#after a whole day of valentine shenanigans

[gyllenhaalstories]

FORTUNE COOKIE — DETECTIVE LOKI 🥠

summary: you're in luck! the restaurant did not run out of fortune cookies this time.

warnings:food & eating, smut (hickeys, mirror sex, nipple play, thighjob, mention of edging). 18+ NO MINORS.

word count: 1785

gif credits: @/elliewilliums (cropped) / divider credits: @/saradika-graphics

notes: happy valentine's day! i'm sending you all so much love. 💝 thank you for reading & REMEMBER TO REBLOG!

You parked your car next to Loki's, although the parking lot was empty at this hour. This sounded like a cute metaphor about how you could have all the space in the world, yet you'd rather stay close to your man. Anyway. You parked your car and struggled with just about everything beyond that point. Your hands were too full to close and lock the door easily and to zip your coat and put its hood over your head. Once you figured it out, you waddled your way to the restaurant. You struggled with the push and pull mechanism, nothing special there, and you especially struggled to look normal while you bee-lined to his usual table.

You were lucky, his back faced the door so he did not catch even the smallest visual glimpse of your shenanigans. Although he could not see you, his face beamed with a smile at the squeaky sound of your shoes and at your clumsy apologies to the waitress for coming in so close to closing hours.

"Surprise." You laughed at how you ruined your own plans. You handed him the precious package you were holding close to your body this whole time.

"What are you doing here?" Loki's eyes glanced up at you, then down at the box you were handing him. Pink wrapping paper, pink ribbon, pink bow, pink everything.

"I just told you, I wanted to surprise you." He emptied your hand so you could pull your phone out of your pocket. "Look, it's after midnight."

He blinked, with an arched brow.

"That means it's Valentine's Day." You smiled from ear to ear.

"I thought we had plans for dinner not... for now."

"Surprise!" You repeated and hopped closer to him, leaning in for a quick kiss. "I know we said no gift. I also know that if I tried to hide the gift, you'd find it. So this is the best plan I came up with!"

He set the box down on the table and attempted to search through the pocket of his black coat, but he stopped to listen to you.

You told him you knew he'd be there to eat before coming back home, so you would not lovingly scold him about not prioritizing his needs. You told him it was no bother, to drive in the middle of the night to meet with him. You told him you planned this all out with love. You also told him how proud you were for surprising him for once, well, kind of.

"I'm proud of you." You smiled when you sat down in front of him. You caught him just in time, too, he had finished his food. He politely asked the waitress for a refill of coffee. He searched his coat again and pulled a gift out of it.

The box was not wrapped up all cutesy like yours, but you could not care less.

"I know we said no presents." The waitress reappeared and placed two fortune cookies between Loki and you. She walked back to the kitchen with the empty coffee pot.

After Loki sipped his coffee, you both agreed to open your presents at the same time.

Loki carefully pulled on the ribbon and peeled the heart patterned paper off the box. He gasped when he opened it and discovered a ring. It resembled the Masonic ring he wore, but it was different. Loki's ring was plain, it suited him. But the one you got for him showed intricate details and complex craftsmanship.

"I don't need to understand it to know it's important for you." You watched his reactions closely while he studied the ring. You explained how you saw an advertisement in the newspaper about people selling vintage knickknacks. It was not too far out of town, it was set up like a yard sale. You found the ring in an old jewellery box, had it cleaned up, and saved it for this special occasion.

"I love it." He closed the box and smiled widely. "Thank you." You could feel how much this gift mattered to him and you were happy with yourself. "It's your turn."

So, you opened your present too. You frowned, confused, when you pulled out a chain that looked exactly like his.

"You like mine so much, figured you wanted your own..." You spoke at the same time. "So we can match."

You insisted on putting it on right away, but Loki decided you should wait until you both got home. The waitress came back to clean your tables and, before you left, you opened your fortune cookies.

Loki was a little superstitious about his cookies, he liked to give them time to work their magic so you did not share what the strip or paper said right away. He paid and tipped the waitress generously and headed outside.

You waved goodbye at the waitress and wished her "Happy Valentine's day!"

*~*~*

Loki hung the towel to dry on the rack, his messy half dry hair looked so different from his usual slicked back look. He looked relaxed, at peace. He came up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist while the steam from the shower slowly dissipated.

You handed him the small necklace and he groaned in response, not wanting to leave the embrace just yet. You had waited too long with the ride home in your respective cars and the long steamy shower. You wanted your present.

He obliged, though, and carefully put the chain around your neck. He watched your reflection in the mirror with a corner smile. "You look so beautiful, my love."

You looked at yourself through the mirror too and brought your hand to touch the cold metal of the chain. It was exactly like Loki's, you'd always have a piece of him with you that way.

Loki kissed your cheek and along the side of your neck, where he focused until your brain got too fuzzy to thank him again for the Valentine's day present. He lingered on one spot, sucking a light mark on it that he soothed with gentle licks. His hands caressed your exposed chest.

"I'm guessing you love it as much as I do?" You looked at the mirror again and caught a glimpse of your man smirking against your skin and marking you up some more while his hands were groping your tits.

He grunted, now teasing your nipples until they got hard. He loved to feel you squirm against his naked body, your ass grinding on his hardening cock.

You gasped when he pinched and pulled gently on your nipples.

He had no intention of hurting you, he simply wanted to tease you. His day was long, rough, as it always seemed to be but your surprise at the restaurant put him in a much better mood. Despite wanting to enjoy your body and to explore every inch of it by peppering kisses, his body forced him to pick up the pace.

"Please..." You whispered, begging him to keep touching you.

And he did, without needing you to explain any further. His hands abandoned your breasts and travelled down.

You lost sight of them in the mirror, but your entire body felt like it melted when his fingers touched your pussy.

"So fucking wet for me." He praised you in your ear, before he switched sides and started to mark the rest of your neck with hickeys. He dipped two fingers between your folds.

Instinctively, your legs opened up for him. You gave him enough space for his hand, but also for his cock.

He pushed his cock between your legs and moaned of pleasure when your pussy lips coated him with wetness. Loki helped you close your legs just a bit, so that he could fuck your thighs.

It was not as satisfying as having him buried inside of your pussy or feeling his fingers rub your tingly clit, but this felt so good still.

It felt especially good when Loki grabbed your hips to hold you in place. He fucked himself with your thighs, grunting louder and louder with each thrust. "Fuck," he mumbled, face still in your neck. "Been thinking of your pussy all day."

You reached a hand behind you and put it on the back of his head, holding him close. "Need you inside me, baby."

"Say that again." He demanded, his eyes rolled to the back of his head when you whined loudly as the tip of his cock hit your clit.

You took a deep breath, trying to speak coherently although this seemed next to impossible when Loki was fucking you. "I need your cock so bad. I need you inside me. Please. Please!"

"Good girl." Loki stopped moving, his cock lodged between your thighs and under your wet pussy.

"Why?" You complained, tears began to pool at the corner of your eyes. You needed him to keep going so bad.

His fingers started to rub your clit instead, but it was way too slow for your liking. "Wanna know what my fortune cookie said?"

You put your hand over his, trying to make him speed up and take you closer to your orgasm, but you failed.

His strong hand just kept rubbing small, lazy circles on your sensitive clit. "Answer me. Do you want to know?"

You rolled your eyes and surrendered. "What did it say?"

He wore a proud smile on his face. When you noticed it, you chuckled. "It said to Plan for many pleasures ahead." You rolled your eyes and he insisted. "No, no, no. I'm serious! You don't believe me? You wanna see it?" He gave your pussy a gentle slap to make you quit your attitude.

It succeeded in making your brain short circuit for a second.

"I can prove it to you that this was written on the paper. It's in my coat, I'm gonna go and get it." Loki pulled away from you, his hands, and his cock, leaving your body.

You whined so loud that he laughed.

He was surprised at your reaction, but he was more so aroused at how much you wanted to feel him.

"What is it? You don't want me to go?"

"Absolutely not." You turned around, finally looking at him directly in the eye. "But we're still gonna go somewhere." You erased the distance between your bodies again only to push him out of the bathroom and in direction of the bedroom.

He walked backwards, letting you guide him with a proud smirk.

"I'd rather make the fortune cookie's wish come true."

Loki turned you around and, when you finally got near the bed, he pushed you down on it. "That's my good fucking girl."

[leviathans-watching]

om m.list ━ brothers (part 1)

[back] | [part 2]

�� edit 7/11/23: i hit 100 links on here, so everything posted on/after this date will be found in part 2!!

cupping their cheeks

awkward/embarrassing situations they've been in

sleeping/waking up with them (includes dateables)

dancing with them (includes dateables)

how they confess to you

"you were mean to me in my dream" (includes diavolo)

choosing the 'parent' tiktok trend (includes diavolo & barbatos)

chill mc (includes barbatos & simeon)

mc's afraid of bugs

mc doesn't celebrate their birthday (includes dateables)

rejecting them

rejecting them alt version

calling them by a pet name

when they hurt your feelings

coming out as nonbinary

mc w/ braces

seeing you in cute pjs

mc's afraid of needles

reactions to teaching diavolo wap

when you have a nightmare

wanting to cuddle you

teen delinquent!mc

holding their hands

reactions to you crying

comforting you when your dreams are insulted

hardworking mc

sharing their birthdate

sharing their birthdate alt version

calling them your whole world

using their shampoo (includes diavolo & simeon)

how they act on vacation

'losing interest' tiktok prank

defending you from a creep

coming out as ace (includes solomon)

when they're jealous

when they see snow

catching you sleeping

when you have art/writers block

"would you still love me if i were a worm"

waking them up to ask if they're asleep

at your wedding

burned-out mc

'the ick' prank

slow dancing with them

comforting a heartbroken mc

their morning routines

going on a boba date with them

seeing mc all bundled up for the cold

using kisses as leverage

picking them up from the airport

them as seasons

how they give you the ick

touching their horns/tails/etc.

slow learner mc

mc w/ glasses

before you

falling asleep in front of them

valentine’s day with the obey me boys

explaining the dentists to them | part 2

mc on their period

mc isn’t playing therapist

"i didn't want to be here"

you're dating someone?!?!?

mc’s brothers

carving pumpkins with them

nowhere to go for the holidays

mc with type 1 diabetes

when they (try to) surprise you

when they turn into toddlers

having a hard time in the human realm

comforting you after a loss

chaotic/feral mc texts (includes dateables)

photo not loading

adult twins are cringe

pride month?

deleting everyone cute

mc craving sweets during that time of the month

obey me boys as funny tweets | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | pt 5 | (includes dateables)

the brothers at university

pet names they call you (includes dateables)

om characters as wikihow memes (includes dateables)

obey me bros + pinterest nails

“he wants to order”

things not to say when someone comes out (includes dateables)

D&D(evildom) Beyond! - 6.5k, oc!mc

“Leviathan, Abel, what were you doing?” Lucifer prompts, and the two share a look.

