#admiral markets time zone

[thesecondhandwoman]

can you make sevika having baby fever but is just so subtle about it because she doesnt want reader to find out? bonus if you'll also write about them finally having a baby in the end

BABY FEVER

Sevika x f!reader

Synopsis: Ever since you and Sevika had gone to the market and saw a small little bundle of joy, a tiny child, Sevika has been experiencing baby fever, but tried to hide as much as you tried to hide the fact you were pregnant.

Request: Anon 🤍

The bustling Undercity market was alive with energy, a chorus of voices rising and falling like a symphony Sevika had learned to navigate with ease. Stalls lined the cobblestone streets, hawking wares ranging from fresh produce to mechanical trinkets that sparked faintly in the dim light. You had begged her to accompany you here, and though Sevika wasn’t one to enjoy the chaos, she couldn’t deny you anything.

As you weaved through the crowd, her larger frame provided a shield against the jostling bodies. You stopped at a fruit stall, inspecting the goods and chatting with the vendor. Sevika stood close behind, her attention elsewhere—until she heard your soft, delighted laugh.

“Look at that baby, Sev!”

She followed your gaze and saw her: a chubby, gurgling baby nestled in her mother’s arms. The child cooed, her tiny hands reaching for her mother’s hair, and Sevika’s heart stuttered in her chest.

“She’s adorable,” you said, your voice tinged with that warm tone Sevika loved so much. You turned back to the vendor, but Sevika lingered, watching the baby with an intensity she couldn’t quite explain.

The rest of the day passed like any other, but something shifted in Sevika. She couldn’t stop thinking about the baby, the way you had looked at her with such soft admiration.

The change started subtly. Sevika wasn’t the kind of woman to wear her emotions on her sleeve, but she found herself lingering in certain moments more than usual. It began with your kitten, Smoky, a mischievous ball of gray fluff you’d taken in months ago.

“Sev, you’re spoiling her,” you teased one evening as Sevika sat on the couch, Smoky sprawled across her chest. She was gently stroking the kitten’s fur, her usual gruff expression softened into something unreadable.

“She likes it,” Sevika grunted, though her voice lacked its usual edge.

You tilted your head, watching her closely. Smoky purred loudly, oblivious to the unspoken shift between you and Sevika.

Then came the way she watched you, specifically your stomach. At first, you thought you were imagining it, but the lingering glances became impossible to ignore. She’d sit at the kitchen table, her eyes following you as you moved around the room, her gaze always flicking down to your midsection.

“Everything okay?” you asked one day, catching her in the act.

“Yeah,” she said quickly, looking away. “Just zoning out.”

Her tone was casual, but the faint blush dusting her cheeks told a different story.

Sevika also started spending more time near the market, a place she typically avoided unless absolutely necessary. She claimed it was for “supplies,” but you knew better. She’d linger by the square, watching the children playing with sticks and scraps, their laughter echoing through the streets.

What Sevika didn’t know was that you had a secret of your own. For weeks, you had been debating how to tell her, nervous and excited all at once. You were only a few months along, but the thought of becoming parents had filled you with a joy you couldn’t contain.

You noticed little changes in your body, like the way your clothes fit differently, the occasional bout of nausea that left you gripping the sink. Sevika, even as observant as she was, hadn’t seemed to catch on yet.

One afternoon, as you folded laundry in the bedroom, you found yourself holding one of Sevika’s shirts, her scent faint but familiar. You pressed it to your chest, imagining her holding your child, her strong arms cradling the tiny life you’d created together.

The thought had nearly brought tears to form in your eyes, and you knew it was time.

One evening, as you sat together in your small home, you decided it was time. Sevika was at the table, sharpening her prosthetic arm with practiced ease. Smoky was curled up in her usual spot by the fireplace.

“Sevika?” you called softly.

“Hm?” She didn’t look up, but her focus wavered, the sharpening tool pausing mid-stroke.

“I have something to tell you.”

Her brow furrowed, and she set the tool down, turning her full attention to you. “What’s up?”

You took a deep breath, your hands trembling slightly as you forced the words out of your mouth, “I’m pregnant.”

For a moment, Sevika didn’t move. Her expression was unreadable, her dark eyes fixed on you as if trying to process your words. Then, slowly, her lips parted.

“You’re serious?” Her voice was quiet, almost disbelieving.

You nodded, a smile breaking across your face. “I found out a few weeks ago. I was waiting for the right time to tell you.”

Sevika stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. She crossed the room in two long strides and pulled you into her arms, holding you tightly.

“You’re amazing,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “You’re so damn amazing.”

You laughed, tears welling in your eyes as you clung to her. “I was worried you’d be scared.”

“Scared?” She pulled back just enough to look at you, her hand resting gently on your stomach as tears began to form in her own eyes. “No. I’ve been thinking about this for weeks, since that day at the market. I just didn’t know how to bring it up.”

“You had baby fever?” you teased, your grin widening.

“Shut up,” Sevika muttered, though the corner of her mouth twitched into a smirk. “Fuck, baby, we are gonna be parents.”

Months passed in a blur of preparations and quiet excitement. Sevika was by your side through everything, her rough exterior melting away in private moments. She’d talk to your growing belly, her voice soft and full of wonder, and she never missed a single appointment.

When the day finally came, it was nothing short of chaos. The birth was long and grueling, but Sevika was there every step of the way, her strong hand gripping yours as you brought your child into the world.

“She’s beautiful,” Sevika whispered, her voice trembling as she cradled your newborn daughter in her arms. The baby yawned, her tiny fingers curling around Sevika’s prosthetic thumb, the sight nearly causing her to cry again.

You leaned against Sevika, exhausted but filled with a profound sense of love. “She looks like you.”

Sevika chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “Lucky kid.”

As you both sat there, your little family finally complete, Sevika realized she had never been happier.

A/N: I’m sorry this is so short, but I absolutely loved writing this cute, fluffy request.

[midnightstar16]

Whispers of Love: Ivar x Reader

Word count: 2.2k

Summary: Reader is new in Kattegat and catches the attention of a certain Ragnarsson.

Warnings: Assault, murder, slight swearing(i think)

You came to Kattegat just a couple days ago but it didn’t take much time at all for you to notice the famous sons of Ragnar Lothbrok. You only saw them from a safe distance as they talked to one another. You noticed one of the boys was crippled but not before you saw his face. You were in awe, to say the least. But your eyes must have lingered on him for quite some time for he met your gaze with an intense stare that sent chills down your spine. You never had more reason to leave and go back to the hut you were staying in.

You became an orphan at the mere age of 12 and had taken care of the farm for many years with your older brother. But the two of you had recently decided that you wanted a far more exciting future than just farming on the land so you sold the land and took the money to buy a hut and look after yourself just until you had settled in. You forgot about Ivar soon enough once you reached you new home and moved on with your new life.

A month passed by and living in Kattegat was so much more different than the farm. It was much louder, faster and there were more people than you could count. But it was not to your dislike, it was the contrary actually. You had started your training to be a physician and you were doing nicely. Everything was working out better than you or your brother could’ve imagined.

Ivar had not stopped thinking about you ever since that little eye contact in the market and it may have been a bit delusional of him to still believe that he would see you again. You were probably not even in Kattegat anymore because he could not find you anywhere. You were the first girl to look at him with such admiration and he drowned in your beauty the second he laid eyes on you.

During dinner he seemed to have zoned out because Sigurd had to throw some food at him to get his attention. Ivar was immediately annoyed and glared at him. Trying to stop himself from flinging his axe at his brother, he asked, “Why are you throwing food around like a child?”

“You wouldn’t listen. Had to do something to bring you back to Midgard,” he replied.

Ivar rolled his eyes, already feeling great anger towards his brother but before he could say anything, his mother interrupted, “We are celebrating Yol tomorrow.”

Ivar drowned in his thoughts once more. He would know if you were in Kattegat by tomorrow night. If you were in the town, then you would be at the feast and he would approach you. He wanted to know all there was to know about you; all the important and unimportant things of your life.

You and Kalf, your brother began cleaning up the plates and horns after dinner. You broke the silence, “It is Yol tomorrow. There will be a great feast.”

“Yes, I have not been in the Great Hall since the Thing, where I got my arm ring. Just thinking about the food that will be there makes me hungry all over again,” Kalf spoke excitedly.

“We have just had dinner, you fool. How are you always this hungry?” You spoke laughingly.

“Your cooking will make any man excited to eat something else,” he commented.

Gasping, you threw the nearest thing you could find at him at which he simply laughed. You spoke sarcastically, “I won’t make food for you if you really hate it that much.”

“Well, I mean it’s not THAT bad if I think about it,” he retaliated.

Smiling smugly, you spoke, “Better.”

The feast was spectacular. You sat on a different table from your brother though because you knew he would embarrass you the first chance he got. The food and the ale was so good you could feast all night. There was music as well and many were dancing to it but you weren’t drunk enough yet to give yourself away to the music. You simply talked and laughed with your newly made friends.

Looking around the hall, you suddenly noticed certain eyes on you and then the memory came back. Those blue piercing eyes and that face, he was perfect in every way. You maintained the eye contact for long, getting lost in his eyes until one of your friends whispered, “That’s Ivar. The crippled one.”

You looked at her. You had heard of Ragnar Lothbrok’s crippled son. The girl continued, “They say he is a menace, quicker to anger than most men, so don’t let his legs fool you and not only that, but I’ve heard that he is stronger and better at fighting than any of his brothers. Apparently he strangled a boar with his bare hands but that is probably not true.”

“Of course it is not true,” you scoffed. After waiting a second, you suggested, “Come, let us dance. The music is lovely.”

The both of you giggled and rushed to give yourself away to the music. You soon felt the beat through your veins and the rhythm matching with your heartbeat. You danced uncontrollably, partly because you wanted to see how the crippled prince would react, if at all. His eyes had barely faltered from you and it was making you uncomfortable but you didn’t want him to know that. You didn’t want him to know that he made you feel weak by simply looking at you but every now and then you would give him a glance.

You suddenly felt a hand around your waist. You didn’t know who the man was for you had never seen him. His hold on you was not budging when you struggled. His other hand was roaming at places on your body that made you terrified and the hall was crowded enough for no one to truly notice your struggle.

“Let go of me!” you said, struggling.

“Oh what’s a bit of harmless fun? Especially with a woman of your beauty,” the man spoke.

You felt tears welling up in your eyes as he continued to ‘dance’ and play around with your body until something that you hadn’t expected in a million years to happen. A knife suddenly struck his head as his eyes remained widened with shock. You quickly stepped away as his body fell to the ground. The tears ran down your face and you looked around trying to figure out who it was until you saw everyone looking at Ivar who was glaring at the man’s limp body. It was different to how he had looked at you in every singly way but you didn’t stay around to find out more. Feeling absolutely overwhelmed, you stormed out of the hall with Kalf following.

“What happened back there?” Kalf spoke worriedly.

“I-…” you hesitated. Before you could speak, your brother interrupted, “You don’t have to tell me. It is fine… Come on, let us go to our hut.”

Ivar had had his eyes on you all evening, his brothers even teasing him about it but he quickly turned them away angrily. But when he saw that asshole trying to touch you without consent, Ivar felt an uncontrollable anger. He wanted to skin the bastard alive but he couldn’t simply watch you struggle like that. Even after killing the man, Ivar felt no guilt. Why should he? He was simply protecting you, making sure you were safe.

No one had asked him about why he had done what he did. Perhaps it was already too obvious. Perhaps he had scared you off. You wouldn’t even want to go near him now. He felt his insecure thoughts weighing him down during the night.

You barely slept through the night, the picture of the knife piercing the man’s skull replaying in your mind and then seeing the look Ivar had on his face. That menacing look, the one that could take down entire armies.

