extended to the invisible leash that bound you to him, not the way it had been used then, at least.

Alastor removed the hand from his nose to meet your eyes, the speed of his movement catching you off guard. For the first time all night his eyes were clear and earnest; that steadfast, hypnotizing red you had come to seek and cherish.

“Would you accept it if I said both? By pushing you I think I may have set us up for the argument. I won’t say that what you said that morning didn’t upset me, since it did, but… Perhaps if I had given you less reason to think I was playing at another game it would have never happened in the first place.” 

His voice was soft as he held his left hand out to you, a different charge in the air as your eyes broke contact to flicker down to his open palm.

The olive branch.

There was no doubt he could hear the way your heart had picked up, nearly choking you with its fervor as you swallowed against it… and gave him your hand. 

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

“I was so humiliated that morning… I’ve been so mad at you.”

Alastor could hear the tears threatening to spill behind the statement, and he squeezed your hand before his thumb began to rub in soothing circles as you looked away from him for the first time that night. He took a quick moment to follow your line of sight and grimaced when he realized you were looking at the spot where he had treated you so harshly. There was nothing he could do to take back what he did. Regret was such an awful weight, reminding him of long nights trudging through the swamp to discard one of his victims. His mouth soured. It would seem he’d need to add your name to the list.

Things were never meant to end up this way. This… tangled.

He dared to lean forward, not that there was much distance to close on your quaint loveseat, and cupped your face with his other hand to draw your gaze back to his. The conflict in your eyes went right to his stomach with a kick — the chance that you would turn him away forever still there, but he was thankful you hadn’t rejected his touch. He really couldn’t have suffered through the empty ache in his hands for even another minute; the heat of your skin already refilling his cup.

And despite how much he wanted anything but, he knew he had to give you an out. It was only right.

“I was a brute… I can’t undo what’s been done but if you’d like me to leave you alone, I will. I’m not keen on releasing you from our contract, but I would let you leave this hotel if you wish.” The words scorched his tongue, but they were true. He would let you go if that’s what you really wanted. You deserved that chance. “It’s safer here, but I would know immediately if you faced any trouble. Well… any trouble you couldn’t handle yourself, that is. I know how capable you are.”

Alastor gave you a small smile, the first time his lips had curled up with any sincerity for days. It was the most generous offer he had ever given a soul under his heel, and your short, dry laugh in response was music to his ears. There was no bitterness in the sound, nor was there any coming from your scent, but that wasn’t an indication of what was going on in your mind. Something the Overlord needed to remind himself of more often. He took a moment to really breathe you in then, floral notes of almond warming him on the inside as your body warmed him from out. Would it be the last time he was ever surrounded by you like this? 

He didn’t know when his thumb began to absently stroke your cheek, but he loved the flush it brought to your face as you considered his words. A hint of iron gave the sweetness in the air just enough bite to make him swallow, his throat now parched and wanting. It took all he had not to close the remaining space between you, needing your answer before he would move an inch save the part of him caressing your face.

A jolt ran through him as your eyes locked onto his with a resolve that made his hair stand on edge, and he steeled himself as your lips parted to speak. Never could he have imagined that you would join the short list of people to hold his fate in their palm. And fewer still, one that he didn’t hold resentment toward having that power. There was security in your hold, not malice. Such a rare thing to stumble across even in life, let alone in this sulfurous chasm that had been home for the last near-century. As unworthy as he felt to receive it, the thought of losing it was even worse. He wasn’t in love… but it wasn’t impossible that he could be, with more time. 

If you would give it to him.

“I don’t want to leave the hotel,” you said quietly, and brought your free hand up to hold his chin in the same way he had held yours countless times. 

Alastor felt his ears lower despite how attuned they were to hear what you would say next, though the thumping in his chest didn’t help. To reach out and touch him of your own accord this way was bold, and he tried not to hone in on the bashfulness he felt burning his face. Why choose shame when he could have comfort? That was what he wanted, after all. A reprieve from The Radio Demon. There was nothing to be gained in postering, not with you. With you he could be… anything. And no matter your decision, he vowed to provide you with the same space. 

His schemes to mold you into something you weren’t fled him with every exhale of his lungs. It was a senseless desire… Remorseless murders were a dime a dozen here. Thrilling as it had been to see you decapitate that wretch with your teeth, the fact that you refused to do something akin to that again merely for the sake of it like so many others was refreshing. He could appreciate only killing with purpose. That had been his modus operandi in life, after all. Murder was a tool he now used to illicit fear and respect, though most souls here were free game to him even under his mortal code. You were not, and it had taken him much too long to acknowledge it.

“And I don’t want you to leave me alone… ever again, but…”

But…

The shakiness in your voice felt like the blade of a guillotine, hovering above his neck while he agonized over when you would let the rope loose and seal his fate.

“I don’t know if I could handle that again. The chain, your anger — ” A small sob escaped you then, tearing through him like a hurricane. 

Alastor didn’t even realize he was kissing your face until the salt of your tears registered on his tongue. Every little press of his lips an oath to never make you cry like this because of him ever again. And when your hands cupped his cheeks he only had a moment to relish in his relief, sighing against your skin before you captured his lips with yours. A familiar green glow enveloping you both as an unspoken agreement was made.

Peace.

What a magnanimous gift to receive. 

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

Low voices pulled you out of sleep, making you aware of the cold that was beginning to sink into the front of your body. You had been so warm… so comfortable.

Safe.

More mumbling at your door as you groaned, the grievance in the sound not lost on you even in your groggy state. It wasn’t lost on Alastor either, saying something you couldn’t decipher beyond its tone of finality followed by the closing of the door.

“It’s still the middle of the night sweetheart, don’t stir.” 

You didn’t even have time to ask who was at the door before he ran a soothing hand through your hair, maneuvering himself back into place in your bed. Pressing the length of his body in close against yours as he nuzzled into your chest, humming as he found the pulse of your heart. The warm, claiming kiss he placed there sent a shiver through you, your shared embrace tightening in response. 

“What’s gotten into you? You promised you’d be good,” you mumbled, wriggling a little from the way his breath tickled your skin.

Even to yourself the warning was half-admonishing at best. But you were also just barely awake. Fingers betraying you as they lightly massaged his undercut, his contented sigh making you hide your face in his hair as if he could see the flush on your cheeks.

You’d be stronger in the morning.

Pet names and kisses like this weren’t something you were expecting to receive again so soon. It had been discussed, and you had both agreed to try and take things slow. A fresh start, of sorts. While you were used to him calling you dear, it was a term he used frequently toward other residents as well.

Sweetheart was… special.

Which he no doubt knew. Most likely saying it when he did so he could press up and relish your rapid heart like you were none the wiser.

“I know, I know,” he conceded, his words muffled by your skin. Inadvertently kissing you more due to the sheer proximity of his lips to your chest. Feeling closer to you now than he had during intimacy.

And, admittedly, cuddling in bed wasn’t exactly what you’d call taking it slow. But by the time you had finished talking — and making out on the loveseat — the two of you were so exhausted that letting him spend the night had seemed innocent enough. Like platonically sharing a bed with a friend. Though that’s not a word you would use to describe what Alastor was to you.

More than friends, not quite lovers. Beholden to each other all the same. 

“Which is why I’ll only do this… for now.”

Alastor’s words and the warning, low tone of his voice hardly registered before you felt his tongue lap at the valley between your breasts, leaving a scorching trail in its wake that made your breath hitch. The soft groan from his open mouth right over your heart only making it beat harder, pleading for more of him. His large palm splayed against your back as he pressed you against his lips to nestle and kiss and suck, as if trying to pull the frantic organ through your skin through desire alone. You gasped as the light prick of his nails between your shoulders sent a fresh shiver down your spine, ending in a warm bloom between your hips as you curled into his touch. His responding needy hum as he grazed you with his teeth making you whimper.

Stronger in the morning…

“You’re not playing fair,” you complained, but it was a pathetic attempt at a scolding. You didn’t really want him to stop. Alastor’s responding chuckle told you that he knew it, too. The sound of it making your heart ache, and you were unable to suppress the small whine from behind your closed lips as he nipped and licked at your collarbone. “I missed you so much.”

You barely managed to finish speaking when he moved up to kiss you properly, slow and sweet, hand leaving your back to cradle the crown of your head. Melting into his touch, you moaned as his tongue entered your mouth; gentle and hot, coaxing whimpers and gasps from both of you as you tangled your fingers in his hair to keep him close. 

“I missed you, too,” he said quietly, nudging your nose with his. 

Tears fell unbidden as Alastor caressed and kissed the lingering bruises from his bite, seemingly determined to make them disappear through sheer willpower. Every little touch — administered or received — was comforting in a way that you feared would leave you insatiable, but the thought that formed in your mind through the haze of affection was a reassuring one.

This was eternity.

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

“Fess up, toots.” Angel plopped down on a chair across from you, gleaming as he rested his head in his hands and leaned forward conspiratorially. “You’re havin’ all kinds of sleepovers now, huh?”

You nearly dropped the mug in your hands from the sudden question, and quickly looked around to see if anyone else had overheard. Not that the reconciliation was going to be secret — which would have been impossible to pull off anyway, considering how much the two of you had been moping around the hotel — but you had hoped to at least make it through the morning with the knowledge kept to yourselves. 

“That was you at the door last night, I’m assuming?” The nonchalance you were aiming for just enough to get a laugh from him. “What did you say to him anyway?”

“Just that I was checkin’ up on my girl — which he did not appreciate me callin’ ya, by the way — after missin’ the big night out. I hope I didn’t send him to bed too mad.” Judging by the smug look on Angel’s face, he knew that Alastor definitely had returned to bed at least a little ruffled. “Buuut after I heard ya wakin’ up I figured I’d save the teasin’ for another day.”

“And you started bright and early,” you quipped, unable to help the smile tugging at your lips as you went back to preparing the breakfast tray. 

“Well ya ain’t exactly bein’ subtle, what with the two mugs and all,” Angel taunted, jerking his head in the tray’s direction, “but jokes aside… I’m glad you were able to patch things up with Smiles. Who woulda thought all it’d take was an empty hotel, huh?” He gave you a wink and you narrowed your eyes at the suggestion, but he cut you off before you could even begin to ask the question forming in your mind. “Look, I gotta run, but I’m expectin’ a full report when I get back from work, capisce? Oh! Speakin’a which — guess who’s supposed to be on set tomorrow?”

It was your turn to laugh. “It’s about time that lazy bitch went back to work. Making the rest of you pick up the slack is just rude.”

You both snickered as you added the finishing touches on the tray, rounding out the coffee with some croissants and fruit. It definitely paid to be in the Princess’ circle; grapes in particular were very hard to come by. There wasn’t much time to relish in your mirth with Angel before you felt a cool, slinking tendril climb up your leg. Alastor’s shadow soon emerging over your shoulder to glare at your friend and whine in your ear.

Angel put all four of his hands up in mock defeat and pushed away from the table. “Duty calls, I get it,” he chuckled and gave you a knowing look, popping a grape from the tray into his mouth before making his way out of the kitchen. “Make sure the boss man knows ya got plans for tonight, yeah?”

“Yeah,” you called after him, glancing behind you as the shadow growled at the spot where Angel Dust had been. Its face reverted back to sullenness when you pursed your lips, admonishing him with only a look. Any lingering irritation dissolved as it tugged at your sleeve, urging you back upstairs, and you conceded with a sigh. “You wouldn’t even be here to come get me if it wasn’t for Angel, you know. I expect you to be nicer next time.”

The shadow nodded its head and pulled on you again, its phantom grin quickly returning when you picked up the tray and began to walk back to the elevators. Baseless hostility toward Angel aside, it was hard not to smile as you watched it flitter across the floor; pausing every few feet to materialize and look back, ensuring you were right behind it. If your theories about this creature were right, it was merely acting as an extension of the demon you were making your way back to, and he was apparently quite eager for your return. A warm rush of pride left your body tingling at the thought.

Then again… it wouldn’t do well for the two of you to be late to your sudden appointment with Rosie. Who, according to Alastor, was very anxious to see you both and had something special planned that he had nothing to do with.

Yeah, right… 

When you entered your room, you found Alastor at the loveseat still lounging in his pajamas and you scoffed, “That was a lot of urgency from someone who hasn’t gotten dressed yet.”

“Well, I had to do something. Our mutual friend was getting you off-track. I thought we took the same pleasure in this morning routine of ours, but perhaps I’m mistaken?” Alastor’s tone was light, his smile teasing as he watched the blush burn your face.

You cleared your throat as you took a seat next to him after setting down the tray and decided to change the subject. What point was there in admitting what he already knew?

“Rumor has it that Donny’s finally scheduled back to work tomorrow,” you said conversationally, helping yourself to some of the fruit.

Alastor’s eyebrows shot up in surprise before his face lit up in a hearty laugh; the ebullient sound of it making the mark he had left over your heart radiate with fondness. His face sharpened with that menacing, debonair grin as he looked down at you while you poured his coffee.

“Took him long enough to pull himself together, didn’t it? You did do quite a number on him, darling.”

You hummed, pleased with the proud look he gave you, and passed him the mug; a shock running through you as your fingers touched. Silly, considering how you had been pressed together all evening… not to mention all the other marks he left that matched the one currently throbbing between your breasts. 

Even in life, you never could have imagined something like this. Sitting in the parlor with a suitor, giggling over coffee and breakfast after an evening of whispering sweet nothings between kisses. It would be foolish to think a peace like this could last forever, but this was the afterlife. Wasn’t peace the absolution from mortality and its fickleness? As you watched Alastor sip his coffee, his free hand absently massaging the back of your neck as he hummed along to the radio, you couldn’t help but think so. 

