#a wip with non-goof hands

[yallstar]

i swear to god i can draw something other than characters with their hands on each other's faces....... i just don't want to

[jtl-fics]

You said you had something queued for the non-specific reality show AU?

WIP WEDNESDAY

"Welcome to Ugh." Andrew says while sitting in a perfectly white room on a simple black chair.

"We're your hosts, I can't believe I'm still alive to suffer through this, it's Jean Moreau." Jean says pouring half of a bottle of wine into a wine glass and handing the rest of the bottle to Andrew before taking a sip.

Andrew accepts the bottle, "And Contractually obligated by the Real House-spouses of Exy to say I'm happy to be here, Andrew Minyard." Andrew says.

"Today's segments include, 'No Kevin just because it has Exy in the title doesn't mean any of us want to hear about changes in player stats'" Jean says tiredly.

"And ,of course, 'Is it fashion or is Neil just hot enough to pull it off?' The answer may surprise you."

****

Thanks @ittyybittybaker for goofing around with me in messages about this yesterday lol

[beck-a-leck]

20 Questions for Fic Writers...

Tagged by @thychesters this was super fun to do winding down after work. Thank you!

How many works do you have on Ao3?

83. But good luck finding all of them

2. What's your total Ao3 word count?

1,102,340 posted over my entire time on AO3

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Historically and primarily, Star Wars, Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons, and Rune Factory. but recently I've been posting a Hobbit story.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

This is about to be the most boring list because in order it's:

[Redacted Fic] (posted under a separate account,by an absolutely huge margin of over 1500 kudos)

Aggressive Negotiations (SW fic with adorable baby Skywalker Twins, at just under 400 kudos)

Wells of Silence (SW fic retelling late Clone Wars and ROTS with a female Anakin Skywalker)

[Redacted Fic] (the one fic I wrote for a certain fandom that was getting super huge, but I was a weenie and posted anonymously)

and [Redacted Fic] (another anonymous story)

If we want to include the top 5 non-redacted, then well tack these ones onto the list:

Among Scuttled Ships and Scrap (SW/TBB fic in which Omega meets Cal Kestis on Bracca)

Better Left Unsaid (A SW Obi-Wam/Satine fic about duty and sacrifice)

Weekend Guests (A jarring reminder that I wrote, and did not finish a Voltron fic lmao)

5. Do you respond to comments?

I do! I love getting comments and getting to potentially engage in conversations with my readers and fandom friends. So I try to respond to every comment I get.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I mean, it's the one I always bring up when people ask what the angstiest fic in my kinda expansive angst repertoire is, but it's Hello Darkness. You don't get much angstier than major characters deaths, thousands of other deaths, and infanticide so... (It's an Order 66 fic, what can even be expected with that right?)

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Oh gosh, I don't know. I do have quite a bit of fluff and I think they all have very happy endings full of all the warm fuzzies. The most recent one might be Operation: Save the Magic. It's your quintessential Christmas Special in a fic, and naturally it has the picture perfect happy ending.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Statistically, I'm sure there are people out there who do hate my fics, for whatever reason. But none of it has made it to me, and I'm perfectly content with that.

9. Do you write smut?

I have made one (1) foray into smut writing, and I think I overcompensated with angst, which says everything about me you need to know lmao. Smut's not really on my radar as a reader or a writer, but when it fits a situation, it fits, ya know?

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you have written?

Not really. A handful of times when I was goofing around with friends we might have done a silly crossover or two. But beyond doing in-universe crossovers of different installments of the same universe, I don't really write them.

I'm more of an AU person. I'd rather take characters from Media A and drop them into the universe of Media B without any characters from Media B making an appearance. Someone might count that as a crossover, but I think they're more of an AU.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

I've done a couple collaborations for fandom events, not sure of those really count, as I was the one doing most of the writing. And there was one cracky-story I did with a friend back in high school, but beyond that, no I haven't.

14. What's your all time favorite ship?

I don't really have favorite ships. I tend to think of myself as a fluid shipper, meaning I'll write or read just about anything if the mood strikes, so I don't really glom onto favorites for the long term. With ship things it's less about the actual characters and more about the way they're interacting with each other.

15. What is a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I have a lot of long-abandoned and unfinished WIPs sitting both on my hard drive and on AO3. Throw a stick and you'll probably hit one of them. Probably anything started pre-2018 and not updated since then is likely never going to be finished.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I think I do a good job capturing emotions and working with the complexities of human relationships (and just being human). And I think I do quite well with my descriptive scenes too.

17. What are you writing weaknesses?

Action scenes are the bane of my existence, and I think just actions in general. I tend to over-describe what everyone is doing and every little move they make in scenes that don't need that level of description.

Also sticking to a consistent writing schedule and keeping a muse wrangled long enough to finish a story.

18. Thoughts of writing dialogue in another language in fics?

I'd like to have some familiarity with the language before I would do that, because I don't want to force people who speak that language to read my google-translate results. So I don't do it as much with real languages.

Fictional languages though, I'll be much more liberal with the rate in which I toss in those words. might not be whole sentences, particularly if there aren't key phrases for me to use, but I'll use individual words freely.

19. First Fandom you wrote for?

If we're talking first fandom I ever wrote a fanfic for, that would be Jak and Daxter.

If we're talking first fandom I ever did any creative writing for, it would be Warrior Cats RPs

20. Favorite fic you have written?

Asking me to pick a favorite is unfair, because there's genuinely something I like about every story I've written. I've my primary audience and I'm writing the stories I want to read. So I can't say I have a favorite favorite. But the one I've been most recently and fervently working on, so it's at the forefront is How Far Ahead The Road Has Gone my Hobbit fic.

Okay, now it's late and I need to be getting to bed bc I've gotta work tonight. So I know I'm gonna miss people if I try and tag folks. So this is the blanket statement of If you wanna play along, feel free to say I tagged you.

[coles-scythe]

Ninjago S/I (WIP)

Overview

Name: Jayden Goodwell

Element: Sound

Age: 15-20 (Between the Pilot and March of the Oni; timeline up to Crystalized + Dragons Rising is still a WIP.)

Gender: Trans Masculine Non-Binary (They/Them)

Team: Ninja of the Five Senses (Main); The Ninja Team (Secondary)

Weapon(s): Naginata

Love Interests: Jay Walker and Cole Brookstone

Family: Skylar Neilman (adoptive sister) and Jacob Pevsner (half brother)

Friends: Kai Smith, Zane Julien, Nya Smith, Dareth, Pixal, Luka Baron, Morro, Lin Jin, Yuki Sato, and Skylor Chen

Jayden Goodwell is the current Elemental Master and Ninja of Sound, the significant other of Cole Brookstone and Jay Walker, and the adoptive sibling of Skylar Neilman. They learned Spinjitzu alongside their adoptive sister, was introduced to the Ninja Team as they were forming and learning Spinjitzu themselves, discovered their teammates in the Ninja of the Five Senses, and helped save Ninjago countless times with their fellow ninja all the while. They formed a relationship with Cole during the events of Possessed and the two later added Jay into their relationship during the events of March of the Oni.