The next day, you went away from the town to feel the quiet of nature that you had already begun to miss. You walked around the forest, finding a riverbank to sit nearby quickly enough. You thought about what had happened last night, how, in some really fucked up way, Ivar saved you. But he also killed a man who will never experience Valhalla now. Then again, that monster didn’t deserve Valhalla. You sat there wondering what would’ve happened if Ivar had not intervened.

“Mind if I join you?” you heard a voice from behind. When you turned your head and saw that it was Ivar, you quickly stood up.

“Were you following me?” you realised in this moment, you were terrified of him.

“Will it help if I said no? Either way, you walk too fast so I had to find you myself,” he spoke. When you didn’t say anything, it didn’t take him long enough to realise how you felt, “You are scared of me.”

Scoffing, you reasoned, “Who wouldn’t be? You killed a man while I was simply inches away.”

“He was hurting you,” Ivar remarked as if that was reason enough.

“But you could’ve killed me,” you argued.

Ivar grinned, “I didn’t though, did I?”

“Well… No but still, it was terrifying,” you said while Ivar made himself comfortable by sitting against the trunk of a fallen tree.

Even though Ivar worked very hard to not show it, he had been very nervous to actually talk to you. Now that you were here, he didn’t want to ever leave.

You stood there silently before sitting down in front of him. What was it about him that you felt so drawn towards?

He looked at you lovingly, “What is your name?”

“Y/N is what they call me… But I already know who you are, Ivar,” you acknowledged.

“Do you?” Ivar joked.

“That anger in those gorgeous eyes of yours, how could you be mistaken?” you replied.

“My eyes are ‘gorgeous’?” he couldn’t control his smile.

You blushed, “I said that out loud, didn’t I?”

“I’m afraid so. I don’t mind the compliment though, please, y/n, carry on about my gorgeous eyes,” he teased. Truth was, he felt a thousand butterflies. He’d never gotten a compliment from anyone.

The two of you continued making jokes at one another, laughing constantly and time flew by ever so quickly. Ivar couldn’t believe the sun was about to set. With you, he didn’t have to worry about anything. He felt at peace.

When his brothers asked where he had been, he simply smiled and shrugged. For the first time in so long, he didn’t feel furious. There was something about you, like you were a goddess who appeared to save him. The next day Ivar went up to the same place, hoping you would show up. He was almost about to leave until he saw you show up.

You finished your work as a physician for the day as quickly as you could and relied on your friends to cover up for you. Once out of Kattegat, you practically ran to the same spot on the riverbank as yesterday. You didn’t know how but you just knew that he would be there, nor did you know why you felt so eager to go to him either.

You continued these secret meetings for as long as you could. No one was aware of who or where you actually went but you didn’t care even if they found out. Ivar had become your sanctuary as you had become his.  

During one such evening, as the sun began its descent, casting a warm golden glow over the riverbank, you found yourselves lost in a conversation filled with laughter. Ivar had a knack for weaving humor into every exchange, and you found yourself charmed by his wit and the way his eyes sparkled with amusement.

Ivar grinned, his eyes dancing with mirth. "See? I told you I was the funniest person you'd ever meet."

Laughing, you shook your head. "Well, I suppose I can't argue with that."

His gaze softened as he looked at you, a warmth filling his eyes. "I'm glad you find me amusing, y/n."

You smiled back, feeling a flutter in your chest at the sincerity in his voice. "You have a way with words, Ivar."

He chuckled softly. "Only when I'm with you."

The air between you seemed to crackle with an unspoken tension, and before you could think, you found yourself leaning in closer to him.

Ivar's hand gently brushed against your cheek as he whispered, "You're beautiful when you laugh, y/n."

Unable to resist the pull any longer, Ivar reached out, gently cupping your cheek with his hand. His touch was tender, sending a shiver down your spine as you met his gaze, your heart pounding in your chest.

As your lips clashed with an overdue feeling of affection for one another, Ivar kissed you passionately and possessively almost as if declaring that you were his.

You pulled away, breathless and exhilarated, you found yourself lost in Ivar's eyes once more, a sense of belonging settling deep within your soul.

“I am yours, y/n, now and forever and you are mine,” Ivar’s words echoed in your heart as you buried your eyes in his, expressing a thousand unspoken words.

[insomniac4000]

George Clarke-142

you’re a nutjob.

George leaned against his kitchen counter, his phone perched between his shoulder and ear. His girlfriend, Ella, was excitedly rattling off ideas for their first holiday together.

“...and then after the skydiving, we can do bungee jumping. There’s this insane one over a canyon in New Zealand—it’s, like, 400 feet! Oh, and we have to go white water rafting. I read about this river that’s supposedly cursed, but it’s just marketing. I think."

George blinked, his tea midway to his lips. "Wait, back up. Did you say skydiving and cursed?”

“Yeah! You’ve never done it, right? First time’s always the best, and—”

“Ella,” George interrupted, setting his mug down. "You’re a nutjob."

Her laugh crackled through the phone, bright and infectious. “You love it.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, a grin creeping onto his face. "I like it. Love is a stretch when you’re talking about throwing yourself out of planes or...what was it? A cursed river?"

“It’s not cursed,” Ella assured him. “But wouldn’t that be so cool? Just think of the stories we could tell!”

"Stories, yeah," George muttered. "If I survive to tell them."

Ella was a whirlwind. In the four months they’d been together, she had dragged him into situations he never would’ve considered on his own. Rock climbing, scuba diving, even something called zorbing, which involved being shoved into a giant inflatable ball and rolled downhill. To her credit, George had secretly enjoyed most of it—except the time he got stuck upside down in a harness during their climbing trip. He liked adventure but Ella was on the go all the time.

“I’ll make us an itinerary,” she continued. "We’ll fly into Auckland, spend a couple of days exploring, then head to Queenstown for the real action. Oh, and there’s this zipline that goes over a canyon—”

“Ella, Ella,” George interrupted, his voice rising slightly. "Babe, slow down. Can we maybe start with something a little...less death-defying?”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. A beach day? Maybe some sightseeing? Wine tasting?”

“George Clarkeey, are you suggesting we sit on a beach sipping cocktails while I read some cheesy paperback?”

“I was going to say it could be a margarita, but yes.”

Her laugh was louder this time, and George couldn’t help but smile. He loved how fearless she was, how her energy seemed limitless. It balanced his more cautious, calculated nature. But sometimes, like now, he wondered if she ever stopped.

“Okay,” Ella relented. “We can do a beach day. But only one. After that, I’m dragging you out of your comfort zone.”

“I thought zorbing already did that.”

“That was just the warm-up.”

A week later, George stood at the departure gate, passport in hand, as Ella bounded toward him. Her auburn hair was pulled into a high ponytail, her backpack looking like it weighed as much as she did.

“Ready?” she asked, her hazel eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Define ‘ready,’” George joked, pulling her in for a quick hug.

Their flight was long but pleasant, filled with Ella outlining her meticulously planned itinerary. George half-listened, distracted by her enthusiasm. He admired her passion, even if it often left him wondering if he was about to meet an untimely end.

When they landed in New Zealand, their first day was exactly as George had hoped: relaxing. They wandered through Auckland’s harbor, tried fresh seafood, and even watched a street performer juggle flaming torches.

But the second day? That was Ella’s turn.

George found himself standing at the edge of a platform, staring down at a canyon that seemed impossibly deep. A harness was strapped tightly around his torso, and a bungee cord was attached to his back.

“This is insane,” he muttered.

Ella, standing next to him, grinned ear to ear. “You’ll thank me when it’s over.”

“I’ll thank you if I survive.”

The instructor counted down. Before George could fully process what was happening, Ella grabbed his hand and leaped, dragging him with her.

The fall was a blur of wind, adrenaline, and sheer terror. George’s scream mingled with Ella’s laughter as they bounced at the end of the cord, suspended above the canyon.

When they were finally pulled back up, George was breathless, his legs trembling.

“How was that?” Ella asked, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

He stared at her, his heart still racing. “You’re a nutjob.”

She smirked. “And?”

“…and I’m starting to think I might be, too.”

The rest of the trip was a whirlwind of adventure. George tackled the zipline Ella had mentioned, kayaked through crystal-clear waters, and even braved the infamous cursed river. By the time they reached their designated beach day, he was sore, sunburned, and utterly exhilarated.

As they lounged on the sand, margaritas in hand, George turned to Ella. “I’ll admit it—this trip has been...pretty incredible.”

“Told you,” she said, nudging him playfully.

“But next time, I’m picking the destination.”

Ella raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And where would that be?”

“Somewhere with fewer heights. And rivers. And…hazards.”

She laughed, leaning her head on his shoulder. “Deal. But only if you admit you secretly loved all of it.”

George smiled, taking a sip of his drink. “Fine. You win. But I’m still sticking with my original assessment.”

“Which is?”

“You’re a nutjob.”

Ella grinned, wrapping her arm around his. “And you love it.”

George sighed, shaking his head. “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”

[stargurl8888]

Love Foolish

"Some games are meant to be played in board rooms, others in the spaces between professional masks and private desires."

Word Count: 759

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Corporate Drama, Slow Burn

Content Warning: Suggestive themes, workplace tension, mild language

Synopsis: At South Parallel Corp's Tokyo headquarters, two department directors wage a silent war of attrition. Marketing Innovation Director Sana Minatozaki, whose flirtatious charm masks a brilliant strategic mind, finds herself increasingly drawn to Development Director Kaori Tanaka, the one person immune to her carefully crafted allure. As they compete for resources and the CEO's attention, their professional rivalry evolves into a dangerous game of attraction, playing out in late-night meetings and elevator encounters on the 37th floor. But when a crucial project forces them to collaborate, they discover that some competitions have no winners - only survivors of their own making. ✨✨✨✨✨ ⎯⎯ ⏳🌌🔄🌠🔄🌌⏳ ⎯⎯ ✨✨✨✨✨

The 37th floor of South Parallel Tower hummed with tension. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Tokyo's skyline glittered like scattered stars, but Tanaka Kaori's attention was fixed on the scene unfolding in the conference room. Minatozaki Sana, Marketing Innovation Director and the bane of Kaori's professional existence, was working her magic on the board members again.

A perfectly timed laugh, a strategic touch of an arm, the way she leaned forward just so - Yuki had cataloged all of Sana's moves over the past year. The woman wielded charm like a weapon, and the entire office was her willing casualty.

Everyone except Kaori.

"Admiring the view?" Sana's voice cut through Kaori's thoughts. The meeting had ended, board members filing out with dazed smiles, leaving them alone in the gradually darkening space.

"Observing your tactics," Kaori corrected, gathering her laptop. "That performance with the CFO was particularly inspired."

"Jealous, Director?" Sana perched on the edge of the conference table, her skirt riding up just enough to be distracting. Another calculated move, no doubt.

"Of your methods? Hardly." Kaori kept her eyes firmly on Sana's face, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a wandering gaze. "Some of us prefer to let our work speak for itself."

"And yet," Sana's smile turned predatory, "here you are, watching me instead of working."

The air between them crackled with familiar tension. This was their dance - Sana pushing boundaries, Kaori maintaining walls, both pretending they couldn't feel the inevitable gravitational pull.

"The Q3 project," Kaori changed the subject abruptly. "The CEO wants us to collaborate."

"Scared I'll corrupt your precious development team?" Sana slid off the table, moving into Kaori's space with practiced grace.

"Concerned you'll prioritize style over substance." Kaori stood her ground, even as Sana's perfume threatened to unravel her composure. "Your marketing tricks won't work on me."

"No?" Kaori reached out, straightened Yuki's already perfect collar. "Then why is your heart racing, Director?"

Before Kaori could respond, the elevator chimed. Sana stepped back, her professional mask sliding seamlessly back into place as employees entered the floor. But her fingers lingered on Kaori's collar a moment too long, a promise of games yet to come.

