#again…I wish i had more art of her just hanging around but-

[unmerrymagdalene]

I wish I had more art of her but I’m sick of seeing this blog blank so-

Here’s my DOL PC, Lene the Faithless: a formerly religious girl who’s in a semi-constant state of dissociation (19, She/Her)

She likes Tending to her garden, hates closed spaces, and tries to avoid the Temple like the plague. Can be seen hanging with Robin, with small appearances at the Library

[theblueflower05]

Mi Ti’ong(In Bloom)

A/N: Usually I try to keep my readers pretty ambiguous so that everyone can envision themselves, but this ones gonna be a little more distinct. If that isnt your jam, please dont read! No use of Y/N. Reader nicknamed Flora. Based on the character from Winx Club! And this art!

Word Count: 6k+

Warnings: Size difference kink.Mature Language. Smut. Overstimulation. Oral sex(female receiving) Neteyams a munch, it’s canon now.

Summary: Neteyam can have anyone and yet he only wants you. A small human who can usually be found among the flowers. Neteyam x Human! Reader

Sugar, honey, iced tea. Bumble bee on the scene.

Yeah I’d give up my bakery to have a piece of your pie, ugh!

-See You Again, Tyler the Creator.

The forest is alive, the beating heart of Eywa felt in each and every leaf among the trees.

Every glowing piece of flora and fauna, every creature whose calls echo through the vastness.

This time of year is special and it's as though it is known. Deeply and primitively by all. The rains had come and gone, nearly a month of bruised skies that had bogged down the village and its daily life.

But as they always do the skies cleared, and the sun made its reappearance. Glittering and glimmering- triple rainbows breaking out in kaleidoscope like figurations. Beaming down with all of it’s warmth and vitality.

The earth is well fed and fertile, the soil rich and blooming with new life.

It’s that new life that brings the talioang(water buffalo like beasts) back. The creatures return in great migrations to the lush pastures of sweet new grasses to have their babies. The fish swim upstream, battling the roaring rivers, to spawn. The fruit hangs heavy and ripe in the trees. All around there is nothing but full bellies and joy.

This period of abundance is the Great Mother’s gift to her children.

It had always been Neteyam’s favorite time of the year.

Everything lush and bursting with life, the excitement a low constant hum amongst the tribe. The Great Hunt is coming and his father had given him the okay to take lead.

In his nineteen years, he had never been appointed with so much responsibility.

Jake tells him it will all be fine, nothing but easy smiles. This will be good. A fantastic way to show the clan that he’s ready to take on the title of Olo’eyktan once his father steps down. Although he manages to keep is calm and cool demeanor in public, he’s so fucking nervous he can barley function.

It’s why he’s here, trudging through the branches.

The village is buzzing with excitement. Everyone wants a moment of his time, their voices overlap as they wish him good luck.

Question his competence as head of the hunt.

Subliminally hint that hunters twice his age have never gotten the chance to do what has been so freely handed to him.

Remind him that their daughters are pretty. Unmated. Makes the best steamed Teylu. Are fertile and willing to give him strong children-

Fuck.

The moment he could, he’d slipped away. Disappeared into the foliage and had booked it deep into the trees, desperate for a moment alone. For a moment of silence and the peace of being away from prying eyes.

He doesn't even really know where he’s going.

Only that he just needs to be away. If only for an hour. He needs to recharge his ever draining social battery, to get his head on straight before tomorrow's hunt.

Neteyam has always performed his best under pressure.

Things that made others balk and cower ignited something in him. A need to fight. To prove himself- it’s not the prospect of high adrenaline and stampeeding hooves that makes him squirm. It’s all of the attention its garnering.

He know’s fully well that being the next Olo’eyktan means that attention comes with the territory. But that doesnt mean the thought of everyones focus on him doesnt make his indigo skin crawl.

He’s leaping aimlessly between vines when he remembers his sisters earlier proposition.

“Come with me and Flora to the watering hole today! The waterfalls are so pretty during this season- We’re going to go swimming!”

It’d been tempting this morning, and now it is even more so. He could use a dip in the cool waters and Kiri was always an ear to vent to when he got overwhelmed. He’d clear head and then leave-

He wouldn't get stuck staring at you.

Again,

No.

He can't pinpoint exactly when this happened.

It was like one night you were just another human at the Outpost. Another familiar alien face he’d grown up around. Just like Spider you’d stuck close with the Sully children. Your cheeks always flushed beneath your exo-mask and your fingernails always dirty and caked with mud from the hours and hours you’d spend tending to any and all plants that came in your line of vision. You were always so soft. Too soft for his liking sometimes. You’d cry at just about anything whether it be one of those old Tawtute movies the scientists played at the lab or the sight of an injured shimmyfly.

And then suddenly gone was that snotty, teary little girl he’d always known. And in her place was…you. A woman grown. Beautiful and bold- and there was strength in your softness now. You’d proved him wrong so many times- made it clear that you weren't another responsibility he’d have to shoulder-

“I can take care of myself, Neteyam” you’d insisted, never letting him carry your heavy baskets or tend to your scraped knees.

It’s maddening, the way that you shrug off any and all of his advances drives him fucking insane.

Neteyam approaches the secluded bank of the watering hole that his family loves best slowly, keeping in the treeline. Just out of sight. Just like he’d expected he finds you and Kiri on the familiar sands. Kiri is lounging in the sun, eyes closed and humming a pleasant tune to herself-oblivious to anything around her. He’d have to chastise her about her complete lack of situational awareness later.

You’re knee deep in the lake- tending to the water lilies that grow close to shore. Your back is to him but he bets your nose is all scrunched up, just like it always is when you’re around anything green and growing. His eyes drink you in greedily. All of your sun kissed skin is on display in the tiny faded pink panties you don for swimming.

He’d never found humans particularly pretty before you. The intense differences in their bodies had never appealed to him-

But Eywa, are you something to look at.

Time had been kind to you, and as you’d grown your body had morphed into something goddess like. You’re a real looker, his father had claimed. Would’ve been a total knockout back on Earth.

You’re all plush curves. Your breasts are pert and sit like rip hanging fruit on your chest, your hips wide and thighs jiggly and thick. And your waist…he’s sure if he put his much larger hands around them, his fingers could touch. He could cage you in his hold.

That thought has him biting his tongue, hard enough to taste metallic. You turn a bit, your laughter chiming over the glittering water like soft wind at some dry joke Kiri made.

Your hair color is light, lighter than any Na’vi’s and falls down around your shoulders in thick waves. He can only make out the side of your face but your full lips are pulled into a coy smile and your light jade eyes sparkle and all hell. Neteyam is so gone on you.

You’re like nothing he’s seen and definitely nothing he’s had.

And since his Iknimaya he’s had his first pick of the women of the clan.

He’s tasted passionate huntresses and flexible dancers alike and none of them satiate his thirst. None of them are able to replicate what he can only imagine you might taste like. It’s almost pathetic how many women he’s had and how many times he’s almost called out your name as he emptied his seed.

Neteyam’s more discreet about his romps than his brother, that’s for sure- but still. It’s a known fact that he’s an unmated male at his prime and that comes with a certain appetite. He can have anyone he wants, any Omatikayan woman would be glad to spend a night with him.

Yet somehow he’s lurking, hiding in the bush. Watching you longingly. Simpering like a pre-teen and pining over the way that the sunlight plays in the strands of your hair.

He shakes himself from his embarrassing reverie.

No one would be able to tell that just moments before he’d been debating on stroking his cock to just the sight of you, lurking in the trees like a creep. No. As he approaches its with his head held high and a sharp smile on his handsome smile.

“Brother!” Kiri grins, sitting up once she clocks him.

“What are you girls up to?” Neteyam greets. Cool as a cucumber.

“Nothing much, just been here since dawn. The waters so high this year!” Kiri picks up a fruit from beside her, peeling at its tender meat “everyone’s been out here today-on the other side, but no one knows how to get to this spot so we’ve had the beach all to ourselves”

You’re coming in from the lapping shore, beaming at him “Look at all the paysul(waterlily) that’ve bloom! I’ve never seen this many- isn't it amazing?”

“They are very beautiful. The rains were hard this year. I’m surprised the flooding wasn't worse” Neteyam tries not to focus on how tiny your chest covering- the bra as you call it- is. He turns his attention to his sister instead.

“Where’s Tuk, I cant believe she’d miss a chance to swim with you guys”

“She’s with mom, stuck on weaving duty since she tore grandma’s favorite tapestry” Kiri snorts because her baby sister had thrown a complete fit when she had been told she couldn't come “What about you? I thought you we’re too busy to hang out with the likes of us”

“I was able to make a little time for my favorite girls” Neteyam jests, amused by your eye roll and Kiri’s scoff “Plus, Lo’ak told me you need some humbling. Seems you forgot who’s the best diver in the family”

“Oh, you’re on, Teylupil(penis face/dick head)”

After stripping down to only his cloth, his cumberband and com left on shore, he slips into the cool refreshing water with a pleased “Ah”. Enjoying the gentle current against his skin-only to be tacked under the surface by Kiri and all of her bony lanky limbs moments later.

The sun soaked afternoon is filled with laughter and splashing. It’s exactly what he needs.

The three of you play in the river like children. Neteyam and Kiri go at it like the always do- careful to be gentle with your smaller form as you join in. It’s easy to forget the looming pressure of the hunt while he’s jumping from the rushing waterfalls and racing his sister, discreetly preening when he wins and you cheer him on with little claps.

Eventually you all tire.

Kiri floats on the water and goes to that place in her head that she so often does. Completely at peace to be surrounded by nature. She claims it’s when she can best hear Eywa.

Neteyam keeps a bit of an eye on her to make sure she doesn't randomly fall asleep again. Hoping she’d have the sense to get back to the beach before that happened.

Water floods his face and goes right up his nose.

His head snaps to you, spluttering and wiping at his eyes, “What the hell?”

You just giggle innocently before disappearing beneath the surface.

Neteyam’s tail flicks with interest.

He decides to let you get your little head start. His heart speeds up with the promise of a hunt before he starts his chase.He might be bigger then you but you're quick and slippery. Your mask giving you the advantage of not having to come up for air like he does.

When he grabs your ankle, so sure he’s got you, you all but kick him in the face to get away.

You little shit.

Fine.

If you want to play dirty, then he’s game.

He allows you to think you have a chance. That you may be winning the little game. You’re heading for the waterfall, planning to hide behind it.

He’s bigger and more trained than you could ever hope to be.

It only takes one well planned move and you’re done.

He yanks a hold of you, secure. He holds you then, your back against his chest and his strong muscle corded arms wrapped around you from behind before propelling the both of you through the pounding waterfall and into the small, closed off cave behind it.

“Neteyam!” You whine, squirming in his hold like a fish and he just laughs because honestly. He can barely feel it. You’re trying to escape with all his might and he’s holding you the way he might hold a child throwing a tantrum.

He leans in close, burying his face in your wet hair, close to your ear “I win, Sylaung(flower)”

He feels you shiver in his arms and it just makes him hold you tighter. He could keep you like this forever, if you’d only let him. Instead he can feel without you even saying so how hesitant you feel about this

“I think I deserve a prize” he pushes on even further and you give him a confused, side ways look. He so graciously allows you to turn in his hold until your chests meet, face to face.

“Like what?” you wonder and you’re too cute. You’re looking up at him, struggling to treading water with your smaller legs- Neteyam lifts you higher, until you’re bracing your hands on his broad shoulders and he’s holding you above the current. Supporting you totally.

“Well what can you give?” His inquiry is almost condescending and you shrug.

“I’m fresh out of gold stars” you tease and he barks out a laugh. Do you think he can't tell? That he can't see the way your cheeks flush and your pulse hammers beneath the delicate skin of your throat?

“What about a kiss” he offers offhandedly and your face scrunches up in a glare automatically.

“You don't want to?...”

“Why do you make fun of me like this, Neteyam” It’s not often he hears your voice this hard, soured by embarrassment and self doubt.

“I’m not making fun of you” he insists with a sigh “I don't know why you always say that. When have I ever given you the impression that I’d do that?”

You won't meet his gaze. Your green eyes flick, anywhere but on him. Zeroing somewhere behind his back. All too interested on the rocky cave wall.

“If it wasn't for this damned mask” Neteyam husks, low and sincere “I’d kiss you right now”

Even still, you don't seem convinced. Won't look at him until he takes your face in his hand, his fingers gentle but insistent. They grip the mask at your jaw, forcing you to look at him. “Why don't you believe me?”

“I’m nothing like the Omatikaya women you’ve been with” you say plainly like it's so obvious. Like it's a problem.

“I know”

“You didn't even like me growing up. You thought I was annoying”

“That isn't true-”

“It is” you insist haughtily “you’d make fun of me for talking to my plants”

He doesn't mean to laugh, really he doesn't. It’s not the time for it and it just pisses you off even more. He doesn't let you out of his arms even when you swat at him. “Listen, I’m sorry. I think it’s very sweet the way you talk to your plants. I want you to talk to me just like that, please”

That earns him a little giggle and he feels very pleased with himself.

You play with his hair often, most times it's mindless. A way to distract yourself. Your small deft fingers twirl along his adorned braids. He craves the scritch of your manicured nails on his scalp.

“How do you want me to kiss you? If I have my mask on” The interest in your hair is only just veiled. Your attempt at being nonchalant fails.

“Hmm” Neteyam feigns thinking, face screwed up “I think I could come up with a few ideas”

A few thousand more like it. You were the star of all of his fantasies. You, twisted and contorted into positions that would surely make you blush. You, with your mouth hanging slack in pleasure. Screaming his name-

But you hadnt agreed to that. You only, just barely, agreed to let him kiss you.

When he leans in its slow. Slow enough to give you time to push him away.

The waterfall roars in the background, white noise, but even it can't drown out the thunderous beating of your frantic heart.

Then his lips are pressed against your throat, gulping in the sweet scent of you. He cant kiss your mouth, but he can kiss the sweet, smooth column of your neck. Your clavicle. Your quivering shoulders. The heavy flesh of your breast. His kisses are open mouthed, his rough textured tongue dragging over your skin, leaving saliva trails in their wake-

You gasp sharpley when drags the skimpy fabric of your bra down so he can get at your pebbled nipple. He’s just about to suckle, when the moment is broken.

“Guys! Where’d you go?!”

It’s Kiri. Obviously awake from her nap like meditation time.

Your eyes go comically wide and Neteyam reluctantly releases you. Not wanting to get caught with an armful of pretty, half naked human. He’s thankful for the cold water and the way that he can hide the hardness tenting his tweng.

He catches you by the wrist before you can dip beneath the falls-

“We’re not done here, Sylaung” the promise leaves his lips fevor laced and full of heat.

You can only gulp and nod dazed, “I still owe you a kiss” your sweet voice reminds, before you’re ducking back under the water.

Leaving him dazed and buzzing for a moment before he gets it together and follows.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Days later he still hasn't gotten his prize.

Although he’s celebrated by his clan, praised for his successful hunt, he feels like something is missing.

The Harvest Season and its celebrations are well underway. Every night there's dancing and singing around the large bonfires we’re fragrant spiced tailong meat roasts. Neteyam is highly decorated; feathers adorn his freshly braided hair and he's donned his most ornate cumberband. He’s hauntingly handsome

Spider and Lo’ak are sat near the main fire, laughing heartily and sharing a leather gourd full of liquor between themselves.

Spider’s obviously drunk and eyeing Kiri hungerly as she dances with Tuk- he’d never do that sober. Not with Neytiri so near. Lo’ak is lounged out, an attractive female in his lap. She giggles madly at whatever filth his little brother whispers in her twitching ear.

Jealousy bubbles acidicly in Neteyam’s belly and again, he wonders where you are. Why you arent here, in his lap. Letting him woo you.

He figures he’ll have to go to you then, if you won't come to him.

First thing to do is find you.

“Hey, Spider!” the human man is the best place to start. Spider’s eyes are glassy under his mask and still. His friend is excited to see him, greets him with a hand shake and a small hug.

“Neteyam, man! Where have you been all night?”

“Around, you know how it is” Neteyam shrugs, sitting sown on the log, accepting the gourd and taking a swig of the thick sticky sap inside. It burns all the way down.

“This partys essentially for him- I’m surprise you we’re able to get away from dad” Lo’ak shit-talks, like he always does. It’s good natured for the most part “I thought he might throw you a parade or something. Call in the clans-”

“Fuck you, man” Neteyam chuckles, shaking his head at Lo’aks theatrics. “Don't be jealous”

“Jealous of dad? Nah” Lo’ak “Now the women you’re getting? That I might be jealous of”

“Hey!” the girl in his lap, a weaver from a modest family, squrims, pinching at his shoulder “You’ve got all the woman you need for the night, sayrip”

She squeals when Lo’ak squeezes her tight around her middle and blows wet raspberry kisses into her neck.

Neteyam just rolls his eyes and shares a little look with Spider. By the next eclipse, Lo’ak wouldve moved on. He has a knack for loving and leaving.

“Why arent you out there, bro? I saw Amitsa giving you the eyes! She’s so hot and she doesnt ever give anyone the time of day” Spider juts his chin and sure enough. The woman is giving Neteyam longing looks from across the fire. She’s a pretty thing and her sultry voice is renowned in the tribe. He’d be lying if he said he wasnt attracted to her “You’re not gonna go try to get at that?”

No. He’s not.

“Uh” Neteyam scratches the back of his neck “I was actually looking for Flora, I havent been able to find her around lately”

Of course, that sets of a exactly what he knows it would.

His brothers are assholes and have teased his merciesly since discovering his obsessive crush. Spider knocks his much smaller shoulder against Neteyam’s and Lo’ak hoots with laughter.

“How someone can be pussy whipped for pussy they haven't even had is beyond me” Lo’ak snorts and Neteyam gives him a warning growl, his lips snarled up.

It’s nothing he hadn’t heard before.

Lo’ak finds it endlessly amusing that Neteyam had his eye on you, the tiny human he’d grown up so lukewarm about. It had always been his siblings; Kiri and Lo’ak and Tuk that were close with you growing up. Neteyam had never shown a speck of interest until your figure had grown curvy and supple-

“Piss off, I wasn’t asking you” Neteyam gives his best big brother stare down. His golden eyes hard and unimpressed before looking to Spider, hairless brows raised “You know where I could find her?”

“Listen man, she said wasn’t interested in hanging out with anyone tonight” the human man starts with a sigh and Neteyam’s growl is low and warning “-but I’m sure you can find her where she always is”

Neteyam wracks his brain for a moment “The Greenhouses?”

“Bingo” Spider nods, an almost sympathetic look in his eye as he watches Neteyam jump to his feet and set off.

Lo’ak sniggers and the girl in his lap scoffs and mutters something about “shameful, being that twisted up about a tawtute” but Spider says nothing.

Instead his plixr hazed eyes focus on the figure dancing close to the firelight. Kiri lets out a twinkling laugh at something Tuk says and yeah. Spider understands Neteyam. He understands being completely obsessed with something you’ve never had.

Instead of taking a note from his much braver brother, he lifts his mask and takes another shot of the acidic syrup.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Neteyam could make the trek through the forest to Hells Gate in his sleep..

He’d spent a good chunk of his childhood retracing these exact steps, headeded for the familiar concrete fortress that made up the last human outpost on Pandora.

Neteyam had always been far too similar to his mother, for countless reasons. But his distaste for everything industrial was one of the main reasons. As he got older he spent less and less time here. Couldnt be found in the cold echoing hallways like Lo’ak and the girls coul

But even he could admit.

There’s something beautiful about the Greenhouses.

With their dome like structure, the big glass buildings are a fortress for the humans. Inside they’re as hot and humid as the Pandoran rainforests- but circulating Earth air so that the fruits and vegetables that are native to Terra Firme can grow, even on this alien planet.

Neteyam makes his way inside, plugging in the codes into the keypad and letting himself in through the pressurized doors that slide closed right behind him. His eyes are peeled, taking in all of the foreign greenery, hoping to catch a flash of tanned skin or light hair in the cracks between trees.

The Greenhouses are huge. There’s orchards of apples and oranges and long deep garden beds full of root vegetables. Enough to feed the Hell’s Gate settlement throughout the year, to trade with the People of the Omaticaya.

No matter, he’s a blooded hunter after all.

He hones in on that training as he tracks your path. Your footprints along the cement floor are light, and really you barely leave any trace of yourself at all. You float along with light steps and Neteyam truly thinks if you had been born one of the People you would’ve made a fine huntswoman-

He finds you in the shade of the orange trees. You’re up on a stool, gathering the plump fruit and humming a pleasant little tune.

You’re ethereal in artificial sunlight.

You’re something out of the books that Norm used to read to them when they were kids. His favorite had been the one about the boy who would never grow up and the island of Neverland. And the tiny golden dust covered pixi that flitted from page to page.

A fairy.

A being not quite real. Too gentle and feminine to exist.