Peace, friendship, sanctuary, love, and power.

Hell wasn’t what you had expected it to be. It was home.

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧     ✧     ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

ps: a special shoutout to my darlings @hazelfoureyes and @sugoi-writes for giving me their shoulders to lean on while i worked on this final chapter. you both have listened to me ramble off ideas and scenarios and have supported me with such patience and grace… i don’t know how i’ll ever repay you but i will never stop trying!

pps: i do have plans for an epilogue, but don’t have a timeline on it just yet… stay tuned 😌💖

tag list: @fairyv-ice, @wat4r, @midorichoco, @raynerrold, @krak-jj, @tremendoushearttaco, @redfoxwritesstuff, @chibistar45, @kaylopolis, @cutiebimbo, @lousypotatoes, @rfox1998, @cosmiccandydreamer, @stardustandbrimstone, @cherry-cola-100, @wonderlandangelsposts , @catticora, @velvette3, @sailorsmouth, @alastorthirsty, @reath-solia, @junieshohoho, @cxrsedwxrlds, @fraugwinska, @littlebluefishtail, @nxcxllxsevens, @swagkittybear

[xenith-eats-stars]

Nightcrawler Aquarium Fic bc im insane

warnings: none i think, he just goes to the aquarium by himself. 1st Person from his POV

notes: first fic waooowww!!! too scared to write any ship stuff 😭 very self-indulgent, he deserves to be happy

I’m back here again. It must be the 5th time this month! I come whenever life gets too stressful. When you’re inside, nobody notices blue fur, not when everything is dark, and the only light comes from the blue fluorescents inside the tanks. Blue. A beautiful color, really, but also the source of so much… annoyance. Gott, Kurt. You’re rambling again. Go inside.

A quick glance around, and the coast - heh, coast. ocean pun - is clear. 

BAMF!

Ach, that echoed quite a bit… nobody noticed, I hope. Aquariums are rather quiet, save for the occasional noisy chatter of children. Children whom, while small and cute, tend to scream at the sight of me, so I’d rather avoid them, at least for today. If there are any here, that is. It’s a rather slow day, which is why it’s a perfect day to go! Nobody to gawk at me, just me and the fish. Or is it the fish and I? No matter.

Another great thing about teleporting is that I don’t have to pay to get in. I always feel a little guilty about it, which I suppose is a good thing. But this place always ends up getting at least a little money out of me. It’s not my fault they sell such cute things at the gift shop! Getting to take a little souvenir home is half the fun of coming here, if you ask me.

“I think I’ll see the sharks first this time…” I mutter to myself, slinking off towards the entrance to the ocean exhibit. Sharks are like me, I think. They’re given a reputation for being dangerous, but once you’re around them enough, they’re friendly. The sharks here don’t do much, just swim back and forth. But they seem content. Just looking at them, watching how gracefully their bodies cut through the water, it makes me happy. I’ll move on for now. Tschüss, sharks!

Oh, touch pools. The poor fish in here must never get a break, what with everyone trying to touch and grab them. Maybe they’ve gotten used to it? I doubt it. I’ll leave them alone, give them some peace and quiet. I don’t feel like getting my hands wet, anyways. 

I dive into the shadows as a father and his daughter walk through the entrance into the touch pool room. They don’t notice me, thank Gott. But how sweet, a daddy-daughter day at the aquarium! It must be fun getting to not only enjoy the fish, but also watch as your child enjoys them too. It’s a good bonding experience. I’ll go the way they came in, give them some space to enjoy themselves.

A floor-to-ceiling tank, taking up an entire wall of the room. Inside it, hundreds of jellyfish. They pulsate and wobble, aimlessly floating, all of them in their own little worlds. I wonder what they think about. Do they think? Or do they just let life take them wherever? Should I be more like the jellyfish? Or should I move on and stop being so existential? I choose the latter. These are creatures that eat and defecate from the same opening, after all. Yuck. Goodbye, and good riddance.

“Aah!” I yelp, suddenly being blasted by a flurry of bright color. I slowly open my eyes, and am greeted by the sight of the coral reef tank. “Oh, Scheiße… rather bright bunch, you all are!” I joke, the fish not responding, because why would they? All they’re occupied with is looking colorful and darting around the various corals. How many kinds of corals are there, even? An information screen catches my eye. “6,000 known species?!” I mutter in disbelief, “Was in aller Welt?!” I look over it again, and sure enough, the number is correct. I shake my head, chuckling to myself. A flash of orange, just in my peripheral. 

A clownfish, barely the size of my hand, darting around. He’s a nervous little guy, I assume. A shame, really. He’s a beautiful orange color, with white stripes on his tiny fish body. I wiggle my finger near the glass, and he swims to it, investigating this strange, blue intruder. The clownfish circles around my finger, examining it from every possible angle. I move it up, and he follows it. Back down, he still follows, his little fins flapping eagerly. I smile in spite of myself, my tail swishing back and forth. We’re like kindred spirits, the clownfish and I. I’m just as curious about him as he is about me. Eventually, he bores of our little game of chase, and swims off to rest in an anemone. How cute, it’s a like little house! Just for him! I wonder if he’s renting. His landlord must be one of the sharks. I wave goodbye to my scaly little acquaintance.

A few quick stops by the freshwater tanks, and I feel serene enough to return home. On my way out, I stop by the gift shop, because why would I not? Odd, there’s nobody at the counter. I suppose I’ll just leave the cash for my purchase. Perusing the selection of soft plush toys, I see a stuffed clownfish. I pick it up, feeling the soft fabric of its body. I give an experimental squeeze. Soft. The tag proudly announces that 50% of profit from purchase goes to conservation efforts for wild fish. The toy’s button eyes stare blankly into my yellow ones. Oh, Warum nicht? I pay for the stuffed toy - $19.99, rather expensive! He’s worth every penny - and BAMF! away.

I arrive in my room, and I set my new plush friend on my bed, right next to my other aquarium souvenirs; a stuffed octopus, whale shark, and seahorse. I give each of them a pat on their soft heads. They look like they would make for a great band. I chuckle at the prospect. The octopus would play the drums, no doubt. The whale shark, the guitar. The seahorse would play the saxophone, and the clownfish would sing. That would be fun. 

“You’re being ridiculous, Kurt.” I reprimand myself, “Sea creatures can’t play instruments. Much less stuffed toy versions of them.”

Ah well. No matter. It’s good to let your imagination wander, methinks.

Thanks for Reading!! :3

[togrowoldinv]

Coaching Lizzie

Elizabeth Olsen x Reader

You are tasked with coaching the cast of Love and Death on volleyball skills. One actress in particular catches your attention

Note: Super self indulgent Lizzie fic time! I haven’t written for her in forever, so I wanted to do something fun. Enjoy!

Elizabeth Olsen Masterlist, Main Masterlist

As soon as you graduated college, you knew what you wanted to do. In whatever way, shape, or form you’ve wanted to coach volleyball. It’s your dream job.

So, when you got the opportunity to coach at a high school you jumped on it. But you never expected that to turn into something more.

One of your player’s parents works in the television industry and knew of a show looking for a volleyball coach. It’s off season so you thought why not go and make some extra money.

And that’s how you find yourself standing in front of her. The Elizabeth Olsen. The Scarlet Witch. You have to admit you’re starstruck.

You clear your throat and speak to the group of actors.

“Hey everyone, I’m y/n,” you say. “I’ll be working with y’all on your volleyball skills. I know you all know each other, so I’ll try to pick up your names quickly.”

“First, we’ll partner up and warm up. One partner come and get a ball from me, please.”

The group pairs up while you get the ball cart ready. The first few people approach you and get a ball.

But when Elizabeth approaches you it’s like the world stops spinning. You hand her a ball and shiver when her hand brushes against yours.

“Hey I’m Elizabeth,” she says, holding her hand out for you to shake.

“Hi, it’s so nice to meet you,” you tell her. “I’m a fan of- um- well you.” You take her hand and you swear her face turns a shade pinker.

“Thank you,” she says. “I should get back to the-“

“Yeah, yes of course,” you say nervously.

She walks back to the court and you instruct the group on how to warm up with hand contact drills. You do a much lighter version of what you make your high school girls do, but the group picks it up quickly.

You get them working on passing and setting next. It’s eventful, to say the least. Not all actors are athletic. You do have a standout though and you love it.

“Okay, before we go any further, have you any of you played volleyball before?”

Elizabeth is the only one to raise her hand.

“I noticed that,” you tell her. “Let’s take a water break, team.”

They feel a little silly but laugh through a team huddle before saying the word ‘sip’ on three. An old volleyball habit of yours.

You watch as Elizabeth stands back on the end line, ready to play some more.

You approach her. “Elizabeth, were you a setter?”

“I was,” she answers. She turns to you with a proud smile. “Could you tell?”

“Oh yeah. You’ve got setter’s hands,” you say.

“I always had so much fun playing,” she says.

“I bet. And same for me. That’s why I coach now.”

“You coach high school?”

“I do. It’s super rewarding,” you tell her. “Maybe once you get a break from being like the greatest actor of all time, you could coach somewhere.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” she says, trying to dodge your compliment. “Maybe.”

“You could. You’ve got the skills, Elizabeth.”

“You can call me Lizzie if you want. I’m not sure why I didn’t say that when I introduced myself. I just got nervous,” Lizzie says.

“You’re nervous?” You ask. She nods and you can’t help but chuckle a little. “I’m right there with you, Lizzie.”

Before you can continue the conversation everyone is back from their water break.

The rest of the practice time is spent with the actors getting somewhat into positions and playing volleyball.

You bid them a goodbye and you repeat the process over the next week. Everyday you and Lizzie talk a little more and your heart fills up with happiness.

On the final day, Lizzie comes up to you after practice. Everyone else has left.

“Hey, do you maybe want to grab dinner?” Lizzie asks.

“Missing your favorite coach already, huh?” You get a wave of confidence. Lizzie blushes. “Yes, I’d love to get dinner.”

“Great,” she says, smiling at you. “I can drive.”

You follow her outside and to the infamous Prius. She notices you giggle at the car.

“It gets good gas mileage,” she says with a chuckle.

“I wasn’t saying anything,” you reply.

You get inside and Lizzie turns on some 70s music. You raise your brow but she explains that she’s trying to listen to music that her character would. You have to respect her process.

At dinner, she orders some southern comfort food and you do the same. Along with some drinks. After you’ve both had a few the conversation becomes more open.

“So, what’s next for you?” Lizzie asks.

“Back to coaching at the school,” you say. “What about for you?”

“Well, after this show I’m not sure. Maybe just relax for a while.”

“No new Marvel movies?” You ask her. She shakes her head. “Come on, you can tell me I won’t tell anyone.”

Lizzie giggles and raises her hands in mock surrender.

“I may know something,” she says.

“I knew it!”

“But I can’t tell you!”

The two of you laugh together for what feels like forever.

“I wish you lived in LA,” Lizzie randomly blurts out.

“Yeah? Why’s that?” You lean forward in your chair.

“I just- I’d- I might ask you out if you did,” she says. She ducks her head like she doesn’t want to see your reaction.

“Oh, Elizabeth, if I lived in LA, I’d marry you,” you tell her.

“Oh really?” She replies, a smirk on her face. “Not even date. Just like marry.”

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re Elizabeth Olsen,” you reply.

“Ah.” She leans back in her chair. “You’d marry me for my power.”

“Nope.”

“My beauty?”

“As beautiful as you are, nope.”

“My name?” It’s her last guess.

“No,” you reply.

“Then why?” She asks. Her eyes twinkle under the lights as she looks at you with intrigue.

“Because you’re you,” you say. “Not because of what anyone else thinks or whose family you’re a part of. Because I like you for you.”

Lizzie is at a loss for words at how to respond to that. She’s not sure anyone has ever seen her like this. So brilliantly, abundantly clearly.

After just one week of knowing her, you have completely captivated her.

You get the check and ride with Lizzie back to your car. Before you get out of her car, you turn to her.

“So, I guess this is goodbye,” you say. You lean closer to her just enough to put yourself out there.

“Yeah,” Lizzie says sadly. She glances at your lips. “Would it be wrong to kiss you right now?”

“I think it would be perfect,” you say.

With that, the blonde woman leans and presses her lips against yours. Her hand holds your face as yours holds the back of her neck to pull her closer.

It’s the best kiss of your life without a doubt. The softness of her lips mixed with the urgency of her kiss feels so good.

“Fuck, that was amazing,” Lizzie says once she pulls away for air. She can’t stop herself from smiling. You share the smile.

You kiss her again softly and you both keep smiling so much that you have to stop kissing.

“I’m going to miss you,” you say.

“I’m going to miss you too, y/n,” Lizzie says. “Will you call me?”

She hands you her phone and you type in your number. She sends you a text so you’ll have her number.

“I’ll call you, Lizzie.”

“Good,” she says. A smile rests on her face.

You kiss for a little while longer before it gets far too late to be out. You again promise to call her.

Something beautiful bloomed this week and you’ll never forget it. You’ll never forget Lizzie.

[toxycodone]

modern au laios when you tell him you wanna go on T. its anxiety inducing but honest to god i see him going like “oh yeah, i didnt wanna push you but honestly i was wondering when you were gonna tell me.” absolutely taken aback but still nervous, telling him about all the effects: but ill look and smell and sound different and what if you dont like me anymore?? he looks up and thinks for a moment before resolutely saying “hmm, no i dont see that happening.” its hard to rid yourself of the seed of doubt until hes there with you at your appointments and helping you with your injections and pointing out new sprouting hairs and excitedly measuring your tdick growth before sucking it down like hes a parched man in the desert -ez

Oh this is the most self fucking indulgent ask you could’ve sent me ez. Do you want me to die. I am going to explode. FUCK.

ship. Laios Touden x Reader

content. sfw + nsfw. ftm!reader + gender dysphoria + Laios just being a good boyfriend for transitioning reader

OH MY GOD. Yes yes yes. Laios’s sexuality is so fluid to me. He’s just attracted to YOU. You looking different or being different doesn’t phase him at all

Like when you bring up how T will change your body and stuff he’s just like 🤷 so. You’re still gonna be you. And like. That may be hard to believe at first but then you come to see just how genuine he is,,,

Laios sits in on your doctor appointments and actually LISTENS. Learns how taking testosterone will affect your body + voice + even your personality at times and like. He’s preparing himself mentally for it all.

