#Why does Pebbles have so many tags

[illusion133]

Five Pebbles and LttM!

Happy Halloween.! I just got back from a hallowed party and I feel tired af-

[dtrghost]

closeness and proximity

Side note: This is my first ever tumblr fic, so uh, be gentle!! moving on!

pairing: ghost x f!reader

synopsis: callsign is sunshine, because you're anything but. team 141 thought ghost was bad? at least they could crack a smile out of the guy from time to time, you? you were stone faced, all day, every day. until one day you're not, not with a certain someone anyway.

warnings: inaccurate military language and sequences, violence, angst, descriptions of interrogation and torture, INTENSE gore (imo), cursing, allusions to mental illness (reader has sociopathic tendencies) you get the gist. If you have a weak stomach or faint heart, please do not read this, like please.

I'd also like to start this off by saying that the mc is not a good person, and that is on purpose. I've seen a lot of the angel fics where ghost falls for his antithesis, so I decided to try something new. So here, please forgive any mistakes.

if this does become a series there will most likely be smut because,,, yes.

(update it's becoming a series so if someone wants to be tagged for that lmk cause i have so many ideas for this)

part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 part 5 part 6

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT.

Word count: 3.4k

"Sunshine how copy?" Ghost's gruff, static filled voice called through coms, scope checking the parameters of the building she found herself held up in. She didn't respond at first, busy fighting for her life in a basement underneath the building they weren't aware of.

The deeper she went the harder it was to understand what was being relayed to her, so she settled on doing it on her own. He listened to a man grunt, their body dropping to the floor under her boot as she took a deep breath.

"There's a basement underground, coms are cutting out. I'm taking charge on clearing the basement. I'll report when I get to the surface. Sunshine out." She loathed her callsign with a passion. To speak it caused a burning hatred to spark in the lowest depths of her heart and made her cringe horribly. However, she knew it was better than letting everyone know her real name, so she dealt with it.

Ghost sighed, knowing she couldn't be stopped once she started. She had been on a few missions together in the past few years, he knew she was uptight and lacked the emotional capacity to make friends with others. It made him wonder why, what could've been that bad to freeze her heart over and shrink it to the size of the pebble he was crushing under his foot as he shifted uncomfortably. People would try and try to thaw her out, yet always failed.

He waited, taking out strays that attempted to heed the possible rescue requests that came from that basement, and patiently waited.

"This is Sunshine, basement cleared. Might wanna come take a look at this." His eyebrows furrowed, affirming the request and making his way down quickly, not wanting to stay in the open for too long. He made his way to the basement, eyes widening at the various bodies that trailed to wherever she was down there.

Had she done this all by herself?

He followed the bodies all the way to her, lights flickering, casting a bland white light on the concrete walls. seeing her digging through an opened trunk in a room filled with them.

"Weapons. American." Sunshine reported, glancing at him as he took his place next to her, seeing the American flag painted onto the inside of the lid. She turned at the sound of a groan, a soldier she left alive rousing to consciousness.

"Fuckin' hell. This mission was to take out ultranationalists." Ghost sighed. She didn't respond, the task force member watching her turn on her heel and grab the soldier by vest, throwing him against the wall with impressive strength. Blood flowed out of the back of his head, smearing against the wall as he slowly slid to the floor. He had never seen her in interrogation, but he had heard from those who have.

Brutal, heartless, some had to exit the room.

He wouldn't. He's witnessed plenty of torture tactics, even had to rely on some himself to get information necessary for national security. But this is another reason why they called her 'Sunshine', because to others she didn't feel remorse for what she did, some said she enjoyed it even, that her eyes brightened like the sun peaking over the horizon. Whether that was true or not he'd figure out now, as eager as he was. He watched her take out her knife, flipping it in her hand as she crouched to the soldier's level.

"Where'd they come from." She asked simply, keeping an even tone that surprised Ghost. He expected something more fierce, intimidating, but it was as if she was starting a conversation with a normal person. The victim attempted to spit in her face, but with a quick turn on the head it landed on the floor behind her. Her knife dug itself into his foot, his cries of pain echoing in the basement as she twisted it. The sounds of his bones cracking made Ghost shiver.

"Where'd they come from. Who sold them to you." She persisted, her face void of all emotion as she ripped the blade out of his foot. She sighed, turning to ghost who stood in the back, surveying the action. His eyebrows furrowed as she pointed to the door with her knife.

"Wait outside. This might take awhile." At first he didn't move, but the hint of impatience in her eyes spooked him out, for reasons unknown to him, but instinct told him to listen. So he slowly retreated and stood watch outside for anyone either getting up or rushing down the stairs. Y/N turned back to her victim, seeing two loops with chains hanging off of them imbedded into the wall. She tied his arms up, leaving his body sagging down.

Ghost listened to her repeat her questions, and when she didn't get an answer, a shout would follow. But those shouts turned to ear-piercing screams very quickly. He listened to pleads and begs of mercy to understand him, that he couldn't say anything out fear to what they'd do to him.

"Imagine what I'll do next if I don't get the response I want." She'd respond.

The bones cracking, the retch of vomiting, blood splattering onto the cold concrete.

"If you think you can outlast me, that I'll get tired of this and stop for the night to let you regain some of your humanity, you're wrong. Because unfortunately for you sweetheart." The blade tore through his skin, another bellow of pain emerging from his throat as he squirmed in his place. They were both coated in blood, her eyes dull and her ears tuning out the noise. To her, it was as if he was silent, his screams didn't penetrate through to her, and talked and talked until it drove him mad.

"I don't have all night, and I'm getting impatient. You won't die, I wouldn't allow that. I went through med school, graduated top of my class with a doctorate in Neuroscience. I know how to break." Which was evident as his leg was broken and facing different directions from the knee down to his toes.

"And I know how to fix. I'll keep you alive a lot longer than the night, and I'll do a lot worse. So if you want this to end, start talking, or you're in for a long week." Simon wondered what she was doing. His mind went over the possibilities until her victim finally cracked after the final scream he unleashed into the empty basement. He detailed a secret arms trade between an ally of the United States' and another country, which would lead to the likeliness of intentions for them.

War.

Y/N huffed, ripping off a piece of the soldiers shirt that wasn't soaked in sweat, blood, or vomit, which was a very small one, and wiping her hands clean as best as she could.

"Could've said that 10 minutes ago. Now, you'll bleed out within the next 5. Shame." Ghost listened to his anguished sobs as footsteps approached him, turning around from the entrance to see her, covered in blood. His eyes widened slightly, noticing a piece of...

Her eyes followed his to her vest, noticing a very small piece of flesh sitting between her shirt and gear before flicking it off to the side.

"Hopefully he didn't have HIV." She joked, but there was no humor in her voice, no sign of her finding it funny at all, as if she said it to just say it. Ghost didn't respond, he wasn't sure how. He slowly moved to look inside the room, the curiosity of what she did to the soldier eating him alive, until she grabbed his roughly.

"Don't." The word sent shivers down his spine, and he knew better than the disobey as she had operational command authority, and would likely court martial him if he had. So he took a step back and maintained eye contact, radioing in to Price.

"Captain, this is Ghost. How copy." He called, his gruff voice bringing a smile to her lips that he couldn't see due to her mask which was just a boring black one, decorated with blotches of drying blood that lightened up enough to see. "This is Price."

"We found weapons and gear, they're American." He went onto explain the situation, being weary of his mission leader walking around him in circles, waiting impatiently as he reported their findings.

"Copy that. I'll transfer this to Lanswell. Good work, report back to base for debrief."

"Copy, Ghost out." He connected his radio back to his vest. She took out her pistol, leading him to pull out his own. The behavior she exhibited was one he hadn't seen often, and it led to a deep mistrust he couldn't shake. She smirked, turning around, walking back in the room, and confirming her kill with a bullet between the eyes before reappearing in front of him.

He looked at her suspiciously as she gestured to the stairs, wondering who trained her, who made her into what she is now. She wasn't normal, not like the rest of them, she had no signs of remorse, care, or empathy for the people she killed, and she killed them with ease. Over 30 soldiers in one cramped basement and she came out unscathed, in tip top shape. He followed her out and made it to the landing zone where a helicopter came to pick them up.

She was silent the whole way back, Price being there to greet the two before they sat through debrief.

"Sunshine, we have orders from headquarters to have you join Task Force 141. Ghost is to watch over you. An official introduction will be made tomorrow." Price announced, not missing the tightened grip of Ghost's fist on the table.

"Copy that captain." She responded in her usual tone, only fueling Ghost's anger as he turned to glare at her, though she only ignored him, keeping her gaze unwavering on Price.

"Hit the showers soldier." Price dismissed, Y/N being the first to leave. But before she did, she turned to look down at her new partner.

"Happy to be on the team, Mr. Riley." It took his everything to not jump to his feet and knock her out, holding his breath to calm himself down as she walked away, the door shutting behind her. He hated that she had power over him, and worse that she rubbed it in his face.

"There's no chance in hell I'll stand for her being on my team." He immediately threw at him, standing up in his seat with his finger pressing firmly on the table in front of him.

"First, it's my team. Second, It's not my choice, orders are orders." Ghost growled lowly, clearly upset over the lack of fighting to keep her off, to keep her away to those he held near and dear to his heart, even if that wasn't too close to begin with. He saw her as a danger, an immediate threat, someone who belonged in an institution before they saw the battlefield.

"Then send an appeal. She's a war criminal. Tell em that!" He snapped.

"Bloody hell we're all war criminals. Then we'll be stuck in prison with her and you'll complain some more." Price groaned, rubbing his forehead, clearly irritated by his soldier's insistence.

"Not like that. Not how she is. She'll kill one of us before we get the next mission, hell she parade around our bodies like a joker and hail-" Price's hand slammed on the table, cutting his lieutenant off.

"Quiet." Ghost went silent, sighing deeply as he waited for Price to gather the right words, to somehow ease his mistrust in her, though he doubted she could do that. He watched as he shut the door and locked it, keeping his voice hushed, standing closer to his comrade.

"This is classified information, what I say stays in this room and is to never be discussed with anyone else. Is that understood lieutenant." Ghost's eyes widened for a moment before nodding in affirmation, waiting for his captain to continue.

"She- she wasn't brought up normally. As a great many soldiers weren't, hence why many of them join the ranks in the first place. She was a prodigy, she became a seal at 17, and on her second mission she was set up, deserted, and kidnapped. Nobody knows what happened to her in there, a search team was sent out, but she wasn't found til a few months later, and when she came out after she was different."

She was a child.

That's all Ghost could thing about. God knows what happened to her in there, and he didn't want to think about it.

"She exhibited sociopathic tendencies, she was closed off, didn't speak for a very long time. She failed psychological evaluation requirements, depression, ptsd, ecetera. Even then they sent her back out on missions a couple months later." Simon's eyes blew open, Price nodding glumly.

"Missions? Fuckin' hell, she needs help not special ops." He sneered, not at Price, but his anger was seeping through at rates he couldn't control. He was angry, how could they do that to someone? Did they not care, not even a little bit for her life? Her wellbeing?

"I know. But they're not taking her out any time soon, and now that she's on our team the least we can do is try to help her. I knew her before she became this. She was a kind soul." His voice dropped to a whisper, as if reminiscing, and he was. Her bright eyes, so full of potential when they met for her first mission, how she wheezed when she laughed. She was a kid, and it hurt his heart thinking about what she turned into over the last 6 years. Ghost nodded, silently agreeing to his motives before Price simply waved him off.

Simon hit the showers, scrubbing off the dirt and gunpowder that clung to his skin, watching the water turn black as the face paint drizzled down into it. The captain's words ran through his head over and over, the words going in one ear, through his brain, and out the other in a constant circle. He knew firsthand how corrupt his line of work could be, but that didn't make him any less angry when it revealed itself to him in the ways it did.

When he exited, fully dried and clothed with his mask back on, he passed by Y/N's room, noticing the light peaking out from underneath the door. He sighed quietly, his hand coming up and knocking on the door.

"It's open." Her cold voice responded, though it sounded more distant than before. He twisted the knob and let the door open, seeing her laying on her cot in deep thought. He went to question her, until he realized that she probably listened in on their conversation.

"You were listening." She nodded once, curtly and formally before sitting up and turning to look at him. Her eyes narrowed for a moment, analyzing every aspect about him. He felt like he was being stripped naked just by her look, his soul bare for her to look into.

Her eyes drifted over his exposed arms, the sleeveless tank he wore leaving them on display. He was a big guy, his arms were veined and muscled, tattoos filling up a majority of the space, combined with scars that passed through some of them. The top he wore was a bit tight, outline his chest in an attractive way, but she forced her eyes away, knowing he already caught onto what she was staring at.

"Price is right. I wasn't always like this. And I think he was the only one to notice, or at least point it out." She began, drawing attention away from the fact she just checked him out shamelessly.

"Wasn't right, what happened to you." He replied stiffly. She snickered, standing up. He watched her pace the room, twisting a knife in her hands, causing him to tense. She noticed.

"I'm not going to stab you lieutenant." She reassured, though it didn't help at all as she went on. She wasn't sure what she felt, confused for sure, as to why she was unable to emotionally process her emotions or evaluate the information she heard, as if her mind was barring her from contextualizing her state of mind. She knew she wasn't normal, but she couldn't bring herself to accept it and label herself.

"I was 17 when I was taken, you know that. Had a rough upbringing, I won't explain that to you now." She wasn't sure where she was going with this, and neither was he, but he'd listen for a bit to try and understand her more, maybe to trust her more now that she was his teammate. "I can feel emotion you know. Only to a certain degree, I can empathize. Fleeting, but it's there sometimes. I do feel some remorse, but you know how we are in this field. Weakness will get you killed, so you internalize it, you keep it buried underneath everything else, and because my everything else was stripped away with me, it just sits in here." She tapped her temple and shrugged. He understood what she meant, he did that too. He withheld his shame, his guilt, and his remorse, remaining a stone cold figure in the field. He saved the emotional crap for his time alone where he could deal with it in the way he knew how.

"You just let it sit there then?" He pressed, crossing his arms over his chest. She nodded.

"Don't know what to do with it. Lost my sense of self and all I know is this job. I do try though, I try to force some tears like I've seen others do, but the only time these.. feelings present themselves is on my missions, which is why everyone thinks I enjoy it. But I don't, for the record, I just can't control it like you guys do. And I envy you for that." His eyes widened slightly.

"Envy, huh."

"Mhm. You can talk to each other, find common ground and relate, make friends and connections. I can't because I don't feel like you guys do. And then you demonize me and outcast me more than I already am, so. Oops." He thought she was getting upset, but she wasn't, there was not a hint of anger or sadness or negative emotion in her person whatsoever, none that he could see anyway. Her arms were loose and carefree as she swung them around every time she turned her heel to pace back in the direction she just walked in.

"We can help you." Her first sign of feeling was an eye roll with a steady irritated gaze. But she didn't say anything. The idea of needing help repulsed her beyond anything else, made her want to punch a wall and scream, her eyes widened. Anger. There it is, outside of a mission too. She hummed, looking back at him.

"Alright Casper." He grunted, displeased by the new nickname which made her smile widen cheekily. She searched his eyes for a moment, finding entertainment in the small flames in his amber eyes, how they flickered and danced when he found something humorous, how they died out when he found something unamusing or boring, how they raged when he grew angry or determined to finish something with a newfound passion.

She liked to think he had that burn in his eyes when Price spoke to him about the notion of helping her, hoping that he'd care that much even if she didn't want the help, or perhaps she did, that would explain the want would it not? That was a thought for later. For now she'd do her job the way she knew how, she wouldn't change, not yet, not that she knew how anyway.

"We're going out for a drink tomorrow night, care to tag along." He offered, jousting his chin up at her in a heads up manner.

"I don't drink." She replied, monotone as she laid down on her cot, shutting her eyes with a sigh. He watched her body sink into the bed, all stress and tension releasing, and he took that as his dismissal. He shut the door behind him, releasing a breath and walking back to his room, confused and tired where he slept on the day's events.

Though he was curious on how tomorrow would turn out.

And that's it! If you want a series out of this let me know!! It's my first fic and I'll probably binge a bunch because I feel like writing. I'm still trying to figure out the whole border thing I wanna make everything aesthetic or whatever but yeah.

See you guys next time!!

[sin-sidejob]

hello ghostJR anon here!!, If you want to of course, can you EHEM- got me all nervous now uhhh- ghost JR window sex with mc pressed against one of the windows and him just loving the vieww 👀👀

Ghost!JR Scheimpough x GN AFAB Reader

A Haunting Display

warnings: smut, NSFW, minors DNI, p-in-v smut, ghost sex, monsterfucking I guess?? Specter sex?? Heh. Anyways, porn. AFAB Reader who wears a dress and has "tits", non-descript. Use of pet names and terms of endearment such as baby, pretty little thing, peach, and bunny. Here, he's a mid-century man and speaks + fucks like it

contents: smut, against a window smut, it’s just smut and you fuck a smarmy ghost. Can I tell you it’s smut again?? here’s the link to my Halloween fic with ghost JR Scheimpough + here’s the link to the art that started it all from Skoshibuns on Instagram + tag list: @damnitkyla + 💤 anon honorable mentions lol — can be read independently of the work this is based on or together, whatever gets your rocks off length: 2.7k note: anon, I got VERY carried away with the concept — many thanks to you, little sinner ;)

Having a ghostly roommate didn’t turn out so bad, especially now that you have company and companionship and a partner that knows he’s lucky to have you. You’re quite fortunate that JR’s got a tendency to show you just how appreciative and grateful he is for your presence.

Including now, as he interrupted your Sunday cleaning when you tried to wipe down the windows to coming up from behind and helping you make a mess of them.

“What’re you up to here?”

You turn back from where you stand before the upstairs hallway window, spray bottle of glass cleaner in one hand and an old rag in the other.

“Just cleaning! Saw from outside when I got back from work yesterday that the window looked a bit smudged,” smiling up at him, brows raised, face innocent, “just figured I could clean it up before it started to bother me.”

JR hums, noncommittal, and you go back to cleaning the window and humming along to the song stuck in your head idly and moving along as you wipe the glass, hearing the warping noise as you go along.

As you try and clean the bottom half of the floor to ceiling length window, you kneel and send the skirt of your dress pooling around your thighs as you wipe the glass clean, revealing more clarity. By the time you stand after setting down the cleaner and rag, you feel the air shift and know JR’s hovering.

“Hello again.”

About to turn, you feel his cold hands wrap around your waist and settle low on your belly, head near yours. “Hi there.”

You purse your lips and try to look at him from the angle, brows furrowed but amused nonetheless. “What’re you up to? You’re a bit clingy today.”

“What, is there something wrong with holding onto you?” JR sends back, speaking into the skin of your neck and sending a chill up your spine with the icy touch. “Why don’t you take a break so you can warm me up?”

“C’mon JR,” You whine, pouting yourself, “I need to clean, I just got this window done and I should do the others.” His eyes flicker with something you don't necessarily recognize and before you know it, he’s got you against the window, encircled by the chill of the glass and of him.

“Look too good to pass up,” he mutters low and hollow in your ear, “shame that you’ll have to clean this window again.” JR grins brightly into the column of your throat, more felt than seen, while his hands drift to your dress and undo the little button on the side and the tied bow, letting it fall and pool at your ankles and does the same to your panties.

He's stripped you bare before the window, the risk that met the proposed reward fleeting as he smooths a hand down your now bare belly to splay across your mons and lower stomach, rubbing at the flushed skin there and feeling you twitch at the chill he always brings, even to the most heated parts of yourself.

You hiss as your nipples pebble against the cool of the glass, chills raise across your body, standing your hair on edge, biting your lip as he soothes you in soft praise, nearly warmed by it as he cups your sex while you stand bare.

He's clothed this time, not like it matters because if your neighbors walk down the street or stare a bit too hard at the third floor of the house, they'll just get a view of you alone with your tits out and squished against the window pane.

"C'mon baby, let me have a chance to show you off'a little, you know how quiet it can be in this house," JR murmurs, nosing at your jaw and breathing shakily once you mewl as his fingers finally curl in the heat of your cunt, the warmth felt in his spine as yours does, feeding off the fire you produce, licking the flames like he does the sweat off your neck. "There's my pretty thing, cooing all sweet for me, taking my fingers so well. So fuckin' pretty," JR comments, kissing your cheek as the other presses to the glass, watching the puffs of your panting breath fogging the glass.

"JR, p-please," you whine, lifting your leg against the glass a bit for him to get the message, his hand lowering from your waist to curl on the underside of your knee, raising it against the window to expose your cunt to the cool of the air. He whistles when he catches the reflection, spotting the shine of your slick from the smears between your thighs and the way it glosses the puffy lips of your pussy, drenched and gleaming for him all on display.

"Looking mighty fine there peach, wish I had a camera," JR croons as he smooths your hair back to nestle his head on your shoulder, wrapping an arm around your torso to squeeze at your tit while the other slides from your walls with a lewd, resounding squelch that makes you moan aloud, brokenly, allowing JR to watch your throat bob in the reflection.