He likes the tawtute clothes you wear. The small top that clings to your breasts like a second skin and the flowy patterned skirt. Of course if it was up to him you’d only ever wear the garments of the People- or even better, Nothing at all.

You reach too high, strained up on your tippy toes and Neteyam feels irrational fear at that. At all of your delicate skin and breakable neck-

He’s beside you in an instant and he doesn't need a ladder to reach the high hanging fruit you’d been struggling for. He grabs the fruit with one hand while the other stabilizes you, his big palm spread out across the small of your back.

You gasp at his warm touch. Your head snapping in his direction and legs going wobbly.

“Neteyam!”

“Flora” He sighs as he urges you down from the ladder, takes the heavy bucket of fruit from your hands “You really do need to be more careful”

You splutter for a moment, still shocked at his sudden arrival “I- ugh! I was fine!” you insist haughtily “It’s not like I don't do this all of the time. You didn't need to come help me, I can manage perfectly fine on my own”

“Need to help you?” Neteyam cocks his head a bit.

“Yeah…I mean. Why else would you be here?” you ask, scratching awkwardly at your arm for a moment “Tonight's the celebration. You really should be back with the clan-”

“As should you” He cuts you off firmly. Not liking the way that you’re trying to separate yourself from the tribe. From him “I have not seen you for days. Do you not want to feast with our people?”

You sigh, looking away from him. Biting at that plump ever pink bottom lip of yours. Always shy, he knows he needs to bring you out of your shell. You’ll find a way to run away from him again if he doesn't.

“I didnt come here to help you” Neteyam admits because he’s selfish and because you’re too beautiful. Even more so, since you’ve been hiding from him. Avoiding his attention.

“Oh really?” you’re not coy by nature but there's something in your eyes. In the way you’re looking up at him “Then what are you here for?”

“My kiss”

Your pupils expand, just the tiniest bit but he can see it. He can see it all. Every inch of your pretty face, unbridled by that cumbersome mask you usually are forced to don. He can see every freckle and blemish- and the way that a blush creeps across the apples of your cheeks.

“A deals a deal” Neteyam insists at the prolonged silence. At your nervous flicking gaze.

“Okay” is your sweet reply and he can only stare at your plump lips. A man with one thing and one thing only on his mind.

You don't protest when he reaches for you. When his big hands go around your waist and tug slowly until he’s enveloping you in his chest. You fit so perfectly, right under his sternum. Stare up at him with wide eyes that flutter closed the closer he inches his face towards yours.

The kiss is wet and electric and Neteyam wants to eat you whole.

Any awkwardness that comes from the size difference is soon overcome by the desire that simmers between you. You let him lead, always so willing to go with whatever flow he may give. Let him nip at your delicate bottom lip until he can almost taste the metallic twang of blood. Let him stick his much bigger tongue into your warm mouth, and then down your constricting throat.

As you make little gasping choking sounds, he imagines it's his huge pulsing cock stealing the air from your lungs instead.

You gasp for breath when he pulls away, as he trails kisses down your soft jaw. He cant stop, wants to taste you everywhere. Every inch of skin. He know it must be overwhelming- if your heaving breaths and mewls are anything to go by, he knows you’re feeling every inch of the mind spinning need that he is.

Still,

No matter how much he gropes at you with rough hands and drags spit soaked kisses over your neck and chest, youre so good for him. Such a good girl. Holding on for any ride he might take you on. Your fingers twined in his silky braids arent there to push him away, but to pull him closed.

When he grasps you by the back of your thighs and hoists- you wrap your legs around his slim waist, your ankles hooking at his lower back.

The helpless noise you make goes straight to his groin.

Neteyam lies you down on hard floor. He’d rather have you in the warmth of his Kelku, or under the stars, but at least here he can get at your maskless face. At your bare lips. Once he’s cradling your head safely and tucked in between your spread thighs he's at you again. Ravenously.

You’re so docile, so eager to let him take whatever he wants.

“Flora” he husks into your hair and you shiver.

“Yeah?”

“Flora” Neteyam brings your little body even closer.”You have no Idea. I have to have you. I need-”

You squeak needily “You can have whatever you need” and gasp when Neteyam kisses your cheek. Your lips. Your jaw. Your neck. Your nerves are on fire and your hips grind against his.

“I need this body. I need to see all of it, you drive me crazy” Neteyam armits as he tugs on your top and you help him pull it up over your head. You dont wear a bra, why would you? Your pretty rosy nipples are all on display for him. Pebbled and begging for attention, He laps slowly with his wide textured tongue at the puffy nub.

He suckles like a newborn until you’re chivalry and making hurt little sounds, until your pretty chest is covered in blooming bruises.

And then he’s dragging his wanting mouth down. Past your heaving ribs and over your soft belly. Neteyam hikes the flowy material of your skirt up high, until he can bend down and poke his head underneath.

“Oh!” you gasp, writhing a bit. Your thighs trying to close on instinct.

You’re so wet for him, the smell of it is thick and heady and he digs his nose into your inner thigh and snuffles. Its mouthwatering.

And it bit mortifying, from your end. Having the large man with his head buried under your skirt as he sniffs at your core-

When he licks a fat stripe over you, wetting up the thin material of your panties you cry out. No ones ever touched you like this and here he is, licking at your clothed pussy. Over and over until the fabric is translucent and sticky with your flowing juices.

“Please” you mewl, gathering the fabric, yanking until you can see him.

Its filthy and erotic. The sight of his hulking blue body between your trembling tanned thighs. So alien. So taboo-

“Please what, sylaung?” Neteyam taunts, his golden eyes meeting yours. They shine with mirth, and lust. So much lust. When he noses at your pink flowery panties you throw your head back, eyes squeezed closed. Unable to take the sight any longer “You want me to take care of you?”

“Yes” you sob because you’re pulsing and you can barley breathe you’re so horny “Please take care of me with your tongue”

Neteyam strips you then, out of your skirt and cute little panties and you’re lying under him. Naked and flushed and wanting.

He shoulders himself exactly back where he wants to be. Where he’s always wanted to be.

“Don't worry, I’ll take care of this sweet pussy for you”

Oh god. Your head is spinning.

You can barely think as he kisses on the jiggling fat of your thighs.

“I’m sorry” you gasp.

Neteyam hums right against your core and you can feel the vibrations throughout your entire body “What for?”

“I’m so messy” you whisper, that pink blush blooming all over your body.

Groaning, Neteyam can't wait any longer. Your flavor bursts along his taste buds. Tangy and earthy and decadently sweet. He’s had his fair share of cunt before, but he’s never tasted a humans and he’s shocked at how saccharine it is. It’s sticky and coats his mouth and throat. His lips and nose and chin as he digs in.

“Neteyam!” You wait.

“Fuck. Oh, Eywa. One Second” Neteyam sits up and adjusts himself where his painfully hard under his tweng and the ache in you deepens. You try to be good, try to be still as he leans in and licks at you again. Kisses your pussy in that same beautiful passionate way he kisses your lips.

He’s good. Too good at this. He’s had too much practice and you never had a chance againts that oversized mouth.

“Holy fuck” the words sound even more vulgar in your honeyed voice “Fucking hell, Nete. Nete. I’m almost there”

Neteyam grin is hidden between the lips of your pussy. He doubles down, letting you hump and soak his face. Then lapping back at inside of you in a repetitive and ceaseless rhythm, One that has you shaking, arching up off the ground. Your plush thighs closing, clamping around his head as you come.

Your orgasm cinches tight and rushes around you, inside of you, out of you with a gush of slick. It’s so deep. So strong, that it takes a moment for you to truly peak and it leaves you in a daze. Out side of your body as you fuck up againts Neteyams mouth like a wild animal.

You’d never come so hard in your life and it takes a while for you to recenter.

Once youre able to focus past the rushing in your ears, the first thing you notice is Neteyam’s face streaked with wet. Your blush blooms across your cheeks as you both breathe unevenly into the quiet.

“Did that feel good?” Nereyam knows it did, but still. He needs to ask. Needs to hear you say it.

You giggle, girlish and airy as your dainty hand releases his hair and cups at his cheek “So so good. I’ve never felt anything like that before”

His grin is all too feline and seeing those white canines gleam so close to the most sensitive part of you is a little alarming.

“There’s so much more to come, yawntutsyip” Neteyam promises, leading back down. His fingers play with the jiggle of your thigh- so different then any of the Omaticaya women he’s had You squirm a bit, clearly overstimulated, but keep your legs spread anyway.

Neteyams long digits prod gently at your pussy lips. You’re oddly pretty here. All red and rosy and inflamed, like that blush he loved so much on your cheeks. He spreads you with two fingers so that he can look at you inside. At your quivering pink folds and your tiny little hole that clenches when he runs his finger along it.

“You’re so small here” he whispers, completely hypnotized by it “So fucking tight. You’ll never be able to take me”

You whimper unhappily “Don’t say that. I want to- please just try”

“Shh,” Neteyam soothes your cries. Your dazed worries. He distracts you with his tongue, as it swirls over your throbbing clit. It feels a bit like sandpaper to your nerves, but you can get enough.

When his finger begins to breach you, you hold your breath.

Its big, but youre so loose from your first orgasm, so desperate to be filled that he sinks in until the hilt.

Its maddening after that and you grind the back of your head into the hard concrete under you- your eyes closed and your mouth hanging open. The sounds you make are feral and raw-

Neteyam fucks you open with one and then two fingers until its easy. Until the sweet stretch doesn't burn- instead its slippery and wet.horribly wet as Neteyam feasts on you as he fucks you with his fingers-

“Too much-Fuck” you weakly try to pull away from the assult of pleasure but he he’s too strong. Pins you down. Makes you take whatever he wants to give you.

When he lifts your hips up even higher to take a curious lick at your puckered asshole you white out.

This orgasm isnt like the first. You sink under the waves of this one. Your muscles cramp with the intensity. You cant come back to yourself, you can’t cling to anything but Neteyam. You cant even scream.

He’s everything, as he soothes you. As he makes you feel things you’ve never felt before.

“H-hurts” you whimper, eyes filling up with tears. Pussy aching.

“Just a little more baby” Neteyam huffs as he licks at you and stuffs the hand that's covered in your cum down his own tweng. It lubricates the fast and furious pumping of his fist along his rock hard cock.

He cant fuck you tonight, thats something the two of you will have to work up to. He’ll teach your tiny body to take him. To crave penetration.

But with his tongue buried in your pulsating pussy and your scent all around him its easy enough to pretend. Easy enough to imagine shoving himself into you slowly. Stretching you’re ruined. Your hole would never be the same. You’d forever gape because of him-

Neteyam comes with a roar and dirties his loincloth up like a teenager.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Later, after he’s cleaned you both up the best he can and gathered you to his chest. After he’s taken a sip from the breathing mask and nuzzled ar your wispy soft baby hairs that are plastered against the side of your sweaty head-

That he has the urge to read that book again. The one with the fairies. As he watches your slumbering face, your nose scrunching and lips pursing, he thinks the onlt thing missing is the gossamer wings,

His own little fairy.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

AAAAAAND we’re done.

First and foremost I want to give the wonderful @oakbuggy her accolades. Her Neteyam x Flora art inspired this fic 100%. A couple months ago I actually messaged her begging her to let me right this for her because I just couldn't get over this crackship of dreams. Thank you for being so patient with me. I hope you enjoy that overstimulation, baby!

PLEASE GO CHECK OUT HER ART. It’s sooooo delish.

This was a monster to write because I just had so many different ideas of what I wanted to do with the two of them and couldn't pinpoint where exactly I wanted the plot to go. Even now its a bit messy but still. I’m a fucking sucker for Neteyam x Flora and I would be more then happy to write more of them if thats something everyone would be into.

Please give me some feedback. What did we think about this writing style? Do we like the Y/N route more?

Until next time sweet honey bees!

[causenessus]

new grounds

part 0.7. OFF TO WAR . . . 1.7.2024

PLAYING IN THE CAFE . . . how was your day? by mellow fellow & clairo

she slings off her bag, hanging it on a wall hook before she goes out to wash her hands. she’s tempted to splash her face with cold water too but then she’d just look like more of a mess. it was a struggle to even walk here, and it did nothing to wake her up.

she wishes she could be laying in her bed, or wrapped in a blanket on the couch next to keiji like they had originally planned for today, but this is for yachi, she reminds herself. at least one of them will be enjoying themselves today. 

kageyama arrived a little earlier than her and is currently taking an order from a customer. she overhears something about a matcha latte and starts on it ahead of time. a warm drink sounds nice right now, she’ll make one for herself afterwards.

once the customer is done paying, kageyama turns around and looks startled to see her already making the order, or perhaps it’s because she’s currently zoning out as she slowly whisks the powder.

he takes the milk she steamed in a pitcher out of the steam wand, mumbling a thank you as he works next to her.

that’s new. but she’s not complaining, it brings her back to reality and she hums in response, pouring the matcha into a mug he placed on the counter before he pours in the milk. he steps away to place the drink on the counter and call it out while she gets started on a chai for herself.

by the time he returns, she's standing with her back against the counter, sipping on her own drink and staring off again.

he stops, unsure what to do with himself. the place is almost empty, and there’s nothing for them to do. this is the time to talk to her, and he knows what his friends would say in this moment.

he opts for leaning against the counter like her, leaving space between them. “how come you picked up today? you sound like you’ve been absolutely exhausted lately,” he asks. he knows a little bit about why, but he wants to hear it from her.

she takes a moment to respond and he almost thinks she’s not going to. he can feel his neck start to warm as he waits patiently, “i am exhausted, god…and it’s not even over. i’m in the middle of rehearsals everyday monday through saturday, but yachi needed someone to cover her today so she could go to some art thing and i wanted her to go. she’s been wanting this forever.” she doesn't speak with the nicest tone, but it's the one her mind defaulted to, unsure if it should be on the defense or not.

he doesn't know what to say next. he didn't think that far. he was so focused on just starting to talk to her. he tries to let the words come naturally, “she should have just called off then. i could have handled today by myself.” it comes off a little bit more egoistic than he meant and he kicks himself. “just so that you could have taken off today, too.”

she blinks, looking a little surprised but a small smile makes it way onto her face, “that's sweet. i did actually think of doing that, you know, but i didn't want to leave you alone.”

he wants her to elaborate. it feels like there’s an underlying meaning to her words. but she says nothing else yet it still makes his face warm a little more. he's saved by the bell chime of the door and returns back to the register.

it's slow inside the cafe, but she spends her time wiping down counters and cleaning equipment and miraculously the night goes by quicker than she expected. it's time for them to close before she knows it, but she's more than happy to lock the door.

as she clocks out, kageyama comes out of the staff room with his bag. she makes a comment while he waits, “that night went by fast, didn't it?”

she sees his head slightly tilt out of the corner of her eye, “maybe for you, you fell asleep.”

her heart almost drops into her stomach and she turns towards him in shock, “what? when? did you wake me up?” her face is red in embarrassment.

“you went back to grab something from the back and i came back there and you had fallen asleep on the ladder,” he answers, as calm as ever.

she covers her face with both of her hands, “oh my god i don't even remember that at all.”

he smiles instinctually when she covers her face. maybe he's on the verge of laughing or maybe she looks cute. 

the thought reverberates through his head but he tries to brush off how shocked he is at himself, “it's fine. like i said, i can handle today. you're tired anyway.”

“i still can't help but feel bad, though,” she mumbles, turning back to the tablet she's at to finish clocking out.

“it's okay, will you get home alright though?” he asks, absent-mindedly watching the screen she's using.

she doesn't respond and he looks at her. her eyes are closed again before a second later they open and she rubs a hand across her face. she finishes clocking out before she looks at him and steps to the side, seeming to remember where she is.

“sorry, did you say something?” she responds and that settles it.

“i'm walking you home,” he says, using the screen to clock himself out. he has no idea where this confidence is coming from. on the inside he feels more nervous than he ever has before. his hands are shaking and he can feel his heart beating rapidly. it takes everything in him not to look at her for a reaction.

“what? you don't have to do that. i'm fine,” her gaze is locked on him, staring at the side of his face while he concentrates on what’s in front of him.

“you just fell asleep again,” he says, talking as if the matter has already been decided.

she feels so out of it, maybe it has been settled for her already and maybe that's best for her. “i…”

“i know you're capable of taking care of yourself but it's because you're so unaware of everything around you right now,” he turns off the tablet, walking towards her and stopping in front of her.

she looks up at him and her head is spinning. her legs feel like they want to give out and she has no idea what's overcome her, “okay.”

they leave in silence, making sure the door of the cafe is locked behind them, but it's better that way.

both of them are swimming in their thoughts, though it feels better being with each other. she's glad he's there because he's right, she doesn't even notice a person behind them trying to get by. he has to tug her in front of him so that they can pass by.

her dorm is a short distance away from the cafe and they reach it soon enough. he walks her inside, making sure she gets to her actual room before he stops.

“thank you for walking me back,” she mumbles, eyes averted towards the floor.

“yeah.” his hands are stuffed in his pocket and he's looking at the beige wall next to him. he's stiff, all of his confidence left behind on the walk here. 

then before he knows it her door is creaking open and she's waving at him before she closes the door.

he stays there for a second longer, the only sound being the faint buzzing from a fluorescent light above. he doesn't know why he's still standing here. did he expect anything else to happen?

prev. | m.list | next

extras <3

y/n also stayed on her side of the door, just standing there and thinking until hearing kageyama walk away shook her out of it

y/n and keiji's movie night got cancelled so instead bo and keiji had one

it was mainly a disney movie marathon and they didn't even finish coco. bo started crying like halfway through and it was already late by that time

tangled is their favorite movie

bo wanted to make an aesthetic tweet so they stole candles from yn and yachi's dorm and then he waited for the lantern scene to take a picture <3

y/n needed more napkins and almost fell asleep in the cooler too until she realized she was in the wrong place

kageyama wanted to wake her up but at the same time if she just fell asleep on a ladder he thought she must have been really tired

y/n started vague tweeting on her main because she needed to get her feelings out to more than three people and told herself "i'll just delete them in the morning" not thinking about what she was tweeting or who would really see it

kageyama did not even realize yachi passed him in the hallway

again, the freeloaders take their bets very seriously and hinata had so much hope in kageyama he also decided he was going to drop out of anatomy and phys. if things went well for kags

taglist: @ncitygreen @lvrlamp @cherrypieyourface @mimi3lover @lees-chaotic-brain @frootloopscos @0moonii @cr4yolaas @eggyrocks @pinkiscool @httpakkeiji @localgaytrainwreck @lunaviee @kitty-m30w @lixie-phoria @aliruuiz @tartfrappe @corvid007 @iluv-ace @yvjitadori @k8nicole @ryeyeyer (form to be added to taglist! <3)

[trashpandato]

Art

Kara is a doodler. 

Anytime she has a pen or pencil in her hand, she doodles. Initially, it started off as a way for Kara to find a credible explanation for when she was drawing Kryptonian symbols on the edges of her school work in high school.

“Kara likes to doodle,” Jeremiah explained to her teacher who had pointed it out during a parent-teacher meeting. 

Kara had to ask Jeremiah what doodling meant, and then vehemently disagreed with him that that is what she was doing. But then Jeremiah reminded her, again, that she could never let anyone know that she wasn’t human and really shouldn’t be writing Kryptonian words on anything that could be seen in public.

From that moment on, Kara learned to stay away from words and began to try and capture her memories of Krypton as images. She still doddled, as Jeremiah called it, because all anyone not familiar with Kara’s background would see on the page were circles (not Krypton’s moons) or abstract shapes (not the skyline of buildings Kara remembered seeing from her bedroom window).

Over time, Kara’s doodles became less about Krypton and more about things she had seen on Earth. Cat Grant famously asked her about a scribble of a cat in a tree that showed up on the upper left edge of a printed press release Kara had handed to her. Kara stammered her way through an apology and explained that she had rescued a cat during her lunch break and the image must have stuck in her head somehow.

Most of the time, Kara’s doodles are about food, though.

She draws little pizzas, dumplings still in their steamer baskets, croissants that make a decorative edge around the notes from her latest interview. It’s mindless fun and keeps her hands entertained when she’s bored or needs some release valve for her extra energy.

“It’s almost Freudian with you” Alex joked once when she found a small ink pen drawing of a box of donuts on a few notes Kara made while listening to a briefing at the DEO.

“I told you not to schedule the briefing over lunch,” Kara shot back and then immediately launched herself into the skies in search of her favourite donuts in National City.

And then she meets Lena, and it doesn’t take long for Kara’s doodles to include little chess pieces, loops that remind her of the earrings Lena wore that day, sharp lines that look a lot like a certain building with a large L on its facade.

It’s years into their friendship when Lena finally asks her about it.

Kara is sitting at her kitchen island, lost in thought. She’s spent the last few days frantically trying to help organize Alex and Kelly’s wedding. She’s exhausted, and Lena has offered to make them some tea to help Kara relax when she turns around and asks.

“What’s that?”

Kara frowns but looks up at Lena then.

“What’s what?”

