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hedwig221b · 2 days ago

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Hi! I’ve been slowly making my way through your fic rec master list and I was wondering if you have any recs for fics that are modern ranch hand/cowboy au?

Thank you for all that you do for us!! You’re the best!

Thank you for the kind message! 💖

Drive Home (The Long Way 'Round) by Queen_Whovian

The two hour drive that should have brought him to Ashburn was interrupted by a squeal from under the hood. The lights on the dash flashed before a warning code blinked on. “Oh, you’ve gotta be,” Stiles pulled over just as soft gray smoke started to billow from under the hood, “fucking with me.” Just as he pressed his foot to the brake, a grinding shook the jeep’s body. Stiles groaned, letting his head fall back against his seat. He pushed the parking brake and shoved himself out of the car, “Some type of fucking car. How far away are we, Roscoe? Like ten minutes? Couldn’t just make it to Scott’s place, you just had to break down in the middle of nowhere. God-fucking-damnit.” Life seems to be having fun fucking with Stiles, stranding him in the middle of Nowheresville, Tennessee after a Hellish six months at the office, but Scott is here. And there's a guy willing to help him fix his car. So it can't be all bad. He hopes.

They Just Ride Away by pinkhorizon

Derek comes home from the long cattle drive to his brown-eyed, honey-drawling lover.

Dusty Boots and Saddle Sores by eeyore9990

I don't know how to summarize this fic, so here are the things you need to know: Derek wears boots, rides a horse named Wolf, and everyone has a low, slow West Texas drawl. Isaac plays the piano and Boyd says "ain't." Stiles is a little shit. So that part hasn't changed. ** The Old West AU you didn't know you needed.

the trees call your name by spaceprincessem

“That was a long time ago,” Derek finally said, his face falling into its usual cool facade. Stiles felt like he had been punched in the gut. Two worlds, right? Except, it had never really been two worlds at all. If they lived in two worlds, Stiles wouldn’t feel this unexplainable ache that ran deep in his bones. It had always been one world, with water slipping into the cracks, until there was an ocean between them. Stiles was always caught in the riptides, dragged out to sea where he was left to drown, sinking below the surface as Derek grew further and further out of his reach. “Yeah,” Stiles agreed, forcing his lips to turn up in the corners, noting the slight crack in his voice, “long time ago." aka the high school friends to lovers ranch au that no one asked for, but the one that i wrote anyway. This fic is finished, I will just be posting it in two parts!

Wild Horses by thepsychicclam

Derek's a drifter with no home, no destination, and no will to live. Stiles works on his family's failing cattle and horse ranch while all his friends are going off to college. When Derek falls asleep in a random barn, exhausted and half-starved, he doesn't expect to wake up on the other end of the sheriff's shotgun. And Stiles sure as hell doesn't expect his dad to invite the drifter in for breakfast.

back again (for the first time) by hot_damn_louis

“There was a—” Stiles shook his head, unable to believe it himself, “— a ghost.” It had been years since Stiles had seen a ghost with his own two eyes, and not through a fancy camera or on pictures. He saw it, the column of light, at the end of his bed. If he wasn’t frozen, scared to even move, he might have been able to stretch his leg out and kick it. He was that close to it. aka Stiles is house sitting with his sister Lydia for the summer on a farm in the middle of a ranch in Texas. And even though he's a retired ghost hunter, the rumors of the Mad Monk ghost on the Hale ranch are too enticing to stay away from.

Mail Order Stiles by Green

Stiles laughs. “The day I become a mail-order bride is the day I eat my hat.” “You don’t even wear a hat." “I’ll buy a hat for the occasion,” Stiles says. “A white one with a veil.” (Stiles doesn't eat a hat, but that's just because he's too busy with his new husband, his five children, his new husband's ex, and a deadly feud with the neighboring ranch)

Holding On & Letting Go by orphan_account, Winchesterek

Derek Hale is an Alpha without a pack, on the move with memories haunting his footsteps. When he answers an unusual ALPHA WANTED ad, he finds himself somewhere unexpected, finally able to rebuild a family and his hope for the future.

One Door Closes by KouriArashi

Derek knows that Stiles is too young for him, but Stiles doesn't agree. Eight years after Derek rejects him due to the age gap, they meet again where Derek has settled in Wyoming as a ranch hand, and Stiles is the new deputy, and still pissed as hell about the way Derek turned him down. Things don't go as either of them planned. (I'm sure a million fics have been written about older Stiles and Derek, but this one has cowboy Derek, does that help?)

light returning by lilysaid

Derek skips town just after the Nogitsune. When he realizes his mistake, he sets off to find Stiles, make amends, and keep his feelings for Stiles hidden. Two out of three isn't bad. Pining, bed sharing, highly-suspect platonic touching, and shameless adoration of Derek's beard.

[masterlist link]

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crowttore · 2 days ago

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Genshin characters as ways animals court and mate

Welcome to another round of (hopefully) the weirdest biology lessons you'll ever receive. Essentially a shitpost, someone should take away my writing privileges. There could be better suited animals out there, I just chose from the ones I know.

Characters: Childe, Xiao, Xinyan, Dainsleif, Diluc, Albedo, Ganyu, Ifa

Not seeing your fav character? Find more here

Tags: nsfw in the way a national geographic documentary is, there are no graphic details but proceed at your own discretion

Childe / Ajax / Tartaglia - Vulpes vulpes (red fox)

Am I pushing an agenda here? Absolutely. Childe gets excited when he notices that you're beginning to pay attention to him - however sparse it may be - and does everything he can to interact with you, making sure to keep it fun and engaging (both for himself and you). Bright and cheerful while courting you. Childe is generally very easy-going but doesn't take kindly to others getting too familiar with you and he can, in those instances, turn quite territorial. Has a habit of disappearing for long periods of time on missions, but when he's there, he's very devoted. Male foxes get aggressive towards other males around breeding season. Courting includes loud calls and frolicking around with a chosen mate, typically play fighting and nipping at each other. Male foxes stay to help raise the pups, letting the female stay with the pups for the first weeks while he fetches food daily.

Xiao - Drosophila spp. (fruit flies)

This one isn't exactly a calculated move on Xiao's part, and he'd prefer that this wasn't a byproduct of sexual intimacy (intimacy of any kind really). Due to his karmic debt, Xiao affects his surroundings and 'taints' them. On his partner, this means that for a time after being with him, they experience mild symptoms akin to those you'd experience after being in close proximity to old god remains. The emotional effects last a couple of hours and make others less likely to engage in any kind of social behaviour with you. Drosophila males use a pheromone to mark a female as unattractive after mating, reducing the chances of his sperm being outcompeted. Some evidence suggests that the pheromone has mildly harmful effects on the female.

Xinyan - Cebuella pygmaea (Pygmy marmoset)

It might not come as a surprise that the courting (or dating) phase isn't particularly long with Xinyan, after all, you lose every chance you don't take. She has little care for norms, if she likes you, she'll let you know first chance she gets! Through music, Xinyan has a multitude of ways to convey her thoughts and feelings, be it with or without vocals. No matter her way with words, writing songs couldn't prepare for standing in front of you and getting the words past her lips, but she'll figure it out. One thing you hadn't expected is the way she slowly adopts your way of speaking (as you do hers) allowing you to develop what might sound like a completely new language to outsiders. It makes both of you laugh from time to time while spending quality time together, realising what you're saying sounds like a load of nonsense. Pygmy marmosets have incredibly complex vocal calls and a great intuitive understanding of how sound travels and interacts with things around them. Pairs will 'sing' together to strengthen their bond, and new pairs will rapidly adjust the sound, length etc. of their calls to create new and unique ones to use with their partner.

