#Was she that good - he decided it was the real her :)

[rafesbangs]

𝜗𝜚 bunny!reader's snowy christmas with bf!rafe

summary; rafe surprises you on christmas day, then bunny!reader surprises him with the best christmas present he could ask for ૮꒰ ྀི>⸝⸝⸝< ྀི꒱ა

c!w; mdni !! soft!dom!rafe, established relationship, mentions of a previous argument, use of the nicknames rafey, baby, and bunny obviously, making out, heavy petting, restraints (handcuffs), i guess you could say roleplay? (she wears bunny ears), 'unprotected' sex, p in v, dirty talk, rough sex, manhandling, size kink, slight breeding kink - they go at it like bunnies if you catch my drift loll.

notes; merry christmas to those who celebrate ! either way here's a little piece about our favourite girl and rafe enjoying christmas day tehe & sorry i didn't wanna make this too longgg !

you and rafe had gotten into a huge fight over some guys hitting on her at a kook christmas party, three days before christmas, this might've been the biggest one ever.

you'd been crying for three days, absolutely beside yourself. now here you were on christmas eve, alone and driving to a huge ski cabin that you and rafe had previously booked but you'd forgotten until yesterday when you got an email from airbnb.

the drive had been quiet and dull, not even your favourite music being able to cheer you up. it was late when you pulled up to the lodge, the area completely dark as the place was secluded, you pulled your pink suitcases from the car and dragged them through the snow and onto the porch. thank god the keys were where the owner said they'd been hidden, you didn't know what you'd do if you had to find a way to get into the warm lodge at 7 'oclock at night.

you swung the door open, instantly the smell of pine hit you and you walked in, locking the door behind you and breathing out deeply as you set your bags down. you beamed at the christmas tree sitting in the corner of the big cozy living room, it was bare but the thought counted, you made a mental note to give the place a good review so far.

you headed to the huge wooden staircase, sighing and wishing rafe was here to effortlessly carry your bags, and probably you, up them. it took you pulling with all your strength, the bags bumping up every step to finally have them there. you walked into the master bedroom smiling at the soft and absolutely massive bed in front of you before frowning, remembering you would be sleeping alone on this trip.

you took a while to unpack, seeing as no one else was here you thought you might as well just do what you want and relax. it was nearing midnight when you were sat at the vanity in the corner, doing your skincare before bed. finally you cozied into the huge bed, laying dead middle of it. it felt wrong. completely bare, especially as you lay there in a little cami and pink victoria secret pants still adorning your legs when they'd normally be off if rafe had any say in it.

eventually, you drifted off to sleep, a frown situated on your face.

you thought you were imagining things when you heard jingling coming from downstairs, half awake with your eyes still closed a million thoughts ran through your head. you sat up quickly, realising there in fact had to be someone downstairs, the sound was real. what the hell?

you pulled rafe's grey college hoodie over your head before sneaking carefully downstairs, praying that someone hadn't decided to rob the place for christmas, that was the last thing you needed. when you finally turned the corner and the living room came into better view, your mouth fell ajar at the sight in front of you.

"rafe..?" you squeaked, still not knowing if you were dreaming or not. the dirty blonde turned around from facing the christmas tree, it now covered in pink, white and silver ornaments, your ornaments.

his lips tightened into a warm smile, "hey baby... sorry, i hope i didn't wake you up too early" he cooed, your heart panged in your chest, his tone so warm and inviting. but you wanted answers.

you stepped off the bottom of the stairs, "what're you doing here?? how did you even get in?" you said, brow furrowed as your tried to comprehend the fact that your boyfriend, whom you were not even talking to with, was standing right in front of you.

he sighed, putting ornaments down from in his hands and walked towards you. he grabbed your hands softly and massaged them in his, "'m so sorry bunny. i never should've shouted at you the way i did, its not your fault every guy turns his head and tries something with you. i should be honoured to have a gorgeous girlfriend, not angry." he confessed, his brow furrowing in shame as he spoke. "i realised late last night and saw the reminder on our airbnb account so i rushed here early this morning, i couldn't ruin christmas for you baby."

you were speechless. your lips formed into a thin line as you stared at him in silence for a moment, he couldn't even look you in the eyes he was so ashamed. you drove into him, your arms wrapping tightly around his waist, "i never wanna fight like that again rafe... i missed you so so much." you mumbled into his chest. he wrapped his arms around you too and kissed the top of your head.

"i know. 'm sorry you had to sleep alone here last night baby, i was gettin' all this ready" he softly replied, stroking your head as you rested it on his chest. "i hated it. and the bed is sooo big, i'm never doing that again" you huffed, pulling your face away from him now.

he looked down into your eyes with a sneaky grin, "really? hm. i wanna see"

you pulled him by the hand as the two of you walked upstairs and into the bedroom, your stuff kind of everywhere, contrasting the cozy rustic setting. he was smirking even more now as the two of you gazed on the huge soft bed, "see, it was so weird not having you next to me." you pointed out. rafe slowly nodded, scanning the clutter of your things across the room when his eyes landed on a little white christmas present tied up with a red bow.

"oh... that um, that's for you" you remarked, walking over to grab it with flushed cheeks. rafe beamed at you and sat on the bed, "you're blushing quite a lot baby, is this a present for me... or us.?"

you shrugged sheepishly, handing the box to him, he just chuckled a little before pulling the bow off and opening it. underneath the tissue paper, there sat a fluffy and white lace lingerie set, with bunny ears and fluffy handcuffs too with a little note on top that said "since you always say i'm your bunny, i'm your snow bunny today baby <3"

his lips parted has he stared down at the gift, note in hand, completely stunned. rafe had no idea that you'd be into something like handcuffs, but ever since you'd gotten comfortable, him being your first time and all, he seemed to be discovering a lot about you sexually. this was the second most shocking thing, the first being that you recently seemed to always want to have sex with him. he called you bunny affectionately for the longest time but had no idea how accurate he was when it came down to joking to topper and kelce about you two always 'going at it like bunnies'.

"oh jesus bunny this is..." he breathed deeply, shaking his head, "this is... wow." he looked up at you with wild eyes, an ecstatic grin planted on his face now. you fiddled with your fingers behind your back nervously, smiling back at him, you were so glad he loved his gift.

you managed to squeak out, "wanna try out your gift now..? or-" he jumped up and scooped your face with his big hands, planting a deep heated kiss on your lips before pulling apart, "yes now. the other gifts can wait."

heat radiated from your cheeks, you could feel it pooling in your tummy too as you grabbed the lingerie from the box, "okay rafey" you chirped, heading into the ensuite bathroom.

you swung the bathroom door open, smiling from ear to ear with the bunny ears perfectly perched on your head.

"oh bunny." rafe practically moaned, he was beside himself, his cock completely rock hard from the note and gift itself, seeing it on you now could nearly make him cum his pants.

you walked over to him, swaying your lips a little before planting your paws on his knees. he swallowed heavily, almost shaking in excitement. you'd never seen him so hard before, you could feel the hot spit pooling in your mouth, threatening to drool all over his pants. you palmed him slowly, making sure to tease at his swollen tip.

he grabbed your waist hungrily, "i'm so glad this cabin is so secluded, because i'm about to make you scream my name baby." he rasped, his gaze raking over your figure before he grinned up at you, pulling you onto his lap and immediately connecting his lips to yours desperately.

you rutted against his thick bulge, slipping little moans between kisses as the friction added to the heat in your tummy and the wetness in between your legs.

rafe groaned loudly with his hands grip bruising on your hips. "bunny- fuck, you keep grinding on my dick like that and i'm gonna cum right here, right now." he admitted, all breathy. you pulled back with a smile, your face flushed from how turned on you are, nodding you just tugged at his shirt before sliding your hands under, feeling his toned chest.

he practically ripped the long sleeve off, wanting to be skin to skin with only the lacey, fluffy bralette in the way. rafe drove into your tits, they were spilling out of the top, making it easy for him to lick and suckle on your sensitive flesh even through the cups.

your hands trailed down to rafe's bulge, wanting it out from under all the fabric now. you yanked at the button and tore down the zipper, chewing at your bottom lip in anticipation.

your face was now mashed into the bed, eyes rolling back, rafe had discarded his clothes and your panties long ago. unfortunately he did rip the stringy fabric apart getting to your wet cunt but he mumbled the promise of a replacement, besides, you couldn't care less at this point.

he was nailing you from behind, your arms in cuffs behind your back that he was tugging on. deep hard strokes as his pelvis hit your ass, causing the flesh to bounce back, leaving an amused smirk on rafe's lips. "fuck- your pussy's clenching me so good, you love being manhandled hmm?" he rasped, still driving his cock into you as he spoke. you just responded with an incoherent satisfied mumble, completely fucked out already, rafe had been throwing you around the large plush bed and he didn't intend on stopping anytime soon.

"aww 's my bunny been fucked dumb? brain not working from this huge cock?" he teased before sliding his dick out, still throbbing and erect, he flipped you over with a grin and watched as you instinctively let your legs fall open for him. your pussy was sopping with your juices, and a previous creampie rafe had released into you before going right back to driving his cock into you.

he grabbed one of your legs and threw it up against his shoulder, your knees so weak it hung loosely over. rafe began dragging his huge leaking cock over your folds, making sure to get to your weeping hole and push only his fat tip in for a second before pulling out and toying with your clit again. "mmm, rafey..." you groaned in frustration, all you could think of, all you wanted, was him continuing to jackhammer you into the bed.

when you least expected it, he finally obliged, gripping roughly on a hip with one hand and a thigh with another. "god bunny, 'm g'na fill this pretty pussy with my cum again," he strained, "'g'na be so full up, your brain's never g'na recover."

you drew out a moan, as he picked up his pace, plowing into you, the bunny ears still on your head bouncing with his thrusts. he placed a hand on your tummy where you could spot a large bulge poking earlier, pressing down and your eyes rolled back when he began toying with your clit too.

the plap-plap-plap of his thrusts beginning to grow sloppy as you were reaching your peak made your head spin. "ray! ... g'na cum-" you squeaked out just a second before your cunt clenched around him, milking him into spilling into your begging pussy, groaning gutturally.

rafe buckles on top of you, too fucked out to jam his leaking cum back inside you, "you're so perfect" he mumbled into the crook of your neck. both your sweaty bodies clung together in the sheets until rafe slowly lifted himself up, sliding out of you finally.

he ran a hand through his greasy bangs with a dopey grin, "c'mon bunny, gotta clean ourselves up now" he cooed, gesturing towards the large ensuite as he looked at the sticky mess between your thighs.

you smiled up at him, taking the bunny ears off, knowing he was gonna have you on your knees in a minute while the water rushed over the both of you.

[sailorrhansol]

Santa Baby | JWW (m)

Pairing: Wonwoo x reader

Summary: Your boyfriend is stuck working on Christmas Eve in hell on earth. You decide to pay him a little visit to cheer him up - and give yourself a good laugh. 

Word Count: 1,400

Genre: Established Relationship 

Type:  Fluff, Humor

Rating: 18+ Minors are strictly prohibited from engaging in and reading this content. It contains explicit content and any minors discovered reading or engaging with this work will be blocked immediately.

Warnings: Cranky reader, children slander because the author (me) is a childless wench, some light suggestive talk at the end, explicit language, a single chaste kiss. 

A/N: Merry Crimbus Malison Jederson. You wanted mall Santa and by god, I fucking wrote mall santa lmfaooooo please enjoy this borderline self-insert of what it’s like to experience the mall right before Christmas in that weird holiday-liminal space. 

A/N 2: For @kkaetnipjeon's Haliday request

Disclaimer: Disclaimer: All members of Seventeen are faces and name claims for stories. Any scenarios or representations of the people and places mentioned in works are not representative of real-life scenarios. Moreover, none of my works accurately reflect, represent or take a stance on the nuances of Korean culture, cities, people etc. Seventeen members are not Seventeen culturally, intellectually, physically, or representationally in my stories, and should be considered name and face stand-ins for made up characters.

Main Masterlist ❀ Tag List Request Form ❀ Ask ❀ Haliday’s Request Event

Christmas Eve at the mall should be illegal. It’s most certainly a hazard to your health as yet another family bumps into you with their handful of demons - children - nearly knocking you into the swing sign at Victoria Secret telling you to buy something so someone could unwrap you. 

You would love for someone to be unwrapping you right now in the warmth of your home in the sheets that smell like laundry detergent and spicy cologne. The man who would do the unwrapping, however, is currently only available to the population of the world’s most hellish mall. 

Which is why you’re in said hellish mall in the first place. 

Christmas music blares over the speakers of the mall. The smell of grease and the distinct scent of cheese drifts from the food court. Your stomach rumbles, not for the burnt taste of Sbarro pizza but at the thought of going home and finally digging into a proper meal. 

That will have to wait, though. 

Smack in the center of the mall is a towering platform decorated like a winter wonderland. Occasionally, a snowblower from somewhere on the second floor shoots out foam, turning it into the North Pole proper. It earns a combination of screaming in delight and terror from the mostly-kid population waiting in line to walk up the metal catwalk to the top of the winter wonderland where Santa is waiting for them. 

Sighing, you get in line, by-stepping a little girl covered in sticky candy cane residue as she runs from her mother, tears streaming down her face while screaming she doesn’t want a picture with tanta. Well, you’re not sure who tanta is but you can’t blame her, looking at your watch to see it’s nearly eight o'clock at night. 

The line moves sluggishly slow. You shift back and forth on your feet, scrolling mindlessly through social media. The mother in front of you accidentally knocks your phone with her purse as she shifts one of her screaming children from one arm to the next.

“I’m so sorry,” she apologizes, bouncing the baby in an attempt to soothe him. You wince. You get it - she doesn’t have it easy. “And sorry for his screaming.”

“That’s okay, I think it’s a requirement for kids to scream during the holidays. It’s like an instinct.” 

She laughs. “Is this one yours?” 

You look to where she’s pointing. There’s a child standing next to you with snot running down his nose and a grinch t-shirt on with several questionable stains. He looks up at you with big brown eyes, blinking and asking, “Dada?” 

“No, definitely not.” You point to the father swiftly coming over to scoop the child, an apologetic look on his face. “That’s dada, buddy.” 

“Dada,” the kid agrees, turning to reach his arms up as he’s scooped up and taken away from the line. 

“Oh.” The woman in front of you frowns. “No kids? Just here to see Santa yourself?” 

“Yes. I want to ask him to destroy all the Cybertrucks.” 

“Oh.” End of conversation. 

One less friend and an infinite amount of line to go, you flip through your work emails, cringing to see how many people think it’s appropriate to send you emails on Christmas Eve. Don’t they know you have a line to stand in for forty five minutes? 

You think about asking Santa to send all your coworkers away like Kevin on Home Alone, but realize you’d still be expected to take on all their work. Maybe you should ask for the destruction of capitalism. That seems like a world-wide benefit. 

Finally, the line moves forward significantly. The metal catwalk twangs underneath your boots. You lean on the greasy rail, listening to the musical styling of Mariah Carey as she earns yet another number on her paycheck as foam snow blows overhead. 

In a weird way, it’s not terrible. You look around, drinking in the miserable families just trying to take a last second holiday photo, late shoppers scrambling to get the last of their presents before tomorrow morning, the kitschy decorations making up the mountain with Sana’s chair somewhere at the top. 

You grin, feeling a sense of nostalgia as the line moves forward again. It might be an annoying way to spend your evening, but there’s no denying there’s a bit of magic in the air, even for capitalism Christmas. And Sbarro pizza. 

Finally, you near the top landing. There are elf workers helping take photos and managing the line while Santa sits on a gold chair with velvet cushions. His robes are equally as red, nearly blending in with the seat save for the white beard and hair and the slightly askew glasses as the little kid in his lap knocks him in the head. 

Coughing to disguise your laughter, you watch as Santa delicately removes the child from his lap and gives a hoarse ho ho ho before sighing and readjusting to accept the next family. He doesn’t see you in line, entirely focused on lifting up the little tyke in front of him into his lap to ask what he wants for Christmas.

The teenage elf working the line looks you up and down, raising her brow as she chews her gum. “How many?” 

“Just me.”

“Oh. Ummm. Alright I guess. You get five minutes with Santa. Please don’t go over time. Your photos will be available at the kiosk downstairs. Take this ticket and they’ll print them.” 

You take the piece of paper from her. “How much are photos?” 

“Fifty bucks.”

“Jesus Christ, do I get to kiss him on the mouth too? Why is it so expensive?” 

She stares at you before turning over her shoulder to see the family leaving. “I don’t make the prices. Your turn - and don’t kiss Santa on the mouth.”

Shoving the ticket in your pocket, you mutter under your breath that you can actually kiss this specific Santa all you want. The Santa in question turns to greet you, halfway through his greeting when he sputters,” Ho-ho- holy shit what are you doing here?” 