“You’re, I don’t know, scribbling something. Or drawing. I’m not sure because it almost didn’t look like you were even paying attention to what your hand was doing.”

“Oh,” Kara feels a little like Lena caught her with her hand in the cookie jar. “It’s nothing. Just a doodle.”

Kara wants to cover up the paper in front of her but Lena is already there, craning her neck to see the small image that has appeared on the edge of Kara’s to-do list for the wedding.

It’s a small portrait of Lena. Next to a larger doodled heart.

It’s not subtle, but then again, none of Kara’s doodles ever are. It’s just that usually no one else sees them. But when Lena does see this one, she freezes. For a brief moment, Kara wishes a portal would open up in her kitchen so she could disappear rather than have to explain. But then, Lena turns to face her, eyes wide but oh so full of hope and Kara knows this is it, the final step for them.

Years later, Sam finds the framed doodle in Lena’s and Kara’s apartment, hanging just to the side of several photos they’ve taken over the years of their friends and family. Sam turns to Kara and smirks.

“This is high art. You should feature it more prominently.”

Kara smacks Sam’s arm but can’t help the broad smile overtaking her features. 

“I’m sure if I move the Kandinsky to hang this one up by the fireplace instead, Lena is going to divorce me.”

Sam laughs but then says: “Lena loves you so much, she would let you doodle on that Kandinsky.”

And Kara isn’t so sure about that. It’s an original, after all. But she is sure that Lena loves her, so she just nods and pulls Sam back into the living room to re-join their friends.

Kara does draw a small portrait of Lena on the side of her Yahtzee score sheet later, though.

[rafyki]

Goth! Nico/ Surfer! Percy AU Part 3!

Here, have some awkward flirting by two absolute lovestruck losers (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ Oh how I love writing them being absolute disaster around each other asdsgsdhdff

@neo-kid-funk I managed to finish this part before I thought, I hope you like it!!! And I hope it fuels your inspiration for new art *evil laugh*

(For everyone who hasn't seen it yet, go to Neo's blog and enjoy her beautiful art!! This fic was inspired by her perfect design of older goth Nico <33)