《< -------- >》

Appearance & Personality

Jayden's appearance has remained the same between the transition from S1-7 to the Ninjago Movie and Sons of Garmadon onwards. They are a short androgynous person with mismatched colored eyes, and fluffy blond hair that falls to their shoulder only on their left side.

Jayden is a strict and by the books individual, always wanting to complete a mission as efficiently as possible. They have a hard time tolerating the antics of both the Ninja Team and the Sense Ninja, though they are known to goof off from time to time as well. As the seasons progress, Jayden becomes much more relaxed and occasionally joins their teammates in having fun and showing off during their missions together. Initially, the only person able to melt their icy exterior was their adoptive sister Sky, but over time the Ninja Team formed a strong bond with the two and allowed Jay to feel more at ease around them as well. Their bond with Luka is particular is nearly paternal, as if they are projecting their want for the strong parental figure they lacked at his age before moving in with Sky and her grandfather.

During the pilot, and first three seasons, Jayden used the black base ninja gi used by all of the Ninja Team while they were being trained by Wu. Starting from the Golden Child (fanseason between 3 and 4) up to Hands of Time, their gi varies greatly between seasons, though it always uses the original ninja gi from the pilots as a base with the addition of simple boots and always utilizes teal to represent their elemental color.

From Sons of Garmadon up to the present, Jayden's gi has remained the same, once again using the original ninja gi from the pilots as a base with several embellishments such as a larger hood, what appears to be the collar of a dark turtleneck sweater, shorter elbow-length sleeves, hand wraps from the elbow to palms, several patches stitched onto the pants including an auditory symbol representing their element of Sound, and dirty old boots recycled from several of their previous designs. The gi's color scheme also utilizes teal as the main color once again, with accents of orange and a even brighter teal in several areas.

Their casual outfit is present in both the main series, as well as the movie. It consists of a dark grey double-layered hoodie, a pair of warm grey jorts, knee-high socks of the same hue as their hoodie, and dark blue and white sneakers.

《< -------- >》

Way of the Ninja (Pilot)

Jayden is a minor character in the two pilot episodes. They and Skylar were already Wu's students at the Monastery of Spinjitzu prior to Kai's arrival and claim to be his first two pupils out of the group. At the time, Jayden and Sky were not aware of their elemental abilities, and thusly were not members of the original Ninja Team. Despite this, however, both Jayden and Sky assisted the boys in gathering the Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu.

While the team was retrieving the Scythe of Quakes, Jayden had taken the Scythe from Kai as the group was making their escape from the collapsing caves. When confronted by Wu, Jayden lied and claimed they were the one to use the Scythe and caused the cave-in. Sky covered for them when the others try to object. Wu seemed to be aware of the lie, but did not press further into the issue and instead forbade Jayden and Sky from assisting the Ninja Team any further.

Later, as the group is heading towards the location of the Shuriken of Ice, Jayden is suddenly confronted by Kai. They apologize for their actions and explain their fear of Kai being taken off the team if he had admitted to using the Scythe. Jayden has great respect for Kai's mission to rescue his sister, Nya, and does not wish for his mission to be hindered in any way, hence their rash decision to cover for him.

《< -------- >》

Jayden's role is largely diminished for the rest of the pilot, only assisting Cole, Jay and Zane in their failed attempt to retake the Scythe of Quakes, Shuriken of Ice, and the Nunchucks of Lightning that had been stolen from them by the Skullkin. Afterwards, they escort Nya home as the Ninja Team prepare to travel to the Underworld to save Wu and stop Garmadon.

At the end of the pilot, Jayden is seen with Sky and Nya at the blacksmith waiting for the Ninja Team to return with Wu. They join everyone to celebrate when they do eventually come back.

《< -------- >》

Rise of the Serpents + Legacy of the Green Ninja (S1+2)

Note: I've combined these two seasons into one section due to them being two halves of one story, as well as the fact that Jayden does not have a large role in either season.

Jayden retains their role as a minor character in both Rise of the Serpents and Legacy of the Green Ninja. They act as a supporting character to the main four boys as they realize their true potential, especially to Zane and Cole, as well as slightly more major supporting character to Nya while she establishes herself as Samurai X.

While present for several episodes, Jayden doesn't not play a key part in the overall story of Rise of the Serpentine and Legacy of the Green Ninja. Their backstory is hinted at and teased several times throughout the first season until it is fully revealed in the first episode of the second season. In it, Skylar and her grandfather are revealed to be Jayden's adoptive family after they ran away from home. With an absent father and a mother who died while they were still quite young, Jayden was passed from home to home that only got worse with each move. They eventually broke and left for Ninjago City, where they happened to meet Sky and her grandfather. The two quickly took them in, and the rest is history.

While the Ninja, Nya, and Lloyd live in their one room apartment in Ninjago City, Jayden and Sky move back in with Sky's grandfather, who also allows Wu to move in as well, revealing that the two are very old friends.

WIP

Rebooted (S3)

WIP

《< -------- >》

The Golden Child (AU S3.5)

WIP

《< -------- >》

The Tournament of Elements (S4)

WIP

《< -------- >》

Possession (S5)

WIP

《< -------- >》

Skybound (S6)

WIP

《< -------- >》

Day of the Departed (Special 6.5)

WIP

《< -------- >》

Hands of Time (S7)

WIP

《< -------- >》

Family Rivalries (AU S7.5)

WIP

《< -------- >》

Sons of Garmadon (S8)

WIP

《< -------- >》

Hunted (S9)

WIP

《< -------- >》

March of the Oni (S10)

WIP

《< -------- >》

Secrets of the Forbidden Spinjitzu (S11)

WIP

《< -------- >》

Prime Empire (S12)

WIP

《< -------- >》

Master of the Mountain (S13)

WIP

《< -------- >》

The Island (Special 13.5)

WIP

《< -------- >》

Seabound (S14)

WIP

《< -------- >》

Crystalized (S15)

WIP

《< -------- >》

Dragons Rising (S16)

Not able to work on this until the season actually comes out lmao.

[hyperfixationisamust]

Sokka in LoK (Oldkka????)

We were all robbed of old Sokka so fuck canon I'm putting him in

Sokka moves like he's still in his prime, always full of energy

but sometimes the knee that he hurt during Sozin's Comet will lock up and he's down for the count

totally carves his own cane. or makes one idk mans made hot air balloons he probably finds some way to make his cane some kind of cannon or sword

absolutely treats Korra like his own kid; won't hesitate to snark or playfully punch her, but will also give her advice when she needs it

he teaches Korra how to fight with weapons or hand to hand, or at least teaches her to fight while thinking outside of the box

White Lotus member Sokka feels so right; he's like a more upbeat version of Piandao mixed with less cryptic Bumi. wicked smart and quick wits with a sharp tongue but goofs off a lot so people assume he's just an old wackjob

Sokka makes it so that there's a permanent nonbender councilperson position and/or a Water Tribe representative

though they've matured, Katara and Sokka still squabble but with more words and the occasional bending of water/snow into Sokka's clothes

loves to remind Zuko of his teenage, angsty self constantly

I firmly believe that Toph told him she was gonna go live in a swamp because Tokka friendship my beloved

fuck it Suki is also very much alive and retired on Kyoshi Island and is an instructor and Sokka will occasionally drop by to talk