“Wow, what terrible language, Santa Baby.” You grin, plopping yourself on his lap. Wonwoo nearly drops you as you do, but he recovers quickly, wrapping his arms around your waist and squeezing you tight. “You smell like cheese.” 

“It’s the food court,” he mutters. “It won’t leave me, I swear.” 

“Gross.” You adjust his glasses, heart fluttering. “You look cute.” 

He does, in a weird way. Not because the giant suit and the beard and the hair are flattering, but because you know it’s Wonwoo underneath it all. Wonwoo who somehow got roped into covering for Mingyu as a mall Santa for the evening, Wonwoo who is a little bit overwhelmed by kids but eager to make them laugh anyway, Wonwoo whose grip tightens on you a little, eyes sparkling at your arrival. 

“Do I?” 

“No, but I like you anyway.” 

“Alright, pose with Santa,” the photographer says. 

Both of you ignore him as Wonwoo laughs. “So,” he hums. “Have you been naughty or nice?” 

“Well, I drove an hour in traffic to come to this shitty mall and then fight for parking for another forty-five, got run into by a bunch of families, stood in line and got called dada or mama like four times, all to come see my boyfriend and make his night a little better.”

“Got it. Nice list.” 

You brush stray white hair from his beard. “Definitely nice list.” 

“Thanks for coming to see me.” He hugs you a little closer, softening. “It’s really sweet of you. I’m off in an hour.”

“Good. I’m hungry and I want to watch The Muppets Christmas Carol with my own personal Santa Baby.” 

“Is that what’s on your Christmas list?” 

“Yes. And for all the Cybertrucks to be destroyed.”

His laugh is jovial. You think Wonwoo’s laugh outranks Santa any day, full-bellied and cute. You feel your affection swell, leaning forward to press a quick kiss to his lips despite the teenage elf telling you not too. Too bad she doesn’t decide if you get to kiss your boyfriend or not. 

“Hey!” She yells behind you. “I told you not to kiss Santa!”

“I’ve gotta go,” you laugh. “I think I just made the naughty list.” 

“I’ll see you at home?”

“Mhmm.” You think of the Victoria Secret sale sign. “Come unwrap me.” 

-

TAG LIST

@ddaddunugu @ourkivee @tie-nn @cookiearmy@thesunsfullmoon @stray-bi-kids @ldysmfrst @thepoopdokyeomtouched@avochele @eoieopda @onlywon4u @hopeless-foolery@iamawkwardandshy @gyuguys @codeinebelle @ateez-atiny380

[cupidlived]

Ride That Wave | intro

summary — After a reckless night changes the entire sphere of your life, your parents send you to live with your aunt in North Carolina. In a setting far from your old, glittering life, you’re left to confront your guilt and the secrets you’ve been running from. Things seem like they’re going uphill after your aunt’s pool boy, JJ, helps you settle in, but will you be able to keep yourself from slipping into your bad habits?

pairing — kook!reader x jj maybank

content — slow burn, strangers to friends to lovers

“You know,” your dad starts. “This is where your mother and I met.”

From the backseat, you resist the urge to roll your eyes. You’ve heard this story before, and right now, with everything that’s floating around regarding your future, the last thing you want to hear about is your parents’ past.

When he’s met with nothing but silence, he continues. “Yep, back in ‘95.” He looks at you in the rearview, taking in your faraway look.

“Honey, you could at least act a little interested.” Your mother snaps.

“Well, excuse me for worrying about bigger things.”

“Don’t you take that tone with me,” she glares over her shoulder. “With the way we’ve stuck our asses out for you, the least you could do is slap a smile on your face.”

Your father is suddenly quiet, staring forward at the road ahead of him. Silence overtakes the rest of the ride, and you start to feel slightly guilty.

After all, it was your fault that any of this happening. As your mom had so eloquently put it when you were packing, ‘maybe the distance will help clear the coke from your nose and put some thoughts in your head.’

Despite the fact that you wouldn’t touch drugs with a 10-foot pole, you couldn’t argue that she was slightly right. You knew your lack of direction was a topic of conversation between your mom and her sister, Aunt Vick. If you didn’t get your act together during your gap semester, you were as good as cut off.

As you ponder the very real possibility of being penniless, you decide to leave your parents (at least your dad) with a positive last impression.

“So, has Figure 8 changed much?”

this is my christmas gift to the world, i hope it’s adequate 😖lmk if you’re interested in updates/joining a tag list!

[xxnashiraxx]

Pairing: Astarion/f!Durge ◇ Astarion/f!OC (Ofelia)

Word Count: 6,119

Tags/Warnings: Mature (slight spice), Soft Astarion, Fluff

Summary: It's December in Baldur’s Gate and the snow is falling on Act 3 of Ofelia's adventure. After falling ill to a cold that prevents her from spreading the joy of Christmas to her companions, they decide to band together and prepare it in secret as a surprise for her. As they look for decorations, gifts, and a tree, Astarion reflects on his time with her and contemplates whether or not his gift will convey the depth of his true feelings...

divider here!

AO3 | Song Reference: Let it Snow!

Hi everyone!!! My apologies for this trainwreck, I tried my best on little time, but I really wanted to write something sweet for these two, and I owe inspiration for this oneshot to @caffeinatedmunchkin ! Thank you again friend!!! I also tried as far as the elvish, so please bear with me 🙏🏼

Please enjoy- fluff was needed for the season, and I hope everyone has a lovely day if you celebrate!!! ❤️ You do not need to read the main fic to read this one- it's its own little standalone! 💕

“So, you expect us to believe that some jolly old man goes around to every child in your world and delivers gifts on this ‘Christmas Eve’?” Gale's tone, while incredulous, remains cheerful. “That does not seem feasible, given your planet's population.”

“Well, not every child celebrates Christmas, so not all seven billion. But yeah pretty much,” Ofelia’s eyes light with amusement as Gale begins another spiel into logic and probability, causing Astarion to roll his eyes and grumble into the chalice of blood Ofelia had filled for him not but a few minutes ago.

“It's just make-believe!” Ofelia spouts around giggles, her smile bright. “Not real! Something you tell kids so they behave, but the holiday is still the same- parents get their children gifts, blame it on Santa, make cookies and leave milk out for him for his journey, hang stockings on the mantle to see if they get coal if they’re bad or sweets and little toys if they’re good. It's all for fun- I myself most enjoy the snow and decorations.” She sounds wistful as their ragtag group listens. He watches her face twist slightly as if recalling a bad memory, and he pays attention to the warble in her voice when she next speaks.

“I haven't had a real Christmas since I was still young enough to believe… my parents did everything for me, those first nine years. It was always so magical… pazole, tamales, candy, gifts- I wished they wouldn't have, but they'd do everything, take extra shifts just so there was something under the tree for me… I miss them this time of year. Just a little bit extra.” No longer afraid of the warmth that blooms in his chest, he reaches for her and when his hand rests over her shoulder she turns to him and quickly wipes the moisture from the corner of her eye. Her cheeks crease with an appreciative smile and she squeezes his hand in thanks as the others look around.

“Would you want to celebrate it here?” Karlach asks, setting her cleaned plate off to the side on one of the many little tables littered around their common space in the Elfsong.

“You guys want to?” Ofelia asks with a soft huff, hefty emotion washing from her voice amid the sweet hope that spreads over her face.

“We may not have Santa, but why not? The spirit of gift giving and love isn’t foreign here,” Gale smiles, patting Ofelia’s opposite shoulder.

“Okay… yeah! We’ll have to find a tree, and ornaments, and gift wrapping of some kind- paper will do! Stockings to hang over the fire for each of us… day after tomorrow!” Her eyes brighten at each syllable, and for all the teasing he’d love to utter, he can’t find it in himself to poke when this is the happiest she’s looked since they’d arrived in Baldur’s Gate.

And gods, if it isn’t the happiest he’s been, as well. Since Cazador fell. They still have the brain and two of the Dead Three's chosen left, but curse it all to the hells. Right now perhaps they can indulge in some respite from it all. The calm before the storm.

They move through the rest of the day restocking their supplies, tracking down various needs, and chasing some loose ends. They discover more of Orin’s handiwork littered throughout the city, much to Ofelia’s chagrin, but decide to turn in early in the hopes of getting started on their decorating. Unfortunately, fate has other plans.

“I’m afraid healing magic really only works on injuries and the like- I’m sorry, Ofelia. I know how much this meant to you… perhaps we can have it later in the week?” Shadowheart strokes the human’s face softly, her pale hand meeting russet, clammy skin. Ofelia nods, eyes shifting to a corner of the room as the half-elf leaves and shoots Astarion a pitying frown. When the door shuts, he sinks down beside her and strokes the hair off her cheeks and forehead, fever hot against his cold undead hands.

“This sucks…” She mutters, cheeks ruddy with heat as her body fights against an infection they have no hope of combatting with anything but time and herbs. Already, Jaheira had mixed what little items she had into a concoction Ofelia had knocked back minutes ago, and though a bit of color has returned to her lips, she’s not exactly the picture of good health.

“I’m sorry, darling,” He murmurs, resting the back of his hand against her cheek. He knows she likes it when he does, and she typically runs hot, but this is something else entirely and it pulls at his unbeating heart.

“No, it’s okay… it’s been so long since I’ve tried to decorate, but I did try last year- look.” She strains to her right to grab the object that always manages to mystify him and she starts to scroll through the little frozen pictures on her device before holding some up to him. “I got this really stupid fake tiny tree and I put all those little things on it, got some tinsel and hung it up around the doors and windows.” He peers down at the small room she’d once called home- bright metallic garlands trimming the entryways with twinkling lights adorning the small tree that sits on a table in the center of it. His lips tick up at the corners as he sees her in the next photo, bright red painted lips and golden eyelids, some terribly gaudy red and green jumper covering her chest.

“Beautiful, and loud. As always,” She rolls her eyes at his attempt to poke fun, leaning down more fully onto his right elbow as she tucks herself closer to him.

“I wanted to get a big one this time… really show you guys what it looks like, though I’m not sure what the hell I’d do about the bulbs, or lights, or star on top…” She smiles up at him and he feels his chest twinge with guilt. Of course she’d gone and gotten herself sick somehow…

“There’s… always next year,” He says around the strange doubt in his mind. It’s nothing but disbelief- disbelief that she’s with him at all. That she keeps telling him she loves him. That she keeps promising they’ll defeat the brain and get rid of Orin and Gortash and be able to breathe once it’s all over… together. Sometimes the incredulity of it all still catches him off guard.

“You’re such a big softie, really,” He huffs a laugh, reaching down to pinch one of her cheeks before pressing a terse kiss to the crown of her head.

“And the mistletoe, gods, can’t forget the mistletoe!” She groans, pressing a hand over her eyes as she collapses into the pillows.

“Mistletoe?” He questions. She sighs, spreading her fingers enough so that one eye peeps up at him.

“It’s silly, but you hang it up over a doorway- it’s got these spiky green leaves and cute red berries on it- and if you pass under it with someone else you have to kiss. It’s just the rules,” He smiles, lost amid her explanation though enamored by the wonder in her voice as she speaks. “I've never been kissed under the mistletoe, you know…”

“Hmm, you haven't? Seems we'll have to change that in the future.” She giggles under the kiss he presses to her forehead, careful and full of promise. When he stands he strokes her cheek once more before adjusting the blankets.

“Get some rest, I’ll bring back some soup in a little while.” He whispers, taking her device from her to set back onto the nightstand. She pouts up at him, curiosity in her gaze, and he finishes tucking her in. “I’ll be back, promise,”

Once out in the main room, he finds the rest of his travelling companions speaking in hushed voices around the fireplace, Scratch pacing near Astarion’s feet. The dog quickly ducks in before Astarion gets the door shut, and he smirks knowing Ofelia will at least have some company before he returns to bed. Nearly every morning that mutt’s laying between them or with half his body draped over her legs. She doesn’t seem to mind, and he’s starting to grow accustomed to the beast as well, much to his disdain…

“Vampire- what are we doing about this Christmas?” Lae’zel demands as soon as he’s within a few feet of them. He simpers and sits on a lush ottoman, draping one leg over the other as he accepts a glass of wine from Gale.

“Gods, Lae’zel. We’ve only been travelling together for the last few months, I’d expect you’d have remembered my name by now.” His sly remark is met with the githyanki’s signature Tchk! before Shadowheart grins.

“Now, now, try to get along you two. Your mediator isn’t here,” The half-elf snickers, and Astarion sighs, waving a hand towards the others.

“So, what were you all murmuring about before I came out here? I’m assuming it has something to do with dear Lae’zel’s questioning?” He takes a sip of the wine- an expensive sort that flows easily down his throat- and casts his eyes amongst the others as he watches them exchange nods.

“We want to put it on anyway,” Gale explains, the dark liquor in his glass catching the light of the fire. “She spoke so fondly of it this morning, and to get sick now… it isn’t fair.” Astarion hums, pondering the silence that settles over them once Gale is finished.

He’d been of a similar mind as she’d shown him her pictures- it’d be no easy task to find a tree, especially with them being in the heart of the Gate. Then there was the tinsel he’d seen… they’d perhaps be able to find something like that in the city, the baubles…

“My, my, it’s odd being amongst you all once you actually experience an intelligent thought.” Their murmurs of disbelief and annoyance fuel the smirk that spreads over his lips as he waves a hand “I’ve been snooping through her photos and I’ve got some references we can likely use, though wrestling her away from the damn thing will be a feat in and of itself.” Astarion grumbles around another swig.

“Leave that to me,” Shadowheart assures, clapping her hands together once. “I’ll run her a bath in the morning and make sure she stays in it for a few hours. To ‘leech the toxins’ so to speak. It isn’t as if she’s well versed to our healing methods to know I’m making it up,” Astarion nods, pondering, as the others chime in.

“The tree… we won’t be able to sneak that into the city,” Wyll laments, forefinger stroking over the fine hairs on his face.

“If you were able to secure a sapling, I’m sure I’d be able to encourage it to grow quickly enough.” Halsin adds, earning a nod from the Blade.

“I’ll help with that as well,” Jaheira offers, smile on her softly lined face.

“What about the decorations?” Minthara asks, frowning.

“We’ll figure something out- I’m sure there are plenty of merchants with trinkets and baubles around- Sundries may also have something. We should ask Rolan and his siblings, as well. I seem to remember that Lia had some dolls and things made for the children once they got to the city.” Astarion nods at Gale’s words, contemplating.

“And do not forget gifts for her,” Astarion murmurs crossly, eyes flashing around the room. “At least have the common sense to wrap them first,”

“Course not,” Karlach grins a wide, toothy smile, the likes of which sets his teeth on edge. He'll never let on that it does somewhat please him, however. “We'll get gifts for Ofelia and each other!”

They scatter to their personal rooms or beds, plan worked out in the dim candlelight and hearth as if they’re a secret society. He crawls into bed with his lover, her’s and Scratch’s soft snores filling the room much to his amusement. He checks her temperature, sigh soft on his lips as he rests back against the pillows when he finds it unchanged.

As he lays in bed, his mind spins with the possibilities of all the gifts he could possibly get her- if it were up to him, he’d likely not get one at all. Perhaps steal something.

Images of her adorned with pretty scarlet jewels and glistening pearls flood his vision, though something about jewelry feels almost cold and distant- too obvious a choice. Or possibly even too meaningful, something he isn’t ready for…

No… despite her expect-nothing nature, he’d like to at least try to make this sentimental and meaningful. It could be their last celebration, after all, and gods does he care for her too much not to indulge this simple, saccharine wish. He’ll need to put in the effort- just as she puts in the effort to make him feel cared for each day. He wouldn’t be where he is now without her… without her kindness. It’s a blessing he tries not to take for granted, though he does slip up from time to time. He cannot make that mistake now.

He rises from the bed, trancing left for later, as he pulls some items out of his pack and retrieves a tool kit from the main stock supplies. He’s not sure if he’ll be any good at this, but he doesn’t trust someone else to do the job.

***

“I feel better this morning, I swear…” Ofelia grumbles as Astarion kisses her awake. For the umpteenth time, she thanks the gods that he can’t catch her cold. It’s nice to indulge in a tender kiss first thing, though she’s sure she looks positively awful. Pale skin, scarlet cheeks, sweaty and clammy. She huffs a laugh and pushes him away, making to sit up and use the restroom, but her vision tilts and she stays seated, clutching her head.

“You feel better, hmm?” He trills softly, last syllable enunciated with a haughty laugh. Smug bastard.

“I swear, if I didn’t know better I’d say you’re actually enjoying this.” He stands above her, back of his hand pressing against her forehead, and she lets out a soft moan at the relief. The heat behind her eyelids slowly recedes beneath his touch, and she clutches his hand to hold it still as he hums quietly.

“Well, you do push yourself far too much, darling. Though your pain is something I do not take pleasure in, under these circumstances at least,” She rolls her eyes at the smirk over his lips, longing curling low in her belly in spite of the state of her body.

