#ah well i might just watch replays

[composing-the-future]

a story in two parts

[drvscarlett]

Let him cook

Charles Leclerc x Masterchef contestant!reader

Series Part: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

A/N: Got this idea because the masterchef trophy is similar to the Australian GP trophy. This is going to be a series

Charles_Leclerc posted a new photo

liked by CarlosSainz55, PierreGasly, and 365,000 others.

Charles_Leclerc Add professional chef to the list

User1 aint no way you cooked this

User2 nice try Charles but we all saw that pasta video

CarlosSainz55 mate drop the # of the private chef you hired, these look delicious

Charles_Leclerc I told you that I made this myself CarlosSainz55 Lies!!!!

PierreGasly since when did you learn how to make coq au vin???

Charles_Leclerc not you too PierreGasly you should invite me sometimes so I can judge your cooking

Y/NCooks posted a photo

YNCooks last date night before i enter masterchef australia. credits to the boyfriend for the lovely photos

Friend1 Y/N i know this is your dream for a while now. I hope you win. We will cheer for you our next masterchef australia!

YNCooks awww stop! ur making me cry

User1 OMG she is finally competing, goodluck Y/N!

User2 Y/N always talk about how its her dream to enter masterchef, I'm gonna watch it everyday and hope she wins it!

User3 Goodluck Y/N! I hope you become the next masterchef australia!!!

Mystery Box challenge episode

There was a building reputation in the kitchen that you are one of the strong homecooks of the season. After winning the past 2 mystery challenges, you were extremely determined to do well and seek for a third streak. The mystery box today was all about italian cooking, a cuisine that you have been comfortable due to the close ties of your boyfriend being signed to an Italian team.

"And what do we have here with you today Miss Y/N" Matt Preston asked as he approached the work table together with George Colambris "You seem rather comfortable and in your own zone. Its like an ordinary Tuesday date night"

You gave a small chuckle with that mention "That's actually pretty on point of you to say as Tuesday is my date night with the boyfriend"

"Ah so maybe that's why you are so inspired because you are in love"George teased.

"Well I have to admit that there is a little pressure to do well in this challenge or my boyfriend's family will get mad at me"you quipped back a reply.

The judges suddenly leaned a little interested to learn more about your personal life, "So your boyfriend is italian?"

"He is not but he might as well be. He spends a lot of time there"

"It must be hard to not see him a lot since you are here competing" Matt says

"It's a price we are willing to pay. He has been supportive of my dream as I am with him" you gave an encouraging smile as you continue to chop the sweet potatoes.

"We hope to meet that boyfriend of yours because he is one lucky man because that dish looks delicious!" George says before they left the station.

Somewhere in Bahrain, Charles Leclerc is grinning upon watching the replay of the episode. He was beyond proud of what you have achieved as a contestant in MasterChef. He wished that he could do more to express his support towards you but you have an agreement with him to keep things lowkey for the meantime. It was a reasonable decision as he didn't want to overshadow your career but it was nice to know that you two are a private thing but never a secret.

He was so engrossed to repeating the boyfriend clip that he didn't notice that Carlos snuck up beside him.

"What are you watching there?" Carlos asked his teammate

"Oh its nothing" Charles says as he immediately exited the Youtube app "I didn't notice you there, you scared me"

"If you weren't too into your phone then you would have noticed me calling you" Carlos explained "What are you watching on your phone that got you smiling like that?"

"Nothing, I just saw an ad"

"Hmm sure an ad" Carlos was pretty sure that Charles was watching MasterChef but he couldn't care anymore to ask which country because there was too many so he decided to just let it go "Cmon Fred is asking for us, were late for a meeting"

"Carlos! Why didn't you start with that?"

Cake challenge

You were exhausted because you spent the early hours of the morning watching the Jeddah GP. It was a thrilling race to see Charles bag his first podium of the season so you can say that its worth it. Besides, you were able to talk to him after the race so it sweetens the deal even more.

Filming begun for MasterChef and the judges brought out balloons for the mystery box challenge.

"Your challenge today is to make the most imaginative and creative birthday cake that you ever had" Gary explained "The pantry is filled with all the cake flavors you can ever imagine so be creative and show us what you've got"

Baking has never been your strongest suit. It was all about precision and measurements as small increments can make a huge difference. Today, you were determined to do well and you wanted to use the podium finish of Charles for the cake.

It was a struggle to bake the cake, cool it, and pipe it in under 60 minutes. You felt the pressure getting under your nerves as your hands started shaking when you were piping the cake details with 10 minutes left. There was a sigh of relief when you finished just 5 seconds away from the judges calling the time.

There were plenty of beautiful cakes in the room so it was a shocker for you that the judges called you in front to present your cake.

"Judges what I have for you today is a three layer cake with the raspberry,almond, and pistachio with chocolate to seperate the layers and a lemon buttercream frosting."

"You told us you can't bake, that seems like a lie" George says as he cuts through the cake "Look at that layers"

"The layers are actually inspired by the italian flag, its an homage to the boyfriend. Its actually a cake that I made thinking about him" you explained.

"That is simply gorgeous. The cake is very moist and the balance with the flavors is that its not too sweet or nothing overpowering. Your boyfriend is a lucky lucky lucky man to be baked a cake like this" George complimented.

"Does your boyfriend cook?"Matt asked as he took a bite

"Oh God no. I have to cook or else the kitchen will be on fire"you laughed "But I can't drive so maybe that's his payback"

"You seem to show the beautiful dynamics of your relationship when you cook something inspired by him. I wish you two the best" Matt's genuine comment was a heartwarming moment.

Its unfortunate that you didn't win this challenge but you were able to showcase your support for your boyfriend.

Melbourne GP meets MasterChef

This was another challenge as you were elected as a team captain for the second team challenge. You were extremely nervous when you were transported with your team mates from the blue kitchen to an unknown location. It was even more nerve-wracking after you've realized where you are.

"Welcome to the Albert Park where the Australian Grand Prix is underway for this weekend" Matt introduced "Your challenge is to prepare two dishes: a pasta and a fish dish to be served to the talented drivers in Formula 2"

There was a little sigh of relief as you were dealing with the Formula 2 drivers. It was a lot of weight on the shoulder if you will be serving food to your boyfriend.

"The practice sessions will be starting in a few minutes. You have 90 minutes to prepare your dish and an hour to serve them"

All you know was that you started organizing the team to put them in charge of the dishes that you will be making today. You cross your fingers that the color red brings luck to your team today.

Meanwhile, the paddock was buzzing with cameras and Charles immediately noticed that there were some new film crews around the Formula 2 drivers. His eyes did a double take after he recognized the face of three familiar judges he often sees on MasterChef Australia.

"What's going on? Isn't that MasterChef Australia judges?" Charles quizzed

"That's MasterChef Australia, they have this team challenges and they will be feeding the Formula 2 drivers" Silvia answered as she was informed earlier that morning about the extra exposure in the paddock today.

"Why Formula 2? Why not us?" Charles whined

"If you want then you could go ask Ollie for food" Silvia suggested

That sets a lightbulb moment for Charles as he excused himself to talk to the young driver. He will not miss the opportunity to taste the cooking of his secret girlfriend and support her in doing her craft.

It puzzled Ollie Bearman to see that Charles has been looking for him once the practice session was over. He was even more confused by his request.

"So you want me to get you food?" Ollie asked "Doesn't Ferrari have a catering?"

"Its not just food, its the MasterChef Australia food" Charles explained without giving out too much information "I just love the show okay?"

"You can come along, I'm sure they don't mind" Even better.

So here is why you were genuinely surprised to see that Charles Leclerc is walking inside the MasterChef tent with a red and blue plate in his hand. He was grinning wildly as if he was a kid on a sugar rush.

"Ohmygod we are serving food to Charles Leclerc!" one of your teammates whispered.

"Hi goodafternoon! What's the dish for today?" he asked politely.

"Well we have a pan fried cod with a pea puree and then some green grapes some fennel over there and then for the pasta lemon ricotta and beet tortellini" you answered as the team captain "We hope that its up your liking"

Charles gave you that smile that seems to light up the whole room, "I look forward to it, thanks!"

Its moments like this that you wish that you could reach out for him but you understand that its not yet the time. Its nice to see the support that you have for each other even though its all in private and away from the eyes of the media.

"Goodluck on your race Charles!"

There was a smile on both of your faces as you both continued to go chase your dreams.

[cottonlemonade]

Stargazing

word count: 972 || avg. reading time: 4 mins.

pairing: Sakusa x chubby!Reader

genre: fluff

warnings: none

request: watching Goosebumps with caramel popcorn while dressed as a shark with Sakusa || fluffy, camping with crush Sakusa

As summer drew to a close the newly graduated third years of the Itachiyama volleyball club, along with a select few classmate friends, decided to go spend a weekend outdoors - away from the city and the constant noise, away from the impending pressure of university, soaking up those last few pockets of warmth before fall took over and their days would undoubtedly be ruled by studying once more. However, after Sakusa‘s ice-cold glare at the word “camping”, it quickly turned to glamping.

The sun started to set when the shuttle rolled smoothly along the narrow road up to a small grouping of dome-shaped tents nestled neatly in a wide clearing on an otherwise densely vegetated hillside. Fall had already begun to dot the trees with golds and vermillion and although the weather was cooling down by the day, many visitors strolled across the lawn, playing badminton or throwing a frisbee accompanied by a lot of loud hollering and laughter, much to Sakusa’s dismay. One by one you hopped off the bus and looked around, taking deep breaths of the fresh mountain air. Mount Fuji, the bottom of which was surrounded by a cloud of gray mist, was clearly visible in the distance and its snowy top seemed to glow in the remaining sunlight.

Sleeping arrangements were somewhat quickly decided with only minor squabbling and the group headed to the nearby town center to grab fresh supplies for this night‘s BBQ.

While Komori was busy orchestrating the grilling, Sakusa beelined to the still empty showers to escape the incessant chatter of the group for a while. He let out a long sigh as the hot water ran down his back, massaging his shoulder. It still felt stiff after the last match. He replayed the game in his mind, every block, every spike, every failed attack. He cringed when he remembered how he messed up a serve because he heard you calling his name in encouragement through the crowd‘s cheers. Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes for a moment, your voice still in his ears. You had stood with the reserves on the side of the court, the team jacket tied around your pudgy tummy, scribbling notes on your clipboard without looking at the paper so you didn’t miss anything. As the picture of your smile during the inevitable victory hug that followed became more vivid, he shut the water off.

When he rejoined the others, hair as curly as ever from the steam, they were already plating up.

“Hey captain, glad you could make it.”, Komori greeted him jokingly, “To be honest, we thought you might have called a taxi back to Tokyo.”

The group chuckled and his cousin nodded to the free seat next to you.

After dinner, it was voted that everyone would toss around a glow-in-the-dark volleyball that one of them bought just for the occasion. Sakusa didn’t feel the need to join and when he spotted you sitting outside your tent wrapped in a blanket he decided to push his bedtime back a little.

“Not in the mood?”, he asked, standing a bit awkwardly with his hands in his pockets in front of the wooden deck the tent was on.

“More so that I can trip on a well-lit court just fine. Invisible divots in the meadow would only make it worse.”

He nodded.

“Good point.”

“Hey!”, you laughed.

“Mind if I join you?”

“Uhm, no go ahead.”, you scooched over on the picnic blanket you had laid out and he sat down next to you.

“How come you’re here and not playing over there?”

“Not interested.”, Sakusa said simply, “But I don’t need Komori accusing me of being antisocial, so…”

“Ah, hiding in plain sight with the other introvert. I see I see.”

He smiled.

“So, what were you doing before I interrupted?”

“Just stargazing.”

He leaned back on his hands and followed your eyes. The night was strewn with stars, hanging like a thousand little lanterns on the inky sky. The crescent moon barely lit the campgrounds. Sakusa shivered when a breeze brushed past.

“Here.”, you said and tugged at the blanket around your shoulders, throwing part of it over his back. He had half a mind to shrug it off but it carried your warmth and scent, so instead, after a second thought, he pulled it closer.

“Look, there is Cygnus.”, he pointed to a cluster of stars somewhere to your right to distract you from possibly noticing the blush that crept onto his cheeks.

“Really?”

“No idea.”

You squinted at him and he chuckled.

For a while you were both quiet, just letting your eyes wander along the stars. The sounds of the fellow campers were more subdued now. People were talking over bonfires, toasting to the end of summer and someone was playing relatively pleasant music in the distance. The smell of roasted marshmallows wafted in your direction. Sakusa looked down and noticed that your hand was only inches away from his. If he moved his fingers a little further…

“I’m gonna miss being your manager.”, you sighed without taking your eyes off the sky.

“We’re going to the same university, aren’t we?”, he asked, still focused on slowly bringing his hand closer to yours.

“Oh, yeah but I meant, all of you guys. Not just you. Even though I’m gonna miss managing you more than - wait, not that I - uhm, I meant that-“

Your head snapped to the blanket where his large hand now covered your chubby fingers.

“I got it, don’t worry.”, he said, his voice sounding a lot raspier than he would have liked and so he attempted to covertly clear his throat.

Not even the night could hide his blush as he tried to look unbothered when you turned your hand up to lace your fingers with his.

art: @DcGhost_2710 on Twitter

a/n: request for @act-nat-ural

Thank you so much for this soft request! I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for your kind words! 🌟🫶🏻

for requests see here

[bloomyeu]

with or without you

pairing: bang chan x female reader

summary: bottling you're feelings for so long, it begins to hurt. until you mention it.

word count: 1.3k

warnings: angst, (no) comfort, not edited

a/n: first fic :p lmk if u liked it hehe

part 2 | masterlist | requests

Love was something you always chased, yearning to feel what people experienced in the movies —the flowers, the kisses, the gifts, that meaningful connection that seems to exist only for a lucky few. 

So when you met Chan, it was as if everything blossomed like flowers in spring.

It had started with little things, when chan would mention how much he missed you he on tour

ynnieeee haiiiii

hi channie! 

hiiheyyy imithu smmsmsm

bfrjjd i do 2

ur back next week right?

yaya i am, we need to meet up once im back

movie night?

movie night. 

You clung to these exchanges, even as you realized they might mean more to you than they did to him.

☄. *. ⋆

there were the times when you both were together, physically close yet emotionally worlds apart. You would catch glimpses of his smile, and your heart would race, but he never noticed the way your gaze lingered a little too long. He would tell you stories from concerts, his voice animated and bright, while you hung onto every word, even the ones that hinted at someone else who made him smile that way.

"You know, you always manage to pull me out of a slump," Chan said with a yawn, his voice laced with gratitude.

"Well, I'm glad I can help. You could basically call me your muse," you replied with a light chuckle, the words teasing yet sincere.

"Yeah, you're definitely my muse," he agreed, a soft smile playing on his lips before he turned back to work. You watched him for a moment longer, feeling a warmth spread through you, knowing that he was your muse too.

As the days went by, your feelings only deepened, even as you tried to push them away.

You would lie awake at night, replaying every conversation, every laugh, every moment, searching for signs that maybe, just maybe, he felt the same.

But each time, you were met with the cold realization that his affection was platonic, kind, and distant, while yours was anything but.

“Chan, have you ever fallen in love?”

“Um, once, but it was a while back. Why?”

“No reason. I’v just always wondered what it feels like to be in that state of mind.”

“Well, it feels like…” He hesitated, searching for the right words. “It feels like everything else fades away, and all that matters is that person. Like you’re finally complete, you know?”

“Must be nice,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah, it is,” he replied softly.

“So… no one on your mind right now?”

“Nope. You?”

You stared at him for a moment, heart pounding as you fought the urge to tell him the truth.

“Um, no… but maybe one day,” you said, forcing a smile.

☄. *. ⋆

As the months passed by, you found yourself lost in thoughts of him—his smile, his kindness, and all the love he had to give. The ache of missing him became a constant companion, a reminder of the feelings you harbored in silence.

With lunch in hand and a hopeful heart, you made your way to his studio. The anticipation of seeing him again sparked a mix of excitement and anxiety. You approached the studio’s entrance, eager to surprise him, when you nearly bumped into Felix, who was just leaving. “Hey, Lix! I haven’t seen you in forever!” you greeted, trying to mask your anxiety with a bright smile. “Hi, Yn! What are you doing here?” he asked, his curiosity piqued. “Oh, I’m just dropping off lunch for Chan. I haven’t seen him in so long and thought, why not surprise him, you know?” you replied, your excitement tinged with a hint of nervousness. Felix’s expression shifted subtly, his smile fading into a more thoughtful look. “Ah… maybe it’s better to save the surprise for another time,” he suggested gently. “Can you believe it? He finally has a girl in the studio! I’m actually happy for him—he’s really opening up and putting himself first for the first time since iv met him ahaha”

The words hit you like a cold wave. You tried to keep your composure, but inside, a mixture of confusion and heartache swirled. “A girl?” you echoed, struggling to keep your voice steady. “I didn’t realize…”

Felix nodded, his eyes soft with understanding. “Yeah, it’s new. But I think it’s a good thing. Chan’s been so focused on work and producing, and now he’s letting someone in. It’s nice to see him happy.”

You forced a smile, your heart sinking. “That’s… really good to hear. I’m happy for him, too.”

Felix gave you a sympathetic look. “If you want to talk or need anything, I’m here. You know we all are.”

You nodded, grateful for the kindness but feeling a profound sadness. “Thanks, Felix. I appreciate that.”

With a heavy heart, you turned and left the studio, the weight of Felix’s words settling over you. The lunch you’d brought now felt like a symbol of a hope that had been dashed. As you walked away, you tried to focus on the positive—on Chan’s happiness—but the realization that your feelings might never be reciprocated made the day feel heavier than it had before.

☄. *. ⋆

Although the two couldn't have been more apart, your feelings had just continued to grow. 

Winter had finally rolled around, bringing with it the warmth of the annual Christmas party Minho would host. The past few months had felt like a fever dream, with your feelings for Chan growing ever more consuming. The holidays, usually a time of cheer, now felt tinged with an undercurrent of longing.

As you walked into the party, the festive lights and laughter offered a brief distraction. You scanned the room until you spotted Chan across the crowded space. With a deep breath, you approached him, your heart racing with anticipation.

“Hiya, Channie! It’s been so long, hasn’t it?” you greeted, trying to keep your voice light despite the fluttering in your chest.

“Yeah, it has. My god, I’ve missed you,” he replied, pulling you into a warm hug. As you nestled against him, you felt your heart clench, overwhelmed by a mixture of joy and sadness.

“I’ve actually been meaning to tell you something,” you began, hesitating as you tried to steady your nerves.

“Me too, actually,” Chan said with a chuckle, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. “I hope it’s good news.”