Part 1, Part 2

~~~~~~

Nico didn’t expect it to become a habit. He expected it to be a one time thing, the kind of thing that turns your world upside down for a while but doesn’t really change anything in the long run. 

He expected to go back to work the next time for his shift and to not exchange more than a couple of words with Percy.

Even in his wildest fantasies he had not expected Percy to actually go and make conversation with him. 

“Doesn’t it drive you crazy? That you’re always on the beach so close to the ocean yet you can’t go in the water?” 

Percy had his usual drink in his hand, and Nico had been ready to wish him a nice day and watch him walk away as it always happened.

That was how things usually went. Not this.

Nico could feel his world shift around its axis (a little dramatic, yes, he knew, and he also had no doubt that Leo would tease him nonstop if he told him), and an annoying blush creeping up his neck to his face as Percy looked at him with a curious look.

He looked away, trying to find something, anything, to do that would make him appear busy and give him an excuse to avoid those way too perfect eyes.

He had not been prepared for this.

“Uhm”, he started, remembering that he had been asked a question.

He could almost hear Jason’s voice in his head yelling at him that it’s your chance, it’s your chance, talk to him!; together with Leo’s voice screaming go make him fall for you, goth boy!

Shaking his head a little, he tried to shoo them away.

“I’m not a huge fan of the ocean”, he said in the end.

And, well, that had been perhaps the wrong thing to say, judging by Percy’s horrified expression. Eyes wide wide and mouth hanging open there where he had been about to take another sip of his drink, he was looking at Nico like he had just admitted that he liked to kick kittens in his free time. It was equal parts comical and mortifying.

Before Nico could decide if he wanted to laugh at that expression or regret every life choice that had led him up to that point, Percy let out a shocked “What!?”

And for some reason, that made him chuckle, left him smiling behind his hand.

“Was that the wrong answer?”, he asked, trying and probably failing to keep the teasing tone out of his voice. 

Percy took a moment to answer. He was looking at Nico carefully, a weird expression on his face now that Nico couldn’t read. It made Nico feel a little unstable on his feet; he didn’t even realize he was staring right back at Percy until he noticed the slight red on his nose and cheekbones and found himself thinking that it was cute how Percy still got sunburn even when it seemed that he basically lived on the beach under the sun.

Percy cleared his throat, and the world started moving again around them.

“Yes!”, he said. “How can you not like the ocean?”

Nico shrugged, and threw a glance at the immense expanse of water before him. There were a lot of reasons he wasn't really fond of it, but he wasn’t sure Percy would appreciate them.

“It’s not that I don’t like it, I just don’t like getting in the water”.

“That basically means you don’t like it though”.

Nico rolled his eyes. His heart was beating a little too fast, his hands were sweaty, and he kept playing nervously with the rings on his lips. And he wanted nothing more than for this moment and this conversation to stretch on for as long as possible.

“It seems you’re taking this pretty personally”, he said, smiling. 

Percy smiled back, and Nico’s heart replied with somersaults. “I am, I take the ocean very seriously”.

Nico had guessed, but it was nice hearing it directly from Percy, adding this information to his mental list of things I know about him. For some reason, he had the feeling that that list would keep growing from now on.

His eyes fell on the trident tattoo on Percy’s left bicep. It made Nico feel weak in the knees every time he saw it, his mind immediately offering him the haunting thought of what it would feel like under his fingers. He sort of wanted to bite it.

No, not the time for this kind of thoughts!

He was definitely blushing now - he just hoped that the shadow of the kiosk's little roof was enough to hide it. 

You’re the worst, Nico di Angelo, shame on you.

Percy must have noticed where he was looking though, because he glanced at his tattoo too. “Yeah, I guess it was pretty obvious”, he laughed. 

Oh he had such a nice laugh. 

“You’re a big fan of the Little Mermaid?”, Nico asked, because for some reason that was the first thing that had come to his mind.

It made Percy laugh a little more though, so Nico counted it as a victory.

“That’s definitely part of it, I think I must have watched that movie a thousand times when I was little”.

Nico mentally added that new information to his list.

“Maybe you were a mermaid in your past life”, he suggested. “Or some sort of sea god”.

Those last words escaped his mouth before he could hold them back. He had not meant to say them out loud - damn his brain and his too fast mouth and his stupid huge crush. Percy did look like a sea god but that didn’t mean Nico had to say it out loud and expose himself like that. See, that’s why he didn’t want to talk to Percy, he knew he would make a fool of himself. Maybe the ground would be so nice as to open up and swallow him whole right now.

(Oh, he knew his friends would laugh at him like crazy for this later).

When he found the courage to look back at Percy, he found him still smiling, an amused look in his eyes. 

Nico’s stomach curled painfully on itself in a mix of embarrassment and stupid fondness. He was so weak for that look.

“In that case that would mean you just told a sea god that you don’t like the ocean”, Percy said. “That could be a problem”.

“I never said I don’t like it”, Nico pointed out, surprised at himself for how he could still speak despite his internal turmoil. “And also, I said you might have been one in your past life”.

Percy waved a hand. “That doesn’t matter. You know gods aren’t that reasonable”.

“Are you saying I should apologize?”

“Precisely”, Percy said, nodding solemnly.

That was such a weird conversation to have with someone you barely knew. Yet Nico couldn’t hold back the smile growing on his lips. Despite the continuous maelstrom raging inside him, he probably hadn’t stopped smiling for a second the whole time; it made him feel like a fool, but it was alright because Percy had been smiling for the whole time too.

“And how should I do that?”, Nico asked. 

Percy seemed to think about it for a moment. “You could let me teach you how to surf”.

Nico stopped. Time stopped, the whole world stopped, even the waves of the ocean itself probably stopped moving.

In the least useful way possible, his mind conjured the terrible image of himself on a surfboard in the water with Percy wet and handsome next to him, holding him to show him what to do.

No, nope, no way. He would end up drowning after two seconds, either because surfing was definitely not his thing, or because letting the ocean swallow him would be the less embarrassing option.

“Uhm”, was the only thing that came out of his mouth“I… don’t think that would be such a good idea”. 

Why is he asking me this though, oh my god what’s going on here.

His embarrassment must have caught up to Percy, because suddenly his smile turned awkward and so was also the short laugh that escaped his lips.

“I was just joking of course!”, he said quickly. Nico watched the way he rubbed his neck, the way he wasn’t looking at him anymore. “Well, then-”

“I mean!”, Nico cut him off without thinking. 

That well then sounded way too much like Percy was about to leave, and Nico didn’t want that.

The relaxed feeling from before was gone, replaced with awkwardness hanging heavily in the air around them. If he had let Percy leave now, Nico was afraid he wouldn't see him again.

Don’t ruin this! It’s your chance!

This time, he tried his best to listen to his friends’ voices in his head.

“I- I mean”, he said again. “I’m really not good with water”.

He hoped his smile came out more apologetic than absolutely mortified and embarrassed. The pounding of his own heart was deafening almost, he could feel it in his throat, making it hard to breathe and push the words out. “Thanks for the offer though…?”. It came out more like a question than anything.

Idiot idiot idiot.

“Ah- uhm”, Percy, said, letting out an awkward laugh. He wasn't looking at Nico anymore, his eyes fixed on his still half full drink. “Yeah, sure”.

You have to fix this!

“I'll just- look at you surfing and enjoy the ocean from afar for now”.

Weird, that was weird! Had he really just admitted that he would just stare at him? Maybe drowning in the ocean really was the best case scenario for him. No way his blush wasn't visible right now. 

Percy must be thinking that he was the weirdest and creepiest guy right now. Nico wanted to die.

But then, Percy looked back at him, and the look on his face wasn't creeped out or uncomfortable - just surprised, eyes blinking slowly and mouth hanging open like he wanted to say something but didn't know exactly what. Nico watched as a small smile made its way back to his lips. The red sunburn on Percy's cheeks was mesmerizing.

“Sounds good to me”.

And okay, perhaps he hadn't ruined everything completely. Perhaps he would get to talk to Percy again.

Someone cleared their throat behind him, making Nico almost jump out of his skin. He had forgotten there was a whole world outside of himself and the man in front of him.

“Nico, we have to switch, it's time for your break”, Jason's voice reached him, bringing him back to reality. His friend was looking at him with a clear question in his eyes and badly veiled excitement - Nico knew he would want to hear everything about his conversation with Percy later. 

“Yeah, right”, he replied, half relieved and half disappointed that the moment was over.

He turned to Percy. He couldn't read the expression in his eyes. “Well, I have to go”, he said.

Percy nodded. The soft smile was back on his face, and Nico felt his heart melt at the sight. “It was nice talking to you Nico”.

“You too. Have a nice day, Percy”.

It was the first time he called him directly by his name, he realized. It sounded way too nice ok his tongue.

He kept staring at his retreating figure as he walked away, feeling unstable on his feet like someone had suddenly changed the gravity on Earth.

“You okay?”, Jason asked.

“Uhm… I think so? I'm not sure what just happened”.

Jason laughed and put a hand on his shoulder in comfort.

“You can tell me everything later, alright? Come to my and Leo's place after work”.

Nico grimaced at the prospect - he could already feel the teasing that would come of it. But he did need to talk about it, so he nodded.“Yeah, alright”, he agreed. “But I really need a smoke now”.

[blckbarbiedoll]

Million Dollar Baby

Chapter 4-Advantage, Zweig

CONTAINS NSFW CONTENT (fingering, p in v sex, kissing, etc.)

September 12, 2007-Stanford, California

"I missed you." Tashi said as she took a bite of her food.

"I missed you too. I'm gonna try to come visit more."

"So, what've you been up to?" Art asked. "Ya know, besides being the best tennis player in the world?"

"Definitely not the best. Maybe second best." You joked.

"Oh, come on. You're fucking phenomenal. You've won two grand slams and you're going to the Olympics at 19. You have an Adidas brand deal."

Tashi's demeanor changed. She looked a mix between annoyed and sad. You rolled your eyes and laughed.

"Guess what." You asked.

"What?"

"I ran into Patrick at the U.S. open."

They both paused their actions for a moment and looked at each other.

"Cool." Tashi responded.

"You can't avoid him forever. I know he misses you guys."

"Come on. We're gonna be late for the movie." Art stood up, changing the subject.

🎾

"We should do something over the summer." You suggested.

Art's arm was wrapped around your waist as the three of you walked into the campus.

"What about Florida?"

"Babe, you can go to Florida anytime. Let's go somewhere tropical."

"Well, when you win the Olympics next year, we can go somewhere to celebrate."

"I'm definitely not gonna win. I'm just happy I qualified."

"You're definitely gonna win. And I'm gonna be watching on tv cheering you on."

You rolled your eyes and kissed him softly. Once you got into the school and into the elevator, you parted ways with him.

"I'll meet up with you later. I'm gonna hang out with Tashi for a bit."

"I'll miss you."

"I'll send you a post card from the other side of the campus." You both walked into her room and you flopped onto the bed. "You okay?" You asked her. "You've barely said a word since we walked out the theater."

"What's your goal here?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you tryna get back at me for something?"

"Tashi, what're you talking about?"

"It seems like lately all you've been doing is bragging about your perfect little boyfriend, and your perfect little career, and your perfect little life."

"Are you jealous?" You stood up.

"Yeah. I guess I'm fucking jealous. Jealous of the life that should've been mine."

"What?"

"I spent my entire life trying to get where you are. I worked, and I sacrificed, and I busted my ass for what I have. You didn't even want this!" Tears fell down her face as she walked closer to you. 

"Look, I'm sorry you got hurt. I really am. But that's not my fault and you don't have to take it out on me."

"It should be me going to the Olympics! It should be me with Art!"

"Art? So now this is about you wanting my boyfriend?"

"You're traveling most of the year! He doesn't need someone like that! He needs someone who can be there for him!"

"You intolerable bitch." You scoffed. "When you're done projecting your insecurities onto me, let me know."

"Sometimes I wish you got hurt instead of me."

Your jaw clenched and you felt your eyes begin to water.

"Patrick was right about you." You opened the door and hesitated a minute before opening it. "The worst part is even after all this, I'll probably still love you." You walked out and made your way to Art's dorm. You wiped your tears away before you knocked, not wanting him to worry.

"Hey. That was quick."

"Hey, I'm gonna leave a few days early, okay?" You walked in and set your suitcase on the bed.

"What? You just got here last night."

"I know. I just think I should go now." You shoved your stuff into the bag, avoiding eye contact with him.

He grabbed your hand to stop you from packing. 

"Slow down. Are you crying? Did something happen?"

You wiped your face again and pulled your hand away.

"Tashi and I had a fight."

"But you guys'll be okay, right?"

"I don't think so." You took a deep breath. "I also think we should take a break."

"A break? Did I do something?"

"No, Art." You grabbed his hands. "You didn't do anything. I just need a little time. Between just coming from the U.S. open, organizing the brand deal, training for the Olympics, and now this fight, it's just too much. But I love you so much. I just need some time."

"How much time?"

"I don't know. But I'm always gonna love you. Okay?"

"Yeah. Okay."

You gathered the rest of your belongings and hugged him goodbye. You kissed his cheek and headed towards the door.

"I love you, Art."

"I love you too."

🎾FOUR YEARS LATER🎾

You waited anxiously by the door, waiting for a knock. After pacing back and forth for twenty minutes, you heard the sound you had been waiting for.

"Hey, Pat." You smiled as you pulled him into a hug.

"Hey, beautiful. Nice room. I mean, The Ritz? The Adidas money came in, I see."

"Thanks." You laughed and led him inside. "Do you want a drink? I made the dinner reservation for 8:00."

"Sure."

You grabbed two beers and sat on the sofa. You patted the spot next to you, signaling for him to sit.

"So, tell me what you've been up to." You took a sip.

"Uh, well, I still haven't won a slam."

"You'll get there. It's almost a new year."

"What about you? Gonna be a two time olympic gold medalist."

"I might not win."

"You will."

"Maybe."

"For sure."

You laughed and set your beer on the coffee table before scooting closer to him.

"You seeing anyone?" You asked him.

"Nah. Ya know how it goes. They always wanna come, but they never wanna stay."

"They're idiots then. Any girl or guy would be lucky to have you."

"You got a boyfriend?"

"No."

"Girlfriend?"

"I've just been keeping to myself since Art and I broke up."

"What happened?"

"I just needed a break." You sighed. "But, c'est la vie." You shrugged.

"Ayesha?"

"Hm?"

"Why'd you invite me to your hotel?"

"I heard you were in town, and I had the night off."

"We haven't talked in four years. Why now?"

"I missed you, Patrick."

"You missed me?"

"Am I not allowed to miss my friend?"

"Is that what we were?"

"We were both taken, so yeah. That's what we were."

"And what about now?"

"I think...the night is still young. Who knows what could happen."

"Huh." He smirked as his arm draped over the back of the couch. "You wanna know something?"

"Sure."

"Sometimes I wish that I had gotten your number instead of Tashi's."

"Well, you have my number now."

"I do."

You smiled and leaned in to press your lips against his. He held onto your waist to pull you closer to him. You grabbed Patrick's hand and led him to the bedroom.

"I missed you so much." He whispered while he was urgently taking your clothes off. He kicked his shoes off and lifted his shirt over his head. "I think about that night at the hotel a lot." He said while unzipping your romper. "I regretted not fucking you that night for years."

"Well, now's your chance." You kissed him roughly as your hands made work of his pants buttons. 

You pulled your romper down and tossed it onto the floor. He did the same with his jeans before picking you up and carrying you to your bed. He set you down and started to kiss your neck. Your hand went down to rub his dick through his boxers.

"Fuck." He groaned as his fingers slipped under your panties. "You're so wet for me already." 

"Patrick." You sighed as two of his fingers entered you, his thumb circling your clit.

His fingers continuously pumped in and out while he marked up your neck and chest. Your hand grabbed his bicep and squeezed it as the pleasure became too much to handle. 

"That feels good, doesn't it?"

"Oh my god, yes."

"I've been waiting for years to touch you." He kissed the spot right under your ear. "To make you cum."

"Oh, fuck." You groaned.

"You gonna cum for me?" He whispered into your neck.

"Yeah." Your nails dug into his skin as he moved his thumb faster. "Shit!" You cried out as you came around his fingers. 

He slowly pulled them out and brought them to his lips. "You taste so good."

You flipped him over so that you were on top of him. He helped you pull your panties down and you threw your bra onto the floor. You hovered so that he could get his boxers off. He kissed you while your hand went down to slowly stroke him. You lined your hips up with his and sank down onto him.

"Shit." He groaned. He held onto your hips while you rocked back and forth.

"You feel so good." You moaned against his lips.

The room was filled with the sound of skin against skin and heavy breathing. You knew neither of you would last much longer. He moved his hand down to rub your clit.

"Art said you were good, but fuck, I didn't know you'd be this good."

"You talked about me?" You asked as you continued to move your hips.

"Yeah. He used to call me and I'd ask about you. He didn't tell me everything, but the little he did had me hard as a fucking rock."

"Did you jerk off while thinking about me?"

"Fuck." He sighed. "Yeah."

"That's so fucking hot."

He took the opportunity to copy you and flipped you over. He started thrusting into you while looking into your eyes.

"You're close again, aren't you?" He asked. You nodded, which made him smirk. "Words, baby. Lemme hear you."

"Yeah. I'm close."

"Me too. Where do you want it?"

"Inside."

"You sure?"

"I have an IUD. Please, Patrick, I want you to cum inside me."

He cursed under his breath and rubbed your clit faster as he felt himself letting go. You threw your head back against the bed as you finished with him. He rested his head in the crook of your neck while you both caught your breaths.

"Tashi was right." You spoke.

"Huh?"

"You do have a big dick."

You both laughed and laid together, basking in the afterglow.

[georgeweasleyslostearhq]

I have an idea for Xavier, some angst followed by fluff (my favourite genre)

So you know how Xavier can draw and bring his art to life. I like to imagine reader has a similar power, anything she writes comes to life. Xavier and her work together, this like cute power couple who make accompaniments to each others work and its sweet and lovely.

Until when all this hyde business comes along and everyones on edge, she sees xavier getting closer with Wednesday and shes like 'you know what, no, I trust you.' And they do trust each other.

But she comes back to see all her work, all her writing completely torn up, shredded, thrown across the room. Shes distraught. Wednesday and enid hear her crying and they're like, what the fuck happened, enid is comforting, wednesday is like 'I'll make this persons death slow' in her unique comforting way.

However, someone framed Xavier! And after she sees the scissors used to tear some of the paper or maybe a piece of incriminating evidence on xavier, her upset brain puts two and two together. Hes screaming and crying he doesnt understand, sort of picture a more upset Billy in the scene in scream where sidney calls the cops on him

Enid is pissed and ajax is too, and wednesday, they're all super protective and ajax gets to angry he near punches Xavier when hes determined to see her.

Of course we need a resolve so maybe Wednesday finds out that thornhill needed the two of them out of the way, she was sick of them parading around and bearing discovering her evilness.

I just need Xavier fluff to angst with some helpful friends

ok, this took so long but I did it! this is a bit bad.

I DON'T GET IT

pairings: Xavier Thorpe x Fem!reader summary: ^^^^ warnings: swearing.

"go away" you sobbed as you heard a knock on your door. you were in a fetal position, curled up on your floor, looking at all the paper with your writing torn all over the floor.

but the door opened anyway.

-2 weeks ago-

"this is wednesday" Xavier said with a smile, motioning to the girl next to him with a big smile on his face

"Hi, I'm Y/n" you greeted

"ok, so me and Wednesday have something to do. bye babe" he said before dragging her away

you sighed and turned to go to your dorm.

-

you saw them everywhere together, in the halls, in the quad and in class. they were always together

"I bet it's nothing, he wouldn't do anything" Yoko shrugged

And it was true, he wouldn't do anything to hurt you, especially with another girl.

you trusted them, Xavier wouldn't do anything, and Wednesday didn't even seem interested in him. but that didn't stop you from getting Jealous, there was barely a time that Xavier even talked to you that week.

all you wanted was for your boyfriend to come see you. so you didn't really hesitate to write what you wanted.

'I wish Xavier would spend time more time with me' you wrote.

5 minutes later there was a knock on your door, you stood up from your chair to open the door

"Hey, sweetheart" Xavier smiled down at you

"Hi, Xav" you beamed

"can I come in?" he asked, you stepped aside and let him in.

you guys ended up talking for hours.

you were happy about seeing him again, upset that it needed your writing to make it happen.

-A week ago-

you had gotten closer to Wednesday, her gaining your full trust and becoming friends.

Xavier begun hanging out with you more and you happy about that. but then the Monster started putting people on edge and paranoid

-

you sat next to Xavier in Thornhills class. he moved closer and gave his notebook to you, letting you pick a drawing.

you flipped to a page, seeing a drawing of butterfly. you smiled down at it and pushed the book closer to him, he hovered his hand over the page, making it fly of the page.

it circled around your head. you turned your head as it flew around you with a grin on your face

you giggled as it landed on the table you sat at.

"this isn't the time for your animations, Mister Thorpe" Thornhill stated

"sorry" he apologised, bringing the butterfly back to the page. he sighed as he looked at you with a soft sad smile.

you had an idea and opened your book, writing down what you wanted.

after a minute, Thornhill's vase with a plant in it fell off her table and smashed on the floor, glass and water spilling.

you rubbed it off your page, getting rid of any evidence that you were the reason for it.

Xavier laughed under his breath and smiled at you sneakily.

-an hour ago-

you had gone back to your room. you had no classes today and you wanted to clean yourself to find your writing ripped up and thrown all over the floor.

-now-

"what happened?!" Enid cried

"I don't know! I came in here and found it like this" you sobbed, pausing to sniffle

"do you know who it was?" Enid asked

before you spoke, Wednesday stopped you

"Xavier. his ring is on the floor" she states, picking it up and examining it

"I know, I noticed that" you said wobbly

the pieces of paper had claw marks, traced with lead pencils

"not to mention this" wednesday said, lifting another piece of paper, showing the drawing of the butterfly from a week prior.

"I know, I just don't get why he would do this" you sniffled

"don't worry, his death with be painful and slow" she smirked

"what?" you choked on your tears

"nothing" her deadpan expression scared you

"it will be ok, I promise" Enid comforted, sitting down beside you and wrapping her arms around you

------

"Enid told me what happened, are you ok?" Ajax panted as he ran into your room

"No" you shook your head, more tears falling down you your face

"hey, hey, hey. it's ok, it's going to be ok. Xavier is fucking asshole you don't need him" he pressed, coming to your side and comforting you. he looked really mad

"just stay with us for a while" Enid cooed

"you don't need him" Wednesday said

-----

it had been an hour and they were still all there by your side. you had grown tired and started falling asleep on Enid shoulder

there was a rushed knock on the door.

"Y/n! let me in! I need to talk to you" Xavier yelled frantically through the door, all three of your friends looked at each other, angry looks on their faces. Ajax got up from his position to go to the door

"just hear me out!" Xavier yelled before the door flew open

"the only thing we want to hear is you leaving" Ajax said

"where's Y/n?" Xavier asked anxiously

"doesn't matter. she's not talking to you, now leave" Ajax demanded

"No, you don't understand-"

"-leave before I stone you, Xavier. don't make me repeat myself"

"I didn't-" Xavier had tears forming in his eyes

"there is evidence that it was you" Wednesday said, standing beside Ajax

"it wasn't me! I swear. believe me!" Xavier pleaded

"you're going to wake her up" Enid called

"I don't care, she needs to know it wasn't me"

"Xavier, leave" Ajax said through gritted teeth

"please" he begged, he began crying

"is that Xavier?" you whispered to Enid

"they're getting rid of him, don't worry" Enid smiled softly

"Y/n!" Xavier yelled out to you. looking over Wednesday's and Ajax's heads to see you

"let me see her!" he said to Ajax

"she doesn't want to see you" Wednesday replied bluntly

"you know I wouldn't do anything to hurt her" Xavier cried

"Xavier, fucking leave right now" Ajax yelled at him