“Yeah well, you and me both.” She sighs, kissing the back of his hand, and he stoops down to place one of his over her forehead.

“I have some errands to run with Gale of all people- Shadowheart volunteered to stay with you, said she would like to try some kind of healing bath? Silly in my opinion, but who am I to question a cleric’s healing skills?” She groans, lying back on the mattress to stare at the ceiling. She’d really wanted to see if she could convince them to let her go out and find decorations, at least put them up… but it’s not looking probable. That and she’d lied about feeling better to worm her way out of staying in today.

“Ughhhhh,” Her long drawn out groan pulls a light chuckle from the elf and she reaches up to pull him down, knee between her thighs on the spare bit of mattress available, hands at either side of her head. She wraps her arms around his torso and clings to him, trying to absorb as much of him as possible before he leaves for the day.

“I’ll be back later, just relax and enjoy your bath. Maybe there'll be a reward in it for you,” She sighs into his neck, pressing a hot kiss to his skin fueled by the promise of his words, and she smiles when his muscles stiffen. “Patience, dear,” He murmurs as he pulls away and she squeezes him one last time before letting go. There’s a knock at their door and Shadowheart appears, arms laden with towels and supplies. Ofelia smiles forlornly at her, her own far too empty in Astarion’s absence.

She doesn’t notice as she’s ushered into the washroom Astarion’s quick swipe of her phone off the nightstand, or his soft smile in her direction. She doesn’t see that smile widen into a pleased grin as his fingers snake around the gift in his pocket, clutching it with a light squeeze.

***

“Do you think she’ll like it in the morning?” Gale asks Astarion softly, the fruits of their labor casting the main room in a festive glow. Somehow, he’d been able to obtain a lighting spell scroll- something Rolan had insisted upon them not paying for once he’d heard it was for Ofelia’s benefit. Astarion had rolled his eyes- that tiefling wizard ever hopelessly infatuated despite Ofelia’s vehement denial- and they’d stopped for some books as Gale’s gift to her before Astarion had found something for the man as well. His eyes also caught on a crystal carved into the shape of a crescent moon for Shadowheart, and upon realizing his gaze was tracking items for his companions, promptly huffed in annoyance. He’d grabbed the item anyway.

“I think a twig in the corner with lights on it would send her into a fit, but this is much better.” Astarion sighs, thanking the help from the Midwinter celebrations going on around the city for the garlands of pine and the berries that now hang in the frame of every doorway. It’s not as gaudy or brightly colored as the decorations in her apartment from the photos he’d shown them all this morning, but it’ll do. Even he’s feeling a bit of wonder gazing at the lovely spruce the two druids in their group had spent nurturing, as well as cladding in brightly colored glass sphere’s Karlach procured from a friend she’d known before she’d been cast into Avernus.

Presents wrapped in paper of varying colors sit beneath the full branches, a blanket protecting them from the cold floor as Scratch paws restlessly at a long, stick shaped present wrapped in blue paper with his name penned gracefully across its front. Astarion smirks- she’ll get a kick out of that one.

“Great job, Fangs. I almost forget you don’t have a functioning heart sometimes.” Karlach’s teary voice scrapes against his nerves and he sneers, shrugging his shoulders.

“Don’t go spreading that around,” They poke fun at him some more, and thankfully he’s saved by Minthara’s short temper as she demands they all get to bed. It’s almost midnight and she’s not missing a stop from the old geezer- much to his amusement. He just barely manages to duck into his room before they dissolve into a debate about whether or not she’d paid attention to Ofelia’s story, shutting it with a soft click as he stalks over to the bed, shedding clothes on the way.

He hears even breathing- her airways finally starting to clear- and just as he slips beneath the sheets he nearly yelps.

“Hiding from me all day- what, I’m sick and you’re out there looking for a replacement after I wither away?” Her tone is playful and he smirks, admiring the color returning to her cheeks and the brightness of her eyes beneath the light of the full moon. Beneath him.

“Hmm, yes, I was shopping for a new lover today. Pity they all didn’t seem to match your prowess at being irritating. And none of them had these- seems I’m doomed to solitude.” His hands cup her breasts, separated from him by the thin layer of her cotton shirt, and she rolls her eyes and pouts.

“All you’d miss are my tits and my attitude. Rude,” A smile at the corner of her lips betrays her and he grins, fangy and wide, before claiming that smile with a kiss. “Missed you…” She hums, arms winding around his waist, and he matches the sound with sincerity, finding that his day while busy was severely lacking her presence. A travesty, indeed.

“Your fever’s gone,” He mumbles, enjoying the taste of her mouth and the way her hips slightly buck into his own, the hands still firmly anchored to her chest kneading softly. She sighs, baring her throat, and it’s all he can do to not sink his teeth in. Just a bit more recovery, and he’ll indulge in her blood again. He’s holding over with animals in the meantime.

“Mmm, whatever was in that bath made me feel a lot better. And whatever the hell concoction Jaheira made me drink earlier, too- tasted awful but I think it helped.” Her eyes find him and he brushes the hair from her face, slowly sinking onto his side and off of her.

“Good, perhaps we can get back on schedule tomorrow since you’ll be done lazing about.” She scowls and smacks his arm away before yanking the sheets up beneath her chin.

“And I was going to offer you my mouth- jerk.”

“I’ll still take it.”

“Haha. Goodnight.” He smirks and presses a kiss to her lips before lying back, eyes tracking over the beams on the ceiling as she snuggles up close and rests her head over his bicep.

“Goodnight, love.” He whispers, heart tethered to the small gift he intends to give her tomorrow, hope brimming at the fringes of his mind as he pictures her opening it.

***

“Astarion! It’s snowing look, look, wake up!” He does with a start as her hands shake his shoulders, startled out of the trance and back into the real world. For once, his reverie was clouded in visions of her and not nightmarish memories, and as he opens his eyes he yawns.

“It’s been snowing the last couple of days,” He murmurs, blinking the sleep from his eyes as he rises and lets her drag him to the window.

“Yeah, but this one’s stuck,” Her grin is nearly contagious and he fights back the compulsion to instead press his cold nose to the back of her neck as he pulls her into his arms, hands resting over her belly.

“It’s cold, white, a pain to deal with… I’m not sure what you’re so excited about.” He mouths lazily at her pulse point, delighted as her heart beat speeds up, and she laughs.

“You realize you’ve just described yourself, right?” His lips idle over her skin and with an annoyed sigh he bites enough to leave the impression of his teeth but not pierce, earning a satisfying gasp of surprise from her.

“Get dressed, I think you can leave quarantine for breakfast, today,” He knows the plan- pretends that the routine is back to normal. She slips from his arms and goes to her pile of clothing- gods, is she messy- and pulls out some comfortable pants and flashes him a look.

“Get out, I’m going to change.” She demands and he scoffs.

“I’ve seen you naked more times than I can remember, why can’t I stay?” He plays the part of mock dissatisfaction, though he’s silently pleased. It’ll give him an opportunity to check and make sure the dullards outside are ready.

“Just- out!” He huffs, pulling on a pair of pants before making for the door. His tadpole seeks Gale’s, and upon confirming that they’re aware it’s just Astarion exiting the room, he slips out and closes the door behind him.

“She almost ready?” Wyll whispers, tweaking some of the garlands over the mantle as Lae’zel places little rocks in each sock. She’d been far too amused at the prospect of coal for naughty behavior, and had been adamant that none of them deserved candy and would all get a piece each to keep them in perspective. He has to admit, it is a little amusing.

“Getting dressed- should be any moment-” Just as the word leaves his mouth, the door behind him opens and he steps to the side with his heart in his throat.

She’s completely silent, hair brushed into soft waves laying down her back, proper attire donning her body save for the slippers on her feet, and they all hold their breath as her gaze sweeps over the room.

“Hu-huh…?” She mumbles, breath catching, and he watches intently as moisture begins to bead in the corners of her eyes. They all exchange glances, frozen in anticipation, before her hands cover her mouth and she starts to sob. “You guys? Are you serious?”

“Merry Christmas!” Most of them chant- Astarion forgets, Minthara’s nose is buried in a fragrant chardonnay but she tilts the glass in acknowledgement- and they all rush her before he has a chance to dodge them. He’s swept up in Karlach’s large wingspan as she tucks them together and squeezes until white blotches dot his vision, yet the delight from Ofelia keeps him from complaining too loudly about it. Mostly.

She turns to him between embraces, eyes round and soft, and his chest goes tight as he offers her a smile reserved for no other but her. It’s sweet when she returns it- steals the breath he doesn’t need from his lungs, and when she goes to pull him in she clings to him and whispers little reverent ‘I love you’s into his ear as if he’d hung the moon itself. Pride and affection blooms within, and he presses kisses to the side of her head where the others can’t see, though he wouldn’t mind if they did. He’s long past the notion of hiding his feelings for her. From himself or otherwise.

They push her into the best seat- one the others usually fight over- and Karlach excitedly pulls gifts from the pile to start passing around. Astarion’s gift to her is tucked behind the tree and hidden- saving the best for last. Hopefully. No, he’s confident.

Ofelia laughs at the coal in the sock, munches on fudge from the bakery near the entrance to the upper city, enjoys the books Gale’s gifted her and the plush dog that Lia had sewn and stuffed. She remarks about the lights, face brighter than he’s ever seen it, and forces Minthara into a tight hug and kiss on her plum cheeks as Ofelia clutches the necklace adorned with a single ruby charm and spider etched into its stone. The drow protests and growls in annoyance, but it’s all really just for show. Once turned away, she smiles into her cup and quickly clears her throat afterward.

They all offer her small trinkets or treats, and he’s content to just sit and watch, but he’s swept up by the spirit of it all as he opens small packages with his name on it. A silver pocket watch from Shadowheart, a silken kerchief from Wyll, a new scabbard for his dagger in dark leather from Lae’zel. He’d not expected anything, even vehemently enunciated that this is for her, not him, but despite his claims it seems no one listened to him. What else is new?

“That’s it!” Karlach proclaims from beside the tree, tossing candy and pastries in her mouth by the fistful as the others sip on warm beverages or partake in alcohol around the heat of the fire. His eyes go to the frosted window, the entire city covered in a blanket of white. He decides, for the first time, that it looks much better this way.

“You didn’t get anything for Ofelia?” Gale asks, and Astarion’s hackles raise as he feels the ire rise and claim the atmosphere.

“I saved the best for last,” He stands with a flourish, calming the mood before his head ends up on a pike. “Besides, who went to all this trouble?”

“Don’t take all the credit!” Shadowheart snaps and he smiles as he turns his back to them, going behind the tree to pluck his gift from beneath an alcove in the wall. His eyes linger over shiny red paper- this, at least, he'd stolen. For a moment, he hesitates. His fingers wrap around it, her name glaring back, and he wonders if this will be good enough. He'd seen everyone's carefully thought out gifts, hells, had even managed to hit the nail on its head a few times for the others. But Ofelia? She's the one he needs to get right. Above all else, he can't fail.

He steels himself and turns, each step towards her smiling face making him question the object in his outstretched hand, and when she takes it he stands stiff and still- making no move to breathe or blink or talk. She gingerly unwraps it at the seams, her pulse racing in his ears as she continues to pry back the paper, and he watches her stop as a soft breath vacates her lungs.

“Star…” It feels as if a century passes before his eyes when she finally speaks, pulling the dagger from the paper to hold up and admire. The metal flashes, light glancing off the engraving near the hilt- one she speaks in hushed tones as if in prayer.

“Nin anor,” Her lips shape around the elegant script as if she's painting it in the air, and once it's hanging around them he knows it's right. Knows it's right in the way she looks at him, in the way the sun, through a break in the clouds, casts a golden glow around her. It breaks on her skin and sinks in, frames her like it did that day in the sand, that day he'd first tasted freedom. The first day he'd met her and had heard her heart quicken beneath the sharp edge of his blade- the blade she now cradles in her hands.

Purpose, like a compulsion, stole his mind the moment chisel met steel. Illuminated by candles, he'd carved in elvish the words he's said to her over and over, again and again. Against her lips as he makes love to her, into the crown of her head as he pulls her into an embrace. Softly, against her forearm as she returned to herself enough to let go of his neck and fight the urge…

“My sun…” He breathes back, and she's out of the chair faster than he can blink. With a laugh that's no more than a huff, he wraps his arms around her and squeezes back, smiles as she laughs and sniffles and sighs.

“I love you,” It's quiet against his ear, and a barely perceptible shiver trembles through his limbs in reply. He'd been worried for nothing, and that's cemented further when she pulls back and the grin on her face renders him speechless.

“A knife? You got her a knife?” Karlach asks, bewildered, and the tension in his limbs falls away when Ofelia looks at him and laughs. This time, he doesn't fight the impulse to join her and it's freeing and juvenile, but worth the joy it brings.

***

“It's the one he threatened me with when we first met,” Ofelia smiles as she finishes off her plate of roast meats, fresh greens and potatoes. She pushes it towards the center of the table, leaning back in the chair as she admires the way the fire looks as it dances in his crimson eyes. He's beautiful, and her heart slams into her ribs like it's trying to break free- that look he gives her never failing to stir an ache in her chest that feels like it consumes just as much as it grows.

“Hmmm… and how is that romantic?” Gale asks around the cookie in his mouth. Ofelia chuckles at his muffled words, about to speak when Minthara beats her to it.

“Is it not provocative to feel the sting of your lover's blade against your skin? The dance between pleasure and pain, the testament of your trust in them not to supply too much pressure lest they end your life?” Gale swallows thickly, stiffening when the drow places her hand on his arm. “If you do not understand, I will show you tonight, wizard.”

Their group laughs, partaking in drinks that almost remind Ofelia of home. Something that tastes like hot chocolate fills her belly as Astarion holds her close, swaying softly to the music that pours from Ofelia's speaker- an old favorite.

“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,” She murmurs against his shoulder, echoing the melody as he squeezes her hips.

“You liked your gift?” His voice is quiet- almost shy. Her arms circle him tighter, letting him guide her through the room as their companions slowly start to filter off to bed. The entire day had been like a dream- a perfect, beautiful reprieve from pain or worry. Something rare and sweet- sorely missed in the years since and filling the empty hole in her heart with so much that it almost hurts to contain. Family. Love.

“I'll cherish it forever, Star,” She smiles, pulling away to stroke her fingers over his cheek. It's cool beneath them, and his smile is relaxed as it spreads over his face. She bumps the door frame to their room with a soft laugh and his gaze lifts up above her head, causing her to redirect hers and stop almost disbelievingly over green leaves and white berries.

“There weren't any red,” He hums softly, but her throat is dry and her ears are filled with cotton when she looks back at him. Moonlight turns his hair to silver and his skin to marble, and as she looks at him and watches him lean closer, she's not sure if she'll ever deserve the affection he now presses to her lips.

Hands tangle in her long hair, chest to chest, the taste of wine on his tongue- her stomach clenches in fear of the future, of losing it all, of making a mistake or failing to free them from the brain. All of it looms like a dark cloud, trying to swallow her whole, but then he's pushing them into the room, shutting their door and latching it. He's driving her back, legs folding until she's forced to collapse onto the mattress, heat pooling in her belly low and needy when he goes to push her sweater up over her head.

“I feel bad I didn't get anyone else a gift,” She whispers and he snorts, discarding his shirt onto the floor as he starts to untie the shirt barring him from further access.

“Anyone else? What did you get me?” She laughs when he stops, frozen at the sight beneath her clothes.

“I got these a few days ago… was going to at least do this since I couldn't get presents or decorate.” His irises narrow into thin lines between the enlarging of his pupils, gaze dragging down her form as he tugs her pants down and off. Ribbons and lace, scarlet and black, cradle her breasts and expose the underside of them while big red bows conceal her nipples. Her underwear leaves nothing to the imagination, either, and his lips part around a raw hum of appreciation when he discovers with his eyes the way the fabric conveniently vanishes beneath the waistband.

“Gods…” It's brittle and needy and she smiles wickedly when his clothes fall to the floor.

“Unwrap me?” She whispers.

“Yes,” He breathes.

She laughs as his fingers find give on the bows and he pulls them apart, mouth chasing his touch as he pushes her thighs back and sinks inside. She sobs his name as he sets a feverish pace, mind nothing but foggy desire and heady affection. Affection for him, for this, for them. She clings to him like her life depends on it, canting her hips in time with his, every sensation as intense and lovely like she's experiencing it for the first time.

She leans in and kisses his ear, revels in the shivers that shake through his body when she tightens her grip. They're teetering over the edge, now- drawing to a close. But even so, she knows it won't be the end. Not when she's right where she's supposed to be.

Like the phantoms of quivering tree limbs, the warmth of the sand beneath her body, the flash of a blade while rubies danced in her vision she feels him. Feels him in every pore, every beat of her heart as he meets her eyes and opens his mouth to speak. Soft and full of promises they never knew were made that day on the beach.