“It always is,” you replied with a nervous laugh. “Well, tell me first.”

“No, you go first,” he insisted, a playful glint in his eye.

“Okay” you said with a soft smile. “Well I finally got tickets to the Wave to Earth concert in Seoul—that band I’ve been hooked on.”

Chan’s eyes widened in surprise and delight. “Oh, that sounds amazing! I’d love to. But… there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you too.”

You felt a slight tightening in your chest, hoping for a revelation that might mirror your own feelings. “What is it?”

“Well, I finally have a girlfriend,” Chan said, his voice softening with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. “Or, well, I’m planning to ask her soon. I’m really excited about it.”

The words hit you like a cold wave, and you struggled to maintain your smile. “Oh,” was all you could manage, your heart sinking as you tried to process the news.

“What were you going to say before I interrupted you?” Chan asked, his gaze gentle.

“Oh, um, just that you should go to the concert with me, I know much you love music” you replied, forcing enthusiasm into your voice despite the ache in your heart. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

Chan’s smile was warm but distant. “That sounds great. I’m looking forward to it too.”

As the conversation shifted and Chan’s attention drifted to others, you found yourself standing on the periphery, the failed attempt at asking him out now overshadowed by the quiet sting of rejection. The realization that Chan’s heart was set on someone else cast a shadow over the festive atmosphere, leaving you to navigate the mingling feelings of friendship and unspoken longing. The party’s warmth felt like a cruel contrast to the cold emptiness you felt inside.

fin.

part 2 | masterlist | requests

[its-time-to-write]

just a short little Thanksgiving blurb for all my American girlies 🥰🦃

ours

You force yourself back to the present, where your twelve year-old cousin is updating you on the latest middle school drama. 

“…and that’s why boys named Max are a red flag, but dogs named Max are not,” she concludes. 

You giggle and nod appropriately, taking a sip from your drink. The house is filled with the entire family this Thanksgiving and while it’s pleasantly crowded, it still feels like a part of you is missing. 

Your phone is securely in your bag, a tactic to try to keep yourself from replaying highlights from the England match from the previous weekend. Every other WAG got to go support their man, but you were stuck in America with pre-Thanksgiving work. Thanksgiving has only been going on for twenty minutes, and you’re ready to call it and go home. 

International dating is hard.

Your mom can tell, so she’s been giving you tasks to do all day. She must’ve told your grandma or maybe she’s just incredibly observant, because she’s picked up the mantle as well and neither of them give you enough time to be alone with your thoughts. 

It’s nice of them, except now the family’s here and everyone’s asking about your boyfriend. They don’t care that he’s a footballer (in the best way) and they’re all excited for you, but you wish he were here. 

Maybe you can sneak upstairs and call him. 

You do some quick math and realize he should be asleep so you sigh and ask your cousin if she wants to come with you to steal macaroni and cheese. 

She smiles and says, “Yes, duh.”

“It’s going to be tricky,” you warn. “My mom and your mom are going to be on the lookout.”

“I bet Grandpa will sneak us some,” she reminds you. Oh yes, Grandpa would do anything for his granddaughters. 

You grab her hand and weave through aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, cousins and a few other relatives. You’re pretty sure this is the biggest Thanksgiving you’ve ever had. 

You and your cousin successfully get your hands on two bowls of mac and cheese, and slip away to an unoccupied corner to eat it. 

You’re smiling and not thinking about Jamie at all. This is your favorite cousin, the one who’s eleven years younger than you, but you two have been doing dumb shit together since she could talk. 

You’re almost done when someone slides into your space, pressing their arm against yours. Your cousin’s eyes widen as she looks at you and you turn, expecting to see an aunt or god-forbid one of your snitch brothers. 

Instead, you’re met with blue eyes and a familiar smile. 

You choke on your last bite of food as you launch yourself into Jamie’s arms.  

“What are you doing here?” you ask, refusing to let go of him. “You have a match this weekend.”

He shrugs, still smiling. “Ah, you know, gotta be culturally sensitive with my American girlfriend, babe. Milestones and all that.”

You raise an eyebrow. There’s no way Roy let him go with that excuse. 

“Or I might have injured meself at the match last week and am out of training for two weeks,” Jamie says. 

“You’re hurt?” you exclaim. “Why didn’t you call me? Should you have been on a plane? What happened?”

You’ve inadvertently tightened your grip around Jamie’s neck, so he reaches up to remove your hands, still keeping them in his. He lifts them up to his lips to kiss your knuckles. 

“I’m fine. Just my ankle. But I figured, who not come surprise ya?”

“Does my mom know you’re here?”

Jamie’s grin turns cocky. “Called your mum and dad three days ago. I’m staying in their guest room, ain’t I? Got in this morning before you lot showed up.”

Your cousin has been watching this scene a little open-mouthed the whole time. “I wish my boyfriend would do that for me,” she murmurs. 

Your head snaps over to her. “Your what,” you say to her and she holds her hands up defensively. 

“Oh look it’s your English boyfriend who flew all the way to America for Thanksgiving, why don’t you kiss him some more?” she deflects, and Jamie shoots her a wink and tilts your face up for a kiss so your cousin can get away. 

“I can’t believe you’re here,” you tell him. “Oh my gosh, we’re going to have the BEST time. Get ready to have your mind blown, little British boy.”

“Anything for you, Miss America,” he teases. “Just don’t make me try those mushroom things I saw, looked fucking awful, that.”

You pull a shocked face. “Oh but it’s tradition. Everyone has to suffer through my uncle Darren’s gross stuffed mushrooms at least once. And since you’re new here…” you trail off. 

Jamie grimaces while you giggle and run a hand through his hair. God, you can’t believe he’s here and while you aren’t thrilled he’s injured, maybe it’s not such a bad thing. 

“C’mon,” you say, tugging him to the kitchen. “I want to go yell at mom and dad for not telling me you were coming.”

[lovelyyandereaddictionpoint]

It's Valentine day, and some fan service when Crewel daughter lost a bet and wearing a bunny outfit that hugs her curvs bit too well ( think of Jessica Rabbit level of sexy ) and all confident of her body as she sings on stage for them

All the boys reaction seeing both display and the show

I'm not doing all of them

🖤🖤🖤🖤

Valentines Performance | Yandere TWST x Crewel Daughter Reader

First and foremost Crewel’s daughter never loses a bet

But charity does look good on her record so she’d do it

Heck you might even suggest it

“What? I know from my head to my toes that I’m practically irresistible. Of course you’d want me to be the main performance.”

You wouldn’t do it for just some boys wishing to ogle you for their own desires

That would be of no benefit to you

In fact, you’d force Crowley to pay

Who in turn forces your admirers to cough up a significant amount

But if you’re going to go through the trouble of dressing up and performing it will be for a good cause and for a good paycheck

So many lonely, sad people on such a day is something a princess shouldn’t ignore

If you have curves than great but even without you’re just as alluring 

But like everything you do it has the boys drooling:

Azul Ashengrotto

He was proud to be apart of the latest cashgrab charity that the school was fundraising

And he was even happier to call upon you under that pretense

Its been years since he’s heard you sing

He can only imagine what its like now 

And with the excuse of being practice he’ll hear the chords you so casually ring out as the charity dinner is mapped out

But only when you’re fully made up and singing does he feel like his investment was truly worth it

“A-a-ah (Y/n) that was–”

“Amazing, I know. I can tell you’re excited but don’t go inking all over the floor before the finale.”

“Y-yeah.”

He really does have to stop himself 

He’s just so enamored 

One day he’ll have to ask trick you into singing a serenade to him

“A mate’s song needs to be, at the very least, decent enough to attract. Naturally, (Y/n) would exceed that, she truly is a prime mate and the only one I’d ever bother chasing after.”

Kalim Al Asim

He loves that you’re scheduled to perform

Money isn’t an object anyway so he’s happy to pad your paycheck and donation

He just loves loves loves anything you do 

You could go outside in a chicken wunzie and sing horribly he’d still fling his money in your direction

But as he watches you appear on stage make up done, dress hugging tight something burns

His cheeks get warm and suddenly his clothes feel too hot to wear

A yearning that Kalim barely acknowledges to dangerous takes over and he’s in a daze for the entirety of the night

Don’t interrupt the performance 

Don’t bother him while he’s watching you sing in that sultry tone

Or you can see what its like when Jamil’s happy to follow Kalim’s orders+

“(Y/n) you should sing more often! Your voice is so beautiful!” 

“Thank you, Kalim.”

“Will you be doing another set? I’d love to play along side you!”

He’ll be replaying your performance in his head for years to come

Always letting a smile come to his face

“Wow I can’t get her voice out of my head! Maybe I should ask her to sing to me everynight!”

Vil Schoenheit

If he isn’t hired himself to join you he’ll donate his talent with a small fee

But to be seen by millions as the most beautiful dream couple 

Neige could never

But ego aside he loves nothing more than performing with you side by side

Brought back to the days you two would make little plays and shows for your fathers to watch 

Now this was just fate in work, wasn’t it

That you two would be preparing a duet that’d have the world talking for weeks 

“Are you ready to delivery our harmony of ecstasy?”

“You know I am. I like your trim by the way.”

“And I yours. Though we both know anything you wear is better than couture.”

For this moment and this moment only will he encourage the hunter to share his recordings

He won’t be able to hear your voice out in the crowd

But it couldn’t compare to the sound of being beside you

As it was always meant to be

“Becoming a duo? Who’s to say? We both have big plans for the future but naturally we’ll be together asitsalwaysbeen.”

[thebusytypewriter]

hello hello congrats on the followers!! for the event could i request a long kamukura x reader fic where he’s basically baby duck imprinted on reader? i imagine that after being locked in a cell and mistreated by hopes peak even an iota of basic human kindness has him clinging

YIPPEE I've been brainrotting about this one for AGES I'm so sorry for the wait anon!! I'm also sorry that you were probably expecting fluff with this and while there is some, uhhhh........... angstnohappyendOKAYENJOYBYE--

No, I’m not falling for you

So please have mercy on me

The night of the Tragedy—the first one—you were there. That was something Izuru Kamukura didn’t expect.

You weren’t exactly there, not in the classroom where it all went down; things would’ve been much different if you were. No, you were some Reserve Course student who’d found their way just outside of the Main Course gates past curfew.

In fact, it was well past that point, nearly midnight by then. Enoshima had yet to return from her place in the security office, Ikusaba likely with her. This left Kamukura alone outside to ponder what had just transpired.

The gruesome deaths of the thirteen Ultimate students replayed over and over within his perfect memory, everything from gunshot to impaling to chainsaw. He’d expected each and every one of them to turn away from Enoshima’s “motives,” since innocent lives logically outweighed petty hearsay, no matter how damaging it would be.

Such intense emotion on their faces when first attacks were made… He couldn’t understand it.

Wind whistled past his stony face as he strolled, the force tossing around his hair in every direction. Even if he had the capacity to care about it, he wouldn’t. There were far more pressing things to worry about.

The sound of rubber soles on stone alerted him to an approaching individual, so Kamukura swiftly moved behind one of the few trees lining the outer wall and watched.

You were far out of dress code for a Reserve Course student, but he figured that you didn’t care with it being after hours. A large hoodie covered you, engulfing your upper half in the softest fabric he’d ever seen, and your yoga pants were just as large and cozy-looking. The only thing that indicated you as part of the Reserve Course was the student ID faintly peeking out from under your collar.

He could see the bags under your eyes from his place a dozen feet away, and the slouch in your walk alerted his health-related talents of your likely insomnia.

“Hello?” you called out, almost timidly, not too soft to go unheard but not too loud to alert any remaining security. “I was just out for a walk when I, um, heard you. I know it’s late, I just want to make sure you’re okay. It’s not a good idea to leave Main Course grounds after dark, okay?”

Kamukura faintly wondered if you’d ever had a chance of being an Ultimate regarding empathy or safety. It would suit you.

“I go here,” you continued, “so don’t worry, I just want to help.”

His nail lightly scratched at the tree’s bark in contemplation. Two abnormal events in the same night… Perhaps he couldn’t let that go.

Letting his definitive steps announce his presence, Kamukura stepped out and into the dull light of the street lamps. He said nothing and simply blinked at you.

You inhaled sharply, clearly startled as you caught sight of him. There was only a brief moment of panic in your eyes before it switched over to concern, your gaze locking on something just below his own, slightly to his right. “Oh my god, are you okay?”

Ah. In the excitement of your arrival, he’d forgotten about the bullet graze wound across his cheek. He raised a hand and felt around the area, unsurprised to find it mostly still wet with blood. “And why would you be concerned about me? You’ll get nothing in return.”

“Nothing in…?” Your brow pinched further, now from both concern and confusion. “Dude, you’re bleeding. Like a lot. Like you might need stitches.”

“No. I’ll apply some disinfectant shortly, and it’ll heal just fine. You should be more concerned with your own safety, being out this late at night, instead of fussing over a stranger.”

“I-I’m not fussing,” you argued, cheeks now puffing out in your annoyance.

You reminded him of a chipmunk.

Cute.

Something in him halted at the thought before reassuring himself that it was simply fact. There were no opinions within him. You were being kind to him, that was all. It was… unfamiliar.

Unfamiliar, but not unwelcome.

“Oh!” Your voice pulled him from his thoughts. “How rude of me. I didn’t even introduce myself.” With a statement of your name—something he already knew from observing your student ID—you extended a hand while asking for his own.

In a handful of milliseconds, he considered what to tell you. He could tell you nothing and walk away, leaving you out of the insanity but leaving this odd new itch behind. He could tell you Kamukura, but there were far too many things attached to that name on Hope’s Peak campus. You were Reserve Course, not stupid. 

“Call me Izuru,” he stated. “For your safety, I’ll leave it at that.”

Your eyebrows shot up to your hairline. “Ah… okay? Nice to meet you then, Izuru.”

“You as well.”

“Aaaand your reason for being out here…?”

“Nightly walk.” It wasn’t necessarily a lie, but you didn’t need to know that. “I was in the process of returning to my quarters when you appeared. I am in no danger, I assure you.”

You nodded, hesitant but understanding. “Gotcha. Well… just be careful, okay? There are some real weirdos out here at night.”

The irony of your statement almost made him laugh. Almost. “I understand, thank you. Would you like an escort back to the Reserve Course dormitory?”

“Oh, uh, no thanks. Pepper spray’s got my back.”

“If you insist. Good night, then.” Kamukura gave the slightest of bows before turning to reenter the Main Course grounds and rendezvous with Enoshima. Your return of the phrase met his ears, but he continued on.

He tried not to feel your gaze boring into his back as he did so.

He tried not to look back when he heard your footsteps retreat.

Izuru Kamukura failed for the first and second time that night.

‘Cause it’s not romantic, I swear

I’m not gasping for air

After moving from one underground bunker to another, Kamukura quickly found himself to be once again bored out of his mind. The only thing that kept his attention, that lingered in his mind, was you.

He’d never seen your face among the rioters from newsfeed alone, leading him to the conclusion that you were abstaining from it all. You were safe, presumably. Given how kind you were to him when you met, he decided that you deserved it—the safety from Despair. Someone like you needed to be protected.

And yet, he still thought about what it would be like for you to stay in that bunker with him. Kamukura wasn’t alone there, of course not; among its occupants was Enoshima, Ikusaba, Mitarai, and the nurse that was dragged in—Tsumiki. Of these, Enoshima was the only one who engaged in conversation with him, as one-sided as it was, and as annoying as she was.

Despite himself, despite his programming, Kamukura missed you.

He knew that Enoshima had noticed his change of demeanor after that night. He knew that she’d look into what happened, badgering him until she inevitably gave up.

What he didn’t know was how invested she’d be in the situation.

In the midst of his purusing old documents within the bunker, he was met with the sound of Enoshima’s delighted hum growing closer… then farther. It was odd. There weren’t many rooms in the bunker, and there were even fewer rooms that Junko Enoshima herself would enter. If they were dirty, she sent Ikusaba in. If they were hazardous, she sent Tsumiki in.

So where was she going?

Damn it, his interest was piqued.

Cautiously and quietly, Kamukura followed the Ultimate Despair down a corridor he’d never seen her traverse before. She hummed the whole way, a slight bounce in her step, before stopping at a closed iron door. It had a small square window at head level, but that seemed to be the only way one could see in or out of the room. Enoshima slid the massive bar lock out of place and pushed her way inside, letting the door close behind her.

He stalked up to the solid barrier and peered through the window, careful not to let more of himself show than what was unavoidable. As Kamukura’s gaze settled on the pigtailed frame he’d watched enter, her voice met his ears.

“Just checkin’ on ya, sweetheart! Can’t have you dying on me just yet, right? You just got here!”

Then, a second voice followed hers, one that made his blood run cold.

“I-I think you’ve got the wrong person,” you stammered, teeth audibly clacking together in the cold concrete room. “I don’t know who you are, I don’t know why you brought me here, I haven’t done anything wrong—”

“Of course not, silly!” Enoshima strode forward in faux contemplation, manicured hands clasped behind her back. “Consider this a… witness care program. We take care of our witnesses!”

With the Despair’s movement, Kamukura was able to get a full view of you. You were still in your pajamas, just a tank top and fuzzy pants, implying that you’d been abducted either in your room or within the dorm in general. Your feet were bare and pale—borderline blue—against the gray floor. (He understood then why you were shivering.) From that angle, he was able to notice your hands wrenched behind your back as you sat by a pole, and he deduced that Enoshima—or maybe Ikusaba—had tied you to said pole to restrict movement. How cliche.

“Witness care?” You blinked, fluorescent light sparkling in your eyes. “So you’re protecting me then?”

“Well, aren’t you just a little ray of hope?” Enoshima reached out and pitched your cheek with enthusiasm. “Cutie pie! I could just eat you up!” Her grin dropped abruptly, and Kamukura saw a few little beads of blood spring up on your skin where she held you. “…And then I would immediately vomit. Your gross little rainbows and sparkles make me sick, y’hear me? What the hell does a god like Kamukura see in a worthless Reserve Course chump?”

Your brow furrowed. “I’m sorry, who’s… Kamukura? Like, the founder of Hope’s Peak?”

“No, silly,” she snorted. “Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome. The one you met a few days ago. What exactly did he say his name was?”

He watched your mouth open to answer, then slowly close as you appeared to connect the dots she’d presented. Your response came out quiet and disbelieving. “…Izuru.”

Enoshima’s free hand flew up in mocking celebration. “Give the kid a prize! This might come as a shock to you—who am I kidding, it so will—but the Izuru Kamukura you talked to is a lab experiment gone horrifically right. He’s a god among men, the Ultimate Hope. And that makes it all the more confusing as to why he’s chosen to latch onto you of all people. Kinda silly if you ask me.”