The collaboration was a disaster from the start. Their teams watched in fascinated horror as two of the company's most competent directors clashed over every detail. Late nights turned into early mornings, strategy sessions became battles of will, and the 37th floor became a war zone of sexual tension and professional pride.

"Your market analysis is flawed," Kaori pointed out one evening, the office empty except for them.

"Your development timeline is unrealistic," Sana countered, leaning over Kaori's desk to point at the spreadsheet. Her silk blouse gaped just so, another weapon in her arsenal.

"Do you ever get tired of playing these games?" Kaori asked quietly.

"Do you ever get tired of pretending you don't want to play?"

The question hung in the air between them, heavy with implications. Tokyo's lights painted shadows across Sana's face, softening her usual sharp edges.

"We have a presentation tomorrow," Kaori reminded her, but her voice had gone rough.

"We do." Sana didn't move away. "Want to practice?"

What happened next was definitely not in any corporate handbook. Reports scattered as Kaori finally snapped, pulling Sana down by her perfectly pressed blazer. Their kiss tasted like coffee and victory, like months of tension finally breaking.

Sana's laugh was breathless when they parted. "Took you long enough, Director."

"Shut up," Kaori growled, and for once, Sana obeyed.

The next morning, their teams noticed something different. The tension was still there, but it had transformed into something else - a synchronized dance instead of a battle. Their presentation was flawless, their dynamic electric.

"Interesting collaboration technique," the CEO commented afterward, eyes twinkling.

Sana's smile was genuine for once. "We found some common ground."

"On the 37th floor," Kaori added dryly.

That evening, watching Sana charm a client across the office, Kaori felt something shift. The familiar irritation was still there, but now it was tinged with possession, with understanding. Sana caught her watching and winked - not her usual calculated flirtation, but something real, something just for Kaori.

Some games weren't meant to be won, Kaori realized. Some were meant to be played forever, in the space between professional masks and private desires, in late-night offices and early morning confessions, in the way Sana's genuine smile looked better than any of her practiced ones.

The 37th floor had become their battlefield, their sanctuary, their own private game board. And maybe, just maybe, they were both winning.

PART OF A SERIES OF ALTERNATE UNIVERSES SOUTH PARALLEL: 37

[yanderefantasyadmirer]

I've been playing Tekken for years tekken 5 and 6 are my childhood favorite games And I remember this Character that I mostly main in Tekken 6 and it's Dragunov and now this is how I imagine him if he's a Yandere

Warnings : Kidnapping, unhealthy mindset, stalking

I feel like this guy as a yandere would be Intense cause not only he is silent and observant he is also cold and Calculating. Now how did you met him? It's possible that your a Tourist who traveled to Russia to explore historical sites and Cold breathtaking landscapes perhaps you visit Red square, admire the Kremlin or simply enjoy the quiet walk through Moscow's lesser known streets however by any chance you didn't know that you accidentally wander into a restricted zone near a military base catching the attention of soldiers patrolling And Dragunov is among them. Although instead of Reporting you he watches, curious about why a Foreigner would be here.

After accidentally wandering in a restricted zone Dragunov escorted you out of the Area only saying few words without explanation as of now that your not in a restricted zone anymore you plan on where to go next and be extra mindful next time unaware of the gaze from the man you met while you walk away.

How did you capture his interest? He doesn't fall in love quickly unlike normal yanderes, he is Disciplined emotions are Foreign to him due to His years spent serving in the military and the brutality he is used to. But there is something different about you he can't understand, especially your presence awakens something in his cold heart. He has fought wars, taken countless of lives, and operated in the shadows. Yet seeing you wandering freely in a world where it snows and the possibilities of where danger sometimes lurks Fascinated him. He then begins to crave your presence the moment his curiosity overcomes his better judgement.

As a few days passed during your stay while on your way towards a Market you unknowingly bump into him, he barely reacts although his gaze lingers to you as you navigate through the crowded streets. Over a few months the more you unexpectedly cross paths with him the more slowly he is captivated. Until you starting to feel like someone is watching you and dismiss it as paranoia unbeknownst to you, a pair of pale blue eyes are watching your every move.

He also memorized your daily routine even informations of where you from and what you do, what you like or dislike he knows everything about you already without you knowing another thing about him is that he's skilled at staying undetected when tracking your movements from a distance.

Now How many months will it take him before his obsession fully manifest?- I think it would take 3-4 months or maybe a bit few more months until he realizes how he truly feels about you just only existing. Moreover abducting you? Not a problem if he starts to feel that everything around you is trying to harm you he will plan accordingly in advance to take you and keep you in his care once he had you say goodbye to your freedom meaning no Wifi or any signal related devices. He is extremely cautious and paranoid when it comes to security not wanting to take any risk that could lead someone discovering your location however if you behave and never call anyone he might consider but you would be monitored at all times whenever you use your phone or any websites you visit he would even check your search history.

How did he abducted you?- let's say your time in Russia was coming to an end, your bags already packed, ticket in hand your moments away from boarding your plane back home. But he knew your flight schedule, your terminal and the details of your departure and he was not going to let you leave. Although since you didn't know you had a stalker or continue to ignore the feeling in your gut is telling you. The moment you enter the women's restroom you unknowingly step into a trap he has prepared. As you wash your hands. You hear the restroom door open but you see no one speaks but as you looked at the mirror that's when you see him. Before you can react a gloved hand quickly covers your mouth stifling your screams until you get knocked out.

He takes you in a heavily secured location where possibly in a private estate deep in the wilderness, there is no phone nor internet no way to reach civilized cities.

How does he treat you? He treats you like something precious but is fragile also in a different aspect he is silent and rarely speaks but his actions speaks volumes I can see him being strict and controlling type as well means he doesn't physically harm you rather it's a more on a emotional way where if you try to escape all your privileges will be taken away and this is where he exerts his control through silent intimidation like standing too close, or blocking the door whenever you want to leave, lastly gripping your wrist just tight enough to make you understand that resistance is useless.

He does not express love verbally but like I said his more into actions rather than words He spoils you if you behave and not trying to escape. He feeds you well and ensures you eat high quality food often traditional dishes and might force to feed you himself if you continue to be stubborn enough.

Overall he is a dangerous yandere to begin with due to his nature of what monster you just charmed in a different way he won't hesitate to eliminate anyone who hurts you or even say something bad about you. you are his entire world no one else matters to him except you you complete him in a way where no one can. He never outright says it but he needs you more than you need him now it's your choice whether to continue to be stubborn or accept your fate being with him

I tried my best and my brain is almost fried💀 but it keeps me sometimes motivated to write something like this~ 🥀🥰 even though I'm not the best 🥹❤️

[jellybeanium124]

Hello I'm a schengen zone resident and I love it! I cannot imagine what it would be like to have borders that are actually for keeping people in? I am young enough to not remember a time with closed borders in Europe. My parents remember it though, and they also only have bad things to say about borders. Europe isn't big. European countries aren't big. At least, not on American scales. And there are a lot of countries, some of them tiny, and a lot of goods and a lot of people constantly move between them. Economically, open borders have enabled an open European market that was beneficial for all countries in the schengen area.

And for the people? Some of us are mostly only affected if we choose to travel for a holiday (my most recent holiday had a drive through three countries and there wasn't a holdup at any borders, nobody searched my car etc). But for people living near borders? It is life-changing. There are towns and villages that had borders go right through them. You couldn't go visit your aunt or go to the bakery down your street without going over a border, which might involve fun stuff like being searched for weapons or smuggling (or just, you know, generalised border authority discrimination and harassment). And on the way back, whee, you can experience this again!

No-one who lives near a border wants it back. Even among Europeans who don't live near a border, the overwhelming majority does not want to go back to having borders. Now some people live in one country and go to work on the other side of the border. They have friends and family across the border. Nationalism is a thing that exists as a right wing movement, but, the average person you meet on the street? Hates borders and never wants nothing to do with them. Because like, borders are so stupid?

Have you been in a border region? I have been to many. And at some point, you're sitting on a big rock on an alpine summit (the Alps are one single big border region, and as such also have a long history of wars being fought to move these borders a few kilometres here or there). So you're sitting there, admiring the view, and you compare your map, and look, that mountain with the white top over there? That's France! That one there? Switzerland! You are currently in Austria, but your hike will take you to a bit of Italy later. And you sit there, in this magnificent landscape, and you're hiking through it, and there are no borders. There is nothing there in the real world that would make a border. Borders are fake! I can see this mountain, this lake, this village full of people down there! They are not far from here, I can walk there in a bit, and the trees beside the roads willl be the same, and we're in the same landscape, and these are the same people. The trees and the mountains and the humans too have been here for millions of years (or at least tens of thousands for the people, but, semantics). You want to make up a line dividing something that has been one undivided Earth and tell me everything has to stay in this made up cage? Laughable. Ridiculous. These are my neighbours over there! They have been able to go over here and we have been able to go over there (again) for longer than I have been alive now, and nothing bad has happened.

There's a lot of right wing pushing in Europe right now to close borders again, primarily to make it harder to get into the schengen space by closing the "outside borders" more tightly, but also by reinstating border controls within states, born out of racism and fear of the "evil foreigners coming to destroy our culture, steal our jobs and reap the benefits of our social welfare system", and I hate it so much. People aren't like that! The people behind the border, any border, are people like you! Sure, some of them are bad, but some people inside your country are bad too, that's the nature of humanity, some people are dicks, and it doesn't mean all the people who are not dicks can't have freedom and nice things. Thirty years of open borders have proven that crime does not go up, that people travel more, that some people choose to move to a different country when that's easy enough, for economic reasons or for personal reasons, but that most Italians actually want to stay in Italy because that's their home and people tend to feel connected to their homes. And the same is true for people all over the world, I think. People like to travel and experience different places, some people like to go out into the wide wide world and make a life somewhere far away, but most of us actually prefer living in our home places most of the time, and the global problem is that through shit like colonialism and wars and exploitation and destruction of resources for a lot of people their homes aren't safe to live anymore. Those are the problems, and borders don't solve any of them, in fact they make them worse. So maybe politicians could stop building more fucking borders with more fucking border installations intended to hurt people, and instead use all this border enforcement money to make things suck less all over the world. Build wells and school and solar panels and pass out vaccines and medicine and teach our children more about "all of us humans" and less about "those guys over there behind the fence". The guys behind the fence are like you. The average person anywhere in the world is concerned with living their own lives, they want to have a safe home and enough to eat and to spend time with their friends and to watch their children grow up. They are not out to get you. Their living behind a made up line does not increase their likelihood to be out to get you. So we should work on getting rid of the made up line, and the inequalities between the different sides of it, and of the hate and the racisms and the prejudice.

It sounds like a ridiculous dream, when you say you want a whole borderless world, when you say you dream of a world that's peaceful and where people are safe and free. But 70 years ago, Europe's countries had just fought a big war. Everything was in ruins. My grandfather talked about growing up amongst ruins and fear. But only a few decades later, people were able to travel between the countries that had been at war, and move from one to the other to work and live there, and then they basically got rid of the borders. It can be done! There is proof, I'm living in it, and so are millions of others! And I'm not going to let right wing assholes take these freedoms away from me and everyone else here because they made a boogieman out of people who come here as victims of a deeply cruel and unjust world. No, I want the freedoms I have for everyone on this planet. Fuck wars and hate and borders. Walk down this hill and meet your neighbours at the other side of the made up line!

I think more politicians should go out hiking and see the real world and the real people who live in it.

x

[chacaillejdr]

How to write a location for your TTRPG

An important, and for some people fastidious, part of writing a TTRPG scenario is to fill the universe. Some improvise this part, and I admire them (from afar, they scare me), but others like me need to prepare things. I suggested in a previous article some techniques to write NPCs, let me share here a few others to write places, you never know, it might come handy.