"Maybe a — ah, fuuck — a-another time, baby," you mutter, rocking your hips back and whining once you feel his erection against your ass, wanting him deep like yesterday, like last year. It's promising, the idea of having him documented and real as he pumps your cunt with abandon, and it sends your belly clenching taut with the concept. JR seems to like your reaction, because he makes a noise of approval, guttural and from deep in his chest, sounding it out in a groan of your name as he presses against your back as he cages you in.

“I’ll hold you to it,” 

He punctuates his words with grinds against your backside, a hand cupping the cleft of your ass cheek to widen between your legs so he can slide himself in the pooling slick of your sex. “God, sound so good — ya’hear that?” 

And how could you not? As JR slicks himself in your arousal, you hear it, lewd and raunchy and utterly debauched as you gush for him, thighs sticky and letting him fluidly shift back and forth, drawing in and out until the cockhead catches at your clit. You nod, unable to not hear how wet you are for him in the quiet of the house. 

“Pretty pussy’s practically cryin’ for me baby, and you didn’t want to take a break,” he chides, pointed teeth precariously draping over vital veins, grazing with mirth rather than malice, “want me to let you go back to cleaning?” 

Shaking your head, you sigh breathily and give a weak “Nuh uh” in disagreement, leaning your weight back onto him with his chest supporting your lax spine, easing the burden of standing as he toys with you like a doll. 

“Gonna’ have to speak up, peach,” JR shoots back, tone of voice making it sound like a suggestion, but even when cock-drunk, you know better, “wanna’ have you earn it, right pretty baby?” 

“Yessir,” you slur, tongue heavy as he drags his cock between your lips and covers the sound of your moan with a hand he brings to your lips from your cunt, saturated in your desire as you swallow it down eagerly, hollowing your cheeks as you peer back at him through the glass at his eyes, nearly translucent beyond the glint in them. It always reminds you that he’s not truly a good man, never was one. 

It’s a good thing you don’t care. And besides, he more than makes up for it in how he lays you down. 

“Wanna’ be good f’you, take everything you give me.” 

“That’s right, such a good little bunny. Now breathe for me, I’ve got you,” he gives as a brief warning, shifting your ass and thigh up so he can lean his cock back to sink it deep into your cunt, slowly bottoming out as he hears your cunt suck him in, taking every inch of him. 

You shudder when you feel him knock at your cervix, fat cockhead rubbing deep enough for you to feel it when you inhale, noting the base of him that never fits anyhow as he rocks back and forth slowly, balls patting at your ass as he speeds up. With one hand pressed in support to the window surface, you lean the other back around his neck to nestle in his hair and tug approvingly when his strokes hit just right. 

“Fuck, right there, give it to me please baby,” you beg outright, uncaring about anything other than cumming around his cock and getting stuffed full, certainly forgetting about the window and the whole voyeur thing JR has going on. However, he hadn’t and fulfills your wishes by snapping his hips faster as requested with a dual purpose, especially since he’s got the attention of that pesky neighbor of yours, the one who can’t seem to get the hint and continues to flirt with you. 

By now, seeing you getting fucked against the glass and literally drooling against it by him, using a little flair to make sure he seems as real as possible and nearly human, and how he fucks the breath and sanity from you, JR assumes that your neighbor will leave you the fuck alone. 

He’d also admit he’s gotten quite a bit closer to cumming from having someone see you as fucked-out as you are when it's all because of him. 

The hand that tugs taut at his hair gets him to focus more of his attention on you instead of grinning through the glass, even if he is pleased as punch. “About to cum?” 

You nod, eyes watery in the weight of overwhelmed tears, lip puffy and slick in your spit from you gnawing on it as you gasp and cry for him as he splits you open on his cock, the sound of him colliding in smacks of his hips against your ass have your lids fluttering even as you try and shift your hips back. 

“That’s it baby, fuck yourself on me, nearly there with’ya,” JR groans, snaking a hand from your waist down to your clit again, collecting some slick where it pools at your lips, raising it back up to roll his fingertips over your bundle of nerves in smooth strokes and start spelling out his name, the full one he’s only whispered to you once you’ve fallen asleep most nights. 

Even though you don’t know what he’s spelling, or even what he’s doing beyond piping you well and sending your belly taut as you feel your orgasm building, clenching around him and hearing him stifle a nearly pained sounding groan against the skin of your shoulder. The nosy neighbor is no longer his concern. Rather, getting you to cum around him as soon as possible becomes the highest goal and his one priority. 

His other hand guides your faltering hips back and forth as he slows his pace to go deeper, kissing at your cervix with his cockhead every time he bottoms out, loving the wet splurching noise your cunt makes every time he slides in and out thoroughly. 

With a few more swipes of your clit, you’re nearly there, mewling incoherent words to him as he fucks you dumb against the window, any thoughts emerging as pants against now-heated glass that fog the surface. “Atta’ babe, m���almost there, just gotta’ give me a second, okay?” 

You coo in response, pleased and a bit drowsy with your eyes half-lidded, tits squished between yourself and the window panes. JR’s grip on your fleshy hip tightens, squeezing the dough of your side in his hand as he rubs at your clit. You’re glad you’ve got him standing you up, your knees had given out long ago. 

“Wanna’ cum, c’mon JR, baby please, fuck, fuck — need it.” 

“Need, oh f-fuck, need wha’ peach?” he falters as your cunt clenches taut, feeling himself nearly cum then and there, getting back to his pace as he kisses at your neck. 

“Need your cum, need it s’bad,” whining, you tell him, shifting your hips back with his guidance as you jut your lip out in a pout, tugging on his hair and eliciting another groan from him. 

The admission gets him going, pinching at your clit as he releases deep into your cunt with a cry of your name, deeply uttered into the salt of your skin. The cool of him within your cunt sends you gushing not a whole moment later, neck craned back as you cry aloud open-mouthed, arching against him as he holds onto you, fucking the both of you through your climaxes in short, stuttery thrusts. 

He weakens after a while, slowing to a stop where he locks his knees back to support you, feeling himself flicker from solid to semi-transparent. JR’s eyes are closed shut, head knelt to your shoulder as if in prayer, meanwhile you’ve got your head leaned atop his, meagerly blinking your eyes open to catch a glimpse of the ceiling. 

You falter, setting your weight onto your own feet before catching yourself and leaning back, letting JR’s hand shift to wrap his arm around your waist, easing you to remain still as his other hand guides his now-soft cock out from you, making him hiss once the air greets him as you whine, clenching around nothing due to his absence. 

“Let’s get you cleaned up then into bed for a nap, peach,” JR suggests, exhaustion lacing his tone as he tucks himself back into his pants before reaching for your clothes on the floor, leaving the cleaning products behind for him to take care of later. It’s the least he can do anyhow. 

You hum, turning around and leaning against his side as he walks you to your bedroom, his shoes clacking against the hardwood as your bare feet softly tread. 

JR eases you into the en suite bathroom so he can wipe you down between your thighs, letting you sit at the edge of the tub as he does so, smiling a tad as he realizes that he finally addresses you here in a nearly similar condition. 

“Doing so well for me, almost done,” he praises, kissing at the swells of your cheeks, his hand cupping your jaw as his thumb smooths over the indent of the glass against your face. He guides you back to bed after, tossing the rag in the dirty clothes bin on the way out as he snags a shirt and a pair of baggy shorts for you, helping you into them and then under the covers. 

JR watches as you nestle into bed, a dopey and freshly-fucked smile upon your face meeting his own, unable to not match the joy you radiate. A beat passes and he goes to leave and let you sleep before you break the silence. 

“So, Hank saw?” 

He blinks, tilting his head and feigning confusion, hiding the bob of his throat.. “Hank?” 

“The neighbor that keeps bothering me that you want to kill, the one who took a good look at my tits while you were plowing me like a workman’s horse,” you offer as you smooth the covers over your waist, curling up against the pillows and staring up at him from where he sits at the edge of the bed. 

He hesitates before muttering out a quiet “maybe” that makes you snicker, nose upturning as you nearly giggle, wriggling deeper into the bed and its comfort. 

“Eh, fuck him. I don’t think he’ll be messing with me anymore.” murmuring, you shut your eyes as you continue to giggle, dark and devilish as you grin against the pillows, peeking at him between little fits of laughter. 

He heads out, fading more and more as he heads to the door, nearly glassy in how the sharpest features are his eyes, glinting beneath his metal-edged frames. JR falters though, lingering by the door as you whisper his name, getting his head to turn just as you smile soft, adoringly, and it nearly breaks his heart how perfect you look in this moment. 

“Thank you JR.” 

He smiles and it wrinkles the lines in his face, making him look like a happier man. 

“Anytime peach.”

[dballzposting]

What Yajirobe does all day up there in Korin's tower is one of the biggest mysteries in dragon ball and so that's why I'm glad that in DBS they showed us that they play limbo

Korin definitely has found ways to pass the time because he's lived there for thousands of years probably and I'm not really curious about what he's up to. He's doing Korin things. Mind your business

When I was watching dragom ball I remember loving so much what I was seeing with those two but I was never able to really put into words what I was seeing .. I'm going to try but I'm going to miss a lot so please use your own heart and memory skillz to rember how awesome dragom ball was okkkk.. ❤

Why did that beautiful user draw him licking that damn cat. That was so (as one blessed user wrote in the tags:) Evocative.

I've since found out that TeamFourStar had some... interesting takes when portraying those two so I suppose that the madness of intimacy between them is not a new thing to many people... but it was NEWS TO ME so let me throw my hat in the ring a minute ...

I definitely don't think that they become how TFS did it and I definitely don't think that they settle like an old married couple.

But does he lick that cat?

Loose collection of extensive thoughts (6500 WORDS) about Yajirobe and Korin:

Master Korin is an old hermit. Like any old wise hermit, he's a crazy bitch. Hes got his idiosyncrasies. But by-and-by he can hold his own and is much more balanced and stable than some other hermits out there.

Before Goku, the last person he had up there was Roshi, like... 800 years ago? I think that was the number.

Hes been up there for probably Thousands of years. Being a hermit.

WHAT'S HE DO? He stands around. He watches Earth. He naps. He grooms. He meditates. He stays sharp. He reads little books probably (fun books). Probably has a flowerbed he waters. Makes little origami figures maybe. Weird sculptures. One pebble at a time.

Doesn't really matter.

Hes a sensible fellow. He's got good advice and he's got astute eyes. I think that when Roshi was up there for three years, he got comfortable enough to start pulling out the nudie mags (back then they weren't magazines but drawings). And Master Korin would BOP him on the head with his stick - telling him that he will never be a great warrior with a distracted mind, that he will never have a pure heart if he continues on like this-!

Korin wont allow filth like that up there. Classy depictions are one thing but lewd obsessions are another. And he tells Roshi to throw the drawings away. And well Roshi doesn't. He just hides them.

And eventually we absolutely get to the point where Korin will look at them too. Yes yes very nice. Woah. WOAH. Hand me that one there. WOAH! Eloquent handiwork here. Impressive. Nice. Very nice.

And then Korin hits him on the head and tells him again to dispose of them.

Korin wont allow that filth up there except he totally will and does. It's more than that "he doesnt give a shit" - hes a wise old hermit and he knows better than to try to control the flow of life. So he has a lot of grace when it comes to accepting events and other people's natures. When Roshi first arrived, he wouldn't tolerate it because Roshi was there to train and could still be saved. But after a while it became clear that Roshi was going to keep looking at those sexy drawings, and Korin isn't interested in the unrest of endless animosity. He says his two-cents and he will keep saying it but he cannot afford to keep getting angry. He cannot afford to lose his composure every time. This is just the way it is. And he bops Roshi on the head with his stick about it. And he isn't surprised when Roshi keeps pulling the drawings out again.

He sighs about it and shakes his head and mutters. He still cares enough to do that. He isn't a zen buddhist about it or anything. He isn't too fatalistic. He does work towards a better world.

About that better world ... He will work towards it, but he also is perceptive enough to know when to give up. For example, he admitted after Goku defeated Piccolo that he didn't really think that Goku could have really done that. He let Goku try because ... That's Goku's will, and because, well, it's a nice thought, isn't it? But if Goku had died, Korin would not have been surprised. He was willing to accept the inevitable.

But he didn't admit that until after. During, he cared enough to go against the odds and to aid the cause of good. Korin is a wise old hermit who knows how to read the tide but he DOES play a team - the side of virtue, unequivocally. Hes got opinions.

Korin doesn't just let any bastard up there and and he absolutely has standards. Hes a little bit snarky or feisty because hes an OLD CAT! But hes also pretty reasonable. And he can be nice enough.

When Yajirobe first showed up there, Korin was accommodating. And he was even impressed by his strength.

And later he tried to offer him tea. Becasue that's what you do when you have company.

And we see them talk a few times in filler shots. And they're both chill about it.

OK wait there was one scene that was so funny where Korin was telling Goku about how one has to be pure of heart in order to go see Kami-Sama. And how Goku fit those qualifications perfectly. UNLIKE YAJIROBE

^ he just went out of his way to YELL at him like this ... CHECK OUT HIS FANGS. ME-OWCH!

That's Korin. He's got quick eyes. He knew to yell at Yajirobe. He knew that Yajirobe deserved it

Yajirobe was only there because he had to bring Goku up there (twice). Okay sidebar

YAJIROBE:

He shows up in the story when it has taken an abysmal turn. A nosedive toward devastation. And we're following Goku who has snapped out of shape from circumstance. And we're watching him navigate this. And navigate he does becasue he is still alive. And it's bizarre, becasue we're seeing something that usually isn't in stories; usually stories are what is dramatically satisfying, stories have direction. But at this point in the narrative, Goku is just ... alive. He almost died. Hes starving and trying to do something about it, lest wait for death. Krillin is still dead. What's to be done, but to....do. it's.....peaceful, in a harrowing way. Unobserved. And then Enter Yajirobe. Hes not a diamond in the rough necessarily, but we are definitely digging around in the rough, or you could even say we're in the shitter at this point- and hes no diamond, but he's more than dirt. He's a shard of obsidian in the rough, maybe. Hes something. And we find him and we're still in the rough.

To elaborate further: this little dip in the story speaks of survival and persistence. Bear with me. When it comes to Yajirobe and Goku's character, there is between them an interesting tango of physical health VS higher moral spirit. First, because this part of the story is a flagging physical existence underscoring an absence of higher hope, we meet the hedonistic, physically adroit, and survival-minded Yajirobe to attend to that necessary foundation. This is a virtue that Yajirobe offers our hero now, and later on too as their characters progress through difference scenes (more on that later). This simple Yajirobe contrasts with the pure-hearted Goku who struggles to retain his character in the overwhelming mess of his enraged and wounded spirit, but through this Goku must also find a way to persist (this isn't resolved until Mr Popo beats that attitude out of him). So Yajirobe's character first teaches of treating the most basic realm (physical survival which extends into persistence of being), and then highlights through contrast the extent of our hero's honor and prowess (which, you could take as a direct contrast, or you could take as a comparison, saying that emotional/spiritual expression and sustenance is just as key for survival as saving your skin is; persistence of being is resilience of character). Yajirobe's debut being at this miserable point in the story is what creates his character for us - the shining obsidian in the rough. He's a survivor.

He is able to keep up with Goku. He swims as fast as he and runs as fast as he. When they fight each other they both remark in their heads that this is one of the strongest guys that they've ever faced (Goku had kicked him with his full strength and Yajirobe stood back up all the same...!). And he eats Cymbal like it's no big deal, against even Goku's protests.

we receive no indication that Yajirobe has received any formal training. It seems that Yajirobe has acquired his abilities by just .. practice. Out here Livin it. He got that katana from somewhere but he's just out here surviving.

The wikis identify him as the ronin (masterless samurai) archetype, right down to his outfit. This is awesome.

He is truly built different. He's fully human and entirely different. He's selfish but not malignantly. He's oriented toward his own safety, survival, and comfort, and he allocates all of his resources toward these goals, and in this he is effective: he doesn't waste time procrastinating or playing the hero (WITH SOME NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS..!!!!) He's built different and doesn't need or WANT friends. He doesn't want to be bothered. He wants the freedom to be alone. If he wanted to settle down in one area then he would have built a house. But he hasn't, presumably because before long a mailman would find him and connect him to a greater society. So Yajirobe is just out here hunting and sleeping and staying on the move. He's completely happy and self-actualized to do so.

Yajirobe can be lazy and cowardly but still, not quite ... to be cowardly implies you are going against your greater want or virtue. He never intends to be anything but SAFE, so he's not cowardly, just smart and goal-oriented. To be lazy implies that aspects of your life suffer because you don't put any resources toward them - and he never intends to be anything but well-rested and content, so hes not lazy, just comfortable. Furthermore: Yajirobe doesn't put off hard work when it's in his path. He doesn't procrastinate. He really does want to make his life enjoyable, so he doesn't burden himself by half-assing something multiple times. He saves himself the resources and the headache by doing it right the first time. If he has to swim an ocean, he'll do it. If he has to run for miles, he'll do it. If he has to fight a dinosaur until it's dead, he'll do it. He is indeed effective. He doesn't like to waste his own breath, but he is not afraid to use it to max capacity if the results will be worth it. And when he was trying to outrun Goku to earn some damn peace and quiet (and to retain the one-star ball), he was truly willing to run for this, until he found a cart of hay bumping along a lonely road. Then he was like SCORE and took a nap on it and let it move him along for him. It was definitely much more slow then running, but it was comfy, and convenient, and Yajirobe is opportunistic that way. HE WONT WASTE A CHANCE TO SLEEP!

Yajirobe is really good at securing his own survival. In DBS, in the bad future timeline, he survives like a cockroach! He really is just built different. He's a beautiful bastard

Again I want to comment on his appearance in the story ... Even when shit gets crazy and you don't think that you could sink any lower, you could always meet a guy with a katana who is HUGELY skilled when compared to the general populace but you didn't know about him because he didn't want to be found. That is always possible. Anythinf is possible

He does what he must and he takes rests when he can and he defends his own and he hides from the bullshit and he is CONFIDENT in all of this. He doesn't cut corners, and everything he does, he does with conviction. If he shows up late, he's not late - he showed up exactly when he meant to. If he doesn't want to do something, he won't. You could always try to convince him of course and you might succeed with a compelling enough argument or incentive (Ex: he didn't throw the baby Trunks out of the window because he didn't want to invoke Vegeta's ire. Ex: He'll do anything for a Yajirobe Snack in fact that's why he climbed Korin's tower for the first time), and that's all good and fine. He wont act like his mind wasn't changed if it was. Well he may try to fight against it due to an internal conflict of interest but who doesn't hedge a bit at times like that ... Whatever he does or doesn't do, he wont feel shame. He womt feel shame. He wont feel shame.

Yajirobe doesn't know shame. This is key. Well actually more astutely he doesn't know embarrassment. Embarrassment is inherently a social thing, and he just doesn't subscribe to it. He doesn't CARE if he does what's unexpected or rude. He does exactly as he intends to for whatever reason he has. He doesn't care how he fits into a general society! He'd be more angry than embarrassed if you forsake him in a social faux pas context. He doesn't feel that much shame either, but that's not necessarily a social thing, and he can feel it sometimes. If he fails to honor himself adequately he would feel shame, I think, as his one priority is always to protect number 1 (himself). Sometimes that shame may come from losing a fight, or not hiding well enough, or being stupid enough to get involved - and other times, not honoring himself means not acting on the nagging pull in his chest to INTERVENE and DO SOMETHING. I mean, he can handle a lot of life at once - he lives here, and he knows how to earn his keep here, and he has the right to be curious and hover around fights, and he has the right to have opinions about it.

He's always standing around and crossing his arms protectively and responding with animosity .... hes always making snap judgements that are completely true ... he doesn't care who you are or what your name is. You can't talk to him that way.

Yajirobe represents something special to me .... he represents an organism who is successful in being with itself and standing up for itself. Convincingly. I think that that's so beauriful and importsnt ...

Ok anyway.

So Yajirobe ascends Korin's tower becasue Goku is beaten to shit and he tells Yajirobe that theres beans up there and so Yajirobe commits to this tower. And he totally makes it. And when he gets up there Korin is impressed at how Yajirobe climbed the entire tower with Goku on his back.

And then later after Goku defeats Piccolo Daimao for real, Yajirobe carts his ass up there AGAIN and if I recall he just did that out of his own volition. WHY? BECASUE IT WAS A MATTER OF SURVIVAL. He serves those sorts of imperatives.

Yajirobe intervened two other notable times earlier in the story for the sake of Goku's survival: 1.) When he swiped his cadaver from the scene of the first Piccolo Daimao battle and revived him in a river, and 2.) When he tried very very VERY hard to convince Goku to NOT drink that super special water that was most likely poison but would possibly make Goku stronger. The latter example felt less like a character caring about the death of another and more about a debate of greater philosophical importance, like they were discussing the true rules of the world: must one put their life on the line to free their soul, or is it always better to be rational about the preservation of one's physical health? This scene was the culmination of Yajirobe's purpose in the story.

Worth mentioning: When Goku did ascend to Kami's Lookout, we get a scene where Yajirobe is sitting on the railing of Korin's tower and staring up into the sky. He admits that he's looking up because he feels like Goku might fall down at any second, and he wants to be there to catch him if he does.