Much to his odd delight, all traces of fear left your face at the statement, and you snarled at her. “Well if you admire him so much, then why does it sound to me like you’re doubting his judgment? I’ll be sure to let him know when I see him next. Whose word will he believe—mine or yours?”

Enoshima’s hand ripped away as she recoiled. “Ugh! God, you’d get along really well with the know-it-all detective in my class. Keep holding your head up like that, and you’re ten times more likely to get smacked by a bat. It’s just statistics!”

The twitch of your brow betrayed your returning terror.

“Anyway,” she drew out, “I wouldn’t get comfy, m’kay? Even though you’re here as a present for my beloved Kamukura, I still have an agenda. Maybe look up the phrase ‘take care of’ in the dictionary! Oh, wait, you can’t do that here. Hm! Your problem, not mine.”

Kamukura ducked out of the window just as Enoshima turned, forgoing the remainder of the conversation to preserve his assumed innocence. In his brisk return down the hallway, he felt an odd tingling sensation rising from the midst of his throat all the way to his skull. It reminded him of an ant colony, one that disturbed the neutrality within him.

He then noticed how tense his brow had been the entire time. How clenched his fists were. How much he itched to burst through the door and rescue your kind self from Despair incarnate.

Some Ultimate Psychologist within him ticked off some boxes and raised a finger to share the new discovery, but he ignored it.

He had to.

The Ultimate Hope did not get attached.

I want you to be here, but please don’t come near

‘Cause even though I’m pretty sure my head’s exploding

I’m not ready for hand holding

Kamukura was attached.

Within the couple of weeks between his discovery of your presence—when he was sure that Enoshima and Ikusaba weren’t in the bunker, and Mitarai and Tsumiki were stationed in the former’s workspace—he often found himself visiting you.

The first time he made an appearance and explained what he could, he’d been expecting your immediate response.

“So you’ll let me go?”

He shook his head. “As much as I am of the mind that you should be given your freedom, there is a strong chance Enoshima may just hunt you down again and kill you. A far from ideal outcome, wouldn’t you agree?”

You did, and he was relieved.

…What?

Ah, yes. That was the recurring problem around you; Kamukura found himself feeling things. At first, he was convinced that he could become desensitized by visiting you more. It only made things worse. He got to know you then, all your hobbies and quirks and everything that made you unique in his eyes.

Not to mention your kindness. God, all the harsh interactions with immoral scientist after immoral scientist made him realize how truly important you were.

You invaded all of his waking thoughts, and Kamukura expected that he was doing a good job at hiding it.

He was created to have perfect judgment.

It’s not love, I swear

“Oh, Kamukura darling! I have a surprise for you!”

He let himself sigh as he turned from his absentminded file browsing to meet Enoshima’s wide grin. “I have no interest in your presents.” Not to mention he already knew to whom she was referring.

The grin flipped on a dime to a childish pout. “You don’t have to be so mean about it! And here I thought you’d actually like this one.”

“If you’re going to pester me about this surprise regardless, then I suppose I have little choice. Get on with it.”

Enoshima immediately perked up again, much like a dog whose master said the word ‘treat’ aloud. (What a hellish dog the Ultimate Despair would make, Kamukura thought to himself. He’d have to tell you that one later.) “Okie dokie! You’re gonna love it.”

“Doubtful. I am incapable of love.”

Incapability, the Ultimate Dictionary part of him said, is another word for inability, which is the lack of ability to do something. Denial is an unwillingness to accept that something is true.

He stubbornly shoved the thought away and followed behind the bouncing girl.

Love clouds even the most objectively perfect judgment.

They continued on to a section of the bunker that Kamukura was slightly less familiar with, as it was usually occupied by the other inhabitants, and he wasn’t one to socialize with them. (He wasn’t one to socialize with Enoshima, either, but she forced it upon him.) At some time, he’d heard the sounds of panic and stress echoing from that same direction, but it was her business, not his. It appeared that it was about to be his business, though.

Enoshima led him into an offshoot of the main hallway, her deranged humming increasing as they moved. It was never a good sign when she was so pleased.

The distorted music he’d listened to her perfect met his ears, laced with the edited screams of Ultimate students. Why was she playing the Despair-inducing video? Was there a “guest” he wasn’t aware of?

…Wait.

There would be.

If he wasn’t already aware of them.

“You’ve been so pressed over the battle of Hope and Despair, and I wanted to help you along—” Enoshima pushed a door open, and the sounds became clearer— “so you get to see Despair in action!”

A dim concrete room greeted the two of them, bathed only in the flashing lights and red glow of her video. In the center, a single chair sat askew with what appeared to be leather straps dangling from its arms and legs. The quick inspection with his Ultimate Analyst talent revealed a lack of tears in the leather outside of the usual signs of torture—fraying and scuffing. The occupant didn’t escape their containment, but they were released.

Speaking of, Kamukura’s gaze fell upon a figure settled on the floor, head pressed against their knees. It was reminiscent of a traditional Japanese deep bow—zarei, that is—but they were tense, shaking. Their hands dug into their hair and pulled against their scalp in this panicked manner, and that wasn’t even the part that set him off.

This figure, the victim of Junko Enoshima’s Despair-inducing video, was you.

“Turn it off.”

“Eh?”

His fist closed around Enoshima’s throat and tugged her close in an instant, dragging a garbled noise of surprise from her. “Turn the video off, or I will do it myself.”

Her eyes were wide at this new display, one he himself was quite unsure about, and she burst out in startled laughter. “Woooow! Okay, Mr. Assertive! It’s done the job anyway. This was mostly just for theatrics and funsies, to give a little pizzazz to your present—Hey, are you even listening?”

Kamukura was not. Oh, how he thought about bashing in her head at that moment. It would be quick and effortless on his part, ultimately ridding the world of her sick plan. But Enoshima wasn’t his priority; he was already crossing the floor toward your crumpled form, an uncharacteristically-loud heartbeat pounding in his ears. Odds of your being unharmed were slim, to say the least, and only dropping every second you didn’t move, but he called upon his Ultimate Luck to combat them.

Pristine black dress pants rubbed against the concrete as he settled on his knees next to you. Kamukura’s hand hovered over your back while he debated on the best course of action. What would he do if you were lost? Could he bring himself to hand you over to Enoshima, or would he go directly against her to repair a broken mind? Was it even possible for him to do such a thing?

Might still be in shock, he reminded himself. It was entirely possible that Enoshima had been bluffing. You were fine.

You had to be.

He let his hand run over your spine once. Twice. You remained, head pressed to your knees, though you shuddered at the touch.

Just ahead, the Despair-inducing video clicked off. Finally. He shot a glare at Enoshima and, by virtue of her sudden appearance, Ikusaba. Additionally, Tsumiki appeared to be peeking in from the doorway, and her twisted smile did nothing to calm his anxieties.

…Anxieties? The Ultimate Psychologist in his head once again raised a finger to say I told you so, but he ignored it.

Kamukura called for you, quietly at first. When he received no answer, he tried again, louder.

Something finally spilled from your lips, unintelligible and hushed. He wondered for a moment if what he felt at the sound was hope, but it quickly snapped away as your garbled noises continued and then transitioned into an objectively worse sound.

You were laughing.

No, you were crying.

It was both. You were hysterical.

Finally, finally, you sat up, and the “no signal” screen previously playing that maddening video kept your face under an eerie red light. The color illuminated the teartracks down your cheeks, and his heart clenched. Your gaze met his, and it sank.

Those kind eyes, the ones that made him feel warm, feel anything… were hazy and unfocused. The smile that set off the butterflies in his stomach, however few they were, twisted with insanity.

Tainted.

She’d broken you.

You. The one good thing in this spiraling world.

Kamukura cupped your cheek as you giggled something about his expression. He didn’t care to listen. He ran through the possible ways of repairing your mind and found that the list was both shorter and less possible than he’d initially thought. Human beings are fragile creatures, he reminded himself. You can’t hold one too tightly, or else it’ll hurt more when they break.

Perhaps this wasn’t what Enoshima had meant by seeing her work in action, but it got the point across.

His tears fell alongside yours.

It might be closer to Despair . . .

[ryejifics]

Dance practice

Type: fluff

Ryujin x idol reader

"Ugh!" You groaned. You've been trying to get this dance right for 5 hours now. Over and over, you did it again. You kept messing up the footwork, and you knew you needed to have this down for your comeback next month. You turned the music on replaying it from the start. You were getting into the music, suddenly the door opened. You didn't realize it until you finished and heard clapping. Startled, you turned to see shin ryujin. She was the most gorgeous, jaw dropping woman you've ever seen. The only downside was you knew she was a flirt. You've liked her since your trainee days, ever since the day she pointed out your shoes were untied. The day she shook your hand and introduced yourself.

Flashback:

"Excuse me, ma'am. Your shoes untied." She looked at you concerned. "Since you're dancing its a little dangerous. What if you fall and get hurt?" She bent down and tied it for you. When she finally got back up she introduced herself. "I'm Shin Ryujin, I'm also a trainee." After a little conversation she walked off and got back to practicing.

End of flashback.

"Great job, y/n!" She smiled. "You looked great." Snapping you out of your trance, you quickly mumble a thank you and try not to look at her for too long. She started practicing as well for the new Itzy comeback. You watched her perfect the moves in the mirror. As you failed yet another attempt, you groaned loudly. Ryujin watched you practice, so she knew some of the steps. "I think I get what you're trying to do. Here." She looked at you for consent before slowly putting her hands on your waist. She guided you through the dance and showed you the footwork. You tried to hide your blushing cheeks when she looked at you with her whisker dimples. You cracked a few jokes, so it was less awkward, and every time she smiled, you couldn't help but melt. Next thing you knew, the distraction was too much, and you fell. "Ah!" You stumbled over and fell to the ground. Ryujin was quick to pick you up, asking a billion times if you were hurt. "Are you okay?" She brushed you off and took a look at your knee. Once she saw it was bleeding a little, she grabbed the first aid kit and helped you. She pulled out a cream and applied it to your knee to clean it. After she grabbed some bandaid options. "Hmm, kitten or puppy?" You gave her your response excitedly, and she gently put the bandaid on. She also grabbed you an ice pack and laid you on the chair. She held it against your knee and found many ways to make you laugh. After a while, it was getting late. She grabbed her things. "You know.. I really enjoyed my time with you, but I don't want this night to end just yet. Would you maybe want to grab dinner?" Did THE shin ryujin ask you out?? You thought quickly before replying with "Well.. I am pretty hungry. Sure, why not?"

The two of you walked down the streets of Seoul to a nice restaurant she knew about. "The city lights are pretty, but they'll never shine as bright as your eyes." When she said this to you, you didn't even know what to say. You took a minute before finally saying thank you and how much you liked her whisker dimples. You two walked into the restaurant and sat down. After a while, she signaled something to the waiter. The waiter came back with a bouquet of your favorite flowers. "Ryujin! How did you know I liked these?" She smiled brightly, saying,"Lucky guess?" When really she asked your best friend, Yunjin. Ryujin has liked you for a long time. She always got caught staring when you walked by. Sure, she usually flirted with girls, but it was because she didn't think she had a chance with you.

"Y/n.. I've been meaning to ask you something. I know I'm a flirt with other people and that you might think badly of me because of it. But I actually really like you, I'd love to get to know you and maybe in the future be your girlfriend."

You looked at her shocked. You didn't know what to say. You thought about it as she nervously waited for an answer. "Y/n?.."

To be continued!

[avatar-saiki]

Mammon's Second

Mammon/Reader, 6.5k words

Summary: NSFW, 18+ (Part Two sequel for Mammon's First, because some asked for it and I ended up thinkin' too hard about what it could be)

Felt good.

Mammon stared at the door, still replaying the sensations in his head while… trying to figure out what exactly’d just happened.

‘I admire so much of you, in fact.’

Admire him, huh? He chuckled quietly, letting his hand slowly roam up his body. Admire him so much you’d made him feel…

Really good.

“NO! NO NO NO! GET AWAY FROM MY DOOR YOU… YOU… PERVERT!”

“Name calling? Don’t be mean, Levi, I just wanted to talk about—”

“NOOO! DON’T YOU DARE!”

Ah, right. He really should go feed Cerberus.

Mammon stepped out and peered down the hall to find you grinning to yourself at Levi’s door. You looked up when you heard him and he quickly averted his gaze, feeling… warm again.

He sighed and slipped out, choosing the long way down the hall toward the stairs. If Levi wasn’t willing to listen to you, he might have to… ah… well, he probably wasn’t the best one to do that. Hopefully Levi’d listen. Otherwise… 

Eh, he could probably figure out how to explain it. Maybe.

After he figured out what to make of it himself. Until then it was probably his best bet to avoid his brothers, lest he slip up and say something he shouldn’t and send them all screaming and running like Levi. 

After he’d made his way to the kitchen and snuck down the halls, he went out the back to look for Cerberus, that big overgrown hellhound that’d nearly scared him out of his skin only to turn puppy when Lucifer’d showed up. It’d been… terrifying, but in a different way, to see Lucifer come to their rescue, his eyes fierce and tongue sharp.

“Alright, c’mon ya big goof,” he said, dropping the hunk of meat onto the platter outside the beast’s hovel. Apparently, magical beasts in this realm could be tamed within pocket dimensions, allowing for quick summons once a caster knew how to pull them through but for now Barbatos had had a small group of Little D’s help put up some makeshift shelter in the back.

This place was so weird.

First the snuffles, then a big black snout poked out, followed by another, then another all sniffing and curious before Cerberus emerged, its heads all peering at him questioningly before the one furthest on the left noticed the meat. It bowed its head and nudged the meat with its nose, then snapped at it with massive, sharp teeth. The head on the right took notice and growled, turning its head to pull the meat away for itself only to have the center bite down and lift it high.

Mammon chuckled and sat down on the ground to watch, shaking his head. “Doesn’t it all go in the same place? Why do you guys gotta all fight over it?”

The beast flopped down to the ground with a heavy thump, both eating and fighting over its meal while Mammon held his chin in his hand and closed his eyes. Not his favorite chore so far, but not the worst either, all he really had to do was make sure they didn’t fight each other.

“It must be exhausting having three heads, don’t you think?”

“Mm… yeah,” he nodded, eyes still closed. “Even if we give ‘em multiple pieces, they still keep fighting so I figure one big piece is easier.”

Asmo tittered, his footsteps growing closer. “Sounds like an excuse to be lazy to me~”

He shrugged, “You can feed ‘em how you want when it’s your turn.”

“Ugh, please, I don’t want to go anywhere near what he eats,” Asmo said, taking a seat beside him. 

Cerberus made short work of the meat, two of the heads gnawing at the bone while the third sniffed Asmo’s outstretched hand.

“It’s crazy to think we were almost eaten by him, huh?” Asmo said, eyes softening a little as he scratched at the muzzle, its tail thumping against the dirt. “Now he’s such a softie~”

“Yeah…” It was… still a bit of a sore spot.

“I’m just glad everyone’s okay,” he said quietly.

Asmo chuckled and leaned over to nudge him. “You think too much, you know? I mean look at us! We’re the Seven Rulers of the Underworld now!”

Mammon laughed in turn, “Yeah… but I don’t really know what that means.”

“Neither do I, but who cares?” Asmo cupped Cerberus’ cheeks in both hands, giving them affectionate scritches. “Soon enough everyone will know about me here, just like before and I’ll have even more titles to use~”

Cerberus barked, tail wagging faster while Mammon couldn’t help but snort and shake his head.

“Don’t you laugh!”Asmo quipped, turning to him again. “Demons like titles and status! I got so many free samples for makeup and creams today because of it!”

“Wait, they give you stuff for free?”

“Mhm~ though, I wouldn’t get any ideas, it could be entirely because it was me you know.”

“Eh… I’m still worried I might get eaten by a giant snake or somethin’ if I buy the wrong kinda toothpaste.”

Asmo snickered, “Yeah… good point. I’m not entirely sure why anyone would even want a prize like that.”

“Beats me,” he muttered, his brother taking a seat beside him again.

The two let the conversation dwindle, both lost in their own thoughts with nothing but the sounds of Cerberus’ movements to break the silence. Even in the moonlight, its appearance was sinister but… softer too. Not anything nearly as cuddly or soft as anything he’d seen in the Celestial Realm but… sort of cute, in its own way.

“I do think this place is getting to Levi a bit though,” Asmo added quietly, “he started freaking out and won’t come out of his room now.”

“Oh that’s just ‘cause he walked in on me and—”

He sat up straighter, realizing he probably shouldn’t have but it was too late. Asmo’s eyes lit up and he turned to him.

“Walked in on you and what? What’d you do?”

“I didn’t do anything,” he said, turning up his chin. “Why you gotta assume I did?”

“Mammon, you just led a mission to go find some mythical creature. You always do something.”

“Oi, I—” Well, he was sort of right. Kinda.

He slouched again, feeling his face start to warm the more he thought about just what happened and rubbed his neck.

“Oo~ something definitely happened.” Asmo scooted closer, nudging him again, “Come on, don’t tease! Spill!” 

“I-I uh…” he blushed further, looking up at the stars. “I um… well he kinda… walked in on me havin’ sex.”

“Oh.”

He closed his eyes, about to breathe a sigh of relief when—

“Wait, WHAT?! When?!”

“A bit ago, just before—”

Asmo was on his feet so fast and grabbed the belts across his chest, yanking him up with him.

“WHEN?” He demanded, shaking him. “When did you- How.. How did you even-?!”

“I- Quit shakin’ me and I’ll tell ya-!”

Asmo dropped him and he landed in the dirt, scowling up at his mystified face.

“What was it like?” He asked, amber eyes starry.

What was it like…

“Um…” he leaned back on his hands, considering his words carefully. “I dunno it felt… good.”

Asmo’s expression grew a touch more annoyed. “Well of course it felt good, everyone knows that, but what was it like?”

He laughed and shrugged, “I dunno, it’s kinda hard to explain.”

Asmo’s eyes narrowed and he shifted his weight to one leg. “I can’t believe you would lie to me about something like that.”

“What?! I ain’t lyin’!”

“Oh please,” Asmo flipped his bangs from his face with a sigh, “There’s no way you’ve had sex and can’t even describe it. You probably just discovered some new fetish and freaked Levi out or something.”

“H-Hey, no that ain’t true!” He got up and threw up his hands. “I just dunno how to describe it, okay? I mean it was sex, but it wasn’t like sex sex, y’know?”

Asmo stared at him blankly. “How do you have sex that isn’t sex sex?”

“I don’t know!”

Asmo sighed and crossed his arms loosely, shaking his head. “Mammon… what even happened?”