Before even starting to look at individual places, a technique that I really like and that helps a lot for players' immersion, and for giving a coherence to your universe, is the regionalization technique. It consists in dividing your universe in zones (regions, city districts, or even time periods or sociological groups) and give each a few minor characteristics. For example the houses in a given region are built from a local ochre stone, little pale blue flowers grow in another, architects from a given time period always placed the kitchen on the left just after the front door, or people from a given origin use furniture from a recognizable style.

These are purely cosmetic elements, but for one they’ll regroup your places as part of the same world, and then they’ll give you substance to fill your descriptions in a credible and easy way.

Once the regionalization is done, let’s focus on individual places. The first thing to do is to determine what is the function of your place, to place it in one of three categories : the passage location, the quest location and the recurring location.

The passage location is a place that only serves as a background for a one-off scene, for example a shop or a campsite. Your focus point for this type of place is its atmosphere. You must describe it to your players for their immersion’s sake, but mustn't dwell on it lest they might get distracted from the scene. I’ll give you advice that would make a lot of literary professors’ blood boil : use chichés. You want to build an ambiance in a few words ? That’s what stock expressions are for. Why describe a whole waterfront when “Dream beach with coconut trees” exists ? Or “Dusty crypt” ? Or “Cutthroat alley” ? Just sprinkle a bit of regionalization on it, and it will even become a unique place !

I’d tell you not to abuse clichés but… on a larger scale don’t abuse passage places. You’d get a very generic and blank universe if you did.

Now let’s see the quest location. It’s a place where a challenge occurs (puzzle, NPC discussion, battle, even a whole dungeon). While the passage location focused on the ambiance, here you’ll have to prioritize the gameplay. You have to determine what will serve the challenge, and only then will you be able to furnish the environment. Will your NPCs move on walkways over a chasm ? Will there be acid lakes around them ? Are rocks flying in the air ? Those are the main elements of your background.

Once you have your gameplay elements, the trick to avoid pulling your players out of immersion is to make them coherent in your universe. Why is the place built like this ? Is it realistic for the function it carries ? How does it work ? You actually only have to answer one level of precision, it is enough to maintain the immersion. The walkways over the chasm may decay rapidly and be difficult to repair, so their great number may be a redundancy and the players will find them at different degradation states. The acid lakes may be a natural resource and extraction equipment can be spotted since the prices for this specific acid are high on the market. The flying rocks may have a glowing mushroom growing on their underside, giving them their antigravity properties. Not only will this enrich your universe, but it may also give ideas to your PCs to exploit the environment and, in the end, play with your world instead of just going through it. Another pinch of regionalization and you’re good !

One last tip specifically about dungeons : if you don’t use a battlemap covering all of it… then don’t make a map at all ! It will only lengthen the exploration part of your adventure without giving anything to your players. It will be easier to make a logigram, with blocks for every important room and lines to connect them. It would also allow you to make your dungeon modular to adapt it to your players’ choices (and avoid backtracking if they missed something !), after all you want them to have fun, not lose them or waste their time.

Finally, on to the last category : the recurring location. This is a place where PCs might have to come back several times, to meet with important NPCs for example, or because a lot of crucial points of the scenario happen here. The main characteristic of this kind of place is to be recognizable, and to make vivid memories.

Those are the places you’ll have to write with the most care, because they must be remarkable and they will give your universe its identity. The first time your PCs enter such a place, the description must be long and detailed enough that they understand this location is important. Besides the (now traditional) regionalization, it is important that each one of these places has at least one outstanding element. A tavern may be adorned with a dreadfully stuffed deer head. A castle may be carved out of a unique gigantic crystal. A train station may have a monumental clock on its façade. Whatever it is, this element must be well described : this way, every time the PCs come back to this place, you only have to evoke this one characteristic to bring back the whole place.

Moreover, if you’re writing a campaign, some of these recurring places might need to evolve along the scenario. You should consider cosmetic, or even functional elements that may change with the actions and choices of the PCs. A window may be in good condition at the beginning, broken during a certain scene, then hastily fixed with newspapers afterwards. A whole building may be partially destroyed, and the following scenes will happen in its ruins (will the outstanding element be intact or damaged ? Your choice !) The emotional weight of the location will be reinforced by this.

A last little bit of advice for all kinds of places : add at the beginning of your notes one to three adjectives to define the atmosphere. You can refer to it for improvisation needs, and to choose the right tone to read your description.

There we go, I hope these techniques will be of use to you, or at least pleasant to read ! I’ll come back later with other articles, so stay tuned !

Index

[marixrose]

Could I get a Hc for the arcana boys+Asra where Mc and their Li are just relaxing. When Mc notices their Li looking over at them Mc strikes the most adorable pose they can.

Of course! I haven’t written for the Arcana in a bit, but I hope this is up to your standards! 🫶🏼

The Arcana when MC strikes an adorable pose when caught looking at them

Asra— You both are stargazing after a long day. Asra has been very busy with their shop lately, not that they’re complaining—business is good. You’re gazing at the stars as Asra slowly turns their gaze to you. You are unaware of this at first, but soon feel the stare. You take a quick glance in their direction and smile. You turn towards them and prop your head up on your hand and gaze at them adoringly with a soft smile. Asra’s heart melts at the sight and he blushes slightly. Soon enough he is mimicking your pose, the stars forgotten. You both spent the time admiring each other.

Julian— He was busy reading a book while you both sat on the couch. You were writing in your journal completely focused and zoned out. Julian had been gazing at you for a couple of minutes now, but you were too distracted by your own thoughts. Soon enough you snap out of your focus and caught him staring at you in the corner of your eye. You turn towards him will a big smile and blow him a kiss. He blushed and turns away love struck. He fell in love with you all over again.

Muriel— You both are relaxing by the fire in his cabin after a long day. It was one of those days where you managed to bring him to the market with you, and he agreed. You were memorized by the sparks being produced by the fire that you were unaware that he was looking at you. You caught on soon enough and smiled. You kiss his cheek and lean your head on his shoulder lovingly. He felt warm inside, he felt loved.

Lucio— He decided to relax in the kitchen eating a delicious dessert. You both were relaxing and enjoying the meal. You were enjoying it a little too much not to notice him gazing at you. You had a mouthful of the dessert when you turn towards him with the biggest smile you could muster. He started laughing and once you swallowed your food, you laughed with him. He kissed your forehead and muttered cute things as you continued to enjoy the snack.

[the-empress-7]

For more than 4,000 years, emeralds have been among the most valuable of all jewels.

Colombia, located in northern South America, is the country that mines and produces the most emeralds for the global market, as well as the most desirable.

It is estimated that Colombia accounts for 70–90% of the world's emerald market. While commercial grade emeralds are quite plentiful, fine and extra fine quality emeralds are extremely rare. Colombian emeralds over 50 carat can cost much more than diamonds of the same size.

The Colombian departments of Boyacá and Cundinamarca, both in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes, are the locations where most of the emerald mining takes place.

Although the Colombian emerald trade has a rich history that dates as far back as the pre-Columbian era, the increase in worldwide demand for the industry of the gemstones in the early 20th century has led prices for emeralds to nearly double on the global market.

Until 2016, the Colombian emerald trade was at the center of Colombia's civil conflict, which has plagued the country since the 1950s.

For thousands of years, emeralds have been mined and considered one of the world's most valuable jewels.

The first ever recorded emeralds date back to ancient Egypt, where they were particularly admired by Queen Cleopatra.

In addition to their aesthetic value, emeralds were highly valued in ancient times because they were believed to increase intelligence, protect marriages, ease childbirth, and thought to enable its possessor the power of predicting future events.

An ancient Colombian legend exists of two immortal human beings, a man and a woman—named Fura and Tena—created by the Muisca god Are in order to populate the earth.

The only stipulation by Are was that these two human beings had to remain faithful to each other in order to retain their eternal youth. Fura, the woman, however, did not remain faithful.

As a consequence, their immortality was taken away from them. Both soon aged rapidly, and they eventually died. Are later took pity on the unfortunate beings and turned them into two crags protected from storms and serpents and in whose depths Fura's tears became emeralds.

Today, the Fura and Tena peaks, rising approximately 840 and 500 meters, respectively, above the valley of the Minero River, are the official guardians of Colombia's emerald zone. They are located roughly 30 km north of the mines of Muzo, the location of the largest emerald mines in Colombia.

Historians believe the indigenous people of Colombia mastered the art of mining as early as 500 AD. But Spanish Conquistadors are the ones who are credited with discovering and marketing globally what we now call Colombian emeralds.

Colombia, during pre-colonial times, was occupied by Muzo indigenous people, who were overpowered by Spain in the mid-1500s. It took Spain five decades to overpower the tribal Muzo people who occupied this entire mining area.

Once in control, the Spanish forced this native, indigenous population to work the mining fields that it previously held for many centuries.

Monarchs and the gem-loving royalty in India, Turkey, and Persia eventually sought the New World treasures once the gems arrived in Europe.

These new emerald owners expanded their private collections with spectacular artifacts bedazzled with emeralds between 1600 and 1820, the time frame of Spain's control over the Colombian mines.

After Colombia's independence from Spain in 1819, the new government and other private mining companies assumed mining operations. Over the course of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, these mines were periodically shut down numerous times because of political situations within the country.

Colombian emeralds are much sought after, and not just because of their superb quality and color. A gem's value depends upon its size, purity, color and brilliance. Even when they are mined in the same area, each individual emerald has its own unique look that sets it apart from the rest.

Dark green is considered to be the most beautiful, scarce, and valuable color for emeralds. An emerald of this color is considered rare and is only found in the deepest mines of Colombia.

The eastern portion of the Andes, between the Boyacá and Cundinamarca departments, is where most Colombian emeralds are mined.

The three major mines in Colombia are Muzo, Coscuez, and Chivor. Muzo and Coscuez are on long-term leases from the government to two Colombian companies, while Chivor is a privately owned mine. Muzo remains the most important emerald mine in the world to this date.

The terms Muzo and Chivor do not always refer to the particular mines that carry the same name. Instead, the two terms, originating from the local indigenous language, often describe the quality and color of emeralds. Muzo refers to a warm, grassy-green emerald, with hints of yellow. Chivor, on the other hand, describes a deeper green color.

Thank you for this great reference material! Colombian emeralds are absolutely world renowned. But, when it comes to wearing the fuck out of emeralds no one can out do the Ambanis. This necklace alone is rumored to be worth $60 million USD 😮‍💨

[howlingday]

So idea I got from Milo Murphy's Law episode Sercets and Pies.(One of the character zach was part of a lumberjack themed boyband) What if Jaune in his pre-teen and early teens was part of a boy band? The theming could anything. It be funny if it got his band popular at Beacon and he had a bunch of fangirls later.(Jeaulous Pyrrha or Nora since I know you like Nora's Arc)

Woman: FOUR JS! I HAVE YOUR WRIST BANDS!

Jaune: No way...

John: Over here!

Jaune: John?!

John: Oh, hey, Jaune!

Jaune: What are you guys doing here? It's great to see you, Joan, Jean, and Jorge here!

John: Actually, they changed their names to John.

Jaune: Oh, uh, hi, Johns. How you guys doing?

Johns: FINE.

John: So, you competing today?

Jaune: Kinda, I guess? I mean, it's just a gig for us.

John: That's great. I admire stiff competition.

Jaune: Uh, no, we're not really looking to win.

John: I hear ya, dude! I'm digging the rivalry!

Jaune: Oh, no. No rivalry here.

John: Ah, a little reverse psych, right?

Jaune: What- No! I'm not- Forget it. How have you guys been?

John: Great! We've got a new album, a couple music videos, and a set of action figures with glow-in-the-dark Js! It's our theme. How have you been?

