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neoninky · 2 years

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TWST Fic "Her Ivory Crown": Chapter 6

Aaand we're back~

Any newcomers to this story, be prepared...for immense fluff lol

You can find this and all other chapters on my Masterlist or read the completed stories on my AO3 page. Likes, shares, and comments are welcome!

Ch. 6: First Signs of Spring

No one except them and the Rosabyrine vice dorm leader knew what had happened. Given Reine's position, it was standard procedure that any 'incidents' like these were kept under wraps. That didn't keep Elise or Manari from wearing their worry on their faces, however. The two girls had been camped outside of Night Raven's infirmary for over an hour when the Headmistress finally exited into the hallway, her face as calm as ever.

"Miss Castilene is alright," the girls exhaled in relief, "she'll return to her room to continue resting after the nurse finishes a few healing spells, just for extra precaution. She is not to leave the dorm for the rest of the evening, understood? I will escort her back myself. You two should return to the festival for now."

The sun was sinking in the sky, casting a soft glow across the festival grounds that normally would have made Elise feel absolutely dreamy but this was the first time since they arrived that she and Manari had been so somber. Most of the other students wandering about through the rows of booths didn't notice but a certain cat sniffed out their distress the second he spotted the girls. Che'nya came around the corner to meet the two of them, his smile not quite as bright as usual.

"Why so glum, girls? You look as if the dormouse ate your favorrrite tarts..."

Elise mustered up a small grin and gave Che'nya a gentle head scratch between his ears, making him purr, "Hello Che'nya, sorry to show such a face. It's just...we're a bit worried about Reine."

The princess knew that it was highly frowned upon to talk about this with someone outside of Sacred Crown or even the Rosabyrine dorm but Reine and Che'nya had always been very fond of one another so surely she wouldn't mind Elise letting him know, right? The boy's ears twitched at hearing his friends' name and for once his face didn't hold a smile.

"Did something happen to RRReine??"

The trio left the main road and found a more secluded place to fill Che'nya in. His ears drooped ever so slightly at the news and even more so at Elise's distressed expression.

"I don't know what happened. When we were walking back from the game, she said she was tired but she still seemed fine..."

Manari folded her arms and scowled, "You mean after she had that talk with Zehn?" She didn't bother hiding the venom in her tone, "Something always seemed off with him, even more so since we all got here! I don't like him. I don't think Reine does either. Seriously, he's gotta go."

"Manari..."

"Elise! You KNOW I'm right!" the fiery girl gave her friend a look, basically challenging her to prove her wrong. Elise just signed in frustration.

"Manari, you don't understand how complicated this truly is for someone in Reine's position...technically neither do I. While I am also a princess, I'm not the heir to the throne like she is. I have older siblings in line before me so the pressure on me is far less. Still...when you are the next in line, everything matters tenfold. Every last detail. Especially in terms of courtship and marriage."

Manari knew Elise was right but she didn't like it, "I get it. I'm not a princess and I doubt I ever will be but...but ugh! We have to do something!"

Elise gently grabbed her friend's hand, "It's not our place to interfere. It'll only make things harder for her in the end. I understand your frustration, I do. Reine and I have known each other since elementary school. I don't know every detail but I've seen her struggle towards her goals for years. I don't want her to struggle unnecessarily anymore. Even if I'm not fond of him either, if she chooses him as her future groom then that's that."

The exotic dorm leader groaned in frustration but finally conceded, "Alright...damn you and your cool head, Elise Coralette," she laughed wryly.

Che'nya's tail swished back and forth as he hummed to himself, taking in the girls' words, "Manyari has a point though~" he continued his thoughts when the girls turned to him with confused looks, "Zehn has never been too frrriendly, not to me or really anyone outside his little entourage...but something about these Night RRRaven boys really burns him up, hmm hmm~" his amusement shone through once again on that last thought.

"I think it's gross," Manari said bluntly, getting a small laugh from Elise finally.

"I stand by what I said, it's not our place to interfere...buuuut as her best friends, I think something to put her at ease is in order."

"Definitely. Last time I checked, this is supposed to be a fun event to build camaraderie between our schools...granted the 'friendly' competitive spirit between the boys is pretty entertaining, not going to lie." Che'nya chuckled in agreement with that before going wide-eyed.

"Ooooh~ I know what would make RRReine feel much better!"

Riddle sat with an annoyed expression, trying to ignore Floyd's teasing and stupid 'goldfish-chan' name-calling, as he and Azul were going over the current records of their standing in the sales portion of the festival at one of the more private tables in the mini cafe. It was an unofficial contest between the three schools over the course of the week: whoever brought in the highest amount of profit by the festival's end would not only be helping out their own school but they would also receive quite the boon in future events - first in line for the best Magift equipment, top-notch materials for stage building and the like at next year's official VDC, etc. Not to mention all the bragging rights one could imagine. And so far...

"Royal Sword is still ahead of the rest of us," the octopus gave a disgruntled sigh, "Sacred Crown is doing quite well but our lead over them is pretty far, putting us right in second."

Riddle looked over the graphs and calculations Azul had put together on paper. It was unnerving how detailed they were, down to every decimal for every individual booth's profit and the demographic of patrons. Riddle couldn't help but notice that Azul's extension of the Monstro Lounge was doing very well and the majority of the credit went to female patrons.

"You seem to be doing quite well, Ashengrotto..."

Azul's charming smile quickly returned as the twins snickered behind him, "Ahh yes, such lovely, generous hearts these Sacred Crown girls have. I can hardly keep them away as soon as we open. Not that I would ever think of it. What a monster I would be to deny those precious pearls what they desire."

The octopus was practically swooning over his patrons' "generosity" but Riddle's unimpressed expression judged him down to the bones. Something definitely reeked of suspicion but as long as it wasn't illegal (technically or otherwise), Riddle couldn't do a thing about it even though he was the executive chair of the event's committee.

"Excuse me?" a sweet voice interrupted, sending Floyd into a spell of giddy energy.

"Star fishiiiiie~" the taller twin zipped over to Elise and wrapped her in a hug before either Jade or Azul could stop him this time, "Heheh did you and Tiger Barbie change your minds? You want me to squeeze that guy until his head pops off? Heeehh~?"

Elise, ever the good sport, patted the eel's long arms affectionately and tried not to squeak as Floyd held her tightly, "No no, Floyd, we actually came to speak to Riddle if he could spare a moment?"

"Tempting offer though..." Manari muttered as Azul stormed over to the twin and started fussing at him for his rudeness. After some whining and childish insults thrown Azul's way, Floyd gently set the princess back down and shuffled away to find a good place for a nap.

"Forgive my brother's enthusiasm, ladies," Jade had already procured extra chairs for the girls at the table, "he gets very excited about those he is fond of. It's quite adorable don't you think?" he said with a toothy smile. Riddle snorted at the notion of anything about Floyd being adorable and stood to properly greet the two girls.

"You were looking for me?"

Elise turned to him, with a shy grin, "Yes, we need your help with something. I'm so sorry to interrupt your and Mr. Ashengrotto's meeting though."

"Don't be, we were just finishing up this boring talk regarding sales figures and such," Azul ignored the eyebrow raised look Riddle was sending his way, knowing full well that Azul was blowing smoke, "Please, sit down, can we fetch you anything? Anything at all~?"

Manari didn't even need a menu at this point, "Oooh! Yeah yeah! I'm just three points away from the next prize level!" the seashell embossed points card was already in Manari's hand as she rattled off her order, Elise doing the same. Azul and Jade both quickly set to work, grinning like cats who caught the canary. Riddle just rolled his eyes and turned back to Elise.

"Anyway...how may I be of service to you?"

"Thank you, Riddle. It's about Reine actually..."

The girl's absence didn't go unnoticed by Heartslabyul's prefect but now it caused him a bit of worry. Elise explained further without going into graphic detail about what had happened in a hushed voice as more and more students came and went from the cafe.

"She isn't feeling too good right now and roses have always brightened her day. We figured if there was anyone who could help us with this, it would be you, Riddle."

Riddle didn't hesitate, "I'll gather Heartslabyul's best roses for her room, to help her rest easier. Trey is also making delicious tarts for our tea party tomorrow. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to send some for all of you to enjoy once she is feeling better." His voice and gaze were so sure even though he felt a pang of anxiety in his chest. What could have made the princess suddenly fall ill? Maybe she wasn't getting enough rest? Was she comfortable on their campus or was this whole event just making her feel uneasy and she was too polite to say?

A spark lit in Manari's eyes as she watched Riddle, "Wow Riddle, you are such a sweetheart, you know?"

He smiled at the girl's praise, "Thank you, Miss Manari. Not only am I a dorm prefect but also one of Night Raven College's top students. So naturally, I want our guests' first experience on our campus to be as enjoyable and pleasant as possible. Anything less is unacceptable."

"A regular gentleman," the grin on Manari's face grew, "Say...you know what would really make Reine feel better? You should go get those roses and bring them to her at our dorm tonight!"

Both Riddle and Elise's faces lept in surprise. Che'nya had suggested asking for Riddle's help but a personal visit was a whole nother story. Riddle quickly turned a bit flustered, "I-I'm not sure that is appropriate, a male student coming into the designated girls' dormitory, especially at night. Surely your Headmistress would be against it."

"Oh, I'm sure it would be fine! Not like we're sneaking you in after curfew. Plus Elise is a third-year, your senior. Chaperoning a quick visit from one dorm leader to check up on another shouldn't be a problem!"

Elise gave her friend a skeptical side look out of Riddle's view. Technically...Manari wasn't wrong. The rules were very clear and VERY strict when it came to boys visiting the girls' dorms whenever their brother school had visited their campus in the past so naturally, the same rules would apply here. One of which was as the girl said: 'a male student could visit a female student in her dormitory so long as a senior student was present.' So it would stand to reason that Riddle could in fact pay a visit under Elise's supervision. Plus Riddle seemed to be the very last boy on the planet that would ever have ulterior motives and the flowers alone would certainly make Reine feel a lot better.

"Red roses are her favorite. She doesn't have a favorite tea but she does drink mint tea when she's feeling particularly stressed. Just so you know," Elise smiled at the flustered boy, basically confirming what Manari said to be true and giving him permission, "and don't worry about the dress code. Your regular uniform is perfectly fine."

As soon as they were done eating, the girls excused themselves and bid Riddle farewell, but not before exchanging contact info and cashing in their Monstro points for the next level of prizes. Elise was on cloud nine when presented with a seashell necklace that matched the hairpin that she was still wearing. Manari was just happy to get a ticket for a free side dish upon her next visit.

"Byyye Riddllllee~ We'll message you once Reine is back and settled in, ok?" Manari was quite pleased with herself. That is until Elise was staring her down once they were out of earshot of the boys.

"What???"

"I know you and I know when you're up. to. something."

The teasing girl just shrugged off her friend's suspicion, "I have no idea what you could possibly mean, your highness. Should I feel bad for helping out our sweet rosebud?"

"Do you not remember our conversation from earlier, Manari?"

"It's not interfering. I simply recognized how distressed poor Riddle was when he heard how the fair maiden had fallen ill. You saw his face. Are you really going to deny him the opportunity to console his dear princess in her time of need?!" she laid the showmanship on thick with an over-the-top gasp, "Really Elise...I never thought I would see the day when you became so cold-hearted!"

"Oh stop it," Elise tried and failed to keep a serious face on while she playfully shoved Manari, "it's a wonder you're not in drama club....alright fine, you win this one. But I stand by what I said before. No interfering in Reine's personal affairs or relationships...stop laughing, Manari, I mean it!"

The sun had set once Reine crawled out of her covers and looked at her tired face in the mirror. Taking a bath had helped but she still felt like her brain was marinating in bog juice. She was thankful that the other girls were simply told that Reine was tired and just needed to rest it off in place of what actually happened. The Headmistress had left the princess to her own endeavors about an hour ago right as Manari and Elise had returned to the dorm and helped her up to her room. She could hear a few distant voices down the halls but it seemed that most of the Sacred Crown girls were still out enjoying the last couple of hours of the day. She frowned a bit down at the already wilting flowers she left on the fireplace mantel earlier, kicking herself for not setting them in water at least. The soft feeling of the petals underneath her fingertips soothed her mind a bit before Reine remembered what happened before she collapsed. The room felt too stifling all of a sudden and Reine decided she felt decent enough to go downstairs for some water at least. What she didn't expect was someone waiting for her in the lounge as she reached the bottom step.

"Oh Reine, you're up! Good, look who's here to see you," Elise said lightly with a hint of surprise as she gestured to a now shy Riddle sitting across from her, a perfectly crafted bouquet of rich red roses in his hands. The boys of Heartslabyul thought their perfect had lost his mind when they found him in the gardens, cutting roses from the already manicured bushes - that he explicitly said were to NOT be touched earlier - with a look on his face that spelled doom to anyone who said a word about his hypocritical behavior. He practically could feel Ace and Cater mocking him behind his back as he nervously sat there.

Reine felt like leaping into the sea once she realized two things very quickly: that yes, Riddle really was in her dorm right now and that she was standing in front of him in her white, thankfully modest, nightgown, no make up, and her hair a mess of waves, clumsily tied back in an unruly low ponytail as if she never combed it. Manari was behind this and no one could change her mind about that or the fact that her best friend was going to get an ear full about this later.

"R-Riddle! What brings you...here?" oh how she wanted to die right on the spot. Could this day get any worse?! Riddle stood and greeted her as he normally did, albeit a bit more skittishly, trying not to notice just how her skin was more exposed than usual. Or how nice and slender her bare legs were. Trying very, very hard.

"Miss Reine, I'm glad to see you're alright. I..I brought these for you," he extended the flowers to her with a bow of his head, "Miss Elise said red was your favorite. I brought them from Heartslabyul's own gardens. I-I hope they're to your liking!"

The girl's heart melted at the sight of the perfectly chosen flowers and completely forgot about her embarrassment as she took them from him, "They're gorgeous...thank you so much, Riddle." Elise couldn't help but smile at the sparkle in her friend's eyes.

"Reine, sit here. I'll go take care of these beautiful roses and make some tea. Riddle was also kind enough to bring us some from his collection." And with that, the two of them were left alone momentarily. They sat in a bashful silence across from each other, completely unaware of the pairs of excited eyes spying on them from around the corner. Elise hushed the other girls as she entered the kitchen. If they were going to be so nosy, they could at least be subtle about it!

This wasn't the first time they had been alone and yet it felt so...strange this time around. The boy's eyes cautiously wandered up to the girl in front of him. His brain knew that she was the future queen of his home and deserved every ounce of respect he had to offer. But his eyes saw a very lovely girl wrapped in a pure white dress with delicate lace patterns and that hung loosely, comfortingly around her slender frame as her platinum waves gently cascaded over her exposed shoulders. A very lovely girl that seemed openly sheepish as she fiddled with the ruffled hem of said dress, not sure where exactly to direct her deep violet-colored eyes at that moment. Something about this picture just made his heart thump and his brain flail about to regain his senses. Riddle cleared his throat and took initiative before his nerves got the better of him.

"How are you feeling, Miss Reine? Were you hurt at all?"

He sounded so sincere, it was actually pretty cute. She just nodded and put on her usual serene smile to the best of her ability, "Yes I'm fine. I promise. I think I just got a bit overwhelmed. But I've been wanting to ask you, were you hurt at all from when you fell?"

Riddle had almost forgotten about that moment from the game but confirmed in confidence that he was perfectly fine, "it was you who caught me wasn't it? I'm safe and sound because of you, Miss Reine."

"I'm glad," her face flushed a light pink, "I just...didn't want anything bad to happen."

"If you don't mind me asking, is that your Unique Magic?"

The girl nodded, feeling a sense of pride warm her chest, "Yes it is. I've worked on mastering it ever since I was in middle school. It takes a lot of concentration and precision. 'Bow to the Queen' is a trapping spell meant to disarm my target and keep them from attacking me or anyone else. The branches have thorns if I wish them to. If my target is pricked by them, they are temporarily paralyzed. But without the thorns, the branches be used as safety net like it was today."

"That's incredible..." Riddle's eyes were full of admiration, his shyness completely forgotten, "you cast it so effortlessly and quickly. It's no wonder you won the throne."

Reine's smile turned somber, "Yes, it was hard but I managed to win over both my parents' court and my cousins' court as well. My cousins in the Red Court are very talented as well so I am a bit surprised."

Riddle felt a pinch of guilt; it seemed like the subject wasn't entirely a happy one. He started to apologize for overstepping but the princess just shook her head, "You have nothing to apologize for. The life of royals is complicated, to say the least."

Riddle knew from his history lessons that in years past, the trials of the Rose Queendom heirs used to be much more violent but over time, the trials had became geared more towards gauging the wit and skill level of their contenders over just pitting them against each other in duels and whoever came out unscathed was the determined victor. Often, or so he heard, those who wished to become the Queen-to-be's suitor would also take part in their own trials and were then ranked on how favorable they were based on the results. Unlike the princess and other ladies aiming for the throne, the young men competing for her hand didn't shy away from dueling on top of the rigorous trials. The losers suffering permanent damage was not unheard of. Frankly, Riddle thought it was barbaric and an insult to their future queens' efforts...and he could see the strain such things had put on Reine herself. The redhead swiftly reminded himself exactly why he was there, to comfort her, and redoubled his effort.

"Miss Reine, tomorrow is a free day with no events on the festival's schedule. Heartslabyul will be having another tea party and croquet match tomorrow since it is the 5th. If you are feeling well, I would like to invite you and the girls of Rosabyrine to join us." Riddle's heart fluttered when he saw the excited look in Reine's eyes, which were now directly locked onto his.

"Really?? Wonderful! We will absolutely be there!" she giggled excitedly before catching herself and clearing her throat, hoping Riddle didn't see the hint of pink flood her face, "Thank you so much, Riddle, you are so kind."

As if on cue, Elise finally returned with a tea tray and setting down cups of what was undoubtedly mint tea.

"Thank you again for your help, Riddle. Reine seemed back to her old self again, if not even better." Elise had walked the boy outside after they bid Reine goodnight. Riddle had a content smile on his face, whether he realized it or not.

"Of course. I'm glad to be of service to new friends."

His eyes managed to find Reine's window where she could be seen holding the vase of roses and talking with another, very excited girl, who was no doubt teasing Reine a bit judging from her demure yet happy expression. He cleared his throat as he felt his heartbeat speed up once again, "Goodnight, Miss Elise."

The senior princess waved him off as he walked to the garden gates before going back inside herself. Riddle made it to the gate and let out a deep breath. What. was. all. that?? He could only pray that he maintained even a fraction of cool during his visit but something in his gut told him otherwise. Riddle quietly groaned as he hid his face in his hand, trying to fight off the unforgiving waves of humiliation crashing over him to no avail. "Get it together!" he harshly whispered to himself as he continued to walk back to the Heartslabyul dorms, "She is the crown princess! She is a guest on your campus and here you are acting a damn lovesick puppy!" The prefect continued to remind himself of the situation at hand with austere clarity...until that last phrase really sunk in.

Lovesick? ....Love?? Oh no. Oh no no no NO. Riddle suddenly felt like the ground would swallow him whole under the pressure of this unbearably heated self-consciousness. He had to stop in the, thankfully empty, courtyard and sit on a bench before he fell over. There was no possible way this was happening. Sure, the princess was pretty-no-beautiful, more than any other girl he had ever met. Then again, how many girls did Riddle really know...? It wasn't like he was allowed an active social life the majority of his life. And the few times he did visit the royal courts in the past with his parents, neither Reine nor any of her royal cousins had been present. That had to be it, he was just starstruck, naturally smitten being in such close proximity with Her Highness. These excitable feelings held no actual gravity to them. It all made sense. He was being nice to her and she to him because it was the right and natural order of things. Riddle's mind came to a rough halt once he remembered the most important fact: she is the crown princess and she already had men, ready and able to be her suitor. Youngmen like Zehn Cavalier who didn't even have to lift a finger to get close to her to win her hand in confidence.