“Nin anor,”

[mcytshipsandmore]

A Gempearl, Majorbeans, Shadowrot enemies to lover's band au featuring Imp and Skizz being the only two who know what's up.

Now listen to me talk about this cause the likelihood of me actually writing this is low.

It starts with Gem and the Scott's being a small band that just performs for fun, but over time Gem loses her passion for the band and leaves.

Scott and Impulse still want to perform though so they reach out to two of their mutual friends Pearl and Cleo to make the 4 G's (and Pearl definitely isn't Gems ex)

The 4 G's perform and start to get really popular to the point that they end up opening for a smaller band on tour.

Gem is happy for her friends and not at all salty that her former bandmates got her Ex to join them nope not at all.

And to show off how not Salty she is she decides to get back into music and make her own band (Again).

Gem asks Joel (Who has a known one-sided rivalry with Scott), Lizzie (Who has a grudge against Cleo that is returned but nobody knows what the grudge is about) and Skizz (Impulses bestie and Queer platonic partner who's just here for a fun time) and they form The Family.

The 4 G's are just happy that Gem has her passion back, meanwhile The Family is being ever so slightly passive aggressive to the 4 G's with them often seeking the G's out to brag about how well they're doing.

Then the 4 G’s audition for one of those singing talent comp tv shows like the Voice or X factor so naturally The Family audition as well, both teams make it into the show, which also means that The Family’s grudges (minus Skizzs who keeps hyping up Impulse any chance he gets with Impulse doing the same) gets known.

Nothing stays a secret, Gem and Pearl's past relationship somehow gets out to the fans which confuses them because they swear that Pearl and Gem still flirt, and Pearl follows Gem around like a lost puppy. How are they not dating!?!? 

After the finale when it was The Family vs The 4 G’s Pearl and Gem are spotted out on a date having talked some stuff through. 

It’s still toxic ‘cause toxic Gem Pearl is the best but it's a type of Toxicity they are fine with and isn’t that all we can ask for? Really they did it to themselves, they thrive off of the rivalry.

People also find out what Cleo and Lizzies grudge is about, during an interview with Lizzie she reveals that in Kindergarten Cleos friend Bigb wanted to play with Lizzie in her fairy fort she made of blocks and Cleo got upset so they knocked over all the blocks.

Both sides hear this and immediately know what's up with those two because seriously? And so, with a little push from the other G’s Cleo does a “How can I make it up to you?” to which Lizzie responds with “Maybe if you buy me a nice dinner I might consider forgiving you,” and so the two start dating like that.

Everyone loves it, Cleo and their whole vibe beside their tiny pink girlfriend.

Joel on the other hand gets angrier and angrier at Scott, and his stupid kindness and his pretty voice and how his stupid hair looks sooooo good in the light they use to perform and how he's actually really good at playing the bass and everything about him!

Everyone immediately clocks on to the fact that Joel has a crush on Scott. They 100% ship them and they may or may not end up making out after one of The Family's performances cause Scott comes up to complement Joel and well Joel's never had much self control.

Meanwhile, Imp and Skizz are living their best lives playing with their friends and pushing them together.

After the competition both bands kinda drop from public face, it was nice being in the limelight like that but they really prefer smaller jigs, plus they don’t want paparazzi in their faces all the time

lizzie is so real for the kindergarten grudge tbh (I've had a grudge since middle school because a kid owes me money)

And Impulse n Skizz sitting back and watching the drama

-🍫

[isavulpix]

Christmas at The Harper's

Reader x Roy Harper, Lian Harper

I havent write a fanfic in so long that I'm super nervous about this. It was supposed to be a Jason Toddx reader, but then Roy happened. I hope yall enjoy it and Happy Christmas!

Warning: I havent read a dc comic, so Roy may be OOC. All my knowledge on him comes from other fanfics and google. My first language isn't english so there will be errors.

It was a weird and peaceful day in Gotham. The snow had fallen the night before, so you could hear the laughs and joyful screams of the older kids playing outside. It was a week before Christmas and Lian was in her Bluey PJs on the couch eating the remains of the gingerbread house she had made the day before with her father. The local Gotham channel was doing a Christmas movie marathon, right now The Grinch was. Her father had left early in the morning, so it was just you two in the apartment.

Lian groaned when a commercial break popped, but before she could change for Netflix, the commercial got her attention. It was about a family giving each other gifts and it confused her. Wasn’t that Santa’s job? She stood from the couch and quickly put on her bunny sleepers to run toward her father's room knowing you were there organizing the drawer you shared with Roy. You always got annoyed with her dad for not folding the clothes.

“Why did those people give gifts to each other? Does Santa not visit them?” Lian looks up at you, her eyes wondering about the commercial. You stopped what you were doing and panicked internally, how did you explain to Lian without accidentally ruining it? Damn, Roy for not being here because of late toy shopping. You turned to Lian and cursed when you saw the look on her face, for a 5-year-old she was very persistent.

“Well…um…Santa does visit them; it is just that they love each other so much that they decide to also give a gift to each other. Like we do in birthdays…” You hoped that the last-minute explanation was enough for her curiosity because you certainly didn’t have anything else. Lian looks at you and blinks three times before nodding, you let out a breath and relax.

“Did you get something for Daddy?” Lian balanced her weight from side to side.

“Well yeah?” You hope she doesn’t catch the uncertainty in your tone, was your explanation a good one? You hope Roy doesn’t get mad, but you're shaken from your thoughts when you see Lian eyes getting watery. Shit, you totally fuck up.

“Wait wait” You squat to her level; you were certain that you ruined something because of your explanation. “Why are you crying, sweetie?” You run the conversation in your head to see if you accidentally said something stupid or insinuated that Santa wasn’t real, really wishing it wasn’t the last one. You didn’t want to be responsible for dying the magic of Santa for her.

“I haven’t bought a gift for Daddy” You can barely understand what she says because of her crying and you mentally high-five yourself, Santa is still alive. Now you need to fix the new problem.

“Oh, that’s fine sweetie. We can give Daddy what I got him.” Your fingers clean her running tears, you pout a little as she keeps crying.

“No, you said they gifted each other because they love each other so I need to give Daddy something” Lian lips wobble as she rubs her eyes.

“You don’t have to per se....and I promise Daddy won't be mad about it, but if you still want to gift Daddy something what about those cards you make? He is always so happy when you give him one” Your reassurance helps, and Lian stops crying and plays with her fingers. You could eat her chubby cheeks with how adorable she is.

“Daddy really likes them?” Your heart almost bursts at how cute she looks.

“Your daddy loves them, especially when is a drawing of you two.” You smile at her and Lian smiles back. Damn, you're good at this. “We can even buy some of your Daddy's favorite chocolate to accompany your card.” Lian nods and runs to her room determined to make the best Christmas card ever made, and you punch the air. A crisis is avoided like a pro, you deserve some hot chocolate.

As the days passed the air got colder and the streets that didn’t have that much snow were now completely covered with the white fluffiness. You had spent the week of Christmas in Roy and Lian apartment. Both of them insist every night for you to stay the night. You turned in your sleep, your unconscious body seeking the nearest heat supply. It was Roy's body that was much hotter than yours, he was on the other side of the bed sleeping when your cold feet and hands woke him up.

He mumbles incoherent words as he tries to move away from the cold, his movement wakes you up making you pout. How dare he move away from you? So, when his back faces you, you interlock your legs with him and move a hand to his torso making him grumble.

“How are you so damn cold? The heater is on” He turns to face you knowing you weren’t going to let him be.

“The heater isn't enough; I need your body heat” Roy chuckles and kisses your forehead. He could feel you move your cold limbs in his clothes, but he doesn’t dare move. Roy moves you to be even closer to him and rubs your back. He closes his eyes and thinks about how grateful he is for having you in his life, he didn’t know what would have been of Lian and him if you weren’t in the picture. He always thought and said you were too good for him. He prayed that he could make you even happier than what you made him be and give you everything you deserved.

“You know, it's weird that Lian hasn’t come in to wake us up to go open gifts” You mumble against Roy's chest, loving how affectioned he was being this morning. Sadly, your words make Roy remember the last Christmas fiasco. Lian had silently opened most of her gifts and he missed taking pictures of it. Roy quickly untangles from you, skips to the living room, and sighs when the gifts are untouched under the tree.

You follow him at a slower pace and look at him confused, but even weirder is the toddler sitting on the couch waiting patiently while watching Frozen. Aren't kids supposed to be hyper at Christmas? “Good morning, Lian” I hug her, and kiss her forehead, and she smiles repeating my words with more excitement for her dad and you.

“Did you peek at what Santa got you?” Roy had an eyebrow raised; he couldn’t believe his kid waited for them to wake up, not when she knew that more than half of the presents were for her.

“I didn’t, Daddy!” Lian smiles at her father, which makes him more suspicious. Before he can ask more, she runs to the tree and returns with a small gift bag. “I got you a gift, Daddy!” You get your phone and start recording the moment between father and daughter.

Roy Harper's heart almost failed at that moment. Lian excitement wasn’t all about the presents Santa got her. Half of her excitement was to finally give him the gift she had made days ago. “You did?” He takes the gift, but first pepper kisses Lian face.

“Daddy! Stop” Lian giggles and tries to escape the kisses attack. “And I did!” Lian smiles even more. “(Y/N) said that besides Santa, you can also give gifts to the people you love. She also got you something but open mine first!”

Roy smiles and pulls Lian onto his lap and pats the space beside him. You take the sign and sit down making sure to capture both of them. Inside the bag, there was Roy's favorite candy like you promised to Lian, plus the card. The card was made with white paper, one side there was a drawing of three stick people that resembled you three. The stick people were around a big three and Santa was stuck in the chimney, this made Roy and you laugh. When he looked at the other side of the card, a tear almost escaped. With big chunky writing, it said “Appy Crismas to the dest daddy!” and a lot of hearts.

Roy pulled Lian again into a tight hug. “This is the best gift I have ever gotten, pipsqueak. Thank you so much.” He kisses the side of her forehead, and Lian, satisfied with her work being done runs to open her gifts. Roy takes the moment to pull you into his arms.

“Happy Christmas, Roy” You hug him as you two watch Lian open her gifts and act surprised.

“Happy Christmas, (Y/N) …and thanks.” He mumbles the last part as he hugs you tighter, only catching it because of the closeness.  

[theyhavetakenovermylife]

Love your fics!!! You have such a talent and wonderful way of representing the turtles!!

Just a small request…

Could you write the dark turtles x reader smut, maybe reader is being a brat :)

If not totes cool xoxo -🦆

She’s A Spicy One, Isn’t She? (18+)

Dark Leonardo x reader x Dark Michelangelo

A/N: Awwww, thank you so much! It’s really nice to hear that you like my writing💚 I’ve been working on this one for a while now, as for some reason I just had a real hard time writing it. I continuously got writer's blocks while writing this, but tonight I felt like I finally managed to get somewhere. You said turtles as plural, so I gave the lucky wheel a spin, and it decided on a threesome with Dark Leo and Dark Mikey. My intention was to make the reader much more bratty, but for some reason it just didn’t go as I wanted to, so I’ve put a bigger emphasis on the reader being “spicy”, lol. Anyway, hope you’ll enjoy anyway🖤💙🖤🧡

All characters are aged up.

Warnings: Feeling slightly forced in the start I guess, bondage?, oral - female receiving, turtle anatomy, doggy, light spanking, oral - male receiving, face fucking, threesome lol, creampie.

“So, what are we going to do with her?”, Dark Mikey asked, bowing down to get a closer look at your tied up form on the warehouse floor, the fabric over your mouth keeping you from spitting at him. “I can’t see what Darius would gain from keeping her around. Just letting her lay there. A waste if you ask me”.

“I’ve already told you this once. We don’t keep her around for Dunn”, Dark Leo grumbled, already feeling a growing urge to punch his youngest brother. “We have her, in order to trick the turtles. And if this plan is going to work, you better leave her the hell alone”.

“I just want to play with her a little bit”, Dark Mikey said, the constant smirk still large on his face, his fingers creeping towards the fabric over your mouth, slowly pulling down on it. “It’s a shame the turtles have such a pretty thing and we don’t. Who knows, maybe her mouth feels as good as it looks”.

The orangey yellow Kanabo clone pulled the fabric from your face, licking his lips with his long tongue as his fingers squeezed your cheeks together, taking a better look at your face. “Very pretty indeed. I’ve always wondered if- AUW!”

Dark Mikey yelped, letting go of your face, holding on to the hand that had been on you just moments ago, seeing the bite marks you had left on his skin. You expected him to get angry, but instead something triggered in his eyes. A sparkle of something you had never seen before in either the kanabo clones or the turtles themself, sending shivers throughout your body.

Dark Mikey laughed, looking directly at Dark Leo, his smile growing wider. “She’s a spicy one, isn’t she? Let’s see how spicy she is after I’m done with her- OOF!”

“No you don’t!”, Dark Leo yelled, janking Mikey away from you, shaking him as he spoke. “If we want the plan to work, we can’t hurt her”.

“Damn, you are no fun”, Mikey said, slowly getting out of Leo’s grip. “I get it! No playing with the pretty spicy girl. I get it! I get it!”

“Is that so?”, Leo asked, not seeming fully convinced. “Then go stay with the others! And don’t come in back here before I tell you to!”

“Jeez, okay! I’m going! I’m going!”, Mikey called out, before turning around, and making his way out of the warehouse, to whatever place their brothers were hiding at, leaving you and Leo alone. Here Leo was quick to turn to you. He stared at you for a moment with narrow eyes, before taking a hold of fabric and placing it in your mouth once again. Then, without a word, he turned and went the way Mikey had, making a show of turning off the light before he disappeared, leaving you alone on the floor of the warehouse. Bound, confused and angry in the dark, wondering when - if ever - you were going to see your friends again.

—

You weren’t sure how long you were left alone in the dark warehouse. But after what felt like an eternity, you had decided to get some sleep, letting your bound form rest against the floor beneath you. It was here in the dark of the warehouse, getting what sleep you could on the floor, that someone entered the room with you, stirring you from your light sleep.

Laying still and quiet on your floor, you listened for whoever was sneaking their was through the darkness, making their way towards you. You felt your heart beat hard in your chest, a pit growing in your stomach as it slowly dawned on you who it might be. And then, the voice you had predicted, came to you just as their face became visible in the dark, big orange eyes watching you like a pray.

“I’m not giving up on a good time so easily”, Mikey chuckled, crouching down before you with a devilish smile. “Especially not when you’re laying in here, looking so pretty… all alone”.

The knuckles of Mikey’s right hand came to meet your cheek, smoothing over your skin in a caring manner, all while his eyes roamed over your body, picturing what things he wanted to do to you. This sended shivers down your spine, in a manner much closer to excitement to fear. For a moment you wondered if your own body was betraying you, with a small tingle of a butterfly wing emerging inside your stomach. And with that came a light yet sweet scent, gracing Mikey’s nostrils ever so slightly. But the moment your sweet scent touched Mikey’s senses, his pupils seemed to grow bigger, with a pleased smile spreading over his lips.

“Oh, I’m definitely going to play with you”, Mikey chuckled, letting his hands grab a firm hold of your hips, sliding you over the floor and closer to him, a small yelp like scream trying to escape the fabric over your mouth. Mikey chuckled, focusing his attention on loosening the restraints around your legs, not noticing the other person entering the warehouse.

“What are you doing?”, Leo’s voice echoed loudly through the large room, causing Mikey to freeze in place, still staring down at you, your binds in his hands, just about to release them from your legs.

It didn’t take long before Leo saw what Mikey was doing, immediately catching on to what was going on. And from the scent the air carried to him, Leo was also made very aware of the fact that you were not unaffected.

Leo walked to you with calm steps, the sound of them echoing through the room. He was not worried about Mikey running or doing something stupid. He had been caught disobeying Leo’s command. There was no place for him to run. He had been caught red handed.

Once by you and Mikey, Leo couched down so that he could look at the two of you. Yet another shiver ran down your back, fueling your growing excitement.

Silence was thick between the kanabo brothers, until Leo finally broke the growing tension. “You want to play with her?”, he asked. Mikey looked from you to Leo, giving him a small nod, his hand unmoving from your restraints. Leo looked to you for a moment, letting his eyes glide over your body once, before returning his attention back towards his brother. “Then play”, Leo said, leaning in threateningly  towards his brother, watching Mikey’s expression turn from slight fear to confusion and surprise. “Prove that it’s worth risking the plan to play with her”.

Mikey’s look of surprise and confusion turned into a smirk, catching on to what his brother was saying.

“Oh, it’s definitely going to be worth it”, Mikey smirked, removing the binding from your legs. Leo gave him a small nod, before raising to stand, walking a few steps away, before taking a seat on the floor, giving him a full view of where you were laying.