Dainsleif - Antechinus spp. (Marsupial mice)

Dainsleif yearns. And he lingers. His love is vast as an ocean and just as deadly- he knows (thinks) it will drown you both the moment he lowers his guard. For this reason, you're kept at arms length for a while, unsure if he wants you gone or not. It's impossible to tell with his tendency to appear for a moment and be gone the next. Every time you think yourself free and healed, he appears again to drive the blade further into both your hearts. When he finally caves, in a moment of weakness, the love he shares is passionate, the ferocity of a starved beast, keeping you awake throughout the night, crying out his name in pleasure. When you awake next, there's nothing but a scribbled apology next to you. Dainsleif doesn't return after that, but you swear he still lingers in your periphery. Marsupial mice have uhh interesting mating habits. Males are ready to breed a few weeks before breeding seasons start and females enter ovulation. Mating is intense but has a narrow window of opportunity. The males funnel so much energy into maximising reproductive capabilities, using up all energy storage, that a vast majority of males die off after mating. The level of free corticosteroids increase in the males during mating, which suppresses the immune system significantly.

Diluc - Pygoscelis papua (Gentoo penguin)

Once Diluc finds himself ready to settle down, you can rest assured that plenty of care went into that decision. After hovering around you for a while, slowly finding that he doesn't wish to be without your presence (I could write so much about this turning point for Diluc whew) he presents you with two seemingly odd items. One is an old-looking key, the other a locket containing a few grape seeds. The key is for the back-door to the winery so you can always come and go. The locket belonged to his mother and the seeds inside are for you to plant. He hopes you're as ready to settle down and build a life together as he is. Gentoo penguins build their nests out of rocks and males will essentially present a female with a carefully selected stone to signify "I would like to build a nest with you". Gentoo penguins are also known for being very strictly monogamously, to the point that sleeping around or attempting to can get an individual kicked out of the colony.

Albedo - Siphopteron quadrispinosum (sea slug)

This is dedicated entirely to you Petal <3 And to everyone else, sorry. While Rhinedottir did everything she could to make Albedo, he's lacking in certain places. Which was fine. Until he met you. But that's fine, he has a solution to that. He's spent weeks fussing over creating everything that would be needed, a bottle of pheromones to get you properly prepared and a perfectly shaped rod for insertion, the tip sharpened for piercing your skin of course. A lot of sea slugs are hermaphrodites and will, after feeling each other up, stab the other with a penile stylet and inject their fluids. Some of them do it directly into the other's head. The penile stylet regrows.

Ganyu - Capra spp. (Goats)

Sweet docile Ganyu absolutely adores it when she gets to cuddle up to you, especially if your arms are wrapped securely around her. At first, you find her tendency to bury her head into your armpit a bit odd, but it's pretty endearing to be honest. Xianyun clearly makes sure her daughter is dressed to impress, and although Ganyu flusters easily; especially when you grin happily upon seeing her, you have no doubt she enjoys the compliments. Each sweet word is rewarded with a little kiss to your forehead (why her smile always looks a little sad when she pulls away is something you'll have to ask about, maybe she's still insecure around you?) Oh I promise you dear reader, this particular behavior is not a sign of insecurity. Goats are self-anointing animals, meaning they make sure to smell. For goats, this behavior includes males urinating on their forelegs and his own face, which combined with a secretion from glands located at the base of his horns, ensures a seductive scent. Some females have been observed to completely refuse mating with a buck who's had those glands removed.

Ifa - Giraffidae spp. (Giraffes)

When Ifa has to travel, he makes sure to always stop by your place every chance he gets. Some might call him clingy (and they would be correct) but he simply can't stand being away from you for more than a week at a time. There are, of course, certain benefits to dating a vet (what are humans if not animals as well) and Ifa is always looking out for you, running a few tests here and there, and making sure you're in top condition, he's quite the attentive partner! Back to the 'needy' point, Ifa can't keep his hands off of you. In fact, he can't keep his tongue away either, always licking at your skin before inevitably nudging your legs apart to have a taste. Male giraffes roam while looking for opportunities to mate, with them going into rut approximately every two weeks. They determine if a female is in oestrus by tasting her urine. If the male moves on to courting, he will start licking the female, attempting to rest his head against her, and occasionally give a little nudge with his ossicones.

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fluffyseapancakes · 3 days ago

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Found Family

First fic I've written in a while (like two years???) so please forgive me if you see any formatting errors or I commit a Tumblr faux pas. It's been a while lol.

AroAce!Reader x ler!Bucky Barnes x ler!Steve Rogers (all platonic)

Notes: tickles, bad date, some angst, mentions of periods.

Word Count: 4,645

You're a SHIELD agent who always had to prove yourself and as a result, bottled up your emotions. You decided to go on a first date due to pressure from your family but it doesn't go as planned, so your found family is there to support you and make you laugh.

Being embarrassed never really phased you. Growing up with three high-achieving older siblings, taking college courses where you were often the only woman in the class, and getting your ass beat over and over again while training to be a SHIELD agent helped you develop enough of a thick skin to shrug the emotions off. Sure it still stung, but you refused to let it show and instead, worked tirelessly day and night to prove everyone wrong. In a span of three short years, you went from fresh out of college nerdy IT kid to a highly respected SHIELD agent specializing in Threat Intelligence Analysis. It was a pretty cushy job, you had your own office but was allowed to work from home if you wanted to, great benefits, a salary that allowed you to live comfortably, and best of all: no field work. As long as you had your equipment, you were able to assist other SHIELD agents from the comforts of your own home (or office).

Until one afternoon, your supervisor dropped the bombshell that you will be relocated due to a privacy breach that a foolish intern forgot to report until it was too late. Because of all the high-risk cases you had worked on including tracking down Hydra sleeper cells, your name was on the top of the list.

“But Hydra is barely a threat now, those cells weren’t even operational,” you tried to plead your case.

“That is true but the breach wasn’t organized by Hydra,” your supervisor calmly explained, “that list went out to multiple terrorist organizations. They have your name and address, and I am not risking your safety. SHIELD is sending you somewhere safe until the breach is contained and we figure out who started this.”

“There’s nowhere else that’s safer than SHIELD’s headquarters.”

Your supervisor shook her head, “Our security measures are not as secure as we had hoped. Arrangements have been made for you to stay at Stark Tower in the meantime.”

“Wait…Stark Tower? With the Avengers?”

“Yes, Agent. Is there a problem?”

“I just have some concerns that I may not be the best fit with the Avengers,” you tried to hide your anxiety but your supervisor could sense it through your stoic exterior, “I’m afraid I may be a hindrance to them.”

“You’ll be fine Agent,” your supervisor patted your back reassuringly, “Tony Stark has already briefed them about you and apparently they are all excited to meet you,” she winked.

“Wait what??”

2 Months Later

Your supervisor was right, fitting in with the Avengers was much easier than you expected. Tony cleaned out a spare room for you to use as an office and he marvelled at your equipment, asking you questions that you were pretty sure he knew but it was his way of making conversation. Everyone respected your space and never commented when you spent the entire day in front of your computer. Eventually you started spending most evenings with the group and played games, watched movies, and ate pizza with them. Sam Wilson gave you the nickname “Baby Avenger” because of your young-ish age and you pretended to hate it, but it was nice to finally be included in a group of friends. You were the youngest in your family and college classes so you spent your whole life trying to act mature like your peers. But now, watching Thor throw popcorn at Steve Rogers while Bucky Barnes pretended to strangle Clint Barton over a game of Uno, made you realize how fun it was to engage in childish activities.

