#also she’s like ‘ok some of you turned in this one assignment (that she already was incredibly lax with the due date for)

[goldensunset]

one of my professors is really based… we were like ‘so is the final project still due friday’ and she was like ‘…in theory. the only reason i’ve put it down as being due so early is because we’re technically not allowed to make things due in the last week of class because we’re supposed to be encouraging you all to study for finals. but you see, i am well within my right to give extensions ;-)’ let’s go sisterrrrrr

[mellowmistt]

birthday trip-matt sturniolo

Summary: After two long weeks without seeing each other, Matt can’t wait to be alone with you.

Warnings: smut; fluff; established relationship; p in v sex; bondage kink; oral (m receiving); teasing

A/N: this story is based on @reirei-purple ‘s request! (Sorry I don’t know how to do the link thing yet otherwise I’d link the post). This isn’t fully proofread yet so sorry for any mistakes!

——————————

I jump into Matt's arms as soon as he opens the door.

"Ahhh I missed you!" He says hugging me tight. I hadn't seen him in two weeks as I went on a work trip, but tomorrow was his, Nick and Chris's birthday and we were going on a trip to Vegas to celebrate. Madison had booked a 5 star hotel for us all to stay at, it would be the perfect end to a long and tiresome week.

"Go upstairs i'll get your bag" Matt says pulling away.

I jog up the stairs where Madison runs to hug me.

"Oh my gosh I feel like I haven't seen you in so long!" She says with a smile.

"I knowww, I've missed you, thankyou for booking this trip you are amazing." I say, before hugging Chris and Nick and Nate who were waiting by the couch.

"Okay come on, we've got a long trip and it's already seven" Matt says appearing from the top of the stairs.

It was seven at night, and I kinda liked the whole late night roadtrip, but obviously since it's summer it would still be light until about nine anyway. The drive to Vegas is four hours, so we'd get there pretty late.We all shoved our bags in the back of the car, some had to also go on the back seats as there were six of us travelling, but only five seats now available.

Madison was driving, Chris was in the passenger seat, Nick and Nate had already seated in the middle section which left me and Matt with the back seats.

"I'll just move the seat back a bit and you can sit on my seat with me, there'll be plenty of room" Matt says as he observes the mess of luggage splayed across the seats.

"Ok" I reply.

We only had an hour left until we were in Vegas. Chris was chatting with Madison and listening to music in the front, Nick and Nate had headphone sin whilst they watched a movie together and Me and Matt were awkwardly sitting on the same seat, I was sat inbetween his legs holding the Ipad up so that we could watch a movie together.

Suddenly, the car started shaking, I abruptly removed my headphones and observed the road, which mainly consisted of bumpy rocks.

"Shit, sorry guys bumpy road" Madison says looking through the rearview mirror.

"Oh my god" Matt whispers, holding onto my waist in an attempt to steady ourselves. I then realised that my body was rubbing up gainst him, against his crotch area. I quickly leaned forward, turning to face him.

"Shit, sorry!" I whisper.

"No no, come back" He whispers, grabbing my waist and repositioning me back inbetween his legs.

"I don't mind" He whispers into my ear. "I've waited long enough"

I move my hips back slowly, pushing myself onto him further with a grin. I pull the ipad screen back up to avoid any suspicion. I felt Matt's breaths on my neck getting more choppy, he moves his hand away from my waist and down to my thigh and squeezes it. The bumpy road ends, and I start to move my hips back and forth slowly against Matt. I already felt him start to harden underneath me. I stopped my movements, he was gonna have to wait.

We finally made it to the hotel, it was fancy. There was marble flooring everywhere, it was lit up bright, and there was even a glass elevator next to the main lobby. We checked in and were assigned to a big suite on one of the top floors. Holy shit.

Chris opened the main door to the suite and we were all amazed by what we saw. It looked like something out of Gossip Girl. Our faces lighted up as we walked around our home for the weekend, inspecting all of the treats the hotel had left for us. There were three bedrooms, just the right amount for us; Nick and Madison in one, Chris and Nate in one and Me and Matt in one.

We all decided we would go down to the hot tub for a bit and chill. I rummaged through my bags as I got to mine and Matt’s room, pulling out my baby pink bikini which I luckily packed last minute. I went into the bathroom, leaving the door open enough for Matt to watch me undress. Part of me felt bad for teasing him this much, knowing how long it has been since we were last in bed together, but then again it would make it ten times better for him later with all of this buildup.

“Hot” Matt says sliding through the door, already in his swim shorts, he comes to help me tie the back of my top.

“Can’t we just stay in our room” Matt pleads, wrapping his arms around my stomach and leaning over my shoulder, planting a kiss on my neck.

“We’ll have plenty of time in here later” I reply, turning my head to kiss him, pulling him out of the room.

We were the last ones to the hot tub, awkwardly climbing in mid discussion. I lean my head back as I take in the warm water as Matt places his hand on my thigh. I subtly face him and smile before joining the conversation.

About twenty minutes had passed, Matt’s hands gradually trailing higher up my thighs. Thankfully the bubble jets were on, so no one could see. His fingers traced my bikini line, until they rested over my bikini bottoms. He started to moved his thumb up and down slowly.

“I’m gonna go to bed now, I’m so tired” Madison says, climbing out. Nick follows, Chris and Nate also leave a few minutes later.

As soon as they are out of sight Matt grabs my waist and pulls me onto his lap, immediately attatching his lips to mine.

“The past two weeks have been so boring without you” he says, playing with my bikini top straps.

“I could say the same” I say, brushing my hips closer to him, I knew this would be the final push for him.

Without warning he scoops me up and climbs out, rushing to our room.

I giggle as carries me through the hallway, quickly shutting our bedroom door behind him and dropping me onto the bed.

“Look what I found in those care hampers earlier" He says, walking towards the nightstand and pulling out a cylinder box.

"Intimacy kit?" I say, reading the fancy cursive on the top before twisting off the lid. I pull out the black bag which had condoms, lube, a towel, a blindfold and dice inside.

"What the fuck!" I chuckle, intrigued by the dice. On each of the sides there were names of different positions.

"Wow" I say, showing Matt one of the dice as he climbs onto the bed.

"Oooh cowgirl, my favourite" He says smiling at me.

He takes the box away from me, placing it onto the nightstand before grabbing my waist and pulling me on top of him. I lean down and kiss him,my hand trailing down his chest. I grind my waist against his and feel him harden against me after a few seconds. I reach one hand down and tease him over his shorts grinning between our kisses.

I stop, and smile with an idea forming in my head. Matt looks at me smiling but confused. I reach down and grab the blindfold from the box and slowly wrap it around Matt’s head.

“What are you doing” he says through giggles.

“Shh, just relax” I whisper before moving down his body. I reach the waistband of his shorts and began tugging on them, pulling them down. I gently rub his lower length for a few moments before putting him in my mouth. My tongue glides smoothly around his tip, before I descend further. He is smiling through small muffled whines when I glance up to his head. His hands reach down and start playing with my hair, his breaths again become more demanding. I speed up, maximising the stimulation.

“Oh..fuck” he whispers, his mouth now gaping in reflex.

I could feel him throbbing in my hand which was caressing his lower length still, just moments before I felt his warm liquid burst into my mouth. He let out a moan, and followed with deep breaths. I swallowed and wiped my mouth, smiling before going to kiss him again. I move my mouth to his neck, allowing him to continue to regain his breath. He unties my bikini top and throws it onto the floor, and I lift my hips as he pulls off my bottoms.

I wait a few more moments before lowering myself onto him, using my saliva already on his tip to help. I descend slowly, watching his mouth gape open again at the unexpected second stimulation. He grabs onto my hips as I start to speed up, feeling him brushing against my sweet spot nearing my orgasm, his small moans indicating he was nearing his second.

It wasn’t long after that the euphoric sensation was fulfilled. I grind forward and back slowly as we both come down from our high, our rapid breaths wavering.

I glance down at my phone, the time read 00:04. I remove the blindfold from Matt and he meets me with a smile.

“Happy birthday” I say.

“Best birthday present ever” he says with a grin.

We both cuddle up and drift to sleep.

[sweetiecutie]

Ok ok listen-

teacher!valeria x student!reader🫶🫶

(I imagen her and us having "study sessions" she calls us in her classroom to talk about our grades or she calls us in her classroom so she can "help" us with something that we didnt understand 😻😻and could reader be a fem?. if u dont want to do this is ok!!🫶❤️)

Pairing: Valeria Garza x fem! Reader

Warnings: NSFW, smut, university AU!, professor/student trope, age gap implied

A/n: this is literally so sexy, I’m about to cream my fucking pants😩

Okay, so this is a university au, in which Valeria is one of the professors. I have a feeling that she would be teaching something hard and complicated - let’s say math.

Professor Garza is very strict. She’s one of the people who value discipline and order over anything else, punishing everyone who dares disturbing it. Valeria wouldn’t think twice before giving out detentions and extra work for behavior she deems unacceptable within auditorium. Chatting during her lectures? - detention. Forgetting to do homework she gave? - detention and double the amount of exercises you had to be handed over to her due to 3 pm the next day.

Many students fear Miss Garza, many hate her, many like her; but every single one has some sort of respect for her cold and stoic demeanor. Valeria is strict and demanding , but she’s also one of the bestest - many students wish to be teached by her.

And even if it seems nearly impossible, Valeria does have favorites. Very few - 3-4 students in whole university, but boy are they privileged.

Valeria values conformity over anything else. She prefers students that are polite and well-behaved, never causing any commotion or fuss. And you happened to be just that - miss goody two shoes, one of the bestest in your year, never once failing ho hand in whatever assignment Valeria gave you, no matter how complicated or cumbersome the work was.

Garza quickly caught onto your skills, and by the end of first year she already valued you over the rest of your group. Not only the brilliance of your mind, which was capable of so many amazing thing, drew her in; you’re quite a sight for sore eye as well - clothes always neat and ironed, hair framing your pretty face perfectly no matter what, light makeup only highlighting your natural beauty. Valeria couldn’t help her eyes lingering on your soft thighs whenever you decided on wearing a skirt or a dress to uni, flooding her head with images of these exact thighs spread wide before her.

It was quite a challenge for Valeria to find any mistakes in your works. You were a smart little girl, she had no doubts about it at that point. But every time, with extreme effort, professor Garza managed to find all the little flaws in your works. They did seem ridiculous tho, something other math professors wouldn’t even deem as a mistake. So first time this happened you came up to the older woman, asking about your strangely low grade; and Valeria, voice softer with feigned sympathy, patiently explained why she had to grade you so lowly. “I hope you do better next time, hm?” She’d say with a small smile, dismissing you from her classroom. Oh how the sight of your pouting lips and teary eyes got her off

As semester drew nearer to its end your works didn’t seem to improve even a slightest bit. At this point you were convinced that it was something personal - that professor Garza simply disliked you (oh if only you knew). So it was a surprise when Valeria called out for you to stay behind as everyone was leaving after the end of her lecture. You obediently descended the stairs of high auditorium, coming to her desk, standing there patiently as all the students left.

Once alone in the room, Valeria turned to face you, one hip leaning onto the edge of her working desk. Her dark eyes gazed at you from above thin lenses of her reading glasses, arms crossed over her chest making her tits perk up teasingly from within two unmade buttons of her white blouse.

“Y/n, I wanted to talk to you about your grades” she said, her voice sounding a bit softer than usual - voice she used on you only. Your body tensed slightly at her words, your fingers gripping your books more tightly as you looked at her tentatively.

“I made a small research on your academic performance and it seems that you only struggle with my subject. Is there any particular reason to this?” She asked, concern lacing her words.

You bit your tongue, fighting back bitter words of indignation - it was Valeria’s fault only that your grades in math were so low. But you kept silent, gazing dully onto the floor under your feet. Professor Garza heaved a heavy sigh, her heart thrumming loudly within her chest at what she was about to do.

“Y/n, you’re a very smart girl, and I don’t want you to ruin your record because of arithmetics. I can give you some extra credit” she said calmly, your ears perking up at her words.

You looked up at the older woman, obviously surprised - Valeria never gave extra credit, no matter the circumstances. You blinked rapidly a few times - you won’t lose such an opportunity, you’d be a fool if you did.

“Sure, I’d be very grateful!” You said quickly, looking at Valeria with wide eager eyes.

She only smiled at your words, nodding for you to come closer. As you did, she took your books and notes out of your hands, placing them on the faraway side of her desk. “You won’t need these”

As you were going to ask what she meant her warm hand clasped around the back of your neck, slamming you against her desk. With a small squeak you were bent over the table, your cheek squished against some papers scattered on top of it. You felt Valeria’s hot chest pressing against your back, her free hand glided up and down the side of your hip as she whispered into your ear “Now I need you to be a good little girl and spread your legs wider”

And you did. Arousal pooled in the pit of your stomach, making your knees go weak as Valeria’s hand slipped in between your soft thighs - just like she always dreamed of, massaging your soft pussy through thin material of your panties.

Soon enough these same panties were shoved into your mouth to muffle all desperate cries tearing through your chest as to not disturb other professors in nearby auditoriums; three of Valeria’s long fingers fucked in and out of your drooling pussy with loud squelching sounds, her fingertips grazing that one spot deep within you, making your eyes roll and toes curl.

You exited professor Garza’s auditorium on trembling legs, your makeup and hair unnaturally messy, eyes unfocused and bleary but - most importantly - with impeccable record on arithmetics.

But to keep your math performance this way, you had to visit professor Garza some more for extracurricular activities <3

Likes, reblogs and comments are highly appreciated! Writers live off feedback, give us some love<3

[luvendiary]

3 times hiccup asked you to marry him + the time you realized he meant it

hello! this was an early draft for this request: Hello!!! Imagine hiccup telling reader "I'm in love with you" / "Marry me" out of blue after a stare down (can be established relationship or not muahahaha) I like how this turned out, except for the ending. it's sort of shitty in my opinion. also, this isn't proofread. and sorry for any mistakes, english is not my first language. feel free to point them out. also, there’s a slight corpse bride reference with the vows!! as always, thank you for reading. let me know what you think and if you'd like more of this. requests are always open!

1.

Snoggletog was one of your favorite festivities. The beautiful coat of snow that hugged the soil, and the way the sunlight softly reflected on it was perfect to you. You loved to see how vikings busied themselves by hanging up ornaments and mistletoe on the doors. You loved hearing the out-of-tune carols that echoed across Berk. And you loved the late cold nights as you and the dragon riders sat around a warm fire and talked about the day’s happenings.

One thing you did not love though, was the Snoggletog play, specially because it had been assigned to you all this year. It was the dragon riders’ responsibility to plan, organize and act it out the day of Snoggletog.

“What about the start of dragon races?” Snoutlout suggested.

“They did that two years ago,” Astrid replied as she sharpened her axe.

“We could do Loki-”

“We’re not doing Loki day Tuffnut,” Hiccup interrupted him.

A moment of silence passed amongst all of you.

“What if, we make a reenactment of Odin and Freya’s marriage? How they stopped the Aesir and Vanir war,” you said while nibbling on your thumb.

“That could work,” Fishlegs said.

“I like it, we could even get the dragons in on this,” Astrid suggested.

“Of course, brilliant idea (Y/N),” Snotlout said as he stood up with a cocky attitude. “Specially because I would make the perfect Odin.” He flexed his muscles and stroke a victorious pose.

You chuckled and pushed him away, “Sit down Snotlout. I was actually thinking that Astrid and Fishlegs could be Freya and Odin.”

“Oh no,” Astrid said immediately. “I’m not good at performing. Plus, you gave the idea, you should be Freya.”

“Alright,” you said. “If no one else is up for it, I’ll be Freya. Fishlegs, are you ok with being Odin?”

“Ye-” his reply was interrupted by Astrid elbowing him. “I mean, I wish I could but…I-I don’t like performing.”

“What but you love perfor-?”

“Hiccup! Why aren’t you Odin?!” Astrid chimed in as she placed her arm around your shoulder while the other went around the brunette-boy’s shoulders.

“Uh…I-I guess,” Hiccup said.

Astrid grinned while looking at you, “Great! It’s settled then!”

“Why would you do that?!” you shrieked as you pressed the palm of your hands to your eyes.

Astrid, who sat next to you overlooking Berk from a nearby cliff, shrugged, “Oh I don’t know. Maybe because I’m tired of you two beating around the bush. Why don’t you kiss already? It’s obvious you want to.”

“Shut up Astrid,” you said while sitting up. You rubbed your hands together to provide some heat to your body. “I’m not even sure if he likes me.”

“You’re as blind as Gothi is mute,” she replied.

“How can you be so sure? Has he said anything about me?”

“You’re hopeless Y/N.”

The days went by, and Snoggletog drew closer and closer. Right after training, you went to rehearsals, and while most of it went by in fits of laughter and jokes, you all managed to build a production. You often tended to practice with Hiccup, since you had the most line together, and it gave you an excuse to spend more time with him. During this period, you had managed to gain some small victories in the love department, holding his hand, dancing with him, and hearing him laugh while you acted out some of your scenes being some. However, there was something you both had been avoiding: the marriage kiss. It made your heart flutter and your stomach swarm with butterflies every time you though about the possibility of kissing him; on the other hand, it also felt like Gronkle iron swishing around your intestines. What if he didn’t want to kiss you? What if he just did it out of pity?

Your mind was plagued with questions up until the big day.

“Good luck,” Astrid said while she gave you a knowing look. She was looking forward to the kiss, and if what she had told you was true, all of the dragon riders were too.

The play started out good, Snotlout and Tuffnut played the Aesir family, while Ruffnut and Fishlegs played the Vanir.

The scene changed and the Aesir were complaining with Hiccup about how Freya’s magic and her help towards the Vanir was the reason for their shortcomings.

I was then your time to appear. After several attempts from the Aesir to try to kill Freya, you and Odin came to an agreement: you were to marry each other.

“Marry me,” said Hiccup. And as you looked into his eyes your breath hitched. He had a smile plastered on his face, and his eyes gleamed.

“I will marry you,” you replied as you offered him your hand and he put the ring on your nuptial finger.