Sokka definitely still fights, regardless of what people try to warn him about watching his health, he's still fit, thank you very much

never got over the thrill of travelling and goes wherever his heart takes him, but always visits friends when he's in the area

still loves art and writing, tho he has improved a lot lmao

when they were first building Republic City, he may have gotten a liiitle mad when there were no non-bender statues so he made Non-Bender Row, a street solely dedicated to statues of well-known non-benders and plaques of their achievements

always calls his friends to see how they're doing when phones become a thing

speaking of phones, Sokka loves seeing all these new inventions and definitely would like Varrick; reminds Sokka of a younger him, or so he likes to say

hates Amon with a passion and how he preys on the useless feeling of nonbenders; Amon doesn't get as much attention and followers with Sokka opposing him

when he first meets Korra's group, he thinks Mako is somehow related to Zuko

Mako: it's nice to meet you, Mr. So-

Sokka: are you Zuko's long lost son or something

Mako: ???

loves messing with Bolin and constantly teases him; very proud of him when Bolin learns lavabending

very impressed with Asami; I like to think Asami really looks up to Sokka as a non-bending inventor and when he finds this out: ego boosted, Asami is his new favorite

I have a whole separate wip of young Bumi II and Sokka bonding, but just know these two are very close and love to poke fun at their other family members together

Oh they also have the same connection to spirits so they can bond over that too

When Bumi gets airbending, yeah Sokka’s a little sad, and yeah maybe he cries a little bit, but it’s fine Bumi’s still his favorite

Sokka sees so much of Katara and Kya in Kya II; very supportive when she comes out and will hurt anyone who judges her for it

loves messing with Tenzin; sometimes will call him mini Aang; has a running bet with the rest of the family to see who can get him the most red (currently Meelo is in the lead)

Meelo and Sokka are a disaster together; the sheer chaos they can and will cause is through the roof

thinks of Ikki as a female version of Aang; also like to cause trouble together, but mostly through pranks

likes to poke fun at Jinora about her spiritual connection, but he's really proud of her when she gets her airbender tattoos

Sokka: jfdslkjh go Jinora fksdljg

Kya: Uncle are you crying

Sokka, sniffling: nO-

Give me Sokka interacting with his nieces and nephews he’d be such a good uncle spirits please

definitely thinks Kai is not good enough for his grandniece

very wary of Wu, doesn't like him at first

Sokka: he's an entitled royal brat with no manners

Katara: so were you, but without the royal part

Sokka: *offended noises*

Would absolutely be best friends with Pabu and Naga; jokes that he loves them more than their owners

Sokka would be super into probending and would probably even buy a team; but that's a post for another time

Liked the Black Quarry Boar-q-pines, but when Korra joined the Fire Ferrets, he started rooting for them

he's the first one to notice how close Asami and Korra are

Asami and Korra: *smile at each other*

Sokka: oh??? what's this????

when Mako goes through the awkward phase with Asami and Korra after that whole love triangle shitshow, Sokka tells him about his own love struggles

Asami and Korra: we're together now <33

Sokka: KNEW IT

[lin-nin]

WIPs

A list of my current WIPs that I keep updated so you can know what the hell is going on with me

Multi Chapter Works

Tribulation & Tenderness -Technoblade x Reader, Royal Kingdom AU - 12 Chapters done of 34 currently planned

A Mother’s Love & Grief - Philza x Reader (With Adoptive Children!SBI Dynamics), Semi-Canon Compliant - 1 Chapter done of 4 planned

A Doctor Can’t Heal a Ghost - Ghostbur x Reader/Wilbur x Reader, Canon Compliant - Just Vibing, no solid plans or promises here

Green with Envy - Dream x Reader & Sam x Reader, Canon Compliant - 0 Chapters done of 7 planned,  NSFW

Oneshots

Red-Handed - Philza x Reader, Canon Compliant - NSFW - Philza catches reader getting themselves off

Control - Pogtopia Era Wilbur x Reader, Canon Compliant - NSFW - Wilbur is desperate to feel even a drop of control

Paper Crowns - Technoblade x Reader, Canon Compliant - SFW - Reader makes matching paper crowns for them and Techno

Parental Tendencies - Philza x Reader, Canon Compliant (Pre-Dream SMP) - NSFW - Philza can’t help himself sometimes when he sees reader taking care of his son

Solace - Wilbur x Reader, Canon Compliant - NSFW - Wilbur Makes sure reader feels loved and safe following an argument with their brother

Unnamed - James x Reader, Canon Compliant - NSFW/SFW (Undecided) - No solid idea, haven’t watched the Masquerade yet

To Have and To Hold - Technoblade x Reader, Canon Compliant - NSFW - Soft First time with Techno

In Your Arms - Technoblade x Reader,  Canon Compliant - Mostly SFW, Implied NSFW & Making out - Cuddling and Making out with Buff!Techno

Insecurities - Technoblade x Reader, Canon Compliant - SFW - Reader is self-conscious and Techno shares the feelings but makes sure they know they’re loved all the same

Winding Down - Technoblade x Reader, Canon Compliant - Implied NSFW - Techno and reader take a hot bath together to relax after a training session

Worship & Prayer - Badboyhalo x Reader, Canon Compliant - NSFW - BBH & Reader get a bit too into it & heated while visiting the egg

Nesting - Philza x Reader, Canon Compliant - SFW - Philza comforts reader with some cuddles on a bad day

Breakfast - Technoblade x Reader, Platonic: Eret/Wilbur/Tommy/Tubbo/Philza x Reader, T&T Universe - SFW - Breakfast and morning goofing off with your husband and in-laws

Facade - Technoblade x Reader, Canon Compliant - SFW - The Butcher Army takes reader hostage to get control over Techno

Trust Issues - Sapnap x Reader, Canon Compliant - SFW - Dream’s betrayal has left Sapnap apprehensive and he doesn’t realize how bad it got. 

Homecoming - Fundy x Reader, Canon Compliant - NSFW - Fundy comes home to find Reader behaving in ways he finds far too appealing

Headcanons/Drabbles

Clingy Techno

Their perfect date - Puffy, Wilbur, Eret, Schlatt

Timelord!Reader Reuniting with someone from their past - Romantic!Wilbur, Platonic!Tommy, Platonic!Technoblade, Platonic!Philza, Platonic!Ranboo

Ghost!Reader with their S/O from when they were alive - Schlatt, Wilbur, Dream

Witch!Reader with the Arctic North - Platonic!Tommy, Platonic!Philza, Platonic!Ghostbur, Platonic!Technoblade

Comforting their S/O after a nightmare - Sam, Eret, Techno, Dream, Wilbur, Quackity, Sapnap

When their S/O (or friend) takes their accessories - Sapnap, Sam, Eret, Platonic!Ranboo, Techno, Dream, George, Wilbur, Quackity, Philza, Fundy, Platonic!Tommy, Platonic!Tubbo

Caring for their S/O after a non-fatal injury - Eret, Philza, Sam, Puffy, Sapnap

Protecting their S/O - Technoblade, Wilbur, Eret, Sam, Philza

Their S/O giving a new pet their attention - Sapnap, Sam, Nihachu, Dream

Having a over dramatic and romantic S/O - George, Wilbur, Technoblade, Punz

Philza accidentally killing the second oldest member on the server (Platonic & Romantic)

How they annoy their S/O - Puffy, Quackity, Slimecicle, Foolish

Bad reacting to his S/O breaking free of the Egg’s influence

Philza and Techno’s S/O while Techno is hibernating (Platonic + Romantic)

[jonah-aesthetic]

Patronus  Jonah Marais/ WIP

Jonah Marias X Harlow Darling 

Plot: Having mutual friends doesn't mean they're friends. Although after helping his sister out of an unfortunate situation. Jonah offers her a deal she couldn't give up. 