After only a few months of moving in, you developed a close relationship with Steve and Bucky fairly quickly. You considered all of the Avengers your best friends, but the super soldiers were extremely protective of you and you started viewing them as older brothers. They took you out for ice cream when you needed a break from work, pulled small annoying pranks to make you smile, and treated you like any normal young adult instead of a hardened SHIELD agent.

“You know what I just realized?” Steve announced as you walked into the kitchen, still drowsy from sleep. He and Bucky were sitting at the counter sipping on their black coffees and reading the newspaper, which you silently noted to tease them for later. But first, you needed coffee.

“Revelations this early in the morning?” You yawned. You grabbed a plain white mug from the cupboard and poured the piping hot coffee to the top. Bucky cringed as you carefully carried it to the counter, half expecting the coffee to spill and burn you.

“We’ve never heard you laugh,” Steve continued on, “not even a single chuckle.”

“Not everyone laughs like you and Thor,” you rolled your eyes, “and smiling counts.”

Bucky snorted and shook his head, “Smiling isn’t the same as laughing, Doll.”

“Then give me something to laugh about.”

“What, you’re saying that we’re not funny?” Steve dramatically placed a hand on his heart.

“If you both are so hell-bent on making me laugh, go ahead. I’m busy tonight so you knuckleheads will have time to brainstorm,” you took a generous swig of your coffee.

“What’s going on tonight? We don’t have anything planned,” Bucky sounded so sweet and in that moment you wanted to reach out to pat his head like a puppy.

“I have a date,” you winked.

“A date?!” You swore you heard their hearts stop at the same time.

“What? My supervisor told me it’s fine as long as I have a tracker on me, and I need to get out and socialize with normal people.”

“Who is this guy–?” Steve interjected.

“–or lady,” Bucky quickly added.

“His name is Ben, we were in the same training group at SHIELD but never really got to talk. He reached out the other night wanting to catch up so I’m grabbing dinner with him tonight.”

“We need to know everything about this guy. Didn’t you say everyone in your training group were assholes?” Bucky said with concern written all over his face.

“Relax, it’s been over three years. People change and besides, he was the only one I could beat in a sparring match so I’ll be fine.”

“But with the data breach…” Steve started.

“You two have been constantly telling me to act my age, going on one date isn’t going to hurt anyone. Tony and Nat approved,” you glared at Steve and Bucky, “and I promise I’m not going to do anything crazy.”

Bucky groaned in his hands and rubbed at his eyes, “Fine, but you’re getting a curfew and you have to keep us updated.”

“I have it all under control,” you smirked.

You, in fact, did not have any of this under control.

You conveniently failed to tell Tony, Nat, Steve, and Bucky that this was your first date. The closest experience you had was going to homecoming with your older brother’s friend in high school but the poor guy just felt insecure about going alone and after pictures, he abandoned you at a table while he tried to flirt with other girls. College didn’t give you any time to date since you were getting a dual degree and dating during SHIELD’s training was a big no-no (although some trainees found time to hook-up every now and then). You’ve never cared about dating or relationships but with your older siblings settling down, you started to feel the pressure from your parents. One day you made the mistake of sending a selfie of you and Bucky in the family group chat and everyone grilled you about him until you muted your phone after twenty consecutive texts from your mother. When Ben suddenly reached out to you, you figured this was a good time to test the dating scene and hopefully appease your family.

However, the moment you opened your closet, you realized you had no idea what you were doing. Ben suggested a casual diner known for their burgers and milkshakes so you took out a cute blouse and jeans, but it didn’t seem right. Should you wear makeup? But you rarely wear makeup so would Ben think you’re trying too hard? Are tennis shoes low effort? Is jewelry and perfume too much?

Eventually you settled on a simple summer dress with a cardigan and flats, a cute outfit that allowed enough freedom for combat if necessary. You opted out of jewelry (choking risk) and perfume (you realized you didn’t have any). After checking your reflection for the hundredth time, you nodded with approval and grabbed your handbag to head out.

“Hey Tony, I’m leaving,” you popped your head in Tony’s office. He looked up from whatever gadget he was tinkering with and smiled.

“You look cute, got the tracer on?”

You nodded and pointed at a little heart shaped pin on your cardigan, “I’m protected.”

Tony grimaced jokingly, “Have a good time kid. If this Ben guy gives you a bad time, say the code word and we’ll be there to kick his ass”

“Does the code word have to be drama llama though? It’s pretty stupid,” you groaned.

“Yes, now get out of here before Barnes and Rogers barricade the door,” he chuckled, “they are not happy campers right now.”

“They’ll get over it, see ya later,” you waved goodbye and headed to the living room where Steve and Bucky were sulking and watching TV like toddlers that were told they can’t have an extra cookie for dessert.

“Alright kids, I'm heading out. I’ll be back by 10,” you tried to keep it lighthearted but Bucky looked like he was about to rip someone apart and Steve had his sad eyebrows on.

“You look cute, Doll,” Bucky mumbled, “text us when you get there.”

“Got it,” you turned and headed out to the front door, a little peeved off by their reactions. You understand that they’re overprotective of you, but you can’t miss out on life just because of them. You straightened your back and started the short walk to the diner, you were going to have fun and it will prove to them that not everyone has bad intentions.

…

You arrived at the diner a bit early, the server led you to a little booth in the corner and handed you a rather expansive menu. She asked if you wanted to order any drinks or appetizers but you told her you’re waiting on someone and they will arrive soon. She gave you a cup of water anyways and you quickly texted the Avengers group chat that you were at the diner. Your phone quickly blew up with heart emojis and words of encouragement from everyone except for Bucky and Steve.

6:28pm.

You and Ben agreed to 6:30 and the nerves were definitely lighting up. You kept on making glances at the door so you could wave him down when he came in. Would you recognize him? It’s been over three years, he was tall and scrawny with overgrown hair that your trainer forced him to cut. At first he was awkward and quiet, but by the end of their program, he was pretty popular and charismatic. He was funny enough to be well-liked by the top trainees and after the haircut and bulking up a bit, you’ve caught him making out with a woman or two. He wasn’t mean to you, but wasn’t exactly nice either, which you didn’t mind. You wondered where he ended up after graduating from SHIELD’s training program. He wasn’t athletic nor good with firearms, but he was smart and proficient with computers and programming. You’ve never seen him in your department so he didn’t go into IT.

You realized you were lost in thought and checked the time.

6:43pm.

You scanned the diner quickly to see if he had grabbed a table without seeing you, but the only other customers were you and a couple across the room.

Not wanting to sound desperate but also somewhat worried, you texted, Hey, just checking in.

The server came up to your table, you felt your face heat up when she looked at you with pity.

“Can I start you off with any fries or a milkshake, sweetheart?”

“Is it okay if I have a few more minutes? He’s running a bit behind.”

“Of course,” the server nodded and walked away.

As if the universe was laughing at you, the diner started to fill up quickly and you knew you were inconveniencing the server by taking up an entire table without ordering anything. You check your phone again.

7:16pm. No new messages from Ben, but your text was marked as seen.

You sent a thumbs up and a burger emoji to the Avengers group chat to get them off your back. You wondered if the server was talking shit about the girl who’s been hogging a table for an entire hour without ordering anything with her coworkers. The burning sensation in your face started getting even warmer.