"That's the way it's always been. It's to be expected," Riddle reminded himself...so why did his chest ache and his stomach seemed to sink? Why did it hurt to be reminded of that while also being reminded of the rare moments of seeing Reine's natural self? Her real smile when she felt excited, giddy even. Her modest, pink blush when she felt shy. Her fair skin...and deep eyes....her delicate hands and lips-

Riddle suddenly jumped to his feet with a frustrated groan, "Enough of this foolishness! You're better than this, Rosehearts!!" His face felt hot and his head dizzy. He rushed back to the dorm as fast as possible without stopping. Once he reached the Heartslabyul dorms, he caught his breath and decided some more air would do him good. He needed to calm down so he went into the gardens and sat down in his usual seat at their tea party settings. The night was calm, cool, quiet, everything opposite from how he was feeling. For a moment, Riddle allowed himself to honestly let these confusing feelings play themselves out in his mind while he sat alone in the garden, accompanied only by the sound of crickets and far-off voices of his dormmates, ringing throughout the Heartslabyul grounds.

He imagined what it would be like if he and Reine shared something more than just a budding friendship. How good it would feel to see her as she was naturally all the time, revel in her candid laughter and smiles, be by her side whenever she was sad or feeling unsafe, support her and share a life with her as she took her place as the Rose Queendom's beautiful sovereign ruler...these images made something stir in Riddle's heart, something new. Something absolutely wonderful and terrible all at the same time.

Oh Great Seven....Riddle had a crush on the princess. A big, ridiculous, legitimate crush that he couldn't reason his way out of even if he actually wanted to. There was no rule in existence that could save him now. He covered his scarlet red face in his hands as if he were trying to out run his own shame. It only got worse when he remembered that he invited her and her entire dorm to their tea party tomorrow.

"What was I thinking?!" the poor boy ridiculed himself.

"About what??"

Riddle nearly leaped out of his own skin when Trey's voice came out of nowhere. His vice leader stood a couple of feet away with a very concerned look on his face. The usual calm, confident and domineering Riddle Rosehearts had somehow been replaced with a very disheveled, flustered, and muttering-to-himself boy that now sported the same look as the hedgehogs when they were suddenly cornered.

"Riddle...? Are you feeling alright?"

"O-Of course I am, Trey!! I just needed some fresh air!" he retaliated a bit too quickly. His friend saw right through it.

"Uh huh. Well, I'm glad you're back. Did they like the gift?"

"Wha...what gift?" Riddle was feeling more uneasy by the second and even Trey's calm smile wasn't helping.

"The roses you picked. It's Wednesday. Rule No. 228 specifically forbids any flower picking on Wednesdays so it must have been for a very special reason that you made that bouquet right?"

Riddle's face fell into a look of devastation. Did he seriously break a rule without realizing it?! He of all people should have known but...it made Reine so happy so maybe it was ok this one time-oh NO. It was then Riddle realized just how badly, how deep into this now undeniable crush he was. He was absolutely ruined. Trey's concern only worsened with Riddle's shocked silence. He waited for some sort of outburst from his childhood friend but it never came. This was serious.

"If it's for a good reason, I'm sure it's alright. Especially if it made the person happy, right?"

"She did seem very happy..." the words fell from Riddle's mouth like he was trying to Trey about a dream he didn't fully remember. Trey's eyebrows quirked upwards. Did Riddle give flowers to a girl?

"She??"

Riddle snapped out of it, his mistake fully registering and reigniting his panic until Trey placed a hand on his shoulder with a look of empathy. The redhead felt a small bit of relief wash over him as he began to open up slowly to his trustworthy friend.

"Miss Reine wasn't feeling well. I wanted to..t-to make her feel better, I suppose. Her friends told me how much she loved red roses and it just made sense to give her the very best roses we had grown here. She is my princess, of course, I would give her my best!" Trey smirked at the tiny burst of confidence Riddle displayed towards the end.

"And you invited her to our tea party tomorrow didn't you?" he laughed as the accused look returned to his friend's face, "Don't worry, I made extra tarts just in case. And made sure every single flamingo and hedgehog was taken care of today so they'd be in a good mood tomorrow."

"And the roses? They should be red and white; Rule No. 469-"

"Yes, yes, 'Flowers must be both red and white when you invite over a new acquaintance', Cater saw to it himself. Everything is ready."

"...Trey you are very good but this is uncanny. Who told you I was planning on inviting the Rosabyrine girls to the party tomorrow?"

"Che'nya overheard you tell Miss Elise your intentions," the clover laughed at Riddle's face that flushed a full red for the umpteenth time in the past few minutes.

Elise peered into Reine's room when she noticed the lights were still on but Reine herself was in bed. She quietly walked up to the bedside and smiled at the sight before her: the sleeping princess had placed the vase full of her beautiful roses on the table next to her pocket watch but kept one rose in her hand as she fell asleep. Thankfully, Riddle had thought ahead and removed the thorns from the flowers. Elise tucked her friend under the covers properly before gently taking the single rose and reuniting it with the others. She whispered a soft 'goodnight' to Reine and turned off the lights, silently wishing her sweet dreams.

Outside in the hall, Elise saw Manari leaning against the wall with a satisfied smirk. Elise rolled her eyes at her smug friend, refusing to acknowledge that Manari's scheme had worked. Not that she had to. Manari would tell anyone who would listen what a victory this was if they weren't all asleep already.

"Go to bed before the ghosts tattle to the Headmistress," Elise quietly lectured.

"Only if you promise to tell me everything tomorroooow~" Manari quietly snickered to herself as the older girl smacked her arm and started shepherding her back to her room like a some sort of nanny.

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Tagging: @foxwitchaine @iscarlettappel @nuitthegoddess @1ndigowitch @victoria1676 @wysteriadelights @aiimee9

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accountingacademic · 9 months

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Please Don't Burn Out

Daily Reflection Wednesday, 3 January, 2024

Things I'm Grateful For:

The rubber seal on the glass storage containers we have. I forgot one in my lunch bag after last semester (sitting there for about three weeks--don't worry, I am also ashamed of myself for forgetting it), and it wasn't even mouldy. Stuff sitting in the sink for a week made me throw up a bit because of how bad it was.

Highlights:

I got my first book for the year finished! Sure, it was Mass Effect: Retribution and I only had the chapters and the epilogue left, but I'm still counting it.

Challenges:

One of my friends is trying to talk me into staying up later tonight after I said I'd leave the D&D game at 9:45 to make sure I get to bed on time. I'm trying to not sound like a asshole by saying that's pushing it; I could say 9:30, or just not show up at all. Given my issues with sleeping in lately, going to bed at 8:00 has crossed my mind.

I'm really having a hard time doing all of my morning routine, including waking up on time. If I'm noticeably tired around 6:00pm, I'm going to go to bed early--making the call two hours early is a courtesy to my D&D group.

Emotions:

I wasn't really looking forward to the game tonight. We have to start later because of the DM's work schedule, and I can't stay up as late because I still have to get up at the same time. I'm prioritizing school over D&D, and I refuse to be guilted over it. Worst comes to worst I'll give up D&D, but I would still rather that be a last resort.

I was definitely getting tired when the time came for D&D. Posting this ahead of the game so I can go right from that to bed, and hopefully it doesn't wake me up.

Today's To-Do List:

Complete

Clean out my school binder and prepare for the new semester.

Finish dishes. (Didn't technically finish; I left the electric griddle and the roaster (which has been sitting in the sink since Christmas) for them to deal with. I dealt with everything else, though.)

Make sure my backpack is ready to go.

Set out clothes for tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow's To-Do List:

Get cat food after class.

#accountingacademic #accounting academic #accounting #studyblr #college #productivity #study #daily reflections #january #2024 #january 2024

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thenovelartist · 3 years

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A Blanc Slate, Chapter 2

4. Cafe

By the time Chat had finished his bath, Marinette had finished warming up a bowl of soup for him.

“Sit,” she ordered, pointing to her chaise lounge.

He did as asked, less taking a seat and more collapsing onto the chaise. He’d given up on fighting her, but she couldn’t tell if he was sick or just tired of fighting. Maybe both.

She handed him the soup bowl, and he took it with a quiet thank you. But before he took a bite, she placed her hands on his forehead and cheeks, trying to gage his temperature compared to hers.

He did pull away at first, hurting her heart once again, but this time, he eventually relented to her touch.

“You feel too warm,” she muttered. “Stay right there; let me go see if I have anything for that.”

When she returned with water and some medicine, he was staring at his bowl of soup that still looked quite full.

She frowned as she set the glass and pill on her desk. “Something wrong? Does it not taste good?”

“No, it tastes like the soup from one of my favorite cafes. I’m just…”

“Can’t stomach it?”

His eyes closed, shaking his head almost imperceptibly.

Frowning, she sat herself down next to him on the edge of the chaise. “Is it because you’re sick? Or stressed?”

He tapped the side of the bowl with his fingers. “More stressed.”

She nodded. “I could have guessed that.”

He quirked a brow at her.

She tapped his arm. “You’re white. Something must have happened.”

His eyes hardened, and Marinette instantly worried she shouldn’t have said anything. “How do you know I’m not an akuma?”

“You’re too lucid for that,” she easily dismissed. “You let me drag you up here, and you’ve said nothing about Ladybug’s miraculous.”

He sneered, looking almost disappointed by that fact. “How do you know I’m not dangerous, though?”

She scoffed. “Are you?” she sarcastically challenged, already feeling confident in her answer.

“What if I am?”

“Then what are you planning to do?”

He forced a rougish grin, but it looked tired and it didn’t reach his empty eyes. “Why would I tell you?”

“Then do it.”

His eyes blew wide. “What?”

“Do it,” she challenged, leaning closer while a challenging grin grew on her face. “What is a dangerous kitty like you planning to do to little old me?”

She watched a pink creep out from under his mask, his eyes panicked as he leaned away from her.

See, white or black, you’re still my good kitty. With a chuckle, she pulled back to give him space again. “You’re not dangerous,” she said, her smile small but genuine. “So don’t even try to pretend you are. You’re just trying to push me away, and that won’t work on me.”

Though caught off-guard for a moment, he soon relaxed with a tired sigh. “Anyone ever tell you you’re too smart for your own good, princess?”

She shrugged. “No, but thanks for the compliment.”

5. Nightmares

“You’re not really leaving, are you?” Despite having rested and eaten a few bites of food, Marinette could tell he was tired. She knew what an adrenaline crash felt like, and Chat was probably in the middle of one. The last thing she wanted was for him to hurt himself while trying to make his way home while under the heavy weight of exhaustion.

But Chat seemed determined to leave as he made his way to her balcony hatch. “I have to.”

“No, you don’t. You can stay here tonight—”

“Marinette,” he interrupted, cutting her off with a firm look. “I can’t. I have things to do.”

“But you have a fever.”

“Even if I didn’t!” he firmly cut in. “I can’t stay.”

A shocking intensity shone in his green eyes that silenced her completely.

He sighed, his angry front fading just a little. “I get nightmares,” he admitted. “Bad ones. And unless you want me to wake your parents when I wake up screaming, you’ll let me go.”

Before she even had the thought to stop him, he’d disappeared. And Marinette was left sitting on her bed in shock.

Her kitty had nightmares? And they were that bad.

“Chat Noir,” she muttered under her breath to no one. “What happened to you?”

6. Midnight

When the clock struck midnight, Marinette still could not fall asleep. She partly wondered if Chat had turned back into a pumpkin by now. Hopefully, he had and was at home sleeping after such a rough day.

Too bad she couldn’t sleep.

Frustrated by her inability to drift off into dreamland, she decided to stand out on her balcony for a bit. The rain had almost stopped by now, only a drizzle remaining. She really should go grab a coat or just go inside, but the cool, damp air was just what she needed to clear her head.

Chat Noir. Chat Blanc. What had happened to him? And why wouldn’t he let her help him? And she meant both Ladybug her and Marinette her. He was hurting badly, yet refusing to lean on anyone. Most he did was allow Marinette to care for him a bit, and she supposed it was better than nothing, but she also could guess that she wouldn’t see him again beyond when he returned the clothes to her.

And even then, he might just knock and leave the clothes there without her ever seeing him.

Lastly, there was the issue that her once cuddly kitty now flinched at her touch. Had he taken a beating? Was he hurt? Was he scared? What had happened that made him change so drastically in the course of a day?

It wasn’t long before a set of sirens broke her out of her reverie. First it was one fire truck, then two, then an ambulance followed by a couple police.

And curiosity got the better of Marinette.

She called for her transformation before following the vehicles. She normally didn’t participate in such endeavors, leaving it to the emergency responders to do their normal job, but occasionally, she would help comfort victims or secure a larger scene. At the moment, she just wanted something to take her mind off the raging questions without answers surrounding her cat.

However, as their destination came into view, her gut twisted into countless knots.

The Agreste mansion was on fire. And it wasn’t just a little one.

Adrien.

She remembered him talking about how he was moving out soon, but for the life of her, she couldn’t remember if he ever told her the date he was moving. And even if he had, she doubted she could recall today’s date, anyway.

Frantic, she swung close to the building, landing on the fiery window sill of his bedroom before breaking the window in. Smoke billowed out into the night, causing her to choke and sputter. Still, she forced past the pain, blinked away the tears trying to flush the smoke from her eyes, and pushed her way into the building.

“Adrien!” she called out, trying to keep low to the floor. The flames roared up the walls, burning everything in sight and covering everything in a thick, black fog that made it almost impossible to see. “Adrien!” she called out again before pulling out her yo-yo to breathe through, just as she would underwater. She scrambled about the room, smoke burning her eyes and the heat overwhelming her as she checked his couch, his bed, the bathroom, but she couldn’t find him.

Unable to stay in the building any longer, she made her escape, swinging up to a nearby building’s rooftop for a place to land and catch her breath. Her eyes were burning, and even despite her yo-yo, she could still feel the sting in her lungs.

Oh, Tikki was going to give her an earful later.

From where she was kneeling on the nearby rooftop, Ladybug watched the increasing number of emergency responders desperately trying to put out the blazing fire. She watched as firefighters, all suited up and masked, took the brave plunge into the building, but after many excruciatingly long minutes, they emerged with only one body. One that just looked black in the man’s arms.

Please don’t let that be Adrien. Please don’t let that be Adrien. Please don’t let that be him!

She couldn’t stand it any longer. She had to har Adrien’s voice. She had to know he was okay. It was well past midnight by this point, but she was too desperate to care. As fast as she could, she rushed home.

The moment she detransformed, Tikki started her lecture.

“That was wildly dangerous, Marinette,” she warned.

“I know, I know,” Marinette assured, tearing her room apart as she searched for her phone. “But I just had to know.”

Tikki sighed. “I know you know,” she relented. “And I know you would have done that for any of your friends. I only say that because I worry for you.”

Her phone now in hand, she turned back to Tikki with a somewhat relieved smile. “I know you do. Thanks.”

“But please, don’t do that again.”

“Understood.” With that said, Marinette hit the call button next to Adrien’s name. Please pick up. Please pick up!

It went to voicemail. Which caused Marinette’s stomach to tighten so much she could barely get out a voice message.

She tried again, but to no avail. Ice seemed to creep through her veins, causing her to shake so badly she could barely hit the redial button, desperate to try one last time.

And got an answer.

“Adrien!” she cried, already feeling the tears of relief bubbling up. “Thank goodness you’re okay.”

“Sorry for scaring you,” he said. “I saw your messages.”

She felt like she could breathe again as the weight of worry, a weight heavier than she expected, dropped from her shoulders at the sound of his voice. “Yeah. Sorry for calling so late, but I had to know you were okay.”

“You don’t live that close to me, though. Were you close by? If you were, what were you doing out so late?”

“Um…” Marinette minorly panicked when she realized that technically, she should not know at all. The Agreste mansion was close, but not that close. She should be in bed, or maybe she would have been working on a project this late. Instead, she desperately scrambled for a lie. “I… I was up on my balcony getting some fresh air when I saw several emergency vehicles go by, and then went online to see if I could find anything out. And when I learned it was the mansion, I tried to let it go, but I couldn’t and… well… yeah.”

“Oh,” he said, voice taking on a tired edge again. “No, I’m out of the mansion. So don’t worry about it.”

“Okay,” she said, sighing with relief and feeling a wave of exhaustion slam into her. “Sorry for calling so late. I should have just let it go.”

“Don’t be,” he said. “It just meant you cared.”

“Of course, I do. You’re one of my closest friends, Adrien.”

He hummed. “Thank you, Marinette.” His voice was warm, now. Enough to make Marinette’s heart melt and remind her once again just why she fell for him all those years ago. “You don’t know how much that means to me.”

“I think I get the idea,” she said. “If the last…what, six years now? are any indication.”

He chuckled. “I guess so.”

As much as she would have loved to keep talking, she knew it was late and she could feel her body aching. “Hey, sorry if I woke you up. I’ll let you get back to sleep now.”

“Well, this time, you didn’t,” he dismissed. “But even if you did, I wouldn’t have minded at all.”

“Good to know,” she hummed, laying down on her bed, smile on her face. “Good night, Adrien.”

“Good night, Marinette. And thanks again, for everything.”

#miraculous ladybug #marichat #marichatmay2021 #chat blanc #More pain #Adrinette #How'd that pairing sneak in here?

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shutteredislands · 4 years

Text

REYLO MODERN AU FIC RECS

Hi!! I spent my entire winter break reading reylo fics and I feel like I’ve found some gems! I’m boring and don’t like angst, so most of these are pretty fluffy, however, always read the tags before reading. Anyways, happy reading!

Already Home - College, Roommates, A/B/O, Soulmates AU - Complete - Rated E - 79k

“Oh stop being all Alpha-y.” She flexes her foot, rolling her ankle as if to prove a point, and he doesn’t miss the wince that crosses her expression. “You aren’t my Alpha, and you definitely aren't my soulmate,” she mutters.

He can’t help but let out a dry laugh. “Thank god for small mercies.”

Okay so this is a trope fest but it was so good! I’m not gonna explain the plot in depth because I think going in blind is best for this!

Baby, It's Just Biology - Professor/Student, A/B/O AU - Complete - Rated E - 113k

For Rey Jackson, trying to finish your degree in Biomedical Science at Harvard is difficult enough when you're one of the few Omegas on campus.

It's made even more difficult when your Professor is the one to trigger your heat. You can't help it, it's just your biology.

An Alpha Omega love story.

This is the perfect balance of angst, fluff and pure smut. This one Is a lot angstier than anything else on this list, but you can see every stage of this relationship and I loved it so much! Please read the tags on this one!

I’ve got you (under my skin) - Nanny/Single Parent AU - On Hiatus - Rated E - 81k

“Hi, I’m Rey. I’m here for the—”

“Nanny,” Ben blurts out dazedly, still trying to remember how to form coherent thoughts. “You’re the nanny.”

Her smile hitches up a little wider. “Well, I might be.”

Suddenly, Ben thinks he might be in for a whole new world of problems.

Because Rey Johnson is still most likely the only thing standing between him and disaster, that much hasn’t changed, not by a long shot.

And Ben can’t seem to stop staring at her mouth.

In which Ben hires Rey to watch his son... but he can’t seem to stop watching her.

Okay so I almost never read WIPs, but this one was left off in a pretty good place so don’t worry about cliffhangers or anything. I am a sucker for single dad!Ben so expect more of these. I loved this fic so much and get ready for a SMUTFEST.

Light My Fire - Rivals to Lovers, College, A/B/O AU - Complete - Rated E - 20k

When rivals Ben and Rey break into a professor's office together, it comes out that Rey might not be the Beta she thinks she is.

I’ve never been the biggest reader of enemies to lovers, until this. This was so so so good! I loved their banter so much, and this is another smutfest lol.

Peacock - Fake Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Neighbors AU - Complete - Rated E - 72k

Thanks to a series of misunderstandings, failed attempts at flirting, and loud Katy Perry music, Ben grows to hate his new neighbor.

Proposing to her wasn't the best solution to his problems.