Xavier pushed past your two friends, entering your room, seeing your tear stained face as you sat on the floor

"baby, you know I would never do this to you" he said carefully

"there's evidence" Enid rolled her eyes

"what evidence, there's no way that I did this!" Xavier screamed before looking in your redshot eyes "you should know I would never do this, I love you"

"then why was your ring and drawing found on the floor" Wednesday questioned, holding the two in her hands

"No, I lost that ring 2 days ago! that drawing is in my notebook" Xavier cried

"show us then" Ajax shrugged simply

Xavier pulled out his notebook from his bag, flipping through the pages, he noticed it was missing

"what? is it not there?" Wednesday asked smugly

"No! no, it was in here! I don't rip my drawing out!" Xavier ran a hand through his hair

"or is that just a cover up?" Enid said

"you guys aren't even letting Y/n speak!" Xavier looked at you, breathing heavily as he started crying "what do you think, what do you want?"

"I want you to leave" You murmured. Xavier barely heard what you said, But Ajax heard clear as day as he stood behind him

"What?" Xavier said under his breath

"it's time for you to leave" Ajax glared at him, grabbing Xavier arm and pulling him to the door

"No! don't fucking touch me! you seriously think I did this, you're my bestfriend!?" he screamed

Enid stood up and stood in front of the tall boy "leave, none of us want you here, asshole" she spat, pushing his back. Xavier didn't exactly stumble back, but he moved his foot back at he shifted

"I'm not fucking leaving, I didn't do it!" Xavier shouted

"hey!" Ajax yelled in his face "leave before I fucking stone you"

"what the hell is wrong with you!" Xavier scoffed

Ajax punched Xavier in the face before shoving him out the door and slamming it in his face

"I think that hurt me more than it hurt him" He winced, shaking his hands.

"I'm sorry you felt the need to do that" you apologised softly

"I would do it again" he said, hugging you

-----

a week after the incident. Wednesday thought that something about it felt odd. So she investigated it further as she helped with the hyde situation.

soon after that she found the claw in Xavier's shed. so she knew that is was him.

But once the information that it was it was Tyler with the Help of Thornhill came to her attention. she felt stupid.

"so, you're saying it wasn't Xavier?" you asked, confused

"that's what I'm saying, yes. I did some further digging and found Xavier's missing ring underneath his bed while I still had the one found on your floor" she explained

"I don't know why we would even believe it was him. why would he leave one of his drawings on your floor? that's just stupid. he wouldn't just rip it out for you to know it was him who 'did' it. besides, he does love you" she finished

"Xavier's going to hate me!" you cried

"he doesn't. I saw him before I came here" she stated

"so should I go see him?" you questioned nervously

"I don't know why you're still here"

you started running to his dorm room to apologise

before you knocked on his door, it opened. revealing a nervous Xavier with a black eye

"I'm so sorry" you sighed

"I'm sorry that happened to you" he replied. you slowly wrapped your arms around his tall figure.

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

[presidenthades]

⚠️Spoilers for S.2 ep.2, kinda❓

DAERON EXISTS, LIFE MAKES SENSE AGAIN!

Anyhow, your thoughts on the new episode🎤???

Oh, and in celebration of show!Daeron's confirmed existence: mini tiny Joffron doodle ig? Made with love, not with skill☝️💚🖤❤️

Wait omigod I love this. Why does it perfectly encapsulate the two of them. 😭😍🥰 They really do have a reverse Hades/Persephone dynamic! Honestly I love this art style, it’s giving a chibi vibe that I adore. I’m going to link this to my HOTD artwork list.

Anyway yes, Daeron truthers rise up. ✊

(Obviously, S2E2 spoilers below the cut.)

First I’ll start with new thoughts on B&C. After my rewatch, most of my feelings about E1 remained the same, but I want to update my reaction to B&C. Helaena’s muted reaction made more sense to me the second time around. It is consistent with her character, and the BTS info about her visions makes it understandable why she seemed to treat Jaehaerys’s death as inevitable.

HOWEVER. Viewers should not be required to watch BTS commentaries etc. to have full context for the scene. The background info about Helaena’s visions should’ve been in the actual episode. If knowing about Helaena’s visions about her children’s potential demise is that important, they could and should have incorporated it I nto an actual scene. For example, instead of her opening scene being her embroidering, she could’ve been scribbling about that vision in her notebook.

If for some reason this was too difficult to film, there’s one small change they could’ve made to B&C which would’ve made a huge difference, visions or no visions. When Blood says both children “look the same,” Cheese could have responded with “just kill them both.” This instantly heightens the stakes and makes Helaena’s actions more understandable to even the most casual viewer: if she doesn’t point out Jaehaerys, then both her children die.

End of E1 rant. Onto E2 rant!

I’ve seen a lot of different reactions to this episode. Some say it was great, some say it was awful. IMO, your takeaway of how good the episode was probably depends on who your favorite characters are.

I think Rhaenyra and Aegon had the best scenes this episode. Otto also had some banger lines, and Helaena made me feel a lot of emotions. Daemon did not come away particularly well, Aemond was a little weird, Alicent continues to be frustrating, and I’m convinced that Criston is the writing room’s whipping boy.

TGC really got to show off his acting chops this episode. Personally I wish they could’ve spent more time on Aegon smashing the LEGOs and bludgeoning Blood, but that is a me preference. I think Aegon really did love Jaehaerys, AND he is angry about the blow that has been struck again him as king. Both these things can be true at the same time. The end scene where he’s crying alone in his room proves that his grief isn’t just a show.

And I don’t mind that Aegon’s decision to hang all the rat-catchers makes him seem violent and impetuous, because he is violent and impetuous. The scene is also framed so that you understand why Aegon did it; we see Cheese hanging with the others. And let’s be honest, if Rhaenyra did something similar to avenge Luke (eg burn down Storm’s End because Borros contributed to his demise, which would kill a lot of other people too), a lot of viewers would cheer her on.

(I was definitely thinking during the “Aegon fires Otto” scene that Aegon could really use a Jacaera to kindly knock some sense into him. 🥲)

Speaking of the end scene…omigod Alicent why. 💀 Conceptually, I understand there’s generational trauma going on. Otto was cold with Alicent, who is in turn cold with Aegon especially. But like. Holy shit. Give your son a 5-second hug. It would’ve been nice if they could at least show Alicent feeling conflicted, like she wants to comfort her son but feels incapable, so she walks away.

Backtracking a bit: I feel like Alicent is consistently made the focus of the story in places where she arguably should not be the focus, and I wonder if this is because the showrunners want to take advantage of the fact they’ve paid good money for Olivia Cooke. But I truly do not understand why it was Helaena and Alicent at the funeral rather than Helaena and Aegon. Otto said something about “our gentlest souls” but this could’ve been a great opportunity to showcase more of Aegon and Helaena’s complicated relationship and shared grief.

Whatever my other feelings on the scene, I do think Phia and Olivia’s acting was phenomenal. Helaena’s panic attack during the funeral 😱. I really just wanted to emergency evacuate her from that mess.

I’m going out of chronological order, but I’m going to backtrack again to Otto making the decision to have the funeral as a PR campaign. It’s very Machiavellian, and TBH I understand why he chose to do it. It is a huge blow against Rhaenyra’s reputation. But I feel like the show wants Otto and Daemon to be the only actual schemers on their respective sides. Everyone else kinda just whoopsies or white-knights their way through the narrative. I just want to shake the writers and tell them it’s okay for other characters to be villainous. There’s a reason Daemon is way more popular than Criston. At least Daemon fully commits to his bad decisions.

I kinda feel bad for Fabien Frankel because the writers seem to really have it out for Criston. They really want to make him the most hatable character. 💀 Imagine if instead we got a more Machiavellian Criston who intentionally decides to claw his way up from nothing to become one of the most powerful people in Westeros. Even if he does reprehensible things along the way, at least he does them purposefully, not because he’s incompetent.

I almost forgot to talk about Aemond, because he really has not been getting a lot of screen time these two episodes. The brothel scene was odd but not as odd as it could have been. I wish the writers would stop having his personality revolve around Daemon, but it’s probably their way of building up to God’s Eye. Honestly, I would’ve preferred a scene of Aemond with his family dealing with B&C aftermath rather than fucking off to the brothel.

Now, changing topics to the Rhaenyra and Daemon divorce scene. I think viewers’ reactions to this scene depend a lot on whether or not you’re a Daemon fan. He really comes off not great in the entire sequence from when Rhaenyra learns about B&C to when Daemon leaves. Also, it’s very obvious Sara Hess wrote the scene; she’s been vocal about how she dislikes Daemon, and a lot of what Rhaenyra says seems to be opinions that Sara has shared. I think Rhaenyra was right to call out Daemon for B&C and for lying to her face about it.

It may have been better if they had more buildup showing cracks between Daemon and Rhaenyra, because she’s also calling him out for a lot of stuff besides B&C. There was the S1E10 argument and choking scene, but some more interaction in S2E1 or E2 where they’re at odds would have made it fresher in viewers’ memories. But it’s not necessary, and I think the scene works as is.

Despite viewers’ feelings on this scenes, it was VERY well acted by both Emma and Matt. And it leads to Rhaenyra’s interesting interaction with Baela. Rhaenyra refuses to risk Jace and send him out on patrol near KL, but she tells Baela to do the exact same thing. It’s very subtle, and the scene is framed as a positive thing between the two characters, but this is probably the most morally gray decision Rhaenyra makes in this episode. She won’t risk her child, but she will risk Daemon’s child immediately after they fought.

The Mysaria scenes were interesting. I really don’t mind the show’s efforts to whitewash her. She’s horrible in the book, but show!Mysaria is actually sympathetic for the most part. She worked her way up from nothing but the people in charge of the system keep stomping her back down. I think her dialogue about Daemon/Otto/powerful men was heavy-handed foreshadowing that she’s going to end up serving Rhaenyra, who is notably not a man.

I don’t have a lot of groundbreaking comments about Erryk & Arryk. It was very emotionally impactful…and I wish the episode had ended either with them dying, or with the scene where Aegon is crying by himself, rather than ANOTHER Alicole sex scene. 💀

Overall, this episode had its highlights, and acting is phenomenal as always. But the writers really need to figure out what to do with Alicent and Criston, other than have the fuck all the time.

[fluentmoviequoter]

heyy, sooo could you maybe do one where the reader finds out dalton and chris kissed once at a frat party and she gets super jealous about it but its really fluffy at the end??

tyy and i love your writing SO MUCH btw 🫶🏻

I love this request so much!!! I hope I did it justice. Thank you for the kind words; I'm glad you're enjoying my writing!🤍

Warnings: jealousy, brief mention of insecurity, angst to fluff, text messages?. 2.6k+ words.

If We Met First

Chris: ‘I’m going to hang out with my roomie’s friends tonight. Catch ya next time!’

You read the text and catch yourself smiling, imagining what it will be like to spend time with Dalton without Chris there. Since you met and started spending time with both of them, you’ve developed feelings for Dalton but have never been able to talk to him about it.

Dalton: ‘I have to finish an art project tonight so we’ll just do it another day.’

Reading the new message, you sigh and toss your phone onto your bed, looking around as you think of what you can do with your free time. Before you can decide, your phone buzzes again. Chris sent you a direct text inviting you to her dorm to meet her roommate and friends. As if she knows you plan to politely decline, she points out that you haven’t had time to make more plans. You reluctantly agree, so she sends a string of emojis and tells you to come over whenever. With a final sigh, you get up, change, grab your things, and begin the short walk to Chris’s dorm.

“There she is!” Chris exclaims as you walk through the open door. She introduces you to the other girls and pulls you to sit on her bed as they continue talking.

“As the resident sophomore,” one of the girls says, “I feel it is my duty to ask how things are looking on the relationship front? Freshman year is one of crushes, first dates, and messy breakups in my experience. So, where is everyone on that spectrum?”

Seemingly intrigued by the question, the other girls sit on the floor with her. You remain on the edge of Chris’s bed as you listen to their answers. One is already on boyfriend number 2, another is talking to a new guy but isn’t sure how she wants to proceed, and the other is in a committed relationship that started in middle school.

“Alright, Chris, what about you? Something going on with that ex-roommate of yours?”

You feel an emotion you can’t place begin stirring as Dalton is brought into the conversation.

“Dolphin was a temporary roommate and we’re still friends,” Chris explains before quietly adding, “Although…”

“Spill!” All of the other girls yell as they lean in.

“We went to this frat party the first week of school right?” Chris begins.

Your phone buzzes, and you pick it up without looking at it, too invested in where this story is going.

“We went upstairs and were alone in this bedroom.”

Your phone buzzes again, and you tune Chris out slightly as you see Dalton’s name.

“And then I kissed him.”

Your head jerks up as you hear her. I have to get out of here, you think.

“I’ve got to go,” you say as you stand up. “Thanks for inviting me, sorry to leave early.”

“No, don’t go! We’re having so much fun!”

You hold up your phone and put on an apologetic look. “Something came up. Maybe I can come to the next one. Thanks again.”

Closing the door behind you, you faintly hear them start talking again. You lean your forehead against the door momentarily before clenching your jaw and walking away. A few minutes ago, you were convinced that Dalton felt the same, sending you shy smiles across the room, bringing treats when he picked you up from class. But he kissed Chris at a frat party, and neither thought to tell you. No, they let you into their group, convinced you they were just friends, and probably kept kissing behind your back as they laughed at how stupid and lovesick you must look when you lock eyes with Dalton.

Slamming the door of your dorm, you collapse face-first into your bed and wish you felt like crying. As you sit up, you realize that you aren’t mad at Chris and Dalton, and that emotion you felt earlier was jealousy. You want to be angry that they didn’t tell you, but really you wish you’d met Dalton first so you could have been the one to kiss him. Remembering that Dalton texted you, you unlock your phone and read the messages.

Dalton: ‘I finished my project if you want to come over.’

Dalton: ‘I know Chris is busy and feel bad we both canceled.’

Sure, you do, you think as you toss your phone onto your nightstand. 

You know you should talk to Dalton, but you won’t. Not right now.

The next day, you ignore your phone as you prepare for class. It buzzed several more times last night and this morning, but you would hate to interrupt if Chris and Dalton were talking on the group chat. Someone knocks on your door, and you pick up your bag before opening it.

“Dalton? What are you doing here?” you ask, peeking around the corner to see if Chris is there.

“You weren’t answering my texts, so I wanted to check on you,” he answers, smiling. “And I know your first class isn’t far from mine so I thought we could walk together.”

“You don’t want to walk with Chris?” You close your door and step into the hallway.

“Um, no. Chris doesn’t have any classes this morning, but I wanted to see you.”

“Oh. Well, I’m fine, my phone just died last night, and I didn’t have time to check it this morning.” You’re a step ahead of him, failing to produce any interest in his art project.

Dalton catches up and shrugs as he smiles at you. “So, do anything fun last night?”

“No. I went to Chris’s room for a little bit, but something came up, so I just went back to my dorm and went to sleep.”

Reaching the art building, you try not to look too eager to leave Dalton.

“Have a good day, Dalton,” you say without stopping, continuing toward your first class.

“You too,” Dalton says quietly, watching your back as you walk away.

In your attempt to concentrate on your classes, you only think about Dalton. When you try to stop, you picture him and Chris and feel like your skin is probably turning green as your jealousy grows. When your last class is dismissed, one of your classmates hands you a copy of their notes.

“You looked like you were creating a revenge plot and we have a quiz on Friday.”

“Oh. Thank you so much! Derek, right?” You put the paper in your backpack as you express your gratitude.

“Yeah, and no problem. I feel bad for whoever was on the other side of those thoughts though,” Derek says with a laugh.

 You smile at him and half heartedly roll your eyes. “Partly the fault of my delusion, but I thought my friend and I were on the same page, but we were not.”

Derek nods like he understands. “Walk with me? I need to make sure your plan is decent before I let you carry it out.”

You begin walking side-by-side as you state, “I’m probably not going to do anything. I’ll get over it eventually.”

“Well, it seems to me that if it’s affecting you this much, maybe you should do something. Talk to them, get revenge, whatever you think fits the situation.” Derek opens the door for you and stops at the top of the stairs. “Here’s my number, if you need to talk about it. And, full disclosure, my girlfriend is great at revenge plots so I’m sure she would be happy to help too.”

You take his number and slip it into your pocket as you smile at him. “I’ll remember that. Hopefully, she won’t need one since you just gave me your number.”

“Are you kidding? She’s convinced you and, what’s his name? Chris Winslow’s old roommate?”

 “Dalton?”

“Yeah, Dalton. She’s convinced you two are madly in love with each other. Don’t ask why she pays so much attention to other people’s relationships, she’s a psych major with no idea of the word boundaries.”

“Thanks again for the notes. I’ll see you in class.”

Derek nods and turns left as you turn right. Someone says your name, and you look up, quickly spotting Dalton waiting beside the sidewalk.

“Hey,” you say as you approach him.

“How was class?”

“Fine.”

Dalton looks over at you as you begin walking. “Professor Armagan said that the project I did last night was my best work yet.”

You hum non-committedly, chewing the inside of your cheek.

Dalton says your name and places a hand on your wrist to stop you. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Dalton. I appreciate you coming to pick me up from class, but you really don’t have to.”

Dalton looks into your eyes for a moment before nodding slowly. “Yeah, okay. Do you want to go get dinner tonight?”

“I’m not feeling great, so I’ll pass. You and Chris have fun. See you later.”

You walk away, navigating to your dorm on autopilot as your jealousy shifts from apathy to insecurity. Part of you is desperate to know why you aren’t enough for Dalton, and the other part is terrified to find out. Later, as your mind wanders to Dalton and his invite to dinner, you realize how hungry you are. Checking your mini-fridge, you settle on walking to your favorite nearby restaurant to try and find comfort in your favorite food.

“Hey.”

You raise your head and see Dalton on the sidewalk. “Hi.”

Dalton looks down at his hands while you think of something to say.

“Where’s Chris?”

Dalton looks up, his brows furrowed. “I don’t know. We didn’t have plans or anything.”

“I thought you were going to get dinner?”

“I invited you to dinner, but you said no, so…”

“Yeah, I actually just realized how hungry I am,” you explain quietly. “If you’re still hungry and the offer is still open, we can go.”

“Sure.”

You and Dalton walk silently, looking over at each other when the other isn’t looking. Dalton tries to act like nothing is wrong, as do you, but the dinner is awkward.

“Can I ask you a question?” you blurt out.

“Of course.”

“Do you think Chris is pretty?”

Dalton’s brows furrow again as he mouths the question to himself. “I guess? Yeah.”

You nod and return to awkward silence. The walk back to your dorm is the same, and just as you did yesterday, you collapse onto your bed. Unwillingly, you cry yourself to sleep without changing your clothes or taking off your shoes.

On day three of your jealousy, you awake to see messy hair, dark circles, and bloodshot eyes looking back at you in the mirror. You make yourself presentable enough and begin walking to class. You decide to leave class early and meet Dalton at the art building. Even though you’re jealous and miserable, Dalton didn’t deserve to be treated like you did yesterday.

Standing at the bottom of the stairs, you watch people file through the door as classes let out. There are only a few classes in this area today, so it should be easy to find Dalton. The door opens again, and Dalton walks out with Chris. You swallow harshly and look to the ground before walking away quickly. Your hopes that Dalton didn’t see you are crushed as he yells your name. Ignoring him, you continue walking toward your dorm. He catches up and wraps his hand around your forearm, spinning you to face him.

“Hey, where are you off to so fast?” he asks.

“It doesn’t matter, Dalton. Go back to Chris.” You try to pull your arm away, but he doesn’t let you. He moves with you as you pull harder.

“What are you talking about?”

“You and Chris. I know, Dalton. So just go.”

“You know what?”

You look up at him as your free hand pries his fingers off your arm. Once free, you walk away as fast as you can. Safely in your dorm, you unlock your phone and see a missed text and a call from Dalton. As you debate blocking his number, another text comes through.

Dalton: ‘We need to talk.’

Dalton: ‘Now.’

Typing a single word, you respond: ‘Fine.’

A knock immediately sounds on your door, and you look through the peephole before opening it. Dalton walks into your room and rubs the back of his neck as he looks at you.

“What do you think is going on between me and Chris?”

“Why does this matter?”

“Why are you acting like it doesn’t? You have been acting completely different the last two days, and now you want to act like all of this is normal?”

“This is the new normal, get used to it, Dalton,” you snap.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Dalton asks, raising his voice and his arms in exasperation.

“You tell me! I’m not the one who kissed Chris and then let my new best friend fall in love with me!” Your anger dissipates slightly after your outburst, but you continue breathing heavily.

“What?” Dalton whispers.

“I know you and Chris kissed at the frat party. And I want to be happy for you, Dalton, but I can’t. Not when I’ve been falling in love with you since the first time we met.”

“You’re jealous,” Dalton states. He knows better than to ask.

“No,” you respond quickly. “Maybe, yes.”

“Do you want to hear my side?”

“I think I’m good.”

“Because my side is that Chris kissed me at a frat party, not the other way around. And she only did it so that Nick wouldn’t know she was digging around his stuff. I never liked Chris like that. Then I met you.”

“So, because it happened before we met it’s okay?”

“Let me finish. I don’t like Chris that way and I never will.”

You look at Dalton, silently urging him to continue.

“Because I fell in love with you too. The moment I laid eyes on you, I knew that I wanted you in my life. Then I saw your smile, you held my hand when the power went out, and you left your classes early to go to lunch with me.”

Dalton closes the gap between you as he speaks. His hands raise to cup your face, and you wrap your fingers around his wrists.

“That kiss meant less than nothing. This one? This one is going to mean everything.”

You nod and look up into his eyes before closing yours. Dalton presses his lips to yours, one of his hands moving to hold the back of your head as he tilts your chin to deepen the kiss. You move your hands from his wrists to lay on his chest, pushing yourself closer to him.

When Dalton breaks the kiss, he lays his forehead against yours.

“I’m sorry I got jealous,” you whisper.

“I’m flattered you like me enough to get jealous,” he responds with a smile.

You gently push his chest as you say, “Stop.”

“You know you can just talk to me though, right? Ask me anything and we can clear the air without going through that again. Because that was painful.”

“I know,” you agree with a nod.

“I guess Chris’s roommate was right about us,” Dalton muses.

“Derek’s girlfriend is Chris’s roommate?” You realize with a gasp.

You both begin laughing at how you were the last to realize your feelings for one another. Your phones buzz and Dalton rolls his eyes as he shows you the text.

Chris: ‘If you’re not already kissing, please get it over with.’

“Wait, who’s Derek?” Dalton asks.

“Careful, you’re starting to sound jealous,” you tease.

“Then I guess we’ll have to kiss that away,” Dalton states.

You happily agree, ignoring Chris’s texts as your jealousy becomes a distant memory.

[tellmeallaboutit]

knock knock (Raphael x Player)

Chapter 17, In Which You Decide To Die

Read on AO3

Apollonia Saintclair

You'd think Bumby would be seething, but the man was clinically incapable of any emotion. Maybe that's why he had this weird fascination with getting into other people’s heads.

He did say it was a bad idea (a horrendous judgement call, were his exact words) and he was very disappointed (of course, he would no longer be making a million a month off you) at Mr D'Avergnis's impulsive decision.

He made Raul sign a waiver about possible risks to your health and then had his whole team go through your pill regimen while you enjoyed the thought of spitting them out in their grey worn-out faces.

"Until our paths cross again, Mrs Berger," Angus bid adieu as you climbed up the ladder into the private jet.

"Hopefully never," you replied.

He seemed entirely unconvinced.

****

Before you even arrived at the villa, Raul had made sure you fulfilled your promise to him twice over. First in the cramped restroom of the jet, five minutes of you bending over the porcelain sink, his fingers in your hair, as he whispered "Ti amo" repeatedly in your ear (he kept repeating it as if he was trying to understand what that words mean).