Jaune: Pretty good. Got to Beacon, became team leader, made some friends.

John: Oh, I'm so sorry to hear how hard it's been for you.

Jaune: What? No, no. Nothing hard about me.

John: That's it! Let those hard times fuel you!

Jaune: ...Y'know what? I gotta get back to my team.

John: Don't beat yourself up too bad. Second place isn't too bad for an amateur musician.

Jaune: ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! (Storms off)

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

Jaune: It all started... nine years ago- ago- ago- ago.

Ren: ...Sorry. I had the reverb on.

Jaune: It all started nine years ago.

Jaune: The Five Js were on top. We toured shopping districts, farmers markets, dust stations, everywhere we could in our Valtralasgeriecuo home. We sang together, we danced together-

Nora: You wore Js on your chest together!

Jaune: Pretty much.

Pyrrha: So how did it end?

Jaune: Not great. When I left, they didn't have it in them to say Good-bye... So they said, "See you later" instead. And now, they all changed their names to John!

Ren: Why is that an issue?

Jaune: When I was in charge, I didn't make them change their names to Jaune!

Pyrrha: Did you want them to?

Jaune: No, but that's not the point! We need to step up our game!

Nora: But I thought you said we should just relax and... something... I dunno, there was a squirrel and I got distracted.

Jaune: Well, we need to crack down! Nora, pick up those drumsticks! Pyrrha, pick up that triangle!

Pyrrha: Okay, but I'm not taking your first name.

Jaune: And Ren, those funky beats won't play themselves!

Ren: Actually, with this automatic function on speaker system, they can-

Jaune: Tell me later! We gotta focus!

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

Jaune: Do you have any secrets?

Nora: Actually, I do! See, this isn't my real face. You see, I'm really... A ROBOT!

Jaune: (Runs away with Pyrrha)

Nora: (Chasing them) I AM A ROBOT! I AM A ROBOT!

Nora: Jaune?

Jaune: Huh? What?

Nora: You were zoned out for a second. Don't you want to hear me secret?

Jaune: Yeah, you said it wasn't your real face?

Nora: Yeah. See, my real face is... A ROBOT!

Pyrrha: (Runs away with Jaune)

Nora: (Chasing them) I AM A ROBOT! I AM A ROBOT!

Pyrrha: Nora? Nora!

Nora: Oh! Sorry! I was distracted again.

Jaune: So what's your big secret? What did you mean by that this wasn't your real face.

Nora: Oh, I meant this! (Pops out glass eye) I lost my eye playing with a Beowolf.

Pyrrha: Ooh~!

Jaune: (Runs away in terror, Slams into door)

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

Pyrrha: (Tears through Vale on Bumblebee)

Pyrrha: (Jumps thru Dragonslayer billboard)

Nora: ...Wow, that's some cool 3D.

[allwormdiet]

Shell 4.2

Yaaaaaaay more market time

This is a really fun scene actually. Lisa is being honest but not hurtful, which has to be a certain kind of cathartic for Taylor, even if she's still terrified of Lisa being a killer or, maybe worse, knowing she's planning to be a traitor.

I really really really wanna see Brian pop off and go crazy. I know him being boring is an effort on his part which means that at some point he's gonna slip up, and I am going to watch him like a fucking hawk until I see it happen

I've also had very similar conversations as Taylor and Lisa are having about clothes (I'm Taylor in this situation)

Lisa just like "man I wish I cared about my dad" lmao

Little fucked up display of power on Lisa's part. Taylor clearly feels like this is a violation of her privacy as the conversation goes on

Also I like how she's still providing input on the clothing in between all of this

Never fun to know for certain people are talking behind your back, and I'm sure Taylor's already sick to death of that shit, so it can't be great to know it's happening in her cape life too. Small comfort that it's because she seems interesting, if any.

I'm immensely curious why Taylor doesn't want the Undersiders involved in the bullies. Does she think they'd "realize" how much she sucks? Does she think that they'd leave a swath of blood and screams across Winslow High in their quest to avenge a comrade? Or is it that setting someone like Tattletale loose against her tormentors would be as bad or worse than the things she could do with her bugs?

I admire the strength that she holds this line on, even if I continue to fail at understanding it

This is funny, and kinda sweet. I wonder if it'll end up biting them in the ass, though. I feel like a lot of things are primed for ass-biting in this story so far

Fascinated that someone managed to get away with naming their business Fugly Bobs, what a coup

Honestly I get where Taylor's coming from, a bank robbery is such a wild introduction to crime, taking things easy would be nice

Is this Alec trying to bond? I think it might be, considering that Rachel's nickname for him is "runt"

Friends <3

Ahhhh yes, and now we get into this particular minefield, don't we

That'll be fun

Current Thoughts

Most chapters where it's hanging out with the Undersiders is going to include a part where I gush about how much I love the Undersiders. I would kill for these kids if they wouldn't all point and laugh at how terrible I am at killing, and they have a shitload more money than I do, so really I don't have anything to offer except my ongoing adoration and sympathies

I'd still pay good money to see Lisa destroy Emma and the crew though, there'd be a splash zone I'm sure of it

Anyway: powers next, can't wait

[opqrstuv04]

Get to know you game! Answer the questions and tag 9 people you want to know better.

Tagged by @theloopus AAND @aheathenconceivably HI GUYS! <33

Last song listened to: last song I sought out because I wanted to listen to it was “Good Morning” from the Singin’ in the Rain soundtrack LMAO because I was having a hard time getting my morning started!! Currently listening to Elle me Dit by MIKA writing this :)

Currently reading: Tales Before Tolkien, it’s an anthology of a bunch of short stories that either directly inspired Tolkien or were connected/related to his works. It’s really neat! My favorite story from it so far is Richard Garnett’s “The Demon Pope,” a funny 1880s story about a guy who makes a deal with the Devil to become Pope and then tricks the Devil.

Currently watching: Doctor Who it’s Doctor Who. Always. Currently nearing the end of 11’s time with the Ponds and you guys I am… kind of over it TBH!!!! Like what do you MEAN they stick around for another season?? 11’s grandiose “old god” complex stops being interesting after the 400th time a scene plays out with no consequences for him it was. Much more interesting when 9 was just telling Daleks to kill themselves and 11 was telling Amy he picked her up to have somebody to admire him. I’m ready for 12 :( I’ve also been doing a movie night w my roommate every week!

Currently obsessed with: I’m relistening to The Adventure Zone: Balance and I forgot how much I absolutely loved it. I’m almost done with Balance and it’s really kick started my character design ability back into gear (🙌🏻), umm and otherwise I am obsessed with going to the farmer’s market every Sunday and trying to get this penny plant to propagate. Because of this and other things my friends are obsessed with telling me I am in my “grandma phase.” Also playing a lot of TOTK 👍🏻👍🏻

Tagging people time >:) @dykebeckett @loneliestcactus @cipher-fresh @dovand @leo-undrgrnd @wellsbering @pigeonse @pyreorpyre @cupothi + anyone who wants to!!!! Have fun go wild have a good day

[alolanrain]

Very domestic and fluffy hc for Ash/Raihan because their the only things I’ve been able to think about lately.

(Reminder that the Ash and Raihan I write are respectively usually around 20-22 and 23-24 following the rule if the anime had actually let Ash age through the regions)

\: HC

- : addition to above hc

\- !au: piggybacking off more into an au.

/\ !au: original au idea, not originally connected with others.

—————

\ it’s funny how drastically different Ash and Raihan’s tolerance to spice is. Raihan is more then happy to eat a jalapeño pepper raw while Ash can’t stand it.

- yes this means he refuses to kiss Raihan until the other thoroughly washed his mouth.

\ they try and make grocery shopping a chore they do together. Not because one is inherently bad with picking out food for their Homie but because the both forget separate little things the other remembers. It’s also a nice way for them to just take a little bit of a break from all their work. Something mundane and easy.

\ they host a lot of dinner’s for all their friends and family during fall and summer but both tend to be a bit recluse during winter and spring.

\ Ash is by no mean’s a morning person, has despised getting up before ten in the morning all his life so far, but he is the first one up and out of bed when their shared alarm goes off.

- Raihan set’s the alarms when their in Galar during Ash’s off season as Alola’s Champion and Ash’s sets it when Raihan is with him in Alola during his off season.

\ Raihan is never allowed to hold Ash’s plants. He’s shit with them and also Ash hasn’t forgiven him for killing his monstera Cynthia got him for 21st birthday after he left it in Raihan’s care because it was too big to bring back to Kanto so his mom could watch it.

- it’s funny because the Galarian had absolutely done his best to take care of the plant, yet it still died.

/\TA!au the class see’s Raihan as some sort of awkward dad friend. Kiawe and Sophocles are weird around him while Mallow and Lana are very skeptical about his intentions with their friend. Lillie seem’s to be the only person with no beef with him and they get along great, both vibing in blissful silence most often then naught instead of the natural awkwardness that occurs between people that only have one mutual friend. Though Ash would call it a stretch to call the class his friends instead of just students and kids.

\-TA!au if Raihan was ever considered more of a permanent partner to Ash, there would be a lot of beef from Alola as a whole. Ash has a lot of admirers and secret crushes on the island it’s ridiculous. It’s a lot of passive aggressive comments but nothing really said out right. Gladion had tried it only once and Ash was on him like a rabid Lycanroc.

/\Non-hoa!au it took Ash buying his own home and to be able to live and love in it without the burden of past memories to be able to settle. Oh he still gets the craving to travel. Always has and always will, Raihan knew that the moment when he agreed to a committed relationship with Ash, but now Ash craves of home.

\-Non-hoa!au Raihan sends videos of him talking to himself or telling Ash about his day as he shops through the market or Milo’s family store. It’s like a point in the week and he always makes sure that Ash has time available, which the Kantonian always tries to have. Keeping constant time of both Galar and where ever he is at so Ash can visualize when Raihan will most likely call.

\-Non-hoa!au Ash is also always consulted on almost every piece of furniture for the house. Decorations is a hodgepodge of stuff that Raihan likes and what he thinks Ash likes. 8/10 times it is and the other two times Raihan is teased mercilessly.

\ there’s very little time where Raihan is the little spoon. Usually behind “held” by Ash is him laying directly on top of the other. Either on the couch during a movie or in bed with Ash propped up on a bunch of pillows while he works on stuff or even takes calls since Alola’s time zone is so different from Galar.

- Raihan doesn’t like to lay like that to often because he has a fear of crushing Ash when they eventually fall asleep but it’s one of Ash’s favorites because he gets to play with the buzzed parts of Raihans hair cut.

[tornsurvivors]

Show me how much you missed me

Either pre-third war or secret meet-ups while Syl was warcheif

No one would suspect her. Not the redhead Sin'dorei rogue making her way through a town that was not bound to either faction. A neutral town. Not quite a friendly town for civilized beings, but it was better than nothing at this point. There wasn't a safe location to harness a portal and step through without being detected by enemy mages in Durotar. Not with the powerful energy signatures like Jaina's... and they certainly became more aware of her after she nearly wiped Orgrimmar out with a tidal wave.

Several goblins scurried past her, and she shot a dirty look at them when they ogled her. Well, more like ogled her sack of gold.

One little flash of the blade in it's sheath, and the goblins backed off -- grumbling as they hurried off to the black market. Ah, good ol' Booty Bay. A popular spot for pirates, thieves and scummy bastards. It was still a neutral zone anyway, any Horde and Alliance members would have to be idiotic to even try start a fight here without getting blasted to smithereens. That is if getting kicked out doesn't work.

Confident she wasn't being followed, she made her way towards the building closest to the shore -- the inn. Her skin tingled, and her heartbeats quickened. Just the knowledge of who's waiting for her made this all more thrilling. But it also made her heart ache, both in the good and bad way. She simply followed the familiar signature of necrotic energy, till she reached the room at the very top of the building. Where they had a view of the ocean.