A/N: Since the only thing on my Tik Tok fyp is Draco Malfoy. I thought of continuing this fic. although the Why Don't We boys are on hiatus at the moment so I dont know if I should. 

The corridors of this ancient school gave me a sense of safety and home. At least I think this is what home felt like. My black robe flowed around me in almost angel like wings, as I carried out my Prefect duties. Night patrol Just past curfew to see if anyone dared to disobey the time. 

Both of my parents came from wealthy pure blood families. Because of it my family has been well known throughout the wizarding world. The name Darling had been carried out for centuries. It didn't exactly mean I despise the name, just that I wasn't proud to have it. For decades it has been an excuse to gain disgusting power. 

The name Darling meant I had to chose every decision I make carefully. I usually keep my image clean for my family, but for some damn reason it’s hard for my younger brother to do so. Hunter needed a leash quick or we might just end up on the daily prophet soon. 

With the way my father had presented our family you would’ve thought we belonged to a Slytherin family. Pure bloods who were overly formal and sleek, who happen to have high jobs and connections with in the ministry of magic. I didn't enjoy portraying myself as one of them but at the end of the day I am one of them. It ran through my blood with each heart beat.  

Night patrol was a fairly easy job, make sure no students we out after curfew and reported anything out of the ordinary to professor Mcgnagall. On a good day it took an hour to cover the school grounds with my best friend Jack who just happened to be the 2nd prefect. Now it took 30 minutes since we decided to split up, cutting patrol in half for us. After the Griffindor prefects complained we were goofing around and not caring enough about prefect duties. 

I didn’t see the big deal, there wasn’t much to patrol. Unless you wanted to yell at some mice who most definitely belonged a couple Hufflepuffs. Gabbie was a high tailed pure blood who should’ve been in Slytherin anyways. Well it’s that or she’s jealous of how close me and Jack are, after all she does fancy him to a great extend. 

Although I think it’d be easier to ask Jack and Daniel, the first prefect from Griffindor to switch places. Slytherin and Hufflepuff swap quidditch players often for practice when one has class or detention I don’t see the harm in it. 

Hearing younger voices grabbed my attention, with quick feet I walked towards the commotion. Coming up to the corner I block myself from view trying to get a better sense on the situation, peeking around I could see 4 younger students cornered a timid girl with wands held out towards her. They smiled with confidence as they watched her tremble.  

“..It’s funny how you think you're one of us mudblood.” 

“You know it’s unheard of for Slytherin to have non-magical parents right?” 

What surprised me most was the ones holding the wands were ravenclaws. I remembered them from the ceremony and I’ve seen them around here and there. This behaviour was an automatic detention, students were forbade to threaten each other with magic. 

Pulling my dark mahogany wand from my boot I uncovered myself. shouting “Expelliarmus!” an almost effortless defence wand cast. Several sparks ignited from the end of my wand, knocking theirs out of hand and clanging to the other side of the hall. startled, squeaky gasps fell from their lips right before the attention was on me. I watched as the potential alpha’s eyes flicked from villain to victim in 0.2 seconds.

The thing with self-absorbed pure bloods was you had to hold higher authority or they’d eat you for breakfast. I know because I was one. I held that high-tailed blood in my expression before. I only had acquaintances then, most students feared me. After awhile I began to dread the feeling.  

“We know the rules, we’re defending ourselves.” One of the Ravenclaw boys spoke up, his eyes holding so much promise I almost believed the kid. The timid Slytherin looked at her shoes not daring to look at me. Telling me that the boys got away with this often. 

I laughed at them humorously, “Detention all of you, I don’t believe your pity act. I witnessed what you did and frankly I’m not gonna let it slide.” I said with smooth tongue as I shrugged my shouldered at them. 

Their faces dropped as they looked at me in shock. “B-but we didn’t-”  

“Drop the act, remember your blood Isn’t gonna take you that far. 50 points from Ravenclaw for each of you. Don’t bother arguing and head back to the common room.” 

The shock was noticeable through their body language. One opened their mouth and then closed it again not daring to say anything. One soon scurried to their wand and took off into the direction of the Ravenclaw's common room. The rest followed in a matter of seconds. I smiled to myself, mission accomplished.

The Slytherin girl finally looked at me, Her eyes full of fear. “I get detention as well?” her voice was so soft and timid I almost didn’t catch it. With a warm smile I shook my head gently. “Oh god no, Honey you didn’t do anything wrong.” 

Her expression was soft as a small smile reached her lips, as she breathed in a few sniffles. She had been previously crying, causing her green eyes to dull. 

“What’s your name?” I asked her with a brighter smile. 

“Svea Marais” Her tiny voice more audible then before. 

“I’m Harlow Darling” I responded. 

Her eyes lightened up, matching the colour on her headband. “Like the Darling Royal Family?” She asked with fully curiosity. I kept smiling at her even though I was reminded of something I wasn’t fond of sharing.  

“Yeah” I replied knowing she was getting more comfortable with me. Letting her focus on me rather then the Ravenclaw’s words. 

“You seem different then them.” 

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” I ask her playfully, knowing the answer

"Definitely  good." She responded with tiny giggle that made me adore her.

I continued to smile at her as a comfortable silence came over us. We looked at each in an almost admiration. I felt the need to be someone she would look up to, like I couldn't let her down. As if she were a younger sibling. 

“Come on Svea, I’ll walk you to Slytherin dungeon.” I spoke softly after awhile,

“Okay” She had said following behind me. Slowing my steps slightly so she would catch up and walk beside me rather then behind me. The corridors of this massive castle were long and dark, lit only my torches on the sides of the walls. Our detestation wasn’t too far from where we had been. 

“Wanted to thank you Harley, for not choosing their side. It happens often you know, being a mudblood and all.” Looking at Svea I caught a sad smile graze her lips. My heart wrenched at the sight. 

“Svea It’s not right nor was it okay what they said to you. You’re a witch just as much as I am, your blood doesn’t make you anything less.” 

We were coming up to the dungeon quickly, as she stopped a few feet away. “Thank you, I appreciate what you said.” Her green eyes sparkled as her frame became less timid. “Don’t be a stranger, come to me if you need anything.” I started stepping away, putting distance between us. 

“I will.” and with that I turned away, heading back to Ravenclaw tower. Which had been across the castle, but at this moment it didn’t bother me. 

Walking into the common run I come to discover my best friend since we were five, Jack. He sat on the royal blue couch his head rested on the back of it. His attention on the charmed ceiling. Which represented a set of constellations somewhere in the world. The stars would instantly connected after he named them off silently. His Corgi Companion Lucifer was fast asleep in his lap, light snores emitting off him. I couldn't but awe at the small pooch. 