The scene was supposed to end there, you were about to take a step backwards so that the actual marriage scene could take place, however you felt a hand wrap around your wrist, and before you knew it you were being kissed. You were being kissed by Hiccup Haddock.

Your shock was palpable, however you dissolved into the kiss once the initial incredulity had passed. Once Hiccup felt the kiss was reciprocal, he wrapped his arms around your waist and drew you closer.

2 .

Dragon racing was a hefty sport. Ever since it was created, it became a fan favorite amongst Berkians. Once every full moon, a match was held that was sure to be the talk of the town for at least a week. On summer and winter solstice, you held the dragon riding tournament, that usually lasted for about a week; except for that one time when the black sheep had wondered deep into the woods, and you weren’t able to find it for two days.

Point of the matter is, dragon racing was a serious issue for vikings. And that’s why victories where celebrated so grandly. You never particularly cared for the celebrations, however wining was important to you; your usually carefree nature was irrecognizable when it came to the sport as you became a furiously competitive rider. This change, spared no one. Not even your boyfriend.

“Incoming!” you called out before snatching the black sheep from Hiccup’s arms, as you held on with your legs to (Y/D)’s saddle while she flew in an upside down position.

“Hey!” he shouted in response with a light chuckle.

“I wish I could say I’m sorry, but I’m not!” you replied with a shit-eating grin directed his way. With the black sheep secure in your arms, you flew away, not a hint of remorse visible on your face.

You returned to your upright position and quickly flew up to your basket and threw in the black sheep. As soon as you do so, you hear the crowds cheers and applause mixed with the blow of the horn, signaling that the match has ended.

Astrid joined you on the platform, followed by Ruff, as they cheered you on and celebrated your team victory.

Hiccup watched you, still mounted on Toothless with a lovesick smile present in his features, “I’m going to marry her,” he said as he took in your beautiful smile.

“I don’t think you’re her type,” said a voice next to him. Tuffnutt flew next to him with a pissed expression -probably because of their defeat- “but go for it. I’m sure my sister would be flattered.”

3 .

“Do you think there are other people out there?” you asked as you stared blankly at the stars. “I mean, besides us dragon riders and dragon hunters. Do you think that maybe there’s another civilization that has been familiar with dragons long before us?”

You heard Hiccup chuckle, “Possibly, maybe they even know of species we have yet to discover.”

“I wonder if they maybe think the same of us. Maybe we’re some strange advanced civilization to them”, you said with a light giggle as your thoughts went wild with the idea of the unknown. “Or maybe, we’re cavemen in comparison to their civilization. Maybe…they know about our existence, and they have just decided to leave us alone because we’re not worth their time.”

“That’s a bit depressing isn’t it?” Hiccup asked, humored by your rambling.

“I don’t think so. I think it’s exciting…” you said slightly breathless as you stared at the vast abyss of twinkling lights that spread above you and beyond. “Just imagine everything we’ve yet to discover.”

You faintly heard the huffs and growls of your dragons, who were entertained by Hiccup’s prosthetic leg as they fought each other for it.

Hiccup allowed himself to steal a glance at you for a fraction of a second. He thought that the view in front of you was beautiful, but to him, the real wonder was sitting right next to him. You looked breathtaking with the starry abyss reflected in your eyes. Yet, you were so unaware of it.

“Marry me.”

He didn’t mean to actually say it. But he just couldn’t control himself when he was with you.

Your trance was broken and you stared at him wide eyed, in disbelief at what he had just said. However as soon as you saw his expression mirroring yours, you burst out laughing. You couldn’t say truthfully that you had never though about marriage, especially with Hiccup.

Hiccup’s startled expression morphed into confusion.”W-What? Why are you laughing?”

“Are you sure you want to marry me?” you asked in between giggles. “You don’t seem very sure.”

“What? Y-Yes! Of course I’m sure! Why wouldn’t I want to marry you?” his eyebrows furrowed in the way you loved. The way that told you you had successfully managed to get in his head. He had turned his body so that it was now mirroring yours, and his shoulders were raising up and down as they usually did when he was trying to explain something or defend a point.

“Fine then. I’ll marry you.”

His rambling stopped immediately. “What? Y-You will?”

You shrugged your shoulders nonchalantly. “Sure. Why not?”

You stood up then as you walked around the small island you had stumbled upon earlier that day. Leaving a very flustered and confused Hiccup behind.

“Wait! Where are you going?” he called after you as he struggled to get up. He rambled on as he chased you, asking about arrangements and other things.

“Aha!” you said victoriously as you crouched down over a patch of grass with some wildflowers sprouting out.

Hiccup peered over your shoulder, trying to see what you were doing.

Eventually you stood up and extended your hand towards him. He stared at you blankly for a moment, and muttered to himself, tryin to understand your actions. Still, an amused smile was present on his face.

“Well?” you said after a bit. “Give me your hand.”

He did as you instructed, and then you took out your other hand from behind, which gently held a blade of grass along with some small wildflowers intertwined with each other, forming a ring.

“I know it’s not the best craftsmanship, but I figured we couldn’t get married without rings,” you explained with a soft giggle.

Hiccup grinned down at you, and laughed incredulously. He wondered how he ever got you to agree to be his. “I’m afraid to tell you dearest, but I don’t have a ring for you.”

You sighed mockingly and rolled your eyes. “I know that. I assumed you would be too in your head about your future duty as chief and the dragons to think about me.”

“Hey!” he protested immediately. “I’m always thinking about you-”

“But worry not!” you said as you giggled playfully. “Since I know you well enough to be married, I know you well enough to be prepared for our wedding.” You reached into one of your pockets and puled out and identical ring, which he gently grabbed.

He stared down at you, with a skeptical expression.

“Well, go on with it. Do you want to marry me or not?” you asked as you tilted your head slightly to the side.

Hiccup sighed and then locked his eyes with yours. “I, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock, the Third, make this oath. With this hand I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine. With this candle, I will light your way in darkness. With this ring, I ask you to be mine."

Once the traditional vows were finished he gently took your hand and slid the delicate ring onto your nuptial finger.

You watched with a smile as he carefully placed it, and once he was done, you repeated the vows and slid his ring onto his own finger.

With your ceremony done, your lips met in a gentle and warm dance. You felt as his hands slid down your back and rested on your hips, holding your body closer to his.

“This is the second time we’ve been married now,” he whispered as he broke apart form the kiss,

“How scandalous,” you whispered back with a soft laugh, as you remembered the Snoggletog performance and how it ended up with your first kiss.

“Maybe the next time we get to do it, you’ll actually be wearing white.”

You stared up at him with a raised eyebrow. “Is that so? Does that mean you’d like to bed me next time?” you teased.

“I’d love to bed you now,” he said with a slight chuckle. “But I’m aware you’d rather follow the traditional path.”

You laughed and patted his chest. “Well, you’ll better get me that white dress quickly then.”

4.

Hiccup had been acting weird all day. Evading you and whenever you managed to track him down he responded any question you had in a dismissive manner. You had figured you should let him alone for a while, at least until he was ready to talk about whatever was bothering him.

He did tend to get too into his own head whenever he was worried, and it took you telling him about it for him to realize he could share his burden with you. But this time it was different.

When you had asked what was bothering him he dismissed you as soon as he could and continued what he was doing.

It had hurt you. It made you think if you had done anything wrong, but you couldn’t think of anything. It was scary thinking about what this could mean for the both of you.

“And you’re sure he hasn’t ever acted like this before?” Astrid asked as she tried to make sense of the situation with you.

You where both sat in the Great Hall, as the rest of the vikings ate their dinner. You however, couldn’t seem to make anything go down past your throat, as worry consumed you.

“Yes Astrid, I am sure,” you replied rather harshly. “I don’t even know where the hell he is right now. For all I know he’s probably off in another girl’s house. Maybe he got tired of waiting for me. Maybe he realized he doesn’t want this sort of commitment…”

You knew that this was irrational thinking. Hiccup had never given you signs that he didn’t want to be with you anymore, on the contrary, he was always very reassuring on how much he liked being with you. Up until now you had never had any reason to doubt your relationship; but up until now, Hiccup had never behaved like this either.

“Don’t say that! That boy is crazy for you. He has been since we where thirteen.”

You sighed and buried your hands in your hair. “Then why is he acting like this?!”

“I think you should ask him yourself,” Astrid said as she placed a comforting hand on her friend’s back.

“I’ve already tried that…” you groaned out. Your voice muffled by your arms, on which you were resting your head.

“Give it one more try. Maybe he’ll snap out of it.”

Reluctantly, you agreed and made your way up to the watch tower. It was Hiccup’s turn to keep watch tonight, so you knew he wouldn’t be able to escape this time.

You felt the heat of the fire before you saw it, and you knew he was there.

“You need to cut the crap Haddock,” you started as you saw the faint outline of his shadow as you were nearing the end of the stairs. “If I did something wrong, just tell me right now because I can’t keep doing this. We’re not teenagers anymo-”

Your throat closed up as soon as you saw him. A gasp escaped your mouth and your hands flew to your face.

In front of you, Hiccup was down on one knee and a small wooden box sat comfortably on the palm of his hand.

“You bastard,” you whispered just to yourself.

He chuckled at that and smiled as he saw your reaction. He then opened the box to reveal a small silver ring in the shape of some intricate patterns.

“My dearest Y/N…” he started, but the lump in his throat wouldn’t let him go any further.

“Oh Hiccup…” you breathed out as you approached him slowly.

“Please marry me,” he said finally.

You crouched in front of him with tears in your eyes and held his face in your hands.

“Of course I will marry you,” you replied as a teary laugh escaped your throat.

To him, it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.

He laughed then, as he slid the ring in, and looked up at you. He cupped your cheeks with the palm of his hand and pulled you closer until your lips met. He tasted tears and relief in that kiss.

You eventually separated and you hit his chest lightly.

“Don’t ever do that to me again you bastard!” you said as the tears flowed, and you whipped them off as nervous laughter escaped your lips.

“I swear this is the last time love,” he chuckled as he crouched his head slightly to help you whipe your tears.

“Not that! Don’t ever avoid me like that again Hiccup! I was starting to think that maybe you didn’t want me anymore…”

Hiccup grabbed your chin gently and made you look up at him. “Theres no one else I’d rather want.”

You laughed nervously once again and offered him a teary smile.

“I’m sorry I scarred you love. I just…I was so nervous.”

“It’s ok…” you reassured him. “I understand.”

He smiled down at you and whipped another tear. You didn’t mean to keep doing it, but you had been so worried all day long that it was finally coming out. You didn’t want to ruin your moment like this. It was supposed to be a moment for celebration and happiness. You tried to make it stop.

“You can cry. I will lift your sorrows,” Hiccup said with a soft laugh as he whipped another tear.

You smiled then, tears still flowing out. But you knew it would be alright. He would make you feel alright. He always did.

[demodraws0606]

DRDT CHARACTER THEME PLAYLIST - My Personal Interpretation

Warning : This playlist was deleted by DRDTdev and thus this is mostly meant to be something fun, and also because people have posted a lot of interpretations that I don't agree with (and I've always wanted to make my own).

So a while back DRDTdev made a playlist that they've now deleted, however I've seen a lot of people making their own posts about who fits which song. However since I'm not "like the other girlsTM", i had mixed feelings on how certain songs were assigned.

Some songs will be exactly the same as some other posts, mainly because they make the most sense to me but I do have some interesting shifts here and there that I will try to explain.

However I want to get the obvious ones out of the way first

UNDEAD ENEMY : David Chiem

I think this one is the most obvious song in the playlist. The song talks about a person who has put on a mask and is miserable trying to addear to the expectations of that mask. There is a lot of pent up frustration and anger in those lyrics which also is very fitting for David.

There is also the hints of something more behind those feelings of hatred, despite how much he's learned to hate the world there's still a sliver of him that still wants genuine companionship.

YESMAN : Nico Hakobyan

This song already fits Nico purely from the introvert lines. I'm joking, that's not just why I considering Yesman to be Nico's song. This song fits really well with Nico's frustration with being a pushover (or you could say a Yesman) and just how society has always treated them poorly.

The song itself is about being forced to do something, like a boring job, and despite how much hatred you feel you still keep on trying to keep your head low and do what your told. I think all of that really fits Nico's arc and what we know of them so far. Someone who constantly is pushed down by other and has been taught that they need to accept it.

SHUNRAN : Arei Nageishi

This song could also fit Ace as another aggressive person who just wants companionship but I personally think this song fits Arei way better especially with the beginning line ("I won't pay attention to small fry" has a lot of Arei vibes).

This song fits Arei's desire to want love and the contradiction that comes with her aggressive personality. She feels that it's unfair how life punished her which fits a lot with the line "They say that praying to be loved is a sin" as she was constantly denied that love. The lines as well about your personality slipping and crying reminds me of Arei's breakdown.

Hi-Fi Evolution Theory : Veronika  Grebenshchikova

This song is very vague but despite that it is 100 pourcent a Veronika song.

I don't fully know what the song means in itself but the lyrics really fit Veronika's issues with boredom and her enjoyement of the killing game. There's a lot of lines about laughing and wanting to be entertained which just goes with her really well with her character.

Cartoons : Rose Lacroix

Ok, I think I lied when I said Undead Enemy was the most obvious song, THIS is the most obvious song. I don't think there's much analysis to be done to convince anyone that this is would Rose's theme.

This song reflects well Rose's depression and pain surrounding her talent and just how her life turned out in general. It kinda has that dissociative numbness in the lyrics that just fits her really well.

Sing Along : Teruko Tawaki

This song really fits Teruko extremely well especially her abandonnement issues. The song itself sounds aggressive but it oozes of longing and sadness.

A lot of the lyrics fit her feelings of being betrayed by Xander and Min, people she's gotten close to in a short time but immediatly ended up betraying her. It also fits her feeling towards her brother who ended up leaving her as well.

Now let's take a break and tackle the Instrumental songs !! This is where things start to change from other posts so get ready.

Spitfire (05 Version) : J Rosales

This one just fits J's vibes quite well. It's aggressive but also isn't too serious or intimidating, it just sounds like something J would listen in the car.

It also just has this...manly energy (?) or punk-ish energy that J has, it fits her rejecting the traditional feminity her mom tried to force on her.

Main Theme, Diamond is Unbreakable : Xander Matthews

This song is literally Xander vibes and you can fight me on that, it has a very dramatic and grandiose sound (especially when the piano comes in) that just fits how Xander holds himself (as you can see with that pose).

It's the exact type of theme I would expect from someone being the Ultimate Rebel. There's also more actively aggressive parts that I think also fit Xander, as we see he's got a short tamper when his ideologies are challanged and he also just is surprisingly quick to resort to violence.

desk rotation by RQ laji-2: Charles Cuevas

You can fight me again because you cannot tell this Bill Nye intro ass track doesn't fit Charles. Again it's hard to argue considering assigning instrumental tracks is really just based on vibes however this song really has a huge science show feel to it.

I could imagine hearing it while Charles is doing chemistry stuff or theorizing during the class trial.

Now let's go back to the lyrical songs, and this is where things start to go a bit crazy and I might need to justify myself a bit more.

asymptotic : Min Jeung

I know Charles is considered the resident nerd guy but you cannot NOT give the song about math puns to Min.

I think this song works really well for Min's relationship with Teruko. It especially reminds me of what Teruko says to Min before she gets excecuted that they "should've never gotten attached to one another".

This song is about a romantic relationship that could never happen, which I think represents Min's own feelings towards Teruko. About how they could've been closer but now they'll always be drifting apart.

How Min in a way sacrificed her life for Teruko but again she'll always be "out of reach". A relationship that could never happen under the killing game's circumstances.

RUNAWAY : Levi Fontana

I think this song especially with what Levi revealed to us latest episode REALLY fits him.

A song about a person who is repeteadly failling to try and "become better". The lines about "searching" and "tripping" goes in line with Levi's behavior in chapter 2. He's awkwardly trying to reach an ideal of the person he's supposed to be. He wants to be a "good person" but from the day he was born he was completely denied that ideal (aka "Dreams of who i want to be I'm seeing every empty page")

But there is a silver lining to all of this, the lyrics work with the moral of Levi's character. He doesn't need to run away from who he truly is, that what he considers an obstruction to his goal is simply just a part of himself he should accept. He doesn't need to "run away".

tip toes : Hu Jing

This song already just screams Hu purely from the line "I'm reaching for something more than this feeling of being important". She's a person who wants to protect others, be someone who others can rely on but in part it's very much driven by her own ego.

The lyrics are slightly vague but the parts about her "future" I feel like really gives vibes about how she used to be someone who had givne up on her own life but now is determined to persue it no matter what.

I didn't put this lyric in but "Take this ghost of me with the tide to die" again really feels like it references Hu's past and how she's ashamed of it. The song's lyrics give me a lot of feelings of regret but also determination which I think encapsulate Hu's character well.

Polygonal : Ace Markey

I've never seen people consider this one for Ace which is really surprising but also not because this song is very vague. Despite that, I do think this song 100 pourcent fits Ace purely because of some lines that really fit neatly with Ace's character.

The repeated mentions of how anyone would want to be loved/have someone to laugh with, it reminds me a lot of how Ace reacted to Levi saying he didn't care if he died. Ace desperately someone to give a shit about him, he'd rather take pity than nothing at all but he's also a self sabotager who drives anyone who gets close away from him.

"Your increasing honesty, I hate that about you" Honestly really feels like it's Ace saying that to Levi ? I wouldn't know fully how to explain it but it just really gives that vibe.

The song also seems to go on about a person's suffering about how their life is "full of failures" which again goes unfortunatly with Ace who seems to just have lived a pretty miserable life. Having only one person he could call a friend, being forced into an Ultimate Talent that both ruined his body and mental health .

Drawing Pins : Arturo Giles

Ok this one is probably the most farfetched pick, i'd say ? Considering, however, how little we know about Arturo I feel like this song has a lot of room to fit his characters and certain lines already do in multiple ways.

The parts about not being able to fit in, both makes me think of how he's kind of just, openly mocked within the group. However it also really makes me think about Arturo's family, him wanting to distance himself from them and his apparent disdain from them as well.