“We were playing Dungeons and Dragons,” Leviathan begins slowly, “which, now that I’m looking–”

“–Our opening scene was awfully similar to this,” Abel finishes.

“Wait, are you saying you think we’re in your campaign?” Satan asks, eyes wide, and Leviathan nods.

“I mean, it makes total sense,” he says with budding excitement. “Like, I’m obviously supposed to be a ranger, Abel’s definitely an artificer, and Lucifer’s a total paladin. This is so cool, it’s like my dreams are being brought to life right before my eyes!”

my new neighbors are demons *not clickbait* - 1.3k

I love your writing ❤️❤️❤️

Can I request a shot with MC’s neighbor sort of just moving in and seeing the shenanigans of MC’s life that is the three realms.

Chaotic lessons from Solomon.

Accidentally catching MC using magic through a window they forgot to close.

Talking to Dia and Barbatos and Dia missing all social cues and taking everything literally.

Either be MC x Mammon or platonic with all

But also the brothers as they waltz into MC’s home whenever they are or are not in their home.

I can also see luke and mc bringing this guy extra sweets they baked

I’m sorry, I know this is a lot. I just thought your writing would match this perfectly.

come hell or high water - WIP; fem!reader

“Let’s get one thing straight,” he barks. “I don’t like you, nor do I respect you. This whole program is utterly ridiculous and I fear Prince Diavolo is a fool for suggesting such a thing. You’re just a lowly human, got that? You’ll always be nothing, especially to me, The Great Mammon.”

If he was looking for tears or offense, you were afraid that is not what he’d receive. You’d been playing the court since you were young, so these insults were nothing new to you. Actually, it was almost a relief for him to underestimate you because of your status as a human, and not a woman. Men were so dreadfully pigheaded sometimes, and you were sick and tired of having to play the good girl card, only smiling demurely instead of sharing your mind as you wished.

“Not going to say anything?” Lord Mammon snorts, and you cock your head at him.

“My apologies, Lord Mammon,” you say, “for I had not realized you were done speaking. I’m afraid I wasn’t listening all that closely.” Lord Mammon gapes at you, but you’re not finished. “Furthermore, I don’t know what the women down here are like, but I assure you, a few brash curse words and scowls thrown my way is not enough to scare me.”

(A Regency AU. Sort of)

mc on her period - 1.5k; fem!reader

“MC?” he asks, stepping closer to you. You manage a weak smile though you think it may have come across as a painful grimace. “Are you sick? Why are you huddled on the couch with like-” he pauses, eyes flicking over you, “-five blankets?”

You’re still not super used to any of them, what with you only having been in the Devildom for a few weeks, but you figure there’s no need to mince words. Demons could handle a bit of vaginal bleeding, couldn’t they?

“I’m on my period,” you say, and he winces. Maybe they couldn’t.

Sticks & Stones - 13k

“MC seemed off today, right?” Satan asked, looking at his brothers.

“For sure.” Belphie agreed, and it was quiet for a moment.

“I was going to ask why they were wearing your jacket, Mammon, but now I’m more worried about this,” Leviathan remarked, and Mammon smirked a little, but it was overshadowed by concern for his human.

“To be honest,” Asmo dabbed at his mouth daintily with a napkin. “I’ve been noticing it for a little while now, not just today.”

“As have I.” Lucifer seemed more serious than usual. “It is our duty as MC’s hosts to make sure that their time in the Devildom is satisfactory, and if they’re feeling down, it would be a good idea to know why.”

“Because we’re their hosts,” Mammon mocked. “Lucifer, we’re all worried about them, so ya can admit it too.”

* * *

You had been feeling a little low in terms of yourself, and the brothers decide to remind you if your self worth.

Are We Really Sure Crazy Equals Genius? - 2.5k; fem!reader

anon ask: can i request a obey me fic where female mc is super badass but also kinda crazy? like she has a gun or something idrk? thanks xx

[covetyou]

is there any Santa/Cupid Joel lore you'd be willing to share?

it's a totally normal question i'm not unhealthily obsessed with him or anything

lore you say? I have baubles and stupid cupid lore. more in egg hunt at the end of March too.

word count: 722 warnings: sex toys, brotherly shenanigans, these two things are related but very much not in an incest way don't worry. summary: What started as a simple joke from the youngest Miller brother quickly turned into a... beloved brotherly tradition.

The first time he'd gotten one of those gifts it had been his birthday. He never got anything, from anyone, so when he opened his front door to see a present lying there with his name on it, he'd been wary. When he saw it was from Tommy, he was even more apprehensive. So, he did the only logical thing and left it in the garage until he could open it in a disposable coverall later that night, just in case.

Of course, he looked like a total dick stood in his garage in a coverall at midnight holding anal beads of all fucking things, staring at a chicken scratch of a note from his dearest fuckin' baby brother:

if you won't bring someone into your bedroom, maybe you gotta bring something. hbd brother.

Tommy may have been right, but Joel didn't think anal beads were that thing he was looking for. By the next afternoon, the beads were carefully hung from Tommy's rearview mirror.

And so began the long, tiring, tradition of gift giving and gift returning between the Miller brothers.

On Thanksgiving, Joel slipped Tommy a baggy of finger cots, giving him a heavy slap on the back and telling him he found his size. The next week, the tiny white condoms were neatly pulled over the ends of every single one of Joel's tools.

That Christmas Joel was the not-so-happy recipient of an edible chocolate Clone-a-Willy kit. He was almost tempted to try it out - to cast his cock in the tube just so he could take it out and look at it properly from every angle. He cast his middle finger instead, handing it to a gleeful Tommy on New Years Eve.

For Valentine's day, Joel damn near gave Tommy a heart attack, and ruined the end of what was, until that point, a very good date. He knew he should've kept it to the couch, but damn if his date didn't deserve the full Tommy Miller Experience. Apparently, that also included seeing the blow up sex doll tucked neatly into his bed. He never did hear back from her after that night.

Of course, what Joel didn't know is Tommy had stashed a pink heart shaped butt plug on his dresser, only noticing the thing weeks later when Sarah pointed it out before Joel could sweep it into a drawer and tell her to get going or she'd be late for school. Tommy groveled until Joel didn't quite want to kill him any more, and the butt plug lay forgotten in the bottom of his sock drawer.

Tommy's birthday brought him some vibrating nipple clamps - clamps that Joel never saw or heard about again, save for a thank you and a thumbs up from his brother one day on a job.

For his birthday that year, a full 365 days since this whole thing started, Joel received maybe the most baffling gift of all. A dildo for his balls. Apparently. Now, Joel wasn't a church going man - hadn't been since their parents had given up with it all when they were kids - but he couldn't help but think that maybe his brother needed Jesus.

This one, he was almost tempted to keep. Not that he had anyone to use it with, and it most definitely was not a solo use gift. He opened it, tried to figure it out, even watched the instructional video, before settling on sticking it on top of Tommy's Christmas tree at the end of the year.

But, when he pulled up outside Tommy's place on Christmas Eve it looked, and sounded, like he had company. Not one to cockblock his brother again (at least one of them was gettin' laid) Joel headed back home, toy hidden away in his Santa sack. It was still the right side of midnight when he drove down his street, noticing once again that house with the sparkling Christmas tree, totally bare of any decorations. One look to the back of his truck, ornaments from a house clearance still stashed in a box that he had yet to find a home for, and he made up his mind. Parking up and walking down the street, draped in red velvet with a bag filled with jangling plastic ornaments, he stepped up to your door...

[strangersatellites]

happy valentine’s day steddie nation! have some lumax & steddie shenanigans as a treat! i love you all! 🫶🏼

February 11th, 1987

It’s not that she’s particularly interested in watching E.T. again. It's more so the fact that the back of the VHS box has enough words that she can pretend to read it for an extended period of time without looking suspicious. 

See, Max is a planner. She plans. Plots might actually be a better word. Perhaps even schemes.

Whatever. She plans. 

When the time is right, she executes. 

Luckily, Lucas is good for two (2) things. 

Anything and everything Max asks of him

Causing problems on purpose

That’s how she finds herself here. Pretending to read the back of a movie she’s seen at least ten times while she acts like she’s not able to hear the conversation happening at the Family Video counter.

“Oh come on! It’s for Valentine’s Day!”

Steve stops whatever he’s trying to do on the tv and props a hand on his hip while he levels Lucas with a look.

“What makes you think I don’t have plans already, Sinclair? Huh? I could have my own date to plan for all you know.”

Lucas snorts. “Yeah, right. Please, Steve? I already told Max you said yes so she’s expecting it to be a whole thing! I’ll ask Eddie to drop us off and everything! Plus, my mom said we can only have a date if you chaperone and no offense, but I’m not taking you to a restaurant.”

“Well maybe we need to practice honesty in our relationships,” Steve says, pointing the tv remote at him. “You’re lucky Max is my favorite, or else you would’ve been in deep shit. Now what did you tell her I was cooking?”

Max has to hide a giggle behind the horror movie display at the way Lucas visibly sags in relief. He throws her a wink when Steve turns back to the screen. 

*****

February 12th, 1987

Finding the money is easy. 

It’s not Max’s fault Eddie is an absolute idiot and leaves his wallet in his unlocked van during Hellfire. 

The man is just asking to be a victim of petty theft.

Plus, she doubts he even pays enough attention to the amount of money he has in there anyway. He probably won’t even know it's gone. 

Picking the flowers out wasn’t difficult either. 

Steve’s favorite flowers are tulips, and under any other circumstances they would be the obvious choice. But everyone knows a dozen red roses means true love. 

And it's Valentine’s Day. Come on.

The florist had watched the pair look at all the flowers with a twinkle in her eye. No doubt she thought Lucas was buying them for Max. 

Gross.

Convincing her that they needed them delivered to Family Video on Valentine’s Day was a little trickier.

“No they’re not for me, ew.” and “They’re for a friend.” and “Yes, we know it's last minute.”

But arguably the most difficult part had been choosing what to put on the card. 