^That's what I was referring to earlier when I said that Yajirobe offers Goku the much-needed virtue of survival and that there would be "more on that later." Goku is always meeting different characters who teach him different skills or perspectives, and at this late point in the story, you would expect that he meet another wise hermit type who is truly above and beyond. But instead we go backwards and touch base again with the most basic of necessities, and it's applicable in context because Goku's spirit is so wounded and confused by grief that he needs that physical anchor as to not lose himself entirely. He's Goku though and quickly reorients himself and is able to apply that virtue of persistence to all of him, and his argument trumps the unambitious Yajirobe's as the purpose of the story.

Anyway. Back to the point of my post...

As you know, Yajirobe stays in Korin tower for forever and ever. He attends the 23rd Budokai, in DBZ he trains with Kami, he hangs around during the first Vegeta battle, he delivers the Senzu Beans and then stays at Capsule Corp for the remainder of the Android Arch - ETC. But by and by. For the most part. We see him up there in that damn tower with that damn cat eating those damn Senzus!

It's no big mystery by now:

Yajirobe avoids hassle and wants to be comfortable. It's safe up in Korin's Tower. Very removed. Very quiet. There is only one (1) other guy up there and he's not THAT annoying. He mostly just waters the plants and grooms himself out in the open and takes cat naps. And when Yajirobe first sees Korin licking his little furry cat balls out in the open like that, he thinks in his head: "That's disgusting. I would never do that." But then two years up in Korin's Tower later and how do YOU think that Yajirobe is bathing?? :cry laughing emoji:

So ... Why does Master Korin LET him stay? Let's break it down:

As mentioned at the beginning of the post, Korin likes to hang out in a place of agreeable temperament. He won't turn rude for fickle reasons. He likes tea and naps and peace. Yajirobe likes those things too and spends most of his time advocating for those things.

Korin is a Crazy Old Hermit Cat Bitch. Completely insane. He's petty and all of his reasons are fickle but he doesn't think that they are. Like any good old hermit, he has no qualms with YELLING at Yajirobe. He can handle Yajirobe. He probably bites him

Korin is first and foremost an old martial artist hermit. He subscribes to a greater harmony in and with the world. His role, and only role, is to assess those who are worthy. While Goku is at Kami's Lookout and Yajirobe stays behind with Korin, Korin tells Yajirobe that he will never ride Kinto-un. I mean anybody could have ascertained that but it's uniquely Korin's role to tell him that. But Korin doesn't just sit idly by. He wants to instill virtue in the next generation of warriors. He keeps certain secrets and skills away from evil hands, and he does what he can for the side of good. And Yajirobe is some young punk who is clearly worthy in strength to scale that tower twice with Goku on his back in such a short time, but is of a wretchedly bound spirit. And Korin is a mischievous little cat hermit bitch and can't help but to see potential, or even a game when there is one: he's not going to turn down this opportunity to try to turn virtuous this bastard soul, whether subtly or not.

Furthermore: Yajirobe isn't evil. Korin can't bring himself to banish someone who isn't truly evil and who has scaled the tower with his own discipline.

Over time it becomes clear that Yajirobe isn't changing and Korin has to accept him as a person and not as a student, and honestly that's great because Korin is kind of lazy too ... He didn't want to be training this whole time like DAMN. FINALLY he can just CHILL... Yajirobe's virtue is NOT Korin's problem and that's such a relief. And eventually Korin becomes content to just watch Golden Girls DVDs with Yajirobe. Because Korin is a cat who appreciates sleepy time with a warm body.

Korin Can't Kick Him Out if he Wanted To becasue Yajiorbe is just going to Keep Coming Back because the Peace and Solitude is too Tempting and well Who is Korin to Deny Fate its Sick Little Games

And don't think that Korin doesn't mess with Yajiorbe becasue he absolutely does. He'll walk up his back and use him as a ladder. Or he'll put a flagon of ale on his stick and make Yajiorbe try to catch him for it. I truly cannot figure out if Yajirobe would give up when it becomes arduous becasue he doesnt want to waste his energy being mocked, or if he keeps at it becasue He Wants That Ale God Damnit. But wither way it'd be fun for at least 30 minutes.

So. Ummmmmmm.

Back to the thesis. DOES HE LICK THAT CAT?

Well...

I will say that I do think that they both keep a respectful physical distance for a while. Out of courtesy for themselves. Korin is a self-respecting cat hermit who is too wise to be trifled with and who doesn't want anything to mess up his fur. Yajirobe is a self-respecting vagabond who knows that his body is a temple and who won't tolerate arbitrary annoyances done to it.

I will say however that early on we have that scene where Yajirobe was stashing Senzu Benas on his person and Korin saw the lump in his clothes and thought that Yajirobe was hiding a tasty treat. And it's Korin's damn tower and he wants those damn treats so he PUT HIS PAWS ON HIM and TORE HIS CLOTHES OPEN. Very rude. Screenshots below

CHECK OUT HIS CLAWS IN THE SECOND ONE.

Korin is a QUICK read of character (of course he is...!) and after only knowing Yajirobe for a few days he KNEW that if he was stashing anything it was yummy food...! He was so sure of it and he so wanted it for himself that he tore his clothes off for it. He's such a crazy bitch

This is not a good example of them respecting the other's personal space but my sense is that it's becasue this is right at the beginning and the dynamic of Korin being a wise hermit and Yajirobe being an irreverent youth is apparent. Korin can put his paws on him. He can do what he wants. It's his tower. And Yajirobe is just some kid.

But I'm arguing that this dissolves over time. Yajirobe stays over the years and he DOESN'T CHANGE. He MATURES but he doesn't CHANGE. He lives his whole life that way and at some point you have to start taking him seriously, right? And Korin is not keen on blatantly disrespecting people. He's a reasonable guy. He respects others' free will and he respects their decisions.

He'll judge you, but he'll accept you. He won't expect anything from you other than what's wonted for you.

So he and Yajiorbe sleep on opposite sides of the tower because neither really wants to burden themselves with getting too close. They are exactly like diplomatic roommates. They eat meals together, they chat, they argue, but they have none of the obligations of intimacy. They are not responsible for or are interested in the other one's feelings.

And it continues this way for as long as it's due. But you know that Yajiobe is up there for literal years. And that there's not much to do up there but to interact with the only other bloke there.

OK LISTEN: A bit of a sidebar but not really because it is deathly relevant: They've always spoken candidly with each other. Neither of them are ever changing. Korin because he's already so old and this is just who he is and Yajiorbe because he's already perfect. And on DAY ONE they both got a read on the other's character that holds up TO THIS DAY.

PLEASE LISTEN: They both formulated opinions about the other on DAY ONE that never change. They never change becasue they are already dead accurate. Both are living authentically and both are students of nature in their own ways and both are incredibly perceptive for it - Korin KNEW that Yajirobe would never give him anything more than the spoken "-sama" and a courteous physical distance, he KNEW that he would never ride Kinto-un, he KNEW that he was somebody that you need to just YELL AT in order to get through to - and Yajiorbe KNEW that Master Korin was a crazy cat bitch, he KNEW that he was full of mystical shit, he KNEW that he was unreasonable in the way that everybody in the world except Yajirobe is.

No matter what time, no matter how long they've known each other - if you go up to visit it will go the same way. You're standing there talking to Master Korin and having a pleasant chat. Then he thinks to say something to Yajirobe, or to get his attention, or even to summon him or what have you - and he interrupts your perfectly pleasent mild-mannered chat to turn his head and YELL in some direction. Throws his arms back and YELLS. Attaching pic for reference

Just completely goes from sweet-old-grandpa to HARSH-YELLING-THAT-PROBABLY-HURTS-THE-THROAT.

He goes like

"YAJIROBI!"

and says it with an "i" and not an "e" becasue that's how he mispronounces his name in the Japanese dub.

And Yajiorbe obviously doesn't enter the room or anything. You hear banging from the kitchen and Yajirobe yells back

"WHAT?"

And Korin yells back and Yajiorbe yells back and this is how they do it. Yelling back and forth like somebody's sweet old grandparents who completely hate each other.

Let me freestyle something hold on

"GET OUT HERE WE HAVE A GUEST"

"AND WHY'RE YOU SCREAMING AT THEM FOR??"

"I'M SCREAMING AT YOU YOU DIM-WITTED BASTARD. GET OUT HERE SO THAT I CAN STOP"

"YOU COME IN HERE! I'M MAKING DINNER!"

"WELL STEP AWAY FOR A MOMENT AND COME MIND YOUR MANNERS!"

"YOU MIND YOURS AND I'LL MIND MINE! I'M MAKING DINNER!"

"WHAT?"

"I SAID I'M MAKING DINNER!"

"YAJIROBI! GET OUT HERE!"

"YOU DEAF ALREADY?"

"YOU KEEP MAKING ME YELL LIKE THIS AND IT WON'T BE LONG!"

"WHO'D'YOU THINK YOU ARE, BOSSING ME AROUND IN FRONT OF THE GUEST?"

"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, YOU UNGRATEFUL FREELOADER!"

"FREELO- I WAS GOING TO SHARE, BUT YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN DAMN DINNER!"

"MAKE IT FOR THREE, BECAUSE WE HAVE A GUEST!"

"WHO'S HERE ANYWAY?"

"IT'S GOKU?"

"WHO?"

"GOKU!"

"OH!"

[Sound of clutter and clanging. Enter YAJIROBE carrying a mixing bowl. He is stirring it with a wooden spoon.]

"Hey Goku, long time no see!"

END SCENE.

Anyway.

So That's Yajirobe and Korin. They perfectly read and completely accept the other. Neither modifies his own behavior or hamstrings himself in any way for the sake of coexisting with the other. This is just who they are. And it works out.

For decades.

I want to point out that when their relationship advances to new tiers of depth or intimacy, it must not be thought of in that manner. There are no "tiers" and we are not "advancing." They are both objective and no-nonsense people. As such, the progression of their relationship is by nature without a shred of suspense.

There are no subtle desires that are held onto until deemed appropriate to express; there are no reality-checks that yield results that startle.

They keep their space because they want to. They talk because they want to. They play games becasue they want to. Korin will claw up Yajirobe's back rather than walking up him horizontally (a known ability that he has) when using him as a ladder because he wants to. They sleep in the same space because they want to. They cuddle because they want to.

It's a long time until they cuddle like cats, but pointing it out in any manner that may evoke the word "eventually" is already giving it too much prominence. Understand that it's a gradual thing like all things and does not matter in the slightest.

ARE THEY SELF-AWARE ABOUT THIS? Yes and no.

Yajirobe doesn't care enough to do self-reflection about shit like that. One day he was barely trusted to water the Senzu plants and another day he was touching the cat's toe beans. So what. They still yelled at each other to SHUT UP every day in between. What's changed, and why does it matter? Yajirobe attaches no importance to gestures of intimacy or camaraderie - he just appreciates warmth and comfort. He trusts that cat to cuddle up and take good naps with him. All is well. So what?

Master Korin definitely meditates about the state of the world and is so aware about everything. So he is aware each and every day what is going on between he and Yajirobe. He knows when he settles down to groom that this is the first time in hundreds of years that he has settled into the crook of someone's bent elbow or neck. He knows it. And he doesn't care. Why should he? It's a fact, an event, like all things. It's nice. It's comfortable. Yajirobe can be trusted to respect his boundaries and to interact with his body in a manner that is acceptable and predictable. In the spirit of being sensible, for the cause of engaging with a greater unity - the path of least resistance right now is napping with Yajirobe.

So that's that.

Take a water break my dear ... I'm not done with you yet.

They do respect each other's personal space. But there is a point where Yajirobe picks up that damn cat.

DETAILS ON THE EVENT OF YAJIROBE PICKING UP THAT DAMN CAT:

That cat is a crafty son of a bitch and he can MOVE. His training with Goku was facilitated through Goku trying to catch him.

And Yajirobe isn't keen on grabbing that cat gratuitously. He has definitely taken many passes at him however when they play / "train" / Korin is being a nuisance on purpose and Yajirobe has had enough (like when he was tempting him with that flagon of ale and eventually Yajiorbe DOES capture that cat...)

And if one is in the other's way: Korin will just walk up and over Yajirobe (which Yajirobe HATES), and Yajirobe will either punt the cat out of the way or yell at him to move (both of which Korin HATES. Especially the kicking. It always starts arguments).

But listen. There is a point where picking up that cat becomes the path of least resistance. It will garner the least resentment and spend the least amount of time.

We get to the point where if Yajirobe is standing up at the stove trying to make his own damn dinner and that damn cat is in the way, he'll just. Pick him up and move him.

Like if Korin were blocking the flour cupboard and Yajirobe was trying to make a roux for the max and cheese then he would just. Pick up the cat. And move him somewhere else.

And Korin would be all like RRREEAAAQHQHJ like a cat does, but when he's set down he's fine. It didnt take long. He wasnt held or airborne long. Obviously it's startling to be GRABBED and FORCIBLY RELOCATED but it's over soon enough and hes cool as soon as it's over.

But still. If he didnt want to be picked up, then why did he let it happen? Couldnt he have darted out of the way?

HOW is Yajirobe able to pick up the cat?!:

On some level Korin knows that it's not a big deal. And that it's just Not Worth the energy expenditure to get away. Like how pigeons walk rather than fly away because it takes a lot of energy for lift-off: Korin COULD dart away, but he doesn't care too. He has a reason for blocking the flour cupboard (doing something, just chilling, I don't know) and he's not gonna abandon it so quickly just to prevent Yajirobe's grubby hands from touching his fur. Yajirobe isn't a big deal. Hes been there for years. He doesn't matter. And though it's an affront to be grabbed and moved, it doesn't actually take long, and Korin doesn't have to actually do anything, and he is free to express himself during, so hes not really being inconvenienced much. Deep down he knows this.

Yajirobe has gained some speed and precision during his time here. I suppose this isn't relevant here because it's not like hes trying very hard to grab the cat, but it's worth mentioning. He can be precise. He just grabs the cat. See Yajirobe didn't come here to train but like I've been saying Korin is a bit whimsical and mischievous so he's gotten his hermit due and has sharpened Yajirobe's abilities by little gambits and whatnot.

So yknow we do get to the point where A.) Korin is comfortable/trusting enough to have his guard down (and Yajirobe is not a big deal or difficult to have around) and B.) Yajirobe's movements can be hard to read/catch/predict sometimes.

WHY does he pick up the cat?!:

Yajirobe is no-nonsense and he doesn't like to waste his own time. He relocates the cat, and he does it right the first time. He's not gonna be all like "Move it furball" and then have to keep saying that because Korin moved to a random spot that is still in Yajirobe's way but just in a different way. He knows where he needs the cat and so he puts him there.

This is efficacy in the form of keeping the peace. Yajirobe doesn't care if he disrespects Korin, and when he does he means nothing by it; but if kicking the cat / punting the cat / pushing him away with his foot would cause such a fight, then he won't do it. He doesn't have the time for a fight. He's making mac n cheese.

Worth mentioning that both are probably really bored all of the time. If he doesn't grab that cat often, then this opportunity may be an enticing piece of stimuli.

So yeah he grabs that cat.

Ummm. What else is there to say........I mean I mean FURTHERMORE:

Yajirobe keeps coming back to Korin Tower. He never wanted a friend, and he never asked for a friend, but he has found someone that he becomes very comfortable with. And if Yajirobe is about personal comfort and pleasure and peace - it is very, very nice to have someone who accepts you, will have you, and who is sometimes even happy to see you. That makes relaxing easy. That makes life enjoyable. Of course he keeps coming back.

Master Korin probably appreciates the fact that there is somebody whom he knows consistently over the years. Usually when he meets someone, it's like starting over every time - but he's had years of conversation and memories with Yajirobe that they can both draw on. Korin can tell a joke and know that it'll land, and they probably have inside jokes too. And it's not like Korin has ever had, or has ever expected to have, a roommate who can be sensibly considerate. Yajirobe knows the foods Korin likes and he considers this when he goes hunting and gathering. He knows what'll piss him off and is sometimes inclined to use this knowledge for good, to keep the peace. Yajirobe may be rude, but he really is reasonable - he will do what feels nice and he'll do what needs to be done. And he doesn't mince words either. He says what he means and nothing more.

So.

DOES HE LICK THAT CAT?

Probably ....

Like I don't see why not ....

VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT THAT I FORGOT TO WORK IN:

Do ... you know the madness of isolation? Not only that but isolation with another. Yajirobe and Korin definitely develop their own language. And since they are the only ones there, everything they do is through no one's judgement but their own. And they were already pretty comfortable with the weirdness of the world to begin with. The monotony of isolation absolutely dulls and then erases any conventions for normalcy that you had. AND WHAT WAS THERE TO BEGIN WITH? They were both already completely anti-social. At first Yajirobe wouldn't lick that cat becasue he has self-respect but he's up there so long that he grows so comfortable with Korin that he has jurisdiction over and no qualms with licking that cat. HONESTLY IT'D BE WEIRD IF HE DIDN'T?

It'd be weird if he didn't. It'd be weird if he wore judgement like a hat. It'd be weird if he denied himself anything. He licks that cat.

And the cat lets him.

Korin has just as much self-respect as Yajirobe does. He allows himself life's pleasures. He would enjoy the pleasures of trust and comfort, and he would enjoy being licked.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Korin is a wise old hermit who is a crazy bitch who has found someone who invokes him to yell "SHUT UP" to without a moment's thought for his own elegance of image. Yajirobe treats Korin with the irreverence of a mortal and it has nothing to do with a disrespect for Korin and everything to do with a respect that Yajirobe has for himself. They don't hate each other but they have disliked everything about the other's unchanging nature since day one. They feel the comfort of friendship when around each other and Yajirobe is eternally motivated to climb that tower (or use a hovercar if it can reach that altitude). Honestly Yajirobe probably just stays there becasue it's a hassle to have to climb up it again every time and he knows that that's where he'll end up anyway. Korin is a cat and he likes to be licked. End post

STAY GORGEOUS !!

[neptoons1998]

Swimming Lessons

Part 1/3

A/N: Soo I did it thanks to @mal-urameshi for the idea.

Summary; Okoye puts Riri in swimming lessons. Okoye meets er daughter's swimming coach Attuma. Okoye isn't going to do anything except look at him that's all.

Tag gang: @mal-urameshi @pantherheart @somethingcleaverandwhitty

Okoye would say she is a pretty okay mom. The greatest but enough that her daughter wouldn't die by her negligence. And like any helicopter parent Okoye put her three-year-old in swimming lessons. As much as she loved her daughter, Riri was a menace in a loving way. Riri couldn't sit still when she gets her hair done or sitting her car seat. So what does any parent do when they have an active child putting in classes.

Okoye had her daughter in ballet, karate, and piano lessons. The young mother was doing everything to keep miss.busybody from being too busy in her room. Plus on some mommy blog it said it was important for Riri’s age group to socialize with their peers. And her daughter was a genius but she just read the room incorrectly sometimes.

“Oh Riri,” Aneka greeted as she wrapped her arms around the young girl. Aneka took her job as the fun auntie very seriously always trying out for her niece.

“It’s been ages since I’ve seen you,” Aneka commented as she glared at her sister,” It’s almost like someone is keeping you away from me.”

"She needs to run this energy," Okoye reasoned to Aneka as she rolled her eyes. Her sister squahed down to Riri's height as she gave her a piece of candy.

"Thank you, Auntie!" Riri shouted as she hug her aunt. Okoye rolled her eyes, "That's why she is in so many classes."

Aneka scoffed at the insult, "Hey she's needs some fun in her life. And it's not like you and Ayo are going to do it?"

"She's needs structure-“ Okoye started.

"in her life. This is the foundation she needs and going to rely on when she gets older, I know I know," Aneka finished her sister's statement.

"It's good to know you listen to me every once and while," Okoye responded. Aneka waved her hand not taking what her sister was saying to her seriously, "So what's the next class that my Riri have to go to now? How to detonate a bomb?"

Okoye rolled her eyes before she can tell her sister about her daughter's next class. Riri jumped up and down, "I'm going to learn how to swim!"

Aneka's lighten up around her niece, "Really? That sounds like fun."

Riri nodded, "Yeah and I'm learning how to swim like swordfish because they swim really fast."

"Really where did you learn about that?" Aneka asked Riri puffed her chest loving the special attention that her aunt was giving her, "Mama and me went to the library today."

"Can you show me the book you got from the library?" Aneka asked Okoye inwardly groaning knowing her sister was going to give her unneeded advice from the peanut gallery. Aneka stood back up to her normal height, "I'm just saying I find it funny how you're the only one entertaining and taking care of her while you know who isn’t doing his share of the work.”

Okoye could only pressed her lips together as she waited for her sister to finish with rant with her good for nothing ex-husband. From Okoye’s view they went into marriage too fast and were pressured by their parents and traditions that their relationship just frizzed out.

“I mean the only good thing that happened from that relationship was having Riri,” Aneka commented as she was finally getting to the end of her rant. Okoye just nodded along letting her sister finish her ranting about her ex-husband. Okoye's eyes followed her daughter's movements between her bouncing on her toes while reading.

"Thanks for your unneeded advice," Okoye said as she moved closer to take her daughter's hand quickly leaving her sister's apartment.