“Hey dork” I spoke playfully. He whispered a startled ‘Vanish’, and the charmed ceiling began to scramble for a fresh collection of constellation. He looked at me in relief, “What took you so damn long?” It was more of a whine more then a question. As if he was bored for the last hour rather them 20 minutes.  

I sat down on the left of him as the right was already taken. I sighed, “Well lets see, I gave detention to a few Ravenclaw boys. As well as took their wands out of the kindness of my heart.” 

“Finally putting your foot down huh?” He teased raising his eyebrows at me. 

“Hey I Can bite back, for your information” 

“I know, I remember that time last year. All I’m saying is you don’t like to, because you're the Ravenclaw princess.” I rolled my eyes at him cause I wouldn’t exactly use that word, but he was right nonetheless. 

“What was so ‘horrible’ that made you go all Royal blood?” 

“They were threating a Slytherin Muggle-born, wands held to her throat. Poor girl was trembling, I would never stand for anything like that.” I said my breath a little shaky as I was raddle about it. 

“Hey It’s okay.” Jack says reassuring me, his eyes go soft as he reaches for my hand and squeezes a pulse. He’s done that ever since I could remember every time he senses my nerves going haywire. which wasn’t too often. It never failed to put me at ease. 

“You did every thing you could.” 

“I know, I just feel like I could do more, I mean they called her a mudblood for god sakes.” He pulses again, his hand in mine was comforting and warm. More platonic than romantic. 

A beige blob in the distance take my attention from gentle brown eyes. It was Denrick my Siamese cat, my companion, and my support. a tiny meow rumbles through this body after I make eye contact with his piercing blue eyes.  

  “What was her name?” Jack’s voice become more tender towards me. 

“Svea Marais.” 

Jack is quiet for a little bit after that, like I had done something wrong. The feeling of Denrick’s soft paws in my lap made me jump a little. He wasn’t fazed by it was her curled up and began to purr. I petted him subconsciously, It’s almost therapeutic.

“Did I say something wrong?” I asked cautiously,  Jack looked away suddenly entertained by a bookshelf. 

“No, Um She’s Jonah’s younger sister.” 

Of course she is, how the hell did I not put it together? They had the exact same eyes, the bright green intensity. 

“He’s gunna come and look for you.” 

I swallow Thickly, “I Know” 

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

All I could remember was the red bird that caught fire. Flying over head screeching before soaring through the sky graciously. spreading it’s wings full and bursting into flame. 

It was a dream, because I was sudden heaving in bed as Christina, one of my first friends at Hogwarts. Looks at me with full concern and worry. “Phoenix” My voice raspy. 

“I don’t understand.” 

Catching my breathing, I choked a little. “I saw a phoenix in my dream, I think it was a sign or a symbol. Do you know anyone with a Phoenix Patronus?”  

Patronus guardians take the shape of an animal the castor shares the most resemblance with. In a sense it’s kind like a spirit animal. If the castor had the skills to become an animagus their form and patronus guardian would share the same animal. Which is by far the best part of being a witch. 

“At the moment, I have no idea. Although I do know we definitely should prepare for breakfast.” She holds out a hand for me to take, “What time is it?” 

“6:50″ 

“Guess you were right.” I said placing my hand in hers as she pulls my tired ass out of bed. 

--------

 Christina walks ahead of me into the great hall as I fall behind fixing the blue and bronze tie. The loud chatter from inside made me miss my bed. Although the delicious scent of pancakes made my stomach growl.

“Darling what the hell is taking so long!” It wasn’t a question, but a demand. 

“Calm down I’m fixing my tie, it was lose.” 

Christina looks at me un amused and rolls her eyes at me dramatically. I shrug at her before grabbing her arm and began to kidnap her to the Ravenclaw table where I saw a certain curly headed boy. “Sucks you can’t sit with your boyfriend today.” I say taking a seat in front of Jack. 

[saikokirakira]

Sunshine Naps (Pillow Talk series)

AN: Let’s see if y’all are still here after me being MIA since... forever. I’m really proud of this one since the Yoongi one, so be... EXTRA NICE. I wrote the Pillow Talk WIP for Jungkook, then Taehyung, then Hobi, yet I finished Hobi’s first. Sooo, I may be posting Jungkook’s next week... if you guys are really nice. Also, I took way too long trying to embed a damn imgur gif of 190823 Jay but gave up because ya ghorl sucks at HTML, so I settled for the regular search gifs... at least the orientation remains uniform to the others.

Now, enough ellipses, onto the fic!

[Hoseok]

Fluff, implied smut(?), 190823 Hobi (YES, THAT REQUIRES A WARNING); 1.4k words

In the early stages of dating Hoseok, it mostly consisted of me just noticing the little things about him. He is not a picky eater, but he is sensitive to the taste of anything he drinks, whether it be water, juice, alcohol. He makes his famous sound effects when he finds something adorable, something I thought he only did on-screen but is an actual personal habit. He sleep-talks when he is absolutely tired but settles for non-coherent mumbles on okay days.

I don’t seem to remember a day that Hoseok didn’t make me laugh or smile ever since he told me he was interested in us being… more than friends. Even on busy days or during comeback season, he’d always send me at least one text a day just asking how I was and was never short of his sunshine personality. My personal favourites were the videos of him just goofing around. For some reason, Jimin and Taehyung found out about our little routine, and soon enough, they would also send me funny pictures of Hoseok making faces at rehearsal or him snoozing in a corner.

Though Hoseok can have his low moments, he always tries to pull himself up by making me smile. “Seeing you smile makes me feel better,” he once said. “You’re my sunshine.”

I may have shoved Hoseok off his seat out of embarrassment back then. Once he knew my little ticks, he would never stop reminding me how I affected him as much as he affected me. It was safe to say that I was absolutely smitten with my very own sunshine, and even though I never told him that, he knew. He just knew.

Almost half a year in our relationship, both of us were contented with the usual sleepovers with heated make out sessions. Then again, he would be too busy with training and I, battered from working late nights at my desk job. We didn’t mind one bit. We were just glad that we got to cheer each other up after a long day at work.

Fortunately, he had an entire month-long break, and with much pleading to my boss, I managed to take a couple weeks off work. Luckily, it matched the day that Hoseok would arrive back from L.A. Since he wouldn’t arrive ‘til after lunch, I had an early brunch with Ji Woo to drop Mickey because she was going out of the country for vacation as well.

Ji Woo didn’t stay long and left shortly after brunch after giving goodbye cuddles to Mickey. She mentioned something about having to sort out her wardrobe and going back to her parents’ house before she left for the airport. Afterwards, it was just me and Mickey alone in Hoseok’s personal apartment.

“Are you up for a nap, Mickey?” I asked him, playing with the little ponytail on the top of his head. We weren’t necessarily close yet, but he knew that he would get pets and cuddles when I mentioned ‘nap.��

Mickey silently hopped on the couch and nestled himself on my stomach. I closed my eyes and got on to petting and scratching Mickey while humming some songs that randomly popped up in my mind. The repetitive movement and humming only made me drowsier until I actually fell sleep.

“Shh! Mickey, don’t wake her up!”