"Tell me what you did it for" "Cause I can't figure it out" I honestly think those parts really fit well with Arturo's sister committing suicide. He doesn't know why she did it something like that and he refuses to see it as his fault, it haunts him, he can't figure out why she did it because he can't fathom the idea that in reality it truly was because of him.

The "what do i have to do to be loved by you" parts I think are where things get a bit weird. My thought process would be Arturo's feelings towards "pretty people", him becoming obsessed with J because of her mother really makes me think that he's looking out for some kind of validation in a way.

Good grief : Eden Tobisa

I'm sorry this song is not fucking Whit, it's Eden, y'all can suck it /lh

This song really just fits way to well for me with Eden's feelings about Arei (weither she's the culprit or not even if I don't think she is anymore). The entire of the trial of chapter 2, Eden is struggling with the fact that she lost Arei and what could have been. This song really makes me think about how she tells David that she "knows she's dead and that she's never coming back". The slight upbeat-ness of the song really fits as well with Eden's attempt to try and stay cheerful despite how sad she feels.

I think Arei's death will be a very big sticking point in Eden's character.

Also the time motif with "Every minute and every hour" just fits way too good for it to be ignored.

In terms of other lyrics, I agree some of them fit Whit a bit but there are certain things that click way too well with Eden (and also none of the other songs fit Eden at all). I mean Eden's secret quote literally is "You can't go back no matter how hard you try" so clearly her character is heavily tied with grief as well.

"If you want to be a party animal, you have to learn to live in the jungle...." Really feels to me like Eden having to learn to be stronger and stop blaming herself ? It really just sounds like advice that would be given to someone like Eden who wants to be upbeat and confident but just simply is too prone to be insecure.

"Get drunk, call me a fool. Put me in my place" Again those lyrics really just feel like they fit Arei and Eden's relationship. Arei calling Eden a "fool" and "putting her in her place", it just ends up really matching perfectly in my opinion.

Mistaken Belief of Love : Whit Young

AHAH ! You have fallen into my trap of this post actually being secretly propaganda about how "Mistaken Belief of Love" really fits what's hinted about Whit's character so far !!!

Yeah, no, this song really does not make sense with anyone else other than Whit ? Both the lyrics and vibes do not match with anyone. The song's whole thing is about "love" and Whit's a fucking matchmaker, thematically it just fits like a puzzle piece. Not only that but Whit's whole thing (that actually hasn't rlly appeared in the series itself all that often) is that he seems to not be able to find love himself and is doomed to be single. It reinforces this idea that, yeah Whit's song would be about love in some way or another (I talk about love in general, this song is not a love song despite what you'd think)

It also works really well with Whit's secret quote being "We often idolize the dead" meaning Whit probably saw his mother as someone she wasn't. Perhaps she was abusive or neglectful, or she hid something from him that truly shows that she may not have cared about him at all.

There are also lines that just fit Whit really well like the "deception, boasting, saying "I openly laughed at it"", just really gives giant Whit vibes for me ? Same with the mention of "peekaboo" since we know Whit kinda holds on to childish things like that (his socks, the fact he uses fruity shampoo for kids).

Anyways, this was mostly for fun and also because I desperatly to make my own list because I had some Hot Takes Tm.

[lazydoodlesandfanfic]

Fate's Plans (Wanda Maximoff X Male!Reader)

Characters: Wanda Maximoff X Male!Reader

Universe: Marvel, Avengers (Takes place sometime after AOU)

Warnings: Pregnancy, vague mentions of birth, bit of swearing

Could you write Wanda x male!reader, it’s just fluff really if that’s ok. Wanda and the reader find out they’re pregnant and the fic’s about their time throughout the pregnancy and after their child is born. Maybe the reader kinda freaks out a bit and Wanda finds it really funny/cute.

There were a lot of people who believed that finding true love was an act of fate. If it happened to you, you’d know immediately, and it would become a story to tell your kids and grandkids beside the person you were destined to grow old with. Wanda was one of those people. She believed with all her whole heart that her parents' meeting was fate, even if it meant that they would die young, leaving behind her and Pietro. However, she also believed that this fate wasn’t ever going to happen to her. Life was too cruel- why would life beat her down so hard so far just to throw her a bone now? And she was okay with that. She believed this so hard, that it actually took her a while to realise that she was wrong. Fate did have other plans for her, and the love of her life was already with her.

Wanda only realised it was you, was when she watched you excitedly calling her name repeatedly, getting a little quieter as you got close and closer, beaming as you proceeded to hand her a cloth bag that fit in her hand, and watched excitedly as she opened it, finding several stones, shells and even sea glass, and you went on to explain that on your PTO (Because you’d gotten injured on a mission and should have been resting) you’d gone to the coast with some family and gathered some trinkets because you thought she’d like it. She didn’t like it. She loved it, and she loved that you had thought of her and did this. That’s why immediately after, she asked you to dinner, and your eyes widened, not expecting that, before stuttering out an acceptance.

She was surprised it took her so long for herself to realise how special you were. You were an agent of SHIELD, and had been for two years, starting just a year after Wanda became an Avenger. Being young, and a rookie, you got a lot of teasing, especially from people like Clint and Tony, but you took it all in your stride and with a smile. You were always kind, eager to help, which on first appearance made you appear a bit of an airhead or gullible, but oh boy, was that wrong- Tony learnt that the hard way, when he tried to prank you by putting you in charge of checking over his security software for any faults, bugs, or cyber attacks, him already having it planned out for you to be overwhelmed and for FRIDAY to mimic an actual attack to scare you, only for you to handle it, and actually catch a bug in the system. All of which you announced to Tony in front of several other Avengers, including Wanda. Not long after, you ended up being assigned on a mission with Natasha, Clint and Steve, and come back with the three gobsmacked, and then tell a story of you being the most competent and well trained agent any of them had actually worked with. That kind of complimentary talk really boosts you up the ranks, it turns out, and soon Wanda was able to see it first hand. 

But out of missions, you were that kind, slightly silly person. You always asked about her day, complimented her on her recent mission, and eventually, you began giving gifts- getting her coffee in the morning, then also a bit of breakfast, then snacks, and eventually your gifts moved from food and drinks to finding DVDs of obscure movies she mentioned wanting to watch again, or fixing things for her in your down time. Your sewing skills on her cardigans and skirts were far from professional, but they worked as intended, and it was a lovely gesture. Wanda practically slapped herself when she realised these were your ways of trying to show you liked her.

As soon as you two actually started dating, everything just clicked. Your acts of love and affection didn’t slow down at all, except now the coffee and breakfast was something you grabbed together, you kept her favourite snacks at yours for when she came over, and she did the same for you, and dates between you was basically anytime you two got to be alone together- which was whenever you two had time after work, or after a mission, where you two just cuddled and relaxed after it all. The only real problem was the part where you two would be at work and be teased by your team for being kids in love, but it was all in good fun. The team was fully supportive. They saw how happy you made Wanda, and how well you two clicked. It was worth the aww’s and teasing whenever you told each other you loved each other or shared a look across a room. This did get a little better though when you two actually moved in together a year and half into your relationship, though now the team would regularly question when you two were gonna get married already.

Imagine the team's surprise when Wanda announced that she was going on desk work for the next few months- because you two were having a baby. 

“You know, there’s still time for a shotgun wedding.” Tony commented, walking past Wanda as she was sitting reading a mission report, also enjoying some baby carrots, the bowl balanced on her belly that had grown a lot the last few months. 

“Not happening Tony. Knowing my luck, I’ll go into labour while saying my vows.” She commented, not looking up. 

“You don’t even have to walk down an aisle or anything- we get you a white dress, get Y/N in a suit- can’t Captains officiate weddings? I own boats, that counts, right?” Tony questioned.

“Tony, we know you just want another party. I have no clue how you’re still functioning after what you pulled at the baby shower.” Natasha commented, coming in the room to give Wanda new forms, before taking the ones from her. “Now leave her alone, before I tell Clint.” She warned. Tony raised his hands in surrender, before leaving the room. “Now you.” 

“I haven’t done anything.” Wanda defended. 

“Other than you’re supposed to be working from home? You’re due any day now.” Natasha pointed out. 

“Exactly- Y/N got dragged off to that mission the other day and isn’t back yet- if I go into labour at home, I’m by myself.” She pointed out. 

“And if Y/N finds out you’re not following doctor’s orders, he’s gonna be irate.” She pointed out. Wanda knew she was right. Ever since Wanda had shown you the test results, you somehow became even more affectionate, even more loving, but also now protective. You always tried to not be overbearing on her and get on her nerves- she was the one actually going through it after all. You made sure her snack stash, which adjusted to her cravings, was always well stocked. As the pregnancy progressed, you switched chores- her doing any that she could do with minimal moving or while sat on a stool, and you did anything that would cause her any back pain. You set the nursery up together, you doing the painting, and Wanda put together most of the furniture, not having to do any heavy lifting thanks to her powers, though every few weeks you could come home to the nursery reorganised because she wasn’t happy about some aspects of it- the cot too far away from the door, the chair too far away from the cot, the cot and chair are too close together. Eventually she settled on a layout.

When Wanda entered her 3rd Trimester, was when you became a true worrier. If she showed any discomfort, you were by her side to try and help, and with every day closer to the due date, Wanda could tell you were getting more anxious- she blamed all the books and research you did pretty early on in her pregnancy, which led you down a rabbit hole about risks and worst case scenarios, though you didn’t want to talk about it with her- as to not worry her. That stress really showed when you found out about your current mission, and Wanda saw you actually raise your voice at Fury for sending you on it, knowing the situation. In the end, Fury could not reassign who was on the mission, but he did extend your leave after the baby’s birth by 2 months. Wanda promised to keep the baby in till you came back, and Natasha, Clint and Bruce promised to look after Wanda and also to keep Tony on a leash.

“Have you heard anything from them on how the mission’s going?” Wanda inquired, trying to change the subject. 

“Got a vague text from Steve saying ‘nearly done’ early this morning, but other than that, nothing, but knowing how effective Steve, Thor and Y/N work together, I’m expecting them back tonight.” She told Wanda. “In other words, you have until tonight to get home, or I'm telling.” 

“I can handle Y/N being a little annoyed at me being here- I want to see him as soon as he gets back, not a second longer.” Wanda decided, resting her head back in her chair. Natasha felt a buzz in her pocket, pulling her phone out, before grinning and putting it away. 

“Well better get moving- they’re already landing.” 

You were exhausted from the mission, but eager to get off the jet and get to Wanda. You didn’t like the idea on her being alone, both in the day and at night while due any moment- you heard a lot of labours start at night, and you’d had a nightmare while on your mission of Wanda waking up in the middle of the night with contractions, no one answering her calls because they were asleep, and an ambulance not getting to her for hours. You didn’t want that, so the best spot for you was by her side.

As soon as Steve landed the plane, you were off it, stripping off harnesses, belts and gear as you walked, rushing inside the building for the quicked debrief which you planned to mostly consist of ‘I’ll do the paperwork later’ talk, only to spot Wanda shuffling towards you, right beside Natasha, who sent an apologetic smile. You dumped your gear on the spot and ran to her. “You okay? What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be resting.” You fussed, taking Wanda in your arms, seeing her face for any discomfort- any sign she was having contractions or in labour- but she just smiled back at you. 

“Figured me being here meant having people around, so even if I went into labour, I wouldn’t be alone.” She pointed out. You sighed, your shoulders relaxing, the comment actually soothing that horrible thought that had been haunting your dreams. It was almost like-

“Have you been reading my mind again?” You asked her. 

“Only when your thoughts are so loud, I can hear them without telepathy. You worry too much, my love.” She told you, resting her hand on your cheek. 

“And now that you’re home- go take her home before we have to have Bruce deliver your kid- I’m not sure if Bruce could handle that stress. I’ll handle the debrief and Fury. Enjoy your last few days of peace for the next few years.” Steve commented as he walked past you both. You jokingly saluted him, and did as told. 

As soon as you got home, got Wanda settled and got the chores done that needed to be done, you joined your girlfriend in your bed, putting on one of the old DvDs of an old sitcom Wanda loved that she got you addicted to as well. “Tony giving you any trouble?” You asked. 

“Other than wanting us to have a shotgun wedding so he can get as wasted as he did at our baby shower? No… how did he even get that drunk?” Wanda asked. 

“If I had to guess… Thor and his flask of Asguardian alcohol. But then again I wouldn’t put it past him to figure out where we ordered our chocolates and got alcohol laced ones and ate them all to himself… can you imagine him getting drunk at our daughter’s Christmas Nativity? Or her toddler ballet classes?” You humoured, making Wanda laugh. 

“Oh, I think you mean our son’s Christmas Nativity and his toddler ballet classes. This, is a boy.” She said, tapping her stomach. 

“Hmmm, I still think for a girl, little Wanda Jr.” You told her, leaning over to kiss her bump. 

“If it is a girl, we are not calling her Wanda Jr.” She grinned, and you hummed. “You sure you’re okay with Pietro for a boy?” She asked. 

“Of course I am. Has been since we talked about it 6 months ago. Hell if it is a girl, we can have Petra, or something.” You suggested, wrapping an arm around her. “I wish I could have met him. I bet he would have been the best uncle… and also he’d join Tony in the shotgun wedding idea.” You commented, making her chuckle. 

“Yeah, he would… I think he’d love you though, he’d want us to marry just to gain you as a brother.” She added. “Anyway, one episode, then bed, I’m tired from looking at paper all day, and don’t lie to me about being tired yourself.” She told you. You agreed to that, but ended up falling asleep not even half way through. 

However, you did wake up to Wanda shaking your arm. “Hmm? Yeah? Need water? The bathroom?” You asked on autopilot, before you became more aware of your surroundings, realising Wanda was already out of bed… a bed, that was wet.

“Get dressed and take me to the hospital- my water broke.” She told you, keeping her voice low as she brushed her hair out before clipping it back. You stared at her, processing her words, before it clicked. Hospital. Water. Broke. Labour. Baby. Now. 

“Oh fuck we’re doing this!” You announced, jumping out of bed, rushing to grab clothes from your drawers to get dressed, while Wanda watched you, happy in her pyjamas, slippers and dressing gown as you hurried to get half decent, before grabbing her to-go bag from the chair in the corner, taking her by the arm and escorting outside to drive her to the hospital. “Let me know when you feel a contraction- have you felt any yet? Have you timed them? Your water breaking means it’s gonna speed up.” You requested as you drove. 

“Had a few in bed- thought they were braxton hicks, but then my water broke, so I woke you up. I wasn’t timing them, but I will now- hold on.” She said, her voice becoming strained as she grabbed the door and your arm, and you pulled over and looked at her. “No, drive! Contraction!” She ordered. 

“Oh! Right, sorry!” You apologised, taking off again. Wanda already knew this was going to be an experience, and a story to tell later with you right there. 

Boy was she right. From getting there, to getting her checked into the maternity ward, all attempts to hold back on being dramatically worried was forgotten. At all times, you had some sort of contact with Wanda, whether that was holding her as she walked around, letting her squeeze your hand through contractions, rubbing her back to help with pains, or hugging her and telling her she was doing amazing, you were there. You were there every step of the way, all attention on her, checking in on her, making sure she was as comfortable as she could be, and being a rock. You made the whole thing go as smoothly as they could, and Wanda was thankful for that. She wasn’t sure she could do it without you. But eventually, it was over, and she had her baby in her arms. She looked over at you, sat beside her, arms leant on the siderails, looking at your daughter, mesmerized, before looking up at Wanda. “She’s so small.” You whispered, making her smile. 

“Get over here and hold her, you dork.” She told you, shuffling over as much as she could so you could partially lay with her, taking your daughter in your arms, and looking down at her, before once again turning to Wanda, this time kissing her head.

“My girls. My beautiful girls, my whole world.” You told her, and she smiled, resting her head on you as you got comfortable with your baby, who was sound asleep in your arms, like she’d been the one doing all the hard work. “I knew you were a girl. Dreamt about it all the time- my little girl who looks just like her beautiful mom.” You told the baby in your arms. 

“So, what are we naming her? And don’t say Wanda Jr.” She questioned. 

“Thought we already agreed? Petra, right? Unless you want that as a first name, in which case, we could do what Clint did for you and name her after him. What’s the female version of Clint? Clinton?... Cli-”

“Don’t finish that thought, you’re too sleep deprived. Petra’s fine.” She told you, already seeing where exactly you were going, even if you didn’t. “Anyway, you should probably go tell the others- let Tony know a shotgun wedding is no longer an option but he can throw a party anyway.” She told you.

“Alright, I can do that. Want me to put our baby down to sleep so you can get some rest? I’ll make sure they don’t come around till late morning.” You told her, kissing her head as she nodded, and you put Petra in her cot beside Wanda. 

“And as soon as you’re done, get back here, I want more hugs, even if it’s cramped.” She told you, getting a playful salute like how you had done to Steve earlier, before you grabbed your phone to step out and share the good news. Wanda rolled onto her side to look at her daughter, reaching out to put her arm into her cot, running a finger across her cheek. 

Hope you like it! I wrote this in about 2-3 hours in one sitting so if there's mistakes please let me know. If you have any questions, please send them in!

*Not my gif

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[lacyscabinet]

omg imagine nat dating a girl who takes photos for the school paper/and she gets assigned to do an article and when reader goes to pick out photos of the yellowjackets to use in the article she realized that 99% of the photos are of nat <33

A/N: Thank you so much anon for the request!! this fic is so special to me because it's a collab with the pookiest @livil589 (love u sm, I had so much fun writing with you MUAH!!!!) check out her blog she's amazing!!!

MASTERLIST!!

Pictures

A week ago you'd been assigned to write an article about your school's soccer team, the Yellowjackets getting invited to play at nationals. It was such a big honour for all the girls on the team, but especially Nat. She was already thinking about the possibility of winning, making herself a name and maybe becoming a professional soccer player. As she daydreamed about her plans for the future you sat at her messy desk in a corner of her room, editing your article and occasionally turning around to see your girlfriend sprawled on the bed with a joint between her fingers. 