When the doctor demonstrates how to give yourself a T shot, Laios watches intently. And the next appointment he asks the doctor to let him do it and show him (if it’s okay with you).

And when you’re feeling dysphoric, Laios just listen to you and hold you tight. He’s not the best at reassuring you besides just being honest, because you’re always going to be a man to him. And that’s his form of validating you. But he lets you vent and be sad and just kisses you sweetly and tries to get your mind off things

BUT HES ACTUALLY SO FASCINATED BY HOW TESTOSTERONE CHANGES YOU!!! Like oh my god your voice? Your body hair?? He’s like fangirling. Laios is probably equally if not more excited than you are about the changes happening to you. Because not only is biology and the human body amazing but! You’re becoming more yourself!! He sees just how much happier and how confident you are and is just over the moon. It makes him happy to see you happy

AND YOUR T DICK. FUUUUUCK DONT EVRN GET ME STARTED

Laios calls it your cock without even being prompted he’s like “you’re growing a penis,,,” and is all 👀

MEASURING IT. Y E S. he’s so enthralled by like how much your body is changing it’s insane to him in the best way possible.

He’s gotta have it in his mouth IMMEDIATELY. He’s slurping on that shit like no other it’s gross because he’s just not even holding back the gross wet sounds

AND. HE. HE NEEDS YOU TO FUCK HIM WITH IT. Immediately. He doesn’t care if it’s short and if you wanna do it with a fake sheathe he’s totally fine but PLEASE. Fuck his ass. He needs it.

[puppyypaws]

trick or treat!

cg! clockwork / cg! jane the killer / feminine! regressor! reader

AN: special halloween fic! this is extremely self indulgent but i hope yall still enjoy! i also left the costume ambiguous! so you can imagine whatever you dressed up as, or what you would have liked to dress up as! also, in this universe, regressors are known and accepted! sfw interactions ONLY! do not sexualize!

CW: the d and s word said by natalie. pottymouth!

tonight was a very exciting night for you! it was halloween, and your caregivers were taking you trick or treating!

you were beyond ecstatic, having talked about this all month. halloween was also jane’s favorite holiday, so she was more than happy to indulge in all the fun festivities with you.

jane and natalie were a little worried about going out tonight. being who they were, they couldn’t exactly make a lot of appearances in public for fear of getting caught. however, they figured it would be dark enough tonight that no one would really recognize them. if someone did, they could disguise as edgy teenagers who thought it would be funny to dress as crazed killers.

jane had handmade your costume, pouring love into every stich. you eagerly told your caregivers you wanted to go as a ___ this year, and jane got straight to work.

“oh darling, you look absolutely adorable!” jane gushed, admiring you in her handiwork.

you smiled, and bounced around a little, happiness filling your little body. your mind felt all fuzzy and small, and you couldn’t wait to get tons of candy.

natalie came up behind you, swiftly putting a jacket on you before you had time to protest.

“mamaaaa,” you whined, resisting the urge to stomp your foot a little. you didn’t want the jacket to cover up your pretty costume!

“sorry kid, but it’s gonna be pretty cold tonight. we don’t want you gettin’ sick or anything,” she said, booping your nose.

“besides, mama and mommy are wearing their jackets too! it’s better to be safe than sorry, darling.” jane chimed in, pulling a black overcoat on.

you wanted to pout, but quickly realized it was better to wear a jacket and go trick or treating, than not go at all.

once everyone had their jackets and shoes on, natalie looked down at you, smiling a little,“you ready to go kiddo?”

you nodded eagerly, clutching the handle of your plastic pumpkin eagerly.

-

-

the three of you arrived to the neighborhood you would be trick or treating in. your eyes widened at all the people who filled the streets. children, regressors, and adults alike were all dressed up.

“i’d say your the cutest one here, pumpkin,” natalie said, holding onto you shoulder gently. “everyone else’s costumes look cheap.”

“well, not everyone else can have a wonderful hand-made costume, now can they?” jane said, a hint of pride in her voice.

natalie snorted, linking arms with jane and holding hands with you.

“remember kiddo, you gotta be holding mine or mommy’s hand while we’re walking okay? don’t want anyone to snatch ya up.”

you nodded, eyes wide at the thought. nat would always say she was the laid back one, the “fun” parent. but everyone knows she was just as much of a worry-wart as jane.

as you made your way to your first house, you felt a wave of shyness come over you. in your excitement, you didn’t really think about how you would have to talk to strangers. you stood just front of their short driveway, hesitating to go up to them.

“what’s wrong, my love?” jane asked, worry lacing through her voice.

“m scared,” you mumbled. “strangers.”

“ah, kiddo,” natalie cooed, placing a gentle hand on your shoulder. “ya don’t gotta be nervous. just go up to em and say “trick or treat!” and they’ll give ya some candy.”

“and me and mama will be right behind you the whole time!” jane said gently.

you smiled at them, suddenly feeling a bit more brave. you took a deep breath and made your way up the persons driveway. two woman sat on lawn chairs on their porch, a big bucket of candy sitting in one of their laps. they both smiled at you gently, probably assuming you were a regressor.

as you walked up to them, your eyes widened at sight of how much candy you had. you couldn’t even pick!

“you can take two pieces honey,”one of the ladies said softly, and you nodded shyly.

you reached into the bucket, taking two tiny pieces of chocolate and putting them in your bucket.

“what do you say?” natalie asked and your eyes lit up. jane was very adamant about using your manners!

“thank you!” you beamed.

the two ladies smiled at you, waving bye and wishing you a happy halloween.

“see, that wasn’t so bad, was it kiddo?” natalie asked, grabbing onto your hand.

you shook your head. you were having fun so far! and you were very, very, excited to eat your candy.

you went up to the next house with a little bit more confidence, holding out your bucket with a bright smile.

“trick or treat!”

an older couple smiled, reaching in to give you a few pieces of candy.

“and what are you supposed to be, little one?” the older man asked you.

you looked back at your caregivers shyly, and thy gave you an encouraging smile.

“‘m a ___! “ you said, bouncing on your feet.

“you look so cute!” the older lady gushed, and she looked like she wanted to pinch your cheeks. “your costume is so pretty!”

you smiled, running your fingers of the pink velvet. “thanks! my mommy made it!”

the older couple looked at your caregivers and you watched as their eyes widen a little, a stricken expression on their face. sometimes people looked at your mamas that way, they didn’t look exactly normal. however, you didn’t think they were scary at all!

“well, she did a wonderful job.” the older lady said, her voice strained.

you smiled and said thank you, before toddling off to the next house. you took jane’s hand as the two of you walked the neighborhood sidewalk.

“oh, damn. we totally scared the shit out of those old people!” natalie said, cackling. she loved to get a rise out of people.

“nat, language!” jane scolded her. honestly, you were more well behaved than your caregiver.

fortunately for jane, you weren’t even listening to nat’s foul language. the next house you made your way up to had some rather spooky decorations! one of them was a fairly realistic zombie animatronic. any other kid would be scared of it, but not you! being around your caregivers and their friends (or more so coworkers) has made you pretty immune to anything scary looking!

you toddled up to the porch, holding out your bucked and yelling out an enthusiastic “trick or treat!”

“awwww!” the man at the porch said. “is this your all’s little one?”

your caregivers both nodded, nat smiling brightly. “yep. adorable, ain’t she?”

“the cutest! my kiddo is out running around somewhere,” the man said, putting a fistful of candy in your bucket. “he’s a bit older though, and with some friends, so he’s fine.”

natalie snorts, pointing a thumb at jane. “this one hardly lets her out of our sight.”

jane rolled her eyes, not one for talking in front of people she didn’t know. the man only laughed.

“hey, i don’t blame you. you gotta do that sometimes, especially with the smaller ones.”

this conversation was going on for far too long! you were eager to get to the next houses and get as much candy as you could. you impatiently tugged at jane’s sleeve, silently communicating you wanted to move on.

“ah, i think we should get going,” jane said, her cool voice coming to save you. “thank you for your kind words.”

“thank you!” you parroted your mommy.

“hey, no problem! you guys have a good night,” the man said, looking at your caregiver’s and then looking at you. “make sure you get lots of candy, little one!”

you giggled before happily walking off with your caregivers, your hand in jane’s.

the three of your made your way through many more houses before your bucket was starting to get full and the sun was starting to set. you found yourself pretty tuckered out by the time jane said it was almost time to head home.

“ya getting sleepy, kiddo?” natalie asked in amusement as she watched your dragging footsteps.

you nodded, looking up at her with wide eyes and making grabby hands. your feet were starting hurt and you were sleepy!

your mama chuckled before taking you in her arms, carrying you as the you all started to make your way back home.

jane looked over at you , ruffling your hair. “she had a big night.”

“had fun,” you mumbled sleepily, your face smooshed against nat’s shoulder.

your caregivers shared a look of fondness, happy that their baby had so much fun.

“i’m glad, darling. mama and i had lots of fun too.”

eventually, the three of you made it back home. it was quite past your bedtime and you were definitely feeling it. however, all you could think about was how much candy you had gotten. you filled up your whole bucket! you wanted to eat it all!

“candy please?” you asked sleepily, making puppy dog eyes at jane.

“that’s gonna be a no, darling. it’s very late, and we still need to brush your teeth and get you in bed.”

“pleaseeeee!” you whined.

jane chuckled, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “no means no, my love. you can have a few pieces with your lunch tomorrow, okay?”

a pout started to form on your face, but you still nodded. you supposed you could wait till tomorrow, but you weren’t happy about it.

jane strutted off to go start your bath, leaving just you and nat in the kitchen. you looked up at her with pitful and sleepy eyes, and she just couldn’t take it! she fished out a small piece of candy quietly, and slipped it to you with a wink.

“don’t tell, alright?” she said, a fond smiled gracing her lips.

you nodded excitedly, throwing your arms around her.

“thank you, thank you mama!”

natalie giggled, returning your hug. “shhh! you’ll get us in trouble kiddo.”

eventually, your caregivers got you ready for bed. well, more like jane did, and natalie was scolded the entire time for trying to “rile you up.”

you drifted off in a peaceful sleep that night, dreaming of candy and your caregivers. <3

bonus:

jane had just finished putting you to bed. honestly, she felt quite exhausted too. it has been the best night with her little one, but she was definitely ready for bed!

she walked into the kitchen to find natalie picking around in your halloween bucket.

“really nat? stealing candy from a baby?” she scoffed, leaning against the kitchen door.

natalie threw her hands up in defense. “hey, it’s mama tax, okay? i took the kiddo trick or treating, so i get first pick on the best stuff.”

jane rolled her eyes playfully, stealing a tiny chocolate bar. “i don’t think that’s how it works, but okay.”

[b4mpyre-k1zz3s]

could i request some chris pontius or steveo x shy reader? where maybe it's her first day on set and she like works in makeup and he's just flirting w her making a blushing mess lol tysm

Cat and Mouse

Y/N gets her first real job and gets caught up in a romance she could have never imagined!

Steve-O X Fem!Reader

(Fluff)

2.8k Words

Warnings: Suggestive content, slowburn, flirting, teasing, crude language, drinking, accidental injuries, praise, stalkerish behavior from Y/N if you squint

An: Thank you so much for the request!! Finals hav been kicking my ass lately but I somehow managed to crank this one out XD There’s something about the dynamic of this fic that just enchanted me and I would be more than happy to write this kind of fic for some of the other guys! I’d especially love to see what would play out with Johnny, but maybe that’s a little self indulgent X) Anyways, as always, my requests are open and I’m still accepting fic requests for my 100 follower special, so keep sending them in!! I have a few good ones of my own coming down the pipeline so keep your eye out! ;)

It was your first day on set, so it was understandable that you were nervous as you walked into the trailer on the Paramount lot, your makeup kit in tow. All you were told when you first got the job was where you would report to and that you would be working on a movie set- that’s it. Kinda sketchy but hey, maybe it’s a privacy thing. It was just you in the makeup trailer as you collected yourself, taking a deep breath as you flipped the bright white vanity lights on and started to set up your gear on the counter.

You were so immersed with arranging brushes and products that you didn’t even hear the trailer door open as your client walked in, only being alerted to his presence as you felt the foldy director’s chair he was sitting in shift a little as he took a seat. Holy shit. Speechless, you blinked a few times, trying to register who you were looking at- not that you didn’t know him, it’s just this was too good to not be some dream. “Are- are you Steve- O?” He chuckled, flashing you that boyish smile as he sat back in his chair, “In the flesh, baby.”

It was about then when you realized that maybe you were leaning a little too close to him- your boobs were practically squished against the back of his head. He didn’t seem to be that bothered by it, not looking upset in the slightest as you stepped away, blushing. It would be impossible to deny that you’d had a crush on Steve ever since you saw him on TV, back when he was swallowing goldfish for a living, and this first impression wasn't helping the feelings that stirred inside of you.