“I… well,” He cleared his throat and put his hands on his hips. “They uh… they used their mouth on me.”

“They…” Asmo’s eyes flicked down to his waist, then up to his eyes. “Their mouth?”

“Yeah, but not like the whole time?” He said, face feeling warmer. 

“Ew… why would you…? Hm…” Asmo cupped his chin in thought.

“It felt great,” he said, laughing a little. “But uh… then I um…”

“You what? Made an ass of yourself?” Asmo teased.

“Maybe,” he admitted, shifting his weight. “‘Cause y’know… their mouth was on me a lot so…”

“So…?” Asmo echoed, waiting for him to finish before realization kicked in. “Wait- did you?”

He closed his eyes and nodded, earning a smack on his arm.

“Mammon, that’s so gross!”

“I know, that’s what I thought too! But then—” he clapped a hand over his mouth. No. Shouldn’t say that.

“But then what?” Asmo pressed, ever eager for gossip. “What? What happened? Did you make them sick?”

“N-No, they ah…” He looked away again, watching Cerberus retreat into its shelter. “…swallowed it….”

“They…” Asmo went quiet, processing what he’d just said. He’d expected more teasing, or a scolding, but when Asmo failed to say anything more he stole a glance at his brother.

Asmo was staring at the ground, eyes flicking back and forth as if trying to calculate just how exactly to respond. 

“Ew that’s so hot!” He finally cried, stepping back to fan himself while shifting his weight from foot to foot. “Ewww why would someone do that and how do I find someone to do that with me??”

“Huh?”

Asmo’s eyes focused on him again, a new motive shining through. “Did they say? Did they say why they’d do that?”

“Oh… uh…” he looked up again, reflecting on the conversation you’d had. “They said they… admired me….”

Asmo’s nose wrinkled and he hugged himself, still squirming. “Oh it’s so icky but so sweet I kind of want to try it but ugh oh dear it’s so… so naughty!”

He laughed, and Asmo smacked his arm again.

“Don’t you laugh! Ugh, I can’t believe you found someone first it’s so unfair!”

“Found- what? Whaddya mean unfair? I’m great!”

Asmo rolled his eyes. “Sure, maybe if you say that enough times it’ll be true.”

“Hey!”

He tittered again and sighed fondly, posing himself to be illuminated by the moonlight as he spoke to the stars. “I just can’t imagine you’d charm someone so quickly… especially with me around.”

“At least you’re gettin’ your confidence back,” he muttered under his breath, and Asmo’s fierceness returned so quick it threw him off guard.

“You just watch yourself, mm? You might’ve had first touch, but I’m going to be the Avatar of Lust you know. I can’t have my brothers showing me up.”

“S’that right?” He said with a grin, “What? So you tellin’ me to back off or something? It ain’t my fault I got admirers.”

Asmo raised a brow and poked him in the chest. “Admirer. Just one. One that you haven’t had ‘sex sex’ with yet.”

“Y-Yet? Whaddya mean, ‘yet’? I don’t even know if I’d—” Wait. He coughed and leered back at Asmo. “I mean, you can say you’re Lust all you want, all I know is I kinda want more~”

Asmo gasped. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothin’,” he said innocently, “It ain’t my fault if you can’t find someone to do the same before I do.”

“You… You wouldn’t!”

“Wouldn’t what?” He crossed his arms, “You’re my little brother, you can’t stop me.”

Asmo’s face turned pink and he sputtered a bit. 

It was almost funny, but then he felt a little bad.

“Look, don’t worry about it. I’m just t—”

“Let’s make a bet.”

Bet?

He tilted his head slightly, intrigued.

“What kinda bet?”

Asmo smiled. “Nothing too drastic, just a little bet. Let’s say… whoever gets it first wins and the loser has to… mm…” He pursed his lips and looked back at the house in thought. “Oh! Loser has to do the winner’s chores for a month.”

Not having to do chores for a month? Not a bad outcome.

“Sure,” he said, “why not?”

“Perfect~” Asmo hummed, turning to saunter back inside. “Oh, but one thing to keep it fair.”

“Okay, what’s that?”

“Well~ my charms are rather something, but I’m still figuring them out…” he admitted, “And you with your… admirer… how about we can’t charm or ask, it has to be offered?”

He considered that, reflecting on the way you…

He swallowed.

“Y-Yeah, that’s fine.”

Asmo clapped his hands. “Oh yay! I can’t wait to have a whole month free to myself!”

“Yeah, keep dreamin’,” he teased, following after him. 

————

Over the next few days all was quiet and simple, nothing too exciting. More exploration of the village nearby while Lucifer’d wander off with Diavolo to discuss thoughts about establishing RAD and what it could mean for the future. Lots of big ideas without a lot of direction or history to go off of, but whenever Mammon overheard or Lucifer shared some of the discussions with him, he couldn’t help feeling a little more… hopeful.

Maybe becoming a demon really wouldn’t be so bad. 

Especially since some demons seemed to be kinda sorta fun.

He did try his best to create space whenever you were called by one of his brothers. Somehow even Satan seemed to have taken a liking to you, and your visits had an impact on how often he’d throw his fits. Levi had been growing fond too, but after… that he didn’t seem as keen to seek your guidance. 

Mammon couldn’t help feeling a little bad about that, but when he saw you reaching out to the twins too it was easier to let it go. He’d figure out how to make it up to Levi some day, at least once he quit bolting out of the room whenever you and he were present.

It was… nice. Real nice. Experiencing yet another demon in this world, not quite like Diavolo or Barbatos where decorum was expected to some degree. You were sassy. You were funny. You were sometimes a little bit scary when you’d scold, but you were always… so kind after. Willing to explain, to understand.

Which made it all the more frustrating too.

Whether Asmo had put two and two together or not, your charms even enticed the fifth born to try and sway your fancy. Once you’d offered to show him around to your favorite shops it was like you were joined at the hip. He’d even painted your nails and excitedly told you why he enjoyed it so much.

It was nice to see his brothers making friends, but… this feeling inside…

‘We can’t charm or ask, it has to be offered.’

“Yeah, but I wanna ask so bad…” he muttered under his breath, scrolling through his D.D.D. and trying to figure out how to use it to find recipes. It was his turn to make dinner this time, but he’d never been that good at cooking even in the Celestial Realm. Stuff just wasn’t… none of these ingredients looked familiar, and a whole lot of things seemed poisonous or deadly. How’d anyone even figure out how to eat this stuff without dying?

He could… maybe ask you for help. You were their attendant after all, right? Wasn’t it your job to help him figure this stuff out?

He chewed his lip, swiping across to the Demmunication app and lingering on your contact name. Technically, he could figure out how to make dinner on his own but…

But…

Why… not ask you to…

“Whatcha lookin’ at so hard?” 

“Ack!” He jumped, startled by your voice and nearly dropping his D.D.D. “What the- Where’d you come from?”

“Cocytus Hall?” You said blankly, walking into the kitchen with your hands behind your back. “Duh, that’s where I live.”

He tsked and put his D.D.D. in his back pocket, “That’s not what I meant.”

“Mm… is it not?” You teased, sidling up to the counter and looking over the various vegetables and whatever the fuck he found at the market that looked… good? Was it good? He had no clue. Some of it was cool colors though so that had to mean it’d taste good, right? “Beel asked me to come over, he said it was an emergency.”

“An emergency? Is he okay?”

You laughed and met his eyes, “Oh yeah, he’s fine, he just got worried.”

“Worried? About what?”

You leaned on the table and gave him a sly grin. “You cooking dinner.”

“I- what!” His face heated, “That ain’t an emergency!”

You laughed and shrugged, “Hey don’t get mad at me, I’m just the messenger.”

He scowled and considered asking Beel just what exactly was wrong with him cooking dinner, but…

“Well uh… if you’re here anyway….” He said, glancing at you through the corner of his eye and gesturing to the spread. “What’s somethin’ I can make with all this?”

“Mm…” you hummed in thought, picking up a few things and putting them down again. “Well… I’ve never seen all these things used together in a single dish, but…” A light flickered in your eyes and you held up a devionion. “Could you dice this for me? We could make a few dishes to serve together.”

“Sure but they’re not gonna all be the same size,” he said, making you laugh again. 

“That’s fine, just do your best,” you said, picking up a carton of hellshrooms and walking over to the sink to wash them. “The closer they are in size, the better they’ll cook.”

“Yeah, okay,” he muttered, picking back the papery skin, its deep purple peeling back to expose a bright violet red. He set the devionion down on the board and picked up a knife, then cut it in half. Easy so far. He put one half down in the middle of the board and bit the tip of his tongue, trying to copy how he’d seen others do it before… just a few cuts here… and then there… and a few more…

“Ugh- Why’s everything-” He tipped his head back, blinking back tears as his eyes began to sting. “Seriously, why’s everything gotta be dangerous here?”

You snorted. “Is the devionion too much of a challenge for you?”

“I didn’t say that!” He snapped, but a new wave hit and he reached up to rub his eyes with the back of his hand.

“Aw…” Your voice was light with thinly veiled laughter. “It’s okay, sometimes they still make me cry too.”

“I ain’t cryin’, my eyes hurt,” he grumbled, leaning against the counter.

“Here, let me take that,” you said, reaching around him to pick up the board. He couldn’t see it, but the sizzles and pops testified the accursed vegetable was frying inside.

“Not bad, honestly,” you said, stirring in with a pinch of salt. “A little chunky, but mostly even.”

He blinked again, quickly wiping away a stray tear. “Yeah? Well chopping stuff isn’t so hard it’s all the other stuff that is.”

You chuckled and nodded to the pile of hellshrooms, “Would you mind chopping those up too for me?”

He squinted, your smile mischievous. “Are they gonna hurt too?”

“No,” you laughed, “Sure some of the stuff here is a hassle to work with but I promise the hellshrooms are fine.”

“Okay…” He picked up the knife again while you set the board in front of him. “How am I supposed to chop ‘em?”

“Just in chunks,” you said, placing the hellshrooms down beside him. “About the same size as the devionion.”

“Okay…” he said again a little skeptically, picking up one hellshroom and cutting it up. “This seems weird, what’s it for?”

You hummed and walked around him again, picking through the pantry for a few items before returning to his side and mixing them in a small bowl. 

“We’re making sandwiches,” you said, sprinkling in some seasonings and stirring the sauce.

“These’re gonna be some real weird sandwiches,” he muttered, grabbing another handful of hellshrooms to chop.

“What~?” you teased, leaning into him with a nudge. “You don’t trust me?”

“I didn’t say that,” he said, feeling his face start to warm again. “Just… never made sandwiches like this before.”

You hummed softly, “I think that’s enough, can you add them to the pan?”

“Oh, really? I still had some left, but okay,” he said, turning to dump them into the pan. Should he… stir it too? He glanced at you, but you were still mixing something so he shrugged and picked up the spoon, nudging the veg around a bit. Yeah, that seemed about right.

“Mammon, do you want a taste?” You asked, and he turned only to nearly bump into you.

“W-When’d you get so close?” He asked, stepping back and catching himself on the counter while you stepped closer, a dab of sauce dripping down your finger.

“Hm?” You tilted your head, stepping so close any closer and he might feel you against him. “I’m just offering you a taste~” you cooed, holding your finger up. “Don’t you want to try what we’re making?”

“I-I…” He glanced from your finger to your lips, tempted. “I-isn’t that kinda…?” 

“Kinda what?” You murmured, reaching up to touch his chest. “Weird~?”

He swallowed, the sauce running further down your finger and making him… want…

“You’re so cute,” you mused, meeting his eyes as you brought your finger to your lips, soft tongue peeking out to glide up and lick it clean. “So very cute~”

“Oh… fuck…” he whispered.

You smiled and leaned in closer, pressing your chest against him. “What? No sassy comeback?”

So close.

His wings began to curve around you, his heart rate picking up.

“Comeback for what?” he asked, eyes drifting down to your lips again.

And oh the way his heart leapt when you smiled.

“I missed you,” You cooed, leaning against the counter with your hands at either side of his waist, trapping him despite your shorter stature. “You haven’t been avoiding me, have you?”

“Avoiding you? What? No,” he laughed and turned his gaze up, the heat he’d felt before starting to return. “Don’t be silly, I ain’t avoidin’ ya, I just figure you’re busy.”

“Mm…” You lifted yourself up on your toes, resting your cheek against his shoulder and sighing fondly into his neck. “It has been a lot of work lately…”

He swallowed, flapping his wings in short little bursts.

“I don’t think I’ve really been able to… unwind… in a while either…”

“Well then-” He gripped the counter’s edge, your lips so soft on his neck. “Th-Then why don’t you take the day off? I can fi-hi—”

You wrapped your arms around his neck, pinching him with a sharp little bite.

“Are you really asking me to go?” You pouted, stepping between his legs and rubbing yours up his thigh. “Mammon, can’t I stay?”

“Y-You can do whatever you want,” he said, staring up at the ceiling. 

You giggled and stepped back, “Mammon, look at me~”

He hesitated and you giggled again, letting your hands slip from his neck and down his chest. 

“So cute~”

“Would ya quit callin’ me cute?” He said, finally meeting the mischief in your eyes. “I am a demon too y’know.”

“Right,” you tilted your head slightly, a spark in your eyes. “But aren’t demons a little… weird?”

The look on his face must’ve been amusing, because you stepped back and covered a more genuine laugh. “Oh it’s fine~ everyone’s a little weird, you know? Besides,” you reached out to touch just above his navel, drawing a slow circle around it. “I used to think the Celestial Realm was pretty weird… until I met you.”

A subtle shiver ran through his body, but if he was being honest it was the way it made you smile that really tickled. That seductive, sinful smile…

He swallowed again, his grip on the countertop relaxing.

“What’s so… weird about the Celestial Realm?”

“Oh lots of things,” you said, drawing idle shapes without a care while the tickling began pulsing the further down your touch flirted. “It’s a place I’ve never been, even just thinking about a place where the sun always shines is strange, don’t you think?”

“I mean… it’s always dark here,” he muttered, and you laughed. Ugh, was laughter supposed to tickle too?

“True~ but you know one thing I thought was interesting?” You asked, turning your palm to rest on his stomach and gazing at him with such sweet eyes. “I had no idea angels could fuck,” you said, amusement glittering. “I thought they were all just… prudish or oblivious.”

“I- well-” He blushed and turned his face aside. “It ain’t like we don’t know how stuff works, it’s just not… we- I mean they- they ah, uh…”

“Hey, Mammon?” Your fingers slipped under the hemline of his pants. “Would you… help me unwind a little?”

His grip tightened on the countertop again, the tightness down below even more aggravating when he felt your fingers ghost just shy of his cock.

“H-How would I… help ya with that?” he asked, trying but failing to keep cool.

“Mm…” Your thumb caressed him so lovingly it felt dirty wanting it lower. “Maybe… let me admire you again? I had so much fun last time~”

He wheezed out a laugh, glancing at you through the corner of his eye. “Again? Really?”

“I mean… only if you want me to,” you said with a shrug, “we don’t have to.”

“No, I want to,” he said a little too quick. “B-But ah, y-yeah, we don’t have to.”

You smirked and stepped away to give the hellshrooms a stir. “You’re so cute.”

“Would you quit—” He held his tongue when you glanced over your shoulder, that smirk still plain as day on your face. He looked away. “Never mind.”

You merely shrugged and began to busy yourself with the rest of dinner prep, humming an idle tune all the while. The way you moved around the kitchen was so confident and self assured, picking through the items he’d picked up and separating them into different piles. Maybe Beel was right and this was an emergency, he’d had no idea how to put anything together and you made it look so easy.

And…

There was something about…

It didn’t happen every time, but after a bit he realized it wasn’t some trick of the light or something in his eyes. Every now and then he’d see a flicker of light, like a subtle glow was housed just under your skin. Sometimes it’d shine in your eyes too, and those flickers made him feel real funny. But other times it appeared lower in your chest, and it felt… different when he saw it there.

What did it mean? Was he seeing things?

“Whatcha thinking about so hard?” you teased, cutting a few devispuds into wedges. “Do you not like fries?”

“Huh?” He blinked and shook his head. “No I was just… uh, is it… normal for demons to glow sometimes?”

“Glow?” You repeated, looking up at him. “Oh, you mean the Eyes of Greed?”

“The… what?”

You smirked and set the knife down, then pointed to your chest. “Demons of Greed can sometimes see the essence of the soul. It’s part of your charm.”

“Part of my… charm?”

You nodded and lined the devispud wedges onto the pan, “Yep. You’ll have to learn how to read it of course, but the sparkles can give you ideas of what a person values so you can… well… use it to negotiate and things.”

He watched you open the oven door and place the pan inside. “That doesn’t sound fair.”

“Doesn’t it?” You asked, shutting the door but still bent over, smirking at him as you swayed your hips to the side. “I think it is~ it’s a gift among curses, all demons have them.”

He felt himself warming again, the way you were leaning…

He closed his eyes and crossed his arms, folding his wings more inward around his hips. 

“Is that why you can mess with me? You can see?”

“Mm… no, I’m actually unspecialized right now. I do like Greed, but…” 

Your steps approached him again, the familiarity of sensing you nearby made his heart skip half a beat. He opened his eyes again to see you grinning up at him coyly, hands behind your back.

“I do really enjoy Lust too~”

“O-Oh you do, huh?”

“Mhm~” You tilted your head slightly. “It’s flattering to know I’m desired, you know?” You reached out to touch his arm, focusing your attention on it while you caressed his sleeve. “It’s nice to indulge.”

“Yeah… that makes sense,” he said, relaxing a bit.

You chuckled, “‘That makes sense’, you’re so cute.”

“I’m not—”

“You know what else is fun about Greed though?” You asked, taking another step closer just shy of pressing against him again. “Greed has its own… thrill,” you murmured, lightly trailing your fingertips up his side. “A risk of loss or reward.”

He shivered and you took the opportunity to reach behind in your back pocket. 

“Would you want to play a little game with me, Mammon?”

“A… sure? What kinda game?”

You smiled and took a step back, revealing a single Grimm coin in your hand. “I’d love to make you feel good again, but you seem awfully shy—”

“Oi, I ain’t shy!”

You laughed, “Right. Anyway,  why don’t we turn it into a game? If you call the coin toss right I’ll make you feel real good, and if you don’t,” you shrugged, “I’ll just finish up dinner and be on my way.”

“I…” That actually sounded… kinda good. “But shouldn’t I do something for you too?”

Your eyes glittered with mischief, and you reached out to touch his inner thigh, massaging deep into the muscle making his cock ache. 

“I like to be desired first~” you purred, “It’s more fun that way.”