“God Nat! Can’t you just go smoke outside?” you said between coughs, Nat unglued her eyes from the stained ceiling and looked at you with a smirk “Can’t handle a little smoke mh? What are you doing over there anyway?”

“Just going through some stuff for the article, you know the one about a soccer team called the Yellowjackets…not sure if you’ve ever heard of it” you joked, that caused her to softly giggle, getting up from her spot she leaned over your shoulder to see what you were doing, “Oh look that’s me!” she exclaimed as soon as she saw a picture of her running on the field.

“Mhm, do you like it?” you turned to Nat, waiting for her response as she looked at the pictures you had picked out.

“Of course, baby, I love it” she smiled 

“Oh! That’s also me!” she said after noticing two other pictures of herself, in one she was holding up a small trophy the team got after winning a match while the other was just a silly picture you took of her before practice 

“Yeah I thought those were nice!” you shrugged “Don’t you think you’re using too many pictures of me?” she asked and you thought about it for a second, maybe she was right… 

“No problem, I developed some other pictures, we can just look through them, I’m sure we’ll find more pics of the whole team”

You grabbed the small pile of developed photos and began to look through them, Nat watching with her head on your shoulder.

“Baby…every one of these is of me,” she laughed. You moved to face the blonde, letting out a small huff as you thought.

“I could've sworn there were photos of everyone in here,” a small pout formed on your face when you realised you were going to need to take more pictures. Nat, noticing your expression, quickly took your face in her hands. 

“Hey, it'll be ok. We can see if there's any photos from previous articles so you don't have to worry,” she pulled you into a hug, pressing kisses to the side of your head.

“Yeah, that could work!”

“See, I'm a genius,” Nat jokes, watching you laugh and roll your eyes. 

“You love me” 

“Of course I do, Natty,” you smiled as a blush creeper onto her face. 

[lovelycassy]

Ok hear me out, a Lorenzo Berkshire imagine where him and the reader are dating and she gets hurt during a girl day with pansy 😌

Hexed

Summary: Ever since you and Lorenzo started dating a week ago, you noticed a certain slytherin who always seems to be glaring at you. It only took some time before they take action against you.

Pairing: Lorenzo/Enzo x fem!reader

House: any

Blood status: pureblood

Word count: 1,588

Warning(s) : some violence, a lil cursing, a kissing scene that’s barely there, pet names (love & darling), not proofread, lmk if I missed anything!

a/n: I am so sorry anon I didn't check my ask box for a rlly long time so I didn't notice that I already had requests 😭 I hope you didn’t wait that long but here it is though. btw this is my first fic so pls bear with me if its cringy I'm trying

Also forgive me if pansy, lorenzo and Daphne are not so in character these are just how I imagine their personalities are

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It was a sunny friday afternoon and you were going to your last class of the day. You were thinking of what you were going to do the next day when you heard someone call your name from behind.

"Y/n!" they called. You turned around and saw your best friend Pansy running down the hallway.

"Yes?" You answered

Pansy caught her breath before she asked, "Do you have any plans for tomorrow afternoon?"

"not much, just going to stay in my dorm all day I guess, why?"

"I was thinking that we should have a girl's day, you know just the two of us, shopping at hogsmeade. Since our NEWTS are coming up and I know its gonna take a lot of our time, tomorrow is the perfect time for us to hang out before we have to stress about our exams. So, what do you say?" She said, with her eyes almost looking like she’s pleading for you to say yes.

You thought for a while. You didn't have anything else to do aside from sleeping and staying in your bed all day anyway. You also finished all your homework yesterday, you just need to hope that your last professor gives mercy on all of you students and lets you go without any homework.

"Okay sure, I need a break from school anyway." You finally answered.

"Great! Let's meet at the great hall at 9am, sound good?"

"Yep, see you tomorrow Pans!"

"Bye!"

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

"Thank god we don't have any homework assigned today" you muttered as you entered the slytherin common room, heading to your boyfriend's dorm.

You knocked 3 times before you heard someone answer from inside;

"Who is it?“ Lorenzo shouted

"It's just me" you answered

"Oh alright, the door's open"

You entered and saw him sitting on his bed, reading a book. He already changed out of his robes and wore some comfy clothes.

He looked up from his book the second you entered the room.

"Hey darling, how's your day?" He asked

"Tiring, how's yours?" You said while taking off your robe and putting it on the coat rack

"It's alright, if you exclude the fact that seamus almost set the classroom and everyone in it on fire in potions."

"Wow, that bad?"

"Yeah, luckily snape was there. But of course he had to take points off Gryffindor because of the chaos Seamus created."

By now you had already changed into some comfortable clothes and was climbing in bed "But everyone was okay, right?"

"Of course, but enough about my day. Tell me what happened to yours?" He said, while cuddling you putting you on top of him

"Well pansy came to me a few hours ago, asking me to go on a girl's day with her tomorrow at hogsmeade. Since our exams are coming up she wants to hangout before we all get busy studying."

"And what did you answer her?"

"I said yes of course she's my best friend"

"I thought you said we're going to spend the whole day together tomorrow?" He looked down at you with a pouty face

"I said on sunday, love"

"No you definitely said Saturday"

"I'm pretty sure I said sunday"

"Fine you did"

"I promise you on sunday I'm all yours, okay? No one is going to disturb us."

"Alright fine"

Before you could say anything else he suddenly flipped both of you and he was on top of you

“Love what are you trying to do right now?”

“What I’ve wanted to do since classes ended”

Then you felt his lips on yours

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

You were roughly making out for about 5 minutes now when you both heard a knock on the door.

"You lovebirds done? Its nearly dinner already so stop making out and let's go to the great hall." Theo groaned from the other side of the door.

"Okay okay we're coming" you said fixing yourself up

"Cmon lets just stay behind they won't even mind" Enzo complained

"Sorry love but as a human being I also need food plus I'm starving" you were walking to the door when you turned around and saw him on the bed with a pouting like face

"We could continue after dinner." You said with a smirk

That made him run to the great hall.

*timeskip to the next day*

You and Pansy have been shopping for almost 2 hours now. You suggested you guys eat lunch first before continuing your shopping spree

Once you guys were finished, you were both deciding the next store you were going to when you saw a certain slytherin walking towards you with her gang. The one who has been rude to you since you and Lorenzo started dating, Daphne Greengrass. Let’s pretend she didn’t like theodore and liked lor

It was no secret to the whole school that she liked him. She practically did everything to make him notice her. Yet Lorenzo still chose you, and that made her blood boil.

"What's she doing here?" You whispered to Pansy

Pansy just shrugged

"Well well well, look who we have here, its lorenzo’s little girlfriend, L/n " Daphne said with a smirk (IM INTERNALLY CRINGING RN)

“Hello Greengrass, what brings you to hogsmeade on this lovely day?”

“Oh nothing, I just heard you and parkinson over there talking about how you’re going to spend your boyfriend’s money on a shopping spree. Does enzo even know you’re spending his money?” She said as she strode a little more closer to you

You can’t start a fight, or else some professor might pass by and punish you both by taking away house points that won’t be enough to win the house cup

You took a deep breath before answering her, “actually Greengrass, the money I’m spending right now is my monthly allowance from my parents. Now if you would excuse us, we would like to get back to our shopping.”

You tried to get past her before she blocked you and pansy’s way

“Not so fast l/n, that’s not what I came here for.”

“What is it then Greengrass?” You were starting to get annoyed

By now you were standing at arm’s length from her

“I came here because I wanted to remind you something.”

Suddenly she pushed you to the ground

“What the hell are you doing!” Pansy shouted, while trying to break free from Tracey Davis, one of Daphne’s closest friends

“Telling L/n here to stay away from what’s mine” daphne said, pointing her wand at you

Right now you were terrified of what might happen

“What the hell do you mean by staying away from what’s yours-“

“I meant staying away from Lorenzo you bitch!”

“We were friends since we were babies! We were meant for each other until you came and took him away from me!” She shouted

“So right now I’m going to take revenge on what you’ve done, stupefy!”

With that you flew and landed your back on a wall, you felt yourself getting dizzy with dark spots covering your vision. You heard Pansy run to you calling your name before everything went black

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

You woke up from a shine of light coming through your eyelids (does that make sense?), with a slight pounding in your head. You squinted your eyes a bit to get a better view to know where you were, it took a while before coming to a realization that you were in the hospital wing

You felt something or someone holding your hand, and you turned to see your boyfriend, Enzo, sleeping on a chair beside your bed holding your hand.

“Love, wake up,” you said, gently shaking the hand wrapped around yours.

You saw him fluttering his eyes a bit before looking at you with wide eyes.

“Oh my god you’re awake- hold on for a minute I need to get madam pomfrey.”

He rushed out of the hospital wing and returned with her not even 2 minutes later.

“Hello dear, how are you feeling?” Madam pomfrey asked with a gentle smile.

You looked at her and said, “my head hurts a bit, but may I ask what happened?”

“You must’ve forgotten because of how hard you hit your head yesterday.”

Hit your head? What happened? You thought for a while before all the events came back to your head. Daphne greengrass hexed you.

“Oh” was all you could say.

“Well dear once the pain in your head fades you are free to go anytime,” And with that madam pomfrey left.

You turned to look at your boyfriend and he looked at you with concerned eyes

“Um” he started “I heard from Blaise what Daphne has done to you, he was walking in hogsmeade when he saw Pansy trying to drag you back to the castle. I’m really sorry that-“

“It’s not your fault love” you cut him off

“No it partly is, I should’ve made it clear it Daphne that we weren’t going to work out if we ever got together. I guess I kind of led her on before I asked you out.”

“Well even if you say it is, you weren’t the one who hexed me.”

“Alright but I’m going to stay by your side all the time now, wherever you go I’m always gonna be there”

“Even during girl’s day??” you asked with a fake shocked face

“Even during girl’s day.” He said with a grin

“Noooo”

“Just kidding love, but still just in case so you won’t end up in the hospital wing again.”

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

I’m not really satisfied with the ending, I might redo it once I think of a better one. But anyways I hope you guys enjoyed! :)

[sngj08]

[We Meet Again] idol!anton x fan!fem!reader

summary: RIIZE liked your tiktok video. You didn't really think much of it until a fan seemingly dmed you something interesting. You ended up realizing that one of the members knows your dad as a family friend.

genre: strangers to friends, family friends, tiktok

warning: cursing, reader may be harsh and opinionated on some riize members, old internet slangs

based on real life events

- acc m.list

"YN WAKE UP!!! YOU HAVE SCHOOL TODAY!!" You heard your mom screaming from downstairs as you groan to yourself.

You forced yourself to stand up and get ready for school.

You did your morning routine, grabbed your school backpack, phone and left to school.

"Girl did you do your math homework?" Your friend said to you.

"Not a good morning Giselle?" You said playfully to your friend.

"Girl I'm serious. I already have 2 missing assignments in class." She nudged you as you smiled back at her.

"Yeah yeah. I did the homework." You said while handing her the homework.

"Ok send it to me, by lunch the latest. Bye girl and good luck in class." She waved goodbye as you both parted ways.

"Ok guys lets do it!" Your teacher opened the door, as it was your reminder to go to class.

As soon as you placed down your stuff by your table, you took your homework out and took a picture.

You sat down on your chair and properly prepared yourself for class before you send the homework to your friend.

You tried sending the message but your school wifi was not helping at all.

'Ugh f the school wifi.' You said under your breath.

"Do you want my pocket wifi?" One of the guys you thought was cute in your class handed you his pocket wifi.

Without hesitation, you took the wifi and entered the password onto your phone.

"Thanks." You said quietly to him while giving the wifi packet back with a smile.

"No problem." He smiled back. And without any hasle, the message went through easily until your phone started pinging nonstop.

"Can you please turn off your phone Yn. You are disrupting the class." The teacher said to you.

"Sorry sir." You said as you placed your phone on silent and placed it in your bag.

After school you went straight home and checked your phone.

You finally opened your phone from its slumber and your phone started pinging nonstop again.

"The fuck?" You cursed at yourself to see what it happening.

*RIIZE has liked your post*

You found the notification that were most likely the problem of all the spam notifications.

RIIZE just debuted and your sister introduced them to you.

You can say aren't a big fan of them but you still made tiktoks about them for fun.

It didn't bother you that RIIZE has been commenting on posts they see on tiktok because you thought of the low chance of the possibility to happen until now.

You got a mix of notifications of fans liking the same post and spam liking your other posts as well. You also got some notifications of some people following you out of no where.

You checked all the notifications until you saw some profile pictures of the people who followed you.

You decided to follow back fellow briize whom their pfp looks interesting.

You followed probably a 5 people until your mom called you.

"YN!!! DO THE DISHES!!!" Your mom screamed to you from downstairs again as you roll your eyes in annoyance.

"OK MOM!" You screamed back at your mom while going downstairs.

As you finished washing the dishes, you ran back upstairs so that your mom won't tell you to do more chores.

You only had one year left to be with your mom because you were already a senior in high school this year and you would start to live separately during college which scares you.

You shake off the idea of paying for rent when you went back up to your room and grabbed your phone.

*someone messeged you on tiktok*

A notification was shown on your phone from a person you just had become friends with on tiktok.

briize532: your yn right?

They probably looked into your instagram or something which is conncected onto your tiktok bio so you had no worries replying

you: yeah, why are you asking?

briize532: you're ****'s daughter right?

As you say another weird message from the person, you thought to yourself maybe they really looked in depth to your instagram profile.

you: my dad told me to say hi.

You were so confused of whats happening so you asked the user.

you: your dad?

briize532: yeah, your dad and my dad are friends. they met up at sm town for that meeting during ****(the year)

You vividly remember that year because you had gotten into kpop and your parents were going to korea without you because they said they had a meeting to attend to in sm town. You begged to let your parents take you with them but they said no because you had school. You didn't know who they met specifically tho.

you: I remember by dad going there lol

you didnt know what else to say because your dad was still at work for you to ask him a question of whom he was friends with during that year.

briize532: I saw you like riize, who is your bias?

you: my sister made me into riize a few weeks ago but I think eunseok and wonbin are good. who are your biases?

briize532: my bias is anton. what do you think him?

you: imma be real with you i could see why fans like him as well but i didn't appeal to his charm. it seems like a me problem but thats my opinion if you were asking for it

briize532: i see. not everyone has the same taste and they just debuted so they haven't shown everything they've got just yet

you: a riize defender i see

You chuckle while typing that message on you phone.

briize532: what if i told you i was anton

you: you'd be capping

you laughed at his message

briize532: i'll prove it. ill call you on kakaotalk. whats your kakao id?

You raised your eyebrows at his determination so you sent them your kakao id.

You got the friend request and accepted it and in a few moments, the user called you.

"Hey" The person said from the other side of the phone said, just showing his hair.

"I can't see your face." You sad to the phone as he readjusted his camera.

"Can you see me now?" Anton said from the other side of the phone.

"How the fuck is that you? Are you just a recorded live like those omegle videos?" You say in disbelief.

"Nope, it's really me! briize532 on tiktok!" He said with a small tone.

"So let me get this straight... Your producer dad.... knows my dad... and they met each other during ****?!" You said adding 2 and 2 together.

"Yeah" He said from the other side of the phone making you realized what you said about him on tiktok.

"Yo- I am so sorry what I said on the tiktok dms" You said to Anton who has seen your opinion about him.

"It's fine, atleast you listen to our music" He said a bit uncomfortable.

"Did i ruin your ego and everythng? gosh-" You said yapping your heart out your 'sorrys'

"No, my ego isnt ruined at all. You were being honest. It was my fault I asked." He said as defense.

This went on and on until your dad arrived, you showed Anton who was stiil on video call on your phone.

"Hi Anton!" Your dad said casually, still surprised your dad knows his name.

"Hi Uncle ****(your dad's name)" He says from the other side of the call.

"You look so much like your dad now!" Your dad said in reply.

"Thank you!" Anton said politely back to your dad.

[drksanctuary]

Ok last one so I can be a completionist @titan-army-week

PART 7: Family

After what feels like hours he doses off…memories of Celina flooding him. Her smile,the way she cheered when she got a potion to have the exact reaction she wanted. How she would proudly show off her new concoctions to Alabaster. He also had thoughts of Shreya with her watchful eyes, reading auras almost psychic-like in her interpretations of the smallest movements. He remembered Eva’s mastery of mist manipulation…and how much she liked horses. He thought of Brandon’s struggle with runes, how it frustrated him that it didn’t come as easy as spell-casting. Not every part of Magic comes easy to every one.

/That’s easy for you to say/ a voice in the back of his head prods at him.

What? …

“That’s easy for you to say, you’re good at every part Alabaster.” Lou Ellen said, directing a tone at him that is somehow both petty and full of wisdom and maturity.

“Just let me talk to him,” Al said starting toward Brandon’s bunk.

Lou Ellen stood in his way. “No,” she said, “Just give him some space Al.”

“But if I knew what the problem was I could fix it-“

“That’s exactly the problem, Al.”

“We can figure it out together!” Al stepped to the side.

“It’s not what he wants.” Lou moved in front again.

“But I can-“ Al strode forward,

“Make it worse,” Lou said. Finally resorting to physically pushing him away. Her eyes glowed purple.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re the most powerful, the strongest child of Hecate…”

“Yeah which is why I am qualified to-“

“Gods could you just let me finish?!”

Alabaster heaved a sigh. An exaggerated one.

“It’s hard to be our best when your around.”

“Our?”

“Yes”

“Why? Lou you’re second strongest…I’d say you’re doing your best just fine.”

“Hardly second, Magic wasn’t as intuitive to me, I had to work SO HARD. Brandon is the same way. But Al, he cares so much about making a good impression.”

“Exactly, I know exactly what impresses mother, so if I help him-”

“Gods you’re so stupid,” she said her palm to her forehead.

***

“Well then explain it to me” Alabaster said, fighting the urge to stop her from packing. “Explain to me why you are deciding to leave us when we need you.”

“You proved just fine you don’t need me,” Lou scoffed, closing her suit case a little harder than she intended. She was just so mad. So frustrated.

“What?? Because of one game? come on Lou, are you that much of a sore loser-“

Lou turned on him eyes flashing purple and green.