7:45pm. You saw a text from Ben pop up on your phone, you immediately opened the message, relieved that he’s alive and not taken hostage by Hydra or aliens. It was probably going to be a long winded apology about how his car broke down and his phone died, or his cat got sick and he had to take it to the vet, or he got pulled into a last minute mission, and you two would laugh it off and reschedule for another date.

Except all you saw on your phone’s screen was a singular laughing emoji. You felt your stomach tighten. This was probably a mistake right? A simple typo that he would immediately apologize for sending? Or maybe he was actually in danger and this was a code word for help?

A million possible responses to the emoji flooded your brain but all you could do was reply, What?

The text bounced back with a red flag, Unable to send to the recipient.

Great. Stood up and ghosted on your very first date. Steve and Bucky were right for being overprotective, they probably saw this coming from a mile away. They knew that no guy would go for a 24 year old woman with no experience and a lifetime of unresolved emotional baggage. In fact, you weren’t sure if you were ever interested in a sexual or romantic relationship with…anyone. You just agreed to this date to appease your family and out of desperation to feel “normal.” Who were you kidding thinking that a popular and social guy like Ben would be interested in a woman whose ideal night was sitting in comfy pajamas and watching terrible horror movies with your friends. Steve and Bucky knew and they were too kind to tell you the truth.

But now you were sitting in a packed diner. Frozen.

The server came over with a sympathetic look on her face, “Hey darling, are you sure you don’t want anything to eat?”

You snapped back in your SHIELD agent persona and smiled at the server, “Yeah, my friend couldn’t make it. May I order eight cheeseburgers with fries and a strawberry milkshake to-go please?”

“Of course sweetie,” she wrote down your order on her pad and walked away without any questions, as if she knew exactly what happened. Shame and embarrassment flooded your body, you haven’t felt this way in a long time and all you wanted to do was go home and sleep.

A few minutes later the server brought out a bag with the food and a large strawberry milkshake which she insisted was “on the house.” You wanted to cry from her kindness and tipped her generously. Then you left the diner wondering how the hell were you going to explain this to your friends. They would know something went wrong if you came back over an hour before curfew. You also knew they were going to immediately interrogate you about Ben and you weren’t a good enough liar to craft an elaborate story about a mediocre date where although he was nice, you two decided to be friends. You decided the best method was to drop off the food, tell everyone the date was fun but you’re not feeling well because of period cramps, and head off to bed before anyone could ask you a question. It was the perfect story, your friends knew your period cramps were horrendous so you walking into the room with a miserable look on your face wouldn’t raise any concerns. Then you had the night to figure out what to say to them the next morning.

“I brought gifts,” you strolled into the living room where all the Avengers were well…assembled and dropped off the bag of burgers and fries on the counter, you took a sip from your strawberry milkshake which was heavenly to say the least.

“You’re home early, is everything okay?” Nat said with concern, you could tell she was preparing herself to make a man “mysteriously” disappear.

“Oh yeah, I had a nice time. But the period cramps hit so I decided to call it a night.”

“Do you need any ibuprofen, Doll? Or tea?” Bucky got up to raid the medicine drawer.

“I’m fine, it’s just started so it’s not too bad. I’m going to take a bath and go to bed.”

“We’re going to need all the details in the morning,” Sam grabbed a burger from the bag and took a huge bite, “damn that hit the spot.”

“Thank you for grabbing us dinner,” Steve smiled and rubbed your back gently, that little touch of empathy made you want to cry all over again, “go get some rest.”

You smiled and headed to your room, feeling a sense of relief when you were alone. You loved your friends to death but they liked to ask questions and were much more observant than a regular person. You were used to bottling in your emotions and taking it out on work or training, but this felt different. You felt vulnerable and young, this shame didn’t come from SHIELD training, it was a feeling that many people in their twenties have gone through and you had no idea how to deal with it. For the first time, you felt lost, hopeless, and out of control.

You flopped down on your bed and stared up at the ceiling. You’ve seen friends go out on dates and listened to them talk about the butterflies in their stomach while daydreaming about finding “the one” and getting married. Sometimes if the date went really well, they would share the more intimate details of effortless flirtations and sharing the night together in each other’s arms.

Of course with dating, there were rough times where you listened to your friend cry over the phone after getting cheated on, or the one time you beat up a guy for giving your friend a black eye during an argument. You’ve watched the beautiful moments (and unfortunately the dark moments) of relationships but you’ve never felt like you wanted to experience that yourself.

Did you want to kiss and share a bed with Ben? Your face crinkled at that thought. From training with him and seeing his social media, he’s the perfect package with a handsome face, fit body, incredibly smart, and has enough charisma to rival Bucky and Steve’s. But you knew you didn’t want to sleep with him, much less get married and settle down with him.

You thought about Bucky and Steve. Women and men flirted with them endlessly when the three of you went out, you knew that they were attractive, but you could never see yourself having a sexual or romantic relationship with either of them. The thought alone made your stomach turn.

Have you ever been sexually or romantically attracted to anyone? You frowned, trying to think of all the people you’ve met throughout the years. You’ve been so focused on your career that you didn’t think about these things, but your siblings are in long-term relationships so maybe…

Maybe I’m broken? You thought sadly.

You heard a knock on the door and you sat up, pushing your emotions back down again.

“It’s Dingus 1 and Dingus 2, may we come in?”

“Yeah sure,” you laid back down on your bed and rolled over like your stomach was in pain. Gotta play the act right.

“We know you're not on your period, “ Bucky said.

“Um excuse me, are you mansplaining my period?”

Steve raised his hands in defense, “You said you had your period two weeks ago so we figured either something else is wrong or you need to see a doctor.”

Busted. You forgot you were curled up on the couch in the living room two weeks ago cussing at your reproductive system and clutching onto the heat pack that Nat had kindly bought for you.

“You got me,” you sighed and rolled over onto your back to look at the ceiling again. “Did something happen on the date?” Steve sat next to you and gently stroked your hair.

“Well there was no date. He made me wait for an hour and ghosted me.”

Bucky was ready to hunt down this guy, “That fucking asshole.”

“I’m surprised you know what ‘ghosted’ means, you old men.”

Steve and Bucky gasped, "We're young and sprightly!”

“Definitely something old men would say while drinking black coffee and reading the newspaper,” you shot back with a small smile.

“You know Buck, remember that discussion from this morning?” Steve grinned like a Cheshire Cat.

“Of course, we may need to resume this discussion.” Bucky rubbed his hands together with equally an unsettling smile on his face.

“Well good luck because I’m in no mood for jokes,” You mumbled.

“They’re not jokes,“ Bucky sat on your bed next to you and Steve, “just a little trick for older siblings to make the kids behave.”

“You’re not ticklish, are you?” Bucky swiped a finger down your arm, you used your SHIELD training to mask your emotions but in reality, you were internally freaking out because you were ridiculously ticklish and even worse, you didn’t mind it.

“Of course not, that’s for kids,” you mumbled, trying to mentally erase away the goosebumps on your arm.

“You calling us kids now?” Steve teasingly grabbed your sides and the unexpected movement made you squeal. Shit.

“Never heard you make that sound before, I like it,” Bucky wiggled his fingers on your neck, you bursted out into bubbly giggles and shook your head.

“You know what happens to liars,” Steve pinned your arms up with one hand and scribbled his blunt nails along your belly with the other, “they have to be taught a lesson.”

“W-wait!” You exploded with high-pitched laughter as Steve’s unrelenting attack on your belly and Bucky moving down from your neck to gently squeezing right above your knees sent you into a ticklish hell (or heaven?).