This is, hands down, one of the funniest fics I have ever read. I cried actual tears because of how funny this is. Slowish burn, but their banter will keep you engaged the whole time. I love this so much!!

An Unexpected Vacation - Scientist, A/B/O AU - Complete - Rated E - 62k

“You don’t care that someone, that people will watch you fuck?” He looks two seconds away from puking. “Like multiple, multiple people will be able to describe your vagina. They’ll probably analyze it in a boardroom. Someone will feel proud about a shitty PowerPoint full of annotated pictures. They will use words like ‘arousal fluid’ and consult charts and these things will never not be digitally saved. That doesn’t bother you?”

“Are you suggesting my vagina is unworthy of analysis?”

In which Rey attempts to bolster her bank account by volunteering to fuck an Alpha in a scientific study. Plans go pear-shaped when she accidentally triggers scientist!Ben’s first Rut.

This was a really funny smutfest and I loved that. I loved Rey and Ben so much, and Ben was the perfect “I hate everyone but you” boyfriend! I love this!

She Doesn’t Normally Bite - Single Parent/Teacher AU - WIP - Rated E - 37k

Ben Solo is a single dad to 6-year old Ellis. Her teacher isn't the old-cat lady that he expects and naturally, sparks fly when they meet. Rey helps show Ben that he is allowed to be happy and the romance is DELICIOUS. There will be the happy ending we all deserve.

Both Ben and Rey have a lot to navigate, and of course - things are never straight forward.

Tw: Bens wife died when their daughter was born - whilst it is mentioned periodically, it does not form a significant part of the story. There'll also be warnings in the notes for the particular chapters it'll be mentioned in.

THIS THE ONLY WIP I WILLL EVER READ REY AND BEN ARE SO FREAKING CUTE AND ELLIS IS SUCH A CUTE KID AHHHHHHH! That is all.

Down an Inch, Up an Inch - A/B/O, Soulmates, Gym Rats AU - Complete - Rated E - 60k

Omega instructor Rey has always been the master of her domain at Rebel Belle Barre and wouldn't dream of dating an Alpha.

When her new neighbors at Supremacy Bootcamp start ruining her classes with their terrible music, she storms over to give them a piece of her mind. She challenges the beefy ex-Marine owner Ben Solo to a plank-off and the loser has to take the other's class. When they spark an unusual connection, can Rey stay away for long?

Has she bitten off more than she can chew with the gentle giant Alpha with the warm, sad eyes?

SMUT FREAKING FESTTTTT. Okay but I loved these two so much, even though I am opposed to working out in any shape or form! I love the non-traditional soulmate part, and I really loved Rey in this.

Tea for Two - Enemies to Lovers, University Setting AU - Complete - Rated E - 67k

'"This is a tea house, you know." The plummy, ultra-posh voice startled Rey Kenobi from her day-dreaming, almost spilling the scalding hot coffee over her chest.'

Rey, an American former hacker, turned cyber security expert, has been commissioned by Oxford University to protect their systems from hackers. Unfortunately, she has to work closely with Professor Ben Solo, Merton Professor of English Literature who also happens to be Lord Ben Solo, member of the English peerage. And an unmitigated snob.

She drinks coffee. He drinks tea. He only reads classic literature. She reads Marvel comics. He is nobility. She is a nobody.

Things should go swimmingly, shouldn't it?

SO. MUCH. UNRESOLVED. SEXUAL. TENSION. I loved the slow burn aspect because I sat in bed because I was waiting for them to bone for so long. And after they bone its a smut and fluff-fest I loved this so much!

And They Were Roommates - Roommates, A/B/O AU - Complete - Rated E - 49k

“This isn’t going to work.” He points a finger between the two of them. “This arrangement.”

Her eyes narrow. “You didn’t put any specifications on who could apply.”

“Yeah…” He rubs the back of his neck then, the action making it look longer, making her wonder what it might feel like under her fingers. “You have to know that this isn’t a good idea.”

She knows what he means, she does—but she’s so tired of being brushed aside for her designation that she challenges him anyway. “And why not?”

His eyes bore into hers, his expression blank as he says, “Because I can tell how much scent-block you put on—and I can still smell you.”

In which Rey’s new roommate turns out to be a lot more than she bargained for.

EVEN. MORE. UNRESOLVED. SEXUAL. TENSION. Like these two would be eating cereal and I would be chanting, “bone! bone! bone!” the whole time. I loved these two, and the family aspect of this one was so good.

Imprints - A/B/O, Boss/Employee AU - Complete - Rated E - 74k

“I was happy you’ll be working with someone you know. He’ll take good care of you.”

Take good care of you.

The words send a shiver down her spine, sparking memories that flood her with embarrassment. She feels a strange itch just below her ear, her gland giving a phantom pulse as if her body remembers the incident even still.

Suddenly her triumph fades into dread, the idea of working here leaving a hollow pit in her stomach. Poe is still talking, but she doesn’t hear most of it. Her mind is firmly trapped in the vivid memories of six years ago— in a moment she wishes she could forget.

By the time she hangs up the phone— she isn’t sure anymore if she can do this.

Okay so this is pretty popular so I wont say too much, but it lives up to the hype. Smutfest, fluff and angst rolled into one beautiful fic!

Bespoke - Enemies to Lovers, Boss/Employee (?) AU - Complete - Rated E - 38k

When new stylist Rey Jackson receives a request to dress the hottest (and most unfashionable) new actor in Hollywood, she gets a lot more than she bargained for.

Mentally AND physically.

Because Ben Solo is freaking massive.

THIS WAS SO HOT OMG! Smutfest but also super cute. Another “I hate everyone but you” version of Ben I fell in love with. Loved this!

Incognito - Coworkers AU - Complete - Rated E - 30k

“Somehow Rey’s coworkers find out about her Daddy kink. They all kink shame her for it, except her coworker Ben. He has something else in mind.”

This was so funny! Ben and Rey were so cute, and I love Finn and Rose in this too! This was great!

A Home For Christmas - Single Parent, Sugar Daddy AU - Complete - Rated E - 109k

Rey is a struggling single mother who needs to do right by her daughter, even if it means she needs to steal. Ben is sad and lonely, recently divorced for the second time. When Rey's daughter picks him to help her find her mom, their paths cross and their Christmas becomes a little more bright.

This was so freaking cute OMG!! I know I say that a lot, but this was so adorable! I loved Ben and Rey so much, but Nova was obviously the star of the show. I cannot recommend this enough!

Unsuppressed - Office, A/B/O AU - Complete - Rated E - 49k

Rey had only ever encountered two Alphas in her entire life that had been unsuppressed. And now this third one that stunk up the entire building. Not that it stunk, his scent. In fact, it was the most delicious thing Rey had ever smelled. ///////////////////////////////////// Ben Solo closed his eyes as he rode down the elevator from the 40th floor to the lobby, trying not to reach up to his glands to scratch them. Somehow, it felt like he always caught the elevator that was dripping in the Omega’s scent. The one that wandered around the building without any suppressants. The one that smelled better than any Omega he had ever smelled before.

STRAIGHT FLUFF AND SMUT OMFG!!! I loved this so freaking much! This was whatever the opposite of unresolved sexual tension and slow burn. Like Ben and Rey tried to make this a slow burn but they could not keep their hands off of each other. I loved this!

Sunshine and Gunpowder - Hitman, Surprise Parents AU - Complete - Rated E - 48k

She’s a teacher who would do anything to protect her student. He’s a glorified hitman with a heart of black gold.

Together, they make up odd halves of a beautiful whole.

THIS WAS SO CUTE!! Like, yes, I know Ben is a hitman, but when I tell you he was the softest hit man I have ever read, Temiri was so cute in this! I loved Ben and Rey, and their UST made me love them even more. Han and Leia are also hilarious in this!

It Takes a Village - A/B/O, Surprise Parents AU - Complete - Rated E - 40k

Who knew that all it would take for Rey Johnson to interact with her enigmatic Alpha neighbor without wanting to melt into a puddle of hormones was a baby being abandoned at her doorstep?

Not her. That was for sure.

THIS IS THE CUTEST ONE YET! I REREAD THIS QUITE OFTEN! LIKE AHHHHHHH SO FREAKING FLUFFY! NOT EVEN A WHISPER OF ANGST AND A LOT OF SMUT I LOVED THIS SO FREAKING MUCH AHHHH! AND THE EPILOGUE MADE ME CRY!

Sensual Storytime - Office AU - Complete - Rated E - 23k

When Rey Johnson starts a new job, her initially antagonistic relationship with Ben Solo from IT turns into friendship... and maybe something more.

Little does she know he also moonlights as Kylo Ren, the creator of her favorite audio erotica. One day at the office, worlds collide, and she realizes the sweater vest-wearing nerd of her dreams is also the tattooed fantasy man she listens to while getting off every night...

THIS IS MY FAVORITE REYLO FIC EVER. I RECOMMEND THIS TO PEOPLE WHO DON’T EVEN LIKE STAR WARS! THIS IS COWORKER BANTER LIKE NO OTHER. AND THE SMUT ? UNPARALLELED. READ THIS NOW!

That is all I have time for right now, but I’ll make another list later if anyone would like that! Please take care of yourself and have a great day!

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ohnomybreadsticks · 3 years

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Bready’s DBH Oneshots

Updated: May 6, 2021

---

All of the DBH oneshots I’ve written! I’ve organized these by main pairing in alphabetical order, and also included approximate length and rating.

Please do read the tags on each fic on AO3 for warnings, as those are not listed here.

All fics are finished unless specifically marked

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Allen60

Hope for an Unromantic Man - G, 1K, Allen60 - canonverse exploration of two rather unromantic people who come together and find something sweet

Wanna Eat You Up - E, 1K, Allen60 - double android AU pwp! Allen has a biting kink and Sixty ties him up

Chloe/North

To Love and be Loved in Return - G, 1K, Chloe/North + Markus/Simon/Josh/North/Chloe - The girls get snowed in on their way to a family vacation and get to spend some quality time together

Autumn Winds, Auburn Love - G, 1K, North/Chloe - Human AU where Chloe and North get the cozy life together that they deserve

Kam60

Coffee Snobbery and Other Ways to Meet Cute Boys - G, 1K, Kamski/Connor60 - Two hipsters meet in a Starbucks

To Be Here With You - T, 1K, Kamski/Connor60 - just a fluffy day for two people who really need it

Best Laid Plans are Oft in Vain - T, 2K, Kamski/Connor60 - Clyde tries to organize the perfect Valentines Day, but it doesn’t quite work out

Polycho+/-Chloe

Hand in Hand - G, 1K, Markus/North/Simon/Josh/Chloe - A soft and fluffy Valentines fic

Markus Manfred Makes Good and Makes Out - E, 12K, Markus/Simon/Josh/North/Chloe, PERMANENTLY UNFINISHED - Human AU where Markus keeps getting lost in the Frankfurt airport

Reed900

On Your Mark, Get Set, Baaaake! - G, 4K, Gavin/Nines - This is just me projecting my love of GBBO onto these two

Wednesday Evenings - T, 1K, Gavin/Nines platonic or romantic - Gavin realizes he may be spending time with people whose values he no longer shares

Someone’s Gotta Have Standards - T, 1K, Gavin/Nines - Gavin’s cat weighs in on his new boyfriend

Learning How to Take Your Time - T, 2K, Gavin/Nines - Human AU where Gavin is forced to take a vacation

Shovel Talk - T, 1K, Gavin/Nines - Elijah gets to play the protective older brother role for once

A Question of Size - G, 1K, Gavin/Nines - Tina is a good friend and Nines is a good boyfriend, what more could Gavin ask for?

Seals are Boyfriend Shaped, Actually - T, 6K, Gavin/Nines - Gavin is a selkie with a really bad attitude

Cyberlife’s Butcher - G, 1K, Gavin/RK900 - Crossover with the Witcher where a very persistent bard convinces a killing machine to let him tag along on adventures

Bitter Lemon - T, 1K, past Gavin/Nines - Gavin struggles after a breakup

The Merits of a Real Thing - T, 6K, Gavin/Nines - Sci-fi AU where Gavin is a bounty hunter who starts to care a bit too much for his latest target

Our Own Little Corner of the World - G, 1K, Gavin/Nines - Just the softest, fluffiest possible snow day you can imagine

Assorted Others/Multiple Main Pairings

The Bottom Alliance - E, 6K, Hank/Connor/Gavin/Nines - Connor and Gavin team up to give their boyfriends a night to remember

Of Bees and Flowers - T, 1K, Ralph/Jerry(s) - Ralph makes some new friends and lives the quiet life he deserves

Love Me Like One of Your French Artists - G, 1K, Markus/Simon - Human AU where Markus hates attending his gallery openings

August AU Challenge Ficlets - T, 24K, Various Pairings - 33 ficlets, each a different AU and a different pairings. Lots of rarepairs! Index in Chapter 1

Do Dogs Resemble Their Owners? - T, 3K, Hank/Connor, Gavin/Nines, Allen/Connor60 - Three small ficlets in a dog-walker human AU

Making It Festive - E, 4K, Hank/Connor - A little bit of halloween smut with a dash of happy family hankcon

What He Deserves - E, 1K, Kamski/Allen/Connor60 - Sixty pushes a bit too far with his bratty behavior and has to deal with the consequences

Am I Human or Merely Alive? - G, 2K, Hank & Connor platonic - Connor grapples with the reality of his life post-revolution

A Remedy for Too Many Dreams - T, 2K, RK1700 - modern AU where Connor’s new neighbor might not be exactly what he seems...

Deep as Wine Red Water - T, 1K, Hank/Kamski - Two tired men find each other after the revolution

Everything’s Gonna Be Fine - T, 1K, Reed1700 - Gavin volunteers to be bait on a dangerous mission, and his partners worry about him

#bready's fic #bready's masterlists #dbh

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alexseanchai · 4 years

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Fanfic 2020 in Review

I got tagged by @kasienda @noirshitsuji and @marvelousmsmol and I am tagging whoever wants to play!

1) List of fics completed this year in the order they were finished:

*filters own works to complete and updated in 2020*

1 - 20 of 57 Works by AlexSeanchai

nope. *adds filter to include only works of at least 1000 words*

unless otherwise indicated, these are all Miraculous Ladybug:

“don’t bake it lying down”, post-reveal Marichat vs Felix Graham de Vanily

“veracity”, canon divergence from “Ladybug” featuring Mister Bug and Verity Queen (so also Marichat, I guess)

“(no request is too extreme, if) your heart is in your dream”, in which Hawkmoth wins, for the thirty seconds or so before Emilie saves Ladybug and Chat Noir’s lives

“tell me you love me and make me believe it”, in which trans girl Chatonne Noire ropes Ladybug into helping plan her civilian self’s escape slash social transition

“kingmaker, oathbreaker”, in which Hawkmoth wins and Emilie watches her son remove himself from the family

“stay and let me watch you break it down” (Twelve Dancing Princesses), a modern setting

“set a course for winds of fortune”, in which trans girl Chatonne Noire has already escaped and Gabriel and Nathalie are trying to bring Gabriel’s son home

“we ground love in a hopeless place”, in which post-reveal Marinette’s attempt to remain resolutely not in love with her partner dissolves like sugar in coffee when they start a pun war

“ring the bells that still can ring”, in which Alya is deeply confused about why Adrien and Marinette are planning a wedding when last night both were single

“burning wishes at both ends (the cold wind and long loud wail remix)”, in which Gabriel made a monkey’s paw wish and Emilie makes another

“words cannot espresso”, in which Marinette’s OC roommate is justifiably worried for Marinette’s safety, and meanwhile Adrien takes care of Marinette

“the compromise of truth” (the chronologically second-earliest part posted to date of nine lives, snake’s eyes), in which Adrien tells his friends how he won some freedom and respect from his father

“At The Present Time”, the Ladrien/Ladynoir marriage proposal follow-up to @art-deco-shrimp‘s “Your Presents Required”

“j'ai rêvé (so I don't have to dream alone)”, in which the events of canon must just have been a series of dream sequences, Marinette and Adrien both think, until they both arrive at Chloe’s Halloween masquerade dressed as themselves from the dreams

2) Number of words written:

ahahaha no. I am not counting all my scattered fic drafts and trying to figure out what I did and didn’t write in 2020. I refuse.

AO3 says I posted 162K in 2020. it is counting all of keeps you guessing (like any real love), which (a) I started posting in 2019 (b) is co-written by @galahadwilder; it is counting all of my meta snippets collection, much of which was written in 2019; it is counting the Vimeo passwords for my vids. but I probably cleared 150K by a safe margin.

3) Your most popular fic:

“veracity” has a four-digit kudos count, wow, when’d that happen? this is also the 2020 work with the most hits and the most bookmarks, but “tell me you love me” has four-thirds as many comments as its nearest competitor.

4) Your personal fav:

“cannot break us, not with a thousand swords”, no question about it. this is the one in which Ladybug proposes marriage to Chat Noir via Princess Bride meme on Tumblr. (if you intend to download the work or otherwise to consume it with creator style off, you want the accessible version instead of the primary version.)

5) Your fav scene:

aaaaaaaaa

—okay so this is cheating and I know it, since Uncertain Humors (the one where Marinette/Adrien is both Orpheus/Eurydice and Theseus/Ariadne) is nowhere near finished, never mind posted (maybe I'll get “Sanguine” done to post on my birthday?)

but it is still my favorite of the year. as you might guess from that description of the story, this scene has content notes for character death:

Hell is a maze. Marinette walks.

This acrid passage has little to see but damp stone, seeming blood-stained in the dim carmine light. At about the height of her heart, the faintly glowing thread cuts through the not-clammy air; it ought to be pulsing at the same rate as the heart it's bound to. She might be able to see her own reflection if she looked down at the open sewage pipe, or at one of the puddles that now and again she splashes through, dampening the canvas of her shoes. She might see reflected what's behind her.

She remembers Mme. Mendeleiev lecturing on human physiology. In healthy humans old enough to have learned how, urination is a voluntary action: one may not know which muscles one tenses and relaxes in order to do so, and probably isn't paying attention to those details when one is doing, but one has conscious control over whether one does. Usually. Stress and anxiety mean some people are unable to relax the relevant sphincter muscle and others are unable to stop themselves. It's voluntary for cats, too: it's one way they mark their territories. Cat-boys have other ways.

There is a moment in every human life when all one's muscles relax at once. Some Parisians have had several such moments.

The thread is braided with itself around her left fourth finger, rows of tiny red half-hitch knots, and falls loosely over the back of her hand to loop twice around her wrist. She holds it wrapped between the fingers of her right hand to keep it at a constant tension, as though knitting with this insubstantial thread, so fragile for something two (two dozen, two million) lives hang from—too thin to sew with, no thicker than one strand of his hair. As she walks, she winds it around and around and around her wrist.

Between her ring finger and her right hand, it loops twice.

Marinette's shoe lands in a puddle she didn't see. The rainwater splashes soundlessly onto her bare ankle and on the stone.

(With cat-like tread, upon our prey we steal— It's a very loud song.)

She walks on.

6) A fic or scene that challenged you:

where the firelight fades, no contest. this is the second story I’ve ever been able to stick with more than a couple hundred words past the 20K mark, but it’s easily the twentieth novel-length I’ve begun. (though also, you know that kedreeva post? well, 90K later, I’m less than 15K from completing this 10K fic! I think.) and I have been learning so much about long-form fiction.

there has also been a lot of weeping and tearing my hair. case in point: I just trashed the chapter 15 draft because I figured out the reason it wasn’t going anywhere! I can probably keep the first few hundred words of that draft without any editing, and another few hundred with some revision...

7) A line of writing you’re proud of:

from “j'ai rêvé (so I don't have to dream alone)”:

Everything about their partnership is fragments of sentences in the dream diary Adrien writes in ultraviolet pen. Disjointed flickers of thought even when examined under the black light he hides in the snack cabinet under packets of Super Yoyo sandwich cookies and bags of cheesy Monster Munch potato chips and boxes of petit écolier butter cookies (chocolat noir)—none of which explains the gym-socks smell. All fleeting incoherent flashes, invisible between the mundane lines of La Modification shelved at his bedside between Leroux and Dumas. None of it is solid. Adrien has more proof his room's haunted.

okay let me break this down for you!