"Are you ready for your swimming lesson?" Okoye asked her pebble as she buckled her in. Riri nodded, "Yeah, I can't wait to tell VIv and Miles about it."

Okoye went to the driver's seat. She looked through the reflection mirror at Riri, "Let's go, swordfish."

[nattyontherun]

Ten First Lines Game

Stole this from my wife, @sugarbunbie mwa mwa ilu

Rules: post the first sentence of your last ten fics. If you haven’t written ten fics, share as many first sentences as you can!

Note: I have alotta drabbles, and for the sake of not clogging up my top ten with them,,,, I removed them lmao. Here we areeeeeee~

 Lan Wangji finds him beneath the sunshade of a gnarled tree throwing pebbles into the river, quiet. splinter, quietly; MDZS, WangXian, WIP

If he clasped his hands together, his fingers overlapping, the tender flesh between each joint clasped to bruising—skin against skin, the bones beneath grating—would he recreate this vacuum-dark? longing (an ode to the one who raised me); MDZS, gen

There is a wisp haunting the halls of Lotus Pier: a red blot of pulsating energy, a specter. the bright side of dying young; MDZS, gen, WIP

Wei Wuxian dreams of a hole in the earth; of a place where the forest descends into grasslands and a gorge where land gives way to jutting stones, trickling-stream waterfalls, and pitch darkness where once a river wound. nightdweller; MDZS, WangXian, Dead Dove Don’t Eat

Jiang Yanli wakes to muted evening sunlight and fingers running through her hair. quail; MDZS, gen

Kakashi finds Sasuke in Wave. carefully, carefully; Naruto, KakaSasu, WIP

Sasuke wakes in flashes, like peeking through a veil of churning water. as you breathe; Naruto, gen

Morning; the rich scent of petrichor, and dewy leaves; of sizzling eggs--tamagoyaki, perhaps, hopefully--coffee, and warm rice. the flower that sleeps in his mouth; Naruto, KakaSasu

Jiang Wanyin has never been religious. why we never whisper to the wild winds (i’m okay, jiang cheng); MDZS, gen

Wei Wuxian does not die when his body hits the ground. desolate; MDZS, gen. Dead Dove Don’t Eat

i like dreamscapes. and run on sentences. and setting the mood. tho this is some impressively varied first sentencing for myself, i’m so very proud because i know 2021 would have had a MUCH different outcome hehehehe

xoxoxo lemme tag some fwens @emberswrites, @eldritch-bisexual, @tinywriterfairy, @thecrowtit

[dragonpropaganda]

(tags from @xenomorphicdna )

god there is so fucking much to say

The fandom name for the main civilisation being "the ancients" coming from five pebbles' speech makes talking about the depths pretty hard. pebbs isn't really using ancients as a name but just generally referring to ancient peoples which makes it kind of unfortunate that it's settled as the fandom name for those who built him! (an alternative name that's picked up some traction is the "benefactors, which sounds cooler imo, and James primate himself calls them precursors or forerunners)

This turn of fandom conception kind of hides what little we do know of the depths, which is mostly from the ramblings of some cave ghost. (Two Sprouts, Twelve Brackets is the best echo, I will fight over this)

In their monologue, Two Sprouts, Twelve Brackets (hereafter referred to as TSTB I'm not phonetyping that out every time) talks about the ruins throughout subterranean, the "bones of forgoitten civilisations, heaped like so many sticks"

Already, this pretty much establishes the depths as something very different from TSTB's own culture. effectively, they are the most forgotten civilisation, the remains at the bottom of the pile. The depths even have a very distinct architectural style, as well as different symbols (only sharing the crossed circle, which is in the shape of the wheel flower)

So who then, built these ruins? There isn't really a direct answer to this. The people who built the depths were... the people who built the depths,a total unknown. But what this demonstrates is the sheer scale of the cycle. throughout the game it's always been clear that you've been rummaging through the ruins of a fallen civilisation, but what this arguably shows is that there were already ruins by that civilisation's inception. This "depths civilisation" shows a stratum beyond their memory. This calls to mind the scavengers, who demonstrate the formation of a new society in the ruins of the old. (though they don't demonstrate many permanent structures, scavenger society is fuckin complex, don't underestimate these small, semi-nomadic raccoon monkey people)

In a game about cycles, it's a very reasonable assumption that those who came before would have been in a very similar position at their start. The unknown depths civilisation stratum in the layering of ruins only seems to corroborate this.

Due to my own involvement in downpour, I'm pretty reluctant to talk about downpour stuff lore conversation, but not addressing it here would be amiss so here's a disclaimer: I don't want anyone to think of the things I say as like, immoveable word of god in regards to the downpour canon (something that has unfortunately happened before, I'm just the challenge mode person, not an authority on everything!!! (though I am an authority on challenge mode, everything about challenge 70 is very uncanon lol) ), so please treat the following paragraphs as just another voice like you would from any other fan.

TSTB doubles down on this concept in their saint campaign monologue. As the old world fades into the new, they ask (rhetorically of course, the saint doesn't know shit) how many civilisations came before them, then left the world behind.

(cheery as ever, buddy)

This directly highlights the cyclical nature of the whole process. A civilisation rises, before eventually leaving the world behind in favour of transcendence, which TSTB is unusually cynical about! this isn't necessarily a sign that ascension is a bad thing, considering their scrapped beta monologue, which has nothing to do with the whole topic and instead just talks about eating, TSTB is just kinda Like That about things.

This does raise questions about why there are a few depths civilisation inspired designs in the iterator cities (metropolis and bitter aerie.) This answer is more based in like, developer intent than direct text analysis so you can reject it on that basis alone if you want:

The use of depths style architecture in metropolis and bitter aerie is effectively like how modern empires have used neoclassical architecture. It's use of inspirations from antiquity to gain glory by linking themselves with the ancient past. (and a past they can't claim at that!) Think of it as like how government buildings in modern empires such as the USA make government buildings to look Roman. that's pretty much what's going on with the twelfth council pillar

you should talk about your thoughts on rw fanon (looking with huge eyes)

Oh god, there's a lot of major misconceptions have concreted into fanon, mostly around ancient society and ascension.

First things first! Ascension is not death! They are entirely separate things treated entirely separately by the text of the game. I can see where the interpretation is coming from, but it doesn't really align with how the text treats either subject. Five Pebbles may want to remove the self destruction taboo, but from his reaction to the rot it's clear that he doesn't want to die. Conflation of ascension and death only comes up as an offhand possibility that pebbs makes on iterator 4chan, when he's going into the possibilities of scenarios that even the other sliverists are doubtful of! (let me make clear that I am not a sliverist by any means)

Ascension is more of talked about as a form of transcendence, yeah? A Bell, Eighteen Amber Beads talks about their sitution as being "To have grasped at the boundless infinites of the cosmic void…", not as them seeking an end to life.

The beta dialogue goes into more detail, mentioning the "infinities of time and space" and the "boundless fractal planes of spirit and reality...", though this dialogue was cut and it's hard to tell how much it reflects the concept as in the released game.

As for the cultural misconceptions... there's A Lot to talk about, but the first that comes to mind is the common conflation of the five natural urges and the christian concept of sin.

It is true that the negation of urges is mentioned by moon as an alternative method of ascension, but much of what we know about the culture of the people who the fandom calls the ancients (which makes discussion of the depths a mess but that's something for another post entirely) points towards the urges not being seen as shameful.

Even the first urge does not seem to be particularly scorned! Being a warrior is presented as a cause for bragging in the Shaded Citadel pearl, being comparable with being an artist and a fashion legend. The second urge, also does not seem to be suppressed. Multiple sources attribute some level of honour to parenthood! The aforementioned pearl also mentions Seventeen Axes, Fifteen Spoked Wheel as being a "Mother, Father and Spouse" without any hint of shamefulness. Nineteen Spades, Endless Reflections expresses pride about having progeny, mentioning it alongside their owned land and esteem among their peers.

After some peer review, an esteemed friend has told me to add a section on purposed organisms as well! This is not so much my area, so I might be a bit off on some things.

As moon says, the majority of purposed organisms were tubes in boxes, and that the primal fauna of the world are almost entirely extinct. A lot of the fandom seems to ignore the first part, and i can't say I blame them, but the evolution of the creatures is so much weirder than people think.

Concept art for the creatures has this interesting quality to it, where the organic parts of the creatures have an almost... melty quality to them.

In the concept art, the flesh appears as if it's almost defying the machinery to form an animal shape. It's as if it's conquering its own artificiality the way the foliage grows over the (stone, brick and concrete, not mostly metal as some think!) ruins.

Of course, it's hard to really tell how much of this reflects the finalised concept, most of the integration is much smoother in the game, in line with a seamless kind of biomechanical design. There was always an intention of biomechanical strangeness, as shown in this screenshot of the devlog before the term "slugcat" even existed!

That said, the melty nature of the concept art shows a level of wild change inherent the biomechanical nature of the creatures, as if they truly are the result of these "tubes in boxes" almost revolting against their own boxes.

and considering centipedes... some tubes may not have had boxes in the first place!

[yourdeepestfathoms]

Autistic Penny hcs+ (maybe )autistic Ocean

combining all these asks, but of course!!

(i have ADHD, but A Bunch of my friends who have autism have said that i give off the same vibes, so i’m gonna talk to my pediatrician about That when i see in October)

(i decided to color code the names of the kids for this one because, coincidentally, it may be a little hard to follow cause the headcanons are All Over The Place)

Ricky and Penny have autism, and Ocean has both autism and ADHD because, come on, her having ADHD is SO OBVIOUS

Ricky was the first one to point out that maybe, just maybe, Penny and Ocean aren’t neurotypical

Penny eventually gets diagnosed once her parents go to jail, and she gets her social worker

Ocean is undiagnosed

Penny has God Awful auditory processing issues

Noel: Hey, do you know what time it is?

Penny: Huh?

Noel: I said do you kn—

Penny: OH IT’S TWELVE-THIRTY

Ocean will make food and then won’t eat it because she isn’t hungry anymore

Penny will sometimes look at people’s mouths when they speak because it’s easier for her to follow along

Penny and Ocean both NEED subtitles when watching shows

Misophonia? Misophonia

Forks scraping against a plate will make Penny full-body cringe

If someone smacks while eating, Ocean will have a viscerally angry reaction

Also misokinesia with Ocean!!

If someone is bouncing their leg in her peripheral, she gets So Mad for Literally No Reason

If she bounces her leg, though, it’s fine, but it’s a personal offense when anyone else does it

Also pen clicking!! Only SHE can click her pen. Nobody else. It’s illegal.

Textures? Textures

Ricky’s favorite textures: Fur; aloe vera; pebbles! like the small, smooth ones!; butter; leather; rags when they’re wet

Ricky’s least favorite textures: Grits; fish (it’s too chewy); school paper towels (they’re so scratchy for NO REASON); when you’re drawing with chalk and your nails scrape the sidewalk or asphalt; dry sponges

Ocean’s favorite textures: BEAUTY BLENDERS!!!! (she’s CONSTANTLY stealing Constance’s just to squeeze them like a stress ball); fur; pebbles (same as Ricky); cotton balls; silk; soft ice

Ocean’s least favorite textures: NAIL FILES (she can’t STAND nail files, they make her SQUIRM); wet paper (it makes her want to GAG); bouncing off of that, paper straws (she wants to like them SO BAD because they’re better for the environment, but she just CAN’T); wet bread; mascara (makes her face feel sticky and itchy); bananas (bad feeling in her mouth); that gross slimy sensation of oil on your hands after you try (and fail) to wash it off with water; lotion (similar to the oil, it just makes her feel uncomfortably slimy)

Penny’s favorite textures: Velvet; anything soft and fluffy; makeup brushes (even without makeup; she likes to just brush them against her face); styrofoam; that green plant foam stuff; silk; mini M&Ms

Penny’s least favorite textures: Wet paper (she seconds Ocean’s hatred, that stuff is straight from HELL); jeans (scratchy, tight, and uncomfortable); anything denim, really; rubber gloves; clothes tags

When Penny feels a nice texture, she’s gotta touch it as many times as possible

If she can, she likes to rub stuff on her face because, GOD, there’s nothing quite like feeling a good texture on your face

Ocean and Penny are SO PICKY with their food, mainly due to texture, but also taste

Ocean doesn’t eat meat, but Penny does, and if the meat makes that gross crunch-squish when she bites into it, she’s spitting it out without hesitation. She doesn’t care who sees her, she Needs It Out Of Her Mouth

Kinda similar to textures, these three will discuss wanting to eat things that are most definitely NOT edible, and the other three in the choir are just like “WHAT”

Ricky, signing: consider: fiber glass

Ocean, nodding: that’s a good one, that’s a good one. like, why would they make it look like that, and then have it be filled with millions of tiny glass shards??

Ricky, signing: RIGHT??

Ocean: what about drywall? i feel like drywall would be so good.

Ricky, signing: yes!!

Penny: i wanna eat polly pocket clothes so bad

Constance: what the FUCK are you guys TALKING ABOUT

They all mutually agree that they would eat lava if they were physically able to

Ocean’s special interest has been The Crucible/Salem Witch Trials for about four years (she’s me fr)

Echolalia with Penny!

She’ll hear someone say something, and she’ll repeat it for the rest of the day

She once would Not stop saying “beet roots” underneath her breath because Mischa said it one (1) time

In similar vein, she and Ocean will both mirror the people around them, but especially the other kids in the choir

Like, Mischa will have his hands on his hips, Ocean will see him standing like that, and she’ll unconsciously do it, too. And then Penny will see them both doing that, and she’ll copy them. So then three out of six of the choir kids are all standing like a mom who just found out their toddler colored on the walls with a marker

Unfortunately, some people sometimes take this as them mocking them

Which isn’t the case!! They aren’t trying to mock anyone by mimicking them!! It’s just this sort of instinct they have!!

Ocean is the understimulated to Penny’s overstimulated

One of the reasons why Ocean is always doing stuff is because she’s so desperate to FEEL, to be ENGAGED because she starts to feel horribly worthless when she isn’t doing anything. She gets restless and NEEDS to be doing something. Nothingness overwhelms her.

And then Penny just needs everything to STOP. Everything is going too fast, and there’s so much happening, and she can’t keep up, and her brain isn’t processing ANYTHING. She needs just one second to breathe.

Meanwhile, Ricky, a worried, properly medicated neurodivergent, is like “are you two OKAY”

Ricky has the BEST stim toys, fight me

You know those stim toy boxes? His parents get him those!

He once let Penny play with one of his fidget cubes before

He never got that fidget cube back

Speaking of stim toys!

Stimming!!!

Ricky:

Shaking his head out to do a “reset”

Biting his lips

Big blinks

Clicking his tongue

Running his tongue over his teeth

Tangling and untangling his headphones

Penny:

HAND FLUTTERS!!!

CHEWING!!

She looks like she would chew on CapriSun straws (which are the BEST to chew on, fight me)

Rocking from side-to-side

Clicking her fingernails together like she’s a baby pangolin

Lightly tugging on her earlobes

Trilling/chirping/squeaking!! I can just TELL this girl would have vocal stims like that!

Bumping someone with her head

Rubbing her thighs

OR: rubbing the surface of smooth things like desks or tables

STRETCHINGGGGGGG

Kneading things with her hands and feet

Ocean:

Idk if this is a common stim, but I do this All The Time, so: she LOVES to fold small pieces of paper. Sticky note? Folded. Receipt? Folded. A hall slip for school? Folded. She’ll fold them until the paper starts to, like, disintegrate into little flakes, and she has to get something new because it isn’t satisfying or fun when it’s deteriorating all over her hands.

Also if a bottle—or anything for that matter—has a label, it’s probably gonna get peeled off and then folded by her

Touching her neck/chest, especially when she’s focused or reading something (another thing i’ve started doing recently; idk why)

Just like Penny, she’ll click her fingernails together like she’s a baby pangolin

Pacing

Twitching her nose like a rabbit

Drumming her finger midair to the beat of a song

Walking in time with music

Ocean talks a lot, we all know this, but one of the reasons she talks so much is because she’s constantly branching off into different topics in the middle of a story. She can’t stay focused on one singular topic. It’s like she’s going on a side quest. And then another side quest. And then another side quest. And then another side quest.

She also talks Super Fast sometimes and is constantly being asked to slow down

Similarly, Ricky tends to sign Very Fast, especially when he’s engaged with what the topic of conversation is

Unfortunately, however, sometimes it’s a little hard to understand him. I took ASL for four years, so I can tell y’all that keeping up with signs is WAY HARDER than keeping up with speech.

And it’s just so frustrating for Ricky because he needs to slow down, but he has all this ENERGY and EXCITEMENT that makes it really difficult for him to sign slower

Keeping with the topic of speech habits, Ocean tends to interrupt people without really meaning to. She just gets this URGE to speak, and she can’t stop herself before the words start coming out

On the other hand, Penny is the type of person to zone out in conversations and then ask for someone to repeat themselves

Ocean has very, VERY poor impulse control. She doesn’t think before she speaks a lot of the time and will just Say Stuff that may come off Really Bad. And usually she doesn’t mean to be rude or inappropriate, she’s just Saying Stuff, and then she’ll get mad when people are angry at her with just making a comment. She just has No Filter.

Penny will forget stuff after 0.2 seconds of thinking about it

Or if you give her, say, a task with five-step instructions, she’ll have forgotten at least three of the steps by the time you’re no longer talking. So it is VITAL that she has written instructions. It’s easier to follow and remember stuff when it’s written down for her to see. If it’s not written, she WILL probably forget.

Ocean gets extremely frustrated when she can’t do something the way she wants to do it

Penny is the “can’t read that block of text, it’s too long” to Ocean’s “MUST READ IT ALL” and then Ricky’s “i’m trying to read it, but i keep going over the same line over and over again”

Ocean will forget to eat and drink for several hours, usually because she’s too focused on something, and if she breaks that focus, she Will Not be able to get it back

Penny and Ricky will both just. stare at a wall. for no reason.

Ricky is really *lets his device run out of power even though the charger is literally right there in front of him*

Stemming from her ADHD, Ocean has RSD (rejection sensitive dysphoria)!

[titan-fodder]

Find a Way Chapter 8

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Rating: E (explicit; mdni)

Count: 5k

Tags/Warnings: general awkwardness, kissin’, explicit sexual content (vaginal fingering), overthinking, communication, interruptions, mentions of labor and delivery, a preemie baby, erwin and levi being erwin and levi, cuteness, use of ‘daddy’, general vulnerability

A/N: this takes place right after the dinner date! thank you all so much for being so patient. i hope it holds up. was so happy to get back to writing these two, so enjoy~

Your hands are shaking as you hold Remy's food bag, spilling little pebbles into his bowl as he waits impatiently beside you, whole body wagging in time with his little tail. Your brain is absolutely bursting with too much information, too many questions, too many things you aren't sure you wanted to know. 

 But, things you definitely needed to know. 

 A fiance. Alcoholism. That's… Substantial. That's something to consider. 

 “If you need some time—” Miche starts, but you immediately straighten up, spilling a bit of the kibble on the floor as you do and making him smile softly. 

 “No, it’s…” You take a breath. “It’s a lot, but it doesn’t mean I want you to, like, leave or anything.”

 Miche raises an eyebrow, slow to ask, “Is our date not coming to a close soon anyway?”

 “I mean, it can if you want it to,” you answer, bending over again to put the bag of food on the ground, carefully picking up the fallen pieces and dropping them in Remy’s bowl. 

 It dawns on you that Miche probably thinks you’re trying to get him to stay so that you can fuck—which wouldn’t be a complete lie—but it’s really just that you’re not ready to say goodbye yet. Even as muddled as your thoughts are, you still want to be around him. 

 “I don’t know how early you have to get up in the morning, but I could go for a couple episodes of something or a movie or… whatever…” You end on a thick swallow because Miche is frowning now, forehead wrinkled adorably. 

 “Are you sure you don’t need some space?” he tries again, and you nearly scoff. 

 “Miche, if you need space or just–I don’t know–don’t wanna look at my face anymore, just say so.” 

 And just like that, his expression goes soft again. He takes the few steps necessary to get to you then uses gentle fingertips to tilt your chin up. 

 “I always wanna look at your face.” 

 Your stomach does somersaults as you gaze into green eyes, and it’s quickly apparent that you are absolutely helpless in his hands. Any baggage is forgotten, replaced with broad shoulders and laugh lines and a deep tambor that gives you goosebumps. 

 “Yeah?” Your voice is barely more than a whisper. 

 Miche nods slowly as he glances at your mouth, and that’s all it takes for you to move. 

 Already on your tiptoes thanks to your heels, all you can do is crane your neck and reach to pull him closer. Fortunately, he gets the picture, the hand on your jaw sliding to the back of your neck as he meets you halfway. 

 It’s been a long time since kissing has felt this innocent—exploratory as you both feel the other out. One long press of his lips followed by a few shorter, chaste pecks until your body is flush with his and you feel the brush of his tongue. 

 Your heart is beating far too fast, body heating to record-breaking temperatures, and honestly, are you a horny little teenager all over again? Why has that knot of anticipation settled in your gut so quickly? Why are you fucking throbbing at the sensation of his tongue in your mouth? 