Then again in the backseat of the limousine. What started as you taking a nap on Raul’s lap quickly turned into him guiding your head onto his cock. Poor Yurgir (now Yuri, shrunk back to his bulky and grumpy Russian self) tried to focus on the road ahead, hiding behind the black partition.

Luckily for him, he didn't have to focus for too long; there weren't many things you excelled at, but there were some. You completed the task in record time. Raul drifted off into sleep shortly after, and you pondered if there was any way to discreetly remove his cross while he slumbered.

Unfortunately, you didn't come up with a solution before reaching your destination.

***

No one in the villa was happy to see you again.

The villa itself had not changed much; but the things that had changed you did not like. A sudden influx of religious paraphernalia; crucifixes on the walls, the dark wood stark against the pale paint of the villa. A statue of the Virgin Mary in the corner where there used to be an abstract work of art. 

"Feeling better?" said Camilla, her arms crossed, as she saw you in the foyer. 

She looked ever more tired than the last time you saw her.

"I am," you said with a victorious smile. 

"Really?"

"Really," you nodded. "Angus explained some things to me and it all makes perfect sense now. How did you ever explain kissing my hand, Camilla?"

"I've been thinking about it," she said calmly. "Schizophrenogenic environment."

"Huh?"

"Hang out with the crazy, get crazy yourself”.

"Good thing we're all so much better now," you grinned. "Angus fixed me really good. So, was Davos such a flop that Raul turned to God?"

You gave everything around you a pointed look.

"On the contrary," Camilla corrected you sharply. "A huge success. I'm constantly fending off journalists day and night...I guess I underestimated people’s capacity for idiocy... They are making him out to be some kind of messiah figure. Stravinsky's death added to the effect."

"What a strange coincidence, huh?", you asked.

"Mmm-hmm," came Camilla's nonchalant reply.

"I feel so much better now that I know it was not my fault”, you said. “Back there I had this thought that I wished her dead and that was why she had a heart attack."

"Hm-mm," Camilla hummed, slowly backing away from you. "Let's not wish for something like that again, okay?"

"Why not? It's not like anything would actually happen. I am not crazy anymore, remember? I cannot do miracles. I wish, though… I wish…”

You watched as Camilla backed up until she was flush against the wall - a thrill ran through you at her discomfort. 

"Just kidding”, you said. “But honestly, what's with the whole Catholic craze? Is Raul trying to ward something off or is he fully in his Prophet role now?"

"Mmm," was all Camilla offered. 

You waited for more, but the silence continued.

"Good chat," you quipped. "See you around."

***

The confinements of you patient room were extended to a whole villa now, but you had your phone back. You had your phone back and you were free to move around the perimeter, at least. Outside was still off-limits. 

Well, count your blessings.

As you settled down in bed for the evening, you checked the tabloids for the latest gossip; according to them, you disappeared because you were pregnant and Raul was hiding you from the public because.. superstitions or something. Some more unhinged ones wrote you were carrying the new Jesus Christ. 

Clowns.

Next, you searched for “Raphael BG3”. Before you did so, you made sure to hide underneath a blanket, just in case any hidden cameras were watching. It had been far too long since you had seen Raphael’s real face.

Far too long. Where are you, you mouthed at the screen. Where the hell are you? How can I get you back? I miss you.

"Want to play hide and seek?" you heard a deep baritone say. 

CHRIST ON A BIKE! You promptly clicked away and peered from under your blanket.

Yes, of course it was Raul, there to remind you that your never-ending bill was still running. He was getting ready for bed (scandalously early than you expected, not even 10pm), busy unbuttoning his shirt button after button, and he was already giving you The Look. 

Is Raul really forty-seven? Who fucks so much at forty-seven? He should see a doctor, it's not normal. He pulled the blanket off you and looked at your nondescript white t-shirt and plain panties as if you were wearing Agent Provocateur.

Yes, you were definitely about to get fucked. 

Again. 

And again. 

Until you figure out how to get Raphael back. 

Perhaps a ritual to summon the devil? Pentagrams and black candles?

"You're so beautiful," Raul said, pulling down his boxers and giving his erection a few pumps. "I'm delighted to have you back."

You let out a strategic moan as Raul gently guided you onto your back, his index and middle fingers slipping inside you. Not as easily as they used to, that’s for sure.

"You're not wet," Raul said.

Why should you be? Because he showed you his cock?

"…You were always wet before," he continued, a frown on his face. "Even before I touched you. I adored that"

"Pills," was your quick reply. "Side effects. But there's an easy fix."

"Mmhm," he nodded. "Of course."

You were referring to the lubricant, but Raul decided to play the gentleman instead, positioning himself between your knees and planting kisses on your thighs. You ran your fingers through his hair, feeling the gel that kept it slicked back, and clenched it into a fist. 

Not a bad angle, actually. Same hairline, similar foreheads. Yes, great angle. As his tongue circled around your clit, you arched into his mouth, trying your best to relax and go along with it.

Raul looked up at you. Ugh, no, no, wrong eye colour, stop looking, look somewhere else.

"Move your tongue from left to right, horizontally," you asked. "With a bit more force”.

Raul heeded your words. You gave him another critical look, head bobbing as he licked and sucked and moaned. Handsome, yes, more than you cared to admit, more than he deserved, but no, you were not going to come under his tongue for all his efforts.

So you began to strategically time your moans - starting softly, gently, then getting louder - but not too loud. You placed "yeah" and "like that" and "mm, yeah baby" at equal intervals.

He was buying it, you think, looking more and more smug, so you thought it was time to moan a little harder and build up to the final OH YES I AM COMING. You threw your head back and clenched your cunt rhythmically. 

"Brava, mia bella," Raul gasped, the bottom of his face glistening.

Raul wasted no time in climbing on top nd pushing his erection inside you, and you saw red for the second he did which you masked behind “oh, yes, baby” scream.

"Cazzo sì”, he grunted. Crude, but strangely attractive in that Italian mobster sort of way. 

Not that it would help him. That gift Raphael had given you, the pleasure you could achieve by being penetrated, was gone. Completely. You’d have to rub yourself to come underneath Raul (like with any other mortal man), so you resorted to that.

He wedged his knees beneath your thighs to hoist you against his thrusts while his cross swung with each movement; beads of sweat rained down onto you from above. Perhaps you could just yank that cross. Yes, why not. Rip it off and maybe—just maybe—that would liberate Raphael. 

"What are you doing?" Raul stuttered as the gold chain tightened around his neck and he collapsed on top of you. "You want it rougher? No, not in your condition. The doctor said..."

"Fuck Angus," you said, pulling harder, Raul’s reddened, pained face suddenly doing it for you. 

The bloody chain just wouldn't break. 

"Ah, fuck it. Get down on all fours," he said, and you were more than happy to oblige - it was much easier to imagine him as Raphael doing it from behind. He grabbed your hips, clearly venting some pent-up frustrations on you - hair pulling, ass slapping - pounding into you as if he could somehow rid you of Raphael.

Until he slowed down all of sudden.

"…do you remember the night we did coke?" Raul leaned down, his voice full of some intention you could not decipher yet, but definitely nothing good.

Nothing good at all.

"Coke and olanzapine don't mix well," you managed to say between thrusts.

"No, of course not," he snickered. "That's not what I meant. You remember when I tied you up, vibrator in your pussy, and fucked your from behind?"

...yeah, that's not what you remember. 

Having said that, Raul rubbed his wet thumb against your bum. Panic washed over you - God forbid he thought about anal, because today wasn't the day for it.

"No... No... Not today."

Not tomorrow either. Actually, no day was good for anal anymore.

"You loved it last time. You came so hard," he said. "Or is your ass a privilege you only grant the devil?"

His voice took on a cold, metallic tone every time he veered close to the subject of Raphael. 

"No, no. It’s just... the pills messed with my stomach,” you tried to explain yourself. “I don’t want to shit all over the sheets."

"...There's no need for such explicit imagery," Raul chastised before removing his finger. "Fine, when you feel better. God, you cannot imagine all the things I want to do to you when you finally feel better".

You cannot imagine all the things I want to do to you, Raul.

Then he resumed his rhythm and took it up a notch.

"My name”, he said, his fingers digging into your thighs.

"Raul?" You guessed correctly but then realized what he probably wanted something else. “Ah. Raul. Fuck me, Raul. Fuck me, daddy, fuck me hard”.

That’s it, he was coming two thrusts later - then withdrawing as swiftly as he had entered. You didn’t manage to come after all. Teetering close and yet so far, nothing but fog in your brain. You need to flush these damn pills down the toilet.

Raul stretched lazily next to you, looking so satisfied that the urge to punch him was almost overwhelming. 

“Was Raphael better?” he asked in a tone that was meant to sound like he was joking but came off as anything but.

“No”, you said as you looked into the window you once saw Avernus in - you wish you would ever see it again. “You are the best”.

He laid himself on a pillow and snuggled you tight; his face softened, with this slight trace of guilt as he gently stroked your stomach.

“Do you think we should marry in Napoli or Rome, my love?"

“Avernus,” slipped from your lips before you could stop it.

"You mean the lake?" he repeated, slightly confused. "You know, it's actually a beautiful idea. Lakeside wedding in some medieval castle. Yes, I could see that".

Read the rest on Ao3

[amazingmsme]

Restless ‘Til We Reach Home

A Lamb in Wolf’s Clothing (ch. 2)

AN: The long awaited second chapter & thunder saga is heeeere! I was getting ready to post it but stopped in my tracks when the thunder saga trailer dropped & realized how close it was & I knew what I had to do. Gotta say, Odysseus is real mean in this one. But hey, at least Hermes is there to balance it out!

Ch. 1 Ch. 3 Ch. 3.5 Ch. 4

Polites felt as though he really needed to clear the air with Odysseus, but where to even start?

The captain was nowhere in sight, so he floated around the deck in search of him. He was still trying to get used to his new way of travel, but he liked to think he was getting the hang of it pretty well.

In the underworld, he couldn't fly. Then again, that was a place made for people like him. It was meant as a bastardized recreation of home, to provide the comfort of solid ground and company.

Polites thought back to Hades, and how despite how horrible he thought he looked, there was always someone around the corner who was worse. He had gotten used to the gruesome sights after a while. And as awful as it was to say, seeing them kept him humble. Because yes, things were bad, but at least he didn't have his entrails dragging behind him. Eurydice was one of the few who looked just as beautiful in death as she did in life.

Eurydice...

He wondered how she was holding up. It'd been hours for him since he'd left, but for her, who knows? Had only seconds passed, leaving her on the bank as she wondered what awaited him? Or had it already been a day, the loneliness beginning to set in? Even with the perspective of the real world, Polites found it difficult to gauge the passage of time down there. So wherever she was, however long it had been, he hoped she was doing well.

The sun was getting lower in the sky, inching towards the horizon. It would be dark soon. For now, the light shifted, reflecting off the clouds in vibrant golds and orangey pinks. It was the first sunset of his new life, signaling an end of an era and a new dawn on its way.

Night fell quickly, enveloping them in a blanket of stars and darkness. Polites looked for the moon in the sky, but it was nowhere to be found. Ah, a new moon.

If you were to ask him, he would say that the moonless sky was just as beautiful as a full moon night. He'd started various debates about it with other soldiers, encouraging them to just hear him out. Of course the full moon is beautiful, he never said it wasn't! The new moon may lack her silvery glow, but doesn't her absence make it all the more beautiful when she comes back? The darkness on nights like these provide the most clarity, offering to you all the stars you could ever wish to see.

Most people thought the night sky was only black, but oh how wrong they were. These are the impatient ones: those who never allow their eyes the time to adjust before they give up, going on about their night. But when you lay back and just allow yourself to study the canvas before you, the work of art will reveal itself with bold blues, greens, purples, and yes, even pinks.

Polites floated on his back, hovering mere inches above the deck as he stared up at the sky. By the Gods, how he'd missed it.

He didn't know he'd been crying until he heard heavy steps coming up the stairs, and he frantically wiped them away. He sat up just in time to see who was approaching.

Odysseus let out a startled yelp when he saw his friend's crumpled form lying on the deck, just as he looked before he died.

"Dear Zeus, you scared the shit out of me. What the hell are you still doing here?" he snapped, keeping his distance.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to startle you, Captain," he said earnestly. "I-I was just watching the stars. It's such a beautiful night..." he mused, gaze turning upwards once more.

"I didn't mean why are you out here. I mean why didn't you go back to where you belong?" Odysseus asked in a harsh growl.

The warm, soft smile that had found his face was gone in an instant, "W-What?"

"If you're really Polites, you should be in the underworld. Isn't that right?" he cocked his head to the side, taking a threatening step forward.

Polites stared at him in complete and utter shock. "Odysseus... Why would you say such a thing?"

"Answer the question."

"I WAS IN THE UNDERWORLD! You were in the underworld! But- we made it out, together-"

"No, you stowed away," he clarified harshly. "There's a difference." He had backed Polites against the rail, continuing to advance until he was so close, their noses were almost touching.

"I-I thought you'd be happy to see me again!" he cried defensively. There was a flash of sadness, of forlorn longing across Odysseus's face, but it was gone in an instant. Polites continued, "I know I sure was... until you opened your mouth."

Odysseus scowled, "If you really are Polites... and I seriously fucking doubt it, then you have no idea what we've all been through since you left. So I don't much care for your holier than thou judgment."

Holier than thou-

"Is that what you think of me?" he asked, genuine hurt laced in his voice. "That I thought I was better than you?" His voice began to tremble, but he fought against it, although his words still came out in a wavering rasp through his weakened vocal cords. "Because I would never think that." He couldn't believe he actually had to tell him this...

Odysseus didn't speak for a long moment. Despite their close proximity, Polites had never felt farther away from his friend.

"I don't know what to think anymore."

Polites shook his head, eyes flying wide open. "No! Odysseus, you know me! You know better than to think that!" Said man rolled his head to the side, glaring at him from the corner of his eyes.

"Do I now?"

"You should..."

Another long stretch of silence. The only sound was the gentle breeze catching in the closed sails, swaying them about and flapping the fabric. Small waves lapped at the hull of the ship, creating a soothing sloshing sound.

"Yeah well, like I said. Things have changed." He inhaled deeply, letting out a long, suffering sigh. "I really wish I could believe you," he said, eyes closed as he addressed him. He shook his head, the movement barely noticeable. "But I just can't."

"But you can!" Polites reached out instinctively to hold his hand, but Odysseus jerked his arm away before he could. And then he noticed the way he was staring at him, as if he was some kind of threat- some kind of monster.

The captain quickly schooled his emotions, taking a moment to himself before addressing Polites.

"So... what made you follow us?" he finally asked. A hopeful smile broke out on the spirit's face. Maybe he could convince him to see the truth through the haze of paranoia.

"Honestly, it wasn't my idea, but my friend down there, she told me I needed to go. A-and I thought... just maybe... you were looking for me," he admitted shyly, staring at the ground. He didn't like the way he could see through his own feet to the deck below.

Odysseus let out a shaky breath. "I knew it..." This was it!

"You really aren't the Polites I knew."

And just like that, the world came crashing down on him. His eyes were welling with tears fast.

"H-ho-how can you even say that?" he asked as he slowly sank to the floor.

"Because Polites wouldn't be so stupid as to think I'd risk the lives of my crew to rescue a dead man!" he screamed, spit flying from his lips with the passion of his outburst.

Polites took a step back: through the railing. He held his hands out in front of him, as if to protect him. But there's nothing to be protected from anymore. Nothing except the newfound cruelty of his old friend.

Tears threatened to spill over, but he blinked them away, shaking his head frantically. "Nonono, you don't really mean that. Y-you're just upset! Odysseus, please tell me you didn't mean it like that," he all but pleaded.

Odysseus opened his mouth to speak, but stopped himself short. He tried once more, but all he could muster was a simple, "I'm sorry." He hesitated before turning his back on him, marching off to patrol the ship.

Polites was left floating there, completely heartbroken by his reaction. Never in a million years would he have expected the venom shooting from Odysseus's mouth to be aimed at him of all people.

Polites let himself fade from reality, disappearing completely as he drifted up towards the crows nest. It had always been the most peaceful place on the ship, and tonight was no exception.

He floated on until he reached the top, sitting down in the tightest ball he could manage. He buried his face in his knees as sobs completely wracked his body.

Why would he say such horrible things? He knew he couldn't even begin to fathom how their journey's gone up until now, but it was hard to believe it would prompt such a dramatic change.

But the alternative; the idea that he had never truly know Odysseus, was a far worse thought.

He looked up at the dozens and dozens of stars stretching before him from every which way. He felt as if he were flying, falling up, spiraling out of control towards them. Would he be falling for an eternity? Or would the stars catch him in their net, allowing the darkness to swallow him whole and consume his soul?

How wonderful it must be, turning to stardust.

"Oh Eurydice... you were wrong. I never should've left." His voice was weak and strangled as he spoke, just as it had been in his final moments. He gasped through his sobs, swallowing the snot that rolled down his throat, making him shudder. His whole body shook with convulsions as he cried.

"They don't w-want me a-around anymore. I'm nothing b-but a f-freak to them," he spoke barely above a whisper, frantically wiping away tears and blood. He hung his head low in defeat and shame, "I should've just stayed in Hades with you."

"And she's what? Girlfriend, friend, come on fill me in," an unexpected voice rudely interrupted. Polites screeched in surprise, turning visible once more as he whipped around to meet the intruder. How the hell did someone climb up without a sound?

"If you'd like, I'll even give her a little message from you," the strange man smirked wider, twirling his long curly hair around a finger. Polites gasped and looked down to the man's feet just to be sure, and just as he thought: wings.

"Hermes? I-I'm sorry, but uh, what are you doing here, exactly?" he asked, his previous breakdown quickly replaced with confusion. Something he did not appreciate. He wanted, no needed to cry after all that. But even the Gods wanted him to suffer, it would seem.

"Well excuse you! Taking a page from the captain's book, I take?" he taunted before bursting into a fit of giggles. Polites stiffened and glared at the God.

"No. I'm just trying to mind my own business, can't you do the same?" he huffed, crossing his arms across his chest. Hermes squinted in the dark and gasped when he recognized the man before him.

"You're his little dead friend, aren't you? The one that used to be cute," he clarified in a teasing manner.

Used to be cute... That was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Hermes froze, mostly out of fear, when he first saw tears. "Um, what are you doing? Stop that," Hermes ordered, sitting on the edge of the crows nest. Polites looked at him in utter disbelief.

"I'm crying Hermes, what's it look like?" he snapped, and true enough, tears were once again rolling down his cheeks.

"Well, it's not a good look. Nope, doesn't suit you at all, really," he mused, looking the mortal up and down. Polites chewed the inside of his cheek, trying to be patient as he continued to glare.

"Oh really? And what, pray tell, would suit a face like this?" Polites asked bitterly, pointing at himself as he blinked back more tears.

"A smile, for one!" Hermes cheered, plopping down next to Polites and throwing an arm around his shoulders, pulling him in close. Polites squirmed and shoved him away angrily.

"Leave me alone! I don't want to smile, okay? There's nothing to smile about! And you know what? Yeah, I'll say it! I was happier in the underworld!" Polites screamed, not caring how loud he was. In fact, he hoped a certain captain with his head up his ass heard him. He hoped the guilt ate him alive.

Polites hated the fact that he didn't really feel that way, that he was self aware enough to know it was just his anger talking. Because once it blows over, he'll be the one wracked with guilt.

Hermes reeled back from his words, a hand flying up to cover his mouth as he gasped in shock.

"Oh Polites, you shouldn't say such a thing! I mean, what if the Gods themselves heard you? Ahahaha!" he threw his head back, cackling at his own joke.

"I don't care anymore! Clearly I don't belong here! I-I should've just stayed..."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know it was such a touché subject," Hermes apologized, seemingly meaning it. Polites remained skeptical. "But I'm truly shocked by your little outburst. You were always the happy one, were you not? So what's changed?"

"Everything!" Polites cried. "Are you blind? How can you not see that everything's gone to shit?"

"Careful now, don't forget who you're talking to," he warned through pursed lips, trying to hide his growing amusement.

Polites sighed in defeat. "I'm sorry Hermes, sir, but I don't really care right now."

Hermes shook his head, a small frown etching its way onto his face. "Oh my, this really is worse than I thought," he muttered to himself, resting a hand on his cheek. Polites couldn't help but roll his eyes and turn away.

"Tell me something I don't know..."

Hermes sighed, staring at the back of his head with pity. "Odysseus can be... stubborn at the best of times. He'll come back around. You just have to show him that same, chipper, adorable Polites he knows and loves," he tried to encourage him.

"But that didn't work..." he said, voice shy and meek.

"Oh! Um, well then... keep at it!" he chirped, slapping a hand on his back.

Polites was more than ready to tell him to get lost, but the touch on his back stole away all of his attention. He turned to meet Hermes face to face, eyes wide in a mix of shock and excitement.

"How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

Polites gestured at him wildly. "You just touched me! I mean like, actually touched me! I thought that was impossible!" Hermes opened his mouth to speak, but he rambled on, "Is that a God thing? Or can-"

"Shh, if you'll let me answer, I'll tell you!" he said before breaking off into giggles. Polites quickly shut up, hanging on his every word.

"It all comes down to intent. And, it works both ways. Here, shake my hand," he explained, offering holding it out for him to take. Polites looked at him skeptically before reaching out.

He tried to grasp his hand in his own, but phased completely through. "This is hopeless!" he whined in defeat. Hermes whistled and smacked him upside the head.

"Ow!" Polites yelped and flinched away, rubbing his head, more for show than anything. Hermes rolled his eyes at the dramatics.

"Oh please, I know that didn't hurt. Quit whining and try again." Polites grumbled under his breath, growing frustrated when he phased through once more.

"Try harder."

"I am!" he growled before taking a grounding breath. He tried again, and this time his hand firmly clasped around Hermes's wrist. A bright smile lit up his face as he met his gaze, "I-I did it!"

"Yeees, congratulations... You can let go now..." he prompted with a smirk.

"Sorry!" he immediately let go, yanking his arm back as if he'd been burned. Hermes chuckled and rolled his eyes.

"You're lucky it's me," he teased, breaking off into even more laughter. Polites couldn't help but giggle along with the infectious sound.

"I guess I am... So uh, t-thanks, for all that. I needed it."

"Desperately so," Hermes agreed. "But I single handedly saved the day, so you're welcome."

Polites snorted, "I wouldn't go that far, but you did make me feel a little better." Hermes cocked his head with an exaggerated pout.

"Aww, just a little? Are you sure about that?" he asked, and before he could answer, Hermes reached up to flutter a few fingers under his chin. Polites scrunched his neck with a barely choked back giggle, and the look he gave the messenger God was priceless. Hermes burst into hysterical giggles, flashing a sly grin his way, "Like I said Polites, it all comes down to intent."

He fished around in his bag, pulling out a gold drachma. "Catch," he said, tossing the coin his way. Polites reached out, snatching it in the air. Hermes gave an impressed grin, nodding in approval. "I expect you to practice. 'Til we meet again, ta-ta!" he waved farewell, hopping up on the edge of the crows nest and stepped off backwards. He swooped up in a backflip, definitely showing off as he flew away.

Polites stared at the coin in his hand, smiling softly. Maybe things would turn out okay.