* Adrien started a dream diary to make sense of the memories

* in invisible ink, in a book that (according to Wikipedia) is thematically appropriate and won’t (if Gabriel sees it) look like anything other than Adrien developing an interest in French literature

* shelved between Phantom of the Opera and The Three Musketeers

* look I didn’t come up with the name “black light”

* or “chocolat noir” for what English speakers call “dark chocolate”, or “petit écolier” (that is, “little schoolboy”) for that sort of butter cookie

* also not my fault that “chocolat noir” sounds remarkably like “Chat Noir”, which, attentive readers may have noticed, is not a name that appears in the story after the header and before Miraculous Cure

* I found the website of a store in Boston, Massachusetts that caters to French expats, and the yo-yo cookies and the monster chips were right there in the photos, y’all

* the snack stash and the black light live in the cabinet where, in canon, the Camembert lives; yes, that cheese smells in the real world like gym socks

* this story’s akuma was not able to affect anything but squishy human memory: nobody affected remembers anything about Ladybug or Chat Noir or Hawkmoth, not in any solid way, not even when they read news articles about the subject, and this includes Marinette and Adrien not being able to see or hear or remember their own kwamis—but you know what Adrien’s Insta post about his poltergeist and Adrien’s Insta post with the floating sock don’t show and don’t explicitly refer to?

* I love this paragraph so much (my housemates may have been lovingly mocking me over it)

8) A comment that touched you:

there are people (y’all know who you are) who said y’all are studying my style. I ded of blush.

9) Something that inspired your writing:

by volume of fic drafts that can be blamed on any particular person, the winner is probably @norakwami

10) Your proudest accomplishment (that one scene; finally finishing that one fic; posting your first fic; etc):

so that longest-story-ever-written record I set in 2007 with the 89.5K story that, till where the firelight fades, was the only story I’d gotten much past 20K?

I broke that fucking record!

and then I deleted the draft of firelight chapter 15 😭

11) Do you have any writing goals for the next year?

I’m starting work on a fantasy novel, a Sleeping Beauty retelling in which I explore (among other things) the economic consequences of the king’s ordering all the spinning wheels burned, and I want to make significant progress on that. and I want to not make my hands any worse; I kind of need those!

(breaking news alert: bodies fucking suck. so does giving yourself repetitive stress injuries in doing one and a half to two people’s worth of work for an organization that was never ever going to pay you more than one person’s worth of pay.)

#by alexseanchai #miraculous ladybug #tag game

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hitsuackerman · 4 years

Text

Unpredictable (Overhaul x Reader) pt. 2

a/n: I AM GARBAGE FOR THIS MAN. HE IS VILE AND MERCILESS BUT IF HE ISNT CRAZY... HES A CLASSY AND WELL-SPOKEN BIRD BOY. ehem on with the second part ehem

warnings: cursing

Links: part 1, part 3

Masterlist to my other fics: here :)

The night was now settled and you were locked in your room. Papers and folders all spread out on your desk and bed. If you were to venture into this case, you would have to know the details you had missed out on.

By now, your butt was aching and so did your back. Glancing at the other piles of folders, you counted how many cases you were working on at the same time. If there was one thing the chief loved to give you, it was more work than you could finish.

As of the moment, you were in charge of 9 other cases. Some related to large scale companies and others identity frauds. Though the cases were now generic for the 6 years you’d been working with the force, it was and will always be draining.

This mission with Overhaul felt like a breath of fresh air. The risks presented here were much higher compared to normal but you were more than prepared, at least you hoped you were. Truth be told, this wouldn’t be the first time you teamed up with a villain. That was your secret as to why you moved up so fast. Every now and then, you would propose a compromisation and in turn they would help you catch your target. You did, however, avoid this as much as possible.

Ruffling your hair, you gathered the mess and prepared for Gei’s arrival.

When he did arrive, the solemnity of your apartment faded. And you did not mind one bit.

“BABY GIRL!” He twirled his neon pink purse in the air as he entered himself into your apartment. His other hand carried the necessities for the night. “Okay. I got the food and the booze. I also bought my silk pajamas we use for occasions like this.”

“Mine are ready. Don’t worry.” You giggled at the sight of a toned man unloading the contents of the bag with a pinky up. “I also prepared the movies we could watch for tonight. AND, I already informed Nao to not call me for the rest of the night.”

“Okay, alright, mhmm. Imma go change into my silkies and you do you.” He said as he trotted towards the guest room. When the door closed, you began to prepare the dinner you had planned for the both of you.

Gei was never a picky eater but it was always a challenge to make sure he was well fed. Compared to you, his eating habits were much more constant. Healthier even since he usually counted his calories because he wanted to keep his waist ‘snatched’. He had told you beforehand that he was in the mood for some chicken. Luckily, you had the ingredients for grilled bruschetta chicken.

Prepping everything, you began to heat your tiny grill and sliced the tomatoes and garlic. The sound of the chopping eventually replaced with the speakers blasting Todrick Hall. Shaking your head with amusement, you went about with the preparations while your friend arranged the sofa.

Not long after, dinner was now ready and both of you were now seated at the dining table. Chatting about whatever came to your heads. A few gossips of heroes here and there but mostly about your work and his. Sip by sip, the wine bottle slowly emptied. Gei always knew the best wines out there. You would always praise him and he would merely pout his lips and wiggle his brows.

Stomachs full, Gei demanded he do the dishes while you wait for him at the sofa. It had been quite some time since you took the time off. Stretching your joints, you gathered your hair into a messy bun and dusted off imaginary dust on your silk pajamas. Taking some bowls from underneath the coffee table, you filled them up with chips and placed the wine inside the chiller. When everything seemed ready, you flopped back onto the sofa and turned the TV on.

A knock on your door caused you to jump a bit. Looking at the clock, it was now 9pm. Grabbing your phone, there were no messages or missed calls. You also didn’t recall ordering anything this week. Walking towards the door, you took a look at Gei who was finishing up the last of the plates.

Looking through the peephole, you let out a rather loud gasp.

“Oh fuck no.” You took a step backward and ran towards the kitchen. Grabbing Gei by his wrist, you pulled him out of his trance and dragged him to the living room. Practically throwing him to the sofa, he stared at you with wide eyes.

“Boo, I know your as virgin as the spinster next door but I am a gay man and I do not intend on taking you tonight.” He commented.

“He’s here.”

Another knock filled the room. It was still soft but a bit louder than before.

“Girl?! Did you call in Magic Mike?!” He began to bounce up and down while fanning himself.

“More like Germaphobe Gus.” You motioned for him to stay on the couch and remain quiet. Walking towards the door once more, you slowly opened it only to be met with the bird mask again. The green jacket and purple fur did not compliment his eyes. “What can I do, Overhaul? You could’ve dropped me a message you know.”

“I have something to discuss with you.” His eyes travelled behind you and back at you. “May I come in? Or do I have to usher myself?”

Stuttering a response, you grunted and moved to the side. The towering man slowly made his way in. Taking in the rather luxurious decorating your small hallway had to offer. Waiting for you to take the lead, you led him to the living room. When your eyes met with Gei, you signalled him to head on to the guest room.

Understanding what you meant, Gei took his wine glass and cat walked to his room. He stopped in his tracks when he saw the tall man behind you. Making a gesture with his hand, he threw his imaginary wig and winked at you. He was no idiot, though. He knew who it was. For precautions, he left his door 3 inches open.

“That’s why you should’ve told me, Overhaul.” You gestured for him to sit down. When you saw his eye twitching at the spot you pointed to, you let out a sigh and reached for the fur patch behind you. Putting it on the spot, you watched as he stared at the tan material. “That has been newly laundered so I guarantee it’s clean. Now either you develop varicose veins or sit down. I could care less.”

He finally took a seat. This was a rare sight, you had to admit. Overhaul, a class-B villain, sitting on a fur rug while staring at a bottle of wine.

“So what do you have?”

“The boss of the Fukuo Kai will be attending a gala in 3 days time.”

“And you got that how?” You raised a brow and tilted your head.

“None of your business.” He leaned on the sofa and his eyes began to wander every inch your place had to offer. “I’ll have Mimic send the invitation when we get a hold of it. You will be informing your partner about this, right?”

“Yeah. I have to.” You nodded and eyed his bird mask again. “Do you always wear that thing?”

“It’s to block the horrid air the world has to offer.” He said in a deadpan voice. You wanted to laugh at his remark but it would probably lead to nothing good. Stifling a giggle, his eyes darted to yours. “Laugh if it pleases you. The world we live in is vile and sick. People have this so-called hero-syndrome to them that makes me want to puke. Tch. To think that quirks come from rats.”

“You do know that’s only a theory, right?” You did not mean to challenge him but he was interesting to talk to, admittedly.

“It’s a theory that disgusts me to the core.” He was about to say something but changed his mind. Instead, he decided to shift the focus to you. “You talk so casually with me. Aren’t you scared? I could send you to oblivion with a single flick of my finger.”

“I guess I’m immune to it?” You answered with a question. “I’ve been with the police force for 6 years now and I’ve had my fair share of villains. You know Kuraim? That dude who thought he could take over Nagoya with his little group?”

“He was annoying. He came into contact with the previous boss and asked for assistance. When he was declined he took out a few of our men.”

“Oh shit, that was your group! I totally forgot about that. But, yeah. He was a nutjob but my team managed to capture him a week after that.”

“Your name wasn’t featured in the news. It was another inspector’s. Why?” His fingers were not linked with each other and his back leaning on the plush throw pillow.

“I’m linked with the Abegawa Tenchu Kai. If my name gets released to the public, those nosy reporters would definitely put two and two together. I prefer to keep it low key though. Less media, the better.”

“I see.” He stood up and bowed. “I must get going. I have disturbed your evening.”

“IT’S FINE BABY BOY!” Gei shouted from the room. Face palming at his remark, you took Overhaul by the end of his jacket. Your index and thumb delicately tugging him towards your door.

His eyes widened when he saw you holding his clothes. But with how clean your apartment was, he brushed it off and let you do things your way. Though, he would have to burn this jacket or dispose of it one way or another. Not noticing you had turned around, his face still had that perplexed yet pissed off look to it.

Realizing that you were invading his personal space, you apologized and let go of the inch of fabric you had held on to.

“You’re surely going to throw that, aren’t you?” You teased. A small smirk forming in the corners of your mouth.

“I just might.” He retorted as he stared with disgust. A thought came to his mind. “Or not.”

Taking his jacket off, you stared at how his broad shoulders moved as he removed the article of clothing. The black dress shirt hugged his toned arms rather well. The pale gray tie around his neck matched his overall appearance pretty well. He had taste, save for the jacket. Unless that jacket had sentimental value so it would make sense why.

Your sight turned black for a second before you were face to face with him. The rather heavy jacket resting on your forearms.

‘Holy hell, his cologne smells divine.’ You cursed yourself for breathing in at the perfect time. Either the wine was hitting you but his scent reminded you of mayoram and geranium. Exotic and expensive.

“Keep it.” You swore he was smirking underneath that mask. “Either that or I overhaul it.”

“For an antisocial person, you sure know how to charm people…” You thought out loud.

“Not really. I’m just putting it to where it belongs.” He opened the door for himself. “The garbage.”

Your jaw dropped and before you could retaliate, he had closed the door. Locking your doors harshly, you went back towards the living room and were met with Gei. One leg resting on the other. The same glass of wine on his hand accompanied with a rather mischievous glint in his gray eyes. Taking a sip, he exaggerated ‘ahh’ after swallowing the beverage.

“You into villains now, booboo?” He teased as he pointed to the same spot Overhaul had sat down on. The way you flopped on the sofa and tossed the jacket on to the arm rest only made him even more curious. “You’re working with Overhaul?”

His tone was serious but you knew he was in full gossip mode. You didn’t mind telling Gei these things though. He knew how to protect himself and your dad also kept tabs on him to make sure he was safe.

“That’s what I wanted to talk about. The mission I’m currently partaking involves that guy you just saw.” You explained. Absentmindedly, you reached for the jacket and began feeling for any sort of recording chips or video cameras. Deeming it safe, you placed it beside you and began to twirl the purple fur. “I get why they're doing this but it just sucks that I have to meddle with the yakuza. It’s none of my business and it puts my job at risk.”

“What does Nao-nao say about all this?”

“He says I’m the only one fit for the job. I’ve caught up on the details they gathered and he makes a point, sadly. My only problem now is the person I have to work with. It’s a miracle in itself I keep my grounds with him.”

“What personality does he have?” He took a sip of his wine and leaned in closer.

“The records I have from a year ago state he’s an antisocial sociopath. I’ve never dealt with a lot of villains who had those. Most of them were just lost or goal driven to a bizarre or lost cause.”

“He was rather smooth when talking to you. He looks clean as well.” He raised an eyebrow and cocked his head. “He’ll surely see you as a challenge, boo.”

“What do you mean?” You reached for your glass and poured it half full.

“If I recall, during your conversation, he asked you if you were intimidated. Scared. The answer you gave him surely bothered him. It would go against his personality if he were the least intrigued by you.” He pointed out.

Gei had a point. If you saw him as an enigma, he probably saw you as a pawn in his game. One way or another, he would surely make a move and try to manipulate you. Though you were aware of the signs of subtle manipulations, Overhaul had a different way of handling things. This meeting with Gei proved right. You needed to move with greater caution.

“BUT!” He snapped. “He looks like a full course meal, am I right? A five Michelin star meal served in only the finest china the world has to offer.”

Speechless at how he had described Overhaul, you shook your head and took a long sip.

“Don’t sip away from me, missy.” He stretched out his leg and poked you with his curled toes. “Don’t think I didn’t see you checkin’ him out. And I bet my plump ass that wasn’t the first time you eyed him…”

“You’re delusional.” You rolled your eyes.

“What does his jacket smell like? He probably wears some expensive ass shit that lasts 24 hours. Those that only have limited stocks to them or costs the rent of this whole unit.” He pushed you a bit with a little more force with his leg. “Don’t lie to me, dollface.”

Hissing at his remark, you slumped your shoulders and folded your legs. Grabbing the throw pillow and using it as a small table.

“Fine. He smells expensive. You’re right.” You broke down and the smug look on his face only told you to expand your answer. “And yes, I may have checked him out when I went to their headquarters to finalize the plan.”

“And what are you going to do with that jacket of his?” He stretched out his hand and you gave it to him. His mouth formed a small ‘o’ at the weight of it. Sniffing it, he let out a humming sound and placed it on his arm rest. Petting the fur as if it were some small animal. “He does smell like a hefty price tag.”

“I’ll probably just store it somewhere. I might need it in the future.”

“True. You will be extra careful now, won’t you?” He was now staring straight into you. Concern showing in his features. Extending a hand to you, you held on to it and he squeezed it. “Let’s say a silent prayer to our savior, Queen Todrick, to keep your virgin ass safe from the man whom we know as Overhaul. Amen~”

Giggling at his antics, you repeated his last words. The rest of the night was spent watching movies and munching on chips. When the time came where it was close to 4am, the lights were now off and both of you were in your respective rooms. The curtains to your window open. Faint hues of yellows, oranges, and reds, filled your room.

Your eyes landed on the top shelf of your closet, his jacket resting peacefully. The strong intoxicating scent still clung to you. Every breath you took, you could smell him on clothes and your shirt. Brushing the incoming fantasies away, you buried your face in your pillow and somehow managed to force yourself to sleep.

Waking up to the scent of bacon and eggs were heavenly. The small headache would surely disappear after a hearty and greasy breakfast early in the morning. Arranging your sheets, you fixed your hair and went to the kitchen.

“Good morning to you.” Gei greeted. His back facing you as he flipped the bacon. “Sleep well?”

“Yeah.” You yawned. “Better than most nights. Thanks for crashing, Gei.”

“Always a pleasure, booboo. I also prepped some egg sandwiches for Nao-nao. You are heading to the precinct right?” He glanced at you over his shoulder. A small smile forming on his lips when he saw your half awake half asleep state. The sun’s rays emphasizing the messy strands on your bed hair.

Another knock echoed through your unit. Groaning as to who it could be, you lazily stood up and walked towards the door. Gei peaking in the corner with a suspicion as to who it was. When you opened the door, you frowned and looked at both sides. There was no one.

A small voice cleared their throat. Looking down, you saw a tiny black creature wearing a bird mask. In his hands was an envelope. He kept his word and really did send an invite.

“The boss sent me out to hand this to you.” He tossed the invitation directly at your face. “Better count yourself lucky he’s following your terms.”

“Send him my thanks.”

“Whatever.” He answered as his small feet took him farther away from your door.

Back in your kitchen, Gei had now set the table and laid out the food. He was scrolling on his phone when you sat across from him. Your fingers busy with the square fancy envelope given to you.

“What’s that?” He asked as he put his phone down and began to place food on each of your plates.

“It’s the invitation to that gala he mentioned last night. He sent out one of his workers to hand over this thing.” Your eyes busy scanning over the program details. Taking a look at the envelope, there was a small card. Dropping it on your palm, you saw how it was an RSVP. Flipping it, a small message with neat penmanship told you to call when you would receive it.

Taking your phone from your pocket, you hit dial on the unknown number that had called you yesterday. Gei was all ears as he chewed on his food.

“I take it you received the invitation?” Overhaul immediately asked when he picked up. “I will let you decide as to who your plus one will be. Feel free to call when you’ve chosen.”

“You’re being awfully cooperative, Overhaul.” You commented.

“I lost at the game and I gave you my word. I trust that you will do your end of the bargain as well. If I recall, you stated that this benefits me more than it does to you. Opportunities like this are rare. Might as well take advantage of it while it’s for the taking.” He answered. “Dress appropriately, (Y/N).”

With that he ended the call. Tossing your phone to your couch, you returned the invitation inside the envelope and began eating.

“So…” Gei nudged your leg from under the table. “Who will be your plus one?”

“I’ll have to talk about this with Tsukauchi first. I don’t fully trust him so we’ll be doing some check ups on the people invited to this gala. But, if it soothes you, I plan on using Overhaul. At least his quirk is useful in case something arises.”

“Yeah. Sure~”

----

if you want to be tagged in part 3 :) feel free to leave a comment :)

#overhaul x reader #chisaki kai x reader #overhaul #chisaki kai #bnha overhaul #mha overhaul #bnha chisaki kai #mha chisaki kai #he is garbage but i love him so much #im simpiing hard yall

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ranma-rewatch · 4 years

Text

Episode 17: I Love You, Ranma! Please Don’t Say Goodbye

Howdy dowdy, everyone! We are getting so close! So close to finishing the first season of Ranma 1/2! Last episode ended with Akane still having no clue who Ranma is, so this time they’ll resolve that? I think? I am fairly sure she remembered him throughout the rest of the series. I guess I’ll see how after I rewatch the episode, which for you will be with the next paragraph.

There we have it! The end to Shampoo’s introductory arc! How did I feel about it?

That’ll be more clear later on, let’s start by going over what happens in it. Ranma and Akane head back to her house, with her still unaware of who he is. Her family is only now starting to understand that this is actually happening, that Akane has somehow actually forgotten Ranma.

Shampoo shows up, when she glomps onto Ranma out of pure instinct Akane attacks him. Realizing that there is some part of her memory left unaffected, Shampoo goes to do the attack again, but Ranma intercepts it and steals the shampoo. He immediately tries using it on Akane, but it just knocks her out, it doesn’t regain the lost memories. Dr. Tofu shows up and reveals that’s because the formula he stole only takes memories, it can’t give them back.

Luckily, he has a book that has the recipe they need. Unluckily, Kasumi shows up and in his lovestruck silliness he rips the book into tiny pieces without realizing it. With no other choice, Ranma decides to head to China, since they’ll have the shampoo formula needed there. Everyone asks for personal souvenirs (though I don’t know how he’d buy any Ranma is usually broke) and Akane wonders why this stranger is doing so much for her.