With my eyes still closed, I couldn’t help but smile after finally hearing Hoseok’s voice that wasn’t through the phone. I heard some faint rustling before I felt him sit on the edge of the couch. Then I felt a feathery kiss land on my lips, forcing me to open my eyes.

Holy shit.

“What on earth are you wearing?” I blurted out, my cheeks aflame.

“I went straight here from the airport,” Hoseok explained. “I wanted to see you as soon as possible, so I thought I’d change here.”

“You wore that from L.A. to Incheon?” I sat up and pointed around his outfit, which was literally just a denim jacket that he didn’t even button all the way through, revealing his chest and lower abdomen, and loose shorts that snuck a peek of his Balenciaga boxers.

Hoseok paused before smiling cheekily. “Yes?”

I blinked at disbelief. Without much thought, I pulled on the collars of his jacket and crashed my lips to his. In the middle of his surprise, I maneuvered him to sit on the couch and me on his lap.

My fingers wandered down to the buttons of his jacket and undid them, and when I got his chest exposed, I had my palms splayed over his bare heated flesh. When my fingertips not-so-accidentally grazed Hoseok’s nipple, he hissed as he tried to hold back a moan, pulling away against my lips. Still drowning in my lustful daze, I focused my attention to his neck, sucking and nibbling at the skin.

“[Y/n],” Hoseok moaned.

At the sound of my name, I snapped out of it, pulling away, but remained seating on his lap and on his very noticeable and still growing… friend. Those shorts were definitely not hiding anything. I looked up to Hoseok’s face and instantly wanted to jump out the window.

Hoseok had his signature surprised expression. I wasn’t sure if it was from the surprise of me jumping him out of nowhere, which was something I never did, or from our heated make-out session. Judging from his extremely flushed face and dilated pupils, I’m riding on the former.

“Do… do you wanna take this in there?” he asked, tilting his head in the direction of his bedroom.

Without hesitation, I answered, “Yes.”

It was only one round, but it was one very, very long round.

Hoseok was very unforgiving in trying to pry noises of all sorts of volume out of my mouth by feeling every inch of my body whether it be by his fingers or his mouth. Though I already knew he was fond of his sound effects, I was quite surprised over how vocal he was in bed. As if it was a contest, he would make sure I would moan louder than him, yet he couldn’t help moaning praises to me as well in the midst of it all.

By the time we were done, both of us were drenched in sweat. My head rested on Hoseok’s chest that was still rising and falling quite fast as we tried to catch our breath. He grabbed my hand from his abdomen and pulled it to his lips.

“So, we did that.”

“Yeah.” I hummed in reply, snuggling closer to him.

Hoseok chuckled and pulled me slightly up so he can shower feather kisses all over my face. “You did great, sunshine,” he whispered.

I preened at both the praise and the use of the nickname. I didn’t even have the heart to argue. He did most of the work – enjoyed it actually. Who knew those hips were lethal? Those Baepsae fancams couldn’t hold a flame to what I experienced a few minutes ago.

“Are you tired?” Hoseok asked.

“Aren’t you? That was a long flight you had. I should’ve let you rest,” I said, now sounding more concerned.

Hoseok just smiled and entwined our fingers together. “Don’t worry about it,” he chuckled. “I really did miss you. Who cares if I’m tired?” Suddenly, a yawn escaped him. “Okay, maybe a nap is in order.”

I laughed and closed my eyes. “Sleep then. I’ll be here,” I said, listening to his now steady heartbeat as a lullaby. Without realizing, I started to hum the first song that popped in my head.

After the chorus, Hoseok asked sleepily, “What song is that?”

“Hmm?” I replied in an equally sleepy tone.

“What song are you humming?”

I paused, trying to remember through my sleepy daze. “’Balisong,’” I answered after pondering. “By Rivermaya, I think?”

“Sing it to me.”

“Your face  Lights up the sky on the highway  Someday—”

I paused and began laughing softy when I forgot the lyrics straight from the beginning. As I rubbed my thumb over the center of Hoseok’s chest, I decided to just hum the rest of the first verse. It has been so long since I’ve heard this song, and with it coming out of the blue, only the chorus was clear to me… because it reflected how much I loved Hoseok.

“Never in my life have I been more sure  So come on up to me and close the door  Nobody's made me feel this way before  You're everything I wanted and more”

[bookenders]

HELLO YES I LOVE THESE ADORABLE PROMPTS PLZ GIMME FLUFF. 8 with Fred!!! I dunno who's first job it is but!! Whoever you think would fit!!!

[Send me numbers and make me write fluff!]

QUILL!! HELLO!! I would love to write some Fred fluff for you!

And guess what? This one is canon! And it echoes the first scene of the story! Weee!

(Now I wanna write a Mel and Fred one, because holy crap their interactions would be pure gold.)

(Oh no, this got long. Like, way longer than I expected. Gotta make room for all those feels, I guess.)

8. It’s A’s first day of work and they’re nervous, but never to fear, B is here

A: Gemma | B: Fred

It’s normal to be concerned about her, especially when she’s the only kid in town who appreciates his blog. That’s the excuse he gave Mary, anyway. Otherwise she would have told him to stay home and not bother the poor girl until tomorrow. Gemma would be stressed enough as is, what with it being her first day on the job. And at fifteen, no less.

Fred assumed that being an apothecary was complicated. If he had a very complicated job like that, he would want someone to check in on him to make sure he was okay.

So he knocked on Gemma’s door and hoped she wouldn’t mind him stopping by.

The door swung open and there she stood, bright smile painted on her face and eyes strained with a little bit of fear.

Her whole expression slipped into mild confusion when she saw Fred standing there. “Oh! Hi Mr. Coriander. I wasn’t expecting you.”

Fred blinked. Wasn’t she the doctor? If she was open, she should at least expect people to show up, right? Ah, well, must be the nerves. Sometimes they get the words all jumbled in your head.

“Just stopping by to check in on ‘ya, Miss Gemma.”

“Aw, you didn’t have to do that,” she said, and shuffled back, gesturing for him to come in.

“‘Course I did. Got to make sure our doc is tip-top.”

Inside, the air was warm and smelled like peppermint. A fire crackled in the living room hearth. In the middle of the room, the couch was draped in long loose-knit blankets, all cozy autumn colors. A collection of bottles, jars, and test tubes covered the kitchen counter.

She was prepared, all right. Maybe a little too prepared.

“Hah, right,” Gemma said, voice strained and thin. After shutting the door, she flit over to the counter and started adjusting the bottles and bits and bobs of her craft, moving this one an inch to the left, swapping that one with the one over there, turning labels to face outward and lining up pipettes to the tips were all even.

“You okay there, kiddo?”

“Me? Oh, yeah, definitely. Very okay. Right as rain, you know.” 

“You seem a but nervous.”

Gemma turned and made a face. Fred wasn’t sure what kind, exactly, but it didn’t look very comfortable.

“Nervous? Nah. Not at all. Look how prepared I am! I can’t be nervous when I have everything I need right here.”

Fred wasn’t buying it. And that was saying something. He once gave his e-mail address to one of those clipboard people outside the grocery store. He was still getting spam years later. Maybe Gemma could help him set up one of those filter things later.

But back to the point.

Fred sighed and adjusted the collar on his polo shirt. Gemma’s eyes went straight to his forearm.