~~~

Things always seemed better in the morning, Polites told himself. In the light of day, he would have a fresh start, a unique perspective. He just needed everyone else to come to terms with their new normal. So he went about the day like any other, floating down to the deck when the crew was called for breakfast.

He saw the few men spread out across two long mess tables, and he quickly spotted Eurylochus. He smirked and turned invisible, making his way over to him. He waited until he reached for his glass, and Polites placed his hand atop the cup, preventing it from being lifted.

Eurylochus stared at the cup with furrowed brows, giving it another tug. It barely budged under his hold. He looked around the table at the men around him, wondering if they had something to do with this. A few began to take notice and were just as confused as he was.

"Having a bit of trouble this morning?" Elpenor teased from across the table.

"Haha very funny," he said sarcastically, tugging on his glass one more time. Polites didn't fight back, and water splashed right in his friend's face. Anyone seated around Eurylochus had ended up in the splash zone as well.

The men who got drenched cried out angrily while everyone else erupted in wild laughter, and Polites joined them. But his laugh was loud and distinct, and a sound Eurylochus knew all too well.

He froze looked around the room, glaring at thin air. "Polites? Was that you?" he dared to ask. The unruly crowd suddenly grew silent, unsure if they wanted an answer. Then, a fork launched off of a plate, spinning in the air before it clattered to the table. Excited screams and cries broke out as some gathered around the fork, while the rest scattered as far away as possible.

"You think it really is him?"

"He answered us, didn't he?"

"Yeah, but what if it's a trick?"

"You're all playing with fire!

Not everyone was swayed, but it certainly planted the idea in their minds.

Polites liked pulling off these small, ghostly pranks. Mostly because, to him, it felt like magic. Just focus, and you can turn invisible. Focus even harder, and you can make things move. He had his favorite tricks of course: a self rowing oar, a lone mop swabbing the deck, but the funniest thing was when he'd hold something behind someone, only to hide it as soon as they turned around. And his audience seemed more than amused by all of this.

Up until the moment he decides to show his face again. Then it's all hushed whispers and adverted gazes, even from his best friends.

Elpenor frantically looked around his room for his other sandal. It had just been there a second ago, but now only one remained.

"O-okay, very funny. Now give it back," he demanded. He gasped and went stiff when he felt the mattress sink next to him, as if someone sat next to him. The temperature shifted.

"Looking for this?"

Elpenor chanced a glance in his direction. His missing sandal dangled from a mostly transparent hand. He gulped.

"Yes."

He reached for his shoe, but it was yanked out of reach at the last second, and again when he made another grab for it.

"Give it!"

"Then look at me!"

The request took Elpenor off guard. Polites sounded... desperate and sad. He had to look, no matter what the captain said. He wasn't here anyways.

He hesitated, but ultimately caved and looked at Polites. He didn't know what he was expecting, but it wasn't this.

Polites was smirking at him, a warm look in his glazed eyes. Yeah, he didn't look the same, but he still looked like himself. A sob caught in Elpenor's throat.

He snatched his sandal without warning, quickly lacing them up before rushing out of the room.

~~~

"I don't get it Eurylochus. Are they really that afraid of me?" Polites asked after five days of strategic avoidance from everyone on board. He took a deep breath, thinking about how he'd answer the question.

"Maybe so." Polites scoffed and looked him up and down.

"Are you afraid of me?" he asked, deciding to put him on the spot. He stiffened, keeping his gaze trained on the floor, and he didn't speak. Polites deflated, "I knew it."

"Polites, trust me, it isn't like that," he tried in vein to reassure him.

"Oh please. None of you can even look at me," he hissed through clenched teeth.

"Have you even seen yourself?" Eurylochus barked back, going on the defensive immediately. Polites floated a little lower to the ground, bottom lip trembling.

"Polites, wait-"

"No, no, I get it. I wouldn't want me around either."

Eurylochus had to force himself not to roll his eyes at the theatrics on display. This was typical for Odysseus, but Polites?

"I didn't mean it like that."

He looked up at him, and for the first time outside of battle, Eurylochus saw him look truly upset.

"There's not many other ways to take it, Eurylochus..."

Neither dared to speak for a long time. Polites took a shaky breath and finally broke the silence. "I guess I'll be seeing you around. But... you don't have to worry about seeing me," his voice sounded weak and strangled.

"Wait I'm-" Eurylochus spun around to stop his friend, but he was left alone on the deck. "Sorry..." he finished lamely, dropping his arm by his side.

He flinched when a hand squeezed his shoulder, but immediately relaxed after the initial surprise.

"It's okay, really. I-I think it's for the best if no one sees me for a while," he said, and despite being invisible, Eurylochus could hear the emotion in his voice.

"Are you sure?"

"M-mhm. I think if I stay, it'll just make things worse."

Eurylochus stared at the empty space the voice was coming from. "If you say so..." he reluctantly caved.

Barely anyone had seen Polites since. Sure, he made his presence known in other ways, and most of the crew seemed better off for it. But that's what hurt the most: he'd been right. Eurylochus was wracked with guilt, knowing it was their own reactions that drove him away. Even worse still, their captain didn't seem to care at all. In fact, it only seemed to upset him more with every interaction Polites attempted.

He stood behind Odysseus as he steered the ship. The men were gathered below deck for meal time, leaving the two of them alone for a rare moment.

"I know you're there."

"You should go down there. You need to eat too, y'know."

Odysseus couldn't help but roll his eyes. "What, and let you take the wheel?" Polites furrowed his brows.

"Would that really be so bad? I handled her plenty of times!"

"No, the real Polites did!" he snapped. For once, Polites snapped back, refusing to back down.

"I AM THE REAL POLITES!" he screamed, on the verge of tears. Odysseus merely gave him a cold, empty stare.

"Maybe if you were the first one we ran into down there, I could believe you," he admitted in defeat. There was something a softness behind his eyes that hadn't been there before, his shoulders heavy with grief.

"What will it take?"

"Huh?"

"Tell me what it'll take to prove myself," he pleaded.

They stared at each other for a long moment, seconds passing by in silence. "I don't think you can."

Polites refused to let it end like this.

"Your favorite color is red," he blurted out the first thing that came to mind. Odysseus froze and turned to face him, a puzzled expression in place. He locked eyes with him and continued, "And your favorite food is Penelope's stew with fresh baked bread."

By now, Odysseus knew what he was trying to do, so he quickly closed his eyes in hopes of drowning him out. "Don't."

"You have a mole on your shoulder that looks like a comet, a-and you like sunsets more than sunrises, and you used to go pick flowers for Penelo-"

"Please, for the love of the Gods, just shut up!" he cut him off harshly. Polites snapped his mouth shut, obeying the command. Odysseus slowly opened his eyes and stared at his friend. "Why are you doing this to me?" he asked as tears finally spilled down his cheeks.

"I just want you to believe me," Polites insisted. Odysseus shook his head.

"I told you, I can't-"

"WHAT WILL IT TAKE?" he repeated, voice straining against crushed vocal chords. He was crying, and he didn't care if he was shouting. "You say you can't believe me, but you don't give me a fucking reason! And you won't tell me how I can win your trust back, and I just- I don't know what you want from me."

Odysseus thought long and hard about his answer. "I wish I could tell you."

"Then why don't you?" he pleaded.

Odysseus avoided looking directly at him, choosing instead to stare at a crack in the wall just over his shoulder. It was insulting how he thought Polites wouldn't notice.

"I don't know." Then, as if to add insult to injury, he marched straight ahead, walking right through Polites. It was just another way for Odysseus to assert the fact that he wasn't really "there." To prove to himself that he was right. And that hurt more than it had any right to.

But he was nothing if not persistent. When it became clear that Odysseus wasn't looking for a conversation, he thought maybe a few light hearted pranks were just what he needed to jog his memory, to open his fucking eyes and see that he was right there.

Polites could've sworn he saw him smile when he noticed the way he was making his cape billow behind him. The old Odysseus was still in there somewhere, no matter how hard he may be hiding.

But he was still more than skeptical.

~~~

Odysseus was making his way down to his quarters when he felt someone step on the back of his sandal. He turned around in annoyance, ready to chew out the culprit, but he was alone. He thought nothing of it and continued on his way. Then it happened again.

Odysseus sighed heavily, closing his eyes as he tilted his head back. "That you?" he asked in a disgruntled tone.

"What, can't even say my name?" he sassed in order to hide his true nerves when confronting his friend. He appeared behind him, arms crossed.

"Not sure it's really yours to say," he countered easily, the retort sliding off his tongue with ease. The smile he flashed him was cocky and vindictive; nothing like the way he used to grin at him.

Polites decided to go out on a limb and risk it, "Why are you so adamant it's not me?"

"Because if something's too good to be true, it is. But you know all about that, don't you?" he spat, words laced with poison. No, no, there was no way he was talking about that.

"Captain? What do you mean?"

"Oh I think you know," he said darkly. Polites didn't dare to answer. He only shook his head.

"The sheep, Polites. I'm talking about the sheep."

Polites couldn't believe his ears. He sucked in a sharp, shuttering breath in shock. "A-are you trying to say it's my fault that I was killed?" he asked in complete and utter disbelief.

"... If that's how you wanna take it."

He had no hope of fighting off the tears welling in his eyes.

"H-how can you be so- so cruel? It was a mistake!" he pleaded.

"Yeah? Well that mistake cost you your life! And not just your life! You think you can greet world with open arms, but you just can't. Only the strongest survive. And that's why I'm still here, and you're not."

The tears rolled fat and heavy down his cheeks, drawing clean streaks through the blood and grime smeared on his face.

"I-if that's how you r-really f-feel, then fine! B-be that way!" Polites was a blubbering mess as he tried to speak, and he couldn't stand it. He balled his hands into fists by his sides, squeezing his eyes shut as tight as possible. "Y-you'll never have to see me again, if that's what you really want!" he screamed back, allowing his own hurt and anger to boil out of him.

"Good!" Odysseus snapped, completely exasperated.

Polites was frozen in shock. "I don't even know you anymore..." he whispered, mostly to himself. Odysseus glared harder before he turned his back on him, marching down the hall to his cabin and slammed the door behind him. Polites was left alone in the room, feeling hollow and hurt.