Speaking of that very question, Ranma quickly runs into Shampoo, who wants to know why Ranma is trying to get Akane’s memories back so much. All he says to that is that he doesn’t like the idea of being forgotten by someone. Clearly, that is all it is, there is no other context to the situation.

She messes with Ranma a bunch, faking him out with a bunch of other kinds of shampoo, but eventually after a lot of hijinks Ranma is able to strike a deal with her: all it will take to get the memory-restoring shampoo is killing the ‘girl Ranma’. Well, half-kill, Ranma could at least negotiate to that.

And if you need someone to half-kill Ranma, of course there’s no one else to go see except Ryoga Hibiki. Only problem is, for once he doesn’t want to beat Ranma up, no matter how nicely Ranma asks. After all, if Akane’s memory is never restored, it gives him a chance to be with Akane instead. Still, Ryoga does have a temper, and Ranma eventually goads him into a fight...that Ranma quickly wins, unscathed.

Mr. Tendo and Mr. Saotome step up for the job, but Akane sees them attacking this poor defenseless (and as she sees it, weak) teenage boy and tries to stop them. That annoys Ranma, since he’s going through all this pain for her, but when he insults her in annoyance, she reacts to it. So, Ranma insults her a bunch and her memory comes back.

The only problem there is, now that Akane remembers Ranma, Shampoo is back to wanting to kill her for being an obstacle to getting with Ranma. This leaves Ranma with what he feels like is no choice, and he shows Shampoo that he’s both the man she loves and the person she was trying to kill. (Without mentioning the curse, mind you, instead telling her that he has just been ‘pretending to be a guy’) As he seemed to expect, she jumps to wanting to kill him, but it quickly becomes clear she’s crying, and she runs away, telling Ranma they’ll never see each other again. Then there is a short scene of Ranma and Akane having a spat. The end.

I think this time I'm going to start with the stuff I liked. I appreciate the structure of the narrative here, as Ranma tries one thing after another, any way he can, to solve the problem. It moved fairly quickly and was a good fodder for some jokes.

The bigger reason I liked the episode, of course, just comes from how far Ranma is willing to go to help Akane. He plans to swim to China, by himself, if it means getting her memories back. He can say whatever he wants, but I do feel like this episode was great at showing just how much he really does care about her.

It also made fairly good use of Ryoga, though it’s something they’ve done with him a few times now. By this point, it seems his love for Akane and how he sees Ranma as the thorn in his side have become his primary character traits, rather than his original driving hatred. That’s not necessarily bad, but I’m glad that, as far as I remember, it won’t be his main focus forever.

That last scene with Shampoo is also fairly strong, though I’ll get more into my thoughts on her in a second. All of the things I liked aside, there was definitely one part of this episode I really didn’t care for.

It probably sounds dumb, but I just really didn’t like the solution to the memory loss. To put it more specifically, I like the idea that they’re able to break through what’s been done to her through her connection to Ranma. I just don’t like that it involved Ranma insulting her over and over again. Like, I get it, he’s a dick to her sometimes, that reminds her of him more than all the nice things he’s been doing.

But it’s also just rough to watch, at least for me? I didn’t find it funny. In a way, the whole thing casts a strange shadow on the entire Ranma/Akane dynamic. Arguing a lot is one thing, but the sheer level to which Ranma was insulting her felt closer to negging then anything else. Especially because it’s all focused on how Akane looks, things that are clearly a big insecurity for her.

Enough worrying about those two, let’s talk about who this arc was more properly about, Shampoo (no last name)! This is our first Character Spotlight in a while, so let’s make sure it’s done well!

Let’s talk about her voice actresses, shall we? Her original Japanese voice was provided by Rei Sakuma, who was also the cat Jiji in Kiki’s Delivery Service (which is kind of funny considering something happening to Shampoo next season). Like some of the other voice actresses we’ve talked about thus far, she was in the idol group DoCo. For English, she’s portrayed by Cathy Weseluck. Some of her more well-known roles are as Near in Death Note and Spike in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. (Both of which are not roles I’d expect from Shampoo’s voice actress.)

They both play Shampoo very similarly, I’d say. Shampoo has a very high-pitched voice, and at least so far her vocabulary in ‘Japanese’ isn’t very large, so half the time she sticks with Chinese instead. This gives her an almost baby-like quality to her voice, which is contrasted by how cold it is when she starts talking about how Ranma or Akane have to die. What I would say as a point of delineation, at least so far, is that Sakuma’s performance feels more genuine, while Weseluck makes it seem like the childishness is just a front, it doesn’t sound sincere.

That kind of voice, genuine or not, is pretty emblematic of what we’ve seen of Shampoo thus far. Namely, that she’s fairly simple. Shampoo is chasing after Ranma, to kill or to marry, because of ancient traditions of her people, not because of what she really wants. Yet she pursues him relentlessly anyway. She’s eager to fight, eager to love, and absolutely willing to use underhanded methods to remove anyone from the picture if they get in her way.

I will say that, in terms of fighting ability, it’s pretty vague thus far how good Shampoo is. Ranma is capable of beating her with no problem over and over again, but she never gets to really fight Akane, all she does is give her hair the works.

Speaking of Akane, I will say that Shampoo’s presence does highlight certain aspects of her character. They’re both rather jealous, and prone to violence over it. But where Akane and Ranma are still trying to work through their baggage, Shampoo is down to cuddle from second one. Shampoo is also the first other fiance of Ranma’s, though that’s less something planned out for him and more something he made happen by accident.

I guess it’s time to talk about it, no use putting it off any longer. Shampoo has never really been a character I liked in the franchise, and part of the fun of this Rewatch is seeing how my thoughts have grown on her. I used to just kind of find her annoying, but now there’s more there too. Namely, racism. Yeah, the broken English/Japanese she speaks, combined with how she’s written in general, give Shampoo a kind of ‘dumb’ quality that never sat well with me, especially now that I know that it’s emblematic of the kind of stereotypes Japanese people tend to have about people from China. I still hope to have my opinion changed on Shampoo, but it hasn’t really happened yet.

It hasn’t been made clear yet, so I will say now that I do like this episode. It has some good comedy, I enjoy the hints of Ranma’s burgeoning devotion to Akane, and it closes out Shampoo’s initial storyline pretty well. But I’m also mixed on it, mostly just because of that insulting scene. It’s strange, having a story that I liked about 80% of, because it’s difficult knowing how to weigh that 20% that I didn’t care for. (Also, can I just say I hate that the title feels like a lie?) In the end, I’m placing this just one spot above the last episode, which means the current standing is thus:

Episode 7: Enter Ryoga, the Eternal ‘Lost Boy’

Episode 12: A Woman's Love is War! The Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics Challenge!

Episode 15: Enter Shampoo, the Gung-Ho Girl! I Put My Life in Your Hands

Episode 9: True Confessions! A Girl's Hair is Her Life!

Episode 2: School is No Place for Horsing Around

Episode 6: Akane's Lost Love... These Things Happen, You Know

Episode 13: A Tear in a Girl-Delinquent's Eye? The End of the Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics Challenge!

Episode 17: I Love You, Ranma! Please Don’t Say Goodbye

Episode 16: Shampoo's Revenge! The Shiatsu Technique That Steals Heart and Soul

Episode 8: School is a Battlefield! Ranma vs. Ryoga

Episode 11: Ranma Meets Love Head-On! Enter the Delinquent Juvenile Gymnast!

Episode 4: Ranma and...Ranma? If It’s Not One Thing, It’s Another

Episode 5: Love Me to the Bone! The Compound Fracture of Akane's Heart

Episode 1: Here’s Ranma

Episode 3: A Sudden Storm of Love

Episode 10: P-P-P-Chan! He's Good For Nothin'

Episode 14: Pelvic Fortune-Telling? Ranma is the No. One Bride in Japan

Next time, we are closing out the season! It’s kind of strange to consider that, I’m actually almost done with the first season of the series, known here in the States as “Digital Dojo” and in Japan as the only season of Ranma 1/2. (The next season to the end was all Ranma 1/2 Nettōhen) Will I like I Am a Man! Ranma's Going Back to China!? That’s the big question, and I’m eager to see. Ta ta for now!

#episode 17 #I Love You Ranma! Please Don’t Say Goodbye #ranma 1/2 #ranma saotome #akane tendo #shampoo #anime analysis #anime rewatch

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unsettledink · 4 years

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Back in the days of LJ, I used to try and do a post at the end of each year, looking back primarily at fandom and fic. I fell out of the habit when everything moved to tumblr, and then it seemed like I didn’t have anything to say since I wasn’t writing or really participating any.

But I always liked the idea of it, because I love to be overly reflective on stuff. And talk about my fic. Any excuse! I shuffled around some of the topics I used back then and added a few I’ve seen around that I liked. It got… long, because I TALK, so I split into two sections.

Your main fandom of the year?

Marvel (MCU) for sure. Primarily with characters from Spider-Man and Iron Man movies.

Your favorite film watched this year?

The Old Guard - I saw a couple trailers and everything about it looked like catnip. ‘It’s probably going to be so dumb, but I don’t even care,’ I thought. And then it was so good. It was so much fun and so much smarter than I expected and I loved each and every character and it just made me happy in so many ways.

Your favorite book read this year?

Red, White, and Royal Blue, Casey McQuiston - I read it twice this year actually. It’s so… cute isn’t the right world. Sweet and hopeful and soft and comforting and intense. I liked every single character which is pretty rare. I cried during the sad parts and then again at the happy ending, like straight up sobbed - both times. I already want to read it again.

Your favorite tv show watched this year?

Schitt’s Creek - I started it on a whim and because a lot of people had said it was good. The episodes were short so it wasn’t a huge time investment. The first season was a little rough, but there were enough funny moments that I hung on, and then… I kept getting fonder and fonder of these idiots as they grew. And THEN… it kept not disappointing me?

You grow to expect certain scripts, twists, jokes, especially in queer story lines. To wait for the bad thing to happen, because it always does. Instead, Schitt’s Creek kept going, ‘hey, here’s the set up for that! Guess what? We’re not doing it. Here’s the happy version instead.’ The relief of having that happen again and again - the last season I’ve watched (I’m sort of saving 6) I cried a bunch but it was always because I was happy.

Your favorite album or song to listen to this year?

1896 - I’ve been waiting for the new Steam Powered Giraffe album so eagerly for aaaaaages. Finally getting recordings of Zero’s songs! Lying Awake remains my favorite off the album, with Eat Your Heart and Bad Days on the Horizon high up there as well. I’m loving what Zero brings to the band.

Your best new fandom discovery of the year?

I don’t know if I really did discover that much? I stuck pretty closely to old fandoms and the ones I picked up in 2019. Maybe Zodiac? It was definitely inspiring, and I want to write and read more in it.

Maybe the couple discords I joined? I still really dislike discord and am not on there much, and mostly lurk when I am, but having somewhere vaguely like the comms I remember makes me feel a little less isolated. It’s the potential, that maybe if I said something I might make a friend, or someone might actually want to hear what I say.

Your biggest fandom disappointment of the year?

The Watch - I mean, I knew it was going to be a disaster with every word said during pre production. I wasn’t ever going to be happy with it. And then it came out and was even worse and uglier and … disrespectful not just of the source material but of actual people connected to Terry. I’m beyond disappointed that this is what we got, and it’s probably going to be a long time before we get anything else.

Devil All the Time was terrible, but I didn’t have especially high hopes. It still didn’t manage to meet them. Yikes.

The most missed of your old fandoms?

Maybe MASH? Someone I follow started talking about it and I was reminded all over again of the wonderful fics in that fandom. I went looking and a lot are gone (still on my computer, lol, but not online), but rereading was such a trip. A slightly depressing trip, but still.

The fandom you haven't tried yet, but want to?

Hmm. I’ve kind of not had the energy to invest in other fandoms at the moment? When The Witcher was having it’s big moment back in January, I had a feeling I might enjoy it enough to fall headfirst into the fandom, so I avoided watching it. Ikr? I don’t have the time or the energy to actively seek anything out.

Your biggest fan anticipations for the New Year?

SO EXCITED about Winter’s Orbit. I mean, the third Spider-Man movie for sure, with worry. The second Venom movie, ugh yes. I have tentative hopes for Jungle Cruise? Jumanji was stellar and I always enjoy Dwayne. I have both hope and dread for the new Suicide Squad - I did love Birds of Prey, so if it’s along those lines, yay. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard because it should be some fun garbage, my favorite kind. I don’t know how I feel about Dune, but, uh, I’m anticipating it. It seems highly unlikely it will actually happen, but The Wheel of Time TV series.

I want to be excited about Black Widow but it’s hard. It’s not the story I’ve been wanting to see, and I’m angry about Natasha not getting a movie until she’s dead.

You know. If any of it is released for real.

The Good:

I moved to a better place. I got a better paying, better benefits, better environment job that lets me work from home. The house acquired 3-7 more cats depending on the month. I was able to get some serious problems on my car fixed. I have insurance and was able to start on some health stuff. No one I know got sick or died. I wrote a LOT.

The Bad:

Aside from the obvious? Depression hitting extra hard during the winter. Having to put two kittens to sleep. Have my car be hit three times in our parking lot. Being driven INSANE by one of the cats for months while the vets were all closed. Kidney stone. Dealing with several health problems. Stalling for months on Gotcha.

The Indifferent:

Not leaving the house often or easily. Enjoying a new fandom but not doing great at making connections (still real awkward, bud). Raising kittens and saying goodbye. Need new tires. Reading a lot of fic but not a lot of books. Having more pay but more expenses as well (wth insurance??).

2020 fic stats

Number of stories: 39

Number of fandoms: 6? Or 2, if you cluster the others under mcu

Total number of words: 152049

Average word count per story: 4kish

Longest fic: Causality (18k, P/Q)

Shortest fic: Can’t, Won’t (1k, P/Q)

Most comments received: Sieche (49, T/P)

Fandom you wrote the most of: MCU Spider-Man - I only wrote TWO fics that didn’t feature that fandom, wow. And one of those was still MCU.

Fandom you wrote the least of: Zodiac (1!)

Events you participated in: Marvel Trumps Hate, Kinktober, IornspidersGeorg Exchange, Starker Festivals Exchange, MCU Secret Santa, Spiderio Big Bang

Looking back, did you write more fic than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you'd predicted?

SO MUCH MORE OMG. I mean, even just counting posted stuff! (I probably wrote a solid 300k of Gotcha this year.) I did not expect or plan on doing Kinktober, so that’s a whole 31 fics right there. I also wasn’t planning on doing any exchanges - I have a History - but then I did three? And beyond that, I did not expect for everything to get so LONG.

Topic you wrote that you would never have predicted in January:

Tony/Quentin. Goddammit @the-me09 They were like hey, they could be interesting! And while I agreed, I had no ideas for them. THEN they had to go and write Just Bodies That Collide and next thing I know, I’ve got ten fics featuring them and two-six series focused on them or Peter/Quentin/Tony. What the fuck.

Leitmotif of the year:

Vulnerability, I think. I had a bunch of things typed up and they all circle back to vulnerability in the end; sex, being seen, being wanted, sharing trauma, asking for help, trying something new. Offering a soft spot in the hopes it won’t be hurt.

Favorite character to write about:

Tony Stark, for sure. There are just a bunch of slightly different takes, and a lot of canon to work with (kind of frustrating too though). And I’m a sucker for emotionally damaged snarky traumatized characters that are viewed poorly both in universe and out.

Favorite kind of fic to write:

This year? Fluff and smut combined. Maybe that’s not the right term really. I keep looking for and writing, even in the angstiest fics, for those soft moments. Sure, maybe it’s a super smutty kink scene, but I want the affection to be obvious. Maybe everyone is consumed by guilt, but I want it to be based in caring too much. Maybe there’s no real love, just sex and even that’s messed up, but I want to find that tiny bit of fondness.

And I want happy endings. Or endings that look like they’re going to be happy, at least, even if there’s all the angst first. I don’t think I’ve killed anyone this year? Who AM I?

Biggest disappointment:

Not finishing the rough draft of Gotcha. I was making such good progress in 2019, from August to December. Even after the move, I basically finished part 6 in January. I fumbled around and fussed with 1 a lot, but that had already been given one draft, really, and I got through half of 4 before I slowed to a stop. I’ve barely gotten anything accomplished on it since June. Bits and pieces here and there, but nothing significant, not like I was doing. I can excuse October, due to 80k invested in Kinktober (yikes!), but aside from that… I’m sad. I’ll finish it eventually, but I really thought I could have the first draft done in a year. I’m sitting at about 480k out of what I’m almost certain will be 700k.

Biggest surprise:

Kinktober! It was kind of spur of the moment, decided just a week in advance. I’ve tried month long or even like, 20-25 day long challenges and I don’t think I’ve ever completed one. I thought there was a good chance I’d do so again, so I gave myself a little help and made my own list of prompts, things I knew I liked and hadn’t done much of yet. And it worked? I actually completed it, what the hell? Despite spending five days travelling near the end! Despite falling behind in getting ahead and writing a bunch of stories the day they were to be posted! Despite apparently forgetting how to do short form!

I, uh, could have done without the spawning of eleven series or sequels or continuations jfc WHY SELF.

Something you learned this year:

Ideas breed ideas. I swear to god, the second I sit down to think through a current idea, I wake up the next morning with three more.

Words need to be restocked. I need to consume new - not rereads, not fic - content every so often to refresh my word bank. It is astonishing how quickly writing goes again after I’ve done so.

I can write so much more than I thought I could. I can do so much more than I thought I could. Yes, I can complete challenges without dropping out early. Yes, I can do exchanges and not regret it. Yes, I can write more than 100k, more than 200k, more and more - and I can write 10k+ easily too. Though I wouldn’t mind if I could once again write less than 10k without feeling like I’ve cut off in the middle.

My time is shrinking, and if I want to write as much, I’m going to have to make the time. I can’t rely on three days off a week, on seven hours of uninterrupted overnight shifts, on hyper focused writing binges that leave everything else around me on fire.

Most memorable comment:

So, so many! I can’t pick one. I’ve been really lucky to get a bunch of really detailed, enthusiastic, analyzing comments across all different fics. One of the types that always sticks with me are the ones like ‘I didn’t think/know I liked this ship/kink/twist, but fuck, apparently I do? You made me, what the hell?’.

What, if anything, are you going to try to do differently in your writing in the new year?

So with writing Gotcha but not posting until it’s done, my view of what I’ve written vs anyone else’s is extremely skewed. I’m sitting here thinking, hey I’m 400k in and got another 10k done today, so much writing! While anyone looking at my AO3 account (for most of the year) is like, you’re averaging three months between fics :(

All that to say I want to try and get something posted more frequently while I’m working on Gotcha.

Also, writing for kinktober was really interesting - pushing myself to write every single day, often for that day’s post, forced me to get back into shorter form fic. Which used to be all I did? But it was surprisingly hard to just stop and not write more. So I’d like to challenge myself to write more fics under 10k at least. Maybe even under 5k though that might be asking a lot lol. I might get there with the many continuations of those fics I’d like to do. Does that count?

Goals:

I want to hit 365 fics. :) I’m only 32 away!

Aside from writing -

I’ve really enjoyed the reading record sideblog I started this year. I’ve let it lapse a little the past month or so, but I’d like to keep it going strong.

I’d like to leave a lot more comments. I want to get better about allowing imperfection - I want to write The Best Comment, but in the end? Probably 90% of fic writers are going to be happier with a comment expressing enjoyment in any way over no comment at all.

And not just on fics, but on general posts as well. It’s hard not to feel… weird and stupid and invasive and rude leaving any sort of comment on someone’s post if I don’t know them at least a little. I have godawful rejection sensitive dysphoria and a lot of interactions that ended poorly; I’m really not good at people. But as dumb as it feels to say those things, I know I am thrilled and warmed and happier when there’s a reblog with tags or a note or a comment or an ask or just, any small interaction that shows someone out there notices and cares, at least a little. There’s no reason I can’t at least try to offer that to other people.