They’re sitting on the sidewalk outside the arcade writing and crossing out and writing again while everyone else is inside.

“Lucas, are you kidding me? We can’t just say Happy Valentine’s Day. That’s so lame.”

He throws his hands up in an exasperated gesture. “Well what else? We can’t be all ‘roses are red, violets are blue, I’m a big dumb idiot who won’t make a move.’”

Max snorts a laugh and gives him a conspiratory smile before she starts writing on the back of a receipt.

“No. But you know what we can do?”

*****

February 13th, 1987

“I don’t know… this feels a little risky.”

Max swats at Lucas’s bicep and glares. 

“Just trust me. All we have to do is get Eddie there and his own desperate need to be nosy will do the rest.”

Lucas takes a deep breath in and accepts his fate. “If this doesn’t work it's your fault.”

She just rolls her eyes and shoves him up and off the couch. 

They’re in the Wheeler’s basement finishing up yesterday’s campaign so they can all have Valentine’s day to do their own thing. Eddie called for a ten minute break after Mike and Dustin had to very nearly be physically held back during an argument about what move they should make next. 

He’s propped on the arm of his chair and writing something in a little notebook when Lucas approaches. 

“Uh hey, Eddie? Can I ask you something?”

The older boy raises his eyes up to meet Lucas’s and squints at him.

“Roll for charisma.”

Now it's Lucas’s turn to roll his eyes. “Are you serious?”

Eddie breaks into a bright smile and settles into his seat with a laugh. “Nah, man. What’s up, Sinclair?”

“Are you busy tomorrow? Do you have any plans for Valentine’s Day I mean?”

Eddie’s brows furrow and he tilts his head a bit. “No way, dude. I’ll be sitting at home with a movie and a bowl of Wayne’s spaghetti if the past is any indication of how my day will play out. Besides, you know how I feel about all that shit.”

Max squints from her place on the couch braiding El’s hair. She does know how he feels about all that shit. She heard him telling Robin alllllllll about how he wanted to have a real Valentine’s Day date one day. 

She’s grateful at this moment that he’s publicly sticking to his guns. No “forced conformity” in sight.

That would’ve ruined the plan.

“Perfect!” Lucas claps.

Max cringes but he recovers.

“Uh, I mean– I mean that’s perfect for me then! I was going to ask if you could come pick me up from Steve’s tomorrow. He told me he’d let me go through his closet and pick out something to wear.” He looks down and picks at a string on his jacket and Max has to hand it to him. His acting skills are pretty impressive. “I’m taking Max on a real date tomorrow.”

Eddie’s face softens and he cuts the shit with his false bravado almost instantly.

“That’s sweet, man. But why can’t Harrington drive you to Max’s exactly?”

And shit.

Max didn’t think Eddie would question him. Not with the way he drives them places all the time. 

Then again so does Steve. So maybe that was a bit of an oversight.

But Lucas takes it in stride. “Oh he said something about cooking for his own date when I leave.”

Max might be a bit more worried about Lucas’s ability to lie off the cuff if she weren’t so impressed.

Eddie just nods. “Sure, kiddo. I’ll be there at 7 o’clock sharp.”

Easy.

Now they wait.

*****

February 14th, 1987

Max is sitting on the counter swinging her feet while Steve and Robin bicker back and forth about what order the new display movies should go in.

It’s ten minutes before six and she’s starting to get nervous.

Her inner monologue is screaming, “I knew she would forget to deliver them.”

Just about the time she’s going to ask to use Keith’s phone to call Lucas, the florist van pulls up.

Steve furrows his brow and looks at Robin. She just raises her shoulders and shakes her head. He opens the door and leans against it.

A young girl hops out of the passenger seat with the prettiest bouquet of red roses Max has ever seen. She has to bite back her own smile. 

“Hi!” The girl greets while rustling through the leaves to find the card. “Delivery for uh– Stevie?”

Robin snorts and slaps a hand over her mouth.

Steve runs a hand through his hair and stutters out a “I’ll just get those. Yeah– yeah thanks. Have a good one,” and comes back inside.

Max puts on her game face when he puts them on the counter and steps back with his hands on his hips. 

Robin has propped her chin in her hands and is looking on with barely concealed glee.

Max levels him with a bored look. “So… What does the card say?”

He reaches for the card and reads it quietly to himself. If Max isn’t mistaken, his cheeks are dusted with a pink flush.

He smiles and laughs. “They’re from Eds.”

Eds? Gross.

“Dear Stevie, something happened and I'm head over heels. Happy Valentine’s Day. Love, Eddie.”

Robin mimes being struck by Cupid and Steve giggles at her antics and thumbs over the petals of one of the flowers with a soft smile.

Before Max can unpack that, the door bursts open so hard the bell swings into the glass with a clang.

Steve’s head snaps to the door with a “LUCAS!” already ringing out through the store.

He holds his hands up in a placating gesture and catches his breath.

“Sorry! Sorry! Max, you ready to go?”

And, oh. Right. 

She hops off the counter and grabs her bag. Spins around to Robin and Steve with a smile.

She leans in to whisper, “We’re going somewhere on a date tonight. He thinks I don’t know.”

Robin bites back another smile and salutes Lucas while Steve laughs under his breath and grabs his own keys and the vase off the counter.

“Have fun kiddos! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Robin calls out as they take off out the door.

*****

As riveting as the idea of hiding in a bush and watching Steve cook and sing to himself for an hour sounds, in practice it is painfully boring.

“Seriously? We couldn’t have just gone to the arcade until 7 o’clock?” Lucas angry-whispers.

Max adjusts her elbows on her knees so her binoculars are steadier.

“No. We need to be here to make sure everything goes to plan.”

Lucas groans and Max gives him an aggressive shush.

“Steve already liked the flowers and he double checked with me yesterday that you still wanted his homemade pizza. Literally all Eddie has to do is show up and take the bait.”

Now it’s Max who’s groaning. “Ugh, I don’t know, okay! But it's like five minutes ‘til seven anyway so it doesn’t matter.”

It’s just when they see Steve set the plates on either side of the bouquet on the table that they hear the sound of Eddie’s van turning into the driveway.

They both inhale sharply and duck further behind the bushes. 

When Eddie climbs out he looks… nice.

Nice for Eddie at least. 

There’s no chains, no dirty sneakers. Instead there’s a black button up and his nice boots. He’s got his hair half pulled up and all of his earrings in.

Max and Lucas share a bewildered look. Surely he didn’t lie about not having plans tonight, right?

Realistically the two know they’re too far away to hear or be heard but that doesn’t stop them from holding their breath as Eddie knocks on the door.

Steve opens it with a towel slung over his shoulder. He’s dressed the part too. Dark jeans and a dark red sweater, looking exactly like a parent chaperoning a kid’s date.

His smile is bright as he opens the door and gestures for Eddie to come inside. 

They stand beside the foyer window and chat while the two look on through binoculars with bated breath. 

“Surely Eddie’s noticed I’m not there by now, right?” Lucas questions.

Max hums and nods. “Yeah and I’m guessing that Steve has realized Eddie isn’t dropping us off either.”

The two boys throw their heads back in what they can only assume to be hearty laughter from their lack of sound. Steve nods his head towards the kitchen and Eddie gestures for him to lead the way.

“It worked! Max! It actually worked! He’s staying!”

Steve pulls out Eddie’s chair and lights the candles; dims the lights, and takes his own seat.

Max just laughs. “Of course it worked. They’ve been into each other for months! They’re both just too stupid to notice it without a little push!”

They look on in silence as Steve has magically procured a bottle of wine and two glasses and is filling them while they talk.

Lucas smiles and nudges Max with his shoulder. “Dude. Best Valentine’s Day ever.”

She smiles back and punches his arm. “Yeah. Best one ever.”

*****

Meanwhile in the Harrington House

“So, should we tell them?”

Eddie snorts. “Tell them what? That we knew they were trying to set us up or that we’ve been together for four months?”

Now it’s Steve who’s laughing. “I was thinking more about the fact that we can see them in the bushes.”

“Nah. I want to keep that one until I need to sandbag them for something.”

Steve shakes his head and looks at the table.

Eddie grabs his hand and lowers his voice to a whisper. “Hey.”

Steve looks up and meets his eyes, gets a little lost in the way they sparkle in the candlelight.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, baby.”

He lifts Eddie’s hand and presses a soft kiss to his knuckles, the new devil ring Steve gave him before he left this morning.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Eds.”

Maybe if Max and Lucas had looked a little closer, they would have noticed that the plates on the table didn’t have homemade pizza, they had spaghetti.

That the bouquet on the table wasn’t a dozen roses.

It was tulips.

[linipik]

You asked for the possible routes of my Love Letter 💌 Poll Game Comic

....And HERE IS THE FLOWCHART ITSELF!! (click for the image, it is too big for tumblr)

I made the flowchart to set the whole story so you could play and I just had to follow a specific path (and worry about characterization instead of where the story was going to end)

Trying to organize everything is a bit difficult since there are so many ways the story would have gone thanks to the poll system. So I will try to summarize the biggest changes:

There were two options from the very beginning that were going to set the tone of the whole story and if Lance believed the card was real or if he wouldn't entertain the idea of it.

One of the big differences is that if Lance believed it was real he was gonna ask someone about it...and get rejected anyway

there was this whole idea of Lance going on about his day and to flight simulator practice (and obviously meeting Keith there)

so I could get to this part and to a more...classroom location

If they got into a fight, they would end up in some kind of detention and the WHOLE story would have a sunset setting in the classroom they have to clean (or something, idk what ppl do in detention).

And they would have ended up talking, pretty much like how it happened in the comic. but without any lucky meeting on the rooftop.

The other unused location was Lance's Room. In any of the two cases Lance was getting to his room (Directly after the arcade or after storming out of his fight with Keith) He would have encountered Keith waiting for him in front of his door.

In this case, it would have been obvious that Keith was waiting for him :3

Also, their final talk would have been just there in the hallway, probably ending up in Lance's room

The biggest change in the resolution would have been this part:

Where it explains where the Valentine's card came from. If you all chose that the Valentine's card was more important Keith would have gone and explained that it was his dumb idea. BUT the ending would have been open (and no kiss under the stars)

I think that this clarifies the flowchart, but if you have any other questions, just let me know!

and thank you again for reading and participating. <33

EXTRA:

If I had some time in the comic, I would have expanded on the worldbuilding.