 Probably because you’ve wanted him from day one. 

 Still, your autonomic response is jarring and only intensified when Miche splays a hand over the small of your back, pressing you further against him before his fingers curl in the material of your dress. 

 You can feel your legs beginning to ache, calves twinging, and you don’t hesitate to pant a desperate, “Couch,” immediately being whisked away to the piece of furniture. 

 Sitting at an awkward side-by-side angle, both of you twist into each other. One of your hands remains on Miche’s chest while you use the other to take off your shoes, heavy heels clunking as they hit the ground. You’re breathing a little too heavily at this point, might even be trembling, and even though it feels like you might literally die if he keeps kissing you like he is, you want more. You wanna be closer. You want–

 When you raise to your knees, Miche breaks away and stares at you, having to tilt his head back for the first time as you hover a few inches above him. He reaches for your hips, eyes hooded but still very aware of your every movement as he guides you into his lap.

 You have to fight a whimper when he pulls your dress up enough to allow your legs to spread over his, fabric bunching at your hips, and fuck, you can feel him–the friction of his growing cock straining against his pants and pressing against your core. 

 Miche groans, a sound so deep it vibrates in your bones, then takes your face in his hands again. His kiss is hotter now, sucking on your lower lip before nipping at it, pushing his tongue between your teeth so that your nails bite into his shoulders and you arch your back–oh, fuck that feels good, rubbing yourself over him like that, Jesus Christ. You do it again, rocking gently in his lap, growing wetter by the second, and you want him. You want him so fucking badly.

 “Miche–I…”

 It washes over you once again: this is Miche. Miche. Who you’ve been steadily falling for, who has been better to you than any guy you’ve ever dated, who is so insanely out of your league, you don’t even understand what he’s doing with you, but you’ll take it. Fuck, you’ll take anything he gives you.

 “What?” he rumbles, trailing down to your neck and brushing his mouth over your pulse point. “What is it, baby?”

 God dammit, you like that. You like that too much, it makes you grind down on him again. 

 “I want you,” you breathe, and you can feel him smile into your skin.

 “What happened to that movie?”

 You laugh, a frankly pathetic but still clearly amused little song, then tell him, “If you’d prefer a movie, we can–we can do that, but…” You let your hand fall between your legs, lifting yourself just enough to palm his hardened cock through his pants before smirking at him. “I don’t think that’s really what you want.”

 Miche bucks, and you finally notice that his cheeks are a little rosier than usual, feel how warm his body has become.. He does want this too, right? He has to, not like he’s just humoring you or anything. He’s clearly affected, but… is this just another instance of you throwing yourself at him? Have you backed him into a corner again? Had he really been ready to leave before the two of you made it to the couch?

 The line of thought makes you straighten up and stop, leaving Miche to tilt his head and watch you.

 “”What? What did I do?” he asks, confused but still kind. 

 It makes you exhale a chuckle and shake your head. “Nothing. I’m just trying to… reel myself in, I guess.”

 Your hands are shaking, quickly enveloped by Miche’s, and you almost want to pull away so that he won’t see just how worked up you are, but it’s a little too late for that considering there’s already a wet spot in your skimpy underwear and, it’s not like he’s looking there or anything, but if he were to feel so inclined as to touch–

 “Why?” he interrupts your internal monologue again, and you blink at him. “What’s going on in your head? Talk to me.”

 You shrug, glancing away. “I’m just, like, trying to think if I’m missing some subtle cues or something. Like, if you’ve been trying to tell me you’re not ready for–” you clear your throat and motion to the lack of space between your bodies, “–if you don’t want… this? I’m not making sense.”

 It’s probably nothing. Maybe you shouldn’t have stopped in the first place. You’re just being self-conscious and reading too far into things.

 And, Miche more or less confirms this when he grins at you, his quintessential lopsided smile that sets you a little more at ease. 

 “I didn’t plan to fool around tonight,” he admits, brushing hair out of your face before lightly stroking the apple of your cheek. “Kind of wanted to butter you up a little more, actually treat you right so you don’t think I’m just trying to get in your pants…”

 Your mouth twists as you fight your own smile. “I’ve never once thought that, for the record,” you tell him. “But, you probably think I’m only interested in getting into yours since I keep doing shit like this.”

 “You’re not doing anything wrong,” Miche laughs. “I appreciate that you have the presence of mind to stop and think for a second, but–” He sits up a little straighter, lips just barely grazing yours as he assures you, “I want this too. Believe me.” A surprise roll of his hips for emphasis, and he adds one more, “Believe me.”

 You let out a sigh of relief, shutting your eyes only for them to fly open again when Miche lowers his voice and tells you, “One day I’m gonna make it impossible for you to think straight.” 

 He kisses the curve of your jaw, fingers sliding down your side until they creep between your legs. Despite him barely even touching you, you’re panting for him, can feel the heat from his hand more than anything, the weight of it so close to where you want it. 

 He runs a fingertip—feather light—over your covered folds, and you shudder on top of him, mouth falling open. 

 You expect him to tease you about how you’re already soaking through your panties, something about it not taking much or how you’re so desperate, but all Miche does is hum low in his throat and keep running his fingers over you. 

 A single tap to your clit makes you squeak, eyes rolling, and Miche sounds thoroughly satisfied when he questions, “Keep going?” 

 “Please, Miche, I need—” Something inside you. You’re clenching around nothing, and if you don’t get your pussy filled soon, you’re going to combust. 

 “Please, who?” he prompts softly.

 Your brain short-circuits for a moment, overstimulated and so stupid with desire that it doesn’t click, and when you lock eyes with him again you’re surprised to see how his pupils have grown, how his lower lip shines after he licks over it. 

 “Will you say it again?” he tries, then clarifies, “Call me what you did the other night. Call me—”

 You think your face may split with how widely you grin, entertained and painfully turned on by the fact that he wants to hear it from you, so you lean forward, rocking into his hand as you get a bit closer to his ear and moan a breathy, “Please, daddy.”

 His response is instantaneous, a hissed, “Fuck,” before he catches your lips in a brutal kiss. He pushes your panties to the side without issue, holding the material out of the way with one finger while sliding another between your folds. 

 You feel like you might start hyperventilating. Miche uses your leaking arousal as lubricant then starts pushing his middle finger inside you. You fucking sing for him, head thrown back, back bowing until you feel knuckles against your damp skin, and then you squeeze. 

 Just one of his fingers already has you seeing stars, so long and thick, rubbing against your gummy walls as he groans against your neck. He gives a couple thrusts before curling, the pad of his finger pressing into your g-spot, and of course he would know exactly how and where to press, of fucking course–

 “Ohmygod,” you huff, pelvis rolling, legs spreading further and sinking on either side of his when he slides another finger alongside the first. 

 His palm grinds over your clit, not too hard, not too soft, and you swear you can feel every little crease–life line and fate line and all that other psychic bullshit you could never be bothered with before but are suddenly very aware of because it’s Miche who’s touching you, who’s fucking into you with deft fingers, and fuck, fuck, you’ll be so pissed if you come like this instead of on his cock, but he is dangerously good at what he’s doing, so there is a very good chance of that happening.

 You feel the vibration of his phone before you hear it ring out, watch as Miche frowns before reaching down with his free hand to pull it from his pocket and silence it, thank god. He drops it on the cushion face down before setting his sights on your face again, and only then do you realize he never actually stopped moving his fingers even while distracted, still pumping in and out of you at a steady pace, massaging the sensitive spot that swells with every thrust.

 You’re ready now. You know you are, wet and stretched and begging to be filled with something bigger, and you can tell by the way he resituated himself under you that he’s ready for something more as well.

 Then his fucking phone rings again, and this time he actually swears and apologizes as he flips it over to look at the contact. 

 Ian Dietrich (Resident)

 “Are you…” You breathe in through your nose to steady yourself then finish asking, “Are you on call tonight?”

 Miche shakes his head. “I’m not, but I–shit–”

 “You can take it,” you tell him, words sounding a little too slurred for your liking as you reach down to take his wrist and make him stop what he’s doing. A damn shame considering how fucking good it felt, but you can see the dilemma in his eyes. “Take the call, Miche. I’m right here.”

 He exhales sharply then grabs the phone, answering with a simple, “Zacharias,” that sends a pleasant shiver down your spine. 

 His fingers twitch where they’re still inside you, and you bite down hard on your lip as he drags them out of you, listening intently while pulling your underwear back in place, stroking over puffy folds before eventually raising his hand to his mouth to lick your slick from it. 

 You watch him, his professional intonations bouncing around in your head as you listen to every, “Mhm” and “Yes”, and trying not to be too disappointed when he closes with a sigh and, “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Thanks, Ian.”

 Sliding out of his lap, you resign yourself to a warm shower and your vibrator, which is fine. You aren’t upset. You’re just aching. 

 Miche turns to you, and you can tell he’s about to apologize again, but you wave it off with a smile. “Don’t worry about it. I admire the dedication.”

 His expression is full of remorse, so you lean forward and try to kiss it away, speaking into his lips, “Just tell me about the patient that pulled you away, yeah?”

 He nods, nose bumping yours, then deepens the kiss just enough for you to taste yourself on his tongue before breaking away and standing. 

 “I’ll text you,” he promises, still looking like he’s in genuine pain. “I promise.”

 “I know you will,” you grin. “Now go, it’s fine. I have a date with some silicone, if ya’ know what I mean.”

 Miche groans loudly as he walks to the door, grumbling, “You’re killin’ me, baby,” which only makes you giggle.

 He bends over to scratch Remy’s head then grabs his keys, opening the door and turning back to you as if to say something else, but when he finds you smirking, he just shakes his head and smiles, leaving a little too quickly.

 The door shuts behind him, and you sigh, falling back on the couch as you replay the evening. The food was great. The confessions were… troubling but manageable, you think. You probably should think on it a little more, but first…

 “Alright, Remy,” you say, gaining the little dog’s attention. “You hold down the fort while I shower and finish what Doctor Perfect started.” Remy only tilts his head in response, leaving you to walk into your bedroom and dig through your little toy box until you find what you’re looking for.

 You fantasize about Miche’s hands and how they felt on you, the way he’d pulled your dress up and gripped your hips. His tongue in your mouth, his fingers in your cunt–you can almost still feel them if you think hard enough, stretching your hole to get you ready for more.

 When you come, it’s with his name on your lips, and when you bathe, you imagine what it would be like to have him there with you, holding you from behind, both of you covered in suds. It’s a pretty picture–sexy but more than that, it’s intimate. And, you want that. You want that with him. 

 Yes, you want him to fuck your brains out, but more than that, you want to know what it’s like to lay with him in the afterglow of it all, when the sheets are on the ground and your legs are tangled together and all you can do is bask in each other’s presence.

 You know there’s a chance you’re just romanticizing it–romanticizing him–but it’s impossible not to. Miche is just… He’s so good. Way too good for you, and one day he’ll figure that out, but until then, you’ll keep gazing at him in awe and giggling too much at his jokes and clinging to him in every way you can. Until then, you’ll just keep falling for him. 

~

Miche told Ian and the other residents that they could and should call him should anything happen with Mrs. Cooper. He knows he did, remembers how stern he was during the conversation because he had seen this woman through her entire pregnancy, and he’d be damned if she gave birth without him at the hospital. 

“Even if I’m not the doctor on-call, you call me if she has any complications or if she goes into labor, got it?” The younger doctors had nodded, and he’d walked away feeling satisfied. 

Now, though, as he stands in the NICU watching an exhausted Mrs. Cooper coo at her brand-new son where he lays in the incubator, Miche is happy, yes, but he is not satisfied. Not as satisfied as he should be, anyway.

It had been a tough case, a tough eight months walking her through her high-risk pregnancy, and on one hand he is ecstatic, but on the other he’s frustrated that this—this whole bringing new life into the world—happened at such an inconvenient fucking time. 

He’d had you in his lap, literally in the palm of his hand, squirming and whimpering into his mouth while your whole body shook around his two fingers, and Miche was positive he’d be able to get you to fall apart just like that, wanted you to–wanted to see your pretty face and feel your nails dig into his skin, but…

Little boy Cooper just had to come out four weeks premature. 

It’s fine, maybe even for the best. Miche had been planning to wait for a little longer anyway, make sure you know what you’re getting into before getting into it too deeply. Plus, now that you’ve both gotten a little taste, the anticipation will be even better. It’s really a win-win, right?

The god damned ache in his balls may disagree, but Miche knows leaving was the right thing to do.

When he steps out of the NICU, he’s surprised to see Erwin passing just outside, Levi at his side, coffee cups in their hands. 

“Oh, hey,” Erwin greets with a frown. “What are you doing here? I thought you had your date tonight.”

“I did,” Miche sighs. He’s even in the same clothes, just has his badge clipped to the front pocket of his shirt. 

“What? She kick your ass out or something?” Levi smirks.

Miche rolls his eyes. “She did not, thank you. Ian called me. Mrs. Cooper went into labor.”

“The high-risk one you both worked with?” Levi clarifies.

Erwin nods. “Heart transplant six months ago, thirty-eight years old, so geriatric pregnancy. She had to be watched very closely.”

Levi hums, looking past Miche to the double doors that have already closed behind him, and Miche answers his unasked question, “They’re both doing fine. I mean, he’s a month premature, so we’ll have to keep an eye on him here for a while, but so far, they’re both fine.”

“Good,” Levi nods. “I mean, sucks you got called away, but glad they’re doing alright.”

“I’ll live,” Miche grunts, catching Erwin’s eye and immediately looking away before his best friend can read into any bit of his facial expression. 

They all begin walking toward the nearest elevator bank, and Miche isn’t at all surprised when Erwin asks, “So, how did it go? You at least got through dinner, right?”

He nods, and about halfway through dessert, Miche thinks before cringing at himself. That was gross.

“I think it went well. I, uh, went ahead and told her about Petra.”

“Probably a good call. How’d she take it?”

Miche shrugs, “As well as she could have.” Elevator doors open and he steps in after the other two, leaning up against one wall as he recounts the conversation. “She’s just young, so I could see her lose a bit of confidence which is stupid because she’s so…” He reaches up to rub at his eyes. There are a million words he could use to describe you, all of them positive, but Erwin and Levi probably aren’t interested in listening to him gush, so he cuts himself off with a sharp, “Anyway,” then touches on your shithead ex and the fact that you know about his drinking problem.

“Sounds like you guys had an absolute blast,” Levi says sarcastically.

“That was us just getting stuff out of the way. Formalities, if you will.”

“Formalities,” Erwin snorts. “I guess it’s better to bring them up now than later.”

“Exactly.”

“Please tell me you actually made pleasant small talk as well,” Erwin pries. “Oh, how’d she like the outfit?”

Miche laughs. Of course, he’d want to know. “She said it was nice.”

“Did you show some ankle?”

“No.”

Levi rolls his eyes and mumbles, “Should’ve showed ankle, Zacharias.”

“I don’t understand either of you, and I no longer want to.”

They get off at the third floor, Erwin clapping a hand down on Miche’s shoulder as he goes, and then he’s left alone in the elevator until he gets off at the basement level and walks into the parking garage.

It’s getting late, nearly midnight, but he figures he can shoot you a text in hopes that you’re still awake.

<< Do you still want to hear about this case?

You message back just as he’s turning the car on.

>> why yes, i do 🥰

<< I’m about to drive home. Can I call you?

You don’t respond. Instead, Miche’s phone lights up with an incoming call from you, and he grins as he accepts it and pulls out of the parking lot. 

“Hey, sorry about earlier,” he starts because he still is, and he wants you to know.

But, like before, you brush it off with a carefree, “It’s fine. Now, tell me what happened!”

“Okay, okay,” he chuckles.

“Also, I’m about to start brushing my teeth, so if I just make, like, unintelligible sounds, that’s why.”

“Noted.”

Miche hears a sink, a slight echo letting him know he’s on speaker, then begins talking, going over some of the big details without giving out too much information (the kind that violates the law).

As you warned, you respond with a myriad of hums and gurgles before telling him, “Hol ‘o, I go’a shpi–” which Miche is pretty sure translates to, hold on, I’m gonna spit, but isn’t positive until he hears you do exactly that, rinsing your mouth afterward. 

“Okay, I’m back. I’m sure that was super cute.”

The ridiculous thing is that it was super cute, that now Miche is thinking about what it would be like to be in a bathroom with you, brushing his own teeth, watching you wash your face or whatever your nightly routine is. He isn’t surprised by his desire for domesticity, having never really seen himself as a bachelor even in his years of being single, but he is a little taken aback at just how much he wants that domesticity with you. 

“Adorable, actually.”

“Whatever, goofball.” He can just imagine the way you roll your eyes and smile bashfully. “Anyway, mom and baby are doin’ okay?”

“Yeah, all things considered, they’re okay. He’s not out of the woods just yet. I’m expecting some complications, but for now they’re both doing well.”

“Good, I’m…” You pause, and Miche waits as he pulls into his parking lot. “I’m glad you left to see her through it. That was really sweet of you.”

“Trust me when I say that’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” Miche laughs, mostly at himself. 

You scoff, “Don’t be dramatic.”

“I’m not being dramatic.” He makes sure his hospital badge is tucked away safely in his console before making his way up to the loft, explaining, “I had a good time tonight. I wasn’t ready to leave.” He’s aware that he probably sounds like an earnest little schoolboy, but he’s telling the truth. 

“I wasn’t exactly ready for you to leave either, but I think it was for a pretty good reason. Plus, it’s not like we’re not gonna see each other soon.”

Miche is greeted by Minnie when he walks in. Still laying on the couch, she raises her nose and sniffs the air as if to acknowledge him. Once the door is locked, he paces over to give her a nice scratch behind the ears, all while trying to voice the question he wants to ask you. 

“So, you, uh… you’re still okay with this after learning… more about me?” 

“You mean about the ex-fiancé and drinking problem?” 

“Yeah,” he feels his face scrunch up. “That.”

“I mean, I’m glad I’ve been made aware ‘cause, you know, important stuff, but it doesn't scare me. I couldn’t expect you to just not have a past.”

“I just don’t want you to be uncomfortable,” he sighs. 

“Miche, I don’t think you’ve ever made me genuinely uncomfortable, and honestly at this point, I don’t know if you could.”

He drops onto the cushion next to Minnie and kicks his shoes off, trying to let himself relax when he asks, “What do you mean?” 

“I mean, you’re just… you’re you,” is apparently the best you can come up with on the spot. Miche hears rustling and assumes you’re getting into bed, a very quiet grunt of, “Remy, move, bud,” and then you let out a long sigh. “Don’t get me wrong, you’ve tested my patience before with the whole buying me stuff without asking—”

Miche snorts then mumbles, “Yeah, not sorry.”

“And that’s what I mean. You’re so good. Like I can look back on these past couple months and know that, like, everything you’ve done has been for my well-being, and I just… I don’t know…” you exhale, apparently pondering for a moment before finishing, “I just trust you, I guess. I trust that you have your shit under control. You haven’t given me reason to not believe you don’t.”

Chest swelling, Miche can’t help but feel so incredibly fond of you. He wishes he was there with you again, laying next to you in your messy bed with your little gremlin of a dog. He wishes for a lot, and even though he knows he’s so close to getting everything he’s been wanting, he can’t help but be utterly fucking terrified.

And, he’s pretty sure you feel close to if not the exact same way.

“I just care about you, is all,” he admits. “I don’t want you to get hurt. Definitely don’t want to be the one who hurts you.”

“Do you have plans to hurt me, Miche?” you ask, and though your teasing lilt is ever-present, he can still hear the subtle seriousness in your voice.

“None whatsoever.”

“Then that’s that. I trust you not to. Now… I have study group stuff in the morning and then a bar shift tomorrow night, but…”

“Maybe we can find time to hang out this weekend?” he offers, stomach flipping at the idea.

“This weekend? Wow, that’s so fast after date one,” you say, clicking your tongue. “You must like me or something. How embarrassing.”

“Oh my god,” Miche groans, “Isn’t it your bedtime or something?”

“What are you, my mom?”

Miche sucks his teeth in response, biting back the words you’re clearly trying to bait him into saying. No, but I am your daddy. He’s not going to do it. He’s not going to rise—

“You’re dirty,” you pipe up with a giggle.

“I didn’t say anything!” he nearly shouts, breaking into a laugh. “I’m not dirty. You’re dirty. You’re the one putting these stupid ideas into my head, and for the record, that was not a thing for me until you said it a few nights ago.”

“Oh my god, I’m flattered. Will definitely be exploring that more later on.”

Gut clenching, Miche resituates himself a bit, suddenly remembering that despite how hard he was earlier this evening, he never actually got off, and that ache settles in his balls all over again.

There are many things he’d like to explore with you—hobbies and habits, and yeah, some kinks, but mostly…

Mostly Miche just wants to explore you. He wants to learn everything there is that makes you, you. And, then maybe he’ll understand himself a little better. 