I’d like to make/run a couple challenges of my own, later in the year. I’m still figuring out what I want to do and what I could do. I’m really interested in doing something that’s not focused on creators, but the readers; some sort of comment or rec challenge maybe.

I want to find a cheerleader for Gotcha. I’m struggling to keep up my motivation to write it when it’s already in my head, where I can ‘read’ it any time. There’s a line between depending too much on external validation and trying to generate all your validation yourself, and I’m getting to a point where I think I need to ask for help (gasp! The hardest thing EVER).

(Part Two: Pick Some Fics)

#end of year #unsettled rambles

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cosmiclatte28 · 4 years

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TEMPO (racer reader x sehun, nct, exo) #3

Hi you made it this far...

read the previous chapters here 1 / 2

Meanwhile..

“Yes Kai! It’s a big win tonight. Come on let’s party. Drinks are on Kai tonight!” Baekhyun cheers loudly when Kai returns to them with the money.

“Easy game tonight?” Lay speaks up.

Kai ponders for a moment “It’s a rough game.. I’m surprised by the 127 racer. It’s a girl right? I saw her small body .. I must say she’s a tough one. Though I managed to kick her and made her lost her balance. She fell right before the finish line.”

“Not really a gentleman are you?” Chanyeol teases him. “Anyways it’s a competition. Someone’s bound to win and someone’s bound to lose. Tonight the spotlight is yours! Shall we party?”

Kai, Chanyeol, Baekhyun, Lay, and the others made their way to the nearest bar to celebrate Kai’s first win in the new cage.

“I think I saw Sehun earlier.. he has changed! He goes to street racing now.. what is he doing..” Lay blurts out when they finished several bottles down.

“Oh right! You saw him too? I thought I was seeing things.” Kai abruptly sit up straight.

“Maybe it’s someone like Sehun. I don’t think this place is his style.” Baekhyun cuts the wild imaginations and the two men seem to agree they’re just seeing things.

Kai becomes the new star player after (y/n). Because (y/n) is in hiatus.. Kai actually dominates the track. Yuta does beat him in most of the races, but in other programs where Yuta did not sign up, Kai is the favorite player.

Apparently for Kai, the competitors here are too easy for him. He is looking for that one player. The mysterious girl he knocked off on his first race. He knows she’s not playing probably because of what he did, but Kai has never seen her properly. Let alone know her name or status here. Funny how deep in his heart he feels bad whenever he remembers the scene. Kai knows it’s coward for him to kick a girl opponent.. and most importantly she looks smaller than the other players.

After finishing his race, he walks to Kris who acts as his manager and asks “Hyung. Do you know where is the 127 girl that I beat on my first race here?”

“Oh that girl.. she’s on break. Her left hand is fractured.. she’s actually the ace player here before you come.”

“Whose team is she in?” Kai looks around the crowd.

“I’m pretty sure that young boys.. over there.. sharp gazes tight pants leather jackets.. pink and purple hair” Kris points to Taeyong and Jaehyun.

“Wait.. I know them..” Kai puts his vision to the small group. He knows the other two.. it’s Johnny and Yuta.

“Apparently the brunette boy is also their racer for the short track program. He beats you several time right?” Kris shifts his gaze to the small team too.

Kai nods “Yeah. Yuta is a tough racer. Where is their ace.. shouldn’t she come and watch?”

Kris shrugs his shoulder “I don’t know Kai.. anyways I see Sehun was with them on that day.”

Kai freezes in his place. So he and Lay were not seeing things. Sehun was there on that day. Hmm funny how the world makes them see each other again.

“I’m curious. What makes a boy like Sehun jumps into this muddy lifestyle.” Kai grins slyly.

That keeps on going on until one day.. (y/n) is back on track. Kai has his golden opportunity to talk with her and ask her some more about herself. She welcomes him nicely.. without realizing Kai is actually an enemy of Sehun.. the man she starts to grow fond with.

“You’re too young to be here.” Kai puts on his favorite boy mask. I mean he’s a homme fatale. Of course girls will get head over heels for him… and this cute racer in front of him catches his attention since day one.

“That’s what people will always say as their first impression. I’m seventeen. Legal to drive.” She proudly smirks.

Kai chuckles “Let’s make a deal.”

“What deal? I’m on for challenges.” She arrogantly folds her hand on her chest.

It’s been a while since someone dares to challenge and mess up with her.. people all stop challenging her when they know the real color of this cute girl. Plus Kai looks tempting and nice.

“We play fair and square tonight. If you win I’ll let you do what you want.. if I win.. you’ll do what I want you to do.” Kai raises his brow.

“Does that means you’re ready to be my personal butler? I really need one right now and you look perfect!” She puts on her cat eyes. Kai definitely curses in his heart when he melts at those eyes.

He sighs. Of course her bets will be something silly like this.. she’s seventeen after all. What do you expect Kai.

He sighs “Okay. And if I win.. you’ll do what I want. I’ll think about it later.”

“Don’t bother thinking. You’ll be my butler! For a whole month! Be prepared Kai.” She playfully pinches his cheek and walks away to Sehun. Kai’s eyes follow her and he smiles in secret when he sees Sehun.

Old friend he missed. Is there any way to annoy him again? Maybe by winning the race and force her to be his girl? Or just by losing and being her personal butler. That means Kai will have more time with her than Sehun did right? And with his skills he can make sure Sehun knows about it and gets jealous.

Kai laughs hysterically to himself and make his way to his team. He told them to bet low on him, tonight he has a plan. The whole team just follow his words. They know Kai is probably up for a silly business deals he made for fun.

The race starts, after a secret goodluck kiss from Sehun, (y/n) sits on her bike and glances at Kai. She growls her engine and winks when the MC queue the count down. The number hits one and they all push their gas to the limit.

Tonight marks the first return of the Ace Queen (y/n) and she lives to her name. The money tonight is a huge amount, people are excited seeing Kai and (y/n) in the race together once again.. the fact that she wins brings her over the moon, not because of the money, but the silly deal she made with Kai.

She quickly slips away when no one is watching and Kai sees her move, so he swiftly make his way too. The two meet again on the same quiet spot they talked earlier.

“Congratulations Ace! You really played nice today. I’m sad yet honored to lose before you.” Kai jokingly gets down on one of his knee and looks deep into her eyes.

She blushes from the intense stare. Kai is really attractive and cool. Different from Sehun who makes her feel comfortable, she feels a burning desire in her heart and turning stomach whenever Kai throws her that smoldering look.

“Okay Kai! You’re officially my butler for one month! Give me your number.”

“Eager are we? Smooth way to get my number.” Kai winks.

“Not that! I need your number to call you if I need anything.” Kai inputs his number to her phone and place it under the name Kai, “Perfect! Now get ready to answer my calls in random times. We should meet to make more agreements. I don’t want my butler to be lazy and a handful.”

Kai begins to regret his choice. If she’s only bossing over him, where’s the fun? But he’ll see how this go.

“Alright Kai oppa.. see you!” she waves her hand and jogs to her team.

Kai happily descends to his friends and acts like nothing happens.

(y/n) keeps the deal in secret. The whole world knows if Jaehyun heard this, he won’t allow his sister to have a butler like Kai. Come on people like Jaehyun knows how dangerous Kai and his populations are. So she keeps it low to herself.

(y/n) POV

I return to my small apartment alone. My friends live in another floor, but I have a small studio for myself. Maybe because I enjoy living alone with my mess. Oh yeah Jaehyun has been lecturing me about cleaning my room, but I’m a busy girl. I have no time to clean my mess. Morning until noon I study at school, then I have a lesson date with Sehun (since he treated me every time.. I cannot turn the offer down.. it’s a good way to save money) then at night I have to study for my tests and do my works just to make it in time to race the night and earn my money. Then I will go home, smoke a bit, and sleep my 6 hours sleep and wake up and repeat the cycle. Except some days I don’t race.

So having Kai as my butler.. means a free house cleaner, chef, and laundry man.

I welcome him on a peaceful Monday night. He shows up by 7 and we agree on our rules.

“No feelings attached… no complaining… no sleeping in my room… and no inappropriate acts.”

He easily agrees and I told him he will have to help me for my cleaning, laundry, and maybe cooking. But turns out he can’t cook, so I have to cook by myself to avoid food poisoning.

“(Y/n) I swear.. your room is super unlike you. How can a cute girl like you live in this dirty room?!” Kai is shocked when he needs to start cleaning.

I shrug my shoulder as I pick one stick of cigarette and lights it up “I’m busy.. and I have not enough time to clean up.”

Kai stops his activity of vacuuming when he sees me blows a smoke “You.. you even smoke!”

I Roll my eyes “Like you yourself don’t… come on Kai.. you’re not my boyfriend or my father.. don’t lecture me.”

“I mean.. I did not expect anything like this coming from you..” He continues vacuuming.

I grin “Nice. That means you will not try to win my heart. A good sign.. I can sleep peacefully without worrying you will take the chance to fuck me.”

Kai smirks “Be careful.. I never said I don’t like girls like that.. besides these things might have turned me on.”

I Hit his back “Cut it off. There’s more to do.”

After vacuuming the floors, he cleans up the cigarette buds while wondering “Do you really finish this much? It’s like two box worth of buds..”

“No.. my brother and his friends sometimes come here.. they smoke too.. plus my friends.. everyone leaves their buds here.. so don’t think I’m that maniac. I have to live a week with this one box.. my money is limited to number of races I won remember?”

Kai seems to get it now.. that I am living half independently. My parents are still funding my tuition fees and apartment rental costs, but for my exclusives I have to earn my own money.

“Why don’t you share a room with your brother? I heard he’s a tidy guy.” Kai actually knows Jaehyun and the others: they were once on the same dance group, but Kai left to focus on his racing more.

“Seriously.. they share a house for 4 people. I have no more space. And I am not living with those loud boys. I mean I also can’t live peacefully seeing Taeyong’s handsome face.. Yuta’s smile and Johnny’s attention. I’ll fail all my tests and make it awkward. “

Kai laughs at my tacky remarks. But deep inside his heart, Kai finds this small girl interesting and challenging.

They talk more and laugh about many different things. She told Kai that for the laundry, she has separated the piles of the private ones and the ones he can clean. She told him which basket he has to take for laundry, the soap and softener she likes, and Kai notes how adorable she is when she gets happy over small things : like the smell of her softener.

“Which floor is it again?”

“Fifth floor. Now go. I’ll cook us some ramyeon. I’m sure you’re hungry.. besides you did quite well.”

Kai finds her unique and adorable rather than annoying. He sees her as the living proof of younger sister he had always imagined. Cute but at the same time sassy and playful.

After an hour, he returns with a pile of clean and fresh laundry. She also finishes cooking the meal and welcomes Kai to sit across her.

“Thanks! I thought you’ll let me eat on the floor.”

she laughs “Aigo.. I’m not that mean. Let’s eat.”

They dig in and afterwards the clock shows it’s already 9.30. Kai knows the rule, he got to go home. That’s the manners. She offers him a cigarette and he accepts it. With that one lighted bar, Kai goes home with a warm heart and big smile.

ON the other hand, (y/n) is busy replying the texts Sehun sent but she did not reply before.

Chapter 4

#sehun x you #sehun x reader #sehun imagine #tempo #yuta #jaehyun #johnny #kai #taeyong #jaehyun x reader #taeyong x reader #nct fanfic #nct imagines #exo imagines #exo fanfic #nct fanfiction #nct imagine masterlist #nct #exo

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a-small-flame-in-a-dark-land · 4 years

Text

The Time Between Us (7)

Chapter 7: Chains in my heart

I'M BACKKK

Firstly, I'm so so so sorry for disappearing for so long. I was in deep depression last year and finally have the guts to write again. I'm sorry.

There're many reasons, well, I feel bad of myself in everything: studying, works, family, friends,...I even felt my English has gone worse and I felt I shouldn't write anymore. It's been complicated. But I'm here now. I started reading books again, I've been doing some researches about fantasy worlds and many of them really did cheered me up.

Anyways have fun reading!

Words: 3k8

*gifs not mine

Links to other parts 1 2 3 4 5 6

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

“Erza! You’re okay!” Approaching Natsu and Erza is the blonde hair girl. She looks worried and terrified.

“Everyone was so worried for you.” The girl next to her cries.

They all gather around the two, cheer up, cry and give each other tight hugs. Because Natsu and Erza are safe and reunite with their comrades, I return to my job to collect the Core of Tower of Heaven and erase its leftovers on the sea. By that no one from The Magic Council can find. As I’m nearly finish, a voice rings from behind.

“Hey.” I turn back and here comes the scarlet hair girl.

“Hi.” I say.

“Well I..we want to thank you for saving us.” She says as Natsu comes along. With his suspicious face, of course.

“It’s nothing. Things happened and I had to do what is right.” I smile.

“Don’t say that. At first I doubted, but….well, Natsu told me what you did when I fainted. I really appreciate your help. I think we can be friends.”

Friends? It’s been a long time since I heard that word. 3 years ago? I wonder why there’s a little bit of creepiness crawling under my skin when hearing that. Don’t even know if I’m worth to befriend with anyone anymore, after I deceived my only one.

“Yeah, I don’t know if we can. ” I keep rambling myself when the last piece of The Tower is collected and forms a ball of crumbs and ready to be sent to Hell through a hole opening in the ocean below.

“What are you doing?” The voice of the boy.

“Cleaning the mess.” I say. And when they give each other unknowing looks and then turn to me, I can’t hold my giggle. “It’s a long story of mine. But you don’t want to know, I assume. And for now you guys are no acquaintance to me as I am to you, our destiny is nothing outside this Tower. We helped each other to get out and it stops at that. Then we part ways. Just know that I’m no harm to you and we’re done.” I turn around and give them my goodbye, ready to leave.

“Wait, please.” Erza says. “At least let us treat you, you saved us and I won’t just walk away from anyone who did me a favor. In fact, I really appreciate what you did even though you said our destiny is nothing outside the Tower and I will regret a lot if you don’t let me return the favor, Lucerna. Destiny or not, our meeting means something and I know you’re a good person so let’s have some times to know each other.”

I sigh. If I let her, I will lose track of Jellal anytime, but even now looking for him when just getting out after years of capturing is a total challenge. They’ve fled and my power is still as crumble and uncontrolled as the fallen Tower. I need time to recollect myself anyways. Spending time with them seems not a bad idea after all, I need to regain my power and prepare for the mission. So I just nod and smile. But maybe to Erza and her comrades, that’s all they need to brighten up and come at me.

“Great! Now let’s get back to our place. I’m Lucy, Lucy Heartfilia. And you’re Lucerna right? Nice to meet you.” The blond hair girl pops out from nowhere and smiles friendly and gives out her hand. I shake it and smile back.

“Nice to meet you too, Lucy. I’m Lucerna. Lucerna Vandil.”

But to everyone’s dismay, they’re too tired to have a group chat after the fight so most of them sleep immediately after having a short meal. Especially Natsu, the blue cat and the dark hair boy Gray who I just get to know soon after. Despite the organized beds, they finish the meal and roll on the floor and then all I can hear is their snoring. And the girl names Juvia, she says something to Lucy and Erza and then disappears before I even have a glimpse of her. Only Lucy, Erza and I are still up. I ask.

“You two aren’t tired?”

“Yes, but not as these boys, we’re not as badly beaten up as them. Besides, I was in deep unconscious when Natsu got me out so I guess I rested enough. Just go sleep first. I’ll watch out for everyone.” Erza gives a nervous laugh. Lucy pats her shoulder and smiles.

“Don’t be like that. Everyone was so worried for you but we aren’t mad. You just keep on apologizing like that all the time?”

“No, but I’m… It’s my fault drowning myself in the Tower after all.” Erza says.

“Erza, I’m telling you again. This whole thing is no one’s fault. If there is, that’s because of those we faced in the Tower. They hurt you and we cannot let them do anything to you again. We’re friends remember?”. Lucy says while giving Erza her beautiful smile and what aches me more is that it reminds me about none other than the untold reminisce I failed to protect, which led me to the Tower.

Friends?

Is that what they usually have after getting through hard times together?

Until now seeing the friendship before me that I realize how badly and deeply The Power of Tower of Heaven have demolished my feeling for 3 years of being captured. Now I no longer feel like wanting to get to know anyone as letting them to get close to me. Close enough to know the real me that I’ve lost. Now I don’t know anymore. The only thing I need to do as soon as I get away from these people is finding Jellal and finish my mission and then return to the King. I should have----

“Lucerna!” A sudden voice wakes me from rolling in my own thoughts. It’s Lucy’s.

“Eh?”

“You were zoning out.” She laughs.

“My apologize. What did you ask me about?”

“I’m saying that since we don’t have more time until sunrise so why don’t we all rest for now? And then let’s have some time tomorrow? When will you have to go?” She yawn.

“When the first light of the day comes out.”

“That rush? Sorry that we took your time. I didn’t think we would be this worn out. I really want to spend more time with you and I even think about taking you for a walk to our place. It would be wonderful, if you don’t mind.”

I look at the clock. It’s already midnight. And both of the girls seem too exhausted to talk anymore.

“I’m sorry but I really have to go. Please rest, you two. Or you won’t be able to get yourselves up tomorrow. We’re already exhausted.”

“Yeah you’re right.”

Erza turns off the lights. Then she comes lie next to me and before I close my eyes, she says.

“Hey. I know that we just met and you seem like don’t wanna share anything to us despite the fact that we talked the most all the time but,...well it’s okay, too. You can keep your secret. We don’t want to intrude your private memories. But please know that around us you don’t need to withdraw yourself. Just be yourself. We trust you because you helped us. We’re no enemies. So there’s nothing to worry about okay?”

She reaches out to me under the blanket and hold my hand.

“It’s terrible to know that you were captured in the Tower for like, 3 years? Those must be unforgettable memories. I understand because I was at that Tower too, when I was a child, until we broke free. And as you said Destiny led us back to The Tower for a mission and we met. But I’m glad you’re free now. I guess if you will leave soon at dawn, this is our goodbye.”

No, Erza. I’m not free. The chains in the Tower are broken, but the chains in my heart are not. Not now. Not ever when all my soul will soon belong to the demons. I’m a criminal and I don’t deserve all the love in this world.

“It happened in year X781.”

“What?”

I lower my voice only for her to hear.

“I did things I should not. I got many unrelated people involved in my wrong doings. And I betrayed a friend. All of that led to the reason why I was imprisoned and forced to work under their watch in order to create the Tower. Erza, you’re such a good person. But please don’t try to befriend me. You don’t know me. And I don’t know you. There’s something I really have to do after this. If not, I can never payback the sins in my past.”

“If you insist. But I still don’t see anything wrong to get close to you. I feel it. You saved us, Lucerna. And I’m definitely sure that’s deserve a life lasting friendship for us. I know that Natsu, Lucy, Happy and Gray would feel that too. So, if nothing bad happens and when you’re done, can we meet again? We’re mages of Fairy Tail in Magnolia. You know where to find us.”

“If we meet again. I’ll spend time with you guys.” I tighten our hands. “I’m glad we get to know each other.”

That’s true. If there’s another chance, I guess.

As expected, Jellal has fled. There’s only little of his scent left which is at 30 km from the previous placement of Tower of Heaven. In two days I follow his scent and when the city I stayed the night before is nowhere behind that I recognize I was led to the mountains in the northwest of Ishgar.

In those mountains, the weather is cold and air is so thin I can barely breath. I spend 2 hours searching for him around the place where his scent is the strongest but to my discomfort the scent is also as thin as the air and it keeps floating around instead of leading me to Jellal. Why is that?

There’s only a few hours left until all the air in my lungs disappear. Nightfall makes things harder. Geez. I breath slower and lighter while touching the earth below and speak.