It's nothing fancy, but just some of those that mix Space Exploration with some University setting. They are... ON SPACE!!! on something like an Earth-run Space Explorers program. And since Allura was going to be there there are ALIENS TOO (mostly because i enjoy AUs that are just chill)

think... a mix of Candidate for Goddess with dumbass shenanigans

And since you are here.....SURPRISE! This is a spoiler of the Cover Art for the pdf <3

[princess-of-the-corner]

Thinking on Lila cos of those other asks & recalled that "Adrien is not allowed to go to school" AU I think we discussed or maybe it was with generaluxum?

Either way, the story is mostly the same, LB & Chat are more overtly into each other but the identity thing makes them mark their relationship as "Its complicated."

one third of episodes focus on Mari, Alya & Nino and their adventures, with a subplot of Adrien, Chloe & Sabrina doing shenanigans. IE Cosplay confusion in Lady Wifi, or playing online shooters with a surprisingly aggressive Sabrina while Gamer is happening.

Another third of episodes centering on Adrien's adventures with Chloe & Sabrina there for support. While Mari & co get up to minor stuff before the plot hits them. Like Mari trying to help Nino & Alya's valentine plans or fix the broken phone issue.

The remaining third are crossover episodes, usually brought about by Chloe sneaking Adrien into class group stuff (Nino's film) or him trying to help with her election campaign, or being on hand for the hat contest.

The complexities come from Volpina/Collector.

Mostly because Volpina doesn't happen, Lila lying is a Marinette related subplot with her trying to get Lila alone as LB to explain that's dangerous. Only for an Akuma whipped up chasing the Lila rumor to find them & lead Gabriel & the public to conclude LB is indeed buddies with Lila.

Meanwhile the main plot is Adrien fining the book, almost being discovered by Gabriel. But convenient Chloe rant incoming about this "Haught Lila girl" letting him slip away with said book & with Plagg's advice & Chloe's help going for a massage. She deduces his identity.

This leads to the Collector being a case where Gabriel suspects Adrien & Marientte (As Lila transferred into her class). While Adrien and once introduced to Fu, Marinette suspect Gabriel.

Which leads to the Collector trying to go after them both to win and protect his identity & Fu having to roll out the Fox & bring Alya & Chloe in to help covered for an already captured in civilian forms Marinette & Adrien.

Gabriel plays off the book thing & had also 'collected' Nathalie, so he's mostly safe but does maybe lose the book.

Thus setting up the S2 status quo of:

Lila being Hawk Moth's new designated damsel much to her ire. "I didn't think the local supervillain would take me seriously, but I can't walk it back now, I'd look stupid!"

Chloe & Alya being secret keepers for their besties as well as back up heroes. Also less classroom drama as Chloe decided the school stuff is kids stuff & is obsessed with being a good hero now, so distracted.

Nino & Sabrina being back up, back up heroes as Hawk Moth becomes increasingly effective. Sabrina gets the Horse.

Kagami serving as the connective element between heroes civilian lives via:

Being in Adrien & Chloe's circles & so being encouraged to be friends with them. Being one of the few people Adrien is allowed to hang out with, & her skills meaning she is a go to in Adrien's eyes if he ever gets to recruit a third hero.

Plus, because her first day at school was kind of a hot mess thanks to her whole story tropes challenge the best fencer thing did less to make her look cool & more to make her look like a jerk leading to Akumatization. Cos LB was on hand for an explanation after the fact she as Marinette befriends Kagami & smooth over ruffled feathers. Kagami decides she is friend shaped & is always inviting her, Alya & Nino to events. Also Marinette deems her a potential go to as well. (Chloe is silently screaming off camera, "How come she gets to push people around and get friends!?")

Not sure if any of the other Kwami would be shuffled cos of these events, IE maybe fox Nino cos he's a director or the like.

I think that's a bit complicated but it works quite well!

[qulizalfos]

[runs in after abandoning my blog all week and throws this on the table] HAPPY BIRTHDAY WAYLI @wayward-sherlock PLEASE ACCEPT THIS FICLET AS A SYMBOL OF MY GRATITUDE TOWARDS HOW FUCKINF AWESOME U ARE ALWAYS <3 I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU BTW!!! anyways i hope u enjoy 2k of college byler shenanigans :) mwah

home (is wherever you are tonight)

“Oh, my God,” Will says, sitting forward, face alight in ways that terrify Mike. “There’s another reason, there’s a huge reason you're here, you—” “It’s Valentine’s Day, right?” The shift in Will’s expression is instantaneous. It might’ve qualified as comical, too, if Mike’s heart wasn’t about to explode.

You’d think Mike would have scrounged together a better sense of how to backpedal when he’s about to do something incredibly stupid. 

He’s trying not to think too hard about how quickly they rattle off in his head, the world’s most inconvenient list of reminders. What is wrong with you? We’re just… not in the mood right now. You’ve been on the bench all year. Not for the first time he’s gritting his teeth and wondering if it would have been entirely too much to ask for him to have acquired, by now, some intricate sixth sense for recklessness. He’s well aware that there’s no cosmic cure against the potency of his own mistakes, but he’d take anything to help him generally steer clear of these specific situations.

Encounters with murderous, eldritch entities ought to do that to a person. In his —for the record, totally impartial— opinion.

No goddamn dice, he thinks as he raises a fist to knock.

Maybe it is different, he supposes, because he’s less consumed by a wave of defensive volatility and less likely to bury the truth at the first sign of scrutiny, recoil at any chance of being left behind, and more willing to stop before he gains too dangerous an amount of momentum. It still happens, obviously— (case in point: now, loitering in an empty corridor, bland wallpaper finding a way to make it look like it’s laughing down at him, shifting his weight as he waits) he’d just convinced himself he had it more under control.

It’s ridiculous anyway. This whole thing is clearly careening towards a setup for a copious amount of slip ups on his part. But, it’s whatever.

Will’s probably out, anyway, he considers, belatedly.

It’s Valentine’s Day, —granted, a Wednesday evening dragging by with a sluggish, hazy quality— but a significant date all the same. Will is, Mike hedges, almost definitely out, maybe with the mystery guy in their joint history lecture, whose name Mike neglected to wheedle out of him last week. Maybe they’re both walking home from some fucking café, and Will would be getting cold like he does when the threat of snow looms at every waking moment, and to make matters worse, the other guy might do something sickeningly romantic like wind his scarf around Will’s neck, all while Mike’s standing at his dorm door like an idiot.

It’s possible he’s not very committed to the whole “breathe” thing El suggested, the day before the sky turned blue again, the day he was most convinced it never would again.

He threads a nervous hand through the disaster-prone section of his hair, hoping to smoothen it out, as he lifts his clenched hand, setting his face in concentration and aiming to knock one more time, and—

He has to flinch back to avoid accidentally punching Will in the face with his knock. Needless to say, that would be pretty counterproductive.

Will. Standing in front of him, soft furrow between his brows, loose sweater, lips parted.

He’s beautiful.

He shoves the thought to the side. It’s not the safest one to have when Will is less than two feet in front of him.

“Mike?”

It hits him about an hour too late: Maybe it’s ironic, how this holiday, composed entirely of spontaneous lovesick bullshit and cordiform chocolate boxes, doesn’t warrant him showing up at someone’s door unannounced. Not when it’s already 7pm.

It isn’t that he hadn’t brought that into consideration, just that now it’s not just an inkling in the back of his mind he has to ignore if he has any hope of getting ready with minimal distraction, but a real, pressing concern, and—

Will’s face splits into a grin, and the thought vanishes as quick as it came.

“Hey,” Mike tries, too hastily. The longer Will stands, just blinking at him, the further Mike burrows his hands into the pockets of his jackets.

He snaps out of it fairly quickly, and the expression has melted into something pleasantly surprised. Mike can work with that. He’s done much more with much less. “Uh— hi.”

“Are you busy?” Mike cranes a neck to peer around Will’s shoulder, unsure of what he’s looking for but appreciating the lack of anything all the same. “If you’re busy, I’ll totally come back, to— fuck, maybe not tomorrow, you have that—”

“Mike.”

“Yep.”

“I’m not busy,” he says with bright eyes, stepping back from the door to accommodate him. “I— don’t just stand there, come in, of course I’m not busy. Why, what’s up?”

“Thought maybe you were off at a candlelit dinner,” Mike remarks, because it’s easier to get out than the other thing, kicking off his shoes and trying not to think too hard about Will, the same Will in the same shadowy alcove as him, whose expression is tinged with fondness, at dinner; with warm lighting and a muted hum of chatter and someone else sitting across from him. “With the fancy napkins.”

“I think I would’ve mentioned the horrors of scraping together enough money for anything like that,” he says, and Mike’s efforts at miming cradling the aforementioned, hypothetical napkin receive a raised eyebrow. “Seriously, is something going on? If Max—”

“Nothing’s happening,” Mike tells him, passing him out and swiveling around to keep walking backwards, reversing into the couch and pretending he didn’t whack his knee as he drops onto it, picking at the edge of the nearest cushion, sprawling out as much as he can manage to. “Which is precisely why I’m here. Well, one of the reasons.”

Will hums, folding his arms and leaning on the back of the couch, contemplative. It has no right to be as endearing as it is. “Are there a lot of reasons?”

“I’m not allowed to visit you anymore?” Mike jokes. “Should I have called and given you a week’s notice?” He sits up, relishing the back and forth. “Should I—”

“No, you’re just… I dunno.” Will pokes his shoulder and skirts the couch, settling in the space Mike makes for him. “You seem nervous. Like there’s something you’re not telling me.”

Shit.

Mike lets out what may be considered as the fakest laugh he’s ever mustered, darting his eyes away and plastering on a frown. He gives a half-hearted attempt at an unconvinced, hopefully somewhat assuring scoff, tugging free the crease that’s formed at the ankle of his jeans. “What makes you say that?” he asks. He’d like to describe it as nonchalant. Maybe he’s not as good at hiding as the boy in front of him, but he’s been sidestepping the obvious for what feels like his whole life. He’s had more than enough practice.

“Oh, my God,” Will says, sitting forward, face alight in ways that terrify Mike. “There’s another reason, there’s a huge reason you’re here, you—”

“It’s Valentine’s Day, right?”

The shift in Will’s expression is instantaneous. It might’ve qualified as comical, too, if Mike’s heart wasn’t trying its damndest not to explode. Again, counterproductive.