Laughter. Something you haven’t done in years. You were surprised by how higher pitched it was compared to your usual speaking tone. It was airy, relaxed, and childlike. Hearing your laugh for the first time sent shivers down Steve and Bucky’s spines. After a few moments of tormenting you with tickles, they held you in silence for a bit while you were getting your last giggles out.

“So what really happened?” Steve was the first to break the silence, always never afraid to ask questions.

You explained to them about everything that happened at the diner. They listened intently and gave you reassuring hugs whenever you struggled to find the right words to explain the situation.

“That asshole doesn’t know what he’s missed out on,” Bucky rubbed your back, you could tell he was struggling with hiding how pissed he was about Ben.

“Yeah sweetie, you’ll find someone who will love and respect you,” Steve wrapped his arms around you and gave you a squeeze.

“Well that’s the thing…I don’t think I want to be in a relationship. It’s never appealed to me and I’ve never looked at someone and thought they were attractive or I want to date them. That’s weird, isn’t it? I just agreed to this date because I thought it was something I was supposed to do. People are meant to be in loving, meaningful relationships so there’s something deeply wrong with me,” the words poured out of your mouth before you could stop them. It was the first time you were truly vulnerable and you started to feel embarrassed again.

“It’s true, people should have loving, meaningful relationships,” Steve agreed, “but those relationships don't have to be romantic or sexual. They can be between friends, families, or coworkers.”

“I think you have plenty of loving and meaningful relationships,” Bucky smiled, “we love you to death, and so does everyone else here. We all care about you and want what’s best for you.”

“And it’s not weird that you don’t feel certain types of attraction towards other people. That’s who you are and it’s totally valid,” Steve teasingly wiggles his fingers against your side, “and as your honorary older brothers, that makes our jobs easier.”

“Hey!” You laughed, leaning into Bucky to get away from Steve’s fingers, only for Bucky to latch onto your ribs. A sudden electric shock went down your spine and you had to hold yourself back from screaming with laughter. Bucky looked at you with surprise and chuckled.

“Well that’s a good spot to keep in mind.”

“F-fuck you!” You laughed, doubling over and trying to get away from Steve and Bucky but they held you firmly in place on your bed.

“You talk like a sailor but laugh like an angel, that’s adorable,” Steve laughed and dug into your sides just a bit more, making you squeal and tried desperately to push him away.

“Alright alright,” he and Bucky decided to be nice (tonight) and gave you mercy. A wave of warm sleepiness hit you and they helped you lay back into bed.

“Any requests for breakfast tomorrow?” Bucky smoothed out your covers that got a bit wrinkled and tangled up from their attack.

“Pancakes?” You asked hopefully.

“And bacon and eggs,” Bucky promised as he and Steve both gave you a kiss on the forehead.

They quietly left your room and turned off your lights. Once Steve closed the door, Tony came walking down the hallway.

“Oh there you two are, is she alright in there?” Tony glanced at your room with concern, “She seemed kind of upset when she came home.”

“She’s okay now,” Steve smiled, “sleeping like a baby.”

Tony chuckled, “Well I’m glad. Her supervisor contacted me earlier and said they found the creeps who organized SHIELD’s security breach. She’s safe to go back home but if we believe that she’ll be an asset to our team, then she can stay. It just has to be a unanimous vote.”

“Hell yeah she should stay,” Bucky immediately jumped in, “we need someone with her brains and experience on our team.” “I agree,” Steve nodded, “and I have a feeling that we’ve all been in much better moods since she got here. She balances us out.”

“Awesome, I will get the report to her supervisor and make her a permanent resident,” Tony nodded with a knowing smile, “and now we all get the time to make her laugh.”

“You heard her?” Steve chuckled.

“Her room’s vent is directly connected to my lab. Lovely sound, I would love to recreate it myself.”

You slept soundly through the night despite the negative events that had happened earlier, your heart was filled with love, trust, and acceptance from your found family. You realized with the Avengers you never had to pretend to be anyone but yourself, and that was the best relationship you could ever hope for.

#reader insert #ticklish!reader #tickle fic #tickle content #ler!bucky barnes #ler!steve rogers #lee!reader #ticklish reader #aroace reader #avengers tickle

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loliskywalker · 21 hours ago

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Showing Love

James Kelly x Fem! Reader

Summary: Free from prison, but still bound to one undeniable truth: he needs to see her again. And he knows exactly where to find her — the bar where it all began... and maybe, where it could all begin again.

Words count: 1.4k

Author’s notes:

This was a request from @haynakin , and I was more than happy to write it. And honestly, I loved writing about James!

Big thanks to @moonlightkb for helping me develop this one-shot. love you babe 😉🩵

English is not my first language! I'm sorry if you have any mistakes or a word that doesn't match the context so much.

Feedbacks are welcome! I'd love to know what you thought of this one-shot.

Genre: angst + fluff

Dividers by @strangergraphics

In the summer, Los Angeles seemed to shine even more at sunset. The waves breaking on the horizon allowed us to breathe and reflect on the beauty of the city. It's that view that helps me relax at the end of each workday.

"Hey, are you coming later?" — I heard Jenna's voice behind me as I started putting my belongings into my bag.

"I don't think so, Jenn. I'm a bit tired and just wanted to rest a little."

"Then come relax with us! It'll be fun — we can drink and talk about the ridiculous outfit *you-know-who* wore today," said the brunette with a hopeful smile. "And you didn’t come last Thursday."

"Alright… Is it at 8 p.m.?"

"7:30 p.m. at Joe’s."

"Okay. I’ll stop by home to take a shower and meet you there."

After a long shower, a quick makeup session, and a slightly messy room caused by my indecision in choosing an outfit for no real reason, I left for the bar listening to music. I always liked getting ready to go out, so it was actually a pleasant moment.

The music echoed through the place, and the mix of warm and cool lights created an inviting atmosphere for a summer night. In the back, I spotted Jenn and Sarah talking animatedly.

"Look who finally showed up!" — said Sarah as I approached.

"Hey, Sarah!" — I greeted the blonde with a quick hug and did the same with Jenna. "How are you two? Have you ordered anything?"

"We’re good. We just ordered some beers. Here, take one."

In no time, we were immersed in laughter and gossip. What felt like just a few minutes quickly turned into hours. When I noticed it was almost time to leave, I decided to get a different drink.

"I’ll be right back, going to get a drink from Joe."

"Okay, we’ll wait for you so we can leave together."

"Hey Joe, can you make a Sex on the Beach for me?"

"Of course! So… how are things with James?"

"What do you mean, ‘how are things with James’? We’re not together anymore, Joe. Is he here?" — I asked, confused, since I hadn’t seen him since the last time I visited him in prison. That was months ago.

"He was here last Thursday. Said he’d been on a trip with his brother and stopped by to see if he could find you, but you didn’t come," he explained.

Trip with his brother.

Joe’s words made my whole body tense up and my breath caught in my throat. That simple phrase brought back something I had been trying to forget for a while. Thinking about him still hurt, because of how everything ended.

"I didn’t know he was back… from his trip." — I said, shaking my head slightly, trying to push those thoughts away. "But either way, it’s not my business. And honestly, I don’t want to see him again."

"Then I think you might have a hard time with that," Joe said, glancing toward the door just as it opened with the sound of the bell. "This one’s on the house," he added with a half-smile, handing me the drink before turning to finish washing glasses.