Placing a hand on the doorknob, Jaina stopped for a moment and breathed out shakily. She could feel Sylvanas on the other side of this door. How long it's been?

She did not know the answer till after she spoke a code in Thalassian, that only they both understood. A secret code. Once she heard the other half of the code, she entered and shut the door behind her quietly. Eyes that were supposed to be blue, instead emerald green, settled on the woman casually leaning against the wall with a smirk.

She still did not know the answer to how long it's been as she tried to see through the disguise Sylvanas had donned. Just another Sin'dorei, rather than the fearful Banshee Queen herself. Sylvanas didn't speak, though Jaina only needed to read the movement of the elf's long ears to tell that Sylvanas was waiting. Expectantly.

Right. Jaina gave a quick wave of her hand, placing the soundproof and energy-proof wards around the room. Along with a soft click of the lock turning.

"I must say, Proudmoore... you look exquisite as an elf."

Too Tidesdamned long, that's the answer. Felt like a century. Gods, just hearing Sylvanas's voice was enough to make her weak in the knees.

"Couldn't you have picked a more convenient place?" Jaina answered in perfect Thalassian with a sigh, dropping the illusion she had chosen for their secret meet-up. She was in her Lord Admiral uniform, but minus the gauntlet and pauldrons. Her hair still in it's braid, but it's messier now and more strays escaped from it.

Then Sylvanas dropped her illusion, and Jaina caught her breath.

Yes... definitely too long.

Despite being slightly jarred by the burning crimson eyes and the near pallid skin, it was still Sylvanas somewhere in there. She could easily tell by the way the elf would appraise her and she swears she could feel the warmth Death failed to take away in that stare.

"I figured it would save us both time and hassle of traveling too far since we both were already in Eastern Kingdoms." When Sylvanas turned her head to look out the window, Jaina felt both relieved and bereft. Relieved, because she wasn't sure how much longer she was going to contain her emotions the more Sylvanas looked at her. Bereft, because she wanted those eyes to drink in the sight of her and make her feel like the most desired creature in existence. Just like how Sylvanas's touches would often do so. "And I thought you may would appreciate the ocean view." Sylvanas added, lips quirking the slightest.

Jaina breathed out a scoffing laugh and closed the distance between them, hands moving up to fist the elf's leather top and pulled. Crushing their lips together into a kiss that was almost desperate, but passionate all the same. Deep, and messy. Before it slowed down and became soft, till Jaina was the one that pulled back just enough to murmur, "I see you're still a sap."

They didn't need words for how much they miss each other. Not when their eyes always did the talking for them and bared their souls more than one could anticipate.

[bananarose]

FFXIV Write - #12 "Dowdy"

adjective not stylish; drab; old-fashioned:

*gestures excitedly* My boy! Here's a peek into Lav's adventures in self-expression through clothing. *squishes him gently* I love him

Stormblood zones mentioned, no major spoilers though

Masterlist

Lavandin had never dressed himself in any particularly thoughtful way, fashion not being at the forefront of his priorities as a wood-warder in training; still not a priority after he had left home and found himself living on the Azim Steppe, wearing what he had kept from home and any old hand-me-downs from Cirina and the Mol. He hadn’t given it much thought, to be honest, what options were out there for adorning oneself in fabrics. The purpose of his clothing was for protection, and comfort, he didn’t see much sense in fretting over the colors and styles.

Upon arriving in Kugane, Lav was taken aback at some of the beautiful clothing and adornments he saw while wandering the markets. Luscious silks, long garments he would later discover are referred to as kimonos, and pieces of clothing in the most gorgeous colors he had laid eyes on. 

He had not been in Kugane long when he started making a habit of visiting the markets. Lav walked down the now somewhat familiar path, scanning the displays of each stall as he passed. He stopped abruptly, causing a minor disruption to foot traffic, when he laid eyes upon the most beautiful garment he had yet seen. It was long, a dress, the bottom of the fabric nearly brushing the ground; and it was a most stunning shade of light purple. A spread of embroidered flowers stood out against the fabric, starting near one hip and fanning out towards the bottom hem, as if the flowers were falling, carried aloft on a light spring breeze. Other patrons of the market pushed past him, muttering in annoyance, as he stared overlong at the dress. The proprietor of that particular stall noticed his gaze, coming over with an incredibly fake, salesman smile plastered on his face.

“Ah, I see I’ve got another customer with exquisite taste!” he schmoozed, obviously going for the sale. “Perhaps a dear one’s nameday is coming up? Must be quite the lucky lady to have a keen-eyed lad like you shopping for her.” Lav’s lips twisted into a frown as his brows furrowed. A dear one… What had he meant by that? Lucky Lady…

Lavandin had not been contemplating purchasing the dress as a gift, he had been wondering what it might feel like to be the one wearing it; to have the soft fabrics drift around his legs, twirling as he spun. 

It turned out he didn’t have enough money for the dress anyway - he barely had any coin at all. 

Lavandin picked up odd jobs during his time in Kugane. He trotted across the city, delivering things for various merchants, even once retrieving an order from the markets for the Sekiseigumi. He spent some time apprenticing for a kindly merchant, who took pity on him as a confused newcomer to the city, teaching him the ways of the city and its markets. He worked endlessly, saving up coin. He earned enough to buy nice treats from the market, reveling in the sweet desserts and rich meals. Eventually, he earned enough.

He went back and bought the dress. He lied, when the merchant asked again if it was for a woman he was courting, he lied and handed over his hard-earned coin, and the dress was finally his.

He rushed back to his room at the Bokairo Inn, immediately placing the box down onto the bed, tearing aside the fine paper it had been wrapped in. He stared at it, uncertain for only a heartbeat before a smile spread across his face. He reached down, feeling the fabric underneath quivering fingertips. Pulling it out of the box reverently, admiring the way the fabric moved as he held it up, Lav felt giddy. 

Lavandin tried on his new dress, and in a flurry of emotions, found it to be a perfect fit. 

divider credit - @cafekitsune

[chaoticcultist]

Miraculous Luberto AU Chap. 2

Alberto had known he loved Luca for a long time. Be it admiration, friendship, or infatuation, the feelings had been there for years. To examine how it had all started, he would have to remember back to before his and Luca’s first interaction, when things like love and companionship had been the furthest from his mind.

He had run out of cash and, more importantly, food. Ever since Alberto’s dad had packed up and left, the boy had been living off the cheap snacks stored in the pantry of their... his house and whatever he could get for the money he had hidden under his bed. 

This method of living only lasted him about three months.

Alberto didn’t have any sort of income at 13, so his funds dried up quickly. The options were either to starve in the empty house where he had been abandoned, or go out and steal what he needed.

His dad had taught him how to pickpocket at an early age, so he could snatch wallets and fruits from vendors with regular enough success. The farmers market was always the easiest score, so every Friday, Alberto made his route around the stalls and walkways and snagged whatever caught his fancy. 

Only problem was that he was starting to get notorious; vendors were starting to recognize the dirty yellow tank top and stack of brown curls.

“Scram, vagrant! Via! Via!” the apple seller yelled after Alberto’s retreating form, wielding the broom he had used to smack the young man away from his stock.

Shit. The guy had caused such a scene, everyone would know Alberto was here now, and they would all be on guard. So much for a meal today. Alberto slunk into one of the alleyways near the edge of the market, where it filtered into the piazza and only handwoven bags and shaved ice were being sold. He grit his teeth together as his stomach growled. Hunger always puts him in a bad mood…

Alberto thought back to the Vespa poster in his room, hung over the section of wall with the depressing tally marks Alberto had given up on keeping track of. There was nothing good about Genova, especially for a kid no one wanted. Once Alberto got his own Vespa, he was out of here. Arrivadechi, you horrible city, you horrible people, you horrible memories! He would be free to go wherever he wanted, sleep under the stars, not have to listen to anyone.  

A commotion out near the fountain in the center of the piazza drew Alberto’s attention away from his fantasy. 

“Come on, piccoletto. Just a little bath.” 

“Let me go! Stop!”

Alberto peeked his head out to gauge the situation. He recognized three of the four kids around the fountain, Ercole and his two lackeys Guido and Ciccio. The fourth kid was unfamiliar, holding a bag and getting dragged to the side of the fountain by Ercole. 

Ugh, Ercole. What a menace. The kid about to get his head dunked in the fountain pool couldn’t be older than Alberto, and was definitely too small to defend himself from a full 17-year-old. He found himself marching towards the fray before he could think too hard about it.

“Hey!” Alberto grabbed the kid’s arm and pulled him to his side, out of Ercole’s grip. “Why don’t you pick on someone your own size for a change?”

Ercole rolled his eyes with a scoff. “What do you care, Scorfano? Aren’t you busy dumpster diving for leftovers?”

“You’ll find your head in a dumpster if you don’t back off!” Alberto practically growled back. The kid was hiding from Ercole’s gaze now, holding tightly to the back of Alberto’s tank top.

The poorly mustached man got in close. “Is that any way to speak to your elders?” he asked mockingly as he shoved Alberto’s shoulder roughly, making him stumble.

Oh that’s it!

With a strong shove of his own, Ercole was pushed into the fountain, distracted with his wool sweater getting wet. 

“Come on!” Alberto grabbed the unnamed boy’s free hand and ran in the opposite direction of the shrieking bully and his goons. They didn’t have to run far before Alberto determined they were out of the group's danger zone. As the young boy panted from residual panic, Alberto gave him a once over. He didn’t seem hurt at all, just shaken from being manhandled. 

Alberto rested his hands on his hips, trying to come across as confident. “What are you doing here all alone? Don’t you have friends or parents or something?”

The boy’s eyes focused on Alberto intently. Hmm, normally Alberto wouldn’t consider brown a pretty color, but... “Oh, I was at the market with my parents and…” He shifted the bag in his hand forward before holding it up in front of Alberto. “You were trying to get these, right?”

Resting in the bag were three of the large glossy apples from the stall Alberto had been chased away from. The boy lightly swung the bag towards him, gesturing for Alberto to take it, so he did.  Alberto was still staring into the bag, awestruck, when the boy continued.

“I don’t approve of stealing, but I figured you weren’t taking food for personal amusement.” he said, awkwardly scuffing the sole of his shoe against the cobblestones. 

Alberto looked up from the fruit with stars in his eyes, gazing adoringly at him. “Thank you!” he replied, maybe a little too loud. At the sound of his stomach growling again, Alberto took out one of the apples and took the biggest bite he could. 

The boy stifled a giggle as juice dribbled down Alberto's chin. “I was actually looking for you when that guy and his friends ambushed me, so thank you too, for helping me.”

“No problem, kid.” Alberto said with a wink before taking another huge bite. 

The boy just watched him eat until the first apple was all but decimated. “My name’s Luca, by the way. Luca Paguro.” he said with a smile.

Alberto thrust his now free hand forward. “Alberto Scorfano.” Instead of shaking Luca’s hand when it was given, Alberto twisted, pushed, and pulled it oddly. “Piacere, Girolamo Trombeta!” Luca just looked at him oddly. “It’s a cool-guy thing. I’m kind of an expert.” he said with a purposely blasé expression.

“What does it mean?” Luca only got a zoned-out lip bite in response. “The thing you just said?” he tried to prompt.

“So!” Alberto exclaimed, changing the subject. “Why’d you do something nice for me before I helped you? I don’t even know you.”

Luca fidgeted, cheeks getting flushed. “Um, because it seemed like the right thing to do?”

Alberto just raised an eyebrow at him as he got out a second apple to bite into. This kid was totally full of it. No one does things for others without expecting something in return. “So what do you want? People don't do nice things just because.” Whatever it was, he would still gladly do it, even if the kid was trying to act all pure and altruistic.