“Hold on, what’s that?” She stepped closer and leaned in to examine the angry red flush of his skin.

“What’s what?” He turned his arm and scrunched his eyebrows. “Oh. Just something I noticed this morning after my walk by the lake.”

Gemma looked up at him, none too amused.

“And you didn’t think to tell me about this?” she asked, pointing at the rash.

“I was just coming by to wish you luck.” Fred rubbed the back of his neck and ogled his shoes. He always forgot about things like this, ones that might be important if only he could remember ‘em.

“Have a seat, Mr. Coriander.” 

“But I-”

“No buts,” she said. “Sit.”

As Fred made himself comfortable on the couch, Gemma slipped on a pair of green non-latex gloves and rifled through her special pantry behind the kitchen. She came back out holding a small jar with a duct-tape and sharpie label. 

She smiled and tapped the top. “Witch hazel,” she said with a smile. “Excellent for stuff like this itchy mess.”

“Who’re you callin’ a mess?” Fred asked, his smile quirked with teasing.

Unscrewing the cap, Gemma sat down on the coffee table and playfully nudged his shin with her foot. “No one, mess-ioeur.” 

She probably got that sass from Jill. They’d been spending more time together lately. It was good for them, but the detriment of everyone else in town. Trouble makers, the both of ‘em.

Gemma dabbed her fingers in the ointment and held Fred’s arm with her other hand. With careful sweeps, she began to rub the ointment onto the rash.

The itch started to fade as soon as she touched him.

“This stuff works like magic, kiddo.”

“I know, right? It’s one of mom’s old recipes. Most of the basic stuff is. You should see what I can do with some foxglove extract. It’d blow your mind.” 

Smiling seemed to come easier to her now. There was none of that strained business happening like before. She was in her element, doing what she loved best.

“Now where did you run into poison ivy? By the lake?”

Fred sighed. “I knew I shouldn’t have gone off the path, but there was this cluster of mushrooms just a few yards off or so. I only wanted to take a peek at ‘em. Didn’t notice the itchin’ until I got home.”

“You could’ve called me, you know. Or told me when you got here.”

“Naw,” Fred said, flapping his free hand. “Didn’t wanna bother you.”

“Mr. Coriander, it’s literally my job to do this. And you’re never a bother.”

“Thanks, kiddo.”

It doesn’t take long for her to finish up. She wraps his arm in soft bandages and pats the end so it sticks to itself. “So you don’t scratch,” she said with a gentle smile.

Fred returns it and pats her shoulder. “Thank you.”

Taking a deep breath, Gemma looks up at Fred, suddenly sheepish.

“I was sort of losing it earlier, huh?”

Fred takes her hand in his and pats it. “We all do, sometimes. But you’ve got this.” He looks pointedly at his wrapped arm. “There’s your proof.”

She pulls her hand away and wraps him in a hug, mindful of his arm. “Thank you, Mr. Coriander.”

Fred holds her tight for a moment, then lets go. “I won’t keep you any longer. Far be it from me to get in the way of a doctor and her patients.”

“If you insist,” she said and walked him to the door.

Fred stopped at the edge of the porch and turned back to Gemma, who was still watching him go from the door. “Now do as Mary would say and make yourself some tea to calm those wayward jitters.”

She laughed and leaned against the door, brushing her curls out of her face. “Will do.”

They waved, and he turned down the road toward home.

Through the window, he saw Gemma take a deep breath and put the kettle on, lips pursed as though she were humming her favorite song.

Nothing to worry about with that one.

She was a good kid. 

Oh no, it’s too cute. I can’t with Fred. The hapless goof is too good-hearted.

Sometimes you need a reminder that you can do what you’re afraid of. That you’re strong enough to deal with what shakes you.

WIP Intro Post | H2H WIP Tag | Character Page | WIP Page | PowerPoint Intro

Character Tags: Gemma | Mel | The Ladies | Fred Coriander | Officer Oz

OC Intros: Harry | Mary | Oz | Jill | Treena | Fred | Gemma | Mel

H2H Tag List: @katekyo-bitch-reborn, @cawolters, @wasting-ink-not-youth, @quilloftheclouds, @snickertoodles, @mvcreates, @writeness, @half-explored, @dc-writes, @aslanwrites, @minusfractions, @purpleshadows1989, @royalbounties, @waterfallwritings, @the-clockwork-anything, @kriss-the-writing-nerd, @abalonetea, @timefirewrites, @tricksexual, @introspective-outreach

[Let me know if you want to be added or removed!]

[pertinax--loculos]

Charade

|| cuz all we are is what we're told / and most of that's been lies ||

[WIP: Hellbent]

Words: 1833

POV: Raleigh

Content Warnings: drug use (pills)

Context: Raleigh has Dash hidden in his pool house after Dash suffered an incident the previous night. Jasper has just warned him that Kennedy and Monica are on their way to see him.

Notes: Takes place very early in the Plot - this is only Raleigh's fourth or fifth interaction with Dash. And say hi to Kennedy! Unfortunately like 95% of her arc is spoileriffic, so I can't post a lot about her atm. :(

First draft, excuse typos and the fact I'm freaking in love with filler words etc etc. Also can't cut for the moment cuz can't figure out how to do read mores on mobile and don't have a computer eeeeek

Also related to this post.

***

[Raleigh] broke off as he heard the crunch of gravel from the front of the pool house. "That'll be them," he said. "Look, I've told them you're my cousin from out of town and you got into some trouble last night so I had to hide you down here. Okay?" He fumbled with the sliding door's latch, sudden anxiety making his fingers cumbersome.

"Them?" Dash sounded nonplussed.

"Kennedy and her friend Monica," Raleigh said over his shoulder, ducking back into the house just as there was a rap on the front door.

He took a moment just before he opened it, forcing the nervousness down and away and plastering a smile on his face.

"Hey guys!"

Kennedy smiled back as Monica weaved a little, clearly trying to look past him into the house. "Hey. Were you expecting us?"

"Yeah, Jaz called to let me know." He heard the porch door slide shut and stepped back, waving them in. "Sorry for all the secrecy, it's just if Mum and Dad find out what happened I'll never hear the end of it."

"What did happen?" Kennedy said. Raleigh managed to block Monica as she tried to dodge around them in the narrow hall.

"Um, it's kinda a long story," he said. "He got in, uh, kinda a scrape, so his face is a bit messed up. Just don't say anything, okay?"

That got him two skeptical looks; he decided to distract them before the questions started, striding into the main room.

"Anyway, guys, this is Daniel. Daniel, this is Kennedy, my girlfriend, and Monica. Another friend from College."

Kennedy stepped past him to approach Dash, who was watching her with an odd intensity. He ignored Monica as she joined Kennedy in front of him.

"Nice to meet you," Kennedy said cordially.

"Pleasure." Dash managed to make the word sound like the exact opposite of its meaning. Raleigh ran a hand through his hair to stop himself burying his face in his hands.

"Any family of Raleigh's is a friend of ours," Monica chirped, apparently oblivious to the tension crackling between the other two. She crept further into Kennedy's personal space, forcing Dash to drag his eyes away from Kennedy to her. "So what brings you to town?"