Trying to distract yourself, you grabbed a shade of concealer that looked like it matched his skin tone to cover up the blotchy mauve shiner that covered nearly a quarter of his face- a product of a movie star lifestyle you could only dream of. “Hey, don’t worry about it.” Steve gestured to the glaring mark with a finger, his voice low, “Kinda wanna keep it there. Looks pretty rad, y’know?” You nodded, the only response your body could give, your eyes wide. He seemed so cool, so calm in comparison to his usual obnoxious stunt dude behavior.

And so you continued with what you were being paid to do, trying your damnedest to stay professional. This was hard, especially when you needed to lean in towards him, maybe four inches away from Steve’s face, tilting his chin up with your left hand to get the angle you needed to look at something or other. Of course, he wasn’t making it easy for you with how he kept catching your gaze the whole time with those sweet eyes of his. Part of you was a little pissed off- what gives him the right to do this? To make you all flustered with nothing but a look- but another part of you was maybe a little too excited at all of this.

A few minutes in the same room as him and you were already wrapped around his finger. Hell, you weren't in the slightest turned off when you caught him stealing glances down your shirt when he thought you weren’t paying attention. Weirdly, you found that kind of endearing, maybe even attractive. Those five minutes in the makeup trailer felt like an eternity and you breathed a sigh of relief as you stood up after you finished your job. Turning around, you went to zip up your case when you heard something behind you, “Hey, what’s your name, makeup lady?” Your heart jumped a little when he spoke up, his raspy voice barely above a whisper. You whipped around, nearly nose to nose with Steve as you avoided looking at him as much as you could, concealing your pink face, “My name’s Y/N.”

You couldn’t see it, but there was a little glint in Steve’s eye when he realized just how much he was affecting you. “Well,” His voice took on a slightly different tone, “I guess I’ll be seeing you around, Y/N.” And just like that, he was gone out the trailer door that he didn’t bother to close on his way out.

And you wished it ended there- that you could just be left alone with your silly schoolgirl crush on the cool movie star, but of course it didn’t. It couldn’t. Of all places, it happened in the white food tent around lunch time. You were going down the line of fold up tables, picking through what the catering services had brought in those silver aluminum pans- chicken, some vedgie thing, and some crinkle fries- when you heard someone call to you from a ways back, “Hey, makeup lady!” Assuming it was some production supervisor (they never seemed to respect you), you rolled your eyes, not even looking back as you replied, “I have a name, you know.”

“Oh yeah! Shit, what was it…Y/N!” Your heart sank when you realized who it was as they slipped in next to you in line. Steve seemed totally unphased, still as friendly as he was before but with a suggestive tone in his voice that made you shiver, “So, how’s your first day goin’? Everyone nice?” He didn’t take anything from the trays as he moved along, seemingly only there to talk to you, “If not, I’ll totally kick their ass.” You hoped Steve didn’t notice how much your hands were shaking as you nodded and smiled, hiding the warmth on your cheeks as you speed walked away with half a plate of food.

He wore that smug ass look on his face with pride as he sat down at the table with the guys like he just won the Super Bowl. Understandably, they were a little confused at his bravado. Johnny wasn't impressed, “What the hell was that?” Steve just grinned as he took a sip of his beer, shooting a glance over to where you were sitting with your back turned to not look conspicuous, “That chick’s in love with me. Watch.” Steve turned his head back and just as he did, you whipped around almost on command to try and catch a glimpse of him with that needy look in your eyes like a lost puppy. Unbelievable. Of course, all the guys besides Steve immediately turned towards you and made eye contact. Faced with this, you were a deer in the headlights, and quickly returned to your food.

Bam chuckled, a sly grin spreading across his lips, “Dude, if she’s got the hots for you that bad, you gotta get that ass!” He spoke as if he was some experienced playboy, but he had no clue. It’s not just about sex- there was a lot more to whatever it was that was going on between Steve and the makeup girl. When broken down, the two of you really wanted the exact same thing, the only difference was that she was too shy to admit it and he wasn’t. It evolved into a hunt- a cat and mouse game. This was more than getting ass. “Whatever, Bam.” Steve rolled his eyes. Ryan leaned to one side to get a better look at you, “Oh yeah- you gotta tap that.” Johnny cracked up at his bluntness and Pontius simply shoveled a bite of food into his mouth, flipping Steve a thumbs up.

You knew it was in violation of your contract but something you weren't proud of inside you compelled you to do it. On the lazy afternoons you weren't doing makeup but you were still on the clock, you found yourself snooping around the set in hope of getting a glimpse of Steve. It wasn't a tall order to blend in with the nameless PAs and set people, so you mostly went unnoticed, ducking behind corners and slipping into empty dressing rooms. Every time you saw Steve chatting with the guys with a beer in hand, or in the middle of a stunt if you were lucky, you had to hold yourself back from giggling like a teenage girl. However, it wasn't always that easy to get your fix.

This routine went on without any hiccups for about a week before a problem was presented. Filming was outside for a stunt involving the Three 6 Mafia, but the dense summer heat was pushed completely out of your mind as you peeked out from behind a white trailer. There, in front of all the cameras, was Dave, Bam, and Steve, filming some bit where Dave eats horse shit. All vomiting aside, the only thing you could see was how cute Steve looked in the little farmer’s outfit that the costume department whipped up. Sweat glistened on his skin under the midday sun as he took off his straw hat, using it to fan himself. It’s rare for a guy to be able to pull off the overalls no shirt look, but he certainly could. Damn.

But just as you were thinking about how you wouldnt mind shucking his corn, you accidentally made eye contact with Bam. Oh shit. There wasn't a way in hell that he didn’t see you. You hadn’t even noticed that you were steadily creeping out from your hiding place until you were far from the safety of the trailer wall, so, acting on prey animal instincts, you ducked behind the nearest object.

“Hmm?” It was only then that you noticed what you ducked behind was a man- Ryan, to be specific. God, if this could get any worse. Drink in hand, he just raised an eyebrow, looking down at the strange scene- you, crouching behind his foldy chair, “Makeup lady?” Oh, you were screwed. You could feel your fingers go numb as you panicked, your fight or flight instincts kicking in as you skirted away, your heart beating out of your chest. Ryan shrugged, taking a sip of his beer.

It was embarrassing how flustered you got around Steve but you just couldn’t help it. You had a lot of time to mull over it before you came into work the next day and it was apparent; something had to happen or else you were sure you would spontaneously combust. The tension was killing you, but there was no way he’d pay you any mind. Immagine a celebrity like him dating- hell, going on a date- with some makeup artist he met on set. Be reasonable, you thought, cleaning off your brushes idly.

Steve strutted into the makeup trailer, cool as ever, “Hey! How’s my favorite girl doin’?” Your knees felt a little weak under you at his words, holding yourself up with one hand on the back of the chair as he sat down. His favorite. No, no, he didn’t mean it like that. No way he would. “I’m, uh- I’m good, yeah.” You hardly noticed the smirk on his lips as you hurried to distract yourself, busying your hands with your brushes to still their nervous shaking. This was not what you needed this early in the morning.

Suddenly, time froze as you heard the hard thwack of your elbow against the side of Steve’s face. Your jaw fell and you stumbled over your words, hurriedly apologizing at your absentmindedness, “O-oh my god! I am so sorry- I can’t believe-“ He was still a little stunned, the mark on his face reddening, when you realized that you had instinctively reached out, gently touching the soreness on his perfect cheekbone out of concern without realizing what you were doing. It was like lightning shot through your fingertips, traveling up your arm, and your face said it all. Steve just smiled that cute, boyish smile, making eye contact for just a second longer than a person normally would, “Hey, it’s cool. I don’t mind.” You felt the tips of your ears get hot as he winked at you, “But hell, you of all people know how’t touch it up.”

Taking a deep breath, you pushed down all your nerves as you cleared your throat and tried to sound confident as you grabbed something to cover up your blunder, “I really liked your performance yesterday.” It was a vain attempt at small talk, sure, but it was something. He looked up at you, “Oh, did you?” There was a funny tone in Steve’s voice- sweet and kinda teasing- that gave you butterflies in your stomach and made you wonder if you were really as sneaky as you thought you were being, “What part did’y like? The puking or me shovin’ stuff in my ass?”

God, how he laughed when Steve saw how embarrassed you got. Stuttering a bit, you tried to come up with an explanation, but he just waved you off, “Ah, I’m just fuckin’ with ya. But I mean, if you wanna watch sometime,” The euphemism wasn't lost on you and he could practically see the thoughts running through your head as he continued, “I could bring you to check out the set sometime.” All you could do was nod. Oh, he knew. And the worst part was he didn’t care.

Steve chuckled as you practically led him around the set. It was like you knew the place because, well, you did, but he pretended not to know about your little stalker activities. While you were busy, Jeff came up and tapped him on the shoulder, “Hey, dude. Rick needs you- something about that rake jump stunt.” And when you looked back from ogling some camera equipment, Steve was gone.

But from across the set, you met eyes with Chris who smiled at you with that dopey grin you’d seen so many times on tv. One week in and you were still getting starstruck. He walked over to you, striking up a conversation, “Hey, Y/N! You know what I heard?” Chris leaned in towards you like he was gonna tell you a secret, shooting a nod towards Steve as he was walking away, “I heard he’s awesome in bed. I mean, that’s what I’ve heard from the ladies.” You could tell that Chris saw this as a perfectly normal conversation topic, but you still got a little flustered, “O-oh, he is?” Chris nodded.

Sitting on camping chairs under one of those fold out tents you see at barbecues, Johnny and Bam watched from afar, cracking open cans of Miller High Life. Bam turned his head to one side like a dog, peering around Chris’ shoulder, “Looks like Pontius is tryin’t steal Steve’s girl.” Johnny chuckled, bringing his can to his lips, “Once he gets his claws in her there’s no way he’ll get her back. We oughta’ go interviene.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw a blur of two men who you recognized as Johnny and Bam. Chris waved, “Oh, hey guys! We were just talking about how great Steve is in bed!” He gave Bam a nod, “Isn’t that right?” His eyes went wide for a second before he caught on, “Oh, yeah! He’s, uh- he’s great.” Johnny quirked an eyebrow from behind his sunglasses, “Have you slept with him, Bam?” It was like a Three Stooges bit as Bam rushed to cover his ass, putting his hands up, “No- no! I mean, I heard that he was good.”

“I mean, I’d get it from Chris, but I never expect that from you.” Ignoring Johnny’s teasing, he reached out a hand to you at the perfect time to formally introduce himself, “Hey, I’m Bam. I really like girls.” Eyes wide at all the action that was suddenly happening around you, you just nodded. You couldn’t decide if this was him hitting on you or not when you felt a protective hand on your shoulder as someone spoke from behind you, “Okay, guys. Get lost.” Jumping a little, you turned around and might as well have leapt ten feet off the ground. It was Steve. All the guys joked and dispersed as he spun you around, turning you to face him and that smile that always got to you, “They didn’t say anything bad about me, did they?” You fiddled with one of your nails, looking anywhere but his face as you joked back to try and ease the tension, “Oh, on the contrary!”

Steve smiled, leaning a little bit closer to you as the low tone of his voice slipped into nearly a whisper, “I’m gonna be honest with ya, Y/N. I really like ya.” The way that he could just go out there and say that with such confidence made you break a sweat, and you were practically glued to the ground you stood on as he nearly whispered into your ear, “Let’s get drinks sometime, yeah?” All you could do was nod in response.

[crow97street]

─── ⋆⋅it’s not just nostalgia, is it?⋅⋆ ───

part 1

synopsis ✦‧₊˚ chan discovers age regression and he finds comfort in indulging in light agere, also deals with not being ashamed/embarrassed about it^ - ^

warning/tags ✦‧₊˚ light age regression (not in this part), caring skz members, overworking, self-deprecating thoughts, also silly skz doing silly things

notes ✦‧₊˚ haiii!! this is my very first fic:) it will probably suck cos my only experience is a klance fic on wattpad 3 years ago… but anywho! i got sick of the only fics i enjoyed being member ship fics </3 so i made my own!! this fic is solely focused on chan’s agere journey with platonic relationships with the kids :) no i do NOT hope chan struggles with any of this i just find comfort in somebody i love being the same as me! OH AND THIS WILL BE MULTIPLE PARTS!! okay enough yapping i hope you enjoy!

word count ✦‧₊˚ 1,464

song rec for this ;)

⋆ ̊。⋆୨♡୧⋆ ̊。⋆

The familiar sounds of his ringtone woke Chan up with a grunt. He made some unintelligible noises before groggily opening his eyes to check the time. 2:31 it read.

“Shit.”

Chan cursed as he quickly swiped his fingers across the screen accepting the call.

“Channie-hyung?” Chan assumed it was Felix by the unique deep timbre in the voice, realizing he didn’t bother checking the contact.

“Mhm ‘lix?” Chan sleepily replied.

“Hyung? Where are you? You said you’d be home by midnight.” There was a worrying undertone to Felix’s voice that made Chan cringe.

“Sorry lixie, I fell asleep at the studio. I’m packing up now, I’ll be home in fifteen.” Chan answered as he began powering off his monitor and packing his laptop.

“It’s alright hyung, get home safe.” Chan heard Felix sigh near the end of his sentence.

“Course lix, see you soon.” Chan couldn’t keep the tiny smile from growing on his face at his dongsaengs concern. He hung the phone up and finished packing his things. Chan stood there staring off into the distance. Unable to shake the deep emptiness he’s felt lately. It feels wrong. Why is he lonely? He has so many friends and his members are always around. Why does he feel empty? He’s happy, he’s made it. Chan sighs once more trying, and failing, to pull himself together as he swings the door open.

⋆ ̊。⋆୨♡୧⋆ ̊。⋆

Chan heard as incoherent whispers died down at his arrival. He turned the corner to be met with, expectedly, Felix’s face. Unexpectedly, Changbins.