“Nothing! Nothing.” the kid denied, waving his hands in front of him. “Besides, what are you talking about? You didn’t know that bag was for you when you helped me.”

Alberto stayed silent at that, keeping his mouth busy with inhaling the fruit in his hand.

Luca just stared at him for a moment before letting off an exasperated sigh. “You know, if you’re having trouble finding a meal, you can just come to my house.” Alberto froze, but Luca continued nervously. “My mom always makes extra… and the leftovers tend to go to waste… umm…” He was tapping his fingers together anxiously, looking up at Alberto through thick lashes as he anticipated the boy’s answer.

“LUCA!” a woman’s voice called. Luca’s eyes went wide as he looked in the direction of the farmers market.

He quickly took a pen out of his pocket, grabbed Alberto’s wrist around the apple core he was holding, and wrote something on his forearm. “We eat around 7. Come over if you want.” he said before running off.

Alberto didn’t even look down at the address sketched on his arm, he was too busy watching Luca’s shrinking form disappear into the piazza. 

Wow, so that’s what an angel looks like.

A week later, Luca wasn’t only providing Alberto with meals in secret, he was also giving Alberto a place to sleep. He had a little nest of spare pillows and blankets at the foot of Luca’s bed, but had more than once nodded off laying next to his new friend. Luca didn’t seem to mind, he said he just enjoyed having Alberto’s company. Apparently even someone that wonderful could have trouble in the friend department.

It was summer, so the two were able to spend all day talking and playing around the house while Luca’s parents worked wherever they did. The only adult fully aware of Alberto’s presence was nonna Paguro, since she was home all the time. She was cool though, and convinced Luca’s parents he was going through a growth spurt, and that’s why he needed a second plate of dinner to take to his room.

“You could definitely use a couple more inches.” Alberto had said snidely.

“Shut up.” Luca had giggled back.

That week had been the best of Alberto’s life so far. Luca was just the best. He was creative, smart, and he liked Vespas too. He totally understood the appeal of riding away on one to live wild. 

“Sleeping under the stars~. That sounds amazing.”

“Yeah…”

That had been about when Alberto’s crush on Luca developed. Alberto didn’t really realize it at the time, though, he was just glad to finally have a friend. He wasn’t alone anymore.

It had all been going perfectly until the ninth day of staying at the Paguro house. Luca had told Alberto to stay in his room while he took care of something important, but when Alberto looked out the window, he just saw Luca chatting with the girl next door over their fence. 

Alberto’s jealousy was immeasurable. 

The two spoke for a whole fifteen minutes before Luca headed back up to his room. “I’m back!” he announced cheerfully as he flopped down next to Alberto on his bed. “Hey Alberto, how would you feel about going next door for dinner today? Signore Marcovaldo makes a mean trenette al pesto.”

“So you can spend the whole meal talking to your new best friend?” Alberto asked petulantly, crossing his arms. “No way.”

Luca gave him an odd smile, as if he found Alberto’s stubbornness amusing in a way he knew it shouldn’t be. “You’re my best friend, stupido.” he said before scooting closer to be pressed up against Alberto’s side. “I just want you to meet Giulia and her dad. I think you’ll like them.”

Luca telling him he was his best friend had calmed him down enough and he agreed.

Giulia had welcomed them in, giving Luca a wink after she laid eyes on Alberto. Alberto had glared daggers at her for that, but she hadn’t seemed to care. He had been introduced to Massimo, and noticed that everyone was talking like they knew something Alberto didn’t. And turns out they did.

“Alberto.” Massimo had addressed him near the end of the meal, interrupting the flow of conversation. “How would you feel about perhaps staying here, with me and Giulietta?”

“What? Stay here? But-” Alberto looked over to Luca, but the boy was only smiling at him. “Luca?”

He grabbed hold of Alberto’s hand. “I was talking to Giulia and asked if Signore Marcovaldo would be willing to house you. If my mom found you, she’d throw you out. If you stay here, you won't have to hide anymore. You deserve to live somewhere you’re welcomed, Alberto.”

Alberto didn’t believe his reasons, and pathetic enough, tears started running down his face. “You don’t want me around anymore…”

Luca’s eyes widened in shock. “What? No! No, I love hanging out with you,” Luca wrapped both his hands around Alberto’s and brought them to his heart. “It's just that you staying at my house is too risky.” Alberto stayed silent as he stared at his friend. “I’ll come hang out with you everyday, I promise!”

Alberto looked around the table - everyone seemed so sincere - before turning back to Luca who was smiling at him hopefully. “Why would you do all this for me?” he asked as more water leaked from his eyes. 

“Because you’re my best friend. I care about you.”

Alberto loved Luca so much.

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

Alberto still loves Luca so much, even though right now he’s making Alberto do his trigonometry homework. 

“Subtract this number from both sides, then divide by the coefficient.” Luca said as he pointed with his pencil to an equation Alberto had been stuck on. Even though Luca was a grade below Alberto, he was much better at understanding the assignments the older boy was given.

Alberto just had his arm slung lazily over Luca’s shoulders, getting closer to him under the ruse of looking attentively at his paper. “Okay, but-”

A shrill beeping from Alberto’s satchel interrupted him. His pager... Damn it, again?

After Alberto and Giulia had been given their Miraculous’, weird puppet villains had started popping up like daisies. They weren’t even proper villains or monsters, just regular people who would get possessed by these mysterious butterflies that were apparently from another Miraculous wielder, from a different Miracle Box. The siblings' minds boggled when told that pretty much every major country had their own unique Miracle Box. Giulia thought it was cool, but Alberto was starting to resent it. God-damn Butterfly-Man was taking up all his free time with his monster-of-the-week shenanigans, and had been forcing Alberto to ditch Luca far too often. At this rate, Luca would probably stop hanging out with him.

Alberto reached into his satchel where Pesci handed him the noisy device so he could shut it off. “Sorry, Luca. Papa needs me for… a thing.” He needed to work on his excuses.

Luca just smiled at him sweetly as he handed over the sheet of equations they had been working on. “I get it. Be safe, alright?”

That had been Luca’s send-off phrase ever since Alberto came back from a battle with a black eye. One fight with what amounted to a sentient boxing glove and suddenly he was Mr. Accident Prone.

“Yeah, you got it.” Alberto said as he started to stand from his chair. He was stopped by Luca grabbing ahold of his free hand.

Luca looked at him with a frown and his deep brown eyes full of worry. “Alberto, I’m serious. I don’t like seeing you hurt. Promise me you’ll be careful out there.”

If Alberto didn’t know better, he’d think Luca knew what he was about to throw himself into. Alberto sat back in his seat to be next to Luca again. “Okay, okay, I promise.” He said, giving his boy a reassuring smile. He leaned over and placed a chaste kiss on Luca’s cheek, a common goodbye for the two that Alberto pretended was totally normal for best friends. “I’ll see you later.”

Alberto then got up and left the room, heading out the school building and not noticing Luca’s frown become more determined.

Once they were on the street, Pesci started talking to Alberto from the opening of his bag. “I still think you should give him my other half. He would make a great defender!”

“And I still think I like him better alive!” Alberto snapped back, already tired of this repeated conversation. “I’m not bringing Luca into this. Now get down, someone’s gonna see you.” He gently pushed the Kwami’s head back into the pocket they had been peeking out from.

It wasn’t too hard to figure out where the new monster was rampaging. Unnaturally deep yelling and a column of smoke rising into the air told Alberto which direction to head in. He had to be discrete heading towards the chaos, only breaking into a run when he was close enough to the fight that the streets were vacant. He paused only for a moment, ducking into a shadowed alley to transform.

Alberto held open the pocket of his satchel to let his Kwami fly out. They didn’t enjoy being pulled through barriers when they were summoned.

“Pesci, Present!”

Alberto’s clothes were changed into a scaly purple bodysuit with a lighter belly and darker belt. The suit cut off at his shoulders like a muscle-tee, leaving his biceps and delts exposed. Next to form were the gloves and boots that had spiky fins protruding from the back of his calves and just below his elbows. His eyes and nose were covered with a mask that had fins fanning out over his ears. His eyes tingled as if he had used medicated eye drops, meaning his sclera had turned yellow and his pupils had become slit, as they always did. 

Finally, his weapon formed in his outstretched hand: a large golden trident. Alberto was getting much better at using it, but he still hadn’t gotten his tidal wave power to work by himself. 

It should be fine.

Sprinting into the park, Alberto could see that his sister was already battling the large troll-looking monster tearing up the landscaping.

“Hey Lioness! Need some help?” Alberto yelled to her as he whacked the troll in the back on its knee, making it stumble.

“I was wondering when you were gonna show up!” Giulia yelled back as she went in to scratch the monster with her claws again. 

Alberto tried stabbing into the troll’s bumpy flesh, but that only drew the monster’s attention to Alberto instead of Giulia. “I was sort of in the middle of something when you beeped!” The siblings kept landing hits on the green beast, but the akuma only got more annoyed, not weakening at all. Even worse, they had no clue what the akumatized object could be. As far as the siblings could tell, the only item the creature possessed was the fur loincloth it was wearing.

Neither the superhero duo nor the monster noticed someone drop their bike and duck behind a tree to observe the fight. 

Giulia tried to go for a high kick to the troll’s face, but it caught her ankle in a tight grip. “Oh crap.” Giulia muttered before being thrown several blocks away like a ragdoll. Alberto wasn’t too worried about her, he could see her maneuvering to catch herself even now, he was just getting really pissed at this battle.

“Ugh! This isn’t going anywhere.” He growled. Looking around, he spotted a fountain in the courtyard of a nearby building with plenty of water pooled in its base-dish. Perfect.

The troll may have been stupidly tough, but it was slow. Alberto ducked under the arm it swung at him and dashed for the fountain. Without much preamble, Alberto jumped into the shallow pool and submerged the sharp tip of his trident into the water.

“TIDAL WAVE!” he called out, activating his Miraculous’ special power. When he lifted his weapon, spinning it around before pointing the end at his opponent, the water of the fountain followed it like a living creature before spraying at the troll like a high-pressure fire hose...

For about five seconds. 

The pool was quickly emptied of its contents, the water it provided only serving in making the enemy stumble back a few steps.

Yeah, that was what normally happened with ‘tidal wave’. At least this time he hadn’t tried to use a puddle. That had been about as effective as throwing a water balloon at a wall.

“That’s it?!” Alberto shrieked in frustration, gripping the neck of his trident as if he could strangle it. “What do you want, the Liguarian Sea?!?”

His rant was interrupted when the troll backhanded Alberto across the chest, sending him flying into one of the courtyard’s walls. His trident went spinning into the corner. Alberto moved to retrieve it, but the monster was blocking him, having moved too close for Alberto to do anything but press himself against the cold bricks behind him.

The akuma raised its huge fists above its head, and Alberto could only think Shit, I’m actually going to die! 

What was the last thing I said to Massimo and Giulia?

Oh God, the last thing I said to Luca…

A flying trash can lid beamed the Akuma in the head, gaining both its and Alberto's attention.

There, just a few meters away, was a very angry Luca standing next to a lid-less silver trash can. 

“Hey ugly! Over here!” he yelled at the monster, waving his arms above his head.

The troll started chasing after him, heavy foot-falls making the ground shake. Luca immediately turned and ran down one of the wide-open roads, turning his head every-so-often to make sure the beast was still following him.

“Luca! What are you doing?!” Alberto screamed after him, panic clear in his voice. This wasn’t happening. An akuma was not chasing his best friend with the intent to kill him!

Alberto quickly scooped up his trident and pursued the monster chasing his friend. Oh he better have a damn good explanation for this! Alberto thought as his heart rate climbed. He didn’t know what he’d do if Luca actually got hurt. 