"Thanks, Joe," I said, taking a big sip and feeling the burn of the alcohol down my throat. That feeling took over me completely. Moments later, the seat next to me was occupied by the last person I ever expected to see. His scent reached me — the one that used to calm me now made me feel uneasy. Yet, there was still something about it that drew me in, inexplicably.

"James.”

"I was looking for you," he whispered, his breath unsteady, fingers nervously tapping on the counter.

"So I heard."

"You changed your hair… It looks nice," he said, drawing a dry laugh from me. As he turned to face me, our eyes met. His freshly cut dark hair gave him a more youthful look. His black shirt and dark blue flannel rolled up at the elbows, enhancing your forearm tattoo, along with his broad arms, contrasted with the intensity of his blue eyes, which now gleamed with an indescribable feeling.

"If that’s all you have to say, I’m leaving," I said, standing up and pushing the stool back into place.

"I missed you. I still do."

"James, stop."

"I’m being serious. Can we talk?"

"I don’t think we have anything left to say. You made it pretty clear months ago what you wanted and what you thought," I replied, walking away toward where my friends were.

"Are you okay? Did he bother you?" — Jenna asked, noticing my discomfort.

"I’m fine. I just want to go home." — We paid the bill and headed for the exit.

"See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah. See you tomorrow, girls." — I said goodbye to Sarah and Jenna, then walked to my car, which was parked a little farther away in the lot. But it seemed like, out of nowhere, my night decided to turn upside down — my car wouldn’t start no matter what.

I sighed as I realized it was no use. The exhaustion and alcohol made me rest my forehead on the steering wheel. I got out to see if I could figure out what was wrong, opened the hood, and fiddled with a few parts I thought might be the issue. I left the hood open and got back inside to try again. The engine still made weird noises, but finally, it started.

I stepped out to close the hood and heard footsteps mixing with the sound of the car.

"From the noise, it sounds like the belt."

"I’ll take it to get checked tomorrow. Don’t worry about it," I replied, trying to ignore his presence.

"I could take a look for you."

"Can we not do this?" — I asked, turning to face James, who looked pale and tired, tension heavy on his shoulders.

"Do what?" — He cleared his throat, as if trying to say something he couldn’t.

"This," I said, gesturing between us. "You don’t get to say you miss me. Not after you pushed me away. Not after you left me waiting for hours. After I went to the prison to see you and you never showed up."

"I’m sorry. Look, can we please talk?" — His eyes shimmered as he stepped closer, his jaw tense and hands clenched at his sides.

"I don’t think we should. It’ll only bring more pain," I said, crossing my arms as a cold breeze hit me. I stepped back and reached for the door handle, looking at him again. "It’s too late."

"I love you."

Those three words made me freeze.

"I love you. And I know I don’t deserve you. Not after everything. But for once, I want to be selfish. Because the pain of losing you doesn’t go away. I let myself live without you, but I can’t anymore," — he shook his head slightly, closing his eyes as if the thought crushed him — "the idea of not having you… of seeing you with someone else… it suffocates me," he finished, his voice low and strained.

He stepped even closer, just one pace away from me.

"I want to be the one who makes you feel loved. I want to be the first face you see in the morning. To play the piano for you while you drink cheap wine before bed," he murmured, closing the space between us. "I want to be worthy of being by your side. I’ll do anything for that — just let me love you one more time."

His words made my heart race in a way I’d never felt before. His lips hovered inches from mine. I tried to think clearly, but gave in. I kissed him like never before. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe our conflicting emotions. The bittersweet taste of his lips mixed with tobacco and the weight of everything between us hit hard. His arms wrapped around my waist, holding me like he couldn’t believe it was real, while my hands found their way to his neck.

When we couldn’t breathe anymore, we pulled back just enough to press our foreheads together. I felt the cold metal at my back. His right hand cupped my face, and in a reflex, I leaned in and kissed him again. Slower this time, but still intense — pouring everything I felt into that moment.

My love for him had never left. It was wounded, yes, but still alive. Love can be given by anyone, but being truly loved — that’s something different. And in James, I once felt that. And I have no doubt I can — and want to — feel it again.

hope u like it! thank u for reading 🫶🏻 And feel free to comment on what you thought of the one-shot

#hayden christensen #hayden christensen characters #james kelly x reader #james kelly #james kelly x female reader #james kelly x you #loli’s one-shot #hayden christensen x you #hayden christensen x reader #hayden christensen imagine #loli’s moots #hayden christensen imagines #James Kelly one-shot #anakin skywalker #star wars

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hoboblaidd · 2 days ago

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Solas during Inquisition truly is Solas on vacation. Yes, the world is ending and yes, it's his fault (for real this time). But -

His job is to be a nerd. He doesn't have to any orders, he doesn't have to lead an army or manage a spy network, and he doesn't have to make any decisions. They care to ask his opinion and actually listen when he gives it, but nothing is expected of him.

When they're at his old home base, he gets to read, paint, and argue with Varric all day. He can talk freely with the servants and get to know the people and their struggles, joys, and value.

When they're in the field, he gets to go hiking and eat decent food he doesn't have to scrounge. He rediscovers lands he's walked for millennia. He feeds and clothes refugees, he shelters mages, he guides spirits and elves making their way through a changed but beautiful world.

He's surrounded by wildly different, complex, and competent adults - Sera is two out of the three - who aren't afraid to give him a piece of their mind. They make fun of him, they bicker, they tell stories around the campfire. He plays games with Bull, he has a prank war with Sera, he shoots the shit with Blackwall, he discusses down-to-earth philosophy with Cassandra, and trades stories with Josephine. Even the people he isn't friendly with - Vivienne, Dorian, and Cullen - he respects in his way. He finds a best friend in a dwarven novelist merchant. He finds a kindred spirit in Cole. He finds something that feels like a family.

Some days are better than others. He feels overwhelming grief, suffocating guilt, immense regret, the burden of duty and the lies that come with it, and frustration and anger at both himself and the inadequacies of the world. But though the full truth of it is suffered alone, he's surrounded by people who care. Not because he's a leader or a god. Just because he's Solas, and he's their friend.

It's the best year of his life.

#bonus points: he gets to make out with the hottest elf this side of arlathan #inquisition solas is just #the best

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thesoftboiledegg · 17 hours ago

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After poking fun at Marvel years ago with "Vindicators 3: The Return of Worldender," Rick and Morty set its sights on DC with "Ricker than Fiction." However, instead of roasting superhero movies for 20 minutes, the writers came up with a loving parody that allowed real-life DC alums to join in.

I loved Zack Snyder's cameo because he's been a long-time Rick and Morty fan, to the point that he met with Dan Harmon about making a movie, and letting James Gunn voice himself made his appearance a lot funnier. Celebrity parodies are usually lame and don't age well, but I could get on board with this because he basically played himself as a character.

The plot wasn't that original, and it stretched the characters a little (Rick always criticized superheroes in the past, and now he's suddenly invested in a franchise?), but in this era of superhero fatigue, the writers found a narrative beyond "Action movies are dumb!!" This episode combined a DC parody, a Rick and Morty adventure, some surprising character moments, a dash of social commentary and a fictionalized look at the life of a DC director.

I don't know how far in advance the writers' room produces scripts, so maybe they wrote this episode before AI took over, but Rick's Movie-lizer seems like a jab at AI-generated fiction. He explains that the machine uses a "prompt-driven CPU" that auto-generates changes to the script. Sound familiar?

As predicted, the machine goes haywire, leaving Rick and Morty trapped in the movie. When Jerry says that the plot is a mess, we get another appearance of Dan Harmon's famous story circle--the first since the Story Train episode in season four.