This gave Alabaster pause he’d only ever seen her use purple. A strong purple but never green. Never had she been able to use the strongest of the magic glows.

He was tempted to say, “See? You grow stronger everyday!” but the way she glared at him was more than a petchulant loss of a silly training game. She looked like she was going to cry…or rip him apart…or both.

“You think,” she said, advancing on him, “that I’m referring to the game?”

“I-had” Al swallows, “up until you glowed at me like that.”

“You are so smart, Al…I don’t know how your also so fucking stupid.”

“And I still don’t understand why you think it’s ok to abandon us when we need you.” Alabaster said, his own frustration growing. He didn’t like being called stupid.

“Like I said, you don’t need me,” Lou Ellen continued, “You already have a second strongest, and it’s not me!”

Al scoffed. “Lou, do you think that mom wants Marina to fight in a battle with me? While she has raw power and talent she’s hardly ready to-“

“Oh! You see, there it is!” Lou said, smugly.

“What? Theres what?? I gave all of our siblings their assignments based on where they’d be most useful and most safe! Do you want me to put a little eight year old girl in the line of fire? Perhaps you are the stupid one!” Alabaster seethed.

“I never…said who I thought the second strongest one was” Lou said

“You-“

“But you knew.”

“Well- I mean, I-“

“I don’t want to hear it Al, you think she’s stronger than me,” Lou said. And she seemed truly hurt by the sentiment.

“Well she has a lot of potential is what I was trying to s -“

“No.” Lou Ellen cut him off, “it’s what you said.”

“I thought you didn’t care about the ranking, Mom wants us to be a team, not infighting! The strongest protects but we all contribute.”

“And mom only ever really talks to you! She hasn’t spoken to any of us more than once!”

“Is that what this is? You want more validation from Mom?”

“No! I just…I have seen how you get Al. So focused. So sure you are right about things, but you don’t understand that not all of us have that… and the rest of us aren’t Marina, ok? We aren’t all your little prodigies!”

“Marina has probably heard from mother the least, and you want to compare clout there?”

“I don’t care about moms attention Al! We all care about one thing!”

Al was confused. Winning the Titan war? Their mother getting a throne? “Equality for all demigods, not just Olympians,” Al said, so sure he is correct.

“No Al.” Lou said, her things all packed. She grabbed it all, ready to leave she started for the exit but pauses at Al’s shoulder who retracts his attempt to stop her when he sees her purple and green glowing eyes bore into his own.

“Your loyalty is to the cause. Ours? ….We all care so so much…” Lou said, in a sharp whisper. “About what YOU think of us.”

Alabaster inhaled sharply, he expected her to shove him, but honestly this hurt more. Lou Ellen walks past him.

“S-since when do you care what I think of you?”

“I always have,” Lou said, “But don’t worry…I’ll get over it.” She turned and headed out.

Al wanted to be petchulant. To say “Fine go” but all he could do was default to what he always did for his siblings.

“Lou!…” Al called after her, “If you’re going to go, at least don’t go to Camp!…it’s not safe there….“

The visions of Camp half blood burning returned to him.

“Lou??” He called again, but she was already gone. He was…

***

Alone. Al is alone.

Luke is dead. Silena is dead. Ethan…there’s no way he could’ve survived that fall…Ethan is…dead.

Alabaster looks left and right of the battle theater they’re in. It’s over. They’ve lost. This…wasn’t supposed to happen.

He can’t find his siblings anywhere on the battlefield. When he’d ordered the retreat some monsters turned on them. He told them to hide while he fended them off. He stands now, alone…monster ash swirling at his feet. On instinct he heads to Marina’s safe reinforcement site.

He turns the corner to find Ares’ gigantic form casually strolling along. He seems to be surveying the damage of the battle with the cheer of someone meandering through the park on a warm summer day. Al sees the god start to pick his teeth with a small gold sword.

Marina’s sword.

When Ares moves to the side…Alabaster sees it. Or rather he doesn’t see it. The small building…the reinforcement site…was gone. Clobbered down to the foundation stones by what looks to be a giant flaming sword that now lies in the scabbard on that assholes hip. There looks to be bodies…and blood.

Alabaster is in attack mode before he can fully register it. He activates one of the traps Brandon had set on the perimeter knocking the Olympian bastard to the ground and covering him in a green net.

He draws his sword and charges the runes until they’re practically dripping with magic. He runs over and stabs it into the gods neck.

“Argh!!” Ares growls

The wound was not deep enough . Shit.

“Who the fuck are you?” Ares says

“Why?” Is all Al can manage

“Why what?” Ares says flexing his neck muscle to push Al’s sword out.

Al smacks it in and activates all the damage runes he has. It goes deeper into the flesh with a sick squelch as ichor splurts out.

“Ow! fuck!” Ares curses, his skin starting to glow faintly.

“WHY DID YOU KILL THEM??! THE BATTLE WAS OVER! WHY???!!??”

Ares chuckles. Apparently Alabasters suffering was amusing to him.

“My job punk…snuffing out the resistance!” He says and his skin starts to glow brighter with yellow light.

Al averts his eyes the yellow light gets mixed with green. He had been certain that he used the last of his magic. Where is -

He is picked up and mist traveled away before he can understand it and he arrives somewhere and appears to be…

***

Alone.

The adrenaline is still thrumming through him when he registers where he is. The black tumbled throne. He looks around for the sibling that brought him here. He hopes for Marina. But all he sees no one. He whirls around, doing a full 360. But when he turns again, suddenly he sees:

“Mom?”

“Shhh” Hecate reaches out to brush his hair with her hand.

“Mom! they kiled them!! They’re dead…Brandon, Eva, Shreya,…m-Mari-” he chokes.

“Alabaster,” she says softly but firmly,“I know, it’s a great terrible loss but you have to be quiet.”

“Why?!” Alabaster screeches.

“Because we are deciding your fate, boy.”

Zeus, Hera, Ares and Hermes stood before them.

“Please.” Hecate says, “Spare him.”

Ares scoffs.

“Please.” Hecate reiterates…pleads.

“We have made our decision,” Hera says very diplomatically. “He may live, but he is never to set foot on the camps or he may corrupt the remaining siblings…as he did the others.”

“Fu-“ Alabaster tries to curse but Hecate’s hand covers his mouth.

“Thank you, my Lords and Lady.”

Al is mist traveled again.

“Fuck them!” Alabaster says.

“Alabaster,” Hecate says.

“I’m going to to destroy them.” He says shaking.

“Alabaster.” she admonishes.

“I’m going to burn Olympus to the ground!” Alabaster tells the green glowing in his eyes erupting into small green flames. The strongest level. He seethes. Smoke coming out of his mouth.

“My son-” Hecate says, this time with concern. “I’m sorry…I could only do so much…but you need to keep living… please.” she hands him something flat, a piece of paper maybe. “Don’t forget them and you’ll never be…”

****

Alone… after all of it…the Titan army, survival with no camp, Lamia…and here he was. Alone again. His bullet proof vest ripped to shreds. Claymore …is dead. It’s happened again.

He has a small notebook with the spell in it. The one that will keep Lamia away from him. On the last page of the notebook is a picture he’d taped there when he incurred his last loss. He thought he’d learned his lesson.

The picture showed him and his siblings…he’s even managed to wrangle Ethan into it. He had a knack for that didn’t he…getting people to go places they normally wouldn’t.

“I’m sorry” he says for what must be the thousandth time. But this time it stings anew. “I’m so sorry,” he sobs, “I don’t know what to do…what am I supposed to do???” he hugs his legs.

They don’t answer…of course they don’t. They just appear as vague shadowy mist figures around him. Trying to comfort him. But he is inconsolable. He’s gotten yet another person killed by involving them in his problems…how is he supposed to go on.

“Don’t let it happen again?” a voice says

Alabasters head shoots up. His mist forms never spoke to him unless he wanted them to.

“Claymore??” He says incredulously.

“Hey, kid.”

Al wipes the tears from his eyes.

“How are you here?”

“You’re mom wanted me to stick around….watch after you. I figure I’d be a better guardian then your fake father in that card.

Alabaster nods, “Yeah, probably.”

“So…you ready to help an old man find out some truths?”

“Yeah,” Alabaster says.

He looks down at his family photo, just underneath it, a new mist card appeared. One with a sketch of Dr. Howard Claymore.

Maybe, Al thinks, Maybe he’s not alone and this…is the start of his new Family.

The end????

(Probably not find out more in Lifting the Mist curse Comic or Son of Magic volume 2) hahahaha

[tearfallpixie]

Soulmate Necklace - Chapter 1: Finding You

Tags: @nerdraging4point0 @thesazzb @synthetic-wasp-570 @circle-with-me @beaker1636 @itsjustemily @witchyweeb34 @agravemisstake @cookiesupplier @cncohshit @faceless-mirror @nonamessblog @yournecessaryevil @black-damask1999

@lyschko666 @vinyardmauro @skulliecadaver-blog @some-daniela @latenightmusiclover @rye14-blog1 @somewhere-diamond @Shilohrosechicken @abiomens @awkwardalex @rumoured-whispers @miss570 @dominuslunae @th0ughts-pr4yers

I was sitting in the drab doctor’s office waiting for the nurse to return with my necklace, the dread rising in my bones. The government had issued a statement that they had completed research on a soulmate project and made the decision that everyone was to report to their local doctors office to get assigned their necklace. No exceptions. The necklaces were supposed to be a perfect match of your soulmates and when you saw them it made it easier to identify. This was some fucked up way to combat underpopulation or some shit and was met with a lot of push back.

“Here we go, Miss Scarlet. Your blood work came back and the necklace took a bit to process but we have it.” She held up a chain with a single silver skeleton key on it. It had a heart for the hole on the top and hung on a simple silver chain. The necklaces were also designed so that it was impossible for you to remove so there was no visible clasp. “I just need to place it on and you are good to go.” I nodded and turned my back to her as she hooked it around my neck. “You’re a quiet one, aren’t you?”

“No. I just think this whole process is fucked up.” I mumbled.

“I’m sorry sweetie. I think it is too. I’m lucky that I was married before it got put into place.” That was the downside to this. If you were already married prior to the law being put in place you didn’t have to get a necklace however there was no exception for the people in relationships or the lgbt community. Even if you were engaged to the opposite sex you, you had to fight your reasoning for staying together. “I’m done. You are good to go.” I nodded my thanks and jumped off the counter before walking out. I made my way home to where my roommate, Elara, was sniffling on the couch.

“Hey, what's wrong?” I murmured, pulling her into my arms, my previous woes disappearing to the back of my brain.

“H-he broke up with me.” She sobbed. Her boyfriend Zach had been a total tool so I wasn’t upset by it but I held her close and hugged her tightly. “H-his soulmate is that bitch, Makenzie.”

“I’m so sorry sweetie.” I whispered. “She’s the one he cheated on you with isn't she?” She nodded weakly.

“W-we were supposed to go see Motionless in White tonight and now I’m stuck with this extra ticket.” She grumbled, chucking her phone across the room.

“I can go with you. They are your favorite band so I don’t want you to miss them because of some asshole.” I offered and her eyes lit up.

“You would do that?” She exclaimed, sitting up. I nodded and felt myself being pulled into a tight hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She rambled.

“Of course. Let's get ready. That concert is worth fighting for the barrier.”

“We need to be on Ricky’s side. I love him. Though I am a Vinny girl through and through.” She gushed, fiddling with her necklace. It was two triangles pointed at each other with a line through the bottom one, so it looked like an hourglass.

“Vinny is the drummer right?” I asked.

“Yes! Ok, so, we need you to get caught up.” She pulled out her phone and started showing me all the pictures she had on her phone of the band. The one she said was Ricky caught my attention and I couldn’t deny that he was hot as sin.

About an hour later we were dressed and ready to go to the concert. It was about 1pm so we would arrive at the venue at about 2:30. Not many people were there when we pulled up which was nice and we ended up getting a spot at the front of the line. We had brought snacks and games to entertain us for the afternoon and soon we had an entire group of girls playing cards with us.

“When we get inside lets get our spot first and then we can go get drinks or anything that we want.” I agreed and brushed myself off as the security opened the door. We got in relatively quickly and managed to weasel our way to the barrier on Ricky’s side of the stage. “God I can't believe we will be right next to him.” Elara squealed. Watching her gush over the concert actually made me start getting excited. “Ok, I’m going to go get drinks. I’ll grab you one, just hold our spot and I’ll be back.” She was gone for about 30 minutes and when she returned she had brought us both a can of beer. “Here we are!”

“Thank you! I’m actually excited to see them perform. You hooked me.” I giggled.

“Only took two years.” She teased me. The first band came out and we watched as they sang through their set list and danced around the stage. They weren’t exactly our type of music but we did enjoy the show they put on. There was another 30 minute break as they tore down and set up Motionless in White's stage. Vinny, the drummer, was the first to come on stage and the crowd went wild,  Elara letting out a noise between a scream and a sob when he looked our way.

“You are pathetic.” I nudged her playfully. Justin and Ryan were next causing another round of screaming from the crowd.  Ricky was next one onstage and the moment I saw him my breath caught in my throat. He was more beautiful in person and I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He was messing with his guitar but the moment he got far enough on stage it was as if he noticed something. His eyes snapped up and scanned the crowd until they landed on me. He stared at me for a moment until I noticed it wasn’t me he was staring at, it was my necklace. I cocked my head and he quickly looked away with a frown.

“What was that about?” Elara asked.

“I don’t know.” I whispered, still staring at the retreating guitarist. Finally Chirs came on stage and waved to the crowd as he started singing Meltdown. We ignored the strangeness of the guitarist and danced the songs away. They sang through 7 songs before Chris spoke.

“Man you guys are insane tonight. How are you guys?” There was a resounding scream from the crowd making the singer grin. “Well are you guys ready to hear the heaviest fucking song we’ve ever written?” After letting the audience calm down once more he started the Intro to Slaughterhouse. Ricky stepped up on his platform right in front of me and started his signature headbanging that I had noticed that he always did. What caught my eye though was that his necklace that he was wearing slipped free and as he stood up I noticed the shape of a very familiar key.

“Scar, is that your-“ I nodded wordlessly. Ricky glanced over and saw my shocked face, immediately looking down and glaring at his chest. He quickly put his key back under his shirt and tossed me his pick before moving away. I glanced at the pick before slipping it in my pocket and turning back to the stage. “What are you going to do?” Elara asked.

“I don’t know.” The rest of the concert was a blur and I barely registered it. The last song came on and it was Scoring the End of the World. I had listened to that one a few times so I knew that Ricky had a part at the end that he sang butI felt like my emotions were so out of control at that moment and I wanted to cry. I almost begged Elara to leave but they started tossing pics and drumsticks to the crowd as they said their goodbyes. Vinny came over to our side of the stage and tossed a stick out that Elara caught. Vinny grinned and waved until his eyes trailed down. His eyes immediately went wide and he knelt down to whisper something to the security guard before pointing to Elara. The security guard nodded and motioned for her to come past the barrier. I followed her due to her death grip on my wrist and we were both led back to the green room.

“Holy shit. Does this mean what I think it means?” My best friend exclaimed. I pulled her over to the couch and we sat down to wait for the boys to get back. 

“I don’t know. I just really don’t want to see Ricky right now.” I muttered. He made it obvious that he disliked me so I didn't want him to say it to my face.

“Why? He’s your soulmate!”

“Yeah, who doesn’t fucking want me.” I huffed. It was a few minutes later that they walked in and Vinny made a bee line for Elara. Ricky looked over and glared at me before coming over and getting into my face.

“Look, We may be soulmates but I don’t give a fuck. Ok? This whole thing is stupid and I don’t need some fucking science shit to tell me who I’m supposed to spend the rest of my life with.” My jaw hung loose in shock and I didn’t know how to respond.

“Woah, Rick. Calm down.” Ryan pulled him back away from me and kept a grip on his arm.

“You know what Olson? I don’t fucking want you either. I’m just sorry I got stuck with you as a fucking soulmate.” I spat. I stormed out of the room but the singer Chris followed me.

“Hey, hey.” He grabbed my arm and turned me around. “Please don’t leave.”

“Why? He obviously doesn’t want me.” I snapped.

“Because I don’t need my guitarist ending up in jail because he ignored a government mandate. And I don’t think you want that either.” I went limp and dropped my head. That was the stupidest part of this soulmate necklace rule was that if you refused to be with your soulmate then you get thrown in jail until you agreed to go through with it. “Look, Ricky is a stubborn knucklehead sometimes that gets too into his projects and ignores the world. But once you get to know him, he is the most loyal, caring and kind friend that you could ever ask for. He’ll come around but you can’t leave.”

“What the hell am I supposed to do?” I asked, glancing up at the purple haired singer.

“Tour with us. You’ll be in his vicinity, and he’ll have to at least get used to you. It’s not perfect but it's enough to make the feds think you are together. People saw you; they saw your necklace. You two just have to pretend for the cameras and behind the scenes you two can hate each other all you want.”

“I can't just up and leave my photography job.” I huffed.

“We’ll hire you as the personal Motionless photographer. It's something you have in common already.” I glanced up at the singer and sighed with a nod. “Thank you.”

[homestuckreplay]

💙 John Egbert's Glorious Return! 💙

(page 843-847)

JOHN IS BACK!! HI JOHN I MISSED YOU <3

He is not doing so hot though. On top of making the dangerous, precarious decision to fight with an impressively bouncy weapon on a small platform above a bottomless pit, he’s clearly outmatched by these two giant ogres. The infinite loop of this animation is really well done, it genuinely feels like these two teams could stay in this stalemate for a while – until Rose gets back online and turns the tide, perhaps. And I laugh every time the grainy ‘Sassacre’ gets stamped over the otherwise very clean art style.

I’m really looking forward to Rose entering the Medium, so we can find out what’s specific to John’s game and what’s general to Sburb. For example, is it part of the game that a sprite will try to protect their assigned player? Or is it John’s nanna specifically (or the harlequin doll, I guess) who has that instinct? Do all sprites have the same powers (eye beams that destroy imps and heal players) or do the powers vary based on what’s prototyped?