[vodens]

i was going to just ramble in the tags… but i feel i have Too Much To Say about rain world’s story. this is long, and probably not structured very well. sorry.

i HUGELY agree. personally, rain world is a game that truly changed the way i look at the world, but i don’t think i’d be able to say that if i’d watched some lore video beforehand, or let my roommate explain to me any more than “you’re a small animal looking for your family, and these huge sentient computers are the cause of deadly rain you need to avoid.”

my first playthrough of the game will always be my favorite. survivor will always be my favorite slugcat. why? because it perfectly encapsulated the feeling of being small and alone. i was really engrossed in the idea of being a tiny animal, somewhere in the middle of the food chain. i knew just enough about the lore that, when iggy started pointing me towards moon, i knew she was something i was very interested in finding.

i played this game very slowly, really soaking up the world. i went out of my way to grab every single token, including ones i wasn’t really supposed to get as survivor (waited for the rain to lift me up to one i think only saint/riv/arti is supposed to get, and dragged a squig to shoreline for another. she was still there by the time i finished the game. poor squig). my roommate had told me about the pink pearl in outskirts, and i took that as a challenge. i figured out how to get it with a bit of hinting from them. i carried it with me until i brought a neuron back to moon, because a) i was that invested in finding out more of this world, and b) didn’t know i could leave it in a shelter. it was a struggle, but it was worth it. the pink pearl isn’t even that interesting, yet i was driven to find them all.

and i did.

my first playthrough of the game clocked in at a little over 75 hours, and 400 cycles, with over 100,000 score, because i collected every single pearl. it was worth it. it was all worth it. especially since my roommate suggested i leave the sky islands pearls for last. no other game has left me pondering, and thinking, and rethinking the meaning of its story over, and over like rain world has. i have a lot of opinions about this game, and i feel like so many people just completely miss the point of it. the ancients, and the iterators are really unreliable narrators, and you aren’t supposed to take what they say literally.

nothing will recapture the feelings i had from reading “looks to the moon” and “five pebbles” for the first time in the bottom left-hand corner. nothing will recapture the feelings from giving moon new pearls for the first time. nothing will recapture the feeling of learning about ascension and the void for the first time, and having no concept of what that actually means. i was, for a short while, like the iterators. i knew that ascension existed, and i knew that it involved some fluid that dissolved everything it touched, but i had never seen the other side… until i did. it really does mark a point of no return once you dive into the depths. a rubicon, if you will 😏. you are granted the gift of knowing what lies beyond, even if the ending is abstract and hard to grasp, you know what they have been looking for, and there is no way they would have ever found the answer.

all this is to say, i think that the plot of rain world is actually not that important to the experience of the game at all. not in the same way that it is to other games. if anything, i think understanding perfectly what’s going on is detrimental to the experience (that’s why i felt the downpour campaigns fell a little flat to me. they are a bit too straightforward, and the slugcats a little too strong). you are just a little animal, who may or may not be a history buff, making your way through this cruel world, when suddenly god tells you something you can’t possibly comprehend the consequences of, nor are you sure you actually want, but who are you to disagree?

this game really means a ton to me, and honestly? might have been some kind of spiritual experience, in a way. though i really didn’t feel that until after saint, which is the closest downpour ever came to recapturing the magic.

but that’s a discussion for another day.

On Rain World lore and it's implementation within the game.

This is kindof a random ramble I went on in a Discord chat and just feel like sharing elsewhere. (also note this is all primarily in reference to the original game, Survivor's story.)

I honestly think too many miss the forest for the trees a bit with RW, in terms of how important the lore is, if that makes sense. I talked with somebody about first-time experiences with the game and they said they'd watched a number of lore explanation videos on YT before starting, because of some reason along the lines of "I didn't trust the game to deliver its own story properly." To me this is almost saddening to hear because I really feel that misses the point of why the game has it's lore to begin with.

To me, while playing, any tidbits i learned about history or other information contributed to a feeling like the world I was navigating had a very real history that saturated it, yet one that I would be unable to grasp fully. It is an illusory feeling of realness, given how it is experienced. The game is mechanically not designed to incentivize collecting many information pearls, especially when in the original game you can literally just drop them off a cliff and lose them forever. You get the feeling often like you are bound to never be able to get everything, nor would you even probably want to put in the effort, so the illusion actually stays stronger because of that. Your mind wanders speculating about every little detail, whether intention truly existed behind it or not, because it feels like it did. You learned that it might have. Maintaining that illusion while playing I think is the primary reason they were included, not actually the experience of "knowing" the history. Rain World in general seems to have a thematic fixation on the simple idea that individuals have limited perspectives. Joar Jakobsson has said that one of the core ideas behind Rain World was to recreate the life of a "rat in Manhattan." That is to say, a creature that understands how to find food, hide, and live in a complex man-made structure, that cannot understand it's structuring purpose or why it was built. The very core issue of the iterators, is that the solution to the "great problem" intrinsically has to lie with knowledge that could only be obtained from "the other side." They are corporeal beings trying to know something that pertains to something outside corporeal reality. Yet pursuit of knowledge is very important to creatures like ourselves. Collecting any individual pearl is mostly an exercise in doing a lot just for little bits of knowledge. There is a lot of understanding of just how significant wanting to know more is, even something unimportant, when you are left in the dark the way you are in the game. Most information pearls you deliver are literally completely useless to know about, but they feel personally important, especially in how finding them relates to your connection to the iterators. My primary motivation to find pearls in my first play was to spend more time with Moon. On a very real emotional level, Moon felt like my only friend in the world while I played. On a mechanical level, she does literally nothing. But Rain World manages to operate on a very emotional, even instinctual level with how it's designed. I wanted to be in her company and have something to give her. Because I am alone, and lost. So something along those lines is why I felt saddened to hear the sentiment like Rain World somehow "fails" to deliver it's "story." The purpose of the game is not to find pearls and hear about some grand narrative. At it's core, Rain World is a game that's design was inspired by nature, and it's use of history within the world relates to us as a player the way history relates to us as people. It is relayed through people reading from records created by parties with their own perspectives, and connects us abstractly to a sensation that there is more out there than our own lives. That is a feeling you have as a player, and ultimately the true story that Rain World tells is the memories you have playing it. What you did, saw, and felt. The same as how our story is that of our own lives. That is the purpose of the game.

[facewithoutheart]

Thanks @ivelovedhimthroughworse, @fatalfangirl, @artsyunderstudy, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @cutestkilla, @forabeatofadrum, @captain-aralias, @palimpsessed, @confused-bi-queer, & @ionlydrinkhotwater for the tags. I am in awe of your talent!!!

Instead of making progress on any of my WIPs I wrote a drabble today inspired by @martsonmars. Here, have the story of the last rat in the catacombs to remember Baz:

One does not easily forget death when one lives amongst the bones of greater beasts; still, the rats need their reminder to stay strong, guarded.

Scraggleton never fails to deliver.

They gather after the weaning. Eloise delivered twelve pups this time, Sophia ten, and Julia fifteen. None have broken records; the mischief’s largest litter was nineteen. As for the least… well. This isn’t a metric they’ve ever kept. Why track such a gruesome thing, when there’s already so much to fear?

It’s been too many cycles since the boy last came, someone must hold the memory. Share it.

At three years old, the grey-haired rat is almost as blind as the pups have been for the past few weeks. But now their eyes see.

And so, Scraggleton shows them.

“Basil,” he rasps, taking a drag off the fire-stick that soothes his trembling limbs, “I haven’t heard that name in many cycles.”

The thirty-seven children gather closer, braving the smoke he blows to hear his tale.

“But I speak it sometimes, in my sleep.” Scraggleton shudders at the memory; of lifeless, drained husks of brown fur scattered across the stone floor of their home. Scattered amongst the bones, until they become them.

With a sweep of his eyes, Scraggleton draws in the crowd. His own are milky-white and frightening. It adds to the terror.

“He always spared the women. Some said it was a gift. To feed only on the males ensuring our continued survival.” Another drag. “I say it was a cruelty.” Exhale. “Sure, he ensured our survival but to what end? To cower in the shadows for fear of his darkness falling on our path? To live in constant terror that the next skittering of pebbles heralded our last breath?” Scraggleton inhales more of the poison smoke, blows it out onto the face of one young pub, who sneezes in response.

“Or perhaps he just preferred the taste of men,” Scraggleton suggests, one boney shoulder lifting in a shrug. “Who really knows?” He’s losing focus; he jabs out the smouldering white stick at his audience. “What I do know is you should heed my words and remember. Remember the tall boy with sharp teeth and a sharper blade. Remember the sound of his footsteps, and the fall of his shadow, and the blood that trailed his every step. For we may live in times of plenty, but dangers lurk in the dark corners of our home.”

There was supposed to be more but I can’t be bothered & @sillyunicorn & @martsonmars said it was fine as is. Insert HC about the rats leaving a dandelion at the grave of Natasha Pitch to ward off Baz from visiting, since he always laid flowers at her grave.

Tags & BIG TENSION-RELEASING HUGS to @sillyunicorn @martsonmars @mostlymaudlin @urban-sith @whatevertheweather @stardustasincocaine @aristocratic-otter @moodandmist @johnwgrey @takitalks @jbrrring @excalisbury @otherpeoplesheartachept-2 @tea-brigade @creepyspice @bookish-bogwitch @bazzybelle @dragoneggo @letraspal @orange-peony @nightimedreamersworld @messofthejess @basiltonbutliketheherb

[lurking96]

Chapter 319 or why Bakugou might not be healthy for Izuku

This here might be a bit on the anti Bakugou side. I tagged it as such so you can filter those out and put it under a read more if you dont want to read it.

So. In the last day I did read a few opinions on the chapter leaks. What some think will happen and so on. Some from Pros some from Antis. This again is an opinion. It is not absolute. I do not claim it to be the absolute truth. This is just my personal interpretation. What I think that will happen is that Class 1A lead by Bakugou will fight Midoriya to try to bring him back. I don’t think talking to him will happen with Bakugou there. As one of Bakugous coping mechanisms is fighting. However with that come problems. I can understand the reasoning behind fighting him. A little talk will most likely not make him come back. However it might ease things. Might make him a tiny bit calmer. Might not make things worse. Fighting however will make things worse. Izuku is already on edge. He is already filled with paranoia. He hasn’t slept or eaten well. He might do rash decisions. He is not in a healthy mental state. And here we have it. His friends, his supposed allies are fighting him. The people he wants to protect went out and attack him. Out in their costumes. Ready for battle. A kinda scary scene overall. You dont see their faces. You feel anger coming from them.

It might bring some memories back to Izuku if you compare it with another picture.

Just like the picture before Bakugou is kinda in the foreground.He is leading just like back then he was leading his so called “extras” This might bring back memories to Izuku. Again he is sleep deprived. His mind might not work the sharpest. For all he knows it´s like back in his other schools where Bakugou lead his group of “extras” to attack Izuku. He might fight back stronger than intended. He might just try to flee even more. Overall it is not very helpful to him. Because a part of the reason for Izukus mental health is Bakugou. Not in a kind of friendship way but more as a cause. Bakugou to put it simply had been Izukus main bully. They were never apart. From preschool to UA. They were in the same class. With team exercises they were together. Izuku never had a break from him. He was never allowed to have time without him. From early on Bakugou has called him useless, worthless, what does one think the name Deku means. Has been using his quirk on him without the teachers caring. Before people say that is long ago. It is not. Right now they are in their second year. How did their first year start. Bakugou trying to attack Midoriya. Trying to kill him. Insulting him where he goes. It is not long ago. And even if it was like 300 or so chapters ago. That still happened. That is still the characters backstory. Honestly you are fine to like a character. But one should recognize that a character has flaws. No character is perfect. Saying that you like a character and saying that they are an asshole that needs to change can coexist. I like Overhauls aesthetic and quirk. Am I okay with what he did. Nope. Would I want him set on fire. Yes. Simple as that. Now back to it. In chapter 319 we hear Bakugou say that Izukus self sacrificial nature is caused by All Might. This. I do not agree with. Again. Who has called him worthless, a pebble on the road, useless, a deku for years. It was not All Might. Izuku has incredible low self worth. If it means saving a cat from a tree he would break his legs. He doesnt care for himself. He sees himself as worthless and only as somewhat useful when he is saving people. It got drilled into him from a young age. This is not something simple that is left behind after a few days. It can take years. And so far he has nothing contrary to those ideas. There are three people that know of his former quirklessness. His mom. Who is kinda supposed to love him. All Might who never really went back on the quirkless hero thing and Bakugou who still insults him for it. Everyone else only knows him with his quirk. Only knows him with being useful. Just because he has a quirk now doesnt mean that quirkless Izuku has ever left his mind. Yes All Might is not perfect. He has flaws. Those flaws are shown and others call him out. Could he have done more. Yes. Could he have helped him mentally. To a degree. But again. All Might is flawed. He is not perfect. All Might is shown to lack social skills. Seeing Bakugou just as rival or Endeavor who has open hate for him as friends. He never had a normal relationship. And again he was not the cause for Izukus psyche. He didnt lay the groundwork. With Bakugou blaming it on All Might. The guy that is not there and can’t protect himself he is doing something one could call damage control. He is not telling the entire truth. For the truth would hinder his dream of becoming number one and reduce his social standing. Him telling others that he is even partly responsible would surely open more questions later he would want to avoid. He also calls Midoriya crazy which is a tactic used to discredit a victim. Same for him making things up and overexaggerating and so on. He did do damage control before. A bit ago he told All Might that he was bullying Izuku in the past. You would think It´s something positive. But here is the thing. He lacked details. He didnt tell him much. For all we know All Might assumed some rough housing and name calling. Nothing that bad. It is to soften the blow. So if Izuku tells him later All Might is already in the mindset that it wasn’t so bad. Bakugou seems not that he would lie and my successor must be overexaggerating a bit. Bakugou is not that dumb. He knows his way around words. He knows when to not openly attack and wait for a better chance. A fool would have kept attacking Izuku after Aizawa held him back. He was just waiting for the training with All Might. He knows what buttons to push to get information out of Izuku. He basically forced the OFA secret out of him. One could call this a good use of crocodile tears if they so want. If they dislike him that much. Again an opinion of many. As of Chapter 319. He might have good intentions. He might want something good for Izuku. But the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Good intentions are not an excuse. Just because Bakugou thinks it is the best doesn’t mean it will be automatically the best. Just because the dog wants the chocolate bar doesnt mean it will be healthy for anyone involved. Bakugou being there might be quite detrimental to Izukus health. He might just open up wounds again. Izuku fighting class 1A would probably not increase his trust. And what are they going to do if they win. Tie him up, drug him, force him back. He will just try to escape. His trust in them will be broken. He might allow some sleep but it will never be the same. He already had trust issues before this will just expand them further. Isolate him further. This is what AFO wants. To have the heroes fighting with eachother. To have the OFA holder isolated and even branded as Villain for fighting as hero class. 1A winning is also a big IF. Shigaraki fought Gigantomachia and the MLA sleep deprived and incredible tired and won. Shigaraki and Izuku are foils. Two sides of the same coin. Izuku had a year to analyse their quirks. He has a bunch of quirks for himself and OFA mastered far more than anytime before he trained with them. He has become a natural disaster in human form. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he defeats them and leaves. To me the good option would be trying to talk to him. Not let Bakugou do the talking. He lacks the fine control. Get him in the direction of rest. Sadly none of them are trained professionals to deal with mental health. They are children that just fought in a war and also got traumatised. So I dont have great hope on them taking the talking route. Overall I think this will be a breaking point. They will fight. Izuku will most likely win and his trust will be broken even more. He will be even more isolated. His personality might take a darker turn seeing as there is no one he can trust. It might just get even darker than before.

[dannythedog]

Proposal - Sam Kiszka x Reader

Synopsis: Fem!Reader and Sam have been together for a while and she finally decides it's time to propose.

Warnings: None

REQUESTS ARE CLOSED!! They will be reopening shortly.

Let me know if you want to be added/removed from my tag list!

~

It was a beautiful summer day, the breeze was cool, animals chattering lively, lush foliage surrounding us. The perfect day for a hike. The sun cascaded through the trees, dripping all over Sam's dewy skin. His shiny locks bounced as he walked, supple and full, subtle huffs leaving his mouth as it slipped into his face. I reached out my wrist in offering. I always kept extra hair ties just for him. He took it gratefully, stopping briefly to pull his hair into a bun.

I took this time to admire him. To commit this feeling to memory. Our relationship was by no means perfect, I mean, what relationship was? The difference was that he made me want to keep trying. I wanted to get through every rough patch, every life event, every waking moment with him by my side. We had been together for three years now. After a year we had finally admitted we were in love and six months after that we lived together. After coming home from tour one year, he insisted we got a puppy to raise. So we did. A beautiful little mutt from the shelter named Bea. The start of our family.

"We're almost to the top," Sam spoke, walking once again. "Just a little bit farther and we can rest." I nodded and observed the scenery once again. I enjoyed hiking in silence. It helped me feel more connected to the Earth, to truly take in what was around me. It didn't take long before we reached the end of the trail. The view was breathtaking. A winding river was blow us, shining blue and reflecting to the heavens, and the mountains stood powerfully, interrupting the expanse of sky stretched before us. "We did it," Sam grinned, climbing onto a rock to cherish our surroundings.

As I stood back, my gaze shifted to him rather than the gorgeous essence of Earth, I knew it was time. I had been carrying a white gold band with me for months. I knew I loved him, I knew I wanted to marry him, but I didn't have a plan. It wasn't typical for women to propose to men, so I had been nervous. In the end, it didn't matter to me who proposed to who. I was absolutely certain I wanted to spend the rest of my days with Sam Kiszka.

My gut wrenched with fear. What if he said no? I could feel my lungs and chest burning from anxiety. Unquestionably I wanted to marry him, but the fear of rejection was overwhelming. I knew I had to make a move before I psyched myself out. With shaky hands, I reached into my backpack that was covered in dust from the days events. My eyes darted to Sam to make sure he was still looking at the river, then I pulled the little black box out. Slowly, I wobbled down onto one knee. My mind began racing. Should I be on my left knee or my right knee. Does it matter? Is there a significance to which knee I should be on? Why are there so many pebbles in this area?

I shook my head to scare away those thoughts and opened the box, staring at the shiny ring. It was now or never. "Sammy," my voice shook. Damn it, I wanted to sound confident and effortless. "Yeah?" he called, spinning on his heel to face me. He observed my position with giant eyes, a look of shock written all over his body. I took a deep breath and began. "Sam, I love you so much. With my whole heart. When I think about my future, you're always there. You are my future. I've never wanted to experience life with anyone the way I want to experience it with you. You make me want to truly live. So let me spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"

He rose a hand to his mouth, brown eyes darting all over my crouched figure. My hand trembled as I displayed the ring. My stomach felt queasy the longer he looked at me. Had this been a mistake? Realistically he had been quiet for maybe fifteen seconds, but it felt like an eternity. "Y/N," he spoke softly, moving off the rock to stand before me. My heart pounded as we looked into each other's eyes, my anxiety skyrocketing. "Yes," he finally answered with a beaming smile. "Of course I'll marry you."

It felt like the entire solar system was lifted off of my shoulders as I slipped the band onto his left ring finger. He grabbed my hand and helped me to my feet, legs still shaky from adrenaline. One hand went to cup my face and the other was placed on my waist as he tugged me into him to share a deep kiss. His soft lips planted against mine hard, letting every emotion flow into me. I tangled my hands in his hair as our lips moved together. My anxieties were fading and I lost myself in the man I love.

He pulled away, making me let out the smallest of whimpers. He placed both hands on my face and gave me the sweetest of smiles. "I thought I was going to propose to you one day. I had no idea you were down with the nontraditional stuff." I shrugged my shoulders and pressed my body into his firm one. "You weren't fast enough." His laugh was the most joyful sound I'd ever heard.

"We're getting married," I whispered. He leaned in close, pressing his forehead to mine. "I can't wait to marry you, soon to be Mrs. Kiszka." My heart fluttered at the title. Mrs. Kiszka. This was happening. The man of my dreams, my fairytale wedding. Everything was falling into place.

"Come on," Sam tugged my hand and made his way towards the trail. "I wanna get you home and show you just how much I love you."

~

Tag list: @tripthelight-fanfic @always-crushin @ageofsewingmachine @theweightofstardust @edgeofcaravel @funchlinehemmo @the-salt-is-in-chelsea @tellmama-allaboutit @thefleetofdreams

[mrs-march-ahs]

Hi! I have a request~ The Evans reactions to losing in any sort of game. Can be board games or video games 😅

The Evans Losing At Games

Headcannons for all, imagines for some!

Cute idea, thank you! I didn’t write much for Jimmy, I’m sorry Jimmy I love you<3

Enjoy:)

Tate

-Clearly a teenage boy who lets emotions build up a lot -Definitely cheats if he’s had enough -If he keeps losing in the same part of the video game and rage quits, it takes him forever to get back into the game - “Ohhhh… I forgot that’s where I let off… fuck it” (quits) -Much better and calmer at playing cards, and generally prefers games were the two of you can talk and he doesn’t have to focus too much

--

You laid on your bed, scrolling aimlessly through social media, and occasionally glancing at Tate playing a video game he hasn’t played in a while. When you started talking about games, and you told him you had it, he nostalgically reminisced how much he used to play it when he was alive, so you set it up for him. Every few minutes, when a red screen would pop up, Tate would sigh, and with every passing death, his sighs got louder and angrier.