From there, the plot is fairly predictable, but the writers managed to throw in some twists that kept me guessing. I knew that Rick, Morty and Jerry would have to fix the plot somehow, but I didn't expect James Gunn to barge in and hilariously sabotage their efforts.

When he took control of the Movie-lizer, I figured he'd start writing his own script and make the situation crazier. The fact that he just tried to steal the machine instead seems like a missed opportunity, but I'll admit that Gunn tying chains around the machine and trying to haul it away with his car like he's relocating a fridge is a lot funnier.

And it led to Jerry having some great moments: beating up James Gunn because he wanted him to betray his family, doing his best to save Rick and Morty, and crying when he thought they were dead. Near the end, Rick proves that he believes in Jerry despite everything.

He might've slipped in another dig at AI, too. Maybe it's just me, but "Any idiot can plug an idea into a machine when they don't care what it spits back out, but it takes a special kind of idiot to get on the keys and write us an ending" sounded like a jab at people who choose prompts over original writing.

Speaking of Rick: after he stumbled in "Summer of All Fears," the rest of the season has emphasized that he really is changing. He's still mean, crabby and inconsiderate, and he struggles with empathy, but he's there when it really counts.

When the villain bites Morty, Rick whacks him on the head with a shovel, killing him instantly. Later, Morty furiously confronts Rick and shoves him to the ground, yells at him and shakes him, and Rick does...nothing. He doesn't even launch into an insult-filled tirade. Instead, he takes the beating with a silent frown. Is he finally realizing that he can't keep using his strength to hurt his grandson?

Just like he surprised himself by getting attached to Karen and Doug in "Cryo Mort a Rickver," he surprises himself again by getting attached to Tannenbaum and sacrificing himself instead of letting Morty kill his new favorite character. And then we get yet another "Vat of Acid Episode" reference...the writers never get tired of going back to that one, huh?

Morty's not afraid to speak his mind, either. When Rick told Morty to assemble the bad guy's henchpeople, I think he had confidence in Morty's ability to take charge and sway them with his natural charisma. The writers have backtracked on Morty's character development before, so I don't want to get too excited, but I hope this is headed somewhere.

While this episode is ostensibly about DC, it might also have some meta commentary about Rick and Morty fans. You get attached to characters you thought you'd hate (or I did, at least), you want to see Rick change ("Everyone sucks until they don't. That's the arc of every good story"), and Adult Swim is never going to be able to please the maniacs who want the show to return to season one again.

And even if it doesn't, you know Zack Snyder had a blast talking about Rick like he knows him personally. He's ONE mega-fan who won't be crying about season eight.

#rick and morty #rick sanchez #morty smith #jerry smith #james gunn #zack snyder #season eight #review #rick and morty season 8 #ricker than fiction #dan harmon

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dross-the-fish · 2 days ago

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What does it take to be friends with each of the Motley Crew?

Because, I would love to be friends with Quincey, Selma (they seem to be very kind people), and Adam.

I would also say Jekyll/Hyde, but they are obviously unhinged, and I would probably die, so...

It's really circumstantial. Quincey is pretty easy to make friends with. Be nice and a generally decent person and he's down to be buddies. A lot of people tend to mistake him for being bookish because he a little over formal and wears glasses. Once you are his friend he's ride or die, as Larry can attest. He sometimes clashes with his schoolmate Robert Liddell (Alice's son) but never holds petty grudges. Larry is more shy so he may take awhile to warm up to you. He prefers people who have kind of an off-beat sense of humor and don't take life too seriously. Not the most outdoorsy he prefers to hang around reading magazines and listening to music in his room so if you're good with just hanging out at each other's houses you've got a life long friend. Selma is looking for a good time. She tends to live like every day is her last and if you want to spend time with her you might want to be ready to do some hard drinking, fast driving and gambling with your life. Honestly she is a little bit of a thrill seeker. She is smart enough never to bite off more than she can chew and her risks are calculated but they are still risks. She has a touch of wanderlust and is a bit grizzled and haunted but she has a good heart. Theo is the kind of person who seems very friendly and charming but you'll discover after awhile that she's holding you at arms length. She'll never be rude or aggressive but she's not making any efforts to let you know her intimately. if SHE feels like she's vibing with you then she'll open up a bit. She might start small, little conversations about her Nan and missing Ireland and eventually work her way up to deeper more emotional topics. She wants a confidant and companion. So far her closest friends are Selma and Adam. Watson, depending on your age he may treat you more like he's your stern but kindly father than a friend. He does like adventure and gets really swept up in the excitement of a mystery. Indulge his sense of wonder and he's pretty easy to befriend. Erik, if you like music, magic tricks, are willing to recognize his genius and don't balk at his body count he's not hard to befriend. The Daroga will tell you to lower your expectations though. Erik is kind of like feral raccoon. Inexplicably there will be some mysterious noises coming from behind the walls at night, and some of your things will disappear only to reappear in odd places. He generally only comes out at night and if you startle him he will scamper away, disappearing into tight places you didn't think a whole person could fit. But he is a very polite gentleman and when he's not being a wet gremlin he's fine company.

Adam easy to make friends with as long as he believes you're being sincere. You can bond with him over going on long hikes, appreciating nature, reading poetry and debating over philosophy and literature. Jekyll/Hyde likes good people, is drawn to good people, especially if they are passionate and inquisitive. He does prefer the company of educated people and gets very impatient if he feels like the other person can't keep up with him intellectually. You have to accept that being his friend means you're going to get a lot of cattiness and petty spite. He is amused at the misfortune of others and being someone he likes doesn't make you immune to his abuse. If you can handle the fact that he's awful he can be a lot of fun and he can be very civil and congenial. He loves his work and is fascinated by the strange and the supernatural so his conversations can be very interesting.

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icy-book · 1 day ago

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For the terronica fans: Vampire Terry jr meets monster fucker Veronica

Veronica reads a ton of those cringy monster erotica novels that every mom has, and she is way more excited than Terry expected when she found out she’s got a real life vampire in the house! He’s not really the bodice-ripper type, but thankfully she’s also into sad pathetic vampires who look at her like this 🥺

Thank you for your consideration :]

Finally completing this after *checks watch* 3 months. I hope you enjoy!

This was very much not how Terry planned on Veronica finding out. After all, being found guzzling blood from a plastic bag very clearly labelled "Lark's blood, A+, tested like a week ago, nerd" was not exactly the most glamourous moment of his life. In his defence, he just wanted a midnight snack.

"Is that... blood?"

"...no," he lied unconvincingly, taking another small sip of the very clearly labelled blood bag filled with a very suspiciously blood-coloured, and blood-viscosity, and blood-smelling liquid.

"Hold on," Veronica said, turning on the lights to reveal his fangs, normally hidden, on full display. He didn't need them (he was using a straw, because he wasn't an animal) but instincts are hard to control when feeding. Her eyes went wide with.. fear? Maybe? He'd never been good at expressions.

"You have fangs?!" She was practically bouncing. Excitement then, not fear. Wait, excitement?

"This is... a good thing?" he said in disbelief.

"Of course it's a good thing," she scolded lightly. "You've seen my erotica collection, why wouldn't I be excited about you having fangs?"

"Just because you like reading about vampires doesn't mean you'd actually be happy about having one in your house! You know, where your kid is."

"So you're actually a vampire?" Clearly, she did not view him as any sort of danger. Which, to be fair, he was drinking blood like a Capri Sun while sitting on the counter cross-legged. He knew he wasn't exactly intimidating at the best of times, let alone now.