Will’s mouth drops open a little, the line of his body stock still, and just hovers there, close enough that the warmth of his breath brushes Mike’s face, and the room slips into little more than a backdrop. Mike searches his eyes for a sign that’s not there. He lifts a hand from where it’s resting on a dark green cushion, weighing the implications and consequences of reaching out against the part of him that doesn’t want to consider technicalities until far, far later. The moment stretches, engraving itself into Mike’s memory. 

And then it shatters.

Will slumps back, clearing his throat twice in rapid succession, and the corners of his mouth quirk up in diplomacy. “I mean, you’re not wrong.”

Mike’s throat feels unreasonably dry. “Nope,” he says, omitting any mention of the crisis he’d had marching down the hall, questioning whether he’d gotten the date wrong and everything would blow up in his face tenfold, and just drumming his fingers against his thigh.

“So—” Will frowns, “what are you trying to say?”

This was all going much smoother during the numerous rehearsals in his head. “It’s Valentine’s Day,” he parrots, trying not to think about Will’s sharp inhale too much, “and I haven’t done something on Valentine’s Day for years, and you’re free, and I’m free, and…” he trails off, searching for the right words. “I don’t know, I thought we could hang out.” 

Silence.

It’s about to backfire, he can sense it, so he rushes to add: “In solidarity.”

“Right,” Will says, faraway. Mike sort of needs to run outside and scream for an untold amount of time.

“Doesn’t have to be super special,” he says, sensing the need for a prompt change in subject. “Unless you want it to be special, but I just figured— like, what were you gonna do before I came?”

Will glances at him once, quizzical, but drops it. 

—

It’s a short walk from the dorm to the closest Circle K, and one spent wrapped up in pleasant, amicable conversation, catching up on the various aspects of each other’s lives that aren’t entwined already, and about halfway there Will stoops to tie his shoelace. As Mike waits he considers how scary it could be if he dwells too long on how noteworthy the most mundane tasks become in Will Byers’ company.

They wander inside, Mike leaning on the door to open it for Will in what he hopes is a courteous manner, and trails down an aisle beside Will, the faint beat of a trashy pop song barely covering the echo of their footsteps on the tiles.

“Just the sodas?” Mike checks, swerving to avoid a display stacked high.

“Yeah,” Will says, nabbing a coke and gesturing to the fridge. “Take your pick.”

Mike reaches for a 7Up.

“Knew it,” Will says, something indecipherable in his tone. And then he’s extending a hand, covering Mike’s for a split second — long enough for an odd sensation to bloom in his ribs, but short enough for him to want to say, fuck it, and tangle their fingers, but Will teases the can out of his grip, leaving Mike with a cool smear of condensation on his palm.

“We can pool our resources,” Mike quips as Will deposits the cans on the counter. The cashier flicks a lazy glance at them and tells them the price. “I have a quarter.”

“Generous of you,” Will observes, producing a crumpled dollar note from his back pocket.

They settle on a wall outside, and Mike kicks the solid stone intermittently with his dangling heels, sipping away as Will starts to talk. The sky runs like spilled ink above them, perforated with only a smattering of stars and a few dark clouds, but Will is bathed in the gold ring of a streetlamp. There’s a lull in conversation, but it’s fine. Mike’s content to stay here all night.

“This was nice,” he says, in lieu of everything else.

Will bumps against his shoulder. “Yeah?”

A tiny droplet of rain lands on Mike’s nose, and three more freckle more of his exposed skin. A low fizz kicks up, drilling into the gray landscape surrounding them, and more dots pepper on the wall.

“Yeah.”  Will turns away. Mike scans the area around them, but they’re alone save for a few empty chip packets strewn across the concrete. Will’s gorgeous. Mike can’t explain it, but he knows when warmth floods your veins it’s a sign that merits extra morosis, and his intentions are in the right place, and it’s so hard to steer himself in any direction other than pitching forward and propping up a hand on the other side of Will’s jaw. Mike doesn’t let himself think too much of it as he presses a kiss to Will’s cheek.

It’s as short-lived as it is sweet: Will’s answering gasp, all wide eyes and questions in every line of his face, the beads of rain on his skin, near lucent in the orange lighting, the tickle of his bangs getting in Mike’s eyes a little when he turns.

And then Will’s breaking away to set down his Coke, and closing the gap between them.

Truthfully, Mike didn’t know that kissing could feel like this. It seems like something so untouchable, so far from what’s in his own comprehension of the world, that finding this kind of warmth could happen, but Will’s slinging an arm around his back and all coherent thoughts promptly dissolve in the now steadily falling rain. 

[thegamingcatmom]

Hello! Hope your day is going good!

I say as I pull out an idea fresh from the brain oven, I've another idea 👀

Set after whoevers gotten the first kiss

3 words: lip balm smooch

Starting off with kate obviously cause she would start this shit:

Kate eyeing MC in the bathroom mirror as she applies whatever flavoured coloured lip balm or whatever

Kate:"What flavour is that?"

MC sees her in the mirror eyeing her:"uh....cherry"(or whatever flavour idk)

Kate:"can I try"

MC:"???sure?" As she holds out the tube

Kate pulls her by the front of her shirt and kisses her

Tanya seeing this from a distance >:0

Tanya trying to pull the same trick on MC later either goes one of two ways

Before MC puts on lip balm

Tanya asks and MC immediately holds out the lip balm

MC:"Here you go," knowing she's not gonna give her the chance

Tanya:"no, I'd rather how you did it with kate"

2 options if MC answers no:

Tanya gets huffy puffy tantrum-ish

Unfair

Or

Tanya raises an eyebrow serious expression:"you want to try that again?"

MC nervous energy:*deep sigh* puts on the lip balm to get smooched

This is clearly before Irina gives in

And then irina unknowing to the whole lip balm shenanigans asks to try her lip balm?

MC? Terrified, unsure which way Irina wants the lip balm

And has to ask in definite fear, tears in eyes? Idk, cause she doesn't want an angry irina

Irina hears this asks what's the other way

And then just being annoyed with her sisters and takes the lip balm tube

Or MC assumes it's the smooch way and irina? Irritated at it and swipes the lip balm outta her hands

-📚 anon >:)

Well, hello there...

AND LISTEN-

(I gotta admit, I was a smidge confused at first to read "terrified" and "Irina" in the same sentence. But then I was like "ahhh, we´re in that universe now" and it all made sense. 💀)

Kate, the lil shit, would DEFO pull smt like this. She´d use anything she can get her hands on and weaponize it to get herself some lady loving while *affectionate* striking down her sisters at the same time yeye.

And don´t get me started on MC, MY GOD-

Can she get any more blissfully ignorant?? Like, girl-

(She´s adorable.)

The sisters could hold up a blinking neon sign reading-

"WILL U BE MY OUR VALENTIRE??"

(Got it? Cause valentine + vampire = valent-

...nvm)

And MC probs STILL wouldn´t get it (also because she has no idea vampires even exist, as @feastingonfanfiction kindly pointed out). Or more like she adamantly refuses to get it. Stubborn thing.

.

As for Tanya?

I do enjoy seeing her suffer a bit, so MC´s not gonna give into her just like that.

Not with that attitude.

Tanya could "threaten" her all she wanted (she´s like a spitting kitten, bish pls), and MC would just be there like-

...Okay?

YKNOW-

Like, girl´s over it by now.

With that said, I think Tanya would be all huffy and puffy about it with a smidge of her usual indignation when it comes to MC rejecting her (the audacity), but still in a refined way (cause she´s still a Queen leader) like-

Tanya, most indignant: "...I asked nicely."

(That has become her go-to line btw.)

MC, most unimpressed: "And I declined nicely."

(That has become MC´s go-to line btw.)

That´s that. Conversation´s over. Tanya will brood for the rest of the day while MC´s just gonna...go about her day?? I guess??? What else is she supposed to do??

(Our proud coven leader gotta learn to have some damn patience, and MC´s only all too happy to remind her.)

YKNOW??? 😩

(It´s like witnessing kids fight over the same toy, honestly. If one has it, the other MUST have it too, despite having had it only minutes ago. 🤦‍♀️)

.

And Irina? Being kinda unaware of things (because she doesn´t give a damn anyway)?? Just wanting to go about her day with her usual "u better not talk to me" face?? Entirely used to all that shit and just as done as MC about it???

YES TO ALL OF THAT.

Like, honestly-

Out of the three of them, Irina is probs the...nicest??? Despite her attitude???

YKNOW??

Like yes, she might try and get a bite in at some point (someone still owes her a dinner, after all), but she´s being honest about it. So, when it comes to mind games, Irina is actually the one you gotta worry about the least, is what I´m saying.

She´s still mean af (she does wanna eat MC´s face, after all), but it´s in a straightforward way. Unlike her sisters, whose intentions aren´t always 100% clear.

Like, LISTEN-

Girl just wants to go about her day as she usually would, aight?? Stay clear of her, and she´ll (perhaps) do the same for you. Aight? Got it? Good. Now-

(And don´t ruin her morning.)

So, when it comes to that lip balm dilemma, she´s probs just gonna go like-

"Ugh, don´t waste my time, mortal. And stop looking at me like that. Just gimme the damn thing."

*proceeds to aggressively take the lip balm*

...

*comes to the conclusion that it is quite...adequate*

*proceeds to aggressively hand back the lip balm*

*storms off without another word*

*proceeds to search the internet for the damn thing*

.

YKNOW??? 😭

.

.

.

Thank you for sharing another one of your ideas with me. I absolutely love reading them - they really get my gears turning. ⚙️❤️

(Your other ask shall be answered soon, btw. 😜)

Have a great day! 💋

[shadowgast-recs-weekly]

Hidden Gems: A Shadowgast Rec List

This week, we have one of our recurring themes: fics with fewer than 150 kudos! Check under the cut for twenty fics that are beloved, but you might have missed the first time around:

Another Time, Another Place by Operafloozy (9780, Teen) Warnings: none Essek discovers the key to time travel. Bren discovers the key to time travel soon after. They start a time war. Reccer says: It's a great enemies to lovers fic, epistolary fic, and weird time travel shenanigans fic all in one. It's based on This is How You Lose the Time War, but you don't have to know anything about it to make sense.

I Have Blood On My Hands And A Smile On My Face by Professor_Rye (5836, Explicit) Warnings: Dead-Dove, Graphic Amputation, Torture, Hurt no Comfort Essek and Caleb get captured by a rogue Volstrucker who proceeds to torture them. Reccer says: It's intense, it's dark, it hurts, it's bloody... The whole whump experience dialed up to a hundred. If you're in the mood for something on the more extreme end of the spectrum that is very well written, this is your fic.