After only maybe half an hour of playing, Tate clearly couldn’t take it anymore, and threw the control towards the floor, before stomping over to shut the console and TV off. The sound made you flinch, and you had never seen Tate angry before. Nor his body language nor face showed his emotions, just his actions, and when he flopped by your side, he looked fine. If somebody had come in right now, they would just see two teenagers laying next to each other.

“Uhhh… you okay?”, you ask, before rolling over to face him. You poke at his chubby cheek as he stares up at the ceiling and tease him. “Sore loser”.

“Shut up, it’s your fault. You reminded me why I wasn’t allowed to play this game for very long”.

“Wanna play something else? Together? We could play Dragon Ball Z?”, you ask quietly, before going back to your childish sing-song teasing. “Be nice, and I’ll even let you win a few times!”

Tate looks over at you and huffs, before sitting up and getting the controllers, “Good thing you’re used to begging me for mercy”

Kit

-Least sore loser out of them all -Always up for a rematch -He’s pleasant even when he does win - “Want a rematch sugar? So you can have another shot at beating me?” - “Ah you were close, you’re getting good” - “You’re a good rival” - “If I lose, you can drag me to that Rom Com you wanted to see” - “If I win, we make more babies” -Pretends to be competitive when he’s playing with the kids - “I would say Team Girls vs Team Boys… but that’s not fair, the two of you don’t even stand a chance, right Tommy?” -If one of the kids beat him, he’d act super dramatically to give them as much satisfaction of winning -Laser tag is 34 years before Kit’s time, but if he played something like that, he’d try to let the kids win

--

You ran around the garden and chased a giggling Julia. Because of current financial issues, the power was out, but not wanting to worry the children to much, and not wanting them to ask too many questions, you and Kit decided to make the most of the sun and tire them out before it got dark. Kit, being the big kid he is, suggested playing a tag-like game Thomas invented, where you each get three pebbles each, and try to get each other out by throwing them. Gently. Unless you were throwing them at Kit.

Julia started slowing down when she reached the corner of the house, hoping to hide from you, but you were right behind her, making her turn around and burst out in giggles. When the 5-year-old laughed, the only thing you could see was the missing tooth she donated to the tooth fairy last night. Once you circled all around the house, you come back in view of the garden, and see Julia hiding behind Kit.

“That’s cheating!”, he exclaims, trying to run away from her and toss a pebble in her direction, only for her to do it faster. The second Julia’s tiny rock hits Kit’s tummy and bounced, he put his hands over his stomach and held it like a gun wound. He dropped to the floor dramatically, leaving the two little kids to die of laughter, and you walk over to him, Kit peeping open one eye slightly to see if you were watching him, and then stuck his tongue out to play dead. You picked up a stick from the floor and poked at his chest, making Kit chuckle but quickly hide it.

“Is it dead?”, you ask.

Thomas leans in closer to look at his dad on the floor, before Kit opens his eyes and pulls Tommy to the floor with him, rolling over to be on top of him.

“I win!”, Kit announces, before kissing his son on the cheek.

Franken Kyle

-He doesn’t particularly play complicated games, but he isn’t too patient and gets frustrated with himself pretty easily -If on one of his educational games, he messes something up too many times in a row, he’ll shut off the game and throw the tablet on the bed -He’ll avoid even looking at it -If he loses a tickle fight he’ll sit and whine, straddle you and then tickle you until you beg him to stop -Whines even if he loses at rock paper scissors -He likes colouring and drawing, and because it’s good for his motor skills, the two of you made a really simple game together -You drew out a long snake shape on a big piece of paper and drew lines in between for the spaces -Kyle carefully coloured them in with pencil and with a marker you wrote occasional things like ‘Go back two spaces’ or ‘Go forward three spaces’ -Sweet little Ky would roll the dice, and take his time, pushing his little figurine, which was something like a pencil sharpener or a bottle cap, and counted out the spaces -Got super excited if he won, but wouldn’t mind losing -He would insist the two of you keep playing, and you’re only allowed to stop and go to bed if you end on him winning -Sometimes he would try to let you win so that you could keep playing -Whine and pout if you had to stop playing, and how are you meant to say no to him? -You would have to promise you’ll play tomorrow -You’d be able to slowly make more and more complicated games, until eventually he’d be able to play things like checkers or Ludo

Jimmy

-Lowkey a sore loser -If there were loads of different people playing, he would be a lot more friendly -If he lost, he would still be super annoyed, but just wouldn’t show it -But if it was the two of you, he’d be super competitive -The type of person to flip the board game if he was losing -But he’d apologise straight away and pout if you didn’t want to play with him again - “C’mon let’s play again, I’ll be nice this time” - “Loser gets spanked” -Loves playing games like beer pong

James

-Unpleasant loser but also not a pleasant winner -Bitter compliments if you win at cards - “Well done darling, who would have thought with your high school education you were such a poker master” -Only willing to play the same 5 card games, because if you teach him a new board game he is not familiar with and he loses, he’ll claim it’s only because he’s new to the game -Absolutely infuriated if he loses at Monopoly, since he built a hotel after all -Don’t even bother trying to teach him how to play a video game -And of course - “Only amateurs keep score”

--

“What are you doing, dear?”, James said, fascinated at your little character wandering around a shop, on the screen in front of both of you.

“I’m trying to buy this plant, but I don’t have enough money, I want to see if I can sell anything I have”, you explain, pointing at your backpack filled with items that you can exchange for spare coins.

“Nonsense, darling, why don’t you simply stab the storekeeper and steal what you desire?”

“Because this is Animal Crossing, James, there isn’t a stab button”

Kai

-Kai likes playing video games or board games with literally anybody apart from you -He likes playing with Ozzy because he’s a kid so most of the time Kai can beat him easily -Definitely not the type of person to let the kid win, even if Ozzy is sobbing and Ally asks him to let Ozzy win once in a while - “Winning fairly will feel so much better for him” - “He won’t appreciate success if he doesn’t first taste failure” -Sometimes instead of story time with his troops he’ll play some board games -At first, everybody will keep letting Kai win out of fear -But eventually someone will win, and everybody else will be fearful for them, scared Kai will be angry - “Finally somebody capable, somebody strong, not scared to show their true capabilities” -But if you ask him to play a game with you, he probably won’t -If you eventually beg enough that he will agree to play a game with you, he’ll tell you he’s only playing one -If you win, he’ll be like, “Okay, are you happy now?” - “Finally it’s over” - “I let you win, are you happy?” -But if he wins, he’ll try to get you to play a few more games - “Are you giving up already?” - “Don’t be a sore loser, rise up to the challenge” - “I assumed you wanted to win, not just to play”

- (Kai loses) “See… you have to give a humiliated man a chance to redeem himself in his own ey-”

[bakugosbratx]

Hi names Faith, She/her.

I saw you write for Hawks, which is wonderful cause I adore him.

So I have a request, it's kinda angsty which if you don't want to write it that's cool.

But what if him and his girlfriend, who has a similar quirk to his, she has wings too, are fighting along side each other and she gets seriously injured, and her wings are severly broken, like they will take months to heal properly.

This leads her into a dark emotional state cause she feels trapped when she can't fly, like a bird in a cage with clipped wings.

How would Hawks react or help her?

Sorry it's so long.

SFW Three Feathers— Keigo Tamaki x Angst Fem! Reader

Warning: Angst, cursing, medical talk, broken wings, depression, sadness, fluff etc.

Check out my other works here

A/N: Thank you so much for your patience and request. No worries love! I write just about anything tbh. I hope this is what you are looking for.

Y/H/N- Your Hero Name

Tags: @awilddreamerwrites @peachsenpie @quietlegends @lanarist @milkthistletea

Keigo came home late again that night. Not that you really noticed as you sit in your own agony. Days felt long regardless if Keigo was home on time or not. He is only ultimately late because of you.

That day keeps replaying in your head. The league of villains strike again and Keigo told you to be careful, but your own strong will gets in the way. You are losing feathers at a rapid pace, a pace that could be damaging if you don’t stop. You couldn’t stop, though. Pedestrians lives were on the line.

“Y/H/N,” Hawks, your boyfriend and boss, shouts from the air while you stand on the rooftop, “you need to stop. Now.”

“No!” You protested with a glare. Screams filled the streets and you are about to do the only logical thing you could think of: jump.

Before you could, a strong pair of hands grabbed onto your arm. You dared to meet your boyfriend’s golden orbs. He is giving you the sternest of looks. If you had much feathers left, they would be gone by now from the coldness.

“Do you have a death wish?” Keigo snapped.

“No,” you state, “I am doing my job.”

“Well, you can’t do your job if you kill yourself in the process, chickadee.”

You take your arm out of his grip, his words going in one ear and out the other. One of the many things he loved and despised about you was your strong will to save others.

The wind began to pick up. Another one of your beautiful feathers ride the waves of the breeze. The air was stronger than normal thanks to one of the villains quirk. It is making it quite dangerous to fly. Hence why a lot of your feathers are gone.

“Well, I have to try.”

“Y/N, don’t do this or I will intervene.” Keigo warned. A warning you refused to oblige by.

You climbed to the edge of the roof, a determined look on your face. Fluttering what is left of your feathers, you take off, faster than Keigo could grab onto you.

“Y/H/N, NO!” Keigo shouts, doing his best to follow you, but it’s too late. What is left of your wings danced amongst the wind as you fall down onto the pesky villain below. Keigo is sure to land shortly after, checking to see if you are alright.

“Baby bird, I’m home. I brought dinner.” Keigo calls as he walks to your shared bedroom. His voice snaps you out of your thoughts. You did not even notice you have been crying from reliving the memories.

Sadness filled Keigo while he witnesses a familiar sight. Seeing you like this pains him deep inside. That day is a never ending loop on his mind just like it is for yours. He would never tell you, but he blames himself for what happened. He should have stopped you from jumping, he should have been a few seconds faster, he should have saved you.

“Oh, chickadee.” Keigo sighed, placing the KFC on the nightstand beside you to comfort you. You sobbed into the crook of his neck, envying the fact his feathers restored way quicker than yours. Not that you wish pain on your boyfriend, but it is in the back of your tired mind.

Keigo held you until your sobs turned into snivels. Pulling away, he analyzed your wings. It’s been a month since the incident happened. Some feathers would come in just to fall to the floor shortly after. The excitement that filled your eyes would soon fade to emptiness. Keigo did not even tell you if you had fathers anymore and you didn’t even dare to ask.

Keigo forced you to eat — as usual — to keep your nutrition back. “It will help your wings heal faster if you stay well nourished.” Keigo reminded you like always, chomping on a drumstick.

“Easy for you to say. You have your wings.” You mumbled, not taking a single bite of your chicken. Keigo paused, your comment not going unheard like you wished it would.

“You will get yours back, too. Don’t you worry, pebble.”

“And what if I am worried?” You argued, tears brimming your irises.

“And you think I’m not?” Keigo shot back with a raised eyebrow. “I want you to be able to fly, chickadee. This is what we are made to do. I miss having you alongside me, but you will be back. I have faith.”

“I’m happy one of us does.” You whimpered, tears escaping your eyes before you could stop them.

Keigo finished his chicken before speaking again. He takes your hand, intertwining your fingers as he leads you to the master bathroom. Turning on the light, he forced you to look at yourself. Something you haven’t done in awhile.

You looked a mess. You have not been taking care of yourself like you should have due to your depression. It was a struggle to even get you to shower. You could not bare the thought of seeing your wings. They looked naked.

Baby feathers grew in place where big, beautiful ones used to be. You should be happy at the progress, but you only felt worse about yourself. Keigo, who is fixing your hair as he stands behind you, grinned from ear-to-ear.

“I don’t know what you’re doing Keigo, but this isn’t making me feel better about myself.” You sighed, meeting his gaze through the giant mirror.

“Turn around.” He instructed. Suspicious of his methods, you do it anyways. By the time you faced him, he was holding up a hand-held mirror so you could see the back of your wings with the other mirror’s reflection. You let out a gasp.

Three beautiful feathers have came in. They were even prettier than ones that have grown and wilted away before. They were just like your original ones. So strong and healthy.

“Keigo, are these—“

“They are permanent. I’ve been keeping my eye on them since they came in.” Keigo explained, putting the hand held mirror down so he can look down at you with a genuine smile.

You automatically go in for a kiss, something you have not done in awhile. You both desperately missed each other though you both laid in the same bed. This accident took a toll on not only you, but your relationship and for once in a single month, you both have hope.

©bakugosbratx

All Rights Reserved

[inevitably-johnlocked]

hi!! do you have any good insecure/low self esteem Sherlock fics? thank you!

Hi Nonny!

AHHHH I’ve too many to count; I did a list back in 2019 that combined the both of them, but I get asked so often for one or the other that I think it’s time to make separate lists, and to do that requires me to re-tag a tonne of fics, so for now, I will give you all the ones I have tagged; I apologize if I’ve missed any, but I’m going through them slowly <3 Enjoy!!

INSECURE / AWKWARD SHERLOCK Pt. 2

See also: Insecure / Awkward John or Sherlock (Jan 2019)

The Four Incidents by TheGirlWithRedHair22 (K+, 1,064 w., 1 Ch. || S1 Compliant, Hurt/Comfort, Romance, John Whump, Accident, John POV, Hand Holding, Worried Sherlock, Sherlock’s Self Esteem) – The first time John was present when someone insulted Sherlock, he brushed it off as a strange coincidence.

Together is What we Have, Together Protects Us by Phantom of the Black Pearl (K+, 1,566 w., 1 Ch. || Post-TRF, Friendship / Platonic or Slash, Hurt/Comfort, Insecure Sherlock, Worried Sherlock, Slice of Life) – After a case one evening in the flat Sherlock voices a concern that causes the pair to consider why they've chosen to stick together after all that's happened.

Like Euphoria and Scotch by FinAmour (M, 1,856 w., 1 Ch. || Five and One, Alcohol / Drinking, POV Second Person Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Sherlock’s Imagination, Armchair Sex, Fluff, Happy Ending) – 5 different ways it all could have gone + the one way it actually works itself out.

Five Times Sherlock gave John a Pebble and One Time John Returned the Gesture by grimmfairy (NR, 1,895 w., 1 Ch. || Love Confessions, Fluff, Penguins and Pebbles, Nervous / Pining Sherlock, Oblivious John) – Sherlock isn't good with words, so he decides to tell John his feelings the way penguins do, by bringing him pebbles with different meanings. John catches on.

The Imminent Danger of a Tumblr-Night by Loveismyrevolution (T, 2,135 w., 1 Ch. || Tumblr Fics, Friends to Lovers, Sherlock is Out of His Depth, Humour, Fluff, Pining Sherlock, Military Kink, POV Sherlock) – Sherlock gets into trouble when he pretends to know all about John's favourite social media site - tumblr. To save face he seeks help from one of the bloggers and gains more answers than he had aimed for.

Work On Your Balance by speculate (K+, 2,448 w., 1 Ch. || Embarrassed Sherlock, “For A Case”, Skating, Fluff, Friendship, Humour) – In which John is actually pretty good at ice skating, Sherlock's not and insists it's all for a case , and Lestrade is pretty amused by it all.

The Many Faces of Concern by sdrawkcabemdaer5 (K+, 2,473 w., 1 Ch. || Friendship, Angsty Fluff, John Whump, Mildly Clueless Sherlock) – John is injured on a case, leading to some surprising reactions and discoveries about their friendship.

Nothing Left Untouched by ForeverShippingJohnlock (K+, 2,617 w., 1 Ch. || Friendship, Romance, Bed Sharing, Oblivious Sherlock, Anxious/Worried Sherlock, Grumpy John, Fluff and Cuddles) – Sherlock rearranges the flat. So what if John's bedroom is now a research library. It's not like John needs a bedroom, he can share with Sherlock. They're friends and John has obviously slept in close quarters with men before and it's not like Sherlock sleeps much anyway. It'll be fine.

Closeted by Sexxica (E, 2,762 w., 1 Ch. || Trapped in a Closet, Panicking Sherlock, Hand Jobs, Coming in Pants, Awkward Conversations, Love Confessions, First Kiss, Fluffy Ending) – An improvised hiding spot and a bit of accidental voyeurism leave John and Sherlock in an awkward position.

Reversed by whitchry9 (K+, 3,072 w., 6 Ch. || Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Medical Anomalies, John Gets Shot) – The man pointed his gun at John's chest, right at his heart, and shot.' Wherein John is shot, and Sherlock is the one panicking.

Study in Sherlock by chappysmom (K+, 3,790 w., 1 Ch. || ASiP, Friendship, Introspection, Anxious Sherlock, POV Sherlock, Caring Sherlock, Stroppy Sherlock) – Sherlock's thoughts and feelings during A Study in Pink. What DID he think of John, and why was he being so NICE?

Date Night by inevitably_johnlocked (G, 4,451 w., 1 Ch. || Anxious / Worried Sherlock, Caring John, Schmoopy Fluff, Fidget Cube, Baking / Cooking, Date Night, Established Relationship, POV Sherlock Holmes, Understanding John, Grumpy Sherlock, John’s Bum, Kisses, Hugs, Domestic Fluff, Touching, Hair Petting, Light Humour) – It's John and Sherlock's first Date Night as an official couple and Sherlock needs it to be PERFECT. Mrs Hudson helps. Part 7 of I-J's Tumblr Ficlet Collection

Sherlock and John Go Clubbing by wendymarlowe (E, 4,716 w., 3 Ch. || Clubbing, Dirty Talk, Dancing, Coming Untouched, Coming in Pants, Bi John, For a Case, Friends to Lovers, Flirting, Sherlock is Lost for Words, Sexy John, Mutual Pining, Possessive John, Floor Sex/Hand Job/Frottage) – John pinched the bridge of his nose - even for Sherlock, this was a new level of no bloody boundaries. “You want me to go with you to a gay club, wait around twiddling my thumbs while I let you get pawed by a criminal, then out-flirt him and talk you into coming home with me instead?” Part 32 of John and Sherlock's Kinky First Times

Applied Linguistics by what_alchemy (M, 4,837 w., 1 Ch. || Possessive / Anxious Sherlock, Introspection, Bed Sharing, Past John Whump, Est. Rel., Marriage Proposal, Sherlock Loves John So Much, Word Play) – “He wants to shake John by the shoulders, wants to open his mouth and swallow John whole. Wants to marry him.” Sherlock searches for the right words.

Sleeping next to you by Salambo06 (E, 5,018 w, 2 Ch. || ASiB Fic, Bed Sharing, Frottage, Mutual Masturbation, Rimming, Anal, First Kiss/Time, POV Sherlock) – Based on an Anonymous Prompt: "So, that scene from ASiB when Mrs H has been attacked by the American CIA guy & John, Sherlock & she are in Mrs H's kitchen when John says "She’ll have to sleep upstairs in our flat tonight. We need to look after her." to which Sherlock replies with "no". John of course suggested that because he cares about her safety, but maybe he also did it cause he /wanted/ that to happen. What if they finally agreed on letting her have John's or Sherlock's bed & J&S sleep in the same one?" Part 12 of Tumblr Collection

Nothing So Sweet by alexxphoenix42 (E, 5,275 w., 1 Ch. || Shopkeeper AU || Beekeeping, Sussex, Alternate First Meeting, Awkward First Time Sex, Self-Consciousness / Body Insecurity, Fluff, Hand Jobs) – In an alternate universe, Sherlock is busy keeping to himself, tending his bees, and selling lovely jars of honey when a soldier limps into his life quite unexpectedly. Part 1 of The Sweetest Things

My First, My Only, and My Forever by vintagelilacs (E, 6,220 w., 1 Ch. || Post-ASiB, Virgin Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Sherlock’s Bum, John’s Scar, Sherlock POV, Body Worship, Fingering, Bottomlock, Promise of Forever / Proposals, Misunderstanding, First Kiss/Time, Loss of Virginity, Virginity Kink, Seduction) – Sherlock narrowed his eyes. He was missing a vital piece of data, he was sure. John had been looking at him oddly ever since they left Buckingham Palace, and the ensuing incident with Irene Adler had only exacerbated his erratic behaviour. What was it? Why would he care that Sherlock was a virgin? There was nothing reminiscent of mockery or pity in his gaze. And then it hit him. John Watson was aroused.

Time on my hands by Mildredandbobbin (M, 7,179 w., 1 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Post-S3, One Night Stands, Mutual Pining, Virgin Sherlock, First Time, Sexual Exploration / Discovery, Desperation, Body Worship) – Virginity’s a construct, a concept—what does losing one’s virginity entail for a gay man anyway? Sherlock wants to fill that particular gap in his knowledge but John won’t, can’t, never will assist and there’s only so much desperately unspoken pining even Sherlock can take.

The Very Unlikely Existence of a Flightless Bird in a Tuxedo by cwb (E, 8,829 w., 1 Ch. || Poetry, Penguins / Animals / Zoos, First Kiss / Time, Blow / Hand Jobs, Sleepy Cuddles, Endearments, Friendship / Love, Adorable / Sleepy Sherlock, Case Fic, Sherlock Can’t Say Penguin) – A case at the zoo reveals something John finds cute about Sherlock. A conversation ensues, and so does happy endings.