I also want to know more about Jade’s predictions; it’s a fun narrative trick to have the reminder on her finger transition into another character, but has she literally seen a vision of this event in the same way that the Wayward Vagabond might watch this moment through a screen? (If so, is it possible she has these visions via her strange holographic computer?) Or does she have more of a vague understanding of things she shouldn’t, just ‘happening’ to be right as she does with the memory modus and the gadgets she’s created, a general sense of ‘John and his benevolent guide will have a challenging battle’?

I am DELIGHTED by the return of ‘Years in the future…’ followed by GameFAQs, and the fact that different characters have taken over these pages to mark a different act. In Act 2 we eventually learned that WV and Rose were in the same location; in Act 2 we already know that the Peregrine Mendicant and John are in the same place. I barely know the Peregrine Mendicant but I think they are so cool. They met a giant metal worm and got so angry when it ate one of their mailboxes (!) that they immediately reached for their sword, which incidentally is the first cool sword in Homestuck (not sorry, Dave). The cross on top of the sword looks like the cross usually found on the king in a chess set, so this must be a powerful sword from the dark kingdom, while PM is from the light. Could this be a clue to what happened in the battle of light and dark in John’s Sburb game?

Page 845 (incidentally one of my favorite pages in the comic so far) is the first time we’ve seen longform writing from John, and it’s a WHOLE new side to him. His character voice is a little different in this medium, but still recognizably John. And he is SO SO SMART, I apologize for everything I have ever said about John being bad at things and not sticking with them, because it turns out that ‘You like to program computers but you are NOT VERY GOOD AT IT’ (p.4) was just John’s low self worth and dismissal of his own skills, like here when he says ‘wow ok that pretty much looks like shit, but you get the idea’ about his cool ASCII art. Like, the John of page 843 is not in his element, he’s fighting two gigantic deadly foes when before today he’s never seen worse combat than being pied in the face, but the John of page 845 knows his shit, has reverse engineered some pretty complex mechanics from just a few punched cards, and is explaining it in terms easy to understand. And he’s making all these really clever leaps and he does brag about his ‘leet haxxor cred’ and he’s clearly excited about what he’s writing about, but I still feel like he doesn’t have much confidence, as he ends by deferring to Jade’s skills. I love how these two John pages are juxtaposed, and I cannot describe the pride I feel in seeing John really shine at something.

Goth queen Rose Lalonde has gone from cat mausoleum to vast, ominous green science lab full of uranium and/or slime, and I’m happy for pages like 840 and 847 that are primarily atmospheric, something I don’t think we’ve seen much of before. The lab’s logo reads ‘SN’, not the cool S, but one with an atom symbol in the upper curve and a spirograph in the lower – both familiar symbols, as both appear on Jade’s shirt (p.794), the atom appears on some of her inventions such as the wardrobifier (p.793), and the spirograph has appeared regularly as a symbol of Skaia. Could SN be SkaiaNet, developers of Sburb, first mentioned on page 114? If so, could Rose’s mom have something to do with the development of Sburb, potentially explaining why Mom knew to build a tunnel from the mausoleum to the lab if she’s had some visions similar to Jade’s. I think that would suck for Rose, as she’s worked hard to be independent from her mom and have her own interests, and to find out that her mom has been controlling her life in a pretty major way the entire time would probably be really hard to come to terms with.

I have been having loads of fun with this punch card calculator; more great work from Gankra, who has programmed several of the interactive pages including p.253. I would punch so many cards if I had a designix.

> John: Take another look at that rocket pack.

[angel-eyes05]

bite the hand (chapter 2)

PREVIOUS CHAPTER

pairing: spider-woman!oc x miguel o’hara 

summary: lorena's whole world was taken away from her in the blink of an eye, after she accidentally broke a canon event. lucky for her though, she was able to find a portal watch in her dimension and used it to get out before she glitched out of existence. unfortunately though, running from dimension to dimension, she's been named as an anomaly by the spider society. now, she's constantly on the run from them, their leader in particular. when she eventually gets caught though, she's recruited onto a mission to catch another anomaly who might be from her past. to her dismay though, her partner on this mission is her very captor. will she be able to stop arguing with him for long enough to get the job done?

info: enemies to lovers, maybe a slow burn depending on chapter count, oc is 24 and miguel is 27, both oc and miguel are super sad lmao, they're also both super violent so, they also hate each other what a slay, in regards to my oc you can read her character sheet right here

warnings: there might be spoilers for atsv in this so watch the movie before reading this, recreational drug use, blood mention, cursing, not much tbh

word count: 3.3k 

notes: again, if you see me use "you" instead of "she/her" just ignore it i probably missed it while proofreading and it's instinct lol. this chapter took me so long for no reason idk why

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

“I think you’re being too hard on yourself,” Eddie said, jumping onto Lorena’s bed next to her. Lorena took a long drag from her blunt and passes it to Eddie when he snuggles in next to her. “I don’t know. I just have so much work due by the end of this week and I don’t know how to get it all done,” she said, wiping her hands across her face. Eddie took a hit, set the joint onto the ashtray on Lorena’s nightstand and pressed soft kisses into the crook of her neck, wrapping his arms around her stomach. “You already get super good grades, I don’t see how you can’t just not turn in one assignment. Take a little break,” he says in between pecks. 

She sighs. “I don’t know. You know how my aunt and uncle are.” They sit together in silence for a little bit, until Eddie presses his lips to her cheek and rolls of the bed. Lorena stared at him in confusion. “What are you doing?” she asked him. He looked through Lorena’s stack of records, pulled one out, and placed the vinyl onto the record player. Soft R&B music echoed throughout the room as Eddie walked back over to the bed, reaching out his hand for Lorena to take. She raised her eyebrow at him. “Just take it ok?” he said, a little annoyed. She sighed and put her hand into his as he helped her stand off the bed. He pulled her into him, placed a hand on her left hip, and put her into a swaying notion with him. 

“God you must be so high Eddie, you never dance.” 

“Will you just go with it?”

She sighed. “Fine.”

Lorena rested her head onto his shoulder and swayed with him to the rhythm of the song, the singer’s voice fading into the background with the rest of her bedroom as her senses melted away. She closed her eyes and all she could sense at this moment was him, wrapping both of his arms around her waist. He was right, this was definitely calming her down. Eddie Brock always knew how to get Lorena out of her bad moods. They’d known each other for such a long time that she had begun to think he knew her better than she knew herself.

There were some things he didn’t know about her though. Like how she had randomly gotten superpowers about a month ago and that was why she was spending less time with him recently. But if she were being honest with herself, it kind of felt like he was pulling away from her too.

She lifted her head from his shoulder and pressed her forehead to his. She brushed her thumb across his stubbled cheek, and locked her lips with his, his grip on her hips tightening. “Thank you,” she whispered to him once she pulled away. “Anything for you gorgeous.” She giggled a little bit and dug her head back into the crook of his neck. Her hiding place away from the world outside them

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

Lorena could see the neon orange illuminations from the insides of her eyes. Once she finally did open them up, the effects of the poison now wearing off, the harshness of the light nearly blinded her. What was that just then? A dream? No, a memory. One of her favorites too. Her childhood best friend turned boyfriend, who she then ended up accidentally killing. She didn’t know it was him inside that monster. She had tried not to think about him too often, overwhelmed with the guilt of her actions, despite whether her choice was the right one or not.

Her head rested up against whatever forcefield/cell she was currently in. She tried to move the rest of her body up as well, but stopped after her ribs sent an aching pain through her body in protest. She was still in her suit, so she couldn’t examine how bad her injury was yet, but she could tell it wasn’t good by how much blood she was coughing up earlier. 

She took a look around her see through enclosure, trying to get a gauge of where she was. There were hundreds of other cages surrounding hers, only about half filled with people. Or creatures would be a better word to describe it. She felt as if she recognized some of them, such as a man with mechanical arms outstretched from his back, and a man with a lion vest. She sat there for a bit, taking everything in from her surroundings, her momentary peace interrupted when she started glitching again.

“I guess Jess forgot to give you the day pass while bringing you in.” 

“¡Ay, carajo!” she exclaimed, her heart nearly jumping out of her chest. She turned her head to see a guy, speaking with a thick cockney accent, guitar slung across his back, just rolling around in a chair down the hallway. “A warning next time would be nice.” “I thought you saw me,” he said, uninterested. 

“Hobie, could you stop conversing with the anomalies for five seconds?” This voice she recognized. The woman walked up from behind her cell up to who she assumed was the Hobie kid she was talking to. The woman was the same one who had debriefed Lorena when she first got shot into the wrong dimension, except this time she looked like she was pregnant. That must be Jess. “Just trying to make conversation,” Hobie said defensively. He played around with the watch on his wrist and opened up a portal to hop into whatever dimension he was heading into next. Jess rolled her eyes as another man followed up close behind her. The same man from earlier, still wearing that red and blue suit that was hurtful to the eyes. His mask was still covering his face. Both of them turned to face Lorena’s cage, causing her to slink further back into the corner instinctively, as if they were both about to eat her heart out. 

“Not so tough now without somewhere to hide, are you?” the man mocked. “Sorry if I don’t find waking up in cage as the most warming welcome,” she snapped back. “What? Were you expecting flowers and a carriage, you little shit.” Jess smacked his arm quickly, almost as if he were a child being reprimanded by his mother. 

“You’re a hard one to catch,” Jess said. “Your first instinct would probably also be to run if you found someone like him chasing behind you,” Lorena said, motioning to the man. He just stood there stoically. It pissed her off even more. She sighed. “Let’s just cut to the chase and skip the small talk and just tell me what you want fro-.” Her words were cut off by a harsh glitch. This one in particular stung around her ribs. She went into a slight coughing fit, and coughed up some extra blood into her hand after. “Shit,” Jess whispered to herself, and dug through her pocket to look for the day pass Hobie was mentioning earlier. Just before she could open a little hole in the forcefield to hand it to her, the man placed a hand in front of Jess, as if to stop her. Lorena laid on the floor in pain, panting from the glitch, as the man walked closer to her enclosure and crouched in front of the barrier.

His hand reached up to his neck, as her hooked his fingers underneath his mask, and smoothly pulled it off and tossed it to the side. God, he was gorgeous. Dark brown hair, the front slicked back while the sides hung free. Sharp cheekbones that perfectly sculpted his face. And those eyes. They were almost hypnotic. She couldn’t tell if the orange lighting of the room was messing with her vision, but she could’ve sworn his eyes were a crimson red. She prayed that she wasn’t blushing right now, the intensity of his stare putting butterflies into her stomach. After staring at her for a little, a smirk curled onto his lips, allowing his left fang to slightly peek out over his bottom lip.

He stood up, looking down at Lorena now, like she was no more than an injured animal on the side of the road. He signaled his hand back at Jess for the day pass. She tossed it to him, and he opened a slight crack into the cage and slipped it in. Lorena almost rushed for it, shoving it onto her wrist, and earning a scoff from the man. He turned his back to her and walked back over to Jess. She took a moment to look at him, confused. “We need your help,” she finally said.

The only think Lorena could do was laugh. And she laughed hard. She only stopped when her ribs quickly reminded her of their condition. “What’s so funny?” the man asked, annoyed. “Nothing,” she said, wiping the tears forming in her eyes and a pity smile forming on her face. “I just can’t think of a single reason you think I would help you.”

“Because if you don’t, we take that wristband away and throw you back into the streets,” he said coldhearted. “See how much fun it is to have your atoms slowly ripped apart, one by one, into nothing. You’ll wish we had killed you ourselves instead of being a victim to time as it waits for the right time to finally end your suffering.”

Her smile slowly dropped. A smirk formed on his face. She wished she could smack it off. She must have really been a problem for him to be getting this worked up over her little comments. Jess just sighed, tired of him constantly taking his bad cop role too far. “Well, if you do help us, I can promise you this. You get to keep that little day pass of yours, and we’ll drop you off in whatever dimension you’d like, and you never have to see any of us again.” Then it was the man smacking her arm this time. “Jess…may we have a word for a second,” he said, as calmly as he could right now. “Of course we can Miguel!” she said back, with fake enthusiasm. Huh. So that was his name.

Miguel pulled Jess farther back into the room and began talking to her. Lorena scooted closer to the wall closer to them, trying to make out their conversation. She caught a few sentences. 

“That is not what we agreed to!”

“Hey, you get to go off script, so do I. Plus, what are we really gonna do with her once the mission’s complete?”

Mission? What mission?

“It’s not like she has anywhere else she can go. You’re just gonna stick her back into one of these cages for the rest of her life? ”

“I’d rather that then have an anomaly just running around on a world that isn’t her’s.”

There was that word again. Anomaly. She hated the way Miguel would say it. The inflection in his voice making it sound like a dirty word. That she was a dirty person.

“Come on O’hara, you have to have at least a little bit of compassion left in there.”

It went quiet for a bit. She couldn’t tell if they had just stopped talking, or if they had gotten quieter. Then she saw them walking back over to her. She scooted back to her corner of the cage. Miguel sighed deeply before talking, and Lorena could’ve sworn she heard a quiet “Ay coño” under his breath. Then he spoke.

“If you help us, we’ll let you free and you’ll never have to see any of us again. But try and dimension hop after we leave, desert the mission, or try anything slick and I swear-.” Jess smacked him again. “Do you agree to the terms?” She said. Lorena took a second to think. “....You haven’t even told me what the mission is yet.” Miguel let out a long sigh and turned his head to stare at Jess. She just shrugged. He could feel the gray hairs growing on his head as Lorena spoke. “Lyla?” he called out, pressing his bridge with his fingers. “Yup,” the same avatar from earlier said as she popped up. This must’ve been his assistant or something. “Can you pull up the mission file?” “....What’s the magic word?”

Lorena could’ve sworn she just saw three new wrinkles pop up on Miguel’s forehead. “He’s gonna shut you off pretty soon Lyla,” Jess interjected. “Ugh, fine,” Lyla said. A tiny illuminated file cabinet popped up as Lyla sifted through it. “Could you spare us the antics for a second?” “Hey, if you’re gonna turn me into your personal slave, you might as well let me have fun with it,” Lyla shot at Miguel. Lorena hoped Miguel couldn’t hear her slight giggle. Her hopes were crushed when she saw Miguel giving her a death stare to her out of the corners of his eyes. She slouched down as an attempt to hide away from his insistent glare

“Here it is!” Lyla exclaimed, pulling up a digital file. She threw it to the floor, causing a slideshow presentation to pop up out of it. The first slide was simply the front cover of a file. “Thank you Lyla,” Miguel said. “At your service,” Lyla replied, taking a bow, and then popping out of the room. Miguel took another sigh, seemingly the only emotion he expressed other than anger. “Take it Jess,” he said, facing her. Jess walked up closer to Lorena’s enclosure before swiping the cover of the file open.

“So obviously, you’ve gotten the whole idea of anomalies through your head at this point.” “It’s hard not to when you two wont shut up about them,” Lorena responded. Jess ignored her attitude. “Some just happen to be more dangerous than others, and also slip through our fingers easier. I’m sure you would know a lot about that.” Lorena gave Jess a big, forced smile. “It’s my pleasure.” Jess returned the smile. “We have one in particular that, like you, has managed to get a hold of one of our watches. He’s been hopping in between dimensions at fast speeds and seems to be gathering materials for something. We’re not sure what for. Which means we have to catch him as soon as possible.”

“Uh huh, uh huh,” Lorena said, uninterested. “Why do you think I’ll be able to help you though.” “Because we’ve found that you’ve had a particularly close relationship with one of his variants,” Jess said, flipping to the next slide. “What the hell does that mean? You guys don’t make any sen-.”

She looked up at the projection. Her eyes softened and her mouth laid slightly agape. Her eyes had to be fooling her, there was no way. But there he was. His picture brought memories flooding back into her head. Her nails scratching through his blonde-ish hair. Both of them smoking in her room. Him running into her arms when things were getting too rough for him back at home. He hadn’t just been her boyfriend. He was her best friend too. One of her only ones on top of that. But at the end of the day, all of the warmth that their time together brought to her was quickly washed away by the returning sight of her hands drowning in his blood as he faded away from her. Would she have still done “the right thing” if she knew it was him inside that creature. She would constantly run away from that thought every time it would sneak its way back into her mind. 

She couldn’t find it in her to care about the slight smirk Miguel was giving her, amazed at how easily a picture could knock her off her high horse. He probably enjoyed seeing her so vulnerable. Jess on the other hand, had a slight frown on her face, understanding how much this had to be messing with her.

“It’s not yours,” Miguel said, breaking the silence. “The multiverse might be weird, but it can’t bring people back from the dead. This Venom is from Earth-86. Yours was from Earth-2497.” “Yeah…I know,” Lorena said, almost as if she wasn’t fully there. “We’ve seen your history with Eddie Brock through the the scanners. You’ve gotten to know him better than any of the rest of us have,�� Jess said. “You might be able to tell his next move. His patterns.” Lorena was quickly catching on what Jess was saying. Before Jess could continue her proposition, Lorena stood up and quickly interjected. 

“Nope, no no no, no way. I’m not catching him for you. You can’t seriously think that you can ask me to catch an alternate version of my dead best friend and I would agree,” she said, panic in her voice. “For once I agree with her that this is a very bad idea,” Miguel said, clenching his teeth towards Jess. “You have anyone else you wanna recruit?” she asked rhetorically to him. “You won’t be able to stop her emotions from getting in the way of the mission,” he said, avoiding the question. “It’s rude to talk badly of your guests while they’re still in the room,” Lorena shouted sarcastically at Miguel. “Cállate! I’ll get back to you in a second,” Miguel shouted back. Jess sighed. “Well it’s a good thing I’m not going with her, because I’m sure you’ll do a great job at that.” His eyes widened in horror. So did Lorena’s. She started laughing. “¡No mames!” she chuckled, still in disbelief. 

Miguel looked at her, bewildered at her laughing fit. “Jess that is, not, what we agreed on.” “I know, I know, but I had a talk with my husband, and he doesn’t want me going on any dangerous missions while I’m pregnant, and we don’t know how tough this guy is going to be. So I think it’s better if you take this one. And plus, just like you said, I won’t be able to keep her under control. But I’m sure you can!” she said, a sarcastic smile on her face. Once Lorena finished laughing, she turned to face Miguel. “Yeah I’m sure you’ll do a great job controlling my emotions,” she shot at him. Miguel almost pounced towards the cage, before Jess put her arm in front of this. “Can you please just do this one thing for me?” He took a second to think. Then he sighed. “Fine.”