Dream a Little Dream of Me by CatgirlTheCrazy (2258, General) Warnings: None Essek uses the Dream spell to spend time with Caleb, even while they're apart Reccer says: Nothing

let the earth humble you withal by essektheylyss (midnightindigo) (13777, Mature) Warnings: None A ghost story: In his grief following Caleb’s death, Essek summons an old familiar. It does not come alone. Reccer says: A heart-wrenching exploration of grief.

something so precious about this by ThatFanwriter2424 (1684, General) Warnings: None It's valentines day and Essek has a gift for Caleb Reccer says: It's so sweet

Of Constellations and Freckles by Professor_Rye (100, General) Warnings: None Essek's love of Caleb's freckles Reccer says: Nothing

blood and bond by royalgreen (allyoop) (2069, Teen) Warnings: None Caleb is dying from a curse and Essek is desperate to save him Reccer says: It's very ambiguous but the emotions and vibes are immaculate regardless. An impressive and wonderful balance

desire, fulfilled by burningafterdark (burningdarkfire) (8809, Explicit) Warnings: Mind the tags and author's note: Extremely dubious consent typical of pon farr/heatfic Essek becomes dangerously insatiable when he undergoes his drow mating cycle while visiting Caleb. Reccer says: Hot and incredibly unsettling, with a mounting horror through the final line.

SA 4301: Advanced Transmutation, Excerpt Recorded 9th Horisal 1152 PD with Guest Lecturer: E. Widogast, Arch.M by soot_and_salt (1231, Teen) Warnings: Grief A transcript of Essek giving a lecture about what makes a great wizard, according to his late husband, Caleb Widogast Reccer says: There is so much love and adoration in Essek's tone and words, and the worldbuilding and setting is phenomenal

i'm really not so with you anymore (i'm just a ghost) by flashhwing (4104, Mature) Warnings: Essek is dead Essek Dies. Caleb keeps on seeing his ghost. Reccer says: It's haunting and beautiful; a wonderful depiction of grief with a side of spookiness. The art is amazing, too

The Thumping in My Chest by GayAssWizard (5309, Explicit) Warnings: None Caleb gets Essek a special surprise and then edges him with it. T4T Shadowgast with some light D/s. Reccer says: Essek drunk on pleasure is Best Essek.

Tooth of Zehir by witches_chant (17359, Mature) Warnings: Nope This fic happens in an alternative reality where the war between the Empire and the Dynasty was not prevented. Essek fled to a castle at the end of the world and has stayed hidden and alone for a very long time. One day Bren finds him, a pathetic shade of a man, feral and hungry, and an enemies to friends to lovers story begins. Reccer says: All the wumptober prompts give theme to the chapters in a neat way. The vibes are gothic and melancholic with the raging storm outside and the careful contact between the two men.

to take off the mask by KmacKatie (2560, Mature) Warnings: No major archive warnings, however it could be read as mildly dubious consent When your face is not your own, are you still you underneath it? A moment in a tavern where Essek is contemplating the loss that morphs over time and the lingering effects it can have on a soul. Reccer says: It's a short exploration about identity and disconnecting from yourself after having to hide who you are fundamentally from those around you. It's angst-adjacent, with some heavy implications wrapped up in a deep understanding of the other.

You Mean The Worm To Me by GoldenEyeWitch (2318, General) Warnings: None Feel-good fluff about a polymorph gone wrong. Reccer says: The situational comedy, the dynamics between the characters and the general premise. It's a perfect little pick-me-up story on a rainy day.

Series of Smaller Adventures by 2manyboys (3576, Teen) Warnings: None Caleb returns home after a long day. Essek is waiting for him. Reccer says: It is so soft and cozy and as sweet as these two can be together, like a warm blanket.

The Heat Between by Ahmose_Inarus (8221, Not Rated) Warnings: None Essek teleports to Caleb's home during a blizzard. Caleb massages him to relax his tense muscles and, well, we all know what happens when characters give each other massages in fanfiction. Reccer says: You can tell that Essek is already quite comfortable in Caleb's cottage and I find that to be a cute detail. I also love Caleb thoroughly teasing Essek and drawing out the encounter.

a healer's gift by toneofjoy (7280, General) Warnings: None One of Caleb's cats fall suddenly ill and he seeks help from a druid healer to find the cause. Reccer says: This is the best of outsider pov fic looking at shadowgast from the perspective of one of Caleb's (well, really both of theirs) cats. It's adorable, and there are some really sweet moments.

As per my last email by LivThael (11651, Explicit) Warnings: None Caleb and Essek annoy each other with emails at work. They solve their professional dispute in a storage closet after a party. Reccer says: Nothing

jealousy by mllekurtz (1724, Explicit) Warnings: no archive warnings, but it does have consensual non-consent Essek sleeps with someone else to further his goals. Bren is into it. Reccer says: This fic is incredibly hot and does a lot with a shorter word count. It's the delicious morally-grey brenessek flavour that I love, with some sharp and interesting insights into not-love but the closest thing two it that these two are capable of in the moment. Very delicious!

Daughter of the Burning Stars by Chaotic_Lesbianstringworm (928, General) Warnings: None Caleb and Essek celebrate the birth of their daughter. Reccer says: It's very sweet, extremely soft, and gives good gender feelings.

All recs are made by members of Aeor is For Lovers, an 18+ Shadowgast discord. Have any questions? Check out the FAQ. You can also join the discord here, or check out our previous list of Hidden Gems recs here.

Check back next week, when we'll have recs for current WIPs!

[jtownraindancer]

i've been meaning to read through all the charlie/the scientist fics on ao3, just have not yet found the time, but do you happen to recommend any of them?

Oh do I!

Anon, I'm delighted you're sending me this. I've fallen so hard for this pairing, and I never get the chance to talk about them. In no particular order, here are my favorite Charlie/Scientist fics from AO3, and why I love each of them so much:

holding you is bettering me by wobbeegong: Charlie spills potentially dangerous lab chemicals on his clothes and proceeds to wear his dirty laundry for two months. The Scientist falls in love with him anyway.

I absolutely adore this fic, and I've come back to it many times. It has a slow enough build, cats, awkward miscommunications, typical shenanigans via The Gang, and it's written in a way that feels natural to the characters. It's written in Charlie's POV, which honestly makes watching Doc grow more and more smitten even more adorable in my eyes.

My Funny Valentine by notastranger: Charlie has to work on Valentine's Day, but that's not going to stop him from celebrating the holiday.

Oh my goodness do I enjoy this one. This is a part of notastranger's series The Adventures of Charlie and Scientist, after the two have been together for some time. We get the chance to see Charlie's more romantic side, Dennis being lowkey jealous, and Doc being just a wee bit territorial. I highly recommend this whole series, but out of all of them this is the one I come back to most.

Doc Takes a Risk by Springandastorm: This fic has it all: katana schemes, incompetent police, love confessions... Basically Doc decides to finally tell Charlie how he feels. What could go wrong?

The story opens in Doc's POV, and it is just so full of warmth and love that I melt every single time. And of course to balance it all out, you have The Gang scheming, Charlie's complete inability to read a situation correctly, a much beloved kitty cat, and a flowing dialogue that feels canonly episodic. It's also a part of a series, charbitch<3, and I do highly recommend taking a trip through them all.

The Charlie Effect by Vituperative_cupcakes: The science bitch proposes a new experiment, one that involves studying Charlie up close and personal for an extended length of time. However, his subject has an infectious personality and it becomes hard to remain objective. Will science triumph or will he fall prey to the Charlie effect?

My god I love these two idiots. Doc (at this point it's just his name to me) decides to run another round of pills with Charlie, opting instead to do the observations himself. What follows is an almost epic tale involving knife-gloves, beat-boxing karaoke, disturbing heart-to-hearts with Frank Reynolds, and a healthy dose of blackmailing one's student. This one is always a fun ride!

The Gang Destroys the Science Bitch by WaldosAkimbo: The shouting escalated to threats, violence, and incoherent rage as the three pointed around, here, there, over there. The bar itself put into question. Because nobody. Goddamn nobody wanted to be left to do Charlie Work while Charlie was out…on a fucking vacation.

There are... There are so many things I love about this fic. The episodic feel, the characterizations for The Gang, the guest appearance, Charlie once again being one of the smartest people in the room, Doc being Fed Up, the comfort at the end. It's part of a bigger series called Charlie and The Scientist- A Study in Mutually Beneficial Affection.

The Long Game by IncongruentDesignations: See, Charlie can be kind of dumb, at times. But that doesn't mean he can't read.

Okay, so if you've been reading my Sunny tags for a while, you probably know that I think Charlie is actually far more intelligent than he lets on. And this one-shot? This is written by someone who feels almost the same way. If you're a fan of a smart, manipulative Charlie Kelly who has a rich life outside of The Gang, this one is for you. My only complaint is that there isn't more to it; I really wish it was longer because I'm genuinely obsessed with the premise.

doctor, doctor (give me the news) by ApprenticeofDoyle: Charlie gets knifed, and makes a friend.

Thanks for the ask, Anon! Happy reading!

Okay, I lied; this may be my favorite- well, 1/4 of my favorite anyway. This is the first installment of a four part series called doc and dayman, and I am in love.

This first installment focuses on just how Charlie and Calvin actually start to get to know one another, and sets the building blocks for the next few installments.

I don't- I don't want to give away too much, but this series is the Charlie/Scientist saga that I turn to whenever I want to read something comforting. It has so many highlights for me: Charlie discovering manicotti, Mac developing a conspiracy theory, an amazing approach to writing a demi character with lingering trauma, Burn Calvin repeatedly getting to be a badass, Charlie Kelly getting the loving support he needs, dorks being in love-

Just, please, trust me. This one is definitely worth the read!

[echos-girlfriend]

Ayoo! I hope you're doing well friend! I was wondering if I could request a Crosshair x Reader fic where Crosshair is trying to figure out the whole Valentines day thing? like he asks reader out on a date (after some hesitation) and the rest of the batch are like in the background giving him pointers and all sorts of shenanigans ensue but it turns out great in the end?

Howdy!

I love this idea! So freaking cute! Well let’s go on Valentine’s Day date with Crosshair shall we? Also I am so sorry this didn’t get out before Valentine’s Day.. I wanted to make sure it was good💜I hope you still like it lovely💙

will you be mine?