Mikey’s long clawed fingers grabbed a hold of your ankle, pulling you towards him in a sharp jank. You expected yourself to scream, or make a sound of discomfort. But to your surprise, the sound that left you was a light and sudden moan, leaving you, Mikey and Leo in silence, your excitement growing stronger, your scent giving the kanabo clones no doubt.

“Oh, you like that?”, Mikey asked, his smile growing even bigger, before throwing his brother a look over his shoulder. “I told you she was a spicy one”.

“You did indeed”, Leo said, not taking his eyes off of you.

Mikey’s hands quickly moved from your ankles to your pants, where his claws began working to open them. However Mikey quickly grew frustrated, finding his claws unable to get a full grasp on your button and zipper. And so, Mikey was quick to use his claws, ripping the clothes of your lower body, before leaving it in shreds on the floor.

You found your breaths becoming heavy, with your excitement pooling in your underwear, as Mikey moved your legs apart, staring lustfully at the wet spot on the fabric, shielding your most intimate area from his view.

“Real spicy. And you are enjoying this? You’re only getting better and better”, Mikey growled, before hooking a claw onto the sides of your panties, before pulling them down your legs, throwing them to where the shreds of your pants were laying on the floor. Now with your slick folds on full display, a small rumble came from deep within Mikey. He was churring, in a way only a kanabo clone of a mutant turtle could do.

“Mmmh, spicy and juicy. I’m having a feast tonight”, Mikey smirked, before lowering himself down between your legs. Mikey did not hesitate before letting his long tongue drag through your wet folds, causing you to squirm under him, moaning against the fabric.

Mikey chuckled at your reaction, continuing his long licks over you, only parting from you for a moment, in order to smirk at you, still tasting you on his tongue. “I’m definitely going to enjoy this”.

Mikey went back down to continue the work of his tongue, focusing his efforts around your clit, licking and sucking at it to his heart's content, taking in every single sound and move you made under him. It was a joy to Mikey to watch you struggle against the bounds that kept your arms firmly to your sides, fighting to find something to hold onto, as Mikey’s tongue slowly started to rock your world.

Mikey hummed against you as his tongue went from your clit, making its way done to your entrance, before letting his long wet muscle slide into you. This caused your legs to become restless, forcing Mikey to grasp a firm hold on them, as his tongue started thrusting in and out of you at a brutal speed.

Moaning against the fabric over your mouth, you tossed and turned your head, before locking eyes with Leo, who still sat on the floor, watching you like a hawk. You could only imagine how this might look from his angle. Your cheeks pink with heat, your hair a mess, the fabric over your mouth wet with saliva, with your legs held firmly up over Mikey’s shoulders, as he ate you out like his life was depending on it.

The look in Leo’s eyes made the strong feeling in your stomach grow, pushing you closer and closer to the edge. Mikey could smell it on you, placing a thumb over your bundle of nerves, rubbing it in circles.

You came with a strangled moan, your back arching as you cried out, with Mikey’s tongue continuing to fuck you through your high. The yellow kanabo between your legs was groaning at your taste, feeling his own need and urge growing stronger.

Parting from your flower, chuckling at your whimper when you felt the loss of contact, Mikey’s hands flew to his shorts, undoing them with quick hands, breathing like he was already out of breath.

“I’m not done playing with you yet, beautiful”, Mikey said, getting rid of his shorts, ignoring how his cloaca was begging him to let him drop. He wanted to drop into you. With both hands, Mikey grabbed hold of your hips, before turning you over, forcing your naked ass up in the air, and your face down against the floor. You moaned at the way Mikey manhandled you, already feeling yourself clench around empty air.

Mikey kneaded the flesh of your ass and hips as he pressed his cloaca against you, rubbing you up and down his front, before letting out a loud groan, as his long member slowly made its way out of Mikey’s confinements and directly into your tight walls. You moaned out loud at the feeling of Mikey filling you out, while the kanabo behind you groaned, getting adjusted to the way your walls hugged him.

“Fuck, you’re tight”, Mikey groaned, slowly pulling his thick member out of you, before slowly pushing back in, smiling when he heard your muffled moan in respons. “I’m going to fuck you so good and you know it”, he growled, slowly speeding up the movements of his hips, light claps of skin slapping together echoing with each push into you.

It was here, with your ass high in the air, getting fucked by the youngest of the kanabo turtles, with your cheek against the floor, eyes locking with the oldest kanabo turtle once more. This time Leo stood from where he had been sitting, before making his way over to you, paying Mikey no mind as he crouched down in front of your face, the hint of a smirk playing at the edges on his lips. Without saying a world, Leo pulled the soaked fabric from your mouth with one hand, letting your moans out in the open. With the same hand he put an index finger under your chin, letting the thumb rest on your lower lip, pulling your parted lip down ever so slightly. You took the opportunity to poke your tongue out, licking Leo’s large thumb, before taking it into your mouth, hollowing out your cheeks, sparking something in Leo’s eyes.

“You really are a spicy one, aren’t you?”, Leo asked, watching with interest as your tongue and mouth worked around his thumb. You nodded with Leo’s thumb in your mouth, humming as Mikey started to push harder into you. “You want more don’t you?” You nodded again, but this wasn’t enough for Leo, who pulled his thumb from your mouth. “I need words, (Y/N)”, he said, making you clench around Mikey.

“Yes”, you whimpered. “I want more”.

“Thought so”, Leo said with a smirk, before loosening the bonds around your upper body, finally letting your arms free. You could now push your upper body up off the ground, looking back to take in the sight of Mikey as he continued to pound into you.

“Like what you see?”, he asked, before giving you right ass cheek a hard smack, causing you to yelp out loud. “Holy shit. Should have taken that off your mouth ages ago”, he groaned, slamming harder and faster into you, causing you to moan even louder.

“If you want to hear her moan, you’ll have to do that when I’m done”, Leo said, causing you to look back at him, finding him on his knees before you, his pants long gone with his large member standing big and proud before you. Your mouth almost started watering at the sight, with Leo not even having to tell you what he wanted. As soon as he presented his member before you, you took it into your mouth, hollowing your cheeks like you had done with his thumb.

Leo groaned at the feeling of your mouth around him, watching as you started to bob your head back and forth on his length, trying to sturdy yourself with one hand on the ground, the other holding onto the part of Leo’s member you couldn’t fit in your mouth. Using one hand Leo grabbed a hold of your head, holding it like a ponytail, before using it as leverage he slowly began to thrust in and out of your mouth.

You were truly a sight to behold. Not just for Leo but for Mikey as well, watching how you were able to take on two thick penises at once. You moaned around Leo’s member, each and every time Mikey’s tip made contact with that sensitive spot deep inside of you. Yet you took Leo as deep as you could, gagging around him, while backing up against Mikey with each of his thrusts, causing the two kanabos to groan out loud.

“Told you she was spicy”, Mikey groaned, somehow managing to increase his speed even further, turning you into a moaning mess, your mouths strangled by Leo’s member face fucking you.

Once again you felt that familiar feeling growing inside of you, and you knew it couldn’t be long before you would reach or second high. Mikey felt it too, from the way you clenched further around him, pushing him even closer to his own high. Right above your head you found Leo groaning as he continued to thrust into you mouth, finding himself getting closer and closer to his high, already aiming to unload himself into you.

After a few more thrust from both men, you finally found yourself pushed over the edge, cumming with a loud moan that not even Leo’s member could muffle. Each of them, feeling themselves in the edges thrusted wildly into you as a one last effort to reach their own highs.

Mikey was the first, his hips flattering against you as he unloaded himself into your pulsing walls, before slowly thrusting back and furth, carefully riding out the two of your highs.

Leo was the last one to cum, groaning lowly as he shot his loads into your mouth, watching as you swallowed it in front of him, before bobbing your head in order to milk the last bits from him.

“Holy shit”, Leo groaned, watching as you continued on him, letting go of your hair in order to rest his hand against your head, letting you continue at your own pace.

From behind you, Mikey slowly pulled out with a groan, watching as his white pearly load slowly dripped out of you, running down your legs to the floor.

“So?”, Mikey suddenly asked, drawing an annoyed look from Leo who just wanted to focus on you and your efforts on him. “Have I proven this is worth risking the plans for?”

[nerdishpursuits]

The real issue here is how Marta, Damián and Tasio deal with the issue of Eladio, who makes a pest of himself more every day. I hope Damián gets out of this smelling of roses, given he's decided to face Eladio himself. At least, it would seem, he's not going to meet him alone (I assume Tasio is the one behind Damián in the preview?).

That's the impending doom, in my eyes. With the pressure they're all under, I'm surprised Marta is able to function at all. She’s being attacked on every front and the sheer exhaustion is taking its toll. I will say though, being called a lesbian for the very first time, by someone who's blackmailing you? The fear in Marta's eyes as she’s forced to confront one of her greatest fears? Being condemned for loving a woman during a fascist regime and the devastating consequences? Someone hold her real tight (and by someone, I mean Fina). Here’s to also hoping they get use the term lesbian in a positive context as well. Marta & Fina are okay and the scene with Bigotes Reloaded proved yesterday's speculations were taken wildly out of context. Fina is not jealous, but very much worried for her woman because of what happened with Santiago. And right now? Fina trusts no man and, thus, warns Marta to be careful. Bottom line is, Fina isn’t worried about Pelayo because:

1. He’s a man and Marta is a lesbian (I think she’d be jealous if it were a woman, the way she was jealous of Isabel back in the day)

2. Fina utterly trusts her and Marta’s love and commitment to each other

3. Marta couldn't care less about his attempts at courting her (heck, her face in Monday's preview when he suggests they dine together is a poem - her suggestion was for their respective management teams to have a business dinner, not for the two of them to have a tête-à-tête - though I assume she’ll end up attending to further her business plan)

4. Marta’s heart is very much taken, thank you very much. Signed, sealed, delivered to one Serafina Valero Izquierdo. And vice versa.

As for Marta making a couple of comments today, that have some viewers questioning them? I’d say let’s also remember that, thankfully, there's a few men out there who aren't horrible and that, unfortunately, internalized misogyny is alive and well in most of us, pervasive as it is - especially within the context of 1958 (that is, for those who find Marta’s 'not all men' comment in poor taste - personally, I do not, given the context of the show and its examples of men who were, continue to be, or strive to be good people; we need to be capable of critical thinking, perceiving nuance and discerning context - that being said, Marta’s “not all men are like Santiago” and Fina’s “true, but we should always be on our guard”? They both ring true and complement each other. I can’t really tell which snake is venomous so I’ll be wary of all snakes). Furthermore, I perceived Marta's comment on them being able to, hopefully, turn the page as more of a self-reflection and something for the two of them to look forward to. I see it as Marta trying to manifest hope for the future, not just for Fina but for herself as well. Living caged by fear is not living and rings true for them both. Fina experiencing nightmares and Marta going through an ordeal Fina's unaware of. Turning the page and being able to finally move on with their lives is definitely something to strive towards. I see no problem with Marta voicing that, given she’s going through her own personal hell ever since Fina’s incarceration. A hell she currently sees no way out of. I also like that:

Marta has no secrets with Damián anymore and that they're now strategizing together. Marta really is the apple of Damián’s eye and there's no lengths he would't go to for her. If he got protective of Fina simply because Marta loves her? Now that Marta is facing the firing squad herself? Damián is seeing red. And I hope he emerges unscathed. Marta & Fina need him now, more than ever. Like my partner would say How the turns have tabled. We’re finding ourselves rooting for Damián de la Reina and hell hasn’t frozen over.

Marta claiming and assuming all responsibility for her decision but also saying she's not sorry about the beating Santiago received? Perfection. She may hate the consequences but Santiago got what he deserved. Her head is held high, as it should!!!

Marta & Tasio standing up for each other is something I like seeing. I look forward to this changing the dynamic between them, for the better. Let the siblings bond commence. Marta deserves a brother she can count on and Tasio deserves a de la Reina who appreciates him.

Fina still struggling with her trauma? I like the fact they keep addressing it. Would be really nice to see Marta and Fina talking about her nightmares though, with Marta holding her through it all. Some breathing space amid all this insanity would be most welcome and needed.

What I’d like to see in the nearby future? The show also addressing Marta’s own trauma. Can we talk about her absorbing Fina’s pain and internalising her own to the point of breaking? Keeping everything bottled up is bound to wreak havoc within. No one’s really asked Marta how she’s holding up and, in some ways, she seems to have taken Fina’s trauma harder than Fina herself. Which says a lot about how much she loves her woman, how desperate she is to protect her. I’ll be so disappointed in Fina is she judges Marta as well for her decision. Marta has enough torment as it is.

I’m also seeing people claiming Marta and Fina are not the same anymore. Of course they’re not? Events leave their mark. Like they do for all of us. We’re evolving, day after day. The fundamentals are still there, of course. What makes us intrinsically ourselves is immutable. But we’re all a work in progress. We’re constantly acting, reacting and adapting, always learning. We’re growing. At the end of the day? We still love who we love. And on this journey we’re on? We continue learning how to understand each other, how to offer support and how to love each other through the highs and the lows. Simple as that. We’re not stagnant pools of water. We’re rivers. And they say no water can be stepped into twice. Same with Marta and Fina. They’re evolving, learning and adapting, the red thread of their love guiding them through the maze. I’ve no doubt about that.

Additionally, let’s admit it. That fact that neither of them have had to deal with male suitors until recently? While a boon for the fandom, not entirely believable (and trust me, I’d be the happiest if they need not interact with a man ever again). But have you seen those two? Normally, admirers would be trampling one another. Until now? Fina had the excuse of Isidro and Marta that of Jaime / her widowhood. But now that their respective shields have been painfully removed, they’re not safe anymore. Sad as it is, that women can’t simply be left to their own devices, a suitor storyline would have happened, eventually. As far as I’m concerned ? As long as they keep treating Mafin with the care they’ve afforded them and keep the characters true to themselves? I’m very much okay with it. Drama needs to drama. So far, it’s been consistently good.

Special mention to Andrés being the most useless, spineless and incompetent fool. Egotistical to the marrow. Selling his shares to Jesús and betraying the trust Marta had in him (notably after she asked for his much-needed support on the board), betraying Damián as well and selling them all out to Jesús? All without even trying to look for a different solution, as Marta suggested? Truly, no words. Dude only thinks about himself and nothing else. He's tanking Marta & Damián and handing over the reigns of the business to their biggest enemy. Insanity. I do hope Damián rakes him over the coals for this one. I feel sorry for Begoña, truly, but her taste in men is abysmal. They all deserve better than Andrés. Qué soso más insoportable. And so irresponsible too. The bar was low for him to begin with, but worry not. There’s always new lows to conquer.

I also like to remind myself no soup is eaten as hot as one prepares it. And theories have rarely hit their mark when it comes to this show. The fandom has often been wrong about so many things and has come up with the most negative theories. Theories which didn’t come to pass (e.g. Miriam being interested in Marta or Fina, Fina falling for Santiago, Jacinto being gay and marrying Fina, Isabel being either a lesbian or a de la Reina, the Carpena family messing with Mafin due to their religious beliefs etc). None of those have come to pass but have stirred up so much drama at the time.

The show is meant to be enjoyed. When said enjoyment turns to angst and frustration? What’s the point anymore? And I’m not saying the sapphic community shouldn’t be wary? After all, this is the result of having been endlessly queer-baited, misled and exploited in the name of ratings. It’s hard to believe a lesbian narrative will in fact be handled with care and respect. Wariness and mistrust in the writers and producers is to be expected. That being said? Call my gullible but I’ll believe they’re ruining Mafin when I see it. Until then? I’m here to hopefully (and clownishly, if you will), keep enjoying this pairing that fascinates me so.

[beeceit]

You have some fair points, and I definitely am not saying that someone who has done well and truly evil things cannot become a good person if they work at it. It's more that I can't read early red hood comics without looking at the man behind the curtain

During the time Jason was dead they essentially retconned his character by insisting that he was violent and unskilled and bound to be a criminal, but none of that was ever really present. They also try very very hard to push the idea that being from crime ally meant he was inherently evil and Bruce was trying to change fate by teaching him to be good

The real world reason is they needed readers to trust that Tim Drake would be safe, because the only way to make Batman not a monster for taking on another Robin is to make Jason's death not Bruce's fault but Jason's. But instead of focusing on how it was a brash decision made in a moment of panic to save an innocent- his MOTHER of all people- and pushing extra for Tim to be trained to keep his personal feelings and vigilantism separate, they decided to make it so that Jason was just inherently a bad Robin and was bound to die regardless. (Which would still make Batman a terrible mentor and guardian for letting him continue fighting if he "always knew" but they gloss over that)

But one of the biggest differences between Tim and Jason is their backgrounds, and they NEEDED Tim to be better than Jason so readers would believe in Robin again. So Jason, being a homeless kid from crime alley, becomes a loose cannon and violent and reckless. And Tim, being a wealthy trust fund kid in an elite boarding school, becomes the opposite. Nevermind how Tim shows more recklessness than Jason actually did. Their actions and motivations are painted completely differently

Everything Jason does as red hood feels like such a sudden change of character because the resurrected Jason essentially IS a new character based on a game of telephone between a select few of his Robin era comics and a real life decade of slandering his character while he was dead.