“You…” His face heated and he crossed his arms, knowing damn well what you were doing but refusing to admit he’d caught on. “Fine, yeah. Coin toss sounds good.”

You grinned and flipped the coin high into the air, caught it, then slapped it on the back of your hand. “Alright,” You shifted closer and placed your knee between his legs, rubbing his thigh with your own. “Call it~”

“Tails,” he said, not wanting to overthink it.

Or overthink how badly he wanted to be right.

“Tails,” you repeated, rubbing your thigh higher up his leg. “Mm~ let’s see if you’ll get lucky.”

“Oi, c’mon don’t do that unless I won—”

Your eyes flicked to his again, alight with glee. “Why? Do you want to win?”

“I—” He blushed, this heat inside made it so hard to think straight. “Quit teasing and just tell me if I won or not!”

You giggled and sidled closer, your hip pressed right against his groin as they swayed with a gentle stroke. “Oh dear~ what happens if you lost? Will you be upset?”

“Of course not! Just show me the coin.”

“Mm…” your tail wound around his leg as you leaned back against his chest, gazing up at him innocently. “Promise you won’t be mad if you lose?”

Flustered, he couldn’t think of what to say, your tail stroking his calf so affectionately.

“I-I ain’t gonna get mad over some game.”

You beamed, tail giving his leg a little squeeze. “You’re so cute~”

“Would you quit—”

“It really is such a shame,” you continued, turning in to face him. “I wanted so badly for you to win, but…” You revealed the coin, showing it was heads up. “Too bad, huh?”

Too bad.

Too…

“Damn,” he said, wings falling slack. He’d wanted to win too, but it was almost a relief to not—

You grabbed the hem of his pants and pulled him forward, startling him.

“H-Hey wait, what’re you—”

You dropped the coin down his pants, the cold of the metal ice on his skin. 

“Well, I don’t need it anymore so you can have it,” you said with an idle shrug, turning on your heel as your tail unwound from his leg. “Consider it a consolation prize.”

“A consol- Oi! The hell was that for?! It was cold!”

You stopped with your back to him, tilting your head to the side.

“… Chopped nuts…”

He clapped his hands over himself, “Wh-What?!”

You looked over your shoulder with amusement, pointing at a bowl. “I said, could you pass me the chopped nuts?”

He scowled and reached over to grab the bowl, handing it to you before walking off. “I’m gonna go take a shower.”

“Yeah, you do that,” you teased, “I’ll finish up dinner.”

——

Mammon couldn’t make it to the bathroom soon enough, the ache almost starting to feel… sore. Luckily no one else was in it, and he locked the door behind him before stripping down then turned on the water and just.

“Fuck.”

He stepped into the shower, letting the hot water roll down his back. His cock didn’t… hurt but it felt…

He tsked, noticing an imprint of the coin on his thigh. 

“Cheeky demon,” he muttered, staring at his cock and watching it twitch. Why wouldn’t it go down? It felt so swollen, so sore, so…

He touched two wet fingers to the bottom side, stroking up his length while fantasizing about your tongue. That delicious, luscious, sinful tongue… so soft and wet… 

“So… warm…” he murmured, wrapping his fingers around his cock and starting to stroke. This body… wasn’t like the body he used to have… everything felt… more.

He groaned, leaning forward against the wall and closing his eyes.

More.

The way your eyes lit up whenever he’d fall for your teasing.

The subtle purse of your lips as you blew on the spoon before tasting for seasoning.

The way your moans tickled his cock as you swallowed it down your throat.

“Fuck,” he grit his teeth, chasing that high.

More.

Seeing you nestled between his legs, nuzzling him with—

His lower abdomen clenched, the swelling ache rising.

Cumming so hard only to watch you swallow it down, suckling him clean before you’d raised your head…

Why…

Had that been…

So…

“Fuhhhck…” he moaned, stroking himself faster. Almost. Just a little—

All he wanted was—

“Hh… hahhh…” He breathed out before his eyes rolled back, pumping his cock until he came, the euphoria of relief erasing all thought from his mind. 

Just…

Bliss.

Bliss…

The water continued to rain down,  and he leaned his cheek against the cool tile, reveling in the feeling. Hot and cold. Raw and numb.

Cumming had never felt anything like this before…

And…

He shivered, glancing down at himself and unable to help imagining you kneeling there, even rolling hips a few times for good measure.

Cumming could feel… even better…

He chuckled to himself, feeling a little clearer headed while he finished cleaning up. Maybe being a demon really wouldn’t be so bad. 

The shower helped too, and once he’d dried off he began to redress, pulling up his pants while a golden glint caught his eye.

The coin.

That damn coin.

He’d had a fifty-fifty shot and that stupid coin!

He picked it up, flipping it over in his hand.

Well, at least they let him…

Wait a second.

He threw open the door and ran down to the kitchen, unable to find you there before he checked the dining hall where you, Asmo, Beel, and Belphie were sitting down to eat. You were giving Belphie a plate to send up to Levi.

“Could you bring this up to him for me? He won’t answer the door when I go up there?”

“Ugh, do I have to? I’m so tired…”

“Please, Belphie?”

Belphie sighed and picked up the plate, “Fine… I’ll be back.”

“Thank you~” you cooed, giving him a little hug while plating up a pile of sandwiches for Beel, “Now Beel, you’ll have to tell me what you think so I can—”

“Oi!” He strode in, holding up the coin. “What’s this?!”

“Well hello there, Mammon.” Asmo teased, holding his chin in his hand. “Did you forget to finish getting dressed?”

“Shaddup,” he said, stopping in front of you.

You looked from the coin to him, your smile giving away what your voice did not.

“Why, it’s a single Grimm coin, Mammon.”

“No it ain’t,” he said, holding it up in front of you. “It’s got two faces!”

“Oh wow would you look at that.”

“Would y-” He growled, holding the coin in his fist. “That means you cheated! There was no way it was gonna be tails!”

Asmo gasped and looked between the two of you, “Wait, what happened?”

You merely shrugged and turned to pull out a chair. “Nothing really, just teaching Mammon some demon games.”

“It ain’t a game if I have no chance to win!” he protested, and you looked up at him with a smirk.

“Nonsense~ you had equal chance to say heads.”

Asmo laughed, “Oh~ that’s clever! Do you know any other demon games?”

“I know plenty,” you said, giving Asmo a wink. “I’d love to show you some time.”

“R… Really?” Asmo asked, his face turning a little pink. 

“Now wait just a sec—”

“Sit down, Mammon,” you said, patting the open seat beside you. “Come have dinner before it gets cold.”

“I- but—”

You raised a brow, that mischievous light shining in your eyes yet again.

“Ugh…” He sat down heavily, trying to not sulk too much. 

He should’ve said heads.

Dammit, he should’ve said heads.

“Let me know what you think,” you said, reaching out to pinch his knee. “I worked really hard on it~”

“Mammon, are you getting sick? Your face is looking rather flush~”

“Shaddup Asmo, yours is too!” 

“It is not!”

You snickered and refilled your glass of Demonus, lounging back in your seat while demons bickered around you. He tried to not look too much. Tried to not think too much. Tried to not ache too much as your throat flexed, swallowing the Demonus down, wishing it’d been…

“Is that enough or do you want more?” 

“Huh?”

You smirked, gesturing to his plate. “If you want more you might want to hurry,” you said, nodding to Beel who was four sandwiches in.

“It’s sh’o good,” Beel said happily, sauce smeared on his face. “What’s in it? There’s a spiciness I really like.”

“I’ll write the recipe down for you, Beel,” you said cheerfully, either unaware or expert at playing coy.

Asmo, though, seemed to catch on more than he would’ve liked, leaning back to smirk at him out of your line of sight.

He scowled at him and picked up a sandwich, pointedly ignoring all of them as he took a bite.

Damn.

Who would’ve guessed hellshrooms could taste so good?

[mysteriouslyjovialcolor]

Mexico 2024

-I’m calm, I’m calm, I’m calm, I’m so calm

-I LIED, I AM NOT CALM

-Aaaaaaaah, okay let’s go (The race doesn’t even start until two minutes from now)

-Valterri holds the race record here as well? Asking once again why he’s in a Sauber

-Esteban from the pit lane? What happened there?

-Okay, okay, okay can’t think anymore, we’re starting

-Max!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Yuki???? Whaaaat??

-Carlos where are you going???

-Ohmygod Safety Car

-Alex out too!!

-Aaah so much chaos!!!!

-Oh that replay makes the crash looks so much worse then it looked before

-Oh wow, well done Checo. That was unexpected.

-“Unfortunately for Yuki Tsunodo, I don’t think he did anything wrong there” WHYYY

-“Sergio Perez is being investigated for a false start” I- I take whatever I said before back

-Cars weaving behind the safety car>>>

-I’m surprised Oscar hasn’t gained positions yet

-Franco has though!

-Ah Carlos!!

-The top three are so close together now!! Top four I think actually!!

-Oh god, not again with these two!

-Charles???? Ever the opportunist!!

-“Both Verstappen and Norris have handed this on a silver platter to Ferrari”

-10s penalty for Max

-Red Bull just catching Ls this week

-“10! That’s impressive!” This guy

-George and Lewis!

-Ferrari teammate drama incoming?

-Fernando Alonso retiring??? Oh his 400th race weekend?? So unfortunate

-“Keep it clean. You have a good place. Keep it clean” Oh we’re racing babyyy

-“Quite an impressive job the Haas team are doing” yessss!!

-Liam and Checo!! Oh I’m loving how much drama is happening here right now

-Wow Checo is really driving hard

-20s penalty. I will cry

-Oscar and Franco?!! Yessss! Omg this is so exciting!!

-Back to crying

-Yay Oscar! Mans just moves in silence

-So much crying. Why am I still watching?

-“This is turning into a nightmare weekend for Red Bull. A lot of it, no, in fact all of it, self-inflicted” Big sigh

-Hate when any of the Haas drivers pit and then they lose position and then sometimes they don’t regain position and then I’m sad

-Can’t afford to be more sad than this, need at least my midfielders to do well

-At least Max is back in the points. We can be somewhat happier.

-If you had told me that the multi-championship drivers (Lewis and Max) might be about to race each other I would think they’d be racing for top positions and not for p5 or p6

-Oh Charles potential undercut on Carlos? Him winning would cause so much drama, I feel it. (I secretly want it)

-“One more lap guys, come on, one more lap”

-So much pit stop strategy afoot

-I was distracted, how is Lawson p4??

-Not him still fighting Oscar

-“Mate think about pulling me out of this” I feel you Oscar (I actually don’t but I can empathize)

-Liam “cork in the bottle” Lawson!

-Yess Oscar!! Lewis too!! Double overtake!!

-Kinda expected there to be more of a fight between Max and Franco

-How has Max done a better recovery drive than Checo? What’s wrong with Checo’s car fr

-“I had a big misfire out of Turn 3” ???

-Nico back in points 🎶

-Aww Franco having car problems :/

-I guess the people are about to get what they want and Oscar is about to play the team game

-“McLaren not trying to use him to hold off Max Verstappen in any way shape or form” I’m so confused???

-Go Kevin Magnussen!!!

Ohmygodd Nico back up too!!

-Why do these two always run together?? It’s hilarious how evenly matched they look

-“Miserable Mexican Grand Prix for Sergio Perez” I feel for that guy, I really do

-“Taking away fastest lap” The things Daniel Ricciardo does to the sport

-“20s gap back to Russel” Mercedes?? Fight back??

-Franco and Oscar pt2! He’s so impressive, Franco

-“George, we are free to race here. Let’s give each other room”

-“There’s young Kimi Antonelli” He’s so tiny!

-Franco fast lap. I hope he gets to keep it this time.

-How is Lewis stuck behind George for so long?

-Aah no!! Nico lost a place :(

-Oh god Charles vs Lando incoming. I can’t watch this

-“We need your best driving now, let’s go” Aaaaaaaah

-Seriously, how is Lewis still stuck behind George?

-“In the olden days, they would’ve done something about this at Mercedes” Righttt

-Poor Franco, lost the fast lap again

-“This is not going to be the easiest fight in the world, up against Charles Leclerc”

-Aaaaaaaaaaah

-I’m actually going to cry

-OHMYGOD NO!!!

-That could’ve been so much worse tho, at least he got back in

-Haas is having such a good race, I’m so happy

-Have to acknowledge George’ defense…

-Finally!!!! Let’s go Lewis!!!

-If Carlos wins this race, it would be his second race with Lando coming 2nd (…I would have two pennies, which wouldn’t be a lot but it’s strange that it happened twice…)

-“Chasing down the man he started a bromance with” Carlando alive and kicking

-Liam Lawson fast lap lol

-“Only man to have won from pole position”

-Lol fastest lap contest

-“He’s not playing second fiddle to anyone is Carlos Sainz”

-Let’s go!!! He manifested this!!!! He got his one last win in Ferrari!!!!!

[siobhans-world]

A little fanfic I wrote. A romantic picnic:

“Ah! See Crowley, I told you we’d go for a picnic someday” Aziraphale said as he wafted the tartan picnic blanket down to the ground “Are you sure you want to pick this spot? It's very secluded here, although the view is beautiful, there are more people over there…”.

“Maybe I just want to be alone with you, angel, it's been so long since we've been alone” Crowley retorted quickly. He sat down on the blanket, shaded by trees and looked out at the beautiful lake in front of him.

“Quite right” Aziraphale nervously agreed “Let me pour you some wine”

Aziraphale opened up his luxurious hamper and anxiously poured Crowley a little glass of red wine. His eyes flitting between the glass and Crowley. He marvelled at Crowley's form as the ex-demon stretched out his long legs on the blanket, his jeans tightening and leaning back onto his elbows, a little portion of his torso peeking out above the rim of his jeans. He clearly wasn't dressed for a picnic, but it didn't matter.

Aziraphale, catching himself, his eyes lingering in that area, quickly glanced away and handed Crowley the glass. Their fingers touched in passing and Aziraphale flinched away much too dramatically. He wanted so much to touch and hold Crowley, but he was also aware that Crowley was still hurt by their first kiss. There was much to talk about and wounds to heal, and a confident Aziraphale felt finally ready to share his feelings. He was hoping it wasn't too late.

Crowley smelled his wine and sipped, looking out at the view. He watched Aziraphale as he reached in the hamper for cheese and grapes. “It's been a while since I've eaten human food” Aziraphale smiled excitedly and he went to take a bite of the cheese.

“No you don't do it like that, here, let me show you” and Crowley reached for the food “You pair the cheese with the grapes, see” Crowley leans towards Aziraphale “open your mouth” and a flushed Aziraphale let Crowley feed him. It was mind-blowing. Suddenly he was ravenous, and all he wanted was to eat and drink and be with Crowley. He was so happy to be back on Earth with the man he loved. The one person that made everything better.

Aware that Crowley's fingers touched Aziraphale's mouth to feed him and then Crowley had sucked his own fingers clean, felt very erotic. Aziraphale had to contain himself.

“We need to talk” Crowley said, bringing Aziraphale back down to earth. He still hadn't looked at Aziraphale since they got there and he was very guarded in his posture. He looked out to the lake and continued “I'm sorry… about what happened in your bookshop that day… I scared you and it's not really how I pictured it going… but you don't have to worry, it won't happen again, I just want you to be happy”.

Aziraphale stared out at the water, slightly irritated, wanting to grab Crowley and make out with him right there, “Please, Crowley… Can I tell you something?” he inched closer to Crowley.

“I've thought about that moment over and over, replaying in my mind how badly I… we both handled it, and if you’d turned around after you left… well…” he stifled “I might have… I’m sorry I'm not good at this” he choked back the lump in his throat and poured himself a wine “Well, we’ve never been very good at communicating have we?” they both laughed and briefly locked eyes then looked out to the water again, taking in the breeze.

“I mean you never said… you never told me you loved me” Aziraphale paused, thinking he'd scared Crowley. Crowley downed his glass of wine “I have, angel. Every time I’ve told you I won't leave you on your own, it means I love you. Whenever I've rescued you and there have plenty of those occasions, it means I love you, that was my way…”

“Because I do Aziraphale, I love you” Crowley looked down a catch in his throat “I still love you”

Aziraphale’s heart skipped a beat. He put a finger under Crowley's chin and turned his head so that they could face eachother. He gently removed Crowley's glasses, set them down to take in Crowley's beautiful yellow eyes. Crowley's skin tingled where Aziraphale touched him, just wanting to kiss him again, but also guarding himself nursing a still broken heart. He had nothing left to lose.

“I need you to look at me when I say this, because I want you to know…” Aziraphale said softly, building up courage “I don't want you to be sorry about kissing me. If we ever get the chance to do that again I would wrap my arms around you and I'd never let you go…” Aziraphale continued reasoning with himself ”I've been in love with you for a long time… I've wanted to kiss you for 6 thousand years… and I didn't realise how much I buried my feelings until… maybe the 1940’s?” he thoughtfully questioned himself and smiled, and Crowley smiled back. “Since then it's just been… well” Aziraphale breathed heavy “I wake up and I think about you, I go to sleep and I think about you. It's hard” Crowley spat his wine in surprise and giggled. “Oh you know what I mean, Crowley” Aziraphale sighed and playfully pushed him. He continued “And when Beelzebub and Gabriel held hands I had this awful feeling”

“OH I KNOW!” Crowley clapped back “Jealousy, rage inducing jealousy” he threw his head back and lay on the blanket getting comfy “They've had it so easy compared to us”.

“But here we are” Crowley looked up at Aziraphale and held out his hand, gesturing to Aziraphale to hold it. Aziraphale reached out and put his hand in Crowley's, intertwining his fingers with Crowleys, tracing the shape of each of Crowley's fingers and savouring the moment, both of their hands a little warm and sweaty with nerves through the very frank conversation they'd been having.

Crowley tugged at Aziraphale's hand, pulling him down next to him so they could both lie together and look up at the drifting clouds.

They gripped each other's hand tightly, not wanting to let go. It felt right, it felt like the two of them against the world. They lay there for a few minutes just taking in the moment.

Aziraphale eventually turned to his side wanting to take in the sight of Crowley's skin and dazzling eyes in the sunlight “I love you” he whispered, pained and furrowed his brow feeling guilty for how he'd treated Crowley in the past. Crowley turned to his side to face Aziraphale. He put one hand under his head to prop himself up and the other hand on Aziraphale's cheek, caressing his soft skin. Aziraphale's piercing blue eyes made Crowley's feel breathless.

Crowley leaned in and parted his lips, he pulled Aziraphale close and tenderly kissed him, lingering there for a while.