Always the sun by Rose de Sharon (K+, 12,377 w., 3 Ch. || Song Fic, Alternate Post-TGG, Friendship/Bromance, Hurt/Comfort, Introspection / Reflection, Injury Recovery, Obsessive / Protective Sherlock, Nightmares, John’s Past, Bed Sharing / Cuddles) – Sherlock ponders about how much his life has changed since John has become his flatmate.

Understanding by rizandace (T, 13,268 w., 15 Ch. || Friendship, Hurt/Comfort, Worried Sherlock, John Whump Then Sherlock Whump) – Sherlock's hiding something about his newest case, and John wants answers. Set post-TGG. Friendship fic, mostly, with brief entrances from Harry and Lestrade just for fun.

On The Fence by BeautifulFiction (T, 13,770 w., 1 Ch. || Fencing, Case Fic, First Kiss, Insecure John, Pining John, Hug, Greg Finds Out) – The murder of the King's College fencing champion leads to revelations about Sherlock's past. Will it be the point that tips them from friends to lovers, or will they remain on the fence?

Pattern Behaviour by SilentAuror (E, 14,835 w., 1 Ch. || POV First Person Sherlock, Jealous Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Introspection, Stroppy Sherlock, Light Humour, Friendship, John Takes Care of Sherlock, First Kiss/Time, Wall Kisses, Fluffy Angst, Happy Ending) – Sherlock doesn't even know why he resents John's dates so much. Until the day he does know. Slight angst, unrequited feelings (but don't let that scare you off!)

The Burning of the Leaves by blueink3 (M, 15,915 w., 3 Ch. || Post S4, Angst, Reichenbach, Parentlock, Past Jolto, Idiot John, Sherlock’s a Mess, Puppies, Fluff, Possessive / Jealous Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Sherlock POV, Matchmaker Sholto, Melancholic Feelings, Emotional Sherlock, Domesticity, Love Confessions in the Rain, Kissing in the Rain, Pet Names, Panic Attack) – After the events of series 4, Major Sholto invites John and Sherlock to lunch one day. It nearly proves to be too much for their tenuous relationship as the past haunts the present, putting the future that Sherlock so desperately wants at risk.

A Silver Sixpence by _doodle (NC-17, 16,400 w., 2 Ch. || LJ Fic || For a Case / Case Fic, Fake Relationship, Humour, Romance, Marriage Proposal, Awkward Idiots, Cuddling, Touching, Kissing, Love Confessions, Bed Sharing, Friends to Lovers, Fake Until It’s Not, Schmoop and Fluff, Bottomlock) – “John, we need to get married. It’s for a case, not any romantic notions on my part pertaining to our partnership,” Sherlock said, with brutal honesty, and without even looking up.

Hope for Heroes by Richefic (K+, 16,887 w., 5  Ch. || Post-TGG Fic, Introspection / Flashbacks, Friendship/Epic Bromance, Hurt/Comfort, Worried/Anxious Sherlock, Sherlock Admires John, BAMF John, John Deduces, Fancy Party, John’s Self Esteem, Domestics) – In the final moments of "The Great Game" Holmes hopes he will have the chance to tell his flatmate that he was wrong. Heroes do exist after all and the one in front of him is called Dr John Watson.

Between Friends by SilentAuror (E, 18,036 w., 1 Ch. || Post S3, Alternating POV, Friends to Lovers, John in Denial, Abduction, Awkward Situations / Miscommunications, Porn With Feels, Blowjobs, Pining, Unrequited, Angst With Happy Ending) – Sherlock gets abducted. As John discovers him tied up naked in an empty storage facility and comes to rescue him, Sherlock's body has an unfortunate reaction which triggers a series of events. John is convinced that everything will be fine as long as they never discuss it. Sherlock isn't as sure...

Out of the Woods by SilentAuror (E, 20,471 w., 1 Ch. || Post S4, Romance, Slow Burn, Flirting, Drunk Sex, Practical Jokes, POV Sherlock, Bottomlock, Possessive John, Pining Sherlock, Frustrated Wanking, Frottage, Hand Jobs, Blow Jobs, First Kiss/Time, Virgin Sherlock, Love Confessions, Soft Sherlock, Dancing, Bum Appreciation, Hanging out with the Yard) – Sherlock is fairly certain that John has taken to flirting with him of late, but can't be entirely certain of it. At least, not until a case takes them into a forest, along with Lestrade's team and something happens that will change everything about their lives...

A Quiet Life by DiscordantWords (M, 25,176 w., 6 Ch. || Post S4, Retirement, POV Sherlock, Awkwardness, Established Relationship, Family Dynamics, Minor Character Death, Questionable Parenting Choices, Non-Linear Narrative, 20 Year Old Rosie, Meddling Mycroft, Pining Sherlock, First Kiss, Love Confessions, Angst, Sherlock Whump) – There had been three days of silence and a funeral. Sherlock had the terrible feeling that whatever happened next would depend, entirely, on him.

Rupert Street by WritingOutLoud (M, 27,262 w., 9 Ch. || Alternate First Meeting || Case Fic, Sexuality, Demisexual Sherlock, Drugging, Smart John, Sherlock Has Internalized Biphobia, Fluff, Angst with Happy Ending, Gay Bar, Flirting, John Manipulates Sherlock to Eat, John Deduces, Arguments, Kidnapping/Torture, Hospitalization, John Whump) – Discharged from the war with nothing but the clothes on his back and a realisation of his bisexuality, John Watson has to learn who he’s become. He can’t afford London on an army pension, but the city is the only friend he has. In an effort to understand his newfound queer identity, he heads to a bar one night, where he stumbles across a mysterious stranger who turns his life upside down. ‘I dug around inside myself, and I'm not quite sure what I found, but it was beautiful and terrifying all at the same time.’

The Wisteria Tree by SilentAuror (E, 29,773 w., 1 Ch. || Post-S3, Emotional Love Making, Amnesia/Memory Loss, Sherlock Loves John So Much, Sherlock POV, Romance, Angst with Happy Ending, First Times, Hurt/Comfort, Est. Rel., Retirement) – Sherlock wakes up from a month-long coma only to discover that he has no memory of the previous six years to his own shock as well as John's...

A Home for Us by sussexbound (M, 30,581 w., 12 Ch. || Scars, Bedsharing, Grief, Doctor John, Hurt/Comfort, Post-TRF, Implied/Referenced Torture, Sherlock POV, Pining Sherlock, Suicidal Ideation, Heavy Emotions, Clingy Sherlock, Hallucinations, Disassociation, Emotional Turmoil) – He has been on the road for two years, and he is exhausted. He’s almost accepted that he will never see London (John) again—almost. But then there are nights like tonight, where he is weak, and all he can think of is the warmth of the flat they once shared, the crackle of the fire in the hearth, the teasing smile playing at the corner of John’s lips, the boxes of half-eaten Chinese takeaway balanced precariously in their laps. He aches at the memory of it, at the realisation that it is something he may never experience again.

Deck the Halls by itsalwaysyou_jw (T, 31,018 w., 24 Ch. || Advent Fic / Multiple One-Shots, Assorted Tags) – One Johnlock ficlet for every day leading up to Christmas. Who is ready for pining, first kisses, established Johnlock, and everything in between? This collection of stand-alone ficlets will have it all.

The Winter Garden by Callie4180 (T, 31,213 w., 13 Ch. || Post-S4, Retirement, Christmas, Slow Burn, Grown-Up Rosie, Parenthood, Rosie’s Cat, Angst with Happy Ending, Holidays, Beekeeping, Magical Realism, Sherlock POV, Sherlock’s Violin, Future Fic, Sussex, Honey, Magical Healing Honey, Love Confessions, Sherlock’s Scar, First Kiss, Touching) – As Sherlock nears the end of his career, he's given the gift of a cottage in Sussex. The honey from the beehives out back is amazing. Almost...magical.

a good old-fashioned happy ending by darcylindbergh (E, 32,731 w., 26 Ch. || Christmas, Frottage, Comfort, Est. Rel., Fluff, Insecure Sherlock, Frottage, Nightmares, Sleepy Sherlock, Marriage Proposal, Humour, Fluff, Dancing, Cooking, Happy Ending) – For Christmas this year, Sherlock wants to get John something special: something every fairytale deserves. Part 2 of things fairy tales are made of

carrying up his morning tea by darcylindbergh (E, 34,504 w., 5 Ch. || Post S3, Minor Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Wakes/Funerals, Estranged John, Pining Sherlock, Depression/Insecurity, Slow Burn, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Chronic Pain/Injury, Reconciliation, Awkwardness, Loneliness, Scars, Angst With Happy Ending) – His fingers tremble as he dials and he can’t force them steady. Familiar number, even though he hasn’t used it in two years. He isn’t even sure he should be calling it now, but she’d asked. She’d made him promise.

Nothing to Make a Song About by emmagrant01 (E, 36,833 w., 10 Ch. || Post-TRF, First Time, Reunion, Jealous John, Pining Sherlock, Romance, Angst with Happy Ending, Sherlock Has a Boyfriend) – When Sherlock returned from his faked death, John could not forgive him for the deception and broke off their friendship. Ten years later, John returns to London in search of yet another new beginning. Sherlock, not surprisingly, is waiting.

The Unfinished Letters by SilentAuror (E, 37,391 w., 1 Ch. || Post S3 / S3 / HLV Fix it, Angst with Happy Ending, Romance, Infidelity, Depression, Case Fic, POV Third Person Sherlock, Love Confessions, Pining Sherlock, Letters) – A fire at Baker Street leads John to read something he was never intended to see: a notebook of half-written, unfinished letters Sherlock wrote during his time away...

(Never) Turn Your Back to the Sea by DiscordantWords (M, 39,968 w., 7 Ch. || Post S4 Fix It || Grief / Mourning, Victor Trevor, Friendship, Sherlock is Not Okay, Nightmares/Flashbacks/Panic Attacks, Parentlock, Pining Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, John Comes Home) – Baker Street is very much the same. Only different. And Sherlock is just trying not to drown.

Anchor Point by trickybonmot (E, 49,856 w., 80 Ch. || Truman Show AU || Psychological Drama, Suspense, Slow Burn, Dark Characters / Fic, Alternating First/Third Person, Protective John, Anxious/Worried Sherlock, Tender Moments, Love Confessions, Hand/Blow Jobs, Cuddling, Jealous John, First Kiss/Time) – The world tunes in nightly for Sherlock, the ultimate in reality TV: Sherlock Holmes, a real person with a legendary name, unknowingly lives out his life in a staged setting contrived by his brother. Things get complicated when a retired army doctor joins the show to play the part of Sherlock's closest friend. This fic borrows its concept from the 1998 film, the Truman Show. However, you don't need to have any knowledge of the movie to enjoy this story.

Never Change a Running System by Lorelei_Lee (E, 54,246 w., 18 Ch. || Pre-TRF, Romance, Humour, Drama, Sex Toys, Anal, Rimming, Masturbation, Frottage, Blow Jobs, Public Sex, First Kiss / Time, Virgin Sherlock / Loss of Virginity, Accidental Voyeurism, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Experiments, Naive Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Jealous Sherlock, Possessive Sherlock, Straight With an Exception John, Hand Jobs) – Sherlock discovers his sexuality – with far-reaching consequences for John.

A Goose Quill Dipped in Venom by Polyphony (M, 52,748 w., 16 Ch. || Celebrity John AU || Alternate First Meeting, TV Host John, Supermodel Mary, Character Death, Mystery, Romance, Case Fic, First Kiss/Time, Meddling Mycroft, Drug Abuse, Doctor John, PDA, Deductions, POV Sherlock, Toplock, Sexual Tension, Angry/Rough Sex, Hopeful Ending, Asperger’s Sherlock) – Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective, is called in to a very ordinary although brutal murder. Something is badly out of tune with the whole scenario and Sherlock finds himself becoming more and more obsessed with the crime - and also with the victim.

A Hundred Crimson Sols by elldotsee (E, 55,536 w., 16 Ch. || Astronauts AU || Mars Exploration / Space Travel, Slow Burn, Shy Sherlock, Scientist Sherlock / Biomed Engineer John, Alternating POV, Mutual Pining, UST, Angst with Happy Ending, Domestic Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Injuries, Suicidal Ideation, Zero-G Sex) – Will Holmes is a chemical researcher recognized widely for his contributions to the new Mars exploration program. Thanks to his ground-breaking developments, the IMMC (International Mars Mission Corporation) is one step closer to Martian colonization. Will and his team of scientists are headed out on the first of three manned missions before the first group of settlers arrive. Three days before launch, one of the crew has to be replaced. Will panics because...new people. The replacement is of course one John Watson, biomedical engineer and space hottie who was pretty sure he had retired from actual space exploration and was now content to work in the nice, quiet research lab. Can the crew survive this TOTALLY ROUTINE trip? Will they be able to endure each other for the looooooong trip in close quarters? Gonna be a wild ride... prepare for blast off. Part 1 of SpaceBois go to Space

The Thing Is by TSylvestris (E, 56,743 w., 21 Ch. || Case Fic, Dev. Rel., Anal/Oral, Blow Jobs, Meddling Mycroft, Drama, Romance, Humour, Casual Encounters, Pining Idiots, Possessive Sherlock, Orgasm Delay, Rough / Alley Sex, Public Sex, John Whump, Drugged John, Emotional Love Making, Awkward Relationship, Marriage of Convenience, Switchlock) – The problem with living with Sherlock, John thought, was that you never, never, ever knew the significance of anything. Like your flatmate's nose buried in your hair. Whilst you're in bed. Part 1 of Nitroglycerine

One Little Change by jadztone (E, 58,312 w., 12 Ch. || ASiB Divergence, Fake Relationship, Bed Sharing, Mutual Pining, Friends to Lovers, First Kiss / Time, Anal Sex, Blow Jobs, Bi John / Gay Demisexual Sherlock, Switchlock, Alternating POV, Jealousy, Misunderstandings, Case Fic, Angst with Happy Ending, Emotional Love Making, Butt Plugs, Cuddles) – Our story begins right after John and Sherlock's first meeting with Irene Adler in September. It splits off into an AU that imagines them taking a case where they act as bait to hook a killer targeting closeted gays in secret relationships. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, many things happen that have our boys wondering if maybe they have a chance with each other. Then Irene fakes her death on Christmas Eve, and things get a lot more complicated - especially since they still have a killer to catch.

The Burning by SrebrnaFH (M, 60,658 w., 24 Ch. || Reverse Reichenbach, Suicide, Depression, Hurt Sherlock / John, Separation, BAMF John, Good Big Brother Mycroft, Angst, Implied/Referenced Torture, Fake Character Death, Rescue Mission, Reconciliation / Reunion, Hospitalization, Marriage Proposal, Illnesses, Physical Therapy, Happily Ever After) – Something went very, very wrong. John had seemed, if not happy, then reasonably content with his life. Sherlock had never predicted something like THIS might have happened. Not in his worst nightmares. He was the lousiest friend ever, apparently. At least Mycroft found him something to occupy his mind with, so that he didn't have to go back to 221B and stare at the walls and the chair, where John Watson would never sit again.

Being John Watson-ish by elwinglyre (E, 69,902 w., 17 Ch. || Bodysnatcher AU || Author John, Cranky Sherlock, Angst, Sexual Tension, First Kiss / Time, Falling in Love, BAMF John, Past Soldier John, Feelings, Inside Someone’s Brain, Shy Sherlock, Sherlock Loves John, POV Sherlock, Switchlock, Slow Burn, Internal Dialogue, Mental Turmoil) – When consulting detective Sherlock Holmes steps on one toe too many at a crime scene, he's consigned to a desk job in an archaic office on the seventh-and-a-half floor of the New Scotland Yard. It’s in this bleak office that Sherlock discovers a portal into the mind of renowned author John Watson. Grander than his mind palace, this new wonderland affords Sherlock new vistas of experimentation. To learn more about the mystery behind the portal, Sherlock seeks out and befriends Watson. But then it all goes wrong when others find the secret portal door—including the man whose brain he visits.

Gold Rush by ShirleyCarlton (E, 71,783 w., 17 Ch. || Post S3 / No Mary, Friends to Lovers, Mentions of Past Sexual Abuse, First Kiss, Case Fic, Slow Burn, Alternating POV, Switchlock, Angst with Happy Ending, Marriage Proposal, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Abduction, Anxious/Insecure Sherlock, Miscommunication, Emotional Lovemaking) – John has divorced Mary and pops round to 221B one evening to find Sherlock in the middle of a case. As Sherlock tries to find the identity of a young woman’s stalker, John realises he can no longer deny his feelings for Sherlock – which then, to their befuddlement, turn out to be mutual. Shy kisses and tentative embraces ensue. But will Sherlock be able to cast off a shadow from his past that he thinks might prevent John from wanting to stay?

Kintsukuroi by sussexbound (E, 91,823 w., 20 Ch. || S4 Compliant / Post-TLD, Grief / Mourning, PTSD, Internalized Homophobia, Therapy, Past Abuse, Alcohol Abuse, Nightmares, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Depression, Anxiety, Bed Sharing, Love Confessions, Cuddling, Suicidal Ideation, Masturbation, Minor Character Death, Sexting, Frottage, Inexperienced Sherlock, Rimming / Anal / BJ’s, Emotional Turmoil, Finding Each Other) – “I love you.” Sherlock sees the words hit John with almost physical force. He reels back a little, jaw twitching and eyes filling. “I love you,” he repeats, a little softer, a little more gentle, as earnest as he possibly can. Because they’ve been teetering on the brink of this thing for years, and it had become painfully obvious over the last few months that they were at a tipping point. This had to happen. Now it has. Now they can see where they end up. The tears in John’s eyes spill over, and he wipes at them angrily. “Do you even know what that means?”  

The Summer Boy by khorazir (T, 94,706 w., 6 Ch. || Post S3/Post TAB/Alternate S4, Friends to Lovers, Flashbacks, Sussex, Bullying, 1980′s Kid Sherlock, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Inexperienced Sherlock, Grief/Mourning, Pining Sherlock, Background Case Fic) – About half a year after the fateful events at Appledore, Sherlock and John embark on a private case in Sussex. For Sherlock, it’s a journey into his past, bringing up memories both happy and sad that he has locked away for almost thirty years. For John, it means coming to terms with the present – and a potential future with Sherlock. Part 1 of the The Summer Boy series

The Wedding Garments by cwb (E, 105,390 w., 36 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Alternate Future AU || Alternate First Meeting, Dating / Arranged Marriages, Romance, First Kiss/Time, Heavy Petting, Cuddles, POV Sherlock, Virgin Sherlock, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn / Falling in Love / Dev. Rel., Nervous/Anxious Sherlock, Jealous/Cranky Sherlock, Hiking, Vacation Homes / Honeymoon, Sherlock’s Family, Horny John/Sherlock, Patient John, Massages, Hand Jobs, Assassination Plots, Oral Sex, Case Fic, Emotional Love Making, Bath Time Fun) – This is the story of a young consulting detective who wants nothing to do with marriage and an army doctor who wants to find true love. It's 2020 post-Brexit England and the British government is encouraging arranged marriages. Candidates meet through state-run agencies and date in hopes of finding love (and tax benefits). Sherlock doesn't need or want a spouse, at least not until John Watson shows up. Hesitant to give in to his more carnal urges because of the way they derail his mind, how will Sherlock progress toward the more intimate aspects of a relationship? The answer lies in a very special wedding gift.

The Lost Special: Family Matters (As Do Relationships) by ShirleyCarlton  (M, 144,688 w., 40 Ch. || S4 Fix It Fic / Meta Fic, Unreliable Narrator, John’s Mind Bungalow, Friends to Lovers, Happy Ending, Demisexual Sherlock, Holmes Family, John Whump, Gay Mycroft, Misunderstandings, Drug Addiction, Parenting, TFP is a Nightmare, Virgin Sherlock, Slow Burn, Minor Character Death, Switchlock, John’s Past, Sherlock’s Past, Eurus, Love Confessions) – Sherrinford is not really the name of some high security prison. That was just a figment of John’s frantic coma dream. And Eurus is not actually Sherlock’s sister. That’s just something random she said to John before shooting him. Sherlock and John were never actually estranged. That was just their act to cover up what really happened to Mary – or Rosamund Moran, as her real name has turned out to be. Sherlock does have a secret sibling, though, and his name is Sherrinford. After finally eliminating Moran – though in a rather dramatically different way than they had envisioned – and exposing the truth about Eurus, John encourages Sherlock to delve into his past and to find out whether the reasons to keep Sherrinford away from Sherlock were the right ones, and to discover what really happened in 1981. Along the way, Sherlock and John gradually, finally, stop keeping each other at a distance, and eventually become a proper family of their own.

Against the Rest of the World by SilentAuror (E, 151,714 w., 20 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Post-TRF, Hiatus Fic, POV First Person Sherlock, Present Tense, First Kiss/Time, Big Brother Mycroft, Escaping from Capture, Soft Sherlock, Toplock, Insecurity, Infidelity, Travelling, Introspection, Pining Sherlock, Depression, Fantasies, Yearning for the Past, PTSD Sherlock, Suicidal Ideation) – Sherlock has been away from London for nine hundred and twelve days and counting, and has no idea what sort of reception to expect when he finally returns.