"Oh, y'know." Dash shrugged and swiped a hand over his face. "Church business."

"Oh?" Monica sounded unduly curious, nudging Kennedy away as she put herself more directly in his eyeline. "What kind?"

Raleigh opened his mouth to interject but Dash beat him to it.

"Our Chapter has been having a bit of trouble with our brainbent institution. Nothing serious, not yet, but Archbishop Nielsen is getting a bit concerned. Carcerum is not only the biggest institution in the country, but it's also the best run and the most secure. I'm in the process of being inducted into the Brotherhood, so Deacon Anthony decided that part of my exam would be to come over here and have a look at how Deacon McCarthy runs things, see if there's any procedures we could adopt to improve security."

Raleigh was glad the girls had their back to him, because he wasn't able to keep the shock off his face. He snapped his mouth closed but continued to stare at Dash incredulously. Not only was the story entirely feasible, but Dash had used absolutely perfect terminology and just the right combination of exasperated respect to sell the idea that, despite his apparent misbehaviour of the previous night, he was still a devout Member. If Raleigh didn't know better even he would've been fooled.

Dash's eyes found his over Kennedy's shoulder, and he smirked.

"Plus, I've picked up a few... bad habits, in recent years. I think Priest Canton is hoping that spending time with Raleigh will help."

Monica leaned forward. "Oh, I'm sure they're not all bad." She lowered her voice confidentially. "I could take some time to show you around, if you like. Show you... the ropes."

Raleigh seriously doubted Dash could miss the subtext of the suggestion. It was barely even subtext. He chewed the inside of his cheek, wondering how on earth he was going to mitigate this disaster. Everything he had learned about non-Members and their tendency for promiscuity leapt to the forefront of his mind. There was no way Dash would turn down an offer like that, and how on earth Raleigh would even begin to explain to Monica who he actually was-

"Thanks for the offer," Dash said. "But I'm good." He looked over her shoulder at Raleigh again. "Shall we go? I doubt the Deacon will be happy if I'm late."

Raleigh blinked. That was unexpected. It took him a couple of moments to find his voice. "Uh, yeah, sure. That's fine. Kennedy?"

He touched her elbow and she turned towards him, a slight frown on her face.

"Is that okay? If I drop... Daniel off at Carcerum first?"

"Hmm?" Kennedy stared at him for a beat before her expression cleared. "Oh, yeah, that's fine. It's not super urgent."

"Okay." Raleigh smiled at her and leaned in to press his lips to hers.

After a couple of moments the sound of a door slamming startled them apart. Raleigh glanced around the room, confused.

"Where's D- where'd he go?"

Monica was watching them with her arms crossed, an impatient look on her face. "He stalked out. Apparently he isn't a huge fan of the PDA either." She grinned suddenly. "He's so interesting! How come you've never mentioned him before?"

Raleigh rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh, y'know. It's hard to stay in touch sometimes. I've got enough family in town, if I tried to keep track of the out of town ones as well even I'd be hopelessly lost."

Out of the corner of his eye he saw a line form between Kennedy's brows again, but at least Monica seemed satisfied with his answer. "Fair enough. You have to give me his number though. Obviously he's paranoid about his Archbishop finding out he was goofing off, but if I can catch him at a more appropriate time..." She wiggled her eyebrows.

Kennedy swatted her arm. "My goodness Monica, you are hopeless. Come on, we'd better let Ra take care of his responsibilities. See you at the dorms?"

This last was addressed to Raleigh; he nodded, not quite trusting his voice, and followed them from the house.

Monica beelined directly for Dash, who was slouched against the hood of Raleigh's car, looking at his phone. He glanced up briefly in acknowledgement when she halted in front of him.

"So nice to meet you, Daniel," she said, holding a hand out to him. "I hope you get to stick around for a while."

Dash's gaze was still cool, but he shook her hand. "We'll see."

Kennedy leaned towards Raleigh. "He's a bit rude, don't you think?"

Raleigh shrugged a little, fishing his keys out of his pocket. "Honestly, I barely know him," he said. "Just doing the familial obligation thing. Though he was more relaxed with just the two of us. Maybe you guys make him nervous?"

Kennedy hummed a little, that tiny frown back on her face. Then she shook her head sharply and kissed his cheek. "See you soon."

"Sure will."

Raleigh watched both of them get into Kennedy's small red convertible, keeping his eye on that until it disappeared around the bend in the driveway, before he finally looked back at Dash.

He was watching him; to Raleigh's surprise he looked away before their eyes met. "We going or what?"

Raleigh unlocked the car and took a deep breath, tamping down his frustration and confusion before he angled in next to Dash.

"What the heck was that?" he said as he started down the driveway.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Dash glance at him. He was still and silent for a beat before he shifted, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his pill bottle. "What was what?"

All of it. Raleigh stopped at the end of the driveway to look at him. Dash steadfastly avoided his gaze, his entire focus on tapping a number of pills out into his palm.

Baby steps. He still barely knew Dash, and there could be myriad reasons for his sudden caginess. Up to and including Kennedy and Monica's abrupt appearance genuinely making him nervous.

Raleigh pulled out onto the street. "Your story about the assignment for the Church. Where on earth did that come from?"

Dash threw the handful of pills into his mouth and helped himself to the bottle of water Raleigh kept in the cup holder. "Know your enemy."

"Know your- Dash, that was way more than just stuff you might've picked up that you thought could help someday. The Nielsens are a huge family, and I know there's at least one Archbishop among them. You didn't just pull that out of thin air."

Dash shrugged. He was facing away from Raleigh, staring out the window. "Or maybe your cult's whole hierarchy just isn't as unique or hard to figure out as you think it is."

Raleigh bristled at the word cult, biting down hard on the inside of his cheek to stop himself snapping. If he didn't want to talk about it, fine, but Raleigh wasn't going to be baited into starting an argument.

They were quiet for a few blocks.

"So, uh," Raleigh said, when the silence got too much for him, "What about Monica? I thought you'd jump at the chance to... you know, enjoy yourself."

Dash chuckled, a low, confidential sound that made Raleigh's fingers tighten involuntarily around the steering wheel. "She's not my type."

Raleigh glanced at him incredulously. "The totally hot chick who is clearly into you isn't your type? What, you mean you're one of those guys who only goes for blondes or something?"

Dash finally looked at him, and behind his bewilderment Raleigh was relieved to see the corner of his mouth quirking up. "Not exactly."

"Okay..." Raleigh frowned, trying to parse his meaning. "So what is it? Is she too tall? Too skinny?"

"It has nothing to do with body type." Dash was really amused now, laughing at some joke Raleigh wasn't in on.

"So what does it have to do with?" Raleigh eased the car to the curb in front of Dash's mansion, turning to look at him properly. His grin was infuriatingly wide.

"Like I said." Dash put his hand on the door handle. "Not my type. Thanks for the ride." He pushed the door open and climbed quickly out of the car.

Raleigh wound his window down. "Hey!"

Dash turned and raised an eyebrow at him.

"You're really not gonna tell me? You're just gonna, what, disappear and make me guess?"

"Damn straight, Pretty Boy." Dash winked at him and disappeared into the house.

Raleigh stared after him in utter bemusement for far too long, before he finally put the car back in gear and headed to the College.