Aziraphale’s whole world stopped, feeling Crowley's soft lips on his. Then they softly parted and Aziraphale inhaled, taking in this magnificent beautiful being, butterflies in his stomach. He twisted his head slightly to kiss Crowley's palm that hadn't moved away from Aziraphale's cheek. The two of them looked deep into each other's eyes, their foreheads now touching. They both smiled widely and sighed. Aziraphale's eyes filled with tears and Crowley wiped them away, pressing his lips to Aziraphale's forehead.

He lay back, pulling Aziraphale onto his chest and wrapping his arms around him. Aziraphale put his head on Crowley's chest, his heartbeat was racing like Aziraphale's. He put his hand on Crowley's stomach and drank in Crowley's warmth and smell. Crowley's hand met Aziraphale's, and their fingers intertwined again. The two lovers held onto each other tightly and felt at ease like they always had when they were together before, but this time they had opened their hearts to each other without any fear. It was a truly perfect day.

[elliebyrrdwrites]

Dramione Blurb #12

If it weren’t for Theo, Ginny might as well be tasting samples of cakes all by herself.

Hermione hasn’t been fully present for lunch. She kept replaying Draco’s words over and over and over.

Nothing is more important than you.

What right did he have, to lob words like that around? He was a vacant spot in her life, filled only by the memory of a kiss that was proceeded by years of torment. Countless sleepless nights. Countless tears.

All because of him.

Why, why did it have to be him? Why couldn’t it be Ron? Or literally anyone else?

She had known, the second he broke that kiss and walked away, that she wouldn't be the same from that point on. He had taken everything she thought she knew and shaken it all up. He had left her shaken. Stricken. Ruined. Sure,

she could have tracked him down but. She didn't.

Because he had kissed her.

He had left her in the hall.

He had never shown his face again.

Until now.

There’s a mad wizard out there, killing witches like her and now he’s here.

More death. More pain. But he was there, always somehow there. Caring! Even if it was through the watchful eyes of Theo Nott.

She felt the room closing in on her.

“I like the almond cake with the almond buttercream.” Ginny said, with a sigh. “But I have at least two cousins who are allergic to nuts.”

“Vanilla cake is always the safest bet.” Theo hummed, idly digging his fork into his slice of cake.

“What do you think, ‘Mione?”

She shrugged, staring down at the red velvet cake in front of her. “Whatever Theo said.” She stood from the table, shoving her chair back. “Sorry, I just need to use the loo.”

Both Ginny and Theo stared up at her. Ginny, more familiar with Hermione’s moods, eyed her with concern. Theo, rightfully so, looked suspicious.

Theo eyed her as she turned to leave, hurrying to the little powder room in the back of the bakery but she could hear Theo’s chair sliding out, his steps echoing off the tiled floor as he followed.

She pressed her back to the door as soon as it shut and locked. And she struggled to slow her breathing, counting on each breath in. One, two, three, four. She held it, and slowly exhaled it for another four counts.

She needed fresh air. She needed to get time alone. Away from Theo’s watchful eye.

There’s a window in the bathroom. She uses it, nearly destroying her red silk blouse and definitely ruining her hair in the process.

Hermione only makes it to the corner of the back of the building when she runs straight into Theo. Her cheek slams into his hard, broad chest, causing her to stumble backwards.

“Ow.” She glares up at him, rubbing the side of her face.

Theo merely lifts an eyebrow at her. “Going somewhere, Granger?”

Behind him, Ginny was peaking from around his shoulder, grinning broadly at her.

“Apparently, not.”

“You’re freaking out.” Ginny sang, stepping around Theo.

“I am not.”

“Why are you freaking out?” Theo asked, assessing her with a lift of his eyebrow, a tilt of his head.

“Why?!” Hermione hissed. “Oh, I don’t know.” She threw her hands up. “I’m the ideal candidate for a psycho’s absurd obsession.” She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin. “Not to mention there’s a serial killer out there targeting witches like me.”

Ginny snorted.

“Ah,” Theo nodded. “I see what you did there.”

“Harry likes him. But he did mention that he is very intense. Quite smitten.” Ginny said.

Hermione exhaled through her nose, feeling her nostrils flare, like some sort of angry cow. “It’s preposterous.”

“Is it, though?” Theo murmured.

“It is, actually.”

“It’s very bizarre.” Ginny agreed.

Theo’s brow lifted as he shrugged. “You can be quite lovely.” He paused. “At times. When you aren’t sneaking away or biting and kicking.” He looked at Ginny. “I mean that literally, by the way.”

Ginny grinned. “I know it.”

“Some might even prefer a little bit of violence in their women.”

“I bet Draco likes his women rough.” Ginny said a little bit too enthusiastically.

Hermione scoffed. “You sound excited by the prospect of me and Draco.”

“I am.”

“I thought you were all about me and Ron getting back together.”

Ginny shrugged. “That was before a literal Knight in shining dragon hide leather showed up to keep you safe.”

“Are you talking about me, or Draco?” Theo grinned.

Hermione snorted.

“What I’m trying to say is,” Ginny started with a pointed glare at her. “If you had told me about him kissing you all those years ago, I would have been Team Draco!”

“But Ron is your brother and Draco is...” Hermione sputtered. “Draco!”

“Isn’t he?” Theo nodded his head, thoughtfully.

“Malfoy is quite funny, from what I hear. And he’s intense. I bet he’s intense in bed, too.”

“He told me my face is infuriating!” She argued, simply to ignore the flare of heat rushing into her face. Just the thought of having his attention on her while naked was enough to make her feel breathless. “Just today, he told me that red looks hideous on me!”

Theo pursed his lips and assessed the red blouse she wore tucked into her black pencil skirt. She might not have been insulted if she hadn’t meticulously picked her outfit out, dressed in a skirt when she usually wore pants, because she knew there was a chance she would see him.

“You do realize that is his way of complimenting you, right?” Theo asked. “I’ve tried to coach him on how to properly court a witch but,” He shrugged. “Draco does things his own way.”

“Yes, I realize he actually means the opposite of what he says but,” Hermione sighed. “The problem I have about this whole thing is that, I do not understand it. How could he feel something so fiercely and stay so far away all this time? How could he have been the absolute worst just to...to....” She was starting to panic.

“Not be the worst?” Ginny suggested.

“Oh, but he is!” She seethed. “He is the worst. He hasn’t once ended a conversation without leaving me, in some way, vexed.” Literally since she had met him, that has been the way of it.

Ginny crossed her arms and tapped at her chin with one index finger. “Maybe you should take him out on a date.”

Hermione snorted and scoffed. All at once. It was impressively unsophisticated. "What an interesting way to deal with the fact that he is literally the worst!"

Theo, though he raised a brow at her reaction, nodded. “It could go well.” He sniffed. “Or rather terribly.”

“I rather think he should take me out on a date, if that unlikely scenario were to play out.”

“Yes, but.” Theo frowned. “We’ve already established that he is the worst.”

“Do it tonight.” Ginny encouraged. “That way Theo and I have something to chat about with you tomorrow when we meet for lunch again.”

“Why are we meeting for lunch again?” Hermione started to smooth out her hair.

“Floral arrangements.”

“I thought we agreed on lavender.”

“Yeah but, to what ratio?” Theo asked her, seriously. “Lavender is fine but it leaves the room lacking for something more. White marigolds.” The added, with a snap of his fingers.

Ginny positively beamed.

“Life is not what I once thought it was.” Hermione murmured.

“It rarely is.”

“So, you’re asking Draco to dinner tonight, right?” Ginny asked as they began walking toward the communal floo’s.

��He’d most likely say something terrible to make her change her mind.” He smirked. “However, I do have a plan.”

[in-class-daydreams]

King of My Heart (Sebastian Sallow x Reader)

Pairing: Sebastian Sallow x Fem!Reader Chapter 1: ...Ready for It? Synopsis: Hogwarts Legacy if Sebastian's Relationship Quest was the main quest. A telling of the in-between, the late nights sneaking around the castle after curfew, sitting on the second floor of the library listening to Sebastian ramble about a book he read, stealing cubes of melon off his plate during breakfast. How we got from "not bad for a beginner" to "there was nobody else, I came alone" to "no matter what happens, I'm glad we met." Alternatively: How your love could pull Sebastian Sallow back from the brink. Told in the style of Percy Jackson, in first-person and with sarcasm. A/N: Starting a new project without finishing the old ones, are we, Aya? Yes. Yes, we are. TW: A lil swearing

Listen, I never wanted to be a witch.

I apologize to all of you romantics who think that the whole thing - Hogwarts, ancient magic, regular magic, being British, fantastic beasts - is all about feeding puffskeins and brewing amortentia. Might I add that the love potion is a bastard to brew, because if it was that easy, it wouldn’t be the most powerful love potion in existence, would it? That, and it’s somewhat unsettling. I, for one, do not always smell like jasmine and citrus. And during my fifth year at Hogwarts especially, I was constantly running through spider-infested caves and fighting dugbogs, and if my soulmate or whoever caught a whiff of that smell, they just might retch.

Speaking of my fifth year, I started off that year like any other new student entering a boarding school where everyone else already knew each other: terrified beyond measure. Of course, I made sure to never let Professor Fig see that. Not that I didn’t trust him, but I was determined to never let him see me slip. Not when he was the only person who ever believed in me.

After everything that happened on the way to Hogwarts from dragons to goblins (I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors about that, right? ) I expected a bit… more? For lack of a better term. I arrived at the Sorting Ceremony late, nearly had an aneurysm on that stool with all those eyes on me, nervously chattered with the magic hat, and sat there, willing myself not to fidget too much.

I sat there feeling like I was somehow sitting incorrectly when the Hat hummed to himself (itself?) and made general thoughtful sounds. He spoke of how I arrived with expectations and preconceptions, and perhaps he was right, though I cared less about the house I’d be put in and more about not standing out too much.

“Ah, a difficult decision, indeed. It is quite different, sorting a fifth-year. You know more about the world and less about yourself than a first-year. And yet, you have a certain sense of – hmm – what is it?”

“Is it ambition?” I offered quietly. “I may seem single-minded, but it is important to go after what you want from life.”

The Sorting Hat made another indecipherable grunting sound.

“Is that how you see yourself, child? Not my first impression, to be frank, but other factors considered, I’ve made my choice. Between the two of us… You would have done well in Gryffindor.”

Would have?

I might have dwelled on the passing statement further had the Sorting Hat not interrupted my thoughts.

“SLYTHERIN!”

Slytherin in all caps! Honestly, I understand that he shouts for the benefit of the enormous room, but the ringing in my ears lingered long after I got it off my head.

I expected a sleepless night after that. I lay in an unfamiliar bed and my mind kept replaying the day’s events like a moving picture show. Behind my eyelids, I kept seeing the carriage crack in half, the swift appearance of the thestrals soon after. My first thought was that they allowed themselves to be seen until I realized they appeared to people who had seen death. I may not have seen the blood and limbs disappear down the dragon’s throat, but I had seen death that day. Looked it in the eye. Watched it wink at me and stick its tongue out as if to say, “If I wanted you, I’d have you.”

I don’t know when I slipped into a dreamless sleep, but before I knew it, it was morning. I blinked my dry eyes and sat up to take in the large, circular room around me. It was neat, thankfully. I didn’t know much about wizard boarding schools, but they sure took color-coding very seriously. From green tapestries to green four-poster beds, at least I would never stumble into the wrong dorm.

I quickly noticed I was alone and, not wanting to be the odd one out even more than I already was, I put on my school uniform. Not to sound uncultured, but I had never had such fine clothing before. Not new, anyway. It took me a while to figure out how to layer everything to sit just right. Placing a hand on my trunk, I took a last look at the ugly yellow coat I wore exactly once. I would never touch it again. Not because it was ugly, but because it was Professor Fig’s present to me. The school had provided school supplies and the like, but Fig took it upon himself to give me something just for me. Color be damned, it was the most beautiful thing I owned.

I stood up from the bed and smooth out my new robes, not a patch or stain to be seen. Taking a deep breath, I made myself a set of goals for the day. Step 1, have your uniform on correctly. From what I could tell, my vest wasn’t on backwards and my skirt wasn’t tucked into my waistband, so I could reasonably consider my first task a success. Step 2, introduce myself to someone. No, Slytherins were ambitious, I would introduce myself to three people minimum. I grimaced at the prospect. But no matter, I had already thought the new number into existence, so three it would be.

Even the hallway was fancy. It had elaborate metal railings on the way to the common room. Crossing the threshold, I reminded myself not to pull a face at the much more crowded than anticipated common room.

Back straight, chin up, shoulders relaxed. Play mysterious, but approachable, I told myself. Starting at that moment, I would begin building my reputation however I pleased. I was a blank slate and I’d be damned if I let such an opportunity go to waste.

“Is that the new fifth year?” someone essentially stage whispered.

“The one that came in late with Professor Fig?” another said.

I resisted the urge to turn and run back into my room. Gossip was apparently popular anywhere. I didn’t know how I could ever have thought otherwise.

“Wow, she’s–” A boy to my right cut himself off when his friend nudged him with his elbow. A moment later, a girl chastised everyone and suggested they give me space. Of course, all this happened as if I couldn’t hear them, but I appreciated the bossy girl immensely.

It was time for me to get on with my self-imposed to-do list and introduce myself to some people. I gave myself some leeway by excluding the rumor-mongers from my list of candidates. There was a boy with a book by the fire, whom I made a beeline for.

Damn, I thought to myself, he’s reading. Why would you walk up to one of the only actively occupied people in the room? To my further dismay, as I got closer I heard the boy muttering to his book, annoyed. Actively occupied and agitated. Excellent choice, I thought. While I racked my brains for an excuse to abruptly change course this close, the boy looked up and snapped his book shut, placing it on the couch beside him. The fireplace to my left did nothing to keep my hands from getting clammy.

“Can I help you?” the boy asks testily.

Here we go.

On the bright side, he didn’t have to put down his book just to talk to me, so that was a good sign. Maybe he was just one of those people that sounded annoyed all the time. Yeah. That.

“Ah!” he said, the furrow in his brow and frosty tone dissipating immediately. “You’re the new fifth-year! I’m Sebastian Sallow. Welcome to Slytherin.”

Interesting shift in demeanor, I remember thinking.

“Thank you,” I said as cooly as I could muster before introducing myself.

I won’t lie, I blacked out for a lot of that conversation. I could still hear my housemates muttering behind my back and this Sebastian fellow was being very friendly - complimenting my bravery, saying he’s glad I’m alright. He also asked how Professor Fig and I escaped the dragon, to which I replied that it was all a blur, which was a half-truth, and therefore acceptable. I didn’t know how much time I’d be spending with Sebastian Sallow then, and I’d like to say I was enraptured by him since Day 1, but truthfully, as I walked away, I forgot all about him.

Despite having a raging pureblood fanatic and probable woman-hater (he just seems that way, you know?) as a house founder, the Slytherins put me at immediate ease. My next introduction was to a bossy, outspoken girl named Imelda Reyes, a girl with a thick Scottish accent who insisted that she knew more about flying than our professor. From anyone else, it might’ve seemed like lame adolescent bravado, but based on her confidence, I was inclined to believe her. Unlike with Sebastian, I made a conscious effort to memorize Imelda’s name and face. At my ripe age of fifteen going on sixteen, I’d come to find that people that are a pain in the ass make the greatest friends.

After Imelda, I was drawn to the back wall of the common room by a floor-to-ceiling window that gave us a glorious view underwater. A few of my housemates that looked younger than me were pressed up against the glass, excitedly chattering among themselves about mermaids and such.

“Doubt mermaids find us that interesting.” To my left, a posh British accent broke me out of my infatuation with the view. I turned and was immediately struck by how pretty this boy was. He had a soft air about him. Something gentle. Maybe it was the bluish light from the window casting down on him, illuminating his beauty marks and long lashes, but I’d never found anyone of any gender so beautiful before. He had high cheekbones and perhaps most striking were his cloudy gray-blue eyes that did not move like anyone else’s. Framed by lush, light lashes, his demeanor made it seem like his clear blindness made him more perceptive than the rest of us, not less.

His eyebrows raised. “Ah, based on all the chatter when you entered the common room, you’re the new fifth-year. I’m Ominis. Ominis Gaunt.”

I thought that his parents must’ve been quite vindictive to name their child something like that. As my friendship with Ominis progressed, I’d come to regret how right I was.

“Well, you certainly had a memorable arrival,” Ominis said in a conspiratorial tone. I smiled despite my original nervousness. Then he asked me the generic questions about my trip to Hogwarts. Maybe it was because he was blind, but Ominis had a way of making you feel like you had 100% of his focus. Like nothing else mattered to him while he was talking to you. Something about that, along with the soothing cadence of his voice, set me at ease. I never forgot what it was like talking to Ominis Gaunt for the first time. Eager as I was to finish my third introduction to cross it off my list, I found myself asking him questions about himself. Not because I didn’t want our introduction to be awkwardly brief, like I did with the other two, but because I wanted to know more about him. I didn’t have much to go off of, so I asked the first coherent question I could think of.

“Were you expecting to be sorted into Slytherin?” I asked. Hopefully originality wasn’t a graded subject at wizard school.

“Most certainly,” Ominis replied, sounding amused. “My family on my father’s side are direct descendants of Salazar Slytherin - one of the four founders of Hogwarts.” That last bit was common knowledge for most. Not for me, of course, but it didn’t feel condescending coming from Ominis. When he told you things, it was like the information levitated in the air for you to take for yourself, should you want it, rather than him forcing the information on you because he thought you were ignorant.

I figured he was rich. He looked rich, from his aristocratic face and expensive pomade in his hair. And, of course, the posh accent. My past experiences with people from families like his - that is, powerful old money families - were either neutral or bad, usually leaning towards the latter. Never anything traumatizing enough for me to hate the accent, but enough to make me notice how nice it sounded coming from him. I had to remind myself to focus on what the boy was saying, rather than how well words fit in his mouth.

“Not something I’m proud of, mind you. He was obsessed with blood status. A pure-blood maniac.” His tone turned self-deprecating, as if the bigotry of his ancestor was his cross to bear.

I allowed myself to linger on ‘blood stay-tus’ for a single, indulgent moment, before pursing my lips to keep from smiling too hard. I only allowed that one moment, considering how inappropriate it would be to smile at something so personal to Ominis. Not that he could see it, but I decided then that I would never hide behind his blindness for anything.

“Unfortunately, most of his descendants do not fall that far from that tree,” he said softly.

This time, I let the small smile I was holding escape.

“It must’ve been hard growing up like that, but,” the words had burst out of me before I could stop them, but now that I’d said them, it was time to follow through, as I always have. “I’m glad to hear you’re different.”

His eyes widened. “You are?”

I shrugged, not because I felt casual or because I forgot he couldn’t see it, but to keep myself from getting too intense about the family matters of a boy I’d just met.