“Hyung! Your home.” Felix kept his voice soft spoken as he approached, Chan assumed to not wake the other kids sleeping.

“Hi lixie.” Chan warmly smiled at Felix before accepting his embrace with a content sigh. There was a cough leading Chan’s attention to the other person in the room.

“Hey Changbin, what are you doin’ up? Normally you're out by like, ten.” Chan laughs to hopefully ease the suffocating tension in the room. It didn’t work.

“Felix told me you keep coming home late.” Changbin clears his throat as he speaks , clearly trying not to come off too aggressive. Too bad Chan knows him better than himself.

“Oh, yeah uh sorry I fell asleep again.” Chan awkwardly replies with nervous eyes. Felix and Changbin share a discontent glance and Felix sighs before he speaks up again.

“H-Hyung we don't want to sound overbearing or anything but, you’ve been staying late kind of a lot lately and we uhm” a pause. “We just want to make sure you're sleeping enough and taking care of yourself.” Felix rambles on with nervous gestures and fidgets that make Chan’s heart squeeze with guilt. Why does he keep doing this to them? Just because he felt a little lonely? Chan was wracked with deep guilt and frustration towards himself.

“Yeah channie-hyung, everyone’s sorta noticed but lixie made us realize it was a bit more.. Concerning than originally.” Changbin sighed out with guilt in his gaze. No, that wasn’t right, Changbin shouldn’t feel guilt. Chan should.

Wait, ‘everyone’? Fuck chan really did it this time. He broke his gaze and shook his head lightly to clear his thoughts.

“I’m really sorry guys, I didn’t mean for this to become a recurring thing, I just got so focused on work and making sure we kept up with our schedule.” Chan confessed avoiding the twin pair of worrying eyes.

“It’s alright hyung, but try not to let it happen again yea? We aren’t mad or anything, we just want to make sure you're okay.” Felix gave him a tiny smile. Changbin nodded in agreement.

“Yeah of course, let’s get you to bed though sorry I kept you both up.” Chan returned the small smile before walking further inside, moving their shoulders along with him. He received two small nods before he led them into their respective rooms.

Walking into his own room he let out another deep sigh. How many is that by now by the way? Before turning to his bathroom to brush his teeth.

Chan let his thoughts run as he auto-piloted his night routine. How could he let it get bad enough the kids realized? Gosh he can’t believe he’d worried them so much, he needs to get over whatever this weird feeling is so he can be there for everyone, he's the leader for god’s sake, shouldn’t he know better?

“Fuck.” Chan muttered as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. He looks terrible, no wonder they all noticed. Chan shook his head and returned to his bedroom flopping onto his bed and pulling out his phone. He’ll scroll on twitter for a bit before he sleeps.

Chan mindlessly scrolls, a few posts making him chuckle lightly, STAY’s were funny. He paused as he saw a post talking about the nostalgia of childhood cartoons. Chan felt himself smile imagining little Chris watching spongebob and adventure time in his living room. Chan felt a yearning grow in his chest. He wishes he could just be a kid again. Harmlessly watching cartoons and chugging down pineapple juice boxes, gosh he wishes. Chan feels his eyes tug, letting sleep consume him as thoughts of legos and car toys fill his mind.

⋆ ̊。⋆୨♡୧⋆ ̊。⋆

Chan’s eyes flutter open to a loud thud. He swiftly picks up his phone to read the time displayed, 11:21. Shit way later than he wanted. He begrudgingly dragged himself into a sitting position on his bed sighing. Fuck hes not 10 years old and watching cartoons is he. Why is that still on his mind? Whatever, no time to dwell. He took a deep breath before standing and making his way to figure out what the thud was.

Chan walked out of the hallway to, well, quite the sight.

Jeongin and Hyunjin were playfully arguing and pushing each other over some rpg game on the screen. Felix and Jisung were frantically running around the kitchen with - what Chan assumes is - pancake batter smeared and splattered in various areas. Timers and blenders are going off along with the pancake mess too.

Finally, Chan drags his eyes to Changbin and Seungmin lying on the carpet going through bags of old clothes. Wait where is-

“Leeknow?” Chan asks aloud, scanning his eyes across the room once more to be sure he didn’t miss him among the chaotic scenery. All eyes snap to him immediately causing him to tense.

“Bathroom!” He hears a distant voice call out in monotone from down the hall. Ah, there he is. Chan gives the kids an apprehensive nod before backing up and spinning on his heel down the hall.

“Soooo why are you in the bathroom and not joining the- well, i don’t know what it is exactly. I don’t think ‘hangout’ quite captures whatever is happening in there.” Chan drags his eyes around the bathroom as he speaks, finally landing them on the other boy.

Leeknow pauses brushing his teeth to give Chan a long glance before spitting out his toothpaste.

“I escaped.” He stated blandly. Fair enough. Chan cleared his throat to speak again before he was interrupted by a yell from the not-hangout in the living room.

“Channie hyung!! We need help!” Chan couldn’t decipher whose voice it was, it might have been multiple? Nonetheless he sped down the hallway to see what the dilemma was.

“What’s going on?” Chan asked as he reached the kitchen. Although it seems he doesn't quite need a verbal reply. Felix is trying to stop the electric mixer from spinning as it tosses even more pancake batter around the room. Chan’s eyes widen and he rushes over to look for a solution.

“We just wanted some pancakes..” He sees Jisung cry with a pout out of his peripheral vision. Chan sighs - fondly but he won’t admit that - before quickly running to pull the plug out of the outlet, stopping the mixer.

He gets multiple odd blinks before Jisung speaks.

“Why didn’t we think of that?” He asks dumbfounded as he shares a glance with the other boy in the kitchen.

“Thank you channie-hyung you’ve saved our lives!!” Jisung dramatically exhales as he drapes himself along Chan. Chan rolls his eyes and pats Jisung’s head.

“Yahhh, look at the mess you two have made.” Chan sighs as he scans the kitchen. The two boys' expressions grow sheepish as they nervously chuckle.

“Well get to cleaning!” Chan yells out as the two scramble to get rags and towels. Chan chuckles and helps them all begin to clean. The whole situation just reminds Chan of the time he caused a huge mess cleaning pancakes with his mom when he was young. Chan pauses his motion of swiping the towel. Huh, there it is again.

[cosmic-phantom-cafe]

Hey hoes! So this was not rlly planned but why not nothing too long or special also this is self ship just because I don’t really know the direction for this in the first place…okey byeee

Ps: so I am viet just keep in mind that my area celebrated tet differently one bc cultural reasons ofc but also were a rlly small community ita just a bit different unfortunately…also i didn’t have enough time to post it on the actual days I’m sorry (´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀)

Also I’m so sorry for how short Brant is- hopefully when his banner come out and we get more content and understanding of him I could write so much more about his handsome ass yeah its late but still- happy Lunar New Year or Chúc mừng năm mới and extra sparkle to @lavandulawrites and @yandereloversblog if I could I chuck red envelopes at you with care ofc and then place a good orange on your head

TW; yandere, soft yandere moment though I also apologize if I mischaracterize them im not that smart, self ship obviously

Yandere with their Vietnamese American (captor) darling (me) on tet (lunar new year)

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Yandere Wrio x Me

With new year coming up Wrio definitely know of it though with his busy schedule he wouldn’t mind in indulging me with the festivities a little. Good girls get rewards for their sweetest behaviors after all

Yandere wrio can’t really get out of his work schedule but he can do is let me walk around the fortress. I definitely ask very nervously if I can go to the surface and expecting a no ready to just walk around the fortress bored maybe see Sigwinne and help her with small task

“Sure” jaws dropped “good girls get rewarded very nicely” That comment would’ve had me bubbling up, all the time nervous fear and anxiety paid up and forcing myself to play the happy girlfriend in the fortress fpr him day and night. “But we won’t stay for that long” He comments and I eagerly nodded with sparkles around me saying “only till the dragon dance ends” I said as much as I would’ve liked to stay up in the surface longer. This was the best I can get out of him.

Gotta play the part too.my hands wrapped around his arm walking around looking like a happy relationship and totally not because I’m being held captive. We definitely went to the small Vietnamese center that’s holding the festivities it’s more of me happily taking yandere wrio to eat things and buy me things

Phổ place for the first time for him. I mainly suggested beef phổ for him being its the most popular and traditional way to eat meanwhile, I’m having bún thịt nướng or vermicelli pork noodles. Being in the fortress for so long I definitely have been craving Vietnamese food and it definitely shows how happy I look eating and how much I eat. Yeah Wrio makes sure in the fortress I’m always fed a much more higher quality meal for my health but having the same similar food over and over again had me going insane sometimes…and led to being punished

This behavior goes unnoticed small comment from Wrio about how I’m eating well and so is he. I definitely ask him very a lot of hope if I can make these dishes in the fortress's kitchen, hoping he let me so I can make specific dishes for myself. Only for him to give a tender look and my eyes sparkling feeling like a yes…for him to look so soft and with two of his fingers cupping my face give a small squeeze and chuckle, “No sweetheart” the sparkled died in my eyes and I go back to finishing my food sulking once he lets go of my face. Wrio gives a quick kiss before going back to finishing the pho saying he’ll have the kitchen chief learn some of the dishes to make for me

After eating we stay till the dragon dance and while we wait for the dragon dance we walk around the center buying things to eat and try. Wrio keeps in mind of the things I’ve eaten and which looks my most favorite so he can have the fortress chef learn and add it to mela for me to eat. By the time the dragon dance starts we find a place to sit and enjoy the performance but the chances of us interacting with them is very little. Wrio definitely has a very intimidating feel towards these dancers to willingly try to ask for money.

by the time we get back to the fortress I’m met with a surprise. Writ had his staff make a mini shrine a table set with two bouquets of flowers on both side of the table, some made meals set on the table prepared and nearly placed with two small rice bowls and Sigwinne famous smoothie in the center between the bowls. Is it traditional not really but honestly that didn’t matter, I was just happy to see the the preparation nor could I blame his attempt.

“…thank you” and it’s the most softest thank you he’s gotten from me and his only response was “it’s my job to keep you happy” smug as he is I know this man happy that I’m not trying to run back into the cell he has me in and hide from him for the night.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Yandere Diluc x Me

if Diluc wins first place in resting bitch face his second win would top five most stubborn man with their dearest darling.

“pleaseee diluc” I am begging this man to let me out while it’s lunar new year and I was hoping he would relent and let me out for l=a day or so. Unfortunately I’m met with a “no” and honestly I can feel myself ready to snap at him. The early months being held captive in the minor and being locked in this bedroom was hell. But after it was basically feed into Dilic little dream he has or be forever trapped in a bedroom with nothing to do.

Diluc in Diluc fashion will tell me that it’s for my safety that I stay in the manor at all times. I’m trying to haggle with him “what about for half the day” to “what if we stayed only half way of the dragon dance” only to have him still say no. “What do you plan to do during this time” Diluc ask curiously but it won’t relent to letting me out. Only for him to give me a dead look when I only said to eat.

He’s not impressed and Im still going off “like eating Banh Tet- it’s like a rice dish with beans inside and wrapped with banana leaf that only made during this time and there this famous place that makes Banh Canh Cua and it’s so good! It’s a large udon dish with lots of crabs-“ and I’m just listing foods to eat and then explaining the fun mini fireworks that happens every night. When I don’t get an answer back I sulk and tell him it’s fine. It isn’t and pushing it further with him might get me more then just a stern look

Through the day while stuck in the room I just sulk while thinking of the foods and fireworks I’m missing. At some point near the evening Adeline tells me to come down and me thinking it’s another typical dinner night I do. Only to see the dinner table with all the foods I mentioned. Diluc while I went back to the prison of the room he kept me in sent some of his staff out to get these foods and get the recipes so that I can still eat lunar near year food in the manor.

“…darling you should eat before it gets cold” after that comment from Diluc I’m already eating the Banh Canh cua. Happily eating as Diluc watches me eat, yeah he seen me eat but the way I enthusiastically eat Banh Canh and actually finish the meal is noted in his mind. Sheepishly I ask him why he staring. He stares all the time just this one a little different “just..making sure your enjoying dinner” is all he says, there a lump in his throat that wants to say “your eyes sparkle so beautifully when your happy” but it’s too lump in his throat for him to ever cough out.

By the time we finish eating I thought it was over until I feel Diluc hand grab mine and lead me to stand and walk outside with him. He takes me to where I basically made him make me a swinging porch bench for me to sit outside and there lays small fireworks ready to be set. Diluc had gone out to a buyer and bought some fireworks for the night and had the maids set it up so I can watch the fireworks while sitting and swinging on the swinging porch bench.

he also set a shrine table. It was much more extravagant then I would make at my own home but the effort was there. I ask him if he wanted to place something that reminded of his father on the table to honor him in the after life. I can see Diluc being a little reluctant feeling he isn’t living the way his father wanted. It was hesitant nut that didn’t stop me from asking Adeline to bring some wine glass and pouring it and setting the glass in the center of the table.