“Thank you,” Jess said softly before walking away. Miguel walked up towards the cage and put in a combination to open up the enclosure. “Wait, hold on a second, so do I not get a say in this?” Lorena scoffed. Once Miguel had opened the door, she tried to make a run for it, but was stopped when Miguel grabbed her forearm. He pulled her into his chest. This is when she was finally able to gauge how massive he actually was. She was never really considered short, being taller than most girls her age throughout her school years. But up against him, she felt like an ant. 

“No. You don’t, chiquita,” he finally whispered into her ear. Chills rolled down her spine at the intimacy of all of this. The nickname only made her even more upset. He whipped her body around and placed a forcefield around her fists, shackling both of them together. He almost had to drag her out of the containment room and into his office to discuss the details of the mission.

She had almost wished that she had stayed in that basement, not prepared for whatever torture this man was going to bring onto her.

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

NEXT CHAPTER

a/n: NEVER TRUST A MAN WHO CALLS YOU SHORT EVEN THOUGH YOU AREN'T‼️‼️‼️ (ive been a personal victim of this so yes i was projecting a little lmao)

taglist: @the-ikran-man @jenniferdixon05207 @yuuuumii @elwyn7 @waniesss @lust-for-pan

[r0s3s26]

Matchup Trade for @jae-pudding Your match is…GOJO

<3 Gojo is deadass perfect for you

<3 Like you both having the same zodiac sign is super helpful in the way you interact

<3 If you both were together in highschool you would be MENCIESSS

<3 Like always in trouble but you don’t give a fuck

<3 Now back to the present

<3 You both would be the biggest bullies to each other like constantly giving each other the worst nicknames ever

<3 Also the biggest disruptors in the class all the damn time

<3 He would also bring you to group outing with his students, always trying to socialize

<3 The non-clinginess works for the both of you because he is away in missions almost all the time or spending time with his students, so he likes that you don’t need to be attached at the hip to know that he loves and cares about you

<3 I see Gojo as a dog person, so lots of puppies, but like bigger breeds of dogs like pitbulls, bulldogs, great danes, etc. He is the strongest and he needs an animal to represent that lol

<3 Now on to angsty shit

<3 Now

<3 Gojo can be a pretty loud person

<3 So he had to learn to quiet down when needed and to match the energy of ether you or the situation

<3 Also

<3 His life is insane, and unscheduled that he would absolutely have to cancel on you more than actually being able to follow through with plans, which could cause issues for the both of you

<3 I do not think you would fully blame him because of how his life is a sorcerer and the strongest one in fact, but it would still hurt all the same

<3 But Gojo would absolutely make it up to you in any way possible

<3 When he can go on dates, most of them are movie, ether at the theater or at home

<3 If his mission wasn’t super dangerous he would bring you so you could travel to new places

<3 Matching shirts>>>>

<3 He would get you super expensive basic shirts, and you would be like “How much was this?” and he says “Ohh don’t worry about it” (You looked it up, it was 5K in american dollars)(I forget he is LOADEDDDD)

<3 Alright now on to the drabble

As a bonding activity with his students Gojo has assigned you, Yuno, to teach them how to garden….it didn't go as planned. Before the chaos started he had brought up the idea of teaching his students how to garden. His reasonings were team building and learning a new skill. You were fairly reluct at first cause you have only met them a handful of times, but you said fuck it why not. Now back to the present. You are now outside near the back of the school teaching them how to ready their pots for soil and their seeds. You decided that potting plants would be a good start rather than starting in the ground. “Alright Yuno, I gotta go sign some paperwork but I will be back shortly” Gojo says while leaning in to kiss your cheek “Ok see you soon” you reply back with a small smile”. You are now sitting in a circle with Nobara, Yuji, and Megumi with your pots for the plants filled with soil. “Now that we have our soil in our pot we will now make a small well in the soil to place our seed” You say “pfft seed” Yuji giggles, you try to ignore but Nobara turns to him and smacks him on the back of the head “Can you fucking be normal for once and not act like a 12 year old boy”, Yuji rolls his eyes at her “Whatever…..bitch” he grumbles that last part trying to make sure she didn’t hear, oh but she did. At this point you have Nobara and Yuji fighting on the ground, knocking over their pots and soil on the ground making a mess, then you see Gojo in the distance.

Gojo sees the commotion in the distance and starts to get worried, he walks a bit quicker to the scene and his face drops at the sight. He sees you trying to pull them apart the best you can’t without causing more of a mess, and then sees megumi just staring and watching them, laughing to himself. When Gojo got there he was already pulling Yuji and Nobara by the back of their uniforms and dragging them away. Once they were a good distance away he placed them back down and started giving them the worst scolding he has ever given them, “What is wrong with you two?!?, I can not leave for a second without you both acting up” “We're sorry sensei” “No don’t say sorry to me, say sorry to Yuno for disrupting his class that HE volunteered to do for y’all” “Yes sensei” they bow and walk back over to Yuno. Once they get back to the gardening area they bow and apologize to you for making a mess everywhere “Thank you for apologizing” you say with a soft smile Gojo then takes your hand and leads you away from the kids “There gonna clean up everything, don’t worry about it” he says ending his sentence with a hand around your waist and a kiss on your cheek.

(Authors Note: I hope you like it, sorry it took a bit lol)

[volturiprincess]

Hi sweetie

Romanian coven x mate who is having a very bad day and just feel estressed??💗💗

Stressed Out

Romanian coven x mate reader Warnings: None, just fluff A/N: I was not sure if you wanted a hc or a one-shot, so I did a one-shot because I was feeling creative and influence. Thank you for the request and I hope you enjoy 💙

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

There its turned in, the confetti has shown on the screen and it's officially over. There's nothing more to do than to wait and see the final results of my test to see my overall grade. It feels nice to have this weight off my shoulders but, what if this does not boost my grade up? Ok relax y/n let's take a deep breath. Alright that sort of helped. I stared at my screen a bit longer until I decided to just call it a night. I left my personal study place that my wonderful mates made for me. When I'm in there they know not to come in, I mean they do come in to drop off little snacks or meals for me when I'm in a mindset of getting through assignments and refuse to leave this space. 

I leave my quiet yet stressful space to head to my bedroom where I assume my mates might be waiting for me. As usual they are there, a blonde haired man on my bed but the dark haired one is missing. Vladimir gives me a worried look. 

“Didn't think you would finish so late”

“I had to finish an assignment that has been eating me out for days”

“Hey only me and Stefan can do that” “Vladimir!?”

“Don't act so shock darling, you love it”

I huff but walk into my bathroom where my other mate is preparing me a bath. I felt arms wrap around me and a chin rest on my shoulder. Nature. He smells like nature and waterfalls with a hint of teakwood. Stefan turns to me from where he stood by the bathtub with a grin.

“I assumed you would want a nice soak in the tub after working so hard in that assignment that has been on your mind lately”

I felt my heart flutter as his nice gesture, I don't deserve them honestly. They spoil me too much but gosh do I love them so much. I felt Vladimir's arms tighten around me slightly to indicate he was also part of the gesture. He lets me go and I instantly strip and sink into the tub closing my eyes. I feel Stefan wash my hair while Vladimir sets a warm washcloth over my eyes. I hear my dark haired mate in my bliss of peace 

“When you are ready to get out let us know, ok my angel?”

I hummed in response and I was left alone. School has been hitting me in every angle lately and with everything that I need to do to stay on track to get to my bachelors it has gotten to me. A while ago I had a dark period where I had no energy to do anything, what helped get back on track were my lovely mates. They supported and comforted me. I don't know what I would do without them. 

—-------------------------------

It's been two weeks since I turned in my assignment. Today is the day I find out my results. It has been on my mind constantly, I think I lost some hair from the amount of stress I've been through. I even lost sleep in that time. My poor mates had to give me cold medicine to help me get a good night's rest or to just get me through the night without tossing and turning so constantly. Sure they done things to keep me occupied like messages or walks around my campus at night or even taking me to nearby bookstores but a lot of it reminded me of school. Nothing could help me be distracted and my chest would just tighten with anticipation with each passing day. 

I'm in my study room pacing around my room waiting for that notification that my work has been graded. One of my mates is out picking up some lunch for me while the other is hunting for his lunch. Why is this so stressful? It's freaking me out. Why is it taking forever? My professor said the results would be out at 12 pm, it's already 12:02. Alright breath y/n, alright let's do that breathing exercise I did not that long ago. In….out…..in….out. I smiled slightly at thinking Vladimir would make a “that's what she said” joke. He's so childish sometimes but I love that about him.

Ding! Oh dear gosh, it's graded. Alright moment of truth, did all my hard work pay off? I walked to my office chair and clicked on the email that would lead me to my results. I look at the grade first and my face drops. No…Fucking…way…

How did I get a C+. I worked my ass off on that assignment, this time I didn't do it last minute like in the pass. Well actually my last minute assignments did better than this which I mostly winged at times. I looked at the comments that my professor left, one of them being “You could have explained more on your evidence and how it connects with your thesis” and of course my favorite one “There were some errors in your work cited page”.

This professor has been giving me such a headache this year, clearly my sources are formatted to standards, I get them checked each time by others and I always feel like I go overboard with explaining my evidence and connecting it to my thesis. 

I have talked to them before and they then start to pick at things that are fine, the audacity of this professor. I bury my face into my hands and feel some small tears fall. I'm so close to just chucking my computer out the window and just walking away from all of this.  I felt arms wrap around me and the scent of sandalwood hit my nostrils, Stefan. 

“Im guess you didn't get the results you were hoping for?”

“Mhmm”

“Hey you still have time to bring your grade up, don't let this get to you” 

“But Stefan I feel like no matter how much effort I put into this course, this professor is destined to fail me, I’m giving it my all but nada” I rub my temples in frustration. “What if this is a sign that I'm not cut off to finish school, what if I'm not cut off for college?”

He turned my office chair around so I was facing him, he was on his knees looking at me with the most sincere eyes I have ever seen.

“Darling, it hurts me to hear you say such things when I know you are the most determined and smartest person I know, in life there will be obstacles to overcome but know that me and Vladimir are here to support you in anyway”

I wrapped my arms around him and rested my chin on his head since he is still on his knees. As if on cue I hear the voice of my other mate 

“Hey why are you hugging him and not me?”

I turned to him and he saw my tears, he instantly was by my side pushing Stefan out of the way pulling into his arms.

"Why the tears love?”

“I been so stressed out for the past two weeks thinking I was going to be able to boost my grade up with this assignment but instead I got a low grade and comments that make no sense”

“Shh, let us not worry about that now, how about we go into the kitchen to the waiting meal I got you?”

“Ok… thank you Vlad”

“Of course love”

He guided me to the kitchen with Stefan trailing after us. I saw that he got my favorite meal from my usual place I like to eat from. I ate quietly as the both of them were caressing my back and talking quietly amongst each other. This felt nice, the environment they create for me when I'm in my periods of stress, makes me feel at peace. It really does stress me out when I'm trying everything I can do to bring my grades up but nothing I do is enough, if it weren't for Vladimir and Stefan I would have lost my mind.

“Darling I don't want you to beat yourself up over this, ok? Maybe if you talk with your professors more then you can explain your situation, if you want we can go with you and wait for you”

“I would love that, my two guys supporting me, I love you guys you know” “We know”

Stress? She's not here currently, she might come later but as of now I am with my boys.

[dangans-ur-ronpas]

Chapter 21

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BYAKUYA ok i said i would be going on hiatus but i got really inspired and also it's my guy's birthday today so surprise update. going on hiatus fr now tho

SEE HERE FOR GENERAL WARNINGS AND FIC SUMMARY

Some pre-chapter notes:

trust ended with makoto and never really started with kyoko now celeste is my new conversation partner

cant believe hes 31. and blond

@digitaldollsworld roman my friend romannn !!!

Content warning tags: description of depression/PTSD, mention of suicide, description of eating disorder

< previous - from start - next >

“Your hand.”

It’s the first thing Byakuya says to her as they leave the bathhouse. Kirigiri pauses mid-step, already halfway to the stairs, and turns over her shoulder.

“What of it?”

He gives her a pointed look. WIth her gloves on, he can’t tell the extent of the damage, but remembering how hard he’d tried to shut that door, he can imagine it’s not exactly pretty. “Is it broken?”

In response, she raises the hand in question, flexing it in front of him with the soft creak of well-worn leather. “It’s fine.”

Like hell it is. The fingers of her left hand hadn’t even been moving when she was typing, curled into a half-moon that skittered clumsily over the keys. But if she doesn’t want to admit it, there’s no point in him pointing it out. He has other questions, anyway. “Did you already know?”

He doesn’t mention Alter Ego out loud, but he doesn’t need to; there’s nothing else he could be referring to. She lowers her hand slowly. “Why do you think so?”

Of course, she would answer with another question. It was nothing but ambiguities and obstructions with her. “You didn’t seem surprised at all. You opened up the locker without any trouble. And you were very quick to volunteer yourself to take full responsibility.” It had been a thought in the back of his mind since the possibility of having to reveal Alter Ego to the others was brought up. She was the one who gave the computer to Chihiro, after all. He lowers his voice: “Considering how you were the one who passed that computer off to Chihiro, I can’t imagine that you weren’t aware of what he was up to.”

She doesn’t reply immediately, instead glancing around the ceiling for any wayward cameras, then behind Byakuya for any stray ears. But everyone else was still gathered around the bathhouse entrance, preoccupied with discussing their next move. Hiro was at the head of it, voice loud and excessively optimistic. “I’m curious as to how you perceived me as being unsurprised, all things considered.” She says flatly, and he feels a muscle twitch in his cheek. “And it wasn’t as if there was any lock on the locker itself. And it was the most logical thing to do, considering our room assignments.”

It doesn’t escape him how she hasn’t bothered to respond to his last statement, and it was too risky to make her answer it out loud, and especially not here or now. He hated having to concede, and especially not to her of all people, but the risk outweighed his pride. “Fine.” He grits out. Let her keep her secrets. “And where are you going now?”

He can probably guess, but he wants to hear it from her anyways. “The third floor was recently opened to us.” She replies coolly. “I am going to investigate.”

“Alone.” He doesn’t say it like a question. “You’re not bringing Makoto?”

“I always investigate alone. Anyone else…would get in the way.” She says that last part hesitantly, as if she’s not sure of her own reasoning. “I doubt he’d want to go with me regardless. Not after yesterday.”

Yesterday? He tries to think, if there was anything that happened yesterday that could have affected their relationship, but all he comes up with are the worst parts of the trial, the body discovery, the confrontation with Fukawa. The memories of everything else had blurred, melting together to become indiscernible.

She’s answering before he can even open his mouth to ask further. “I was the one who told Makoto to out you in the trial.” She says, monotone and unreadable, and then stands there, almost expectantly, as understanding sinks in.

He tries to feel angry, that familiar rush of fury, but there’s nothing, and it leaves him feeling jarringly cold in its absence. At his silence, she continues: “Let me be clear, Makoto did not want to betray you to begin with. I told him that it would be unavoidable, and the only way to clear you of all suspicion.”

“The two of you made me into a bigger target.” He points out, bitterly. A person who would be of no help in investigations or otherwise, who was helpless enough on his own to be an appealing victim who couldn’t retaliate. 

“There’s only ten of us left, in an enclosed space. With smaller numbers, it’s less likely for any one person to be willing to kill. Or get away with it, at least.” If she was trying to reassure him, she was failing miserably.

“Why Makoto? If you were aware, why couldn’t you have told them instead?”

She takes a step closer, and he barely keeps himself from stepping back. “Would they have been as ready to believe me?” She asks quietly. “You said it yourself: I’m someone who you all know nothing about. If I was the one who did it, would they be as quick to accept it? Or would they have started wrongly accusing me as well? Where would we be then?” She reaches out and grabs his lapels - in her left hand - and pulls him close, just enough to whisper: “I am the only one who can get us out of here. I’m sure you know that well.”

He feels his hands clenching into fists at his sides, but she’s right. Of course she is. Out of everyone here, she was the only one who was actively searching, trying to escape, and probably the closest to succeeding. That was the most frustrating part; that he couldn’t even properly argue back.

She releases him and retreats, tucking her hair behind her shoulders. “I will admit. If I had been the one to absolve you, then maybe you wouldn’t have had to be betrayed.” She says simply, and it’s probably the closest thing he’ll get to an apology. An offhanded acknowledgement of his miserable state.

He’s heard enough. He turns on his heel, but hasn’t made even a step when she grabs his arm so suddenly that he almost stumbles. “What?” He demands. Her fingers are tight around his forearm, and he can feel her leather glove, smooth and creased at the knuckles, digging through the fabric of his jacket.

There’s another pause, as she opens her mouth, but she’s silent long enough for him to wonder if there was something wrong with her. Then she releases him. “Nothing. Go eat.”

He was already planning to head to the cafeteria to do just that, but her tone irks him so much that he’s almost tempted to turn around and stomp back to his room. “Don’t tell me what to do.”

“Starve, then. But don’t wear yourself out.” She was already brushing past him, hair streaming behind her like a ghost. “You still have some use yet.”

He watches her go, a little stunned and more than a little scandalized. For her to belittle him, patronize him, and mock him, after he tried to help her - demonstrated concern, even - he clenches his fists to stop them from trembling, and smothers down the insult that she was already too far away to hear.

What an-! Insufferable little-! He sputters silently. To go from blatantly labeling him as ‘useless’ just a few days ago to saying this now, when his most fatal flaw had been laid bare to everyone…even more frustrating, was how underneath the anger, a smallest shred of pride had curled to life in his chest, undaunted by the disgust that immediately followed. As if he were a dog easily placated by nice words.

…The hunger must have started to interfere with my thoughts. He shakes his head, and turns back to the cafeteria. Behind him, he can hear the squeak of sneakered footsteps, pattering to catch up with him, and starts walking a little faster, knowing full well who it could be. And sure enough:

“Byakuya!”