“I grew up in--” I pursed my lips, but was determined to pay back the personal snippet he’d given me “--less than comfortable circumstances, so I’ve never cared about bloodlines and all that. I think the choices we make are what make us, wouldn’t you say?”

Ominis smiled boyishly. Soft, tentative. “I completely agree.”

I flushed, suddenly shy under his grateful expression. “Yeah, I’m big into the whole ‘free will’ thing. I think we always have a choice.” I did my best to sound more casual as to not let on just how strongly I believed in the power of autonomy, but felt like I failed.

Ominis looked like he wanted to say something else, but I’d already been too intense for one day, and was worried I’d put my foot in my mouth eventually, so I changed the subject.

“Did that student say he thought he heard a mermaid?”

To his credit, Ominis took the subject change in stride. He laughed, sounding just the slightest bit embarrassed and I quashed the stream of funny things my brain dug up just to hear that laugh again.

“Yes. But I’ve never heard of a mermaid showing up outside our common room window,” he replies. I look out the window. “It is fun to play along, though. Been known to keep some of the first-years on the lookout for hours.”

So the rich boy had a mischievous streak. I smiled. He had a gentle, serene aura, and yet was already one of the most vibrant people I had ever met.

I then realized how fast I was being dragged into his orbit. To keep from rendering myself useless for the rest of the day, I thanked Ominis and said, “Very nice to meet you.”