Diluc has me sit on the swinging porch bench far from the fireworks. He lights up the fireworks and goes to sets next to me and watch the fireworks go out. Im actually happy seeing the fireworks I tell Diluc happy new year hugging his arm. Diluc won’t show it but his eyes says enough to be surprised by my sudden affection but it’s welcomed and responds back “happy new year too darling” there a small part of me that feel something wasn’t enough..so I gave this man a needed kiss telling him I’m sure his father is proud of him. I know Diluc is sobbing in the inside but that’s ok he just needed those words anyway.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Yandere Brant x me

‘oh do tell me more amore” he definitely interested man lives off of big festivals and ways dramatically have me awe at him for his dramatic theatrics. Man already slices oranges with his sword for me on the daily if he can he will do anything with a flare

As charming as he is with his words he is just as infuriating especially as I try to explain lunar new year Mr prince of the sea is too busy having his face and nose buried on my birthmark on my neck to busy with small kisses on the spot and from time to time small nibble on the spot. Affectionate does not express how much Brant has to have me near him by all times pulse to pulse

“no worries amore mio I’ll have something planned for you” trying to sound as charming while being the reason I’m kidnapped saying how he’ll have something special for me and when I speak with very strong hope “so I can go?’ He gives a dramatic frown and dramatically exclaimed how can I leave my very handsome charming incredibly loving captain boyfriend. Say to say I was not impressed internally by his theatrics

Brant will have me at the base of the fools for a while saying “it’s a surprised” and in the meantime Roccia with me to keep me from being alone..and to make sure I try not to leave but that’s the silent rule of course. So the rest of the day it’s just me and roccia and just helping those around the base. By everting sunset Brant comes back and makes it loud and clear by which I mean I’ll hear a “Amore~ your LOVING BOYFRIEND BACK” as he swings to my directing pulling me to spin be mid air with the most old Disney movie flare with a kiss.

He already dragging me out before I could even catch a breath and what I see exactly- a bunch of echos in some costumes and holding what looks like cut out of a dragon and many echos with instruments and so many fruits on a table in front of me. Moment I stepped out they started their own dragon dance. Brant grinning wildly happily still holding me, saying he planned a whole dragon dance performance for me and went out to look for fruits closely related to my cultural significance.

there a big long table with flowers and mostly fruit on the tables but importantly any crew members whom past, any of their small stuff on the table and maybe six glass of wine and three wine bottles placed. Not only that small things Roccia has collected places on the table to honor them even. I know I cried a little at the scene but I wasn’t too focused on the fact I was kidnapped and more just so the idea of people who been wrongly punished and sent to exile for their death had me glad Brant took the time to have them in the shrine table.

I’m talking about lychees, dragon fruit, mango, coconuts, mangosteen, purple yams and so much more cut and carved out perfectly shaped to hearts, stars, those animal shaped fruits to watch the performance and of course wine. There a good chance I laughed a little seeing the disappointment on his face when he took a bite of the dragon fruit and it was very bland. But definitely liked the passion fruit and Manogosteens.

As the performance continues and come to a close while Brant feeding me as much fruit each time I finish one fireworks come out and whatever fruit in his hand was replaced with Brant grabbing my chin for a new year kiss “happy lunar new year amore” in the most softest tone and eyes that have such admiration but still with swirl of obsessiveness.

Was this traditional? No but the effort he went through and the length he went was so sweet enough that I found myself smiling happily enjoying this way of celebrating lunar new year. My happy smile Brant will be expecting a rewarding kiss from me and while in the good mood after the performance he gets his kiss and this cheeky bastard has the most boyishly beautiful grin on his face ear to ear

[noramthe]

Venti x reader

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VENTI💚

Summery

You celebrate venti birthday. But maybe you worked a little to hard that you become really tired the whole time

Warnings

Fluff. Celebrating Venti birthday. Written with f!reader in mind. Kinda of comfort

Note

I’m so nervous first time sharing my writing><

This is so self indulgent but hope you enjoy nonetheless

Today is a special day. It’s your beloved’s partner’s birthday! You have been planning on gifts and dates for weeks.

You thought about how in your birthday, Venti made you a cake himself. So you decided to return the favor! But that’s not all.

You planned on spoiling him today.

While you are at the kitchen of your shared serenity pot, making the cake and smiling thinking about venti's reaction.

He always says that you don’t need to do anything on his birthday. But, how is that fair when he always does something for yours?

The place was decorated with happy birthday balloons and dandelions and cecilia flowers everywhere and candles.

You worked really hard on everything. You put the cake in the microwave. And then you started to realize how tired you are.

Though tired as you are stubborn i guess. You pushed through. This birthday has to be really special for venti.

You thought as a motivator for you to continue.

3 Hours later

Venti came back to the serenity pot humming.

Though everything seems really quiet, he ignored it and pushed the door to the front door.

Darkness.

The house was all dark. Wired? You and him never really turned it off. What’s go-

Suddenly the lights open and there was a loud popping sound.

“Surprise!!”

The familiar and lovely soft voice of his beloved. You came through. It didn’t escape him how tired you sound even when you tried to hide it.

“Woah!! Windbloom? This sure was a surprise”

His voice soft and full of love.

You giggled and smiled brightly to him.

“Happy birthday venti!”

He walked in your direction. And then put one hand in your waist and the other at your cheek

“You did all this for me..?”

Whispering in your ear. He turned to face you, his eyes looking at yours with love.

“How could i have been so lucky?”

He said again. Seemingly with a deeply appreciative tone. It made you chuckle from embarrassment of how deep your feelings are

“No Venti. I’m the lucky one. You deserve more then this”

You put your hand on top of the one on your cheek. Feeling his warm hand. Feeling his rough fingers from playing the lyre. Feeling his soft palm.

You spent the day at your house on the serenity pot. Celebrating together and playfully putting cake cream on each other’s face while giggling.

Everything went by so fast. It was already night time.

Venti took your hand and pulled you until you’re in your bedroom bed.

“Venti, why are you dragging me here?”

“To get some shut eye. Duh!”

“But.. the day still didn’t finish. We could go to other places and celeb-“

“Nope! We can do it in another day. For now, you have to rest”

Venti jumped into bed and pulled your arm for you to join him.

You sighed. You really wanted to not give in. But you were so exhausted you didn’t have the energy to try and argue with him. So you let him drag you with him to bed

“There we go~”

Softly saying it in a way that makes you feel more at ease. He put his arms around you and cuddled you closer to his chest

You shuffled a bit to get comfortable. He waited until you finished and adjusted his hold on you.

Hearing his breath so close to you was so comforting. You almost fell asleep immediately.

“Thnaks for today, windbloom. I had a really fun time being with you”

His Voice was muffled from his the bottom of his face being in the top of your head.

“Of course, my love. I just wish i had time to do all I planned. Sorry i didn’t have the chance to.”

“Don’t apologize my dear. Your rest is way more important.”

He hummed and rubbed his hand softly up and down your waist. It was so relaxing. Your eyes slowly closing and you feel like you’re going to dreamland.

You look forward to continuing your celebration tomorrow while you’re at more energy.

You smiled. Just thinking about how much fun venting had today. And how you will see him tomorrow as well hopefully, having more fun then today.

Venti then brought his other hand to touch your hair. The final straw to your already sleepy head to finally have a nice rest.

“Goodnight. My windbloom”

[newtthetranswriter]

A Trail of Notes

Art: Drawn by me.

Paring: Denki Kaminari x Transmasc! Nonbinary! Reader

Word Count: 6461

Summary: As Y/n’s best friend and crush’s birthday approaches, their classmates encourage them to confess to the blonde boy. After deciding secret notes hidden around would be best, the wait and mystery caused tensions to spike and mistakes to be made. Will it end in Y/n’s favor?

Warnings: Talk of needles and shots as reader is on Testosterone, misunderstandings, Sero is a dick in this, implied internalized transphobia (on reader’s part), I think that’s it but let me know if I missed anything

A/n: Starting off with a responding Happy Birthday to my favorite phone charger Denki Kaminari. Anyways this was very self indulgent as one there are not enough Denki fics out there, and there are not enough truly transmasc/nonbinary reader fics. That being said, a lot of the things mentioned about T-shots and feelings about oneself are things from my own experience and therefore may not line up with every trans person’s experience.  Anywho, I hope you enjoy and as always remember to hydrate or diedrate.

   “Come on Y/n, I understand that you’re nervous and don’t want to risk your friendship with him, but if Kaminari is dumb enough to end a life long friendship over some feelings, that’s on him.” Of course it was Minatrying to reason that if admitting my feelings cost us our friendship it was Denki’s fault.

   I sighed leaning back against the frame of her bed. “It’s not that I think he would end the friendship over it. I know he wouldn’t do that. It’s the fact that it would be awkward as hell, plus I know I have zero chance so what's the point in trying?” I explained. 

   I could hear the collective sigh of everyone in the room. The next person to speak up on the topic was Momo “It may look like you have zero chance but have you ever talked to him about his romantic interests or are you just assuming because all you’ve seen him openly show interest in is women?” Of course she would be the voice of reason for this discussion.

  I shook my head no, but before I could argue further, Jiro decided to also give her opinion. “Yamomo and Mina both make valid points. If you haven’t talked about his preferences you can’t assume that you have no chance. And if you do try and things become awkward or you stop being friends, it’s on him. A good friend would hear you out and talk out how things should move forward.” 

  Looking at my three friends I couldn’t help but sigh in defeat. “Why do I ever think you guys will agree with me on this?” I asked with a slight laugh. “I understand what you guys are saying up here,” I said pointing to my head, “but in here I’m terrified of losing the one person who has always been there for me.” I finished pointing at my heart. 

  The comment earned looks of sympathy from the girls of Class A. “Honestly it would be better for you to just tell him so you can get the weight off your chest. And in the worst case scenario we will all be here for you.” Mina offered. There was a pause before she spoke again. “Why not tell him on his birthday?” She suggested now moving from trying to convince me to confess, to brainstorming ideas on how I should confess.

   “What if you like leave a series of notes giving hints to who you are and on his birthday give him the final one confessing who you are?” Hagakure said, her voice as bubbly as always. “It’d be like a little game and you could gauge his reaction to each note and if he figures it out early maybe he’ll confess first.” She rambled on.

   The rest of us couldn’t help but laugh at her giddiness, if we hadn’t been just talking about me you could almost assume she was planning to confess to her own crush. “I mean that could work but how would I get the notes to him. If I’m not gossiping with you guys, I’m hanging out with him. It’s not like I'd have time to slip notes into his bag or locker without him noticing.” I pondered.

   Everyone took a moment to think of a plan. “Hey why don’t you write all the notes and then you can give some to each of us and we can distribute them.” Jiro suggested.

   “Yes we can be like your wing women, placing the notes in places only he can find and with you being his best friend he’ll probably tell you about the notes so you can hear his reactions without him having a clue that you know about it. And then you can give him the final note on his birthday and it’ll be perfect.” It was Mina’s turn to show her excitement over me finally agreeing to admit my feelings to the class's resident phone charger.

   I couldn’t help but smile at my friends and their support. “Thank you guys, I know dealing with me and my self doubt has been a lot. But yeah I like the idea of giving you guys the notes to hide but I’m not getting my hopes up about the outcome. This is just to get it off my chest and if he accepts, great if not, I’ll just have to move on and make one of you help me with my t-shots each week.” I tried to play off my nerves with a slight laugh, before deciding it was time to change topic. “Now enough about me, why don’t we focus back on the real reason we are all crammed in this tiny room and watch some movies.” There was a collective cheer of agreement and with that our night commenced.

   The next day I managed to get a small window of time after classes and training to write my notes. They were simple and didn’t hold enough information to give away who I was right away. The first couple were just stating small things that he does around everyone that I found endearing. In the next ones they were a little more specific and detailed little things he only really did around our friend group. Those were the ones I planned to give the girls to hide, the final note which was being saved for his birthday party at the end of the month, was longer. I wrote out a series of events that led to me figuring out my feelings for him and signed it. With all of the notes ready I put them in my bag and left to give them to Mina to distribute and hide.

  Opening the door to my dorm I did not expect to see Denki standing there ready to knock. “Oh, Denki what’s up?” I asked, moving the bag of love notes out of his line of sight as if he could see through the contents.

  “Well it’s Wednesday so I was going to remind you that it’s shot day.” He explained. “I also would be interested in watching a movie afterwards?” Denki asked with his signature smile.

  I had to fight the urge to just hand him the bag of notes right there. One of the many things I loved about him was his acceptance of who I am and his help with things like reminding me about my T-shot every week. “Thank you for the reminder, and you know I'm always down for movies after my shot. Just let me take this to Mina real quick and then we can get started.” I said moving past him.

   Of course, me mentioning needing to take something to Mina piqued his interest. “Ooo what are you taking to Mina, can I see it?” He asked, trying to grab the bag from my shoulder.

   Gently smacking his hand away I couldn’t help but laugh. “No you can not see it. And before you ask I will not be telling you what it is. Now go get everything ready, I’ll be back in a minute.”

  I watched as Denki sighed before moving into my room. “Fine, keep your secrets. But I will find out.” He said as he began grabbing everything needed for my shot and whatever movie was to follow.

   Letting out a laugh I shut my door, heading to Mina’s room. Reaching the Pink girls door, I knocked quickly. “Here are the things we talked about yesterday. Please don’t put them where just anyone can find them, and if you guys want to hide one or two in his room it’ll be empty for like the next two hours.” I informed getting ready to head back to my room.

  “Wait, how do you know his room will be empty for the next few hours?” She asked, wiggling her eyebrows at me.

   “First if what you’re implying was happening there would be no point in those. And second, it’s shot day and after we do my t-shot we always watch a movie in my room. Now if you don’t mind there is a wild pikachu in my room unattended and I would like for him to not find the final piece of that puzzle.” I explained pointing at the bag in Mina’s hands. She just chuckled and waved me off.

   It took three days for Denki to find the first note. And just like Mina predicted he told me right away that he found it.

   “Y/n you won’t believe what I found in my desk drawer.” He said plopping on the sofa next to me in the common room of Heights Alliance.

  “Was it your brain? I know you’ve been looking for it for a while.” I asked sarcastically, earning a playful shove from the blonde.

   “First rude. Second, no, I think it’s a love letter from a secret admirer.” He began to explain. “Whoever wrote it didn’t sign it but from what they said it’s clear they like me.” The fact that he wasn’t automatically assuming it was a girl gave me just a little bit of hope.