Crosshair x reader

Master list

❤️~_~_~_~❤️

“I don’t know what I’m doing..”

“You got this cross!! All you have to do it ask her to be your Valentine!”

“Wrecker.. crosshair’s primary issue that is stopping him IS the asking part..”

“Oh..”

“Just shut up! It’s now or never.. don’t ruin it.”

He walked over to you slowly.. maybe a little too slowly because when you saw him, you jumped. Crosshair stopped dead in his tracks and looked Down at you.

“Do you need something Crosshair?”

“Y-yes.. I.”

He took a giant gulp and let out a heavy sigh. He turned to his brothers who all gave him thumbs up and nods.

He took a deep breath and-

“Will you be my Valentine..?”

“You want me to be your Valentine??”

“Y-yes.. you can say no if y-“

You stopped him dead in his tracks and wrapped your arms tightly around him. You knew he wasn’t much of a cuddler so you didn’t expect much.. but his arms wrapped around you slowly.

You could hear wrecker laugh and the shushing of hunter, tech and echo. You giggled in response.

“Well.. what do you want to do?”

“I had dinner plans if.. you want”

“Of course!!”

Crosshair was taken back by your excitement and looked a little flushed.

“Sorry.. I’m just really happy”

Crosshair smiled.. actually smiled and you felt like the luckiest girl in the Galaxy.

~_~_~_~

The dinner place was beautiful! You and Crosshair got a nice table by the window.. and so did some ‘guests’..

You couldn’t help but giggle that crosshair’s brothers came with you both.. you were wondering why they came, until you saw the comm on crosshair’s ear.

They thought they were being quiet but you could hear all of their advice and tips..

‘Make sure to compliment her appearance’

“You’re very.. pretty”

You gave him a large smile.

‘It seems her response was in the positive.. now ask her how’s she do-‘

‘Tech she isn’t an experiment..’

‘Ask her to get to the good stuff!! The stuff in bed!’

At this point you and Crosshair both couldn’t help but laugh at his brothers. You took crosshair’s hand across the table.

“You don’t need someone to give you advice.. I said yes because I love you the way you are.”

You gave him a quick peck on the lips. He looked back to you stunned. He put his hand on your cheek and put your hand on top of his, holding him there.

“I think this mission was a success..”

Hunter shook his head.

“I’d have to agree with you tech..”

The boys caught you whispering something to Crosshair.. when he pulled away from you his face was bright red.. before a giant smirk plastered his face.

“Oh yeah! I think Crosshair is gettin’ something tonight!”

Wrecker’s comment was followed by his brothers loud shushing..

“Maybe we should get a head start back to my apartment..”

“I agree. Let’s get going cyare..”

~_~_~_~

[star-studded-whales]

M. Connor- Writeblr Intro

Hello everyone, I'm M. Connor (he/they) and I am a romance and fantasy author. I have an interest in both clean and erotic romance novels and short stories. I have been known to dabble in horror short stories and in poetry. I write a variety of queer centered stories with a multitude of different identities and pairings.

My purpose for being on Writeblr is to share my work in a low pressure environment, and to read and support the work of others. I always respond to friendly DMs and I try to reply to asks in a timely manner. I am not currently posting my WIPs online except for excerpts and teasers.

My other interests include art (specifically printmaking and paper making, though I'm getting into digital art), Stardew Valley, Skyrim, MXTX's works, and writing and playing music (I play a lot of instruments and sing). Sometimes these intersect with my writing, and I will post about them from time to time.

Some boundaries: I will block minors on sight. My work is not for those under eighteen, please don't interact unless you are of age. I also do not take unsolicited constructive criticism, especially on matters of taste.

Here are a couple of my WIPs and completed projects:

Lunar Lagoon: An erotic romance set in the modern Mediterranean. Lyria, a mermaid, and Amelia, the transfem captain of an antique sailing vessel, must navigate a budding relationship formed from mutual pleasure as it blossoms into something meaningful and deep, while avoiding the ire of Lyria’s overprotective father. Love should be smooth sailing… right?

Crossroads: An erotic romance set in the US. Hazel Abernathy is a struggling witch fighting a losing battle against her local HOA and the crumbling infrastructure of the house her mother left to her when she passed. She’s ready to get back out there and on Valentines Day, meets the sweet and charming Aleksander, and the bombastic and enigmatic Lillian. The two of them, powerful demons in their own right, have their own struggles with mysterious spiritual attacks on the nightclub they own.

Wear a Coat: A horror short story set in the Appalachian mountains, where I come from. What happens when you don’t follow your mama’s advice and go looking for berries without a coat? Maybe you’ll just get cold or maybe you’ll attract unwanted attention from something dwelling deep within the forest…

Alder: This story follows Finlay, a dryad who has been set adrift after a series of questionable choices. This WIP is pretty nebulous at the moment, but has my whole heart. It’s rife with gender shenanigans and magic

Ochre: What happens if a crow is suddenly given a human form by the Morrigan? Let’s find out! Again, another baby WIP in early stages.

[eternal-dragon-of-time]

REAL QUICK BEFORE VALENTINES IS OVER!!!!

Gravelyn: either she understands the assignment and makes slightly burnt chocolate or goes through a whole sitcom episode of shenanigans creating the most grandstanding declaration of protection the world has ever seen.

Artix: easy. Chocolate and or Candy Hearts + sword

Galanoth: does NOT understand the assignment, hears "a day for prioritizing your significant other" and drags his SO on his dragonslaying adventures. He DOES get flowers for them eventually though after another Dragonslayer rakes him over the coals.

Abel: some sort of elaborate permaice display, or maybe a very down to earth night out at a restaurant.

Drakath: LOL. LMAO. (but in my scholarly opinion it would probably be a gift by the way of subtly making sure their day goes well. Or maybe a present of their greatest foe dead on their doorstep, or he just leaves the worlds most tsundere valentines card. No matter what its going to be A Lot)

Rhubarb: sorry to say. He is a pirate. His SO would be sugar daddied so hard.

Bonus OC stuff under the cut

We are first assuming that Magius has climbed the hurdle of understanding that they are dating someone. We are then assuming that they have managed to get over themselves enough to not fumble this and aren't angsting about it.

Magius would probably like to set up some sort of night under the stars before gifting a weapon of some kind. And they thought about it REALLY HARD, perfectly picking out the best suited item for their partner that both fits them stylistically and ability wise. They would swear an oath to always fight for them before finally handing over the sweetest blow the roof off of your mouth brownies ever tasted in Lore, paired with a smoldering bowl of chocolate.

[smileweakandwrong]

smileweakandwrong AO3 Ronance/Platonic Stobin Fic Masterlist

These Dreams Go On Series:

Every Second of the Night - M - 116K words - (warnings: major character injury, self-harm, sexual assult)

Nancy realizes the meaning behind the complicated things she's been feeling as she sits in the hospital room and suffers from strange and upsetting nightmares. Robin navigates a dark past, and the group tries to find where Vecna is hiding and stop him before one of their own is lost.

or

What if it wasn't Max who ended up in a coma following the battle with Vecna?

Welcome to the Bat Box - M - 25K words (warnings: reference to self-harm and sexual assault but not explicitly so)

Nancy returns to Hawkins for Thanksgiving and joins Robin, Steve and Eddie at their place for their inaugural Orphan Thanksgiving. A study of past and present, growth and development, trauma and healing all with good friends and bad food.

Hot Chocolate, Warm Hands & Cold Mannequins - E -8.8K words (warnings: nsfw, smut, pwp) Technically part of this series but can be read as a one-shot

Just a horny little road trip, some plot and fluff and feelings and Robin paying Nancy a smutty visit in Boston.

Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean Series:

Carry You to the Coast - M - 62K words (warnings: major character death, drug use)

After the battle of Starcourt, Robin & Steve take some time to cope with their trauma and build their new friendship in a rundown cabin in the middle of nowhere. A year later, they're back trying to heal from the losses following Vecna and the Upside Down.

or

Everyone's favourite platonic soulmates learn life lessons and get into shenanigans together while figuring out that love doesn't have to be romantic with a dash or ronance.

Three Months & Every Moment After - T - 16.7K words (warnings: major character death)

Prequel with all the ronancey things that happened between the end of March when things went to shit and the end of June when part one begins.

Stand Alones:

Robin Buckley's Expert Field Guide to Catching Fireflies (and Other Childhood Favourties) - T - 18K words

Five times Nancy goes catching creepy crawlers with Robin and one time she catches something more.

Or, five days of oblivious lesbians failing at flirting and dancing around each other like absolute ding dongs.

I Will Remember You - M - 75K ongoing (warnings: violence and major character injury)

Nancy has some new abilities, Hawkins is locked in quarantine, new monsters show up, Vecna has a terrible plan, and Nancy has to make some terrible choices to figure out what it all means for her and everyone around her.

‘Tis the Season. Whatever That Means - G - 4.3K words

Just Christmas and first kiss fluff.

in the garden of - E - 14.2K words (nsfw smut)

Fighting monsters was one thing, falling in love with Robin was a whole different kind of scary. But building a life together and discovering that there might be room for one more was not scary at all when Nancy was doing it with Robin. Ronance and ronanceden smut but also sweet and loving.

Tell Me Nothing Else Would Do - G -18.3K words

High school AU with no Upside Down where Nancy meets Robin in a sophomore drama class and they gradually become friends and then more. A big pile of 'when will they finally kiss?' fluff.

*putting it in one shots for now, but there will be a second part eventually

Missing Out - T- 3.7K words

Just some Valentine's Day silliness

Ten Seconds, Ten Years -G- 6.1K words

Fluffy Nancy POV reflecting on ten years of loving Robin

With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept -E- 33K words (warnings: graphic violence, sexual assault)

A dark Buffy the Vampire Slayer Normal Again AU

The Night Belongs to You -T- 9.7K words

A stobin-centric platonic love letter to long distance friendship and the struggles of asking for help in adulthood

Until the Walls Fall Down -E- 6.4K words (nsfw smut)

Nancy is stressed, Robin comes up with a plan to distract her. Shameless smut with a side of demolition.

[aiglesperch]

Valentine's Day and a Winter Night

Fandom : Project Zomboid

Word count : 1457

Summary : Recalling one's valentine's day shenanigans with his fiancé, Jean Antonique recalls his memories and prepares himself for surviving the outbreak.

Content warnings : Apocalypse, gore, zombies, losing a loved one, illness, paranoia, violence, murder

*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_

It was a late winter evening in the month of roses.