I’ve heard worse understatements. The ocean has a lot of water in it. People breathe air sometimes. My first day at Hogwarts was somewhat eventful. See? Worse.

~~~

While I was grateful to Professor Weasley for introducing the Floo to me, it made me super dizzy for the first several months. Travel magic was not for the tin tummied, to be sure. Not to mention Ignatia Wildsmith hollering a foot away from me every time I used it. She was a happy, friendly woman who made my life easier, so I was grateful to her, but every day I prayed that she would be just a bit quieter.

The Field Guide was useful and prevented me from wandering around the castle with my nose buried in a map like a lost tourist, but even with the guide, Hogwarts was a labyrinth. By the time I reached the Defense Against the Dark Arts Tower, I was breathing deeply through my nose so no one could hear how hard those stairs made me fight for my life.

When I entered the classroom, everyone seemed to already be present. The first thing that caught my eye was an enormous winged skeleton suspended from the ceiling. A bit of a safety hazard if you asked me, but I figured wizard school must’ve had some pretty good safeguards for these kinds of things.

“Stupefy!”

The second thing I noticed was a lanky redheaded boy wearing the Gryffindor colors having a duel of sorts with someone from my house. Someone broader, looking much more relaxed than his opponent. The brunette closer to me deflected the spell easily.

“Is that all you’ve got?” he taunted before whipping his arm around and shooting a bombarda spell at the Gryffindor, who got his shield up in time, but, in my opinion, really should have been able to counter such an obvious move much sooner.

Don’t start, I told myself. Being judgemental was not a good way to make friends. Until you find equally judgemental friends, which is infinitely better, but I didn’t want to show my cards too soon.

The spell was deflected upwards, knocking the large skull loose onto the redheaded boy. Part of me was worried for him, but the other part of me said, “See? Safety hazard.”

Instead of, you know, using magic or moving two steps in literally any direction, the Gryffindor opted to squat down on the floor at the sight of the oncoming skull. For some reason.

“Levioso!”

At the top of the stairs stood an old woman with short white hair, holding her wand out, having caught the skull like it was nothing.

“Professor Hecat!” a girl cried from somewhere in the throng of students.

“Perhaps you’d be good enough to blast each other to pieces on your own time,” she said matter-of-factly. “I get new students every year, but I only have one Hebridium Black skull. It was a token from the Great Poacher Raid of 1878. No doubt you’ve heard of it. Now, you may be asking yourself how an old woman like me single-handedly took out the largest poacher ring in Eastern Wales and lived to boast about it.”

Absolutely, I thought. I want to be like you when I grow up. 

“Knowledge,” Professor Hecat supplied.

Was that like a potion or a mutation or the answer to her question? Are all spells in Latin?

Professor Hecat informed us that age mattered very little in the face of knowledge. I was inclined to agree, and my professor seemed to imply that while being old didn’t equate to being feeble, being young also didn’t equate to being ignorant. She lectured about an important spell that she used during her time against dark wizards, and I took a step forward so I could cling to her every word.

“Levioso?” the redhead whined. “A levitation charm?”

You mean the one you weren’t able to use? The one that the Professor just used to save your bony self from getting crushed by actual bones?

“Levioso!” The boy levitated several feet in the air. “A surprised opponent is a weak one. Care to defend yourself, Master Prewett?”

Ha, eat a dick, Prewett. Then I told myself to be nice, even if the guy seemed like the type to run home to mommy if he could.

From the movement in the corner of my eye, I could’ve sworn that the brunette that had been dueling looked back at me, but I assumed it was a trick of the light.

Professor Hecat let us break off to practice levioso. Professor Fig had taught me the basic spells, and obviously I’d already had my fair share of practice with them. My first spell at Hogwarts was bound to be harder, right?

I mimed the wand movement once. Twice. It was oddly simple. I gestured one more time and said in a clear voice, “Levioso.”

And the feather obeyed without protest. I stared at the floating feather, baffled. There was no way. Basic cast, protego, those were simple, natural spells. They felt like breathing. Other spells had to be more complicated, right? At least, hard enough where it took me more than one try to get it right. Maybe the ancient magic was helping me?

I lowered my wand. Professor Hecat approached on my left and had a whisper of an approving smile on her face.

“Now, let’s try something a little larger.” She summoned a practice dummy over and cleared all the desks. Then she gestured for me to face the dummy. Not one to argue, I stood in line with it and saw a shimmering yellow haze around it. Professor Hecat bid me to strike it with a basic cast.

Okay, but. There’s a forcefield around it. I– You know what, never mind.

I did as she asked and, sure enough, my spell bounced right off.

“See how the dummy deflected your cast?” Professor Hecat asked and I nodded. “This time, cast levioso first, then the basic cast.”

Easy enough. I imagined the end result and let my wand and body guide me through. It moved through me like water, the levioso followed through straight into my basic cast. With the spare energy I had, I whipped my hand back and forth for two more strikes. The dummy flipped in the air before flopping back down with a thud.

“Well done!” Professor Hecat said. “Very good. But!” Because there’s always a ‘but.’  “The best way to practice is by dueling. Well start with you two.”

I looked over to where she was pointing and I finally put two and two together. The tall, broad Slytherin boy that was dueling earlier. Sebastian, I recalled. In my defense, I couldn’t be expected to recognize him from behind after only meeting him once. I fought the savage grin that threatened to rear its head. My blood thrummed in my veins at the prospect of a fight. Something awoke inside me at Gringotts. The surge of power in my veins, the feeling of that final finishing blow, how each movement flowed into each other one after the next. The experience was addicting. For a time, I was worried that I wouldn’t get to feel that surge again.

Sebastian smirked at me. I took note of the freckles scattered across his face. His brown hair was mussed, probably from his duel, but the slightly unkempt look suited him.

“Time for a proper Hogwarts welcome,” he said and took his place across from me.

Oh, it was on.

“Now,” the floor raised below me as Professor Hecat spoke, “I want a fair duel using levioso, basic cast, and protego.”

Damn. I was hoping for a free for all. I wanted to see how my defenses held up against that bombarda spell he used. No matter. With a level playing field, I had the ‘fought for my life less than 24 hours ago’ advantage.

That was the dilemma. I had a reputation to build. Would I absolutely own this boy, bruise his ego, probably make an enemy of him because of it? I would gain the respect of the rest of the class and the professor if I did. Or I could let him win so as to not make waves? I’d have to be careful, as I suspected our wise professor would see through poor acting if I threw the match too hard.

“You may begin.”

I spread my feet in a defensive stance. Sebastian, on the other hand, looked completely relaxed. Waiting for me to make the first strike. Was he being a gentleman or underestimating me? Either way, I’d make sure he never did it again.

I got him up off the ground. He didn’t even have time to try to block it. I hit him with a chain of basic casts before he dropped back down to his feet. Sebastian launched his counter attack. Quick, precise, forceful. Prewett deserved more credit for lasting as long as he did. Sebastian’s arm reared back and time slowed. I interrupted him with a cast of my own, then levitated him off the ground only to blast him off the back of the strip with a dull thud, papers flying around everywhere. The class went up in cheers and I hopped down to weave through the crowd.

Whoops.

Sebastian was still flat on his ass. Any number of reactions were possible. A scowl, a glare. Maybe even tears of embarrassment. Instead, I was met with a wide grin and eyes sparkling with interest. Before I could approach him, he dusted himself off and approached.

��Not bad for a beginner,” he teased. He was trying to seem aloof, but the smile twitching at the corners of his mouth said otherwise. “You give as good as you get.” Then he hummed and walked past me.

Professor Hecat called me over to praise me for a job well done. I stood in front of her, pleased to have her approval.

“I demand excellence from my students. They are capable of achieving it, and they must achieve it,” she said with passion. I had the feeling that Defense Against the Dark Arts would be one of my favorite classes. With the thrill of the fight and an invested instructor, it was everything I could have asked for in an education. She gave me more words of praise and I thanked her before she informed me that she would reach out soon with additional assignments. I couldn’t wait to absorb the vast pool of knowledge she had to offer.

As I made my way to the door, I found Sebastian standing there alone. I suspected that he had matters to discuss with the professor and nearly walked past him.

“Nice work,” he said.

I stopped and turned, surprised.

“I enjoyed that,” I told him.

“That duel was quite something!” he said. “Everyone will be talking about it.”

Why did he look so happy about it? So far, I’d been reading Sebastian Sallow wrong at every turn.

He put up a good fight. It wasn’t his fault he hadn’t had a trial by fire practice. Opting to remain humble, I replied, “It was certainly good practice.”

Sebastian leaned in. “Practice?” he exclaimed. “Felt more like I was dueling an expert!”

My face warmed at the enthusiasm behind his praise.

“Didn’t expect a new student to be so deft with a wand.” He gave me an appraising look, his tone turning conspiratory. “Then again, perhaps this wasn’t your first duel.”

“I’ve dueled enough. Consider yourself lucky I held back.” Something about Sebastian made me want to push his buttons. My track record for getting him all wrong continued, however.

“Fair enough,” he matched my tone. “You owe me an honest duel when you’re not.”

My blood pulsed once more at the idea of another fight.

“You know. You might be a perfect fit for a certain exclusive, unsanctioned dueling organization,” Sebastian said.

Getting into trouble was the last thing I wanted to do, lest everything snowball and I find myself expelled from Hogwarts and back to where I was. Anything was better than that, but I suspected, though, that Sebastian knew exactly what button of mine to push. He had me pegged before I did him, and I found myself almost frustrated at the prospect.

“Exclusive and unsanctioned?” I said. “Count me in.”

Sebastian looked pleased with himself. “Excellent. Knew I was right about you.”

That made me frown. He was indeed. Yet, I’d been wrong about him since the moment I approached him in the common room. 

“If you want to get the most out of your time at Hogwarts, you’re going to need to break the rules now and then,” he continued. “Whether it’s joining a secret dueling club or sneaking into the Restricted Section of the library.”

Damn that look he gave me at that last bit. He wasn’t saying it to brag. He’d already figured out what made me tick.

“You just have to be clever enough not to get caught.”

“Thank you, Sebastian.” I said coolly, having had enough of his watchful eye for the moment. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He gave me that knowing smile again. “Good. Pleasure chatting with you. I’m sure I’ll see you soon. Perhaps somewhere unsanctioned?” The emphasis on the last word told me he was sure I was on board. “We’ll see if your performance today was sheer luck or actual skill. Look for Lucan Brattleby by the clock tower entrance. If you’re interested.”

I tried not to scowl too hard. Of course he’d act like he was letting me think about it, knowing damn well what I was going to do. What a cheeky bastard.

~~

A/N: "Hey, this very much looks like a Sebastian fic!" Yes, reader, it does! And this first part is very much yours and Sebastian's love story. But! (Because there's always a but) I make no promises for the endgame. Maybe the fact that Sebastian needs you doesn't mean he deserves you. We'll have to see.

A good chunk of this will follow canon, but I change some scenarios and conversations entirely, and after a point, it'll diverge from canon completely.

[lovelyyandereaddictionpoint]

A Present For You | Overlord

“Well there’s some holidays the Supreme Beings celebrate where we give each other presents. So, I got you a present!”

Aura

“(Y/n)-sama!! Thank you so much! I can’t wait to put it to use!”

You gave her an egg that would one day birth into an insanely overpowered version of your favorite mythical creature

She’s so excited to have received a gift from you

A Supreme one!

She’s going to excitedly command them around whenever she gets the chance

She’s so touched you thought of what creature would be the perfect addition to her collection

It's so powerful just like you

She’s so honored!!

Whenever she can’t find you she’ll cuddle up next to it and think of you

“Oh (Y/n)-sama really is the best. I’m never letting them down.”

Mare

“W-what i-is it? Th-this is-!Th-thank you so much (Y/n)-sama I’ll treasure it always.”

You gave him a magical item that would change the clothes of the opposite gender

Specifically embarrassing changes

Granted there were some advantages that would heighten their hysteria and screw-up their movements but that wasn’t the main point

Whether you watched the anime or you and Ainz were telepathically giggling about it you figured you might as well

He loveloveloves it so much 

He can’t wait to use it right away and if he’s feeling pumped up enough they’ll ask to spar with one of the floor guardians just so he can try it out

He enjoys this with Aura, as he does with her gift 

But he’s still so grateful

“T-thank y-you, (Y/n)-sama! I’ll tell you all about my results!” 

Cocyutus

“(Y/n)-sama! I’m beyond honored!”

You got him a double sword that spins at the click of a button 

You figured any other magical item would be a stab at his pride as a warrior so you cot this for him

He is practicing with it all the time

Almost always switching it out with his staff

And he happily puffs when anyone ever asks about his latest weapon

“It was a gift of the great (Y/n)-sama! It will be an honor to die by this blade!”

Demiurge

“(Y/n)-sama you continue to amaze me with your power and wisdom! Thank you!”

You gifted him an item you dubbed the War Eye

A magical Eyeglass that allows you to measure the importance and power on a battlefront 

You implemented a time limit as Ainz suggested so it wasn’t something he could use all the time 

But nonetheless he was grateful that you too recognized him as the ultimate strategist 

He happily brags about your gift to the other floor guardians

Actively he uses it to succeed if the time limit allows

He’ll try not to show how much his tail is wagging when he recalls how you gave it to him

“Yes! Even (Y/n)-sama has prepared for our goals and has given me the tools to maintain victory!”

Shaltear Bloodfallen

“Ah~! A gift? For me, (Y/n)-sama!?”

You got her a magical item that can store blood and either be fed on or used as a weapon

It resembles a heart on a chain 

she’s incredibly flattered

She’s definitely teasing Albedo about it

Happily showing off your gift to her as a sign that you care for her most

“It’s like they gave me their heart already! No need to be so jealous, Albedo!”

Sebas

“For me but (Y/n)-sama I’m nothing but your servant? If it would please you most…then I will accept it.”

You really have to fight him on this one he’s just so subservient he outright doesn’t believe he deserves such a thing

But when he does finally take it you gave him a magically imbued wrist watch

With the power to replay the next five hours

He’s so honored that you even thought of him 

He’s so happy he can casually wear it with his typical attire

And if you watch hard enough he’s rubbing it with a ghost of a smile on his face

“I will forever be grateful for this gift, (Y/n)-sama.”

Albedo

“Ahh~(Y/N)-sama! You thought of me! I can hardly contain myself!” 

You probably got her a locket that can manifest a spear

Even without the spear part she’s reeling with ecstasy at the gift

You probably had a harder time finding a gift for her

Considering she already makes body pillows, stuffies,

as well as sniffing obsessively at both you and Ainz’ sheets 

So your happy she’s so excited for it

Nonetheless she’s wearing it all the time

Palming it with a blush on her face while she carries out her missions

“Oh Darling (Y/n)-sama is so kind! I devote my all to (Y/n) and Ainz-sama!”

[thatcheeseycandle]

//GUESS WHAT I DID SOMETHING RANDOM-

So basically a few days ago I had this idea of Merlin, in YIAU (by @tornadoyoungiron), returning but in a less happy way. The theory that formed this idea will be explained at the end of the short story so dw, for now enjoy the story!!

——

YIAU, Twist of Fate: New Folk and Smoke

The last thing he remembered was being in that void, the image of Sir Gresley disappearing in the flutter of Gold Dust kept replaying in his mind as he walked on the long train track, his memories tugging on his heart as he started to remember.

Remembering it all? All the horrific things he's done, all because one man had ordered to basically tear out his own soul?

It haunted him.

Though was oddly used to it, like he had already witnessed it all. I mean, those are his memories.

Or what felt like his own memories, but they didn't really feel like his memories, it felt like watching himself in third-person.

He'd let out a shaky breath as he tried to brush off those thoughts, his balance unsteady due to his blurred vision and exploding pain in his head.

He guessed it would've been a headache from the amount of pressure his head had gone through.

But it felt overwhelming. Like it came from a flower, similar to a scent. Maybe it was that “gold dust” that had been talked about so much, he guessed.

As he took a glance around the foggy area, his train of thought would be cut off by a sudden thud noise.

He looked behind and infront of him, but no one was there.

Maybe it was a rock? It didn't exactly sound like a rock, sounded more of the stomp from something, someone?

The thought would somewhat put Mallard on edge with anxiety sinking back into him.

What if- Did Scotsman really recover that fast?!

He thought alarmed as he held the blood-stained metal bar in his hand firm, starting to pick up his pace and run as fast as he could from the then stomp came from on the track.

The fog would form a path as he ran through it, he didn't exactly know where he was heading but he truly hoped it was somewhere safe.

At least somewhere he could rest for the meantime until he gets back to his little pond area with his ducks, well until he gets Gadwall back technically.

But considering recent events, that chance was low. With the memories he's started to see of ‘himself’ he knew that Gadwall wouldn't be too willing to join him back.

Though he'd start to hear the stomps fade into footsteps, that were alarmingly getting closer to him as he tried running away from it.

His anxiety peaked as he started to get a glimpse at this figure, starting to slow down his pace to then a stop. Just frozen on the tracks with a face mixed with baffledness and anxiety as he stared at the figure longer and longer. 

The figure seemed to have had a rough stop to his walk as well considering his body-language and posture had given it away.

It somewhat unnerved Mallard as he observed this strange figure, their shadow being the only thing to make the silhouette of them in this thick fog.

Mallard would hold up the metal pipe he had a firm grip on into a defensive stance, trying to hold back the trembles that ran through his legs to keep a proper balance as his mind whirled into a tornado of thoughts.

He didn’t know what to do. If he ran back he might run into an upset Gadwall or a disappointed Quicksilver, if he ran forward he'll risk himself being knocked out or being brought to somewhere he didn't know all over again.

He didn't know if he should even run back or forward. 

Everywhere wasn't safe.

He's gonna die, oh he really is gonna die.. He's doomed, he's gonna be killed by this figure! How is he gonna get out of this, oh dear god-

“Ah, hello there.” the figure suddenly spoke out of the blue as it stood on the rusted tracks eerily, it felt awkward considering how much had happened beforehand.

Though soon enough, Mallard would gain up the courage to speak out to this figure.

“Wait, who exactly are you?.” Mallard asked hesitantly with a shaky breath, tightening his grip on the blood-stained metal pipe he held.

The figure would walk towards Mallard, getting closer and closer.

Mallard would move back a little considering this could be Truro or Scot, or dare I say Sir Gresley himself! He thought anxiously to himself.

As the figure finally was cleared of the fog enough, the figure would start to be more visible to Mallard as he observed them.

They seemed to have a suit, similar to North's but in a simpler way. The suit coat was practically covered in soot, most likely from coal, and the left sleeve was half torn at the elbow.

While underneath the suit coat, the vest would still be connected but just with some splotches of soot, the tie was still well-kept to mention. The pants were the most covered in soot, but at least the dress shoes were clear. 

His hair somewhat in a mess, but generally well-kept enough to be presentable.

But as for his face, or any clear sign of his skin, wasn't as clear before he would step one more time forward to get a better view of Mallard. 

As the figure lended out a hand, his other holding onto his suit coat, the shadow on the figure's face would disappear enough to reveal a warm smile. 

“You may simply call me, Merlin.” Merlin finally answered back, despite his physical condition, in a relaxed tone. 

That name. It felt like something clicked in his right when he heard it. But something inside him, felt upset hearing that name, it was a feeling of despair

Thought Mallard was slightly unnerved at how casual this ‘Merlin’ guy was, he’d lower the metal pipe he held as a sign of piece, not letting go of it just in case.

He'd hesitate to accept the handshake, but looked the figure in the eyes as the shadow on his face disappeared. He noticed some details that would catch his attention.

Merlin's eyes were, sunken in thoughts. His eye color, felt familiar. It was steel blue, but was more gray than usual. But he guessed it was a layer of fog that was between the two that made his eyes look gray.

He must be disassociating a little from either the fog or his headache to notice this, but he could've sworn he saw cracks right underneath Merlin's left eye, maybe it was simply a shadow from one of the loose strands of hair.

“Mallard, I'm Mallard.” He finally replied back, mixed between the feelings of being confused and the cold air creeping up his spine slowly.

“And I see you aren't one for handshakes, Mallard.” Merlin remarked with a soft smile as he lowered his arm, he would turn around to where he seemed to be previously looking.

Though Mallard did notice a look mixed with dread and anxiety flash on Merlin's face, but didn't question it considering the head trauma he's had that could result to hallucinations. 

“Walk along with me Mallard, I think it'll help you. Seeing you look quite lost here.”

“What?”

“I heard you running earlier, so I thought you'd need some direction.” He explained as he gestured for Mallard to catch up.

Mallard would soon follow along beside Merlin, walking on the track with silence, a somewhat comforting silence that gave a sense of nostalgia to Mallard. A strange nostalgia.

The fog started to clear from the cold winds that came in, and with how the sun started to set the atmosphere started to feel more similar to that around Autumn.

The warm fire-orange color scheme, the smell of warm oak, and the cool winds all combined. It was nice. But considering Mallard's current situation, it was a reminder of the mark he left on Gadwall, the side of himself that he didn't even know about until now.

It felt like a thousand cuts from the cutter's torch, is that how he felt when his soul got apparently “ripped” out? Is that how he was to those who saw this corrupted side to him, cold?

He's heard that word before, cold, and he remembered how much that word had to it beside from being the feeling of Winter. It was the feeling of loss.

Of loneliness.

Of War.

Of acceptance.

Or mostly known to him as, Cold Iron Sleep. Something Sir Gresley had mentioned before as the two were talking about Gold Dust on their daily trips on that branch line down to the pond, it unnerved Mallard with how he had described it to him.

A look of fear flashed on Mallard's face for a minute, remembering all that information. Is that how he felt when he apparently had black smoke? Just cold as ice? It- It didn’t make sense, it didn't connect up on how he even bared Black Smoke.

He would've succumbed to immediate death without even a full minute of being infected with it, considering how Sir Gresley had described it to him every time Black Smoke had been brought up it basically terrified him.

But to think about it, from what he guessed, over time he oddly feared it less. Maybe because of the fact he was apparently kept alive by it for years.

“You don't talk much, do you?” Merlin said bluntly, sympathy only appearing in his eyes as he glanced at Mallard.

Mallard would return a glance, trying to pull away from the thoughts.

“No no. Well- I don't exactly have the longest conversations with,  anyone technically.”

“Ah, I see.” He said with a surprised look on his face, he would place a comforting hand on Mallard's shoulder as he’d let out her thoughtful hum.

“So, let me help you. How did you get here in the first place?”

“Well, it'll be a long story that's for sure.” Mallard warned Merlin as he took a glance in front of him.

“I'll be glad to hear this story then, Mallard.”

——

So right, the theory goes this way:

Basically what if Merlin reformed, but absorbed some of Mallard's blacksmoke while reforming, and that would've lead to him being more weaker than usual.

And when Mallard got rid of the black smoke from North, it just reformed and infected Merlin (aka just forming together with the black smoke that had already been in him) which lead to him basically getting the "possessed character, except they're still conscious just witnessing everything that their possessor is doing" trope

Doing this work, I tried out a different writing style (seeing as my writing has had many variations over the months) to just try to get a grab on a solid style.

(I do apologize if this is out of line from the recent events as my memory might've not been the best while writing this, and if any of the characters are OOC)

[verrerdises]

adore u | kangmin x reader

Summary || You were dragged by your friends to some guy's birthday party. Bored, you made the choice to walk around the overly grand ballroom, only to bump into a flustered young man who dropped his wallet.

Word count || 2.4k

"Aw, sorry, Kangmin, but I'm with my boyfriend,"

"Haha, you're so cute! Maybe next time, 'kay?"

"You're a bit on the younger side for me..."

Kangmin rested his face between his fists and huffed as the conversations replayed in his head. What's wrong with trying to pursue a relationship? He simply wanted to go on cute little dates, hold someone's hand, pepper them with kisses! But everyone around him still viewed him as some dumb little kid! 

Sure, he's only 21, but that shouldn't hinder his potential so much. Or maybe it's because some believe he's not mature enough for a serious relationship. Minchan even told him others might see him as some kind of heart breaker or player.

But Kangmin's intentions were pure! Honest...

The young man eyes wandered around the ball room. It was Dongheon's birthday, and he believed there may be a person or two that could catch Kangmin's eye. At least someone was holding out hope for him. He quietly watched as couples around him formed. Hell, he even helped the birthday boy find his special someone just a moment ago, so why couldn't he be given some grace?

Another defeated pout left him and his head sank into his arms. All of these people, and not a single person tried to approach him.

"Hey, did you drop this?"

He slowly rose his head to meet the gaze of a stranger. A well-dressed stranger. A... really cute stranger... His eyes glanced down at the wallet they held out. "Oh! Wow, I didn't even notice," he smiled brightly at them and took it. "Thanks."

A gentle smile spread across their lips in response. "Yeah, no problem." In no time, they turned around and walked off. He wasn't sure why it took him so long to react; he jumped out of his seat. "Wait!" he tried to call out to them, but by the time he reached where he last saw them, they had disappeared into the crowd. 

He scowled to himself. Agh, how could he be so...? Oh, he hoped they hadn't went too far. He couldn't help it now; he had to find them. 

Kangmin walked around the crowd and stood on his tip-toes to try and spot them. He thought he noticed the familiar outfit, so he chased after it. He had to give a few pardons and excuses as he pushed through. He would call out, but he didn't want to embarrass himself any further.

Just as he freed himself from the crowd, who else but Minchan stepped in front of him. "Minchan! Come on, I'm a little busy right now-"

"Whoaaa, busy with what?" Minchan showed that stupid grin. The one that says he was well aware of what's going on. "Never seen you in such a rush." He laughed. But Kangmin tsked and tried to push past him, only for Minchan to hold an arm out and pull him right back. 

"Hey!" Kangmin's smaller self barely managed to nudge the other. "I don't have time to play right now. They could be leaving-!"

"They?" The other rose a brow. "Aww, did our baby Kangmin finally find someone?" He tapped his chin, "A mysterious figure who caught your eye that you are now trying to chase." He sighed and shook his head, "Acting like a lovesick puppy."

Kangmin glared up at him. "I am not! I'm old enough now!"

"Ah," Minchan held a finger up, "actions speak louder than words. And you know better than to yell at your elders."

"Then let me go." Kangmin frowned. "... Please."

Minchan examined him carefully then slowly lowered his arm. "Huh. Guess you are growing up." His annoyingly cheerful smile returned. "Okaaay, I'll help the little man out. You talking about the one who just walked past?" He then briefly described the stranger. 

Kangmin's eyes lit up. "Yes!"

"I think they went to talk to their friends. I was about to bring them drinks." He nonchalantly explained.

The little man's brow furrowed. "You? Bringing people drinks?"

"Well," Minchan's smile turned sheepish; a first for him, "I kinda talked with one of their friends. And, funnily enough, Dongheon was dancing with the other. Odd how connected we are, like a perfectly written plot of a novel..."

Kangmin stared unamused at them. "Anyway, thanks for telling me." He quickly brushed past him, except Minchan continued to call out to him. "Hey! What're you even gonna say to 'em? You're not exactly an expert..."

The other huffed and answered over his shoulder, "I'll... think of something..." Oh, great. That didn't exactly scream confident. When he spotted the same stranger at the table with their friends, his feet suddenly froze. Damn, Minchan was right... He doesn't have any experience in this field like he does. And he can't exactly go up there and potentially embarrass himself in front of their friends! Even worse, in front of Minchan.

He clenched his fists together and began to take some steps forward. Unfortunately, Dongheon arrived at the table with the remaining friend. Kangmin quickly stepped aside and hid behind a pillar. Nope. No way. Publicly embarrassing himself is bad enough, but if he did it in front of Dongheon?? Having the most awkward one out of their group tease him is a death sentence. 

He'll... just have to find a way to get that stranger by themselves. Somehow. 

He sighed heavily and rested his head against the marble. His brain was trying to come up with solid ideas, but all of them sounded either pathetic or stupid. Man, maybe he is a little hopeless.

"Oh yeah, where did you go?"

"Huh? Oh, I just walked around. This guy dropped his wallet, so I gave it back. That's about it."

"... Was the guy cute?"

"I mean-"

"Drinks are here!"

Kangmin peered around the pillar as Minchan announced himself before he took a seat. The stranger, they mentioned him! But they only referred to him as "this guy". He pouted silently to himself. Maybe he should listen in a little and see if he can find a way to insert himself naturally. 

"Guy dropped his wallet? Sounds like something Kangmin would do," Minchan snorted. The guy who dropped his wallet immediately frowned. 

"It... might've been him," the stranger pointed out. "He was a bit taller than me. Dark hair, long-ish bangs."

"Hm, did he have this lost look in his eyes?" Dongheon asked. "Like a lost puppy?"

He felt himself warm up at the sound of giggling. He doesn't look like some lost puppy...

"Y'know what, yeah," the stranger laughed lightly, "but I thought it was cute."

Kangmin's ears perked up. He readjusted himself to take a better look at them. They held that same gentle smile. His posture relaxed. At least the giggling didn't hold any malice behind it. And, well, if they think it's cute, then... maybe there's nothing wrong with it. 

"Ohh, be careful," Dongheon chuckled. "That's how he gets you."

"Yeah," Minchan interjected, "he wants to be a little man now. The guy's been getting rejected left and right all night though. Honestly, I thought that'd be happening to Dongheon-"

"Hey!" Dongheon frowned. 

"What?" Minchan laughed behind his glass. "You were the one with this super specific fantasy in your head."

"And it worked out, didn't it?" The other grabbed his partner's hand. "Maybe it was like a prophecy and not some fantasy."

Minchan snorted. "Okay, That's So Raven, settle down." His partner sitting beside him had to put her drink down, shaking her head and attempting to swallow before she started choking from laughter. Dongheon's ears burned red, but his partner gave him a few sympathetic pats against his hand as she bit back her own laughs. 

Kangmin continued to watch and listen for a while. It... sounded like they were having a lot of fun. But what would happen if he were to join it? Wouldn't it become awkward? 

"... In all seriousness though," Dongheon's voice softened, "Kangmin's a good ki- guy. Good guy."

Minchan nodded then pointed at the stranger, "Aren't you single? Looking for somebody- ow!" He frowned as Dongheon reached over to lightly bop his head. "I didn't even hit you that hard. And you can't just ask people that!"

"Whaaat? I was curious! And trying to set Kangmin up. Poor kid can't do it all by himself."

The stranger awkwardly shifted in their seat. "Y...Yeah, technically speaking. I dunno if I'm ready for a relationship though."

Minchan waved his hand in dismissal. "It doesn't have to turn serious. For real, he's really nice. A little confused but got the spirit. He... should be around here somewhere, actually-"

Kangmin ducked once more as the other started to scan the area. His heart rate picked up. This is all too soon! He's nowhere near ready. God, his worst fear right now is one of them finding him and dragging him out. It's too many expectations set for him!

Since he was caught up in his own head, he hadn't realized his stranger had gotten up and left the table. Something told him to open his frustrated eyes. He tensed up as he caught them walking past. He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Curious eyes watched as they turned and walked out to one of the large balconies. 

His feet moved for him as he silently followed behind. 

Once again, he found himself peeking around the corner. They stood alone, arms resting on the railing of the balcony as they took some deep breaths. The opportunity basically presented itself. And... if they needed some space, he was understanding enough to know when to bow out. Okay. You can do this, Kangmin. Just... talk to them as a normal person would. 

He took in a big breath then sighed. Quietly, he approached from behind.

"I was wondering when you'd show your face again,"

He stiffened at their voice. After taking a peek behind him, he realized that there was no one else they could possibly be referring to. He turned back from hearing them laugh, and they moved to face him. "Yeah, I'm talking to you. Who else?" There was that smile again. 

A nervous laugh blurted out of him. "Right! Yeah. Who else but me?" He cleared his throat then joined them in leaning against the railing.

"You're Kangmin, right?" they asked. He silently nodded. 

"(y/n)." They introduced themselves. "... Don't talk much, do you?"

The realization hit him. "Oh! Sorry, I was just... yes! I talk a lot - wait no, that's a bad thing-" His ears began to burn red when they started giggling. "Sorry... I don't... do this often." he sighed, "Most people turn me away the second they see me."

"Why?" They rose a brow. "You're pretty cute. And funny."

The heat spread to the rest of his face. He awkwardly rubbed his neck. "I guess my age? I'm 21, but everyone treats me like a kid." His gaze shifted to the scenery in front of him. "I just wanna know what it's like. To have someone."

"Huh. Didn't peg you as the romantic type." They follow his gaze. "But yeah, I see it. Kinda scary though, isn't it? I mean, if you get into a relationship, it's either gonna work out and you'll get married, or it'll end in heart break and you start back at square one."

"Maybe..." Kangmin answered, "But I wanna experience that kind of love, even at the risk of heartbreak. High risk, high reward, right?"

They become silent for a moment. He worried he may have said something wrong. "You make a good point," they finally responded. "I guess I'm a bit... scared of going through that heartbreak. Just sounds like too much."

He quietly observed them. He could spot the twinkle of eagerness in their eyes. He found himself shuffling a bit closer. "Won't know until you try." His voice came out in a murmur. His attention was briefly drawn to the dancing crowd inside. He returned to (y/n) and leaned down in an attempt to get a look of their face. "Hey... have you been asked to dance yet?"

He spotted their eyes flickering to him then back to the scenery. "...No."

"Would you..."

"Yes."

He blinked feverishly at their sudden response, otherwise, a soft smile emerged. A hand was held out to them, one they stared at for a second before cautiously taking. He made sure to be gentle in pulling them towards the center of the wide balcony floor. Luckily, the music was loud enough to reach the outside, so he quietly followed along. 

Although there was silence between them, he didn't mind it. He could tell this was their first dance, and he patiently fixed the positioning of their hands. His fingers found themselves interlacing with theirs at some point. His smile turned into a gently amused one at their refusal to make eye contact. 

He's not sure what came over him, but he leaned in to whisper in their ear, "Why hide your beautiful face?" As he pulled back, it was hard to suppress a laugh at their flustered expression, but it allowed him a chance to see them. It felt like his heart melted at the sight. Perfectly illuminated by the moonlight. 

He found himself leaning in again, but their voice stopped him. "What are you doing?" they whispered frantically. He pulled back some, earnestly replying, "Sorry, am I making you uncomfortable?"

"Well, n... no..." They stumbled through an answer. "No, you're not. I... also don't do this often." He exhaled softly but gave a nod of understanding. "Okay, I won't do anything else without your permission." His heart beat picked up as a sudden thought came through. "(y/n)...?" They anxiously focused on him. 

"Is it okay if I kiss you?"

Their grip on his hand and shoulder tightened. They stopped their swaying, but their eyes refused to leave his gaze. He swallowed a small lump forming, fearing he may have pushed his luck. But, to his amazement, they gave a few nods. "Yeah... Yeah, it's okay."

A wide smile quickly spread, but he doesn't let his excitement take over completely. Their comfort was his number one priority. He tilted his head and slowly leaned in until he felt soft lips brush against his own. The contact sent butterflies through his stomach. He pressed forward slightly; his hands silently moving to link their fingers together. 

Honestly, he thought it'd only be a quick little kiss. They surprised him by returning the favor, tilting their head up to continue. He wasn't sure how long they stood there, all he knew was that they eventually had to pull back for air. 

Kangmin let out a small, breathless laugh. He even hopped a little in glee. Just like a dumb little kid. (y/n)'s blush hardly faded. If anything, it may have gotten worse. They squeeze his hands. "How am I supposed to go back and face my friends like this?" They mumbled. 

"If it helps," he chuckled, "my friends are there too. I'll get teased regardless."

They hummed in response, took a deep breath, then sighed. "Okay. Then... let's go face them together."

Together...

That sounded awfully nice.