It was just one after another. Makoto’s hand pinches onto his elbow sleeve, and Byakuya jerks out of his grasp with enough force that he almost stumbles, staggering awkwardly to maintain his balance. Makoto steps back, one hand still raised hesitantly, and his breath stutters slightly as he freezes, unsure what to do.

There’s a lot that Byakuya can say here. He’s envisioned this interaction a thousand times, in between chess and shogi games with Alter Ego, as he showered, as he rested his exhausted, sightless eyes. But the vitriol he prepared doesn’t come; the very act of trying to come up with something to hurl at him just leaves him feeling drained. Hollowed out.

Luckily, he’s saved from having to say anything at all. Seemingly out of nowhere, with only a sudden rustle of velvet to announce her arrival, Celeste appears by his side, placing one hand delicately on his elbow.

“Oh, excuse me,” She hums serenely, entirely ignoring the strange, tense air between the other two. “I pray I am not intruding. Byakuya, won’t you please join me for tea?”

She’d never shown interest in him before. He scowls, instantly wary. “What for?”

“There’s no need for such frightening looks. I have no ulterior motives.” She’s probably smiling, though he can’t make out her mouth on her pale face. Just her eyes, pinpricks of an artificial, unsettling red. “But you have not eaten since yesterday’s breakfast, no? Hifumi’s milk tea is almost passable, and I would appreciate it if you could offer your refined opinion on it.”

He doesn’t move, arm held at an awkward position away from himself to keep her at a distance. Makoto is still there, watching them, hesitating. “Um, Byakuya-”

“And…I would like to apologize for my actions during the trial.” Byakuya’s eyes snap back to her. Her posture has relaxed somewhat, and she speaks slowly, as if every word was pushing against her pride. “I spoke rather callously, and…shed some rather insulting suggestions of your relation with Chihiro. At the time, I genuinely thought I was doing the right thing, but it seems I should not have been so rash.” The hand on his elbow slackens, just enough to be in danger of sliding off his arm entirely. “I can’t imagine how you are feeling now. It’s clear now, you were one of the people closest to him, if he was able to entrust you with something so precious.”

He feels his lip curling with disgust, at her shamelessness. It was unsurprising that someone such as the Ultimate Gambler would use words like cards, and know exactly how to play them. But even despite knowing that she wasn’t likely to be genuine, the stifling, uncomfortable pressure on his chest dissipates, just a little.

And he was hungry. And he has no desire to be face-to-face with Makoto at all, and he doubts Celeste’s intentions to kill him. And there was no motive, nor had he slighted her in any way - and besides. Prepositioning him here, in the middle of the hallway with Makoto to witness it, meant that it would be very difficult for her to free herself of suspicion if he were to turn up dead.

“Fine.” He forces his posture to relax. At that, her hand twines around his arm with the grace of a snake, much like how a lady might be led by a gentleman, resting there lightly.

She radiates smugness, and the self-satisfaction of a pampered cat as she leans into him. “Then, shall we go?”

He doesn’t really want to. But sometimes sacrifices were a means for a better end, and he only spares a single glance at Makoto as he leaves, standing ignored and alone in the middle of the hallway. 

___

“Ah, Princess!” Yamada calls as they enter. And then, slightly panicked: “And - M-Mister Togami-?”

Byakuya scoffs, disgusted, but Celeste tugs him along. “Yes, I am aware of the nature of the company that I keep.” She sounds almost apologetic about it, as she half-guides, half-steers him towards a two-person table near the far end of the cafeteria. “But I assure you, he has his uses. He’s loyal where it counts, and accomplishes things decently well.” She pats his arm, a gesture that feels far too familiar for his comfort. “I’m sure you understand?”

He makes no comment, seating himself with a scowl, and eyeing Celeste warily from across the table, a graceful shape of black and white before him. The girl had always been an enigma - much like Kirigiri in her careful, conniving ways - but he hasn’t forgiven her for how she so carelessly dropped the mention of his meeting with Chihiro. It hadn’t been to clear anything up either; he was sure that her intentions were for her own self-satisfaction, and nothing more.

Yamada waddles out of the kitchen, a large, silver tray balanced between his hands. He sets it on the table with a flourish, its contents rattling slightly - an intricate porcelain tea set decorated with a swirling black design, with a plate full of small teacakes, cookies, and other such deserts - and begins pouring out two cups of tea. He’s surprisingly graceful about it, making a show of pouring the milk in a large arc and stirring it all with a tiny silver spoon, before he sets one down in front of both of them.

Celeste lifts her cup to her lips, taking a careful sip. “Hm. Better,” She praises, and Yamada swells with pride, his chest puffing out. “Thank you. You may go.”

He deflates immediately. “Ah, but-” He clutches the empty tray to his chest like a shield. “Er, to sit alone w-with another man-!”

“Now, please.” There’s a firmness behind her gentle politeness, and after a moment’s hesitation, Yamada retreats to the kitchen with a quiet grumble.

There’s some sound near the entrance of the cafeteria, and when Byakuya looks up he sees Hagakure leading Owada towards a table, talking jovially about the importance of health and food, asking about any preferred dishes, and launching into some inane story about a hamburger and aliens.

“He’s been like that since this morning.” Celeste comments, and he turns back to her. She sets her teacup down with a gentle click, and laces her fingers beneath her chin as she leans forward, her voice lowered to an exaggeratedly conspiratorial degree. “You were not there, but Hiro declared himself the de facto leader in Taka’s absence. He stated that he has rights by age, but thus far he’s only taken responsibility for Owada.”

De facto leader…as if they had such a thing. “Good. Someone has to.” Byakuya grunts, as he lifts the cup to his lips. Owada was the farthest thing from stable at the moment, and he would rather avoid having to participate in another trial so soon. The tea Yamada made is passable, though too sweet for his tastes and richer than he would like.

“Hm, quite right.” She sighs. “I have no interest in repeating yesterday’s events for as long as I live.”

She says what he was thinking out loud, and somehow, that bothers him deeply. He didn’t like how similar the two of them were, how similar she was perceiving them to be. How similar they already were.

“But let’s not waste time on depressing things.” She claps her hands lightly. “I am curious. How is your relationship with Makoto now?”

He chokes on the teacake he had just taken a bite of, crumbling into crumbs and dust into his throat, and takes a hasty gulp of tea. It’s too hot and scalds his tongue, and the raw, healing wounds on his inner cheek. He almost doubles over with the pain, just barely managing to keep his posture. This whole time, he was painfully aware of Celeste watching him over her crossed hands.

“Are you alright?” She asks, offering him a handkerchief. He ignores it and takes another sip of tea, ignoring the burns.

“M’ f-ine.” He spits. He has the feeling his eyes are watering, though there’s not exactly a clear difference in his vision to suggest if that’s the case, and counts himself lucky for not choking. He tries to blink the tears inconspicuously away, and clears his throat. “Why - why do you ask about him?”

She tilts her head as if his question is the odd one. “You underestimate how much attention you drew when you accepted Makoto’s company. In the course of just a few short weeks, we’ve seen you two develop a sudden companionship, then a sudden lull, and then rekindle that relationship as if nothing had happened at all.” He has the feeling she’s smiling, though he can’t make out the gleam of her teeth compared to her chalk-white face. “Would you like to hear some of the rumors that have been spread?”

“Not in the slightest.” He can imagine what tasteless things have been whispered already. “The truth is nothing as scandalous as you’re hoping to hear. He was the first person who discovered my blindness, and was simply assisting me. Though-”

He grimaces inwardly now, at the memory of the trial. The earth-shattering feeling of betrayal. The quiet, hesitant way that Makoto had reached out to him afterwards, guilty as a thief. “Though, I have no need for people that can’t obey orders.”

That’s not the exact reason for his avoidance of Makoto, but he’s not interested in analyzing exactly why the other boy was bothering him so, and especially not now. It’s also not the sort of answer he would expect Celeste to be satisfied with, but to his surprise, she simply shrugs, and nods as if she understands it completely.

“I am the same. Though given our situation…I have had to be a little accommodating.” She flicks a hand carelessly in the direction of the kitchen. “I am surprised, however. Given your nature, I hadn’t expected you to be so merciful. You seemed to let Makoto off very kindly compared to the injustice he did you.” She leans forward slightly, staring at him. “You’ve changed, it seems.”

“Excuse me?”

“It is not an insult.” She says, with the same, gentle tone as a nanny with a displeased child. “If anything, it is praise. You’re far more open now, when compared to before.” She taps at her face. “You’ve stopped wearing your glasses, which you didn’t need in the first place. It’s a sign that you have become less shut off, no?”

“It’s not a sign of anything. My glasses broke when Owada punched me.” Never mind the fact that he has several spare pairs in his room. Trying to wear them now when everyone knew they were pointless would be more humiliating than anything, though he still has to consciously refrain from reaching up to touch his temples, fighting the habit to adjust something that wasn’t there.

“But even so, my point still stands.” Her eyes narrow as she smiles. “Before, you seemed very distant, but now it is more obvious that you are of flesh and blood.”

He shifts uncomfortably in his seat. That was what he was afraid of, becoming more human, more like those around him. His glasses had been a part of him for as long as he could remember, even before there was a real need for him to wear them; they made him look older, Pennyworth had told him, and more mature. Less like a boy, more like a proper heir. Less like his mother, and more like a Togami.

He notices the pale, spindly shape of Celeste’s hand reaching for his face just in time, jerking backwards and out of her reach. If she’s surprised, she gives no sign, and simply retreats slowly. “I apologize. It seems I’ve said something insensitive once more.”

“...You said nothing of the sort.” He lies. Has he become that easy to read? He presses his lips into a thin line. “Even if I still had them, there’s no point in wearing them anymore. Not when everyone knows they’re pointless.”

“I see…if it is any consolation, I do find your appearance appealing now.” She says this hesitantly, shyly, hiding her face demurely behind her cup. But either she had layered on enough makeup to completely conceal her face, or she was an exceptionally skilled liar, or most likely both, because not the barest hint of a blush is visible on her at all. “You were uncomfortably perfect before, more like a little porcelain doll than anything. I rather enjoy this new, human side to you. Even the…imperfections, if you will forgive the term, are quite endearing.”

He can feel her gaze, bright red eyes, roaming his face. “Save your flattery.” He mutters. The burn on the roof of his mouth was making itself known again, and as he glances down at his plate at the remains of his earlier pastry, all he sees is an unappealing, sand-coloured blur. “Asides from the change in supposed ‘leadership’, what else happened when I wasn’t around?”

Thankfully, Celeste doesn’t push the topic, and instead launches into a detailed recount. Monokuma opened up the third floor as a reward for a successful trial, which included new amenities: an art room with just about everything needed for any medium, from sculpting to calligraphy; a very robust physics lab with a very large and elaborate air purifier; an equipment room without anything particularly noticeable; and a recreation room with a pool table, darts, board games, and a weekly magazine rack.

Byakuya raises his eyebrows at this last mention. “Weekly magazines?”

“Yes, but unfortunately, Monokuma has no intention of providing us with any new issues.” She sighs. “I asked him myself.”

He clicks his tongue, disappointed again but unsurprised, and leans back in his chair, taking a biscuit. Everything that Yamada had brought out was too sweet for his tastes, and tasted cheap, with the chemical-ly staleness of preservatives. It was killing his appetite, and he was ready to retreat back to his room.

“It seems that our school life has gained more opportunities to become enjoyable, however.” Celeste continues, ignoring his apparent sourness. “Won’t you join me for a game of Othello, sometime? I’m sure someone of your caliber is familiar with the rules.”

“I’ll pass. I have no need for a partner.” He doubts that she would be a better opponent than Alter Ego, in any case. Especially if he couldn’t see the board.

“A shame. But it was worth asking.” She doesn’t sound surprised by his blunt rejection. “I’m sure I could not compare to the games you have witnessed among the aristocracy?”

He hesitates for a moment. Her intentions were clear, full of the subtle eagerness of a child trying to wheedle out a prize for good behavior. “Witnessed, and participated. But I have to disappoint you, they’re more or less just like the gambling games that the commoners play, blackjack and roulette and such. The only difference is the wagers.”

“Very high wagers, I presume?”

“Yes, but not in money. Most of the time, all the participants have enough money to their name that mere cash becomes meaningless. So they place their stakes in other things- properties, businesses, liquid assets and even people. A family castle, their favored butler. Things that have more value to them than just monetary.” She leans forward on her elbows, listening intently, and after another moment’s pause, he continues. “I’ve only played once, and wagered a genuine second-generation [Delafoy] portrait bust. I won the original copy of the opponent’s family records.”

“A rather underwhelming prize.”

“Not at all. There’s nothing more valuable than information - especially when it’s limited.” He replies, smugly. That book of records was the only copy to exist, and the stupid, sheltered boy who had wagered it had gone nearly catatonic when he lost. He was outright disowned when his family discovered what he’d done, and the family head offered a fortune for the return of it - but Byakuya had kept it, both out of spite and necessity. That book ended up being a precious bargaining token later, when the game of inheritance found him and he needed a place to lie low.

Celeste is captivated, leaning as far as she can over the table with her chin tucked on her laced hands, eyes so wide that the red of her irises - contact lenses, surely - are twin, bloody suns on her milk-white face. Like a vampire bite, he notes distantly, with a hint of snide amusement. “It has always been a dream of mine to sit among those tables.” She says, and her voice is hushed and passionate, eager, expectant; a demand hidden in plain sight.

“It would never happen. Someone of your status would never be afforded the chance.” He scoffs immediately, matter-of-factly.

“Do the wealthy not recognize the value of skill? I’m sure I can provide a stimulating enough game for them.”

“And I don’t doubt that you could. But that wouldn’t matter.” She was certainly clever, but if she was still dreaming such foolish things, then he suspected that she would not last much longer in the mastermind’s game. He leans forward, fixing her with a stare. “The only reason why I could participate at all is because of my lineage; the Togami name is the only reason that family offered to buy back their precious records, rather than simply assassinate me and pick it off my corpse. Someone like you wouldn’t even be allowed to leave that table alive.” Those esteemed elderly with nothing to do and those spoiled brats with lofty ideals would let her join their table, for the novelty of having a member of the peasantry try her luck, but the moment she humiliated them would have marked her end. 

That answer seems to discourage her, and she sits back, plucking another cookie from the tray and turning it in her hands. “Such a violent reaction…it seems that the nobility are much less civilized than given credit.”

“Do you think yourself uncivilized for shooing away an insect? Like I said before, do not flatter yourself into thinking that we are on the same level.”

They’re quiet for a moment, sipping their tea and nibbling at the deserts. Hagakure was trying to coax Owada into eating a bowl of rice porridge, pressing a spoon into his listless hand. Byakuya watches with a strange, uncomfortable feeling growing over him, and suddenly wants nothing more than to leave.

“Ah, speaking of being human,” Celeste says suddenly, as if remembering something. “Makoto found a particularly interesting photo in the third-floor maintenance closet. And a very odd one, at that.” She pauses to take a delicate bite of a pastry, making him wait as she chews. “One of Mondo, Leon, and Chihiro laughing together in a classroom setting.”

“What?” He frowns. Were the three of them that close? He hadn’t noted them having any particular interactions between them to suggest such a thing. “When was the photo taken?”

“That, I cannot say. Monokuma seized the photo, so the only one who saw it was Makoto.” She shrugs, an elegant lift and fall of one shoulder. “But from what he said, they couldn’t have been much younger than they were when we first arrived.”

Perhaps they knew each other before enrolling here. It would be the most logical explanation, and it wouldn’t be impossible based on what he knew of them. He says as much aloud, and Celeste simply shrugs again.

“Perhaps.” She agrees, and takes another bite. “But if they did, they gave no indication of it, and certainly did not act like they knew each other at all. Though, I am inclined to believe it was nothing more than one of Monokuma’s pranks, intended to shake us.”

That wasn’t an unlikely possibility either. Byakuya certainly didn’t doubt that the bear might do such a thing. But for some reason it bothers him, sitting stubbornly in the back of his mind and refusing to be brushed away. Like a conspicuously empty patch of dust in an old room, marking the place where something unnamed once occupied and was now gone. Was it really just a prank, and nothing more?

From the kitchen, Yamada was humming, accompanied by the sound of pans and sizzling oil, hissing steam. Hagakure was still coaxing Owada into eating, while regaling him with another long-winded, far-fetched story. Despite everything, everyone was still going about their lives, domestic and carefree.

He thinks about Kirigiri, who never seemed to stop moving. Always thinking, always searching, always leagues ahead of him. She was similar to the girl in front of him now, clever and scheming and concealing everything behind an unreadable face. But different as well; Celeste speaks in an elegant, lilting cadence that reminded Byakuya of the children of the nobility that he had bumped elbows with before, and he can’t imagine himself having tea and small talk with Kirigiri in a similar setting.

“What will you do now,” He finds himself asking. “In regards to the killing game?”

Celeste tilts her head as if this were an obvious question. “I have no interest in dying. Nor do I have the stomach in me to imagine taking another person’s life.” She shudders slightly, as if the very thought of it was horrifying. “But all our amenities have been accounted for here, and I imagine we have all the provisions to live very comfortable lives. I can be content with this, so long as it ends the pointless tragedies.”

As he thought. Despite all her secretive, careful ways, the way she took to lying like a second skin; she was nothing like Kirigiri. Kirigiri had spine, at least.

He stands up suddenly with a screech of his chair, and she makes a noise of surprise. “You are leaving?”

“I have exhausted your company,” He says bluntly. “So there is no reason for me to stay.”

“Is that so…” There’s a sharp click as she raps her fingers against the patina. “In that case, thank you for the conversation. It was very insightful.”

He has no doubts about that. This was not a simple excuse to have a leisurely chat, but an exchange of information. She gave him what he wanted to know about the third floor, and he gave her a story to stave off boredom. Something to daydream about while they waited to escape.

He doesn’t bother deigning her with a proper goodbye as he turns to go. On his way out, he catches sight of Owada, sitting across from Hagakure, spoon still unmoving, watching him. Faceless and blank.

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