Talia was portrayed as horrendously evil at this point (which was probably heavily influenced by racist writers tbh) so a lot of it could definitely be attributed to her training and manipulation. I personally interpret it as her setting up a test to see if Bruce would accept Damian, if she groomed the son he already loved into a monster and he still could love him, then their already monstrous son would be safe with him. That and the trauma of his death are the only real in story reasons that feel like explanations for why he could change so much. But it still feels wildly out of character for who Jason was established to be before his death, for him to do things like stripping Dick and Damian (who was like 10 at the time) to their underwear and putting them in front of cameras to let Gotham vote to expose their identity

I think a writing team who genuinely knew and loved the Jason that really existed before his death would have handled him way differently. I can see Jason coming back harder, I can see him coming back hurt and angry. I can even see a true to himself Jason still becoming a crime lord and lethal force because he loves Crime Alley and Batman neglects it, so he has to fight back for Crime Alley in the only way he knows will work

And instead he got written by people who decided his natural hair color was ginger and Bruce forced him to dye it black, even though in this continuity Jason already had black hair when they met

Of course the past is already set in stone, what happened was what happened. I just really wish he was handled with more care and respect than he was, instead of just becoming a vessel for the violent classism of the writers

I used to give the 'lazarus pit madness' trope for jason so much shit unless it was a REALLY good fic that did something interesting with the idea. But the more I read of pre52 red hood the more I'm just like "yeah no I have absolutely no idea how I'd reconcile all this heinous shit he's done without finding a way to make it not his fault actually"

I hate the 'jason was always a monster and bruce couldn't save him' nonsense so much, he was literally just a homeless little boy. MY BUDDY LITERALLY WILLINGLY WENT BACK TO BEING HOMELESS BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO HURT PEOPLE FOR MA GUNN EVEN THOUGH IT MEANT GIVING UP FOOD AND SHELTER AND DECENT TREATMENT

jason sweetheart I'm so sorry dc butchered you like this my god

When the characterization is so inconsistent the fandom has to resort to literal magic to explain it.

But seriously, I haven’t read a whole lot of Jason as Robin but from what I did read he was so tiny and just wanted to do good. It’s a disservice to every character involved for Bruce to adopt him because he thought he’d be a criminal otherwise. It implies Bruce thinks of every kid living in poverty as a shoe in for crime and not as some of the most vulnerable individuals in low SE areas. Which is just…so bad considering he’s 1) a rich white man stereotyping a large group of people and 2) someone that fights crime because of an act of violence commited in front of him as a little boy. A Batman that doesn’t believe in the goodness of a child (especially one like Jason who, like you said, gave up basic necessities for the sake of his morals) and protecting it in a way he wasn’t protected is a very very weird Batman to me. So it turns Bruce into a white knight and redhood into confirmation of Bruce’s stereotyping and paranoia.

If it was just Jason thinking that’s why Bruce took him in it would be a completely different animal. I might have even enjoyed reading about how Jason rationalized their changed relationship after he came back swinging (literally) and thinking that it’s some innate characteristic about him that drove the wedge between him and Bruce before he even realized it was there. But it’s very much not just Jason. EVERYONE. FUCKING. SAYS. IT. And tbh that kinda ruins everyone just a bit in my eyes. If not agreement and support for Bruce’s bs, they’re at least silently complicit in perpetuating it.

But beyond that, it also makes me think of Devin Grayson’s run where she kept fucking talking about how dick was “meant for crime” or would have obviously been a criminal if it wasn’t for Bruce. This was built on frankly awful stereotypes regarding Romani people. I bring this one up because the combination of the two does not make Bruce look as good as the writers seemed to think.

But if we ignore the bs involved and take the reason for Jason’s adoption at face value, I think it offers an interesting comparison between him and Damian. Jason is presented a child destined for a life of crime who eventually became one of The Villains despite Batman’s efforts. Damian was an heir destined for crime who eventually became one of The Heroes because of Batman’s efforts. Idk it’s just interesting to me.

[lightlycareless]

And finally, here is the other xmas oneshot I had prepared for this year :> something a bit more chill, I believe. Or so I hope that's the way it's interpreted hahaha don't take it too seriously, it's just you, naoya and your kids being silly 🤣

warnings: none too big. domestic fluff. there is a hint of you and naoya being somewhat nasty (as usual) and naomi curses the moment she became aware of her surroundings.

Happy reading!

It took you years to finally convince Naoya to do it. For him to go above and beyond what’s usually done during Christmas time.

But after your swaying, insisting, and borderline exhausting persuasion, Naoya finally decides to bite and dress up as Santa this year.

“Our babies are going to love it!” you gush, already imagining the type of adorable reaction they’ll have. “Thank you so much, honey.”

“They’re hardly babies anymore, my love. I doubt they’ll get excited.” Naoya says. But he can portray himself as indifferent all he wants, because deep within you know the truth: he too was thrilled to see his kid’s reactions. “But isn’t this going to happen during the night, though? When they’re asleep?”

You go silent.

“I guess so… but we can still do it! I read online that what parents do to keep the excitement going is leave a trail of hints implying Santa was here! You know, like the cookies with milk and such.”

“Do I still have to dress up?” he asks, you nod.

“Of course! You gotta do it at least once in their lives.” You smile, stepping on your toes to kiss him. Call it motivation. A preview of what’s to come if he goes through with your idea. “I have your costume ready too, so you can’t back out now.”

“Looks like I don’t have much of a choice anyways…”

“No, you don’t.” you giggle. “Now, if you excuse me… There are some cookies I need to bake if we want to make this even more realistic!”

“Are you sure that isn’t an excuse just to eat them yourself?” He teases.

“And what if it is?” you pout.

“Ah, no, nothing. No problem at all…” Naoya chuckles, and you know there’s so much more that he’s holding back on saying, but in favor of getting everything ready for Christmas night, which was just two days away, you let it pass.

Thankfully, your children remain as oblivious as ever, in both matters regarding their presents which were hidden away in one of the many rooms found around the estate until the very day, and your plan for Santa’s nightly visit.

Though they’ve been getting ideas of their own.

“Naomi-nee, come on! Let’s stay up to see Santa coming to our house!” Naori cheers, excitedly tugging at her arm—an accurate reflection of his and his sibling’s enthusiasm. “Please please pleaseeeeeeeeeeee.”

“It’s going to ruin the magic, little bro.” Naomi responds, barely lifting her gaze from the book she was reading. She already knew who Santa was, discovered the truth all by herself once upon a time after noticing the peculiar similarities between Santa’s handwriting and her mama’s.

Did it hurt her to uncover this mystery? Not really. If anything, it just made her job easier when asking for things—though a part of her can’t help but wonder if the mysticism surrounding Santa Claus might’ve been real a long time ago…

Either way, just because she knew the truth doesn’t mean she’d be the one to ruin the fantasy to her younger siblings. They’ll simply have to find out that on their own, if they ever…

“You have to be asleep for Santa to deliver your toys, or you won’t get any.”

“That’s not true.” Naoko pouted. “He gives toys to all kids who are good kids!”

“You probably don’t even notice because mom tucks you to bed early, you know? Besides, even if she didn’t, none of you would be able to stay up late anyways.” Naomi snickers, enjoying how easily provoked her baby siblings are.

“I can!” Naoyuki retorts. “I can stay up late!”

“No, you can’t.” Naomi smirks. “You three will fall asleep the moment it turns 10.”

“Wanna bet?” Naoko frowns.

“Mama will want you to do so, anyways.” The oldest reminds. “Neither she or dad like it when you guys stay up too late.”

“But it’s just going to be one night.” Naori persists. “But we’ll still do it! Whether you join us or not!!”

Naomi ultimately ends up conceding, but not because she was thrilled to see a man dressed up as Santa in the middle of the night at her home, but rather, because she didn’t want any of them getting into trouble, or danger, while you and Naoya weren’t there to intervene. Or more like weren’t supposed to be there…

So, after everyone supposedly goes to bed, Naomi, Naori, Naoko, and Naoyuki stealthily sneak out of the bedroom chambers and head towards the living room, where the Christmas tree was extravagantly set up with all kinds of colorful lights and ornaments Naomi swears they get bigger and more dramatical with each passing year.

Because she was the oldest, Naomi oversaw the effectiveness of this operation, as they’d innocently call it. She had some initial doubts regarding their compliance, they’re eager kids after all—but she’d soon find out that when it comes to working for the same goal, they were nothing but obedient, yet small, cute little soldiers that took all her words to heart and diligently executing their orders!

Might come useful for another occasion, but for now, she’ll be the reliable older sister they need.

“Wait, quiet.” Naomi suddenly says, placing her arm before her eager siblings and stopping them on their tracks.

“What is it Naomi-nee??” Naoko breathes, peeking over her arm. Naori doing the same with her, Naoyuki following suit, so on and so forth.

“What do you see?” Other asks.

“I hear… something.” She frowns, leaning closer and getting a clearer… picture.

“—you’re not thinking of keeping it like that, are you?” it’s you, she immediately discerns. And the lone thought of being caught by her mother is enough to send chills through her spine. More so since it’s clear that you’re setting up the gifts for tomorrow, naturally, no one is supposed to be there.

Certainly not to hear what followed.

“What? You don’t like it?” the other voice teases, muffled enough so Naomi couldn’t figure out who it was, but clear enough to know it was a man. “I thought you did.”

“When have I ever liked beards?” you tease back with a giggle, a gesture that denotes familiarity, uncomfortably so. Naomi frowns. “But I’m sure it would feel nice.”

The curse of understanding innuendos—Naomi scowls. She’s only glad that her siblings were too innocent to understand any better.

“Ah, is that so?”

“Well, you know me—I’m always looking for ways to make things more… interesting.”

“What a naughty wife you are.” The other responds. “I wonder what you’ll husband think of this.”

«Husband?! That means—» Naomi frets, tossing aside her embarrassment and quickly growing disturbed at the implications.

“Oh, but you’re not going to tell him, are you? I can be a very good girl when I need to.”

“I can’t believe you—unless you convince me.”

“I think I know exactly what to do.”

There’s only one person she could imagine you’d share those godawful interactions with. However, given the unmatching description of the other man, and unfamiliar voice…

Naomi could only imagine the worst.

The most absolute dreadful thing she now needed to protect her siblings from before it was too late.

“Naomi-nee…! It’s Santa!” Naoyuki exclaims, happy to see that his theory was right and yet to understand what Naomi was sadly interpreting. He was just a kid, after all. An innocent kid who just had to get overtly excited… “See? I told you! I told you Santa would come tonight! And with our gifts too!”

But he wasn’t just there to leave behind some gifts, eat cookies, drink milk, and leave through the same way he came in.

In fact, everyone would come to see what he was truly there for once you cheekily wrapped your arms around Santa’s shoulders, pulling him very close to you, and finally—

Kissing him.

Making each and every one of your children gasp, shaken to see that their mother’s kisses were no longer exclusively theirs or their fathers, but also a strange man’s whom they couldn’t help but feel resentful of soon afterwards—jealous, even, enough so for the shyest of the bunch to take a stand and get this whole fiasco done with!

“Why are you kissing mama?!” Naori cries, and though you were the one to initiate, he still heads straight for Santa’s arm and harshly pulls at it, as if trying to get this terrible man away from their innocent mom and defend his parent’s happiness. “Hey, I’m talking to you!!”

“Leave mama alone!” Naoko followed, alongside Naoyuki and Naomi, the latter being there to prevent her siblings from causing any more havoc, while the former placed his little hands on your back, tightly holding onto your clothes as he and his twin try to get you to safety. “Get away from her!”

“Wait, kids—!” you gasp, swiftly clinging onto Santa the moment one of your babies tugged at you a bit too roughly—his hands wrapped around your waist soon after to prevent any more damage, which far from helping his cause, just caused their anger to grow even stronger. “Stop it! I’m going to fall!”

“You’re hurting your mom, Nao—” Santa exclaims, but Naori quickly shuts him up.

“Shut up, ugly old man!” he breathes back. “We already have a papa, so get lost!!”

You and Naoya would’ve found it unbearably amusing if their antics weren’t alarmingly approaching the concerning; it was only a matter of time before one of them got too agitated and hurt themselves, thus, necessary to act now.

But thankfully, Naomi would be the voice of reason the moment she takes a better look at Santa’s familiar eyes, quickly realizing who it was underneath the silly costume and stopping her siblings from antagonizing their poor father any longer, who was being punished by the simple crime of getting a kiss from his own dear wife.

“Let me go, nee-san! We have to protect mama!” Naori cries as soon as he’s peeled from your side. “I won’t let him be our papa! We can’t”

“Well, I got something to say regarding that.” Naomi begins, but before she could say anything else, you and Naoya stop her, shaking your head and letting her know that you’d much rather take the fall than destroy the magic of Christmas. As if this hadn’t so already… “I—I mean—”

“He was only kissing me because that was my Christmas present!” You quickly come to the rescue, directing all their scrutinizing attention onto you. You just hoped they’d believe you. “This year the only thing I wanted was a kiss from papa, but since he’s going to be away for a few days… I decided to ask Santa to give it to me! Really! Nothing more, nothing less!”

Such is what you wished them to believe, because your prior heated exchange easily implied otherwise.

However, even if they were unaware of your inappropriate words, they still wouldn’t take the bait—and not because they still harbored anger towards Santa, but rather…

“Papa isn’t going to be here…?” Naoko laments, causing you to immediately regret your choice of words.

“But… he promised.” Naoyuki adds. “He said we were going to play together!”

“N—no, that’s not it… what I meant to say is—” you stammer. “It’s actually—”

“Your papa is going to be away for just a few moments, but only because he’s helping me with the presents.” Santa Claus interjects. Their cute, round angry eyes quickly snap into his direction—their disappointment is strong as ever, but they still give him the right to defend himself. “You see, I must travel around the world delivering gifts to every single kid. It sounds like a big job, and it is. However, if I consider there’s a child that has been incredibly well-behaved this year, I go out of my way to reward them even more.

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to deliver the rest of your toys personally since I have a lot of work this time around, but thankfully, because your papa loves you all very much, he offered to help me! But he will still be there for you during Christmas, regardless of what happens.”

“Really? I don’t want another Christmas without papa…” Naori murmurs, Santa’s heart tightens a bit.

“I promise.”

Was it a bit too on the nose? A mouthful of an excuse that could easily be debunked upon further questioning?

Maybe. Yes.

But that didn’t seem to matter, in fact, everything stopped being relevant the moment Santa implied the existence of more gifts, as if the mountains of presents lined up around the Christmas tree weren’t enough, but most importantly, the presence of their beloved father after having gone through agonizing days of absence (all done with the intention of spending the holidays without the elders or HQ bothering him; yet they always manage somehow).

A prompt solution that gave way to another issue: now Naoya only had a few hours to get all the new gifts he promised before Christmas, though dealing with their disappointment was always an option…

To never consider.

Well, at least their kid’s innocence during the festivities was maintained, though their excitement regarding Santa dwindled a bit, growing skeptic whenever the enigmatic figure approached them and subsequently standing before you whenever he got too close—as if trying to protect you from being whisked away from them, ready to put their life on the line if need be!—or demanding their papa to do so as well, still yet to uncover who was the one underneath that itchy beard and uncomfortable red suit he immediately threw away after that night.

Their undying animosity towards the enigmatic man led to some awkward seasonal photoshoots too, alongside some unwanted meetings with other parents once their kids began an anti-Santa Claus propaganda at school... but you and Naoya knew it was only a matter of time before they outgrew their childish beliefs, and so, the two continued to enjoy their time together as a family.

Eventually looking back to these moments and remembering them as nothing but silly, and somewhat embarrassing to them, anecdotes when they finally know the truth—

Until Naohime came along, that is; surpassing all expectations in such way that no number of gifts or siblings would be able to help you out this time.

I think Naomi is technically around 18 at this point? So you can imagine how goofy all of this was lol either way, we can all see some of the traits they got from Naoya 🤣 their quickness to call Santa ugly and old, alongside their protectiveness over you 🥹❤️ they all love you, they really do. 🥺

Also, I love the fact that every one of your kids adores Naomi. She is the de facto cool older sister that is actually cool and not embarassing. I think. All siblings have that silly side to them, one way or the other...

As for Naohime... I guess we'll have to wait next year to see what happens with her 🥴 but I can give you a hint: it has to do with Naobito and his imprudent nature.

Anyways, thank you so much for reading this small piece of mind!! I had so much fun writing something inspired on that famous song we've all heard about by now 🤣 I just knew y/n wouldn't be able to go on another year without forcing Naoya into dressing up as Santa lol. It's tradition!!!!