Polites took a shaky breath. Why bother to fight a losing battle?

~~~

If barely anyone had seen Polites in the days prior, then he must have made himself truly scarce after his last confrontation with the captain. The playful, if unexplained, shenanigans were no more, and the crew fell back into their monotonous routine.

But remaining invisible for so long takes its toll, and he needs his moments of peace and quiet. And so, the crew took notice of the man sitting alone in the crows nest, his presence never faltering. At least this way, he can still be of some use to the crew while completely isolating himself.

By now, Polites hadn't moved from the crows nest in over a week. Even his practice with the coin was getting weaker. He sat with his knees pressed to his chest, desperately trying to shove the drachma across the planks. His finger phased through, making no impact on the piece of gold.

"How have you possibly gotten more pathetic than the last time we met?"

Fucking great.

[iamthecomet]

15 years ago, today, my friend Ellen died. And I can't let this day go without telling you about her--at least a little.

She was 17. It was five days after graduation (she was barely allowed to participate because adults can be such assholes to kids sometimes). It was raining. It was her first time driving that far by herself.

She didn't know how to steer out of a skid. Her mom hadn't taught her yet. There was time.

Ellen and I weren't best friends. We lived an hour and a half away from each other (each of us had a 45 minute bus ride in the morning). We didn't hang out outside of school--except when we went to see Twilight on opening night the November before she died with a group of other girls.

But, we were friends. We liked the same things (books, and music, and writing, and acting). We commiserated. And laughed. And sang. And raged together. We loved each other the way high school girls do.

And I could write thousands of words about her. I have. I will again. I wish I could tell you all about her. I wish I could give you the joy of knowing her--wish I could conjure the magic of her so you could feel it, just for a moment.

She was an artist. A musician. An actress. She was an extra in a real Hollywood movie, with a brief second of screen time that still kills me to watch. She was a teenager. She was annoying and loud and dramatic and made good choices and bad ones. She had one of those laughs--you know the ones. She was a lot. All seventeen year olds are.

She exists now in art left behind. In old recordings. In the songs she wrote that her mom sings for her. In the video of her graduation speech. In the ring of hers I wear around my neck every day. In the index card she made for me on a bad day--proclaiming her love for me when she knew I needed it most.

I love her. I miss her. She has been gone almost as long as she's been alive. I wish I knew how to share her with all of you. I wish I had more reasons to talk about her. I am endlessly glad I knew her.

If you read this far. Thank you. Thank you for spending a couple minutes with me. And with Ellen.

Grief stays with you. It sneaks up on you. It lives with you. While I wish with all my heart it didn't happen--that she was here--it did. And she isn't. So I am glad for my grief sometimes. It means she was here. It means I was lucky enough to know her.

I wish you could have known her too. She should have had so many more years than seventeen.

I'll leave you with her words. Ones that will never leave me. I hear them sung in her voice--even though I never got to hear her sing them (I've heard her mother sing them though, maybe that's close enough).

"And yes, the sun still shines. But never the same as when you were alive."

[kunimilktea]

This picture of kori in the last post is sending me

She looks so silly dkkskskdkd.

Speaking of kori (also hey I had an mc called cori that's cool!) when do her and cove get together? Is it in the step 2 epilogue with the confession or during the charity confession?

Also unrelated to Kori but what do you mind going more into depth on your thoughts for both Derek and Baxter dlcs? I love discussions around their dlcs I wish people would genuinely talk more about itz going into depth into the themes of the dlcs and how they affect Derek and Baxter as characters, but then again I'm someone who loves analyzing the media they consume so djdkdkjd. General discussions about these things drive me crazy (I think is worth mentioning that I'm autistic so djdkdk)

Your art is also very lovely I loved watching your doodles, you're one of the artists I always look forward to to get a notification from 🫶

THATS ALOT OF QUESTIONS YOU GOT THERE BUDDY,,,,

Im kidding tho it's appreciated nonetheless ^_^

SO FIRST OF ALL THANKS FOR LIKING MY ART 🥹🥹🥹 i try my best to make time for drawing my silly our life doodles despite being busy in college and i appreciate anyone who rlly enjoys my dumb doodles of my ol mc shenanigans

Answering the confession question, they confess at the end of step 3 cause i thought the slowburn was fun 😇

I actually drew their first kiss right here

Now with the derek and baxter dlc question,,,

So fun fact! With how i played the the dlcs over all me and my friend Lo (@/oiulse) would choose which boy to play the dlc and stream it on call, so Lo picked Baxter and i took Derek, it was really funny cause casual constantly played in our heads during the Baxter dlc (bless lo btw for gifting me both dlcs labyu oomf 🫰)

With how i feel with BOTH dlcs

For my boy Derek Suarez

When i played the first moment from dereks dlc my voice started like acting up from how long THAT specific moment was, maybe its just me but the first moment in particular felt really long, I get it though its the first time ur meeting the suarez family and in no way did i NOT enjoy it, but there were indeed moments where im like DAMN ITS STILL NOT OVER cause of how tired my voice was getting LMFAO, all the other moments were rlly fun my favorite one from the dlc was where u hang out with liz on daddy day and there was an option to gift a card to cliff 🥹, his step 4 was also a bunch of fun i loved the family bonding get to do with the suarez brothers (u can just tell that i love family aus) and getting to hang out with derek made me love him more as a chr, HIS STEP 4 VOICE IS STILL A JUMPSCARE TO ME FROM HOW DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT IT IS (no hate to the va btw) STILL VERY FUNNY THOUGH HAHAHA, i made it so that Derek, kori and cove get to be neighbors before the both of them get married so now they hang out LOTS

With THE Baxter FUCKING Alexander Ward

I heard from another friend that the baxter's dlc was gonna be angsty and i was like oh hell fuckin yeah i love angst! AND THERE CERTAINLY WAS ANGST ILL TELL U THAT MUCH, since i was watching lo play through the Baxter dlc i will admit there were a few times where i spaced out cause ANOTHER fun fact, we played the dlcs like really late on my timezone so i was either drawing while Lo was playing or i was in the brink of conking the fuck out, i was able to know what was going on overall i think the ONLY moment i like fully spaced out on was when the mc and baxter were like out drinking or smth and there was this entire thing with the bartender and the singer, that specific scene in particular i was fully focusing on smth else and it wasnt till later that when i played the baxter dlc for myself that i knew what was finally going on, since me and lo have our castaways au to think abt while playing these dlcs we were building aus upon aus of what lo's mc would do when meeting with baxter again after 5 years its fun lo has never been the same since and neither have i, the angst was good soup and i can see why baxter's dlc was more expensive than derek's LMFAO

But ironically enough the dlc that made me cry was DEREKS DLC,,, that moment on the step 4 epilogue with the brothers having a heart to heart is going to be MY ROMAN EMPIRE, I FUCKING LOVE FAMILIES BRO GAUGHHHH

Anyways sorry that was unnecessarily long i could have organized my thoughts more but i dont have the patience for that so i hope u dont mind that all my thoughts and feelings were all over the place hahaha

In conclusion the dlcs was a nice content buffet 👍

[chaerybae]

take a picture now – shin yuna of itzy 𓆩❤𓆪

synopsis: after you requested a room change, you were put in the last available dorm. just one problem... you can't figure out your new roommate. does she want to be close to you? or does she want to vaporize you on the spot?

cast: yuna, ryujin of itzy, haewon of nmixx, lily of nmixx

genre: roommates, enemies to friends to lovers, fluff, college au

wc: 2.9k || warnings: cursing, eating/food, yuna is just a little mean

a/n: this is my first fic here! feedback is welcome :D also might make a part 2 more about the photos later. lmk if you’d read that!

“Are you sure this is the right room?”

“I’m sure, Lily. Do you think Seungmin would mark the wrong dorm?”

“Ye-”

“Oh, just come on!”

You and Lily were bringing your belongings into a new dorm, part of your escape from Ryujin, your former roommate who just had to bring her pet spiders to college with her. Now don’t be mistaken, you love Ryujin, after all, she persuaded Yuna to let you move in with her. Although, it’s not like Yuna had much of a choice.

Yuna had been given a two-person dorm, even though she wasn’t assigned a roommate. Seungmin, the ra, had told Yuna someone might move into her dorm last minute, but she was willing to take the dorm for the luxurious possibility of solo living. After hearing about your predicament from both Ryujin and Seungmin, she had two choices: let you become her roommate or get rid of Ryujin’s tarantulas. And it’s not like the latter would happen anytime soon.

At midnight, your best friends had finally gone back to their own dorms. Only five minutes later, Yuna herself arrived, probably coming from hanging out with her own friends, it was a Friday after all. She looked perfect, like she had just come back from the salon. Although if you looked closer, you would have seen the exhaustion in her eyes.

“Hi, Yuna! I’m your new roommate. Ryujin probably told you about me alre-”

She had walked straight to her room and closed the door before you could even finish speaking.

~𓆩❤𓆪

If you’ve learned anything about Yuna in the past month and a half it’s that she’s an art major, and you don’t need to ask her to know (even though, in an effort to have a real conversation with her, you did ask about her major). With the Halloween season fast approaching, Yuna had already decked out your dorm in the latest Halloween fashions, while looking the happiest that you had ever seen her.

She even spoke to you without a scowl on her face as she started to carve mini pumpkins on the kitchen counter. You took this as a sign.

“Could I… carve one?”

“A pumpkin?”

“Yea. If you don’t mind.”

“No no! Here take this one.”

Maybe she just really liked Halloween. Yuna had rarely spoken to you like this before, with a huge smile on her face. It was probably because her pumpkin was turning out really cute, but you pretended that your roommate was smiling because you had finally made her happy enough to be around you for more than five minutes.

You and Yuna began to talk more, run errands together, and you even started to eat breakfast together before morning classes. If anybody saw you two skipping to the convenience store after late study nights, they wouldn’t be able to tell that your friendship was nonexistent a couple weeks prior. But they would be able to see the way you clung to her– with your eyes, with your hands that were trying to hold onto her arm. They would see the way she avoided your gaze, and the way you eventually just put your hands in your pockets, choosing to simply walk by her side.

~𓆩❤𓆪

Finally, the long awaited day you two had been preparing for arrived, but your roommate was nowhere to be found. Yuna had left early Halloween morning and you hadn’t seen her all day. You’d be lying if you said you weren’t a little bit disappointed. Looking at the paper bats hung in the living room made you wish that you could turn back time and carve pumpkins with her again. You had spent so long moping around your living room that Haewon and Lily almost kicked down your door before dragging you to their dorm to have a movie marathon.

When Yuna finally came back from Yeji’s place, she was surprised to find the dorm empty. She crashed onto her bed immediately, too tired to question why she correlated the emptiness of the dorm to your absence, instead of the living room's pitch-darkness.

The next morning, Yuna exited her room to find your room closed. She guessed that you had come back from your friends’ dorm after she had fallen asleep. Yuna knew her flurry of morning preparation might wake you up. Did she feel a little sorry? Maybe. But she had begun to grow used to walking to class with you, and how could she do that if you were sleeping? After ten minutes of Yuna sitting in the kitchen alone, you finally walked into the kitchen. The way Yuna’s face lit up when you appeared was a complete contrast to the cold-shoulder Yuna of early September. Surprised flashed across your face when you saw her smiling at you, only to be quickly replaced with a pink flush and a shy smile of your own.

“Do you want to get breakfast with me?”

“As in … going somewhere?”

“Well, just the vending machine.”

“Oh, well… lead the way!”

Yuna ended up following you as you skipped down the hall with your tote bag to the vending machine. To Yuna, it had begun to feel like she was actually living with you, instead of just living in the room next to yours. But to you, your friendship still felt… incomplete. As Yuna put your soon-to-be shared three packs of poptarts in her bag and pulled you into the elevator, you wondered if you were beginning to over-analyze things.

You decided that you could forget the way that you wanted to hold her hand as Yuna pulled you by the wrist, like she always did when she decided you were walking too slowly. Maybe you walked slowly on purpose, but she didn’t need to know that. It's not like you wanted to spend more time with her or anything. Now outside her department’s building, the absence of Yuna’s hand on your wrist snapped you out of your thoughts.

“Can you drive me to the museum later? Ryujin’s busy, and well…”

“You failed your driver’s test… again?”

“… I’ll buy you dinner after.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll see you after your last lecture then.”

She let out a little scream of excitement. “Thanks a million, babe,” Yuna turned to walk into the building, “what would I do without you?”

Yuna walked slowly through the building’s door, so she could turn back around at the last second to watch you walk into the library on the other side of the street. She had meant what she said, fuck the solo living shit she told herself over the summer, if you hadn’t become her roommate Yuna would have been dreadfully lonely. And, of course, she wouldn’t have gotten to know you outside of being Ryujin’s friend.

Now, she woke up earlier so you had more time to walk together. Now, she stayed home more often, so you could go out together on the weekends. At one point, Yuna had even wished she shared your major so you could have classes together.

Oh, but what could a girl do? It seemed that this girl could only survive the day's classes and wait for you to pick her up for your museum trip.

While Yuna suffered through art history lectures, you suffered, not from the increasingly boring textbook sitting in front of you, but from your own internal dilemma. The two of you were alike in thoughts and feelings.

You had long abandoned your studying in favor of overthinking. Friends always walked to school together right? Maybe some did. Roommates drove each other around town right? That’s normal friend behavior. Roommates overthink all their past interactions with their roommate before it’s even 9am right? Probably not… Friends who call each other “babe” think about it hours after the fact right? No… oh. oh.

~𓆩❤𓆪

Neither of you mentioned their thoughts to the other. And regardless of your inner turmoil, you happily drove Yuna to the museum, the latest hits blasting on the way. The museum was within walking distance. You didn’t even know why Yuna needed someone to drive her. But you’re willing to ignore that, after all you’re getting some time with Yuna outside of your now outdated Halloween dorm.

Once in the galleries, you were really questioning why Yuna asked you to come along. The only thing worth looking at, in your completely unbiased opinion, was Yuna. These strange paintings were really not your cup of tea. Your feet hurt from walking through the same few exhibits in the back of the museum. Your head hurt from all the talking children, middle-aged people muttering nonsense, and all of your own thoughts. Worst of all, Yuna didn’t even pay attention to you, only speaking to ask for your opinion on the pictures she was diligently taking. You guessed she had an assignment to do, being an art major or whatever, but–

“I can see you out of the corner of my eye, you know. Why aren’t you appreciating the art?”

“What do you mean?” you knew you had been caught staring.

“You’ve only been looking at me.”

“You're prettier than these paintings…” you whispered to yourself.

Yuna faced away from you, unsuccessfully trying to contain her blush. “You can look at me later…” Her blush must’ve been contagious, since you became quite rosy as well.

Needless to say, you two left the museum ten minutes later. You walked next to Yuna and got in your car, all while avoiding eye contact. “Do you want to get dinner now?” Yuna said, breaking the silence. You had completely forgotten about the promise of dinner, since that’s obviously not why you agreed to drive Yuna in the first place. “Yeah, where do you want to eat?”

~𓆩❤𓆪

By the time dinner was over and you and Yuna were back in the car, the awkward air had left, and been replaced by a different feeling. Dinner had consisted of both of you making small talk, that occasionally delved into deeper topics like your classmates or the strange freshmen in the dorm below yours. Not awkward, but not quite comfortable. You could feel that Yuna had something to say, and questions to ask, but neither of you said anything of importance on the trip back to your dorm.

Once the door was locked, you headed straight for the kitchen, sitting down on top of the counter. Maybe it was stress eating, but you told yourself that you just needed a little treat for being normal around your roommate today. You devoured a pack of oreos as Yuna opened her computer on the other side of the kitchen island.

“What were the pictures for?” you said, anxious to keep the somewhat meaningless conversation alive in the weird atmosphere.

“It's an assignment for Professor Hwang,” she replied, like she was asking a question, “we're doing a special unit on contemporary paintings soon, so– um– we need pictures of our favorites for the next unit.”

Flustered Yuna was cute. But Yuna getting flustered over being asked about paintings? Still cute, but strange.

“I'm going to take a shower. It's already 11, and I have an 8am tomorrow,” Yuna hastily said. She left so quickly that she forgot about her laptop, leaving it open on the counter in front of you. And upon the closing of the bathroom door, you got up to take a look.

I'm not being nosy at all! I'm just looking to see… oh.

The picture left on the screen was a beautifully photographed painting, but a different folder was also opened. And the majority of the other pictures in the folder weren't paintings. How had you never noticed? In that folder, there were more pictures of you than you could count. You lean over the kitchen counter, curled up on the couch, posing next to one of your pumpkins, in the hallway, mid-bite into a poptart. You walking to the campus library… driving your car… and you, in the museum, staring at the floor with a subtle smile on your face. You closed the computer, quickly turning around to resume stress eating your oreos. Those last couple of pictures were taken today? How had you not noticed, when you were staring at her the whole time?

Do friends take pictures of each other while they're driving? While they're absentmindedly staring at the museum floors? No. But you already knew that. All you had to do was find out if Yuna knew that too, if only you could find the courage to take that risk.

~𓆩❤𓆪

Yuna thought she understood you. So why were you acting so unlike yourself? Did you lose your taste for vending machine poptarts? Or, even worse, were you bored of her company?

No! Yuna wouldn't allow herself to think like that. You had begun to leave earlier for school, leaving her to walk to class by herself. Yuna treated the occasional dinner with you like a blessing from heaven, but, even though you two shared a dorm, she was still seeing less and less of you. But she always knew that one day you might get bored, that you'd drift away before Yuna could tell you–

“You know, I don't think they would ever want to stop being friends with you, Yuna.” Her thoughts faded as Ryujin, a totally certified relationship expert and best friend, talked away. Yuna had gone to Ryujin’s to get her dilemma out of her head and into words, so the two were having a sleepover. The beloved spiders that had triggered this whole affair were in a terrarium behind the two.

“You really think so?”

“I know so. Why don’t you just ask them why they've been spending less time with you! Or better yet, tell them about your absolutely enormous crus–”

“I do not! I only see them as a friend!!” Liar.

“Being louder doesn't make you right. Go to sleep and just talk to them tomorrow.”

Yuna fell asleep, knowing her last words of the day were a complete lie. But she would only admit Ryujin was right after she went home to you and tried to do something about it.

~𓆩❤𓆪

You were asleep, after all it was Saturday, and the fact that it was past 2pm was irrelevant. As it had been for the past several weeks, Yuna was not in the dorm. She was probably at Ryujin’s again; she never seemed to be home anymore.

But as you poured yourself a cup of orange juice in the kitchen, Yuna walked in.

“I have something to tell you.”

“You're not at Ryujin’s?”

“Well, I was yesterday, but um- I wanted to talk to you before you left…”

“We don't have school on Saturdays, Yuna.”

“Oh… right.”

Well, this was getting awkward. You put away the orange juice, all while trying to maintain eye contact with Yuna. The girl across from you desperately looked anywhere that wasn't you, finally setting her eyes on a lone pack of oreos.

Yuna moved to sit on the counter, eating oreos as she waited for something to happen, for you to say something so she wouldn't have to.

“Weren't you the one who wanted to tell me something?”

Oh right. Great job, Yuna.

“Yeah, well um- I just wanted to ask you why you've been… avoiding me. Did I do something or… do you not want to be friends anymore?”

You moved closer to her with every word, trying to come up with a response, until you were close enough to grab an oreo yourself. Yuna’s words got slower and quieter the more she said. You were motionless, stuck at what couldn't have been more than an inch away from her face.

But it's not like you just wanted to see her up close. Liar. It's not like you wanted to be this close to her all the time. Another lie. Or like you wanted to feel her lips on your forehead. Your cheeks. Your-

Lips. Yuna grabbed the front of your shirt and kissed you.

It was quick, but it was enough to make you blush profusely. But before you could even say anything, Yuna had ran out of the kitchen, with bright red ears, to sit on the sofa.

“Yuna…,” you said quietly, after walking over to Yuna and sitting on the floor so you could see her face. “Come on, babe. You can’t just run away after you do something like that.”

Her ears turned redder, if that was even possible, and she looked at you through her fingers, not moving from her place on the couch. You got up from the floor and took a seat next to her, wrapping your left arm around her shoulders to get her to face you.

“I have something to tell you too.”

“Oh… what is it?”

You smiled softly at her, cheeks still flushed from Yuna’s kiss, her lipstick could be seen on your lips. It only made her cover her face to hide her blushing cheeks more. You were definitely riding the high from finally kissing her, but this confidence boost wasn’t going to last forever. You took a deep breath and forced the words out of your throat.

“Does this mean you’ll let our next dinner date be an actual date?”

“What?”

Another deep breath. “Let me take you out on a date, Yuna.”

At this, Yuna finally took her hands off her face, putting them on yours instead, pulling you in for another kiss.

“Safe to say that’s a yes,” you said through giggles.

“That’s a yes.”

© chaerybae 2024. please don't repost, modify, or translate. thanks for reading!!

[apomaro-mellow]

Got inspired by this

Steve regretted laughing. Which is something he never thought he'd feel. But as he cackled at something Robin said, he saw the look on Dustin's face and wished he could take the laugh back. Robin went to go and show a customer something and Dustin slid over to him.

"Remind me again how she isn't 'the one'?"

"She's a one. One of a kind. The kind I don't wanna lose by asking her out."

"Whatever happened to the Harrington charm?", Dustin asked.

"Doesn't work on girls like Robin." Steve ignored him by trying to escape to the backroom. Of course Dustin followed, employees only be damned.

"I don't even think you've tried. Which confuses me. But what's got me even more confused is how you've seemed to stop trying altogether."

"Why are you so invested in my love life, huh?"

"Ew, gross", Dustin winced. "I'm not invested. I'm just tired of hearing you whine about never finding love-"

"I don't whine!"

"SO just ask her out already. Even if she says no, you can still be friends. Like Jonathan and Nancy."

Steve rolled his eyes. Then saw a lightbulb go off in Dustin's head.

"Well since Nancy's single again-"

"I'm gay!"

For the first time ever Dustin shut his trap. Steve thought he should get a trophy for this. Except he realized what he just said. Dustin, with all the grace of someone who had just been blindsided, hugged Steve tight.

"I'm...I'm here for you, man."

It was so sweet that it made Steve feel like shit. But only a little. Because now Dustin couldn't keep trying to matchmake him and Robin. Or Nancy.

Turns out the love boat only stopped for a couple days.

Steve was hanging out in his room when he heard footsteps approach. Dustin came in without a single knock.

"Um, hello? How did you get in?"

"Some lady let me in."

Steve raised a brow. "You mean my mom?"

Dustin shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. Anyway, what about Gary?"

"....Who? For what?"

"Gary? He works at the art supply store. He's gay, why not him?"

Steve shot up and shut his door like a zombie was coming. "What the fuck are you talking about Henderson?!", he hissed quietly.

"Gay people deserve love too, Steve. So how about it?"

Steve rubbed his face. Forget about how Dustin knew about some random dude's sexuality, apparently he wasn't one to be deterred.

"You can't just set me up with any guy. Or any gay guy."

"You've slept around with just any girl? Why are guys different? Seems pretty discriminatory Steve."

He wanted to strangle this kid. More than that though, he wanted to go back and slap his past self. He could have said anything. Said he was into old ladies-no, then Dustin would be sending him on blind dates to the senior center.

It felt like the only thing to get Dustin off his case would be if he was in a serious relationship with someone.

Then a second person came into his room without knocking and Steve wondered if he should be walking around naked more.

It was Jonathan.

And Steve got another bright idea.

"I can't just go out with anyone. Because I'm already dating Jonathan."

"What?!", two voices shouted out and Dustin gave Jon a look.

"Why do you sound surprised?"

Jonathan looked to Steve for help and Steve tried to convey the best he could with his eyes.

"I...we never....put a label on it....?"

Steve could kiss him if he was at all interested in men. To sell it a little better, he put an arm around his shoulders. Dustin was left speechless for the second time in a week and Steve was definitely putting it in his journal for posterity.

This time he gave them both pats on the back and walked out silently.

"Don't tell anyone!", Steve shouted behind him, then closed his bedroom door.

"Hey, um, the hell?", Jonathan asked.

"Thank you for being so cool with that."

"I'm learning to be more chill. But still, explain?"

Steve told him the whole story as they sat on his bed and through it all, Jonathan looked nothing but understanding.

"So, how long do we need to pretend to be boyfriends?"

"Who says we need to pretend?", Steve raised a brow.

"You just told Dustin."

"It's a secret we're keeping", Steve said, getting up to pace about his room. "Which means we just act normal. Later we can tell Dustin we broke up."

"How much later?"

Steve pondered. "....Once I'm engaged?"

"Steve!"

"Jonathan, please?"

He looked conflicted. This just seemed like a lot of stupid work just to convince Dustin. "You get 2 months? Got it? Put it on your calendar."

"Thank you! I'll do it right now!" Steve grabbed a pen and went over to the calendar that hung on the wall. He went to February 3rd and put a broken heart on the date.

"Subtle."

"No one else looks at this thing. Alright. If our break up is bad enough maybe Dustin will stop butting his head in."

"What if the others find out?", Jonathan asked.

"No one else is gonna know."

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

Lucas had been noticing that Dustin had that weird grin on his face for the past week. The 'I know something you don't know' grin. While sitting in Steve's living room, shoulder to shoulder with Max, who he nudged.

"You notice anything off with Dustin?"

"You mean more than the usual offness? Yes, actually."

"What do you think it is?", Lucas asked.

Will came to sit on Lucas' other side. "My guess is he has a secret. But what, I don't know."

"So it's pretty obvious, right?", Lucas said.

"No, I said as much to Mike and he said I was being crazy and that Dustin wouldn't keep anymore secrets after Dart."

Their eyes went over to Dustin, who was grinning at the group who was deciding on the movie they were gonna watch. Steve and Eddie were in a heated conversation while Jonathan was trying to be a mediator.

Steve was flapping around a vhs so hard it threatened to sail across the room and Jonathan grabbed his wrist to still it, scared for the innocent movie.

"Get a room, you lovebirds", Dustin called out.

All eyes turned towards him.

Part 2

[caapsiizzereads]

The greatest films of all time were never made

Chapter 1 of If my wishes came true, it would’ve been you

Warnings: none for this chapter i think

“This one looks interesting.”

“This one at least looks like something.”

“It’s like yin yung but with swans.”

Jamie’s not sure what he’s doing here – he has never been much of an art connoisseur. So how did he get here? Keeley, of course. She was gushing about this amazing art exhibition that she was going to go with a friend, she even managed to get invitations to the opening night. Unfortunately, at the last minute, something came up and she couldn’t go, so Jamie just had to go instead of her. She promised that he and Jenna, her “date”, would definitely get along. Jamie’s not stupid, he knows when he’s being set up. He doesn't think Keeley was even trying to hide it that much. And he trusts her enough to know that she wouldn’t do this unless she really thought that it was worth a shot, so he went with it. And so far, it has been going well. Nothing extraordinary, but better than he expected. Jenna is nice, she’s pretty, she’s chatty, easygoing, and she seems to be really enjoying the exhibition.

“Oh, I know this one!” Jamie finally sees a painting he can recognize. “Never understood what’s so special about it. It’s just lines and squares.”

“To be honest, me neither. But I guess there is something if people are willing to pay millions for it.” Jenna moves on to the next artwork. “What about this one?” Just some funky doodles, if you ask Jamie. “‘Youth’,” she reads the name.

“This is just a bunch of colorful shapes, I could do that.”

“And this is ‘Childhood’ and ‘Old Age’,” she gestures at the two paintings near them. “It says it’s a series of ten paintings, ‘The Ten Largest’, each one representing a stage in a human’s life.”

“It’s still a bunch of doodles.”

“I don’t know, I like these. Now I wanna see what the other seven look like.”

“I’m sure it’s on the internet.”

While Jenna is trying to look up the paintings online, Jamie looks around the gallery. The room is filled with men in fancy suits and women in expensive dresses, a bunch of waiters serving champagne, and security guards.

Many people seem to know each other, engaging in conversations or staring profoundly at the artworks. A bunch of posh twats is what Jamie would call them. Ain’t no way even half of them know what the fuck they are staring at. Not that he does either, but at least he can admit it.

Jamie’s about to conclude his observations when something catches his eye. Just for a brief moment, he thinks he saw a familiar face – one Jamie used to know so well. He doesn’t quite believe it at first, but then he looks again, and there it is. A bit different now, but Jamie would still recognize it anywhere. Wearing a silky black dress, with a glass of champagne in her hand and a charming smile on her face, she was standing right there, talking to a couple so called posh twats. Y/n.

She meets his eyes for a second as her head moves, and then she pauses, her eyes going back to him and surprise visible on her face.

Too soon, one of the rich-looking old men approaches her and snatches her attention, an easy smile appearing on her face again as she joins another conversation.

“Look.” Jamie hears Jenna talk. He looks back at her to see her showing her phone screen to him. There are the paintings from the series: different colors, same vibe.

“Yeah, cool,” is all Jamie can come up with.

Another half an hour goes by, and Jamie just continues following Jenna around the room. But while Jenna is looking at the art, Jamie’s a lot more interested in the crowd now. He keeps searching for Y/n’s face again and again as she makes her way through the gallery. She meets his eyes a couple of times, but other than that her attention stays on the people she’s talking to. Does she know all of them? Does she attend such events often? Is it the crowd she hangs out with now? Well, art has always been her thing. But rich twats and small talk? Not so much.

They stop in front of another painting: a red tree on a blue background.

“Why is the tree red?” Jamie says the first thing on his mind.

“Because it’s impressionism, and the painting is called ‘The Red Tree’.” Jamie’s heart skips a beat at the sound of an oh so familiar voice.

“This one stands out, you know, from all the squares,” Jenna smiles at Y/n.

“It does,” Y/n chuckles. “This is one of Mondrian’s earlier works, before he really dove into the whole abstractionism thing. He’s actually quite known for his paintings of trees, but this one is the most remarkable, in my opinion. It’s one of the first works where he used his famous red-blue-yellow color scheme.”

“That’s so interesting. You’re an art fan?”

“Kinda. I work here, so that helps.” Wait, what?

“Oh, that’s amazing! What’s your favorite piece here?”

“Well, I love this,” Y/n points at the painting in front of them. “But between us, af Klint is my favorite here. Have you seen ‘The Swan’?”

“Yes! I thought it was very interesting, but Jamie didn’t share my enthusiasm,” Jenna playfully puts her hand on Jamie’s arm, and he smiles awkwardly at Y/n.

“That checks out.” She smiles knowingly at him for a brief second. “The abstract one next to it is actually from the same series. There are a lot of them, but those two are the only ones I could get here. But No. 1 is my favorite anyway. I also love all of her botanical drawings.”

“We haven’t got to them yet.”

“You absolutely should. They are very simple, but I guess that’s exactly why I like them. ‘Violet Blossoms’ is my personal favorite.”

“We’ll definitely check them out. Must be so cool, always being surrounded by art?”

“Oh, you should ask the artists. I am mostly surrounded by paperwork,” Y/n huffs a laugh.

It’s very weird watching a woman that he’s just met today and a woman that he’s known for half of his life but hasn’t seen in years casually chatting right in front of him. And he’s not even part of the conversation.

“I really love this exhibition, though. You did a fantastic job with it.”

“Thank you, I’m glad you like it. Well, I’m gonna leave you to it. Hope you enjoy your evening.” Y/n smiles so casually at Jamie, as if he’ll be able to think about anything but her for the rest of the night. Maybe for the rest of his life.

“Thank you!” Jenna easily returns her smile.

And just like that, Y/n was gone. And Jamie’s still standing there like an idiot, watching her disappear in the crowd again. He had spent years wondering if he would ever get to talk to her again, and now that she was right there standing in front of him, all he could do was just stand there smiling awkwardly at her because he couldn’t come up with a single coherent thing to say.

They finish their walk-through. Jenna shares Y/n’s appreciation for the flower drawings, and knowing that Y/n loves them makes Jamie see something special in them too. They kinda remind him of the drawings Y/n used to sketch in her notebook when she couldn’t care enough to pay attention to the class.

Jamie drives Jenna back to her place and walks her to the front door, being a gentleman and all. She opens the door and stands facing him. Jamie can tell that he’s welcome to come in.

“The gallery curator, do you know her?” That was not what he expected her to say.

“What? Why?”

“I don’t know, just seemed like she was the only thing that really interested you tonight.” There’s no bitterness in her tone, just curiosity, maybe.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t–”

“No, no. It’s fine, I didn’t mean it like that. I had a good time tonight. But I think we both can do better.” She smiles at him.

“Yeah, yeah, me too. Had a good time.”

“You can still come in, you know. No strings attached. Just a little bit more of a good time.”

“I think I’m good.” Jenna smiles knowingly.

Jamie spends the whole drive home and the rest of the night trying to process what the hell has happened. And the date that he was supposedly on didn’t even make the front page of the things on his mind. It’s all Y/n, Y/n, Y/n.

He didn’t even know that she lives in London now. Well, probably. She has to if she said that she works in the gallery. And it makes no sense for him to be surprised that he didn’t know – he hadn’t talked to her in half a decade. Six years, to be precise. Of course, that’s plenty of time to move. But it still feels weird to know that she has been so close, and he had no idea. How long has she been here? Has she thought about him over those years? Does she even want to talk to him after how things ended between them?

There is no way Jamie could ever just let this go now. He knows it will eat him alive if he doesn’t at least try to reach out to her. If she tells him to go fuck himself, well, he proabably deserves it. But if there’s even a small chance that Jamie could get her back in his life, he will take it.

Knowing where Y/n works is a pretty good start – he knows for a fact how to find her. Jamie checks the gallery’s work hours and settles to wait for her outside. Like a creep. But, hey, they know each other, so it doesn’t count.

Almost an hour passes after the closing before Y/n walks out of the gallery, waving goodbye to one of her coworkers. She starts walking to her car while reaching into her coat’s pocket for the keys.

“Y/n!” She stops, then slowly turns around to the source of the familiar voice. “Hi,” Jamie smiles sheepishly at her.

“Hi.”

“We didn’t really get a chance to talk yesterday, and I really hoped that we could… so…”

“So you were waiting for me outside of my work like a stalker?” she suggests.

“Maybe. So can we? Talk?”

“Now? Here?” she gestures at the surrounding parking lot.

“We can meet up? Like for dinner or something?”

“Yeah, sure.” Jamie lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

“Give me your number? I, uh, tried to call you once a few years back, it said your number was no longer working.”

“Oh, yeah, got a new one. Hold on.” Y/n takes her phone and opens the keypad, turning the screen towards Jamie.

He starts typing out his number. “So you live in London now?”

“Mhm, moved a couple of years ago.” Jamie pressed the call button, and his phone lights up with a number.

“Are you free tomorrow?”

“No, sorry. The day after?”

“Away match, gonna be gone till Saturday. Sunday?”

“Yes, Sunday works.”

“Mint.”

“See you soon, then,” Y/n smiles at him before taking the car keys back in her hand.

“See you.”

Jamie didn’t realize how anxious he was about this meeting until he was walking back to his car, feeling like his steps were a hundred times lighter and a smile was growing on his face.

Sunday couldn’t have come soon enough. Jamie and Y/n agreed on the time and place over texts, and Jamie offered to pick her up, but she declined. Jamie has never been this nervous before any date, and this is not even a date. Just two old friends catching up. Could he even still call them friends? He wants to believe that yes, but realistically, six years, almost seven, is a long fucking time. Jamie knows that a lot has happened in his life since the last time he saw Y/n, and knowing her, just as much has probably happened in hers. On the brighter side, she didn't seem to be mad at him. So maybe six years is also enough time for her to forget why they haven’t talked for that long in the first place. Either way, this is the chance that Jamie was hoping for, and he will not waste it.

Jamie gets dressed, nice enough but not too dressed up, and makes sure to arrive on time. Just a few minutes later, Y/n gets there too. Jamie stands up as she makes her way to the table, feeling his mouth go dry.

“You look good.” Jamie goes for casual.

“Thank you, you too,” she smiles at him.

“So…” How is it that Jamie has spent every waking hour thinking about what he’s going to say to Y/n, but every time she’s in front of him, no words can come out of his mouth?

Fortunately, Y/n spares him the awkwardness. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been good, yeah. Won the match yesterday.”

“That’s great! Who were you playing with?” Jamie can’t tell if she really cares or is just asking to be polite.

“Brentford.” Y/n is smiling and nodding, Jamie recognizes this one. “You don’t know who they are, do you?”

“No idea,” she chuckles. “But you won, so I guess they’re not as good, huh.”

“Maybe we’re just that good.”

“We, as in AFC Richmond?” She teases.

“That’s a long story…”

“And there’s a reality show involved somewhere in there.”

“Oh my God, you saw that?” Jamie wants the earth to swallow him whole.

“Some parts of it. Honestly, Jamie, I thought I raised you better than that.”

“Not my finest moment.”

“But, hey, look at you now. Heard you’re playing for the national team now. And Roy Kent’s your manager! This is, like, your childhood wet dream.”

“It was not!”

“Is his poster still on your wall? Do not lie to me.” Y/n squints at him.

“I don’t live in that room anymore!”

“So it is still there.”

“Oh, fuck off!” They both laugh. And it feels so fucking good. Just like the old times – Y/n teasing him, laughing together, just talking like two friends.

“Okay, that’s not fair. I don’t know anything about you,” Jamie starts again after their little laugh break. “How have you been? I mean, running a gallery? That’s awesome.”

“Well, I don’t run it. I’m just a curator. But yeah, it is pretty cool. I’ve been doing alright.”

“Never thought I’d see you living in England again, to be honest.”

A weird look flickers in Y/n’s eyes before she puts her perfect smile back in place. “Yeah, well, it was a long way. Loved Paris, and, God, Amsterdam was great, but in the end I decided to be closer to my family.”

Jamie beams. “How’s Natalie? How’s Amelia? She’s what, fourteen now?”

“Fifteen. God, she’s a handful.”

“It runs in the family,” Jamie says with a cheeky grin.

Y/n snorts. “Evidently.”

“Mom said you sold your house.”

“Oh, yeah, it was, like, five years ago. Nat finally decided to move to London. Oh my God, how’s Georgie? Her and Simon still together?”

“She’s good, yes. They got married!”

“Oh, that’s great! Told you he’s a good guy!”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. She asks about you sometimes, you know.”

“Well, tell her that I’m doing well and sending her my best wishes.”

“Will do.” Jamie and Y/n smile warmly at each other across the table.

They end up talking for hours. Jamie tells Y/n about meeting Roy for the first time, about his Richmond teammates, and (by Y/n’s demand) about Keeley. Y/n tells him crazy stories from her university years, about all the places she’s lived in before moving to London, and about the struggles of raising a teenager.

When it gets late and they walk out of the restaurant, Jamie offers to give Y/n a ride again, which she accepts this time.

Jamie stops by her place, and they exchange goodbyes. “Tell Natalie and Meli I said hi. Would love to see them some time too.”

“I’ll tell them. It was nice seeing you, Jamie,” she smiles at him.

“Yeah, you too.” Y/n reaches for the door handle when Jamie speaks up again. “Wait.” She looks back at him. “Can I ask you something?” A nod. “You knew all this stuff, like who I play for and, uh, other. How?”

Y/n huffs a laugh. “You’re not exactly a low profile person. Sometimes Nat would say something, since she was more subjected to the Premier League news… and certain reality shows.” Jamie internally cringes at the thought that Y/n’s sister has seen it too. “And I have the Internet too, you know. Got curious a couple of times, wanted to see how you’re doing, so I googled you. Pretty convenient.”

“Right.” Knowing that Y/n has thought of him over those past years too, even enough to look him up, gives Jamie the courage to ask the question that he’s dreaded hearing the answer for. “You’re not mad at me?”

“For what?” Y/n asks genuinely.

“For the way I… for how I acted back then.” Y/n understands what he means.

She doesn’t seem to share Jamie’s inner turmoil regarding the past, though. “It was a long time ago, Jamie. People fall apart, it happens.”

“But not us,” Jamie says desperately. “It was my fault. And I just wanted to say that I’m sorry.”

Y/n regards him for a moment, as if trying to figure something out, then she nods. “Okay.”

“Do you think we can be friends again?” Jamie asks hopefully.

“If you want.”

“I do!”

“You have my number,” she smiles at him one last time.

—

You sigh as you drop the keys on the hall tree and take off your shoes. You hear the noise coming from the living room, and when you walk in there, you find Amelia stretched on the couch, surrounded by a bunch of empty takeout boxes, watching TV. “Glad you’re enjoying your night,” you greet her.

“I left you a piece of cake,” she nods towards the bitten slice of cake that she clearly just couldn't finish.

“That’s so kind of you,” you say with obvious irony.

“Did you enjoy yours?” she grins at you.

“It was alright.”

“Just alright?”

You sit on the arm of the couch. “Kinda weird.”

“Weird how?”

“Like when you watch the first two seasons of a show and then go straight to season twelve. The faces are familiar, but you have no idea what the fuck is going on.”

“Out of the two of us, you’re the only one who does this, but I get what you mean. Did you do a recap? You know, like a ‘previously on…’?”

“Yeah, something like that. But, you know, it’s been a while.” She nods thoughtfully. You look at the TV screen, some action movie playing there. “What are you watching?”

“Uncharted.”

“Tom Holland game movie?”

“Mhm. I can finish later, you wanna watch something together?”

“Sure, just let me go change.”

You change into your home clothes and join Amelia on the couch.

“You never said why you stopped talking. I remember he was always around, and then he just wasn’t,” she says while you’re watching the Disney+ loading screen.

“Well, I moved to Paris, and he started playing full-time. And then he just kinda… ghosted me.”

“Asshole.”

You snort. “I know, right? He apologized, actually. Didn’t expect that.”

“You’re going to see him again?” She starts scrolling through the suggested shows.

“I don’t know. Maybe. He offered us to come to a match if you want.”

“Maybe,” Amelia replies noncommittally. “The Mandalorian?” She clicks on the show’s icon.

“Yes.” You pick up the uneaten piece of cake and lean back onto the couch cushions, resting your feet on the side table. Now, that’s a man that you’re always happy to see.

A/N: writing this fic while i’m dying inside and falling behind on my uni deadlines😗✌️