   Knowing that I needed to play along, I kept my face surprised that he would get such a thing. “Are you sure you didn’t write it yourself to brag to Minneta about someone having a crush on you?” I joked, this time earning a small zap from his quirk. “Kidding but what did they say?” I asked for two reasons, one I wanted to know which note he found and two hearing him say it could give away his feelings on it.

   “It says ‘One of your best qualities is how even if your quirk has a setback, you still push your limits to be the best hero you can be. Plus I think you look cute when you short circuit.’ It’s nice to know that someone appreciates me even if my quirk makes me stupid sometimes. They also called me cute so it's a win for me.” There was no denying that the smile on his face was brighter than when we found out we both got into U.A and by chance the same class.

   I got lost in thought admiring his smile, and it seemed he noticed because he zapped me again but this time by poking my nose. “Hey don’t shock my nose. Anyway, It is nice that someone appreciates you even when you’re in dunce mode.” I said poking him in the side. He just rolled his eyes at me. “Jokes aside, who do you think it could be?” I asked playing the game of clueless friend.

   This got him to smile again. “Well from this note there’s no clues as to who it could be, but clearly they have seen me short out. And they had to have had some way to get the note into my room?” He said, tilting his head in thought.

   “With that logic it could literally be anyone. You shorted out during the sports festival so anyone watching would have seen it. As for having access to your room, they could have asked anyone in our class to put it there. So in other words you have like zero leads.” I explained.

   He sighed leaning back against the couch. “You’re right. Damn, maybe they’ll leave me more with better hints as to who they are.” Denki pondered out loud. 

   Before I could ask any more questions, the rest of our class slowly started making their way into the common area. When Denki noticed Kirishima and Sero he jumped up and started bragging to them about his new secret admirer. Jiro, who had also just entered the room, saw the blonde's excitement and took the seat next to me.

   “So I take it he found one.” She whispered to me not wanting to draw any attention to us. I just responded with a small nod. “Well he seems happy about it, what did this one say?” She focused only on checking on me and not the chaos being caused by the slowly growing group of boys jealous over Denki’s note.

   “It’s about his quirk. It says that his admirer likes that even with the set back of it, the fact that he still tries his best to be a hero. It also said that they think he looks cute when he does short circuit.” I explained, talking as if I had I had no clue who wrote it, just in case someone who was unaware of the plan overheard.

  She just nodded. “That’s not a lot to go off of. Does he have any ideas on who it is?” She asked.

  I shock my head. “No, cause anyone who watched the sports festival would have seen him short circuit there, and anyone could have asked any of us to place the note for them.” I told her what I had explained to the blonde. “He did say he hopes that whoever it is leaves more notes for him, so at least it seems like he wants to know who left the note.” I said slightly quieter. 

   It was another two days before Denki brought up his secret admirer again. “I found a couple more notes. One was in my backpack and said ‘your smile is electrifying’, cheesy but shows they have a sense of humor. Then I found one in my locker that says ‘You’re one of the most accepting people I have ever met.’ While neither of these notes really give me any clues as to who they are, clearly I know them.” He explained sitting on the floor of my room, while I tried to do my homework.

  “Well at least you know they are kind if they think you are the most accepting person they have ever met. Too bad they're wrong you are a big bully.” I said clearly joking with him.

  I heard him scoff before he responded. “Fine, see if I help you with your T any more.” I could hear the playfulness in his threat. 

  I decided to play along. “Fine, I'll just have Eijiro help me. I’m sure head be happy to help and he’d actually make fun jokes while we watch movies after.” I said turning to stick my tongue out at the blonde.

  He uncrossed his arms looking at me slightly shocked. “That rock would not be helpful, plus who’s gonna charge your phone when you lose your charger?” Denki joked back. Letting out a laugh, I just nodded in agreement turning back to my homework. Not noticing the way he had begun inspecting the papers stacked on my desk.

  It was about a week before his birthday when the notes were mentioned again. This time we were at lunch with the rest of the Bakussquad, and it was Kirishima who brought them up. “Yo, Kaminari have you found any new love letters from your secret admirer?” He asked across the table.

  His question made everyone turn to look at Denki, well everyone but Mina who shot me a look before joining in on looking at the blonde. “Yeah, I found a couple more.” He said rubbing his hand against the back of his head. It almost seemed like he was suddenly nervous about the topic. 

  “Come on man, tell us what they said this time.” Sero pressed. It seemed that everyone was invested in the Kaminari secret admirer plot. “Have you narrowed it down to what girl likes you?” Sero continued.

  Hearing Sero’s question paired with Denki’s nervousness, caused my heart to deflate slightly. As I turned away from the conversation I made eye contact with Mina, and it was clear she also picked up on the awkwardness of the situation. I just shook my head slightly, looking at my food while still listening to the conversation. 

   “Well I don’t want to assume it's a girl leaving the notes. And also I think I’m going to keep the contents of the notes to myself for a bit while I figure it out.” Denki explained to our curious friends. His decision earned a chorus of groans from the surrounding guys.

   “Come on man, you’re telling me you don’t think some hot chick is leaving you cheesy little love notes? That’s every guy's dream and you’re saying ‘I don’t want to assume it’s a girl’. Who else would it be?” Sero pushed harder.

   “All I'm saying is it doesn't matter who’s leaving the notes. I want to give them a fair chance.” Denki’s words raised my hopes, if only slightly. But in all honesty it wasn’t a surprise he was willing to give his secret admirer a chance no matter who they are. After all I did say he’s the most accepting person I have ever met.

   Sero was about to offer up another rebuttal when Bakugo cut him off. “Dunce face said he doesn't care who’s leaving the notes and wants to give them a chance, so just accept it. Just because you’re jealous doesn’t mean you can push your hopes onto him. Now eat your damn food and leave it alone.” With that the conversation was dropped. I silently thanked Bakugo for unknowingly saving me from the torment of hearing Sero’s stupid arguments about how the admirer was clearly a girl.

   After lunch that day, no one really mentioned Denki’s secret admirer. The only people who really brought the topic up were the girls who had been in on the plan. They just asked me if he had said anything else about it or if he had figured it out. Unfortunately all I could tell them was that he was keeping any information about the notes to himself. While I respected his choice to keep it secret until he was ready to share about it, I was nervous that he figured it out and just didn’t want to tell me so as to not hurt my feelings.

   Mina and Hagakure had done their best to assure me that he was probably just trying to figure it out and if he did know it was me he was just trying to figure out how to tell me.

   Their words did very little to reassure me, so here I was sitting alone in my room four days before Denki’s birthday. It being Wednesday, I was waiting for Denki to show up to help me with my T-shot. For the last two years that I have been on T, he has always been there to help me with my shot. But as it approached 9 o’clock, a sickening feeling came over me. He always came by at 7 and we would do the shot before laying down and watching a random movie while making stupid jokes, but he was two hours late.

   I checked my phone hoping to see an apology text or explanation for him forgetting, but saw nothing. Sighing, I stood up going to head to the kitchen for a glass of water to calm my nerves before trying to figure out which of my friends I would be most comfortable with giving me a shot. Turning the corner to cross the living room I quickly spotted Denki joking with the rest of the Bakusquad, phone charger hanging from his mouth as he charged one of the students' phones. It seemed the only person who noticed I had entered the room was Mina who made eye contact with me. From the way her face morphed from a smile to a look of concern told me I wasn’t hiding my disappointment well.

   After the silent conversation with Mina using just our eyes she moved to meet me in the kitchen as I continued my journey to get some water. “Are you okay? You were looking at Kaminari like he already rejected you.” She asked quietly but still trying to lighten the mood.

   I sighed as I put my glass on the counter fighting back tears. “It's just for the last two years, every wednesday, without fail, Denki has helped me with my t-shot because he knows I can’t give myself the shot. And I waited for two hours hoping he was just running late but he’s down here laughing and being his usual dorky self. And even though I want to be mad at him for forgetting something that has happened consistently for two years, I can’t help but think our weekly tradition is keeping him from spending time with all his other friends.” By the time I finished talking, there was no hiding the tears.

   Mina quickly pulled me into a hug telling me to just breathe. “First, you need to breathe. Now why I know I’m not Kaminari but I’m willing to help you with your shot. So let’s just head up to your room and you can walk me through it and then we can talk about everything. Okay?” She asked, pulling away slightly.

   I whipped my eyes with the back of my hand and nodded. She quickly pulled me out of the kitchen and towards the elevators, ignoring the shouts of our friends asking where Mina was running off to and when did I get down stairs.

   Once we reached my room I sat on my bed and told Mina where all the things needed for my shot were, and how to give me the shot. It didn’t take long for her to figure it out and once she was done, she threw the used needles and syringe in the red sharps container on my desk before sitting on the end of my bed. “Now I know I said we would talk about everything, but I feel like what you need right now is to just lay down and watch a movie with yours truly and then tomorrow at lunch we can get Jiro, Yamomo and Hagakure and we can talk about the Kaminari situation. Okay?” She suggested grabbing my remote and getting the tv ready. I just nodded understanding that I should probably let my head clear up a bit before talking about what all has happened this last week.

   And just like she promised when lunch came around, Mina ushered me over to the table where the other three who knew of my crush on Denki were sitting. “So Y/n care to share with our lovely friends why we’ve gathered them here, and why a certain pikachu is currently looking at you like a crime was committed?” Mina asked as I sat down with my food.

   Once I registered her entire sentence I quickly looked over my shoulder and sure enough Denki was looking right at me. It was hard to read the look on his face but it was clear he was upset about something. Turning back to the group of girls sitting in front of me I sighed. “First I don’t know what his problem is. He has barely spoken to me since Monday. And as for why we’re sitting here and not with our other friends, I think Denki figured it out and is purposefully avoiding me.” I stated matter of factly, having thought about it all morning and decided that was the only reason he would have missed a weekly event that happened for two years.

   “He hasn’t spoken to you since Monday and you think he figured out you’re the one who wrote all the notes?”Jiro asked, still slightly confused by what’s happening at this moment. I just nodded thinking I was pretty clear with what I had said.

   Mina just sighed. “Y/n, I doubt he’s avoiding you. Plus you can’t just say that and not explain your reasoning.” She said looking at me before turning to look at Jiro. “What happened was last night Kaminari never showed up to help Y/n with their T-shot like he has been doing for the past two years. And when they went downstairs to get a drink of water, Kaminari was hanging out with all the usual suspects, myself included, like he hadn’t just messed up his and Y/n’s entire routine.” She explained to the confused girls sitting with us.

   Yamomo turned to me. “I’m sorry he did that. Were you able to get your shot taken care of without him?” She asked, I had told everyone that even though it’s not a big problem to skip a dose it was definitely something I didn’t want to risk.

   “Yeah, Mina helped me with it. I’m just hurt that he didn’t tell me wasn’t going to be helping me with it. Had he said he didn’t want to do it I would have been fine with it, but it’s like he completely forgot or just felt like telling me would cause problems. The missing my shot mixed with the not talking to me has me convinced that he figured it out. Why else would he be avoiding me, if he’s not trying to think of how to let me down easily?” I rambled, the more I thought about the possibility the more stressed I became. “What if I was right and confessing to him will just ruin our friendship and now that he figured out that I’m his secret admirer he wants absolutely nothing to do with me?” My anxiety was clear and the four girls sitting with me shared a look of concern.

   “If he wanted absolutely nothing to do with you, why is he still staring at the back of your head like he’s trying to get you to notice him without him saying anything?” Hagakure asked, before she continued. “I think it’s more likely that if he figured out that it’s you, he’s trying to figure out how to ask you out himself. As for forgetting about last night Bakugo did force him to short circuit during training pretty bad and he wasn’t back to normal until around 7:30 so he probably really did forget. Not that it’s an excuse but I’m sure he probably figured out he forgot and feels bad.” She reminded us of what happened the previous day in training.

   I nodded looking back to my food. “You have a point, but I’m not sure if I should go through with giving him the final note. I’ll just give him the normal present I was going to give him and forget all of this happened. I mean he’s probably expecting one of you guys to be behind the notes, not me.” I said feeding into the thoughts that had been eating at me since Sero’s comments at lunch on Monday.

   “That is the one of the dumbest things I’ve heard you say all day. First you can’t give up now, if he really is avoiding you for the reasons you think he is, the note won’t change that, and getting it off your chest will give you space to heal. Second, there is no way he suspects it’s any of us girls in the class. I was there when Sero was asking him about ‘what girl’ likes him, and we both heard Kaminari saying ‘ it doesn't matter who’s leaving the notes. I want to give them a fair chance.’. Not to mention every mention of the secret admirer he made before that he never once referred to them as a girl or a guy. He always uses they/them when the topic comes up, shooting down assumptions that whoever is writing them is a girl. All of that would lead me to believe that he at the very least couldn’t care less about the gender identity of his admirer.” Mina said, disproving all of the evidence I would try to use to argue otherwise. “Now please on Saturday when you hand over the present you got him, promise that the final note will be part of it.” She finished.

    I looked at her stunned, not having expected the reaction but knowing she would be truthful with me no matter what. If she really thought there was a chance Denki was avoiding me on purpose she would have said something. “Do you guys agree with Mina?” I asked the other three at the table. They all nodded in agreement, well Hagakure gave me a thumbs up but still they made it known they were on Mina’s side. “Okay fine I’ll give him the note on Saturday, but if he does reject me I expect a night of ice cream and anime.” I said, earning a chorus of approval from my friends.