Well, once again, thank you so much for your support; now take care and hope to see you soon!!!

[fallen-iris90]

Random reasons why I stand firmly on the lukola ship 🚢⚓

These are just a couple that stick with me the most but I am aware there is so much content out there that I will have missed.

-their undeniable chemistry both on and off screen

- Luke spending time with Nic and her family in Ireland

-Lukes moment with her mum

-multiple secret/not so secret pinched bottoms/ass grabbing moments

-Luke tilting nics chin up towards him In Brazil

-Luke saying in an interview in Brazil that he would like for them to be naked right now and suggesting that a carriage was waiting downstairs

-Costars reactions to L & N for example JB when asking Luke to describe working with Nic

-Lukes "professional" jealously

-Luke spacing out and doing a little dance to himself when Claudia mentions Shakira hips that Nic does

-Polins wedding - doing their dance together and getting it in one take despite it being not planned + Luke's improv of tilting her chin towards him

-Carriage scene - not being able to hear cut (sure Jan)

-Other costars and Bridgerton department teams saying it felt like a real wedding

-Lukes reaction to Nic in her wedding dress

-Nic saying they both felt emotional during the wedding

-Luke and nic saying how natural and comfortable it felt getting naked with their best friend was

-Being asked if they wish to get changed but decided they wanted to stay naked and snug on the sofa longer together

- The photoshoot where Luke says "you're the worst" and blushing heavily (I'm pretty sure nic said either she's wearing nothing underneath her trench coat or she whispered something dirty to him)

-Luke's reaction to Nic doing accents

-Luke whispering "I really want this" in the carriage scene (this is what I hear and doesn't mean it's correct but he deffo blurts something out which I feel it was him and not Colin)

-Nic explaining that fans wanted to know what she smelt like and his response was "should of asked me"

-Nic saying "thank god we look good kissing together", "if felt like a real first kiss" and "what feels good in the moment might not look good on camera"

That's all I got for now folks!

What are your highlights that keep you on the ship? I think we can all agree they are both just super unhinged.

[guilty-pleasures21]

The last of the real ones

No context, no explanations. Just words and emotions spilling onto my keyboard. Listen to the songs for the full experience.

An only child of the universe

The waves

Wet concrete pt II

This whole damn city

Does your therapist know?

Too good to be true

The only one

Warnings: eventual descriptions of grief and sex.

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

"I was just an only child of the universe ... and then I found you."

     “So what’s the deal with this Bruce Wayne guy?” X asked him, hopping from crunchy leaf to crunchy leaf as Jason kicked a pebble on the ground beside her. He shrugged, still unsure what to make of the situation. 

     “I dunno,” he replied honestly. “He’s kind of weird. But he seems nice!”

     He turned to face her, his green eyes wide with excitement as he thought about the man who’d formally adopted him and taken him in. “He has this huge house with all these books and he lets me read any of them! Oh! And he also has this guy, Alfred, who’ll cook me anything I want! It’s pretty great.” 

     He nodded knowingly, as if he’d suddenly become decades wiser than his mere eight years of age. X paused to consider his words, trying to imagine an enormous house with an endless room filled to the ceiling with books. She’d been left at the orphanage when she’d been too young to remember and would sneak away on occasion to roam the streets, begging for spare change with her wide, almond eyes and her helpless little pout. She always managed to draw the attention of passers-by with her cute and innocent demeanour and Jason had taken advantage of the distraction she provided to pick the pockets of some of the people who’d stop by to help her. She’d caught him immediately after the first time, racing after him and grabbing the back of his shirt before he could run away from her. She’d demanded that he split some of his earnings with her - since she’d technically contributed to his success - and ever since then, they’d been inseparable. 

     “Wow,” she finally replied, her voice soft with awe. “Even chicken?” 

     “The good kind,” Jason agreed, causing X’s jaw to drop even further. He snickered at the stunned expression on her face and reached for her hand, easily slipping his fingers between hers. “You should come over! Alfred’s going to be making a roast tonight!” 

     “Like the kind those rich people always have on TV?” X asked, swinging their hands together. Jason nodded vigorously and the two of them began making their way back to his new house.

“You are the sun and I am just the planets, spinning around you.” 

     The two of them sat next to each other in the batcave, puzzling over X's new vigilante name. Jason had convinced Bruce to adopt his best friend a while back and the both of them had quickly begun their training to become the next protectors of Gotham. 

     “What about ‘Batgirl'?” Jason suggested, keeping in line with Bruce's chosen theme. X twisted her lips in disagreement. 

     “I want a bird name,” she argued, turning to Jason with wide eyes. “Like you! Then we can match!”

     Jason shook his head as a smile tugged on his lips, but he shuffled a little close to her anyway. “Hmm … What about ‘Dove’? They're small and cute! Just like you!”

     X's frown deepened. “But I don't want to be small and cute! I want to be scary! People will be scared of you because they already know Dick!” 

     Bruce's other adopted son always took good care of them when he came over from Bludhaven. He wasn't as bossy or serious as Bruce and he could do so many cool gymnastics tricks! Jason and X had quickly decided that they liked him and were always following him around in awe whenever he dropped by Bruce's place to visit. 

     “And it's too short, too!” X continued, rocking back and forth as she mentally listed all the problems with the name. “People probably won't even hear it the first time. ‘Look out, it's Dove!’ ‘Love?’ ‘No! Dove!’ Who's going to be scared of that?” 

     She turned to Jason in question and he had to agree that she made a good point. They sat in silence for a moment longer,the both of them thinking. Then finally, X spoke up. “What about ‘Nightingale’?”  

     It had been a year ago, when X was still living in the orphanage, that Jason had been abandoned at home alone by his mother again. The two of them had been playing outside when the sky had begun to darken, signalling an incoming storm. X had gone home with Jason, whose house had been just nearby, but when they'd gotten back, they'd found it devoid of any adults. The two children had huddled quietly under a thin blanket, trying to block out the raging fury of the storm outside. But it had banged on Jason's windows so viciously that their little hearts had pounded with the fear that it would burst through the already fragile panes of glass. Finally, X had broken the tension with a melodious tune, her voice so soft at first that the thunder had easily overpowered it.

     ‘I can't sleep tonight, wide awake and so confused.’ Jason had curled his arms even tighter around her as she sang, burying his face in the crook of her neck, and X had raised her voice in response. ‘Can you be my nightingale? Sing to me, I know you're there. You could be my sanity, bring me peace, sing me to sleep. Say you'll be my nightingale …’

     Finally, the storm had slowed, as if soothed by X's reassuring words, and Jason, too, had relaxed his grip on her. 

     ‘Can you be my nightingale, X?’ he'd asked, his words muffled by where his mouth remained pressed against the side of her neck. 

    ‘Of course, Jay Jay,’ X had promised him, patting his back reassuringly. ‘I'll always protect you when the storm comes.’

     Jason took her hands in his, his little face set into a serious expression. “I like it.”

[livi-in-digital-circus]

To be loved

For day 3 of Bunnydoll Week 2024 - Children

Ethan had had enough. Ever since his and Owyn’s younger sister had been born, it seemed that everyone in the circus had forgotten about him. He knew little Arabella had serious health problems and had to stay under their parents’ observation most of the time, but that didn’t mean the twins weren’t important.

The younger rag bunny threw another rock into the Digital Lake. His brother was probably looking for bugs with Kinger since he was the chess piece’s favorite ‘grandchild’. In fact, no one liked Ethan except Mom, Dad, and Owyn. He was always fooling around, destroying the props on adventures, and was locked in his room by Caine a few times. Sometimes he even thought that Ragatha only loved him because he was her child, when in reality she was deeply disappointed by his behavior.

A single tear fell from his eye. He was just a kid.

“You okay, kiddo?”

Ethan wiped away the tear and turned to face his father. Jax had his hands in the pockets of his overalls and a look of exhaustion on his face. He had been sitting with Ellie for the last two hours, occasionally rubbing her tiny head to soothe her.

“How’s Mama doing?”

“Still needs some time to recover.” Jax sighed. He hated to admit that watching over their newborn was quite a challenge for him, especially since Ellie’s condition was still a mystery for Caine to solve. Ragatha was not feeling any better. She hadn’t gotten out of bed since the birth, needing a lot of rest. All the circus members were required to help with the fussy rag bunny, who was still uncomfortable with a button in place of her left eye. Even though she was only a digital being, the pain she felt was strangely as real as possible.

There was a moment of silence between father and son before Ethan decided to say what was on his mind. He was stubborn and grumpy, definitely taking more after Jax. But like any other kid, his mentality was fragile.

“Why no one loves me?”

Jax’s eyes widen. He had softened a lot over the years, but only when it came to Ragatha and their children. To hear his own son ask him the same question he had asked himself when he was much younger was something he hadn’t expected at all. Did this mean that he had failed as a father?

He was no saint, that was more than obvious. But on the day the twins were born, he promised himself that he would not be like his own parents. Yes, from time to time he called them little [BEEP]s, however, that was just his way of showing affection.

“What the- what are you talking about?” Jax tried to keep the tone of his voice stern, but the slight tremble was definitely there. “Stop talking nonsense, kiddo. Mom loves you, Owyn loves you, and I love you. Hell, even Kinger loves you! And don’t think otherwise.”

“But Uncle Caine locks me in my room and won’t let me play with the others.”

“Because you’re annoying him.”

“Annoying him is fun.” Ethan pouted, his short leg kicking a larger rock. How could something that was supposed to be a mix of both Jax and Ragatha turn out to be almost an exact copy of his father? “You annoy him too.”

Damn, this kid was too smart for his own good. Jax wanted to say something, but he knew he should refrain from some words. Instead, he just crouched down and put both of his hands on Ethan’s shoulders.

“Listen, Ethan. I’m not good at this whole dad talk, but let me tell you something.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “It’s not the number of people that matters most when it comes to loving someone, as long as their love is genuine. I remember your mother crying with happiness when she saw the two of you for the first time. But you were annoyingly noisy compared to Owyn, I almost grabbed you by the onesie and threw you in the Digital Lake.”

The rag bunny let out a giggle, his father’s words immediately making him feel a little better. Seeing the change in mood, Jax smiled under his breath but didn’t stop his monologue.

“Then you became extremely clingy and wouldn’t let Mom leave you in someone else’s arms, even for a while. She gave you lots of hugs and kisses, even more than she gave me! So if you think she doesn’t love you, then I’m sorry, buddy, but you’re so wrong.”

“She loves me even when I cause too much chaos?”

“Ethan, [BEEP], she would give her life for you, Owyn, and Ellie. Causing chaos doesn’t mean you don’t deserve her love, and I know that from experience.”

Without saying anything, Ethan snuggled into Jax’s soft fur. Comfort from his dad was all he needed right now and he was more than happy to get it. Even though he knew full well that it was Ragatha's words that Jax quoted regarding love.

Still, it was enough to make him believe he was truly loved.

“You know your old man used to steal my centipedes?” Kinger handed Owyn a butterfly net, ready for another bug hunt. “But I found them all, thanks to your mama! Weird, right?”

“Mama doesn’t like centipedes.” The oldest rag bunny spun around with the net, which was bigger than he was. It was fascinating that he was interested in bugs at such a young age, unlike Ethan.

Both twins were going through a hard time, they hadn’t even had a chance to get to know their younger sister properly. Not to mention that they had barely seen their mother in the last few weeks. Owyn, being the calmer one, handled the situation better and tried to spend as much time with Ethan as possible. Their behavior was different, but there were still twins who cared so much for each other. The moment Owyn saw his brother enter the main area, he immediately ran up to him.

“Ethan! Do you want to catch butterflies with us?”

“Huh? Oh, not really.”

“Actually.” Jax suddenly came up behind them, causing the younger twin to jump. He grinned and then put his hands on the boys’ shoulders. “How about we go see how Mama and Ellie are doing?”

“We can?!” The twins shouted in unison.

“Only if you don’t tell anyone.”

Jax and Ragatha’s shared bedroom was larger than the rest as it was created by erasing the wall between their separate rooms. It was pure coincidence that they were next to each other. Before the twins arrived, Caine made a few changes, like adding a double bed and some baby supplies.

At that moment, Ragatha was lying on the bed with baby Ellie nestled against her chest. After a few hours of soothing the newborn, they finally managed to get her to sleep. Ragatha yawned, growing increasingly tired and desperate to rest as well. Just as she was about to close her non-button eye, the door opened and she soon felt two more rag bunnies clinging to her.

“Ah, hello my babies. I missed you so much.” Gently, she lifted a hand to stroke her sons’ heads. “Just remember to be quiet. We don’t want to wake your sister from her peaceful slumber.”

Ethan leaned out from behind Ragatha’s back and his eyes widened the moment he saw Ellie for the first time. She was tiny, her chest rising and falling slowly. The missing left eye didn't make her any uglier, honestly, the blue button added a certain charm to her already adorable appearance.

Jax lay down as well, admiring his daughter and especially his wife, who was more than close to dozing off. Owyn also changed position, squeezing in between his parents’ legs to make sure Ellie had plenty of space around her so as not to disturb her.

“Come here, buddy.” The rabbit pawed at the spot between him and Owyn. Ethan smiled and immediately hopped onto the mattress.

For the first time in his life, he actually felt loved.

Thanks for reading!

[mrprettywhenhecries]

o, christmas tree [g.t.]

Part Two of 𝑨 𝑻𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒎𝒂𝒏–𝑳𝒆𝒘𝒊𝒔 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠

Gator Tillman ✗ Win Lewis

➼ w.c. 2.9k ➼ warnings/tags. hurt/comfort, fluff, mention of roy, spiders ➼ a/n. This series takes place about a year after the events of Don’t Waste Your Time (on Me), and while technically the main series is still being written, I wanted to take a small break to write some fluff for Win and Gator for Christmas. ➼ divider credits. truck divider @/strangergraphics, bottom divider @/saradika

Gator finds out Win’s never had a real tree before, and inspired by fond memories of cutting down a yearly Christmas tree with his father, gone sour, he decides to take Win to pick one, wanting to replace his old memories with new.

Win flipped the glossy page of the catalogue in her hand as Gator walked into the living room, shoving another cookie into his mouth.

“If you keep eating them at that rate, there’s not gunna be any left by Christmas,” she chastised, glancing up at him over the top of the catalogue as he flopped down next to her and she lifted her stockinged feet to rest in his lap.

“I can’t help it, they’re so fuckin’ good,” Gator groaned around his mouthful of cookie before dusting the crumbs from his chest.  “Dealing with your dad was definitely worth it,” he murmured and Win smiled softly, still touched by the gesture.

“We should think about putting up a tree soon.  There’s some nice ones on sale,” she mused, glancing back down at the catalogue.

“What, already?  It’s a bit early for that,” Gator scoffed and Win frowned, her head snapping back up.

“What do you mean too early?  When I was a kid we’d have it up the day after Thanksgiving,” she snorted.

“If we get one now, it’ll be dead before Christmas,” Gator exclaimed, as if it were obvious.

“Ohhhh,” Win breathed, dropping the catalogue to her stomach and pushing herself up.  “You’re talking about a real tree.”

“Yeah duh,” Gator huffed in amusement, until a thought occurred to him.  “Wait, have you never had a real Christmas tree before?” he asked in disbelief and Win shook her head.

“No, only fake ones.”

“I’ve only ever had real Christmas trees,” he murmured, a far away look crossing his face.  “My dad would always take me with him to—“ he cut off, shaking his head as his lips twisted in distaste.

Win shifted, tucking her legs under herself to crawl closer, pressing into Gator’s side.  “It’s okay to miss certain things about him,” she whispered, slipping her hand in his.  “You’re allowed to have some good memories.”

Gator frowned, his brows furrowing briefly before he gave a curt nod.  Softening, he gave Win’s hand a squeeze.  “I’d rather make new memories.  With you.”

Win smiled, lifting his hand to press a kiss to the back of it.  “Let’s do it.”

A dazed grin tugged at Gator’s lips as his eyes found hers.  “You, me, a real tree.  It’s on,” he chuckled.

“So what all does picking out a tree entail?” Win asked, matching his grin.

“Well, we gotta drive a ways, and there’ll be a bit of a hike, then the actual cutting down part, and then you have to drag the tree back to the truck—think you can handle that?”

“Psh, can I handle that?” Win scoffed, wrinkling her nose at him.  “You of all people should know I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty, Tillman,” she teased.

Gator laughed, holding his hands up.  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Oh my God, why is it so far?” Win exclaimed, already starting to shiver as the icy wind whipped past them, cutting through her fleece lined leggings.

“Hey, I warned you, remember?” Gator retorted, pulling his boot from the ankle deep snow only to sink through the light crust that capped the wet powder with his next step.  The cold was starting to bother his bad leg, but he wasn’t about to tell Win that, not after giving her a hard time about her own complaints.  Plus the last thing he wanted was to worry her.