As stated before, the troll was slow, and it became pretty clear to Alberto that quads-for-days Luca was purposely running slower to keep the monster on his tail. When all this is over, Alberto is going to give him such an earful! He quickly caught up and fully stabbed the akuma in the back. If Luca was at risk, Alberto wasn’t going to play around with being gentle. The troll let out a roar and turned to swipe at Alberto. 

He saw there was a paper clinging to the akuma’s sweaty hand and without a second thought, sliced it in half with the tip of his trident. A black butterfly fluttered out of the paper and Alberto easily skewered it out of the air, killing it and making it dissipate into black smoke. 

Finally!

Black smoke covered the troll before lifting to reveal an unharmed elderly woman with an intact fairytale book. Good thing destroying the akuma reversed any damage inflicted right before and during the fight.

Giulia finally showed back up and started comforting the confused woman as Alberto grabbed Luca by the arm and dragged him behind a building.

“Paguro, what the hell were you thinking?!” he growled at the shorter boy. Alberto was seriously about to cry, but he tried to mask it with anger so his friend wouldn’t see him as weak. 

Luca looked up at him with stubborn eyes. “Alberto, I-”

“No!” Alberto interrupted. “Luca, you could have been hurt. Even killed! The fuck you think I would have done if I lost you?!” he yelled at him. The tears spilled easily from his altered eyes.

Luca’s own eyes became wet as he yelled back. “Oh, so I’m supposed to let you die because you have some stupid fish mask?!” Luca shoved him roughly.

Alberto shoved him back. “You’re supposed to let me do my job because I have powers that let me do it safely!”

Luca laughed humorlessly. “You call that safe? You call any of this safe?” He gestured wildly to the area around him. “You keep showing up after going to ‘do a thing’ covered in bruises and scrapes! I can’t just stand by while you get hurt protecting everyone!”

“I would rather get hurt myself than have you get hurt protecting me! Can’t you see that?” The facade of anger leached out of his body as Alberto pulled Luca into a tight hug.

Luca hugged back just as fiercely. “And can’t you see the feeling’s mutual?” He sniffed against Alberto’s shoulder. “Why can’t you ever just ask me for help?”

A gloved hand brushed through Luca’s hair. “I can’t risk you… You mean too much to me.”

“I don’t want to lose you either…”

They stayed like that for a minute, just holding onto each other, listening to the other boy breath.

“How long have you known it was me?” Alberto asked, pulling back just enough to look at his friend.

Luca looked away bashfully. “Eh, pretty much the entire time…” he said with an awkward grin.

Alberto moved back, gripping both Luca’s shoulders and looking at him intensely. “What? How? I thought I was being so sneaky!”

Luca had to stifle a giggle, wiping the old, cold tears from his face. “A fish themed superhero with no sense of self-preservation shows up at the same time my best friend starts constantly wearing a fish necklace I’ve never seen before. How could it not be you?”

“Hey, I have self-preservation.” Alberto argues before the two dissolve into giggles, pressing their foreheads together. 

Luca’s hands come up to play with the short curls at Alberto’s nape. “Besides, who else has hair like this?” Alberto’s only response is to rest both palms gently along Luca’s jaw, holding the boy close as he gazes into those wonderfully familiar and comforting brown eyes. Luca could only stare back. “Have to admit though, the weird eyes did throw me.”

“Pfff. I think they look cool.”

“I didn’t say they weren’t.”

Lioness was getting tired standing at the mouth of the alleyway waiting to be acknowledged. “Eh-Hem!” she obnoxiously cleared her throat.

Alberto turned to glare at her as Luca gave her a smile. “Hi, Giulia!”

“...Hi, Luca.” she responded lamely. Apparently she wasn’t all that slick either. 

She de-transformed then and Alberto decided to follow her example. His five minute time limit was almost up anyway. Luca cooed at the little fish kwami and Pesci preened at the attention. Leone flew right into Giulia’s hair to take his regular after-battle-nap.

“You know, Alberto, if he already knows our identities, it’s all the more reason to-”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I’ll do it.” he said, exasperated. A huge grin broke out on Giulia’s face. “BUT! We should go home first. I want Massimo to be there so he can explain stuff better.”

“Alright then! LET’S GO!” Giulia shouted happily, grabbing one hand from both the boys and dragging them in the direction of the Marcovaldo house.  As they exited the alleyway, Pesci ducked back into Alberto’s satchel after giving Luca a sweet little bow. 

“So what are those little flying things?” Luca asked Alberto, in his forever-charming knowledge-hungry way.

Alberto smiled down at him and gave him a wink. “I’ll tell you about it when we get home. You’re going to be seeing a lot of these critters from now on.”

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

Massimo was overjoyed to explain kwami and Miraculous' to Luca as they all sat around the Marcovaldo's dinner table. Luca easily nodded along as the large man spoke until Massimo started reminiscing about his own days as a Miraculous holder.

"Wait, you were a superhero too?" Luca asked in amazement as he leaned across the table.

Massimo gave a deep chuckle from under his thick mustache. "Yes, I was a superhero too." He said as he showed off his old Miraculous from the Miracle Box, a bracelet that was adorned with what looked like a Ferdinand charm. "I used the bull Miraculous to protect this city until mi ragazzi were able to take up the mantle. Emilia always had to help me put it on."

The table laughed along with the man as Signora Ricci patted his single forearm with a crooked grin. The moment Alberto and Giulia had walked into the house with Luca talking about a possessed troll, Massimo had dashed down to Emilia's house. Both adults had been anxiously awaiting the day they could bring Alberto’s dear friend into the loop.

"However, before that, I used the very Miraculous Alberto has now." Massimo added as he gestured to the silver necklace resting against Alberto’s chest. "Pesci's other half was held by Signora Ricci. We were quite the team back then."

Pesci swooped down to the table to knock over the salt shaker. "He was far less difficult about having a partner." The small creature griped as they picked up a bit of spilled salt and threw it into their mouth.

Luca looked at the silver fish pendant in consideration. "Other half?" He asked curiously. His gaze shifted up to Alberto’s face, which was turned away in anticipation of what they both knew was coming. Luca frowned dangerously as his friend avoided his eye. "You've been knowingly fighting monsters with only half a Miraculous?"

Giulia tried to stifle her laugh while Alberto looked anywhere in the room except at his crush. "Maybe-" He started carefully.

"ARE YOU INSANE?!?" Luca yelled at the boy as he snatched the front of his shirt. "Alberto Scorfano-Marcovaldo, you never get to claim you have self preservation again!"

Alberto brought his hand up in front of his face defensively. "Okay okay okay! Before you kill me, can I show you something?"

The grip on Alberto’s collar didn't loosen. "I'm waiting." Luca continued to glare at him.

Alberto brought a long necklace out of his pocket, the necklace that had been sitting there for months now. The charm on the silver chain was of a blue and green fish that had far smoother fins than Alberto’s matching purple pendant. "This is the other half of the Miraculous." Alberto explained as he placed the two halves together, showing how perfectly they fit together. "Papa told me to give this to you when he gave me mine, but… I didn't want to risk you getting hurt." 

Luca blinked up at him before giving a deep sigh. “Alberto, that is the stupidest thing you have ever said to me. And when we first met, you introduced yourself as ‘Twisty Trombone’!” He was finally smiling again, so a wide grin overtook Alberto’s placating expression.

“Yeah, though in my defense, I wasn’t expecting you to fight a monster with a trash can to protect me.”

That got Massimo and Emilia’s attention. “You what?” The woman felt all the blood drain from her face.

Massimo cleared his throat to get the attention of the room again. “Luca, I understand this is a lot to ask of you, but you are the ideal candidate for the second half of the Pieces Miraculous. You would be the defender of the team, the shield to protect Alberto while he deals out the attacks.”

“You may often feel like you're useless in battle,” Signora Ricci chimed in. “sometimes it may even feel like you shouldn’t even be in the fight. I should know. But one half of Pesci can’t be used without the other. A tsunami cannot form without the ocean to feed it.”

“Above all, it will be dangerous, especially since you haven’t yet had the training Alberto and Giulia have had.” Massimo continued. “Knowing this, are you willing to take up the mantle of the defending half of the Pieces Miraculous.”

Without hesitation, Luca nodded. “Of course, if you’ll all have me.” He told the room. Luca turned back to Alberto and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “I know you feel like you always have to protect me, but I want to be able to protect you too.”

Alberto could feel his heart jump as he rested his own hand over Luca’s. Smiling down at the shorter teen, Alberto was about to respond when Pesci flew right up between them. 

“Great! Now that that’s all settled, we have a ceremony to perform!” The purple fish kwami exclaimed. They gestured for Alberto and Luca to follow them as they started to excitedly zip up the stairs.

“A what?” Alberto called after Pesci.

They turned back to the two boys impatiently. “When two holders must be joined by the Pieces Miraculous, we have a ceremony to officiate it. It’s best held in private, so we’ll use your room. So come on! The sooner we get up there, the sooner I see my other half!”

At that, Luca and Alberto quickly followed the kwami up the stairs, both blushing as they could hear chuckling from behind them. Once they were in Alberto’s room and had the door shut behind them, Pesci had the boys sit cross-legged on Alberto’s bed facing each other.

There wasn't room for them to sit on the floor. Alberto’s room was barely big enough to accommodate his bed, desk, and the small walkway in between. That didn't keep Luca from spending the night almost every day over summer. They would always have to share the bed since there wasn't room for a sleeping bag, but neither minded. Luca was never one to pass up a snuggle, and Alberto embarrassingly took any opportunity he could to cling to his best friend.

“Now Alberto, give him the necklace so Pesci will be released.” Pesci instructed. Alberto handed over the pendent to Luca, who slipped it over his head with ease.

Luca jumped a little when a blue fairy light popped out of the metal and swirled around his head before coming to rest in front of his nose. When the glow subsided, the blue and green Pesci was finally back, gazing at Luca in wonder just as Luca was gazing at them.

“Um, hello.” Luca gave the kwami a smile that absolutely melted Alberto’s heart. 

It must have had a similar effect of Pesci, because they responded with an equally radiant smile and an exuberant chirping sound. “Oh my! I have a holder now? This is my holder?” They floated around Luca excitedly before flying right to the other Pesci. “Oh, I can’t believe I get to be out again! This will be so fun!”

“First things first.” Pesci tried to calm their other half. “We have to perform the binding ceremony.”

“Oh, yes, of course.” Pesci spoke quickly before flying right back over to Luca. They cleared their throat. “Do you solemnly swear to defend your other half from all that would do them harm?”

Pesci also floated in front of Alberto. “Do you solemnly swear to defeat all that would do your other half harm?”

“To stand by their side in battle and in peace.”

“To use each other’s powers wisely, and never resort to cruelty.”

Both spoke in unison for the final piece. “And to avenge your other half should they fall?”

Luca and Alberto glazed at each other in mild concern. If Luca didn’t know any better, he’d think Pesci was expecting one of them to die. If Alberto didn’t know any better, he’d say these sounded a bit like wedding vows. 

“Umm… I do?” Luca cautioned, unsure what exactly was the correct affirmative in this ceremony. It made Alberto’s stomach flip.

The older boy cleared his throat in embarrassment before responding himself. “Yes, I swear.”

“Then you shall be the fearless wielders of the Pieces Miraculous. May your lives be long, and your partnership strong.” Pesci congratulated them, both zipping off to some corner of the room so one could show the other assorted knicknacks they had grown used to seeing in their time apart.

Luca and Alberto didn’t say anything as they stared at each other, unsure how to process the very quick and very odd ceremony they had just been a part of. It had practically been over before it began, though it seemed like Pesci viewed it with great importance. 

A voice from the door broke their tension after a moment. “So, did you two just get kwami married?”

“GIULIA! GET OUT OF MY ROOM!”