   The next couple of days were pretty much the same as the rest of the week. Denki avoiding me, my worries trying to tell me to give up. And now all the girls in Class A are aware of the whole citation thanks to Mina having apparently accidentally ranted, while the girls were all getting ready for training after lunch on Thursday. It seemed like any time I was alone with any of them, they would try and cheer me up saying shit like he’s missing out if he rejects me and how he’s an idiot if he throws out a life long friendship over it. At this point I can’t wait for his birthday party so I can rip the bandaid off and either cry or smile and stop hearing their weird comments.

   Luckily I didn’t have to wait long for his party to start. Once Denki got back from visiting his family off campus, the party started. It was mostly just everyone relaxing in the common area, chatting and joking, with the added bonus of some random party games we came up with. Eventually we ate the cake that Sato had made, and gathered around Denki while he opened everyone's presents. I personally didn’t pay much attention to what everyone else got him, just focused on anxiously waiting for him to reach mine.

   After about five or six presents he grabbed the neatly wrapped present I had placed in the pile. When he read the name, I watched as his eyes went wide before he made eye contact and gave me one of his electrifying smiles. I couldn’t help but hold my breath as he opened the gift. As he carefully opened it, he froze for just a second before grabbing the folded piece of paper sitting on top of the gift and stuffing it in his pocket before returning to the larger piece of the present. Seeing him stuff the paper in his pocket, told me everything I needed to know; so before I could be faced with any further heartbreak, I whispered to Mina, who was sitting next to me, that I was going to my room. Before anyone could say anything I was out of the common area.

   Denki’s P.o.v

   After opening yet another great gift from my classmates, I reached down and grabbed a decent sized rectangular box that was perfectly wrapped. Reading the name carefully written across the top, I couldn’t hide the surprise on my face. I quickly made eye contact with Y/n across the room, offering them a wide smile before beginning to open the gift. As I unwrapped it, it became clear that it was a shoe box. Opening the top the first thing to catch my eye was the carefully folded piece of paper that perfectly matched the notes I had been finding in my things the past few weeks.

   Not wanting to read the contents in front of the whole class, knowing exactly what it meant, I put the paper in my pocket. Brushing off the joy of having my hopes confirmed, I turned my focus back to the larger part of the gift. Inside the box rested a pair of custom high top converse. The base color was black but had clearly hand embroidered yellow lighting bolts and Chargebolt across the side in white. After taking in the handcrafted detail I turned back to where Y/n had been sitting to thank them, only to see Mina sitting next to an empty space.

   “Where did Y/n go? I didn’t get a chance to thank them for these awesome shoes.” I asked, trying to hide my disappointment.

   Mina gave me a sad smile clearly knowing what I was feeling. “They went to their room, and I think that if you really care for them you should go talk to them.” Somehow that one sentence told me that if I didn’t go now, then I would probably lose my best friend.

   Without saying anything, I set the shoe to the side and raced towards the stairs deciding that taking the elevator would take far too long. Climbing the stairs taking two at a time I finally reached Y/n’s room. I didn’t even hesitate to knock.

    Y/n’s P.o.v

   I had only been in my room for about four minutes when I heard someone knocking at the door. “Go away Mina, I don’t want to talk about it right now.” I yelled from my bed burrowing further into the blankets. All I wanted to do was wallow in self pity and not face anyone until Monday.

   It was quiet for a moment before I heard the door open. Before I could even turn to yell at the intruder I heard the one voice I did not want to hear. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing I’m not Mina. Now would you please tell me what’s wrong.” Denki asked, sitting next to me on my bed.

   I was not expecting him to follow me. “Why are you here? Don’t you have a party to be at?” I asked, trying to cover the fact that I had been on the verge of tears moments ago.

   “I’m here because when I looked up to thank my best friend for the amazing shoes they got me, they were nowhere to be seen.” He said tilting his head to the side looking confused. “What’s wrong Y/n?”

    Wiping my eyes one last time I sat up and looked him in the eyes. “What’s wrong is I finally built the courage to tell the most important person in my life how much they mean to me and when he finally had my full confession in hand he just stuffed it in his pocket like it was the last thing he wanted to see. On top of that He’s been avoiding me all week, forgetting a weekly tradition that we’ve been doing for the last two years.” I told him not having the energy to lie, and evidently not having the energy to fight back the tears I had tried to wipe away.

   Denki remained silent for a moment processing and trying to figure out how to respond. When he didn’t answer soon enough I was about to tell him to leave when he cut me off. “I’m truly sorry I made you feel like I’ve been avoiding you, I was just scared. After finding the last couple notes talking about things only our classmates would know and I started to hope that it was you who wrote the notes. I think I was just scared to truly accept that you actually feel the same about me. As for putting the note from your present in my pocket, You are important to me and I wasn’t sure if you would want anyone else to know what is written here.” He explained placing the letter in between us on the bed, before continuing. “I may not be the best at expressing my feelings but I want you to know that from the moment I found the first note, I hoped it would be you. And I do not know how to make up for missing your shot on Wednesday, but I promise that I will never miss one again as long as you will still accept my help.” As he finished he grabbed my hands and looked at me with the most sincere smile I had seen in a long time.

   “Do you truly mean all of that?” I asked, sure I trusted him but the years of feeling like no one would actually like me for me had left a mark. “I don’t want you saying all of this just because you don’t want me to be upset. I’d understand if you don’t want to be with me because of the whole trans thing.” I said looking down at our joined hands.

   Before I could get too deep into my self-deprecating thoughts, Denki moved one of his hands to rest on my check, tilting my head so I was looking him in the eyes. “The ‘whole trans thing’ is one of the reasons I love you. What I mean by that is, you have faced so many struggles in life because of who you are and I couldn’t be prouder of the person you have become. You wake up every morning and tell society to go fuck it’s self because only you can truly know who you are, and thats one of the bravest things any one can do. As for all the other reasons I love you, I guess you’ll have to let me take you out so I can tell you each reason.” 

   Hearing him say those words lifted my heart. “Thank you Denki, I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions and assumed you wouldn’t feel the same.” I said, glancing down.

   “No, I'm sorry for not telling you that I love you sooner.” He said, placing a kiss to my forehead. I couldn’t hide the smile that took over my face. “Now let’s make up for our missed movie night and who knows how many kisses I have to make up for not giving you.” He finished placing a kiss to the tip of my nose.

   As he stood up to set up the movies I remembered one crucial thing about the day. “Wait Denki, you left in the middle of your birthday party. Shouldn’t we at least go back down so you can open the rest of your presents?” I asked, watching as he walked back to my bed.

   He paused to think for a moment. “Nah, I have to make up for being an idiot and ignoring the most important person in my life.” With that he laid down on the bed pulling me into his side as he played the movie.

   “Okay, if you say so. I’m sorry I ruined your birthday party though.” I said as I cuddled closer to him.

   Denki just placed a kiss on the top of my head. “You didn’t ruin anything. You gave me the best birthday present I could ask for. Now shh the movie is starting.” I nodded, deciding he was probably right and focused on spending time with Denki.

[narrators-journal]

Ryomina pregnancy headcanons

Decided to give myself a little treat again. A little self-indulgent brownie. Something specifically for me. And this is it! Some headcanons to explore more of that pregnancy au I cooked up! Are they coherent? Probably not. Are they entertaining? I think so! And, I hope you enjoy them as well, because simple writing of the ideas doesn’t always exorcise the demons. I must share, even if it is nothing near serious.

Also btw, yeah none of this is meant to be taken seriously in relation to canon, characterization, or a known au outside of the one fic so far. This little ditty is built specifically out of shit I like about my Ryomina thoughts and mashed together for my own enjoyment when I feel like crap. Just take it as a laugh and maybe some fun food for thought for anyone who wants it.

CW: Pregnancy

Minato

He is stuck in a female presenting form due to magical horny shit, it is not legitimate mpreg.

Despite not normally caring about gender presentation, Minato grows very uncomfortable with being perceived as a woman while he’s pregnant.

Thanks to years of emotional repression and mental illness, the addition of out of control hormones is the equivilent of taking a sledge hammer to very thin glass.

Minato is insanely emotional while pregnant. From crying, to anger, to horny, he can swap on a dime and he tends to feel them pretty fucking strongly.

The pregnancy was nowhere near planned, and to some degree is mostly kept out of curiosity.

Mina does end up attached to the baby, though, so it doesn’t stay purely curiosity for him. Though he might go to his grave before he admits any enjoyment in the pregnancy in any way, shape, or even vague form.

Since Ryoji is not human, so much stronger than him already, and simply used to being attacked for his job, Minato is not at all scared to smack, punch, or bite his partner. At least when the mood swings first start. He ends up mellowing out on the attacks as the emotions are vented.

That being said, he is more often than not wracked with guilt for the outbursts.

Minato is in fact a spoiled brat during this entire thing, though.

As much as he might snap and make demands of Ryoji, Minato struggles to sleep without his partner there. Not only because he hates having to roll himself over or get up on his own, but because he simply enjoys being held.

Ryoji grows very, very, derangedly protective of Minato, and you can bet your sweet ass the wildcard is into it for multiple reasons.

Despite this territorial, homicidal level of guarding, Minato all but threatened his own health for Ryoji to let him stay with the SEES members in one of Mitsuru’s many side homes so that Ryoji didn’t end up completely isolating him.

He ends up getting extra therapy in preparation for the child.

While pregnant, Minato will resort to petty shit to get forbidden treats.

A few of his favorite petty tactics is to effectively stab a stick into Ryoji’s sexual appetite knowing full well his partner is too damned scared to screw him while he’s pregnant, hiding in the house, or simply talking to someone like Junpei knowing very well how territorial ryoji can get.

If pettiness fails, he can always cry on a dime until Ryoji gives him whatever junk food or weird craving he desires.

Ryoji

Thanks to being Death, Ryoji is an insanely nervous father to be.

Not only in his own capabilities as a parent, but also Minato’s general safety during the process.

Because of this, Ryoji will outright kill people for so much as looking too long at his partner, if he’s allowed.

Minato does not let him actually do it, obviously, but it is a very thin leash he’s kept on.

Outside of the anxiety, though, Ryoji is quick to adore and be happy to have a baby. Even if it was an accident, and born out of pure horny whim. Not like he’s going to tell his baby the method in which they were created, after all.

Ryoji nests.

He is also very strict about things like Minato’s diet, amount of sleep, or exercise.

Part of it is because he’s worried for the baby’s and Minato’s general health, the other part is simply out of his own desire to not share Minato with anybody.

Ryoji does know the general basics of how pregnancy works and how breeding works. That being said, the knowledge does jack shit against his fear that his attraction to his pregnant partner is universal, and that if any man so much as flirts with his partner, the baby will no longer be his.

That irrational type of fear, though this time surrounding his role as death god and shadow, is also what keeps Ryoji damn near celibate during the entire pregnancy. Minato hates it.

Ryoji may or may not have a slight bit of a breeding kink.

He puts on a bit of extra weight during the pregnancy that he can’t shape shift away, and the running theory as to why is that Ryoji’s some type of bird and putting on the extra weight for incubation.

That last point is mostly a joke for the SEES built on Ryoji having wings and liking to nest.

[beanmaster-pika]

Hello!! I just read ur fic, The Shoot of Conscious Attainment (at least i hope this is the same person? I only looked up the username), and i wanted to tell u how much i absolutely loved it!!

First of all, I'm a big Venti & Nahida enjoyer myself and it's criminal they haven't yet interacted in-game. Ur fic scratched a very particular itch and im so so glad i found it!! It also helped a lot that they were so in character, it really felt like official content. Their interaction was everything i wanted to see and more!!

The prose itself was very beautiful, especially from Nahida's inner monologue. The play on "old-new" and "unfamiliar-familiar" in regards to Venti was absolutely delicious. And the description of Nahida's hands, specifically the "five hundred years of childhood" part has me in a chokehold. U did such an amazing job portraying her feelings and the smallness she experiences it's unreal.

And obviously Venti himself was glorious, from the wind cuddling to the holding back physical affection until Nahida initiated it. So so good, all of it.

It was really just very enjoyable overall and i liked it a lot!! If i could give it multiple Kudos i would. Loved, loved, loved it!! Thank u for writing it and for sharing it with the world 💖

Aaaaaaaaa thank you so much this is so nice!!!! Always wonderful to meet a fellow Venti & Nahida fan ^^ I'm honored you enjoyed it and thought they were in-character!! I'm glad you liked the prose too!!

My characterization of Nahida draws in part from reading heartslogos (the god of Sumeru fics. To me) fics around the time I wrote this if you're ever on the hunt for recs 👀They wrote some incredible Nahida-centric ones a couple years ago, and I'm glad I was able to channel that energy and have it come through! Even if she's one of if not the smartest people in the world and 500 years old, she still lived those centuries as a bird in a cage that prevented her from growing. I hope that in between her archon duties, she now gets to experience a real childhood and explore the world and ultimately grow up happy :')

One of the sad things about Rukkhadevata being erased from Irminsul is that Nahida doesn't just have big shoes to fill but big shoes that she already supposedly filled before. Poor radish. Trying to live up to a standard you've set yourself and being unsure if you can do it again is a different sort of torment from trying to live up to your predecessor.

I am glad also that you enjoyed Venti's portrayal, the wind cuddles were something self-indulgent that I wrote for Me so I'm glad others actually like them 🙏 In part because he's nervous about meeting Nahida and doesn't want to make her uncomfortable but also he's an affectionate person!! He's fifty percent mischief but the other fifty percent is love!! and also because I am just. Endlessly fascinated by his connection with the wind. He is the wind itself. It's like an extension of him, but without the solid physicality that actually tethers it to him if that makes any sense.

Anyways! Thank you for reading it and sharing your thoughts with me!!!! 💗 (and for leaving kudos) I'm happy that you liked it enough to say all this!