“Yeah, yeah, you did,” Win huffed, her breath misting in the air before dissipating, swept away by the wind that stung her face despite the thick scarf wound round her neck.  “Couldn’t we have just gone to a tree farm, though?  Or picked a different day,” she grumbled, huddling closer to Gator’s side as they hiked across the field toward a small grove of snow dusted fir trees.

“I thought you wanted the whole experience,” Gator pointed out, a wry grin stretching his chilled lips.

“I do,” Win whined, throwing him a pout.  “I just wish this wind would die down, it’s blowing right through me.”

Gator sobered, wrapping an arm around Win’s shoulder for a little warmth, wincing slightly at the insistent ache in his leg.  

“Yeah, me too,” he agreed through gritted teeth.  “Once we hit that treeline, it should get better,” he said.  “Not far now.”

Yeah, but then we still have to make the hike back, Win thought, though she didn’t voice it.

Surely enough, once they entered the cluster of trees, the thick branches buffered them from the wind and Gator let out a sigh of relief.

“Told ya,” he quipped and Win gave him a playful shove.

“Now what?  We just pick one?” she asked, raising her eyes toward the tops of the trees, trying to measure them by eye.

“Pretty much, yeah,” Gator said, unzipping his backpack to retrieve the tape measure.

“You measured the spot by the front window before we left, right?” Win questioned and Gator gave her a flat look.

“Course I did.  I know what I’m doin’, Winnie.  I’m the expert here, remember?” he scoffed.

“Alright mister expert, I was just checking,” she laughed, holding her hands up and he rolled his eyes fondly.

“See any you like?”

Win slowly walked the row in front of them, assessing each tree carefully before finally stopping in front of one that looked promising.  

“How about this one?” she asked, reaching out a gloved hand to touch one of the snow dusted branches.  “Think it’s small enough to fit in the house?”

Gator extended the yellow measuring tape, circling the tree to measure its height and width.  “Yeah, that’s pretty perfect, actually.”

Win beamed, pleased that she’d found their tree so quickly.  “Is this part usually so easy?” she asked, helping Gator spread out the tarp next to the tree, the blue plastic bright against the snow.

Gator laughed.  “No, not usually,” he admitted.  “Sometimes it would take us nearly an hour to find the right tree.”

“Damn, we’d be frozen by then,” Win chuckled, dusting the snow from her gloves.  “Now what?”

“Now, I’m gunna need you to hold the tree steady while I saw.  Kind of pull it away from me a little to keep it taut and I’ll let you know when I’m through, then I’ll help you get it on the tarp,” he explained, crouching down to get closer to the base of the trunk while Win grasped it higher up, squeezing her eyes shut against the branch pressing to her cheek.

The steady sound of sawing filled the chill air, louder than usual in the silence of the grove and to Win it felt like hours before Gator let out a grunt.

“Okay, I’m through.  Hold it steady while I get out from under here.”

The tree gave a jerk as Gator disentangled himself, wobbling precariously for a moment before Win tightened her grip on it, wrapping her arms around the trunk with a shaky “whoa!”, her eyes squeezing shut.

“Shit, careful!” Gator yelped, grabbing the tree to steady it.  “You okay?” he asked, peering through the branches at his wife.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” she breathed, finally opening her eyes.

“Before we lower this sucker to the tarp, we should shake the loose needles off so we don’t have as many when we get it in the house,” Gator said, giving the tree a few sharp shakes, a ring of dark green needles falling to the snow below.

“Will a lot of needles fall off?  Will our tree go bald?” Win exclaimed in alarm and Gator let out a snort.

“It’s not gunna go bald,” he laughed, shifting his grip to start tipping the tree so the branches wouldn’t break as they set it on its side.

“Don’t you make fun of me, Gator Tillman!” Win cried, amusement seeping into her voice.  “This is my first real tree, I don’t know these things!”

“Don’t worry, doll, as long as we keep it well watered, it won’t lose many needles,” he explained, sweetly condescending.

Win stuck her tongue out at him, but bent to grab the edge of the tarp.  “I’m excited to get it home and decorate it.”

“Me too,” Gator agreed, taking hold of the other corner of the tarp and beginning to pull.  “Gunna put those new camo ornaments on it,” he exclaimed, waiting for Win’s reaction, knowing exactly how she felt about them.

As if on cue, she let out a long suffering groan and glanced at him from the corner of her eye as they headed for the field, the tarp leaving a wide swath of flattened snow in its wake.

“Fine, but they’re not going near the front.”

“Aw c’mon, why not?” Gator exclaimed, a knowing grin tugging his lips, and Win rolled her eyes at him.

“Because they’re ugly as fuck,” she scoffed.

“They’ll blend right in, you won’t even notice ‘em,” he teased, enjoying pressing her buttons further.

Win shot him a wry look, bracing for the wind as they moved past the treeline and back out into the open.  They bickered playfully for a while longer as the wind whipped their faces and tugged at the edges of the tarp until Win noticed the pained expression that flashed across her husband’s face.

“Is your leg bothering you?” she asked, definitely clocking the stiff way Gator was moving.

“Just a bit,” he grunted, but Win knew if he was admitting that much, then it was hurting more than just a bit.

“We’re almost there,” she pointed out, mentally measuring the remaining distance to the truck.  “Toss me the keys and I’ll get the cab warm while we load the tree.

Gator nodded, pulling his glove off with his teeth so he could reach into his pocket for his key ring, dragging the tarp alone for the last few feet so Win could jog ahead to start the engine.  By the time they bailed the tree with twine and got it in the truck bed, they were both thoroughly frozen through and the warm truck was a godsend.

“Oh fuck, that was so cold,” Win breathed, holding her frigid fingers to the vent.

“Gimme your hands,” Gator murmured, enveloping them with his own and blowing on them, slowly working warmth back into them as he shivered.  “Maybe next year we’ll just go to a local tree farm,” he relented and Win barked a laugh.

“If I do say so, our tree looks pretty damn good,” Gator announced, planting his hands on his hips as he appreciated his handiwork – the tree all set up and positioned perfectly in the front window.

“It’ll look even better when it's decorated,” Win exclaimed, admiring it for a moment with him.  “At least the hard part’s done,” she said, opening the box of lights. “Speak for yourself, decorating it’s the hardest part,” Gator scoffed, peering over her shoulder at the tangle of lights in the box.

“Maybe if you hadn’t just dumped them in the box like this when we took them off last time,” Win huffed, her eyebrows pinching as she picked the strand up, trying to find the plug.

“That wasn’t me,” Gator insisted, holding his hands up, though they did little to fend off Win’s unimpressed glare.  “Alright, I’ll help,” he grumbled reluctantly, taking a swing from his bottle of Dew before pulling the lights from her hands.

“Okay, what do we have here–” he murmured, trying to detangle the strand.

“Careful!” Win yelped when he yanked at the cord to pull a section loose, the tiny plastic light bulbs catching on each other.

“Why don’t we just buy new lights?” Gator grunted, but Win shook her head.  

“That’s so wasteful.  As long as these ones still light, I think we should use them,” she argued, working the end of the strand free and managing to plug it in, all the coloured lights blinking to life in Gator’s hands.

He grumbled something under his breath, but he kept working at the knot, his brows pinching as his tongue peeked out from between his lips in concentration.  By the time they’d worked the last of the strand free, Gator had almost been ready to throw in the towel, but Win’s hand on his arm had pulled him from his bubble of frustration, keeping him from giving up.

As she began to carefully gather the lights in a neat loop to start stringing around the tree, he realized she always seemed to have that effect on him.  Win was like a soothing balm on an angry rash.  No matter how annoyed he could get about something, her presence alone was usually enough to calm him.

“Need some help?” he asked, reaching around the tree to take the lights from her.

“Oh, yeah, thanks—“ Win exclaimed distractedly, letting out a laugh as Gator pulled the strand around the back of the tree and then wrapped it around her like a lasso, pulling her closer.

“You’re gunna get us all tangled again,” she chastised lightly, biting back a grin.

“Eh, there’s worse places to get tangled,” Gator murmured, smirking down at her as he pulled her flush against him, her arms trapped against his chest.

“I s’pose so,” she agreed, lifting her chin to meet his gaze, his dark eyes lidded as they trailed her face, long lashes brushing his cheek with each slow blink, and then his lips were on hers, soft at first until she returned the kiss, a breathless whine catching in her throat as she parted her lips for him, meeting his probing tongue with her own.

“This is gunna take a lot longer if we keep this up,” she teased, nipping at his full bottom lip when he finally pulled back.

“I’m okay with that,” Gator quipped, arching a brow at her before giving a soft yelp when she poked his stomach.

“We can pick this back up where we left off once we’re finished,” Win insisted, her lips curling in amusement at the pout forming on Gator’s lips.

“Alright,” he sighed dramatically, stealing one last peck before releasing her and getting back to work.

“It’ll give you incentive to work fast,” she teased, leaning into the tree to wend the lights around again, handing the bundle to Gator on the far side.

Whatever snarky response he was formulating died on his tongue when Win suddenly yanked her hand from the tree with a shriek, a large black spider crawling up her arm.

“Fuck fuck fuck!  GET OFF!” she screeched, frantically shaking the spider from her hand and leaping up onto the couch with a violent shudder as it landed on the ground at Gator’s feet.

“What the fuck!” he yelped, dropping the strand of lights and dancing backward, nearly tripping over the end table in his rush to get away.

“Get it, quick!  Before it gets back into the tree!  I won’t be able to sleep if I know that thing’s in the house,” Win cried and Gator’s eyes darted to the spider that was already starting to scurry back toward the lowest branches.  

Scrambling upright, he lifted his foot to stomp it, only to stop just as Win let out another cry.

“Wait!  Don’t kill it!”

“What?!  How the fuck am I supposed to get rid of it then?” Gator snapped and Win hastily searched the room for something to trap the spider with, her eyes landing on the empty plastic pitcher they’d used to fill the tree stand with.

“Use this!” she exclaimed, tossing him the pitcher, and letting out a cheer as he dropped it over the spider before it could get any farther.

“Got it!” he cried, letting out a heavy sigh of relief. “You’re safe now, mama,” he drawled, smirking at her as he straightened, trying to act like he hadn’t freaked out at all.

“My hero!” Win laughed, throwing her arms around Gator’s neck as he lifted her from the couch to set her back on the floor.  “Thank you for not killing it,” she murmured a little sheepishly, handing him a piece of cardboard to slip under the pitcher to carry the spider outside.  “I read this thing a while ago about not wanting someone to kill you just for being small and it stuck with me.  Makes me feel guilty for killing bugs now,” she admitted, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she followed him to the door to release the spider.

“You’re such a fuckin’ softie,” he muttered, shaking his head ruefully as he shut the door, hoping the spider wouldn’t find a way to just come back inside.

“As if you’re not,” Win snorted, returning to the living room to pick up where they left off.

“I’m not!” Gator insisted, though his words held little conviction as he trailed behind her.

Once they’d finally finished stringing the lights and getting the decorations on the tree – Win even relented on her threat of keeping Gator’s ornaments out of sight – they stood side by side to marvel at the finished product, bathed in the soft glow of the multicoloured lights as the sun sank below the horizon.

“It smells so good in here,” Win exclaimed, leaning into Gator’s side, smiling softly as he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer.  “I’m really glad we did this.  It’s perfect,” she breathed, her eyes shimmering in the dim room as she gazed at the tree in wonder.

“Yeah, it really is,” Gator murmured, though he couldn’t seem to tear his eyes from her.

➼ taglist. @super-unpredictable98 @heartbreak-sandwich @sailorskunk @hickeysgodcomplex @thecreelhouse

@girlwiththerubyslippers @mayhem24-7forever

[inkandarsenic]

Ok, so expanding on this post for @heartofmortis, meet my newest oc, Nymeria Targaryen

- youngest daughter of Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell, born in 283 AC, like a month or so before the sack of KL

- conceived as soon as possible after Aegon, just before the maesters declared Elia unable to have more children and Rhaegar subsequently ran off with Lyanna

- named Nymeria because Elia knew Rhaegar would’ve wanted her named Visenya, but Rhaegar ran off to have a third child with the Northern girl before he could even be informed of this pregnancy, so Elia decided to name her daughter after the legendary warrior Princess of Dorne (call it rebellion if you will — this pregnancy so soon after Aegon’s nearly killed her, and he decides he needs a daughter with the Stark girl? Fine. Elia will name her daughter from her culture, not his. Let him get his Visenya elsewhere.)

- Smuggled by her wetnurse through siege tunnels out to where Rhaella and Viserys were evacuating to Dragonstone. in the chaos after Rhaella’s death, only Viserys and Daenerys are smuggled off of Dragonstone. Stannis arrives to find a terrified nursemaid and a screaming infant less than a year old.

- Raised by Stannis Baratheon, who heard how his brother laughed at the two dead children of Elia, and refused to hand over Nymeria — Stannis is many things, but he isn’t a child-murderer yet

- She’s his ward, and technically also a hostage to keep Dorne from rising up over Elia and her children’s death — Nymeria is the last link to Elia Dorne has.

- Uses Martell name when introducing herself. Tries to distance herself from her Targaryen lineage — was raised on stories of all of the bad parts of the Targaryens as her bedtime stories and history lessons, and doesn’t like them at all.

- Oberyn and Doran work it out with Stannis so that Nymeria can be visited — under supervision, and mostly Oberyn as Doran is busier ruling Dorne — on Dragonstone by her mother’s family, and when she’s a bit older, she often spends a few months each year in Dorne. (You can pry reluctant friends Oberyn and Stannis out of my cold dead hands.)

- Robert tries HARD to get Nym betrothed to Jon — in his mind, Ned’s bastard son is more than deserving of a former princess, and what better way to keep the Targaryen spawn from rising against him than marrying her off to the son of his best friend? To his endless frustration, this goes nowhere — both Stannis and the Martells (who are actually responsible for Nym’s marriage prospects) refuse the idea — Stannis because Jon’s a bastard, the Martells because they very much do not like Robert — and Ned also refuses with no real explanation (“Jon is free to choose his own wife, Robert” when really it’s because Jon is Nym’s half brother through Rhaegar)

- Likes to help out Stannis’ maester and takes an interest in healing — both Stannis and Oberyn agree that this is a useful skill, and let her learn all she can.

- Rides out with Stannis when he goes to war; Melisandre keeps trying to convince Stannis to sacrifice her, and after Renly dies, Davos convinces Nymeria to leave, for her own safety.

- She originally intends to go south to Dorne, but comes across Catelyn and Brienne first. Upon hearing how Renly died and recognizing the account of Melisandre’s work, she realizes Dorne would be the first place Stannis would look for her — whatever Melisandre so desperately wanted Nym sacrificed for cannot be good — and she decides to go with Catelyn and Brienne to Robb’s camp instead. You can never have too many medics in a war.

- Our boy is WEAK to the pretty healers, weak I tell you, and this one is Westerosi, highborn (a princess, technically— rightful heir to the Iron Throne) and she’s a politically advantageous (the princes of Dorne would surely be on his side if he married their niece) match to boot??? He doesn’t stand a chance.

[fairygeek777]

HEAVILY PIGGY BACKING OFF THIS CUZ I FORGOT STUFF.

Natsu's biggest thing that holds him back in early arcs (mind you he was physically 17 at the start) was that fire was not always in his immediate reach. His main powerscorce was not something he always had an endless supply of.

You know what Wendy's energy source is? AIR. You know what Wendy can do at age 12? Take a big gulp in any damn Earthland space she's in, have her fill and then Tenryu no hoko it right back at her opponent. She's like a damn vacuum. AND SHE CAN ALWAYS DO THAT.

You know what else is super damn impressive about Wendy? She's also an enchanter that casts support spells. She can enchant DRAGON SLAYING attributes on anyone she wants. Irene was super impressed by Wendy and decided to mentor her for very good reason.

You know what else is super fricken cool about Wendy Marvell? She can turn on dragon force as easily as Goku turns super Sayian and whoop a 10foot tall demon's ass into the next century. AND her hair. ITS PINK. And she's got feather attachments!.

Reminder, again SHE IS 14. At age 14 she's traveling with older, more experienced wizards on a gosh dang S Class Quest. Not to mention it so happens to be the most Elite and Impossible quest ever offered in the last 100 years. Not to mention she contributed to half of its completion already.

Girl is gonna be a fracken LEGEND in adulthood. The only thing she can't yet do is Fly for herself. But like- let's be real, she's 100% going to change that in time.

firm believer that when wendy grows up she’ll be one of the most powerful mages in fairy tail, and not just the guild, in fiore

girl is just fourteen years old and is still more powerful than most of the grownups in her guild, has taken on multiple adult enemies and won, some who weren’t even human, and is still growing her magic power.

she’s not only the sky dragon slayer, which is a considerably rare magic type, but can also heal and enchant.

and as i mentioned before, she is still growing her magic power.