Veronica climbed up onto the counter with him, leaning against his shoulder. "Soooo. You're hungry?"

"No, I'm drinking blood for fun," he deadpanned, much to his wife's amusement.

"I'm just saying," she titled her head back, exposing her neck, "I don't mind feeding you, if you want."

He awkwardly held up his blood bag (open) (straw in it) (being drank from), and chuckled at her pout, giving her a peck on the lips.

"You're sweet, Vee. But I hate puncturing skin. Can't even watch when I get my blood drawn." Her pout growing stronger only increased both his amusement and affection for her. "I'm not exactly a sexy creature of the night like in your books."

She sighed. "No, not really." She kisses his cheek and wrapped an arm round his waist. "You are adorable though. My cute little bat."

"I can't become a bat."

"Never mind, we're getting divorced."

#asks #writing requests #terry jr #dndads #veronica marlowe #writing

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deniouroboros · 3 days ago

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Hush (10x4)

The Gentlemen have got to be one of the coolest monster designs I've ever seen. The way they float down the street with their straight jacket hounds made it for me. Such a neat episode, the way it was shot was really well done too, a step up from previous episodes. The production value in general feels like it's gone up in Season 4. The entire silent lost voices premise was really neat, funny and intriguing, honestly could carry an entire movie (I loved the bit where Xander thought Spike had bit Anya.) The music was really cool, too, unlike any of the other bits of soundtrack they've done for the show so far. I love when the show decides to have a more horror oriented episode. I was aware of The Gentlemen as they're often bought up when someone asks about scary monster designs, especially in television, but I also was aware of them in tandem to Slenderman which they may have provided inspiration for design wise. The 'lead Gentleman' which I believe is pictured in the second is Doug Jones, who's played monsters in a bunch of other stuff, the episode did give me a bit of a Del Toro vibe especially with the music.

The episode wasn't at all what I expected, very fun!

I love this drawing. I kinda need it. I might use this picture as my wallpaper lol. Also, this is sorta what I think Giles should be doing in Season 4!!!! He doesn't have to work in the University persay (although Professor Giles would be pretty fuckin' cool,) but having him debrief everyone on the threats in a classroom with a projector would be pretty cool. The classroom could be the new library, in a way. Although I get not wanting a 'new library,' I have been liking the direction the show's been taking. I just want Giles back as The Watcher, ya know? Anyway I liked this scene.

Also finally the introduction of Tara. Interesting they had the Lesbian Pride banner go up last episode. I am interested to see how their relationship develops and how they handle Willow and Tara as lesbians.

#buffy the vampire slayer #btvs #buffyverse #buffy summers #first time watcher #rupert giles #btvs the gentlemen #the gentlemen

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illumeew · 24 hours ago

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childe x teacher!reader (and a little bit of kaeya x reader). modern!au. he's an ancient god only you can see, and you find him tethered to you spiritually - he can't leave. so, he has no choice but to follow you around including... going to work.

Tartaglia materializes in the staff lounge with every intention of messing with the vending machine and maybe moving the air conditioner remote somewhere inconvenient.

He expects the sound of keyboards clacking fervently, coffee sips, and maybe perfectly timed yawning from the short brown-haired woman who always wore red.

What he doesn’t expect is to hear your laugh.

He floats to the ceiling, into the vents, and presses himself against the tiles, peeking through the grills and the lights.

You're sitting with Kaeya, elbow propped on the table, poking at your lunch like it’s background noise.

Kaeya says something that Tartaglia doesn't catch and it makes you laugh . Again, It’s not just a polite laugh, it’s a real, head-tilted, teeth-showing kind of laugh. The kind Tartaglia usually only hears when he's knocking over your laundry rack at 2 AM on purpose.

He scoffs, “He’s not that pretty.”

Kaeya leans in slightly. His voice is smooth, effortless, all velvet and teasing.

“You know, there’s a new place down the street. Good shabu-shabu. Quiet enough to hear yourself think.”

You shrug, smiling. “Sounds nice.”

“Do you have any plans later?”

You stop to think. “No, not much. Why?”

Kaeya smiles. “Dinner?”

Tartaglia slams his head into the ceiling beam.

He phases halfway out of the ceiling by the corner of the room as your lips form the cursed words, “Yeah. Sure,” with that— that smile on your face.

Sure? SURE?

You don’t know it but your ghost is short-circuiting just a mere few inches behind you.

Kaeya leans back, relaxed. “Great. I’ll pick you up after work. Wear something nice, or don’t. I’m not picky.”

You laugh again.

Tartaglia begins planning Kaeya’s spiritual demise. Nothing violent, just little things: mild haunting; tiny plagues; misplaced keys forever—the worst things a teacher can even experience that doesn’t involve any blood or broken bones.

You arrive home and toss your bag on the couch, humming and suspiciously cheerful. Tartaglia manifests on top of your kitchen counter, looking at you like you just massacred his entire family.

“So, you and… Kaeya, was it?"

You pause as you remove your coat. “Oh my god. You were there?”

“No, just happened to overhear through the vents.”

You roll your eyes. “You’re haunting the air conditioning system now?”

“Don’t deflect. He asked you out!”

“It’s not a date,” you say, hanging your coat. “It’s just dinner.”

“ Just dinner? With the guy who called you ‘charming’ while adjusting his sleeves and flipping his hair?”

You blink. “You saw that?”

“I saw everything.”

You throw a dish towel at him. It passes through his face and he pouts like he felt it.

An hour or two later, you’re in your room, changing into something presentable—comfy but decent, just in case. You dab on a little cologne, not because you care, just because… you’re polite. Why not, right?

Tartaglia hovers by the mirror like a judgmental parent.

“Do you always put that much effort into people who aren’t spiritually tethered to you? ”

You arch a brow. “Are you mad?”

“Spirits don’t get mad. We get… metaphysically unsettled.”

“Sounds a lot like jealousy.”

“Sounds a lot like betrayal.”

You walk past him to grab your bag. He floats alongside you like a dog.

“What does he even have that I don’t?”

“A pulse.”

He gasps.

You laugh as you close the door behind you. “Don’t wait up.”

Oh, believe him when he absolutely waits up.

You come home later than usual.

Tartaglia is waiting, upside down on your couch like a vampire bat.

You’re glowing, softly, from laughter, broth and gossip combined. You didn’t even notice time pass. Kaeya’s easy to talk to. Fun. Good company.

But your ghost? Sulking.

“You were gone a long time. ”

“We had dessert.”

“Oh, dessert ? What kind?”

“Cheesecake.”

“What a disgrace.”

You kick off your shoes. “Okay, grandpa.”

“I’m not old. I’m ancient . There’s a difference.”

“Mhm.” You drop your bag on the couch. “Did you haunt anything while I was out?”

“No, I just sat here, alone, thinking about betrayal. Also, your fridge is out of alignment. I fixed it, again. I didn’t even think about payment for my services.”

You smile to yourself as you pour water into your mug. You turn to him. “You’re so dramatic. Thank you for fixing the fridge.”

He huffs. “You laughed more with him in one hour than you’ve laughed with me all week.”

You stare. “You’re counting ?”

“I don’t count, I keep emotional tabs.”

You walk past him, a smile on your face. “ Good night, Tartaglia.”

He sinks halfway into the couch as you enter your room.

“Tell him if he hurts you, I’ll haunt his future children.”

You poke your head out the door teasingly. “Don’t you mean our future children?”

“Go sleep, why don’t you?!”

this is a series on ao3! go check it out here!

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