Chill had begun to fade slowly from Arizona, and soon, it'll be sweltering heat all over. A few ravens flew past the lone picket-fenced houses and settled near a garbage bin in proximity to a middle-aged man, head bent down, in reverence or in lifelessness, studying the trashcan closely.

A lone survivor sat on an antique couch, staring listlessly at a blank TV screen. He got up and stretched his limbs and shambled onward to the bathroom to check out the cabinet - hair gel from Get Set, a silver hand-mirror, a make-up kit, and a band-aid.

He stared at his reflection in the mirror - a man in his late twenties with overgrown coal-black hair. He would really need a haircut, it seems.

The man went back to the living room and glanced at a door with a few decorations here and there. It was labelled 'Yves rests here'.

He opened the door to reveal a plain-looking room. It had a bed with snowy bed-sheets, a desk with a bunch of magazines lying haphazardly, a dark dresser near the bed that contained 2 notebooks, sleeping pills, and vitamins.

Inside the notebook was a letter.

"Jean," it began. "I have reasons to believe that a bite I sustained while fighting those..."people" may be fatal. Perhaps, it may be even life-altering. Do what is needful with this information, and remember, I love you with my whole heart. Even if I die from this wound. Love, Yves."

The letter was a flesh wound re-opening at his heart. Strong emotions - anger, fear, pain, sadness - they tugged at his heartstrings. Jean cried bitterly against the pillow against which Yves formerly laid his head. He wished he was still alive and awake. But alas, he had bid adieu to him.

That day came in mind.

After Jean and Yves had said their vows, exchanged the rings and kissed, finalizing their love and allowing them to enter a new chapter of life, they had to run away from the makeshift chapel as hordes of 'people' with rotting limbs and broken necks, bearing a newfound taste for human flesh, chased them. While Jean hacked wildly at them with his axe, Yves kept shooting them with his gun. This they continued until their vehicle was nearby.

Yves failed to notice his former neighbor nearing his forearm. Right when he was opening his car door, she crunched his shoulder. Jean managed to chop her off with his axe right in time before escaping out of the place with his husband out of Kentucky.

It was a long journey. Jean tended to Yves' wounds and foraged for camping and food while Yves drove the car. Eventually they reached the desert state of Arizona and decided to stay there until the disease had vanished.

Foolish hopes they had...

Yves' condition became worse day by day. Occasionally, he complained of having anxiety about his survival. At times, he vomited on the floor. Jean became his caretaker and while he brought him soup, medicine and bandage, Yves would try to teach him some skills. On rare occasions, Yves would feel try slow-dancing with him.

Jean remembered how warm he felt underneath his strong arms, how soft his kiss was. What he couldn't comprehend was how he didn't succumb to the same infection as his husband did. Wasn't the infection transmittable?

The day eventually happened when Yves had lost himself - his anxiety translated into paranoia, and despite the efforts Jean put to ease him, it barely went away. He couldn't eat or drink anything, nor could speak. All he could do was to silently comfort a crying Jean and bleakly look out of the window.

One day, Jean brought him the usual medicine and food to his room. Yves lay still as an un-breathing corpse. He accidentally locked the door behind him. From the bed rose an un-dead 'Yves', mouth foaming in hunger and body half-rotten.

"Juhhhnnn...uooodd" he growled as he pounced on him. Jean dodged him and tried to reason with him, not wanting to kill the love of his life. He finally brought down his axe on his neck and watched his head roll away.

"Yves!" He cried in pain. He was careful enough not to open the nearby window and let anyone take a good look at his tear-laden face for a good munch.

A groan ensues from the porch

The ravens perched on him as he stared at the asphalt road. Wearing a bloodied shirt and a smelly pair of jeans, the man groaned at his discomfort and shook the birds away.

Jean exited his house, axe in hand, and crouched as to not attract any noise.

"That man is definitely not alive" he thought.

He scampered silently behind the gentleman and landed his axe on his neck before he could turn back.

A dead un-dead. What a save.

He pulled out the magazines and junk mail from the mailbox and ran inside before any other 'un-dead' decides to show up.

"Breaking news : Traces of Knox Infection suspected around Muldraugh, KY. Residents of Knox Country are warned to quarantine themselves until the infection subsides."

"What do you think is the source of the infection, Dr. Mullen?" asked the nervous reporter.

"The infection is currently air-borne; people are advised to wear masks and stay at home at any cost. Infected people are requested to quarantine themselves until their infection subsides. Some of the symptoms are : nausea, anxiety, stomachache. We have reasons to believe this is a severe case of flu and have deployed doctors to tend to this medical emergency."

The host finally concludes with "News9, more at 11. Stay safe!"

The evidence is strong. Knox Infection was the reason why those 'people' tried to bite him and Yves. It was the reason why he felt anxious and nauseous in mere days.

But the burning questions is - where did it start? And how did it even begin? No one suddenly turns into a rabid, flesh-eater within a few days...

Whatever it was, it was evident that this infection had arrived at Arizona - whether it was the refugees from Kentucky, or the roaming un-dead, he had to survive.

And surviving alone is no joke.

Preparing for an Unclear Future

Jean decided to tidy up his place. He arranged the magazines in the bookshelves, kept the food and utensils in their proper position in the kitchen, closed all the curtains and locked the door.

He had to learn from the magazines in the way Yves intended. With that resolve, he picked up a trapping magazine and began reading it. After that, he went for the mechanics magazines.

Some of the magazines were meant for Yves - advanced and full for technical terms he didn't understand.

He didn't knew how to cook.

"I wish I could've learned to make a damn soup before this apocalypse began" he lamented as he searched for some easy recipes and found none. Back then, Yves used to tend the cooking while he went out to hunt and chop wood. And while his husband was ill, he merely made him a salad haphazardly out of canned food.

"And I can't even go out without risking my life! What a world this has become..."

Jean looked here and there. His eagle-like vision helped him notice another un-dead walking into a bush. Two more were shambling down the road - a mother and her son. He went down a cul-de-sac to avoid the parent-and-child duo and to attract the bush-walker down the narrow lane. He then hacked him down with his axe.

Jean noticed that this guy might've been a former gardener, given his clothing. He searched his body, holding his breath to tolerate the rotting flesh, and found some seeds amidst the bloodied mess.

He left him alone and continued to walk down the lane across a building with glass doors and steel fences. Someone must've known about this outbreak to build these fences without the others noticing.

There was a police station seemingly abandoned by the 'residents'. It had a jail, two stinky bathrooms, a room full of lockers, a classroom for some reason and the head office.

Jean took a bunch of paper, a few magazines, a pencil and eraser and some cigarettes. He felt in his scruples that he IS stealing items from the station. However, does it even matter anymore?

After washing himself on the sink, he exited the building and decided to go left. A stench was emanating from that direction, indicating more 'residents' in that place. He instead went to the cul-de-sac and exited via the left side to reach a grassy lawn.

"What the-"

He saw a sight he had never seen before...

[rbelle310]

Imagine the number of times Tendou must've gotten in trouble for crazy food shenanigans.

Roasting sweet potatoes outside the dorm and nearly causing a fire. Also he pilfered those potatoes from the gardening club, so that's double the punishment.

Sneaking out of dorms to go to Shiogama Fish Market to buy fresh whole oysters. Nobody would thank him for clogging the sink with scrubbing off all the dirt and seaweed, but the previously aggrieved gardening club thanked him for the shells that they ground down to fertiliser.

And no one would ever forget the Tendou Cookie Lab that he started when testing recipes for the cultural festival. He got carried away, resulting in a mountain of assorted hit-or-miss flavours that he had to go door to door peddling to each class.

It wasn't all bad, though. Ever since that first year when the girls spotted him making 2-ingredient truffles, he's run a special valentine's class.

For that one day in a year, eccentric (if they're kind) and weird (if they're not) Tendou Satori becomes the most popular boy on campus. He's surrounded by adoring girls hanging on his every word... if only because they're following his instructions to the letter.

Brownies, and cookies and rich ganache tarts, he teaches them his kitchen secrets and samples all their work.

Delicious, of course, as expected of his students. Each piece filled with love... for someone else.

They thank him, help to tidy up the home econs room they borrowed, and go on their way, giggling about how XX-kun is going to love it.

Tendou packs up the leftovers and goes back to the dorm where, in the much smaller kitchen, rest of the team is loitering.

"Tadaima."

"Ohhh you're back!"

They perk up at his greeting, rushing over to usher him to a seat at the kitchen counter.

"Ushijima's mother sent some kinda fancy tea again. What was it called? Lulu?"

"Lupicia." Ushijima supplies helpfully, holding up the packet and its distinct logo.

They sit while the water boils and Ushijima steeps a pot with to-the-second precision. Nobody knows how he does it without a timer.

And then, with mugs in hand the team looks at Tendou with pure anticipation.

Tendou brings out the goods with a resigned sigh, "You know you'll be eating these tomorrow, right?"

As the stars of the school, Volleyball boys were popular after all.

Semi-semi crams a tart into his mouth, crumbs everywhere. "Yeah but... they don't taste the same."

Eh?

"Yeah." mumbles Hayato, "It's different. Somehow..."

"It's cause Tendou-senpai really loves what he makes." Shirabu muses, "More than 'please notice me', he's fully devoted to the feeling of 'please be delicious'."

The others nod along as Taichi, with a ring of chocolate around his mouth, weeps, "Senpai, even if I get a confession tomorrow, please know that yours is still the tastiest!"

Tendou can't help but tremble at the cascade of praise from his team.

Their appreciation for his work fills him with pride, but at the same time, he still feels loneliness and envy at what they will receive tomorrow.

Reon claps a hand on his back, it's a reassuring thump to punctuate a promise, "What we're saying is... look forward to White Day."

Tendou watches with watery eyes as his mug fills up again with fresh tea. Ushijima sets the pot down and meets his gaze in that serious and unwavering expression.

"Tendou, your feelings, we've received them."

"...Thanks."

~

The next month, the boy's volleyball club get assigned mandatory cleaning duties for nearly destroying the home economics room. They say that even today you squint up, you can find the remnants of Semi Eita's exploding chocolate cake clinging to the ceiling.

"I got the runs from that, y'know." Tendou laughs on that famous jounetsu interview. His eyes crinkle with nostalgia as he smiles at his interview partner. "But it was delicious, the most delicious cake I ever had. Thank you all, and Wakatoshi."