Se kaló. Chaménes psychés

Here come the crumbling earth, shaking trees and flying souls of the death in the mountain. The souls, they know everything, but unknown to the world. I might ask them about Jellal.

When I was young and still living with my brother and the Dragons, I was scared and screamed my lungs out the first time my mother dragon showed me what people would be when they died. They become souls. Or people normally call “Ghost”, and my brother would always told me ghost stories just to scare the crap out of me. Mother Dragon said some souls find the right way and were taken to another life. But to some, they cannot let go of their past and become the white souls who still exist around us. The ghost in my brother’s stories are dark souls who sold themselves to the demons, they made contract to one or many of the demons so that they can have what they desire. But once they do, their soul cannot be free after death and they belong to the demons. Most people of the dark souls are mages because only the mages have power to summon demons. Those kind of souls exist for the only reason: scare the shit out of people and drain their lives to get stronger and become devils of Hell. Because of that the magic from dark souls are the most powerful.

In Ishgar there are dragons born within the magic of the souls and can control the power of them. But those dragons are very rare and choosing the humans who will inherit their power and become Dragon Slayer is even harder. I don’t know why and when did my dragons find my brother and me. I just know that they raised us, Hibernis and Lucerna Vandil, the twin orphans, since we were born. And then one day when I tried the final level of Soul Magic I lost control and let the dark souls took over. I didn’t know what happened next. When I woke up they’re all gone. My parents and my big brother. It was when I was still 7 years old and never had been outside the forest we were living. Everything happened in year X777. I went everywhere to find him and our parents. I lost, I had no evidence of them. Finally I ran out of energy and food and ended up outside Redwoods Guild. One of the reason I chose to stay and work for the former Master is that he had the Power of Vision and can help me find my parents and brother, under one condition that I must work for him with all my loyalty. It’s stupid, I was stupid but at that time there’s nothing I wanted other than finding my family so I agreed with him. Then he showed me what inside the Eye. But there was darkness and blood smell. He told me that they died. I didn’t believe him and told him he was lying. But he showed me the day that I lost control and destroyed everything along with my family. I had to believe that because only I knew what happened that day. I had to believe him that I killed them. And for 6 years I was living in hell with guilt. And I---

“You’re drowning, Miss. Please wake up.”

I gasp and realize I was rambling to myself. Someone pats my shoulder and when I turn around I recognize a white soul is trying to give me some air because my lungs are dried. It says.

“Summoning the souls while you can’t control your breath is very risky, Miss Lucerna.”

“Thank you. And I’m sorry. I’m looking for a man names Jellal. His soul is tainted and he’s very powerful. He a mage using magic of the stars. ” I say.

“If you look for him here, then you’re lost. He’s left for a day.”

“What? But this place is reeked of him.”

“He was here. But he used magic so his scent remains as long as possible. He knows you’re tracking him. I’m sorry miss Lucerna. But the man you are looking for has returned to the magic Council. And his magic has disappeared ever since, he must have closed himself and been in deep slumber to maintain power. It’s impossible to track down Jellal right now, you shall wait until his magic awake again.” Another soul speak.

“GOD DAMN IT.” I groan. Great. Now that man is where I hate most. No one can enter The council and get out in one piece. Not when there are traps and guards every corner and even the members are ten times powerful than Jellal. I can’t risk myself.

“I understand. Thanks a lot. Apolýo.”

The light of the souls glow and then all disappears into dust.

I did not try to go to the Council. Not until my strength is still weak and can easily go berserk as that day. Instead I successfully found a big cave under the mountains where there’s a waterfall which flows from the outside. The fantastic thing is that this waterfall contains a large amount of energy which is surprisingly compatible with me. It must be from the souls of the mountains. I need to stay here and regain my magic. I have the Aspro Stone inside my body and for now it seems the stone’s power is yet to awake. I haven’t learned to adjust with it yet. I don’t know how. I don’t know what would I do if the Stone went exploded as before. Thinking about the incident 3 years ago, I still hate myself. It was terrible. Seriously terrible. Our plans got out of control, my power got out of control and everything led to devastation. If I let that happen again, I wonder what would I become.

I wonder where is Sting now. How has he been doing? How is he? He must be joining a guild. Or is he still traveling alone? Is there anyone beside him?

I miss him.

I miss my family. And Sting.

“If you let your emotion take over. You’ll lose control of yourself, Miss.”

“It’s you. I…I didn’t call you.” I open my eyes and see that they are slowly watering. I blink to get them away. The beautiful white soul that helped me lately is standing before me..

“I’m the oldest in these mountains and I speak for other souls. I died a long time ago, myself has become one with everything here. I can see things, hear things that happens here. I can appear whenever I want because I’m here to protect the mountains, Miss Lucerna. I know who you are and what you’re doing here.”

“I apologize for my rudeness. Please let me stay here for a while, I just got out after 3 years of captivating and this waterfall has the strongest healing power I’ve ever seen. It can heal me.”

“Of course. The waterfall of us contains a rich source of magic that flows through the mountains. Take a bath in the waterfall 3 times a week, your magic will return and much more powerful than before. That is when you keep practicing and making yourself stronger everyday, of course.”

I step into the pool under the waterfall. It is so warm and comfortable. I breath in and relax. After 3 years, this is the first time I feel safe and sound, every aching muscle is slowly coming to life. My back was really tense because of having hung in the wall for a long time, now I’m gradually relaxing.

“Thank you. You’re so kind to me. But why don’t you see me as a threat to your mountain?”

“Every soul can identify who the summoner is through their magic. Most of us used to serve your ancestors since the beginning of milleniums and we vowed to always keep taking care of their children until the world turns to dust. So any children of House Vandil and apprentices of Dornion and Senali The Twins Dragons of Heaven and Hell are welcomed here. Please make yourself at home. ”

It’s been forever since anyone talked about House Vandil, or mentioned the name of dragons that trained my brother and I. So hearing those names strikes me hard like thunder. I sit straight up, freezing despite the hot water and suddenly feel hard to breath.

“You know the Vandils and…and my---”

“I was a historian of your family. They’d ruled their lands spreading wide at the northeast of Ishgar since the dragons were still flying in the sky until hundred years after the Dragon Civil War first broke. Although I’m not expecting another Vandil still lasts these days, I’m surprised you have zero knowledge of your existence.”

This is criticism, isn’t it?

“My parents died when my brother and I were born. The Twin Dragons adopted us. But they never told me or my brother anything about our family. I don’t know we are relating to…some rulers of a country?” I admit.

“Well, dragons can live for centuries. Dornion and Senali had been adopted The Vandil kids and protected as part of the contract between them and the royal family. When War of Dragons began, they continued raising the soon to be rulers until one day the tables turned and your homelands became battle fields. The castle exploded when a dragon blew a huge fireball, no one did survive.”

“But my parents… they lived.”

“And that’s what surprised me. The war happened 400 years ago. Maybe the Twin successfully saved some kids and took care of them in private so the bloodline of House Vandil could be descended. They could’ve protected the later generations until you. They surely loved humans more than any dragons ever did.”

Overwhelmed by the story the soul just shared, I stay in deep silence. I wonder why Dornion and Senali never mentioned this before. Does Hibernis know about this?

“Your story…it’s…”

“Unbelievable?”

“No, of course not. Souls talk from their hearts. I believe you. Actually, I’ve never ever imagined what my family in blood would be like. The dragons told me my parents passed away because of illness and they found us in a dying village. And that’s all. I never…wondered where did my last name come from. I never wondered who they were and now you saying makes me confused, or kinda feeling bad about it. Perhaps because I was happy I’ve already had the dragons and my brother as my family so I never questioned them about House Vandil. But still, I should have, right?”

“You weren’t even born when everything happened so do not feel bad when no one told you, I think they might have reasons. I died a historian and I’ll forever be a historian so, being a spirit or not, my job is telling the truth of history. When House Vandil officially vanished out of the monarch list, I was also dead. So everything I told you about the dragons raising the surviving kids is just me hypothesizing the events by connecting everything I know about The Twin Dragons and House Vandil. They could be wrong, anything can happens, there’s still mysteries to reveal, you know. However, I’m glad a young blood of Vandil still survives today.”

“Thanks. I appreciate what you’ve decided to tell me. What should I address you, Sir…?”

“The dead have no name. But in my whole life I was known as Adorellan Miadithas, I served King Aithlin Vandil, our last and mightiest king of the centuries. We vowed to fight for Atheton, for Kathania Dryas. We vowed to protect our country as long as we can, whether we live or die. We promised to speak the truth and tell our stories to the later generation. We promised to forever be protective to our people, be faithful in love and be loyal in friendship. Today we found a descendant, and we shall transfer promises with our latest king to the one. Lucerna Vandil, apprentice of Dornion and Senali the Twin Dragons of Heaven and Hell. Our homeland was gone, but our people fought till the end. No matter where you are, what you do, do not forget who we are, what we believe and our identity. Please pass this message to the next generation.”

And then, the mountain spirit disappears. And until 3 days later when I regained my magic and ready to leave, he’s not available anymore.

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

#fairy tail #fanfiction #fantasy #fairytail #sting x reader #sting eucliffe #sting x oc #natsu dragneel #lucy heartfilia #gray fullbuster #erza scarlett #wendy marvell #happy #eventual smut #fairy tail fanfiction #anime fanfic #fanfic #hiro mashima

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thenovelartist · 3 years

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A Blanc Slate, Chapter 6

OKAY! I'm just ready to see this story done, SO right or wrong, good or bad, we are going to keep chugging along and hope it ends up halfway decently XD.

16. Purring

It had been a revelation that had shaken Ladybug to her core. Chat… was dying?

He stayed silent, waiting for her to speak first.

“Chat…” Any and all words after that died on her tongue.

“That’s why I can’t be your cat anymore,” he said, voice ragged as though he was exhausted. “Because I have to get rid of this ring as soon as possible.”

“Then let’s look for a solution together.”

He shook his head.

“Why not?” she challenged.

“I have to do this on my own. This is my problem—”

“You’re my partner,” she countered. “Your problems are my problems, too.”

He sighed, looking weaker by the second. “I knew you’d say that.”

“Then why don’t you trust me to help you?” she begged, on the verge of tears. “Why are you cutting me out like this?”

He paused, his eyes avoiding hers as he lost himself in thought. “I have my reasons.”

“And they are?”

“Personal.”

Oh, dammit, Chat.

“Sorry,” he muttered, still not meeting her eyes. “But it’s better this way.”

“I don’t think it is.”

“I do, though.”

She grit her teeth, the pain in her heart growing the harder Chat drew the line between them.

“Trust me on this, bug,” he said, finally lifting his hazy gray-green gaze to her. “The backlash of my actions will come back to only me, and I don’t want you in the way.”

“I’d be willing to—”

“Oh, I know you would,” he cut in. “And that’s the problem. You…” He sucked in a breath. “You and Marinette both. You care far too much about people who are hurting. It’s not wrong, but… for people hurting to suddenly have safe havens like you is both the biggest relief and biggest weakness. Because if anything happens to that safe haven, we’re left with nothing. Mentally, it’s easier to leave the safe haven so it stays safe instead of watching it fall to ruin. Do you get what I’m saying, bug?”

The whiplash his words gave her made her head spin. She was sure he’d said other things before to that affect but never so clear for her to understand something she really couldn’t comprehend. “But… I can still be your safe haven even if you lean on me. I just help you get through all the other hard things. That’s what friends do, right?”

Chat’s ears fell, his eyes closing as he took a heavy breath. “There’s a limit to what I feel like I can ask you.”

“There’s no limit for me.”

“Maybe not for you, but I can’t cope with pulling you into this.”

Ladybug bit her lip, confused and hurt. He’d said before to Marinette that he loved Ladybug more than anything, so why was he pushing her away? Was he saying that he couldn’t lean on her because he cared for her? Because he couldn’t put that kind of pressure on her even if she was willing to take it?

She just… did not understand.

“Sorry,” he muttered, breaking the silence. “I figured you wouldn’t understand. So just… realize that I need to do this myself and stop trying to butt in to ‘help’. Because it’s not helping.”

There wasn’t anything else she could do. “Okay,” she relented. “Under one condition.”

His brow furrowed, and she watched his guard spring up again. “No. No conditions.”

“Just hear me out.”

“Why don’t you hear me out?”

Silenced, her words died on her tongue.

“I don’t want to pull you into this, and don’t go forcing yourself into my issues, either,” he growled, ears pinned back. “I’m asking one thing of you, and you’re trying to play fix-it by not listening to me. Stay. Out.”

There was no other option for her but to relent. “Understood.”

The edge of Chat’s intensity softened, his ears relaxing so they were no longer pinned at her. “Thank you.”

“This won’t be our last meeting, right?”

Chat quirked a brow at her. “Of course. I’ll have to give the ring back to you.”

Oh… right. “Still. You’re not going to just drop it off with me and run, right? You’ll talk with me? Please?”

He stared at her for a long moment before sighing. “Yeah. Fine.”

“Okay,” she sighed, sad and hurting but hopelessly unable to push forward anymore. “That’s all I ask for. I’ll leave you alone until then.”

“Thank you. Now, you leave first.”

Ladybug quirked a brow at him. “What?”

“I have to apologize to Marinette. And thank her for letting us use the room.”

“Oh,” she muttered.

“I don’t have anything more to say to you now, Ladybug,” he stated. “And I won’t until I finish this last mission. So please, just go.”

Though it hurt, she really didn’t have a choice. He’d said more than she’d expected him to, and he also made it clear the conversation was over. She didn’t want to push and risk pushing him away again. But with this in mind, she knew she’d have to think about how their last meeting would go and what she was willing to give to make him stay in contact with her.

She stood. “Okay. I’ll go tell Marinette you’re awake.”

“Thanks.”

She went downstairs, detransformed and waited a minute, as though Ladybug was explaining everything to Marinette. It was hard not to immediately go back up to him, but it had to be done for her identity.

But once that thought struck her, she realized that she’d likely know who Chat was very soon. If he was going to give the ring back to her, he’d have to detransform. She’d know what he looked like outside the mask. She’d be willing to beg for his name, as well as for anything he was willing to give her about him. A part of her had always wanted to know the man behind the mask. But she’d never wanted that more than now.

And if she had to give her own identity in exchange, she realized she’d gladly do it.

Eventually, she walked back up to her room and knocked on the door. “Chat?”

“Come in.”

She opened the door, and there was Chat, sitting right where he had been, except the smile on his face nearly knocked her off her feet. “It’s your room, you know,” he said, his tone teasing. “You don’t have to knock.”

She shrugged, unable to come up with any other retort. “You had both Ladybug and I really worried, you know.”

That smile of his disappeared. “Sorry, Princess,” he said, letting his eyes close and head fall back to lean against the wall. “I didn’t mean to. And I’m sorry about everything else, too. It’s not like I want you to have to take care of me—”

“I don’t mind,” she cut in, crawling up to her bed and taking a seat beside him, their shoulders touching. “Really, I don’t mind at all.”

He huffed. “You shouldn’t have to be babying this superhero.”

“Again, I don’t mind.”

“You’re not a caretaker,” he said. “And it’s not fair of me to take advantage of you like that.”

She shrugged. “You need help. And I’m happy to assist.”

He sighed, turning down to look at her. “I know I yelled at you before for being Miss Fix-it,” he eventually said. “But one of your best qualities is your willingness to help someone. But then again. Maybe it’s not.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because it makes me worry someone might take advantage of you.”

Marinette tilted her head. “Like… what are you talking about? I’m smarter than to let that happen.”

He huffed, sliver of a grin flashing across his lips before disappearing again. “Nevermind. Just… be careful who you let in your life. You… you’re a pretty amazing girl, babying a guy who can’t even tell right from left. You deserve the best, Princess.”

“You’re a pretty amazing guy, too, Chat,” she said. “Risking your life for Paris’s safety for years and still finding time to make others smile when you could. I want the best for you, too.”

He hummed, but didn’t respond. Instead, he leaned sideways, his head resting on top of hers. “Sorry, Princess,” he muttered. “I just… I really need a minute. And then I’ll get out of your hair.”

“Take as much time as you need,” she assured. Out of habit, she reached up, burying her fingers into his white locks right under his cat ear. He stiffened at her touch, but as she slowly scratched circles in his hair, he relaxed. If she was Ladybug, she would use this to start up a purr that amused her so. But she didn’t expect that this time. It was only to put him at ease.

But he ended up purring anyway.

The sound rumbled through her, somehow calming her heart. Oh, kitty.

She stayed like that for a while, long enough for him to fall asleep. And when she eventually realized that, she laid him down on her bed, curling up beside him, and ended up falling asleep herself.

17. Locked in

After that last time she’d met him as Ladybug, Marinette had noticed Chat seemed to be losing himself more and more. She hated watching it, that ring draining him dry. She just wished he’d tell her what he was doing so she, her Ladybug self, could help him. So she could save him.

But she couldn’t. Chat had told her no. And pushing would ruin any chance of saving their partnership.

“You seem to be pushing yourself really hard,” Marinette began, setting a plate of cookies in front of him. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Liar.”

“So what if I am?”

She sighed, taking a moment to focus on what she wanted to say and what she could say as Marinette. Which… wasn’t much.

Chat’s icy demeanor thawed. “Sorry. Guess I’m just on edge with everything lately.”

“Is it stress or…?”

He shrugged. “A combination of things.”

“From what I can guess, you’re pushing yourself too hard.”

“I am cleaning up a mess that I alone can deal with,” he said. “And… guess I can say it’s taking a lot out of me.”

Like your life and health. She bit her lip. “How much longer do you think you’ll be at this? Because watching you now is painful.”

He paused, silence lingering a long while once again. “I have one thing I have to get for Ladybug,” he answered. “That’s it. Then I’m done.”

She blinked her surprise, unsure if she was more shocked at his task or him being so forthcoming about it. “My guess is it has something to do with the miraculous?”

He nodded. “I thought it was locked in a… certain place. But it wasn’t. It took a while to hunt down, but I found it.”

“So… are you saying you’ll be done soon?” she asked, hopeful. “And then you’ll be able to rest and recover?”

He stared at her for a moment before reaching out to rest a large, comforting hand on her head. “Yeah. And then I should be back on track to be okay again, okay, princess?”

She blinked at him, already feeling her vision blur.

He gave her a smile, one weak from exhaustion but true nevertheless. “Thank you for caring about me. It means more to me than you realize.”

18. Oops

Her cat just kept wanting to give her heart attacks, didn’t he? If it wasn’t bad enough that he was already barely lucid half the time, Marinette had just come up on her balcony to see the white super sprawled out, unconscious.

“Chat. Chat!” She flipped him off his stomach as carefully as she could before checking him over for any sign his was breathing. Which, while shallow, he was.

“You’re going to be the death of me, damn it!” she hissed, plopping down on the ground and pulling his head in her lap. Gently, she patted his cheek. “Chat. Chat, wake up, please.”

He didn’t, at least not right away. It took a moment for him to so much as stir under her touch. And when he finally opened his eyes, Marinette felt herself sigh heavily in relief.

“Damn it, you stupid cat,” she said, heaving a sigh of relief while her gut still burned with worry. “You scared the crap out of me.”

His eyes shut for a moment. “Sorry,” he muttered. When he opened his eyes again, they seemed to be a little less foggy. Nowhere near fully lucid yet, but she’d take any bit of progress she could at the moment.

She sat there for a while, stroking his hair and pondering what she could possibly say that she hadn’t already said a million times before. She couldn’t tell him to surrender his ring now, since he seemed determined to see this through, nor could she tell him to go to Ladybug for help. He certainly wasn’t going to listen to her either way.

“What am I going to do with you?” she muttered, tears beginning to make their way down her face. She realized that too late when they rolled off her jaw to splatter against Chat’s cheeks.

“It’s almost over, princess,” he muttered, forcing a weak smile that clearly took a lot of energy out of him. “I’m almost done.”

“You’ve said that before.”

“I mean it this time,” he wheezed out. “I… I got it.”

Got what? She wondered.

It took her far too long to realize what he meant.

“You’re really almost done?”

“Yeah,” he said, reaching up a shaky hand to roughly brush away the tear trail on her cheek. “Almost done.”

She could have cried in relief. Now, she had to prepare herself for his meeting with Ladybug. “Are you going to meet Ladybug now?”

He opened his mouth, but froze, words seemingly stuck in his throat.

“Chat?”

“No,” he answered solemnly, the light seeming to fade form his eyes. “Not… I need… I need a moment.”

Her brow furrowed. “To collect yourself?”

“To… recollect everything,” he said. “Because… it didn’t go as planned. And to call it the second big ‘oops’ I’ve made is just… too much an understatement.”

Suddenly, Marinette’s gut was back into such a tight knot she felt like she could throw up. What happened, cat?

A stupid question. Because unless she could work some Ladybug magic on him, she doubted she’d ever know.

#miraculous ladybug of course #marichat #marichatmay2021 #Ladynoir #sneaking in here again

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thewhumperinwhite · 4 years

Text

May 6: Tied to the Mast

While Kian is being horribly tortured on one ship, Aaron is getting Mildly Bullied on another.

This is for @amonthofwhump‘s Water Whump 2020 challenge. I missed a couple days, partly because I didn’t have specific ideas, and partly because It’s Finals Week. Anyway Here’s This. This is roughly simultaneous with Anchor

Previous: Anchor / Caught In A Net.

TW for: very mild reference to past abuse as punishment for a speech impediment; smoking. Also, Dessa Tries To Start An Argument About Religion.

----

While it certainly isn’t comfortable, it doesn’t actually hurt as much as Aaron worried it would. Really, the ropes around his waist and arms hardly bother him at all, physically. The heat of the sun is a bit much, and it’s making him very thirsty, but other than that they haven’t hurt him at all.

Aaron supposes that makes a degree of sense, because he’s pretty sure he’s only here because the Pirate Captain thought it would be funny? So there was no cause for them to pull the ropes particularly tight.

Also he told them point blank that he’d never held a sword before, so perhaps they justifiably assumed he wouldn’t be trying to struggle his way out.

The rest of the crew is belowdecks, or at least he’s fairly sure they are. It’s possible they’ve been killed and thrown overboard, but Aaron would like to believe the best of these pirates for as long as possible, because otherwise he thinks he’ll probably cry.

When they’ve done getting the ship ready to make way (or at least that’s what he assume they’ve been doing; Aaron doesn’t know anything about boats), the Captain picks up a crate from elsewhere on the deck, deposits it in front of the mast (and, by extension, Aaron), and sits down on it, lounging back and pulling a large ornate pipe from her brocaded jacket.

Aaron will be the first to admit that he doesn’t know anything about women. He feels he doesn’t even really know what people expect of women, let alone what actual women are like. Still, he is fairly certain that the way the Pirate Captain is sitting is not considered ladylike. He feels it would not be wise to mention this, so he just blinks down at her while she lights her pipe, instead.

“So,” the Captain says, and she blows a fairly impressive smoke ring in Aaron’s direction; it breaks against the coil of rope around his chest. “You’re a man of God, eh?”

Aaron... genuinely isn’t sure what to say to that. “I... suppose?”

“You suppose?” the Captain says, raising her scarlet eyebrows. The Abbot had a saying about redheads and their inherent relationship with the devil; Aaron’s brain starts automatically trying to summon the specific memory and then he remembers that she is a Pirate Captain and probably the Abbot would disapprove for more pressing reasons than the color of her hair. Though Aaron, who has admittedly spent a few hours in the heat and is not thinking the most clearly he ever has, can hardly look at anything else. The Captain’s hair is a cloud of the reddest, wildest curls he has ever seen. Also, he has never seen a woman without a kerchief over her hair except his mother, and her hair was straight and black, like his.

“Won’t He be disappointed to hear you aren’t sure?” she says, smirking, her pipe in one corner of her mouth.

It takes Aaron a moment to realize they are still talking about God, somehow.

“Oh,” he says. “Well. No, I, you see, I actually haven’t graduated yet.”

“Graduated,” the Captain says, shaking her head, still smirking.

“Yes,” Aaron says, and he can feel his cheeks heating up out of sheer awkwardness because this is in fact the most he has spoken to any woman since he left his mother. There are women who clean at the Abbey, but you’re not allowed to talk to them. “Well. I— they won’t ordain me until I. Until I serve my first parish, actually. So I’m— I suppose I am—” He is a man of God, he is, objectively; he doesn’t know why it suddenly sounds so grandiose a thing to claim. “I suppose I am... a m-m-m-an of God.” The Abbot had been fairly proud of the effect he’d had— or his walking stick had had, anyway— on Aaron’s stutter; Aaron thinks with despair that this is another thing to add to the list of unfavorable reports the Abbot will receive when he finds out what has happened to Aaron.

Assuming he ever actually does find out. Assuming they don’t dump his corpse in the middle of the sea when they’re finished with— whatever they’re doing now.

He clears his throat and makes himself keep talking.

“I’m just not a. P, -riest. Yet.” He says it like that, Puh-riest, because his tongue locks up halfway through. Perhaps it would be best for everyone if they dumped him in the sea and had done with it, after all.

“Hmm. That makes my question a bit more interesting, then,” the Captain says, resting her elbow on one of her spread-open knees. “Why did God sink your ship, young master Not-A-Priest?” She asks pleasantly, looking up at him with her head tilted like a large, deadly, blood-colored cat.

“Uh?” Aaron says, in an act of eloquent apologetics.

“You’re on your way out to make converts, aren’t you?” the Captain says, still with that dangerous feline glitter in her eyes. “So why did God scupper your ship? Doesn’t He want you to reach your destination?”

Aaron blinks at her. He has the unfortunate feeling, sending extra sweat down his already-soaked back, that he is either being made fun of or utterly failing a test. “I think— I think the wind scuppered the ship, actually. It— did something to one of the masts? I don’t know very much about boats.”

“Yes, I can tell that from your cravat alone,” she says, grinning, and Aaron feels himself go red all the way up into his ears. “But doesn’t your God control the wind, shepherd? Did your Lord, perhaps, intend us to come to your rescue? Perhaps he was trying to save our poor damned pirate souls, eh?” Her eyes twinkle at him, and he has the sense that she’s setting some kind of trap, but he also feels his mouth moving almost on its own accord, far faster than his brain.

“Oh, he wouldn’t send me to save anybody,” he says, almost desperately.

The Pirate Captain blinks at him, and then she throws back her head and laughs, long and hard, like a baying dog.

“Ah, God,” she says, wiping at her eyes. “God, I’m going to like having you aboard, little Priest.”

#red queen's wake #waterwhump2020 #ww-no.6 #tied to the mast #religion tw

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spacegaywritings · 4 years

Text

Warming Paws and melting Walls (4/8) “Little Talks”

General

Summary: Lunch break rolls around. Remy and Emile make a deal.

Tags: food, eating, employer/employee, pining, remy, emile, kitty Virgil, quick mention of bereavement, sick days, systematic issues, ew world, fish, feeding the beast, mutual crushes, genderqueer characters, migraines, headaches, pain mention, exhaustion.

My KoFi - Support me ♥ or Commission me

ao3: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 // all.

tumblr: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 (you are here!) / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8.

Story under the cut - Word count: almost 3k

Remy sighed and pushed his keyboard away, effectively managing to continue to press until the keyboard was unable to go any further since it hit the screen’s humble frame. Eventually, he just worked to drive himself away from the big desk he was working at. The swivel chair let him roll all over the floor, the tiled ground smooth and willing to let him pass without obstacle. Virgil commented his shenanigans with a little movement of their ear. It was just a quick flinch. Remy was not sure but he suspected it meant he was listening or registering noise at least.

It was cute.

But.

This bastard cat was sleeping.

The man sighed again.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me, Queen, I swear-”

Well, no matter how threatening the fancy man tried to be, it did not reach the napping cat. The little void was all comfortable in his lap. There was not a single motion at his dramatic actions, not even a simple reaction. There was nothing but a bundle of black, so black that they camouflaged themself into the blackness of Remy’s pants. All that distinguished one from another was the slow movement of rising and falling.

Virgil was breathing alright. That was good.

Could cats have breathing problems? The vet said the cat was okay. Still, he made a mental note to look out for any signs.

Knowing they were okay for now - with a pass by the vet - Remy felt like he could breathe much better himself. He had not noticed it but he released a soft sigh of relief. His eyes lowered to just watch the little blob of colourless something rest on his thighs.

“I have lunch time, V, would you kindly get up and be awake and do cat things? You were awake all morning with me!”

Despite his complaints, Remy’s words were barely audible. The receptionist was more or less hissing to himself and it sounded like a small snake cursing the world somewhere from the little hidden corner on the other side of the room.

Far, far away.

His threats were as empty as his condescension. Nothing but attitude.

The kitten remained still and as much dopamine as there was being released within Remy, he could not help but wish to move...then again, the kitty cat was absolutely warm and the little weight on him was somewhat comforting in a refreshing manner.

He had already finished most of his work despite having been late this morning and even needing to deal with a certain storm of emails and phone calls. Not to forget the actual real life human people that encountered him face to face.

Ugh - the worst kind of people.

Oh fuck, he wanted more coffee. He wanted all the coffee he could ask for and then just nap for a few minutes and then get work done and go home and read some dumb romance novel.

Don’t judge.

He needed to get his prince charming from somewhere. It was not like Remy was dating anyone particularly... existing in the first place. And he just really craved some fucking love shit every now and then. You know, the soft trash with people holding hands and giving each other pet names and one bringing flowers for the others and that one thinking of a certain habit the one has so they are considering it in their regular activities.

Remy’s facial expression faded from soft into something akin to receiving news of a bad weather day when you planned on doing any outdoor-activities with friends.

It just ... it was missing.

“Ah! You are done?”

Remy flinched, his little dream world immediately breaking down as the voice cut through the silence of his new office. His fantasy bubble blobbed violently on impact of Emile’s intrusive words hitting him. He looked up. A person was standing there, apologising and knocking. Knocking after already standing in the doorway and having addressed him.

It was not a knight in shining armour to save a bored damsel in distress nor was it prince charming, ready to sweep the sleepy man off his feet.

It was just his boss, Emile.

...But it was his boss, Emile.

Remy smiled and let himself fall back into his chair. He had not noticed how he had sat up with the sudden noise interrupting his thoughts. And his arms were slung around a sleepy yet awake little Virgil. As always, his grip was rather loose around the kitten. In a case of need, he would be tehre to hold and hug them, though.

“Aw, I am sorry. I should have knocked before. Did I wake them up?”

Remy blinked and nodded. Virgil was not awake but he nodded anyway, just doing it for literally no reason. Emile saw the sleeping kitten but did not comment.They squinted for a moment, worry shading their features.

Was that just him or did it smell of food already?

Oh fuck, he had forgotten about the food. Bitch, this cat would literally make him forget and miss about everything and all. First his post-work nap, then his rave, his whole weekend, now his work and lunch break were affected, too.

“You got food? Come in, come in.”

This little void was easily eating away his whole life without any hesitation. He readily let him.. In his defence, they looked so cute when yawning. The charcoal demon was stretched out on Remy’s lap and pushed their tail against his chest, turning to Emile and meowing at the boss.

Did they seriously greet them? Literally, Remy could not- this cat!

Or maybe they meowed at the smell, it did kind of smell nice after all and the kitten had slept through his entire time here after he had gotten to work. Not even Virgil liked mornings or staying up. At least they could get back to napping, Remy jealously noticed.

“Virgil just woke up, what a coincidence”, Remy spoke, words jokingly snippy as he carefully picked up the kitten and stroked through their fur.

“Good morning little sleepy head.”

The kitten replied with a big orchestra of purrs and an eager bonk as they crashed their head against Remy’s. Little ferocious kitten attacking him.

“Emile, I promise they want to kill me!”

They laughed and held up a bag of food, slowly swinging it from one side to another.

“Maybe we can bribe them with some lunch? It’s on me, meet you in the lunch room.”

Remy carefully squeezed the kitten as his higher-up turned around to show their graceful behind, clothed in layers of pastels and beige. They looked the softest in the most boring yet also least boring way. It was weirdly hot, in a kinda cute and endearing way. Also, pastel colours just looked soft and somehow, they made it look professional but in a trustworthy and warm kind of way.

It made Remy feel fuzzy and he hated loving it so much. Damn them for being so wickedly attractive.

He swallowed his secret pining away and decided to get his kitten ready to follow Emile and get some food. Once he had his phone pocketed and his grip on Virgil secured, he was ready to walk after them. When they were close enough, he snuck over to the other side to handle whatever the heck Em wanted to talk about.

Knowing them, it was probably something nice and soft or extra work that would get paid for super well because Emile was about the most considerate employer he had ever met. Also, because Remy was working as an untrained accountant while receiving full pay for handling literally all this business. Emile only made the official calls. Remy did not mind it because he knew, they somewhat advocated for this stance that employees were actual human beings. This meant they had needs and therefore were to be valued and appreciated and given space and freedom, so they could be creative and work effectively with as little restrictions as possible.

Hence, Remy was allowed to hang up whatever kind of pictures and decorate his office in any kind of way. Well, nudity and such was not allowed, considering sometimes minors would enter the clinic as well, but other than that, Remy had challenged the therapist a lot.

They never let him down.

Also, they handled his amount of sick days without issues and allowed him to hand in more sick days than he legally had to accept. They easily brushed it off as half-work day or employer-covered vacation. You know, like the stuff you got when sick days counted but in that case, you did not have any and still got pay and zero threats. Or like, bereavement leave and all.

Emile and Remy got together and the former put out the meals and slid them into their respective places as Remy got some plates and cutlery. The lunch room was a small kitchen. It had the most essential things. Virgil was standing on Remy’s seat and lurked around. Their tail was showing despite the table stealing the view on them. Emile could see them and they saw the tail slowly swishing from one side to the other.

Hovering, waiting. Patiently. Like a predator.

Remy returned and put the plates down.

“Kitty, what the fuck are you doing”

Virgil meowed, eyes wide. Their tail stood upright with a little curl forming itself into its tip. This little void was living the life of luxury and decadence to just eat and be carried, then sleep and get woken up only to get some more food.

Remy was thriving on this attitude. What a luxury hoe. Such a Queen.

“Remy, I think your cat will eat with us”

His boss chuckled quietly and seated themself while Remy just sighed, rolling his eyes. By now, his head was hurting already. Not much but it was starting to hurt - moving hurt. It felt heavy and made him sleepy and exhausted.

Concentration was.. slightly off. Especially his sustained attention.

He carefully picked up his void and put them into his lap.

“Meow!”

“Yes, Virgil, yes. You will eat with us, just calm down.”

The kitten wiggled in his lap and put their paws on the edge of the table, looking at the hot sweating food containers.

“Virgil, behave. Come on, honey”, Remy warned.

Even his voice seemed heavy and tired. He missed his nap. In spite of this, he was being an attentive “temporary pet-keeper”. His hand moved to gently nudge the paws away from the table. Then, he picked them up to let the kitten dance dance dance a bit.

“I am a good kitty and I will wait”, Remy mimicked softly and moved the paws from one side to the other as Virgil patiently stood on their hind paws and stared at the world in confusion.

Emile giggled at the display while Virgil did not know what the heck was going on. Did their temporary owner go insane? They pulled out another chair on which they prepared a smaller bowl with a bit of fish in it. No seasoning or spice or anything. They had gotten it from a nearby store they had visited on the way to pick up the food order. After all, they had not been sure about whether or not Remy actually had brought some food for the kitten but apparently, this arrangement worked and Virgil’s interest was sparked.

They watched the bowl move from Emile’s hands over to the seat and once the bowl was settled, the kitten launched themself over to the chair and ducked their tiny raven head into the big bowl. Their whole head disappeared in it and only these dark ears peeked out from within.

Silent chewing noise could be heard.

“Remy! Remy! They eat the food I brought! Look at this kitten!”

The receptionist couldn’t deny himself the joy of a small smile as he looked over at the small bundle of darkness hunched over the food bowl and purring in delight. In addition to this, Emile was giggling, beaming in delight and genuinely touched.

Remy looked up at them. For a moment, their eyes locked but they both looked away, averting their gazes to look at Virgil instead.

It was rather silent for a moment, safe for the rhythmic vibrations coming from Virgil. Apparently they enjoyed their food.

“Hey, hey - careful now!”, he warned with a grin on his face.

He nudged his sunglasses off his head and let them slip down and onto his nose to cover his half-lidded eyes. They gleamed at Emile for a moment.

“If you keep that up, maybe you will be their new favourite human.”

Emile held their chest for a moment and settled opposite of Remy. Their cheeks seemed slightly reddened but they concealed it by tending to the food. They put some of the steamed vegetables onto their plate and added some fried rice. To top it all of, he had a bit of natural yoghurt from the fridge.

They returned the playful shine in Remy’s eyes by smirking at him.

“You say that as if this was a bad thing, Remy “

Remy snorted.

“You say this as if you were planning to take this poor little cat away from my horrid claws, Emile.”

Remy had finally arranged his food on his plate, steam curling upwards from his curry and rice. Even the food containers were still sweating and smoking in heat. They looked as if these containers acted like some sort of sauna. He fed himself a first spoonful of fried rice - the tiny brown one that looked like some holy glazed rice and so small it barely qualified as anything at all - and leaned into his seat.

Oh, this was just delightful.

Savoury flavour bloomed in his mouth, exploding in contrasts to the soft and squishy rice with the slightly harder vegetables. The different tastes stimulated his tongue just right.

If someone said foodgasms were a lie, they were missing out on this delight. It was the most subjective of all paradises.

“The thing I wanted to talk to you about-”, Emile started, taking a bit of time to drink something in between.

Talking all day made their throat as dry as a sand dessert.

“You can keep my office and let your cat come to work with you but I need to ask a little favour of you. I am sure you will want to agree! “

Remy shifted in his seat. He blinked for a moment but gave a small nod to indicate he was not just listening to probably on board for whatever Emile was planning to have him do. The therapist let their lips curl into a genuine smile.

“We need to give our new offices a makeover! I bet you would feel more comfortable in a novel set of four walls, huh?”

The receptionist’s cheeks darkened by a whole shade and his chest jumped for a minuscule moment. Just a little harder. He was sure it was visible and even the kitten raised their head to look at the two, staring into Emile before letting their gaze rest on their temporary owner.

However, they quickly lost interest and returned to chewing on their food.

“Well, that sounds amazing but I.. Virgil isn’t mine.”

Emile blinked and the kitten meowed, nudging back the bowl and retreating to Remy’s lap. He willingly picked up the void and brushed through their fur as always. The bowl was licked clean and absolutely blank. Apparently, the cat was more than just a bit into it.

It was silent once more. Even the cat did not purr despite the soft head scritches they got. Remy pursed their lips, a shadow hitting their face.

Their whole beauty was obstructed.

“See, their owners still might answer. I put up some signs and made a few posts on forums about missing pets. When I went to nearby shelters and called vets, I gave them a picture of Virgil and left my contact details around. They are not tattooed but they are too tame to be a wild cat.”

Remy shrugged, voice deflated as he continued. The narrowed their eyes at him. The idea of an unaffected Remy seemed unrealistic. The man was cuddling the cat and wanted to call in sick - while knowing about how scarce his sick days were.

“What if someone moved and accidentally left Virgil abandoned? Or they ran away during the chaos of moving?”

He sighed.

“You know, if nobody responds within a week, I think I will take you up on it. Until then I will just steal your office, honey.”

His low voice swung up at the end of his sentence and he even let a small smile grow on his lips. Anyway, it was time to pay attention to his food. It was so much better than to look at Emile’s doubtful face.

“You know what”, Emile countered, “I have the feeling Virgil will stay with you. Nobody responded in days and they are attached to you. It would be cruel to separate you know.”

They helped themself to a bit more vegetables.

“Just you wait, Remy.”

The receptionist smirked back at them.

“Whatever, honey~”

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